Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Dingri copes with aftermath thanks to rescuers 09:28, January 10, 2025 By Daqiong, Palden Nyima, Zou Shuo ( China Daily Armed police officers sort relief supplies at a warehouse in quake-hit Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Wednesday. (Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) His face covered by dust and sweat, his fingernails bloodied and dirty, police officer Dondrub Tsering dug through the debris of fallen buildings with his bare hands to hunt for survivors after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Dingri county in the Xizang autonomous region on Tuesday morning. The police officer and his colleagues arrived at one of the worst-hit villages within half an hour of the quake. By sunset, they had dug out 17 survivors. By 10 am the next morning, 407 people had been rescued from the area, local authorities said. Located at an altitude of 4,500 meters, Dingri hosts the base camp of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, also known as Mount Everest in the West. Home to over 60,000 residents, it is one of the most populous border counties in Xizang. Hong Li, head of the Xizang Emergency Management Department, said the earthquake, the severest in five years, had killed 126 people, injured 337, and felled 3,609 houses. As many as 1,211 aftershocks were recorded, with the strongest one of 4.4 magnitude occurring approximately 18 kilometers from Lhasa block in the southern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which was the epicenter of the quake. According to Hong Li, the quake hit a high-altitude and low-temperature area that was economically backward with poor transportation and telecommunication links and power supply. With temperatures dropping considerably at night, a total of 428,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, coats, stoves, and instant noodles had been shipped to the disaster area, he said. A woman, carrying her child, receives warm clothes from volunteers on Wednesday at Thongley, a village in Dramso township of Dingri county in Shigatse. (Jiang Fan/Xinhua) Shock and fear When the earthquake struck, Guru Putri was in her home in a village near the epicenter. Her house fell like a pack of cards, but she and her family were lucky to rush out in time. Some of her neighbors were not so fortunate. And it is that thought of how close she came to death that still frightens her, she told the Southern Weekly. She said rescuers arrived at the village on Tuesday afternoon and sent the injured to hospital. They also retrieved the body of one of the villagers. Guru Putri and her family were transferred to the village committee premises, where there is food and water. The wound on her back was attended to and dressed. Wangyal, 37, said her 76-year-old aunt who lived in a village near the epicenter was killed as she was unable to escape from the second floor of her home on time. Her younger relatives, luckily, managed to cheat death. The temblor came as a shock to even those who are familiar with the area. Xi Zhenhua works at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Mount Qomolangma atmosphere and environment observation station. Having lived in the area for 11 years, Xi is used to earthquakes. Speaking to Shanghai-based The-Paper.cn, Xi said that he felt a small jolt at 8:12 am on Tuesday and received an alert for a 4.0-magnitude earthquake on his cellphone. He and two of his colleagues chose to ignore the warning and went back to sleep. At 9:05 am, their living quarters were rocked violently and a phone alert stated the quake magnitude was 6.7. With no time to even put on warm clothes, Xi and his colleagues rushed out of the house covered in their quilts. Thankfully, winter is not peak season for travel to the Mount Qomolangma base camp. As accommodation services in the scenic area shut in October, only about 500 daily visitors make it to the base camp during this season. A staffer from the scenic area told The-Paper.cn that there were only a few tourists at the camp when the earthquake struck, forcing the visitors to take shelter in their vehicles. The scenic area was closed temporarily at 10 am on Tuesday. Local authorities said all 484 tourists in Dingri county, including 13 foreigners, had been transferred to safe places. State Grid technicians check power transmission facilities at Thongley village on Thursday. (Da Qiong/China Daily) Helping hands According to the Xizang Emergency Management Department, more than 15,000 emergency response personnel are participating in rescue and disaster relief work. A total of 581 medical workers and 107 ambulances have been sent to treat the injured. As many as 61,500 people affected by the earthquake have been transferred to the 187 settlement centers that have been set up. Migmar Tsering and four of his colleagues from the Shigatse forest fire and rescue station were among the first batch of professional rescuers to arrive at the epicenter by Tuesday noon. They used their hands to remove fallen rocks and tiles to rescue a woman in her 40s who was trapped under debris. She was found with multiple fractures, and they transported her to safety on a wooden stretcher before she was sent to a county hospital for treatment. Wang Zhiping, head of the Shigatse forest fire and rescue station, said his team arrived at a village in Dingri county at 1:40 pm on Tuesday. Most of the houses in the area were severely damaged, he told China Youth Daily. The rescuers shifted more than 300 villagers to safer places. However, the rescued villagers were extremely concerned about their livestock, especially yaks, which are considered valuable assets. So the next task was to rescue the trapped animals. By Tuesday afternoon, over a dozen yaks had been saved. Zheng Long from the Xizang forest fire and rescue station said they had sent 300 firefighters to three townships near the epicenter. He arrived at a local village at 6:20 pm on Tuesday to find around 85 percent of the village's 76 houses had collapsed. "One of the elderly women was in great distress because all her four yaks were buried under her collapsed house," he said. "Luckily, we could recover the yaks and other necessities." Wang Tianyou, who works at the State Grid Lhokha Power Supply Co, said he and his colleagues arrived at a village near the epicenter of the earthquake at 2:00 am on Wednesday. They immediately started work on reinstating the power supply in the village. In two hours, light bulbs were on in 21 tents, he said. More than 300 tents had been illuminated by Thursday afternoon. An Zhengfa, an official at Thongley village, said that when the quake struck, he could not stand straight as his house was shaking so badly. When the tremors stopped, he and his colleagues ran toward the village to check on fellow villagers. "Many houses had collapsed and there was dust everywhere, and I realized that something terrible had happened," he said. After reporting the situation to township officials, he and his colleagues organized other villagers to carry out rescue efforts. They managed to pull out a villager buried in the debris in an hour, but sadly he did not survive. The first batch of 15 professional rescuers arrived at the village by 11:00 am. By 1:00 am, three trapped under the debris had been found dead. Relief equipment and materials arrived on Tuesday afternoon. The rescuers set up tents so that villagers had shelter for the night. The next day, the rescuers began to pull out buried livestock. Villagers move relief materials that they received from the government in Trakchung, a village in Dramso township of Dingri, on Thursday. (Palden Nyima/China Daily) Expressing gratitude Phurbu Tsering headed for Thongley village from Lhasa as soon as he learned that the earthquake had struck his hometown. "I was extremely worried as I did not know how bad it could be," he said. He arrived at the village at around 6 pm on Tuesday. Even though his family home had collapsed, those in the house were safe. Rescuers helped them put up tents and brought them food, clothes and quilts. "I was deeply moved by how quickly the rescuers came to our help," he said. Lhagpa, 65, who lived in badly hit Dramso village, said her two-story house collapsed and three of her cows were injured. The good news was that all her seven family members were safe. "Government officials, rescue teams, and medical workers came to our side at the earliest. They transferred us to a safe place and went on searching for people and livestock one household at a time," she said. "I was so deeply moved." The young rescuers, many of whom are Party members, are fighting on the frontline tirelessly, and they are the true heroes, she added. Task ahead Sun Shihong, a researcher at China Earthquake Networks Center, told Beijing News that a 6.8-magnitude earthquake is not the strongest quake recorded in Xizang autonomous region. There are frequent earthquakes in the area due to the compression from the Indian plate to the Eurasian plate, he said. Hao Nan, head of Zhuoming Disaster Information Service, a civil disaster relief volunteer group, told China Newsweek the earthquake occurred at 9 am Beijing time, which is about 7 am in Xizang, when many people were still in bed. Moreover, since the epicenter is in a remote area, it took rescuers more time to get to the victims. Xu Xiwei, a professor at China University of Geosciences Beijing, said the Xizang autonomous region is located on a plateau where it is extremely cold with low oxygen levels. It is easy for people living in lower altitude areas to suffer from altitude sickness while participating in rescue efforts. So it was important to engage the local population in rescue efforts, he said. A firefighter interacts with a child at a resettlement site in Dingri on Wednesday. (Jigme Dorje/Xinhua) Medical workers tend to injured survivors at Shigatse People's Hospital early on Wednesday morning. (Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) Children play in a resettlement tent on Thursday in Trakchung village. (Palden Nyima/China Daily) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra signs a petition in San Marcos on Feb. 1, 2022. Sam Owens /San Antonio Express-News This property at 201 South LBJ Drive in San Marcos is at the center of a dispute between Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and the city of San Marcos. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A long-smoldering dispute between the city of San Marcos and Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra has burst into a full blaze, with Becerra accusing city officials of a political attack against him and threatening legal action. The conflict revolves not around a matter of policy but rather a piece of land that holds a tiny brick building next to a busy railroad. ALSO READ: Business leaders dispute notion Texas economy is slowing Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since 2013, the city has owned about half the land the building sits on, at 201 South LBJ Drive, about two blocks south of San Marcos' courthouse square. In 2015, Becerra, who was not yet county judge, bought the building itself and began leasing it to a series of retail operations. It now houses a Mexican joint known as Las Dos Fridas. Over the past six years after the city realized it had not been charging Becerra rent for the land the building sits on and decided to forgive the backlog he would have owed the dispute has spiraled into what amounts to a toxic landlord-tenant relationship, threatening to drive a wedge between two key political entities in the booming Hill Country region. The San Marcos City Council this week approved a new lease agreement for the roughly 0.2-acre patch of land. The new lease increases the rent from $4,115 a year to $5,556. Where the prior lease had renewed automatically, the new lease will expire on Jan. 31, 2026. There is also a new late payment penalty of 10%. On Thursday, Becerra sent a written statement to the Express-News accusing the city of "targeted interference," and said that litigation is "the course that will likely be pursued." "This project seems to be unjustly targeted due to political motivations," he wrote. "The city's refusal to honor prior agreements or pursue reasonable business solutions underscores a deliberate effort by political adversaries to obstruct progress." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Becerra, a Democrat who was elected county judge in 2018 and won a second term in 2022, didn't say who the "political adversaries" were when asked in a follow-up email. In response to questions from the Express-News, San Marcos city representatives referred to a letter City Manager Stephanie Reyes wrote to Becerra. However, the letter didn't address most of Becerra's allegations, instead focusing on whether the building was owned by Becerra as an individual or by his company, Becerra Corp. ALSO READ: Hays County moves ahead with plan for new civic center Mistake by the city When the city opted in 2018 to forgive Becerra for a total of $13,119.68 in unpaid rent, critics raised questions over whether he had been given special treatment. The now-defunct news website San Marcos Corridor News published articles decrying "The Dixie Cream Sweetheart of a Deal" a reference to the building's prior tenant, the Dixie Cream Do-Nut Shop. Advertisement Article continues below this ad However, both Becerra and San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson say there was no special treatment. In an interview on Thursday, before Becerra had sent his allegations, Hughson said the issue of the unpaid rent resulted from the city's inexperience as a landlord. The city had never reached out to Becerra or the building's prior owner, the late businessman Dan Anderson, to collect rent after it acquired the site, she said. The prior owner was Union Pacific, the rail company that operates the adjacent track. "It wasn't really forgiven," she said of the rent. "We had not established what the rent would be. That went on for a while... That was a new situation for the city. We'd never done that before." Hughson didn't respond on Friday to requests for comment on Becerra's allegations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The council approved the new lease agreement without comment on a 6-1 vote Tuesday, with newly elected Place 5 Council Member Lorenzo Gonzalez casting the lone no vote. "As a small business owner, I will aggressively fight against these unjust attacks and stand firm in defending my rights," Becerra wrote in his statement. Failed rail dream The city of San Marcos owns roughly half the land Becerra's building sits on, with Union Pacific owning the rest. The site Becerra leases is part of a 1.8-acre property the city purchased in 2013 from Union Pacific for $423,305, according to background materials attached to the agenda. Advertisement Article continues below this ad City leaders had thought the property would be a good place for a rail station on the Lone Star Rail System, a 118-mile passenger route that was then planned between San Antonio and Austin. But that effort fell apart in 2016. Along with the Dixie Cream building, the property includes parts of other buildings. In buying the property, the city took over the leases that Union Pacific had made with the occupants including with Dan Anderson, who ran the Dixie Cream. In 2015, Becerra bought the shop and the building from Anderson but not the land under it. Three years later, the city forgave a total of $15,177.46 in unpaid rent on the ground lease that had accrued between 2014 and 2017, according to the council agenda. Becerra owed $13,119.68, according to the city; Anderson, another $4,120.99. Rent forgiven At the time, city staff recommended waiving the unpaid rent for 2015 and 2016 because the city is not able to reasonably prove that Mr. Anderson notified Mr. Becerra of the existing ground lease when he purchased the business, according to the agenda for the May 2018 council meeting at which the council voted to forgive the debt. It all resulted from a "miscommunication," the agenda said: When the city bought the property, its finance department wasn't notified that a lease payment would be due. The rent has been paid in full since 2019, according to the city. In his emailed statement, Becerra said there had been "no formal contract in place with the previous owner." Instead, there had been "a land lease agreement where the previous owner maintained the property in lieu of lease payments." "Therefore, the settlement reached for any retroactive cash payment was not a favor but a practical resolution, since no formal contract existed during the many decades the previous owner held the property," he wrote. The city stated in the Tuesday council agenda that Anderson had entered into a lease agreement with Union Pacific in 2011. Becerra sent a screenshot of a November 2017 email from Bert Lumbreras, the now-retired city manager of San Marcos, in which Lumbreras wrote, "It is safe to say the city did not properly bill you for the previous last 3 years." Becerra also sent a screenshot of what appears to be an email from Jamie Lee Case who then served as San Marcos city clerk and is now the director of parks and recreation in which she says the city and Anderson did not have a "signed contract," though Anderson's lease with Union Pacific was assigned to the city with the city's purchase of the property. Becerra said the city failed to live up to its responsibility to maintain the land, leaving him with "several thousands of dollars per year in maintenance costs." "This issue has been brought up for years despite our best efforts to find a workable agreement and has consistently been viewed by many residents in our community as a political attack rather than a legitimate business transaction," he wrote. Updated lease agreement Becerra now sub-leases the building to SM Coffee Ventures LLC, an entity created in 2022, with an individual named Reinhard Dorrington listed as the initial manager, state corporate filings show. In July, Becerra submitted a filing to the state listing himself as the new registered agent. On Friday, Dorrington told the Express-News he was no longer involved. The council on Tuesday unanimously approved an amendment to the new lease stipulating that if any change is made in the management structure for the subtenant for example, if it receives new directors or partners it must be done with the council's consent. Among the attachments to the council agenda is a three-year lease agreement between Becerra and SM Coffee Ventures signed in December 2022 specifying a monthly rent of $3,000, set to increase by 5% each year. However, Becerra said that information not accurate. In his statement, he said the agenda item was misrepresented to the City Council even after he made clear to city officials that "I am not collecting $3,000 a month as a result of owning the business in question." That lease agreement has been updated, he said, adding, "I do not receive $3,000 from my own LLC." The City Council had been scheduled to vote on the new lease at its Dec. 17. meeting. But after Place 3 Council Member Alyssa Garza raised concerns that the council members hadnt been given enough information to explain the matter to constituents, they voted to delay consideration. Perhaps it is because there is no consequence for the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) that it continues to disconnect the electricity supply of its customers without warning. Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) executive director Dr Michelle Salandy confirmed to a parliamentary Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities (including THA) that T&TEC faces no repercussions for the failure to adhere to its code of practice that gives specific step-by-step guidance on disconnection, reconnection, and theft of electricity, among other things. Now that information is in the public sphere, the public will no doubt hold the commission to account. The powerful infrared eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope have notched another record for extremely long-range viewing. Thanks to the $10 billion observatory with strong ties to Tucson, researchers from the University of Arizona and elsewhere managed to identify 44 stars across a once-impossible distance of almost 6.5 billion light-years. Thats the largest number of individual stars ever detected in the distant universe, though that record is not expected to stand for very long. This groundbreaking discovery demonstrates, for the first time, that studying large numbers of individual stars in a distant galaxy is possible, said Fengwu Sun, a former U of A graduate student who is now a postdoctoral scholar at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An international team of 47 researchers including Sun and led by astronomers from the University of Arizonas Steward Observatory published their findings Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy. It was Sun who stumbled onto the collection of stars while inspecting Webb images of a galaxy known as the Dragon Arc from a time when the universe was only about half its current age. Even with Webbs powerful instruments, the Dragon Arc stars were only visible from such a distance thanks to gravitational lensing, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein in which objects massive enough to bend the fabric of space can distort and amplify the light from even more distant stars and galaxies. From Webbs vantage point, the Dragon Arc is located behind a massive cluster of galaxies roughly 4 billion light-years from Earth called Abell 370, where an invisible halo of dark matter produces strong gravitational fields that act as a sort of cosmic magnifying glass. Most galaxies contain tens of billions of stars, but picking out the light from individual stars is virtually impossible from billions of light-years away. To us, galaxies that are very far away usually look like a diffuse, fuzzy blob, said the studys lead author, Yoshinobu Fudamoto, a visiting scholar at Steward Observatory from Chiba University in Japan. But actually, those blobs consist of many, many individual stars. We just cant resolve them with our telescopes. In this case, though, multiple layers of gravitational lensing from Abell 370 managed to magnify a few dozen stars in the Dragon Arc just enough for Webb to pick them up using the most powerful infrared instruments ever deployed in space. Inside the galaxy cluster, there are many stars floating around that are not bound by any galaxy, explained study co-author Eiichi Egami, a research professor at Steward Observatory. When one of them happens to pass in front of the background star in the distant galaxy along the line of sight with Earth, it acts as a micro-lens, in addition to the macro-lensing effect of the galaxy cluster as a whole. Several dozen U of A astronomers, engineers and students helped in the development of Webbs two main instruments: the Near Infrared Camera, or NIRCam, and the Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI. Regents professor Marcia Rieke led the development team and now serves as principal investigator for NIRCam, which operates using light sensors designed, built and tested at the U of A. Her husband, fellow Regents professor George Rieke, is science team lead for MIRI, a camera and spectrograph he helped design. Theres also a Southern Arizona connection to gravitational lensing itself. The phenomenon was purely theoretical until 1979, when it was observed for the first time by astronomers Dennis Walsh, Bob Carswell and Ray Weymann at Kitt Peak National Observatory. They used the 2.1-meter telescope there to determine that twin quasars in the constellation Ursa Major were actually a single quasar whose image had been split by gravitational lensing. In the future, researchers expect to identify dozens or even hundreds more magnified stars in the Dragon Arc galaxy using the Webb Space Telescope. In the process, they hope to learn more about the structure of gravitational lenses and probe the mysteries of dark matter. At least some of that work will almost certainly originate from Tucson. As a result of the U of As outsized contribution to the space telescope, NASA has allotted 13% of Webbs total observing time to the university, the most of any astronomy center in the world. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Three masked robbers are the run after robbing an armored truck at a Bank of America in East Bexar County, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said. mbbirdy/Getty Images The search for three armed, masked men is underway after an armored truck employee was robbed at a bank in East Bexar County. Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the armed robbery at around noon on Wednesday at the Bank of America located in the 7000 block of FM 78 near the Woodlake Shopping Center. The armed Loomis Armored Services security guard was loading the ATM when three armed men with masks approached him and demanded the money, Bexar County Deputy Johnny Garcia, a BCSO Public Information Officer, said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The men were armed with long guns. The employee followed their orders, allowing the men to take the money from the ATM. During the robbery, one of the robbers stole the security guard's gun, investigators said. The robbers fled. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No injuries were reported during the incident. Bexar County emergency dispatch was notified of a description of the robbers' getaway vehicle a silver sedan. found the silver sedan less than a mile away from the bank in the 5000 block of Allbrook near Woodlake Parkway. They also found the Loomis employee's weapon. The amount of money stolen during the robbery was not immediately known, Garcia said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It seems like they know what they were doing. They could have been following this vehicle," Garcia said. The sheriff's office is asking for the public's help. "We're working diligently to locate these individuals," Garcia said. "If anyone saw anything while they were shopping or commuting, please give us a call." BCSO is also asking for people who live near the 5000 block of Allbrook to provide surveillance. They are asked to call 210-335-6000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Garcia praised the Loomis employee. Thien Long Group Corporation, listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) as TLG, recently announced a South Korean fund as a new significant shareholder. On Monday, the KITMC Worldwide Vietnam RSP Balanced Fund, under KIM Vietnam Fund Management, increased its stake in Thien Long to 3.75 percent after purchasing an additional 200,000 TLG shares. With this development, KIM Vietnam, through four funds that collectively own 5.13 percent of Thien Longs capital, become a major shareholder in the leading Vietnamese stationery company. Two familiar major shareholders of Thien Long include chairman Co Gia Tho and Thien Long An Thinh Investment Corporation, another company represented by Co Gia Tho. According to self-disclosed information, KIM Vietnam originated from Korea Investment Management Co., Ltd (KIM), which has been involved in the Vietnamese market since 2006, when it opened a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City. In early 2020, KIM acquired shares from the shareholders of Hung Viet Fund Management JSC and was granted a license to establish its fund management company in Vietnam by the State Securities Commission in October of the same year. As of the end of 2023, KIM Vietnams total assets under management exceeded VND24.7 trillion (US$973.42 million). The companys portfolio is focused on top-listed companies in the market. Currently, KIM Vietnams charter capital is VND55 billion ($2.17 million), and as of September 2024, the company employed 32 staff members. From January to September 2024, KIM Vietnam reported a profit of over VND16 billion ($630,600), up 81 percent compared to the same period in 2023. As for Thien Long, from January to November 2024, the company recorded revenues of more than VND3.4 trillion ($134 million) and a net profit of VND448 billion ($17.66 million), an increase of 24 percent compared to the same period in 2023. In an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Tran Phuong Nga, CEO of Thien Long, shared some of the challenges the company is currently facing. Domestically, consumer demand has been affected by the unstable economic situation, leading to falling purchasing power in the general consumer segments. Currently, it is also a low season for Thien Longs products. Additionally, competition within the industry has been intensifying, especially during the year-end period when competitors ramp up discount campaigns and promotions. On the international front, the company faces challenges due to the complex global economic and geopolitical situation. High logistics and international shipping costs continue to impact operational efficiency. Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding in terms of product quality, design, and functionality. Moreover, the fierce price competition and the habit of buying cheap goods have made it difficult for the e-commerce channel to generate effective profit growth. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperative agreements between several agencies and companies from the two nations to implement a slew of projects worth over US$1.8 billion, as part of an investment cooperation conference co-chaired by the two top officials in Vientiane on Thursday. The deals were aimed at deepening the bilateral partnership and boosting two-way trade, according to the Vietnamese government's portal. Among these projects are the Savan1 Wind Power Plant invested in by SDVIC Wind Power Joint Stock Company. The capital of the project was revised up to $32 million. At the event, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB) raised its investment in the Lao MB Bank project to 229.9 billion Lao kip ($10.5 million). MB also signed deals with its partners to arrange funding for the Savan1 Wind Power Plant and Xekong Thermal Power Plant projects. The Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment handed over an addendum to a contract to Vietnams Viet Phuong Investment Group JSC to develop a bauxite mining and aluminum processing plant project in Laos. The facility has a designed capacity of one million metric tons of aluminum per year and will carry a price tag of approximately $1 billion. The Lao ministry also delivered contracts for the development of five hydropower projects in Ka Lum District, Sekong Province to Viet Phuong, which will pour a combined $197 million into these projects. The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines granted a construction license to Vietnam National Chemical Group for a potash mining and processing project, which is worth $522.4 million. In the aviation sector, Sovico Group JSC and Transport Engineering Design Inc. handed over a consulting contract to survey and plan the development of the airport system in Laos until 2030, with a vision toward 2050, to Laos' Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Airports Corporation of Laos. Additionally, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Lao Airlines exchanged a memorandum of understanding to enhance and expand their cooperation. In agriculture, Vinamilk, Vietnams leading dairy company, increased its investment in a dairy farm complex project in Laos to $85.2 million. The Lao Department of Livestock and Fisheries and Viet-Lao Farm Corporation JSC exchanged an agreement on the development of a hi-tech aquaculture chain at Laos hydropower reservoirs. Moreover, the Institute for Human Resource Development and International Cooperation, the Vietnam Business Association in Laos, and the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Laos signed a trilateral agreement for training human resources for businesses in Laos. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L, 5th) and Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R, 5th) at a ceremony to launch the framework for bilateral retail payments using QR codes between Vietnam and Laos in Laos, January 9, 2024. Photo: Doan Bac Cross-border QR code payments between Vietnam and Laos Following the conference, under the witness of PM Chinh and Laotian Prime Minister Siphandone, the State Bank of Vietnam and the Bank of the Lao P.D.R. introduced a framework for currency payments and bilateral retail payments using QR codes between Vietnam and Laos. With the completion of the legal framework and infrastructure for cross-border payments and money transfers, both sides agreed to encourage businesses to use local currencies in trade and investment activities between the two nations. Enterprises were also urged to conduct foreign trade contracts and investment agreements using their respective local currencies. The two prime ministers, joined by leaders of various ministries, officially launched the QR code retail payment system. This initiative is expected to enhance tourism, consumer activities, and people-to-people exchanges, while fostering the use of local currencies in cross-border retail payments. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! As foreign service providers Agoda, Airbnb, Booking, and Paypal have yet to register for tax payments in Vietnam, the General Department of Taxation has asked 100 local banks and payment intermediaries to declare and pay taxes on their behalf. A representative from the General Department of Taxation told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday that Agoda International Pte. Ltd, AirBnB Ireland Unlimited, Booking.com BV, and PayPal Pte. Ltd have yet to register for tax payments in Vietnam despite the departments attempts. Agoda, AirBnB, and Booking are online travel agencies which provide hotel bookings, flight tickets, tours, insurance, and other related products, while PayPal offers online transaction and payment processing solutions. According to tax authorities, the four entities have been operating in Vietnam for over a decade, generating revenues in the trillions of Vietnamese dong. (VND1 trillion = US$39.4 million) Tax authorities noted that the tax declaration and payment process is currently favorable in Vietnam. The General Department of Taxation put into use a portal enabling foreign suppliers to declare and pay taxes online to Vietnam in March 2022. After more than two years, 120 global suppliers, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, Netflix, and Apple, have declared and paid taxes via the portal for their revenue generated in Vietnam. Foreign suppliers paid VND8.687 trillion ($341.8 million) to Vietnam via the portal in 2024, up 26 percent over 2023. The General Department of Taxation required tax authorities at all levels to continue promoting digital transformation, applying information technology, and enhancing the efficiency of tax management, especially on taxing foreign suppliers and traders on e-commerce platforms. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) has been greenlighted to restart a Laos-based US$522-million potash mining project that has lain dormant for eight years. Laotian Minister of Planning and Investment Phet Phomphiphak presented the approval to Vinachem in the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Vietnam-Laos Investment Cooperation Conference held in Vientiane on Thursday. Vinachem board chairman Phung Quang Hiep highlighted the project as a crucial political and economic mission of the state-run chemical group. The company pledged to make serious effort and closely collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure the projects success. Located in Khammuane Province, the project is scheduled to begin commercial operations in July 2027. Once operational, it is expected to generate significant economic benefits, create jobs for local communities, and bolster bilateral cooperation. Spanning a licensed area of 10 square kilometers, the project represents one of Vietnams largest investments in Laos. Initiated in 2015, the project was suspended in 2017 pending approvals from authorities. After an eight-year hiatus, the Vietnamese Politburo approved its continuation, clearing the way for Vinachem to proceed. The project is a vital component of the bilateral cooperation agreement between Vietnam and Laos, aiming to produce potash fertilizer for Vietnam and reduce reliance on imports, which currently meet 100 percent of domestic demand. In its first phase, the project is expected to produce over 250,000 metric tons of potash annually, addressing a significant portion of Vietnams yearly demand of 900,000-1,000,000 metric tons. In addition to the potash project, Vinachem has strengthened its trade presence in Laos, exporting products such as fertilizers, automotive tires, motorcycle tires, and batteries, with annual revenues nearing $5 million. The group has also contributed to the agricultural sector with advanced farming programs, enhancing sustainability and showcasing the value of Vietnamese brands. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam and Laos pledged to increase bilateral trade to US$5 billion and beef up their multifaceted cooperation given the signing of four cooperative documents during an intergovernmental session on Thursday. The two sides made the pledge while Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee in Vientiane as part of Chinhs visit to Laos. The two PMs expressed their pleasure at the results of cooperation between the two countries in multiple fields, especially in trade and investment, over the past several years, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite regional and global economic challenges that have led to a decline in consumer demand, trade between Vietnam and Laos in 2024 increased nearly 34 percent year on year to reach $2.2 billion, with Laos enjoying a trade surplus of $732.7 million, a 30-percent surge from 2023. Based on the impressive trade growth, the two leaders agreed to take steps to achieve a 10-15-percent rise in two-way trade in 2025 compared to 2024, and move toward $5 billion in bilateral trade in years to come. In recent times, Vietnams investment in Laos has shown a tendency to climb in a more sustainable manner, with Vietnamese investors registering $191.1 million in investments in Laos in 2024, up 62.1 percent from 2023. Over the past five years, Vietnamese businesses have contributed around $200 million per year on average in taxes and other financial obligations to the Lao government. In addition to trade and investment, the two countries have achieved their energy cooperation goals for the 2021-25 period, with many large-scale projects being developed and hurdles facing them having been removed. Cooperation between localities in the two countries, especially in border locales, continues to be effective, contributing to improved general cooperation between both sides. Regarding orientations for cooperation in the near future, the two PMs pledged to continue promoting and deepening political and diplomatic relations, thereby providing a strategic framework for Vietnam-Laos cooperation. Both countries will strengthen the connectivity between their economies and take measures to expand investment and trade cooperation. Accordingly, meetings will be organized between the Lao government and the Vietnamese business community to review and promote Vietnam's investment projects in Laos. The Lao government will also offer favorable conditions to key projects developed by Vietnamese investors in Laos, including adjustments to investment timelines for hydropower and mining investment projects. The two PMs agreed to address challenges in infrastructure connectivity and prioritize agriculture and rural development as a pillar of their economic cooperation. They discussed measures to promote cooperation in major projects such as the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Hospital and the Hanoi-Vientiane Expressway, as well as develop power production and trade initiatives. Additionally, the two countries have plans to promote the early completion of the Vung Ang 1, 2 and 3 port projects in Ha Tinh Province on the border with Laos, contributing to the implementation of the initiative to turn Laos from a landlocked nation into a sea-connected country. An overview of the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in Vientiane, January 9, 2025. Photo: Doan Bac / Tuoi Tre Relevant agencies from both countries will consider the possibility of building industrial parks, economic zones, economic models of border gates, and oil and gas depots in border areas. Both PMs agreed to continue prioritizing and enhancing cooperation in education, training, and human resource development. Accordingly, the Vietnamese government will provide 1,160 scholarships for Laotian officials and students to study in Vietnam and continue sending teachers to Laos to teach the Vietnamese language. Both sides reaffirmed their determination to create favorable conditions for businesses from the two countries to strengthen cooperation in investment and business activities. After the meeting, the two leaders oversaw the signing and exchange of key cooperation agreements between the two countries. These included the meeting minutes, a 2025 intergovernmental cooperation plan, an agreement on electricity purchases from coal-fired power plants, and a 2025 collaboration plan between Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training and Laos' Ministry of Education and Sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Newly-appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh on Tuesday presented his credentials to Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, affirming his commitment to strengthening the growing partnership between Vietnam and Singapore. During their meeting, President Tharman congratulated Ambassador Anh on his new role and extended greetings to Vietnams Party and state leaders. The top Singaporean leader expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive progress in bilateral relations and highlighted Singapores interest in enhancing cooperation with Vietnam in clean energy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, carbon credits, finance, and education. As both nations are working to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, President Tharman expressed confidence in Anhs ability to make significant contributions to this important milestone. The Vietnamese diplomat shared his aspirations to enhance the flourishing strategic partnership between both countries across various fields, including politics, defense and security, economy, culture, party relations, and people-to-people exchanges. He pledged to work tirelessly to promote stronger, more substantive collaboration which benefits both nations and contributes to regional and global peace and development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore on the same day issued a statement welcoming Ambassador Anh and spotlighted his distinguished career. Prior to his posting in Singapore, Anh served as acting director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations from 2020 to 2021 and then director of this agency. He began his diplomatic career in 1998 at the same department where he worked as head of the Foreign Service Center from 2008 to 2010. From 2010 to 2014, he was a counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net. Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023. Vietnams law-making National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Cuban Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes in Hanoi on Thursday to discuss ongoing and future collaborations between both nations. Man highlighted the enduring strength of Vietnam-Cuba political and diplomatic ties. He also underscored the significance of Party General Secretary To Lams state visit to Cuba last September, which marked a milestone in elevating bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in economics, trade, and investment. Following the visit, Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade sent experts to Cuba to support the Caribbean country in solar energy development, ensuring a more stable electricity supply. The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also assisted Cuba in agricultural production, while other state agencies, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Health, are deepening collaboration in their respective areas of expertise. The top legislator expressed hope for increased high-level visits and exchanges in 2025 to further strengthen the traditional friendship and unique partnership between the two countries. Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes conveyed Cubas gratitude for Vietnams long standing support, particularly in food security. He added that with Vietnams assistance, Cuba is adopting new agricultural cooperation models, including advancements in rice farming. Both sides emphasized the success of the inaugural session of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee held last year and pledged to achieve meaningful outcomes at the second session, scheduled to take place in Vietnam in 2025. On the same day, Man hosted a reception for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei in Hanoi. The top Vietnamese official extended a formal invitation to Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China, to visit Vietnam and co-chair the inaugural session of the cooperation committee between the Vietnamese legislature and the Chinese National Peoples Congress. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Politics -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired an investment cooperation conference in Vientiane on Thursday, as part of the Vietnamese leaders trip to the neighbouring country. -- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes in Hanoi on Thursday, highlighting the increasingly strengthened political and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Society -- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a working session on Thursday afternoon, urging relevant units to speed up work on some sub-projects to complete the Long Thanh International Airport project as soon as possible. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport aims to expand the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to traffic light control at frequently congested locations, the department said on Thursday. -- A fire erupted at a 300-square-meter area that houses makeshift homes and a business facility in Hanoi at around 8:00 pm on Thursday. The blaze was put out at 9:30 pm, with no casualties reported. -- The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Dong Hoi Hospital in central Quang Binh Province confirmed on Thursday that it had successfully performed surgery on an 18-year-old man who had a steel rod nearly 2.5 centimeters in diameter pierced through his neck. Business -- Lao PM Siphandone told the investment cooperation conference that Laos had considered offering some special incentives to Vietnamese businesses to promote investment, in anticipation of a Vietnam - Laos industrial park. -- PM Chinh and his Lao counterpart also witnessed the exchange of cooperative agreements between the two nations agencies and companies to implement a series of projects worth billions of U.S. dollars. Like us on Facebook or follow us on x to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tho Quang fishing port and boat dock, both located in the central city of Da Nang, are riddled with severe pollution, with plastic waste, food containers, and nylon bags covering the waters surface, creating foul odors and a persistent eyesore. When fishing boats docked at the port for seafood to be unloaded, waste such as bottles and wastewater was dumped directly into the water. Meanwhile, runoff from seafood trading and processing activities worsened the pollution. The Tho Quang boat dock has experienced the same situation, where fishing gear, styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles, and other trash bobbed on the waters surface, with most of the trash discarded by docked boats. Many fishermen were found to have thrown garbage overboard rather than disposing of it properly. Large numbers of fishing vessels being moored to the boat dock made it increasingly difficult to reduce pollution. The Tho Quang boat dock in Da Nang City, central Vietnam is plagued with garbage. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre Garbage also plagued the sidewalks around the facilities. Along Chu Huy Man Street, discarded mattresses, beds, and construction debris were seen scattered across the sidewalks. These unauthorized dumping sites caused pollution and made the neighborhood an eyesore. Local inhabitants including Hong expressed frustration at the situation. She said that sanitation workers often came to clean up the place, but items like broken furniture or construction debris were not collected. At night, people sneaked out to dump trash on the sidewalks, creating illegal dumpsites. I tried to stop them, but they just ignored meor worse, cursed at me, Hong recalled. Garbage is discarded directly into the Tho Quang boat dock, causing severe water pollution. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre Sanitation workers like 55-year-old Dang Thi Xuan expressed their displeasure at the situation. We collect trash every day, but it never stops. Today, weve already cleaned the boat lock twice, and the trash keeps drifting in. Garbage is discarded directly into the Tho Quang boat dock, causing severe water pollution. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre Xuan and her co-workers took photos after each cleanup to prove they had finished their job, but the problem persisted, she added. Tran Van Be, 63, who works nearby, echoed similar concerns. Sanitation workers clean up the area every day, but the locals poor awareness keeps the trash coming. During rainy and windy days, even more garbage washed ashore, Be elaborated. Illegal dumping sites are spotted near the Thuan Phuoc Bridge in Son Tra District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre Illegal dumping sites are spotted near the Thuan Phuoc Bridge in Son Tra District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Thuy / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam on Thursday morning held a ground-breaking ceremony for a VND1.5 trillion (US$59.1 million) project to upgrade a section of provincial road 25B from Nhon Trach District to the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport project in neighboring Long Thanh District. The road section is over 9.2 kilometers and passes through Nhon Trach and Long Thanh Districts. The project is scheduled for completion in 2025 and will be put into operation in 2026. According to the Dong Nai traffic infrastructure project management board, provincial road 25B is an important route in Nhon Trach. According to planning for the Long Thanh International Airport project, roads T1 and T2 will connect other key roads in the area to the airport, including National Highway 51, provincial roads 25B and 25C, Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, and Beltway No. 3, thus linking the massive airport to Ho Chi Minh City and adjacent localities and easing pressure on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway as well as National Highway 51. T1 will be 4.28 kilometers long and have six lanes, while T2 is designed to span 3.5 kilometers and have four lanes. In early January last year, the administration in Nhon Trach commenced three traffic infrastructure projects, consisting of the first phase of road 25C, Ton Duc Thang Street (25B), and the extended Le Hong Phong Street. The three projects cost a total of over VND2 trillion ($78.7 million). Once in place, they will connect to Beltway No. 3, a road leading to Phuoc An Port and Long Thanh International Airport. Long Thanh International Airport, covering 5,000 hectares upon completion, is projected to require an investment of VND336.63 trillion ($13.3 billion). Once completed, the airport will be Vietnam's largest, capable of handling 100 million passengers and five million metric tons of cargo annually. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Anna Maxwell Martin is always an interesting performer, whether in Line of Duty, The Bletchley Circle, Accused or her many other British dramas. In her latest, Until I Kill You, she may not be particularly likeable, but its a compelling performance which is the reason to otherwise watch a true life show about domestic violence leading to attempted murder. Delia Balmer (Anna Maxwell Martin) is Australian born, though youd never know it from meeting her. She spent much of her adult life travelling, living in Canada and settling in London. When we meet her in 1991 she is a public hospital nurse, a loner save for a benevolent workmate Leah (Amanda Wilkin). She doesnt make friends easily, speaks without a filter and lives in a spartan, bohemian apartment so that she can upend roots and travel like the free spirit that she is. I dont really know where I feel I belong Delia When she meets carpenter John (Shaun Evans) in a bar one night, she invites him back to her pad. While it looks like two odd cats have connected on common ground, the viewer is already privy to the deception in John. But the time lapses which extend their relationship to over 12 months means he is either genuinely into her, or playing the long game. Concurrently with their blossoming connection is a subplot based in Amsterdam where a father is searching for his missing daughter. It doesnt take long for the viewer to piece together this jigsaw, its just how the parts fit that need resolution. But the fact that this 4 x 60 series is based on a book by Delia Balmer signposts that somehow through whatever shitshow is coming, she managed to survive it all. And trust me, it is a shitshow. As the series unravels over several years it will involve violence, policing, trials, hospitals, rehabilitation and wholesale failures in the system. Delia remains an abrasive, short-tempered central character who makes a confronting 4 hours even more challenging. But it also sets it apart from dramas where the victim is readily sympathetic. The series also features Kevin Doyle from Downton Abbey as a mild-mannered driver who befriends Delia in a fragile new relationship which tests her ability to trust again. Who can blame her? Anna Maxwell Martin is suitably savage, bitter, dispassionate, socially awkward (and frankly I couldnt detect any Canadian accent even though the characters could), but if its all true to the real Delia Balmer then its a study in character for any aspiring actor. Shaun Evans gets the villain role and one which, by all accounts, was fairly inept.. making mistakes which left authorities in little doubt as to his part in these most unpleasant proceedings. With its frank title, Until I Kill You isnt exactly an entertaining way to spend two nights (it screens in double episodes) but Anna Maxwell Martin is at least commanding in her portrayal. And it reminds us that nobody is deserving of such treatment, whether warm and sympathetic or caustic and detached. Until I Kill You 8:30pm Sunday on ABC (all episodes on ABC iview) Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 Former Seven News US Bureau Chief Mike Amor shared his thoughts with viewers last night following the devastating LA wildfires which have now claimed 10 lives and razed more than 10,000 structures. 179,000 people are now under evacuation orders. Former 7NEWS US Bureau Chief @mikeamor7 shares insight on the hardships facing hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles residents. https://t.co/f4HqMrvb30 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/5mo3LLwJ1Z 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) January 10, 2025 Mike Amor said, Karina, Im not ashamed to say there have been lots of tears in the Amor household. My American wife is from LA and for 10 years of the 18 years that we lived there we called Pacific Palisades and Malibu home. Its where our son went to school. Its where we shopped for groceries. So many memories. Former 7NEWS US Bureau Chief @mikeamor7 shares insight on the hardships facing hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles residents. https://t.co/f4HqMrvb30 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/5mo3LLwJ1Z 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) January 10, 2025 Pavan Kumar Maurya, TwoCircles.net Mughalsarai, Chandauli: The Chandasi Coal Mandi, located just five kilometers from Varanasi in Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, is gripped by severe cold since December 31, 2024. The temperature hovers around 10C, and a cold wave blows through the area in the afternoon. The sky is overcast, and clouds of coal dust and ash swirl through the air. Support TwoCircles Amidst the hum of hammers and the activity of laborers unloading coal, workers who have finished their tasks rush to the hand pumps to wash their hands and feet, stained with soot. Situated across the Ganga, this bustling market is one of the largest coal markets in Asia and lies in the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Toll on Laborers Health Lalmuni, a resident of Bihars Kaimur district, has been working in the Chandasi coal market for five years. His face is swollen, blackened from head to toe with coal soot, a testament to the toll his work has taken. A daily wage laborer, he earns between Rs 200 and Rs 300, depending on the work available. His job is to unload coal from trucks coming from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. I am the sole breadwinner for my family, Lalmuni told TwoCircles.net. There is no consistent work in my village, but here in the coal market, I get daily wages against cash. The problem is that the dust from the coal affects my health. When I inhale, the coal ash settles in my chest and lungs. It also irritates my eyes, and the soot flows out as sweat. I feel breathlessness and sometimes suffer cough and fever that lasts for days. This is the daily reality here. We have no choice but to endure it. The soot and dust are with us even when we sit down to eat. Thousands of workers, as well as the local population, are breathing in toxic air. Over 40,000 people from surrounding villages like Dulhipur, Mahabalpur, Satpokhari, Bisaudhi, Bagahi, Harikeshpur, Dandi, Karbat and Chandasi are impacted by the pollution. The air quality has deteriorated to the point where respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), are on the rise. A report from the State Pollution Control Board in June 2022 recommended relocating the coal market, but the government has yet to act on it. Laborers Struggling with Poverty, Pollution Kesar Singh Kushwaha, president of the Chandasi-Mughalsarai Coal Industry Laborers Union, said over 5,000 laborers work in this coal market, which stretches over four to five kilometers. These laborers come from various parts of Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Most of them belong to marginalised communities Dalits, Adivasis, Pasmanda Muslims and other backward classes. The workers face double hardship, Kushwaha said, adding, They work in dangerous conditions and are paid very little, often Rs 200 to Rs 250 per day. For the last two to three years, work has been scarce. Many workers are struggling to make ends meet. The coal market brings in huge revenue for the Mughalsarai Municipality, but there are no facilities for the workers. There is no clean drinking water, no toilets and no healthcare facilities. It is like living in a hell of black dust and poverty. Despite these harsh conditions, many workers continue to labor because they have no other option to feed their families. The Daily Struggle of Workers Kailash, a laborer from Bhagalpur, describes the daily ordeal. When we unload the coal, the dust flies around. It gets into our eyes, nose, ears and mouth, he says. But I have no choice. I need to feed my family. During the rainy season, the situation worsens. Sarmu Ram, a laborer from Kaimur, recounts a typical day in the coal market. Today, I emptied just one truck, earning Rs 250. Working in coal dust is difficult coal comes out with sweat and spit. I have been suffering from fever and cough. I try to get some relief by eating jaggery and thyme, but if the problem worsens, I consult a doctor. Toxic Dust and Health Hazards Dr. Kumar Bhaskar, a cardiologist at Sunrise Hospital in Varanasi, warned about the health risks posed by the coal dust. Dust particles from loading and unloading coal can cause severe eye irritation, nasal allergies and lung damage, he explained. The deposition of silica particles can lead to incurable diseases like silicosis. Workers are at risk of asthma, tuberculosis and heart problems. Some even suffer heart attacks. A Call for Action Ram Gahan Bind, vice president of the workers union, urges for immediate action. We need clean drinking water and healthcare facilities here. The workers risk their lives daily, yet they receive little support. Despite the coal market generating revenue for the government, there are no tangible efforts to improve the lives of the workers, he said. The state government has taken some steps. A tuberculosis diagnostic center in Mughalsarai treats 50-52 TB patients monthly, many of whom are coal market workers. Most of the patients are from the labour community, but we are also seeing women, children and elderly from the town. The most affected are those in the 45-50 age group, said Ramesh Chandra Yadav, in charge of the center. If patients come to us on time, we can treat them. But many delay treatment that sometimes leads to death. A Push to Relocate the Coal Market Local leaders, including Gargi Singh Patel, president of the Samajwadi Party in Chandauli, are campaigning to get the coal market relocated away from residential areas. The coal market is poisoning the lives of thousands. The construction of a four-lane road is already underway, which might help. But we need to shift the market to protect the health and livelihoods of the people here, Patel said. Dr. Bhaskar also emphasises the need for preventive measures. Regular water sprinkling and protective gear like masks can help mitigate the effects of coal dust. But the ultimate solution is to relocate the market to a less populated area. The Governments Response Despite recommendations from the Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board to relocate the Chandasi Coal Mandi, there has been no substantial action. The report was sent to local authorities in June 2022, but a decision has yet to be made. Alok Kumar, the sub-divisional magistrate, Mughalsarai, acknowledged the issue. No one has formally complained to me about the air pollution from the coal market. However, we are aware of the problem. Any solution that can be implemented will be pursued, he noted. The lives of thousands continue to be at risk, and the fight for better working conditions and cleaner air remains ongoing. The laborers of Chandasi Coal Mandi are trapped in a cycle of pollution and poverty, with little hope of relief unless immediate action is taken to address their plight. Australia asked to pay compensation for violating rights of asylum seekers in Nauru camps Australia asked to pay compensation for violating rights of asylum seekers in Nauru camps Australia violated the human rights of asylum seekers by detaining them on the remote Pacific island of Nauru, a UN panel has ruled, asking the country to pay compensation. The United Nations Human Rights Committee found that Australia violated two provisions of the human rights treaty in cases involving 24 refugees and asylum seekers, including minors, who were detained while trying to enter Australia by boat in 2013. The asylum seekers, who came from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, ended up suffering years of arbitrary detention. A state party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state, committee member Mahjoub El Haiba said. ADVERTISEMENT After introducing a hardline immigration policy over a decade ago, Australia started sending asylum seekers intercepted at sea to detention camps on Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Island for offshore processing instead of allowing them to live in the country as refugees. The outsourcing of operations does not absolve states of accountability, Mr El Haiba noted. Offshore detention facilities are not human rights free zones for the state party, which remains bound by the provisions of the covenant. The UN panel found Canberra violated two provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, one on arbitrary detention and the other on protecting the right of refugees to challenge their detention in court. The ruling came on a 2016 petition from a group of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers who said they were held in an overcrowded detention centre with insufficient water supply and sanitation, high temperatures and humidity as well as inadequate healthcare. Almost all of these minors have suffered from deterioration of physical and mental wellbeing, including self-harm, depression, kidney problems, insomnia, headaches, memory problems and weight loss, the committee ruled on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Australia had argued there was no proof the alleged violations occurred within its jurisdiction. The committee, however, ruled that the Nauru camp counted as being within Australias jurisdiction, citing the countrys role in constructing and financing it. In a second case evaluated by the committee, it found an Iranian refugee held in a Nauru camp had also been subjected to arbitrary detention. The woman, accompanied by family members, arrived by boat on Christmas Island in 2013 but was transferred seven months later to Nauru. She was not released despite being recognised as a refugee by Nauru in 2017. She was transferred to Australia a year later for medical reasons but remained in detention. The UN committee called on Australia to provide compensation to the victims and asked it to ensure similar violations did not happen again. ADVERTISEMENT A spokesperson for Australias Department of Home Affairs said in a statement it was engaging with the UN on the complaints. "It has been the Australian Governments consistent position that Australia does not exercise effective control over regional processing centres," the department said in a statement. "We welcome Naurus continued partnership in the effective delivery of regional processing arrangements." At least 12 refugees and asylum seekers have died in Australian immigration detention centres on Manus and Nauru, either by murder by guards or suicide or medical neglect, according to human rights organisations. Human Rights Watch has said Australia forcibly transferred more than 3,000 asylum seekers to the camps where they suffered severe abuse, inhumane treatment, and medical neglect. ADVERTISEMENT Australias policy of detaining asylum seekers offshore is popular with voters. Its government claims that they are treated with dignity, fairness and respect and given access to a range of support services. Additional reporting by agencies. With a vision to build a sustainable future, Unilever Vietnam is tirelessly pursuing innovative solutions to minimise environmental impacts. In recent years climate change has become a global hot potato. According to research by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, by 2050 climate change is projected to cause losses equivalent to 17 per cent of global GDP, or US$38 trillion, annually. Against this backdrop, ESG emerges as a crucial framework for sustainable development in an era marked by globalisation and climate change. ESG sets standards to evaluate a businesss sustainability and responsibility. Vietnam is also joining global efforts to create a sustainable future, where the environment is a central pillar prioritised by the government. At the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, Vietnam, along with nearly 150 other countries, committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In response to the urgent call for greening the economy, pioneering enterprises like Unilever are redefining their operations to build a sustainable economy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and foster international collaboration in innovation. Persistent Efforts Recognized by the Human Act Prize On December 14, 2024, Unilever Vietnam was honoured at the Human Act Prize Gala for Community Action in the Sustainability Project category for its Pioneering journey towards carbon neutrality in operations initiative. According to the organisers, Unilevers project excelled in meeting three key criteria: improving production processes, integrating green technologies and establishing systems to measure environmental impacts By implementing these innovations, Unilever has not only significantly reduced CO2 emissions in its operations but also created long-term value for both the economy and society. Strategic Steps Towards Carbon Neutrality Unilever is taking bold, comprehensive steps toward carbon neutrality, from production improvements to supply chain restructuring. In Vietnam, it has achieved a major milestone by transitioning entirely to renewable energy in its manufacturing facilities. The intelligent energy management system at the Bac Ninh factory is a prime example, earning the LEED Green Building Certification, an international standard recognizing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings. Unilever has invested in green technology projects, including installing solar power systems and using biofuels. In the supply chain, biomass fuel recycled from wood scraps, damaged pallets, and rice husks has replaced fossil fuels in boilers, cutting CO2 emissions by nearly 10,000 tons annually since 2007. The effectiveness of these strategies is reflected in impressive figures: 9,684 tons of CO2 eliminated annually from 2007 to 2022; 511 kilograms of SOx emissions reduced each year through biomass fuel use; and 100% elimination of carton waste in transporting packaging from Dynaplast. Unilever has also implemented and realized a circular economy model in managing waste, such as plastic waste, damaged pallets, and cardboard boxestransforming waste into energy and fertilizers to support production activities. Unilevers efforts not only reinforce its pioneering role but also inspire other businesses to integrate economic development with environmental protection. With the collaboration of the government and the business community, the goal of a net-zero Vietnam by 2050 is entirely achievable. A family crosses Apache Creek, one of four creeks on San Antonio's west side that were turned into channels decades ago for flood control. The Westside Creeks Restoration Project is planning for full ecosystem restoration of Apache, Alazan, Martinez and San Pedro creeks, which will include adding native trees and plants and returning the waterways to more natural states. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Martinez Creek will receive the same ecosystem improvements as three other waterways in the San Antonio River Authoritys Westside Creeks Restoration Project, following a recent federal authorization. The creek runs for almost three miles from Interstate 10 and Hildebrand Avenue to Perez Street. Its one of four creeks the river authority plans to restore to more natural systems after they were turned into concrete channels for flood control about 70 years ago. The project is intended to improve water quality, return natural habitats to the creek, maintain flood mitigation and increase outdoor recreation activities on the citys West Side. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Previously, the federal government had approved full ecosystem restoration for San Pedro, Alazan and Apache creeks, but Martinez Creek was approved only for partial restoration because of utility conflicts there. There was a lot of infrastructure, especially wastewater utility infrastructure, that was in the creek, that would have prevented doing full eco-restoration of Martinez, San Antonio River Authority board chairman Jim Campbell said. The San Antonio Water System removed some of that infrastructure during its city-wide sewer system rehabilitation program, clearing the way for the river authority to seek permission for the full restoration. The change was included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, a piece of recurring legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill in December, and President Joe Biden signed it into law last weekend. Brian Mast, the river authoritys deputy director of government affairs, said the full restoration will allow for better aquatic and avian habitat in Martinez Creek when the work is completed. The plan, as it was, would have scraped the non-native grasses and wildflowers and just simply planted native grasses and wildflowers, Mast said. There would have been no channel work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now, the creek will receive the same changes that create a channel with features more like a natural stream, causing water to move at different speeds, creating a variety of habitats for aquatic life. The partial restoration also wouldnt have allowed for trees to be planted, Mast said. Full restoration will include planting native trees similar to those planted along the Mission Reach section of the river, including live oaks, cypress and pecan trees. Restoration of the Westside Creeks will have a broad and powerful impact on our city and our community, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said at a Friday news conference announcing the approval. At the core, this project will hep us rectify previous damage to the ecosystem by returning these creeks to their natural states while maintaining the present level of flood mitigation protection. The change will lengthen the project because design changes will need to be made and there will be additional work, Mast said. The first phase of construction is expected to start in early 2026, he said. Work will start first on Apache and San Pedro Creeks, the two southernmost creeks in the system. Martinez and Alazan will follow in the second phase because the downstream creeks need to be completed before the upstream creeks, which feed into them, are modified. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The full project has an estimated completion date of 2031, Mast said. Adding improvements to Martinez Creek will also raise the total cost of the project which the river authority still doesnt have a full estimate for yet. Typically, Army Corps projects require local governments to cover about 35% of the cost, while federal funding covers the remaining 65%, Mast said. In 2022, the federal government approved $75 million for the federal share, but that amount was based on pre-pandemic cost estimates, he said. With the rising costs since then, as well as additional work on Martinez, we will need additional federal funding, he said. READ MORE: How ditching an old dam could boost San Antonio River wildlife U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who sits on the House Committee on Appropriations, said San Antonios federal delegation will continue working toward that funding. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In appropriations, well make sure that we fight for that funding on it, he said. Bexar County is the local funding partner for the project and committed to completing the effort, Mast said. The county has included funding for the project in its 10-year capital improvement plan, the river authority said. County Judge Peter Sakai said the creek restoration can be another game-changing event, like the $384 million Mission Reach restoration project on the South Side that the county also helped fund. As the citizens of the West Side would say, its about damn time, Sakai said. Or as they would say truly in the West Side, dale gas, lets go, lets get this thing going. 1.VinFast leads the market VinFast dominated sales with 67,000 vehicles sold in 11 months, projected to surpass 80,000 units by year-end. This underscores growing consumer trust in Vietnamese-made cars, particularly electric vehicles (EVs). 2. Vietnamese cars exported to Thailand Hyundai Thanh Cong exported Hyundai Palisade cars to Thailand, marking a breakthrough for Vietnamese car exports and signalling competitive quality in international markets. 3. Vietnam Motor Show revival The Vietnam Motor Show (VMS 2024) made a comeback, hosting 19 brands and attracting nearly 240,000 visitors, though it lacked major luxury brands and contract signings seen in past events. 4. Registration fee reduction boosted sales A 50 per cent reduction in registration fees for domestically manufactured vehicles (Sept-Nov 2024) significantly stimulated sales, benefitting brands like VinFast, Toyota, and Honda. 5. Surge in Chinese brands The market saw an influx of seven new Chinese brands, including BYD and GAC, bringing the total number of marques in Viet Nam to over that of Japanese competitors. 6. Tasco-Volvo acquisition Tasco Auto acquired Sweden Auto, the official Volvo importer and collaborated with Geely to establish a new car factory in Thai Binh Province, reinforcing its role in Viet Nam's automotive sector. 7. VinFast's localisation strategy VinFast committed to achieving an 84 per cent localisation rate for its EVs by 2026, focusing on domestic production of components and battery cells to enhance cost-efficiency and competitiveness. 8. New electric car factory in Ha Tinh VinFast began constructing its second EV factory in Ha Tinh Province, with a planned capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year in Phase 1. This $310 million investment will support rising EV demand. 9. Popularity of urban SUVs Compact SUVs like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Kia Seltos remained favourites, catering to urban consumers with their practicality, fuel efficiency and adaptability. 10. Market recovery and growth The market rebounded strongly, with total vehicle sales reaching around 420,000 units by November 2024a 12 per cent increase year-over-year. SUVs and crossovers led the charge, highlighting shifting consumer preferences. The Vietnamese vehicle market in 2024 demonstrated resilience and innovation, driven by domestic brands like VinFast, supportive policies and international market expansions. The growth in EVs, localisation efforts and strategic partnerships set the stage for a competitive and sustainable future. VNS A NANG a Nang International Airport hosted 13.4 million passengers, of which 6.2 million were international arrivals, and landed 32,400 tonnes of cargo, earning total revenue of VN1.6 trillion (US$64 million) in 2024. Director of the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam, a Nang branch (ACV-a Nang), Phan Kieu Hung gave the figures and added that the airport has been designed for handling 14 million passengers with a series of infrastructure upgrading and expansion projects in 2026-28. He said 81,000 flights had arrived safely in 2024, of those 46 per cent were international arrivals, while 43 per cent of total cargo flights came from over seas. The director added the construction of a new cargo terminal with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year would begin in the third quarter of 2025, leading to increased capacity over the next decades. The airport will also be improving the quality of services at the current Terminal 1, reaching four-star standard in 2025, while the new cargo terminal will be the first fully automatic operation in central Viet Nam. According to the airport authority, 40 per cent of international flights in the first quarter of 2025 will be coming from Korea. a Nang Citys tourism department, in co-operation with the a Nang International terminal investment and operation joint-stock company (AHT) and ACV a Nang, have been pushing a Nang as a safe, attraction and hospitality destination in 2021-25. The airport was listed among the 100 best airports in the world in 2024 by the UKbased aviation consultancy Skytrax, while it was ranked among the top-five airports in terms of capacity, by Routes Asia 2024, able to manage up to 20 million passengers per year. a Nang has 24 direct air routes, of which 16 are international, hosting an average of 90 to 140 flights per day. Air Premia, a Seoul-based airline, plans to start operating a new route connecting Incheon, Korea and a Nang with four flights per week from the first quarter of 2025. VNS VIENTIANE Several investment and cooperation agreements worth billions of dollars have been signed between Vietnamese and Lao agencies and companies in Vientiane on Thursday, witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on a two-day working trip to the neighbouring country. Ha Noi-based SDVIC Wind Power JSC increased its investment capital in the Savan1 Wind Power Plant project in Laos to US$32 million. Meanwhile, Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) increased its investment in a dairy farm complex project in Laos to over $85 million. The Military Bank (MB) raised its investment into an MB Laos Bank project to nearly 230 billion Lao kip ($10.5 million). The Vietnamese bank also signed agreements to arrange funding for the Savan1 Wind Power Plant and Xekong Thermal Power Plant. In addition, the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment issued a contract appendix to Viet Phuong Investment Group JSC for a bauxite mining and alumina processing plant project in Laos, with a designed capacity of one million tonnes of alumina per year and a total investment of approximately $1 billion. The ministry also signed a contract with the company for the development of five small hydropower projects in Kalum District, Sekong Province, with a total capacity of 180 megawatts and a total investment of $197 million. The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines granted a construction licence to the Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) for a potassium salt mining and processing project worth over $522 million. In terms of cooperation agreements, a consulting contract surveying and planning the development of an airport system in Laos through 2030 and 2050 was signed between the Vietnamese Sovico Group JSC, Transport Engineering Design Incorporated (TEDI) and the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Airports Corporation of Laos (AOL). Vietnam Airlines and Lao Airlines also signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation. The Lao Department of Livestock and Fisheries and the Viet Laos Agricultural Group Joint Stock Company signed a cooperation agreement to develop a high-tech aquaculture chain at Laos' hydropower reservoirs. A cooperation agreement to train a workforce for businesses in Laos was also signed between the Institute for Human Resource Development and International Cooperation (IHC), the Vietnam Business Association in Laos (AVILA) and the Young Entrepreneur Association of Laos (YEAL). VNS HA NOI The stock market concluded the Friday trading session with significant losses, as the VN-Index fell sharply, closing near the 1,230-point mark. Banking stocks were among the largest losers, driving the market downturn. However trading liquidity improved significantly compared to the previous session, while foreign investors continued their net-selling streak. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index closed at 1,230.48 points, down 15.29 points or 1.23 per cent. Market breadth was decidedly negative, with 250 declining stocks compared to 68 advancing. Trading value on the southern bourse increased significantly, to approximately VN11.2 trillion (US$440.1 million), a 49.3 per cent rise from the previous session. The VN30-Index, which monitors the top 30 largest-cap stocks on HoSE, also recorded a notable drop, losing 17.57 points or 1.34 per cent, closing at 1,293.23 points. Within the VN30 basket, 26 stocks fell, three rose, and one remained unchanged. The banking sector exerted significant downward pressure on the market. The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) dropped 2.13 per cent, removing more than 1.4 points from the VN-Index. Similarly, the Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TCB) declined 2.3 per cent, while the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) fell 0.54 per cent and the Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDB) suffered a sharp loss of 3.36 per cent. Other notable losers included Hoa Phat Group JSC (HPG), down 1.73 per cent, and Masan Group Corporation (MSN), which dropped 2.67 per cent. Despite the overall decline, some large-cap stocks provided marginal support. Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SSB) rose 2.05 per cent, contributing over 0.24 points to the VN-Index. Analysts from Viet Dragon Securities commented: The market lost balance and fell below the MA(200) level at 1,240 points. Liquidity increased compared to the previous session, indicating rising supply while supportive cash flow remained cautious. "The current significant decline has raised risks for the market. Weakness may persist in the next session, and the market will likely test supply and demand around the 1,230-point region. To regain upward momentum, the market needs stronger support from cash flow at this level. Investors were advised to: Take a cautious approach and observe supply-demand dynamics at support levels to reassess market conditions. Temporarily, portfolio adjustments should aim to reduce risk exposure. However, buying opportunities could be considered if strong support from cash flow is observed, prioritising stocks showing positive trends from support levels or those retreating to strong support areas. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also ended lower, dropping 1.1 per cent to close at 219.49 points. Trading value on the northern exchange exceeded VN787 billion, with over 49 million shares traded. Foreign investors continued to offload stocks, with a net sale of over VN220 billion on HoSE and more than VN16 billion on HNX. VNS KHANH HOA The south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa hopes to welcome 11.8 million tourists this year, 5.2 million of them foreigners. It eyes tourism revenues of VN60 trillion (US$2.36 billion). To achieve the goals, its tourism authorities will roll out policies to attract investment in key destinations, travel management, transportation, and accommodation and develop new tourism products, Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, director of its Department of Tourism, said. It is vital to strengthen tourism linkages with other provinces and cities and foster new international markets such as Japan, Malaysia and India, she said. inh Van Thieu, deputy chairman of the province Peoples Committee, said the tourism industry saw a recovery in the number of tourist arrivals from the Republic of Korea, China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, and the number of domestic visitors increased during the summer and holidays. The province received more than 10.8 million overnight visitors last year, an increase of 49 per cent from 2023. The number of foreign visitors almost doubled to 4.8 million. Tourism revenues were worth more than VN53.1 trillion ($2.09 billion), up 56 per cent from 2023. The tourism industry will focus on developing high-quality and competitive tourism products and services. Thieu instructed relevant agencies to come up with solutions to prevent traffic congestion in Nha Trang City, remove difficulties in receiving international cruise ships and strengthen the fight against tax losses in the tourism sector. The Peoples Committee approved plans for organising the Nha Trang- Khanh Hoa Sea Festival from April 10 to June 27 with more than 40 activities. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei and the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam jointly launched a photo website about Brunei, under the domain name bruneicharm.com. The website features beautiful natural landscapes of Brunei and highlights various aspects of its culture as well as the role of cultural exchanges in bilateral relations between Viet Nam and Brunei. In discussions with the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei, several agencies and partners in the country expressed high expectations for the effectiveness of digital technologies and apps in promoting cooperation in fields like culture and tourism in the future. Salinah Binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Director of the Tourism Development Department at the Ministry of Resources and Tourism in Brunei, shared plans to promote digital tourism apps and collaborate with influencers on social media from various countries, including Viet Nam, to promote Bruneis tourism in 2025. The idea of launching a photo website about Brunei originated from an internship cooperation programme between the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei and the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam. During this process, the student interns actively compiled and designed various digital media products, publications and videos to promote Viet Nam in Brunei. They also actively initiated the creation of the photo website about Brunei in both Vietnamese and English to provide information and knowledge about the country of Brunei as well as its people and unique cultural features. Dr Nguyen Thi Thin, Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, said this initiative demonstrates the proactive and creative approach of the academy's students in applying digital media to help promote cultural exchanges between Viet Nam and international partners. She believes that in the future, the acadmy's Department of Communication and Foreign Culture will strengthen cooperation and connections with domestic and international partners to improve the effectiveness of student training, while also contributing to building bridges for youth and students to connect with other countries. Sharing her thoughts on the initiative, ang Le Xuan Mai, the leader of the intern student group, expressed her deep impressions of the role of cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections in fostering sustainable friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and partner countries, including Brunei. VNS MOSCOW The number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam rose 84.9 per cent to 232,300 in 2024 despite the shortage of direct and charter flights from Russian regions, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR). Although the figure remains a far cry from the 2019 level, this growth trajectory is expected to continue this year. The ATOR attributed the increase to the resumption of several direct flights and the availability of affordable transit flights via China, adding that up to 85% of Russian tourists travelled to resorts in Viet Nam via connecting flights. The association stated that Viet Nam is a popular traditional destination for Russian beach holidaymakers, particularly those from the Ural, Siberia, and Far Eastern regions. However, due to the lack of direct transportation to resorts and the absence of charter flights, the number of Russian tourists has not yet reached the pre-pandemic level in 2019, when the Southeast Asian nation welcomed over 646,500 tourists from Russia, 2.8 times higher than in 2024. Nevertheless, the number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam is only marginally lower than those from other European countries such as the UK (306,194 visitors, up 20.8 per cent year-on-year), France (278,943, up 29.4 per cent); and Germany (249,217, up 24.5 per cent). According to the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, Viet Nam served over 17.5 million foreign holidaymakers last year, up 39.5% year-on-year. VNA/VNS HA NOI Party General Secretary To Lam urged intellectuals and scientists to strive to fulfil their responsibilities and missions during the new era, contributing alongside the Party, people and armed forces to achieve the countrys strategic goals. Speaking on Thursday morning in HCM City, during a meeting with former Party and State leaders and distinguished senior officials, as well as scientists and intellectuals, he urged them to have high aspirations. The meeting was attended by former Politburo members and former Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang, former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, former Politburo member and former Permanent Secretary of the Party Central Committee Le Hong Anh, as well as other former leaders of the Party and State. Lam also told the intellectual community to educate, nurture and support the younger generations to advance, becoming a powerful driving force for building and protecting the nation, while contributing to shaping the future of humanity and global civilisation. He highlighted the importance of building a network connecting domestic and international experts, scientists and Vietnamese intellectuals abroad. "The Party, State and people have great faith and expectations in intellectuals and scientists the vanguard who play a pivotal role in driving innovation and breakthroughs, aiming for the rapid and sustainable development of our country in the new era," he said. He also added that despite many internal and external challenges, the Party, people and armed forces had made significant efforts and achieved important accomplishments. In 2024, the country successfully met its economic and social development goals and made critical strides in Party-building and the development of the political system. Notably, the contributions of former leaders, intellectuals, scientists and artists had been immense, he said. Their intellectual efforts, dedication and valuable experience had played a crucial role in policy formulation and the introduction of breakthrough solutions across all sectors. Creating a space for cultural development He emphasised that since the establishment of the Party and the Government, the Party and State had always paid particular attention to the artistic community. Numerous resolutions, mechanisms and policies had been enacted to create favourable conditions and a conducive space for the development of arts and culture. In response, the artistic community had grown increasingly mature, making significant contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party. Revolutionary artists had become the cultural vanguard of the Party, a key force in shaping the new cultural landscape, promoting the development of a socialist-oriented cultural industry, nurturing the spiritual life of the people and contributing to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the nation. Their work has helped to elevate the national identity, glorify the country's beauty and contribute to global civilisation, he added. Therefore he said, in the future, artists were told to continue to contribute by creating works of significant artistic and intellectual value, celebrating the ideals of truth, goodness and beauty, serving the people and supporting the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. He revealed that the Party would soon issue a resolution on the development of culture and arts and would study the formulation of a National Strategy for building a cultural era. The National Assembly, Government and relevant agencies would collaborate to address legal, policy, financial and investment barriers, creating the resources and space for artists to freely create and produce while combating distorted, regressive and anti-cultural ideologies. Also at the meeting, Lam said the goals of building a strong, prosperous, democratic, equitable and civilised Viet Nam were not only the aspirations of individuals but also the collective mission of the entire nation. Then he expressed his hope for continued support and valuable contributions from former leaders, intellectuals, scientists and artists individuals who had always been a source of inspiration, motivation and spiritual strength on the nations development journey. VNS HA NOI The National Assembly (NA) expects to connect with e-parliaments around the world and the Inter-Parliamentary Union as part of the programme to build and develop digital parliament. NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man has signed a resolution detailing this programme. According to the resolution, promoting the application of information technology and digital transformation at the NA in the context of building and perfecting an advanced and modern socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam is urgent, aiming to create a strong and comprehensive change in the operation, leadership, direction and management capacity, reducing work processing time, promoting the NAs innovation and creativity in the digital environment. It aligns with the National Digital Transformation Programme until 2025, with a vision to 2030. The NA is aiming to transfer all activities from the traditional environment to the digital environment. From 2024 to 2026, the NA plans to complete restructuring of information technology infrastructure to switch to digital infrastructure applying cloud computing technology, with high redundancy, meeting standards. All NA deputies, officials and civil servants are equipped with digital signatures. By 2026, it is expected that 100 per cent of processes and operations are performed in the digital environment. Artificial intelligence will assist professional operations. The NA will build an information technology software system to support legislation, supervision, decision-making on important national issues, foreign affairs and international cooperation activities. The software will serve as a communication platform between the NA and voters, according to the resolution. From 2027 to 2030, it looks to improve information and data security and safety with a multi-layered information security system that meets the requirements of cyber-attack response. The resolution highlights strengthening the leadership of the NA Standing Committee, the Steering Committee on Digital Transformation and close coordination between NA agencies, NA Standing Committees agencies, the NA Office, the NA Delegation, and NA deputies building and developing the digital parliament. It also emphasised the importance of raising awareness on digital transformation and providing digital technology skill training train for NA deputies, officials and civil servants. VNS VIENTIANE Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has affirmed that Vietnam is willing to help Laos improve its capacity for participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Chien made the statement at his meetings in Vientiane on Thursday with Laoss Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Khamlieng Outhakaysone and Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vongkham Phommakone on the occasion of accompanying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. At the meetings, both sides reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen and tighten the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and armies. They agreed to implement the contents approved by the Ministries of Defence in the 2025 cooperation plan. Congratulating Khamlieng Outhakaysone on his appointment as Defence Minister, Chien expressed his belief that in his new position, the officer will lead the Lao People's Army to further development, and the cooperative relationship between the two armed forces will grow stronger. Informing the Lao minister about the outcomes of his meeting with Deputy Minister Vongkham Phommakone, Chien emphasised that the two ministries have identified key areas of cooperation for 2025. Accordingly, they will continue to exchange all-level delegations, maintaining the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-Laos Defence Policy Dialogue and the Young Officers Exchange Programme, and promoting cooperation in UN peacekeeping efforts. Earlier, at the meeting between the two deputy ministers, both sides agreed to instruct their respective agencies and units to closely coordinate in implementing the contents of the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos Defence Cooperation for the 2025-2029 period, the 2025 Cooperation Plan, and mutual perceptions reached by the high-ranking leaders of the two countries. Chien noted that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry supports and is ready to exchange working and specialised delegations to provide advice on preparing and deploying forces, and assist in training and capacity building, helping Laos join UN peacekeeping operations. He took this occasion to express the hope that the Ministry of National Defence and the Government of Laos will pay more attention to and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises, including those of the military, to invest in Laos in fields such as information technology, digital transformation, postal services, construction, and mining. VNS A 17-year-old teen is dead after being shot during a meet-up on the Southeast Side. Ken Branca A 17-year-old teen is dead after being shot during a meet-up on the Southeast Side. San Antonio police responded to a shooting in progress around 9:22 p.m. Monday near Schley Avenue and Adele Street. Arriving officers found the teen deceased. There were also two other wounded individuals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officers determined that the two individuals were meeting up with the alleged suspects when they were shot, according to a police report. The teen and another male were shot during the incident, police said. A sergeant at the scene said a third person was also hit by a stray bullet while inside a nearby home. The 17-year-old died at the scene. The other male was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad VIENTIANE Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the Laos - Viet Nam Friendship Park, a symbol of the solidarity between the two nations, in Vientiane on Friday. The park, covering over 30,000 square metres, is located in Xaythany district, an area planned to be a new urban centre following the expansion of the capital. At the heart of the park is a large square and an artificial lake surrounded by green spaces. Notably, at the central square, a group of bas-reliefs depicts the historical and cultural elements of Laos, with the flags of Laos and Vietnam fluttering above. In the foreground, statues of three Vietnamese and Lao leaders President Ho Chi Minh of Viet Nam and Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong of Laos are prominently displayed. The Laos - Viet Nam Friendship Park is a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the Lao Party, State, and people, presented in the turnkey format. Upon completion, it will blend modern design with historical and cultural significance, offering a beautiful and aesthetic landscape. It will serve as a recreation space for the public, a venue for events, and a place for educating future generations on the revolutionary traditions as well as the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos. Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and head of its Office Thongsalith Mangnomek described the park as a symbol of the two countries' relations, reflecting a long-standing tradition of bilateral ties nurtured over many generations. He emphasised that Laos and Viet Nam are neighbours sharing the Truong Son Range and the Mekong River. Throughout history, they have maintained strong friendship and mutual support. Leaders such as Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane, Souphanouvong, and Ho Chi Minh played an instrumental role in the countries' struggles for independence and reinforcement of the friendship. These efforts remain deeply ingrained in the histories of both nations. The joint decision of the two Parties and Governments to build this park is of significant importance, with the central highlight being the statues of Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane, and Souphanouvong positioned solemnly at the heart of the park, the official stated. He said that upon completion, the park will become the greenest and most beautiful park in Vientiane, providing a recreational space for the people of the capital and a venue for commemorating the glorious history and time-honoured friendship of Laos and Viet Nam. The Project Management Board is committed to making the park a model project and ensuring it is completed on schedule with the highest quality. On this occasion, the Lao Party and Government expressed their gratitude to the Vietnamese Party and Government for their support in the development of this important project. VNS VIENTIANE Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on Friday, part of his visit to co-chair the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. Welcoming the Vietnamese PM, the host leader emphasised that the visit marks an important milestone for the Intergovernmental Committee. He affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Laos always consider the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam as a priceless asset which carries strategic importance to the revolutionary causes of both countries. PM Chinh congratulated Laos on its successes in 2024 and expressed his confidence that under the clear-sighted leadership of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, headed by Thongloun Sisoulith, the Party, State, and people of Laos will continue to reap even greater achievements in successfully implementing the resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and the 9th five-year socio-economic development plan. Informing the host of the outcomes of his meeting with his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone, the Intergovernmental Committees 47th meeting, and the Viet Nam - Laos cooperation and investment conference 2025, PM Chinh highlighted that the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in all areas since the previous session of the Intergovernmental Committee, agreed on measures to solve many outstanding problems, and put forward directions for bilateral cooperation in 2025. Both sides also agreed to strive for bilateral trade turnover of US$5 billion, up from the current $2.2 billion. They vowed to maintain support for each other in building independent and self-reliant economies that are deeply and effectively integrated into the world, promote collaboration in culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges, and step up high-level mutual visits, especially on the occasion of major events of the two countries, according to the Vietnamese leader. Welcoming the outcomes of the 47th session, the top leader of Laos appreciated the strong directions by the Politburo of Viet Nam, especially those by Party General Secretary To Lam and PM Chinh, in implementing the high-level cooperation agreements and plans, with a focus on resolving the difficulties and obstacles facing many projects. He spoke highly of the great efforts and determination by the two countries' Governments, sectors, and localities to foster bilateral ties. asking for stronger implementation of the issues agreed upon by the two sides' leaders. He also suggested further strengthening the economic connectivity between Laos and Viet Nam, particularly in finance, infrastructure, transport, energy, telecommunications, and tourism. VNS SINGAPORE Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung is on a working visit to Singapore from January 7-11 at the invitation of Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan. During the visit, Trung paid a courtesy call to former Prime Minister and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also Senior Advisor of the ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP), and met with Assistant Secretary-General of the party and Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing. He had meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Chairman of Temasek Holdings Lim Boon Heng, Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation Ng Boon Heong, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Danny Quah, and Director and CEO of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Yusof Ishak Institute Choi Shing Kwok. Trung and his entourage laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh statue, visited several economic and cultural facilities, and met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore. At the meetings with high-ranking Singaporean leaders, the Vietnamese official highly valued co-operation between the two countries, relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the PAP, large-scale investment projects and the training cooperation programme, as well as coordination in international issues between the nations. Vietnam always treasures and wishes to continue promoting the Viet Nam-Singapore Strategic Partnership, Trung said. Addressing the S. Rajaratnam Endowment Dialogue (SRED 2025) hosted by the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak (ISEAS), Trung highlighted Vietnam's significant achievements after 40 years of oi Moi (Renewal), the country's foreign policy, and its long-term development goals in the new era. At the meetings and exchanges, both sides were pleased to note that the Viet Nam -Singapore Strategic Partnership has recently been developing strongly, effectively, and comprehensively. The two countries remain each other's leading economic partners, with many positive results in economic cooperation, trade, investment and connectivity. Trung and the Singaporean leaders agreed to promote the implementation of high-level agreements between the two countries, including the outcomes of the recent phone talks between Party General Secretary To Lam and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, enhance all-level exchanges, and effectively utilise existing cooperation mechanisms to further tap into cooperation potential between Viet Nam and Singapore in the coming time. VNS VIENTIANE Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Bounthong Chitmany, Permanent member of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committees Secretariat and State Vice President of Laos in Vientiane on January 10, part of his trip to visit Laos and co-chair the 47th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. The Lao official emphasised the strong bond and long-standing special relationship between Viet Nam and Laos, which has been forged through difficulties and challenges. He described this relationship as a valuable common asset of both nations and the law of existence and development for each country. He congratulated Viet Nam on the important achievements of historical significance it has made during the renewal process and praised the country for its increasing international standing. He appreciated the outstanding results of the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam -Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and expressed his admiration for the decisive leadership of the Party, State, and PM Chinh, which has contributed to Viet Nam 's breakthrough achievements recently. During the reception, PM Chinh informed Bounthong about Viet Nams situation, its development orientations, priorities, and focuses for 2025, as well as the outcomes of his meetings with Lao Party, State, Government, and National Assembly leaders, and the meeting of the Viet Nam -Laos intergovernmental committee. The Vietnamese leader said that the 2025 Viet Nam -Laos Investment Cooperation Conference and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Park are important events that help people, especially the youth of both countries, understand more about the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. He affirmed Viet Nam 's readiness to stand by Laos in socioeconomic development, and urged Laos to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, thereby improving the living standards of the Lao people. Both sides expressed their joy at the good cooperation results in all fields between the two Parties and States in recent times. They affirmed that in any circumstances, both sides will join hands to maintain and cultivate the enduring Viet Nam -Laos and Laos-Vietnam relationship, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries. Chinh and Bounthong emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the high-level agreements and plans, enhancing the exchange and sharing of theories, experience, and practices in mapping out strategies and guidelines and implement national construction and development, making the bilateral cooperation relationship more practical and effective. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Ha Noi on January 10 evening, concluding their two-day trip to visit Laos and co-chair the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation at the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. During the working trip, PM Chinh engaged in nearly 20 activities, covering a diverse range of topics. He held meetings and discussions with all the highest-ranking leaders of the Lao Party, State, and National Assembly, and visited former senior leaders of Laos. Notably, PM Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired two significant events - the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam -Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and the Viet Nam -Laos Investment Cooperation Conference. The two PMs also attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Laos- Viet Nam Friendship Park in Vientiane, a gift from the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam to their Lao peers. Both sides agreed on new policies, approaches, mindsets and methods as well as greater determination and more effective measures to boost the cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos in the coming time. In addition to strengthening political and diplomatic cooperation, enhancing security and defence collaboration, and promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges, the two sides committed to raising bilateral trade to US$5 billion in a more balanced manner, instead of the current figure of just over $2.2 billion, with Laos enjoying a trade surplus. Both sides are also determined to resolve pending issues and projects, paving the way for the two countries to enter a new phase of more practical and effective development, especially in transportation connectivity projects. They also aim to address challenges for businesses to operate smoothly, effectively, and sustainably in both countries. During the visit, the two countries signed four cooperation documents and handed over seven investment certificates to businesses. Companies from both sides inked six investment cooperation agreements, totaling billions of dollars, in sectors such as aviation, finance, energy, agriculture, and human resources training. The two sides announced a framework for domestic currency payment and bilateral retail payment connection using QR codes between Viet Nam and Laos, facilitating transactions for businesses and citizens in economic, trade, investment, and tourism activities. The PMs visit effectively implemented the foreign affairs tasks outlined at the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, as well as high-level agreements between Viet Nam and Laos, particularly those reached at their Politburo meeting in September 2024. VNS VIENTIANE Viet Nam always values the invaluable contributions of former Lao leaders to the special Viet Nam -Laos relationship, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his separate meetings with former Party General Secretary and former President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachit, and former Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Vientiane on January 10. PM Chinh said he hopes the former Lao leaders, with their prestige and experience, will continue to support and give opinions to strengthen and deepen the cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries. During the meetings, PM Chinh conveyed greetings and New Year wishes from Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the former high-ranking leaders of the Lao Party and State. Chinh informed the formers Lao leaders about the outcomes of his meetings with leaders of the Lao Party, State, Government, and National Assembly, as well as the results of the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam -Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation that he co-chaired. He affirmed that the Viet Nam -Laos relationship is an invaluable asset, vital to both countries' revolutionary cause. The former Lao leaders expressed their joy to meet the Vietnamese PM again and asked him to convey their sincere thanks and warm greetings to Party General Secretary To Lam and other high-ranking leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State. They also expressed their delight at Viet Nam 's strong and stable development and its increasing role and position on the international stage, as well as the special solidarity between the two Parties, states, and people of the two countries. They appreciated the results of the 47th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee, and the leadership of Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and other high-ranking leaders in continuously consolidating, protecting, and promoting the Viet Nam -Laos solidarity for the benefit of the two countries' people. The leaders agreed to continue focusing on educating and promoting the great friendship and special solidarity tradition to both countries' people, especially younger generations. This was the final activity of PM Chinh in his Laos visit to co-chair the 47th meeting of the Viet Nam -Laos Intergovernmental Committee. Later the day, the PM, together with the Vietnamese delegation, left Vientiane, concluding his working trip. VNS HA NOI After three years of failing to meet growth targets, Viet Nams economic productivity in 2024 overachieved its goal with a 7.09 per cent increase. Experts believe this is an important stepping stone to reach 8 per cent growth in 2025. The national economys productivity in 2024 is estimated at VN229 million (US$9,182) per person, increasing by $726 compared to the previous year due to improved capacity. Assoc. Prof., Dr. inh Trong Thinh, senior lecturer at the Academy of Finance, underscored the importance of labour productivity in production quality, efficiency, wage increases and overcoming the middle-income trap to transform into a developed country. The country's productivity growth mainly came from both local and foreign-invested private enterprises, as well as restructured State-owned enterprises. The increase over the past year has helped boost productivity numbers over the 2021-2024 period. In Southeast Asia, Viet Nam currently ranks second among high-growth countries. As for this year's 8 per cent growth target, Thinh said that challenges are expected as 2025 could see uncertainty and multiple fluctuations due to undefined policies of major countries around the world, such as the US. He expressed hope that the new US administration would adopt a harmonious approach to international conflicts and minimise escalating risks of war, which would help stabilise and propel the global economy. Addressing the Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East conflicts could boost the economy and trade activities, thereby improving US incomes and facilitating imports from Viet Nam, he explained. Economic and political instability still exists, not to mention the possibility that the US might impose high tariffs on imported goods, Thinh told Voice of Viet Nam (VOV). He added: In general, there are many uncertainties, especially with ongoing global conflicts that could destabilise the global situation, causing fluctuating commodity prices. Our economy is currently in a transitional phase, and we are undergoing a restructuring of the administrative apparatus. If we manage this well, it will be a driving force to boost labour productivity and achieve better economic growth. Dr Nguyen Tri Hieu, an economic expert, said that the 7.09 per cent productivity growth in 2024 was an encouraging result but is still considered low compared to global statistics, adding that Viet Nam remains among the list of developing countries. While achieving its target, Viet Nam should not be overly optimistic as there is still a lot to be done to improve the economys labour productivity, he said. Viet Nam is now in the mid-tier of the middle-income group, but still has to overcome a considerable gap to reach the upper-middle-income group, with much more effort needed to achieve higher productivity and GDP per capita, said Hieu. He also emphasised that labour productivity is an important indicator because the country needs quantifiable data to understand where its productivity stands and how it compares to neighbouring countries and global performance. Additionally, qualitative indicators are necessary to assess workers progress in all aspects, especially as we enter a new phase of development. We should not only focus on quantitative indicators but also qualitative ones. For example, when discussing the workforce, we need to consider the quality of life, housing conditions, living environment, transportation means, compensation and benefits, and workers' opinions. These are the factors that need attention, not just the growth numbers, said Hieu. Experts believe given the current status and capacity of the economy, 8 per cent productivity growth in 2025 is a relatively high target. Viet Nam has the potential, but the key factor remains in policy changes and the drivers leveraged for growth. Regarding this target, Hieu said that the Government needs to prepare for different scenarios, and create support policies to achieve this goal or different measures if the growth rate is below expectations. Meanwhile, Thinh underscored that we must stabilise the administrative structure and immediately work on production and business management to ensure development. In addition, macroeconomic balances must be maintained. Among these measures, stabilising the value of the Vietnamese ong against the US dollar is considered a key strategy to ensure macroeconomic balance and economic stability, attract foreign investments and boost import-export activities. Thinh said: It is necessary to improve frameworks and mechanisms, especially by digitising the economy and ensuring digital connectivity between ministries and sectors, building a database on socio-economic issues to improve administrative reforms and reducing the cost of information and market access, as well as productivity growth requirements. We should also continue the streamlining and restructuring of the apparatus to select capable, dedicated and talented individuals for state management, thereby helping to improve labour productivity. VNS HA NOI Minister of Health ao Hong Lan has responded to voters' proposals about adding screening for common cancers to the list of services covered by health insurance. Ahead of the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, voters from Hue expressed concerns that early screening and detection of dangerous cancers, such as cervical, thyroid and breast cancer, could significantly reduce treatment costs. However, currently, these cancer screening services are not covered by health insurance. The voters requested that the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities consider adding these screenings to the list of services covered by health insurance (HI) to help alleviate costs for patients. In her written response, Minister ao Hong Lan acknowledged that the ministry had received numerous proposals from voters on expanding the list of medical services eligible for HI reimbursement, including cancer screenings. She emphasised that these proposals were being carefully studied to broaden insurance coverage and improve public health benefits. However, according to the minister, adding new services requires comprehensive studies on related factors, such as insurance premiums, coverage levels and service management, to prevent abuse and ensure a balanced approach. She noted the need to harmonise the Government's provision of preventive services funded by the state budget with treatment costs covered by the health insurance fund. Minister Lan explained that in 2024, during the drafting of the amendment to the Law on Health Insurance, the Government submitted a proposal to the National Assembly outlining principles for the inclusion of medical services for diagnosis, risk assessment and preventive treatment of high-prevalence diseases with significant health impacts. This included cervical cancer, breast cancer, hepatitis B and C, diabetes and hypertension, provided there is scientific evidence of the benefits of early intervention and sufficient impact assessments to ensure the sustainability of the health insurance fund. "Expanding the list of reimbursable medical services requires further detailed study, the development of specialised guidelines and the preparation of necessary conditions. This will form the basis for comprehensive amendments to the Law on Health Insurance or, if necessary, piloting before formal regulation," Minister ao Hong Lan stated. According to the minister, several cancer screening programmes have been implemented in the community, such as cervical and breast cancer screenings. Additionally, free or low-cost screening programmes have been launched for high-risk groups. Health ministry's Circulars No 39/2024 and No 35/2016 include several technical services for early cancer detection, improving treatment outcomes and increasing HI benefits for patients diagnosed with cancer. On average, Viet Nam has approximately 182,000 new cancer cases and over 122,000 cancer-related deaths annually, with about 350,000 individuals currently living with cancer. Statistics from Vietnam Social Security indicate that in 2023, the Health Insurance Fund paid nearly VN6.2 trillion (US$243.5 million) for the treatment of six common cancers (breast, lung, liver, colon, stomach and prostate). Treatment costs for patients diagnosed at later stages are significantly higher. In the Policy Impact Assessment Report for the Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Health Insurance Law (open for public comment since February 2024), the Ministry of Health estimated that the annual screening costs for cervical cancer range from VN2.6 trillion (US$102.2 million) to VN3 trillion ($118 million) and for breast cancer from VN2.5 trillion ($98.3 million) to VN5.3 trillion ($208.3 million). Many countries have implemented health insurance coverage for these screenings. Meanwhile, the average annual treatment costs for cervical cancer patients across stages I to IV are approximately VN89.8 million ($3,525) to VN136.9 million ($5,374). Early detection of cervical cancer (stage I) can save patients between VN47 million ($1,847) and VN48.6 million ($1,909) annually compared to those diagnosed at later stages. Similarly, early detection of breast cancer can save patients between VN7.9 million ($310) and VN18.3 million ($718) annually. VNS HCM CITY HCM City health authorities are maintaining strict oversight in response to the recent outbreak of virus-induced pneumonia in humans reported in China. The HCM City Department of Health has directed the HCM City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) and healthcare facilities to implement medical quarantine measures at airports and seaports, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. The measures aim to facilitate early detection and mitigate the risk of disease transmission. Ongoing domestic epidemiological surveillance will include the monitoring of respiratory infection cases, tracking hospitalisations for severe acute respiratory infections, evaluating respiratory pathogens, and observing clusters of cases in schools, factories, and communities to ensure timely interventions. Health officials have warned respiratory diseases tend to rise during colder weather; however, there have been no significant fluctuations in the number of cases or severe illnesses reported in hospitals. Health experts have clarified that Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a novel virus. It was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating globally for several years. While HMPV is less prevalent than other respiratory viruses affecting children such as rhinovirus (44.6 per cent), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (41.1 per cent), and influenza A (25 per cent), it has previously been detected within the city. The Ministry of Health earlier announced it was closely monitoring the situation concerning the new outbreak of virus-induced pneumonia in humans in China. The ministry will continue to monitor the outbreak, collaborate with the WHO and health authorities from China to update information, and proactively provide accurate, comprehensive information. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh has tasked the General Statistics Office (GSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment to finalise the plan for the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census, including questionnaires, guidance documents and operational procedures. The goal is to ensure that information collection methods are simple, clear and verifiable. The sixth agricultural census will be conducted nationwide on July 1, 2025. The Government Office on January 9 issued Notice No. 09/TB-VPCP summarising the conclusions of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, who is also the head of the Central Steering Committee for the 2025 Rural and Agricultural Census. The GSO will conduct outreach campaigns in multiple formats, blending traditional and digital communication channels including newspapers, television, local loudspeaker systems and mobile network messages. The ministry will also develop a unified nationwide communication strategy and materials. A digital platform using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be developed to automatically answer questions from census supervisors (GSVs), census interviewers (DTVs) and the general public. Specialised publications will also guide citizens on how to provide accurate information for the census. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will recruit supervisors and interviewers who are knowledgeable about local areas, information technology and agriculture and can effectively communicate with citizens. Clear assignments and responsibilities will be outlined for participants in the census, particularly interviewers responsible for gathering accurate information. Training sessions on statistical and IT operations will be held for all census personnel. These will include central-level training on household enumeration lists and farm listings by March 2025 and training on census questionnaires and IT applications by May 2025. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will ensure the provision of logistics and IT infrastructure to support data collection, processing and analysis while safeguarding personal data in accordance with Government Decree No. 13/2023/N-CP dated 17 April 2023. They will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to review funding for external interviewers to ensure compliance with regulations and report any unresolved challenges to relevant authorities. Local steering committees will advise local authorities on implementing the census as a key task for 2025. Efforts will include establishing committees at all administrative levels, ensuring proper training for supervisors and interviewers and allocating resources to ensure smooth operations. Local authorities will also provide necessary information and tailor communication strategies to local contexts. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will work closely with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to develop guidance materials and facilitate census operations. They will also share data to support statistical analysis. The Ministry of Information and Communications will work with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to enhance the IT system, ensure network security and develop risk mitigation strategies. Telecommunication providers will send census awareness messages to the public. Local digital community teams will also assist interviewers with IT support. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is tasked with supplying digital mapping data to help manage census locations and disseminate results via GIS systems, while the Ministry of Finance will allocate funds for the census per legal requirements. The Ministry of Defence is requested to conduct the rural and agricultural census according to the established plan. Other ministries and organisations, including the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and the Viet Nam Farmers' Union, will collaborate in promoting the census, supervising data collection and providing administrative data as needed. VNS Poteet ISD students were sent home early on Friday due to threats received by the district via email. Poteet Independent School District Facebook page. Poteet Independent School District sent students home early on Friday due to emailed bomb threats. Superintendent Charles Camarillo told the Express-News that two teachers received emails indicating that there were concealed bombs throughout its campuses. The emails asked for a $30,000 ransom. "We are sending kids home as we speak," Camarillo said in an email just after 10 a.m. "We have multiple law enforcement agencies here assisting and three bomb dogs en route to sweep the schools." Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a follow-up message, Camarillo said the detection dogs had not found anything as of 2:30 p.m. All students and staff were evacuated by 11:15 a.m. The superintendent said he was proud of our students, staff and parents on how well evacuation went. Poteet ISD, located about 30 miles south of San Antonio, said in a news release that administrative staff took immediate action and placed the district in a secure status after being notified of the bomb threat on Friday morning. The district said it decided to evacuate students as a safety precaution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An investigation is ongoing to identify the source of the threats and the perpetrator. In the meantime, law enforcement and canines are continuing to monitor and clear district facilities. Poteet ISD serves some 2,000 students across four campuses in rural Atascosa County, according to TEA data. The district announced the evacuation in a Facebook post that has garnered scores of concerned comments and over 350 shares since Friday morning. Students that ride the bus normally will be brought home starting with the secondary level first, the district said. Once your bus students have been loaded on the bus you will not be allowed to take them from the bus. 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 Advertisement Article continues below this ad The district said primary school students would be transported home on the second bus route. Students were to be moved to the Poteet Elementary School gymnasium while they awaited transportation. Please be patient, the post said. Students will be delivered to your car do not try to come in the building as you will not be allowed to enter. The Atascosa County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that deputies had responded to the threat. "Avoid that area if possible and for those in that area, follow instructions from law enforcement officers on scene," the post said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Poteet ISD had assistance from the Poteet Police Department, Poteet Volunteer Fire Department, Poteet Public Works, Atascosa County Office of Emergency Management and Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers and Southwest Texas Fusion Center for their ongoing assistance. The canines were provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office and ATF. Yvette Tanamal JAKARTA President Prabowo Subianto took a day trip to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and discuss both bilateral and regional issues over lunch as Malaysia marks the start of its chairmanship of ASEAN. The President, accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Maj. Teddy Indra Wijaya, landed at the Bunga Raya VIP complex of Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10am local time. They later headed to the Rumah Tangsi cultural space, greeted by Anwar for both leaders scheduled luncheon. According to statements issued by officials of both countries, the visit was personal in nature, with Prabowos official presidential trip to Malaysia not taking place until later this month. Despite the informality, conversations between the two leaders focused on key regional and other geopolitical issues, with the Malaysian statement highlighting talks on ASEAN Community Building, enhancing cooperation and addressing common global challenges. Today, I celebrate the visit from my best friend, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, in his official work visit to this country, Anwar wrote on his official social media accounts. Among issues they discussed during the lunch were border issues, labor transfer, coordination on fisherfolk in conflicted areas along the Malacca Strait, trade, defense and security. We are focusing on these issues to strengthen the bond that has been formed these years. Insya Allah [God willing], I believe this meeting will be used to look for new opportunities for both countries better futures, Anwar continued. In a speech at the Malaysian Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur before meeting Prabowo, Anwar told Malaysian businesspeople, officials and other attendants that he would also discuss with his Indonesian counterpart ways to improve the economy of both countries and cooperation between Indonesian and Malaysian companies, including in pushing for digital transformation. Shortly after the luncheon, Prabowo left Kuala Lumpur and returned to Jakarta, with Anwar seeing the Indonesian entourage off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Regional focus Prabowo was initially scheduled to come to Malaysia in December to meet Anwar and former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for an informal talk on ASEAN and bilateral cooperation in Langkawi. The Malaysian leader also sought to tap into the former Army generals strong ties with ASEAN leaders and extensive experience as Kuala Lumpur prepares for its chairmanship of the bloc this year. The meeting was postponed because Prabowo had a fever, according to Anwar. But Prabowos aide Teddy insisted that the President had been healthy, asserting that the raincheck was caused by urgent business instead. While details of the conversation between Prabowo and Anwar remained undisclosed as of Thursday evening, both leaders were expected to discuss the Myanmar crisis, among other issues, following a briefing by Naypyidaws ruling junta over a plan to hold an election in the war-torn country in 2025. The past four years have seen ASEAN struggling to navigate the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where a military coup has thwarted the countrys democratic government and kickstarted instability marked by international economic sanctions, indiscriminatory military air strikes and ethnic-based rebellions. ASEANs peace-led solution, the Five Point Consensus (5PC), struggled to take hold in Myanmar, with its calls for immediate cessation of violence and dialogue among all parties largely ignored as fighting between factions continued. Meanwhile, international pressure for the bloc to help resolve the Myanmar crisis has been increasing in the past years, pushing state members to hold a two-day meeting in Bangkok to discuss the crisis with several external parties, including China, India and Bangladesh. Foreign Minister Sugiono, however, skipped the meeting in Bangkok, leaving Indonesia represented by two senior diplomats. Under the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability, Malaysias chairmanship of ASEAN seeks to steer the bloc forward in strengthening regional peace, stability and prosperity, according to an official release in October of last year. The official launching of Malaysias chairmanship will take place in Langkawi this month, according to Malaysias state news media Bernama, with Southeast Asian nations top envoys expected to partake in the first ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat of the year. The Jakarta Post/ANN SEOUL President Yoon Suk Yeols lawyers said on Thursday they had filed for an injunction with the Constitutional Court that same day against a district court-approved warrant to detain the president. Yoon Kab-keun, one of Yoons legal representatives, insisted that the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) does not have the authority to conduct an investigation over the alleged insurrection charges of the suspended president. The CIO leads the joint investigation team, which includes the National Office of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Command of the Defense Ministry. We previously filed the competence dispute against the initial warrant, but we filed it once again for the extended warrant, President Yoons attorney told reporters in a press conference held at an office in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, on Thursday. Yoons legal team claimed that his defiance of the CIOs warrant execution was aimed at safeguarding the continuity of South Koreas Constitution, arguing that the agencys persistent efforts to detain him were a highly politicized move. The president refuses to follow the CIOs legal measure, because he believes the CIO does not have the authority to investigate the president. Its not because Yoon ignores the law, Seok Dong-hyeon, a known confidant of Yoon and a lawyer who wished to be identified as the presidents aide, said. The Korea Herald/ANN YANGON UNICEF Myanmar has reported that over 750 children were killed or injured due to armed conflicts in Myanmar during 2024. The organisation described 2024 as a particularly challenging year for children across the country, as escalating armed conflicts have exacerbated humanitarian crises. Around six million children in Myanmar are facing worsening humanitarian conditions, and more than 3.5 million people have been displaced, with children accounting for over 33 per cent of this number. UNICEF Myanmar stated that due to intensified armed conflicts, including airstrikes, over 750 children were killed or injured in 2024, equating to more than two children killed or injured daily. Between January and September 2024, at least 250 children were killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance, making Myanmar the country with the highest number of such incidents globally. Furthermore, nearly all states and regions in Myanmar are heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, posing significant risks to children. UNICEF Myanmar emphasised that these risks are compounded by the widespread collapse of essential services like healthcare and education, as well as the countrys deteriorating economic situation, making childrens daily lives increasingly dire. The report also highlighted that over one million children in Myanmar have missed out on critical vaccinations, making the country a global hotspot for children lacking access to immunization. Additionally, more than five million children are being deprived of educational opportunities, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation. This includes forced recruitment as child soldiers, early or forced marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse. As Myanmar enters 2025, UNICEF Myanmar stressed the urgent need for emergency relief and support to meet the growing needs of children affected by conflict. The organisation called for collective action to ensure the survival, protection, and brighter future of Myanmars children, underscoring the need for stronger, united efforts than ever before. ELEVEN MEDIA/ANN The deal was green lit one year after SeABank and Aeon Financial signed the transfer of the entire capital contribution of PTF at a price of VND4.3 trillion ($169.5 million). The divestment plan is part of the bank's roadmap approved by its shareholders to restructure and bolster financial capabilities with a focus on key business areas. Besides the transfer of all PTF's capital contribution, SeABank and Aeon Financial also aim to become comprehensive partners. PTF was established in October 1998 and became one of the first non-banking credit organisations in Vietnam. In 2018, it came under the full ownership of SeABank when the bank acquired it in whole from Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group. Established in 1981, AEON Financial is a member of AEON Group, Japan's largest retail conglomerate. The company operates in areas such as credit cards, instalment financing, banking, and insurance in 11 countries. AEON Financial began offering its own instalment loans in Vietnam in 2008 by establishing ACS Vietnam Trading Co., Ltd. Dealmaking activities are becoming increasingly vibrant in Vietnam's consumer finance market. Another noteworthy deal saw SCBX, a subsidiary of Thailands oldest bank and one of its leading financial institutions, acquiring Home Credit Vietnam. The transaction, valued at approximately $860 million, is poised to be finalised in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals in Vietnam and Thailand. SeABank sells entire stake in PTF to AEON Financial BRG-backed SeABank's strategic move to offload its capital stake in Postal Finance Co., Ltd. (PTF) to AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd. for around $180 million on October 19 will fortify the bank's fiscal strength and allow for new ventures in pivotal sectors. SeABank and AEON Financial ink transfer contract for PTF The transfer of SeABanks entire capital contribution in Post and Telecommunications Finance Co., Ltd. (PTF) is part of its roadmap to strengthen its financial capacity. Denzel Eades, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham) Businesses across the UK will enjoy lower tariffs when selling to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) member countries. How do you see it unlocking opportunities for UK businesses to increase their footprint? The CPTPP creates a host of new opportunities for UK businesses to expand their footprint in Vietnam by reducing trade barriers and cutting tariffs. With fewer restrictions on market access, they can now compete more effectively in key sectors within Vietnam, particularly in industries where the demand for high-quality goods and services is rising. For instance, consumer goods, technology, and machinery will see immediate gains, as the CPTPP provides a more favourable trading environment for these sectors. This allows British businesses to offer competitive pricing, improve supply chain efficiency, and more easily establish partnerships with local Vietnamese firms. Moreover, Vietnams strategic location as a gateway to the broader ASEAN region positions it as a highly attractive destination for UK companies looking to expand their presence in Asia. The agreements provisions on investment, intellectual property, and service sector liberalisation offer them new opportunities to invest in Vietnam, especially in areas like renewable energy, infrastructure, and financial services. In addition, Vietnams ongoing digital transformation and commitment to sustainable development open the door for UK businesses to introduce innovative solutions in emerging fields such as AI, fintech, and green technology. The CPTPPs framework for regulatory cooperation and market access provides them with a stable and transparent environment to explore these high-growth opportunities, positioning them as key players in Vietnams long-term development. In short, the CPTPP enables UK businesses to operate in a more open and competitive Vietnamese market, which not only strengthens their presence but also promotes long-term economic collaboration between the two nations. What are the key sectors of the UK and Vietnam to benefit from the CPTPP membership? The UKs accession to the CPTPP brings significant benefits to key sectors in both the UK and Vietnam. Traditional sectors like financial services, manufacturing, and food and drink are set to see immediate gains through reduced tariffs and streamlined regulations. Manufacturing, particularly in automotive parts, electronics, and machinery, will benefit from stronger supply chains. Additionally, the food and beverage sector will thrive as demand for high-quality British products in Vietnam continues to grow. Beyond these, emerging fields such as AI, semiconductors, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and education offer immense potential. Vietnams digital transformation and focus on a knowledge-based economy make it an attractive destination for British investors. AI aligns with Vietnams goals to develop smart cities and drive innovation in sectors like healthcare and education. UK financial institutions will also benefit from enhanced access to Vietnams growing banking and insurance sectors. BritCham and the British Embassy to Vietnam are supporting CPTPP efforts, particularly via initiatives such as CityUKs work on Vietnams international financial centre. The education sector is poised for growth as demand for quality education increases, providing opportunities for British universities and training providers. The semiconductor industry also holds promise, with the UKs technological expertise helping to boost Vietnams capabilities. Meanwhile, green technologies and renewable energy sectors align with Vietnams commitment to sustainability, attracting British investment in solar, wind, and other renewable sources. BritCham plays a key role in facilitating these developments. Through various working groups on energy, and education, and environmental, social, and governance criteria, and with plans to expand into sectors like tech, professional services, and trade, BritCham is supporting businesses in Vietnams high-growth sectors. How do you see the interest and preparation of the UK businesses to penetrate Vietnam as a CPTPP member market? Such businesses are increasingly interested in entering Vietnam, drawn by the countrys economic growth, rising consumer demand, and strategic location in Southeast Asia. The CPTPP enhances this appeal by providing a clear trade framework, reducing tariffs, and simplifying market access. Key sectors, including manufacturing, consumer goods, financial services, and digital transformation are particularly attractive. Many companies from the UK are forming local partnerships, investing in supply chains, and tailoring their offerings to the Vietnamese market. BritCham supports these efforts by providing market insights, networking, and connections. Additionally, the UKs Department for Business and Trade helps UK businesses navigate the local landscape. British businesses are focusing on understanding market dynamics, ensuring compliance with regulations, and identifying opportunities in high-tech manufacturing, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure. They are building relationships with Vietnamese government agencies and industry leaders to establish a long-term presence. With the CPTPP providing a stable and predictable environment, UK businesses are committed to long-term investment in Vietnam, adapting to local practices and consumer preferences. Through BritChams trade services and network, they are well-positioned to build lasting partnerships and succeed in the dynamic Vietnamese market. Do you expect Vietnam will welcome an increase of investments from UK businesses large and small? Yes, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, Vietnams inclusion in the CPTPP, along with its robust economic growth and strategic location, makes it an attractive destination for foreign investment. For UK businesses, Vietnam offers access not only to its dynamic domestic market but also serves as a gateway to the wider ASEAN region, a fast-growing economic bloc. The CPTPPs reduced tariffs, streamlined regulations, and enhanced protection for investments make it easier for UK companies to enter and operate in Vietnam with greater confidence. Secondly, Vietnams commitment to digital transformation and sustainable development aligns well with the strengths of British businesses, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. Large corporations are likely to be drawn to Vietnams growing demand for high-tech solutions and sustainable practices, especially as the country works towards its net-zero goals. This creates opportunities for British firms to bring their expertise in these areas and contribute to Vietnams modernisation efforts. For UK small- and medium-sized enterprises, the CPTPP provides an important platform to tap into Vietnams expanding middle class and its increasing demand for high-quality consumer goods, services, and technologies. The agreements provisions on market access and regulatory cooperation reduce entry barriers, making it more feasible for smaller businesses to establish a foothold in Vietnam. Additionally, sectors like education, healthcare, and creative industries are ripe for smaller British firms to offer niche products and services that cater to Vietnams evolving needs. UK to join CPTPP in December The United Kingdom has secured the sixth and final ratification required to trigger its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) before the end of this year. More than $2 billion boost to growth as UK joins CPTPP The United Kingdom joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as a fully-fledged member on December 15, potentially boosting the UK economy by 2 billion ($2.53 billion) a year. Vietnams power planning has faced struggles in implementation, Photo: Le Toan Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said last week that the demand for electricity of businesses and the economy in the coming years will be substantial. Electricity supply must be guaranteed to reach 11 per cent or more. This is a great pressure in the context of many large power sources being behind schedule. Its necessary to ensure electricity supply in 2025, and do not let the imbalance of electricity supply and demand occur in any situation, he said. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is drafting amendments to the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) for submission to the government by the end of February. This comes as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested a list of which entities and individuals are accountable for delays in completing the implementation scheme for the PDP8. The plan was issued in May 2023, but the scheme to implement it was not issued for almost a year. Delays in implementing power source and grid projects continue to prolong operational progress, affecting the goals of sufficient power supply and socioeconomic development. These difficulties require adjustments to the PDP8 to ensure that it is consistent with the actual situation. Meanwhile, the MoIT has reported to the government on the plan to implement a resolution on removing obstacles for renewable energy projects. In particular, those with problems related to land procedures will be allowed to go ahead according to regulations, and the implementing unit will be the provincial peoples committee. For ventures with problems related to mineral reserves, irrigation, and forest land, the province will coordinate to evaluate, resolve, and report issues beyond its authority. For those that have not completed construction acceptance, they will also be allowed to complete the procedures. Minister Dien said the implementation of the renewable energy development policy is unprecedented, experience is lacking, and the legal system is incomplete, so the implementation process has still resulted in a number of violations according to the Government Inspectorate. Therefore, the ministry has proposed six solutions or directions to remove and handle difficulties for projects such as allowing additional planning, adjusting planning, and correcting procedural violations, he said. According to a conclusion issued by the Government Inspectorate in 2023, the MoIT was found to have made mistakes in consulting on applying the feed-in tariff (FiT) mechanism to solar power projects. As a result, 14 of them were incorrectly granted the FiT rate of 9.35 US cents per kWh for 20 years. In a report sent to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh regarding the resolution of issues with renewable energy schemes previously under inspection two weeks ago, the MoIT proposed that Vietnam Electricity and developers reconsider eligibility for the incentivised FiT rates. The conclusion showed that, in addition to the FiT misapplication, the MoIT had authorised the addition of 154 solar projects totalling 13,837MW in capacity to the PDP8 without required legal justification. Over 120 of these wasted public resources by contributing significantly to an imbalance in the power system and power sources. According to statistics, the scale of projects with preliminary investment is up to about $13 billion, accounting for nearly 13 per cent of the capacity and about 6 per cent of the electricity output of the entire power system. Therefore, the delay in putting them into operation not only causes waste, but can also cause the risk of collapse, loss of payment ability, and inability to repay bank loans. Ba Ria-Vung Tau boasts strong potential for sustainable, high-value investment Ba Ria-Vung Tau has emerged as an enticing destination for sustainable and high-value investment, with significant growth in foreign direct investment and a strategic focus on the advanced technology and renewable energy sectors. PM orders swift resolution of challenges for renewable energy projects With investments in renewable energy projects totalling more than VND308 trillion (US$13 billion), delays in putting projects into operation waste immense social resources The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) last week reported that in the first 11 months of 2024, Vietnams total export turnover from the US hit $108.9 billion, up nearly 24 per cent on-year, making the US the countrys largest export market. It is estimated that the whole-year figure may reach $119.7 billion, accounting for 29.5 per cent of Vietnams total export turnover, and representing an on-year rise of 23.4 per cent as compared to 2023 when the figure declined by 11.3 per cent. Exporters brace for next US administrations policies Vietnams total exports to the US include agro-forestry-fishery products, garments and textiles, footwear, and electronics. The MoIT is hoping that Vietnam will gain $125-130 billion from exports to the US market in 2025. However, it is taking a cautious stance, saying it will have to continue closely and timely monitoring all developments in the US market, especially abrupt changes in US trade policies. This is aimed at providing exact information for all goods associations and enterprises in Vietnam, helping them take the initiative in formulating appropriate production and export plans to the US, the ministry said. Donald Trump will re-enter the White House on January 20, and one of his hallmark proposals is a universal tariff policy designed to boost domestic production and protect American jobs. The anticipated policy includes a 20 per cent tariff on all imports, encouraging businesses to shift supply chains back to the US and reducing reliance on foreign goods. Moreover, there will be a more aggressive 60 per cent tariff on Chinese imports, targeting trade imbalances and intellectual property theft to safeguard American innovation. At a seminar on Vietnams outlook for exports to the US in 2025 organised in late December by the MoITs European-American Market Department, Do Ngoc Hung, trade counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said that the US administration may further boost trade protectionism, with a rise in trade defence measures, and even reverse the countrys trade policies. In September, the US Department of Commerce launched anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations on corrosion-resistant steel imported from Vietnam. This petition targets specific types of steel classified and is part of a broader investigation that includes 10 markets, including Vietnam. According to the MoITs Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam ranked third among the countries under investigation, with corrosion-resistant steel exports to the US totalling $626 million in 2021, $751 million in 2022, and $242 million in 2023. In 2024, Vietnams exports to the US faced 10 trade defence investigation cases like this, and according to Hung, the situation may be more complicated in 2025 as the US will likely use new tools including import tariff increases. Economist Nguyen Chi Hieu said the new tariff measures would affect the Vietnamese economy. Tariff hikes will cause difficulties for Vietnams exports in the US market, especially items, materials, and components imported from China. They will even be imposed anti-dumping taxes by the US, Hieu said. Aquatic products like basa fish, textiles and garments, footwear, and wooden products will be affected the most. Fitch Solutions also assessed that the new US administration will cast a shadow on Vietnams export-driven growth path, particularly if tariffs are hiked. What is certain is that the more protectionist stance Trump has promised to adopt is negative for Vietnam, which has an export-driven economy integrated into the global supply chain. The US is a major trade partner, absorbing 30 per cent of Vietnamese exports, Fitch Solutions said. Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi, told VIR that while some administrative procedures in Vietnam had been eliminated, new laws and regulations continue to be introduced. For example, foreign investors face delays in approval procedures and time-consuming administrative burdens which hinder or stall their projects and impact Vietnams competitiveness, Sitkoff said. Timely approvals are needed for site master plans and related permits, business licences, investments, real estate development, visas for foreign workers, as well as reliable and consistent use of e-government and e-approvals. We believe bilateral tariffs on Vietnam are not Donald Trumps top priority in its tariff strategy. Most likely, China will be the primary focus, giving Vietnam some leeway to prepare. Additionally, considering that Vietnams major export products, machinery and electronics, are part of US allies supply chain, it is unlikely that tariffs will be imposed on such products. Instead, the US is likely imposing tariffs on Vietnamese products that have limited links to global supply chains and yet represent a relatively high share in overall US imports. For example, Vietnam is the sixth-largest exporter of wood and timber to the US, could be at risk. During Trumps first term, the US investigated potential tariffs on Vietnamese timber, justifying that some timber inputs were illegally harvested or traded. Another category at risk, which is more impactful for Vietnams economy, is clothing, as Vietnam is the second-largest exporter of clothes to the US, after China. Clothes are relatively substitutable with products from other major producers, notably India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. If the US imposes tariffs on both China and Vietnam, Vietnam would lose market share, significantly dragging its overall exports and GDP, especially since the textile industry accounts for 14 per cent of total GDP and textile exports to the US comprise about 40 per cent of Vietnams textile exports. Currently, Vietnams manufacturing sectors are highly reliant on inputs from China. According to the Asian Development Banks cross-region input-output data, Chinese inputs make up 25 per cent of the value of electronics and textile production and 14 per cent of machinery production, and up to nearly half of these products are US-bound. More broadly, we estimate that the value of Chinese inputs is equal to around 20 per cent of Vietnams exports to the US.Source: Fitch Solutions Monetary and credit policies supporting exporters Loosening monetary policy and credit incentive packages are aimed at easing exchange rate pressures and supporting exporters during the festive period and year ahead. Seafood sector anticipates boost in exports The election of former US president Donald Trump as US President is anticipated to be a mixed bag for Vietnam's seafood exports, with Trump's tentative plans to impose a 10-20 per cent tariff on all imports and a 60 per cent tariff on Chinese goods in particular. Experts, however, believe the advantages outweigh the challenges. Saigon Fuel JSC revealed in late December its cooperation with VinFast to survey gas stations for the installation of charging stations. If all requirements are met, the company, which currently operates 18 gas stations, will proceed with construction. Some companies are offering more hybrid vehicles as EV charging infrastructure fails to meet demand, photo Le Toan A Saigon Fuel leader stated that fire safety approval is required before proceeding. Additionally, setting up charging stations takes up space, affecting sales activities and business performance, particularly at smaller stations. The company will consider cooperation at larger premises that meet fire safety standards, the representative said. Petrolimex and PV Oil have already launched hundreds of electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities at their gas stations nationwide for VinFast vehicles. At the end of November, Vingroup and PV Power signed an agreement to develop a nationwide EV charging system, with a network of 1,000 stations planned by PV Power before 2030. Elsewhere, Centre Mall Vo Van Kiet in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 6, which will soon open, will feature two areas for charging EVs and motorbikes. Two charging stations, each with four ports offering fast charging speeds of 60KW for VinFast EVs, are being built by Saigon Trading Group in collaboration with V-Green. Additionally, there is a 120KW superfast charging station from partner Eboost for other EVs. The EV charging station business also creates new opportunities for businesses and individuals as greener vehicles become popular. In September, VinFast introduced franchise charging stations with a fixed revenue-sharing rate for franchise partners, applicable for a minimum of 10 years. Within just over a month, VinFast received nearly 1,000 applications to open franchise charging stations. In the market, major enterprises have already joined VinFasts franchise model. For instance, Vasia JSC has deployed 30 franchise charging points in the northern province of Bac Ninh, while Fast+ Charging Station JSC signed a cooperation agreement to install 5,000 stations nationwide at shopping centres, residential areas, public car parks, and highway rest stops. Nguyen Phi Long, director of Fast+ Charging Station, said, Investing in and developing charging stations is not only a good business opportunity but also contributes to promoting green transportation and supporting the governments net-zero commitments. Exponential growth In response to rising demand, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and shopping malls are investing in EV charge stations. Some e-car users have reportedly cancelled trips or avoided destinations and services lacking charging facilities. An Dinh Nha, general director of GG Charging JSC, said the company offered various models, including franchise, joint investment, and self-funding by individuals and companies. Recently, many clients such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, and office buildings have expressed interest in investing in charging stations for both customers and employees, he said. We are proactively seeking suitable premises in crowded areas to install small-scale charging stations with low investment costs and quick capital recovery. Nguyen Hung Thuong, CEO of Solar Z Energy Investment JSC, which installs charging stations for restaurants, hotels, resorts, and highway rest stops, said demand was surging from foreign investment funds, domestic companies with technological expertise, and individual investors. The demand for installing EV charging stations this year has doubled compared to last year and is expected to grow even more next year. Recently, a client commissioned my company to install a chain of over 70 charging points, while another restaurant and hotel system has completed nearly 20 charging points, he said. The charging station market will become more dynamic in the coming years as more electric trucks, buses, and containers enter operation. The tax exemption and reduction roadmap under trade agreements is also improving EV affordability and boosting purchasing power, Thuong added. Chinese EVs cannot wait According to a report by market research firm Counterpoint Research in mid-2024, Vietnam has experienced impressive growth in this area, with battery EV sales increasing more than four-fold and contributing nearly 17 per cent of Southeast Asias regional sales. But most of them are VinFast models, while the Chinese EV wave seems to be slowing down in Vietnam due to lack of charging stations. In recent years, users have had more choice as EV models distributed in Vietnam are increasingly made available, with a variety of types, segments, and prices that have already been launched on the market. In addition to VinFast, Chinese companies like Wuling, BYD, and GAC Aion have also entered the market with several models. BYD is the Chinese company selling the most EVs in Vietnam, with six models. According to Chinese vehicle info service Yiche, this was the third best-selling brand globally at one point last year, only trailing behind Volkswagen and Toyota. Wuling, distributed by TMT Motors, introduced its Mini EV model into Vietnam in 2023. It has been the worlds best-selling mini EV since 2020. However, it has not been able to make a breakthrough in Vietnam. Although the manufacturer did not announce sales figures, the business situation of this brand at dealerships has not shown signs of improvement. The main obstacle for BYD and Chinese EVs is the lack of a public charging station system, said Truong Thanh Long, a Wuling salesperson. In Vietnam, VinFast is the only EV manufacturer to have developed a public charging station system that covers almost the entire country, and its continuing development is not being shared with other brands. Some third-party units such as EV One, Evercharge, and Eboost have built charging stations, but very few. The disadvantage of this is that Chinese EV owners and non-VinFast users have to charge their vehicles at home. However, not all users have parking space at home to charge, especially in big cities with high housing density, and many small alleys, Long said. Against these challenges, Chinese car manufacturers are leaning towards offering more petrol or hybrid cars in the Vietnamese market soon. A raft of new Chinese car models are set to enter Vietnam to welcome the new year. However, very few of them are to be battery EVs, with hybrid and petrol-engine cars still making up a larger proportion. Of the four models being launched in the Vietnamese market this month alone, DongFeng Motor will dedicate two models to EVs, and the others to petrol and hybrid vehicles. Meanwhile, the Jaecoo J7 with a plug-in hybrid engine is expected to be launched in Vietnam in mid-January, the MG G50 will be on sale in at least two versions, both of which are petrol-run, and Haval Jolion will announce the selling price in early 2025 of its Pro and Ultra hybrids. GWMs Tank 300 will also be introduced in early 2025, with both a petrol and hybrid version. The petrol-engine Omoda C5 arrived in Vietnam last month, although previously, the manufacturer said that the first products in Vietnam would include a pure electric version of the C5. Indonesia aims to become key chain in global EV industry Indonesian officials have emphasised the importance of developing downstream industries, particularly in electric vehicle (EV) battery production, to enhance the country's economic value. Chinese electric vehicle maker to build plant in Indonesia China's leading electric vehicle maker PT BYD Motor plans to invest 11,700 billion IDR (754 million USD) to build a plant with a capacity of 150,000 units of electric vehicles (EVs) per year in Indonesia, a local official said on October 16. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam is estimated to have reached $40 billion last year, placing the country among the top 15 developing nations in terms of FDI attraction. This impressive achievement is the result of massive FDI into several cities and provinces in the last two months of 2024, which also created records in FDI for several regions. Major manufacturers say that provinces like Bac Ninh have great conditions in terms of industrial infrastructure, photo Le Toan Nghe An Peoples Committee, in late December, granted approval for a $590 million textile manufacturing facility by Mega Textile Singapore. The factory, set to be built in the Tho Loc Industrial Park within the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone, will span over 50 hectares. The factorys planned annual production includes 67,200 tonnes of fabric, 10,300 tonnes of knitted goods, 7,200 tonnes of coloured yarn, 130 million pieces of clothing, 100 million belts, and 2.2 million semifinished products. The initiative will follow a phased implementation schedule, with preparations concluding by the second quarter of 2025 and trial operations commencing in the second quarter of 2028. In late November, Chairman of Nghe An Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Trung awarded an investment licence for two projects to Luxshare Group of China. These contributed to the FDI amount of 2024 reaching $1.7 billion a record high. The achievement also placed Nghe An in the top 10 localities attracting the most FDI for the third consecutive year. Nghe An is one of the few localities to attract five of the worlds technology giants to invest in the province, including Foxconn, Luxshare, Goertek, Everwin, and Juteng. These enterprises poured more than $1.3 billion and generated more than 86,000 jobs, said Vice Chairman of Nghe An Peoples Committee Bui Thanh An. To achieve this success, An said, Nghe An set-up a strategic direction for selecting capital inflows, prioritising high-quality and green growth. Regarding investment promotion activity, the province focuses on partners and oriented fields, thoroughly integrating foreign affairs activities, trade promotion, and tourism. A northern locality also reporting extremely impressive results is Haiphong. The northern ity attracted $4.7 billion of FDI last year, up 235 per cent on-year. The statistics underscore the citys strengths in modern infrastructure, favourable policies, and a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. Haiphong is currently a production hub for several leading manufacturers, such as LG, Pegatron, USI, and Bridgestone. Meanwhile, Bac Ninh province is estimated to have attracted over $4.8 billion in FDI in 2024, an increase of 2.9-fold over the same period, ranking first in the country and simultaneously marking the highest total FDI influx to the province so far. At an investment roundtable about the northern province in the United States in September 2024, a representative of Amkor Technology stated that Bac Ninh has the best industrial infrastructure in Southeast Asia. The provinces infrastructure system meets all the strict requirements of investors, especially semiconductor investors, such as stable electricity and water supply systems, transportation, logistics, and social infrastructure. The provinces management authorities are also ready to support investors promptly. The province also organised specific meetings to resolve barriers for key projects. For example, in December, Vuong Quoc Tuan, Chairman of Bac Ninh Peoples Committee, hosted a meeting to unlock the barriers in terms of land clearance for the Nam Son-Hap Linh Industrial Park, funded by Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation, and simultaneously supported Goertek to develop the scheme on schedule. At the meeting, Tuan asked departments and relevant authorities to address pending issues before Lunar New Year, so investors could implement their projects smoothly. The province will research, propose, and pilot several specific policies to become a centrally run city and maintain this growth momentum of FDI. These include outstanding incentives with international competitiveness to attract strategic investors and multinationals in production and business, research and development, and innovation, Tuan explained. In 2024, several foreign-led projects contributed to setting records for localities. These included Amkor in Bac Ninh, which secured an additional $1.07 billion, increasing its total investment to $1.6 billion for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. In addition, Samsung announced an additional $1.8 billion investment in its Bac Ninh factory to expand the production of OLED displays for vehicles and IT equipment. Meanwhile, in Haiphong, LG Display received an additional $1 billion, bringing its cumulative investment to $5.65 billion. Real estate sector saw FDI increase 60 per cent in 2024 The Vietnamese real estate sector saw foreign direct investment (FDI) $1.84 billion in disbursed capital in 2024, an increase of 60 per cent compared to the previous year. How does Australias Southeast Asia Economic Strategy align with Vietnams priorities in advancing green initiatives? Louise Adams, advisory board member of the ASEAN-Australia Centre Australias prosperity, security, and economic future are intimately linked to the region, and we want to increase two-way trade. Australias Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 provides a blueprint to do that. We celebrated the first-year anniversary of Invested: Australias Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 in October 2024. Invested is a strategy informed by the business community, for a business audience, that sets out a blueprint for how businesses can lead the charge to strengthen our economic engagement with the Southeast Asia region. Australia is drawing on a range of resources, including official development assistance, trade and export finance, climate finance and domestic expertise, to work with Vietnam to achieve our shared net-zero emissions target by 2050. Australias Partnerships for Infrastructure programme also provides a platform for collaborative research and information exchange on prioritised energy topics. Through Export Finance Australia and the Australia Climate Finance Partnership, Australia has already provided $80 million to support electric vehicle infrastructure in Vietnam. What specific opportunities do you see for Australian and Vietnamese companies to collaborate in the digital economy? Australia and Vietnam have the architecture to support greater collaboration: a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that has Australias first-ever climate, environment, and energy cooperation pillar; the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy; and the Invested initiative, which builds on bilateral free trade agreements. To this end, in 2024, an institutional investor mission, and two Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange missions (one focused on digital technology and one focused on green economy education and skills) have visited Vietnam. I anticipate that future Australian interest will centre largely on digital transformation, education, agriculture and food, and renewable energy and the green economy sector. What measures is Australia taking to encourage investment or technology transfer to Vietnam in renewable energy and digital innovation? There are 10 priority sectors in Invested. Green energy transition and digital economy are among the sectors to watch in Vietnam. Cooperation in these sectors goes directly towards our regions most pressing challenges to meet our net-zero by 2050 targets, to see Vietnam achieve high-income country status by 2045, and to secure the prosperity, stability, and security of our region for future generations. There is enormous potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Australia in these sectors. We are drawing on a range of resources, including official development assistance, trade and export finance, climate finance and domestic expertise, to work with Vietnam to achieve our shared net-zero emissions target by 2050. Australias Partnerships for Infrastructure initiative also provides a platform for collaborative research and information exchange on prioritised energy topics. Through Export Finance Australia and the Australia Climate Finance Partnership, Australia has already provided $80 million to support electric vehicle infrastructure in Vietnam. On digital transformation, the Aus4Innovation programme is strengthening Vietnams sci-tech capability. Through this scheme, Australia and Vietnam are working together to explore new areas of technology, digital transformation, and sharing knowledge to increase capability in digital foresight, planning, commercialisation, and innovation policy. Digital transformation also cuts across other sectors, with investments in edtech, healthtech, and agritech expected to rise. And the Australia-Bank Partnership Phase 2 has facilitated the World Bank to provide technical assistance to Ho Chi Minh City to enhance the citys digital governance capability and digital transformation roadmap. What challenges do you foresee in fostering deeper economic cooperation between Australia and Vietnam, particularly in green energy and digital sectors? We recognise it will take a whole-of-nation effort from the Australian government, led by the Australian community, business and industry, in partnership with Southeast Asian governments and the private sector, to realise the commercial potential between Australia and the region. As noted, 2024 has been the first year of implementing Invested. Several of the recommendations address the need to raise awareness to address a lack of knowledge of markets, sectors, and low regional literacy. Alumni have a critical role to play in this, and I am delighted that we have strong people-to-people connections between Australia and Vietnam, including those who have studied, have family, or an otherwise strong connection to Australia. Outbound business and investment missions are also giving businesses first-hand experience of opportunities in the region, such as those I referenced before. Another focus of Invested is on building capability to ensure that Australia and the region have the skills and capability to pursue opportunities and address economic challenges. There is already important work being undertaken by the government to remove blockages and deepen investment between Australian and the region. Some of the actions already underway include standing up Investment Deals Teams across Southeast Asia with a hub in Ho Chi Minh City and representation in Hanoi to identify a pipeline of investment opportunities; appointing Australian business leaders such as myself as Business Champions; and targeted Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange missions to help Australian business familiarise themselves with rapidly changing markets. There is also a $2 billion commitment as part of the Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility, and the establishment of tech Landing Pads, including in Ho Chi Minh City, to provide tailored advice for Australian tech companies to set up in the region. Vietnam among top 3 destinations appealing to Australians Australians are continuing to travel in record numbers with the latest data revealing Vietnam as one of the three top-growth destinations, according to the Singapore-based asianaviation.com on December 16. Australia relationship has never been better The Australia-Vietnam relationship has never been better. Developing over the past 51 years to be firmly set in friendship and trust. The Ronald Reagan High School debate team has advanced to the next round of the 2024-2025 International Public Policy Forum debate competition. International Public Policy Forum Facebook page. High school debate teams compete at the 2023-2024 International Public Policy Forum debate competition. International Public Policy Forum Facebook page. The Ronald Reagan High School debate team has advanced in an international competition with a top prize of $10,000. The North East Independent School District campus is one of 32 schools worldwide to make it to the second round of the 2024-2025 International Public Policy Forum debate competition, according to a news release from the Brewer Foundation of Dallas, a co-sponsor of the event. Also sponsored by New York University, the competition is the first and only debate contest that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy, the release says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In October, 283 teams from schools across 26 countries and 30 U.S. states entered the contest by submitting essays affirming or negating the competitions 2024-2025 topic: whether pharmaceutical companies should prioritize equitable access over protecting intellectual property rights. A committee selected 64 teams to proceed to the next round after reviewing each 3,000-word essay. In November, the teams engaged in a virtual single-elimination written debate competition, where they were assigned a position on the topic and volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email. A panel of judges reviewed the essays and selected the winning teams. Reagan High School beat out Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. The Top 32 round follows the same process and is currently underway. The Reagan team includes student competitors Carralena Furtek, Mannat Dhillon, Emma Patel and Ujala Patel. Its the only San Antonio school to advance in the competition and is representing Texas alongside Carroll Senior High School from Southlake, The Future Leaders Program from Dallas and Westwood High School from Austin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other advancing teams come from across the United States and countries including Singapore, Poland, China, United Arab Emirates, Korea, Canada, India and Slovakia. The top 16 teams will be announced on Feb. 17 and will also compete in a virtual essay contest. The winning eight teams will be announced in March and will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to compete in the final round, where students will participate in oral debates in front of worldwide experts in business, law and politics. The finals will take place on May 3 at the Harold Pratt House and Peterson Hall, a historic mansion in Manhattan. In the past, judges for the oral round have included chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the contest William A. Brewer III, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haas, Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, NASA astronaut Mike Massimino and New York University School of Business Dean Raghu Sundaram. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We commend all the advancing teams for their achievement on this global stage, Brewer said in the news release. This is among the most complex and pressing issues on which our students have ever debated. As advocates, our law firm started this competition with a vision to promote what we see here an extraordinary level of academic research, scholarship, and discourse. This year is the starting point for Vietnam to operate its carbon credit market on a trial basis towards 2028 without any sales to foreigners, as well as regulations on credit exchanges with regional and global markets. Nguyen Hong Loan, director of Green Climate Innovation Co., Ltd Over the three-year span, international transactions will not be made, except for carbon exchange activities under international agreements. From 2029, the market will be fully operated across the nation, with a study of the ability to link up with international markets. According to the project, the compliance carbon market will contribute to concretising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets at low costs under the Nationally Determination Contribution (NDC) while creating new financial flows for GHG emissions cut, bolstering green transition and low-emission technologies. It aims to improve the competitive edge of Vietnamese firms both domestically and internationally, branching out a low-carbon economy, and responding to climate change towards the net-zero target by 2050. Vietnam has also established a robust legal framework to develop and implement the carbon market as a vital policy tool for attaining these ambitious GHG emission reduction targets. The Law on Environmental Protection prescribes the organisation and development of the domestic carbon market, including trading emission allowances and carbon credits. Besides that, Vietnam has been actively trading carbon credits in the international carbon market via participation in carbon crediting mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism, the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), and the voluntary carbon market. To support countries to meet their NDCs, the Paris Agreement allows parties to engage in cooperative approaches under Article 6, of which the JCM that has already been operating in Vietnam is covered, and negotiations between Vietnam and different buyer countries like South Korea and Singapore are ongoing. High potential There are different options for carbon credits in Vietnam to be traded in the markets. Decree No.06/2022/ND-CP, dated January 2022 on GHG emission reductions and ozone layer protection, outlines the roadmap for developing and implementing the domestic carbon market. The pilot operation of an emission trading system (ETS) will commence in 2025, with full official operation expected to begin in 2028. Additionally, regulations for connecting and trading carbon credits with regional and global carbon markets will also be established starting in 2028. There is thus a high potential for projects in Vietnam to participate in the domestic ETS. The pilot phase of the domestic ETS in Vietnam may cover enterprises from thermal power, cement, and steel facilities. According to Decree 06, facilities can use carbon credits to offset up to 10 per cent of the total allowances. Currently, carbon credits can be traded freely in the voluntary carbon market to buyers within Vietnam or in other countries. According to Decree 06, the projects covered under such a carbon crediting scheme need to submit registration information and provide annual reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. With the increased awareness and wider adoption of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, enterprises are actively engaging in low-carbon development pathways and buying carbon credits to achieve their voluntary emission reduction targets. The fact that 87 per cent of the submitted NDCs specify countries intentions to possibly use voluntary cooperation under Article 6 confirms a significant interest in carbon transactions under these cooperative approaches of the Paris Agreement. Modelling studies estimate that around 4-5 gigatonnes of CO2e could be traded per year by 2030 with a market volume of $60-100 billion per year if NDCs are transformed into tradable emission mitigation actions. Such high estimated demand shows a positive signal for the trading of carbon credits from Vietnam to the international carbon market under the Article 6 framework. The transfer of authorised carbon credits under Article 6, however, requires corresponding adjustment with the countrys emission balance to avoid double-counting and ensure the environmental integrity of the carbon credits. The outlined routes show opportunities that the carbon market can bring to Vietnam. Firstly, the carbon market will incentivise emission reductions. A well-functioning carbon market incentivises businesses to innovate and adopt low-carbon technologies by increasing the cost of emitting GHGs. This market-driven approach encourages companies to invest in energy efficiency, clean technologies, and practices that reduce emissions. High-emission sectors such as energy, cement, and steel will be motivated to lower emissions through more efficient processes or cleaner fuel sources. Additionally, by allowing companies to trade emission allowances and carbon credits, the carbon market creates flexibility, enabling firms to achieve emission reductions at the lowest possible cost. A competitive edge Besides that, the carbon market will contribute to attracting green investments. Transaction of carbon credits in domestic and international carbon markets helps Vietnam to attract foreign and domestic investments in clean energy, green technologies, and sustainable infrastructure. Companies looking to lower their carbon footprints are increasingly seeking markets that offer carbon credit opportunities to offset their emissions. It also complies with international climate commitments. Vietnams carbon market is pivotal in helping the country meet its NDC targets under the Paris Agreement. By establishing an ETS and promoting the transaction of carbon credits, Vietnam aligns itself with international best practices and positions itself to engage in cross-border carbon trading initiatives. The carbon market also helps to enhance ESG practices. Promoting carbon trading, either through the domestic compliance scheme, a voluntary scheme following independent carbon standards, or the international cooperative approaches under Article 6, will encourage companies to integrate ESG strategies into their business models. This includes reducing emissions, purchasing carbon credits, and contributing to sustainable development. Companies with strong ESG programmes may gain a competitive edge by appealing to environmentally conscious consumers and investors. On the other hand, the promotion of a market for carbon transactions poses several challenges that Vietnam should consider when devising a carbon market development and participation strategy. Carbon credits in the post-2020 period can serve multiple purposes. The main concern of Vietnam while engaging in collaborative approaches under Article 6 is overselling risk, which may jeopardise Vietnams ability to meet its NDC targets. Striking a balance between retaining carbon credits within the country to achieve its NDC and selling them to create an additional revenue stream from the international carbon market is a challenging task. It is thus necessary to develop an effective approach for the management of carbon credits through modelling studies and impact assessment for different governance options to provide a sound evidence-based background for decision-making and the promulgation of an appropriate strategy. Moreover, government agencies, businesses, and stakeholders will need training to navigate the intricacies of carbon trading, monitoring, reporting, and verification systems, and carbon credit certification. The guidance for international trading under Article 6 should also be finalised at the international level and transferred into specific regulations, procedures, and guidance at the national level. Vietnams efforts to develop a carbon market present a critical opportunity to align the countrys economic growth with its climate goals. The carbon market has the potential to attract investment, foster innovation, and drive emissions reductions across key sectors. International transfer of carbon credits can leverage the efforts and create additional revenue streams for Vietnam to raise its ambition. By overcoming these challenges, Vietnam can better support global climate action while transitioning to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. Limitations abound for domestic EV carbon credits The domestic e-vehicle market may find it difficult to engage in carbon credit trading without clear regulations and skilled people. Interest must rise for carbon exchange Vietnam is planning to create a carbon credit market for companies to join but careful preparations and increased awareness will be needed for it to work. Carbon credit project set for Thanh Hoas sugarcane The initiative to generate carbon credits from sugarcane fields in Lam Son, Thanh Hoa province is poised to play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions within Vietnam's agricultural sector. If successful, this model could serve as a blueprint for expanding carbon credit projects across the country. According to research from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, climate change is projected to inflict damages equivalent to 17 per cent of the global GDP by 2050, with losses estimated at $38 trillion annually. Against this backdrop, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) policies have emerged as a crucial framework for sustainable development in an era marked by globalisation and climate change. ESG sets standards to evaluate a businesss sustainability and responsibility. Vietnam is also joining global efforts to create a sustainable future, where the environment is a central pillar prioritised by the government, and is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Unilever wins the Sustainable Project Category at the 2024 Human Act Prize award ceremony. Photo: Unilever Vietnam In response to the urgent call for 'greening' the economy, enterprises like Unilever are redefining their operations to build a sustainable economy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and foster international collaboration in innovation. Unilever Vietnam was honoured at the Human Act Prize Gala for Community Action in the 'Sustainability Project' category last December, with its initiative, 'Pioneering journey towards carbon neutrality in operations'. The annual award, organised under the direction of the Peoples Newspaper, celebrates individuals and organisations that have made significant societal contributions through innovative, impactful, and sustainable initiatives. A Unilever Vietnam representative receives the award in the Sustainable Project category. Photo: Unilever Vietnam According to the organisers report, Unilevers scheme excelled in meeting three key criteria: improving production processes, integrating green technologies, and establishing systems to measure environmental impact. By implementing these innovations, Unilever significantly reduced CO2 emissions in its operations, while creating long-term value for both the economy and society. Unilever's 'Towards a Circular Economy for Plastics Project' was honoured in the same category in 2023. This year's award shows that innovation and sustainability are not just slogans but tangible, measurable, and impactful actions. Unilever's success is not just an isolated achievement, it is a sign that sustainability is increasingly becoming the new standard for global businesses. Unilever is taking bold, comprehensive steps towards carbon neutrality, from production improvements to supply chain restructuring. In Vietnam, the company has achieved a major milestone by transitioning entirely to renewable energy in its manufacturing facilities. The intelligent energy management system at the Bac Ninh factory is a prime example, earning the LEED Green Building Certification, an international standard recognising environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings. Le Thi Hong Nhi (right), vice president of Communications, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability at Unilever Vietnam, at the event. Photo: Unilever Vietnam Furthermore, Unilever has invested heavily in green technology projects, such as installing solar power systems and using biofuels as alternatives. The company has introduced groundbreaking changes in its supply chain, including the use of biomass fuel recycled from materials like wood scraps, damaged pallets, and rice husks. This innovation has completely replaced fossil fuels in boilers, reducing CO 2 emissions by nearly 10,000 tonnes annually since 2007. The effectiveness of these strategies is reflected in impressive figures: 9,684 tonnes of CO 2 eliminated annually from 2007 to 2022; 511kg of SOx emissions reduced each year through biomass fuel use; and 100 per cent elimination of carton waste in transporting packaging from Dynaplast. Unilever has also implemented and realised a circular economy model in managing waste, such as plastic waste, damaged pallets, and cardboard boxestransforming waste into energy and fertilisers to support production activities. Unilevers efforts have reinforced its leadership role and inspired other businesses to integrate economic development with environmental protection. With the collaboration of the government and the business community, the goal of a net-zero Vietnam by 2050 is entirely within reach. Unilever Vietnam embracing circular economic benefits With only one-third of plastic waste being recycled, Vietnam is losing nearly 70 per cent of the value of plastic materials, equivalent to nearly $2.2-2.9 billion a year, because of disposal into the environment. Unilever consistent in sustainability in Vietnam Unilevers journey of more than 100 years of global development and nearly 30 years in the Vietnamese market has left impressive achievements in sustainable business, worthy of the position of top global sustainable development enterprise. Cao Huu Hieu, general director of Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), acknowledged the challenges the industry faced from the outset of last year, including weak market demand and declining export prices. Nevertheless, a recovery in the latter half of the year enabled the sector to achieve its 11 per cent growth target. Photo: baodautu.vn "In the first half of 2024, our company struggled to meet targets due to sluggish market conditions," said Hieu. "However, a notable shift occurred in the second half of the year as political instability in markets such as Bangladesh redirected orders towards Vietnam, resulting in a substantial influx of new orders from July onwards." Thanks to this recovery, Vinatex achieved significant improvements in business performance. The companys consolidated revenue exceeded $754 million in 2024, reflecting a 2.8 per cent increase, while its consolidated profit surged to an estimated $30.8 million, up 37.5 per cent compared to 2023. Pham Quang Anh, director of Dony Garment Co., Ltd. based in Ho Chi Minh Citys Binh Chanh district, believes that while market dynamics played a role, the company's impressive growth was primarily driven by its proactive market expansion strategies. "Last year was significant for us, as we achieved a growth rate of over 70 per cent compared to 2023, far exceeding our initial target of 15 per cent set at the end of 2023," said Anh. Donys success was driven by robust growth in markets such as the US and the Middle East, as well as the domestic market, which accounted for over 20 per cent of its growth last year. Success was also found in new markets, including Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia. The company began exploring the African market mid-year and secured orders by year-end. Experts anticipate sustained momentum for Vietnams apparel exports in 2025, underpinned by the sectors ability to deliver high-quality products at competitive prices, bolstered by continued investments in advanced machinery and technology. As a champion of integrated AI within the garment and textiles industry, Viet Thang Jean, a large southern-based fashion producer serving export markets, has made significant strides in digital transformation. "The application of AI in areas such as production management and pattern-making has reduced data management workload by half, operational costs by 70 per cent, and improved data accuracy to 99 per cent," according to Pham Van Viet, chairman of Viet Thang Jean. Amidst emerging trends and stringent standards for green production and raw material self-sufficiency, Tran Van Quy, general director of southern-based Trung Quy Textile Co., Ltd., emphasised the companys focus on sustainable practices. "Trung Quy is investing in green production, generating carbon credits, and remains on track to achieve net-zero emissions by the end of this year. We have allocated over $11.25 million to establish a 10,000 square-metre facility in the southern province of Long An, as part of its accelerated transition to green manufacturing," said Quy. Advanced dyeing and weaving processes implemented at the facility enable water savings of 60-70 per cent compared to conventional methods. These technologies ensure a closed production cycle and provide high-quality, internationally certified fabric to domestic garment manufacturers, with an annual capacity of 2 million metres of fabrics. Trung Quy plans to expand its export footprint to major international markets, including the EU, the US, Japan, and Australia, later this year. Global trade hub could be answer for textile segments With the leather, footwear, and textile industries mainly processing with low added value, the establishment of an international trade centre for the development of raw materials will help the industry develop sustainably. Opportunities await textiles and apparel sector Increasing demand towards the year-end and global economic factors present significant opportunities for textiles and apparel businesses. Ambulances in Wales installed with fan heaters to improve patient comfort and reduce emissions This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 10th, 2025 Ambulances across Wales have been fitted with fan heaters in a move to keep patients and staff warm as they wait outside hospital emergency departments. Typically ambulance engines normally have to remain switched on to keep essential equipment running and for warmth. But the newly-procured bladeless fan heaters mean engines can now be switched off, reducing diesel emissions. With delayed transfer times between hospitals and emergency departments meaning that patients are spending longer waiting in ambulances, the fan heaters also help keep the vehicle warm during the cold weather. The well-documented pressures across the system mean that some patients spend a considerable amount of time in the ambulance before handover to the emergency department, said Liam Williams, the Trusts Executive Director of Quality and Nursing. In turn, that means both patients and staff can be exposed to diesel emissions for long periods of time, which is clearly very unpleasant and absolutely not the experience we want anyone to have. We continue to work with partners to reduce handover delays and are thinking differently about the ambulance service of the future, with a focus on providing care closer to a patients home, which will negate the need to take them to hospital in the first place. Meanwhile, in the busy winter period, were doing all we can in the short term to protect our people and our patients, and the procurement of fan heaters supports that. The multi-functional bladeless fan heaters have the ability to heat and cool, as well as capture airborne dust, allergens, odours, bacteria and other pollutants. The aim is for every emergency department in Wales to have the infrastructure in place to allow crews to use the bladeless fan heaters in the coming weeks. Graham Stockford, the Trusts Deputy Head of Health and Safety, said: The procurement of fan heaters is one of a number of actions were taking to reduce diesel fumes, which also includes the installation of shorelines at hospitals to reduce engine idling and maintain vehicle battery levels. Its part of a broader effort by our ambulance service to reduce our environmental footprint and support Welsh Governments ambition for a carbon net zero public sector by 2030, and for Wales to become carbon neutral by 2050. Were especially grateful to our Trade Union colleagues for their continued support to pro-actively address this issue. Trade Union Joint Secretary Damon Turner said: We are pleased to see these heaters come online. Being delayed outside emergency departments for many hours is unpleasant enough, but to also endure fumes for long periods adds to the worry and is not acceptable to our members, or patients. Trade Union Joint Secretary Hugh Parry added: This is a positive step towards eradicating the need to run engines or diesel heaters at hospitals. Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net. A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band. Men who burgled Wrexham couples home after following them from Manchester airport jailed This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 10th, 2025 A group of three men have been jailed following a burglary at a Wrexham property. The incident occurred at a home in Bronwylfa on Sunday, 1 December 2024. The victims, who had returned from a holiday earlier that day, had unknowingly been followed from Manchester Airport by a car occupied by three men. Whilst unpacking their luggage at home, the couple later saw an unknown male entering the porchway and stealing a briefcase containing cash and personal items. Investigating officers reviewed nearby CCTV footage and witnessed two men fleeing the location at the time of the incident. A hire vehicle driven by one of the males was subsequently identified, resulting in the arrest of three suspects on a motorway in Greater Manchester. All three were charged three days following the incident on December 4th. After previously pleading guilty to one count of burglary, Arturo Mendivil-Valvin, 49, of Delta Street, London; Arturo Flores-Marquez, 59, of Upper Clapton Road, London; and Jhony Ramirez-Loayza, 56, of Hemberton Road, London, were sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday. All received a two-year custodial sentence. Detective Sergeant Phil Beattie said: Mendivil-Valvin, Flores-Marquez and Ramirez-Loayza had no regard for the people they stole from as they followed them from the airport, intent on breaking into their home. This worrying incident left them feeling unsafe in their own home. We recognise how invasive and traumatic it is to be a victim of burglary and welcome this sentence, which sends a clear message that organised criminals will be pursued and brought before the court. We hope it not only helps the victims, but also gives these men time to reflect on the harm they have caused. North Wales being left in limbo by Holyhead port closure One of Britains busiest ports will not fully reopen until at least March after being damaged during storm Darragh, leaving north Wales in limbo, the Senedd heard. Ken Skates, Wales transport secretary, confirmed one of the ferry berths at Holyhead port will reopen from January 16, with four services a day to and from Dublin. The Stena Line-owned port on Anglesey has been closed since December 7 and, in a statement precisely one month on, Mr Skates did not give a timeline for full reopening. The Conservatives Sam Kurtz raised concerns about delays in reopening, which was initially expected shortly after the storm, causing considerable uncertainty. He told the Senedd: While its positive to hear that one ferry berth will reopen for four daily services, the fact that full operations are not expected until March leaves businesses and communities in a state of limbo. Deficiencies The Tory shadow economy secretary, who used to work on the Rosslare crossing, said the closure underlines the importance of the overlooked southern corridor from Pembrokeshire. Rhun ap Iorwerth, who has represented Ynys Mon since 2013, raised concerns about the very ambitious March reopening date for the berth that bore the brunt of the damage. Calling for lessons to be learned, he said: We know that there have been deficiencies over a very long period of time that have led to the undermining of the breakwater, for example. We need to know the questions are now going to be asked by the Welsh Government about what the maintenance undertaken on these births was, so that we can ensure that we dont face the same problems in storms that will undoubtedly happen more frequently in future. The Plaid Cymru leader stopped short of calling for nationalisation but suggested exploring a new ownership model, with the minister replying that the port is not currently for sale. Big priority Carolyn Thomas, a Labour backbencher who represents North Wales, was concerned and surprised to hear how vulnerable Holyhead port was. She asked: What difference will the breakwater investment really make? I dont want to sound gloomy but I just want to make sure that it continues to be a big priority. Its really, really important for north Wales. Gareth Davies, the Tory Senedd member for Vale of Clwyd, criticised the first minister for recording a video about the closure from the port of Fishguard. He said: It was disappointing that she wasnt capable of leaving west Wales to record her video from the port of Holyhead what [a] message that gives out to people on the island of Ynys Mon and, indeed, north Wales as well. Mr Skates, who is also responsible for north Wales, explained that the first minister recorded the video while in Fishguard to broker a deal for capacity from the port. Herculean In his statement to the Senedd, Mr Skates lauded a Herculean response that averted a crisis, with 100,000 Irish citizens needing to get back for Christmas. The transport secretary announced a task force will develop a new strategy for the future of Holyhead and consider the resilience of critical transport links across the Irish Sea. Mr Skates said businesses will in a matter of days be able to present evidence for any loss of earnings through a council portal, with Business Wales on standby. He told the Senedd: The incident has highlighted how important Holyhead is to economies and communities in north Wales, to the UK more widely and to our partners in Ireland. As is often the case with transport networks, there is a tendency for their true value to fade from our day to day thinking until something goes wrong. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Wales risks falling behind on pet abduction, warns north Wales Member of the Senedd This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 10th, 2025 A Senedd member warned Wales risks falling behind the rest of the UK on tackling pet abduction after ministers rejected calls to create a specific criminal offence. Carolyn Thomas called for a pet abduction bill to make stealing a pet a specific offence and bring Wales into line with other parts of the UK. She said: Pets are part of the family: they help grow love and compassion, they combat loneliness and mental health issues, and keep us healthy and active. Pets are not inanimate objects like a stolen wallet but sentient beings capable of experiencing emotional trauma. She pointed out that the Pet Abduction Act came into force in England and Northern Ireland in August, with similar legislation being brought forward in Scotland. Ms Thomas, a Labour backbencher who represents North Wales, said: If we do not follow suit, Wales is in danger of being left behind. Unique distress The former deputy leader of Flintshire council warned that the existing Theft Act, which is relied on in Wales, is not a strong enough deterrent. She said the 1968 Act fails to recognise that pets are sentient beings or the unique distress caused to an owner when a pet is stolen. This trauma cannot be compared to losing a phone or a wallet, she told the Senedd. Leading a debate on her proposal on January 8, Ms Thomas explained that police would be required to keep records to help determine the scale of the problem. She said: Dogs are being stolen for breeding in puppy farms, to be sold for profit, to be used as bait for dog-fighting rings, and kidnapped so that criminals can demand ransoms. The instances of cat theft have quadrupled since 2015, and Cats Protection believe that legislation is desperately needed to curb this increase fuelled by the rising price of kittens. Not good enough Janet Finch-Saunders, for the Conservatives, told the Senedd she did not know how she would cope if her nine-year-old dog, Alfie, was stolen. Ms Finch Saunders, a former pet shop owner, said: In 2023 alone, there were an estimated 2,300 dog thefts in England and Wales with a 170% surge during the pandemic. Yet, only 16% of stolen dogs are reunited with their owners. She agreed that existing laws fail to recognise the deep bond between pets and their owners, with current penalties not reflecting the severity of the crime. Ms Finch-Saunders said: Wales, though, despite previous commitments to animal welfare has not yet legislated on this issue due to resource constraints. Its not good enough. A beloved family pet should not be valued less in Wales than in other parts of the UK. Unnecessary Rhys ab Owen, a former barrister who sits as an independent, was against the proposal, arguing the current law is adequate and effective. Mr ab Owen said the starting point, under current guidelines, is two years imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of seven years, noting the maximum in England is now five years. He said: We dont have to blindly follow what England does, this was an unnecessary piece of legislation and the current law can easily be amended to deal with the concerns raised. Ms Thomas highlighted the case of gang members, who stole 16 cavalier king Charles spaniels including one which was pregnant yet only received suspended sentences. Joyce Watson, a fellow Labour backbencher, supported the motion because pets are so much more than property and should not be classed the same as household items. Not a priority Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales rural affairs secretary who is responsible for animal welfare, acknowledged that pet abduction can cause a great deal of distress. But he said a pet abduction bill is not currently a priority for the Welsh Government, given the legal protections already in place. Mr Irranca-Davies, who is also deputy first minister, said Welsh ministers will instead focus on the priorities set out in the 2021/26 animal welfare plan. He told the Senedd: The Welsh Government does still retain the right to legislate in this area in future should this be necessary. But, at present, these really ambitious plans for animal welfare in Wales have to take our precedence. Senedd members backed the motion, 31-0, but the proposal is unlikely to proceed without the support of ministers who abstained in the non-binding vote. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Wrexham Bakery rises to the top with innovation and quality award from retail giant Tesco This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 10th, 2025 A bakery has been honoured by Britains biggest supermarket chain for its ground-breaking work in developing new products. The Jones Village Bakery in Wrexham has received an award for Outstanding Innovation and Quality from Tesco for a raft of new bakery products being sold on their shelves across the UK. The bakery has also launched a new range of sourdough bread which featured in a major TV advertising campaign by the retail giant. According to Village Bakery CEO Robin Jones, the success of the products was down to the skill and dedication of the companys commercial and New Product Development (NPD) teams. It was also, he said, a reward for investing in a state-of-the-art NPD kitchen where all new products are created, refined and perfected. Mr Jones said: Weve done an awful lot of work for Tesco in the last 12 months and its nice to be recognised for all that hard work. One thing that Im really proud of is that everything that weve delivered to Tesco has been a real commercial success, so theyre over the moon with it and so are we. The volumes are amazing. Weve always set our stall out on innovation and great new products is the life blood of our business. Its whats helped us grow and its great to be recognised by the UKs largest retailer. Glen Commercial Controller Glen Marriott paid tribute to the contribution of the NPD team. He said: For everyone we supply, the team are always looking at what the trends are and what the next big product will be. The secret is that we make excellent products again and again. The guys in the NPD kitchen and our brilliant bakers are the ones who do all the hard work. Quality is at the heart of everything we do. Were very proud and very pleased with all the work thats gone in to all the products that theyve launched with Tesco this year. It was a message echoed by Commercial Director Lesley Arnot who said: I think its fantastic for you NPD team to be recognised for the quality and innovation that they deliver for all of our customers every day and its just outstanding for them to have this recognition. Theyve got a brilliant track record in terms of winning awards and thats no accident. Its about total focus on the customer, making great products every day, focusing on our quality and focusing on doing the right things. Success breeds success and we want to continue to deliver great innovation and to deliver premium products for our customers. Were frequently delighted but never satisfied with what we do. Were always trying to do better. Every day, we put quality first in our business and thats what shows with this award and thats what well continue to do. Chinese museums open wider to the public People's Daily Online) 09:32, January 10, 2025 Photo shows fridge magnets from museums across the country collected by a programmer from Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. They are arranged in chronological order by dynasty. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) In 2024, Chinese museums were busy. During the National Day holiday in early October, museums across China welcomed 74.88 million tourist visits. On Nov. 28, the National Museum of China announced that out of the 6,309,187 visits recorded by the museum, 62.09 percent were young people under the age of 35. Young people are enthusiastically exploring artifacts, sharing guides on museum reservations, buying creative cultural products, and posting their museum experiences on social media. They admire the exquisite, intricate, and awe-inspiring nature of the artifacts, and are busy planning their museum trips for the next year. China has 6,833 museums, showcasing slices of civilization spanning thousands of years at archaeological sites, venues, and even in traditional courtyards. Museums have extended their opening hours and exhibition spaces, with many museums opening their doors at night to cater to enthusiastic visitors. Some museums even generously open their artifact storage rooms, where staff members share stories about the artifacts with visitors. People admire an artifact during an exhibition showcasing bronzewares from Marquis of E in the Early Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) at the Tsinghua University Art Museum. (China Youth Daily/Wei Xi) Wu Di, office director at the Hunan Museum in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, said that in 2023, the museum began to extend opening hours during the summer vacation, the National Day holiday, and the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. In early 2024, the museum formulated a long-term plan for extended opening hours during peak seasons and major holidays, aiming to attract more visitors to the museum, and stimulate the nighttime economy and consumption. According to Wu, the museum extended its opening hours for 81 days from January to October 2024, welcoming over 300,000 visits during the extended period. The majority of visitors were aged between 18 and 30. Some museums have found innovative ways to host nighttime events. For instance, in July 2024, the 2024 World Lighting Designer Forum opened at the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, located at the Temple of Agriculture in Beijing. The temple was illuminated with captivating light displays. Some museums have opened their storage rooms to the public. The Chongqing Natural History Museum in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality unveiled a 340-square-meter storage area, allowing visitors to view over 1,200 specimens up close. The Changsha Museum in Changsha welcomed a group of high school seniors, showcasing the processes of artifact registration, photography, packing, and technological restoration of artifacts. Seeing artifacts in person has sparked creativity among many young people. Some transform themselves into "living artifacts," adorning their faces with blue-and-white porcelain patterns. Others playfully stick a fridge magnet inspired by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Empress Xiaoduan's phoenix crown on various objects such as a creative cultural product inspired by the bronze mask unearthed from the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province, ceramic cups, and cartoon pandas. A 28-year-old programmer from Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, spent thousands of yuan collecting fridge magnets from museums across the country, arranging them in chronological order by dynasty. "I lay on the ground arranging them, adjusting them back and forth several times. It took me a month to complete the display board," explained the programmer. A mother and her daughter watch an exhibit during an exhibition on folk customs of Beijing at the Capital Museum in Beijing. (China Youth Daily/Wei Xi) Nowadays, more and more young people are becoming interested in museums. Du Pengfei, deputy executive director of the Tsinghua University Art Museum, mentioned that out of the approximately 700,000 visitors received by the museum annually, around 400,000 are primary and middle school students, and teenagers. Students of all ages, from kindergarten children to graduate students, visit the museum to learn. Some universities have established their own museums based on their teaching characteristics. For instance, an alumna donated various tax receipts dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1384-1644) to Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. With these precious tax receipts, the university established the Chinese Tax Receipt Museum, where many classes conduct practical learning activities. The Jiangxi Institute of Fashion Technology has been working on establishing a fashion museum since 2008. Sun Chengfei, deputy curator of the museum, recalled that at that time, the chairman of the board of trustees of the university, who came from a tailoring background, emphasized the importance of cultivating applied talents. Therefore, the teachers traveled to many provinces to purchase clothing. They collected costumes from 56 ethnic groups, amassing over 10,000 pieces of clothing. During their teaching sessions, the teachers would take out the pieces of clothing and place them in front of the students, allowing them to get a close up look. Some of the precious pieces of clothing were even available for hands-on exploration. An elderly couple visits an exhibition at the Capital Museum. (China Youth Daily/Wei Xi) According to Chen Jianming, former curator of the Hunan Museum, museums can provide students with a new perspective that cannot be found in textbooks, sparking their interest. He recalled that 20 years ago, a school from a remote mountainous area in Hunan organized a trip for students to visit the Hunan Museum. The students brought their own food and slept on the bus overnight, arriving at the museum the next morning and returning in the afternoon. "Many students had never visited even the county seat. I decided to take them to the museum in the capital city of Hunan to expand their horizons and expose them to the world beyond the mountains," said the school principal. "Museums are just a window into something bigger," Du said, using artist Wu Guanzhong as an example. Wu once visited the Hangzhou Art Institute and, seeing students sketching and painting watercolors in class, fell in love with art and switched from studying mechanical engineering to studying fine arts. A museum goer shows a replica in front of an artifact at a museum. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) A visitor watches a video about Beijing's history at the Capital Museum in Beijing. (China Youth Daily/Wei Xi) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Travel rewards earned from hotel stays, flights and flexible credit card purchases are the not-so-secret obsession of many frequent travelers. The rewards allow travelers to cover the cost of their trips or elevate their vacation experiences. Ten percent of respondents 50-plus in AARPs most recent Travel Trends Report plan to spend less on travel, with 13 percent of those planning to use loyalty points or miles. There are dozens of ways to earn and redeem points and miles to help you travel often while spending as little cash as possible. Theres indeed a lot to know. Members only Think of [redeeming points and miles] like comparison shopping before you buy anything else, says Ryan Smith, news managing editor at Upgraded Points. The more options you have, the more time you might spend checking them, but that also creates more opportunities to score a good deal. Whether youre new to travel rewards programs or consider yourself an expert, here are 25 great ways to maximize how you earn points and miles and spend them for bucket-list trips. 1. Maximize your mileage earnings with the right airline credit card The absolute easiest way to earn airline miles is by using a co-branded airline credit card for purchases. Cards like the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America occasionally offer welcome bonuses starting at 70,000 miles when you meet a minimum spend requirement and pay the annual fee. That could cover two round-trip economy tickets to Hawaii or one round-trip ticket to Europe on an Alaska Airlines partner airline. Other co-branded airline credit cards to consider are the United Club Infinite card from United Airlines or the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard from American Airlines. 2. Transfer flexible travel rewards Credit cards that earn flexible rewards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, the Platinum Card from American Express or the Capital One Venture X, offer a lot of rewards for your everyday spending that you can then transfer to partners like World of Hyatt, Delta Air Lines and others to redeem for free travel. 3. Take advantage of airline alliances U.S. carriers American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines are members of global airline alliances Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, respectively. In addition to having access to their member airlines routes and schedules, travelers also can redeem partner flights with miles from a different airline. So if you have United Airlines MileagePlus miles, for example, you can search for Singapore Airlines award availability and redeem MileagePlus miles for an available flight on Singapore Airlines. (This works in the opposite direction as well.) You also can earn preferred miles when flying on whats called codeshare flights on airlines belonging to the same alliance. Its a great way to fly some of the worlds best premium cabins without being tied to a specific airlines loyalty program. 4. Dont forget about status perks Airline and hotel loyalty programs grant status perks when you earn a certain number of points or miles. At hotels, some perks include late checkout, a welcome gift upon arrival or free breakfast. Airline status perks include complimentary upgrades, checked bags, lounge access and priority boarding. You can earn some of these perks with credit cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Earn rewards when you dine out or order takeout by using your credit card at participating restaurants. Sam Island 5. Earn rewards when you visit restaurants Dining programs are an easy way to earn miles whenever you dine in or order takeout. Simply sign up for a particular program, add your credit or debit card to your account, and earn miles whenever you use the card at participating restaurants. However, only one credit card can be tied to a dining program at a time. For example, you cannot earn miles with AAdvantage Dining from American Airlines and earn miles with the same credit card for SkyMiles Dining from Delta Air Lines. 6. Double dip credit cards/dining programs/etc. Earn two and three times the points when you double dip, which will help you reach your bucket-list destination even faster. When shopping through an online shopping portal like AAdvantage Shopping, MileagePlus Shopping or Delta SkyMiles Shopping, use a co-branded credit card for your purchase and essentially double your rewards. For example, online cash-back company Rakuten lets you earn American Express Membership Rewards instead of cash back. In this case, you could triple dip and receive bonus points when shopping through Rakuten at an online store where you also have Amex Offers. Youll collect your regular earn rate with your Amex card, the bonus Membership Rewards points through Rakuten, and the bonus points through your Amex Offer. Add a credit card that earns bonus points or miles on dining to your chosen dining program and earn additional points as well. 7. Redeem hotel points for luxury stays Luxury hotel properties such as St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria and Park Hyatt all belong to large hotel brands, so you can redeem hotel points for free stays. At Marriott Bonvoy properties, you may still be required to pay cash for applicable resort fees, but they would be negligible compared to paying cash for the nightly rate. 8. Redeem credit card points through travel portals You can redeem transferable credit card rewards through their own travel portals. For instance, you can redeem Capital One Miles at a rate of one cent per mile through the Capital One Travel portal by Hopper (although you can nearly double that value depending on the transfer partner). If youre not redeeming points earned with the Capital One Venture X, for example, you can earn bonus points when you purchase travel through these portals, up to 10 times per dollar when booking hotels through the Capital One Travel portal. Other transferable credit card rewards currencies such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards can also be redeemed through their respective travel portals. Placement for Project Development Perth, Jan 10, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide an update on funding initiatives for project development which may potentially include retiring or refinancing debt. HIGHLIGHTS - Horizon has negotiated and executed a Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) with Golden Crane Holdings Limited, for a two tranche Private Placement to issue a total of 213,888,888 ordinary shares at $A0.045 for A$9,625,000 in cash - Funds to be used for existing and further project development and potentially for the retiring or refinancing of debt - Horizon approved the development of Boorara in late July 2024 to mine a series of four open pits containing 1.24Mt of ore at 1.24g/t Au for 49.5koz of gold - The first ore stockpile of 54,380 tonnes has undergone assaying and metallurgical test work and is being hauled to the Paddington mill for first gold production which is imminent - Mining at Phillips Find commenced during October 2024 by Joint Venture (JV) with BML Ventures Pty Ltd (BML) and first gold bearing ore is now being mined. Processing of 200kt will commence in February 2025 at FMR Investments Pty Ltd, Greenfields Mill and complete by the end of June 2025. Placement The Placement involves the issue of 213,888,888 new fully paid ordinary shares (New Shares) at an issue price of $0.045 per share for total funds to be received of A$6,345,000 (less 2.5% broker fee). The Placement will be completed in two tranches: - Tranche 1: 141,000,000 New Shares issued Monday to an unrelated party for A$6,345,000 utilising available placement capacity under ASX listing rule 7.1 - Tranche 2: 72,888,888 New Shares issued in the next few months (with timing dependent on Foreign Investment Review Board approval, if required) to an unrelated party for A$3,280,000 utilising available placement capacity under ASX listing rule 7.1A in respect of the issue of 1,967,021 New Shares and the balance of 70,921,867 New Shares will be issued pursuant to listing rule 7.1. Commenting on the mining progress, Managing Director and CEO Mr Grant Haywood said: "We are very pleased to have the support of a new private equity investor who has committed to provide $9.625 million to fund the Company's ongoing project developments at Boorara and Phillips Find Project. With the gold price at all-time highs, we look forward to ongoing gold production from Boorara and Phillips Find, and further production optionality in the future from our advanced suite of development ready assets." About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Related Companies Remnants of buildings and artifacts from Old Bluffton are visible on land exposed as waters of Lake Buchanan recede in drought. The town was submerged when the lake was filled in 1937. Tracy Hobson Lehmann/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Malcolm Gerber has been watching his property along the Brazos River in Richmond quickly disappearing in the wake of major flood events. Mark Mulligan/Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle Well control specialist Hawk Dunlap returns after getting a closer look at a geyser of salty water and oil spews out near a dry hole on Oct. 2, 2024, in Toyha. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Blue Heron Bay resident Steve Smithers pulls his kayak back on shore at his home on Aug. 20, 2024, in Montgomery. In 2020, the water was between 6-8 feet, now due to the now-shallow water, Smithers can no longer use his jet skis or boat that he bought for the water-front property. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Texans have an epic history of negligence and waste when it comes to water, and now that the state is facing the consequences, here comes Gov. Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor John Whitmire with an epically bad idea. For months, Abbott and Whitmire have been quietly plotting how the state can buy the citys water and transfer it to West Texas, my colleagues Benjamin Wermund and Abby Church reported on Wednesday. The idea is apparently one of the governors totally transformative measures to solve Texas anticipated water shortage. Its a harebrained scheme to solve a problem with a simpler solution: Texas lawmakers need to overhaul state water laws, and West Texans need to manage its water supply better. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The root of our states water problems is a legal principle called The Rule of Capture, from 1904. The Texas Supreme Court declared that the owner of groundwater rights may pump as much as they want, even if it dries up their neighbors well or the communitys springs. Their reasoning was straightforward, if anachronistic: since people didnt understand how water flowed underground back then, trying to regulate it was beyond the governments expertise. In 1953, the courts further granted Clayton Williams Sr., whose junior ran for governor, the right to dry up Fort Stocktons Comanche Springs through overpumping. Since then, cotton farmers have run rolling sprinklers that have dramatically drained the Ogallala Aquifer for decades. In recent years, oil and gas companies have used 4 million gallons of fresh water on average to frack each new well, only to inject it back into the ground full of dangerous toxins. The Texas Legislature reined in the worst abuses by establishing 98 Groundwater Conservation Districts to manage water across 70% of the state. But there are plenty of exemptions to the rules, and the locally controlled boards dont always prioritize conservation over helping landowners make money at others expense. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Waste and abuse are at the heart of West Texas water problems. I remember learning about the foolishness of the Panhandles irrigated cotton farming when I was a student at the University of Texas at Austin in 1991. Fracking companies frequently promise to recycle water, but most still dont because its expensive. In contrast, surface water from creeks, rivers and lakes belongs to the state. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality manages the rights to surface water, with those holding the oldest permits guaranteed first dibs. During droughts, holders of newer water rights are the first to lose access. Many senior water rights holders dont use water in the most beneficial ways for everyday Texans. Texas voters authorized the $1 billion Texas Water Fund in 2023 to finance desperately needed water projects. However, lawmakers have realized its insufficient and plan to do more this year. Hence Abbotts promise in September to develop a generational-type approach to comprehensive water development across the state. Abbott is not the first statewide leader to suggest shipping East Texas water to the arid west. He should be the last, though. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Folks in West Texas want the water not only to keep growing cotton in the desert and fracking wells. They need it to chill data centers for cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence that will run on the Permian Basins abundant natural gas. Providing more water is like adding lanes to a highway. Once West Texas businesses rely on East Texas water, politicians will find it impossible to turn off the tap. The Houston region, meanwhile, doesnt have as much excess water as West Texans want. Southeast Texas gets more precipitation than other parts of the state. Like most Texas cities, Houstons water system is inefficient and leaks like a sieve. However, Greater Houston has one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, and the State Water Plan warns water supplies will get tight by 2030. Whitmire may see a business opportunity selling Houstons water to finance new infrastructure and avoid raising taxes, but hes selling out future generations. The Brazos River Authority has already bought Houston water to subsidize petrochemical plant expansion; how much more can the city lose? Laws across the nation and the world grant governments ownership of groundwater. Texas lawmakers must overhaul water law to boost efficiency, demand conservation and promote the highest and best use. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Abbott wants to rob Peter to pay Paul. Whitmire needs to nip this lousy deal in the bud and let West Texans sort themselves out. Martin will be a member of PICs Audit, Investment and Origination, and Risk committees. Tracey will be Senior Independent Director of PIC, subject to regulatory approval, and will be a member of PICs Audit, Customer, and Nomination committees. The appointments are effective as of 1 January 2025. David Weymouth, Chairman of PIC said: I am delighted to welcome Tracey and Martin to our Boards. They both have significant commercial and operational experience, together with extensive experience as NEDs, having served on Boards across a range of sectors including financial services. Tracey Graham said: "I look forward to working with David and the wider team to deliver the Groups strategy and ensure the company continues to create value for all stakeholders. Martin Pike said: PIC has a strong market opportunity, and I look forward to helping deliver the companys strategic objectives within the appropriate risk framework, delivering good outcomes for our policyholders and all of our stakeholders. About Tracey Graham Tracey has extensive experience as a Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chair, and is currently the Senior Independent Director at Nationwide Building Society and a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Close Brothers plc. Tracey is a former Chief Executive Officer of Talaris Limited, and has held a number of senior roles in De La Rue plc, HSBC and AXA Insurance, and has served as Senior Independent Director on the Boards of DiscoverIE plc and Ibstock plc, and as a Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee chair on the Boards of Royal London Mutual Insurance Society and Dialight plc. She chaired the LINK Consumer Council and was a Non-Executive Director of the LINK Scheme until December 2024. About Martin Pike Martin is Chairman and joint founder at Greencore Homes Ltd, a net zero carbon and low energy residential construction business, which has grown through start up into scale up stage with external investment. Martin has over 30 years' experience in the financial services and insurance sectors as a strategy and risk consultant, and actuary. He brings experience from previous roles at Abrdn PLC, where he was Chair of the Risk & Capital Committee and a member of the Remuneration, Audit, and Nomination and Governance Committees. Martin was also Chair of the Remuneration Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee for esure Group PLC, and also served as Chairman of Faraday Underwriting Limited and AIG Life. Martin was also previously the Managing Director, Risk Consulting and Software EMEA at Towers Watson from 2010 until 2013, having spent just under 30 years with the business. Britannia - one of Indias oldest and largest FMCG advertisers, and a long-standing client of the outdoor advertising business flipped the script on outdoor advertising. To spotlight Britannias continued commitment to its sustainable practices, the brand let nature take the lead in its latest campaign, to highlight its ESG commitments over years. Literally. Nature Shapes Britannia is an OOH series that stands-out for a simple reason: these billboards literally take the shape of trees around them, establishing both metaphorically and visually, how one of India's biggest organisations adapts to nature and not the other way around. Each billboard comes accompanied with a message about Britannias progress in sustainability across various facets: from plastic neutrality, to waste management and harnessing a circular economy; to water stewardship and energy management. The trees decide the art direction & typography of the billboards next to them: they decide how to shape Britannia. Making the brand name sometimes curve down, sometimes up, sometimes cramping it, sometimes making it bounce. Reflecting the co-operative, adaptive mindset large brands need to have on-ground to make progress in sustainability. The campaigns creative agency, Talented worked with multiple media partners to bring alive a unique media strategy thats counterintuitive to conventional billboard selection process. Since media agencies dont keep active data of billboards blocked by trees in top Indian cities, the selection process involved boots on the ground. Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer, Britannia, Britannia has been committed to being a sustainable organisation with a deep commitment towards its strategic ESG pillars. Through years, weve learnt that sustainability needs a conscious, adaptive, flexible approach. This initiative is an embodiment of this flexible approach with nature shaping Britannia, quite literally. The team ensured even the material used for the hoardings was 100% cotton biodegradable, ensuring we stay committed to the cause we are delivering. Aabhaas Shreshtha, Founding Member and Creative, Talented, Nature shapes Britannia and so it was natural for us to want nature to shape its advertising as well. And so began our mission to find rare trees with billboards right next to them. After a long and rigorous recce-ing with our media partners, we studied the contours of each tree, understood its growth and coverage, and designed around them. Large-scale sustainability charters are extremely consequential in the bigger picture, but can feel distant. By partnering with nature around us to tell the story, Britannia is bridging that gap. Sonia Lal, Partner Coral Media, We were pleasantly surprised when we were briefed on the current campaign ask and honestly feel incredibly proud to support Britannias initiative - which is not just a wonderful way to show the impact of the brands sustainability initiatives - but a signal from one of the countrys long-standing advertisers to other advertisers and media owners to think differently. Not everything great must come at the cost of nature. The Nature Shapes Britannia OOH went live in 4 cities including Hyderabad, Kolkata, Meerut and Pune, in partnership with a range of trees including Nag Kesar, Aam, Neem & Peepal. Also Read: Britannia Pure Magic & The Womb launch 12 Zodiac-Themed campaign Captain Fresh, a global leader in tech-led seafood supply chain, has further strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Rupali Gupta as Group Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). In her new role, Rupali will oversee People & Culture across the companys international operations, including its offices in India, the US, Europe (Spain, France, and Poland), and the UAE. As Captain Fresh accelerates its growth globally, Rupalis expertise will be instrumental in aligning talent management efforts, driving organizational scalability, integrating diverse cultures, and building a high-performance organization across these regions. With over 20 years of experience in human resources and consulting, Rupali has held senior leadership roles at organizations including Korn Ferry, Mercer, Mundipharma, Standard Chartered Bank, and Accenture. Her track record in spearheading culture transformation, organizational design, leadership development, HR transformation, and change management uniquely positions her to drive Captain Fresh's ambitious growth. "Captain Fresh is scaling rapidly as we expand, maintaining our unique culture with a unified, high-performance team is essential. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to ensure we attract top talent, foster a culture of collaboration and engagement, and drive organizational success across all regions," said Rupali Gupta, Group CHRO, Captain Fresh. "Captain Fresh has been growing organically and inorganically, with more than half our workforce based internationally now. With her extensive experience across diverse global organizations, we are confident in Rupalis leadership playing a pivotal role in strengthening our organizational culture as we continue to scale, said Utham Gowda, Founder and Group CEO, Captain Fresh. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India, Captain Fresh is a tech-led seafood player, building a truly global supply chain network that seamlessly integrates multi-species supply with multi-geography demand. Previously based in Singapore for the past 12 years, Rupali is relocating with her family to join the companys global leadership team in India. Rupalis appointment reinforces Captain Freshs focus on developing a strong talent ecosystem and fostering a cohesive culture as it prepares for its upcoming IPO and scales to new heights in the global markets. Luxury Ayurvedic beauty brand inde wild, spearheaded by startup entrepreneur and global beauty pioneer Diipa Buller-Khosla, today announced a groundbreaking partnership with film personality and youth icon Ishaan Khatter. This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in the beauty industry, directly challenging established gender norms and embracing a more inclusive and nuanced approach to self-care. Ishaan Khatter, as inde wild's first-ever male brand ambassador, perfectly embodies the brand's core values. His youthful vitality, international appeal, and artistic sensibility resonate deeply with the brand's forward-thinking and boundary-pushing identity. An elated Diipa Buller-Khosla who launched inde wild three years ago states, As we celebrate our launch in Sephora UK and prepare for our US debut, we're not just expanding our retail presencewe're amplifying our mission of inclusive beauty rooted in South Asian heritage. This campaign is a testament to our commitment to challenging outdated beauty norms. Ishaan perfectly embodies the modern, all-encompassing spirit of our brand. We are thrilled to partner with him to embark on this exciting journey, further solidifying our position at the forefront of the global beauty revolution. Through this partnership, we're showing the world that Ayurvedic beauty rituals are universal, genderless, and ready for their global big moment." The campaign's imagery moves beyond conventional advertising, presenting a sophisticated and evocative exploration of self-care. The visuals reimagine self-care rituals with a contemporary minimalist aesthetic, skilfully blending sensuality and strength. The overarching message emphasizes intentionality, showcasing grooming rituals that seamlessly integrate effortless ease with inclusive and holistic self-care practices. The TVC centers on Ishaan Khatter, presenting him as the embodiment of the female gaze, and redefining male grooming within a contemporary context. The intimate and minimalist aesthetic emphasizes texturebare skin and the Champi hair oilwith the product's circular bottle becoming a natural extension of Khatter's persona. These images seamlessly capture moments of reflection, movement and playful spontaneity. Ishaan Khatter shares his personal connection to the Champi ritual, stating, "It's a deeply rooted tradition, and something I fondly remember from childhood, like countless others. Balancing self-care with a busy schedule can be tough, but inde wild has helped me rediscover this ritual. It's more than just a product; it's a way to reconnect with myself. I love that these products aren't just cosmetics but tools for holistic self-care accessible to everyone, regardless of gender." The campaign launches globally this month, featuring the inde wild Champi Hair Oil and Dewy Lip Treatmentproducts that have already garnered significant attention in the clean beauty category. The partnership positions inde wild at the forefront of beauty innovation, bridging traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern, inclusive beauty needs. This announcement coincides with inde wild's meteoric rise, underscored by its recent successful launch in Sephora UK stores and its imminent expansion into the US market, solidifying its transformation from a digitally native brand to a global beauty phenomenon. Hailing from a culturally rich background rooted in Ayurvedic principles through family heritage, and with a mother who is an Ayurvedic practitioner and dermatologist, it was a natural progression for Diipa to recognise the importance of combining ancient practices with modern-day wellness and clean science earlier on in her life. inde wild pioneers as a proud Ayurvedistry brand a term which has been trademarked to recognise how inde wild represents a fusion of ancient Indian wisdom and modern-day science. The revolutionary brand's innovative approach, combines time-honoured Ayurvedic practices with cutting-edge biochemistry to create products that are both effective and culturally significant. inde wild's journey from a self-funded Indian beauty startup in 2022 to a multi-million-dollar empire collaborating with global establishments today serves as a testament to the growing global interest in holistic Indian beauty practices and products. Global food giant Nestle has appointed Indian executive Rajat Kumar Jain as its new Country Manager for Singapore. This follows a leadership reshuffle at Nestle India last year, where Jain, then head of Foods and South Asia Maggi, was slated for a significant leadership role within the Nestle Group. Jain, with nearly two decades of experience in brand building, innovation, sales, and leadership, has been instrumental in the success of Maggi, a globally recognized FMCG brand and a beloved household name in India. He joined Nestle India as a management trainee in 2004. Jain said: "A sea of emotions as I say goodbye to Nestle India, my home, school and playground for more than 20 years. Deepest gratitude to Suresh Narayanan for opportunities, guidance and trust. Everyday spent with you was a privilege. Reminded today the fortune I had to have amazing partners in McCann. What a privilege it was to find and shape big ideas with you that nourished brand MAGGI into the powerhouse it is today." Nestle Singapore expressed its enthusiasm for Jain's appointment, stating, Rajat brings fresh ideas and a passion for innovation. With his arrival, we renew our pledge to enhance quality of life for all Singaporeans today and for generations to come." Following Jain's departure, Rupali Rattan has assumed the role of Head of Foods Business, while Gopichandar Jagatheesan has taken over as Head of Chocolates and Confectionery, and Manav Sahni now leads Nestle's Dairy Business. In October, Nestle announced the retirement of Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India, after a distinguished 26-year career with the company. His retirement will be effective on July 31st. Also Read: Nestle Dairy Appoints Neha Gulati as Marketing Head Thomas K. Thomas has been promoted to the position of Managing Editor at The Hindu Business Line, one of Indias leading business publications. With over eight years of association with the publication, Thomas brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in business journalism. Previously serving as Chief of Bureau, Thomas played a pivotal role in steering the editorial direction of The Hindu Business Line. He managed a seasoned team of journalists while overseeing critical news coverage and spearheading the publications tech vertical. His leadership in conceptualizing special stories and managing complex editorial projects has significantly contributed to the publications reputation for in-depth, high-quality journalism. Thomas joined The Hindu Business Line in 2004 as a Special Correspondent, transitioning from Business Standard. His early work focused on covering key sectors such as telecom and pharmaceuticals, laying the groundwork for his expertise in business reporting. Over the years, his responsibilities expanded to managing a national-level bureau and ensuring seamless coordination of news flows across multiple regions. A distinguished journalist, Thomas has interviewed some of the most influential leaders in business and technology, including Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. These exclusive interactions have offered readers unparalleled insights into the strategies and visions of global industry trailblazers. As Managing Editor, Thomas is set to lead The Hindu Business Line into its next phase of growth. The publication aims to further strengthen its editorial leadership in business journalism by delivering comprehensive coverage across sectors like technology, finance, and economics, while engaging its audience with cutting-edge stories and interviews. Thomass appointment signals a renewed commitment to maintaining the publications legacy of excellence in business reporting and its dedication to staying at the forefront of journalism in an ever-evolving media landscape. Also Read: Abbey Thomas appointed as Bentley Indias Country Head Alabama will recognize 50 schools for their recent success on the states school report cards. Each year the Legislative School Performance Program typically awards $2,000 to each of the states 25 top-performing schools. It also gives an $8,000 prize to each of the states 25 most improved schools. Scroll down to see the schools on each list. More Alabama schools saw improvement this year, but growth has been in pockets. AL.com recently explored several of the schools on last years most improved list and found that many staff were using research-based strategies to improve outcomes in the classroom. Even schools that have challenges can see remarkable growth, State Superintendent Eric Mackey told board members at a work session Thursday. The rankings are determined by total scores on the state report card, which measure academic achievement, growth and other indicators of school performance taken during the 2023-24 school year. Lawmakers created the Legislative School Performance Program in 2012 as part of the law creating school and district report cards, but didnt fund it until 2020. Beginning in 2020, lawmakers gave the Alabama State Department of Education $250,000 annually to award to schools showing academic excellence. The state board of education will formally recognize the schools during its Feb. 6 meeting in Montgomery. Below are the 25 schools that showed the most improvement on state report card scores for the 2023-24 school year. All schools on the list have moved up by at least one letter grade. Cant see the table? View it here . While several familiar names received a Top 25 ranking, all of the states most improved schools were new to the list this year. The top 25 schools are listed below. Cant see the table? View it here . You can also view recent report card scores at the Alabama State Department of Educations report card dashboard. Use the dropdown menus to find your school or district. With snow in the forecast, the cake ladies at the Alexandria Foodland in Calhoun County decided to have a little fun Thursday afternoon. It was during the grocery panic that everybody has the day before snow comes in, Eric Prichard, who co-owns the Alexandria grocery store with his father, Sam Prichard, told AL.com today. Customers rushed in for bread and milk, of course, but the Alexandria Foodland also had a run on the limited-edition James Spann cookie cakes that bakers Sasha Doan and Miranda Pelham decorated especially for the occasion. Two versions of the pizza-sized chocolate chip cookie cakes featured photos of the popular meteorologist from Birminghams ABC 33/40 shopping for bread and milk. Another showed Spann striking his famous finger-wagging pose. And a fourth one included a photo of We (love) James Spann written in the snow. My cake decorators came up with that idea, Prichard said. They just decided to throw it together at the last minute and thought it would be a hit. So, I sent it to James on Facebook to make sure he was OK with it, and he said, Yes sir, this is outstanding. RELATED: The James Spann you never knew Prichard shared pictures of the Spann cakes on the Alexandria Foodland Facebook page, and they sold out of the first batch within about an hour. We didnt know how they would actually go, but they took off pretty fast, Prichard said. Word spread on Facebook faster than we thought, and everybody said, Oh, I gotta come get one. Doan and Pelham had already left for the day after their shift ended, but Prichard called and asked them to come back in and make some more cakes. They just put em out for fun to see what would happen, Prichard said. I said, Hey girls, those are all gone. Would you mind coming back and making some more? So they did. By the time the store closed Thursday night, Prichard estimates they sold about 100 cookie cakes. That Facebook post has generated more than 1,300 likes and 300-plus shares. The Alexandria Foodland is closed today because of the winter storm, but Prichard said they should have some more James Spann cakes after the snow melts and the store reopens Saturday. We may have four or five of them left, he said, but if somebody wanted some, they can throw something together tomorrow. "The Book of Mormon" Courtesy Julieta Cervantes/Photo: Julieta Cervantes Its been almost 14 years since The Book of Mormon hit Broadway with its gleefully scabrous blend of the sacred and the profane, conveyed in weirdly hummable and infectious songs. Like most goods, it has a shelf life. But I couldnt find it as I wiped away tears of laughter during the show-stopping Joseph Smith American Moses number Tuesday night at the current touring productions stop at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Slinging arrows at religious fervor never really goes out of style, at least not when its done with such devil-may-care brio. Unfortunately, there was also an unscheduled show-stopper at Tuesdays opener. As the show neared its conclusion the sound glitched out in the middle of a song. The curtain came down, leaving a lonely piece of pink carry-on luggage visible. The audience sat in silence for a few minutes; some took selfies and talked to their friends. The house lights came up, which prompted a few to head for the exits. A voice from above (not Joseph Smith) told us to sit tight through the technical difficulties; after about ten minutes total the show concluded, its momentum drained, the cast properly amplified if a little rattled. In short, it was a Hasa Diga Eebowai situation, but Tomorrow is a Latter Day. This was my second time catching a Book of Mormon touring show I havent seen it on Broadway -- and both times I have marveled that Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the wiseacres who shot to fame with a construction-paper cartoon TV series about potty-mouthed kids, somehow turned out to be musical geniuses. The Book of Mormon wasnt even the first piece of evidence; that was the 1999 animated musical South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, followed by 2004s Team America: World Police. In a way that movies central theme the arrogance of American exceptionalism provides a handy ramp to The Book of Mormon, a show that lampoons a religion based in the idea of Jesus coming to America. (From the song All-American Prophet Im gonna take you back to Biblical times: 1823). Advertisement Article continues below this ad With an assist from Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Parker and Stone flex their muscles as equal-opportunity offenders. Mormonism might be first in line; the show revolves around two missionaries, the awkward Elder Cunningham (Diego Enrico, in the role created by Josh Gad) and the preening Elder Price (Sam McLellan, in the role created by Andrew Rannells) trying to spread the Word in Uganda. But with jokes and songs about AIDS, female circumcision, lethal dysentery and other subjects, The Book of Mormon takes a carpet-bombing approach to humor that asks a question worthy of Mel Brooks: When you offend everybody, do you offend anybody? Touring casts can be hit or miss; I found Enrico increasingly shticky in his portrayal of the eager-to-please Elder Cunningham, but I enjoyed India Shelbi Boone, understudying for Keke Nesbitt as the Ugandan convert Nabulungi, and Craig Franke as Elder McKinley, who in Turn It Off, offers words of wisdom on what to do those with pesky homosexual thoughts: Turn it off!/Like a light switch/There its gone/my hetero side just won!). Theres something timeless about a kicking chorus line of elders in pink sequin vests (costumes designed by Ann Ross) singing about praying away the gay. Elder Cunningham spoiler alert finds success in converting the Ugandans by spinning his own version of Mormon wisdom, incorporating elements of Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Comics Universe, and whatever else comes in handy. Herein lies the deceptively smart message of The Book of Mormon: we find hope and belief wherever we can. Or, as Elder Price sings in I Believe, I am a Mormon, and dang it, a Mormon just believes. Gov. Kay Ivey returned to Montgomery late Thursday night after what the governor called a wide-ranging meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, Trumps resort in Florida. According to a summary from Gina Maiola, the governors communications director, the visit lasted a few hours and focused on border security, immigration, economic policy, and education. Ivey made it clear she is eager to support the Trump agenda, Maiola said. I am grateful for President Trumps invitation to join him and my fellow Republican governors for a wide-ranging discussion and dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Ivey said in a statement. President Trump is prepared to get to work for the American people on day one, and I am more optimistic than ever for our country. He assured us he would begin reversing bad Biden-Harris policies on his first day in office and that we would address major challenges from illegal immigration to our students education. President Trump is smart, knows the facts and is prepared to take America into our Golden Age. It is an honor to continue working with President Trump over these next two years to deliver for Alabamians and Americans alike. LaDarrius Hutcherson remembers the day his career changed, and he has TikTok to thank for it. On Aug. 15, 2022, a video he filmed inside Ruths Place in Irondale went viral. Since then, under the handle LHut, he has built a following of nearly 60,000 on TikTok, using the platform to spotlight small, minority-owned and unheralded restaurants in Central Alabama. Instantly, in that moment, it showed me the power of TikTok, Hutcherson said about that first video. Now, that platform is at risk. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Friday on whether TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, must sell to a U.S. company by Jan. 19 or be banned nationwide. The case pits national security concerns against free speech rights, with Alabama figures weighing in on both sides. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall supports the ban, arguing TikTok shares user data with China. The law TikTok challenges requires the platform to divest from its ties to the Chinese Communist Party, Marshall said. The law is not based on TikToks speech, but rather on its practices of harvesting Americans data and sharing it with the CCP. The First Amendment does not require our country to subject itself to that foreign national security threat. George Bovenizer, an assistant professor at the University of South Alabama who teaches courses on social media, sees the case as a First Amendment battle, noting TikToks massive influence170 million U.S. users, including a growing number in Alabama. Weve seen with social media platforms that they grow and become popular and then a lot of times, that popularity wanes, he said. Its hard to see that happening with TikTok the numbers are just enormous. Growing influence FILE - The icon for the video sharing TikTok app is seen on a smartphone, Feb. 28, 2023, in Marple Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)AP TikTok has a growing influence among those who use it for more than scrolling through and wasting time watching benign videos about barking dogs or cooking tips. Its also a site where a growing number of Americans are getting their news. According to a Pew Research Report, 52% of adults say they regularly get their news from TikTok, a growing number at a time when other social media sites have seen their influence dwindle. President-elect Donald Trump, now with 14.7 million TikTok followers, is an active user. He has filed a legal brief urging the court to delay any ban until he takes office. Brilyn Hollyhand, head of the RNCs Youth Advisory Council and a Tuscaloosa resident, sees TikTok as a vital political tool and has pitched Trump on using it for presidential messaging. TikTok is where my peers spend a lot of their time and has become the town square of our generation, said Hollyhand, who has over 64,500 TikTok followers. TikTok is popular among youth, with about six in ten teens ages 13 to 17 (63%) using the platform, according to Pew. That includes 57% who report using it daily, and 16% who say they are on it constantly. The sites popularity has given a platform for influencers and social media celebrities to boost their profiles, though some are urging their followers to switch to YouTube, Instagram, Snap Chat and other sites if TikTok shuts down. Jackson Dean, 21, a Madison native who lives in Los Angeles and has 5.7 million followers, said he is concerned about people losing their livelihoods. I understand the national security concerns, but I think there are better ways to go about it other than deleting thousands and thousands of peoples jobs, he said. Some peoples lives will change drastically. Regulating social media The lawsuit aside, concerns continue to swell over TikTok and other social media sites having a dangerous influence on minors. Only a handful of states have implemented restrictions on social media use for minors, and some of those cases are being challenged in court. Arkansas adopted a law in 2023 mandating parental consent for social media users under 18, but it is being challenged in federal court. Tennessees law, also requiring parental consent for social media use among minors, is also wrapped up in the courts over complaints that its a First Amendment violation. In Alabama, state Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, expects legislation this session addressing age restrictions. He said there is an appetite among Alabama lawmakers to place an age restriction on social media sites, and he anticipates a bill surfacing after the session begins Feb. 8. Robbins sponsored legislation in 2022 to require high school-age students to receive age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate instruction on social media risks and how to use them properly. That legislation didnt advance largely because it placed added educational and teaching requirements on schools, Robbins said. Weve changed the focus on how to regulate the industry, Robbins said. As far as TikTok goes, Robbins said he believes the company is an outlier among social media sites and not in a good way. If we look back to a time in the 1950s, wed find it weird that we were getting our news from the Soviets, Robbins said. The fact we allow the Chinese to control a media outlet, I think its good to put restraints on China. For Hutcherson and other Alabama creators, the stakes are high, and they are rooting for TikToks survival. TikTok has been the driving force for my career, Hutcherson said. It allowed people to get to know me and gravitate to my other platforms which Im super thankful for. Im grateful for TikTok. Alabamians are coming forward with their own spin on President-elect Donald Trumps idea to rename the Gulf of Mexico. In a press conference earlier this week at Mar-a-Lago, Trump announced his plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Rep. Barry Moore, R- AL and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. have joined forces to back the plan, co-sponsoring legislation that would rename the body of water. The announcement has become a popular topic online, with thousands of people coming forward to share their thoughts on the proposal or jokingly throw their own name ideas into the ring. Some Alabama posters proposed more local ideas. And even businesses joined in on the joke. It should be called the Gulf of Milos, the official Milos burger shop page commented on AL.coms Instagram post about the announcement. A proper name pic.twitter.com/R2dP3scEvc Auburn Memes (@AuburnMemes) January 9, 2025 But many AL.com commentors said the change was pointless. Just leave the name be, one woman wrote. Most people refer to it as The Gulf any ways. It accomplishes nothing & helps no one, another said. What are your thoughts on a new name for the Gulf of Mexico? Share them on the AL.com Facebook page. Winter storm conditions have turned parts of north and central Alabama into winter wonderlands as of Friday morning. The northern half of Alabama was covered with reports of snow, sleet, a wintry mix and icy roads, according to reports to the National Weather Service. As of Friday morning some of the higher reports were 5 inches of snow and sleet from north Alabama, with amounts of 1-2 inches common in other areas. Snow and sleet was expected to continue across the region through the morning. Forecasters cautioned early Friday that difficult to impossible driving conditions, with major impacts to roadways, will continue through at least midday today. The weather service in Huntsville warned that snow was transitioning to a wintry mix leading up to 10 a.m., which will continue to make driving very hazardous in many areas: [9:45AM] Snow has begun to transition to a winter mix in portions of the TN Valley south of the TN River, bringing increasingly hazardous road conditions! Continue to avoid travel & check back in for updates #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/6bNcH4cT4k NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) January 10, 2025 Travel was also discouraged in northern central Alabama: Although some improvement in road conditions is expected as temperatures continue to slowly rise, many roads continue to be hazardous, so please avoid unnecessary travel. If you must get out on the roads, please check ALGO traffic first - https://t.co/SlhH0T0j1L NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 10, 2025 Winter storm warnings continued for all of north Alabama and were expanded for parts of central Alabama, where more and more roads were reportedly becoming iced over and impassable. 40 1 / 40 Snow in Alabama Jan. 10, 2025 The weather service in Huntsville just before 10 a.m. increased the snow amounts for north Alabama, saying 2 to 6 inches of snow or snow and sleet will be possible in the winter storm warning area. Farther south, in central Alabama, the weather service in Birmingham said heavy mixed precipitation is expected, with an additional 1 to 2 inches of snow and sleet and ice accumulations up to 0.2 of an inch. Various agencies were reporting icy road conditions and very hazardous travel from the Birmingham metro area northward. The weather service said significant impacts are expected due to accumulating sleet and snow, followed by freezing rain this afternoon. The morning commute will be heavily impacted, and driving conditions may be dangerous or impossible. Precipitation was falling as all snow, a mixture of snow and sleet or just sleet early Friday. That could continue through the morning hours. The weather service said snow this morning is expected to change over to a wintry mix, followed by a potential for freezing rain before temperatures rise above freezing this afternoon, with all rain expected by that time. However, areas in north Alabama will stay cooler, keeping at least some potential for wintry precipitation continuing through this afternoon and evening, forecasters said. The weather service said slick and hazardous road conditions are expected to continue through Saturday morning as temperatures fall below freezing once again Friday night. Any lingering ground moisture is expected to refreeze. Central Alabama: We want your reports! If you have a ruler, try to take a measurement of how much has fallen in a grassy area, do not measure on concrete or asphalt. Let us know the amount and the nearest town/county you are in. Thank you for helping us document this event. NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 10, 2025 There have been some reports of sleet in south Alabama, but temperatures are warm enough there that little to no impact is expected in that region, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile While its possible that we see a few more pockets of sleet mix in with rain north of U.S. 84, the likelihood is very low, thus our shot at wintry precipitation has all but ended, the weather service said in its Friday morning forecast discussion. Forecasters expect south Alabama to see widespread rain through the day. Heres more on the winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories: NORTH ALABAMA A winter storm warning continues for all of north Alabama.NWS CENTRAL ALABAMA A winter storm warning has been expanded southward for more of central Alabama as of Friday morning.NWS A winter storm warning has been expanded for central Alabama. A winter storm warning will be in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, Walker, Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Jefferson and St. Clair counties. The weather service said to expect additional snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 2 inches and ice accumulations up to 0.20 of an inch. A winter storm warning will now also be in effect for Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Shelby, Talladega, Clay, Randolph and Bibb counties until 3 p.m. today. The weather service said additional snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 2 inches and ice accumulations around 0.10 of an inch. A winter weather advisory includes Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Elmore and Lee counties. It will be in effect until 3 p.m. today. The weather service said mixed precipitation is expected with additional snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and a light glaze of ice will be possible. Macys will be closing 66 underproductive locations in 2025 as part of a company strategy to return to profitable sales growth, according to a statement from the company. Closing any store is never easy, but as part of our Bold New Chapter strategy, we are closing underproductive Macys stores to allow us to focus our resources and prioritize investments in our goforward stores, where customers are already responding positively to better product offerings and elevated service, said Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macys, Inc. ...This plan [Bold New Chapter] is designed to return the company to sustainable, profitable sales growth which includes closing approximately 150 underproductive stores over a three-year period while investing in its 350 go-forward Macys locations through fiscal 2026, the release reads. Not included on the list is the Macys location inside Hoovers Riverchase Galleria, which has been up for sale since August, but remains on the market and in operation. Hoover Economic Development Manager Greg Knighton previously told AL.com that the city and Riverchase Galleria management are prepared to start scouting a replacement store if the malls Macys location closes. The list of 66 closing Macys locations can be found here. An 18-wheeler has jackknifed on U.S. 280 at Red Mountain Expressway and authorities expect more traffic issues to come as snow blanketed many Alabama roadways overnight. Right now, if I was a driver, Id consider every bridge impassable whether that bridge is impassable or not, said Jefferson County EMA Director Jim Coker. I would consider every road to be a risk and do everything you can to alleviate that risk, he said. Alabama State Troopers report snow and ice-covered roads for most of central and north Alabama. The Alabama Department of Transportation is actively treating Interstate 20 .from the Georgia state line to the Logan Martin Bridge. See also: Your photos and videos of Alabama snow U.S. 31 in Vestavia Hills headed toward Homewood near Brookwood Baptist Medical Center is closed and barricaded. In Talladega County, Childersburg has closed all city roads, said ALEA Lt. Jeremy Burkett, and authorities are on the scene of a wreck on I-20 eastbound between mile markers 165 and 168. The roads are also covered with ice and snow in Calhoun County where several crash investigations and motorist assists are in progress, Burkett said. In Pickens County, all roads have been deemed impassable as of 7:30 a.m. All roads are covered in snow and are becoming impassable in Etowah, Dekalb and Cherokee counties, King said. There are reports of several crashes on I-59 between the 185 and 190 mile markers in Etowah County. Authorities in Chambers County are reporting ice and slick spots on multiple roads, with the bridge over Wehadkee Creek being the worst area currently. So far, said Trooper Cpl. Reginal King, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Green, Sumter, Dallas, Perry, Hale, Wilcox and Marengo counties are reporting no significant weather or road conditions. Here are travel reports from across the state: Jefferson County Roadways are covered with ice and is slushy, but conditions continues to deteriorate. St. Clair County Roadways are covered with ice and is slushy. ALEA has received widespread reports of icy roads and stranded motorists due to icy conditions. The westbound lanes of Interstate 20, near the 153 mile marker to the 156 mile marker are now clear for traffic. One eastbound lane of Interstate 20, near the 148 mile marker is now clear for traffic. Travel with caution due to icy conditions. Shelby County - Roadways are covered with ice and is slushy. The southbound lanes of Interstate 65 at approximately 237 mile marker is now clear for traffic but the roads are still icy. Jacksonville Post Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Is actively treating Interstate 20 from the Georgia state line to the Logan Martin Bridge. Calhoun County Per Calhoun County EMA all city roadways in the County are closed due to ice and snow on the roadways. Jacksonville City Roads are impassable. Alabama 77 to Alabama 144 from Etowah County Line is iced over. Calhoun County Roads are also covered with snow and ice. Clay County - Roadways are covered with ice and snow. Cleburne County Roadways are covered with ice and snow. U.S. 431 is blocked in both directions due to icy road conditions and impassible at this time. Randolph County Roadways are covered with ice and snow. Talladega County Childersburg City has closed all city roads. U.S. 280 near Merkel Mtn. is near impassible per Talladega County. QUAD CITIES POST: COLBERT COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. FRANKLIN COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. LAUDERDALE COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. LAWRENCE COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. HAMILTON POST: FAYETTE COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. LAMAR COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. MARION COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. I 22 is passable with some slick spots. There are no disabled vehicles blocking the roadway. WALKER COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. I22 is passable with some slick spots. There are no disabled vehicles blocking the roadway. Currently there is an accident being worked at I 22 WB 42 MM. Roadway is not blocked. WINSTON COUNTY All state and federal roads have been graded and/or salted and seem to be passable with some slick spots. There is a least one lane clear and open on most roadways. Alex City Post: Coosa County- Reports of ice on the roadway on U.S. 231 north between the 198200-mile marker near Coosa County 56. Chambers County- Chambers County 267, Veasey Creek Bridge is covered in snow/sleet. Chambers County 268 near Randolph County line has several slick spots with the bridge over Wehadkee Creek being the worst area. Use caution when traveling Chambers County 268. Chambers County 278 at Railroad Bridge just before the Church has Ice Accumulation - Use Caution When Traveling 278. Chambers County 266 just before Intersection of the bridge has a light coating of ice and sleet. U.S. 431 North of Welch Community, and north of that to the county line White out conditions and roads are snowed over. Alabama 77 in the Abanda Area is snow covered. Expect road conditions to deteriorate on Alabama 77 the closer you get to the Randolph county line Chambers County 53 - the Bridge over Chikasanoxee Creek North of Abanda is snow/sleet Covered. Chambers County 266 Bridges over West Point Lake are Beginning to Accumulate Snow/Sleet. Chambers County 241 - is covered in Snow/Sleet and parts of Alabama 77 is iced over. Tallapoosa County- Reports of ice on the roadway on Alabama 63 North all the way towards the Clay county line. Reports of ice on the roadway on Alabama 63 North at Four Deer Hollow. Reports of ice on the bridge on Alabama 22 East at the 134-mile marker near Germany Ferry Road. Reports of ice patches on U.S. 280 in Dadeville to Horseshoe Bend Road. Tuscaloosa Post Pickens County Federal and State roads are now passable. County roads remain impassable at this time. Tuscaloosa County No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Bibb County No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Greene County No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Sumter County - No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Selma Post Dallas County No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Perry County No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Hale County No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Wilcox County - No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Marengo County - No significant weather or road conditions to report at this time. Its National Houseplant Appreciation Day. Which might make you feel extra bad if you put yours on the porch yesterday to get sun and left it out overnight. Gov. Kay Ivey has put 37 Alabama counties under a state of emergency today because of threats associated with ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain, slushy mix, poor driving decisions and prolonged below-freezing temperatures. Especially in the northern part of the state, its a great day to stay home. I hope yall are warm, happy and safe. Below youll find the Alabama News quiz, which makes its return this week. Its followed by the podcast player, then the daily report. Ike Medical cannabis conflict It seems like a long time since Alabama passed legislation that set up the framework for a medical-marijuana industry that still hasnt come to be. Its been so long, you could almost forget its supposed to be a thing. Did it really pass? Was it a crazy dream? No, it wasnt a dream (particularly to those whose REM sleep is repressed). The Compassion Act passed in the Spring of 2021. People have started college and earned degrees faster than the Alabama medical cannabis industry could germinate. AL.coms Mike Cason reports that right now lawyers are in court-ordered mediation to try to get beyond a current legal impasse. If you recall, conflict bloomed over the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commissions issuing of business licenses to those who will cultivate, process and dispense the product. Some companies that didnt make the cut for licenses are claiming that the Commission isnt following the law, and the courts have shut down the process while its being litigated. Right now, some licenses have been issued, but theyre hung up over dispensaries and integrated companies. Thats where we are after three efforts to issue licenses in 2023. Specifics of the mediation are confidential, but Commission attorney Mark Wilkerson said he thinks progress is being made. Session 25: Another bill to watch Another pre-filed bill for the coming Alabama legislative session is a measure that would exempt the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention and its local associations in good standing from paying local taxes, reports AL.coms Heather Gann. Which sounds really, really specific. Thats just one faith organization. The bills sponsor, State Rep. Phillip Ensler, a Montgomery Democrat, said thats because the Alabama code requires such local tax exemptions to be granted individually. He said hed like to eventually see the ability to grant tax exemptions more broadly: where maybe all churches or religious nonprofits are exempt or if they reach a certain threshold of how much charitable and community work they do. Note that religious organizations are exempt from federal taxes but have to be granted local exemptions. A marketing splash Come on down, sweet-tea fans. AL.coms Howard Koplowitz reports that a contestant accurately identified $3.99 as the current price of a gallon of Milos sweet tea. She did not go on to win the Now and Then game, however. Of course, years ago Milos Tea Company spun off from Milos Hamburgers and is its own company. Milos originated in the Birmingham area. More Alabama News The podcast Amanda Khorramabadi is going to tell the story of the rise and fall of Visionland. All the members of Alabamas Congressional delegation have joined 18 of their colleagues in signing a bipartisan letter to the Biden Administration expressing major concern over what they say is an attempt to renegotiate provisions of a trade agreement. Of particular importance to the Alabama delegation are how any changes might affect Vulcan Materials Corp. and its long-running dispute with the Mexican government. U.S. Reps. Dale Strong, Barry Moore, Terri Sewell, Gary Palmer, Mike Rogers, Shomari Figures and Robert Aderholt signed the letter, dated Jan. 9. The letter was sparked by reports that the U.S. Trade Representative is attempting to negotiate new provisions of the U.S. -Mexico- Canada Agreement and the U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement. According to opponents of the move, the action would strip some investor protections from the agreement. Palmer has called for a briefing to hear why the administration has taken this action. The members of Congress, in their letter, are arguing that the Biden Administration should let any disputes be handled during the incoming Trump Administration, scheduled to take office Jan. 20. They believe any renegotiations might jeopardize ongoing disputes between U.S.-based companies and the nations. The letter also complains that Congress and affected businesses were not adequately consulted. This dispute is of particular interest with Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials, which is currently in active arbitration with the Mexican government. Vulcan Materials has owned and operated a limestone quarry in Mexico for more than 35 years. The Mexican government in 2018 prohibited Vulcan from operating on two of its three parcels of land. Vulcan began arbitration proceedings to recover damages. In May 2022, the Mexican government forcibly shut down Vulcans operations in Mexico. About a year later, Mexican military police breached Vulcans port facility at gunpoint. Former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador threatened to declare the property a natural protected area or seize it by force if Vulcan didnt accept a $360 million offer for the gravel pits. Vulcan maintains the Punta Venado deep-water port facility has an estimated value of more than $1 billion. This post was modified at 9 a.m. Jan. 11 to correct the number of representatives who signed the letter. Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon was startled by something he saw while checking on county crews clearing roads during Friday mornings snowfall. This morning coming in, there was an elderly person sitting in a bus stop, McCutcheon said. Of course, with the condition of the roads, the buses were not running. The person had a walker with the icing and the snow. McCutcheon said he was thinking what in the world is this person doing here? It was very dangerous. With the shelters that we have, help each other, he said. Its very important the public understands the conditions out there, and they need to try to help each other. He urged residents to help their neighbors if they had needs to get them to the right place. We have resources to help everybody and every need, McCutcheon said. Warming centers were available throughout Huntsville for unsheltered individuals. About 335 people took advantage of the warming centers overnight Thursday and another 144 people received services at First Stop warming center on Stokes Street. By mid-day Friday, 325 were taking shelter at the Downtown Rescue Mission at 1400 Evangel Drive in northwest Huntsville, according to Ian Parton, who works the front desk at the mission. We are allowing anyone to come in today as long as they are not HPD (Huntsville Police Department) trespass, he said. We are bursting at the seams. And while so many were taking shelter there, volunteers were in short supply. Were very shorthanded today, Parton said. Its just me and security. But were still going to do what we need to do. Were about to serve lunch. We will have dinner this evening. We are open to the public today. Also offering shelter were the Livin Room at 2820 Governors Drive SW and the Salvation Army at 305 Seminole Drive SW. Both the Salvation Army and the Downtown Rescue Mission are offering shelter over the weekend. While Huntsville Transit is shut down, those needing a ride to a warming center should call the Huntsville Police Departments non-emergency number at 256-722-7100. Huntsville-Madison County EMA Director Jeff Birdwell said that due to the high volume of calls to 911, calls to that number should be for true emergencies only. English News China adjusts tariffs to boost imports of high-quality products Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 7 Janvier 2025 Experts noted that as China continuously expands voluntary opening up and creates more favorable conditions for high-quality imported products, more and more foreign market players are expected to benefit from its growing import demand. By Wang Junling Starting from Jan. 1, 2025, provisional import tariffs, lower than the most-favored-nation rates, have been applied to 935 Chinese commodities as part of an annual tariff adjustment plan recently issued by the Customs Tariff Commission of China's State Council. Experts said that lower provisional tariffs have been implemented for some raw materials, drugs, equipment, and components. Besides, China has adjusted the import tariff rates and items on certain goods in an effort to boost imports of high-quality products, expand Chinese domestic demand, advance high-level opening up, and promote high-quality development. The tariff adjustments were implemented in three aspects. First, to foster new quality productive forces through scientific and technological innovation, cycloolefin polymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, and automatic transmissions for special-purpose vehicles such as fire trucks and repair vehicles can enjoy lower import tariffs. Second, to enhance people's well-being, China has cut tariffs on sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, viral vectors for CAR-T tumor therapy, and nickel-titanium alloy wires for surgical implants. Third, to promote green and low-carbon development, ethane and some recycled copper and aluminium raw materials also see their import tariffs reduced. According to Fan Min, deputy head of the information and market department of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, ethane, cycloolefin polymers, and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers are important basic materials for China's petrochemical industry. The tariff cuts can promote the application of green and low-carbon manufacturing processes and drive the development of high-tech, and high-performance products in downstream industries, Fan added. Demonstrating China's commitment to high-level opening up The tariff adjustments also demonstrate China's sense of responsibility as a major trading nation under the current international economic situation. In 2025, China will continue to offer zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to the 43 least developed countries (LDCs) with which it has diplomatic relations in a bid to support their development and foster mutual benefits. At the same time, China will continue to apply preferential tariff rates to certain products from Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar in accordance with the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement and its exchange of notes with ASEAN member states. "Starting Dec. 1, 2024, China has given all the LDCs with which it has diplomatic relations zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. In 2025, China will continue to implement this unilateral opening-up policy," said Cui Fan, professor with the University of International Business and Economics. At the same time, conventional tariff rates will be applied to certain products from 34 countries and regions under 24 free trade and preferential trade arrangements in 2025, up from 30 countries and regions under 20 free trade and preferential trade arrangements as compared to the 2024 tariff adjustment plan. These changes signify an expanding "circle of friends" in China's foreign trade, Cui noted. As the first annual tariff adjustment plan after the adoption of the law on customs duties, this plan represents China's commitment to steadily expanding institutional opening up, unilaterally opening its doors wider to LDCs, and expanding the globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas. It also demonstrates China's proactive efforts to promote high-quality development via high-standard opening up, said Cui. "China has adopted a flexible and targeted approach in tariff adjustment. It has reduced provisional import tariffs on key equipment and components, drugs, medical equipment, and energy products. Besides, the country has also adjusted or eliminated import tariffs on products for which it has a certain level of production capacity and competitiveness," said Gao Lingyun, a researcher with the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Gao noted that these adjustment measures are contributing to China's efforts to expand opening up and promote industrial upgrading. Supporting measures keep unfolding in different regions Relevant departments in China have introduced a range of supporting measures. For instance, on Dec. 29, 2024, China's General Administration of Customs announced a new round of 16 measures to promote the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and boost imports of high-quality products. One measure involves working with local governments to push forward the pilot program for a "white list" of imported materials for biopharmaceuticals research and development in the region to support regional synergy. Another measure is to set up a pilot program in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province, for a positive list management system of imported daily consumer goods. Additionally, a collaborative mechanism is underway to facilitate grain imports in the region, which will link entry ports, transit ports, and destination customs to enable information sharing, mutual assistance in law enforcement, and mutual recognition of results. Experts noted that as China continuously expands voluntary opening up and creates more favorable conditions for high-quality imported products, more and more foreign market players are expected to benefit from its growing import demand. Dans la meme rubrique : < > High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) The tranquilita margarita at is the first cannabis-infused beverage to be served at Ninfa's this weekend. Shawn Chippendale The post-holiday slump is real for many Houston restaurants, and coupled with a growing Dry January trend, they're losing out on one of their biggest money-makers: alcohol. January is historically a slow month for restaurants, according to Texas Restaurant Association. People are partaking in New Year resolutions like saving money and focusing on health. Colder weather tends to keep people home, too. All of which can hurt restaurants, which are already grappling with rising prices across the board. A handful of well-known restaurants closed in January 2024, for example. Providing alcohol-alternative beverages has become increasingly valuable. DRY JANUARY: 11 restaurants and bars serving mocktails during Dry January in Houston Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It's an exciting opportunity for restaurants that have been looking for new ways to create high-margin product offerings that really speak to the consumers of today and frankly, tomorrow," said TRA's Kelsey Erickson Streufert. "The data is pretty clear that in January, looking for alcohol alternatives is a growing trend." More and more restaurants have become accustomed to serving mocktail options year-round. This year, restaurants also have a not-so-secret weapon that could be a saving grace this month: THC. Ocho Verde is a new cannabis spirit from 8th Wonder Brewery. 8th Wonder Houston's 8th Wonder Brewery has been at the forefront of the cannabis beverage trend with Bayou City Hemp, which acquired the brewery in 2024. When they first partnered on Wonder Water, one of the first THC seltzers on the market, co-founder Ryan Soroka said, "Whoa, I think we canned lightning." Last year Bayou City Hemp accomplished its goal of cracking into the restaurant industry. They're currently in dozens of Houston restaurants including the Blind Goat, Blood Bros. BBQ and Star Pizza, in addition to bars such as Bayou Heights Biergarten. The Restaurant Association said these drinks are some of the fastest-growing product sales for liquor stores and restaurants. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It is definitely a segment of the market that is still relatively small. There's a lot of restaurants that haven't sort of experimented with it yet, but I think it's a very quick-growing segment because consumers are looking for those alternatives," Erickson Streufert said. Bayou City Hemp co-founder Ben Meggs holds some of the unprocessed harvested hemp on Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Houston.Bayou City Hemp is one of the largest hemp manufacturing outposts to launch since Texas legalized hemp in 2019. Founding executives left the oil and gas industry after the bill passed and got into the growing CBD industry. Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer 8th Wonder's THC canned products are low dosage, similar to the amount of alcohol in a can of beer. The THC used in the drinks is from hemp, defined as any cannabis plant that has less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis legal in Texas. Restaurants that were part of the early adopters of THC cocktails and ready-to-drink canned drinks have seen the market embrace these drinks and the "California sober" lifestyle. Jacqueline Herrera, managing partner of Brett's BBQ Shop in Katy, said the product sold like crazy when they added it to their tap in March 2024. What makes this January even more promising is it's the first with 8th Wonder's first cannabis spirit, Ocho Verde, which launched on April 20 last year. It has a higher concentration of THC in a slick, liquor-like bottle. Before this spirit, THC beverages were limited to canned and draft drinks. It's one of only a handful of spirits on the market. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With the new product, 8th Wonder is able to become more mainstream as it can be used to make alcohol-free cocktails and sit on bar shelves among liquor options. The Original Ninfa's on Navigation was the first to put the product on menus with its "Tranquilita Margarita." It got a shout-out from Mick Jagger when the Rolling Stones made their Houston tour stop. "Ocho Verde has really taken off, and I would say, is a big differentiator for us in the THC beverage space," said Joel Canada, chief revenue officer of Bayou City Hemp. "It's really allowed us to get into the bar and restaurant scene. It's showing (bartenders and mixologists) that this is a high volume category, just like alcohol." The Drojito (THC mojito), Jungle Penguin (non-alcoholic version of the tropical/tiki-inspired Jungle Bird), Sure, Why Not? non-alcoholic cocktail with NA gin, vanilla syrup, orange, lime, cucumber-basil juice and Saint Arnold ginger beer. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Restaurant and bar owners like Chris Cusack, who owns Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, said he's less worried about Dry January this year because of these THC drinks carrying some weight, along with his lineup of mocktails. One of the THC options at his bars is a Drojito, a mojito with THC and no alcohol. "(Ocho Verde) has been on the rise, and I would not be surprised to see a spike in it this coming January," Cusack said. "I would expect we'll do better than last year's (January) sales overall." Advertisement Article continues below this ad FM Kitchen & Bar and PKL Socal operating manager Jason Mok was getting requests from customers for THC beverages. In the fall, FM added a THC margarita to the menu. In two weeks, it was obvious to him there was a market for it, and he thinks it will help with the January slump. "I've tried to be on the more cautious side just because it's still new, but there's definitely a lot of interest in it," Mok said. "We have to adjust to the trends." Bayou City Hemp isn't trying to make an enemy out of alcohol. After all, 8th Wonder produces beer. But it's another option especially in social settings. And restaurants could benefit from the interest. "We understand that alcohol is sort of here to stay and will always be around. But we would like to be a sort of better-for-you choice for people, whether they want to swap entirely or just drink less, drink more mindfully," Canada said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad English News China, United States should inject more certainty, positive energy into world Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 9 Janvier 2025 China-U.S. cooperation may not solve all problems, but few problems can be solved without China-U.S. cooperation. The U.S. should fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, stand on the right side of history, and work together with China to strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to inject more certainty and positive energy into the world. By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily "Either way, China and America are compelled to work together if there is going to be a stable 21st century. If competition and collaboration give way entirely to confrontation, a disorderly 21st century awaits us both." This was written by American opinion columnist Thomas L. Friedman in an article after wrapping up a recent trip to China. He believes that America and China are the only two powers that together can offer any hope, as the world today faces runaway artificial intelligence and climate change. Friedman's opinion represents insightful Americans' clear understanding and rational thinking on how major countries like China and the U.S. should fulfill their responsibilities. Humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges in this turbulent world suffering from frequent conflicts. Against this backdrop, major-country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times; only solidarity and cooperation can help humanity overcome current difficulties. Both China and the U.S. must recognize that under the current circumstances, common interests between the two countries are expanding rather than shrinking. Their cooperation is crucial not only for the economy, trade, agriculture, counternarcotics, law enforcement and public health, but also for handling global challenges of climate change and artificial intelligence as well as addressing international hotspot issues. Many in the U.S. believe that "with great power comes great responsibility." China also holds that the international status of a country is measured by its openness of mind, breadth of vision, and sense of responsibility. As the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and the U.S. should always keep in mind humanity's future and their responsibilities for world peace, provide public good for the world, and play an active role in addressing global challenges. In today's world, humanity is a closely entwined community with a shared future. Countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which their shared destiny hinges. As such, they should see each other's development as opportunities rather than challenges, and treat each other as partners rather than rivals. Global solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win should become the defining theme of the times. This is how China views the world and its relationship with the U.S. As China believes that humanity is a community with a shared future, it has always handled China-U.S. relations with a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world and based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. China always holds that the two countries should be partners, not rivals. The Thucydides's Trap is not a historical inevitability, and a new Cold War should not be fought and cannot be won. China is committed to promoting stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other. This in itself reflects China's responsible attitude that puts the future of humanity front and center. Major-country competition does not represent the trend of the times, still less can it solve America's own problems or the challenges facing the world. China and the U.S. should jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries and set an example in addressing global challenges. In the past, China and the U.S. pulled the world economy out of the quagmire of the international financial crisis together with other G20 members, and jointly pushed to reach the Paris Agreement on climate change, bringing new hope for fighting global warming. As the world economic recovery remains sluggish and global challenges keep emerging, it is even more imperative for China and the U.S. to take the lead in shouldering responsibilities as major countries, refrain from mutual attrition that drags down the world, and avoid coercing other countries into taking sides. Tariff war, trade war and tech war are against the trend of history and laws of economics, and they produce no winners. For economic and trade disputes, neither decoupling nor supply-chain disruption is the solution; common development can only be achieved through mutually beneficial cooperation. In the face of the burgeoning sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, "small yard, high fences" is not what a major country should do; only openness and sharing can advance the well-being of humanity. China and the U.S. should work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, let the light of peace reach all corners of the world, and ensure that more development gains will be shared more fairly by people across the world. "There are few certainties in world affairs. What we do know is that without much greater cooperation between the U.S. and China, the world will be in dire straits," said an American scholar when analyzing the future development of China-U.S. relations. China-U.S. cooperation may not solve all problems, but few problems can be solved without China-U.S. cooperation. The U.S. should fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, stand on the right side of history, and work together with China to strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to inject more certainty and positive energy into the world. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) Dans la meme rubrique : < > High-quality Belt and Road cooperation create opportunities for global growth Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) If the worlds oldest profession is prostitution, the worlds oldest institution is slavery. Although the practice has been condemned by the United Nations and although Western nations officially have repudiated the sale of human beings, slavery has not been eradicated. It has merely evolved into shapes and patterns that are not acknowledged as slavery. Slaves have been given new names that cover up the sad reality names like economic refugees. The sad reality is that today, there are at least 40 million slaves worldwide. Most pertinent for America, millions have been smuggled into or have streamed across the open borders of America itself. They are aided by unscrupulous lowlifes who are expert at disguising their motives and their true trade, and they are further abetted by the current administrations feckless policies as well as its hostility toward the law and law enforcement. To put it bluntly, here in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, slavery has been reintroduced and has burrowed into our social structures, finding homes in so-called sanctuary cities and states. Appallingly, free-born American citizens are also put into a form of serfdom, requiring their tax dollars to support slavery. The result is that the nation is divided into blue slave states and red free states, much as it was divided before and during the Civil War. Worse, the Biden administration has endeavored to turn the entire nation into a nation of serfs by flooding the country with untold millions of illegal aliens either ignorant of or utterly opposed to American values. The saddest cases are the estimated 500,000 unaccompanied alien children who have disappeared into networks of child labor and sex-trafficking. Some are even victims of organ-harvesting, as counter-trafficking expert Alicia Hopper has testified before Congress. The current administration has refused to address the horrific victimization of children. Instead, Biden and Harris have openly promoted the reintroduction of slavery and serfdom of aliens and citizens alike by putting into practice a globalist mindset supporting unrestrained immigration, open borders, and bureaucratic enervation of the nations citizens. The governments following of the precepts of the Great Reset proposed by the World Economic Forum, which adheres to the fake spirituality of globalism, has threatened not just America, but the entire globe. Instead of a Year of Jubilee reorienting social structures according to traditional Jewish and Christian values, a rival societal reset has challenged the Western world. The globalist reset essentially institutionalizes slavery. The Great Reset of the World Economic Forum admits that its goal is that Western values [be] tested to the breaking point. A video posted on X by by the WEF shows a smiling man saying, You will own nothing and be happy. The video adds, We have to do a better job at welcoming and integrating refugees. You will own nothing and be happy is the very definition of slavery, as the persons who own nothing are owned by another entity. They have no vested interest in the country into which they have illegally entered, and no prospects other than continued vassal-like dependence on state and city governments. Recall: America engaged in a Civil War in which slaves were finally freed and jubilation ensued, including among abolitionists who had fought long and hard for the freedom of the entire populace. Although modern sensitivities have perhaps justifiably rejected blackface minstrel shows, abolitionist composers of folk tunes did not hesitate to use the shows to promote their anti-slavery views, often in overtly religious fashion. One such tune was the Year of Jubilo. Written by New England abolitionist Henry Clay Work, the lyrics speak of the joy of slaves after the master of the plantation fled as Union forces drew near. Although modern readers will almost certainly object to the tortured dialect Work employed, he ardently believed in securing the freedom of the slaves. Work took his inspiration from the ancient biblical record of the Hebrew Year of Jubilee, during which all slaves were to be freed. He ends his tune with a chorus: It mus be now de kingdom comin an de year Jubilo! For the Hebrews of antiquity as well as for Americans during and after the Civil War, the freedom of the slaves signified a new birth, a communal and national reset reflecting the values of the peaceable kingdom of God both ancient Israel and America believed in. Abraham Lincoln referred to the hope of that rebirth of the nation in his Gettysburg Address, expressing the desire that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. For Lincoln and the abolitionists, America was to be reborn as the nation of Israel was reborn during the Year of Jubilee. Slaves were to be freed and returned to their communities. Americas freed slaves were to be given land (40 acres and a mule), a promise sadly not kept. But the idea was that the land was to experience a cultural reset affecting every aspect of society. The nation was to be completely restored, as the Hebrew prophet Isaiah proclaimed, and as American artist Edward Hicks portrayed in his paintings of the Peaceable Kingdom described in the book of Isaiah, chapter 11: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. ... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. For America, a declaration of the Year of Jubilee 2025 might be in order. The hope is that a political revolution with deep Jewish and Christian spiritual underpinnings may well have commenced in November of 2024. It may begin to be actualized in 2025, when Donald Trump is inaugurated. As reforms that will change American society are enacted, a rebirth of American culture founded on spiritual, economic, intellectual, and constitutional integrity could begin. The destruction of Americas foundational beliefs and the establishment of a type of serfdom by the left may now begin to be reversed. A Year of Jubilee could free American citizens who are hobbled by bureaucratic chains and increasingly deprived of their rights and liberties, restoring their God-given rights and lands. Eradication of the slavery resulting from unbounded immigration and promoted by blue sanctuary cities and states could begin. Aliens hustled across the border by coyotes who sell innocent children into sweatshops and prostitution must end. Families could be resettled back to their own lands. They could find true freedom by returning to their communities, as in the Hebrew Year of Jubilee. But that will happen only if those nations from which they have come and should now be returned assume responsibility for their own peoples. They must reform their laws and institutions to reflect cultural values that include the rule of law and the social reforms necessary to create freedom for all the peoples for whom they alone are ultimately responsible. They should start with adherence to the constitutions they themselves have drawn up in imitation of the American Constitution. But as long as they have an escape valve that releases them from their sworn duties toward their own citizens, they will continue as before and now. Americas incoming administration should apply economic and diplomatic pressure on officials who proclaim allegiance to their nations constitutions but who refuse to practice the precepts therein. A final caution: No Henry Clay type of compromise may be enacted when it comes to slavery. As Lincoln noted, America cannot remain a house divided against itself. It cannot attempt to serve two masters, the one committed to freedom and the other to serfdom. Twenty twenty-five should be a Year of Jubilee for oppressed citizens and enslaved aliens alike a year in which true righteousness and justice prevail for all. Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is a regular contributor to American Thinker and can be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com. Image: JSMed via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Why care about North Korea; that's a question many will ask. Our world is full of flashpoints. There are so many that it is difficult to focus on the ones that matter at any particular cross-section of time. This is where average Americans stop reading. In a world of so many threats, what's one more? If one were to create a hierarchy of threats, China would be at the top. North Korea is to China as Hamas, and the rest of the Islamist proxies are to Iran. They are deadly dangerous and force us to react and modify our behavior in small and large ways that commutatively unravel our way of life and self-confidence. Free people can only be free if they retain their ability to live a normal life free of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). North Korea, through its subjugation by China, is a geopolitical threat that uses North Korea to distract us and forces us to allocate resources that should be focused on China directly. With its ability to foment chaos and instability throughout the world, I'm disturbed by the West's inability to grasp North Korea as a proxy of China in the same way Iran supplies and commands the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, and a half dozen other smaller and less well known proxies Iran has created over the last thirty years. In recent weeks, I've talked about Russia, China, and Iran as primary players who operate intending to change the world order by force, subversion, intimidation, and by fomenting corruption in the nations they target. North Korea stands as a wild card, not only because it has nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them but because it has the recent ability to play off suitors (Russia and China) against each other. This makes North Korea more deadly than it has previously been. Let's first try and understand that even as a proxy, North Korea is different in several material ways: North Korea is as close to a Stalinist dictatorship as there ever was, perhaps more so. North Korea is highly dependent on its status as a vassal nation of China and isolates itself from the world at large. It's not called the Hermit Kingdom for nothing. North Korea is one of the poorest nations on earth and seemingly has little interest in changing that status with a severe shortage of food, medicine, fuel, and few consumer commodities. Technically, North Korea is still at war with South Korea, with only a tenuous armistice that has been kept in place since 1953 with plans to ultimately "reunite" with the South sooner rather than later. North Korea is an economic wreck, unable to feed its people, and with few goods it can sell to bring in foreign exchange. North Korea is one of the most brutal nations on earth, routinely executing hundreds of its own people each year while incarcerating almost 200,000 more in prison, reminiscent of Soviet Gulags where many languish until they die. North Korea spends an estimated 36% of its GDP on its military, the highest percentage globally. In 2024, only about 105 persons escaped from North Korea, likely because China and Russia returned defectors who are then usually executed, frequently along with family members. Unlike the religious theocracies of the Middle East and also unlike the political totalitarian states of Russia, China, Eritrea, and Turkmenistan, to name some of the least human rights-friendly countries on earth, North Korea has escaped the kind of scrutiny it deserves. North Korea also murders its citizens internationally. One notable case was the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in 2017. He was killed in Malaysia using VX nerve gas; there have been others. While North Korea has been a regional threat for the last 71 years, it is instructive to understand that while North Korea has supported other insurgencies, it has not sent combat troops outside its region until its intervention in Ukraine last year. Out of approximately 10-12 thousand soldiers sent so far, about 25% have become casualties. More soldiers from North Korea are expected as a quid pro quo for Russia's promise to provide even more cash and, more disturbingly, S-400 long-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers, and ground-based radar systems. Air defense missiles have the potential to encourage Kim Jong-un and his even more bloodthirsty sister and heir apparent, Kim Yo Jong, to continue to overplay their hand with the West. Western policy has encouraged and rewarded bad behavior for fifty years. Examples: 1. Strategic Patience: Begun under the Obama administration, focused on waiting for North Korea to negotiate while maintaining sanctions and diplomatic pressure. However, it only allowed North Korea to advance its nuclear programs. 2. Diplomatic Engagements: Various diplomatic efforts, including the Six-Party Talks involving China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States, aimed to address North Korea's nuclear program without success. 3. Sanctions: The United Nations and individual countries have imposed numerous sanctions on North Korea to pressure the regime to abandon its nuclear weapons program, again without success. 4. Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian aid failed as a deterrent, with resources diverted to its military and elite. The US and South Korea gave billions of dollars and shiploads of food and oil to ameliorate North Korea's belligerence. China provides North Korea with economic aid, which accounts for about 90% of its trade. The lights would go off all over North Korea tomorrow if China stopped supplying electricity and oil. China is North Korea's frontman, advocating for them on the world stage and blocking motions by the UN Security Council regularly. China provides most of North Korea's military equipment, rarely paid for. North Korea is China's proxy, and if not for them, North Korea would not have nuclear weapons today. Without nuclear weapons, North Korea's status in the world would be of little concern except to South Korea. You know your friends by the company they keep! The key to reducing North Korea's threat is a successful policy and implemented actions at its sponsor, China. This must be Trump's number one foreign policy objective. God bless America. Allan J. Feifer is a patriot, author, businessman, thinker, and strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com. Image: Office of the Secretary of Defense, via Picryl // public domain Major scientific organizations statements on climate change and the conclusions therein form the basis of much of the scientific foundation for governmental, scientific, media, and public concerns on the use of fossil fuels. Trillions of public and private dollars are currently being spent on alternative fuels to save the planet from the alleged harm of increasing CO2, a gas which is vital for life on earth. If the evaluations of these societies are erroneous, these measures could impoverish much of the world, to say nothing of wasting trillions. Economic damage and social unrest are already evident in some countries, including the United States. It is therefore imperative for all that their views be based on sound science, and if not, these societies should change their statements. A recent publication and podcast have examined the scientific organizations climate statements, and have found numerous errors, errors which are easy to find by simply comparing the societies statements with data from such reliable sources as NOAA, NASA, and others. These societies are the American Physical Society (APS), American Meteorological Society (AMS), National Academy of Science (NAS), American Chemical Society (ACS), and American Geophysical Union (AGU). Here is one example. The AGU states Greater CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are also affecting the growth and nutritional value of land plants Numerous studies, including measurements of terrestrial plant life from space, and measurements of crop production, have shown that if anything, increasing CO2 has increased both plant life and crop production. After all, CO2 is a vital nutrient for plants, and the slight warming we have experienced, possibly in part due to the increased CO2, has increased the growing seasons in the temperate latitudes. As another example, the ACS statement asserts: Extreme weather and related events, such as floods, droughts are increasing in frequency and intensity, threatening Americans physical, social, and economic well-being.. The frequency and intensity of floods and droughts is measured by what is called NOAAs Palmer drought index and this index is displayed as a graph vs of index versus year. It shows clearly, that in the United States the worst sustained droughts in the U.S. were in the 1930s and 1950s, and the worst sustained floods were in the 1970s through the 1990s. Tens of thousands of scientists, including over 10,000 with Ph.Ds., have critically examined the evidence, and have concluded that a CO2-induced climate crisis is extremely unlikely. They have willingly and publicly asserted this, by adding their names to document such as, the Oregon petition, Clintel Climate Petition , and the CO2 Coalition. Among other things, the societies should not ignore these, professional conclusions of many of their members. Accordingly, and with humility, I suggest that these societies do the following: Replace their climate statements with ones that say there is most likely an effect humans have on the changing climate, but its importance for humanity is uncertain and it is still being debated. Eliminate statements that are demonstrably incorrect, as shown by comparison with easily available and reliable data. Acknowledge in their statements that fossil fuels cannot be replaced in the next several decades without greatly endangering our civilization. Acknowledge in their statements that CO2 has obvious obvious benefit for human existence, as well as potential risks. By changing their statements to ones that are more moderate and scientifically correct, these societies will not only be helping the professions they serve, but more important, will ultimately be aiding humanity. On the other hand, if they keep their statements as they are, they will remain on the wrong side of history, and posterity will not look kindly on them. And posterity may be arriving sooner than they think. With a Republican Congress and President Trump referring to the green new scam, these society presidents may find themselves hauled before Congress to receive the university president treatment. After all, the APS statement says, Multiple lines of evidence strongly support the finding that anthropogenic greenhouse gases have become the dominant driver of global climate warming observed since the mid-twentieth century. What will its president say when the congressman puts up a graph showing that for 30 years in the early decades of the 20th century, the warming rate was the same or greater? Or when he puts up a map proving that the northern forests, 4000 years ago extended about 200 miles further north worldwide than they do today. Or shows that 2000 years ago, the Romans had vineyards in England extending all the way to Hadrians wall, millennia before cold weather grapes had been developed. Or when he shows evidence that 1000 years ago the Vikings grew barley in Greenland, something not possible today. Surely this proves that the world had many warmer periods without the help of extra CO2 in the atmosphere. There are many such statements that Congress can quote, to very publicly humiliate these society presidents. As a committed life fellow of the APS, I hope these societies will change their statements now, before the roof collapses on them. Image: U.S. Dept. of State Why on earth are we still hearing more expressions of empathy for Luigi Mangione, alleged assassin of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, than for his young children left fatherless? Incredibly silly women are fawning over the 26-year-old alleged cold-blooded killer of the CEO and even getting his face tattooed on their bodies as an everlasting memory of their stupidity. Some gays have idolized him as an icon, too. Even jealous Sean "Diddy" Combs is complaining that Mangione is getting more attention than he is at the correctional center theyre both now imprisoned at. Because Mangione has a killer smile and rock-hard abs, he is designated to achieve rock-star status among the amoral, mentally challenged populace of mostly younger Americans. We have truly been living in an idiocracy for the past 20 years falling for every single hoax supported by a lamestream media. From global warming to COVID, each hoax has been a diabolical attack on our freedom to choose how we live as free Americans. With Trumps election, I was hoping we were moving to a new era of common sense but alas, Jan. 20 cant come soon enough. While we must continue to call Mangione an alleged killer, the video evidence that shows the killer actually completing the assassination of Mr. Thompson leaves little doubt that the resemblance to Mangione is overwhelming as is the additional footage of his escape from New York City. This apparently means little to Mr. Mangiones new fan base. Now the New York Post has aired a video documentary called "Luigi Mangione Monster or Martyr"? In what universe could we even consider this privileged member of an elite upper class a martyr? A martyr to what? So, he had excruciating back pain but he certainly had enough money to get help. As far as we have learned, he wasnt turned down by the insurance company the victim headed. Nor is any CEO actually responsible for those transactions. The real villain behind the health crisis is Obamacare. There is one striking difference between Democrats and Republicans and that is Democrats do not know anything about running a business. Health care is definitely not health insurance, which is a business, not a charity, and when the Democrats rammed through passage of Obamacare, a.k.a., the Affordable Care Act of 2010, chaos followed. Unless one is a news junkie, one may not have paid any attention to what was happening in Nancy Pelosis realm as House leader during Barack Obamas presidency. In 2010, Democrats, who held the majority in both chambers of Congress at the time, ultimately passed the ACA without Republican votes. This was partly due to deep ideological differences over health care policy. Most of the GOP amendments were ignored and top Democrats, such as Senate leaders Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer, did not try to get bipartisan cooperation. The Democrats told so many lies about Obamacare that in a normal scenario, there would be public outrage. Unfortunately, the mainstream media became the lamestream media and managed to discredit the objections and those who questioned the ACA. Obama said, If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. In most cases, that was only true if your doctor was in a ACA-approved plan. The media dismissed the claim that there would be death panels but a provision of the Act included end-of-life counseling. Medicare reimbursed doctors for discussing advance care planning with patients. Obamacare made it mandatory for insurance companies to cover past illnesses and injuries. What business could survive that edict? Progressive Democrats want the government to be in complete charge of our lives so they have always pushed for single payer health care programs. Im a senior on Medicare who refuses to sign up for those Medicare Advantage or supplemental programs. I pay what Medicare will not and when the bill is too high, I make payment arrangements with the physicians. It is really sad to read the tales of those Americans who believe that they understand what motivated this murder. I am wondering the same thing and coming up with an alternate scenario. The killer is talking on his cell phone immediately after the kill. Who is he talking to? How did he know the exact moment that Mr. Thompson would be walking down that street? How did he know which hotel he would be staying at? Has the FBI delved into Mangiones cell records or online transactions or are they being the same incompetent Justice Department tool since 2016? The mainstream media sources no longer have effective investigative reporters. They employ mouthpieces for the progressive agenda of the Democrat party, but there are certain signs that change may be on the way. CNN management is cleaning house of its most liberal screeds. Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, has ordered the hiring of conservative voices and an overhaul of the papers progressive pundits. Not sure if hes serious or if his new agenda has filtered down to his underlings who nixed my latest MAGA essay. Oh, well, I'm not sure if Id be happy surrendering to that wing of the media. One final note about this murder and the victim: Immediately after Mr. Thompsons death I read scurrilous reports of how his company was involved with lawsuits and other negative news that seemed to lend credence to motives about the assassination. When was the last time the media paid any negative attention to a victims past life that would explain why and where they met their demise? Was George Floyd an innocent victim of police brutality or a man arrested for criminal activity? In addition to fentanyl and methamphetamine, the toxicology report from the autopsy showed that Floyd had cannabinoids in his system when he died. He also had heart disease and was probably a dead man walking during his arrest. Michael Brown was caught on video assaulting and robbing a store owner. He died reaching for the policemans gun, yet fake eyewitnesses reported he had his hands up before being shot. NBA superstar Lebron James walked into the arena with his hands up to show solidarity with the lies spewed by the press. I rest my case. Brian Thompson, R.I.P. Alicia Colon can be reached at aliciav.colon@gmail.com. Image: OpenClipart // Creative Commons Zero 1.0 License Today, January 10, marks what should have been Laken Rileys 23rd birthday. Instead of celebrating her life, her family and loved ones are left to mourn her senseless death an avoidable tragedy caused by an illegal alien with a criminal record who should never have been on the streets. Earlier this week, in her honor, the House of Representatives took a significant step forward by passing the Laken Riley Act, a measure designed to close dangerous loopholes in immigration enforcement. This legislation isnt just policy; its a moral imperative to prevent more families from enduring the anguish Lakens loved ones now know all too well. Yet despite its clear necessity, the act continues to face resistance from some in Congress. In a rare moment of clarity, the House approved this straightforward and commonsense measure, requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens suspected of theft. For many Americans, this legislation is so obviously necessary that it scarcely needs explanation. Yet, incredibly, most House Democrats opposed it. The question looms large: what does the Democrat establishment say to the grieving families whose losses this legislation seeks to prevent? The likely answer: nothing coherent. The act, named for Laken Riley, a young woman whose life was senselessly cut short by an illegal alien with a criminal record who should never have been on the streets, embodies a principle as old as civilized society protecting the innocent from harm. The legislation mandates that ICE detain illegal aliens charged with theft or similar crimes, ensuring that such individuals are either held accountable or promptly removed from the country. This would close a dangerous loophole in current policy, which too often releases criminal aliens into communities where they often reoffend. What Message Does This Opposition Send? Those who oppose the Laken Riley Act are signaling a troubling reality: that the Democrat partys leadership is more concerned with appeasing radical open-borders activists than protecting American lives. To be clear, this bill is not about rounding up every undocumented worker i t targets those who commit crimes beyond illegally entering the United States. Theft is not a victimless offense. It erodes trust; endangers livelihoods; and, as Laken Rileys case tragically illustrates, is often a precursor to violence. By voting against this bill, House Democrats are not simply refusing to address illegal immigration; they are actively endangering the public. How can anyone explain to a reasonable American citizen that someone in the country illegally, already flouting U.S. law, should not be detained after committing theft? For most Americans, this defies not just policy sense, but common sense. But therein lies the problem. The term citizen may be anathema to the modern Democrat partys vocabulary. To call someone an American in their worldview is to risk being labeled exclusionary. Their rhetoric reflects a party sold out to a globalist ideology that is fundamentally hostile to the idea of national sovereignty, borders, and the rights of citizens. Their policies are the natural outgrowth of this mindset: prioritizing the interests of those who flout our laws over those who abide by them. A Movement at Odds with the American Promise Opposition to the Laken Riley Act is not rooted in concerns about practicality or equity; it is ideological. For a growing segment of the Democrat party, Americas borders and by extension, its laws are moral inconveniences. This faction is unmoored from the basic idea that a governments primary responsibility is to its citizens. They cloak their hostility to enforcement in the language of compassion, but the results are anything but compassionate. Consider this: had the Laken Riley Act been law, Laken might still be alive today. Her killer, an illegal alien with a history of theft and child endangerment, would have been detained and deported before escalating his criminal behavior. This is not conjecture; it is a grim fact. Every senator who votes to block this legislation must answer for his inaction should another tragedy occur. And make no mistake: there will be more tragedies if this law is not enacted. Democrats Who Showed Courage It would be unfair to paint all House Democrats with the same brush. A small number broke ranks and voted with Republicans to pass this vital legislation. These individuals, recognizing the acts necessity, deserve credit for prioritizing the safety of their constituents over the demands of the Democrat partys activist base. Their courage highlights the stark division within the party, between those who still see their role as serving the American public and those beholden to radical ideology. The Senate must now follow suit. Majority Leader Chuck Schumers past obstruction of this bill is indefensible. To argue, as he has in the past, that such legislation unfairly targets undocumented immigrants is a smokescreen. The bill targets criminals. If the Democrat leadership in the Senate block this legislation again, they will further expose their allegiance to activists over Americans. A Measure of Moral Clarity The stakes are too high for partisanship to carry the day. Each senator, Republican or Democrat, must ask himself a simple question: whose side are you on? The side of law-abiding citizens like Laken Riley, or the side of those who would shield criminals from accountability? This legislation is not just a test of political will, but a measure of moral clarity. A government that refuses to protect its own people is failing at its most basic responsibility. If the Senate blocks the Laken Riley Act, it sends an unmistakable message: that the rights of criminals, even those here illegally, outweigh the rights of American citizens to live in safety and peace. America cannot afford such a message. The Senate must pass the Laken Riley Act and do so expeditiously. To fail is to guarantee more victims, more grieving families, and more erosion of trust in our institutions. The American people deserve better. Laken Riley deserved better. It is time for lawmakers to act like it. Charlton Allen is an attorney and former chief executive officer and chief judicial officer of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He is the founder and editor of The American Salient and the host of the Modern Federalist podcast. Image via Picryl. Theres a venerable aphorism: A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged (a victim of armed robbery). Now we find out if grotesque governmental incompetence and malice are enough to mug Californians to sanity. Not just any Californians, but thousands who once lived on some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Graphic: X Screenshot The firestorms consuming innumerable multi-million-dollar homes in Southern California are not the result of Climate Change, though well surely be subjected to Democrat/socialist/communist (D/S/C) dimwits reflexively making that claim. So what did cause them, and what has kept firefighters from effectively battling those conflagrations? *Homeless encampments. *Arson likely caused by insane, drug-addled homeless (a constant problem). *Gross mismanagement of forests, refusing to clear underbrush, and refusal to do controlled burns. *Severe budget cuts to fire departments, shipping off excess firefighting gear to Ukraine and DEI hiring. Graphic: X Screenshot *Refusal to build and fill reservoirs, which caused fire hydrants to run dry. Its kind of hard to put out fires without water. *Allowing trillions of gallons of water to drain into the Pacific at the behest of environmentalists. Whos responsible for this willful lack of preparation? California politicians for decades, including Governor Gavin Newsom, and LA Mayor Karen Bass who knew of the danger but flew off to Ghana. Theyre also responsible for the DEI-ifcation of California and of firefighters. Comedian Adam Carolla, who was forced to evacuate his home, explains: The comedian appeared before the government body to defend free speech, part of his No Safe Spaces project. He used the opportunity to share tales from his youth, including the time he tried to become an L.A. fire fighter. It didnt go well. I graduated North Hollywood High with a 1.7 GPA and could not find a job. I walked to a fire station. I was 19 and living in the garage of my family home and my mom was on welfare and food stamps. I said, Can I get a job as a fireman? and they said, No, because youre not black, Hispanic or a woman and well see you in about seven years. He eventually got the invite to apply roughly seven years later, he recalled during his testimony. He took the written exam and queried a fellow applicant while waiting at the government office. I had a young woman of color standing behind me in line, and I said to her, Just out of curiosity, when did you sign up to become a fire man? she said, Wednesday. That is an example of my white privilege. Carolla predicts change: Graphic: X Screenshot Carolla is right about what Californians are going to face if they try to rebuild. If they can afford to rebuild, that is. California wouldnt let insurance companies raise fire insurance rates, so companies dropped fire insurance, and most, if not all, of those that lost or will lose their homes and possessions have none. California isnt going to have the money to restore those people, so California will inevitably demand the taxpayers of sane states, through the federal government, bail them out. Donald Trump is not impressed: Which brings up two issues: will Californians mugged by fire change their political spots? Will they realize the D/S/C politicians for which theyve voted their entire lives are scoundrels, fools and liars that dont give a damn about them? Will they admit their lifelong political beliefs were wrong? And if they realize that, will they actually start the process of turning California red other than by burning it to the ground? Or will they do what so many other Californians have done: move to red states? Graphic: X Screenshot More to the point, what should be Trumps response to Newsoms demands for money the brokest nation in history just doesnt have? Hes not going to be able to say no, but he, on behalf of every sane, responsible American, can demand and enforce conditions, like: *Build every necessary dam. *Build all the reservoirs needed to deal with wildfires. *No more letting water drain into the pacific. *Eradicate DEI statewide. *Impose sane, professional forest management, to include regular controlled burns and clearing of underbrush. *End all homeless encampments. *Make arson a death penalty offense, and a felony for any prosecutor refusing to prosecute arson. Trump can do it with memes like this: Graphic: X Screenshot Its easy to imagine what the media would do in that case, but that brings up another question: what will our utterly discredited media do about Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass? Some media sources are suggesting this will be the end of their political careers. If the media did its job, that would be possible, even likely. This, and other ripe stories, will provide a clue about whether the media really has learned its lesson, and whether its capable of learning that lesson. Were also going to see if Carolla is right. Is a mugging of this magnitude sufficient to turn woke to MAGA? Stay tuned. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. 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. Covid hysteria introduced many themes that badly crash landed. Among them: trust the science, if you take the Covid vaccine you wont get covid or transmit it, masks protect you and others, social distancing protects you and I am science. Among the most spectacular crackups was: trust the experts. That crash was particularly fiery when people began noticing just how often the experts were disastrously and laughably wrong, how often their expert pronouncements were Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) dogma and that experts earned their expertise almost entirely by saying they were experts. People with credentials also claimed expertise in topics far outside their credentials and knowledge with equally trash compacting results. Perhaps the worst experts were fact-checkers: Graphic: X Screenshot The New York Times was skewered Tuesday for a headline about Meta fact-checkers fact-checking their own critics. Meta announced that it would be ending its controversial fact-checking practices and lifting restrictions on speech to "restore free expression" across Facebook, Instagram and Meta platforms, admitting its current content moderation practices have "gone too far." But its former third-party fact-check partners objected to the allegations of bias and censorship in their work. PolitiFact's Aaron Sharockman blasted the decision in a social media post, saying, "If Meta is upset it created a tool to censor, it should look in the mirror." Well, yes. Meta is looking in the mirror, which is why Mark Zuckerberg is at least rhetorically shifting to the X model. Which is why fact checkers are screaming Nooooooooooo! The New York Times published a piece about the backlash from such fact-checker organizations headlined, "Meta Says Fact-Checkers Were the Problem. Fact-Checkers Rule That False." The article said, "Fact-checking groups that worked with Meta said they had no role in deciding what the company did with the content that was fact-checked." Of course not. There is absolutely no connection between what fact checkers fact check and the content on Meta or any other social media site. And if you believe that, have I mentioned Im a Nigerian prince in exile and if youll give me your bank account numbers, Ill deposit millions to hide it from my enemies and you can keep 50%? As usual, The Babylon Bee is at the cutting edge of parody: Graphic: X Screenshot Just who are these fact checkers? How does one break into that exciting field? Does it require a bachelors in fact checking? A Masters? A doctorate? How lucrative is it and are there dental, medical and retirement benefits? Or must one merely be satisfied with the self-appointed power to censor others and perhaps to sic legions of cancelation experts on ones political enemies? And what about the layers and layers of editors and fact checkers that were revealed to Americans during the Rathergate days? Arent self-appointed fact checkers running those official, network fact checkers out of business? And why do virtually every fact checkers fact checks seem to support D/s/c positions and not the positions of Normal Americans? Arent facts facts for everyone? I await fact checks on these questions, which have stirred up the all-powerful International Fact Checking Network (IFCN): Graphic: X Screenshot I wasnt previously aware of the IFCN, but Ill bet theyre a UN agency, and as such might have been involved in mischief in Israel on October 7. Maybe someone should fact check that? I await the results of their emergency meeting, which must, of courseyou guessed itbe fact checked. No doubt the IFCN will find itself completely factual and blameless. Its good to be dah fact checkers. And in a related development, a disinformation expert has pronounced on Elon Musks outrageous attempts to interfere with the thoroughly fact checked operations of foreign governments by commenting about them on X, which because it is no longer fact checked, is a danger to human existence: Graphic: X Screenshot How dare an American, and particularly an American billionaire, express any opinion about anything?! And a political opinion? Why, thats interfering with foreign governments who tend to fact check their enemies directly into prison. Im sure disinformation experts are easily as qualified to tell us whats what as fact checkers. They probably graduated from the same elite fact checking institutions of higher obfuscation with equally advanced degrees. Sadly, when government tried to establish the Disinformation Governance Board, no amount of fact checking or expert pronouncement could save it, so all the federal fact checkers and experts went into stealth mode at the State Department and other deep state bureaucracies, where they labor tirelessly on behalf of fact checkers and experts everywhere. Until January 20. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. 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. Fulton County, Ga. district attorney Fani Willis may want to add avoiding accountability to her resume. This week, a scathing court order entered on January 3 but only recently made public revealed that Williss office violated Georgias Open Records Act (ORA) with all the finesse of a door slammed in your face. The case, brought by Judicial Watch, has resulted in Willis being ordered to pay attorneys fees a stark rebuke for a prosecutor who has spent much of her tenure basking in the national spotlight. Its not every day that a court order reads like a dissection of bureaucratic stonewalling, but this one delivers. As the judge succinctly put it, Georgias ORA is not hortatory; it is mandatory. Non-compliance has consequences. For Willis, those consequences include a public pummeling of her offices handling of records requests and a financial penalty that underscores her disregard for the transparency laws shes supposed to uphold. A No, Go Away Approach to the Law The courts findings paint a damning picture of how Williss office responded or more accurately, did not respond to open records requests. Judicial Watch sought records related to Williss handling of documents and communications involving the January 6th Committee, but instead of compliance, they got what the court described as a no, go away response. Williss records custodian admitted under deposition that no real search was conducted when the original request was filed in August 2023. Instead, her office flatly and falsely informed Plaintiff four separate times that no responsive records existed (emphasis in the original court order). Even after litigation began, the effort to find records was haphazard at best. The custodian admitted that employees were merely asked if they thought they had responsive records no thorough review of emails or files was conducted. Only after a December 2024 court order did Williss office find responsive records, which they then claimed were exempt from disclosure. The court acknowledged that some exemptions under the ORA might apply, but it didnt excuse the complete lack of effort to comply with the law in the first place. Mandatory, Not Optional Georgias ORA exists for a reason: to ensure transparency and accountability in government. As the court pointed out, its not an aspirational guideline its the law. Violations come with consequences, including liability for the requesting partys attorneys fees. In this case, the court found Williss violations egregious enough to warrant such penalties. Not only did her office not follow the ORA, but they also lacked any justification, substantial or otherwise for their non-compliance. As the court noted, no one searched until prodded by civil litigation. This isnt just a technical violation; its a fundamental failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability. For a prosecutor who has styled herself as a champion of justice, the irony is impossible to ignore. A Pattern of Evasion This latest episode fits neatly into a troubling pattern of behavior from Willis. Whether its being disqualified from the Trump case for a significant appearance of impropriety; mishandling financial arrangements with her very special prosecutor, given the...well, unique dynamics of their relationship; or now violating open records laws, the common thread is a disregard for the rules when they dont suit her agenda. What makes this case even more galling is the brazenness of the evasion. The idea that a public office could simply ignore a lawful records request, falsely claim that no records exist, and then grudgingly produce exempt records only after a court order is a slap in the face to the principles of open government. Selective Outrage from the Media Its worth noting how the medias treatment of Willis has shifted or rather, hasnt. Progressive outlets that lionized her as the fearless prosecutor taking on Donald Trump have largely ignored this latest debacle. One can only imagine the wall-to-wall coverage if a conservative prosecutor had violated transparency laws this blatantly. The silence from the usual defenders of government accountability is deafening. Its as if the same principles they claim to uphold are suddenly negotiable when applied to someone on their ideological team. A Wake-Up Call for Public Officials This case is more than just an embarrassment for Willis; its a wake-up call for public officials everywhere. Transparency laws are designed to hold government accountable to the people, ensuring officials serve the public interest rather than their own. Ignoring them isnt just a governmental misstep its a betrayal of public trust. The courts order sends a clear message: public officials dont get to pick and choose when the law applies to them. For Willis, the financial penalty may be negligible compared to the damage this does to her credibility. But for the public, its a reminder of why vigilance is necessary when dealing with those who wield government power. The Legacy of Fani Willis Williss tenure as Fulton County district attorney is shaping up to be a master class in how not to manage public trust. From romantic escapades to legal missteps, her office has become synonymous with scandal and incompetence. The courts order is a much needed reckoning. The real question is whether Willisor others like herwill learn from it. Based on her track record, it is hard to be optimistic. For now, Fulton County residents can only hope that this latest debacle marks the beginning of a long overdue accountability process. Charlton Allen is an attorney and former chief executive officer and chief judicial officer of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He is the founder and editor of The American Salient and the host of the Modern Federalist podcast. Image via Picryl. World political maps sometimes change as borders between sovereign states are rejiggered and their names updated. As America becomes great again, a bevy of changes are pending. So here are some tongue-in-cheek ideas for such changes. One change long overdue is to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, something that President Trump has stated he'd like to do. After all, how dare Mexico, a country with minimal significance compared to America, give its name to this semi-enclosed, oceanic basin that is nearly 900 nautical miles wide? Mexico didnt even become a proper country until 1821, and one could argue it was so corrupt and inefficient that it wasnt a vibrant country even then. Florida was a United States territory from 1822 until it became a state in 1845. Alabama, which also borders the gulf, became a state in 1819. Mississippi, which borders the gulf for about 44 miles, was admitted to the Union in 1817 four years before Mexico achieved independence from Spain. Louisiana, sporting a coastline of 397 miles with about thirty ports, became a state in 1812. Texas, as usual, is a different story. But even there, Mexican rule (if one can call it that), lasted only from 1821 to 1836. By far, the United States has more vital ports than Mexico along the Gulf. Once again, Trumps common sense rules the day so go ahead and rename it the Gulf of America. Documents and texts with the original name will need updating, but that wont be daunting for todays AI agents, bots and whatnot. It will be more streamlined than when the leftists misappropriated resources to update documents with gender-neutral verbiage. As for Canada, I dont think we want all of that forsaken tundra that keeps sending its Polar Vortexes down here in winter, and smoke from forest fires in the summer. Maybe the western provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta could be worthy of us. They tend to support good, wholesome, commonsense conservative values. Of course wed have to rename it to American Columbia; then we can show them how to do proper forest management. As for Quebec stick it. Who wants a bunch of people with French sympathies and hubris joining us, anyway? Besides, they are disgustingly liberal and even advance a separatist movement, such is their cheek. Let them separate. If they dont trade fairly, they can flounder alone, for all we care they are not welcome in the great-again United States of America. Then theres Greenland, which Trump has his eye on. Even if its not to become a fully-fledged state, perhaps it deserves to be under U.S. control. Once we take it from the Danes, should it be renamed Trumpland? Apparently, theyre quite fond of him. Some of our states are named after historical personages, after all. The sea between Trumpland and Newfoundland is currently called the Labrador Sea. It has nothing to do with the popular dog breed, but a Portuguese explorer. The name simply has to go. Any ideas? China has the South China Sea, so how about the North American Sea? Sea of Liberty? Ultimately, Trump may be trolling, driving the left to distraction as he and his team push the MAGA agenda. But sometimes changes to world political maps need to germinate a while. The seeds have been planted. As America (being the last great hope of Earth) reasserts its international exceptionalism (even taming uppity China), the worlds political maps may eventually comport with Pax Americana. Image: Apuldram, via Wikimedia Commons (edited) // CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed The dinner party scene at Sophie celebrating the launch of Digital Haus Jose Rodriguez Jourdan Sloane and Demi McCormack Jose Rodriguez There's a difference between influencers and content creators. In the past decade, both have become big business. "Content creation is making beautiful photos, videos or reels for a brand. Brands will seek them out just for the content they create," says Demi McCormack. "An influencer is someone who actually influences people through engaging, authentic content." The sweet spot is when the two converge. It's a lucrative opportunity, and the modus operandi of McCormack's new venture with Hannah Swiggard. On Thursday, the two young women-turned-business partners launched Digital Haus, a management agency for Houston influencers and content creators. The event in two parts, an intimate dinner plus friends and family after party, was hosted in Montrose at Sophie, which fellow influencer Ashley Muncie co-owns. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Digital Haus founders Hannah Swiggard and Demi McCormack Jose Rodriguez Familiar faces seated at the single, long table included Kara McCullers, who owns Maven Coffee and Cocktails with husband and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, former Miss Texas USA Logan Lester, and KHOU meteorologist Chita Craft. Social media stars in attendance included Jourdan Sloane (@jourdansloane) and Margret Rojas (@stylethegirl). Swiggard defines a microinfluencer as someone with fewer than 100,000 followers; Sloane and Rojas have a combined 1 million. Over Casa Del Sol tequila cocktails, one of Digital Haus' clients, traditional media and new media converged. Swiggard compares the world of influencer marketing to the wild west. She shares that one of the newly formed company's offerings will be contract negotiations with brands and hand-holding influencer clients through the lifecycle of campaigns. "We will also be working with regional and national brands looking to expand their exposure in Houston, connecting them with our talent," she told the Chronicle. "We are the matchmakers, consulting on strategy. The space is very transactional; everyone is trying to make a quick buck," McCormack adds. "But we're after that organic posting and brokering consistent relationships by providing performance analytics and high-touch services." Advertisement Article continues below this ad As a sixth-generation Houstonian and the granddaughter of Welcome Wilson Sr., a well-known real estate developer and former chairman of the University of Houston System Board of Regents who died earlier this year, McCormack views Digital Haus as a meaningful contribution to her hometown. Swiggard, who founded her eponymous social media marketing firm Swiggard Creative in 2018, says that she's had her eye on the next frontier, influencer marketing, for the past few years. Last fall, the women decided to join forces, and go into business together. Digital Haus currently has four clients. The goal is to keep online talent in Houston, and capitalize on the recent uptick of brand interest in bringing luxury pop-ups and events to Texas. "No more passing up Houston for Dallas or Austin," McCormack said during a toast to dinner party guests. The women cheered and raised their champagne flutes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An espresso martini made with Maven Coffee Jose Rodriguez Margret Rojas Jose Rodriguez The entrance into Digital Haus' launch party at Sophie in Montrose Jose Rodriguez Ashley Muncie Jose Rodriguez The seated dinner scene for Digital Haus launch at Sophie in Montrose Jose Rodriguez Dinner-goers toast Demi McCormack and Hannah Swiggard on the launch of their influencer agency, Digital Haus. Jose Rodriguez Chita Craft Jose Rodriguez Democrats in the Virginia Legislature, just back into session for the new year, are fast-tracking legislation (H.J. Res.1/S.J. Res.247) to write abortion on demand into the state constitution. If passed, the legislation will make the Commonwealth the abortion capital of the southeast. It would also have extremely adverse consequences for parental rights. The obvious and immediate purpose of the amendments is to legalize abortion. Notwithstanding cosmetic language in Senate version (absent in the House language) that the state may regulate third-trimester abortions (abortions in the sixth to ninth month of pregnancy), the exceptions built into the text are such as to render any restriction meaningless. Although most of the discussion about the amendment will center on abortion, with its proponents trying to sell it as protection of routine, early abortions, voters should not be deceived about the destructive impact the amendment would have on parental rights. During Ralph Northams governorship (the governor famous for his radio interview about having a discussion with parents about what to do with a baby born alive who survives an abortion), almost all of Virginias protective pro-life legislation was repealed. Only one remained in place, thanks to a Democrat legislator who broke ranks with his party: Virginias parental consent law. In Virginia, an unemancipated minor cannot obtain an abortion without parental consent unless the minor can manage to convince a state judge to authorize it. That protection was the only pro-life limit that remained in law because one Democrat legislator insisted that parents cannot be excluded from these matters. If either constitutional amendment is enacted, that provision will be nullified, and no subsequent legislature could ever re-enact it. Abortion advocates have always demanded that their procedure of choice be treated differently from any other medical intervention. Anytime anybody wants to do anything of medical consequence involving a child in Virginia, he must obtain parental consent, in general written. I can vouch from personal experience. My sons attended Virginia schools. Every year, I am compelled to sign a raft of documents authorizing any medical action on them. Permission to take them to an emergency room in case of an accident. Permission to take them to their pediatrician. Permission to use an EpiPen if needed for an allergic reaction. If they had any prescription theyd have to take during school hours, specific authorizations for it. Virginia would not give my kid an aspirin without my approval. But they would give her an abortion. Whats wrong with that picture? The language of the constitutional amendments, however, goes much farther. It speaks of an individual having a right to reproductive freedom (undefined). Individual, not woman. Part of the logic behind that choice is the gender ideology illusion that men can bear children (which is why Bidens Department of Health and Human Services uses the term birthing persons). But part of the logic is also a more nefarious importation of gender ideology against parental consent or even notice. If an individuals right to reproductive freedom includes fertility care, that means that a minor could conceivably undertake gender transition procedures of a temporary (puberty-blockers) or permanent (gender reassignment surgery, AKA genital mutilation) nature, with neither parental consent nor even notice. Not only could a child do that (since the amendment establishes the legal standard that one not infringe on that individuals autonomous decision-making) without parental consent or knowledge, but he would in fact have the state on his side as an opponent of a disapproving parent. Weve already seen blue states (e.g., Tim Walzs Minnesota, Gavin Newsoms California) define themselves as sanctuaries for minors running away from home to transition. Should Virginia join that chorus? Do note, however, that whereas abortion and sex changes the lefts sacraments get special carve-out exceptions from parental consent or knowledge, parental responsibility comes roaring back if something goes wrong. If your daughter is injured in that abortion, if your child is hurt by gender treatments, any corrective, therapeutic, or restorative medical care will require your consent (unless its a life-threatening emergency). So, once the legislators and judges who otherwise hector us about how government should not be involved in reproductive decisions exclude you and hurt your kid, they suddenly give him back to you with all your rights and responsibilities intact. Glenn Youngkin won the governorship of Virginia in 2021 in part because of parental rights: he fought on the principle that parents have a right to know what their kid is being taught in schools. If parents have a right to know about curricular content, they certainly have a right to be involved in a minors medical and surgical treatments. But Virginia Democrats refuse to learn the lesson of 2021. Although the Governor issued new model school curricula that stipulate that school districts should not be using names for kids in school other than the legal ones given by parents and should not be hiding these kinds of issues from parents, very blue school boards in northern Virginia have ignored them. They havent gone as far as California, which now prohibits parents from being told what names schools use for their kids in school, but theyve adopted a Southern strategy of nullification of state policy. So, whatever you think of abortion, realize that the amendments being jammed through the Legislature represent lethal threats to parental authority over minor children in the medical field. All parents ought to be able to get behind rejecting the erosion of their rights. In Virginia, a constitutional amendment is a two-year process. It must pass a majority of both chambers, a state legislative general election must intervene (November 2025), it must re-pass both chambers, and then it must be adopted in a public referendum. The Democrat majorities in Richmond want to grease the skids on step one this month. Ex-congresswoman Abigail Spanberger wants to use it to ride into the Governors Mansion in November. Parents need to stand up and shout: Stop! Image: jarmoluk via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Stand Your Ground (SYG) laws let people get away with murder! They let white supremacists get away with the slaughter of black people! Theyre racist, theyre worse than WWII and the Holocaust and slaveryooops. Sorry. That was Sunny Hostin on the The View. We return you to a sane publication. It was the Trayvon Martin case that turbocharged attempts to strike down SYG laws. George Zimmerman, a white Hispanica term the media invented for the occasion--brutally profiled, stalked and murdered a cherubic Trayvon Martin, just because he was black, wearing a hoodie and carrying Skittles, and Floridas SYG law let him get away with it. The truth is Martin, whose social media presence was very much that of a thug wannabe, ambushed Zimmerman, broke his nose, knocking him to the ground. He straddled him, raining blows on him in MMA ground and pound style and repeatedly smashed his head into a concrete sidewalk. So clear were the facts, despite a corrupt prosecutor and judge, Zimmerman was acquitted. Graphic: X Screenshot It was a ridiculously clear case of self-defense, a politicized prosecution, and neither the prosecution nor the defense mentioned SYG. It just didnt apply. But other than that, the case was all about SYG. SYG laws do not for a moment invalidate the normal legal criteria for the use of deadly force. All they do is establish that if youre attacked where youre legally allowed to be, you dont have to avoid hurting your attacker by running away. You can remain where you are and use whatever force is reasonable and lawfully necessary to end the attack. Thats it. SYG laws are race and gender colorblind. Yet, race hustlers and the mediaI know: one in the samecontinue to gaslight the public, as in the case of 79-year-old Edward Druzolowski who was recently cleared of homicide charges in Florida. It seems Druzolowski, who is frail and suffers from osteoporosis, saw his 42-year-old neighbor trimming tree branches, but on Druzoloskis property. Because Druzolowski knew the neighbor had a criminal record and a reputation for violence, he armed himself with a handgun and asked the neighbor to leave his property. The neighbor responded as any rational person would: he threatened Druzolowski with a chainsaw, which was confirmed by the neighbors eight-year-old son who was with him. Druzolowski warned the neighbor, who was much bigger and stronger than Druzolowski and wieldling a running chain saw, to stop but he aggressively advanced and Druzolowski fired, mortally wounding him and ending the threat. Did Druzolowski have the right to ask a trespasser to leave his property? Of course. Might it have been better if he just ignored his violent, criminal neighbor. Perhaps, but that had no bearing on the issues in the case. Druzolowski was on his own property. He had every right to ask the neighbor to leave, which he obviously did politely. Druzolowski even tried to convince him to stop, which he was not required to do. Because of Floridas SYG law, he had no obligation to retreat, which he surely could not have done anyway, so when a chainsaw-wielding thug aggressively advanced on him, he acted fully within the law and exercised his right to self-defense. As one might expect, not everyone agreed, including CNN: The ruling has renewed debate over the use of Floridas divisive law, with proponents arguing it protects individuals in self-defense situations, and critics contending it can lead to unjust outcomes in cases involving questionable circumstances. Not now, not with George Zimmerman. Neither set of circumstances were questionable. Zimmerman and Druzolowski were legally present and acting within the law when they were accosted by violent attackers who any reasonable person would have believed presented an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death. Race and gender would have made no difference. In both cases, neither Zimmerman nor Druzolowski were able to run away, and in both cases, the minimum force necessary to end the attacks was employed. Those who argue against SYG laws are badly misinformed, malicious, have political agendas or all three. Some may honestly believe violence never solves anything. Travyon Martin didnt believe that, nor did Druzolowskis chainsaw-wielding neighbor. Nor do thousands upon thousands of violent attackers around the nation every year. Criminals prefer to pick on the weak or distracted, the frail and female. Thats why SYG laws are vital and necessary. Thats also why self-defense is an unalienable, natural right and why the Second Amendment affirms it. Just ask Edward Druzolowski. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. 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. Baseus is a company that makes tons of different tech products from charging accessories to small handheld vacuums designed for cars, and at CES 2025 it revealed some intriguing innovations including a new combo accessory that both charges your devices and provides you with internet connectivity. If youre unfamiliar with Baseus, a lot of what you might see are power banks. Devices like the Baseus Blade 2 have been a favorite of ours due to their ultra-slim design and high power output. If you head to the companys website though, it makes tons of stuff. That being said, power banks and other such devices seem to be a majority of what the company makes, and what it specializes in. One of the accessories it brought to CES this week is called the EnerGeek MiFi power bank. Its a power bank with a 67W power output and a few charging ports, allowing you to charge up to four devices at the same time. Or one large device like a laptop. In fact, if youre charging your laptop, then the EnerGeek MiFi can also give that laptop internet connectivity because it also functions as a hotspot. Additionally, it can connect up to 10 devices at the same time and itll use 4G networks to connect them. In terms of compatibility, itll work with 4G networks in over 100 countries, including the US. As noted by The Verge, Baseus plans to launch this accessory sometime in April for about $90. That price is pretty on par with a few of its other charging accessories. Baseus accessories at CES 2025 include a solar-powered security camera with 4K recording While Baseus does make a lot of power accessories it also makes things like security cameras for the smart home enthusiast. Its latest offering is a follow-up to its 2K security camera. Called the Baseus Security S2, it will be solar-powered like the original. However, it increases the recording quality to 4K resolution instead of 2K. The solar panel also helps keep it charged. Which can help it stay powered on without having to plug the camera in. Baseus will most certainly sell the camera on its own web store. It should also be available through its Amazon store, where most of the companys other products can be found. At the moment though, Baseus hasnt announced a price or a release date. The company is also releasing a standard power bank with a 20,000mAh capacity If you want just a regular power bank, Baseus has another one of those coming as well. Itll have a 20,000mAh capacity and come with two integrated charging cables so you dont need your own. However, it also comes with two ports so you can use your own cables if you want. Additionally, it has a display on the front so you can see the power output of the cable or port youre plugged into. It has a 100W power output and will be available for $99.99 in April, the company says. Just like Google, Samsung is giving its Galaxy phones the first patch of the year. As usual, the company is starting with its flagship phones, such as the Galaxy S24 series. The Android January 2025 security update is now arriving for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. The South Korean giant launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in mid-2024 as its latest foldable phones. It is said that Samsung will launch an affordable Galaxy Z Flip FE this year to expand the presence of foldables among the public. The sales results of flexible screens at Samsung Display in 2024 were disappointing, and the firm wants to change that in the short and medium term. Samsung rolling out the January 2025 update for Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 The January 2025 security update is reaching the Galaxy Z Flip 6 (carrier-free and carrier-locked) and Galaxy Z Fold 6 (carrier-locked) in the United States. In the case of the Z Flip 6, the OTA has build numbers F741USQS2AXLF and F741U1UES2AXLF for the carrier-free and carrier-locked units, respectively. Meanwhile, the patch for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has the build number F956USQS2AXLG. The January 2025 security patch for Galaxy devices fixes several vulnerabilities. Google contributed 29 fixes for issues related to Androids core, including five of Critical severity. Meanwhile, Samsung Mobile included 22 fixes for vulnerabilities in its own hardware and software. According to the changelog, several of these exploits enabled remote execution of malicious code without prior authorization. The exploits affected Galaxy devices running Android 12, 13, and 14. One of the vulnerabilities even allowed third parties to change the victims notification settings. You should receive a notification as soon as the update is available on your device. However, you can also check manually from Settings > Software update > Download and install. The carrier-free Galaxy Z Fold 6 will also likely start receiving the patch in the next few hours or days. This is probably the last update that Samsung flagship devices from 2024 will get before the arrival of One UI 7. More affordable models and older flagship phones will have to wait a few additional weeksor months. CES 2025 is picking up the pace, with companies showing some of their best products. The Berlin-based German Bionic is one of the companies at CES, which has unveiled its new robotic exoskeleton, the Apogee ULTRA. The Apogee ULTRA unveiled at CES, is a robotic exoskeleton and workers best friend German Bionic claims that the Apogee ULTRA is the worlds most powerful since it offers lifting support of up to 80 pounds (~36 kg). The latest robotic exoskeleton aims to make physically demanding tasks effortless. The company claims that a 70 pounds (~32 kg) lift with the Apogee ULTRA feels more like 9 pounds (~4 kg) to 11 pounds (~5 kg). On paper, it appears as a blessing for your lower back. Interestingly, it also offers walking support. In the real world, a ten-mile (~16 km) walk with this exoskeleton feels more like eight (~13 km). German Bionic says that the Apogee ULTRA aims to help workers across different industries, including baggage handling, logistics, and more. This robotic exoskeleton has shown great results by lowering injury rates wherever it was used. The makers claim that companies using the Apogee ULTRA have seen a 31% reduction in employees sick leave. Not to mention, this product also uses AI to adapt well to the users needs. The price could be eye-watering Youll also get all the performance metrics in one place with the German Bionic Connect app. The app records all the steps, the amount of weight lifted, and the Apogee ULTRAs usage time. If you want to get your hands on this product, you can visit German Bionics official website. Not to mention, the company hasnt shared the price of the Apogee ULTRA just yet. But, looking at the $9,995 price tag of the existing exoskeleton, we can assume that it wont come cheap. Moreover, if you want a rundown of the best tech products unveiled at the ongoing tradeshow, check out our Best of CES 2025 list. This week, Google began the rollout of the first patch of the year for its Pixel devices. Now Samsung is doing the same, starting with its flagship models. The company is sending out the January 2025 security update to owners of the Galaxy S24 series. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable phones are also receiving it in the US. The Galaxy S25 series is just around the corner, but the Galaxy S24 devices still have at least 6 years of software support left. Android 15-based One UI 7 will be the next big update for these phones. Samsung could begin the stable rollout of the new firmware to its flagship smartphones in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Galaxy S24 models are receiving fixes for several vulnerabilities. It is possible that this is the last patch before One UI 7 rolls out. Samsung rolling out the January 2025 update to the Galaxy S24 series As reported by SamMobile, the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are getting the AXL1/3 firmware with the January 2025 security patch. Carrier-free units in South Korea and T-Mobile units in the US are receiving it first. It will likely reach carrier-free devices in the North American market in the coming days. The January patch for Galaxy phones, still based on One UI 6.1.1, addresses a whopping 51 vulnerabilities. Google contributed 29 of the fixes to the Android core, with five of them being Critical severity. On the other hand, there are up to 22 fixed vulnerabilities in Galaxy hardware and software. The exploits allowed remote code execution and modification of notification settings, among other things. Samsung has not detailed how the vulnerabilities work to prevent their exploitation. Users should receive a notification of the updates availability once its ready to download on their devices. However, you can always try a manual check from Settings > Software update > Download and install. The Galaxy S24 lineup should be among the first to receive the long-awaited One UI 7 stable update. Samsung will offer more details about the rollout at the Unpacked event on January 22. Well, we cant say that we didnt expect this to happen; Nokia is no longer in the smartphone space. After a multi-year-long fight to maintain its presence in the market, all of Nokias smartphones have been discontinued on the HMD website. This marks the end of an era for the smartphone market, but it might not be as bad as it seems. Nokia smartphones were discontinued by the very company that tried to save it Back in 2017, HMD (formerly HMD Global) obtained the rights to make phones with the Nokia branding. At that point, we all wondered if that was enough to push the struggling Finnish company back to its position of prominence. Over the past seven years, the company. tried. However, it just wasnt able to make Nokia a match for Apple and Samsung. We havent seen any major announcements for Nokia phones for several years. Its not like how it was back in the day when the company would announce interesting phones with nine cameras! So, the road wasnt an easy one for Nokia. However, things didnt really hit the fan until HMD announced that it was going to develop its own brand of devices. Weve had some pretty interesting HMD-branded phones over the past year, but we all wondered what would happen with Nokia. Well, it looks like we got our answer. According to a new report, HMD discontinued all of Nokias smartphones and tablets on its website. The site had 16 Nokia phones and 3 tablets. Even the companys most recent phone, the ultra-durable Nokia XR21, got the axe. That was probably the most capable of the most recent Nokia phones. So, it looks like the Nokia branding will quietly dissolve from the public conscience as time goes on. Nokia smartphones are gone, not Nokia phones Theres one important thing to note here. You cant buy any Nokia smartphones from the site, but you can still buy Nokia-branded feature phones (or Dumb phones). None of the feature phones on the HMD website are marked as discontinued. So, you will still be able to get them for the time being. Were pretty curious about why this is. Maybe the company is waiting for another licensing agreement to expire before pulling the cord on those. Either that or Nokias feature phones are actually turning a profit, so its worth it to continue selling those phones. Gone the way of the LG Dont think of Nokia as a sinking ship; think of it as a sinking hot air balloon. LG announced that it was exiting the smartphone business, and the company moved on to bigger and better things. It cut loose its smartphone division, which was weighing it down, and it was able to rise. Well, dont think of this as a sign that Nokia is failing or anything. In fact, Nokia is a big tech company with its fingers in several pies. Currently, its working on adding a cellular network on the moon. Also, its tech exists in many other parts of the tech industry that people just dont know about. Nokias phones were weighing both Nokia and HMD down. What can we say? The smartphone industry belongs to the Apples, Samsungs, Googles, and OnePlus of the world. Maybe its time for the Nokia smartphone to hang its hat and retire. All we can do is remember how Nokia influenced our smartphone experiences over the years. To paraphrase the ABBA song title, Thank You For The Smartphones, Nokia. Your phones will live on in that section of our minds occupied by LGs phones and Blackberrys phones. Harris County Sheriffs office personnel respond to the site where a train reportedly fataly struck a pedestrian near the 6400 block of Ackley, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 in Humble. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Following national trends, the Harris County Sheriffs Office saw declines in most violent crimes in 2024, improving on 2023s drops. Like 2023, deputies investigated fewer homicides in 2024. But they also saw a 17% decrease in robberies and an almost 12% decrease in aggravated assaults, whereas they saw increases in both categories in 2023, according to data provided by office administrators. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We were very pleased to see some of the numbers as we close out the year, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Our north star is safeguarding the community. Marc Levin, chief policy counsel for the Council on Criminal Justice, called the sheriff's office numbers "very encouraging" and consistent with similar data across the country. Analysts predict homicides decreased by about 5,000 nationwide in 2024, or about a 16% decrease, according to an ABC report. Between 2023 and 2024, sheriffs deputies saw declines in homicides (115 to 96), robberies (1,597 to 1,312), aggravated assaults (2,820 to 2,490), gunshot victims (262 to 221) and fatal car crashes (191 to 165), records show. Youre always cautious when it comes to crime numbers, mindful that things could change, Gonzalez said. But you also have to recognize and learn from the things youve done that may be working and paying dividends. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez poses on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Given the population of unincorporated Harris County, the declines in violent crime in 2024 might be even more impressive than the raw percentages indicate, Levin said. Sheriff officials in recent years paid added attention to internal crime data as a way to identify areas that might benefit from new approaches, he said. Gonzalez cited an ABC13 report on Cypress Station an area that used to be a high-crime region for the agency as an example of a place where theyve made big strides in recent years. The office secured money from a nearby municipal district to hire 10 deputies for a unit focused on proactively responding to Cypress Station. The county's top location for violent crime, an apartment complex at 990 Cypress Station, has seen a 75% decrease in violent crime over the last year, according to the television report. HCSO and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences authorities investigate a scene at 990 block Cypress Station Drive where a defeased female body was found in a two-floor apartment on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Houston. A person found the deceased black female in her early twenties in the apartment and called the officers early Tuesday morning. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Gonzalez also attributed a decline in roadway deaths to initiatives the office has started with other agencies, such as the Texas Department of Public Safety. In November, the sheriffs office joined several other agencies in a new initiative on Grand Parkway, a stretch of road the agencies responded to for some 2,200 crashes in 2024 and nine fatalities, Gonzalez said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The county also saw a significant reduction in some nonviolent crimes, including vehicle thefts, which declined around 15%, from 7,013 in 2023 down to 5,933, records show. Houston also saw a nearly 20% drop in vehicle thefts between 2023 and 2024, with local officials attributing that decline to greater public awareness of the problem along with car companies taking steps to make their vehicles harder to steal. Eleven councils have so far asked to postpone elections this year, ahead of the biggest reorganisation of local government in decades, it is understood. Local authorities have until Friday to request permission from the Government to postpone their elections, after plans to abolish two-tier council areas were announced in December, as part of Labours proposals to devolve more power away from Westminster. With 21 county councils and 10 unitary authorities due to hold elections this May, some have sought to delay them to allow time to develop proposals on reorganisation. They include Surrey, Oxfordshire, Devon and Norfolk county councils, which have all voted to push their elections back. Worcestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Gloucestershire and Thurrock have also requested postponements. Oxfordshire County Council has indicated it would prefer to go ahead with Mays elections, but would consent to a delay if the new authority could be established within a year. Ministers have previously said there would be very clear criteria for delaying elections, with postponement only considered where this would help deliver reorganisation and devolution. On Friday, Downing Street said delays would not be mandated and the Government would work collaboratively with councils to ensure postponement fits with reorganisation and devolution in the most ambitious timeframe. But the prospect of delaying local elections has met with opposition from a range of political parties. The Liberal Democrats have accused Conservative-run councils such as Surrey and Devon of running scared and silencing democracy after the party made gains in both counties in the general election. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: This attempt to silence the voice of millions is a scandal. Democracy delayed is democracy denied. Reform UK, which hopes to make significant gains in Mays polls, has also objected to delays, and deputy leader Richard Tice on Monday accused Conservative-led councils of bottling it and abandoning the elections. Reform leader Nigel Farage similarly accused Conservative-led councils that have requested postponements of political cowardice. What they have done today is an act of political cowardice, he told his partys South East England conference on Friday night. It is denying people their democratic rights and frankly, Im angry. I think the whole thing is a complete and utter disgrace. Conservative shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: No council should be bullied or blackmailed into local government restructuring. It should not be imposed by top-down Whitehall fiat. Conservatives have always supported greater joint working and stronger local accountability through directly elected leaders. But there are many ways to do this, and local government should be local to residents and respect proud local identities. Meanwhile, some lower-tier councils have expressed reservations about delays. Alistair Beales, leader of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Council, said delaying elections in Norfolk was plainly unnecessary and could prove divisive, after news the county council planned to ask for a postponement. Downing Street said it would provide certainty to those areas that had asked for a delay as soon as possible. The late TV presenter Caroline Flacks mother is to explore her daughters story in a new Disney+ documentary. Given the working title Caroline, the film will follow Flacks mother Christine Flack, as she tries understand events in the final months of her daughters life, while also celebrating her career. The documentary will be produced by Curious Films, which made 2021s Caroline Flack: Her Life And Death, and will be released later this year on the Disney streaming service. The film will follow Caroline Flacks mother Christine Flack (Yui Mok/PA) Speaking ahead of the documentary, Christine Flack said: I still have so many questions about what happened to Caroline in her final months, and its something I feel deeply compelled to explore, even though I know it will be challenging. Im pleased to be working with the team at Curious Films once again, in the hope of bringing clarity and understanding to Carries story not just for her, but for everyone who cared about her. It will also feature interviews with other members of Flacks family and some of her friends. Dov Freedman, the films executive producer at Curious Films, said: Its not often that you feel the need to return to a subject, but nearly five years after Carolines tragic death, we know there are still many unanswered questions for Christine and her family that need to be addressed. Caroline Flack won Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 with her professional dance partner Pasha Kovalev (Guy Levy/BBC/PA) Were proud to be collaborating with the Flack family once again, working together to seek some form of resolution to the tragic events surrounding Carolines death. Flack, who was born in London and grew up in Norfolk, took her own life in February 2020 at the age of 40, after learning that prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge, following an incident with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, in December 2019. She was best known for presenting ITV reality show Love Island from 2015 to 2019, and also worked as a presenter on The X Factor, Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! NOW! and TMi. In 2014, she won series 12 of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered by professional dancer Pasha Kovalev, achieving a perfect score in the final. American rapper Chuck D has criticised the use of the Public Enemy track Burn Hollywood Burn, which he said has nothing to do with families losing everything during the Los Angeles blazes. Oscar-winning actors Mel Gibson and Jeff Bridges, reality TV star Paris Hilton, US actor Billy Crystal, The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes, talk show host Ricki Lake, The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and songwriter Diane Warren are among those who lost their homes in the raging fires. The series of major wind-driven wildfires in California have killed 10 people, ravaged communities and sent thousands of people fleeing their properties, including areas dotted with celebrity homes. On Instagram, 62-year-old Public Enemy frontman Chuck D wrote: Burn Hollywood Burn is a protest song extracted from the Watts rebellion monikered by the Magnificent Montague in 1965 against inequality when he said burn baby burn across the air. We made mind-revolution songs aimed at a one-sided exploitation by an industry. He added that it has nothing to do with families losing everything they have in a natural disaster. Learn the history. Godspeed to those in loss. The 1965 Watts riots were a civil rights uprising in Los Angeles, which was prompted by allegations of police violence and racism, and sparked by a crowd watching a young black man who was beaten after being arrested for drink driving. Magnificent Montague was an American DJ who is claimed to have come up with the phrase Burn, baby, burn during the unrest. Chuck D, who was hitting out at social media users sharing his track, also captioned the post, saying pray for LA, along with a heart emoji, and shared Instagram stories of support, and where to get help during the tragedy. Public Enemy was founded in Long Island, New York, in the 1980s with Flavor Flav and Chuck D, and released hits such as Fight The Power, Rebel Without A Pause and Dont Believe The Hype. The hip hop group, known for their political and anti-racist tracks, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013 and have had six Grammy nominations. Chuck D is also known for Prophets of Rage, which features members of Rage Against The Machine and Cypress Hill. Some evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted on Friday following the fires in California after firefighters continued to try and put out blazes in Pacoima, Hollywood, Studio City and other places, including tackling the fires by using helicopters. A cause has not been revealed for the fires. A coroner has issued a warning about the effects of medication used to treat depression after the husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kents daughter took his own life. Thomas Kingston, a 45-year-old financier, died from a head injury and a gun was found near his body on February 25 last year at his parents home in the Cotswolds. A coroner concluded Mr Kingston took his own life and was suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed. He married Lady Gabriella, 43, at Windsor Castle in 2019, with Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh among the guests. The inquest into his death at Gloucestershire Coroners Court last year was told he had initially been given sertraline, a drug used to treat mental health problems, and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace used by royal household staff, after complaining of trouble sleeping following stress at work. Mr Kingston returned to the surgery saying they were not making him feel better and his doctor moved him from sertraline to citalopram, a similar drug. In the days leading up to his death, Mr Kingston had stopped taking medication and toxicology tests showed caffeine and small amounts of zopiclone in his system. Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, has said action must be taken over the risk of suicide to patients prescribed the drugs. In a prevention of future deaths report, the coroner questioned whether there is adequate communication of the risks of suicide associated with such medication. She also raised concerns about whether the current guidance to persist with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications, or switch to an alternative SSRI medication is appropriate, when no benefit has been achieved, especially when any adverse side effects are being experienced. The report was sent to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the Royal College of General Practitioners, who have 56 days to respond. The coroners concerns echo those of Mr Kingstons wife, Lady Gabriella, who warned about the effects of the drugs during the inquest. In a statement read out by Ms Skerrett, she said: (Work) was certainly a challenge for him over the years but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved. If anything had been troubling him, Im positive that he would have shared that he was struggling severely. The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse. Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella after their wedding at St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle (Chris Jackson/PA) She said she believed his death was likely provoked by an adverse reaction to the medication he had begun, and subsequently stopped taking, in the weeks leading up to his death. The lack of any evidence of inclination, it seems highly likely to me that he had an adverse reaction to the pills that led him to take his life, Lady Gabriella said. I believe anyone taking pills such as these need to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone. Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Skerrett said: Mr Kingston took his own life using a shotgun which caused a severe traumatic wound to the head. The evidence of his wife, family and business partner all supports his lack of suicidal intent. He was suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed. Giving evidence to the inquest, Dr David Healy, a psychiatric medical expert, said zopiclone could also cause anxiety while sertraline and citalopram were both SSRIs, and essentially the same. Dr Healy said Mr Kingstons complaints that sertraline was continuing to make him anxious was a sign SSRIs did not suit him and he should not have been prescribed the same thing again. He said the guidelines and labels for SSRIs were not clear enough about going on the drugs in the first place or what the effect could be when moving from one to another. We need a much more explicit statement saying that these drugs can cause people to commit suicide who wouldnt have otherwise, he said. A National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) spokesperson said: Nice can confirm we have received the coroners prevention of future deaths report in relation to Thomas Kingston. We will consider the issues raised by the report and respond to the coroner directly. We follow an established process when making sure our published guidelines are current and accurate and take a proactive approach to responding to events (with an assessment of priority) that may impact on our recommendations. Englands Harry Hall features among a six-way tie for the lead after the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii. The 27-year-old carded 10 birdies on Thursday to nab a share of the lead at six under par. He had multiple opportunities to nab the outright lead, but was hampered by bogeys on the fourth and 17th holes, along with a double bogey on the eighth. Hall shares a one-shot lead with Adam Schenk, Eric Cole, Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge and Henrik Norlander. Japans Hideki Matsuyama carded a three under 67 following his record-breaking victory at the first tournament of the calendar year last week. His score of 35 under for The Sentry set a PGA Tour record for the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par. Icicles are formed on a sign at a convenience store along FM 2920 on Jan. 16, 2024, in Spring. Almost a year later, some parts of Southeast Texas, particularly counties north of Houston experienced subfreezing temperatures this week. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer City of Houston has extended overflow shelter hours to protect people from the elements as another round of bad weather rolls through Houston. As cold temperatures and heavy rain hit the area, overflow shelter facilities will remain open overnight to provide shelter to those in need. CANCELED HOUSTON FLIGHTS: Some flights from Dallas to Houston canceled due to winter storm in north Texas Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officials with Houston's Office of Emergency Management are urging residents to be prepared. The risk of hypothermia rises sharply in cold, wet conditions, said Dr. David Persse with the Houston Health Department in a statement. Damp or wet clothing will accelerate heat loss. Staying dry is crucial to staying safe. Planning ahead and finding shelter can save your life. Always seek safe shelter when frigid rain is in the forecast. Here's a a reminder of key safety tips from emergency officials and the health department. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A giant sculpture inspired by the sun is to go on display at National Trust locations this year. Helios, named after the ancient Greek mythological god who personified the sun, is by acclaimed artist Luke Jerram. It is Jerrams latest astronomical artwork, following his sculptures Museum Of The Moon, Gaia, and Mars. The piece was co-commissioned by the National Trust and will be displayed at locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2025. Measuring seven metres in diameter, Helios features solar imagery, sunlight and a surround sound composition including Nasa recordings of the sun by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson. The piece will be free to view in some locations (Ben Birchall/PA) On Friday, the sculpture was unveiled in the Georgian Ball Room at Bath Assembly Rooms, where people including Charles Dickens and Jane Austen have viewed art and performances over the decades. Jerram said: We all know that it is very dangerous to look directly at the sun, as it can damage our eyesight. Helios provides a safe opportunity for the public to get up close to, and inspect, its extraordinarily detailed surface including sunspots, spicules and filaments. The Northern Lights are one of the greatest wonders and displays of art in the natural world. Ive incorporated the source of the solar flares which caused this phenomenon to be visible over the UK in May 2024. I hope that the soundscape, lighting and sheer scale of Helios will combine to make an extraordinary and uplifting experience for the public and I cannot wait to see it showcased in some of the most wonderful locations around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The piece has an approximate scale of 1:200 million, with each centimetre of the internally lit spherical structure representing 200km of the suns surface. Gaia, Luke Jerrams seven-metre-wide replica of the earth, created using detailed NASA imagery of the Earths surface, pictured suspended in Wells Cathedral, Somerset (James Manning/PA) Visitors will be able to experience Helios at the Assembly Rooms in Bath, Somerset, on dates between January 11 to February 23. Helios is then to be installed at locations including Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire and Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, where it will be a focal point for Diwali celebrations. The piece will be displayed for free for the opening weekend in Bath, and later in Coventry and Lewisham, to ensure as many people as possible can experience it, the National Trust said. John Orna-Ornstein, director of access and conservation at the charity, said: Helios provides a simple and bold way to connect the public to the National Trusts ambitions for the coming 10 years, heralded in its new strategy. It will provide a dramatic focal point for specifically created events and programming, as we seek to engage more people with the benefits of experiencing nature and culture. We will be showcasing the installation alongside our partners, local councils and others we work with, to ensure that more people than ever can connect with, and be inspired by, great works of art. Luke Jerram pictured next to his glass sculpture of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (Andrew Matthews/PA) Helios has been co-commissioned by the National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London. Its title comes from Helios, the ancient Greek god who drove a four-horse chariot across the sky each day, giving the earth its hours and seasons. The imagery for the piece has been compiled using photographs of the Sun provided by Dr Stuart Green, and Nasa observations, with guidance from solar scientist Professor Lucie Green of University College London. Tom Boden, general manager for Bath Assembly Rooms said: Its an enormous honour to be the launch venue. Lukes artworks are visually stunning and a fantastic conversation starter for some of the really pressing issues affecting society today. It feels timely that we are able to bring Helios to Bath, when we are about to embark on an ambitious project for the Assembly Rooms, that will reaffirm its key role as a place of connection. I cant wait for visitors to immerse themselves in this sensory experience. The diversity of other locations Helios will be installed at will mean that every time someone witnesses it, they will have a totally different but no less inspiring experience. All tour dates and locations for Helios will be announced on the National Trust website. Graham Potters spell as West Ham manager began with defeat as Aston Villa celebrated their 150th anniversary by fighting back to claim a 2-1 FA Cup third-round win. Potter was in the dugout just a day after being named as sacked Julen Lopeteguis successor and it looked like he would bring instant success as Lucas Paqueta fired West Ham into an early lead at Villa Park. But this was a special night for Villa and they overcame a woeful first hour with goals from Andre Onana and Morgan Rogers in the space of two second-half minutes earning just their second FA Cup win in nine years. New West Ham boss Graham Potter saw his side beaten at Aston Villa (Mike Egerton/PA) On a night of celebration, where seven trophy successes in the famous cup competition were remembered, boss Unai Emery knows his side will have to improve if they have any chance of making that eight this season a target he publicly set before the match. Potter was on a learning mission and as impressed as he will have been by West Hams controlled opening, he will have been equally alarmed by their capitulation which could have seen the hosts win by a bigger margin. Villa had designated this fixture as their 150th anniversary match, donning a vintage kit with black shirts and white shorts and treating fans to a pre-match firework display. But it was Potters reign that started with a bang as the Hammers enjoyed a dream start under their new manager. Paqueta fired a warning after just 41 seconds when he arrowed a 20-yard effort which whistled just past the post, but he went one better in the ninth minute. Crysencio Summerville raced down the right and cut back to the Brazilian, who coolly slotted into the bottom corner from 14 yards. The Hammers were helped by a woefully off-colour Villa, who must have put in one of the worst 45-minute performances of Emerys reign in the first half. They regularly gave the ball away, had no creativity going forward and left the field at half-time having failed to have a shot. Morgan Rogers helped Aston Villa turn the match around (Joe Giddens/PA) They finally rectified that in the 54th minute when Rogers blazed over while Youri Tielemans dragged an effort wide as the hosts began to wake up. Ian Maatsen then forced Lukasz Fabianski into his first save of the night when he did well to get down low to keep a 20-yard shot out. Villa were knocking on the door and the equaliser came in the 71st minute, although it was contentious. The hosts were awarded a corner after Onanas skewed effort went straight out and Villa took advantage. The delivery found its way to the back post where Maatsens drilled effort was fumbled by Fabianski and Onana poked home from close range. Villa turned the tie around five minutes later when Ollie Watkins advanced down the left and teed up Rogers, who fired in from inside the six-yard box. This was a completely different Villa side to the one that showed up in the opening hour and they almost made it three moments later but Jacob Ramseys fierce effort from the edge of the area crashed into the post. Former Villa striker Danny Ings skewed over at the death as the Hammers, who barely threatened in the second half, pushed for extra time but the hosts did enough to earn a place in the fourth-round draw. Greggs, Iceland and Greene King are among the British businesses to back a new Government initiative aimed at steering offenders on probation away from crime and into stable jobs. Leaders from major employers will be among those to sit on new employment councils in regions across England and Wales. The plans have been spearheaded by Lord James Timpson, the Governments prisons officer and the former chief executive of the family-owned services business Timpson. The scheme aims to bolster the work of the probation service which supervises offenders serving community sentences and who have been released from prison. Local businesses will work with prisons and probation officers on the councils, while representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions are expected to help improve links with local job centres. Businesses supporting the scheme include Greggs, pub group Greene King, retailers Iceland, Co-op and Oliver Bonas, and infrastructure groups National Highways and Balfour Beatty. The businesses, which collectively have thousands of stores across the UK, have been brought in to give a better understanding of the local jobs market and to build relationships with offenders looking for work. The concept builds on the prison employment advisory boards, which were launched in prisons in 2022 as a link between jails and employers. These boards, which are in 93 prisons and are also chaired by business experts, help prisons run the right training programmes and workshops for offenders to get back into the workplace. Greggs is among the businesses that will be taking part in the new employment councils (Greggs/PA) Lord Timpson said: Getting former offenders into stable work is a sure way of cutting crime and making our streets safer. Thats why partnering with businesses to get more former offenders into work is a win-win. He said the councils will expand on the employment advisory boards which have made huge progress over the past two years. Employment councils will be set up in 11 different regions encompassing all of England and Wales. Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she grieved for Alex Salmond four or five years before his death following the breakdown of their relationship. The pair formed one of the most successful political partnerships in UK history, winning every election campaign led by one or both of them north of the border since 2007. But after allegations of harassment were made against Mr Salmond by two women during his time as first minister, the relationship between the two began to deteriorate before severing completely. Mr Salmond was cleared of a number of charges of sexual misconduct including attempted rape following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2020. He went on to become leader of the Alba Party, which became a frequent critic of his former party and former protegee. Nicola Sturgeon did not attend a memorial service to Alex Salmond following his death last year (James Manning/PA) Mr Salmond died suddenly of a heart attack in October in North Macedonia at the age of 69. Asked if his death changed anything for her, Ms Sturgeon told the Financial Times: No I came to the conclusion that I probably grieved for Alex four years, five years ago. The former SNP leader who stood down abruptly in 2023 added she knew some of the women who had complained against Mr Salmond. Ive seen the impact not just of what they believe happened to them initially, but also the impact of the way he then behaved. Its been pretty hard, she said. The Glasgow Southside MSP who has not yet declared her intention for the 2026 Holyrood election did not attend a public memorial service for Mr Salmond at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in November, instead going to the funeral of her friend, the comedian Janey Godley, in Glasgow on the same day. Ms Sturgeon said she had accepted Id probably never speak to him again, adding: Partly because I didnt think he would want to speak to me, but also because, had he turned up on my doorstep one day, unless he had been prepared to acknowledge some of the things that he had done, I wouldnt have wanted to do that. She went on to say she had been forced to step in many times when he had been really rough on people. Her comments come after the SNP suffered a staggering general election defeat last year, falling from 48 MPs in 2019 to just nine. Ms Sturgeon told the newspaper she accepted a fair chunk of responsibility for the loss, which came at the end of a tumultuous 18 months for the party. But she added: The more time that passes, I think its harder to keep blaming me for things Theres some irony: the SNP didnt lose an election when I was leader, but somehow the first one that they lost when I wasnt leader was all my fault. A conservation expert has said it was highly irresponsible of individuals to release a number of lynx into the Scottish Highlands. Dr Neil Anderson, a senior lecturer in conservation medicine at Edinburgh University, condemned the actions of those responsible for releasing a total of four of the wildcats over the past few days. Dr Anderson, who also actively works in wildlife conservation, said the perpetrators could potentially jeopardise the chances of successfully reintroducing the species to Scotland in the future. Two lynx were successfully captured in Cairngorms National Park on Thursday after they were illegally released (Royal Zoological Society of Scotland/PA) It comes as Police Scotland launched an investigation into a sighting of another two lynx in the Dell of Killiehuntly near Kingussie, Highlands on Friday at around 7.10am. Officers said they believe the sighting is connected to the release of another two lynx seen in the same area on Wednesday, which were safely captured overnight into Thursday. Dr Anderson said: I think its highly irresponsible to be releasing lynx at the moment in the manner in which they have been released. It could potentially jeopardise a proper regulated and controlled reintroduction in the future because if anything was to happen, it just makes it harder for conservationists in the future to be able to introduce lynx. There is a lot of regulation involved in trying to do a formal reintroduction. Its a huge process to go through and its very tightly regulated for good reason because there could be adverse effects. You could reintroduce diseases and things like that. So there has been quite a lot of concern about potential negative impacts from these kinds of actions. He added: Theyve managed to capture the first two quite quickly by the sound of things, so hopefully theyll have similar success with the remainder. Inspector Craig Johnstone previously said: Members of the public are asked not to approach the animals for their own safety and the safety of the lynx. UPDATE The presence of a further two lynx in the Cairngorms has been revealed overnight. We are again working closely with Police Scotland and partners to safely retrieve the animals. Highland Wildlife Park (@HighlandWPark) January 10, 2025 Officers are working with specially trained personnel to capture them safely and humanely. Although it may be tempting to try to find them, take pictures or set up cameras, we are asking people not to travel into the area, particularly in the current winter weather conditions. Please be mindful, act responsibly and allow the animal experts to carry out their work. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland chief executive David Field said humane traps are being set in the area to catch the animals. Two more lynx have been sighted in the same Cairngorms location where we successfully captured a pair yesterday, he said. Further traps are being baited in the area and the hope is that these animals will be safely and humanely captured before being taken to Edinburgh Zoo to join the two captured yesterday in quarantine. Police Scotland and Cairngorm National Park Authority rangers are also in attendance. The public are being asked to steer clear of the area as a build-up of people could disturb the animals and hamper efforts on the ground. Two lynx spotted on Wednesday were captured on Thursday (RZSS/PA) RZSS condemns the illegal release of wild animals in the strongest possible terms and urges anyone with information on the release of these lynx to contact Police Scotland. Police said inquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of the sighting, and that officers are on patrol in the area and anyone with concerns can approach them. Anyone who saw anything in the area, or who has any information, is asked to call the police on 101, quoting incident number 0387 of Friday January 10. Speaking after the capture of the other two lynx on Thursday, Mr Field said: It was a highly irresponsible act and it is very unlikely they would have survived in the wild due to a lack of adequate preparation. Their abandonment was reckless to the animals, public, the community and nature. Lynx to Scotland, a project working to return the species to the Highlands, also condemned the illegal release. Peter Cairns, executive director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, one of the three charities involved in the project, said it was excellent news the first two lynx had been captured quickly and are safe. He added: The Lynx to Scotland project is working to secure the return of Lynx to the Scottish Highlands, but irresponsible and illegal releases such as this are simply counter-productive. The lynx captured on Thursday were taken by RZSS to quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms, with the animals due to be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, for a health and welfare evaluation. David Barclay, manager of the RZSS Saving Wildcats team, said that long term the creatures may be rehomed in Highland Wildlife Park, which is already home to two northern lynx named Switch and Neon. Oscar-winning actor and director Mel Gibson has revealed his home was lost in the Los Angeles wildfires while he was away recording a podcast interview with Joe Rogan. The Mad Max star, 69, described the loss as emotional and devastating, but attempted to remain upbeat as he said his family were happy and healthy and out of harms way. Appearing on NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports, Gibson said he returned from Austin, Texas, after recording The Joe Rogan Experience to find his Malibu home was completely toasted. Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross arriving at the 89th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles (Ian West/PA) I was doing the Rogan podcast, I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought I wonder if my place is still there, but when I got home, sure enough, it wasnt there, he said. Ive never seen such a complete burn, it is obviously devastating, its emotional. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I lived there for about 14, 15 years so it was home to me. I had a lot of personal things there that I cant get back everything from photographs to files to just personal things that I had from over the years. That can all be replaced. These are only things. And the good news is that those in my family and those I love are all well, and were all happy and healthy and out of harms way. NEW episode #2254 https://t.co/OA5qwTlSAX Joe Rogan Podcast (@joeroganhq) January 9, 2025 During the podcast interview, Gibson expressed frustration at the citys response to the wildfires which has seen criticism aimed at governor of California Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass. Gibson said Mr Newsom didnt do anything to help address underlying environmental issues which have remained a problem in southern California for many years. I think Newsom said Im going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kind of stuff he didnt do anything, the Braveheart star told Rogan. I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavins hair gel, Gibson joked. Its sad, the place is just on fire. Gibson won the Oscar for best director and best picture in 1996 for Braveheart, the action film where he starred as Scottish rebel, William Wallace, who sets out to battle King Edward I of England. The Rt Rev Justin Welby with bishops from around the world in 2022 - Gareth Fuller/PA The role of Archbishop of Canterbury could lose its status as the global Anglican leader amid a split over same-sex relationships. A report commissioned by global church leaders has recommended that the Anglican Communion, which comprises the worlds 42 Anglican provinces, drops the Archbishop as its de facto head. Under proposals for a post-colonial shake up, 85 million Anglicans worldwide would no longer be automatically led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Instead, the role would rotate between archbishops and primates from around the globe. The leadership of the Communion should look like the Communion, the report reads. The proposals follow the resignation of the Rt Rev Justin Welby over his failure to act over the John Smyth abuse scandal. The Rev Ian Paul, a member of the General Synod and the Archbishops Council, told The Telegraph the proposals were a reaction to the former Archbishop of Canterburys apparent disavowal of Church doctrine on same-sex relationships. He broke the Communion In October, the Bishop Welby triggered a backlash after claiming that the majority of bishops agreed all sexual activity should be within a committed relationship straight or gay. Dr Paul, associate minister at St Nics in Nottingham, said the proposed demotion of the Archbishops role is another wonderful legacy of Justins time with us. He broke the Communion. Traditionalist archbishops in Africa, South America and Asia representing three-quarters of Anglicans worldwide rejected Bishop Welbys leadership of the Anglican Communion in 2023 in protest against the introduction of same-sex blessings in the Church of England. They have also spoken out against the acceptance of same-sex relationships by the Anglican churches of the United States, Canada and Scotland, which they say contradicts scripture and historic Christian teaching. The proposals would mean conservative provinces would no longer be deemed to be in communion with the See of Canterbury, instead only having a historic connection. Ceding the expectation that the Archbishop of Canterbury convenes and presides at all meetings of the Communion will enable the personal and pastoral aspects of the archbishops ministry to be given and received, and fits with the identity and ideals of the Anglican Communion in a post-colonial era, the report reads. It adds: The face of the Communions 42 sister churches might fittingly be, on varying occasions and in different circumstances, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the president or chair of the ACC, the secretary-general, or a combination of these. Bishop Welby predicted in 2023 that the Archbishop of Canterbury would soon no longer lead the Anglican Communion. We are in a post-imperial era and it is essential that the Church acts and looks post-imperial, he said. Proposals expected to be welcomed The proposals are expected to be welcomed by bishops in the Church of England owing to concerns about the workload of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is responsible for leading the Anglican Communion, the CofE, the Province of Canterbury and the Diocese of Canterbury. The Archbishop of York, who is Bishop Welbys de facto interim replacement, said this week that the role is at least four jobs wrapped into one. The Rt Rev Graham Tomlin, retired bishop of Kensington who chaired the group behind the proposals, the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order, said the proposals were intent on supporting the role of Archbishop. Were proposing supporting the role of the ABC by adding another face to the leadership of the Communion, which can also represent the Communion ecumenically and in other ways and not always a British bishop, he told The Times. The proposals will not be considered until the next meeting of the Anglican Communions Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) in the summer of 2026. Bishop Welbys successor is expected to take up the role by the end of this year. Leading contenders include the Rt Rev Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and lead bishop for the environment, the Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, and the Rt Rev Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, who is overseeing the same-sex blessings process. Mazen Kneneh, believed to be the mayor of Dummar, was one of the most infamous loyalists of the Assad regime An Assad loyalist was executed in public by fighters linked to the countrys new Islamist-led administration, according to a Syria war monitor. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighters shot Mazen Kneneh in the head on the street in Dummar, a suburb of Damascus, the capital, on Friday morning. The area has been considered the safest part of the city since the start of the Syrian civil war. Videos circulating online appeared to show a mans slumped body tied to a tree trunk, his leather jacket and jeans bloodied from a bullet wound to the head. Footage showed children gathered around the body, some filming with their mobile phones and others beating the body with sticks or kicking the corpse in the head. One child, wearing bright-green sliders, could be seen repeatedly punching the lifeless body in the head in front of the baying crowd. Anas Khattab, the new intelligence chief, left, has pledged to overhaul the security apparatus in Syria - AFP via Getty The Britain-based war monitor said fighters accused the local official of being an informant of Bashar al-Assad, the deposed president, describing him as one of the best-known loyalists of the former regime. It said he was accused of writing malicious security reports that led to the persecution and jailing of many young men who were tortured in prison under Assad, whose rule came to an end on Dec 8. While it was not immediately clear what Knenehs role was under the Assad regime, unconfirmed reports online described him as being the mayor of Dummar. A separate photograph purportedly showing Kneneh was shared widely on social media following the news of his death. It showed a man sitting at a table looking into the camera, wearing a light-brown blazer and a silver watch on his wrist. It was not clear when the photo was taken. In recent days, the Syrian authorities have targeted remnants of the regime of the deposed leader in several areas. Anas Khattab, the new intelligence chief, has pledged to overhaul the security apparatus, denouncing the injustice and tyranny of the former regime, whose agencies sowed corruption and inflicted suffering on the people. Shoes have been shoved into the mouths of defaced posters of Bashar al-Assad in a show of disrespect against the former dictator - Chris McGrath/Getty The purported act of aggression comes at a time of uncertainty surrounding the response of Syrias new rulers to loyalists of the Assad regime. The transitional authorities, appointed by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which led the offensive that toppled Assad last month, have sought to assure religious and ethnic minorities that their rights will be upheld. HTS also announced that it had granted amnesty to all military personnel conscripted into service during Assads rule. Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the head of the HTS formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, surprised observers with his pursuit of diplomacy, apparent rejection of revenge against supporters of Assad and promises to protect Syrias minority groups. He had previously stated that the group would pursue former senior Assad government officials who he said were responsible for torture and war crimes. The Khaled Brigade, part of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), held a military parade in Damascus following the ousting of Assad - Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people, he said, adding: We will offer rewards to anyone who provides information about senior army and security officers involved in war crimes. Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, a former top military official who issued death sentences for detainees in Damascuss infamous Sednaya prison, was arrested by the new administration last month. The Damascus authorities did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the videos. The UN human rights committee has published decisions in two cases brought by refugees and asylum seekers who endured years of detention on Nauru. Composite: Victoria Hart/Getty images Australia violated the rights of asylum seekers arbitrarily detained on the island of Nauru, a UN watchdog has ruled in a warning to other countries intent on outsourcing asylum processing. The UN human rights committee published decisions in two cases involving 25 refugees and asylum seekers who endured years of arbitrary detention in the island nation. A state party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state, committee member, Mahjoub El Haiba said. Under a hardline policy introduced more than a decade ago, Australia has sent thousands of people trying to reach the country by boat to detention centres on Papua New Guineas (PNG) Manus Island and the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru, which lies further to the north-west. Victims in both cases filed complaints to the UN committee of 18 independent experts, charging that Australia had violated their rights under an international covenant, in particular regarding arbitrary detention. Australia rejected the allegations, insisting that abuses that occurred in Nauru did not fall within its jurisdiction. But the UN committee highlighted that Australia had arranged to establish Naurus regional processing centre and contributed to its operation and management. Related: Musk lying like hell over AfD interview, says ex-EU tech leader El Haiba said Australia did have jurisdiction because it had significant control and influence over the regional processing facility in Nauru. Several European countries have been examining the possibility of similar arrangements to outsource their migration policies. The UKs Rwanda scheme was ultimately abandoned after courts ruled it unlawful and a change of government, and Italys plan to detain asylum seekers in centres in Albania hit problems last year when a court raised doubts about its compliance with European Union law. Thursdays decisions send a clear message to all states: Where there is power or effective control, there is responsibility, El Haiba said. The outsourcing of operations does not absolve states of accountability. Offshore detention facilities are not human rights-free zones. The first case examined by the committee involved 24 unaccompanied minors who were intercepted at sea by Australia and transferred to Naurus overcrowded regional processing centre in 2014. They were held there with insufficient water supply and sanitation, high temperatures and humidity, as well as inadequate healthcare, Thursdays statement said. Almost all of these minors have suffered from deterioration of physical and mental well-being, including self-harm, depression, kidney problems, insomnia, headaches, memory problems and weight loss. The committee said Australia had failed to justify why the minors could not have been transferred to centres on the mainland more suitable for vulnerable individuals. The committee separately evaluated the case of an Iranian asylum seeker who arrived by boat on Christmas Island with several family members in August 2013 and was transferred seven months later to Nauru. The woman was recognised as a refugee by Nauru authorities in 2017 but was not released. In November 2018, she was transferred to Australia for medical reasons but remained detained in various facilities there, the committee said. It determined that Australia had failed to show that the womans prolonged and indefinite detention was justified. The committee called on Australia to compensate the victims and take steps to ensure that similar violations do not recur. The committee has no power to compel states to follow its rulings, but its decisions carry reputational weight. The Australian government, in correspondence with the UN committee, said the complaints were inadmissible because Australia was not responsible for the treatment of asylum seekers or refugees on Nauru. But it said it works closely with the government of Nauru to support the provision of health, welfare and support services. A spokesperson for the department of home affairs told the Guardian on Friday: It has been the Australian governments consistent position that Australia does not exercise effective control over regional processing centres. We welcome Naurus continued partnership in the effective delivery of regional processing arrangements. Jana Favero, the deputy chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said the human rights committee decision confirms what we have been saying and has been abundantly clear for a decade that Australia has a duty of care and responsibility to those who seek safety on our shores. She said successive Australian governments had tried to shirk their responsibilities by banishing people offshore. Men, women, children, families have all suffered, and continue to suffer, at the hands of Australian politicians obsessed with punishing people seeking safety and pretending that our responsibility ends once we send people offshore. The processing centre on Nauru remains Australias sole enduring offshore site after the Manus island detention was ordered shut by PNGs supreme court. Australias offshore processing policy and practices have been consistently criticised by the United Nations, human rights groups and refugees. At least 12 people have died in the camps, including being murdered by guards, through medical neglect and by suicide. Psychiatrists sent to work in them have described the conditions as inherently toxic and akin to torture. Michael Shablinger admitted to sexual activity with a child and six offences of possession of more than 800 indecent images of children - Norfolk Constabulary/SWNS An Austrian man travelled to the UK to meet a 13-year-old girl he groomed on the childrens video game Roblox, a court heard. Michael Shablinger, 36, had spent months grooming the victim after finding her on the online platform. Norwich Crown Court heard Shablinger, who had told the victim he was 21, travelled from his home in Germany to meet up with the girl in a park in Hethersett, Norfolk, in June last year. He spent five hours with her until she was tracked down by her mother. Oliver Haswell, prosecuting, said the victim had refused to say what happened during the hours she was missing while at the park. But a picture of the pair kissing was found on a secret phone given to her by Shablinger. Mr Haswell said the meeting at the park followed months of grooming, which had started in May 2023 when the victim was 12 years old. Secret park meeting On June 16 last year, the girl told her mother she was going to take the dog for a walk with a friend at 11am. But when she failed to return, the mother went to look for the missing girl and found her in a park with Shablinger. The defendant, who said he had only just met her, then left on a bus. The victim lied to her mother about what happened, prompting the concerned parent to contact police. Once home, the victim claimed she felt unwell and went to her room. But the mother later found her daughter hiding something in her bed, which turned out to be a secret mobile phone given to her by Shablinger. On it were messages containing requests from him for further meetings and to hide the phone from her mother, as well as a picture of the pair kissing. Police found the phone also contained conversations about the defendant seeking a passport for the victim in order that she could leave the country to be with him. Shablinger was arrested by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport as he tried to board a plane to Munich on June 23. Be lucky, I lied to police Police seized his phone and found on it indecent images and videos of unidentified children, as well as indecent images of the victim. The prosecutor said many sexualised images and messages were exchanged between the two of them. Mr Haswell said Shablinger encouraged and instructed the victim to commit sexual acts and recorded her as she did so. He said the victim had refused to tell police what happened when she and Shablinger met and she even sent a message to him saying: Be lucky, I lied to the police. Shablinger, who was born in Austria but lives in Germany, appeared at court on Wednesday after he admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming. He also admitted sexual activity with a child and six offences of possession of more than 800 indecent images of children. Three of those offences related to pictures and videos of the victim including five category A, the most serious and another three to unidentified children, including 346 category A. Extremely serious case Recorder Paul Garlicked imposed an eight-and-a half-year extended sentence, made up of four and a half years in custody and four years on licence. Ed Renvoize, mitigating, said the defendant accepted this is an extremely serious case but deserved full credit for his pleas to the offences. He said Shablinger was untruthful about his age but insisted there was no abduction or detention in this case. Shablinger was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and put on the sex offenders register, both indefinitely. He was also banned from contacting, or attempting to contact, the victim directly or indirectly. Beach front properties are left destroyed by the Palisades Fire, in this aerial view, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. Mark J. Terrill/AP The Palisades Fire continues to ravage Los Angeles County and Houstonians some with family members in the area and others caught in the blaze themselves are scrambling to salvage what they can and make arrangements for loved ones. Nearly 14,000 emergency personnel were battling wildfires across California as of Thursday. The Palisades Fire, which broke out Tuesday morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles County, exploded to cover more than 17,000 acres on Thursday morning, according to a tracker set up by the State of California. The Palisades Fire, which state officials have characterized as the most destructive in county history, took many residents by surprise and has prompted evacuations for some 60,000 residents, according to the City of Santa Monica. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Emma Atkins, a Houston resident, is coordinating with her family to help her sister, Muriel Lee, whose apartment was destroyed in the blaze. Atkins said Lee, who had recently moved to the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, was at work when she got word of the fires. By the time she made it home, Atkins said, it was too late. "They worked really hard to create a beautiful, cozy home they were proud of. They were given little warning of the fire and both went to work on Tuesday morning," she said. "When the fire began to spread, they rushed home, but, because of the gridlock traffic, by the time they got home, there was heavy smoke in and around their house." Lee was able to grab a few important items but had to rush out as the fires began to close in on her apartment complex, which has since been reduced to ash, according to Atkins. She said Lee has been living out of her car, but with roughly 1,500 miles between them, figuring out how to help her has proven to be a difficult task. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Its incredibly stressful and frustrating because all you want to do is help, but shes so far away," she said. "Its hard to know where to start when someone has lost everything in a fire. We want to begin gathering things for her, but how do we even get them to her? She doesnt have a home to bring anything into right now." Despite the frustration, Atkins said a GoFundMe her family established to help Lee and her roommate had almost reached its goal of $11,000 Thursday afternoon. But as family alluded to in the GoFundMe, money can only go so far to replace the sentimental objects and mementos consumed by the fire. The Palisades Fire, seen here in this courtesy photo, continues to carve a path through Los Angeles County. Courtesy James Patterson Houston native: 'Feeling of helplessness' The feeling of frustration and powerlessness in the face of overwhelming disaster was not limited to those with family trapped in the area. Chris Newlin is a 28-year-old Houston native who moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to pursue a career in music. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So far, the area where he lives has been left relatively unscathed, but surrounding communities many of which are home to venues and businesses where he'd made fond memories are now nothing more than smoldering piles of rubble. A red horizon burns behind a sign at Venice Beach as the Palisade Fire rages on in Los Angeles. Courtesy Chris Newlin In times like this, the thing that is the hardest to try to figure out is working through the feeling of helplessness, Newlin said. Were just watching as these horrific things play out on the streets and theres not a whole lot we can immediately do to help. Newlin said the Palisades Fire was unlike anything he'd seen in the more than six years he's lived in the area. Ash rained from the sky, a yellow haze blanketed the city and in the hills surrounding the Los Angeles Basin a few miles from his home, looming pillars of smoke cast a grim shadow across the region. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It's apocalyptic. There's not really another word I can think of to describe it," he said. "This morning was the first out of all of the days so far where it's been kind of non-stop just sprinkling ash from the sky ... we're all starting to think and plan for tough decisions we might have to make in the coming days." Newlin is no stranger to natural disasters. He's been through his fair share of hurricanes and flooding events like most Houstonians. While the scale and damage of the Palisades Fire is magnitudes worse than anything he's seen before, he said the same sense of togetherness and community that bloomed in the wake of Hurricane Harvey was on full display in L.A. "People started getting together supplies to donate to people who have lost their homes or been displaced," Newlin said. "I saw a post on Instagram calling for volunteers at a location pretty close to me. I drove over there and myself and 20 other strangers just got to work putting stuff together." CALIFORNIA FIRES: What are Houstonians doing for friends and family members affected? The fire was still 0% contained as of Thursday evening and continued to take an immense toll on the lives of those who call the region home. Newlin said although he feels relatively insulated from the worst of the fires compared to those who live in the highlands surrounding L.A., he is preparing for the worst. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I'm pretty much ready to go if we get the call. Others only had about five minutes to grab their stuff and go once the evacuation orders came down," Newlin said. "I've got my laptop, my guitars and my dog all prepped and ready to leave if worst comes to worst." Matthew Jukes in the Whiskey & Seaweed bar at Core by Clare Smyth, London, with some of his cider vinegar-based drinks - Ben Quinton On a business trip to New York eight years ago, the wine writer Matthew Jukes made a discovery that could have been uncomfortable, he tells me: I was doing a series of events for sommeliers, and they all told me that alcohol at lunchtime, and alcohol during the week, really, was dead. People were still drinking great wine, but only at the weekend. I thought, blimey, thats not what its like in London. But I knew New York fashions make their way to us, so it was coming. For Jukes, a dynamo who seems to embody the dictum of Jack Welch, the legendary one-time chief executive of General Electric, Change before you have to, this didnt represent a problem so much as an opportunity. Jukes still does lots of work with great wine fine wine reports, consulting, events but he has a new day job: his eponymous zero-alcohol drinks brand, whose existence was set in motion by that Manhattan trip. Were chatting among the stainless-steel surfaces and piles of cardboard boxes in a railway arch in Battersea, south London, where the drinks which are based on cider vinegar flavoured with fruits and other botanicals are now made. Jukes, who rides around London on a Triumph Tiger motorbike, is not half-hearted about anything. So its no surprise that Jukes Cordialities are already poured in Michelin-starred restaurants and found in smart hotel minibars all over the world, from the Hotel de Crillon in Paris to Core by Clare Smyth in London. In February, Jukes Cordialities was selected as one of the Walpole British Luxury Brands of Tomorrow for 2024. Its a mark of not only the level of refinement of the drinks but also of the economic might of the no and low movement, that the boutique champagne house Billecart-Salmon announced this year that it has bought a minority stake in the business. The first prototype was cooked up in the Jukes family kitchen in Clapham after a trip to Waitrose. The challenge I had was how to solve this problem [of creating a no/low drink] with a wine persons brain? says Jukes. Im not going to put my name on anything that isnt really top from an aromatic perspective, from a palate perspective or a finish perspective. Jukes 8 is similar to a sparkling rose and Jukes 6 has all the tasting notes you might write for bordeaux or burgundy - Ben Quinton He was inspired by a recipe for haymakers punch traditionally made by English farming families using the produce from their own land. The drink would differ from farm to farm because you grew different things depending on your microclimate and your soil. That appealed to the wine side of me. It felt so romantic. Then I realised that a haymakers punch was the same as a shrub in North America, which I knew about from the process of cocktail making, and because non-alcoholic shrubs were enormous during Prohibition. When it came to cooking up his own, Jukes went into full experimental mode. Not only did he try out more than 200 different ingredients roots, spices, fruits, vegetables and flowers but he also experimented with ways of chopping them. Take the cucumber: The wet section in the middle is totally useless, he says. But we love the glassy, pale green crunchy section, because its textural. And I love, of course, the dark green, super-bitter outside section; if you grind that between your teeth, its sensational. Or pineapple: The husk is much more interesting than the juicy bit of the pineapple, which is quite simplistic. He tried out all manner of different vinegars. Then he realised that, while heating the ingredients together might extract flavour quickly, the cold maceration technique he knew about from winemaking produced a much more delicate and detailed result, although it took a week rather than an hour or so. When the pandemic closed all the restaurants that Jukes was sold to, they set up a website to sell the drinks directly to the public - Ben Quinton The first, Jukes 6, is dark red and designed to express all the tasting notes you might write for bordeaux or burgundy it uses blackcurrants, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries. Then theres beetroot, to give this earthiness, give it guy ropes; its not a childrens drink. Jukes 6 also resembles a red wine in the glass; the whole range is designed so that anyone drinking them feels part of the dance with those around the table who are drinking actual wine. Jukes 5 looks like a sauvignon blanc and is crisp and refreshing, with cucumber and grapefruit, among other flavours (each drink is made using about 20 ingredients, some of them too secret to appear on the label); Jukes 8, The Sparkling Rose, is pale pink and made with pomegranate, melon and rhubarb. And so on. Not that these are faux wines; they are fully their own creatures, sold either in tiny bottles as concentrates to dilute to taste with water or soda, or effervescent and ready to drink in cans. All Jukes drinks are made by hand even the blackcurrants for the Jukes 6 are pricked by hand - Ben Quinton This is roughly the point in the story at which I expect that, for some readers, what I call the Fever-Tree delusion is kicking in. The Fever-Tree delusion is the notion incubated by an awful lot of people that they too could create a high-quality drink and, if only they could magically land on the right product, one day sell it for millions. Its really not as easy as it sounds. On the flavour side of things, Jukes is a professional palate, a perfectionist who buys his aftershave from Paris but insists on blending even that himself. Hes also a fast processor and one of the hardest-working, most energetic people I know. And I know a few. And, of course, when it comes to a project like this, creating the drink is the very least of it. Theres designing your kitchen with specialist machinery, and managing the building project to get it in place; theres organising the design and packaging; finding distribution channels; marketing; scaling the business; raising capital; dealing with production deadlines, cash flow, shipping, regulations; selling the damn stuff I once interviewed a producer of English wine who was all over the spreadsheets but said in fatigued tones, I never realised how much time I would spend walking between restaurants with a briefcase full of bottles. Jukes, when I meet him, is just back from a two-day business trip to Switzerland. What has been the steepest part of the learning curve? Aside, he says, from launching immediately before the pandemic, Managing people. I work on my own. Im used to doing things very fast, very accurately. So I picked people [to work with] who were almost out of the same cookie cutter. One of them was able, when the pandemic closed all the restaurants that Jukes had just been sold to, to set up a website so that the drink could be bought directly by the public. Another of them is standing in the kitchen behind us, working on a batch of Jukes 8. All the drinks are made by hand; even the blackcurrants that go into Jukes 6 are pricked by hand (it helps flavour release), although not, I am relieved to hear, individually. Christmas-wise, for those looking for a zero per cent drink, either because they want to remain clear-headed or in order to zebra stripe (that is, to alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic over the course of an event), the man himself recommends Jukes 6 with smoked salmon blinis. Jukes 1 and Jukes 6 are both stellar with turkey. More specifically, Jukes 1 loves sage-and-onion stuffing, roasted parsnips, caramelised carrots et cetera; while Jukes 6 loves pigs in blankets, chestnut-bacon-and-cranberry stuffing, and braised red cabbage with cider and apples. Business meeting A government-owned bank is under fire for spending tens of thousands of pounds in a diversity drive despite growing fears over the state of the economy. The British Business Bank, owned by the Department for Business and Trade, spent 64,500 on embracing diversity between November 2024 and March 2025, according to a public contract published this month. Its diversity drive included a 17,500 Investment in Diversity Champion award at this years Angel Investment Awards and 47,000 on a wider Diverse Angel Syndicate initiative in partnership with the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), which represents investors in start-up businesses. The Investment in Diversity Champion prize, sponsored by the bank, recognises a key individual who is taking a leadership role in breaking down barriers for access to equity investment for founders from diverse backgrounds, including women founders, black and ethnic minority founders, or other overlooked groups. It will be handed out in July 2025 at a black tie ceremony and held at The Brewery, an events centre in the City of London. Britain edging towards recession Meanwhile the Diverse Angel Syndicate initiative will address established and evidenced market failures in the supply of finance to underserved groups across the UK nations and regions and similar imbalances in the makeup of the investment community. The funding comes despite calls for a wider government crackdown on diversity initiatives, and amid growing fears over the economy. Revisions to official data published last month showed Britain is edging toward recession after the economy stagnated between July and September. Meanwhile, the cost of government borrowing has surged amid concerns over how the Chancellor will fund her Budget plans to allocate 350 billion of public spending over the next five years. In December 2024, the Tories urged the Chancellor to end a diversity drive which officials estimated would cost the City up to 1 billion. Regulations that would force financial firms to collect and report diversity and inclusion data threaten British competitiveness and erode meritocracy, Ms Reeves was warned. Woke awards ceremony Greg Smith, the shadow business minister, questioned why a government-owned vehicle was ploughing investment into a woke awards ceremony which he described as hot air. He said: There are going to be a lot of eyebrows raised that the Government is going to spend so much money on an awards ceremony which feels like hot air. What we need is practical action to give businesses confidence. We need to stop messing around with woke awards, and start removing actual barriers. Business confidence is dropping through the floor. Survey after survey showing businesses having to employ fewer people, or pay them lower wages, seeing sales drop and facing higher tax bills through National Insurance. We all want to see people get on in life, no matter who they are and where they come from. But what we actually need is to give people the opportunity to have the confidence to borrow or invest and to build a business. Virtue signalling Mr Smith described the 47,000 Diverse Angel Syndicate initiative as virtue signalling. He said: My gut reaction is 47k doesnt buy you a lot if its going to have any real impact: I might put two people through a training course. My gut reaction is whether theres a value to this initiative? Are they actually going to get any bang for the buck from the taxpayers money? How many lives does it actually change? It sounds like some sort of token effort. Wouldnt they be better at stripping away barriers and actual regulation, rather than messing about with token amounts of money. 47k doesnt buy what they say it will its virtue signalling. A British Business Bank spokesman said: Angel Investment plays a fundamental role in the long-term growth and scaling of small businesses and represents the most significant source of equity finance for early-stage entrepreneurs, providing crucial, high-risk, early-stage capital alongside deep domain expertise and valuable connections and networks. It plays a vital role in the equity supply chain, fuelling growth, innovation, and job creation and is an important source of equity finance across the UKs nations and regions and to female founders in particular. The UK Business Angels Association awards are to celebrate the high growth and success in the angel and early-stage investment market, the website explains. Other awards include the Angel Group of the Year, which the most active and impactful angel group in the UK, and is sponsored by the Barclays Demo Directory, and the Angel Investor of the Year, which recognises the most active and impactful angel investor backing start-up and early stage UK businesses and is sponsored by ACF Investors. A combination of Maxar Technologies before and after satellite images created on 8 January 2025 shows a view of homes near Fair Oaks Avenue in Altadena, California, on 6 January 2025 and then later while fires are burning. Composite: Guardian Design/Maxar Technologies/AFP/Getty Images Ten people have been killed, more than 10,000 structures destroyed and at least 180,000 residents ordered to evacuate in California as fast-moving wildfires burn around Los Angeles, encircling the city. On Tuesday, hurricane-force winds blew embers through the air, igniting block after block and destroying an area of land about 45 square miles (117 sq km) over the following days. As of late Thursday, five fires were still raging around Los Angeles. Satellite images showed the scale of the destruction from the Pacific Palisades fire, which left the coastline along the famous Malibu neighbourhood scorched black and buildings along the water burned to the ground. Interactive In Pacific Palisades itself, more than half a dozen schools had either been damaged or destroyed. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass said a new fire, the Kenneth fire, that began on Thursday afternoon in the San Fernando Valley near the West Hills neighborhood, was expected to rapidly spread due to high winds. In Altadena, behind the mountains north of Los Angeles where the Eaton fire took hold, satellite images showed row upon row of charred residential streets, with smoke from the nearby fires in the air. On Wednesday, the streets were filled with ash, with buildings everywhere in flames. By Thursday officials said that they feared 4,0005,000 structures had been destroyed. The Pasadena fire chief, Chad Augustin, said the citys water system was stretched and further hampered by power outages but that even without those issues, firefighters would not have been able to stop the fire as embers blown by the intense winds ignited block after block. Interactive In one image captured by satellite, the red glow of fires burning near East Altadena Drive can be seen through thick black smoke. Interactive Firefighters made significant gains on Thursday at slowing the spread of the Eaton and Palisades fires, though the Palisades fire is just 6% contained and the Eaton fire 0% contained. Crews also knocked down a blaze in the Hollywood Hills, allowing an evacuation to be lifted on Thursday. Satellite images from Lachman Lane in Pacific Palisades showed that some houses were spared, while others on the same street burned. The fires struck at an especially vulnerable time for southern California, which has yet to see significant rainfall since the start of the water year in October. Then came the powerful Santa Ana winds, bringing dry desert air from the east toward the coastal mountains, fanning wildfires while blowing over the hilltops and down through the canyons. Scientists said the fires, erupting well outside the traditional wildfire season, mark the latest in weather extremes that are likely to escalate further as global temperatures continue to climb in coming decades. Associated Press and Reuters contributed reporting Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella at the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor in September 2022. Photograph: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty A coroner has issued a warning about the effects of antidepressants prescribed by a Buckingham Palace doctor to the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent before his suicide. Thomas Kingston, 45, whose marriage to Lady Gabriella at Windsor Castle in 2019 was attended by the late Queen, killed himself last February after suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed, an inquest found last month. On Friday the coroner, Katy Skerrett, warned the medication used could lead to more deaths without a change in guidance and labelling about the risks. The inquest at Gloucestershire coroners court heard that after complaining of poor sleep and stress at work as a financier, Kingston had initially been given the antidepressant sertraline and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace used by royal household staff. Kingston returned to the surgery saying they were not making him feel better and his doctor moved him from sertraline to citalopram, a similar drug in a type known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In the days leading up to his death, Kingston had stopped taking medication and toxicology tests showed caffeine and small amounts of zopiclone in his system. In a prevention of future deaths report, Skerrett questioned whether there was adequate communication of the risks of suicide associated with such medication. She also raised concerns about whether the current guidance to persist with SSRI medications, or switch to an alternative SSRI medication, was appropriate when no benefit had been achieved. Skerrett said this was especially concerning when adverse side effects are being experienced. The report was sent to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the Royal College of General Practitioners, who have 56 days to respond. The coroners concerns echo those of Kingstons widow, Lady Gabriella, who warned about the effects of the drugs during the inquest. In a statement read out by Skerrett, she said: I believe anyone taking pills such as these needs to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone. Recording a narrative conclusion, Skerrett said Kingston took his own life while suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed. The inquest heard that the antidepressants prescribed to Kingston by his doctor were in accordance with Nice guidelines. Giving evidence to the inquest, Dr David Healy, a psychiatric medical expert, said zopiclone could also cause anxiety while sertraline and citalopram were both SSRIs, and essentially the same. Healy said Kingstons complaints that sertraline was continuing to make him anxious was a sign SSRIs did not suit him and he should not have been prescribed the same thing again. He said the guidelines and labels for SSRIs were not clear enough about the risks of going on the drugs in the first place or what the effect could be when moving from one to another. We need a much more explicit statement saying that these drugs can cause people to commit suicide who wouldnt have otherwise, he said. Nice recommends a staged withdrawal of antidepressants, known as tapering, to reduce withdrawal effects and long-term dependence on the medication. A spokesperson for Nice said: Nice can confirm we have received the coroners prevention of future deaths report in relation to Thomas Kingston. We will consider the issues raised by the report and respond to the coroner directly. We follow an established process when making sure our published guidelines are current and accurate and take a proactive approach to responding to events (with an assessment of priority) that may impact on our recommendations. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org The woman told the family court the man invited her to a white party in Sydney, before telling her he had organised a prank wedding for his social media a marriage ceremony for the grooms Instagram. Photograph: pixdeluxe/Getty Images/iStockphoto A Melbourne couples marriage has been annulled after the bride told a court she had thought their wedding was nothing more than a social media stunt to boost his Instagram following. In an October family court judgment published on Thursday, a judge annulled the December 2023 marriage after finding the bride believed she was acting in a social media event, rather than in a legally binding wedding ceremony. The bride, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had told the court that she met the groom on a dating app in September 2023 and met the following day at a church. At the time, she was in her mid 20s and he was in his late 30s. Related: Bizarre Australian mole even more unusual than first thought, new research reveals For the next three months, they remained in contact, before she said the groom invited her to a white party in Sydney in December, the court heard. She said after arriving at the venue she was shocked to learn the man had organised a wedding. The bride said she became uncomfortable and wanted to leave, but the groom told her it was a simple prank. When I got there, and I didnt see anybody in white, I asked him, Whats happening? she told the court. He told me that hes organising a prank wedding for his social media. To be precise, Instagram, because he wants to boost his content and wants to start monetising his Instagram page. In court, footage of the ceremony was played, showing the couple exchanging vows and rings. While the bride appeared to enthusiastically participate in the ceremony, she told the court it was all an act. We had to act to make it look real, she said. The woman, who was not a permanent resident, said she only discovered the sham wedding was legal after he asked her to add his name to her application for permanent residency, which could help him obtain one. She said the groom told her he was not a permanent resident and he had organised the marriage to help him. She said she was furious she had been lied [to] from the beginning. The bride said she would not get married without her parents permission and presence, nor without a bridal gown or a reception party. But the groom who has 17,000 followers on Instagram but denied he was a social media influencer disputed her version of events. He testified that immediately after they met, he had told her he was bisexual, and that she was cool with it and moved into his home. The groom told the court he had proposed to her a day before the wedding. The bride did not include the proposal in her affidavit, but did not deny it in court. However, he could not explain why the wedding had to occur so soon after the proposal or why they were married in Sydney instead of Melbourne. The court also heard he had signed a notice intention to marriage on 20 November, weeks before the proposal. He said the wedding was intended to be intimate before an official wedding ceremony in their home country at a later date and they both agreed to these circumstances. However, the judge said the assertion was so bereft of detail as to be near meaningless. He also rejected the grooms claim they had moved in together, finding instead the couple had maintained separate residences. The judge said it beggars belief the bride would marry the groom less than two days after accepting his proposal. The applicant did not have a single family member or friend present at the alleged wedding ceremony. She was religious, he wrote. Precisely why she would participate in a civil marriage and not in a church marriage ceremony went unexplored. It made no sense to me that she would. The destruction following the Tulsa race massacre in June 1921. Photograph: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images On Friday, the Department of Justice (DoJ) released its report on the Tulsa race massacre after announcing the review last September. The report came more than 100 years after a June 1921 report by the justice departments Bureau of Investigation, a precursor to the FBI, blamed the massacre on Black men and alleged that perpetrators did not violate any federal laws. The Friday DoJ report, however, acknowledged that the attack by white citizens on Black residents was so systematic and coordinated that it transcended mere mob violence. The Tulsa race massacre stands out as a civil rights crime unique in its magnitude, barbarity, racist hostility and its utter annihilation of a thriving Black community, Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general of the DoJs civil rights division, said in a statement. In 1921, white Tulsans murdered hundreds of residents of Greenwood, burned their homes and churches, looted their belongings, and locked the survivors in internment camps. Until this day, the justice department has not spoken publicly about this race massacre or officially accounted for the horrific events that transpired in Tulsa. This report breaks that silence by rigorous examination and a full accounting of one of the darkest episodes of our nations past. This report lays bare new information and shows that the massacre was the result not of uncontrolled mob violence, but of a coordinated, military-style attack on Greenwood. The 126-page report was conducted by a team of lawyers and investigators from the Emmett Till Cold Case Unit of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division who spoke with survivors and with descendants of survivors, examined firsthand accounts of the massacre given by individuals who are now deceased, studied primary source materials, spoke to scholars of the massacre and reviewed legal pleadings, books, and scholarly articles relating to the massacre, according to the department. Despite the reports findings, Clarke noted that there is no living perpetrator for the justice department to prosecute. Last June, the Oklahoma supreme court threw out a lawsuit brought by Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, two Tulsa race massacre survivors, that sought to make the city of Tulsa pay restitution to survivors and their descendants. Randle and Fletcher, who are both 110, were children at the time of the massacre. The invasion of Greenwood On 31 May and 1 June 1921, white Tulsans put Greenwood, a community now remembered as Black Wall Street, under siege. The DoJs findings acknowledged the role of Tulsa law enforcement in the massacre, including that of Tulsa police who deputized hundreds of white residents, many of whom immediately before being awarded a badge had been drinking and agitating for [a lynching]. According to the report, more than 500 men were deputized in less than 30 minutes. The report includes reference to Walter White, a Black civil rights advocate who could pass for white. He wrote that he only had to provide his name, age and address to be appointed as a special duty. Following his appointment, White reported that he was told he could now go out and shoot any [N-word] you see and the lawll be behind you. The review includes multiple acknowledgments of the extensive role of law enforcement and city officials encouraging white Tulsans to murder their Black neighbors. It also namechecks several residents who inflamed the crowd or participated in the chaos, describing the actions of white Tulsans as systematic and planned. Organized by the Tulsa police department and local members of the national guard, and aided by white veterans of the American Legion, white Tulsans invaded Greenwood, reads the report. They looted, burned and destroyed 35 city blocks while Greenwoods residents tried desperately to defend their homes. Tulsa police and the national guard disarmed Black residents and forced many into makeshift camps under armed guard. Additionally, the DoJ concluded that there were credible reports that at least some law enforcement officers participated in murder, arson and looting. As the fires consumed Greenwood, many Black families fled for their lives, leaving behind their homes and valuable items. White residents chased them across and beyond the city, taking into custody men, women, children, the elderly and the infirm, and looting the homes they left behind. The destruction of the district was total. The survivors were left with little to nothing. Following the attack, victims of the massacre were not compensated for the loss of their homes or businesses, nor did they receive legal justice for the people who were killed, some of whom are documented by name in the report. Though the city promised to help Greenwood rebuild, the DoJ found that Tulsas government actually put up obstacles to residential reconstruction, including rejecting outside aid. In a land grab, Tulsa officials went so far as to impose fire codes that priced residents out of the area. Instead of seeking prosecution, the report aims to document officially what occurred. Clarke plans to convene with members of the Greenwood district, survivors and descendants of the Tulsa race massacre, the Tulsa civil rights community and other stakeholders. Donald Trump appears in court via video link alongside his lawyer Todd Blanche - BRENDAN MCDERMID/AFP Donald Trump has been given an unconditional discharge over hush money payments sent to porn star Stormy Daniels, avoiding jail before his inauguration later this month. The president-elect was given a legal slap on the wrist after Judge Juan Merchan said it was the only lawful sentence he could impose due to Mr Trumps impending second term as president. There were, he said, a unique and remarkable set of circumstances surrounding Mr Trumps 34-count conviction for falsifying business records and making hush money payments to Ms Daniels. The sentence concludes a two-year legal battle, which Mr Trump has repeatedly called a politically motivated witch hunt. He has said he will appeal the sentence at the Supreme Court before taking office on Jan 20. Mr Trump was permitted to appear in the Manhattan courtroom via video link on Friday from Mar-a-Lago, the epicentre of the MAGA campaign. A court sketch of Judge Juan Merchan, right, sentencing president-elect Donald Trump - Elizabeth Williams Inside the courtroom, Judge Merchan handed down the no penalty sentence after refusing to repeat the aggravating factors in Mr Trumps case, including his frequent attacks on the court, prosecutors and judges. No sooner had the hearing concluded did the soon-to-be 47th United States President turn to Truth Social to label the sentence a despicable charade. He wrote: Todays event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice. I was given an unconditional discharge, the president-elect added. That result alone proves that, as all legal scholars and experts have said, there is no case, there was never a case, and this whole scam fully deserves to be dismissed. The real jury, the American people, have spoken, by re-electing me with an overwhelming mandate in one of the most consequential elections in history. A conditional discharge would have required Mr Trump to meet certain conditions, like maintaining employment or paying restitution. But todays [FRI] sentence means he will not be subject to any conditions and concludes a case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. It means Mr Trump will become the first American president to take the White House as a convicted felon. The hush money case accused Mr Trump of fudging his business records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in his 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. Stormy Daniels was paid not to tell the public about a sexual encounter with Mr Trump - Markus Schreiber Prosecutors said Mrs Daniels was paid off through Trumps personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trumps alleged extramarital escapades. Mr Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. And while prosecutors said Mr Cohens reimbursements for paying Mrs Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Mr Trump claims thats simply what they were. His lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled almost every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed. Mr Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Mrs Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Mr Cohen were made and recorded the following year. Protestors against outside New York Criminal Court - Anadolu His defence argued that immunity should have kept jurors from hearing some evidence, such as testimony about some of his conversations with then-White House communications director Hope Hicks. After Trump won this past Novembers election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office The trial, which coincided with the presidential election race, was high risk for Mr Trump. If had lost the election and the case, he would have almost certainly gone to prison. But a week before the sentencing, Judge Marchan deemed that an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution amid concerns of presidential immunity. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office. Thank you, he told the incoming US president as the sentencing concluded. Mr Trumps attorney Emil Bov looks on during the sentencing The sentence incensed Mr Cohen, who was the key prosecution witness in the hush money trial. Mr Cohen, who was Mr Trumps lawyer, served 13 months in jail after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, rounded on his former boss on his social media channel. The sentencing was little more than political theatre, Mr Cohen said. In my entire legal career I have never even heard of an unconditional dismissal being given to a defendant after a trial, he said. It means no incarceration. It also means no probation. It means virtually nothing, no accountability. Mr Trumps felony convictions mean he will not be allowed to possess firearms. By law, every person convicted of a felony in New York must provide a DNA sample for the states crime databank. Samples are collected after sentencing, typically when a defendant reports to probation, jail or prison. Samples can also be taken by a court or police official. 05:22 PM GMT Live coverage has ended Live coverage of Donald Trumps sentencing for a case relating to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels has ended. Heres a roundup of the main events Donald Trump has avoided jail after being given an unconditional discharge, which the judge said was the only lawful sentence he could impose due to Mr Trumps impending second term as president. Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, wished Donald Trump godspeed as you pursue your second term in office in his final remarks. Reacting to the sentence, which was effectively a slap on the wrist, Donald Trump said that radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, un-American witch-hunt. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass attacked Donald Trump, saying that rather than expressing any remorse for his criminal acts, he has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law. 05:10 PM GMT Sham trial and a hoax sentencing, says Trumps former chief medical adviser Donald Trumps former chief medical adviser said the president elects hush money case was a sham trial as sentencing began earlier this afternoon. Ronny Jackson wrote on X: A sham trial and a hoax sentencing! It should come as no surprise that this corrupt judge is bringing this just a few days before President Trumps inauguration. Trump will win in the end and America wins in 10 days when we get Trump back!! A SHAM TRIAL and a HOAX SENTENCING! It should come as no surprise that this corrupt judge is bringing this just a few days before President Trump's inauguration. Trump will win in the end and America wins in 10 days when we get Trump back!! Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) January 10, 2025 03:53 PM GMT Judge wishes Trump godspeed in final remarks Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing Donald Trumps case, wished Mr Trump well for his second term in office in his final remarks to the president-elect. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office. Thank you, he told the incoming US president as the sentencing concluded. Mr Trump said nothing, and the video link screen via which the president-elect had appeared was turned off. It came after Justice Merchan gave Mr Trump an unconditional discharge - meaning no jail time or fine. The judge said it was the only lawful sentence he could impose due to Mr Trumps impending second term as president. 03:47 PM GMT Trump fundraises after sentence Donald Trumps team has sent a message to supporters asking for political donations after his sentencing this morning. After my rigged sentencing, do you still Stand with Trump? reads an email sent just now. Theyre trying to sabotage the Presidential Transition process. Theyre trying to end the presidency as we know it just before I take office! The email offers supporters a MAGA poll, and the opportunity to donate. 03:46 PM GMT Trump: Radical democrats have lost another pathetic, un-American witch-hunt Donald Trump said that radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, un-American witch-hunt as he reacted to avoiding jail or a fine in the case brought against him relating to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels. In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote that tens of millions of dollars and 6 years of obsessive work had been wasted on the case, which should have been spent on protecting New Yorkers from violent, rampant crime. I was given an unconditional discharge, the president-elect wrote. That result alone proves that, as all legal scholars and experts have said, there is no case, there was never a case, and this whole scam fully deserves to be dismissed. The real jury, the American people, have spoken, by re-electing me with an overwhelming mandate in one of the most consequential elections in history. 03:34 PM GMT Analysis: Trumps legal strategy worked The unavoidable conclusion of this mornings sentencing hearing is that Donald Trumps legal strategy was a complete success. In all of the various cases against him, Mr Trump has delayed every step of the process in the hope of pushing it back past November 5 last year, when he won back the presidency in an historic victory. As Judge Merchan acknowledged this morning, the fact Mr Trump is now the president-elect means that any other sentence than an unconditional discharge is impossible. This hearing was meant to be held in the summer, when he could have been given a jail sentence. Mr Trump always hoped to secure an acquittal in the Stormy Daniels case, but this outcome is the next best thing. He will take office on Jan 20 with a symbolic criminal sentence that carries no jail time or financial penalty. That vindicates his aggressive and controversial legal strategy: Delay, delay, delay and then win. Trump supporters display a giant flag outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York as the president-elect was sentenced for the Stormy Daniels hush money case - CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP 03:20 PM GMT Trump sentencing was political theatre, key prosecution witness says The prospect of Donald Trump avoiding punishment despite being convicted on 34 counts incensed Michael Cohen, who was the key prosecution witness in the hush money trial. Mr Cohen, who was Mr Trumps lawyer, served 13 months in jail after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, rounded on his former boss on his social media channel. The sentencing was little more than political theatre, Mr Cohen said. In my entire legal career I have never even heard of an unconditional dismissal being given to a defendant after a trial, he said. It means no incarceration. It also means no probation. It means virtually nothing, no accountability. And I say this, and I say its important, because as someone who is subpoenaed to testify in that case and classified as the key witness in that case, had I known, had I known that Trump would never be held accountable, I never would have accepted the subpoena. I dont care if they if they served me with the subpoena or not, I never would have taken the stand. 03:17 PM GMT Trumps position does not reduce the seriousness of the crime, judge says Judge Juan Merchan said before giving his sentence that he did not need to repeat the aggravating factors in Mr Trumps case, including his frequent attacks on the court, prosecutors and judges. However the considerable, indeed extraordinary legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others, he said. [The protections] do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way, he said, but noted that one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict. He added: Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections. It is the office of the president that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections. Anti-Trump demonstrators outside Manhattan Criminal Court before the start of the sentencing - Yuki Iwamura/FR171758 AP 03:12 PM GMT Voters understand case is phony, Trump says Voters understand this case is phony, says Mr Trump Donald Trump said that voters could see the case against him was unjust, pointing to his election victory. He told the court he won the popular vote by millions and millions of votes and took all seven swing states in his battle against Kamala Harris. Theyve been watching your trial, so they understood it, he said of the voters. 03:09 PM GMT Judge begins sentencing remarks Justice Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, said the court has been presented with a unique and remarkable set of circumstances, but stressed that once the courtroom doors were closed, it was no different from any other trial. Jury selection was conducted. The same rules of evidence were followed. Opening statements were made The same burdens of proof applied, he said, suggesting that Mr Trump was seen by the court as a US citizen first and foremost. 03:05 PM GMT Trump calls case a political witch-hunt Donald Trump has blasted the hush money case brought against him as a political witch-hunt, saying he was treated very, very unfairly. The fact is, Im totally innocent, the president-elect told the courtroom. Justice Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, responded to Mr Trumps remarks with: Thank you, Mr. Trump. 03:02 PM GMT Trump blasts case as a very terrible experience Donald Trump has told the court that this case has been a very terrible experience, and a setback for the New York court system. As the defendant, he has the right to comment at todays hearing. It is interesting that Joshua Steinglass, the prosecutor, has chosen to focus on Mr Trumps conduct throughout this case in his remarks today rather than the crimes at hand. That theme has become characteristic of the Trump cases, as lawyers and judges push back against his criticism of the prosecutions against him. Each time Mr Trump appears in court, the jury effectively becomes a mini-electorate, and the case a referendum on Mr Trump himself. 02:57 PM GMT Trump lawyer attacks legitimacy of the case Todd Blanche, Mr Trumps lawyer, has attacked the legitimacy of the case, saying that it was started for the third time after Mr Trump announced his intention to run for re-election. The majority of the American people believe the case should not have been brought, Mr Blanche said. Mr Blanche said that if there is to be a sentence, he agrees that it should be an unconditional discharge. The judge overseeing the case has indicated he would give Mr Trump an unconditional discharge, meaning no jail time or fine. A man impersonating Donald Trump walks outside Manhattan criminal court before the start of sentencing in the Stormy Daniels hush money case - Yuki Iwamura/FR171758 AP 02:53 PM GMT Pictured: Inside the courtroom US president-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan in the criminal case in which he was convicted in 2024 - ANGELA WEISS/AFP 02:46 PM GMT Trump has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law, prosecutor says Joshua Steinglass has attacked Donald Trump, saying that rather than expressing any remorse for his criminal acts, he has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law. This defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harms way, Mr Steinglass said. Mr Steinglass however said that he agrees with the expected sentence of an unconditional discharge - meaning no jail time or fine. 02:44 PM GMT Trump sentencing provides moment of high drama for president-elects supporters Todays sentencing provides a moment of high drama for Donald Trumps supporters and detractors just ten days before his inauguration, but the sentence is likely to be largely symbolic. Mr Trump is most likely to be given an unconditional discharge effectively a slap on the wrist partly because of the constitutional implications of imposing criminal penalties on a president-elect. What it will mean, however, is that Mr Trump will be the first person with a felony sentence to take office. As we saw on the campaign trail last year, that issue does not appear to have worried voters. If anything, Mr Trumps various legal woes only added to his support and the perception he is under attack by the countrys elite. 02:40 PM GMT Judge begins speaking Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, has begun speaking and is describing routine procedure before the proceedings begin. He is wearing his judicial robe adorned with a gold tie. 02:38 PM GMT Trump visible on court room screens Donald Trump, who is appearing via video link, is visible on screens placed on the defence table. Mr Trump, wearing a red tie, can be seen in front of two large American flags alongside Todd Blanche, his lead lawyer. 02:33 PM GMT Trump lawyer takes place at the defence table Emil Bove, one of Mr Trumps lawyers, has entered the courtroom and walked over to the defence table. Mr Trump has chosen Mr Bove to be his principal deputy associate attorney general when he takes office in ten days time. Todd Blanche, Mr Trumps lead lawyer in the hush money case, was picked to be deputy attorney general. Mr Blanche is reported to be at Mar-a-Lago with the president-elect, who will appear by video link. Emil Bove, attorney for Donald Trump, attends Manhattan Criminal Court during Trumps sentencing - JEENAH MOON/Pool Reuters 02:29 PM GMT Prosecutors enter the courtroom Prosecutors in the Donald Trump hush money case have entered the courtroom where the president-elect is shortly to be sentenced. Joshua Steinglass, Susan Hoffinger and the rest of the trial team were followed by two paralegals who served as witnesses during the trial. Mr Steinglass delivered a closing argument in Mr Trumps trial that was over five hours long. He also played a leading role in convicting the Trump Organization, Mr Trumps family business, for tax fraud in 2022. 02:21 PM GMT Pictured: Trump supporters gather outside New York Criminal Court Trump supporters demonstrate in front of the New York Criminal Court in Manhattan as the president-elect is set to be sentenced - Mike Segar/REUTERS 02:19 PM GMT Trump issues emergency declaration to supporters Donald Trump has used his court appearance to raise money, issuing what he described as an emergency declaration. In an email to supporters, he wrote: Im being sentenced today just so they can label me a felon before Im sworn in. Do you think its a coincidence my Inauguration is just days away? You know it and I know it: All charges should be dropped. Legal pundits agree. Legal scholars agree. Plain and simple this is an attack on their political opponent, ME! Justice is not the goal here. This unlawful witch-hunt is only meant to obstruct the Presidential Transition process. We cant let that happen if we want to save America when I triumphantly return to office. The litany of legal battles has proved lucrative for the president-elect. On the first day of one of his trials, he raised $1.6 million from small donors. According to Open Secrets, which monitors political spending, his various fundraising arms provided $20 million to cover the legal fees faced by Mr Trump and his allies. 02:18 PM GMT Trump already challenging conviction Donald Trump has already filed a civil action against the judge overseeing the case, challenging two recent rulings that upheld his conviction for hush money payments in May. The rulings rejected Mr Trumps claim that, as a former and future president, he is entitled to immunity. Although Mr Trump is expected to avoid jail or a fine, he will still be the first convicted felon to become president of the United States. Donald Trump will avoid jail time for his felony conviction in the New York hush-money case, a judge determined on Friday, marking both a dramatic and anti-climactic development in the historic criminal proceedings weeks before he returns to the White House. The judge who presided over Trumps criminal trial, Juan Merchan, issued a sentence of unconditional discharge, meaning the president-elect will be released without fine, imprisonment or probation supervision for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. While the sentence makes Trump a convicted felon, he will face no penalty other than this legal designation. Trump, whose presidential inauguration is scheduled for 20 January, is the first US president former or sitting to face a criminal trial, let alone a guilty verdict and subsequent sentencing. Addressing the court via video shortly before receiving his sentence, Trump called the case a very terrible experience, an injustice and a political witch-hunt. This has been a very terrible experience. I think its been a tremendous setback for New York, the New York court system, he said, appearing next to his lawyer, Todd Blanche. I get indicted for business records? Everybody should be so accurate. Its been a political witch hunt ... to damage my reputation so that Id lose the election. Obviously that didnt work. After the sentencing hearing concluded, Trump continued his screed on social media, writing on Truth Social, The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History. But as he delivered the sentenced, Merchan emphasized that Trumps victory in the presidential race did not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way, even though it had to be taken into account. Related: New York court declines to block sentencing in Trumps hush-money case The protections [of the presidency] are, however, a legal mandate which, pursuant to the rule of law, this court must respect and follow. However, despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict, Merchan said. It was the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that once again you should have the benefits of those protections which include, among other things, the supremacy clause and presidential immunity. It is through that lens and that reality that this court must determine a lawful sentence. Merchan, who was subject to intense criticism and threats as he oversaw Trumps case, then told the president-elect: Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office. Trump was found guilty on 30 May 2024 of falsifying business records with the intent to commit a second crime. The office of Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, argued that Trump falsely recorded reimbursements he made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen for paying $130,000 to the adult film star Stormy Daniels, so she would keep quiet about an alleged sexual liaison with the then candidate. Trump marked these repayments to Cohen as legal expenses on financial documents. State prosecutors contended at trial that these falsifications were intended to hide Trumps violation of New York election law, which forbids promoting any person to office through unlawful means. They said that the unlawful means were the payoff to Daniels, as they cast it as an illegal campaign contribution. Outside the courthouse at 100 Centre Street in Manhattan, Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters gathered to offer their thoughts on the proceedings. Some protesters held signs reading Trump is guilty, fraud and 34 felony convictions while supporters displayed a banner reading stop partisan conspiracy; stop political witch hunt. One of the anti-Trump protesters, Paul Rabin, told the Guardian before the sentencing hearing: Its been proven in a court of law that hes broken the law, and yet hes been able to evade justice, and unfortunately, in our society, he has money, wealth, status and power, and thats what gets you justice or the opposite of justice. As Trumps trial progressed, he repeatedly railed against the proceedings, casting himself as the victim of a politicized witch-hunt. Trumps invectives repeatedly violated Merchans gag order that barred him from speaking about witnesses and jurors. While Trump was fined and held in contempt for these violations, Merchans failure to impose meaningful punishment, such as jail, foreshadowed the many post-trial developments that fell in his favor. Trump was originally scheduled to be sentenced on 11 July. Then came the 1 July US supreme court ruling that imbued presidents with broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts. Merchan agreed to postpone sentencing until 18 September so he could weigh whether this decision affected the guilty verdict. The jurist subsequently pushed back sentencing until 26 November to avoid any appearance however unwarranted that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate. He also postponed issuing his immunity decision. Trumps appeal-and-delay legal strategy worked. Following Trumps win, his team intensified their attempt to thwart the case on presidential immunity grounds, saying this protection applied to the president-elect and that sentencing would impede the smooth transition of power. Merchan on 3 January ultimately decided not to toss Trumps case, saying there was no legal impediment to sentencing. Merchan scheduled Trumps sentencing for 10 January. It is this Courts firm belief that only by bringing finality to this matter will all three interests be served, Merchan wrote in this ruling. A jury heard evidence for nearly seven weeks and pronounced its verdict; Defendant and the People were given every opportunity to address intervening decisions, to exhaust every possible motion in support of and in opposition to, their respective positions in what is an unprecedented, and likely never to be repeated legal scenario. In his decision, however, Merchan all but said that jail was off the table. Merchan said that in weighing all the factors and concerns about presidential immunity, a sentence of unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution. Additional reporting by Anna Betts Tyreece Scott was found with a stab wound in Grove Road and later died - Metropolitan Police Handout A drug dealer who fatally stabbed a rival in the street was tracked down because of his designer Louis Vuitton-style manbag. Dualla Abdi, 20, failed to ditch the accessory, which he had been carrying when he attacked Tyreece Scott, 24, in Hounslow, west London, last January. Having disposed of his clothes after stabbing Scott in the chest he kept the bag, which helped to identify him, the Old Bailey heard. On Friday, following a trial at the Old Bailey, Abdi, from Acton, was found guilty of murder and having a blade on Friday. His accomplice and getaway driver Ben Laing, 24, from Feltham, was also found guilty of murder. Reda Mohamed, 24, from Hounslow, west London, and Morgan Allen, 29, from Chertsey, in Surrey, were convicted of perverting the course of justice. The court had heard how Abdi and Laing had driven up beside the victim and got out. Abdi delivered the fatal blow but Laing was standing beside him, jurors were told. Both got back in their car and Laing sped off, leaving Scott bleeding to death. Mohamed and Allen helped the pair flee to Morocco, but they were arrested at Stansted Airport days later as they returned to the UK. Murder linked to drug dealing Zoe Johnson KC, prosecuting, told jurors the background to the murder was linked to drug dealing and Scott had been operating on rival territory. Before leaving the UK, Laing had handed over a drug-dealing phone referred to as the Rocky Line to Mohamed, jurors were told. Allen was said to be in a relationship with Mohamed and acted under his instructions, helping Laing and Abdi escape, the court heard. Ms Johnson said: We will never know the precise reason why Tyreece Scott died that night. There is no evidence that he knew the other defendants or had met them before. Drug dealing is an ugly, competitive business in which dealers protect their turf at any cost. It was Tyreece Scotts exposure to that world which led to his murder. Evidence including CCTV, mobile phone data and a GPS tracker on the attackers hire car made a compelling case against the defendants, jurors were told. At the time of the stabbing, Abdi was wearing a black hooded jacket with a Trapstar logo in white on the front, and what was probably a Louis Vuitton manbag with a distinctive buckle on the strap, jurors heard. After the murder, Abdi dumped his outfit except for the bag, which became important in helping to identify him at the scene, Ms Johnson said. She added that Abdi and Laing had worked as a team with a common purpose when Scott was stabbed. Abusive and controlling The court heard that Abdi did not accept he was the stabber and, while Laing admitted being at the scene, he claimed he had no knowledge that his co-defendant was going to stab Scott and did not encourage or participate in any way. Mohamed and Allen denied knowing anything about the murder, jurors were told. When Allen was arrested, she admitted knowing Laing as Chunks, Abdi as Dodgy and Mohamed as Rocco. She told police she had been in a sexual relationship with Mohamed, whose behaviour she described as abusive and controlling. After the verdicts were delivered, the court heard Abdi had a previous conviction for having a blade in 2022 and was in breach of his suspended sentence when he killed Mr Scott. Laing had one caution for possession of cannabis in 2020. The sentencing of the defendants was adjourned until Feb 27. Everyone was trying not to make a fuss or upset her. The woman and her newborn daughter lie amid a crowd of people rescued on Monday. Photograph: Salvamento Maritimo/Reuters The call that would lead to one of the most poignant images of the humanitarian emergency in the deadly waters off the Canary Islands came at 4am. In the early hours of Monday, the Las Palmas command centre of Spains maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, told Domingo Trujillo, the captain of the search-and-rescue vessel Talia, that a small inflatable boat, packed with people, was adrift 97 nautical miles (180km) off the coast of Lanzarote. Among those onboard, they added, was a woman who was due to give birth at any moment. As soon as the alert was received, the 32m-long (105ft) Talia and its crew of eight left the Lanzarote port of Arrecife, bound for the drifting boat. When they arrived, five hours later, Trujillo and his colleagues found the small inflatable packed to the gunwales with 64 men, women and children. The pregnant woman, lying in the bow, had now given birth. Related: Baby born on crowded small boat crossing from Africa to Canary Islands Wed arrived for the tail end of the birth because the baby was still naked, Trujillo said. But what struck him most was that those on the dinghy were as calm as the sea around them. It was extraordinary because everyone was pointing to show us that there was a woman there, he said. Normally, rescues are pretty tense because everyone wants to kind of save themselves as best they can. But this one was quiet and calm, like everyone was trying not to make a fuss or upset her. Given the placid sea and the cloudy but sunny skies, the captain decided it was worth getting the other people off the boat first so that there would be more space to help the mother and her newborn. When everyone else had been transferred to the Talia, mother and baby were brought onboard and taken to the sick bay. Because she was Muslim, we asked permission to remove her clothes so that we could take a look at her and we brought someone she knew from the boat to be present and to make her feel a little more comfortable and less alone, said Trujillo. We checked that the placenta was out and that shed stopped bleeding. We did what we could to make her comfortable in the sick bay bed and put the baby on her breast. Knowing that the journey back to Arrecife would take five hours, the command centre recommended a helicopter evacuation of the mother and her baby once they were closer to port. We kept a close eye on her for three and a half hours, checking her vitals and blood pressure and giving her water and juice and lots of smiles, said the captain. We told her what a beautiful baby she had and made jokes and did other stuff to try to make the journey a bit easier. We got her and the baby ready for the evacuation, and the helicopter arrived when we were about an hour from Arrecife. Once on land, the pair were transferred to Lanzarotes Doctor Jose Molina Orosa university hospital. On Friday, a spokesperson for the hospital said mother and baby a girl, despite initial reports were still there and were doing well. The mother, who is believed to be from Mali, has been discharged but remains in a room with her daughter who is being monitored as a routine precaution because the pregnancy was not medically supervised. A photograph of the little girls first moments in the world, taken by the Talias chief engineer, Juan Jose Calo Franco, was quickly picked up by the Spanish and international media this week. Last year, 46,843 people reached the Canaries on the increasingly perilous Atlantic route from Africa, up from 39,910 in 2023. The inflatable boat rescued on Monday was thought to have set off from the coast of Morocco, as it was found in Moroccan waters. According to the Spanish Red Cross, one in seven of last years arrivals 6,971 people were children. The dangers of the journey undertaken by tens of thousands of people were laid bare in a recent report from the Caminando Fronteras migration NGO, which estimated that at least 10,457 people died or disappeared while trying to reach Spain by sea from 1 January to 5 December 2024. The NGO said the death toll was an increase of more than 50% on 2023 and the highest since its tallies began in 2007. It attributed the rise to the use of ramshackle boats, dangerous waters and a lack of resources for rescuers. Trujillo said births on the small boats, known as pateras, were not uncommon. His first was almost 20 years ago, his second during the early days of the Covid pandemic in April 2020, when he had to clamp and cut the umbilical cord. For all those experiences, however, he laughs off the idea that he is Salvamento Maritimos resident godfather. More like the midwife! he said. But this happens quite a lot, even if it doesnt get the same attention as this case. I drive a boat. Im not a doctor or a nurse; none of us here are. But if the situation demands it, you have to make the effort and become what youre needed to be. The 57-year-old captain, who has been working in search and rescue for almost 23 years, is pleased to be able to talk about something positive for a change. Ive been doing this for a long time and we come across every kind of situation. Sometimes, you get there and people are missing or dead and there are bodies and its all chaos. You might find a boat with five or six people on it, or with 200 people on it. Its really sad, and I dont know what the solution is, but it leaves its mark. The other day, Trujillo was supervising a rescue from the bridge of the Talia when he looked down and saw a little girl of seven or eight was gazing up at him. She was staring at me because I was the only one who wasnt dressed in white with gloves and a mask and a helmet on, he said. She was just looking at me and looking at me. I saw the fear on her face and so I stuck my tongue out at her and smiled and she started to relax a bit. He would like, over the coming days, to be able to visit the mother and daughter he found floating on the waters of the Atlantic early on Monday morning, just to see that they are safe. I want to see them in a very different situation to the one we met in, he said. That was really tough and it was very sad to see the mother lying there, bleeding. I want to see the baby in her arms all clean and wrapped up. I want to see that the world does sometimes work and that people in need are looked after. Houston Chronicle/Breaking News Houston Chronicle Houston Police Department has terminated a recently hired police officer at the center of multiple use of force investigations while employed as a detention officer at Harris County Jail, according to an HPD social media post. The department announced Deven Ortiz had been placed on desk duty in December, pending an investigation into alleged excessive use of force against an inmate at the jail. HPD announced Thursday that it had terminated Ortiz after reviewing the results of that investigation. Calls for reform came after a TV news report showed him repeatedly throwing a female inmate to the ground. Advertisement Article continues below this ad UPDATE: Following our investigation into this matter, the individual was informed today he will no longer be employed by the Houston Police Department. https://t.co/dxqfoPh34G Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 9, 2025 Ortiz resigned from his position at the jail in April amid multiple internal affairs investigations, according to a December statement from Harris County Sheriff's Office. That same month, Ortiz joined HPD as a cadet and became a probationary police officer after graduating from the training academy in November. Ortiz's HPD personnel file, which was released to the Chronicle through a Texas Public Information Act request, indicated his supervisor at Harris County Jail characterized his employment as "favorable." No charges were filed against Ortiz as of Thursday evening, according to the Harris County District Clerk's website. Tractors begin a three-hour slow protest drive along the A303 in Hampshire on Friday - Jamie Lorriman Hundreds of farmers staged tractor protests on Friday, with go-slow drives attempting to disrupt supermarket supply chains in a warning shot to Sir Keir Starmer Dozens of local groups took to the roads as they called for the Government to scrap its inheritance tax raid, which they say will cripple farming. Organisers said their protests would escalate, threatening to hit hard by targeting docks or staging more action in London if the Government continued to refuse to engage with farmers unions. In Northwich, Cheshire, a distribution centre for Morrisons was the target of nearly 50 tractors on Friday. Lorries were held up in the traffic created by the protest, organised by the group Farmers to Action. A distribution centre for Morrisons in Cheshire was targeted by a tractor protest - Jacob Freedland Elsewhere, 80 tractors assembled at Thruxton Race course, in Hampshire, and began a three-hour slow protest drive along the A303. Protests also took place in the High Peak towns of Derbyshire. Organisers warned that blood will boil if the Government continued to ignore their concerns. More go-slows took place in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Berkshire. Sue Flower, a 63-year-old dairy farmer who helped coordinate the protest, said: Thats going to be hard to contain and it will escalate. We dont want to, but we will have to hit hard. It might be the docks, it might be in London its going to be disruptive. They say farmers cant strike, but well see if they dont engage with us. Well see. Another distribution centre in Northampton was targeted by Phillip Weston, a fellow organiser, who said the go-slow convoy was a warning shot about what could happen in the future, with farmers needing to stand up for themselves. Protesters received support from members of the public, who turned out in their dozens to brave the cold and cheer them on. Other planned tractor protests at supermarkets have been scheduled by other groups next week, while the National Farmers Union plans a day of action, particularly targeting Labour seats, later this month. 02:46 PM GMT Thanks for following Thats it for todays coverage of the farmers protests. Thanks for joining. 02:18 PM GMT IHT tax is a land grab Phillip Weston, 39, who organised the go-slow convoy at a food distribution centre in Northampton, labelled Labours inheritance tax raid as a land grab. The fifth generation arable farmer, whose family have been on the site since 1820, said: This is purely a land grab situation in order to build housing. That is the long term goal of the Government. Unfortunately it is about a land grab and a green-planning agenda. He also criticised the Government for spending more money on foreign farms while not supporting their own. We have got a Government that cannot bring itself to admit they got it wrong, he added. Its very scary times. 02:10 PM GMT Blood will boil if we are not listened to, say organisers Sue Flower, who helped organise todays Derbyshire protests, warned things would escalate if the Labour government continued to refuse to meet with farmers unions. I think they have got a narrative not to engage with us, the 63-year-old dairy farmer said. For too long we have been pushed from one thing to another - from pillar to post. She said she couldnt remember the last time a Government got behind its farming. If they do not engage with us soon, there is going to be blood boiling over, she continued. Thats going to be hard to contain and it will escalate. We dont want to, but we will have to hit hard. It might be the docks, it might be in London - its going to be disruptive. They say farmers cant strike but well see if they dont engage with us - well see. 01:53 PM GMT In pictures: Protesting farmers take to the road A pair of tractors take up both lanes of the A303 in Hampshire - Jamie Lorriman Farmers are cheered on by supportive members of the public - Jamie Lorriman View from a tractor - showing the Morrisons van being held up in Cheshire - Jacob Freedland 01:43 PM GMT IHT will deprive Britons of fresh, local produce Adam Brown, a 37-year-old dairy farmer in Cheshire, warned the tax raid will put smaller farms out of business. As a result, the father-of-one said consumers will be deprived of fresh, local produce, Jacob Freedland reports. [Supermarkets] are going to have to be buying in, he said. Therell be nothing thats local and fresh. You can import food, but thats going to come at a cost and you dont know what youre buying in half the time. Charlie Frith, 24, a fifth generation dairy farmer, explained: Itll only be the massive farms that will be able to afford land prices here. 01:21 PM GMT Supporters brave the cold to back farmers Ian Sharratt, 73, an arable and sheep farmer from the Hampshire village of Barton Stacey said of the inheritance tax: It is not good is it, it is just not good, markets are down. On Sir Keir, he said: Not so good is it, nothing is doing, nothing is happening. Everything is against us at the moment. Mr Sharratt is one of approximately two dozen supporters who are braving the bitingly cold temperatures on a bridge above the A303 to support the slow drive, Max Stephens reports. Dave Griffin, 73, a semi retired business owner who runs a chimney sweep company, said: I heard they were coming down, I think it is a good cause, to give them some support. They are having some hard times. Terry Dewey, an 81-year-old part time pall bearer and former tractor salesman from the same village, said: It is such a shame this is happening, it is terrible. They [farmers] work seven days a week, 24 hours, they hardly ever go on holiday. Shame this has happened, dare I say with the Labour government. It is great to see the guys pulling together, they are doing it in a sensible way, they will. Provided nothing silly happens, they will get the countrys support. Supporters were out in force above the A303 despite the cold - Jamie Lorriman 01:02 PM GMT Northampton protest is a warning shot Phillip Weston, 39, has helped organise a go-slow convoy around a local centre that covers most of the midlands food distribution for a couple of mainstream supermarkets. The arable farmer said it would provide an insight into the future impact of supermarkets not being able to supply the public. It is to bring awareness when the lorries stop delivering out of these places, the food doesnt reach the shelves, he said. That is a sign of things to come when food doesnt reach the centres from us - its a warning shot. He said none of the dozens of farmers there wanted to be, but felt they had to stand up for themselves. 12:42 PM GMT Farmers call for death tax to be abolished In Hampshire, the convoy is slowly making its way along the A303, Max Stephens reports. Some tractors are flying Union Jack flags from their vehicles, while others are displaying anti-Labour posters and placards. One poster on the side of a tractor reads Strong Together, British Farming Forever. Another tractor had a fake coffin hoisted on the back of the vehicle with the words underneath RIP farmers Abolish the Death Tax. Therese Pitt, a local supporter from Thruxton, who is waiting on top of a bridge for the convoy, said: British food for British people and that needs British farmers. I want as many farmers as possible, big farmers and small farmers. We should be self sufficient. I do not think humanity has covered itself in glory. On Sir Keir, she added: I would not vote for him. Tractors make their way along the A303 in Andover, Hampshire 12:31 PM GMT Morrisons staff take pictures of protesting tractors Morrisons security staff are taking pictures of the tractors involved in the go-slow protest, writes Jacob Freedland. Staff guarding the entrance to the Gadbrook Logistics centre off the A530 were also overheard saying: Theres nothing we can do. Theyre not stopping so its not illegal. One security officer said the situation was improving, with lorries able to enter and exit the centre more easily than at the beginning of the slow drive. The supermarket has been contacted for comment. 12:23 PM GMT Watch: Farmers take to the road in Berkshire 12:20 PM GMT Farmer wont be able pass farm onto his daughters A father-of-two whose dairy farm has been in the family for over 60 years has said he wont be able to pass the business down to his daughters if Labours tax raid goes ahead, Jacob Freedland writes. Ryan Brown, 31, said: It would be nice if they could come into the business, but the way things are going its not going to be possible. My grandma bought the farm in 1961 and weve grown it into a family farm. Theres 19 of us that work here. But if the tax goes ahead, its going to put a lot of these people out of a job. 12:11 PM GMT Pictured: Farmers leave Thruxton Race Circuit, Hampshire Farmers in Hampshire have been met with support in Fridays protest - Andrew Matthews/PA Wire 11:58 AM GMT Tax change will cripple farming Tom Trueman is an eighth generation farmer, whose beef and lamb farm in Buckfastleigh, Devon, has been in the family for 360 years. The 41-year-old has helped coordinates protest efforts in Devon, where dozens of tractors will be travelling in opposite directions up and down the A38 in another go-slow drive. Our message is to reverse this inheritance tax, he said. It is going to cripple farming and other industries. What Labour did was very sneaky with the 50 per cent relief because farmers profit margins are so slim. Theyre trying to force farmland to national ownership or sell it on to private companies. The protest on the A38 - which goes down to a single carriageway in some places - is set to last up to three hours and will see tractors limited to 15mph (24 kilometres per hour). 11:43 AM GMT Locals show farmers in Hampshire support We are currently on an icy bridge overlooking the A303 waiting for the convoy of tractors to appear, Max Stephens reports. A steady stream of appreciative honks can be heard from lorry drivers and motorists passing underneath in solidarity with the protest. The series of bridges lining the A303 is peppered with those sympathetic to the cause, including a group of Reform supporters. Nigel Farage, the party leader, has been a common sight in previous Westminster rallies. Sausage rolls are being handed out by organisers to families, friends and supporters who are turning out on bridges in support of the slow drive. 11:36 AM GMT Derbyshire farmers arent going to sit back Sue Flower is organising a group of up to 50 tractors in another go-slow drive through the High Peak towns of Derbyshire. The dairy farmer said Labours IHT raid had pushed farmers over the edge but that the peaceful protest was needed to show the groups feeling. Mrs Flower, 63, said: We want to get a message to Labour, we arent going to sit back. They wont engage with us. We will carry on trying to reach out to get listened to. She added: They have got it wrong, theyve got it so, so wrong. Agriculture is the only industry weve got left that isnt foreign owned - we need to save it. 11:28 AM GMT IHT will destroy farming Marie Dyke, 60, and Susan Cooper, 79, are among a number of local supporters who have turned out for the rally, writes Max Stephens. Ms Dyke, who watched as the convoy left the race circuit and trundled towards the dual carriageway said of Sir Keir Starmers administration: I have not spoken to one person who is happy with them. They are not like a Labour Party, the Labour Party is for the people. People think farmers are well off. [The tax] will destroy farming if they do that. Most people I speak to feel the same way. Ms Cooper, who also attended the recent rallies in Westminster with Ms Dyke added: I am not happy with them. A trailer is emblazoned with a banner depicting views on the Prime Minister for his Governments IHT raid - Jamie Lorriman 11:13 AM GMT Hampshire farmers setting off The convoy are now leaving Thruxton Race Course and are setting off on their slow drive along the A303, writes Max Stephens. The farmers jovially beeped their horns towards a small throng of supporters as they passed through the gates. Farmers rise against Labour Lies, read one poster adorning the front of a tractor. Back British Farming and the Farmers Will Back You, read another. Kurt Morton, addressing the group with a megaphone before their departure, said: I know we are going to upset a couple of people but were not here for them, were here for us. He reminded farmers to pull over to the left in case police cars or ambulances needed to get past. The convoy will travel along the A303 towards Basingstoke at a speed of approximately 10 mph (17 kilometres per hour). Protesting farmers before they embark on their go-slow drive 11:07 AM GMT Support for Cheshire protest Motorists appear to be supportive of the farmers protest despite the slowed traffic, Jacob Freedland writes. Drivers have flashed lights and honked horns as gestures of support. One driver of a Morrisons vehicle - who had been slowed by the farmers convoy - even gave a thumbs up to one of the tractors involved in the protest. Adam Brown, 37-year-old dairy farmer, said: Its good to see the support were getting from the general public. Were not trying to target them. Id like to think most of them agree with us. The country needs farms, not just for food but to protect the environment. A Morrisons lorry is held up by farmers in their tractors - Jacob Freedland 10:54 AM GMT Ministers are totally disconnected from farmers Chris Marchment said his farm, which has been in his family for 100 years, is now facing a 650,000 tax bill from Labours tax reforms, writes Max Stephens. The father-of-two and fifth generation arable farmer, who runs Foxcotte Farm about a mile away from the Hampshire rally, said: Nothing is off the table. We will fight this the whole way. He said ministers in Westminster were totally disconnected from the difficulties the nations farmers are facing and added: It brings me to tears. Paul Barret, a Reform UK candidate for Romsey and former paratrooper, who has turned up in support for the farmers, said: I come from a farming background. It is not only farmers who are being hurt by the inheritance tax but local businesses. They work hard and feed the nation. Asked if he had a message for Sir Keir Starmer, he said: Step down and call a general election. Mr Barrett, who is enjoying a warm reception among the farmers, said he intends to meet with a group of Reform supporters on a bridge overlooking the A303 as the tractors slowly rumble along underneath. A livestock trailer with the words Axe The Tax emblazoned on the side has turned up alongside the host of tractors. 10:49 AM GMT Convoy of tractors roll out in Cheshire Around 50 farmers and 40 tractors have started a go-slow protest in Northwich, Cheshire, Jacob Freedland writes. They are planning to disrupt trucks distributing goods from a Morrisons centre by driving slowly for three hours along the A530. Stewart Whitlow, who works for a machinery dealership and is leading the group, said: Farmers simply cant afford this hit because they dont get paid enough. Were trying to prove the necessity of the agriculture sector, that farmers are the ones putting food on the table. This is just the start. Its going to get bigger and bigger. A farmer calls on the public to Back British Farming with the sign on his tractor during the Cheshire rally 10:44 AM GMT Farmers congregate in Hampshire for protest Around a hundred farmers and 80 tractors have assembled at Thruxton Race Course in Hampshire, writes Max Stephens. The farmers intend a three hour long slow protest drive along the A303. Kurt Morton, an arable farmer and representative for the group, said: We do not want to come out and do this but it is last resort. The public are behind us they are fed up with being left out of pocket. We are not out to hurt anybody. We are not militant people, we are not like the French but we cannot carry on like this. We are still being paid what we were being paid 30 years ago. Farmers arrive at Thruxton Race Circuit, Hampshire, with protest signs attached to their tractors - Jamie Lorriman 10:30 AM GMT What is expected today? Dozens of local groups are planning go-slow tractor drives through towns, villages and main roads, with some targeting retail distribution centres. Centres in Cheshire and Northampton are likely to be impacted. Those coordinating the efforts have dubbed them a warning shot to show the impact of a future without farming. Protests are also planned in Dorset, Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, with things set to kick off at 10.30am. Organisers have warned action could ramp up in following weeks if the Government continue to refuse to engage. 10:28 AM GMT Why are farmers protesting? Hundreds of farmers are today protesting in what is the latest move against Labours inheritance tax raid. Under the changes implemented by Rachel Reeves in last years Budget, farms worth more than 1 million will be subject to a 20 per cent levy, half the usual inheritance tax rate. The new rules are set to come into force from April 2026. However, rural groups have argued that the 1million threshold will hit the majority of working family farms, which are asset-rich but cash-poor, instead of targeting wealthy landowners seeking to avoid inheritance tax. This has sparked several high profile rallies in London and elsewhere across the UK. Today marks the first coordinated protest of 2025 as farmers push for the Government to scrap the policy. Dozens of protesting farmers congregate in Hampshire on Friday morning - Andrew Matthews/PA Wire 10:27 AM GMT Welcome to the blog Good morning and welcome to our coverage of todays protests against Labours inheritance tax raid. German federal election poll tracker: who will take over from Scholz? When is the 2025 German election? The fragile three-way coalition in the Bundestag has shattered. Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, has lost a vote of confidence and Germany is hurtling towards a snap federal election on February 23 more than six months ahead of schedule. So who is tipped to come out on top? The rise of the AfD Back in November, a bitter dispute over how to balance the budget for 2025 ended in Mr Scholz dismissing Christian Lindner, his finance minister and the head of the Free Democrats (FDP). This sparked the collapse of the centre-Left traffic-light alliance between Mr Scholzs Social Democrats (SPD), the FDP and the Greens after three unsteady years in power. Alice Weidel (AfD), Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU), Olaf Scholz (SPD), Robert Habeck (Greens) While no single party is likely to come away with a majority, the centre-Right Christian Democrats (CDU) and its regional sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) are in the best position to lead a governing coalition. Despite consistently polling in second place for the past 18 months, the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) under Alice Weidel has little prospect of entering government as all major parties have ruled out co-operating with the party. What options does the CDU/CSU have? The rules of the Bundestag dictate any party that fails to achieve a 5 per cent national vote share is not awarded any seats. Recent averages from a range of German pollsters indicate this would knock the BSW, FDP and Die Linke, a hard-Left party, out of the race and their would-be seats redistributed proportionally to the other parties. This makes a coalition between the CDU/CSU and the SDP likely to be a necessity in order to cross the 50 per cent threshold. The Greens may also need to be part of the fold. Scholzs downfall Despite Mr Scholzs dismal approval ratings recently making him the least popular leader of a major democracy in the world, with 73 per cent disapproving of his policies according to the Morning Consult Institute he remains the SPDs candidate. Buoyed by his handling of the pandemic as Angela Merkels pragmatic finance minister, his chancellorship was beset by his apparent indecisiveness over weapons deliveries to Ukraine, ineffective handling of the energy crisis and squabbling with his fellow coalition leaders. Losing Decembers vote of confidence paved the way for Mr Sholz to call a federal election earlier than September, as planned. Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old leader of the CDU, is the clear favourite to succeed him as chancellor. Regional predictions With less than two weeks to go before the vote, pollster YouGov revealed new seat-level predictions an MRP of the kind now familiar in UK general elections. The CDU/CSU is forecasted to win the most seats in the Bundestag with 207. The AfD becomes the second-most powerful faction with 142, a gain of 59 seats on their 2021 result. The Cold War divides re-emergence is starker than ever: the CDU/CSU is dominant in most western German states, all those where the AfD comes top being in the east. Even the map of Berlin doesnt deviate from this cleavage. Die Linke, a key player in the current coalition, is set to receive the most first votes in the Berlin-Treptow-Kopenick constituency and one other alone. With these seat predictions based on localised voting intention and so subject to uncertainty a grand two-party coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD is likely to have the most secure majority with 316 seats, while a CDU/CSU alliance with the Greens may yield closer to 300. How did we get the data? Our data was retrieved from wahlrecht.de, a German poll aggregator which tracks the survey responses of 8 major pollsters. These include YouGov familiar to us here in the UK as well as Allensbach, Forsa and INSA. In each case, respondents were asked which party they would cast a ballot for if a federal election were held the upcoming Sunday. The trendline displayed is the outcome of a local regression, with individual poll results weighted by sample size. How accurate are the polls? Every poll comes with a measure of uncertainty. Although all pollsters strive to interrogate a representative sample, a margin of error is unavoidable. In practice, the true position of a particular poll is likely to fall within 2 points of the quoted figure. Studies have shown that an aggregated poll of polls helps mitigate the potential biases emerging from individual pollsters. Labour unveiled its Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill which includes measures aimed at safeguarding children - SolStock The Government has been accused of misleading the public over its proposed school reforms in a statement issued by the Department for Education (DfE) to The Telegraph. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, has written to Susan Acland-Hood, the permanent secretary at the DfE, over allegedly incorrect claims about ministers plans for schools, The Telegraph can reveal. She warned it risked breaching impartiality rules and urged the DfE to protect itself from accusations of political spin. Labour unveiled its Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill last month, which includes a broad package of measures aimed at safeguarding children and reforming the education system in England. It includes changes that would significantly curb academy freedoms, ending their right to set their own pay and conditions for staff and forcing them to follow the national curriculum for the first time. Kemi Badenoch (pictured middle) said the reforms would effectively kill off academies - Eddie Mulholland Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, criticised the reforms in an interview with The Telegraph on Thursday and said they would effectively kill off academies. In response, the DfE issued a statement insisting Mrs Badenochs claims about academies were not true and that far from getting rid of them, we want to share that best practice and make sure that all schools can benefit from the flexibilities they have. Ms Trott has now formally complained that the DfEs statement was simply not true and urged the department to retract and correct it at the earliest opportunity. The shadow education secretary said it was misleading for the Government to claim that its education reforms would mean all schools can benefit from the flexibilities that academies enjoy. She suggested the Bill did almost entirely the opposite by taking away flexibilities from academies. The Government has previously said that under the Bill, local authority maintained schools will be able to set flexible working arrangements like academies currently can but that appears to be the extent of plans to spread their practice. Academies also currently enjoy other freedoms including more personalised salaries and employing educators who are not necessarily teachers, for instance, retired academics or experts in their field. Under the proposed bill, it is not clear if this will be allowed to continue. Susan Acland-Hood (pictured) has received a letter from Laura Trott over allegedly incorrect claims In the letter to Ms Acland-Hood sent on Thursday, Ms Trott said: I am writing regarding an inaccurate and misleading line concerning the Governments Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill that was issued by the Department for Educations press office to The Telegraph. As you will know, this Bill is unambiguous on its approach to taking away flexibilities from academies. The Departments own policy summary of the Bill, published on the Governments website, on 18 December 2024, states [that] clearly. Both the line issued by the Departments press office and the summary of the Bill published by the Department cannot be true. The shadow education secretary warned the DfEs most senior civil servant failure to correct the record risked the department being accused of political spin. Political spin I am writing to you to urge you to protect the impartiality of the Department for Education and to ask... that you ensure that misleading statements surrounding the impact this Bill will have are not actively perpetuated by the Department for Education, she said. This is vital to ensure the civil service is protected from accusations of political spin, but more importantly, it will help ensure that parents have an accurate understanding of the truth about the future of their childrens education. Neil OBrien, the shadow education minister, said: As leading teachers across the country are pointing out, this Bill doesnt give freedoms to other schools as ministers claimed, it just takes them away from academies. It is a disastrous piece of left wing legislation which undoes the best reforms of the Blair years. When brilliant head teachers and even Labour MPs are saying this is a mistake, it is time for the Government to rethink this. Just days ago, the Treasury was accused of breaching impartiality for saying in social media adverts that VAT on private school fees ends a tax break. The comment echoed language used by ministers to defend the policy, which came into force on January 1. Education has not previously been taxed in the UK. The Treasury responded by saying that this, plus the business rates relief for charitable schools in England which is due to end in April, were by definition tax breaks. Neil OBrien said this Bill doesnt give freedoms to other schools as ministers claimed - Jamie Lorriman It comes amid growing backlash over the Governments planned changes for schools in England. Academy trust leaders have said they see no reason for the proposed reforms, claiming they could harm education standards by significantly limiting their freedoms and may result in pay cuts. Sir Jon Coles, the head of United Learning, told The Times people are struggling to understand what the Governments approach to improvement will be and so why these changes will help to improve schools. Mrs Badenoch told The Telegraph it showed that Britain is back under union control. The four main teaching unions have previously called for the implementation of a national pay structure across all state schools. One academy trust leader told The Telegraph that the proposed academy reforms have got the NEU [National Education Union] written all over it. Serious concerns Labour has also faced criticism over the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill within the party. Dame Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP for Mitcham & Morden, said in a debate on the Bill earlier this week that she had serious concerns over the Governments plans to remove freedoms for academies. Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, insisted the Bill will not cut teachers pay and would instead restore academies to their core [and] intended purpose of driving up standards for the most disadvantaged children. Speaking during the debate on Wednesday, she added that high-quality state education should be the right of all children and that the reforms would tackle an education system that is too fragmented. If we believe that every child deserves the best, that every classroom deserves a top teacher, that every state school must be a great school then we cant have excellence for some children and just fine, just OK for the rest, she said. We need all schools working together to deliver a national, high-quality core offer for all children with the flexibility to innovate beyond that. A Department for Education spokesman said: The Government has not misled the public. We have been clear this Government supports academies and they are here to stay. We want all schools to deliver a core offer for all children, and to have the flexibility to innovate beyond that. Upset little girl hides her face in her hands and feels lonely. Child being punished for abuse Grooming gangs are behind almost two child sexual abuse offences a day reported to police, the first analysis of its kind has revealed. Data from all 43 forces in England and Wales show there were 717 child sexual exploitation grooming crimes recorded by police in 2023 and 572 in the first nine months of 2024. The figures were revealed through the first national police scheme to collect and analyse police-recorded group-based child sexual abuse, including the ethnic background of perpetrators. The Hydrant Programme was set up by police after criticism by Alexis Jays Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse of the widespread failure to collect good quality data on the abusers, victims and the offences. Her 2022 report warned that failure to provide accurate data had contributed to a one-sided and often uninformed debate about the ethnic backgrounds of perpetrators and hampered the pursuit of offenders and support for victims. Fury over grooming gangs has reignited in recent weeks after Labour blocked an inquiry into the scandal. Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, was head of the Crown Prosecution Service at the height of the scandal in Oldham, Greater Manchester. He has come under fire for his partys refusal to back a national inquiry into grooming gangs. Sir Keir Starmer was the director of public prosecutions at the height of the scandal - Lewis Whyld/PA The analysis shows that group-based offending defined as involving two or more individuals accounted for 4,228 offences, or 3.7 per cent of all 115,489 child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes, including those online, in 2023. Of these 4,228, 17 per cent or 717 were grooming gang cases involving child sexual exploitation. Cases where two or more people within a family were abusing children accounted for 26 per cent of the group-based offences. Investigators have also uncovered a significant proportion of other cases, which includes child sexual abuse committed by other children a phenomenon that police believe has been fuelled by pornography on the internet and growing online lifestyles of young people. The majority of perpetrators 83 per cent were white, while some 7 per cent were defined as Asian, 5 per cent as black and 3 per cent as mixed race. Police admitted the breakdown was limited and had to be treated with caution. The breakdown only covered 34 per cent of suspects because ethnicity can only be recorded once they have been interviewed by police and confirmed their ethnic background. Richard Fewkes, the director of the Hydrant Programme, said the data suggested the profile of offenders reflected the overall ethnic mix of the UK population. He told The Telegraph: In very general terms, what we see across all group based offending is that no particular ethnicity stands out based on population data. Mr Fewkes said police forces accepted that they had allowed cultural sensitivities in the past to impede investigations but he said it was absolutely not the case now. He added: Our point is that wherever a child is at threat, wherever a child has been abused, that response should be robust right the way across the board, whoevers committed it, whatever colour their skin, whatever religion they are, the policing response should be robust. Historically, police forces and prosecutors often failed to take action against groomers, who have been primarily of British-Pakistani origin, amid fears they would be branded racist or Islamophobic. Sir Keir addressed this failing in 2012 when he was the director of public prosecutions, saying: In a number of cases presented to us, particularly in cases involving groups, theres clearly an issue of ethnicity that has to be understood and addressed. As prosecutors we shouldnt shy away from that. Gangs focus could have negative impact on victims Mr Fewkes warned the focus on grooming gangs which accounted for a minority of offences even within group-based child sexual abuse could have a negative impact on victims of other types of offending who might be deterred from coming forward. He said: We hear it directly from victims and survivors. Because if, lets say, you are a victim of child sexual abuse within a family setting, which is our biggest threat, and you hear the narrative and the priority pushed by statutory agencies, and its focus is in one particular area, that has the impact of you thinking, Well, Im probably not going to be listened to because Im not a priority. He also warned that unbalanced mass media coverage was triggering memories for many victims because it is in essence bringing back to the fore their trauma from the abuse. Earlier this week, Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, opened the door to a specific inquiry on child grooming should victims want one, saying nothing is off the table. It emerged a week ago that Ms Phillips had refused to back an inquiry into abuse in Oldham, prompting Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, to call for a national inquiry. On Wednesday, MPs voted by 364 to 111 against the demand, fuelling accusations from the Tories that Sir Keir had committed an act of cowardice. Patients at a Nairobi psychiatric centre. Campaigners say the ruling goes a long way in raising awareness, fighting stigma and discrimination. Photograph: Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images A Kenyan judge has declared as unconstitutional sections of the countrys laws that criminalise attempted suicide. In a landmark ruling on Thursday, Judge Lawrence Mugambi of the countrys high court stated that section 226 of the penal code contradicts the constitution by punishing those with mental health issues over which they may have little or no control. While the constitution says in article 43 that a person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, criminal law states that any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and is subject to imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both, with the minimum age of prosecution for the offence set at eight years old. It is my finding that applying the purpose and effect principle of constitutional interpretation, section 226 of the penal code offends article 27 of the constitution by criminalising a mental health issue thereby endorsing discrimination on the basis of health, which is unconstitutional. It also indignifies and disgraces victims of suicide ideation in the eyes of the community for actions that are beyond their mental control, Mugambi ruled. The ruling came after a court petition by, among others, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Kenya Psychiatric Association, in which they contended that the main factors driving up suicide cases include undiagnosed and untreated mental health conditions as well as mental disabilities which result in suicidal thoughts that may lead to attempted suicide by persons affected. Todays judgment is a rallying call for an open and candid conversation among individuals, communities, organisations and the government, and it goes a long way in raising awareness, fighting stigma and discrimination, KNCHR said in a statement, urging communities and families to provide safe spaces where individuals affected by mental health challenges can share their experiences and seek support without fear of stigma or discrimination. Human rights groups and medical practitioners in Kenya have failed in the past to have attempted suicide decriminalised, stating that such persons require specialised medical attention. In March 2024, officials from Kenyas leading mental health hospital urged parliament to consider repealing the offending law to shift perceptions and stigma. Related: How a brothers illness spurred a plan to get mental health on the agenda across Africa Dr Julius Ogato, chief executive officer at Mathari national teaching and referral hospital, said: Just as diabetes results from a lack of insulin in the body, mental illness involves an imbalance of chemical transmitters in the brain. There is a biological basis for such thoughts. When someone exhibits these thoughts, they require empathy and much-needed support to access treatment. While admitting that data on suicide is hard to come by due to the fragmented nature of reporting systems, Kenyas health ministrys Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026 says the country has an age standardised suicide rate of 11.0 per 100,000 population, which translates to about four suicide deaths per day. The World Health Organization says more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year with over 70% of cases taking place in low- and middle-income countries. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Police are investigating if the Kenneth fire was started deliberately A homeless man suspected of attempting to start a fire with a flamethrower was bundled to the ground and zip-tied by Angelenos as wildfires continued to spread. Residents in the West Hills region of the city performed the citizens arrest after reportedly witnessing the man brandishing a large propane tank or flamethrower on Thursday. We really banded together as a group, Renata Grinshpun told KLTA 5 TV channel. A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. Dominic Choi, LA polices assistant chief, said on Friday that the suspect was interviewed but authorities deemed that there was not enough probable cause to charge the man. However, the suspect was arrested on a felony probation violation and the investigation remains ongoing. The intervention from the public came soon after and near to where the Kenneth fire broke out on Thursday afternoon. Fire crews battled to extinguish the Kenneth Fire on Thursday - Ethan Swope/AP What we know right now is that the incident occurred here and about 20-30 minutes later, a suspect was detained by citizens, Sean Dinse, from the Los Angeles Police Departments Topanga Division, told US media, adding that the man was arrested five miles from where the fire is believed to have started. When asked whether the Kenneth fire was started deliberately, Mr Dinse said: At this time, thats what we believe. Its being investigated as a crime. Witnesses said the man was riding a bicycle and trying to set fire to garbage cans and discarded Christmas trees, a Los Angeles Fox affiliate said. It was then that the concerned residents saw the man and chased him down. Fire crews battle to extinguish blaze suspected to have been started deliberately - Ethan Swope/AP Ms Grinshpun told KTLA: We were sitting in the backyard and suddenly, we hear a car come to a screeching halt, and the guy is running out saying, Stop! Drop what youre holding! Neighbours, hes trying to start a fire! Call 911! He was very, like, I cant stop. I cant stop. Im not putting this down. Im doing this, another witness said, according to the station. And very focused on moving forward with the blow torch. And were like, We cant be doing that right now. Ms Grinshpun said the locals all banded together as a group. She said: A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. They got some zip ties, a rope, and we were able to do a citizens arrest. The incident occurred around five miles from the start of the Kenneth fire. By 7pm on Friday, the fire had burned through more than 1,000 acres and had reached 35 per cent containment. The fires started on Tuesday morning when a small bush fire started up on the ridgeline of the Santa Monica Mountains, which border the Palisades on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Within minutes the fire had rapidly progressed to another ridgeline, with large flames and plumes visible from the nearby residential neighbourhoods. Self-ordered evacuations rapidly began even before Californias fire department had put out a statement with hundreds of residents fleeing in cars, causing traffic chaos on Sunset Boulevard. Within hours the fire had spread dramatically. Some 1,200 acres were burning by the evening and 16,000 by the morning. To put this into perspective, this is around the same size as the city of Wolverhampton. The problem for firefighters already facing the prospect of waterless fire hydrants was that another fire had broken out just hours later. The fire in Pasadena, known as the Eaton fire, popped up at around 6pm on Tuesday and rapidly tore through hundreds of acres in north Los Angeles, around 30 miles from the original blaze. The Hurst fire, a separate third, smaller blaze also started on Tuesday. The wildfires began on Tuesday and have been raging through large parts of Los Angeles - Ethan Swope/AP Both the Palisades and Eaton fires grew exponentially within hours of beginning, thanks to strong Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation in the midst of a drought. Santa Ana windstorms happen regularly in southern California but the winds are stronger than usual, reaching up to 100mph. High pressure systems form over the deserts of the Great Basin. This pressure circulates clockwise, pushing winds toward the coast. As they move towards the coast, winds pick up speed and the air gets hotter and drier. All of a sudden, dry, hot air is speeding towards the coast. 2023 saw a lot of rain in parts of California, creating the conditions for new vegetation to grow. However, LA has experienced a dry spell in recent months and dry hot air meeting dry vegetation creates tinderbox conditions. The combination of hot air and dry land contributed to the rapid spread of the fires. By Wednesday morning, four separate fires were burning. Later that evening, 17,000 acres of land had been scorched in the Palisades fire and nearly 14,000 in the Eaton fire. Three smaller fires Lidia, Sunset and Woodley had also begun. It was already one of the most destructive in LAs history. Livelihoods were lost in an instant and thousands of homes belonging to celebrities and regular residents alike were destroyed. More than 100,000 residents, powerless to the flames engulfing their homes, had fled. What was left were biblical, apocalyptic scenes. The two major fires, Eaton and Palisades, remained 0 per cent contained by Thursday morning. It was not clear just how vast the devastation was going to be. So far, none of the wildfires have been declared under control - Ethan Swope/AP Famous Hollywood landmarks were now also at risk as flames spread through the Hollywood hills, near the Walk of Fame. As anger started to mount with the states authorities, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, said he expected firefighters to make a lot of progress on Friday. Local leaders have faced sharp criticism for their handling of the fires, some of it coming from Right-wing sources. Mr Newsom said: Weve got to deal with this misinformation. People want to divide this country and were going to have to address this as well. Elon Musk has used X to launch a barrage of attacks on the Government and politicians over the grooming gangs scandal - ALLISON ROBBERT Elon Musks tweets are being assessed by the Governments counter-extremism unit, it has emerged. The Home Office unit has stepped up social media monitoring in the wake of the controversy over grooming gangs focusing on accounts with large followings such as those of the tech billionaire. Mr Musk, the owner of X, has been using the platform to launch a barrage of attacks on the Government and politicians over the grooming gangs scandal. They have included Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister who earlier this week said she felt Mr Musk was endangering her after labelling her a rape genocide apologist and calling for her to be jailed. On Tuesday, police disclosed that they had charged a man from Devon with sending malicious communications to Ms Phillips. She has reportedly been assigned close protection officers and advised not to go out in public alone following the increased threats to her safety. Mr Musks X post towards Jess Phillips which she said had endangered her The Home Offices counter-extremism unit sits within the Homeland Security Group, whose mission is to reduce national security risks to the UKs people, prosperity and freedoms. It focuses on the highest harm risks to the homeland, whether from terrorists, state actors, or cyber and economic criminals, according to the official government website. Mr Musk began his barrage of tweets after the Government rejected a call for a new national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. Sir Keir Starmer said victims needed action not more costly inquiries. He also criticised those who are spreading lies and misinformation and said the billionaire had crossed a line after his abuse led to Ms Phillips receiving serious threats. The move by the unit was first reported by the Daily Mirror. We keep a close eye on how disinformation and hate can proliferate, including online, a Government source told the newspaper. A Home Office source said it could neither confirm nor deny the move. On Thursday, it was reported that Mr Musk was looking at ways to replace Sir Keir as Prime Minister. Sources told the Financial Times Mr Musk believed that western civilisation itself is threatened and is examining how he can destabilise the Labour Government beyond his aggressive X posts. Credit: BBC / Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg According to the Governments latest definition, extremism is 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 or to undermine, overturn or replace the UKs system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights. It can also include action that intentionally creates an environment for others to achieve the former two options. John Woodcock, the Governments adviser on political violence and disruption, said: Britains democracy isnt a plaything for foreign billionaires Elon Musk needs to back off and concentrate on his rockets and his cars or whatever he wants to obsess about next. Our electoral laws rightly forbid foreign donations and my recent review warns against our information channels being deliberately manipulated from abroad. We should be watching closely to ensure that doesnt happen here. Doug Ford: Every time he comes out, [Trump] moves the goalposts. So thats thats concerning. Photograph: Cole Burston/Reuters The United States will feel pain if Donald Trump doesnt back down from his threat to impose steep tariffs on its northern neighbour, the leader of Canadas most populous province has warned. After a tumultuous week that left Canadian leaders flailing for a coherent national response to Trumps provocations including the suggestion that the US would annex its closest ally the Ontario premier, Doug Ford, told the Guardian: We will never be for sale. Ford described the escalating rhetoric from the incoming US administration as very concerning, saying that it had already clouded a trade relationship worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Related: What are tariffs and why is Trump levying them on Canada, Mexico and China? I know the American people do not agree with this. I know the top CEOs of the largest companies in the world disagree with what hes doing, he said. And our goal is to just to keep that message up as much as we can: this harms everyone. At a rambling press conference on Tuesday in which the US president-elect also weighed in on washing machines and water pressure Trump mulled using economic force to establish a union between Canada and the US, describing the shared border, established more than 230 years ago, as an artificially drawn line. Canada and the United States: that would be really something, Trump said, adding that he was getting frustrated over providing subsidies for Canada. Weve been good neighbours, but we cant do it forever, and its a tremendous amount of money, Trump said. Canadas outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau retorted: There isnt a snowballs chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States, while the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said the country will never be the 51st state. Period. But the threat has nonetheless stirred up domestic handwringing and finger-pointing amid accusations that federal political parties have weakened Canadian identity. Ford, who oversees Ontarios C$1.1tn economy, called Trumps threat of annexation very concerning and said the confusing and shapeless nature of the demands from Trump made it difficult to negotiate. During his first term, Trump briefly used tariffs against China and allies including Mexico and Canada as a negotiating tactic to achieve new trade deals. In November, Trump revived the policy in a social media post threatening to apply punishing levies of 25% on all goods and services from Mexico and Canada, and to keep them in place until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country. Canadas federal and provincial governments have pledged vast sums of money and resources to address US concerns. In December, Ottawa suggested it will spend C$1.3bn on border security upgrades, including helicopters and drones. Provinces have also taken matters into their own hands: Alberta announced it would send a police force to the border to increase patrols. But Trump has shown little interest in walking back his demands. Every time he comes out, [Trump] moves the goalposts. So thats concerning, but were going to throw everything and the kitchen sink at this. We dont want to retaliate. We really dont. But if it comes down to it, [the Americans] are going to feel pain. Earlier this week, Ford appeared on Fox News as part of a media push in the United States, appealing to viewers and the president to rethink the idea of annexing Canada. Ontario is also spending millions of dollars on an advertising blitz to remind Americans of the deeply enmeshed supply chains of the two countries. Ford previously described Trumps tariff threat as being like a family member stabbing you right in the heart and has suggested Ontario could retaliate by cutting off electricity exports to the US, or freezing alcohol purchases by the provinces liquor control board the largest buyer in the world. In 2018, Canada applied retaliatory tariffs to specific US products, similar to a European Union scheme that targeted US brands including Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Levis jeans. Related: Trump considers declaring national economic emergency to impose tariffs It sounds a little crazy, but targeting bourbon really changed the ball game: targeting something like this can be very effective, said Ford. But he recently shifted gears away from threats and has called for more cooperation, including plans to export Ontarios nuclear power as part of a broader plan he pitched as Fortress Am-Can. The disastrous wildfires near Los Angeles reflect the importance of having allies, he said, pointing to the water bomber airplanes and 155 urban firefighters Ontario will send to California. Were just going to continue working with our closest friends and when theyre in need, were going down there, he said. When Trump announced the tariffs on social media, Ford insisted the threats should be taken seriously, denying they were merely bargaining chip veiled as a threat. When it comes to President-elect Trump, when he says something, you know he means it. And I knew this was coming, I warned everyone to be prepared, he said. We just arent too sure if he going to hold these tariffs for five to six weeks like he did before, or is it going to go on for a prolonged period of time. And that would be disastrous for both economies. Small girl head in knees Pakistanis are up to four times more likely to be responsible for child sex grooming offences reported to police than the general population, previously unreleased data suggest. Figures from all 43 forces in England and Wales show 13.7 per cent of child sexual exploitation grooming offences in the first nine months of last year involved Pakistanis. In 2023, they accounted for 6.9 per cent of the grooming crimes reported to police. This is proportionately between two and four times higher than their representation in the general population where Pakistanis account for 2.7 per cent, according to the 2021 census. The figures were revealed on Friday by the team behind the first national police scheme to collect and analyse police-recorded group-based child sexual abuse, including the ethnic background of perpetrators. The Hydrant Programme was set up by police after criticism by the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse by Alexis Jay of the widespread failure to collect good quality data on the abusers, victims and the offences. Her report warned that failure to provide accurate data had contributed to a one-sided and often uninformed debate about the ethnic backgrounds of perpetrators and hampered the pursuit of offenders and support for victims. Since then recording the ethnicity of child grooming gangs members has been a requirement for police. It comes amid a political row over Sir Keir Starmers rejection of demands by Tory MPs and US tech billionaire Elon Musk for a national inquiry into grooming gang scandals. Historically, police forces and prosecutors have failed to take action against groomers, some of whom have British-Pakistani origin, amid fears they would be branded racist or Islamophobic. In 2012, while head of the Crown Prosecution Service, Sir Keir admitted that in a number of cases presented to us there was an issue of ethnicity that has to be understood and addressed, saying that prosecutors must not shy away from that. Grooming, which is defined by police as a form of group-based child sexual exploitation, accounted for 717 offences reported to police in 2023 and 572 in the first nine months of 2024. This represents 17 per cent of group-based child sexual offences, with the biggest threats to children being abused within the family or by other children. Group-based abuse itself accounted for 4,228 offences, or 3.7 per cent of all 115,489 child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes in 2023, including online. The majority of grooming offences reported to police involved white perpetrators. They accounted for 70 per cent in 2023 and 63 per cent in the first nine months of 2024. Indians accounted for 1.6 per cent in 2023, and four per cent in 2024; Bangladeshis 1.3 per cent and 0.5 per cent; other Asians 6.3 per cent and 4.4 per cent; black Caribbean 1.1 per cent and one per cent; African 2.5 per cent and 2.2 per cent. Police chiefs stressed the breakdown was limited and had to be treated with caution as it only covered about a third of suspects because their ethnic background could only be recorded once they had been interviewed by police. They said there was more research needed to understand why there was an apparent disproportionate number of Pakistanis linked to child grooming offences. Caveats with it Richard Fewkes, director of the Hydrant Programme, accepted there were various theories, including that Pakistanis were more likely to commit such crimes, that their victims were easier to identify, or it was a statistical sampling quirk. Theres never been prevalent studies around group-based offending in the UK that goes into the depth that gives us that measurement. So this is the best picture weve got, he said. But there are caveats with it. We could have chosen to say were not coming with this because of those caveats, but actually, I think its a real public interest here. There could be other reasons as well, and that is the work we need to do around data quality, to understand that more. Rebecca Riggs, the National Police Chiefs Councils (NPCC) lead on child protection and abuse investigations, said police would always follow the evidence and address all the threats irrespective of race, ethnicity or gender. She was concerned that the political and media focus on grooming could leave those affected by other forms of group-based or other child abuse feeling that their type of crime isnt a priority and it may dissuade them from reporting the events to agencies and indeed to policing. The previous Conservative government, under Rishi Sunak, insisted that political correctness must not stop police from using suspects ethnicity as an identifying tool. Earlier this week Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister who refused Oldham councils request for a fresh inquiry into grooming gangs in the town, admitted there was a data gap on the ethnicities of such people abusing children. She said the Government was working at pace to get more information about grooming gangs, but said it needed to be looked into 100 per cent. Asked about the ethnicity point of concerns regarding cases of child sexual abuse, Ms Phillips told ITV News: One of the recommendations in the Alexis Jay review, which is absolutely something that we have already started to work on at pace... is the data gap on both victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. There is absolutely a data gap and that is 100 per cent what well need to look (at). Ms Phillips has been called a rape genocide apologist by Mr Musk over her refusal to grant a new grooming inquiry. Mr Musk, whose posts on his social media platform X reignited fury over the grooming gangs scandal, said Ms Phillips deserved to be in prison over her stance and suggested Labour was blocking an inquiry in order to protect the Prime Minister. Sir Keir has come under scrutiny for his handling of grooming gang cases while DPP. In 2012, he was forced to admit that a generation of vulnerable girls had been failed by the justice system under his watch in the CPS. Earlier in January, Simon Danczuk, a former MP for Rochdale, a town blighted by grooming gangs of primarily British-Pakistani origin, claimed that a former chairman of Labours parliamentary party had warned him that drawing attention to the ethnicity of such gangs could harm the partys electoral chances. A burnt out car in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which was leveled by one of several major wildfires terrorizing Los Angeles. Photograph: Gabrielle Canon/The Guardian In Los Angeles Pacific Palisades neighborhood, street after street is laden with carnage that tells part of the story of the ferocious firestorm that swept through the area over the last two days. Buckled trees and telephone poles are strewn across roads, their piled branches and hanging wires a testimony to the winds that whipped the flames. Intersections are flooded with water, even after the loss of water pressure hampered efforts during the harrowing firefight. Mansions lining the yellow beaches hollowed out, homes in the neighborhoods canyons reduced to dust. As the most active flank of the fire had moved beyond the community by Thursday morning, teams of firefighters worked through the day to douse spot fires in the smouldering neighborhoods where homes, businesses, schools and churches once stood. Officials said they estimated, based on aerial surveys conducted the day before, that at least 5,300 structures had been destroyed in the blaze. Though the chaos here is now quiet, the disaster is still unfolding. The buzz from planes and helicopters involved in the firefight pierces the silence that hangs over the vacated neighborhoods, otherwise only punctuated by spurting water and the chatter of small birds occupying the skeleton trees. Christmas decorations are still clinging to steps that now lead only to smoking debris and green lawns glare through a sea of black and grey. Interactive The firefighters still at work in the Palisades heavily damaged neighborhoods are hoping they can at least keep the homes left standing safe from fire that can quickly pick up again as the winds continue to blow. Related: Burned homes and rattled nerves: Altadena residents grapple with toll of deadly LA blaze Its heart wrenching, said Jacob Ruano, a firefighter who is part of a crew with the US Forest Service based near Lake Tahoe. Ruano and his team have barely taken a break from battling the fires and he described the difficulty they have faced to access areas with narrow winding roads blocked by abandoned cars, as fierce gusts fanned the flames toward them. While these battles have been difficult physically, they also take an emotional toll. In the rubble he spotted a spring toy left by a child. What if this was my house? What if this was my childhood home? he said. I have a daughter and its devastating. We at least want to secure whats already been saved. For many residents of this once vibrant village, there will be little left to return to. *** Daniel Clive McCallum knew his home would be taken by the flames when he finally made his way out of the canyon around 9pm on Tuesday. But returning Thursday by bike with bags in hand to collect any belongings that could be salvaged from the ashes, he marveled at the full scope of the devastation was on full display. If our house had stood we would still have to move. We cant raise kids in a war zone Daniel Clive McCallum McCallum and his wife moved to this neighborhood out of Topanga Canyon to start a family. They didnt want to subject their kids to fire evacuations and the terror that came with them. Now I have two kids and I have to explain to them that they cant come home, he said, staring into the footprint where their home once was. He and others have described the Palisades as a haven for families, a slice of sprawling Los Angeles that had a small-town feel. Close-knit ties were forged here, where kids could walk to schools, with shops around the corner and an abundance of events, safe places to play and areas to congregate. Now, McCallum said, his kids pediatricians office is gone. The playground is gone. The movie theater, the cafes and most of all the neighborhood is all gone. Interactive If our house had stood we would still have to move, he said. We cant raise kids in a war zone. In the final hours before he knew he had to leave, McCallum threw buckets of water at his home and moved vegetation away from it. He put one houseplant outside, thinking perhaps it would survive even if the house didnt. As he assessed whats been a complete loss even the silverware melted he picked up the pot carrying the singed plant and decided hed give it a soak. Maybe something can be salvaged yet. But for now, McCallum is just trying to process whats happened. His kids will not have their childhoods in this picturesque place, a spot he called a sanctuary. The couple in their 90s whose home up the block was among the first to burn probably will not see it rebuilt. And then there are the striking moments that colored this event. The craziest thing about 8.30 at night, there was a Christmas tree about 12 ft tall in the middle of the street and it had caught ablaze, McCallum said, recalling the moment of pause before he knew he had to leave. The wind was pushing it down the center of our street and it was the most mesmerizingly beautiful thing I had ever seen and terrifying at the same time. It was like a giant spear, lit on fire, and it just shot right down our street these are things youll never get out of your memory. Resettlement in orderly manner in quake-hit Xizang Xinhua) 09:37, January 10, 2025 Rescuers unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) LHASA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. As of 6 a.m. Thursday, 61,500 people were affected by the earthquake. So far, a total of 224 resettlement sites have been set up for 47,500 relocated residents, with their basic living needs ensured, according to a press conference on Thursday. As seasonal temperatures can fall below minus 10 degrees Celsius, a key focus has been distributing winter relief items. Among them, a total of 12,730 tents have been set up, 1,572 stoves have been installed, 3,020 electric blankets and 104 trucks of fuel have been allocated to the disaster-afflicted area, noted Hao Tao, deputy head of the regional emergency management department. "The supply of disaster relief materials is generally adequate, and the living needs of the residents are basically ensured. Local residents now can have hot meals, clean drinking water and timely medical treatment," Hao added. To support the relief efforts, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has allocated funds totaling 50 million yuan (about 6.96 million U.S. dollars) to the region. The funds were sourced from Party fees collected from CPC members and administered by the organization department on behalf of the CPC Central Committee. The department said the funds should be allocated promptly to benefit those working on the front line and those who were seriously affected by the disaster. Rescuers unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) People unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) A rescuer helps local people set up a tent in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) People set up a tent in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) People receive disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) People unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) People unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) People receive disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Houston Chronicle/Breaking News Houston Chronicle A 17-year-old is in unknown condition after he was shot by a state trooper in Humble Friday, according to reports from the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Lt. Craig Cummings with DPS said in a Friday news conference that the shooting happened after a trooper conducting a routine traffic stop identified indicators of drug activity in a vehicle driven by a woman with a male passenger. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cummings said the trooper who performed the traffic stop discovered a firearm on the male passenger during a pat-down, and reported the passenger then attempted to flee before the firearm could be confiscated. Cummings said the passenger made a furtive movement while running from the scene, which he said the trooper interpreted as reaching for his firearm. The trooper fired an unspecified number of rounds, striking the passenger in the abdomen and upper-chest area, he said. Again, this investigation is ongoing as we speak and were trying to get that done so we can get the roadway opened up, Cummings said. And we certainly want to get some answers, not only for the family here, but answers for our investigators. Cummings declined to provide details regarding the nature of the suspected drug activity, citing the ongoing investigation. Although Precinct 4 constables said the injured person was a 17-year-old boy, Cummings said DPS had yet to verify his age. He has since been transported to Kingwood Hospital, where Cummings said he is conscious and talking but declined to elaborate further on his condition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The trooper involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers, Cummings said. A DPS Trooper has been involved in an officer involved shooting at Will Clayton Parkway and Village Tower Drive in Harris County. The Public Information Officer is en route and will be there shortly for information. Updates will be provided via this platform. pic.twitter.com/RYVWgeoxM7 TxDPS - Southeast Texas Region (@TxDPSSoutheast) January 10, 2025 Law enforcement personnel are investigating the scene, and have shut down both directions of travel of the Will Clayton Parkway, according to a post made to X by Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman. The sisters, who are part of a set of triplets, were last seen on CCTV early on Tuesday morning. Photograph: Police Scotland/PA Media Police searching for two sisters who disappeared in Aberdeen three days ago are working with officers in Hungary to find them. The public have been asked to help trace Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32 and originally from Hungary, who were last seen early on Tuesday morning on CCTV cameras in the city centre. Police dogs and marine search units have been deployed in the search for the sisters, who were seen crossing Victoria Bridge, close to the citys port, and heading along the River Dee towards Aberdeen Boat Club. The women, who are part of a set of triplets, are described as white and of slim build with long, brown hair. Ch Insp Darren Bruce said: Extensive inquiries are ongoing to trace Eliza and Henrietta and searches are being carried out in and around the area where they were last seen. The Torry side of Victoria Bridge where they were last seen has many commercial and industrial units. Searches are ongoing here and we would urge businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to please review their CCTV footage for early morning on Tuesday 7 January 2025 and contact us if it holds anything that may be relevant to our investigation. We also ask anyone with dashcam footage from that time to contact us. The womens brother, Jozsef, told BBC News that their mother spoke to them on Saturday and both seemed fine. The BBC reported that their sister Edit Huszti, the other triplet, talked to them on New Years Eve via video call and said they seemed cheerful. Eliza reportedly works at a branch of Costa Coffee in the Bon Accord shopping centre. Businesses in the area have been urged to check CCTV footage in an effort to help trace the pair. Police Scotland said it had the support of police in their home country, who were liaising with the wider family. Anyone with information about the womens disappearance is asked to contact 101, quoting the incident number 0735 of Tuesday 7 January 2025. The bureaus long-range weather forecast expects a wetter than average season for large parts of eastern, western and northern Australia. Photograph: Kaaren Morrissey/AAP Showers are expected to continue for Sydney and Brisbane throughout much of the coming week but summer isnt over yet, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. In fact, the senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said showers and storm activity were a regular feature of the Australian summer, especially for northern Australia, as well as south-east Queensland and eastern New South Wales. This week south-east Queensland and eastern New South Wales were tipping towards those wetter conditions, Bradbury said on Thursday. Our seven-day forecast for Sydney, for example, does suggest a chance of showers or even a possible storm pretty much every day. Thats thanks to an inland trough, which is holding moisture over the area and not really going anywhere. The bureau issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Redland city council area in south-east Queensland on Friday, after 162mm was recorded at Dunwich airport on Stradbroke Island within the last 24 hours. Thunderstorms in the early hours of this morning really ramped up over Stradbroke Island, so we have seen some pretty high rainfall totals there, Bradbury said on Friday. Across the rest of south-east Queensland, totals were mostly in the 20-40mm range, she said. In NSW, rainfall totals in past 24 hours were mostly in the 10-30mm range, with the highest observations near the Queensland border. Crabbes Creek recorded 62.5mm, which Bradbury said was not exceptional for that part of the Northern Rivers region. Similar areas were likely to be affected by showers and storms on Friday, with the wet weather pushing inland in south-east Queensland including the Darling Downs, Granite Belt, eastern parts of the Maranoa and Warrego, as well as parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields. We could see severe thunderstorms in those areas; that could bring the heavy falls that lead to flash flooding as well as damaging winds and large hail, Bradbury said. The risk of heavy falls extended down into parts of NSW, she said, including the North West Slopes, Northern Tablelands, Central Slopes and Central Tablelands. The bureaus long-range forecast expects a wetter than average season for large parts of eastern, western and northern Australia, with an increased chance of unusually high rainfall. But as weather systems moved through over days and weeks, Bradbury expected there would still be periods of warm and dry conditions to come, like what we had last weekend in Sydney, she said. In contrast, the forecast for areas farther south including Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth was generally sunny and dry, she said. There was a chance of patchy rain or a couple of rumbles of thunder in Melbourne and Hobart at the weekend. Summer was associated with our most severe weather, Bradbury said. That does include things like heatwaves and bushfires that dry, hot weather but it also includes wet weather, we see the most flooding during summer, we see the most severe storms as well. Related: My friend keeps sending me unsolicited conspiracy theory material. Should I ask them to stop? | Leading questions In a warming climate, those extreme events were becoming more frequent, she said. Sydney, which has received a drenching this week, was one of Australias rainiest capitals, and usually experienced more rain from January to June than in the second half of the year. Brisbanes wettest month on average was yet to come in February although January and December also have high average rainfall totals. Andrew King, an associate professor and climate scientist at the University of Melbourne, said Australia was a big continent and the weather systems that brought rain across southern cities differed from places on the east coast. Related: The Spin | Deep, minging, unpleasant: crickets flooding problem is getting worse In the south, a lot of our rainfall comes from fronts, like cold fronts, crossing over the southern part of the continent, he said. Those typically retreat a bit further south in summer. Places like Sydney and Brisbane get more of their rain from storms or from showers that move in from the east, from the ocean. In summer those tend to have a bit more oomph to them, and produce a bit heavier rainfall. The effect of global heating on rainfall was a more complicated picture than temperature, King said. Some areas, such as the south-west, were getting drier, while other areas became wetter, and there was generally more variability, he said. Saba Poursaeedi holds up the Matt cartoon that allegedly contributed to him being sacked from his job with a housing association - Paul Grover for The Telegraph A housing officer was sacked for being a Reform UK candidate and reposting a Matt cartoon from The Telegraph, according to legal documents obtained by this newspaper. Saba Poursaeedi, a father of two, is suing one of Britains biggest housing associations for political discrimination after he was allegedly fired over his links to the Right-wing party. His bosses even cited his decision to repost a Matt cartoon as grounds for his unsuitability for the 37,000 a year job. Mr Poursaeedi was dismissed as a resident involvement officer after the charitable housing association told him Reforms policies on immigration, net zero and housing were in direct conflict with its own values. Hightown Housing Association has denied Mr Poursaeedi was sacked for his political views but has admitted his position with Reform was not compatible with a customer-facing role. Hightown held up as evidence a racist cartoon from The Telegraph newspaper, which Mr Poursaeedi had retweeted. Matt Pritchetts cartoon published in January last year depicts a housewife wearing a burka in a sideswipe at the prospect of Abu Dhabi purchasing The Telegraph amid concerns over human rights violations in the Gulf State. There has never been any previous suggestion the cartoon is racist while Matt, the award-winning Telegraph cartoonist, is widely recognised for his gentle perspective on British life. The Matt cartoon that was published in January last year Mr Poursaeedi claims he was also refused a second job as a damp and mould inspector because of his links to the party led by Nigel Farage. Mr Poursaeedi told The Telegraph: I was politically purged. I want this to go through the courts because I want Hightown to be presented with a court judgment that says, you were wrong. Mr Poursaeedi, 36, whose father is Iranian, said: Everybody is feeling this noose around their neck in terms of what they can and cant say. I find whats happened to me so absurd, so insane. This is their mentality and you cant quite believe it. Mr Farage told The Telegraph: The levels of prejudice in our public, private and charitable sectors against anybody with patriotic views like this man losing his job are staggering. Hopefully, the UK will follow America where woke is dying very quickly. He said the case had similarities with his ordeal at the hands of Coutts, the private bank owned by NatWest, which decided to shut down his account after compiling a dossier on his political views. Toby Young, the founder of the Free Speech Union, the campaign group funding Mr Poursaeedis legal claim, said: Saba has been subjected to a political witch hunt. Being an organiser for Reform, a party that one in five Britons say theyll vote for at the next election, should not be a reason to deprive someone of their livelihood. Its particularly egregious when you factor in that Hightown doesnt have a problem with employing Labour Party organisers. Hightown should be encouraging its employees to get involved in democratic politics, not punishing them for it. Mr Poursaeedi, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, began working for Hightown in October 2023, working part-time as maternity cover on a salary of a little over 15,000. In February last year, he took a permanent job as a resident involvement officer on a 37,000 salary. On March 12, he voluntarily disclosed he was Reforms prospective parliamentary candidate for the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency as well as the partys county co-ordinator, a voluntary role carried out for free. Two weeks later, on March 26, Mr Poursaeedi passed his probationary period for his maternity cover role with glowing praise his manager wrote: He has done himself and the team proud only to be told hours later that the permanent job of resident involvement officer had been withdrawn. I couldnt breathe. I was completely speechless In filings with the employment tribunal, lawyers for Mr Poursaeedi said he was requested to attend a meeting with Natalie Sturrock, Hightowns director of housing, and Kerry Demner, its head of human resources. According to the legal claim, Ms Sturrock informed him that his activities and public profile with the political party, Reform, gave rise to a conflict of interest with the work he would be doing as a resident involvement officer. According to his legal case, Ms Sturrock claimed that the policies that the claimant would be campaigning for would be in direct conflict with Hightowns values. She then went on to give three examples. According to the legal case, Ms Sturrock said that Reforms anti-immigration policies were incompatible with Hightowns, which houses immigrants and supports refugees; that Reforms plan to scrap net zero policies was in direct contravention of Hightowns desire to be a net zero company; while on the green belt Reform wants to preserve it, whereas Hightown wants to build on it, Ms Sturrock allegedly told Mr Poursaeedi. Of the meeting, Mr Poursaeedi said: I couldnt breathe. I was completely speechless. My world fell apart. I was completely blindsided. While the job was on the table I had financial stability and the chance of earning some proper money. And then it was all gone. I felt like I was being crushed. I was incredibly emotional. I was breaking down in tears. In Hightowns legal defence, the housing association disclosed that the day before the meeting, Ms Sturrock had identified several comments that Mr Poursaeedi had made on his X account that included retweeting comments that England had been destroyed by mass immigration and reposting a racist cartoon from the Telegraph newspaper. The defence document does not identify the specific cartoon but Mr Poursaeedi said he had only retweeted one Telegraph cartoon the Matt cartoon published in January. The cartoon had originally been tweeted by Paul Embery, a trade union activist and political commentator. In the cartoon, printed at a time when controversy surrounded attempts by an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund to buy The Telegraph amid fears the United Arab Emirates would use the newspaper to wield influence, the husband says to his wife, dressed in a burka, Dont worry, darling. If the UAE buys The Telegraph I doubt the cartoons will change. Mr Poursaeedi said Hightowns decision left him completely blindsided - Paul Grover for The Telegraph Mr Poursaeedi said: Its just a very, very funny cartoon. I just remember laughing my head off. He said it had particularly resonated because he had spent some of his childhood in Iran and recalled flights from Tehran back to London where as soon as the plane took off he could recall women removing their hijabs. According to the legal documents, Hightown informed Mr Poursaeedi that he was now only eligible to apply for roles that were not public-facing. On April 4, Ms Demner, the HR head, wrote to Mr Poursaeedi confirming the offer of the job had been withdrawn because we have been unable to approve your declaration of interest. After the job offer was withdrawn, Mr Poursaeedi applied for a number of other jobs with Hightown, needing the money with a toddler and his wife heavily pregnant with their second child. He discovered his role with Reform meant he was even unsuitable for a job as a damp and mould inspector with Hightown. Mr Poursaeedi said the housing association took him to one side and told him that because of your Reform affiliations the role of damp and mould inspector is also off limits. Mr Poursaeedi said: They seemed to think it might cause some distress to tenants if they found out I was a member of Reform. He added: You could be a paedophile and probably get the job of damp and mould inspector. But it wasnt available to people like me who are members of Reform. All I could do was just laugh. I just thought that this keeps getting more and more ludicrous. For one job that Mr Poursaeedi considered applying for, Ms Demner told him in an email sent on March 28 last year that if he applied, it would be unlikely to be approved. She added: ... this is due to it being a customer-facing role and the potential that the residents may feel uncomfortable with the support if they were aware of the political associations. I felt like vermin, like some kind of untouchable Mr Poursaeedi launched his legal action because his philosophical beliefs were protected under the Equality Act. In his legal claim, he said he was the victim of belief discrimination over his views, which include prioritising economic freedom, national sovereignty and environmental conservation. His lawyers accused Hightown of discrimination because they treated him and his beliefs as inferior and unworthy of respect in a democracy. Mr Poursaeedis lawyers also accused Hightown of harassment by creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for him. His lawyers said that Hightowns head of governance and its company secretary Trudi Kleanthous had stood as a Labour Party councillor in a local ward in 2019 and was a Labour ward representative in Dunstable. Mr Pursaeedi accused the housing association of operating double standards. Mr Poursaeedi, a former Labour party member who was born in the UK but lived briefly in Iran during the early 1990s, said his dismissal had shaken his faith in the UK. This is not the country it was 10 years ago, he said. I used to be in the Labour Party and even ran for the Labour Party in 2021 as a local councillor. But like a lot of people who were Labour and are now Reform, all I ever wanted was a better deal for working people. Thats it. He said of his treatment by Hightown: I felt like vermin, like I was some kind of untouchable. He is demanding in the region of 100,000 in compensation but wants vindication in the courts. He says he is one of the lucky ones because he discovered his political affiliation had led to his dismissal from his job. He believes there are dozens of people who have lost their jobs because of their Reform links but have never been told explicitly. Not treated less favourably than Labour candidate Hightown, which employs more than 1,000 staff and manages over 9,000 homes in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph because the legal case remained ongoing. In its defence, laid out in a 27-page document lodged in October, Hightowns lawyers said Mr Poursaeedis links to Reform did not create any conflict of interest when applying for his first job as part of the recruitment team because it was not customer-facing. It said that a search of Twitter had found that Mr Poursaeedi had retweeted a series of comments about immigration, including one in December 2023 which said that the taxes you pay are being used to house immigrants in social housing. You should be outraged about this. In its defence, Hightown said it denies that the claimant was unfairly dismissed for a reason related to the claimants political opinion and/ or affiliations. The housing association said since his offer of the job of resident involvement officer was conditional he was therefore never actually employed in that role and so could not be dismissed from it. The housing association said in any event it denied the principal reason for any dismissal was linked to his political opinions and/or affiliations. It also denied any claim of harassment or claim for discrimination. It said that Mr Poursaeedi was not treated less favourably than Ms Kleanthous, the company secretary who had stood as a Labour candidate in 2019. Kelyan, who was an aspiring drill rapper, was attacked on the 472 bus in Woolwich on Tuesday. Photograph: Metropolitan police/AFP/Getty Images The life of the 14-year-old stabbing victim Kelyan Bokassa could have been saved if he had been helped to move out of south-east London, according to an anti-knife crime charity that knew him. Kelyan, who was an aspiring drill rapper, was stabbed to death in Woolwich on a 472 bus on Tuesday afternoon. Mark Rodney, from Project Lifeline, said the charity relocated three of Kelyans friends after another fatal stabbing in Woolwich last September, of Daejaun Campbell, 15, who was also Kelyans friend. Kelyan was known to us, and we had the opportunity of taking three young guys out of the area who were at risk, he said. Unfortunately, Kelyan didnt get the chance to meet with us and move him out, because we need more support. After Daejauns death, Rodney warned Greenwich council there would be more killings if there was not more support for young people at risk of gang violence. But his warnings were ignored, he said. We told the council there are issues in the borough and there could be further fatalities if we dont use this crucial time to address the concerns of the young people. We havent had a response. He added: The ones that we did move, actually got in touch with us and we were able to relocate them. But the awareness needs to be there for young people who want a pathway to turn their lives around. More kids should have been moved after Daejauns killing. It is inhumane not to have the exit strategies there and then point fingers at young children. Kelyans mother, Mary Bokassa, told reporters that her son was groomed into gangs from the age of six. She said: I tried to prevent it. I screamed, I said: My son is going to be killed. Kelyan, who attended a pupil referral unit in Eltham, had various convictions including possession of cannabis, possession of a Stanley knife and the theft of 7 of snacks from a Greggs. He had been due to appear in court on Friday, charged with possession of a machete. In November, Kelyan, who performed under the name Grippa, paid a rap tribute to Daejaun, who was known as Boogz. Rodney said Kelyan took flowers last month to the mother of his dead friend Daejaun. He said: He had a nice character, regardless of his dress wear or what he did on social media. Rodney added: Had we been accessible to him, Im sure he would have taken the steps that other young men took in the area and allowed us to relocate him. And Im sure his mother would have taken that opportunity. Rodney said Kelyans mother was correct to use the word grooming in the context of gang violence. He said: Shes right. It needs to be looked at as grooming or exploitation. The Metropolitan police have yet to make any arrests over Kelyans killing but said the investigation was continuing at pace. Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Greenwich councils cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said: Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the friends, family and communities affected by knife crime. Nothing is more important than safeguarding our young people and ensuring our communities feel safe. We actively work to relocate young people and families as part of our commitment to ensuring their safety. Project Lifeline have made themselves known to us; however, we already work extensively with local organisations that we have longstanding relationships with. These organisations, funded by grants from the violence reduction unit, ensure that vital funding directly improves the lives of our communities. Through these partnerships, we deliver resources, outreach and interventions aimed at tackling the root causes of knife crime. She added: Kelyans life was taken following a senseless act of violence. We understand and share the concerns of the community and will be assisting the police in any way we can with their investigation. Knife crime is a complex issue, but well continue to work with schools, young people, the police and other voluntary partners to try to rid our streets of knives. George Osborne - Euan Cherry/Getty Dear readers, it is now nearly 14 months since I used this space to draw attention to the fact that this newspaper and The Spectator were on the point of being owned by a group controlled by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. My essential point was that this was an extremely bad idea. We would not dream of letting our own government nationalise a great British newspaper: how much less should we contemplate a foreign government owning it. You, the readers, strongly agreed, and kindly wrote, rang and emailed to say so. To be fair, politicians of all parties agreed, too, although the then Conservative government was hesitant, as it was busily courting Abu Dhabis money for wider reasons. To cut a very long story short, the government eventually accepted our argument against foreign-state ownership and legislated to prevent it. The Telegraph/Spectator sale was blocked. The would-be buyers, RedBird IMI, had acquired effective ownership by the oh-so-cunning method of framing it as a clearing of the stonking bank debt accumulated by our former owners, the Barclays. Now they were forced to put the titles up for sale once more. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) extended the role of the independent directors, who had initially been put in by Lloyds Bank, as the supervisors were needed until everything was sorted out. We appeared to have won. But had we? At first, things seemed to go smoothly enough. The Spectator, our smaller title, was sold separately, and for a good price, to a successful British hedge-fund manager, Sir Paul Marshall. The sale of The Telegraph, however, proved stickier. RedBird IMI fronted by Americans but dominated by Abu Dhabi cash and ruling-family pride were understandably chagrined by the turn of events. They had hoped that the purchase of The Telegraph would open the door for other, bigger Abu-Dhabi-backed deals the purchase of ITV, perhaps, and/or of CNN. They had thought they would prevail presumably because they had been so advised by the highly successful British boutique investment bank, Robey Warshaw. The key adviser was the firms newest partner, George Osborne. Mr Osborne, as he would be the first to admit, is an extremely intelligent man. He is also very well-connected, having been chancellor of the exchequer for six years and the Tory partys most cunning strategist of the 21st century. In the Gulf, where democracy is a remote concept and connections are everything, an inveterate fixer like Mr Osborne must have seemed just the ticket. If Mr Osborne has a fault, however, it is that his cleverness can overcomplicate his vision. Look, for example, at his elaborate efforts, as chairman of the British Museum, to lend to Greece the Elgin Marbles which the Greeks claim as their own. His scheme will not satisfy the parties concerned and, if it goes forward, will produce profound uncertainty about where the Marbles will eventually end up. Sometimes, his calculations pay off look at the Cameron/Osborne general election victory of 2015. Sometimes, not so much. Think of the omnishambles Budget of 2012. It was Mr Osborne who had assured the Arabs who hired him that he would see them right with his fellow Tories a mistake, surely, given that, since his Remain campaign of 2016, Mr Osbornes name has been mud with more than half his party; but his mistake, not theirs. The angry Abu Dhabi potentates do not want to lose face or money by the forced resale. They paid 600 million for the titles. Take out the 100 million paid for The Spectator, and they still want 500 million, plus the 40 million or so of fees they have paid out to lawyers and people like Mr Osborne. Despite assurances to potential suitors that long queues were forming to buy the paper, this was not true at RedBird IMIs artificially high price. There is interest from respectable people at 350-400 million; not more. The American (RedBird) bit of the frustrated ownership fears that a much lower price will enrage their investors, who will accuse them of not having done due diligence before buying. The dominant Arab (IMI) bit is even less keen to sell at a loss, for the reasons already stated. Sultan Al Jaber, who manages to be Abu Dhabis minister of industry, the president of COP28 and head of the national oil company all at once, is reported to be in regular touch with his British advisers. Each week, he simply tells them, with expletives added, that he wants his money back. So Mr Osborne and the various other advisers are like estate agents when no one will pay a houses asking price but the house-owner still instructs them to get that price. They have to keep trying. For months now, Mr Osborne and others have therefore been talking up a bid led by Dovid Efune of New York, allegedly for the price wanted. Unusually, Mr Efunes group was given exclusivity on the deal without having to show proof of funds. Again very unusually, their exclusivity was renewed though the money still was not there. The exclusivity has now lapsed. It seems that some of the interested parties have peeled off: the Efune group does not have the money. Suggestions of an imminent deal still get reheated. The latest claim, reported in this paper this week, is that Leon Black, the American private equity investor whose name has been tarnished by association with and accusations relating to Jeffrey Epstein, is interested. His son has a business in Abu Dhabi. The guess is that RedBird IMI is trying to get its big price by providing some sort of soft loan to the buyer. This is not a proper sale process. Starting with the crash of the Barclay family in the summer of 2023, this whole business has been going on for 20 months. The Telegraph still has no owner with the power to act and therefore has no power to develop a strategy or to invest. It can operate only day to day. I am full of admiration for the way the editors, led by Chris Evans, have kept up journalistic quality and morale, and for the loyalty of you, the readers, but the situation is intolerable. Since the law says RedBird IMI cannot buy, then they must sell. Otherwise, like the proverbial dog in the manger, they can spoil what they cannot enjoy. How can a sale be forced forward? Either by RedBird IMI finally dropping its price to a realistic level, or by an intervention of the government to make them do so. Understandably, the DCMS, under Lisa Nandy, would rather leave it to the market. The trouble is that the market is being prevented from operating. Since The Telegraph is ultimately, via the independent directors, under government supervision, the government has to ensure that its prohibition of the purchase is made real by enforcing a sale. Or it could refer the original RedBird IMI bid to the Competition and Markets Authority, thus causing further embarrassment to the Abu Dhabi royal family. At present, this national newspaper feels slightly like someone under house arrest. We survive. We can still get daily messages to our friends in the outside world. But we are not free. View of Johannesburg. There are about 2.4 million foreign-born people in South Africa out of the 62 million population, according to the 2022 census. Photograph: Ute Grabowsky/Photothek/Getty South African police have rescued 26 Ethiopians from a suspected human trafficking ring in Johannesburg after the group broke a window and burglar bar to escape from a house where they were being held naked. Three people were arrested on suspicion of people trafficking and possessing an illegal firearm on Thursday night after neighbours in the Sandringham suburb heard the commotion and tipped off the police, the Hawks serious crime unit said in a statement. Police urged the public to report any other escaped naked people in the area. About 60 Ethiopian men were held captive in the bungalow, the local TV station eNCA reported, showing what appeared to be blood spattered below an open window at the front of the house. Police said 11 people were taken to hospital for medical treatment. A number of the Ethiopians have still not been picked up by police. The signs that we have is this is a human trafficking matter, because they were actually escaping from that house and they were kept naked, almost as if its a modus operandi to keep them humiliated and not trying to escape, said Philani Nkwalase, a police spokesperson. South Africa has attracted immigrants from across Africa since the end of apartheid more than three decades ago. However, fears that they are smuggling drugs and driving up unemployment and violent crime have fuelled persistent xenophobia. There are about 2.4 million foreign-born people in South Africa out of the 62 million population, according to the 2022 census, which aimed to count people regardless of immigration status. While more than three-quarters come from other southern African states, there are about 58,000 Ethiopians in the country. In August 2024, 82 Ethiopians were discovered crammed into a house in the same area of Johannesburg, without enough food or proper toilet and bathroom facilities. Seven of them were initially deemed to be minors and 19 others said they were underage when they were taken to court on suspicion of entering South Africa illegally. They were all undocumented migrants who were not victims of trafficking but were smuggled into the country, the department of home affairs said in a statement later that month. Nkwalase said it was not yet clear if the two cases were connected, adding that police were seeking an interpreter as language barriers were preventing officers from getting answers from the men about how, why and when they came to South Africa. A neighbour of the house from which the Ethiopians had escaped told eNCA she was shocked by the incident, adding that the only time she had seen anyone at the property was a few weeks ago when her son went to retrieve a ball he had kicked over the fence. Volodymyr Zelensky said Sir Keir Starmer will be visiting Ukraine, he will have a visit to Ukraine, and we will talk - Andy Rain/Shutterstock Sir Keir Starmer will visit Ukraine for the first time since becoming Prime Minister to discuss the possibility of British troops being part of a post-war peacekeeping force. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, is expected to meet Sir Keir in the coming weeks. Mr Zelensky announced the plan for the meeting, Sir Keirs first visit to the country in over six months, after speaking to allies at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday, Bloomberg reported. It is not known exactly when the trip is scheduled. Speaking to reporters about plans for foreign troops being sent to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force after the war with Russia has ended, Mr Zelensky said: The British look at it positively, but I will talk in detail with the Prime Minister about it at our meeting. He will be visiting Ukraine, he will have a visit to Ukraine, and we will talk. Volodymyr Zelensky announced the plan for the meeting as he spoke to Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, and Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary - Ronal Wittek/Shutterstock It comes after Sir Keir welcomed Emmanuel Macron, the French president, to Chequers, his country residence, on Thursday. The pair, staunch supporters of Ukraine, discussed the war ahead of the imminent inauguration of Donald Trump in the US. The two leaders discussed the importance of offering Ukraine security guarantees going forward, according to the French readout of the meeting. The two leaders reaffirmed their desire to coordinate closely in order to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, it said. They stressed the importance of continuing to supply the equipment needed to defend Ukrainian territory, and of guaranteeing sustainable financial support for Ukraine beyond 2025. Mr Macron previously discussed deploying a peacekeeping force in Ukraine with Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, when they met in December. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has also opened the door to British troops being sent to Ukraine to help train Kyivs Armed Forces, telling The Times in December: We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting. Earlier this month, Jeremy Hunt, the former foreign secretary, said British soldiers should be deployed to Ukraine as part of any peace deal. He told LBC: There is no way that Trump is going to send American troops to do that. I would suggest, in which case, the way to make that security guarantee for Ukraine credible will be for Britain, France, Germany and other European countries to send troops to secure that border. Is that something that we would be prepared to do? I think after a lot of thought, I would be prepared to do that. Isla Bryson raped two women in 2016 and 2019 while living as a man named Adam Graham - Andrew Milligan/PA Nicola Sturgeon refused to call Isla Bryson, the transgender rapist, a man, and blamed scapegoating for the furore over her blocked gender self-ID law. The former Scottish first minister would only say that person is a rapist when challenged on the predators sex, as she continued to defend plans to let trans people self-identify their legal gender. Bryson was jailed in February 2023 after being convicted of raping two women while living as a man named Adam Graham. The rapist was sent to a womens jail after identifying as female, prompting uproar and a move to HMP Edinburgh, a male prison. In an interview with the Financial Times, Ms Sturgeon said self-ID had been introduced in the Republic of Ireland without any of the terrible consequences that were predicted in Scotland. Andrew Graham identified as female only after committing the two rapes - PA John Swinney, the First Minister, has shelved large parts of Ms Sturgeons woke agenda but she warned him in the interview not to abandon it altogether, saying the SNP had repeatedly won elections under her leadership. She added: If you want to move it away from that, be careful that you know what youre doing and why youre doing it and that youve thought through the electoral consequences. Ms Sturgeon said she accepted a fair chunk of responsibility for the SNP being routed by Labour in Julys general election but argued it was harder to keep blaming me for things as time passed. Ms Sturgeons Gender Recognition Reform Bill would have allowed Scots to change their legal gender by simply signing a statutory declaration, dropping the requirement for a formal medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Alister Jack, the Tory MP who was then Scotland Secretary, made an order under the Scotland Act to prevent the legislation getting royal assent the first time this power had been used. He argued the legislation undermined UK-wide protections for women, including the sanctity of female-only safe spaces. The Scottish Government lost a legal challenge to the ruling. Nicola Sturgeon stepped down as first minister abruptly in 2023 - Ken Jack/Getty But Ms Sturgeon rejected any suggestion that risks to women were overlooked, saying: The legal system we were trying to introduce has existed in the Republic of Ireland for years without any of the terrible consequences that were predicted here. If I was to sit here today and say I just wouldnt do it, that would be to make my own life easier. She blamed scapegoating and, challenged on whether Bryson was a man or a woman, she said: That person was a rapist. Tess White, the Scottish Tories shadow equalities minister, said: Almost two years on from this scandal, Nicola Sturgeon is shamefully still failing to answer this basic question. Common sense should tell her that Isla Bryson is a dangerous male rapist and as such should never have been considered for access to womens protected spaces. Nicola Sturgeon continues to be completely out of touch with the publics views on her deeply flawed gender reforms, which only the Scottish Conservatives opposed. Women find it deeply insulting that the former first minister cannot describe this vile predator as a man. Tess White MP said Ms Sturgeon was shamefully dodging the question - Ken Jack/Getty In the interview, Ms Sturgeon also said she grieved for Alex Salmond four or five years before his death, when their relationship fractured over sexual misconduct allegations he faced. She said she had long accepted that she would never again speak to her mentor and predecessor as first minister, and his sudden death aged 69 of a heart attack had not changed that. She said she would not have spoken to Salmond unless he had been prepared to acknowledge some of the things that he had done. Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down abruptly as first minister nearly two years ago, disclosed she knew some of the women who made allegations against Salmond and had seen the impact of the way he then behaved. She said her mentor was really rough on people and she had intervened many times to stop his bullying. Salmond was cleared of 14 sexual assault charges in a criminal trial in 2020. He alleged at the time there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures around Ms Sturgeon to imprison him, which she denied. When he died in Macedonia in October, Salmond was seeking significant damages and compensation for loss of earnings from the Scottish Government, totalling a reported 3 million. Guantanamo Bay is home to 15 prisoners at an annual cost of $540 million - BRENNAN LINSLEY/AFP via Getty Images A secret Guantanamo Bay prisoner swap has been stalled by Taliban officials wanting to curry favour with Donald Trump. Afghan government officials are discussing delaying the exchange until the president-elect takes office later this month, sources told The Telegraph. The Biden administration is in talks with the Taliban to swap Americans detained in Afghanistan for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, an alleged associate of Osama bin Laden who is one of the last remaining Guantanamo prisoners. The deal is almost done but there are some top officials in Kandahar who are against it at this moment, a senior Taliban official said. They argue that any deal with Biden will be in vain as he is leaving and want to keep it for Trump. It comes as Mr Biden is moving to shut down Guantanamo Bay, freeing a number of detainees and the US moving towards a controversial plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged orchestrator of 9/11. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban deputy foreign minister, described the president-elect this week as decisive and courageous and called for friendly relations with the United States. Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirates field, is open. If they want to become friends, we will shake hands and be friends, he said. He added: We ask Mr Trump that if he wants to have good relations with Afghanistan and solve the problems, we hope he takes some positive steps, comes forward, and we will also go forward [to him]. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai praised Donald Trump for being decisive and courageous - Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Mr Bidens administration is seeking the return of three Americans seized in 2022 Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi in exchange for Afghani. Mr Corbett and Mr Habibi were detained in separate incidents in August 2022 a year after the Taliban seized Kabul amid the chaotic US troop withdrawal. Glezmann was detained later in 2022 while visiting as a tourist. The negotiations with the Taliban came as a number of other prisoners were freed from the base on Cuba. In a secret operation in the early hours of Monday, 11 Yemeni detainees were freed from Guantanamo Bay and sent to Oman after being held for two decades without charge. Bidens final push The latest prisoner release leaves just 15 people in the military-run camp, which at its peak held almost 800 Muslim men who had been captured by the US in the aftermath of 9/11. Mr Biden has cut the population of Guantanamo down from 40, much of which has happened in an extraordinary push in his last weeks in office. Now, international deal-making and court battles are deciding the future of the few remaining inside the naval base, which has housed some of the worlds most dangerous terrorists. During his first term, Mr Trump signed an executive order to keep the gates of Guantanamo open, reversing Barack Obamas policy to close the infamous site, known for its use of torture techniques. The efforts to wind down the number of detainees culminated last year when Mohammed struck a plea deal that would spare him and two co-defendants the risk of the death penalty. Mohammed and co-defendants Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi agreed to plead guilty to 2,976 murder charges in exchange for life sentences. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed agreed to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty in August last year - Handout Lloyd Austin, the defence secretary, has fought unsuccessfully since Aug 2 to throw out the plea agreement negotiated and approved by his department. The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court on Tuesday to block the plea deal. Absent a stay from that court or some other intervention, Mohammed is due to enter his guilty plea Friday. Family members of 9/11 victims are already at Guantanamo to watch. But with the highest profile case on the cusp of jail and the cells of Guantanamo empty, the future of the internationally feared training camp is uncertain. Arian Sharifi, a lecturer and chairman of the master in public policy programme at Princeton Universitys School of Public and international affairs, said: Mr Biden has been talking about shutting down Guantanamo Bay since he took office, and there are two primary reasons for this. First, it is largely a political move. When he withdrew US forces from Afghanistan, the narrative was that the war on terror had ended. Closing Guantanamo Bay fits into that broader goal of wrapping up everything associated with it. Second, closing Guantanamo Bay holds significant symbolic value for Mr Biden. Transferring detainees to Oman, less than two weeks before the end of his presidency, is part of this symbolism. These prisoners were not found guilty of any charges, so Biden likely saw this as a way to leave a lasting mark before exiting office. The original sin George W Bushs decision to hold foreigners taken into custody overseas as part of the countrys war on terror, left the administration scrambling for somewhere to imprison and judge the hundreds it swept up. As the US invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, it looked offshore, to a swath of Cuba leased by the US Navy for a century. The first prisoners would arrive in 2002 blindfolded, shackled and wearing the distinctive orange jumpsuit. Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay became synonymous with the orange jumpsuit - Sarah Silbiger/Reuters The decision to open the prison strained US law. Dick Cheney, Mr Bushs vice-president, called the detainees at Guantanamo the worst of the worst and defended creating the military commission. The other choices were to try the men in the United States, where they would have all the rights afforded them by the US Constitution, or kill them, Mr Cheney later explained. A 2008 Supreme Court ruling dictated US handling of the Guantanamo detainees did in fact have to abide by the US Constitution. As the war waged on, the military response succeeded in greatly reducing the ability of al-Qaeda and later the Islamic State group to stage mass attacks abroad. But security successes were shadowed by the human and financial tolls of those wars, by the torture of the detainees in their first years in US custody and their long imprisonment without charge. Legal experts often call the early torture the original sin of Guantanamo prosecutions, clouding prospects of any trials. Rights groups have calculated Guantanamos annual costs at upward of $540 million (439 million) around $36 million per detainee at the current population of 15. Six of the 15 remaining detainees were never charged and rights groups are pushing Mr Biden to release all of them before he leaves office. Omar Samad, the former Afghan ambassador to Canada and France and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said: Its not uncommon for a US president, during their final days in office, to make decisions about Guantanamo and release a few prisoners. This timing is strategic theres typically less public and political scrutiny, and outgoing presidents like Mr Biden arent held accountable in the same way, as theres no time left for significant backlash. Guantanamo under Trump Its not clear how Mr Trump would handle Guantanamo in his second term. Pete Hegseth, his pick for defence secretary, has previously called for its gates to remain open. He has also argued that the length of the military commission proceedings makes the US look unserious and sends extremists the message they can lawyer up and be just fine. Trump and his team have a fundamentally different perspective on al-Qaeda, terrorism, and radical Islamists, Mr Sharifi said. They are expected to adopt a much stricter stance. Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to intensify the war on terror. In such a scenario, not only would Guantanamo remain open, but more people could potentially be detained and sent there. Any commuters breathing a sigh of relief over RMT general secretary Mick Lynchs resignation will be disappointed by his replacement, Eddie Dempsey - Aaron Chown/PA Alarm bells should be ringing, was the verdict of one rail industry insider when Mick Lynch, 63, the combative general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) announced he would step down in May after four years as the scourge of successive Conservative transport secretaries and millions of commuters. But it now seems passengers who breathed a sigh of relief at the departure of the man once labelled a Grinch by Rishi Sunak for leading rail strikes that ran over Christmas, were jumping the gun. On Thursday it was confirmed that Lynch will be succeeded by Eddie Dempsey, a longstanding ideologue of the hard-Left, who critics fear will push the agenda of the RMT into further strikes and even into more broader anti-government action across the trade union movement. According to one insider, Lynch was even considered the gentle one of a triumvirate made up of the RMT chief, Dempsey, his assistant general secretary, and Alex Gordon, the unions former president and current executive committee member of the Communist Party of Britain. Lynchs time as the leader of the RMT coincided with a surge in rail strikes as the union rejected pay offers from train operators. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data show that, since May 2021, the transport and communication sectors have lost the equivalent of 70,000 days a month to strikes, especially acute during 2022 and 2023. During the period of Lynchs predecessor, Mick Cash, the figure was just 6,100 according to data which also include strikes by postal workers and delivery drivers, among others. The fear now is that a more radical leadership of the union could mean a return to strikes and further misery for travellers and commuters. Starting in 2022, Lynch became the face of a series of rail strikes intended to secure better pay for train drivers. Told during an interview in 2022 that rail strikes in December that year would do real damage to people, Lynch said: Yes, and that is unfortunate, but we have to respond to what the companies are doing, and they are doing that very deliberately. But behind the scenes Lynch was more pragmatic than he may have appeared, says a former Department for Transport (DfT) figure who dealt with the RMT during the Conservatives time in office. In all the dealings we with had with Mick Lynch in government, behind closed doors he was very straightforward and focused, wanting to get a deal for his members even if that meant dealing with a government that he didnt like. That made it easier to resolve strike action and reach agreements that worked for both the taxpayer and the members. He was an effective and reasonable negotiator, notwithstanding the stances he took in public and in the media. Despite his hardline reputation in the public eye, Mick Lynch was said to be more pragmatic behind closed doors - Dominic Lipinski/PA Along with the train drivers union Aslef, the RMT negotiated pay increases of 4.5 per cent with no strings attached (plus backdated pay) with the Labour Government last year in an attempt to prevent further strikes. We can all be proud that our union stood up against the wholesale attacks on the rail industry by the previous Tory government and the union defeated them, said Lynch. Dempsey, meanwhile, who is affiliated to hard-Left groups such as the Stop The War Coalition, was busy turning his fire on Labour. I will not vote for Labour, he said early last year. No politician should get a vote from any trade unionist as long as they are refusing to support an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a Palestinian state Gaza is a trade union issue because we side with the oppressed. The successor to Mick Lynch, Eddie Dempsey is affiliated with Left-wing groups such as the Stop The War Coalition, and is a vocal supporter of Palestinian statehood - Jeff Moore/PA Demspey, 43, from New Cross in south London, will as head of the union be following in a line of Left-wing firebrands that goes back from Lynch to Cash to Bob Crow, who was a member of what is now the Communist Party of Britain. The RMT leadership has been a crucible of the hard-Left, in particular home to a class war ideology adjacent to communism and distinct from the identity politics of many younger activists. They have also put themselves at odds with progressives as staunch advocates of Brexit. The membership base of the RMT is very wide and across all parties, says the rail industry insider. So why do hard-Left-wingers rise to the top of the RMT? Its a rough, tough environment and the politics are intense, with a small group at the top that nurtures its successors in their own image. Perhaps most striking is Dempseys past association with pro-Russian forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine, with whom he was pictured in 2015. He posed with Aleksey Mozgovoy, a commander in the Ghost Brigade of pro-Russian separatists. When Mozgovoy was killed two weeks later, he wrote a tribute praising him as a charismatic, anti-fascist militia leader. In 2022, after being told by Chris Bryant, a Labour MP, that he should be ashamed of himself over his endorsement of Mozgovoy, the RMT said: The union does not support either Vladimir Putin or his actions in Ukraine. Dempsey added: I fully agree with the unions position. His hard-Left credentials were, however, hardly undermined by gaining the endorsement, earlier this year, of George Galloway, a fellow champion of the pro-Palestinian cause, who responded on X to the news of Lynchs departure by stating: Hope big Eddie Dempsey gets the gig. In 2022, Galloway described Lynch as the brightest young hope in the British labour movement. Dempsey will take us back to the 1970s At a time when the economy is struggling and the Labour Government is widely unpopular, RMT members might take the view that Dempseys messaging on disenfranchised workers and the struggle for equality is a potentially potent one. Dempsey will take us back to the 1970s scenario when the government thinks caving in to the unions is the right thing to do, claims the rail industry insider. Youll see more and more strikes, and I think that is aligned to take Keir Starmer out. I think theres a chance the RMT, the GMB and Unite unions will be looking at some kind of pincer movement involving Left-wing MPs to attack Starmer in the long term. I think Dempseys aspiration will be to one day run the TUC [Trades Union Congress] and move towards a general strike. The evidence certainly suggests that Dempseys ambitions for a workers revolt extend beyond the rail sector. At a rally following the breakdown of pay talks with the government in 2022, he said: Good on the teachers, lets get the posties on it, lets get the health workers out, and lets get decent pay rise for people in this country Like Lynch, Dempsey is a robust and effective public speaker, and he shares his bosss ability to cut through mealy-mouthed or generic political speech. He has the luxury of being able to be unfiltered, which often puts union leaders at an advantage they dont have to pull punches the way politicians do, and that resonates with sections of the public. The people at the top of the economy are having a disco and everyone else is being told they have to carry the can, he said last year. At a rally outside Parliament he described MPs as parasites, adding: The general public in this country know they are being mugged. After being announced as the new general secretary, Dempsey promised not to take the foot off the gas in the campaign for better pay and conditions for workers. Anyone who thinks that because Mick Lynch is retiring we will go on the back foot is mistaken. Its business as usual, he said. Labour ministers will be watching on with trepidation. If you think Mick Lynch is Left-wing you havent seen anything yet, says the former DfT figure. Additional reporting by Ben Butcher This article was originally published on January 10 2025 and has been updated. Temperatures will be near freezing in most of the Houston metro area on Saturday morning, according to the National Blend of Models, a composite weather forecast model. WeatherBELL After showers taper off from west to east across Southeast Texas early Friday, Houston must endure one final freezing night before a modest warming trend gets going this weekend. Before heading out the door for school or work Friday morning, it wont be a bad idea to grab an umbrella. A few lingering but mainly light showers are likely to persist through the morning, especially east of the Brazos River Valley. The final push of showers in Greater Houston should arrive by 9 a.m., with the majority of shower activity focused along the immediate Texas Gulf Coast and up toward Beaumont through midday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As precipitation pushes out of the Piney Woods, dont be shocked if a sleet pellet or two end up pinging against your windshield. If this does happen, travel problems arent expected. Overall, the chance of sleet or light freezing rain occurring is very slim and confined mainly to areas more than 60 miles north of Houston. Rain pushes out of Southeast Texas Friday morning, according to the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh forecast model. A few sleet pellets are possible north of Houston as precipitation comes to an end. WeatherBELL Low atmospheric pressure finally peels away by the afternoon, leaving behind generally cloudy skies and a reinvigorated shot of cool northwesterly winds. Daytime temperatures in Houston only reach the lower to mid-40s, but wind chills could make the air feel about 10 degrees colder. Final freezing night ahead Breezy northwesterly winds will continue Friday night as lows drop to near and below freezing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If your pipes survived Monday and Tuesday night, chances are theyll make it to Saturday morning unscathed. Whatever cold weather prevention you practiced earlier in the week should be sufficient for your leafy or flowery friends in potted plants. If youre hitting the town Friday night, be sure to dress for function and not strictly for fashion. As early as 7 or 8 p.m. the wind chill temperatures are expected to straddle 30 degrees, and may drop a few degrees more by early Saturday. Modest weekend warming The return of warmer southeasterly winds from the Gulf of Mexico will usher in a modest, albeit brief, rise in temperatures this weekend. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After Saturday starts near freezing, afternoon temperatures should reach at least 45 degrees, even if youre in Huntsville or College Station. Temperatures in Houston on Saturday should top out near 50 degrees. Thats still below average, but well take whatever slightly warmer weather we can get. Shown are forecast temperatures over the next several days at Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houstons official climate observation site, according to the National Blend of Models, a composite weather forecast model. WeatherBELL Downright balmy conditions are expected Sunday afternoon as temperatures peak near 60 degrees. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nigel Farage holds a controlling stake in Reform UK. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian A group of 10 councillors representing Reform UK have given notice of their intention to resign en masse in protest at Nigel Farages leadership. The resignations will add to pressure on the Reform leader after Elon Musk said he was not up to the job. They are timed to overshadow the partys south-east conference this weekend. The councillors alleged the party was being run in an autocratic manner and accused Farage of disloyalty to long-term members. There are splits within the party over the jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who is supported by Musk. Related: Nigel Farage paid 189,000 last year by gold company to work part-time Farage addressed hundreds of members on Friday night at the partys south-east conference, in Esher, Surrey, as Reform seeks to build on general election momentum in an attempt to win hundreds of seats in local elections this year. Nevertheless, the departures of the 10 councillors who between them hold more than a dozen local authority positions at different levels would mark the loss of a significant chunk of the partys existing local authority representatives. All are from Derbyshire, a target area for Reform, and include Alex Stevenson, who came second in Amber Valley at the general election with 28% of the vote. In a statement seen by the Guardian, they said they could not continue in good conscience under the leadership of Farage, adding: We believe that the current party management is either incompetent or malevolent, and we have lost all confidence in the leadership and its structures. They cited a lack of internal democracy, claiming that a new constitution adopted by the party at its annual conference was flawed and that there had been no progress towards a promise by Farage to democratise Reform, which was set up as a company in which he holds a controlling stake. The councillors backed the Farage critic and former joint deputy leader Ben Habib, whom they said had been unceremoniously dumped and was the man who truly represents the vision and values that drew us to Reform UK. Musk called for Farage to be replaced as the Reform leader less than three weeks after the pair held seemingly warm talks at Donald Trumps Florida home. The remarks threw into doubt the speculation that the US billionaire could fund Reform after he met Farage and Nick Candy, Reform UKs new treasurer, at Trumps home in Mar-a-Lago in December. Musk has since been reposting comments on X by Habib including a call by him for Robinson to be released from prison. On Friday night, Farage told Sky News he had been in touch with Musk and they were still friends. Look, he said lots of supportive things. He said one thing that wasnt supportive. I mean, thats just the way it is, Farage said. By the way, you know, I cant be pushed or bullied or made to change by anybody. Reform UK has been facing a schism over its approach to Robinsons supporters after Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform, said last year that the party want nothing to do with Robinson and all of that lot. However, in a sign that Farage may be calibrating his position to please Musk, he told GB News this week that he did question why Robinson was in prison. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed in October for 18 months after admitting contempt of court by repeating false claims against a Syrian refugee. Reform has about 50 councillors and a steady trickle have been defecting to the party from the Tories and elsewhere over the past year. Reforms 2024 London mayoral candidate, Howard Cox, left the party on Thursday, claiming he had been told to keep clear of Robinson or else he would be expelled. Farage on Thursday claimed the resignations were from an out-of-control branch and involved a number of councillors who had failed Reform UK vetting. Alex Stevenson has been suspended from the party and the reason is that he was putting up candidates for parish council elections which were unvetted, which is against the rules. We have known this branch was out of control for some time. Farage also introduced Reforms latest defectors from the Conservatives on Friday night: the Norfolk councillor Robin Hunter-Clarke and the Elmbridge borough councillor Harrison Allman-Varty. One of the recaptured lynx. A further two animals have escaped. (Photograph: RZSS) Two more lynx abandoned in the Cairngorms have been safely captured, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said on Friday. Two of the illegally released animals were captured on Thursday after being sighted in the Dell of Killiehuntly near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands. The RZSS said: Two additional lynx who appear to have been deliberately abandoned in the Cairngorms have been safely captured this evening. The medium-sized cats were spotted on camera traps overnight on 9-10 January. Staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland then baited a series of humane traps in the area to entice them with and have been working with Police Scotland and rangers from the Cairngorms National Park Authority to monitor the area throughout the day. They will be brought to the nearby Highland Wildlife Park to be checked over by RZSS veterinarians before being moved to quarantine facilities in Edinburgh zoo. It is thought all four are from the same family group. Dr Helen Senn, RZSSs head of conservation, said: Im sure that everyone in the community will be happy and relieved to know that the second pair of lynx have been safely captured. Early reports are that they appear to be in good health, which is the most important thing. Its been a rollercoaster 48 hours, with people working throughout the day and night, in some extremely challenging conditions, but Ive been so impressed by the efforts of our own staff as well as partners, and members of the local community, to ensure that the outcome is a positive one. Although we dont think that there are any more lynx out there, we will continue to monitor the release site under the direction of Police Scotland, she added. It is understood the pair were spotted on camera traps set by staff from the RZSS in woods near Kingussie, in the Cairngorms, close to where the first two were trapped. Police Scotland launched a criminal investigation into the release. A statement said: Inquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of how they came to be in the area, as well as the additional pair of lynx which were captured on Thursday 9 January 2025. We would continue to ask people not to travel to the area, particularly in the current weather conditions. Further inquiries will remain ongoing in the woods, involving officers and specialist animal experts. The unauthorised release of the animals, which worried local farmers and gamekeepers, has infuriated conservationists who are working on a lengthy and officially sanctioned project to set up an approved programme to reintroduce lynx in the region. The RZSS said their release was highly irresponsible. It said the animals, members of a wild cat species that appear to have been bred in captivity, would have been likely to die in the wild, particularly in the depths of winter. They were released next to a forest road used regularly for logging operations, which put them at risk of being crushed by trucks. Whoever did this has absolutely no regard for the welfare of these animals, said one source. The RZSS has a network of camera traps in nearby forests as part of a programme to repopulate the Cairngorms with wildcats, a native breed that has been on the brink of extinction, using animals bred at the wildlife park. It released 19 satellite-tagged wildcats in October 2023, the first time a predatory mammal has been lawfully reintroduced in the UK. Some are already successfully breeding in the wild; the RZSS plans to release up to 60, in separate phases. The first pair of lynx were spotted on Wednesday evening near a layby where straw bedding was strewn around, and they seemed to be comfortable around people. Related: Week in wildlife in pictures: an entangled elk, a grieving whale and a tortoise on the run Willie Anderson, a deputy team leader of Cairngorm mountain rescue, came within 60 metres of the pair. They had definitely been illegally released because they were 100 yards from a pile of straw bedding that contained dead chicks and, interestingly, porcupine quills the bedding was peppered with porcupine quills, he said on Thursday. They were very tame and you could see they had been released from a nearby layby because there was the straw there, too. They were only 100 yards from that spot and the road. I dont think they would have survived in the wild. Edward Mountain, a Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said local farmers and gamekeepers feared this could be a case of guerrilla rewilding, where activists were trying to circumvent the slow-paced official lynx reintroduction programme. He said the the farmers and gamekeepers feared the lynx could turn on their sheep and gamebirds out of hunger. There are reports some were prepared to shoot any lynx seen on their land. Theyre used to humans so I think the fear is that the cats could starve and will, in turn, turn to easy prey, which could be sheep or gamebirds, which is what the keepers are saying to me. He said local landowners believed this illegal activity was more widespread than acknowledged, and pointed to the unlawful release of beavers in parts of Perthshire in the early to mid-2000s. Ecologists estimate about 1,000 beavers are living in the wild in Scotland, having spread across the southern Highlands, and colonising rivers in the Forth River catchment, west of Edinburgh. Mountain said some land managers believed sea eagles and goshawks may have been illegally released in the area a theory rejected by conservationists. The UAV pilots of the 6th battalion, 12th brigade (Azov) in the Serebryansky forest, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Photograph: Julia Kochetova Ukraines highest profile combat unit is seeking English-speaking recruits at a time when the impending presidency of Donald Trump means that Kyiv is expected to come under intense pressure on the battlefield. Azov, a volunteer brigade whose decade-old nationalist origins have made it a target of Russian propaganda, plans to form an international battalion to boost its numbers as Ukraine heads into a fourth year of full-scale war. The unit commander, whose call sign is Karl, said Azov largely hoped to recruit people with military experience because Ukraine is smaller than Russia and needs all the help it can get in a struggle of international significance. Related: Ukraine war briefing: Western allies pledge $2bn in military aid for Ukraine We are fighting to not let Russia become closer to Europe, he said, arguing that if Ukraine were to fall, Moscow would go on to threaten Poland, the Baltic states and other nations, some of whom were smaller than Ukraine. Fifteen Britons, acting as soldiers or volunteer workers, have been killed since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, including two whose deaths have been announced this month: the frontline medic Jordan Maclachlan, 26, from Scotland and the former British Army soldier Jake Waddington, 34, a member of the International Legion. They are among a steady flow of Britons and other westerners who have joined Ukraines armed forces in a near three-year conflict that, as of early December, had claimed the lives of 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and, according to intelligence estimates, roughly three times as many Russians. Travelling to Ukraine to fight in its armed forces is not illegal, unless you are a member of the UK armed forces, though it is not encouraged. In the early stages of the war, the then defence secretary Ben Wallace said Britons without military training would be of little use to Ukraines military. Non-Ukrainians seeking to join Azov have to complete a recruitment process, including interviews in Kyiv, which Karl said includes a psychological assessment and a polygraph test, to check they do not work undercover for Russian special forces. Initial training will last two to three months, even for those with military experience, in groups of about 80 to reflect the realities of the Ukrainian battlefield, where there is a heavy use of drones and artillery. The training of some soldiers in Europe hasnt changed much since the second world war, Karl said. After training, those willing to stay on are expected to join infantry assault units. Karl acknowledged that recruits would eventually be placed in dangerous situations. The reality can be rather bad, its a war, the commander said. Azov is now operating near Toretsk in the east of Ukraine, a ruined town split between both sides armies. The situation across the entire front is expected to worsen for Ukraine because Trump is expected to curtail or cut the flow of US military aid while trying to end the conflict. Questions have been raised in the past about the effectiveness of the International Legion, the dedicated unit for foreign fighters at the start of the war, with accusations of corruption and poor leadership leading to heavy casualties. However, Azov is one of the most popular units for Ukrainians to join, even as the willingness of civilians to join the military has dropped. It is considered to be better run than other brigades and is seen as a tenacious defender of Ukraine, having fought in a last stand in Mariupol in 2022. The brigade began life as a volunteer militia fighting Russian-backed separatists in 2014, and some of its leaders held ultra-nationalistic and far right views. Russia designated it a terror group in 2022, and for several years the US refused to supply it arms directly. However, Azov has changed over a continuous decade of fighting. In the summer, a US review led to the end of the weapons ban, concluding the unit had not committed any human rights violations. At the time, Russia accused Washington of being willing to flirt with neo-Nazis, comments Azov members dismiss as propaganda. Our deeds in Mariupol changed a lot, Karl said. In May 2022, the brigade was surrounded at the Azovstal plant, and nearly 2,500 put down their arms after running out of ammunition. An estimated 900 are still held prisoner in Russia. As multiple fires rage around the Los Angeles basin, the 7,500 fire and emergency personnel on the ground are facing unprecedented conditions. At least five LA residents have been killed, and the death count is expected to rise as responders search burned areas. At least 10,000 structures have been destroyed, and several of the five blazes are still burning out of control. This is what our crews train for, Capt Adam VanGerpen of the Los Angeles fire department told local news. Were used to keeping long hours. Whats keeping us going is theres work to do. There are still homes on fire, there are people being evacuated. Were just at the beginning stages of this. Fire crews are facing dire challenges, hurdles that have intensified the fires and are complicating the response. Whipping winds Hurricane-force winds peaked at 100mph in some areas of the LA basin during the week. Most of the mountain areas remain under a red-flag warning, indicating that any fires that start will spread rapidly. High winds stopped scooper planes and helicopters from dropping water on the fires on Tuesday night, and may do so in the future. But they can also disperse dropped water in all directions, instead of allowing it to drop on flames. In addition, winds blow embers into new areas. Dry desert air from the east which is not normal this time of year has been fanning the flames while blowing over hilltops and down through the canyons. That makes the job of containing a fire much harder. (Containment, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, refers to a control line around a portion of the fire that flames should not be able to cross. So if a wildfire is described as 25% contained, then firefighters have created control lines usually wide trenches around 25% of its perimeter.) This wildfire was the most chaotic winds Ive experienced in 20 years, Capt Erik Scott, a Los Angeles fire department spokesperson, said about the Palisades blaze, the largest of the fires. These were the chaotic winds that we were absolutely worried would create the explosive fire behavior that we do have, Scott said. Its not just the flame fronts that take out houses. Its the ember cast that can fly a mile or two in front and will land on a property or go in somebodys attic and burn homes from the top down. In addition, low humidity sucks water from grasses and trees, making them more susceptible to fire. Dry hydrants When firefighters turned on hydrant valves in parts of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood to fight blazes on Tuesday night, they found low water pressure or, in some cases, dry hydrants. The Los Angeles department of water and power (LADWP) was pumping from aqueducts and groundwater, but demand outpaced supply in the 1m-gallon tanks, leading to low water pressure. LA mayor Karen Bass estimated that 20% of hydrants ran dry in the Pacific Palisades, where more than 1,000 structures have been lost. Hydrants are designed for fighting one or two fires at a time not hundreds of buildings and homes on fire. Three million gallons of water were available when the Palisades fire started, said Janisse Quinones, head of LADWP, later at a news conference. But the demand had been four times greater than weve ever seen in the system. Personnel There are 9,000 firefighters in Los Angeles county between the countys fire department and other fire agencies, which is not sufficient to address all the fires in the region, according to fire officials. With local firefighting capacity close to the maximum, authorities are calling on outside help to battle the blazes. Anthony Marrone, the LA county fire department chief, said on Wednesday that all 29 county fire departments are at a drawdown, with no fire apparatus or additional personnel to spare. LAFD put out notice of a recall operation, asking all off-duty crews to report their availability to assist in firefighting the first time in 19 years the department has had to turn to this protocol. Other parts of the region are stepping in to help. Crews from Alameda county, Oakland, Hayward and Fremont fire departments were sent to help. Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Oregon sent teams to assist as well. Roadblocks Hundreds of cars were left blocking Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard, two of the main corridors in and out of Pacific Palisades. As people abandoned their cars and fled on foot, first responders were forced to push more than 200 cars aside with bulldozers so firefighting crews could drive up the hill to houses in danger. Cecilia Nowell contributed reporting Donald Trump is unlikely to face custody when he is sentenced on Friday - BLOOMBERG Donald Trump will be sentenced on Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court has ruled. The justices, by a 5-4 majority, rejected the president-elects last-minute request to delay proceedings, meaning that he will be sentenced just over a week before he is due to take office. Mr Trump, 78, was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York last year in an alleged attempt to cover up an affair with Stormy Daniels, the adult film star. Amy Coney Barrett, whom Mr Trump appointed to the court in 2020, and chief justice John Roberts sides with the three liberals on the court to rule against the Republican. Four conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh said they would have granted Trumps request. In a short statement, the Court said that some of Mr Trumps objections to the sentencing going ahead could be handled in the ordinary course on appeal. It went on to say that it would impose a relatively insubstantial burden on the president-elects responsibilities as Juan Merchan, the judge in charge of the case, has signalled that he would not face jail time or other penalties. Mr Trumps sentencing will now be held in Manhattan on Friday at 9.30am (2.30pm UK). Sentencing expected to be relatively insubstantial The brief order gave two reasons for the decision. First, the alleged evidentiary violations at president-elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president-elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. Mr Trump is the first former US president to be convicted of a crime - REUTERS Mr Trump said in remarks at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida after the Supreme Courts order: I read it and I thought was a fair decision, actually. He wrote on his social media platform: For the sake and sanctity of the presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that justice will prevail. Lawyers acting for Mr Trump had repeatedly attempted to have his conviction thrown out and sentencing delayed, arguing that it would interfere with his work as he prepares to enter the White House for the second time. Forcing president Trump to defend a criminal case and appear for a criminal sentencing hearing at the apex of the Presidential transition creates a constitutionally intolerable risk of disruption to national security and Americas vital interests, they told justices this week. Prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorneys office said the notion that Mr Trump was entitled to immunity as president-elect was utterly baseless. The president-elect is, by definition, not yet the president, they argued in a court filing on Thursday. The president-elect therefore does not perform any Article II functions under the Constitution, and there are no Article II functions that would be burdened by ordinary criminal process involving the president-elect. Justice Juan Merchan has indicated that Mr Trump will not face jail time - REUTERS Waiting until after Jan 20, when Mr Trump is inaugurated as the 47th president, would pose much more severe and potentially insuperable obstacles to sentencing and finality, it added. Illegitimate political attack Justice Merchan has previously suggested he may issue an unconditional discharge to Mr Trump, which would mark a rare and lenient alternative to prison or probation. The move appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow defendant to pursue his appellate options, he said in an 18-page decision released last week. At the time, Mr Trump criticised the decision on his Truth Social platform as an illegitimate political attack that was nothing but a Rigged Charade. The president-elect was found guilty in May of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to Ms Daniels, allegedly to conceal an affair that could have harmed his 2016 campaign for the White House. It marked the first time a US president former or sitting had been convicted of or charged with a criminal offence. He has denied any wrongdoing. Although falsifying business records is a class E felony in New York and therefore punishable by up to four years in prison, legal experts cast doubt on whether the 78-year-old Republican would face prison time. Nigel Farage has said that he is thoughtful when asked if the UK should consider bringing back Shamima Begum. The Reform UK leader said that instinctively it is not something he would want to do but he is now thoughtful about the matter. His comments come after Donald Trumps incoming counter-terrorism chief called for the repatriation of British members of the so-called Islamic State being held in Syrian prison camps. Shamima Begum will not be allowed back to the UK, David Lammy said (PA) Earlier this week, Sebastian Gorka said that any nation that wishes to be seen as a serious ally of the US should commit to the international fight against the extremist group by taking back citizens currently in the north east of Syria. Speaking to ITV News at Reforms South East England conference, Mr Farage said that its very difficult for us to think we should take back people, Shamima Begum and others and instinctively, its not something I want to do. When asked whether he thought the UK should consider such a move, he said: Ive never wanted to. Ive instinctively never wanted to. But Im now thoughtful. Im thoughtful. I dont classify her as an Isis, an all-out Isis killer. Mr Farage said that he believes her to be a lesser part of the equation. A Conservative government led by me will never take back terrorists like Shamima Begum who have been stripped of their citizenship. Actions must have consequences or there is no deterrent. Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. Its not an https://t.co/RJKPpbKHu9 Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) January 10, 2025 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that a Conservative government with her as leader will never take back Ms Begum. She added: Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. Its not an international travel document for crime tourism. In an interview with The Times, Mr Gorka said: Any nation which wishes to be seen to be a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment when asked if the UK should be forced to accept Isis members back. That is doubly so for the UK which has a very special place in President Trumps heart and we would all wish to see the special relationship fully re-established. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that Ms Begum will not be coming back to the UK. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that Shamima Begum will not be coming back to the UK (Leon Neal/PA) Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Thursday, he said: Its gone right through the courts. Shes not a UK national. We will not be bringing her back to the UK. Were really clear about that. We will act in our security interests. And many of those in those camps are dangerous, are radicals. Ms Begum was 15 when she travelled from Bethnal Green, east London, into territory controlled by IS in 2015. She was married off to an IS fighter and was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019. Shamima Begum was 15 when she travelled to Syria via Turkey with two other girls (Metropolitan Police/PA) The upheaval in Syria following the collapse of Bashar Assads regime has put the future of the camps holding IS-linked prisoners in doubt. The Syrian Democratic Forces, the anti-Assad group allied with the West, has been guarding tens of thousands of captured foreign IS members and their children in sprawling camps and detention centres. The two deliberately abandoned lynx at large in the Scottish Highlands have been captured safe and sound. Staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said they were able to bait the duo into humane traps in the Cairngorms, after they were spotted overnight on Thursday. A joint effort from Police Scotland and rangers from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) led to their capture at 6.30pm on Friday, near the Dell of Killiehuntly, where two other illegally released lynx had been captured on Thursday. Dr Helen Senn, RZSS head of conservation said: Im sure that everyone in the community will be happy and relieved to know that the second pair of lynx have been safely captured. Early reports are that they appear to be in good health, which is the most important thing. Its been a rollercoaster 48 hours, with people working throughout the day and night, in some extremely challenging conditions, but Ive been so impressed by the efforts of our own staff as well as partners, and members of the local community to ensure that the outcome is a positive one. The lynx will now be moved to Highland Wildlife Park before being moved to Edinburgh Zoo to quarantine for 30 days. Although we dont think that there are any more lynx out there, we will continue to monitor the release site under the direction of Police Scotland. Highland Wildlife Park, situated within the Kingussie region of the Cairngorms, said in a statement of Facebook that the animals had been deserted on purpose, but reiterated RZSSs assurance that they are in good health. The statement says: Two additional lynx who appear to have been deliberately abandoned in the Cairngorms have been safely captured this evening. Police Scotland said inquiries into how the lynx ended up in the area are continuing, and officers and wildlife experts will continue to examine the area where the incident took place. Britain is being controlled by trade unions, Kemi Badenoch has said as she accused Sir Keir Starmer of fronting Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party. In an interview with the Telegraph, the Tory leader said the Governments school reforms showed Labour was just doing what the unions want them to do. She added: The country is back under union control, and thats what we are fighting against. But a Government source dismissed her comments as ludicrous. The Governments school reforms, contained in the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill that passed its first Commons hurdle on Wednesday, include removing some of the freedoms that academies enjoy, such as on pay and the curriculum. The Conservatives have described this as educational vandalism that will set back progress made on school standards in recent years, while Labour insists that the changes will ensure high-quality education in all schools. The National Education Union (NEU) has welcomed the proposals, saying they would make a meaningful difference to the lives of staff and children, but has also vowed to push for more investment. Mrs Badenoch told the Telegraph: Their way of making everything equal is dragging everyone down rather than bringing others up. Our way of making things equal is bringing people up. They want to destroy the schools that are doing well. I really worry that people think that they have something like the New Labour government thats just a bit moderate and just doing things a little bit on the Left. What we have is Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party fronted by Keir Starmer. This is all the Corbynite stuff, but Keir Starmer is fronting it This is Jeremy Corbyns dream. Her comments come as the National Education Union announced plans to hold an indicative ballot on industrial action after the Government recommended a 2.8% pay rise for 2024/25. In its evidence to the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) in December, the Government said a 2.8% increase would be appropriate but NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said the proposal was not sufficient to even start to address the crisis in recruitment and retention. The pay review body is yet to make a formal recommendation for teacher pay in England. In response to Mrs Badenochs comments, a Government source said: These are absurd comments from a politician who has shown this week by trying to block crucial child protection legislation that she is unfit to run this country. Contrary to these ludicrous comments, academies are here to stay which is more than can be said for Kemi Badenoch as leader of the Conservative Party. Sir Rod Stewart has said his greatest joy has always been performing for his fans as he celebrated turning 80 years young. The veteran rocker marked his milestone birthday on Friday by sharing a series of photos from across his life and 60-year career including being knighted by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. He thanked well-wishers for sending wonderful birthday messages to him in an Instagram post which also featured images of him performing on stage in his younger years, attending his sons wedding and racing Sir Elton John on a football field. Sir Rod wrote: Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes 80 years young! What an incredible journey its been from unforgettable moments on and off the stage to earning some truly special honours along the way. But above all, my greatest joy has always been performing for you. Cheers to the memories weve made and the ones still to come! #80YearsOfRod. The singer, known for the hits include Da Ya Think Im Sexy?, Hot Legs and Maggie May, is set to play the coveted teatime Legends slot at Glastonbury in June. He promised last year he would not retire but confirmed his 2025 European and North American shows will bring an end to his large-scale world tours, with his next slate to be held at more intimate venues. His wife Penny Lancaster, who he married in 2007, said she felt so blessed to share his 80th birthday with him and their children. Building more memories to carry with us into the future and to be held close to our hearts forever, I love you xx, she added in an Instagram post alongside a photo of Sir Rod in what appeared to be a sunny, and oversees destination, which has been reported to be a Caribbean island. The couple share two children while Sir Rod also has six other children, including socialite Kimberly Stewart, model Ruby Stewart and reality star and musician Sean Stewart, from previous relationships. Former Britains Next Top Model host Lisa Snowdon, TV presenter Davina McCall, Sir Rods tour singer Becca Kotte, TV presenter Lizzie Cundy, pianist and BBC music show host Jools Holland all commented with birthday messages for the singer on Lancasters post. Holland, who released the album Swing Fever with Sir Rod last year, wrote: Many happy returns dear pal xxx. McCall added: Happy Birthday Rod! Thank you for all the joy and dancing!!! Hope you all have the best day. Pop superstars Sir Rod Stewart and Sir Elton John (PA) Sir Elton John wished his great mate Sir Rod a happy birthday with a collection of images of them together over the years, adding: Hope you have a brilliant day celebrating. Much love. The pair, who have been occasional rivals, duetted together on the track Sad Songs (Say So Much) when Sir Elton received the first Brits Icon Award in 2013. The Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood shared a picture of the pair in their younger days to Instagram to mark the occasion. Wood, who was in the band Faces with Sir Rod, wrote: Happy 80th birthday @sirrodstewart! My lifelong pal is having a big birthday today! Please join me in wishing him a wonderful day. Drummer Kenney Jones, known for The Small Faces, The Faces, The Law and The Who, also said he hoped Sir Rod has a great day. Sir Rod, who will end his European tour in May and North American dates in August, is a member of the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and was knighted by the late Queen in 2016 for his services to music and charity. Tesco has called on the Government to deliver a clear plan to support British farming in the transition to net zero amid ongoing turmoil in the sector. In a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference on Friday, the supermarkets chief commercial officer Ashwin Prasad said the industry needs a clear vision for sustainable agriculture, including greater investment and policy certainty. It comes after Environment Secretary Steve Reed told the conference on Thursday that the primary purpose of farming is food production as he outlined measures to boost profits, restore nature and diversify incomes. His speech was overshadowed at the event by angry protests and repeated questions over last years budget measures to introduce inheritance tax on farm businesses, which has become a political flashpoint for an industry struggling with rising costs, unfair supply chains and climate change. Tesco is now calling on the Government to better support UK farmers to drive sustainable growth through a long-term land use strategy, improved funding for all stages of innovation and setting common environmental standards. Mr Prasad said: As the biggest customer of UK agriculture, we know providing our customers with healthy, affordable and sustainable food wouldnt be possible without the expertise and dedication of our farmers across the country. But to continue to thrive in the future, the industry needs more certainty and support. Many of the solutions we need exist today, but government and the food industry need to make sure we have the right incentives in place so that UK agriculture can reach its potential as a driver of both sustainability and economic growth. The supermarket outlined a series of recommendations to Government for a clear sustainable farming plan, based off its research with Harper Adams University. Farmers in tractors make their way along the A303 near Middleton, Hampshire during a national tractor rally organised by Farmers To Action (Andrew Matthews/PA) After consulting more than 300 UK farmers on the future sustainability of the industry, the researchers found that 74% are concerned about the impact of climate change and 67% are already seeing the effects. But the survey also found that 76% have not been able to implement all the environmental measures they want to because of high upfront costs, the risk of poor financial returns and a lack of policy certainty from government. It comes as Tesco announced that it is working with potato supplier Branston and livestock processor ABP to launch two low carbon concept farms in its UK supply chain. The retailer has committed to the multi-year project, where farms will trial new technologies such as low carbon fertilisers, alternative fuels and carbon removal techniques as well as sustainable practices in soil management, grazing management, biodiversity management and genetic improvements. The farms will aim to provide farmers in Tescos supply network with share learnings. Michael Lee, Harper Adams University deputy vice chancellor, said: Farmers know the importance of tackling climate change with most reporting they are already seeing its effect on their farms. The successful Tesco Future Farmer programme is a great example of how farmers, retailers and researchers at universities like Harper Adams can all strive together to build a sustainable future. The challenge of moving our food and farming systems towards net zero and ensuring food security at the same time is huge, and we all need to work together to take it on. An Environment Department spokesperson said: Our commitment to farmers is steadfast. Its why this Government is investing 5 billion into farming over the next two years the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and in our countrys history. As we set out in our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, delivering nature recovery, supporting rural economic growth and boosting Britains food security. The UK has announced sanctions against two Russian oil firms as the Foreign Secretary pledged to hit Putin where it hurts amid the continuing war in Ukraine. Britain and the US are sanctioning Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas, which, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), between them produce more than one million barrels of oil per day. The latest sanctions come after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer discussed the conflict with French President Emmanuel Macron over dinner. In a post on X on Friday afternoon, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: Todays sanctions hit Putin where it hurts slashing the oil revenues that fund his illegal war. Today's sanctions hit Putin where it hurts slashing the oil revenues that fund his illegal war. Starving the Kremlin's war chest remains my personal mission and the time to act is now. The UK and our allies will not back down in our support for Ukraine. https://t.co/Vsfpe0yGTe David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 10, 2025 Starving the Kremlins war chest remains my personal mission and the time to act is now. The UK and our allies will not back down in our support for Ukraine. In a separate statement released by the FCDO, Mr Lammy had said: We will not stand by and let oil profits endanger the lives of Ukrainians nor will we let Russia keep filling its coffers as it continues to threaten our collective security. The conflict approaching its third anniversary was among the topics discussed when Sir Keir and Mr Macron met at Chequers on Thursday evening. Following the Chequers meeting, a Downing Street spokesperson said the two men discussed the UKs reset with the EU, support for Ukraine and the need for unity in uncertain times. Special counsel Jack Smith in Washington in 2023. A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Justice Department can release a report on President-elect Donald Trumps efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss but kept in place a judge's order requiring a three-day delay to allow for further appeals. The ruling means Trump can ask the Supreme Court to block the release of the report written by special counsel Jack Smith. A spokesperson for Trump did not say whether the president-elect would appeal Thursday's ruling but instead attacked Smith in a statement. Trump was dealt another legal blow Thursday when the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to clear the way for sentencing in his New York hush money case to move forward Friday. Trump was indicted in 2023 and again in 2024 on four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The case was dismissed following his election because of a long-standing Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. Trump, who has promised to pardon an untold number of Jan. 6 defendants once he takes office again, had pleaded not guilty. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a letter to Congress on Wednesday that he planned to release the election interference-related volume of Smith's report publicly if U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's order blocking the release of the report was overruled. The appeals court Thursday kept intact Cannon's order requiring a brief delay before its release. Garland has said he wont release volume two of the report, drafted by Smith and focused on Trump's classified documents case, while cases against co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira are still pending. In his statement Thursday night, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said, It is time for Joe Biden and Merrick Garland to do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our Justice system. Trump, who has frequently criticized the special counsel, said in an interview in October before he was elected that he would fire him within two seconds upon his re-election. NBC News reported in November that Smith and his team plan to step down before Trump takes office on Jan. 20. As greater Los Angeles burns and California endures what may be its most costly disaster ever, President-elect Donald Trump has unleashed a volley of criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Trump demanded Newsom, a Democrat, resign late Wednesday as the fires raged and multiplied, posting on Truth Social, One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. Its ashes, and Gavin Newscum [sic] should resign. This is all his fault!!! President Joe Biden did not directly address Trump's comments at a White House briefing Thursday afternoon as he announced the federal government will cover for 180 days the entire cost of wildfire response measures necessary to protect lives, including debris removal, shelter and first responder salaries. Were going to make sure you get every resource you need, Biden said. At the end of the briefing, a reporter asked Biden whether he believed California would get the assistance it needs from the incoming administration. Im not in a position to answer that question, he said. I pray to God they will. More: 10 dead, 10K structures destroyed as LA fires turn neighborhoods into ash: Live updates A 'Trump versus Newsom thing' Trump accused Newsom of withholding water from Southern California to protect a tiny northern fish, and claimed Biden has left FEMA with no money, posting NO WATER IN THE FIRE HYDRANTS, NO MONEY IN FEMA. THIS IS WHAT JOE BIDEN IS LEAVING ME." Both claims are false, according to fact-checkers, who note that experts said Wednesday there is no connection between Southern California fires and Trump's suggestion, which Newsom opposed, to divert more water to farmers in the Central Valley. FEMA is not out of money, as Congress appropriated $29 billion for it in December after Biden requested $40 billion. U.S. President Donald Trump visits the charred wreckage of Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park with Governor-elect Gavin Newsom (L), Paradise Mayor Jody Jones (R) and Governor Jerry Brown in Paradise, California, U.S., November 17, 2018. Newsom's director of communications Izzy Gardon fired back Thursday morning: "The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need," she said in an email to the USA Today network. Trump and Newsom's war of the words goes back to the presidential campaign, when Trump threatened to withhold disaster relief funds from California if Newsom didn't change certain policies. During a Sept. 13 news conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Trump claimed that the states wildfires could be prevented if California changed how it manages its limited water supply. If he doesnt sign those papers, we wont give him money to put out all his fires, Trump said, referring to Newsom authorizing water diversions to farmers. And if we dont give him all the money to put out the fires, hes got problems. Trump just admitted he will block emergency disaster funds to settle political vendettas, Newsom responded on X, formerly known as Twitter, at the time. Today its Californias wildfires. Tomorrow it could be hurricane funding for North Carolina or flooding assistance for homeowners in Pennsylvania. Donald Trump doesnt care about America he only cares about himself. Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, on January 7, 2025. California officials often worked with Trump on disaster aid during his first term. Newsom maintained a mostly collegial relationship with Trump, and even when Trump threatened to withhold disaster aid for fires in 2019, he ultimately approved the money. The makeup of the Golden State's congressional delegation at that time helped. Although Trump clashed repeatedly with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, he worked well with Rep. Kevin McCarthy of the Central Valley, who was then the GOP leader in the House. Republican members of the state delegation often took the lead when working with the Trump administration on disaster aid for the state. Rep. Luz Rivas, a Democrat whose northern Los Angeles district was hit by the Hurst Fire, said she's hoping that Trump and Newsom can work together this time as well. These fires are not a political game and I am concerned it will turn into that, Rivas said. I hope it doesnt become a Trump versus California or a Trump versus Newsom thing. The Hurst fire is the third-largest fire burning in the Los Angeles area, and with most national attention focused on the massive Palisades and Eaton fires, Rivas is worried about working-class and suburban communities in her area in northern Los Angeles County, including Pacoima, Newhall and San Fernando, and the Santa Clarita Valley, getting the resources they need. Federal disaster assistance usually covers the bulk of rebuilding public infrastructure including roads, sewers, schools and fire stations. "In disasters of this magnitude we rely on federal assistance, Rivas said. I just hope that happens, that it is just continuous and that Jan. 20 doesn't mean that anything is going to change with the recovery. I am concerned because of the president-elects (past) threats, but I do hope that President-elect Trump does the right thing," Democratic Rep. Judy Chu, who has long represented the now-ravaged community of Altadena, said. "After all, wildfires dont have any political affiliation. They affect everybody, they affect people of all the political parties some of whom did indeed vote for President Trump." She added, "I hope he does the right thing because this is about quality of life for Americans whose lives have been absolutely devastated by this wildfire. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., struck a more conciliatory note on Thursday, saying in an email that Congress could work to guarantee funds and continue to persuade Trump as well. "I have always worked across the aisle to secure relief for Californians and other disaster-stricken communities that will not change under a Trump administration," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Governor-elect Gavin Newsom (L) after greeting Governor Jerry Brown (C) upon arriving at Beale Air Force Base, California, U.S., November 17, 2018. Pentagon, Navy sending equipment, manpower Biden quickly signed an emergency declaration for the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires, and federal and state forces have responded swiftly to battle the blazes. "We're doing literally everything we can at a federal level," Biden said. "We're going to continue to expend literally every resource we can find that's appropriate to help the governor and first-responders." "We are with you," Biden said. "We're going to help you get through this and eventually help you rebuild." The aid approved by Biden comes from the $100 billion pot of disaster funding Congress approved in December and covers the costs associated with federal firefighters and using federal air tankers to drop water and flame retardant. But that money is set to go to many places, and getting Congress to quickly approve more has proven to be a fight in the past. As of Thursday morning, at least five people were dead, including a man found holding a hose by the side of the road and an Altadena grandmother who declined to evacuate, and more than 1,000 homes had burned, with five fires scorching about 40 square miles. Close to 200,000 people were evacuated and another half million had no power or clean drinking water. Experts say at least $10 billion in damage has occurred so far, and likely far more. More: 'Unprecedented' fires still torching LA area; 180,000 told to flee: Live updates It is plausible that the Palisades Fire in particular will become the costliest fire on record, period. Not just in California, but in general, said Daniel Swain, a University of California Los Angeles climatologist, in a briefing Wednesday. The Pentagon is rushing firefighting equipment and personnel to battle the wildfires in California, including aircraft to help suppress the blazes. The California and Nevada-based National Guard are providing four Modular Airborne Firefighting System units that can convert workhorse C-130 airplanes into airtankers, Sabrina Singh, the Pentagons deputy press secretary, told reporters, and Biden said four more would be sent, along with 800 federal firefighters. The Navy is also deploying 10 helicopters with buckets to drop water on the fires. Many U.S. military installations in the area have personnel and equipment that can also be surged to fight this awful blaze, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in Germany at a meeting of allies supporting Ukraine. On the ground, the California National Guard has activated two ground firefighting teams and four military police companies to assist local law enforcement and emergency response, Maj. Jennifer Staton, a Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement. (This article has been updated to clarify that Trump's comments about withholding aid from California were made during the campaign. ) This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Trump attacks Newsom as Biden pledges wildfire aid for California Cigarettes could be less addictive if tobacco companies are forced to limit nicotine levels. In its last few days of power, the Biden administration is expected to officially propose a limit on nicotine in cigarettes. Itd be a last-minute move to push back against the tobacco industry after President Joe Biden failed to finalize a long-standing pledge to ban menthol cigarettes. The proposal, which could come as soon as Monday, is not expected to include tobacco products like e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement patches and lozenges. This is a Hail Mary from the Biden administration to move forward with a meaningful proposal, or at least to jump-start one in the waning days of the administration, said Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association. While its the toxins released by combustible tobacco that cause chronic illnesses and death associated with smoking, its nicotine that first gets people hooked, and then keeps them coming back. Precise details of the proposal to cap nicotine levels have not been released. Multiple studies have suggested, however, that levels may have to be slashed by up to 95% to make them minimally or non-addictive. This would be a historic action by the FDA that has the potential to have an enormous impact on public health, said Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, science and medical officer of the American Heart Association. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing more than 480,000 people each year. Nearly all smokers started as teenagers. Making cigarettes less addictive would save millions of lives, Sward said. A 2018 study from the Food and Drug Administration estimated that a nicotine cap would result in 16 million fewer people becoming addicted to smoking by the year 2060. That number would increase, per the studys projection, to 33.1 million by 2100. If the Biden administration releases the proposed rule next week, it would still likely take several years to become final. Limiting nicotine in cigarettes would be game-changing, Yolonda C. Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement to NBC News. Few actions would do more to fight chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease that greatly undermine health in the United States and that the incoming administration has indicated should be a priority to address. It was during President-elect Donald Trumps first term when the FDA which has authority to regulate tobacco first publicly discussed a plan to limit nicotine levels. In 2017, then-FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb set the wheels in motion by unveiling a comprehensive plan that included an idea to regulate nicotine in combustible cigarettes and render them minimally or non-addictive. It was intended, in part, to redirect adult smokers to noncombustible products such as e-cigarettes. The 2017 plan also included the potential for regulation of e-cigarette flavors and a ban on menthol products. A federal ban on most flavors went into effect in 2020, however, menthol remains on the market. In an interview this week, Gottlieb said that addressing smoking rates would have to be at the top of the agenda in any effort to improve public health and reduce chronic disease. There could be perhaps no more impactful thing we can do than to dramatically reduce smoking rates in this country, he said. FILE - The sinkhole, where the remains of Elizabeth Pollard was found, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, is shown in Marguerite, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File) UNITY, Pa. (AP) A sinkhole where a Pennsylvania woman fell to her death last month is now being filled with hundreds of cubic yards of grout in a bid to stabilize the site. The work in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, started just days after emergency responders found the remains of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard on Dec. 6, four days after she went missing while searching for her cat. The sinkhole was near a restaurant about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) from her home Crews have since pumped more than 3,300 cubic yards of grout into the site, the Pittsburgh-Tribune-Review reported, but it's not yet known when the work will be completed. The work was put on hold this week due to snow and extremely cold temperatures, but officials hope to resume working soon. State environmental officials have said the crews are digging between 12 and 16 boreholes strategically placed across the property. Each is being pumped with a cement-like grout mixture that will slowly spread over a roughly 25-foot area as it hardens, forming wide pillars to support the earth above. Officials have said the sinkhole apparently began as a manhole-sized gap and may have only recently opened above where coal was mined until about 70 years ago. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area in the hours before Pollards disappearance told police they hadnt noticed the sinkhole. British tennis star Emma Raducanu says she turned down treatment for insect bites ahead of this years Australian Open over concerns about what she could be putting in her body. The 22-year-old told reporters that she had been badly bitten by bugs during her preparation for the tournament but decided to tough it out without medication due to heightened doping concerns across the sport. I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take onboard, and what we use, Raducanu said. Yesterday, for example, I got really badly bitten by like ants, mosquitoes, something. Im allergic, I guess, so they flared up and swelled up really a lot. Someone was giving me this antiseptic spray, you know, natural, to try and ease the bites but I didnt want to take it. I didnt want to spray it. I was just left there with my swollen ankle and hand. I was like, Im just going to tough it out because I dont want to risk it. It comes amid two high-profile doping cases which shook the world of tennis last year involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek . World No. 1 Sinner has so far avoided suspension from competition since the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in August that he wasnt at fault despite testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, at low levels from a sample that was collected on March 10. Sinner is still navigating his anti-doping case after testing positive last year. - David Gray/AFP/Getty Images Sinner has said the positive tests stemmed from inadvertent contamination of Clostebol through treatment from his physiotherapist. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in September that it was lodging an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after an independent tribunal, convened by the ITIA, found Sinner wasnt culpable. The appeal will be heard between April 16-17, according to CAS. Meanwhile, former womens world No. 1 Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension last year after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine, which can boost endurance. Swiatek, a five-time grand slam winner, initially said she was shocked at the results and told reporters this week that the period was the worst time in my life. Tests found that her supply of melatonin, which Swiatek said she took to help her sleep, was contaminated. With both Swiatek and Sinner still navigating the fallout from their cases, Raducanu said she is perhaps more sensitive than before. Its obviously a concern on our mind but were all in the same boat. I think its just how we manage as best as we can the controllables, she added. If something out of our control happens, then its going to be a bit of a struggle to try and prove. Raducanu is set to face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday in the first round of this years Australian Open. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Netflix Walter Triplett Jr. gives an interview for Netflix's series 'I Am a Killer' ; Murder victim Michael Corrado. The firsthand accounts depicted in Netflixs I Am a Killer are horrifying, tragic and controversial. But no case has viewers split on whether or not the sentencing was truly warranted as much as Walter Triplett Jr.s. Filmmakers interviewed Walter for the sixth season of the anthology docuseries, which was released on Jan. 8. The episode titled Defense of Another investigates how the former bouncer was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he punched and killed Michael Corrado during a bar fight in Cleveland in 2009. Walter claimed he acted in defense of his twin sister, who he said was punched by another man during a brawl that his group didnt initiate. But the jury found him guilty of felonious assault in September 2009, and he was sentenced to a maximum of 18 years. That conviction was overturned by the 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals in 2011, which cited erroneous and confusing jury instructions as the reason for reversing the ruling, per Cleveland.com. He was tried again, under the same judge and a new jury, and found guilty of felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to a new maximum of 20 years in prison. I did not want this man to die, Walter said in I Am a Killer. I did not want this man to lose his life. I feel empathy and sorrow for his family ... They lost a lot ... But I believe that the people that chased us out and attacked us are responsible for Michael Corrados death. So, what happened to Walter Triplett Jr.? Heres everything to know about the case and the circumstances surrounding the fatal punch that landed him a 20-year prison sentence. Who is Walter Triplett Jr.? Netflix Walter Triplett Jr. Walter Triplett Jr. is a former bouncer convicted of killing Michael Corrado during a bar fight in 2009. He grew up in Cleveland with his twin sister, Waltonya Triplett, and their two older siblings. Even though were twins, she was always kinda like my little sister, he said in the docuseries. She was mine to protect. She was mine to look after. In I Am a Killer, Walter said he started getting into trouble with the law when he was a teen after his mother was diagnosed with cancer and his parents started having marital problems. He first went to prison when he was 17 and was convicted on eight separate occasions for crimes such as robbery, felonious assault and promoting prostitution. He was released from a three-year stint in 2007. At the time of the murder, Walter had welcomed his first child, enrolled in college and started a venue security business. In 2009, his father told Cleveland.com that he was proud of how long his son had stayed out of trouble. "He was doing so good," Walter Triplett Sr. said. "I'm proud of my son. He had the opportunity to get back in the streets. But he chose to better himself." Who was Michael Corrado? Netflix Murder victim Michael Corrado. Michael Corrado was the victim of a fatal bar fight in 2009. Originally from Detroit, the 22-year-old moved to Ohio to run a toy store. At the time of his death, his ex-fiance Adriane Cremeans, told Cleveland.com that he was thinking of joining the military or becoming a police officer. Michael was just the best guy, said one of Corrados relatives in I Am a Killer, who remained anonymous in the docuseries. He was the best person, a super kind, gentle soul ... He was really never not there for the people he cared about. Who is Waltonya Triplett? Netflix Waltonya Triplett, twin sister of Walter Triplett Jr. in Netflix's series 'I Am a Killer'. Waltonya Triplett is Walters twin sister. She claimed that during the 2009 incident, an unidentified man hit her while she was trying to break up a street fight, per Cleveland.com. Her twin brother witnessed the attack and punched two men: the man who attacked his sister and Corrado. Police said that they interviewed three other witnesses who supported that version of events. Video of both assaults were also found on security cameras, according to I Am a Killer. He was a protector, she said in the true crime docuseries. Walter protected me. So Ive lived with that guilt. Tom Armelli, the retired Cleveland detective who initially investigated the case, told filmmakers that police never identified the man who attacked Waltonya but that Walter had no right to punch Corrado. Theres a difference between what is right and what is legal, he said. And Walter really had no legal justification for going down there and punching Michael Corrado. How did Michael Corrado die? In I Am a Killer, Walter alleged that on April 30, 2009, he went out to a bar to celebrate a cousins birthday, and a fight broke out within minutes of their arrival. A member of Walters group was punched. Though he maintained that his family werent the aggressors, its unclear what started the brawl. When the bouncers kicked everyone out, Walter said that about 10 or 12 White guys chased him and his family out of the bar. Multiple fights broke out along the street, during which Walter said two men approached Waltonya and one of them punched her. Everything else was biological, he said in I Am a Killer. I had to protect my sister. According to Walter, he punched and knocked out the two men. One got up and ran. The other, Corrado, did not. When he fell backward, he hit his head on a curb. Walter was arrested for assault, and Corrado was transported to the hospital, where he was put on a respirator for 18 hours. He died of a massive head injury, per Cleveland.com. Did the police ever find the man who allegedly assaulted Waltonya Triplett? Netflix Retired Cleveland detective Tom Armelli in Netflix's series 'I Am a Killer'. Waltonya maintained that two men attacked her on April 30, 2009. Police have never identified the second man, who fled the scene. But Detective Armelli told In I Am a Killer filmmakers that they found no evidence that Corrado ever punched or attempted to punch Waltonya. We dont know what Michael was thinking or what he was doing that night, he said. Maybe he was just cutting across the street and ended up next to this guy. So, its entirely possible that Michael Corrado did absolutely nothing wrong and lost his life that night just based on the fact that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the docuseries, Walter maintained that Corrado was not a bystander and that he came out with the crew that chased his family. What was Walter Triplett Jr. charged with and where is he now? Netflix Walter Triplett Jr. gives an interview for Netflix's series 'I Am a Killer'. According to I Am a Killer, the police found insufficient evidence to charge Walter with murder and instead charged him with felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter. The jury failed to reach a decision on involuntary manslaughter but found him guilty of felonious assault. Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold handed down the maximum sentence of 18 years. Walter appealed the conviction in 2011 based on the judges failure to instruct the jury properly on the legal definition of defense of others. The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals overturned the conviction and remanded the case to trial court. Walter went to trial again on Oct. 11, 2011, facing the same judge and the same charges of felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter. This time, he was found guilty of both and sentenced to the new maximum of 20 years in prison. The Ohio native told I Am a Killer filmmakers that he believed racism played a major part in both of his convictions. At his first trial, 11 of the 12 jury members were White. At his second, they were all White. When Black defendants get mostly White juries, then those juries are usually more punitive, Walter said. But somehow, I end up with two juries, two years apart and its all White. And this is in a city thats 60% Black [Cleveland's population is 46.8% Black, per the 2024 U.S. Census]. How does that randomly happen? It doesnt. Richard Bombik, the lawyer who prosecuted the case, told filmmakers that any notion the verdict was based on race is pure garbage. He argued that the maximum sentence wasnt handed down for a single punch but because Walter was a repeat violent offender. According to I Am a Killer, Walter has been incarcerated for 15 years. He is currently carrying out his sentence at Richland Correctional Institution in Mansfield, Ohio. Walter said that when he thinks about the night he killed Corrado, the only thing he could have done differently was stay home. Once they made the choice to chase us out and attack my sister, my choice will always be the same, he said in I Am a Killer. It will always be to protect my family. Read the original article on People Department of Justice Building in Washington D.C. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file) A Florida doctor was federally indicted on allegations he sexually exploited 10 children, including a teenage girl who was found dead after he directed her to hurt herself, according to prosecutors and court documents. Stephen Andrew Leedy, of St. Petersburg, is charged with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement Monday. Leedy, 59, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa area, exploited 10 minors online using the username maximumuncle#9112, prosecutors said. Leedy was arrested Dec. 20 in Georgia, court records said. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if he is convicted on all charges, according to prosecutors. Leedy's attorneys, Bjorn Brunvand and Lucas Fleming, said Thursday their client was being held at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee. In a statement, the lawyers said that Leedy denies wrongdoing and that they plan to enter a not guilty plea. Our client, Stephen Leedy adamantly denies the charges that have been filed against him in federal court. It is particularly important in moments like this when someone is being accused of very troubling allegations, that we afford him the presumption of innocence, the statement said. We will be entering a not guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and look forward to vigorously defending Dr. Leedy in court. Through online conversations and video chats, Leedy instructed the minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves, federal prosecutors said. In November 2022, a 13-year-old girl was found dead in a shower, a motion for pretrial detention said. The girls cellphone was propped up on her bathtub directly in front of her, and it showed she had been talking to maximumuncle#9112, who was later determined to be Leedy, according to the motion. Through a search warrant, law enforcement reviewed Leedys account on a social media application not named in the motion, which showed there were several other minor victims, the motion said. Leedy never revealed his true identity on this online social media application, the motion said. He hid behind the cloak of anonymity by either lying about his identity or using a black screen while engaging in video calls with the minor victims." Florida Department of Health records show Leedy's medical license expires Jan. 31, 2026. An emergency suspension order was filed Tuesday, according to the Health Department. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support. Getty Images/Allrecipes As Hoda Kotb wraps up her nearly 18-year run on "Today," we're reflecting on some of our favorite food moments with the beloved anchor. At the top of that list is when she introduced us to her idea of the "perfect meal." So, what makes a meal perfect? Is it delicious? Easy to make? With just a few ingredients? Kotbs choice checks all those boxesand more. Plus, it's a century old. Hoda Kotb's Perfect Caesar Salad While many of us were celebrating America's birthday on July 4 this year, the hosts of "Today with Hoda and Jenna" marked another special occasion: the 100th anniversary of the humble Caesar salad. Invented in Tijuana, Mexico, by Italian chef Caesar Cardini, the saladfeaturing romaine, croutons, and creamy Caesar dressinghas become a classic. And, paired with fries and a dry martini, it has earned its place as the "perfect meal in Kotb's eyes. During the segment, Kotb and her co-host Jenna Bush Hager were each given a platter with a salad, fries, and martini, and Kotb dug straight into the dressed leaves. This, by the way, is the perfect meal, she said. Can we also just thank Caesar for inventing the Caesar salad? Because...when I was little, the Caesar salad introduced me to lettuce, Hager said. The Caesar salad is really just lettuce covered with delicious cream, cheese, and bread. Youre so right, Kotb agreed. But she takes Hagers order of a Caesar salad with extra dressing one step further. My favorite way to have a Caesar is you get the romaine lettuce; you slice it in half; you drizzle it with olive oil, salt, and pepper; put it on the grillgrill it, grill it, grill it, flip it, grill it, take it off. Put the Caesar dressing on it and some croutons. Theres nothing better, she said. You do that? How many times have you done that, Hager asked. Once, Kotb said with a laugh. It was really good. It might sound like a weird technique, but its one weve stood behind for years. Grilling the romaine lettuce adds flavor and texture to the otherwise boring vegetable. When you lightly char your romaine, it begins to caramelize on the grill and brings out a new, sweet, smoky flavor in the lettuce. One of our Allrecipes Allstars has been using the method for years, and she recommends searing the lettuce at medium-high heat to char the leaves while keeping the center cool and crisp. Even though Kotb says shes only tried the method onceand it was deliciousits incredibly simple to try any time youre craving a Caesar. Instead of taking the time to chop up your romaine, use those few minutes to throw the heads on the grill. So, thank you, Hoda, for this perfect meal idea and 18 years of culinary inspiration. Youll be truly missed! Read the original article on ALLRECIPES Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Ethan Swope/Associated Press Time to face the facts Regarding Climate change may be happening faster than expected, as 2024 sets new global warming record, (Jan. 3): Thanks to Chris Tomlinson for once again telling it like it is about climate change. Among some of the hard truths Tomlinson presented are that humans are still burning more fossil fuels, the people with power are doubling down to push fossil fuels, and climate scientists are worried that they underestimated how quickly the atmosphere is warming due to the burning of fossil fuels. About 18 years ago, an older man in my social circle singled me out often to discuss global warming. He referred to himself as a man of science. He believed that the burning of fossil fuels was heating up the atmosphere, and he was worried about his kids and grandkids. I thought he might be playing me. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One day I challenged him. I asked him why he only voted for Republicans since they dont really want to do anything about global warming. I spoke about three categories of Republican politicians and voters: 1. The Believers But Non-Doers (Burning fossil fuels is damaging the planet but what about jobs?); 2. The Deniers (Climate change is a hoax.); and 3. The End-Timers (The Christians who believe God wants fossil fuels to be used up before the second coming of Christ, when they will rise to meet Jesus while the Earth becomes a fiery ball.) The man was agitated as I spoke. I expected him to blow his top when I finished talking. Strangely, he became calm and said, You got me. He admitted that he voted only for Republicans and somewhat conceded that his party was largely uncommitted to combating global warming. When I asked him if he thought something would eventually be done, he replied with magical talk about how the corporations would ultimately have to fix things. He died some years ago, way before Donald Trump came down the escalator to begin his partnership with the Republican Party. What would that man of science, and father and grandfather, think about what is happening today? I dont think the Republican Party is solely to blame for global warming, but Republican politicians, their voters and titans of industry have been the biggest force in pushing fossil fuels and putting up obstacles to renewable energy. Tomlinson believes that something eventually will awaken Americans to climate changes dangers, but he worries about the scale of the cataclysm it will take to spur action. I worry about that too. For the love of all good things, will anything get through to people? I do believe that it is a sin to just sit back and let all this happen without doing something. In an age where endless lies have become the norm, speaking the truth and calling people out about the climate crisis is an important action we all should take. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Linda Phenix, Houston Regarding Biden ordered new ban on offshore oil drilling. Can Texas Republicans stop it? (Jan. 6): I read this piece with disgust. First, our politicians make Texas' coast a polluted sacrifice zone so that they and their oil and gas friends can make money from us and the rest of the United States. Now, our politicians and industry want to pollute and degrade the rest of our countrys coastal and offshore waters and ecosystems whenever they want. Its no wonder Texas is heating up due to climate change. Citizens need to make it a hot time for these political hotheads! Brandt Mannchen, Houston Stark (in)difference Regarding Carter remembered for service, virtue, (Jan. 10): The picture on the Friday front page, taken at the service for former President Jimmy Carter, is very telling. In the row of former executives and their wives, all, including Melania, are shown with their right hands over their hearts, as a final salute to Jimmy Carter. Advertisement Article continues below this ad All but one. There, with his face hanging and his arms by his side, is our ignorant president-elect. What a shocking show of arrogance and indifference. Mark Niles, Houston I have to ask, has Donald Trumps right hand been amputated? All the other dignitaries are honoring President Carters flag-draped casket, as it is carried out of the National Cathedral, with their hand on their heart. Trump did not participate in this sign of respect. He simply had his usual scowl and a look of total indifference to the processional. As President Carter was eulogized, one cant help but reflect on the stark difference between a great humanitarian we are saying goodbye to, and the convicted felon we are ushering back into the White House. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Courtesy Today Hoda Kotb concluded her weeklong farewell to Today by reading a heartfelt love letter to viewers. In a pre-taped moment that aired during her final episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna Friday morning, the beloved television personality spoke directly to her fans. "This is not a goodbye letter. This is a love lettera love letter to you, Kotb began. Its actually kind of a thank you note as well. So how do I say it? How do I say thank you for more hugs and more love than one person deserves. After more than 16 years at the helm of the popular morning show, Kotb, 60, is leaving in order to focus on her two young daughters: seven-year-old Haley and five-year-old Hope. Viewers watched and cheered for her as she became a mom in her 50s. It went from Hoda woman to Hoda mama. When Haley was born, I held Haley, and you held me, she said. You supported me, the cards, the comments, the letters, I read them all, and then Hopi came too. Kotb recalled her scary move from hard news to morning television, and how former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford chose her and ultimately changed her life. She then recounted welcoming Jenna Bush Hager into the fold six years ago, ushering in a new era of uncontrollable laughter and pure friendship. Isnt she so hilarious? I can hardly even say her name without laughing out loud, Kotb gushed. But that is not the part I fell in love with. I fell in love with her tears, her vulnerable, lovable self, and as I say to her in my cards to her, youre all mine and were all ours. Today The West Virginia native went on to thank fans and guests for inviting her into their lives. Having a front-row seat to all of this truly helped shape who I am. Thank you so much for letting me be part of your journey, she said. Kotb previously admitted that leaving Today was a hard decision, but after going back and forth, she decided that it was time. She said that celebrating her 60th birthday in August caused her to reflect, and ultimately inspired her to make a change. When I turned 60, you threw me one hell of a party, Kotb told fans. I reached the mountain top so high on that day, I knew in that very moment, there was no greater peak. I have become who I am on this hour of this show, and you are there with me every step of the way. So as I sit here today in my final moments, on this final day in this chapter of my career, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my very full heart for the ride of a lifetime. I love you." Following Kotbs departure, Today with Hoda & Jenna will be renamed Today with Jenna & Friends. Related: South Carolina's Own Craig Melvin Just Got Very Good News On 'TODAY' But this isnt the last youll see of her on NBC. Kotb will reportedly be contributing to Olympics coverage in Milan and Los Angeles, in 2026 and 2028 respectively. But well certainly miss waking up with her every morning. Read the original article on Southern Living Hamza Al-Ziyadnah, 23, was found dead in a tunnel in the Rafah area, a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and Internal Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, said on Friday. (Bring Them Home Now) The Israeli military said Friday it had identified the body of a hostage recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza as the son of Yosef Al-Ziyadnah, a hostage whose body was recovered earlier this week. Hamza Al-Ziyadnah, 23, was found dead in a tunnel in the Rafah area, a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and Internal Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, said on Friday. The Israeli military said Wednesday it had recovered the body of Yousef Al-Ziyadnah, 53, from a tunnel in the Rafah area and had discovered evidence that raised grave concerns for his sons life. Hamza and his father were kidnapped during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and had been held in the Gaza Strip. Hamza and Yosef were abducted alive on October 7 and were killed while in Hamas captivity, the statement said. The Al-Ziyadnah family are part of the Bedouin Muslim-Arab community that lives in southern Israels Negev desert. Yousef and three of his children Hamza, Bilal, and Aysha were taken from Kibbutz Holit in southwest Israel, where they used to work. Bilal and Aysha were among the dozens of hostages returned in the short-lived ceasefire deal in November 2023. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed grief at the news of Hamzas death and again called for a deal to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Yosef and Hamza, who survived a period in the hell of Gaza captivity, could have been saved through an earlier agreement, the statement said. The time and conditions are ripe for all the hostages to return bringing the living home for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial, it said. The negotiations must be expedited to secure an immediate deal for their return. This historic window of opportunity stands before us and must not be lost. No breakthrough in hostage talks Talks over a potential hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza appear deadlocked, with Hamas claiming that Israel has introduced new conditions and Egyptian mediators sounding downbeat about progress. A Hamas official told CNN on Friday that Israel has demanded holding on to a 1-kilometer strip of territory along the eastern and northern borders of the enclave. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was responding to a report by Reuters citing an unnamed Palestinian official about the alleged new condition. Israel still insists on keeping a 1 km landscape along the eastern and northern borders of the Gaza Strip, which will restrict the return of residents to their homes and represent a retreat from what it (Israel) had agreed upon in July, the official told Reuters. The Hamas official who spoke to CNN said Israels conditions included much more but did not offer further details. CNN has reached out to Israel about the claims. Meanwhile, an Egyptian official and another diplomat briefed on the matter told CNN on Friday that the indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Qatar have yet to reach a breakthrough, despite statements from United States officials indicating that they were progressing. There is a clear appetite on the part of the Americans to get a deal done for the incoming Trump administration, the diplomat said. But the diplomat sounded a note of caution: Things are going well but there is still a lot of work to do. The comments come a day after US President Joe Biden said he met with negotiators and added that his assessment was that there was real progress being made. Were making some real progress. I met with negotiators today, Biden said. Hope springs eternal, but I think Im still hopeful that well be able to have a prisoner exchange. Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange, right now. US President-elect Donald Trump warned in a press conference this week that if the hostages Hamas is holding in Gaza are not released by his inauguration on January 20, all hell will break out in the Middle East. Ninety-eight hostages are still being held in Gaza, including 36 who are presumed to be dead, according to the Israeli Prime Ministers Office. Steve Witkoff, Trumps pick for special envoy to the Middle East, told reporters Wednesday he will be travelling to Qatar for the talks, saying negotiators are making a lot of progress, . and appeared to suggest that a deal before January 20 was realistic. However, a senior Biden administration official struck a more cautious tone, telling CNN that the negotiations remain difficult. US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators are in the Qatari capital Doha in their latest push to close a deal between Hamas and Israel after more than a year of failed negotiations. CNNs Lucas Lilieholm and Mostafa Salem contributed to this article. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Israels military says it carried out new airstrikes in Yemen against what it said were Houthi rebel targets. Its statement Friday said fighter jets struck on the western coast and inland Yemen, a day after the Houthis launched three drones at Israel. The U.S. military bombed Yemen earlier this week. Houthi-controlled media reported one worker dead and six people wounded at the Ras Isa port. The Houthis said the strikes occurred while Yemenis were rallying in the capital Sanaa in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel and Hamas have appeared to inch closer to an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. Gaza's Health Ministry said Thursday that 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded in the Israel-Hamas war, with no end in sight. The ministry says women and children were more than half the fatalities but does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths because it says militants operate in residential areas. Israel's air and ground operations have driven hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into sprawling tent camps along the coast with limited access to food and other essentials. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: Israel's Netanyahu meets with security officials to discuss Gaza ceasefire talks, official says TEL AVIV, Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Friday with security officials to discuss Gaza ceasefire talks, an Israeli official told The Associated Press. The prime minister and security officials received an update from negotiators and instructed them to continue the talks in Qatar, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic matter. Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been mediating the indirect talks that have stalled repeatedly during 15 months of war. Just one brief ceasefire has been achieved, occurring in the earliest weeks of the fighting. The recovery of the bodies of two hostages in Gaza this week again put pressure on Netanyahu from families and others to reach a deal to bring the remaining hostages home. ___ By Tia Goldenberg Israeli strike in southern Lebanon kills 2 and wounds 2 others, health officials say BEIRUT An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Friday killed at least two people and wounded two others, the country's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack in Tyre province, and its unclear what was targeted. Lebanons state media reported the strike hit a car in the town of Tayr Debba. Amid a tenuous ceasefire, Israel insists it has the right to attack Hezbollah anywhere in response to alleged truce violations. Both sides have until Jan. 26 to pull their forces out of southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media reported Israel carried out new home demolitions and explosions in several southern villages on Friday. This adds to the near-daily Israeli operations in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect in late November gunfire, demolishing buildings, tank shelling and airstrikes that according the Health Ministry have killed at least 29 people and wounded more than 32. Israel launches new strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels JERUSALEM Israels military says it has carried out new airstrikes against what it calls Houthi rebel targets inside Yemen. The Israeli military statement Friday said fighter jets struck on the western coast and inland Yemen, and targets included what it called military infrastructure sites in the Hizaz power station as well as military infrastructure in the Hodeida and Ras Isa ports on the west coast. An Israeli military official said 20 aircraft took part in the operation, firing around 50 munitions. Houthi-controlled media reported one worker dead and six other people wounded at the Ras Isa port. Clouds of black smoke could be seen above the rebel-held capital, Sanaa. The Houthis said the strikes occurred while people were rallying in Sanaa in support of Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthis had launched three drones at Israel on Thursday, a day after the U.S. military said it carried out a wave of strikes in Yemen against what it said were underground arms facilities. The Iran-backed Houthis have been stepping up their missile attacks on Israel in recent weeks. In some cases, the projectiles have penetrated Israels sophisticated aerial defense system. Israel has repeatedly bombarded ports, oil infrastructure and the airport in Sanaa, which is some 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away. The Israeli military official said the warplanes conducted in-flight refueling during Friday's operation. Israeli military says soldiers on Oct. 7 likely killed 1, possibly 2 kibbutz residents JERUSALEM The Israeli military says an inquiry into the deaths of two kibbutz residents during the Oct. 7, 2023 militant attack that sparked the war in Gaza found it highly likely that one -- Tomer Eliaz-Arava -- was killed by Israeli soldiers after they saw a person they misidentified as a suspicious figure. The findings released Friday also note a reasonable possibility that another resident, Dikla Arava, was killed by military fire while in a vehicle after being seized by militants. The military says the shootings occurred during fierce combat with militants who had infiltrated Kibbutz Nahal Oz. It emphasizes it is impossible to determine with absolute certainty what caused the deaths. The military says the broader inquiry into the battle at the kibbutz continues. Cyprus leader becomes first foreign dignitary to visit Lebanon's new president BEIRUT Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has become the foreign head of state and first foreign dignitary to pay an official visit to Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun. Aoun, the former commander of the Lebanese army, was elected Thursday by the Lebanese parliament to fill a more than two-year vacuum in the presidency. I wanted to be the first to visit President Aoun and show, not in words but in actions that Cyprus stands by Lebanon and the Lebanese people, Christodoulides told reporters afterward. They discussed energy, security, trade and shipping, his office said in a written statement. Cyprus and Lebanon have had close relations for decades. In recent years the two countries have been involved in intense discussions over border control, as many Syrian refugees living in Lebanon and an increasing number of Lebanese since the country's major economic crisis began in 2019 sought to reach Cyprus by sea in smuggler boats. Cyprus is less than 200 kilometers (130 miles) from the Lebanese capital Beirut and they share maritime borders in waters where undersea natural gas deposits are believed to lie. 3 killed in a stampede outside a mosque in Damascus DAMASCUS Three women were killed and five children injured in a stampede outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Friday, the Syrian civil defense known as the White Helmets said in a statement. The stampede came about as a result of severe congestion due to an event organized by civilians, the statement said. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said the swell in the numbers of people was caused by a food distribution event after the Friday afternoon prayers. Massive crowds were also trying to go into the packed mosque for prayers, leading security guards to lock the gates and fire in the air to disperse the crowd, he said. Italy says suspending EU sanctions on Syria could help encourage transition ROME Italy's foreign minister says a moratorium on European Union sanctions on Syria could help encourage the country's transition after the ouster of President Bashar Assad by Islamist insurgents. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani visited Syria on Friday and expressed Italys keen interest in helping Syria recover from civil war, rebuild its broken economy and help stabilize the region. Tajani, who met with Syrias new de facto leaders, said a stable Syria and Lebanon was of strategic and commercial importance to Europe. He said the fall of Assad's government, as well as the Lebanon parliament's vote on Thursday to elect army commander Joseph Aoun as president, were signs of optimism for Middle East stability. He said Italy wanted to play a leading role in Syrias recovery and serve as a bridge between Damascus and the EU, particularly given Italys commercial and strategic interests in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean can no longer just be a sea of death, a cemetery of migrants but a sea of commerce a sea of development, he said. Tajani later traveled to Lebanon and met with Aoun. Italy has long played a sizeable role in the U.N. peacekeeping force for Lebanon, UNIFIL. On the eve of his visit, Tajani presided over a meeting in Rome with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and officials from Britain, France and Germany as well as the EU foreign policy chief. He said that meeting of the so-called Quintet on Syria was key to begin the discussion about a change to the EU sanctions. The sanctions were against the Assad regime. If the situation has changed, we have to change our choices, Tajani said. Turkey has no secret agenda in Syria, minister says ISTANBUL Turkey does not have any secret agenda in Syria and wants to construct a new culture of cooperation, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday. One of Turkeys priorities in the upcoming year is to clear the region of terrorism, Fidan said, referring to Kurdish militants based in northeast Syria. The extensions of the separatist group in Syria are now facing destruction and the old order is no longer going to continue, he told a news conference in Istanbul. Fidan also criticized the United States support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, as the U.S. seeks to prevent a revival of the Islamic State group. This kills the spirit of alliance and solidarity, Fidan said. He said Turkey is not going to shy away from taking the necessary steps in terms of military action. Turkey views the SDF as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is listed as a terror organization by Turkey and other states. Referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins comments that U.S. troops should stay in Syria, Fidan dismissed the views of the outgoing U.S. administration. This is the problem of the new government and the old government does not have a say in this, he said. The SDF is currently involved in fighting the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army. Fidan also backed suggestions for Syrian Kurds to join a new national military but said all non-Syrians fighting for the SDF a reference to those with ties to the PKK should leave the country. President of Cy prus to meet Lebanon's new president NICOSIA, Cyprus The president of Cyprus says he will be the first head of state to meet with the newly elected president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. President Nikos Christodoulides told reporters Friday that he would be meeting Aoun when he departs for Lebanon around midday Friday. Christodoulides said he knows Aoun well from his tenure as chief of Lebanons armed forces. He said the meeting is indicative of the role that Cyprus, as a European Union member closest to the Middle East, can play in helping to meet the challenges that have arisen in the region. In a written statement, Cyprus government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said Christodoulides will also discuss with Aoun Lebanons internal issues and to convey Cyprus readiness to provide any needed assistance and to strengthen relations with its neighbor. Cyprus is less than 200 kilometers (130 miles) from the Lebanese capital Beirut and has provided the country with military assistance to prop up its armed forces. Body of hostage Hamzah AlZayadni identified after recovery in Gaza JERUSALEM Israels army confirmed Friday that one of the bodies recovered from Gaza earlier this week was that of 23-year-old hostage Hamzah AlZayadni. The army said Friday that the identification was made by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and Israels police and the family has been notified. The army said its forces recovered the bodies of Hamzah and his father from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area and returned them to Israel. His father, Yosef AlZayadni, had been identified earlier this week. The father and son were thought to still be alive before this weeks announcement. They were kidnapped together from Kibbutz Holit, when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The news comes as Israel and Hamas are considering a ceasefire deal that would free remaining hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza. Israel says about a third of the remaining 100 hostages have died, but believes as many as half could be dead. Their fates could ramp up pressure on Israel to move forward with a deal. The Hostages Families Forum, which represents families of the hostages, said Hamzah was a nature lover who had deep affection for animals and was beloved by his friends. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Oil tanker that threated Red Sea spill has been salvaged DUBAI, United Arab Emirates An oil tanker that burned for weeks and threatened a massive oil spill in the Red Sea has been salvaged, a security firm said Friday. The Sounion had been a disaster-in-waiting in the waterway, with 1 million barrels of crude oil aboard that had been struck and later sabotaged with explosives by Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It took months for salvagers to tow the vessel away, extinguish the fires and offload the remaining crude oil. The Houthis initially attacked the Greek-flagged Sounion tanker on Aug. 21 with small-arms fire, projectiles and a drone boat. A French destroyer rescued its crew of 25 Filipinos and Russians, as well as four private security personnel, and took them to nearby Djibouti. The Houthis later released footage showing they planted explosives on board the Sounion and ignited them in a propaganda video, which the rebels have done before. The Houthis have targeted some 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October 2023. The rebels maintain they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the U.K. to force an end to Israels campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict. By Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris canceled her upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany due to the ongoing wildfires in California, the White House said on Thursday after President Joe Biden made a similar decision a day earlier. Biden canceled an upcoming trip to Italy where he was due to meet Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "In response to the historic wildfires in Los Angeles, the Vice President has made the decision to cancel her and the Second Gentleman's upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany," the White House said on Thursday. The canceled trip of Harris, who is from California, would likely would have been her last as vice president before leaving office on Jan. 20. Los Angeles is facing the worst wildfires in its history that has thus far killed five people, led to the evacuations of 180,000 and consumed 31,000 acres (12,500 hectares). Biden, who declared a major disaster in California, met with top administration officials on Thursday afternoon to discuss the federal response. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward; Editing by Sandra Maler) TAIPEI (Reuters) - TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, reported on Friday fourth-quarter revenue that easily beat market forecasts and hit its own expectations as it reaped the benefit of artificial intelligence demand. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, whose customers include Apple and Nvidia, has been at the forefront of the march towards AI that has helped it weather the tapering off of pandemic-led demand of chips used in consumer electronics like tablets. Revenue in the October-December period of 2024 came in at T$868.42 billion ($26.36 billion), according to Reuters calculations, compared with an LSEG SmartEstimate of T$853.57 billion ($25.90 billion) drawn from 23 analysts. That represents growth of 34.4% year-on-year, and compares with revenue of $19.62 billion in the year-ago period. It is not a direct comparison as TSMC provides monthly revenue data only in Taiwan dollars, but gives quarterly revenue figures and its outlook on its quarterly earnings calls both in U.S. dollars. On its most recent earnings call in October, TSMC forecast fourth-quarter revenue in a range of between $26.1 billion to $26.9 billion. For December alone, TSMC reported revenue jumped 57.8% year-on-year to T$278.16 billion. The company did not provide details in its brief revenue statement. Other Taiwan companies have also reported strong fourth-quarter revenue due to the AI boom. On Sunday, Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker and which makes AI servers for Nvidia, beat expectations to post its highest-ever revenue for the final three months of 2024. TSMC will report full fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 16, when it will update its outlook for the current quarter and full year. The company's Taipei listed stock leapt 81% last year, compared with a 28.5% gain for the broader market. It closed flat on Friday ahead of the release of the revenue numbers. The benchmark index ended down 0.3%. ($1 = 32.8850 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Faith Hung; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie Freed) (Photo Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) As LA faces the ongoing threat of multiple fires, veterinarians and animal welfare organizations are urging pet owners to prepare for evacuations by assembling emergency go bags for their furry companions. In an environment where every second counts, a well-prepared plan can mean the difference between chaos and safety for both pets and their families. Vet recommends keeping pets calm during fires to ensure their safety The sight of flames and the smell of smoke can instill panic not just in humans but in animals as well. Paige Adams, a veterinarian from Etowah Veterinary Hospital in Georgia, highlights the importance of keeping pets calm during such distressing situations. Animals can sense fear and stress, and it is crucial to maintain a calming presence to help them through it, Adams advises. Adams suggests that pet owners consider microchipping their pets for identification and ensuring their collars have current ID tags. This step can prove invaluable if pets become separated from their owners during an evacuation. Additionally, assembling an emergency go bag specifically for pets can facilitate a quick and efficient response in the face of an urgent evacuation order. So, what should be in a pet go bag? Essential items include a few days supply of food and water, bowls, any necessary medications, a first aid kit, and comfort items like a blanket or a toy. Including a recent photo of the pet can also be helpful for identification purposes. These items can make a significant difference in ensuring pets remain as comfortable and stress-free as possible during an emergency. The smoke and poor air quality itself is just as dangerous to pets as it is to people, Adams said as per Newsweek. She recommends keeping pets indoors and restricting their outdoor activity to brief bathroom breaks whenever air quality is poor or compromised. The fire situation has reached a critical level, with the Palisades Fire alone burning over 2,900 acres and spreading at an alarming pace. Evacuation orders have already been issued in areas like Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Sylmar. In these unpredictable circumstances, having a prepared emergency plan is not just wise it is essential. Originally reported by Zahrah Patel on DogTime. The post Heres What Should Be in Your Pets Emergency Go Bag As LA Fire Rages On appeared first on CatTime. The wreckage of a crashed aircraft is scattered near the accident site in the coastal city of Malindi, in southern Kenya, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Nehemiah Okwembah) NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A light aircraft crash-landed Friday in Kenya 's coastal Malindi County, killing three people on the ground, a local police official said. The three fatalities included a motorcycle taxi driver who was killed when the plane burst into flames on impact in the town of Kwachocha along the Malindi-Mombasa highway, Sub-County Police Commander LuckyJoski Mudavadi said. Two other victims, a motorcycle rider and a female passenger, died when parts from the separated wings and tail of the plane hit them as the aircraft crashed into a building. A pilot and two students who were on board were being treated for injuries sustained after they jumped out of the plane before it crashed. Police were investigating the cause of the accident. The Kwachocha area neighbors Malindi airport and its residents are in court over government plans to expand the airport before land compensation cases are concluded. A local county assembly legislator, Rashid Odhiambo, told journalists that the accident reemphasizes the need for safety precautions to be enforced around the airport. Those involved in the airport management should keep ensuring safety around the airport and not just concentrate on inside the airport, he said. The two aggressive dogs were shot dead by armed police after attacking a woman in east London - @mariaalcoptia Armed police who killed two out-of-control dogs and Tasered their owner have been cleared of wrongdoing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched its investigation five days after the incident in Poplar, east London on May 7, 2023. Viral footage circulated of the officers from the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police forces during an incident that resulted in Louie Turnbulls dogs being killed beside a canal in Limehouse. The video showed officers pursuing a man holding the dogs on short leads before the situation escalated, leading to the man being tasered to the ground and the animals being shot dead. Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said every aspect of what happened that day has been scrutinised - Lucy North/PA No indication of criminal offence On Friday, the IOPC said it had found no indication that any officers behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary action or had committed a criminal offence. It added: We reviewed police body-worn video, CCTV footage, mobile phone footage, the 999 call, radio transmissions, and obtained statements from police witnesses, members of the public and expert witnesses. The experts advised us on police training, policies, legislation, personnel, equipment, seizing dogs, destroying dogs and the aftermath of destruction. We have asked both forces to consider the availability and demand for dog handlers, and whether their current resourcing is adequate. Our investigation concluded in September. All parties have been informed of our decision and due to welfare concerns for some of the individuals involved in this matter, we will not be publishing/issuing any further information. Police said they had been called shortly after 5pm to reports of a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road in east London. She suffered an injury to her leg but did not need hospital treatment. Turnbull was handed a suspended sentence in November 2023 after pleading guilty to owning two dangerously out-of-control dogs. He was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. At the time of incident, he was under a 20-year ban from owning dogs, with the court order instated in November 2019 following a similar incident for which he also received a suspended sentence. Repeatedly refused to comply Responding to the IOPC decision, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in the area for the Met Police, said: The IOPC investigation has been extensive, examining every aspect of what happened that day and scrutinising body-worn video, mobile-phone footage and CCTV of the incident as well as consulting dangerous dog experts. The investigation found the officers faced a really challenging situation and made numerous attempts to get the owner of the aggressive animals after they had attacked a woman and her dog to surrender them to prevent further injury to anyone. The officers demonstrated impressive restraint and bravery in trying to resolve the situation in the face of the owner repeatedly refusing to comply, and only took further action when they were left with no choice after the dogs came free of the mans grip. Parts of the incident were filmed and posted on social media and we know how much distress this matter caused. None of us would wish to see injury to any animal and that includes our officers, who only acted to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Police officers are highly trained to deal with situations involving dogs that are dangerously out of control and their overriding concern will always be to ensure the safety of the public. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The potential next head of a U.S. banking regulator laid out a sweeping plan on Friday to adopt a lighter touch on the banking industry on matters ranging from capital to cryptocurrency. Travis Hill, the vice chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, said in prepared remarks the FDIC needs a "new direction," which he expects will be ushered in at the beginning of President-Elect Donald Trump's second term. Hill, who is a leading candidate to head the agency on a full-time basis and will take over as its acting chief following the Jan. 19 retirement of Chairman Martin Gruenberg, made the broad case that regulators have strayed too far in trying to police the banking sector on a range of issues, and their approach needs to change. Specifically, Hill said he anticipates U.S. regulators will reconsider efforts to impose new capital requirements on large banks via the so-called "Basel III Endgame." Efforts to write those rules, which would have significantly raised big bank capital via new risk measurements, stalled under Democratic leadership, and Hill said the new effort should focus on ensuring rules are written with minimal capital impact. He added that regulators should also reconsider existing capital requirements as part of the effort, such as rules dictating credit risk transfers and leverage. "Addressing the issue holistically and transparently...would be a much better approach," he said in prepared remarks to the American Bar Association. Hill also signaled a more open stance towards new technologies used by banks, including digital assets and fintech partnerships. He said the current FDIC stance of requiring banks to gain individual approval before pursuing any blockchain-related activities has been "damaging," and that the regulator should focus on establishing clear standards of legally permissible activity. His comments came one day after another potential Trump bank regulator, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman, similarly signaled a desire to adopt less stringent rules for banks. Bowman, seen as a candidate to take over the Fed's top regulatory post, called for a more "pragmatic" approach to rules instead of an "adversarial" relationship between banks and their watchdogs. (Reporting by Pete Schroeder, editing by Deepa Babington) A woman in Philadelphia has a million reasons why you should adopt her foster cat Lentil. She's a real sweetie! And now she's sharing just a few reasons to prove the cat is totally pur-fect. There's basically no good reason not to adopt Lentil. But if you need a little motivation her foster mom was more than happy to name a few. Lentil is the perfect little angel. She's a gray cat with yellow eyes and an adorable personality to match. According to the video her foster mom made, Lentil is basically the "perfect little loaf." She's a loaf when she's recovering from getting spayed, she's a loaf when getting a treat, and she's a loaf when watching her siblings running around on the floor. Related: 18-Year-Old Cat Surrendered to Rescue Finds Comfort in a Donated Toy But don't get it wrong, Lentil seems like an affectionate cat too. Her foster mom advises that Lentil be adopted with a sibling. So if you're open to adopting two cats, they could be your pals for life. The comments section was totally in love with Lentil. "Shes so appropriately named, she looks like a little lentil," gushed one commenter. "You dont need to list the reasons. You see her and you understand why you need to adopt her," chimed in someone else. "All I heard 'her name is Lentil and heres why you should adopt' and yes, youre right," joked another person. "Grey cat supremacy! Everyone needs a sweetie pie grey cat in their life!" chimed in one person. All About The Stray Cat Relief Fund Lentil is currently being fostered through Stray Cat Relief Fund in Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to helping the many stray cats in the city. Made up of dedicated volunteers, the Stray Cat Relief Fund helps their community in many ways. For one, they operate a Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program, which helps stray animals that will stay on the street. The issue is that many stray cats reproduce again and again. Which is bad for their bodies and only results in more cats without a home. They also connect their most sociable animals with foster homes in the areas and then help those animals get adopted. Like Lentil here. Lentil is on her way to a forever home, we just know it. We have hope for her two siblings, Pinto and Garbanzo too. If you're interested in Lentil or her siblings, you can go to the Stray Cat Relief Fund website or donate to their cause. Every penny you give can save a stray cat's life. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Delusions of grandeur Regarding "Trump, the 'America First' candidate, has a new preoccupation: Imperialism," (Jan. 9): What is happening? Is our soon-to-be POTUS so intoxicated with his own grandeur that he is out to conquer the world? Does he believe, as the monarchies of old did, that the number of territories a country rules is a sign of power? Pansy Gee, Sugar Land Advertisement Article continues below this ad Regarding "Trump refuses to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal," (Jan. 7): As someone who did not and could not ever vote for Donald Trump, I have long marveled at the willingness of the American public to disregard what he says and to assume he really means something else. That sort of naivete might be partially liberals' fault: Democrats, at least since the Obama era, seem to have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Their response was to ridicule Donald Trump, not recognizing that his supporters (a growing number) believed the Democrats were ridiculing them as well. Trumps advantage was that he could point to what he said and say he told you what he was going to do, and you didnt object to it. In fact, you voted for him, perhaps because of it. Now he's talking about taking control of the Panama Canal and annexing Greenland, which he says are vital to American interests, without ruling out using military force to do it. Add to that the dissolution of many checks and balances that were built into the Constitution, as well as his admiration of and fascination with the worlds dictators. Dont be surprised at some of the things he comes up with during his administration, including his desire to be president-for-life, like Chinas Xi Jinping. I believe were going to be on a wild ride of a roller coaster for at least the next four years. I fervently hope Im proven wrong. After his first election I had hoped that the office would make the man, but now that hope is slim to none. As an independent, I dont see what Democrats or anyone can do to change the new status quo. By the way, roller coasters make me nauseous. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Len Kaplan, Houston As you reported, Trump refuses to rule out military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland and secure both territories, which he says are vital to American national security. Those were the kind of words Adolf Hitler used as he began what ended up as World War II. The territory was never quite enough, nor was his distaste for certain minorities, much like Trump displays toward many Hispanics. As my father remarked about Hitler when I was a child, "That man is crazy." I say the same about Donald Trump. Eritha Yardley, Houston Regarding "Trump says he will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. Can he do that?" (Jan. 7): Question for Elon Musk's vice president: If the name "Gulf of Mexico" is so vexing to you that it needs to be changed to the "very beautiful" sobriquet "Gulf of America," then will you also be changing the name of Mar-a-Lago from Spanish to "American?" Or does "Sea-to-Lake" just not make the joint sound highfalutin' enough? Paul Mabry, Houston Advertisement Article continues below this ad Creating chaos Regarding "Biden ordered new ban on offshore oil drilling. Can Texas Republicans stop it?" (Jan. 6): In his last two weeks in office, President Joe Biden seems to be doing everything he can to create chaos prior to President-elect Trump taking office. Banning drilling for oil in more than 600 million acres is an example of the evil in President Bidens heart and his lack of loyalty to this country and the American people. He will surely go down as the worst president in our long and illustrious history. Robert T. Haas, Missouri City I get it Regarding "Republicans' trust in accuracy of US elections jumps after Trump's win, AP-NORC poll finds," (Jan. 3): I was surprised to see your article titled "Republicans' trust in elections up sharply" after reading exactly the opposite over and over again in the last few months. But after delving into the story I got it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Problem was, you should have headlined it: "Republicans' trust in elections up sharply when they win." Courtesy of Noah Fecks / Solar Foods The past two decades have witnessed increasing innovation in alternative protein sources in the search for a more sustainable food system to support a rapidly growing global population. Plant-based meat companies like Beyond Meat have made plays to replace burgers, brands have explored protein powder made from insects, and efforts to develop lab-grown meat have faced backlash. Not every sustainable protein source checks all the boxes that consumers and the environment need. One might taste great but be overly processed, or come from plants but cause deforestation by way of mass production. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of all is finding something that actually appeals to consumers, who are often put off by the flavor of meat alternatives. But theres a new protein option in the sustainable food landscape that hopes to solve all these issues and it isnt made from plants or animals. Instead, its crafted with air. Related: 'Proffee' Is the Hot New Drink of the Moment but Is It Good for You? Here's What Nutritionists Say Solein is a product that markets itself as protein out of thin air, but if youre imagining eating bites of literally nothing, thats not quite the case. In reality, this powdered, mustard-colored substance comes from a naturally occurring, single-cell microbe that feeds on air. For anyone unfamiliar, microbes are microscopic living organisms, and there are billions of them all around us. Theyre naturally found in air, water, and on human skin, to name just a few places. (Bacteria or algae are some types of microbes you might be more familiar with.) Courtesy of Solar Foods After being fermented, Solein is dried into a vivid yellow powder. Solar Foods, the Finnish food technology company that discovered this specific microbe and developed it for consumption, refers to the cultivation of Solein as fermentation. Solar Foods co-founder and CEO Pasi Vainikka explains that Solein is produced in a fermentor akin to the ones used in breweries and wineries In the fermentor, we feed the microbe like you would feed a plant, but instead of watering and fertilizing it, we use mere air and electricity as the main resources. The microbe is fed carbon dioxide that can be gotten from air, and hydrogen, which we split from water using renewable electricity. This fermentation process produces a thick liquid, which is then treated with heat and dried to yield a yellow powder. This is the final form of Solein that Solar Foods hopes to eventually bring to the masses. Unlike plants or animals, Solein doesnt require arable land to grow. Its production is much more efficient than that of other proteins, requiring fewer resources. This eliminates or reduces many of agriculture's environmental issues, such as deforestation, large quantities of greenhouse gas emissions, and reliance on extreme amounts of food and water. "Based on a lifecycle analysis study by the University of Helsinki, Solein's environmental impact is about 10% of most plant-based proteins and about 1% of meat." Pasi Vainikka According to Vainikka, Producing Solein uses 100 times less water than plant protein production. Land use of Solein is 20 times more efficient than for plant protein production, and Based on a lifecycle analysis study by the University of Helsinki, Solein's environmental impact is about 10% of most plant-based proteins and about 1% of meat. As long as there is a ready source of renewable energy, Solein can be created with a much smaller environmental impact than even plant-based protein options. Luckily, the protein content of Solein is comparable to many other protein powders out there. A hundred grams of Solein contains 75 grams of protein, while 100 grams of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Powder (one of the most common brands available) has about 78.95 grams of protein. So you don't have to consume notably more Solein to acquire the same protein value as other products. As someone who cares a lot about how my food tastes, what strikes me the most about Solein is its taste or rather, the lack of it. The yellow powder has very little flavor or aroma, unlike many common protein powders that impart a chalky and bitter profile to whatever theyre mixed into. I tasted several dishes that incorporated Solein last November, all prepared by Greg Baxtrom, a James Beard Award semi-finalist and the chef-owner of 2017 Food & Wine Restaurant of the Year, Olmsted. Undoubtedly due in equal parts to Baxtroms skill and the neutral flavors of Solein, each of the foods I sampled ranging from the chefs famous carrot crepe to a classic chocolate mousse was flawlessly executed and delicious, with the flavor profile unaltered by the protein powders. What might be the most challenging facet of Solein is how it behaves chemically in foods. It might look and feel like another protein powder, but it doesnt always act like them when combined with wet ingredients. Vainikka says, We have been discovering different methods to use Solein, and sometimes it works exactly like existing protein sources, and sometimes it has completely different functionalities. For example, Solein can form a gel in the presence of an acid, which makes it a useful ingredient in products like alternative yogurt and cheese. This unpredictability means that chefs cant necessarily substitute Solein for other ingredients in the way they might expect, and Baxtrom had to experiment with the powder first in order to produce the final results he wanted. Related: More and More Sushi Restaurants Across America Are Leaning Into Sustainability Heres How Because consumers might not be able to scoop Solein into their shakes the exact same way they would with other protein powders, it might be challenging to market it directly to individuals at least without also providing education on how to use it. But this powder grown on air does present a new opportunity for packaged food brands, who can use it to add protein to products that are lacking in nutritional value. And on the opposite end of the food spectrum, innovative chefs like Baxtrom can continue playing with Solein to learn more about the power of this new protein. Read the original article on Food & Wine Rudy Giuliani attended his second contempt hearing of the week in a defamation case involving former Georgia election workers. WASHINGTON A federal judge on Friday found former Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court in the defamation case against him involving former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss, the second such finding this week. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington over additional defamatory comments made by Giuliani comes just days after U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman found him in contempt for failing to turn over financial information he'd been ordered to provide. Giuliani, Howell said, "engaged in the worst kind of defamation against the mother and daughter, which led to them being forced from their jobs and homes due to the avalanche of death threats Giuliani touched off with his repeated false claims. Howell ordered Giuliani to submit a sworn declaration in the next 10 days that he had reviewed all the evidence in case, including testimony from the plaintiffs, that he and his attorneys had an opportunity to attend the depositions in the case, and affirm that he understands and acknowledges that all the sworn testimony in the case refutes his allegations of election fraud against the pair. If he does not do so, he faces a $200 a day fine until he complies. If he hasn't done so within 30 days, the judge said she could increase the amount of the fine. Future violations, she warned, could lead to jail time. A spokesperson for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, said the contempt ruling "is designed to prevent Mayor Giuliani from exercising his constitutional rights. At the start of Friday's hearing, an attorney for the two women, Michael Gottlieb, told the judge, We dont want to be here today. The main thing the plaintiffs want is for Mr. Giuliani to stop defaming them, he said. He had asked the judge to fine Giuliani $20,000 for each violation from financial assets that are off-limits to his creditors, like his IRA account, saying he believed that penalty would be "sufficiently steep." The contempt motion came after Giuliani made comments on his streaming show appearing to continue to claim the women committed fraud during the 2020 election despite a court-ordered agreement that he would not defame them anymore. Howell told Giuliani that he needed to be mindful of his platform and the power of his words. Youre the most famous person in this courtroom right now, youve got a bigger audience, youve got a bigger public following than anyone in this courtroom, the judge said. Giuliani's attorney, Eden Quainton, noted that Giuliani had abided by the agreement for several months before his livestream comments in November. So because he was good for a few months, we ought to excuse any bad behavior after that? Howell questioned. She was similarly unmoved by his argument that Giuliani did not demonstrate malice in his claims on his show since he truly believes Moss and Freeman committed election fraud, despite multiple investigations by Republican officials in Georgia that found they had not. So what, youre saying this defamation is never going to stop? Hes never going to stop saying this because he thinks hes right? Thats chilling," the judge said. Quainton said that was not the case, and argued the $20,000 figure for future violations would be "excessive." Giuliani was called to the stand to talk about his finances and complained that Freeman and Moss had an "army of lawyers" working for them. Gottlieb responded that Giuliani currently has nine lawyers from eight law firms working for him, which Giuliani said was "flatly untrue." The judge then asked how many people in the courtroom worked for Giuliani, and identified a number of people. Giuliani blasted the judge before the hearing even started, complaining in a post on X that the hearing was starting late and she was "making us wait all day for her inevitable highly prejudiced, usual, biased decision." "The hearing is a hypocritical waste of time and a disgusting example of Biden lawfare," Giuliani wrote minutes before the proceeding began. Giuliani has said that his comments on his show werent defamatory and that it is my First Amendment right to talk about the case and my defense. His attorney argued in a court filing that the remarks were "vague" because he didn't identify the women by name. Freeman and Moss had sued Giuliani over his claims about them as he tried to help Trump, who was then president, overturn the 2020 election results. Howell found Giuliani liable in 2023 for defaming Freeman and Moss after he ignored repeated court orders to hand over evidence. A jury awarded them $148 million in damages, which the judge reduced to $146 million. Giuliani is appealing the verdict. Earlier this week, Liman found Giuliani to be in contempt of court for failing to comply with orders to turn over information about his assets to Freeman and Moss. Giuliani had testified over two days about why he hadn't yet handed over assets and court-ordered discovery information as part of the $146 million judgment. One valuable asset he failed to turn over included a New York Yankees jersey autographed by Hall of Fame outfielder Joe DiMaggio, but Giuliani said last week that it was "missing." I dont know where it is, and it is hard to re-create who took it, and I am personally conducting my own investigation about this, he said. Liman has yet to announce how Giuliani will be sanctioned in that case. The party might not be over for everyone at Party City, as some franchisee locations across the U.S. are expected to remain open. Nearly 900 locations were in operation when the sudden news broke that Party City was going out of business. On Dec. 21, Party City filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, after already emerging from a previous bankruptcy in 2023 with about $1 billion less in debt. But nine franchises that collectively own 29 Party City stores plan to remain open despite the closure of hundreds of stores. Anisa Patel, who co-owns two Party City stores with her mother and father in the Austin area, told USA TODAY all franchisees are working together to stay afloat. "We're all in this together, were in contact with them," Patel said. "We've all kind of been thrown in this together, we're having to rebuild on our own so we're banding together." For her, the writing was on the wall for Party City, as she said the company had implemented markdowns on products back in October. But following the announcement of the bankruptcy, she feels that franchisees have been left in the dark. "They have not communicated with us at all, there's not been a letter," Patel said. "This is our livelihood." The nine franchisees are sticking together and talking to each other each day and sharing resources, Steve Fram, owner of two Party City locations in Virginia, told Richmond BizSense. And as for keeping the name of Party City, Fram told the outlet they'll stick with it, "at this point. Party City did not immediately return USA TODAY's request for comment Thursday. Where are Party City stores remaining open? Patel provided a list of franchisee-owned stores that plan to remain open across the United States. USA TODAY contacted each location to confirm their plans. Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Party City closings: Why a select group of stores plans to remain open The Supreme Court is seen as the court discusses TikTok, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Friday seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning Jan. 19 unless the popular social media program is sold by its China-based parent company. Hearing arguments in a momentous clash of free speech and national security concerns, the justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the company's connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the United States. Early in arguments that lasted more than two and a half hours, Chief Justice John Roberts identified his main concern: TikToks ownership by China-based ByteDance and the parent company's requirement to cooperate with the Chinese governments intelligence operations. If left in place, the law passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in April will require TikTok to go dark on Jan. 19, lawyer Noel Francisco told the justices on behalf of TikTok. At the very least, Francisco urged, the justices should enter a temporary pause that would allow TikTok to keep operating. We might be in a different world again after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, also has called for the deadline to be pushed back to give him time to negotiate a political resolution. Francisco served as Trump's solicitor general in his first presidential term. But it was not clear whether any justices would choose such a course. And only Justice Neil Gorsuch sounded like he would side with TikTok to find that the ban violates the Constitution. Gorsuch labeled arguments advanced by the Biden administration in defense of the law a paternalistic point of view. TikTok, he said, has offered to post a warning that the content could be manipulated by the Chinese government. Dont we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter speech? he asked Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law for the Biden administration A warning wouldnt be enough to counterbalance the spread of misinformation, Prelogar said. Francisco and lawyer Jeffrey Fisher, representing content creators and TikTok users, repeatedly tried to focus the court on the First Amendment restrictions that would fall on TikTok and its users, imperiling the livelihood of content creators, if the law is allowed to take effect. But compared to the mildly challenging questions directed to Prelogar, they faced skepticism from every justice other than Gorsuch. Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised U.S. concerns about China accessing information on tens of millions of Americans, including especially teenagers and people in their 20s, with whom TikTok is extremely popular. That seems like a huge concern for the future of the country, said Kavanaugh, whose daughters are in that age range. Roberts downplayed Fishers argument that banning TikTok violates American users free speech rights. Congress is fine with the expression, Roberts said. Theyre not fine with a foreign adversary, as theyve determined it is, gathering all this information about the 170 million people who use TikTok. The justices are expected to act within days, almost certainly ahead of the Jan. 19 deadline. Content creators and small business owners who rely on the app are awaiting a decision with anxiety. Theres really no replacement for this app," said Skip Chapman, co-owner of KAFX Body in Manasquan, N.J., a maker and seller of natural deodorants. Chapman said more than 80% of his sales come on TikTok and he has not found the same traction on Amazon or other platforms. Lee Zavorskas, a TikTok creator and a licensed esthetician based in New Hampshire, said she makes nearly half of her income on the platform by promoting products for other businesses. Zavorskas said she found it too stressful to listen to Friday's arguments. Instead, she spent her time building a YouTube channel. ByteDance has said it wont sell the short-form video platform, and Francisco said a sale might never be possible under the conditions set in the law. But some investors have been eyeing TikTok, including Trumps Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchi n and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt. On Thursday, McCourts Project Liberty initiative said it, along with its unnamed partners, presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikToks U.S. assets. The consortium, which includes Shark Tank host Kevin OLeary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer. If TikTok isnt sold to an approved buyer, the federal law would prohibit app stores, such as those operated by Apple and Google, from offering the popular app. It would also bar internet hosting services from hosting TikTok. TikTok users who already have the app on their phones will continue to have access to it. But new users wont be able to download the app, and existing ones will no longer be able to receive updates. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings. Prelogar said an eventual sale of the platform, even after the ban kicks in, would allow TikTok to resume operations. The sale of Twitter to Elon Musk, who renamed it X, shows that the sale of a social media platform can happen quickly, she said. That high-profile transaction went through in about six months from offer to completion, she said. TikTok, meanwhile, has been on notice since 2020, during Trump's first term, that its sale could be required if it couldnt satisfy the U.S. governments national security concerns The federal law was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over TikTok, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. U.S. officials argue that the vast amounts of user data that TikTok collects, including sensitive information on viewing habits, could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. They also are concerned that the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who could pressure ByteDance to shape content on the platform in a way thats difficult to detect. TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. The company negotiated with the Biden administration between 2021 and 2022 to resolve the concerns around U.S. data privacy and potential algorithmic manipulation. In court documents, it has accused the administration of essentially walking away from those negotiations after it presented a draft agreement in August 2022. But the Justice Department has said the Biden administration concluded the proposal was insufficient because it would maintain TikToks ties to China. The agency said the Executive Branch also could neither trust ByteDance to comply nor detect noncompliance before it was too late. A three-judge panel made up of two Republican appointees and a Democratic appointee unanimously upheld the law in December, prompting TikTok's quick appeal to the Supreme Court. ___ Associated Press writers Mae Anderson, Haleluya Hadero, Fatima Hussein, Didi Tang and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report. Anderson reported from New York. Mattias Nordkvist as Per and Peter Eggers as John in The Breakthrough Credit - Courtesy of Netflix Netflixs The Breakthrough is a gripping Swedish miniseries that brings to life one of Europes most perplexing and haunting criminal cases of this century: a 2004 double murder in the countrys southern city of Linkoping. The four-part drama not only explores the devastating crime but also the groundbreaking technique that led investigators to solve it after 16 years. Directed by Lisa Siwe (The Bridge) and written by Oskar Soderlund (Snabba Cash), the series blends true crime with human drama, focusing on the resilience of the victims' families and the investigators who refused to give up. Since premiering earlier this week, the show has secured a spot on Netflixs daily top 10 most watched series. Lets dive into the real story behind The Breakthrough and how it transformed a cold case into a historic moment in forensic science. Read more: 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre A shocking crime that stunned Sweden Pevin Hanah Namek Sali as Maya in The Breakthrough Courtesy of Netflix On the morning of Oct. 19, 2004, the small city of Linkoping was shaken by an unthinkable act of violence. Eight-year-old Mohammed Ammouri was walking to school when he was brutally attacked and stabbed by a masked assailant. Anna-Lena Svensson, a 56-year-old woman who happened to witness the attack, tried to intervene but was also fatally stabbed. The murders were shocking not only for their brutality but also for their randomness. There appeared to be no connection between the victims or any clear motive for the crime. Despite an intensive investigation, which included securing DNA evidence from the crime scene and the perpetrator's discarded hat, the police were unable to identify the killer. The case soon became known as one of Swedens most notorious cold cases, leaving the city of Linkoping and the victims families desperate for answers. A case that refused to be forgotten For over a decade, the Linkoping murders haunted Swedish law enforcement. Investigators meticulously reviewed the evidence and pursued countless leads, but every effort ended in frustration. The DNA evidence, while a crucial piece of the puzzle, yielded no matches in national or international databases. The families of Ammouri and Svensson were left to grieve without closure. Public interest in the case waned, and it seemed the murders might never be solved. However, a breakthrough was on the horizonone that would revolutionize criminal investigations in Europe. Read more: The Best Shows to Watch on Netflix The role of forensic genealogy Mattias Nordkvist as Per in The Breakthrough Courtesy of Netflix In 2020, forensic genealogy, a relatively new investigative technique, became the key to solving the case. This method, which had already gained prominence in the United States, uses DNA samples to trace a suspects family tree through publicly available genealogical databases. The turning point in the Linkoping case came when genealogist Peter Sjolund joined the investigation. By analyzing the DNA evidence, Sjolund traced the killers ancestry back over 200 years, constructing an intricate family tree that eventually led to the suspect: Daniel Nyqvist. Nyqvist, 37 years old at the time, making him in his early 20s when the crime occurred, was arrested in June 2020. His DNA matched the evidence from the crime scene, and he quickly confessed to the murders. In court, Nyqvist claimed he had acted under the influence of voices in his head, describing the attacks as unprovoked. He was found guilty and sentenced to indefinite psychiatric care. This marked the first time in European history that forensic genealogy was used to solve a murder case, setting a precedent for future investigations. How The Breakthrough dramatizes the case The Breakthrough is a dramatized retelling of the events surrounding the Linkoping murders. Directed by Lisa Siwe, the series balances the procedural intensity of a crime thriller with a deep exploration of human tragedy. The narrative unfolds in two timelines: the immediate aftermath of the murders in 2004 and the renewed investigation in 2020. Peter Eggers portrays John, based on the determined detective Jan Egon Staaf who refused to let the case go cold, while Mattias Nordkvist plays Per, a character inspired by genealogist Peter Sjolund. The series also introduces fictionalized versions of the victims and their families, adding emotional depth to the story. Siwe emphasized the shows focus on the human aspects of the tragedy during an interview with Netflix. "Though this is a fictional drama series about a crime, it is, above all, a depiction of a human tragedywhere we place our focus on the victims and the investigation rather than the perpetrator. The series takes some creative liberties, including changing the names of the victims and the genealogist, but it stays true to the core events of the case. Why The Breakthrough stands out in the true crime genre Lily Evita Wahlsteen as Klara in The Breakthrough Courtesy of Netflix Unlike many true crime productions that focus heavily on the perpetrators, The Breakthrough shifts the spotlight to the victims and the investigators. It delves into the personal toll of the case on those involved and highlights the power of persistence and innovation in seeking justice. The series also explores the ethical implications of forensic genealogy. While the technique proved invaluable in solving the Linkoping murders and marked a turning point in European law enforcement, its use raises questions about privacy and the potential for misuse. These themes make The Breakthrough not just a gripping crime drama but also a thought-provoking look at the future of criminal investigations. As genealogist Peter Sjolunds groundbreaking work proved, even the most challenging mysteries can, with a little luck, be solved with dogged determination and a willingness to think outside the box. Contact us at letters@time.com. Former Texas sheriff's deputy Renard Spivey had a long television career as the courtroom bailiff on the show "Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez." In 2019, his life changed drastically when he was arrested for his wife's murder. Shortly after 3 a.m. on July 28, 2019, police were called to the Houston home of Renard and his 52-year-old wife Patricia. When first responders arrived, they found Patricia dead in the closet with multiple gunshot entry and exit wounds. Renard, 63, had a bullet wound in his leg. He told first responders that he and his wife had been arguing and were tussling over his gun when it fired. Officers doubted Renard's claims. They wondered why a man of Renard's size 6'3" and around 290 pounds would need to struggle with his wife, who was just 5'6", over a gun. They also questioned how a gun could go off multiple times by accident. Renard was charged with his wife's murder. CBS News consultant and former prosecutor Lisa Andrews explains, "The multiple shots is definitely what gives everyone a lot of pause as to why it's not an accident." In his first-ever interview, Renard Spivey sat down with "48 Hours" contributor Natalie Morales to tell his story in "Deputy Spivey On Trial," airing Saturday, Jan. 11 at 10/9c on CBS and Paramount+. On the evening of July 27, 2019, Renard says he and his wife were having a quiet night at their Houston home. But, he says, they soon began arguing and Patricia confronted him, asking if he was having an affair. "I told her no, that's crazy," says Renard. Renard says Patricia's suspicions stemmed from the recent lack of intimacy in their relationship. Still, Renard says, he tried to give Patricia a kiss before bed, but she was not interested in affection. He said when he approached her, she turned her phone away so he couldn't see it. "And every time I walk over to her, she turned her phone down and then I was trying to kiss her. She said, 'I'm not kissing you.'" Renard says he was disturbed by this and curious about what was on Patricia's phone. When he thought Patricia was asleep, he says, he grabbed her phone from her nightstand and took it into the closet. He says, moments later, Patricia appeared in the doorway holding his gun and demanding her phone. "And then when I turned around and saw her finger on the trigger, I was scared for my life," Renard says. Renard, then a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, says he thought the best plan was to try to get the weapon out of his wife's hands. He says he tried and, during the struggle, the gun went off. "Everything happened so fast," says Renard. "When I grabbed the top of the weapon, she pulled back with a finger on the trigger and it went off and shot me in the leg." The gun fired two more times, Renard says, hitting Patricia in the arm and the chest. Renard called 911 and told the operator, "Shots fired." According to Renard, Patricia was still breathing. He attempted chest compressions as the operator guided him. On the 911 call, Renard can be heard struggling. "It was really emotional because the thing is that it's my wife, you know?" Renard says. "And you try to save your wife and you've been shot." Patricia was declared dead at the scene. Renard was detained and transported to a local hospital for treatment for the gunshot wound in his leg. At the hospital, detectives wanted to interview Renard, but he refused. Renard told "48 Hours" that at the time, he had been advised against providing a statement by his union rep, who was an attorney. While he waited for trial, Renard's attorneys requested bail, which was set at $50,000. Renard made bail and was released on the judge's conditions, which included barring Renard from attending Patricia's funeral. "That's my wife. I was in love with my wife. Why not be there?" Renard said. "I just wanted to pay my respects. That's all." Four-and-a-half years passed between Patricia's death and Renard's trial for her murder. During that time, Renard said he mostly spent time with family, exercised at the gym and went to church. Renard's trial began in November 2023. He was represented by the famed DeGuerin family of lawyers led by Dick DeGuerin. His attorneys presented a case that Patricia's death was not intentional. Renard took the stand and testified in his own defense. "I was instructed by my my attorneys to do so, because if I didn't, it felt like I was, you know, guilty of something, trying to hide something, which I wasn't," Renard says. DeGuerin showed Morales just how plausible an accidental shooting would be with this type of gun. "There is no external safety on this gun," DeGuerin says. "So, if someone's finger is on that trigger, all it takes is a slight pressure and it goes off." The case went to the jury. As a former bailiff, seeing a jury enter a courtroom was nothing new for Renard. But this jury would decide his fate. After 12 hours of deliberations over two days, they came back with a verdict: not guilty. "I fall to the floor crying. Boohoo crying. My attorneys help pick me up," says Renard. Crews battle Palisades Fire flare-up in Mandeville Canyon Jamie Dimon on the economy Passage: In memoriam By Matt Spetalnick and Marianna Parraga WASHINGTON/HOUSTON (Reuters) -The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials and increased to $25 million the reward it is offering for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro on the day of his inauguration to a third term following a disputed election last year. It was the latest in a series of punitive steps by the outgoing Biden administration against Maduro's government in the aftermath of the July vote, which both his ruling Socialist Party and the OPEC nation's opposition claim to have won. As Washington rolled out the new sanctions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Friday's inauguration "illegitimate," saying in a statement that the U.S. "does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the president of Venezuela." The officials targeted include the recently appointed head of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, Hector Obregon, Venezuela's transportation minister, Ramon Velasquez, and police and military officials. The U.S. move was coordinated with announcements by Britain and the European Union targeting 15 Venezuelan officials, including members of the National Electoral Council and the security forces. Canada also imposed new Venezuela sanctions. The United States, together with our likeminded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan peoples vote for new leadership and rejects Maduros fraudulent claim of victory," Bradley Smith, U.S. Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury, said in a statement. Maduro and his aides have always rejected sanctions by the U.S. and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela. "The outgoing government of the United States doesn't know how to take revenge on us," Maduro said during his nationally televised inauguration speech, without directly mentioning sanctions. He and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. CONTESTED ELECTION OUTCOME The country's electoral authority and top court say Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, won last year's presidential vote, though they have not published detailed tallies. The government, which has accused the opposition of fomenting fascist plots against it, said it will arrest opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez should he return to the country from exile and has detained prominent opposition members and activists in the lead-up to the inauguration. The opposition says Gonzalez, 75, won in a landslide. It has published its own vote tallies as evidence, winning support from governments around the world, including the United States, which consider Gonzalez the president-elect. International election observers have said the vote was unfair. Maduro, 62, has been in power since 2013, and the new sanctions come little more than a week before U.S. President Joe Biden will end his term and be succeeded by Donald Trump on Jan. 20. In addition to the sanctions, the U.S. government increased to $25 million, from a previous $15 million, the reward it is offering for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro. The U.S. indicted Maduro and others on narcotics and corruption charges in 2020. Maduro has rejected the accusations. Maduro has held onto power despite heavy pressure from successive U.S. administrations, retaining the support of Venezuela's military as well as China, Russia and Iran. Even as the U.S. unveiled new sanctions, it stopped short of withdrawing previous U.S. authorizations to U.S. oil giant Chevron and several other companies for Venezuela operations. A senior U.S. official said Washington would continue monitoring the situation and could make recommendations to the incoming administration about the future of those licenses. Biden hosted Gonzalez at the White House earlier this week, calling him the "true winner" of the election. But the Democratic president's Republican successor did not meet Gonzalez separately, leaving it to one of his incoming senior aides. During his first term in office, from 2017-2021, Trump pursued a "maximum pressure" campaign against Maduro, putting in place the harshest sanctions on the South American country, including on its oil industry. Biden briefly rolled back some of the Trump-era restrictions following electoral promises from Maduro but then reinstated them, saying the Venezuelan leader had reneged on pledges for a fair democratic vote. It remains unclear how Trump will deal with Venezuela in his second term. Complicating Trump's decision are concerns about immigration, a hot-button U.S. domestic issue, but he has said the U.S. does not need Venezuela's oil. One of Trump's central campaign promises was the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, many of them from Venezuela, and sending them back likely would require cooperation from Venezuelan authorities. Following the brief detention of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Caracas on the eve of Maduro's inauguration, Trump issued a statement on social media saying: "These freedom fighters should not be harmed." Maduro's government denied any involvement, saying the opposition had orchestrated it to generate support for Machado. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in for a third presidential term in what the countrys opposition movement has decried as coup detat, culminating more than five months of dispute over last summers contested election. The ceremony took place on Friday in a small room of the National Assembly, a marked difference from previous ceremonies held in the buildings main hall. Maduro was sworn in by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez, who placed the presidential sash on him, prompting thunderous applause from those in attendance. Weve achieved what we knew we would achieve, Maduro said during his first speech after bein g sworn in. The power given to me was not given by a foreign government, a foreign president or a gringo government, Maduro said at the event, which saw Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Cubas Miguel Diaz-Canel in attendance. No one in this world can impose a president in Venezuela. China and Russia also sent representatives, with Russias State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin seen arriving late on a state media broadcast after the ceremony began ahead of schedule. Maduro was proclaimed winner of the countrys presidential election on July 28, by electoral authorities under the tight control of the ruling Socialist Party. But Venezuelas opposition has published thousands of voting tallies claiming that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, had actually won the vote with 67% against Maduros 30%. People watch a screen as Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is sworn in for a third six-year term, in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 10. - Gaby Oraa/Reuters Independent observers such as the Carter Center and the Colombian Electoral Mission, as well as CNNs own analysis, have found the opposition tallies to be legitimate. And several nations, including the United States, have since recognized Gonzalez as Venezuelas rightful president-elect. And in a speech Friday afternoon, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado remained defiant, accusing Maduros government of trampling on Venezuelas constitution. Going forward, the pressure will increase even more until Maduro understands that this is over, she pledged. Maduro violates the constitution, also flanked by the dictators of Cuba and Nicaragua, this says it all, she added. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby accused Maduro of a complete disregard for democratic norms, describing Fridays swearing-in as an illegitimate inauguration in remarks to reporters. Gonzalez, who has been in exile since September with a bounty on his head by Venezuelan authorities, had pledged to return to Caracas this week in a potential last challenge to Maduros inauguration. But his planned return on Friday was called off due to security concerns, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena told CNNs Isa Soares. I continue to work on the conditions for my entry into Venezuela and assume, as mandated by the Constitution and ordered by the people, the presidency of the republic and as commander in chief of the national armed forces, Gonzalez said in a statement Friday. Gonzalezs last known location on Friday was the Dominican Republic, where he had recently met with regional leaders. Criticism and new sanctions Shortly after the inauguration, the US announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for eligible Venezuelan nationals, and new rewards for information leading to the arrest of Maduro and his closest officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The rewards for Maduro and for Cabello now amounting to $25 million each are the maximum rewards allowed under the State Departments narcotics reward program, an official said. The US also announced new visa restrictions for Maduro-aligned officials whom the administration says are responsible for undermining Venezuelas electoral process, and individual sanctions on eight Maduro-aligned officials overseeing economic and security agencies in Venezuela, including a state-owned oil company and Maduros transportation minister. On a call previewing the announcement, the official told reporters that Maduro stands mostly alone at this juncture, with few friends in the region and the world, noting statements from countries throughout the region and across the globe since July 28th to call on Maduro to respect democratic norms. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom on Friday sanctioned 15 people associated with Maduro and what it called his contested regime, including leaders from Venezuelas Armed Forces and members of the Supreme Justice Tribunal. The European Union also issued sanctions against 15 people affiliated with Maduro, who have been accused of undermining democracy, rule of law or human rights in Venezuela. And Canada sanctioned 14 current and former senior officials who it said engaged in activities that supported human rights violations in the country. The G7 also criticized the inauguration, saying it lacked democratic legitimacy. We reject Maduros continued and repressive grasp at power at the expense of the Venezuelan people, a statement from the group read. A new phase begins today Maduro did not name any of Venezuelas opposition leaders in his speech, but referred to the movement currently led by Machado and Gonzalez as Guaido 2.0 a reference to Juan Guaido, who in 2019 proclaimed himself interim president of Venezuela and was recognized by 50 countries, including the US. A Guaido 2.0 talks to the people in the streets, a new Guaido, and comes with the same baggage, we saw it, we saw their plans, we saw them yesterday, Maduro said, apparently referring to an opposition rally attended by Machado on Thursday. Guaido also condemned the inauguration, writing on X that the president of Venezuela is Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Maduro only confirms his usurpation and the coup detat they carried out on July 28, Guaido added. Venezuelan opposition coalition Plataforma de la Unidad Democratica echoed Guaidos remarks, saying, a new phase begins today in this fight for the freedom of Venezuela throughout the national territory and in all sectors that form our nation. And Human Rights Watch Americas director Juanita Goebertus criticized Maduros swearing-in as the culmination of an election that blatantly disregarded the peoples will and consolidates a dictatorship only sustained by brutal repression. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado greets supporters during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the day before his inauguration for a third term in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 9. - Matias Delacroix/AP Ahead of the inauguration, Venezuela closed its land border and suspended flights to Colombia a move that Freddie Bernal, the governor of the Venezuelan border state of Tachira, claimed was in reaction to a international conspiracy against Venezuela, in an Instagram post. He did not provide proof for his claim. The border closure came just hours after Colombia broke its silence on the issue and announced it would not recognize the results of last summers elections, stating they were not free. Protests erupted in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities ahead of the inauguration, with Machado emerging from hiding to speak at one event on Thursday. Machado was later violently intercepted at the event, according to her team, which said that during the period of her kidnapping she was forced to record several videos and was later released. The Venezuelan government has denied detaining Machado. Machado said that despite attempts to quell dissent, Venezuelans had defeated fear with Thursdays rallies. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans went to the streets with civility, courage and profound love, Machado said in her video message Friday. This is a developing story and will be updated. CNNs Catherine Nicholls, DJ Judd and Isa Soares contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Google is set to face trial over a class action lawsuit accusing the company of collecting user data despite users opting out of online tracking. The case moved forward after the company failed to have it dismissed in court. Apple, which faced a similar lawsuit, settled last week, while Google is continuing to fight the charges. Google Faces Trial on Data Collection Class Action Suit U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg denied Google's motion to dismiss the class action privacy lawsuit, ruling that the company still collected user data and shared it with third parties. Ars Technica reported that the case centers around Google's Web & App Activity (WAA) feature, which allows users to disable tracking but allegedly continues to record activity on both Android and non-Android devices. The plaintiffs in the case claim they opted out of tracking but their data was still collected and shared by Google. The lawsuit involves two subclasses of users Android and non-Android who turned off tracking settings to protect their privacy but were still tracked by Google. Read Also: Google Wallet Digital ID Adds New Mexico Support For TSA Checkpoints and More Motion Denied by Courts, Trial Starts This August Judge Seeborg ruled that despite users opting out of WAA, their data was still sent to third-party app developers via Google Analytics for Firebase (GA4F). In contrast, Apple settled its similar case for $95 million last week, although it denied allegations of selling or sharing user data. Google now faces a jury trial, which is scheduled to begin in August 2025 in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Google and Their Infamous Tracking Issues This is not the first privacy lawsuit for Google. In January 2024, the company agreed to destroy billions of data records after losing a privacy lawsuit that began in 2020. Over the years, Google has faced numerous investigations, probes, and fines for unauthorized data collection across its apps and platforms, including Gmail, Maps, and Android. The company has pledged to phase out web cookie tracking via its browser, though delays have occurred due to ongoing regulatory scrutiny. This upcoming trial adds to the growing list of challenges Google faces concerning its user data practices. According to the vendor, customers can elect to change their billing plan from monthly to annual billing for their annual subscription at their renewal date. Customers on end-of-sale (EOS) and EOS with Conversion offers, such as Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and Office 365 E1/E3/E5 suites with Teams, will also be able to schedule a change to edit the billing frequencies for their annual subscriptions at renewal, said Microsoft. Trials will continue to default renewing into annual subscriptions with monthly billing. However, partners will be able to specify values, such as license quantity, term, and billing frequency, for paid subscriptions as their trial purchases renew, starting in April as well. Partners will also be able to specify if they dont want their trial to auto renew. This update to the billing structure aims to continue to provide customers with cash flow flexibility while enabling Microsoft to maintain the value and benefits of its services. By standardising the billing structure, consistency and transparency across all platforms is ensured. First increase for Teams phone and Power BI since launch Microsoft will also be updating the pricing for Microsoft Teams Phone Standard, Power BI Pro, and Power BI Premium Per User starting in April. The company said this marked the first price increase for both standalone products since it launched Teams phone in 2017 and Power BI in 2015. These price updates will be implemented as follows for new and existing customers upon renewal, Teams Phone Standard licenses will be US$10 per user per month, Power BI Pro licenses will be US$14 per user per month, Power BI Premium per user licenses will be US$24 per month. Theres no information as yet on what these changes will look like in Australia and New Zealand. Currently, there are no other pricing changes for customers who purchase Power BI Pro and Teams Phone licenses via the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 E5 suites. This pricing update currently applies to commercial customers. Microsoft wants partners to notify customers on triennial offers that beginning in April midterm billing frequency changes for triennial offers will be blocked. Partners with existing benefits can renew them until 21 January and keep them until they expire one year later. To continue receiving benefits, partners are encouraged to purchase new partner benefits packages or attain Solutions Partner designations. Microsoft said these new offerings are designed to help meet business goals and provide more robust support compared to the legacy benefits. Streamlining analytics and data During the first half of 2025, Microsoft will unveil a unified specialisation that integrates the strengths of both the analytics on Microsoft Azure and data warehouse migration specialisations. This consolidation will streamline the validation of partners expertise in core analytics and migration, enhancing the partner experience and ensuring that customers engage with the most proficient analytics partners in the industry, Microsoft said. Partners accredited with or achieving either the analytics on Microsoft Azure or data warehouse migration specialisations before the launch of the new, integrated specialisation will be seamlessly enrolled into the new version until the next renewal cycle. Microsoft said this initiative underscored its ongoing dedication to providing exceptional, distinct value to partners and customers, and to maintaining its position as a leader in the market. A change is also coming to AI and Machine Learning in the Microsoft Azure specialization, which will be rebranded as AI Platform on Azure. The Azure consumed revenue will also increase from US$2,000 to US$5,000. The eligible products are available under AI Infra, Azure AI Services and Azure OpenAI, while Microsoft Azure specialisation will be rebranded as Build AI Apps on Azure. Driving change across the channel These changes are part of Microsofts drive to prioritise AI, Dezen said, which the vendor believed was creating opportunities for its partner ecosystem while aligning with its evolving licensing strategy and transitioning to modern models such as the Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). Customers across the globe are relying on partners to help them become more connected to the cloud, integrate AI responsibly and securely into their businesses, and keep them protected from cyber threats, she said. Partners are key to driving exceptional outcomes across the customer journey, not just through a transaction, but with their value-added services and solutions that make those purchases come to life and create real business impact. Those of us who care about the Getty Museum and Villa have been haunted by the horrifying videos of wildfires raging close to the Villa, a re-creation of a Roman country home, which houses the museums Greek and Roman antiquities: The Getty Villa in happier times Image from the Getty The Villa is currently hosting an exhibition of Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece (to Mar. 3), but its closed (through Jan.13), due to the Franklin Fire in Malibu. To calm our fears for the art, the buildings and, especially, the people, the Getty posted on its website Jan. 8 this Updated Statement from Getty President and CEO Katherine E. Fleming Regarding Palisades Fire: While trees and vegetation on the property have burned, Getty structures have been unaffected, and thankfully, both staff and the collections are safe.On Tuesday morning, the Villa was swiftly closed to non-emergency staff and, in any case, was closed to the public on Tuesdays. Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts throughout the year. Additional fire prevention measures in place at the Villa include water storage on-site. Irrigation was immediately deployed in parts of the grounds Tuesday morning. Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems. The double-walled construction of the galleries also provides significant protection for the collections. All well and good. But the reports and videos weve been seeing make it appear that the surrounding area is engulfed by smoke and flames. And from what Ive seen online at this writing, things are not yet improving. The Getty and I go back a long way: I covered the 1998 opening of the Richard Meier-designed Getty Center in a seven-page appraisal for Art in America magazine (View from the Getty, May 1998, for which I can find no active link). This may sound self-serving, but you be the judge of whether my first paragraph anticipates the problems to come: Sounds like a design for disaster: construct a major art complex on a hilltop vulnerable to earthquake, soil erosion and fire. Pick an architect known for an austere modernist style, then insist that he change it. Price the project (in a 1983 letter to the architect) at $75-100 million, then announce after 14 years that it actually cost a cool billiona budget overrun of a size that the projects officials had repeatedly and publicly insisted could never occur. Lets not ever talk about the dangers of installing masterpieces on a fault line. (Nevertheless, lets learn a little about the Gettys use of Hidden Seismic Retrofitting.) Heres what was then said about fire risk (from another passage in my 1998 article): The fire risk of this particular hilltop was well known from the conflagration that had jumped the neighboring freeway in 1961. You could still see the charred remains, Meier told Art in America [aka: Lee Rosenbaum] at the time of the Getty opening. Because of this, we have used all fire-retardant plant material. The fire will not spread because the plant material is not combustible, he asserted. Somewhat less confident, [Stephen] Rountree [then director of operations] acknowledged that the new plantings were less volatile than what was here, but he added that every summer we will clear out the underbrush, to diminish the risk. They formerly used live, munching goats to help clear our the underbrush. But a Getty spokesperson, in response to my recent query, wrote: The goats are no longer working for us! We stopped using them in the early 2010s. Watching the videos of the infernal inferno nearby, we can only hope that what is now being done by men and machines to defend the Getty will prove equal to the task. by Steve Suwannarat An OECD study highlighting this trend worries Singapore authorities. To remedy the situation, the government is vetting plans to boost education levels. The countrys competitiveness, occupational levels, not to mention workers skills, earnings and well-being are under threat. Singapore (AsiaNews) A study released in December by the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) confirmed that knowledge is declining and various forms of illiteracy are rising among to Singaporeans after they leave school. Such a situation depends in part on the time lapse after the acquisition of new knowledge, and failure to upgrade skills applicable in the workplace. With respect to Singapore, the study provides updated data from a survey of 5,000 Singaporean citizens and permanent residents aged 16 to 65 years to see their levels of knowledge 15 years after the end of their formal education, as well as the ability to adapt to new needs. While he sharp decline in knowledge after the age of 35 is a global phenomenon, average knowledge levels in Singapore are lower than the average of OECD countries (the most developed in the world), which should spur the countrys government to find causes and take steps to improve the situation. In a society that is very productive with a population that is highly prepared (or claims to be) but also aging fast, this trend has set off alarm bells with lively debates about the problem itself and proposals for solutions. After the studys release, questions were raised in parliament, addressed to the Education Minister, to provide answers about the impact of the situation on the employability of workers over the age of 35, and how to ensure a necessary level of education and preparation for Singaporeans of all ages. For Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, the situation calls into question the use of high tech in information processes that reduce the need for complex writing in favour of shorter and more immediate communication on social media. As cognitive outsourcing becomes more prevalent with AI (artificial intelligence), there is a risk of erosion of deep thinking and reflection, said the Education Minister. Atrophy is a real risk, even more so in Singapore, a country that requires high-level skills, quick adaptation, and great productivity. The risks related to declining levels of knowledge and ability to express it could in fact have negative repercussions on the countrys competitiveness, investments, employment levels and quality, as well as workers earnings and well-being, Minister Chan noted. Today's news: Polish government promises Netanyahu immunity from ICC arrest warrant for 80th anniversary Auschwitz liberation celebrations; South Korea debates age to be considered elderly; In China 47.6% of cars sold in 2024 are electric or hybrid; Zaparova decrees a tax maxi-amnesty in Kyrgyzstan. INDIA Indian civil society groups have once again sounded the alarm about the increase in violence against Christians in India. According to new data released by the United Christian Forum (UCF), there were 834 such incidents in 2024, an increase of 100 incidents from 734 in 2023. The alarming frequency of attacks results in more than two Christians being targeted every day in India simply for practising their faith, the UCF said in a press release today. SRI LANKA On 9 January, a Sri Lankan court jailed an influential Buddhist monk for the second time for insulting Islam and fomenting religious hatred in the nation. Galagodaatte Gnanasara was sentenced Thursday to nine months for his anti-Muslim comments, which date back to 2016. He had already been jailed on a similar charge last year for denigrating Sri Lanka's Muslim minority, which accounts for just over 10 per cent of its 22 million population. ISRAEL The Polish government adopted a resolution promising that senior Israeli officials - including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - would be allowed to travel freely to Poland for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp later this month. Netanyahu is the recipient of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. CHINA From January to December 2024, the retail sales volume of electric and hybrid vehicles reached 10.899 million units in China, up 40.7 per cent year-on-year. This was reported by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) according to which new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for almost half (47.6%) of all retail sales last year. SOUTH KOREA South Korea's Ministry of Health will soon launch a public debate onraising the statistical age limit for the elderly population, along with adjusting welfare policies, including discounts on public transport. In the country, the share of over-fifties has exceeded 20 per cent of the population and the Korean Senior Citizens Association has already proposed gradually raising the retirement age to 75. The government had already proposed raising the pension contribution rate to 13% from the current 9%, differentiating the pace of the increase by age group. RUSSIA According to the Russian Federal Service of Bailiffs Fssp, more than 80 thousand migrants were expelled from the country in Russia in 2024, almost twice as many as in the previous year. Twenty-three thousand expulsions took place in Moscow and its province alone, applying the many restrictive regulations passed after the Krokus City Hall bombing on 22 March, in which 145 people lost their lives. There are currently more than 6 million people of other nationalities in Russia. KYRGYZSTAN The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zaparov, has announced a large tax amnesty, whereby all business debts will be forgiven, the tax for electronic transfers will be revised, farmers will be exempt from land taxes for the time being, the tax on cars will be eliminated, and no outstanding taxes will have to be paid on them. by Silvia Torriti The National Health Commission announced the measure as part of a plan to cope with an emergency kept hidden for many years for cultural reasons. Mental distress is also pervasive in rural areas, especially among women and young people. Fewer than four psychiatrists are available per 100,000 people in the country. Milan (AsiaNews) On 25 December, Chinas National Health Commission (NHC, Guojia weisheng jiankang weiyuanhui)[*] held a press conference in Beijing to illustrate the results of the countrys efforts in the mental health area. According to data released by the World Health Organisation, some 54 million Chinese citizens are currently suffering from depression and 41 million from anxiety-related disorders. While it is true that these illnesses are prevalent among the country's urban population, thanks to an increasingly hectic lifestyle and the consequences of the current economic crisis, rural residents too are greatly affected by them. A report published on the World Population Review website shows, for example, that rural dwellers are five times more likely to commit suicide than urban dwellers and that, unlike in Western countries, the main victims are women. The reasons for this extreme gesture, the fifth leading cause of death in China in 2024, are attributable to the lack of healthcare, the stigma associated with mental illness, poverty and low levels of education that prevail in rural areas. To cope with this emergency, the NHC has been working recently on improving mental health services, boosting prevention measures, and promoting educational activities aimed at raising awareness of these issues among the public, including young people. To this end, a plan called Health China Action (2019-2030 Years) (Jiankang zhongguo xingdong[] 2019-2030 Nian[]) was drafted in 2019, while a National Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Health and Mental Hygiene was established in 2021. Subsequently, the NHC, working with the ministries of Education, Finance and Public Security, launched a pilot project to increase the presence of mental health centres in hospitals in large cities and counties. More recently, a toll-free help line (12356) was announced at the press conference on 25 December, available for anyone who wants expert counselling or just simple information. Speaking at the press conference, Professor Xie Bin said that, despite government efforts, many Chinese citizens still "have a low awareness of mental health and common mental disorders and lack knowledge about therapies and prevention. While the percentage of patients who turn to specialists is still low, only 9.5 per cent of those suffering from depression receive medical treatment, the chairman of the Shanghai Mental Health Centre expects requests for psychotherapeutic support to increase in the short term. Considering that fewer than four psychiatrists are currently available per 100,000 people in China, urgent action is needed to further adapt the healthcare offer, especially in the western and more remote areas of the country, where it is most lacking. At the same time, Xie notes, it is important to invest more in scientific research into the pathogenesis of mental disorders and the use of new technologies in the treatment of these illnesses. Delays are probably due to the fact that mental health in China has only received attention in the general public and academia in the last 20 years. This issue has long been considered taboo, due to deep-rooted biases in Chinese culture that people with mental disorders are often deemed incapable of realising the Confucian ideal of personal and social harmony. Many people continue to avoid admitting that they suffer from mental health problems for fear of seeing their reputation damaged and becoming isolated in their community. A recent article published in the Sixth Tone online magazine reports a series of stories taken from Chinese social media that provide the measure of how difficult it is for an elderly or middle-aged person to embark on a psychotherapeutic path. One comes from Huang Liling, a 30-year-old native of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, who lives in Guangzhou. After accidentally discovering during the 2022 Chinese New Year holidays that her mother was taking psychotropic drugs to treat a form of menopause-related depression, she immediately suggested to her to see a psychologist. It took more than a year for the mother to be convinced to take this step and right from the first session with the specialist she assumed a reluctant and hostile attitude. By supporting her on this journey, Huang learnt some painful aspects of her mother's private life that may have affected her psychological well-being, such as the difficult relationship with her husband, a man with an irascible and often absent character. Another noteworthy story is that of Song Wendie, a 34-year-old native of Chongqing. After inviting her mother to spend a few days in her company in Shanghai, where she now lives, she began to notice oddities in her mothers behaviour. Convinced that her mother would never consider seeing a psychologist, she devised a plan whereby she asked her mother to take part in promotional group therapy sessions to help her solve her relationship problems. The mother accepted, convinced that the meetings would mainly concern her daughter. Meanwhile, Song realised that her mothers pain began after retirement and the death of her own father, whom she had long cared for. The emergence of unexpected conflicts with her brothers worsened the situation. After overcoming an initial resistance, Song's mother finally decided to join individual meetings with a therapist, much to her daughter's amazement. In China mental health disorders do not affect only adults, young people too are touched by them, including those living in the countrys rural areas. According to what Xie said during the conference last December, the percentage of Chinese adolescents who suffer from mental health problems is about 2 per cent. The expert therefore dismissed the data circulating on the web, according to which depressive symptoms affect 15-20 per cent of young Chinese, based on surveys that are unscientific and without reliable criteria. Although this figure is more reassuring than expected, for Xie, it is necessary to keep focused on those factors, internal and external, that influence childrens psychological development and growth. It is important to ensure that they grow up in a peaceful family environment, are encouraged to nurture interpersonal relationships, and are protected from the dangers deriving from access to online content. Parents should also avoid being too lenient and permissive towards their children or putting too much pressure on them to achieve school results. [*] [] [] Best Cable Knit Sweaters for Men 10 Rugged & Versatile Sweaters to Take You Through the Winter Months The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. Believe it or not, you sometimes need to look to the past to build your menswear wardrobe for the present. That adage holds especially true as temperatures plummet: The relief in terms of warmth, comfort and style can be found decades, even centuries ago, at least as far as the best cable knit sweaters for men are concerned. With more grit and a thicker, more burly construction than a more refined cashmere V-neck or crewneck sweater, the cable knit sweater is the kind of knit a gentleman explorer like Hemingway prized. And its intricate weave takes on a life of its own, hailing from the Irish islands of Aran the rope-like weave adds decoration but bolsters the sweater (and its wearer) against frigid sea sprays and rain. Heck, Chris Evans famously wore one in the 2019 crime-thriller-comedy Knives Out, and the way his character pulls it off is as good a reason as any to buy one for yourself. RELATED: Best Cashmere Sweaters for Men Today, its still just as rugged in looks and functionality, but it takes on various forms as a cardigan, a cable-knit turtleneck or an especially brawny crewneck. Youll find them made in small batches by luxury ateliers, made by brands you recognize, and above all, made by companies that respect heritage and history in a garment. Flint and Tinder Aran Cable Knit Crewneck Go straight to the source (in this case, the Aran Islands) from a rugged retailer you can trust. Thick lambswool lends this sweater exceptional warmth, while the intricate weave is modeled off those classic Aran sweaters worn by fishermen in the Galway Bay. Its a statement piece on its own, able to function easily with dark blue jeans and trusty, broken-in leather boots. $168 at Huckberry.com Anatoly & Sons Green Lupetto Cable Knit Sweater For as much as the best cable knit sweaters harken back to rugged outdoor roots on the high seas, theres also a sense of elegance to modern editions of the prized style. Anatoly & Sons, a luxury menswear atelier out of Oakland, Ca., nods to the more elevated side of the cable knit sweater, using high-quality Extra Fine Merino Wool from Zegna Baruffa. This sweater should make waves of its own beneath a tasteful wool blazer this winter, and the good news is, Anatoly & Sons also sells fine tailoring. $403 at AnatolyS.com Wythe Highland Cable Knit Sweater The world of cable knit sweaters takes on an air of new intrigue in modern times: For instance, this tasteful cable knit moves vertically even as it moves horizontally, and its made with soft yet durable Andean wool. The result is a sweater you can easily dress up with charcoal trousers or dress down with expertly faded, relaxed blue jeans and chunky brogue boots. $248 at Huckberry.com Hartford Cable Knit Roll Neck Sweater The best cable knit sweaters strike the right balance between luxury and rugged appeal, with the warmth to stand up to a weekend at a log cabin and the suave design to fit right in as you enjoy an Old Fashioned at a dark cocktail bar. This roll neck version of the classic cable knit fits in handsomely in either locale, with a rich ecru color that would make Hemingway proud. $330 at MrPorter.com The Tie Bar Cable Shawl Cardigan Sweater Youd be surprised at the number of forms the classic cable knit can take on, including in a beefed-up version of the shawl cardigan. This sub-$100 cable knit sweater is a prime way to dip your toes into the category, with a vintage-inspired look and a super-soft feel right out of the box. Plus, its navy shade goes with just about anything in your wardrobe, charcoal dress pants and tan chinos included. $98 at TheTieBar.com Amazon Essentials Cotton Cable Crewneck Sweater Like the various textures and washes of a denim shirt or your favorite pair of jeans, theres more than one way to craft a cable knit sweater. The cable knit, in this case, takes on a more subdued form (and a lower price tag) via Amazon Essentials. Its priced so well, you could likely score more than one colorway to make it your signature style. From $23.90 at Amazon.com Askdeer Cable Knit Pullover Sweater Cable knit sweaters offer a difference in your menswear wardrobe and your sweater rotation that you can truly feel. While you might opt for a sleek cashmere sweater for a day at the office, a cable knit sweater functions more readily underneath, say, a waxed field jacket. This option from Askdeer should prove perfect for layering, and it comes in a classic navy color with a fairly agreeable price tag, to boot. $33.98 at Amazon.com Ralph Lauren Cable Knit Sweater Think back to the 2012 James Bond epic Skyfall. In the film, Bond dons a teal jumper of sorts, unearthed from a wardrobe at his familys old estate. Still with us? This Ralph Lauren cable knit sweater isnt quite the same thing, but it fits with the right vibe the sort of sweater you can layer underneath field-ready gear and wear for years to come without it falling out of style, thanks to Ralph Lauren. From $103.60 at Amazon.com Aran Crafts Cable Knit Crew Fiber and fabric has come a long way since the days of the original fisherman sweaters with a hardy cable knit. Unlike the days of old, this Aran Craft sweater is now made from merino wool, which regulates your temperature, keeping you warm on brisk days but at just the right level. The cable knit gives that merino wool a sturdy thickness, and a range of timeless color options should deliver versatility in your winter wardrobe. From $60 at Amazon.com Tommy Hilfiger Cable Knit Sweater The Irish roots of the cable knit sweater havent kept it from being adopted by tastemaking, iconic American brands theres also a certain preppy appeal to some versions of the cable knit sweater, like this option from Tommy Hilfiger. Wear yours over a white Oxford shirt for a timeless, crisp look at the office. From $63.42 at Amazon.com You Might Also Dig: Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. Pashinian listed over a dozen peace proposals on Thursday two days after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made fresh threats of military action against Armenia. The proposals include the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh, something which has for months been demanded by Baku. Pashinian had previously set conditions for doing that. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizade, brushed aside these overtures later in the day, saying that Armenia is still not interested in building peace with its neighbors. He said that Yerevan remains reluctant to change the Armenian constitution which Baku claims contains territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Sorry, but your argumentation cannot be considered a confirmation of the good intentions of Armenia, Hajizade wrote on the X social media platform. Aliyev again made clear that the change of the constitution is one of his preconditions for signing a peace treaty with Armenia. He also insisted on the opening of an extraterritorial corridor to Azerbaijans Nakhichevan through a strategic Armenian region, threatening to use force for that purpose. Armenian opposition figures portrayed Aliyevs latest threats as further proof that Pashinians appeasement policy is only encouraging Azerbaijan to demand more Armenian concessions and will not bring peace. They claimed that Baku is gearing up for a large-scale invasion of Armenia. 10 January 2025 14:04 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The visit of Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to Azerbaijan and Armenia has sparked significant discussions in both countries. The timing of the visit coincides with a period of strained Azerbaijani-Iran relations, following a controversial speech by Seyyed Hassan Ameli, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Ardabil Province raises hopes that the visit might ease the ongoing tensions. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed Amelis speech during an interview with local media outlets, voicing Azerbaijans expectations regarding the matter. President Ilham Aliyevs remarks underscored the importance of mending relations and emphasized the need for mutual respect and understanding between the two nations. Furthermore, the extensive topics on the delegations agenda, coupled with the timing of the visit to Armenia immediately after Azerbaijan, have piqued interest and raised questions about the Zengazur corridor. Speaking to Azernews on the issue, political analyst Farhad Mammadov said that the visit of an Iranian delegation, including a high-ranking advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, could significantly ease the tensions that have recently formed in the relationship between Iran and Azerbaijan. During an interview with local media, the President of Azerbaijan expressed the country's expectations, which were likely conveyed to the advisor. It is also important to note that Azerbaijan specifically emphasized that it expects a clear public stance from Khamenei. Other officials, such as the President and the Foreign Minister, have already lost their credibility, and their words no longer hold significance, he noted. Farhad Mammadov does not believe that all the issues between Azerbaijan and Iran will be resolved during this visit. However, he opined that the visit is also important to consider Iran's current situation. Following events in Syria, Iran has weakened, and the election of Trump in the United States does not bode well for Iran. I believe that taking all this into account, Iran will be forced to adopt a more constructive approach in the region, and within that framework, it will attempt to do whatever is possible. This includes topics like logistics, security, and the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, he added. As for the delegation's visit to Armenia following Azerbaijan, Mammadov pointed out that in Armenia, the main issue on the agenda is to define the new contours of regional policies. At the same time, there is also a topic regarding military cooperation which two years ago, Iran proposed signing a military cooperation agreement with Armenia. At that time, Armenian representatives stated that Russian border guards were stationed at the Armenia-Iran border and that the border was under their control. On a side note, this cooperation involves the possibility of the Iranian army entering Armenian territory to defend it if necessary. Of course, in the past, Iran's ability to do this was dependent on Russian border guards. However, the situation has changed, and as we know, the Mehri border has now come under Armenian control. I believe Iran will use this opportunity to revive military cooperation and may request Armenia to reconsider this cooperation. So, the Iran-Azerbaijan and Iran-Armenia relations are undoubtedly on the agenda with such issues, F. Mammadov concluded. Actor Na In Woo has addressed his exemption from his compulsory military service, which caused controversy after he was deemed physically fit for service. On January 9, Na made his first public appearance since the controversy at a press conference for MBC's new drama, Motel California in Seoul. In attendance alongside director Kim Hyung Min and cast members Lee Se Young, Goo Won, and Choi Hee Jin, the actor addressed questions regarding his military enrollment status. In December, it was reported that Na In Woo had been exempted from his compulsory service. The actor had received a Grade 4 evaluation during his physical examination, which deemed him eligible for social service duty. Three years later, however, Na was still yet to receive a summons from South Korea's Military Manpower Administration. Later, the actor reportedly became eligible for exemption due to the three-year delay. The actor's agency, HANADA Company, issued a statement confirming the news, adding that they had nothing further to say, providing no clarification as to why Na was evaluated at Grade 4. To reporters at the press conference, the actor claimed that he was caught off-guard by the reports and opted to stay silent on the controversy for the sake of the drama. "To be honest, the articles (about the military exemption) came out while I was filming (Motel California) and I was caught off-guard," he said. "I received a call about it after filming was over and it was late at night. Since it was a sensitive issue, I had to make a decision quickly and I chose to remain silent." The actor added that he put on an unaffected face since his fans know him for his bright and positive image. The actor explained that he couldn't reveal the reason behind his Grade 4 assessment. "I can't reveal my medical condition but I am speaking candidly now in hopes that people will accept me the way I am," he said. Motel California is slated to premiere on January 10 at 9:50 PM KST. 10 January 2025 18:44 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Armenia's claim to democratic values faces an undeniable test as it continues to sidestep addressing the legitimate demands of Azerbaijanis expelled from Western Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's recent statements, marked by historical distortions and geographical misrepresentations, only deepen the confusion and evade the core issue: the restoration of the rights of hundreds of thousands of displaced Azerbaijanis. Armenian leadership's reluctance to engage with the Western Azerbaijan Community underscores a deeper resistance to reckoning with its own past. Western Azerbaijanis were expelled from their ancestral lands during a series of forced deportations. Despite this, the term "Western Azerbaijan" is dismissed by Armenia as an unfounded claim, rather than a reflection of historical realities and the rights of displaced peoples. Note that the issue of Western Azerbaijan is not a matter of territory, but rather a human rights issue. The term "Western Azerbaijan," is rooted in historical facts and is used in the context of the right to self-identification. The Armenian government should focus on addressing the core essence of the issue instead of engaging in debates about geographical and historical details. (for historical context). President Ilham Aliyev, during his interview with Azerbaijani TV channels, shed light on this critical matter: "I believe it would be appropriate for Armenias Prime Minister to meet with representatives of the Western Azerbaijan Community. To my knowledge, they are even ready to travel to Yerevan. He should meet them, hear their concerns, and listen to them. These people were unjustly expelled from those lands. They have every right to return. If this does not happen, then what kind of European democracy can we speak of? Armenia portrays itself as a country pursuing the path of European democracy. Let them demonstrate this visibly." Despite portraying itself as a beacon of "European democracy," Armenia has failed to take substantive steps toward addressing the plight of Western Azerbaijanis. Instead, Pashinyans administration has chosen to present the concept of "Western Azerbaijan" as a territorial claim. Yet, as President Ilham Aliyev emphasized, Azerbaijans demands focus solely on the restoration of human rights and justice, not territorial expansion. "Our request is exactly this, and demanding it does not mean claiming any territory. Its about approaching this from the perspective of human rights, and we will not remove this issue from the agenda," President Aliyev reiterated. Let us note an important fact that, the Armenian leadership has consistently maintained a "slippery position" regarding the issue of Western Azerbaijan. We can recall the unfounded and contradictory claims made by Nikol Pashinyan in his statement on July 25, 2023, where he referred to the "voluntary departure" of Azerbaijanis from Armenia and the suggestion of "payment of compensation" to them. The Armenian government should understand that individuals have the right to return to their homeland, regardless of the circumstances under which they left. By not permitting the return of Western Azerbaijanis, the Armenian government is committing a crime against humanity. The Armenians were aware of the harsh deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan. They understood that they had occupied the lands of a neighboring countrylands that had never rightfully belonged to them. In Armenia, they naively believed that this situation would persist indefinitely and that the world, along with Azerbaijan itself, would eventually accept the occupation of Garabagh. In his remarks, Azerbaijani President highlighted the work already done to support the communitys cause: "It was in those years that, on my recommendation, Azerbaijani scientists began to create scientific works. For example, a major scientific work was created on the Iravan Khanate, historical maps were published on the past life and settlement of Western Azerbaijanis there. The Western Azerbaijan Community was created, its activities were further improved, including contacts with many international organizations, and this issue has already been put on the international agenda." Yet, Armenias leadership remains mired in contradictory statements. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyans recent denial of the right of return for Western Azerbaijanis only compounds the dissonance, exposing a government unwilling to confront its obligations under international law. Armenias current leadership claims to chart a democratic path, yet the persistence of territorial claims against Azerbaijan in its constitution and its rapid armament starkly contradict these assertions. The failure to allow Western Azerbaijanis to return to their homes raises a critical question: how can Armenia reconcile its democratic pretensions with policies that effectively deny human rights? Not only that, but also the the international community, which often voices concerns over human rights, remains largely silent on the plight of Western Azerbaijanis. The worlds selective outrageloud for some crises but muted for othersunderscores the urgent need for justice and accountability. President Aliyev called on the OSCE and the European Commission to take a principled stance on this issue, arguing that ignoring the rights of Western Azerbaijanis undermines the very foundations of justice: "Ignoring this matter is not the right step. This is a serious problem. It is about restoring the rights of hundreds of thousands of people. This is a human rights issue, a matter of justice. At the same time, it will also show that the current Armenian leadership is not a fascist, as the previous three presidents were fascists." Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving justice for the Western Azerbaijan Community. As President of Azerbaijan stated, "Let everyone know, both in Armenia and those behind it, that this issue will not be excluded from the agenda until Azerbaijanis can settle in Western Azerbaijan, including in West Zangazur, under secure conditions." The international community must not turn a blind eye to the plight of Western Azerbaijanis. Armenias refusal to engage with this issue not only undermines its democratic credibility but also prolongs a grave injustice. Restoring the rights of these individuals is not merely a political matterit is a test of humanitys commitment to justice and the rule of law. 10 January 2025 10:43 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Exports from Azerbaijan to Thailand saw a significant surge in the January-November 2024 period, increasing by nine times compared to the same period last year, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 10 January 2025 11:45 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. This year in Azerbaijan, the funds allocated for providing ready-made food (catering) to individuals in rehabilitation institutions have been disclosed, Azernews reports, citing the Agency. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 10 January 2025 10:22 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan in February, Azernews reports, citing Pakistani media. According to reports, the visit is part of Pakistan's "Vision Central Asia" policy, aimed at strengthening ties with Central Asian states and enhancing cooperation with key countries in the Caucasus region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, key federal ministers, and a business delegation, will visit Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the third week of February. This will mark Shehbaz Sharif's third trip to Baku within a span of seven months. Sources indicate that the visit will be bilateral and made at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who visited Pakistan last year. Several agreements focusing on economic cooperation between the two nations are expected to be signed during the visit. Additionally, the prime minister will make a two-day trip to Uzbekistan, where discussions will include offering Uzbekistan access to Karachi port for transit trade, along with the signing of key trade agreements. 10 January 2025 11:23 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Baku Metro is set to receive 20 new carriages this year, Azernews reports, citing Rahman Humbatov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport. Speaking at a press conference discussing the achievements in the transport sector in 2024 and the plans for 2025, Humbatov highlighted the significant improvements and developments within Baku's metro system. Humbatov announced that in the previous year, the metro carried a record number of 230 million passengers, bringing the metro system close to achieving a historic milestone in passenger transport. In accordance with the agreement between Global Transport Solutions LLC and Baku Metro CJSC, a total of 65 new carriages (13 train sets) are planned to be manufactured and delivered to Baku Metro from 2024 to 2026. Under this agreement, 35 carriages (7 train sets) were produced in 2024, and the delivery of 20 carriages (4 train sets) is scheduled for 2025. The remaining 10 carriages (2 train sets) will be manufactured and delivered in 2026. The introduction of these new carriages is expected to enhance the efficiency and capacity of Baku Metro, providing a more comfortable and reliable service for passengers. The modernization and expansion of the metro system are part of a broader strategy to improve urban transportation and meet the growing demand for public transport in the city. This investment in public transportation infrastructure not only aims to alleviate congestion but also contributes to the overall economic and social development of Baku. The new carriages are equipped with modern features and safety measures, ensuring a better commuting experience for passengers. 10 January 2025 13:11 (UTC+04:00) Samir Rauf oglu Sharifov has been dismissed from his position as Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan, following an Order signed by President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. By a subsequent Presidential Order, Sharifov has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The official order stated: "Guided by paragraph 5 of Article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I decide: Samir Rauf oglu Sharifov shall be dismissed from the post of Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan." Minister Sharifov has been serving at this position since 18 April 2006. 10 January 2025 15:10 (UTC+04:00) On January 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of Kestutis Vaskelevicius, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania, Azernews reports. The ambassador presented his credentials to the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev had a conversation with the ambassador. President Ilham Aliyev fondly recalled the Lithuanian Presidents official visit to Azerbaijan in 2022, his own official visit to Lithuania in 2023, his phone conversation with President Gitanas Nauseda at the end of last year, and previous engagements with Lithuania's heads of state, noting their important role in developing bilateral relations. Wishing the ambassador success in his activities in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that during his tenure, bilateral ties would further expand and new opportunities would be identified to strengthen cooperation. Expressing gratitude for the kind words, Kestutis Vaskelevicius conveyed the sincere greetings and best wishes of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, to the Azerbaijani President. The head of state thanked for the greetings and asked the ambassador to extend his regards to President Gitanas Nauseda. The ambassador highlighted that during their conversation, the President of Lithuania underscored Azerbaijan's significant role, expressed his desire to further cement bilateral relations, and also conveyed his condolences regarding the plane crash. The Ambassador underlined that Azerbaijan has every reason to take pride in its citizens who played a crucial role in saving many lives in the crash. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of the mutual support that both countries and peoples have shown for each others independence and freedom throughout the history of their bilateral relations, noting that this carries symbolic significance. He emphasized that significant progress has been achieved in bilateral relations since Azerbaijan and Lithuania gained independence in the late 20th century. The ambassador stated that Lithuania is always ready to support the expansion of Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union. He also appreciated Azerbaijan's humanitarian aid to Ukraine and emphasized Lithuania's support for lasting peace and development in the South Caucasus. Kestutis Vaskelevicius noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He expressed his commitment to working in the spirit of friendship and solidarity demonstrated throughout the history of these relations during his tenure at the embassy. During the conversation, they also discussed cooperation in the fields of economy, agriculture, and renewable energy. 10 January 2025 15:12 (UTC+04:00) On January 10, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of Mohammad Faisal Almutairi, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Kuwait, Azernews reports. The ambassador presented his credentials to the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev held a conversation with the ambassador. Highlighting the expansion of active political relations between the two countries, the head of state fondly recalled his official visit to Kuwait. President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait would continue to develop successfully, noting the favorable conditions for this. President Ilham Aliyev also remembered with satisfaction Kuwait's representation at COP29 with a high-level delegation and his meeting with Kuwait's Crown Prince Shaikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah during the event. The President wished the ambassador every success in his diplomatic mission. Expressing gratitude for the warm words, Ambassador Mohammad Faisal Almutairi stated that he felt great pride in being received by the President of Azerbaijan. He conveyed the greetings of Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, and Crown Prince Shaikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah to the President of Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings and asked the ambassador to communicate his regards to the Amir and Crown Prince in return. The ambassador conveyed the Amir's condolences regarding the recent plane crash victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He also congratulated Azerbaijan and its President on the successful organization and achievements of COP29. During the meeting, they expressed satisfaction with the excellent level of political relations, and discussed the development of economic, trade, and investment ties, the convening of the intergovernmental commission, and political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. They noted the close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kuwait within international organizations, emphasizing their mutual support within the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and OPEC+. Furthermore, it was highlighted that Azerbaijan places great importance on strengthening ties with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council. They hailed the recent expansion of bilateral tourism and people-to-people contacts between the two countries. 9 January 2025 18:41 (UTC+04:00) On January 9, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, made a phone call to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. Antonio Costa extended his condolences to President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan regarding the plane crash, emphasizing that the European Union supports Azerbaijan's position on a comprehensive investigation into the incident. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the condolences. During the phone conversation, they exchanged views on transport cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, particularly on cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian-Middle Corridor route, the project to establish a green energy corridor connecting the Caspian and Black Sea basins, Azerbaijan's gas exports to EU member states, and collaboration in the energy sector. Both sides agreed to continue contacts. 10 January 2025 18:34 (UTC+04:00) Asad Majeed Khan, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev, regarding the recent AZAL plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, We are profoundly saddened by the tragic crash of Azerbaijani Airlines Flight J2-8243, which claimed many precious lives. On behalf of the Economic Cooperation Organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Your Excellency, the bereaved families, and the people of Azerbaijan. This sorrowful event is a tremendous loss, and the ECO stands in solidarity with the government and people of Azerbaijan during this difficult time. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration. Asad Majeed Khan Secretary General of Economic Cooperation Organization Authorities reported that Wang Xing, a Chinese actor who went missing after answering a casting call, had been found and rescued from a human trafficking situation in Myanmar. Wang, whose work includes a string of Chinese films, went missing in Bangkok on January 3, where he had been brought for a shoot by a Thai production team. They were contacted later that day in Mae Sot, a city on Thailand's border with Myanmar, which attracts people looking for work but where many are overcharged or subjected to criminal activities. The actor was revealed to be missing after his girlfriend made a public social media post. She described how Wang had been escorted past Thai immigration by someone who portrayed himself as part of a film crew and later taken to Mae Sot. Following the public outrage, Thai police began an investigation. On January 6, they found Wang and confirmed that he has become a victim of human trafficking and fraud syndicates. Wang was lured into the group and then forced to cross into Myanmar, authorities said. The actor described being brought to a facility where armed but not uniformed personnel were held at a distance from him, with the actor suffering a similar fate to other victims of telephone scams. "I can't sleep. I can't eat. And I didn't even have the time to pee," he said to the South China Morning Post, noting he was made to practice writing under immense pressure for several days. According to him, at least 50 other people trapped at the facility were from different countries. Wang's encounter has shined a light on the threat of fraudulent job scams, with others stepping forward with similar tragedies happening to their family members. 10 January 2025 19:00 (UTC+04:00) Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic has sent a letter of condolences to President Ilham Aliyev, regarding the recent AZAL plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. According to Azernews, the letter reads: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, I was deeply saddened by the news of the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane, which resulted in loss of life. On behalf of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic and on my own behalf, I extend my deep condolences to the bereaved families and their loved ones, and wish a swift recovery to those injured. With deep sorrow, Sadyr Zhaparov President of the Kyrgyz Republic Beaufort County Schools are building a new school on the same ground where Eastern Elementary already exists, at a cost of $10,500,000.00 to Beaufort County's Taxpayers. Is this a wise expense of taxpayer dollars at this time? 20.93% Yes, Beaufort County has been awarded a 42 million dollars of grant money from the state of North Carolina (FREE MONEY) to construct school at 3.00 per squ. ft.67.44% No, this is the wrong time, to build the wrong school, on the wrong placement - its lowest point - of Eastern Elementary's existing location, when community schools work best.11.63% Why should I care about the public's education? We saw the level of political censorship from the Biden regime in the Twitter files. One of the leading advocates of free speech in America, George Washington Law School Professor Jonathan Turley has called the Biden regime the most anti-free speech presidency in American history. Now, Facebook owner Mark Zuckerburg has gone on the Joe Rogan show and given detail from Facebook's experience of the censorship efforts of the Biden regime toward Facebook. He spoke of incidents where Biden apparachik's would call them up and scream at them to demand removal of inconvenient posts, even ones they admitted were triue. Zuckerberg has recently announced that Facebook will move to free speech and dump the corrupt "fact check" industry which he admitted were "politically biased". https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14271935/mark-zuckerberg-joe-rogan-podcast-joe-biden-censor-memes-episode.html https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/01/10/zuckerberg_people_in_the_biden_administraiton_told_us_to_censor_true_information_about_vaccine_side-effects.html https://thefederalist.com/2025/01/08/facebook-has-admitted-its-error-but-its-fact-checkers-are-still-complicit-in-censorship/ IT is clear that the REAL threat to democracy over the last four years has come from Biden and his apparatchiks. This year's United Nations (UN) General Assembly put forth a clear task for the year ahead: countries must reaffirm their commitment to advancing women's equal and meaningful participation in all peace and security processes. "Amid record levels of armed conflict and violence, progress made over decades is vanishing before our eyes. Generational gains in women's rights hang in the balance around the world, undercutting the transformative potential of women's leadership and inclusion in the pursuit of peace." This statement in the 2024 report of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General on Women, Peace and Security[1] depicts a bleak picture of the current global peace and security landscape. Decades of research have determined that women's meaningful participation in peace and security processes is critical for lasting and sustainable peace. Yet, according to the UN Secretary General's annual report on Women, Peace and Security, zero women's groups or representatives were included as signatories in peace agreements reached in 2023. Research by UN Women also found that only 26 percent[2] of peace and ceasefire agreements in 2023 mentioned women, girls, or gender. Case Studies The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, passed in October 2000, calls for the increased participation of women and the incorporation of gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts. The Resolution mandates the meaningful inclusion of women in decision-making processes related to conflict prevention and peacebuilding and the protection of women's and girls' rights during conflict. While more work needs to be done to achieve this mission, women have long contributed to peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts. The following examples highlight the integral role that women have played and continue to play in building peace globally: Liberia stands as one of the most enduring examples of the profound impact of women's participation in peacebuilding. From 1989 to 2003, Liberia was embroiled in a civil war, resulting in the deaths of over 200,000 people and the displacement of one-third[3] of the population. The women of Liberia responded, and in 2003, Leymah Gbowee started the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace (WLMAP),[4] a peace movement organized by thousands of Liberian women. These women mobilized, barricading the exit of the peace negotiation talks until a peace agreement was reached. Gbowee was later honored with a Nobel Peace Prize for her work. Just three years after implementing the peace agreement, Liberia became the first African country to elect a female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Women peacebuilders in Colombia also played a historic role in developing the country's peace agreement. After five decades of conflict, formal peace talks commenced in October 2012 between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in which all but one[5] of the negotiators were men. After pressure from women-led civil society organizations, a Gender Sub-Commission[6] was established during negotiations to address the gendered dimensions of the conflict and its aftermath. The Commission played an instrumental role in advocating for gender-sensitive language and commitments in the Agreement, resulting in over 130[7] gender equality and women's rights provisions in the Final Peace Agreement in 2016. Due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, a humanitarian disaster has emerged, with over 7.4 million[8] people forced to leave their homes, disproportionately impacting women and children. Amid this crisis, Sudanese women have become leaders in humanitarian initiatives and peace efforts. The Peace for Sudan Platform[9] is a network of over 49 women-led peacebuilding, humanitarian, and civil society initiatives working to end the conflict and advocate for women's participation in peace processes. While little progress[10] has been made in formal peace talks thus far, Sudanese women active in local peacebuilding initiatives must be ensured a seat at the negotiation table. Persistent Challenges Despite the substantial contributions made by women to peace and security efforts, they remain disproportionately impacted by conflicts and underrepresented in formal peace processes. A recent brief[11] by Our Secure Future, an organization working to strengthen the Women, Peace and Security agenda, states, "Women's inclusion in decision-making that affects them and the future of their countries is not only a matter of fundamental human rights but also a strategic imperative, as adding a broader range of perspectives can tangibly reduce conflict and advance stability." Read more about the importance of the Women, Peace and Security framework and the work being done by women peacebuilders around the world in Our Secure Future's "Making the Case for Women, Peace and Security: Evidence and Country Examples": https://oursecurefuture.org/our-secure-future/publication/making-case-women-peace-and-security Sources: Zhuhai checkpoints leading to Macao, Hong Kong report record high 2024 passenger flows Xinhua) 10:22, January 10, 2025 GUANGZHOU, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- A record-breaking 203 million inbound and outbound passenger trips were made in 2024 via checkpoints in the Chinese mainland city of Zhuhai leading to Macao and Hong Kong, an increase of 22 percent year on year, official data showed. These checkpoints include the ports of Gongbei, Hengqin, Qingmao and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Gongbei, an over-land border crossing between Zhuhai in Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), was the busiest port, recording approximately 110 million inbound and outbound trips last year. Macao last month celebrated the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland. Macao and its neighbor Hong Kong are China's two SARs governed under the "one country, two systems" policy since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over them following long periods of Portuguese and British colonial rule, respectively. The policy allows them to maintain their capitalist systems and ways of life within socialist China. China aims to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), an area encompassing Hong Kong and Macao along with nine cities in Guangdong, into a world-class city cluster, a global technology and innovation center, a livable, business-friendly location, an exchange hub for the cultures of the East and the West, and a world-class tourism destination. Interconnectivity has improved within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, with customs clearance procedures simplified. As a result, the flow of both passengers and vehicles at ports adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao is experiencing a rapid uptick, according to Zhuhai border inspection authorities. In 2024, Zhuhai border inspection authorities recorded a record high number of 11 million entries and exits involving vehicles. Among them, approximately 3.1 million entries and exits were made by vehicles traveling from Hong Kong and Macao to the mainland -- accounting for about 28 percent of the total. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Closure of Great Victoria Street public transport hub hit footfall, but theres optimism over plans for a new market on the old site What is the future of the Great Northern Mall ? Business owners in the Great Northern Mall once enjoyed the benefits of being linked to Belfasts main public transport hub but with Great Victoria Street train and bus stations closure, some are wondering if its the end of the line for them too. Footfall has plummeted since the opening of the new Grand Central Station nearby. One trader has seen an 80% drop in business, although the owners of some recently established shops in the mall are optimistic plans for a new market on the site of the old station will attract customers back. The fall in business has hit some harder than others. Nonetheless, Giuseppe Micciche (37) is looking ahead with optimism for the new market, which motivated him to set up at the mall. He opened Nica Nica cafe just over two months ago after previously working out of pop-up shops. Giuseppe Micciche from Nica Nica He takes pride in offering authentic homemade products from Sicily. Were really happy at the moment, a lot of our customers have followed us to our new place, he explained. We are really excited because the new market will be opening this why we are here. In a few months this place will be really busy. While normal footfall is low, the former paramedic makes use of social media to attract new customers. He added: We post pictures and video about our products almost every day. It lets people know where we are. Inside the deserted Great Northern Mall The new market cant come soon enough for Navid Hemd, the owner of mobile and tech accessory stand ProMobile. He has taken a real hit since the station pulled the shutters down. After it closed it was very quiet, he explained. People only really come through here for the parking, or to ask where is the (new) station. Motioning to several businesses opposite his that have shut their doors for good, he lamented: This one closed, and so did this one. He estimated the mall was now getting only 20% of the footfall it did last year. Navid added: Here, there is no business a lot of people are waiting (for customers). Nallaine Calvo, who helps operate Filipino eatery Kubo, set up just before Christmas. Like Giuseppe, she believes the new plan will rejuvenate the place. She said: The reason why we came here is because they were opening the market its going to be in a great spot and become a vibrant area. The fact that the whole area is going to change, not even within the next year but the next years, is really exciting for small businesses. What Im told is that theyre aiming for May or April. Theyve already started the work on it and are sorting out traders. Navid Hemd from ProMobile Formerly a stall at Trademarket, Kubo has relied on loyal customers and a strong social media presence to boost business. She added: The reality is the footfall is not as high as it was, but were lucky that were a bit more established, have regulars, and people who are curious about Filipino food. But it if werent for that, it would be a struggle. It is exciting to see how it goes, but at the end of the day you just never know until youre right in the fire of it. Sasha, who works at Ziggicig, said the electronic cigarette and vape store still had plenty of footfall with business remaining steady. Sasha from Ziggicig The 22-year-old said she had heard little talk of when the new market will open but was optimistic it will make a big difference. Its understood the first layers of concrete have been laid for the development, which will connect Belfast Grand Central station with the new market and hopefully revitalise the area. From Billy Crystal to Anthony Hopkins and Schitts Creeks Eugene Levy - Hollywood stars whose homes have burnt down in LA Anthony Hopkins, Anna Faris and Eugene Levy are among the stars whose properties have been reduced to rubble The Palisades fire ravages a neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Jacob Stolworthy and Kevin E G Perry UK Independent Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 07:35 A wave of catastrophic wildfires sweeping across southern California has left Hollywood stars among those devastated as their homes were reduced to ashes. Claudia Winkleman on the set of series three of BBC1s The Traitors (Cody Burridge/BBC/PA) Tensions continue to rise in The Traitors castle after another faithful was banished from the game. Fingers were pointed at barber Tyler, Anglican priest Lisa and student Freddie during a heated debate at the roundtable in Thursdays episode as the contestants tried to decipher who are the remaining traitors in the competition. Lets start with a bet on which Belfast district will be the coolest before the end of 2025. The three districts in contention include Ballyhackamore, Upper Ormeau/Rosetta and the Lisburn Road. Ballyhackamore was the crowned champion of eating out, thanks to its cluster of quality restaurants stretching from Il Pirata and Graze on the eastern fringes to Bistro Este on the city side. In between there are excellent reliables including Neills Hill, Banh Boy, The Mandarin, Guillemot Deli, Wing It, East Bengal and Stix & Stones. UK Lammy warns it would be wrong for Putin to put conditions on Ukraine ceasefire Music and Gigs Marianne Faithfull had been enjoying a period of reflection prior to her death The man arrested on suspicion of Belfast man John Georges murder was hauled to court in handcuffs this morning. (www.solarpix.com) A man brought to court in Spain after being arrested in the John George murder investigation has been released on bail by an investigating judge pending an ongoing criminal probe. Officials signalled that investigators believe at least one other person was involved in the crime, although no new arrests have yet taken place. A south Belfast post-primary school has become the first in Northern Ireland to remove mobile devices from pupils during the school day. The policy kicked in as students returned from the Christmas break at Victoria College, where 900 pupils will now have limited access to their technology in what the school has called a digital detox. Principal Karen Quinn said the new school policy, which is independent of a similar trial announced by Education Minister Paul Givan last year, is an attempt to help pupils engage in learning, and one that already has a track record of success elsewhere. The policy will not prevent pupils bringing mobile phones to school, she said, having notified parents by letter of the change yesterday, but they shouldnt be using them during the day. Rather than being banned completely from using mobile devices during school time, pupils will be required to ask the permission of a teacher to unlock their device from a magnetic pouch. The scheme had been funded through the schools own budget and Ms Quinn believes it will yield positive results. Theres still a temptation when they have their phone and we know theyre using them, so weve decided to purchase pouches that are secure for the pupils, she said. What were going to do is use these pouches alongside our policy to teach them how to responsibly use their phones. When pupils arrive each morning, they will now be required to place their phones and devices in the magnetic pouch provided by the school. It locks and you need a magnet to unlock it, Ms Quinn said. Teachers will have access to a magnet so if we want to use a phone for teaching and learning it can be opened up. At the end of the day we will have magnets around the school and the pupils will unlock their pouch as theyre leaving. Ms Quinn said the pouches cost less than an average school textbook, and its a scheme the school had been working towards for over a year, long before the Minister decided to trial a similar course of action. We made the choice, within our current budget, to prioritise this, she said. We are confident that this investment will help students to reduce the temptation to access their personal mobile devices during the school day adding that phones could have a detrimental impact on engagement in learning, social engagement at break and lunch and overall mental health and wellbeing. The pouches are supplied by Yondr, with the company having already delivered the system to over 3000 schools worldwide. We considered the facts, said Ms Quinn. Research shows a 65% improvement in academic performance and 72% improvement in pupil behaviour. Theres an 84% increase in classroom engagement and an 86% boost in pupil safety and wellbeing. Karen Quinn Principal of Victoria College (Credit: Peter Morrison) While we readily acknowledge that technology is an essential part of modern life, we believe this approach will enhance our pupils wellbeing and help prepare them for life and work after school. Pupils at the all-girls school have been urged to adopt the new policy with an open mind. Of course, theres been the reaction you would expect, said Ms Quinn. They have questions, they are nervous, but they also excited to see the effects, she said. Weve asked them to have an open mind and to engage with us so we can make it right for the college. Already weve had pupils stop at my office or stop staff and give suggestions. There will be pupils who this will cause some uncertainty to and we just want to work with them and bring everyone with us. We will use the time between now and June to work with and listen to the girls then review the feedback to finalise the implementation of the Yondr programme in the school. The Education Minister announced a plan to spend 250,000 on lockable phone pouches for a trial in 10 schools at the start of September last year. Mr Givan faced criticism amid the financial pressures being faced across education, but said a very clear evidence base has been established around the detrimental harm that mobile phone technology causes and the distraction that it causes within schools. He added that the initiative has been overwhelmingly welcomed by those in the teaching profession. This is the right thing to do and schools have my support in taking a very robust approach when it comes to the inappropriate use of mobile phone technology in schools, he said. Minister sets out plan to transform education in NI but academic selection not up for discussion Undated family handout photo of John George, (left), also known as John Hardy, with his brother Darren (Family/PA) John George's family, with father Billy George in the centre, arrive home from Spain, pictured this afternoon at Belfast International Airport. Image: PressEye The father of a Belfast man found dead in Spain has vowed he will never set foot in the country again, as he arrived back in Northern Ireland after spending four weeks looking for his son. The body of John George, also known as John Hardy, was found on Tuesday in Rojales, around 40 minutes south of Alicante. His disappearance on December 14 prompted a huge search of the Spanish town, with supporters flying out to aid the family as they searched for their loved ones remains. John George's family, with father Billy George in the centre, arrive home from Spain, pictured this afternoon at Belfast International Airport. Image: PressEye Watch: Father of John George says he will never return to Benidorm Earlier today, a 32-year-old man was brought to court in Spain after being arrested in the murder investigation. He has since been released on bail by an investigating judge pending an ongoing criminal probe. Back in Northern Ireland, the family received support from thousands nicknamed John Georges Army - with over 100 people standing in Belfast International Airports arrivals area to great the George family, which also included John Georges sister Courtney and his brother Darren. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Georges father, Billy, said it was heartbreaking to arrive back in Northern Ireland without his son, but vowed he will get him justice. Today has been heartbreaking, its a day of sadness, he said. When we got off the plane there, we were just told that the (32-year-old who was arrested) has been released on bail. But today, I just want to get home, get settled, and get John home as soon as possible. John Georges remains are currently in a morgue in Alicante, where he will remain until an autopsy is completed. It is expected to take around 10-14 days before his body can be released. Asked about arriving back in Belfast for the first time since his sons death was confirmed, Mr George said: Jesus, its heartbreaking. But the support here has been unbelievable, I dont even know half of these people, but this is fantastic. The wider support has been fantastic. I never expected in my life to get off a plane and see this type of support. John George's family arrive home from Spain, pictured this afternoon at Belfast International Airport. Image: PressEye Mr George said he believes his son was lured to his death in Spain, and it is not something he will ever come to terms with. He added that is looking forward to seeing Mr Georges two sons back in west Belfast, but admitted he is bracing himself for further heartbreak when he sees them. When I see the two boys later today, that will be heartbreaking. I want to give them a hug. Theyre part of our world now - we will never forget him, we will never forget John George. Asked if he plans on travelling back to Spain to bring his sons body home, Mr George added: I will never set foot in that place again. Never in my life. Speaking to the wider crowd gathered in the airport, Mr George said: I will be bringing my son home, I wont be abandoning him, we want justice for John George, and we will get it. John George's family, with father Billy George in the centre, arrive home from Spain, pictured this afternoon at Belfast International Airport. Image: PressEye John Georges family lay flowers in Spain Teaching unions have called off industrial action which had been planned to begin on Monday (Danny Lawson/PA) Industrial action which had been planned for next week by teaching unions in Northern Ireland has been suspended. Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the step which he said would allow for further discussions over pay. He also said he was committed to securing funding to allow Northern Ireland teachers to receive a pay offer in the context of that offered to those in England and Wales last summer. Education Minister Paul Givan said teachers deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement (Liam McBurney/PA) Members of teaching unions had voted to take part in industrial action in December. Action short of strike action had been expected to commence on Monday after unions said teachers had not been offered a satisfactory pay increase for the 2024/25 academic year. On Friday, the INTO, NEU, NASUWT, and UTU unions agreed to suspend the action. Mr Givan said: I welcome todays positive development that unions have agreed to suspend their planned action short of strike on the issue of pay and to allow negotiations to reach a conclusion. Teachers deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I am determined to achieve that. I have been clear with the unions that I am committed to securing the funding required to make a formal pay offer in the context of the agreement reached in the summer of last year in England and Wales, on the understanding that we secure agreement to a sustained period of stability, free from industrial action, including ASOS (action short of strike), in our schools. Mark McTaggart, Northern Secretary of INTO said the decision to stop the industrial action had not been taken lightly (Liam McBurney/PA) I have asked management side to intensify discussions with our trade union partners to reach a formal agreement over the next four weeks. INTO Northern Secretary Mark McTaggart said: INTO and sister unions have been engaging with the employers to seek a resolution which ensures that members receive an acceptable pay offer. To that end we have impressed on the employers that our members are not prepared to accept an offer that does not reflect at least the uplift given to teachers in England and Wales. In response to pressure from the unions, the minister has committed to securing the funding to make a formal pay offer in the context of the agreements reached in the last year in England and Wales. Mr McTaggart added: Considering this and the positive engagement at the pay talks all unions have agreed to suspend the implementation of action short of strike action for a period of four weeks in an effort to successfully conclude negotiations. We have not taken this step lightly and are fully prepared to reissue industrial action notices if required at the end of the four-week period. Kelyan Bokassa, 14, was fatally injured on a route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Street on Tuesday (Met Police/PA) Police have said they fear further serious youth violence after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a bus in south-east London. Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa was fatally injured on a route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Street, near Woolwich Ferry, just before 2.30pm on Tuesday. On Thursday, police said they had implemented orders giving them greater powers to stop and search and demand the removal of disguises, including face coverings, because of concerns there could be more violence. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The orders are in place for 24 hours from 4pm on Thursday and cover the whole of Woolwich and parts of the surrounding areas, including Plumstead. In a post on X, the Greenwich Borough unit of the Met Police said: SE BCU have implemented a Section 60 and 60AA due to concerns of serious youth violence within the catchment area following the fatal stabbing on 7th January 2025. The purpose of this authority is to prevent and detect crime and disrupt those intent on causing serious harm or violence, police added in a second post. There would be an additional police presence in the area over the next 24 hours, the force said. Floral tributes were left near the place Kelyan was stabbed (Jordan Pettitt/PA) After his death, Kelyans mother said her son had been groomed by gangs after running away from care and living on the streets. Mary Bokassa told MailOnline: My son and others were taken advantage by gangs. They were groomed. The 14-year-olds killing sparked a flurry of online commentary, including references to another teenager who met a violent death in the same area of London almost four months ago. Daejaun Campbell, 15, was stabbed to death in Eglinton Road, Woolwich, on September 22 last year, less than a mile-and-a-half away from where Kelyan was killed. The Metropolitan Police said that no links have been established between the two and the investigation is at an early stage. There was also a non-fatal stabbing at around 4.20pm on Monday in Prince Imperial Road, Woolwich, which led to an 18-year-old man being admitted to hospital. It is not thought to be linked to Tuesdays murder. Police have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation into Kelyans death to come forward. Anyone with information can call police on 101 giving the reference 3795/07JAN25 or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online. Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbings while one died in a shooting, according to data compiled by the PA news agency. Citizens Advice said billing issues were the single most common type of issue that its consumer service advisers encountered last year (PA) Citizens Advice helped almost 60,000 households struggling to resolve problems with their energy bills last year the equivalent of one person every two working minutes. The charity said the figure was an increase of almost 20% on 2023 and double the number of 2020. Billing issues were the single most common type of issue that Citizens Advice consumer service advisers encountered, it said. It has urged Ofgem to do more to protect customers as soaring energy costs drive billing issues, with the average household having to absorb a 1.2% increase to their bill as of January 1 and another 3% hike forecast from April. The charity said said it was crucial that suppliers got billing right, meaning providing consumers with accurate and regular bills which they could easily understand in order to make informed decisions about their energy consumption and costs. While energy billing issues were not a new problem, the consequences for consumers were frequently more serious since the affordability crisis, the advisory service warned. Average bills remained 66% higher than the historic norms seen in summer 2021, meaning that when things go wrong the cost to consumers was higher and they were more likely to need support with resolving their issue. Citizens Advice has called for reforms to billing rules, including limiting firms to be allowed to back-bill customers to six months for those with smart meters, down from the current 12 months. It also wants better enforcement from Ofgem where suppliers fail to meet billing standards. Alex Belsham-Harris, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: Day in, day out our advisers support people whose budgets are on a knife-edge. Incorrect charges and large, surprise catch-up bills threaten to push these families into financial crisis. Consumers simply cant afford to pick up the tab when something goes wrong, and the onus shouldnt be on them to make up for companies billing errors. The regulator, Ofgem, must act to protect consumers by limiting back-billing to curb the amount customers can be charged. It should also raise service standards, so people struggling with billing issues get the help they need. A spokeswoman for Ofgem said: Customers should not be spending hours rectifying incorrect bills or worrying about demands for money they dont owe. It is a suppliers responsibility to fix billing issues quickly and handle complaints effectively, and we have secured millions of pounds in redress and compensation where they have failed to do this. Last year we announced our intention to review the rules around billing accuracy and supplier billing practices, including back billing rules, as part of our consumer confidence programme. We have also set out proposals to reset the debt, and reform the system so customers receive a higher standard of support from their supplier when they are struggling. A Government spokeswoman said: Every family in the country has paid the price of Britains dependence on global fossil fuel markets. That is why we are sprinting to clean, homegrown energy, so the UK can take back control of its energy with cleaner, affordable power. We will repair Great Britains retail energy market and deliver real change to ensure people have the best possible support to choose more affordable, smarter, clean energy that is right for them. The Independent and the Daily Mail lead on increased pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves after a surge in borrowing costs and the sliding value of the pound. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Shadow chancellor Mel Stride tells the Daily Telegraph that Ms Reeves is missing in action after flying to China. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Meanwhile, the i reports Labour might be forced into a March mini-budget amid the economic turmoil. Ms Reeves has also told cabinet ministers to draft plans to aid economic growth, according to The Times. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content In social media news, the Daily Mirror writes Elon Musks posts are being probed by Britains counterterrorism unit. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content And the Financial Times says Mr Musk has privately discussed ways to oust Sir Keir Starmer from the UKs top job. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Daily Express reports Shamima Begum and others held in Syrian detention could run free within days as guards come under attack. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Across the pond, Metro and The Sun lead on the devastation caused by wildfires blazing out of control around Los Angeles. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Lastly, the Daily Star focuses on Liz Truss cease and desist letter over claims she crashed the economy. LA man living in NI heartbroken by California wildfires: So many childhood memories are gone He tells of fears for family in fire-ravaged area as Belfast make-up boss visiting city is staying alert The Palisades Fire burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Pic: AP Photo/Etienne Laurent Kurtis Reid Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 07:17 A Los Angeles man living in Northern Ireland has described the scary impact of watching wildfires devastate his native city. The two biggest fires devastating the Los Angeles area grew just slightly on Friday as firefighters beat back the blazes that have killed at least 11 people, obliterated neighbourhoods and left the nations second-largest city on edge. Officials expressed optimism that a break from the punishing winds stoking the flames will allow firefighters to make headway on the fires that have burned an area bigger than San Francisco and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and other structures since Tuesday. These fires are not out, though today were going to make a lot of progress, California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Friday. The Palisades Fire continued to burn on the outskirts of the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Friday (Eric Thayer/AP) Metropolitan Los Angeles and its 13 million residents, who have not seen rain for more than eight months, woke up on Friday to another day of strong winds and the threat of new flareups. The gusts were expected to diminish by evening, however, and have already died down from earlier in the week, when hurricane-force winds blew embers that ignited hillsides. But meteorologist Rich Thompson warned the break could be short-lived. Were looking for a little respite on Friday and Saturday from the Santa Ana winds but then theyre going to pick up again Sunday through most of next week, he said on Thursday evening. LA mayor Karen Bass said on Friday that firefighters had contained several smaller fires in the past 24 hours. The devastation from the Palisades Fire seen from the air (Mark J Terrill/AP) On Thursday afternoon, the Kenneth Fire started in the San Fernando Valley near a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire. It moved into neighbouring Ventura County, but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Dozens of blocks of scenic Pacific Palisades were flattened to smouldering rubble. In neighbouring Malibu, where oceanfront homes once stood, all that was left above the debris were blackened palm strands. No cause has been identified for the largest fires. Firefighters for the first time have made progress containing the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena, officials said on Friday. It started on Tuesday night and has burned more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. To the west, the fire in Pacific Palisades, the largest burning in the LA area, has destroyed more than 5,300 structures. The blaze is already the most destructive in Los Angeles history. Burned cars inside a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California (Jae C Hong/AP) At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and groceries have been burned. So too were the Will Rogers Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, local landmarks dating to the 1920s. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage. AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, on Thursday increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to 135-150 billion dollars (110 to 123 billion). Later on Friday, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued an evacuation order because of a brush fire in the Granada Hills area. The area is just west of the Hurst Fire. Margaret Stewart, a department spokeswoman, said firefighters on the ground and in the air were able to tackle the Archer Fire quickly and that the evacuation order is expected to be downgraded soon. We still have some winds and thats why we have not yet lifted the evacuation order, Ms Stewart told KTLA. Authorities have set up a centre for people looking for missing loved ones. Of the 11 deaths so far, five were from the Palisades Fire and six from the Eaton Fire, according to the LA County medical examiners office. Officials said they expected that number to rise as cadaver dogs go through levelled neighbourhoods to assess the devastation. Two of the dead were Anthony Mitchell, a 67-year-old amputee, and his son, Justin, who had cerebral palsy. They were waiting for an ambulance to come and did not make it to safety, Mr Mitchells daughter, Hajime White, told The Washington Post. Shari Shaw told KTLA that she tried to get her 66-year-old brother, Victor Shaw, to evacuate on Tuesday night but he wanted to stay and fight the fire. Crews found his body with a garden hose in his hand. Sky News' Senior Ireland Correspondent David Blevins questions Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (right), who was at the airport with her assistant (centre) (Pic: David Blevins on X) Firefighters battle the Palisades fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles. Photo: Reuters Fire fighters battle the Palisades fire and (inset) Sky News' Senior Ireland Correspondent David Blevins questions Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (right), who was at the airport with her assistant (centre) (Pic: David Blevins on X) An encounter between Northern Ireland-born journalist David Blevins and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has gone viral online, with video footage of the incident racking up millions of views. The clip shows the politician refusing to answer the Blevins questioning regarding the tragic wildfires currently sweeping the US city. Mayor Bass was returning home to the airport on Wednesday from a trip to Ghana with an assistant, when she was cornered by the Sky News senior Ireland correspondent. She had been out of the country attending Ghana's presidential inauguration on behalf of the Biden administration. Bass immediately indicated that she was not going to answer the veteran reporters questions and turned away. Blevins then asked her a series of questions, but she remained stone-faced throughout. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The broadcaster queried: Fire chiefs say that they're really stretched to the limit and running out of water, what have you got to say to that? Have you no response to that? "Do you owe your citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Have you nothing to say today?' Bass tried to cut the LA Fire Department's budget by some $23million in 2024 but settled for $17.6m in cuts. Elon Musk says that you're utterly incompetent, are you considering your position? Have you absolutely nothing to say to citizens who are dealing with this disaster? No apologies for them? "Do you think you should've been visiting Ghana while this was unfolding back home?' In the clip, which has since been seen widely since Blevins shared it on his own platforms, he then follows Bass out of a corridor at the airport before demanding she give a statement to the citizens of her city. Again, she ignores him. In a separate statement, the LA Mayor has said: To the thousands of families impacted by this horrific fire the City of Los Angeles is providing resources and shelter as this emergency continues. To the hundreds of brave firefighters and first responders who have been responding all day to this blaze we thank you. The City is working aggressively to confront this emergency. Locals within Northern Ireland have been sharing their own opinions of the incident online, with one user on the anonymous blogging website Reddit posting: Not sure American politicians are ready for NI journalists. Multiple wildfires have been ripping through the Los Angeles area this week, all beginning with one on Monday that started in a nature reserve. Thousands of people have had to since evacuate from the suburbs as the flames have since spread into the city. Governor of California Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and the LA Fire Department has appealed to off-duty firefighters to help battle the blazes. The homes of A-list stars including Paris Hilton, Tom Hanks and his wife Rita, Reese Witherspoon and Anthony Hopkins have all been affected by the blaze. It comes as at least five wildfires are continuing to rage in the city with the two largest covering 27,000 acres. Fire fighters battle the Palisades fire and (inset) Sky News' Senior Ireland Correspondent David Blevins questions Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (right), who was at the airport with her assistant (centre) (Pic: David Blevins on X) State of emergency declared amid Los Angeles wildfires Adobe Stock Christians look to scripture for encouragement, understanding, and wisdom, among other things. However, the Bible also contains numerous prophecies that Christians should take seriously. Here are seven chilling prophecies from the Bible that Christians cannot ignore. The Final Judgment: Eternal Consequences for All "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). The primary type of scripture that people consider "chilling" relates to the final judgment and eternal destiny of all humanity. This scripture makes it clear that there will be a final judgment and that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be eternally condemned. The previous verse makes clear that the lake of fire is "the second death." While those whose names are written in the Book of Life will spend eternity in God's Kingdom, not everyone will "make it" - and the consequences are eternal. That's a sobering reminder of how important it is to encourage others to accept God's offer of forgiveness and life in Jesus Christ. A Warning Against False Teachers and Misleading Doctrines "For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Most Christians know these verses. Unfortunately, this is the age of "accumulating teachers." The internet offers unlimited voices and views of scripture. If someone wants to find a "teacher" to support what they already believe, it's only a search away! But that's exactly the sort of thing that Paul warned Timothy against in these verses. People won't tolerate sound doctrine, so they hop from church to church, looking for what they want. And now, if they can't find it in a "church," they can find it online. This is only the latest manifestation of "turning away from the truth and turning aside to myths." It's so easy to do and now it's so common that it's almost impossible to miss. The Inevitable Trouble Christians Will Face "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Why is this chilling? Jesus is declaring his victory over the world; Christians should rejoice at that, right? Yes but Jesus also states that "in the world you have tribulation." The NIV translates this sentence, "In this world, you will have trouble." Jesus won the victory over sin and death and the world on the cross, but the complete and final demonstration of that victory is still to come. In the meantime, Christians will face trouble in this world. The chilling aspect of this comes in connection with the previous passage from 2 Timothy the tendency to gather teachers who say what people want to hear. Those who claim that Christians don't ever have to get sick, be poor, face problems, etc., make Jesus out to be a liar. Jesus did not say, "In this world, you have had trouble, but I have overcome the world." No, He said, "You will have trouble." His kingdom is coming in its fullness, but it's not here yet. That means that there is still the prospect of trouble to come. Spiritual Pride: A Dangerous Trap "But He said, 'I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me" (Luke 22:34). The story of Peter's denial of Jesus is very familiar as is the story of his restoration. Christians are often encouraged in their struggles that if Peter could fail and be restored, Jesus can also restore them if they fail. And, of course, Jesus can! But the chilling part of this prophecy is that even someone like Peter could fail spectacularly. He boldly promised that even if the other disciples abandoned Jesus, he never would. But he did, and that's a reminder that spiritual pride is dangerous. Peter was convinced that he was strong enough, faithful enough, and spiritual enoughbut he wasn't. Even though Jesus warned Peter what would happen, Peter wasn't readyand he failed. The same danger faces Christians today. As the remainder of these chilling prophecies will show, many Christians will not be prepared. Persecution From the "Religious" Establishment "They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God" (John 16:2). The thought that Christians will face trouble in the world is bad enough, but in John 16:2, Jesus warns his disciples that persecution will come from within the "religious establishment." Why is that chilling? Because deception will run so deep that "religious" people will persecute Christians and be convinced that they are serving God! And not just persecute them; "everyone who kills you [will] think that he is offering a service to God." That's chilling because it shows that deception will be both deep and widespread. Faithfulness to the Least of These "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Mefor I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eatto the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either'" (Matthew 25:41-45). This is a chilling prophecy because Jesus makes clear that the standard for faithfulness is much stricter than people often imagine. In the broader passage (Matthew 25:31-46), everyone understands that they would be expected to feed Jesus, give Him a drink, etc. The first group didn't realize that they had done so; the second group didn't realize they hadn't. The particularly chilling part is that the second group the "goats" (see Matthew 25:33) didn't think they had done anything wrong. But they had and Jesus says in verse 46, "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father will enter" (Matthew 7:21). At first glance, this might not seem to be chilling; Jesus simply states what all Christians know to be true. Those who do God's will are welcomed into God's kingdom; those who do not do God's will are not. But this may be the most chilling prophecy of all because as Jesus goes on in the next two verses, it is clear that there will be many people who think that they are part of the kingdom who, in fact, are not. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matthew 7:22-23). The frightening implication of Jesus' words is that many will assume that they are righteous but are not. Simply doing things that look spiritual is not enougheven things that are considered miraculous. Jesus is not just talking about a few people; He says that many will tell Him about what they have done. His response is chilling: "I never knew you." When people think about "chilling" prophecies, they often think about the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation: blood moons, stars falling from the sky, plagues, pestilence and war. But for Christians, those prophecies shouldn't be frightening; those things are reserved for those who have rejected Jesus. What is really chilling is the fact that many will think that they're prepared for God's kingdom but they're not. As the NIV translates this last passage, "Many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord,'and I will say, 'I never knew you.'" Imagine someone thinks they know Jesus, but He says, "I never knew you." What could be more chilling than that? Adobe Stock October 7, 2023, was a night like any other in the Middle East. Both Israelis and Palestinians went to bed as usual, with some trepidation of the outbreak but resting in the recent peace both sides have experienced. Then, it happened. The Palestinian militia, Hamas, launched an assault on the Gaza Strip. It was unwarranted and unprovoked against the Israeli people as thousands of armed soldiers invaded, killing approximately 1,200 innocent Jews and another 250 taken hostage. Not since the Holocaust has such a painstaking attack against the Jewish people taken place. For decades, these bloody and senseless attacks have taken place and are covered by international news outlets. Regretfully, outside of those people affected by this senseless violence, people seem numb to the noise. So, awareness of this turmoil is reduced, concern is lessened, and prayers do not happen. That's the worst aspect of what's happening in Gaza because it is a biblical place and has been since Father Abraham had two of his many sons. Gaza of the World Gaza is no stranger to war, unfortunately. Most people alive today know about storied skirmishes many times this century. Going back in time, an estimated 700,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza caused "Nakbe" (meaning catastrophe in Arabic) during the 1950s and 1960s as the "Gaza Strip" was under Egyptian rule. The 140-square-mile territory shares a border with Egypt, and the "West Bank" (over 2,100 square miles) is located inside Israel near the Mediterranean Sea. Today, approximately 1/10 of the Palestinian population travel to Israel for work, family, or even home. Unlike billions of other people who live in "the suburbs," these question their safety frequently. A decade before Egyptian rule began, British rule ended in 1948, which increased the civil war between Jewish and Arabic people in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This was the heart of the pivotal Arab-Israeli War of 1948, which saw five Arabic countries band together against Israel (e.g., Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, which was given control of the Gaza Strip following this war). This war was both of geographic and prophetic significance as it led to the independence of the free state of Israel on May 14, 1948, signed as UN Resolution 181 and recognized by President Harry S. Truman. This is a landlocked tug-of-war between the Arabic and Jewish people since both claim Jerusalem as their capital city. Unfortunately, neither can enjoy the city because of the ages-long civil war. Even in times of peace since that day, there is a threat of war at any minute, much like what happened last October by Hamas. In 1956, the Suez Crisis (also known as the Suez Conflict) involved Israel partnering with the United Kingdom and France to the Egyptian regime of the crucial Suez Canal. It's more than an area of water used for trade; it's a superhighway for energy, goods, and commodities between Asia and the Middle East. Many believe prophecy about the end times was fulfilled in 1964 when an Arab League Summit in Cairo helped spawn the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). They embraced terrorism, which eventually became a brand of diplomacy when led by Yasser Arafat until he died in 2004. One of the signature moments of his rule was the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre when a PLO faction kidnapped 11 members of the Israeli Olympic Team while competing in Germany. It is contentious, and Israel defends what it believes is their land, even when it seems futile. In June 1967, Israel gained back control from Egyptian and Syrian forces in the Gaza Strip in a moment of unprecedented battle so violent it was called "The Six-Day War." Following that time, the timeline between these people is scant with demise and dead citizens. From the 1982 wars in Lebanon to the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, peace treaties in the 1990s to Hamas first taking control of Gaza in 2007, this significant plot of land has roots that go back much farther than Israeli independence or global empires. Gaza of the Bible "And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest unto Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha" (Genesis 10:19 KJV). Much like "the begats" in the Bible (i.e., genealogy), many of the verses about geography are skimmed or ignored. Yet, this is the first time the city was mentioned in the Bible. Gaza is typically associated with the Philistines who traveled to Canaan from Crete (Deuteronomy 2:23). This modest strip of land in the southwestern area of Israel is the boiling point of chaos in the Middle East. Before the Philistines sacked Gaza in the 12th century BCE, Egypt ruled the region for 350 years. The giants there today are threats of suicide bombs, missile attacks, and terrorist organizations attacking innocent people because of a millennia-old source. From the Macedonian legion of Alexander the Great to the brutal Ottoman Empire led by the Sultans Osman I and Mehmed II, Gaza has been trampled and transformed by countless wars that led to its tempestuous state of living today. This area has been the crux of numerous battles, but the argument is far more than real estate and a headline seen on the crawl of a national TV network. Ironically, Gaza has usually been the heart of outreach, considering its Biblical implications and roots, as read in Amos, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Zechariah, which discuss its prophetic destruction. It's also been the site of Biblical conflict, as read in Numbers, Judges, 1 Samuel, and 2 Kings. In Acts 8, Gaza is also named the site of an evangelical crusade led by Philip. Yet, the genesis of conflict traces back to a word Abram was given and a promise he broke. Issac & Ishmael "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants, I will give this land.' And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him" (Genesis 12:7 NKJV). To a modest shepherd, this prophecy didn't make sense at all. His descendants didn't exist outside Aaron, Miriam, his siblings, and Sarai, his wife. He had a sense God meant much more than them, but he could not conceive the Lord's promise because of a lack of understanding and, perhaps, a little fear. God truly stretched Abram's imagination as if that wasn't already mind-boggling enough. "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession, and I will be their God" (Genesis 17:8 NKJV). This is the promise of a child, the firstborn of both Abram and Sarai. We know how this plays out: Abram came home, told his wife, and she laughed out of sheer disbelief. Yet, if God said itand that's when she recommended her husband sleep with her handmaiden, Hagar. The result of that rebellious choice of trying to help God's Word come to pass was Ishmael. Fourteen years passed until Issac was born. Yet, notice one other thing that rarely gets attention in that verse: "...all the land of Canaan." The same place taken over by the Philistines, directly connected to the present Gaza Strip, was promised to Abraham, and it would be passed to Issacnot Ishmael. A common misnomer is that Ishmael is "the father of the Arabs." Neither historical nor biblical evidence validates that. However, "Ishmaelites" were Canaanites, the progeny of Ishmael's seed. They spoke Hebrew, not Arabic. In ancient times, more minor civilizations were absorbed by larger ones. People took on nuances like culture, language, religion, and persuasion. And then, there's this. In the Bible, Ishmael is said to be an illegitimate son of Abraham. He is mentioned 47 times, from Genesis to Jeremiah. Yet, in the Qu'ran, he is known as a prophet and an apostle. In other words, he was a man of valor and distinction. The Qu'ran reads in Surah Al-Baqarah 2.125, "And remember when We made the Sacred House a center and a sanctuary for the people saying, "You may take the standing-place of Abraham as a site of prayer." And We entrusted Abraham and Ishmael to purify My House for those who circle it, meditate in it, and bow and prostrate themselves in prayer." The son of Hagar and Abraham is known as "the first Arab." Although Ishmael was adopted more by Arabs than was born unto them, this battle that wages perpetually is not over real estate or land rights. In the Bible and Qu'ran, this is solely about birthright. Who are the worthy heirs of the Gaza Strip? Who deserved benefits from the Abrahamic Covenant? One son was kept and cherished; the other was sent away and disowned. Abraham's seed also joined Ishmael with his second wife, Keturah. Those sonsIshbak, Jokshan, Medan, Median, Shuah, and Zimran (Genesis 25:2, 1 Chronicles 1:32)are considered (and validated) as fathers of Arabian tribes. Think of most Christian cities sacked throughout history, like Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. This is modern-day Turkey (now known as "Turkiye"), and Emperor Constantine's castle is now the largest mosque in the world Hagia Sophia, thanks to the forceful possession of the Ottoman Empire. One kingdom was put out and replaced by another. Romans cast out Jewish people and welcomed Arabic people. Arabs versus Jews. Culture against culture. Palestine is warring against Israel. The names change, but the fighting remains. Today, Hamas has launched over 6,000 rockets into Israel since the war began in October 2023. And Now You Know Another peace treaty or not, this fight will not stop until Jesus' return. Many verses in the Bible speak to this reality: Conflict will befall Israel close to the end times (Jeremiah 30:7) Jews return to Israel in droves (Ezekiel 34:11-13) The Antichrist makes a peace treaty for seven years of no conflict in Israel (Isaiah 28:18) A grand temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27) The Antichrist and global persecution will break the stand-down in Israel rages (Zechariah 11:16) Finally, Israel confesses to a Messiah in Jesus (Zechariah 12:10) The end times will be unpredictable outside prophecy. We have heard of all sorts of wars. There are even more "rumors of wars" (Matthew 24:4-6). Still, no one will know the day or the hour of Jesus' glorious return (Matthew 24:36). Until then, Israel and Palestine will continue to fight, innocent people will continue to die, and Jerusalem will continue to be the center of the spiritual universe as we await the Messiah. Those headlines should be taken more seriously to understand the biblical significance of Gaza. Now we can. Adobe Stock In ancient times, rabbis read Isaiah 53 in synagogues and accepted it as the prophet Isaiah's predictions about the long-promised Messiah. But then something happened. Sometime after the seventh century, rabbis stopped reading the chapter in worship services, and Isaiah 53 became a forbidden chapter in the Hebrew Bible. Christians and Jews have argued about the meaning of this "forbidden chapter" for centuries, just as individual Jews and Jewish groups have debated it among themselves. Christians maintain that Jesus Christ is the long-awaited Messiah, while many modern-day Jews continue to look forward to his coming. They believe Isaiah 53 refers to the nation of Israel, the children of Israel, or Isaiah, Moses or some other Jewish prophet. Who Was Isaiah? Isaiah was an Israelite prophet of God who lived 700 years before the birth of Christ. His home was in southern Israel during a time when the country was divided into northern and southern kingdoms. The prophet played an important role in Israel's history. He was an educated man who came from a prominent family and served as a minister in the king's court in Jerusalem. He was a religious and political advisor to several Israelite kings, some of whom wanted to do God's will and relied on prophets such as Isaiah to guide them. But other Israelite kings turned their backs on God and took the nation of Israel with them. Consequently, Isaiah lived through tumultuous times. During his life, the Assyrian army destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel and marched up to the gates of Jerusalem in the south. Isaiah advised the southern king, Hezekiah, not to surrender, and he prayed for the city. God answered the prayers by sending an angel to protect Jerusalem. In addition to his prophecies in Isaiah 53 (see below), the prophet predicted the fall of Israel's northern kingdom, the rise of Babylon a century before it occurred, the decline of Egypt as a major power, the fall of Jerusalem, and the restoration of the city under King Cyrus. The Book of Isaiah Biblical scholars credit Isaiah with writing all or part of the biblical book bearing his name. Some believe that Isaiah wrote all 66 chapters in the book. Others say that the book contains Isaiah's writings along with commentaries written some 100 years after the prophet lived. The remainder of the book, they say, may have been written immediately before and immediately after the Israelites' exile in Babylon between 597 and 538 B.C., per One for Israel. The organization consists of native-born Israelis who share the gospel in their homeland. Experts believe the book of Isaiah was written before the time of Christ because it was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Bedouin shepherds discovered these ancient Jewish texts in caves near the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956. The scrolls have been scientifically dated to 150-100 B.C., many years before Christ's birth in about 4-6 B.C. What Does Isaiah 53 Say? The so-called forbidden chapter tells us that the Messiah would be rejected by his people. It also says he would be wounded for humanity's transgressions and suffer an agonizing death to atone for the world's sins. He would be resurrected from the dead and ascend into heaven. The book also says that at the end of the day, Israel's leaders would realize that their rejection of Christ was a mistake. Christians say that Isaiah's prophecies except for the last one -- have been fulfilled by Christ. A fourth-century Catholic priest, theologian and historian named Jerome described the prophet Isaiah as "more of an Evangelist than a Prophet, because he described all of the Mysteries of the Church of Christ so vividly that you would assume he was not prophesying about the future but rather was composing a history of past events." Who is the 'Suffering Servant'? Several chapters of Isaiah including Isaiah 53 talk about the "Suffering Servant." The book of Isaiah describes him as being: Sent by God to fulfill a mission A servant rather than a conquering hero Despised and rejected by humanity Punished for our sins Oppressed and afflicted During his suffering, this servant did not open his mouth. Eventually, he would be vindicated and revered, and he would save his people through his suffering rather than through military or political heroics, scholars say. A Christian ministry called BibleTalk explains Isaiah's prophecy as "an extraordinary passage because of its accuracy in describing the person, the purpose and the promise of God fulfilled through Jesus Christ all foretold 700 years before His appearance. "It is incredible because the information contained in this passage could not be applied historically, morally or theologically to any other religious leader in history except Jesus Christ: only he could be the Suffering Servant." The Debate Over Isaiah 53 GotQuestions, a non-profit Christian organization, noted that "modern Rabbis of Judaism believe that the 'Suffering Servant' of Isaiah 53 refers perhaps to Israel, or Isaiah himself, or even Moses or another of the Jewish prophets. But Isaiah is clear he speaks of the Messiah, as many ancient rabbis concluded." The debate over Isaiah 53 became heated, and rabbis decided to leave it out of their synagogues' readings. They now read through part of Isaiah 52 and then move ahead to Isaiah 54 for the next reading. Thus, Isaiah 53 has become known as the "forbidden chapter." A Clear Example of Fulfilled Prophecy From the Christian perspective, an organization called BibleTalk says, "Isaiah 52-53 contains one of the clearest examples of fulfilled prophecy. Not simply the predictions of political events in the next 50-100 years, but an accurate description of the Christ 700 years before He arrived, accurate in every way." According to the Bible Connection: "The Book of Isaiah presents a beautiful prophetic picture of Jesus the Messiah, the One who would come to save, redeem, and restore people to God. Reading these verses and seeing Jesus in all of His splendor and majesty, compassion and mercy sparks within us the God-given desire and need to worship." Isaiah 53 is a powerful chapter steeped in prophecy and rich with meaning that resonates deeply with Christians. Its depiction of the "Suffering Servant" offers a compelling portrait of Jesus Christ, whose life and sacrifice fulfilled these ancient words. Whether debated or embraced, this "forbidden chapter" continues to invite all who read it to explore God's plan for redemption and restoration. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 29F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 29F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. BENNINGTON An Arlington man charged with three felony counts including repeated aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of a victim under 16, and sexual assault without consent has agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors on a deferred sentence with no jail time. Richard Brown, 26, of Arlington, is accused of multiple sexual assaults on a fifteen-year-old victim, threatening her and her family with harm if she refused. In all, Brown was facing a possible 25 years to life if convicted. According to paperwork filed at the Bennington courthouse, the plea deal, scheduled for next week, has Brown pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault with a victim under 16. In exchange for the guilty plea, Brown will be given a five-year deferred sentence. The two remaining charges will then be dismissed. The plea deal includes standard conditions of probation plus several special conditions, including electronic monitoring, no contact with the victim or her family, a curfew directed by his probation officer, no firearms, the completion of a sex offender treatment program, a ban on any place that children congregate, no contact with any female under 18 without special permission, and registration on the sex registry during the entire term of the deferred agreement. In Vermont, a deferred sentence can allow the court to set a specific term for a defendant under strict supervision. If that defendant completes the period without re-offending and adheres to all conditions, the case will be dismissed, expunged, or sealed without any record of the infraction. According to a police affidavit, on January 19th, 2024, Browns sister told police that her brother admitted having sex on numerous occasions over several months in the summer of 2023 with a fifteen-year-old. The victim confirmed to the sister that she had non-consensual sex with Brown and that he was physically and verbally abusive, allegedly telling the victim he would hurt her if he didnt have sex with her. Brown later told police he never had sex with the victim and denied any relationship. He also confirmed to police that he knew she was fifteen. Brown pleaded not guilty to all counts at his arraignment and was held without bail at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland until trial. Brown has three previous violent felony convictions on his record dating back to 2016, including domestic assault, aggravated domestic assault, and aggravated assault. He also has convictions for burglary and petty larceny. The simple assault in early 2024 is still currently pending. Brown was scheduled for a July jury trial. The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available. In an unexpected breakthrough, geophysicists from ETH Zurich and the California Institute of Technology discovered hidden remnants of tectonic plates deep within Earth's mantle. These remnants were found far from the expected subduction zones, where one tectonic plate typically slides beneath another. Earthquake Waves Reveal Surprising Plate-Like Materials Deep Beneath Earth Scientists have used seismic waves from earthquakes to study Earth's interior for years. This method allows them to gather indirect information, much like how doctors use ultrasound to examine organs inside the body without invasive surgery. When an earthquake occurs, seismic waves travel through the Earth and behave differently depending on the type of material they pass through. By studying these waves, geophysicists can model the structure of Earth's mantle, according to PhysOrg. Traditionally, submerged tectonic plates were expected to exist in subduction zones, where one plate slides underneath another. However, the new study has revealed surprising discoveries. Researchers used a new high-resolution modeling technique to find submerged plate-like materials in regions far from plate boundaries. These anomalies appear in areas like the western Pacific and other locations deep beneath continents, where no evidence of subduction has been found. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, challenge current theories about Earth's inner structure and the movement of tectonic plates, raising questions about how these materials got there and what they might mean for Earth's internal dynamics. Researchers Uncover Ancient Plate Remnants Inside Earth's Mantle The researchers used the Piz Daint supercomputer in Switzerland to carry out the analysis. According to Thomas Schouten, a doctoral student at ETH Zurich and the study's lead author, these anomalies seem much more widespread in the mantle than scientists initially thought. One of the major surprises was finding these materials in the mantle without any geological evidence of subduction nearby. Schouten and his team speculate that the materials could be ancient remnants of tectonic plates buried deep within the Earth since the planet's formation, some 4 billion years ago, Newsweek reported. These materials could be silica-rich or iron-rich, shaped by billions of years of convection in the mantle. The findings are baffling, as they don't fit into existing models of plate tectonics. The researchers are unsure what these anomalies are made of or how they ended up in these unexpected locations. Andreas Fichtner, a professor of seismology at ETH Zurich, compared the situation to a doctor who, after years of examining blood vessels with ultrasound, suddenly discovers an artery in an unexpected location. This discovery suggests there is much more to uncover about Earth's internal structure. Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Haven Cafe has not been significantly impacted by the egg shortage. LEE On Wednesday morning, Joes Diner was bustling with breakfast customers eggs over easy, omelets and egg and cheese sandwiches fill the Berkshire staple's menu. So it's not surprising the Center Street diner goes through 180 dozen eggs a week. However, when owner Heather Earle recently made her weekly trip to Restaurant Depot to purchase eggs, she found the wholesaler could only sell her four cases a week, which is only about two-thirds of what she needs. Like many restaurants and stores across the nation, Joes Diner is being hit by the egg shortage caused by a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, outbreak. According to the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the outbreak has affected 133.47 million birds, including egg-laying chickens, across the nation since it was detected in February 2022. This makes it the worst recorded outbreak of bird flu in U.S. history, with cases identified in all 50 states. Combined with rising production costs, increased seasonal demand and a new Massachusetts law requiring cage-free egg production, this outbreak has made eggs harder to find and more expensive. Some grocery shoppers may notice empty shelves. On Thursday afternoon, Big Y in Pittsfield posted a notice to customers that, due to the avian flu outbreak, the grocer is experiencing a "temporary" product shortage. "Our teams are working hard to secure as much product as we can," the note reads. As of Thursday evening, the store had restocked its shelves with a limited selection of eggs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that, as of Wednesday, large white eggs are being delivered to warehouses at prices between $5.91 to $6.05 per dozen in the northeast. At this time last year, large white eggs were being delivered at prices between $2.15 to $2.34, reflecting a more than 158 percent increase. But other local businesses say buying their eggs close to home has shielded them from the effects of the shortage. At Starving Artist Cafe in Lee, where they purchase their eggs from nearby High Lawn Farm and Equinox Farm in Sheffield, the egg shortage was news to Brady Cook. We have so many eggs, so I didn't even know there was a shortage, Cook said. Tricia Racine at High Lawn Farm said they sell unsized, pasture-raised eggs from a local Mennonite farm for $5.25 per dozen or $74.50 for a box of 15 dozen. According to Racine, these prices have remained consistent since October, and the farm has not yet seen a shortage. She said the shortage seems to stem from mass-production egg operations rather than smaller, local farms. Those bigger places might be bringing in other livestock that's bringing in diseases from outside, said Racine. Whereas some of these small [farms] like where we are getting [eggs], they're raising the chickens. So they're hatching some, they're raising them so there's no outside influence on their flock. Tom Bender, the dairy buyer at Guido's Fresh Marketplace in Pittsfield, echoed this sentiment. Despite the shortage, Guido's has maintained its egg prices by sourcing local and specialty eggs, which Bender said are less affected by market fluctuations. What's really caused the mass egg shortage is the basic mass-produced eggs, said Bender. Right now, there's so much pressure on that market to make up for all the bird flu issues out West. They're shipping a lot of those eggs out from the East Coast to the West Coast, and it's causing the prices to go crazy on very basic eggs. As of Wednesday, Guidos is selling eggs ranging from $4.29 for large cage-free brown eggs to $7.99 for pasture-raised soy and corn-free eggs. The store sources from a variety of local farms, such as Baldwin Farm in West Stockbridge, Square Roots Farm in Lanesborough, Off the Shelf Farm just North of Great Barrington, Joshua's Farm in Sandisfield, among others. Bender said the only challenge with buying local eggs is that they typically are not available in large quantities, which is why the store works with multiple local farms. I know some stores you'll go and you'll see eggs are all $6.50, $7 all of them, said Bender. We have more moderately priced eggs available because we have a lot of connections with local farmers. Weve been able to kind of fill the void. While Guidos has slightly increased prices on some products up to 60 or 70 cents per dozen for organic and local eggs Bender emphasized that their prices remain significantly lower than other retailers. I think, overall, we have some of the most reasonable egg prices you'll find on generally excellent, top-quality eggs, Bender said, adding that he has not heard many complaints from customers about availability or pricing. For Morwenna Boyd, the general manager of Haven Cafe in Lenox, securing eggs has not been a challenge because she's been purchasing them through High Lawn Farm. But she has noticed a change with large distributors. With major suppliers like Baldor Specialty Foods and Martys Local often out of stock, Boyd has been forced to purchase dozen-egg cartons instead of flats, which contain 30 dozen eggs. Boyd has also noticed a significant price increase. Large, loose eggs from Kreider Farms are currently $205.99, we used to be able to get a case of 30 dozen for sometimes as low as $80 or sometimes up to $120, said Boyd. So there's definitely an increase in price, but it's showing up more with the bigger distributors than it is with the local stuff. However, Haven Cafe only uses eggs from these suppliers for a small number of things in its bakery, so the shortage has not had a significant impact on its operations. Earle at Joes Diner has not noticed a significant increase in egg prices yet, but she expects to in the next couple of weeks. However, Earle assured that, even if egg prices double, her customers will not see a change in their bill. I don't usually put that on my customers, Earle said. I'm fair to them. Eventually, theyll come down and even out. According to a statement from the USDA to USA Today, the agency projects that egg production will recover during the second half of the year. "USDA is forecasting table egg production in 2025 at about 3 percent above 2024," the statement said. "With production expected to gradually recover as flocks are rebuilt prices are expected to move lower." PITTSFIELD An updated lawsuit filed by a Miss Halls School alum now names the former dean of students, alleging she was complicit in a school culture that allowed "physical intimacy" between staff and students. Melissa Fares, who already has filed a suit alleging that the school failed to prevent her sexual abuse and rape by a former teacher, amended that complaint Thursday in Berkshire Superior Court. In the amended suit, Fares, now 32, accuses the school and its administrators of having "normalized dangerous and boundary violating behavior by faculty/staff towards students. She specifically names longtime employee Sarah Virden, who most recently was dean of students. Virden resigned in July. Virdens alleged conduct with students, the court document says, is one example of school leadership allowing faculty and staff and students to be "publicly overfamiliar and physically intimate with each other. Fares' lawsuit claims it is this culture that led to her alleged abuse by a former teacher she alleges was a known "sexual predator" at the school. Among other things, Fares lawsuit alleges, faculty/staff allowed students to drape their legs over faculty laps and lay down together to watch tv. Fares, who graduated from Miss Hall's in 2010, alleges in her lawsuit that Virden frequently hosted students in her room for sleepovers, and that faculty were allowed to visit students at their homes and stay overnight. Virden resigned after 30 years at the school, without publicly stating the reason. Her resignation followed months of upheaval and accusations related to the allegations by Fares and four other alums against former history teacher Matthew Rutledge. Virden could not be reached for comment about the allegations in Fares' amended complaint. Miss Hall's spokesperson David Smith said in a statement that, "out of respect for former students involved, and to maintain the integrity of the legal process, we will not publicly comment on the details of pending litigation." Fares was the first, in late February, to allege grooming and sexual misconduct by Rutledge. Another alum, Hilary Simon, was the next to allege the same, followed by three others who did not come forward publicly. All five are represented by the same attorneys. Rutledge was forced to resign. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office said it had to reluctantly drop its investigation of Rutledge given that the age of consent in Massachusetts is 16, and the sexual relations with alums did not begin before then. But the Pittsfield Police Department is continuing its investigation, according to the DA's Office. A separate investigation by Miss Hall's may take until April to finish. At the outset, Head of School Julia Heaton had also called the state Department of Children and Families. It is unclear whether the DCF conducted an investigation. Neither a DCF spokesperson nor Miss Hall's responded to questions about this or any related reports. Fares, who denies she consented to sex with Rutledge, filed her original lawsuit in October, alleging sexual abuse and rape by Rutledge, and negligence by former Head of School Jeannie Norris and three other Jane Doe defendants. Fares claims they knew or should have known about Rutledge, and cites examples of past alleged behavior by him. 'CULTURE OF FAVORITISM' The fallout from the allegations had galvanized at least two dozen alums to speak out about the past, and the allegedly inappropriate conduct by Rutledge with students over three decades. But those alums also blamed the school and its leaders. They described alleged coverups by administrators going back to the early 1990s, punishing girls who reported inappropriate conduct, and a school culture designed to silence students at the all-girls boarding and day school off Holmes Road. A number of alums alleged that Virden was central to cultivating that atmosphere. Fares' lawsuit makes some of the same allegations, and says they are part of the reason Rutledge was able to allegedly exploit her. Fares' original lawsuit refers to Virden once, saying that a student in 2004 reported to her that she had "walked into Rutledges classroom and witnessed Rutledge with Student Bs legs draped over his and massaging her breasts." The updated court complaint alleges that a culture of favoritism existed at Miss Halls whereby certain faculty including Rutledge and Sarah Virden treated certain students as special. Students, the complaint alleges, were allowed to be alone with faculty/staff, day or night, in classrooms (including behind closed doors), off campus, and in faculty/staff apartments. Fares' lawsuit also alleges that faculty/staff were allowed to take students off campus, and alone, in cars. Male staff, like Rutledge, were assigned to conduct nightly checks of student rooms. There was no oversight and Rutledge was permitted to and did enter students rooms to engage them in conversation, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says that it took within seven years of the filing of this Complaint, for Fares to connect Miss Halls alleged negligence with Rutledges sexual abuse and her psychological and emotional injuries. You are the owner of this article. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NORTH ADAMS The North Adams Daily Transcript wrote in an 1896 story, The wheelmen and wheelwomen, who are now visiting Northern Berkshire in great numbers, would be strongly impressed with our enterprise up here if they see something being done in the way of bicycle paths. A $17 million grant will allow Northern Berkshire County communities to forge a new, 9.3-mile path connecting to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, realizing an idea more than 120 years in the making. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, came to North Adams on Friday to announce the federal money, which will go toward planning, design and permitting for the stretch. In about four years, design will be complete, and the section will be shovel-ready. Neal said the Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail Project will attract thousands of annual visitors and stimulate the regions economic activity. Its about preservation in open space and waterways, making sure succeeding generations, they get a chance to use them just as we have, with improvements on the side of public investment, Neal said to about 70 people packed into city council chambers. Today is a major success because it connects Williamstown and Adams and North Adams. Mass MoCA Executive Director Kristy Edmunds noted that creating this path will increase tourism and access to cultural benefits, as well as how it will make it possible for other modes of transportation apart from car travel to get around in the area. The shared-use pathway will connect the existing rail trail to the Williamstown Mohican Path by way of North Adams and the rotary of the Mass MoCA campus. The proposed trail goes for 3 miles south through North Adams along the Hoosic River to Hodges Cross Road, next to McCann Technical School, and follows the river until getting to Lime Street in Adams, the current North County terminus. Money for the Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail path comes from the U.S. Department of Transportations Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, drafted in the Ways and Means Committee when Neal was chair. The grant award is the result of a joint effort by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Mass MoCA, Tourists hotel and the municipalities of Adams, North Adams and Williamstown. The entire design and preparation process will take four years and will be coordinated by the BRPC. The groups executive director, Tom Matuszko, said the grant money will open doors for future construction money once shovel-ready. At the moment, it is unclear exactly where the new trail will wind; thats what the money and the design process is for. Adams Select Board Chair John Duval said Adams' downtown has already experienced economic benefits with the rail trail running through. Adams, North Adams, sometimes Williamstown, weve had over the years a rivalry, Duval said during Fridays news conference. However, we need to work together going forward. We cant just be Adams doing our thing, North Adams doing our thing. For two decades, local and regional stakeholders have sought to carve a path through the Hoosic River Valley with little success. As the BRPC put it in a news release Friday, the challenges of navigating the still-active rail lines in North Adams led to each proposal losing steam. Particularly problematic was the patchwork of neighborhoods between the towns, the BRPC added, which in past proposals meant several potentially dangerous trail crossings of Route 2. To highlight just how long this need, as Tourists hotel co-owner Eric Kerns put it, has gone unaddressed, Kerns and Tourists hotel co-owner Ben Svenson read the 1896 Transcript story aloud. State Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, said he first heard the proposal of a bike path linking North County towns when he was mayor, and he wasnt thrilled with it at the time. It all started in Adams, in North County, but I still wasnt sold on it, Barrett said. In the end, as [Rep.] Neal indicated, it was a great product, and it was easy for him to sell. To this point, the trail had been put together piece by piece this 9-plus-mile stretch represents the first time that municipalities are working in tandem. North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey said that not having the abandoned railway to convert posed a challenge in extending the bike trail through North Adams, design-wise and financially. She said the grant award will speed up the planning process. Our communities cannot be siloed anymore, we have to connect them. And this is the way into the future, Macksey said at the news conference. Now half-a-mile deeper into Pittsfield, the rail trail runs from Merrill Road in Pittsfield to Lime Street in Adams. There's a new access point on Merrill Road, completed in November, with a parking lot and a pedestrian signal. The rail trail is now more than 14 miles long. The trail is meant to eventually be part of a 75-mile trail system from the Vermont border to the Connecticut border. According to the BRPC, last year, there were more than 122,000 bike and pedestrian trips recorded at Park Street in Adams and Route 8 in Lanesborough. As the 19th-century Transcript story says, A little attention to this now, at a small expenditure of money, would prove good investment, and eventually would have much to do with drawing visitors to this delightful section. A good starter would be to connect Williamstown and North Adams with a bicycle path. It can be done at comparatively small expense. The former DeSisto School at 35-37 Interlaken Road (Route 183) in Stockbridge is the subject of a revised development proposal submitted to Town Hall. Susan Birns is professor emerita at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a member of Elizabeth Freeman Centers board of directors. The investigation into a slew of alarming allegations against multiple Pittsfield High School staffers is starting to take shape. Tapping former Berkshire County-based attorney Mary-Lou Rup is a solid start. The Pittsfield School Committee sought out a third party to lead the investigation, contracting with Springfield law firm Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas LLP. Ms. Rup is senior counsel at Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas, but her experience as an associate justice for the Massachusetts Superior Court brings a keen legal eye as well as a foundation of integrity to the probe. Both attributes will be necessary for the fair but thorough process demanded by a complex web of a scandal whose exploration will produce painful truths. Another encouraging sign is the head of the Pittsfield School Committee publicly committing to the utmost transparency regarding the investigations findings. Theres no intent here to cover anything up, School Committee Chairman William Cameron said. So whatever we are legally able to release, we will release. Thats good to hear. The people of Pittsfield are paying for this probe at a rate of $275 per hour for the investigation plus $110 per hour for paralegal services. Thats money well spent to get to the bottom of a controversy that has raised troubling questions about the safety of students and the propriety of personnel in the Berkshires largest school district, not to mention the sharp blow this has dealt to the morale of a city and school community already beset by challenges. All the more reason for this community from student families to taxpayers to get all the answers reasonably possible. Chairman Camerons pledge is welcome. While it gives us some cautious optimism, it also behooves us to hold him and other school officials accountable to ensure the district walks the walk on transparency when the investigation is completed. No matter what is said now, contracting with a law firm leaves the door open to relying on attorney-client privilege to keep critical aspects of the final report from the public. The School Committee, the publics primary outlet for oversight of its school district, must not abuse that privilege to impinge the public truth-seeking that, while discomfiting, will be necessary to heal the wounds this scandal has opened within the district. Those wounds are suffered by parents, educators, concerned community members and, perhaps most importantly, the districts student body. Pittsfield High students say they're proud of their school, and they worry that recent scandal is drowning out all that's good PHS students approached the microphone with a different perspective: They love and are proud of their school. And they don't want their school to be defined by what the grown-ups did or didn't do, or what others have to say about it. Several Pittsfield students spoke at this weeks School Committee meeting. On a positive note, many of those remarks gave reason to believe the youngest and most vulnerable of those impacted by this scandal are staying strong and handling the situation with impressive maturity. Yet some perspectives revealed more hurtful dimensions of this scandal for many students. PHS student Jessmirac Perry, who is Black, said racist comments and passive-aggressive behavior have emerged following allegations against two of the five current or former faculty members who also happen to be Black. For example, I overheard someone say Of course Mr. Wiggins was dealing drugs; hes a Black man with a Maserati, Ms. Perry said. (PHS dean of students Lavante Wiggins is facing federal charges alleging he was part of a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.) Ms. Perry continued: Yes, what Mr. Wiggins allegedly did was wrong, but comments like this go far beyond him as an individual they hurt an entire community. They perpetuate hurtful stereotypes and create an environment where students of color feel judged and unwelcome simply because of their race. No student should ever feel like they cant achieve their goals or that their potential is limited because of the color of their skin. Scandals like this one too often lead observers to project their personal biases and pet peeves onto the matter. Such reductive and inappropriate responses lead only to obfuscation of complicated truths and more harm for the most affected. Americas schools becoming ground zero for culture-warring in recent years only exacerbates this. No matter how understandably high passions run in a moment like this, we all owe it to the students we must protect and the facts we must seek to resist the ugliest urges that rage and indignation provoke. That means not only holding the School Committee accountable for a transparent investigation but having the discipline to not prejudge that investigation and let the full fact-finding process play out. And it certainly means avoiding unproductive and offensive outbursts like the one that derailed a recent meeting of the City Council as it discussed its support for the School Committees investigation. Pittsfield City Council united in support for School Committee in PHS investigation, but nerves are frayed The City Council, in a special meeting on the unfolding crisis at Pittsfield High School, voted 11-0 to support a petition brought by five members supporting the School Committee-chartered investigation into hiring, behavior and oversight. That outburst, during which a resident used citizen speak time to denigrate multiple city officials on the basis of race and sexual orientation, sadly lent evidence to Ms. Perrys eloquent testimony at Wednesday nights School Committee meeting. All the more reason we must heed the wise call made by multiple community advocates, including in the letters section of this paper: Listen to these young people. They give a critical window into the student bodys experiences throughout this scandal, while their words and spirit remind us why this investigation must be handled thoughtfully, thoroughly and transparently. Its the very least of what their school district owes them. I have shared in the past about how my life changed when God called my family out of the only place we had ever known. Our children were young and a bit more resilient, while I was a blubbering mess. Fast forward six years and my family finds themselves back in the town they called home for so many years. Coming back home was due to the end of a beautiful ministry in West Virginia. We did not understand why God was calling us back home. My husband had not been placed in another church. Our family was not being called to another ministry. We know why we were called out now and patiently wait for the next assignment, but there are moments when we ask ourselves if God is done with us. Philippians 1:6 says, I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. The words are a powerful reminder that God will never be done with us or you. As we move through this article, lets break down the words Paul spoke to the Church at Philippi and discover how those ancient words apply to our lives today. What Is the Context of Philippians 1:6? To fully digest what Philippians 1:6 means we must fully understand the context of the Scripture. We know that Paul is writing to the church in Philippi, which grew out of the obedience of Paul and a small group of women. When God sent Paul to Philippi, he saw a group of women outside the city gates at the river (Acts 16:13). He was looking for a place of prayer because it was the Sabbath. It was at this encounter that a women named Lydia heard the gospel and responded, along with her entire family (Acts 16:14-15). The small group of women at the river, Lydia, and her family were the humble beginnings to a church that would do remarkable things for Christ. When Paul writes his letter the Philippians, he is jail and knows that he may not get the opportunity to visit them again. In his greeting, he extends grace and peace to each of the servants of God. Paul begins his letter with a greeting to the servants of God who remain in Philippi. He extends the grace and peace that only comes from God to all (Philippians 1:1-2). After Pauls greeting, he assures the Philippians of his thankfulness for them and that he remembers them (Philippians 1:3-5). He informs the Philippians that he prays with joy for them because of the partnership they have developed. Breaking Apart Philippians 1:6 Philippians 1:6 says, I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. As a whole, this verse simply reminds Gods people that we are not forgotten. When we break the verse apart, the words Paul writes are even more powerful. I am sure of this Paul has firsthand knowledge of how the church in Philippi began and the work that was happening there. He knew those servants were authentic. Some other versions of this Scripture use the word confident in place of sure. The word confident speaks of the way Paul felt about what the church at Philippi was going to achieve in the name of Jesus. He was aware that trials were around every corner, but God had started this church, and God was going to use it for great things. that he who started a good work in you When Paul speaks of a good work, what good work is he speaking of? The good work is the work that Jesus Christ started in each of us. It is the transformation of our hearts and our minds. This is a work that man cannot do by himself. It is only by Gods hand that we are able to change and be molded into what God wants us to be. God was the one who had called the people of Philippi and created the church there. He was the one that started the good work. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:30). God had chosen them for this good work, and He was not going to leave them to their own devices. Ephesians 1:4 states also that For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before Him. will carry it on to completion God is simply saying that if we stick with Him, He will not leave us alone. He created us in His image, and He designed our paths before we were knitted in our mothers womb. God will not save us only to leave us. His birth, life, and death would have been in vain if so. There is nothing that God begins that He will not complete. We can look around and see there are no half-done worlds or incomplete works of His doing. In Genesis there is no evidence that God changed His plans for creation. If He would not change His plan for the world, then why would He change His plan for the salvation of His people (John 10:27-29)? until the day of Christ Jesus. The day of Christ Jesus will be either be our deaths when our spirits are made perfect, or the day Christ returns. Paul is saying to the church of Philippi that whatever is happening or will happen, Christ is with them and will continue to be with them until He returns, when we will be with Him forever. What Does Philippians 1:6 Mean Today? When Paul wrote this letter, he was specifically writing to the church at Philippi. Today we can read the same words and know that God inspired Paul to pen words that are still as relevant today as they were then. Today we can glean from this verse that God has begun a good work in all of us. He wants us to live out a life that shows us progressively becoming more like Him. Paul reminded the church at Philippi that God would do the work, but they needed to be an active part in that work. Today, we must remember the same. As we strive each day to become more like Christ, we cannot sit back and expect God to do it all. He has a call for our lives, and we have to accept and act on that call. Jesus came to this Earth to show us how we can live a life blessed beyond anything we ever imagined. When we accept Him, a work of grace begins. God will not stop working until He returns. He will not leave us to our inhibitions, because He knows we cannot live this life without Him. Psalm 138:8 says The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Lord your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands. God will not abandon us. Each morning when we rise up from our slumber, we are reassured by the words of Philippians 1:6 that God loves us, wants to be with us, and wants to bless us. May we all trust in Gods word and plan for our lives. If He has not returned, He is not done with you. He is still working. Photo credit: Getty Images/Lilly Roadstones Ashley Hooker is a freelance writer passionate about missions. She has collaborated with mission teams in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Vermont. Presently, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children, where she fulfills roles as a pastor's wife, a dance mom, and a farm girl. Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Friday strongly condemned ongoing violent attacks on patients and staff at Bashair Teaching Hospital, located in a Rapid Support Forces-controlled area of Khartoum Healthcare sector sets expectations for AI advancements & medtech innovations from Union Budget 2025-26 January 10, 2025 | Friday | News Digital health transformation should receive significant attention, with expected investments in AI- driven diagnostics: Industry expectations image credit- shutterstock The 2025-26 Budget presents a pivotal opportunity to elevate healthcare advancements, building upon the progress made in 2024. As the Union Budget for the year 2025-26 approaches, the healthcare sector looks forward to reforms that address the shortcomings of flagship schemes like Ayushman Bharat. According to the healthcare industry experts, the upcoming budget is a great opportunity to fix some of the issues that our healthcare system is facing- such as shortage of doctors, especially specialists, rising costs for cancer treatment, and not enough hospitals for our growing population. Dr Harsh Mahajan Chair-FICCI Health Services Committee and Founder & Chief Radiologist, Mahajan Imaging & Labs says, "Now is the time to invest in advanced diagnostic technologies and research. A critical area for reform is the high GST on medical equipment, which drives up costs and limits access to essential care. Reducing or exempting GST on medical devices will make cutting-edge technology more affordable for healthcare providers and ensure patients receive timely, quality care." "India must prioritise and invest in becoming the global leader in health AI, driving advancements in digitisation, building a connected healthcare ecosystem, and enhancing the manufacturing capacity of indigenous medical devices. This singular focus on health AI leadership can transform the nation's healthcare landscape, improving quality, infrastructure, and global competitiveness. The Union Budget 2025 should align with this vision by expanding the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, investing in AI innovation hubs, and fostering public-private partnerships", adds Mudit Dandwate, CEO and Co- Founder Dozee. AI is the key to healthcare advancements Putting more focus on AI-based advancements, VS Sudheer, Group CEO, Maxivision Super Specialty Eye Hospital says, "AI-driven solutions hold immense potential for preventive eye care. India, with its vast data pool, can lead the way in predictive analytics if domestic companies receive support for innovation from the government." Being more specific in this regard, Aditya Kandoi, Founder and CEO of Redcliffe Labs says Increased budgetary support for research and development in fields such as genomics, AI-driven diagnostics, and digital health tools, including telemedicine, can position India as a global leader in healthcare innovation." "To fully unlock the potential of genomics, we hope the budget will allocate substantial funding for research and infrastructure development in genomics, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and ensuring affordable and equitable access to diagnostics across all demographics", mentions Surajit Chakrabartty, CFO, MedGenome. "Government funding for AI research and support for startups developing healthcare technologies can accelerate innovation. Encouraging hospitals to integrate AI tools will optimize resources and enhance care quality, which is crucial in settings where resources are limited", says Dr Sabine Kapasi, Co-Founder and MD at Enira Consulting. "There is an opportunity to accelerate India's digital and AI revolution while transforming critical areas like healthcare through care coordination. Focused investments in AI infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and skill development can empower innovation and democratize intelligent solutions. In healthcare, prioritising AI-driven care coordination can streamline patient journeys, enhance access to quality care, and reduce system inefficiencies", says Dr Suman Katragadda, CEO, Heaps.ai. Strengthening innovations in medtech sector Seeking support from the government for medtech innovations, Jasdeep Singh, Group CEO, CARE Hospitals points out that the government should prioritise funding research and development in the medtech sector, incentivising innovation, and transitioning to quality-linked procurement standards for value-based care. "The high customs duty regime significantly increases the cost of medical devices, which undermines the governments efforts to make affordable healthcare accessible to the masses through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY). Hence, we urge the government to consider reducing customs duty rates for products where domestic alternatives are not yet readily available, said Pavan Choudary, Chairman, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI). Chandra Ganjoo, Group Chief Executive Officer, Trivitron Healthcare feels, "A key element is stricter enforcement of "Make in India" policies on public procurement, enhanced support for local manufacturers through reduced GST rates, and infrastructural development, such as medical device parks." "Shifting hospitals from the GST exemption category to zero-tax would allow input credit, lowering treatment costs for patients. Additionally, tax holidays for greenfield healthcare projects, akin to those for SEZs and Tech Parks, would drive private investments", says Gautam Khanna, CEO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital. Raise awareness on eye care, women's health, and mental well-being Addressing more awareness towards eye care, Rajat Goel, Co-founder and CEO of Eye-Q Superspeciality Hospitals says that incentivising skill development in ophthalmology will be vital in addressing the rising demand for specialised eye care professionals. Dr Puneet Khanduja, Lead Health and Nutrition practice group in India, MicroSave Consulting highlights that the governments focus on healthcare over the past year, including the expansion of the PMJAY scheme and the launch of various digital health initiatives, has been commendable. However, much work remains in addressing the healthcare needs of underserved populations, particularly women and the elderly. With more focus on women healthcare and their requirement for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), Dr Sheetal Jindal-MBBS, MD OBG, EPHM (IIM Kolkata) Senior consultant and medical director, Director Medical Genetics programme Jindal Ivf Chandigarh says, "We look forward to policies that enhance access to advanced healthcare technologies, especially in reproductive health. Given the rising incidence of infertility among Indian couples, the government should consider incentivising fertility treatments like IVF." "I look forward to provisions that support fertility treatments, menopause management, and mental health programmes for women. We also need subsidies on essential medications and sanitary products. An emphasis on women-centric health infrastructure and skill development for healthcare workers in this domain would be a welcome step toward achieving gender equity in healthcare access", says Dr Vidya V Bhat, Medical Director of Radhakrishna Multispeciality Hospital in Bengaluru. Mental healthcare is another area where the industry is demanding government's attention. "We urge a significant rise in funding for mental health services, including outpatient care, counselling, and community-based programs, to close existing gaps in access to resources and ensure individuals in need can easily obtain essential services", says Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Founder and Director, Manasthali Wellness. Healthcare training & development "Emphasis on preventive healthcare is also crucial in reducing the long-term disease burden on the healthcare system. Increased investment in public health infrastructure, workforce training, and digital health innovation is essential for improving the quality and efficiency of care", mentions Pankaj Tandon, Promoter, Founder & CFO, VitusCare. On this note, Dr Shafiq A M, Co-Founder and CEO, Trilife Hospital adds, "The government should consider increasing the number of seats and providing government led loans at lower rates of interest for medical students in both undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate medical programmes." Giving a holistic perspective on the healthcare challenges, Sahil Lakshmanan, Chief Business Officer, CarePal Money feels that in order to achieve equitable access to quality healthcare, the government must balance its focus between schemes like Ayushman Bharat and building a robust healthcare infrastructure. "Establishing more high-quality, government-funded hospitals will reduce reliance on private institutions, address regional disparities, and create a sustainable, inclusive healthcare ecosystem", he says. "We urge the government to prioritise funding for large scale public-private partnership (PPP) projects, enabling advanced diagnostic services to reach underserved rural populations. Such initiatives could significantly transform healthcare delivery in these regions and address the stark accessibility gap", highlights Dr Anand. K, MD & CEO, Agilus Diagnostics. According to Saransh Chaudhary, President, Global Critical Care, Venus Remedies and CEO, Venus Medicine Research Centre, "To ensure affordable healthcare, the government should introduce a graded premium structure under Ayushman Bharat to include middle-income households and offer better tax deductions to incentivize health insurance enrollment. Additionally, expanding the Janaushadhi Kendras network across the country will improve access to affordable generic medicines." The healthcare sector is of the opinion that with bold policy measures, India can establish itself as a healthcare technology powerhouse, delivering affordable, world-class care while becoming a beacon of innovation for the world. Gaza, West Bank (PANA) - According to initial information, five Palestinians, including at least three children aged eight, 10 and 17 years, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tammun, in Tubas, on 7 and 8 January, which also resulted in significant damage, reports the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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It will be livestreamed here and burial will follow at St Patrick's Cemetery, Nohoval. The body of Ms Canty was found in an upper storey flat in Bridewell Lane in Mallow on January 3rd. Joseph Butler (42) of the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Cork appeared before Midleton District Court on Thursday charged with the murder contrary to common law of Ms Canty. Paula is survived by her mother Sinead, her children Alyisha and Aoibhe and her siblings Darragh, Donna, Latoya, David and Rianna. Advertisement A postmortem examination was carried out on January 4th at Cork University Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. The investigation was upgraded to murder following the completion of the post mortem. Paulas mother Sinead has set up a memorial fund in honour of her beautiful daughter Paula. The organisation I have chosen to be the beneficiary of the funds is Street Angels in Cork who provides a brilliant service to all those in need. Advertisement "Our beautiful, kind Paula has gained her wings this week. She was taken from us way too soon in a sudden and tragic way without any goodbyes. Paula was looking forward to a fresh, bright new year start with her loving family and with her good friends. "The community, our family, relatives, neighbours, and a large circle of friends are just heartbroken. Ireland Man charged with the murder of mother of two Paula... Read More "We ask if you wish to donate to Paula's Memorial Fund please do so to "Street Angels" organisation in Cork, which is close to our hearts. "We thank you from the bottom of our heart for all your support, thoughts and love shown to us throughout this very hard time. Close to 3,000 has been raised to date. Mourners can donate to the Street Angels Go Fund Me page or to Coolmine Drug Treatment Centre here in lieu of funeral flowers. The family of a Belfast man found dead in Spain have had an emotional homecoming. Billy George, whose son John, had been on holiday in Alicante when he went missing last month, said he would have stayed if Johns body had not been found. Advertisement The 37-year-old father of two from west Belfast was last in touch with his family on December 14th. He was reported missing four days later after he failed to board his flight home. His parents Billy and Sharon, brother Darren, and sisters Courtney and Caitlin, along with up to 50 friends and wider family, were involved in the search operation. John Georges mother Sharon and sister Caitlin return to Belfast Airport (Brian Lawless/PA) A body was found earlier this week which Spanish police believe is that of John George. Advertisement His family arrived in Belfast International Airport on Friday afternoon to be greeted by crowds of supporters who clapped and came forward to embrace them. Mr George told those gathered they are determined to bring his son home to claps and cheers, as well as chants of justice for John. He said they were overwhelmed by the support, adding I dont know how we can ever repay all these people. Many have been with me from day dot to find John, three and a half weeks, nearly into the fourth week, he said. Advertisement Supporters gathered at Belfast International Airport on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) I wouldnt have come home today if I had not got John. Id have still got up every morning, put my boots on and searched fields. We had no leads, we had nothing. We did this ourselves as a family. I hate walking and I walked for eight hours a day, even when it got dark I wanted to get torches but was told it was too dangerous I would do anything to find any of my family and that what I did. I got my son. Advertisement Mr George said they are now focused on getting his sons body home and giving him a Christian burial. Its never going to be the same without John, but at least hell be home in Belfast where he belongs, he said, adding: I pray that I get justice for my son. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have been assisting their Spanish counterparts with the investigation and had issued appeals for information after Mr George was reported missing. On Wednesday, the PSNI said it was made aware on Tuesday that a body recovered in Spain was believed to be that of Mr George. Advertisement Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with the PSNI through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk. Information will be shared with Spanish police. John George, (left), also known as John Hardy, with his brother Darren (Family handout/PA) Meanwhile, a man who was arrested by police investigating the death of Mr George, has been released on bail in Spain. The man, who has not been named, appeared in court in Torrevieja on Friday. Ireland Man arrested after body found in hunt for Belfast... Read More A spokesperson for the Valencian Communitys High Court of Justice said the man had been released with precautionary measures in relation to the homicide of a northern Irish citizen whose body was discovered in Rojales on Tuesday. The spokesperson said the man has had his passport withdrawn and must appear at the court every 15 days. The spokesperson said the court would now proceed with establishing the full facts of the case. The number of tourist beds being used to house refugees from Ukraine as well as international protection applicants has fallen by 15 per cent in the past six months, according to official figures. New research carried out by Failte Ireland shows a total of 65,457 beds were occupied in November 2024 under contracts with the Government for housing refugees and asylum seekers a decrease of almost 12,000 since May 2024. Advertisement However, Failte Ireland estimates that the economic impact of the displaced bed stock in the tourism sector is still at least 400 million and could be as high as 670 million per annum. The figures relate to the loss of potential tourism spending outside of the accommodation sector. Failte Ireland claimed the unavailability of some tourism accommodation was limiting the industrys ability to meet demand from domestic and overseas tourists, while also leading to higher prices due to a supply-demand imbalance. Inbound tour operators say it is very difficult to get suitable bed blocks at internationally competitive rates, especially in mid-market hotels, it added. Advertisement The national tourism development authority expressed concern that the problem was also resulting in lower turnover for non-accommodation tourism businesses. The latest figures show that the number of beds under contract in Failte Ireland-registered properties had fallen by 30 per cent over the past six months. The change has resulted in around 7,500 beds potentially becoming available again to provide tourist accommodation over the past half year. Failte Ireland said the total stock of registered tourist beds under contract was now just seven per cent compared to 12 per cent a year ago and 10 per cent last May based on data provided by the Department of Children and Integration. Advertisement However, it acknowledged that the figure might understate the real impact of contracted beds on the availability of tourist accommodation. For every Failte Ireland-registered bed und contract there is up to one more bed in unregistered tourism relevant sites, it added. Failte Ireland said the issue highlighted again the importance of having a fully inclusive register of tourist accommodation. The proposed Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill is due to require properties for short-term tourist lettings that are advertised on platforms like Airbnb to be registered with Failte Ireland. Advertisement Such platforms will also be obliged to only advertise properties which have a valid registration number from Failte Ireland. The latest figures show a total of 17,632 beds with Failte Ireland-registered accommodation providers remain under contract to house beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection. Another 47,285 beds in properties not registered with Failte Ireland were under contract in November 2024 a decrease of eight per cent or approximately 4,400 beds over a six-month period. Failte Ireland said it was likely that up to 24,000 of these beds were likely to have been trading in the tourism sector. Advertisement The ongoing reduction in the number of tourist beds under contract is expected to be welcomed by tourism businesses which had expressed concern about the Government being over-reliant on the tourism sector for housing refugees and international protection applicants. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation warned in 2023 that a shortage of tourism beds due to Government contracts represented a major handbrake on recovery for the sector. Ireland Harris and Martin at odds over cannabis decriminal... Read More The latest figures also show that there continues to be a disproportionately high share of tourist beds in some counties under contract. They reveal that 18 per cent of beds in tourism accommodation registered with Failte Ireland in Clare are out of use for tourism, although the figure is down from 25 per cent last May. Other counties with above-average levels of tourist accommodation contracted to house refugees and asylum seekers are Meath (18 per cent), Wicklow (14 per cent); Mayo (12 per cent), Offaly (12 per cent) and Cork (10 per cent). All other counties are below 10 per cent including just one per cent of tourism bed stock in Monaghan, Laois and Longford under contract. A US court denied a bid to block the public release of special counsel Jack Smiths report on President-elect Donald Trumps efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday turned down an emergency challenge aimed at keeping under wraps the report expected to detail unflattering revelations about Mr Trumps failed effort to cling to power in the election he lost to President Joe Biden. Advertisement A separate volume of the same special counsel report related to Mr Trumps hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate will not become public while the case against two co-defendants of the president-elect remains pending, the Justice Department has said. Even with the appeals court ruling, though, the election interference report will not immediately be released, and there is no guarantee it will be as more legal wrangling is expected. President-elect Donald Trump, flanked by senator John Barrasso, and senator Shelley Moore, talks to reporters after a meeting with Republican leadership at the Capitol (AP/Steve Helber) A lower court ruling from Trump-appointed US District Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida temporarily blocking the US Justice Department from releasing the report remains in place for three days. The defendants may now ask Ms Cannon to rule on the merits of their request to block the report, which she did not do earlier when she granted their emergency motion. Advertisement They could also conceivably ask the conservative-dominated Supreme Court to intervene. A Trump spokesperson called Mr Smiths report an unconstitutional, one-sided, falsehood-ridden screed. It is time for Joe Biden and Merrick Garland to do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our Justice system, spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement after the ruling. The two-volume report is expected to detail findings and explain charging decisions in Mr Smiths two investigations, though the prospect for significant new information is unclear given the extensive details already disclosed in separate indictments against Mr Trump. Advertisement Mr Smiths team abandoned both cases in November after Mr Trumps presidential election victory, citing Justice Department policy that prohibits the federal prosecutions of sitting presidents. President Joe Biden (AP/Susan Walsh) The case accusing Mr Trump of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate was dismissed in July by Mr Cannon, who concluded that Mr Smiths appointment was illegal. Mr Smiths appeal of the dismissal of charges against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who were charged alongside Mr Trump with obstructing the investigation, is still active, and their lawyers argued this week that the release of a report while proceedings were pending would be prejudicial and unfair. The Justice Departments decision to withhold the classified documents section of the report, for now, lessens the likelihood it will ever be seen by the public, given that the Trump Justice Department almost certainly will not release it even after the case against Mr Nauta and Mr De Oliveira is resolved. Advertisement The election interference case was significantly narrowed by a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. The court ruled then for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, all but ending prospects Mr Trump could be tried before the November election. Justice Department regulations call for special counsels appointed by the attorney general to submit a confidential report at the conclusion of their investigations. It is then up to the attorney general to decide what to make public. Advertisement Attorney general Merrick Garland has made public in their entirety the reports produced by special counsels who operated under his watch, including Robert Hurs report on President Joe Bidens handling of classified information and John Durhams report on the FBIs investigation of Russian election interference. BTS member J-Hope has announced he will embark on his first solo tour next month. The Hope On The Stage tour will kick off on February 28 at the KSPO Dome in Seoul. Advertisement He will do three nights there, before heading to New York; Chicago; Mexico City; San Antonio; Oakland, California; Los Angeles; Manila, Philippines; Saitama, Japan; Singapore; Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok; Macau; Taipei, Taiwan; and Osaka, Japan. The announcement was shared on J-Hopes social media accounts as well as on Weverse, an online fan platform owned by BTS management company Hybe. According to Weverse, details surrounding the North American tour will arrive later, due to the large-scale wildfires in California and their resulting impact on the region, the statement read. We kindly ask for your understanding. In October, J-Hope completed his 18-month compulsory military service in South Korea, having been the second member of BTS to join the countrys army. Advertisement I was able to finish (the military service) heathy and safely thanks to my fans, he said in Korean at a press conference held at an army base in Wonju, South Korea. Thank you so much for waiting and thank you for your cheering me on. In 2022, J-Hope became the first South Korean performer to headline Chicagos Lollapalooza festival. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met security officials on Friday to discuss Gaza ceasefire talks, an Israeli official told The Associated Press. The prime minister and security officials received an update from negotiators and instructed them to continue the talks in Qatar, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic matter. Advertisement Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been mediating the indirect talks that have stalled repeatedly during 15 months of war. Just one brief ceasefire has been achieved, occurring in the earliest weeks of the fighting. The recovery of the bodies of two hostages in Gaza this week again put pressure on Mr Netanyahu from families and others to reach a deal to bring the remaining hostages home. People sit in front of the US Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, Israel, during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Also on Friday, the Israeli military said an inquiry into the deaths of two kibbutz residents during the October 7 2023 militant attack that sparked the war in Gaza found it highly likely that one Tomer Eliaz-Arava was killed by Israeli soldiers after they saw a person they misidentified as a suspicious figure. Advertisement The findings released on Friday also note a reasonable possibility that another resident, Dikla Arava, was killed by military fire while in a vehicle after being seized by militants. The military says the shootings occurred during fierce combat with militants who had infiltrated Kibbutz Nahal Oz. It emphasises it is impossible to determine with absolute certainty what caused the deaths. The military says the broader inquiry into the battle at the kibbutz continues. Elsewhere, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed at least two people and wounded two others, the countrys health ministry said. Advertisement The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack in Tyre province, and it is unclear what was targeted. Lebanons state media reported the strike hit a car in the town of Tayr Debba. Amid a tenuous ceasefire, Israel insists it has the right to attack Hezbollah anywhere in response to alleged truce violations. Both sides have until January 26 to pull their forces out of southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media reported Israel carried out new home demolitions and explosions in several southern villages on Friday. This adds to the near-daily Israeli operations in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect in late November, according the Health Ministry. And Israels military says it has carried out new airstrikes against what it calls Houthi rebel targets inside Yemen. Advertisement Its statement on Friday says fighter jets struck on the western coast and inland Yemen, and targets included what it called military infrastructure sites in the Hizaz power station as well as military infrastructure in the Hodeida and Ras Isa ports on the west coast. At least three people were wounded, the Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported. The US Supreme Court on Friday seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning on January 19 unless the popular social media platform is sold by its China-based parent company. Hearing arguments in a momentous clash of free speech and national security concerns, the justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the companys connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the US. Advertisement Early in arguments that lasted more than two and a half hours, Chief Justice John Roberts identified as the main concern in the case TikToks ownership by China-based ByteDance and the parent companys requirement to co-operate with the Chinese governments intelligence operations. If left in place, the law passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in April will require TikTok to go dark on January 19, lawyer Noel Francisco told the justices on behalf of TikTok. At the very least, Mr Francisco urged, the justices should enter a temporary pause that would allow TikTok to keep operating. Callie Goodwin, a small business owner who sells greeting cards and says 80% of her sales come from people who found her on TikTok, holds a sign in support of the platform outside the Supreme Court in Washington (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) We might be in a different world again after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, he said. Mr Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, also has called for the deadline to be pushed back to give him time to negotiate a political resolution. Advertisement But it was not clear whether any justices would choose such a course. And only Justice Neil Gorsuch sounded like he would side with TikTok to find the ban violates the Constitution. Mr Gorsuch labelled arguments advanced by the Biden administration in defence of the law a paternalistic point of view. TikTok, he said, has offered to post a warning that the content could be manipulated by the Chinese government. Dont we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter speech? he asked Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law for the Biden administration. A warning would not be enough to counterbalance the spread of misinformation, Ms Prelogar said. Advertisement But Francisco and lawyer Jeffrey Fisher, representing content creators and TikTok users, faced much more sceptical questioning from every other justice. Justice Brett Kavanaugh focused on US concerns about China accessing information on tens of millions of Americans, including especially teenagers and people in their 20s, with whom TikTok is extremely popular. That seems like a huge concern for the future of the country, said Mr Kavanaugh, whose daughters are in that age range. Mr Roberts downplayed Mr Fishers argument that banning TikTok violates American users free speech rights. Advertisement Congress is fine with the expression, Mr Roberts said. Theyre not fine with a foreign adversary, as theyve determined it is, gathering all this information about the 170 million people who use TikTok. The justices are expected to act within days, almost certainly ahead of the January 19 deadline. Content creators and small business owners who rely on the app are awaiting a decision with anxiety. Lee Zavorskas, a TikTok creator and a licensed esthetician based in New Hampshire, said she makes nearly half of her income on the platform by promoting products for other businesses. Advertisement Ms Zavorskas said she found it too stressful to listen to Fridays arguments. Instead, she spent her time building a YouTube channel. ByteDance has said it will not sell the short-form video platform. But some investors have been eyeing it, including Mr Trumps former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt. On Thursday, Mr McCourts Project Liberty initiative said it, along with its unnamed partners, presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikToks US assets. The consortium, which includes Shark Tank host Kevin OLeary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer. ByteDance has said it will not sell the short-form video platform TikTok (Kiichiro Sato/AP) If TikTok is not sold to an approved buyer, the federal law would prohibit app stores, such as those operated by Apple and Google, from offering the app. It would also bar internet hosting services from hosting TikTok. TikTok users who already have the app on their phones will continue to have access to it. But new users will not be able to download the app, and existing ones will no longer be able to receive updates. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings. Ms Prelogar said an eventual sale of the platform, even after the ban kicks in, would allow TikTok to resume operations. The sale of Twitter to Elon Musk, who renamed it X, shows that the sale of a social media platform can happen quickly, she said. That high-profile transaction went through in about six months from offer to completion, she said. TikTok, meanwhile, has been on notice since 2020, during Mr Trumps first term, that its sale could be required if it could not satisfy the US governments national security concerns The federal law was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over TikTok, which the government sees as a national security threat because of its connections to China. US officials argue that the vast amounts of user data that TikTok collects, including sensitive information on viewing habits, could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. They also are concerned that the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who could pressure ByteDance to shape content on the platform in a way that is difficult to detect. TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. The company negotiated with the Biden administration between 2021 and 2022 to resolve the concerns around US data privacy and potential algorithmic manipulation. In court documents, it has accused the administration of essentially walking away from those negotiations after it presented a draft agreement in August 2022. But the Justice Department has said the Biden administration concluded the proposal was insufficient because it would maintain TikToks ties to China. The agency said the Executive Branch also could neither trust ByteDance to comply nor detect noncompliance before it was too late. A three-judge panel made up of two Republican appointees and a Democratic appointee unanimously upheld the law in December, prompting TikToks quick appeal to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Eating outFood One of Brisbanes best sushi restaurants? Find it in Melbourne this month Its popping up at the Australian Open. Diners will pay up to $16,050 to eat in a transformed players change room before taking seats right on centre court. Matt Shea January 10, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Making the sojourn south for the Australian Open this year? Because you can experience one Brisbanes best sushi restaurants, in Melbourne. James Street star Sushi Room will be hosting a pop-up for the duration of the tournament, with chef Shimpei Raikuni taking over one of the stadiums player change rooms for a 12-seat omakase experience. The Australian Open Sushi Room pop-up will resemble the Brisbane restaurants striking digs. Supplied We use the term pop-up loosely here, with the change room being given a luxe makeover of red carpet, concrete walls and a pale timber counter, reminiscent of the flash Brisbane restaurant. In the corner will be a bookshelf with a record player and a stack of vintage vinyl. Its in the tunnel to the main Rod Laver Arena, Sushi Room owner Simon Gloftis says. Weve a full setup in there. Its not like some sort of pop-up drinks cart thing. Theyve actually built a Sushi Room. Advertisement Rising tides, rising costs: Brisbane dinings 2024 in review People can go in there, have an omakase experience with Shimpei and a few of his other chefs. Theyll eat, then they can walk out down the tunnel where the players walk onto the court. There are [12] seats literally on the court; its not in the stands. The menu will be about 15 courses of nigiri and sushi with paired drinks courtesy of STK Groups beverage director Alex McPherson and AO champagne partner Piper-Heidsieck. Sushi Room chef Shimpei Raikuni Supplied Its a great little offering, Gloftis says. We have some fantastic tuna that Shimpei has organised that is being aged up as we speak. Advertisement Sushi Room is the first Brisbane restaurant to appear as part of the Opens precisely curated AO Reserve food experiences, which this year also includes The Bistro by Rockpool and an appearance by celebrated Mornington Peninsula restaurant Tedesca Osteria. Youll pay for the experience, though, with tickets ranging from $3000 to $16,050 (for the semifinal matches) per person. Sushi Room will be popping in Melbourne up for the duration of the Australian Open. Supplied The opportunity came through some people we looked after years ago, Gloftis says. They said, You should come up and try it, and the AO people came up, and it was just one of those things that happened slowly. Ive been around long enough to know thats how these things go. Im really humbled and proud to be asked to be part of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Im from Melbourne so it really works in that sense and it represents the national nature of our food scene. A grieving woman from the United Kingdom is now blasting Ryanair for charging her more than $140 to change the name on a booking. The flight was meant for her sister, who died in a car accident before the trip. Anita Kozlowska, 36, booked a trip to Lanzarote, Spain, for her sister, who would have celebrated her 30th birthday in August. The trip was slated for September 2025. However, her sister---along with their mother and the woman's nephew and niece (aged 3 and 6, respectively---died in a car accident in November 2024 after their vehicle was struck by a train in Poland. After the funeral, Anita decided to amend the booking and take her cousin on the trip instead but found that she could not change the name without paying a fee of $144, per the New York Post. Ryanair's Name Change Policy Anita contacted the flight carrier and was told they had no existing policy for amending booking reservations. The airline offered her a full refund, but Anita refused. "I never wanted that because I was still planning on going on holiday. With the refund, the problem is I am not guaranteed that I will be able to get on the same flight and that I will be able to sit with my little cousin, who is underage and very anxious," she said. "Also, it could cost me more than I have already paid for it." She also said the airline refused to budge even after she explained her situation, adding that the terms and conditions were agreed upon at the time of reservation. Ryanair's "Table of Fees" showed the standard online name change fee is generally / 115 per passenger per one-way flight ($141, as of Thursday's conversions). If you call Ryanair or go through a travel agent/airport desk, it may be higher, at / 160 ($196). Anita said she would likely pay for the name change fee but noted that not all passengers may have the means to do so. Ryanair's Issues The budget carrier has previously come under fire for multiple issues, including excessive fees. Many passengers have complained that the airline was charging them $60 in baggage fees even if their luggage fits the sizer. In another case, a senior UK passenger accused the airline of charging her $100 in bag-checking fee but allowed "younger, attractive" passengers to board without additional charges. Multiple surveys have also named Ryanair among the lowest-ranking carriers for customer service, complaint handling, and ancillary fees. Two police officers have been treated at the Princess Alexandra Hospital while a 26-year-old man underwent surgery on gunshot wounds following an extremely difficult altercation in Brisbanes inner-south on Friday morning. Police were called to Annerley at 9.13am after residents at a Tamar Street home reported a 26-year-old man had trespassed into their backyard and was acting erratically. Brisbane acting assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman said two officers a 40-year-old senior constable and a first-year constable arrived on-scene to find the man was armed with a piece of timber and in a highly agitated state. Police attended the scene of an altercation between a man and officer in Annerley that led to both people suffering life-threatening gunshot wounds. Credit: Bec Baker Officers attempted to deescalate the situation by engaging with that particular male, however, the male approached the officers and lunged for a firearm belonging to the senior constable, he said. The unintended failure of a commercial fishing net has been blamed for an event that forced the closure of a Perth beach. Swimmers were sighted in the water off Coogee Beach on Friday despite authorities having closed the beach after hundreds of scaly mackerel washed ashore the day prior. But follow-up enquires by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) determined that the fished wash-up on shore was likely due to an unintended failure of a commercial fish net. All beaches in the City of Cockburn have since been reopened and DPIRD will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend. The fish were found floating between the Woodman Point Ammo Jetty and the Omeo Wreck, prompting the investigation. London: In Rome, there is a famous saying: He who enters a conclave as pope, exits as a cardinal. Its become a proverb among so-called Vaticanologists, indicating one should never be too sure of oneself. For when it comes to predicting what happens next, nothing can ever be certain. At the age of 88, Pope Francis born Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now the oldest pontiff in over a century and is in increasingly frail health. He has his good days and bad days, those who monitor him closely say, but after almost 12 years in the Catholic Churchs top job, Vatican watchers agree he is closer to the end of his reign than the start. The cinematic release of Conclave, a Hollywood film adapted from the novel by British author Robert Harris, has once again thrown the spotlight on one of the most arcane, storied and secretive events in human history: the election of a new pope. Several factors are shaping the outlook for 2025. The Reserve Bank of Australias decision to keep the cash rate at 4.35% throughout 2024 compressed net interest margins, but potential rate cuts this year could add fresh challenges for banks, albeit with less impact than during the pandemic due to stronger loan books. Declining property prices in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne have also weighed on mortgage portfolios, raising questions about asset quality. Every Australian needs to know about these scams so they can recognise the red flags and protect themselves and their loved ones. Once funds are sent it's often very hard to recover money, despite our best efforts. Criminals quickly send it to overseas accounts or to cryptocurrency platforms knowing it makes it harder to retrieve. Which is why it's important to catch it quickly. However, Freedom of Information requests revealed that neither the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) nor the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) were formally notified by CBA about the account changes in 2024. The report has raised concerns about the bank's communication with regulators and its handling of legacy accounts. A 90-year-old man and his 66-year-old son were arrested after a renovation of their former home in California led to the discovery of old Polaroid photos depicting child abuse and sexual exploitation. Theodore Smith, 90, and James Smith, 66, were promptly arrested and charged with committing forcible lewd acts upon a child. Theodore, who had 11 counts, was sentenced to 100 years in prison, while his son was sentenced to 23 years to life. Both Theodore and James pleaded no contest to the charges, the Sacramento County District Attorney's office said in a statement on Tuesday. Discovering the Polaroids The pair lived in a home in Orangeville, California, for over 40 years. They moved out in 2020 to relocate to Texas. In 2021, the new homeowner was renovating an outbuilding when video tapes and hundreds of Polaroid images featuring children believed to be under the age of 14 poured out of the building's walls. The images, which authorities said were taken from 1985 to 1995, showed the children being sexually abused by adults. What Happened to the Victims? Authorities were able to identify the children in the images. The victims, who were now adults, only told their spouses about the abuse. It was noted that the abuse began when the victims were under the age of five and continued for the majority of the first 10 years of their life. The investigators never publicly disclosed how many children were featured in the images. It was also not immediately clear how Theodore and James knew their victims. The Attorney General's office added that some materials showed proof of molestation. However, the statute of limitations prohibited charges related to any abuse that occurred before 1988. All charges filed against the pair were for molestation and abuse that happened after 1988. Authorities noted that apart from the child abuse incidents discovered during the renovation, James had also been involved in the molestation of another individual after 2010. They did not release additional information about his victim in that case. Theodore was arrested in their home in Texas. James was arrested while he was en route back to California with child sexual abuse materials in his possession. China's Hebei sees record high port cargo throughput in 2024 Xinhua) 10:29, January 10, 2025 An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 9, 2025 shows ships unloading cargo at the ore dock of Caofeidian port area of the Tangshan Port in north China's Hebei Province. The province's total port cargo throughput reached a record high of 1.405 billion tonnes in 2024, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 9, 2025 shows a ship departing after unloading cargo at the ore dock of Caofeidian port area of the Tangshan Port in north China's Hebei Province. The province's total port cargo throughput reached a record high of 1.405 billion tonnes in 2024, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 9, 2025 shows ships unloading cargo at the ore dock of Caofeidian port area of the Tangshan Port in north China's Hebei Province. The province's total port cargo throughput reached a record high of 1.405 billion tonnes in 2024, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 9, 2025 shows ships unloading cargo at the ore dock of Caofeidian port area of the Tangshan Port in north China's Hebei Province. The province's total port cargo throughput reached a record high of 1.405 billion tonnes in 2024, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) A panoramic aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 9, 2025 shows ships unloading cargo at the ore dock of Caofeidian port area of the Tangshan Port in north China's Hebei Province. The province's total port cargo throughput reached a record high of 1.405 billion tonnes in 2024, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) France 24, January 6, 2025 The Taliban's supreme leader has issued an order banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by Afghan women and saying that existing ones should be blocked. According to a statement released late Saturday by the Taliban government spokesman, new buildings should not have windows through which it is possible to see "the courtyard, kitchen, neighbour's well and other places usually used by women". "Seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts," according to the decree posted by government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on social media platform X. Municipal authorities and other relevant departments would have to monitor construction sites to ensure it is not possible to see into neighbours' homes. In the event that such windows exist, owners would be encouraged to build a wall or obstruct the view "to avoid nuisances caused to neighbours", the decree states. Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, women have been progressively erased from public spaces, prompting the United Nations to denounce the "gender apartheid" the administration has established. Taliban authorities have banned post-primary education for girls and women, restricted employment and blocked access to parks and other public places. A recent law even prohibits women from singing or reciting poetry in public under the Taliban government's ultra-strict application of Islamic law. It also encourages them to "veil" their voices and bodies outside the home. Some local radio and television stations have also stopped broadcasting female voices. The Taliban administration claims that Islamic law "guarantees" the rights of Afghan men and women. Blog Archive: Mar 2025 (65) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) One of Holyhead Ports damaged piers is to reopen to ferry traffic from next Thursday, it has been confirmed. Ferry services at the port have been suspended after strong winds during Storm Darragh caused damage at the start of December. Port owner Stena Line said the opening would provide access for both Stena Line and Irish Ferries ships which operate on the route between Holyhead and Dublin, meaning normal capacity will be available. Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke with the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, on Friday about the ongoing impact of the closure of the port. Both leaders welcomed the confirmation of a partial reopening of the port on January 16th. In a statement, Mr Harris said the partial reopening was "good news for the freight industry and for passengers" on one of the most important routes. "The First Minister and I acknowledged the intensive engagement between ministers, port and ferry operators and by industry on both sides over recent weeks to develop contingency arrangements to facilitate the movement of people and freight between Ireland and Great Britain following the widescale disruption caused by Storm Darragh. "We discussed the importance in the longer term of continuing to work together to ensure resilience of sea connectivity between Wales and Ireland. "I welcomed the establishment by the Welsh Government of a task force to ensure that the Port of Holyhead meets the future needs of both Ireland and Wales, and the confirmation by the First Minister that she would ensure the representation of Irish interests on that task force." By Supantha Mukherjee and Philip Blenkinsop Elon Musk's hosting of Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, for a discussion on his X platform on Thursday was watched by the European Commission - in particular new commissioner Michael McGrath - to check for any spreading of misinformation before next month's German election. The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) is intended to address illegal content such as hate speech and intentional manipulation to influence elections. X has been under investigation under the DSA since 2023 over suspected dissemination of illegal content and the effectiveness of its measures to combat information manipulation. The European Commission said on Friday that two to three staff members were checking what systems X had put in place to avoid infractions around the live stream. How is Musk involved in European politics? Since publicly supporting Donald Trump to become US president last year, Mr Musk has endorsed Britain's right-wing Reform party as well as the AfD on X. "The traditional political parties in Germany have utterly failed the people. AfD is the only hope for Germany," he posted on X last month. Mr Musk's endorsement of the AfD, an anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party designated as right-wing-extremist by German security services, has caused consternation in Berlin, where all other parties rule out working with a party they regard as dangerous and undemocratic. After a Saudi doctor killed five people in a Christmas market last month in the German city of Magdeburg, Mr Musk called German chancellor Olaf Scholz an "incompetent fool" on X and urged him to resign. What is the EU's Digital Services Act? The DSA regulates big online platforms such as X and Meta with more than 45 million users per month in the European Union, as well as the app stores of companies such as Apple and Alphabet. Its main goal is to prevent illegal and harmful online activities and the spread of misinformation. Mr Musk's X was the first company to be investigated under DSA for illegal content, in December 2023. A company can be fined up to 6 per cent of its global annual turnover for breaching the DSA, and up to 5 per cent of daily worldwide turnover for each day of delay in complying with remedies. If the infringement persists and causes serious harm to users, the Commission can request suspension of the service. The Commission has also opened proceedings against Meta and China's AliExpress, Temu and TikTok. All the cases including that against X are still open except for one against TikTok, closed after the video sharing platform addressed EU concerns. How does the EU monitor compliance with the DSA? About 150 EU staff are responsible for enforcing the DSA, both at the Commission's DG CONNECT department in Brussels and the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency in Spain. Their monitoring does not focus on identifying illegal content, but rather on checking whether platforms have systems in place to assess and mitigate risk. Former EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton reminded Ms Weidel on X about DSA rules intended to protect democracy around elections. Senior EU officials acknowledge the challenge presented by Mr Musk but insist the DSA is up to the job. "Mr Musk is free to express his opinions in the EU online and offline, within legal boundaries," said Michael McGrath, Irish European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection. "The issue at hand is whether there is unfair amplification of certain content," he said before the conversation was broadcast.n "There is never an issue or problem with the conducting of any interview. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in the European Union, and it falls to me to ensure that that right is upheld and protected at all times. "But clearly, very large online platforms have enormous power, and they have the ability to amplify certain content above and beyond other content. "When it comes to the conduct of elections, we do have to make sure that our elections are conducted in a free and fair manner without undue interference." As justice commissioner, Mr McGrath will bring forward legislation later this year to launch the EU's so-called Democracy Shield. The programme will look to protect European elections from interference and manipulation by outside actors. How has Musk clashed with the EU? The EU and Mr Musk have clashed several times since he took over his social media platform, then called Twitter. Before Mr Musk interviewed Mr Trump last August, Mr Breton urged him to comply with EU law as the livestream would be accessible in the EU. X chief executive Linda Yaccarino called the letter an "unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US". The EU has accused X of deceiving users with its blue checkmark, which previously indicated that an account had been verified as belonging to a public figure but was changed to designate a paid subscriber. Mr Musk threatened litigation, and accused the Commission, without providing evidence, of offering X an illegal secret deal to censor speech. Mr Breton denied this. The Commission has also accused X of failing to provide easy access to searchable and reliable information about advertisements, and blocking researchers from accessing its public data. A 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Chronicle San Franciscans were jolted by a 3.6 magnitude earthquake that struck just after 7 a.m. Friday at what may have been exact same location of San Franciscos infamous 1906 earthquake. A 2.9 magnitude shake the strongest of several aftershocks was also felt in much of the city shortly at 10:48 a.m., more than three hours after the first quake. The epicenters of both the earthquake and the 2.9 magnitude aftershock were just offshore near the San Francisco Zoo, according to preliminary reporting from the U.S. Geological Survey. USGS data suggests they may have gone off at the precise coordinates of the 7.9 magnitude 1906 earthquake, which ruptured the San Andreas Fault from San Juan Bautista up to Cape Mendocino and set off fires that consumed the city. Advertisement Article continues below this ad All signs suggest that Friday mornings earthquake took place on the San Andreas Fault, though it will take more time for an official determination, according to USGS geophysicist Sarah Minson. In 1906, there were no modern day sensors waiting to detect the exact location of whats still San Franciscos deadliest and most destructive earthquake. But experts have made an effort to estimate the origin based on reports about damage and shaking from the time, Minson said. Our best guess of the 1906 earthquake is that it did start near this location, she said. But she noted its impossible to say for certain whether it was exactly the same place. It is possible to have repeating earthquakes similar and almost predictable shaking that happens at the same location on a consistent basis, according to Minson. But the Friday earthquake was not an exact repeat of the 1906 earthquake, to San Franciscos relief. Minson said repeating earthquakes are often small and extremely rare, only taking place at a few locations across the world. Loading... The USGS recorded two small aftershocks by midmorning Friday, in addition to the 2.9 magnitude one: a 2.2 magnitude earthquake just minutes after the initial quake and another 2.5 aftershock over two hours later at 9:39 a.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Could the small earthquakes trigger a big one? There is no direct relationship, Minson explained by email. A small quake would not have changed the conditions on the fault much, its shaking didnt cause much stress, and the instant the shaking from the little earthquake ceased it had no way of directly triggering anything else to happen. If as is not the case in San Francisco a rash of small earthquakes had occurred, we could say that we were in a period of increased earthquake activity and thus earthquakes (in general) were more likely to happen, Minson wrote. But even in instances in which a rash of earthquakes do occur, she said, large earthquakes remain the least likely of all earthquakes: They are far less common than smaller ones. The 7 a.m. earthquake was initially reported by USGS as a 3.7 magnitude but later revised, as is common, to 3.6 magnitude. The 10:48 a.m. aftershock was revised from a 3.0-magnitude to a 2.9-magnitude. Across much of the western Bay Area, people described being rattled in the early morning by a short, sharp shake from Novato to Portola Valley, according to social media users. It was felt all across San Francisco, from the Richmond District to Twin Peaks to Nob Hill. Loading... Check the Chronicles Earthquake Map & Tracker for details. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A San Francisco State university spokesperson said officials checked around the campus and did not find any signs of damage from Friday mornings quake. San Francisco Zoo officials said they assessed the grounds and exhibits and the facility did not sustain any damage from the earthquakes. The zoo stayed open Friday. The initial quake occurred at a depth of 5.2 miles, according to USGS, which Minson said is a typical depth for earthquakes. Thats 1 mile shallower than the 7.0 earthquake that struck off the coast of Humboldt County in December and triggered the tsunami warning. No tsunami warning or advisory was issued. Mayor Daniel Lurie said in a statement that he ordered city government into action immediately this morning, and our first responders have been out across the city ensuring the safety of our residents. We have also been sharing information and giving people the tools to protect themselves and their families in an event like this. I want to assure everyone in San Francisco: We are prepared for these events. And as our hearts are with those across the state and the country dealing with natural disasters right now, we will always make sure San Francisco is ready, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said on social media that Fridays quake was a reminder to prepare emergency supplies and to make plans in the event of a large, destructive earthquake. The quakes came 168 years and one day after the 7.9 magnitude Fort Tejon earthquake, dubbed by the USGS as the last Big One in Southern California. Though it ruptured a shorter portion of the San Andreas fault than San Franciscos 1906 earthquake, the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake caused much more dramatic land movement: Reports at the same said the ground moved by as much as 9 meters in some places, according to the USGS. Tara Duggan contributed to this report. The Chattanooga Tourism Co. has been recognized with a Smart Meetings 2024 Platinum Choice Award, honoring its excellence in the CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau) category. Smart Meetings magazine, a global publisher for event professionals, presents its awards based on votes from its readership. This accolade celebrates industry leaders who "inspire meeting professionals and elevate the impact of the meetings and events industry."Additionally, The Edwin Hotel, Autograph Collection, was honored with a Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award in the hospitality category for its commitment to delivering extraordinary guest experiences and setting new standards for excellence in the industry.Being nationally recognized for our efforts is a tremendous achievement and shows how Chattanoogas leadership in technology and innovation, combined with our commitment to collaboration, makes us a trailblazer in the meetings and events industry, said Barry White, Chattanooga Tourism Co.president and CEO. Were incredibly proud to see our collective hard work boost the local economy and benefit our residents and businesses.Officials said, "This recognition underscores Chattanoogas position as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, sporting events and leisure travel, reflecting the vital role tourism plays in enriching the community. Tourism dollars fund public services, create jobs and reduce the tax burden on local familiesensuring a higher quality of life for residents while strengthening the citys economic foundation."Adding to Chattanoogas recognition, a recent New York Times article highlights Chattanoogas forward-thinking use of technology and innovation, further solidifying its position as a world-class destination. The citys advancements in AI and its evolving economy make it a compelling choice for meeting professionals seeking dynamic, future-focused venues."Read the article here For more information about the Platinum Choice Awards and the complete list of winners, visit SmartMeetings.com. Leadership Tennessee, a group committed to fostering nonpartisan conversations on key state matters, has named Marcherie Savage, director of entrepreneurial development for The INCubator at the Hamilton County Business Development Center, to the Leadership Tennessee NEXT program for its 10th year. A total of 31 individuals were chosen for Leadership Tennessee NEXT, representing 11 Tennessee counties. The class brings diverse professional experience in a wide range of sectors and industries. The cohort is Tennessees only statewide leadership program focusing on existing and emerging leaders and spanning geographic and industry boundaries. Its a milestone for us to announce the 10th Leadership Tennessee NEXT class, said Alfred Degrafinreid II, president and CEO of Leadership Tennessee. Each class has played a vital role in shaping the future of our state, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the table. I have no doubt that Class X will continue that legacy, contributing to Tennessees progress and addressing the challenges we face with creativity and collaboration. Being a part of Leadership Tennessee NEXT is a true honor, said Ms. Savage, a Class X member. I look forward to working alongside these talented individuals to contribute to Tennessees growth and success. During each class session, members engage with participants from the Signature Program, learn about issues and opportunities specific to Tennessee, and develop personal skills. Candidates are selected by an anonymous committee and evaluated based on the following criteria: excelling in their professional fields, engaging in community service, and demonstrating dedication to improving the lives of Tennesseans. Since Leadership Tennessees founding, more than 700 members have graduated from both Leadership Tennessee NEXT and the organizations Signature Program. The cohorts work will begin in January and run through June, with the class curriculum including visits to Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Paris, Tn. First, some definitions: Insurrection: Act of revolting against civil authority or an established government. A violent attempt to overturn an election and prevent a lawfully-elected president from taking office. Sedition: Incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority. Crime: Two or more people who conspire to overthrow U.S. government or prevent, hinder or delay the execution of U.S. law by force. Second, what did not happen on Monday, January 6, 2025? 1. The President did not send a crowd to the Capitol 2. No one erected a guillotine on Capitol grounds 3. 140 police were not injured at the Capitol 4. Senators and Congresspeople did not fear for their lives 5. No one sat/on at Speaker Johnson's desk 6. Janitors did not have to remove human waste from the Rotunda floor 7. No one yelled "Hang Mike Pence." Third, what did happen January 6, 2025? 1. A coup-inspiring insurrectionist was certified as having won the 2024 presidential election 2. Democracy was weakened in the United States Michael V. Woodward County Mayor Weston Wamp on Thursday night told an overflow crowd that Plan Hamilton will be put on hold while efforts are made to get Area 9 citizens to buy into it. The county mayor said, "We know there are very real concerns here and that many of you want much more input. Some of you don't trust the Planning Agency." He said a working committee will begin to meet weekly, and it will include county government officials and personnel along with Area 9 citizen leaders. County Mayor Wamp said after the meeting, We will not move forward with the current draft of Plan Hamilton until we gain further community input and stronger public support. In order to finalize a plan that reflects the priorities of Northeast Hamilton County, we are forming a committee of community members who will work with county leaders to address concerns and build consensus. He said Plan Hamilton documents remain accessible to the public at planhamilton.org. Community members are encouraged to review and provide input by emailing the County Mayors office here. County Mayor Wamp said it had been planned for the Planning Commission to put their stamp of approval on the overall new zoning plan for the county on Monday, then it go to the City Council and County Commission the next month. He said Planning Commission Chairman Ethan Collier has been asked to delay a vote, and he expects that will happen at the start of the Monday meeting. The county mayor also pledged "to name someone in this room to the Planning Commission." He said his first appointee to the Planning Commission was not a developer, but was a minister whose wife is a school principal. Rep. Greg Vital, a leader in seeking to preserve the rural way of life in the Ooltewah-Birchwood-Georgetown area, told the crowd at the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department, "High density and out-of-control growth is not what we want." He said at one time it took seven and a half hours to get from Birchwood to Ooltewah due to the condition of the roads. He said with clogged traffic on the narrow roads due to the many subdivisions going in on former farmland "it's going to wind up taking seven and a half hours again." Rep. Vital said, "We need to put the brakes on this growth. We don't have to swallow this." One citizen brought up the issue of putting a moratorium on new development in Area 9 until changes are made in Plan Hamilton and it is put in place. She was told that Commissioner Steve Highlander earlier made a motion to that effect, but did not get a second. Nathan Janeway, county director of development services, said a moratorium could be obtained "by getting six votes on the County Commission." He said the sewer line in Area 9 "is tapped out" due to the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority turning its attention to repairing leaky pipes under an expensive EPA order. Mr. Janeway said a sewer has been pledged for some 3,000-4,000 planned housing units - many of which are in Area 9, but he said no more such commitments are being made. He said some developers are getting around the lack of sewers by turning to septic tanks or to on-site disposal systems. Mr. Janeway said much of Area 9 is zoned A-1, but under current zoning rules even in that zone two houses per acre can be built "by right." We said the new plan "tries to keep as much A-1 as possible." Asked if developers can be charged an "impact fee," he said state law is very pro-developer and does not allow such fees. A man who said he moved to North Hamilton County after South Florida "was ruined" by over-development, said, "I'm not for having my lifestyle ruined by some developer who just moves on to the next project." Residents said they are upset by the fact that the current plan is to allow "updates" to the Plan Hamilton quarterly. They said it should be much less frequent. They also said they don't want current commercial nodes in the district to grow, such as around the Food City. They would also like a rule against clearcutting property. In close cooperation, Nippon Gases Deutschland and the HOYER Group bring into operation the first hydrogen-powered truck to transport dry ice. The vehicle, which is specially equipped for the operation, was officially handed over to Nippon Gases Deutschland and the HOYER Group. Hydrogen-powered truck for dry ice logistics HOYER GmbH The industrial gases company Nippon Gases Deutschland, and the HOYER Group, the leading provider of logistics solutions for bulk liquids, already paved the way to sustainable transport solutions in the industrial gases sector five years ago, initially by using natural gas-powered transport trucks. Today, this cooperation between the two specialists and hylane GmbH marks another significant step towards sustainable, environmentally-friendly transport solutions. The hydrogen-powered vehicle offers an emission-free alternative to the conventional road transport of dry ice in boxes, and emphasizes the commitment of the companies involved to innovative, sustainable technologies. The hydrogen-powered truck was handed over at the Nippon Gases site in Hurth on January 8, 2025. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, completed the first test run as co-driver. She thereby highlighted the importance of this technology for sustainable mobility, Germany as a business location and climate protection. Hydrogen can contribute towards making freight transport climate-neutral. Hydrogen-powered fuel-cell trucks have their strengths as a result of short refuelling times and long ranges, which is exactly where battery-electric drives reach their limits. Therefore, the State supports the construction of hydrogen service stations for heavy goods vehicles, and procurement initiatives such as HyTrucks.NRW. Because one thing is clear: reducing CO 2 emissions in the transport sector is an important building block on North Rhine-Westphalias pathway to becoming Europes first climate-neutral industrial region, says Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The air separation plant in Hurth is Nippon Gases Europes largest single production plant for air gases. The plant also houses a large filling station for all types of industrial gases and gas mixtures produced in Hurth. The company currently manufactures dry ice at the Bad Honningen site. From 2025 onwards, the newly-built site in Zorbig (eastern Germany) will begin producing dry ice from biogenic CO 2 raw gas. Dry ice is used in a wide range of applications, including in the food and beverage industry, the automotive industry, for transport cooling and to clean objects and equipment. Christoph Laumen, Managing Director Nippon Gases Deutschland, said, Hydrogen trucks will make an important contribution to CO-neutral freight transport by road in the future. As the first industrial gases company in Germany to use a hydrogen-powered truck in its logistics fleet, Nippon Gases is a pioneer in our sector. Even with the single use of this new vehicle, we expect to save around 69,000 kilograms of CO in vehicle operation compared to conventional diesel trucks. In addition, we will gain important experience and knowledge that will enable us to use this CO-neutral transport for other product lines in the future. The HOYER Group is a leading logistics services provider in the hydro-gen segment, and is actively involved in ramping-up hydrogen mobility, including by supplying service stations. HOYER undertakes the handling and transport of industrial gases and dry ice for Nippon Gases. Using the hydrogen-powered truck not only reduces CO emissions, but also allows the international logistics specialist to gather operational experience in deploying additional trucks at an early stage. According to Axel Remplewski, Executive Director Global Gas Logistics of the HOYER Group, The new truck has a range of up to 450 km, and can be fully refuelled in under 15 minutes. These features make it ideal for everyday use to transport dry ice, which is essential in many industries, including the food and pharmaceutical industries. Bjorn Schniederkotter, Chief Executive Officer of the HOYER Group, says, As an internationally active family business, the HOYER Group takes its responsibility for the future of current and subsequent generations seriously. Together with our customers, we want to shape the future of logistics sustainably and to think and act in generational terms. For HOYER, sustainable social, ecological and economic behavior is practiced in everyday life. The new hydrogen truck is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that enables emission-free, efficient transport. The truck is a Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell vehicle. hylane has equipped the vehicle with a dry box and air ducts, enabling it to meet the requirements of Nippon Gases and the HOYER Group for transporting dry ice. Covestro invests a low triple-digit million Euro amount to expand its site in Hebron, Ohio, USA. It will construct multiple new production lines and infrastructure to manufacture customized polycarbonate compounds and blends and significantly expand its capacity in the Solutions & Specialties business for the American market. "This investment in our U.S. compounding plant is an important component of our 'Sustainable Growth' strategy. With this expansion, we can meet our customers' growing demand for specialized polycarbonate materials, grow together with our customers, and strengthen our position as a leading provider of polycarbonate materials in North America," says CTO Thorsten Dreier. "The move also aligns with our strategy to produce in the region for the region, to manufacture close to our customers and ensure reliable supply." The capacity expansion is an important step to meet the growing demand for high-quality materials for the automotive, electronics, and healthcare industries in North America. "To be successful in these markets, you need the right portfolio, consistent quality, and supply reliability, as well as solution-oriented technical expertise, says Lily Wang, head of the Engineering Plastics Business Entity. "The expanded production capacity for differentiated polycarbonates enables us to better serve our customers' complex needs for high-quality, high-tech materials with individualized properties. Covestro already has an established R&D center in Pittsburgh and is now doubling down on its U.S.-based compounding capability. In the future, both facilities will work even more closely together to drive the technology transfer from lab to industrial production to support major transformation processes, such as the electrification and automation of mobility, sustainable developments and digitalization. This investment, which follows our recent announcement of an almost 40 million Euro investment in our R&D capabilities in Pittsburgh, underscores how critical our U.S. sites and the U.S. market are to Covestros global strategy, says Samir Hifri, chairman and president of Covestro LLC. The expanded capacity of our polycarbonate compounding capabilities in Ohio will both help us better supply our customers as well as represent a commitment to our employees at the site, the Hebron, Ohio community, and the U.S. market as a whole. A drawing of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer located in Birmingham, U.K. | Photo Credit: Official Website/ Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer The largest Christian monument, the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is one step closer to being established in the United Kingdom. With initial wind tunnel testing planned for February, designers envision the monument as an ongoing testimony to Gods faithfulness, inviting Christians globally to share their stories of answered prayers. The Eternal Wall will stand in Coleshill, just 90 miles north of London. The structure will consist of one million white bricks, each digitally linked to an individuals story of answered prayer, documenting narratives of redemption, divine intervention, and extraordinary miracles that have significantly impacted the lives of believers. Designed in the shape of an infinity loop, or Mobius strip, the monument symbolizes the eternal nature of Gods love and faithfulness. Visitors will be able to interact with the structure, as each of the one million bricks will connect to a digital database, allowing them to use their phones to uncover the story behind each brick. The power of just one persons story can impact countless lives for the better, shares Eternal Wall founder Richard Gamble. Think about what a million can do. We are all important to Jesus, and all have a story to tell the piece of us that moves others and points them to Him. The monument will honor not only the stories of ordinary people but also the prayers of notable historical figures such as Winston Churchill, the late Queen Elizabeth II, evangelist George Muller, and the soldiers of Dunkirk. You might not be famous, feel influential or have a story you deem exciting, but that doesnt make you any less valuable to God than another, Gamble states. Your story in Christ matters and is meant to be shared with others. Join us and make history; if it impacts just one soul (from halfway across the world) for eternity, its worth it. The project aims to collect 200,000 stories of answered prayer from Christians of all backgrounds and denominations in the U.S., with 42,000 stories already shared. As the team progresses towards its goal of one million bricks, Gamble calls upon American Christians to help achieve the target of 200,000 U.S. prayer stories. Whats also different and more important is that the Eternal Wall will tell onlookers about Jesus, about His character and who He is, Gamble continues. Gods Word reminds us that we triumph by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. This monument will be an ongoing testimony. Pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church speaks to the audience at the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 7, 2025. | Screenshot: Passion City Church via YouTube Pastor Louie Giglio addressed thousands of university students at Passion 2025 in Atlanta this week, urging them to reject the prevalent cultural narrative that prioritizes self above all else. Giglio, who leads Passion City Church, warned that a self-centered mindset has infiltrated society and faith practices, often reducing God to a supporting character in peoples lives. Giglio emphasized, God is on call for us versus we are on call for God. The Church exists for God, not for us. And the question we should ask is not, Did I like it? but, God, did You like it? He further explained, Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. It's not about what you do it's about why you do it. Giglio, who founded the Passion Movement in 1997, highlighted the centrality of Gods glory in all endeavors. He stated, We can preach, but unless there's a revelation, it's just a message. If there's a revelation, then there's transformation. He described the powerful impact of Isaiah 26:8, saying, That verse exploded off the page. It was as if the all-consuming calling on our lives collided with this life-transforming revelation. Everything exists for the glory of God, and Passion exists to proclaim that. Giglio reflected on the OneDay 2000 gathering in Memphis, where 40,000 students prayed for an awakening among their generation. He regarded it as one of the most holy moments I've ever been a part of, noting that while they thought it was merely a spark for awakening, here we are, 27 years later, and the fire hasn't gone out. He urged students to shift their focus from self to God, warning, If we're not careful, God is on call for us versus we are on call for God. That God is orbiting in our universe, versus we are orbiting in God's universe. This same 'it's all about me' mindset can seep into the church. Giglio concluded, The best news in the world is, it's not about me. If something shifted for you tonight if you're ready to make that 180, stand where you are. Let's declare together that our lives are all about Him. He added, Passion exists for the glory of God, assuring the audience that when they reach Heaven, they will not regret dedicating their lives to His name and renown. He further proclaimed, The Cross exists for the glory of God. Every miracle, every moment, every breath it all exists for Him. You are small, but you are fiercely loved by God. He loves you so much that He wants to be everything the center of everything in you. If He is, you will have what He's always wanted you to have: the very best, not the rest, He stated. The Kohls at the Northgate Mall in San Rafael is one of five in the Bay Area being closed as the retail chain shutters 27 underperforming locations nationwide. Google Street View Kohls announced Thursday that it plans to close five stores across the Bay Area by April, as part of a broader strategy to streamline its operations and close 27 underperforming locations nationwide. The affected Bay Area outlets include stores in Fremont, Mountain View, Napa, Pleasanton and San Rafael. The announcement follows closely one by Macys, which just revealed that it will close its stores in Newark and Corte Madera. The closures add to the growing list of store shutdowns in a region that has seen significant shifts in consumer shopping habits. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While Kohls did not specify the exact number of jobs that will be lost at the Bay Area stores, according to filings with the California Employment Development Department at least 929 jobs will be eliminated statewide. The most significant cuts will come in San Bernardino, where 690 positions will be affected by the closure of an e-commerce and distribution hub. Kohls stated that the stores being closed were not meeting sales expectations and that this move is part of its long-term growth strategy. The retailer said it has more than 1,150 locations nationwide. These specific locations were underperforming stores, the company said in a statement. CEO Tom Kingsbury explained that the closures are necessary to ensure the long-term health of the company. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We always take these decisions very seriously, he said. As we continue to build on our long-term growth strategy, it is important that we also take difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of our business for our customers and our teams. Kohls Bay Area store closures Fremont 43782 Christy St. Mountain View 350 Showers Dr. Napa 1116 1st St. Pleasanton 4525 Rosewood Dr. San Rafael 5010 Northgate Dr. Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Home News 'A new era for Lebanon': Joseph Aoun is elected president after 2-year political deadlock Iran, Israel congratulate Aoun, FM Sa'ar hopes for 'good neighborly relations' After two years of political deadlock, Lebanon elected Gen. Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), as its new president. Aoun was elected by the members of parliament in the second round of voting, securing 99 out of 128 votes, after the candidate belonging to the Hezbollah terror group, which had repeatedly blocked the elections in the past, endorsed him. Thursday's vote that led to the election of Aoun was the 13th round of voting since the last president, Michel Aoun (no relation), retired in October 2022. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The office of the president of Lebanon is the highest post in the government and, under the countrys sectarian power-sharing system, is exclusively reserved for members of the Maronite Christian community. Accordingly, the prime minister is always a Sunni Muslim, while the speaker of Parliament is a Shia Muslim. Aoun is a 60-year-old career soldier who took command of the U.S.-backed LAF in 2017. In recent months, momentum for his candidacy grew, driven by the weakening of Hezbollah at the hands of Israel and support from the United States, France and Saudi Arabia. A Saudi source told Reuters that the three countries had signaled to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, that financial assistance could be withdrawn if Aoun was not elected. The new president was sworn in soon after the vote. I am the first president of Lebanon's second centenary, at a time of great upheaval in the Middle East, Aoun said upon taking the oath of office. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar congratulated Lebanon on Aouns appointment. I hope that this choice will contribute towards stability, a better future for Lebanon and its people and to good neighborly relations, he wrote on X. While enjoying Western support, Aoun is not considered a friend to Israel. As commander of the LAF, he continues to be in charge of its renewed deployment in southern Lebanon instead of the withdrawing IDF. Israeli officials have complained about the slow pace of the LAFs deployment, warning that it could require the IDF to extend its presence in Lebanon. Irans Embassy in Lebanon, meanwhile, also welcomed Aouns accession to the presidency, noting that the Islamic regime looks forward ... to cooperating in various fields in a way that serves the common interests of our countries. In a short speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Aoun said the presidency was the most important decoration he received. Despite the wars and the [Israeli] aggression, because our identity is Lebanese in diversity, and we are attached to our country, our quality is courage and despite our differences, we support each other, he stated. He noted the need to change our political vision, in terms of protecting our borders, our economic policies and our conception of the State and development, and our environmental policies. I say to the Lebanese people everywhere: We are entering a new era for Lebanon, he declared. We need equality between all citizens, because to have a state you need equality in the eyes of the law. This means an end to mafias, drug trafficking and interference in the justice system to protect criminals. Despite the ostensible rule of law, Hezbollah de facto controls large parts of the country, particularly the south and parts of the capital. The terror group is also a major international player in drug trafficking. Aoun vowed to establish a monopoly on arms, which, if implemented, would risk a civil war with Hezbollah, which is significantly more powerful than LAF. The State must invest in its Army, to be able to protect its borders, fight smuggling and terrorism, and prevent Israeli aggression on its territory, Aoun argued. He said he will be discussing a defense strategy for the Lebanese state to fight against the Israeli invasion, and vowed to rebuild what the Israeli aggression destroyed all over Lebanon. This article was originally published at All Israel News Home News Arkansas hailed as 'Most Pro-Life State in America' For the fifth-consecutive year, Arkansas has been honored with the distinction of being the Most Pro-Life State in America. Americans United for Life released its Life List 2025 last week, which ranks states on the basis of how life-affirming their laws and policies are regarding issues including abortion, assisted suicide and conscience protections in the healthcare industry. According to its annual report, Arkansas topped the list, followed by Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Indiana. Tennessee, which previously ranked 13th on the list, bumped up to No. 6. Alabama, which had previously placed at No. 10 on the list, dropped to 16th place. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe At 50th place, Vermont was the least pro-life state in the country, reported AUL, followed by New Jersey at No. 49, Oregon at No. 48, Washington at No. 47, Hawaii at No. 46, and New York at No. 45. This past legislative session, the pro-life movement faced many challenges, including pro-abortion ballot initiatives and legislation targeting pregnancy resource centers. However, several states stood firm in their courageous defense and advocacy for life, stated AUL. Unfortunately, there was a significant dip in the number of life-affirming protections passed this year. Last year, the pro-life movement was successful in enacting at least 59 life-affirming laws. This year, only 41 pro-life bills and resolutions have been passed. Jerry Cox, founder and president of the Arkansas Family Council, released a statement Monday celebrating the news that AUL had given his state such a distinction. More than a decade ago, Family Council joined with Arkansas Right to Life and others in setting out to make Arkansas the most pro-life state in America. By working together, we have done that, wrote Cox. Keeping Arkansas the most pro-life state will take constant effort. As a pro-life leader, Arkansas has done important work, but we cant stop. There is more pro-life work to do. We look forward to continuing that work when the Arkansas Legislature convenes next week. Last August, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled 4-3 against a petition by Arkansans for Limited Government for a referendum on the November ballot that, if passed, would have enshrined abortion under certain circumstances as a state constitutional right. Justice Rhonda Wood authored the majority opinion, concluding that "the petitioners failed to comply with the statutory filing requirements for paid canvassers and thus did not legitimately collect enough signatures for the initiative. "That statute was inapplicable to volunteer canvassers. As such, we ordered [Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston] to count the signatures from volunteer canvassers, but we do not order him to count the signatures from paid canvassers," Wood wrote. "Because the number of the initial count of signatures fails to meet the facial validity threshold required by law, we deny further relief." Home News Christian organizations CityServe, World Help partner with LA churches for wildfire relief efforts Two prominent Christian organizations are leading efforts to support families devastated by the catastrophic wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County and surrounding areas in Southern California. As thousands of acres continue to burn, CityServe and World Help are deploying vital aid and working with local churches and community partners to provide immediate relief to those in need. The wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, have caused widespread destruction across the region. The fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset fires, have claimed over 9,000 structures, displaced more than 180,000 residents, and tragically claimed at least 10 lives. The ferocious flames have left communities in a state of crisis, and despite the tireless efforts of emergency responders, the situation remains dire. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In the face of this disaster, CityServe, a Christian nonprofit, is stepping in with coordinated relief efforts to provide critical supplies to families affected by the fires. The organization has already sent truckloads of essential goods, including water, food, hygiene items, clothing, and other necessities, to those in need. Karl Hargestam, executive director of CityServe Network, says CityServe is leveraging its extensive network of churches and community partners to ensure that resources are distributed efficiently to the hardest-hit areas. "We are heartbroken by the scale of this tragedy and the lives that have been lost," Hargestam said in a statement. "Our prayers are with the families and communities who have lost loved ones and those whose lives have been upended. We are fully committed to providing not just resources but also the compassion and hope needed to help them heal in this critical moment." As part of their response efforts, CityServe is working closely with local churches to assess the most immediate needs of fire victims and determine which locations are best suited for command centers and delivery hubs, ensuring that aid reaches the people who need it most. In addition to providing immediate relief, Hargestam said CityServe is committed to long-term recovery, helping families rebuild their lives after the fires are contained. The CityServe team, he said, is focused on a dual approach: delivering immediate supplies and planning for long-term support that will help families navigate the challenging process of recovery and rebuilding. We are fully committed to providing not just resources but also the compassion and hope needed to help them heal in this critical moment, Hargestam added. Meanwhile, World Help, a Christian humanitarian organization based in Forest, Virginia, is also stepping up to provide aid to those affected by the fires. The organization has dispatched emergency essentials to victims in Los Angeles County, including temporary shelter, food, hygiene items, and baby care supplies. World Help President Noel Brewer Yeatts said the effort involves collaborating with local partners in the Los Angeles area to ensure that relief reaches the most vulnerable families and communities. So many people have lost everything to these fires, and its still far from over. Even once the fires have been contained, the work is only going to be just beginning, she said. People have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and World Help wants to do our part so that families and communities can begin the process toward not only surviving today, but then healing and rebuilding too. In addition to providing immediate relief, World Help is accepting donations to fund further efforts to assist fire victims. These donations will help provide financial support to local partners in Los Angeles who are able to quickly distribute food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and other essential supplies to those in need. We want to be there for people not just in their immediate crisis but also as they begin to rebuild their lives, Yeatts continued. This is a long-term commitment. The devastation is immense, and our goal is to support survivors through both the short-term relief efforts and the long-term recovery process. For those looking to support the victims of the LA County wildfires, both CityServe and World Help are accepting donations. For more information on how to contribute, visit their respective websites: cityservenetwork.com/californiafires and worldhelp.net/LAWildfires. Home News Christian woman stripped, beaten until she loses consciousness NEW DELHI Hindu extremists in eastern India stripped and beat a tribal Christian woman, tying her to a tree after she recovered her clothes and continued to torture her until she lost consciousness, sources said. While Subhasini Singh, 40, was meeting at the home of Gobinda Singh for a Christmas luncheon with five other families in Chhankhanpur village, Balasore District, Odisha state, on Dec. 26, five Hindus, including Badal Kumar Panda of Nilagiri, intruded onto the property and began questioning them, said Pastor Sadhu Sundar Singh. The Hindu nationalists accused them of forced conversion, began to damage the house and assaulted Gobinda Singh, he said. The men brutally assaulted Gobinda, his wife and teenage daughter, said Pastor Singh of New Living Church in the Nilagiri area of Balasore, who had left the luncheon a few minutes before the attack as he was feeling ill. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The mob then attacked Subhasini Singh, first smearing a Christmas cake across her face and then beating her, she said. As villagers stood watching, the assailants also beat Gobinda Singhs sister, Sukanti Singh, and her husband with shoes, sandals, slaps and fists, as well as kicked them, Subhasini Singh said. They kicked me between my legs at least three times, and landed several blows on my chest, legs, face, knees and my head, Subhasini Singh told Morning Star News. Still beating her, the men dragged Subhasini Singh into a room, where she lost consciousness from the assault, she said. When she regained consciousness, she found herself naked. Last I remember was that three men were beating me in the room, she said in a shaky voice. When I regained consciousness, I was being dragged out of the room naked by some women. Subhasini Singh screamed, and a girl came and threw her clothes at her, she said. I pleaded to the women to allow me to wear my blouse and saree before they drag me outside the house and make a public show of me, she said, sobbing. I was in pain from head to toe. My private parts were also paining. I couldnt say then if I went through something horrifying while I was unconscious. Sukanti Singh and her husband, also Christians, were severely assaulted. Subhasini Singh said that after she put on her clothes, the mob then tied her and Sukanti Singh to a tree and continued striking them, hanging a picture of Christ on the tree above their heads. Videos on social media captured the full extent of the brutality. In one video, both women are seen tied to a tree, forced to chant Jai Shri Ram [Hail, lord Rama]. Another video shows the brutality of the beating Subhasini Singh suffered. Her accusers also are shown ordering Sukanti Singh and her husband to hit Subhasini Singh or else they would assault them instead. They forced Sukanti and her husband to hit me, and they both did, Subhasini Singh said, adding that she lost consciousness three times from the beatings. The video shows Sukanti Singhs husband with clothes torn as he is badly injured from the assault. Someone in the crowd called the police hotline number, said Bishop Pallab Lima, general secretary of the minority cell of Biju Janata Dal, a national political party. If police had not intervened, the men would have burned Subhasini alive, Lima told Morning Star News. Chitta Nayak, assistant sub-inspector of the Nilgiri police station, told media that his office received a call that some people were engaging in religious conversion. I was asked to rush there, Nayak reportedly said. I saw two women tied to a tree and brought them with me to our police station, but later we realized that the area where the incident took place fell under [the jurisdiction of the] Remuna police station. We handed them over to the Remuna police. Pastor Sadhu Sundar Singh, who leads the independent church where Subhasini Singh serves as an evangelist, said, This was all deliberate. Though [Gobinda] Singh constantly told the attackers that there was no [forced] conversion taking place in his house and that he had invited Subhasini over for a meal, the attackers continued to target the three Christians, Pastor Singh told Morning Star News. Victims charged with crime Following a complaint by the Hindu extremists, police immediately took the three Christians into custody. The two women were then sent for medical attention. No proper medical examination was done, Subhasini Singh said. Despite my being in excruciating pain, the doctor did not prescribe a single pain relief medicine nor examined my wounds or hurts in my private parts. Based on Pandas complaint, police registered multiple charges against Subhasini Singh and Sukanti Singh under Section 4 of the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967. Additional charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) included deliberate and malicious insult of a religion (Section 299), joint criminal liability (Section 3(5)), and criminal intimidation (Section 351(2)). Gobinda Singh, who repeatedly denied any forced conversion attempts during the attack, filed his own complaint with Remuna police against the assailants on Dec. 27, reiterating his stance. Only after the video of the assault went viral were seven people, including Panda, the complainant in the other case, arrested, said Lima. A judge rejected their plea for bail on Jan. 8. An additional 10-15 people were reportedly booked under various sections of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the BNS in this case. Despite Gobinda Singhs assertions, local media projected the case as one of forced conversion, said a dejected Pastor Singh. Subhasini Singh, a resident of Mukhapada village, 2 miles from Chhankhanpur, is a traditional massage therapist who accepted Christ in 2017. She said she has since evangelized [...] when God gave me opportunity. Though not a Christian, Gobinda Singh said he was aware of Subhasinis faith. In a prior light-hearted moment, he had mentioned that she had never invited his family to church for Christmas and had suggested hosting a celebration in his home instead. Hence Subhasini had arrived with a Christmas cake for the festivities. The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say. India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position worsened after Modi came to power. This article was originally published at Morning Star News Home News Elizabeth Warren complains about Pete Hegseth's Christian tattoo: 'Insider threat' Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., fired off a 33-page letter earlier this week to Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, citing his Christian tattoo, among other issues, to suggest the U.S. Army veteran is unfit for office and could pose an "insider threat." "I am deeply concerned by the many ways in which your behavior and rhetoric indicates that you are unfit to lead the Department of Defense," Warren wrote in the letter to Hegseth on Monday. "Your confirmation as Secretary of Defense would be detrimental to our national security and disrespect a diverse array of servicemembers who are willing to sacrifice for our country." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Elizabeth Warren has sent a letter to Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth in which she claims that having a Deus Vult tattoo, Latin for Gods will and a Christian motto that dates back to the First Crusade, makes him a potential insider threat. pic.twitter.com/4lySEYI9vn Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 7, 2025 Warren noted that Hegseth was taken off duty with the District of Columbia National Guard for President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. "You were also removed from President Biden's inauguration because of concerns that you were an insider threat after reports that your 'Deus Vult' tattoo 'was a Christian expression associated with right-wing extremism,'" she wrote. "We cannot have a Defense Secretary whose fellow servicemembers feel concerned enough about to report as a potential insider threat." Warren was referring to when fellow National Guardsman DeRicko Gaither flagged his superiors about the "Deus Vult" tattoo emblazoned on Hegseth's right bicep. Gaither, a master sergeant, alleged in his letter that the purpose of Hegseth's "White-Supremacist" tattoo "is to invoke the myth of a white Christian (i.e. Catholic) medieval past that wishes to ignore the actual demographics and theological state of Catholicism today." Shortly after his orders were revoked for Biden's inauguration, a disgusted Hegseth left active duty. "Deus vult," which translates "God wills it," is the Latin phrase throngs of people shouted upon hearing Pope Urban II's speech that ignited the First Crusade in 1095. The pope's outdoor address during the Council of Clermont in France reportedly detailed the violent abuses and desecrations that Muslims were inflicting upon Christians and their holy sites in the East, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Hegseth also has a Jerusalem Cross tattoo on his chest, which detractors have incorrectly claimed is a white supremacist or Nazi symbol. Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, criticized Warren's letter in a statement to the New York Post. "Sen. Warren's letter to Pete Hegseth is exactly what the American voters rejected on Nov. 5. Instead of focusing on 'woke' policies that have weakened our national defense, the voters gave a mandate to rebuild our military, and that's exactly what a reform-minded Secretary of Defense like Pete Hegseth will do," he said. "Senator Warren's letter proves why ideologically driven college professors have no place driving their social agenda at the Department of Defense," he added. Hegseth is scheduled to face a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee next week. Home News Episcopal bishop mourns losses too great to bear as So. Calif. suffers historic wildfires John H. Taylor, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, mourned losses too great to bear as wildfires in Greater Los Angeles ravaged scores of churches and homes of parishioners among the more than 2,000 buildings destroyed in a historic blaze that has left at least five people dead and sent thousands more fleeing to safety. We have absorbed losses too great to bear. The list of names of members of our churches in the San Gabriel Valley and in the Pacific Palisades area who have lost their home could exceed 40 or 50 by the time all of the news is in, Taylor revealed in a video statement on Facebook. Youve heard no doubt of the loss of the historic Saint Marks Church in Altadena. The devastating losses of Saint Matthews Church and school in Pacific Palisades. The loss of two rectories. I am sorry to have to say there will be more reports such as this and most of all our system demands your prayers, he added. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe On Wednesday night, the Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon, the rector of Saint Marks, invited her community to pray via Zoom as they face the hardest of days for our church. This has been a painful and unimaginably difficult day for our whole community. So many of you have lost your homes. We all have lost our cherished church building. So much remains uncertain, but in the next days, we will create ways to come together for support, to worship, to grieve, and to comfort one another, Grindon wrote on the churchs Facebook page. Tens of thousands of residents were placed under mandatory evacuation orders as the fires burned more than 27,000 acres, The New York Times reported. Fires in the Palisades and Eaton are reportedly the two most destructive fires ever to hit Los Angeles with at least 2,000 buildings destroyed. In a statement on Truth Social Wednesday night, President-elect Donald Trump called for Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign over the handling of the fires, which has brought loss to residents rich and poor. One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. Its ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!! Trump wrote. Actor James Woods wept as he talked about the impact of the fire in an interview with CNN: One day youre swimming in the pool and the next day its all gone. On Wednesday evening a new fire had engulfed part of the Hollywood Hills and more than 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate. Minutes before midnight the evacuation order was lifted, according to a release from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The majority of the Evacuation Zone for the Sunset Fire is LIFTED with the EXCEPTION of the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero St (East border) to N Sierra Bonita Ave. (West border). This area remains CLOSED until tomorrow morning due to continued LAFD operations ensuring no flare ups in the vegetation surrounding these streets, the release said. Residents are asked to be cautious when returning to their homes because firefighters are continuing to work in their neighborhoods. When the fires erupted on Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was part of a delegation sent by President Joe Biden to Ghana for the inauguration of that countrys new president, did not return to the country until Wednesday and she has been facing criticism for it. It was an utter breakdown in leadership, and it starts with the mayors office, Michael Gonzales, 47, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy neighborhood that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, told the NY Times. Many Los Angeles residents have said they didn't receive sufficient warning about the fires and Bass should have been stateside before the disaster hit. Bass argued, however, that this wasn't the time to be divided and noted that she worked to ensure she returned to the city as quickly as she could. I took the fastest route back, which included being on a military plane, she said. In his update on the fire on Wednesday, Taylor offered prayers for the first responders in the disaster and took time to count the blessings of his denomination. Its a considerable blessing that as of now no word has reached us of any member of our Episcopal community being injured or hurt. Theres other signs of life, hope and redemption as well, he said. Last night, 180 people found shelter in All Saints Church. Perhaps 80 percent of them had never been to the church before, he said, noting that they were now new friends. Home News Geoffrey Tattersall, Church of England General Synod leader, dies at 77 Geoffrey Tattersall, a former Church of England General Synod chair, diocesan chancellor and appeals court judge, has died. He was 77. The Church of England Diocese of Sodor and Man announced Monday that Tattersall died on Sunday, identified as the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany. Geoffrey was a remarkable man with a profound legal wisdom who put this to good use here on the Island as Vicar General to the Diocese from 2015-2019 and as Islands former Judge of Appeal from 1997-2017, stated the diocese. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Geoffrey was a much valued and thoughtful member of the General Synod of the Church of England. With his ready wit and relaxed manner he was a fair and popular chair in Synod debates, most memorably last year at the debate allowing the blessing of same sex couples. Bishop Martyn Snow of the Diocese of Leicester gave his condolences in a statement published Tuesday by the Church of England, commending Tattersalls work amid the Living in Love and Faith document, which centered on whether the denomination should bless same-sex unions. Geoffreys chairing of Synod debates, including LLF, with humor and integrity, greatly aided our discernment, stated Snow. His gift was to foster good-natured debate, even in moments of deep difference. May he rest in peace and rise in glory." Bishop David Walker of the Diocese of Manchester was also quoted in the statement noting that Tattersall served the Church of England from parish to national level with great distinction. His wise judgement and gentle humor from the chair defused many a tricky session of the General Synod. Born in 1947 in Lancashire, England, Tattersall was called to the legal profession in 1970 and later appointed Queens Counsel in 1992, serving as the Judge of Appeal for the Isle of Man from 1997 and 2017. At Tattersalls retirement ceremony in September 2017, Judge David Doyle gave remarks in which he said the retiring judge has made an outstanding contribution to the development of Manx law and jurisprudence at appellate level over all those years. In addition to his ability to deal with a very wide range of appeals, what Geoffrey possessed was an overriding sense of fairness and a desire to treat all those who came before the appeal court with great courtesy and patience, Doyle added. Geoffrey has been a good friend to the Island for many years and has, in his own remarkable way, made an impressive contribution to this yindyssagh, this wonderful Island, and we should acknowledge that and thank him for it. In 1995, Tattersall was elected a member of the General Synod, which he would eventually chair. He also served as chancellor for the dioceses of Manchester and Carlisle and chaired the Clergy Disciplinary Tribunal. He is survived by his wife, Hazel, three adult children and their families. Home News With no significant developments in hostage negotiations, Israel welcomes Trump teams participation Leaked document allegedly reveals Israels position, official says no progress in talks U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that the Biden administration is handing off some of its foreign policy initiatives it was unable to complete before the end of President Joe Bidens term, including the hostage release ceasefire deal in Gaza. I believe in area after area, were handing off in some cases things we havent been able to complete but that create real opportunities to move things forward in a better way, Blinken said in response to a question from The Washington Posts Michael Birnbaum regarding the Biden administrations legacy. In the Middle East, were very close to a ceasefire and hostage agreement, Blinken remarked. I hope that we can get it over the line in the time that we have left, but if we dont, then the plan that President Biden put forward for a ceasefire-hostage deal will be handed over to the incoming administration. And I believe that when we get that deal and well get it it will be on the basis of the plan that President Biden put before the world back in May. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Blinken also said Bidens team has worked extensively on preparations for the day-after plan for the Gaza Strip when the war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization ends. Weve done an incredible amount of work on what follows a hostage-ceasefire agreement in terms of the necessary arrangements for Gazas security, its administration, its reconstruction a day-after plan. Finally, Blinken spoke about the administrations efforts to help advance normalization between Israel and the Saudi Kingdom: And more broadly, the work, the investment weve made in transformative arrangements for the Middle East, starting with the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, all of that is ready to go if the opportunity presents itself with a ceasefire in Gaza as well as understandings on a pathway forward for the Palestinians. So, theres tremendous opportunity there, he said. On Tuesday, following the release of a report by public broadcaster Kan 11 documenting Israel's position in the negotiations in Doha, Qatar, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel that there have been no significant developments in the talks. Kan reported in Hebrew on the document, stating it was presented to the limited government cabinet but had not been previously disclosed to the public. The document states that the purpose of the negotiations is to secure the release of all Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, civilians and soldiers, whether alive or not, from the entire period, in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, and the restoration of a lasting calm that will lead to a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. While the document appears to indicate the willingness of Israel to abandon the Netzarim Corridor as part of the conditions for a hostage release, it indicates that Israel has demanded a mechanism to prevent Hamas terrorists from moving northward during the ceasefire. The document calls for the release of three Israeli female hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, four more on the seventh day, and another three hostages every seven days until all the hostages are released. In return, Israel will agree to release several Palestinian security prisoners and increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. There has been no official confirmation from the government regarding the document's authenticity, however, it appears to align with leaks previously revealed. The official who spoke with the Times of Israel said there is no basis to the rumors that Israel has agreed to give Hamas a short ceasefire to determine the condition of the hostages, calling it fake news. The official also said the Israeli government welcomes the arrival of President-elect Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the Middle East, adding, More pressure on Hamas is always welcome. This article was originally published at All Israel News Home News Mark Vroegop selected as new president of The Gospel Coalition The Gospel Coalition has announced that pastor and board member Mark Vroegop will become the third president of the popular Evangelical Christian ministry organization. In an announcement on Friday afternoon, TGC Board Chairman Juan Sanchez explained that Vroegop was unanimously elected earlier in the day by the ministrys council. Whats most exciting about Marks appointment is his deep love for the local church and his heart for pastors, stated Sanchez. Mark understands how to support and encourage pastors and other church leaders in advancing the Gospel and glorifying God. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Vroegop has served as lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, since 2008. He became a TGC Council member in 2018 and a board member in 2023. He will officially assume the presidency on March 3. Vroegop will be replacing interim President Sandy Willson, pastor emeritus of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, who took on the role in 2023 after TGC President Julius Kim ended his tenure. Willson is pastor emeritus of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, having served at the church as senior minister for 22 years. He had served two other churches as interim senior pastor. The election of Vroegop comes a few months before TGC will celebrate its 20th anniversary at its April conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, which has the theme of Alive Together: Faithful Living in a Faithless Age. According to his website, Vroegop graduated from Cedarville University with a bachelor of arts and later Cornerstone Theological Seminary with a masters in divinity. He previously served as the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Holland, Michigan, from 1996-2008. Vroegop has authored multiple books, including Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, and Waiting Isnt a Waste. He is married with four children and two grandchildren. Vroegop served as a trustee at Cedarville until July 2020, when he resigned in protest after the university reinstated President Thomas White who had hired someone for a faculty position with a known history of sexual abuse. At the time, Vroegop had stated that the circumstances surrounding the hiring were "deeply troubling" and that the steps the trustees had taken were not sufficient given the findings of an independent report on the matter. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, had also resigned from the board of trustees in 2020 over the decision. Home News Megachurch fires student pastor after he confesses to inappropriate contact with a minor 10 years ago The lead pastor of the multi-campus Hope Fellowship in Texas, John McKinzie, has announced the firing of one of the megachurchs student pastors, Jerry Nickerson, after he voluntarily confessed to engaging in inappropriate contact with a minor 10 years ago. Nickerson served as the student pastor of Hope Fellowships Frisco West Campus. McKinzie made the announcement to church members in an email to members on Wednesday, and published by abuse survivor advocate Amy Smith on her website Watchkeep. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe On Monday, the Frisco West Student Pastor, Jerry Nickerson, voluntarily disclosed inappropriate contact with a minor from when he was an adult volunteer youth leader at a previous church 10 years ago, McKinzie wrote. This incident occurred before his time at Hope Fellowship, and we had no prior knowledge of this situation or any allegations against him. It became known to us on Monday after Jerry voluntarily disclosed this information to Hope Fellowship. We are not aware of any other incidents. Following his confession, Jerrys employment with Hope Fellowship was terminated, the megachurch leader explained. We are devastated by this news. We believe that this behavior is disqualifying to those in pastoral and leadership positions, and Hope Fellowship is committed to supporting and advocating for victims of abuse. Prior to joining Hope Fellowship, Nickerson, who is married, served as youth pastor at Victory Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but it was unclear where he was serving 10 years ago. In a statement to The Christian Post Friday, leaders of Victory Church confirmed that Nickerson worked with them as a youth pastor from September 2018 to July 2021 and they were "devastated" by his recent confession. "Recently, we were informed that Jerry admitted to his most recent employer in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area that he had contact with a minor over 10 years ago. This incident allegedly occurred while he was serving at a different church, prior to his time at Victory Church," the leaders said. They noted that their hiring process includes "comprehensive background checks" and nothing about Nickerson's abuse were highlighted in their process. "We want to emphasize that we have no knowledge of any allegations or concerns regarding Jerrys conduct during his time at Victory Church. At Victory Church, the safety and protection of children and youth is our highest priority. We do not tolerate child abuse or any form of harm toward minors or adults, and we remain committed to maintaining a culture of accountability, integrity, and care," the leaders said. "Our hearts go out to all victims of abuse, and we grieve deeply for the pain caused by such actions." Nickerson's social media has been scrubbed and evidence of his time at Victory Church has also been removed online. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in church leadership and a Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Pastor McKinzie revealed in his letter to Hope Church members that Nickerson was prompted to confess his past failure after he was unexpectedly confronted about the past incidents last weekend. He said the church was not aware of Nickersons behavior until he made his confession on Monday. There were no accusations at the time of hire, and nothing on record that would have shown up in any background check or reference check. Jerrys background check was clear upon hire, McKinzie said. The megachurch leader further noted that Hope Church has not spoken to Nickersons victim or has any relationship with the person but applauded the victim for coming forward. They reside in a different city and have not attended or frequented Hope Fellowship to our knowledge. We applaud their courage and support them coming forward 10 years later, McKinzie noted. In this challenging time, we are committed to fostering open communication and transparency. If you have concerns or have information we should be informed about, please dont hesitate to reach out, he added while sharing the email contact for the churchs leadership team: leadership@hopefellowship.net. Congregants were urged to report more serious matters to the relevant authorities. McKinzie further noted that Nickersons alleged victim has not yet filed any criminal charges. Macys has confirmed that it will be closing more stores in the Bay Area, beyond the previously announced location in San Franciscos Union Square. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Macys Inc. has confirmed plans to close two more Bay Area locations as part of a larger strategy to streamline its operations and focus on more profitable stores. The retailer said Thursday that the closures are part of a nationwide effort to shut down 66 underperforming stores, including one in Corte Madera and the other in Newark. The announcement comes as Macys works to consolidate its physical footprint while prioritizing investments in higher-performing locations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The company has already shuttered several Bay Area stores in recent years, including the Macys at San Leandros Bayfair Center, which closed in March 2024. The Corte Madera and Newark stores, located at the Village at Corte Madera and NewPark Mall, respectively, are part of the next wave of closures expected in the first quarter of 2025. Closing any store is never easy, but as part of our Bold New Chapter strategy, we are closing underproductive Macys stores to allow us to focus our resources and prioritize investments in our go-forward stores, where customers are already responding positively to better product offerings and elevated service, said Tony Spring, CEO of Macys Inc. The closures in Corte Madera and Newark reflect Macys broader shift toward smaller, more flexible retail formats, in response to changing consumer habits. With more shoppers gravitating toward e-commerce and smaller-format stores, Macys said it is adjusting its strategy to meet these evolving preferences. In San Francisco, Macys flagship store in Union Square is also on the chopping block, with plans to close once a buyer is found for its expansive 700,000-square-foot property. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The closure of the historic location has been a setback for local retail and city officials, who have been in talks with Macys about potential redevelopment options. Former San Francisco Mayor London Breed had previously expressed hope that Macys would remain a part of Union Squares revitalization efforts. The Bay Area closures are part of Macys broader plan to close approximately 150 underperforming stores nationwide by 2026. While some stores are expected to close in the coming months, the retailer continues to invest in its First 50 stores, which have seen positive sales growth. These closures come at a challenging time for the Bay Areas retail landscape, particularly in areas like Union Square, which has faced a rise in vacant storefronts. National retailers such as H&M, Uniqlo and Nordstrom have reduced their presence in the city since the pandemic shifted peoples shopping patterns and remote work brought fewer people into the city. Home News YouVersion Bible App hits record 798K installations in single day The YouVersion Bible App saw 798,000 installations on Jan. 5, the largest single day of installs for the phone app in its history. Bobby Gruenewald, founder of YouVersion and a pastor at Life.Church, told The Christian Post on Thursday that the app saw 18.2 million people engage in the Bible and more than 798,000 installs on Sunday. This broke the record previously set on the first Sunday of last year, while New Years Day was the third-highest single-day number of installs in the history of YouVersion, Gruenewald added. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe We tend to see a seasonal uptick in Bible engagement at the beginning of the year as people start new habits and are interested in reading the Bible for the first time, Gruenewald told CP. Whats interesting to us is that this years increase is even higher than this same time last year, and its a trend were seeing globally. Although YouVersion witnessed increases in app installs and engagement worldwide, the app reported its largest increases in installs in nations in Africa and throughout Asia and the Middle East. This included a 198% increase in activity in Ethiopia, a 94% increase in Egypt, a 74% increase in Turkey, a 65% increase in Ghana, and a 48% increase in Pakistan. Overall, Northern Africa saw a 297% increase in activity, while the Middle East saw a 166% increase. Were always looking for ways to improve the app and help people do what they tell us they want to do, which is read the Bible more consistently, Gruenewald said. Because we know people are interested in creating new rhythms, we put a lot of work into designing features to help them make Bible engagement a daily practice that is sustained throughout the year. According to Gruenewald, one of the apps most popular features is Bible Plans, which, according to the YouVersion website, are centered on providing daily devotional content rooted in Scripture and help users study, understand, meditate on, and apply biblical truths to their lives. Every week, we add new plans in multiple languages to help people continue to engage in the Bible every day, explained Gruenewald. This year, we will be making it easier for people to find meaningful Bible Plan content thats specific to where they are in their faith journey. Additionally, the Plans with Friends feature allows people to study Scripture together because we know someone is more likely to be consistent when they have the support of their community. Gruenewald told CP that he and the others at YouVersion are amazed that we get to be a part of how God chooses to do that on a daily basis. Every time someone opens the Bible is an opportunity for the power of Gods Word to change their life, he added. Launched in July 2008 by Life.Church, the YouVersion family of apps boasts of having been installed in over 850 million devices globally, and is offered in 2,100 languages. At the end of last year, YouVersion reported that the app had, on average, 11.2 million new device installs each month in 2024 and approximately 14 million people engaging in the Bible each day. Wildfires Devastate California, Ohio's New Parental Rights Bill, Inauguration Edition Of Trump-Endorsed Bible link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:12 07:12 Top headlines for Friday, January 10, 2025 In this episode, we cover the urgent and unfolding situation in Southern California, where devastating wildfires have claimed the lives of at least five individuals and forced over 130,000 residents to evacuate. We then shift to Ohio, where Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a notable parental rights bill, granting students the opportunity to leave campus for religious instruction. Finally, we delve into new insights from Billy Bush regarding the notorious 2005 tape with Donald Trump, which played a significant role in the 2016 presidential election controversy. ?Follow Us on Social Media ?Get the Edifi App ?Subscribe to Our Newsletter ?Links to the News Home Opinion Bibles aren't too sexy for public schools Irony of ironies. There was an attempt to ban the Bible from school libraries in a conservative state because of a law against risque content in schoolbooks. The Mirror out of the UK reports: A Texas school district has reportedly been forced to remove copies of the Bible after a new state law banned books that were sexually explicit. It was revealed in an email from Canyon Independent School District Superintendent Darryl Flusche, that the holy book had been deemed unsuitable due to sexually explicit material. It clearly appears that school officials are trying to play gotcha with opponents of sexually explicit schoolbooks. The Mirror added, Several parents were reportedly furious with the news. During a school board meeting earlier [in December 2024], Canyon ISD parent Regina Kiehne told school officials it seems absurd to me that the Good Book was thrown out with the bad books. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The blowback was so strong, school officials retreated from their guileful position in the face of widespread opposition. Im glad to hear that some of the school districts in Texas allow the Bible on school property at all. But its a shame that ever since the Supreme Court ruled in the Abington v. Schempp case of 1963, many school districts have banned the Good Book altogether from the schools (while at the same time often allowing all manner of LGBT pornography). In Schempp, the court declared as unconstitutional use of the Bible for devotional purposes in the classroom. But they added that the Bible has its place in a well-rounded education. Said the majority of the justices: It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment. For decades, many public school systems have systematically gone way beyond what the Supreme Court decided. Personally, I think many of those Supreme Court decisions, such as Schempp, were wrongly decided. They grew out of a bias in favor of secularism and opposed to religion. Frankly, this country was founded by Christians for religious freedom, which they generously offered to other groups. The irony of the Bible being controversial in the schools is that this is the book that helped create the educational system in America. When you trace back education in our country, you see the Bible was the chief motivating factor. It was so that people could read the Bible for themselves that schools were started in the first place. The first law regarding education in America is nicknamed the Old Deluder Satan Act. The Puritans, the founders of Boston, wanted their children to learn how to read so they could read the Scriptures for themselves. The act explicitly states that this was a countermeasure against the devil, who wants people to remain ignorant of the Word of God. This 1647 Act states: It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures and that Learning may not be buried in the graves of our fore-fathers in Church and Commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors: it is therefore ordered [that every township] shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read. The children even learned their ABCs with Bible lessons. The widely used New England Primer taught: A-In Adams fall, we sinned all. B-thy life to mend, the Bible tend. C-Christ crucified, for sinners died. The original colleges and universities were started to train ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Harvards original motto (in Latin) was Truth for Christ and the Church. The first president of Princeton, Rev, Jonathan Dickinson, said, Cursed be all learning contrary to the cross of Christ. Except for Cornell (founded 200 years after Harvard), all of the Ivy League schools were explicitly Christian. And on it goes. Founding father and Declaration of Independence signer Dr. Benjamin Rush declared, The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in RELIGION ... Without this, there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments ... the religion I mean to recommend in this place is the religion of JESUS CHRIST [emphasis his]. Dr. Rush also warned of the consequences when schools ignore teaching the Bible: I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them. We need more Bible in the schools, including the public schools not less. Home Opinion Sorry Mark Zuckerberg, we don't trust you on free speech Facebook has implemented one of the most scandalous censorship efforts in American history. And now, were supposed to believe after years of election interference and undeserved demonization that they want to embrace free speech? In April 2018, Senator Ted Cruz asked the CEO of Meta/Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, pointedly: Are you a neutral platform? Zuckerberg claimed with a straight face: We consider ourselves to be a platform for all ideas. Uh, sure. By all he clearly meant some. He went on to say: I understand where that concern is coming from. Facebook and the tech industry are located in Silicon Valley which is an extremely left-leaning place. [Thats an understatement!] This is actually a concern that I have, and I try to rout out in the company is making sure we dont have any bias in the work that we do Im very committed to ensuring that Facebook is a platform for all ideas. A month later, my organization (The Radiance Foundation), was profoundly impacted by this commitment via Metas suppression efforts. In May 2018 Ireland held a vote whether or not to repeal its pro-life Amendment 8. Facebook deliberately decided to violate American citizens First Amendment rights and silence peoples voices over the issue of abortion. Relying on a completely bogus anti-free-speech effort called the Transparency Referendum Initiative (TRI), the platform suddenly started disallowing us to boost any posts dealing with abortion. For years we paid small amounts to boost our posts just to get our followers to see them since Facebook clearly throttled our reach. The (now defunct) TRI falsely claimed we purchased ads that directly addressed and interfered with Irelands abortion vote. We never purchased any such ad. Ever. That didnt stop CNN, Politico, The New York Times, the Irish Times and many more from promoting the lie. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe As I wrote back that same month: This is particularly heartbreaking because the internet was the average persons means of circumventing a monolithic Leftist mainstream media. It was a powerful and cost-effective way for small nonprofits like ours to get out a factual narrative that challenged the singular one regurgitated by an entire media establishment. In July 2019, Zuckerberg basically touted his decision to censor only pro-life ads (again, we actually werent one of the advertisers). It wasnt because Facebook was compelled to do so by any law, but because of his companys preference. Tragically, thanks to mainstream media and social media, the Repeal the 8th effort won. Vulnerable human beings lost. They always lose when free speech is suppressed. Then, trying to appear conciliatory before Congress in September 2019, Zuckerberg reportedly admitted that bias was an issue we [Facebook] has struggled with for a long time. According to Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), he agreed that there clearly was bias in repeated false fact-checking of Live Action, the largest pro-life organization on social media. In 2020, despite egregious examples of disinformation, suppression, outright censorship and election interference, Zuckerberg proclaimed during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: Im proud of what weve done to support our democracy, and I look forward to discussing this. So you can understand if I dont jump for joy that Zuckerberg had a come-to-Trump moment. For years, regardless of the pleas of users, conservative organizations and legislators, Facebook flaunted its censorship by labeling it fact-checking. It jailed people for harmless and honest speech. Too many right-leaning Americans have been silenced by Meta despite its repeated claims of neutrality. Zuckerberg doesnt deserve our trust. He and Meta must work for it. Weve heard this rhetoric before. Many. Many. Times. Its hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that an American company trampled the very right that gave their platform a voice: the First Amendment. The Media Research Center has been tracking the online suppression in their CensorTrack Database. Apparently, the vast majority of Silicon Valley hasnt gotten the memo that there is no America without free speech and religious liberty. 2025 is already off to a fantastic start; some things are just too surreal. I find it almost amusing that Zuckerberg is glazing Elon Musk. Hes literally copying the much fairer and less biased Community Notes method of fact-checking posts that the X platform originally implemented in 2021. The cant-pull-off-casual CEO proclaimed that his platforms would be allowing more speech (cue the unhinged on the Left who hate speech). He even mentioned that Meta would lift restrictions on some topics. He goes on to specify only immigration, gender identity, and gender. I found it interesting that he didnt mention abortion or racism. If DC is a swamp, Meta is an entire universe of murky shadowy figures that have long worked to darken the light of Free Speech. Home News McDonald's becomes latest company to scale back some DEI policies McDonalds has become the latest major corporation in the United States to announce its intention to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion policies as pushback to businesses embrace of progressive ideology continues. Robby Starbuck, an activisit who has made combatting DEI at major corporations his top priority, announced the new development in a post on X Monday. Starbuck explained that the changes came about because 3 days ago I told McDonalds that Id be doing a story on woke policies there. According to Starbuck, McDonalds has committed to END their diversity goals for how many of each race they hire. He characterized said goals as quotas, noting how they discriminate against white job applicants. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Starbuck also insisted that McDonalds will no longer participate in the [Human Rights Campaigns] woke Corporate Equality Index scoring system that forces the trans agenda into the workplace in exchange for a perfect score. He indicated that they also vowed not to participate in other 3rd party surveys that evaluate the company based on its adherence to tenets of LGBT or other progressive ideology. Theyre ENDING the DEI pledge for their supply chain, he added, meaning that no diversity quotas or goals will exist for how they choose or prioritize suppliers. He maintained that this means that merit will be the determining factor for choosing suppliers. Starbucks post on X was published on the same day that McDonalds released a statement originally sent as an email to McDonalds owners and operators as well as company employers and suppliers worldwide. The company identified inclusion as one of its core values, stressing that Everyone is welcome under our Golden Arches, and this broad-based appeal is why McDonalds is one of the worlds most beloved brands. After outlining statistics about the companys adherence to gender pay equity and the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership roles as well as the suppliers they do business with, McDonalds highlighted its completion of a comprehensive Civil Rights Audit that looked at all aspects of inclusion across our system and engaged with shareholders to understand their expectations and assessed the overall landscape of shareholder proposals. The restaurant chain also brought up the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decisionStudents for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, which found race-based admissions at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina unconstitutional. It explained how it was re-evaluating its policies related to diversity and inclusion in light of the ruling as well as moves made by other companies. We are retiring setting aspirational representation goals and instead keeping our focus on continuing to embed inclusion practices that grow our business into our everyday process and operations, the letter stated. We are pausing external surveys to focus on the work we are doing internally to grow the business. We are retiring Supply Chains Mutual Commitment to DEI pledge in favor of a more integrated discussion with suppliers about inclusion as it relates to business performance. McDonalds also mentioned how it would now refer to its diversity team as the Global Inclusion Team, a move it considered more fitting for McDonalds in light of our inclusion value that better aligns with this teams work. Starbuck expressed disappointment about this development in a video accompanying the X post, calling it ridiculous. We dont need these teams, he said. It is a job. It is a workplace. You go there to work. People dont need a team assigned at corporate to making sure everybody feels included, OK? Were not kindergarteners. Were adults. Its a workplace. Its a place people go to shop. Just provide great service, be kind, do the right thing, be fair and if youre a company executive lay down the hammer when somebody breaks the law. Everybodys all for that. But theres no need for DEI teams at all, no need for a diversity team. In spite of his disappointment with the McDonalds decision to maintain a Global Inclusion Team, Starbuck characterized the company as his first corporate flip of 2025. Other companies that have scaled back support for progressive ideology, including DEI and LGBT advocacy, are: Tractor Supply Co, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Jack Daniels, Lowes and Ford Motor Company. Pushback to the embrace of progressive ideology, including DEI, LGBT advocacy and wokeness has materialized in the form of falling profits for companies such as Bud Light, which partnered with trans-identified influencer Dylan Mulvaney, and Target, which championed LGBT-related merchandise for children and sold tuck-friendly swimsuits for boys and men who wanted to wear girls' swimwear. Home News Authorities find migrants padlocked inside U-Haul with little airflow: 'Stark reminder' One man is facing human smuggling charges after authorities found 11 migrants padlocked inside the rear compartment of a U-Haul truck with limited airflow in New Mexico. Authorities discovered the migrants in the back of the rented truck close to midnight on New Year's Eve in Hurley, New Mexico, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told KTSM. The suspect facing human smuggling charges had a Mexican driver's license, the outlet reported. All of the migrants, including a 12th one who sat up front, are being processed under Title 8, which encompasses laws concerning "Aliens And Nationality." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The migrants reportedly came from various countries, including Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. The police department in Hurley contacted Border Patrol for assistance with the situation. According to a Tuesday social media post by El Paso Sector Border Patrol Chief Anthony Scot Good, Deming Border Patrol agents worked alongside the Hurley Fire Department to uncover the migrants inside the U-Haul truck. Good described the case as "a stark reminder of the lengths smugglers will take to evade detection and endanger lives!" U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. At the time of reporting, the driver's motive for smuggling the migrants is unknown. In other cases involving American teenagers, law enforcement officials cited money as the reason why the teens took part in a human smuggling operation. As Craig Larabee, special agent in charge of Homeland Security San Antonio in Texas, told KENS in May, transnational criminal organizations actively recruit teenagers to smuggle illegal immigrants. The groups will post advertisements on social media that make the smuggling job appear like an easy way to earn money. "It's just money. It's just money, and you'll see the ads. They'll make a thousand dollars, $5,000 for one drive," Larabee said. "It's big wads of cash money. ... Make your money, come get your money." Two Dallas teenagers were arrested for human smuggling in November 2023 after a cartel offered to pay them $1,300 for each person they smuggled, NewsNation reported. One of the teenagers, Jonathan Rodriguez, who said he saw an advertisement for the human smuggling job on social media, was charged as an adult. Authorities caught Rodriguez and his friend after the pair were pulled over for running a stop sign. Rodriguez said that this was the first time he had attempted to smuggle someone across the border and that he regretted his actions. Another human smuggling case that made headlines last year involved a federal contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement using her position to attempt to smuggle over 30 adult migrants through Texas. The federal contractor, Nancy Berenice Fernandez Luna, 35, once worked with MVM Inc., a company that provides transportation services, with the Office of Refugee Resettlement and ICE among its customers. Border Patrol arrested Fernandez after she tried to sneak a bus full of migrants through a checkpoint. When the federal contractor arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint, she presented agents with her "ICE personal identification verification (PIV) contracting card." Fernandez also lied to the agents, telling them that she was transporting migrant children who had tested positive for COVID-19. While the agents called the Rio Grande Valley Centralized Processing Center to verify the contractor's claims, the charter bus proceeded to a secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection, the Border Patrol agents discovered that the bus was transporting 39 adult migrants, not children with COVID-19. The migrants admitted that they were in the United States illegally. In addition to Fernandez, Border Patrol arrested Juan Torres Ayala, who picked up the charter bus. Ayala confessed that he knew the migrants on the bus were in the United States illegally and that he had been promised $1,800 for making the trip. Home News Rhode Island man executes pregnant wife, 2 children, fatally shoots himself Police in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, remain stumped for answers after a father executed his pregnant wife and two young children and then fatally shot himself inside their home after ringing in the new year last week. A press statement from West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay said officers were asked to do a wellness check at a home located at 15 Cheyenne Trail in West Greenwich at about 9:50 a.m. on Jan. 3. When they arrived at the home and gained entry, they discovered the lifeless bodies of 39-year-old Danielle Arruda, who was seven months pregnant, along with her two children 5-year-old Adele Arruda and 2-year-old Felex Aruda with multiple gunshot wounds. Her husband Nicholas Arruda, 39, had a single bullet to the head. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "All three victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds from a semi-automatic firearm," Ramsay said of the mother and two children. "The investigation, to date, has not yielded any explanation or clues as to why Nicholas Arruda committed this heinous crime against his family before taking his own life," Ramsay added in his statement. "I wish there could be an explanation to help you make sense of this horrific act," he added in an another statement to The Providence Journal. "But the truth is we may never know why it happened." Ramsay said Danielle Arruda worked as a paralegal, and her co-workers asked police to do a wellness check on her after she failed to show up for work last Thursday. "When she did not show up or call Friday morning, they felt something might be wrong. They were also concerned because she never misses work and was several months pregnant," Ramsay noted. When officers arrived at the home at around 10:13 a.m., they found two vehicles in the driveway. When no one answered the door after several calls, officers executed a forced entry and discovered the bodies of the family. "It was apparent, there were no signs of life to any of the bodies and that all four had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. It was also apparent no one had exited the house because the door that was accessible to the outside was not only locked but had a safety chain latched, which could only be done from the inside," Ramsay explained. An M4-type semi-automatic weapon was found next to the body of Nicholas Arruda, which police believe is the murder weapon. Ramsey said all four family members were still wearing their pajamas when they were discovered, according to The New York Post. Investigators theorize that the shooting occurred between 8 p.m. on New Year's Day and 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 2, reports The Providence Journal. Danielle Arruda's family and friends were caught off guard by the murder-suicide. They told police the couple appeared to be living together happily. Mikayla Ruffner Cihat, Danielle's 26-year-old cousin who celebrated Christmas with the family, told The Journal the tragedy seems like something "out of the blue." Ramsey noted that even though Nicholas Arruda sometimes worked as a painter, he had been unemployed for several years due to a back injury. "He was a stay-at-home dad who was homeschooling the children," Ramsey said. Sojourner House, an anti-violence agency in Providence, Rhode Island, mourned the late mother and her children in a statement on their Facebook page Wednesday. "Today we learned the devastating news that Danielle Arruda and her two small children, Adele and Felex, were shot and killed by her husband in their West Greenwich home. Danielle, who worked as a paralegal, was seven months pregnant when she died," the agency said. "We grieve deeply for those that knew and loved her. This horrific act underscores the critical need for greater awareness, prevention, and support services for those affected by domestic violence. No one should live in fear within their own home," the statement added. Police said the family had been living in the home since 2019 and they had never been called to the home before. Nicholas Arruda, however, had some criminal history. "Nicholas Arruda had one prior felony domestic arrest in 2014. He was arrested by the West Warwick Police, but the case was dismissed when the victim refused to cooperate. The victim in the 2014 case was not Danielle Arruda," Ramsay said. Home News Texas medical board director departs after being outed as Planned Parenthood employee The medical director of the Texas state board that oversees medical regulation and licensing is stepping aside after it became public that he is a Planned Parenthood employee. Dr. Robert Bredt submitted his retirement paperwork Tuesday, his last day of work, a spokesperson for the medical board told The Associated Press. The 62-year-old served as the state's medical director since 2012, overseeing the regulation and licensing of medical professionals across Texas. He earned an annual salary of $185,000, AP reports. According to his resume, which recently surfaced in a court filing, Bredt had been affiliated with Planned Parenthood South Texas since 2011, in addition to working with other medical laboratories, including Genics Laboratory in Las Vegas and San Antonio. He also worked as a professor, consultant and laboratory inspector. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Bredt's name is no longer listed among the biographies on the Texas Medical Board website. Republican State Rep. Brian Harrison, among the first to call for Bredt's resignation from the board, called his removal "another conservative victory for Texas." "We are a pro-life state, and it is unbelievable that an executive branch agency hired a Planned Parenthood official to help regulate Texas doctors and the practice of medicine," Harrison told The Christian Post Thursday. "There should be an investigation to determine how this happened and accountability for every bureaucrat involved." Although there is no law explicitly prohibiting state employees from working for Planned Parenthood, the organization's status as a politically charged entity in Texas, particularly in the post-Dobbs era, has led to consistent opposition from conservative factions. The state is embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit aimed at bankrupting Planned Parenthood with a $1.8 billion claim. Planned Parenthood South Texas CEO Laura Terrill released a statement in which she reprimanded state lawmakers for expending "valuable time and resources playing doctor in an act of political theater." "Dr. Bredt's work at Planned Parenthood South Texas (PPST) reflects his unwavering commitment to providing the highest standards of medical care," she wrote in a statement. "Planned Parenthoods in Texas follow the law, full stop. We have, and always will, comply with state and federal regulations while focusing on what truly matters: delivering essential health care services to the tens of thousands of Texans who depend on us every day." State medical board members are appointed by the Texas governor and confirmed by the state Senate for a six-year term. While the board's members are appointed by the governor, agency bureaucrats handle the hiring for the position of medical director. Located in San Antonio, Planned Parenthood South Texas promotes a number of topics on its social media pages, including the "perks of pubic hair," public events featuring men dressed as women dancing suggestively, and a pizza party to celebrate "period packing" for menstruation, which Planned Parenthood espouses for any "young person." The clinic also promoted Transgender Awareness week in November with a Facebook post claiming that identifying as transgender or "non-binary" is "normal and natural at any age." Its website also refers to "anti-abortion extremists" and refers to a May 2024 Pew study that suggested support for legal abortion among a majority of non-Evangelicals. While Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas no longer provide abortion services following the Dobbs decision in 2022, Planned Parenthood still operates locations in Texas that offer other services. Firefighters battle flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday. Some residents of Los Angeles County are relying on private firefighting crews to help shield their homes during the historic disaster. Eric Thayer/Getty Images LOS ANGELES Adam Leber was nodding off in his Hollywood Hills mansion late Wednesday night when his housekeeper jolted him awake with an urgent message: Theres a fire at the door. Leber a talent manager whose clients have included Miley Cyrus and Lil Nas X opened his door and looked. Sure enough, The entire hillside was on fire, he said. It was insane. Orange-red flames sprung up everywhere, spitting embers dangerously close. Without thinking, he and his wife scooped up their dogs and 3-year-old daughter, threw some belongings in their car and drove east, to take refuge in their second home by Lake Arrowhead. As Leber rushed his family to safety amid a broader firestorm engulfing wide swaths of Los Angeles County, a private firefighting service arrived to ensure his 6,000-square-foot home once owned by filmmaker Preston Sturges and rumored to be the site of Charlie Chaplins first wedding, according to an old real estate listing remained standing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Leber is one of a growing number of Californians who, faced with the growing threat of wildfires in populated areas, have turned to private firefighting teams as an added layer of protection. Supporters of private firefighting teams argue they can augment the work of government-run efforts, stepping in to fill the cracks caused by depleted city and state budgets and an ever-worsening climate crisis. But not everyone is a fan of private firefighters, particularly those that contract directly with homeowners outside of insurance, like the company Leber hired. Critics contend that when wealthy individuals hire their own firefighters, they compete with public teams for precious resources such as water, and could potentially interfere with those teams efforts by, for example, blocking or crowding narrow access points. Moreover, they say, private firefighters widen the already-vast chasm between rich and poor, safeguarding the interests of the former at the expense of the latter. The rich suffer zero consequences of anything, even cataclysmic natural disasters, one user wrote on X, responding to a video the Chronicle posted showing private firefighters saving Lebers house. Private and firefighter should not be in the same sentence, wrote another. Joe Torres, CEO of All Risk Shield, thinks some of these criticisms are unfair especially during major disasters like this one. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ive been in the fire service for 24 years, right. And Im still in the service, he told the Chronicle. I can tell you, these last few days, when theres a big event like this, resources get stretched so thin from municipal, state, federal (departments) that theres a need for additional resources. He disputed the idea that private teams siphon water away from the public: His teams primarily bring their own to a site, or draw from homeowners pools. The definition of private firefighter is broad, and can encompass a wide range of services: There are the private crews contracted by wealthy individuals such as Leber, which often do direct battle with blazes, as well as companies that work exclusively with insurance providers to fireproof policyholders assets, largely through prevention efforts like sprinkler installation. This latter group far outnumbers the former, said David Torgerson, president of Wildfire Defense Systems, which contracts with a majority of the top 10 insurance carriers to protect clients in high-risk areas. The hiring of private firefighters by wealthy clients outside of insurance, he said, is still relatively rare, employed only in select locations in California such as the Palisades and Beverly Hills. For those considering hiring such companies, he said, theres stronger solutions out there namely his company, which hires union firefighters, coordinates directly with government agencies and serves homes covered by its insurer clients based on their risk level, not market value. The company, which has responded to more than 1,400 wildfires since 2008, is also technically the third-largest single firefighting force in the U.S., after the federal government and state of California. Some private companies contract directly with public fire departments, lending support during major conflagrations. Nathan Bowyer, a firefighter with the Calistoga Fire Department, said these teams have been nothing but helpful in his experience, particularly when they supply water tenders massive vehicles capable of carrying large amounts of water to fire sites. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Leber first purchased private fire protection last September, as a different blaze the Line Fire came within a few miles of his familys Lake Arrowhead home. As the flames neared, I immediately started researching private firefighters, he said. Quickly, he found a company that looked reputable, All Risk Shield. A crew arrived soon after, guarding the house until the local fire department arrived. Leber was so pleased with the companys work that he bought a suite of services for his Los Angeles home, including fire hardening and emergency response. Private firefighters guard this Hollywood Hills house from #SunsetFire. Theyve set up sprinklers to cascade water from the second story eaves. They will guard all night. pic.twitter.com/Wj9fIocM1y Matthias Gafni (@mgafni) January 9, 2025 On Wednesday night, it was easy to see why Leber and others had sprung for additional protection. The Sunset Fire and several other blazes had ripped through the Los Angeles area, burning thousands of structures and killing at least five people. Two of the infernos, the Palisades and Eaton fires, already ranked among the 20 most destructive in Californias history. As public firefighters circled their helicopters, cut brush from homes and blasted water on the flames spreading through Hollywood Hills, two retired firefighters sat in the driveway of Lebers North Vista Street mansion. The men, part of the team hired to protect Lebers home, had rigged sprinklers on the second story eave. Water rained down on the street below, creating a waterfall around the exterior. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The crew members confirmed they had been paid out of pocket, not through insurance, to protect the home from the flames that cascaded down Runyon Canyon perilously close to old Hollywood homes often visited during celebrity tours. Foam pooled in the gutter, but the crew said the owner had asked them to not use foam as a preventative measure, just water, so they stopped. A half-block away, onlookers stood behind a police barricade as firefighters wound through the narrow streets with hose lines snaking through old archways, beyond massive front gates and past private garage gyms. Up the street, higher into the hills, Los Angeles Fire Department hand crews and engines, along with a womens prison crew, worked to protect Sheryl Crows former house. The public agencies chain-sawed palm fronds and brush, and sprayed water on encroaching flames and breached massive front gate doors. As the fire calmed, a second truck pulled into Lebers driveway. The public firefighters would move on, racing to quell the disastrous fires roaring across Los Angeles. But the team Leber had hired would stay put, watching over his home until dawn. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Home Opinion The little book for misinformed, woke, anti-Israel college students 2025 will be a pivotal year in foreign policy, and nowhere will that be more true than in the Middle East. This is true for several reasons. First, the Israeli response to the heinous atrocities perpetrated against their citizens on October 7, 2023, has fundamentally altered the balance of power in the region. By largely ignoring the advice and counsel of the Biden Administration, the Israelis have decimated Hamas and Hezbollah and greatly weakened Iran. Second, the incoming Trump Administration will be far more supportive and sympathetic toward Israel than the outgoing Biden Administration. Israel and her supporters in the United States are delighted with Senator Rubio as the soon-to-be Secretary of State and former Governor Mike Huckabee as the soon-to-be new U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Additionally, President-elect Donald Trump is more popular among the Israeli population than any previous US president. Anyone who has visited Israel since President Trumps election in 2016 can attest to the Israelis gratitude to, and support for, Donald Trump. However, the heated debate over Israel will continue to rage on college campuses across America. As the debate continues, it is important that those involved have the relevant facts necessary to carry on a productive debate. Fortunately, Dr. Alan Dershowitz has provided a 64-page handbook specifically targeted at high school and college students (The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies And How to Refute Them with Truth). Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Dershowitz, long-time distinguished constitutional law professor at Harvard Law School (now retired) is an old-school, classic liberal who has been an eloquent and courageous defender of the First Amendments free speech guarantees. He has also been a staunch defender of Israel in several books, most notably, The Case For Israel (2003). At the outset of this extremely useful and informative little book, The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies, Dershowitz relates the charges that Israel has committed war crimes or genocide against the Palestinians. He points out that in Gaza the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have killed fewer civilians in relation to combatants than any nation in history that has fought against terrorists who use civilians as human shields. Dershowitz takes great pains to point out that the Palestinian terrorists have routinely used civilians as human shields, even putting military headquarters and weapons caches in schools and mosques. Dershowitz also refutes the idea that Israel is a colonial, imperialist state. He notes that in fact, Israel is an anti-colonialist democracy comprised primarily of refugees and the descendants of indigenous Jews, Muslims, and Christians exercising their right to political self-determination. Palestine, a relatively sparsely populated region prior to the late 19th century, was never without a significant and well-documented Jewish presence.Jerusalem, in fact, has had a Jewish majority since the first population figures were gathered in the early nineteenth century. Dershowitz notes that Jews have lived in the biblical Holy Land continuously from the biblical era up to the present day. Furthermore, the so-called colonial powers generally opposed a Jewish homeland. This includes the United States, where the U.S. State Department largely opposed U.S. support for Israel, and was overruled by President Truman in 1948. Dershowitz directly addresses his target audience, the current generation of college and high school students. Your generationhas both the power and the opportunity to defeat the enemies of truth. The attacks on Israel and the Jewish people following the massacres of October 7 have been unprecedented in their viciousness, mendacity, and pervasiveness.Yes, it takes courage to participate openly in that marketplace. You will be attacked, canceled, berated, threatened, downgraded, and punished for telling the truth. But if you have the courage to fight back, you will be rewarded by the verdict of history. Truth, justice, and morality are on your side. Your professors, deans, presidents, and bosses will not have the courage to stand up for what many of them actually believe. You must show the way. You must take the lead. You must speak for the cowards who remain silent. This deceptively diminutive book is designed to be, and is, a powerful tool to dispense truth to a younger generation of Americans who have too often been grievously misinformed about the Middle East in general and Israel in particular. Every American, student or otherwise, would benefit from reading this book and making it part of their permanent library so they can refer back to it as necessary. In addition to sharing this book with Christian Post readers, I have purchased several copies which I intend to share with interested readers in the very near future. Whatever ones personal religious faith may be, you will benefit from the knowledge dispensed in The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies. Anyone who reads this book will finish it having had his understanding of these issues enhanced. Plateau State, Nigeria. Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Monday killed three Christians in an attack on a village in Plateau state, the latest of 11 killings in the area since early December, sources said. The assailants invaded Sha village, Bokkos County, at about 10:30 p.m., area residents said. Samuel Amalau, chairman of the Bokkos Local Government Council, confirmed the attack in a press statement the next day. "This is a season of jubilation and excitement across our land, yet some individuals, driven by malicious intent, have chosen to cause harm to lives and property," Amalau said. "This act is deeply disheartening and unacceptable." In the same area, Fulani herdsmen on Dec. 27 attacked a farm of a former naval officer who suffered serious injuries trying to ward them off, said resident James Mangai. "For daring to challenge Fulani herdsmen who were destroying crops on his farm, Rear Admiral DD Dangwel (Rtd.), was brutally attacked and had machete-inflicted cuts on his head and other parts of his body," Mangai told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "He's currently in a critical condition at a hospital." Signs that such attacks were imminent were reported beforehand by Christians in the Bokkos area, as they sighted large groups of armed herdsmen gathering to attack during the Christmas and New Year season. Resident Magit Sabastine Mandik sent a security alert about impending attacks in the Bokkos area and called for preventive measures by the military, police and other security agencies. "Information reaching us [indicates] that all the district and villages in Bokkos LGA and Mangu LGA should be proactive, most especially from Saturday 14/12/2024 till Jan. 29, 2025, that Fulani militias are fully prepared to cause attacks on innocent people," Mandik said, citing the killing of eight Christians Dec. 5-7 in Mom Tangur, Fakkos, Kwatas and Maikatato. Stephen Choji Kim, a Plateau state peace activist said in a press statement last month that "strange Fulani are steering troubles" in the Bokkos Farm Project (BFP), including Fwere Yinti and Dakanung villages. He said he received a phone call on Dec. 12 that Fulanis with many cows had gathered in the BFP for two days. "Prior to the call to me, these strange Fulanis and their herds of cows who had never been seen by villagers here had threatened the villages of Fwere Yinti and Dakanung in Bokkos LGA and wanted to cross into Mangu LGA, because these are border villages with farms that spill into Bokkos and Mangu LGAs," Kim said. Villagers told him that about 1:40 a.m. on Dec. 13 this mass movement of Fulanis and cows was not being controlled by the STF military unit stationed at the BFP workshop premises, and that the herders were "wandering aimlessly threatening, villagers." "On the evening of Thursday 12th December, these Fulani have threatened to attack these villages and others into Mangu LGA because they said their cattle had been rustled," Kim said. "Villagers on reporting to the military detachment at BFP were advised that since it is dry season, they had no reasons to complain about cows because cropping season is over." After the herdsmen threatened to attack the villages, he said, "the villagers are now weary of the presence of the Fulani herdsmen and are currently no longer sleeping but awake, ready to evacuate at the slightest warning. However, any displacements will place their harvest stores, their families and the vulnerable villagers in ruins and catastrophe." Kim said he called Federal Special Forces in Bokkos, who went to the area for patrol but could not gain access because of barricades placed by the villagers frightened for their lives. He warned that villagers were concerned about rumors that the herders planned to destroy Bokkos, Bot, Fwere Yinti, Washen, Dakanung and other towns and villagers to make the Christmas season worse than that of 2023, "when they massacred over 250 peasant farmers and burned down their settlements." In his warning last month, he called on security authorities in Bokkos and Mangu counties to take urgent note and chase away the large herds of Fulanis and cows. "The villagers in those areas are aware of ripe threats to their lives and properties, whether it is farming or dry season," he said at the time. "The threats of attacks by these Fulanis are real, and their suspicious numbers and movements are proofs that they are planning attacks. A stitch on time saves nine, please all security agents are to take this alert serious as the people appreciate the timely night patrol by the Federal Special Forces last night, but these strange Fulanis numbering uncountable numbers with tens of thousands of cattle need to be dislodged from the BFP area." In response, police announced restrictions of all forms of movements across the local government areas of Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Mangu, Riyom and Bokkos during Christmas and New Year's celebrations. Emmanuel Adesina, Police Commissioner of Plateau State, announced on Dec. 23 that restrictions on movements between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3 were meant to check attacks. "After due consultation with critical stakeholders, the command has put a restriction on night grazing by herders, night farming, night operation of drinking joints, mining activities at night and operation of commercial motorcycles," Adesina said. "We have also banned operation of commercial tricycles, also known as Keke Napep, within the Jos Bukuru metropolis on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1." Adesina said police had been deployed to all 17 local government areas to ensure that there were no threats to the peace, but attacks on Christians followed. Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300. Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report. In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdom's All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report. "They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity," the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians' lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. Christian Daily International-Morning Star News (Photo: Church of England) As the Church of England gears up to appoint a new Archbishop of Canterbury, the female candidates appear to be more able than the male contenders. On January 6, the day Justin Welby stepped down, The Independent newspaper ran an article by Aine Fox, social affairs correspondent with the PA news agency: Who might be the next archbishop of Canterbury? Her front-runners are: Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London; Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford; Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich; Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells; Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester; Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover; and Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Newcastle. Having spent many hours as a freelance journalist since I left C of E ministry in 2019 watching bishops in action at General Synod sessions, at press conferences and in the House of Lords, I would agree with Fox's short-list. I believe these are the candidates the 17-voting-member Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by Lord (Jonathan) Evans, a former director-general of the UK security service MI5, would be likely to consider as having the best leadership ability out of the 42 diocesan bishops of the established Church. But what is striking in this list is the superiority according to modern leadership values of the female candidates. An analysis into why this situation has arisen so starkly in the leadership of the C of E might provide a budding academic with a doctoral thesis. Suffice it to say here that the four women in the running for Archbishop of Canterbury seem to have in greater measure than the three men the qualities that the secular world considers necessary for a primary role force of personality, televisual communications skills and an ability to read the room. Bishop of London Sarah Mullally has had her critics. I criticised her in an article for The Conservative Woman in July 2021 for not being overjoyed enough that Christian people were once again able to sing hymns in church after the ending of the lockdown restrictions. But during Justin Welby's disastrous farewell speech in the House of Lords on December 5 in which he joked that his head was the one required to roll after the Makin Review into the John Smyth abuse scandal, among the bishops sitting on the benches she very clearly registered in her body language the inappropriateness of Welby's tone. Her ability to read the room in this instance gained her plaudits from safeguarding campaigners. But she is not the front-runner for the top job, perhaps because she is too closely associated with the managerialist style of the Welby era. The front-runner in terms of intellect, eloquence and representing the clean break that many in frontline C of E parishes want from perceived bureaucratic bossiness from the centre is the Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani. I have no brief for her theologically. She has consistently acted to ditch the Church's traditional sexual ethic by supporting the introduction of services of same-sex blessing in various General Synod votes since February 2023. But her plenary lecture last September at the Church Times Festival of Preaching at Great St Mary's in Cambridge was a tour de force. She revealed that she had earned herself "a slap on the wrist from central church" for questioning the Archbishops' Council's national "Vision and Strategy" programme to grow new congregations during an address to Chelmsford Diocesan Synod in 2022. She told the St Mary's congregation: "The language of Vision and Strategy risks ignoring the reality of frailty, brokenness, sin - all of which can of course be redeemed, but it risks missing the blessings in that which is small and vulnerable and marginal. It leaves us relying heavily on our own strength, instead of remembering that everything depends on our faithfulness and our reliance upon God." She said to laughter from the audience: "These reflections seemed to chime with a number of people and, to my great surprise, gained a little bit of traction on Twitter (as it was then). I should also say that they earned me a slap on the wrist from central church - who told me that such talk undermines the work of the Vision and Strategy department." Her Iranian background clearly plays well for her in the present cultural climate prizing diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI). She would not only be the first female Archbishop of Canterbury but the first from a non-European ethnic background in the history of the office. But even without her DEI advantage, she would appear to have the political edge over Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who would be the first black Archbishop of Canterbury, and Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, both of whom might be perceived as too confrontational in their approach. Bishop Hudson-Wilkin has been withering in her criticism of the continuing provision for opponents of women bishops in the conservative evangelical and Anglo-Catholic wings of the Church. Bishop Hartley was the one diocesan bishop to call publicly for the resignation of Justin Welby after the publication of the Makin Review in November. I am not arguing that the values of the secular world should drive the choice for Archbishop of Canterbury. But the C of E has turned itself into quite a worldly institution since the 1960s. That is why I believe it is likely to turn to the Bishop of Chelmsford to lead it in present circumstances. Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday. Etienne Laurent A Hollywood script for the firestorm disaster in the Los Angeles region might have seemed far-fetched if pitched for a blockbuster film, with the Sunset Strip ablaze and scenes of residents abandoning their cars and movie stars such as Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, fleeing their homes. Yet, two days after wildfires ignited across the vast urban landscape, the devastation was all too real, the wind-driven infernos oblivious to fame or fortune, insured or uninsured, or the historic importance attached to a particular place, be it near the beach or an hour drive inland. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The firestorm devastated the rich as well as the poor, erasing homes on remote hillsides and in suburban cities, the devastation far from over. About 34,000 acres were scarred as of Thursday afternoon, with at least 9,000 structures burned (including some vehicles) and the estimated damage reaching nearly $60 billion so far. A home burns along Sunset Boulevard during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. MediaNews Group via Getty Images Across the region, schools, mansions, banks, gas stations, iconic restaurants, Will Rogers historic ranch house and entire suburban neighborhoods were erased from the landscape, while the blackened skeletal remains of cars and smoking remains of multimillion-dollar homes dotted along the Pacific Coast Highway stood in stark contrast to picturesque palm trees, white sand and frothy surf that plays host to the rich and famous. Embers flew up to 2 miles ahead of main infernos, igniting spot fires in vegetation and around structures, exponentially increasing the size of each blaze in short periods of time. The Palisades Fire, for example, burned about 3,000 acres in the first 24 hours and then exploded to 16,000 acres in just a few hours Wednesday morning, according to CalFire status reports. By Thursday afternoon it had grown to nearly 20,000 acres, having destroyed more than 5,000 structures, officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley said at a Thursday morning news conference. Ten people have died in the fires, but that will probably increase as missing persons are tallied and searches are conducted through the vast areas that look like a bomb was dropped in them, said L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna. We will be able to bring in canines and other things to help us hopefully not discover too many fatalities, he said Thursday at the media briefing. Thats our prayer. Officials said five people died in the Eaton Fire, in the Altadena and Pasadena areas, which had grown Thursday evening to nearly 14,000 acres and had destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures, officials said. Two deaths were connected to the Palisades Fire. Officials did not disclose which fire killed the other three. Dry offshore Santa Ana winds gusting up to 70 mph are expected through Friday evening and another round of similar conditions are forecast for Monday into Tuesday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There was good news Thursday, as firefighters gained control of the Sunset Fire that started Wednesday evening near Hollywood. The fire triggered mandatory evacuations and threatened famous structures including the Hollywood Bowl. The blaze had scorched 43 acres and continued burning out of control as daylight came, although aircraft water drops had kept the flames from structures and residential areas, with firefighters fully containing the blaze Thursday afternoon, allowing residents and business owners back into the area Thursday morning. The causes of each fire were still not known, although arson investigators were on scene at the Palisades Fire site, officials said. Los Angeles officials said they were better prepared for another onslaught as firefighters from across California and out of state poured into the region, Crowley said. The number of resources assigned to this fire siege event has increased significantly, she added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Palisades Fire at the coast and the Eaton Fire along the San Gabriel Mountains inland, already among the most destructive wildfires in state history, continued to burn out of control Thursday. On Thursday, Paul and Michele Adams walked the 2 miles from a Santa Monica hotel, where they have stayed since evacuating Tuesday, to the Tahitian Terrace mobile home park on an ocean-view bluff in Pacific Palisades. Their home was gone, their Mercedes melted out front. Michele Adams, a harpist, could find only shards of her instruments and the piano next to it. Weve decided to do a daily gratitude list, she said. Weve been focused on what is still here. At least we have each other, her husband said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nearby, Roger Cohn used a rake handle to sift through the ash-covered shrapnel from his girlfriends torched mobile home. Look! he yelled to Lisa Anderson. Moby! she yelled back. The metal whale sculpture, using a pendulum motion, used to jump up and down and spout water. Now it just creaked and grinded. But the loss of stuff was less of a concern than the loss of the Pacific Ocean view she had from her bed for the past three years that she lived there. She had watched her home go up in flames on a live television news broadcast. The stuff is hard. But this is harder, she said, pointing to waves breaking at Will Rogers State Beach just across the Pacific Coast Highway. This was my sanctuary. The couple spent hours digging through the charred debris, hugging and chatting with the neighbors in her tight-knit cul-de-sac. You have to come home and feel it. Put your hands in it, she said. This was the most amazing place. Id wake up in the morning and be grateful every day and watch dolphins. Its like death. As Anderson walked to the front of her property, crunching over dishes and metal screws, she placed a pig figurine onto a concrete barrier. Three of the legs crumbled off. Oh, no! Anderson yelled to her boyfriend, holding up the single-legged pig. Ill fix that, he yelled back. Even as fires continued to burn and others could ignite in the coming days, officials tried to reassure residents across the region, where relatively few were safe from future firestorms. Los Angeles will stand united and stand strong, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in her first firestorm public remarks Thursday. Our priorities are to keep Angelenos safe and to protect homes. This is absolutely an unprecedented, historic firestorm, but we are all hands on deck. Despite the many concerns around generative AI, businesses are continuing to explore the technology and put it into production, the 2025 AI and Data Leadership Executive Benchmark Survey revealed. Generative AI is increasingly being put into production, survey author Randy Bean and Tom Davenport, professor of IT and management at Babson College, observed in this years study. Last year, only 5% of respondents said they had put the technology into production at scale; this year 24% have done so. Early-stage production has also increased, from 25% to 47%. Only 29% are still just experimenting with generative AI, versus 70% in the 2024 study. The study examined AI and generative AI usage in 125 Fortune 1000 organizations. Chief data officers (CDOs), chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs), and chief artificial intelligence officers (CAIO) together made up 91% of survey respondents; 4% held the title of CIO or CTO, and 3% were C-suite execuitves. Most (85%) were in North America. Shutterstock The Charity Commission is investigating a London-based accountancy charity that has failed to submit accounting information over several years. On 10 December, the regulator opened a statutory inquiry into Community Accountancy Self Help (CASH), which provides financial advice and training to small charities and voluntary groups. The regulator said it identified a repeated pattern of failures in submitting accounting information over a number of years. CASH last filed its annual return and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 on 31 January 2021. According to the regulators website, CASHs accounting information for the year ended 2021 is now overdue by more than 1,000 days. Trustees failed to make the necessary provisions In 2018 and 2020, the charity was placed under the commissions double defaulters inquiry, which investigates charities that have failed twice or more over the past five years to submit required accounting information. During its previous engagements with CASH, the commission emphasised trustees statutory duties, noting that the charity, given its purposes, should be setting a good example to the charities to which it offers services. It said: The regulator encouraged the trustees to make the necessary provisions to ensure all future accounting information was filed on time. Despite this extensive engagement, the charity is again in default, having failed to file accounts for years ended March 2021, 2022, and 2023. Scope of the inquiry The regulator will look at the extent to which CASHs trustees have been complying with their legal duties in relation to the administration, governance and management of the charity. It will examine their compliance with their legal obligations for the content, preparation and filing of the charitys accounts and annual returns. In addition, it will determine whether the trustees have been managing CASH in line with its objects and governing document and has a sufficient number of willing and capable trustees. It will also seek to identify whether there has been any misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity. In the year ended 31 March 2020, CASH recorded a total income of just over 101,000 against expenditure of just under 107,000. The charity has two trustees and three volunteers, according to the commissions website. Civil Society has contacted CASH for comment. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The National Trust has announced plans to fundraise more in the next decade than in the previous century as part of its 10-year strategy, which it unveiled today. New fundraising strategies, partnerships with major charities, a new apprenticeship scheme and plans to restore 250,000 more hectares of nature-rich landscapes and peatland all form part of the National Trusts plans . The new measures are the result of the largest public consultation ever carried out by the National Trust, with more than 70,000 people including members, volunteers and industry partners sharing their views. These plans have been published as the National Trust, which is Europes largest conservation charity as well as one of the largest landowners in the UK, celebrates its 130th anniversary. Aim to reach five million more people Although the charity would not give a precise figure for its 10-year fundraising target, it raised 98.1m in the year to February 2024 alone as part of an overall annual income of 724m. To raise more funds, the charity plans to inspire five million more people to give their time, voice or money in support of the charitys goals a figure based on its current membership numbers of around five million. It aims to raise funds through its new Adopt a Plot scheme, in which individuals or groups will be able to sponsor a plot of land within one of the charitys six nature super sites for 7.50 per month. [Adopt a Plot] isnt about encouraging major philanthropists, director of communications Celia Richardson told Civil Society. Its about how many people can we get connected? Richardson said the strategy overall is about helping people feel a little bit more connected to land, even if its not on their doorstep. As a charity which historically has tended to have higher awareness in rural areas among older audiences, she said, it is now increasingly keen to reach a much broader demographic. We need more donors, more advocates and more volunteers, said Richardson. The charity also plans to embrace micro-volunteering, whereby volunteers complete smaller, short-term tasks, which dont require an ongoing commitment. Partnerships with other charities Richardson added that as part of the National Trusts 10-year plan, it is increasingly keen to work in partnership with both larger and smaller charities. There are things that other charities are doing, that we're watching and learning from and collaborating on things like No Mow May, or all the organisations that are doing toad patrols and getting citizens involved in caring for nature, she said. The National Trust is partnering with mental health charity Mind to help address unequal access to nature and the mental health crisis, according to the plan. This new partnership will focus especially on supporting young people with mental health issues to access nature and green spaces. The National Trust is also planning partnerships with Natural England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support 100 towns and cities around England, Wales and Northern Ireland to grow their networks of green spaces, with the strategy being publicly launched this summer. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Before Christmas, Ann Telnaes, an editorial cartoonist at the Washington Post, submitted a drawing that depicted four billionaire media and tech executives and one mouse genuflecting before Donald Trump, shown standing on a garlanded dais. The cartoon, Telnaes wrote last weekend, was inspired by recent reports of men with lucrative government contracts and an interest in eliminating regulations making their way to Mar-a-Lago to visit Trump in the wake of his election win in November. (The mouse in the cartoon, Mickey, was a symbolic stand-in for the Walt Disney Company, the owner of ABC News, which recently paid sixteen million dollars to settle a defamation case brought by Trump despite many observers feeling that the network could successfullyand certainly shouldhave fought on.) The cartoon, however, never appeared in the Post, an outcome that Telnaes attributed to the fact that one of the billionaires she caricatured was Jeff Bezos, the papers owner. Ive never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at, Telnaes wrote. And so she decided to quit. I doubt my decision will cause much of a stir and that it will be dismissed because Im just a cartoonist, she added. But I will not stop holding truth to power. The decision did cause a stir in media circlesindeed, it was perceived as exacerbating a crisis that has roiled the Post ever since Bezos made the decision, shortly before the election, to block the papers editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris, Trumps rival. Bezos presented that move as downstream of concerns about trust in journalism, but many observers suspected, given the timing, that he was trying to curry favor with Trump given his voluminous outside business interests (and Trumps threats to use the power of the state to go after his perceived enemies)including, apparently, many Post subscribers, some three hundred thousand of whom reportedly canceled in the wake of the scrapped endorsement. Since then, negative headlines have cascaded out of the paper: the reported reluctance of top candidates to take on the Posts chief editorial job; an exodus of celebrated political reporters to rival publications; sharp layoffs on the business side of the paper; Telnaess resignation. To be sure, these developments are traceable to a financial and leadership malaise at the Post that is much broader than concerns about Bezossian conflicts of interest. After Telnaes quit, David Shipley, the Posts editorial page editor, said that he hadnt nixed her cartoon out of any malign force, insisting, rather, that it had been too thematically similar to text-based articles that were slated to run around the same time. (The only bias was against repetition, he said.) Still, as with Bezoss claims about the Harris editorial, there are reasons to be skeptical of this assertion. At the very least, the optics, as they say, are very bad. The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists certainly wasnt buying it: in a statement, the group said that corporate billionaires once again have brought an editorial cartoon to life with their craven censorship in bowing to a wannabe tyrant. As the week progressed, Telnaess cartoon would appear to come to life again and again, as more stories emerged that were interpreted as genuflection on the part of its protagonists. (Sadly, Mickey Mouse remains a cartoon for now.) One of those involved Bezos again: the day after Telnaes resigned, we learned that the video arm of Amazon, the company Bezos founded, would distribute a documentary about Trumps wife, Melania, made by Brett Ratner, a director who has mostly been sidelined since he was accused of sexual abuse during the #MeToo moment. (He denies the claims.) Per Puck, Amazon is set to pay forty million dollars to license the project. Then, on Tuesday, Mark Zuckerbergthe CEO of Meta, who was also depicted in Telnaess cartoon amid reports that he went to Mar-a-Lago to dine with Trump and stood for a rendition of the national anthem recorded by jailed January 6ersannounced what looked like a major volte-face on his companys approach to moderating content: Meta will wrap up its partnerships with third-party fact-checkersa signal commitment of the early Trump era, with its perhaps utopian hope of inoculating social media against the rampant spread of liesand instead move toward a crowdsourced system of user feedback similar to the one implemented by Elon Musk, the billionaire turned explicit Trump ally, after he acquired Twitter and turned it into X. Just as the current crisis at the Post isnt only about Bezoss decision to block the Harris endorsement, Zuckerbergs announcement cannot entirely be reduced to raw power politicsonline content moderation, ultimately, is a more thorny and contentious matter than bromides about fact-checking saving democracy would allow. Some free speech groups and tech-watchers applauded Zuckerbergs direction of travel. Mike Masnick, of Techdirt, wrote that he is exactly right that Meta has been really bad at content moderation, despite having the largest content moderation team out there. In many ways, though, Zuckerbergs announcement was clearly about raw power politics. The timing of all of this is obviously political, Masnick wrote. It is very clearly Zuckerberg caving to more threats from Republicans. Not that we need to take Masnicks word for it: Zuckerberg may have styled his decision as a return to Metas supposed pro-free-speech roots (which never really existed, as Masnick likewise deftly notes), but he also said that Metas fact-checking partners had become too politically biased (echoing a common right-wing talking point), that the companys restrictions on topics like immigration and gender had become out of touch with mainstream discourse (echoing another), and that Trumps election was a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech. In case you didnt get the point yet, Zuckerberg also promised to move Metas content-moderation staff from California to Texas (on the sophomoric-at-best, nonsensical-at-worst grounds that this will somehow alleviate concerns about bias), and dispatched Joel Kaplana Republican recently promoted to become Metas policy chiefto the studios of Fox & Friends to roll the pitch. (Among those who interpreted all this as Zuckerberg kowtowing to Donald Trump was Donald Trump: asked whether he thought Zuckerberg was responding to Trumps past threats against him, Trump replied, Probably.) Meta is not the news media, but its latest policy change will clearly have ramifications for our industry. (For starters, many newsroom fact-checking initiatives have received financial support from Meta, the withdrawal of which is unlikely to be good for their free speech.) Of the other billionaires depicted in Telnaess cartoon, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, isnt a media mogul either, in the classic sensebut he also has immense power within the news media business as a result of the disruptive technology his company makes and the deals it has done with various traditional publishers. Challenged by Bloomberg this week on his decision to donate to Trumps inaugural fund, Altman cast the move not as pro-Trump but pro-America. The other billionaire in Telnaess cartoon, the medical entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong, is, like Bezos, the owner of a major newspaper, in this case the LA Times. Writing for CJR this week, Norman Pearlstine, who served as that papers executive editor under Soon-Shiong, recalled that, despite occasional disagreements, Soon-Shiong never meddled editorially on his watch. Last year, however, Soon-Shiong also blocked his papers editorial board from endorsing Harris; he has since been accused of various edicts that appear aimed at curbing the opinion sections critical coverage of Trump, while making publicly supportive comments about several of Trumps nominees for key health-focused roles. Soon-Shiong seems to have shown no concern that his comments have had an unmistakable chilling effect on the Times newsroom, Pearlstine writes. Pearlstines wider point in his essay is that billionaire owners have proven themselves unreliable stewards of news media organizations whose primary commitment is to the public interest: The truth may not matter to the wealthy owners and CEOs who are treating Trump as much like a pope as a president, Pearlstine wrote (channeling the spirit of Telnaess cartoon), but journalists must redouble our efforts to expose every conflict of interest, every lie, and every threat to democracy. He also offered a note of hope, pointing out that America has lived with popular demagogues before and that, over time, truth prevailed. To this end, Pearlstine cited the defiant work of Herbert Block, or Herblock, a long-serving editorial cartoonist at the Washington Post. Telnaes, of course, performed that role, too. Whatever the ins and outs of her departure, she is now gone. Sign up for CJRs daily email For now, Telnaes is continuing to hold truth to power on her Substack. The Post, for its part, has continued to publish good journalism on both its news and opinion pages; so, too, has the LA Times, which won widespread praise among media-watchers this week for its essential coverage of devastating wildfires that continue to rage in the area. Billionaire ownership hasnt yet put an end to critical coverage; a generous observer might even say that it has enabled it. But these billionaires recent behavior has cast a hulking shadow that is at best a shameful distraction and at worst an outright threat. I remain in major awe of my colleagues, Hannah Wiley, a reporter at the LA Times, wrote on X yesterday, of the fire coverage. For those who cancelled their subscription in the last year in protest of whatever, I urge you to take a look at our homepage and argue that this work isnt worth supporting. You can find the LA Times live blog on the fires here, and Pearlstines CJR essay here. Other notable stories: In November, Amazons video arm ventured into live news coverage for the first time, hosting a bizarre election special that featured anchor Brian Williams talking with pundits and interviewees while seated in front of a wraparound backdrop that smushed together symbols of Americana. (I wrote a little bit about the setup; the Posts Lili Loofbourow went into more detail in a piece that is still worth a read.) Now Varietys Brian Steinberg reports that Amazon may not be done with live news after drawing encouragement from the election special; the company is unlikely to set up a permanent news division, and its plans remain at a very early stage, but it could run further specials pegged to specific events on a project-by-project basis. For CJR, Howard Polskinthe author of TheRighting, a free newsletter aimed at keeping mainstream and progressive audiences up to speed with what right-wing media is talking aboutreflects on losing subscribers after Trump won reelection, and whether it portends a much broader desire among some audiences to shut out news about the incoming administration. Several of Polskins departing readers said that they were also canceling subscriptions to major mainstream outlets and switching off TV newsthough Polskins remaining readers seem more engaged with his output than before, while donations to support his work have increased. In 2016, Edgar Maddison Welch, a North Carolina man, fired a gun inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington pizza restaurant thataccording to the viral right-wing conspiracy theory that would come to be known as Pizzagatewas the center of a child abuse ring orchestrated by Hillary Clinton. Welch later expressed regret for his actions, and was sentenced to four years in prison. Over the weekend, police in North Carolina shot Welch after he pulled out a gun during a traffic stop; earlier this week, he died as a result of his injuries. The Charlotte Observer has more details. And Nieman Labs Joshua Benton dug into Rupert Murdochs largely forgotten Democratic primary endorsement of Jimmy Carter via the pages of the New York Post in 1980an episode that became wrapped up in claims that Murdoch was seeking favorable government treatment for an Australian airline that he owned. Carter is now dead, and Murdoch is ninety-three and feuding with his kids, but if the past two months tell us anything, he neednt worry, Benton writes. Theres a whole generation of self-serving billionaires coming up behind him, ready to follow his lead. Editors note: This story has been updated with new AccuWeather total loss estimates. With aerial firefighting returning as strong Southern California winds died down for a bit, damage assessments from a handful of destructive Los Angeles area blazes are sure to become clearerlikely pushing up billion-dollar-plus insured loss estimates put forth from fires that are only three days old. What isnt clear is the air, which is thick with choking smoke in areas throughout Southern California. Also unclear is just how many homes have been lost and the magnitude of insured losses. Insured loss estimates currently range from $8 to $20 billion. Reports on the number of structures burned continue to rise too quickly to put out an accurate count that lasts beyond a quick read. Early Thursday reports stated more than 1,300 structures were reported to have burned, and by mid-morning Pacific Time there were reports that more than 2,000 structures in the Pacific Palisades fire alone have been destroyed. Related: California Wildfires Will Likely Lead to Large Economic and Insured Losses Thousands more structures are threatened by at least five fires across the bone-dry area, which hasnt received any large rainstorms since the spring and early summer of 2024. The fires have torched more than 45 square miles and forced the evacuation orders for more than 180,000 residents. Five people are reported dead. Winds in the 80-mph range have driven the size fires in just a few days. Related: Los Angeles Fires Become Existential Test for Californias Stopgap Insurer The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The Santa Ana winds driving the fires occur periodically, but the current wind conditions have been exceptionally strong. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday gave hope for more effective firefighting efforts, saying that reduced winds were enabling aerial water drops to resume. That may lead to new loss estimates soon, which have already been strikingly high considering the fires have only been burning for just over two days. Related: Thousands Flee From Uncontrolled Wildfires Burning Near Los Angeles AccuWeather on Wednesday issued a preliminary estimate for the total damage and economic loss that ranges from $52 billion to $57 billion. The weather service on Thursday afternoon increased its preliminary estimate to between $135 billion and $150 billion. Preliminary estimates point to total insured losses exceeding $8 billion depending on the final number of properties being affected by the wildfires, Morningstar DBRS Research said on Thursday. Jon Schneyer, director of catastrophe response for property intelligence firm CoreLogic, cautioned about issuing estimates, but he said he wouldnt be surprised to see the insured loss figure rise to $10 billion. He used the 2018 Campfire as a baseline. The Southern California fire burned 18,804 structures and resulted in roughly $10 billion in insured losses at the time. The reconstruction cost of homes in the Camp Fire ranged around $500,000. The ongoing blazes are in areas with multiple $1 million properties, and Schneyer said hes seeing assessed values of homes in the Palisades Fire at around $10 million. Ten billion dollars is a pretty good baseline number to go on, he said. Now, thats not modeled. We have not calculated model loss given that the fires are still raging. In 12 hours, I could be dead wrong. The figures could easily be higher. Verisk is estimating the insured exposure from properties in the burn area of the Palisades Fire at $15 billion. From the latest perimeter issued by Calfire as of Thursday morning, Verisk estimates that at least $15 billion in insurable exposure lies within the Palisades fire perimeter and is therefore potentially at risk, the firm stated in a note sent out to the media. Please note that this is not an estimate of insured or economic losses, but just an estimate of property value that could be damaged by the Palisades fire. While its unclear just how many properties have been lost in the Palisades Fire, indications are that it could be at least 1,000 have been damaged for destroyed. ICEYE analyzed more than 5,000 buildings in the area of the fire and found that more than 1,500 of the buildings are likely damaged. The Wall Street Journal is reporting insured losses for all the fires could cost insurers $20 billion. Without putting numbers on insured losses, the Palisades Fire will likely make history, said Dan Ward, atmospheric scientist for modeler Karen Clark & Company. Our view is that the Palisades Fire will probably be the costliest wildfire in Southern California history and its possible that its the costliest in U.S. history, Ward said. He said the modeler is not offering insured loss estimates yet, but that it plans to do so. Even with the losses mounting, Morningstar DBRS said it expects the wildfires to have a negative but manageable impact on major property insurers active in the California market. Morningstar said the impact should be somewhat mitigated by their use of reinsurance and their high degree of diversification. Similarly, losses should be manageable for the global reinsurance industry and not affect their credit profiles. Moodys has also estimated the losses in the billions, but it said theyll be well spread out among the industry. We would expect insured losses to run in the billions of dollars given the high value of homes and businesses in the impacted areas, stated Jasper Cooper, vice president-senior credit officer, Moodys Ratings. Losses will be shared among standard homeowners insurers, insurers specializing in high-value E&S homeowners policies, and the California FAIR plan. In addition, commercial property losses could be significant. The biggest fire is Palisades Fire north of Los Angeles. It has grown to cover nearly 17,234 acres. The Eaton Fire in Altadena has burned more than 10,600 acres and local officials are reporting the blaze has destroyed nearly 1,000 structures. Both fires are 0% contained, according to CalFire. The Hurst Fire north of San Fernando has burned 671 acres and is 10% contained. The 348-acre Lidia Fire in the Canyons near Acton is 40% contained. The Sunset Fire, which broke out Wednesday evening in Hollywood Hills and is threatening local landmarks, is 43 acres and is 0% contained. The rapid spread of the fires is whats making battling the blazes tough, and its whats making loss estimates so difficult to put a finger on. Schneyer with CoreLogic said he looked at the number of structures within the Palisades Fire perimeter at 2 a.m. EST and identified 1,600 structures. Twelve hours later that was 9,700 structures within the wildfire perimeter, so its changing quite rapidly, and thats just for one of the fires, Schneyer said. Going forward, he said better modeling could help the states insurance market in situations like this. Until now, the states landmark insurance law, Proposition 103, has prevented insurers from using catastrophe models as a ratemaking factor. As wildfires have worsened in the state in recent yearsCalFire data shows that seven of the states 10 most destructive wildfires have occurred in the last 10 yearscarriers began pulling back from the states homeowners market, blaming wildfire losses as well as regulations. They also began requesting steep rate increases. State Farm applied for large rate increases in California, a year after the carrier got rate approvals of 7% and 20%. The insurer, the largest in California, insures nearly one-in-five homes in the state. It recently requested a 30% rate increase for its homeowners line, a 52% rate increase for renters and 36% rate increase for condo coverage. Allstate, which stopped issuing new California homeowners insurance policies in 2022, is seeking an increase in its California homeowners insurance premiums by an average of 34%. It would be the largest rate increase this year and would impact more than 350,000 policyholders. In response, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara introduced his so-called Sustainable Insurance Strategy to increase coverage in wildfire-distressed areas of the state. Lara in December announced a catastrophe modeling and ratemaking regulation that will allow carriers to use the models as a factor in setting and getting rates. Under Laras new regulation, major insurance companies must increase the writing of comprehensive policies in wildfire distressed areas equivalent to no less than 85% of their statewide market share. Smaller and regional insurance companies must also increase their writing. That fact that L.A.s flash conflagration is a function of the Santa Ana winds is being well reported, but Karen Clark & Companys Ward said there were three main ingredients that made the unfolding catastrophe. First, abundant vegetation buildup, so lots of fuel available in this part of California. It was a very rainy 2023, and in the first part of 2024 as well, and that builds up all this fuel, the chaparral in this area, which is very flammable, he said. A wet 2023 and early 2024 was followed by an extremely dry fall. Essentially there has not been any rainfall in that part of the state going back to the summer, so you have plentiful and dry fuel, Ward said. And the final ingredient is the most important and that of course is the unusually intense and persistent Santa Ana wind event that began earlier this week and brought extremely high winds to the entire L.A. County area. Santa Ana winds are not unusual in California this time of year. The difference this time was how strong the winds were, with gusts exceeding hurricane forces, as well as how widespread the winds were. It wasnt a localized event, it really covered the entire Los Angeles area, Ward said. The last time we had a Santa Ana wind event of this magnitude impacting L.A. was back in 2011. Top photo: The Palisades Fire started in the Los Angeles area on Jan 7, 2025. Source: CalFire. As 2025 begins with wildfires wreaking devastation across Los Angeles, its now clear that insured losses from natural catastrophes last year soared to the highest since 2017. At $140 billion, insured losses globally were more than double the 30-year average of roughly $60 billion, according to industry data compiled by Munich Re and published in a report on Thursday. Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which ripped through the US, ended up being the costliest natural disasters of 2024, the report shows. And this year may already be on track to exceed those losses, as wildfires in the Los Angeles area threaten to be the most financially damaging in history. Related: Insured Losses From Los Angeles Wildfires Rising: $8B to $20B Blazes burning around Santa Monica and Malibu are consuming some of the most pricey real estate in the US, affecting areas where the median home value is more than $2 million, according to AccuWeather Inc. The disaster will likely cause between $52 billion to $57 billion in damage and economic loss, the company said. Fires, along with floods and severe thunderstorms, are whats known in the insurance industry as non-peak perils, which scientists say are more likely to intensify in tandem with climate change. As a risk category, theyve also proved harder to offload to capital markets in the form of products such as catastrophe bonds than peak perils like hurricanes. Non-peak risks have increased significantly and have accounted for a steadily increasing share of insured losses from natural catastrophes in recent years, Tobias Grimm, Munich Res chief climate scientist, said in an interview. Related: Los Angeles Fires Become Existential Test for Californias Stopgap Insurer The overall increase in natural catastrophes has coincided with a rapid rise in temperatures. Last year was the planets hottest on record, with the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service recording a global average of 1.62C above pre-industrial levels in November, breaching the critical threshold of 1.5C. Science has become more certain that climate change plays a crucial role in making weather disasters more frequent and more extreme, Grimm said. Climate change is now upending what had once been considered weather norms. Last year, extreme flooding in Dubai and in Spains Valencia region, where more than 200 people died, led to billions of dollars in insurance losses. Dubai, for example, isnt exactly considered a hot spot for flooding, Grimm said. Hurricanes Were Costliest Natural Catastrophes in 2024 Grimm said its clear that higher temperatures have led to the more frequent occurrence of intense rainfall, while theres a greater incidence of tropical cyclones rapidly picking up in force as they develop. Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida in October, caused $25 billion of insured losses. It narrowly missed the densely populated Tampa metropolitan area, avoiding a scenario that would have triggered considerably more destruction. Just weeks earlier, Hurricane Helene resulted in $16 billion in losses. Overall damages from natural disasters reached $320 billion last year, the most since 2021, according to the Munich Re report. Weather catastrophes were responsible for 93% of overall losses, and for 97% of insured losses. About 11,000 people lost their lives as a result of natural disasters in 2024, the reinsurer said. Insurers have tended to respond to the surge in extreme weather events by retreating from some areas deemed too risky to cover. Grimm said every risk can be insured if you get the right premiums. Munich Re doesnt generally exclude any regions from insurance because of climate change, he said. Top photo: Destroyed homes after Hurricane Milton in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2024. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. A unit of French energy company TotalEnergies agreed to pay $5 million to settle claims by U.S. energy regulators that it and some of its traders allegedly manipulated the natural gas market in 2009-2012. The settlement is much smaller than the $214 million the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had sought from TotalEnergies Total Energies Gas & Power North America (TGPNA) unit and some of its traders. To fully resolve the claims and allegations, the TotalEnergies unit agreed to pay $5 million in restitution to certain agreed-upon non-governmental organizations, FERC said in an order on Wednesday. The order was neither an admission of liability by the TotalEnergies unit nor a concession by FERC Enforcement that its claims are not well-founded, FERC said. TGPNA is pleased with the settlement agreement approved by FERC that fully resolves FERCs investigation into some of TGPNAs gas-trading activities more than ten years ago, a spokesperson at TotalEnergies said. The settlement dismisses all of (FERC) Enforcements claims and allegations with prejudice. From the start, TGPNA had consistently stated that it acted lawfully and TGPNA is pleased to put this matter behind (it), the spokesperson said. In 2015, FERC alleged the TotalEnergies unit made intentionally losing trades known as uneconomic trading in order to affect index prices in the U.S. Southwest on at least 38 occasions between June 2009 and June 2012. Those losses would be offset by larger gains on other related positions, FERC said. It was one of a series of so-called loss leader, or leveraged trading strategies, that FERC has pursued over the past couple of decades in which traders lose money in one market to benefit larger positions in a benchmark or other financial index. (Reporting by DiSavino; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Deepa Babington) Three days after the fire began raging in the Pacific Palisades of Los Angeles, only 8% of it has been contained and residents are still required to stay away from the wealthy enclave. But some are ignoring the mandatory evacuation orders, slipping past roadblocks and witnessing the devastation firsthand. Others are having to find out the status of their homes from afar via social media footage, news reports or drone images. Related: Insured Losses From Los Angeles Wildfires Rising: $8B to $20B Whatever the source, the picture that is emerging is clear: Entire neighborhoods leveled. Homes from cozy cottages to lavish beachfront villas reduced to ash. Schools gutted. And along the commercial corridor, buildings from the Gelsons supermarket to the local Starbucks in ruins. Darrin Hurwitz, a 49-year-old lawyer who lives in the Palisades, is staying with his family about 50 miles away from LA while they await official confirmation if their house was destroyed. But based on video footage and media reports, he says hes pretty certain that its gone. He had moved with his family to the area only a year and a half ago, charmed by its beauty, hiking trails and sense of community. I love the Palisades, you know, its paradise, he said. But I dont know that we are those people that are going to want to invest the next five to 10 years of our lives to building our dream house in an area that you know is increasingly at risk of wildfire and other natural disasters. Firefighters Battle Blazes Across Los Angeles Hurwitzs concern points to how the fires that have utterly devastated the Pacific Palisades and other enclaves across LA will reshape the city long after the last embers of the blazes burn out. The Palisades fire, stretched across an area larger than Manhattan and where the median home price approaches $4 million, has damaged or destroyed more than 5,000 structures. The high value of real estate in the community sets up the prospect of a crisis for insurers, who have been increasingly pulling out of areas prone to climate disasters. Related: California Wildfires Will Likely Lead to Large Economic and Insured Losses Rick Caruso, the billionaire owner of the Palisades Village, a high-end shopping center that narrowly escaped the worst of the flames, expressed disbelief at the scale of the devastation. Most of the downtown is gone, whole sections of neighborhoods are gone, Caruso told Fox News. Whats amazing to me is how widespread the devastation that this could happen in a relatively short period of time. The death toll from all of the Los Angeles-area fires climbed to 10 overnight, including at least two in the Palisades fire. Investigators, often working with cadaver-sniffing dogs, are just beginning to search many of the burned homes. The fallout in Pacific Palisades known for its hiking trails, canyons and beachfront splendor has sent the community of roughly 27,000 people reeling. Los Angeles employers with residents in the affected areas have scrambled to make accommodations, offering hotel rooms, remote work options and human resources support. Katie Koch, the chief executive officer of asset manager TCW Group Inc., based in downtown Los Angeles, posted a message of support to employees on LinkedIn, calling the fires truly devastating and heartbreaking. Related: Los Angeles Fires Become Existential Test for Californias Stopgap Insurer With it came a poignant note of personal impact: She too lost her house in the fire. A number of our team members have been displaced and several have lost their homes completely, my family included, she wrote. Even after the fires are contained and the devastation can be assessed, the recovery process is certain to be long for both the LA area and many among our TCW family. From CEOs to longtime residents to Hollywood stars, the blazes have been unsparing. Celebrities including actors Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes and James Woods lost their homes. Paris Hilton posted a social-media video Thursday showing the ruins of her familys house. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who lives in the area, described the destruction during an emotional appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night. Its a catastrophe in southern California, she said as her voice cracked. As of Friday morning, the Palisades Fire had spread to more than 20,000 acres. Another massive fire, the Eaton blaze, stretched out over almost 14,000 acres, destroying an estimated 5,000 structures. Local officials at press briefings struggled to convey how much the conflagrations, whipped by strong winds Tuesday night, were unlike any they had seen before. This firestorm is the big one, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a press briefing Wednesday. I have seen the frontlines of the Palisades fire, and it is staggering. Beyond the human trauma of destroyed residences and businesses, the fires are a reminder of the financial costs of the climate crisis for insurers and homeowners. Last year, Californias largest property insurer, State Farm General Insurance Co., canceled 69% of its policies in Pacific Palisades 90272 ZIP code. Thats forced some residents to rely on the state-funded FAIR plan, where policies in that same ZIP code grew 85% between 2023 and 2024. The Pacific Palisades housing market had been outperforming many areas in the region, with sales in the main ZIP code surging 19% in the third quarter, according to Jonathan Miller, the head of appraisal firm Miller Samuel Inc. The median sales price was $3.79 million, he said. What will be surprising in the aftermath will be the high number of homes that didnt have sufficient insurance coverage, Miller said. Coastal locations that have been subjected to drought and high winds, no matter how wealthy their occupants are, are fair game for wildfires. Top photo: A burned Gelsons in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Lisa Anderson reacts Thursday while trying to recover items from her home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Insurance is designed to help victims of natural disasters like wildfires get back on their feet. But its also a complicated process that can leave you feeling overwhelmed after dealing with the experience of losing your home to a wildfire. Both consumer advocates and industry experts advise that policyholders should approach the claims process as a negotiation: ask questions, keep receipts and try to get as much money as you can. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People are used to negotiating with contractors or plumbers or electricians, but they arent used to negotiating with the insurance company. If you have that frame of mind, it will often go smoother, because youll think to ask questions, said Janet Ruiz, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group. Here are key steps experts recommend: Figure out what youre covered for An important first step to getting as much money as possible out of your insurance policy is figuring out the terms of your policy, Ruiz said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If you dont have your policy documents accessible, contact your insurance broker to email you a copy, Ruiz advised. Your broker should also be able to walk you through your coverage limits for different categories of expenses. The California Department of Insurances website provides a breakdown of different types of coverage your policy may include. Insurance can cover evacuation costs As you rent a hotel room, pay for meals or even put down a security deposit on a temporary rental property, save your receipts. Your insurance policy may include reimbursement for these costs. If your insurance policy provides coverage for additional living expenses (ALE) or loss of use, also known as Coverage D, you may be able to use this coverage to pay for a variety of expenses associated with being a wildfire survivor. The consumer advocacy group United Policyholders provides a list of different expenses that could be paid for using ALE or a coverage category called loss of use. This coverage will not reimburse you for losses that would have occurred if a wildfire hadnt happened, according to United Policyholder. For example, you cannot use ALE or loss of use coverage for your mortgage payments, the group advises. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ALE policies may vary per company and policy, according to Ruiz. Some insurers may be willing to provide upfront payments, while others may require documentation of the money you spend. Ruiz suggested survivors should contact their insurance company as soon as possible to get a living expense claim. Doing so will make it easier to get reimbursements as soon as possible so you dont have to cut more into your own savings. Document as much as possible When its safe to return to your property, document as much as possible. Having photographs and videos of whats left can help as you make a list of what you lost, which will help down the road with getting reimbursements from your insurance company, Ruiz said. In order to get payments for the personal contents you lose, your insurance company may ask you to make a detailed list of what you lost, how old it was and how much you paid for it, according to United Policyholders. The organization offers a sample inventory sheet online. When youre ready, going through past photos of your home can help you remember and document what was inside. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ruiz warned that survivors returning to their property for the first time should wear masks before sifting through wildfire debris to prevent inhaling harmful particles. (Los Angeles fire officials have gone further, with Mark Pestrella, director of Los Angeles County Public Works, warning residents that it is not safe to touch the debris.) Consider getting multiple loss estimates, but be aware of the expenses After a disaster, your insurance company will provide you with an estimate of what they believe they owe you. This may either be the depreciated value of your property or the estimated cost of replacing it, based on your policy terms. But remember: The claims process is a negotiation. United Policyholders advises getting at least two estimates of your own from licensed contractors to make sure your insurance companys estimate isnt too low, while the Department of Insurance recommends getting at least one. You might also consider working with a public adjuster who can help you come up with an estimate of what youre owed under your insurance policy and negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But be aware that these public adjusters will take a portion of your claims payment as payment for their services, according to Ruiz. If you do get a public adjuster involved, all communication with your insurance company will have to take place through the adjuster, she said. If you do work with an adjuster, make sure that theyre properly licensed. You can do so by calling the Department of Insurances hotline at 800-927-4357 or checking online. If you lost multiple properties in the fire, or have a complex situation, that may make it more worthwhile to pay to work with a public adjuster, Ruiz said. Be wary of potential fraud On Wednesday, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he had sent a Department of Insurance enforcement team out to monitor for potential fraud. Avoid giving out unnecessary personal information or accepting help from contractors or public adjusters until you can verify theyre licensed and reputable. You should not work with anyone who approaches you as the fires are still burning, or right after theyre put out, according to Ruiz. Department of Insurance policy requires licensed public adjusters to wait a few weeks before soliciting business from wildfire survivors, she said. My department and I are committed to ensuring your claims are honored and that you receive the services you contracted for with your insurance company, Lara said in a statement. Please do not sign any documents under duress, and be wary of out-of-state adjusters making false promises. Dont rush into any decision making The process of filing a claim after a major wildfire is long and can be arduous, and the expenses associated with being a wildfire survivor can quickly rack up. But United Policyholders advises that the people should avoid accepting the first settlement an insurance company offers and try to get as much money as possible. You also shouldnt rush into major financial decisions right after the fire, such as paying off your mortgage immediately or buying a new home elsewhere, which can impact how much money you might get from an insurance company. Survivors of past fires have advised its not a good idea to begin rebuilding until you have all the money in hand to get it done. If your insurance doesnt end up paying out what you expected it to, or government financial assistance doesnt come through, you may end up finding yourself without enough money to finish construction. Seek outside help if you feel youve been treated unfairly CLEVELAND, Ohio Here at Classic CLE Eats & Drinks HQ, we get a lot of positive reader email about our local nosh and tipple suggestions, leads to chase that feel essential and memories unlocked by your column. As we begin teeing some of these up for 2025, one email stood out in particular: Are there classics that dont have a specific personal story attached to them? Things that stand on their own as must-eat and must-drink items in Northeast Ohio that are quite specific to us? Actually, yes. I have pocketsful of gastronomic delights that are quite memorable that dont have a specific story or memory tied to them. It got me to thinking: no better time than the present to start sharing them! Without further ado, heres the first installment of Classic CLE capsule reviews. Well serve these up capsule reviews in ten-packs. Go out into the world, find these favorites, make your own memories with them and report back. We know youll love them and will understand why theyre worthy of being called classics: Sunnyside Pizza Bright Side When Sam McNultys Bar Cento/Bier Markt rebranded, fans of their runny eggs n pancetta pizza rejoiced when they saw it on the new menu. The Sunnyside was on every local best of list you could find in print. These days, its a lot more common for taverns to roll out uncommon pizza toppings, but this was a trailblazer and remains a CLE classic. 1948 W. 25th St., brightsidecle.com Bravocado Sandwich Beet Jar Brah. Bruh. Bro. You dont need meat for an epic sandwich. Beet Jar, Hingetowns hot little smoothie shop and juice bar, takes a vegan sandwich idea into the stratosphere with coconut bacon, cashew mayo, tangy sourdough bread... this is a flavor-and-texture bomb with bravado and cado to spare! 1432 W. 29th St., Cleveland, beetjar.com This is the Al Pastor taco, a barbecue pork taco, available at the La Plaza Taqueria at 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Cleveland. (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer) Lisa DeJong/The Plain DealerLisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer Al Pastor Tacos La Plaza After tallying reader votes, the Best of Cleveland team knew these amazing Mexican-style tacos would place. Their toppings bar, which has cilantro, salsa and more takes delicious simplicity into salty, sweet, sour, fat, spice and umami heights. Pineapple on tacos? Bring it. Various locations, plazataqueria.com Lou & Hys Cheesecake Nikos Sandwich Board Nikos is in the same plaza where the Akron Lou & Hys shop once stood. They recreated this Akron classic after finding the recipe in a newspaper. Its fluffier than a standard slice is (thanks to flour!) with texture more like basque cheesecake. I need to start thumbing through my Moms old cookbooks, man. Gotta be a goldmine in there, too. 947 W Market St #104, Akron, nikossandwichboard.com Grilled seafood sausage with lobster, white fish, scallops, shrimp and pine nuts with shallot beurre blanc at Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute, Shaker Square. The stuff that dreams are made of.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com Seafood Sausage Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute It doesnt get more decadently French than this! A rich blend of lobster, white fish, scallops, shrimp and pine nuts as a sausage? If that doesnt cinch the deal immediately, the shallot beurre blanc surely does. Begs for crusty bread. 13101 Shaker Square, Cleveland, edwinsrestaurant.org The Bittner Taggarts Ice Cream This retro-inspired parlor has scooping for a century. The Bittner brings together house-made chocolate sauce, butterfat ice cream and twice-salted salted pecans. Love a DQ Peanut Buster Parfait? Adore butter pecan scoops? Prepare to meet your new boss. Wonder Twin powers, activate! 1401 Fulton Rd. NW, Canton, taggartsicecream.com Chicken Piccata Guarinos Restaurant Clevelands oldest restaurant churns out homemade Italian dishes like theyre going out of style. Youd be hard-pressed to find a better chicken piccata (flecked by capers, roasted red peppers and a lemony sauce) anywhere else in CLE. And if youve found it, we know youll write and tell us. 12309 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, guarinoscleveland.com A bowl of award-winning chili from Forest City Brewery is located at 2135 Columbus Rd. in Cleveland - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com Chili Forest City Brewery Your Best of Cleveland team was surprised Gertys Chili at Rays Place in Kent missed the cut in 2023. But when we got a taste of this magical concoction? Hoo boy. Forest Citys chili is like nothing else in town. Col. Sanders secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices has nothing on this mysterious CLE Classic recipe. Brilliant simplicity meets complex flavor. Go hit a bowl. 2135 Columbus Rd., Cleveland. forestcitybrewery.com Stilton Cheddar Soup Great Lakes Brewing Co. Things cycle in and out of this stalwart brewpubs tavern menu, but if anyone dared remove this liquid gold from it, theres little doubt that a riot would ensue. Two namesake cheeses are roux-ed together with Dortmunder Gold beer to addictive effect. A side cup joins their Bavarian pretzels for dipping, too. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland, greatlakesbrewing.com JoJos Potatoes Fiesta Pizza & Chicken and Gioninos (tie) Even Samwise Gamgee (any Lord of the Rings nerds in the house?) knows Summit County pizza comes with fried chicken and thick-cut poh-tay-toe wedges! Fiesta claims they introduced jojos to Akron in 1963. Seasoned, breaded and deep fried, oh my! Love Gioninos jojos, too! Would you think less of me if I told you I dip them in the garlic butter sauce? Various locations, fiestapizzaandchicken.com gioninos.com What Classic CLE Eats & Drinks do it for you? Why? Email: pchakerian@cleveland.com. COLUMBUS, OhioGov. Mike DeWine says hell probably announce his appointee to Ohios newly open U.S. Senate seat sometime next week. DeWines comments, made to reporters Thursday night alongside other Republican governors at President-elect Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, came shortly after Republican JD Vance of Cincinnati formally submitted his letter of resignation from the Senate as he prepares to be sworn in as vice president on Jan. 20. Kunming enters best season to observe black-headed gulls Xinhua) 10:31, January 10, 2025 Tourists feed black-headed gulls at the Haigeng Dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist feeds black-headed gulls at the Haigeng Dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist takes photos of a black-headed gull at the Haigeng Dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist poses for photos with black-headed gulls at Haihong Wetland Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist feeds black-headed gulls at Haihong Wetland Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) Tourists pose for photos with black-headed gulls at Haihong Wetland Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. The Palisades Fire is seen from the air Saturday morning, January 11, 2025, looking toward the Encino and Tarzana neighborhoods. Bronte Wittpenn / The Chronicle For a fifth day straight, several wildfires continued to rage Saturday in Los Angeles County. Several additional Santa Ana wind events were predicted through Tuesday, possibly longer. At least 150,000 residents were under evacuation orders Saturday. The death toll was as high as 16, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office. The two largest blazes the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire have become the most destructive in Los Angeles Countys history, according to Cal Fire. Firefighters watch as flames from the Palisades Fire are seen in the distance in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles,, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A firefighting helicopter releases water while battling against the Palisades Fire in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles,, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A firefighter watches as water from a firefighting helicopter is being dropped from the air during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire are seen as a smoke column rises in the distance in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Neil Desai hoses down his intact home after successfully defending it against the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A home destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Nimai Kesten, left, and, Germano Assuncao move a water hose over a fence as they water hot spots during the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Smolder is seen at a property destroyed by the Palisades Fire near Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Contract firefighters are seen near properties damaged by the Palisades Fire near Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A woman works to recover items from her home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Roger Cohn pauses as he looks for items amongst his girlfriend's home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle As of Saturday night, the Eaton Fire was 15% contained and had burned 14,117 acres and damaged or destroyed at least 7,000 structures (including vehicles) in and around Altadena. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained and had burned 23,654 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 5,300 structures (including vehicles); the Hurst Fire was 76% contained and had burned 771 acres in and around Sylmar. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Roughly 26,139 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers were still without electricity Saturday afternoon, the citys utility said in an online update. By midafternoon, power had been returned to 352,632 of LADWPs 1.5 million customers since the start of the windstorm, officials said. The neighborhoods most affected by outages were Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Los Feliz in the metro area and Pacoima, Sun Valley and Tarzana in the San Fernando Valley. Our crews continue to focus on the longest-duration outages and ask for our customers patience as our crews work in hazardous conditions to restore power as quickly and safely as possible, the utility said. In a Saturday update, Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said the Getty Center remains safe from the Palisades Fire. It was a watchful but fortunately uneventful night at the Getty Center, she said, adding that a small emergency team on site is closely monitoring the situation. Our galleries are safe and secure, and the Villa remains stable, with only a few hot spots, Fleming said. We remain deeply concerned for the safety of our Getty neighbors and the entire region, and we will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Los Angeles police arrested seven people in fire zones over the last two days, including two people who were posing as firefighters, coming in and out of houses, Capt. Michael Lorenz said at a press conference Saturday evening. Lorenz said police are working to better secure burned areas, and authorities have said that looters could face jail time for the crime. No other details about the alleged faux firefighters were immediately available. Since the wildfires sparked on Tuesday, officials have detected 48 privately owned drones flying over the fires, hindering aerial firefighting efforts, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris said at a press conference Saturday evening. On Thursday, officials were inspecting an aerial unit after it landed in the Van Nuys neighborhood and they found a drone lodged in one of its wings, Harris said. When those privately owned drones are detected, we have to pause firefighting activities, so we ask you to please assist us by not operating drones in the area, Harris said. Authorities intend to find the drones owners and prosecute them, he said. Six days before waves of flames crashed into Pacific Palisades, another wildfire broke out on the same parched hillside. Residents called 911 with reports of pre-dawn New Years Day fireworks and snapped pictures of the fledgling fire, which firefighters declared they had stomped out before it reached the neighborhood. The Chronicle showed a pair of experts in wildfire investigations photos of both fire origins and their close proximity. The experts said severe winds could have rekindled smoldering embers from the earlier blaze and kickstarted the deadly Jan. 7 Palisades Fire even six days later. Read the full story. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Los Angeles police received a report of a possible burglary early Saturday at the Brentwood home of Vice President Kamala Harris, ABC7 reported. Officers responding to the call around 4:30 a.m. found no evidence of a burglary, but two people were booked on suspicion of violating curfew, the television station reported. No one was at the home, which is in an area that has been under an evacuation order since Tuesday night due to the Palisades Fire, according to press secretary Ernie Apreza. The Vice President and President continue to closely monitor the wildfires, remain in touch with state and local officials, and have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help respond and recover from this terrible disaster, Apreza said on X. Loading... The Los Angeles County Medical Examiners office announced Saturday night that at least 16 deaths are being investigated in connection with the Southern California wildfires. Eleven deaths are linked to the Eaton Fire and five to the Palisades Fire, though six of the Eaton Fire cases have not yet been confirmed as human remains, and the identities of some confirmed victims remains unknown. One identified victim, 66-year-old Victor Shaw, died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, according to the coroners office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After a brief respite from windy conditions, Santa Ana winds were expected to return through Wednesday, with the strongest winds expected on Tuesday, incident meteorologist Rich Thompson said at a press conference Saturday evening. But he said the winds were only expected to be 60%-70% as strong as the dramatic winds that fueled the wildfires first sparks earlier in the week, which gusted up to 100 mph in places. This upcoming extended round of Santa Ana winds is not going to be anywhere near as strong as we saw when this event broke out, Thompson said. Vegetation in the area remained extremely dry, he said, and red flag warnings from the National Weather Service were in effect for much of the Los Angeles area until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a website Saturday to combat misinformation around his administrations response to the Southern California wildfires. The site, www.californiafirefacts.com, was an attempt to ensure the public has access to fact-based data about the wildfires, Newsom said on social media. The website pairs screenshots of social media posts labeled as lies with facts debunking their claims. For example, one Fox News post claimed Newsom had significantly cut the states firefighting budget a few months ago, but Newsoms site said the Cal Fire budget has nearly doubled since 2019, from $2 billion to $3.8 billion. As of 3 p.m. Saturday, 45,450 Southern California Edison customers were without power and about 32,600 of the outages were due to public safety power shutoffs, the utility said on social media. The regional utility which serves 15 million customers in Southern and Central California, excluding the city of Los Angeles and some other municipalities said it had restored service to more than 500,000 customers since extreme winds began earlier this week. SCE did not provide an estimate for when power would be returned completely and said unsafe conditions meant restoration could take longer than usual. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Canada and Mexico are both sending firefighting resources to Southern California to help the region battle wildfires, authorities said. On Saturday afternoon, 72 Mexican firefighters and emergency personnel arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport and they will be deployed to help battle the Palisades Fire, Gov. Gavin Newson said on social media. On Friday, Canadian Minister of National Defense Bill Blair said he had approved a request to deploy Royal Canadian Air Force assets to transport firefighters to California. It was unclear how many Canadian firefighters would be deployed or when they would arrive. In a Friday social media post, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had talked to Newsom and Trudeau vowed to support firefighting efforts. Californias always had our back when we battle wildfires up north. Now, Canadas got yours, Trudeau said. Cal Fire said on social media that the reinforcements from both countries would be crucial for ongoing containment efforts and to provide much-needed relief to fatigued firefighters. People who have been impacted by the wildfires raging in Los Angeles County will get more time to file their California and federal taxes. These taxpayers now have until Oct. 15 to file returns and pay taxes, rather than April 15. People who live or have a business in the county will also qualify for federal tax relief for uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related losses. The California Franchise Tax Board will also provide state disaster tax relief for taxpayers and businesses affected by the fires. Read the full story. In-n-Out Burger is offering free meals to firefighters in California as part of a promotion running through Monday, a spokesperson confirmed Saturday. Under the program, which began Thursday, any uniformed firefighter actively fighting fires in the state is eligible for one free meal, the spokesperson said. UCLA extended its remote instruction for undergraduate and graduate courses through Friday, Jan. 17, and employees were asked to work remotely, school chancellor Julio Frenk announced Saturday. A flareup on the eastern edge of the Palisades Fire forced evacuations in nearby Brentwood and Encino earlier Saturday, and areas less than a mile away from UCLAs campus were under an evacuation warning. In a video posted on the schools website, Frenk asked students to be prepared if the fire encroached further. This is not an evacuation order, but we are asking that you stand ready should the situation change, Frenk said. The Guitar Center Music Foundation announced it was taking applications for grants to replace musical instruments and gear destroyed by the Los Angeles County wildfires. Los Angeles-based musicians and nonprofit or public school-based music instruction programs were eligible to apply for up to $1,500 in replacement instruments or gear, according to the foundations website. Applications for the one-time grants were open through the end of February. The smoke advisory for the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire has been extended until 10 p.m. Sunday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said. The heaviest impact is expected in coastal and central Los Angeles County, with air quality in the unhealthy category or worse in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles, and other areas near the fires. Smoke may also spread to other areas including Orange County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with air quality in the moderate or worse categories there, officials said. Health officials warn that wildfire smoke can cause respiratory issues, with those most vulnerable including children, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung conditions experiencing more severe symptoms. People are urged to limit outdoor activities, stay indoors, and avoid physical exertion.Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel, or how winds will impact air quality, is difficult, so its important for everyone to stay aware of the air quality in your area, make plans, and take action to protect your health and your familys health, said Muntu Davis, Los Angeles Countys health officer. Smoke and ash can harm everyone, even those who are healthy. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger invited President-Elect Donald Trump to tour the areas devastated by ongoing wildfires in a letter she also posted to social media Saturday. Barger praised Trump for his administrations response to the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, when Trump issued major disaster and emergency declarations and visited the burned areas, and asked him to visit again. We would be greatly encouraged, and our success enhanced, if you came to Los Angeles to stand with us, as you have in the past, as our President, Barger said. We look forward to working with your Administration to meet the challenge of rebuilding and renewal over the coming years. Trump had yet to respond to the invitation on social media as of Saturday afternoon, though in previous days he has criticized the states response to containing the fires, blaming Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats, and has posted misinformation about the wildfires. Newsom has also invited Trump to tour the wildfire zone. Devastation really is the only word Eight people have died and a search-and-rescue team started working Saturday to locate bodies and reunite families in response to the Eaton Fire burning in the Los Angeles County community of Altadena. Devastation really is the only word, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said during a news conference providing updates from local officials. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office has made 19 arrests, including four for curfew violations Friday night, according to a department spokesperson. All evacuation warnings for the Hurst Fire near Sylmar were lifted Saturday afternoon with the 771-acre blaze 76% contained, the Angeles National Forest said in a social media update. Evacuation orders had been lifted Thursday, but officials decided to lift even the warnings after determining that the immediate fire threat has eliminated, the update read. The Angeles National Forest was still closed to the public through Wednesday, forest officials said. California state officials said Saturday that they were marshaling even more firefighting resources in preparation for next weeks forecasted fire weather. Im afraid were not out of the woods, California Office of Emergency Services Director Nancy Ward said at a press conference, referencing the high winds and low humidity expected between Monday and Wednesday. In anticipation, we have surged even more resources that are poised and continue to be brought to the fight. More than 14,000 first responders and more than 1,000 fire engines will be available for firefighting next week, drawn from California and other Western states, said Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler. Resources previously deployed to the Hurst, Kenneth and Lidia fires, which have been largely contained, will be reassigned to the ongoing Palisades and Eaton fires or to any new fire activity next week, Tyler said. The state also set up a mobilization center to house the additional resources, which was emptied Friday night to fight a flare-up on the eastern edge of the Palisades Fire, but resources were being moved back into the facility Saturday, Tyler said. All off-ramps along southbound Interstate 405 from Highway 101 in the north to Interstate 10 in the south were closed Saturday as the Palisades Fire shifted eastward, according to Caltrans. The heavily traveled I-405 is just east of the fire evacuation area, and the Getty Center is located along the route. The offramps for Getty Center Drive were closed in both directions, along with the southbound offramps for Sepulveda Boulevard, Valley Vista Boulevard, Skirball Center Drive, Sunset Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard and Olympic/Pico Boulevard, according to Caltrans. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to continue this weekend and through Wednesday, with weather officials saying Santa Ana gusts could reach up to 70 mph in some of Southern Californias mountainous areas. Red flag warnings from the National Weather Service remain in effect for much of the Los Angeles area, with the dry winds making it easier for fires to start and spread. But relatively weaker winds are expected for the eastern part of the Santa Monica Mountains, where the Palisades Fire continues to grow, said NWS meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. Outside the foothills and mountains, Los Angeles and Ventura counties are projected to see 15 mph to 30 mph winds this weekend, with gusts of between 30 mph and 50 mph. After a brief lull Sunday night, moderate to strong winds will likely return from Monday through Wednesday, with the strongest winds expected from late Monday into Tuesday. Winds should be lighter and humidity should be higher starting Thursday into the weekend, with a 20% of light rain, weather officials said. But after that, critical fire weather conditions could return. Power restored for thousands More than 24,000 customers had their electricity restored overnight Friday by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the agency said in an update Saturday on its website. As of midmorning, 28,500 of the utilitys 1.5 million electric customers were without power, 6,900 of them in the Palisades Fire area, the agency said. In total, crews had restored power to 341,794 customers since the start of the windstorm, officials said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will lead the investigation into the origin and cause of the Pacific Palisades fire, the agencys Los Angeles office announced Saturday on X. World Central Kitchen, a global nonprofit that provides meals to people impacted by natural disasters, is distributing free meals to those in need and first responders in Los Angeles County. A list of food distribution sites is here and on social media. Restaurants and bars across the Bay Area are organizing fundraisers to support people impacted by the L.A. wildfires. Many businesses are donating a portion of their sales to organizations working on the ground, while others are collecting donated items to distribute to those in need. It is easy to go numb, scrolling through image after image, feeling paralyzed by what to do and how to help, Gillian Shaw Lundgren, owner of Black Jet Baking Co. in San Francisco, wrote on Instagram. In these times, I look to be busy and offer comfort the best way I know, through cake, treats and hard work. Center opens to report missing persons Los Angeles County has opened a Family Assistance Center in Pasadena for residents searching for missing friends or family in the fires. The center, at 300 E. Green St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Pasadena Convention Center Visitors Bureau. People looking for someone impacted by fires, or those who want to inform their family of their safety, should contact the Red Cross at 800-675-5799 or fill out an inquiry form online. The L.A. County sheriff has said 13 people are missing; a list or more information was not available as of Saturday morning. Shock and anger in L.A. over fires, Mayor Bass says Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Saturday morning that residents were experiencing grief, shock and anger during the wildfire crisis. We have got to stay focused until this time passes, until the fires are out, she said at a news conference with other city officials. When the fires are out, make no mistake, we will have a full accounting of what worked and especially what did not. Bass also hinted at tension between her and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who has criticized budget cuts to the fire agency and said this week that the city had failed her department. Bass said earlier this week that the reductions did not affect the current wildfire response. The fire chief and I are focused on fighting these fires and saving lives, and any differences that we might have will be worked out in private, Bass said Saturday. She introduced Crowley at the same news conference, who said, Our top priority remains saving lives and protecting properties. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said deputies are strictly enforcing curfew restrictions in fire-affected areas in an effort to thwart would-be burglars and looters. I have directed our deputies that those individuals will not be cited and released for misdemeanors, Luna said. Theyre going to do jail time. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers arrested five people Friday night and that sheriffs deputies arrested about 20 the night before. Luna urged anyone who witnessed suspected burglary, looting or scams to call 911. I have hundreds of deputies in our impacted areas. I know the LAPD has hundreds of officers. Were out there, were ready to respond, and sometimes when we see patterns and trends, we will redeploy units to those specific areas, he said. We need your help, though. You are our eyes and ears. Thats how were going to be effective. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell urged those wishing to donate to recovery efforts to thoroughly research the charity organization, and said reputable groups will have clear information about their mission and proven track records. McDonnell said it was good practice to avoid cash donations wherever possible, and to opt instead for secure, traceable payment methods. If come across fraudulent donation requests, please notify law enforcement so we can investigate together and can prevent further harm and protect the generosity of our community, McDonnell said. California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a stern warning Saturday against price gouging amid the deadly fires, saying officials have seen businesses and landlords use the increased demand during emergencies to jack up the prices of supplies and services including gas, water, batteries, first aid supplies and housing. This is California law, Bonta said at a morning news conference. Its in place to protect those who are suffering from a tragedy, to make sure that they are not victimized again and exploited as they are trying to recover. Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said District 3, the area she oversees, said she has already received troubling reports of price gouging, particularly in the home rental market. Listing agents are raising rents on the spot, preying on families who have been displaced, many of whom have lost their homes or dont even know what the current status of their home is, Horvath said. Let me be clear, this is price gouging, and it is absolutely unacceptable. 13 missing amid wildfires, L.A. County sheriff says L.A. County officials have received reports of 13 people missing amid the wildfires in the area, Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference Saturday morning. However, it was unclear which of the reports were fire related, he said. We hope to find everybody safe, he said, adding that family assistance centers are open to provide information for people looking for missing family and friends amid the wildfire mass casualty event. Nearly two dozen arrested in fire zones, sheriff says A total of 22 arrests have been made in connection with the Eaton and Palisades fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Saturday morning. Among the arrests, 19 were in the Eaton Fire area and three were in the Palisades Fire area, he said. All these individuals were in areas they were not supposed to be, he said. Of the four arrests made Friday night, two were for curfew violations, he said. Those two individuals were actually booked at stations, he said. Most of the arrests were for burglary, looting, trespassing, possession of narcotics, identity theft and a parole violation, he said. Fire curfew to remain in place until further notice The 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew order issued for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas and all mandatory evacuation zones will stay in place until further notice, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a news conference Saturday morning. Violations are misdemeanor offenses punishable by a $1,000 fine or jail, he said. Local emergency notifications in Los Angeles County have been switched to Californias state alert system as the county investigates a series of erroneous alerts that caused confusion among millions of residents, officials said. A preliminary investigation has found that an alert from L.A. Countys Emergency Operations Center that went out Thursday at 4 p.m. was accurate and correctly targeted, but it was then sent out erroneously to nearly 10 million residents across the county, officials said in a news release Friday. Genasys, the vendor that operates the countys alert messaging software, is testing to determine how the alert was sent far outside the intended geographic area, the release said. Officials also said that echoes of the original erroneous alert continued to appear on peoples phones across the county, alarming residents already facing the horrifying effects of destructive wildfires that are still burning. Preliminary findings show that these notifications resulted from issues with telecommunications systems, likely due to the fires impacts on cellular towers, according to the release. The county office is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and industry partners to resolve the problems, the release said. Rory Callum Sykes, a 32-year-old Australian man, is among the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, his family confirmed. Sykes, who gained media attention as a child living with cerebral palsy, died at his familys Malibu home on Wednesday. His mother, Shelley Sykes, shared the news on X: It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I couldnt put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off. Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day, she said. Totally heartbroken over my wonderful son. California State Parks announced the arrest of 60-year-old Gloria Lynn Mandich on suspicion of felony arson for starting a brush fire near Leo Carrillo State Park on Wednesday. The fire occurred during a red flag warning with high Santa Ana winds. Mandich is being held in Ventura County Jail. Khloe Kardashian has criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over her response to the ongoing wildfires, calling her a joke. The reality stars anger flared after hearing Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley accuse the mayor of failing the city, citing budget cuts made months before the fires. In an Instagram post Friday, Kardashian supported Chief Crowley, writing, You spoke the truth and you had tears in your eyes because I can tell you didnt even want to say that but it was THE TRUTH!!!! The Eaton Fire remains largely uncontrolled as strong Santa Ana winds continue into next week. By 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the fire had burned 14,117 acres and was 15% contained, up from 3% the previous night. Preliminary estimates from CalFire indicate more than 7,000 structures have been destroyed, and at least six lives lost, including one man who died defending his familys home of 55 years. The fire is burning in an area with steep, complex terrain and critically dry fuels, CalFire said in its latest Eaton Fire status update at 6:24 a.m. Saturday. Despite these difficulties, minimal fire growth was observed (on Friday), and priorities include maintaining current containment lines and ensuing perimeter control. It added, Gusty northeast winds will return to high elevations Saturday night into Sunday with gusts up to 30 miles per hour and relative humidity decreasing back below 20 percent, Another Santa Ana wind event is possible around next Tuesday. The latest Cal Fire update reports the Palisades Fire is 11% contained, an improvement from 8% earlier Saturday morning. The update, issued at 6:28 a.m., offers some relief as the fire had been advancing toward the San Fernando Valley on Friday night. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the six major blazes burning in Los Angeles County, forced mandatory evacuations in portions of the wealthy community of Brentwood early Saturday, fire officials said. Los Angeles County spokesperson Jesus Ruiz called the move toward the heavily populated Brentwood neighborhood a significant shift. After a plethora of inquiries Friday regarding a media report saying Mayor Karen Bass had terminated the citys fire chief, Erik Scott, a spokesperson for the fire department confirmed that was not the case. Scott said Bass and Chief Kristin Crowley did indeed meet on Friday, but provided no details about what the meeting was about. Their foremost priorities continue to be fighting the current wildfires and safeguarding Angelenos, Scott wrote on X. It is important to note that the Fire Chief was not dismissed and is in full command of the #LAFD. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office reiterated its warning to the public about flying drones during the ongoing wildfires. In a social media post on Friday, authorities emphasized that unauthorized drone flights can severely hinder firefighting efforts and put lives at risk. They urged residents to keep drones grounded to allow emergency responders to operate effectively. The post also encouraged people to familiarize themselves with local, state, and federal drone laws, noting that violating drone regulations over disaster zones can result in penalties. During an on-air interview with ABC 7/KABC, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents district 11, said she was coordinating with the states department of transportation to funnel additional traffic resources into parts of the city under evacuation orders. I am activating with our police partners to get additional security resources in place and I am on the ground coordinating with LAFD as we move additional fire suppression resources into this area (western LA/Brentwood neighborhoods), said Park. I want to reassure folks, help is on the way, we have a lot of assets in the area that we are activating. The Lidia Fire, near Acton, is 98% contained and firefighters stopped forward progress, according to an update from Cal Fire. The blaze, which started Wednesday, burned approximately 395 acres. The cause is still under investigation. The fire is between two mountain ranges south of the Antelope Valley, northeast of Santa Clarita. As of Friday evening, Cal Fire reported the following information about the ongoing wildfires: Palisades Fire: 21,317 acres, 8% contained Eaton Fire: 14,117 acres, 3% contained Kenneth Fire: 1,052 acres, 50% contained Lidia Fire: 395 acres, 98% contained, forward spread stopped Hurst Fire: 771 acres, 70% contained The southbound and northbound Getty Center off-ramps on Interstate 405 were shut down Friday night, as the Palisades Fire advanced into western Los Angeles, the California Highway Patrol said. The Sunset and Skirball Center off-ramps were also closed in both directions, the CHP said. No estimated time of reopening was given for the closures, as the CHP said they were in effect until further notice. The Getty Center is evacuating, with only emergency staff remaining, following a new order related to the Palisades Fire. Getty is complying with the current evacuation order and is closed with only emergency staff on site, the museum said in a statement to CNN. The Getty Villa, also threatened by the fire, has not sustained damage thanks to fire mitigation efforts. Getty structures have been unaffected, and thankfully, both staff and the collections are safe, said museum president Katherine E. Fleming on Wednesday. Fire activity in the Palisades has increased significantly towards the eastern side of the fire Friday evening, as the flames approach the 405 freeway and winds move down canyon, according to Rich Thomspon, incident meteorologist for the National Weather Service assigned to the Palisades Fire. On Saturday, north to northeast winds will increase throughout the day and push the fire down canyon. The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a new evacuation order Friday night for an area near the eastern edge of the Palisades Fire. Residents of the area between Sunset Boulevard North and Encino Reservoir and from Interstate 405 West to Mandeville Canyon were ordered to evacuate, LAFD said in an alert. The western edge of the Palisades Fire was largely under control, operations section chief Kristian Litz said at a town hall meeting Friday evening. Just west of Las Flores, the blaze had reached an area previously scorched by last months Franklin Fire, which acted as a firebreak. Its butted up against the Franklin Fire, so no [fire] activity, looks really good, Litz said. The fire had scorched 21,317 acres and was 8% contained overall as of Friday night. Los Angeles County officials said an evacuation warning mistakenly sent to millions of residents far outside the evacuation zones was likely a result of fire damage to cellular towers. At around 4 p.m. Thursday, a correctly-targeted alert was issued from the countys Emergency Operations Center, but after it left the EOC it was sent to close to 10 million residents, the county said in a Friday press release. The county said it will switch its local emergency notifications from a Genasys-operated messaging system to an alert system run by the California Governors Office of Emergency Services for the foreseeable future. Genasys said it has added safeguards to its software and is troubleshooting what may have gone wrong, the county said. The county said the erroneous alert was a serious breach of public trust and said it has enlisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission to prevent future errors. Victor Shaw, 66, died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries in his home Wednesday on the 3400 block of Monterosa Drive in Altadena, the L.A. Medical Examiner said Friday. Altadena was ravaged by the Eaton Fire and the entire community remains closed to the public. The L.A. County Medical Examiners office said Friday it is investigating 11 reported deaths related to the wildfires that began burning in the county of Tuesday. Of the 11, three have been confirmed as human remains. The others remain under investigation as officials have not been able to respond to each site where a death has been reported. Of the 11, five were reported in the Palisades Fire zone one in Topanga, three in Malibu and one is unspecified and six were reported in the Eaton Fire zone, all in Altadena. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, describes Santa Ana winds as atmospheric blow dryers because of how they parch landscapes. With additional winds expected this weekend and early next week, Southern California will face continued wildfire risks, Swain said during an online presentation Friday. The longer they go on, the longer they blow, the longer the low humidity and higher wind conditions continue, the drier and more flammable the vegetation becomes, Swain said. The Palisades and Eaton fires have slowed relative to their frenetic spread earlier this week. Swain thinks that the period of rapid spread into new populated areas is likely over on those two fires, in part because of the extremely high level of firefighting resources in the region. But thats not a guarantee, Swain emphasized, given the adverse weather conditions expected in the coming days.This is still an ongoing disaster, Swain said. The Walt Disney Company pledged $15 million to L.A. fire relief and rebuilding efforts, CEO Bob Iger announced Friday. The money will go to vital organizations, such as the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and others, according to Iger. As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation, Iger said in a statement. Rumors that Altadena residents are allowed to return to their properties by showing proper identification are wrong the area remains closed to the public, Altadena Sheriff Captain Jabari Williams said at a town hall meeting Friday afternoon. Altadena was particularly hard hit by the Eaton Fire, and the towns streets are still littered with debris, downed wires at risk of sparking, and active spot fires, Williams said. I understand these are trying times, and at the Sheriffs Department we feel for everyone dealing with this situation, but our utmost priority is public safety, he said. Los Angeles officials are cautioning the public about inaccurate social media posts related to firefighting efforts. Erik Scott, a public information officer for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, said on X that inaccurate social media posts saying people can work as part of a clean-up crew at fire sites were circulating on social media. There is no truth to this social media post, and there is no need to call and inquire, said Scott. Scott also said that a post claiming L.A. fire agencies were seeking help from the public to fight the fires was baseless. People who applied for FEMA assistance and were immediately denied were rejected because of a glitch, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Barger said FEMA officials had identified a system issue that caused applicants with insurance to be declined. Do not feel that that denial is real, Barger said. They want you to reapply because you are not being denied. According to FEMAs website, people affected by the wildfires can apply for disaster assistance regardless of their insurance status, though insured applicants are required to file an insurance claim first. Southern California is in uncharted territory given how the region has been record-dry over recent months, said Alex Tardy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service San Diego, during a briefing Friday afternoon: Weve brought the desert to Southern California. The parched landscapes were primed for the flames fanned by Santa Ana winds this week. After a brief lull through Saturday, the winds are expected to pick up again over the weekend and into mid-next week. Fire weather watches have been issued for Southern California from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon due to strong gusty winds and low relative humidity. Jack Lee The mens section of Robinsons Manor, a small assisted living facility for adults with autism and disabilities, burned down in the Eaton fire, wrote Esther Pearl Watson, a Los Angeles artist whose sister lives at the facility. Watson created a GoFundMe for the facility. For decades in Altadena, Robinsons Manor has helped residents feel independent and like family. The family member wrote that the house members were safely evacuated to a hotel, but the boys home home is gone. The assisted living facility, is run by Laura Robinson and her daughter, Retha. The family helps residents with toileting, washing, dressing assistance and offers music and pet therapies, field trips, and three homemade meals a day. They all rely on a consistent routine to feel safe and each have specific needs, the family member wrote. This will be a huge adjustment. Authorities have arrested 18 people to date on suspicion of various crimes near the Palisades and Eaton fires, Los Angeles County Assistant Sheriff Myron Johnson said at a press conference. The alleged crimes include possession of narcotics, possession of burglary tools, burglary, identity theft and looting, Johnson said. A curfew was scheduled to go into effect at 6 p.m. Friday for the areas under evacuation orders due to the Palisades and Eaton fires in an attempt to stem crime, and violators could be charged with a misdemeanor offense. Residents of Altadena, the diverse community just north of Pasadena that was devastated by a quick-moving wildfire Tuesday, were barred by police from visiting their homes Friday. But still, some managed to return to pick up surviving belongings and take stock of what was destroyed. Gene Huang Lee and Demmi Choo, a newlywed couple in their early-30s, became emotional Friday afternoon as they looked over their Spanish-style home that has been reduced to little more than ash and wood. This was supposed to be our forever home, Choo said. We were going to have kids here and live here forever. We love the sense of community here. Now, who knows if itll ever be the same? Connor Letourneau Gov. Gavin Newsom has invited President-elect Donald Trump to tour wildfire damage around Los Angeles. In an invitation letter, Newsom stated, In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines. Trump has criticized Newsom in recent days, calling for his resignation and blaming him for the fires. After burning out of control for two days, the Eaton Fire was 3% contained as of Friday afternoon, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a news conference. Marrone said the nearly 14,000-acre blaze damaged or destroyed 7,000 structures, but the Mount Wilson Observatory and telescope remained unscathed with no damage to any buildings or infrastructure. The number of destroyed structures may include vehicles. Some Los Angeles County residents who applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after losing their homes in the Eaton Fire were immediately denied, L.A. Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Im following up on that to find out what is going on, Barger said. It is completely mind-boggling to me that people who lost everything are filling out a form as told and are getting an immediate denial. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell previously instructed people who lost property in the wildfires to apply through the agencys website for funding to cover costs including home repairs and temporary lodging. In addition to reimbursing local governments for firefighting efforts, FEMA has agreed to provide some funding for individuals impacted by the fires, though the extent of available funding is unclear. At a Friday briefing, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said the devastation in Altadena looks like a war zone. She added, Ive never seen anything like it. Officials havent yet determined the exact number of affected structures. You can go blocks where theres no homes, and then you go a block where youll see a little bit of smoldering on a tree but none of the homes been impacted, Barger said. Shocked is not even the word for the destruction that it caused in that area. Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said that it was an absolute shame that President-elect Donald Trump and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso have publicly blamed leaders for devastation from the fires. Caruso claimed that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass committed a dereliction of duty by leaving the city for a diplomatic trip before the fires. Trump has taken to social media to criticize California Gov. Gavin Newsom referred to as Newscum for not sending more water to Southern California to make the land damp. Trump is a person who will not only lie but distort or use any moment that he thinks to his advantage, Waters said. I started early calling for his impeachment, and Im going to stay on it. Im not backing up. Molly Burke The Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County have destroyed over 10,000 structures as of Friday, according to Cal Fire. That puts the blazes among the states four most destructive on record. Loading... Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed his family lost their home in the Pacific Palisades fire. Im not sure Ive wept or wailed like that in several years, he said. Redick said the rented home burned down Tuesday while the Lakers were on the road in Dallas and his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons were out. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water issued an advisory Friday afternoon strongly advising residents in the 90272 zip code, near Pacific Palisades and adjacent areas in the service area north of San Vicente Boulevard, to not drink or cook with the tap water until further notice due to the potential of fire-related contaminants that could carry disease-carrying organisms. Benzene and other volatile organic compounds may have entered the water system, according to the order. Impacted residents should use bottled water for drinking, washing and cooking purposes. Residents in the region are advised to limit their use of hot water and shower time; to use the air-dry setting on their dishwasher; to wash their clothing in cold water; not to use hot tubs or swimming pools; dry laundry outdoors if their clothes dryers dont vent outside; and to use proper ventilation when using hot water indoors. Officials discouraged residents from taking hot baths, and instead to use lukewarm water and to ventilate the area. Residents were advised only to use bottled water for all drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth, making ice and food preparation and to use the same discretion for pets. Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for an investigation into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power following reports of water supply issues during the ongoing fires. In a letter to CEO Janisse Quinones and LA County Public Works Director Mark Pastrella, Newsom expressed concern over the loss of water pressure to fire hydrants and the unavailability of water from the Santa Ynez Reservoir. Losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes, he wrote. Newsom has directed state officials to prepare an independent report to identify causes and solutions for future events. We need answers to how that happened, he said. Gusty Santa Ana winds continue Friday, with peaks in Los Angeles and Ventura counties experiencing gusts up to 30-50 mph Friday morning. Red flag warnings were in effect due to critical fire weather conditions. Jack Lee President Joe Biden warned that the death toll from the wildfires will likely rise. It will increase, whether significantly or not, we dont know yet. Theres still a lot of people around, accounting for, he said. The president also noted that the White House is coordinating with the incoming Trump administration on the federal response. My hope is that theyll have at least acknowledge we have some significant experience in this, Biden said. He also announced that FEMA has activated critical needs assistance, providing $750 to survivors for essential items. This is not going to be over, even when all the fires are out, he said, asking Congress for further support. Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said firefighters quickly attacked the Archer Fire both on the ground and from the air. The evacuation order is expected to be downgraded soon, though Stewart told KTLA, We still have some winds, and thats why we have not yet lifted the evacuation order. As of Friday morning officials in Los Angeles have verified that 972 structures all homes or buildings burned down in the Eaton Fire. However, they estimate that between 4,000 and 5,000 may have been charred, a number gleaned from drones flying over the fire area. That larger projection likely includes vehicles, such as trucks or RVs, said Carlos Herrera, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Were having damage teams go inside areas to do more inspections, Herrera said in a phone interview. Rachel Swan Over 600 California National Guardsmen were assisting with the states fire response, and hundreds more Marines and service members were on standby, the Pentagon announced Friday. Currently, over 600 Guardsmen are activated, including 200 military police for security operations and 10 helicopters for firefighting, Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said. Additionally, 500 Marines and 10 Navy helicopters are ready to support. The catastrophic wildfires devastating Los Angeles will likely delay tax deadlines for people in affected areas, which will in turn make it hard for state officials to accurately budget state spending for the next year, Gov. Gavin Newsoms top budget adviser announced Friday. Tax collectors will likely need to push back the tax deadlines for areas devastated by wildfires, state finance director Joe Stephenshaw said. Read more here about the impact the fires are having on state deadlines. Sophia Bollag Air quality continues to be unhealthy across Los Angeles County, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The agency issued a wildfire smoke advisory Thursday due to continuing blazes, in effect until 5:00 p.m. Friday. PurpleAir data shows very unhealthy air quality around Altadena and Pasadena, in the vicinity of the Eaton Fire. Firefighters successfully kept wildfires from reaching NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in La Canada Flintridge, California, the labs director, Laurie Leshin, said Friday on X. The lab is untouched by fire due to the brave dedication of our first responders, she wrote. However, over 150 JPL employees lost their homes. Leshin promised an update soon on the labs reopening. Four days after they first started, and with the flames still burning, the Palisades and Eaton fires are already at the top of Cal Fires list of the most destructive wildfire in California history. Only the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2017 Tubbs Fire surpass them in number of structures burnt. According to Cal Fire, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have burnt at least 5,316 and 4,000 structures so far respectively, not counting vehicles. The Camp Fire, Californias most destructive fire, burnt more than 18,800 structures, including more than 11,000 homes in the town of Paradise. Megan Munce Los Angeles fire officials issued a mandatory evacuation order Friday around 11 a.m. for residents in the area of Granada Hills, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley north of Northridge. As of Friday morning, the Archer Fire had burned about three acres but was growing at only a moderate speed, the Los Angeles Times reported. Residents within these areas were asked to evacuate immediately: East: Balboa and Interstate 5 freeway West: Tampa South: Sesnon North: Sunshine Canyon Road As of Friday morning, winds around both the Palisades, Hurst and Kenneth fires were generally gusting from the northeast at 15 to 30 mph, with sustained winds at 10 to 20 mph. Winds were even lighter around the Eaton fire. Winds will continue to drop off substantially as Friday progresses, with all wind advisories due to expire at 2 p.m., with red flag warnings set to expire later on Friday evening. Winds will remain light overnight on Friday and through at least the first half of Saturday. In fact, winds may briefly turn onshore during this timeframe. By late Saturday and into Sunday, offshore flow will return to the Los Angeles basin. On Sunday, winds will be gusty from the northeast at 40 to 50 mph, with higher gusts in the San Bernadino and San Gabriel mountains. However, winds should begin to ease again on Sunday afternoon and through Sunday night. Greg Porter Ruins of the Pacific Palisades area, including of Palisades Charter High School and Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, were visible Friday morning after a wildfire swept through the neighborhood. Ruins of the Pacific Palisades area, including of Palisades Charter High School and Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, are seen Friday morning after a wildfire swept through the neighborhood. Matthias Gafni / The Chronicle Conservatives including Megyn Kelly, Elon Musk and others have used the Southern California fires to pile on a favorite target: diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. A Newsmax host argued Wednesday that the fires are a form of death by DEI. Conservatives argument, to the extent they have one, appears to be that the (Los Angeles Fire Department) has warped priorities, and should have focused more on some policy or action they have yet to articulate that could have prevented the catastrophic conditions that fueled this weeks blazes, Joe Garofoli writes in a new column. The Biden administration declared a public health emergency for the Southern California wildfires on Friday. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said, HHS stands ready to support the health and well-being of all Californians impacted by these devastating fires, and to help aid the emergency medical response. Such declarations provide health care providers with increased flexibility during disasters. In a White House news briefing Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked President Biden for his response to the states raging wildfires but called for officials to address hurricane force winds of misinformation and disinformation. People want to divide this country and we have to address that as well, he said. It breaks my heart, as people are suffering and struggling that were up against those hurricane forces as well. Newsom also promised Angelenos a recovery in record time with FEMA support. Were going to get people back on their feet, he said. Were going to rebuild this remarkable community and were going to come back. Its just a fact. Were going to come back stronger. After some Los Angeles County residents received incorrect evacuation warnings, Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan addressed the issue Friday morning, apologizing for the confusion. There is an extreme amount of frustration, anger, fear, he said, stressing the alerts were not human-driven. McGowan stressed, These alerts are not being activated or initiated by a person. He assured that efforts are underway with to resolve the issue. I am working all hands on deck with the Federal Emergency Management Agencys integrated public alert and warning team, McGowan said. We have every technical specialist working to resolve this issue and to find the root cause. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a Friday morning briefing that she will prioritize spending time with wildfire-affected residents to understand recovery needs. I am going to spend every moment that I can, making sure that I am in as many areas as possible, meeting and talking to residents, she stated. Bass also emphasized, We want to see the city rebuilt. We want to see Los Angeles come together. Airbnb.org has committed to providing free emergency housing for an additional 25,000 people affected by the wildfires, including survivors, evacuees, first responders and firefighters. In partnership with 211 LA, a city resources hotline, 6,500 people have already received housing. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said, The situation is devastating, and well continue to do everything we can to support the Los Angeles community. All Airbnb.org stays are free, and 100% of donations go toward providing housing. Southern California Edison told state regulators that insurance companies demanded the company preserve electric equipment as possible evidence in the Eaton Fire. The company said it will comply with the notices, although no investigation so far has uncovered evidence that company equipment ignited the wildfire burning in Altadena and Pasadena, according to a company filing with the California Public Utilities Commission submitted late Thursday. To date, no fire agency has suggested that SCEs electric facilities were involved in the ignition or requested the removal and retention of any SCE equipment, the company said. The companys preliminary analysis of its electrical circuits for the energized transmission lines going through the area for 12 hours prior to the reported start time of the fire shows no interruptions or electrical or operational anomalies until more than one hour after the reported start time of the fire, the company said. Julie Johnson Los Angeles television stations reported signal issues Friday morning as the Eaton Fire threatened the Mount Wilson Observatory and nearby communication towers in the Angeles National Forest. The fires proximity is affecting over-the-air broadcasts in the region. They recommended viewers download apps or stream live coverage online. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that about 153,000 residents are under evacuation orders due to ongoing fires, with around 57,830 structures at risk. A man questioned by police regarding a potential attempted arson was arrested on suspicion of parole violation, according to LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi. Officers responded to reports of a man trying to start a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road, Woodland Hills, near the Kenneth Fire, at 4:32 p.m. Thursday. Residents have continued to report receiving fire evacuation alerts in areas far from the blazes. On Thursday, a wireless emergency alert sent to all Los Angeles County residents mistakenly warned of widespread evacuations. The warning directed recipients to alertla.org, which crashed shortly after the message was sent. The citys Emergency Management Department attributed the alert to a technical error. Friday morning, more residents reported receiving alerts far from the fires, though it did not appear to be across the entire county, according to the Los Angeles Times. One person wrote to the Chronicle to say they had received an alert on Friday in Sherman Oaks. A notice at the top of the Alert LA website currently states: We are aware of the reports of erroneous messages, and we apologize for the disruption. We are working with FEMA to investigate the issue, and for the most current status of evacuation orders and warnings please review the map of evacuations on Alertla.org. The Eaton Fire, which has grown to at least 13,690 acres and scorched at least 5,000 structures since breaking out Tuesday afternoon, was 3% contained as of Friday morning. A curfew was imposed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in mandatory evacuation zones of the Palisades and Eaton fire areas, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. The curfew aims to enhance public safety, protect property, and prevent burglaries or looting. Luna warned violators: You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest. He emphasized the curfew is for protection, not inconvenience, and violators face misdemeanor charges, fines or jail time. Speaking at a press conference Friday morning, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he issued a bulletin Thursday night to protect homeowners affected by the Palisades Fire. Lara said he was calling on insurance companies to suspend any pending non-renewals or cancellations that homeowners may have received in the 90 days before the fires started. In a news conference Friday, Los Angeles officials called looting a despicable crime and vowed to punish those who decide to engage in looting behavior across the Los Angeles area, particularly in areas that have been evacuated due to wildfires. For the people who have already been arrested, please know, this is not going to end well, said Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman. You will be punished to the full extent of the law. Hochman pushed back against the use of drones and GoFundme scams, saying both have become issues for the region impacted by wildfires and that those who engage in illegal drone-flying and fundraising scams will be arrested and prosecuted. You must be aware of who you are being approached by, said Hochman, adding that officials have become aware of numerous GoFundMe scams by people who are trying to entice the public to give them money for falsified reasons. Were going to see that eventually with insurance scams and government benefit scams, said Hochman. But my message to the public is, beware: these scammers look at this as an opportunity. A SuperScooper aircraft dropping water on the Palisades Fire was taken out of service Thursday after it collided with a civilian drone in the air above the fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The collision left the SuperScooper, Quebec 1, with a deep gash in its wing, though there were no injuries, the fire department said. Quebec 1 was sent from Canada as part of its resources to help California fight the ongoing fires in Los Angeles County. Videos on social media showed the planes scooping up water to release over the fire prior to being grounded. The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the crash, according to the fire department. Officials said flying drones during a firefighting effort is a federal crime with a maximum punishment of 12 months in prison or a $75,000 fine. Megan Munce The Palisades fire has reached 20,438 acres with 8% containment, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said Friday morning. One fatality has been confirmed. More than 5,316 structures may have been destroyed, officials said. A red flag warning that had been set to expire Thursday was extended to Friday at 6 p.m. for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with widespread winds with gusts of 35-55 mph expected, and extremely low humidity. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly, according to the National Weather Service. Use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire. Residents near wildland interfaces should be prepared to evacuate if a wildfire breaks out. Nobu Malibu, one of the citys most famous restaurants, remains undamaged by the Palisades Fire as of Thursday, the Chronicle confirmed. The destination sushi restaurant, perched on the Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the ocean, is a favorite of celebrity customers. The edge of the fire came close to but has not reached the restaurant, according to a Cal Fire map. Owner Nobu Matsuhisa on Wednesday posted a photograph on Instagram of firefighters standing outside the unscathed restaurant, thanking them for their work. Nobu is temporarily closed through Friday, Jan. 10, due to high winds and brush fires, a message on the Nobu website states. At least four Malibu restaurants along the Pacific Coast Highway were destroyed by the Palisades Fire, including Moonshadows, just three miles south of Nobu. Initial estimates by Los Angeles city and county officials on how many structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Los Angeles wildfires include not only buildings but vehicles. Later, however, officials will revise the count and exclude the vehicles. Read the Chronicle story here explaining why this happens. Ten people have been confirmed dead as a result of the still-burning wildfires in Los Angeles as of 9 p.m. Thursday, the Los Angeles Medical Examiners office said in a press release. The victims have yet to be identified and might not be for several weeks, both because fire conditions could make retrieving the bodies dangerous and because of the condition of the remains that could make fingerprinting and visual identification challenging, the department said. Officials said earlier on Thursday that two people had died in the Palisades Fire and five had died in the Eaton Fire, though they expected the death toll to rise as authorities sifted through burned areas. The medical examiner did not specify which wildfires had killed the 10 victims. San Franisco prosecutors filed charges against a man accused of shooting a person at a city homeless shelter. Rafe Swan/Getty Images A 29-year-old man was charged in connection with a shooting that left a person critically injured inside a shelter in San Francisco, prosecutors said Thursday District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Taylor Reed was charged with attempted murder, carrying a loaded firearm and carrying a concealed firearm in connection with the Jan. 4 shooting on the 500 block of Fifth Street. Reed pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied all allegations. He was arraigned on Thursday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors claim Reed got into an altercation with the victim while in line at the shelter before the two were separated by shelter staff. Reed allegedly pulled out a semiautomatic pistol and shot the victim who had pushed a shelter staff member up the stairs out of harms way at close range, officials said. After the victim slipped trying to run up the stairs, the victim was shot again by Reed, prosecutors allege. The San Francisco Police Department said officers arrived on scene and transported the victim to a hospital with critical injuries. Reed returned later to the shelter, where he was arrested, officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I am grateful for SFPDs swift response to this incident and that thankfully no loss of life occurred, said Jenkins. Those who are attempting to access shelter beds at night are some of our most vulnerable and our homeless shelters must be protected and provide a safe environment for all those experiencing homelessness. Tom Holland and Zendaya attend the Los Angeles premiere of Sony Pictures Spider-Man: No Way Home on Dec. 13, 2021. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Spider-Man actor Tom Hollands dad has confirmed that his son is engaged to Zendaya, following news of the couple getting matching tattoos in November. Tom, as you know by now was very incredibly well prepared. He had purchased a ring, he had spoken with her father and gained permission to propose to his daughter, Dominic Holland wrote in a heartwarming post to Patreon titled That engagement on Friday, Jan. 10, according to several reports. Tom had everything planned out. When, where, how, what to say, what to wear. Speculation about the engagement began on Sunday, Jan. 5, when Zendaya arrived at the Golden Globe Awards with a diamond ring on her left hand. A source told US Weekly magazine that Zendaya tried to keep it a secret but was very excited to show off her ring, adding that she didnt think people would notice but didnt care either way. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Zendaya at the 82nd Golden Globes. Jordan Strauss/Associated Press While Zendaya and Holland havent commented on the rumors, TMZ reported that Holland proposed between Christmas and New Years Day, with sources close to the star couple describing the moment as very romantic and intimate. It also turns out they made a permanent commitment to each other weeks before. The British actor and the Oakland-born actress and singer got matching tattoos of each others initials at Boston Tattoo Co. the day before Thanksgiving, owner Jason Zube told the Chronicle. He noted that their visit was very low-key. They simply made walk-in appointments at the Newbury Street location in Boston and spent about two hours in the shop. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It wasnt like they closed the shop down, they just kind of came in like everybody else, which was refreshing, he said. Though he wasnt at the shop during their visit, Zube said he got a full rundown from his team on duty. They were very nice and cordial with everybody, he said, adding that the artists who were in the shop that day couldnt say enough nice things about them. Zendaya wore a ring at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 5, that many report is an engagement ring given to her by boyfriend Tom Holland. Amy Sussman/Getty Images Lily Jarnryd, the artist who did the couples tattoos, told People magazine that they were lovely to meet and it was a lot of fun. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Holland got a tiny z on top of his ribcage while Zendaya opted for a small t under her armpit, which some fans spotted peeking out from her dress during the Golden Globes. 99% Airlines canceled more than 3,000 flights on Friday as a massive winter storm snarled travel across the Southern U.S., while more than 4,000 others were delayed. Operations were further disrupted after a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 halted takeoff because of an engine problem, shortly after 9 a.m. at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest and Delta's main hub. The 201 passengers and seven crew members aboard were evacuated on emergency slides. Four passengers reported minor injuries, with one transported and three treated on the scene, according to an airport spokesperson. The Federal Aviation Administration said it's investigating the incident. "Delta's flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight 2668 from Atlanta (ATL) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) after an indication of an engine issue," Delta said. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for their experience. We are working to support our customers and get them to their destinations as safely and quickly as possible." Some 1,100 flights to and from Atlanta, more than half of the day's schedule, were canceled, while upward of 400 more were delayed, according to flight tracker FlightAware. The airport had a ground stop in place, which halts flights bound for that airport at their origin so the facility isn't overwhelmed with planes. A customer places a Japanese 10,000 yen banknote on a checkout counter while making a purchase at an Akidai YK supermarket in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, June 27, 2022. Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Friday, with investors assessing November pay and household spending out from Japan. Real household spending in Japan fell 0.4% year on year in November, a softer fall compared to the 0.6% decline expected by a Reuters poll of economists. The fall was also less than the 1.3% decline seen in October. The average real income per household stood at 514,409 yen ($3,252.98) in November, up 0.7% from the previous year. Separately, the People's Bank of China announced it it would suspend treasury bond purchases temporarily, Reuters reported. This was due to the bonds being in short supply, with the PBOC adding it would resume bond buying depending on supply and demand in the government bond market. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 0.95% in its final hour of trade, after initially posting gains, while mainland China's CSI 300 was down 1.25% to close at 3,723.48, its lowest level since September 2024 and leading losses in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.05% and closed at 39,190.4, marking a third straight day of losses. Heavyweight Fast Retailing lost as much as 7.83% despite posting strong first-quarter results. The broad-based Topix saw a smaller loss of 0.8%, finishing at 2,714.12. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.24% and closed at 2,515.78, snapping a five-day winning streak. The small-cap Kosdaq was down 0.78% to 717.89, also breaking seven straight days of gains. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.42% to 8,294.1, after being in positive territory earlier in the session. A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. Audemars Piguet, the prestigious Swiss watch brand, is tearing down the marketing walls separating men's and women's watches, as women become the biggest growth drivers of luxury watch sales, according to its CEO. Rather than marketing watches specifically to men or women, Audemars Piguet will no longer refer to "men's" or "women's" watches in its boutiques or marketing. "I'm changing the narrative and the architecture of the brand," said Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet. "I stopped defining watches as a men's watch or women's watch. I believe it's wrong that the company, in a way, predefined the buyer. It's not for us to tell women, 'This is your watch.'" The move reflects surging demand by women for high-priced, mechanical watches traditionally made for men, and the increasingly blurred product lines in luxury. It also marks a highly symbolic change for AP part of the "Holy Trinity" of Swiss watches along with Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin that's likely to reverberate through an industry undergoing rapid transition. Resta, who took over AP a year ago, is one of the first female CEOs of a top Swiss watch brand. Her appointment seemed to make official the importance of women to the $100 billion-a-year luxury watch business. The women's watch market alone is expected to reach $35 billion by 2032, up from $28 billion in 2023, according to Market Research Future. As the luxury watch business enters its third year of declines, engaging women and younger buyers will be critical to restoring growth. Resta cited studies predicting that by 2030, 45% of women will buy a mechanical watch. She said the number of women entering an Audemars Piguet store and buying a watch for themselves in the U.S. has jumped by 11% in the past two years. Of the top 50 collectors of Audemars Piguet watches in the world, several are women, Resta said. With women expected to receive nearly half of the $100 trillion Great Wealth Transfer both as spouses and descendants their spending power in watches is only likely to grow. Conventional wisdom in the luxury watch industry has been that women prefer more feminine versions of watches, typically smaller, more colorful, more likely to have diamonds or jewels and with fewer complications. Yet the growing trend of gender-neutral luxury, with unisex clothing, accessories, fragrances and jewelry, is also reshaping watches. "Women love diamonds as well as men and they love complications more and more," Resta said. "It's also the other way around. We launched the Flamingo, a 34mm with a pink dial, and we have many men interested too. We're just reflecting society." Along with eliminating gender distinctions, AP is also highlighting women in many of its events and marketing, including an event at Art Basel Miami in December with Serena Williams, Simone Biles and leading women entrepreneurs and executives. Resta's moves carry outsized weight in the luxury world given AP's prominence. In an industry where most watch brands are seeing declines, AP's sales increased in 2023 to $2.7 billion, according to a report from Morgan Stanley. Audemars doesn't disclose any financials or production numbers, but analysts estimate the company produces only 50,000 watches a year, compared with more than 1.2 million for Rolex. The limited supply means that buying an AP is a challenge, even for those who can afford the price tag of between $25,000 and well over $250,000. Audemars is also one of the few luxury watch makers that's remained independent and family-owned since the 1800s. Most luxury watch brands have been consumed by LVMH, Richemont and the other large luxury conglomerates. Family owners often prize long-term brand reputation and craftsmanship over sales growth, meaning production typically increases only minimally from year to year. At the same time, AP has become a popular wrist-flex for top athletes, celebrities and younger collectors, lifting it to superstar status on Instagram and other social media platforms. Last month, Tom Brady's customized Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon sold at auction for $720,000. AP's scarcity is one reason the brand has continued to shine even as much of the industry has seen declines for over two years. Swiss watch exports fell 3% through November compared with the previous year, as China's economic slowdown and weakness in Europe and other parts of the world has hit demand for both new and pre-owned luxury watches. Prices for pre-owned Rolexes are down about 30% from their peak, according to the Bloomberg Subdial Index. Like the broader luxury slowdown, the luxury-watch recession has created a new divide between companies that went more mass-market and are now seeing the biggest declines, and those that remained highly exclusive and are less affected. While seen as an unlikely choice to run one of the crown jewels of Swiss watchmaking, Resta is moving quickly to adapt to the more competitive landscape. One of her top goals is to drive Audemars further upmarket, focusing growth on the most complicated and expensive watches. The aim isn't higher margins, she said, but a return to AP's roots, with its most skilled watchmakers dreaming up ever more elaborate and innovative creations that set the brand apart from its competitors. "Our mission is really shifting from really quantity to higher end," she said. "We will grow organically, but we will also increase the complications in our watches. We were born as a highly complicated watch, so we are going back to how we started." Resta is also reaching out to younger and future collectors with innovation including a new center for developing advanced materials such as forged carbon and new finishes and with a new and as-yet-unannounced kind of retail experience. While Resta declined to offer details, she said the new stores, or pseudo-museums, would compliment the company's AP Houses the posh, residential-like lounges in top cities around the world that have become popular with top clients. "My passion and our belief is that we have also responsibility of divulging the culture of watchmaking and its accomplished history of serving humanity," she said. "We're trying with the new models of retail to open up the doors to people who cannot buy and they are simply interested in watchmaking to at least have an access to the brand." In the end, no matter how strong or weak the luxury market, Resta says selling five- and six-figure watches is all about creating emotion. She said wealthy watch buyers need to feel a sense of belonging and connection when they buy a hyper-luxury watch. It traces back to the company's roots in the Jura mountains, its generations of master watchmakers creating miniature wonders, and the care taken with each watch over generations, no matter the owner. "Yes, we sell time pieces that are extremely precious, extremely complex to sell. But what we really sell is an emotion, we sell interaction, we sell intimacy to our clients," she said. "When you hear the stories of how they made that watch, how it ultimately got to your wrist, you cannot help but look at your watch as a gift of love, respect and obsession with detail, of someone who spent months or years making that watch for your wrist." watch now In this article .SPX UBI-FR .STOXX C GS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A screen displays the Kospi index and the exchange rate between the South Korean won and US dollar inside a trading room at Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. What you need to know today The bottom line South Korea can't catch a break. In the past month, the country's been placed under martial law, had its sitting and stand-in president impeached, is at its second acting president (so far) and suffered a tragic plane crash. How have those events affected the Korean market? Going by the Kospi index: not much. The index, which tracks all common stocks listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, is now higher than it was on Dec. 3, when impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Its resilience can be traced to Korea's political history and the Bank of Korea's swift and perhaps serendipitous actions. Yoon and Han Duck-soo are only the latest two presidential figures to be impeached in Korea's history. Prior to them, Roh Moo-hyun was impeached in 2004 (though the court overturned it), while Park Geun-hye was impeached in 2016 and removed from office the next year. "Presidential impeachments aren't unprecedented in Korea, and the country's equities, at least, ultimately fared quite well during the most recent one in 2016/2017," Thomas Mathews, head of markets for Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, said. Uncertainties caused by the Korea's past two impeachments "have subsided within three to six months," Soohyung Lee, Monetary Policy Board member at the Bank of Korea, told CNBC on Jan. 2, so "it's possible that the political turmoil may not take as much of a toll on the country's economy." The Bank of Korea's actions also seemed to calm markets. Within the day of Yoon lifting martial law, the BOK announced emergency measures to calm markets and prevent volatility. Likewise, a surprise 25 basis point rate cut by the BOK at its November meeting, enacted before Yoon declared martial law in December, could have cushioned the blow. Internal factors might not be the biggest threat to the Korean economy and markets in the year ahead. The downside risks posed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs are more worrisome, especially for an export-driven country like Korea, Lee said. Korea's recent troubles demonstrate that when one branch of government fails, other institutions can still prop up a country and its economy but it's much harder to deal with the governments of others. CNBC's Lim Hui Jie and Lee Ying Shan contributed to this report. File: Guests eat at Great Maple Restaurant at the Pixar Place Hotel at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. A former Disney employee agreed to plead guilty in a federal criminal case where he is accused of hacking into menu-creation software for the company's restaurants, to falsely indicate that certain food items did not contain potentially deadly allergens such as peanuts, a court filing Friday shows. Michael Scheuer is also accused of making other changes to Disney restaurant menus, including altering fonts, causing some pages to be blank and changing information about wines to replace geographic regions with the locations of "recent mass shootings," the filing says. In one instance, Scheuer added "a swastika" to a menu, according to the plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Orlando, Florida. He has agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts computer fraud and aggravated identity theft. The Court Watch news site first reported the plea agreement. The changes that he made to allergen information on menus "focused on peanut, tree nut, shellfish, and milk allergens," according to the filing. "Scheuer added notations to menu items indicating they were safe for people with specific allergies, which change could have had fatal consequences depending on the type and severity of a customer's allergy," the filing said. Although it is believed that "some numbers" of the altered menus were ultimately printed, "it is believed that all altered menus were identified and isolated prior to being shipped out" to Disney restaurants." The plea agreement says that Disney no longer uses the third-party menu creation application that Scheuer hacked into. The company "has moved to a manual menu approval and distribution process while a new system is developed." Scheuer was fired as a menu production manager last June. In August, the plea agreement says, Scheuer launched a cyberattack "designed to continually lock" Disney employees out of their company online accounts. Many of the 14 employees targeted in the so-called denial-of-service attack had some kind of interaction with Scheuer when he worked at the company. Federal agents raided Scheuer's residence on Sept. 23, the filing said. The denial-of-service attacks ceased minutes before agents first made contact with him, and did not restart after his computer was seized, according to the filing. A criminal complaint filed in October accused him of accessing menu-creation software on the heels of his termination and making the changes to Disney restaurant menus over a three-month period. About a month after the raid, Scheuer traveled to the residence of one of the DOS attack targets, the plea agreement said. Scheuer is seen on security camera footage parking in front of the target's home at night, approaching the front door, inspecting the label of a package outside the door, and then "giving a thumbs up to the camera" before walking back to his car, the filing said. A rising competitive landscape is set to weigh on Advanced Micro Devices even more, according to Goldman Sachs. The bank downgraded the semiconductor stock to neutral from buy, also cutting its 12-month price target to $129 from $175. This updated forecast represents a less than 6% upside for shares of AMD. Shares of AMD shed 18% in 2024 and have added less than 1% this year. AMD 1Y mountain AMD 1Y chart Analyst Toshiya Hari thinks the stock is essentially stuck at current levels until further notice. "We believe the underperformance was driven by weakness in PC and traditional end-demand as well as, more recently, slower-than-expected growth in Data Center GPUs," he wrote. "We now believe the stock will remain range-bound on a relative basis until the market regains confidence in AMD's future growth and margin trajectory." A more competitive landscape for custom central processing units will result in more modest market share gains for AMD through 2026, he wrote. Likewise, moderating growth for data center graphics processing units will keep the stock in check, he said. Hari also believes AMD will be investing heavily for the time being as it tries to compete with Nvidia. This is good for the company's long-term growth but may present some near-term challenges, he added. "While we perceive management's organic and inorganic investments past and current in a positive light, we expect spending on R & D and SG & A to grow strong double-digits (%) irrespective of the demand environment and for this to weigh on earnings growth and, in turn, the stock's valuation multiple," the analyst wrote. This isn't the first downgrade AMD received this week. HSBC on Wednesday double downgraded the chipmaker to reduce from buy, also citing strong competition. "We see additional downside as we now believe its AI GPU roadmap is less competitive than we previously thought," analyst Frank Lee wrote. Most analysts remain bullish on AMD. Of the 54 analysts who cover the stock, 42 rate it as a buy or a strong buy. The average analyst price target implies upside of 47.8%. Julian Arreola (left) on the cocktail shakers and Bree Flores (right) on the steps to grab at Oakland bar Friends and Family in 2021. The bar is raising funds for aid in Los Angeles through its drinks. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle A growing number of Bay Area bars and restaurants are hoping to help those affected by devastating Los Angeles wildfires: At least 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders, and the two largest fires, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire, are now the most destructive in Los Angeles County history. In an effort that recalls past disasters, like wildfires in Wine Country and the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many civic-minded businesses are donating a portion of their proceeds, while other operators are collecting donated items to distribute to those in need. The following is a running list of Bay Area restaurants, cafes and bars offering fundraising specials or participating in mutual aid efforts, in alphabetical order. 18 Reasons San Francisco cooking school 18 Reasons and food group Proof Collective are hosting a bake sale to raise funds for World Central Kitchen, which is providing meals to those affected by the fires, on Jan. 18, 9 a.m. to noon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 3674 18th St., San Francisco Bar Part Time San Francisco natural wine bar Bar Part Time is hosting a fundraiser on Jan. 15, 7-11 p.m., with all proceeds going to wildfire victims. 496 14th St., San Francisco Besharam From Jan. 10-17, San Francisco Indian restaurant Besharam will donate a percentage of sales from its tasting menu to World Central Kitchen. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 1275 Minnesota St., San Francisco Black Jet Baking Co. San Franciscos Black Jet Baking Co. is making a special coconut cake inscribed with I love L.A., inspired by the Randy Newman song. All proceeds will be donated to Restaurants Care, which has launched a relief fund to provide support to food and beverage workers affected by the wildfires. The food and beverage community is the strongest, kindest and most resilient I know, owner Gillian Shaw Lundgren wrote on Instagram. In these times, I look to be busy and offer comfort the best way I know, through cake, treats and hard work. 833 Cortland Ave., San Francisco Blooms End Petaluma bakery Blooms End will donate all pastry and drink sales on Sunday, Jan. 19, to the California Community Foundation and Pasadena Humane. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 5300 Red Hill Road, Petaluma Casements Bar A community bake sale will be held at San Francisco bar Casements on Jan. 26, 3-6 p.m. Local bakers will provide sweet and savory pastries, and the bar will serve a drink special. Proceeds will go to the California Community Foundations Wildfire Recovery Fund. 2351 Mission St., San Francisco DGrobak Indonesian street food truck DGrobak will donate a portion of sales to World Central Kitchen. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dolores Deluxe San Francisco corner store Dolores Deluxe will donate all sales from its Luxies (fruit slushies) through Jan. 17 to the California Fire Foundation. Sales from the stores chocolate chip cookies will go to support a former employee whose parents lost their Altadena home in the wildfire. 3500 22nd St., San Francisco El Chato This Spanish wine bar in San Francisco is hosting a fundraiser for industry workers and others affected by the fires on Jan. 14., 4-10 p.m. A large portion of sales will be donated, according to an Instagram post. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 2301 Bryant St., San Francisco Flea St. Cafe Menlo Park institution Flea St. Cafe will donate half of all cocktail and mocktail sales for the month of January to World Central Kitchen. 3607 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park Flour + Water; Penny Roma; Flour + Water Pizzeria The Flour + Water Hospitality group is raising funds for World Central Kitchens operations in Los Angeles, where the nonprofit aid group founded by chef Jose Andres is distributing meals to first responders and the public. From Jan. 10 to Jan. 17, flagship restaurant Flour + Water will donate $5 from every tasting menu ($139 per person); nearby spinoff Penny Roma will donate $5 from every tasting menu ($89 per person); and North Beach pizza restaurant Flour + Water Pizzeria will donate $2 from every Margherita pizza order ($19) including takeout but not including third-party delivery. From every order of a glass of house wine at any of the restaurants, $1 will also be donated. 2401 Harrison St., San Francisco; 3000 20th St., San Francisco; 532 Columbus Ave., San Francisco Friends and Family Oakland queer-owned bar Friends and Family is sending sales from its shot specials toward victims of the Los Angeles fires, the business posted on Instagram. For the month of January, funds from their daily affirmation shot specials, which typically benefit those seeking gender affirmation surgery, will go toward fire relief. 468 25th St., Oakland Gioia Pizzeria San Franciscos Gioia will give a portion of sales to the California Community Foundations Wildfire Recovery Fund the weekend of Jan. 11-12. 579 Hayes St., San Francisco Half Moon Bay crab feed Proceeds from a crab feed in Half Moon Bay, organized by a local surfer and sponsored by Half Moon Bay restaurants, will be donated to first responders who have been affected by the wildfires. The event will take place Jan. 25, 1-6 p.m. Tickets are available online. 199 West Point Ave., Half Moon Bay Healthyish Republic Mission District restaurant Healthyish Republic is donating all sales from its breakfast and popular Turkish brunch on Saturday, Jan. 18 and Sunday, Jan. 19 to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and California Community Foundations Wildfire Recovery. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2290 24th St., San Francisco Hella Bagels Albany bagel shop Hella Bagels will donate sales from a special bagel sandwich the weekend of Jan. 11-12 to Feed the Streets, a Los Angeles nonprofit that distributes donated food, clothing and other items. 1019 San Pablo Ave., Albany Joodooboo Oakland tofu shop and Korean restaurant Joodooboo is receiving donations to be distributed to United American Indian Involvement Inc. To be collected are N95 and KN95 masks; diapers; tampons and pads; shelf-stable foods; jackets; blankets; flashlights and batteries; first aid supplies; syringes for insulin and sharps containers. Donations will be received from 2-7 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Jan 11. 4201 Market St., Oakland La Honda Winery This Redwood City winery tasting room will donate 10% of sales to the Pasadena Humane Society on Jan. 18. 2645 Fair Oaks Ave., Redwood City La Routine This San Francisco pastry popup will host a fundraiser on Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m, at the Gambit in Hayes Valley. All proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen. Preorders for baked goods including caramelized apple custard buns and garlic confit-thyme focaccia are available online. 581 Hayes St., San Francisco Masterpiece Coffee Berkeley micro roaster Masterpiece Coffee is donating a percentage of sales from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12 to purchase essentials for children and families, including diapers, wipes, baby bottles, hygiene products and masks. 1715 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley The Mill San Francisco bakery the Mill will donate $1 of every loaf sold Jan. 15-19 to World Central Kitchen. 736 Divisadero St., San Francisco Monterey Fish Market Berkeleys famed Monterey Fish Market will sell a special Dungeness crab roll, with all the proceeds going to World Central Kitchen, on Jan. 17-18, starting at 10 a.m. each day until sold out. Nopa San Francisco restaurant Nopa will donate proceeds of pastry boxes sold on the weekends of Jan. 18 and 25 to the Los Angeles Fire Department and World Central Kitchen. Preorders are available online. 560 Divisadero St., San Francisco Oakland Yard Wine shop Oakland Yard will donate proceeds from its Welcome Wednesdays food series on Wednesday, Jan. 15 to the Mutual Aid LA Network. (This weeks dinner will feature butter bean stew made by Bartavelle co-owner Suzanne Drexhage with sourdough bread from Oakland home bakery Eds Breads. 420 40th St., #2, Oakland Oaktown Spice Shop Bay Area spice purveyor Oaktown will give 10% of sales from its stores and website to the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund on Thursday, Jan. 16. 546 Grand Ave., Oakland; 2132 Fillmore St., San Francisco; 1224 Solano Ave., Albany Octavia San Francisco restaurant Octavia is reviving its weekend pastry popup to fundraise for wildfire victims. Head there on Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for pastries like beef bulgogi croissants, banana cream pie doughnuts and meyer lemon meringue danishes. All proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen. 1701 Octavia St., San Francisco Of All Places This Berkeley market will donate 10% of all wine sales in January to support essential workers, including cooks and landscapers, impacted by the wildfires. 1841 Solano Ave., Berkeley Pearl 1601 All sales of this San Francisco restaurants Manzanita cocktail will be donated to people impacted by the fires. 6101 California St., San Francisco Polaris Cafe Polaris Cafe in Emeryville will donate all proceeds on Jan. 18, 8 a.m. to noon, to World Central Kitchen. 5858 Horton St., #151, Emeryville Popoca Oakland Salvadoran restaurant Popoca is donating all proceeds from orders of its loroco pupusas through Jan. 18 to mutual aid funds helping those affected by these brutal fires. Representatives for the restaurant in Old Oakland wrote on Instagram they were sending so much love to our LA family. These fires are devastating. 906 Washington St., Oakland Rorys Bakehouse Napas Rorys Bakehouse will donate a portion of the bakerys sales the week of Jan. 11 to animal shelter Pasadena Humane. 2766 Old Sonoma Road, Napa Rose Pizzeria Through Feb. 5, Berkeley's Rose Pizzeria is donating 15% of sales from a special pizza to Slice Out Hunger, which is distributing pizza for displaced people at emergency and homeless shelters, food banks and other sites in Los Angeles. 1960 University Ave., Berkeley Shouk Shouk in San Francisco is teaming up with local bakers to host a bake sale on Jan. 18, noon to 3 p.m. All proceeds will go to Mutual Aid LA. 2015 Balboa St., San Francisco The Snug At Pacific Heights bar the Snug, $3 from each City of Angels cocktail ($16) will support the California Fire Foundation and the Pasadena Humane Society. The drink is a spirit of choice, kumquat, rosemary vermouth, citrus and rosewater. 2301 Fillmore St., San Francisco Square Pie Guys The San Francisco pizza chain Square Pie Guys is hosting a one night fundraiser at their SoMa location on Monday, Jan. 13 from 5 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. A special menu of bar pies will be served, with all revenue going to Slice Out Hunger, which works with local pizzeria to provide food to wildfire victims. 1077 Mission St., San Francisco Stanford A community bake sale will be held at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Jan. 23, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to the California Fire Foundation. Popular local businesses including Boichik Bagels, Manresa Bread and the Midwife and the Baker will participate. Stanford Graduate School of Business Town Square, 655 Knight Way, Stanford. SusieCakes Southern California bakery SusieCakes, which was born in Brentwood but has locations throughout the Bay Area, will donate all sales of special heart-decorated cupcakes to the Red Cross, Canine Rescue Club and Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. Multiple locations in San Francisco, Menlo Park, Lafayette, Marin, San Carlos and San Jose. susiecakes.com/locations Swensens San Francisco ice cream institution Swensens is holding a fundraiser on Jan. 18, noon to 10 p.m. All sales will be donated agencies supporting wildfire victims. 1999 Hyde St., San Francisco Tay Ho For every bowl of pho and every banh mi sold, this Oakland Vietnamese restaurant will donate $2 to a fire victims fund. 344 12th St., Oakland Third Culture Bakery The gluten-free mochi bakery, with locations in Berkeley and Walnut Creek, will donate $1 for every Chili Crisp Mochi Muffin sold this month to the California Fire Foundation. 2701 8th St., Berkeley; 310 S. California Blvd., Walnut Creek Trader Vics Emeryvilles Trader Vics is serving as the drop-off site for a Bay Area-based donation drive. People can drop off new or barely used clothes and new or unused toiletries on Sunday, Jan. 12, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Other local food businesses are also serving as drop-off sites, and will bring the donations to Trader Vics: Goodthing Coffee (Saturday, Jan. 11, 8 a.m.- 4p.m. at 341 Primrose Road, Burlingame), Tal Palo (Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at 149 Main St., Los Altos) and Alkali Rye (by Sunday, Jan. 12, at noon at 3256 Grand Ave., Oakland). A group of volunteers will drive the donations to Los Angeles to be distributed. More information about donations is here. 9 Anchor Drive, Emeryville Trick Dog San Francisco cocktail favorite Trick Dog will host an All Hands LA fundraiser in conjunction with bars in Southern California on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 4 p.m. to midnight. The Trick Dog team will recreate cocktails from five popular Los Angeles bars: Thunderbolt, Death & Co., Mirate, Employees Only LA and Dante Beverly Hills. All sales on this day will go to Another Round Another Rally, a nonprofit supporting the hospitality industry. 3010 20th St., San Francisco Winstons Downtown Napa cafe Winstons is hosting a donation drive for fire victims. Drop off items including bottled water, clothing, and pet food. 1517 3rd St., Napa Yo Tambien Cantina San Franciscos Yo Tambien Cantina will donate all sales from its michelada to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. 205 Hugo St., San Francisco Zola Palo Alto French restaurant Zola is offering a fundraising menu Jan. 10-11, including special cocktails and a grilled cheese, and donating half of all sales to Feed the Streets and World Central Kitchen. My top 10 things to watch Friday, Jan. 10 1. Stock futures moved lower after the December jobs report came in much hotter than expected. The Dow was down more than 300 points, and the yield on the 10-year Treasury note jumped to around 4.78%, its highest level in over a year. The U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs last month versus expectations of 155,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%. 2. Advanced Micro Devices was downgraded by Goldman Sachs. Once again, no sense that the chip designer is catching up to longtime Club name Nvidia in the artificial intelligence market. That's why we exited our position in AMD late last year. 3. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported record quarterly sales that were well ahead of expectations, rising 34% year over year on the back of strong AI demand. Good news for TSMC customers Nvidia and fellow Club stock Apple . 4. Citigroup upgraded McDonald's to a buy from neutral and upped its price target on shares to $334 each from $311. Analysts expect the fast-food giant to lean back into "its scale advantages" and use nationwide advertising to help win back lost customers who were turned away by higher prices. This is a stock that analysts can never stay away from. 5. Two more notable restaurant calls from Citi: Analysts upgraded salad chain Sweetgreen , citing financial benefits from its automation technology known as Infinite Kitchen. They downgraded Taco Bell and KFC owner Yum Brands , though, over the lingering risks of store closures around the world. 6. RBC Capital upgraded both KB Home and Lennar to hold-equivalent ratings from underperform, saying the homebuilders' shares are more attractively valued after their gigantic declines. The stocks have been crushed since Sept. 19, as mortgage rates started to move higher despite the Fed commencing its cutting cycle. 7. Piper Sandler upgraded Nike to a buy-equivalent overweight rating from neutral, admitting the call may be early. Analysts like new CEO Elliott Hill's renewed sense of mission in turning Nike around. I'm not sure anymore with the emergence of On Holding and Deckers Outdoor -owned Hoka and the rise of New Balance and Adidas . 8. Oil traded at its highest level since early October on Friday morning. Expectations of stronger demand from China and potential supply disruptions due to Western sanction are among the drivers of the move. I'd consider buying more of Club oil-and-gas producer Coterra Energy , which has found some momentum. 9. Delta Air Lines shares are surging on earnings and a strong 2025 outlook. This may become the best financial year in the company's history, CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC . Is the industry secular or cyclical? Can't even tell anymore. We're in an experience economy. Partnerships matter. Delta also is launching an AI-powered concierge feature in its app. 10. Nuclear power plant operator Constellation Energy announced a deal to buy privately held power producer Calpine in a nearly $27 billion deal. Cash-and-stock transaction. This is part of the mounting M & A wave, and it's why we recently started a position in Goldman Sachs for the Club. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Pedestrians walk past a "hiring now" sign posted outside Wegmans in New York City. Adam Jeffery | CNBC My top 10 things to watch Friday, Jan. 10 Nordstrom on Friday raised its full-year sales outlook, after holiday shopping at its stores and on its website came in stronger than the department store's cautious expectations. The company stuck by its profit guidance despite the higher sales guidance. The Seattle-based retailer said it now expects full-year revenue growth of 1.5% to 2.5%, which includes the effect of having one fewer fiscal week. That compares to its previous outlook of flat to up 1%. Nordstrom struck a conservative note with its outlook in late November, despite topping Wall Street's expectations for fiscal third-quarter sales. It had projected full-year revenue to range from flat to up 1%. It said adjusted earnings for the year would range between $1.75 and $2.05 per share. Its revenue includes retail sales and credit card revenue. On an earnings call at the time, CEO Erik Nordstrom said the company had seen "a noticeable decline in sales trends towards the end of October" and factored that into its forecast. Yet in a news release on Friday, he chalked up better-than-expected holiday sales to the company's "efforts to remain competitive in the promotional environment and the strength of our offering." Nordstrom said net sales rose 4.9% and comparable sales, a metric that takes out the effect of store openings and closures, increased 5.8% for the nine-week holiday period that ended Jan. 4 compared with the year-ago quarter that ended Dec. 30. During the holiday period, net sales at the Nordstrom banner increased 3.7% and comparable sales rose 6.5%. At Nordstrom Rack, the company's off-price banner, net sales were up 7.4% and comparable sales increased 4.3%. The department store operator's results provide more insights for investors monitoring the health of U.S. consumers and the performance of retailers during the key shopping season. Retailers, including Walmart, Best Buy, Macy's and others, will report earnings starting in late February. So far, early holiday numbers have looked promising. Online spending in the U.S. rose nearly 9% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 compared to the year-ago period and totaled $241.4 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. Retail sales for the holiday season in the U.S., excluding automotive sales, rose 3.8% year over year for the period from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures in-store and online sales across payment types. Nordstrom's update comes as the founding family prepares to take the retailer private. Nordstrom announced in late December a roughly $6.25 billion buyout deal with the family and Mexican department store El Puerto de Liverpool. The transaction, which was approved by the company's board of directors, is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Shares of Nordstrom closed at $24.01, down roughly 4% from its 52-week high. The company is scheduled to report its full fourth-quarter and full-year results on March 4. A view of offshore oil and gas platform Esther in the Pacific Ocean on January 5, 2025 in Seal Beach, California. Oil prices jumped on Friday as the U.S. Treasury Department announced sweeping sanctions against Russia's oil industry. Brent gained $2.84, or 3.69%, to close at $79.76 per barrel, while U.S. crude oil advanced $2.65, or 3.58%, to settle at $76.57 per barrel. The benchmarks closed at their highest levels since October. The sanctions target Russian oil companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas and their subsidiaries, more than 180 tankers, and more than a dozen Russian energy officials and executives. The sanctioned executives include Gazprom Neft CEO Aleksandr Valeryevich Dyukov. The sanctioned vessels are mostly oil tankers that are part of Russia's "shadow fleet" that has dodged existing sanctions on the country's energy exports, according to the Treasury Department. "The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia's key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. Stellantis North America Chief Operating Officer and Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa speaks during the Stellantis press conference at the Automobility LA 2024 car show at Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 21, 2024. DETROIT Stellantis' top priority for the U.S. this year is to grow its retail market share after several years of declining sales in its largest, most crucial market. Antonio Filosa, head of the embattled automaker's North American operations since October, said Stellantis aims to grow U.S. retail sales and market share this year with the assistance of a revamped U.S.-focused leadership team and by mending bonds with dealers, including offering additional incentives, and releasing new products. "This is obviously what we need to do," Filosa said Friday during a media roundtable at the Detroit Auto Show. "U.S. retail market share is our main priority." Stellantis' U.S. sales, including retail and fleet, have declined every year since 2018. That includes sales by Fiat Chrysler, which merged with French automaker PSA Groupe in 2021 to form Stellantis. The company's overall U.S. market share fell from 12.6% in 2019 to 9.6% in 2023, according to annual public filings. Leaders of Stellantis' U.S. auto brands during separate interviews Friday said they're facing a a grow or die mentality for 2025. They also expressed optimism about the company's recent changes and direction. "We've got very aggressive strategies," Bob Broderdorf, head of Jeep in North America, told CNBC. "If you shopped us six months ago, it's a very different story right now." Stellantis' sales, as well as bottom line, have been hit hardest by declines of Jeep and its Ram Trucks brands in recent years. Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Friday's key moments. 1. Stocks sold off Friday as a hotter-than-expected December jobs report forced investors to recalibrate their expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in the year ahead. Before the release traders already overwhelmingly expected the Fed to keep them steady at their January meeting. Now after seeing that 256,000 jobs were added in December, odds of another skip in March increased to 74%, up from 56% a day ago. Equities are being hurt by a spike in bond yields on expectations of higher economic growth, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note trading around 4.75%. A portfolio stock that's pushing back on bonds Friday is Home Depot , with shares up nearly 1%. We added to our position earlier Friday, given Jim Cramer sees it as the "ultimate rebuild play" from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Home Depot tends to see an increase in sales from recovery and rebuild following such disasters. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the fires. 2. Shares of Corona brewer Constellation Brands fell 12% Friday after reporting misses on the top and bottom lines for its fiscal third quarter. Both its beer and its struggling wine-and-spirits businesses played a part in the disappointment. While management stepped up its stock buyback program and raised its free cashflow outlook, those moves weren't enough to instill confidence for investors, including us. We're downgrading Constellation Brands stock to our 3 rating because the category weakness in alcohol has caught up to its once-stellar Mexican beer portfolio, which is no longer the same growth story. We are evaluating our price target and will let you know the update when we send our full earnings analysis in the afternoon. 3. A second retail stock in the portfolio is defying the broader market Friday, and that is Costco , with shares about about 0.25%. The membership-only retailer reported strong December monthly sales Wednesday evening, getting a lift from the holiday shopping season. It saw strength across food and non-food categories. Jim said he is confident the stock "can have a major run" this year after gaining almost 40% in 2024. 4. Stocks covered in Friday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Walgreens , Constellation Energy , Delta Air Lines , ON Semiconductor , and AbbVie . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long HD, STZ, COST. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan with his attorney Todd Blanche (L) at Manhattan Criminal Court on January 10, 2025 in New York City. Curtis Means | Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced without any penalties Friday in his New York criminal hush money case, 10 days before his inauguration for a second White House term. Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to "unconditional discharge," meaning no jail, no probation and no fine. But the sentence will still formally make Trump the first criminal convict ever to occupy the Oval Office. "This has been a very terrible experience," Trump, who attended the hearing remotely, said before receiving the sentence. "This has been a political witch hunt," he said, claiming the case was brought "to damage my reputation so I would lose the election." watch now A jury in May found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment his then-personal lawyer paid porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election. Daniels was paid for her silence about claims she had sex once with Trump a decade earlier, claims the president-elect has denied. Merchan said that an unconditional discharge was the only lawful sentence he could deliver without encroaching on the office of the presidency. The protection of that office "is a factor that overrides all others," Merchan said. "Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen, Donald Trump the criminal defendant, would not be entitled to such considerable protections," he said. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan at Manhattan Criminal Court on January 10, 2025 in New York City. Jeenah Moon | Getty Images Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass noted at the start of the hearing that the charges against Trump each carry a sentence of up to four years in state prison. But "the People recommend a sentence of unconditional release," said Steinglass. "We must be respectful of the office of the presidency, and mindful of the fact that this defendant will be inaugurated as president in 10 days," he explained. But the prosecutor also slammed Trump for his relentless attacks on the justice system throughout the case, saying the president-elect "caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system." Trump, appearing on a monitor wearing a red striped tie and sitting in front of American flags, frowned and looked bored during Steinglass' remarks. New York State Judge Juan Merchan sentences U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as he appears remotely alongside his lawyer Todd Blanche for a sentencing hearing in the criminal case in which he was convicted in 2024 on charges involving hush money paid to a porn star, as prosecutor Joshua Steinglass listens at New York Criminal Court in Manhattan in New York City, U.S., Jan. 10, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters Trump attorney Todd Blanche responded that he disagreed with the prosecutor about the validity of the case and about Trump's conduct. "It's a sad day for President Trump and his family and his friends, but it's also ... a sad day for this country," said Blanche, whom Trump picked to be deputy U.S. attorney general in the next administration. Despite his complaints in the courtroom, Trump declared victory on social media after the hearing. "The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt," Trump wrote on Truth Social. His post claimed that the penalty-free sentence proved the case lacked merit, even though Merchan made clear that he gave an unconditional discharge because Trump will soon be president. Sunrun could more than make up for last year's pullback going forward, according to UBS. The bank upgraded shares of the clean energy stock to buy from neutral. Analyst Jon Windham also lifted his price target to $17 from $14. The updated price target implies upside of around 58%. Shares of Sunrun have popped 16% already this year after tumbling 53% in 2024. RUN 1Y mountain RUN 1Y chart "RUN looks attractive given the shares trading near all-time low multiples despite emerging positive fundamental trends," Windham wrote, adding that Sunrun is emerging as the "clear market leader in a stabilizing residential solar market." Investor uncertainty toward the investment tax credit under a second Trump administration also contributed to Sunrun's sell-off last year. But the analyst believes these fears are overblown. "The key catalyst for shares is the fate of the renewable tax credits in budget reconciliation, potentially as soon as March-2025. We see revisions to tax credit expiry dates as more likely than a full repeal, and would be positive for sector valuations in our view," he wrote. Meanwhile, Sunrun's market share in California has already nearly doubled to 22% over the past year, providing a potential roadmap for other states seeking to expand their renewable capacities, according to the analyst. Shares rose more than 4% following the upgrade. Analysts in general are split on the stock. Of the 27 who cover it, 14 have a buy or strong buy rating on it, according to LSEG. Another 13 rate it as a hold or underperform. The U.S. has sued to block a proposed merger between American Express Global Business Travel Group and CWT Holdings, saying the $570 million deal would eliminate competition between the largest and third largest providers of business travel management services. The deal threatens to undermine competition for those services in the U.S., the Department of Justice said in the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday. "American businesses will face the consequences, seeing higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices," Doha Mekki, head of the DOJ's Antitrust Division, said. A spokesperson for GBTG said the case is flawed and the company is evaluating next steps. "We firmly believe that the proposed transaction would bring significant benefits to all business travel customers, suppliers, and employees," GBTG said in a statement. A spokesperson for CWT declined to comment. GBTG executives viewed the deal as an opportunity to absorb what they viewed as a "dangerous competitor," prosecutors said in the complaint. GBTG handled $28 billion of travel transactions in 2023, and has acquired several other travel companies in recent years, according to prosecutors. American Express has a minority stake in GBTG, which operates as a separate company. The deal announced in March had elicited concerns from British antitrust authorities. Omnichannel travel services provider Thomas Cook (India) Limited and group company SOTC Travel will launch direct flights from Ahmedabad to Bhutan, from April 2025 to enhance connectivity between Gujarat and Bhutan.Currently, travellers who wish to fly from Ahmedabad to Bhutan need to take connecting flights from Kolkata or Delhi, resulting in layovers and the inconvenience of several check-ins and terminal transfers. The direct flight will provide a hassle-free experience to travellers.Understanding the growing demand for outbound travel from Gujarat, the launch of the direct flights will allow tourists to explore Bhutan with ease. Moreover, the companies have launched a six-night tour package, which is designed to offer an authentic experience of Bhutan, accompanied by traditional Gujarati cuisine.In a press note, the companies said that the tour package will offer unique experiences to travellers from Gujarat, which including archery, riverside lunch in Punakha, donning traditional Bhutanese attire, dinner in Thimphu with a cultural performance, bonfire, and a light and music show.Authentic Gujarati cuisine will be served to visitors all through the tour, with Gujarati chefs stationed in Bhutan to prepare vegetarian and Jain dishes. Gujarati-speaking tour managers will guide guests from Ahmedabad to ensure a comfortable journey.Bhutan is the world's first carbon-negative nation and its lush valleys, Himalayan landscapes, iconic monasteries, and vibrant culture promise a one-of-a-kind experience for travellers.Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head Holidays, MICE, Visa, at Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, "Our direct flights from Ahmedabad to Bhutan are a game-changer for Gujarats travel market. This initiative embodies our focus on innovation and customer-centricity. Gujarat remains a crucial source market for us, and with Bhutans rising popularity, were well-positioned to offer a seamless travel experience that caters to the unique needs of Gujarati travellers. Were confident this launch will fuel substantial growth from the region in 2025." Elena Kadvany has been a reporter on the Chronicles Food & Wine team since 2021. She covers the ins and outs of the Bay Area food industry, from breaking news about the latest restaurant openings to investigative stories into wage theft and workers rights. In 2024, her food writing portfolio won second place in the Society for Features Journalism Excellence-in-Features awards. Previously, she covered restaurants and education for the Palo Alto Weekly; her work has also been published in Bon Appetit and the Guardian, and her reporting has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She can be reached at Elena.Kadvany@sfchronicle.com. New York-style slices from Outta Sight in San Francisco. The top-ranked pizza shop will open a new location in Chinatown next week. Cesar Hernandez/The Chronicle John Hill hands a customer an order at Outta Sight Pizza in San Franciscos Tenderloin. The pizza shop will open a new Chinatown location on Jan. 15. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Outta Sight Pizza, one of the Bay Areas best slice shops, will at last open its long-awaited Chinatown shop. The new location, at 643 Clay St., will open Wednesday, Jan. 15 with a menu sticking to Outta Sights tried-and-true formula of thin crust, New York-style slices and thick, rectangular lunch lady slices. Whole pies will be available, too. Co-owner Peter Dorrance said he is excited to finally open after landing a lease last May for a space where a boba tea shop and a sandwich shop previously operated. He and business partner Eric Ehler had an eye on Chinatown as they met while working at nearby Michelin-starred restaurant Mister Jius. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Weve been working really hard toward this, he said. Outta Sight Pizza owners Peter Dorrance, left, and Eric Ehler, photographed in 2023, discuss an order at their first restaurant in the Tenderloin. Their newest location will launch in the coming days. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Dorrance said the new Chinatown location will be similar to the teams hit Tenderloin pizzeria. The menu will be limited to pizza upon opening, though salads, sandwiches and chicken wings will eventually be added to the menu. There are plans to offer some more cheffy slices and pies, said Dorrance, though he didnt elaborate. Previously shared plans for the menu on Instagram included crispy slices ($5.50-$7.50) with cheese, pepperoni and spicy vodka sauce. Vegan New York-style slices with vegetables ($7.50) were also in the plans. And thick slices ($7.50-$8) were to include toppings such as sausage with giardiniera and butter chicken, a nod to the Bay Areas tradition of Indian pizza. Outta Sight baked its first pies as a pop-up in 2020 at Hayes Valley wine bar Fig & Thistle. In 2022 it launched its now popular location in the Tenderloin, at 422 Larkin St. There, a mix of customers bite into classic and seasonal pies in an unpretentious space, while hip-hop classics bump and Giants gear and retro action figures sit on a shelf. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While Outta Sight serves rotating specials such as a summer nectarine with ham pie, the pizza parlor specializes in classic slices like a puttanesca that command respect with crunch and tangy tomato sauce, according to Chronicle associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez. Domaine Carneros has debuted an oysters and bubbles pairing in a swanky new lounge. Provided by Domaine Carneros Dont let the surgeon generals recent alcohol warning deter you from planning a trip to Wine Country this winter. There are many new places to visit, and only some involve wine. Beyond the first-ever public tasting room from one of Napas most expensive wineries; floating, panoramic tasting decks; and a fancy oysters and bubbly experience, theres also an adorable treats window, a low-key sushi spot and Sonomas first tasting menu restaurant. Three additions a wine shop, cinnamon roll truck and an old-school burger shack notably got their starts elsewhere: San Francisco, Chicago and Virginia. Read on for eight developments in Napa and Sonoma counties. Find falls installment here. Advertisement Article continues below this ad French chateau debuts oysters and bubbly pairing The classic pairing of oysters and Champagne is now on deck at Domaine Carneros, the classic French chateau overlooking Highway 12 at Napa Valleys gateway. The sparkling wine house, owned by the famed Champagne Taittinger family, recently debuted the Salon des Reves, a 1920s-inspired downstairs lounge that looks into the winery. Sip three of Domaine Carneros top-tier sparkling wines alongside six raw oysters while you observe parts of the production process. You can also add more oysters, ceviche, tinned fish, caviar or additional beverages to your Plats de Perles tasting ($80). Try the Salon 75 ($22), the winerys twist on a French 75 featuring lemongrass syrup, juniper extract and lemon juice. 1240 Duhig Rd., Napa. domainecarneros.com Popular San Francisco wine shop and bar Decant has expanded to Napa. Jess Lander/The Chronicle Beloved S.F. wine bar expands to Napa Advertisement Article continues below this ad A popular San Francisco wine bar and bottle shop has added a second spot in Wine Country, but not where youd expect. Decants new location previously occupied by another popular Bay Area wine spot, Bay Grape is at the edge of suburbia, away from Napas tourist center. This gives it a true neighborhood bar vibe, and locals love to chill on its spacious patio, complete with firepits and luxe Pendelton blankets. Decant didnt make many monumental changes to the space, but owners Cara Patricia and Simi Grewal knocked down a wall, making it seem brighter and bigger. The shop, which has a $25 and under wall, focuses on lesser-known, independent and organic producers from California and beyond a similar selection as Bay Grapes, but a little more classic. Most notably, Decant has enhanced food offerings, including a lot of tinned fish, plus more extensive nonalcoholic and by-the-glass options than its predecessor. (Decant also stays open a little later). Check the calendar for recurring events, like blind tastings, open mic nights and wine education classes. 2999 Solano Ave., Napa. decantnapa.com Defunct Chicago burger shack reemerges in Sebastopol? The sudden closure of chef Jared Rogers Southern-inspired Petaluma restaurant Easy Rider coincides with his opening of Cock Robin, a classic Chicago burger chain, in Sebastopols Barlow marketplace. Rogers purchased the Cock Robin brand after it closed the last of its nostalgia-inducing burger and milkshake shacks in 2008. Founded in 1931, more than 20 Cock Robins were once scattered throughout Chicago suburbs; now, it has a shot at renewal in a small Wine Country city. The refreshed menu features seven different burgers (from $9.95), including a portobello burger, a green chile burger, buckets of fried chicken, sandwiches and salads. Rogers also brought back Cock Robins signature One in a Million milkshakes ($6.99), available in chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. 6700 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. cockrobin.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rory's Bakehouse treats are now available on demand from a cute, pink window in Napa. Jess Lander/The Chronicle Star baker opens to the public, finally Rory Kandell, the Napa baker famous for her frozen, ready-to-bake treats and her painful, candid battle with multiple sclerosis has finally made her delicious confections available on demand. Previously, the only way to snag something from Rorys Bakehouse was to place pre-orders from a weekly menu for pick up at a designated time. But now, you can also purchase Rorys bake-at-home items, plus fresh cookies, scones and other delights (like mini smores tartlets) on a whim (Wednesday-Saturday) from an adorable, pink-coated window just outside of downtown Napa. Dont miss the Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies, which have a cult following. 2766 Old Sonoma Rd., Napa. rorysbakehouse.com Winery relaunches after stock market failure Advertisement Article continues below this ad After taking his two Sonoma County wineries Truett Hurst and VML public in 2013, vintner Phil Hurst jumped at the chance to reclaim them last year when shareholders decided to sell the struggling brands. Then, just before the years end, Truett Hurst, a charming Dry Creek Valley winery that Hurst founded with biodynamic farming pioneer Paul Dolan in 2008, launched its comeback with a new urban tasting room. Longtime followers will undoubtedly miss the winerys calming, riverside view, but its trademark red Adirondacks made the move to the new spot. Behind a red roll-up door, the minimalist barn, located less than a mile off the Healdsburg Plaza, is large, open and white with rustic touches. Tastings of Truett Hurst wines, like Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, cost just $25. 428 Hudson St., Healdsburg. truetthurstwinery.com After suffering significant damage in a fire last summer, the Napa Valley Distillery opened a cocktail lounge in a new location. Jess Lander/The Chronicle Napas only distillery rises from the ashes The Napa Valley Distillery was badly damaged in a brush fire last summer. The space hasnt reopened, but the owners did start something new: the Club Room, an art-deco cocktail lounge on Napas bustling First Street. The Club Room is a low-key alternative to the distillerys tiny and buzzy ArBaretum, also located on First. But the cocktails ($18) here are just as beautiful and served alongside a small snack plate. Try the That Old Witchcraft, a riff on an Old Fashioned, or the Better Together, made with the distillerys Blueberry Brandy and Lemon Drop batched cocktail. There are two non-alcoholic options ($13), plus a spirits tasting flight ($25). Advertisement Article continues below this ad 1300 First St., #309, Napa. napadistillery.com Female sushi chef opens under-the-radar eatery While the $1.50 hot dog is tempting, skip it for fresh sushi on your next trip to Napas new Costco. This Costco does have a small sushi bar, but theres a far better option around the corner: Michi Japanese Cuisine, run by one of the only female sushi chefs in the Bay Area. Chef-owner Michiyo Hagio trained under Iron Chef star Hal Yamashita and her father was a sushi chef in Japan for more than 60 years. The tiny, unassuming restaurant, set in a former Subway, has a handful of tables and minimal decor. The menu is simple too, consisting of staples like miso soup, nigiri and a handful of rolls, curry rice and udon noodles. It hits the spot for an easy and satisfying meal that wont break the bank after youve stocked up on toilet paper and pet food. 902 Enterprise Way, Suite A, Napa. https://halnapa.com/ Kingpin Cinnamon Rolls in Napa serves gooey treats from its truck. Jess Lander/The Chronicle East Coast cinnamon rolls land in Wine Country A new Napa food truck serves up massive, absurdly doughy cinnamon rolls dripping in so much icing that a gooey puddle forms at the bottom of the takeout container. Raymond Naeyaert, the owner of Kingpin Cinnamon Rolls, has a long family history with the classic baked good. From a young age, he worked at his fathers famed mobile cinnamon roll business, Sons-Sational Cinnamon Rolls, a carnival-themed cinnamon roll shack that tours Virginia and West Virginia each year, drawing long lines wherever it stops. Naeyaert and his brother now run their fathers business, but when Naeyaert relocated to Napa last year, he decided to bring the concept to Wine Country. Tip: Take friends. Kingpins made-from-scratch rolls ($10) are so dense they can easily feed three people. Check Kingpins Instagram page for the latest updates on where its parked in downtown Napa. Check online for location in Napa. kingpinrolls.com High-end dining where you least expect it A cozy, Victorian-inspired restaurant has opened in the quiet enclave of Glen Ellen. Songbird Parlour, located within an events venue at the historic Jack London Village, has rich green walls, high ceilings and sleek marble tabletops. Chef Eric Moulton, a Sonoma County native, created a petite menu of beautifully plated dishes like head-on prawns in coconut curry ($28); espresso-braised pork belly ($22); and ricotta and arugula gnudi ($30). Pair your order with wine from a list of standout yet underrated Sonoma County producers, such as Coursey Graves and Sixteen 600. Everybody has their own personal favorite Monty Python sketch. For some, its the famous Dead Parrot routine; for others, its Nudge Nudge (though Im guessing no one will claim the cannibalistic undertaker bit). Then theres the iconic Ministry of Silly Walks, in which John Cleese plays an absurdly flexible civil servant working within the titular ministry, where he oversees grant applications for the development of new wacky ambulatory methods. According to Michael Palin, the idea began as a phrase he jotted down in his notebook. When he wasnt able to figure out what to do with the concept, he handed it off to Cleeses writing partner, Graham Chapman, who told Palin, I think we could do something with that. There are no bigger fans of the sketch than the residents of Brno, Czech Republic. This coming Saturday, the city will hold a Silly Walks March, which is just what it sounds like: Python fans will gather for a 90-minute march through the city streets, all while walking in a ridiculous manner inspired by Cleeses character Mr. Teabag. There is no dress code, but participants are encouraged to bring bowler hats and briefcases to match the original motif of the sketch. Advertisement Amazingly, this isnt the first time that Brno has held a Silly Walk March, the annual event has been going on for over a decade. Back in its first few years, the march was a more modest affair, with silly walkers consisting of only a few eccentric Python fans. But in 2024, the crowd had seemingly grown quite a bit. Although some marchers were more dedicated to their footwork than others. I mean, if you can hold a coffee cup while doing it, is it really silly walking? Advertisement Advertisement And Brno isnt the only town to hold events commemorating International Silly Walks Day, Reykjavik, Iceland had a similar march in 2017. And its organizer even convinced the city to erect special silly walk crossing signs for pedestrians. Advertisement These silly walkers may be on to something, an Arizona State University Professor once found that Cleeses silly walking routine has serious health benefits, telling CNN that reenacting Mr. Teabags stride for 11 minutes per day would meet the public health requirements for vigorous-intensity physical activity. Advertisement All of this is a tremendous response to a sketch that even Cleese wasnt a huge fan of at first. He tried to get the sketch dropped from the Pythons early live repertoire after just one bad outing, telling the others, See! Its not funny! He agreed to try it out just one more time, and everyone laughed forcing him to leave it in the show. However, he eventually retired the silly walking for good due to his two artificial hips and an artificial knee and a heavily infected left big toe. STORY LINK Pound Sterling Steadies Against Euro, Dollar but Analysts Warn of Further Downside Advertisement Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD) and Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rates slumped on Thursday as fears over the UKs borrowing costs continued to undermine Sterling.Pound Sterling weakened once again against most of its major counterparts, as concerns over rising UK borrowing costs continued to weigh on the British currency.In the early hours of the day, the yield on the benchmark 10-year UK government bond climbed to its highest point since 2008, fueling worries about the nation's financial stability.Michael Brown, a Senior Research Strategist at brokerage firm Pepperstone, said:This dynamic, of yields moving higher, as the respective currency falls, is a classic sign of fiscal de-anchoring taking place, and of participants losing confidence in the Government in questions ability to exert control over the fiscal backdrop. Were not at the Truss/Kwarteng stage just yet, but things are clearly on very shaky ground indeed.As a result, Sterling faced significant pressure throughout the day, failing to attract buyers and struggling against nearly all of its major competitors.On Thursday, the US Dollar (USD) gained ground against several of its major peers, benefiting from the FOMC meeting minutes released on Wednesday evening and Thursdays cautious market sentiment.The Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes reinforced the central bank's intention to slow the pace of its easing cycle this year, which provided a slight boost to USD, carrying through into Thursday's European trading session.Additionally, the risk-off market mood on Thursday contributed to the USD's modest gains, as investors sought the safety of the US Dollar amid negative trading conditions.Looking ahead, the main driver of movement for the Pound US Dollar (GBPUSD) exchange rate on Friday will likely be several high impact data releases from the US.America is set to release its latest non-farm payrolls data and unemployment rate for December.With the country's non-farm payrolls forecast to show a sharp decline at the end of last year, the USD could face significant headwinds as a result.Moreover, the US unemployment rate for December is expected to remain unchanged, which could further pressure the 'Greenback' as the week comes to a close.For the Pound, Sterling is likely to remain under pressure as it enters Friday's trading session, particularly if market concerns over the UK's financial situation continue to persist. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Sterling Forecasts STORY LINK Pound to Euro: 10-Week Low, Where Next? Advertisement Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound vs Euro exchange rate (GBP/EUR) slipped on Thursday as concerns over the UKs rising borrowing costs undermined the currency pairing.On Thursday, the Pound (GBP) faced another downturn, losing ground against most of its major trading partners as persistent worries about escalating UK borrowing costs continued to weigh on the currency's sentiment.Early in the day, the yield on the 10-year UK government bond climbed to its highest point since 2008, fueling concerns about the nation's financial stability.Michael Brown, Senior Research Strategist at brokerage Pepperstone, noted:This dynamic, of yields moving higher, as the respective currency falls, is a classic sign of fiscal de-anchoring taking place, and of participants losing confidence in the Government in questions ability to exert control over the fiscal backdrop. Were not at the Truss/Kwarteng stage just yet, but things are clearly on very shaky ground indeed.As a result, Sterling struggled to catch bids on Thursday and faced headwinds against nearly all of its major counterparts.On Thursday, the Euro (EUR) maintained its stability against most of its peers despite a mix of economic data releases.Initially, Germany's latest balance of trade figures surpassed expectations, with the export-driven nation exceeding its November export forecasts.However, this positive momentum was tempered by the Eurozone's retail sales data for the same period, which came in slightly below market expectations.Despite the mixed economic indicators, the single currency managed to hold its ground against nearly all of its major rivals, further supported by a risk-averse market sentiment.Looking ahead to Friday, the primary factor influencing the Pound Euro exchange rate will likely be the ongoing concerns over the UKs rising borrowing costs, given the absence of any significant data releases from the UK or the Eurozone.The recent spike in the yield on the 10-year UK government bond has intensified these concerns, casting doubt on the country's fiscal stability and the government's capacity to effectively manage its economic challenges.Any additional negative news or statements could further undermine confidence in the British currency as the week draws to a close. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Euro Forecasts 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. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks in July at a tech conference in Denver. Zuckerberg said this week that the company will cease fact-checking on Facebook. David Zalubowski/Associated Press Regarding Meta to scrap third-party fact checks (Page One, Jan. 8): Donald Trump says his threats against Meta are probably the reason for these changes by the company. In plain English, the felonious incoming president admitted to strong-arming the chief executive officer of the most used social media platform in the U.S. to compel him to parrot conservative talking points and give credence to the falsehood that fact-checkers are politically biased. We need fact-checkers more than ever with the incoming Trump administration chock full of climate deniers, anti-vaccine advocates, authors of Project 2025 and the unelected Elon Musk as the shadow president/oligarch. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Louise Kimball, Berkeley MAGA takes over Regarding The MAGA-ization of Mark Zuckerberg is now complete (Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, Jan 7): Joe Garofolis takedown of Mark Zuckerberg and his capitulation to Donald Trump was spot on. The Facebook founder has joined Amazons Jeff Bezos and many other oligarchs and politicians who have perfected the art of submission and appeasement. Suddenly, we live in a world where baseless lies, bigotry and crazy conspiracy theories are acceptable. Where have all the fighters and leaders gone? Advertisement Article continues below this ad John McCain is turning over in his grave. Gary Cavalli, Danville Prop 13 is here to stay Regarding Helps home ownership (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 8): Constantine Koutzoukis letter on Proposition 13 is short-sighted and self-centered. Lets be real. The people who rant about repealing Prop 13 are exaggerating the likelihood. No one in Sacramento is talking about repealing Prop 13. The most recent effort to touch Prop 13 was in 2020 and would have only reassessed commercial properties annually. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If we reformed only the commercial side, an estimated $12 billion would be generated for California each year. And even this common-sense reform only received token support from our leaders in Sacramento. We need to change how we view Prop 13 and remember this is a huge tax break for many homeowners and commercial property owners. Were allowing this tax break to take away funding for important public resources like, I dont know, fire departments. Gillian Garaci, San Francisco Dems need reversion Regarding Populism unpopular (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 6): Arthur Saginians letter about the Democrats and populism is on the right track but misses some history. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The abandonment of economic populism by the Democrats started with Bill Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council in response to Ronald Reagans landslide presidential wins in the 1980s. Clinton pushed the Democrats to the right and, in some senses, fulfilled Reagans vision with welfare reform and the North American Free Trade Agreement. President Barack Obama continued these policies when he bailed out Wall Street after the 2008 financial crash while leaving a million homeowners to suffer foreclosure. Yes, the Democrats need to change course and get back to their roots as the party of the working class. Robert Leeds, Oakland Theres more to milk National Milk Day will celebrate dairy on Saturday, but its time to rethink this tradition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dairy milk is biologically designed for calves, not humans. Consuming it not only disregards this fact but also perpetuates harmful practices within the dairy industry. Dairy production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution, taking a heavy toll on our planet. Additionally, dairy consumption is linked to health issues like lactose intolerance, which affects the majority of the global population. About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies Instead of celebrating dairy milk, lets embrace plant-based alternatives like soy, oat and almond milk. These options provide comparable nutrition without the environmental and ethical costs. By choosing plant-based milk, we support sustainability, protect animals and promote healthier lifestyles. National Milk Day should evolve to honor milk alternatives, not just those tied to the outdated dairy industry. Lets make choices that truly nourish ourselves and the planet. Many states and localities are amending marriage laws to reflect reality and incorporate strong and inclusive definitions of family. Yuri Arcurs/PeopleImages/Getty Images 2021 In November, Californians passed Proposition 3, wiping discriminatory language from the state Constitution and protecting the right to marry for same-sex couples. This amendment is long overdue, but true marriage equality requires more. Its time our marriage laws reflect reality and incorporate strong and inclusive definitions of family. Constantly striving for equal rights is the hallmark of progressive democracy, and its especially important now in an environment where dangerous, extremist ideologies threaten to claw back our rights. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have expressed a desire to revisit the 2015 Obergefell decision that legalized same-sex marriage. And with Republican control of the House, Senate and White House, the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act also could be at risk. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community who protested Californias ban on same-sex marriage 15 years ago, I am thrilled by the progress made in my home state and beyond. But California cant stop here. Prop 3 fell short for families with diverse relationship structures. This includes adults in multiple intimate relationships with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved. Current laws privilege marriage between two adults, but marriage as a civil status as opposed to a religious institution should be designed to support the needs of all families. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No matter their family composition, everyone should have the right to marry who they love. State and federal law afford married couples economic benefits, such as income tax deductions, Social Security survivor payments and the ability to enroll in a spouses employer-based health insurance policy. Unequal access to marital rights and benefits was a primary catalyst for the marriage equality movement, and it should motivate Californians to extend these benefits to all families. California municipalities are already taking steps toward protecting diverse family structures. Earlier this year, Oakland and Berkeley extended nondiscrimination laws to cover people in nonnuclear families, including consensually nonmonogamous relationships as well as multiparent families, step-families, multigenerational households and asexual relationships. Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, I am proud that they now prohibit discrimination based on family or relationship structure in areas such as housing, business establishments and public services. In Massachusetts the first state to allow same-sex marriage 20 years ago the cities of Somerville and Cambridge adopted similar protections last year. These cities went a step further, making history by passing the first two ordinances in the country to allow domestic partnerships of more than two partners. These victories arent happening in a vacuum. Theyre part of a growing trend to recognize the diversity of family structures in all facets of life. The movement has won inclusive family definitions in over a dozen state paid-sick time and leave laws. California expanded its definition of family in its paid family leave law to cover a designated person in addition to ones spouse or domestic partner. Coverage of a spouse and another chosen family member is critical to many workers in long-term, committed relationships with more than one partner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies To be sure, achieving inclusive marriage laws will be challenging. Conservatives cling to the fiction that marriage has been an unchanging institution for thousands of years. The truth is that for much of human history, marriage was primarily an economic arrangement designed to create alliances, secure wealth and ensure the continuity of family lines. Marriage laws were often inextricably linked to the oppression of women, viewing them as property to be passed from father to husband. Since its formation, the United States has redefined marriage many times, making it less discriminatory by eradicating coverture, legalizing interracial marriage, outlawing marital rape and passing no-fault divorce laws. What with everything going down in America, God knows why Elon Musk bothers to concern himself with grubby British politics on this grim husk of an island. Yet here he is, baiting Keir Starmer over grooming gangs and calling Jess Phillips a 'rape genocide apologist'. This seems a bit strong, even for someone like Jess, who is ever mindful of the sensitivities of her many Muslim constituents but the billionaire doesn't care. Firing off these florid insult bombs from the depths of his Texas lair, Musk is like some mad Bond villain hoping to overthrow a foreign power before flying to Mars for a green juice power brunch with Yoda and Doctor Who. However, I am grateful for his efforts. Not least of all because he has poked a big stick into the hornets' nest issue of grooming gangs, proving that little has changed in entrenched attitudes to this scandal. In the House this week, MPs voted to reject a Conservative bid to push for another national inquiry into the gangs and to be honest, I'm glad. There have been plenty of inquiries and official reports on this inflammatory subject. Another one would take years, cost millions and absolve everyone from everything anyway, so what is the point? Yet one wonders what the victims must feel as politicians once more jostle for position in the rush to claim the moral high ground, always more concerned about themselves and their own reputations than the girls whose lives have been blighted by the widespread abuse. It's been almost laughable, watching the Prime Minister and assorted politicians scramble to say they did their bit, when we all know that most of them did nothing of the sort. At least Elon Musk isn't afraid to rattle the chains and remind us all of the horror of this ongoing national disgrace, writes Jan Moir They are as guilty as each other of sticking their fingers in ears for years, cowering under a rock and keeping lips zipped for fear of being called racist, silenced by worries about upsetting 'community cohesion' amid the fear of being cancelled entirely by political correctness. All of this was caught in a blunt exchange on Wednesday between Reform's Rupert Lowe and Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham. 'The mass rape of young, white, working-class girls by gangs of Pakistani rapists is a rotting stain on our nation,' he said, while she retorted that she was 'disgusted' by his 'language' and urged parliamentarians to think about the victims and survivors instead of his words. Yet in 2017 she wrote an article for a tabloid newspaper, which began: 'Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls. There. I said it. Does that make me a racist? Or am I just prepared to call out this horrifying problem for what it is?' Miss Champion later complained that her words in the newspaper had been 'stripped of nuance' but all this does is illustrate the complexity of criticising an ethnic minority in this country. Of course, I hardly need add that not all the groomers were of Pakistani Muslim heritage but the majority of them were and no one should be ashamed or scared to say so. Why even bother with a multi-million-pound inquiry if we can't even discuss the matter honestly among ourselves? Look at us. Could anything be more appallingly British than the hand-wringing nincompoopery that accompanies every mention of grooming gangs in a country where the liberal Left seem to have decreed that everyone white is bad and everyone else is a saint? Misplaced liberalism has a lot to answer for. There is a social fracture in Britain caused by a corrosive, opportunistic mindset which turned Grenfell into a race issue, and which stands by as young men and boys are stabbed to death on London streets, when police practices such as stop-and-search just might help save them. Musk called MP Jess Phillips a 'rape genocide apologist' even though 'she is ever mindful of the sensitivities of her many Muslim constituents' It is the same mindset that finds the current BBC Panorama team deciding that the baddies in the Afghan war were the SAS and not the Taliban and saw human rights lawyers stop the former Conservative government from repatriating planeloads of convicted criminals back to Jamaica. It was this attitude that condemned thousands and thousands of vulnerable, white, working-class schoolgirls to unimaginable sexual abuse at the hands of these well-organised rape gangs. And if it wasn't race-based, as we are so often told, why weren't any Pakistani girls abused? Our capacity to self-harm as a nation must make us an international laughing stock, despite the fact that we all know what happened and who was to blame. Yet as recently as 2018, the Observer newspaper was chin-stroking its way through the issue, deciding: 'What lies at the root of such criminal behaviour is likely to be extremely complex. 'It is clearly wrong to imply, as many have, that faith and culture are the only driving factor. Profession may play a role: Asian men are more likely to work in the night-time economy, which gives them greater opportunity to exploit vulnerable children.' Spare me from this greasy piety. Go and read the court reports that detail the horror that these girls endured the anal pumps used on their bodies to facilitate easier access, being raped by four different men at the same time, being raped by multiple men in one session then come back and tell me oh dear, how sad, but it's just because these blokes worked in a late-night takeaway and couldn't resist the temptation. The brutes got away with it for years because they saw that in our tolerant, liberal society their ethnicity gave them a shield of immunity. They saw an opportunity and a weakness, so they took advantage of it, over and over again. The parents, the police and the social services who were supposed to be looking after these children have much to answer for, but the prevalent attitude that these girls didn't matter, or were somehow the architects of their own doom smoked through society in other invidious ways, too. Where were the celebrity activists, usually so keep to support any perceived injustices? If these victims had been black schoolgirls targeted by gangs of white men, there would be rioting on the streets, a song from Stormzy and a fundraising concert from Lily Allen at the very least. Instead, when taunted by Tommy Robinson on the issue, Lily claimed that: 'I've only ever been sexually assaulted by white males so I feel slightly biased.' Dear God, how did we get here? The problem is that these girls were the wrong kind of victims abused by the wrong kind of offenders resulting in few declarations of solidarity from feminists, from the establishment, from anyone, really. At least Elon Musk isn't afraid to rattle the chains and remind us all of the horror of this ongoing national disgrace. He deserves a tap on the shoulders with a lightsaber, at the least. Don't be so silly, Demi Quick, waft a peeled onion under my tear ducts and pass me a hankie. Demi Moore has just made an emotional speech to accept her best actress Golden Globe for her role in The Substance. 'I've been doing this a long time like over 45 years and this is the first time I've ever won anything,' she said. 'Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me I was a popcorn actress... 'I bought in and I believed that.' Actress Demi Moore at the Golden Globes in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday Did she really? Demi always gives me the impression of a woman who takes herself desperately seriously. And surely global sympathy for a Hollywood actress with an empty trophy cupboard but 160 mill in the bank will be limited in the extreme? One hopes so. I remember interviewing Demi back in 1997 when she was promoting a film called GI Jane, in which she starred as trainee Navy Seal and shaved off all her hair for the part. It was the kind of pseudo-feminist nonsense that would probably bag her an Oscar today, but all I remember is thinking how ghastly she was walking out after my first simpering, innocuous question to go and have her photograph taken. But Demi, why are you leaving, I cried? 'Because everyone remembers the pictures, nobody remembers the words,' she said. What a lot of popcorn, I thought. Then and now. Terrifying reminder that - rich or poor - life can change in an instant The Los Angeles wildfires are terrible to behold. It doesn't matter if you have sixpence or six million dollars, watching your house and everything in it burn to the ground must be horrific. 'One day you're swimming in the pool and the next day it's all gone. I thought I would be stronger than this. It tests your soul,' said actor James Woods, whose Pacific Palisades home is now a smoking ruin. The Los Angeles Times published a terrifying list of what to pack in your fire emergency go-bag. It had 18 items including water, torch, whistle, battery-operated radio, map, face masks and phone chargers. Actor James Woods' Pacific Palisades home is now a smoking ruin following the wildfires in Los Angeles In addition, fire officials also advised residents to pack the six Ps people and pets; papers and phone numbers; prescriptions; personal items you couldn't bear to lose, such as photographs and jewellery; personal computers; and plastic credit cards. I make that about ten Ps, but I am panicking just thinking about it. My sympathies to all those caught up in the infernal horror and admiration for those who managed to keep calm and get out, despite the flames, the looters and the influencers still recording inanities even after being told to evacuate. A reminder, if one were needed, that life can change in an instant. All those homes, businesses, livelihoods, dreams, plans, pets, fauna and foliage and memories, gone, gone, gone. It is heartbreaking. As brave Californians battle with the elements, parents in Wales are furious. Why? They have been told that they must come to school to change their children's nappies if the little perishers are not toilet-trained. How appalling that these mums and dads just lazily presumed teachers would step in on poop duty. Even worse that they have complained that refusing to nappy-change their tots is 'discriminatory'. Instead, they should be ashamed. No child should be going to school in a nappy or be unable to use a toilet. Are these the same parents who shop at Tesco in their pyjamas and don't know how to use a knife and fork? That is what it sounds like. Use this tourist windfall wisely Edinburgh is already a very expensive city to visit will plans to introduce a five per cent tourist tax have an impact? It will be around six per cent once VAT has been added and the city council rubbing their hands are wondering whether to cap it at five nights or seven. Lots of European cities levy a tourist tax. Manchester and Liverpool already charge visitors a tax, while New York City charges a mystifying barrage of overnight taxes, city taxes, occupancy taxes and hotel taxes that bump up your bill dramatically. All these monies are supposed to be used to improve local infrastructure, assist environmental initiatives and boost cultural heritage. A tourist tax would be a massive windfall for the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, writes Jan Forgive my cynicism, but is that where it really goes? NYC streets are still pitted with potholes, the subway is a disgrace, and the air quality is hardly alpine. A tourist tax would be a massive windfall for the Scottish capital. In 2023, there were a total of 5.34 million overnight tourism visits to the city but if the council is going to charge more, it must be utterly transparent about where every penny goes. Sonia Amoroso was a university student living off $50 a week when the idea of starting her own business came to mind. While studying communications, she brought her hugely successful health and beauty brands - Naturopathica with its famous FatBlaster, and Skin Doctors - to the market through her majors in research and advertising. 'I guess the boldness of youth made the process a little less overwhelming. When you are young and don't have a lot of responsibilities, you really don't have a lot to lose,' Sonia told FEMAIL. 'Both businesses I started were from home the first was a little more challenging as I was in a dilapidated house and had no income other than Austudy payments of about $50 a week. 'I had very little start-up capital, but I was very fortunate to be studying... so I was able to create advertising as part of my university projects which really saved me from having to invest in designers or agencies.' All she had to do was place the advertisements, which saw her take a small ad, generate income from it, and invest that into more and larger ads. 'It was a slower build but I was able to grow the brands organically like this. I never took on investors or funding, so I was able to limit my risk.' Her hard work paid off after she sold her two businesses to pursue a new venture. Fast forward to today, and Sonia is the CEO of freezeframe, Australia's top-rated clinical skincare brand, stocked in major retailers including Chemist Warehouse and Priceline. Sonia Amoroso (pictured) is the beauty mogul behind clinical skincare brand freezeframe Now, 15 years after founding freezeframe, the brand is recognised as one of Australia's best skincare brands, with celebrities like Sonia Kruger among its fans With a decade of experience working in the beauty industry, Sonia knew she wanted to create a skincare line that's clinically proven, affordable, designed as effective alternatives to aesthetic treatments, and delivers real results for customers. 'I had spent 10 years researching and developing skincare and I felt there was something missing,' Sonia recalled. 'Being in my 30s at the time, I wanted products that could extend my youth corridor and keep me looking young well into my 40s, 50s and even 60s. I wanted to develop what I like to call a line of youth extension products, or "youth extenders". 'I also felt that you shouldnt have to pay ridiculous prices to get results.' And so freezeframe was born in 2009. 'When I started the brand, I already had 10 years of skincare development under my belt, so the innovation was familiar, and I had very strong relationships with the best ingredient suppliers around the world,' Sonia said. 'I knew what ingredients worked and I had access to them - so I became determined to develop focused, multi-benefit products which would deliver extraordinary results, and keep women looking good and feeling confident throughout the years. 'freezeframe is about keeping your skin and body looking better for longer. The brand delivers products that are targeted problem solvers, so customers dont need a whole range of products or a complicated routine to achieve their goals.' The brand's PRO COLLAGEN SUNCEUTICAL reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 30 minutes with improvements over time. One user saw great results after using the product for 28 days However, starting the new skincare business wasn't easy, despite having already built two of Australia's most successful brands. 'It was still a challenge as I went from having a team of 120, to starting up again with one employee from my spare room at home,' she explained. 'Honestly, as hard as it was, it was the most exciting time in the business and I thrived on collaborating with ingredient laboratories on breakthrough new ingredients, and retailers in bringing the brand to life in store.' She started freezeframe with just one product: INHIBOX, which launched exclusively at upscale department chain Myer. 'I remember working late nights and weekends with the buyer to bring it to life. There is no doubt it was hard, but it was such a thrill,' Sonia said. 'Within a month we had the biggest selling skincare product in Myer. I am not going to lie, beating global giants like Estee Lauder to the top spot felt good. 'We launched the brand as a single product and over the following years, we launched targeted solutions, one at a time, to build a whole range of youth extending products covering the gamut of beauty concerns.' After building multiple businesses over the past 20 years, there are many life lessons she wishes she had known from the start. 'You think that pouring everything into your business is what you must do in the beginning, but its actually counter-intuitive. You need balance in order to manage the weight or you are just going to tip over,' she said. 'Also in the beauty industry, you are only as good as your last breakthrough keeping a focus on your customers needs and striving to deliver results for them is the only way to achieve long term success. 'We have to ask ourselves why we do what we do - what difference can we make in peoples life. It has to be about more than just success or money. 'I now know the importance of impact and whilst I may not have known this in the beginning, I am grateful that I do now.' Sonia Kruger's favourite product is the 48 HOUR WRINKLE FREEZE ICE ROLLER MASK As a busy working mum, Sonia said no day is typical for a CEO. 'There are so many elements to my role, from coming up with new products and discovering new active ingredients, to developing marketing campaigns. Of course, there is all the corporate and financial elements I need to tick off as well,' she said. 'I tail end the day doing all the usual mum things for my beautiful 12-year-old daughter, who starts high school this year and yes, I still pack her lunch and do the school run back and forth.' Despite her hectic work schedule and parenting, she still finds time to work out before leaving home every morning. 'I try to meditate and exercise before getting out the door as this really sets the day up for success,' she explained. Now, 15 years after founding freezeframe, the brand is recognised as one of Australia's best skincare brands, with celebrities like Sonia Kruger among its fans. Sonia's top tips to starting business Be obsessed with solving a problem: If you aren't solving a problem, you don't have a business. For me, it was not being able to find products that worked for myself, and knowing that many products either don't deliver, or are too expensive for the average person to use with any regularity. My brands are all made with my customers problems in mind (and let's be honest, they are my problems too). It gives me purpose and keeps me going in hard times. Learn (and live) the meaning of the word equanimity: Don't let the wins go to your head, and don't let the hard times strip your confidence and resolve. Start small but think big: I am a big believer in organic growth business is like a puzzle, you have to start in one corner, but always keep your eyes on the big picture. Perfection is the enemy of progress: My first packaging was not fancy, but the product inside was revolutionary. If I had waited to make everything perfect, I'd probably still be designing the packaging today Imitation is NOT the best form of flattery: Protect your IP like your business depends on it because it does. We have dealt with everything from copycats to counterfeits, having just won landmark cases in Australia and China. But if you stay focused on innovation and quality, customers stick with you. Most importantly, just do it: One of my favourite quotes is from the famous polymath Goethe, and it was hundreds of years before the Nike paraphrase: 'Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it. Advertisement What started as one product has now evolved into more than 20 best-selling items, with REVITALEYES being named the nation's number one eye cream four years in a row. The award-winning beauty formula has been praised for its ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye darkness in just 30 minutes. The brand's latest product to hit the market is the 'game changing' PRO COLLAGEN SUNCEUTICAL, which has been a 'six year labour of love' for Sonia. 'I suffer from debilitating chemical sensitivities and cannot use chemical sunscreens... Over the years I have become increasingly frustrated with the lack of comfortable mineral sunscreens,' she said. 'Often a mineral sunscreen will be thick or greasy, and create a white cast on the skin. You might put up with this on the beach but nobody wants their skin to look and feel like this on a daily basis. 'So the project began.' freezeframe created a product that was not just a tinted skin perfector with a mineral sunscreen, but a serious cosmeceutical which delivered clinically proven results, including smoother skin in 30 minutes, and a dramatic face lifting effect in 28 days. During the trials, 75 per cent of participants agreed with the statement, 'It looks like I've had a facelift,' after using the product for 28 days.* Not only has freezeframe products taken out the number one spots almost every year, but Sonia has won numerous awards herself, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Most Influential CEO of 2023 by CEO Monthly. Her biggest reward is the millions of women shes helped feel more confident and look amazing. *Clinical Testing 20 women - 47 - 62 year old application twice per day, 28 days half face application. Use SPF as directed, reapply often, stay out of direct sunlight where possible. SPF is only one form of sun protection. Wear protective clothing when outdoors. Known for its viral sticky cinnamon buns and trendy red branding, Gail's has become synonymous with chic middle class neighbourhoods and well behaved dogs accompanying their owners for a quick coffee catch-up. But the famous chain has recently found itself embroiled in a 'gentrification' row with residents across the capital pushing back at plans for the brand to open locations. In August, thousands in Walthamstow signed a petition against a new opening amid fears it would run smaller cafes out of business, while more recently Stoke Newington dwellers have declared 'chains are not welcome' on social media after news of a new location on the High Street. Elsewhere on X some are promising to 'boycott' the 'mediocre' and 'overprices' cafes. Ans as Londoners are hitting out at the patisserie giant's expansion - yuppies in the city are looking for independent alternatives. Social media is filled to the brim with trendy viral offerings across the capital as food influencers seek out independently owned bakeries that serve hoards of young people who dust off the cobwebs to stand in line on weekend mornings. Croissant connoisseurs are braving bustling queues of up to 40 minutes just to get their hands on social media savvy buns, with delectably unique offerings like 'sage tea drizzle', 'guava raspberry jelly' and 'lime merengue'. Some, namely Eric's in the leafy London suburb of East Dulwich, are only open for a three days a week - and even then, only until all its offerings are sold out. To add to the exclusivity, on Thursdays the eatery only caters to customers buying bread and sandwiches - so those hoping for patisserie treats have to wait until Friday and Saturday. Influencers across social media rave about the venue, urging followers to get there early so they don't miss out. Young croissant connoisseurs are braving bustling queues of up to 40 minutes just to get their hands on social media savvy buns, with delectably unique offerings like ' sage tea drizzle', 'guava raspberry jelly' and 'lime merengue'. Pictured, tasty treats from TOAD bakery Social media is filled to the brim with trendy viral offerings across the capital with influencers praising independently owned bakeries. Pictured, a sandwich from the Dusty Knuckle Social media has raved about venues like Eric's, urging followers to get there early so they don't miss out 'We got there at 9:50 or so and already a few things were sold out,' TikToker londonernoam warned. 'Everything looked so good though and the service was great.' 'Well worth the queue but be warned you need to be there early!' meg_alys also advised, while influencer lauraamolden declared that Eric's has 'the best pain au chocolat' in London. Elsewhere, LGBT+ friendly TOAD Bakery in Camberwell - where a cake can set you back 60 - is known for endless queues and trendy Instagram pictures of staff sporting the cafe's own merch, which includes tote bags and hats. Taking to TikTok, one influencer detailed her experience at the 'viral' bakery spot. 'The queue has been so long on the weekends that we always gave up but we had time on Friday morning so we thought we'd check it out,' hedaily1 shared in a video in March. Some, namely Eric's in the leafy East Dulwich, are only open for three days a week - and even then, only until all its offerings are sold out 'We got there at 9:50 or so and already a few things were sold out,' TikToker londonernoam warned. 'Everything looked so good though and the service was great' Social media is filled to the brim with trendy viral offerings across the capital with influencers praising independently owned bakeries. Pictured, influencer lauraamolden on her way to sample Eric's Elsewhere TOAD Bakery in Camberwell - where a cake can set you back 60 according to the online shop - is known for endless queues and trendy Instagram pictures of staff sporting the cafe's own merch 'My friend told me she waited 40 minutes on the weekend but luckily we waited around 20-25 minutes. 'So if you do want to go check it out, I do recommend going early on a weekday or going really early on the weekend.' The blogger was blown away by the selection of pastries. 'There was so much to choose from,' she gushed. She sampled two croissants - one plain and one with almond filling - as well as an apple custard Danish. All received glowing reviews, as the TikToker said the pastries 'did not disappoint' and were 'worth queueing up for'. 'And the staff were so friendly,' she added. 'I'll definitely be returning there again soon.' And of course aesthetics play a big part - so it's no wonder that place like kitschy, trendy Jolene, which has a few locations in the city, attract a firm social media buzz. A cosy small interior is marked by rustic-style shelves that display the mouth-watering array of cakes on offer and tote bags - a must have for any self-respecting Gen Z and millennial - are up for sale. TOAD Bakery is beloved in South London for its delectable, Instagram-worthy bakes which are shared on social media Customers also enjoy fun twists and flavours on traditional pastries like a croissant - such as this apricot and pistachio offering from TOAD 'Rumour has it that this is one of the best bakeries in London,' jas.olivia said in a video reviewing her experience at the Shoreditch venue. 'When you first walk in, you're greeted with all the pastries which are laid out on the side. 'You grab a bag and pick up whatever you want, it's basically a pastry self-service. The bakery itself is tiny. You can see the baristas making all the drinks in the corner. 'And then you wait for your coffee at this little window outside. I have to say the coffee from here was so good and I really didn't think it was that expensive. 'The standout bake was definitely the pain au chocolat and the sausage roll.' Others, like Bunhead Bakery in Herne Hill, also appeal to Londoners due to social causes they may support, such as fundraising for Gaza. The venue, which dishes out delicious Middle Eastern flavours like 'Tahini and Grape Molasses' and 'Plum and Rose Jam' is set up by Palestinian Londoner Sara, who is running the cafe with her friend Georgia. 'Palestine, South London and food are essentially the pillars of my personality but growing up I found it hard to connect with people who shared my experiences or background,' Sara said on the bakery's website. Others, like Bunhead Bakery in Herne Hill, also appeal to Londoners due to social causes they may support, such as fundraising for Gaza The venue, which dishes out delicious Middle Eastern flavours like 'Tahini and Grape Molasses' and 'Plum and Rose Jam' is set up by Palestinian Londoner Sara, who is running the cafe with her friend Georgia 'Through Bunhead Bakes, I've been able to build a community of like-minded humans who are all about embracing the joy of eating and learning about culture through food.' Its social media also promotes fundraisers as well as cultural events, like Palestinian cinema screenings. Reviewing their savoury and sweet offerings, TikToker simplyrasha gushed about the 'light' and 'fluffy' textures of the buns. She added: 'I loved all the little Palestinian details, the music - add it to your list and thank me later!' Meanwhile, the Dusty Knuckle - with locations in Dalston, Harringey and Highbury Fields - provides, as well as tasty bakes and pizzas, a youth training programme. 'The idea of our youth programme is very very simple,' the site explains. 'Young people who make bad choices do so because, for them, they are the best option at the time. At The Dusty Knuckle, we want to give them some better options.' As well as its hearty initiative, the bakery also serves up delicious social media worthy sandwiches - packed, huge and surrounded by a puffy crusty bread. And of course aesthetics play a big part - so it's no wonder that place like kitschy, trendy Jolene, which has a few locations in the city, attract a firm social media buzz A cosy small interior is marked by rustic-style shelves that display the mouth-watering array of cakes on offer and tote bags - a must have for any self-respecting Gen Z and millennial - are up for sale 'Rumour has it that this is one of the best bakeries in London,' jas.olivia said in a video reviewing her experience at the Shoreditch venue 'When you first walk in, you're greeted with all the pastries which are laid out on the side,' the TikToker said Jolene is known for its traditionally nice bakes, as well as fun twists on flavours, like this lime merengue offering Instagrammers gushed over the shop's 'veggie and vibey' offering, with gorgonzola creme, 'sticky sherry onions', charred brussel tops, apple slaw and candied walnuts. The love for chic, social media media friendly independents come amid a growing contention for chains 'taking over' High Streets in London and nearing areas. One of the most targeted offenders is Gail's Bakery, which found itself embroiled in a gentrification row over the summer. The Bakery started as a single store in Hampstead, north-west London, and slowly began to spread across the capital before cherry picking new towns and cities to set up in. The chain now has more than 130 shops across Britain already and is seen by many as the successor to Waitrose, with plans now in place for new sites to be opened across Britain. But its rise to prominence has not been welcomed with open arms, as some look to fight the gentrification of their towns. In August, it was reported that hundreds of residents in Walthamstow had signed a petition to stop the company opening on their High Street amid fears it could run independent cafes out of business. To find out more about what it is like to live in a town where a Gail's Bakery already exists, MailOnline went to speak to residents in Petersfield (Hampshire), Greenwich (south London) and Witney (Oxfordshire) to find out their views on the coffee chain and its impact on the local economy. People in Petersfield complained the affluent area is becoming 'Londonised' after Gail's opened a store there. Shoppers on the High Street in the leafy Hampshire market town said they feel 'sorry' for local bakeries in the town after the arrival of upmarket chain Gail's. However, others were delighted to have a Gail's on their doorstep as they see it as a sign that the area is 'well off'. Meanwhile residents in Greenwich said they 'understood' why people were resistant to a Gail's Bakery opening in their area. But for some locals, including those in Greenwich, the introduction of the brand threatens their individuality. When asked if she felt a Gail's made Greenwich more gentrified, one resident said: 'Yeh I would definitely say so. It's always the first thing to pop up. 'I can absolutely understand why people would be angry. It takes away from more small independent coffee shops that have been selling stuff that Gail's sells and it takes away from that business.' Locals in the small Oxfordshire town of Whitney however felt the High Street needed a Gail's Bakery, even if the prices were 'ridiculous'. When I married my husband James, I saw our lives stretching out ahead of us: buying a house, starting a family, continuing with our careers and falling even deeper in love. But life had other plans. Three pregnancies all ended in miscarriage, leaving me heartbroken. Without James's unwavering support, I'd have lost hope. Yet when our fourth pregnancy reached the 12-week mark, I felt that, finally, we might have our little miracle. Then, at our 20-week scan, we were told there were significant problems with our baby's heart, a congenital defect so serious that we were given the option to terminate. Not only could our baby struggle with physical activity as she grew, and require multiple surgeries, she would eventually need a heart transplant and, if that happened during her teenage years, she might not live past 30. In agony, we wrestled with our decision for almost a week before deciding we couldn't go ahead with a termination. I felt that in a way we'd been chosen to have this special child. James agreed, adding: 'I know that whatever happens, we can get through this together.' When Olivia was born, we were overwhelmed with love and relief. In the months that followed, while James went back to work, I gave up my accountancy career, dedicating myself completely to her care. Any parent of an ill child knows the strain it can put on a relationship. Yet as the years went by I truly believed that James and I had both kept our promise to be in this together. It was my first serious relationship and I felt so lucky we'd found each other. My family and friends adored James and we were married after four years, writes Emily Miller (file image) I was wrong. One evening, after I'd put Olivia, then four, to bed, James told me we needed to talk. Seeing the anguish on his face, I knew I was about to hear something dreadful. And he couldn't even look at me as he said: 'Emily, I've slept with someone else.' I gazed back at him, not registering. Before the horror of his confession could even begin to sink in, there was more. 'It's been going on for two years,' he continued, hands shaking. 'And Emily, she's five months pregnant.' Shock and anger washed over me. Not only had James been cheating on me for two long years but after all we'd been through to conceive, and to keep our daughter alive he and this woman had managed to have a baby together by mistake. I didn't shout or scream, slam doors or throw things. Instead, running upstairs, I called my best friend and blurted out the whole sorry mess. She came to collect me and held me all night as I sobbed. Over the next few days, the betrayal hit me in waves, tears sprouting afresh with each sorry realisation. James couldn't come up with a reason for why the affair had started, just that it had, and he was desperately sorry. Not once had I complained or resented James for continuing with his career while I took a step back to look after our daughter. And this was how he repaid me. A thought came to me all of a sudden, unbidden. There was a woman I'd met at his work party eight months before. A woman who looked like my twin, but eight years younger. I knew it was her and he didn't deny it. I didn't have to imagine how their relationship began. It was a cruel reflection of how our own workplace romance had started. I was 23 when I started a new job at the accountancy firm where James worked. Three years older than me, he was attractive, funny and charismatic. For weeks, we hung out with other colleagues after work, before he asked me out for dinner alone. It was my first serious relationship and I felt so lucky we'd found each other. My family and friends adored James and we were married after four years. Following our struggles to conceive, Olivia was born two years later. The delivery room was a whirlwind of medical staff who whisked her away for a raft of tests. It was 90 terrifying minutes before we could hold her. She was so beautiful I cried, overwhelmed with love, and relief that she was finally here. After being kept in for a week of observations, we brought Olivia home under strict instructions to look out for breathing difficulties or signs that her skin was turning blue, which would indicate that she was having troubles with her heart. For two frightening, exhausting weeks, we watched Olivia every minute. But at her three-week appointment the doctor took one look at her and said she was in heart failure. Seeing her rushed into surgery was one of the worst moments of my life. Thankfully, the operation was successful and a week later we were back home. While James returned to work after the standard two weeks of paternity leave, I took 18 months of maternity leave and dedicated myself to her care. I had to be careful that Olivia didn't over-exert herself difficult once she became an energetic toddler or catch the usual colds and coughs as they could be extremely serious for her. I couldn't relax or sleep properly; I was always popping into her room to check on her. At that point I felt supported by James through it all. I knew I was taking on the majority of Olivia's care, but that was the decision that we'd made together. When Olivia had a planned heart operation at 16 months old, James was by my side. Her health was more stable as a result, but there was always that fear she could deteriorate. When my maternity leave finished, I went back to work two days a week. It put me on a very different career path than previously, but I was happy to step back to focus on my daughter. Meanwhile, James took a promotion at another firm. At first the changes were small. But the odd night out with clients soon became a regular occurrence. Suddenly, midweek training sessions meant an overnight stay with a friend. When Olivia was born, we were overwhelmed with love and relief, says Emily (file image) By this point I was used to being Olivia's main carer (my family didn't live near enough to help). But I'd noticed that James was drinking more and there seemed an emotional disconnect between us. Determined to get us back on track, I organised date nights and weekends away. Nothing helped. By the time Olivia was three, our sex life, which had always been passionate and regular, had fallen away. James even began rejecting my hugs. I was desperate to fix our relationship but had no idea how. I was consumed by worry; I loved him so much and craved the closeness we used to have. But he would dismiss worries, telling me we were fine. I went to some of James's work parties, hoping to bring us closer. That's where I spotted Alice, one of his young colleagues who looked so much like me. When I tried to strike up a conversation she just walked away, which I thought was rude. A few months later, he dropped the bombshell about their affair. At my friend's house that night, I texted him to say I was returning home the following morning and wanted him out. Walking back into the house was surreal. It took every ounce of strength to smile for Olivia and say: 'Daddy's going away for a little while for work.' In the following days I suffered endless flashbacks. The Valentine's Day when James suddenly couldn't be with me; the trip to France with a friend I'd never heard of; the team-building nights out. Had it all been a lie? I swung from moments of bizarre calm, of somehow believing everything would be OK, to fear in my bones that nothing would be right again. Then came a tide of fury and it was nearly all aimed at Alice. How dare she pursue a man with a wife and a poorly child? I detested her. And, of course, there was the baby, too, whose arrival would change everything. Olivia would have a half-sibling, who would trap us all together for ever. The fact that Alice was five months pregnant meant there was no question of her having a termination. It felt like I couldn't escape Alice; even in my sleep, I'd have nightmares of her with James. In spite of everything, I still loved him deeply. That love blinded me, stopping me from blaming him for his part in what had happened. Logically, I knew an affair took two people. But it was easier to project all my anger on to the woman I didn't know, rather than face up to the fact that the man who'd vowed to spend the rest of his life with me, to look after our daughter together for ever, had cruelly betrayed me. Which is why, when he told me weeks later that it was over with Alice, that he'd support the baby but wanted to make our marriage work, I agreed to take him back, although we were still living separately. But when he phoned to tell me Alice had gone into labour and he was going to be at the birth, it felt like he was betraying me all over again. And when he called the next morning to say she'd had a girl, I'm ashamed to say I hated both Alice and her daughter. It wasn't rational or fair, but in that moment my pain and fury swept any shred of empathy aside. The months that followed were almost unbearable. James told me he'd do anything to win back my trust. But then he was gone again to help Alice. It was torture; a never-ending, exhausting, cycle. I couldn't let go of the hope he'd eventually choose me, so let myself be buffeted through months of painful break-ups and tearful reconciliations. Meanwhile, Olivia had her third, and most serious, heart operation. At that point James wasn't in a relationship with me or Alice, but I had to put all my pain, confusion and anger aside as we sat together in the hospital for seven terrifying hours. When the doctors told us the surgery had been a success, we hugged in tearful relief. Despite everything, I was glad he was there. With this final operation having significantly reduced Olivia's risk of heart failure, her health improved. At the same time, Alice was struggling with solo motherhood. One morning she had left baby Rachel at James's flat for a few hours before I came over to visit him. When he told me Rachel was there, I just froze. How could I possibly meet the living embodiment of James's affair? Yet as I held this tiny baby, whose eyes were exactly like Olivia's, I was flooded with shame. Here was an innocent child, blameless and totally dependent on us adults to do better. I promised myself I would try. With Olivia now out of the most serious danger, I was finally able to face up to everything that had happened and start to find some peace as well as imagining a future without James in it. I decided enough was enough and filed for divorce. James wasn't happy but I needed to take control and move forward with my life. Both Olivia and I deserved better. I've now been in a new relationship for a year with a lovely man I met at the gym and James is back with Alice. I'd demonised her for so long but when I found out they were making a go of it, I was surprised that my feelings of fury and pain had lessened with time. I'd also come to accept that James was just as culpable as her, if not more so. After all, Alice was single; it was James who had a wife and a poorly child. I think it's helped that, following the third operation, I feel immense gratitude that my daughter is now healthy, that she has the chance to live a full life. So I reached out to Alice and said I wanted to meet at a local pub. I could feel the anxiety radiating off her as we awkwardly sat down. Then she said 'I'm so sorry' and we both burst into tears. We sat for hours, talking, laughing and crying. We spoke honestly about everything; how she'd never wanted to fall in love with James, how scared she'd been to find herself pregnant. I talked about my struggles, how resentful I had felt of her and her baby. Hugging goodbye, I walked away feeling lighter than I had in ages. The past few years have been long and painful. But I've discovered an inner strength I didn't know I had. James may not have kept his promise to me to raise our daughter side by side. But I kept my promise to care for her, and today she is happier and healthier than I ever thought possible. That's what really matters. Emily Miller is a pseudonym. All names have been changed. As told to Kate Graham Last month I was on the train coming into work in London when I collapsed. I was running late and, as I took the station stairs two at a time, my legs felt shaky and a stabbing sensation began deep in my stomach. On the train, the pain grew in intensity, until my whole body was gripped by it. Sweaty and nauseous, I couldn't stop shaking. My eyes went out of focus, my hands and feet numb, as I went into a kind of shock. The pain was so all-consuming that the indignity of being slumped over and groaning in front of a packed carriage of commuters barely registered. Then the train jolted and I fell to the floor, the contents of my bag, including the painkillers I always carry, spilling around me. A kind stranger gave up his seat and collected the pills for me and I curled up, clawing at my stomach, until the train slid, agonisingly slowly, into Victoria. There, I spent two hours in the medical assistance room, waiting until I regained enough strength to get on the train and limp home. This may sound like some freak medical emergency, but it was, in fact, period cramps. This degree of suffering is becoming standard procedure for me, as it is for some 14 million UK women who experience severe period pain. Why is it this bad? I wish I knew. No doctor has been able to tell me because I haven't been able to get an appointment. My local GP is usually pretty efficient, but collapsing from period pain doesn't seem to qualify as important enough to get an on-the-day appointment. Hannah Drayton collapsed on the train on her way to work last month after she suffered painful period cramps It's been suggested it could be endometriosis, where the uterus lining grows outside the womb, wreaking painful havoc in the body, but despite an estimated one in ten women experiencing it, the average waiting time for a diagnosis is eight to ten years. There's no non-surgical way of identifying endometriosis and while it's unsurprising doctors don't resort to invasive procedures lightly, some 47 per cent of women diagnosed with endometriosis said they had to visit a GP ten times or more before getting an answer. And so, at the age of 22, I'm reduced to lying in bed for days each month with a hot water bottle, painkillers, and this gnawing, nauseating, depressing pain. And yet our healthcare system doesn't appear to see anything wrong here. While I'm wasting my life like this, five times more research goes into erectile dysfunction, which affects 18 per cent of men, than into period-related symptoms, which affect 90 per cent of women. Dismissal of women's pain is spurred on by the poor research if doctors aren't taught about the extent of women's health experiences, they are more likely to dismiss female patients as melodramatic. This all means that, even when you do manage to see a doctor, it doesn't matter how sympathetic they are personally, the broader framework of available healthcare prevents them from doing much. I managed to speak to a GP about this a year ago. The pain wasn't at the level it is now, but had been progressively worsening and I was in more than the normal amount of agony. After waiting months for the appointment, I was told it was normal for periods to get worse as you enter your 20s and that I should try the pill, hoping to reduce the pain by reducing my periods and not leading me any closer to diagnosis. I was then told I couldn't take the pill, as I get migraines and the two together would put me at risk of a stroke. Some 14 million women in the UK experience severe period pain I tried taking the mini-pill (an alternative which uses different hormones) for a few months, but it comes with much more pronounced side-effects. The constant headaches, nausea and fatigue were just as bad as the monthly symptoms and I was promptly advised to stop taking it. Everything I tried seemed to cause more problems than it solved and, as the pain wasn't as bad then, I gave up. The train episode wasn't the first time I'd collapsed that was a few months earlier. Then, I'd put myself on a waiting list for an IUD, which I'm hopeful about (it functions like the pill, but delivers the hormones locally so has fewer side-effects). But I'm still waiting for a fitting and until I clear the waiting list, I'm reliant on increasingly insufficient over-the-counter painkillers. All GPs seem able (or willing) to offer is birth-control, but even if the IUD helps me manage the pain, that's still not a diagnosis. Many of the gynaecological conditions which might be causing this carry a risk of infertility or pregnancy complications, both of which are easier to address the earlier you know about them. I don't think it's unreasonable to want to know what's happening to me, and not be satisfied with simply finding a way to ignore it. But because my pain is ignored by doctors, I find myself trivialising it myself. Sure, it isn't fun, but I've survived this far, haven't I? Almost all women experience period pain, and they seem to manage to get on with it without complaining. Maybe I am just being melodramatic? Or maybe we've all just normalised women's pain because women are normally in pain. But this is about more than just sparing people pain: a report earlier this month put the annual economic cost of neglecting women's health at 20billion. Taking an economic hit of billions year on year, because no one can be bothered to research women's health, is nonsensical. But until anyone can be bothered, I'll be here, dreading what the next month will bring, and trying to ignore the nagging voice in my head that, despite all the evidence and statistics and painkillers falling out of my shaking hands, maybe I'm making the whole thing up. DailyMail.com takes a look at Hoda's friendships with her Today show costars The beloved anchor, 60, has forged some very important NBC bonds Hoda Kotb has built several meaningful friendships with her Today show co-stars over the course of her near three-decade career at NBC News and will no doubt nurture them long after she's left. The anchor, 60, is preparing to depart from the network with her last episode set to air on Friday, January 10. And while she's moving on to focus on raising her two young daughters, Hope and Haley, she'll be leaving a huge Hoda-shaped hole at Studio 1A that will no doubt be felt across the board. Ahead of her exit, Hoda recently reflected on her 'core' friendship group and what they mean to her. 'You want to be with people who are expanding and curious and trying to kind of make the world better and who think beyond their own little world,' she told Today. As she gears up to say her final farewell, DailyMail.com takes a look at Hoda's friendships with her esteemed Today show colleagues past and present. Hoda Kotb has built several meaningful friendships with her Today show co-stars Savannah Guthrie Hoda joined Savannah Guthrie on the Today show after disgraced anchor Matt Lauer was fired in 2017, and the pair soon formed a close friendship. In 2022, Savannah, 53, heaped praise on her co-host during a celebration for the show at The Paley Center. On Hoda replacing Matt, she said: 'All I know was in that moment, it felt like I could drown if Hoda hadn't reached down and grabbed my hand.' 'I will always say she saved the show full stop,' she added. 'And holding hands with her and being like, "We're going to do this together," meant everything to me. I don't think I had the confidence by myself.' Hoda revealed during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers in December that Savannah had a brash three-word response to her work news. Hoda and Savannah Guthrie have helmed the Today show together since 2017 Savannah praised Hoda for her kind gesture after they began fronting the Today show She recounted: 'I called Savannah who was out of the country and I said, "I have to tell you something." She goes, "This sounds scary."' Hoda continued: 'It's not. I'm going to be, you know, saying goodbye in January.' The anchor then revealed the surprising and brash response Savannah gave her. 'She said to me, "I'm going to tell you something right now." And I said, "Okay." She said - these are her words - she goes, "You got balls."' Savannah then added: 'I'm going to be sad for me and for our show later, but not today. Today's the day that I say, wow, you're doing it.' Jenna Bush Hager Hoda and Jenna have formed an unbreakable bond since they began hosting the fourth hour of the Today show in 2019. Throughout their time together, they have delighted audiences with their undeniable chemistry. In recent years, Hoda showed her love for Jenna, 43, by sending secret signals during the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They haven't shied away from playfully making fun of each other either. Last year, for example, Hoda poked fun at her Today cohost when she teased her about the 'very odd' childhood obsession that she didn't grow out of until she was 22. Of course, Jenna struggled to fight back tears live on the Today show after Hoda revealed her departure. The mom-of-three sobbed as she jokingly warned the TV legend that she will visit her house 'everyday' and become her 'stalker.' Hoda and Jenna began hosting the fourth hour of the Today show in 2019 The presenting duo have delighted audiences with their undeniable chemistry 'I'm going to be showing up at your house like the stalker you are to Zac Brown,' she tearfully quipped. 'I will be there on your doorstep, and we are your friends forever.' And in a recent interview with People, Jenna continued to swoon about Hoda. 'I adore Hoda,' she gushed. 'She's the best partner. She's been the most generous partner, and we are truly really great friends. 'The thought of her not being here is almost too much to bear. 'Obviously, I've had months to wrap my head around it, although I cannot promise that our last "Hoda-bration" won't also be filled with tears. 'I'm sure it will be just because I can't help it.' Kathie Lee Gifford Before Hoda and Jenna, there was Hoda and Kathie Lee Gifford. The iconic duo hosted the show's fourth hour from 2008 to 2019. Sadly, their professional partnership came to an end when Kathie, 71, announced in December 2018 that she was stepping down as co-anchor after 11 years. 'I have something to share with everybody,' she said at the time. 'It's bittersweet as these things always are, but I have been here almost 11 years. Thought I would stay one year. 'Something happened along the way and fell in love with a beautiful Egyptian goddess and when it's our 11th anniversary I will be leaving the Today show.' While the duo are fast friends, their presenting partnership wasn't without a little hiccup. In 2022, Hoda revealed on Watch What Happens Live that Kathie accidentally revealed personal information on live television without her permission. Speaking to host Andy Cohen, she said that Kathy told the audience that she was getting a divorce during an awkwardly timed Valentine's Day episode. 'Kath did it, she threw one huge grenade once,' she said. 'I was telling her that I was married once before and I met my husband on Valentine's Day and I got the divorce papers on Valentine's Day and it was Valentine's Day.' Hoda hosted the Today show's fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford from 2008 to 2019 Once Hoda and Kathie Lee arrived on the set, which was decorated with flowers to celebrate Valentine's Day, her co-host dropped her bomb. 'We go out to the set. It's all decorated with flowers and hearts and everything and I go, "Good morning! Happy Valentine's Day!" And she looks at me and she goes, "Not for you!"' she recounted. 'I go, "What are you doing?" But I remember that grenade fell right on the table. I didn't know what to do,' she continued. 'I was so new, I didn't know what to say. I go, "That was makeup room talk. That wasn't for out here because we're happy out here."' Her story seemed to suggest that she was referring to her 2008 divorce from Burzis Kanga, which would have been during her second year hosting the late hour of Today and Kathie Lee's first year joining her. Kathy acknowledged Hoda's departure on social media shortly after the announcement was made in September. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, she said at the time: 'Bittersweet news as my dear friend @hodakotb steps away from the Today Show. 'Her warmth, laughter, and incredible spirit have brightened our mornings and touched countless hearts. Here's to new adventures!' Al Roker Everyone's favorite weather man, Al Roker, has been at NBC just as long as Hoda has. Al, 70, is close friends with Hoda and her family, having formed a sweet bond with her two daughters Hope and Haley. Al Roker has insisted that Hoda's goodbye is simply a 'see you a little later' On several occasions, the beloved anchor has taken on uncle duty and kept Hoda's daughters company while their mom has been hard at work on the show. Last year, Al held both Haley and Hope's hands while they waved to their mother while she was sitting behind the news desk. 'We're not saying goodbye. We're just saying, "we'll see you a little later."' He added: 'She's still around and it's not like she's leaving, leaving. She's just transitioning, so it's all good.' Matt Lauer Hoda is still on speaking terms with her disgraced Today show predecessor Matt Lauer. Matt, 67, was fired by NBC in 2017 after it was reported that he allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hoda confirmed that she does still does hear from him. In 2018, Hoda said her friendship with Matt Lauer was 'complex' 'Yeah, we keep in touch with him,' she said. 'I mean look, this is one of those complex situations. 'I've known him since I started working at NBC [in 1998]. When I was sick with breast cancer, he was the first to call. 'He helps and helped in ways that you know, he was incredible in that way. There is that Matt and then there's the Matt that the accusers speak of. 'And those accusers' voices matter and that story matters and it's It's still tough, right?' Inheritor dedicated to passing on traditional Huizhou lacquerware People's Daily Online) 10:33, January 10, 2025 Under the warm winter sun, Fan Xuege is busy polishing her lacquerware works, which involve dozens of procedures and take several months to complete. As an inheritor of the Huizhou lacquerware craftsmanship, a national intangible cultural heritage, Fan Xuege, despite being a part of the post-90s generation, has been working with lacquerware for over a decade. Her father, Fan Fu'an, is a provincial-level representative inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage, and growing up under his influence, she developed an interest in lacquerware and lacquer painting from an early age. For a long time, Fan Xuege viewed creating lacquerware as a mere hobby. Even during her university years, she pursued a major unrelated to this craft. However, everything changed in 2015. Fan Xuege (Photo/Chizhou University) That year marked the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Denmark. Fan Fu'an was commissioned to create two lacquer portrait paintings as national gifts for the Danish royal family. The two works were exquisite, with vivid character portrayals. However, due to his tireless efforts, Fan Fu'an fell ill and only after a long period of rest did he start to recover. In that year, 23-year-old Fan Xuege decided to learn the art of lacquerware decoration from her father. "Since I embarked on the journey of inheriting the craft, I started to refer to my father as 'teacher'," Fan Xuege said. Fan Fu'an's strict guidance and expectations pushed Fan Xuege to her limits, yet she remained steadfast in her commitment. "I have never once considered giving up. My passion for lacquerware continues to grow stronger with each passing day," she said. In 2016, Fan Xuege was recognized as a municipal-level representative inheritor of Huizhou lacquerware. Her lacquerware and lacquer painting works, inspired by local culture and the ancient residential houses of Huizhou, have received wide acclaim. Fan Xuege's lacquerware works. (Photo/Communist Youth League of China Huangshan municipal committee) Fan Xuege incorporates creative ideas appealing to young people into her works. For instance, she once collaborated with her father on a lacquer vase, and as they neared completion, she felt the design was too traditional and needed something more. While her father was away teaching, Fan Xuege boldly implemented her idea, "I wanted to adjust its texture to express an ordered sense of romance and freedomthere needed to be a pattern, but the colors had to be rich." After it was finished, the vase was quickly collected, giving her great confidence. Now, in addition to creating lacquerware and lacquer paintings, Fan Xuege also designs and makes lacquer jewelry and cultural creative products, which are very popular among young people. She also teaches at the Art and Education College of Chizhou University, where she encourages her students to unleash their creativity. "Young people's ideas are always boundless, and I don't stop them. Many of their ideas actually inspire me." In Fan Xuege's view, young people's works should express their own artistic language and aesthetic taste, rather than merely imitating traditional techniques. In the future, Fan Xuege hopes to create more practical applications for Huizhou lacquerware craftsmanship. "For example, the design of domestic electric car keys could integrate lacquerware craftsmanship, making them both beautiful and full of national charm." In her eyes, both humans and lacquerware have infinite possibilities. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Experts say more people should consider a credit freeze as a way to block identity thieves from opening new credit cards and other accounts in your name. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images Im a victim of identity theft. I wrote about it for the Los Angeles Times back in 2022, but Ill summarize here: Someone stole my wallet out of my purse, and with just my drivers license and information about me that they purchased online, they were able to open multiple checking accounts and credit cards, steal a Tesla and skip bail. The people who committed the crime were serial identity thieves whod spent years rotating in and out of jail. (This is Day 10 of the 31-day Wealth Challenge. You can start by signing up for our daily email newsletters), or see the challenge here.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad Take Our Wealth Challenge Want to gain control of your finances and live a better life? Join us as we lay out one concrete thing you can do each day for 31 days. See the series John Blanchard/The Chronicle I thought I was safe from identity theft because I was tech-savvy all my bank accounts have unique passwords and two-factor authentication enabled and I didnt carry my Social Security card in my wallet. I was wrong. The truth is, almost everyones Social Security number and other personal information is available for sale somewhere on the Internet. Because I was proactive about fighting it, I was never held responsible for any of the charges the thieves ran up, but it took months and dozens of phone calls and emails to untangle it all. The benefit of freezing your credit is that no one can open a new line of credit in your name. If my credit had been frozen, it would have saved me hours and hours of frustration and bank hold music I endured while trying to undo the thieves damage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The only real downside is that you have to unfreeze it when you want to open a new credit card or do something like finance a new phone purchase but thats fast and easy to do. The night I got the first letters congratulating me on the bank accounts Id never opened, I sprang into action. It took me less than 15 minutes to create accounts and lock down my credit with all three major bureaus. Any time I need to unfreeze them, it takes less than five minutes. If you applied for a new credit card (Day 8 of this challenge) and havent been approved yet, wait to do this until that goes through. Once it does, or if youre skipping that step, put your credit into deep freeze. John Blanchard/The Chronicle Advertisement Article continues below this ad How to freeze your credit The three bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Go through the steps to make accounts. Use new passwords that you havent used anywhere else. And then select the option to freeze your credit. Freezing your credit is free. Do not select any paid option. You dont need a membership to the credit bureau, you dont need their credit or identity monitoring, you dont need their enhanced locking services or anything else. I leave my credit frozen all the time, and I recommend you do the same. When you need to, you can visit the bureaus websites and unfreeze for as long as you need. If you want to unfreeze from your phone on the go, TransUnion and Experian have apps that allow you to do so. When I knew I was going to apply for a new credit card, I unfroze my accounts the day before, and had no issues with getting my credit checked. If you want to go the extra mile, you can freeze your account with ChexSystems, the bureau that oversees most checking accounts. My thieves opened new checking accounts with Bank of America and Wells Fargo; they wouldnt have been able to if Id frozen that beforehand. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Beyond freezing your credit, here are a few other things you can do to prevent identity theft. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have opened the doors to their $29million Montecito mansion to their friends and loved ones who were forced to evacuate the ongoing wildfires in southern California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also urged other Los Angeles residents to do the same in a statement on their website, Sussex.com, as the wildfires continue to level celebrities' homes, leaving nothing but ash and rubble. As of Thursday, seven people have died in one of the most destructive blazes in the county's history, over 10,000 structures are destroyed, roughly 400,000 customers statewide were without power and over 180,000 have been evacuated. 'If a friend, loved one or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating,' the couple urged. 'Please consider donating clothing, children's toys and clothing, and other essentials,' they said, noting the American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need. Harry and Meghan have already done so, according to The Telegraph, and are working with their staff from the Archewell Foundation to identify the most effective ways to support the community. Donations have also been made to relief efforts through their foundation, which is also looking for opportunities to volunteer. Prince Harry and Meghan at the ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on July 11, 2024 Prince Harry and Meghan live in this $29million mansion in Montecito, California (file photo) The couple are also said to be in contact with chef Jose Andres and are working alongside his World Central Kitchen, which supplies meals in the wake of natural disasters. Meanwhile, officials in and around the city are preparing for the situation to worsen overnight after California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. The winds were expected to increase overnight, producing isolated gusts that could top 100mph in mountains and foothills - including in areas that have not seen substantial rain in months. Now, local electricity provider Southern California Edison is considering a so-called Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in parts of Santa Barbara county. The firm, one of the main power providers in the area, said it was considering the shutdown due to a 'Red Flag' warning and an increased risk of wildfires. Residents are now being contacted in areas including Montecito, about 90miles from the center of the blaze, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in a 'high fire risk' property for five years. They bought their sprawling nine-bedroom home for $14.65million in 2020 but it is thought to have since doubled in value to $29million. This has raised the prospect of Harry and Meghan losing power at the home where they live with their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. The couple could even have to leave the house, given a power cut could also impact communication networks and make it difficult to call for emergency help if needed. MailOnline has contacted Harry and Meghan's press team for comment. Harry and Meghan's statement in full In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life. A state of emergency has been issued. If you feel compelled to help, here are some resources and ideas: Support Organizations such as Jose Andres World Central Kitchen, which has been a longtime partner of The Archewell Foundation, are serving meals to both first responders and victims of the fire. CAL FIRE and LA Fire Department Foundation and others are working closely to support firefighters who risk their lives, bravely showing up in these high-risk environments to help save homes, families, and communities in need. Animal Wellness Foundation is continuing to house and care for animals evacuated by the fires while Compton Cowboys is providing emergency transportation services for horses. Airbnb and 211LA have partnered to provide free, temporary housing for those who have been displaced. Baby2baby is providing essential supplies including diapers, clothing, hygiene products, and emergency kits to families in need. All Power Books and many others are staying open for emergency use, offering supplies and water for pickup while working tirelessly to distribute essentials to those affected. Open your home If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating. Give back Some families and people have been left with nothing. Please consider donating clothing, childrens toys & clothing, and other essentials. The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need. Advertisement Southern California Edison is considering a so-called Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in the areas of Santa Barbara County highlighted in orange, including Montecito (circled in red) Your browser does not support iframes. SCE expects the PSPS could affect 4,172 customers in Santa Barbara County and that they have notified all residents or businesses who are under consideration. Its online property checker tool says of the Sussexes' address: 'This location is in a High Fire Risk Area. Power may be shut off during a PSPS to prevent wildfires.' It adds: 'Increased fire risk conditions are expected in this area from 1/7/2025 6pm PST to 1/8/2025 9am PST. Be prepared for a PSPS during this time, although we may avoid shut-offs.' The closest fire to Montecito which is currently burning is a blaze in the Malibu area around 60 miles along the coast. The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles yesterday Fire crews battle the blaze as it burns structures in the Pacific Palisades area yesterday The Palisades Fire burns a property in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles As the fires continued to burn, the Los Angeles Fire Department took the the rare step of putting out a plea for off-duty firefighters to help. It was too windy for firefighting aircraft to fly, further hampering the fight against the fire. Firefighters were already struggling to control the fires as the hydrants were out of water. President Joe Biden explained that the water companies, themselves, 'shut off power because they are worried the lines that carried energy were going to be blown down and spark additional fires. 'When it did that, it cut off the ability to generate pumping the water, that's what caused the lack of water in these hydrants.' The Palisades Fire burns a property in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles By Wednesday, Janisse Quinones, the newly-appointed chief executive officer and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, announced that all water storage tanks in the Pacific Palisades area 'went dry' as flames continue to rage on. Quinones, who previously worked for PG&E prior to being appointed in May, said the third water tank ran out at about 3am local time Wednesday, after the first tank ran out around 4.45pm, and the second at approximately 8.30pm - each at about 1,000,000 gallons each. 'Those tanks help with the pressure on the fire hydrants in the hills of Palisades, and because we were pushing so much water in our trunk line, and so much water was being used before it can get to the tanks - we were not able to fill the tanks fast enough,' she explained. 'So the consumption of water was faster than we can provide water in our trunk line,' she continued, adding that there is water in the truck line, but it 'cannot get up the hill because we cannot fill the tanks fast enough.' Fire crews battle the blaze as it burns structures in the Pacific Palisades area yesterday People flee from the advancing Palisades Fire by car and on foot in Los Angeles yesterday After someone asked her for the number of hydrants that cannot get water because of these issues, Quinones started to stumble on her words. In an attempt to rectify the situation, Biden said Cal Fire and other state officials are bringing in generators. He added that Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, is bringing in generators to help with the shortage of water coming out of the hydrants. The Princess of Wales has celebrated her 43rd birthday this week The Princess of Wales proved she's the perfect 'modern and relatable royal' in a previously unseen photograph posted by Prince William for her birthday, experts have claimed. The Prince of Wales, 42, shared a deeply personal message this week to mark Kate's 43rd birthday, calling her the 'most incredible wife and mother'. The sweet post was shared with an unseen picture of the Princess of Wales taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous, in Windsor, last summer. The black and white image showed the Princess relaxed at home, in jeans, a blazer and checked scarf. She posed with her hands in her pocket - showing off her dazzling engagement ring - while wearing her hair in a gentle wave. Style experts have now told FEMAIL that Kate's choice to wear 'classic basics' for the photo is a perfect example of her 'down-to-earth charm' and success as a modern royal. They added that Kate's clothing choices could signal a significant 'shift' in royal family fashion, and demonstrate a more 'accessible' royal image than has been seen previously. Fashion expert and stylist Lisa Talbot said that Kate's combination of a dark, tailored blazer over a crisp white shirt paired with a plaid scarf strikes a 'balance between formality and comfort', teaming her 'royal duties' with a 'down-to-earth' charm. The Princess of Wales proved she's the perfect 'modern and relatable royal' in a previously unseen photograph posted by Prince William for her birthday, experts have claimed She said: 'Princess Kate once again exemplifies her effortless ability to combine timeless elegance with modern, relatable style. 'The black-and-white photograph captures her in a relaxed yet polished ensemble - a reflection of her grounded and approachable persona as a modern royal.' Lisa added that it signified Kate's style trick of 'mastering simplicity', while her choice of a blazer showed her preference for 'structures, versatile pieces', with the scarf adding 'texture' and 'warmth'. She continued: 'Princess Kates sartorial choices often convey messages of confidence, reliability, and approachability. By choosing classic staples, she underscores her role as a steady and reassuring presence within the royal family. 'Yet, her ability to modernize these stapleswhether through an accessory or subtle detailssuggests a willingness to evolve and adapt, reflecting a modern monarchy. 'Her relaxed posture and natural smile in the portrait also speak volumes. With her hands casually tucked in her blazer pockets, she exudes confidence and a sense of easequalities that have solidified her position as a relatable yet aspirational figure. 'This photograph represents a shift towards a more accessible royal image, resonating with contemporary audiences while retaining the poise expected of her role.' And UK stylist Rochelle agreed that Kate's wardrobe staples provided a 'relatable' look. The deeply personal post from Prince William came after Kate endured a tough year following her cancer diagnosis. Kate is pictured attending Sandringham Church on Christmas Day In an unusually personal message, William praised his wife's strength and added that he, George, Charlotte and Louis were 'so proud of her' Rochelle said that Kate's look was the perfect example of 'luxe casual' while maintaining an air of sophistication. She told FEMAIL: 'In regards to Kate here, her look and style is really giving relaxed, comfortable and timeless glamour. There is something to be said about having basics/ wardrobe staples and this is a great representation of that. 'I feel it showcases her elegance but in a relatable way, in which people can recreate. it's sophisticated yet what I would call luxe casual. In herself she looks radiant, fresh and really at ease.' A personal message - and unseen photo - is an unusual thing for the Royal Family to do for a non-major birthday. It is perhaps the most emotive message William has ever shared about his wife. 'To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength youve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W,' the message, shared to Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, reads. Matt Porteous has taken pictures of William, Kate and their children dozens of times - as well as accompanying them on royal tours. It comes after the King and Queen shared their own tribute to Kate yesterday morning, while many members of the public and Kate's patronages have also sent well wishes. 'Happy birthday to the Princess of Wales,' a sweet message on the Royal Family account reads Taking to their Instagram account, the King and Queen shared a sweet photo of Kate from her Christmas Day walk at Sandringham. They added a sweet caption reading 'Happy birthday to the Princess of Wales', atop the photo of her beaming and holding a bunch of flowers. The royal mother-of-three, who was born in Reading on January 9, 1982, turns 43 today after enduring an annus horribilis in 2024. Shortly after marking her 42nd birthday last January, Kensington Palace announced the Princess of Wales had been taken to hospital for abdominal surgery and was to pause public-facing duties while she recovered. However, her time out of the spotlight fuelled wild speculation about her health and in March 2024 the Princess released an extraordinarily candid clip in which she announced to the world that doctors determined 'cancer had been present' in her body after carrying out tests. The news sent the nation, and indeed the world, into a state of shock as Kate revealed she would be undergoing chemotherapy treatment and was taking time out of public duties indefinitely as she prioritised her recovery. Meanwhile, Prince William also reduced his public engagements as he put family life and his wife's recovery front and centre - while his father King Charles also received cancer treatment. Prince William (pictured with his wife and children) reduced his public engagements as he put family life and Kate's recovery front and centre Nonetheless, the Prince of Wales still honoured some public duties and revealed glimpses of the extremely difficult year the family had endured. Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, on a visit in November for his Earthshot Awards, William, 42, said 2024 had been 'the hardest year of my life'. Thankfully, after months out of the spotlight as she continued treatment, the Princess announced in September - in another extremely emotive clip - that her chemotherapy had come to an end and her focus was now on remaining 'cancer-free'. She announced she would be dipping her toes back into public life while ensuring her recovery was still her main focus. And as she resumed some public facing duties, the Princess showed royal fans the causes that she perhaps cherishes the most. One of Kate's first engagements was a meeting with the late Liz Hatton, an aspiring photographer with a rare form of cancer who wanted to photograph an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle as part of her 'bucket list'. The nation's hearts were warmed by a photo of the Princess and Liz sharing a warm hug in the royal residence - knowing it was an embrace that meant everything to both. Tragically, Liz passed away on November 27 - days before her family had planned an early Christmas celebration with her. The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his wife Kate as she turns 43 today following an annus horribilis last year as she battled cancer Following Liz's death the Prince and Princess of Wales issued a statement praising her as a 'brave and humble young woman'. Other engagements carried out by Kate included a visit to Southport in September, where tragedy had struck just months earlier when three young girls, Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, had been stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance party. Appearing alongside Prince William, Kate met with community leaders as the area tried to rebuild following the horrific incident. Privately, she also met with families of the children who had been affected. Perhaps Kate's most prominent return to the spotlight was her Together at Christmas carol service, an event she hosts every year and which she holds extremely close to her heart. Speaking at the event as she addressed guests who had been hand picked to attend at Westminster Abbey, the Princess said: 'Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it's also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. 'It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about. 'The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences. Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear.' The theme of this year's 'Together at Christmas' concert is love and empathy, which is perhaps suitable considering the difficult year the Princess has had. Kate continued: 'The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope. 'It is love which is the greatest gift we can receive, not just at Christmas but every day of our lives.' Her message was told in the form of a voice over played at the start of the 'Together at Christmas' carol concert at Westminster Abbey. The BBC hit show has returned for season three - but changes have been made The Traitors UK viewers have blasted the show after spotting 'secret influencers' among this year's cast - and believe it's the reason they're acting 'meaner' than usual. The hit BBC show fronted by Claudia Winkleman has returned for a third season - but viewers quickly noted that several changes had been made. The series has in the past been praised for including 'real people' from everyday walks of life, with many taking time off work to take part. But after TikTok detectives got to work, they realised that several of this year's contestants seemed familiar, due to their already large followings online. Contestants such as Maia, Armani and Livi appeared to have large followings on social media prior to episodes airing. It's also been noted that this year's series has been 'meaner' than usual, with contestants Leanne, Livi, Tyler and Leon being accused of forming a 'clique' and ganging up on other cast members. One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'Is it just me, or is this season of traitors basically a popularity contest and the clique are high school mean girls there is zero logic.' On TikTok, pop culture expert @indigoreports pointed out all the 'secret influencers' in the show. The Traitors viewers have blasted the show after spotting 'secret influencers' among this year's cast. Pictured: Contestant Maia Gouveaix on her Instagram account Maia's sister Armani is also building an online presence and has even released her first single She said: 'Here are The Traitors stars this year that already have a huge social media following. 'So the biggest influencer on the show this year is our girl Maia. She's described on the show as being a full-time mum, but she's also an influencer.' Maia, 25, has more than 150,000 followers on TikTok, posting mothering and personal content, and having a significant chunk of these before The Traitors aired at the start of this month. Her most viral videos under her username @maia.gouveiax have included taking a pregnancy at work and videos of her daughter, Ava. Her sister Armani, 27, a financial investigator, also seems to have embraced the world of influencing with her 26,000 TikTok followers. She gained nine million views for a video of herself accidentally dancing on a man who wasn't her boyfriend at Reading Festival, and has recently released her first single on all major platforms. Both Armani and Maia have already been voted off the 2025 series: Armani after being uncovered as a traitor, and Maia being murdered as a faithful that evening. In the series, a selection of contestants known as 'faithfuls' must root out the hidden 'traitors' among them, with 'banishments' and 'murders' taking place at regular intervals. Livi Dean is a model and beautician with a large following on Instagram Francesca, 44, from East Sussex, already had a large following on Instagram for her interior design account On TikTok, pop culture expert @indigoreports pointed out all the 'secret influencers' in the show Tyler, who was banished in last night's episode, has gained several million views for his 'relatable' content on TikTok Meanwhile Maia has a whopping 150,000 followers, mainly posting motherhood content Armani seems to be following in her sister's footsteps and previously went viral for a video from Reading Festival Also considered to be an influencer are Tyler, 29 - who was banished on last night's episode - with 37,000 TikTok followers, posting relatable content about dating. Meanwhile Livi, 26, a model and beautician from Horsham, has gained 11,000 followers on Instagram for her posts. Francesca, 44, from East Sussex, already had a large following on Instagram for her interior design account. On TikTok, people rushed to the comments to express their distaste for the number of influencers being cast on the programme. They said: 'Im not interested in influencers. Real ppl only please!!!'; 'They've changed it up quite a bit with the casting this series, so will be VERY interesting to see if it pays off. I have a feeling it won't and the sanctity of the show will be compromised'; 'That's what I'm saying.. now most of the people going there for more fame ,followers and brand deals than actually money and fun after seeing what some ppl gain from season 2'; 'Why can't they pick real random people. kills it for me if they are already influencers. nah, they gotta go'; People were disappointed after the apparent increase in influencers appearing on the show 'Ahhh nooo. Didnt want this to happen with Traitors. People to boost their own profiles. Rubbish'; 'It is a shame that they seemingly have more social influencers this year, I hope it doesnt affect the series'; 'The sign up literally asks you for links to all of your socials, its sad :('; 'Nooooo, I didnt want traitors to become like every other reality show.' It comes after viewers labelled this year's contestants as ''the worst Faithfuls ever' after they once again failed to suss out a Traitor. Thursday's episode of the hit BBC show saw the dramatic moment that Tyler was banished after receiving the most number of votes at the round table. But he then revealed that he had been a Faithful all along, sending shockwaves around the castle and making Livi storm off. As he prepared to head home, Tyler addressed his co-stars, saying: 'I just want to say I love all of you, it's just a game. So keep going and smash it, I love you. I am Faithful.' While he also shared a moment with his pal Livi, as he whispered to her to 'stay strong'. After revealing his identity, the cast gasped in shock and frustration that they had once again voted out one of their own. The Traitors viewers have labelled this year's contestants as ''the worst Faithfuls ever' after they once again failed to suss out a Traitor Thursday's episode of the hit BBC show saw the dramatic moment that Tyler was banished after receiving the most number of votes at the round table (pictured) But he then revealed that he had been a Faithful all along, sending shockwaves around the castle and making Livi storm off Meet the cast of The Traitors 2025 Elen Age: 24 Occupation: Translator Location: Cardiff Lisa Age: 62 Occupation: Anglican Priest Location: Cornwall Jack Age: 24 (at time of filming, 25 now) Occupation: Market trader and landscaper Location: Yorkshire Alex Age: 29 Occupation: Care Manager Location: Whitby Alexander Age: 38 Occupation: Former British Diplomat Location: London Anna Age: 28 Occupation: Swimming Teacher Location: County Wicklow, Ireland Armani Age: 27 Occupation: Financial Investigator Location: London Charlotte Age: 32 (33 now) Occupation: Business Director Location: London, recently moved to Hampshire Dan Age: 33 Occupation: Bank Risk Manager Location: Liverpool Fozia Age: 50 Occupation: Community Development Manager Location: Birmingham Francesca Age: 44 Occupation: Interior Designer Location: East Sussex Freddie Age: 20 Occupation: Politics Student Location: Peterborough Jake Age: 28 Occupation: Project manager Location: Barrow-in-Furness Joe Age: 37 Occupation: English Teacher Location: Southampton (Originally Yorkshire) Kasim Age: 33 Occupation: Doctor Location: Cambridge Keith Age: 65 Occupation: Window cleaner Location: Bournemouth Leanne Age: 28 Occupation: Veteran Location: Holywell, North Wales Leon Age: 40 Occupation: Retail store manager Location: East Midlands Linda Age: 70 Occupation: Retired opera singer Location: Hertfordshire Olivia (Livi) Age: 26 Occupation: Beautician and Model Location: Horsham Maia Age: 25 Occupation: Full-time Mum Location: Essex Minah Age: 29 Occupation: Call Centre Manager Location: Liverpool Nathan Age: 39 Occupation: Property Consultant Location: London Tyler Age: 29 Occupation: Barber Location: Leicester Yin Age: 34 Occupation: Doctor of communication Location: Berkshire Advertisement And Livi angrily declared: 'No one's listening to me. I've literally got to get out of here for a second,' before running out of the room in tears. However, she had set her sights firmly on Freddie for two round tables in a row, who is also a Faithful. While another person who received a lot of votes on Thursday's episode was Faithful Lisa, causing viewers to mock this year's cast and say 'none of them have a clue'. Taking to X, fans pointed out that there was a distinct lack of 'planning or teamwork whatsoever' ahead of roundtables and quipped the Faithfuls have 'the mindset of Dory from Finding Nemo. They wrote: 'These are the worst faithfuls ever hahahahahha none of them have a clue'; 'Faithfuls barking up the wrong tree again. I love it'; 'Faithful are all over the place'. 'There is never any strategy to who they go for at the Round Table. Hilarious to watch such chaos unfold'; 'Minah is making it look easy to be a Traitor, shes just sitting watching the Faithfuls cause all of the drama' 'The Faithfuls have the mindset of Dory from Finding Nemo, it is literally whoever the last person they heard right before the deliberation, with no sense of planning or teamwork whatsoever. #TheTraitors are KILLING it this season.' Footage of firefighters saving photo albums and family heirlooms from a burning house in the Palisades has captured the hearts of millions - as fires continue to ravage Los Angeles. As per an NBC News report, fire crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department's No. 37 station in Westwood were battling the fire on Tuesday when they made the effort to save sentimental items from the burning home. In a now-viral clip shared online, the heroic firefighters can be seen walking out carrying albums and setting them down across the road before heading back into the blaze. There appears to be around two dozen albums that have already been rescued from the catastrophic fire. 'Just trying to save some photos,' one firefighter said as he set down the armful of photos away from the burning property. In another clip, two firefighters are then seen retrieving a grandfather clock and several other pieces of furniture from the house. NBCLA reporter Karma Dickerson, who witnessed the incredible act of kindness, said the firefighters were doing their best to save some of the sentimental items that were inside the home. 'I was watching them carry out family's keepsakes. It was pretty extraordinary for them to make that a priority understanding that the house would likely be lost,' Dickerson said. As per an NBC News report, fire crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department station 37 in Westwood were battling the fire on Tuesday when they made the effort to save some sentimental items from the burning home The firefighters said they were hoping the retrieved items would bring the homeowners some comfort amid their loss. The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures, officials said, as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The Kenneth Fire started in the late Thursday afternoon in the San Fernando Valley just two miles from a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire. It moved into neighboring Ventura County but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. About 400 firefighters remained on scene overnight to guard against the fire flaring up. Only hours before the Kenneth Fire roared to life officials expressed encouragement after firefighters aided by calmer winds and help from crews from outside the state saw the first signs of successfully beating back the region's two devastating wildfires. The Eaton Fire near Pasadena that started Tuesday night has burned more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. Firefighters were able to establish the first bit of containment Thursday. The firefighters said they were hoping the retrieved items would give the homeowners some comfort amid their loss Dozens of blocks were flattened in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood which is home to a slew of A-list celebrities In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, burned homes are seen from above during the Palisades fire in Malibu, Los Angeles county, California on January 9, 2025 Fire crews walk as they battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles Dozens of blocks were flattened in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood which is home to a slew of A-list celebrities. For many, only the outlines of homes and their chimneys remained. Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, John Goodman, Candy Spelling, Milo Ventimiglia, and Miles Teller are among those whose homes were demolished. The so-called Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on LA's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs. Melania Trump certainly didn't look pleased to be back in Washington DC. Just 11 days shy of her husband's inauguration, the mood seemed a little grim as she accompanied her husband up the nave of the Washington National Cathedral and took her place at the far end of a second-row pew for the state funeral of the late President Jimmy Carter. With no near neighbors to converse with either to the front or back, Melania sat in silence while Trump chatted animatedly with his one-time foe, President Barack Obama. Melania, meanwhile, looked oblivious, glacial even, staring out unmoved by what was taking place around her. She seemed wholly uninterested in catching up with fellow members of that most exclusive club the former First Ladies sitting just a short distance away. Melania's solemnity seemed quite excessive even by the standards of a state funeral while the absurdity of her oversized white collar featuring a neoclassical sculpture of kissing lovers in black and white print could almost have been a display of mocking disdain. But, when it comes to Melania, there is always an element of surprise. She had memorably worn grey rather than the usual black for the 2023 funeral of Carter's late wife, Rosalynn, after all. Now she has confounded her critics once again - this time with an outfit which held a hidden meaning only she, and perhaps her stylist, would ever truly know. Melania sat in silence while Trump chatted animatedly with President Barack Obama on Thursday. Melania seemed wholly uninterested in catching up with fellow members of that most exclusive club, the former First Ladies, sitting just a short distance away. Melania defied convention at the 2023 funeral of Rosalynn Carter, choosing to wear grey rather than traditional black. The long black wool belted coat and its white collar jutting not so subtly out from under it were two pieces from a unique three-way collaboration between house designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, Jun Takahashi of Japanese label Undercover (specializing in streetwear and experimental tailoring) and a group called the Movement for the Emancipation of Poetry, whose members paste lyrical lines on to the walls and monuments of Italian cities. For this look, I am told, Melania delved into her archives (rather than racing to a designer's door), for the two pieces from Valentino's Fall 2019 collection. In that show, titled 'Valentino in Love', Piccioli had constructed an illuminated billboard at the end of the runway emblazoned with the words: 'The people you love become ghosts inside of you and like this you keep them alive.' Audience members found a slim volume of verse on each seat. And it was explained that, with a dash of the 'undercover', Piccioli had selected lines from this special anthology to be hidden inside the clothing so that only the wearer would know what they were hiding and what it said. What thoughts lay within the fashion pieces chosen by Melania last week? Only she would know the answer but I think it's highly likely that, as with her subdued demeanor, the decision to wear this particular outfit must have had something to do with her the memory of mother, Amalija Knavs. Amlija's death a year ago to the day of President Carter's state funeral last week was a life-altering moment for the model turned political consort. A mother she described as her 'dear friend and an irreplaceable treasure' had been a key albeit barely visible presence in Melania's life. Amalija and Melania's father became virtually full-time residents of the White House. Like Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, Amalija was tasked with providing some normality to the cocoon-like existence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, both for her daughter and grandson Barron. Unlike Marian, however, Amalija was rarely paraded on the political stage. Few outside the DC bubble knew she was even around and, like most of everything else about Melania's private life, she remained exactly that private. Amlija's death a year ago to the day of President Carter's state funeral last week was a life-altering moment for the model turned political consort. (Pictured: Melania Trump with her mother at New York City's Olympus Fashion Week Fall in 2004). Pictured: Melania at the funeral service of her mother Amalija Knavs on January 18, 2024. Melania's decision to deliver the eulogy to a packed congregation at Amalija's Palm Beach funeral was a rare occasion when she summoned the determination to face down her natural dislike of public speaking. On the anniversary of her death, Amalija would doubtless have been on her daughter's mind, the more so as Melania readies herself for a second starring turn on the very biggest political stage. It was writ large on her face. Refusing to use the sad anniversary as an excuse to evade the occasion, or blame a 'scheduling conflict' as did Michelle Obama, Melania instead decided it was yet another moment to defy expectation - which has become something of a habit. A holidaymaker has revealed how her boyfriend spent 10,000 on a 'sunset villa' in the Maldives despite knowing it was rainy season - only to endure howling winds, four hours of sun and weather as bad as London. Diana Gorenco, from London, says her partner forked out 9,220 for the two of them to stay in a 'Over Water Pool Villa' in her 'dream holiday destination' from November 25 until December 2. However, instead of the blue skies, clear water and white sand she expected of the Maldives, the stay-at-home girlfriend was met with clouds, heavy downpours of rain and strong winds. Diana had hoped to get snaps 'like the goddesses she had seen on social media' -despite knowing the rainy season typically runs from May to November. The 24-year-old claims the biggest issue was that it was cloudy, meaning they were unable to see the sunsets that they had hoped and paid for - at a staggering 1,300 a night. Diana said the gloomy weather was so bad that instead of flying home on December 2, she demanded they extend their holiday and stopped off in Dubai on the way home in a desperate attempt to catch some sun rays. Diana said: 'It was just the two of us. We wanted a romantic holiday. The aim was to get away from London and get some sun. For seven nights it was 9,220 for the best villa they had. We were expecting blue skies, clear water and sunshine. 'Before we went, we researched if it was a good time to go. We did see online that is was the end of the rainy season. We expected a bit of rain here and there but it was way worse than we expected. We knew that it was going to be bad, but not that bad.' Diana had hoped to get snaps 'like the goddesses she had seen on social media' -despite knowing the rainy season typically runs from May to November The 24-year-old explained that the temperatures were still a warm 28C to 30C throughout the trip, but the wind made activities uncomfortable The 24-year-old claims the biggest issue was that it was cloudy, meaning they were unable to see the sunsets that they had hoped and paid for - at a staggering 1,300 a night When they arrived, the downpours weren't the worst of the couple's problems. Despite waking up at 5am every morning in a desperate attempt to catch a glimpse of the sunrise - and staying in an aptly named 'sunset villa' - Diana didn't see a single sunset, or sunrise, all trip. Diana said: 'It rained four times but that didn't really bother us. The problem was that it was cloudy most of the time - it was literally like London. I calculated looking back how much direct sunlight we got during the whole trip and it was only five or seven hours max during the seven days. 'The Maldives was my dream holiday destination. I've never really travelled outside of Europe, except to go to Dubai. 'It was fresh and new and I had very high expectations. I bought so many outfits and so many swimsuits. I only managed to get one or two pictures in my outfits and that's it really. 'On social media, you see beautiful pictures taken at sunset where women look like goddesses and I really wanted a picture like that - but it didn't happen.' The 24-year-old explained that the temperatures were still a warm 28C to 30C throughout the trip, but the wind made activities such as scuba diving uncomfortable. Diana said: 'The last three days it was super windy, to the point where I wasn't really getting in the water, other than to do some scuba diving. Diana said: 'It rained four times but that didn't really bother us. The problem was that it was cloudy most of the time - it was literally like London' According to Diana, who worked in marketing before becoming a stay-at-home girlfriend, even the locals thought that the weather conditions were 'unusual' for the time of year 'I only did half of it [the diving] because when we moved to the second location the waves were so big and I was so cold I just went back to the boat and waited for everyone to come.' The couple were unable to enjoy their time outside on the villa's sundeck, which is described online as the perfect location to 'bask in the sunshine and enjoy glorious sunsets in total privacy'. Diana said: 'Our villa was also the furthest away from the shore. The wind was bad and the water in the swimming pool was moving so you couldn't even really enjoy your time outside, and that was frustrating.' According to Diana, who worked in marketing before becoming a stay-at-home girlfriend, even the locals thought that the weather conditions were 'unusual' for the time of year. Diana said: 'I was disappointed. The locals even said that the weather was unusual for the time of year and suggested we come back in April or May. We thought that we'd planned our trip at the end of the rainy season.' After sharing a video of her experience on TikTok, Diana was met with comments from other people who had recently travelled to the Maldives at a similar time but been lucky enough to experience blue skies. Diana said: 'The funny thing is that someone commented on my video saying that they went at the beginning of November and they had perfect weather. We went three weeks later and we had the worst weather. 'I feel like even in the rainy season, you can have good days and bad days.' Despite waking up at 5am every morning in a desperate attempt to catch a glimpse of the sunrise - and staying in an aptly named 'sunset villa' - Diana didn't see a single sunset, or sunrise, all trip 'I calculated looking back how much direct sunlight we got during the whole trip and it was only five or seven hours max during the seven days,' Diana said Diana admits that while she was left 'disappointed' by the weather conditions in the Maldives, the trip served its romantic purpose and highlighted to her that her partner is her 'soulmate'. Diana said: 'I feel very disappointed [that we paid so much and couldn't see the sunrises and sunsets], but it also showed me that love is more important and I did enjoy my time with my partner. 'I feel like we connected a lot. I feel like the fact that we were in such a bad situation and he'd paid all that money and we still managed to have a good time just shows me that he's my soulmate.' It was in the final days of their holiday that the couple - who will have been together for two years at the end of January - decided to extend their holiday. Diana said: 'The weather was so bad that we decided to actually stop in Dubai and get some sun and then come back to London. I told my partner "We have to extend our trip. I'm not going home, we barely got any sun".' Instead of flying back to London on December 2, the couple stopped off in Dubai for four days until December 6. Diana said: 'We were so lucky that we did. Dubai was perfect and we saw the most beautiful, amazing sunsets and then went home.' Despite it not living up to their expectations the first time round, Diana says the couple are planning on visiting the Maldives again at some point during 2025. Diana Gorenco, from London, says her partner forked out 9,220 for the two of them to stay in a 'Over Water Pool Villa' in her 'dream holiday destination' from November 25 until December 2 Diana said: 'Our villa was also the furthest away from the shore. The wind was bad and the water in the swimming pool was moving so you couldn't even really enjoy your time outside, and that was frustrating' Diana said: 'I think if we go again this year, then we might leave the booking until last minute to see if the weather is good and then we'll book and go. 'I would advise everyone to go a bit later - from February onwards. Even then, the weather isn't guaranteed. 'I think it's so funny that people went three weeks before us and they had no rain or wind - it was just sunny - and we went later and we got the worst.' Since sharing a video of the blustery weather conditions on TikTok, the clip has gone viral, racking up 400,000 views, likes and comments. The resort the couple stayed at has been approached for comment. Former Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent is not a fan of what she's been seeing from California's government as wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area. On Thursday evening, the Bravo personality took to Instagram to call for Los Angeles mayor karen bass and California governor Gavin Newsom to resign. For the fourth straight day in a row, wildfires have torched Los Angeles, burning homes and even entire streets to the ground. On Tuesday, fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Many celebrity homes have been destroyed, among them Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Paris Hilton, Melissa Rivers and Ricki Lake. Currently, there are multiple fires that have yet to be contained, and many fear even more damage this weekend as winds continue to pick up. Kent, who has already spoken out about how difficult it has been for her four-month-old daughter to breathe given the air quality in the area, took to the social media platform to share more of her thoughts. 'I am not into politics, I don't pretend that I know everything there is to know, I do my best to do my research, but at the end of the day, again, I can honestly say I don't know much, and I don't insert myself in conversations that I have no business being in,' Kent began. Former Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent is not a fan of what she's been seeing from California's government as wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area. For the fourth straight day in a row, wildfires have torched Los Angeles, burning homes and even entire streets to the ground Kent, who has already spoken out about how difficult it has been for her four-month-old daughter to breathe given the air quality in the area, took to the social media platform to share more of her thoughts 'What I do know is that I have a brain, I know that comes as a shock to some of you, I have two ears, and I got two eyes that work, and when I look around Los Angeles, when I look around many parts of California, I say, not only is something not right, but I don't like what I see,' she continued. 'I am a registered Democrat, I would say that I am a liberal person, I also will say Newsom and Bass gotta go,' the reality star concluded. That same day, Kent also shared a message about her newborn, Sosa. 'This morning Sosa woke up and was really struggling to breathe,' the Give Them Lala Beauty founder wrote. 'I made the decision to pack my family up and come to Palm Springs, strictly based on the air quality. This is where we will stay until LA is safe again.' Lala, whose full name is Lauren, gave birth to her second child on September 3. She also shares three-year-old daughter Ocean with ex-fiance Randall Emmett. The somber post from the reality television star continued, 'This is one of the most devastating situations I have ever seen. 'At this point, if you were not directly affected, you know someone who has lost everything.' 'I am a registered Democrat, I would say that I am a liberal person, I also will say Newsom and Bass gotta go,' the reality star concluded Currently, there are multiple fires that have yet to be contained, and many fear even more damage this weekend as winds continue to pick up Many celebrity homes have been destroyed, among them Leighton Meester and Adam Brody , Paris Hilton , Melissa Rivers and Ricki Lake Pouring her heart out to her 2.4 million followers, she went on to say, 'I'm obsessing over how we could be so underprepared.' And, so far, Kent hasn't been the only celebrity who has spoken out against California's leadership during this difficult time. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com Thursday, former Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels slammed California politicians. 'People are dead, homes have burned, it is not your first rodeo,' she told DailyMail.com. 'It is not.' 'And when you know that you have a state that is prone to fire and - I'm going to give it to you - you've got global warning, you have literally a tinderbox,' the Balance by Jillian Michaels founder continued. 'Isn't this the part where you take the highest taxed, highest income tax, highest sales tax, highest gas tax and rebuild the infrastructure?' She was especially critical of California's Governor Gavin Newsom and the way he has been handling the wildfire outbreak. He has been the state's Governor since 2019. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com Thursday, former Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels slammed California politicians So far, at least 10 people have passed away from the fires that are ripping through Los Angeles The fitness celebrity went on to claim that Newsom had known about the fires since early this week, when he began to mobilize certain resources to the area, but failed to take enough action. She believes that he should have called in the National Guard to help battle these fires much earlier. 'I'm sorry, and the reason for me this is super serious is because this guy wants to be your president. This now goes from a California problem to a country-wide problem,' Michaels said about Newsom. Actor Mel Gibson, whose house in Malibu was burned to the ground, also took issue with the state's governor during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast this week. The actor said, 'I think Newsom said "Im gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff"he didnt do anything.' Rogan chimed in that he believes that the California Governor had put tax dollars toward supporting the homeless population instead of fire prevention. The Passion Of The Christ director agreed with the host before joking: 'I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavins hair gel.' Sometimes life imitates art in the most cruel way - and heartbroken fans of Milo Ventimiglia can't help but point out the devastating similarities between his This Is Us character and real life. On Thursday, the actor 47, visited the remains of his Malibu house which was destroyed during the Los Angeles fires, where he and his pregnant wife Jarah Mariano, 41, had been preparing to raise their first child. Ventimiglia got visibly emotional talking about their loss which included the crib and 'everything [that] was set up' for the arrival of their baby. Fans couldn't help but point out the eerie - and sad - similarities between Ventimiglia's character in the NBC drama and his real life. In season 2 of This Is Us, Ventimiglia's character Jack Pearson devastatingly dies in a house fire from smoke inhalation after rescuing his family - which heartbroken fans were quick to point out. 'Life imitates art in the worst version possible. Once for Jack Pearson and once for Milo Ventimiglia,' a fan wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. 'As someone who watched every episode of This Is Us and cried through it, its heartbreaking to learn that both Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia have lost their homes in the fires,' added another. 'Of course I am heartbroken for everyone. But its sad how life imitated art for Mandy and Milo,' someone commented. Milo Ventimiglia, 47, got choked up after his Malibu home burned down in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires In season 2 of This Is Us, Ventimiglia's character Jack Pearson devastatingly dies in a house fire from smoke inhalation after rescuing his family - which heartbroken fans were quick to point out 'Its weird how he lost the house in the fire in This Is Us and now this,' chimed in another. In an interview with CBS News on Thursday, the actor struggled to choke back tears as he saw the remnants of his family's home. He revealed he and wife watched their home burn down to the ground in horrifying security camera footage. The actor commented on the similarities between his own situation and his characters on the hit show. 'It's not lost on me,' he said about the comparison. 'Life imitating art.' Thankfully unlike his onscreen character, Ventimiglia is alive and said he fortunately still has everything that truly matters. 'We've got good friends, and we've got good people we're working with,' he said. 'We'll make do. Wife and baby and dog are most important.' After the fire in the area was put out, he returned to the area two days later. He knew his house was gone but to stand there in person he said it felt 'heavy' Fans couldn't help but point out the eerie - and sad - similarities that Ventimiglia's character in the NBC drama and his real life Heartbroken fans of Milo Ventimiglia can't help but point out the devastating similarities between his This Is Us character and real life. Pictured is Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson in This Is Us The This Is Us star visited the remains of the house where he and his pregnant wife Jarah Mariano, 41, had been excitedly preparing to raise their baby; pictured October 2024 in Agoura Hills Thankfully unlike his onscreen character (pictured) Ventimiglia is still alive and said he fortunately still has everything that truly matters. His former onscreen wife Mandy Moore was also one of the many who were forced to evacuate amid the ravaging fires The Gilmore Girls alum also spoke to CBS about how he and wife watched their home burn down to the ground in horrifying security camera footage. Fortunately, he and his wife as well as their dog safely evacuated on Tuesday before it happened. He knew his house was gone but to stand there in person he said it felt 'heavy.' 'You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not,' the Gilmore Girls alum explained. 'And then you see your neighbors' houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks,' he continued. His former onscreen wife Mandy Moore was also one of the many who were forced to evacuate amid the ravaging fires. At least 10 people were killed and thousands of structures were burned as fierce wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area, officials said. Fast-moving flames blazed through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities. Many of the towering fires that began Tuesday were fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph in some spots. The winds dropped Thursday, but the National Weather Service warned that even the reduced gusts could still spread fire rapidly. The exact death toll remained unclear, but it was expected to rise as crews begin to search the rubble. Governor Gavin Newsom said California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel to battle the blazes. Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona dispatched teams to assist. AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to $135 billion to $150 billion. Government officials have not yet released any damage estimates. Kimberly Guilfoyle has debuted a drastic new look on Instagram, showing her 1.6 million followers her svelte figure. Kimberly, 55, posted an Instagram Story promoting Coco Love Water in a short off-the-shoulder white dress that was a clear departure from her usual style. Instead of wearing her usual skintight blue or red ensembles, she opted for a cozy sweater mini dress to spotlight her trim pins. The television news personality paired the shredded mini with knee-high white pointy-toed boots. The mom-of-one captioned the slender snap 'Obsessed,' making sure to tag the brand, which is a sustainable alternative to canned coconut water, and both founders. The ensemble was far more conservative than the former prosecutor's usual spandex dresses, which her ex-fiancee was said to complain vehemently about. While Kimberly wore her usual heavy eyeliner and nude lip, her face looked quite lean. According to People, Don Jr., 46, complained about his former fiancee's style before he was spotted with his new love interest, Bettina Anderson, 38. Kimberly Guilfoyle debuted a drastic new look on Instagram, showing her 1.6 million followers her svelte figure According to People, Donald Trump Jr., 46, complained about former fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle's style 'Don Jr. has been telling people for months that Kim is so uptight and always dresses so professionally in these kinds of dresses and high heels, and never looks relaxed or casual,' an insider told People Sources close to the Trump family told the publication that Don Jr. believed that Bettina was a better fit for his family and could be his own version of his stepmother Melania Trump, 54. The source added that Don Jr. had complained about Kimberly's style for a long time before their break-up. 'Don Jr. has been telling people for months that Kim is so uptight and always dresses so professionally in these kinds of dresses and high heels, and never looks relaxed or casual,' the insider told People. 'The tight dresses need to go and she has been told that.' It looks like she listened to his advice, albeit after their much-publicized breakup. The author of children's book The Princess & Her Pup often wore red, white, and blue, to show her love for America throughout their years-long relationship. Kimberly, who was nominated as the U.S. ambassador to Greece by her ex's dad, Donald Trump, became famous for donning skintight, plunging knee-length dresses. On social media, some people questioned Kimberly's style choices during her years in the public eye. The author of children's book The Princess & Her Pup often wore red, white, and blue, to show her love for America throughout their years-long relationship Sources close to the Trump family told the publication that Don Jr. believed that Bettina was a better fit for his family and could be his own version of his stepmother Melania Trump, 54 Kimberly's patriotic sense of style was in stark contrast to Don Jr.'s new lady love, Bettina, a Palm Beach socialite who is famous for her ties to designer brands. Bettina has quickly amassed 53,000 Instagram followers who keep up with her every move, including attending events with designers like Akris and Alice & Olivia. The Columbia University graduate, who often opts for matching sets and flirty floral dresses, has even dipped her toe into the fashion world. Bettina worked with women's designer website Moda Operandi to curate online shopping guides. In contrast, Kimberly rarely discusses fashion on her own Instagram page, which is devoted to sharing posts about the Maga movement and her ex's father, President-elect Trump. Hannah Neeleman, the viral, controversial 'trad wife' influencer behind Ballerina Farm with over nine million followers, has relocated her entire family to Ireland in a shock new move. Neeleman, who made headlines this summer after she faced intense scrutiny following an article published by The Times of London, revealed the special news in a new video posted to TikTok. She explained that she and her husband, Daniel, had moved themselves and their eight kids to Ireland for 'the next little while' as the couple attend the Ballymaloe Cookery School. It's unclear exactly how long she and her family will be gone for, and when they will return to Utah. In another clip, she posted the journey of her whole brood getting there, as she showed all of her kids' packed suitcases. The family had to take three different flights to get to the school, which is located in Cork - almost three hours from Dublin. The Ballymaloe School delivers a 'first class culinary education,' according to its website, and offers multiple courses of different lengths, ranging anywhere from twelves weeks to half a day. Spending 12 weeks studying at Ballymaloe will cost you 16,295.00, which converts to $16,696.02 in US Dollars. Hannah Neeleman explained that she and her husband, Daniel, had moved themselves and their eight kids to Ireland for 'the next little while' as the couple attend the Ballymaloe Cookery School It's unclear exactly how long she and her family will be gone for, and when they will return to Utah Neeleman, who made headlines this summer after she faced intense scrutiny following an article published by The Times of London, revealed the special news in a new video posted to TikTok The school is set on a 100-acre organic farm, and focuses on teaching its students all about sustainability. Students learn to cook a diverse array of foods, and have a packed schedule, which includes making a three to four course meal every morning, listening to lectures about various food subjects, and preparing lunch for the group. However, in 2021, the school faced controversy after police temporarily shut them down for holding in-person classes during the COVID-19 lockdown. The school denied the claims, per The Irish Times. And, in 2003, Tim Allen, the co-founder of Ballymaloe, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 240 hours community service and fined 40,000, according to The Irish Times. Allen was also forced to announce that he was stepping back from the cookery school, leaving his wife Darina to run the business. In a video posted Thursday, Neeleman showed viewers what a day in their life at the school looked like. The school is set on a 100-acre organic farm, and focuses on teaching its students all about sustainability In video posted Thursday, Neeleman showed viewers what a day in their life at the school looked like The couple, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often share glimpses of their idyllic life on social media, posting under Ballerina Farm, the name of their shared company Included in the montage was a clip of her making pasta in the kitchen, as well as fresh jam. She also made a quiche lorraine, and plated fresh berries with whipped cream. 'Only a few days in and culinary school is teaching me and inspiring me tremendously,' Neeleman wrote in the caption of the video. 'I love creating beautiful food with beautiful ingredients- loving it!' she continued. 'What did you think about my first quiche Lorraine?' Hannah, who was an aspiring ballerina, moved to New York City at 17 to study at Juilliard, but met her now-husband Daniel not long after. The couple, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often share glimpses of their idyllic life on social media, posting under Ballerina Farm, the name of their shared company. Hannah and her husband launched their company Ballerina Farm in 2019 - which now sells an array of products made from their livestock like ground beef and pork, as well as fresh desserts and produce. She has amassed millions of followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube from her 'trad wife' content, a term short for 'traditional wife,' which describes a woman trading modern femininity for domestic duties, involving cooking, cleaning, and having children. Its not clear how many more new leaders Lurie might tap as he looks to implement his promise to make San Francisco cleaner and safer while bringing more accountability to City Hall. Lurie told reporters before his inauguration Wednesday that he continued to talk with department heads about their future and said to expect a lot of change. Luries office touted Crispen as having shown exemplary leadership throughout his career and praised him for putting his life in danger for people in San Francisco and beyond. Crispen has served in various roles throughout his long career with the fire department, including being captain of stations in Chinatown, North Beach and SoMa, Luries office said. Lurie said in a statement that he expects Crispen to lead the fire department with the same compassion, integrity, and unwavering dedication that have defined his entire career. Whether as a first responder, an advocate for underserved populations, or a leader fostering collaboration, he has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to meet challenges with both strength and empathy, Lurie said. And he will demonstrate that ability every day in service of the safety of San Franciscans. Lurie echoed the sentiment in a news conference in his City Hall office Friday, where he said he was confident that San Francisco would be not only safer, but stronger with Crispen as fire chief. Crispen earned recognition for bravery after helping rescue elderly victims from fires in the Tenderloin, according to the mayors office. He has been a commander at more than 50 incidents in San Francisco and was also part of the departments response in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Crispen is a San Francisco native whose father is a retired captain of the fire departments arson squad. His mother immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua when she was a child. Crispen joined Lurie in the mayors office Friday. Flanked by members of Crispens family and fire department command staff, along with other public safety leaders including Police Chief Bill Scott, Crispen said it is the honor of my life to receive this appointment and that he looks forward to helping Lurie implement his public safety-focused agenda. Our history is remarkable, and our future is bright. Under a new administration, optimism reigns supreme, Crispen said, adding that Luries love for our city is contagious. Lurie and Crispen both acknowledged that public safety was top of mind in California due to the Los Angeles County fires. Thirty people from San Francisco are currently helping with the Southern California fire response, Lurie said. Emergency management director Mary Ellen Carroll told reporters that the city expects to receive requests for more assistance in the coming days, and she also anticipated sending Public Works staff to help with debris removal when the time comes. Lurie got another reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness when a 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco on Friday morning. He said he was on the phone with Carroll within 120 seconds of the quake and she promptly got her team going and coordinated across departments to make sure that everything was safe and sound. Zendaya and Tom Holland's holiday engagement is the Hollywood fairytale romance that's captured the hearts of romantics everywhere - but confirmation of the news from Tom's father has raised eyebrows. News of the engagement emerged after the Golden Globes last week following much speculation about her jewelry on the red carpet with eagle-eyed fans noticing she debuted stunning new bling - on her ring finger. While fans are thrilled for the happy couple - who met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 - they couldn't help but find it strange the news was confirmed by Tom Holland's father, Dominic, via his Patreon blog. Dominic posted confirmation of his 28-year-old son's engagement to his Patreon, a site for creatives where readers pay for subscriptions. 'The engagement has now been confirmed and why I am writing about it here but without adding anything new and juicy like a date, venue, guest list,' the father-of-four wrote in the December 10 post that cost $4 to read. While fans loved the details in the post - like the fact Tom asked Zendaya's father for permission - many were amused by the fact Dominic had a Patreon at all and rushed to question why. 'Need to know who is subscribing to Tom Holland's father's Patreon,' one confused fan wrote to X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Sorry quick question, why does Tom Holland's dad have a Patreon?' asked another. Dominic posted confirmation of his 28-year-old son's engagement to his Patreon, a site for creatives where readers pay for subscriptions (Tom and Dominic Holland pictured in 2018) 'Why does Tom Holland's father have a Patreon,' another blunt response read. 'This no shade for real but who the hell is paying for Tom Holland's dad's Patreon,' another responded. 'Why does Tom Holland's dad have a Patreon like is the whole family helping pay off the ring or does that Spiderman money not get passed around?' joked another X user. According to Dominic's post, he launched his blog during lockdown. 'Like many "artists" I came to Patreon during lockdown when our sage politicians shut down the world and my diary emptied, and my income plunged to zero,' he wrote. He added he's 'sufficiently self-aware' as to why many people may subscribe to his blog. 'Most of my patrons arrive vicariously, my skill being whether I can retain them or not. Many arrivals hoping for titbits on Tom last only a month and must accept their loss of $2 which is the least I can charge btw,' he quipped. News of the engagement emerged after the Golden Globes last week following much speculation about her jewelry on the red carpet with eagle-eyed fans noticing she debuted stunning new bling - on her ring finger While fans are thrilled for the happy couple - who met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 - they couldn't help but have question's about Dominic's Patreon Many were amused by the fact Dominic had a Patreon at all and rushed to question why Earlier in the week, Zendaya's father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, denied a report that suggested Tom had asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage before the proposal 'Need to know who is subscribing to Tom Holland's father's Patreon,' one confused fan wrote to X, formerly known as Twitter The comedian and writer did delve into some of the engagement details, revealing Tom was 'very incredibly well prepared' to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend. 'He had purchased a ring. He had spoken with her father and gained permission to propose to his daughter,' he wrote. 'Tom had everything planned out.' He sly added his own proposal to his wife Nikki was not we well thought out or planned. 'My own proposal [was] nothing like my eldest son who has obviously watched all the slushy movies because growing up I never saw him reading a book,' he joked in the blog post. He added: 'For most blokes, the stress of purchasing an engagement ring is being able to afford it. I suspect that this was the least of Tom's worries, more concerned with the stone, it's size and clarity, its housing, which jeweler' Earlier in the week, Zendaya's father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, denied a report that suggested Tom had asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage before the proposal. When reached for comment about his reaction to Zendaya, 28, getting engaged to Tom, Kazembe told DailyMail.com that it was 'a bunch of crap' that was reported. 'That was a bunch of crap dealt out by TMZ,' he said before adding, 'I don't know what you're talking about.' When pried by a DailyMail.com reporter for more answers, he refused to comment further. The Euphoria star's new cushion-cut five-carat diamond is set on a 18k white and yellow gold band. The ring is said to be by the fashionable New Zealand-born and London-based jeweler, Jessica McCormack, and estimated to be worth over $200,000. Real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran has revealed that she lost her Pacific Palisades mobile home in the Los Angeles wildfires. Since early this week, wildfires have ravaged the Los Angeles area, burning homes and even entire streets to the ground. On Tuesday, fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Currently, there are multiple fires that have yet to be contained, and many fear even more damage this weekend as winds continue to pick up. Many celebrity homes have been destroyed, among them Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Paris Hilton, Melissa Rivers and Ricki Lake. Now, Corcoran, who mainly resides in Manhattan, has been added to that list. She announced the loss of her mobile home in an emotional Instagram post, sharing a terrifying video of the area completely on fire. The video appeared to be taken from someone's car, as debris flew all around them. Real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran has revealed that she lost her Pacific Palisades mobile home in the Los Angeles wildfires In the caption of the post, the Corcoran Group founder penned an emotional tribute to her former home, which she called her 'little slice of heaven' She announced the loss of her mobile home in an Instagram post, sharing a terrifying video of the area completely on fire In the caption of the post, the Corcoran Group founder penned an emotional tribute to her former home, which she called her 'little slice of heaven.' 'The devastating fires in LA have taken so much from so many this week. The beloved Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park in Pacific Palisades, my little slice of heaven, was entirely destroyed when the devastating Palisades Fire rapidly moved through the park on Tuesday,' she wrote. 'For the past five years, I've been privileged to have a home in this loving, tight-knit community,' her message continued. 'It's a place where kindness thrives, friendships are cherished, and neighbors become family. My heart breaks again and again as I see these incredible people who built their lives here for decades, many of them seniors who poured their hearts and life-savings into their trailers, left with absolutely nothing,' Corcoran wrote. In the message, she also shared that she has set up a GoFundMe page to help the community recover from the devastating damage. 'Funds raised will be distributed by our dedicated tenant group to help those most in need cover immediate essentials like food, clothing, and shelter as they take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives,' Corcoran wrote. 'My heart goes out to all those displaced, and my deepest thanks to the brave first responders working tirelessly to keep people safe,' her post concluded. The Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park was located right across the street from Will Rogers State Beach, and had listings priced to almost one million dollars. In the message, she also shared that she has set up a GoFundMe page to help the community recover from the devastating damage On Tuesday, fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions It was only a short drive from Santa Monica and the Palisades. Corcoran also owns a home in Fire Island, New York, per House Beautiful. Since the wildfires started, at least 10 people have been killed. As of Friday, over 10,000 structures have been burned down, with a total of 29,053 acres of land scorched in one of Los Angeles' most horrific disasters to date. TasteAtlas has ranked the 100 'worst dishes' in the world for 2025 A classic British dish has been dubbed one of the 'worst rated' dishes in the world. Travel guide TasteAtlas has put together a list of the 100 meals readers liked least, with results coming in from all over the world from nearly 600,000 ratings. In last place was 'blodpalt' dumplings from Finland, which was awarded just 1.6 stars out of five. The dumplings, which are associated with northern Sweden and Finland, are made from rye or barley flour mixed with animal blood. But a British classic was also included in the list and was officially declared the fifth worst dish of all time. The traditional east London jellied eels scored a mere 2.1 stars, with foodies repulsed by their unusual texture. The Cockney street food item dates back to the 18th century as a cheap and easy way to provide a meal - and eels were one of the few types of fish that could survive the heavy pollution of the River Thames at the time. The eels are covered in gelatin, cloves, vinegar, white pepper and salt and are still readily available in many a pie and mash shop. Classic jellied eels from the UK have been named as one of the worst dishes in the world In second place was Spain's bocadillo de sardinas, with a score of 1.9. Though it may appear inoffensive at a first glance - as it is only a sandwich - it's filled with canned sardines, which may be paired with peppers, tomatoes, coriander, boiled eggs, mayonnaise and yoghurt sauce. In third place was another Swedish offering, the very calorie-laden Calskrove - a calzone pizza stuffed with hamburgers and French fries. Spain's Angulas a la cazuela, originating from the Basque Country, made fourth place. Readers were clearly not a fan of eels or fish, as the traditional dish is made with angulas (baby eels), garlic, pepper flakes, olive oil and salt. The rest of the top ten included New York City's ramen burger, chapelele (a Chilean bread), faves a la Catalana (beans cooked with sausage), Thorramatur (meat and fish from Iceland, including shark) and Thai fish entrails sour curry. Rankings were based on the opinions of the TasteAtlas audience, but the website insists they should not be seen as 'the final global conclusion about food'. It states on their website: 'Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you havent tried.' In last place was 'blodpalt' dumplings from Finland , which received just 1.6 stars out of five The rest of the top 10 included New York City's ramen burger Thorramatur (a selection of meat and fish from Iceland, including shark) also made the list Baby conger eel oven fried in olive oil, served in terra cotta dish Chapelele (a Chilean bread) was included in the top 10 worst dishes in the world REVEALED: THE 100 WORST DISHES IN THE WORLD 1. BLODPLAT - FINLAND 2. BOCADILLO DE SARDINAS - SPAIN 3. CALSKROVE - SWEDEN 4. ANGULAS A LA CASUELA - SPAIN 5. JELLIED EELS - UK 6. RAMEN BURGER - USA 7. CHAPALELE - CHILE 8. FAVES A LA CATALANA - SPAIN 9. THORRAMATUR - ICELAND 10. FISH ENTRAILS - THAILAND 11. SILK WORMS - THAILAND 12. MOONCAKE - CHINA 13. SVI - ICELAND 14. AMBUYAT - BRUNEI 15. NERVETTI - ITALY 16. TINUTAN - INDONESIA 17. MARMITE&CHIP SANDWICH - NZ 18. CHICKEN GIZZARDS - PORTUGAL 19. HEUSUPPE - SWITZERLAND 20. FROG EYE SALAD - USA 21. FRIED SPIDER - CAMBODIA 22. DEVILLED KIDNEYS - UK 23. AGNIARES SALATA - GREECE 24. GOMME - NORWAY 25. OIL DOWN - GRENADA 26. ZYMLOK - POLAND 27. BLACK PUDDING - IRELAND 28. BANKU - GHANA 29. LUTEFISK - NORWAY 30. CZERNINA - POLAND 31. BREAD SOUP - CZECH 32. KUGEL - JERUSALEM DISTRICT 33. BALALEET - UAE 34. OREZ SHU'IT - JERUSALEM 35. SON-IN-LAW EGGS - THAILAND 36. PANIKI - INDONESIA 37. KORESH BAMIEH - IRAN 38. TIRGGEL - SWITZERLAND 39. KALVSYLTA - SWEDEN 40. DUCK'S HEAD - CHINA 41. GACHAS - SPAIN 42. GUINEA PIG - PERU 43. SHAKARAP - UZBEKISTAN 44. POTATO SALAD - SOUTH KOREA 45. KOLLPITE - KOSOVO 46. LONGEOLE - SWITZERLAND 47. MARMITE - UK 48. BALUT - PHILIPPINES 49. BLODPUDDING - SWEDEN 50. SKLANDRAUSIS - LATVIA 51. ZUNGENWURST - GERMANY 52. BLOOD PUDDING - VIETNAM 53. BEONDEGI - SOUTH KOREA 54. GAZPACHO - SPAIN 55. MEHLSUPPE - SWITZERLAND 56. CALDO DE PAPAS - SPAIN 57. BOILED FIDDLEHEADS - CANADA 58. RISOTTO ALLE FRAGOLE - ITALY 59. MASOLVA POMAZANKA - CR 60. FICELLE PICARDE - FRANCE 61. KATA-KAT - PAKISTAN 62. MISSI ROTI - INDIA 63. TOM CHUET - THAILAND 64. SUCHAR - CZECH REPUBLIC 65. BOURBOURELIA - GREECE 66. PAULISTA - BRAZIL 67. KAPUSKA - TURKEY 68. MUISJES - NETHERLANDS 69. FISKEBOLLER - NORWAY 70. NAPORITAN - JAPAN 71. CHOCOLATE BACON - USA 72. PORK AND BEANS - USA 73. BAKED ENDIVES AND HAM - USA 74. INDIGIRKA SALAD - RUSSIA 75. TETE DE VEAU - FRANCE 76. RIZ CASIMIR - SWITZERLAND 77. HORMIGA CULONA - COLOMBIA 78. NASIBAL - NETHERLANDS 79. CHICKEN A LA KING - USA 80. MILLIONBOF - DENMARK 81. BORLEVES - HUNGARY 82. FIAMBRE - GUATEMALA 83. VEGETABLE ROLL - IRELAND 84. PICANTE DE CUY - PERU 85. GHAPAMA - ARMENIA 86. SMALAHOVE - NORWAY 87. SARA UDON - JAPAN 88. FASTENWAHE - SWITZERLAND 89. KNEIPP BREAD - NORWAY 90. BRATHERING - GERMANY 91. TORTILLA DE MANZANA - SPAIN 92. PASTEL CORDOBES - SPAIN 93. HONGEO - SOUTH KOREA 94. SEKIHAN - JAPAN 95. OLLA DE CARNE - COSTA RICA 96. PEPIAN DE CUY - PERU 97. AFANG SOUP - NIGERIA 98. SESWAA - BOTSWANA 99. BOLOS PASTRY - PORTUGAL 100. COOKIE SALAD - USA Advertisement People were quick to share their opinions about the list - and were divided about the jellied eels. They wrote: 'A list where UK "cuisine" can finally have its moment of glory'; 'I had jellied eels in London couple months ago and I genuinely liked them'; 'Only one english meal?'; 'Ive tried jellied eels and it was the worst thing Ive ever tried worse than bugs'; 'IDK what you mean these all look delicious.' Last month TasteAtlas revealed their 100 best foods in the world, based on 335,106 ratings for 11,258 dishes in its database. People were quick to share their opinions about the list - and were divided about the jellied eels Southern Thai food (Kaeng Tai Pla) - a sour soup consisting of fish organs with vegetables In second place was Spain's bocadillo de sardinas, with a score of 1.9 The traditional east London jellied eels scored a mere 2.1 stars, with foodies repulsed by their unusual texture But it was bad news for the UK, since the round-up didn't include any British meals - instead it featured traditional creations from places such as Germany, America, France, Brazil and Italy. Coming in at the top spot was lechona, a traditional Colombian dish consisting of a whole roasted pig stuffed with various ingredients, such as onions, peas, fresh herbs, and spices. Rated 4.78 out of five on the website, the meal is often cooked for celebrations since one lechona can create 100 or more servings sometimes. But tourists can also discover the Colombian delicacy in some restaurants in larger cities, according to the guide. In second place was Neapolitan pizza. Traditionally, the Italian dish has a relatively thin crust with the exception of the rim, which, when baked, bloats like a tiny bicycle tyre. It is rigorously made in a wood-burning brick oven and has two classic versions: Marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano and oil) and, the most famous, Margherita (tomato, mozzarella, oil and basil). Tradition holds the Margherita pizza was created in 1889 by a local chef in honour of Italy's Queen Margherita, who was visiting the city. It has the red, white and green colours of the Italian flag. Picanha, meanwhile, took the third spot, with the Brazilian dish referring to a fresh cut of beef from a specific part of the animal that is often grilled. From the Neapolitan pizza to panang curry, TasteAtlas unveiled its annual round up of the best rated foods. Coming in at the top spot was lechona (pictured), a traditional Colombian dish In second place was Neapolitan pizza. Traditionally, the Italian dish has a relatively thin crust with the exception of the rim, which, when baked, bloats like a tiny bicycle tyre (stock photo) In the tenth spot was tibs - a popular Ethiopian dish of stir-fried meat and vegetables in a flavourful sauce (stock photo) Next up, the guide featured Rechta, which is a traditional Algerian dish of flat, fresh noodles served with a savoury chicken sauce. It is often given out at weddings as it is a celebratory dish. In fifth place was a Thai panang curry, which often features beef, chicken, duck, or pork, served without the addition of any vegetables in the sauce. While many Thai curries are quite brothy, panang is more of a modest sauce that is rich, sweet, salty and nutty with a hint of spice from the cumin, coriander and nutmeg. An asado took the sixth position in the guide, with the title referring to a technique of cooking and a social event in a number of South American countries. Said to be similar to a barbecue, it is an occasion attended by loved ones and the meats of beef, pork, chicken and chorizo, are cooked outside on a special brick-built grill called a parrilla. Cokertme kebab - a traditional Turkish kebab made up of marinated strips of veal, fried potatoes, tomato sauce, and yogurt - secured seventh place in the ultimate guide. Meanwhile, the eighth ranking went to rawon, an Indonesian beef soup known for its dark colouring thanks to the spices it uses. Ninth place went to Cag kebab, a traditional dish which is said to have originated in Erzurum Province, Turkey. Lamb is marinated in an onion mixture for at least 24 hours and then stacked onto a skewer and grilled over an open fire to make the delicious meal. In the tenth spot was tibs - a popular Ethiopian dish of stir-fried meat and vegetables in a flavourful sauce. Julian Sillett has been dealt a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 oesophageal cancer and given just 14 months to live at 35-years-old. And it all started with a mild case of the hiccups. The business analyst and father-of-two from Melbourne, said he first developed a bout of the hiccups while eating in June 2024. This then quickly escalated into uncomfortable swallowing difficulties. Initially, doctors dismissed his symptoms as muscle spasms or stress, but Julian persisted when the pain and his difficulty eating worsened. 'I went to see the doctor in July, and he suggested that I might be eating too quickly, feeling stressed, or that it might even be a temporary muscle spasm,' Julian told FEMAIL. 'He advised me to go home, slow down while eating, and see if the issue resolved itself. But it didn't. 'I went back to the doctor, and by the start of August, I was having quite a lot of trouble swallowing. Food would get stuck in my throat, and it was very painful.' Julian Sillett, a 35-year-old business analyst and father of two from Melbourne, has been dealt a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 oesophageal cancer The father revealed the symptoms began in June 2024 as minor hiccups while eating and quickly escalated into severe swallowing difficulties He said that he had to try and wash everything down with water - which barely helped. Julian was referred to an ENT and a gastroenterologist by his GP. 'Weeks later, I visited both specialists. The ENT performed an on-the-spot examination using a camera to look down my nasal passage. 'They didn't find anything concerning and recommended that I follow up with the gastroenterologist, who I was already scheduled to see. 'When I saw the gastroenterologist, they referred me for a gastroscopy. 'A couple of weeks later, I underwent the gastroscopy, which revealed a tumour located at the bottom of my oesophagus and the top of my stomach.' A biopsy then confirmed the tumour was malignant. Further scans revealed the cancer had spread extensively throughout Julian's abdomen, affecting his lungs, liver, and other organs. Initially, doctors dismissed his symptoms as muscle spasms or stress, but Julian persisted when the pain and difficulty eating worsened By October 2024, doctors confirmed it was stage 4 cancer, ruling out the possibility of a cure By October, doctors confirmed it was stage 4 cancer, ruling out the possibility of a cure. 'It felt surreal when we found out... it just didn't feel real,' Julian said. He admitted that coming to terms with his diagnosis was a slow and emotional process. 'Over time, it just kind of settled in that it was real,' he said. 'I've gone through so many emotions - sadness, hope, wishing things were different, even wanting to trade places with someone else.' Before learning it was stage 4 cancer, Julian remained optimistic. 'I kept thinking it was going to be okay,' he explained. 'Even if it turned out to be cancer, I thought it would be something small - just cut it out, have a surgery, and that would be it. I didn't really stress too much leading up to the diagnosis because I couldn't imagine it being this bad. It just didn't seem possible.' The devastating reality only hit him after the oncologist delivered the final prognosis. Before learning it was stage 4 cancer, Julian remained optimistic 'When they told me it was stage 4, everything changed,' Julian said. 'That was the moment it all became real.' Julian's wife Evelyn and his parents accompanied him to the oncologist when he was told about his prognosis. His family initially struggled with acceptance as well, clinging to hope of beating the disease. 'Even though we'd been told it couldn't be beaten, a lot of my family were still talking about how we'd fight it,' he said. Julian began palliative chemotherapy in November. The father-of-two faces a rare type of aggressive cancer and Julian's genetic make-up also makes it more difficult to treat. Julian's surgeon has advised him that the tumour is inoperable and there is no cure. Prior to starting chemotherapy, a stent was inserted into Julian's oesophagus because the tumour, which is near to the opening of the stomach, was making it difficult for him to eat solid food. The father-of-two faces a rare type of aggressive cancer and Julian's genetic make-up also makes it more difficult to treat The treatment, which includes infusions and daily chemo tablets, has brought challenging side effects, including lethargy, loss of appetite, and extreme sensitivity to cold. 'My doctors put me on a treatment plan, but they said there was no cure. The cancer is too widespread and it's too late.' He has also been struggling with side effects from chemotherapy. 'The infusions really knock me about,' he explained. 'I get pins and needles, numbness, and a metallic taste in my mouth. I can't eat or drink anything cold, and even room-temperature food has to be heated for me to eat it.' Despite the physical toll, Julian is determined to make the most of his time. Julian and his wife have two children, aged 1 and 3, who are too young to understand their father's condition. 'We can't talk to them about me having cancer,' he said. The treatment, which includes infusions and daily chemo tablets, has brought challenging side effects, including lethargy, loss of appetite, and extreme sensitivity to cold Despite the physical toll, Julian is determined to make the most of his time 'But I would love to see my kids go to school. That's my one wish.' The support of his family has been a source of strength. 'Both sets of grandparents have been helping a lot with the kids, and friends and family have shown their support, helping around the house,' Julian shared. Julian's story is a stark reminder of the importance of early detection and persistence in seeking medical advice. While there is a family history of cancer, environmental factors may have contributed to the disease's development. 'I would never have imagined it could be this bad,' Julian reflected. 'I was just going along, thinking it would be something small that could be fixed.' Despite the overwhelming challenges, Julian remains focused on spending quality time with his family and cherishing every moment he has left. You can donate to Julian's GoFundMe in the bullet points. When the birds and the bees talk feels too awkward or a nagging sex question is too embarrassing to ask, most people turn to the internet for answers. With the safety of being behind a computer screen, the internet allows for endless curiosity. To gauge where the most sexually curious Americans live, sex toy company Peachy analyzed Google search records for sex-related terms and questions. The searches ran the gamut from sex positions to fetishes, and the results were surprising, with the most sex-curious Americans residing in some of the most conservative states. Peachy CEO Amy Williams said: Curiosity about sex is a natural part of being human, especially in places where open discussions about intimacy may still be considered taboo. In an age where virtually everyone has access to the internet, young people can feed their curiosity about certain subjects without the shame that comes from asking potentially unaccepting adults. Conservative strongholds dominated the list of states with the most salacious searches, with Utah earning the top spot for most salacious internet searches with a perfect score of 100. The state, where roughly 42 percent of people belong to the Mormon church, and 59 percent voted Republican in 2024, was most interested in BDSM, polyamory' and voyeurism.' Similar results were seen in other traditionally conservative states including Nevada and Georgia. Just as cultural taboos around sexuality in majority-conservative areas can drive curiosity online, more progressive attitudes toward sexuality in liberal-leaning states can do the same. New York and Washington were also among the top five most curious states. Both states are among the most culturally diverse in the country, so Ms Williams was unsurprised to see them near the top of the list. At number two, New York earned a score of 96.12. Ms Williams said the naturally curious state enjoys a diverse population and endless mix of cultural influences that she believes fuels openness in all aspects of life, including sexuality. Nevada took third place, earning a 90.63. Home to 3.2million people, Nevada was a battleground state in 2024. Nevada is often associated with the anything-goes mentality of Las Vegas. However, the state is actually a mix of conservative and liberal ideologies. Sparsely populated but firmly conservative rural regions cover a significant portion of the state, but most of the population lives in more liberal-leaning cities. On one hand, access to sexual education could be driving peoples racy searches. Only 36 states and DC require schools to provide sex education to students, and only 26 of those states require that the information be medically accurate. In Nevada, schools are required to establish a human sexuality course. Still, it is not a requirement for graduation, and parents need to provide written consent for their children to participate, so only a fraction of students are being educated. Washington, on the other hand, takes a far more liberal approach to sex education and clinched the number four spot with a score of 87.47. Schools in the Evergreen state are required to teach everyone about safe sex; the curriculum must be medically accurate, and it must include instruction about consent. This is not to say that there are no conservative enclaves in Washington from which the most risque searches could be coming, though, according to Ms Williams. She said: Even in states with generally progressive attitudes, there can still be disparities in education access, especially for LGBTQ+ youth. The data shows how people look for answers on their own when traditional resources dont meet their needs, adding that the study highlights the importance of good sex education and open conversations Georgia took fifth place with a score of 86.27. The southern state has been seeing shifting demographics and voter engagement for years. While it has been traditionally known as a Republican stronghold, recent elections have revealed a closer political contest between Republicans and Democrats. Georgia sex education programs primarily teach abstinence as the only safe sex measure, meaning hundreds of thousands of children in schools there may be missing out on a crucial curriculum. Ms Williams said: The data speaks volumes about the way people seek out information on their own when traditional resources fall short. This study reminds us of the importance of comprehensive sex education and open conversations. Scientists claim to have pinpointed a subtle sign of a flu-like virus that has already caused chaos in China and it lies in the skin. Cases of the infection human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have caused some concern among experts amid rising levels in the UK and US. The virus is said to be responsible for images of swamped hospital waiting rooms in China, in scenes that are eerily similar to the early days of Covid. Scientists are almost certain that symptoms of hMPV will be very mild for the vast majority, resembling a cold. But, certain vulnerable groups the elderly, immunocompromised and young children, for instance may not have an easy time with hMPV. And the resulting complications differ from that of flu. Yet, there is one other sign of the condition that also differs from a cold or flu that could indicate people have contracted hMPV. Experts say a rash on the skin may be an early sign of infection. One 2004 report by Dutch researchers, who analysed more than a dozen surveys and study groups on hMPV, found a rash on the trunk the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back was one of the most common signs of the condition. Your browser does not support iframes. There is one other sign of the condition that also differs from a cold or flu that could indicate people have contracted hMPV. Experts say a rash on the skin may be an early sign of infection Another 2013 US study published in Pediatrics in Review, found that 'between 5 and 10 per cent of children develop a rash during the infection.' A third in 2016 by Italian scientists also listed 'febrile seizures, rash, diarrhea and vomiting' as common signs. Other typical hMPV signs include symptoms similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose or nasal congestion, a sore throat and fever that clears after around five days. More severe symptoms such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which usually affect those with compromised immune systems, can occur, with sufferers experiencing a shortness of breath, severe cough or wheezing. Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, said when hMPV infects children it looks similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common winter bug that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. 'It is part of the cocktail of winter viruses that we are exposed to and, like other viruses, it will transmit in coughs, sneezes and in droplets,' he said. Similar to the advice related to Covid and RSV, those infected must 'rest, stay hydrated and try not to spread it to others', he added. Professor Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, also said: 'It certainly can and does cause severe disease, that's why I think it's important that people know it's out there.' Scenes of hospitals overrun with people in face masks have made their rounds on social media. Pictured, A baby wearing a face mask waits with family members at the pediatric department of a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China on January 6 Experts have cautioned that hMPV, which produces flu-like symptoms, can lurk in the body for days and so it can be easily passed on to others Your browser does not support iframes. 'The challenge is at the moment there's not much we can do except educate people [that] it's around to reduce transmission. 'There's no vaccine or antivirals, although there are some vaccines in development.' Often patients aren't tested for hMPV unless in hospital, where doctors might need to clarify what is causing your symptoms. This is done via rapid antigen tests where a nasal swab is examined or a PCR test, which looks for traces of genetic material from the virus in nasal swabs. The surge in hPMV in the UK is mostly affecting young children who are among the most vulnerable to serious complications, official data suggests. Virus monitoring data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that one in 10 children tested for respiratory infections in hospital were positive for hMPV as of December 23. This is more than double the proportion of very young children that tested positive for hMPV in late November. However, experts have repeatedly warned that case numbers are what is expected for this time of year. Graphic shows the common symptoms (green tick), occasional and possible symptoms (orange circle) and the symptoms that never occur (red cross) with the common cold, flu and Covid Your browser does not support iframes. It comes as Britain is currently battling its own separate tidal wave of flu. Surveillance data that monitors England's flu outbreak also suggests hospital admissions are up a fifth in a week and nearly five times the level recorded in early December. Figures show more than 5,400 beds alone were taken up by flu patients every day last week, up 3.5 times on the same week last year. Of these, 254 were in critical care up a fifth on the previous week. The virus is one of the 'quademic' of winter viruses heaping pressure on NHS services alongside noroviruses, RSV and Covid. Typically symptoms appear around one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last up to a week. But side effects including fatigue may linger for weeks. A woman claims she has been left 'looking like a gargoyle' after a former tattoo artist posing as a doctor gave her botched facial fillers. Andrea, 60, visited Reshape U cosmetics clinic in Hull in December 2021 for a 'liquid breast lift' where injectable fillers are used to increase bust size. Two months later she returned to the clinic where she was encouraged to get facial fillers hyaluronic acid used to fill wrinkles and add volume to the skin. Now, two years later, she covers her face when she leaves her house because she is worried people will laugh at her. 'I see a gargoyle... something horrible, disgusting,' she told the BBC . 'I live a nightmare every single day.' Prior to undergoing the cosmetic procedures she checked the clinic's reputation online, and was reassured to find it had won Best Aesthetics Clinic in Yorkshire in 2022 at the England Business Awards. The clinic was said to be run by a Mr Sean Scott, who referred to himself as 'Dr Sean Scott Clinical Director' in posts on Reshape U's social media pages. Videos posted by the same accounts in January and April 2023 a year after Andrea's treatment show a plaque on his door in the clinic saying Dr Sean Scott, hPhd, Clinical Director. Andrea, 60, (pictured) visited Reshape U cosmetics clinic in Hull in December 2021 for breast fillers and two months later she was encouraged to get facial fillers. Now, two years later, she covers her face when she leaves her house because she is worried people will laugh at her Andrea said that she 'trusted' Mr Scott because he 'was the doctor'. However, Mr Scott has denied portraying himself as a medical doctor and claimed he told clients who asked that he was not medically qualified. In 2024, he stopped using the medical title after Hull City Council (HCC) advised him it was 'misleading'. According to The General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, only healthcare professionals with prescribing privileges, can prescribe medical substances like dermal filler. However, it is not illegal for non-medics to administer cosmetic injectables such as fillers and Botox a loophole that campaigners have long been fighting to change. Andrea claimed that Mr Scott prescribed her two lots of antibiotics in December 2021 and January 2022, following her breast filler procedures. But Mr Scott told the BBC that he did not prescribe the antibiotics himself, instead he used a registered prescriber at a pharmacy to obtain the medicine online. Prior to her facial filler procedure, in February 2022, Andrea recalled being told by Mr Scott that her cheeks were 'uneven', but filler could fix that. Sean Scott, who at the time was referred to as Dr Sean Scott Clinical Director, was a tattooist for 33 years before opening Reshape U in 2019 Andrea had filler in her cheeks, chin and jaw but says her face started swelling and dark marks appeared. She told the BBC Mr Scott encouraged her to get more treatments after telling her the swellings were caused by an insect bite. Andrea went on to have roughly 30 non-surgical procedures with Mr Scott and other members of his team over the course of 10 months, including further fillers, Botox and threads. Mr Scott denied performing treatments while his client showed signs of swelling or bruising. He added that Andrea only complained that she 'wasn't quite happy' with the results and made more follow-up appointments. Andrea confessed she sold jewellery and borrowed money to pay for the extensive number of treatments, which cost her thousands of pounds. Mr Scott, who was a tattooist for 33 years before opening Reshape U in 2019, said Andrea had visited other clinics for treatment during this period, including one that damaged her skin. Over the course of 10 months, Andrea (pictured before treatment left) had more than 30 appointments with Mr Scott, including for fillers, Botox and threads. She has been scared both mentally and physically she suffers pain in her face (pictured right with scars following treatment) and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder In October 2022, Andrea went to hospital because she was barely able to open her eyes. Letters from plastic surgeons revealed her reactions were caused by the procedures. An expert in cosmetics who has examined Andrea also explained the reactions were caused by an infection. These infections can occur from cosmetic procedures but is rare in a clean environment with good techniques. Andrea said she has been scarred both mentally and physically she suffers pain in her face and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Save Face a Government approved register of accredited practitioners received two more complaints about Mr Scott and his use of a fake qualification. Director Ashton Collins said the customers who reported him chose him because they were under the impression he was a doctor. Mr Scott, who also runs aesthetics training business, the Yorkshire Aesthetics Training Academy, was visited by health and safety officers from Hull City Council in 2024 after concerns were raised about his credentials. Although they said a number of issued that required improvement were found, no formal action was taken because the business was receptive to its requests. Mr Scott told the BBC that the clinic has learnt its lesson. 'While we may have made mistakes in the beginning, we have always given 100 per cent of our ability to our clients. We have learnt valuable lessons and progressed with ongoing training and development already,' he said. But warnings about the aesthetics industry have been made for years. In 2022, the Health and Care Act gave The Government powers to introduce licensing for practitioners who carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. Yet, this has still not been enacted. Currently anyone can legally give Botox and dermal fillers in the UK including non-medical professionals like beauticians. However, because Botox is a prescription-only medication it still needs to to be prescribed by a medical professional, such as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or nurse prescriber. Campaigners want to see a licensing regime for business and individuals providing these treatments to help keep Brits safe. An estimated 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year, most without any complaints from patients. But Save Face received almost 3,000 complaints in 2022 alone, with over two-thirds of those complaints relating to dermal fillers and almost a quarter relating to Botox. Parents have been warned to avoid an innocent but potentially deadly mistake they could make as they try to keep their child warm this winter. With cold weather battering the UK it may seem obvious to wrap a child in as much warm clothing as possible. But experts say one time this must be avoided is when strapping a young child or baby into a car seat. While puffy clothing like big coats, snowsuits, and hoodies may be cosy, they could pose a hazard should you need to brake in an emergency. Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, told The Huffington Post bulky clothing can make the straps seem tighter than they actually are. He explained how if a driver needed to slam the brakes, or the vehicle was hit ,this could lead to a child coming loose from the seat, with potentially devastating consequences. To avoid this, Mr Conway advised parents to dress their child in thinner layers like a long sleeved top and fitted jumper. He added that blankets can be used but added these must be put over the straps once they are sufficiently tightened to avoid the same issues with bulky clothes. While puffy clothing like big coats, snowsuits, and hoodies may be cosy and comfortable they could pose a hazard to a child wearing them in a car seat. Stock image A report from the road safety Brake found that 23 children under the age of 15 died while travelling in a car in 2023, with a further 486 seriously injured. Mr Conway also advised parents of young children to avoid giving them thick or heavy hats to wear during car trips. He warned such headwear can move during travel to cover a baby or young child's face. Not only could this distress them, it could seriously restrict their breathing if the drooping hat ends up covering the child's mouth and nose. The warning comes as the UK experienced the coldest night of the winter season so far. Some parts of the country are predicted to hit as low as -20C tonight (-4F) with frost, snow and ice soon to blanket the nation. While many parents know of the need to get a properly fitted car seat for their child, there are some little-known tips on how to safely use them. One is that babies aged under one should only be in a car seat for a maximum of two hours at a time. The warning comes as the UK experienced the coldest night of the winter season so far.. Pictured: Members of Mountain Rescue team in Derbyshire help a motorist amidst white-out conditions on Snake Pass on Thursday OXFORDSHIRE: A hard frost covered the countryside on Thursday after a bitterly cold night in Dunsden This is due to research suggesting young babies could be at risk of serious breathing difficulties if they sleep in a seated position for too long. Very young children lack muscles in the neck that enables them to keep their head up, increasing the risk of suffocation. Parents are advised to take frequent breaks and preferably have an adult in the back with a baby during a car ride. If a sleeping baby changes position and slumps forward in the seat parents and carers should stop driving and reposition the child so they sit upright before continuing the journey. Another clothing related issue is ensuring that a baby placed in a car seat is not too warm as this can increase the risk of potentially dangerous overheating. Charity The Lullaby Trust warns that when babies are too hot they are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which kills about 200 babies a year in Britain. SIDS is thought to occur when a baby struggles with environmental stresses, such as heat, and is unable to regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature to compensate which can lead to them not getting enough oxygen. As such parents are advised to remove most outdoor clothing before placing a baby in a car. To check a baby isn't too hot, touch their stomach or the back of their neck. If this skin feels clammy or sweaty they are too hot, and a layer of clothing should be removed. Parents are also advised to always place a baby or child car seat in the back of the car and not the passenger seat. This is to avoid risks posed by the passenger side airbag, which if activated in an accident, could launch with enough force to hit the seat potentially causing injury or death. Joe Rogan was left stunned when Mel Gibson revealed the controversial way his friends treated their terminal cancers. On the latest episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Gibson said three of his friends were diagnosed with stage four cancer and all had 'some serious stuff going on.' Gibson claimed they took ivermectin and fenbendazole, drugs usually given to treat infections caused by roundworms, threadworms, and other parasites. The Lethal Weapon star then sensationally claimed all three friends 'don't have cancer right now.' 'This stuff works, man,' he added. There is some early evidence that using ivermectin in combination with other therapies can help shrink tumors, but that has not been stood up by larger trials. Some research has also suggested fenbendazole, known by its brand names Panacur and Safe-Guard, stops the growth of cancer cells, even some of the most aggressive types. Experts cautioned that while early research is encouraging, fenbendazole can cause serious side effects. They also warn that shunning mainstream treatments could be deadly. Actor Mel Gibson, 69, left Joe Rogan shocked when he revealed three of his friends with stage four cancer allegedly cured their disease with anti-parasitic drugs ivermectin and fenbendazole Veteran podcaster Rogan agreed with Gibson, claiming 'This stuff does work, which is strange because it's not profit' Your browser does not support iframes. Gibson said: 'I don't believe that there is anything that can afflict mankind that hasn't got a natural cure for it. It just makes sense to me. 'I couldn't prove that, but I just believe that. There's got to be something that cures things.' Referring to both drugs, Rogan added: 'This stuff does work, which is strange because it's not profit.' He also acknowledged both drugs are controversial and suggested health authorities may be pushing standard cancer treatments because they are more profitable. Rogan added: 'When you hear about things that are demonized and they turn out to be effective, you always wonder, "What is going on here? How have our medical institutions failed us so that things that do cure you are not promoted because they're not profitable?"' The costs vary, though it's estimated to run about $90 for 20 tablets without insurance. A 2021 study from researchers at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in California suggested using ivermectin alongside the anti-body anti-PD1 could could treat triple-negative breast cancer tumors in mice. However, the researchers cautioned that it's unclear if the same results can be replicated in humans and advised against taking ivermectin on its own. A team from City of Hope also started clinical trials of ivermectin alongside immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, which has been approved for breast, lung, and endometrial cancer. However, the trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, was withdrawn. It's unclear why the research stopped. Dr Susanne Arnold, associate director for clinical translation at the Markey Cancer Center in Kentucky, told The Associated Press last year that while there have been preclinical studies exploring using ivermectin and similar drugs to slow cancer cell growth in labs, this isn't the same as proving the drugs work in humans. She said: 'I know of no reports of clinical trials that yielded successful results in humans with cancer.' Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug usually given to animals like dogs and horses. However, influencers have touted it as a miracle drug for Covid and cancer Ivermectin was first approved for animal use in 1981, though it would be three decades before it became touted as a potential cancer treatment. The earliest research dates back to 2014, with a Swiss study suggesting ivermectin could stop the growth of some lung and colon tumors. However, the study was performed on cells rather than human subjects. Dr Peter P Lee, study author and chair of the immuno-oncology department at City of Hope, said at the time: 'Certainly by itself ivermectin is not a cure or even an effective treatment for breast cancer. 'I pride myself as a rigorous, fair-minded scientist. And in our hands, through many years of experiments, it has promise but not by itself.' Ivermectin has also been shown to be largely ineffective against Covid. It became a political hot button issue during the pandemic after Republican politicians, including President-Elect Donald Trump, voiced their support for the drug's use against Covid. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) wrote on its website that it 'recommends against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, except in clinical trials.' A 2022 study from Malaysia found ivermectin did not prevent Covid patients from becoming severely ill. And researchers in New York City suggested that patients with Covid who improved with ivermectin may have actually had and been treated for the parasite strongyloidiasis. However, the team found the drug does not cause serious side effects in most cases, with itchy skin, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue being among the most commonly reported. Ivermectin has been shown to interact with the blood thinner warfarin, as ivermectin can disrupt clotting factors, leading to increased bleeding. Gibson also claims his friends took fenbendazole, given primarily to dogs to kill roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and certain animal tapeworms. In 2021, a series of three case studies with advanced cancer found that all three patients had their tumors shrink after taking fendendazole. However, the authors stressed more research is needed. A handful of scientific papers have been published in recent years suggesting fenbendazole has anti-cancer properties including a 2020 review from scientists in Tennessee, which found the drug slowed lung cancer growth in some mice with the disease. Another study from this year that reviewed six human cases where tumors shrank after taking the drug concluded fenbendazole 'stands out' as a possible new cancer therapy. However, other studies have shown significant risks. The above image shows a packet of fenbendazole for animals sold on Amazon Doctors in South Korea which saw a surge in people taking the drug to combat cancer in 2019 said it left some patients with intestinal necrosis, a severe medical condition where part of the intestine dies. In October this year, a 45-year-old British man was reported to have died from liver failure after taking the drug for its alleged anti-cancer properties. Dr Jason Williams, who uses experimental treatments for cancer patients, previously told DailyMail.com: 'Fenbendazole may be useful in specific contents, but it is a double-edged sword. 'In some cases, it could even promote cancer growth if not applied appropriately. 'Its use must be carefully tailored to the individual patient's situation and monitored closely.' Fenbendazole costs about $9 for a week's supply and is available over-the-counter and online for dogs in liquid, powder or paste form. The drug is also not recommended to treat cancer in animals. More US hospitals are bringing back Covid-era face mask recommendations as respiratory illnesses surge across the country. M Health Fairview, which runs 10 hospitals and 43 clinics in Minnesota, has urged visitors to 'wear a medical mask at all times' in certain patient rooms. The health system is also restricting visitor numbers and said people with cold symptoms must not visit patients in its care. Minnesota now joins North Carolina, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey and New York in implementing mask mandates or recommendations in an effort to curb what is being dubbed a 'quad-demic'. Four viral infections flu, Covid, the cold-like virus RSV and norovirus are rising, reaching around 15million cases and 30,000 deaths so far this winter. Meanwhile, this week, Detroit Medical Center, which operates about a dozen facilities across Michigan, said it will be limiting visitors to all hospitals in response 'to a rise in respiratory illness.' There is nothing in its new guidance about face masks, which became a political symbol during the pandemic when evidence on their effectiveness was mixed. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The new rules also comes amid growing fears about a viral outbreak in China that has reportedly overwhelmed hospitals in northern provinces. As of Thursday, only two visitors per patient at Detroit Medical Center's facilities will be allowed per patient at any time and no one younger than 12 years old is permitted in the hospital as a visitor. People are also being asked not to visit if they are sick or experiencing cold symptoms. While the Center's update does not mention anything on mask requirements, previous flu prevention precautions stated patients must wear a surgical mask if outside of their rooms and healthcare workers should wear face masks when performing certain procedures. M Health Fairview said people with any cold symptoms may not visit patients at the hospitals and those who do visit a loved one 'should wear a medical mask at all times' in certain patient rooms. Earlier this week, leaders at Mass General, which has 12 hospitals and clinics scattered throughout Massachusetts, escalated its respiratory virus activity status to 'high' and reinstated mask mandates. Now, clinicians and hospital staff are required to wear masks in patient areas and patients and visitors are 'strongly encouraged' to wear a face mask, though there is no requirement. In North Carolina, Duke Health hospitals and clinics stated: 'Due to increased respiratory illness in our communities, we are updating our visitation restrictions after consultation with our Infectious Disease and Infection Prevention experts.' With dozens of locations across the state and surrounding areas, Duke Health is now 'strongly' recommending masking in patient areas, and masking is required in 'select patient care areas based on their medical condition.' Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Additionally, visitor guidelines have been updated on a unit-by-unit basis, with some restrictions put in place and a requirement for full personal protective equipment for the most vulnerable patients. In other parts of the country, a spokesperson for Wisconsin's Aurora Health Care system which treats 1.2million patients a year confirmed to local outlet WISN12 it will institute a mask mandate for patients and other people in 'congregate areas, like patient rooms' beginning next week. New Jersey's largest hospital system, RWJBarnabas Health which sees 3million patients a year has also reinstated a mask mandate. In guidance posted online, the hospital system said 'all visitors are expected to wear a face mask and 'maintain physical distance.' It added: 'We will offer you a new mask for source control or may ask you to replace your own mask with a hospital-supplied mask.' In San Francisco, anyone working in skilled nursing facilities is required to wear a mask. In Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Napa counties, as well as the City of Berkeley, healthcare workers and staff in certain care facilities are required to wear masks in patient areas. In San Mateo, the mandate also applies to visitors. In Illinois, the OSF HealthCare network, which has 10 locations in the state, is requiring all employees, patients and visitors to wear masks and temporarily restricted visiting hours and allowances. Additionally, the Rush University healthcare system, which includes two medical centers and one hospital, also started requiring face masks for staff and visitors. In Indiana, Union Health has also asked people to wear face masks and restricted visiting hours, citing the increase in flu, Covid and RSV cases. Data through December 28 Patients experiencing respiratory symptoms 'must wear a mask upon presentation to any Union Health facility,' which includes about three dozen locations across Indiana. In New York, State Health Commissioner Dr James McDonald declared last month that influenza is prevalent across the state and required health care workers who have not received this year's flu vaccine to wear masks in certain health care settings. According to the CDC, the level of respiratory illness activity in the US is 'high' and it is 'high' or 'very high' in a majority of states. The virus with the highest level is Covid-19. Flu and RSV are at 'moderate levels.' However, emergency department visits for flu and RSV are 'very high' and increasing, while visits are 'low' but increasing for Covid-19. Cases of the flu and RSV reached new highs this season, with 19 percent and 13 percent of samples testing positive for those viruses in the week ending December 28. About seven percent of tests were positive for Covid. Your browser does not support iframes. The CDC estimates there has been 1.2million visits for RSV, 60,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths between October 1, 2024 and December 14. For Covid, estimates are 4.9million cases, 1.1million visits, 130,000 hospitalizations and 15,000 deaths. And for the flu, estimates are 9.3million cases, 4.2million visits, 140,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths in the same time period. For the week ending December 28 the latest available 1.2 percent of hospital visits were for the Covid, up from less than one percent a month prior. RSV accounted for one percent, up from 0.6 percent a month prior, and flu visits accounted for 5.2 percent of visits a sharp increase from just one percent in the week ending November 30. Hospitalizations are also up for all the respiratory viruses. Hospitalization rates jumped to two percent for Covid and RSV and four percent for flu at the end of December. Deaths edged up slightly, but made up less than one percent of overall death rates. Data shows cases of the norovirus also called stomach flu are at their highest level for this time of year since 2012. Your browser does not support iframes. State health departments reported 91 outbreaks of norovirus - considered a grouping of two or more cases stemming from a common source - during the week of December 5, up from 69 the previous week. In 2021, there were just two outbreaks during the same week. The current data is not comprehensive, and the number of cases is likely higher than reported. The CDC does not report individual cases because the infection usually resolves on its own within a few days and goes undiagnosed by a doctor and unreported. Just over a dozen states participate in the CDCs national disease surveillance system. Overall, it is estimated norovirus infects around 21million Americans annually and sends around 2million of them to the doctors offices or urgent care. Approximately 465,000 people with the virus go to the emergency department every year and 900 people die. Advertisements put up by advocacy group Together SF are seen on the wall in the Tenderloin in San Francisco in 2023. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Two billionaire-backed San Francisco moderate advocacy groups are merging in another sign of the political shakeup sweeping the city after the November election. Neighbors for a Better San Francisco and TogetherSF, whose leaders are married to each other, announced Friday that they would become a single organization focused on public safety, education, civic engagement and promoting common sense policies and solutions. The combination of the groups comes two months after they raised and spent millions of dollars on an unsuccessful ballot measure, Proposition D, that sought to reform City Hall by slashing the number of oversight commissions and giving the mayor more power to hire and fire department heads. Voters rejected the measure by a 13-point margin but embraced a competing measure that didnt go as far as Prop D. Jay Cheng, the Neighbors executive director who will continue to lead the combined organization, said the merger had nothing to do with Prop Ds loss. Rather, he framed it as an effort to strengthen two groups with shared goals that have a lot of overlap and have worked well together in the past. Neighbors and TogetherSF are among a constellation of moderate pressure groups that sprung up in San Francisco in recent years. Cheng also invoked the ascent of Mayor Daniel Lurie, who took office Wednesday, and the Board of Supervisors recent shift to the center. Its a new era in the city right now, and this merged, unified organization helps us to be in a position to be a catalyst for all of that improvement and that important work we think is going to come in the coming years, he said. Were really excited about it and we think were stronger together. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chengs advocacy is likely to fall on deaf ears with Lurie, who has made it known that he doesnt want to work with Cheng or any group tied to him, as reported by the San Francisco Standard. Luries decision stemmed from Chengs connection to various purported ethics lapses, including claims that he inappropriately coordinated with the campaign of another mayoral candidate, Mark Farrell, the Chronicle previously reported. Cheng denied wrongdoing. Despite Lurie distancing himself from Neighbors, Cheng still struck an upbeat tone about the new mayor. We are excited to support Mayor Luries leadership, he said. There is a lot of work facing the city going forward and we want to be a part of that. Neighbors is best known for being the top donor to the successful school board and district attorney attorney recalls in 2022. TogetherSF, meanwhile, is known for a controversial anti-fentanyl ad campaign that its advocacy arm launched in 2023, as well as its voter guide, community events and its staunch support for Farrells failed mayoral campaign last year. Both groups have ties to billionaire backers: investor Bill Oberndorf is the board chair of Neighbors and venture capitalist Michael Moritz is a co-founder of TogetherSF. Each of those men praised the merger in statements. Oberndorf hailed it as a reflection of the power of collaboration and said they would become better equipped to make a lasting impact on the future of San Francisco by joining forces. Moritz, meanwhile, said in a statement that streamlining efforts, whether at City Hall or between political organizations, will help promote a better San Francisco for everyone. The merged organization will carry the Neighbors name overall. But Cheng said it will continue to use the TogetherSF brand at times. The voter guides and civic engagement events that TogetherSF used to do are expected to continue, he said. Cheng said he hopes to bring some TogetherSF staffers into the merged organization, but indicated some layoffs might be in store and said were going to provide them support and severance to those affected if that happens. One person who wont be staying on long term is Chengs wife, Kanishka Karunaratne Cheng, TogetherSFs founder and CEO, who has led the organization since its inception in 2020. The organizations said in a statement that she would play a pivotal role in facilitating a seamless transition but did not indicate that she would stay on beyond that. Karunaratne Cheng said in her own statement that the merger was an opportunity to amplify our impact and continue to make meaningful progress in San Francisco for years to come." Her husband was circumspect about what might be in store for her. Were all really excited to see what she does next, Jay Cheng said, calling his wife a force of nature. Against the Grain is available now from the Mail Bookshop Against the Grain by Peter Lovesey (Little, Brown 21.99, 368pp) Its farewell to Superintendent Peter Diamond, acerbic and technologically challenged head of Bath CID. In his last case before retirement, he takes time out from official duties to investigate what he believes to be a miscarriage of justice. A young tearaway, daughter of a wealthy landowner, has been serving time for manslaughter. Diamond is convinced that the death of a party guest by suffocation in a grain silo was not caused by criminal neglect but a deliberate killing. An outstanding storyteller, Lovesey has a talent for adding the light touch to the traditional police procedural. Diamond is a cantankerous taskmaster but we shall miss him. A gem of a final case for Detective Diamond Trusted Like the Fox by Sara Woods (Dean Street Press 10.99, 214pp) Trusted Like The Fox is available now Long out of print, the courtroom dramas of Sara Woods are enjoying a welcome revival. Trusted Like The Fox has Anthony Maitland, a rising star of the criminal bar, defending a scientist accused of wartime treachery. Advances in biological weaponry have been passed to the enemy. The case against the chief suspect looks bleak when it is revealed that he had motive and opportunity for stealing secret papers while living under a false identity. To prove the innocence of his client, Maitland must dig deep into events at a research establishment where the clash of temperaments and loyalties have spilt over to violence. Plausible characters in a cleverly contrived plot, with Maitland seeking a chink in the prosecution armour, make for a compelling read. Tea on Sunday by Lettice Cooper (British Library 9.99, 272pp) Tea On Sunday is available now from the Mail Bookshop The formidable matriarch of an extended family invites a motley gathering of relatives, friends and hangers-on to join her for a weekend soiree. But when they arrive in the freezing cold, they can find no sign of life behind the locked door and fastened windows. It is only when the police force entry that the grisly truth is revealed. Their hostess has been strangled to death. With the murderer, one of a small group of prime suspects, hiding in plain sight, it falls to Inspector Corby, a methodical upholder of the law, to expose an unexpected killer. First published half a century ago, Tea On Sunday was originally underrated as sub-standard Agatha Christie. But the wheel having turned full circle, the novel can now be recognised for its true worth. A beguiling mystery thats brilliantly constructed. Confessions by Catherine Airey (Viking 16.99, 480pp) Confessions is available now from the Mail Bookshop In September 2001, 16-year-old Cora is orphaned when her father is killed in the terror attacks on New Yorks World Trade Centre where he worked. Her artist mother committed suicide a few years before. Cora believes she is now all alone in the world. Soon, however, a letter arrives from Roisin, her mothers sister, who lives in rural Ireland. Roisin explains that Coras father had appointed her as legal guardian after her mother died and she wants to honour his wishes by offering Cora a new home, because they are family. Numb with shock, Cora books a flight with no expectations. The beautifully written narrative goes on to reveal the secrets of three generations of women. Its an epic family saga involving a host of mysteries and I galloped to the end. I loved it. The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (Bloomsbury 18.99, 304pp) The Three Lives of Cate Kay is available now from the Mail Bookshop This novel disguised as memoir is told from multiple perspectives and timelines. When something terrible happens to her best friend, Annie Marie Callahan flies into a blind panic. She calls an ambulance but, at the last minute, drives away from the hideous situation and the unhappy home she shared with her difficult mother. Feeling too traumatised to return, Annie changes her name to Cass Ford and gets a job in a cafe. Cass decides she wants to be a writer and moves to New York, writing a story about two friends with big dreams who are eventually separated by disaster. Cass chooses the pseudonym Cate Kay for the book, which becomes a bestseller. Its not long before Kay is the most famous author in the world with a record-breaking film franchise but no one knows who she really is. Its brilliant on identity, shame and the necessity of facing trauma head on. How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris (The Borough Press 16.99, 304pp) How To Sleep At Night is available now from the Mail Bookshop When Democrat Gabe agrees to support his husband Ethan to run for Congress as a Republican, it makes his skin crawl but he doesnt want to crush his long-held dream. Successful political journalist Kate, Ethans sister, is a Democrat, too, but also wants to support her brother. Kates mind is mostly on her rekindled romance with ex-girlfriend Nicole, who is now married with two children. Its not long before teacher Gabe finds himself an outcast at his school, constantly explaining his position. Kate, meanwhile, warns her brother about an upcoming story and watches her own career implode as a result. Its great on the dangers of focusing on differences rather than similarities and I was invested in the characters. Ninette's War by John Jay (Profile Books 20, 352pp) Ninette's War is available now from the Mail Bookshop In autumn 1939, 12-year-old Ninette Dreyfus was given a red leather diary embossed with her initials. Her first diary entry, on September 3, read: At eleven oclock, the newscaster announced war between England and Germany. At five oclock, France was at war, which gave me a strange feeling, it was very stirring. She continued writing her diary throughout the war years. In between typical teenage musings on clothes, spots and crushes on boys, she chronicled the harrowing story of her familys wartime experience and their dizzying fall from extreme wealth and privilege to homelessness, fear and hunger. Ninette, which was a family nickname her real name was Christiane was born into a well-known Jewish banking dynasty and her family lived in a huge townhouse off the grand Avenue Foch in Paris. She and her sister went to the best private schools, had riding lessons, trips to the opera and ballet, and spent holidays in their uncles chateau in the country. Even as the Nazis began their rise to power, Ninettes father Edgar was slow to see the disaster that was about to befall his family. A patriotic Frenchman, he was reluctant to acknowledge the rampant anti-Semitism that lurked just under the surface of French society. Yet even before the Nazis marched into France in May 1940, life for French Jews was becoming increasingly difficult. Ninette who didnt even realise she was Jewish until her mother sat her down and told her found herself being ostracised by her classmates and sometimes physically attacked. Engaged: Ninette married David Montagu, 4th Baron Swaythling On one occasion they tied her to a tree with skipping ropes and took it in turns to walk past her, spitting in her face. In June, with the Germans closing in on Paris, the Dreyfus family moved to Marseilles. Although Marseilles came nominally under the control of the Vichy government rather than the Germans, with each passing month Jews faced further restrictions, banned from fields such as medicine, law and teaching. Soon, Edgar Dreyfus, once head of one of the leading banks in France, was told he could no longer work as a banker. Ninettes diary recorded that, even though they still had money, they were permanently hungry as food was so scarce; when her mother managed to acquire some eggs, I dont think Id ever tasted something so good. News began to filter through of relatives who had been rounded up for deportation to camps. It was only after the war that they discovered they had perished in Auschwitz and Belsen. Ninette as a young girl at home The family moved again to Cannes, which for a time was under Italian control. Her parents, who still had access to some money, were able to pay for false papers which disguised their Jewish origin, yet on several occasions they narrowly escaped being arrested and deported, more through luck than good judgment. Ninette's parents still had access to some money and were able to pay for false papers which disguised their Jewish origin Ninettes mother, Yvonne, gave both her daughters cyanide powder to hide in their skirt pockets in case they were captured and tortured, and taught them a string of German insults so they would go down fighting. With local informers being offered large bounties for every Jew they identified, the family formulated a plan to escape over the Pyrenees and into neutral Spain. Edgar and Ninettes sister Viviane were the first to undertake the gruelling 70km journey over the Pyrenees. At the end of the first day, the lead smuggler invited Edgar into his house and asked him if he recognised him: he had been the Dreyfuss butler in Paris. If I had known Sir was Sir I would have brought out the silver, he told him. Ninette and Yvonne made it to Spain two days after them. The family spent the rest of the war in Madrid, which was a thrilling place for a teenager a hotbed of German and Allied spies which, according to Ninette, made Ricks Cafe in Casablanca look boring. After the war, Ninette married David Montagu later Lord Swaythling whose family owned a merchant bank, and she settled happily in London. Having survived the war Ninette worked hard to get recognition for the French gentiles who had helped save Jews during the war Author John Jay, who met Ninette when she was in her 80s, and was charmed by her, skilfully weaves extracts from her diary into a wider account of what happened to French Jews. For all her adult life, Ninette, who died in 2021, worked hard to get recognition for the French gentiles who had helped save Jews during the war, but she never got over her horror at the speed with which the country of her birth turned against its Jewish population. Ninettes War is not an easy read, but at a time of rising anti-Semitism across the world, it is chillingly relevant. Can we really say with confidence, Never again? The Washington Post's top editor has cruelly banned goodbye emails from departing employees as journalists continue to exit the paper amid growing fears for the paper's future. After the Post's owner, Jeff Bezos, made the call to pull the editorial board's endorsement of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, a flock of reporters announced their departures. The mass exodus has reached such high numbers that the Post's interim executive editor, Matt Murray, put a ban on goodbye emails, believing they were bad for morale. The decision has since been reversed following backlash. The paper's shock decision to not endorse a candidate in the election cost them more than 250,000 subscriptions, and the hit only increased fears over its recent financial strain. In September of last year, the Post laid off a quarter of its workforce from ArcXP, a separate software unit, months after implementing buyouts in a bid to prevent layoffs. That month, the Post's new publisher and CEO William Lewis issued a statement to staffers in the DC office detailing how dire the publication's financial situation was, while promising 'to turn this thing around.' It was then that the paper saw a series of exits, which only increased in numbers after the decision to block the typically left-leaning paper's endorsement of Harris. Bezos defended the decision in an op-ed that cited the 'distrust' of media. The Washington Post's editor cruelly banned goodbye emails as journalists flee from the paper amid rising fears for its future After the Post's owner, Jeff Bezos, made the call to pull the editorial board's endorsement of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, a flock of reporters announced their departures The paper's shock decision to not endorse a presidential candidate in election cost it more than 250,000 subscriptions 'What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it's the right one,' he wrote at the time. The move cost the outlet some of their well-known reporters to be poached by rival papers, such as Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker to The Atlantic and managing editor Matea Gold to The New York Times. Prominent opinion section writers David Hoffman, Molly Roberts and Robert Kagan also quit following the endorsement decision. White House Correspondent Tyler Pager announced last week he would be rejoining The New York Times. Opinion editor Amanda Katz and her deputy Charles Lane also left. The exits have many questioning whether both Lewis and Bezos have erred by alienating people manning the paper, which over the years has become increasingly progressive. Insiders told Puck late last month how Lewis may not be under the impression that these exits are all that damning, as he steers the Post toward a broader, nonpartisan future. In a January 2024 interview with Semafor, he called Scherer 'his favorite reporter.' A few months later, he confirmed what many had suspected - the paper had lost an astronomical $77millionthe year before. 'What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it's the right one,' Bezos wrote defending the decision not to endorse a candidate The decision during the election cost the outlet some of their well-known reporters to be poached by rival papers, such as Ashley Parker (pictured at right) by The Atlantic and managing editor Matea Gold (pictured left) by The New York Times The mass exodus reached such high numbers that the Post's interim executive editor, Matt Murray, put a ban on newsroom goodbye emails, believing they were bad for morale The parade of exits since the election has not helped matters, with Status last week revealing that star Trump reporter Josh Dawsey is too parting way with the publication, in favor of the Wall Street Journal. Insiders told journalist Oliver Darcy that Dawsey will start there next month as a political investigations reporter. 'He is very unlikely to be the last out the door, either,' Darcy's report said. The company's recent moves have sparked fears for an impending downward spiral that will be tough to claw back from. Part of the internal problem lies with Murray's uncertain status. While no official announcement has been made, Lewis reportedly wants Murray to stay in the position permanently. However, the uncertain handoff for the position had left staffers wondering if there is a lack of faith in Murray in higher positions. 'It's the punch line of the newsroom that he's the "permanent temporary guy." In order to stay and make a pitch to recruit people, you have to be able to articulate your vision,' one Post veteran told Intelligencer. 'Matt might not be the most charismatic person or leader, but he could make a compelling case. But this is true until, what, February, when Will and Jeff potentially replace him? It just holds no credence, because it's a temporary vision.' The parade of exits since the election includes star Trump reporter Josh Dawsey (left), who headed to the The Wall Street Journal, White House Correspondent Tyler Pager (right), who is rejoining The New York Times The Post's new publisher and CEO William Lewis issued a statement in September to staffers in the DC office detailing how dire the publication's financial situation was, while promising 'to turn this thing around' The Post also let go of four percent of its workforce on the business side of the company. As the layoffs struck, the outlet's public relations division announced it would no longer be doing 'publicity for our journalism across broadcast and traditional media outlets.' The PR team would instead focus its efforts on a 'star-talent unit', Intelligencer reported. As fears in the newsroom loom, however, an insider told the Intelligencer that Lewis's leadership team are aiming high with a goal of attracting 200 million subscribers - a number that is said to have shocked many who were privy to the meeting and found the number 'unrealistic.' 'There was never a coherent strategy at the top that connected to news and subscriptions,' a longtime employee said. 'It's this ultimate gaslighting to say, "You all didn't change and that's why we're failing," when the institution has really been failed by its business leaders.' Tensions remain high throughout the publication, especially as Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes walked away last week after her bosses spiked a cartoon depicting Bezos and other billionaires 'bending the knee to a statue of Trump.' The anxieties are only bolstered after Lewis, in June, said: 'We are losing large amounts of money. Your audience has halved in recent years. People are not reading your stuff. I can't sugarcoat it anymore.' The Intelligencer reported that those working with Lewis have 'come away unsettled by his deep frustration, bordering on contempt, with his reporters.' Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes walked away last week after her bosses spiked a cartoon depicting Bezos and other billionaires 'bending the knee to a statue of Trump.' The anxieties are only bolstered after Lewis, in June, said: 'We are losing large amounts of money. Your audience has halved in recent years. People are not reading your stuff. I can't sugarcoat it anymore' Attitudes in the newsroom have raised concerns for the Post's future, as journalists' unrest could prompt departures of top talent with no ability to rehire the same quality back. 'On one hand, it's the Washington Post. There's not that many good options for places to work, so they will always be able to hire,' a veteran Post journalist told the outlet. 'But the flip side is that they aren't going to be able to - in this moment, until they turn things around - get top talent. Because top talent always has a choice between the Post and the Times, the Post and the Journal, the Post and The Atlantic. 'And why would you ever choose the Post right now?' CNN host Abby Phillip gave president-elect Donald Trump some rare praise as she covered former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on Thursday. Trump, 78, was in attendance at the late president's funeral at Washington's National Cathedral, seated with his wife, Melania, as well as President Joe Biden and former presidents Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He was even spotted chatting with Obama, his one-time rival. As the camera was panning over all the former commanders-in-chief and their wives, Phillip speculated that they must all be thinking about their own demise and eventual state funerals. 'All of those men have gone through the planning process. All of these men have thought about it,' Phillip suggested. She then stunningly singled out Trump as being 'incredibly gracious' about Carter following his death at the age of 100, suggesting his demeanor may be due to him surviving two assassination attempts. 'I think particularly of President Trump, who I think surprised a lot of people with how - at least his written statements and some of his verbal statements about Jimmy Carter - have been incredibly gracious. 'He disagrees with Jimmy Carter on virtually everything,' Phillip continued, as she suggested that Trump's experience as president and position as the incoming president, as well as his assassination attempts, may have contributed to his public remarks on the late president. CNN host Abby Phillip gave President-elect Donald Trump some rare praise on Thursday President-elect Donald Trump was in attendance at Jimmy Carter's state funeral, along with his wife and other US leaders She then reiterated that Trump was 'incredibly gracious about Jimmy Carter... despite a lot of policy disagreements, including some that he is actively trying to overturn right now as we speak.' Trump had posted a thoughtful message on his Truth Social platform following Carter's death on December 29. 'The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time in our country, and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans, for that we all owe him a debt of gratitude,' he wrote. 'Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.' In another post, Trump acknowledged he had political differences with Carter, but still spoke highly of him. 'While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our country and all it stands for,' Trump shared. 'He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. 'He was a truly good man, and of course, will be greatly missed.' 'He was also very consequential, far more than most presidents, after he left the Oval Office.' Those comments came in stark contrast to remarks he had made about the 39th president when he was still alive. He once labeled Carter as 'the worst' president, and mocked his administration at an October 1 campaign event in Wisconsin, comparing him to President Joe Biden. 'Jimmy Carter is the happiest man because Jimmy Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison, [to Joe Biden],' Trump said at the time. A senior MP has raised 'profound concerns' with City regulators about a lack of transparency from Shein ahead of the Chinese fast fashion giant's possible 50billion listing on the London stock market. Liam Byrne, chairman of the business select committee, wrote to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and London Stock Exchange to ask how they will scrutinise the firm as it plans one of Britain's biggest ever flotations. Shein is waiting for approval for its 50billion London listing but campaigners have complained about allegations of abuse in its supply chain. MPs were left fuming this week after the fast fashion giant's top UK lawyer refused to say whether its cheap clothes are linked to slave labour in China's Xinjiang region. In a letter to Dame Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the London bourse, Byrne said his committee were 'profoundly concerned at the lack of candid and open answers to some extremely simple, basic questions about the integrity of Shein's supply chain'. He asked Hoggett to respond with 'what checks, if any, the London Stock Exchange has in place to authenticate statements by firms seeking to list, with particular regard to their safeguards against the use of forced labour in their products'. Concern: Shein is waiting for approval for its 50billion London listing but campaigners have complained about allegations of abuse in its supply chain Byrne has also asked FCA boss Nikhil Rathi to set out the checks the watchdog carries out to 'ensure all legal risks are disclosed'. There have been worries that Shein is not being fully transparent with regulators about its supply chain. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in China for talks on economic and financial cooperation, which could help Shein win regulatory approvals. Also on the trip is Rathi and David Schwimmer, boss of the London Stock Exchange Group that owns the LSE. At this week's hearing with MPs, Shein lawyer Yinan Zhu was accused of being 'disrespectful' and 'ridiculous' after she declined to comment on whether the company believes there is slavery happening in the region. Chinese authorities deny claims they have set up labour camps for Uyghurs the largest ethnic minority group in Xinjiang and other Muslim minority groups. Campaigners have said they are concerned Shein's suppliers are likely to be using materials made in such camps. Shein insists it has a 'zero tolerance' approach to forced labour. Cash withdrawals jumped for a third consecutive year as people turned to physical money to help budget according to Nationwide. The typical withdrawal value rose from 106.99 to 112.65 between 2023 and 2024, marking another increase from 2021 when the average amount taken out of machines was 107.23. Nearly 33million withdrawals were made from 1.26million Nationwide ATMs last year marking a 10 per cent increase on 2023. The building society said that the recent surge came from customers opting for cash to easier budget in the wake of the pandemic - but also the fact that other cash machines in local areas have been axed. Before 2022, the number of cash withdrawals at Nationwide ATMs had been declining from its 2014 peak, with the biggest fall coming during the pandemic when withdrawals slumped 40 per cent. 'The rising cost of living continues to impact people and many are opting to budget with physical money to avoid getting into debt,' said Otto Benz, Nationwide's director of payments. Nationwide said the average amount taken from its ATMs had surged for the third year The week before Christmas saw the highest demand of cash with 97.9million withdrawn from Nationwide ATMs, a 1.8 per cent increase on 2023 and the highest amount dispensed in a week since before the pandemic. The week leading up to Black Friday in late November saw a 12 per cent increase to 85.3 million and the second highest weekly withdrawal since pre-Covid. The biggest increase in cash withdrawals came in Chiswick, West London where demand rose 140 per cent, followed by Shotton, Flintshire (up 115 per cent) and Fakenham, Norfolk (96 per cent). Other significant increases came in areas where Nationwide is the last bank branch in town, including Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire (95 per cent) and Cupar, Fife (66 per cent). Nationwide said demand for ATMs had also come at a time when bank branches were closing across the country, with 16 per cent of withdrawals now by non-Nationwide customers. More than 6,000 bank branches have closed in nine years, at a rate of 53 a month, according to consumer website Which? Critics of branch closures claim the elderly, vulnerable and those without access to the internet are disproportionately affected. Benz said: 'The major banks have closed branches in towns and cities across the country taking away many of the free ATMs that people rely on, which is why the biggest rise in withdrawals comes from non-Nationwide customers. 'The resurgence of cash shows why we need to continue having a physical presence on the high street, enabling customers to access their money on their terms, whether digitally or in branch.' It has also led to an increase in consumers using ATMs for other services, including printing mini-statements, paying bills, changing PINs and paying in cash and cheques now making up nearly half of all ATM transactions. There has also been a 21 per cent increase in the number of times Nationwide ATMs are used to deposit cash, with the average rising 0.5 per cent over five years to 278. Have you started using more cash? Let us know: editor@thisismoney.co.uk A former detective has revealed why a decades-old cold case was linked to a well-known AFL player - as he vows it's only a matter of time before the 'baby in the post' mystery is solved. Northern Territory Police are still investigating how the body of a baby boy wound up at a Darwin post office on May 11, 1965. The decomposed and naked body was found wrapped inside a bunch of newspapers after staff noticed a foul smell coming from the package. The umbilical cord was still attached to the baby, while a stocking was tightly wrapped around his neck. The parcel was addressed to the Darwin Post Office, intended for someone named J Anderson. The return address claimed it had been sent by a JF Barnes from 2 Woodridge Avenue in Mentone, Melbourne's south-east - an address that detectives quickly learned was fake. In 2023, former detective Denver Marchant, one of the original investigators, suggested to the True Crime Australia podcast 'The Missing' that J Anderson might have been former Aussie Rules player Jimmy Anderson. After hearing the podcast, Jimmy Anderson's daughter Amelia Anderson, then 53, came forward to offer a DNA sample. Former detective Denver Marchant (pictured) took the Hail Mary step of suggesting Jimmy Anderson's name to try and get the case moving again Mr Marchant left Northern Territory Police in 1995 and now lives an active retired life in Hervey Bay, Queensland A coroner gave permission for police to dig up the baby's unmarked grave at the Darwin Central Cemetery in November 2023, and they managed to take a DNA profile from the skeleton. For a few months the case seemed tantalisingly close to being solved. In February 2024, however, police confirmed the baby's DNA was not a match with Ms Anderson's sample. Mr Marchant, 84, who now lives in Queensland, told Daily Mail Australia that obtaining DNA from the baby was still a 'small win' for the cold case team. A coroner had turned down an earlier request to exhume the remains, 'without any appreciation of what DNA can achieve'. So Mr Marchant took the Hail Mary step of suggesting Jimmy Anderson's name, to try and get the case moving again. He knew Mr Anderson personally before he died in 2017, and in 1965 there were only a handful of J Andersons in Darwin. 'You could count them on one hand, and I suspect two fingers,' Mr Marchant said. Jim Anderson (pictured) played for the Darwin Buffaloes during the 1950s and 60s and won three premierships playing for the club Amelia Anderson (pictured with her late father Jimmy Anderson) came forward to offer her DNA in a bid to solve the case 'I mentioned Jim Anderson because he may or may not have been related - it turns out he wasn't. 'The rationale behind my putting it out there was I knew permission had not been granted for exhumation. It came to the stage I had to stick my nose in, and it worked.' A DNA match was the 'only chance' of reaching a conclusion in the case, he said. 'It still might take 10, 15 or 20 years, I don't know - but sooner or later, it's going to come up somewhere. 'In my view it's the only key to unlocking it, unless somebody makes a deathbed confession, and the chances of that are very low.' Mr Marchant left Northern Territory Police in 1995 and now lives an active retired life in Hervey Bay, fishing and doing office duty at his local shooting range. He insists the case doesn't haunt him - but says it would be nice to see it closed in his lifetime. 'It's going to be hard work because there's a pretty fair chance the perpetrator, the person that murdered the child, could well be long dead. But either way you'd get a result.' The baby's body was found inside a postal package (pictured) which was sent to a Darwin post office almost 60 years ago The cold case team at Northern Territory police had done a good job, he said, and it was time for their counterparts in Victoria to take over. 'It's a Victorian case, it's a Victorian murder - because the kid was murdered, there's no doubt about that. 'There would be no need of a ligature if the child was stillborn. That ligature was put there for a reason. Clearly the child was breathing.' A Northern Territory Police spokesperson said their investigation was ongoing. 'Northern Territory Police do not close cases until we are confident all avenues of enquiry have been exhausted when trying to identify remains. 'At this stage the community can rest assured we are following up every possible avenue to identify these remains.' A Victoria Police spokesperson said, 'there is no change from our perspective and the matter remains with NT Police'. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Hundreds of buggies and prams are being stolen from parents in Britain every year by heartless thieves in smash-and-grab sprees, MailOnline can reveal. Thugs looking to make quick and easy cash are breaking into houses and cars - or even shoplifting from stores - to make off with designer strollers worth hundreds of pounds. Crooks are targeting sleek designer prams from firms such as Babyzen, Stokke and Silvercross - before putting them up for sale on Facebook Marketplace and eBay for a quick profit. Our exclusive interactive graphic, drawing on data from every single police force across the UK, suggests Merseyside, Hertfordshire and London are the areas in which buggy snatchers are most likely to strike. But disparities in how police forces record their data meant some refused to hand over data under freedom of information laws because it would be too expensive to peruse individual records. In all, 27 of the UK's 45 regional police forces were able to provide us with data on thefts, burglaries and even shoplifting offences that featured pushchairs, prams and buggies among the items stolen. Using our map below, you can search for your local police force to see how many thefts there were where you live - recorded as thefts per 100,000. The darker the shade of red on the map, the more offences were recorded per head. Differences in how forces record the thefts - some might record them as 'buggies', while others as 'pushchairs' or 'prams' - mean it's impossible to say exactly how many have been stolen. But our graphic provides the most comprehensive picture of pram thefts across the UK to date. Has your pram been stolen? Email: jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk Your browser does not support iframes. Jemma Lee, 26, from Morecambe, fell victim to a buggy snatcher after inadvertently leaving her car unlocked The thief made off with a Silvercross Pioneer buggy worth more than 600 that she had used to carry around her son and eight-month-old daughter She had used the buggy to transport her son around (left), but Ms Lee had primarily bought the pram to carry her eight-month-old daughter Parents are being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket by the thefts and unable to ferry their children around - with figures suggesting the problem is only growing greater each year. Among those to fall victim to the cruel buggy snatchers is mother-of-two Jemma Lee, 26, whose Silvercross Pioneer pram was taken from her car last month the day before her son's second birthday. The buggy, which was worth around 700 new, appeared on Facebook Marketplace within hours of being stolen. Ms Lee, from Morecambe, Lancashire, found the theft of the pram, which she had bought second-hand, heartbreaking - as in her view the thieves had stolen from her children rather than her. 'Honestly, its probably silly, but I actually feel gutted. I was so proud of it, as dull as that may seem, to be pushing my little girl around in a pretty pram,' she told MailOnline. 'We couldnt afford a nice one for my eldest, so we decided to get a nice one for our second baby, and when that one came up for so cheap online, we felt like wed gotten so lucky.' In the mad rush to get home the night before, Ms Lee and her partner had wrangled the children, a two-year-old boy and an eight-month-old girl, into the house with the day's shopping - but forgot to lock the car. A thief has then likely tried the door handle in the middle of the night. They tore through the car, making off with the pram after trying to rip out a car seat. 'Theyd pulled the lining from the door, pulled everything out of the glovebox, had taken a few other items - the CarPlay system, my fiances glasses, a hoodie,' she recalled. 'It felt really violating, especially as it wasnt something that belonged to my partner and I exactly, but something that belonged to my daughter. 'I just cant imagine someone finding it so easy to steal from a baby too. Someone did say they thought they saw it posted for sale, but the post was removed quickly so she couldnt get a screenshot to show me.' In the end, Ms Lee and her partner had to spend 200 on another buggy - a cost they didn't want before their eldest's birthday, but something they couldn't be without. 'I would hope the thieves would just feel guilty. Im sure they do - I cant imagine anyone doing this sort of thing without feeling at least a little bit of guilt - but maybe thats just me trying to see the best in everyone,' she said. 'These thieves tried to leave us not only without a pram, but also without a car seat. That would have meant we wouldnt have been able to take our baby out at all until we had those things replaced.' Lancashire Police is investigating the theft - but as yet, have been unable to trace the buggy or the perpetrator. Ms Lee added: 'The lady (at the police station) we spoke to was lovely and understanding, I think she could see I was quite upset. 'She did say they quite often end up being able to return stolen items to their owners, so she seemed hopeful we may end up with the pram back, but so far theres been no update.' Your browser does not support iframes. Luxury buggies costing hundreds of pounds, such as the 300 Babyzen YoYo, are being stolen in broad daylight Distressed mothers have also been left without any wheels for their youngsters as crooks are swiping their prams from their right outside their homes (file image) Ms Lee is not alone in falling victim to a buggy snatcher - as thieves seemingly abandon what little morals they have in search of easy money. Between January 2021 and July this year, 1,500 buggies and wheelchairs were reported stolen in London alone. This includes 322 were stolen in 2021, while 283 thefts were reported in the first six month of this year. Mother-of-three and journalist Lucy Tobin had her 300 Babyzen YoYo - a popular brand used by celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake - stolen from her car boot, only to find it listed on eBay hours later. Meanwhile, other distressed mothers have also been left without any wheels for their youngsters as crooks are swiping their prams from their right outside their homes. Lucy wrote in The Times that she was later refunded for the buggy after proving it was hers. She was even able to track down the seller's address and found out they lived just a ten-minute drive from her home. She added that the person's account showed they had listed more than 50 other items including other buggies, car parcel shelves and EV charging cables which 'seemed to be looted from car boots'. Alexis Cope, 41, also had her 350 buggy stolen from her car while she was sleeping. The thieves left no trace and she later realised they had used the same technique many carjackers have employed in recent months - hijacking the signal from key fobs and unlocking them. April Barnes had her 400 buggy stolen from outside her flat around Camden and Kentish town last month, which meant she was forced to take her sick toddler up to A&E for hours without her pushchair. Lauren Stevenson 'stupidly' leaving her black YoYo buggy in the boot on Halloween and woke up the next morning to find her vehicle ransacked and the buggy stolen. She told The Times: 'We've had the buggy since my daughter was tiny so many memories. It was also really inconvenient: my mum is 77 and needs the pram to look after my daughter.' Amy Wilson also had her three-week-old daughters egg pram stolen from her car after it was broken into by thieves in Yeadon, Leeds. Former police officer Paul Clubb has invented his 9 combination lock that secures buggies to railings, which he sells through his business My Buggy Buddy. Between January 2021 and July this year, 1,500 buggies and wheelchairs were reported stolen in London alone (file image) He told The Times: 'The issue of having the buggy taken is not just the cost but also the inconvenience. 'Imagine being out and someone takes your buggy you are left holding your child, no changing bag, no buggy. It is so easy to take buggies and sell them online.' Despite the apparent thefts, many mothers have been left frustrated with the police over their responses. Lucy told The Times she rang the police immediately after her buggy was stolen before realising it was being flaunted on ebay. She later provided the seller's address but the police remained unresponsive. It was only until three months later when an officer called her to say there was no proof the eBay seller was the same person who stole the buggy and therefore were unable to do anything. Lucy claimed this lack of 'probably why many victims of buggy theft dont bother reporting their losses to the police,' she wrote in The Times. A Met Police spokesperson told her: 'Due to a lack of positive lines of enquiry, this investigation was filed on September 19. 'With every investigation, opportunity for positive lines of enquiry has to be explored. Should further information come to light, the decision to file this investigation could be reviewed.' An eBay spokesperson added: 'The sale of stolen property is strictly prohibited on eBay, and we work with a range of law enforcement bodies to keep our platform safe. 'This includes regularly exchanging information with law enforcement to help them with investigations. In this case, we have not been contacted by the police, but will of course assist their investigation if they request our support.' With the clock ticking down to the Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok's Chinese owners to sell the app or face a U.S. ban, the Supreme Court will hear arguments for and against the wildly popular video sharing platform on Friday. And it pits President-elect Donald Trump, who credits TikTok with helping power him to election victory, against former allies in the form of Mike Pence, his vice president for four years, and Mitch McConnell, who led Republicans in the Senate. At issue is whether it poses a national security risk, potentially feeding data from American phones to the Chinese Communist Party via its owners ByteDance. The company will argue that the ban, passed by Congress signed into law by President Joe Biden, should be overturned. And it has found an unlikely ally in Trump, who pushed for its ban during his first term, but now wants the law put on hold. 'It's a tough decision to make,' he told CNBC in March interview. 'Frankly, there are a lot of people on TikTok who love it.' It is not hard to see why Trump might love it. He recently shared a graphic with data apparently showing how he outperforms such cultural phenomena as Taylor Swift and Beyonce. In his first term, President Donald Trump backed a ban on TikTok on national security grounds. He has reversed his position after the app helped his 2024 campaign to victory The Justice Department, in arguments defending the law, says TikTok is a risk because of its access to huge amounts of data from American phones and their users It claimed that each of his posts on the platform got an average of 24 million views and that #Trump generated 36 billion total views. Last month he told a conservative audience in Arizona that the data has persuaded him it might be worth keeping TikTok. 'They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see, and as I looked at it, I said, "Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while,"' he he told the crowd. His lawyers filed a paper in support of TikTok to the Supreme Court. 'Furthermore, President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Governmentconcerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged,' they wrote. He and TikTok's supporters argue that the law runs afoul of the First Amendment, guaranteeing freedom of speech. Insiders say Trump will do whatever he can to prevent TikTok being switched off in the U.S. A senior Republican strategist said: 'By all measures TikTok is a conservative platform now - if you take a look at how Trump dominated his competition theres no argument against the value this platform has and I dont think theres a world where Trump doesnt fulfill his promise to save it.' Trump shared data showing he had more views on TikTok than other cultural icons or politicians, although he did not disclose a source for the numbers TikTok has more than 2 billion active monthly users, who The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Friday, 10 days before Trump is sworn into office But the Justice Department in arguments defending the law says TikTok is a risk because of its access to huge amounts of data from American phones and their users. Trump's former vice president agrees. 'The Constitution empowers Congress to defend our nation against threats from adversaries,' lawyers for Pence's Advancing American Freedom told the Supreme Court. 'The First Amendment is not an open door to our adversaries, and there is no First Amendment that applies to the Chinese Communist Party.' McConnell's brief says TikTok was seeking a delay in the hope that the incoming Trump administration would be more lenient. 'This is a standard litigation play at the end of one administration, with a petitioner hoping that the next administration will provide a stay of execution,' he said. 'This Court should no more countenance it coming from foreign adversaries than it does from hardened criminals.' Roger Cohn looks for items Thursday in the ruins of girlfriend Lisa Andersons home, which was destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Scorching summer heat. A bone-dry fall. Exceptionally powerful Santa Ana winds. Although the precise source that sparked the deadly Los Angeles wildfires is still unclear, the weather conditions that primed the blazes were in the making for months. The unprecedented January wildfire disaster exemplifies Californias extreme climate swings that are intensifying as global warming accelerates. Critically dry weather Southern California has recorded scant rain over the past few months. Los Angeles International Airport has tallied just three-hundredths of an inch of rain since Oct. 1, 2024, its driest start to the water year on record. On average, the airport logs more than 4 inches of rainfall from October through early January. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Loading... Without any rainfall during this usually wet period, vegetation dried out. These brushes, shrubs and trees reached near record-dry winter levels across all of Southern California. On Thursday, severe drought was announced in parts of Los Angeles County and all of Orange County, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Santa Ana winds during early January are likely to exacerbate the worsening drought conditions, wrote Brad Pugh, author of the latest Drought Monitor update. The dry spell came on the heels of an extremely hot summer. Los Angeles County was 4.2 degrees above normal from May to October 2024, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Weather whiplash These parched places in Southern California faced dramatically different conditions one year ago. The L.A. fires are burning in the swath of the extreme rainfall from atmospheric rivers that fell there last January, Sasha Gershunov, a research meteorologist at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said in a statement. Which means there is an abundance of grasses and other fuels. By the end of January 2024, Los Angeles International Airport had logged 5.7 inches of rain for the water year. Even more fell during historic storms in February 2024, with downtown Los Angeles recording its third-highest two-day total going back to 1877. The grass and brush that grew in the months leading up to the fire season were dried out to exceptionally high levels with the extreme dryness and warmth that followed, Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Scientists refer to this rapid swing from intensely wet to incredibly dry weather as hydroclimate whiplash. Swain led a review article published Thursday that reported hydroclimate volatility has increased by 31% to 66% worldwide since the mid-20th century and is expected to increase in the coming decades. Damaging Santa Ana winds With dry fuels in place, extreme Santa Ana winds pushed fire danger to extreme levels. But what was unusual about the Santa Ana event that contributed to the Palisades Fire, and particularly the Eaton Fire, was how far damaging winds extended into urban areas. The weather service warned of the strongest Santa Ana event in 14 years. Forecasts verified when gusts frequently ranged from 50 mph to 70 mph near Eaton Canyon. Hollywood Burbank Airport measured a gust of 83 mph Tuesday evening. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats kind of unheard of, especially in a Santa Ana direction, those areas dont normally get hit, said Curt Kaplan, a retired meteorologist who worked at the Los Angeles weather service office for 22 years. Tuesday nights strong winds were part of a phenomenon known as a mountain wave, when damaging wind gusts accelerate down a mountain slope. Prevailing winds all the way up to the jet stream blew out of the north, perpendicular to highlands such as the San Gabriel Mountains. Winds pushed into the mountains and had nowhere to go but up and over the ranges. The result was extreme gusts on south-facing foothills and downwind valleys around Pasadena. Pasadena is usually protected with a typical Santa Ana, but when you get that upper-level flow crashing down, all bets are off, Kaplan said. The Eaton Fire joins a long list of destructive wildfires fueled by mountain waves. Such events include the 2023 Lahaina Fire in Maui, the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise and the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Climate change fingerprints To many scientists, the blazes reflected impacts of climate change in California. The evidence connecting the climate crisis and extreme wildfires is clear, Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist for the Nature Conservancy, wrote on LinkedIn. Increased global temperatures and reduced moisture lead to drier conditions, faster-moving wildfires, and extended fire seasons. While this holds true for California wildfires in general, its hard to unravel exactly how much climate change is influencing current blazes, said Daniel Cayan, a climate scientist with UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Part of the challenge is the unpredictability of ignitions. Another is that Californias seasonal precipitation can vary wildly. Fires like this are a product of multiple interacting climate and weather factors along with humans which creates some challenges in pointing to these as a fingerprint (of solely climate change), John Abatzoglou, a climatologist at UC Merced, said by email. Experts have repeatedly linked climate change-driven heat with exacerbated wildfire risk due to dried-out landscapes, which are prone to significant blazes. Scientists are still investigating whether Santa Ana winds will become more or less common in the future. However, there is conclusive evidence that strong winds are more frequently overlapping with critically hot and dry fire weather conditions. EXCLUSIVE A leading campaigner against domestic violence who once worked closely with Andrew O'Keefe has called on the disgraced game show host to hand back his Order of Australia. O'Keefe was convicted in January last year of assaulting a woman he called a 'lying dog' and a 'c***' during an attack described by a magistrate as 'degrading'. The former Deal or No Deal and The Chase Australia presenter then pleaded guilty in October to trespassing, possessing meth, and breaching a restraining order. O'Keefe was a founding member and chairman of White Ribbon Australia, an organisation dedicated to the prevention of violence against women. He was named in the 2017 Australia Day honours list as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). The only higher accolades in the system are Officer (AO) or Companion (AC) of the Order. Former federal MP and ex Aussie Rules great Phil Cleary has campaigned to stop male violence against women since his sister Vicki was murdered in 1987 by a former partner. Mr Cleary got to know O'Keefe through White Ribbon and told Daily Mail Australia the fallen Weekend Sunrise host should return his AM if he wanted to show remorse. 'I think if he wanted to reclaim his standing he probably should resign the position and then try to regain our trust,' Mr Cleary said. Disgraced game show host Andrew O'Keefe still holds one of the nation's highest official honours a year after being found guilty of domestic violence offences. O'Keefe is pictured two days after surviving a heroin overdose in September The former Deal or No Deal star was convicted last January of assaulting a woman he called a 'lying dog' and a 'c***' during an attack described as 'violent and degrading'. He is pictured at court wearing his Member of the Order of Australia lapel pin 'If I was speaking to Andrew I would be saying the first thing you should be doing is coming out and apologising for what you've done. 'I believe in compassion and redemption but Andrew is in a position at the moment where he has damaged the campaign and he needs to apologise.' O'Keefe's honour was in recognition of 'significant service to the broadcast media as a television presenter, and to social welfare and charitable organisations'. The 53-year-old is due to face court again later this month on his third drug-driving charge, after being warned by a magistrate another criminal conviction would result in him going to jail. There are precedents for Order of Australia recipients returning an honour voluntarily if they felt they no longer deserved the award. Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon handed over his AC in 2022 following a 2020 inquiry which found he had sexually harassed junior staff members. TV presenter and businessman Steve Vizard gave back his AM in 2008 after being fined $390,000 and banned from being a company director for insider trading. 'I did it because it is the right thing to do,' Vizard said at the time. 'This is partially out of respect for the Order, to protect it, and partly to take this issue off the agenda for the Order and myself.' Former federal MP Phil Cleary got to know O'Keefe through White Ribbon and told Daily Mail Australia the fallen Weekend Sunrise host should return his AM if he wanted to show remorse Phil Cleary has campaigned to stop male violence against women since his 25-year-old sister Vicki (above) was murdered in 1987 by her abusive former partner Peter Keogh Several Australians have also had their honours rescinded following serious wrongdoing. Entertainer Rolf Harris was made an AM in 1989 and that was upgraded to AO in 2012. He was stripped of both awards after being convicted of sexually assaulting underage girls. Former High Court judge Marcus Einfeld had his AO taken away in 2009 after he was jailed for claiming the driver of his speeding car was a woman who turned out to be dead. The late billionaire Alan Bond lost his AO in 1997 after he defrauded Bell Resources of $1.2billion and was sent to prison. Former Western Australian premier Brian Burke had his AC cancelled after being jailed for stealing campaign donations. The Council of the Order of Australia is responsible for recommending nominations under the honours system to Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Ms Mostyn can also act on recommendations by the council to strip recipients of awards. The council previously confirmed it had received complaints from members of the public about O'Keefe still being a Member of the Order of Australia. O'Keefe is due to face court again later this month on his third drug-driving charge, after being warned by a magistrate another criminal conviction would result in him going to jail. He is pictured at the 2006 Logies with Natalie Bassingthwaighte 'Issues have been raised over Mr O'Keefe's AM, therefore, in line with the process, they are under consideration,' a council spokesman said in October, according to the Daily Telegraph. On Friday, a spokesman for the council declined to comment on O'Keefe retaining his award, which is still listed on the government's honours website. 'The council does not comment on individual deliberations,' the spokesman said. 'Appointments and awards in the Order of Australia can be terminated or cancelled - the grounds and process are set out in the terminations and cancellations ordinance.' That ordinance states an award can be cancelled if a recipient has been the subject of an adverse finding by any court or tribunal, regardless of whether the person was conviction. Ms Mostyn can also terminate an award 'if, in the opinion of the Governor-General, the holder of the appointment or award has behaved or acted in a manner that has brought disrepute on the Order'. An occupational therapist told Daily Mail Australia he had been writing to the Governor-General's office to ask that O'Keefe's AM be revoked for the past 12 months. Daily Mail Australia revealed last week that O'Keefe had been arrested again on a drug driving charge, three months after being warned he was one false step away from jail. O'Keefe was a founding member and chairman of White Ribbon Australia, an organisation dedicated to the prevention of violence against women. He is pictured in a promotion for Deal or No Deal He is set to face Waverley Local Court in Sydney's eastern suburbs on January 20 after being accused of driving with an illicit drug in his system for the third time. Last July, O'Keefe confronted a man at a Point Piper property he was banned from attending and was later arrested after a traffic stop. He was released on bail but arrested again at Rose Bay police station in September when police found crystal methamphetamine in his car during a search. Two days earlier O'Keefe had overdosed on heroin at a party and needed to be revived by paramedics. In October, Waverley Local Court magistrate Jacqueline Milledge sentenced O'Keefe to a 30-month community corrections order for breaching an apprehended violence order. He was also fined $1,000 for possessing a prohibited drug and $500 for trespassing, as well as being made the subject of a two-year AVO to protect a person who cannot be identified. Ms Milledge told O'Keefe he was facing time behind bars if he reoffended. 'You have been given lots of opportunities to do something about your use of drugs,' she said to him. O'Keefe was named in the 2017 Australia Day honours list as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - the only higher accolades in the system are Officer (AO) or Companion (AC) of the Order 'I can assure you the next step is jail. I'm not just saying that, I absolutely mean it. 'It's got to the state where the court would believe you just can't be rehabilitated.' Ms Milledge told O'Keefe his life had 'just completely gone off the rails' and it was his responsibility to fix it. 'I know domestic violence is a factor in your offending and that is awful, truly awful,' she said. 'You got into the grip of something awful and the wheels fell off.' The magistrate said she remembered telling O'Keefe 'God help you' during a previous court appearance. 'I am personally disappointed that you're where you are and you haven't managed to get yourself back on your feet,' she said. 'I just wish you'd get yourself back to a position where you can do something for the community again.' At the time, O'Keefe's lawyer told Ms Milledge: 'This, Your Honour, is what we say is the final crossroads.' O'Keefe has waged a public battle against drug addiction and been in and out of rehabilitation centres for the past few years. He was found guilty in January last year of domestic violence offences over a September 2021 attack on a woman he had called a 'lying dog' and a 'c***'. O'Keefe was convicted in Downing Centre Local Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, contravening an AVO, and possessing prohibited drugs. Magistrate Alison Viney described O'Keefe kicking, spitting, scratching and otherwise assaulting the woman, who cannot be named, as a 'violent and degrading' assault. O'Keefe was ordered to serve 18 months on a community corrections order and fined $800 for the drug offences, which related to cannabis and synthetic stimulant mephedrone. The drug convictions were later quashed but O'Keefe lost an appeal against the assault convictions in September. O'Keefe faced six charges after he allegedly punched, kicked and choked another woman in January 2022 but by the time the matter was heard the alleged victim had left the country. Having pleaded not guilty - claiming he acted in self-defence - charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and choking were withdrawn in February 2023 at Downing Centre Local Court. O'Keefe previously avoided convictions for assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in June 2021 when those charges were dealt with under mental health provisions of the law. Magistrate Ross Hudson heard O'Keefe suffered from bipolar disorder and was in a 'hypomanic' state when he spat at, slapped and kicked a woman in January 2021. An Australian woman accused of causing a drunken scene on a Jetstar flight has won her bid to travel overseas - as long as she does not drink alcohol while flying. Analisa Corr and her husband Jimmy Corr were hauled off a plane travelling from Hobart to Sydney after allegedly creating a mid-air disturbance just after Christmas. Ms Corr is the daughter of the late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos and her mother is a one-time Playboy model from Sydney. The 53-year-old's half-brother Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr is the current president of the Philippines, who in the past has declined to acknowledge they have the same father. Ms Corr has been married for a decade to 45-year-old former soldier Jimmy Corr, with whom she has recently been pictured on social media sailing around South-East Asia on a yacht. On Friday, the Corrs appeared in Downing Centre Local Court where they applied for variations of their bail conditions to fly to Indonesia. The couple was allegedly intoxicated and drinking alcohol they had brought onto flight JQ720 on December 28. The twin-jet Airbus A321 left Hobart at 3.29pm and arrived at Sydney at 5.13pm, according to flight records. An Australian woman accused of causing a drunken scene on a Jetstar flight has won her bid to travel overseas - as long as she does not drink alcohol while flying. Analisa Corr is pictured with her husband Jimmy Corr outside Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court Analisa Corr, who is the daughter of the late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was hauled off a plane travelling from Hobart to Sydney after she and her husband allegedly creating a mid-air disturbance just after Christmas During the journey, Ms Corr allegedly grabbed and shook another passenger while leaving a toilet. The couple was escorted off the plane by Australian Federal Police and taken to Mascot police station. They were subsequently charged with one count each of failing to comply with cabin crew's safety instructions and consuming alcohol not provided by the crew. Ms Corr was also charged with one count of common assault. The pair sought the return of their passports on Friday so Ms Corr could fly to Indonesia where she was due to undertake a 'project' until the end of March. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the request and it was approved by Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Antrum. Ms Corr agreed to deposit $20,000 as part of her new bail arrangement and her husband agreed to forfeit the same amount of money if he breached his conditions. Neither is permitted to consume alcohol at any domestic or international departure point, or on an aircraft while in transit. Ms Corr has been married for a decade to former soldier Jimmy Corr, with whom she has recently been pictured on social media sailing around Indonesia on a yacht On Friday, the Corrs appeared in Downing Centre Local Court where they applied for variations to their bail conditions to fly to Indonesia Mr Antrum accepted the allegation against Mr Corr were not of 'top-end' criminality and would only result in fines if he were to be convicted. The couple held hands as they left the court and Ms Corr smiled broadly as she ignored questions from the media about what happened on flight JQ720. Their matters will back in the same court on February 24 when both are excused from attending if represented by a lawyer. Ms Corr was raised in luxury in Sydney's eastern suburbs and describes herself as an interior designer with a sideline in 'boudoir' photography. Ferdinand Marcos Sr was president of the Philippines from 1965 until he was deposed in 1986, and from 1972 to 1981 ruled the nation under martial law. Ms Corr's mother Evelin Hegyesi reportedly met Marcos Sr - then married to shoe-loving Imelda - when she was working as a model in Paris in 1970. Having given birth to Analisa in Sydney in 1971, mother and daughter lived in a Point Piper mansion apparently bought by Marcos Sr, who died in 1989 aged 72. Ms Corr and her husband first faced Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, when they pleaded not guilty to all charges. The couple is charged with one count each of failing to comply with cabin crew's safety instructions and consuming alcohol not provided by the crew. Ms Corr is also charged with common assault Court documents state she has been staying at the Ovolo Woolloomooloo hotel, while his address was listed as a property at Berry in the Shoalhaven region of NSW. Ms Corr's mother lives in a three-bedroom apartment with harbour views at Point Piper which was last offered for sale in October 2021 for $3.85million. Marcos Jr neither confirmed nor denied Ms Corr's parentage when asked about his half-sister in April 2011. 'We have been hearing those rumours for more than 20 years now,' the then senator said at the time. Ms Corr's middle name, Josefa, is the first name of Marcos Sr's mother. Marcos Sr's comment came a month after Ms Corr claimed she had been removed from the short-lived Australian reality television show The Renovators after revealing the identity of her father. Ms Corr's mother, who was born in Germany, was just two when her Hungarian parents Anton and Theresa brought to her Australia in 1949. Ms Corr was raised in luxury in Sydney's eastern suburbs and describes herself as an interior designer with a sideline in 'boudoir' photography. She is pictured with daughter Tahni Ms Hegyesi was once photographed posing in a mink bikini and appeared in a 1969 Playboy spread called 'Girls of Australia'. A July 2004 newspaper report stated Ms Hegyesi avoided the spotlight but described her curvaceous daughter as 'exotic', 'vivacious' and 'flamboyant'. Ms Corr was previously in a relationship with Dean Fleming, heir to the supermarket empire and father to her daughter Tahni Hegyesi Fleming, who is now aged about 21. In May 2022, Sydney gossip columnist Andrew Hornery noted that Ms Corr, having 'managed to fly mostly under the radar for the past 51 years, ranks as one of this city's great social mysteries'. Ms Corr's Gold Coast photography business specialises in 'boudoir' images and offers customers 'professional hair/makeup artist, champagne, touched up images and just a fabulous time all round!' 'As a professional portrait and intimate photographer I love to show the true beauty and spirit of everyday women,' Ms Corr states on her LinkedIn profile. In September last year Ms Corr posted an online tribute to her 'dearest friend', Sydney publicist Jai Evans, after he was found dead aged just 43 in his Darlinghurst apartment. 'If you knew him you will remember him as the life of the party, the energetic creative, vibrant and funny at all times,' she wrote. 'I'll miss our long D & Ms and our 2 crazy personalities going through this life together, helping each other yet happily and excitedly leading each other astray. 'I am truly stunned today and am very sad you have left us so soon. But I am glad that youve found a peaceful place you might have been looking for, I know you have and Ill see you there eventually. 'Keep the Champers on ice Jai-Jai, love you.' Titan sub disaster victim Shahzada Dawood died without a valid UK will so left less than 100,000 to his wife in Britain - despite being the heir to a 1.3billion-a-year business empire in Pakistan, MailOnline can reveal today. Mr Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman were two of the five victims killed instantly when the OceanGate submersible suffered a 'catastrophic implosion' just 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic. Mr Dawood was the heir to the great Dawood business dynasty. His personal net worth was estimated at around 285million. But his Karachi-based family business has a turnover of 1.3billion-a-year and billions of pounds in assets. His family is among the richest in Pakistan, but have strong links to the UK. Shahzada lived in a Surrey mansion with his life coach wife Christine and their two children. He was the vice chairman of Engro Corporation, which makes fertilisers, food and energy, as well as the Dawood Hercules Corporation, which makes chemicals. But as Shahzada died without a valid will a Grant of Letters of Administration was issued to the administrator of the estate, usually the lawful spouse or nearest blood relative. Mr Dawood's 76,958 UK estate was issued to his wife, Christine, who continues to live in their Surrey home. The will further notes that he was domiciled in Pakistan - with the majority of his fortune appearing to remain outside of the UK. As well as the father and son, three others died on board Titan: OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush, 61, British businessman Hamish Harding, 58, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77, a former French navy diver and experienced Titanic diver. Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman (pictured) died during a dive in the North Atlantic to view the wreck of the Titanic, off the coast of Newfoundland, in which their submersible Titan lost communication with its support ship One hour and 45 minutes into the dive in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Newfoundland, the Titan lost communication with its support ship, the Polar Prince Mr Dawood's 76,958 estate was issued to his wife, Christine (pictured), who continues to live in their Surrey home The wreckage of the doomed vessel was found 330 yards away from the bow of the Titanic, some 3,700 meters below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Ms Dawood and her daughter Alina, who was then 17, waited on the support ship while the search continued, before receiving the heartbreaking news. Speaking to The Mail last year, she said: 'The moment we knew they'd found debris and there were no survivors, Alina and I went on deck. Until that moment we'd had hope. We took some cushions with us and just sat there looking out at the ocean. We were both crying. 'I turned to her and said: 'I'm a widow now.' She said: 'Yes, and I'm a single child.' Then we cried even more.' She added: 'No parent should have to grieve for their child. It's unnatural. All of a sudden your purpose, your identity, is ripped away from you.' Billionaire Shahzada was a trustee at the SETI Institute a non-profit research organisation and had also worked with the Prince's Trust. Suleman had taken his Rubik's Cube on the trip as he hoped to break the world record for solving the puzzle at the greatest depth - which he could do in as little as 12 seconds. He was at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, studying business analysis and human resources and intending to work with his father in the family business, when they boarded the Polar Prince to visit the wreck of the Titanic in the Titan submersible. Mother Christine is seen with her son Suleman when he was a toddler, aged two Christine is seen with her husband before his tragic death last year on a trip to see the Titanic Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St. John's, Newfoundland Safety concerns included lighting and handles bought from DIY shops and no international safety certificate Mrs Dawood had planned to go with her husband to view the Titanic wreck in the OceanGate sub, but that their trip was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Suleman had become obsessed with the Titanic after completing a 10,000 piece Lego model as a teenager, and she stepped back to let him go in her place. Ms Dawood met her husband at Reutlingen University in her native Germany, where she said that they were 'kindred spirits'. 'We don't have graves for them,' she continued. 'There were no bodies, but recently we [she, Alina and Shahzada's younger sister, Sabrina] went to Singapore. The sea was warm enough for us to walk in and I truly felt them around me. I thought: 'This is such a gift. I don't need a grave because every time I am in the ocean I will be able to connect with them because they are part of it.' 'We stood there with our skirts draped over our arms and cried for ten minutes straight. It was very, very cathartic. When I think of them now, they are just asleep down there [in the ocean].' Disaster struck on June 18 last year when the 21-foot vessel lost contact with it's mothership after diving down to the wreck of the Titanic, off the Newfoundland coast. When the submersible was reported missing, rescuers rushed ships, planes and other equipment to an area about 435 miles south of St. John's, Newfoundland. Officials later announced they believed the Titan had imploded as it went to a depth of 12,500 ft and a debris field was discovered. Billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding, who lost his life onboard Titan, is pictured looking out to sea before boarding the submersible French Navy veteran Paul-Henri Nargeolet (left) Stockton Rush (right), CEO of the OceanGate Expedition, also lost their lives on Titan Rescuers were scouring thousands of square miles in the remote North Atlantic for the missing submersible Four months after the tragedy, in October, coastguard officials revealed they had recovered human remains from the scene and these were taken away for analysis. In December 2023, Christine posted another tribute to her husband and son. Alongside an image of herself in the sea. She said: 'Every time I touch the ocean, I feel them, because they are part of it now. 'When the waves caress my skin, it's like their whispers of love around me. Six months on and I still can't believe it. 'I might look forlorn, my heart is not. I feel gratitude to the people around me, who walk beside me who catch me when I stumble and who make me laugh even when I feel like crying. 'It's been the most challenging year I've ever known, and yet I'm still standing. 'Seeing with me eyes closed. Feeling with me heart bleeding moving with my root deepening, flying with my tattered wings, listening with wind in my hair, so that one day I will be able to love again with all I am.' A spokesperson representing Christine Dawood and the Dawood Family said: Whilst details of Christine Dawoods entitlement to the inheritance of her husband Shahzada Dawoods estate remain a deeply personal and private matter, it is inaccurate, incomplete and misleading to report her UK inheritance in isolation. Ms. Christine Dawood is a much-loved member of the family who, following the tragic loss of her husband and son, has the familys full support now and always. I vividly remember the moment I was first told of a grooming gang's rape of a young white girl in a northern town. A crude message flicked up on my Nokia mobile phone with a number to call. 'I have a something bad to tell U,' it said. 'My daughter has been stolen and f***ed.' I rang back the caller who had sent me what was a desperate cry for help. It was 1997, and she was a mother from Lancashire whose innocent 12-year-old girl had been lured into the clutches of the gang, believing naively they were glamorous would-be boyfriends. After turning up in a big flashy car, they had chatted her up at the school gates one afternoon during her first term at secondary with the words: 'Fancy a lift home, love? We can go for pizza.' In the months that followed, the men took turns to savagely rape her in locations ranging from car parks and sheds to the back rooms of kebab shops, until, as the mother told me: 'There wasn't much left of her.' A loyal Labour voter, she first turned for help to her Lancashire town's councillors. When she got no joy there, she tried her local MP, then the police and finally social workers. But no one would listen. Even the children's charity on the nearby High Street ignored this woman's pleas for help to rescue her daughter from the gang of predominantly Muslim men of Pakistani heritage. In desperation, she sought help from the local branch of the fascist British National Party. One of two of Sue Reid's articles published in the Mail in 2010... ...Sue's articles created a ferocious backlash as she was labelled a racist and a liar. Meanwhile, innocent lives were being ruined It was a terrible story. But to my lasting regret, the mother's links to the BNP silenced me. I did not drive the three hours from my home to meet her face-to-face to check whether what she was saying was true. I now know that other national newspaper journalists back in the early years of Tony Blair's premiership when I got the mother's phone message were hearing similar horror stories about the gang-rapes of girls in the North and Midlands. Parents were given journalists' numbers by the media-savvy BNP to whom more and more desperate and ignored families turned. But I, like my colleagues, was terrified that writing up the mothers' stories would give the oxygen of publicity to a neo-Nazi political party with an inflammatory racist agenda. It was only 13 years later in 2010 that I became the first British newspaper journalist to write about the child-abuse scandal, which we now know had been covered up for decades by a liberal-Left officialdom worshipping at the altar of a false god: multiculturalism. That year, in August, my first story ran in the Mail under the headline: 'Predatory gangs, middle-class girls forced into the sex trade and a very troubling taboo.' A second, in November, declared: 'Asian gangs, schoolgirls, and a sinister taboo: the disturbing crime few dare talk about.' The backlash to these carefully written articles was ferocious. I was smeared in anonymised emails and letters as a liar and a racist. Meanwhile, savage monsters, apparently with impunity, continued to take away the innocence of hundreds of thousands of girls, predominantly white and some as young as eight. At last, this shameful episode in British history is receiving the national, and international, attention it deserves. And that is thanks, in large part, to the world's richest man, Tesla founder Elon Musk and his unlikely support for Tommy Robinson aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who like that Lancashire mother of a raped child all those years ago is connected with the rabble-rousing BNP. Robinson, 42, is a Luton-born former supporter of the party. A founder of the far-Right English Defence League, he is an ill-educated, violent ex-druggie, currently serving a prison sentence for contempt of court. Musk believes he is a political prisoner who should be released. Deeply reprehensible though Robinson appears, the documentaries he has made over many years and his social media posts revealing the vile gangs' activities have been viewed by millions worldwide. One of them was Musk, who brought the matter to international attention last week by posting horrendous details from a court transcript (too graphic for a family newspaper to publish) of one particular white schoolgirl's ordeal and by attacking Keir Starmer for his woeful failure to act over the scandal which goes back decades. The grooming gangs consisted of predominantly Muslim men of Pakistani heritage The first to raise the matter of the 'sex grooming' taking place on British streets on an industrial scale, however, were British Sikhs. Tensions between the Sikh community and British Muslims escalated in the 1970s and, in 1988, a Birmingham local TV station produced a report on 'child rape for profit'. In it, Sikh leaders alleged that 'Muslim youth are coming around our schools abducting and raping girls'. One added: 'We don't want this. We know what happens to the girls after they are sold into prostitution.' The Sikhs, with a reputation for being fierce warriors, scared the gangs off. But the plight of their daughters was a terrible, unheeded, warning. This week, the Sikh community reposted the 1988 TV report on social media, with the comment: 'The UK authorities later wilfully buried the truth about this cancer, with [Muslim] newcomers making white Caucasian girls their target instead. They have let it metastasize countrywide over three decades.' Blair's New Labour government, which took power in 1997, had launched an open-door immigration policy. In this new world the authorities were determined to uphold the image of a successful multicultural society at all costs even if it meant denying justice and protection to the child victims of rape. Sir Keir Starmer only fanned the flames this week when he claimed those demanding a statutory inquiry (where evidence is given under oath) were 'jumping on the bandwagon of the far Right'. In one fell swoop, he denounced a wide array of people who have grown ever more disturbed about the mass child rape gang epidemic. Not least among them, family members of what is thought to be upwards of 250,000 girls attacked repeatedly by street gangs in 50 British towns and cities over the past 40 years. I first met one such victim of a street gang in August 2010. Emma Jackson (not her real name), then in her early 20s, agreed to speak on condition of strict anonymity after I had tracked her down having heard of her case. Years after escaping the gang, she was still frightened of being attacked by them. Emma Jackson (not her real name) was first raped - multiple times - at the age of 13. She had been sexually abused by 54 men from all over Britain A true heroine in the campaign to expose these revolting child rapes is the politician Ann Cryer, who spoke up first in 2002 In my Daily Mail report, I changed the name of the area in West Yorkshire where she lived because the family were terrified of retaliation from the gang who had plagued them with threatening phone calls and messages, day and night, in a bid to keep them quiet. 'U R 4 it,' a text would tell the family out of the blue. 'Open your mouth and you will get a bullet in it.' If Emma's mother Jane answered her mobile, a man would say: 'Put her on the phone, love. Just do it or else.' In other cases, the gangs have forced girls to stay silent by threatening to tell their families they are prostitutes, or rape their little sisters or kill their parents with knives or firebombs. Emma's family moved abroad to escape the gang and returned years later, only to find the same men waiting for them in the same town. Men who began sending the same repulsive and threatening messages. When she was first raped multiple times Emma was 13, still playing with dolls and had never kissed a boy. The highlight of her week was Saturday when she would meet friends in the play park at the local Tesco shopping centre while her middle-class parents, Jack and Carol, stocked up on groceries. Yet by her 14th birthday her innocence was over. She had been sexually abused by 54 men from all over Britain. 'One minute I was playing with dolls, the next I was a sex slave,' she told me in a heartbreaking interview. 'I was wearing my favourite candy-striped ankle socks when I was first raped on wasteland. Afterwards, my white coat was covered in blood and they left me to go home on the bus alone.' Emma had been lured into the gang by a teenage Pakistani boy her own age. He met her in the play park and introduced her to older relatives, in their 20s and 30s, who told her they wanted to be her friend, too. They then plied her with vodka, cigarettes and cannabis joints. 'I thought I was having a great time. I had no idea the men were part of a gang,' she told me. 'They were more exciting than my school friends. I began to meet the men every day after school before catching the bus home.' Sadly, Emma's story is typical. I have been told almost exactly the same horror stories by girls in a myriad different towns. One called Jessica was the daughter of a property developer, and was living in Rochdale when she became embroiled with a gang. Tommy Robinson, 42, is the founder of the far-Right English Defence League, he is an ill-educated, violent ex-druggie, currently serving a prison sentence for contempt of court Suddenly, at 15, she wanted to be out late all the time, her father told me in 2012. 'If we kept her in she'd climb out of the upstairs window onto a flat roof above the porch, jump down and disappear into the streets. 'I would drive my BMW around trying to find her. It happened more times than I can remember. It was much worse than normal teenage rebellion.' Their daughter studying for her GCSEs had been lured into an underage sex-for-sale ring operating from kebab shops and takeaways in Rochdale, and run by men of Pakistani heritage. At one stage, horrifyingly, she was forced to sleep with five men a day, four or five times a week. One day, the gang's 59-year-old leader invited her to a kebab shop for a chat. He hurled her onto a mattress on the floor and raped her. During the ordeal in an upstairs room she just stared at a children's clock with the face of an angel on it hanging on the wall. Afterwards, the man told her not to cry. At a trial which ended just before I met the family, that ringleader and eight other men were jailed for rape, aiding and abetting rape, the trafficking of girls and conspiracy to have sex with a child. One was an Afghan national and the rest were of British Muslim Pakistani heritage. Part of the cover-up for that is what it has been is the apparent reluctance by officialdom to chase down perpetrators. Child protection officers in the town where I spoke to Emma were accused by the police watchdog's chief inspector of deliberately 'undermining' the girls by 'disproving their word'. A rape survivor from the same area was this week told by police to delete her social media posts which blame local officers for turning a blind eye. At one stage only three part-time officers were responsible for finding child rapists who had abused 'hundreds' of children. Labour politicians this week voted against a new national public inquiry into this most appalling scandal because we had an independent investigation into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published two years ago. Charlie Peters, a reporter on GB News which has been at the forefront of the latest exposures begged to differ. He produced data showing that the IICSA probe was selective, not nationally focused, and used six case-study areas where there were no significant reports of Pakistani-Muslim gangs roaming the streets to find girls. None of the northern towns such as Rotherham or Rochdale where the abuse first emerged were chosen for scrutiny. While online sex grooming and allegations of paedophilia by Roman Catholic clerics were given their own sections in the report, Bristol was the only place with grooming gangs examined in depth (and this involved convicted Somalians). To my mind the case for an inquiry into grooming is undeniable. In Derby, three teenagers bravely gave evidence at a trial which resulted in nine men being jailed for a string of offences involving 27 girls. The gang all but one a Pakistani Muslim had taken them to rundown flats with mattresses on the floor. They were locked into rooms and turned into sex slaves for strings of men who paid gang leaders a fee to rape them. Incredibly, the gang members told the Derby court that the girls had agreed to multiple rapes. 'These are girls I did not respect who are just partying and taking drugs and we had consensual sex,' said the leader Abid Saddique. The men hid their double lives from their wife or wives, who were often unable to speak English having been brought from Pakistan for arranged marriages. I wrote at the time: 'There is an uncomfortable element to this. In politically correct modern Britain, it is taboo for anyone involved in bringing these cases to court including the police, social workers and councillors to talk about the ethnicity of the perpetrators.' I found that children's charities helping the victims recover hid the racial make-up of the gangs. One called Risky Business, which operated in Rotherham, refused to answer any of my questions relating to the background of the perpetrators. At another charity, Coalition For The Removal Of Pimping, based in Leeds, the chief executive officer at the time said in a recorded conversation with me: 'It is a crime committed by men. We are trying to work in their communities to change their attitudes to women. I cannot speak about the race of the criminals involved.' The backlash was vicious against anyone who dared reveal the facts: that the sex attacks on girls in these northern towns and cities were, and are, mainly by men of Pakistani heritage. My house in London was attacked three times, with the slogan 'Sue Reid, Racist Scum' painted on the pavement outside, and posters were put up on lampposts over six nearby roads. In multi-cultural Britain I was saying the unsayable. Thankfully, though, others were, too. A true heroine in the campaign to expose these revolting child rapes is the politician Ann Cryer, who spoke up first in 2002. As Labour MP for Keighley, near Bradford, she was in a good position to comment on the situation. 'It is a fact that all the victims of these terrible crimes are white girls, and all the alleged perpetrators are [south] Asian men,' she said. 'The family and cultural norms of this community mean the men are expected to marry a first cousin or another relative. 'Therefore, until the marriage is arranged, they look for sex. Their view of white women is generally pretty low.' For breaking the taboo, the conspiracy of silence about the men's race, she was immediately shunned by the police, social workers and imams in her West Yorkshire constituency. Revealingly, even Emma Jackson the first victim I interviewed and her mother waited until the end of our four-hour meeting before they even mentioned the ethnicity of her tormentors. The two called me back into the hallway as I was leaving. Then, apologising in almost a whisper, Emma said: 'We don't want to sound racist. But we must tell you something important that you never asked us about. 'Nearly all the men running the rape gangs are of Pakistani origin. But very few of the authorities, from councillors, social workers, to the police, will say so publicly. 'They are scared of telling the truth. The gangs could attack them or they might lose their jobs.' So an evil conspiracy of silence continued to condemn countless young girls to their fate. A 2.3million shooting gallery where drug-users can inject their own heroin and cocaine will fuel addiction and overdose deaths, it was warned on Thursday. The centre - the first of its kind in the UK - is aimed at ensuring addicts have medical back-up when they take Class A drugs - free from the threat of arrest - rather than risking overdose on the street. Based near the busy shopping area of Scotlands biggest city, the so-called safer drug consumption facility - called The Thistle - has been championed by the SNP Government. The Glasgow project comes amid spiralling drug deaths in Scotland the highest in Europe but critics say it will not help addicts to kick their habits. The centre is set to open on Monday - at a time when hundreds of thousands of Scots are languishing on lengthy NHS waiting lists. Last night Dr Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Substance Use Research Scotland, said the millions earmarked for The Thistle should be invested instead in helping addicts to give up drugs. He said: What we should be doing, and what the Scottish Government has persistently refused to do, is to provide long-term support services focused on recovery, rehabilitation, and drug prevention. Addicts need to be helped to move away from the drugs they have become addicted to, not provided with easier access to those drugs. The lounge area at The Thistle drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility The Safer Drugs Consumption Facility will allow people to take substances under the supervision of clinicians He warned setting up safer consumption centres would lead to a rise in the number of overdose deaths and none of those who have allocated scarce public funding [to these initiatives] will be remotely accountable for the decisions they have taken. Scottish Tory drugs spokesman Annie Wells said: The public will want this new facility to be carefully monitored to ensure it is not exacerbating Scotlands drug deaths crisis. Ministers cannot act like this will be a silver bullet to this emergency and must also back the Right to Recovery Bill, which would enshrine in law everyones right to treatment. Drug-users at The Thistle will not be stopped by police unless they are engaged in an activity that would provide Police Scotland with reasonable cause to stop you and/or search you. The shooting gallery will cost 2.3millon for a three-year pilot project and will be funded by the Scottish Government for the first year. Users will bring in their own illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine and inject them in special booths before relaxing in a lounge area which has a flat-screen television and books while there are also plans for them to be able to smoke crack cocaine in an inhalation room on the site. They will also be able to do a jigsaw puzzle while waiting for the drugs to take effect, and in the event of an overdose staff are on standby to help them. Addicts will have access to vein-finding technology, a clothes store and a shower, while there is also Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee are available. The Health Room at The Thistle drugs consumption room The facility - known as the Thistle - will accommodate up to 30 service users at a time There will be 31 staff at the centre which will be open from 9am 9pm, 365 hours a day, but the hours could be extended if needed, depending on available funding. Bosses estimate there are up to 500 regularly injecting users in the area surrounding The Thistle and hope as many as possible will come to the clinic, where they will also be able to get Covid and flu jabs and find health, social work and housing information. They argue that once the users are in the centre, they can be helped into rehab if they say they want to take part and treated for infections, rather than injecting outdoors and sharing needles, or leaving drugs paraphernalia on the streets which creates a public health hazard. Drugs will be checked for dangerous impurities but results are not instant, meaning there will be a delay before staff know exactly what users are taking. But it will allow staff to monitor the content of users drug supplies and spot any developing problems in the longer term. The introduction of drug testing must be sanctioned by the Home Office which is reviewing The Thistles application. The Thistle is in the same complex as the Enhanced Drug Treatment Service (EDTS), a separate facility where addicts are injected with pharmaceutical-grade heroin, obtained by the NHS, rather than bringing in their own drugs. Earlier this week, the Mail revealed that more than 85,000 had been spent on taxis for patients at the EDTS, which has cost taxpayers nearly 6million. The Thistle is the UK's first official consumption room for illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine The facility in Glasgow will be open all year round Lynn Macdonald, service manager at The Thistle, said it would not resolve the drug deaths issue by next year far from it its a small service, but added that it was a starting point. She said that if someone overdoses outside the clinic, staff would attend with a medical kit. Ms Macdonald, a nurse, said: If [staff at nearby supermarket] Morrisons phone us and say theres someone there who they think has overdosed, we will go to them, so were in a position to respond to that. Asked how the success of the project would be measured, she said it could be defined as one person not contracting HIV [or] somebody coming in here and re-establishing a relationship with their parents. Saket Priyadarshi, associate medical director at Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), said: What we want to promote initially, absolutely, is a safer injecting environment where people can feel welcome, or people can feel not judged, not stigmatised, and where they will get the support they need in order to provide a good alternative to the disparate spaces they use at the moment. Meanwhile, bosses of The Thistle also hope to get permission for an inhalation room where users can smoke crack cocaine. They are in talks with the Scottish Government over the proposal - which could fall foul of the smoking ban under current law. Cocaine use and deaths related to the drug are growing as its price falls, but medics are keen for addicts to smoke the drug rather than inject, which is riskier. They hope the inhalation room will also attract users to The Thistle, which also has an outdoor patio area for cigarette smokers. First suggested in 2016, the Glasgow safer consumption scheme has been the subject of political wrangling between the Scottish and UK Governments. The Thistle is run and overseen by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), which comprises NHSGGC and Glasgow City Council. Official figures in August showed drugs claimed the lives of 1,172 Scots in 2023 - an average of more than three a day and up 121 from the previous year. First Minister John Swinney and Health Secretary Neil Gray are set to visit The Thistle today (FRI). Last night Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: Existing legislation will not be changing and our officers will be bound by their legal duty to uphold the law and will not ignore acts of criminality. We also have a duty to respond to the communities in the area surrounding the safer drug consumption facility. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC said: I have concluded that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute people for simple possession offences when they are already in a place where help with their issues can be offered. Donald Trump was officially sentenced in the New York hush money case involving porn star Stormy Daniels, putting him on track to become the first convicted felon to be sworn in as President of the United States. The President-elect, 78, appeared virtually for his hearing on Friday in Manhattan Criminal Court where Judge Juan Merchan sentenced him to an unconditional discharge. The 'no-penalty' sentence, which finalizes his criminal conviction of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records from his trial in May, means the incoming president will avoid jail time, hefty fines, and probation. Although a slap on the wrist, it will go on his permanent record and make him the first American president to take the White House as a convicted felon when he is sworn in on January 20. Speaking to the court via Zoom before learning his fate, Trump described the proceedings as a 'very terrible experience' and claimed it was a case Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg never wanted to bring. 'This has been a political witch hunt, it was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election,' he said, sitting alongside his attorney Todd Blanche. 'The people of our country got to see this first hand and voted, I won and got the largest number of votes of any Republican candidate in history.' Trump also attacked his former fixer and a key witness in the case Michael Cohen, calling him a 'totally discredited person.' President-elect Trump appeared virtually in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan for his sentencing hearing on Friday. He was given an unconditional discharge, a 'no-penalty' sentence without jail time, fines, or probation Speaking alongside his attorney Todd Blanche before learning his fate, Trump told the court 'this has been a very terrible experience' Trump's sentencing finalizes his status as a convicted felon and will make him the first president in US history to take the White House with a criminal conviction He added: 'I'm innocent, I did nothing wrong. The business records were extremely accurate, it was done by an accountant who gave very credible testimony. 'With all that's happening in our country today, with the city burning to the ground... with all of the problems going on... I got indicted over calling a legal expense a legal expense. 'I think it's an embarrassment to New York,' he continued. Explaining his decision, Judge Merchan called it 'the only lawful sentence' the court could impose 'without encroaching on the highest office of the land'. 'The legal protections afforded to the office of the President have been laid out by our founders, the conditions, and the United States Supreme Court,' he added. 'The considerable indeed extraordinary legal protections afforded by the chief executive is a fact that overrides all others'. The judge, however, noted that the protections of the Presidency 'are not a mitigating factor' for the crime. 'They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justifies its commission in any way. One power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict. Trump was forced to attend his sentencing on Friday despite dogged efforts by his legal team to block or delay the hearing, including a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts related to hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels after a seven-week trial in May. His sentencing finalizes his status as a convicted felon and will make him the first president in US history to take the White House with a criminal conviction 'Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections. It is the Office of the President that bestows those to the office holder,' the judge explained. 'At this time I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts.' At the end of his remarks Judge Merchan addressed Trump directly: 'Sir, I wish you God's speed as you assume a second term in office.' The lighter sentence has been given to low-level offenders in New York, including lawyers who have failed to pay taxes, drivers who speed and trespassers. Although he won't be able to possess a firearm as a felon, he is still able to serve as commander-in-chief. He will also be able to continue to vote in his home state of Florida. The state allows convicted felons to vote as long as they are not behind bars. Trump was forced to attend his sentencing on Friday despite dogged efforts by his legal team to block or delay the hearing, including a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court. The Court ultimately rejected the request in a 5-4 ruling Thursday evening that found that sentencing Trump would not be an insurmountable burden as he takes back the White House, noting that Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he would not give the incoming president any jail time, fines, or probation. Demonstrators gathered to protest outside Manhattan criminal court before the start of the sentencing in President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case on Friday Trump supporters display a giant flag outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York ahead of his sentencing Media wait to enter Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump's sentencing hearing. He was sentenced to unconditional discharge 'First, the alleged evidentiary violations as president-elect Trump's state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course of appeal,' the unsigned ruling said. 'Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president elect's responsibilities is relatively insurmountable in light of the trial court's stated intent to impose a sentence of 'unconditional discharge' after a brief virtual hearing.' Among those who supported the decision were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would have delayed the sentencing, the order states. Reacting to the news Thursday night, Trump called the Supreme Court's ruling a 'fair decision' but vowed to appeal the case. The 78-year-old appeared content with the decision, even though conservative justices Amy Coney Barrett - who he appointed to the court - and Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberals who supported the decision. Still, the incoming president criticized the ruling, as he hurled insults at Merchan. 'I am innocent of all of the judge's made up, fake charges,' he wrote on his Truth Social platform. He railed against the decision in a post on his Truth Social platform Thursday night The Supreme Court, which already gave him an important victory in its presidential immunity decision, ultimately ruled in a 5-4 decision Thursday that the President-elect's sentencing should go on He added that he was appreciative of 'the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me.' Trump then reiterated the message at a news conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate later Thursday night. 'We're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically, because frankly it's a disgrace,' he said, though he noted he found a silver lining in reading the Supreme Court decision. 'I read it and I thought it was a fair decision, actually, so I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their little political opponent,' he said, trying to paint the judge as politically-motivated. Trump's legal team, led by lawyer Todd Blanche, who was tapped for a top Justice Department post, had argued that Trump should be spared sentencing based on the court's monumental presidential immunity decision last summer. In their filing on Wednesday, his lawyers asked to halt proceedings, claiming sentencing would cause 'grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government.' The Supreme Court asked Manhattan prosecutors to respond to Trump's request by Thursday morning. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the office planned to respond in court papers, which later showed prosecutors urging the high court to let the proceeding move forward. Trump's 11th-hour plea to the Supreme Court came a day after an appeals court rejected his request to have Friday's sentencing delayed. He had also asked Judge Merchan to delay sentencing pending his appeal. Justice Juan Merchan on Monday denied the incoming president's motion to delay the case Trump's lawyers lodged a 500-page appeal on Tuesday morning The New York Court of Appeals denied the request Tuesday, with Associate Justice Ellen Gesmer of the Appellate Division issuing a one-line ruling: 'After consideration of the papers submitted and the extensive oral argument, (Trump's) application for an interim stay is denied.' Trump was convicted by a New York jury last year on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a trial that featured testimony by former Trump 'fixer' Michael Cohen and porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had a sexual affair with Trump. Trump denies the affair. He had successfully delayed his sentencing until after the November election, but the denial by New York's Court of Appeals marked his third failed attempt to block proceedings in the case. Judge Merchan had signaled that he might not impose jail time or even a fine although that didn't stop Trump from going after the judge in a rambling press conference. 'We have a judge in New York as a very crooked judge, I'm under a gag order. I can't even talk about aspects of the case that are the most vital aspects,' Trump complained at Mar-a-Lago at an event. Merchan said he would move forward anyway, and said his legal teams raised arguments were mostly 'a repetition of the arguments he has raised numerous times in the past.' Merchan determined last month that the evidence presented at the trial earlier this year was related 'entirely to unofficial conduct' and therefore did not amount to official actions as president. QUESTION: Aside from Winston Churchill, have any British prime ministers fought in a battle? The obvious answer is Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (Tory, 1828-1830, 1834). Wellington was a celebrated military hero before entering politics, and his extensive battlefield experience shaped his leadership style. He fought numerous campaigns in the Peninsular War (1808-1814), including the battles of Salamanca and Vitoria and became a national hero following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 where he finally vanquished Napoleon Bonaparte. Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan all served on the front line in the First World War. Attlee (Labour, 1945-1951) was, at first, turned down for war service on account of his age; he was 31 in August 1914. Eventually, he was commissioned as a temporary lieutenant in the 6th South Lancashire Regiment. He served during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. A severe bout of dysentery probably saved his life as most of his company was killed while he was convalescing in Malta. Attlee then served in the Mesopotamian campaign in modern Iraq where, in April 1916, he was badly wounded by shrapnel and returned to England. Wellington was a celebrated military hero before entering politics, and his extensive battlefield experience shaped his leadership style Attlee (Labour, 1945-1951) was, at first, turned down for war service on account of his age; he was 31 in August 1914. Eventually, he was commissioned as a temporary lieutenant in the 6th South Lancashire Regiment Having fully recovered from his injuries, Attlee, now a major, arrived in France in June 1918 to serve on the Western Front before being injured again in August. Anthony Eden (Conservative, 1955-1957) volunteered for service in the British Army in 1915 at the age of 18, and was commissioned as a temporary lieutenant in the 21st Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He saw extensive service on the Western Front, fighting in the Battles of the Somme, Messines, and Passchendaele. He was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing his wounded platoon sergeant in no-mans land during the Somme. Eden had an elder brother, John, who was killed in action in 1914, and a younger brother, 16-year-old Nicholas, who died when the battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable blew up and sank at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Harold Macmillan (Conservative, 1957-1963) was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps in November 1914. Four months later he transferred to the Grenadier Guards. He first saw action at the Battle of Loos in autumn 1915 where he was wounded in the head and the right hand. By April 1916 he was back to fight at Ypres. At the Somme, in mid-September 1916, he was seriously wounded in the pelvis and left thigh. His life was saved by one of the bullets hitting his water bottle. He sat for a day in a shell hole in no-mans land reading Aeschyluss Prometheus Bound in Greek. He spent the rest of the war in and out of hospital and was unable to return to France. The war left Macmillan with a limp handshake, a dragging gait, and sporadic pain. Richard Manners, London SW16 In the UK, 263 out of 650 MPs in the Commons (pictured) are female, and in the Lords it is 228 out of 785 QUESTION: Which countries have the smallest proportion of female members of parliament? Tomorrow's questions: Q: Was James Cagney in any Shakespearean productions? Ken Hobbins, Birmingham Q: What proportion of the worlds snakes are venomous? What proportion of those are deadly? Mary Taylor, Droitwich, Worcs Q: Which is the worlds longest subterranean river? Which is the longest in Britain? Chris Carver, Macclesfield, Cheshire Advertisement There are 20 countries where women account for less than ten per cent of parliamentarians, including three with none at all in their lower chamber: Tuvalu, Oman and Yemen. The worst performing major countries are Nigeria with just 14 female MPs out of 358, Iran with 14 out of 290, and Algeria with 32 out of 407. In the UK, 263 out of 650 MPs in the Commons are female, and in the Lords it is 228 out of 785. The top-ranked country in the world is Rwanda where 51 out of 80 MPs are women. Six others boast 50 per cent or more women in parliament: Cuba, Nicaragua, Namibia, Mexico, Andorra and the UAE. Penny Marsh, Bridgnorth, Shrops QUESTION: What is the most inappropriate piece of product placement spotted in a film? Id go for the Dunkaccino rap by Al Pacino in Adam Sandlers woeful comedy Jack And Jill (2011). Al Pacino (L) and Adam Sandler (R) in woeful comedy Jack And Jill (2011). For his performance as himself, Pacino earned the Worst Supporting Actor Razzie Dunkaccino was a real drink available at Dunkin restaurants. In the film, Sandler plays advertising executive Jack, as well as his twin sister, Jill. When Pacino falls for Jill, Jack senses an opportunity and gets Pacino to star in a commercial which begins: Somethings brewing at DnD / Wow! / Al Pacino! / Its not Al any more, its Dunk! / Dunk Accino? / Dont mind if I do! For his performance as himself, Pacino earned the Worst Supporting Actor Razzie. Others will point to some of the overt advertising in the Daniel Craig Bond films. The nadir is a scene in Casino Royale where Eva Greens Vesper asks Bond if hes wearing a Rolex, only for him to simply reply, Omega. In the books, Bond always wears a Rolex. Mr J. S. Finch, Lincoln Polaroids hidden for decades in the walls of a California home have led to a father and son being sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The horrifying photos, taken between 1985 and 1995, showed children under the age of 14 being sexually abused by Theodore Smith, now 90, and his son, James Smith, 66, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. They were finally uncovered in 2021, when a new homeowner was renovating an outbuilding on their Orangevale property - where the Smiths had lived for more than 40 years before they moved to Texas. 'It was homemade pictures, and I could tell that the contents were not something that I should be involved in at all,' the new homeowner told KCRA at the time. 'The first call I made was to the sheriff's department.' Detectives were then able to track down the children in the photos. The victims, now adults, 'never told anyone about the abuse other than their spouses,' the District Attorney's Office said. They were all under the age of five when the abuse began 'and it continued for the majority of their first decade in life,' it continued. Once the Smiths were identified as people of interest, their new home in rural Alto, Texas, was searched - and authorities say they uncovered even more child sex abuse material there. Theodore Smith, now 90, and his son, James Smith, 66, received lengthy prison sentences after the person who bought their California uncovered Polaroids showing children being sexually abused Unfortunately, the statute of limitations had passed for crimes committed before 1988, but prosecutors said there was enough evidence from after that year to bring criminal charges. The father and son were then taken into custody in October 2021, when authorities found James in a vehicle en route to California. There were even more child sexual abuse materials in his possession at the time, the district attorney's office said. It remains unclear how many children were abused at the Smiths' hands, and how the father and son knew the children. But they admitted in court that they were in a position of trust, and confessed that their crimes took planning and sophistication. The 90-year-old Theodore then pleaded guilty to 11 counts of committing forcible lewd acts on a child and three counts of lewd acts on a child, and was sentenced to 100 years behind bars at the Sacramento County Main Jail. James also pleaded no contest to two counts of committing lewd acts upon a child, and was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison at Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center. An equestrian center in LA's famed Griffith Park has become the safe haven for over 300 horses and donkeys as horrific wildfires continue their rampage across southern California . The Eaton Fire which has destroyed more than 10,000 acres, hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people, has also wreaked havoc on the large equine population of Altadena and Pasadena, northwest of LA. More than 300 horses and donkeys have arrived at the center in the past two days, a worker at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'It's like a war zone up there from what I hear. Everyone forgets when you have to evacuate an area, there are hundreds of domesticated animals you have to deal with. 'We have horses that were brought in by their owners who had to evacuate, we have horses that ran away from their property during the fire and were roaming the streets and then corralled by animal control. 'We are running short on supplies, so we are accepting donations. Anything will help,' the worker pleaded. But with supplies dwindling, the center is also encountering another problem: identifying owners and trying to figure out how to contact them. 'For about half of the horses we have we have identified the owner, but there are others we have no idea who owns them and we're are waiting for the owners to reach out to us,' the employee said. The Los Angeles Equestrian Center has become a safe haven for horses and donkeys amid the raging LA wildfires. Here, local Sarah Cannon was reunited with her horse Cleo More than 300 horses and donkeys have arrived at the center in the past two days The Eaton Fire that has destroyed more than 10,000 acres, hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people, has also wreaked havoc on the equine population 'All of the horses are being cared for and are all housed in their own stalls. Horses that appear to have medical issues or who have been injured in the fire are being checked out by a veterinarian.' The employee said they're administering a system using blue masking tape to categorize the horses' names and owners. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show dozens of rescued horses in their stalls and even some touching moments of being reunited with their owners. Sarah Cannon, who worked at Rose Bowl Rider in Pasadena, told DailyMail.com that they had to evacuate several of the horses they own and board. 'We got the evacuation order to leave and we left. We have three horses at the LA Equestrian Center,' she said as she was reunited with her horse Cleo. Horse owner Tim Olausen, 41, recalled his harrowing experience on saving his 21-year-old horse, Nash. 'About 10pm yesterday we got the evacuation order to leave. I grabbed my dog, cat and horse,' he said with tears in his eye, looking clearly worn out. 'I heard the Rose Bowl stadium was an evacuation location for horses, so I decided to take Nash there.' The equestrian center is dealing with supply shortages as more animals come in and are struggling to identify the owners of lost horses Cannon, who worked at Rose Bowl Rider in Pasadena, left her home with her three horses - including Cleo - once they got the evacuation order An employee told DailyMail.com the center is administering a system using blue masking tape to categorize the horses names and owners Two friendly looking donkeys took refuge at the equestrian center. Many of the animals were found fleeing the fires by animal control and brought here for safety Not able to drive out of his area, he decided to make the five-mile walk with his animals and small firesafe in tow. 'It's all a blur,' he said. 'I left around 10PM and arrived at the Rose Bowl a few hours later. He said he wasn't sure the path he took to get there due to the Santa Ana winds pounding the Los Angeles area. 'I walked beside my horse because the wind gusts were so strong and I did not want to put any extra weight on her.' They miraculously made it to Rose Bowl, several hours later. Olausen was able to leave his 21-year-old horse there and personnel transported it the dozen miles to the equestrian center. DailyMail.com was present for Olausen's reunification with Nash. Overjoyed, he fed her carrots. 'The vet is going to come by later this afternoon to check him out. I have no idea how long he is going to be here; I've been told he can stay as long as needed.' Horse owner Tim Olausen, 41, battled harrowing odds to get his animals to safety - going on foot with his dog, cat and 21-year-old horse Nash they trudged through thick smoke and miraculously made it to Rose Bowl stadium Nash was reunited with Olausen and the owner affectionately fed him carrots. He said a vet was coming later that afternoon to check him out Olausen said he has no idea what his next steps are as he was told his barn and house is gone. But was thankful his animals were safe and that he had fire insurance. Sharon Gray, 66, owner of Eaton Dam Stables, said that all 35 horses they owned and board are safe. But one horse of hers, Claire, an 18-year-old mare, was singed in the fire. Gray said: 'Firefighters let out all of the horses when they were told to evacuate, and several of them scattered. 'But I couldn't find, Claire, I looked all over for her for several hours and finally found out that she went back into her stall seeking shelter. 'When I saw her, I could not believe eyes, she had been singed by the fire. Her left eye was swollen, the hair on top of her head, her nape, area around her legs and her stomach area all were singed. 'She was covered in soot and the smoke made it difficult to breathe.' Gray said all of the horses were then safely transported to the equestrian center where they all are doing great. Sharon Gray, 66, owner of Eaton Dam Stables, said that all 35 horses they own and board are safe, but had a close call with her horse Claire Gray looked for her 18-year-old mare for hours before finding discovering the horse had gone back to its stall to seek shelter - Claire had been singed by the fire on the hair on top of her head, her nape, area around her legs and her stomach area, her left eye was also swollen Claire appears to be on the mend and even though Gray has lost both her home and barn, she said she was thankful her horses were able to make it out alive And Claire appears to be on the mend. 'We are going to wash down Claire later today with a hose and with some TLC, she's going to make a full recovery.' Gray said her home and barn are gone but remains thankful that her horses were able to make it out alive. 'I'm just glad all of the horses are safe, buildings can be replaced, our horses can't be.' The Sunset Fire that raged across 43 acres in the Hollywood Hills has been contained, according to LA Mayor Karen Bass. But the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fire continue to blaze. And their devastating damage have caused almost $50billion of economic losses as 2,000 buildings have been flattened by the blaze, according to JPMorgan Chase This estimates comes as LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley admitted at a Thursday press conference that the Palisades Fire may have been started deliberately and that arson investigators had been deployed. Twisted rap lyrics have been posted online mocking the death of 14-year-old stabbing victim Kelyan Bokassa. They boast about hunting the schoolboy down and how he's 'now sitting' there stiff' after he was knifed to death on Tuesday in broad daylight on the number 472 London double-decker bus in Woolwich. Among the heartfelt tributes for Keylan, the cruel verse says: 'Caught Grippa lackin on the 472. Blade in my coat, yeah, its do or die (do or die). 'He tried jumpin off, but the doors dont slide (hah). Now hes sittin there stiff with the fear in his eyes.' Described by his mother as a polite young boy who had been groomed by gangs, Kelyan was an aspiring drill rapper and performed under the name 'Grippa'. He recently released a song on Christmas Day called 'Bangers and Mash' in which he pretends to wave a knife and raps: 'I'm the shortest shooter on my block but I still roll with the longest ting'. Terrified witnesses told of seeing two baby-faced young men sprinting from the atrocity, one armed with a machete 'as long as your forearm'. Detectives on Tuesday were said to be 'working at pace' to track down the knifeman, but more than 48 hours later Scotland Yard is yet to make any arrests. Kelyan Bokassa, 14, was an aspiring musician, who filmed videos under the street name 'Grippa' Kelyan is pictured with his mother, Mary, during a trip to the beach as a young boy An image from the scene after Kelyan was stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich It is feared Kelyan was killed amidst an ugly postcode turf war between rival gangs, with his death coming months after his close friend Daejaun Campbell, 15, was stabbed to death by a zombie knife-wielding assassin. Three teenagers, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, Marko Balaz, also 18 and a 17-year-old youth have been charged with Daejaun's murder. Around an hour before he was killed, the Kelyan posted a haunting message on Instagram asking any of his followers if they had a 'mindi' the Somali word for knife. His grieving mother, Mary, 50 tearfully told MaiOnline on Wednesday how she feared her son had been'groomed' and 'taken advantage [of] by gangs'. Speaking from her home in south east London, she said: 'He was missing for a year and was living on the street. 'He finally turned up at my doorstep, he was sick, underweight and tattooed... He was exposed to drugs. He probably experienced something because I could sense it.' Speaking of her son, Ms Bokassa added: 'He was not himself. If I questioned him he wouldn't tell me anything about his friends. 'We had to chase him at night, he was in the Stratford area. We said to him we are here when you are ready to come home, it was at 1am. Pictured is Kelyan's heartbroken mother, Mary Bokassa holding a picture of her son A forensic officer is seen holding a weapons tube used to collect evidence while on board the bus - January 7, 2025 Tributes have poured in for the young musician named 'Grippa' with devastated friends on social media saying he was 'taken too soon' Before Kelyan was knifed to death he posted on Instagram, asking if any of his followers had a 'mindy'. This is believed to be in reference to the word 'mindi', which is Somalian for 'knife' Two police officers stand in front of a police cordon on Woolwich Church Road where the teenager was stabbed to death on Tuesday Police guard a cordon after a teenager was fatally stabbed on a London bus on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 'I don't know what he was doing or who he was with. He wouldn't tell me. He got angry when I asked him.' 'He got himself in trouble with the law at that time. 'There were eight police officers who were forcing him to go back to care. He was just bones.' She said Kelyan had been sent to live with a Caribbean family but that after two years he was moved to Ocean Haven Children's Home, in Deal, Kent. But she claimed the troubled teen kept running away. 'He lived on the streets for a year after he ran away from the children's home,' she added. 'But when he came home, he wrote graffiti on the balcony to say he loved me.' Kelyan is said to have been on his way to Woolwich Town Hall to see his social worker on what was his first day back at school when he was stabbed to death. On the notorious Barnfield estate where Keylan lived with his mother, the Wildbatch gang operates. An area to the south, close to Woolwich Dockyard is controlled by their bitter rivals the WoolyO gang. Both gangs are said to be vying for control over the local drugs trade particularly crack-cocaine and cannabis - and have both formed alliances with gangsters from nearby areas. On Friday, Kelyan was due to appear before magistrates accused of carrying a machete into Ravensbourne College. In his latest brush with the law, he was charged with charged with possession of a weapon in a public place. The Metropolitan Police said it has 'no choice' but to use powers to prevent a massive pro-Palestinian march planned to set off just yards away from a central London synagogue. Organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the National Demonstration for Palestine is due to start next Saturday from outside BBC Broadcasting House, in Portland Place. However, a swathe of MPs, peers and Jewish community leaders have raised their concerns over protestors gathering en-masse in such close proximity to the Central Synagogue in Fitzrovia - and as Saturday is the Jewish sabbath, there would likely be a large number of worshippers in the vicinity. Having 'considered the likely impact of the PSC's plans', the Met Police announced on Thursday it would use its powers under the Public Order Act to prevent the demonstrators gathering in Portland Place and nearby area. Police have powers under the Act to insist the route of a protest march is altered to prevent 'intimidation, serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community'. In a statement, the police said it had considered the 'cumulative impact' of regular protests over a prolonged period that have taken place on Saturdays and 'on numerous occasions' in the vicinity of synagogues. The force said it acknowledged the protests had been 'a cause of increased concern for many Jewish Londoners' and this latest protest could bring 'serious disruption.' Commander Adam Slonecki, who will lead the policing operation in London, said: 'The role of the police is to ensure that groups can exercise their right to peaceful protest, while also balancing the rights of those in the wider community to go about their lives without serious disruption. The Metropolitan Police said it has 'no choice' but to use powers to prevent a massive pro-Palestinian march planned to set off just yards away from a central London synagogue The National Demonstration for Palestine is due to start next Saturday from outside BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place - just yards away from Central Synagogue 'It is not our role to give permission for protests, but we can use our powers under the Public Order Act to apply conditions to control start and finish times, routes, form up points and other details where necessary. 'Since October 2023 we have used these powers proactively on more occasions than at any other point in recent history. 'We have been in discussions with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and also with community, business and faith groups for many weeks. 'We have carefully considered the likely impact of the PSC's plans. As part of those considerations we have reflected on the views of local community and business representatives, including those of the congregation at a synagogue located a very short distance from the proposed 'form up' point in Portland Place. 'We have taken into account the cumulative impact of this prolonged period of protest, often taking place on Saturdays and on numerous occasions in the vicinity of synagogues. 'We know this has been a cause of increased concern for many Jewish Londoners who have altered their plans, avoided parts of central London and reduced attendance at religious services. 'On Tuesday, I wrote to the PSC to inform them that we have reached the view that a protest forming up so close to a synagogue on a Saturday the Jewish holy day when congregants will be attending Shabbat services, risks causing serious disruption. 'We police without fear or favour and this decision was taken based on a detailed consideration of the evidence, not any outside influence.' The Met Police announced on Thursday it would use its powers under the Public Order Act to prevent the demonstrators gathering in Portland Place and nearby area Commander Slonecki also acknowledged a letter sent to Scotland Yard signed by more than 80 cross-party signatories urging the Met Police to enforce its powers and stop the demonstrators gathering close to the synagogue. He explained that 'our position was decided and communicated with the PSC prior to us receiving that letter' and that it had 'no impact on our decision making.' Signatories included former deputy prime minister Sir Oliver Dowden, ex-security minister Tom Tugendhat, former pensions minister Baroness Altmann and former Conservative home secretaries James Cleverly and Suella Braverman. Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians also added their names. The letter said families attending religious services on Saturdays have suffered more than a year of disruption from pro-Palestine demos and called on the police to invoke their powers. 'We urge the Met to act urgently and make it clear that protests near synagogues will no longer be permitted. 'The moving-off points must be moved and routes altered to ensure Jewish families going to or returning from services no longer have to make their way through crowds of demonstrators. 'It is unthinkable that any other religious minority would be allowed to endure the disruption that the Jewish community have suffered for more than a year. A letter sent to Scotland Yard signed by more than 80 cross-party signatories said families attending religious services on Saturdays have suffered more than a year of disruption from pro-Palestine demos and called on the police to invoke their powers Met Police said PSC organisers have yet to change their plans for next week's demonstration 'It must be brought to an end now.' Claudia Mendoza of the Jewish Leadership Council said the failure to move the marches away from central London synagogues had been 'unacceptable.' Commander Slonecki said Met Police was continuing dialogue with the PSC, but organisers have yet to change their plans. He added: 'We had hoped that the PSC would reflect on our decision and on the likely impact of their plans on the wider community, however they have said they will not change their position, continuing to encourage protesters to form up in Portland Place. 'In those circumstances we have no choice but to use the powers available to us. 'We will continue to engage with the PSC and we hope they will rethink and put forward an alternative proposal in the coming days.' The Polish government has vowed to allow Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to freely visit the nation for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenhau, in spite of an outstanding war crimes warrant. Polish media reported last month that Netanyahu would not attend the ceremony at the site of the largest concentration camp built by the Nazis on January 27 out of fear he would be detained and hauled in front of the International Criminal Court. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the country's parliament in a speech today that 'the safety of whoever comes to the ceremony will be guaranteed and they will not be arrested.' He added that 'for obvious reasons, this applies especially to representatives of the State of Israel, who are, of course, more interested than anyone else in these ceremonies.' The Polish government said it 'sees ensuring the safe participation of Israeli leaders in the ceremonies on January 27, 2025 as part of showing respect for the Jewish nation, whose millions of daughters and sons because victims of the Holocaust carried out by the Third Reich.' Netanyahu and Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant are both wanted by the ICC for war crimes allegedly committed during their nation's brutal war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after the court issued the warrants in November. The court also issued a warrant for Hamas commander, Mohammed Deif, who Israel says was killed in July. The court said at the time that both Netanyahu and Gallant both 'bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. Polish media reported last month that Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) would not attend the ceremony on January 27 out of fear he would be detained and hauled in front of the International Criminal Court The Polish government has vowed to allow Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to freely visit the nation for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenhau (File image of the concentration camp) Netanyahu and Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant are both wanted by the ICC for war crimes allegedly committed during their nation's brutal war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip (pictured) 'The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population', it added. 'Reasonable grounds to believe exist that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant, despite having measures available to them to prevent or repress the commission of crimes or ensure the submittal of the matter to the competent authorities, failed to do so.' All 124 nations party to the ICC, which includes the UK, are obliged to arrest and extradite those wanted by the court. Since the warrant was issued, several nations including the UK, France and the Netherlands have said they will comply with them. But other nations like the US said they would not act on the warrant. US president Joe Biden said at the time that it was 'outrageous' for the court to issue it. 'Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence - none - between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security', he sternly said. Multiple states are sweltering through a low-intensity to severe heatwave with some temperatures expected to exceed the high forties, while some of the eastern states can expect a wet weekend. Parts of Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia are all preparing to be scorched by severe summer conditions over the weekend. WA and Queensland have been sizzling for some time, but the conditions are now extending into the southeast, the Bureau of Meteorology's Miriam Bradbury told AAP. A hot weekend is forecast for most parts of Australia. Pockets of severe intensity heatwaves are forecast for some regions, especially about the Red Centre, through inland Queensland and across western Tasmania. It won't be as hot this weekend as last, but inland parts of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, central Australia and WA may experience severe heatwave conditions. A heatwave is when temperatures are above average during the day and night over a period of three days or more. For Tasmania, temperatures will reach the low 30s during the day and high teens during the night. Pockets of severe intensity heatwaves are forecast for some regions, especially about the Red Centre, through inland Queensland and across western Tasmania Multiple states are sweltering through a low-intensity to severe heatwave with some temperatures expected to exceed the high forties 'That doesn't sound warm for mainland Australians but compared to the averages of Tasmania that is still significantly more,' Ms Bradbury said. In parts of central Australia, inland Queensland and WA temperatures will be eight degrees above average to between 40C and 44C. The conditions have elevated the bushfire risk with fire danger ratings across most of the nation remaining at moderate to high. High is before the extreme rating which is when total fire bans are issued. 'With moderate to high we're still below warning level but it's not a sign to let our guard down as we all know how bushfire-prone Australia can be in the summer period,' Ms Bradbury said. Tasmania, southwest WA pushing into SA and western Victoria will experience the most risk of fire danger over the weekend. 'Particularly through western Victoria, where we've seen so recently those really terrible bushfires in the Grampians, is one to have on people's radar,' Ms Bradbury said. While a large swathe of Australia will swelter, east coast cities such as Sydney and Brisbane will have a wet weekend. Many Aussies will be looking for ways to beat the heat this weekend Parts of the east coast are expected to cop a battering from storms Temperatures will reach into the high 20s, but humidity will be rampant as an easterly flow pushes from the east coast. The showers and storms already impacting the east coast for a number of days will continue with heavy falls around Sydney on Friday, while the wet weather will increase in Brisbane on Saturday. The bureau is forecasting showers and thunderstorms with some severe conditions that bring the risk of flash flooding and for Brisbane, damaging wind gusts and hail. People of the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley are advised to monitor weather conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for possible minor flooding across parts of the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley from Friday to Saturday. 'For all our east coasters, it's certainly a weekend to be keeping an eye on the radar,' Ms Bradbury said. A flood watch is already in place for Sydney's Hawkesbury Nepean River as the wet weather continues over the weekend. Ms Bradbury warned rain expected on Friday may cause minor flooding in parts of the river system. While a large swathe of Australia will swelter, east coast cities such as Sydney and Brisbane will have a wet weekend Brisbane Saturday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 21C Max 25C. Sunday: Showers. Min 20C Max 27C. Monday: Shower or two. Min 21C Max 29C. Sydney Saturday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 21C Max 26C. Sunday: Shower or two. Min 21C Max 28C. Monday: Possible shower. Min 20C Max 29C. Canberra Saturday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 15C Max 24C. Sunday: Shower or two. Possible storm. Min 14C Max 28C. Monday: Shower or two. Possible storm. Min 15C Max 29C. Melbourne Saturday: Mostly sunny. Min 19C Max 33C. Sunday: Shower or two. Possible storm. Min21C Max 29C. Monday: Possible storm. Min 18C Max 27C. Hobart Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 15C Max 28C. Sunday: Shower or two. Min 18C Max 26C. Monday: Shower or two. Min 17C Max 24C. Adelaide Saturday: Mostly sunny. Min 17C Max 32C. Sunday: Sunny. Min 18C Max31C. Monday: Sunny. Min 17C Max 32C. Perth Saturday: Sunny. Min 16C Max 30C Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 18C Max 28C. Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 18C Max 28C. Darwin Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min 26C Max 34C. Sunday: Shower or two. Min 26C Max 34C. Monday: Shower or two. Min 26C Max 35C. More than half of British businesses plan to raise prices in response to Labours 25bn National Insurance raid, a Bank of England poll revealed yesterday. The figures provide the latest evidence of how firms are scrambling to respond to the tax hike. They come as the boss of Marks & Spencer said it would be a challenge, revealing that the high street giant would have to rethink its recruitment and investment plans after the shock increase and would aim to pass on as little as possible to customers. Shares in M&S and other retailers fell yesterday amid warnings of economic uncertainty ahead. The Bank of England decision maker panel - a survey of more than 2,000 firms carried out last month - showed 54 per cent expected to put up prices in response to the NI hike. It also found that 41 per cent planned to reduce employee wages, flying in the face of Rachel Reevess claim that the increase would not affect workers pay slips. And 53 per cent say they will reduce their number of employees while 64 per cent said they would take a hit to profits. It comes after the Chancellor stunned businesses by announcing in her Budget in October last year that the employer rate of national insurance would rise from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent. More than half of British businesses plan to raise prices in response to Labours 25bn National Insurance raid, a Bank of England poll revealed yesterday The Bank of England decision maker panel - a survey of more than 2,000 firms carried out last month - showed 54 per cent expected to put up prices in response to the NI hike At the same time, the salary threshold for having to pay employer NI was reduced from 9,100 to 5,000. The change has had a major impact on retailers, who employ many lower paid and part-time staff. A forecast from the British Retail Consortium yesterday predicted that food prices would rise by 4.2 per cent later this year as firms grapple with higher costs. M&S, which has previously revealed that it will take a 120 million hit as a result of the Budget - half from the NI hike and the rest from the increase in the minimum wage - outlined the pressure it faced as it delivered an update on recent sales yesterday. Boss Stuart Machin said the company had been forced to rework its plans for coming years as a result of the NI hike, which it didnt plan for. Mr Machin said he did not expect this to mean big job losses. But he added: Does it make us look at how we recruit? Of course it does, and that does mean we have to think about where we invest. Meanwhile Tesco, Britains biggest supermarket, confirmed a 250 million impact from the NI hike alone as it published trading figures. Chief executive Ken Murphy said the company would do our very best to reduce the impact on prices. M&S boss Stuart Machin said the company had been forced to rework its plans for coming years as a result of the NI hike, which it didnt plan for Greggs has warned of inevitable price hikes after Labour's tax raid budget This comes after the bakery chain bumped up the price of its classic savoury pastry by 5p, meaning it now costs 1.30 Tesco said it was not planning to make changes to its workforce or hiring plans. And high street bakery chain Greggs has raised the prices of sausage rolls, coffee and doughnuts in the face of increased costs. The price of a Greggs sausage roll has gone up by 5p to 1.30 having been just 1 as recently as 2022. Chief executive Roisin Currie said the company was facing higher costs following the rise in the minimum wage and increase in national insurance contributions announced in the Budget. We have had to pass a minimum amount of price rises onto customers but we work hard to protect as many prices as we can, she said. The number of pupils in England off school without permission increased ahead of the Christmas holidays, figures suggest. Data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows the unauthorised absence rate across state schools in England was 3.4 per cent in the week ending December 20 - which was the last week of term. This was higher than at the start of the term - the week ending September 13 - when the rate was 1.9 per cent, and higher than before the half-term - the week ending October 25 - when it was 2.4 per cent, according to the DfE figures. It comes as parents in England face higher fines if they take their children out of class without permission this academic year as part of a Government drive to boost school attendance since the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest data also shows the overall absence rate - authorised and unauthorised - was 9.5 per cent in the week ending December 20, which was 'the highest absence rate' of the autumn term in 2024. The absence rate varied across the last week of term - with a low of 8.5 per cent on Tuesday and a peak of 12.9 per cent on Friday. Most of the rise in absences towards the end of term was 'driven by illness', the DfE said. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'There was clearly an increase in absence rates during the final week of the Christmas term. It is a time of year when there are lots of colds around and this may account for some of this increase. The number of pupils in England off school without permission increased ahead of the Christmas holidays, figures suggest (stock photo) 'However, it is also clear that there was an increase in unauthorised absence which is particularly worrying and we would reiterate the importance of attending every day of education. 'Schools are moving heaven and earth to improve attendance rates but they do need more support from the Government in terms of investment in the wider infrastructure of family and child support services which are vital in dealing with some of the issues that affect school attendance.' The figures are difficult to compare with the equivalent period the year before as there is only national attendance data available for the week ending December 15 in 2023, which was not the last week of term for many pupils. But the DfE said the increase in absence between the October half-term and the end of the autumn term was 'in line with patterns seen during 2023/24'. The figures come after school absence fines have increased from 60 to 80, and a parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will automatically receive a 160 fine. Under new national rules, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (five days) for unauthorised reasons. Data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows the unauthorised absence rate across state schools in England was 3.4 per cent in the week ending December 20 (stock photo) The DfE has said other actions, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be considered if a parent exceeds two fines per child within a three-year period, and those who are prosecuted could receive a fine of up to 2,500. Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union the NAHT, said it was 'encouraging' that attendance figures across the autumn term appear to have moved 'in the right direction' compared with a similar period in 2023. He said: 'However, there is still a long way to go, and schools are continuing to work incredibly hard to increase attendance, including by tackling unauthorised absence. 'Many of the causes of absence lie beyond the school gates, though, and have their roots in social challenges facing families, poverty, and issues like physical and mental health, which fines for parents do nothing to address. 'Measures announced in the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, such as free breakfast clubs and a register of children not in school, will help - but we also need the Government to reinvest in crucial services which support families and schools and have faced huge cuts under previous administrations.' North Korean troops sent to support Russia are being used as 'human mine detectors' on the frontlines of the invasion of Ukraine, according to a military official. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have been sent to fight alongside Vladimir Putin's beleaguered forces in Ukraine. But Lieutenant Colonel 'Leopard' of Ukraine's 33rd 'Big Cats' Separate Assault Battalion revealed that their lives are worth little to their higher-ups. He told the Times: 'The North Koreans have a "meat grinder" strategy. Where Ukrainians use a mine-clearing vehicle, they just use people. 'They just walk in single file, three to four metres from each other, if one is blown up, then the medics go behind to pick up the dead, the crowd continues one after another. That's how they pass through minefields.' Leopard said that the soldiers sent by Kim Jong Un often refuse to be taken alive, preferring to be killed in battle or to simply run. Either way, he said, their commanders are apparently unfazed. The military official added that while North Korean soldiers aren't anywhere near as heavily armed as their Russian counterparts, this will change the longer they are involved in the war. This picture taken on October 2, 2024 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on October 4, 2024 shows troops taking part in training at a base of the Korean People's Army's special operations forces North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a meeting of the country's ruling party, in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this photo released on December 29, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024 North Korean soldiers march during a mass military parade in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate 100 years since the birth of North Korean founder, Kim Il Sung on April 15, 2012 'North Koreans use only small arms, machineguns, grenade launchers, mortars, maximum that's the extent of their technology', he said. 'They do not use drones yet, only the Russians. But I suspect they are starting to learn this, and the longer the war drags on, the more likely they are to innovate', he added. Earlier, the US warned that North Korea is 'significantly benefiting' from its troops' deployment in Ukraine as it makes them a more capable fighting force. Deputy US ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea told the UN Security Council that nearly 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been training in Russia and fighting Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region. Shea said Kim Jong Un's soldiers are 'significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbours.' She added: 'In turn, the DPRK will likely be eager to leverage these improvements to promote weapons sales and military training contracts globally.' South Korea's UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, told the council that North Korean soldiers are 'essentially slaves to Kim Jong Un, brainwashed to sacrifice their lives on faraway battlefields to raise money for his regime and secure advanced military technology from Russia.' Ukraine is in the midst of launching a second offensive in Russia's Kursk region and is facing a barrage of long-range missiles and ongoing advances from Russia as both sides seek to put themselves in the strongest negotiating point possible before trump takes office. Zelensky called the Kursk offensive 'one of our biggest wins,' which has cost Russia and North Korea, which sent soldiers to help Russia in Kursk, thousands of troops. Zelenskyy said the offensive resulted in North Korea suffering 4,000 casualties, but U.S. estimates put the number lower at about 1,200. Shamima Begum could be freed 'within days' from the Syrian detention camp where she is being held. The 25-year-old is currently being held in Al Roj, a filthy, brutal temporary tent city teeming with dangerous ISIS loyalists. But the Isis bride could be set free by the guards holding her there after dictator President Bashar al-Assad's regime was toppled in December. The Express reports the Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Force running the camp has come under intense attack in the last 24 hours from Turkish airstrikes and the country's new government, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. 'If HTS and the Turks get close to the prison camps, the SDF could release all the prisoners,' a Kurdish-Syrian former guard told the newspaper. 'If they feel they can't defend the camps because they need to defend their homes and loved ones, they will open the gates of hell.' It comes after David Lammy yesterday said Britain will refuse any demand from Donald Trump's new US government to take back Begum or any other Islamic State members with UK links being held in Syria. The Foreign Secretary spoke out after a member of Trump's incoming administration signalled that he would want Britain to bring its citizens home as part of a 'commitment' to the international fight against the jihadist group. Sebastian Gorka, who has been picked as a deputy assistant to the president with a counter-terrorism brief, called on Sir Keir Starmer to act in an interview with the Times. Shamima Begum could be freed 'within days' from the Syrian detention camp where she has being held The 25-year-old is currently being held in Al Roj, a filthy, brutal temporary tent city teeming with dangerous ISIS loyalists (Begum is pictured here during an interview with the BBC in February 2023) But the Isis bride could be set free by the guards holding her there after dictator President Bashar al-Assad's regime was toppled in December (Pictured is the Al Roj camp in 2023) His comments come after Begum last year lost her final appeal against the government's decision to rescind her British citizenship. It is thought she would be one of the members of the terror group who would be repatriated under plans outlined by Gorka, a hard right commentator. There are currently around 20 British women, 40 children and 10 men detained in prison camps in northeastern Syria, according to charities working in the region. But Mr Lammy bluntly told Good Morning Britain yesterday: 'Shamima Begum will not be coming back to the UK. 'It has gone right through the courts, she is not a UK national and we will not be bringing her back to the UK. We are really clear about that. 'We will act in our security interest and many of those in the camps are dangerous, are radicals.' He added that some those in camps would have to be jailed as soon as they arrive' home to keep the public safe. Gorka told The Times countries needed to act in a way that reflects their desire to be a US ally. The Foreign Secretary spoke out after a member of Trump's incoming administration signalled that he would want Britain to bring its citizens home as part of a 'commitment' to the international fight against the jihadist group. Sebastian Gorka, who has been picked as a deputy assistant to the president with a counter-terrorism brief, called on Sir Keir starmer to act in an interview with the Times. His comments come after ISIS bride Shamima Begum last year lost her final appeal against the government's decision to rescind her British citizenship. And when asked whether Britain should be forced to take the ISIS prisoners back, he said: 'Any nation which wishes to be seen to be a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment. 'That is doubly so for the UK which has a very special place in President Trump's heart and we would all wish to see the "special relationship" fully re-established.' He was speaking just days after 14 people were killed in one of the worst ISIS-inspired terror attacks on American soil. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an army veteran, drove a pick-up truck into people celebrating the New Year in New Orleans. Washington has been leading a coalition of countries, which includes the UK, in the battle against ISIS in the Middle East. Tens of thousands of captured members of the terror group are currently being held by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a group allied with the West, in huge camps. Since ISIS was defeated in 2019, the US has been piling on the pressure for its partners to repatriate their citizens, many of whom have been detained for years. The American Justice Department has argued it is their 'moral responsibility' to bring the prisoners home and try them there. Britain has so far taken a hard line on the matter and has refused most repatriation requests - with the most notorious being the case of Begum. There could be around 20 other jihadi brides in Syrian refugee camps looking to return to the UK (file photo) The now-25-year-old travelled to Syria as a 15-year-old but was later was found in al-Roj refugee camp in 2019. She had been fighting to regain her citizenship since it was revoked on national security grounds until her final appeal was dismissed last year. However, charities have warned there could be around 20 other jihadi brides in Syrian refugee camps looking to return to the UK. Some of the testimonies of these women detained with Begum at the al-Roj camp were subsequently revealed in WhatsApp messages seen by The Guardian. In one message, sent in September 2023, a British mother in her 20s says she feels that UK authorities have ignored her. 'I'm going to die here if they don't get me out soon,' the message sent to UK family members said. 'I really, really want to go back and be with you guys. I really need hospital care.' Others, sent by a small number of British mothers to the UK throughout 2023, depict abysmal conditions within the camp, which holds about 3,000 people, 65 per cent of whom are children. After Islamic State was uprooted in Syria by Kurdish forces with American support in 2019, male fighters including British men were sent to prisons in the north of the country. Women use an umbrella as they walk in the rain at Camp Roj in 2021, where relatives of people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State are being held Camp Roj is one of several camps that has been holding families of individuals with alleged links to ISIL for the past five years, according to the UN (file photo) Ministers have been under growing pressure to accept the returning brides (file picture) But women and children were detained in two refugee camps called Roj and Al-Hol, also in northern Syria. Camp Roj is one of several camps that has been holding families of individuals with alleged links to ISIL for the past five years, according to the UN. Most European countries, including Spain and France, have also repatriated their citizens so that they can be met with justice. They have expressed worries about the squalid conditions and that not returning them hinders worldwide attempts to eradicate terrorism. The British government has taken citizenship away from most of the women. Actor Alec Baldwin has sued the New Mexico prosecutors who tried to imprison him for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film, Rust. The civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations was filed Thursday at the state district court in Santa Fe, where a judge dismissed his charge of involuntary manslaughter. He alleges defamation, and claims prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence during their investigation into the shooting. 'Defendants, while acting under the color of law, conspired to procure a groundless indictment against Baldwin and to maliciously bring about or advance Baldwin's trial and conviction, thus violating Baldwin's constitutional rights by their improper use of the criminal process,' the suit claims, according to The Wrap. 'Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law.' The lawsuit names Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and investigators from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office as defendants. It comes just weeks after the district attorney's office announced it would not pursue an appeal of a court's decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the Oscar-nominated actor, 66. Actor Alec Baldwin has sued the New Mexico prosecutors who tried to imprison him It comes just weeks after the district attorney's office announced it would not pursue an appeal of a court's decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the Oscar-nominated actor, 66. Pictured: Kari Morrissey Morrissey withdrew her appeal in December of a decision to dismiss the charge against Baldwin in Hutchins' death. She died during a rehearsal on set of Rust. 'Today's decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning - this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime,' Baldwin's defense attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said at the time. 'The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico.' The decision to drop the appeal solidified the decision by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer halfway through trial to dismiss the case on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. Prosecutors had said they deemed ammunition that was brought into the Santa Fe County sheriff's office in March unrelated and unimportant to the case, but Baldwin's defense team claimed in court that investigators 'buried' the evidence. Judge Sommer said at the time that the dismissal was 'the only warranted remedy' amid the legal issues and that there was 'no way for the court to right this wrong.' 'The late discovery of this evidence has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,' the judge said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, tragically died on the set of movie in October of 2021 The tragic incident occurred on set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico The district attorney's office said that under state law the New Mexico attorney general would have carried forward the appeal but 'did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution.' 'As a result, the State's efforts to continue to litigate the case in a fair and comprehensive manner have been met with multiple barriers that have compromised its ability to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,' local prosecutors said. Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer for Rust, was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal on set when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer - but not the trigger - and the revolver fired. After the case was thrown out, Baldwin regained some of his positions in Hollywood. 'I do believe that by the communications I've had lately, that things are coming back my way to work, and I'm happy for that because I've got seven kids,' he said in a candid conversation on David Duchovny's podcast, Fail Better from Lemonada Media. Alec Baldwin is pictured hugging his attorney Alex Spiro at the conclusion of his trial for involuntary manslaughter The district attorney's office said that under state law the New Mexico attorney general would have carried forward the appeal but 'did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution' Pictured: Kari Morrissey 'But Ive also enjoyed the fact that there's so much of this case that is not known, because we didn't have a full trial. The judge canceled the case. She ruled that it was dismissed with prejudice, which I'm very grateful for because it was, I think, a very, very informed decision on her part,' he said. 'But if I'd gone all the way and gotten a verdict, that's a little bit better because a bunch of people in a jury had considered the facts and we would've presented so much more. All that doesn't get presented because the case is over.' A judge, however, had previously sentenced movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum of one-and-a-half years at a state penitentiary on an involuntary manslaughter conviction in Hutchins' death. Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the set of Rust, where it was expressly prohibited, and for failing to follow basic gun safety protocols. Meanwhile, assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to the negligent use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation. A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. Several civil lawsuits have also been brought against Baldwin and Rust producers, including a complaint by Hutchins' parents and sister. The Transport Secretary yesterday admitted that rail nationalisation in Scotland has been a 'fiasco' - but vowed to press ahead with ending privatisation in England. Heidi Alexander insisted that nationalisation south of the border would be a success because UK ministers 'won't make the same mistakes' as Scotland's SNP government. But she was mocked by opponents, who have accused the Labour government of rushing through the overhaul to appease its union 'paymasters'. During a debate in the Commons, Lillian Jones, the Labour MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, asked Ms Alexander: 'The nationalisation of ScotRail has been another SNP transport fiasco. 'Would the Secretary of State agree with me that, at a time when we need better trains to boost growth and reduce emissions, the SNP has sent Scotland into a spiral of decline and let my constituents down?' Ms Alexander said she 'would agree with her' that nationalisation has caused chaos north of the border, but added: 'We won't make the same mistakes when we are taking train operating companies into public ownership. 'We will do this properly. It's a massive undertaking, but we will make our railways a system for the whole country to be proud of.' Transport is a devolved area and the railways were nationalised by the SNP in Scotland in April 2022. Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander leaves 10 Downing Street after attending a weekly Cabinet meeting Transport is a devolved area and the railways were nationalised by the SNP-led Scottish Government in Scotland in April 2022 (file image) But Holyrood has come under fire over the change, which has failed to reduce cancellations or lower the cost of fares. Almost 27,500 services were cancelled during the first two years of ScotRail being nationalised. In September, Scottish ministers were humiliatingly forced to abandon a 40million scheme which slashed peak-period fares because they acknowledged that it had brought 'limited' success in increasing passenger numbers. Ms Alexander confirmed in December that Labour would press ahead with the nationalisation plans for England drawn up by her predecessor, Louise Haigh. South Western Railway (SWR) will become the first operator to be taken back into public ownership in the biggest shake-up of the railways for decades. The firm, which connects Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Dorset with London, will be re-nationalised in May. It will be followed by c2c, which connects Essex with the capital, in July. Almost 27,500 services were cancelled during the first two years of ScotRail being nationalised (file photo) South Western Railway (SWR) will become the first operator to be taken back into public ownership in the biggest shake-up of the railways for decades (file photo) Greater Anglia, which connects Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Hertfordshire with London, will follow in the Autumn. Most other private operators covering England will be re-nationalised by the end of the decade. Re-nationalisation has been a long-held demand of the militant rail union barons who have helped bankroll the Labour party and its election campaign. Critics argue the move prioritises the demands of the unions over passengers, with figures showing that delays on lines which have already been re-nationalised are more than twice as bad. The Tories' transport spokesman, Gareth Bacon, said: 'We are concerned that the Government's plans are simply an ideological undertaking [to please the unions] that does not put passengers first.' Andy Bagnall, the boss of Rail Partners, which represents operators, said: 'Simply changing who runs the trains won't deliver more reliable and affordable services for passengers, reduce subsidy for taxpayers, or grow rail freight. 'It is counter-intuitive to start removing private sector operators from the system, with their track record of delivering growth to reduce subsidy.' The widow of a banker shot dead on the family doorstep more than two decades ago has said she will not stop demanding answers after she met with Scotlands First Minister about the as-yet-unsolved case. Veronica Wilson said she was extremely grateful to John Swinney for speaking to her and son Andrew about the ongoing investigation into the murder of her husband Alistair in November 2004. Mrs Wilson answered the door to a man who called at their home in Nairn and asked for her husband by name, before handing him an envelope and then shooting him. With the killer still at large, Scotlands top law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, last September ordered a complete reinvestigation of the case, with a new team of police officers and prosecutors. But the family have said they have lost confidence in the police - with Mrs Wilson claiming it is deeply insulting Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell has declined to meet them. Mrs Wilson said: I was extremely grateful to John Swinney for meeting with myself and Andrew and engaging with us over the ongoing investigation. It is welcome that he agreed to look into issues that we brought to his attention and come back to us in due course. That is in sharp contrast to the chief constable, who continues to refuse to meet with myself and our family. Handout photograph dated 2002 issued by Police Scotland that shows Alistair Wilson with his wife Veronica, and two young sons at their home in Nairn Veronica Wilson said she was extremely grateful to John Swinney (pictured) for speaking to her and son Andrew about the ongoing investigation into the murder of her husband Alistair in November 2004 Wilson (pictured with wife Veronica) was shot dead on his doorstep in Nairn in 2004 as the couple were about to put their two sons to bed We find that deeply insulting and hope that she will urgently reconsider. We will not stop demanding answers and it was pleasing to have the opportunity to raise them with the First Minister. Andrew Wilson was just four when he saw his father lying in a pool of blood after being shot. Yesterday, he said: I have had to grow up knowing that this case is unsolved and all too often we have found ourselves frustrated at trying to get answers from the police. I share my mothers anger at Jo Farrell continuing to stonewall us over meeting her, when we just want to hear directly from her. In a letter sent to Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross, Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson maintained it is not appropriate for Ms Farrell to meet the Wilson family as it is important for the new senior investigating officers to build a relationship with them. Stressing the focus is on completing the reinvestigation, Mr Johnson added: It remains my and the inquiry teams commitment to complete a thorough and conclusive investigation. Mr Ross said the First Ministers meeting with the Wilsons is a positive step in the right direction. In a letter sent to Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross, Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson maintained it is not appropriate for Ms Farrell (pictured) to meet the Wilson family Adding that the family are desperate for answers, the Conservative MSP said: I hope that having now met with John Swinney that this will help move the case forward at pace. What might be a continued stumbling block on any hope for the Wilson family is the continued disgraceful refusal of Police Scotlands Chief Constable Jo Farrell to meet with them. That is a total dereliction of duty from her and an insult to the family. I believe that having seen John Swinney meet with Veronica and Andrew, which follows a meeting they had with Scotlands Lord Advocate, it is surely time for Scotlands chief constable to rethink this decision and meet them as soon as possible. Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow, the strategic senior investigating officer, said: The chief constable has been very clear that we are determined to bring those involved in Alistairs murder to justice and has underlined our support for his family. This is a live criminal investigation and the relationship and trust with Alistairs family is a priority and must be built through myself, the SIO (senior investigating officer) and the family liaison officers. We have met Mrs Wilson and members of the wider family and will keep them updated on the reinvestigation. They have suffered 20 years of not knowing who killed Alistair or why and I am absolutely determined that we will do everything we can to get them those answers and the justice they deserve. Elon Musk fears that Western civilisation is under threat and is holding private talks on how to get rid of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, according to sources close to the billionaire. The tech mogul is said to be weighing up with his allies on how the Labour government can be destabilised by the next general election. Mr Musk has sought information about building support for alternative British political movements to force a change in government, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. 'His view is that Western civilisation itself is threatened,' one of the people was quoted as telling the FT. The multi-billionaire has been launching a barrage of unfounded attacks on the Labour government, labelling the PM 'Two tier Keir' and accusing him of being 'complicit in the rape of Britain' during his tenure as director of public prosecutions. Mr Musk reignited his row with Sir Keir over Labour's rejection of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs. He has posted a number of inflammatory messages on his X social media site, claiming the PM should be in 'prison' and asked whether America should 'liberate' Britain from its 'tyrannical government'. Sir Keir has hit back and accused Mr Musk of 'spreading lies and misinformation' with his posts to his 210million followers. Elon Musk fears that Western civilisation is under threat and is holding private talks on how to get rid of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer , according to sources close to the billionaire The tech mogul is said to be weighing up with his allies on how the Labour government can be destabilised by the next general election It was reported yesterday by The Mirror that Government counter-extremism officers are investigating Mr Musk's posts as to whether the pose any threat to Britain. A government source told the newspaper: 'We keep a close eye on how disinformation and hate can proliferate, including online.' The South African-born businessman, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, has also endorsed far-Right thug Tommy Robinson. And yesterday he used X to stream an 84 minute discussion with Alice Weidel, the head of Germany's far-right, anti-immigrant AfD. Mr Musk has said that the party is 'the only hope for Germany' and has previously called the country's chancellor Olaf Scholz an 'incompetent fool'. Mr Musk has irked other European leaders this week with four governments objecting in the space of 24 hours to his social media posts. France's Emmanuel Macron, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Spain's government spokeswoman, Pilar Alegria, have all hit out at Mr Musk. 'Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany,' Macron told ambassadors at an annual foreign policy speech on Monday. Sir Keir meets last night for a private dinner at his Chequers country retreat with French President Emmanuel Macron The South African-born businessman, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump , has also endorsed far-Right thug Tommy Robinson Mr Musk used his X social media site to stream an 84 minute discussion with Alice Weidel, the head of Germany's far-right, anti-immigrant AfD Macron has hit out at Mr Musk and accused of him intervening directly in elections Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on Wednesday that fascism could return as Musk 'openly attacks our institutions' and 'stirs up hatred' In response, the Space X owner accused Sir Keir of interfering in the US election after a delegation of British Labour Party members campaigned for the Democrats last year. He tweeted: Oh like that time Starmer called [Donald Trump] a racist and said the British government should do everything to stop him? Or when Starmer sent British Labour Party members to campaign in the US against President Trump this year? Mr Gahr Store said it 'worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries'. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on Wednesday that fascism could return as Musk 'openly attacks our institutions' and 'stirs up hatred'. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz also called Mr Musk's remarks 'intrusive and pretentious', while vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck warned him: 'Hands off our democracy, Mr Musk!' 'The combination of immense wealth, control over information and networks, the use of artificial intelligence and the will to ignore rules is a frontal attack on our democracy,' the Green Party politician told Der Spiegel. Chaos has sparked in Los Angeles County as 9.6million residents were wrongly told to evacuate the raging wildfires. The entire population was mistakenly told to leave the area Thursday around 4pm local time, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Hahn took to X shortly after the notification went out, stating that it 'was mistakenly issued,' and was actually meant for the areas 'impacted by the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills.' 'I have been informed the evacuation warning that many of us just received on our phones was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error. A correction will be issued shortly,' Hahn wrote. Many were left furious by the disastrous mistake, and quickly fired back at Hahn in the comments. 'Your failures will be remembered in history textbooks. Resign. This is going to get people killed,' one wrote. 'Thanks for freaking out all of Los Angeles County. Didnt need this while all of us and family are on edge already,' said another. Another user commented: 'You incompetent buffoons.' Many were left furious by the disastrous mistake, and quickly fired back at Hahn in the comments as the wildfires keep burning. (Pictured: The wildfire burning a home in the Palisades) The emergency alert was sent to LA county residents telling them: 'NEW: This is an emergency message from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 'An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. Remain vigilant of any threats and be ready to evacuate. Gather loved ones, pets, and supplies. 'Continue to monitor local weather, news, and the webpage alertla.org for more information,' it read. About 22 minutes later, a second notification came through telling residents: 'Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING. It was for Kenneth Fire Only. AlertLA.org for more information.' On Thursday afternoon - another fire the Kenneth Fire erupted in Calabasas, as per KTLA, and a reported 50 acres have already been burned. The link to alterla.org is a landing page for residents in the county to use for information on the wildfires. Shortly after the first notification went out, another was sent to 'disregard' the first as it was meant for those affected by the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills On Thursday afternoon - another fire the Kenneth Fire erupted in Calabasas, as per KTLA , and a reported 50 acres have already been burned A retired firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Bob Goldman, told KTLA that the mistake might have been caused by a human error. 'It's not a 100-percent system yet, so somebody may have pushed the wrong button,' Goldman said. Kevin McGowan, the director of the county's Office of Emergency Management confirmed the mistake was due to an error in the software. The correct area was chose by the software, but instead, the entire county was informed. He also acknowledged the concern the false alert created, and that his team is 'committed to sharing accurate information.' 'We understand that these wildfires have created great anxiety, hardship and distress among our residents, and we are committed to sharing accurate information,' McGowan wrote. At least seven people have been killed and almost 180,000 forced to leave their homes amid the most destructive blaze in the county's history. A 2.3million shooting gallery where users can inject their own heroin and cocaine will fuel addiction and overdose deaths, a leading drugs expert warned yesterday. The centre, the first in the UK, is aimed at ensuring addicts have medical back-up on hand when they take class A drugs, rather than risking overdose on the street. Those taking drugs at the centre will also be free from the threat of arrest. Based near the busy shopping area of Scotlands biggest city, the so-called safer drug consumption facility called The Thistle has been championed by the SNP government. The Glasgow project comes amid spiralling drug deaths in Scotland the highest per head of population in Europe but critics say it will not help addicts kick their habits. The centre is set to open on Monday at a time when hundreds of thousands of Scots are languishing on lengthy NHS waiting lists. Last night, Dr Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Substance Use Research Scotland, said the cash earmarked for The Thistle would be better invested in getting addicts off drugs. He said: What we should be doing, and what the Scottish Government has persistently refused to do, is to provide long-term support services focused on recovery, rehabilitation and drug prevention. Lynn Macdonald, Safer Drug Consumption Facility Service Manager, at The Thistle drugs consumption room The facility - known as the Thistle - will accommodate up to 30 service users at a time, 365 days a year from 09:00 until 21:00 The centre, the first in the UK, is aimed at ensuring addicts have medical back-up on hand when they take class A drugs, rather than risking overdose on the street The lounge area at The Thistle drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility Addicts need to be helped to move away from drugs they have become addicted to, not provided with easier access to those drugs. He warned setting up such centres would lead to a rise in the number of overdose deaths and none of those who have allocated scarce public funding [to these initiatives] will be remotely accountable for the decisions they have taken. Scottish Tory drugs spokesman Annie Wells said: The public will want this facility to be carefully monitored to ensure it is not exacerbating the drug deaths crisis. Ministers cannot act like this will be a silver bullet to this emergency and must also back the Right to Recovery Bill, which would enshrine in law everyones right to treatment. The shooting gallery will cost 2.3millon for a three-year pilot project and will be funded by the Scottish Government for the first year. Users will bring their own illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine and inject them in special booths before relaxing in a lounge area which has a flat-screen TV and books. Addicts will have access to vein-finding technology, a clothes store and a shower, while there is also wi-fi, and tea and coffee are available. In the event of an overdose staff are on standby to help them. There will be 31 staff operating the centre, which will be open every day of the year from 9am to 9pm. Staff estimate there are up to 500 regularly injecting users in the area near the centre and hope as many as possible will come to the clinic, where they will also be able to get Covid and flu jabs and find health, social work and housing information. They believe that once the users are in the centre, they can be helped into rehab and treated for infections, rather than injecting outdoors and sharing needles, or leaving drugs paraphernalia on the streets, which creates a public health hazard. An injection kit that will be provided to users at The Thistle drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility The Glasgow project comes amid spiralling drug deaths in Scotland the highest per head of population in Europe Bookshelf in the lounge area at The Thistle drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility Drugs are set to be checked for dangerous impurities but results will not be instant, meaning there will be a delay before staff know exactly what users are taking. But it will allow staff to monitor the content of users drugs to spot any developing problems in the longer term. The introduction of drug testing must be sanctioned by the Home Office, which is reviewing The Thistles application. The Thistle is in the same complex as the Enhanced Drug Treatment Service (EDTS), a separate facility where addicts are injected with pharmaceutical-grade heroin, obtained by the NHS, rather than bringing in their own drugs. Earlier this week, the Mail revealed that more than 85,000 had been spent on taxis for patients at the EDTS, which has cost taxpayers nearly 6million. Lynn Macdonald, service manager at The Thistle, said it would not resolve the drug deaths issue by next year far from it its a small service, but added that it was a starting point. Asked how the success of the project would be measured, she said it could be defined as one person not contracting HIV [or] somebody coming in here and re-establishing a relationship with their parents. Official figures in August showed drugs claimed the lives of 1,172 Scots in 2023 an average of more than three a day and up 121 from the previous year. The Thistle is run and overseen by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, which comprises NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and Glasgow City Council. Dr Saket Priyadarshi, Associate Medical Director, Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde A member of staff demonstrates an AccuVein vein finding device at The Thistle drugs consumption room at the NHS Enhanced Drug Treatment Facility Dr Saket Priyadarshi, associate medical director of Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services at NHSGGC, said: We want to promote a safer injecting environment where people will get the support they need in order to provide a good alternative to the spaces they use at the moment. Meanwhile, bosses of The Thistle also hope to get permission for an inhalation room where users can smoke crack cocaine. They are in talks with the Scottish Government over the proposal, which could fall foul of the smoking ban under current law. Cocaine use and deaths related to the drug are growing as its price falls, but medics are keen for addicts to smoke the drug rather than inject, which is riskier. They hope the inhalation room will also attract users to The Thistle, which also has an outdoor patio area for cigarette smokers. A Scottish Government spokesman said its officials would work with The Thistle to explore how a possible inhalation room could be added to the facility in the future. First suggested in 2016, the controversial shooting gallery has been the subject of political wrangling between the Scottish and UK governments. First Minister John Swinney and Health Secretary Neil Gray are set to visit The Thistle today. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, KC, effectively gave the green light to the facility in 2023 when she said: I have concluded it would not be in the public interest to prosecute people for simple possession offences when they are already in a place where help with their issues can be offered. Is is thought police officers will only take action if drug dealing is apparent. Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: Our officers will be bound by their legal duty to uphold the law and will not ignore acts of criminality. We also have a duty to respond to the communities in the area surrounding the safer drug consumption facility. Aussies have praised the recent upgrade to Sydney Airport's pet bathrooms, which first opened in 2020 in both its domestic and international terminals. Most pets who use the toilets are disability support animals, canine units, and guide dogs, which was upgraded last year. The pet toilets also include a water bowl, doggie bags for picking up their waste and a tap to washing. Theres even a grassy area for dogs to do their business. 'It is fantastic. My dog uses it each time we are at the airport! He is a hearing dog and so permitted to fly with me,' one said. Another said it was something they would like to see added to all airports around the world. 'It is great to see more and more places recognise the need, and accommodate for service/therapy dogs and hopefully pets will be able to fly like they can in the USA and Europe.' 'Bunnings should do the same. It may limit dogs pooing on the floor,' a third added. At this stage only registered assistance animals can use the bathrooms, but that rule may change in 2025 as Virgin has announced it will trial pets in cabins on domestic flights. Sydney Airport has upgraded its pet bathroom to include a new feature Fake grass has been added for registered pets who visit the airport who need to go to the toilet Virgin announced the new rules which will allow dogs and cats to travel with their owners in March 2024. It will be the first and thus far only major local airline to allow small animals on board. Virgin's new service is still waiting for regulatory approval but is expected to launch later this year. Virgin Australia announced in 2024 that it will be allowing small pets to board domestic flights with their owners in 2025 Once approved pets will be able to be stowed away in approved carriers that fit under the seat in front of their owners. Pets will not be allowed out of their carriers throughout the flight. The program will begin as a trial on select routes and will cost between $100 and $150 on top of the value of the plane ticket. A man accused of murdering his wife called emergency services and told them he woke up to find her 'cold to the touch' after she had been 'drinking heavily' the night before, a trial heard. Walter Buchanan, 66, appeared in the dock yesterday charged with killing 37-year-old Darrel Buchanan at their flat in Hamilton on February 18, 2023. The first day of the trial heard he dialled 999 and told the operator he was unable to wake her after saying: 'I don't know if she's choked or something like that.' Paramedics gave Mrs Buchanan advanced life support but she was pronounced dead at 7.45am. Buchanan, who faces a separate charge under the Domestic Abuse Act, was arrested six days later at his sister's home in Cumbernauld. Prosecutors claim Buchanan, who is alleged to have had 'control' over his wife and isolated her from others, grabbed her by the wrists, restrained her and hit her on the head by means unknown. He is then alleged to have put his hands around her neck and compressed it, as well as covering her nose and mouth. Buchanan denies the charges. Jurors at the High Court in Glasgow heard Buchanan told the 999 call handler he woke up at the property to find his wife was 'cold to the touch'. He was heard to say: 'She was drinking heavily and she was upset during the night. Walter Buchanan, 66, appeared in the dock yesterday charged with killing 37-year-old Darrel Buchanan (pictured) at their flat in Hamilton on February 18, 2023 Paramedics gave Mrs Buchanan advanced life support but she was pronounced dead at 7.45am on February 18, 2023, the court heard Ambulance technician Megan Muirhead said Mrs Buchanan had a dark mark on her forehead and neck, with blood on the outside of her right ear, the court heard 'I don't know if she choked or something like that. I did mouth to mouth there. I can't wake her up.' Paramedic Rebecca McLaughlin told the court Mrs Buchanan had no pulse when she arrived at the scene. She said Buchanan told her he had returned home at 2am and his wife went back and forth to the bathroom. He also stated his wife had fallen into a plant pot in the bedroom on an earlier occasion. Ms McLaughlin told jurors there was soil on the wall. Iain McSporran, KC, defending, asked her if Buchanan assisted her as best he could, to which she replied: 'Yes.' Ambulance technician Megan Muirhead said Mrs Buchanan had a dark mark on her forehead and neck, with blood on the outside of her right ear. The trial continues. A company boss lost the plot when a vaping employee cost him a 128,000 contract at Amazon, a court has heard. Stephen Bamrick and his team were escorted off the Fife site where they were installing fibre-optic cabling. The contract was cancelled after the worker ignored a ban on smoking or vaping near the flammable cables. Raging Bamrick reacted by attacking his employee with a tool-box. The 52-year-old, of Caldercruix, Lanarkshire, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court. A warrant had been granted after he failed to turn up for a previous court hearing and he was arrested at the airport when returning from a New Year holiday. He admitted that on February 15, 2023, at Amazon, Dunfermline, Fife, he assaulted Francesco Delgraco, by striking him on the body with a toolbox causing him to fall to the ground. Depute fiscal Amy Robertson said Bamrick owns a company which won a contract installing cabling at Amazon's huge warehouse in the town. Bamrick was working at the site with three employees when one of his workers was caught vaping around highly flammable cables. Stephen Bamrick (pictured) lost the plot when a vaping employee cost him a 128,000 contract at Amazon, a court has heard The 52-year-old, of Caldercruix, Lanarkshire, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court He was seen by Amazon security staff and all the workers were told to leave the site. At around 11am in the site car park, Bamrick encountered Mr Delgraco, who was the one who had been caught smoking the vape, the court was told. The depute went on, 'He was very angry with him as the contract had been terminated. 'The accused picked up a toolbox and struck him on the body with it making him fall backwards. He then hit him once more when he was on the ground.' The incident was reported to police by Amazon security staff after the assault was caught on their CCTV. Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said his client's firm installs fibre-optic cabling and the Amazon contract, which was lost, should have brought in 128,000 over four to five months. He added: 'He tells me that vaping in the control room area is an absolute no-no, as he describes it, as cables are left exposed during the installation process. The contract was cancelled after the worker ignored a ban on smoking or vaping near the flammable cables (stock photo) 'This worker had been found vaping by security staff and marched off the site. Mr Bamrick was contacted elsewhere on the site with his other workers. They too were marched off the site, never to return. 'As well as losing the contract, he also lost the cost of the cabling that had already been installed. 'He was extremely angry when he exited the site and then saw the worker who had been vaping. He was extremely flippant about it all saying 'It's only a job'.' Sheriff Susan Duff appeared to be sympathetic to Bamrick's financial loss and admonished him. She told him, 'What is clear is that this incident had an enormous cost to your company. 'It was stupidity and a lack of thought from your employee, now no doubt a former employee. 'It is totally understandable that you were furious at him and his actions. For that reason, I'm admonishing you.' A young woman from the UK, now living in Sydney, has shared a lengthy list of things she dislikes about Australia, though she admits there are still positives to living Down Under. Amy, who relocated to Australia in September of the previous year, shared a lighthearted rant about the country in a video on social media. Amy's first point was one that all Aussies can identify with, especially during the current cost-of-living crisis. 'The price of fruit & veg,' Amy wrote. '1.20 (almost AUD$2.40) for one lime?! Am I made of money?' Her second point was 'how long traffic lights take to go green for pedestrians (compared to the UK feels like AGES)'. Another gripe was the amount of flies in Australia. Amy was also taken aback by the cost of getting a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate in NSW. Amy from the UK, now living in Sydney, has shared a lengthy list of things she dislikes about Australia 'To sell, serve or supply alcohol in NSW, you must complete an RSA training course.' She was surprised to discover that the RSA course fee was nearly $120. 'Why am I paying to get a job?' Amy wrote. Amy's next point was the price of groceries and lack of supermarkets. 'In Aus we only have two choices, sometimes three.' Amy wrote about her encounters with a fearsome Aussie airborne predator (stock image) 'In the UK there is like eight, so much more variety and can shop around for cheaper prices.' As for buying alcohol, Amy would prefer having it available in supermarkets, rather than having to go to a separate bottle shop. 'Although there is so much more choice for alcohol, I would rather the convenience of just adding it to the basket in my food shop,' she wrote. She also shared her fear of Australian magpies, and said they were scary. 'Not like normal UK magpies. They attack.' She pointed out how far Australia is from the UK, and shared a photo of a sign showing London is 15,110 km away, as another one of her complaints about the country. Amy wrote about how she would prefer being able to buy alcohol in a supermarket, instead of a separate bottle shop (stock image) Finally Amy wrote on her post how the Nivea facewash she used to buy in the UK for 2.50 (around AUD$5) sells for AUD$13 in Woolworths. She also missed spending time with her family on her parents' boat, enjoying her mum's cooking, and hanging out with her friends back in the UK. However, there she also had a list of things she loved about Australia. 'The coffee is so much better and quite often a lot cheaper. But why do they all close so early?' she asked her social media followers. She listed chicken salt, cockatoos, acai bowls, the active lifestyle, Tim Tams, markets, ferries as public transport, the clothing store Glassons, the Opera House, and the weather as some of her favorite things about Australia. Three out of control fires still raging in LA A chilling new map has laid bare the sheer scale of the raging fires currently burning through the heart of Los Angeles. Daily Mail Australia has overlaid the affected area in California across Sydney to give Australians an idea of just how big the fire truly is. Seven people have died so far in the US and there are still three fires which authorities have yet to get under control. The two largest are still spreading in Palisades and Eaton, which are roughly 57km apart, and both remain at 0 per cent controlled. Another fire in Kenneth, roughly 368km east of Eaton, is also unconfined and quickly growing. More fires in Hurst, Lidia, Woodley and the Sunset Drive, which threatened the Hollywood Hills, have been mostly contained by firefighters since breaking out Tuesday. The area which the fire has already burned through would roughly measure from Auburn to North Sydney, around 26km, if measured horizontally. Vertically, the fire has torn through the equivalent distance from the city's CBD to just north of Chatswood which is roughly 12km. A map showing the sheer scale of the LA fires if they had burned through Sydney instead Three fires are still out of control in the US and several more are almost contained Seven people have died at of Friday and that number is expected to rise Fast-moving flames, fanned by powerful Californian winds, have blazed through homes and businesses as thousands of residents evacuated through smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities. The homes of Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, John Goodman, Candy Spelling and Miles Teller are among those destroyed, while dozens of other stars now face an anxious wait alongside their neighbors to learn if anything could be saved. Apocalyptic fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water, and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. The wreckage has surpassed that of the Sayre Fire of November 2008 in LA, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of the city, according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance. Many of the towering fires sparked on Tuesday were fueled by the Santa Ana winds which gusted to more than 112km/h in some areas. The winds dropped Thursday, but the National Weather Service warned that even the reduced gusts could still spread fire rapidly and the wind is expected to strengthen again Thursday evening. Another round of strong winds may form Tuesday and the death toll is expected to rise as crews search the rubble. Thousands of homes have been razed and thousands more people have been evacuated across California Police have made 20 arrests, 12 of which were linked to looting, and authorities have warned any criminals to not take advantage of the situation caused by the fires Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel to battle the blazes while Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona were dispatching teams to assist. AccuWeather estimated Wednesday that $52 billion to $57 billion in preliminary damage and economic loss has occurred but the fires continue to burn. The Eaton fire north of Pasadena burned more than 200 structures as employees at a senior center pushed dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to a parking lot to escape. The Hurst Fire, which started Tuesday night, prompted evacuations in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley while on Wednesday, another blaze broke out in the Hollywood Hills called the Sunset Fire. It was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and other iconic landmarks. Together the fires have consumed about 117sq km, roughly the size of San Francisco. Looters have also been making the most of their time in the fires with police making 20 arrests, 12 of which were linked to looting. Authorities had previously declared they would go after criminals who intended on taking advantage of the fires. More than 415,000 customers were also without electricity in Southern California on Thursday afternoon, with about half of them in Los Angeles County. And residents in some areas including Palisades have been ordered to boil their water before using it because debris from the fires have contaminated some water supplies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used a media interview this week to boldly declare that if he wins the upcoming federal election hell serve a full term. That would make him the oldest Prime Minister since John Howard lost the 2007 election. Albo is about to turn 62, before the next election is due. That would make him 65 years of age, if he in fact did serve a full three year term. But age aside, the real issue is that whether the PM gets to serve a full term or not really isnt his decision. Even if the recent purchase of a retirement home on the central coast - a $4.3m waterfront mansion - isnt a portent of things planned, its Labors party room that will decide just how long Albo remains PM. Assuming voters dont take that decision out of their hands when they cast their ballots on election day. And the disempowerment of Albos decision on his future doesnt end there. Even if Labor MPs think hes the best person to stay in the top job, if as expected Labor is reduced to a minority government, it wont be government MPs who have the biggest say about Albos longevity in The Lodge. The crossbench will control the fate of the minority government and the PM. More specifically, the Greens will. Anthony Albanese used a media interview this week to declare he will serve a full term, should he win the federal election due in the next few months More specifically still, their leader Adam Bandt will be the one deciding whether or not to allow Albo to retain the prime ministership. Because if Bandt and his team decide a second term Labor government isnt doing enough in the policy areas the Greens care most about, they can withdraw their support for Labor and force the minority government to the polls. So when Albo sits down for a puff interview this side of the election, taking the opportunity to declare his intention to serve a full term, taking the pledge with a hefty supply of salt. Because its not his decision. Albo has been in the parliament since 1996. When he does leave hell be well provided for under the old, generous, parliamentary super scheme. The same scheme hes protected from other announced superannuation changes that increase the tax the rest of us are required to pay in retirement. Whats good for the goose isnt always good for the gander. In fact the old parliamentary super scheme is so generous that in retirement Albo will earn more than he has at any time during his political career prior to becoming PM. And once he hits 65 hell earn more than he does as PM, because he wont have to pay tax on what he gets. Thats got to make retirement enticing for a PM about to remarry and embark on a new life in a newly purchased residence. Should Albo lead a minority government, Greens leader Adam Bandt will likely be in the box seat over whether the PM stays or goes Its no wonder Labor MPs fighting to retain marginal seats are so angry with the way Albo has projected a who cares attitude in recent months. Coming across like he already has one foot out of door of The Lodge. Thats why his puff interview was necessary - to provide a reset to start this election year in an attempt to head off questions about his future. While a re-elected Albo would become the oldest Aussie PM since Howard, hes a relative spring chicken compared to the political class in other parts of the world. Take the United States, for example. Outgoing President Joe Biden is 82-years-old and barely functional. Incoming President Donald Trump is already 78-years-old and about to get four more years in the White House. Whether Albo wins the next election and serves a full term or not, there is one thing we can certainly be sure of. He wont match the ages of Biden and Trump during whats left of his political career. By then hell hopefully be healthy and happy, ensconced in his waterside mansion at Copacabana, in retirement. Perhaps a grumpy old man, somewhat frustrated by the eye sore of all those ugly cabanas littering the otherwise beautiful beach view below him. EXCLUSIVE Two women allegedly shot in separate incidents in southeast Queensland were in the same social circles and had both previously spent time in jail. Linley Anyos, 33, is in a critical condition after being shot in the back while sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked outside a home on Trees Road in Tallebudgera, in the Gold Coast, about midday on Wednesday. Ms Anyos - who Daily Mail Australia previously revealed had served prison time for a string of offences including weapons, drugs, and driving charges - had been at the property helping a friend move out. The alleged gunman remains on the run, with police searching for a man who fled the scene in a tow truck. Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Ms Anyos shared the same network of friends as Chloe Jade Mason, 23, who was allegedly gunned down outside a home at Caboolture in Brisbane's north just after midnight on December 22. Like Ms Anyos, Ms Mason had an extensive criminal history and was facing a litany of charges in Brisbane's Magistrates and Supreme Courts at the time of her death. Ms Mason had also previously been sentenced to 18 months in jail after being convicted of drug supply. After the shooting on Wednesday, members of Ms Anyos and Ms Mason's inner circle flocked online to share their shock over the double tragedies. Linley Anne Anyos (pictured) was shot while sitting in a car outside a home in Tallebudgera on Wednesday Pictured are police at the scene of the shooting in the Gold Coast on Thursday 'F*** bro, you were a mad c***... We had our days in jail, got over it,' friend Rebz Mcgrady wrote, referring to Ms Anyos. '[You] always gave me mad advice so thank you Linley. I'll forever look back to the motivational s*** you'd always spoke to me about when days are dark. 'Ceejay Mason, rest up now. We continue living for you, my girls.' Friend Neenahh Abbey added in another post: 'Simply lost for words. Two of my girls in two weeks'. The search for Ms Anyos' suspected gunman and weapon remained ongoing on Friday morning, while she continues to fight for life in Gold Coast University Hospital. Police believe the gunshot was fired from the backseat of the car, possibly by a man known to Ms Anyos. Detectives have not ruled out the possibility the shooting was an accident. The Tallebudgera home had just been sold and was bustling with removalists and locals who had rocked up to the property to purchase items listed for sale. Chloe Jade Mason, known to those close to her as CeeJay, was allegedly chased and shot by two men in Caboolture, southeast Queensland just days before Christmas It is understood Ms Anyos was part of a group who were there to help pack up the belongings of a man who lived in a shed at the rear of the property. Ms Anyos has been in and out of court for various offences over the past five years, with her most recent court appearance taking place on Monday - just two days before she was shot. Her criminal history includes being charged with supplying cocaine, allegedly being found with a loaded gun following a road rage incident in 2020, and being busted throwing a syringe filled with GHB out of a car window in January last year. During her 2023 court hearing, her lawyer Lisa Searing said Ms Anyos had a difficult childhood but had only recently spiralled into a life of crime after falling in with a bad crowd. 'Her grandparents adore her, her family adores her, but shes had some issues and thats led to her using drugs and mixing with mainly the wrong men, who have unfortunately had quite a negative impact on probably the last five years of her life,' Ms Searing said at the time. 'She is normally someone who is held in high regard.' Similarly, Ms Mason had dozens of interactions with the Queensland Court system, dating back to 2016. She was also involved in a stabbing that almost claimed her life years before she was shot. Ms Anyos (pictured) previously faced several drug charges and a firearm charge following a road rage incident Ms Mason, known to those close to her as CeeJay, also had run-ins with the law dating back to 2016 Detectives had released the above pictures of the two Thomson brothers prior to their arrest as they urged them to come forward 'I'm in the [hospital] ward now,' she shared on social media in 2016. 'Still have 24/7 nurses hanging around me, checking up [and] making sure everything is correct and that nothing is out of place. 'I have two drains in my heart to drain all the blood that's leaking from the valve that's been sliced when the knife penetrated my heart 3 cm deep. 'I am fighting through this with the love and support from my family and friends.' Brothers Codye Thomson, 29, and Kaine Thomson-Gleeson, 32, were arrested in Logan on Monday in relation Ms Mason's death. They have been charged with her alleged murder and faced Brisbane's Arrest Court on Tuesday morning, where Thomson-Gleeson's lawyer Ken Mackenzie said his client will claim he acted in self-defence. 'What is not in dispute in this case is that Chloe Mason came to the front of Kaines house armed with a rifle,' Mackenzie said outside court. 'Kaine explained to police he did not kill Chloe. What he did, he did to defend his home and his family against a murderous attempt.' The brothers' cases are both next due before Caboolture Magistrates Court on January 13. The infamous 'Pizzagate' gunman who opened fire at a restaurant in 2016 after believing in a Democrat child sex conspiracy theory has been shot dead during a traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch, 36, of Salisbury, North Carolina, was shot and killed in Kannapolis on Saturday evening after cops recognized a gray 2001 GMC Yukon he was a passenger in. An officer soon realized that the passenger was Welch - someone who had an outstanding warrant for arrest for a felony probation violation. When the cop opened the passenger door to arrest Welch, Kannapolis Police Chief Terry L. Spry said that Welch 'pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer.' After failing to put the weapon down when asked to do so by authorities, the officers who stopped him 'fired their duty weapon' at Welch. Welch was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries two days later, police said. Nobody else was injured. On December 4, 2016, Welch terrorized people inside Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington D.C. with a loaded AR-15 assault rifle because he believed the unfounded conspiracy theory that Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the pizzeria. After hearing the theory - which made waves during the 2016 presidential election, and linked to Hillary Clinton - Welch, then 28, stormed into the restaurant and shot a locked closet inside while panicked diners ran for their lives. Edgar Maddison Welch, 36, - the man convicted of opening fire inside a Washington D.C. pizzeria in 2016 - was shot and killed in Kannapolis on Saturday night On December 4, 2016, Welch terrorized people inside Comet Ping Pong restaurant with a loaded AR-15 assault rifle because he believed the unfounded conspiracy theory that Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the pizzeria (pictured) After realizing no children were trapped inside, Welch surrendered to police. Nobody was injured during the mayhem. Welch was sentenced in 2017 to four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of transporting firearms across state lines and assault with a dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Kentanji B. Jackson said that while no one was injured in the December 4 shooting, 'the extent of the recklessness in this case is breathtaking.' The judge said Welch 'forged ahead' with an 'ill-conceived plot' even though others urged him to abandon it. She added that Welch should have notified law enforcement if he really believed children were being harmed. In court, the then 29-year-old, was accompanied by his mother, father, sister and fiancee in the courtroom, briefly apologized, saying his words 'cannot undo or change what already happened.' Two Comet Ping Pong workers and owner James Alefantis also spoke before the sentencing. Alefantis called 'pizzagate' a 'vicious web of lies' and said many people had suffered because of Welch's actions. Welch, a father-of-two, drove 300-some miles from North Carolina to Washington DC to personally investigate the conspiracy theory and rescue potential sex slaves. After realizing no children were trapped inside, Welch surrendered to police. Nobody was injured during the mayhem The claims originated after Clinton's presidential campaign chairman John Podesta's emails were published on Wikileaks. Extrapolating emails that mentioned 'cheese pizza', internet users thought it was a code word for 'c.p.' or 'child pornography'. Podesta's correspondence with Alefantis also fanned the flames of speculation. In a two-minute recording he made on the drive to the restaurant, Welch addressed his daughters and said: 'I can't let you grow up in a world that's so corrupt by evil without at least standing up for you, for other children just like you.' As part of his guilty plea, Welch agreed to hand over the rifle, revolver, and a shotgun he left in his car at the time of the incident. He also agreed to pay the restaurant $5,744.33. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a third charge, possessing a firearm while committing a crime of violence, which carried a maximum sentence of 15 years. In his one-page, handwritten letter filed with the court after the shooting, Welch said that he 'came to DC with the intent of helping people I believed were in dire need of assistance, and to bring an end to a corruption that I truly felt was harming innocent lives'. He wrote that he wanted to apologize and that he acted without considering the repercussions of his actions or the possible harm. 'It was never my intention to harm or frighten innocent lives, but I realize now just how foolish and reckless my decision was,' he wrote. Comet Ping Pong owner James Alefantis has said the 'pizzagate' hoax that spread on the internet threw the lives of everyone connected with the shop into chaos. Welch's attorney Dani Jahn asked for a 1.5 year sentence, citing Welch's previous work as an emergency medical technician and volunteer trip to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake there. She wrote that he's an involved parent to his seven-year-old stepdaughter and four-year-old daughter. Jahn also noted he surrendered peacefully after realizing that no children were being harmed at the restaurant. Welch was released from prison in 2021. Nearly a year after the attack, Hillary and Bill Clinton bought dozens of pizzas from the D.C. restaurant. 'People could have gotten killed. He shot his automatic weapon off inside this pizza parlor,' Hillary said as she spoke with Politics & Prose's co-owner Lissa Muscatine onstage at D.C.'s Warner Theatre. Muscatine, a longtime friend and former speechwriter for Hillary, explained how the shooting had rattled the entire neighborhood. 'A few days after that, you and your husband said, "What can we do to support Comet, can we buy pizzas? So you bought, I don't know how many pizzas, but it was a lot of pizzas, and sent them to a literacy program, an after school literacy program in D.C.,' Muscatine revealed, again thanking Hillary for supporting the businesses 'quietly.' The former US Secretary of State then re-walked the audience through 'Pizzagate,' as it served as an example of how the Russians utilized the email hacks. She reminded them how her Campaign Chairman John Podesta's emails had been 'stolen' by the Russians saying she hated the word 'hacked' and then handed them over to Wikileaks, in which they were selectively released. NSW Premier Chris Minns has weighed in on a fierce debate about the use of portable gazebos on Australia's prime beaches. Cabanas and their much-needed shade have become increasingly popular on Aussie beaches - but a debate has broken out over the use of shelters to reserve spots on the shoreline. Aussies have shared images of gazebos lying empty on the sand while other beachgoers are forced to fight over what little spots are left. Some have lambasted the act as 'un-Australian' while others have applauded their ingenuity. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mr Minns laid down some ground rules for the use of cabanas and said their owners shouldn't leave the beach. 'You can't like, put a peg in the ground and claim the land is yours with the cabana, like Richard Nixon did with the moon,' he said. 'It doesn't work that way. You can't just stick a cabana up and lay claim to it.' Mr Minns then revealed his 'rules'. NSW Premier Chris Minns has weighed in on the hot debate on the use of beach cabanas Beach cabanas and their much-needed shade have become increasingly popular on Aussie beaches 'You have to have one of your stupid friends who agrees to go down there early in the day and have a rotation process,' he said. 'You can have one person, one person's enough, and they can be sleeping or hungover or reading a crap novel. 'They can even use the beach, you can go for a swim, but you have to be on site on the beach.' Mr Minns' comments have been applauded on social media. 'This is the most beautiful and unexpected crossover of all time,' one Instagram user wrote. 'Together we can stop the spread (of coolcabanas),' another wrote. Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Minns for comment. A debate has broken out online over the use of cabanas to reserve spots on the shoreline Mr Minns is only the latest politician to speak out on the use of cabanas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also dipped his toe in the cabana waters. During an appearance on Today, Mr Albanese said the practice was 'not on' and against the country's egalitarian spirit. 'One of the great things about Australia, unlike some parts of the world, (where) you go and you've got to pay to go to the beach, here, everyone owns the beach,' he said. 'It's a place where every Australian is equal. And that's a breach of that principle, really, to think that you can reserve a little spot as just yours.' President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced in the Stormy Daniels hush money case on Friday after the United States Supreme Court rejected his last-minute bid to halt the case. The Court found 5-4 that Trump's sentencing on 34 felony counts would not be an insurmountable burden as he takes back the White House, noting that Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he would not give the incoming president any jail time, fines or probation. 'First, the alleged evidentiary violations as president-elect Trump's state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course of appeal,' the unsigned ruling said. 'Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president elect's responsibilities is relatively insurmountable in light of the trial court's stated intent to impose a sentence of "unconditional discharge" after a brief virtual hearing.' Among those who supported the decision were Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would have delayed the sentencing, the order states. Still, the incoming president hit out at the decision Thursday night, as he hurled insults at Merchan. 'I am innocent of all of the judge's made up, fake charges,' he wrote on his Truth Social platform. President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced in the Stormy Daniels hush money case on Friday The Court found 5-4 that Trump's sentencing on 34 felony counts would not be an insurmountable burden as he takes back the White House He railed against the decision in a post on his Truth Social platform Thursday night Still, he said he was appreciative of 'the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me.' Trump then reiterated the message at a news conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday night. 'We're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically, because frankly it's a disgrace,' he said, though he noted he found a silver lining in reading the Supreme Court decision, according to the New York Times. 'I read it and I thought it was a fair decision, actually, so I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their little political opponent,' he said, trying to paint the judge as politically-motivated. Trump's attorneys had asked for the sentencing be delayed as he appeals the verdict. They argued that Trump is immune from criminal proceedings as president-elect, and said that some of the evidence used in the Manhattan trial violated last summer's Supreme Court immunity decision. The Supreme Court should immediately stop proceedings 'to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government,' his team argues. At the least, they have said, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals play out to avoid distracting Trump during the White House transition. The Supreme Court should immediately stop proceedings 'to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government,' his team argued. Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he would not give the incoming president any jail time, fines or probation But prosecutors pushed back, saying there's no reason for the court to take the 'extraordinary step' of intervening in a state case now. They also claimed that Trump's attorneys did not prove that an hourlong virtual hearing would be a serious disruption, and noted that any delay could mean pushing the case past the January 20 inauguration. 'We brought a case. A jury of ordinary New Yorkers returned 34 guilty verdicts,' Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at an unrelated news conference Thursday afternoon. 'Our function right now primarily is to continue to give voice to that verdict and respect, as a principle - bedrock principle of the administration of justice - that the jurys voice must not be rubbed out.' The Supreme Court's decision after a judge in the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, declined to grant a separate request from Trump's legal team to halt the sentencing. Earlier this week, a judge in the First Department of New York's Appellate Division in Manhattan rejected a similar request. Prosecutors under Manhattan District Attorney pushed back, saying there's no reason for the court to take the 'extraordinary step' of intervening in a state case now Judges in New York have found that the convictions on falsifying business records related to personal matters rather than Trumps official acts as president. Daniels says she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump has denied any liaison with Daniels or any wrongdoing. Thursday's comes after the conservative-majority court has handed Trump major victories over the past year, ensuring that states could not kick him off the ballot because of the 2021 attack on the Capitol and giving him immunity from prosecution over some acts he took as president in a ruling that delayed an election-interference case against him. The justices could also be faced with weighing other parts of the sweeping conservative changes he's promised after he takes office. But the decision on Trump's hush money case was almost upended after Justice Alito confirmed he took a phone call from the incoming president. The conservative justice has since said he spoke with the president-elect by phone on Tuesday to recommend a former law clerk for a job. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito revealed he spoke with President-elect Trump on the phone the day before Trump's lawyers asked the court to halt the hush money case sentencing 'William Levi, one of my former law clerks, asked me to take a call from President-elect Trump regarding his qualifications to serve in a government position,' Alito said in a statement. 'I agreed to discuss this matter with President-elect Trump, and he called me yesterday afternoon,' Alito continued. The statement from Alito was released after the call was first reported by ABC News. 'We also did not discuss any other matter that is pending or might in the future come before the Supreme Court or any past Supreme Court decisions involving the President-elect,' Alito said. The unusual communication prompted calls for Alito to recuse himself, including from the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Justices make their own decisions about whether to recuse and Alito still weighed in on the case, but Alito ultimately stayed on the hush money case and sided with the incoming president. Elon Musks controversial tweets were likely to feature at last nights private dinner between Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron. The French President visited the Prime Minister at his country retreat of Chequers for a behind-closed-doors meeting. There was no shortage of conversation for the two leaders as a French source said Mr Macron was likely to discuss Mr Musks outspoken comments about British and European politics with Sir Keir during their meeting, according to the Telegraph. Speaking ahead of the dinner, Sir Keir said of relations between the countries that it was further evidence of our ability to work well together. He said the pair planned to discuss a number of issues of concern, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. Mr Macron said the meeting was a great opportunity to discuss EU-UK relations and the main crisis in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Mr Macron all but accused Mr Musk, the tech billionaire and owner of X, of directly intervening in elections around the world, including in Germany. Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron greet each other ahead of a bilateral meeting at Chequers Downing Street said the behind-closed-doors meeting would be about Ukraine, tech and AI, growth and illegal migration (pictured: Starmer and Macron at Chequers) The French President visited the Prime Minister at his country retreat of Chequers for a behind-closed-doors meeting (pictured together outside Chequers) A French source said Mr Macron was likely to discuss Elon Musks outspoken comments about British and European politics Without naming him, he said in a speech on Monday: Ten years ago, who could have imagined it if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany. In response, the Space X owner accused Sir Keir of interfering in the US election after a delegation of British Labour Party members campaigned for the Democrats last year. He tweeted: Oh like that time Starmer called [Donald Trump] a racist and said the British government should do everything to stop him? Or when Starmer sent British Labour Party members to campaign in the US against President Trump this year? US President elect Donald Trump has tasked Mr Musk with improving government efficiency when he takes office. Meanwhile, Downing Street said the behind-closed-doors meeting would be about Ukraine, tech and AI, growth and illegal migration. Last night, the PM told the BBC that Britain needs to make sure that the other countries, whether thats Germany, Italy, France, and many others, are working with us on this. Two tourists killed when a seaplane crashed into the ocean have been identified, as investigators begin a months-long probe into its cause. Danish man Torben Poulsen, 60, and Swiss woman Danielle Grundbacher-Mosching, 65, were killed along with Australian pilot James Wong, 34, in the crash on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, at 4pm on Tuesday. Mr Poulsen and Ms Grundbacher-Mosching were both holidaying in Western Australia with their partners, who were also on board the plane and survived the crash. The Australian Safety and Transport Bureau has begun recovering and examining pieces of the Cessna 208 Caravan 675 as it starts its investigation. Investigators have confirmed their probe will take months to complete at least. Bureau officials are currently working to find the plane's recording devices, including its flight tracking and engine performance data. Once investigators have wrapped up their on-site recovery and examination process the plane's wreckage will be taken to a Perth facility for further inspection. 'During this time, investigators will identify and secure any relevant components for further analysis at the ATSB's laboratory facilities in Canberra,' Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said. Authorities have confirmed their investigation into a fatal seaplane crash will take months Australian man James Wong, 34, (pictured) Danish man Torben Poulsen, 60, and Swiss woman Danielle Grundbacher-Mosching, 65, were killed off the coast of Perth at 4pm on Tuesday 'We also continue to seek reports from witnesses, in particular anyone who may have footage of the aircraft at any stage of the accident sequence, or in the immediate aftermath.' The wreckage can currently be seen with the naked eye, still laying on the seabed eight metres below the surface. Mr Mitchell said if his officers find any critical safety issues in the seaplane, relevant stakeholders will be immediately notified. He added that the investigation will last for months because investigators need to scour the area for any footage of the crash as well as conduct an intricate probe of the plane's history and maintenance. 'There's a whole range of things to put together to give us a better idea of that sequence of flight and then what went wrong,' Mr Mitchell said. 'That will take us time to go through all the evidence.' The collection of evidence alone could take weeks, Mr Mitchell warned. 'We need to get these things right if we're to make recommendations that have far-reaching effects.' Police divers pulled the victim's bodies out of the wreckage which sits eight metres below the surface Current bureau estimates put their timeline at two months before a preliminary report will be available. Survivors managed to flee the wreckage on Tuesday afternoon, while police divers recovered the bodies of the three victims later that night. A 63-year-old Swiss man, a 63-year-old West Australian man, a 65-year-old West Australian woman and a 58-year-old Danish woman were able to escape the crash with various injuries. The identification of the tourists comes after the grieving partner of the Perth pilot, Mr Wong, opened up about his 'sudden, unexpected and devastating' death. Mr Wong's partner and colleague Angela Cloeraine broke her silence on Thursday to pay tribute. 'He was known for his love for adventure, exceptional knowledge on every topic and his passion for seaplanes - a self proclaimed 'seaplane tragic',' she wrote on a GoFundMe page she set up to support his family. Anthony Albanese has taken a swipe at Peter Dutton's nuclear energy policy and promoted his own climate change plans when asked questions about the Los Angeles wildfires. During a pre-election campaign swing to Western Australia on Friday, Mr Albanese was asked if he was worried that Australia would not get as much support from nations overseas should severe bushfires hit Down Under, given the scale of the blazes in the US. The Californian fires have killed at least seven people and razed thousands of homes to the ground. Mr Albanese responded: 'Climate change is real. It doesn't mean every event that occurs ... is an extreme weather event (and) is because of climate change. 'What it does mean is that the science tells us there will be more extreme weather events and they will be more intense.' Mr Albanese then went on to attack the Coalition's nuclear energy policy, saying Australia could not afford to stop acting 'until the 2040s and we will build you a nuclear power station... That makes no sense.' He then described the government's clean energy policies, saying: 'The good news is that responding properly to climate change will open up opportunities for new industry, new jobs, new growth. 'There is no country better positioned to benefit from, for example, the minerals that will power the world in the 21st century than Australia.' Anthony Albanese made the comments about Peter Dutton's energy policies during a press conference in Perth, WA, on Friday morning The comments were criticised sharply by Opposition energy spokesman Ted O'Brien, who said in a statement first reported by News Corp: 'LA is burning and Australians are worried about fire risks here at home, and the best the Prime Minister can do is have a crack at Peter Dutton and the Coalition's future energy plan. 'This is coming from someone who won office campaigning to reduce emissions, only to reverse the Coalition's track record of consecutive year-on-year emissions reduction and instead he's been driving emissions up. 'To politicise the LA fires by criticising the Coalition's future energy policy is an appalling reflection of the Anthony Albanese's character. 'He hungers for a fight on why climate change matters, but the debate has moved on - it's no longer about 'why' act on climate change but 'how', and this is where his government is failing on every front. 'The Coalition's plan for a balanced energy mix of renewables, nuclear and gas works and we know this because it's working the world over.' Australia has offered help to struggling American fire authorities as they battle worsening, uncontained fires in Los Angeles. The enormous blazes in California have killed at least seven people and razed thousands of homes to the ground. Above, crews battle the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles' West Hills Diplomatic channels had been opened to let the US know Australia was ready to help, despite the blazes occurring during Australia's peak bushfire season, Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister said. The US was yet to formally request assistance as of Friday afternoon and Senator McAllister acknowledged the scope of support would need to be weighed against domestic needs. A number of Australians have been caught up in the blaze, including superstar actress Rebel Wilson. Wilson, who has a home in the area, took to social media to express her disbelief and thank a friend for important assistance. 'Cannot believe this ... thank you Ornela for saving our cat!' she wrote in an Instagram story. Donald Trump revealed that the moments of laughter he shared with Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter's funeral were genuine. For what was supposed to be a somber final farewell for the 39th president, Thursday's service was filled with icy exchanges, glares, and mysterious conversations - which viewers said was like something straight out of a Real Housewives script. One of the most talked about moments was a clear moment of affection between Trump and Obama. Trump later returned to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida Thursday night to meet with Republican governors - and refused to say what he and Obama discussed. But he joked: 'It did look very friendly, I must say.' He noted that he had seen the coverage of it on television and the obsession over their conversation on social media. 'I didn't realize how friendly it looked. I said, "Boy they look like two people who like each other" and we probably do,' he said. 'We have little different philosophies, right, but we probably do.' The president-elect added, 'I dont know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody,' perhaps referring to former Second Lady Karen Pence's snub of him and Melania. He said that the entire cast of luminaries 'met backstage' before the funeral and said 'we all got along very well.' One of the most talked about moments was a clear moment of affection between Trump and Obama Donald Trump revealed that the moments of laughter he shared with Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter's funeral were genuine Trump later returned to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida Thursday night to meet with Republican governors and refused to say what he and Obama discussed, but joked, 'It did look very friendly, I must say' All the former presidents were together in a private room ahead of their entrances into the cathedral. They also greeted President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden upon their arrival, according to the White House. Trump helped birth the so-called 'birther' movement while Obama humiliated the reality TV host onstage at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2011 - considered a motivating factor for Trump's decision to launch a 2016 White House run. But on Thursday Trump and Obama acted like they were old friends. The Republican president-elect and the former Democratic commander-in-chief chatted, with Trump making Obama laugh at one point. The images prompted a number of caption contests online and calls for a lip-reader. Forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman told DailyMail.com that Trump cryptically said it was important to speak to Obama in private 'today' so they could 'deal' with something. Trump suggested they look for a 'quiet place' where they could discuss the mystery matter after the service. It remained unclear whether the crucial information Trump had to tell Obama related to a national security issue, or something else. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, Thursday But the animated conversation between them left onlookers highly curious as to what they were whispering about. The two men are expected to see each other again in 11 days, when Trump is sworn-in for his second term. They had a previous private conversation shortly after Trump was elected president in 2016. Some of that chat at the White House has since come to light, including Obama telling Trump of his deep concerns over North Korea. At the time, Obama said Pyongyang and its nuclear and missile programs represented the greatest threat to the United States as Trump embarked on his first term. Their latest conversation came as Carter was celebrated for his personal humility and public service before, during and after his presidency. All five of his living presidential successors were in attendance. President Joe Biden, who was the first sitting senator to endorse Carter's 1976 run for the White House, delivered a eulogy. All the former presidents were together in a private room ahead of their entrances into the cathedral, as well as their wives and Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Dan Quayle, Mike Pence and Al Gore Biden, who was the first sitting senator to endorse Carter's 1976 run for the White House, delivered a eulogy Biden and first lady Jill Biden were seated front row alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, whom many noticed an icy tension as they didn't appear to address one another. Trump had Obama seated to his right, and wife Melania was to his left. Michelle Obama was not at the funeral. At one point, Kamala Harris, seated in the row in front of Obama and Trump, turned back to look at their conversation, then turned around and let out a long sigh. Obama was attending the service solo due to a scheduling conflict that had Michelle in Hawaii. Also in that row sat former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, as well as former President Bill Clinton and former Democratic nominee and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The third row was reserved for former vice presidents including Mike Pence and Karen Pence - who refused to shake Donald or Melania Trump's hand - and Al Gore. All eyes were on the current and former political friends and foes as they arrived at the Washington National Cathedral Thursday morning. Biden, 82, who will leave office in 11 days, hinted at politics during his remarks at the funeral by repeating several times that 'character' was Carter's chief attribute. He appeared to make a dig at Trump when he said 'We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor' and noted the importance of standing up to 'abuse in power'. Karen Pence remained seated as Melania and President-elect Donald Trump greeted former Vice President Al Gore and then former Vice President Mike Pence, who they haven't been seen with publicly since 2021 in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack The comments echoed Biden's typical criticisms of Trump. Ahead of the service Trump also had a cordial moment with Mike Pence, his former Vice President whom he pressured to overturn the 2020 election results, and then fell out with spectacularly. Despite their differences the two men shook hands ahead of Carter's service. However, Karen Pence, seated next to her husband, pointedly refused to shake Trump's hand, remaining in her seat. She also snubbed Melania Trump, looking away when the incoming first lady arrived and appeared to speak to her. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cast a side-eye look at Trump as the president-elect and first lady Melania Trump went to their own seats. Carter was celebrated Thursday for his personal humility and public service before, during and after his presidency in a funeral at Washington National Cathedral featuring the kind of pageantry the 39th U.S. president typically eschewed. It was followed by an intimate hometown funeral near where he was born a century ago. President Joe Biden (left) wipes a tear from his eye at the funeral of President Jimmy Carter as first lady Jill Biden (center) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) appear somber The flag-draped casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is loaded onto Special Air Mission 39, during a departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland Biden and others took turns in the morning praising Carter's record - which many historians have appraised more favorably since he lost his bid for a second term in 1980 - and extolling his character. The dual ceremonies in Washington and Plains, Georgia, provided a moment of national comity in a notably partisan era and offered a striking portrait of a president who was once judged a political failure, only for his life ultimately to be recognized as having lasting national and global impact. 'He built houses for people who needed homes,' said Joshua Carter, a grandson who recalled how Carter regularly taught Sunday school in Plains after leaving the White House. 'He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people.' Jason Carter, another grandson, wryly noted his grandparents' frugality, such as washing and reusing Ziploc bags, and his grandfather's struggles with his cellphone. 'They were small-town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from, no matter what happened in their lives,' said Jason, who chairs the Carter Center, a global humanitarian operation founded by Jimmy and his late wife, Rosalynn Carter. Carter died December 29 at age 100, living so long that two of Thursday's eulogies were written by people who died before him - his vice president, Walter Mondale, and his presidential predecessor, Gerald Ford. Thursday concluded six days of national rites that began in Plains, where Carter, a former Naval officer, engineer and peanut farmer, was born in 1924, lived most of his life and died after 22 months in hospice care. After the morning service, Carters remains, his four children and extended family returned to Georgia on a Boeing 747 that serves as Air Force One when the sitting president is aboard. President Joe Biden's own ICE director revealed what he would have liked the departing commander in chief to do - as officers struggled to control the influx of migrants coming through the southern border. Patrick Lechleitner, the outgoing director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday, when he said he wished the president imposed his executive order to shut down the border years earlier. 'I would have liked to see that executive order they implemented roughly just over a year ago, like that helped a lot,' Lechleitner said of Biden's order in June to temporarily suspend entry of non-citizens once the number of average border encounters exceeded 2,500 a day over seven days. 'And we could have gotten that implemented a long time before that. It would have helped a lot.' When Fox News host Steve Doocy then asked Lechleitner why he thought Biden did not take action earlier, the ICE director replied he did not know. 'I don't know, I don't know. And I'm, you know, I execute, I run the agency, I execute, I enforce. But I don't know why they didn't do that earlier. 'I know it was in process for a long time. I would have liked to see it earlier. 'I think it helped a lot, it did really help our mission, but I wanted to see that earlier,' he added of the order, which stayed in effect until two weeks after there was an average of less than 1,500 encounters along the border. Patrick Lechleitner, the outgoing director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday, when he said he wished the president imposed his executive order to shut down the border years earlier Biden announced an executive order in June to temporarily suspend entry of non-citizens once the number of average border encounters exceeded 2,500 a day over seven days Lechleitner's remarks come after an explosive investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that agency heads often did not get to meet with the president or speak with him one-on-one. Instead, many were relegated to only speaking with some of his staffers in a years-long cover-up of Biden's deteriorating mental health. The officials who stood in included counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and National Economic Council head Lael Brainard. Some of Biden's lower-level staff have even griped that this secretive 'triumvirate' also known as the 'Biden whisperers' developed an outsized influence over America's oldest ever president. Among those who said they were unable to meet directly with the president was Rep. Jim Himes, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. He told the Journal he has been focused for two years on getting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which authorizes broad national security surveillance powers, reauthorized. But, he said, he would only meet with Biden's senior advisers and other top administration officials - never Biden himself. 'I really had no personal contact with this president,' said Himes, who took office in 2009. 'I had more personal contact with Obama, which is sort of strange because I was a lot more junior.' Lechleitner's remarks come after an explosive investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that agency heads often did not get to meet with the president or speak with him one-on-one Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat-turned-independent, also said he noticed that the president lacked stamina and often relied on his staff during his time at the White House. 'I just thought that maybe the president just lost that fight,' Manchin said. 'The ability to continue to stay on, just grind it, grind it, grind it.' Rep. Adam Smith, of Washington, also said he was concerned by what he saw as the Biden administration's overly-optimistic comments about the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan. 'I was begging them to set expectations low,' Smith recounted of his conversations with the Biden administration. He said he tried to talk to Biden directly to share his insights about the Middle East, but was never able to get on the phone with him. Biden's debate with Donald Trump in June is what led the American public and Democratic politicians to call for him to drop his reelection bid But Biden's mental decline became increasingly obvious, especially after Special Counsel Robert Hur last year released a report depicting a forgetful and frail then-81 year old. Hur decided not to charge Biden for keeping classified documents in his Delaware garage because he 'would likely present himself to a jury' as a 'sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.' Then by late June this year, Biden's decline was on full display when he debated Donald Trump. Gaffes, fumbles and blank stares from the president filled the hour-and-a-half televised event. It proved catastrophic for his campaign. The face-off with Trump is what ultimately led the public, and even senior Democrats in Washington, to call for Biden to end his bid for reelection. A month after the debate, Biden threw in the towel and endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris, who Trump nonetheless defeated on November 5. Yet White House spokesman Andrew Bates refuted the Wall Street Journal's account that Biden has declined. Instead, Bates said that he has 'earned the most accomplished record of any modern commander in chief and rebuilt the middle class because of his attention to policy details that impact millions of lives. The killers who fatally shot an underworld figure on a suburban street managed to lure him by posing as police before he was gunned down in a hail of bullets. Hawre Sherwani, 33, was pulled over by the group of executioners at Heyson Parkway, Caroline Springs, in Melbourne's north-west around 10.30pm on Thursday. The group used lights and sirens to trick Sherwani, who was reportedly driving a white Volkswagen hatchback, before he was gunned down during the ambush. Sherwani, who was linked to the Comanchero bikie gang, suffered critical injuries before he was rushed to hospital, where he later died. The gunmen remain on the run. Police revealed Sherwani was known to law enforcement and the shooting was a targeted attack. Pictures showed the crime scene riddled with bullet casings across a wide area as detectives and forensic investigators examined the scene on Friday morning. Police also located a torched, dark-coloured Volkswagen Tiguan, which was found at Beattys Road, in Fraser Rise on Thursday. Officers believe the vehicle is connected to the shooting and it is believed to have been stolen from a house in Clyde North, in Melbourne's southeast, in November last year. Melbourne gangland figure Hawre Sherwani, 33 (pictured) was gunned down in a hail of bullets by a group of executioners in Melbourne's north-west on Thursday night Pictures showed the crime scene (pictured) riddled with bullet casings across a wide area as detectives examined the scene on Friday morning Detective Superintendent Janet Stevenson said there are fears the latest killing could trigger further gangland retaliation. 'We're concerned because this has been going on for a bit, so we've got many concerns about that,' Supt Stevenson said. 'It's brazen, it's irresponsible and yet very targeted but very concerning (for) people of this neighbourhood.' Police believe at least one offender was injured in the shooting spree. 'We do urge them to get medical assistance and it's very important that they do that because it could be quite serious injuries,' Supt Stevenson said. Footage obtained by the Herald Sun showed two bystanders rendering assistance to Sherwani in the middle of the road. Sherwani reportedly told the people who came to his aid that he had 'been shot' and asked them to call an ambulance. One resident James, who assisted Sherwani along with his wife and two children, said he heard around six gunshots. Police said there are fears the latest killing could trigger further gangland retaliation as officers continue to investigate the shooting 'The victim came near me and then I put him into the safety position and then my wife and two young boys came in,' he told 3AW. 'He was passing in and out (of consciousness) and we were just trying to keep him alive. 'There was one gunshot under (his) ribs area and there was a bit of bleeding'. Several residents, who did not want to be named, said the street was usually quiet. It had not previously been the site of any criminal activity. One man said the victim had door-knocked several houses seeking help from neighbours who attempted to administer first aid. Sherwani is believed to have been an an associate of 27-year-old Robert Issa, who was shot dead outside a busy shopping centre at Craigieburn, in Melbourne's north, in October 2023. Police also revealed they they are investigating whether Sherwani's death was linked to a separate incident when he was targeted with firearms. Several residents in the area said the street was usually quiet and had not previously been the site of criminal activity The incident happened at Fraser Rise on March 20, 2024. A Victoria Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia detectives from the Homicide Squad are currently reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation into the fatal shooting. 'The exact circumstances leading up the shooting are still being established and the investigation remains ongoing,' the spokesman said. Anyone with information about the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Two twin sisters who vanished while walking on a river footpath were acting normally in the days leading up to their disappearance, their worried brother has said. Mystery surrounds the disappearance of 32-year-old siblings Eliza and Henrietta Huszti. The pair - who are part of a set of triplets from Hungary - left their home in Aberdeen city centre in the early hours of Tuesday morning. They were spotted on CCTV in crossing the Victoria Bridge in Market Street at around 2.12am. However, neither has been seen since - and a major land, air and water search by emergency teams has yet to locate them. The sisters' brother, Jozsef, told BBC News their mother spoke to the girls on Saturday during a 40-minute chat, in which the pair seemed 'fine'. Eliza and Henrietta's sister Edit Huszti - the other triplet - reportedly spoke to them during a video call on New Year's Eve and they appeared happy and cheerful. The girls, were described as sociable - however, their loved ones said that they did not tend to go out often, preferring to stay at home to watch movies. Mystery surrounds the disappearance of 32-year-old sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti. The women are pictured with their brother, Jozsef The twins have been missing since Tuesday morning and were last seen walking the streets of Aberdeen, in Scotland Eliza and Henrietta Huszti - described by police as white, of slim build, with long, brown hair - left their home in Aberdeen city centre in the early hours of Tuesday morning Relatives say the sisters being out on the streets in the early hours of the morning was very out of character. They were seen crossing the Victoria Bridge to the Torry district of the city, and turning right onto a footpath next to the River Dee - heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club. Officers are currently carrying out 'extensive inquiries' in and around the area and have urged local businesses to check their CCTV in a bid to help trace the pair. Chief inspector Darren Bruce, of Police Scotland, said: 'Extensive inquiries are ongoing to trace Eliza and Henrietta and searches are being carried out in and around the area where they were last seen. 'Local officers, led by specialist search advisers are being assisted by resources including police dogs and our marine unit. 'The Torry side of Victoria Bridge where they were last seen has many commercial and industrial units. 'Searches are ongoing here and we would urge businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to please review their CCTV footage for early morning on January 7 and contact us if it holds anything that may be relevant to our investigation. 'We also ask anyone with dashcam footage from that time to contact us.' Police say they are talking with those who know the Huszti sisters - and have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting incident number 0735 of Tuesday 7 January 2025. Henrietta Huszti (pictured) was last seen last seen on CCTV in Market Street at around 2.12am Britain has recorded its coldest night in January in 15 years as more icy temperatures are expected to grip the country tonight. Overnight temperatures dropped to -14.5C in Altnaharra, a small hamlet in the Scottish Highlands, making it the coldest night so far this winter and the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010. But, the mercury is expected to fall even further on Friday evening, potentially reaching -20C in northern parts of the UK, according to the Met Office. The forecaster warned that patchy rain, sleet and snow is expected across parts of south-west Britain, while much of the rest of the UK will have another 'dry and bright day' and will remain 'very cold'. Weather warnings for ice were in place across most of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England, until 10am on Friday. There was also a yellow warning for ice and snow in northern Scotland, where up to 10cm (4in) was forecast to fall. The icy conditions are expected to thaw in the coming days as milder temperatures attempt to move in from the south west through Friday. But this is expected to make only 'limited progress', with temperatures set to remain below freezing for much of Saturday morning. WEST LOTHIAN: Wild swimmers break ice covering the Avon Lagoon in West Lothian as they prepare for a swim on Friday LONDON: Sub-zero temperatures have iced parts of the country, including London where even the fountain in Trafalgar Square (pictured) has been frozen solid LONDON: A herd of deer brave the cold on a frosty morning in Bushy Park, London on Friday DURHAM: A woman walks past icicles near Bowes in Durham as temperatures continue to fall Graphic showing some of the coldest UK January temperatures Friday night is predicted to bring the lowest temperatures of the cold snap in parts of Scotland and northern England, with temperatures between -15C and -20C possible. Heavy snow in North Yorkshire also saw 23 visitors and six staff trapped inside the Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, which claims to be Britain's highest public house at 1,732 feet (528m) above sea level. Customers had trekked to the world famous boozer on Saturday night and later became 'snowed in' following the heavy snowfall. While a number of guests had been able to leave on Tuesday, it was not until Thursday that the staff were able to make their own exit. Oli Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told the PA news agency: 'It will be another cold night tonight with temperatures as low as minus 15C again in the Scottish highlands. There's a chance we could even see the coldest night of winter again. 'We're expecting to see frost in parts of the south west and Wales. Northern Ireland will be cold again but not as cold as Thursday night. 'But that will be the last of the really low temperatures, with milder weather coming in during the weekend. 'This will spread from the north down to the south and it could be Monday or Tuesday before the south west starts to feel the milder temperatures.' Heavy snow blanketed the Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, leaving 23 visitors and six staff trapped inside for six days Heavy snowfall meant the customers were unable to drive home on Saturday CAMBRIDGESHIRE: A person skates on a frozen flooded field in Upware, Cambridgeshire, on Friday WARRINGTON: Snow and fog surrounds Thelwall Viaduct in Lymm, Warrington, England, as it carries the M6 motorway across the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey LONDON: A person walks their dog through a frosty Greenwich Park in London on Friday LONDON: A view of the City of London seen from the frost covered riverside near to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich DURHAM: Snow blankets the fields in Bows near Durham on Friday SCOTLAND: A snow plough clears snow following the coldest night of winter so far in Breamar, Scotland Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick previously said: 'Saturday is still going to be another cold one, unfortunately.' But clouds will come in from the west which should prevent temperatures dropping as quickly, he said. The meteorologist added: 'Sunday will still be a chilly one, but not as cold as what we've seen for today and for tomorrow. 'By Monday, we are expecting the temperatures to come back up to what we would expect for this time of year, which is around sort of 7C (or) 8C.' As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted. There is a chance of snow across northern Scotland and possibly the very north-east of England on Friday too. Mr Eslick said: 'Because that rain is falling on some pretty cold ground, it is likely to turn to icy conditions as well. 'So, we are telling people to take care if you are travelling around with these cold temperatures for tomorrow, but at least it's quite settled and away from that freezing fog it will be nice, bright and sunny'. WEST LOTHIAN: Wild swimmer Emma Mooney braves freezing waters of Avon Lagoon in West Lothian WEST LOTHIAN: A wild swimmer braves the freezing waters of Avon Lagoon in West Lothian, amid a sea of ice on Friday LONDON: A person makes the most of the wintry landscape views as they sit on a bench in Hampstead Heath on Friday LONDON: People watch on in awe as a lake in Hampstead Heath is frozen over on Friday LONDON: A runner braves the cold as they go for a jog in Morden Hall Park on Friday PEAK DISTRICT: Snow lies on the ground on the lower slopes of Kinder Scout, in the Peak District National Park on Friday Spokesperson for the RAC Alice Simpson said this week had been 'one of our busiest for breakdowns in the five years since the Covid-19 pandemic'. She added: 'We're prioritising members who are away from home or in dangerous locations, and waiting times are inevitably longer. 'Drivers setting out must ensure they are ready for the conditions. Until the weather warms up on Sunday, there is an ongoing risk of ice and snow which will make the roads treacherous. 'Sticking to major routes that have been gritted is advised. We also urge anyone setting out to have an emergency kit in the boot, that includes warm clothes, waterproofs, food, a flask of hot drink and a mobile phone power bank.' The AA has predicted that Friday could see a major increase in workload, with some roads, particularly in the north, likely to be affected. The insurance provider advised against all but essential travel in hard-hit areas and urged drivers to check forecasts before venturing out and to take 'extreme caution' on hazardous roads. Snow and winds have also brought rail disruption this week, with some lines forced to close. National Rail said on Friday morning that some Southeastern services to and from London and Charing Cross had been affected by ice. DERBYSHIRE: Members of Mountain Rescue help a motorist amidst white-out conditions on Snake Pass on Thursday A car lies submerged in frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday morning STAFFODSHIRE: Wintry scenes surrounding Lichfield Cathedral yesterday morning DITCHLING: Walkers enjoy the snow at Ditchling Beacon on Thursday morning NORTHWICH: As dusk falls freezing mist, snow and sub-zero temperatures sweep across the lowlands on January 9 OXFORDSHIRE: A hard frost covered the countryside on Thursday after a bitterly cold night in Dunsden WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather Manchester Airport closed both its runways on Thursday morning 'due to significant levels of snow' but they were later reopened. The airport warned that some flights may be delayed, and advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information. Transport for Wales closed some rail lines in the country due to track damage following a period of 'heavy wind, rain and snow'. Buses are also replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until at least Monday. Meanwhile, hundreds of schools in Scotland and around 90 in Wales were shut today due to the wintery weather. Significant travel disruption was also caused by the snow in Devon and Cornwall yesterday, with some roads closed and motorists stationary for 'long periods of time', a joint statement from Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council Highways said. Snow ploughs became stuck in queues of traffic caused by 'minor incidents', the statement added. Ploughs have been fitted to gritters which were working into this morning to clear routes in the area, police and highways officials said. WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather STAFFORDSHIRE: Wintry scenes surrounding Lichfield Cathedral yesterday morning WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather Travel disruption to road and rail services is likely to continue in the warning areas, as well as the potential for accidents in icy places, the Met Office has said. As icy conditions persist, motorists were urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts have also been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: 'We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist. 'This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable. 'These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.' The country has been hit by widespread flooding in recent days and a danger to life flood warning was issued for Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire as firefighters had to rescue dozens of people stranded in rising water. A Spanish hotel worker is facing jail after reportedly pouring bleach over a buffet dinner out of revenge for losing her job. Police and prosecutors have said the 50-year-old woman was told her contract was not going to be renewed at the Costa del Sol hotel before she carried out the cruel act. Luckily, two guests caught her suspiciously pouring a yellowish liquid over a tray of fruit and yoghurt in a glass dessert display case which had been prepared as part of an evening buffet meal and alerted hotel staff. But none the wiser, the unnamed and disgruntled hotel worker subsequently returned to the kitchen pushing a cleaning trolley used to remove dirty plates. The hotel receptionist and head of security alerted police after demanding an explanation from the waitress who denied any wrongdoing as soon as she was confronted. They are said to have handed over two bottles of dishwasher detergent containing bleach when detectives arrived. Tests on the affected food, separated from the rest and handed over to police in a Tupperware container, were later found to have been tainted with the chemical according to Malaga newspaper Sur. The horror incident emerged today as the respected media outlet said the hotel worker had been charged with a crime against public health. She has been ordered to stand trial after being warned she could be handed a three-year prison sentence if convicted. The former hotel worker denies any wrongdoing and is expected to register a not guilty plea when she takes the stand at a court in Malaga. The alleged poisoning attempt occurred just before 9pm on May 31, 2023, but only came to light today following confirmation public prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence for the woman accused. She has been charged under article 365 of the Spanish Penal Code which covers the deliberate poisoning of the public water supply and food and carries a prison sentence of between two and six years. Public prosecutors are accusing her of acting out of revenge after being told earlier the same day her work contract was not going to be renewed. A pre-trial indictment also references another incident five days earlier on May 26 2023, where public prosecutors say the hotel worker poured bleach into a bottle of milk in the establishments bar which was used by colleagues but not by guests. The name of the hotel is expected to be revealed at trial when the woman will be identified. It was not immediately clear this morning when the trial would take place. Aussies have been urged to avoid dozens of beaches amid fears the water could be contaminated with harmful bacteria. An infection isn't the only risk at play in the affected waterways, as an academic warns that the stormwater pollution after a rainy week could also attract bull sharks. Warnings have been issued for 56 beaches across Sydney that were deemed unsafe to swim on Friday by the state government's water quality monitor Beachwatch NSW. 'Some swim sites across the Sydney and Central Coast region may remain impacted by stormwater pollution ,' the agency said. 'Before you swim, check for signs of pollution.' The agency also issued an alert to beachgoers informing them that pollution is likely at popular beaches in the habour including Tamarama, Bronte, and Queenscliff. Popular swimming spots in Sydney's south and in the northern beaches have also been affected, including the Brighton Le Sands Baths, Barrenjoey Beach and Umina Beach. The alert has also been issued for several tourist hotspots as far as the Central Coast including The Entrance Channel and Hordens Beach, near Sutherland, in Sydney's south. Popular swimming spots in Sydney's south and in the northern beaches have also been affected including the Brighton Le Sands Baths, Barrenjoey Beach and Umina Beach Warnings have been issued for 56 beaches across Sydney that were deemed unsafe to swim on Friday by the state government's water quality monitor Beachwatch NSW Beachwatch is also understood to be testing water samples for dangerous bacteria such as E. coli. The bacteria can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and a loss of appetite. A NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water spokesman told Daily Mail Australia heavy rain impacts the water quality of waterways. 'At beaches, people should avoid swimming during heavy rain and for at least one day after,' the spokesman said. 'At estuaries and inland waterways, avoid swimming for up to three days after heavy rain.' Swimmers and visitors to the beach have been urged to check the Beachwatch website to ensure the conditions are appropriate before they venture into the water. The warning comes after most of Australia's east cost was drenched by intense rainfall and thunderstorms for most of this week. Extensive rainfall is expected from Friday through to Sunday in Sydney and Canberra with a high chance of showers forecast for the weekend in Brisbane. Beachwatch is also understood to be testing water samples for dangerous bacteria such as E.Coli, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and a loss of appetite (pictured Bondi Beach in Sydney) Residents in Melbourne will also be hit by the wet weather on Sunday with tops of 28C forecast in the city. A monsoon weather system is also set to develop over northern Australia by the end of next week, according to Weatherzone. The system will increase the risk of heavy rain, thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. Swimmers have also been urged to be cautious of bull sharks in addition to the polluted water in some waterways. Bond University Professor Dr Daryl McPhee said the recent wet weather event has provided the creatures an ideal environment to search for food and nutrients. 'In areas affected by rainfall you generally do see more bull sharks but there's often a lag from when the rainfall occurs in a catchment, to when the bull sharks are more prevalent,' Dr McPhee told Yahoo. A bull shark was detected in Bondi on Thursday while a great white shark was seen by surf lifesavers at Crescent Head, on the NSW Mid North Coast, on Friday afternoon. Authorities closed the beach and people were evacuated from the area. Dr McPhee said pollutants in the water present a greater risk to swimmers than sharks. A hammer attack has left eight people injured after a female student went on a rampage at a university in Tokyo. A woman in her 20s, who is reportedly a student at Hosei University, was arrested after being stopped by university staff, according to Japanese media. All the wounded people are said to be conscious and police sources were cited as saying that the attack took place at the university's Tama Campus in the Machida suburb of western Tokyo around 4pm local time (7am UK time). Live footage on NHK showed a line of emergency vehicles with flashing lights at the campus in the suburban Machida district of the Japanese capital. Police could not immediately confirm details about the rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has strict gun control laws. There are occasional stabbings and even shootings in Japan, including the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. In December, a junior high school student was stabbed to death and another wounded at a McDonald's restaurant in southwestern Japan. A man was later arrested over the attack. The teens were in line to order at around 8.30pm when the attacker reportedly entered the restaurant in the city of Kitakyushu and stabbed them both. A woman in her 20s, who is reportedly a student at Hosei University, was arrested after being stopped by university staff, according to Japanese media (file image) Live footage on NHK showed a line of emergency vehicles with flashing lights at the campus in the suburban Machida district of the Japanese capital In 2019, two people including a schoolgirl were stabbed to death and more than a dozen wounded in the Japanese city of Kawasaki in a rampage by an attacker who targeted children as they waited for a bus. The 51-year-old attacker slashed at a group of children before fatally stabbing himself in the neck. In January 2022, three people were stabbed outside the prestigious University of Tokyo before nationwide college entrance exams. The victims included an 18-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl and a 72-year-old man, police said at the time. Police arrested a 17-year-old, who was detained at the gates of the university after the early-morning attack. He was not taking the exams and was not acquainted with the three victims but told police he 'wanted to die after causing an incident as I didn't do well in my studies', public broadcaster NHK reported. The two teenagers did not sustain life-threatening injuries but the 72-year-old was severely wounded, according to local media. NHK said the university, where 3,700 students were scheduled to take the tests, went ahead with the exams as planned. Police are hunting for two men they believe may have information about the disappearance of a mother and her young son seven months ago. Karima Mahmoud, 43, and Adam Glanville, seven, were last seen together on June 3 in Richmond, West London. Adam has not been seen since, while Karima was spotted on October 24 in the area of Bedfont Road, Feltham. Karima was in breach of a family court order when she disappeared with her son, with police saying she may have now 'altered her appearance'. As part of the investigation, detectives from the Metropolitan Police have released an image of two men who they believe played a part in the disappearance. On June 3, both men were involved in an 'altercation' with another male, who knew Adam and was with him at the time. Shortly afterwards, the schoolboy disappeared with his mother. Detective Sergeant Mary Dawson, who is leading the investigation, said: 'We need the public's help to locate Karima and Adam. Karima is in breach of a family court order and police are trying to locate them both. The pair were last seen together on June 3. Ms Mahmoud (pictured) is in breach of a family court order after disappearing with her son Pictured are the two men police are seeking to speak to. The pair were involved in an 'altercation' on June 3 with another male, police said, shortly before Ms Mahmoud and her son vanished 'I also want to identify and speak with the two men shown in the image released today. They were involved in an altercation with a man at the time Karima and Adam were last seen together on June 3 - the images were taken then. 'I do not believe they have caused any harm to Karima or Adam, but I believe they may have information as to their whereabouts.' One of the men was wearing a black t-shirt with 'Run DMC' emblazoned on the front. He had white hair, a white beard and was wearing black glasses. The second male had black hair, a trimmed black beard and was wearing a grey top and jeans. In a previous appeal, Det Sgt Dawson called on people who may be renting out a room or accommodating the mother and her son to come forward. The Met Police urged anyone who has seen Ms Mahmoud or Adam, or have information that could help locate them, to call 101 quoting reference 01/903997/24. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. For an immediate sighting, please call 999. Donald Trump has pushed back his deadline for ending the Russia-Ukraine war despite having vowed to end the conflict within '24 hours' of becoming president. The US president-elect now aims to end the war against Ukraine within 100 days of his inauguration, Keith Kellogg, Trump's choice for special Ukraine peace envoy, told Fox News on Wednesday. 'This is a war that needs to end, and I think he can do it in the near term,' Kellogg, 80, added, defining 'near term' as just over 14 weeks out from inauguration. The comments come just a day after Trump revealed in a press conference that he would not launch peace talks until after he takes office on January 20. This is despite having repeatedly pledged during his campaign to end the war as soon as he was elected. 'People need to understand, he's not trying to give something to Putin or to the Russians, he's actually trying to save Ukraine and save their sovereignty,' Kellogg said. 'And he's going to make sure that it's equitable and it's fair'. The US diplomat praised the president-elect for his willingness to meet with Vladimir Putin and said the outgoing president Joe Biden's 'biggest mistake' was his refusal to work with the Russian President. Donald Trump vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war within '24 hours' of becoming president but this has now changed to 100 days Shortly after his triumph, Trump spoke with Zelensky via phone - a conversation characterised by the Ukrainian leader as 'excellent' An explosion of a drone after it hit an apartment building is seen in the sky during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 10, 2025 Britain, France and Germany have already vowed to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes' and Zelensky is adamantly against relinquishing territory to Vladimir Putin Kellogg assured Trump would aim to find a solution to end the conflict that would work for both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'I think they're going to come to a solvable solution in the near term. ... Let's set it at 100 days,' he said. Kellogg did not go further into discussing details of any potential peace agreements that may be under consideration by the incoming administration. After Trump's election victory, many questioned what direction the Trump administration might take. Shortly after his triumph, Trump spoke with Zelensky via phone - a conversation characterised by the Ukrainian leader as 'excellent'. But in September, the Republican's running mate and now vice president-elect JD Vance offered former US Navy Seal Shawn Ryan an outline of how peace may be brought about in Ukraine under Trump. 'What it probably looks like is something like the current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine becomes like a demilitarised zone, heavily fortified for the Russians don't invade again,' Vance told the former Seal on his podcast. 'Ukraine remains an independent sovereign. Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine. 'It does not join NATO and some other allied institutions. Germans and other nations have to fund Ukraine's reconstruction,' Vance added. That telling, albeit vague, description of what a Trump-negotiated end to war in Ukraine could look like was subsequently echoed by a Wall Street Journal report that emerged days after the election. Citing three sources 'close to the president-elect', the WSJ claimed Trump's transition office is considering one proposal that would prevent Kyiv from joining NATO for at least 20 years in exchange for lucrative arms deals. Keith Kellogg praised the president-elect for his willingness to meet with Vladimir Putin and said the outgoing president Joe Biden's 'biggest mistake' was his refusal to work with the Russian President Local people walk near damaged cars at the site of drone debris falling on a residential building, in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 10, 2025 In the meantime, the conflict would be halted by the implementation of a large demilitarised zone (DMZ) that would effectively freeze the fighting in place and force Kyiv to relinquish up to 20 per cent of its territory as part of an '800-mile DMZ'. But the sources offered no insight into how such a buffer zone between Russia's border and unoccupied Ukraine would be monitored or managed, other than to say it would not be staffed by American peacekeepers. This suggested troops from other NATO nations, including the UK, would be tasked with manning the DMZ. 'We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European... and we are not paying for it,' one source was quoted as saying. 'We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine... Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.' But several obstacles must be circumvented before the conflict can be frozen and a ceasefire introduced - starting with the evident lack of enthusiasm from those expected to agree to and uphold the proposal. Days before Trump secured his election victory, Zelensky openly declared that making any concessions to Putin would be 'unacceptable for Ukraine' and 'suicidal for Europe'. In addition, Zelensky's foremost European partners Britain, France and Germany have already vowed to support Ukraine's armed forces in their fight against Moscow's troops 'for as long as it takes'. A man travelled to the UK from Germany with the intention of having sex with a 13-year-old girl he met through Roblox. Michael Shablinger, 36, spent months grooming the 13-year-old victim - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - after finding her on the video game platform. Norwich Crown Court heard Shablinger, who had told the victim he was 21, met up with her in a park in Hethersett, Norfolk. He spent five hours with her until she was tracked down by her mother. Oliver Haswell, prosecuting, said the victim has refused to say what happened between them during the hours she was missing while at the park. But a picture of the pair kissing was later found on a 'secret' phone given to her by Shablinger. Mr Haswell said the meeting at the park followed months of 'grooming', which had started on the online game platform Roblox when she was just 12. Last year child safety campaigners urged Ofcom to act after a report branded Roblox an 'X-rated paedophile hellscape'. The popular game in which young players create or play in virtual universes has been accused of exposing children to 'grooming, pornography and violent content'. Michael Shablinger, 36, was pictured kissing the young girl kissing on a 'secret' phone spent months grooming the 13-year-old victim - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - after finding her on the video game platform Roblox Last year child safety campaigners urged Ofcom to act after a report branded Roblox an 'X-rated paedophile hellscape' After meeting on the platform in May 2023, Shablinger arranged to meet the victim who told her mother she was 'going to take the dog for a walk' with a friend at 11am on June 16, 2024. But when she failed to return, the mother then went out to try and look for the missing girl herself, and found her in a park with Shablinger. The defendant, who said he had 'only just met her', then left the area on a bus. The victim then lied to her mother about what happened, prompting the concerned parent to contact police. Once home the victim claimed she felt unwell and went to her room. But the mother later found her daughter 'hiding something in her bed', which turned out to be a 'secret' mobile phone given to her by Shablinger when they met up. There were messages containing requests from him for 'further meetings', a picture of them kissing and telling her to 'hide the phone' from her mum. Police found the phone also contain conversations about the defendant seeking a passport for the victim in order that she could 'leave the country to be with him'. Shablinger was arrested by Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport as he tried to board a plane to Munich on June 23. Police seized his phone and found on it indecent images and videos of unidentified children, as well as indecent images of the victim. The prosecutor said 'many' sexualised images and messages were exchanged between the two of them. The Hindenburg study claimed there are 'sex parties' on the online gaming platform Roblox Mr Haswell said Shablinger encouraged and 'instructed' the victim to commit sexual acts and recorded her as she did so. He said the victim has refused to tell police what happened when she and Shablinger met and she even sent a message to him stating 'be lucky, I lied to the police'. Shablinger, who was born in Austria but lives in Germany, appeared at court on Wednesday after he admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming. He also admitted sexual activity with a child and six offences of possession of more than 800 indecent images of children. Three of those offences related to pictures and videos of the victim - including five category A, the most serious - and another three to unidentified children, including 346 category A. Recorder Paul Garlicked imposed an extended eight-and-a half-year extended sentence, made up of four and a half years in custody and four years on licence. Ed Renvoize, mitigating, said the defendant accepted 'this is an extremely serious case' but deserved full credit for his pleas to the offences. He said Shablinger 'was untruthful about his age' but insisted there was 'no abduction or detention' in this case. Shablinger was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and put on the sex offenders' register, both indefinitely. He was also banned from contacting, or attempting to contact, the victim directly or indirectly until further order. Roblox has no age restrictions as campaigners say UK communications watchdog Ofcom must make a 'step change' as it implements then enforces the Online Safety Act (OSA). US investment firm Hindenburg Research issued damning findings after a lengthy investigation into the controversial platform. Roblox was accused of exposing children to 'grooming, pornography and violent content' In response to the criticisms Roblox said: 'We totally reject the claims made in the report' The new law will place new duties on social media sites for the first time. The largest and most popular, as well as those which count children among their users, are set to face the strictest rules. Platforms must put in place and enforce safety measures to ensure that users, and in particular young people, do not encounter illegal or harmful content - and if they do that it is quickly removed, with those who break the rules facing large fines. Among the campaign groups urging Ofcom to act is the Molly Rose Foundation - established by the parents of 14-year-old Molly Russell from Harrow, North West London, who took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful online content. Roblox rejected the allegations by Hindenburg, insisting safety was 'foundational' to the company. And Hindenburg has also stated that it is trying to profit from a fall in Roblox's value by taking out a 'short' position on the company's share price. The online gaming platform has become successful with young children - offering a series of different games and interactive tools, as well as the ability to create your own challenges . But the Hindenburg study raised concerns about inappropriate links which are at a child's fingertips when accessing the site. The report states: 'Core to the problem is that Roblox's social media features allow paedophiles to efficiently target hundreds of children, with no up-front screening to prevent them from joining the platform.' It also says there are 'digital strip clubs, red light districts, sex parties and child predators lurking on Roblox', which has 80 million daily users. Researchers in the US looking into Roblox found 600 hits when searching 'Diddy' games And Roblox was accused of being 'an X-rated paedophile hellscape, exposing children to grooming, pornography, violent content and extremely abusive speech'. Hindenburg also said it found multiple accounts named using variations of the name of disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. A Roblox spokesperson said in a statement in response to the Hindenburg study: 'Safety and civility have been foundational to Roblox since our inception nearly two decades ago, and we have invested heavily throughout our history in our Trust and Safety efforts. 'Every day, tens of millions of users of all ages have safe and positive experiences on Roblox and abide by the company's community standards. However, any safety incident is horrible. 'We take any content or behaviour on the platform that doesn't abide by our standards extremely seriously and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent malicious or harmful activity on our platform.' Hindenburg Research teams investigating Roblox attempted to create accounts using names of notorious child molesters and criminals. They tried to set one up under the name of Earl Brian Bradley - a paedophile convicted of molesting 103 children - but found the username was already taken, along with a host of variants, including earlbrianbradley69. There were 900 variations of the name 'Jeffrey Epstein', plus 600 hits when searching 'Diddy' games. Some of these games were titled 'Diddy Party', 'Run from Diddy Simulator' and, separately, 'Escape to Epstein Island.' Youngsters on 'child accounts' - that is, under the age of 13 - were also able to search 'adult' to find inappropriate content. Roblox self-reported more than 13,000 incidents of child exploitation to the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2023. North Korean troops sent to support Russia are being used as 'human mine detectors' on the frontlines of the invasion of Ukraine. The soldiers are deployed across a battlefield until they are blown up one after another, according to Lieutenant Colonel 'Leopard' of Ukraine's 33rd 'Big Cats' battalion, who revealed that their lives are worth little to their higher-ups. 'The North Koreans have a "meat grinder" strategy. Where Ukrainians use a mine-clearing vehicle, they just use people,' he told the Times. 'They just walk in single file, three to four metres from each other, if one is blown up, then the medics go behind to pick up the dead, the crowd continues one after another. That's how they pass through minefields.' Leopard said that the soldiers sent by Kim Jong Un often refuse to be taken alive, preferring to be killed in battle or to simply run as their commanders stand by unfazed. The US estimates that 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to fight for Russia - about 4,000 of whom have already been killed on the battlefield, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Drone footage taken last month shows the Russian meatgrinder tactic in action, with two dozen North Korean soldiers seen slowly jogging towards the Ukrainian front line in clusters across an open, snow-covered battlefield as part of 'suicidal charges'. They didn't try to seek cover, which was 'like a dream for our mortars and machinegunners,' Ukrainian veteran Vitaliy, 35, told the Times. The North Korean soldiers have yet to learn how to use drones. Pictured above is a North Korean soldier who was filmed by a Ukrainian drone A macabre image is believed to include dead North Koreans killed fighting for Russia in Kursk region North Korean soldiers' faces revealed in first close-up videos as they fight for Putin in the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine Vitaliy fought in the battle of Bakhmut, which saw waves of Russian murderers and rapists being sent to their deaths as apparent cannon fodder. 'The Wagner group had a simple order: advance or die. It looked like exactly the same thing for the Koreans,' he said. The Khorne Group - an organisation linked to Kyiv forces in the 116th separate mechanised brigade and 95th air assault brigade -, shared footage showing what appeared to be North Korean soldiers dumbfounded by a Ukrainian FPV drone above them. Another dark clip showed a line of what were said to be the bodies of soldiers from Pyongyang lying in blood-covered snow alongside slain Russians after their troop was all but wiped out. The Khorne Group said: 'The long awaited North Koreans. Weakness and bravery are their tactics, their trump card is good fitness.' They were 'applying the same tactics as 70 years ago', Khorne Group added, alluding to the Korean War. Ukrainian and South Korean officials say the North Koreans have proven a burden to Russian forces due to their outdated battlefield tactics, while inexperience with drone warfare makes them easy targets for Kyiv's battle-hardened warriors. But Leopard said that while North Korean soldiers aren't anywhere near as heavily armed as their Russian counterparts, this will change the longer they are involved in the war. 'North Koreans use only small arms, machineguns, grenade launchers, mortars, maximum - that's the extent of their technology', he said. 'They do not use drones yet, only the Russians. But I suspect they are starting to learn this, and the longer the war drags on, the more likely they are to innovate', he added. The Khorne Group - an organisation linked to Kyiv forces in the 116th separate mechanised brigade and 95th air assault brigade -, shared footage showing what appeared to be North Korean soldiers dumbfounded by a Ukrainian FPV drone above them Reports say new footage shows North Korean troops on the frontline fighting for Vladimir Putin in Russia's Kursk region, partially occupied by Ukraine A North Korean soldier is seen hiding from a Ukrainian drone Earlier, the US warned that North Korea is 'significantly benefiting' from its troops' deployment in Ukraine as it makes them a more capable fighting force. Deputy US ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea told the UN Security Council that nearly 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been training in Russia and fighting Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region. Shea said Kim Jong Un's soldiers are 'significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbours.' She added: 'In turn, the DPRK will likely be eager to leverage these improvements to promote weapons sales and military training contracts globally.' South Korea's UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, told the council that North Korean soldiers are 'essentially slaves to Kim Jong Un, brainwashed to sacrifice their lives on faraway battlefields to raise money for his regime and secure advanced military technology from Russia.' This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared Russian troops were 'burning the faces' of dead North Korean servicemen to conceal their identities, sharing macabre images to illustrate his claim. Citing a report by South Korea's intelligence services, MP Lee Seong-kweun said yesterday: 'In December, they (North Korean troops) engaged in actual combat, during which at least 100 fatalities occurred. Russia burns faces of dead North Korean soldiers to hide losses, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says North Koreans were fighting with severely outdated tactics according to analysts and officials 'The National Intelligence Service also reported that the number of injured is expected to reach nearly 1,000.' Despite those losses, the agency also said it had detected signs North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was preparing to train a new special operations force to ship westward. Lee noted that the North's elite Storm Corps - from which the initial deployment was drawn - had 'the capacity to send reinforcements'. The NIS also predicted 'that Russia might offer reciprocal benefits' for a new deployment, Lee said, including 'modernising North Korea's conventional weaponry'. The lawmaker added that 'several North Korean casualties' had already been attributed to Ukrainian missile and drone attacks and training accidents, with the highest ranking 'at least at the level of a general'. The NIS said the high number of casualties could be attributed to the 'unfamiliar battlefield environment, where North Korean forces are being utilised as expendable frontline assault units, and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks,' said Lee. 'Within the Russian military, complaints have reportedly surfaced that the North Korean troops, due to their lack of knowledge about drones, are more of a burden than an asset.' Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation in Kyiv, said: 'The Russians' tactics in the Kursk direction are as follows - North Korean soldiers are being accumulated in the woodland and driven to storm narrow sections in several directions at the same time. Their losses are significant.' North Korean soldiers are seen in this image shared by Zelensky A macabre image is believed to include dead North Koreans killed fighting for Russia in Kursk region Ukraine is in the midst of launching a second offensive in Russia's Kursk region and is facing a barrage of long-range missiles and ongoing advances from Russia as both sides seek to put themselves in the strongest negotiating point possible before trump takes office. Zelensky called the Kursk offensive 'one of our biggest wins,' which has cost Russia and North Korea, which sent soldiers to help Russia in Kursk, thousands of troops. Zelensky said the offensive resulted in North Korea suffering 4,000 casualties, but US estimates put the number lower at about 1,200. Police have launched a probe after two more lynx were spotted in the wild in the Highlands this morning. It follows the illegal release and capture earlier this week of two of the cats in the area. Police are linking the two incidents and have warned the public not to approach them. The latest pair to be spotted were seen at Killiehuntly, near Kingussie, Inverness-shire - where the other pair were found on Wednesday. Police said: Around 7.10am on Friday, 10 January, we received a report of another two lynx being seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie. Members of the public are asked not to approach the animals and officers are working with specially trained personnel to capture them. Enquiries suggest the sighting is connected with a release of two lynx seen in the same area on Wednesday, 8 January. They were safely captured on Thursday, 9 January. Enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of both sightings. The latest lynx to be spotted were seen at Killiehuntly, near Kingussie Police are warning the public not to approach the two cats One of the two lynx which were captured this week If anyone saw anything in the area or has any information then please call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0387 of Friday, 10 January, 2025. It follows the capture of the other two apex predators that had been spotted roaming free within the Cairngorms National Park. Police and staff from nearby Highland Wildlife Park, which condemned the highly irresponsible act, were called in to track the big cats after they were seen in the Drumguish area, near Kingussie. Officials revealed that after a night-long hunt, the animals, which are known to prey on small mammals, birds and livestock, were humanely caught in baited traps. They will now be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo where they will spend the next month in quarantine as staff assess their health and wellbeing. Police Scotland said officers were continuing to investigate who was responsible for releasing the animals, which had no connection to the park, and which experts fear would have died had they been left to fend for themselves. The animals were found near straw bedding which contained dead chicks and porcupine quills. Grooming gangs are responsible for two reports of child sex abuse every day, police figures suggest. The data, which comes from all 43 forces in England and Wales, records 717 grooming gang cases in 2023 and a further 572 in the first nine months of last year. The figures were collected as part of the Hydrant Programme, which collates and analyses statistics on 'group-based' sexual abuse, including the ethnicity of perpetrators. The initiative was set up on the recommendation of Professor Alexis Jay, author of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, after she warned of the lack of good quality data on groomers and their victims. The scandal over grooming gangs has reignited in recent weeks after Labour rejected calls for a government-led inquiry into offences such as those committed in Oldham. Labour veteran and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham gave his support to a new national inquiry yesterday, as he said locally-led probes do not have the same legal powers as nationwide ones. This puts him at odds with Labour ministers, who insist they are focusing on delivering action for victims by enacting the recommendations of Professor Jay's 2022 review. The Hydrant Programme analysis reveals that in 2023 'group-based' offending, which is defined as involving two or more people, accounted for 4,228 offences, or 3.7 per cent of all 115,489 child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes. Sir Keir Starmer - pictured yesterday - has faced calls for launch a new inquiry into grooming gangs Out of the group-based offending cases, 717 - or 17 per cent - involved grooming gangs. Another 26 per cent of group offences took place within families. The majority of perpetrators, 83 per cent, were white, with another 7 per cent defined as Asian, 5 per cent as black and 3 per cent as mixed race. The Hydrant Programme has now provided an ethnic breakdown among suspected groomers in 2024. This showed that in January to September 2024, 13.7 per cent of suspects were from a Pakistani background, compared to 63 per cent who were white. Officials have emphasised that these figures should be treated with caution. They note that it only covers a minority of alleged offenders because ethnicity is only recorded after suspects have been interviewed by police and confirmed their ethnic background. The Jay report, which was published in 2014, found that the majority of 'known perpetrators' of grooming in Rotherham 'were of Pakistani heritage'. It comes as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy rejected Andy Burnham's calls for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs but left the door open for a future investigation. Ms Nandy, the MP for Wigan, said she disagreed with her party colleague after the Greater Manchester mayor expressed his support for a new investigation into historical child sexual abuse in areas including Oldham and Rochdale. Out of the group-based offending cases, 717 - or 17 per cent - involved grooming gangs. Another 26 per cent of group offences took place within families. Source: Hydrant Programme However, she said the Government would not rule out launching a further investigation 'if it's needed'. Ministers have said their priority is acting on the 2022 recommendations of Professor Alexis Jay's seven year inquiry into child sexual abuse, which have not yet been implemented. Asked during this morning's broadcast round about Mr Burnham's intervention, Ms Nandy told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I get the point that Andy's making. 'He said that there was a case for a smaller, more limited national inquiry into the specific issues that the inquiry that he instigated could not pick up. 'I do understand that because the inquiry that we had here in Greater Manchester, astonishingly, some of the Greater Manchester Police officers refused to even take part, and the local inquiry couldn't compel them to do so.' She added: 'But I do disagree with Andy actually. The reason that the Theresa May government set up a national inquiry, which ran for seven years and took evidence from thousands of victims, is precisely because of the points that Andy made. 'That inquiry found what every inquiry has found, that young girls weren't believed because they were young, they were female, and they were working-class, and that the systems that were supposed to protect them protected themselves instead of protecting those brave young victims.' Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that launching a further inquiry, as opposition critics have demanded, could delay action on tackling child sexual abuse. Andy Burnham has backed calls for a new national inquiry On Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government would begin to implement Prof Jay's call for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, with further details to be set out in the coming weeks. Labour veteran Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester on Thursday: 'I did hear last night coming out of that debate, ministers saying they are open to discussing issues now with survivors. 'I will add my voice into this and say I do think there is the case for a limited national inquiry that draws on reviews like the one that I commissioned, and the one we have seen in Rotherham, the one we have seen in Telford, to draw out some of these national issues and compel people to give evidence who then may have charges to answer and be held to account.' The mayor said a series of reviews he commissioned into abuse in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale were limited compared to what a national investigation could achieve. MPs on Wednesday rejected a Tory amendment to the Government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which called for another national inquiry and, if approved, would have derailed the legislation. Survivors groups have warned that the 'excessive' focus on grooming gangs is obscuring the fact that they account for a small minority of overall sexual abuse and putting victims off revealing their stories. Dramatic bodycam footage shows the moment the son of world-renowned violinist Nigel Kennedy was caught drug dealing for a major county lines gang. Sark Yves Amadeus Kennedy, 29, was a key member of a multi-million-pound crime gang running the 'H' and 'KAM' drug lines. The group flooded the streets of South Worcestershire with 25kg of cocaine, worth more than 1.5million, which was delivered to dealers from Birmingham. Kennedy was one of 15 gang members jailed for a total of 96 years following a four-year undercover investigation by West Mercia Police officers. In June 2021, he was arrested when police stopped the 'stash car' he was using to ferry the drugs around and officers found almost 400 wraps of cocaine worth 15,000 stuffed inside pairs of disposable gloves. Kennedy, who was wearing an expensive Rolex watch and gold chain, told officers his drug dealing was a 'one off'. He was jailed for 33 months after admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine. And then in 2022, just weeks after being released, he was arrested again when police caught him dumping wraps of cocaine outside a school in Malvern. Sark Yves Amadeus Kennedy, 29, was a key member of a multi-million pound crime gang running the 'H' and 'KAM' drug lines In June 2021, Kennedy was arrested when police stopped the 'stash car' he was using to ferry the drugs around to dealers Kennedy, who a judge said was 'up to his neck in the filthy [drug] trade', was eventually jailed for five years and nine months His father Nigel told MailOnline in August last year that he believed his son's first prison sentence had done his son 'some good'. He said: 'It's made a man out of him, he's not an overgrown boy. It's like being in the Army, I suppose. It toughens you up.' 'He was moved around a lot in the prison system and I didn't see him until his [first] term was finished. It felt like a weird position. I was completely powerless and worried for his life. I prayed he would come out of it in one piece, and luckily that's how it transpired.' But in October, Kennedy, who a judge said was 'up to his neck in the filthy [drug] trade', was jailed again for five years and nine months. The court heard how Kennedy was a member of the gang targeted by West Mercia Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). Officers had attempted to arrest the gang's leaders, Ameeth Mudhar and Syed Alom, several times before they were brought to justice after they were caught on undercover footage supplying drugs to a network of street dealers. On one occasion, officers tried to stop Alom and his 'lieutenant' Shakir Ali but they rammed a police car before speeding away. Aston Villa fan Nigel Kennedy and son Sark, now 29, in 2000 Officers had attempted to arrest the gang's leaders, Ameeth Mudhar (left) and Syed Alom (right), several times before they were brought to justice The group flooded the streets of South Worcestershire with 25kg of cocaine, worth more than 1.5million, which was delivered to dealers from Birmingham Kennedy was one of 15 gang members jailed for a total of 96 years following a four-year undercover investigation by West Mercia Police officers On one occasion, officers tried to stop Alom and his 'lieutenant' Shakir Ali but they rammed a police car before speeding away During the four-year operation, police seized around 750g of cocaine Footage shows the pair hurling drugs out of the car windows before narrowly missing running over a child as he crossed the road with his family. The car was eventually dumped in a pub car park and the pair fled on foot. Surveillance videos also showed the gang stashing cocaine, including a bag of drugs worth 8,000, in a bush in Worcestershire. In December 2020, Alom was arrested at his home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, and he was remanded in custody. Meanwhile Mudhar fled to Dubai and sent mocking phone messages claiming he was 'ten steps ahead' of the authorities and Alom. In one message, he said: 'Business will never go down. How many times do you think we've been nicked? 'We've got brothers, we've got cousins, we've got boys. The lines will always come back on, let me tell you that.' Surveillance videos also showed the gang stashing cocaine, including a bag of drugs worth 8,000, in a bush in Worcestershire During the operation, police seized around 750g of cocaine and 2kg of cannabis worth over 80,000 In April 2021, he returned to the UK where he was arrested by police at his home in Malvern. During the four-year operation, police seized around 750g of cocaine and 2kg of cannabis worth over 80,000. Mudhar was jailed for 14-and-a-half years and Alom who was sentenced to ten years in prison last February. Police say that due to his time spent in custody, Alom was released last month and made subject of a 'serious crime prevention order.' Los Angeles residents are furious a billionaire tycoon spent thousands of dollars on private firefighters to help protect his business while emergency services struggle to contain the flames. Billionaire developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso is receiving backlash online after the New York Times reported that he had hired private fire crews to protect Palisades Village - an upscale outdoor mall owned by the businessman. 'So Rick directly or indirectly contributed to the fires by diverting resources to himself and away from the greater population. I think this needs to be investigated ASAP', one user wrote on X. Another said: 'We cannot survive the billionaire class'. A separate account commented: 'Dystopian capitalism'. DailyMail.com has reached out to Caruso's team. Fire crews for hire can cost between $3,000 and $10,000 a day and are mostly contracted with insurance companies or the government. Emergency teams have been scrambling to put out the flames that started in the affluent Pacific Palisades area on Tuesday. Around 20,000 acres of land have been damaged and 200,000 have been told to evacuate. Footage posted on X shows a crew of private firefighters protection a Hollywood Hills home Firefighters mop up hot spots near the major communications towers on Mount Wilson, as the Eaton Fire continues to burn on January 9, 2025 near Altadena, California Billionaire Rick Caruso came under fire after it was reported that he hired a private crew of fire fighters to protect the Palisades Village mall he owns The water system used to fight the Palisades fire has buckled under the demands of what has been called the most destructive fire in the city' history, with some fire hydrants having run dry. Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the entitlement of some of the city's most privileged elites who have seemingly had access to these strained resources while the city continues to burn. A video posted to X showing private firefighters guarding a Hollywood Hills house from the flames has sparked further outrage. The clip shows how a private fire crew sets up sprinklers to cascade water from the house's second floor in an attempt to prevent it from setting alight. 'What world is California in?', one X user wrote, while another asked: 'So the private firefighters are using public water?'. 'So that's why the firefighters are running out of water', another comment read. It comes after an LA millionaire CEO sparked outrage for a 'tone deaf' post asking for help from 'private firefighters' to protect his Pacific Palisades mansion while emergency services scrambled to help residents as the area burned to the ground. Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, posted on X pleading for help as a massive wildfire tore through the hillside. Keith Wasserman faced backlash after he asked to be put in touch with a private firefighting crew on his Instagram Mr Wasserman posted on X after fleeing his own home during a devastating wildfire Firefighters fight the flames from the Palisades Fire burning a house during a powerful windstorm on January 8 'Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you,' he wrote, before receiving backlash from what he called 'trolls'. 'Incredible nerve,' wrote commenter Sam Vance. 'His family is evacuated and he's trying to hire private firefighters to risk their lives to save a home he most certainly has insured. Incredibly tone deaf.' Another user, going by Jacquie, weighed in: 'If you find yourself tweeting for private firefighters to protect your property, you should probably question what you have become as a human being.' User Renny added: 'So you're suggesting that potentially lifesaving resources (even if 'private') should be diverted to save your house because you're rich while tens of thousands of people try to evacuate?' Mr Wasserman clapped back that he had left 'hours ago', noting that he was only 'trying to protect homes'. This is not the first time LA's richest residents have used private fire crews to protect their homes from deadly wildfires. Back in 2018, Kim Kardashian and her then-husband Kanye West were criticised after it was revealed that they had paid for private firefighters to save their home from the Woolsey wildfire. But others praised the former couple, as their efforts ended up saving the whole neighbourhood from devastation. Aerial view captures Pacific Palisades fire devastation showing miles of ash and destruction In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, burned homes are seen during the Palisades fire in the Malibu area of Los Angeles county, California on January 9, 2025 People embrace while looking over the remains of a home that was destroyed by the Eaton wildfire in the Altadena, California A firefighter sets a backburn in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 This handout satellite picture courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows a Shortwave infrared (SWIR) overview of homes after in La Costa Beach, Malibu, Los Angeles, California on January 9, 2025 People embrace as they return to the home after it has been burned down by wildfires in the Los Angeles area Across Los Angeles some 180,000 people have been given mandatory evacuation orders, while another 200,000 have been put on alert and warned to consider fleeing their homes There are currently six fires blazing across Los Angeles and its neighbouring Ventura county. The fires began on Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades, an affluent residential neighbourhood on the coast 20 miles west of downtown LA. The historic infernos have taken the lives of 10 people and devoured nearly 10,000 buildings. Rows of glitzy waterfront houses now lay in charred ruins after the punishing blaze ripped through them - save for one miracle structure which stood alone, flanked by smoldering debris on all sides. Dozens of blocks were flattened in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood moments away, home to a slew of A-list celebrities. For many, only the outlines of homes and their chimneys remained. Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, John Goodman, Candy Spelling, Milo Ventimiglia, and Miles Teller are among those whose homes were demolished. The so-called Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on LA's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) - or some 53 square miles. It has already surpassed the 2018 Woolsey fire as the most destructive fire in LA history. Staff trapped inside Britain's highest pub for six days have finally been able to leave after a fellow barmaid came to the rescue. Heavy snow in recent days saw 23 visitors and six staff trapped inside the Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, which claims to be Britain's highest public house at 1,732 feet (528m) above sea level. Customers had trekked to the world famous boozer on Saturday night and later became 'snowed in' as they were unable to drive home following the inclement weather. The pub kept the public updated with their situation on social media, with heartwarming posts showing guests making snowmen and playing board games together to get through each day. They even received some tasty gifts from supermarket chain Aldi after the pub announced it had experienced a 'red wine and banger shortage'. While a number of guests had been able to leave on Tuesday, it was not until Thursday that the staff were able to make their own exit when a fellow barmaid finally relieved them of their duties. Elle Applegarth, 25, from Washington, Sunderland, who works as a member of the bar staff, had managed to avoid the lock in after leaving early on Saturday. But she returned to the pub as a knight in shining armour yesterday to take over from her exhausted colleagues, despite the venue remaining closed. Heavy snow blanketed the Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, leaving 23 visitors and six staff trapped inside for six days Heavy snowfall meant the customers were unable to drive home on Saturday Those locked played cards and board games to keep themselves entertained Those trapped were finally able to leave on Thursday after staff member Elle Applegarth (pictured) arrived to relieve her colleagues of their duties A video from Ms Applegarth showed her arriving for her shift as staff and a guest left the venue. She said: 'The atmosphere, everyone (was) dead upset and ready to go! 'I think a lot of them had cabin fever. It's all fun at first but then the reality kicks in, you have to keep on going. 'The thing is, the staff have to keep working once they're here. 'I got here about 12.30pm (on Thursday) - everyone was just ready to leave. '(Someone) started crying, and I was like "has it been that bad?" and she went "no, I'm just tired now!"' She added: 'I had to leave early so I managed to miss getting locked in. 'The roads have been so bad. There are places where you can see it's near enough four foot. The snow is just so high.' Australian tourists Paul Wright (right) and his family family enjoy drinks by candle light during their enforced stay at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire Paul Wright shares a pint with another snowed-in visitor at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire Paul and Naomi Wright (right) were expecting to be watching Harry Potter on London's West End earlier this week as part of their three-week holiday visiting family in the UK Paul (pictured with Tan Hill Inn manager Nicole), from Katherine in the Northern Territory, said he had never seen real snow before his holiday Ms Applegarth added: 'Normally when I come in the pub it's busy and full of people, whereas now it's not. 'We've walked in and the pub is spotless. The housekeeping's all been done! 'We've just quickly had a wipe over things, and so me and two other girls have been sitting by the fire having hot chocolate and marshmallows!' The pub wrote on Facebook on Thursday: 'Well, we're off for a cuddle from our loved ones and a relaxing break. 'The new staff are in (we've left them some Malbec and a sausage) - and we are still closed! 'We'd like to thank you all for your support during our snow-in, it touched our hearts. And thanks in advance for your future support to Tan Hill Inn.' Earlier the pub had announced the last remains of the snow were finally being cleared, paving the way for its customers to finally leave. 'It looks like the cavalry have arrived! The last stretch of snow drifts are being cleared in the dark this morning - in freezing temperatures by our "Highways heroes",' read a post from the pub, alongside a video of a tractor clearing snow. Some of the snowed-in visitors at the Tan Hill Inn ventured outside the pub on Sunday, making snowmen in the snow Cars are blanketed in snow amid wintry conditions at the Tan Hill Inn on Wednesday Snow trapped guests at the Tan Hill Inn, in North Yorkshire, have some fun out in the snow on Wednesday A tractor ploughs snow along the road leading to the Tan Hill Inn on Wednesday While 19 of the trapped guests were freed on Tuesday afternoon, all six staff and four guests, including two German tourists, as well as a dog, remained at the inn until Thursday. Staff at the inn faced the entire year away from their families, having arrived on New Years' Eve. The inn's housekeeper, Babs Phillips, 51, told how she now has a new granddaughter, while barmaid Kelly Dunn, 42, had to miss her daughter's 18th birthday. Co-manager David Rowell, 43, said he was looking forward to seeing his 14-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. On Wednesday evening, a local farmer drove his plough to the inn to replenish wine and sausage supplies, which had run low after being consumed by since-departed Australian guests. David added: 'Everyone was really craving chocolate, when there was no chocolate in the surprise delivery there was a few grumbles, but other than that we've managed to get out to a shop today. 'One of the chefs had a drive down in his 4x4 to make sure it was totally passable, he made it down there and back.' Two guests visiting from Bavaria, Germany, tried to escape behind the plough on Wednesday night, but were turned back after getting stuck. A tractor clearing the snow at the Tan Hill Inn where guests had been trapped together after becoming snowed in While 19 of the trapped guests were freed on Tuesday afternoon, all six staff and four guests, were freed on Thursday. Pictured: A tractor clearing the snow at the Tan Hill Inn David said: 'They got stuck and were advised by the plough to turn around and head back up, so that's what they did. 'They left this morning, as soon as they saw the new plough coming through they left and haven't returned as of yet, so it's looking OK.' Freddie Swift, 39, was travelling with his partner, boss, and friends when he became stuck at the Inn. Freddie, who lives in East Dulwich, London, said: 'It was nice being stuck and snowed in, back to reality, there's people everywhere in London. 'It was a great experience and a great adventure, but obviously we do need to get back to reality at some point, but it was a bit of a shock to be honest.' Freddie said the escape on Tuesday came with barely any notice, with guests told to be ready to make a speedy exit. He added: 'The chef told us we would have a little window where we could be rescued and get out, there were going to be farmers coming up on a snowplough but they didn't know what time. 'We just had to be ready, we had to pack our suitcases and be ready to go when they got there because they weren't going to wait, it was kind of like 'get in your car and go now', and that was the case. Freddie Swift, 39, was travelling with his partner Nathan Walker (pictured together), boss, and friends when he became stuck at the Inn Guests finally leave the Tan Hill Inn after a tractor cleared a path along a nearby road 'My partner, Nathan, was in the shower at the time and I was like 'you need to get out of the shower now, we're going'. 'We literally had to just chuck everything in the car and get out and follow the other cars and the tractor out.' However, once they were on the road the exit was anything but speedy - taking the freed guests an hour to travel the seven mile journey from the pub to the A66 road. Freddie added: 'It's so bendy and windy and obviously underneath the snow there's ice, so we just had to take it really slowly and be careful, and just follow the tractor really. 'All you could see was white fields, the visibility was better because the sun was out, but all you could see was white fields. 'The snow kept blowing on to the road.' Freddie said one thing he is glad about is being able to eat some different food, adding: 'There were only certain things when you're trying to work your way through the menu, it's nice to have a chicken fajita or some noodles. 'We went through most of the starters, we had Yorkshire puddings which is one of their specialities, fish and chips, all the typical pub classics, working through that menu being there for four days.' The owner of the Tan Hill Inn, Andrew Hields, 40, said: 'It's been a long and hard week for my staff and I'd like to echo the praise for them from the guests who were snowed in with them. 'The inn's isolation throws up unique problems, not just from the weather, and you have to be a special sort of person to work there. 'As well as doing their day-to-day duties they laid on entertainment for the 23 visitors and they managed it in the finest traditions of Tan Hill hospitality. 'These traditions date back to a time when the Tan Hill door was never closed on a traveller in bad weather. It's not something we are going to start doing now.' This is the moment a love triangle erupted into a dramatic brawl after a Thai woman's two lovers found out she had been cheating on them with a British expat. The cheating wife was married to one Thai man legally, and had reportedly undergone a religious wedding ceremony with another - before cheating on them both with a grey-haired Brit. But the secret romance was exposed after the four of them met at a market in Surin, Thailand, on January 5. According to local reports, the unnamed woman was drunk with her British boyfriend when her two lovers called her mobile phone asking for her whereabouts. She then allegedly dared them to meet her at the market where she was spending time with her latest love affair. Chaotic footage captured the moment the woman stood beside her boyfriend as her two Thai lovers stormed on to the scene. One of the men, donning a blue and white striped shirt, can be seen glaring at the pair as he paces over before an onlooker attempts to intervene. But the fight quickly escalates when the enraged wife throws a bottle of beer at one of the men, seen wearing a grey jacket. A mass fight erupted when a Thai woman's two lovers discovered she was seeing a British man The enraged wife throws a bottle of beer at one of her lovers, seen wearing a grey jacket The wife was allegedly drunk with the Brit when the other two men called her on the phone looking for her before she dared them to come to a market The British man, seen in a brown coat, wrestled one of the lovers to the floor Children on a slide could be seen watching the fight unfold at the Thai market She misses the shot, however, and the bottle shatters on the floor startling other customers as she flies into a fit of rage. The broken glass reportedly cut one of her Thai lover's leg, although the injury was not serious. Moments later, the wife then wrestles the man in the grey jacket, and her British boyfriend along with some locals attempt to separate them. The British man, wearing a brown jacket and jeans is then seen dragging the man in the grey coat to the side, in what appears to be a play area for children. He throws the Thai man to the floor as children are seen hanging their heads over the edge of a slide trying to catch a glimpse of the action. Eyewitness, Supredee Tookmai said: 'She hung up after the call and drank beer with the foreigner. 'Shortly after, there was another phone call, and she dared her two husbands to meet her. They actually did.' The wife was allegedly heard saying in one of the phone calls: 'Stop bothering me, I can be anywhere I want. It is my life.' Supredee added that the woman's son had contacted her after she posted the video. She said: 'Her child told me the woman tricked the two Thai husbands. 'She only took their money. When they were poor, she abandoned them and found a new boyfriend.' Officers at the local station later said they were unaware of the incident as no report had been filed. Labour peer Harriet Harman has joined calls for a new inquiry into grooming gangs as pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer. The party grandee suggested the Government should show an 'openness' to a future probe, although she said the PM was 'right' to resist a repeat of previous work. Sir Keir has faced a barrage of attacks from Elon Musk, the world's richest man, after it was revealed Labour had rejected a council's request for a Whitehall-led inquiry. Home Office minister Jess Phillips instead backed a locally-led probe into child sexual exploitation in Oldham. But, in a furious political row, both the Tories and Reform UK called for a new national inquiry with Mr Musk, the X owner, fuelling those demands in a slew of social media posts. Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, broke ranks with Sir Keir yesterday by calling for a limited national inquiry into child grooming. Although she spoke against a 're-run' of the seven-year Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), led by Professor Alexis Jay, Baroness Harman has also now proposed a 'mini-inquiry'. She told Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast: 'What I think the Government is saying very emphatically, and I think they're right about, is there is no point re-running the Alexis Jay inquiry, which took seven years and 200million.' Labour peer Harriet Harman has joined calls for a new inquiry into grooming gangs as pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer The party grandee suggested the Government should show an 'openness' to a future probe, although she said the Prime Minister was 'right' to resist a repeat of previous work The Labour peer added: 'One of the issues I think will need to be addressed by the Labour Government is... people need to be trained and confident in their roles that they can take on issues which are in particular communities and that does not mean they are racist.' 'I think that whether it's a task force, whether it's more action plans, whether it's a mini-inquiry on this, this is something we need to develop resilience in,' she continued. 'In police, Crown Prosecution Service, but above all in councils where people can feel 'we know we're doing the right thing here'.' Baroness Harman said there should always be 'an openness to further analysis, further consideration of what proposals would move things forward'. 'I think Jess Phillips has made that quite clear, she's open to further analysis. Whatever the nature of the process is, she has not shut the door on that,' she added. 'That is something that might well happen, but what the parameters of what it might be is a question that should be discussed.' Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy today said she disagrees with Mr Burnham's call for a limited national inquiry into child sexual abuse. The Culture Secretary told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I get the point that Andy's making. 'He said that there was a case for a smaller, more limited national inquiry into the specific issues that the inquiry that he instigated could not pick up. 'I do understand that because the inquiry that we had here in Greater Manchester, astonishingly, some of the Greater Manchester Police officers refused to even take part, and the local inquiry couldn't compel them to do so.' She added: 'But I do disagree with Andy actually. 'The reason that the Theresa May government set up a national inquiry, which ran for seven years and took evidence from thousands of victims, is precisely because of the points that Andy made. 'That inquiry found what every inquiry has found, that young girls weren't believed because they were young, they were female, and they were working class. 'And that the systems that were supposed to protect them protected themselves instead of protecting those brave young victims.' Asked whether the Government was ruling out another inquiry, Ms Nandy said: 'The reason I think that that people have heard from us that there may at some point in the future be another inquiry is because child abuse by its very nature is hidden 'It's secretive, and at various points, I'm sure that more will come out about the scandals that we've heard.' 'We are not going to rule out an inquiry ever,' she added, but insisted ministers were focused on delivering action for victims by responding to Prof. Jay's 2022 report. Seven migrants have been rescued from a lorry after a man inside begged police for help. The migrants had been in the vehicle for 18 hours when it was located in Cottenham, Cambridgeshire. Police were contacted by a man who was trapped inside. They were found on Tuesday, January, 7. It contained six men and one woman, who had been hideen in the lorry carrying cucumbers. The driver was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK and has bailed. Seven people were found inside a lorry carrying cucumbers in Cambridgeshire on Tuesday, January 7 A force spokesperson said: 'The individuals were checked over by the ambulance service and have since been referred to the immigration service. 'The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK and has since been bailed.' A secretary has been given the green light to sue her ex-employer over claims she was sacked for complaining about being served 'mouldy cheese in her jacket potato'. Marie Wright, who was employed at SFE Chetwode in Melton Mowbray, alleges she was fired for 'whistleblowing' about the 'microbiological safety of food' being served in the staff canteen. The Leicestershire-based business support firm claims the black particles in a pot of cheese served to accompany a lunchtime jacket potato were specks of pepper. After raising the issue to company bosses, Ms Wright claims she was told by a company director to put the cheese in the bin and be discreet. The former office clerk was dismissed with immediate effect last July for being rude and unproductive, an employment tribunal heard. But this is contested by Ms Wright, who believes the row over the jacket potato is the real reason for her dismissal. Now, an employment tribunal judge has ruled Ms Wright can proceed with her claim that she made a protected disclosure about a deliberate concealment of an endangerment of health and safety - if she makes an 1,000 deposit. 'Whether it was mouldy or a mistake I cannot determine from the photos, even less determine whether it is fanciful she held a reasonable belief it was mouldy,' employment judge Richard Adkinson said at the preliminary hearing. Marie Wright cited fears over the microbiological safety of food after claiming that a jacket potato she was served in the staff canteen of her former company contained 'mouldy cheese' In a hearing at Leicester Tribunal Hearing Centre, employment judge Richard Adkinson ruled that Ms Wright could pursue a claim against the firm on payment of a 1,000 deposit The tribunal heard Ms Wright was sacked from the firm, which provides the Samworth Foundation, a grant-making charity, with office space and administrative and accounting support, amid accusations she was rude and unproductive. Ms Wright, who represented herself at the hearing, denied those allegations, claiming her 'whistleblowing' about the food quality prompted her dismissal. She told the tribunal she was concerned that there was potential to harm a wide range of individuals by causing a food-borne illness, a stance the judge deemed 'reasonable'. 'It is hardly a controversial view that mould on food is generally a risk of harm and may cause food-borne illness and should therefore not be served,' said Adkinson. He added that while Ms Wright had a reasonable prospect of success in proving her complaints were protected disclosures, her claims of unfair dismissal were unlikely to succeed because she could not prove that her dismissal was motivated by the allegations. Other claims she made were struck out. Addressing allegations that Ms Wright used ChatGPT to write her statements, Adkinson said that while he would not be drawn into a discussion about the use of generative AI, the contrast between her written and oral evidence 'left me with that feeling'. He added that while the alleged use of AI was not relevant to his decision-making, she should take pains to understand clearly the nature of her case. 'I am left with a strong feeling Ms Wright is pursuing a claim she does not understand and cannot personally justify when asked,' said Adkinson. 'While it is clear she feels genuinely aggrieved, I am left with the impression that she does not understand if or how that grievance is legally justified.' A further case management hearing into the claims will held at a later date. SFE Chetwode declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Forensic tests on the body of a man exhumed after his daughter-in-law was arrested for a Christmas cake triple murder have confirmed he had traces of arsenic in his body. Retired bus driver Paulo Luiz, 68, died last September after eating contaminated bananas and his wife Zeli Dos Anjos, 61, was also taken ill but survived. Their daughter-in-law Deise Moura, 42, is currently in custody after police held her in connection with three murders and three attempted murders last month involving family members. Forensic experts exhumed Paulo's body from the Sao Vincente cemetery near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil as part of the probe which they believe was fuelled by Moura's long running feud with her in-laws. Confirmation that arsenic was found in his body was leaked to Brazilian media overnight but further details are expected to be revealed at a press conference later on Friday. Sources at the IGP, the Brazilian Institute for Forensic study, said traces of arsenic were found in his 'heart, stomach and intestines'. Paolo died in September after eating mashed bananas at his home at Arroio Do Sal near Porto Alegre. He died after vomiting, diarrhea and stomach bleeding, interpreted at the time as symptoms of food poisoning. Family members suspected poisoning at the time but Zeli refused to believe it, insisting the banana tree the fruit came from must have been 'contaminated' following floods in the area last year. Retired bus driver Paulo Luiz (pictured) mysteriously died in September from food poisoning after eating what police and family fear may have been a 'poisoned banana' Forensic experts exhumed Paulo's body from the Sao Vincente cemetery near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil as part of the probe which they believe was fuelled by Moura's long running feud with her in-laws Zeli Anjos (pictured) baked the cake with its deadly ingredient as a festive treat for a party on December 23 Deise Moura was taken initially to a police station at Canoas, then to Torres police station and is now in the women's jail in the city But following the deaths of three members of the same family last month after eating a poisoned Christmas cake laced with arsenic, police decided to exhume Paolo's body as part of the murder probe. Officials at the IGP later confirmed the amount of arsenic in the cake was 350 times the amount needed to kill someone and traces of the lethal chemical were found in the blood and urine of the victims and survivors. Paulo's wife Zeli baked the fruit cake with the arsenic-laced flour as a festive treat for a party on December 23. Within minutes of eating the cake, Zeli, who ate two slices, became ill and began vomiting. She spent the next week in hospital fighting for her life. Zeli's sisters Neuza Dos Anjos, 65, and Maida da Silva, 58, both died after eating it along with Neuza's daughter Tatiana Dos Santos, 43. Zeli's 10-year-old great-nephew was also taken ill. Detectives are investigating the relationship between Zeli and her daughter-in-law amid claims from relatives that the feuding pair had fallen out many years ago. Police statements released in Brazil suggest that the women have never got on with Moura telling police during interviews that she referred to Zeli as 'naja' which is Portuguese for cobra. But despite their fractious relationship, Moura has insisted she is 'shocked' at being a suspect for the killings and insists that she is innocent, according to her lawyer. MailOnline revealed how Paulo died earlier last year when he and Zeli were rushed to hospital after eating mashed bananas. Pictured: The Christmas cake that was consumed by guests on December 23 The mother of one had been arrested at her home in Nova Santa Rita late on Sunday Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was rushed to hospital in critical condition before dying the following day Several members of the family died after eating the cake Paulo died without leaving a will and 'with assets' according to his death certificate. In prosecution papers released to the Brazilian media, it has now been alleged that Moura had taken the bananas to the couple's home as a 'peace offering' after not speaking to her in-laws for three and a half years in an 'attempt at building bridges'. A source told MailOnline: 'After the bananas incident, Zeli's sister Maida was suspicious and urged her to take the fruit to a lab for testing, but Zeli refused. Police have told MailOnline Moura's feud with her mother-in-law began in 2004 after Zeli withdraw money from her son Diego's account without telling him and angering his wife. A source said: 'The money was eventually paid back but things and despite attempts at trying to patch things up over the years things didn't really improve. 'Deise and her husband would boycott family gatherings and his side of the family didn't go to Deise's graduation ceremony. 'They would spend Christmas apart and block each other on the phone, the last time they met was four years ago when they tried to make a go of it but it didn't work.' The Christmas cake poisoning made headlines around the world after details emerged but it took a dramatic twist with Moura's arrest last Sunday. 10 year old Matheus Marques da Silva who survived eating the poisoned cake with Father Leonir Alves at the hospital in Torres, Brazil The woman was arrested for triple homicide and attempted homicide Deise Moura (pictured) was held by police at the home she shares with husband Brazilian police in Torres hold a press conference today to explain the arrest of Deise Moura At a press conference police confirmed that forensic tests had revealed the presence of arsenic in the cake and it was traced to flour in Zeli's kitchen at her seaside home in Arroio do Sal, near Torres. Further investigations revealed how Moura had on several occasions searched on her phone and laptop the word 'arsenic' since November. Moura appeared before a judge this week who confirmed she will remain in custody for at least 30 days during the investigation. Her lawyer highlighted what he said were 'inconsistencies' in the case saying there was 'nothing to explain why the poisoned flour was linked to the suspect'. He added: 'The findings are all very preliminary, questions still need to be answered, what is the link between the poison and Deise? 'There is no explanation as to how the flour ended up in Zeli's house, nor where or how it was acquired. These are minimal questions that need answering. 'However, all we have instead, are reports from family members and alleged data extraction from her mobile phone. 'Deise has made no secret that she didn't get on with her mother-in-law and she has told police that but as yet I have not had full access to the investigation files.' Police are also probing whether Moura was behind the September poisoning so she and Diego could inherit the family's assets. Public security secretary for the district told local media: 'The body of Paulo will be exhumed by the end of the week at the latest. Tests will then be carried out and we should have those results back within ten days.' A beloved family-run bakery chain will close its doors for good this weekend after 120 years. Oddie's employs more than 100 people across its 13 stores in Lancashire but will be shutting up shop on Saturday, January 11. The announcement has left customers 'devastated' with many taking to social media to voice their shock and sadness. In November how the fourth-generation family bakery put the company up for sale due to soaring costs and declining footfall. Bosses said a last minute withdrawal by an un-named buyer had 'left us with no choice but to consider closure'. The firm had been looking to secure an urgent rescue deal to avoid closing all 13 locations in Burnley, Colne, Foulridge, Nelson, Padiham and Todmorde. It employed Azets, the UK top ten accounting and advisory firm, alongside Brabners Solicitors, in a bid to secure its future. However, a statement on Oddie's website this week read: 'After 120 years we are closing our doors. Oddie's employs more than 100 people across its 13 stores in Lancashire but will be shutting up shop on Saturday, January 11 The firm had been looking to secure an urgent rescue deal to avoid closing all 13 locations in Burnley, Colne, Foulridge, Nelson, Padiham and Todmorde King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, tries a piece of 'Sad Cake' as former managing director of Oddie's, William Oddie, looks on during a visit to mark the 100th birthday of the family run bakery in 2005 'The last day of trading will be Saturday 11th January. We have loved being part of your lives.' Posters in one shop said: 'The last day to stock up will be Saturday 11th January. After 120 years we are closing our doors.' Harley Crook posted on Facebook saying: 'It's no joke. All Oddie's close 11th Jan.' Zara Bon replied: 'This is heartbreaking! First loss of 2025! Greggs just doesn't hit the same.' Vicky Marie wrote: 'Very sad, both of my children worked for Oddie's over the years, one of them being a manageress. 'You pay for quality, Pound Bakery and Greggs can't even be compared to them. 'If you pay cheap you get cheap. It's not the staffs fault things have to be weighed. 'Many people out of jobs again, hopefully they have found something else, sad times.' Loren Durkin wrote 'Oh my word this is so sad' while Lauren McFadyen said 'Devastated'. Rio Lynch added: '120 years! Sad news man proper British company.' Emma Louise Mcmanus said: 'I think the saddest part is not everyone that works there has a job to go to when it closes.' In a statement in November, Lara Oddie, director at Oddie's, said: 'Oddie's is a fourth-generation family business, started in 1905 by William Henry Oddie. 'Over the decades, it has withstood two world wars and their food scarcity, the Great Depression, the fall of Lancashire's cotton industry, the rise of powerful supermarkets, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced us to adapt our entire operating model. 'But with an energy crisis quadrupling costs and footfall declining on the high streets, the Oddie family decided it was time to sell. 'Sadly, an eleventh-hour withdrawal by the buyer has left us with no choice but to consider closure. 'As a family firm, we have always seen ourselves as part of the local community fabric, making this a heartbreaking situation for us, our devoted staff, and the loyal customers in Burnley and Pendle who have cherished our our unique products.' David Muir is an egomaniac who behaves like a cross between fictional male supermodel Derek Zoolander and Will Ferrell's cringeworthy Anchorman, insiders claim. ABC News moles told Page Six that 51 year-old Muir's jacket gaffe while covering the LA wildfires had left them 'embarrassed and horrified'. The insiders claimed Muir's decision to cinch in the waist of a fire retardant jacket with clothespins is par for the course for the 'narcissistic' anchor. 'It's pathetic. All flexed muscles and posing,' one source said, referencing how Muir's Instagram feed is plastered with photos of him sporting tight, black t-shirts while out in the field. 'He's actually Zoolander meets Anchorman. He forgets he is the face of ABC News, not Abercrombie & Fitch!' The insider was referring to Ben Stiller's fictional supermodel from the 2001 movie Zoolander and Will Ferrell's cheesy Ron Burgundy newsreader from 2004's Anchorman. Another insider claimed they had 'never' before seen ABC News jackets 'made to look like a firefighter jacket', noting that Muir's jacket 'matches the first responders'. Others slammed Muir for 'trying to look "hot" during a fire' and argued that covering the catastrophic fires - which have killed at least 10 people and consumed more than 34,000 acres across LA - 'shouldnt be about vanity, it should be about people losing their homes.' Eagle-eyed ABC News viewers noticed David Muir committed a fashion faux pas while reporting on the wildfires in Los Angeles Using clothespins to cinch ill-fitting clothes is a standard television style maneuvering for when more traditional tailoring is unavailable Muir enjoys posting social media images of himself in his trademark tight t-shirts, to the amusement of some of his colleagues Muir was pointing out the rubble behind him during a stand-up hit in the Pacific Palisades, when he turned around - revealing the fashion faux pas. 'As you can see here behind me,' he said, while the clamps could be seen on the back of his jacket. Insiders have claimed that ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic, who has been dubbed Muirs 'security blanket', was on scene during the live hit. A network president does not typically accompany anchors on a shoot unless they are moderating a presidential debate or interviewing a high-profile individual, such as the president, Page Six reported. It is unclear why Karamehmedovic, who used to be Muir's producer before taking the job of network boss, was on the scene. But sources say he is 'excellent at field producing in these situations'. They also note that he and Muir share a 'level of trust'. Although the network has not offered an explanation for Muir's fashion choice, ABC has claimed he was 'solely focused' on the fires - not his appearance. 'Here's an anchor standing in the middle of horrific wildfires where people have lost everything,' a spokesperson said in a statement to Page Six. 'David is solely focused on the people who are suffering and the heroic efforts of the firefighters and thats what everyone should be focused on.' DailyMail.com has reached out to ABC News for comment on this story. Regardless, the fashion faux pas has sparked heavy criticism of the anchor from fans and industry members alike. 'Nice jacket bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground,' wrote television producer Jack Osbourne. Others also chimed in, calling Muir 'pathetic' and 'narcissistic.' 'He's a fraud from head to toe,' journalist Paul V Rea added, calling the host of World News Tonight with David Muir 'basically a hair model reading a script.' Another commented, '@DavidMuir, just when your reputation hasn't gotten bad enough.' Muir's antics on screen and on social media have seen him likened to fictional supermodel Derek Zoolander (played by Ben Stiller, left) and Will Ferrell's Anchorman Ron Burgundy (right) Sources at ABC News have now alleged the network is 'embarrassed and horrified' by Muir's gaffe, with several insiders saying the 'narcissistic' move is typical of the anchor. They referenced how Muir's Instagram feed is plastered with photos of him sporting tight, black t-shirts while out in the field Many online called Muir 'pathetic' and 'narcissistic' for the use of the clamps The incident comes amid an ongoing feud between Muir and fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos Using clothespins to cinch ill-fitting clothes is a standard television style maneuvering for when more traditional tailoring is unavailable, according to the New York Post. Muir was also mocked on his Instagram account, with one poster writing: 'You're so vain, you probably think this fire's about you, don't you,' a reference to the classic Carly Simon song. Another said: 'Are you going to clip your flame retardant jacket today too?' And a third wrote: 'if you wanted a tailored look then go to a fashion show! So embarrassing.' Muir's sartorial awareness was deemed was jarring in front of destroyed buildings, as thousands of people were left with nothing but ash across the City of Angels. The true extent of the loss remains unknown, as the Sunset Fire is set to wreak burning havoc in the epicenter of the city, causing the famous strip - home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TLC Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl - to be evacuated. It also comes amid an ongoing feud between Muir and fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos. The two newsmen have been known to have tension and now are barely seen on screen together as a result, as revealed by Oliver Darcy in a holiday edition of the Status newsletter. 'There certainly has been historic tension to put it lightly between the two anchors,' Darcy wrote in response to a question about the dynamic between Muir and Stephanopoulos. 'That has resulted in headaches for the network's bosses. But viewers may notice that, for the last few years, Stephanopoulos has been absent during politics-focused special coverage, such as Election Night. Those duties now fall squarely to David Muir.' The two news anchors have reportedly had a professional rivalry for years, which widened when Joe Biden's advisors chose Stephanopoulos to conduct the first interview with the president following his disastrous debate performance. The ruins of a burned property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 A firefighter protects a beach front property while fighting the Palisades Fire Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, California Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday The US Sun also reported in September that as the anchors moved into a new studio in New York City, Stephanopoulos 'wanted a dressing room as big as rival David Muir's space.' 'George has been interested in making sure he gets whatever David Muir gets,' the insider told the outlet. 'He's been asking people on his team to find out what David is getting to make sure his is comparable.' Muir was born in Syracuse, upstate New York. He wanted to be a journalist from a young age and cites former ABC anchor Peter Jennings as his biggest inspiration. Muir got his first job in 1994 at Syracuse TV station WTVH. He spent three years at WCVB in Boston, then joined ABC News as an overnight anchor in 2003. Muir's star has steadily risen since and he was named successor to Diane Sawyer after landing the hosting gig of ABC World News Tonight in 2014. A beach front property is burned by the Palisades Fire Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. A man searches though his destroyed home after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Thursday Fire crews battle the Eaton Fire as it impacts a structure Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Altadena, CA Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures, officials said as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The Kenneth Fire started in the late Thursday afternoon in the San Fernando Valley just 2 miles from a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire. It moved into neighboring Ventura County but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. About 400 firefighters remained on scene overnight to guard against the fire flaring up. Only hours before the Kenneth Fire roared to life officials expressed encouragement after firefighters aided by calmer winds and help from crews from outside the state saw the first signs of successfully beating back the region's two devastating wildfires. The Eaton Fire near Pasadena that started Tuesday night has burned more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. Firefighters were able to establish the first bit of containment Thursday. To the west in Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires burning in the LA area has destroyed over 5,300 structures and firefighters had no containment. The looming US ban against TikTok is coming, and since the Chinese social media company has no more arms left to throw against the government with the Foreign Adversary Act, the company confirmed that it is shutting down its operations. Starting today, TikTok users in the United States only have less than ten days to use the renowned vertical format social media platform in the region. Global users outside the United States do not have to worry as TikTok is not shutting down worldwide, and this will only take effect in America as the said ban gave it a deadline to stop operations come January 19. TikTok Is Shutting Down US Operations Amidst Ban Threats A new report by CBS News shared a recent statement by TikTok representatives confirming that the app is officially shutting down its operations in the United States, as the company is facing the law's strict rule against them which asked for its ban. TikTok not only failed to divest ByteDance, but they also chose not to do so, and for several months, they tried to fight against the law. However, TikTok's main strategy of using the United States Constitution's First Amendment to fight against the law did not work for them as the judges that presided over their case shot down their arguments. Despite TikTok accepting its fate with the upcoming ban and shutting down US operations on its own, the company still reiterates that its forced closure is a violation of the First Amendment against Americans. Will Trump Save TikTok Once He's In Power? For now, TikTok only has more than a week until it shuts down its operations come January 19, and the platform will have no choice but to halt its availability or face the ban as mandated by the law. That being said, TikTok still has a chance to defend itself when the Supreme Court hears its arguments about an injunction against its ban but is still subject to the judiciary's decision. The other saving grace of TikTok now is when President-elect Donald J. Trump officially returns to the White House after he is sworn in, where he could allow TikTok to return by amending the law, but only after the shutdown. TikTok vs. The US: Foreign Adversary Act TikTok is in a rough spot in its operations in the United States, particularly as the Senate, Congress, and President Joe Biden approved the Foreign Adversary Act which designates the Chinese social media as a threat. However, TikTok is known for standing its ground, and the company instead chose to fight against the United States government instead of adhering to the requirements it needs to continue its operations. Despite its fight, TikTok faced massive scrutiny as the company tried to defend its position as a platform that is not connected to the Chinese government, with the likes of lawmakers and the Department of Justice wanting the court to junk the social media's appeal. It is also known that TikTok's defiance against the United States where it chose to remain affiliated with ByteDance did not help its case. TikTok failed to defend their side and uphold the basis of their lawsuit against the US government which centered on the First Amendment which centers on allowing Americans to exercise their right to free speech. The current administration and law are adamant about banning TikTok as per the Foreign Adversary Act, and come January 19, TikTok is shutting down the platform's operations, with only the next administration having the power to overturn this, but it will have to be after it shuts down. Terrifying footage has emerged of the moment a driver narrowly avoided hitting a vehicle at high speed after it crashed into a concrete barrier. The shocking near-miss happened on a stretch of the M7 motorway near Rooty Hill, in Sydney's west, just after 2pm on April 13, 2024. Dash cam footage from the vehicle travelling behind a white Hyundai hatchback showed the Hyundai crash head-on into the barrier on the right side of the highway. The hatchback immediately spun around into the path of the oncoming vehicle, but the two cars only just managed to avoid hitting each other. The vehicle travelling behind the hatchback then slowed down and pulled over onto the side of the road along with another vehicle. The clip captured the damage to the front exterior of the vehicle after it collided into the barricade. Debris came flying off the car while the bumper snapped off during the horror crash. Part of the barricade also came off following the collision. Moments earlier, the hatchback was seen merging into the lane where the barrier was constructed. Dash cam footage showed the moment the Hyundai crashed head on into the barrier on the right side of the highway on a stretch of the M7 The footage, which was later uploaded to Facebook, left dozens of commenters shocked that the crash didn't turn into a two-vehicle collision. 'Could have been a disaster for DC (dash cam) driver,' one person wrote. 'Well avoided by DC driver,' another person wrote. 'Holy s**t. DC driver is so lucky,' a third added. Others were left baffled by how the driver of the Hyundai managed to merge into the path of the road divider. 'Why did the white car think to go into that lane? It was marked yellow and clearly barricades were up?' one person wrote. 'How hard is it to stay in your own lane,' another person wrote. 'That is the entry for the road upgrade and very obvious,' a third added. The hatchback immediately spun around into the path of the oncoming vehicle, however the two cars managed to avoid colliding into one another Some wondered whether the road markings could have caused the crash. 'Could poor road marking at the work site be the problem?' one person wrote. 'The driver was probably confused with the new lines mixing in with the old ones,' said another. A NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia police are not aware of any reports made about the crash. The Czech suspect arrested over the murder of a British man who vanished in Benidorm was hauled to court in handcuffs today. The 32-year-old scowled as he was led into the court building in the Costa Blanca town of Torrevieja flanked by two armed police officers. He was appearing before an investigating judge in a behind-closed-doors hearing this morning, and has since been released on bail pending an ongoing criminal probe. His court hearing came three days after his arrest the same day father-of-two John George's body was found hidden under lemon trees in an orchard off a main road running between the towns of Rojales and Torrevieja. Officials signalled after releasing him investigators suspected at least one other person was involved in the crime although no new arrests have yet taken place. A spokesman for the Valencian Community's High Court of Justice, which covers the town of Torrevieja where the suspect appeared before a judge, said this afternoon: 'The head of Torrevieja's Court of Instruction Number Two, acting as a duty court, has decided to release with precautionary measures the man arrested in relationship to the homicide of a northern Irish citizen whose body was discovered in Rojales on Tuesday. 'The decision was taken in accordance with the criteria of public prosecutors. 'The judge is currently attributing to him a crime of homicide as an accomplice or by aiding and abetting the crime. The 32-year-old Czech suspect scowled as he was led into the court building in the Costa Blanca town of Torrevieja flanked by two armed police officers Mr George was first reported missing after he failed to board his flight home on December 18 The 37-year-old was at a friend's home in Alicante along Spain's Costa del Sol before later leaving to meet up with other friends in nearby Benidorm (pictured) 'His bail conditions include the obligations to sign on at court every fortnight and hand in his passport and he is also banned from leaving Spain. 'The court will continue with investigations with the intention of fully solving this case.' Police used up nearly all the 72 hours they were able to hold him in custody under Spanish law. It was not immediately clear if he had answered questions fired at him by detectives or had retained his right to silence. Police have not named the bearded suspect, who is from the Czech Republic, and are not expected to do so officially even if he ends up being remanded to a local jail as he continues to be investigated on suspicion of the Belfast man's homicide. Any formal charges would only be laid at a later stage of the judicial probe, which is likely to take at least several months to complete. Court officials are expected to confirm later today what the outcome of the court appearance has been, although they are unlikely to offer any details about what was said during the hearing. Yesterday the first pictures emerged of the remote spot where John's body was dumped after he went missing during a Costa Blanca holiday. Police had returned to the scene and one of the officers was using a metal detector to scour over the surrounding ground and a rural road beside the orchard. Mr George (left), also known as John Hardy, had been holidaying in Alicante and was last in touch with his family on December 14 A trail of dried blood was still visible on the rural road near overgrown lemon trees his decomposing remains were discovered under on Tuesday morning, suggesting he had been abandoned in a hurry. Police arrows had also been marked out on the ground which appeared to chart the pattern and direction of the bloodstains. No attempts had been made by the person or people who left the victim to bury his body in a shallow grave and instead it had simply been obscured under low-lying tree branches and foliage to prevent it being seen by passing motorists. John's father Billy named a number of people he described as suspects on his social media before his son's body was found, including a man from the Czech Republic. Post-mortem results have not yet been made public and police have not said how long they think John's body had been at the spot where it was found, although it is known his last contact with his family was on December 14. His family reported him missing after he failed to catch a scheduled flight home four days later after what was meant to be a short holiday. By December 23 his family had launched a GoFundMe campaign to aid a search, voicing concerns he had been the victim of a crime. John's brother Darren travelled to Alicante to help in the search with their parents, Billy and Sharon, and sister Courtney and Caitlin, along with up to 50 friends and wider family from Northern Ireland. Siblings Darren, Courtney, Caitlyn and Mr George (right) On January 1 members of K9 Search And Rescue NI, a volunteer canine search team, joined the wide-scale operation to find the missing man. Seven K9 search technicians and their Labrador retriever Rocko took part in the operation. They returned home on Sunday after scouring hundreds of miles of land. John's family, who are due to arrive back in Northern Ireland today, left a floral tribute yesterday in the Costa Blanca town near to where his body was found. In a video posted on social media Billy said: 'I've found my son. I'm bringing him home.' The Civil Guard has made only one official statement since Tuesday's grim find, saying: 'Following the discovery of the body, a 32 year old man was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of homicide. 'Further information will be provided as soon as more details become available.' A man known as Italy's Robinson Crusoe who lived alone on an idyllic island for 32 years following a shipwreck has died, Italian media reports. Mauro Morandi, who died on January 3 aged 85, lived as a hermit on the Isle of Budelli near Sardinia for three decades after he washed up on its pink beach Spiaggia Rosa in 1989 when his catamaran's engine failed while sailing to the south Pacific. The island's previous caretaker was on the verge of retirement when Morandi arrived so he abandoned his sailing plans, sold his boat and took over the role, ditching his job as a PE teacher. His life in solitude earned him the nickname as Italy's Robinson Crusoe. But in 2016, the Italian government made the island part of a national park and tried to evict Morandi to turn the island into a hub for environmental education. Morandi fought the eviction for five years and was even supported by an online petition signed by thousands of people demanding for the government to let Morandi stay. In 2021, Morandi gave in and moved to a small flat with just one bedroom on the nearby island of La Maddalena, where he suddenly had people nearby, something he said he later cherished. 'I have given up the fight. After 32 years here, I feel very sad to leave. They told me they need to do work on my house and this time it seems to be for real,' He told the Guardian at the time. Mauro Morandi, who died on January 3 aged 85, lived as a hermit on the Isle of Budelli near Sardinia for three decades He washed up on the island's pink beach Spiaggia Rosa in 1989 when his catamaran's engine failed while sailing to the south Pacific The hermit was originally from Modena in central Italy but had for years guarded Budelli, cleared its paths, swept its beaches and taught day-trippers about the environment 'I'll be living in the outskirts of the main town, so will just go there for shopping and the rest of the time keep myself to myself. My life won't change too much, I'll still see the sea.' The hermit was originally from Modena in central Italy but had for years guarded Budelli, cleared its paths, swept its beaches and taught day-trippers about the environment. Morandi, who had become popular online posting photos and videos from the desert island, attracted thousands of signatures on petitions trying to keep him on the island when the Italian government's eviction plans were revealed. His role first came under threat when the private company that owned the island went bankrupt and put the island up for sale in 2013. It was originally going to be sold to New Zealand businessman Michael Harte who pledged to keep on Morandi as the island's caretaker. But the Italian government intervened and a Sardinian judge ruled in 2016 the island should be returned to the public. The park's then president Giuseppe Bonanno warned Morandi's age and the standard of his home raised 'several legal problems' with him remaining on the island. Bonanno added at the time: 'Morandi symbolizes a man, enchanted by the elements, who decides to devote his life to contemplation and custody. Morandi, who had become popular online posting photos and videos from the desert island, attracted thousands of signatures on petitions trying to keep him on the island when the Italian government's eviction plans were revealed His role first came under threat when the private company that owned the island went bankrupt and put the island up for sale in 2013 In the quiet winter months, Morandi spent his time editing his pictures and uploading them onto his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages It was originally going to be sold to New Zealand businessman Michael Harte who pledged to keep on Morandi as the island's caretaker. But the Italian government intervened and a Sardinian judge ruled in 2016 the island should be returned to the public 'No one ignores [his] role in representing the historical memory of the place But it's hard to find a contractual arrangement for a person in his position.' In the quiet winter months, Morandi spent his time editing his pictures and uploading them onto his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages. 'The pictures represents my mood and state of mind,' he told MailOnline in 2016. But while the colder months could be lonely, he drew more than 1,300 tourists to the island in the summer. A furious Donald Trump scolded New York and the criminal justice system as he was given a slap on the wrist in the hush money case on Friday. The 78-year-old was spared jail and given an unconditional discharge for trying to hide hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels to cover up their alleged affair. Before learning his fate- 10 days before his second inauguration - he called the trial a 'political witch hunt', said it was 'terrible for New York' and said it had damaged his reputation. 'The people of our country got to see this first hand and voted, I won and got the largest number of votes of any Republican candidate in history,' he said via a TV screen in the Manhattan Criminal Court. Despite the lenient punishment, Trump will still be the first person in history to enter the White House as a convicted felon. Follow all the updates at DailyMail.com's live blog. A senior coroner has warned that there is a lack of communication over the 'risks of suicide' associated with anti-depressants following the death of royal family member Thomas Kingston - who ended his life after reacting to his medication. Mr Kingston, whose marriage to Lady Gabriella at Windsor Castle in 2019 was attended by the late Queen, died by suicide after he shot himself in February last year. An inquest into the 45-year-old's death was told he had recently been experiencing anxiety and when he took his life, had not long stopped taking antidepressants prescribed by a Buckingham Palace doctor. Despite his symptoms, the financier 'had not expressed any suicidal ideation' and coroner for Gloucestershire Katy Skerrett said his 'intent remains unclear' as he was suffering from 'adverse effects of medications he had recently been prescribed'. Now, in a prevention of future deaths report, Ms Skerrett, the senior coroner for Gloucestershire, has raised concerns over whether there is 'adequate communication' regarding the risks of suicide with such pills. Returning a verdict of suicide, she also questioned whether the current guidance to 'persist' with the drugs is 'appropriate' in circumstances when the individual is suffering 'adverse side effects'. The businessman was visiting his parents in Kemble, in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, for the weekend when he decided to take his own life. After having lunch with them, on February 25, he began to load his car and prepared to return to London. Thomas Kingston (left), the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor (right), took his life following an adverse effect to prescribed medication, an inquest heard Thomas Kingston (left) pictured marrying Lady Gabriella Windsor at St George's Chapel on May 18 2019 Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston watch the racing from the Royal Box as they attend day 5 of Royal Ascot 2023 Ms Skerrett said that between approximately 5pm to 6pm, Mr Kingston 'removed a shotgun from his vehicle which he had recently borrowed from his father for a shoot'. 'He then accessed an annex attached to his parent's property,' she continued. 'Within a locked bathroom he self-inflicted a gunshot to the head, and sustained injuries incompatible with life.' The former negotiator was subsequently found by his father and was later pronounced dead at 6:54pm by police, who confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. The coroner added: 'Mr Kingston took his own life using a shotgun which caused a severe traumatic wound to the head. 'Intent remains unclear as the deceased was suffering from adverse effects of medications he had recently been prescribed.' An inquest heard he had 'recently been experiencing anxiety' but had 'not expressed any suicidal ideation'. It was reported that Mr Kingston had initially been given sertraline, a drug used to treat depression and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, after complaining of trouble sleeping following stress at work. Mr Kingston (pictured), was visiting his parents in Kemble, in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, for the weekend when he decided to take his own life Mr Kingston watched the racing alongside Queen Camilla from the Royal Box at Ascot in June 2023 Lady Gabriella and Thomas Kingston had official photos taken on their wedding day - here with the late Queen and Prince Philip sat to the right of them Reports said both were prescribed by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace which is used by royal household staff. Mr Kingston returned to the surgery, saying they were not making him feel better. His doctor then moved him from sertraline to citalopram, a similar drug. It was reported that in the days leading up to his death, he had not long stopped taking anti-depressants to treat his symptoms. In light of his death, the coroner has said that there is a risk that others may die in similar circumstances unless action is taken to address her concerns relating to anti-depressants. The coroner questioned 'whether there is adequate communication of the risks of suicide associated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications'. 'And, whether the current guidance to persist with SSRI medication or switch to an alternative SSRI medication is appropriate when no benefit has been achieved and/ or especially when any adverse side effects are being experienced,' she added. A prevention of future deaths report was sent to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Royal College of General Practitioners. Each organisation has until March 3 to respond. In a statement released after Mr Kingston took his life, Buckingham Palace described Mr Kingston as an 'exceptional man' who 'lit up the lives of all who knew him'. In an unprecedented moment in U.S. history, President-elect Donald Trump faced sentencing on Friday in the Stormy Daniels hush money case in New York. The sentence was handed down in an austere Manhattan courtroom by Judge Juan M. Merchan, a New York state judge, who oversaw Trump's trial last year. At the end of the trial in May, Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The seriousness of the charges meant it was open to the judge to impose a jail sentence. However, under New York state law, they were 'E' level felony charges - the lowest level of felony - meaning a jail sentence was not mandatory. A fine or probation were also sentences the judge could have imposed for such charges. But, instead, Judge Merchan gave Trump a 'no-penalty' sentence called an unconditional discharge. An unconditional discharge means no jail time, no probation, and no fines for Trump, but it will go on his permanent record. Judge Merchan initially revealed his thinking in a dramatic court filing last week, when he said it was the 'most viable solution to ensure finality' in the case before Trump takes office. Other defendants who have received the same sentence include some convicted of speeding, or not having proper license plates. It means Trump will be a convicted felon. Ten days after his sentencing he will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the U.S. presidency. Donald Trump is receiving an 'unconditional discharge' meaning no jail, fine, or probation Judge Juan Merchan decided not to send Trump to jail Prosecutors did not oppose the judge over the unconditional discharge. The lenient sentence is a rarity in felony convictions such as Trump's. The judge has said he handed it down partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would arise if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trump's upcoming presidency. Under New York state law an unconditional discharge is described as a sentence 'without imprisonment, fine or probation supervision.' It is an option when a judge is of 'the opinion that no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendants release.' Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 onald Trump attends his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels Other New York cases in which unconditional discharges have been used previously include marijuana offenses, and defendants not paying taxes. It has also been used in cases where defendants have been convicted of trespassing, or refused to take a sobriety test when caught driving under the influence. A lawyer received an unconditional discharge after being convicted of submitting false payment vouchers, and another lawyer was given that sentence for a charge of official misconduct. Since his conviction in May, Trump's lawyers had fought tooth and nail in a bid to get the case dismissed, or his sentencing postponed They made various arguments to Judge Merchan, New York appeals judges, and federal courts including the U.S. Supreme Court. Donald Trump denies claims by Stormy Daniels (R) Trump supporters congregate at Collect Pond Park across from Manhattan Criminal Court waiting for a verdict in the the former Presidents Hush money trial on May 30, 2024 in New York City Trump's lawyers repeatedly argued that he was covered by presidential immunity from prosecution. In July, they got a boost with a Supreme Court decision that affords former commanders-in-chief considerable immunity. After Trump won the election November his lawyers argued the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his transition to the Oval Office and his second term. Judge Merchan, a Democrat, repeatedly postponed the sentencing, which had initially been set for July. Donald Trump sits in the courtroom as the jury is scheduled to continue deliberations in his criminal trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, New York, USA, 30 May 2024 Donald Trump, far left, watches as jury foreperson #1 delivers guilty verdicts with judge Juan Merchan listening on the bench in Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024 But last week, he set Friday, January 10 as the sentencing date. He wrote that he was striving to balance Trump's need to govern, the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, the respect due a jury verdict and the public's expectation that 'no one is above the law.' Trump's lawyers then launched a flurry of last-minute efforts to block the sentencing. Their last hope vanished on Thursday night with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to delay the sentencing. A flight attendant caught on camera a mysterious spherical object flying above the plane she was working on, thousands of feet above the Bahamas. Cassandra Martin, a flight attendant for private air service Surjet, was flying with two pilots in an empty jet on December 23 when Miami air traffic control alerted them to a 'foreign object' as they were flying back to Fort Lauderdale. The eerie footage showed a rounded blur of white light that faded into a green color, with a circular halo surrounding the object. 'All of a sudden, I heard traffic control say, "We have a foreign object, can you please identify",' Martin said. 'I looked to the left, and pilot saw three objects, I only saw one, and I grabbed my phone, I just pressed it to the window to see if I could get a video of what the object was.' 'I don't know what it was, and it turned slightly green, almost kind of like it had an electric field around it of some sort, and it stayed with us for about 45 minutes and then we didn't see it again, and we were about 43-, 45,000 feet and it was way above us,' she added. Martin added that the object moved around in zigzag patterns. The height the object and the aircraft were flying at, however, is too high for a drone to operate, NBC 6 reported. 'I think we were astonished, and it was something that you really can't explain but I don't have the qualifications to know what that is,' Martin said, recalling the conversation she had with the pilots on board. Cassandra Martin, a flight attendant for private air service Surjet, was flying with two pilots in an empty jet on December 23 when air traffic control alerted them to a 'foreign object' 'It had capabilities just to zigzag and change color, so that was a little daunting, to the say the least, but you know, it's also something fascinating that I was able to see and capture with my phone,' Martin said Defense expert Bryan Bender, who works with a nonprofit advocacy group Americans for Safe Aerospace, said: 'I think the video is compelling, so you know, this video and this testimony rhymes a lot with a number of cases we heard from military pilots going back even 10 or 15 years and that is these orbs. 'In some cases, they called them Tic Tacs, they were more oblong in shape but flying at very high altitudes but also being able to maneuver in ways that don't seem to make a lot of sense to us, at least we know physics. 'And so, the question is, are these foreign adversaries that have made some breakthrough, or is it something else, and of course, that something else could be many things.' Bender added that the Pentagon had an office to investigate such sightings, and said it is imperative for national security and aviation safety that they find out what these unidentified anomalies are, NBC 6 reported. 'Was it a little bit eerie? Yes, because again, we were pretty high up and whatever we saw was even higher than us,' Martin said. 'It had capabilities just to zigzag and change color, so that was a little daunting, to the say the least, but you know, it's also something fascinating that I was able to see and capture with my phone.' The sighting comes after a mysterious 'orange UFO orb' was seen flying over military base Fort Campbell along the Tennessee-Kentucky border on New Year's Day. An anonymous user on Reddit captured footage of a mystifying 'bright orange light' hovering relatively low as it traveled over the military base. The user, who witnessed the perplexing 'celestial' event alongside their father, who is a seasoned Army veteran, said that they 'couldn't explain' what they were seeing in the skies above. An anonymous user on Reddit captured footage of a mystifying 'bright orange light' flying relatively low as it traveled over Fort Campbell - a military base along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, on New Year's Day Around 12:10am on January 1, the user, who was visiting family in a city just outside Nashville, then tried to capture the object 'as quickly as possible,' snapping a near 35-second clip of the glowing orb 'My dad, a former soldier with nearly 30 years of Army experience and extensive knowledge of the aircrafts that fly over his house, said he couldnt explain what he saw - this was unlike anything hed encountered before,' the post reads. Around 12:10am on January 1, the Redditor, who was visiting family in a city just outside Nashville, tried to capture the object 'as quickly as possible,' snapping a near 35-second clip of the glowing orb. 'Just after midnight, my dad was outside watching fireworks when he noticed a bright orange light flying relatively low and maintaining a steady, consistent speed as it traveled from the northwest - where both Fort Campbell and the local airport are located,' the user claimed. The curious onlookers were mystified at the unidentified flying object as it did not appear to have any additional lights as they suspect most drones do. 'My friend, dad, and I watched the object together and were surprised it had no additional lights, as one might expect on a drone,' the post adds. 'Initially, I thought it might be a hobbyist drone capturing footage of the fireworks for the New Year, but the apparent distance it was flying has made me second-guess that assumption.' As more sightings are being reported across the country, many to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), they continue to fuel public interest and speculation about the nature of these unidentified aerial phenomena. A Iowa hospital nurse has been fired from her job after she was seen flossing her teeth over a patient in a viral video. The unidentified employee was filmed performing dental care while standing over patient Cole 'Tiny' Cross who was being treated at Ottumwa Regional Health Center over Christmas for congenital heart disease. In a Facebook video shared by friend Joe Bainbridge, the now-terminated nurse can be seen cleaning her teeth as Cross attempts to grab her attention by reaching out to her. The video, which has garnered nearly 1000 shares and 500 likes, has left many viewers raging over the incident. 'This is bizarre!!! Theres something not right with this lady and to think she has someones life literally in her hands is scary . completely unsanitary and leaning that close to him while wiping her spit on her hands is unacceptable,' one commented. While another added: 'Somebody needs to go the Administrators Office and tell them he needs transferred. I would then call The Iowa Inspections and appeals..... and the other agencies listed below that investigate Hospital neglect or abuse.' 'Omg....that's pretty disgusting behavior. Praying for this poor fella,' one Facebook-er simply said. Another demanded: 'Yeah hellll no. I hope she is reprimanded for her actions. Not acceptable. And he is clearly raising his hand to get her attention and she just carries on by flossing her teeth. Unacceptable!!' A Iowa hospital nurse has been fired from her job after she was seen flossing her teeth over a patient in a viral video 'How unsanitary!!! Especially with how much sickness is going around and she has her hands in her mouth dealing with sick patients is UNHINGED!!,' another added. Since the incident, the hospital issued a statement and stated they had a 'zero-tolerance policy'. 'Ottumwa Regional Health Center has a zero-tolerance policy for actions that don't align with our core values. 'As soon as this unacceptable behavior was flagged for us early last week, we addressed it, immediately suspending and then terminating the employment of the staff member involved. 'This one incident is not a reflection of the dedication of our team or the great care we provide our community each day. 'We encourage anyone who sees something like this to speak up and report it so we can resolve it as quickly as possible, ensuring the health and safety of our patients and learning from it,' the hospital system stated. Cross was released from MercyOne in Des Moines on January 6, 2025. It remains unclear if legal action will be taken against the hospital and nurse. The unidentified employee was reportedly performing dental care while standing over patient Cole 'Tiny' Cross who was being treated at Ottumwa Regional Health Center over Christmas for congenital heart disease Since the incident, the hospital issued a statement and stated they had a 'zero-tolerance policy' In a Facebook video shared by friend Joe Bainbridge, the now-terminated nurse can be seen cleaning her teeth as Cross attempts to grab her attention by reaching out to her DailyMail.com has reached out to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center for a comment. This comes nearly a year after a Long Island nurse who was caught on video picking up an infant and slamming him face down into his bassinet was cleared of all charges. Amanda Burke was charged with endangering the welfare of a child at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip in April 2023. Her trial was scheduled to begin in March 2024, but a judge granted the defense motion to dismiss after the prosecution revealed their medical expert said it was unlikely that Burke injured the baby. A letter obtained by the local newspaper said the state Education Department's Office of Professional Discipline found Burke's actions 'did not constitute professional misconduct' and classified it as 'simple negligence' in June. Burke's attorney, Robert Gottlieb, told DailyMail.com his client is grateful the charges have been dismissed but claimed the decision came far too late. Rare mass protests erupted in China over the 'cover up' of a teenager's mysterious death as large crowds charged riot police who responded with brutal violence. Footage circulating on social media captured the furious demonstrators clashing with authorities in China's northwestern Shaanxi province in the protest outside a vocational school where a student died earlier in the month. Authorities said the teenager fell to his death on January 2 in an accident at his school dormitory, but following his death allegations began spreading on social media that there had been a cover-up. Clips on social media platform X have shown the clash took place at the new campus of Pucheng County Vocational Education Center. In one chaotic video, dozen of police officers in riot gear are seen retreating from the angry crowd that are hurling rods and other objects at them. In another clip, a few police officers rushed to grab a woman while another policeman a few metres away repeatedly hit a man with his baton when the man approached him. Footage also depicted young demonstrators storming school buildings, confronting officials, and clashing with heavily armed police. Authorities reportedly deployed tear gas and increased their presence on the campus in a bid to quell the riots. Clips on social media platform X have shown the clash took place at the new campus of Pucheng County Vocational Education Center A teen students death in China has sparked a spate of protests that have reportedly been silenced on Chinese social media In one clip, a woman is seen being led away from the protets while covered in blood Pucheng authorities in a January 5 statement said a student surnamed Dang died at the campus of Pucheng County Vocational Education Center after falling from a building New-York based Human Rights In China said the protest was due to the death of the 17-year-old student, according to its post on X on January 7. It said the family of the deceased student was prohibited from checking their child's corpse for any traumatic injuries, and were told the school's surveillance system was damaged after demanding to see security footage. The family claimed photos from the student's mobile phone had also been deleted. 'These actions triggered public speculation that the school was trying to cover up the truth,' the group said. Weinans public security bureau did not immediately respond to a request by Reuters to confirm whether the protest was related to the details mentioned by Human Rights In China. Pucheng authorities in a January 5 statement said a student surnamed Dang died at the campus of Pucheng County Vocational Education Center after falling from a building. 'These actions triggered public speculation that the school was trying to cover up the truth,' the group said. There is little information on what happened next, but reports on social media suggest a much larger police presence in Pucheng in recent days with no more reports of demonstrations. One clip shows a protester wiping blood from his head Demonstrators were also seen in footage hurling objects at police officers Cops were seen responding with force as the protesters carried out their demonstration There is little information on what happened next, but reports on social media suggest a much larger police presence in Pucheng in recent days with no more reports of demonstrations Other clips show protesters hurling objects such as traffic cones at groups of retreating police; and officers tackling and detaining people while beating them with batons A joint investigation team put together for the case ruled out any crime, and informed the student's family of their conclusion. Dang was found dead by another student at 3am on January 2, according to the investigation team's statement. Prior to his death, Dang had been woken up in the night by other students chatting in his dormitory, their statement said. He got into an argument and altercation with a boy, which was resolved by a school official. Later that night, his body was found by another student at the foot of the dormitory block. The statement described it as 'an accident where a student fell from a height at school'. It added that the police had conducted investigations and an autopsy, and 'at present exclude it as a criminal case'. The public security authorities had conducted on-site investigations, reviewed surveillance footage, conducted interviews, and performed an external examination on the body, the investigation team said. Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Friday. And the Kremlin praised Trump for his willingness to speak about the war with Ukraine. 'We need a mutual desire and political willingness to engage in a dialogue,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters. 'We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to solve issues via dialogue. We welcome that.' But he added that it looked like any formal meeting would have to wait until Trump takes the oath of office on January 20th. 'It looks like things will start to move after Trump enters the Oval Office,' he said. Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night that 'Putin wants to meet, and we're setting it up.' Donald Trump, hosting a meeting with Republican governors on Thursday night at Mar-a-Lago, said Vladimir Putin wants to meet with him The president-elect offered no timeline of when that could happen. But he indicated the meeting would be about ending the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. 'We have to get that war over with,' Trump said. President Joe Biden's administration has provided Ukraine with $61.4 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its invasion. Ukraine worries Trump will end U.S. assistance. Trump has repeatedly said the war must end. Earlier this week he suggested it could be done in the next six months. But Ukraine and some Western allies have questioned Russia's seriousness in negotiations and said that the Kremlin's conditions are a demand for Ukrainian capitulation. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would need assurances about its future protection from Russia as part of a peace negotiation. Russia, Ukraine's giant neighbor to the West, has a history of invading Ukraine. 'European security guarantees are not sufficient for Ukraine that fights such an enemy as Russia. We need joint security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe,' Zelensky said. Zelensky has pressed for Ukraine to become a member of NATO, which operates under the rule if one NATO country is attacked all members of the alliance respond. Trump, on Tuesday, expressed sympathy for Russia's opposition to Ukraine joining NATO. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met several times in his first term - above their meeting in Helsinki in July 2018 Trump and Zelensky met in New York in September 2024 (above) and then spoke on the phone after Trump won the November election The president-elect is considering one proposal that would prevent Kyiv from joining NATO for at least 20 years in exchange for lucrative arms deals, the Wall Street Journal reported. In the meantime, the conflict would be halted by the implementation of a large demilitarized zone (DMZ) that would effectively freeze the fighting in place and force Kyiv to relinquish up to 20 per cent of its territory as part of an '800-mile DMZ'. But several obstacles must be circumvented before the conflict can be frozen and a ceasefire introduced - starting with the evident lack of enthusiasm from those expected to agree to and uphold the proposal. Trump has already spoken with Zelensky ahead of his second term. Shortly after Trump won the November election, the two men spoke - a conversation characterized by the Ukrainian leader as 'excellent'. Trump and Putin met several times during his first term. And Trump has expressed his admiration for the Russian leader. Sudan starts distribution of China-donated rice Xinhua) 10:35, January 10, 2025 KHARTOUM, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sudan launched on Wednesday the distribution of 1,250 tonnes of rice donated by China to districts across the country. The rice was shipped to Port Sudan, the capital of eastern Sudan's Red Sea State, last month to support humanitarian response in the war-torn country. Sudanese government officials and representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan attended the launching ceremony in Port Sudan. In an address to reporters at the ceremony, Salwa Adam Benya, Sudan's humanitarian aid commissioner, expressed profound appreciation on behalf of the Sudanese government and people for China's supportive stance towards Sudan. Benya hailed China as "a friendly country, which has provided and continues to provide substantial assistance to Sudan." The official said the emergency food aid from China would be allocated to all states, including those in the Darfur region, stressing the Sudanese government's commitment to facilitating aid delivery across the country. She emphasized that the Sudanese side hopes to expand and consolidate its friendly cooperation with China in the process of restoring stability and rebuilding the country. For his part, Zhang Xianghua, charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy, expressed hope that this donation of rice would significantly contribute to alleviating the difficulties faced by the Sudanese people. At the ceremony, Zhang announced that a new batch of Chinese aid would arrive soon, noting over the past year, China has sent to Sudan health and epidemic prevention supplies, including mosquito nets, insecticides, and materials for water purification, in addition to disaster relief items such as tents and blankets. Describing the strategic partnership between China and Sudan as "strong," Zhang reiterated China's firm support for peace and development in Sudan, saying the Chinese government is highly concerned about Sudan's humanitarian situation and will continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability. According to official statistics, 28.9 million people in Sudan need humanitarian assistance due to an ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023. In a report released last month, the UN estimated that more than 24.6 million people -- half of Sudan's population -- would likely face high levels of acute food insecurity as of May 2025. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) As part of Los Angeles that continues to burn, such as the famous Hollywood Hills, wildfires bring an emergency alert miscommunication that causes panic and confusion. For the third consecutive day, the fires are forcing neighborhoods to evacuate, with a procedural mistake in the system that has resulted in the sending of an evacuation alert to every smartphone in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles Fire Situation Many neighborhoods in Los Angeles have been hit by wildfires that have spread very fast and reached residential areas and commercial properties. At least 10 are dead, per CBS News. The flames still burn on, and emergency services are working through the clock to contain the spread and evacuate residents from danger zones. Emergency Alert Mistake Triggers Widespread Panic A technical failure during the crisis sent an evacuation alert to the smartphone of every resident in Los Angeles County, even if they were miles away from the fire. Everyone in my newsroom got this alert... in Ktown, in NoHo, in Century City, in Manhattan beach. Must have been sent in error, because there's no way. pic.twitter.com/M4MlNfxBId Brittny Mejia (@brittny_mejia) January 9, 2025 According to Tech Crunch, the wrong message caused daily life to be disrupted for many, confusing those living in areas far removed from the fire zones. "An evacuation order for residents near the Kenneth Fire currently burning in West Hills was mistakenly issued Countywide," LA County's official account wrote on a post on X. "This alert was only intended for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills." Even as Los Angeles residents took to social media to report receiving the evacuation alerteven in areas far from any active firepress notifications began flooding in around 4 p.m. PT, interrupting a live Fox LA broadcast. The meteorologist appeared confused while trying to clarify the situation. Technical Failure is the Culprit Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn quickly came out to explain the mistake. She acknowledged that a technical glitch brought the error. I have been informed the evacuation warning that many of us just received on our phones was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error. A correction will be issued shortly. Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) January 10, 2025 She assured the public that a correction would be made shortly. Though push notifications are critical in alerting the residents of a looming threat, they can cause undue panic if not accurately targeted. Accurate Emergency Alerts Emergency push notifications are critical to public safety, especially during a wildfire. This is because such disasters often spread rapidly and unpredictably. Smartphone makers allow government officials to send such alerts based on the location of the users so that people get notified about the potential threats in their area. Back in May, NASA revealed "Wildfire Digital Twin" which uses AI to forecast not just the blaze, but also the smoke. The project is poised to help firefighters monitor the fires and predict any smoke-related events. According to the space agency, the project aims to produce regional ensemble models with varying spatial resolution. Each pixel can have 10 to 30 meters of resolution to pave the way for more detailed forecasts. Since the firefighters are the frontmen during wildfires, it's important to give them useful and timely data regarding the incident. Wildfire Digital Twin does not require big supercomputers or the internet just to operate. Even a small tablet is enough to run it aside from the laptop. It's made simpler so it can be easy to use. Failed presidential candidate Ron DeSantis will need another path to future political success when his term lapses, ass he has pooh-poohed talk that he plans to nominate himself for the coveted seat in the US Senate seat. 'Absolutely not,' the governor told reporters on Friday. 'I think we've got a number of great candidates, but I want to make sure that we know what we're going to get,' DeSantis said. The Florida governor has the sole prerogative to appoint the state's senator when Marco Rubio is elevated to Donald Trump's cabinet as Secretary of State. DeSantis, 46, was thought to be looking in the mirror when choosing who will hold the position for two years and boost his chances of winning as the incumbent come election time in November 2026. 'It's a perfectly plausible scenario,' politico Andrew Darling told DailyMail.com. Darling, who ran for Orange County sheriff in 2020 and now runs his own law firm in Orlando, said: 'DeSantis is incredibly smart and his people were surely advising him to appoint himself to replace Rubio as he ramps up his bid to succeed Trump in four years' time.' MAGA supporters were not happy to see DeSantis standing against Trump in last year's GOP race. He quit before the New Hampshire primary after being beaten badly in the Iowa caucuses. 'When he decided to run for president he alienated a lot of Trump Republicans,' Darling said. Failed presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, 46, won't be taking a seat in the US Senate despite buzz that he was going to name himself to Marco Rubio's seat MAGA supporters were not happy to see DeSantis standing against Trump in last year's GOP race. He quit before the New Hampshire primary after being beaten badly in the Iowa caucuses 'I can't see a scenario where he would run for senator in two years' time and win without the support of Trump. 'But if he was the incumbent, that's another story.' DeSantis will be out of a job in January 2027 since he cannot seek re-election to the Tallahassee governor's mansion due to term limits. Orlando lawyer Andrew Darling told DailyMail.com he believes DeSantis's advisors were eager to have him appoint himself to replace Senator Marco Rubio Speculation has been rife over DeSantis' next long-term move following the crushing of his immediate presidential ambitions and the potential of ending in the political wilderness. He has to look at all options when considering how to best position himself for a second run for the GOP presidential nomination. At one point, Trump was reported to be considering him for Defense Secretary following the controversy raging over nominee Pete Hegseth's sex assault allegation and alcohol use. But days later the President-elect doubled down on support for the embattled former Fox News host and military veteran. Darling continued: 'There's nothing DeSantis can accomplish as governor in the next two years that he hasn't already accomplished. Rubio was nominated for the White House role of Secretary of State. He has served in the Senate since 2011 Trump was reported to be considering DeSantis for Defense Secretary following the controversy raging over nominee Pete Hegseth's sex assault allegation and alcohol use If DeSantis were to step down from his position, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez would step into the role 'Also, there would be no need for a special election to replace him. Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez would take over.' Shortly after Rubio was nominated for his White House role, the President-elect's daughter-in-law Lara was widely seen as a favorite to fill the gap. But the wife of Donald Trump's middle son Eric, who formerly chaired the Republican National Committee, told the incoming Oval Office incumbent she didn't want to be parachuted in. '(Trump) was a little upset whenever I said that, you know, 'I'm not gonna do it right now',' she disclosed exclusively to DailyMail.com. 'The only person that Donald Trump wanted to see there was probably me,' she explained when asked who she thinks is his preference now that she's not an option. But DeSantis has said he will make the call over the replacement for tough-talking Miami-born Rubio, 53 a senator since 2011 whose confirmation for Defense Secretary is considered all but certain. Meanwhile, the specter of the President-elect's views on who should get the job remains. When asked who she thinks Trump prefers to take the seat now, Lara admitted: 'I haven't talked to him about who he thinks would be the right fit. 'I would say, as far as Governor Ron DeSantis is concerned, I believe he will choose a great person. Shortly after Rubio was nominated for his White House role, the President-elect's daughter-in-law Lara was widely tipped as a favorite to fill the Senate position But Lara, who is the wife of Donald Trump's middle son Eric, stated she wasn't interested in the Senate position Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody reportedly would rather run for governor in the 2026 election than be appointed 'And I think the amazing thing is, he has really great names in terms of people who could potentially fill that seat.' She continued: 'I think he's run this state very successfully. He's one of the reasons Eric and I moved our entire family to Florida, because we did a great job here and has done a great job as governor. 'I think his instinct will probably lead him in the right direction.' DeSantis picking himself would have meant riding over potential candidates currently being talked of as in the mix, including Lieutenant Governor Nunez who like Rubio is Cuban-American. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody reportedly would rather run for governor in the 2026 election than be appointed. And two combat veterans, US Representatives Brian Mast and Cory Mills, would eagerly fill the gap, reports said. The fickle nature of political relationships might stand in their way, with a governor who has gained a reputation for falling out with some allies and team members. Mast, who lost both legs serving in Afghanistan with the US Army Rangers, and former sniper Mills both blotted their copybooks with DeSantis by endorsing Trump for the 2024 presidential race. US Representatives Brian Mast and Cory Mills, who are both US veterans, would also eagerly fill the governor seat DeSantis reportedly had a falling out with Trump's appointed Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, who turned around his failing 2018 campaign and secured him the governor position In the past, the governor has had a high turnover of staff for his political campaigns, with some suggesting he has difficulty relating to people even including those who turn out to vote for him. Notably, he parted with political consultant Susie Wiles, the campaign mastermind behind Donald Trump's sensational election comeback. Wiles, 67 rewarded for her triumph by being picked by Trump as his White House Chief of Staff was drafted into DeSantis's failing 2018 campaign to be governor and turned it around spectacularly to secure him the job. But he later turned against her, reports said. And that decision came back to haunt him in spectacular fashion in the 2024 presidential race with Wiles taking her inside knowledge to Trump. Pundits agree DeSantis's next move is crucial to furthering his political ambitions. Some would also argue it's also important to his finances. DeSantis comes from a working-class family in the small Gulf Coast town of Dunedin. After Yale University and Harvard Law School, he joined the US Navy and served as a legal advisor to SEAL Team One. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007. He was elected to Congress in 2012 and reelected for the following two terms after leaving the military. While the other Florida Senator and former governor Rick Scott is reported to be worth up to $546million, DeSantis's financial situation is far more modest, but it has improved during his tenure in Tallahassee. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, joined by his wife Casey and their children, walked in a Fourth of July parade in 2023 in New Hampshire during his presidential candidate run The governor makes $144,400 a year in the job, a considerable pay cut from his previous roles and $110,000 less than a Florida Supreme Court judge. Just before leaving the military, he bought a $307,500 home near Jacksonville with a $314,000 loan from the Department of Veteran Affairs. He joined a Florida-based law firm that gave him a six-figure salary and wrote his first book, Dreams from Our Founding Fathers: First Principles in the Age of Obama, which is reported to have made him $20,000. This earned him the prestige to run for Congress which earned him $174,000 a year. During his 2021 declaration to the Florida Commission of Ethics, he said his net worth was $318,986.40 with $202,979.88 of that in checking and savings accounts and $89,065.89 in a thrift savings plan. But his fortunes were boosted considerably the following year with a $1.25million HarperCollins deal for his best-selling book, The Courage to be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival. His latest declared net worth to the commission, for 2023, is $1,773,157.40. He and his wife, mother-of-three Casey, don't own property, according to records. A vain fugitive commented on his own 'wanted' mugshot to insist he was 'better looking' than the image police posted online. Wannabe influencer Luke Ruiz, is being sought by police in an investigation into drug supply in Newport, South Wales. But Ruiz taunted cops on their social media appeal to say he had started a new life in Spain - and wished officers had chosen a more flattering image. Under a picture of the mugshot, Ruiz said: 'Could have used a better photo. I'm better looking than that I promise.' Ruiz claimed the force knows that he is over 1,500 miles away in Marbella. He left the country after being released from prison nine months ago after a charge of aggravated burglary was dropped just days before he was to appear in court. Wannabe influencer Luke Ruiz (pictured) commented on his own 'wanted' mugshot to insist he was 'better looking' than the image police posted online Luiz, 29, is being sought by police in an investigation into drug supply in Newport, South Wales Ruiz has 4.3K followers on Facebook, over 1,000 followers on TikTok, and under 50 subscribers on YouTube where he shares 'epic travel vlogs and endless fun' The 29-year-old has said he wants to put his former life behind him and focus on building a career as a YouTuber. In a social media post he said: 'They could have just emailed me, instead of posting the worst photo of me possible all over social media'. 'I have already told them everything I know and I don't even live in the country anymore. 'I have started a new life in Spain and I am making money on social media, through Facebook and YouTube.' Earlier this week Gwent police posted: 'Officers investigating the supply of Class A drugs in Newport would like to speak to Luke Ruiz. 'Officers would like to speak to the 29-year-old from Newport who may be able to assist with their investigation. 'Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 101, send a direct message on social media, or via the website, quoting log reference 2400057350. The 29-year-old has said he wants to put his former life behind him and focus on building a career as a YouTuber Ruiz left the country after being released from prison nine months ago after a charge of aggravated burglary 'Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.' Ruiz has 4.3K followers on Facebook, over 1,000 followers on TikTok, and under 50 subscribers on YouTube where he shares 'epic travel vlogs and endless fun'. Luke said: 'If Im wanted for a crime, feel free to let me know directly. If not, and you just want a chat, then inbox me. 'We can talk about how theres absolutely nothing I can assist you with'. A farm worker was kicked to death after he apparently attempted to rape a cow in Brazil. The 45-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, was found Wednesday by witnesses lying unconscious near the animal and wearing a condom at a farm located in Samambaia, a town in the Federal District. A coworker told police that he and the man spent Tuesday drinking together at the property, where the victim lived. The farm worker woke up Wednesday around 5am to milk two cows before he met with the owner for breakfast. The coworker revealed that the man then returned to collect even more milk from the cows. When the man failed to return, the coworker told investigators that he and others became concerned. He went looking for the man and discovered him lying unconscious next to one of the cows around 6:35 am. The coworker moved the man's body and noticed that he was wearing a condom. A worker was found dead at a farm in Samambaia, Brazil on Wednesday morning after he allegedly tried to rape a cow (not pictured) and was kicked to death Paramedics attempted to revive the farm worker, who did not have a heartbeat, and pronounced him dead an hour later. The incident comes almost five months after a Russian tourist who allegedly tried to rape a cow was killed in Thailand. Evgenii Kuvshinov, 26, is said to have stripped off and sidled over to a male bull before turning his attention to a female tied to a wooden fence in a field He attempted to climb on the cow but she reacted violently and pinned him to the ground before goring him. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass demanded her Fire Department make an extra $49million of budget cuts last week, a leaked memo revealed. This cut is already on top of $17.6million of cuts in her latest budget. The extra cuts, requested just days before fires broke out and devastated swathes of Los Angeles, would have shut down 16 fire stations and crippled the department's ability to respond to emergencies, sources said. DailyMail.com interviewed current and former senior LAFD officers briefed on the shocking proposed cuts, and exclusively obtained the memo from an LA Fire Department (LAFD) whistleblower who posts on social media under the moniker 'LAFD Watchdog'. The memo is dated January 6, only a day before the devastating Palisades Fire started. According to the sources, it was sent from LAFD 'top brass' at City Hall to division chiefs and captains - after a fraught meeting the previous Friday between Chief Kristin Crowley and Mayor Bass. 'The LAFD is still going through a FY [financial year] 2024/2025 $48.8million budget reduction exercise with the CAO [City Attorney's Office],' the document said. 'The only way to provide a cost savings would be to close as many as 16 fire stations (not resources, fire stations); this equates to at least one fire station per City Council District. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass demanded her Fire Department make an extra $49million of budget cuts last week, a leaked memo revealed - on top of the 17.6million cut in latest budget The cuts would've shut down 16 fire stations and crippled the department's ability to respond to emergencies The memo was sent from LAFD 'top brass' at City Hall to division chiefs and captains. DailyMail.com interviewed current and former senior LAFD officers who were briefed 'The details of this plan have not yet been developed. This is a worst-case scenario and is NOT happening yet.' Now more than 54-square-miles are scorched in at least five separate fires, more than 4,000 homes and buildings destroyed, ten dead and more injured. And the billionaire and celebrity-inhabited neighborhood of Pacific Palisades was almost completely wiped off the map. But some senior firefighters' blood was already boiling when they received the note from their bosses about proposed budget slashes. 'They did not want this out. It's an internal memo not to be distributed,' one currently-serving 25-year veteran of the Fire Department told DailyMail.com. 'It comes from top brass downtown, City Hall. 'They're trying to allocate more money for the homeless, and they need to start taking from everybody. 'But we already exhausted our budget. It's already tapped. That's why they cut the fire academy in half, so they could save more money. That's why we're not testing if hydrants work any more. We're doing everything we can to save money. The memo is dated January 6 , only a day before the devastating Palisades Fire started. Even though it stated it wasn't happening yet, the fire department's resources have already been exhausted The sources briefed on the memo said Bass first made the demand for tens of millions from the cash-strapped department in a meeting with Chief Crowley on Friday 'We have fire engines we can't get parts for. When one breaks down we strip it of parts to put on other fire engines because we can't buy any more parts. 'If you shut down 16 stations, that's about 750 personnel. Then they expect us to take the same call volume. And yesterday we did 3,800 calls, almost twice of what our daily call volume usually is. 'We're already shy 200 paramedics, and we're on the verge of another 200 quitting because we can't do this any more. 'If we don't work overtime, they suspend and threaten to terminate us. It's untenable.' Chief Crowley had already warned Bass last month that $17.6million of cuts had 'severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires' The sources briefed on the memo said Bass first made the demand for tens of millions from the cash-strapped department in a meeting with Chief Crowley on Friday. 'Bass wanted to cut even more,' one source briefed on the meeting said. 'They asked for $49million more on Friday last week. The Chief said "We don't have it". The Mayor said "Find it".' Chief Crowley had already warned Bass last month that $17.6million of cuts the mayor successfully steered through a City Council vote had 'severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.' Crowley wrote the warning in a December 4 memo first reported by NBC LA, highlighting the $7 million reduction in 'overtime variable staffing hours' it caused, which 'adversely affected the Department's ability to maintain core operations, such as [...] training, fire prevention, and community education.' Bass defended her leadership when asked at a press conference on Thursday and said: 'I just said what I believe is the most important thing for us to do right now. That's going to continued to be my focus' Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The cost of these fires have been enormous. One-hundred-and-twenty foot flames have destroyed thousands of homes, businesses, schools and places of worship, causing an estimated $49billion worth of damage so far in communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. Ferocious winds combined with an extensive drought created the 'perfect storm' for the infernos, which firefighters are struggling to contain. The Palisades Fire is currently only eight percent contained as firefighters have fought in vain for two days straight to try and stop its spread. The Eaton Fire is currently not contained at all, the Kenneth Fire and Hurst Fire are around 35percent contained and the Lidia Fire is 75percent contained. Meanwhile, Bass, who was on a trip to Ghana to attend the West African country's presidential inauguration on Tuesday has been heavily criticized for the trip - as a warning was sent out about 'critical' weather conditions days prior. Bass defended her leadership when asked at a press conference on Thursday and said: 'I just said what I believe is the most important thing for us to do right now. That's going to continued to be my focus.' Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed how he got President-elect Donald Trump to shift his attention away from annexing Canada at their meeting last year. Trudeau shared that Trump's plan to make Canada a U.S. state came up during his trip down to Mar-a-Lago late last year. 'We started musing back and forth about this,' Trudeau recalled about his meeting with Trump. 'And I started to suggest well maybe there could be a trade for Vermont or California for certain parts.' The Canadian leader revealed what went down in the closed-door meeting during an interview with MSNBC's Jen Psaki. 'He immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore, and we moved on to a different conversation,' Trudeau said. The prime minister reiterated again that Canada becoming the 51st state 'will not ever happen' and warned he needs to stay focused on Trump's tariff threats. 'If he does choose to go forward with tariffs that raise the cost of just about everything for American citizens, that on top of that we're going to have to have a robust response to that,' Trudeau said. Trump's talk of annexing Canada and making it the 51st state picked up after he won the presidential election in November. Weeks later he threatened 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian imports. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he suggested to Trump that the U.S. trade two states for parts of Canada during their meeting as the president-elect calls for Canada to be the 51st state, and Trump decided it was 'not that funny anymore' and they moved on to other conversation The president-elect has accused U.S.'s northern neighbor of not doing enough to stop the flow of drugs and immigrants across the border as well as taking advantage on trade. While Trudeau got Trump to stop talking about making a Canada a state when they met, the president-elect has repeated his needling on the subject ever since. He even repeated his claim that Canada should be the 51st state at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night. 'I called him Governor Trudeau because they should be the 51st state really. It would make a great state,' Trump said. He also baselessly claimed the people of Canada like it. He also repeated his threat of tariffs on Canada, the U.S.' biggest trade partner, specifically singling out the car and lumber industries. Trump then claimed the U.S. does not need their fuel or energy. 'We don't need anything that they have,' he claimed even as U.S. crude oil imports from Canada hit the highest level on record this month. Trudeau has been warning that everything Americans buy from Canada from fuel to building materials would suddenly become more expensive if Trump moved forward with his tariffs. Economists have warned that some products also cross the border in the supply chain multiple times, so tariffs would add up quickly. They've pointed out that the threatened tariffs are not consistent with U.S. trade agreements, so it signals the U.S. might not be a reliable partner moving forward. Trudeau with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after he went to meet with the president-elect to discuss Trumps' threat of tariffs Trump repeated his interest in Canada becoming a U.S. state in a meeting with Republican governors on January 9 But the prime minister told MSNBC that during his Florida visit, they also had some 'good conversations' about what they can do together when Trump takes office. Trudeau addressed Trump's concerns about the border by arguing less than one percent of illegal immigration and drugs heading into the U.S. come from Canada. 'We're not a problem,' Trudeau said. 'But we're happy to and we've actually responded to his request for us to do more.' The prime minister said Canada has invested billions into border security to better handle illegal activity at the U.S. northern border but the greater concern is the U.S. southern border. He said Canada will continue to respond to Trump's border concerns because it's in the interest of both countries. Richard Hammond's daughter has opened up on his two crashes that left him 'barely a human' as the TV star announced the end of his marriage. The Top Gear star, 55, confirmed his split with Mindy on Thursday with claims from insiders that he has become increasingly harder to live with in recent years due to injuries sustained in two near-fatal car crashes. Mindy, 59, previously warned Richard was on his 'last chance', eight years before the couple announced their marriage was over. The couple, who have been married for 28 years, share two daughters Izzy, 24, and Willow, 22, with the eldest recently revealing that the first crash left her father having to 'relearn how to be a human being'. He was hospitalised after crashing a Vampire Dragster at a speed in excess of two-hundred miles-per-hour while filming a segment for Top Gear in 2006. In the Road to Success Podcast that was released on Monday, Izzy said the crash affected the members of the family in 'varying different ways'. She said: 'The recovery was the thing that affected us as a family. Everyone talks about the crash and about how it was massive and scary. It was more that he was absolutely doolally for months and months afterwards. 'He was just not with it at all so I just have a lot of gaps in memory of him as a dad because for a long time he wasn't. The couple's eldest daughter Izzy Hammond, 24, pictured with her father Richard Hammond who she said was 'barely a human' after his first crash in 2006 Izzy said her father had 'relearn how to be a human being' after the crash that left him in a coma Richard nearly lost his life when he was involved in a 320mph crash while filming a Top Gear stunt at Yorks Elvington airfield back in 2006 'He was barely a human, he could barely function. He was trying to relearn how to be a human being, let alone be a father figure.' An insider told the Mail the crashes caused Richard a 'knock-on effect' that 'impacted his relationship' with his wife. They said: 'It's understandable given the sheer magnitude of the accidents and the impact caused both physically and mentally, he's done so well to recover and get back to normal life. 'But they have changed him, there's no getting away from it, and his relationship with Mindy has been harmed during the fallout.' Richard's representatives declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Izzy, who co-presents the podcast Who Are We Now with her father, revealed that her mother would change the date of her birthday as a child due to Richard's hectic Top Gear schedule. With the crash happening during Top Gear filming it meant that Izzy's birthday party was held in the hospital as her father was fighting for his life. 'I remember having a little mini birthday party in the hospital up in Leeds as my mum was trying to keep things as normal as possible for me and my sister,' she said. He endured a second brush with death after his 2million Rimac supercar careered off a hill and burst into flames as he raced at high speed through rural Switzerland in 2017 The couple married in 2002, and they share daughters Isabella, 24, and Willow, 22 Richard Hammond's wife Mindy ended their marriage months ago after his two horror crashes put a strain on their relationship (pictured in 2024) On Thursday, the Top Gear star shared that he and his spouse have split after 28 years of marriage, writing in a statement they will 'always be in each other's lives' 'There were all my little cousins and I was like "amazing all my little cousins are here" and I was like "why are they all here?" and it's because their dads are in the room with my dad hoping he is going to be okay.' She continued: 'He was in hospital for a while. No one knew what was happening. He was in a coma, his vitals weren't brilliant. Everyone was just trying to keep it as normal as possible.' Eleven years later on the second season of The Grand Tour, Richard crashed a Rimac Concept One at a hill-climb in Switzerland. He rolled the car several times and fractured his knee. Izzy told how she was in the car with her mother when the received the call from Andy Wilman, Top Gear co-creator and executive producer, about the crash. However, they only realised how serious the crash was when his co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson also rang. She said: 'For me in the moment, the Rimac one, was a lot worst because I was 17 I think. 'I was actually in the car with my mum when we go the call when he crashed. It was on speaker phone in the car. 'We had one call from Andy Wilman saying what had happened, saying "it's okay but this has happened, he spun off a mountain the car is on fire but it's fine". 'It was when Jeremy then called and that was a little bit more scary. Jeremy phoned Mindy saying "It's not great. He's fine but it's not great".' Jeremy Clarkson (left) and James May (right) were in contact with her mother 'a lot' after the second crash Izzy has taken up for her father's passion for cars and now produces automotive content on YouTube. Pictured: Izzy (right) with her sister Willow (left) The couple's eldest daughter Izzy (right) and younger daughter Willow (centre) with their mother Mindy (left) She added that Jeremy and James May were in contact with her mother 'a lot because they saw it and they were there'. 'A lot of people were cushioning blow but they were like "no this what happened and it's really quite serious Mind",' she said. Izzy now produces automotive content on YouTube and admitted that she has 'this knowledge that things do wrong and can go wrong' following her father's two major crashes. She said: 'For me I know it can go wrong so there is always that bit of trepidation I guess. It never made me hate cars. 'They [the crashes] took him away from me and nearly took him away from me for good.' In the wake of her parent's split, Richard was said to have banished to his converted barn where he stored his motorbikes, but has now moved to a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his 'Smallest Cog' car restoration garage. As part of an impending divorce, Mindy reportedly wants to keep their 7million Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire. Speaking in 2022, Richard outlined exactly how the crashes had impacted him, and sighted his short term memory loss as his biggest concern. As part of an impending divorce battle, Mindy, 59, reportedly wants to keep their 7million Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire In the wake of their split, Richard was reportedly banished to his converted barn (pictured) where he stored his motorbikes, but has now moved to a rented property He said: 'My left knee is bolted together with bolts and plates. I was told I can't run on it and it will need replacing. 'It's putting off that replacement because they only last so long. I just decided "bugger it". It might last another ten years but I'll be unhealthy and unhappy. 'Whereas if I run on it, it will only probably only last five years but I will be healthy and happy 'It hurts when it's cold, it's killing me this morning. My short term memory is not what it was. It's got worse. 'My working memory, if I'm in the studio, memorising a script it's great - works fine. 'My long-term memory is good, but short to mid-term, what happened two weeks ago - I don't have a clue.' Richard revealed he and his spouse had split on Thursday, writing in a statement they will 'always be in each other's lives'. He said: 'A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently. 'Our marriage is coming to end, but we've had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters. 'We will always be in each other's lives and are proud of the family we created. 'We won't be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With Love, Richard and Mindy.' It comes after Richard was seen without his wife on New Year's Eve nursing a pint of Guinness at a Hereford pub. The Grand Tour host was happy to take selfies with fans at the Wye Inn but onlookers couldn't help noticing he was there without his family. A source told the MailOnline: 'Richard popped in for a quiet drink with a few mates and work pals from his Smallest Cog workshop. 'His garage is well known for restoring classic cars and he is clearly sticking close to home.' The split has come as a shock to residents. One, who has lived in the town for 10 years, remembers bumping into the presenter in the supermarket. They said: 'It is of course very sad when a marriage is over and I do feel sorry for them. I would often see him in Morrisons and he was also happy to talk to people. He is very well known and often seen around the town.' Another resident said she met when he took his daughters Izzy and Willow to a local pony club. She said: 'They were a lovely close family. It was quite a few years ago as the girls are all grown up. Everyone around here knows where they live and they have been part of the community since they bought the castle. 'It is sad that he and his wife have decided to split. No one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.' Gavin Newsom is coming under fire for slashing California's funding for wildfire and forest resilience by $101 million less than a year before devastating fires tore through Los Angeles. The Democrat California Governor signed the budget cuts into law in June 2024, severing funding from seven programs focused on preventing and battling potential wildfires in the state, reports Newsweek. Cuts included a $5 million decrease to the CAL FIRE fuel reduction teams, which included funding to pay for vegetation management work by the California National Guard, an analysis by the outlet found. The total for the program was stripped to $129 million, amid claims that the state failed to clear brush and forestry that may have accelerated the flames. Newsom's budget cuts also slashed $4 million from a forest legacy program intended to promote management practices for landowners, and $28 million from funding for state conservancies aimed at increasing wildfire resistance. A further $8 million was cut from monitoring and research programs that reportedly largely went to CAL FIRE, and $3 million from an interagency forest data hub. A pilot program intended to make homes more resilient to wildfires through a hardening scheme also had its funding cut by $12 million. It comes as Newsom has come under scrutiny for his handling of the disaster in recent days, with Donald Trump calling on the Governor and expected 2028 presidential contender to resign while furious residents screamed at him as he surveyed damage. Gavin Newsom is coming under fire for slashing California's funding for wildfire and forest resilience by $101 million less than a year before devastating fires tore through Los Angeles Firefighters are battling a series of major blazes that have killed at least five people, destroyed communities and forced thousands to flee Trump's call for Newsom to resign comes as the president-elect pointed to Newsom's focus on 'delta smelt', a three-inch fish native to the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta in California. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump argues that Governor Gavin Newsom's smelt conservation efforts have stopped water from being delivered to farmers and major cities. The water system used by the state to fight the wildfires - that have so far burned over 10,000 buildings and killed at least 10 people - struggled and in some places failed under the strain. The demand for water was so high that it wasn't enough to refill the tanks in hilly Pacific Palisades that help pressurize hydrants for the neighborhood. Trump blasted the Democratic Governor on social media and specifically targeted the smelt - the fish which the pair have traded barbs over since Trump's first term. 'Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The Delta Smelt (pictured) is a slender-bodied, silvery fish that is about three inches long and native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 'He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didnt work!), but didnt care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid,' Trump continued. 'I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!' Newsom's director of communications Izzy Gardon said in a statement after Trump's rant: 'There is no such document as the water restoration declaration, that is pure fiction. The governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need.' The California Governor also directly addressed his back-and-forth with Trump on Wednesday to CNN, adding: 'People are literally fleeing. 'People have lost their lives, kids lost their schools. Families completely torn asunder, churches burned down, and this guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of thoughts and I know what I want to sayI won't.' The unprecedented fires have so far burned over 10,000 buildings and killed at least 10 people, with officials warning they expect the death toll to continue to rise Residents search for valuables among the rubbles of their burnt houses during Eaton wildfire in Altadena of Los Angeles County Smelt are considered an indicator species for the health of the Delta ecosystem, and are listed as critically endangered due to water pumping, water quality, habitat reduction and the introduction of nonnative species. The species' presence in the water system has diminished in recent years, with some experts blaming the shrinking water supply from droughts and diversion methods. The population began decreasing in the 1980s and a 2018 survey showed zero wild smelt in the Delta, reported ABC10. In 2022, nearly 13,000 smelt were released into the water, but none of them returned in a sampling period over 61 days. This led to concerns from scientists about the conditions of the water. Newsom has supported plans that prioritize water allocations to restore the fish population by sending water into the ocean rather that diverting to other areas of the state. In December, the Biden administration and state officials announced a new plan that adjusts water allocations for cities and some farms, according to Cal Matters. Melania Trump expressed her sympathy for the victims of the California wildfires and said she hoped President Joe Biden's administration was giving people the help they need. 'It's devastating. I'm thinking about those people, and I pray for them,' she told Fox & Friends. 'I just hope that everybody evacuated and that they are safe, and I hope that the government and FEMA is there to help them,' she added. Melania Trump sat down with Fox & Friends for an interview that is scheduled to air on Monday but the network released a clip on Friday of her talking about the fires that have killed 10 people and caused millions in damage. The incoming first lady has been preparing to move into the White House. She's also working on a documentary that will air on Amazon. The internet retailer bought rights to it for $40 million. 'It's devastating. I'm thinking about those people, and I pray for them,' Melania Trump told Fox News about the California fires The so-called Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on LA's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) - or some 53 square miles. It has burned at least 10,000 structures and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes. At least 180,000 residents are under evacuation orders for all blazes in the county, officials said. The Palisades Fire is now 6% controlled, while the Eaton Fire still blazed out of control, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The skies in Los Angeles buzzed with aircraft dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hill. A slew of notable locations, including Sunset Boulevard that splits the upscale Pacific Palisades, were engulfed in punishing flames that tore through residential and commercial areas alike and reduced buildings to burnt-out husks. Banks, restaurants, gas stations and homes were left in smoldering ruins along the iconic boulevard, where bulldozers were forced to remove abandoned luxury motors, forging a path for emergency services and firefighters. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs. A firefighter sets a backburn in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. 'We're already looking ahead to aggressively rebuild the city of Los Angeles,' said Democrat Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced harsh criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, other Republicans and LA business moguls over her handling of the disaster. President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100% of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries. 'I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,' Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House. Biden said his message to the people of Southern California is: 'We are with you. Were not going anywhere.' But with less than two weeks left in his term, its a promise he might not hold. Trump takes over on Jan. 20, and he was at odds with Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, over wildfires the first time he was president. Trump lately has been referring to Newsom by putting a derogatory spin on his last name. He also has blamed Newsom for the fire currently raging in Los Angeles. But Biden vowed to help the state in his remaining days in charge. 'Were sticking with this,' Biden said. 'We expect there may be a temporary break in the winds, but in some areas, the winds are likely to continue well into next week.' As Biden turned the floor over to Vice President Kamala Harris, he noted she was 'directly affected.' Harris is a former California senator, and her home there was in the evacuation zone, but it wasnt clear if it was damaged. She described the scene as 'apocalyptic.' 'This is something that is going to have an impact for months and years to come,' she said. Additionally Harris canceled the final foreign trip of her term because of the wildfires, her office announced on Thursday. Her decision follows a similar one made by President Biden, who was due to travel this week to Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but instead stayed in Washington. Harris had planned to visit Singapore, Bahrain and Germany from Jan. 13 to 17. In all, five wildfires burned in Los Angeles County, with the largest Palisades fire just 6% contained and the Eaton fire 0% contained. Skies buzzed with aircraft dropping retardant and water on the flaming hills. Officials late on Thursday urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley just 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from a school serving as a shelter for fire evacuees and then moved into neighboring Ventura County by the evening. A glamorous public defender was sentenced to probation after being convicted of crushing a 22-year-old University of Miami student with her truck in Florida. Veronica Bilbao de la Vega, 38, of Miami, evaded jail time on Thursday for the death of Danny Bishop, 22. Bilbao de la Vega stuck and killed Bishop in Coral Gable on March 5, 2024, while he was riding his scooter through a crosswalk on the way to school. She had been attempting to make a turn. She hit him going 17 mph while driving on an expired license. She had a green light and the walk sign for pedestrians was on, allowing both to go, according to NBC Miami. Bilbao de la Vega pleaded no contest and appeared emotional in court when an officer testified that both wheels of her vehicle ran over Bishop. 'And this woman didnt even have a valid driver's license, and shes gonna get community service,' Bishop's mother, Susan, said after the court proceedings. 'How can a lawyer, a mother, a community member drive knowingly with an expired license, not be careful when watching the road in front of her, and killing an innocent pedestrian on a crosswalk?' The public defender was sentenced to probation, evading the maximum sentence of 60 days in jail. She will serve six months on probation and will do 500 hours of community service tutoring underprivileged children, according to the outlet. Veronica Bilbao de la Vega, 38, of Miami, evaded jail time on Thursday for the death of Danny Bishop, 22. She will serve six months on probation and will do 500 hours of community service tutoring underprivileged children Bilbao de la Vega stuck and killed Bishop in Coral Gable on March 5, 2024, while he was riding his scooter on the sidewalk to school. She had been attempting to make a turn She hit him going 17 mph while driving on an expired license. She had a green light and the walk sign was on She will also have to complete a driving course and pay court costs for the traffic infraction. Her husband, Daniel de la Vega, the CEO of a prominent real estate company, begged the court to consider his wife's character before sentencing her. 'I want the court to know this accident has deeply affected Veronica. The moment I arrived at the scene, Veronica was inconsolable, she was shaking uncontrollably,' Daniel said. 'From that day forward your honor, she has not been the same person. She prays with rosary every night seeking solace for not only herself but her family.' Susan Bishop does not believe justice has been served, saying: 'Theres no way to enact any real justice, and the punishment will never fit the crime.' Her husband, Daniel de la Vega, the CEO of a prominent real estate company, begged the court to consider his wife's character before sentencing her. 'From that day forward your honor, she has not been the same person,' he said Bilbao de la Vega pleaded no contest and appeared emotional in court when an officer testified that both wheels of her vehicle ran over Bishop Susan Bishop does not believe justice has been served, saying: 'Theres no way to enact any real justice, and the punishment will never fit the crime' 'Its terrible to live like this, on and on,' Bishop's father, Jason, said, according to WSVN. The victim's family plans on filing a civil lawsuit against Bilbao de la Vega soon, according to their Attorney Robert Boyers. 'Criminal law has limitations in terms of holding negligent parties accountable, even when that negligence resulted in catastrophic loss. The prosecutors hands were tied, but ours are not, and we intend to hold the defendant fully accountable in the civil justice system,' he said. After the crash, the city audited the intersection and the Florida Department of Transportation requested to change the signal to not allow cars and pedestrians to cross and turn at the same time. Cars would be stopped when pedestrians are allowed to cross. President-elect Donald Trump confirmed Thursday he would reveal the truth about the mysterious flocks of drones spotted in the sky over New Jersey and other American locations. Trump was asked about the sightings by reporters on Thursday evening as the president-elect met with Republican governors at his club at Mar-a-Lago. 'I'm going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration because I think it's ridiculous that they're not telling you about what's going on with the drones,' Trump replied. He went on to predict that it 'could be [the U.S.]' that's sending the drones, which he 'hopes is the cause' and 'not an enemy.' Reports of mysterious lights in the sky around the Christmas holiday prompted widespread speculation about their origin, but government officials were evasive about the truth. Trump confirmed he personally spotted drones over his own property in Bedminster, New Jersey. Governors at the meeting with Trump expressed their frustrations with the drone issue, noting that federal government officials were not helpful. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, confirmed the drone problem was also affecting his state, noting that it is the home to the largest Marine Corps base in the world at Quantico. The commonwealth also houses a lot of Navy SEAL teams, he added. 'Now for two years running we've had drone incursion over secure airspace and we still don't know why and I think that's absolutely unacceptable,' President-elect Donald Trump speaks about drones during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago Trump was asked about the sightings by reporters on Thursday evening as the president-elect met with Republican governors at his club at Mar-a-Lago Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry added there were also drones flying over nuclear reactors in his state. 'We brought that to the attention of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and we've been asking the FAA to give these states the ability to mitigate these drones and it's sitting on some bureaucrats desk and that's real,' Landry said. Even Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said there were Drones flying over infrastructure in his state and that it was 'incredibly frustrating.' 'Not only do we have no way of knowing what it is but nobody knows how to deal with them,' he said. Trump said he believed the drones could be attached to national defense actions by the government, but suggested there was no reason to keep it secret from the American public. 'Nobody knows why , they don't want to talk about it, that could be us sending drones, I hope that's the case, us doing it and doing research and maybe they don't want to talk about it from that standpoint,' he said. Unexplained drone sightings mounted throughout the Northeast, prompting residents as well as state and local officials to demand answers The president-elect confirmed he would make sure he had answers after he was officially inaugurated as president. 'I hope it's not an enemy but we're going to find out on the 21st, the day after, you have to give me a little time for the inauguration but shortly thereafter we'll give you a report on it we'll tell you exactly what it is,' he said. ' They know and it's very strange that they aren't talking about it.' For weeks, Trump has tried to reassure the public over the drone sightings that raised widespread speculation and unfounded theories about their origin, ranging from the government's frantic attempt to find a missing nuclear weapon from Ukraine, to a possible Iranian sponsored attempt to terrorize the United States. In December, Trump made the assertion that the government knew what the unexplained arial activity was and urged President Joe Biden to reveal the truth. 'For some reason they don't want to comment. And I think they'd be better off saying. Our military knows, and our president knows... and for some reason [they] want to keep people in suspense,' he said during a press conference Residents in Britain's largest village have spoken of their 'nightmare' of being left with poor phone signal - for nearly a month. Locals in the seaside village of Lancing, West Sussex, say they've often been unable to make or receive phone calls since before Christmas. One local business owner said the faulty phone signal has meant customers have been unable to contact them to place orders and has cost them hundreds in revenue as a result. Meanwhile, villagers say they were unable to wish friends and family a 'Happy New Year' as they ushered in 2025 and questioned the service they are paying for. Many said that when calls did manage to go through, the person on the other end sounded 'robotic' or as though they were underwater. However, the issues today seem finally to have been resolved. Retired Joan Sloman has lived in Lancing - which has a population of nearly 28,000 and is frequently touted as the 'largest village in England' - for over a quarter of a century. The 68-year-old says the signal issues have been a 'nightmare' for her whilst she's been doing up a flat in the centre of the village, as she's been both uncontactable and unable to contact workers employed to work on the property. Ms Sloman, who is on the O2 mobile network, said: 'It's been going on since before Christmas - about three weeks. Joan Soloman, (pictured) has been affected by the phone signal outage. The 68-year-old says the signal issues have been a 'nightmare' for her whilst she's been doing up a flat in the centre of the village Locals in the seaside village of Lancing, West Sussex, say they've often been unable to make or receive phone calls since before Christmas Villagers said that when calls did manage to go through, the person on the other end sounded 'robotic' or as though they were underwater 'It depends where you are in the village and what service you're on. 'I'm doing up a flat in the village centre and down there I can't use the internet or phone at all. 'It's a nightmare because nobody can get in touch with me when I'm down at the flat and when painters get to the village they can't use their sat navs to find me. 'Sometimes a text will go through, but I can't even use my phone at the back of the house. 'Can you imagine if this was the centre of Brighton or London? People can't do their banking, can't phone their doctors. 'I was down at the cafe yesterday and there were half a dozen people in there. Everybody had been affected. It has affected everybody in the village.' However, the issues today seem finally to have been resolved. Business owner Yatin Semeja, who runs The Coffee Lounge in Lancing, says the dodgy phone signal has cost his business as much as 600. Business owner Yatin Semeja, (pictured) who runs The Coffee Lounge in Lancing, says the dodgy phone signal has cost his business as much as 600 Villagers say they were unable to wish friends and family a 'Happy New Year' as they ushered in 2025 The 54-year-old said both his Sky landline and mobile have been unable to make calls since before Christmas - meaning customers have been unable to ring up and place takeaway orders. Mr Semeja, who has run The Coffee Lounge for over 12 years, said though he was able to make and receive calls, the voice on the other end was unintelligible and sounded like a robot. 'It has affected our business,' the father-of-one said. Customers were ringing the landline, but the voice on the other side sounded like a robot. 'We take lots of takeaway orders, but we couldn't hear anything so we lost quite a lot of business, to be honest. 'It has been happening since before Christmas. We have lost at least 500, 600.' Mr Semeja added that he began using a mobile on the O2 network during the signal faults, which worked, and that his Sky landline and mobile were now working again. 'So many customers have been complaining about the signal, saying they can't call anyone,' he said. Shellie Smith, a mum-of-two who works in The Coffee Lounge and has lived in Lancing all her life, said she only lost signal on her Vodafone mobile shortly before New Year's Eve. Shellie Smith (pictured), a mum-of-two who works in The Coffee Lounge and has lived in Lancing all her life Locals said that the issues seem to have been resolved today. After weeks without phone signal 'It has been affecting me since about the 30th,' the 38-year-old said. 'It was a problem at New Year... We couldn't call anyone to say, 'Happy New Year'. 'It has gone on for quite a long time, now. Today's the first time it has corrected itself. 'You just think it's a waste of paying for your network charges. Calls would connect but it would sound robotic or like it was underwater.' O2, Sky and Vodafone have been approached for comment. A drug dealer who stabbed a rival to death on a London street was found guilty of murder after his reluctance to part with a designer bag he carried during the attack provided police with vital evidence. A trial at the Old Bailey heard how Dualla Abdi, a 20-year-old from Acton, disposed of his clothing after stabbing Tyreece Scott in the chest in Hounslow, west London last January, but could not bear to part with his Louis Vuitton-style manbag. Zoe Johnson KC, the prosecuting counsel, said a distinctive buckle on the bag's strap helped police to put Abdi at the scene, where he was accompanied by Ben Laing, a 24-year-old from Feltham who acted as an accomplice and getaway driver. Abdi was found guilty of murder and possession of a blade, while Laing was found guilty of murder. Reda Mohamed, 24, from Hounslow, and Morgan Allen, 29, from Chertsey, Surrey, were convicted of perverting the course of justice. The court heard how Abdi and Laing drove up beside the 24-year-old victim shortly before 1am on January 16 last year. Having emerged from the car, Abdi delivered the fatal blow while Laing stood beside him. The pair then returned to the vehicle and sped off, jurors were told, as Mr Scott lay bleeding to death on the residential street. Mohamed and Allen then helped them flee to Morocco, but three days later the killers returned to the UK, where they were arrested by police at Stansted Airport. Tyreece Scott, 24, above, was fatally stabbed by Dualla Abdi, a 20-year-old from Acton, on a London street last year, a trial at the Old Bailey has heard. Abdi was found guilty of murder Jurors at the Old Bailey, seen above, heard how the background to the murder was linked to drug dealing. Ben Laing, 24, who acted as an accomplice, was also found guilty of murder Johnson told jurors the background to the murder was linked to drug dealing and said Mr Scott had been operating on rival territory. 'We will never know the precise reason why Tyreece Scott died that night,' she said. 'There is no evidence that he knew the other defendants or had met them before. 'Drug dealing is an ugly, competitive business in which dealers protect their "turf" at any cost. It was Tyreece Scotts exposure to that world which led to his murder.' Before leaving Britain, Laing gave Mohamed a drug-dealing phone referred to as the 'Rocky Line', the court heard. Allen was said to be in a relationship with Mohamed and acted under his instructions, with both helping Laing and Abdi to escape. A 'compelling' case against the defendants included CCTV, mobile phone data and a GPS tracker on the attackers hire car, jurors were told. Abdi wore a black hooded jacket with a white Trapstar logo on the front, part of an outfit he dumped following the murder - with the exception of the bag, Ms Johnson said. Ms Johnson said Abdi and Laing worked as a team with a common purpose during the attack. Abdi told the court he was not the stabber. Laing admitted being at the scene, but claimed he did not know Abdi was going to stab Mr Scott and neither encouraged him nor participated in any way. Mohamed and Allen denied knowing anything about the murder, jurors were told. Allen, who told told police she had been in a sexual relationship with Mohamed, whose behaviour she described as abusive and controlling, admitted when she was arrested that she knew Laing as 'Chunks', Abdi as 'Dodgy' and Mohamed as 'Rocco'. Following delivery of the verdicts, the court heard Abdi had a previous conviction for possession of a blade in 2022. He was in breach of his suspended sentence when he killed Mr Scott. Laing had a caution for possession of cannabis dating back to 2020. Sentencing of the defendants was adjourned until February 27. A distraught mother who lost her family home in the devastating wildfires that have swept through Los Angeles this week gave her followers a tour of the ruins of her damaged house. Sara Anderson and her husband Jimmy Wang from Altadena, California, lost their house yesterday in the Eaton fire. The wildfires have been rapidly spreading across Los Angeles with firefighters conceding they remain powerless to contain the flames because of strong winds. The couple were forced to evacuate from their historic home with their two young kids on Wednesday evening, but by the the following morning the house was completely gone. Sara, who has nearly 79,000 followers on TikTok, tried to make light of the situation by posting a sarcastic video in which she showed viewers a tour of the remains of her destroyed home. 'Hey guys , welcome to my crib', she jokes, as she stands amid piles of rubble that would have once stood as her house. 'Come over here', she says, as she walks towards a damaged barbecue stove that has been strewn across the ground. 'We can barbecue', she says, and then walks toward an outdoor fire pit. A distraught mother who lost her family home in the devastating wildfires that have swept through Los Angeles this week gave her followers a tour of the ruins of her damaged house Sara Anderson and her husband Jimmy Wang from Altadena, California , lost their house yesterday in the Eaton fire Sara, who has nearly 79,000 followers on TikTok , tried to make light of the situation by posting a sarcastic video in which she showed viewers a tour of the remains of her destroyed home 'We could light a fire but I believe we already have one back here', she says, as she points to a small flame burning in the background. She proceeds to walk over to an orange tree and plucks off a piece off fruit. 'Hungry?', she tells the camera. 'Grab an orange!', she says, as she walks over toward a table and munches on the fruit. 'And that's my crib, thanks for coming'. The clip also shows the devastation surrounding her house. Mountains of debris can be seen in the background, as well as a vehicle that has been totally incinerated. A GoFundMe has since been set up for Sara and her husband, who live with their two-year-old son, one-year-old daughter, and her mother-in-law - who is currently recovering from breast cancer. The fundraiser, which was set up by Sara's friend Samantha Perez, says that all the funds raised will directly go to the family. The wildfires have been rapidly spreading across Los Angeles with firefighters conceding they remain powerless to contain the flames because of strong winds. Sara and her family were forced to evacuate from their historic home with their two young kids on Wednesday evening, but by the the following morning the house was completely gone The GoFundMe page explains how the family 'only took the bare essentials' when they evacuated their home and will now 'need to start over in every way'. 'The Wang family is always the first to help others and support those around them. Now it's our turn. 'Let's come together and help the Wang family rebuild! Any donation amount is so appreciated and will go directly to relieving their stress over these coming months, the process of rebuilding and items they need for their family.' The fundraiser has currently raised $8,471 of its $13,000 target. It comes as rows of glitzy waterfront houses lay in charred ruins after the punishing blaze ripped through them. For many, only the outlines of homes and their chimneys remained. Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, John Goodman, Candy Spelling, Milo Ventimiglia, and Miles Teller are among those whose homes were demolished. The so-called Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on LA's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) - or some 53 square miles. Sara pictured with her two children Sara and her husband Jimmy and their two kids A GoFundMe has since been set up for Sara and her husband, who live with their two-year-old son, one-year-old daughter, and her mother-in-law Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told a press conference late last night that he expected the death toll of 10 to grow rapidly. 'It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don't expect good news, and we're not looking forward to those numbers,' Luna said, as reports of horrific deaths endured by those trapped emerged. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs. A California mother who went viral after she exploded at Gavin Newsom for his bumbling response to the Los Angeles fires said she was left bewildered by his response to her. Rachel Darvish told Fox News she was furious with the California Governor after he was left scrambling for a response when she chased him down. Newsom claimed to be trying to reach President Biden on the phone at the time but said he couldn't get cell service, which Darvish argued was indicative of his mismanagement of the crisis. 'There was no cellphone reception in certain areas, but that's a big problem in and of itself,' she told host Jesse Watters. 'Why doesn't he have a satellite truck?' 'The fact that he couldn't get cell reception was really frustrating,' she added. Darvish went on to call on Newsom to step up in the time of crisis, as he and other Democrat leaders in California including LA Mayor karen bass come under scrutiny for their response. 'Governor, can you just clean this up and fix it and move on at least,' she continued. 'But will that happen? I don't know.' Her concerns echo those of many Los Angelinos who have questioned the response to the wildfires which have so far claimed at least 10 lives and upwards of 10,000 buildings. Rachel Darvish, a California mother who went viral after she confronted Gavin Newsom for his bumbling response to the Los Angeles fires, said in an appearance opposite Jesse Watters that she was left bewildered by his response to her The California Governor was left scrambling for a response when Darvish chased him down and pleaded for answers over a reported lack of preparedness Criticism of Newsom's handling of the crisis has fallen on his decision to slash California's funding for wildfire and forest resilience by $101 million less than a year before the Los Angeles fires. Donald Trump led calls for Newsom to resign, and pointed to his focus on 'delta smelt', a three-inch fish native to the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta in California. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump argues that Governor Gavin Newsom's smelt conservation efforts have stopped water from being delivered to farmers and major cities. The water system used by the state to fight the wildfires - that have so far burned over 10,000 buildings and killed at least 10 people - struggled and in some places failed under the strain. When asked about her thoughts on Newsom's handling of the crisis, Darvish poked fun at the policy and said she has 'no regard for smelt.' 'Actually, I love sushi, but I have no regard for smelt,' she continued. 'But apparently the governor does. 'But that leads to what he cares about... why do you care?' Newsom is being slammed for prioritizing environmental protections of the water supply, including safeguarding a tiny fish Darvish also seemed to take issue with DEI policies within the Los Angeles fire department and emergency services, adding in her message to Newsom: 'Why do you care who it is? Let's pick the good people.' 'Governor, can you just clean this up and fix it and move on at least. 'These guys are entrenched in what they do... It's time for something new. It doesn't have to be an R (Republican), it doesn't have to be a D (Democrat), why can't it be someone that knows what they're doing?' Watters added: 'If you take a mom and put them in the governor's mansion, they'd probably do a better job than Gavin Newsom.' Darvish went on to echo the concerns she raised to Newsom's face when she confronted him earlier this week, saying she didn't see a single fire truck or firefighter as she was fleeing the flames. 'On my way down (while evacuating), I didn't see a single fire truck coming to help me,' she said. 'It's not their fault Jesse, it comes from the top... the buck stops with these guys.' A Pakistan Airlines advert has come under fire for appearing to show a jet flying into the Eiffel Tower as the company resumes its Europe flights following a four-year safety ban. Pakistan's national airline, which was banned from flying to the UK, US and EU in 2020, posted an image on social media showing a plane and the monument against the French flag, alongside the caption: 'Paris, we're coming today.' But online critics blasted Pakistan International Airline's (PIA) advert, claiming it appears to show the jet heading straight for the Paris landmark. Omar R Quraishi, a Pakistani PR expert and former adviser to politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, branded the campaign 'completely tone deaf'. He wrote on X: 'Did the idiot who designed this graphic not see a PIA plane heading for the Eiffel Tower? One of Europe's iconic landmarks. Do they not know about the 9/11 tragedy which used planes to attack buildings? Did they not think that this would be perceived in similar fashion?' Another baffled X user wrote: 'Ahahha did no one learn product placement?! PIA, this doesn't look like what you think it looks like!'. One more added: 'PIA designer selected this one over other designs. How bad [were those] other designs?' A fourth said: 'No way the official page thought this was a good idea. Fire your marketing department'. Online critics blasted Pakistan International Airline's (PIA) advert as 'tone deaf', claiming it appears to show the jet heading straight for the Paris landmark Restrictions were imposed in 2020 after a PIA plane crashed in Karachi, killing 97 people The backlash is a setback for the state-owned airline after the EU's aviation safety agency lifted the four-year ban. The curb on PIA was imposed in 2020 after 97 people died when a PIA plane crashed in Karachi in southern Pakistan. Then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said an investigation into the crash found that nearly a third of Pakistani pilots had cheated on their pilot exams. A government probe later concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error. Out of 860 pilots currently licenced in Pakistan, investigators identified 262 who 'did not take the exam themselves' and 'don't have flying experience', Khan said at the time. PIA then grounded 150 of its pilots who were suspected of having cheated their way through their exam. Abdullah Hafeez, a spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines, said: 'We will make it sure that unqualified pilots never fly aircraft again'. The ban caused a loss of nearly 123milllon a year in revenue for PIA, officials say. The airline came under scrutiny in 2017 after admitting it overfilled a flight and allowed seven extra passengers on board to stand in the aisle. PIA was also mocked after images circulated online of ground staff sacrificing a goat next to an aircraft just before take-off in a bid to ward off bad luck. That followed a crash that killed 47 people in 2016. Security personnel stand beside the wreckage of a plane at the site after a Pakistan International Airlines aircraft crashed in a residential area in Karachi, on May 24, 2020 But today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the flight resumption, saying it would help improve the airline's image. The flight from Islamabad to Paris was fully booked with more than 300 passengers, the airline said. Defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif inaugurated the twice-a-week flights to Paris and vowed that PIA will expand its operations to other European countries soon. Mr Asif said in a speech that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had imposed the ban on PIA's operations to Europe because of an 'irresponsible statement' by a former aviation minister. Also on Friday, the first international flight from Gwadar, a new airport in southwestern Pakistan, departed for Muscat, government officials said. The Chinese-funded airport was inaugurated by Chinese premier Li Qiang in October. The airport, Pakistan's largest, is located in restive southwestern Balochistan province and is part of a massive investment by Beijing that links a deep seaport and airport on the Arabian Sea by road with China. Former MSNBC star Keith Olbermann says it's fine to make fun of any conservatives who've lost their worldly possessions in the LA wildfires. Olbermann, 65, issued the call to action after liberal influencer Angela Belcamino said was not appropriate to celebrate the destruction of actor James Woods' home just because he is a conservative. 'This is the attitude that lost the election. They will not compromise they will not convert they will not be human,' the pundit said Wednesday on X. 'They must be defeated - and any chance to bruise or batter them psychologically must be exploited.' Olbermann added that Woods should be 'especially' targeted because he is a 'despicable human being, especially to women.' The X interaction between Belcamino and Olbermann came after retired University of Missouri professor Karen Piper celebrated that Wood's home burned down. Piper wrote in a since-deleted post: 'James Woods' house is burning down. It's karma calling.' She then took her comment back, telling The College Fix she does not 'wish anyone harm.' Keith Olbermann, 65, encouraged liberals to 'batter [Republicans] psychologically Elderly patients were evacuated into emergency vehicles as embers and flames approached during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California Reacting to Piper's initial post against Woods, Belcamino wrote: 'Im not a fan of James Woods at all but being happy his house burnt down isnt the answer. Be better.' Belcamino then told Woods it was actually liberals like him who lost the election for Democrats. 'I could write you a laundry list of things that lost the presidency, house, senate, popular vote, and every single swing state but having an ounce of humanity isnt one of them,' she wrote. 'Keithy, you truly havent learned a thing from 2024 and doubling down on this kind of rhetoric will cost the democrats again in 2028.' Woods is one of many celebrities who lost their homes in the dystopian LA fires this week. The actor, 77, became emotional on Tuesday as he shared how his wife's niece offered to help after their home was destroyed by the fires that have decimated at least 1,000 structures and left two dead. Woods said his wife's eight-year-old niece 'came out with her little piggy bank for us to rebuild our house.' At least 10 people were killed and thousands of structures were burned as fierce wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area, officials said. Actor James Woods, 77, broke into tears as he described evacuating his home in Los Angeles Fast-moving flames blazed through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities. Many of the towering fires that began Tuesday were fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph in some spots. The winds dropped Thursday, but the National Weather Service warned that even the reduced gusts could still spread fire rapidly. The exact death toll remained unclear, but it was expected to rise as crews begin to search the rubble. Gov. Gavin Newsom said California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel to battle the blazes. Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona dispatched teams to assist. AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to $135 billion to $150 billion. Government officials have not yet released any damage estimates. A British boy aged 12 was killed and five other members of his family including his twin were injured when a BMW crashed off a Belgian motorway. The accident involving the boy and the family happened on the E40 highway near Veurne, West Flanders, at around 1am on January 8 while en route to the French border, according to Belgian media. The family's BMW X5 with a British number plate reportedly lost control and ended up crashed on its roof between the motorway and an exit road. Local police said in a statement about the accident: 'There were a total of six occupants in the car. One of them, a 12-year-old boy with British nationality, was thrown out of the vehicle and died of his injuries.' Investigators are probing whether poor weather and an 'unadjusted speed' caused the crash, the local prosecutor's office said. The boy was reportedly one of four children in the car, which also included his twin brother. While four family members reportedly suffered only minor injuries, one person was seriously injured, but is understood not to be in a life-threatening condition. All five are being treated in hospital. The British family involved in the crash has not yet been named, but the Jewish Chronicle reports that the boy attended Menorah Grammar School in Edgware, London. The accident involving the boy and the family happened on the E40 highway near Veurne, West Flanders, at around 1am on January 8 while en route to the French border, according to Belgian media Your browser does not support iframes. The family's BMW X5 with a British number plate reportedly lost control and ended up crashed on its roof between the motorway and an exit road No one witnessed the crash and the police was only called thanks to the BMW's automatic emergency alert system, local media reports. 'The first findings show that the poor weather conditions and aquaplaning on the road, in combination with an unadjusted speed, may be the causes of the accident,' the prosecutor's office said in a statement. 'No other vehicles were involved in the accident. The investigation is continuing.' The family was reportedly returning from Antwerp when the accident happened near Veurne. The exit to the city was closed for several hours following the incident. The boy's tragic death comes just two weeks before he was due to celebrate his bar mitzvah with his twin brother, according to the Jewish Chronicle. His classmates at Menorah Grammar School reportedly reacted 'in different ways' to the news of his death, the newspaper reports. In an email sent to parents on January 9, the school alerted parents of the passing 'of a very dear talmid [student]'. The head of the Met's Black Police Association who swapped thousands of racist and sexist WhatsApp messages has been sacked. Inspector Charles Ehikioya, 58, shared more than 7,000 messages with former PC Carlo Francisco between 2017 and 2020 which included jokes about Harvey Price, disabled people and Muslims. Ehikioya, who was the full-time chairman of the MBPA, was dismissed without notice at the end of a misconduct hearing at Palestra House in London today, with the panel, led by Commander Jason Prins, saying it was an 'appropriate and proportionate sanction'. Ehikioya claimed he was the victim of a racist conspiracy but the allegations were found false by a police disciplinary committee. The panel found that the messages Ehikioya sent and received would 'alarm and appal the public' and would 'justify dismissal' in their racist, sexist and otherwise inappropriate nature. Francisco had been involved in a WhatsApp group with other officers named 'Secret Squirrel S***' who posted jokes about Katie Price's disabled son Harvey and Prince Philip's car crash. Ehikioya did not give evidence at his disciplinary tribunal but claimed Francisco had framed him. He insisted did not send any of the messages or receive them. Posts included a video suggesting Katie Price's disabled son was on drugs and a joke about sex with a girl with Down's Syndrome. The panel found that the messages Charles Ehikioya (pictured) sent and received would 'alarm and appal the public' and would 'justify dismissal' Pictured: Ehikioya arrives at a Metropolitan Police misconduct hearing at Palestra House, south east London on Monday January 6 Ehikioya claimed he was the victim of a racist conspiracy but the allegations were found false by a police disciplinary committee Francisco and seven other officers from the South East Command Unit were all dismissed from the force in 2023 for misconduct. Chair of the panel, Commander Jason Prins said: 'We find Inspector Ehkoyie's defence to these allegations to be fanciful, far-fetched, and completely implausible. 'These messages speak for themselves and are often derogatory and discriminatory in nature and very obviously amounts to a breach conduct and standards. 'The panel finds that the messages sent by Inspector Ehikioya or recieved where he then failed to report them deeply damage public confidence in the police service, the public will be alarmed and appalled by the content of these messages.' The panel also found that 357,992 WhatsApp messages had been deleted from Ehikioya's phone with no credible explanation. Ehikioya sent Francisco a video of a fat Chinese child which was overdubbed with a man speaking in a jokey Chinese accent. The commentator said: 'If you get CoronaVirus you got to go to hospital and stay in your home for two weeks and stop eating dog and cat and all kinds of s***' Further racist memes against Chinese people included a picture of text which simply read: 'China has released the names of the first two people to contract Coronavirus - Sum Ting Wong and Ho Lee Fuk.' Ehikioya did not give evidence at his disciplinary tribunal but did claim that he had been framed Posts included a video suggesting Katie Price's disabled son was on drugs and a joke about sex with a girl with Down's Syndrome (file image) There was also a picture sent by Ehikioya to Francisco which had the words: 'Just when you thought you had seen it all and then boom: Chinese rasta' above a picture of five Chinese men'. Another message featured an image of a woman's genital area captioned: 'The best engine in the world is the vagina* the only problem is its owner is so f***ing temperamental.' There were videos of a racist nature, including an Asian woman talking about Coca Cola - which she refers to as 'c***' and says: 'please give me c***' and 'I want c***'. James Berry, for the Met, said: 'This is clearly a racist video mocking a Korean person for pronouncing the word coke as in Coca Cola as c*** as in penis.' Another image in the chat was of a woman in Islamic dress with the breast and genital area cut out with the caption - 'Taliban call girl.' There was also a joke about Prince Phillip's car accident near the Sandringham Estate in 2019 referencing Princess Diana's death in 1997. The post feature a picture of the accident which had a 'ghost image of Princess Diana' and the caption, 'next time you old bastard'. Mr Berry told the panel: 'A significant portion of the messaging is in the form of video attachments and images sent between the two officers. 'A very large proportion of that was adult pornography which does not form a part of the allegations. 'But there were also a very large number of messages which are sexist, to the point of being misogynistic, racist, involving extreme violence, such as people being shot in the head or otherwise inappropriate'. It is our case the sending of the messages clearly breached the standards. Ehikioya, who denied any wrongdoing, previously lodged a claim against the Met claiming he was the victim of racial harassment by white colleagues. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tore into a reporter over the media's lenient coverage of Los Angeles Democrat leaders' handling of the ongoing wildfire disaster. A reporter asked DeSantis if it was 'inappropriate' to be criticizing California Gov. Gavin Newsom about California water policy as fires incinerated neighborhoods around L.A. The governor quickly fired back saying: 'It's inappropriate for people in your industry to try and create division, and to try and create narratives anytime these things happen.' DeSantis spoke alongside Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, where they met with Trump who has derided 'Gavin Newscum' for failures amid the fire crisis. 'Now, you're not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a "D", DeSantis continued. 'If Newsom was a Republican, you guys would go try to - you would have him nailed to the wall for what they're doing over there.' DeSantis, who challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination and who was briefly floated as a potential defense secretary pick, said it was an unfair contrast to the Surfside building collapse or hurricanes he has contended with during his tenure. He said other governors warned him early on that natural disasters would get 'politicized.' 'In fact, when I got elected governor, I was meeting with some of the other Republican governors, and what they would say is, hey, if you have a natural disaster, just know media is coming at you,' he said. Then DeSantis criticized LA Mayor Karen Bass, a Democratic former House member, for being on a diplomatic delegation to Ghana when the first began ripping across her hometown. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused the media of trying to 'try and create division,' and said Republican officials face a double standard. He also attacked Democrats for their handling of the fires tearing through Los Angeles 'It's not the same that mayor of LA if that were a Republican mayor, I could only imagine what that would do. I mean, you know, the fires are at high risk, and you try to go to Africa, or wherever she was, to go on some type of voyage, you should have been there preparing and doing that,' he said. 'And yet, I don't see a lot of heat being directed in that thing. And so, you know, I just, I'd like to see some balance on how this is, this is done. You criticize the point. the President Elect but I think you also have to hold these other people accountable and I have not seen that.' 'You guys sitting in judgement of Donald Trump - excuse me, I think your track record of politicizing these things is very, very bad,' he said. President-elected Donald Trump ridiculed California Gov. Gavin Newsom as 'Newscum' during an angry online post as the fires raged A staircase is left partially standing in a property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 The question he responded to most likely related to his host Trump, 78, who tore into Newsom over focusing on the delta smelt and other fish in a water dispute, a longtime feature of California politics where farmers and cities battle over precious water resources from the north. Trump claimed in his initial post that Newsom 'refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way.' Newsom's office hit back, noting that 'there is no such document,' and calling the claim 'pure fiction.' Newsom's office did clash with Trump's White House over water use plans, as fact checkers noted. Members of a child sex grooming gang have cost taxpayers more than 2m in legal aid bills while battling deportation with 285,000 paid to the ringleader, it emerged yesterday. The fees were run up by nine members of a paedophile gang from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, at a string of court hearings to avoid being kicked out of Britain. Some of the abusers, who were convicted of rape and other sex offences in 2012, used human rights legislation to avoid repeated attempts to have them deported to Pakistan. A top immigration judge accused lawyers acting for the group of weakening the rule of law by obstructing the courts and using time-wasting tactics. The groomer who racked up the highest amount of fees was gang ringleader Qari Abdul Rauf, who received legal aid totalling 285,000, The Times reported. Rauf, now 55, has returned to Rochdale since his release from prison in 2014 after serving two-and-a-half years of a six-year-sentence for trafficking a 15-year-old girl for sex and for having sex with her himself. When sentenced in 2012, the father-of-five - who worked as a taxi driver and was a religious studies teacher at a mosque - was described as a deeply hypocritical individual by Judge Gerald Clifton. Gang ringleader and groomer Qari Abdul Rauf (pictured) racked up the highest amount in legal fees - totalling to 285,000 Shabir Ahmed (left) jailed for 41 years for 30 counts of child rape charges amassed a 255,000 legal aid bill, while Adil Khan (right) ran up a 270,000 taxpayer funded bill Rauf was told he would be deported to Pakistan following his release from jail. But he renounced his Pakistani citizenship and his lawyers argued he would be left stateless if forced to leave Britain. They also claimed deportation was against his human right to family life, because he has a wife and children in the UK and Rauf currently remains in Rochdale working as a delivery driver. Separately, a 270,000 taxpayer-funded bill was run up by lawyers representing Adil Khan, 54, jailed for eight years for sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child. The married father had a baby with one of the victims, aged just 13 at the time, who believed she was in love with him. Khan, who also threatened a 15-year-old girl with violence, insisted his son needed a role model and renounced his Pakistani citizenship, like Rauf, as he appealed against attempts to deport him to South Asia. The Ministry of Justice figures, provided in response to a parliamentary question in the House of Lords, also show that Abdul Aziz, known as the master of the gang, claimed 200,000 in legal aid fees. And Shabir Ahmed, jailed for 41 years for 30 counts of child rape charges, has run up a 255,000 legal aid bill. In total, nine members of the same Rochdale gang cost a total of 2.02 million in legal aid fees until June 2021. Abdul Aziz, known as the master of the child grooming gang, claimed 200,000 in legal aid fees But the bill is likely to have increased since then, as gang members legal battles against deportation have continued. At least seven of the group are believed to be still living in the UK. Khan, speaking through an interpreter in 2022, to argue against his deportation, told a judge: As you know, the father figure is very important in every culture in the world, to be a role model for the child, to tell him or her right from wrong. Speaking during an appeal hearing against gang members deportations in 2017, Mr Justice Bernard McCloskey then the UKs most senior immigration judge, launched a broadside at human rights lawyers. Mr Justice McCloskey, who became lord justice of appeal in 2019, claimed lawyers were weakening the rule of law by using time-wasting tactics and obstructing the courts to prevent their deportation. New bodycam footage shows the grim moment a 'hero' Chicago police officer honored as the 'Pride of South Side' called out to the gunman before being fatally shot. Detective Allan Reddins, 40, was shot and killed outside the Oak Park Public Library on Black Friday after yelling out to suspect Jerrell Thomas, 37, to not reach for his gun. Bodycam footage, released on Thursday, showed the moment Reddins got to the scene, alongside Sargent Manny Ruiz Jr. 'Dont reach, bro. Dont reach. Keep your hands up,' Reddins can be heard yelling at the suspect. Ruiz can be heard on his body-worn camera telling the suspect 'don't reach' several times. 'I have to go back home,' Thomas responded. Seconds later, Thomas allegedly fires a shot, striking and killing Reddins. Several more shots can be heard ringing out, but it is unclear who fired them. A few minutes go by before more officers arrive on the scene can be heard telling him to 'drop your weapon' while Thomas hid behind one of the library's pillars. Detective Allan Reddins, 40, was shot and killed outside the Oak Park Public Library on Black Friday after yelling out to suspect Jerrell Thomas, 37, to not reach for his gun Thomas, who is in custody, is facing 56 felony charges, including first-degree murder More gunshots can be heard, one striking Thomas as officers yell at him to 'stay down.' An officer can be seen handcuffing Thomas as he began frantically crying out: 'Ow, my leg, ah, ah, ow, my leg!' Officers applied a tourniquet to his injury and recovered a handgun from under a bench outside the library. Both Reddins and Thomas were taken to the Loyola University Medical Center for treatment. Reddins was pronounced dead after taking a gunshot to his left side. Reddins, a father, joined the force in 2019 after serving two years as a Metra police officer. He became a detective in 2022. 'Allan was wise beyond his years,' Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in her eulogy after his funeral last month. 'No one would have known he had just shy of eight years in this profession. His commitment to serving is unparalleled. His dedication to the department and to the Oak Park community was undeniable. 'Dont reach, bro. Dont reach. Keep your hands up,' Reddins can be heard yelling at the suspect moments before he would be struck by a bullet Several more shots can be heard ringing out before Thomas was struck in the leg and taken into custody An officer can be seen handcuffing Thomas as he began frantically crying out: 'Ow, my leg, ah, ah, ow, my leg!' 'I knew immediately Allan was an asset to the Oak Park Police Department and to the Oak Park community.' Thomas, who is in custody, is facing 56 felony charges, including first-degree murder. He is expected to appear back in court on March 4. Three teenagers have been arrested after a 'popular' 17-year-old student was stabbed to death near a bus station in Bedford A 17-year-old as well as two 18-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Thomas Taylor, 17, Bedfordshire Police have confirmed. Sixth-form student, Thomas, was fatally stabbed near a bus station in Bedford as he walked through the city centre on Wednesday. Paramedics rushed the teenager to hospital but he was later pronounced dead. Another man in his 60s was taken into custody on suspicion of assisting an offender on Thursday but has since been released on bail pending further enquiries. Police are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who was in the area at the time. Detective Inspector Richard Stott, leading the investigation for the Major Crime Unit, said: 'This is an absolutely shocking incident in which a teenage boy has lost his life as a result of knife crime and serious youth violence. 'We want to reassure the wider community that officers are pursuing all lines of enquiry as well as carrying out increased patrols in the surrounding area. Sixth-form student Thomas Taylor, 17 (pictured) was stabbed to death as he walked through the centre of Bedford last night Floral tributes near Greenhill Street, close to Bedford bus station, following the stabbing of Thomas Taylor 'We are continuing to appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident, or the lead up to it. 'We are also keen to speak to anyone who knows those involved, and we would encourage you to make contact with us via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP).' Anyone with information that could aid the investigation has been urged to contact 101 quoting Operation Cimarron. Those you wish to provide information anonymously can do so via the MIPP or by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Earlier this week, family and friends of the 'respected' 17-year-old issued tributes to the youngster. His mother issued a heartfelt tribute to her son, remarking how the family were 'completely devastated' by the news. 'He was really looking forward to his future and we are all completely devastated. He was deeply caring and family orientated and was a very intelligent boy,' she said. 'He brightened up any room he walked into he really cared about others and his life.' Thomas's school friends told MailOnline how he 'left everyone with a smile'. One said: 'The one word that sums him up is fun. You couldn't have a bad day with him, it was impossible. 'He was just so funny, everything he said would have you cracking up. Not just what he said, but how he said it.' Thomas had been studying A-Level criminology, health and social care studies and business studies at Bedford Academy. Multiple parts of Bedford town centre were cordoned off as police conducted their investigations into the incident The friend added: 'He'd left school recently but was really keen to come back, he kept emailing the school. 'He was a really smart lad, he could sometimes be cheeky in class but he was never rude.' Bedford Academy headteacher Chris Deller said the school was 'deeply upset and shocked' by17-year-old's death. Mr Deller said: 'Thomas was a popular, well-liked and respected lad who finished Year 11 with a strong set of results, before going on to study at sixth form. 'Our focus now is on supporting the family through such a difficult period, whilst helping our students and wider community to come to terms with such a tragic loss.' The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is already up and running Donald Trump and Elon Musk's government waste slashing brainchild DOGE is already examining how to cut unnecessary funding from the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies. The newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) already has 50 employees working in Washington, D.C., sources confirmed to the Washington Post. Working out of SpaceX's offices, the new employees are already hard at work examining different areas to lessen federal spending. DOGE is a private entity not involved with the federal government, but its agents have already been visiting multiple executive branch departments conducting interviews, the report states. The U.S. Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Departments Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services have all been involved in preliminary investigations. Previously, Musk set out the ambitious goal of cutting federal spending by $2 trillion in the coming years from a federal budget that hovers around $6.8 trillion. However, earlier this week the SpaceX CEO seemed to adjust that target. 'I think we'll try for $2 trillion. I think that's like the best-case outcome,' he said, 'But I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, we've got a good shot at getting $1 [trillion].' Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been tasked with cutting trillions of dollars in wasteful government spending Donald Trump has said that eliminating frivolous government spending is a top priority for his incoming administration Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., from left, walks with Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, the DOGE co-leaders as they arrive for a roundtable meeting to discuss President-elect Donald Trump's planned Department of Government Efficiency in December According to a blog post from a tech founder who worked for DOGE for four weeks, groups of workers have already gone 'from 0 to 100 taking meetings and getting s*** done.' 'Within 2 minutes of talking to the final interviewer for DOGE, he asked me if I wanted to join. I said 'yes'. Then he said 'cool' and I was in multiple Signal groups,' Vinay Hiremath, the co-founder of tech company Loom, posted on his blog. 'I was immediately acquainted with the software, HR, and legal teams.' 'The next 4 weeks of my life consisted of 100s of calls recruiting the smartest people Ive ever talked to, working on various projects Im definitely not able to talk about, and learning how completely dysfunctional the government was. It was a blast.' Though despite the enjoyable work and fast-paced environment, Hiremath called it quits at DOGE after just a couple weeks. 'After 4 intense and intoxicating weeks, I called off my plans to move to DC and embark on a journey to save our government with some of the smartest people Ive ever met,' he wrote, indicating that he left to explore Hawaii and spend time focusing on his personal development. DOGE, which was first announced in November after the presidential election, is looking to scale up its operation quickly. According to the Post's report, the Washington, D.C., DOGE office is aiming to reach 100 employees in coming weeks. 'Recruiting for a very small number of full-time salaried HR, IT, and Finance positions,' the DOGE X account posted at the end of December. 'If interested, please DM us your resume and a few bullet points about why you are interested in DOGE.' Department of Government Efficiency logo Department of Government Efficiency X page The official DOGE account posted again this week calling for engineers to apply. 'Recruiting for a very small number of full-time salaried Software Engineers and InfoSec Engineers,' the statement said. 'If interested, please DM us a few bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability, and your cell phone number.' As much of the department remains shrouded in mystery, like why its employees are sharing an office with SpaceX, who is paying the employee's salaries and what parts of the government they are targeting, some high-profile executives have been appointed to management positions. Steve Davis, a veteran of several of Musk's companies with a reputation of cutting costs, has been brought into DOGE to help recruit top talent. Emil Michael, a former executive at Uber, has joined on to help cut government regulations, the newspaper reported. A Wyoming woman had a horrifying near-death experience after she said a stranger spiked her drink with antifreeze on New Year's Eve. Kailey Kline, 23, began vomiting and having a series of seizures in the early morning of New Year's Day after ringing in 2025 with friends at the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill in Cody. As a result of her health emergency, Kline was life-flighted to a hospital in Billings, Montana, where she stayed for an entire week. 'She was probably too trusting,' Amber Espinoza, Kline's mother, told the Cowboy State Daily. Despite rarely ever going out to drink, friends convinced the mother-of-two to celebrate the New Year with an evening out at the Silver Dollar - one of the most popular bars in Cody. After a long night of booze and partying, Kailey's fiance, Shawn, picked her up from the bar around closing time. Although she seemed very drunk, nothing in her behavior pointed to anything out of the ordinary. But within just 10 minutes of being back home, Kline began acting strange - vomiting, becoming limp, foaming at the mouth and seizing. Kline's mother believes that her daughter's trust and inexperience in bar settings made her susceptible to becoming a victim As a result of her health emergency, Kline was life-flighted to a hospital in Billings, Montana, where she stayed for an entire week Kline remembered being handed a drink by a stranger around 1:30 am, when the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill was preparing to close, which is the same time she began to feel sick Her fiance immediately called an ambulance as well as her mother, who is a traveling nurse living in Otto. 'Had it not been for his instincts to call an ambulance, this could have been a very different scenario,' Kline's mother said in the GoFundMe page she created. When emergency responders arrived, they administered a dose of valium to Kline - a medication that helps treat seizures by calming your nervous system down - but she continued to seize. 'They weren't sure why this was all happening,' Espinoza recalled. Kline was eventually intubated in the ambulance before the situation turned dire - prompting the young mother to be life-flighted to St. Vincent Regional Hospital to undergo more testing. With no history of seizures or diabetes, an electroencephalogram was put on her to monitor her brain function while she laid sedated and on a ventilator in the hospital bed. Every time medical staff attempted to give her a stimulant, she continued to suffer from seizures and convulsions. Ethylene glycol intoxication is commonly associated with these symptoms - most poisonings occurring after ingesting antifreeze. Just 10 minutes of being home after Shawn, Kline's fiance, picked her up from the bar, she began acting strange - vomiting, becoming limp, foaming at the mouth and seizing - leading him to immediately call an ambulance Kline was eventually intubated in the ambulance before the situation turned dire - prompting the young mother to be life-flighted to St. Vincent Regional Hospital for a week-long stay to undergo more testing But from there, her condition only worsened. Her sugar and potassium levels were dropping while her lactic acid levels were simultaneously increasing - despite receiving fluid resuscitation and active antibiotics used to attack the unknown toxin. Doctors and nurses kept hitting brick wall after brick wall when every drug test they ran came back perfectly clean. It wasn't until staff gave Kline the antidote for antifreeze that her body responded immediately. 'Her sugar started coming up, her potassium started coming up, then her lactic acids started decreasing,' Kline's mother said. Because of the speed antifreeze metabolizes in the body, it couldn't be officially confirmed that Kline's drink was spiked with the mixture of chemicals. 'They'll never give us a definite unless they can prove it,' Espinoza explained. But the fact that her body responded to the antidote so abruptly and her symptoms so closely aligned to ethylene glycol intoxication, doctors determined that it was the most likely cause. Every time medical staff attempted to give her a stimulant, she continued to suffer from seizures and convulsions but it wasn't until she was given an antifreeze antidote that her body immediately responded The hospital was unable to confirm for certain whether antifreeze was in Kline's bloodstream because her blood was drawn too late after the incident to be detected 'I got roofied,' she said, once her breathing tube was removed. She remembered being handed a drink by a stranger around 1:30 am, when the bar was preparing to close, which is the same time she began to feel sick. Kline even remembered what the stranger looked like. But doctors informed her that her drink was most likely spiked with something even deadlier. 'Doctors believe antifreeze was placed in her drink NYE,' Espinoza wrote in the online fundraiser. 'She began having seizures, couldn't move and couldn't support her own airway.' However, the hospital was unable to confirm for certain whether antifreeze was in Kline's bloodstream because her blood was drawn too late after the incident to be detected. Antifreeze, which has a sweet taste, can make it difficult to detect - especially if it's poured in another sweet liquid, such as a cocktail. 'If she was already drinking sweet drinks or fruity drinks, she wouldn't have tasted it,' Kline's mother said. Amber Espinoza, Kline's mother, said that it doesn't appear her daughter has suffered any permanent injury or organ damage but that her memory still comes and goes from time to time Seeing her daughter poisoned on a well deserved night out and then having to recover in the ICU for nearly four days has been a 'nerve-wracking' experience, Espinoza described. Over the past week, Kline's condition has thankfully stabilized, and she began walking again, despite still being very weak. Kline's mother said that it doesn't appear her daughter has suffered any permanent injury or organ damage but that her memory still comes and goes from time to time. Kline was officially released from the hospital Monday, despite not being completely recovered. A full recovery is expected to take some time, which Espinoza said will prove to be difficult for a young mother with two young children at home. Kline's mother also said that she places no blame on the Silver Dollar for what happened and believes that the real lesson from the experience is to never accept a drink from a stranger. 'Without knowing who actually did it, it's hard to place blame on the business,' she said. 'They can't be 100 percent responsible for their patrons all the time.' Over the past week, the condition of the young mother-of-two has stabilized and she began walking again, despite still being very weak Kline was officially released from the hospital Monday, despite not being completely recovered, which is said will take some time - but the Cody Police Department is now quickly investigating Lt. Juston Wead of the Cody Police Department noted how officers are investigating the incident 'fairly rapidly' and there's 'some people we need to talk to'. 'We're still working through this case to solidify what happened,' he said. Wead also said that there were no other reports of drinks being spiked at that specific bar that night, despite Espinoza seeing some local residents on social media saying otherwise. Authorities in Cody have not had a lot of run-ins with drinks being spiked in the area, although roofies have been a problem in other cities in the state. 'It's important to make sure you are aware of your drink because these types of things can happen,' Wead added. 'Don't accept drinks from people you don't know, don't leave your drink unattended.' Kline's mother has personally never heard of someone being drugged with antifreeze before. 'A lot of people want to be nice and buy you drinks,' she said. 'But if you don't know them, don't drink it.' Two more lynx were captured last night after being deliberately abandoned in the Highlands. The big cats were confirmed to be on the loose in the Cairngorms National Park yesterday morning - just hours after another pair were safely caught in baited traps in the same area. Experts feared for the animals safety after they were released in sub-zero conditions. Police are probing the release of the animals, spotted at Dell of Killiehuntly, near Kingussie, which they believe are connected to the ones found in the Drumguish area on Wednesday. They were caught on a wildlife camera left out from the previous night and were seen tentatively inspecting one of the unbaited traps left on the off chance there were more as they struggled through the thick blanket of snow in the early hours. Experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) confirmed the second pair of deliberately abandoned lynx had been captured at 6.30pm on Friday. Dr Helen Senn, RZSS Head of Conservation said: Im sure that everyone in the community will be happy and relieved to know that the second pair of lynx have been safely captured. 'Early reports are that they appear to be in good health, which is the most important thing. 'Its been a rollercoaster 48 hours, with people working throughout the day and night, in some extremely challenging conditions, but Ive been so impressed by the efforts of our own staff as well as partners, and members of the local community to ensure that the outcome is a positive one. 'The lynx will now be moved to Highland Wildlife Park before being moved to Edinburgh Zoo to quarantine for 30 days. Although we dont think that there are any more lynx out there, we will continue to monitor the release site under the direction of Police Scotland. Two more lynx were captured in the Highlands One of the two lynx, which were successfully captured in the Cairngorms National Park earlier this week RZSS chief executive David Field warned that anyone releasing tame lynx into the wild put the animals safety in jeopardy. He said: They are not going to attack people or take out a sheep or a deer, they arent used to hunting these animals. Part of the police investigation will be around private facilities - they will have come from an enclosure in a private facility. You cant just put an animal into the wild and expect it to survive. The people who have done this are negligent and have abandoned these animals. He added: We dont know but we would suspect they are connected. The first pair, named the Killiehuntly Two, were caught on Thursday after trail cameras were set up near baited traps and the RSZZ remains of the opinion that they definitely wouldnt survive in such harsh conditions. They are now in the care of specialist staff at Edinburgh Zoo, where they will remain in quarantine for the next month. Dr Helen Senn, head of conservation for RZSS based at the Highland Wildlife Park The latest pair, which were caught on a wildlife camera left out on the off chance there were more than two, will also be transported south to be assessed for their health and wellbeing. RSZZ claimed the illegal release of the animals was reckless as they were quite tame and habituated to humans so would have been unable to fend for themselves. But Highland Council, and nearby Moray and Aberdeenshire councils, confirmed no licences for lynx under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act have been issued. All 13 other councils which responded also confirmed there were no licences issued to keep the animals. Experts estimate the first pair were released no more than 24 hours before their capture and say if the second pair are part of the same group they may have been released around the same time. While they do not believe there are any more lynx that have been released, the RSZZ source said: We can never rule it out. Police Scotland Inspector Craig Johnstone said officers were working with specially trained personnel to capture the animals safely and humanely and that enquiries were continuing to establish the full circumstances of both sightings. The Cairngorms National Park added: A build-up of people could disturb the animals and hamper efforts on the ground. Lynx became extinct in the UK around 1,000 years ago and there are now calls for them to be reintroduced into the wild. But Peter Cairns, Executive Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, said that while it was one of the charities was working to secure the return of lynx to the Highlands, irresponsible and illegal releases such as this are entirely counter-productive. NatureScot, which is responsible for the management and conservations of wild animals in Scotland, described the illegal release as completely unacceptable. A spokesman said: Reintroduction projects are often complex and need careful consideration and planning to ensure national and international best practice guidelines are met. 'Any proposed lynx reintroduction would require a significant amount of consultation, as well as evidence to assess the risks and benefits associated. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the police. President Joe Biden whistled in the Oval Office on Friday to get the attention of the press during a briefing on the California wildfires. As the members of the media shouted questions about a variety of topics - including the situation in the Middle East and the Ukraine - Biden put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. 'Whoa, hey, I'm going to talk a little later this afternoon about a number of things you're asking about,' Biden said. 'But let's focus on this issue now.' 'So you can ask me about this,' he said. It was the third day in a row the president made a bizarre move while getting updates on the California fires, which have killed 10 people and caused millions in damage. President Joe Biden whistled to get the attention of the press during an Oval Office briefing on the California wildfires At a Thursday briefing, Biden told officials to 'fire away' as he was briefed devastating fires. Biden assembled Vice President Kamala Harris and other federal officials to give him an update on where things stood on the wildfires - as three large fires continued to burn through homes and businesses in Southern California. The president spoke first and then turned the conversation to Harris - a California native and whose Brentwood home has been threatened by the blazes. 'I know you're directly affected, so you fire away,' Biden said causing Harris to make a face. 'No pun intended,' the president added. As he had other officials take their turns he used the phrase three more times, prompting an online outcry once the initial exchange with Harris started going viral. And, on Wednesday, he made an odd segway when he was at a Los Angeles fire station, thanking firefighters who were risking their lives to fight the blaze. 'There's only one piece of good news,' Biden said. 'My son lives out here and his wife and they got notification yesterday their home was probably burned to the ground. Today it appears it may be still standing but not sure,' Biden began. 'But the good news is, I'm a great-grandfather, as of today.' He and wife Jill had visited their granddaughter Naomi at Cedars Sinai Hospital after she had a c-section. The baby is the Bidens' first great-grand child. 'My eldest granddaughter had a 10 pound four ounce baby girl - baby boy,' he said, making a quick correction on the infant's gender. The baby's name is William Brannon Neal, IV. The so-called Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on LA's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) - or some 53 square miles. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Friday It has burned at least 10,000 structures and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes. At least 180,000 residents are under evacuation orders for all blazes in the county, officials said. The Palisades Fire is now 6% controlled, while the Eaton Fire still blazed out of control, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The skies in Los Angeles buzzed with aircraft dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hill. A slew of notable locations, including Sunset Boulevard that splits the upscale Pacific Palisades, were engulfed in punishing flames that tore through residential and commercial areas alike and reduced buildings to burnt-out husks. Banks, restaurants, gas stations and homes were left in smoldering ruins along the iconic boulevard, where bulldozers were forced to remove abandoned luxury motors, forging a path for emergency services and firefighters. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs. A firefighter sets a backburn in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. 'We're already looking ahead to aggressively rebuild the city of Los Angeles,' said Democrat Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced harsh criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, other Republicans and LA business moguls over her handling of the disaster. President Biden who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100% of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries. 'I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,' Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House. Biden said his message to the people of Southern California is: 'We are with you. Were not going anywhere.' But with less than two weeks left in his term, its a promise he might not hold. Trump takes over on Jan. 20, and he was at odds with Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, over wildfires the first time he was president. Trump lately has been referring to Newsom by putting a derogatory spin on his last name. He also has blamed Newsom for the fire currently raging in Los Angeles. But Biden vowed to help the state in his remaining days in charge. 'Were sticking with this,' Biden said. 'We expect there may be a temporary break in the winds, but in some areas, the winds are likely to continue well into next week.' As Biden turned the floor over to Vice President Kamala Harris, he noted she was 'directly affected.' Harris is a former California senator, and her home there was in the evacuation zone, but it wasnt clear if it was damaged. She described the scene as 'apocalyptic.' 'This is something that is going to have an impact for months and years to come,' she said. Additionally Harris canceled the final foreign trip of her term because of the wildfires, her office announced on Thursday. Her decision follows a similar one made by President Biden, who was due to travel this week to Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but instead stayed in Washington. Harris had planned to visit Singapore, Bahrain and Germany from Jan. 13 to 17. In all, five wildfires burned in Los Angeles County, with the largest Palisades fire just 6% contained and the Eaton fire 0% contained. Skies buzzed with aircraft dropping retardant and water on the flaming hills. Officials late on Thursday urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley just 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from a school serving as a shelter for fire evacuees and then moved into neighboring Ventura County by the evening. For centuries he has been celebrated across the world for his plain-speaking verse and wry observations on the human condition. But Robert Burns has been consigned to history by Scotland's education chiefs, who have dropped his poems as a main topic from the school curriculum. Scotland's Bard will make way for more 'diverse' and modern writers in sweeping changes to set texts in secondary schools. The Scottish Qualifications Authority has 'repositioned' Burns from his place as a standalone writer and moved his works into an anthology of Scottish poetry. The SQA made the decision following a consultation on English set texts for National 5 and Highers English courses. His works have been reduced in favour of more 'relevant', modern novels such as those about teenagers. The controversial shake-up has led to other established greats to be effectively downgraded too. Lewis Grassic Gibbon's classic novel Sunset Song will no longer be included in the set text list for pupils studying Higher English. The SQA has 'repositioned' Robert Burns from his place as a standalone writer and moved his works into an anthology of Scottish poetry Scotland's Bard will make way for more 'diverse' and modern writers in sweeping changes to set texts in secondary schools The SQA said it was important to acknowledge Burns' cultural significance but pointed out that interest in his works has dwindled. Of 35,000 students who sat Higher English last summer, only 83 chose to answer a question on Burns. Other removed texts include The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil by John McGrath, the 1970s play that examines Scottish history through a radical socialist lens, and The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins. The SQA stressed that its updated list of Scottish set texts was the result of a consultation which received more than 2,500 responses. 'The feedback we received was clear,' Robert Quinn, the SQA's head of English, said: 'This is the first review and update of the Scottish set text list since 2018 and rightly it was an opportunity to consider the titles on it and assess how teachers and learners engage with these works and see if and where any changes were necessary. 'The feedback we received was clear. Teachers and lecturers wanted to retain the most popular texts, but they also wanted a list that is diverse, and relevant for learners. 'From learners we heard them say they wanted to see more modern and diverse texts that had challenging themes and strong emotional content included in the revised list. 'This approach will give teachers and lecturers the opportunity to introduce National 5 and Higher learners to several new poets, who will now sit along Burns and other culturally significant writers on the list.' New titles include Duck Feet by Ely Percy, a coming-of-age novel set in a Renfrewshire school; the Gaelic antiwar play Sequamur and poems by Imtiaz Dharker, who was born in Pakistan but grew up in Glasgow. An earlier version of this article, which also appeared in the print edition of the Scottish Daily Mail, gave the impression that University of Glasgow academics Professor Gerard Carruthers and Dr Ronnie Young were responding directly to reports that Robert Burns had been 'sidelined' by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). The university has asked us to point out that the quotes from both men were not made directly to the SQA decision on Burns and were taken from previous interviews. We are happy to clarify and have amended the online article accordingly. This is the moment an Albanian drugs lord previously exposed in the Mail's 'Narcos' documentary was flown to face justice after almost three decades on the run. Dritan Rexhepi, nicknamed the 'King of Cocaine', had been on the run for over 27 years and was wanted in four countries. During this time, he managed to always evade police capture for his crimes across Europe despite being in their eye and even being on a most wanted list issued by Scotland Yard in 2023 because of his close links to England. It is believed he was behind the killing of the brother of a man suspected to have stolen a shipment of 20 million worth of cocaine to England that belonged to Rexhepi. He is said to have been leader of an international drug cartel called Kompanio Bello, which transports drugs from South America to Europe. He was arrested in November 2023 by armed police in Turkey and has now been extradited to his native Albania where he is expected to face justice for his crimes. Ilir Proda General Director of Albanian police told The Sun the extradition of the international crime baro is a 'huge achievement', saying it sends a clear message that 'one wanted Albanian fugitive can think he is safe where is hiding abroad'. Rexhepi's start in the world of crime began around the 1990s as a teenager. Dritan Rexhepi, nicknamed the 'King of Cocaine', had been on the run for over 27 years and was wanted in four countries. Pictured: Rexhepi departing Istanbul It is believed he was behind the killing of the brother of a man suspected to have stolen a shipment of 20 million worth of cocaine to England. Pictured: Rexhepi arriving in Albania Dritan Rexhepi, the ringleader of the Kompanio Bello drug cartel, was wanted with a red notice He was suspected of working as a contracted killer and was convicted of the murders of two police officers which happened in 1998. By 2005, he appeared to try to make a 180-degree turn to his life by enrolling into law school. However, just a year later he was detained by police in a luxurious hotel in the capital of Albania, Tirana, with a gun and taken into custody. And it was that he managed to escape prison, one of three that we would go on to do, after picking a faulty lock in the interrogation room with his finger. He was sentenced in absentia by a Tirana court for the murders of the two police officers. In 2008 he was arrested in the Netherlands and extradited to Italy to be sentenced for drug trafficking but in 2011, along with two other inmates, they escaped by cutting through the bars of his cell and using red sheets as ropes to reach the ground before fleeing. Later that year police managed to track him down in Spain and extradite him to Belgium, but again police guards did not hold up to his escaping skills and he managed to break out of jail in Antwerp by climbing over the wall. It was then he turned to the UK when he caught the attention of Scotland Yard which published his photo and branded him one of the 17 most dangerous foreigners in the the country - he ended up moving to Ecuador. He was arrested in November 2023 by armed police in Turkey and has now been extradited to his native Albania where he is expected to face justice for his crimes. Pictured: Rexhepi arriving in Albania It was then he turned to the UK when he caught the attention of Scotland Yard, pictured, which published his photo and branded him one of the 17 most dangerous foreigners in the the country It was here that in June 2014, with a different identity and appearance, he was arrested and remained unidentified for more than a month before his real identity was revealed through his fingerprints. He went on to create a cocaine trafficking network which rivalled some of Mexico's most powerful cartels. This network, Kompania Bello, was dubbed one of the world's 'cocaine highways' and ended up connecting Colombia and bringing drugs to Europe. The drugs were shipped to the continent, entering through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, while the money was laundered through the Chinese fei ch'ien system. Gang members were able to communicate through encrypted services and often had meetings to discuss new ways to carry out their crimes. To be part of the group, members accepted that their families would be used for revenge if they ever betrayed the drug trade. They were also recruiting new members from Albania, especially nationals living abroad like in the Netherlands and Italy. While behind bars in the South American country, he continued masterminding the supply of vast quantities of cocaine to the UK where he was a key target of the National Crime Agency. In the Mail's multi-media investigation in March, we revealed how Albanian narco gangs ensured you can now get cocaine in Britain quicker than a pizza delivery. In Ecuador, a ruthless local gangster who worked for a gang leader known as 'Carlos the Devil' told us of the terrifying bloodshed behind the operation to export cocaine to the UK. The man, whom we called Junior, appeared too scared to answer questions about Rexhepi. Asked about Albanian gangsters, linked to a string of drug-related mob murders in Ecuador, he said: 'If you fail, they kill'. One prosecutor who has survived five assassination plots in Ecuador said of Albanian drugs lords there: 'They are the masterminds and hire the hitmen'. In highly suspicious circumstances, Rexhepi was released early from a 13 year sentence for drug trafficking in Ecuador. His jail term did not end his criminal operations. From his prison cell in the capital Quito, he allegedly used an encrypted mobile phone to co-ordinate a 'trans-national crime federation' of Albanian drug traffickers known as Kompania Bello. A key destination for his illicit cargo was the UK, with its 2billion cocaine market. Rexhepi is also believed to have ordered the murder of an innocent man after a rival Albanian drugs gang allegedly stole millions of pounds worth of cocaine which he had had smuggled to Portsmouth on a container ship full of bananas. The victim's only 'crime'- he was kidnapped and killed in Albania - was to be the brother of someone who had supposedly double-crossed Rexhepi over the drugs consignment. He is also accused of overseeing the kidnapping and killing of Jan Prenga - in December 2019 as he was linked to the disappearance of large quantity of cocaine in England. Video showed a number of vehicles heading to the hideout in Istanbul, Turkey Officials said the man nicknamed the 'King of Cocaine' entered Turkey via Istanbul Airport with a Colombian passport registered in the name of 'Benjamin Omar Perez Garcia' A police video of his arrest showed anti-narcotics officers in body armour removing cash, jewellery and watches from a safe at his hideout in an upmarket apartment block in Istanbul The man was seen in dramatic footage being detained by armed Turkish police 'Dritan Rexhepi, leader of the 'Kompanio Bello' drug cartel, exporting drugs from South America to Europe, was arrested,' Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X According to Europol, what set Rexhepi's syndicate apart from others was the way in which it controlled the entire supply chain - from sourcing cocaine for export, to wholesale distribution and on to selling on the streets of cities such as Brighton, as we revealed in our documentary and Part One of the Mail investigation. In 2020 the drug network was found and dismantled by Europol. Rexhepi was still in prison - but was released in 2021 and banned from leaving Ecuador. Several months after his release from prison, the criminal mastermind disappeared off the radar in Ecuador setting alarm bells ringing in the alleged narco state, the UK, elsewhere in western Europe and Albania. The trail appeared to have gone cold until Rexhepi turned up in Turkey in a triumph for global law enforcement. The Interpol notice was issued by the Italian and Albanian judicial authorities for crimes of 'wilful murder, drugs, kidnapping/deprivation of liberty, forgery of travel documents, weapons and ammunition'. Officials in Turkey said the man nicknamed the 'King of Cocaine' entered the country via Istanbul Airport with a Colombian passport registered in the name of 'Benjamin Omar Perez Garcia'. Megyn Kelly took aim at David Muir, accusing him of 'abject vanity' after the ABC News reporter had his jacket cinched at the back while covering the Los Angeles fires. Kelly, 54, expressed outrage about what she described as Muir's attempts to make 'his waist look more svelte on camera' while 'pretending to be a fireman' as he talked about the devastation in southern California during a broadcast Wednesday. 'The abject vanity of this man,' Kelly said on her SiriusXM podcast The Megyn Kelly Show on Thursday. 'Yes, hes an actor whos worried about his own vanity and beauty on camera. God forbid you think David Muir might be a little boxy in the waist.' 'This is not dress up time... Thats something that my little boys did when they were still in the single digitsnot on the news when people are dying,' she added. 'What are you doing?' Muir, 51, has been viciously mocked for accidently revealing that he was using clothes pins to cinch in his jacket while reporting in the historic wildfires that have left at least 10 dead. The World News Tonight anchor might have noticed the backlash, as he appeared on Thursday's report from LA with an unzipped jacket that did not seen tailored to his figure. It came as ABC News moles told Page Six that Muir's jacket gaffe while covering the LA wildfires had left them 'embarrassed and horrified'. Megyn Kelly, 54, expressed outrage about what she described as David Muir's attempts to make 'his waist look more svelte on camera' while 'pretending to be a fireman' Eagle-eyed ABC News viewers noticed David Muir committed a fashion faux pas while reporting on the wildfires in Los Angeles The World News Tonight anchor might have noticed the backlash, as he appeared on Thursday's report from LA with an unzipped jacket that did not seen tailored to his figure The insiders claimed Muir's decision to cinch in the waist of a fire retardant jacket with clothespins is par for the course for the 'narcissistic' anchor. 'It's pathetic. All flexed muscles and posing,' one source said, referencing how Muir's Instagram feed is plastered with photos of him sporting tight, black t-shirts while out in the field. 'He's actually Zoolander meets Anchorman. He forgets he is the face of ABC News, not Abercrombie & Fitch!' The insider was referring to Ben Stiller's fictional supermodel from the 2001 movie Zoolander and Will Ferrell's cheesy Ron Burgundy newsreader from 2004's Anchorman. Another insider claimed they had 'never' before seen ABC News jackets 'made to look like a firefighter jacket', noting that Muir's jacket 'matches the first responders'. Others slammed Muir for 'trying to look "hot" during a fire' and argued that covering the catastrophic fires - which have killed at least 10 people and consumed more than 34,000 acres across LA - 'shouldnt be about vanity, it should be about people losing their homes.' Muir was pointing out the rubble behind him during a stand-up hit in the Pacific Palisades, when he turned around - revealing the fashion faux pas. 'As you can see here behind me,' he said, while the clamps could be seen on the back of his jacket. Insiders have claimed that ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic, who has been dubbed Muirs 'security blanket', was on scene during the live hit. A network president does not typically accompany anchors on a shoot unless they are moderating a presidential debate or interviewing a high-profile individual, such as the president, Page Six reported. Muir enjoys posting social media images of himself in his trademark tight t-shirts, to the amusement of some of his colleagues Muir's antics on screen and on social media have seen him likened to fictional supermodel Derek Zoolander (played by Ben Stiller, left) and Will Ferrell's Anchorman Ron Burgundy (right) Sources at ABC News have now alleged the network is 'embarrassed and horrified' by Muir's gaffe, with several insiders saying the 'narcissistic' move is typical of the anchor. They referenced how Muir's Instagram feed is plastered with photos of him sporting tight, black t-shirts while out in the field It is unclear why Karamehmedovic, who used to be Muir's producer before taking the job of network boss, was on the scene. But sources say he is 'excellent at field producing in these situations'. They also note that he and Muir share a 'level of trust'. Although the network has not offered an explanation for Muir's fashion choice, ABC has claimed he was 'solely focused' on the fires - not his appearance. 'Here's an anchor standing in the middle of horrific wildfires where people have lost everything,' a spokesperson said in a statement to Page Six. 'David is solely focused on the people who are suffering and the heroic efforts of the firefighters and thats what everyone should be focused on.' DailyMail.com has reached out to ABC News for comment on this story. Regardless, the fashion faux pas has sparked heavy criticism of the anchor from fans and industry members alike. 'Nice jacket bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground,' wrote television producer Jack Osbourne. Others also chimed in, calling Muir 'pathetic' and 'narcissistic.' 'He's a fraud from head to toe,' journalist Paul V Rea added, calling the host of World News Tonight with David Muir 'basically a hair model reading a script.' Another commented, '@DavidMuir, just when your reputation hasn't gotten bad enough.' Many online called Muir 'pathetic' and 'narcissistic' for the use of the clamps The incident comes amid an ongoing feud between Muir and fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos Using clothespins to cinch ill-fitting clothes is a standard television style maneuvering for when more traditional tailoring is unavailable, according to the New York Post. Muir was also mocked on his Instagram account, with one poster writing: 'You're so vain, you probably think this fire's about you, don't you,' a reference to the classic Carly Simon song. Another said: 'Are you going to clip your flame retardant jacket today too?' And a third wrote: 'if you wanted a tailored look then go to a fashion show! So embarrassing.' Muir's sartorial awareness was deemed jarring in front of destroyed buildings, as thousands of people were left with nothing but ash across the City of Angels. At least 10 people were killed and thousands of structures were burned as fierce wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area, officials said. The ruins of a burned property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 A firefighter protects a beach front property while fighting the Palisades Fire Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, California Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday Fast-moving flames blazed through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities. Many of the towering fires that began Tuesday were fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph in some spots. The winds dropped Thursday, but the National Weather Service warned that even the reduced gusts could still spread fire rapidly. The exact death toll remained unclear, but it was expected to rise as crews begin to search the rubble. Gov. Gavin Newsom said California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel to battle the blazes. Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona dispatched teams to assist. AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to $135 billion to $150 billion. Government officials have not yet released any damage estimates. A California woman was left with a bloodied head after a firecracker show at the new San Francisco mayor's inauguration went wrong. An unidentified woman wearing a white blazer could be see being escorted by police with her head down after sustaining the injury in the city's Chinatown. It happened just moments after San Francisco's new Mayor Daniel Lurie had told spectators that event organizers were 'worried about you all, so back up,' video showed. 'The fireworks hit my wifes head directly,' the woman's husband, Sang Seog Ahn, told The San Francisco Standard. Her husband's hands were covered in blood after the firecracker hit his wife, but he told The Standard that her injuries were not serious. Lurie had attempted several times to light the string of fireworks before handing off the duty to someone else. After it ignited, fireworks can be seen exploding onto the pavement, sending smoke and sparks everywhere and on people's heads, according to KRON 4. The mayor and his posse safely got inside the Far East Cafe restaurant while spectators enjoyed the show. An unidentified woman wearing a white blazer could be see being escorted by police with her head down after sustaining the injury in the city's Chinatown.' The fireworks hit my wifes head directly,' the woman's husband, Sang Seog Ahn, said Daniel Lurie had attempted several times to light the string of fireworks before handing off the duty to someone else. After it ignited, fireworks can be seen exploding onto the pavement, sending smoke and sparks everywhere and on people's heads San Francisco Police Department treated the woman's injuries and she was not taken to the hospital. The couple drove back home to San Jose afterward. Despite the accident, the Ahns' belief in the Lurie Administration hasn't diminished and they believe he'll be a 'great' mayor. 'I'm satisfied,' Ahn told The Standard. Lurie has not publicly mentioned the incident at his inauguration. He did post photos from the event on his X account, writing: 'Thank you, Chinatown! You were incredible.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the Mayor's Office for comment. Lurie, heir to the Levi's brand, beat former Mayor London Breed in November. A political outsider, he promised to put the 'city back on the right track' from crime, drug use, and homelessness, using skills gleaned from running the Tipping Point charity he created in 2005. It happened just moments after San Francisco's new Mayor Daniel Lurie had told spectators that event organizers were 'worried about you all, so back up' The longtime nonprofit executive has deep ties to the jean giant, which was founded in the West Coast city by a hardworking German-Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss back in 1853. The brand has since evolved into one of the world's largest apparel firms - one that Lurie is poised to partially inherit. Lurie's mom Mimi owns 11 percent of the denim giant, making her its single largest shareholder. Well, that didn't take long. Celebrities have once again proved that no amount of tragedy or carnage can humble them. No amount of collective human loss will bring them down to our level. Exhibit A: America's one-time sweetheart, Mandy Moore. As LA wildfires continue raging, the 40-year-old actress is begging for money on Instagram. Yes, the star of 'This Is Us', a ratings juggernaut that reportedly earned her $23 million over the show's entire six-season run, wants average Americans to donate to her own family members. Check out Moore's galling, tone-deaf, frankly obscene Instagram post, promoting a GoFundMe for her adult in-laws, one of whom is a 'touring musician' with a baby on the way. Maybe he should get a real job. Just a thought. The target fundraising goal for these two privileged, hipster Angelenos, by the way: $60,000. Celebrities have once again proved that no amount of tragedy or carnage can humble them. Exhibit A: America's one-time sweetheart, Mandy Moore (pictured). Check out Moore's galling, tone-deaf, frankly obscene Instagram post, promoting a GoFundMe for her adult in-laws, one of whom is a 'touring musician' with a baby on the way. Please. That's the equivalent of change in Moore's surely custom-made couch cushions. No matter. This is what she wrote in that gibberish post, defending herself against critics who say she has plenty of money to help her family out: 'People questioning whether we're helping out our own family or attributing some arbitrary amount of money google [sic] says someone has is NOT helpful or empathetic.' Of course not, Mandy. That's the point. Why would, or could, we empathize with you? Empathy is the result of having experienced the exact same set of circumstances. Most of us aren't sitting on $23 million. America made Mandy Moore, a mediocre talent at best, a multimillionaire. She never has to work another day in her life. She and her family can live like royalty off her substantial passive income. Yet she has the unmitigated gall to ask honest, hardworking, regular people of little-to-no means to finance her in-laws while spewing outrage at anyone who rightly takes offense! This post is unbelievable. She hasn't even disabled the comments, which are scathing. A sampling: 'The audacity'. 'I just lost my measly 1 bedroom apartment I owned and worked super hard for . . . but do I have a go fund me no! I have struggled and made my own way'. 'You're a multimillionaire lmao figure it out'. 'You have an obscene amount of money. I think you could help your own family and also some others while you're at it'. 'Just the nerve'. 'Did their bank account burn down too?' Friends, I don't think Mandy's reading these comments. If she is, she clearly doesn't care. She goes on: 'Our buddy Matt started this go fund me' so don't blame her, even though it's her post! 'and I'm sharing because people have asked how they can help them'. Really? People are asking how they can help a couple they've never heard of, related to one of LA's wealthiest A-listers? Okay. Sure. 'We just lost most of our life in a fire too', she writes. Here's the difference, Mandy: You can easily rebuild, insurance or not. You can build back better and bigger or move your family anywhere in the world. Most everyone who has lost everything cannot. Most people have been left with nothing. Unbowed, Moore concludes with this salvo: 'Kindly F off. No one is forcing you to do anything'. You know what, Mandy? You kindly 'f' off. 'F' alllll the way off. Let's hope this is a reputation-defining, extinction-level event that Moore and her fellow heartless celebs like Khloe Kardashian never recover from. Khloe (reported net worth: $60 million) who oh-so-proudly announced she has donated $2,500 in meals to first responders. Wow. Or Khloe's equally vulgar sister Kim, who promoted 'WINTER SALE' prices for her Skims line replete with sex-doll photos of Kim bursting out of her undergarments as LA burned to the ground on Tuesday night. Khloe Kardashian (reported net worth: $60 million) oh-so-proudly announced she has donated $2,500 in meals to first responders. Khloe's equally vulgar sister Kim promoted 'WINTER SALE' prices for her Skims line replete with sex-doll photos of Kim bursting out of her undergarments as LA burned to the ground. The irrelevant, one-time reality star Heidi Montag filmed herself crying and clutching her 2-year-old son for clicks and likes. 'I just want to go home', she wailed. Cost of said home: $3 million. Tell it to your shrink, lady. JLo, who currently has a $60 million Beverly Hills mansion on the market, encouraged her followers to donate. Stop this. JLo: Just take a chunk of your millions, donate yourself, and stop telling the little people who can barely afford groceries in this economy what to do. Even Henry Winkler, once known as the nicest guy in show business, wrote this, about a suspected local arsonist, on X: 'May you be beaten [until] you [are] unrecognizable!!!' And celebrities wonder why America increasingly has no use for them. Why we have zero interest in being lectured by a bunch of wealthy, famous hypocrites on how to live, what to think, who to vote for. This is who they really are behind the mask. The truth is ugly. Same with the media. David Muir of ABC 'News' what a joke preening like Zoolander with his cinched-back, big-boy firefighter jacket amid smoldering ruins. Or CNN's Anderson Cooper 'braving' the LA wildfires. The first rule of journalism: It's not about you, the reporter. It's never supposed to be about you. There is absolutely zero reason for these overpaid, perfectly groomed anchors to be flying in from the East Coast. Drones can do this. Muir, Cooper and their ilk are there for one reason only: Their own vainglory. JLo, who currently has a $60 million Beverly Hills mansion on the market, encouraged her followers to donate. CNN's Anderson Cooper 'braved' the LA wildfires. The first rule of journalism: It's not about you, the reporter. It's never supposed to be about you. Maybe all these celebs and newsreaders could, I don't know, use their leverage to demand answers from local and state government, from Mayor Karen Bass to the cowardly Governor Gavin Newsom (last seen running away from an outraged LA mom in broad daylight). Maybe they could shut up and stay off social media for a few measly days. Maybe they could engage in their favorite pastime and 'recognize' their 'privilege' as they hole up at the Beverly Hills Hotel and share war stories over that famous $44 McCarthy salad. And maybe, just maybe, they could show some respect for the less fortunate, whose lives will never be the same. If not, at the very least, why not do what they're paid so handsomely to do: Fake it. Because that sure beats the alternative. A new burger restaurant has been mocked online with people accusing its owner of being 'pretentious' for 'exploring the notion of fast food through a social and historical context'. The new pop-up restaurant in Manchester called Humbug has caused some controversy online. The video shared shows the owner sharing some insight into the business's practice. He said: 'This is a restaurant called Humbug. It's a fast food restaurant serving burgers from one whole cow. 'It's a red poll cow named Maraschino and is a response to transparency in fast food restaurants around the world. 'We are also exploring the notion of fast food from a social and historical context throughout this whole month.' The video then cuts to footage of customers at the restaurant enjoying their food before the owner adds: 'Come grab a burger.' The restaurant's owner said: 'This is a restaurant called Humbug. It's a fast food restaurant serving burgers from one whole cow' The video shared shows the owner sharing some insight into the business' practice However, the video has attracted some criticism from people on X, accusing the owner of being 'performative' and calling it all 'nonsense'. One user, Jake said: '"Exploring the notion of fast food through a social and historical context", just put the fries in the bag bro' Another one moaned: 'Pretentious nonsense - an excuse to over charge the consumer' @mcrfinest Stockports stand-out fine dining establishment Where The Light Gets In have launched the second act of their city centre takeovers. This is Humbug. The burgers come from one entire cow that the team butchered themselves. Theres 1400 patties, and when theyre done, so is the restaurant - so you have to be quick. #fyp #manchester #foryou original sound - Manchesters Finest Other users took an even more cynical approach, with one saying: 'I give it four months before the "for lease" sign goes up.' Another shared said: 'You make fast food for a living but want to feel like a Michelin star chef' Meanwhile, another person accused the business of being 'performative'. One user said: 'Everything is so performative. 'It's not enough to simply run a restaurant, success requires a social media presence to attach some quasi-intellectual platitude to your side of fries.' This wasn't the first time that social media makes clear its thoughts on food establishments. Last year Gordon Ramsay slammed by some fans who claim he served up 'low quality' pizza at one of his restaurants. The celebrity chef, 57, who became known for his foul-mouthed outbursts, is dishing up pies at seven of his UK Street Pizza restaurants. Ramsay offers the pepperoni pizza as part of a bottomless deal at the chain for 20 - but has left fans up in arms after some compared it to the quality of the food at the popular pub chain JD Wetherspoon. Gordon Ramsay has been slammed by fan after a picture emerged of bottomless pizza with one customer saying it looks like one served at JD Wetherspoon In contrast, other users gave more favourable reactions after seeing the finished article After a video was posted to the restaurant's Instagram account of a pepperoni pizza being made, some fans were repulsed, commenting: 'Looks like a Wetherspoons pizza'. Another said: 'Please stick to fish and chips. From Italy.' One moaned: 'Little stingy on the cheese mate'. Another shared: 'From an Italian point of view....those salami are very low quality and the pizza sauce is not great either'. A dozen Reform UK councillors have reportedly given notice of their intention to resign in protest over Nigel Farage's leadership after Elon Musk described the politician as 'not up to the job'. The Reform UK leader lashed out at US politicians earlier in the week for supporting the 'thuggish' Tommy Robinson as he tried to mend his relationship with Musk. Mr Musk on Sunday called for Mr Farage to be replaced as Reform leader, after he refused to follow the X owner and Donald Trump aide in calling for Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - to be freed. Now, it has been revealed that resignations over Farage's leadership could come as early as Friday evening, according to the Guardian. Councillors have alleged that the party was being run in an 'autocratic manner' and accused Farage of 'disloyalty' to long-term members. The 12 councillors - who collectively hold two district council seats, nine town council seats and five parish council seats - are all from Derbyshire and include Alex Stephenson, who came second in Amber Valley during the general election. Farage claimed on Thursday, however, that the resignations were from an 'out-of-control branch' and involved a number of councillors who had failed Reform UK vetting. He told the publication: 'Alex Stephenson has been suspended from the party and the reason is that he was putting up candidates for parish council elections which were unvetted, which is against the rules. We have known this branch was out of control for some time.' Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage speaks at a conference in Esher on January 10 Mr Musk on Sunday called for Mr Farage to be replaced as Reform leader, after he refused to follow the X owner and Donald Trump aide in calling for Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - to be freed Robinson is serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court over social media messages about a teenage migrant, which began in October Zia Yusuf, chairman of Reform UK, also tweeted: 'The leader of this group of councillors was suspended weeks ago by Reform for: 1) nominating candidates that failed vetting. 2) fraudulently nominating candidates with an invalid DNO certificate. 'As a result of (2), several of these councillors are illegitimate and new elections must be held. 'Reform stands for the highest standards in public life, and those who commit fraud will always be expelled.' American multi-billionaire Musk has spent the past week fixated on UK politics, specifically over British Asian sex abuse gangs in northern towns. Speaking to LBC radio on January 7, Mr Farage said that while he wanted to 'mend fences' with Musk at Trump's inauguration later this month, supporting Robinson was not going to happen. 'Many of my American friends have seen one side of the Robinson story. He says he is in prison for exposing the grooming gangs and they go ''oh my goodness me, this is dreadful, he is a political prisoner'',' he said. 'The fact is he has been in prison many times over the years - three times for contempt of court - and once he almost brought down a trial at which gang rapists were ultimately convicted. 'I am on a campaign in America at the moment to educate people as to just who Tommy Robinson really is.' The Reform UK leader criticised rightwing Americans who believe the incarcerated former EDL leader is a 'political prisoner' and said he was trying to 'educate' them. Asked whether losing his support would weaken Reform UK, he added: 'Not having Elon's support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I'm being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.' Asked if the government agreed with Mr Farage the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'It is absolutely the case that, as the PM said, those who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in delivering justice for victims. 'It is important that people know that he went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, so people who are cheerleading his cause are acting actively against delivering for the victims that the PM is interested in delivering for.' Speaking during the phone-in, the Reform leader said he would be in the United States 'for a good sort of four or five days' for Donald Trump's inauguration as president. 'I have no desire to go to war with Elon Musk and I'm not going to, and I haven't done. I'm a huge admirer of him, I think he's an heroic figure,' Mr Farage said. Asked whether losing his support would weaken Reform UK, he added: 'Not having Elon's support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I'm being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.' He added: 'It's not crucial. I mean look, if I was to embrace, as it looks like I was being urged to do, the sort of violent thuggish people like (Tommy) Robinson, that would do our party immense harm, and probably rightly so. 'So the fact that I've stood up on a point of principle, even if in the short term its to my detriment, in the long run may even work in our favour. 'Of course I want his support, of course I will talk to him in America in a few days' time, of course I want to mend any broken fences that might exist. I'm sure we can do it.' In the 45 years I have spent campaigning to end domestic violence and sexual assault towards women and girls, terrible and irresponsible failures of the criminal justice system have come thick and fast. Courts deciding to bail men on charges of attempted murder, despite their being a direct danger to the victim; rapists let off lightly because they wear nice suits in the dock. I have seen catastrophic failures in all areas and, after all these years of feminists fighting to improve the system, the fact that the likes of Stuart Hogg are still, effectively, getting away with it incenses me. For putting his wife Gillian through five years of hell, Hogg was given a Community Payback Order which amounts to 12 months of supervision whatever that might mean. He lives in France, so this so-called monitoring will amount to the odd Zoom call with a social worker. He has, in effect, got away with his crimes. Lets take a look at what Hogg has put the mother of his four children through: the rugby player has subjected her to a litany of abuse, harassment and humiliation that amounts to classic coercive control. But it appears that his career is more important than her safety, dignity and wellbeing. Its not as if he hadnt been warned. Julie Bindel has criticised the sentence handed to former Scottish rugby captain Stuart Hogg Last year, police were called to the couples home, to an incident considered so serious that he was taken into custody. Hogg was bailed awaiting trial, but broke his bail conditions, for which he was fined 600. This man was not about to give up his reign of terror; every expert in domestic violence and abuse knows that men willing to breach bail conditions are dangerous. Domestic abuse offenders need to be told, in no uncertain terms, that unless they stop, there will be consequences. Instead, Hoggs punishment doesnt even extend as it would in England and Wales to him making any contribution to society in the form of community service. It amounts to the lightest, slightest of taps on the wrist. Now, on top of having been humiliated by Hoggs abuse, Gillian is humiliated all over again this time at the hands of the courts. Stuart Hogg, seen here arriving at court, was given a Community Payback Order which amounts to 12 months of supervision The very serious crime of coercive control was introduced in Scotland in 2018. It is a red flag for homicide. Denied any freedom, victims of coercive control are constantly walking on eggshells, their every movement monitored. These women are belittled both in public and in front of their children. One victim I know was forced to have trackers on her phone and car, allowing her abuser to monitor where she had been and how long she had taken. He constantly accused her of stopping and talking to men. Hoggs behaviour towards Gillian was similar. Hogg has caused immeasurable harm. No doubt his victim, who is a courageous and strong woman, will nevertheless be traumatised for some time. Women who have experienced these tactics find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, and it is difficult for them to relax or trust anyone. It was even said in court that there was no point in interrupting his career (he earns hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and has an MBE). During the years of abuse Gillian suffered, she was often scared of Hogg. He was angry as well as controlling, and she is clearly scarred by his behaviour. One day, he sent more than 200 text messages resulting in her suffering a serious panic attack. While Hogg was out on drinking binges with friends, Gillian would sit at home, dreading what mood he would be in when he returned. Any man inflicting such terror on an intimate partner should face serious consequences. The Crown Office should appeal this derisory sentence on the grounds that it is overly lenient and it sends entirely the wrong message to men. Domestic abuse is a heinous crime. It is time it was treated as one. Labour's pledge to increase defence spending could be delayed until the 2030s, despite warnings it will put Britains security at risk. As economic woes and market turmoil threaten to destabilise the Governments economic agenda, Rachel Reeves could be forced to wield the axe to public spending plans as soon as March. Whitehall sources told the Mail that the Treasury could delay meeting Labours pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP until after the next election. The move would ease the pressure on the public finances, but would leave the Armed Forces short-changed. It brought a backlash from defence figures and comes as Boris Johnson warned Ms Reeves that her time was up squarely blaming her for the current shambles. After a week in which the markets turned on Labour, Mr Johnson writes in todays Mail: It is time for Rachel from Accounts to make her way to Human Resources and collect her P45. Lord Soames former Tory defence minister and grandson of Winston Churchill called for more security spending, as he warned that we have allowed our defences to drop to perilous levels. Former Nato chief Lord Robertson is conducting a Strategic Defence Review for ministers, looking at the threats Britain faces and the capabilities it needs to meet them. He is due to report in the spring, with Ms Reeves then expected to set out a timetable for meeting the 2.5 per cent target alongside the Spending Review in June. A muzzle flash lights up pine trees as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland in November 2024 As economic woes and market turmoil threaten to destabilise the Governments economic agenda, Rachel Reeves could be forced to wield the axe to public spending plans as soon as March. Reeves pictured today meeting with Minister of Finance for China Lan Fo'an at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China The pledge to increase defence spending from its current level of 2.3 per cent could cost as much as 20 billion and is the Governments biggest unfunded commitment by far. Delaying the target would ease the pressure on the Chancellor as she carries out a tight spending review covering the period up to the next election. One source said that setting out a plan to hit the 2.5 per cent target after 2030 would not technically breach Labours manifesto, which pledged only to agree a timetable. But, in the most dangerous period since the end of the Cold War, the source conceded: There would be a lot of dissatisfaction both at home and abroad about whether we were really doing enough.' It would also risk a major row with Donald Trump, who has warned Nato countries he wants to raise the alliances minimum spending commitment from 2 per cent of GDP to 5 per cent. Ms Reeves has previously ruled out both increasing borrowing and raising taxes following the significant tax hikes in Octobers Budget, leaving her with few options beyond further spending cuts. She has given most departments more money for the next two years, but is planning cuts to many areas after that. Any additional cash is expected to be swallowed up by the NHS. The Mails Dont Leave Britain Defenceless campaign is calling for an immediate rise in spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, increasing to at least 3 per cent by 2030. Former Labour security minister Lord West said Britain could not afford any further delay. Lord West, a former head of the Navy, told the Mail: This nonsense of saying well wait and see when we can afford to spend more money on defence is just crazy. Our forces are hollowed out and there is not enough money in the programme. We need to increase spending immediately. The Mails Dont Leave Britain Defenceless campaign is calling for an immediate rise in spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, increasing to at least 3 per cent by 2030 Tory MP Julian Lewis, a former chairman of the Commons defence committee, said ministers should be planning to raise the defence budget towards a figure approaching what we used to spend in the 1980s, when it accounted for 4 to 5 per cent of GDP. There are two crucial reasons for this, he said. Firstly, if we dont then it is highly likely that Donald Trump is going to turn his back on Nato. Secondly, if Nato isnt seen to be capable of defending and defeating a Russian attack then the amount we would have to spend on defence in a wartime situation would be colossal. There is no time to lose we have to start spending more money now. Defence Secretary John Healey has told colleagues he wants the spending target to be hit as soon as possible. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said that in financial terms it would be staggeringly hard to achieve the 2.5 per cent target in the next five years. The last Conservative government pledged to hit the defence spending target by 2030, funded largely by cutting 72,000 jobs in the Civil Service. But Labour has since abandoned the plan to reduce Civil Service numbers to their pre-pandemic level. Shamed rugby star Stuart Hogg could be unceremoniously stripped of his MBE after a senior MP made a formal complaint following his domestic abuse conviction. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has written to the Cabinet Office to recommend that the honour - awarded just a year ago - is removed. A forfeiture committee is expected to now consider the issue and could then make recommendations to the Prime Minister and King to forfeit the MBE. The bid came as prosecutors faced mounting pressure to challenge the outrageously lenient sentence imposed on 32-year-old Hogg following his five-year campaign of domestic abuse against his wife Gillian, 38. The former Scotland captain avoided jail when he was sentenced at Selkirk Sheriff Court in Thursday. Instead he was handed a Community Payback Order under which he will be supervised over the next 12 months for the torment he inflicted on the mother of his four children. Campaigners insisted the Crown Office must appeal for a tougher sentence on the former Scotland captain as it amounts only to remote contact with a social worker in Scotland from his home in France where he now plays for Montpellier - and no unpaid work. On his MBE, Mr Flynn said the UK Government must take urgent action to strip him of it. He said: It cannot be right that someone convicted of domestic abuse is able to retain an award from the UK state that seemingly puts them on a pedestal as an example to others. Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg leaves Selkirk Sheriff Court Its particularly important to send a clear message to men and boys that abuse against women is never acceptable in any form. He said the honour should be removed to prevent any appearance of honouring or celebrating those who are guilty of perpetrating abuse. In his letter to the Cabinet Office, Mr Flynn wrote: Mr Hogg has recently been convicted and sentenced for domestic abuse. 'It is inconceivable to consider that he can continue to be regarded as an example to others and be permitted to retain a state honour in such circumstances. First Minister John Swinney described Mr Flynns demand as reasonable and understandable. He said it was very disappointing, incredible disappointing that a role model such as Hogg who was one of his nations greatest ever rugby players should be convicted of domestic abuse. Government guidance says honours can be forfeited for a variety of reasons, including being found guilty of a criminal offence. It adds: Both we and the wider community expect recipients of honours to be, and to remain, good citizens and role models. Stuart Hogg during his Scotland international days Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Hogg had regularly shouted and sworn at his wife. He tracked her movements using a mobile phone app and bombarded her with texts - often abusive and sometimes as many as 200 in a few hours. At homes in both Exeter and Hawick, he frequently drank heavily and when she hid upstairs with their children he berated her for not being fun. His abuse made his wife suffer a panic attack - and even when a court order was in place forbidding him from approaching her, he breached it. The sentence imposed by Sheriff Peter Paterson includes a non-harassment order banning him from having any contact with her for five years. But it was the community payback order - restricted merely to remote supervision - which provoked an outcry. The former internationals estranged wife told The Sun: Stuarts had absolutely no punishment. My first thought was, is that it? Its not enough. One prominent campaigner against domestic abuse David Challen, told the Mail: I firmly believe that the Crown Office should appeal against Stuart Hoggs sentence, as it appears overly lenient given the seriousness of his actions and the profound harm caused to the victim. Such an appeal would send a vital message about the importance of accountability in cases of domestic abuse and coercive control. Earlier, Mr Challen told Radio 5 Live the maximum sentence for such an offence was 14 years in jail. He said: How or why this man has got a one-year community order is befuddling to all of us and insulting to the victim. Another campaigner, forensic psychologist Gill Harrop of Worcester University, said: Hogg terrorised his victim for five years, taking away her basic human right to feel safe. Handing down such a lenient sentence sends a message to all victims of coercive control that this type of behaviour is not considered to be serious or worthy of punishment. Its not enough just to say that violence and abuse is taken seriously by the criminal justice system - this has to be followed up with actions, and in the case of Stuart Hogg, I believe these actions should involve appealing this overly lenient sentence. Responding to inquiries about the MBE, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: We dont comment on individual honours. A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesman said: Sentencing decisions are made by the Sheriff. The law only allows COPFS to appeal in very rare circumstances. As with all cases, COPFS will consider the sentence and determine whether it might meet the test of being unduly lenient. Hogg and his wife are divorcing. He is now in a relationship with TV horse racing pundit Leonna Mayor, who is pregnant with his child. The player has won 100 caps for Scotland and is one of the countrys top try scorers. He retired in 2023 to focus on a TV career but last year joined Montpellier on a reported 350,000 a year. Gavin Newsom was blasted after complaining that social media 'misinformation' is hurting residents in his state as fires are still raging. The California governor spoke about his struggles during a briefing with President Joe Biden during a remote video briefing in the Oval Office. 'I ask you, we gotta deal with this misinformation, there are hurricane force winds of mis and disinformation, lies, people who want to divide this country and we're going to have to address that as well,' Newsom said. Newsom appeared deeply disturbed by recent conversations he had with his constituents that he felt were laced with unsuitable questions. 'It breaks my heart as people are suffering and struggling [and] that we're up against those hurricane forces as well,' he said. He spoke about narratives on social media as if they were a disease, that needed to be treated, calling them 'very damaging.' 'It infects real people that are out there, people I meet with every single day,' he said, and added, 'you wonder where this stuff comes from.' But Newsom was quickly criticized for his focus on misinformation while his state remains on fire. 'Disgraced Governor, Gavin Newsom, is more concerned about fighting misinformation, than helping Californians,' wrote Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas on X. California Governor Gavin Newsom, left, surveys damage in Pacific Palisades United States President Joe Biden, joined by US Vice President Kamala Harris host a video screen briefing with Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bassand FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. 'Misinformation? Part of your state just lost their livelihoods, "fact-checkers" are not gonna fix this problem,' he added. 'I get a chill down my spine every time I hear a politician say we 'have to deal with this misinformation,' wrote comedian Bridget Phetasy. 'HOLY SMOKES. Gavin Newsom is now playing the victim, claiming its misinformation that he failed on the fires,' wrote social media user Johnny Maga on X. 'Gavin Newsom needs to RESIGN,' the Breaking911 account on X noted. Other critics of Democratic leaders in the state also honed in on reports of fire hydrants in the affected areas left without enough water to fight the fires. Biden encouraged Newsom and other officials to 'speak plainly' to the American people. 'Let them know what we can and can't do,' he said. 'We have to let people know that there is going to be things coming that are going to be available.' The president blamed climate change for the increasing ferocious fires in California. 'There is climate change, there is climate change, this is part of it and we have to deal with it,' Biden said. In a widely spread viral video, Newsom was chased down by a Los Angeles mom who tried to dodge her by appearing to pretend he was on a call with President Biden before he admitted he did not have phone signal. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a briefing on the federal response to the wildfires across Los Angeles A video of Bass standing silently and ignoring questions from a reporter about cutting the fire department budget also went viral as people flagged it as evidence of her incompetence. President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly berated Newsom for failing to provide the City of Los Angeles with enough water to prevent drought and fight fires. 'Governor Gavin Newscum should immediately go to Northern California and open up the water main, and let the water flow into his dry, starving, burning State, instead of having it go out into the Pacific Ocean,' he said, referring to his favorite nickname for the leftist governor. 'It ought to be done right now.' The former and future president repeated that Newsom's water and fire prevention policies in California were to blame for the horrific tragedy. 'NO MORE EXCUSES FROM THIS INCOMPETENT GOVERNOR. ITS ALREADY FAR TOO LATE!' Trump added. Biden chastised Newsom's critics, saying the governor and mayor were getting a 'bad rap' about reports of unavailable water supplies. 'Give me a break. What this is all about is utilities understandably,' Biden said. He argued that power failures were to blame for water shortages in fire hydrants and criticized people for not having enough information about the facts on the ground. 'This is complicated stuff and you're going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it,' he said. The $750,000-a-year LA water czar is responsible for a raft of failures that contributed to the devastating Palisades Fire, fire department insiders told DailyMail.com. On Mayor Karen Bass's orders, the city maxed out its budget to 'attract private-sector talent', hiring Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quinones on a $750,000 salary in May almost double that of her predecessor. Now, Quinones is being blamed by LA Fire Department (LAFD) insiders for leaving a nearby reservoir disconnected and fire hydrants broken for months, DailyMail.com can reveal, leading to firefighters running out of water as they battled the devastating Palisades Fire this week. And, Daily Mail.com has learned, Quinones past employer is also linked to fire scandals. She was previously a top executive at electricity company PG&E, which went bankrupt over liability for several massive wildfires in California. She served as senior vice president at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) from 2021 to 2023. The utility company's power lines sparked the second-largest wildfire in California history, Dixie, in 2021. Its involvement in the 2018 Camp Fire cost PG&E a $13.5billion legal settlement. The firm's liability for allegedly causing fires was estimated at $30billion when it filed for bankruptcy in 2018. It exited bankruptcy in 2020. Quinones joined PG&E in April 2021 as Senior Vice President of Gas Engineering, switched to Senior Vice President of Electric Operations in July 2022, and left the firm in December 2023. Janisse Quinones, the newly appointed chief executive officer and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, bumbled through a press conference Wednesday (left) while addressing the lack of water available to extinguish the raging wildfires Quinones said water sources ran dry by 3am local time Wednesday and blamed it on low pressure in the system and the water being used faster than it was being replenished (Pictured: A firefighter removes a hose from a hydrant after it ran out of water) Sources told DailyMail.com that since her hiring at LADWP, Quinones oversaw the shutdown and emptying of a reservoir in the Pacific Palisades during brushfire season. The shutdown meant firefighters battling the current Palisades Fire ran out of water faster, experts say. The Santa Ynez Reservoir is designed to hold 117 million gallons of drinking water. But it was taken offline in recent months to repair a tear in its cover that exposed the water and potentially impacted its drinkability. The shutdown was first publicly reported by the LA Times on Friday morning. Former DWP general manager Martin Adams told the paper that having the Santa Ynez reservoir would have helped fight the Palisades Fire that wiped out most of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood this week. 'Would Santa Ynez have helped? Yes, to some extent. Would it have saved the day? I don't think so,' Adams said. He said the crucial reservoir had been offline 'for a while' before the fires, but didn't know the precise date. But a source in the LA Fire Department (LAFD) told DailyMail.com that DWP officials told them 'had it not been closed they probably would have been ok and had enough water for the fire.' Insiders, however, tell DailyMail.com the DWP chief had been aware of the broken hydrants around the city for months A well-connected former LAFD senior officer told DailyMail.com that lack of water was already a 'common' problem, exacerbated by DWP failing to fix cutoff fire hydrants Since her hiring at LADWP, Quinones also oversaw the shutdown and emptying of the Santa Ynez Reservoir (pictured) in the Pacific Palisades during brushfire season, sources told DailyMail.com. The water source was empty when the inferno broke out this week At a press conference this week, Quinones said firefighters ran out of water in the Palisades due to low pressure in the system, because they were using water faster than it was being replenished. A well-connected former LAFD senior officer told DailyMail.com that lack of water was already a 'common' problem, exacerbated by DWP failing to fix cutoff fire hydrants. 'Yearly, the fire department goes out and checks every hydrant,' he said. 'For my entire career we would do this once a year then send in a report to our Hydrant Unit with all the problems we encountered. Year after year the same hydrants that had problems were not fixed. 'One example that comes to mind were the hydrants by Palisades High School on Temescal Canyon. They were dry many times we checked them. DWP knew they had problems and it would take months to fix them. 'It's a City-wide known problem with DWP. 'Last year the yearly hydrant checks were given back to DWP because the firefighters literally are too busy on calls. 'I would be willing to bet DWP didn't do this. I would love to see if they have the documents.' The city maxed out its budget to 'attract private-sector talent', hiring Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quinones on a $750,000 salary in May Many have complained about LA Mayor Karen Bass being AWOL in Africa, to fire hydrants running out of water and electricity to power cables being left on to fuel the flames. (Pictured: Bass and Gavin Newsom touring the Palisades Wednesday) Flames from the Palisades Fire burn through a residential building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on January 9, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles LADWP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A current senior LAFD official also told DailyMail.com that some hydrants in the Palisades were not working when desperate firefighters tried to use them this week, and that they had not been fixed because of budget cuts by LA Mayor Karen Bass. DailyMail.com exclusively obtained a memo to LAFD 'top brass' sent on Monday January 6, the day before the Palisades Fire began, revealing demands from Bass to cut the department's budget by a further $49million, on top of $17.6million of cuts already voted on by the city council. The Los Angeles Daily News previously reported that the city's overall spending on its fire department increased by $53million in the fiscal year 2024-25 which runs to this July, but that $7 million of their budget was put in a separate fund for personnel while pay negotiations were still being hashed out, leading to the $17.6million accounting shortfall. Department veterans told DailyMail.com that the net effect of the budget machinations has meant less firefighters on the ground for years. The under-fire LADWP was only just recovering from a series of major scandals, including in 2022 when its former General Manager David Wright was sentenced to six years in federal prison for bribery. Wright took bribes from lawyer Paul Paradis to help secure a $30million, three-year, no-bid LADWP contract for the lawyer's company, according to federal prosecutors. Compounding the corruption, Paradis was also taking nearly $2.2million in illegal kickbacks from a complex scheme where he simultaneously represented LADWP and residents suing the department over a billing debacle. DWP implemented a new billing system in 2013 that inaccurately inflated utility bills, sparking class-action lawsuits. Paradis represented the city as Special Counsel, but was simultaneously representing claimants in the billing debacle, and colluded to get a favorable payout for himself and clients. He was sentenced to three years in prison in 2023. Supreme Court justices hinted they were inclined to uphold a bipartisan law that would ban TikTok in a matter of days if it isn't sold by its China-based parent company. The Court's likely posture was revealed in a high-stakes court hearing Friday, with the ban set to take effect January 19 just a day before Donald Trump takes office, in an event that could itself scramble the outcome. The case provided a momentous clash of free speech and national security concerns, at a time when China looms large in the national consciousness and has drawn the ire of Trump and congressional Republicans. But Trump and his allies including Elon Musk have also made free speech central to their political movements, and Trump himself made use of the platform during his successful presidential campaign. The company brought on former solicitor general Noel Francisco, who held the post under Trump, to make its case to the 6-3 conservative court, less than two weeks before Trump is set to regain power. Some of the questions posed by justices evinced deep skepticism about the firm and its ownership, amid concerns that the Chinese government could compel its cooperation in information gathering. 'Just on the data collection interest, I think Congress and the president were concerned that China was accessing information about millions of Americans, tens of millions of Americans - including teenagers, people in their 20s - that they would use that information over time to develop spies, to turn people, to blackmail people, people who a generation from now will be working in the FBI or the CIA or in the State Department,' said Trump-appointed Justice Brett Kavanaugh. 'Is that not a realistic assessment by Congress and the president of the risks here?' he asked. Content creator Tiffany Cianci live streams as oral arguments are being heard by the Supreme Court Justices in TikTok vs. Merrick Garland at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, USA, 10 January 2025. Content creators who say their businesses were founded on TikTok brought the case The Chinese government 'could weaponize TikTok at any time to harm the United States,' said Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, arguing on behalf of the government. The justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the company's connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the United States. Early in arguments that lasted more than two and a half hours, Chief Justice John Roberts identified his main concern: TikToks ownership by China-based ByteDance and the parent company's requirement to cooperate with the Chinese governments intelligence operations. If left in place, the law passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in April will require TikTok to 'go dark' on Jan. 19, lawyer Noel Francisco told the justices on behalf of TikTok. At the very least, Francisco urged, the justices should enter a temporary pause that would allow TikTok to keep operating. 'We might be in a different world again' after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Francisco said the law was unfair and 'singles out a single speaker for uniquely harsh treatment, and it does so because the government fears that China could, in the future, indirectly pressure TikTok to disseminate foreign misinformation and propaganda. The justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the company's connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the United States Donald Trump amassed nearly 15 million followers and used the app to push out campaign information Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, also has called for the deadline to be pushed back to give him time to negotiate a 'political resolution.' Francisco served as Trump's solicitor general in his first presidential term. But it was not clear whether any justices would choose such a course. And only Justice Neil Gorsuch sounded like he would side with TikTok to find that the ban violates the Constitution. Gorsuch labeled arguments advanced by the Biden administration in defense of the law a 'paternalistic point of view.' TikTok, he said, has offered to post a warning that the content could be manipulated by the Chinese government. 'Dont we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter speech?' he asked Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law for the Biden administration A warning wouldnt be enough to counterbalance the spread of misinformation, Prelogar said. Francisco and lawyer Jeffrey Fisher, representing content creators and TikTok users, repeatedly tried to focus the court on the First Amendment restrictions that would fall on TikTok and its users, imperiling the livelihood of content creators, if the law is allowed to take effect. But compared to the mildly challenging questions directed to Prelogar, they faced skepticism from every justice other than Gorsuch. Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised U.S. concerns about China accessing information on tens of millions of Americans, including especially teenagers and people in their 20s, with whom TikTok is extremely popular. 'That seems like a huge concern for the future of the country,' said Kavanaugh, whose daughters are in that age range. Roberts downplayed Fishers argument that banning TikTok violates American users free speech rights. 'Congress is fine with the expression,' Roberts said. 'Theyre not fine with a foreign adversary, as theyve determined it is, gathering all this information about the 170 million people who use TikTok.' The justices are expected to act within days, almost certainly ahead of the Jan. 19 deadline. The case has drawn powerful interests on both sides. 'A majority of the Court seems to have recognized that is not a run-of-the-mill First Amendment case but that the federal statute that would shut down TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese-controlled parent company sells it was based on important principles of national sovereignty and self defense against a foreign adversary,' said Carrie Severion of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network. 'It would be profoundly ironic if an authoritarian state like China, while denying basic freedoms to its own citizens, were able to tie America's hands by invoking our own Constitution.' Content creators and small business owners who rely on the app are awaiting a decision with anxiety. 'Theres really no replacement for this app,' said Skip Chapman, co-owner of KAFX Body in Manasquan, N.J., a maker and seller of natural deodorants. Chapman said more than 80% of his sales come on TikTok and he has not found the same traction on Amazon or other platforms. Lee Zavorskas, a TikTok creator and a licensed esthetician based in New Hampshire, said she makes nearly half of her income on the platform by promoting products for other businesses. Zavorskas said she found it too stressful to listen to Friday's arguments. Instead, she spent her time building a YouTube channel. ByteDance has said it wont sell the short-form video platform, and Francisco said a sale might never be possible under the conditions set in the law. But some investors have been eyeing TikTok, including Trumps Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchi n and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt. On Thursday, McCourts Project Liberty initiative said it, along with its unnamed partners, presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikToks U.S. assets. The consortium, which includes 'Shark Tank' host Kevin OLeary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer. If TikTok isnt sold to an approved buyer, the federal law would prohibit app stores, such as those operated by Apple and Google, from offering the popular app. It would also bar internet hosting services from hosting TikTok. TikTok users who already have the app on their phones will continue to have access to it. But new users wont be able to download the app, and existing ones will no longer be able to receive updates. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings. Prelogar said an eventual sale of the platform, even after the ban kicks in, would allow TikTok to resume operations. The sale of Twitter to Elon Musk, who renamed it X, shows that the sale of a social media platform can happen quickly, she said. That high-profile transaction went through in about six months from offer to completion, she said. TikTok, meanwhile, has been 'on notice' since 2020, during Trump's first term, that its sale could be required if it couldnt satisfy the U.S. governments national security concerns The federal law was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over TikTok, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. U.S. officials argue that the vast amounts of user data that TikTok collects, including sensitive information on viewing habits, could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. They also are concerned that the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who could pressure ByteDance to shape content on the platform in a way thats difficult to detect. TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. The company negotiated with the Biden administration between 2021 and 2022 to resolve the concerns around U.S. data privacy and potential algorithmic manipulation. In court documents, it has accused the administration of essentially walking away from those negotiations after it presented a draft agreement in August 2022. But the Justice Department has said the Biden administration concluded the proposal was 'insufficient' because it would maintain TikToks ties to China. The agency said the Executive Branch also could 'neither trust ByteDance to comply nor detect noncompliance before it was too late.' A three-judge panel made up of two Republican appointees and a Democratic appointee unanimously upheld the law in December, prompting TikTok's quick appeal to the Supreme Court. A family man has described the moment a zebra was viciously attacked by a rhino whilst they visited the zoo with their 18-month-old son. Edward Bull, 44, witnessed 'the very sad' death of the zebra at Colchester Zoo earlier this afternoon when it was gored to death by a rhino in its shared enclosure. The zoo, which welcomes one million visitors each year and is the third most popular in England, said it was 'devastated' over the loss of the zebra. The tragedy unfolded in an outside enclosure for mixed African species including zebras, rhinos, ostriches and giraffes whom normally mix together amicably. 'The attack seemed random and just wrong place at the wrong time,' Mr Bull told MailOnline regarding the unfortunate incident. But the father was quick to praise 'amazing' zoo staff who he explained acted quickly and with utmost professionalism. Divulging that there were 'only a few onlookers', he said the situation was 'all very calm mainly due to the professionalism of the zoo staff.' 'They acted very quickly to move away any visitors and ensure the zebra was given the best surroundings,' he added. Edward Bull, 44, (pictured with his wife and son) witnessed 'the very sad' death of the zebra at Colchester Zoo earlier this afternoon where the animal was brutally attacked by a rhno 'The attack seemed random and just wrong place at the wrong time,' Mr Bull told MailOnline (pictured: Rhinos at the enclosure today) He also spoke of the quick action and professionalism of Colchester Zoo staff in helping both visitors and the animal (pictured: Zebra and rhinos at the wildlife park on January 10) '[It was] sad but not a problem. We really enjoyed our day and seeing the professionalism of the park and its staff was impressive.' Another visitor took to Facebook to speak of their sadness following the death of the zebra at one of Britain's top zoo's today. 'We were at the zoo today. Literally just seen the rhinos and zebras chasing as we headed inside,' they said in a Facebook post. Echoing Mr Bull's testimony of the staff's quick response, they revealed they had been asked to make their way to an exit to clear the area. '[We did] not have a clue what had happened. Staff were amazing and acted very professionally under such awful circumstances. Our thoughts are with you all.' Another onlooker who was at the zoo with their daughter and grandson, three, said they had been to see the enclosure only 30 minutes before the horrifying ordeal. 'There was one particular rhino that wouldn't leave an ostrich alone and I thought he looked annoyed at the time! They added: 'Thank goodness my little grandson didn't witness it! So very sad for all involved.' 'They acted very quickly to move away any visitors and ensure the zebra was given the best surroundings,' he added Zebras and rhinos in the outside enclosure for mixed African species at Colchester Zoo (pictured on a seperate day) A zebra was killed in a standoff with a rhino today, the Essex zoo - which is among the best in the country - confirmed (pictured: Zebra and rhinos side by side in the enclosure on another day) One person who claimed to have seen the ordeal said it was 'awful to watch', before adding: 'I'm very upset.' Colchester Zoo released a statement, which read: 'At approximately 2pm today there was an incident in our mixed species African habitat between a rhino and our male zebra and sadly the zebra has died. 'At this time we are directing our resources to make sure the rest of the animals in the habitat are settled. 'These sorts of incidents are extremely rare and we will continue to monitor the situation over the next few days. 'We are devastated by this loss and thank you for your understanding and support at this time.' The zoo's website states that its Kingdom of the Wild area was opened in 2001 with an indoor zone and outdoor paddock. It adds: 'This habitat is one of the few areas where you can see a range of different animals interacting as they would do out in the wild. The zoo said it was 'devastated' at the incident on Friday, which occurred in its Kingdom of the Wild area 'You will have the chance to see reticulated giraffes, maneless zebra, white rhino, ostrich, crowned crane and greater kudu enjoying their savannah environment. 'The inside area is also home to pygmy hippo, a variety of reptiles, birds, and fish species. 'There is also a lovely view from the balcony overlooking our outdoor paddock.' The zoo opened in 1963 and has kept a number of rhinos since 1972. The public have joined survivors to put pressure on Keir Starmer for a new inquiry into grooming gangs. Three in four people (76 per cent) support a national independent investigation into the sexual abuse and rape of children by men, a survey found. Even two-thirds (65 per cent) of those who voted for Labour at the General Election backed the growing demand for a new probe despite the Prime Ministers insistence that there is no need for one. In addition, 77 per cent of the 2,533 adults polled say that anyone with dual nationality who is convicted of abusing a child should be stripped of their British citizenship and deported. Paola Diana, of the Womens Policy Centre, which commissioned the YouGov survey, said: For too long, womens rights have been overlooked and sacrificed in the name of indiscriminate multiculturalism and misogyny and have been diminished due to policymakers and people responsible for safeguarding childrens fear of being labelled racist and Islamophobic. Womens rights are the pillar of our democracy and should be protected... and if that means the deportation of rapists and the drastic reduction of male immigration from certain countries, so be it. Two grooming gang survivors have also called for a further inquiry. A mother of two, who was repeatedly raped after being groomed as a teenager, told the Telegraph: We know how many people were killed in Grenfell. We know how many people died at Hillsborough. We dont know how many survived this. The 38-year-old, who wrote a book about her ordeal under the pen name Gaia Cooper, said: Its in each town in our country. Its on a national scale. Samantha Walker-Roberts, who was gang raped in Oldham, Greater Manchester, when she was 12, also told LBC radio that there should be a Government-led inquiry, solely focused on Oldham. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. Mr Burnham said a fresh national inquiry could improve on previous local reviews by drawing on their evidence and forcing witnesses to take part Rotherham grooming gang member Qurban Ali pictured in Sheffield with two associates after his release from jail Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would not ever rule out any further inquiries but insisted that the Government was focusing on implementing the recommendations of the Jay report She said: I feel theres a lot of victim-blaming... But you need to find out what led to them being so vulnerable... and social services didnt safeguard them at the time. Ex-Cabinet minister Baroness Harman told Sky News there was no point in re-running the lengthy public inquiry into child abuse led by Professor Alexis Jay, which published its findings in 2022. But she said the Government should be open to a mini inquiry into the reluctance of public bodies to take action for fear of appearing racist. Her comments came after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said a fresh national inquiry could improve on previous local reviews by drawing on their evidence and forcing witnesses to take part. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: Victims, independent-minded Labour figures such as Andy Burnham and now the public all are saying the same thing. Starmer and the Labour Government should listen and hold the proper national inquiry we need. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would not ever rule out any further inquiries but insisted that the Government was focusing on implementing the recommendations of the Jay report. She told Sky News: I think it would be very hard to say to victims we are doing another inquiry when we havent implemented a single recommendation from the last. EXCLUSIVE A South Sudanese child soldier turned Australian of the Year has made a series of alarming social media posts in which he appears to celebrate the LA wildfires, called for the destruction of the United States and declared his support for Hamas. Deng Adut, 41, was crowned NSW Australian of the Year in 2017 in recognition of his work as a defence lawyer in Western Sydney after fleeing his war-torn home country where he was taken from his mother and handed an AK-47 at the age of six. But Mr Adut has alarmed his followers in recent weeks with a series of increasingly rambling and incoherent posts in which he has taken aim at Israel, Australian politicians, Ukraine and the US, labelling them 'diseases to mankind'. He has even suggested he could thrash Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in 'hand to hand combat'. 'My tongue isn't worthy of dogs, F*** them,' he seethed. One particular concerning post shared on Thursday appears to celebrate the ongoing LA wildfires, which have killed at least seven and razed thousands of homes to the ground. Branding the US and the United Arab Emirates 'merchants of death', he claimed: 'We are all going to die, so I don't fear anything.' He added: 'American weapons are diseases to mankind. Deng Adut (pictured), 41, was crowned NSW Australian of the Year in 2017 in recognition of his work as a defence lawyer in Western Sydney after fleeing his war-torn home country where he was torn from his mother and handed an AK-47 at the age of six One particular concerning post shared on Thursday appears to celebrate the ongoing LA wildfires The devastating blazes have so far killed seven and razed thousands of people's homes to the ground (pictured: flames engulf a home in Pasadena, north of LA) 'I am glad the weather forecast is hell for you. I hope you burn. Burning children in Gaza. Why shouldn't I celebrate you being burnt by god fire! Free speech!' He has frequently claimed that 'time is up' for the US and President-elect Donald Trump. 'I am ready to die, now, leave Africa alone dumbass,' one recent post states. 'Whatever you did, will come back to you.' In a post last year he declared that 'Israel must go' and declared his support for Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation. 'No time for killing, and enough is enough. REFUGEE SHOULD BE KILLING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,' he wrote. He added: 'I am now a pro Russian and Hamas until the day I die. Jewish are safe forever but not people who want to kill people. I am HAMAS now'. In another post he railed against Germany and Ukraine, adding: 'Australia doesn't respect me, so I don't give a damn about nobody.' At the height of the civil conflict in South Sudan in the late-1980s, Mr Adut (pictured in recent years) was taken from his mother and handed an AK-47. His life story was turned into a bestselling biography in 2016 (Pictured: shaking hands with then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull) In response to someone querying if he was okay, he claimed to 'speak for the voiceless' before going on a rant about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton (pictured) In a post last year he declared that 'Israel must go' and declared his support for Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation (pictured) In response to someone querying if he was okay, he claimed to 'speak for the voiceless'. 'The little white boy in the parliament house, got a voice to protect Jewish, but not the first nation people,' he wrote. 'Do you think, the little PM and racist Dutton could fight me on a hand to hand combat? 'Hell no! My tongue isn't worthy of dogs. F*** them.. mate, these dogs needs a doctor.' In a subsequent response, he claimed he would not 'bow down to a genocide'. 'I am capable of worser s*** than genocide,' he wrote. 'Everyone will die. Why should I care bro? Not them!' Mr Adut deleted his Facebook page after being approached by Daily Mail Australia approached for comment. In another post Mr Adut railed against Germany and Ukraine, adding: 'Australia doesn't respect me, so I don't give a damn about nobody.' In 2018, this publication revealed that Mr Adut had taken out an AVO against his ex-partner only months after the couple welcomed their first child. It was later withdrawn and dismissed with Mr Adut saying it was applied for at a 'time of high emotion' and he 'deeply regretted doing it'. It is unclear if the couple are still together. Mr Adut's inspirational journey from immigrant to qualified defence lawyer saw him named 2017 NSW Australian of the Year. At the height of the civil conflict in South Sudan in the late-1980s, Mr Adut was taken from his mother and handed an AK-47. Along with thousands of other young boys he became a child soldier, until he finally managed to flee his home country hidden under sacks of corn on the back of a truck in 1995. After moving through camps across Africa he arrived in Australia in 1998, aged 14. Unable to mumble a word of English he has previously spoken of watching children's band The Wiggles to teach himself the new language. He became an Australian citizen in 2001, at which time he'd been sleeping in his car and working part-time jobs to survive. That same year Mr Adut accepted a scholarship at the Western Sydney University and began a TAFE course, going on to complete a degree in law. He subsequently worked pro bono for many South Sudanese immigrants in Western Sydney. He is the co-founder and managing partner at the Australian Criminal Law Group based in Sydney. 'Deng is one of only three criminal lawyers to win the prestigious Law Society Presidents medal,' a profile on the firm's website states. His life story was turned into a bestselling biography called Songs of a War Boy in 2016. Gina Rinehart has taken out a full page ad in Donald Trump's favourite newspaper to congratulate the President-elect. Australia's richest person took out an advertisement in Thursday's edition of the New York Post entitled 'Celebration Time!'. It featured a picture of Trump hugging the star-spangled banner during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February last year. The paid advertisement, which was signed by 'Gina Rinehart and friends', featured several logos of the mining magnate's companies, including 2GR premium wagyu beef, Hanrine Exploration and Mining and her dairy business Bannister Downs. 'Like many all over the world we salute your leadership President-elect Trump,' the advert said. 'Thank you for standing up, no matter what is thrown at you. 'We well know you love your country and are exceptionally dedicated to its people. 'Many in Australia and around the world are given hope and much needed inspiration thanks to your election. Australia's richest person took out an advertisement in Thursday's edition of the New York Post entitled 'Celebration Time! (pictured) Mrs Rinehart proudly posed next to Trump's daughter, Tiffany, with a sign which echoed his pro-mining mantra, reading 'drill, baby, drill', and also rubbed shoulders with his son, Eric at Trump's Mar-a-Lago election night party It was signed 'Best wishes from your Aussie friends'. Mrs Rinehart is on very good terms with the 47th President of the US. The philanthropist was in attendance at Trump's Mar-a-Lago election night party. She proudly posed next to Trump's daughter, Tiffany, with a sign which echoed his pro-mining mantra, reading 'drill, baby, drill', and also rubbed shoulders with his son, Eric. Mrs Rinehart was also pictured at a table sitting between outspoken former Liberal vice president Teena McQueen UK right-wing MP Nigel Farage. After Trump's victory in November, Mrs Rinehart said she hoped Australia could 'watch and learn' from his example. 'Even after a billion-dollar spend by the Democrats, the USA has chosen, with full throttle, repudiation of all things left. Socialism always hurts those less well off the most,' she told WA Today. '[Mr Trump] stood armed with conviction, huge courage, incredible untiring effort, and a real love of the USA and the American people. 'I do hope Australia watches and learns as they see that cutting government tape, cutting taxes, and cutting government wastage lifts people up, and lifts living standards.' After testing positive for using cocaine while in the operating room, a Houston surgeon's violent past has now been revealed. Urologist Nathan Robert Starke, M.D., has been fired from his job at Houston Methodist Hospital and his medical license has been temporarily suspended after he tested positive for cocaine and kratom, an opioid-like herb, in October, reported local TV station Fox 26. Adding to the physician's troubles, his lengthy criminal record has also now surfaced. Most recently, he was arrested last year and charged for beating his girlfriend during an incident where he's accused of throwing her on the ground and chipping her tooth. But he had had two previous run-ins with cops for alleged drunk driving in 2007 and 2017. It's unclear whether the hospital the employed him was aware of his legal troubles. However, his job had been monitoring his drug use since at least 2023 when Starke was suspended for what the hospital called 'impairment,' according to ABC 13 in Houston. He had been taking part in drug and alcohol screening but continued to participate in surgeries. Urologist Nathan Robert Starke, M.D., has been fired from his job at Houston Methodist Hospital and his medical license has been temporarily suspended A jail booking photo shows Dr. Starke after he was arrested for physically assaulting his girlfriend in Houston In August and in September 2024, he participated in several surgeries while appearing impaired, co-workers described. During an August operation, Starke looked impaired during a surgical biopsy on a patient's prostate. The next month, the Baylor College of Medicine 'was absent for all but the last three minutes of a surgery for which he was the attending physician,' the Texas medical board said. His medical license was suspended that same month, as he continued to be screened for drugs. Despite the surveillance of drug use, he tested positive for cocaine use in October, and later tested positive for using kratom in a separate test on Oct. 22, KPRC reported. Starke signed a voluntary cease practice agreement with Houston Methodist on Sept. 16 and he is no longer working at the hospital. The urologist's medical license has been suspended for using cocaine while operating Dr. Nathan Robert Starke was arrested for driving under the influence in 2007 A legal expert says patients who underwent care with Starke might have a hard time taking him to court. 'It's very hard in Texas to prove medical malpractice because the law is such that doctors and hospitals are protected under many, many circumstances,' Legal Analyst Chris Tritico told Fox 26. 'You have to prove the doctor was impaired when he was operating on you. Then, you have to prove that impaired status caused you harm.' When it comes to earthquakes, countries including Japan, Indonesia, and Mexico tend to bear the brunt. But residents across Surrey were baffled after their homes were struck by a series of more than 100 small earthquakes in 2018 and 2019. The earthquakes occurred in Newdigate and the surrounding areas and reached magnitude 1.34 to 3.18. Several homes experienced shaking, while others saw cracks begin to appear in their walls and ceilings. Since the mysterious quakes took place, geologists have been divided over the likely cause. While some experts suggested oil extraction at the Horse Hill well in Horley could be to blame, others argued that this site was too far away to have triggered the earthquakes in Newdigate. Now, scientists from UCL have solved the mystery and say that this oil extraction was in fact the likely culprit. 'Our findings indicate it is plausible that oil extraction triggered the earthquakes,' said Dr Matthew Fox, lead author of the study. Residents across Surrey were baffled after their homes were struck by a series of more than 100 small earthquakes in 2018 and 2019 The earthquakes occurred in Newdigate and the surrounding areas and reached magnitude 1.34 to 3.18 The 'swarm' of tremors hit Newdigate from April 2018 until early 2019, sparking scores of reports to the British Geological Survey (BGS). Residents told BGS that their 'furniture shook very gently' and 'everything moved forwards then backwards'. Others told of 'a loud bang and strong impact and shake as though something had fallen on the house' and 'general rumble that lasted for a couple of seconds'. Some geologists were quick to blame the Horse Hill well in Horley - a controversial oil drilling site about three to six miles away from the earthquakes. However, others argued that the pattern of earthquakes did not correspond to oil extraction. To get to the bottom of it, the UCL researchers ran more than one million simulations, estimating the frequency of earthquakes based on the timing and volume of oil extraction. Their results showed that the predictions roughly matched what occurred. According to the experts, this suggests a link between the extraction of oil and the earthquakes. The story was complicated further by the fact that seismometers were only installed in Newdigate after the first, larger earthquakes had occurred Some geologists quickly blamed the Horse Hill well in Horley - a controversial oil drilling site about three to six miles away from Newdigate Britain's worst earthquakes The largest known earthquake in the UK happened offshore in the North Sea on 7 June 1931, with a magnitude of 6.1. Its epicentre was in the Dogger Bank area about 75 miles North East of of Great Yarmouth. A woman in Hull died of a heart attack, apparently as a result of the earthquake. The most damaging earthquake in the UK for several centuries was in Colchester in 1884, with a magnitude of 4.6 which caused considerable damage to churches Advertisement 'Our study suggests there is a link between the earthquakes and oil extraction at Horse Hill but we cannot rule out that this link is a coincidence,' Dr Fox said. 'More work needs to be done to understand if this is cause and effect.' Extracting oil changes the fluid pressure in the rock the oil is extracted from, the researchers explain. While it might sound small, this change in pressure can potentially diffuse through tens of miles underground to intersect a fault. As faults are often under considerable strain, even a small change in stress can cause the rapid movement of rock - leading to an earthquake. The story was complicated further by the fact that seismometers were only installed in Newdigate after the first, larger earthquakes had occurred. This means that any smaller earthquakes that might have occurred before this were not recorded. 'Our study highlights the importance of monitoring the seismicity of areas where oil extraction might occur before any works start,' said Professor Philip Meredith, co-author of the study. The British Geological Survey has collated all the earthquakes felt in Britain since the year 1382. Pictured: Top ten largest UK earthquakes 'Caution should be the byword. It is no good saying you don't have a problem when you potentially do. 'There has been no significant seismic activity in Surrey for decades, so these earthquakes were unusual events. 'However, unusual events do happen in nature, so we can't rule out the possibility that the timing associated with the oil extraction was a coincidence.' Surrey residents can rest easy for now, as Horse Hill suspended production in October, after its planning permission was quashed in a landmark legal case. Supreme Court judges ruled that the full climate impact of the project should have been considered before it was approved by Surrey County Council. However, people in nearby West Sussex may soon face their own earthquakes, as another project has received council approval to conduct exploratory oil drilling in Balcombe. This is subject to a legal challenge by a residents' group, with the case expected to be heard by the Court of Appeal this month. Joe Rogan - a self-described 'atheist' - was amazed after being gifted what his guest claimed is evidence Jesus was real. The podcaster had religious scholar Wesley Huff on his show this week where, during the course of their discussion, Rogan admitted he may have had things wrong about the religion. Huff handed Rogan a replica of what Christians say is one the oldest known manuscripts of the Bible, known as Papyrus 52, which is believed to be the oldest excerpt of the long-lost Gospel of John in the Bible. Thought to have been written nearly 2,000 years ago, the artifact details how Jesus stood trial and some consider it eyewitness testimony from the period leading up to his crucifixion. Rogan, receiving the gift with a stunned look on his face, said: 'Wow. That's unbelievable. Wow. That's so fascinating.' Christians hail Papyrus 52 as evidence that the events in the Bible took place as they are described in the Holy text. Rogan has flip flopped between being a believer and non-believer, something he attributes to a difficult childhood. He has previously said growing up he was 'pretty atheist' but became spiritual after the death of his grandfather. Huff gifted Rogan a replica of the 'oldest evidence for the biblical New Testament,' a first-century papyrus found in Egypt featuring text from the Book of John: 18, The text is a copy of the Book of John: 18 that says 'Jesus is on trial before Pontius Pilate' - the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to death . Huff, the son of missionaries, was born in Pakistan and grew up surrounded by religion, saying his family had the Bhagavad Gita [Hindu scripture], the Book of Mormon and the Koran on the shelf. He gave Rogan a replica of the ancient papyrus as a gift during the podcast on Tuesday. The front reads 'Jesus says, everyone who follows the truth, who is following the truth, follows me.' The back has the words of [Pontius] Pilate saying, 'What is truth?'' Pilate was the governor of Rome who was said to have sentenced Jesus to death. The artifact is a small fragment, but the complete document 'would have been essentially like a pocket copy of the Gospel of John' that someone carried from Turkey to Egypt, according to Huff. The Gospel of John is a book in the Bible that tells the story of Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection. The gift given to Rogan features the same text of the original document found in the 1940s, later leading researchers to determine that the Book of John was the oldest Gospel. Some historians argue that Papyrus P52, although found in Egypt, was a Christian manuscript because it was written on both sides. Wesley Huff (left) was a guest on the Joe Rogan (right) Experience this week, where he discussed biblical text on papyrus, drawings from Ancient Rome and other accounts in scripture to make his case Historical records show only Christians wrote on both sides of papyrus thousands of years ago, while everyone else used scrolls. Huff said John's eyewitness account was probably written in Ephesus and spread throughout different countries and copied, finding its way to Egypt. Describing how he made the gift, Huff said: 'So I cut that out on the papyri with a scalpel. And then I transcribed the text on.' '[You] did a great job, dude... you nerded out,' Rogan said. During the podcast, the two also discussed the resurrection. The Bible states Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after dying on the cross, which scripture says was to forgive the world of its sins. Huff mentioned ancient anti-Christian graffiti that was etched into a plaster wall of an imperial training school for ancient Roman slaves between 50AD and 250AD. Called the Alexamenos Graffito, many followers of the church believe it is the earliest image of the Biblical crucifixion. Beneath the cross is ancient Greek text that reads, 'Alexamenos worships God,' as a way to mock an individual in the drawing who appears to be dressed like a slave. The ancient graffiti was done during a time when Christianity was frowned upon by Romans who practiced paganism, which believed is what led them to power, but it has not been confirmed to be a depiction of Jesus Christ. A Biblical scholar highlighted a drawing from Ancient Rome called the Alexamenos Graffito, which he said is 'the earliest depiction of Jesus on the cross' It depicts a man worshiping a another man with a donkey's head who's being crucified, which the expert claimed was graffiti mocking Jesus The carved message was uncovered in 2021 inside a building located on Rome's Palatine Hill. Rogan took the conversation as step forward, asking: 'Who was it that got crucified upside down?' To which Huff replied: 'Peter.' Peter was one of the Twelve Apostles and leaders of the early Christian Church. His execution was ordered by the Roman Emperor Nero, who blamed the city's Christians for a terrible fire that had ravaged Rome. The Biblical historian explained that Peter said it was 'too big of an honor to die like my Lord,' so the Romans strung him upside down. 'Oh Jesus. Shut your mouth, buddy,' said Rogan. 'Listen, the Romans were pretty brutal,' Huff said. The podcaster again raised the question about Jesus possibly never dying and recovered from the wounds of hanging on the cross. A study from 1986 determined Jesus died from exhaustion asphyxia Huff mentioned a study published by a group of biblical scholars and medical professionals that was published in 1986 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Pathologist Dr William Edwards, who led the study, concluded that Jesus' death was 'related primarily to hypovolemic shock, exhaustion asphyxia [suffocation], and perhaps acute heart failure. A fatal cardiac arrhythmia may have accounted for the apparent catastrophic terminal event.' To balance things out, Rogan asked if we have an account of the denial of the resurrection. 'No, the only ones from the ancient world that deny his resurrection are groups that come on afterwards that sometimes are sometimes are described as Gnostics, and theyre not necessarily just denying it for the reasons we might think they were,' Huff said. 'Theyre denying it because they have incorporated ideas of pagan philosophy, where they believe that the spiritual is good and the physical is bad.' Archaeologists have discovered a 1,500-year-old monastery with an intricate mosaic floor that bears a Bible verse blessing all who read it. 'Blessed are you when you come in and blessed are you when you go out,' reads the verse inscribed in ancient Greek that sits at the center of the intricately designed floor. The discovery was made near the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Monday, who described it as one of the largest and most significant sites uncovered in the area from the time period. The monastery dates back to the fifth through sixth centuries CE, which was during the rule of the Byzantine empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire. Those years saw the spread of Christianity and the construction of significant religious sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The newly discovered monastery is located in an ancient settlement established during the preceding Roman period, but persisted for approximately 600 years until the end of the Byzantine period. 'This is the largest and most significant Roman and Byzantine period site uncovered in this area,' said excavation leaders Shira Lifshitz and Maayan Margulis. The dig also uncovered remains of at least ten buildings, a winepress and a large warehouse building. 'Blessed are you when you come in and blessed are you when you go out' (Deuteronomy 28:6), reads the verse inscribed in ancient Greek in the center of the intricately designed floor. The 'blessing' was one a floor for an ancient building But the monastery is especially significant because its mosaic floor is a first-of-its-kind discovery. 'The mosaic discovered in Kiryat Gat is one of the most unique ever found in Israel,' Mark Avrahami, head of artistic conservation at the IAA, said in the statement. What makes this mosaic so unusual is the incorporation of very small stones into its geometric pattern, which served to highlight the cross-shaped decorations, according to the researchers. In addition to the Bible verse, the floor features crosses, lions, doves, an amphora (a ceramic maritime shipping jug), flowers and geometric patterns. 'Transferring mosaics is a complex process that requires great skill and precision,' Avrahami said, but the floor will soon be moved to the IAA's mosaic workshop for preservation before being put on public display in the city of Kiryat Gat. The dig also unearthed a 'great quantity' of artifacts from the monastery and the surrounding site, including imported wares, coins, marble elements, and metal and glass vessels, 'all attesting to the rich and significant community living here,' researchers shared. The settlement is situated on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain, and apparently served the area's smaller settlements as well as travelers passing by. 'The findings indicate a succession of settlement starting from the early Roman period (1st century CE) and through until the end of the Byzantine period (end of the 6th century CE),' the team said. Researchers said the mosaic is one of the most unique of its kind found in the region What makes this mosaic so unusual is the incorporation of very small stones into its geometric pattern, which served to highlight the cross-shaped decorations, according to the researchers The settlement is situated on a central road junction connecting the mountain region to the coastal plain, and apparently served the area's smaller settlements and travelers passing by The Byzantine Empire reigned from 330 to 1453 CE. Its rule began when the Emperor Constantine split the Roman Empire into a western and eastern half. The eastern half remained the dominant power in ancient Europe throughout the rest of late antiquity and even during parts of the middle ages, eventually coming to be known as the Byzantine Empire. Its capital, Constantinople, was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, thus marking the end of the Empire's more than 1,000-year reign. While the recently excavated settlement was still active during the Byzantine period, it expanded significantly, the researchers concluded. This growth included the construction of the monastery and the winepress. The researchers also uncovered a 'very sophisticated' winepress, which made wine that was sent throughout the country and to the other side of the Mediterranean Sea Like the monastery, the winepress also features mosaic flooring in the fermentation rooms and the collecting vat, made of blue and white stones The researchers also uncovered numerous artifacts from the site, including 'good quality toys that show status' Like the monastery, the winepress also features mosaic flooring in the fermentation rooms and the collecting vat, made of blue and white stones. The researchers described this winepress as 'very sophisticated,' adding that its construction and development likely involved 'significant financial resources, time and a range of professional work and effort.' It produced wine that was sent both throughout the country and to the other side of the Mediterranean Sea, they said. The dig also uncovered ample evidence of local pottery production, such as detritus left behind by a ceramic factory, garbage pits, discarded vessels that were misshaped during production, and even a number of vessels that are 'unique to this site.' 'The discovery of the site highlights the historical richness of Kiryat Gat and its surroundings, shedding light on the centrality of the region in antiquity,' said Svetlana Talis, Director of the Southern Region at the Israel Antiquities Authority. A Christian 'prophet' who predicted the assassination attempt on Donald Trump three months prior to his near-miss in Pennsylvania has an alarming new prediction. Brandon Dale Biggs, an Oklahoma pastor, claims God showed him another vision that would rock the heart of America this spring. He said he saw a '10-magnitude' earthquake hit the New Madrid fault line, which stretches through Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. He explained the major earthquake that hits New Madrid would create a 'chain reaction,' causing 'a 6.5 [magnitude] aftershock that impact Texarkana, Texas to Oklahoma. 'It was so big, there were 1,800 people who died [along that stretch],' Biggs said in the video. All the houses on cinder blocks were completely shaken to the foundation, they just fell.' He claimed the Lord told him that the New Madrid earthquake would hit three days after 'they try to divide Jerusalem with the two-state solution,' which is a proposed approach to resolving the IsraeliPalestinian conflict in the Middle East. Briggs' visions suggested that the earthquake would happen in the spring as he saw 'Sycamore leaves on the trees...trying to come out.. like they were fresh.' Biggs shared his eerie prediction in a video posted posted April 2024 three months before the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania rally on July 13. Brandon Dale Biggs, an Oklahoma pastor, claims he receives visions from God about future events. He predicted the assassination of Donald Trump three months prior The 150-mile-long New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) stretches through parts of Missouri , Arkansas , Tennessee , Kentucky and Illinois. A pastor who claims to see visions from God said a major earthquake will hit the area In that same video, in which he was interviewed by Christian author Steve Cioccolanti, Biggs revealed how he foresaw the attempt on the now president-elect's life. 'This bullet flew by his ear, and it came so close to his head that it busted his eardrum,' he said Three months later, Matthew Crooks, 20, took several shots at Trump, with one grazing his ear. But the bullet did not burst his eardrum. Also during the segment, Biggs said he saw red waves in Michigan and Oklahoma during the 2024 Election, which went on to happen in both states. Now that those predictions have come and passed, portions of the video showing Biggs discussing the major earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) have resurfaced. '[The] New Madrid earthquake [is] so big [and] when it happens the Mississippi River starts it goes out another direction,' he said. In 1811 and 1812, the fault line unleashed a trio of powerful jolts - measuring magnitudes 7.5 to 7.7 - that rattled the central Mississippi River Valley. Biggs shared his visions with pastor and Christian author Steve Cioccolanti, saying how he foresaw the attempt on the now president-elect's life. He said he saw a bullet pass through Trump's ear. The prediction was shared in a video posted in April 2024 Chimneys fell and boats capsized. Farmland sank and turned into swamps. The death toll is unknown, but experts don't believe there were mass casualties because the region was sparsely populated then. Were that to happen today, more than 5,000 people would be killed, but the pastor's '10 magnitude' would possibly see a death toll ranging in the hundreds of thousands to millions, according to experts. Experts have also said that there is a 'virtually zero' likelihood of such a major earthquake. The strongest earthquake ever recorded was the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile (magnitude 9.5), which occurred in a subduction zone. The NMSZ is a mid-continental fault system, not a subduction zone that sits on the coast that is prone to much larger earthquakes. While a 10 magnitude is not off the table, scientists have speculated it would only be possible long a fault system that is at least 6,200 miles long. The NMSZ stretches for 150 miles. But the scientific data has not caused Biggs to backpedal on his prophecy. He told Cioccolanti that he saw Chinook helicopters flying in to bring aid, saying: 'They were flying so low that they were shaking the houses.' 'The Lord told me that when they try to divide Jerusalem with the two-state solution... you will see a three-day window,' said the pastor. 'That the time for people to flee.' Biggs released a video two months ago where he saw visions of an attack in New Orleans, which happened on January 1 During the same vision, Biggs said an attack would also happen in Las Vegas. Matthew Livelsberger detonate explosives he packed into a Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas Scientists have said that the NMSZ is likely to see a major earthquake in the next 50 years, which would be a 6.0 magnitude or higher. 'They were not able to bring in supply trucks from east to west,' Briggs said, noting that was because there were no bridges left standing. He added that all aid came by airplanes, but food and medicine. was transported through the Mississippi. 'it was so bad, I remember it lasted for months,' said Briggs. While the prediction was made last year, the pastor shared another vision in October that appeared to also come true. 'I just seen a glimpse of Vegas,' he said in the video with his eyes closed. 'Oh, these are are these all on the same day. I pray over Las Vegas. 'It is interesting, I now just seen a glimpse of New Orleans Bourbon Street, it it is an attack simultaneously. On January 1, at 3:15am CST, Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. And about five hours later, Matthew Livelsberger detonated explosives he packed into a Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. We're only 10 days into 2025. But the world's richest one per cent have already burned through their share of carbon for the year. That's according to a new analysis by Oxfam, which has dubbed the alarming milestone 'Pollutocrat Day'. The charity largely blames the super-rich's reliance on private jets, which it calls the 'poster child of climate injustice'. To meet the vital goal of keeping global warming within 1.5C, the richest one per cent need to cut their emissions by a staggering 97 per cent by 2030. 'The future of our planet is hanging by a thread, yet the super-rich are being allowed to continue to squander humanity's chances with their lavish lifestyles and polluting investments,' said Chiara Liguori, Oxfam GB's Senior Climate Justice Policy Advisor. 'Governments need to stop pandering to the richest polluters and instead make them pay their fair share for the havoc they're wreaking on our planet. 'Leaders who fail to act are culpable in a crisis that threatens the lives of billions.' We're only 10 days into 2025. But the world's richest one per cent have already burned through their share of carbon for the year. Pictured: A private jet usually used by Elon Musk The charity largely blames the super-rich's reliance on private jets, which it calls the 'poster child of climate injustice' The world's richest one per cent is made up of 77 million individuals around the world. This includes billionaires and millionaires, as well as those earning over $140,000 (113,000). According to Oxfam's latest report, the super-rich's carbon emissions far exceed those of ordinary people. While the annual carbon budget allocates 2.1 tonnes of CO2 per capita, this elite group blows this out of the water. Every year, the super-rich release a whopping 67 tonnes of CO2 per capita, meaning it takes them just 10 days to use up their share of the global annual carbon budget. In stark contrast, the average person in the poorest 50 per cent of the global population uses just 0.7 tonnes of CO2 per year. This means it would take them almost three years to use up their share. Oxfam has calculated that, in order to align with the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement, the super-rich need to slash their carbon emissions by 97 per cent by 2030. While the annual carbon budget allocates 2.1 tonnes of CO2 per capita, this elite group blows this out of the water World's richest 1% have already used their share of carbon for 2025 Ton CO2 per capita per year Annual carbon budget, ton CO2 per capita Days to use up share of annual carbon budget Richest 1% 76 2.1 10 Poorest 50% 0.7 2.1 1,022 However, between 2015 and 2030, the richest one per cent are set to reduce their per capita consumption emissions by just five per cent. Ms Liguori said: 'As global temperatures continue to climb, the UK must show how it will generate its own share of new, fair funding to meet the escalating climate finance needs and fight inequality. 'Significantly higher taxes on polluting luxuries like private jets and superyachts is an obvious place for the Government to start.' Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, has dubbed private jets the 'poster child of climate injustice'. 'Private jets are the poster child of climate injustice, heaping yet more unnecessary pollution on a planet that's already consumed by a deadly combination of floods, fire and famine,' he said. Oxfam's report comes shortly after scientists from Linnaeus University in Sweden found that private jets produced 15.6 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, up 46 per cent from 2019. The most frequent fliers each churned out 2,400 tonnes of emissions in 2023 more than 500 times as much as the average individual. In 2023, ultra-rich jet owners including the likes of pop star Taylor Swift and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos flew for almost 26,000 hours over 4,301,561 individual flights. However, the researchers argue that a sizeable amount of these journeys could have been made by car or other means of transport. Almost half the private jet flights made in 2023 covered less than 310 miles (500km) about the distance from Edinburgh to London. Meanwhile, almost five per cent travelled less than 31 miles (50km). Lead author Professor Stefan Gossling told MailOnline: 'It indeed shows that we have many individuals among the very wealthy with outsized carbon footprints.' A winter storm is barreling through the US, slamming North Carolina where people are 'still living in tents' after the devastating hurricane season. Twenty states, from Texas to Delaware, were on alert Friday for snow and ice as the storm, dubbed Cora, continued to move across the South. But residents in North Carolina, where up to six inches of snow and temperatures as low as 13F are expected, have been left without proper homes following Category 4 Hurricane Helene that tore through the region in September. At least 70,000 homes were damaged or destroyed during the deadly storm that killed more than 100 people in the state. Cora's impact will span the entire state, but Western North Carolina will take the brunt of it where many of the displaced have moved into campers, trailers, sheds, tents or other forms of makeshift housing, especially in the outer Asheville community of Swannanoa. 'We're still living like this, and it's not a fun way to live,' Swannanoa resident Dara Cody told local NBC station WXII 12 in December. AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told DailyMail.com that the upcoming sleet and freezing rain would likely ice roads, delaying any resources and aid being trucked into the state to assist victims of Hurricane Helene. What's more, people living in makeshift shelters and those who are impacted by power outages may find it difficult to stay warm as temperatures plummet to 'dangerous' lows, he added. Families in North Carolina have been living in campers and tents since Hurricane Helen ripped through the state in September. Locals are now facing a dangerously cold winter storm Western North Carolina will take the brunt of the storm's impact, where communities are still recovering after being hit hard by Helene Ann DuPre Rogers, executive of non-profit Resources for Resilience, told NPR: 'Apartment complexes have been declared uninhabitable. People are living in tents.' Even after the storm moves out of North Carolina at the beginning of next week, the cold will linger for days to come, according to DaSilva. 'This isn't a one-night deal. This is multiple, multiple, multiple nights, and we've already had plenty of cold this month, so people's bodies are probably worn out,' he added. Temperatures across the state will remain well below average through at least the middle of next week, he added. 'We may be looking at another five to seven days of below-average temperatures before temperatures begin to rebound in that area.' North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency Thursday, ahead of the storm, while officials in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas issued theirs Friday. Arkansas is facing up to 14 inches of snow, while parts of Texas and Oklahoma have already received 12 inches. Stein said in a Friday briefing: 'At this time, our greatest concern is road safety. Many of the displaced have moved into campers, trailers, sheds, tents or other forms of makeshift housing Some people have been forced to live in their cars Winter Storm Cora is already sweeping across the Southeast, and North Carolina's displaced Hurricane Helene survivors will be especially vulnerable to its impact Nearly three months after Hurricane Helene destroyed her North Carolina home, Jennifer Grant lives in her car with her three dogs and two cats. pic.twitter.com/ThuiqXSrOS AccuWeather (@accuweather) December 17, 2024 'Precipitation and freezing temperatures tomorrow afternoon and night will make a mess of our roads Saturday morning' Snow started to fall Friday in the western half of North Carolina. Communities at higher elevations, such as Asheville, could see three to six inches of accumulation with some locally higher amounts, DaSilva said. 'Getting supplies in there over the next day or two could be a challenge, because the roadways are just going to be a mess,' he added. The wintry precipitation could cause power outages, which may create a dangerous situation as temperatures drop and people are unable to warm their homes. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the state replaced many damaged or destroyed power lines and structures with temporary infrastructure to restore electricity to hard-hit communities. For example, a substation powering the Asheville neighborhood of Biltmore Village was 'decimated by debris' and is still in the process of being rebuilt. In its place, North Carolina power company Duke Energy installed a temporary substation to supply power to the nearly 7,000 customers in that area, according to a recent report from the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. But these temporary structures may not be well-suited to handle the snow and freezing rain that Winter Storm Cora is forecasted to bring, 'So it may not take as much to cause issues,' DaSilva warned. 'It'll be important for people to check on their neighbors... And if they lose power, to try and help them out as much as you can, because this is dangerous cold, and it's not one night of this cold it's multiple nights,' he said. Strange timing to be in Western North Carolina talking to families living in cold campers and storage sheds 3 months after Helene as Congress does what feels like is their normal thing -- possible shutdown/hurricane funding delay, etc. No one here is surprised. pic.twitter.com/MOE3e0AbQ4 Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) December 19, 2024 The outer-Asheville community of Swannanoa was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, with many of its residents having lost their homes. Swannanoa, NC, October 4, 2024 Thousands of families are living in FEMA-provided accommodations that they could lose this weekend as Cora hits. Swannanoa, NC, October 6, 2024 As of January 6, more than 5,600 households were staying in hotel or motel rooms payed for by FEMA, local news station ABC 13 reported. Bat Cave, NC, October 8, 2024 What's more, thousands of displaced families currently living in hotel and motel rooms provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been told they will lose their accommodations this weekend. The temporary housing is provided through FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which covers the cost of short-term accommodations at local hotels and motels for those who have been displaced. As of January 6, more than 5,600 households were staying in hotel or motel rooms paid for by FEMA, local news station ABC 13 reported. But the agency has stated that nearly 3,500 households have been deemed 'no longer eligible' for for the program, either because an inspection had indicated their homes were now habitable, they declined an inspection, or FEMA has been unable to contact them to update their housing needs. On January 3, FEMA began issuing notices to these households stating that their stays would be terminated on the 10th. Protestors gathered in downtown Asheville Wednesday to demand that FEMA extend the deadline, and on Thursday, the agency agreed to a 24 hour extension ahead of Winter Storm Cora. A man walks past an area flooded near the Swannanoa river. Asheville, NC, September 27, 2024 On January 3, FEMA began issuing notices to these households stating that their stays would be terminated on the 10th The agency's announcement, posted on X, sparked outrage from impacted residents who are concerned that a 24-hour extension will not be sufficient to keep them safe from wintry precipitation expected to last through Sunday and frigid temperatures that will linger long into next week. 'Extending the motel accommodations for elderly residents in western North Carolina by only 24 hours is inadequate, especially given the impending snowstorm. This decision leaves them with no viable alternative for shelter during severe weather conditions,' one X user replied. 'You should all resign. 24 hours is shameful. We need compassionate and effective staff who know how to do their jobs,' wrote another. FEMA did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment, nor did the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. While the true impact of Winter Storm Cora remains to be seen, it is clear that North Carolinians who lost their homes to Hurricane Helene are in for a difficult weekend, with more challenges to come as this frigid January continues. Verizon was down for customers in Michigan, leaving them without service for mobile phones and internet. Local outlets reported the outage around 10am ET, saying thousands of locals have been impacted. DownDetector, a site that monitors online glitches, showed mobile phone, 5G home internet and 'No Signal' are the most reported problems. The network outage was fixed around 11:30am ET. DownDetector showed several other states in the 'red,' those issues were likely people attempting to call friends and family in Michigan and are not connecting. Users reported that their phones are in 'SOS' mode, which is where your phone has lost its regular cellular connection and can only make emergency calls. Verizon was gone down for customers in Michigan, leaving them with service for mobile phones and internet Verizon did not officially acknowledged the outage, but the company's support on X was responding to frustrated customers. 'My Internet went out last night at 10pm wasn't restored until 3pm. Now there's another outage?? Out again 12:30 am on the 10th. What happened to you Verizon??' One X user posted in the early hours of Friday. Verizon Support responded to the post asking for more information about the issue, to which the frustrated customer said that a Verizon agent told her the outage would not be resolved for 12 to 24 hours, though this has not been confirmed. Airlines are leaving customers in the lurch by shirking or outsourcing responsibility for lost phones, a covert Which? investigation has found. When Which? surveyed members about their experiences with airlines last year, less than half (48 per cent) of those who had lost a phone on a flight said it had been successfully returned. To find out how airlines are dealing with lost devices, undercover Which? investigators purchased four iPhones and deliberately left them on flights with four major UK carriers: British Airways, easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair. The result? Just two - those lost with Jet2 and Ryanair - were recovered. And the one left on a BA flight was stolen. Which? researchers took flights with the four airlines between 2 September and 20 October 2024, booking the back seat and ensuring they were the final passengers to disembark the aircraft before leaving their phone in a seat pocket. In each case, Which? activated Apple's 'Find my iPhone' tracking technology to follow the phones' journeys, and, to make things even easier for airline staff, remotely set up a message on the lockscreen saying 'This phone is lost' along with a number displayed for the finder to call. While the phones were quickly retrieved from Jet2 and Ryanair, researchers had a vastly different experience with BA - after leaving it on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus, to London Heathrow. Which? explained: 'British Airways, like all four airlines we tested, effectively leaves its lost property management to a third party - in BA's case, Smarte Carte. To find out how airlines are dealing with lost devices, undercover Which? investigators purchased four iPhones and deliberately left them on flights with four major UK carriers: British Airways , easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair (stock image) Which? researchers left a phone on a BA flight from Larnaca, Cyprus, to London Heathrow. The phone subsequently ended up in a cottage 15 miles from the airport and was never retrieved 'Even immediately after the phone had been left behind - when tracking still showed it to be on or near the plane - we were unable to deal with BA directly. 'Instead, we were directed to Smarte Carte, where we were able to browse a list online of 36 lost phones at Heathrow. 'However, the phone had not been recovered and was not listed.' Rather than being sent to BA's reclaim facility, a day later, Which? researchers claim they could see that their phone had moved location to a cottage just a short drive from Windsor Castle, 15 miles from Heathrow. Which? said it reported this to the police, who gave them a crime reference number, and 'confirmed the address was not linked to anyone working at Heathrow'. Officers then paid a visit to the cottage and spoke to the residents, but by this time the phone had stopped broadcasting its location. 'It had either been switched off, or the battery had died - and the phone was not recovered,' Which? remarked. The police, Which? said, 'noted that if a stolen phone is currently broadcasting its position they can, in some circumstances, knock on the door - but may not always do this if contact has been lost'. Which? researchers left a phone on an easyJet flight from Nice to London Luton Airport, and never got it back, despite registering it with the airline's third-party baggage handler, Menzies Which? revealed that it had a similar experience with easyJet, after researchers left a phone on a flight from Nice, France, to London Luton Airport. It explained: 'We were unable to speak to anyone at the airline who could help. Instead, easyJet directed us to their baggage handler Menzies, who told us to register the item as lost on another third-party website. 'After registering, a confirmation email was promised - but none arrived.' Which? continued: 'EasyJet's website says items not claimed within 24 hours are passed to the airport's lost property office, but upon enquiring, Luton Airport told us it doesn't handle items left on planes. 'Like BA, easyJet didn't offer any further advice or help in finding the phone.' Which? said the 'Find My iPhone' tracking didn't work on the phone left on the easyJet plane, which meant it couldn't be remotely located. The consumer group added: 'We never received any communication from airline or airport staff to indicate the phone had been found, and the phone was never recovered.' Which? researchers describe their experience with Jet2 as 'more positive' - although they had to pay a fee to retrieve their item. They added: 'As with other airlines, we were told to contact a third party after "losing" a phone on a flight from Alicante, Spain, to Birmingham, UK - in this case the airport's lost property office. 'Yet positively, a day after reporting the phone missing, we received an email saying it had been found. The only catch was the requirement to pay a fee of 27 to claim it back.' The final phone Which? abandoned was on a Ryanair flight from Malta to Stansted. The researchers say: 'Though Ryanair asserts planes are cleaned on every turnaround, the phone was somehow missed after we disembarked in London - with Find My iPhone showing it made it from Stansted to its next stop in Bari, Italy, before being spotted. 'At Bari airport, a kindly airport employee phoned to say they'd found it - and it was couriered back for a 60/50-fee.' Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, added: 'These days, a phone is far from just a phone - it's your wallet, photo album, and when you're flying, it's more often than not your boarding pass, too. When passengers lose something so vital, you would expect airlines to have systems in place to quickly and easily return it to you, but when we tried misplacing our own phones, we found this was too often not the case. 'Frustratingly, in the vital first few hours after an item is lost, there's no way of getting in touch with the airline to help. 'Even if you can see it's still on the plane, you'll be directed to airport staff or a third-party company. 'How hard can it be for airlines, who have staff onboard, to organise for lost items to be handed in and secured so that their customers are reunited? 'As it stands, most carriers won't even pick up the phone to help.' The final phone Which? abandoned was on a Ryanair flight from Malta to Stansted. The device was eventually returned TIPS FROM WHICH? FOR BETTER PHONE SAFETY ON FLIGHTS Get insurance: Make sure you know whether your valuables and gadgets are adequately protected before you travel. Most travel insurance policies won't include mobile phone cover unless you add gadget cover as an extra, but you may find youre already covered under your home insurance policy. If you have phone insurance, that may cover it too. Always check for peace of mind. Tracking: Make sure you have Find My Phone (on iPhones) or Find My Device (on Android phones) turned on at all times. International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI): To improve your chances of recovering a phone, its worth making a note of the IMEI number (usually found in the About section in your phone's settings). Lost property offices and police will often ask for it to prove the phone is yours. Advertisement A spokesperson for British Airways told Which?: 'Our crews remind customers upon arrival at their destination to check they have all their belongings before leaving the aircraft. 'In the unlikely event that belongings are left behind, we follow a process managed by Heathrow Airport and their third-party supplier, Smarte Carte, like other airlines at the airport.' Smarte Carte did not provide a comment for publication and directed Which? to the airline. A spokesperson for easyJet told Which?: 'We have procedures in place to reunite customers with items they may have left behind when they are found on board or handed in and, unfortunately, this item wasn't found onboard or handed in.' Ryanair told Which? that, like other airlines, it does not accept any responsibility for lost property that has not been placed in Ryanair's possession or safekeeping. This is different from checked bags, which are Ryanair's responsibility to return when lost. It said that all lost property identified by crews on turnarounds is handed to the lost property office at each airport, which is operated either by the airport or a contractor. In this case, the lost property was discovered in Bari and was handed to the lost property office there. Dragons' Den fans have accused Peter Jones of 'going soft' after a fitness entrepreneur delivered an emotional pitch in the den. The businessman, 58, returned to the BBC One show on Thursday evening alongside his fellow dragons Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman, and celebrity guest Joe Wicks. And to kick off the show the dragons welcomed hopeful entrepreneur Joseph Keegan from Liverpool who was pitching his fitness business Body XCore. But the dragons quickly became choked up and emotional when Joseph shared his story. The father told the dragons that both of his parents and close friends had passed away and it was during a really low point when he had suicidal thoughts that he came up with the business idea, which is a gym you can take anywhere. Explaining to the dragons he wanted to make his mother proud Joseph said he had even sold his house and car to fund the business and had split up from his girlfriend due to the pressure. Dragons' Den fans have accused Peter Jones of 'going soft' after a fitness entrepreneur delivered an emotional pitch in the den The businessman, 58, returned to the BBC One show on Thursday evening alongside his fellow dragons Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman, and celebrity guest Joe Wicks And to kick off the show the dragons welcomed hopeful entrepreneur Joseph Keegan from Liverpool who was pitching his fitness business Body XCore Joseph said: 'This product brought a lot of tension onto my family life as well so I ended up splitting up with my ex-girlfriend but I believe this is my passion and my purpose in life.' 'I want to show my kids that if you really want to do something in life you've got to give it 100%.' After sharing his story, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to claim they expected better from Peter and accused him of 'going soft' on the entrepreneur as he shared kind words and hugged Joseph at the end of his pitch. One fan wrote: 'Come on Peter!! I expected better from you, don't go soft on him because of his sob story!!!' While another complained that they wanted the 'old Dragons Den' back: 'Can we have the old Dragons Den back please?' After hearing his touching story father-of-four Joe revealed he was planning to invest, saying: 'You are my kind of guy and this is my kind of product.' He offered up the full 70,000 for 25% in Body XCore, vowing to help Joseph launch the product across the UK and on his social media. But Joe wasnt the only Dragon interested as he faced competition from Peter, Touker and even Sara. But the dragons quickly became choked up and emotional when Joseph shared his story The father told the dragons that both of his parents and close friends had passed away and it was during a really low point when he had suicidal thoughts that he came up with the business idea Explaining to the dragons he wanted to make his mother proud Joseph said he had even sold his house and car to fund the business and had split up from his girlfriend due to the pressure After sharing his story, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to claim they expected better from Peter and accused him of 'going soft' on the entrepreneur as he shared kind words and hugged Joseph at the end of his pitch 'We all want a piece of the pie,' Joe said, after Sara, Peter and Touker all pitched to team up with the fitness influencer. Eventually, after moments of deliberation, Joseph agreed to take three of the Dragons up on their offers. He walked away with 35,000 each from Joe, Peter and Touker, in exchange for a total of 37.5% of his business. Congratulating his new business partner, and after the first investment of the series, Peter told a grinning Joe: 'Thats an investment that makes my heart sing.' An award-winning BBC drama is heading back onto screens thanks to a movie reboot, after the show broke viewers' hearts when it was controversially axed more than a year ago. Ghosts tracked couple Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike Cooper (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) after they moved into a family house haunted by a chaotic array of supernatural beings. The sitcom provided laughs around every corner over the course of four years and five seasons, and was written and performed by the collective Them There, the group behind Horrible Histories and Yonderland. The hit show was controversially pulled in 2023 after the series five Christmas special A Christmas Gift, which saw Alison and Mike persuaded by the ghosts to sell their home to a hotel company to prevent them haunting their newborn daughter Mia. A flash forward revealed to viewers that the couple returned to the converted house to stay in their 'usual suite' and reunite with their spooky friends. After its finale, Ghosts won a Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for Best Comedy, beating Such Brave Girls, Extraordinary, Dreaming Whilst Black and Inside No.9 to the gong. Ghosts is heading back onto screens thanks to a movie reboot, after the show broke viewers' hearts when it was controversially axed more than a year ago The sitcom provided laughs around every corner over the course of four years and five seasons and was written and performed by the group behind Horrible Histories and Yonderland The Christmas special still proved a sad goodbye for the popular comedy, with fans bitterly disappointed that the show was being discontinued. But there is good news at last for Ghosts enthusiasts, with the sitcom set for a return via a movie reboot after the script was 'given the green light'. It is believed that both Charlotte and Kiell will join the comeback in a further positive development for fans. An insider told the Daily Star newspaper's Hot TV column: 'A film has been written, and it's been given the green light. 'Everyone involved is really excited that Ghosts will be on the big screen. 'It's hoped that most of the original cast will be able to reprise their roles. 'Producers have already signed up a few of them, and they're in talks with the others. They think it'll be a dream cast.' In moving to the big screen, Ghosts is following in the footsteps of Peaky Blinders, which is being adapted for a movie, titled The Immortal Man. The hit show was controversially pulled in 2023 after the series five Christmas special, A Christmas Gift After its finale, Ghosts won a Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for Best Comedy, beating Such Brave Girls, Extraordinary, Dreaming Whilst Black and Inside No.9 to the gong Cillian Murphy and the rest of the crew have made Manchester their home for the time being as filming continues apace in the city, despite the drama being based in Birmingham, after recently shooting in north-east Wales. It was confirmed in June 2024 that the Peaky Blinders' original writing and directing team would be returning alongside Cillian for a Netflix film adaptation of the hit series. The streaming service confirmed the news on X with a photograph of the script, while the Oscar-winning actor told Deadline: 'It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn't finished with me 'It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.' Director Tom said: 'When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn't know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive. 'Peaky has always been a story about family - and so it's incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.' Graham Norton has revealed who will replace him on his iconic talk show as he takes an extended break from TV to head to Australia for a live tour. The legendary host, 61, is travelling Down Under in February to present An Evening With Graham Norton, which will see the Irish presenter discuss hilarious stories and shed light on some career highlights, before taking questions from the audience. A replacement has now been drafted in for his absence, with the host himself revealing the big name on his own The Graham Norton Show on Friday night. Amid the enormous popularity of BBC's The Traitors, Claudia Winkleman will be heading from the Scottish Highlands to the talk show studio to take the hot seat. The presenter, 52, responded to Graham's announcement on his show by saying: 'I apologise in advance!' She added: 'I am always very nervous that people aren't watching and then incredibly grateful that they are. I feel about Traitors like people feel about an offspring you're so glad when people love it. Graham Norton has revealed who will replace him on his iconic talk show as he takes an extended break from TV to head to Australia for a live tour Amid the enormous popularity of BBC's The Traitors, Claudia Winkleman will be heading from the Scottish Highlands to the talk show studio to take the hot seat The host himself revealed the big name on his own The Graham Norton Show on Friday night 'I can't say much but the producers are so clever and there are lots of twists and turns coming.' Joined by Myles Smith, Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Billy Porter on the couch during The Graham Norton Show, Claudia also responded to the considerable hype around her dress sense on The Traitors. 'We always like to have a muse for Strictly it has been Anita Dobson and this year it was Demis Roussos. For Traitors it's Princess Anne meets Sarah Brightman. We've already decided on next year's I'll be dressing as Gerald from Clarkson's Farm!' Graham will be visiting Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne throughout March during his tour of Australia. Claudia hosts the latest season of The Traitors, which has featured as many twists and turns as ever following an incredibly successful second series, which built on the popularity of the debut season in 2022. She hilariously revealed this week that her children 'aren't allowed' to watch her on TV under 'strict instructions' in her household. The Traitors host shares Jake, 21, Matilda, 18, and Arthur, 13, with her husband of 24 years, producer Kris Thykier. In an interview with Grazia, the TV icon admitted: 'They have not watched me. They're not allowed. Nobody watches anything I do in my house, under strict instructions. The presenter, 52, responded to Graham's announcement on his show by saying: 'I apologise in advance!' Claudia hosts the latest season of The Traitors which has featured as many twists and turns as ever following an incredibly successful second series She added: 'Although they broke rank and watched Traitors and I was appalled.' Claudia candidly added that the hardest part of being a parent is having to watch her children leave, with her eldest two having flown the nest to go to university. 'It's horrendous,' she said, 'I don't understand why they don't have that in the baby books, along with all the advice about breastfeeding and how to steam a butternut squash.' Claudia married her film producer partner in 2000 and she has previously explained how she manages to balance her career with home life, quipping 'my husband is a better parent than me'. The TV personality also confessed her children beg her to give them some space during the 10 months of the year when she's not busy presenting Strictly Come Dancing.. Christine Lampard was left in shock after a guest on Lorraine threw a photoframe with her picture on it to the floor, gasping 'how dare you?!' The presenter, 45, was standing in for the Scottish star, 65, on Friday morning, but the show soon descended into chaos. One hilarious segment involved a fake Claudia Winkleman, who Christine nicknamed Fraudia, modelling clothes in front of the host and expert Mark Heyes. There has been a great deal of hype around Claudia's outfits of late as she wows in a variety of looks while fronting the hit show The Traitors. And Fraudia was a dead ringer for the presenter, 52, right down to the fringe haircut and dark eyeshadow. She and Christine did not see eye to eye, however, with the guest taking a picture of the host and ruthlessly throwing it to the ground. Christine Lampard was left in shock after a guest on Lorraine threw a photoframe with her picture on it to the floor, gasping 'how dare you?!' The presenter, 45, was standing in for the Scottish star, 65, on Friday morning but the show soon descended into chaos The segment involved a fake Claudia Winkleman, who Christine nicknamed Fraudia, modelling clothes in front of the host and expert Mark Heyes It was all a callback to The Traitors, where Claudia scribbles a big red mark over a contestant's photo, or sometimes even throws it, when they are murdered in the castle. Christine was less than impressed, shouting, 'how dare you?', as she readied herself to stand and confront the rebellious guest. Mark, who was on hand to tell viewers where they could buy Claudia's looks on the high street, said: 'That's my Christmas present that Christine gave me!' Lorraine hosted less than 60 per cent of her show's episodes in 2024, but was in the seat on Thursday to hear The Traitors star Maia Gouveia reveal her children were her motivation for throwing sister Armani 'under the bus' during a tense roundtable. As the host congratulated the star on being pregnant with another child, she asked: 'Second baby on the way and was that one of the reasons you wanted to do the show in the first place, wasn't it, for your wee girl?' Maia, 25, explained: 'Nursery is expensive and we had to make some money. I've already got one and one on the way. My main motivation was my kids.' The show's host Claudia, meanwhile, has been confirmed as the stand-in host of The Graham Norton Show as the iconic presenter takes an extended break from TV to travel to Australia for his live tour. The legendary host, 61, is travelling Down Under in February to present An Evening With Graham Norton, which will see the Irish presenter discuss hilarious stories and shed light on some career highlights, before taking questions from the audience. It was all a callback to The Traitors, where Claudia scribbles a big red mark over a contestant's photo, or sometimes even throws it, when they are murdered in the castle Graham Norton revealed who will replace him on his iconic talk show as he takes an extended break from TV to head to Australia for a live tour Amid the enormous popularity of BBC's The Traitors, Claudia will be heading from the Scottish Highlands to the talk show studio to take the hot seat Claudia responded to Graham's announcement on his show by saying: 'I apologise in advance!' She added: 'I am always very nervous that people aren't watching and then incredibly grateful that they are. I feel about Traitors like people feel about an offspring you're so glad when people love it. 'I can't say much but the producers are so clever and there are lots of twists and turns coming.' Joined by Myles Smith, Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Billy Porter on the couch during The Graham Norton Show, Claudia also responded to the considerable hype around her dress sense on The Traitors. 'We always like to have a muse for Strictly it has been Anita Dobson and this year it was Demis Roussos. For Traitors it's Princess Anne meets Sarah Brightman. We've already decided on next year's I'll be dressing as Gerald from Clarkson's Farm!' A science-fiction series hailed as 'better than Black Mirror' is finally available to stream eight years on from its debut and viewers are already branding it 'a must-watch'. The futuristic drama is divided into 10 episodes, each involving a different ensemble cast and plotline, drawing unsurprising comparisons with the hit Netflix show. Amazon Prime subscribers have been hooked by Electric Dreams, with fans citing the tense yet plausible dystopian storylines, as well as the star-studded cast. The 2017 series assumed an anthology format, similar to Black Mirror, and was based on the sci-fi thriller writings of 20th century author Philip K Dick. It starred Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston, Hollywood star Steve Buscemi and English movie icon Timothy Spall, as well as a whole host of other big names. After finally being given the opportunity to watch the show, almost a decade after it first aired in the UK on Channel 4, viewers have taken to social media to rave about the drama. A science-fiction series hailed as 'better than Black Mirror' is finally available to stream eight years on from its debut (pictured: Bryan Cranston, left, as Silas and Essie Davis as Vera) It starred Hollywood icon Steve Buscemi (pictured, as Ed with Julia Davis as Sally), as well as a whole host of other big names After finally being given the opportunity to watch the show, viewers have taken to social media to rave about it (pictured: Timothy Spall as Ed) One said on Google Reviews: 'All episodes have famous actors and the storyline pulls you in to the story. A must watch for sci-fi fans. 'Better than Black Mirror in the sense that most episodes have happy endings and Black Mirror had only San Junipero in the 1st season. Some of the CGI might not be as good as other shows, but everything else is 5 stars.' Another posted: 'It's an excellent watch for all sci-fi lovers; it's creative, artistic and thought-provoking. It ventures into the what-ifs and makes you question your own reality sometimes. 'It also has a wonderful cast for the added drama and throws in a pinch of thriller vibes to keep things entertaining and interesting.' Meanwhile on X, one impressed user said: 'Been watching Philip K Dick's electric dreams on prime + now i really need to read his written work bc wowwww such a shame there was only one season, it really needs another as it's so thought-provoking + raises a lot of questions surrounding the nature of reality.' Another added: 'Electric Dreams in prime giving me Black Mirror vibes with its story telling.' On Reddit, one viewer posted: 'Just watched all of Philip K Dick's Electric Dreams and it's better than Black Mirror. It gets better and better as it goes along, with the last two episodes in particular being amazing.' The opening instalment of the show, titled The Hood Maker, delved into a society where people with telepathic powers are discriminated against. The futuristic drama has 10 episodes, each involving a different cast and plotline, drawing comparisons with Black Mirror (pictured: Anna Paquin as Sarah in Electric Dreams) Those interested in the genre can also catch The Rig on Amazon Prime, which has been soaring up the charts following the release of its second season The episode titled The Father Thing sees a young boy become suspicious of his father and eventually conclude that aliens are planting body doubles on Earth to gradually wipe humans out. Those interested in the genre can also catch The Rig on Amazon Prime, which has been soaring up the charts following the release of its second season. The drama follows the lives of a crew of workers stationed on an oil rig in the North Sea - with the likes of Martin Compston, 38, who plays AC-12's Det Insp Steve Arnott on the BBC's Line of Duty - starring in the show. Line of Duty director John Strickland was also brought on board to oversee the project, his first with Amazon Prime, which was filmed entirely in Scotland. The series, created by David Macpherson, tells the tale of a crew of oil rig workers who, as they are about the leave the Kinloch Bravo rig on the North Sea and return to the mainland, are engulfed by a mysterious fog which rolls in and cuts off communication to the rest of the world. An exciting new dating show with a very unique twist is reportedly on it's way to screens in the UK - and it's a concept that's never been seen before. TV bosses are looking to match up single vicars and other religious leaders who may be well established in their career, but are yet to find love. The programme is thought to be being made by Ricochet, the production company behind the huge popular show The Repair Shop. An insider told The Sun: 'This promises to be a real belter of a show because it's made by Ricochet, the same production company who gave us The Repair Shop. 'In this case they'll be mending broken hearts, and see vicars and other religious leaders as intriguing people who deserve to find love just like the rest of us. 'Though there'll obviously be some personal hoops to jump through, particularly those whose faiths prescribe certain behaviours when it comes to sex, love and marriage.' An exciting new dating show with a very unique twist is reportedly on it's way to screens in the UK - and it's a concept that's never been seen before TV bosses are looking to match up single vicars and other religious leaders who may be well established in their career, but are yet to find love According to the publication, producers are hoping to get their hands on 'fun candidates' like The Vicar Of Dibley's star character Anglican Geraldine Granger, who was played by Dawn French. Although it's not been reported exactly where the show will air, some likely choices are the BBC, Channel 4, or a streaming service instead. MailOnline has contacted Ricochet for comment. It comes after Channel confirmed the return of a boundary-pushing dating show that previously shocked viewers with its swinging and threesome scenes. Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, which initially aired in April 2022, is gracing screens once again with a new open relationships expert, a new luxury location and exciting new format twists. The show has already had two successful seasons, each consisting of six jaw-dropping episodes. It's a Firecracker production for Channel 4 and is framed as a 'social experiment' where everyday British couples can 'open up' their relationship by adding another partner, or more, in the bedroom. The couples stay for two nights in a luxury mansion where they meet a sex therapist, previously Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey, who urges them to talk about their sexual desires. When the evening arrives, they meet an assortment of 'sexually liberated' housemates, whom they are encouraged to approach about the possibility of joining them for sex. Producers are reportedly hoping to get their hands on 'fun candidates' like The Vicar Of Dibley's star character Anglican Geraldine Granger, who was played by Dawn French It comes after Channel confirmed the return of a boundary-pushing dating show that previously shocked viewers with its swinging and threesome scenes Elsewhere, on ITV, Love Island: All Stars is returning to screens next week and the star-studded line up has been revealed The program has been well received in the past, but its graphic subject matter - most notably the airing of a 15-person orgy in a UK TV first - raised eyebrows. Series one shockingly remains Channel 4's biggest new unscripted 10pm series launch since 2017, and the second series was up with a 13% share of young audiences (16-34s) in the same slot - so it's no surprise that bosses have renewed it for another season. Elsewhere, on ITV, Love Island: All Stars is returning to screens next week and the star-studded line up has been revealed. Host Maya Jama, 30, is back as she prepares to welcome a new cohort of former singletons to the lavish South African villa in the hope of finding love. Last year's series saw Molly Smith and Tom Clare crowned winners and bagged the whopping 50,000 prize. Now show bosses have pulled out all the stops with their latest line-up which features Maura Higgins' ex, a series two OG and a former show winner. Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau has opened up on how acting in the hit Netflix show helped to 'heal her own wounds' in a candid new interview. The actress, 32, shot to stardom when she starred as Teri in the series - an American therapist who meets lead character Donny (Richard Gadd) on a dating app. Now, as Cosmopolitan's latest cover star, Nava discussed 'the shame society creates around transgender relationships' and how she knew Richard's real-life relationship with a trans woman was genuine love. She recalled: 'It was undeniable. It makes me emotional still. I just remember there was a moment reading the script for the first time, and I was like, 'Oh, he really loved her.' 'Donny's love for Teri is in the form of awe, and I had never seen a trans woman represented quite in that way. 'It was this weird, transcendental experience of it being what I needed to see, and what it did to heal my own wounds.' Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau has opened up on how acting in the hit Netflix show helped to 'heal her own wounds' in a candid new interview The actress, 32, shot to stardom when she starred as Teri in the series - an American therapist who meets lead character Donny (Richard Gadd) on a dating app The star continued: 'There is such a fixation in society and in the media on trans people and who is dating us, and who is attracted to us, and who is even consorting with us. 'It's strange, because that fixation presupposes that trans people should be responsible for explaining and answering any questions and curiosities that cis people have, but it also presupposes that trans people must also have this fixation. 'But it's like, I'm not a curiosity to myself. We're just living full lives, real lives, just like everyone else.' For the cover shoot, Nava looked nothing short of incredible in a series of leggy outfits, including a black bodysuit complete with a stylish oversized leather jacket. She further showcased her sensational figure as she slipped into a denim vest top and a racy maxi skirt, which featured a large cut out along the side. Other ensembles included a zebra-print trench coat, a busty white mini dress, and a blue denim jacket. Nava wore her brunette locks in loose waves and opted for a glowing palette of makeup. Reflecting on her younger years as a transgender woman, Nava admitted that trying to enter the workforce as a trans person can be 'soul crushing,' and lead her to 'crumble'. She revealed that her struggle with being accepted by society led to anorexia and how, at 19, a rehab programme saved her life. Now, as Cosmopolitan's latest cover star, Nava discussed 'the shame society creates around transgender relationships' Nava said: 'Donny's love for Teri is in the form of awe, and I had never seen a trans woman represented quite in that way' She recalled: 'It was undeniable. It makes me emotional still. I just remember there was a moment reading the script for the first time, and I was like, 'Oh, he really loved her' Nava continued: 'It was this weird, transcendental experience of it being what I needed to see, and what it did to heal my own wounds' The full interview can be read in the Feb/March issue of Cosmopolitan UK on sale from 14 January The actress explained: 'I'd been struggling with anorexia for several years at that point, because I think so much of my trying to force myself to be accepted by society was turned into a hate for my body and wanting to control it, and so I had to withdraw from school 'It [rehab] saved my life. Anorexia is the deadliest mental health disorder, and I learned, in a way that I can never unlearn, how to truly love myself, and how to practise acceptance and mindfulness. 'It built a foundation of self-love and trust in myself that I think allowed my intuition to blossom.' She added: 'I think that more than anything, it was that I hadn't transitioned. It was the most all-consuming effort that I was making to try to fit myself into a world that was not built for me.' When she finally got her big break on Baby Reindeer, a doctor had to inform her she had an elevated heart rate due to the shock of the show's incredible success. 'We realised that I was in literal, physical shock, because it was undeniable that my life had changed,' she revealed. Lifting the lid on where society is today with transgender representation on TV, Nava spoke of how there is still room for improvement. She told the publication: 'I think there are some people who have this imagined belief that there's a trans takeover. Richard Gadd said that Donny's relationship arc with Teri drew on his own experiences of a relationship with an unnamed trans woman (Nava pictured as Teri in the show) Reflected in the series, Richard added that feelings of shame around his sexuality kept him from telling the truth about his name and occupation from her WHAT IS ANOREXIA? Anorexia is a serious mental illness where a person restricts their food intake, which often causes them to be severely underweight. Many also exercise excessively. Some sufferers may experience periods of bingeing, followed by purging. Sufferers often have a distorted view of themselves and think they are larger than they really are. Untreated, patients can suffer loss of muscle and bone strength, as well as depression, low libido and menstruation ceasing in women. In severe cases, patients can experience heart problems and organ damage. Behavioural signs of anorexia include people saying they have already eaten or will do later, as well as counting calories, missing meals, hiding food and eating slowly. As well as weight loss, sufferers may experience insomnia, constipation, bloating, feeling cold, hair loss, and swelling of the hands, face and feet. Treatment focuses on therapy and self-help groups to encourage healthy eating and coping mechanisms. Source: Beat Eating Disorders Advertisement 'And it's like, we're such a small population a tiny fraction of the world's population and we're barely getting to make headway into the kinds of roles that are available to us. 'Trans people should be considered and invited to be a part of projects that do not revolve around a trans narrative, and that's because trans people are so much more than our gender identity. 'It's a matter of seeing trans people as human, and valuing us for our humanity, and not as a token simply because we are trans.' Richard Gadd, who both wrote and starred in the show, told The Independent, that Donny's relationship arc with Teri drew on his own experiences of a relationship with an unnamed trans woman. 'It's in the public consciousness now, but it wasn't back then, when I was dating,' he explained. 'It felt so new that it added a certain pressure, to me, that I really regret now. But that's what it explores in the show. This story was set back in a time when things were very different.' Reflected in the series, Richard added that feelings of shame around his sexuality kept him from telling the truth about his name and occupation from her. However, he has also said that his girlfriend became 'the voice of reason in my life at that point' although he never 'listened to her as much as I should have'. The full interview can be read in the Feb/March issue of Cosmopolitan UK on sale from 14 January Coronation Street bosses are reportedly facing a stars' revolt after five actors recently left the soap. All is not well in Weatherfield as some of the show's mid-ranking actors and younger stars are said to be worried they'll be axed in a bid to save money. According to The Sun, some of the younger stars fear they'll be written off the show in order to keep established stars like Bill Roache and Jack P. Shepherd on board. A source said: 'There's a WhatsApp group which has been pinging with messages about concerns of where the axe will fall next. 'It's a tough time on the soap and it's filtering down. There is a feeling more people will be cut to save money and to keep the best paid stars like Bill Roache and Jack P Shepherd on board.' The insider added that cast members have also complained about the long working hours. Coronation Street bosses are reportedly facing a stars' revolt after five actors recently left the soap (Colson Baker is set to depart the series this year) All is not well in Weatherfield as some mid-ranking actors and younger stars are said to be worried they'll be axed in a bid to save money (Charlotte Jordan recently left the show) They added: 'Filming is tough. One person moaned they were 'worked like dogs'. The days of bumper pay are gone.' MailOnline has contacted representatives of Coronation Street for comment. Salaries on Coronation Street vary significantly with the likes of Bill Roache said to earn 2,000 per episode while newbies usually get 400 per appearance. Soaring TV production costs and a collapose in advertising revenue are said to have put the future of the ITV soap in jeopardy. An insider has claimed some of the show's well known actors could see their scenes in the Rovers Return cut in a bid to save money. It comes after Charlotte Jordan announced she was leaving the show after five years, following the likes of Sue Cleaver, Colson Smith and Helen Worth. A source told The Sun: 'Charlotte leaving is just the tip of the iceberg. Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions. 'TV production costs have soared more than 50 per cent while the advertising market funding them has all but collapsed. The cast are not happy but ITV have no choice but to cut costs.' The Rovers Return was shut for a substantial portion of 2023 as landlady Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews) experienced financial problems. A source said: There is a feeling more people will be cut to save money and to keep the best paid stars like Bill Roache (pictured) and Jack P Shepherd on board' An insider has claimed some of the show's well known actors could see their scenes in the Rovers Return cut in a bid to save money This plot is said to have been a secret cost-cutting drive by producers as it meant they could axe all large group scenes in the pub. Gail Platt - played by Helen Worth for 50 years - appeared in just 26 out of 304 episodes in her final year on the soap. Charlotte Jordan revealed on Tuesday that she was bidding goodbye to the cobbles to 'explore other opportunities'. In a statement, she said: 'My time at Coronation Street is something Ill always cherish. After a brilliant four years for Daisy, its time for me to start a new chapter and explore other opportunities. 'Its been a privilege to be part of a wonderful institution with even more wonderful colleagues who have taught me so much.' Charlotte Jordan revealed on Tuesday that she was bidding goodbye to the cobbles to 'explore other opportunities' Her exit comes after several other actors have left the soap in the last few weeks, including Sue Cleaver, who has played the iconic Eileen Grimshaw for 25 years (pictured in September) Colson Smith also confirmed he was leaving in the summer after 14 years on the soap as police officer Craig Tinker (pictured on show in June) Sue Cleaver, 61, who plays the iconic Eileen Grimshaw, announced she was quitting last week after 25 years on the cobbles, to pursue new acting projects. The actress has already begun to film her exit storyline, but will still appear on viewers screens until late spring. Revealing her exit, the Loose Women panellist explained Eileen won't be killed off by producers, leaving the door open for her to possibly return in the future. Sue said: 'Ive had 25 privileged years of working on Coronation Street. The door is still firmly open but as I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly.' Colson also confirmed he was leaving in the summer after 14 years on the soap as police officer Craig Tinker. The actor, 26, revealed exclusively to MailOnline at the weekend that he was told in Autumn 2024 that he would be written out of the show. Reflecting on his on the show, Colson confessed that he has loved 'every single second' of his time on the show and feels 'incredibly lucky' to have been a part of the show for so long. Colson told MailOnline: 'Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker's time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025. And Debbie Webster, played by Sue Devaney, is reportedly set to be killed off this year as part of a hard-hitting dementia storyline, after six years on the cast (pictured in July) 'I've loved every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the greatest street in the world. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street. 'I've learned pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home. I'm excited to play out the exit story for our Craigy. 'For me, this is the end of the beginning. I genuinely can't wait to see what chapter two has in store for me.' Debbie Webster, played by Sue Devaney, is reportedly set to be killed off this year as part of a hard-hitting dementia storyline, after six years on the cast. Corrie only pulled in 2.6million viewers for its Christmas Day special which saw Gail Platt leave after 50 years on the show. And last week, The Sun claimed that producers may now only guarantee contracts until the end of 2025 amid tightened budgets. A source told the publication: 'The cast of Corrie is huge and some aren't getting enough episodes. 'A few paid per episode are struggling to pay mortgages are having to supplement income with personal appearances and ads on Instagram. 'A lot of cast members are now on 'guest contracts' like Maureen Lipman and Kate Ford. These are short term, so they can come and go and take extended breaks. The cast have been told they can't guarantee any contracts beyond the end of 2025.' MBABANE A resigned nurse, now a lecturer at Good Shepherd Catholic College, has been arrested for allegedly stealing about E2 304 329 from government. Information gathered was to the effect that Sithembile Gabsile Mhlanga (47) of Good Shepherd continued to withdraw the money as a salary, even after she had resigned from work. It is said that the unlawful withdrawal of the money occurred between July 2013 and January 2023. While still a nurse, Mhlanga was stationed at Mangweni Clinic. When Mhlanga appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court charged with theft, Muzi Nxumalo, who represents the Crown in the matter, applied that she be remanded in custody until January 17, 2025, pending committal to the High Court. Opposed Nxumalo indicated that the Crown was opposed to bail should Mhlanga apply for it. He submitted that Mhlanga should approach the High Court for bail due to the amount of stolen money. However, Sibonginkhosi Jele, who is representing Mhlanga in the matter, said he was puzzled as to why the Crown referred the matter to the High Court. He said the magistrates court has the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Jele submitted that it was for that reason he intended to move the bail application on behalf of his client, as the charge was that of theft. He said the court could invoke Section 120(a) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938 or use its discretion in granting bail. In response, Nxumalo said, looking at the amount stated in the charge sheet and taking into consideration the provisions of Section 321(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, in the event the accused was convicted of the offence, the Crowns hands would be tied with respect to applying for compensation of the complainant. Jurisdiction This, Nxumalo said, was because the magistrates court could not exceed its civil jurisdiction. Jele applied that Mhlanga be released on bail. He submitted that his client is a liSwati employed as a lecturer at Good Shepherd Catholic College. He said his client cannot risk losing her job. Having considered the submissions from both parties, Vilakati referred the matter to the High Court for bail determination. He stated that, inasmuch as the magistrates court has jurisdiction to hear the matter, it does not have jurisdiction to award compensation above its civil jurisdiction in the event the Crown applied for compensation if the accused was convicted of the offence. Mhlanga was remanded in custody until January 17, 2025, pending committal to the High Court. Samia Longchambon and her Coronation Street co-stars are reportedly in 'disbelief' that a top talent agent called for her character to be axed from the show. Melanie Blake represents some of the top talent on the show including Claire Sweeney, Jennie McAlpine along with former Corrie star Claire King and EastEnders' Laila Morse. Taking to X, Melanie asked her followers: 'Corrie couple characters you'd happy wave off the cobbles. Let's do a vote. No affiliations with anyone I work with. So, who would you like to see axed immediately & which true icons needs to returned #Corrie? Pick 1 in & out & be nice! 'Maria' out for me 1st plz #taxi.' Samia, who has played Maria Connor on the soap since 2000, was said to be shocked by the post. A source told The Mirror: 'Samia's friends and co-stars were in utter disbelief over the tweets. 'It's astounding that somebody who represents some of Coronation Street's on-screen talent and always goes on about getting her clients work would send such a vile tweet. Samia Longchambon and her Coronation Street co-stars are reportedly in 'disbelief' that a top talent agent called for her character to be axed from the show Melanie Blake represents some of the top talent on the show including Claire Sweeney , Jennie McAlpine along with former Corrie star Claire King and EastEnders ' Laila Morse 'There's been so much drama recently and this tweet was really uncalled for, Melanie should know better.' Samia commented on Melanie's post and wrote: 'What have I ever done to you?' Defending herself, Melanie insisted she had nothing against Samia but simply wouldn't miss her character Maria if she was no longer on the soap. She wrote: 'You haven't upset me darling, I've met you and your lovely, l just think 'Maria' has had a really good on screen run years length of time but didn't doesn't get the stories she needs for me - to stay invested in on what is clearly going to be a tightening up on numbers. 'The poll was character based only & I never feel like Maria gets an A storline and with the show so packed and you still being young attractive & talented - I picked your character for me as I wouldn't miss 'her' & I find Gary more interesting without her - that's just me!' Melanie then referenced press reports that actors are fearful they may be axed from Coronation Street amid cost cuts. She wrote: 'I would equally like to see you either stay and get more 'Maria driven' stories which I'm sure would change my mind - your talent has never been in question - just the characters relevance in its current climate - as you can see socials are discussing cuts to characters & for me - she's in the danger zone unless you have great stuff coming up we haven't see yet! 'And others others I would have listed way before you are already gone - going - not targeted in away shape or form - just taste. Melanie wrote: 'Who would you like to see axed immediately & which true icons needs to returned #Corrie? Pick 1 in & out & be nice! 'Maria' out for me' Samia commented on Melanie's post and wrote: 'What have I ever done to you?' Defending herself, Melanie insisted she had nothing against Samia but simply wouldn't miss her character Maria if she was no longer on the soap Samia was unimpressed with Melanie's response however and wrote back: 'So, basically, nothing personal but you think I should be fired. Thanks' 'Please don't let any 'personal' comments hyjack me threads off based on fictional & the ever evolving soap world. Which is of course what soap fans do - discuss the shows - especially during reboots.' Samia was unimpressed with Melanie's response however and wrote back: 'So, basically, nothing personal but you think I should be fired. Thanks. Wishing you all the best Melanie.' Melanie replied: 'Actually its sounding quite personal now as you are totally ignoring my very polite responses explaining my comment apologies if I touched an unintentional nerve. We are allowed our opinions and on which characters we like over others & that was it. All best too, and good-luck!' Coronation Street stars are reportedly being barred from the Rovers Return as the soap desperately tries to cut costs. Soaring TV production costs and a collapose in advertising revenue are said to have put the future of the ITV soap in jeopardy. An insider has claimed some of the show's well known actors could see their scenes in the Rovers Return cut in a bid to save money. A source said: 'Samia's friends and co-stars were in utter disbelief over the tweets' Soaring TV production costs and a collapose in advertising revenue are said to have put the future of the ITV soap in jeopardy (Samia and Mikey North as Gary Windass) It comes after Charlotte Jordan announced she was leaving the show after five years, following the likes of Sue Cleaver, Colson Smith and Helen Worth. A source told The Sun: 'Charlotte leaving is just the tip of the iceberg. Corrie is on its knees financially and bosses are being forced to make hard decisions. 'TV production costs have soared more than 50 per cent while the advertising market funding them has all but collapsed. The cast are not happy but ITV have no choice but to cut costs.' Salaries on Coronation Street vary significantly with established stars like Bill Roache said to earn 2,000 per episode while newbies usually get 400 per appearance. The move has reportedly infuriated the soap's actors as before, the Rovers Return would be filled with different stars who would all get paid for the appearance, even if they hardly spoke on screen. The insider added: 'The bar staff obviously had to be in all Rovers scenes so it was a great earner for them. But those days are now long gone - it's just too expensive.' Insiders claimed some of the show's established stars are now worried about how they'll pay their mortgages amid all the cuts. Both Corrie and fellow ITV soap Emmerdale run regular set tours in a bid to earn money while Weatherfield now has it's own EE shop in a 'product placement' deal. By contrast, Corrie's BBC rival EastEnders is still in a healthy financial position thanks to the licence fee and overseas deals. But sources claim there are now concerns over whether Corrie - which turns 65 this year - will make it to 70 years in its current format. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Coronation Street for comment. Abbie Chatfield has hinted she is preparing to tie the knot with her boyfriend Adam Hyde as she made a very telling move. The Bachelor star, 29, and the Peking Duk musician went public with their romance in June of last year and have now teased that things are getting very serious already. Abbie took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to reveal that wedding bells might be ringing soon for her and Adam. She told how she has already tried to reserve the Instagram handle 'Abbie Hyde', which would be her married name if she and Adam tie the knot. Despite not yet being engaged, Abbie confessed that she tried to nab the username but was left devastated to learn that it has already been taken by someone else. 'If [me and Adam] ever break up, I'm actually going to f**king lose it,' she said. Abbie Chatfield has hinted that she is preparing to tie the knot with her boyfriend Adam Hyde (both pictured) as she made a very telling move 'It took three glasses of Chardonnay [at] an influencer event [for] one of my friends to go "do you have the Instagram handle saved for Abbie Hyde?" for me to then go and try to reserve Abbie Hyde as an Instagram handle. 'Not doing a bit, I was like I just won't tell Adam, I'll just reserve it now! It's not available by the way, if you were wondering. 'So I don't know what the f**k to do, now I'm plagued with the thought of, what am I going to change my Instagram handle to when I marry him?' Abbie and Adam have been going from strength-to-strength since debuting their romance and she has even featured in his on-stage performances. She joined Adam on stage for his band Peking Duk's New Year's Eve set at the Hindley St Music Hall in Adelaide as they rang in 2025 together. In pictures shared to Instagram, the couple packed on the PDA as they weren't shy of sharing their affections in front of the thousands of fans in the crowds. One on-stage video showed the couple leading the crowd in the countdown to 2025 before sharing another New Year's kiss. Abbie also hammed it up with Adam's Peking Duk bandmate Reuben Styles on stage as they playfully ran at each other and bumped chests in front of the crowds. In an Instagram video, Abbie confessed she has already tried to reserve the Instagram handle 'Abbie Hyde', which would be her married name if she and Adam tie the knot Captioning the post, Abbie gushed: 'I had a crush on him for two years so severe I had to mute him on socials and now he stops mid NYE set to tell me he loves me????' Abbie had also joined Adam on stage when he performed solo as Keli Holiday at the Rhythm and Vines Festival in Gisborne on December 30. Abbie confirmed her romance with Adam in June 2024 after weeks of speculation, and they have been going strong ever since. She frequently shares loved-up pictures and tributes to him on social media, while he has also featured on her It's A Lot podcast to discuss their romance. Abbie recently told Stellar Magazine that her relationship with Adam is the best she's ever had. 'It isn't like other people I've had flings with. And this is gonna sound a bit w**ky, but he's had a bigger career than me,' she said after concerns from fans that Adam is 'using her' for fame. 'I don't think he's using me for anything. He's successful in his own right. The Bachelor star, 29, and the Peking Duk musician went public with their romance in June of last year and are getting very serious already 'I think I'm cool for being with him, not the other way around.' Abbie was friends with Adam for two years before they started dating, which she said has added to the trust between them. 'I guess with Adam it's different, because I trust the strength of our relationship,' she said. 'But also, us hanging out isn't a big, new thing. We've been hanging out publicly for years.' The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John has revealed she lost her Malibu home to the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. Beginning on Tuesday, the area was struck by its worst windstorms in over a decade, fueling fires that have destroyed thousands of structures and claimed at least five lives over the past three days. About 130,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings, as the authorities prepare to send out K-9 units trained to detect human remains in the wreckage. One blaze in the Pacific Palisades has consumed a number of celebrity homes, including residences owned by Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, James Woods, Miles Teller, Tina Knowles and Anna Faris. Now Saint John, who served as chief marketing officer at Netflix from 2020 to 2022, has announced that her residence was also devoured by the Pacific Palisades fire. The executive-turned-reality star reportedly purchased the 2,501 square foot house for $5.2 million in 2021, according to Redfin and Traded. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John has revealed she lost her Malibu home to the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles; she is pictured there with her daughter Lael, 15 'This is the house I wanted. The house I prayed for. The house I worked in blood, sweat and tears for,' she wrote in a heartbroken Instagram post Thursday. 'The house that I put a key pad instead of a key hole in the front door because I wanted all my family and friends to have a code and use the house whenever they wanted,' added Saint John, who has also held high positions at Uber and Endeavor. She lived in the home with her 15-year-old daughter Lael, whom she raised with her late husband Peter Saint John until his death of cancer in 2015. 'This is the house where I found peace after battling with racist neighbors and a community that made me have to buy it in a trust within a trust so no one would know that widowed, single Black woman with a teenager was buying on the exclusively-held beach,' Saint John alleged. 'This was my EFF YOU Im here house.' The businesswoman, whose sister Alua Arthur is a death doula, added that the Malibu property she lost in the fire was the 'house that I built a movie room dedicated to my sister so she could see her films in her own sanctuary. This is the house where I finally felt like I could choose to spend time when I wanted to and how I wanted to. She concluded her message: 'It is gone. This is an unimaginable loss. I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. I ask for your prayer for Lael and I. God bless you.' Her caption was accompanied by an album of the luxe property, including a touching photo of Saint John cuddling up to one of her daughters in the living room. She also posted a harrowing picture of one of the fires ripping through a residential street, as well as footage of the smoke-filled, orange-tinted air over the ocean. ' This is the house I wanted,' she wrote in a heartbroken Instagram post Thursday, adding that she 'worked in blood, sweat and tears for' the residence The executive-turned-reality star reportedly purchased the 2,501 square foot house for $5.2 million in 2021, according to Redfin and Traded 'The house that I put a key pad instead of a key hole in the front door because I wanted all my family and friends to have a code and use the house whenever they wanted,' added Saint John She lived in the home with her 15-year-old daughter Lael, whom she raised with her late husband Peter Saint John until his death of cancer in 2015 She also described the Malibu property as the 'house that I built a movie room dedicated to my sister so she could see her films in her own sanctuary' 'This is the house where I finally felt like I could choose to spend time when I wanted to and how I wanted to,' Saint John heartbrokenly remembered Requesting prayers, she wrote that 'even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling' She also posted a harrowing picture of one of the fires ripping through a residential street Her album included footage of the smoke-filled, orange-tinted air over the ocean Saint John, who joined The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills last year for its 14th and current season, also posted a message on her Insta Stories Saint John, who joined The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills last year for its 14th and current season, also posted a message on her Insta Stories. 'I've had devastating loss and grief in my life...,' she wrote. 'It never gets easier or more understandable. I still don't know what to do, say, ask for, think... But prayer has always been a comfort. So please pray for Lael and I. God bless you.' She has joined the ranks of an untold number of people who have lost homes to the wildfires still raging in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Among them are celebrities like Schitt's Creek star Eugene Levy, who not only owned a property in the Pacific Palisades but is also the area's Honorary Mayor. Billy Crystal was left without the house he and his family had lived in since 1979, while Anna Faris's $5 million eco-friendly residence was also razed. Former New York First Lady Sandra Lee, talk show icon Ricki Lake, socialite Candy Spelling and reality stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag all had homes burn. Gen Z Aussie influencers are leading the charge on TikTok's 'triangle tan lines' trend, with Millennial beauty experts worried that an entire generation has missed the skin cancer memo. Style-ish podcast hosts Maddison Sullivan-Thorpe and Anika Joshi-Smith said they hope sun baking will be 'out' as a trend in 2025. 'There's a very scary return to tanning culture which is really being led by Gen Z,' Maddison says in their first episode of the year. 'Which is really alarming because I think this age group wasn't privy to the marketing and campaigns that we saw as teenagers.' Across TikTok and Instagram, influencers are showing off their deep tan lines and encouraging people to download UV index apps to maximise their 'tanning routines'. The hashtag #sunburnttanlines has more than 200 million views on TikTok. Almost half of Gen Z Australians said they deliberately use less or no sunscreen when working on their tans in a 2023 study by La Roche Posay. Style-ish podcast hosts Maddison Sullivan-Thorpe and Anika Joshi-Smith said they hope sun baking will be 'out' as an influencer trend in 2025 Across TikTok and Instagram, influencers are showing off their deep tan lines and encouraging people to download UV index apps to maximise their 'tanning routines' The hashtag #sunburnttanlines has more than 200 million views on TikTok Triangle tan lines, made by the shape of a halter neck bikini top, are being hailed by thousands of social media users, who are mostly young women, as 'the ultimate summery accessory'. In one video, a user says: 'Sometimes, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get the tan'. One popular TikTok sound being used in the videos is the narration of: 'Burn it. Did I say stand there and look stupid? No, I said burn it.' 'Half of Gen Z deliberately sit in the sun to work on their tans and 37 per cent of them knowingly use less or no sunscreen when doing so - which is really concerning,' Maddison said. The fashion and beauty podcaster thinks part of the issue is that Gen Z Aussies aren't as easily reached by mass media safety messaging. Popular videos also encourage or show users to tan during high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UV), including clips titled, 'come and UV tan with me'. They promote the UV index, a measurement of the amount of UV reaching Earth and its potential to damage the body, as a tanning tool. Some users say tanning at levels between 7 and 11 (high and extreme) provides the best results. Anything above a level 3 means sun protection is required. @laura.henshaw In Australia just 5 blistering burns before the age of 20 can increase your risk of skin cancer by 80%. Is the 3-4 week tan line really worth increasing your chance of melanoma? Please send this video to anyone who needs to hear this info stay safe in the sun this holiday season angels xxx #skincancer #skincancerawareness #tanningtrend #tanlinestrend #uv original sound - Laura Henshaw Popular videos also encourage or show users to tan during high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UV), including clips titled, 'come and UV tan with me' 'The triangle bikini tan lines trending at the moment are sending me,' Anika added. 'It's become a status symbol of going on holiday or being out and about. 'But if cancer isn't enough to scare you, if you're a little bit vain, remember sunscreen is the number one prevention of ageing. It is the best way to remain looking youthful! Stylish co-host Joanna Fleming said that unlike Millennials, Gen Z are 'watching girls who have really harsh sunburn and going "I really like that influencer on TikTok", or "I resonate with that girl, and if she's doing it, I'll do it too".' While it's easy to point the finger and blame young influencers for this trend, Maddison says she thinks Aussie brands should be the ones to draw the line. 'Something I have a real issue with is there are a lot of brands, specifically in the skincare space, that are still approving paid content with these influencers who are visibly burnt and have tan lines. 'We should not be approving that content.' 'I've seen a very very big skincare and beauty brand approving content and I've seen the ads go out with an influencer who is visibly burnt.' Style-ish podcast co-host Joanna Flemming says Gen Z are getting their beauty advice from TikTok and haven't been exposed to the kind of TV ads about melanoma older generations saw 'These brands need to do better because we can't control what these people post on their socials,' she continued. 'But when it comes to paid content, they should not be sunburnt. It's like smoking. Not glamourising cigarettes is in the brief. Why can't not being sunburnt be in the brief as well?' Influencer Laura Henshaw also took to the app in December to remind her younger peers that 'there is no such thing as a healthy tan.' Two thousand Australians die every year from skin cancer, the Kic co-founder said. 'Just five blistering burns before the age of 20 can increase your risk of skin cancer by 80 per cent,' Laura said. 'Is a three to four week tan line really worth risking your life?' 'I don't think this would be a trend if people knew what they were actually risking in getting this tan line aesthetic.' Mel Gibson has slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom in a scathing rant on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast amid the LA fires which have left many celebrities without a home. The 69-year-old veteran actor took aim at the democrat politician - who had a shocking reaction to a woman who chased him down looking for wildfire answers - during a Thursday appearance on the highly-popular Internet talk show. Gibson pulled no punches as he went on a scathing rant about Newsom while chatting with the 57-year-old UFC commentator. The actor said: 'I think Newsom said "Im gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff"he didnt do anything.' Rogan chimed in that he believes that the California Governor had put tax dollars toward supporting the homeless population instead of fire prevention. The Passion Of The Christ director agreed with the host before joking: 'I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavins hair gel.' Mel Gibson has slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom in a scathing rant on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast The media appearance comes amid the LA fires which have left many celebrities without a home; a firefighter is seen attempting to extinguish a fire on a beachfront property in Malibu on Thursday Gibson also offered up his own theory about the la fires as he waits to find out the fate of his own home in Malibu and whether it is still standing amid the state of emergency. The actor said: 'All those earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, theyre present in our time.' The Braveheart star cited 2011 Jared Diamond book Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed as he said 'it didn't take long' for a civilization to collapse. Gibson explained: 'It says all the things you need for a civilization to cave in and collapse. 'Its an interesting observation. And were no smarter than our grandparents.' Gibson went on to reveal that his son Milo - who is in the volunteer fire brigade in Malibu - gave him an update on his neighborhood. He said: '[My son] sent me a video of my neighborhood and its in flames. It looks like an inferno.' Rogan asked if this would be the final straw for him to finally move out of the state of California. The 69-year-old veteran actor took aim at the democrat politician during a Thursday appearance on the Internet talk shown as he said: 'I think Newsom said "Im gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff"he didnt do anything' Rogan chimed in that he believes that the California Governor had put tax dollars toward supporting the homeless population instead of fire prevention The Passion Of The Christ director agreed with the host before joking: 'I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavins hair gel' Gibson had an interesting answer for where he would go if he left Los Angeles as he said: 'I got a place in Costa Rica - I love it there.' The death toll of the historic infernos have now reached six, as heroic firefighters still battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires. Apocalyptic fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water, and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. This came as Newsom was left fumbling for a response after he was chased down by a distraught Los Angeles mom demanding answers over the wildfires ravaging the city. The California Governor apologized and claimed to be trying to reach the president on the phone when he was accosted by the emotional woman on Thursday. It came as large swathes of the city remained engulfed by the flames which have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. Newsom was unable to provide a concrete response about the recovery effort during the grilling, which lasted almost two, excruciating minutes. Gibson also offered up his own theory about the LA fires as he waits to find out the fate of his own home in Malibu and whether it is still standing amid the state of emergency. The actor said: 'All those earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, theyre present in our time' Rogan asked if this would be the final straw for him to finally move out of the state of California Gibson had an interesting answer for where he would go if he left Los Angeles as he said: 'I got a place in Costa Rica - I love it there' 'Governor that was my daughter's school,' the mom cried as she ran over to Newsom's vehicle. 'I'm literally talking to the president right now to specifically answer the question of what we can do for you and your daughter,' Newsom replied. But when she asked if she could be a party to the call, the Governor was forced to admit he had yet to get hold of the president. 'I've tried five times to make the call,' Newsom said, prompting the woman to ask why the president is not taking his call. 'It's not going through, I have to get cell service,' he added which only caused the persistent mom to insist she wants to be there when he gets it. 'I'm devastated for you, I am so sorry, especially for your daughter,' Newsom said. 'I have four kids, losing a school...'. 'Everyone who went to school there, they lost two homes because they were living in one home or another,' the mom then interjected before asking, 'Why was there no water in the hydrants governor?' As the exchange continued, Newsom vowed that things would be different 'next time', without specifying any detail. Meanwhile, Newsom was left fumbling for a response after he was chased down by a distraught Los Angeles woman who was demanding answers about the wildfires ravaging the city Wildfires which began on Tuesday have continued to ravage the City of Angels, so far claiming six lives 'I would fill up the hydrants myself, would you do that?' the woman demanded of the increasingly uncomfortable Newsom, who insisted he would do 'whatever it takes'. 'But you're not!' the resident then exploded, before informing him there was 'water dripping' nearby that could be used. Newsom then started climbing into the vehicle even as the woman continued to beg for his contact details. Her concerns echo those of many Los Angelinos who have questioned the response to the wildfires which have so far claimed six lives and decimated at least 2,000 buildings. The California Governor apologized and claimed to be trying to reach the president on the phone when he was accosted by the emotional woman He was unable to provide any concrete response when the woman continued to press him about what was being done for the relief effort A structure is burned by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tried to deflect criticism that fire hydrants rans dry by insisting they were filled, but simply were not designed to cope with a disaster of this scale. Her comments came as the fires continued to burn for the third consecutive day, with the Pacific Palisades blaze becoming the most devastating in the county's history. Almost 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, with hundreds of thousands still without power. Jeff Bridges has tragically lost his familys iconic Malibu home to the catastrophic wildfires that have been ravaging Los Angeles. The 75-year-old Oscar winner now joins a growing list of Hollywood figures whose homes have been destroyed as the fires claim at least five lives and force 130,000 evacuations. The 4-bedroom beachfront estate, once owned by Jeffs parentslegendary Hollywood actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridgeswas a cherished family legacy, as reported by TMZ. The stunning property was passed down to Jeff, his Golden Globe-winning brother Beau Bridges, 83, and their actress sister Cindy Bridges. However, the siblings did not use the home as a primary residence, and by 2018, it was being rented out for $16,000 a month, according to the LA Times. In May, Jeff purchased a stunning Santa Barbara estate for $8.15 million, after selling over three acres of land in the Malibu hills for $850,000 in 2019, per the outlet. Jeff Bridges has tragically lost his familys iconic Malibu home to the catastrophic wildfires that have been ravaging Los Angeles; (seen in May 2024) Homes damaged by the Palisades Fire are seen along the Malibu beach near Bridges' family property Bridges won his Oscar for his performance in the 2009 film Crazy Heart. He also received nominations for his roles in Hell or High Water (2016), True Grit (2010), and The Contender (2000), among others. His iconic role in The Big Lebowski (1998) remains a cult favorite. As the fires continue to rage, Bridges and many others are left grappling with the heartbreaking loss of their homes in one of the hardest-hit areas of Los Angeles. General Hospital star Cameron Mathison broke down in tears as he recounted returning to the ruins of his California home. 'I cant sleep. Ive lost everything I own. I have this hoodie Im wearing, a pair of pants, and two pairs of sneakersthats it,' he explained to GMA on Tursday. 'But obviously, its important to focus on what we have and what we can be grateful for.' Mathison and his now-estranged wife Vanessa Arevalo had lived in the Pasadena home since 2012, along with their children Lelia, 18, and Lucas, 21. Unfortunately, Mathison isn't alone in dealing with the devastation. Jeff's neighbors Candy Spelling and Rick Caruso face devastation as their neighboring Malibu homes are reduced to ashes in the California wildfires The 4-bedroom beachfront estate, once owned by Jeffs parentslegendary Hollywood actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridgeswas a cherished family legacy; (Beau, Lloyd and Jeff in 1980) Bridges' home shared a beach with Candy Spelling; (Spelling's home pictured) Flames rise from the Sunset Fire in the hills overlooking the Hollywood area of Los Angeles Actor Adam Brody and Gossip Girl star Leighton Meesters home in the Pacific Palisades also fell victim to the catastrophic wildfires. On Wednesday, shocking photos showed the once-beautiful propertyset in the upscale celebrity enclavereduced to a smoking ruin. The roof had collapsed, flames were tearing through the rooms, and black smoke poured out of the broken windows. The couple had just been seen publicly at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, less than two days before the fires began. T They bought their home in 2019 for $6.5 million. The house had five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and three floors across 6,000 square feet. Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, James Woods, Billy Crystal and his wife Janice all claimed to have seen their homes go up in smoke in the Palisades Fire. Ben Affleck got an unwelcome surprise on Tuesday when he came home to find part of LAs west side being engulfed by a massive wildfire. His neighborhood in Pacific Palisades is home to a ton of stars, including Tom Hanks, Miles Teller, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, and Jhene Aiko. Sadly, at least five people have lost their lives in the disaster, with 2,000 buildings destroyed and many more left in ruins, reduced to nothing but ash. Scott Tweedie has revealed that he has taken in 12 people to his Los Angeles home as the destructive Palisades wildfires continue to rage on. The Australian TV presenter, 36, lives in Venice Beach and appeared on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday to give an update on the deadly California blazes. He confirmed he was safe and his area had been unaffected by the wildfires, which started blazing on Tuesday, but said some of his friends have lost 'everything'. The Australian Idol host revealed he has so far taken around 12 people into his home after they were forced to evacuate and flee their own properties. 'It's been such a wild experience on just so many levels but I'm in Venice Beach at the moment, I'm 100 per cent OK,' he shared. 'Venice hasn't been hit at all, just up the road in Santa Monica, a lot of my friends live up there and they've all been evacuated. Scott Tweedie (pictured) has revealed that he has taken in 12 people to his Los Angeles home as the destructive Palisades wildfires continue to rage on At least 130,000 people have so far been evacuated since a wildfire started ripping through the ritzy Pacific Palisades neighbourhood on Tuesday 'I've got probably about 12 people in my place at the moment, popping in and staying here, stuff like that.' 'A handful of my friends have just lost everything, they had no time, it just happened so quickly.' Scott went on to reveal that the winds were stronger than anything he has ever experienced in Australia as he described the past few days as 'really scary'. 'The craziest thing was that two days ago - imagine the windiest day you'd see in Australia or Sydney, and I swear it was even windier than that,' he went on. 'It was the windiest conditions I've ever seen but you know there's a fire happening at the same time. It was really scary. 'We deal with bushfires in Australia but to have fires amongst the city with millions of people, you're like how is this going to play out? What's going to happen?' Scott admitted he feels 'helpless' but said local businesses are doing what they can to help amid the 'incredibly painful' time. At least 130,000 people have so far been evacuated since a fire started ripping through the ritzy Pacific Palisades neighbourhood on Tuesday, with over 2,000 buildings destroyed. Scott (pictured in 2020) confirmed that he was safe and his home in Venice Beach has been unaffected by the wildfires, but said some of his friends have lost 'everything' Two new blazes then broke out overnight on Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City - forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape. Huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, as well as from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, were ablaze - impacting millions caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage. The National Guard has been deployed and could send in military personnel to assist, amid revelations that heroic firefighters are 'triaging' homes and neighborhoods. A huge list of celebrity mansions were destroyed amid the deadly blazes, including the properties of Antony Hopkins, Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton. The homes of Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Anna Faris and James Woods, and Miles and Keleigh Teller are also among those confirmed to have been destroyed. The home where Friends star Matthew Perry tragically died has also burned down, according to Realtor.com. Ben Affleck also raced to his ex-wife Jennifer Garner's home after being evacuated from the devastating California wildfires. Dozens of other stars are also facing an anxious wait alongside their neighbours to learn if anything could be saved from their properties. This week, Pacific Palisades has been devastated by wildfires in what are the most destructive in the state's history. Adam Brody and Leighton Meester's home is among those destroyed At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far - with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city Hellish fire started tearing through Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Residents fled and waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news circulated that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water, and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. Firefighters have conceded that they remain powerless to contain the flames because of strong winds. At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far - with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city. An Australian actor living in Los Angeles has been left devastated after losing his home in California wildfires. Hollywood's biggest celebrities are picking up the pieces after discovering their Los Angeles neighbourhood was reduced to ash and rubble when the fires tore through the Pacific Palisades. The death toll of the historic infernos have now reached six, as heroic firefighters still battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires. Benjamin Rigby, an actor, writer and producer, has revealed his home was completely destroyed by the blaze. In a photo shared to his Instagram on Thursday, Rigby shared his grief over the loss of his home. 'My heart is absolutely and completely broken. Our home is gone,' he wrote alongside the photo. Benjamin Rigby (pictured) has revealed his home was ravaged by the California wildfires In a photo shared to his Instagram on Thursday, Rigby shared his grief over the loss of his home A friend of Rigby's, fellow actor Belinda Misevski, set up a GoFundMe to aid in 'emergency relief funds'. 'The staircase in this image led to their home. There's not much more I can say,' she wrote in the description of the crowdfunding page. Misevski added that no one was home at the time the fire tore through and that everyone is 'physically safe'. More than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes and a further 100,000 put on stand-by, as firefighters battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires. The fires crossed into suburbia, including the affluent Pacific Pallisades neighbourhood, where many celebrity homes were reduced to ash and rubble. The homes of major stars like Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, John Goodman, Candy Spelling and Miles Teller are among those destroyed, while dozens of other stars now face an anxious wait alongside their neighbours to learn if anything could be saved. But several stars have been able to keep their properties safe out of sheer chance and the assistance of brave firefighters. One of the luckiest Hollywood stars is Kate Hudson, who has two homes in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood. Hollywood's biggest celebrities are picking up the pieces after discovering their Los Angeles neighbourhood was reduced to ash and rubble when fires tore through the Pacific Palisades A friend of Rigby's, fellow actor Belinda Misevski, set up a GoFundMe to aid in 'emergency relief funds'. Pictured together in 2017 The death toll of the historic infernos have now reached six, as heroic firefighters still battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires The two mega properties are side-by-side and are lavish with two stories, generous balconies, lush lawns and swimming pools. Other stars who have seen their homes saved include Tom Hanks, Rebel Wilson, Tom Brady, Chris Pratt, Dan Aykroyd, Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Apocalyptic fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water, and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. Now, the widespread devastation is becoming clearer as celebrities share their devastation upon discovering they've lost their million-dollar mansions. To make matters worse, the National Weather Service says gusty winds and very dry conditions would continue to fuel fires in the Los Angeles area in the days ahead. The widespread devastation is becoming clearer as celebrities share their devastation upon discovering they've lost their homes. An aerial view captures Pacific Palisades fire devastation showing miles of ash and destruction Upon its recent digital release, Jon M. Chu's Wicked movie adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande has performed remarkably well. The film, released in theaters on November 22, 2024, was made available to buy or rent via streamers on December 31, 2024. It continues to be a huge success for Universal Pictures as it now holds the title for biggest first day and first week of Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) sales for a theatrical movie. It raked in $26 million in its first day of release and pulled in a total of $70 million in its first full week, per THR and Variety. Previously, The Super Mario Bros. movie held the record for biggest on-demand video launch for the legendary studio after it earned $44 million in its first week of release in 2023. Wicked will continue to be available to consumers via PVOD through mid-March, before landing on Peacock. Upon its recent digital release, Jon M. Chu's Wicked movie adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande has performed remarkably well From now until spring, fans can rent the blockbuster for a two-day window for about $20 or buy it for $29.99. Digital retailers offering the beloved picture include Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, among others. Movie collectors can also preemptively buy the masterpiece on Blu-ray and DVD from Amazon, Walmart, and others ahead of its February 4 release. Last month Ariana responded to criticism of her casting as Glinda in the movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The 31-year-old music artist appeared on an episode of the Sentimental Men podcast and discussed her role with hosts Quincy Brown and Kevin Bianchi. Explaining the audition process, she said she felt pressure to overcome the 'challenge' of shedding her pop star image. 'I felt a little bit of the initial nervousness or the sort of preconceived notions about what I might be able to deliver or not deliver, or why I would be wrong [for the role] or whatever,' Ariana admitted. Naming two of her hit songs, she imagined the perspective of a critic: 'Going off of Side to Side, I probably would've said the same thing. I probably would've said, "Why the f**k? Kill me. Ive waited 20 years for this. Kill me." I would've said that as a fan from the outside. Knowing of only 7 Rings, probably I'd say, "Well, thats bull****." So, you know, I get it.' The film, release d in theaters on November 22, 2024, was made available to buy or rent via streamers on December 31, 2024 Erivo and Grande play Elphaba Thropp/The Wicked Witch Of The West and Glinda Upland/Glinda The Good, resepectively, in the blockbuster movie musical; the actresses seen in November 2024 The film also stars Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh 'This is something I loved so much about auditioning for Wicked,' she explained. 'It has to be earned. Anything on this scale, being a part of anything, its not just given because they know you for one thing. 'So, its fun to kind of have the challenge of reframing peoples perception and doing the work to earn your way back into the other spaces,' Ariana emphasized. The Florida native studied musical theater from the age of eight and was a longtime fan of the musical, which originally starred Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, before snagging the role. Wicked follows Elphaba and Glinda as they meet at Shiz University and share a life-changing encounter with Jeff Goldblum's Wizard of Oz. Universal enlisted Chu to direct the beloved story in 2021. Its sequel will premiere on November 21, 2025. Dave Fishwick's new film is the fastest commissioned sequel in Netflix history thanks to the phenomenal success of his 2023 debut movie on the streaming platform. Bank Of Dave: The Loan Ranger, which is set to be released on Friday, sees Dave, 53, taking on a new and more dangerous adversary: The Payday Lenders. However, despite his spiralling fame, Lancashire-born Dave is one of the most down-to-earth celebrities. Revealing how his wife keeps him grounded, Dave told The Sun: 'Ill have been chatting with someone really famous, or Ill have spent a day with Netflix and my wife Nicky grounds me immediately.' 'I walk through the door and shell say, "Never mind all that nonsense. Is it corned beef or cottage pie for your tea?" It brings me back down to earth.' He also added that when he went to the BAFTAs they brought round champagne. However, he is more of a larger kind of man, so he asked them whether they had Carling or Fosters and the staff kindly went and found a bottle of Grolsch. Dave Fishwick's new film is the fastest commissioned sequel in Netflix history thanks to the phenomenal success of his 2023 debut movie on the streaming platform (pictured this month) Bank Of Dave: The Loan Ranger, which was released on Friday, sees Dave, 53, taking on a new and more dangerous adversary: The Payday Lenders (pictured this month) Insiders also revealed to The Sun that Dave is nailed on for Strictly Come Dancing this autumn after he was forced to pull out of last year's show because of his charity commitments. The businessman often gives free talks in schools to inspire the next generation and has spent years on the hit list for I'm A Celebrity and other primetime shows. Dave revealed: 'I was offered Dragons Den three times but it just wasnt for me. And the BBC came to me about Top Gear but ended up going to Chris Evans.' However, the star claimed that he wanted to focus more on his shows and what was important to him, which was helping others. His first Netflix film, which went straight to No1, and the follow-up are both biographical, and chart how Dave played by Rory Kinnear has helped people financially. He left school with no qualifications and was, as he puts it, 'p*** poor' growing up. Despite not having an easy start in life, Dave was a born entrepreneur and began buying cars to fix up and sell. Which has now led him to run multiple multi-million-pound businesses in both the UK and US. However, despite his spiralling fame, Lancashire-born Dave is one of the most down-to-earth celebrities Revealing how his wife keeps him grounded, Dave said: 'Ill have been chatting with someone really famous, or Ill have spent a day with Netflix and my wife Nicky grounds me immediately' (pictured last year) He added: 'I walk through the door and shell say, "Never mind all that nonsense. Is it corned beef or cottage pie for your tea?" It brings me back down to earth' The Loan Ranger focuses on Daves real-life fight to help close down payday loan company Wonga. The movie is available to watch on Netflix from January 10 (Rory Kinnear and Dave) His entrepreneurial spirit also saw him creating the UKs first high street bank in 120 years, Burnley Savings and Loans, also known as Bank Of Dave, which was the premise of the first movie. To this day the bank has lent more than 27million to people in the UK and Dave admitted he wanted to use his knowledge to help as many others. The Loan Ranger focuses on Daves real-life fight to help close down payday loan company Wonga. During the film, Dave recruits an American journalist and a local Citizens Advice counsellor to try to bring down the industry of cruel, corporate sharks after he learns about them ripping off locals. He also revealed that Piers Ashworth, the script writer for Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible also got involved and he admitted that he is 'so proud of the final edit'. Sharing a bit more about the film, Dave revealed that he plays three parts in total and one of his characters is just like The Godfather's Don Corleone. Bank Of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger is available to watch on Netflix from January 10. MBABANE Minister Bongani Nzima, on Wednesday locked out two of his Mobile Money employees from his rental flats over E13 000 that was missing from the business. The minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs alleged that the employees, Xolile Dlamini and Bongiwe Dlamini, were responsible for the disappearance of the money. The rental flats the employees were locked out of are situated at Mathendele. When they were locked out, Bongiwes medication was left in the flat and the minister is alleged to have told her brother, when he pleaded with him to allow them back to their flats, that there are many tablets in hospitals. Sufficient The minister, who allegedly owns the flats, went to the employees to collect rent money when they informed him that the money from the business was not sufficient. The employees reportedly requested time to find alternative means to repay the outstanding balance. When questioned about the missing E13 000, the employees revealed that they had noticed small discrepancies of E50 to E100 in their daily balances, which they could not account for. They attributed this to difficulties in reconciling their accounts due to MTNs recent discontinuation of Mobile Money logbooks. What is also painful is that we did not even attempt to run away from him, but asked him about other means to repay the missing money and he is now locking us out, yet we have also paid our January rent, they said. He also locked us out without even a court order. He also never reported us to the police; he only engaged on his need for his money, they said. Furthermore, the employees alleged that they were not receiving the salaries they agreed upon in full. Bongiwe, who was based at Mathendele, alleged that she was promised E1 400 per month, but claims to have often received only E700. Xolile, who operated the business in Nhlangano town, and was allegedly promised E1 200 per month, was sometimes paid E600. Instead of allowing them time, the minister reportedly demanded immediate payment, stating that they must go and get money to pay him. He allegedly proceeded to lock both employees out of their rental flats and confiscated Xoliles cellphone. Left stranded and unable to immediately secure the funds, the employees told this publication that they spent the rest of the day trying to get the money demanded by the minister. As evening approached, and rain began to fall, they were forced to seek shelter from a good Samaritan. Further complicating the situation, the employees were unable to contact anyone for assistance, as the minister had reportedly taken Xoliles cellphone. They alleged that they requested Bongiwes brother to contact the minister and plead with him to allow them access to their flats to retrieve Bongiwes medication. However, the minister allegedly told the brother that he did not care and that there are many tablets in hospitals. When contacted, Minister Nzima declined to comment. He stated that he preferred to engage with the employees directly in the presence of this reporter. During the interview, the minister reportedly enquired about the last time the employees had spoken. They responded that their last interaction occurred at 9:30am that morning, which coincided with their scheduled work hours. The minister further said Bongiwe pleaded to go and fetch money from the bank, claiming that her sister had promised her some funds. However, Bongiwe later said she had not definitively confirmed receiving the money from her sister, and that she had not yet secured the funds. The minister further enquired about his missing money. Bongiwe stated that she owed E5 500 and Xolile acknowledged a debt of E6 000. Xolile attributed the discrepancy to a loss of E1 500 that occurred during a period when the minister was fully engaged in his duties at Mathendele. However, the minister insisted that Xolile owed him E7 500 and demanded immediate full payment in cash. Minister Nzima said: I want my money, you stole my money because you want to open your own Mobile Money business and Xolile has started her own Mobile Money business. He further asked Xolile about a specific transaction of December 24, 2024, demanding to know the recipient of the funds. He said his business is now making a loss because it has been closed. He demanded to know why they were conducting business through their personal accounts and enquired about the whereabouts of the commission earned through those transactions. The employees acknowledged the debt. They said: Asesitsi siyidlile lemali, siyavuma siyidlile. (translation: We acknowledge that we spent the money). They asked the minister for a solution, explaining that their intention was to give him the money. However, the minister was adamant that the only way to resolve the situation is for them to immediately pay him the full amount. Further, when the employees told Minister Nzima that they were hungry and had slept in the cold, he said: Maye, siyabonga. You left here, going to the bank to get money, and said you would call me. Maybe you slept at the bank. On another note, the Registrar of the High Court, Nosipho Mazibuko, confirmed that some individuals were turned back at the Small Claims Court because their matter does not fall under that courts jurisdiction. It is true they were turned back because their matter is not within our jurisdiction. The Small Claims Court deals with the recovery of money only. For cellphones and other materials, they should get a lawyer in order to repossess them, she said. Condemned Human Rights Lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi condemned the ministers actions, stating: The minister acted unlawfully and lawlessly while operating in a country where there are laws. He further mentioned that the minister did not use the proper remedy, thus weakening his case against the employees and taking the law into his own hands. Property possession cannot be enforced without a court order. He should have sought legal advice before taking any action. Even with a signed lease agreement, a landlord cannot simply evict a tenant without a court order. This is a fundamental legal principle, and the ministers actions clearly demonstrate a disregard for the rule of law. These tenants have a right to be restored. I would advise them to seek legal counsel and file an application with the court for their lawful restoration to their home. Mel Gibson shared disturbing visions of fire and brimstone when he appeared on the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. The 69-year-old actor-turned-filmmaker warned the controversial podcaster that society was heading toward a 'collapse' while discussing the fires that have devastated several neighborhoods around Greater Los Angeles and left other celebrities without homes. Gibson who ranted that 'the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world' after he was pulled over for drunk driving in 2006 shared with Rogan that he didn't even know yet if his home was going to survive the 'inferno' that has engulfed parts of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, Pasadena and the Hollywood Hills. Gibson also included plenty of criticism for California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to 'take care of the forest and maintain the forest,' though the current fires all started in urban environments. According to the Passion Of The Christ director, 'All those earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, theyre present in our time. It doesnt take long.' Gibson referred in his chat to Jared Diamond's 2011 book Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed. Mel Gibson shared disturbing visions of fire and brimstone when he appeared on the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience The 69-year-old actor-turned-filmmaker warned the controversial podcaster that society was heading toward a 'collapse' while discussing the fires that have devastated several neighborhoods around Greater Los Angeles Gibson who ranted that 'the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world' after he was pulled over for drunk driving in 2006 shared with Rogan that he didn't even know yet if his home was going to survive the 'inferno' 'It says all the things you need for a civilization to cave in and collapse,' Gibson said of the book. 'Its an interesting observation. And were no smarter than our grandparents.' The Mad Max star, who has a home in fire-ravaged coastal Malibu, said his son Milo who is in the volunteer fire brigade in Malibu sent him a video of his neighborhood 'in flames,' which made it resemble an 'inferno.' He isn't in any danger of being homeless, though, as he boasted he has another home in Costa Rica. 'I love it there,' he said after Rogan asked if the ongoing fires would be the final straw for him to finally move out of California. Later, Gibson joked that he might get 'a new house' out of the crisis. Ironically, the restaurant and bar where Gibson got drunk before his infamous antisemitic rant in 2006, Moonshadows Malibu, was a victim of the blaze, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gibson reserved much of his fury for the blazes for California's governor, Gavin Newsom. 'I think Newsom said, "Im gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff" he didnt do anything,' he complained. According to the Passion Of The Christ director, 'All those earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, theyre present in our time. It doesnt take long' Gibson slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom in a scathing rant The media appearance comes amid the LA fires which have left many celebrities without a home; a firefighter is seen attempting to extinguish a fire on a beachfront property in Malibu on Thursday Ironically, the restaurant and bar where Gibson got drunk before his infamous antisemitic rant in 2006, Moonshadows Malibu, was a victim of the blaze, according to The Hollywood Reporter The Braveheart director agreed with the host before joking: 'I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavins hair gel.' Rogan chimed in that he believes that the California Governor had put tax dollars toward supporting the homeless population instead of fire prevention. Gibson was on the podcast to promote his upcoming thriller Flight Risk. The movie, which will be released on January 24, stars Mark Wahlberg as a private pilot who turns out to be a hitman in disguise. His plan is to murder a government informant (Topher Grace) set to testify against an organized crime outfit. However, the FBI Agent escorting him (Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery) realizes the ruse and is able to subdue him, but she and the informant are forced to try to fly the plane on their own, even as it becomes clear that other figures are looking to cut their trip short. The death toll of the historic infernos have now reached six, as heroic firefighters still battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires. Apocalyptic fires tore through the tony enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm sometimes reaching up to 100 mph carried embers and debris in all directions. 'I think Newsom said "Im gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff" he didnt do anything,' Gibson seethed, even though the current fires all started in urban environments Rogan chimed in that he believes that the California Governor had put tax dollars toward supporting the homeless population instead of fire prevention Gibson was on the podcast to promote his upcoming thriller Flight Risk. The movie, which will be released on January 24, stars Mark Wahlberg as a private pilot who turns out to be a hitman in disguise Rogan asked if this would be the final straw for him to finally move out of the state of California, but Gibson replied: 'I've got a place in Costa Rica I love it there' Meanwhile, Newsom was left fumbling for a response after he was chased down by a distraught Los Angeles woman who was demanding answers about the wildfires ravaging the city Wildfires which began on Tuesday have continued to ravage the City of Angels, so far claiming six lives A structure is burned by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water after destroyed infrastructure prevented more from being pumped up hill and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. According to LAist, the demand for water during the firefight was four times usual levels, which made it impossible to refill water tanks quickly enough to increase water pressure, even though the water never ran out. Gibson's interview comes as large swathes of the city remained engulfed by the flames which have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tried to deflect criticism that fire hydrants rans dry by insisting they were filled, but simply were not designed to cope with a disaster of this scale. Although water supplies faltered due to burst pipes and extreme demand, the fire was fueled by dry vegetation and extreme winds, which had gusts of 80 to 100 mph. It's unclear if more water would have had much of an impact on the blaze, as burning embers flew miles from their origins after being carried by the hurricane-force winds, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bass' comments came as the fires continued to burn for the third consecutive day, with the Pacific Palisades blaze becoming the most devastating in the county's history. Almost 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, with hundreds of thousands still without power. Karen Huger will miss the The Real Housewives of Potomac's season nine reunion filming as she enters a recovery facility, a month after she was convicted in a March 2024 DUI in Potomac, Maryland. On Thursday, Huger's manager Ryan Tresdale told Bravo's The Daily Dish in a statement, 'Karen made the important decision to enter a private recovery program, so was unable to attend the reunion taping today. 'She was fully supported in this choice. We stand behind Karen as she embarks on this meaningful journey and are proud of her for taking such a significant step forward in her personal growth.' The Surry, Virginia-born reality star, 61, wasn't in promotional materials Bravo put out to hype the seating arrangement for the New York City-based taping on Instagram. Huger's costars Mia Thornton, Wendy Osefo, Stacey Rusch, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby and Keiarna Stewart were seen with reunion host Andy Cohen in images posted to social media. Huger, who is nicknamed 'Grand Dame,' on December 19 was convicted in connection with DUI and DWI, speeding, driving with suspended registration, and failure to report an address change, with a reckless driving charge tossed. Karen Huger, 61, will miss the The Real Housewives of Potomac 's season nine reunion filming as she enters a recovery facility, a month after she was convicted in a March 2024 DUI in Potomac, Maryland. Pictured last month in LA The Surry, Virginia-born reality star wasn't in promotional materials Bravo put out to hype the seating arrangement for the New York City-based taping on Instagram Huger will be sentenced in connection with the convictions January 29, and faces up to two years in custody in connection with the violations. In the wake of her conviction, Huger's lawyer A. Scott Bolden told People in a statement, 'Although we are disappointed in the jury's verdict, we of course respect their decision and appreciate their time hearing our case. 'We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger's right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.' Cohen told the magazine last month of Huger's problems: 'I think it's all sad. I haven't really processed it yet, but I think it's very sad.' In the traffic incident which began March 19, officials with the Montgomery County Police said Huger was not injured in the wake of a single-vehicle collision in which she barreled through a median and smashed a series of street signs, People reported. After the verdict, authorities released police body cam footage recorded during Huger's arrest last March. In a questioning from police in the wake of the incident, Karen's spouse Ray Huger was seen coming to her aid. Karen was asked, 'Do you remember the accident?' to which she said, 'Yes.' The officer asked her, 'What happened?' and she said, 'Nothing really,' at which point Ray was heard telling his spouse, 'Somebody ran you off the road,' which she confirmed, but said she didn't remember the other vehicle involved. After the verdict, authorities released police body cam footage recorded during Huger's arrest last March Karen's spouse Ray Huger was seen coming to her aid in the police footage Karen appeared to avoid specific inquiries from officers about her alcohol intake on the evening in question, referring them to speak to Ray about it at one point. Ray said, 'I'm just saying, they're assuming that you had more than you should have and I'm assuming you know, you had a couple of beers or something like that.' Karen, who damaged the driver's side of her Maserati in the incident, said, 'Yes, that's all I had.' Last month, an insider told DailyMail.com that while 'shooting for the upcoming season' of RHOP has concluded, Karen 'will not be asked to return unless she cleans herself up' and has a 'complete turnaround.' Said the insider, 'Right now, she is on the chopping block. Of course, she may go to jail which would make it impossible for her to return anyway ... she is going to have to get sober before any decisions are made.' Another source told DailyMail.com, 'People feel like she is in so much pain after losing her parents but it still not an excuse for her behavior. It is sad to watch the bodycam footage. She could have seriously hurt, if not killed someone.' The Real Housewives of Potomac can be seen at 8/7c Sunday on Bravo, with episodes available to stream on Peacock. A Real Pain (15, 90 minutes) Verdict: Truly wonderful Rating: Jesse Eisenberg has said that he was inspired to write A Real Pain after coming across an online advert promoting tours of the concentration camp Auschwitz, with lunch included. He has parlayed that darkly comic irony the unwitting but shrieking dissonance between the monumental evil and human misery implied by one word, Auschwitz, and the lush comforts of modern-day tourism into a truly wonderful film. A Real Pain is uproariously funny, quietly witty, achingly sad and excruciatingly well-observed. That's quite a trick to pull off inside an hour and a half. Eisenberg plays David, with Kieran Culkin (newly anointed with a Golden Globe for his brilliant performance) as his first cousin Benji. New York Jews, born just a few weeks apart, they have always been close despite the differences in their personalities, not to mention their hyphenated disorders. David, married with a son, is obsessive-compulsive, socially anxious, introspective. Benji is single, sociable and charismatic. He is also hyper-active and deeply troubled, with attention-deficit issues. Will Sharpe (left) and Jesse Eisenberg (right) as their characters James and David and in a scene from A Real Pain Kieran Culkin (left) and Jesse Eisenberg (right) as their characters Benji and David in A Real Pain We meet them as they prepare to leave for Poland, where they will join a 'Holocaust tour' as a way of honouring their grandmother Dory, a survivor, who has recently died. They plan to peel off the tour for the last couple of days to find the house where Dory lived before she was hauled off to the camps. The two contrasting personality types afford Eisenberg numerous opportunities for both poignancy and comedy, which he exploits beautifully. He and Culkin, in some ways playing an even more unpredictable version of Roman Roy, his character in the TV hit Succession, are completely believable as loving cousins, although David, perennially envious of Benji's magnetism, also finds him utterly exasperating. 'I love him, I hate him, I want to kill him, I want to be him,' he tells the others in the party. They have been written and cast perfectly, too. In particular, Will Sharpe (The White Lotus) is glorious as James, the kindly, non-Jewish tour leader from the north of England, upbraided by Benji in a cemetery for being too talkative. That's rich, coming from him, but then Culkin nails the contradictions in Benji, blithely trampling over people's sensibilities yet with hair-trigger sensitivities of his own. It is Benji alone who is discomfited by a group of 21st-century American Jews travelling first-class on a Polish train. He declares that he is going to move to a standard-class compartment. 'I don't think you'll find much suffering there, either,' says one of his tour companions, wryly. Jennifer Grey as her character Marcia in a scene from Jessie Eisenberg's film A Real Pain Excluding James, there are six on the tour, all Americans except for an African man, Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), who lost relatives in the Rwanda genocide, moved to Canada and converted to Judaism. He is apparently modelled on a friend of Eisenberg's, who has plundered his own life and heritage to make this film. Indeed, the modest house where his Polish-born great-aunt once lived is used as Grandma Dory's childhood home. Pulling so strongly on his roots is one of many ways in which Eisenberg has become the heir to Woody Allen, both on screen as the smart, neurotic, weedy Jewish New Yorker (not much of a stretch by all accounts), and now as a writer and director. Not everyone will consider that to be praise, but if you cherish the best of Allen's films, the likes of Annie Hall (1977) and Hannah And Her Sisters (1986), then you will love A Real Pain. I treasured every one of its 90 minutes and what a lesson, by the way, in economy of story-telling. Allen was always good at that, too. This is the movie he might well wish he'd made, and maybe could have done, once, except that it has oodles more heart and tenderness than most of his. It's a small masterpiece. Babygirl (18, 114 minutes) Verdict: Clever and racy Rating: The same claim cannot be made for Babygirl, and it's not without some narrative silliness, but on the whole it's a clever, racy, psychosexual thriller starring Nicole Kidman as Romy, a corporate hotshot who seems to be happily married to Jacob (Antonio Banderas), a theatre director, but then falls, heavily, for one of her company's new intake of interns, the dishy, ultra-confident Samuel (Harris Dickinson). Writer-director Halina Reijn's film is not just the story of an illicit office affair across the age divide, however. Far more interestingly, it's also about power and workplace politics. Nicole Kidman as Romy, a corporate hotshot who seems to be happily married to Jacob (Antonio Banderas) But then falls, heavily, for one of her company's new intake of interns, the dishy, ultra-confident Samuel (Harris Dickinson) Nicole Kidman as Romy and Harris Dickenson as Samuel during a racy scene in Babygirl Samuel senses that Romy, whose job is telling others what to do, has a kinky yearning to be the one jumping to orders. So the CEO and the intern switch roles; the boss becomes the bossed. Both leads are excellent, especially Kidman. She has described it as the most 'exposing' performance she has ever given, which considering 1999's Eyes Wide Shut, is quite something. And Banderas, who has spent most of his career being nobody's idea of a cuckold, gives first-class support. As for the almost-unmentionable, the alleged cosmetic work that sometimes seems to have limited Kidman's range of expressions from A only to about C, that is astutely woven into the story. Romy is clearly the kind of woman who would make a friend of Botox. So, if you feel the need for an injection yourself this freezing January, of heat and steam, then give Babygirl a whirl. Dreary Callas biopic made me long for the fat lady to sing Maria (12A, 124 mins) Verdict: One-note biopic Rating: Pablo Larrains biopic of the revered opera singer Maria Callas, played with brio by Angelina Jolie, is the third in his trilogy about three of the most iconic women of the 20th century (Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana were the other two). Larrain prefers to portray his subjects at their most tortured and miserable, which for Callas means the last months of her life, when in her torrid dreams she keeps seeing her dead lover, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, while desperately trying to recover her famous singing voice. Unfortunately, this means that she spends most of the film (written by Steven Peaky Blinders Knight) as a self-pitying, endlessly needy shell of the woman who had terrified even the pugnacious film director John Huston. He once said that hed rather go six rounds with former heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey than cross swords with Callas. Maria certainly has its moments, and Jolie is very good, but I found it dreary. Frankly, I longed for the fat lady to sing long before she even started gargling. All films are in cinemas now. Beauty influencer Jill Clark has put Mecca on blast in a searing five-minute video in which she brands the beauty giant's new '50-Cent Face' campaign as a 'shame job.' In her video, which has been viewed 684,000 times as of Friday, Jill blasted the campaign as 'the holy grail of all Mecca Max rip offs.' Mecca Max is the Australian beauty retailers popular in-house line of cosmetics. The campaign, launched in November last year, promotes the affordability of Mecca Max and claims customers can achieve a full face of makeup for less than 50 cents per day - with 'spare change in your car console, at the bottom of the bag or wedged in-between your couch cushions'. 'Now, I was already pi**ed off at this campaign, but it's the disclaimer on it that led to my discovery,' Jill said. The disclaimer on Mecca's website says that cost-per-wear is based on an 'average daily recommended usage amount'. Beauty influencer Jill Clark has put Mecca on blast in a searing five-minute video in which she brands the beauty giant's new '50-Cent Face' campaign as a 'shame job' Mecca's campaign, launched in November, claims that customers can achieve a full face of makeup for less than 50 cents per day *based on average daily usage amounts In her video, which has been viewed 684,000 times as of Friday, Jill Clark blasted the campaign as 'the holy grail of all Mecca Max rip offs.' 'Mecca, how exactly did you quantify this?' Jill fumed. 'Because the title of your article is "We've Done The Maths". Well so did I, and I'm going to show you what I found.' First up was the brands Off Duty Serum Skin Tint, which sells for $32, with a cost per wear of $0.09, according to Mecca. Based on those numbers, Jill says that would mean there are 356 uses in the entire 30ml bottle. 'Now, according to your disclaimer of this being based off daily recommended usage, for 356 uses in this bottle, that would equate to one single use being 0.084ml.' The 26-year-old, who has a professional background in logistics, then used a 1ml syringe to demonstrate how much product Mecca is directing customers to use for their 'full face'. 'The amount of product that paid influencers used to promote this campaign is arguably much more than 0.084ml,' Jill told Daily Mail Australia as she held up the microscopic blob of make up. 'That's false advertising.' Mecca Max confirmed they did use paid influencers to create the campaign and that while some of those influencers used scales to measure the amount of product they used, others only followed 'general guidance.' Sydney-based beauty influencer ran the numbers on Mecca's campaign and has blasted it as 'false advertising' for the retailer's in-house beauty brand Mecca Max Jill ran the numbers on three products listed in the three looks on Mecca's website 'The f***ed up part is not even the amount of product, its the fact that this has a six month expiration,' Jill continued. 'Which means that at 356 uses, even if you wore this every single day, it would still expire before you had a chance to validate the 9 cent cost per wear.' Next, she measured Mecca Maxs Off Duty Blush Stick, with retails for $20 and has 6.5 grams of product. Mecca listed the cost per wear as $0.03, meaning the stick can supposedly be used 667 times before it runs out, with each use being 0.009g. 'That unit is so small that I cant even show you what that looks like,' Jill said. 'What I can tell you is this product has an expiration of 18 months (548 days) which means once again, this would expire before you even had a chance to validate Mecca's cost per wear.' 'I used to purchase these religiously and not once did this last me longer than three months.' At Mecca's $0.26 cost per wear of the Whip Lash mascara, Jill said that would equate to 100 uses in the tube, using 0.08ml of mascara each time In a statement to Daily Mail, Mecca claimed that all the products used in the campaign have a period after opening date (PAO), which is 'essentially a best before date after opening - not an expiry date'. 'MECCA MAXs PAO dates are conservative, and the expiry will depend on how the product is stored,' a Mecca Max spokesperson said. They added that while the PAO isn't an expiry, the products 'might start to become a little bit less effective'. In her final example, Jill took the $26 Whip Lash Tubing Mascara, which contains 8ml of product. At Mecca's $0.26 cost per wear, Jill said that would equate to 100 uses in the tube, using 0.08ml of mascara each time. 'Lets be so for real, there is not a chance in hell you are getting one hundred uses out of this. This would be drier than the Sahara Desert if you tried to use it one hundred times,' she said. 'Mecca, I would really like you to show us exactly what 0.08ml of mascara looks like on the eyelashes.' In 1800 comments made on Jill's TikTok so far, Aussies praised the influencer for her attention to detail and said they were breaking out the popcorn to wait for Mecca's response. Jill's TikTok has racked up 1800 comments and almost 700,000 views in two days 'Now, THIS is journalism,' one user wrote. 'Jillie, I fear you absolutely ATE with this,' said another. 'The marketing team would hate you right now - love this.' 'Thank you for taking the time to raise awareness of this! I stopped shopping at Mecca over a year ago when I noticed my powder increased in price by more than $15 in one year,' said another. A Mecca Max spokesperson said that six of the brand's 'internal product experts' were asked to create an everyday makeup looks and used precision scales to measure the amount of make up they used - then 'divided them by the product price.' 'We know everyone uses products differently depending on their preferences and skin type, which is why we took the average amount,' they said. This isn't the first time Jill has publicly locked horns with Mecca's publicity team. The Sydney-based make up enthusiast went viral last May with a video comparing Mecca Max products to name-brand alternatives, as she claimed they contained 'literally half' the amount of makeup. Some social media users questioned Jill's title as a Sephora 'squad member' but the influencer said she has 'unequivocally' never been paid by Mecca's competitor In response, Mecca said Jill had been 'quite selective' with the products she chose to measure in her video, and that they had higher price points because of their 'superior formula and/or packaging.' 'If Ive been selective on the products Ive chosen, I would argue theyve been selective on the information they have disclosed with this campaign and the way they do their marketing,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Friday. 'Mecca have been the zeitgeist of the Australian beauty community for so long, that there doesn't seem to be any sort of checks and balances going on there.' 'Its like they think we are stupid. I hope as consumers this pi**es you off just as much as it pi**es me off.' What's more, she said most of the influencers who worked on the Mecca campaign used 'four to five times' more product than what was advertised. Jill has been named a member of the Sephora Squad, but told Daily Mail Australia the brand affiliation to Mecca's largest competitor has no bearing on these videos. 'I have never been paid by Sephora and they unequivocally do not pay me in any way to make this kind of content,' she told Daily Mail Australia, noting that the European cosmetic company had only contacted her after the videos blew up. 'My goal is never to stop people from shopping at a certain retailer because of these things, but its more to bring an awareness to the situation. As consumers, more often than not, we don't look behind the curtain.' Melbournian Jo Horgan started Mecca Cosmetica in 1997 to fill a Sephora-sized hole in the undeserved Australian beauty market. She cherrypicked a handful of the hottest products that werent available in Australia and signed them under exclusive distribution contracts. Today, Mecca has more than 100 bricks-and-mortar stores across Australia and New Zealand and the companys most recently recorded annual revenue was $688.9 million, as of December 2021. Richard Hammond's wife Mindy reportedly wants to keep the family castle in their impending divorce. The Top Gear star, 55, confirmed the end of their 23-year marriage on Thursday. He is reportedly staying at a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his 'Smallest Cog' car restoration garage. But before this, he was thought to have been sleeping in a converted barn on his family's castle estate. According to The Sun, Mindy is eager to secure Bollitree Castle, the 7million abode in Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire the couple purchased in 2008. The Grade II-listed property, built in the 18th century, has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 acres of land. Richard Hammond 's wife Mindy reportedly wants to keep the family castle in their impending divorce (pictured together in February 2024) Mindy is eager to secure Bollitree Castle, the 7million castle in Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire the couple purchased in 2008 The couple's eldest daughter Isabella, 24, still lives on the estate, working with her father, while younger daughter Willow, 22, lives in Gloucestershire. MailOnline has contacted representatives of Richard Hammond for comment. It comes after Richard was seen without his wife on New Year's Eve nursing a pint of Guinness at a Hereford pub. The Grand Tour host was happy to take selfies with fans at the Wye Inn, Holme Lacy Road, but onlookers couldn't help noticing he was there without his family. A source told the Mail: 'Richard popped in for a quiet drink with a few mates and work pals from his Smallest Cog workshop. 'His garage in Rotherwas is well known for restoring classic cars and he is clearly sticking close to home at his stunning pad in Weston under Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye.' Mindy had previously warned that Richard was on his 'last chance', eight years before the couple announced their marriage was over, but is understood to have since filed divorce papers. According to the publication, she demanded the divorce after a source claimed she 'wanted him gone'. A source told The Sun: 'Richard is very upset about all this. It seems he has tried hard to rekindle the relationship but to no avail. There is no speculation that any third party is involved.' The Grade II-listed property, built in the 18th century, has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 acres of land Richard is reportedly staying at a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his 'Smallest Cog' car restoration garage (pictured at the castle) Mindy 'kicked the Top Gear star out to sleep in the castle's barn' before he confirmed the end of their 23-year marriage on Thursday On Thursday, the Top Gear star shared that he and his spouse have split after 28 years together, writing in a statement they will 'always be in each other's lives' On Thursday, the Top Gear star shared that he and his spouse have split after 23 years of marriage, writing in a statement they will 'always be in each other's lives.' In 2017, Mindy made an appearance with Richard on This Morning after he was involved in a second high speed crash. Richard was filming for The Grand Tour in Switzerland when the car he was driving crashed and repeatedly flipped over before catching fire, moments after he managed to escape it. In 2006 Richard suffered life-threatening head injuries and was in a coma following a high-speed crash as he filmed for BBC's Top Gear. Following his second crash 11 years later, Mindy flew to be at her husband's bedside after he careered off the Swiss hillside and told ITV's This Morning: 'I did say three strikes and you're out. You've had two goes'. His daughter Isabella who was behind the camera with younger sister Willow who told her dad: 'Don't crash again will you'. She added: 'He has one of these every ten years so I've marked the next one in my diary'. Mindy said she had predicted the crash after having a 'funny' feeling on the day before the crash. She said: 'I actually called Richard on the day before which I don't usually do, ever. Richard married Mindy in 2002 after they first met back in 1995, with the presenter previously sharing that there was an instant attraction between them (pictured in 2006) Richard was filming for The Grand Tour in Switzerland when the car he was driving crashed and repeatedly flipped over before catching fire, moments after he managed to escape it 'Then the day of the accident I call him and he said he was fine but had a couple more runs to do. 'Then there was a phone call and he said: 'I'd had a bit of a shunt'. I did go quite a bit funny which I've never done before'. The star required reconstructive surgery on his fractured left knee having escaped the wreckage just seconds before it went up in flames. Richard has repeatedly apologised to his wife and two daughters for putting them through more trauma. He said that he believed he might die when his car flew off the mountain. He said he knew it was 'bad', adding: When the car touched down it smashed the bottom bit of my knee'. When he was in hospital he revealed: 'They told me I've lost 7mm of height. I can't be losing that'. Former This Morning co-host Holly Willoughby asked: 'So are you uneven?' and he said: 'Yes. No, no, I can't be running in circles for the rest of my life.' The smash came more than a decade after Richard's previous horror crash in 2006 when he flipped a car travelling at 318mph while filming for Top Gear, leaving him in a two-week coma with life-threatening head injuries. Following his second crash, Mindy flew to be at her husband's bedside and told ITV's This Morning: 'I did say three strikes and you're out. You've had two goes' The couple married in 2002, and they share daughters Isabella, 24, and Willow, 22 Hammond's electric supercar burned at 1,500 degrees and needed hosing down for 8 hours The inventor of Richard Hammond's super car was forced to reveal the secrets of the 2 million prototype to salvage experts before the charred remains could be removed from the crash site. The salvage operation was 'complicated and dangerous', according to Swiss engineers. Before safe removal, the Croatian manufacturer of the Rimac Concept One car had to explain the secret mechanics. Markus Erni, of Autostrassenhilfe Schweiz, who was involved in the salvage operation, said: 'Since it was a prototype, we had to speak to the manufacturers and gain their confidence so that they could give us the details of where the various units are installed. 'The co-operation was very good and decisive which enabled a safe removal.' He added: 'The danger of a crash involving an electric car is that the rescuers cannot perceive the dangers with their senses. Electricity cannot be heard or smelt like fuel. The danger is therefore much higher for the rescuers. It's complicated and dangerous.' The car burned at temperatures of 1200 to 1500 degrees. It was hosed with cold water for eight hours before a tow truck could safely remove it. The former Top Gear presenter crashed in Hemberg, Switzerland, on Saturday afternoon. He managed to escape from the burning car before it erupted into a fireball. Emil Schmid, from the salvage firm which removed the vehicle, said: 'For the bystander it may have looked as if a few clowns were standing around the wreck for hours without doing anything. But the built-in energy packages in an electric car continue to work after a crash and keep the temperatures very high.' He said: 'I had never had such an expensive wreck on my truck.' Advertisement Richard, who was driving up a hill in the Rimac Concept One electric car when he crashed last month, said previously: 'It was the very last run of the day, at the top just over the finish line it got away from me and I went over the edge.' He then hurtled 100 metres down a hill, narrowly avoiding crashing into a house and leaving craters in the cliffside. He told DriveTribe: 'I was very much aware at that point that it being a hillclimb and me being at the end of it, I would be at the top of the hill. 'So what followed was getting down the hill very very quickly. 'I was aware that I was up, that I was high, that inevitably the car was going to come down, and of course there was a moment of dread 'Oh god, I'm going to die'. 'Also I was aware that the car was taking just such a beating.' He added: 'What was probably going through my mind was 'well this is it'. I thought 'I've had it'.' Richard said he was conscious all the way through the crash, saying: 'You're aware of sky, ground, sky, ground, sky, ground' and comparing it to 'being in a tumble dryer full of bricks going down a hill'. He was left with a knee injury from the crash, and said: 'I do remember saying to drag me by my arms not my legs because I think I've broken that leg.' However, the injury did not alarm his daughter Isabella, who told him: 'Daddy it looks like you've fallen over in the playground,' he said. Mindy had also previously shared in a newspaper column that she and Richard only enjoyed two minibreaks together throughout their marriage. Writing for The Daily Express in 2017, she said: 'In our 28 years together we have managed precisely two 'romantic mini-breaks' one in the first year of our relationship when we camped in Buttermere and woke to soggy bottoms and four inches of water and the other a quick trip to Rome a couple of years ago when we were both so exhausted we found ourselves nodding off after lunch and missing most of our sightseeing time.' Richard shared the news of his marital split on X, writing: 'A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently. 'Our marriage is coming to end, but we've had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters. 'We will always be in each other's lives and are proud of the family we created. 'We won't be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With Love, Richard and Mindy.' Richard's 2017 crash, which left his co-stars Jeremy Clarkson and James May fearing he had been killed, came 11 years after he suffered life-threatening head injuries following a high-speed crash as he filmed Top Gear in 2006. The presenter was in a coma for two weeks following the 288mph accident, but made a full recovery. Richard also recently raised fears that his injuries might have caused onset dementia. Talking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, he said: 'I worry about my memory because it's not brilliant. I can still read a script and deliver it but my long-term memory is not brilliant. 'I have to write things down and work hard to remember them sometimes. It might be the age, it might be the onset of something else, I worry about that. I do, I do. I should probably have a look and find out, because I do.' Host Steven Bartlett asked him: 'Are you scared of finding out?' He said: 'I am because it was a bleed on the front. It could mean there is an increased risk. I need to find out. I've been too scared to do it. I need to do it. 'Weirdly on the way here, I had to stop off for a medical for a production. They ask 'Have you been involved in any accidents?' I'm like 'Woooah! Can I have another piece of paper please?' 'I need to book myself in for one of those mid-life MOTs and check everything. I wanted to ask them to check there is nothing going awry up here [pointing to his head]. But I chickened out. Didn't. 'That means I probably need an MRI scan but at 53, your memory does start to get a bit... they call it lost key syndrome. 'I am quite forgetful, generally thinking about something else, the next thing and therefore I do drop the ball, I forget stuff a lot. That's just me. That's who I am.' Mindy previously warned Richard that he was on his 'last chance' in 2017 after he was involved in the second high-speed crash Mindy had also previously shared in a newspaper column that she and Richard only enjoyed two minibreaks together throughout their marriage (pictured in 2006) After the crash, which saw his Vampire jet car lose control and flip upside down after a tyre burst, he admitted to suffering from depression. He said: 'I have no recollection because there was the frontal lobe bleed. I was just decelerating upside down, using my head as a brake, which isn't good for you.' He added: 'Mindy [his wife], was told by the doctors that a frontal brain lobe injury would possibly lead to me having a greater propensity for obsessive compulsion and depression and paranoia. 'Mindy was like, 'You didn't meet him before the crash, did you?' which is quite funny to be fair. I think I did suffer a bit, I suffered all of those things to a degree. 'Some of them were really weird moments and I still get an echo of it. 'I remember having been institutionalized for a really long time in hospitals and in recovery... I would be coming into London to do something. 'I would open the wardrobe door and just look at all the shirts and just trying to work out.. it was too much. I found choice really difficult for quite a long time.' He continued: 'Feeling your emotions derailed or interfered with because of a neurochemical imbalance, it's just chemicals and electricity. 'I was walking across the drive of my house and I felt this sudden welling, this surge of love in my chest and I thought, 'What's that?' 'Eventually I identified it, I had walked past my old Land Rover, which I do love but only because I quite like it, but it had just triggered this absolutely... I thought 'Blimey'. It made me think. 'If emotions can be that profoundly affected by what was just a mix-up up of chemicals and electricity in my head, then I am more aware of things. 'Now, I don't listen to my emotions too closely if I am very, very tired or if I have had a big night out with the boys the night before. 'If I drink red wine I do not tune in to see what I think about anything. It's irrelevant for a day. Those are the rules. 'I was angry for a while, Anger is a problem when recovering from a brain injury. I wanted a T-shirt that said on the front, 'I am OK, stop asking' and on the back, 'I am still poorly, you know'.' Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jennifer Aydin is responding to a Jersey Mike's employee rant and denies any claims she was rude to the staff. The conflict started on January 1 when the 47-year-old posted a video rant on her Instagram story, complaining about slow service and bashing an '80-year old' employee at an airport Jersey Mike's, while another employee posted a viral rant claiming she was a 'stupid b***h.' The conflict got heated as Aydin started recording and another customer said if she posted that video he would sue her for her 'fake jewelry.' Aydin posted a clip of the video she recorded on her Instagram story, blurring the faces of the employees and another customer. At one point she said, ''I am a f***ing celebrity, you asshole!' and tagged Jersey Mikes in the post. While many fans bashed Aydin for her behavior - including making fun of an elderly employee - she is trying to clear the air in a US Weekly interview where she insists she was never rude to the staff. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jennifer Aydin is responding to a Jersey Mike's employee rant and denies any claims she was rude to the staff The conflict started on January 1 when the 47-year-old posted a video rant on her Instagram story, complaining about slow service and bashing an '80-year old' employee at an airport Jersey Mike's 'Hindsight is 20/20, but I did not think it was going to go that way. Not at all,' insisting she 'was not rude' to the Jersey Mike's staff. 'Were a big group. Im a family of seven. I have a sister with my goddaughter. Shes a widow [and] her and my goddaughter come with us everywhere we go. So, we travel [with] nine people or a lot of people. We met up with my cousin whos another family of six. Were 15 people, not to mention the other two families that were meeting up with us at the airport,' she added. Aydin and her husband Bill, 51, got their crew through security as Aydin and her cousin Susie went to get in line at Jersey Mike's. 'Jersey Mikes did not open until 5:30 and my cousin and I got on the line pretty much around 5:45 a.m. and there were not that many people on the line. Again, it was a little slow moving, but we werent going to complain,' Aydin said. Susie went to a different kiosk but got back in like with Jennifer, as she added others thought she was 'cutting' in line. 'I didnt let her cut and she ordered four sandwiches. I only ordered one. I only had one that my kids wanted to split. That was my task. Im in mom mode trying to just get my kids food,' she said. She added that when she finally made it to the front of the line, they took her order and the woman behind her's order, though they made the woman behind her's order first, which created some tension. While they were working on Jennifer's sandwich, her husband Bill arrived and added another sandwich for their son, but the employee said she had to go to the back of the line for that sandwich. 'Hindsight is 20/20, but I did not think it was going to go that way. Not at all,' insisting she 'was not rude' to the Jersey Mike's staff 'Jersey Mikes did not open until 5:30 and my cousin and I got on the line pretty much around 5:45 a.m. and there were not that many people on the line. Again, it was a little slow moving, but we werent going to complain,' Aydin said 'I said, but you just fulfilled that womans sandwich before me and I didnt even say anything and none of this is on camera by the way. So she looks up and I guess she realized I was right and she goes, "Well, then the guy behind you has to say its OK,"' Aydin explained. The man waiting behind her said, 'I mean, its kind of ridiculous that [she was] adding another sandwich,' as she added, 'Tensions are high. I know Im going to get blamed for something and Im going to keep my cool.' Aydin admitted, 'The whole point of me recording I know it backfired was to show that I was not snapping. Im just recording the window. At that point, the guy is not even in my thing.' The man then said he was a law professor and said he would sue her for her 'fake diamonds' if she posted the video. The man then claimed to be a law professor and allegedly threatened to sue Jennifer for 'all [her] fake diamonds' if she posted the video of him. She said she was 'shocked' and 'disgusted' by the man's behavior, admitting that she realized she didn't 'tackle this correctly.' Aydin added, 'In my angst, I was telling him because I wanted him to know that you just cant be rude to people like that. You dont know who youre being rude to and Im going to put you on blast. I was just, like, livid that this person [was] talking to me that way. I want you to know that in the moment, I was not rude to the Jersey Mikes staff at all. I was trying to be polite.' 'In the video, they were still working on my sandwich. Its not like I had paid. I didnt check out. So for them to tell me to wait to the end of the line or that I had to ask this guys permission that just really started an altercation. They shouldnt have done that and thats just customer service. Im realizing now that I cant say, Im a celebrity. People are very angry. I will no longer say Im a celebrity since people are so angry about it. But, obviously, this wouldnt have gone so viral as it did if I wasnt a public figure,' Aydin insisted. The man then claimed to be a law professor and allegedly threatened to sue Jennifer for 'all [her] fake diamonds' if she posted the video of him She added, 'I wanted to put it on blast to show how rude they were to me. I didnt go about it the right way. I acknowledge that, but I was not rude to the staff in the moment,' she said She added, 'I wanted to put it on blast to show how rude they were to me. I didnt go about it the right way. I acknowledge that, but I was not rude to the staff in the moment,' she said. 'I feel like weve all been there. Im learning now that I have to realize that Im a public figure and that everything that I say or do will be scrutinized and I actually have to lead by example,' Ayden insisted. She added it was wrong to post the video in the first place, though she felt she was 'owed an apology' from Jersey Mike's and the alleged law professor. 'Theyre constantly blasting me. I will apologize for calling [the worker] an 80-year-old woman and doing all that, but thats where it ends. Theyre monetizing this, which Im very happy for. At last some good will come to them from this,' she said. Stephanie Rice has tied the knot with her partner Mark Lassey following a whirlwind ten-month romance. The former Olympic swimmer, 38, took to Instagram on Friday to reveal that she exchanged vows with the Aussie pastor, 46, during a vineyard ceremony in his native Perth. The couple met at the start of 2024 and got engaged in September after seven months of dating. For the ceremony, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown which featured a long train that billowed out behind her. She let her dress do all the talking as she simply accessorised with a dainty necklace and droplet earrings, while she wore her brunette tresses loose over her shoulders. Steph gazed lovingly at her new husband Mark, who cut a dapper figure in a tuxedo, made up of a white shirt, black trousers and a suave cream suit jacket. Stephanie Rice has tied the knot with her partner Mark Lassey following a whirlwind ten-month romance The former Olympic swimmer, 38, took to Instagram on Friday to reveal that she exchanged vows with the Aussie pastor during a vineyard ceremony in his native Perth The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared a married couple. In the footage, they beamed with joy as they stood holding hands at the outdoor altar which sat underneath a natural green vine pergola. They were then showered with confetti as they walked down the aisle together as newlyweds before they shared a romantic kiss. The couple then celebrated their union with their closest family and friends during an outdoor reception at sunset on the grounds of the vineyard. Later in the evening, the pair kissed while sparklers lit up the sky behind them. In an accompanying caption, Steph shared her excitement over starting off her married life with Mark in Dubai, where they plan to live together. She gushed: 'Surrounded by our closest family and friends, those who have loved, supported, and guided us on our journey, all came together to celebrate our love and the beginning of forever together. 'As we step into this new chapter as husband and wife, where two become one, our hearts are so full. For the ceremony, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown which featured a long train that billowed out behind her The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared a married couple (pictured) 'The day was everything we dreamed it would beoverflowing with love, joy, and the tangible presence of God. It felt like heaven touched earth. 'Thank you to everyone who made our day so special! We are truly blessed.' She finished off her post with a Bible quote, adding: 'I know all about the marvelous destiny I have in store for you, a future planned out in detail. 'My intention is not to harm you but to surround you with peace and prosperity and to give you a beautiful future, glistening with hope - Jeremiah 29:11 TPT.' Three-time Olympic gold medallist Stephanie joined the church when she relocated to Dubai late last year and is now heavily involved with Kingdom City. Mark is a pastor with the same organisation in Perth and has been with the church for more than 10 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Kingdom City started in Perth in 2003 and has since gone global with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia in addition to the Middle East. Their wedding comes after a whirlwind ten months of dating after they were first introduced by a mutual friend at the start of 2024. The couple then celebrated their union with their closest family and friends during an outdoor reception at sunset on the grounds of the vineyard Later in the evening, the pair kissed while sparklers lit up the sky behind them They quietly dated for five months before going public with their romance on Instagram in July, just weeks before they got engaged. The couple have been in a long-distance relationship with Mark being based in Perth while Steph moved to Dubai in November 2023. The couple announced their engagement in September after Mark popped the question at Dubai's luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel while visiting Steph. Mark is a father to three sons - Tyler, Joel and Luke - from a previous relationship. Steph was previously romantically involved with former soldier Dane Christison, who she met at an Australian church. They holidayed in the United States together over Christmas 2023, but she publicly announced their split just months later in May 2024. Stephanie had deleted images of her boyfriend from her Instagram page even earlier in March and had not mentioned him in some weeks. The sportswoman later opened up about how she was happy their relationship had ended. The swimming legend, 36, took to Instagram on Thursday to confirm the jovial news, just weeks after first going public with her and Mark's romance in July 'When I moved, I really wanted to share a lot more of the journey with you guys in real time,' she said. 'I just was going through the deepest healing. I was in a really challenging relationship at the time, when we broke up, I felt the peace of God was upon me. I felt like I felt free. I felt happy. At the time, Stephanie said that her new life in Dubai had lifted a weight off her shoulders. 'For the first time, I realised the heaviness that I was carrying. I just felt like it all lifted off me, and I feel like I'm in this amazing place now where I feel so happy, so content,' she said. 'God is so good. I'm seeing so many fruits of the amazing things God has given me, and I want to be able to share a lot more of what's kind of happened over the past six months' she said. 'Now that I have a lot more clarity, a lot more peace, and a lot more happiness.' Paris Hilton made an emotional return to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house which was destroyed in the catastrophic fires throughout Southern California. It comes just one day after the TV personality, 43, confirmed that she saw the property 'burn to the ground on live TV.' She had purchased the two-story residence in 2021 for $8.4 million - and once led down to La Costa beach. Hilton shared a heartbreaking video to her Instagram page on Thursday as she discovered what was left of the property and got candid about being left in 'complete shock.' She filmed the clip while walking through the remains of the entrance which was still standing, but then revealed that the rest of the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble after being destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire. Paris wrote, 'I'm standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable.' 'When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock - I couldn't process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces.' Paris Hilton, 43, made an emotional return to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house which was destroyed in the catastrophic fires throughout Southern California; seen in November 2024 in West Hollywood It comes just one day after the TV personality, 43, confirmed that she saw the property 'burn to the ground on live TV' The star expressed that the home 'wasn't just a place to live - It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family.' 'It was where Phoenix's little hands made art that I'll cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes it's devastating beyond words.' Hilton added that her heart continues to break 'knowing that this isn't just my story.' 'So many people have lost everything. It's not just walls and roofs - it's the memories that made those houses homes. It's the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives.' But despite dealing with 'pain' over losing the home, Paris shared that she still felt 'incredibly lucky' and added, 'My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe.' 'That's the most important thing, and I'm holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. And beyond grateful to all the the fire fighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires.' Paris wrote that the 'love, prayers and kindness' she has received reminded her that 'there is still beauty in this world.' Hilton shared a heartbreaking video to her Instagram page on Thursday as she took in what was left of the property and got candid about being left in 'complete shock' She filmed the clip while walking through the remains of the entrance which was still standing, but then revealed that the rest of the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble The star expressed that the home 'wasn't just a place to live - It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family' But despite dealing with 'pain' over losing the home, Paris shared that she still felt 'incredibly lucky' and added, 'My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe' 'And to everyone going through this pain, please know you're not alone. We're in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before,' Paris penned The remains of Paris Hilton 's Malibu beach house can also be seen in shocking images that were taken on Thursday The modern property had contained three bedrooms, three bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows 'And to everyone going through this pain, please know you're not alone. We're in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before.' In conclusion, the actress added, 'Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments. Life can change in an instant, and it's the love we share that truly matters. I'm sending all my love to everyone who is hurting right now.' The remains of Paris Hilton's Malibu beach house can also be seen in shocking images that were taken on Thursday. The modern property had three bedrooms, three bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. Some of the wall at the front entrance still stands while the rest of the home has been completely burned. Neighboring properties bordering the star's beach home along the highway have also been burned down. A few scattered trees can be seen standing, but are barren and black after being charred by the flames. Smoke still rose from the carnage of the property as the sun began to set in the distance. The vacation home also contained numerous balconies that had offered scenic views of the Pacific Ocean only a few feet away - but were also destroyed. Candy Spelling and Diane Warren are other celebrities that lost their beach homes in the Palisades fire - which has taken the lives of two people, per CBS News. Some of the wall at the front entrance still stands while the rest of the home has been completely burned Neighboring properties bordering the star's beach home along the highway have also been burned down A few scattered trees can be seen standing, but are barren and black after being charred by the flames Smoke still rose from the carnage of the property as the sun began to set in the distance The vacation home also contained numerous balconies that had offered scenic views of the Pacific Ocean only a few feet away Candy Spelling and Diane Warren are other celebrities that lost their beach homes in the Palisades fire - which has taken the lives of two people, per CBS News And in the Palisades fire alone, around 5,300 structures have been destroyed, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Eaton fire near the Altadena and Pasadena area has taken down between 4,000 to 5,000 structures as of Thursday. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated, 'The Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.' The catastrophic fires - which began on Tuesday amid strong Santa Ana winds - have forced around 180,000 people from their homes across Southern California, per NBC News. Residents including Anthony Hopkins, Tina Knowles, Jeff Bridges, Miles Teller and John Goodman have also lost their homes in the fires. On Wednesday, Paris bundled her 'babies' into a car and fled her Malibu mansion in the middle of the night before the wildfires burnt her home to the ground. She shared a video on X of her dogs in the back of her car as she packed up to evacuate the dangerous situation and head to a hotel. The clip showed her animals all gathered together on the backseat as she described running around her home to find each of her pets. Hilton said, 'Okay we found everyone - we are packing up the car and getting ready to go to the hotel.' 'Everyone make sure to care for your pets and just praying for everyone's safety. Okay we're going to get out of here.' Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated, 'The Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles' And in the Palisades fire alone, around 5,300 structures have been destroyed, according to the Los Angeles Times She shared a video on X of her dogs in the back of her car as she packed up to evacuate the dangerous situation and head to a hotel Paris captioned the post: 'Evacuating our house with all our babies. Sending prayers to everyone and their pets.' In a subsequent video Paris could be heard breaking down in tears as she shared the gravity of the situation with her followers. Sharing a clip of the flames, she said: 'Hey guys we just pulled over because I saw this big red cloud, the camera doesn't even do it justice, it literally looks like hell has taken over.' 'It's so big, it's so red. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone tonight. I'm really praying it stops soon.' She added: 'Driving out of my house on to Mulholland. I've never seen anything like this.' Later Paris shared an update and reassured fans they were safe, saying: 'So we made it down the mountain, stopping at the gas station - the puppies are scared. You can smell all the fire down here. I'm just glad we're all safe.' The video came after Paris said she watched her waterfront home burn to the ground on live television in an emotional social media post. She said: 'Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience.' The hotel heiress posted to the site a lengthy message after insiders told TMZ the house was 'burned to a crisp' and 'reduced to a pile of burning rubble' amid the fiery outbreak. Sharing a clip of the flames, she said: 'Hey guys we just pulled over because I saw this big red cloud, the camera doesn't even do it justice, it literally looks like hell has taken over' She added: 'Driving out of my house on to Mulholland. I've never seen anything like this' The video came after Paris said she watched her waterfront home burn to the ground on live television in an emotional social media post Paris - who shares two one-year-old children with husband Carter Reum, 43, son Phoenix Barron and daughter London Marilyn - said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' amid the damaging wildfires. 'This home was where we built so many precious memories,' Hilton said. 'It's where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.' She continued, 'While the loss is overwhelming, I'm holding onto gratitude that my family is safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires. 'To all the people who have lost their homes, their memories, and their beloved pets. My heartaches for those still in harm's way or mourning greater losses.' Paris said that 'the devastation is unimaginable' and 'to know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking.' She added that members of her 11:11 Media Impact Team were 'reaching out to nonprofit organizations today to figure out how we can best support the communities impacted by these fires' and remain 'committed to offering help as soon as possible and making a meaningful difference for those who need it most.' Paris then shared, 'To the brave firefighters and first responders risking their lives to protect us - you are true heroes.' 'I am so grateful for your courage, dedication, and the incredible sacrifices you're making to save lives and fight this unimaginable battle. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' Paris - who shares two one-year-old children with husband Carter Reum, 43, son Phoenix Barron and daughter London Marilyn - said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' amid the damaging wildfires Paris took to Instagram with a series of posts documenting the tough times, writing that she was 'praying for LA/California' atop images of fires spreading throughout the area She encouraged her followers to 'stay safe and follow evacuation orders' amid the trying time, as 'you never know when everything could change. 'Let's protect one another and hold onto hope that these fires will soon be contained. Sending so much love and strength to all of you. We're in this together, LA. Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.' Sources told TMZ that the home burned in the blaze was not the 'main residence' the hotel heiress lives in, as she owns 'multiple properties,' including a mansion in Beverly Hills. Paris took to Instagram with a series of posts documenting the tough times, writing that she was 'praying for LA/California' atop images of fires spreading throughout the area scorching homes and businesses. Bella Hadid shared a heartbreaking photo of her childhood home burning down amid the ongoing fires tearing through Los Angeles. The Vogue cover girl, 28, took to her Instagram Stories with a photo of her mom Yolanda Hadid's, 60, iconic former Malibu mansion engulfed in flames. The luxurious property where Yolanda once lived and raised her kids including Bella and her sister Gigi would frequently make appearances on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 'Childhood bedroom,' Bella wrote on the snap with a sad face emoji. She also shared another decimated photo of the home in the daytime. Once a backdrop to the reality TV series and drama-filled dinner parties in the earliest seasons, now just the wooden frames of the home remain. The Malibu mansion, known as the Carbon Canyon Estate, was also once rented by Kylie Jenner for nearly half a million dollars a month, but now no longer exists after heroic firefighters put out the blaze. Bella Hadid, 28, shared a heartbreaking photo of her childhood home burning down in the Los Angeles fires. Her mother Yolanda Hadid, 60, previously owned the Malibu mansion; Bella and Yolanda seen in 2017 The Vogue cover girl took to her Instagram Stories with a photo of her mom Yolanda's iconic former Malibu mansion engulfed in flames Only the ruins of the sprawling manse can be seen after the devastating wildfires ravaged the Pacific Palisades, and all throughout Los Angeles, burning down many other homes of the rich and famous in the process. The last owner had just put the Los Angeles mansion up for sale in July 2024 for $35 million. Now, the once abundant green hedges and foliage all burned down just like nearby homes in the area. The massive six-bedroom, 11-bathroom mansion was known for being the home of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Yolanda. Hadid previously purchased the home for $4.5 million in 2007 and renovated the mansion for two years to suit her and her now-ex, composter David Foster. During the time Hadid owned and lived there, the house had seen iconic scenes starring the old, beloved cast: Taylor Armstrong, Kim Richards, Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof, Brandi Glanville and Kyle Richards. The home was featured on multiple seasons of RHOBH and was known for being the location of the infamous Don't Sing For Your Supper episode in season three. Hadid and Foster were married for four years before she announced their divorce filing in 2015 and finalized their legal separation in 2017. She also shared another decimated snap of the home in the daytime The Malibu mansion, known as the Carbon Canyon Estate, was also once rented by Kylie Jenner for nearly half a million dollars a month, but now no longer exists after heroic firefighters put out the blaze The luxurious property where Yolanda once lived and raised her kids including Bella and her sister Gigi would frequently make appearances on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; Bella and Gigi seen in a still from the show She sold her Malibu, Mediterranean-inspired mansion, the childhood home of her kids Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid, in 2015 after eight years of living there. The once colorful and lively home surrounded by an abundance of greenery now appears sepia-toned with rubble and ruins and a few surviving palm trees left behind. Both Bella and Yolanda have since relocated to Fort Worth, Texas. Bella bought a property in The Lone Star State to be closer to her boyfriend, Adan Banuelos, who also owns a home in the area. Meanwhile Yolanda and her fiance, Joseph Jingoli, built a cowboy-inspired home in the Fort Worth area. The Pacific Palisades fire broke out on Tuesday morning amid high winds in a region that hasn't seen significant rainfall in more than six months. Apocalyptic fires tore through the ritzy enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm carried embers and debris in all directions. Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water, and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. Over 30,000 residents in Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas are under mandatory evacuation orders amid warnings there is an immediate threat to their lives. At least six separate blazes are burning in the metropolitan area from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena. Hadid previously purchased the home for $4.5 million in 2007 and renovated the mansion for two years to suit her and her now-ex, composter David Foster; (L-R) Lisa Vanderpump, Yolanda and Brandi Glanville in 2010 RHOBH still The home was featured on multiple seasons of RHOBH and was known for being the location of the infamous Don't Sing For Your Supper episode in season three; pictured: Yolanda and David in RHOBH still Hadid and Foster were married for four years before she announced their divorce filing in 2015 and finalized their legal separation in 2017. She sold her Malibu mansion in 2015 after eight years of living there; seen in 2012 Both Bella and Yolanda have since relocated to Fort Worth, Texas; they are seen with Yolanda's fiance, Joseph Jingoli California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency amid warnings the situation could worsen. The National Guard were called in to help exhausted firefighters battling six separate fires as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke. Two new blazes broke out on Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, forcing first responders to redeploy their already scarce resources. The latest fires mean huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Runyon Canyon are ablaze, impacting millions of locals and holidaymakers who were caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage. At least five people have lost their lives in the devastating natural disaster so far - with 2,000 structures completely obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the City of Angels. Halle Berry is following Sharon Stone's lead, revealing she is donating her entire closet of clothes to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Stone, 66, took to Instagram on Thursday, telling her 4 million followers to donate clothes to a store called Coop (7278 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036). She said in her post that items needed include gently used jeans, jackets, shoes, beanies, gloves and hangers, along with new underwear and socks plus 'any and all gift cards. Berry, 58, responded to Stone's post, stating, 'Im there. Brining all I have !!' before sharing Stone's video in a post of her own. 'Im packing up my entire closet and heading over to the COOP! If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same,' Berry said. 'This is something we can do right now today to help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics today!' Berry added. Halle Berry is following Sharon Stone 's lead, revealing she is donating her entire closet of clothes to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires Stone, 66, took to Instagram on Thursday, telling her 4 million followers to donate clothes to a store called Coop (7278 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036) She said in her post that items needed include gently used jeans, jackets, shoes, beanies, gloves and hangers, along with new underwear and socks plus 'any and all gift cards 'Im packing up my entire closet and heading over to the COOP! If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same,' Berry said 'Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady,' Berry concluded. The actress also responded to a number of fan comments, including one who said, 'I hope they are giving it away and not charging people.' 'It's being GIVEN AWAY,' Berry responded, while she confirmed to another fan that clothes can be shipped there to donate from out of state. An artist named Anjelika Perry also responded, revealing, 'Many members in my family lost homes including my late mothers home. Gone.' Berry responded, 'omg. Im so sorry. God bless you! I promise you I will continue to find ways to help.' Stone also revealed to NewsNation's Ashley Banfield on Thursday that she's opening up her own home to displaced people from the fires. 'Ive been taking friends into my home. I have families coming now to move in with us. Were setting up a place to be able to help people. Were setting up beds and just room in the house,' she said. 'Were loading up trucks and taking everything we have over to The Coop, and were inviting our friends over to move in with us here. Lot of people are being evacuated,' Stone revealed. 'Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady,' Berry concluded Stone also revealed to NewsNation's Ashley Banfield on Thursday that she's opening up her own home to displaced people from the fires She also said Coop will be 'a distribution center' where people in need from the fires can pick up these items. 'If you need things, come to The Coop. This is for people who need any of these things, please come there. This is where you can get them,' she said. Her son Roan Stone added, 'Were in a safe place, and I think were so blessed to be in a safe place when many arent.' 'I think all that we can do as people who are in a safe place is give back, especially to those who have lost everything,' he added. Showpo founder Jane Lu was left red-faced this week after her mother brutally rejected her fashion choices as she prepared for a date. The Shark Tank Australia star, 38, shared a hilarious clip to social media in which she told fans she was trying on outfits ahead of a night out with her husband James Waldie. The entrepreneur was initially seen wearing a transparent leopard print dress as she excitedly told fans she was getting ready to hit the town. However, her mother Queenie then entered and quickly rejected the outfit with a blunt 'yuck, not your style' and told Jane she would help her find a more suitable outfit. Jane's mother then suggested a designer white gown with a thigh-high split for her daughter and adorned it with a large green flower brooch. The multi-millionaire then cheekily told the camera: 'For the record, I'm obviously not wearing the brooch. I'm just doing it now to shut her up!' Showpo founder Jane Lu was left red-faced this week after her mother brutally rejected her fashion choices as she prepared for a date Queenie then put on gaudy white sunglasses on her daughter's face, tied her hair in a bun and then enthusiastically said 'yeah' to the cameras, indicating Jane's makeover was complete. A horrified Jane gave a shocked look to the camera as she took in the results of her mother's makeover. '@thelazygrandma thinks shes a stylist now,' Jane wrote next to the footage. Many of the reality TV star's celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section to share their amusement over the side-splitting footage. 'Dying!' joked Married At First Sight star Melinda Willis. 'Love the leopard print,' added The Block's Sharon Johal. Jane and her husband James married in 2019, with a ceremony and reception at the Sergeants Mess in Sydney's well-heeled Mosman, on the lower north shore. The pair spent their honeymoon at Qualia Resort in Hamilton Island. The Shark Tank Australia star, 38, shared a hilarious clip to social media in which she told fans she was trying on outfits ahead of a night out with her husband James Waldie A horrified Jane gave a shocked look to the camera as she took in the results of her mother's makeover They share two children - son Lachie, four, and two-year-old daughter Rosie. Jane is a huge success story in the entrepreneurial space in Australia, being the CEO of Showpo. In 2010, a friend suggested they start a business selling clothes from a pop-up stall. She quit her job, maxed out her credit card buying stock and shoved it into the garage of her parents' Balmain home. The clothing website is believed to have turned over $85 million in 2019, alone. Jane spent six months pretending to work at her accounting firm while she spruiked the latest trends from stalls in Bondi bars and the Arthouse Hotel in the CBD. 'I still don't know if they were just turning a blind eye or if they really didn't know,' she told Daily Mail Australia in 2021. 'I had a lot of guilt after everything they'd done for me. I'd given up a good corporate job to sell stuff online, which was just totally alien to them.' In November 2010, the duo opened a permanent store in Broadway under the brand name 'Showpony', which eventually morphed into 'Showpo' after dropping the 'ny' to avoid trademark disputes in the US. The Broadway outlet was followed by a kiosk in the middle of the CBD Westfield shopping centre, which proved to be a 'big money maker'. These days, Showpo has a fan base of more than 1.8 million followers on Instagram, 1.3 million on Facebook and 95,700 on TikTok. Lala Kent is sharing her experience with the wildfires that have burned across Los Angeles since Tuesday. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the 34-year-old mother-of-two said that the poor air quality was making it difficult for her four-month-old daughter Sosa to breathe. The former Vanderpump Rules personality wrote via the app's Stories feature: 'This morning Sosa woke up and was really struggling to breathe. 'I made the decision to pack my family up and come to Palm Springs, strictly based on the air quality. This is where we will stay until LA is safe again.' Lala, whose full name is Lauren, gave birth to her second child on September 3. She also shares three-year-old daughter Ocean with ex-fiance Randall Emmett. The somber post from the reality television star continued, 'This is one of the most devastating situations I have ever seen. Lala Kent is sharing her experience with the wildfires that have burned across Los Angeles since Tuesdas Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the 34-year-old mother-of-two said that the poor air quality was making it difficult for her four-month-old daughter Sosa to breathe 'At this point, if you were not directly affected, you know someone who has lost everything.' Pouring her heart out to her 2.4 million followers, she went on to say, 'I'm obsessing over how we could be so underprepared.' Kent, who lives in the valley, said her 'heart is shattered for my community.' She told her fans, 'We have not been directly affected, and I'm trying to feel grateful for that it's hard because of what I'm seeing other people go through.' The star expressed feeling 'sad,' but also 'angry' as she emphasized that there are 'looters' and a 'lack of water.' But, she said, 'I'll save that rant for a later date.' In a second Instagram Stories post she acknowledged those working diligently to get the fires under control. 'For now, all I want to do is say thank you to our firefighters and first responders. Our city's heroes,' she wrote. Closing out her posts, she added, 'And to everyone affected I know you feel alone. You are not alone.' The former Vanderpump Rules personality wrote via the app's Stories feature: 'This morning Sosa woke up and was really struggling to breathe.' In a second Instagram Stories post she acknowledged those working diligently to get the fires under control In another post, the Bravo celebrity shared an image of her two children with one of her ex Emmett's other daughters, 11-year-old Rylee, whom he shares with ex-wife Ambyr Childers The devastation in Southern California unfolded on Tuesday morning when the combination of heavy wind and a lack of rain created the perfect condition for a brush fire As of Thursday evening, 19,978 acres of land have been scorched in the Palisades fire alone, with firefighters still working around the clock to contain the flames In another post, the Bravo celebrity shared an image of her two children with one of her ex Emmett's other daughters, 11-year-old Rylee, whom he shares with ex-wife Ambyr Childers, 36. Childers and Emmett are also co-parents to London, who turns 15 in February. The devastation in Southern California unfolded on Tuesday morning when the combination of heavy wind and a lack of rain created the perfect condition for a brush fire. The flames quickly spread throughout the Pacific Palisades, which was home to celebrities including Reese Witherspoon, Anna Farris, Tyra Banks, and many more. As of Thursday evening, 19,978 acres of land have been scorched in the Palisades fire alone, with firefighters still working around the clock to contain the flames. Paris Hilton, Hailey Bieber, Chris Pratt and his mother-in-law Maria Shriver are just a few public figures who have asked for prayers amid the unprecedented wreckage. Milo Ventimiglia got choked up after his Malibu home burned down in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The This Is Us star, 47, visited the remains of the house where he and his pregnant wife Jarah Mariano, 41, had been excitedly preparing to raise their baby. On Thursday, he went back to the area to check out the aftermath of the natural disaster. He also spoke to CBS News about how he and wife watched their home burn down to the ground in horrifying security camera footage. Fortunately, he and his wife as well as their dog safely evacuated on Tuesday before it happened. Ventimiglia got visibly emotional talking about their loss which included the crib and 'everything [that] was set up' for the arrival of their first child together. Milo Ventimiglia got choked up after his Malibu home burned down in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires The This Is Us star, 47, visited the remains of the house where he and his pregnant wife Jarah Mariano, 41, had been excitedly preparing to raise their baby; pictured October 2024 in Agoura Hills About seeing their home burn down with their own eyes, he talked about how difficult it was for them to process. 'I think there's a shock moment where you go, this is real and this is happening. Then, at some point, you just turn it off. What good is it to continue watching?' Eventually, while watching the live footage, he said: 'We kind of accepted the loss.' After the fire in the area was put out, he returned to the area two days later. He knew his house was gone but to stand there in person he said it felt 'heavy.' 'You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not,' the Gilmore Girls alum explained. 'And then you see your neighbors' houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks,' he continued. The actor also spoke about how his character Jack Pearson on the hit NBC series This Is Us faced a devastating fire in his very last appearance and watched his fictional home burn down. On Thursday, he went back to the area to check out the aftermath of the natural disaster. He also spoke to CBS News about how he and wife watched their home burn down to the ground in horrifying security camera footage Fortunately, he and his wife as well as their dog safely evacuated on Tuesday before it happened. Ventimiglia got visibly emotional talking about their loss which included the crib and 'everything [that] was set up' for the arrival of their first child together After the fire in the area was put out, he returned to the area two days later. He knew his house was gone but to stand there in person he said it felt 'heavy' About seeing their home burn down with their own eyes, he talked about how difficult it was for them to process His character saved his family from a house fire before dying of cardiac arrest caused by smoke inhalation. 'It's not lost on me,' he said about the comparison. 'Life imitating art.' Different than his onscreen character, however, he is still here and said he fortunately still has everything that truly matters. 'We've got good friends, and we've got good people we're working with,' he said. 'We'll make do. Wife and baby and dog are most important.' His former onscreen wife Mandy Moore was also one of the many who were forced to evacuate amid the ravaging fires. The actor also spoke about how his character Jack Pearson on the hit NBC series This Is Us faced a devastating fire in his very last appearance and watched his fictional home burn down 'It's not lost on me,' he said about the comparison. 'Life imitating art' His former onscreen wife Mandy Moore was also one of the many who were forced to evacuate amid the ravaging fires Stars like Paris Hilton as well as Leighton Meester and Adam Brody and many more unfortunately lost their homes in the blaze. Fires broke out in Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, Eaton Canyon, the Hollywood Hills and other areas around Los Angeles County amid a 'life-threatening and destructive' windstorm that picked up Tuesday. As of Thursday, at least six people have died in the Southern California wildfires, which have forced nearly 180,000 people to evacuate and left more than 1.5 million without power. Ajay Rochester has revealed that her son has been working tirelessly assisting victims of the devastating LA fires. The former Biggest Loser star took to Facebook on Friday to share that Kai, 24, who works as a security guard in Los Angeles, had worked for 36 hours straight in a bid to assist victims and save property. Ajay has been busy keeping friends, family and followers updated on Kai's whereabouts amid the horrific blazes, revealing that he had just finished a 24-hour straight shift. '24 hour shift and Kai just got relieved,' she wrote. 'He's going home! He still has a 2 mile hike down to his car but he's safe! Most stressful 24 hours in my life!!!! 'He's saved so many people's homes. He's no longer my baby but a man I am so proud of! Former Biggest Loser star Ajay Rochester (pictured) has revealed that her son has been working tirelessly assisting victims of the devastating LA fires Ajay took to Facebook on Friday to share that Kai, 24, (pictured) who works as a security guard in Los Angeles, had worked for 36 hours straight in a bid to assist victims and save property Ajay augmented her words with a photo of Kai on the front lines waring a face mask and a pair of Aviator sunglasses. She also shared a series of clips, taken by Kai that showed frightening scenes of destruction that he faced during his long shift. However, such is the rapidly changing nature of the catastrophe, Ajay posted again, just hours later, that her son remained on scene. for a further 12 hours. 'Kai is finally home and safe! 34 hour shift. No food. Only water and Gatorade. Saved multiple homes, evacuated people and protected houses from potential looters,' Ajay shared. 'I called him a hero and he said the fire fighters were the real heroes. I said : "you literally fought fires and risked your life."' She continued: 'As always this kid is humble but he's not a kid any more. He is a man. He is MY hero. Thank you everyone for your messages. They kept me sane. 'I kept busy so I wouldn't dwell and I prayed a lot. Thank you God for having him in your protection.' She then went back to update her original post, revealing that Kai had actually worked for 36 hours straight. She also shared a series of clips, taken by Kai that showed frightening scenes of destruction that he faced during his long shift Ajay's posts were met with a flurry of well-wishes from friends and followers. 'Hes a testament to his great parenting by his mumma,' One follower wrote. 'A brave young man with ethics and determination far beyond his years. Take care, both of you,.' 'Way to go Kai!!!!!!! Thank you for your service,' another offered, while a third chimed in with: 'What a an absolute legend. Take care.' After finding fame on the hit Network Ten reality series The Biggest Loser, Ajay relocated to the US to raise Kai. Speaking to New Idea in 2021, Ajay opened up about her relationship with her son. She explained that Kai had moved to Australia from LA - where he'd spent much of his childhood - in 2019. Ajay, who hosted weight loss show The Biggest Loser from 2006 to 2009, had relocated to the U.S. in 2010. Her most recent TV appearance was on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2019, but she now mostly works behind the scenes as a casting agent. 'Kai is finally home and safe! 34 hour shift. No food. Only water and Gatorade. .Saved multiple homes, evacuated people and protected houses from potential looters,' Ajay shared 'I called him a hero and he said the fire fighters were the real heroes. I said : "you literally fought fires and risked your life"' Brooklyn Beckham has shared a gushing birthday post to his 'perfect' wife Nicola Peltz on her 30th birthday as he called her the 'best decision he ever made'. The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 25, who recently shared his heartbreak over the Los Angeles wildfires, shared an uplifting post about his partner. The aspiring chef sweetly claimed he feels 'lucky to wake up to her' every morning as he put his love for her into a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday. The message read: 'Dear Nicola, happy birthday baby. I will keep this short but I want to write down a little of how much I love you. A few years ago I asked you to marry me and it was the best decision I have ever made. 'You make me smile and laugh and you are the most amazing and most gorgeous person I know. I am so lucky to be able to spend everyday with you and wake up next to you every morning. 'I love your smile, your laugh, your passion about your work, your love for dogs, I just love the way you are. You are perfect in every way. I love you so much Nicola.' Brooklyn Beckham has shared a gushing birthday post to his 'perfect' wife Nicola Peltz on her 30th birthday as he called her the 'best decision he ever made' The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 25, who recently shared his heartbreak over the Los Angeles wildfires, shared an uplifting post about his partner He also shared a cute photo of himself kissing her on the cheek while she was wrapped in a white fluffy towel and sporting a flawless coat of make-up Alongside his romantic words, Brooklyn shared a series of loved-up snaps. In one, he wrapped his wife, who was wearing a white sequin mini dress, in a passionate embrace with his hands around her face and kissed her. He also shared a cute photo of himself kissing her on the cheek while she was wrapped in a white fluffy towel and sporting a flawless coat of make-up. In another shot, the couple were kissing while sat at the front of a boat during a sunset trip out to sea together. Well wishes also came from Brooklyn's father David, 49, who shared a selection of pictures of Nicola with his son from over the years. He wrote: 'Happy birthday we love you. Cheers to you on you your special day. Have the most special day together.' His wife wished her daughter-in-law a happy 30th birthday on Instagram on Thursday as she shared a throwback video of the pair dancing. The post comes after Victoria's son and Nicola's husband Brooklyn shared a picture of the LA fires, where they live. It's not known if they have evacuated. In another shot, the couple were kissing while sat at the front of a boat during a sunset trip out to sea together Well wishes also came from Brooklyn's father David, 49, who shared a selection of pictures of Nicola with his son from over the years He wrote: 'Happy birthday we love you. Cheers to you on you your special day. Have the most special day together' The fashion mogul, 50, proved to her fans that their 'feud' is long a thing of the past after she poured out her love for the actress. Victoria shared the throwback video of the pair dancing on the beach during their lavish family Bahamas holiday in 2023 with her 32.9million followers. Nicola showed off her impressively dance moves in the sand while wearing a towering pair of wedges, while her mother-in-law opted for the safer option and went bare foot. The actress, who is married to David and Victoria's oldest son Brooklyn, rocked a white pair of shorts with a black blouse and sunglasses. The post came as Brooklyn shared a photo of the Los Angeles wildfires burning close to his family's $3.8million condo. Brooklyn, who lives in LA part time, shared a photo from a window of the Peltz family's LA condo with fires seen approaching in the distance and added a broken-heart emoji. It's not known if they have evacuated. The couple divide their time between the Beckham home in London, Nicola's parents' estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and the Peltz family's luxury apartment in an exclusive Los Angeles condominium complex where Rihanna bought a $21million penthouse. Pre-Brooklyn, Nicola had her own bachelorette apartment in LA but they now have access to the family property, which is in her mother Claudia's name. Brooklyn Beckham has shared a photo of the Los Angeles wildfires burning close to his family's $3.8million condo Nicola's mother Claudia owns a swish three-bed, five-bathroom apartment on the 11th floor of The Century, in Century City, which she purchased for $3.8million in 2012 Claudia owns a swish three-bed, five-bathroom apartment on the 11th floor of The Century, in Century City, which she purchased for $3.8million in 2012. The Century is one of LA's most exclusive celeb condominiums with past and present residents including Denzel Washington, Paula Abdul and Candy Spelling. Meanwhile, Brooklyn's parents have said they are 'heartbroken' as wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles. The couple have strong connections to the city, having once lived there when David played for LA Galaxy. Fashion designer Victoria wrote on Instagram on Thursday morning: 'Seeing the devastation and loss caused by these wildfires is truly heartbreaking.' 'Los Angeles holds such a special place in our family's hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially those who have lost their homes or loved ones.' 'We are immensely grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who are risking their lives to protect others. Please stay safe and look after each other during this devastating time. Victoria x' Brooklyn's dad David also shared an Instagram post about the fires on Thursday, writing: 'LA is such a special place for my family.' Victoria Beckham has said she is 'heartbroken' as wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles The Spice Girl and her family have strong connections to the city, having once lived there when her husband David played for LA Galaxy Victoria, David and their other children Cruz, Romeo and Harper spent Christmas with Brooklyn and Nicola at the Peltz family estate in Miami 'I'm heartbroken to wake up to more horrific stories and pictures and I'm thinking of everyone there including many friends and colleagues who are facing these devastating fires. 'My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected, their loved ones and sending gratitude to the first responders and emergency services for their courage in such a challenging situation. Sending all my love and please support organisations helping on the ground.' Brooklyn and Nicola got rid of their own $10.5million Beverly Hills mansion in 2022. The two bought the property in June 2021, only to sell it 14 months later for $9.25million, taking a $1.25million hit. Nicola later admitted that the purchase, five months after they began dating, was 'silly.' 'We sold it because we were like, 'Oh, we're going to go to Florida for a while'. And then we're like, 'No, just kidding, we have to be in LA for work,' she told Cosmopolitan. 'It was so silly of us. And now we're saving up money to get our dream house.' David also shared an Instagram post about the fires on Thursday, writing: 'LA is such a special place for my family. I'm heartbroken to wake up to more horrific stories and pictures' On Wednesday night Victoria shared a photo of her husband David posing with his Emmy Award in the family's London home Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke. Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City - forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape. The National Guard has been deployed and could send in military personnel to assist, amid revelations that heroic firefighters are 'triaging' homes and neighborhoods. The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west - all iconic addresses in showbiz. The latest fires mean huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, and from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, are ablaze - impacting millions caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage. At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far - with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city. More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders while Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Miles Teller, Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who have lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire. Gino D'Acampo shared loved-up snaps with his wife Jessica as they celebrated her birthday on a ski trip while the presenter battles a harassment storm. The celebrity chef, 48, who is accused of making lewd gestures and remarks, said he is still smiling like he did on their first date as he gushed over his partner of 31 years. Gino previously caused a stir when he revealed the secret to their happy marriage was spending time alone and having their own 'single lives'. He revealed that when he is away he will speak to Jessica one a week for around 20 minutes and 'doesn't understand' why his friends talk to their wives for hours. However, the arrangement clearly works for the couple, who flashed beaming smiles while on the top of a mountain in the sweet social media snap. Jessica leaned in and kissed her husband on the cheek as they cosied up for the selfies, which Gino posted alongside a gushing caption. Gino D'Acampo shared a loved-up snaps with his wife Jessica as they celebrated her birthday on a ski trip while the presenter battles a harassment storm The Gino's Italian Escape star wrote: '31 years together and still smiling like our first date... happy birthday amore mio... GDx' Jessica leaned in and kissed her husband on the cheek as they cosied up for the selfies, which Gino posted alongside a gushing caption The Gino's Italian Escape star wrote: '31 years together and still smiling like our first date... happy birthday amore mio... GDx'. Their sweet display comes Gino admitted he and wife Jessica have their own lives and often spend prolonged periods of time apart during their free time. He divides his time between homes in the United Kingdom and his native Italy with Jessica and their three children, Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12. But Gino said his time away from work is carefully balanced so he can be alone - something he claims helps strengthen his marriage. He told heat: 'I think it's not only important to spend quality time with my family, but I also strongly believe in spending time alone. You discover new things about yourself and you have time to think, which is something that people don't do often enough. 'Everybody's always so busy and alone time is super-important for my marriage.' He added: 'Jessica and I have been together for 31 years, we have three children, and we never have problems, because we have our own lives away from one another.' Gino met his wife as a teenage, while working at Sylvester Stallone's Mambo King restaurant in Marbella - where he served as Head Chef. The celebrity chef, 48, who is accused of making lewd gestures and remarks, said he is still smiling like he did on their first date as he gushed over his partner of 31 years Gino said he and wife Jessica have their own lives and often spend prolonged periods of time apart during their free time They married in 2002 and renewed their vows in 2021, but the Italian star refutes the idea that time spent apart could lead to affairs. Speaking to OK! Magazine, he explained: 'You need to balance your married life with your "single life"'. 'I can be away for a month and I will talk to my wife once a week for about 20 minutes. Then, when I come back, we can talk about it all.' The TV chef confessed he doesn't understand what some of his friends talk to their wives about when they are chatting on the phone for over an hour as he chooses to keep his phone calls with Jessica short and sweet. Gino also admitted he will go out for dinner and drinks with other women while he is on one of his solo holidays. He said: 'Do you think that if I wanted to be unfaithful to my wife, I'd need to organise a holiday? I can do it anytime and anywhere. So once you get that out of your head, going on holiday alone doesn't matter.' Gino previously opened up about how he met his wife in an interview on Good Morning Britain in 2022. He revealed: 'When I met my wife, I never had any experience with any other women because I was only 17. She had amazing blonde hair and huge personality. And after a few weeks she showed me something I had never had before. He divides his time between homes in the United Kingdom and his native Italy with Jessica and their three children, Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12 Gino met his wife as a teenage, while working at Sylvester Stallone's Mambo King restaurant in Marbella - where he served as Head Chef 'So I got there and basically all I was thinking was Am I going to get laid? 'Am I allowed to say that? Or Ill say make love, is that better? But anyway, yeah she invited me over and cooked for me.' Gino was recently at the centre of fresh harassment claims last night after former colleagues accused him of making lewd gestures and suggestive remarks while filming for ITV. Sources on his foodie travel show Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip allege he quizzed a producer about her sex life and thrust his crotch at another female staffer. Insiders at Gordon Ramsay's company Studio Ramsay, which made the show, also claim the flamboyant Italian was 'super difficult' to work with and upset staff by 'jokingly flashing' them. His alleged behaviour led several staff to complain to ITV, prompting channel chiefs to summon Gino's then-manager to a meeting in 2021. Despite this Gino was allowed to appear in a further series of the show with fellow chefs Gordon and Fred Siriex. According to sources on the programme, 'several complaints' were lodged about Gino, who continued to work on the show until quietly dropped last year. Sources on Gino's foodie travel show Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip allege he quizzed a producer about her sex life and thrust his crotch at another female staffer Despite complaints, Gino was allowed to appear in a further series of the show with fellow chefs Gordon and Fred Sirieix (pictured with Gino) One source said: 'It looks more and more as if there has been a cover-up by ITV and the production company. 'ITV did step in and they had a meeting with Gino's former manager where allegations of inappropriate behaviour were discussed.' Despite a raft of lurid allegations The Mail on Sunday revealed ITV still intends to screen a series of Family Fortunes which Gino recorded earlier this year. Meanwhile, another employee told this newspaper how they had witnessed staff struggle with Gino's allegedly troubling behind-the-scenes manner. 'Endless crews, contributors and TV executives see how he behaves, grit their teeth and try to move on,' the staffer said. 'He is very touchy-feely, not in an appropriate way, and people did not like it. He's rude and difficult.' The source said he would sometimes expose himself as a joke. 'He thinks it's funny so you have to wonder whether he doesn't understand how wrong this is. He has that old-school Italian attitude where he thinks he's being funny, maybe even sexy? But he makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable.' The Mail on Sunday revealed last year how Gino's alleged behaviour left production staff feeling uncomfortable when he suddenly left Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip in March 2023. He claimed he quit because he did not want 'stressful' contract talks to ruin his friendship with his co-stars. It emerged however, that he was edged out after allegedly refusing to sign a morality clause in his contract. Separately, it has emerged that a woman lodged a complaint with ITV bosses earlier this month claiming she was a victim of Gino's inappropriate behaviour over a five-year period. The woman worked with him between 2006 and 2011 on the channel's daytime show This Morning, where he was resident chef, and on Saturday Cooks! Gino (right) promoted his latest show with Fred (left) amid claims he is being 'eased out' by ITV Gino was seen playing the guitar naked in the new Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible trailer Gino bared all in a recent visit to Texas with his friends Gordon and Fred for their travel series Also, ITV are believed to have ordered Gino to complete a language and behavioural course after complaints about the way he treated female colleagues on his new show Emission Impossible. Sources said filming was halted after crew complained he made inappropriate jokes behind the scenes. Some were allegedly offered counselling after filming of the show was complete. Gino said at the time: 'I have been completely shocked by, and deny utterly, these awful accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against me, which are alleged to have taken place years ago during the shooting of Gordon, Gino & Fred. 'Let me be clear: This did not happen. I take such matters extremely seriously and in particular the suggestion that I have deliberately acted in this improper way against any female employees is deeply upsetting.' Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell has become the latest British celebrity to be impacted by the devastating LA wild fires after the millionaire evacuated his home on Thursday. The former TOWIE star, 36, took to Instagram to share a clip of the burning hills as he explained he had evacuated his house in West Hollywood and headed to his family's home in West Hills. However it wasn't long before the family were instructed to leave West Hills as the fires continued to spread. Exclaiming the fires are 'outta control', Liam explained: 'So yesterday I left my house in West Hollywood and came to my family home in West Hills and now there is a new fire that has just started out over there. 'I think they are saying we are going to have to evacuate, everyone is starting to pack. It's crazy.' In another caption he penned: 'This is outta control!! This has to be a planned attack or some of these fires have to be arsondoesnt make sense how they can keep starting in random areas! TOWIE star Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell has evacuated his home in West Hollywood as millionaire exclaimed 'it's outta control' and shared terrifying footage from the LA fires on Thursday The former TOWIE star, 36, took to Instagram to share a clip of the burning hills as he explained he had evacuated his house in West Hollywood and headed to his family's home in West Hills 'Just got a text to evacuate!! Please God, make the house and everyone else stay safe Big up all the Firefighters!!!!' Liam also shared a compilation of clips from the fire circling on social media as he added: 'Pray for LA'. The star, who appeared on TOWIE from 2015 until 2022, relocated to LA back in May 2023 to start a new career in real estate as he left the world of reality TV behind and joined his family across the pond. Fellow Brits including Patsy Palmer, Alice Evans and Brooklyn Beckham have also been impacted by the terrifying incident. Patsy, 52, moved to Malibu in 2014 along with husband Richard and her children and returns frequently to the UK to film EastEnders. She told in a post on Thursday alongside a picture of the fires that her 'brain was fried' and lots of her friends in the area she lives in had lost their homes. Patsy had returned to the UK last Saturday before the fires broke out and said it was hard being so far away as the fires rage. Patsy wrote: 'My heart is broken. My brain is fried today looking at the devastating scenes of the fires AGAIN in my hometown. I just returned home to my home in case after the fires a couple of weeks ago and left on Saturday back to work in the UK and now this. However it wasn't long before the family were instructed to leave West Hills as the fires continue to spread Exclaiming the fires are 'outta control', Liam explained: 'So yesterday I left my house in West Hollywood and came to my family home in West Hills and now there is a new fire that has just started out over there' He also shared a screenshot of the emergency warning he received Liam also shared a compilation of clips from the fire circling on social media as he added: 'Pray for LA' 'My family are safe but lots of my friends have lost their homes again which is extremely traumatic. 'Being here so far away is really really hard. I'm praying and crying as I write this. I'm helpless here but praying hard Please reach out if you need anything. Richard and kids are there safe and evacuated. 'This is huge. Really wasn't expecting this. Heartbroken. Stay safe.' Fellow Brit Alice Evans, 56, was also preparing to evacuate her home in LA as the actress posted on her Story saying: 'We're now in the 'pack stuff and be ready' zone. 'At least according to the watch duty site that most people are recommending. Thing is where to go? 'Mainly hearing 'drive south'. But from what I can see most roads are now totally blocked with back to back traffic. So just waiting. Bags are packed. Waiting and watching. 'Sending love to everyone. So much love to you all. We've got this. We have to.' Alice is thought to be renting a home in California with her two children after her bitter divorce from Ioan Gruffudd. Patsy Palmer shared her heartbreak as devastating wildfires sweep across her 'hometown' of Los Angeles -(Patsy seen at her Malibu home) She told in a post on Thursday alongside a picture of the flames that her 'brain was fried' and lots of her friends had lost their homes in the area Fellow Brit Alice Evans was also preparing to evacuating her home in LA She posted on her Story saying: 'We're now in the 'pack stuff and be ready' zone' While Brooklyn Beckham shared a post with a broken heart emoji as he shared a snap of some of the fires. He lives in LA with his wife Nicola Peltz His picture appeared to be taken from a tall building which looked out over the fires Meanwhile his mother Victoria shared her heartbreak over the devastation caused by the fires Meanwhile Brooklyn Beckham shared a post with a broken heart emoji as he shared a snap of some of the fires. The son of Victoria and David lives in LA with his wife Nicola Peltz. His picture appeared to be taken from a tall building which looked out over the fires. The son of Victoria and David lives in LA with his wife Nicola Peltz. His picture appeared to be taken from a tall building which looked out over the fires. After selling their $11 million Beverly Hills property in 2023, it is not clear exactly where the couple now live though it is still in LA. Nicola previously told Cosmopolitan: 'We did have a house in LA at one point, but we sold it because we were like, 'Oh, we're going to go to Florida for a while'. And then we're like, 'No, just kidding, we have to be in LA for work.' It was so silly of us. 'But we both honestly love New York so much. If our work was there, we'd be there in five seconds.' Meanwhile his mother Victoria Beckham shared her heartbreak over the devastation caused by the fires in a post on her Story. She wrote: 'Seeing the devastation and loss caused by these wildfires is truly heartbreaking. 'Los Angeles holds such a special place in our family's hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, especially those who have lost their homes or loved ones. 'We are immensely grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who are risking their lives to protect others. Please stay safe and look after each other during this devastating time. Victoria x.' Tamara Ecclestone has shared her terror after receiving the 'worst phone call ever' from her sister Petra during the wildfires. Tamara Ecclestone has shared her terror after receiving the 'worst phone call ever' from her sister Petra during the Los Angeles wildfires Tamara shared the moment she received the news that her family had been forced to flee their home from the fires ripping across the city On Wednesday, Petra's real estate agent husband Sam Palmer has said they were 'praying for a miracle' as the Pacific Palisades veers closer to their $30.5M home The F1 heiress, 40, said that she was 'stunned' by what is happening in Hollywood as she posted about her devastation on her Instagram page on Thursday. On Wednesday, Petra's real estate agent husband Sam Palmer has said they were 'praying for a miracle' as the Pacific Palisades veers closer to their $30.5M home. Sharing a terrifying update on Instagram, Sam said their house was in 'god's hands' as they watched the fire, from their television, head to their area. It is currently unclear how affected their home has been. Petra and Sam have since checked into the Beverly Hilton Hotel with their children and pets where they are are hunkering down into the fires are under control. Tamara shared the moment she received the news that her family had been forced to flee their home from the fires ripping across the city. Sharing a photograph of a firefighter at the blaze, she wrote: 'The worst phone call I have ever received from my sister. I am still stunned at what is happening. My heart breaks for everyone that has been affected.' Apocalyptic scenes of 120ft flames engulfing multi-million dollar homes stunned the world y as wildfires tore through one of Hollywood's most exclusive enclaves. Stars such as Petra, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Star Wars Mark Hamill, American actor James Woods were forced to flee as rampaging wildfires ripped through Pacific Palisades, burning everything in their path. Just last year Patsy admitted she would 'never live in the UK again' as she lives out her 'dream life' in Malibu The former EastEnders star, who moved to the US with her husband Richard Merkell in 2014, said that 'pinches herself every morning Thanking her fans for their support last night, Petra wrote on her Instagram Story: 'Thank you to everyone checking in. My heart goes out to everyone in LA... 'Our friends and all those in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, also impacted by the wildfires. Hoping for a miracle that our will be ok. Just last year Patsy admitted she would 'never live in the UK again' as she lives out her 'dream life' in Malibu. The former EastEnders star, who moved to the US with her husband Richard Merkell in 2014, said that 'pinches herself every morning.' Speaking to DJ Lorcan and DJ YUKI on their podcast Shuffle Skip Repeat on the actress opened up about her life by the ocean. Patsy said: 'It's beautiful we live in our own little bubble, Malibu is it's own little place, we very much keep ourselves to ourselves and we have a lot of English friends. 'I pinch myself every morning when I wake up and see the ocean it's like a dream. But I've created that.' She continued: 'I don't think I would live in England again. I would like to experience something else in life but I'm not too sure if I will. 'I'm very happy and grateful for where I am so I'm not going anywhere fast. I don't know what that might look like. It just depends on life and where it goes. I just think do what makes you happy.' Recalling a fun night out in Malibu, she exclaimed: 'I met all my idols in one night. I was the only one dancing, and then I got a tip on the shoulder and it was Pharrell Williams. 'He asked if I wanted to dance with him. I got to meet Mary J Blige and Dr Dre that night as well. It was amazing, I'm just so grateful.' Patsy has been living in the States with her children and husband Richard, after they relocated in 2014. Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke. Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City - forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape. The National Guard has been deployed and could send in military personnel to assist, amid revelations that heroic firefighters are 'triaging' homes and neighborhoods. The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west - all iconic addresses in showbiz. The latest fires mean huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, and from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, are ablaze - impacting millions caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage. At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far - with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city. More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders while Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who said they had lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire. RuPaul has broken his silence in public for the first time since the death of The Vivienne as he opened DragCon UK at the ExCel London on Friday. The RuPaul's Drag Race UK winners death last week at the age of 32 has plunged the drag community into mourning. RuPaul, 64, who discovered the Welsh-born performer, real name James Lee Williams, on season one of his hit BBC show, appeared visibly emotional with his best friend Michelle Visage by his side, who wore a mini dress with 'The Vivienne' emblazoned across it. He told the audience of DragCon UK: 'We are here to celebrate life and celebrate love and to spread it around. We want to focus on love'. 'We are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love and life, because that's what she was all about and she would love for you to live your lives and to be free and to have a lot of fun and spread it around.' Organisers set up a memorial wall and memorial books where the thousand of fans who are expected to attend the event over the weekend can remember the late entertainer who won the show's UK series back in 2019. RuPaul has broken his silence in public for the first time since the death of The Vivienne as he opened DragCon UK at the ExCel London on Friday The RuPaul's Drag Race UK winners death last week at the age of 32 has plunged the drag community into mourning Organisers set up a memorial wall and memorial books where the thousand of fans who are expected to attend the event over the weekend can remember the late entertainer RuPaul, 64, who discovered the Welsh-born performer on season one of his hit BBC show, appeared visibly emotional with his best friend Michelle Visage (L) by his side Some of the heartfelt messages read: 'The UK winner's circle has lost it's crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you'. While others said: 'Thank you for sharing your love and light with us' we will miss you': 'You made such a big impact in many people's lives, rest in peace': 'Thanks Viv for sharing your smile talent and light'. Following the Vivienne's death last week a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said officers were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death. 'Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances,' said a police spokesman. 'A file will be prepared for the coroner.' It comes as RuPaul is weighing up his future on the BBC show which has been broadcasting since 2019. Friends have said the TV personality was absolutely devastated by The Vivs death and has been in bits about the sudden loss. The tragedy has weighed so heavily on the presenter that he is now seriously considering stepping away from his hosting duties on the show. A friend of the star said: This has come like a bolt out of the blue for Ru. The Vivienne was one of his brightest stars and everyone knows what a soft spot he had for them. He has been left absolutely devastated by their passing and is now weighing up his own future. 'We are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love and life, because that's what she was all about and she would love for you to live your lives and to be free and to have a lot of fun and spread it around' Michelle wore a black mini dress emblazoned with The Vivienne's name and a crown in honour of her late pal Michelle (L) and The Vivienne (R) pictured together Fans were asked to share their 'special memories' of the later TV star People left messages as well as photo tributes to The Vivienne Drag Race fans wrote on the wall that features a large glamorous photo of The Vivienne Some of the heartfelt messages read: 'The UK winner's circle has lost it's crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you' While others said: 'Thank you for sharing your love and light with us' we will miss you': 'You made such a big impact in many people's lives, rest in peace' Friends have said the TV personality was absolutely devastated by The Vivs death and has been in bits about the sudden loss (pictured together 2020) Ru is now seriously considering standing down from hosting the UK franchise, which will always be associated with The Viv. Sources said that the American drag queen has confided in those close to him that his filming schedule is packed and he isnt getting any younger and he believes the show is in good hands with his co-presenters Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton. On Wednesday RuPaul hit back at fellow drag star Tyra Sanchez posted a controversial tweet about The Vivienne. Sanchez, real name James Ross, feuded with The Vivienne nearly five years ago and has reacted to news of the shock death with a scathing jibe about the late performer. Sanchez reposted a tweet by The Vivienne from July 2020, in which the latter wrote: 'Bet Tyra was fuming when she realised Netflix Spoiled the win too. Sorry gal. You tried though.' Quoting the tweet, Sanchez retorted: 'Yet it doesnt compare to the fumes of the crematorium.' Sanchez, another Drag Race alum, was met with a vociferous backlash on social media from fans of The Vivienne who were outraged over the post. Amid the furor, RuPaul posted a throwback video on Instagram this Wednesday, showing him pretending to slap Sanchez during an acting challenge on Drag Race. While news of The Vivienne's death triggered an outpouring of grief from fans, Sanchez, winner of the American version of the program in 2010, took to social media to rekindle a social media feud with The Vivienne from almost five years earlier by posting her crematorium tweet. Friends have said the TV personality was absolutely devastated by The Vivs death and has been in bits about the sudden loss The tragedy has weighed so heavily on the presenter that he is now seriously considering stepping away from his hosting duties on the show A friend of the star said: This has come like a bolt out of the blue for Ru. The Vivienne was one of his brightest stars and everyone knows what a soft spot he had for them' Ru is now seriously considering standing down from hosting the UK franchise, which will always be associated with The Viv' Following the Vivienne's death last week a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said officers were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford at 12.22pm following reports of a sudden death The drag queens all posed together on the pink carpet The queens also performed a runway show, with season one stars using the opportunity pay tribute to The Vivienne Fans were able to meet and greet their favourite queens 2024 UK winner Kyran Thrax was dressed to impress British drag queen River Medway posed up a storm Met with opprobrium from fans and fellow drag stars alike, Sanchez was unrepentant, writing on social media the following day: 'She's dead. Rotting. Sending me all the hate in the world won't bring her back. But do as you must. 'Because of you the tweet has reached over 25k individuals. Thanks for the much needed attention that I oh so desperately needed.' And despite further criticism, with X users branding the drag queen 'disgusting' and 'twisted', Sanchez's position became more entrenched on Tuesday evening, when she posted a picture of a crematorium furnace captioned: Songs I would play if I owned a crematorium. The soundtrack to the post was the Alicia Keys hit Girl on Fire. Social media users once again responded with fury, variously branding Sanchez 'disgusting', 'despicable' and 'sad'. On Wednesday RuPaul hit back at fellow drag star Tyra Sanchez posted a controversial tweet about The Vivienne Amid the furor, RuPaul posted a throwback video on Instagram this Wednesday, showing him pretending to slap Sanchez during an acting challenge on Drag Race Sanchez's social media post is the latest in a series of insensitive comments the drag star (pictured) has made since the death of fellow performer The Vivienne at the weekend Williams, whose drag name The Vivienne was rooted in a love of the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, first garnered attention in 2015 as the British drag ambassador for the US version of RuPauls Drag Race. Four years later, Williams won the first UK edition of the show, later appearing in series seven of RuPauls Drag Race All Stars. The drag artist also finished third in the finals of Dancing on Ice in 2023. Other career milestones came with appearances in a touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a turn as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz. 'I love Vivienne Westwood and when I moved to Liverpool everyone used to call me Vivienne as I was head to toe in Westwood,' The Vivienne explained in 2019. 'My style is like a Scouse wife who has come into money, she moved to LA and blew it all and then she's had to move back to Liverpool.' Mel Gibson recalled returning home to 'nothing' after his $14.5million Malibu mansion burned down while he was filming Joe Rogan's podcast in Austin, Texas. The 69-year-old actor shared his devastation after his home was razed by the horrific wildfires, in an emotional interview on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports. While he was filming the podcast, Mel said he knew his neighbourhood was on fire and wondered if his home was still standing. Mel began: 'Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional.' He added: 'I was doing the Rogan podcast And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. 'But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there. I went home and I said to myself, well, at least I haven't got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore. Mel Gibson, 69, recalled returning home to 'nothing' after his $14.5million Malibu mansion burned down while he was filming Joe Rogan's podcast in Austin, Texas Mel has been trying to sell his sprawling mansion for years and even knocked $3million off the listing price 'I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can't get back 'All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to, you know, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, you know, pretty cool stuff, you know, but you know that can all be replaced. 'These are only things. And the good, the good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and we're all happy and healthy and out of harm's way, that's all I can care about, really.' Mel has been trying to sell his sprawling mansion for years, and even knocked $3million off the listing price. The sprawling property, built in 1996, was purchased by the Oscar winner in 2008 for a cool $11.5 million and boasted five-bedroom, as well as a majestic old world feel including a castle style turret. Mel shared disturbing visions of fire and brimstone when he appeared on the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. The actor-turned-filmmaker warned the controversial podcaster that society was heading toward a 'collapse' while discussing the fires that have devastated several neighbourhoods around Greater Los Angeles and left other celebrities without homes. Mel also included plenty of criticism for California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to 'take care of the forest and maintain the forest,' though the current fires all started in urban environments. The actor said he is 'devastated' that his home has been torn down by the horror wildfires in an emotional interview on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports 'Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional,' the actor said of the loss of his home 'I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can't get back 'All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to, you know, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, you know, pretty cool stuff, you know, but you know that can all be replaced,' he said Mel has been trying to sell his sprawling mansion for years, and even knocked $3million off the listing price According to the Passion Of The Christ director, 'All those earmarks, the precursors of a collapse, they're present in our time. It doesn't take long.' Mel referred in his chat to Jared Diamond's 2011 book Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed. 'It says all the things you need for a civilization to cave in and collapse,' Gibson said of the book. 'It's an interesting observation. And we're no smarter than our grandparents.' The Mad Max star said his son Milo who is in the volunteer fire brigade in Malibu sent him a video of his neighbourhood 'in flames,' which made it resemble an 'inferno.' He isn't in any danger of being homeless, though, as he boasted he has another home in Costa Rica. 'I love it there,' he said after Joe asked if the ongoing fires would be the final straw for him to finally move out of California. Later, Mel joked that he might get 'a new house' out of the crisis. Ironically, the restaurant and bar where Mel got drunk before his infamous antisemitic rant in 2006, Moonshadows Malibu, was a victim of the blaze, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mel shared disturbing visions of fire and brimstone when he appeared on the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience The actor-turned-filmmaker warned the controversial podcaster that society was heading toward a 'collapse' while discussing the fires that have devastated several neighbourhoods around Greater Los Angeles and left other celebrities without homes The LA fires that have left many celebrities without a home (a firefighter is seen attempting to extinguish a fire on a beachfront property in Malibu on Thursday) Rogan (pictured) asked if this would be the final straw for him to finally move out of the state of California, but Mel replied: 'I've got a place in Costa Rica - I love it there' Mel reserved much of his fury for the blazes for California's governor, Gavin Newsom. 'I think Newsom said, 'I'm gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff' he didn't do anything,' he complained. The Braveheart director agreed with the host before joking: 'I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavin's hair gel.' Joe chimed in that he believes that the California Governor had put tax dollars toward supporting the homeless population instead of fire prevention. The death toll of the historic infernos have now reached 10, as heroic firefighters still battle hellish conditions on the front lines of at least five different fires. Apocalyptic fires tore through the tony enclave of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, rapidly spreading to surrounding suburbs as a windstorm sometimes reaching up to 100 mph carried embers and debris in all directions. Residents fled and then waited with bated breath to learn more about their homes, as news began trickling out that entire streets had been wiped off the map, firefighters were running out of water after destroyed infrastructure prevented more from being pumped up hill and resources were being diverted to fight the fire on multiple fronts. According to LAist, the demand for water during the firefight was four times usual levels, which made it impossible to refill water tanks quickly enough to increase water pressure, even though the water never ran out. Wildfires which began on Tuesday have continued to ravage the City of Angels, so far claiming six lives A building stands in ruins after being burned by the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles Mel's interview comes as large swathes of the city remained engulfed by the flames which have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tried to deflect criticism that fire hydrants rans dry by insisting they were filled, but simply were not designed to cope with a disaster of this scale. Although water supplies faltered due to burst pipes and extreme demand, the fire was fueled by dry vegetation and extreme winds, which had gusts of 80 to 100 mph. It's unclear if more water would have had much of an impact on the blaze, as burning embers flew miles from their origins after being carried by the hurricane-force winds, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bass' comments came as the fires continued to burn for the third consecutive day, with the Pacific Palisades blaze becoming the most devastating in the county's history. Almost 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, with hundreds of thousands still without power. The Kardashian's enclave is at great risk as the wildfires continue to sweep through Los Angeles amid the shocking devastation. And with Hollywood A-listers forced to evacuate their homes as they turn to ashes, it seems the Kardashian's could also lose their Hidden Hills and Calabasas mansions where the clan live all just six miles from each other. A new apocalyptic, fast-moving inferno, named the Kenneth Fire, is threatening to rip through the desirable neighbourhoods. The latest blaze was allegedly caused by an arsonist, who was apprehended by police on Thursday night. Khloe Kardashian, whose famous family has donated $2,500 worth of meals to first responders, blasted the individual on Instagram as she shared a clip from News Nation. 'You sick mother f**kers!' the 40-year-old mother-of-two wrote. 'What the f**k is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!! May you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!!' Your browser does not support iframes. The Kardashian enclave is at risk as the LA wildfire continue to sweep towards the family's properties amid the devastation A new apocalyptic, fast-moving inferno, named the Kenneth Fire , is threatening to rip through the desirable neighbourhoods (pictured the Calabasas area where the Karashian's reside) The star also reposted her sister Kourtney's Instagram Story as she shared a prayer asking for urgent 'protection and peace'. She also posted a supportive post from pregnancy app Peanut which read: 'You are not alone. Our hearts are with you all.' Meanwhile Kendall took to her Instagram Story with a picture of the fires as she wrote: 'Can't express enough my gratitude for our hard working firefighter, thank you for what you do, our hero's. 'Praying for the families who've lost their homes. stay safe'. Khloe and her family have been aiding first responders bravely battling the devastating fires throughout the City of Angels. On Thursday, the Instagram page for Carousel Restaurant an Armenian-Lebanese eatery shared photos of meals they delivered to firefighters, funded by the Kardashian family. Carousel, with locations in both Glendale and Hollywood, is a Kardashian/Jenner family favourite. A number of photos shared by the restaurant saw happy firefighters holding boxes of food. Another snap saw food containers on a table with a receipt that showed the total for the meal order came to $2,505.43 Khloe also posted a supportive post from pregnancy app Peanut which read: 'You are not alone. Our hearts are with you all' Meanwhile Kendall took to her Instagram Story to pay tribute to the fire fighters as she sent her prayers to those suffering The star also reposted her sister Kourtney's Instagram Story as she shared a prayer asking for urgent 'protection and peace' 'You sick mother f**kers!' she wrote on the clip, adding, 'What the f**k is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!! May you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!!' One of the family's favourite restaurants have been providing meals for the fire fighters 'We proudly delivered meals to several fire stations today. Thank you to the frontline members for your dedication to your communities. A special thank you to the Kardashian family for funding the mealsyour generosity knows no bounds.' The restaurant tagged her sisters Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, her brother Rob Kardashian and their mom Kris Jenner. Khloe reshared the post to her Stories, writing, 'My family and I wanted to feed a few fire houses today and we couldn't think of a better restaurant to reach out to other then @carouselrestaurant. Our favourite Armenian restaurant!' 'They whipped up hundreds of individual meals for so many firefighters, volunteers, first responders, and we could not be more thankful! Thank you for putting your lives on the line for all of us!' Elsewhere Kim has been slammed for promoting an upcoming sale for her SKIMS label as the devastating Los Angeles fire continues to rage. The 44-year-old shared a now-expired post to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, featuring information about the winter sale. Los Angeles based writer and comedian Meredith Lynch blasted Kardashian in an Instagram reel, criticising her for posting the video amid the raging fires, rather than issuing details about resources to help people. 'LA is literally burning down, and Kimberly Noel is literally posting, telling us to buy SKIMS,' Lynch raged in the clip. She shared a screenshot of the post, which showed a countdown clock set to expire in 19 hours and 42 minutes time, indicating when the sale would start. 'Not one thoughts or prayers on her Instagram, but she is posting you a countdown to her winter sale,' she scathingly pointed out. 'Kim Kardashian, who has these huge reaches, who has such a base in Los Angeles, it is wild to me that they're not like, "hey let me use my platform to put out as much resources as possible,"' she pointed out. The LA-based writer continued: 'No, instead, she's like "buy SKIMS."' Elsewhere Kim has been slammed by Los Angeles based writer and comedian Meredith Lynch for promoting an upcoming sale for her SKIMS label during the fires Kim's hairstylist Jen Atkin took to Instagram to reveal she lost her home in Los Angeles Meanwhile Kim's former hairstylist Jen Atkin has also lost her house in the blaze. Jen, 44, took to her Instagram to share the devastating news with her 5.3 million followers. The hair entrepreneur shared a photo that she explained was 'our sweet neighborhood just last week,' showing a picturesque view across the water with a broken heart emoji. The Glamour columnist then shared the same picture of the coastline devastated by the raging blaze. 'This is weird to post but our house is gone,' Jen wrote, as she was seen crying with her dog on her lap while her husband, fashion photographer Mike Rosenthal, drove them to evacuate the area. 'We just got confirmation,' Jen continued. 'Our whole area demolished. So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend. 'We're going to be ok. We always push through,' Jen said in her message to her worried followers. I love you guys thanks for the warm blanket of love today.' Meanwhile Paris Hilton made an emotional return to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house which was destroyed in the catastrophic fires throughout Southern California. It comes just one day after the TV personality, 43, confirmed that she saw the property 'burn to the ground on live TV.' She had purchased the two-story residence in 2021 for $8.4 million - and once led down to La Costa beach. Paris Hilton, 43, made an emotional return to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house which was destroyed in the catastrophic fires throughout Southern California; seen in November 2024 in West Hollywood It comes just one day after the TV personality, 43, confirmed that she saw the property 'burn to the ground on live TV' Hilton shared a heartbreaking video to her Instagram page on Thursday as she discovered what was left of the property and got candid about being left in 'complete shock.' She filmed the clip while walking through the remains of the entrance which was still standing, but then revealed that the rest of the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble after being destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire. Paris wrote, 'I'm standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable.' 'When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock - I couldn't process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces.' The star expressed that the home 'wasn't just a place to live - It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family.' 'It was where Phoenix's little hands made art that I'll cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes it's devastating beyond words.' Hilton added that her heart continues to break 'knowing that this isn't just my story.' 'So many people have lost everything. It's not just walls and roofs - it's the memories that made those houses homes. It's the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives.' Hilton shared a heartbreaking video to her Instagram page on Thursday as she took in what was left of the property and got candid about being left in 'complete shock' She filmed the clip while walking through the remains of the entrance which was still standing, but then revealed that the rest of the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble The star expressed that the home 'wasn't just a place to live - It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family' But despite dealing with 'pain' over losing the home, Paris shared that she still felt 'incredibly lucky' and added, 'My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe' 'And to everyone going through this pain, please know you're not alone. We're in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before,' Paris penned The remains of Paris Hilton 's Malibu beach house can also be seen in shocking images that were taken on Thursday The modern property had contained three bedrooms, three bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows But despite dealing with 'pain' over losing the home, Paris shared that she still felt 'incredibly lucky' and added, 'My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe.' 'That's the most important thing, and I'm holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. And beyond grateful to all the the fire fighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires.' Paris wrote that the 'love, prayers and kindness' she has received reminded her that 'there is still beauty in this world.' 'And to everyone going through this pain, please know you're not alone. We're in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before.' In conclusion, the actress added, 'Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments. Life can change in an instant, and it's the love we share that truly matters. I'm sending all my love to everyone who is hurting right now.' A resurfaced sketch has shown Richard Hammond's wife Mindy becoming increasingly frustrated at her husband after the couple announced their split on Thursday. Mindy is understood to have filed for divorce from the Top Gear star after 28-years of marriage and in a clip from his former programme Mid-Life Crisis in 2020, she evidently cannot hide her irritation at Richard's behaviour. In the funny scene the pair are dressed up to head to a party as Richard takes the wheel of a Ford Ranger Raptor luxury pick up truck. Discussing the many features of the vehicle, Mindy is seen becoming increasingly bored as she barks: 'Are you going to talk like this all evening?' Richard then replies: 'Darling I'm just talking about some of the sophisticated features of my sophisticated new truck as we go to our sophisticated party... Sophicatedly.' Failing to see the funny side, she bluntly responds: 'Whatever,' yet Richard ignores her irritated manner as he annoyingly continues: 'Because I'm sophisticated. I have a bow tie. Which I tied myself.' Richard Hammond's wife Mindy failed to hide her irritation at her husband in a hilarious resurfaced sketch after the couple announced their split after 28-year marriage on Thursday In a clip from his former programme Mid-Life Crisis in 2020, Mindy is seen becoming increasingly bored as she barks: 'Are you going to talk like this all evening?' 'Yes dear, you can tell,' adds Mindy. Later in the video, Richard decides to test the vehicles off-road abilities and embarks on a 'shortcut' through bumpy terrain and muddy waters while Mindy attempts to apply her mascara. Pulling up at the house ready for their 'sophisticated party,' Mindy is left looking dishevelled from the journey with her hair blown everywhere and makeup smeared on her face. Richard then asks: 'Shall I tell them you will be in in a minute? Two minutes? Why are you grinding your teeth?' The comedic clip has resurfaced after Mindy previously warned that Richard was on his 'last chance', eight years before the couple announced their marriage was over. According to the The Sun, Mindy demanded the divorce after a source claimed she 'wanted him gone'. A source told the publication: 'Richard is very upset about all this. It seems he has tried hard to rekindle the relationship but to no avail. There is no speculation that any third party is involved.' Richard married Mindy in 2002 after they first met back in 1995, with the presenter previously sharing that there was an instant attraction between them. Later in the video, Richard decides to test the vehicles off-road abilities through bumpy terrain and muddy waters while Mindy attempts to apply her mascara The comedic clip has resurfaced after Mindy previously warned that Richard was on his 'last chance', eight years before the couple announced their marriage was over (pictured Feb 2024) Richard shared on Thursday that he and his spouse had split after 28 years of marriage, writing in a statement they will 'always be in each other's lives' In 2017, Mindy publicly warned her husband that he will have to quit TV if he crashes his car badly again - after he was involved in a second high-speed crash. Richard was filming for his show The Grand Tour in Switzerland when the car he was driving crashed and repeatedly flipped over. It caught fire moments after he managed to escape it. In 2006 he also suffered life-threatening head injuries and was in a coma following a high-speed crash as he filmed for BBC's Top Gear. Mindy flew to be at her husband's bedside after he careered off the Swiss hillside and said: 'I did say three strikes and youre out. Youve had two goes. Appearing on ITV's This Morning, Mindy said: 'He has one of these every ten years so Ive marked the next one in my diary. Richard has repeatedly apologised to his wife and two daughters for putting them through more trauma. Mindy said: Ive got teenage daughters and a nine-year-old man. After the Swiss crash, he said that he believed he might die when his car flew off the mountain. Richard married Mindy in 2002 after they first met back in 1995, with the presenter previously sharing that there was an instant attraction between them (pictured in 2006) Mindy has reportedly kicked the Top Gear star out to sleep in the castle's barn in the wake of the split as she wants to keep their 7million Bollitree Castle estate in Hertfordshire Richard is reportedly staying at a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his 'Smallest Cog' car restoration garage The presenter was in a coma for two weeks following the accident, but made a full recovery. Richard shared on Thursday that he and his spouse had split after 28 years of marriage, writing in a statement they will 'always be in each other's lives.' He penned: 'A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently. 'Our marriage is coming to end, but we've had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters. 'We will always be in each other's lives and are proud of the family we created. 'We won't be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With Love, Richard and Mindy.' Mindy has reportedly kicked the Top Gear star out to sleep in the castle's barn in the wake of the split as she wants to keep their 7million Bollitree Castle estate in Hertfordshire. Richard is reportedly staying at a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his 'Smallest Cog' car restoration garage. Last year, Richard hinted at tensions in the marriage when he gave fans a tour and admitted he had broken her one golden rule. The presenter said he had managed to 'sneak' his prized motorbike collection back into the space after it was 'decided' they had to be removed. Revealing Mindy doesn't go in the barn, he said: 'My wife swears blind it is haunted and so it is more for me and the chaps.' Patsy Palmer cut a sombre figure as she was spotted heading to work in London on Friday as devastating fires continue to sweep her 'hometown' of LA, a year after vowing she would never to live in the UK full time. The Eastenders actress, 52, moved to Malibu in 2014 along with husband Richard and her children and returns frequently to the UK to film scenes as Bianca Jackson in the BBC soap at Elstree Studios. Pasty was seen for the first time since admitting the wildfires had left her 'devastated' in an emotional Instagram post, while leaving her hotel. She cut a casual figure in an oversized aviator jacket which she layered over a green sweater and baggy black joggers. Make-up free Patsy completed the look with comfy trainers and swept back her long ginger locks into a ponytail. She carried a shopping bag and large bottle of mineral water as she exited the building looking like she had much on her mind. Patsy Palmer, 52, cut a sombre figure as she was spotted heading to work in London on Friday while as devastating fires continue to sweep her 'hometown' of LA Pasty was seen for the first time since admitting the fires had left her 'devastated' in an emotional Instagram post (pictured) She told in a post on Thursday alongside a picture of the fires that her 'brain was fried' and lots of her friends in the area she lives in had lost their homes. Patsy had returned to the UK last Saturday before the fires broke out and said it was hard being so far away as the fires rage. Patsy wrote: 'My heart is broken. My brain is fried today looking at the devastating scenes of the fires AGAIN in my hometown. I just returned home to my home in case after the fires a couple of weeks ago and left on Saturday back to work in the UK and now this. 'My family are safe but lots of my friends have lost their homes again which is extremely traumatic. 'Being here so far away is really really hard. I'm praying and crying as I write this. I'm helpless here but praying hard Please reach out if you need anything. Richard and kids are there safe and evacuated. 'This is huge. Really wasn't expecting this. Heartbroken. Stay safe.' Patsy often shares an insight into her life on Instagram, posting stunning photos of her breathtaking house, complete with uninterrupted ocean views and a pool. The interior of her stunning family home features boho neutrals whilst the exterior boasts a terrace, where she practices yoga. Pasty was seen for the first time since admitting the fires had left her 'devastated' in an emotional Instagram post, while leaving her hotel She cut a casual figure in an oversized aviator jacket which she layered over a green sweater and baggy black joggers Make-up free Patsy completed the look with comfy trainers and swept back her long ginger locks into a ponytail Patsy had returned to the UK last Saturday before the fires broke out and said it was hard being so far away as the fires rage (Patsy seen at her Malibu home) She told in a post on Thursday alongside a picture of the fires that her 'brain was fried' and lots of her friends in the area she lives in had lost their homes (pictured at her Malibu home in 2023) Patsy wrote: 'My heart is broken. My brain is fried today looking at the devastating scenes of the fires AGAIN in my hometown' She shares three children, Fenton, 22, Emilia, 21, and Bertie, 12, with husband Richard and Charley Palmer Rothwell, 30 - her UK-based son with former partner Alfie Rothwell - whom she frequently shares beach side photos with. Just last year Patsy admitted she would 'never live in the UK again' as she lives out her 'dream life' in Malibu. The star - who has now rejoined EastEnders and flies back to the UK to film said that 'pinches herself every morning.' Speaking to DJ Lorcan and DJ YUKI on their podcast Shuffle Skip Repeat on the actress opened up about her life by the ocean. She said: 'It's beautiful we live in our own little bubble, Malibu is it's own little place, we very much keep ourselves to ourselves and we have a lot of English friends. 'I pinch myself every morning when I wake up and see the ocean it's like a dream. But I've created that.' She continued: 'I don't think I would live in England again. I would like to experience something else in life but I'm not too sure if I will. 'I'm very happy and grateful for where I am so I'm not going anywhere fast. I don't know what that might look like. It just depends on life and where it goes. I just think do what makes you happy.' Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke. Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City - forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City - forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape. The National Guard has been deployed and could send in military personnel to assist, amid revelations that heroic firefighters are 'triaging' homes and neighborhoods. The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west - all iconic addresses in showbiz. The latest fires mean huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, and from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, are ablaze - impacting millions caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage. At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far - with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city. More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders while Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who said they had lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire. An Australian actor has shared his devastation over losing his home in the LA wildfires. Neighbours star Benjamin Rigsby shared an image of the remains of his home, which was had burned down leaving nothing but a charred staircase, to Instagram on Friday. 'My heart is absolutely and completely broken. Our home is gone' he wrote alongside the confronting image. The Queensland-born star also posted a link to a fundraising site where he is requesting donations. 'Hi it's Belinda, dear friend of Ben, from Australia, and I'm trying to help Ben and Daren with any emergency relief funds possible as their home was destroyed in the fires happening this week in Pacific Palisades' the charity page reads. 'The staircase in this image led to their home. There's not much more I can say. Thankfully they were both away at the time and are physically safe. An Australian actor has shared his devastation over losing his home in the LA wildfires. Neighbours star Benjamin Rigsby (pictured) shared an image of the remains of his home, which was had burned down leaving nothing but a charred staircase, to Instagram on Friday 'As this is emergency relief the funds will be used for anything they need after this loss - food, accommodation, clothing, vehicles, anything they need.' As of Friday evening, the performer had managed to pull in around $31,000 as part of his appeal. Los Angeles based Benjamin has starred in major motion pictures such as Alien: Covenant and Ford v. Ferrari. He briefly starred on Australian soap opera Neighbours back in 2011, where he played David Sheridan. At least 10 people have been killed as catastrophic fires rage through Los Angeles for a fourth straight day as police carry out a series of looting and arson arrests. Many celebrities have seen their multi-million dollar mansions razed to the ground as the fire spread to Hollywood Hills and Calabasas, prompting criticism of city officials who have been blamed for failing to adequately prepare for the disaster. The Calabasas blaze, named the Kenneth Fire, was allegedly caused by an arsonist, who has been apprehended by police. While nighttime curfews have been introduced to crack down on looters. 'My heart is absolutely and completely broken. Our home is gone' he wrote alongside the confronting image The Queensland-born star also posted a link to a fundraising site where he is requesting donations As of Friday morning, over 10,000 structures have been burned down, with a total of 29,053 acres of land scorched in one of Los Angeles' most horrific disasters to date. It comes after Jestinta Franklin has rallied behind a friend whose home was completely destroyed in the devastating LA fires. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the AFL WAG revealed that she was 'heartbroken' at the news that friend Sasha Strabe's family home had been razed in the horrific Eaton fire, north of Pasadena. The former Miss Universe Australia, 33, shared a heartbreaking photo that showed the remains of her friend's home, which had been completely destroyed by the blaze. 'Heartbroken for the beautiful @sacha_strabe and her family, a dear friend from a long time ago' Jesinta captioned the sobering image. Continuing, Jesinta revealed that the home had been a labour of love for the family who had been renovating the property over the last few years. 'Watching your journey with this home, the love you poured into the renovations you were slowly doing bit by bit. The joy I saw it bring to you,' she wrote. 'To hear it is now gone leaves me heartbroken for you all.' Jestinta Franklin (pictured) has rallied behind a friend whose home was completely destroyed in the devastating LA fires Jesinta continued revealing that she planned to help her friend in any way she could, sharing a link to a GoFundMe page set up for he devastated family. 'If you know Sasha, you know she is kind caring and generous,' Jesinta said. 'It's hard to know what to do or how to help in these times but donating to this little family makes me feel like at least I can play a very very small part in helping out in such an awful situation for so many,' At the time of publication the GoFundMe had raised more than $86,000 (USD) for the family. Jesinta also shared a short clip shot by a friend living in LA. Taken from his rooftop the frightening clip showed the LA skyline engulfed in flames. 'Our mate sending this to us from his rooftop in LA,' she captioned the clip. 'Frightening scenes. Absolutely devastating.' Blake Lively has been accused of hitting an unforgivable low after Justin Baldonis team were served legal documents as some of them tried to save their homes from the apocalyptic wildfires in Los Angeles. The actress, 37, is embroiled in a bitter legal battle with her It Ends With Us costar Baldoni, 40, after she accused him of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment while filming the hugely popular Colleen Hoover adaptation. On Wednesday, she returned to social media for the first time since filing her bombshell lawsuit last month, to share resources with those affected by the devastating fires ravaging the Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas. But her concern was condemned by sources close to Baldoni, who were reportedly preparing to evacuate at the time they were served with another complaint. 'It is beyond despicable that Blake Lively's team sent court servers to the noticeably damaged homes of Justin Baldonis team while they were preparing to evacuate with a young child inside on the same day as one of the largest tragedies that Los Angeles has ever witnessed, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. They claim it contained zero new information since last weeks filing. Blake Lively has been accused of hitting an unforgivable low after Justin Baldoni s team were served legal documents as they tried to save their homes from the wildfires in Los Angeles The actress, 37, is embroiled in a bitter legal battle with her It Ends With Us costar Baldoni, 40, after she accused him of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment This desperate act of ego and privilege is even more horrendous set against the recent events in LA, they continued. The defendants in her suit and their legal team have lost homes, been forced to evacuate and yet are still made to fight for their livelihoods and reputation against these egoistical people. Certainly a new, unforgivable low for Ms.Lively.' The insider said members of the team, who have also been subject to death threats from fans in the wake of Livelys filing, received visits on January 7 and 8. A spokesperson for Lively insisted they have paused all attempts at service owing to the ongoing emergency. We have been attempting to serve all of the defendants since the end of last year, they said in a statement to DailyMail.com. This is a standard part of all lawsuits and is legally required. We have paused all attempts at service until the emergency conditions in LA have passed. Lively was among a slew of celebrities who jumped to share useful information for those in need as the catastrophic blaze forced the evacuation of 180,000 people, destroyed more than 10,000 structures and left roughly 400,000 customers statewide without power earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Gossip Girl star shared two Instagram stories with some helpful resources for those affected by the devastating fires that have been raging all week But her concern was condemned by sources close to Baldoni, who were reportedly preparing to evacuate at the time they were served with another complaint To everyone affected by the Los Angeles fires... Lively wrote across a post on Instagram highlighting the work of volunteer team Mutual Aid L.A. Network. Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, primarily reside in Pound Ridge, New York, with their four children: James, 10, Inez, eight, Betty, five, and Olin, one. The post marked nearly three weeks since she filed a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department on December 20. A lawsuit, in which she doubled down on her claim that Baldoni sexual harassed her and launched a retaliatory smear campaign against her, followed on New Years Eve. On the same day Baldoni initiated a $250million libel action against the New York Times for its bombshell report on Lively's first complaint and the publications claim that Baldoni is responsible for orchestrating a PR campaign to bury Lively. Lively claims Baldoni, who directed the summer movie, improvised unwanted kisses while filming, spoke frequently about his pornography addiction and sexual encounters, made comments about her weight and entered her trailer while she was undressed and breastfeeding her youngest child. In his response, Baldoni, who vehemently denied the allegations, claimed the actress undermined him throughout the shoot, edited the final cut and attempted to have him banned from the movies premiere. His lawyers are preparing to file against Lively. 'It is beyond despicable that Blake Lively's team sent court servers to the noticeably damaged homes of Justin Baldonis team while they were preparing to evacuate,' a source said A spokesperson for Lively insisted they have paused all attempts at service owing to the ongoing emergency The actress claimed in her lawsuit that the alleged smear campaign employed by Baldoni and team caused her to suffer 'financial harms' which 'continue to the present'. She states that her haircare brand, Blake Brown, and her two drinks ranges, Betty Buzz and Betty Booze, both suffered huge losses in sales due to the backlash she received. It Ends With Us follows Lily Bloom, played by Lively, who becomes embroiled in an abusive relationship with Ryle Kincaid, portrayed by Baldoni, who also directed the movie. Lively was widely criticised for failing to address the domestic violence storyline while promoting the film in interviews, instead opting to tell fans to 'grab your friends, wear your florals and head out to see it.' Baldoni was dropped by his agency William Morris Endeavor in the wake of the allegations. DJ Fat Tony celebrated 18 years sober as he shared shocking throwback snaps from when he was battling drug addiction on Friday. The music star, 58, real name Tony Marnach, took to Instagram and opened up about his transformation, revealing he was once at 'death's door' during the height of his addiction. Sharing the candid post with his Instagram followers, Tony wrote: '18 years ago I was on deaths door ravished by addiction waiting to die was all I had to look forward too. 'TODAY I celebrate 18 years of Recovery I have so much love and gratitude for everyone that has been a part of this journey so far. 'One day at a time LIFE IS FOR LIVING When we are at our lowest theres only one place to go and thats up dont let anyone tell you your not worth it and dont ever give up because when we learn a new way of life .WE DO RECOVER. 'Recovery/ sobriety has given me everything just for today and everyday love life when we start to believe we are half way there xxxx.' DJ Fat Tony has shared shocking throwback snaps from when he was battling drug addiction (right), as he celebrated 18 years sober on Friday The music star, 58, real name Tony Marnach, took to Instagram and opened up about his transformation, revealing he was once at 'death's door' during the height of his addiction Sharing the candid post with his Instagram followers, Tony wrote: '18 years ago I was on deaths door ravished by addiction waiting to die was all I had to look forward too Tony discovered drugs when he was 18 and would convince himself that he couldn't DJ unless he was high, sometimes going four or five nights straight without sleeping. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline during Boohoo's Forbidden Forest Festival in 2023, he opened up about giving up substances: 'Alcohol and drugs aren't the problem, I'm the problem. 'Being around it is no longer a problem for me because I choose not to do it. People ask me if I miss it and I think 'are you insane?' 'My life is so incredible because of the things I don't do, if I started doing those things again my life would be over, my career would be over.' Tony had an epiphany and he soon quit drugs cold turkey, spending six months in rehab to beat the addiction. He added: 'The first 3 months I thought how am I going to do this because for me there was no second chances, I'd reached the end of the road with drink and drugs. 'I got to 7 stone, I had no teeth, I was completely gone. Suddenly the pilot light came on one night and the love from one person saved my life. 'From that moment on I chose to go to rehab for 6 months and then come to London, it was a really big thing because I knew at that point I would never go back.' Dj Tony is now 18 years sober The star looks worlds away from when he did during his drug addiction Tony beaming with his two dogs It comes after Tony announced he is engaged to partner Stavros Agapiou. Tony surprised his creative director boyfriend, 31, by popping the question during a romantic trip to New York City in October 2023. In a sweet clip Tony shared to Instagram on Tuesday, he looked thrilled when Stavros said yes after getting down on one knee in front of a fountain in Central Park. He penned: 'When you find real happiness in life never let it go today I can truly say Im the happiest Ive ever been. 'I went to Central Park to this magical fountain and asked the man that has changed my life in so many ways and helped show me that I can be loved and how too love to marry me and make me complete and he said YES Im so overwhelmed with joy.' Meanwhile, his partner shared a loved-up snap of the pair in bed and wrote: 'Sunrise in bed with the FIANCE.' It comes after Tony announced he is engaged to partner Stavros Agapiou Tony's upcoming wedding is set to have a star-studded guest list and performance from an A-list pop star. According to The Sun, Boy George will be his best man and the reception will feature a performance from Kylie Minogue. On February last year Tony revealed the wedding is set to take place on May 31, 2025. He penned alongside an Instagram post: 'We are so happy to announce the date of our wedding x.' Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart have proven that their relationship is going strong. The Home and Away stars shared an intimate glimpse at their family holiday via Ada's Instagram account on Thursday. In the photos, the actors cuddled up with James' daughter Scout, who he shares with ex Jessica Marais, and Ada's son Johnas with former partner Adam Rigby. Ada explained in her caption that the blended family had been away together on the Gold Coast. 'Our week spent in paradise three theme parks in three days, go-karting, jet skis, bowling, swimming, singing and lots of laughs and love' she wrote in her caption. 'Bring on 2025!!!' the actress added alongside the photos, which showed the family at Dream World and enjoying a swim. Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart have proven that their relationship is going strong. Pictured together with Ada's son Johnas and James' daughter Scout The Home and Away stars shared an intimate glimpse at their family holiday via Ada's Instagram account on Thursday It comes after Adam and James well and truly squashed split rumours by some happy Christmas snaps of the couple. An admin of a popular Home and Away Facebook group rubbished claims about a potential breakup by sharing some loved-up photos of the pair taken over the festive period. The photos were posted on James' twin brother Nick's Instagram page and featured the actors enjoying a very close and casual Christmas break with family. 'To those who said that James and Ada have broken up already, then tried to tell me I am wrong that they have split up and that I need to get my facts right?' the page posted. 'Nick posted this on his Instagram yesterday and Ada and James look very in love and happy.' The post was met with a flurry of comments from fans who were both chuffed for the soap stars and angry at the baseless split rumours. 'People starting unnecessary rumours just to satisfy themselves I think,' one fan wrote. 'I wouldn't be surprised if James and Ada tie the knot in the future.' In the photos, the actors cuddled up with James' daughter Scout, who he shares with ex Jessica Marais, and Ada's son Johnas with former partner Adam Rigby Ada explained in her caption that the blended family had been away together on the Gold Coast 'Our week spent in paradise three theme parks in three days, go-karting, jet skis, bowling, swimming, singing and lots of laughs and love' she wrote in her caption Another chimed in with a similar: 'Thank you for the update by the look of these Family Photos of James Ada and their Families all out and about enjoying their time together which is fantastic.' A third jumped in claiming they had seen the soap stars' rock solid bond with their own eyes. 'I saw them on the beach at the Gold Coast last week and they were very much together,' they wrote. The rumours come after Ada took to Instagram at the end of 2024 to share an end-of-year photo montage, with James featuring quite prominently. The actress shared a series of sweet images that recapped her year with friends, family and her new man. One photo showed the lovebirds together at this year's Logie Awards, where they went 'red carpet official' with their new romance. The video also featured a sweet Christmas photo of the couple enjoying a festive smooch as James held a sprig of mistletoe over his ladylove's head. Another image showed the loved-up couple enjoying a day out at the beach. It comes after Adam and James well and truly squashed split rumours by some happy Christmas snaps of the couple The rumours come after Ada took to Instagram at the end of 2024 to share an end-of-year photo montage, with James featuring quite prominently Flaunting her slender frame in an aqua blue one piece bikini, Ada cuddled close to James as they posed on the sand. Another photo showed the couple's playful side, with Ada and James hamming it up for the camera. One black and white image also saw Ada give James a kiss on the cheek as he smiled widely. '...and that's a wrap on 2024,' Ada captioned the images. The post was met with a flurry of love heart emojis and best wishes for an even bigger 2025. 'Precious memories, may you have more wonderful memories in the New Year,' one follower wrote, summing up the sentiment of many. Ada and James began dating after she split from her ex-partner Adam Rigby just before Christmas last year and James finalised his divorce from Sarah Roberts in March. The lovebirds were first linked publicly earlier this year when they were seen sharing a kiss on Anzac Day. The couple 'hard launched' their relationship on the red carpet at the 2024 Logie Awards in August. Ada later confirmed their romance with James in an interview with Stellar Magazine in July. 'Jimmy and I are together, yes. Its only early days,' she said. 'Its very recent and very unexpected. Im super happy. Its really lovely.' The pair have been co-stars on Home and Away for seven years and first met in 1998 when they starred as Alex and Fiona on Australian drama Breakers. Arnold Schwarzenegger was spotted in New York City dressed as Santa Claus while filming his new movie The Man With the Bag. The sighting comes as the Terminator star's Brentwood, California mansion continues to be under threat from the Pacific Palisades fire. Arnold, 77, sported a white beard for his role as Jolly Old St. Nick and wore a red coat with toggle closures. The coat had a hood and the Jingle All the Way actor also donned a red, white and black scarf and a beanie with a pom pom on the top of it. in one photo the former Mr. Universe threw his arms out as he stood in front of 30 Rock. He also struck the same pose on the ice rink at Rockefeller Center. Arnold Schwarzenegger was spotted in New York City dressed as Santa Claus while filming The Man With the Bag Arnold is filming his first festive film in nearly three decades. He previously appeared in the 1996 Christmas family comedy Jingle All The Way as a workaholic father on a mission to get his son a sold-out action figure, which results in him learning the real meaning of Christmas. The former governor of California joins a long list of actors that have played St. Nicholas, including Ben Affleck, Tim Allen, Billy Bob Thornton and Kurt Russell. News first broke that the Hollywood legend would be starring in another Christmas comedy back in March. Adam Shankman is directing the Amazon MGM Studios film from a script by Allan Rice. Reacher star Alan Ritchson also stars. The synopsis reads: 'When Santa's magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a former thief, to help him get it back. 'Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfit elves, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas.' This is Arnold's first movie since Terminator: Dark Fate in 2019. He did shoot Kung Fury 2 that year but it has not been released due to legal issues. The sighting comes as the Terminator star's Brentwood mansion continues to be under threat from the Palisades fire Arnold, 77, sported a white beard for his role as Jolly Old St. Nick and wore a red coat with toggle closures The coat had a hood and the Jingle All the Way actor also donned a red, white and black scarf and a beanie with a pom pom on the top of it The Palisades fire started on Tuesday morning and the Eaton fire in Pasadena began not long after. More than 180,000 people in Los Angeles have been evacuated, a modest estimate of 9,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed and at least 10 people have lost their lives. There are four additional fires burning in Topanga/Calabasas, Acton, Simi Valley and the Hollywood Hills. The fires were sparked by the Santa Ana winds, which saw gusts of up to 80 to 100mph on Tuesday and Wednesday as fire fighters tried to get a handle on the blazes. Entire neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Altadena have been wiped off the map due to the blazes. The Calabasas blaze, named the Kenneth Fire, was allegedly caused by an arsonist, who has been apprehended by police. A total of 29,053 acres of land has been scorched as of Friday morning in Los Angeles' worst fire to date. Many celebrities have seen their multi-million dollar mansions razed to the ground as the fire spread to Hollywood Hills and Calabasas. The synopsis reads: 'When Santa's magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a former thief, to help him get it back' 'Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfit elves, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas' A view of engulfed wildfire as firefighters battle wildfires in Los Angeles as several blazes continue to tear through the region on January 10 Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry Teller, Miley Cyrus and Eugene Levy have seen their homes leveled by the fires. So did Anna Faris, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Melissa Rivers, Paris Hilton and Mandy Moore, Jeff Bridges, Jhene Aiko, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and Cary Elwes. Billy Crystal issued a statement about the loss of his home, saying, 'Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. 'Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cant be taken away. 'We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.' Hollywood actress Blanca Blanco gave DailyMail.com an update on what is going on in Malibu amid the horrible Pacific Palisades fires. Blanco has been staying in a house located by the Getty Villa. While the house did not burn down, the vegetation surrounding the home did. 'I feel lucky that the house is still standing,' said Blanca. 'I am one of the few so I know how incredibly fortunate I am,' she added. Things have become very strained in the area, said the Eye For Eye actress. 'I went to the grocery store and there is not much on the shelves. It's hard to find bottle water and there is not much bread though there is plenty of pasta and condiments,' she noted. There has also been a shortage on eggs, but that has been going on for weeks amid the bird flu. Grocery stores like Pavilions in Malibu are still open. It also has become stressful to find drinking water and residents have asked to boil their water before consuming it. Then there are the looters that continue to prowl the neighborhood. Hollywood actress Blanca Blanco gave DailyMail.com an update on what is going on in Malibu amid the horrible Pacific Palisades fires . Blanco has been staying in a house located by the Getty Villa. While the house did not burn down, the vegetation surrounding the home did. 'I feel lucky that the house is still standing,' said Blanca Things have become very strained in the area, said the Eye For Eye actress. 'I went to the grocery store and there is not much on the shelves. It's hard to find bottle water and there is not much bread though there is plenty of pasta and condiments,' she noted 'I have to boil any water I consume, it takes a while, so that is very different, but I am lucky to have a home,' she noted. On Wednesday the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power released a water alert for the Pacific Palisades and adjacent communities 'north of San Vicente Blvd' due to 'heavy ash, debris and pressure fluctuations.' 'The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) and State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water strongly advise consumers in the 90272 zip code, and adjacent communities in the LADWP service area north of San Vicente Blvd. to ONLY USE BOILED TAP WATER OR BOTTLED WATER FOR DRINKING AND COOKING PURPOSES until further notice due to low water pressure in the water distribution system stemming from high water usage to respond to the Pacific Palisades wildfire,' the notice read. Consumers were urged to follow the recommendation 'out of an abundance of caution,' while LADWP officials work to 're-pressurize the system and conduct tests to confirm water quality.' The warning stated that 'disease-causing organisms,' including viruses, parasites and bacteria could be present in the water and may cause symptoms 'such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.' Blanca also reported that she has seen opportunists in Malibu. There has also been a shortage on eggs, but that has been going on for weeks amid the bird flu A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday This comes a week after the Finding Nicole actress posed in a red bikini on Malibu beach. 'I was near some of the homes that burned down to the ground,' she said choking up. 'It's so hard to see this gorgeous coastline get decimated and to see so many broken hearts over it' 'There are lot of young men on motorcycles with backpacks going down the streets looking for any valuables,' said Blanco. 'There is not much here, so not sure what they think they can find. But I did see one man walk out of the ruins of a house carrying a metal box that was still intact. It may have been a safe.' Looting has been taking place in the area and there have been 20 arrests so far. This comes a week after the Finding Nicole actress posed in a red bikini on Malibu beach. She did a shoot with Filip Shobot for DailyMail.com 'I was near some of the homes that burned down to the ground,' she said choking up. 'It's so hard to see this gorgeous coastline get decimated and to see so many broken hearts over it.' Blanco plans on leaving the area to stay with a friend outside of the city. Laura Prepon and Ben Foster's temporary custody deal includes restrictions on how much alcohol they are allowed to drink around their children, per new court documents. The actors, both 44, split in September 2024 and are parents to two young children. The new custody deal, details of which were obtained by InTouch Weekly, requires them both to limit their drinking when with their kids, days after she accused him of having issues with alcohol. The order reads: 'Neither party shall consume alcohol to the point of intoxication while around the minor children during his or her parenting time. Further, they agreed that 'if either party has employment that requires him or her to travel out of state during his or her parenting time, then that party will provide reasonable notice to the other party.' The former couple also agreed to restraining employees from 'speaking derogatorily about the other party to or in the presence of the minor children.' DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Laura Prepon and Ben Foster for comment. Laura Prepon and Ben Foster's temporary custody deal includes restrictions on how much alcohol they are allowed to drink around their children, per new court documents - Seen in 2018 Last month Orange Is The Black star Prepon claimed Foster had a 'longstanding history of alcohol abuse' as she responded to his request for a temporary custody schedule. She asked that Foster be ordered not to drink 12 hours before or during time with the children and also alleged he often 'day drinks.' Fosters lawyer, Rose Palermo denied these claims, telling the NY Post: 'Laura Prepons filing is the definition of falsehood and a disturbing fiction. Her actions will continue to harm the children who have always been Bens first priority.' In November it was revealed the pair were divorcing after 6 years of marriage. It was Ben who filed for divorce according to TMZ, as the site added that the actors are already living separately. The site alleged that the two split 'a few months ago' and Laura, 44, is currently living in Tennessee while Ben calls Los Angeles home. Ben cited 'irreconcilable differences' and listed September 9 as their separation date in the divorce papers. He asked the court to enforce their prenuptial agreement. It was also added that Laura has not been wearing her wedding ring; she was ring-free in a Halloween Instagram post. The actors, both 44, split in September 2024 and are parents to two young children - Prepon pictured with their daughter Ella, seven The new custody deal, details of which were obtained by InTouch Weekly , requires them both to limit their drinking when with their kids, days after she accused him of having issues with alcohol - seen in November 2022 Her last Instagram post with Ben was made in December 2022. Together they have two children: a daughter named Ella, who was born in August 2017, and a son who was born in February 2020. DailyMail.com has reached out to their reps for comment. The couple met as teens through mutual Danny Masterson then started dating in 2016. In August of 2017 they welcomed their daughter. They wed in June 2018. In February 2020 they welcomed a son. Prepon was in a relationship with Christopher Masterson, Danny Masterson's brother, from 1999 to 2007. She later dated Scott Michael Foster for several years, but said in 2013 they had broken up. Foster was engaged to Robin Wright from 2013 to 2015. He has been in relationships with Karen Elson (2016), Jenna Danneberger (2011), Zoe Kravitz (2007 - 2008), Kirsten Dunst (2000 - 2001) and Antje Traue. In 2021, Prepon said she was focusing on her 'own individual spirituality' after leaving Scientology. The Orange Is the New Black alum joined the controversial religion in 1999, but revealed she chose to leave the faith around eight years ago. Laura felt 'relieved' to have put Scientology behind her, a source said. An insider said: 'She feels relieved to be living life on her own terms. She wants to focus on her own individual spirituality.' Last month Orange Is The Black star Prepon claimed Foster had a 'longstanding history of alcohol abuse' as she responded to his request for a temporary custody schedule - he denied these claims. Seen in April 2022 Laura initially joined the religion to help her gain control of her emotions, but since marrying Foster and having two children she wanted to focus on her family life. The source added to Us Weekly magazine: 'She's a mom now and she's moved on, and she is building her life around that. Laura found her own spiritual path and no longer wants to be associated with the church.' Laura revealed she had cut ties with Scientology in an interview given in 2021, in which she said the religion is 'no longer part' of her life. She said: 'I'm no longer practicing Scientology. I've always been very open-minded, even since I was a child. 'I was raised Catholic and Jewish. I've prayed in churches, meditated in temples. I've studied Chinese meridian theory. I haven't practiced Scientology in close to five years and it's no longer part of my life.' Prepon's last Instagram post was made a week ago when she voted with her daughter in her arms The That '70s Show star said that she and Ben who has never practiced the religion put their energy into meditation to help keep them centred rather than any particular religion. She added: 'We meditate daily and I'm really liking it because it's something that helps me to hear my own voice and it's something we can do together.' Also in 2021, Laura said that she was 'riddled with anxiety' when she became a mother. She battled with anxiety when her daughter was born because she wasn't sure she had what it takes to be a mother. She said: 'If motherhood has taught me anything so far, it's that something can work out for a period of time and then you move on and evolve from that. Laura, center with glasses on, is best known for her show Orange Is The New Black 'As a new mom, I was riddled with anxiety that I had never experienced before. My friends who were mothers with older kids said, 'Laura, this is a phase, you'll move on and then it will be something different.' And that has transcended into other parts of my life. We're all evolving. I always see that with my kids.' The star revealed her two children are growing up all the time and are 'changing every day'. She added: 'They are changing every day now. My daughter is outgoing and wonderful and obsessed with mermaids it used to be unicorns. She's also very determined and does not give up. My son is beginning to socialize with kids more in small classes. He's much more calm and observant.' And Laura can't believe how much she loves her children, as she says having kids has filled her with an 'overwhelming sense of love'. She told People magazine: 'When I had my second child I thought, how am I ever going to love a child as much as I love my first? Then you do and it's this overwhelming sense of love. It's incredible how that happens.' Sam Faiers and Myleene Klass looked every inch the doting mothers as they enjoyed a family day out at Hot Wheels Glow N' Fire UK Tour launch event on Friday. Former TOWIE star Sam, 33, looked happier than ever as she cosied up to her youngest son, Edward, two, and her partner Paul Knightley. For the outing, the TV star cut a casual figure in a red leather jacket which she paired with some matching knee-high leather boots. Adding a touch of casualness to the ensemble, she finished her look with black leggings. Joining her on the red carpet, Paul also cut a relaxed figure in a blue bomber jacket and a blue jeans. Myleene, 46, who was joined by her son Apollo, four, cut a wild look in a leopard print trench coat which she paired with grey leg warmers and black trainers. Sam Faiers and Myleene Klass looked every inch the doting mothers as they enjoyed a family day out at Hot Wheels Glow N' Fire UK Tour launch event on Friday. Myleene, 46, who was joined by her son Apollo, four, cut a wild look in a leopard print trench coat which she paired with grey leg warmers and black trainers She finished her look with a black hoody, matching joggers and a unique animal ptrint snapback cap. JB Gill's wife, Chloe Tangney was also spotted at the event as she took her son, Ace, six, out for a fun night. Sam's appearance comes after she revealed she hasn't ruled out having a fourth child, two years after the birth of her son Edward. She has been juggling motherhood with a string of work commitments, but in a new interview, admitted her life has been 'turned upside down' since she had her third child. Speaking to OK! Sam said: 'People say, 'You've had two, the third will slot in.' But I found my whole life was turned upside down. Paul and Rosie are in school, there are no nappies and they are fairly independent... and then I went back for the third!' Asked whether she's considering expanding her family with partner Paul Knightley, Sam added: 'Do you know what, it's hard to say no... Being a parent you have all these highs and lows, and now I'm looking at him and he's such a character. Former TOWIE star Sam, 33, looked happier than ever as she cosied up to her youngest son, Edward, two, and her partner Paul Knightley JB Gill 's wife, Chloe Tangney was also spotted at the event as she took her son, Ace, six, out for a fun night Sam Faiers has revealed she hasn't ruled out having a fourth child, two years after the birth of her son Edward (pictured with her partner Paul Knightley) 'But he's not a baby anymore. So I don't know. I'm not going to say no. I am maternal, but I'm busy at the moment, so I don't know about it right now.' Sam, who is also mother to son Paul Jr, eight, and daughter Rosie, five, went onto share the importance of rest for working mothers, admitting she juggled breastfeeding her children during their first years. Sharing the struggles she faced breastfeeding her youngest son Edward, the star added that she was 'very poorly' after suffering from mastitis twice. She went onto reveal that little Edward suffered from 'really bad' eczema when he was just four months old, but he slowly overcame it when he reached six months. "Rural grandpa" in northwest China becomes tourism envoy 10:36, January 10, 2025 By Song Zhaojun ( People's Daily An elderly man, sometimes holding farming tools, walks along the ridges of the fields; at other times, he herds sheep slowly under peach trees in bloom; and occasionally, he stands amidst the vast desert and mountains, embodying the image of a general while narrating the history of the ancient Silk Road in northwest China... "He really knows how to command the presence and energy," "Thank you for promoting my hometown," "I've watched this video at least 10 times" - as Zhang Yifang scrolls through the comments on his phone, he reads each one carefully. Figures played by "Sanxi Grandpa" Zhang Yifang in his short videos. (Photo from the culture, radio, television and tourism bureau of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture) Zhang, 68, hails from Qingsi village in Datong township, Yongdeng county, Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu province. As a child, Zhang was nicknamed "Sanxiwa," which literally translates into triple joy child. These days, he's more commonly known as "Sanxi Grandpa," meaning triple joy grandpa, which is also his ID on short video platforms. Over the past four years, with support from the local cultural and tourism department, Zhang and his son Zhang Jianzong have filmed and produced over 100 short videos. From rural fields and farmhouses to the vast deserts, grasslands, and the striking Danxia landform, he has filmed in many places with distinct northwest China characteristics, sharing the cultural stories and unique features of Gansu province. "Sanxi Grandpa" now has nearly 1.3 million followers on the short video platform. During the 2024 Spring Festival, Zhang Yifang joined a local troupe of folk art show which features celebration of Chinese Spring Festival in multiple forms such as dragon dance, stilt walking, lion dance and other folk performances. He released nearly 10 videos, with one of them receiving over 5.87 million likes and more than 1.01 million comments. The folk art show performance has a long history, with participants sometimes exceeding 300, parading through streets, alleys, and fields. From childhood to adulthood, Zhang Yifang has participated in the folk art show performances nearly every year. This deep-rooted passion for local performances has made him a natural in the world of short videos. In the summer of 2021, Zhang Yifang's children and grandchildren returned to Qingsi village. Under the clear sky and gentle wind, he was always seen lying in a chair, fanning himself with a straw hat, or playing with his grandchildren in the golden wheat fields. Zhang Jianzong, who works in the film and television industry, captured these moments on camera and edited them into a short video. Once posted, the video quickly garnered over 50,000 likes and nearly 4,000 shares. Surprised by the positive response, the father and the son decided to make rural life the central theme of their short videos and continue filming. "When I was young, our village only had one black-and-white television, and we would all crowd around to watch movies together," Zhang Yifang recalled. The scenes of martial arts heroes always fascinated him. "It would be amazing to be a martial arts hero one day!" Now, this dream has come to life in his short videos. Zhang Yifang (left) films a video with his team in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu province. (Photo from the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiuquan municipal committee) From an ordinary farmer to a martial arts hero or a general, as Zhang Yifang's roles change, so do his backgrounds, such as a rural courtyard, the Danxia landform of Yongdeng, a waterwheel park, deserts, and grasslands. Taking advantage of the popular trends in short video content, Zhang Yifang changes outfits every few seconds, enriching the scenes and roles to promote his hometown. From the poplar forests in Jiuquan to the endless grasslands of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Zhang Yifang has traveled to over 10 cities and prefectures in Gansu, filming videos wherever he goes. He and his son have also launched two popular video series: "Sanxi Grandpa's martial arts journey" and "Sanxi Grandpa's food selection." The first series showcases local cultural and tourism resources by portraying different historical figures, while the second focuses on traditional Gansu cuisine - how to make Yongdeng rose cakes, why the roast meat in Jiayuguan tastes so good, and how to dry Dingxi wide noodles, among others. Dozens of Gansu's regional dishes have been featured in the videos. According to Zhang Jianzong, these two video series have already amassed over 460 million views. Many other short video creators have joined in, each offering their own perspectives on telling the stories of the northwest China. As his popularity grew, Zhang Yifang wanted to inspire his fellow villagers to create content alongside him. Encouraged by the father and the son, many villagers began to appear in the videos. "By participating in the filming, we not only get to experience performing, but also have the chance to show others the rural life. The affection from viewers is also a recognition of our village's development," said Zhang Yifang's neighbor Lu Zizhen. As rural revitalization is promoted comprehensively, Qingsi village now boasts wider roads, better internet connectivity, and more complete service facilities - features that frequently appear in the videos. Thanks to land transfers, villagers now enjoy a steady income and ample free time, which has created a demand for more recreational activities. Currently, more than 30 villagers regularly participate in the filming of Zhang Yifang's videos. In 2024, Yongdeng county launched 20 high-quality tourist routes and organized over 200 cultural and artistic events, including theme exhibitions, social education programs, and reading activities, which supported nearly 30 short video creators to promote their hometowns. "We want to encourage the public to promote their hometowns in ways that resonate with them, further unlocking the cultural and tourism value," said Li Tingming, director of the Yongdeng county bureau of culture, sports, radio, television, and tourism. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall are among the celebrities who lost their beautiful homes in the Pacific Palisades fire that ravaged the Los Angeles coast this week. Photos of the aftermath of the roaring blaze which ripped through the area show nothing but rubble of the Veep star's home. The two Saturday Night Live alums bought the five-bedroom, five bathroom Mediterranean-style house with a terra cotta tile roof some time in the early 1990s. The home is worth around $15M today. Hall, 66, and Louis-Dreyfus, 63, who raised their sons, Henry, 32, and Charlie, 27, there, have not made any statements regarding the loss of their beloved home, but both of their sons shared screen grabs from the local news in their Instagram Stories thanking firefighters for their efforts. The house next door to the couple miraculously survived the flames, as well as some houses across the street. Thousands of structures, including homes and businesses have been destroyed by the blaze in Pacific Palisades, one of the most destructive in California history. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63, and Brad Hall, 66, are among the celebrities who have lost their homes in the roaring Pacific Palisades fire. Their five bedroom/five bathroom home was reduced to rubble Los Angeles Country officials reported at least 10 people have dies in fires that have been sparked in different parts of of the area, due to extremely high winds. Unfortunately, a Super Scooper sent from Canada to help fight the flames was damaged by a drone inside the Palisades fire zone according to NBC affiliate KNBC. A state of emergency remains in effect for the city and county of Los Angeles. The National Weather Service extended a red flag warning that was supposed to expire Thursday night, was extended to Friday at 6pm. The agency announced a Fire Weather Watch was being considered for Saturday Night through Sunday over much of Los Angeles county and neighboring Ventura County. Public schools not in the fire areas have been closed due to toxic chemical in the air released by the burning of homes, cars and other manmade materials resulting in poor air quality. Popular television shows such as Abbot Elementary, Hacks and Fallout have halted production, according to Variety. The couple bought the house in the early 1990s and raised their sons, Henry, 32, and Charlie, 27, there Neither Louis-Dreyfus nor Hall has made a statement about the loss of their home, but both their sons shared a screen grab from the local news and thanked firefighters for their hard work The house next door to the couple miraculously survived the flames, as did some homes across the street Other shows, including Loot, Ted, Suits: L.A. and Happy's Place with Reba McEntire have also suspended work along with NCIS, NCIS: Origins, After Midnight, Poppas House, The Neighborhood, Doctor Odyssey and Grey's Anatomy. Tapings for Jimmy Kimmel Live and After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson were also been halted for the week. The Critics Choice Awards, which were scheduled for Sunday night in Santa Monica, have been pushed back until January 26. 'This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community,' CCA CEO Joey Berlin said statement to USA TODAY on Wednesday. 'All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected.' The Kardashians have all evacuated their Hidden Hills and Calabasas mansions amid the LA fires. A new apocalyptic, fast-moving inferno, named the Kenneth Fire, threatened to rip through the desirable neighborhoods - with the famous family all living just six miles from one another. DailyMail.com has confirmed the family - Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner, along with their loved ones have successfully evacuated the area. Evacuation orders for Calabasas and Hidden Hills were later lifted. The urgent evacuation order was issued for the upper Los Angeles-Ventura County border as the Kenneth Fire tore through West Hills Thursday, burning everything in its path. The death toll has also risen to seven, but the real number is likely higher - as dogs trained to detect human remains were given access to the charred remains of properties in fire-ravaged neighborhoods. The Kardashians have all evacuated their Hidden Hills and Calabasas mansions amid the LA fires A new apocalyptic, fast-moving inferno, named the Kenneth Fire , threatened to rip through the desirable neighborhoods - with the famous family all living just six miles from one another Amid the frantic flurry to get locals out of their scorching Calabasas homes, LAPD officials confirmed the sinister news that this offshoot blaze was in fact sparked by an alleged arsonist - who is now in police custody. A chilling warning was issued on Thursday night urging locals to get out now, with Senator Adam Schiff bluntly revealing: 'If you stay, you're going to die.' 'If you get an evacuation order, get the hell out,' he said. 'You may think you can outrun a fire, you cannot outrun these fires. If you stay, you're going to die in them.' The Kenneth blaze encompassed 1000 acres and threatening the Malibu Canyon area north of the 101 Freeway near Calabasas, home to Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith. Kim and Khloe live in nearby Hidden Hills. It is now 35 per cent contained. Khloe, whose famous family has donated $2,500 worth of meals to first responders, blasted the individual on Instagram Thursday as she shared a clip from News Nation. 'You sick mother f**kers!' the 40-year-old mother-of-two wrote. 'What the f**k is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!! May you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!!' The star also reposted her sister Kourtney's Instagram Story as she shared a prayer asking for urgent 'protection and peace'. Your browser does not support iframes. DailyMail.com has confirmed the family, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashia, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner along with their loved ones have successfully evacuated the area A new apocalyptic, fast-moving inferno, named the Kenneth Fire , is threatening to rip through the desirable neighbourhoods (pictured the Calabasas area where the Karashian's reside) She also posted a supportive post from pregnancy app Peanut which read: 'You are not alone. Our hearts are with you all.' Meanwhile Kendall took to her Instagram Story with a picture of the fires as she wrote: 'Can't express enough my gratitude for our hard working firefighter, thank you for what you do, our hero's. 'Praying for the families who've lost their homes. stay safe'. Khloe and her family have been aiding first responders bravely battling the devastating fires throughout the City of Angels. On Thursday, the Instagram page for Carousel Restaurant an Armenian-Lebanese eatery shared photos of meals they delivered to firefighters, funded by the Kardashian family. Carousel, with locations in both Glendale and Hollywood, is a Kardashian/Jenner family favourite. A number of photos shared by the restaurant saw happy firefighters holding boxes of food. Another snap saw food containers on a table with a receipt that showed the total for the meal order came to $2,505.43 Khloe also posted a supportive post from pregnancy app Peanut which read: 'You are not alone. Our hearts are with you all' Meanwhile Kendall took to her Instagram Story to pay tribute to the fire fighters as she sent her prayers to those suffering The star also reposted her sister Kourtney's Instagram Story as she shared a prayer asking for urgent 'protection and peace' 'You sick mother f**kers!' she wrote on the clip, adding, 'What the f**k is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!! May you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!!' One of the family's favourite restaurants have been providing meals for the fire fighters 'We proudly delivered meals to several fire stations today. Thank you to the frontline members for your dedication to your communities. A special thank you to the Kardashian family for funding the mealsyour generosity knows no bounds.' The restaurant tagged her sisters Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, her brother Rob Kardashian and their mom Kris Jenner. Khloe reshared the post to her Stories, writing, 'My family and I wanted to feed a few fire houses today and we couldn't think of a better restaurant to reach out to other then @carouselrestaurant. Our favourite Armenian restaurant!' 'They whipped up hundreds of individual meals for so many firefighters, volunteers, first responders, and we could not be more thankful! Thank you for putting your lives on the line for all of us!' Elsewhere Kim has been slammed for promoting an upcoming sale for her SKIMS label as the devastating Los Angeles fire continues to rage. The 44-year-old shared a now-expired post to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, featuring information about the winter sale. Los Angeles based writer and comedian Meredith Lynch blasted Kardashian in an Instagram reel, criticising her for posting the video amid the raging fires, rather than issuing details about resources to help people. 'LA is literally burning down, and Kimberly Noel is literally posting, telling us to buy SKIMS,' Lynch raged in the clip. She shared a screenshot of the post, which showed a countdown clock set to expire in 19 hours and 42 minutes time, indicating when the sale would start. 'Not one thoughts or prayers on her Instagram, but she is posting you a countdown to her winter sale,' she scathingly pointed out. 'Kim Kardashian, who has these huge reaches, who has such a base in Los Angeles, it is wild to me that they're not like, "hey let me use my platform to put out as much resources as possible,"' she pointed out. The LA-based writer continued: 'No, instead, she's like "buy SKIMS."' Elsewhere Kim has been slammed by Los Angeles based writer and comedian Meredith Lynch for promoting an upcoming sale for her SKIMS label during the fires Kim's hairstylist Jen Atkin took to Instagram to reveal she lost her home in Los Angeles Meanwhile Kim's former hairstylist Jen Atkin has also lost her house in the blaze. Jen, 44, took to her Instagram to share the devastating news with her 5.3 million followers. The hair entrepreneur shared a photo that she explained was 'our sweet neighborhood just last week,' showing a picturesque view across the water with a broken heart emoji. The Glamour columnist then shared the same picture of the coastline devastated by the raging blaze. 'This is weird to post but our house is gone,' Jen wrote, as she was seen crying with her dog on her lap while her husband, fashion photographer Mike Rosenthal, drove them to evacuate the area. 'We just got confirmation,' Jen continued. 'Our whole area demolished. So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend. 'We're going to be ok. We always push through,' Jen said in her message to her worried followers. I love you guys thanks for the warm blanket of love today.' Meanwhile Paris Hilton made an emotional return to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house which was destroyed in the catastrophic fires throughout Southern California. It comes just one day after the TV personality, 43, confirmed that she saw the property 'burn to the ground on live TV.' She had purchased the two-story residence in 2021 for $8.4 million - and once led down to La Costa beach. Paris Hilton, 43, made an emotional return to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house which was destroyed in the catastrophic fires throughout Southern California; seen in November 2024 in West Hollywood It comes just one day after the TV personality, 43, confirmed that she saw the property 'burn to the ground on live TV' Hilton shared a heartbreaking video to her Instagram page on Thursday as she discovered what was left of the property and got candid about being left in 'complete shock.' She filmed the clip while walking through the remains of the entrance which was still standing, but then revealed that the rest of the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble after being destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire. Paris wrote, 'I'm standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable.' 'When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock - I couldn't process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces.' The star expressed that the home 'wasn't just a place to live - It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family.' 'It was where Phoenix's little hands made art that I'll cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes it's devastating beyond words.' Hilton added that her heart continues to break 'knowing that this isn't just my story.' 'So many people have lost everything. It's not just walls and roofs - it's the memories that made those houses homes. It's the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives.' Hilton shared a heartbreaking video to her Instagram page on Thursday as she took in what was left of the property and got candid about being left in 'complete shock' She filmed the clip while walking through the remains of the entrance which was still standing, but then revealed that the rest of the house had been reduced to a pile of rubble The star expressed that the home 'wasn't just a place to live - It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family' But despite dealing with 'pain' over losing the home, Paris shared that she still felt 'incredibly lucky' and added, 'My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe' 'And to everyone going through this pain, please know you're not alone. We're in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before,' Paris penned The remains of Paris Hilton 's Malibu beach house can also be seen in shocking images that were taken on Thursday The modern property had contained three bedrooms, three bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows But despite dealing with 'pain' over losing the home, Paris shared that she still felt 'incredibly lucky' and added, 'My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe.' 'That's the most important thing, and I'm holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. And beyond grateful to all the the fire fighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires.' Paris wrote that the 'love, prayers and kindness' she has received reminded her that 'there is still beauty in this world.' 'And to everyone going through this pain, please know you're not alone. We're in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before.' In conclusion, the actress added, 'Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments. Life can change in an instant, and it's the love we share that truly matters. I'm sending all my love to everyone who is hurting right now.' Michelle Keegan is reportedly being eyed up by TV bosses for a new fly-on-the-wall series as she prepares to welcome her first child with her husband Mark Wright. The actress, 37, shared the happy news that she was expecting her first child with her husband Mark, also 37, at the end of December and she is said to be due next month. And the couple are now reportedly being targeted for their own fly-on-the-wall series which will document their journey into parenthood. A source told The Sun: 'Michelle and Mark are such a TV power couple, and becoming parents is huge for them. A couple of production companies are writing up propositions to see if theyd let in cameras to follow them becoming parents.' 'These fly-on-the-wall shows are huge on ITV, as well as streamers like Prime, and there is a huge audience that would love an insight into Michelle and Marks world.' 'Its all just in the planning stages and no formal approaches have been made but the offers are close to being finalised.' Michelle Keegan is reportedly being eyed up by TV bosses for a new fly-on-the-wall series as she prepares to welcome her first child with her husband Mark Wright The actress, 37, shared the happy news that she was expecting her first child with her husband Mark, also 37, at the end of December And the couple are now reportedly being targeted for their own fly-on-the-wall series which will document their journey into parenthood The source added that Michelle is 'pedal to the metal on Brassic at the moment' and is finishing up her scenes before she heads on maternity leave. Her co-stars will reportedly stay working until May but Michelle is having to finish up all of her scenes in roughly three weeks as she prepares for her due date. MailOnline has contacted Michelle's representative for comment. The news comes after Michelle was seen arriving on set for filming of Brassic series seven on Wednesday. The mother-to-be was seen for the first time back on set as she got stuck in with the crew ahead of the new series. Michelle concealed her bump underneath a green crew coat and an oversized leather jacket as she got warm during filming. Beaming as she chatted with her crew, Michelle looked glamorous from the neck up as her brunette locks were styled in bouncy curls and she accessorised the look with her signature hoop earrings. Returning for a seventh series, Brassic follows the lives of a group of friends in a fictional town named Hawley, led by Joe's character Vinnie and featuring single mum Erin (Michelle). A source said: 'Michelle and Mark are such a TV power couple, and becoming parents is huge for them. A couple of production companies are writing up propositions to see if theyd let in cameras to follow them becoming parents' (pictured 2019) The show has been airing on Sky since 2019, however, the first four series' also debuted on Netflix in August and were a huge success. Presenter Mark and former Coronation Street actress Michelle shared the happy news that they are expecting their first child in a sweet Instagram post last month. Netflix star Michelle cradled her blossoming bump and wrote: '2025 is going to be a special one for us' The couple received hundreds of congratulatory messages from friends and family on their Instagram post including from Rochelle Humes, Kelly Brook, Vicky Pattison, and best pal Arg. However, amongst their happy announcement, there was also some sad news for the couple after it was revealed Mark's grandfather Eddie had passed away, aged 92. A spokesperson for the former TOWIE star confirmed the sad news last month to MailOnline, explaining: 'Marks grandad passed away last night. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones.' Eddie, a former champion boxer and paramedic, was hospitalised last June after a fall, with the family rushing to be by his side. They added: 'These fly-on-the-wall shows are huge on ITV , as well as streamers like Prime, and there is a huge audience that would love an insight into Michelle and Marks world' Mark's father Big' Mark Wright, shared a photo of his dad on Instagram at the time, writing: 'Happy fathers day to the best unfortunately in hospital at the moment after a fall a couple of days ago but dad Im on my way up to see you now keep strong xxx'. Eddie had been part of the Wright family limelight over the years, most notably joining his grandson Mark for the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? in 2019. TOWIE star Mark revealed his grandfather was his motivation for going on the show, explaining: 'I've wanted to find out our family history forever, as my Grandad has always guessed where we're from. But nobodys ever known.' 'He was told my family of his that we were Italian and to be able to give this back to him is great. He's done so much for us, he's our king.' 'It's hard to repay him but this was that moment before it's too late.' When she was appointed as the first chairman of the Duke of Sussexs eco firm Travalyst, India Gary-Martin declared that it was really exciting. Sadly, working for Prince Harry seems to have lost its thrill very quickly for the businesswoman. I hear that she has quit as chairman after just a year and a half in the role. Frankly, its no surprise, reflects one observer of the business activities of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have seen at least 19 senior members of staff leave. Harry established Travalyst in 2019 to make tourism more environmentally friendly. However, he and Meghan soon faced accusations of hypocrisy because of their use of gas-guzzling private jets. That year, the couple reportedy made four journeys by private jets in the space of 11 days. King Charless younger son defended himself at the time, saying no one is perfect and that what is important is balance. Travalyst confirms that Ms Gary-Martin left her position before Christmas. The company is keen to play down her departure, claiming that she stepped down to focus on her own business, Leadership For Execs, where she works with organisations on leadership development, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I hear that Prince Harry has lost the first chairman of his eco firm Travalyst India Gary-Martin had said it was 'really exciting' to be appointed to the role at the Duke of Sussex's company, but working for Harry appears to have lost its excitement very quickly Harry set up Travalyst in 2019 to make tourism more environmentally friendly, but he and Meghan soon faced accusations of hypocrisy over of their use of gas-guzzling private jets Former Google executive Gianni Marostic has been appointed as her successor, with Travalysts chief executive, Sarah Davey, hailing him a change maker. When Ms Gary-Martin was appointed as chairman, she said it was really exciting to announce that Ive accepted the role as Chair of the Board at Travalyst...Being able to ensure that people of colour are central to conversations about sustainability in spaces we dont traditionally occupy is both a responsibility and honour. Harry and Meghan have lost so many senior members of staff since they married in 2018 that former employees reportedly describe themselves as part of the Sussex Survivors Club. Last summer, I disclosed that Josh Kettler had suddenly quit his job as Harrys chief of staff after scarcely three months. One former member of staff told me at the time: What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I dont think I heard a single current or former employee on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance. These arent employees they had just found off the streets. Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments. Nicolas Cage has been accused of 'enabling' son Weston who faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly attacking his mother Christina Fulton in April 2024. Weston Cage Coppola, 34, allegedly assaulted Fulton, 57, during a mental health crisis and in July 2024 he pleaded not guilty. Weston and Fulton both arrived separately at an LA court on Friday for the assault trial, with Fulton's attorney Joseph Farzam accusing actor Cage, 61, of 'enabling Weston his whole life', leading to his alleged aggressive behavior. In a video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com after the trial was granted a continuance, Farzam said: 'The defendant is buying time to try and evade justice and that's not going to happen, my client is here to make sure justice is done, With Fulton walking alongside him, he continued: 'Essentially as you can understand, my client was brutally assaulted, she was viciously attacked by her own son and by making sure that justice is served and he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law, what she's doing is tough love. 'She's making sure he's held accountable so he'll never do this to anybody else. Justice will get served and she will come here as many times as she needs to make sure that gets done. Nicolas Cage has been accused of 'enabling' son Weston who faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly attacking his mother Christina Fulton in April 2024 - Weston and Fulton pictured at court in LA Friday Weston is pictured with father Nicolas in 2019 'I'm confident he'll be convicted, she'll make sure he gets mental health treatment, he needs serious mental health help, jail time. if that's what it takes, so be it.; When asked if Cage had been in contact amid the assault allegations, Farzam said: 'We are of the position that Nicolas Cage has enabled Weston his whole life, he is the way he is because he's been enabled.' 'He will no longer be enabled if he's convicted.' The attorney confirmed that Weston and Fulton had had no contact since the alleged assault, saying: 'She fears for her life, she fears he'll do this again and she'll have no further contact with him.' DailyMail.com has contacted a representative for Cage for comment. The scuffle between Weston and Fulton occurred on April 28 in the Los Angeles area, when a verbal dispute reportedly turned physical. 'On April 28th, 2024, around 5:30 p.m., I received urgent messages from friends of my son, Weston Cage, regarding his deteriorating mental state, urging me to come help,' Fulton said in a statement obtained by People. 'When I arrived to offer support and console him, he was already in the midst of a manic rage. Within minutes, I was brutally assaulted and sustained serious injuries,' she claimed. Weston and Fulton both arrived separately at an LA court on Friday for the assault trial, with Fulton's attorney Joseph Farzam (pictured) accusing actor Cage, 61, of 'enabling Weston his whole life', leading to his alleged aggressive behavior In a video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com after the trial was granted a continuance, Farzam said: 'The defendant is buying time to try and evade justice and that's not going to happen, my client is here to make sure justice is done.' With Fulton walking alongside him, he continued: 'Essentially as you can understand, my client was brutally assaulted, she was viciously attacked by her own son and by making sure that justice is served and he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law, what she's doing is tough love' - Weston pictured at court Friday The attorney confirmed that Weston and Fulton had had no contact since the alleged assault, saying: 'She fears for her life, she fears he'll do this again and she'll have no further contact with him'; Fulton and Weston pictured in 2019 'Despite my desperate pleas to the responding police officers to detain him for a mental-health evaluation, the police officers refused my request.' Fulton added in her statement: 'As a mother, I am deeply saddened and concerned about Westons ongoing mental-health crisis. 'It is imperative that he receives the help he desperately needs,' she concluded. The LAPD confirmed that Weston was booked for assault with a deadly weapon - just weeks after his mother was spotted with intense bruises on her face. The LAPD also confirmed with People the arrest was made in direct connection to the alleged April 28 altercation. The police told People: 'During the incident, Cage punched two victims multiple times, causing injury. LAPD responded, and after meeting with all parties, a police report was completed.' Weston turned himself in and was arrested at Los Angeles's 77th division station, according to People. Weston's case was submitted to the district attorney's office on May 10 and on June 26 the DA filed two counts of assault with a deadly weapon against him. An arrest warrant was later issued. The actor was released on a $150,000 bail around 10am. The U.S. Sun reported that his father is believed to be the one who bailed him out. A source previously told The Sun of the arrest: 'The family knew this was going to happen but needless to say, it is a very big shock,' a source close to the family told the outlet. The scuffle between Weston and Fulton occurred in April 28 in the Los Angeles area, when a verbal dispute reportedly turned physical; Fulton and Weston in 2006 Weston was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the alleged attack on his mother. He was released on a $15,000 bail An ambulance was reportedly called to the home to check out Fulton, but she declined to be taken to the hospital, TMZ reported at the time of the alleged incident. Investigators said Weston was gone by the time police arrived at the scene, and law enforcement were determining if the case would be considered felony battery. Sources alleged to TMZ at the time that Fulton was trying to console her son, who was dealing with some emotional issues. Sources told the site that she refuted claims the two got into an argument and asked for privacy in the matter. The Snake Eyes actress was seen putting coins into a parking meter with a black eye and fading bruises on her face back in April. She met an unknown friend there, with whom she shared a hug. The actress released a statement on the interaction with her son back in May, and said: 'Weston and I had no argument prior to the incident. 'On Sunday April 28, I was reached out to by several of Weston's best friends for assistance because they were experiencing Weston in a mental-health crisis' 'Upon my arrival, I was met by my son who clearly was in a state of a mental health breakdown, which in turn became a horrific experience' 'I have always supported helping my son with mental-health struggles. I am doing all I can to get him the continued support he needs,' Fulton added. This isn't the first time the son of the National Treasure actor has been in trouble with the law, as he was arrested in 2017 got DUI and a hit-and-run. Police said that he hit multiple parked cars, signs and mailboxes before he crashed his car into a tree. After being taken to the hospital, he was charged with a DUI and arrested on $30,000 bail. In 2011, he faced domestic violence charges after he had a dispute with his ex-wife Nikki Williams, according to ABC News. Weston has been treated for mental health issues in the past. He was hospitalized on a psychiatric hold in 2011 after a violent incident in Los Angeles. At the time, Fulton blamed her son's mental problems on the Oscar winner claiming, 'Nicolas Cage has damaged and interfered and done something absolutely horrific, and I need to just go get my son,' she told Inside Edition. 'I am the one that raised Weston. I am the one that took care of Weston. His dad was very busy out working as an actor,' she said. Fulton and Cage, 60, began dating in 1988 and welcomed Weston in 1990. The couple never married and broke up within a year of Weston's birth. In November 2023, both Weston and Fulton, who has launched a successful skincare line, filed a lawsuit against Weston's ex-wife Hila Arounian, alleging she embezzled $100,000, engaged in a smear campaign against them and requested a 'fraudulent restraining order' that stopped Fulton and her family from seeing Weston's twin girls, Venice and Cyress. Lawsuit documents obtained by Page Six read: 'This type of character assassination is part of a disturbing pattern of behavior in which Ms. Arounian levies false, malicious allegations against people as a means of coercion and manipulation.' Fulton also alleges her former daughter-in-law manipulated Weston into filing for a restraining order against her in 2020. Nicolas and Christina began dating in 1988 and welcomed Weston in 1990, but broke up in 1991 (Pictured in Los Angeles in October 1988) At the time of the filing neither Nicolas nor Fulton had met their twin granddaughters, who turned four in July 2024. 'It is devastating not to see these kids. Nicolas and I havent been able to meet our two beautiful little granddaughters at all since they were born. Were in a quiet, horrible nightmare. Its insane, painful, hurtful, devastating.' Weston has two older sons Lucian, 10 and Sorin, eight with ex-wife Danielle, to whom he was wed from 2013-2016. Jennifer Lopez has reportedly been 'checking in' with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, and his children Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 12, amid the deadly Los Angeles wildfires. The 55-year-old actress is said to have felt 'worried and concerned' after learning that her former spouse and his family were among the 130,000 people under evacuation orders, which have extended from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena. A source told Page Six that she 'reached out as soon as she heard about Bens home possibly being in danger and that he was evacuated' and to see how he was coping during the 'whole ordeal.' Additionally, she 'let him know shes there for him and the kids,' who he shares with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. 'She offered her support for whatever they need,' the insider noted. To Affleck and his loved ones' relief, his property has survived the massive wildfires ripping through Los Angeles. Jennifer Lopez has reportedly been 'checking in' with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck , and his children Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 12, amid the deadly Los Angeles wildfires; seen in 2024 After fleeing his residence, he was seen heading for safety at Garner's home. Although Affleck was lucky that his home survived when so many other Westside stars and Pacific Palisades residents lost their homes, he isn't out of the woods. Blustery winds continue to whip across Los Angeles and could still ignite new fires, though they appear to have mellowed somewhat from their highs on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Since the fire broke out in Pacific Palisades, new fires have started further east in Altadena, which forced major evacuations in nearby Pasadena on Tuesday night. More fires broke out in the Hollywood hills on Wednesday, threatening heavily populated parts of Hollywood. The Armageddon star has only been living in Pacific Palisades for a short time after he bought a home in the area for $20.5 million following his separation from Lopez. Although it's far from the opulent retreat that he and his ex had lived in together in Beverly Hills, it's not exactly tiny with 6,247 square feet and five bedrooms and six bathrooms. Prior to living in his current home he had lived at the massive, 38,000 square foot Georgian mansion that he and Lopez purchased for $60 million. The 55-year-old actress is said to have felt 'worried and concerned' after learning that her former spouse and his family were among the 130,000 people under evacuation orders, which have extended from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena A source told Page Six that she 'reached out as soon as she heard about Bens home possibly being in danger and that he was evacuated' and to see how he was coping during the 'whole ordeal.' (seen together in February 2024) After fleeing his residence, he was seen heading for safety at Jennifer Garner's home; seen in 2014 with his ex-wife It boasts 12 bedrooms and 24 bathroom and features numerous amenities, including a 12-car garage and an elevator, but so far the couple haven't found a buyer after putting it on the market for $68 million. After separating from Jennifer but prior to her going public with her divorce filing Ben had been seen living in a Brentwood rental, which isn't too far from his current home and kept him in the same neighborhood that his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and his children live in. Although Ben has so far been lucky, other celebrities experienced heartbreak due to the fierce flames. Stars including Adam Brody and Leighton Meester whose home was destroyed, along with Anna Faris' mansion. John Goodman and Anthony Hopkins were left with nothing but rubble after their homes burned, and Billy Crystal and Eugene Levy also lost their houses. Actor James Woods shared video of the approaching flames shortly before he evacuated ahead of the destruction of his house. The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag saw their home destroyed in the wildfire, and Spencer was pictured looking somberly at the approaching flames before his family was forced to flee. Travelers flying out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, will no longer be able to visit one of its United Clubs. United Airlines will temporarily close its United Club located in Terminal B of IAH on January 15, according to The Points Guy. The club's Terminal B location will be closed due to renovation that is scheduled to begin in 2026. IAH has planned to revamp the entire terminal and its updated United Club will become the largest in its network. The entire project is a partnership between United Airlines and the Houston Airport System and is expected to cost around $2 billion. The four remaining United Clubs and the United Polaris lounge will remain open during IAH's Terminal B renovation. The entire renovation is scheduled to be completed later this year. Despite the Club shutdown, flyers said they were excited about the revamp and thought it was 'about time.' The United Club in Terminal B of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, will temporarily close on January 15 'Past due for a refresh. If I had time I'd always go to C1 before going back to B for my flight,' a Reddit user wrote in a post. A few commenters compared the Terminal B club to others at IAH and claimed the location the C1 club is 'nicer.' 'Why the suggestion to use the C33 club? The C1 club is right next to the sky train to B. Using C33 will add time to get to B,' a Reddit user wrote. 'The current B club is convenient but given the refresh of Terminal B, closing the club makes sense. I hope the new club will be similar to the C1 club.' The United Club in Terminal C is the closest one to Terminal B, but it will take about 20 minutes to go from the B gates to the C gates, according to The Points Guy. Travelers in Terminal B who aren't up for the walk could also try the new United Club Fly location, which will debut in 2025. United Club Fly in IAH will include a coffee bar with fridges and beverage stations stacked with food. Social media users were ecstatic to learn about the upcoming renovation The United Club in Terminal B is located on the South Mezzanine level above the United Express ticket counter. Some of the Club's amenities include snacks, free Wi-Fi, travel assistance, and complimentary bar service. Terminal B United Club is usually open every day between 5:30am and 8:45pm for all members. This Club also also offers a conference room. Once the renovation is completed, the club will offer the same amenities, along with views of the airfield. United has stayed quiet about most of the Club's renovation details. United Airlines' largest club is located in the Denver International Airport (DEN) in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado club is around 35,000 square feet, and it currently has seating room for more than 600 travelers. Some of United Club's amenities include snacks, free Wi-Fi, travel assistance and complimentary bar service The United Club in Terminal B has a conference room away from the main seating area Fliers who wish to enter any United Club must buy a membership to gain access to all locations. Travelers interested in the membership can purchase one online, in person at any location, or over the phone, according to United Airlines. The price of membership will depend on MileagePlus status level, which could change at any time. There are five types of MileagePlus status: Regular member, Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K. Regular, Premier Silver and Gold members are required to pay $650 or use up 85,000 miles. The membership cost for a Premier Platinum flier is $600 or 80,000. Travelers who have the highest MileagePlus status will only have to pay $550 or 75,000 miles. Kohl's is closing 27 locations across 14 states, the major department store announced Thursday. The Wisconsin-based retailer said the company has chosen to close some of the stores down because they 'were underperforming.' Of those 27 locations, 10 are set to shut down in California, and half of those are in the San Francisco Bay Area. The other 17 will close in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Virginia. 'While Kohl's continues to believe in the health and strength of its profitable store base, these specific locations were underperforming stores,' the retailer explained. Additionally, the retail chain has decided to close its e-commerce fulfillment center in San Bernardino, due to the ability to fulfill online orders at store locations and increased production at newer fulfillment centers. Kohl's CEO Tom Kingsbury said that the new decisions were taken 'very seriously,' and that they had to be made to 'support' the company and its consumers. 'We always take these decisions very seriously. As we continue to build on our long-term growth strategy, it is important that we also take difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of our business for our customers and our teams,' Kingsbury said. Kohl's is closing 27 locations across 14 states by the end of this year Of those 27 locations, 10 are set to shut down in California , and half of those are in the San Francisco Bay Area The select Kohl's stores are set to close by April 2025, while the California fulfillment center will shut its doors in May 2025 - at the end of its lease. In November, the company announced that Kingsbury will be stepping down on January 15, and will be replaced with 'retail veteran' Ashley Buchanan. While he will no longer be CEO, Kingsbury plans to stay on in an advisory role to Buchanan, and will still be on Kohl's Board of Directors until he officially retires in May, the company said. The retailer operates about 1,150 stores across the nation and the closures will account for less than three percent of its locations, Axios reported. Employees affected by the store closures, have been informed and have also been offered a severance package, leaving them with the option to apply to other open roles within the company. The select Kohl's stores are set to close by April 2025, while the California fulfillment center will shut its doors in May 2025 - at the end of its lease Here are all the Kohl's locations closing in 2025: Alabama Spanish Fort - 2100 Town Center Ave. Arkansas Little Rock West - 13909 Chenal Parkway California Balboa (San Diego) - 5505 Balboa Ave. Encinitas - 134 N El Camino Real Fremont - 43782 Christy St. Mountain View - 350 Showers Drive Napa - 1116 1st St. Pleasanton - 4525 Rosewood Dr. Point West (Sacramento) - 1896 Arden Way San Rafael - 5010 Northgate Drive San Luis Obispo - 205 Madonna Road Westchester - 8739 S Sepulveda Blvd. Colorado Arapahoe Crossing (Aurora) - 6584 S Parker Road Georgia Duluth - 2050 W Liddell Road Idaho Boise - 400 N Milwaukee St. Illinois Plainfield - 11860 S Route 59 Spring Hill (West Dundee) - 3000 Spring Hill Ring Road Massachusetts Stoughton - 501 Technology Center Drive New Jersey East Windsor - 72 Princeton Hightstown Road Ohio Blue Ash - 4150 Hunt Road Forest Park (Cincinnati) - 100 Cincinnati Mills Drive Oregon Portland Gateway - 10010 NE Halsey St. Texas North Dallas - 18224 Preston Road Utah Riverton - 13319 S 3600 W Virginia Herndon - 2100 Centreville Road Williamsburg - 100 Gristmill Plaza In a bid to improve shoppers' experience and boost sales, Kohl's introduced self checkout kiosks and rearranged the placing of certain in-demand products, as part of plans introduced by Kingsbury in May 2023. In November, the company announced that CEO Tom Kingsbury will be stepping down on January 15, and will be replaced with 'retail veteran' Ashley Buchanan Kingsbury, who took up the post in February of that year, pledged to turn the company around after its shares lost almost half their value in 2022 and was almost bought out by JCPenney. At the time, Kingsbury pledged to reduce the company's reliance on margin-sapping discounts and focus on in-demand categories including work wear. The store also decided to relocate home goods and gifts to the front of the store in an attempt to maximize the sales potential in those areas which have been some of its biggest sellers in recent years. Kohl's is just the latest retailer to shutter some of its locations, as beloved craft store Joann, which operates in nearly every US state, has recently closed six of its 815 stores. Until 2018, it was known as Jo-Ann Stores but rebranded as 'Joann' to move beyond fabrics to embrace a wider range of crafts. Shoppers impacted by the closures can score steep discounts during liquidation sales, with markdowns ranging from 50 to 90 percent in affected locations. A Starbucks customer ignited a frenzy after claiming a barista informed her of a 'new concentrate' in her drink. A Reddit user posted a photo of a Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte on the platform, saying its color and flavor were off. 'I'm told that it looks that way because there's a new concentrate they're using, but when I taste it it's just sugary milk,' the user wrote. The skeptical customer added the barista told her that customers 'dislike the new matcha' because of its 'grassy flavor.' The customer said she purchased the beverage on January 9, asking: 'Am I crazy?' '[The barista] was very nice and made me a different drink,' she added. 'I'm just wondering if it's actually supposed to be like this.' Reddit users were quick to comment on the post and many insisted that the beverage was made incorrectly. A Reddit user shared a photo of an Iced Matcha Latte she ordered from Starbucks on January 9 'That was 100% made wrong. They need to review their recipes,' one wrote. Others said the drink's color should have been darker and that the new Matcha with classic syrup has a 'nasty aftertaste.' Several self-proclaimed baristas reacted to the drink, with one explaining the changes made to Matcha beverages. 'All the matchas I have made with the new formula look extremely light. Similar to this so I fear it could be accurate,' one wrote. 'The matcha scoop is very small now and there is SO much milk for the quantity of matcha in my opinion.' Starbucks made several changes before and after the New Year, including a revamp of its Iced Matchas. Starting January 2, Starbucks employees have been making Iced Matchas with an unsweetened powder instead of sweetened one. Baristas must also blend the drink in a Cold Foam Pitcher instead of shaking the beverage to mix it. Users were in a frenzy after seeing the unusually colored beverage A few Reddit users brought up how the old formula was 'too sugary' for them, which led to Starbucks' formula change. Customers will now have the option to select their own sweeteners if they wish to add sugar to their drink. The Reddit user who created the post admitted she was not aware of the Iced Matcha changes, and ordered her drink without making modifications. Starbucks has experienced several sales drops and suffered another fall for the third consecutive quarter in October 2024. 'It is clear we need to fundamentally change our strategy to win back customers,' Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer, said in the report. 'My experience tells me that when we get back to our core identity and consistently deliver a great experience, our customers will come back.' Niccol added the company had a 'clear plan' to improve and that it was moving quickly to 'return Starbucks to growth.' Niccol had only been CEO for a month before he announced that he would simplify the chain's 'overly complex menu' to speed up the service. Starbucks has suffered multiple sales slumps despite its new menus and methods to control service speed However, Matcha formulas and menus may not be what Starbucks needs to get back on track. 'Simplifying the menu may help resolve the problem of cafes becoming more stressful and less appealing, but they are not the only issues in play,' Neil Saunders, Managing Director of GlobalData Retail, told DailyMail.com. 'The main issue is that consumers are buying less coffee from Starbucks in order to save money.' Losses across key regions, coupled with mass defections and severe military setbacks, suggest a crumbling grip of Military on power in Myanmar By all indications, 2025 is going to be, militarily, a dismal year for Myanmars ruling junta. It is clearly losing its war against the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) and its armed wing, the Peoples Defence Force (PDF), ethnic armed organisations (EROs), and the Three Brotherhood Alliance (Henceforth the Alliance). Comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), active in the Kokang Special Region of northern Shan State, the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), also active in the Shan State and the Arakan Army (AA), based in the Rakhine State in the countrys western part, the alliance has been acting in close cooperation with the PDF and other ethnic armies. Crystal-gazing is a hazardous business. Nevertheless, a fling at it is warranted by the unfolding events in that star-crossed country. A report under the headline, Juntas Writ Only Runs in One-third of Myanmar: NUG, (datelined January 6, 2025), in the news website The Irrawaddy, cited the NUG as stating that the military regime controlled only 107 of the countrys 330 townships. The PDF and EROs fully or partly controlled 144 townships or 44 per cent of the country. The website, which enjoys a high-measure of credibility, carried an article by Maung Kavi (datelined January 8, 2025) under the headline, Myanmar Junta Boss warns resistance as Regime Loses Ground Nationwide, saying that the NUG had further claimed that nearly 1,500 of the juntas soldiers and police personnel had defected to the civil disobedience movement and 480 of them had taken up revolutionary duties. The report titled Juntas Writ Only Runs in One-third of Myanmar: NUG, further states that 315 officers were killed and 127 injured in course of the last year. In the same period, 53 senior officers ranging in rank from colonel to major general, were either killed, injured, or taken prisoner. Among the rank and file, 14,093 soldiers and border guard policemen were killed and 7,363 injured. Anti-regime groups seized 741 junta positions. They were mostly captured by ethnic armies, but 162 were taken by PDF and Peoples Defence Teams in Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Bago and Tanintharyi regions. The military lost in 2024 some 140 battalions and two regional commands-Northeastern Command in northern Shan State and Western Command in Rakhine-plus one regional operations command, five military operations commands, six operational bases, two airbases, 17 border guard police bases, as well as many infantry and light infantry battalions, and artillery, logistics, signal, and military engineering units. While one should not take the NUGs claims at face value reports from the ground indicate that the Sit-Tat (as the juntas army is called) has suffered severe body blows during the last year. The Three Brotherhood Alliance has gained significant ground since launching its offensive, codenamed Operation 1027, on October 27, 2023. The AA had established control over almost the entire Rakhine State by April, 2024. In a major development, the MNDAA claimed on July 31, 2024, that it had captured Sit-Tats military base in Lashio, a city in Shan State close to the border with China, and its airport. This was a major loss for the junta. As Vivek Shankar has pointed out in a piece in The New York Times datelined August 5, 2024, the city of Lashio and its airport lie on a crucial trade corridor to Yunnan Province in China, which is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a high-speed rail link and other infrastructure projects on both sides of the border. Besides gains in the north, the anti-junta forces had captured four towns in northern Mandalay. According to a report by Andrew Nachemson published in Al Jazeera dated September 23, 2024, their capture had placed them within striking distance of the city of Mandalay, Myanmars second largest urban centre, with a population of nearly two million. On October 8, 2024, the Sit-Tat suffered a serious reverse with the fall of the township of Pinlebu to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an important part of the coalition of forces fighting the junta, and its allies. Located on the border of the Sagaing Region and Kachin State, its capture opened up to the opposition forces the routes leading to the Kawlin township and the surrounding areas. Besides its geo-strategic significance, the townships fall is important for what it revealed of the Sit-Tats state. A report by Saw Lin, published in the news website, The Irrawaddy, on October 14, 2024, cites the NUG as claiming that the juntas troops, numbering 800, were defeated despite 670 airstrikes and the dropping of over 5,000 bombs, that around 70 junta soldiers were killed, 275 were missing, 225 were wounded, 48 surrendered and 102 captured during the fighting. Around 400 firearms and other military equipment were seized. In keeping with the trend, the Junta had ceded three townships and the Western Command headquarters in Rakhine State in December, 2024, as the ethnic Arakan Army gained control over 14 of the 17 townships in the westernmost state. On January 1, 2025, the Sit-Tat retreated from a heavily-fortified police station in Sagaing Regions Budalin Township after a yearlong siege by regional resistance forces, making it easier for the latter to operate in the region. According to Maung Kavis report cited earlier, the junta, which has been losing towns and bases to EROs in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin and Karen states, has not been able to launch any military operation to retake the northern Shan State, almost the whole of which it had lost in 2024. The Sit-Tat is in a bad way. Its morale is low. There is internal discord. Several three-stars generals have been removed. Many younger officers are unhappy as they recognise that almost the entire country is against them. According to a piece by Ye Myo Hein (datelined May 4, 2023) featured by the United States Institute of Peace, it was found the Sit-Tat, whose headcount, showed a strength of a total 300,000-400,000 before the coup, showed that it currently had a strength of about 150,000 personnel. Roughly 70,000 are combat soldiers. At least 21,000 service members have been lost through casualties, desertion and defection since the coup. At this troop level, the Sit-Tat is barely able to sustain itself as a fighting force, much less a government. The odds are now rapidly stacking up against the Junta. No doubt, the latter has tanks and other armoured vehicles, artillery and air force. Tanks and armoured vehicles are very difficult to deploy in the areas dominated by the ethnic forces. With densely forested mountainous terrains, deep gorges and steep climbs, these are ideal for staging ambushes. Moreover, air-strikes and artillery do not win wars, even when backed by heavily armed and trained infantry. Otherwise, the United States would have swept to a victory in Vietnam. (The author is Consulting Editor, The Pioneer. The views expressed are personal) Dhaka, Jan 9 (UNI) Following reports of India extending the visa of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson Rafiqul Alam said that her visa extension has no bearing on the issue of her extradition. Addressing a weekly press briefing in Dhaka, Alam when asked about the matter, said: "As a Bangladeshi citizen, we have requested India to return Sheikh Hasina. Her status in India has no relevance to this request. It is not a matter of our concern," according to The Business Standard BD. Regarding reports that Hasina's Indian visa has been extended despite her Bangladeshi passport being revoked, he said, "Usually, when a passport is revoked, the visa becomes irrelevant. Beyond this, we do not have additional information, so we will not speculate." Canada's Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya has announced that he will run for the Liberal leadership with a campaign promising to make the country a sovereign republic, increasing the retirement age, introducing a citizenship-based tax system and recognising the state of Palestine. The Ottawa MP, who was born in Karnataka, made the announcement on X Thursday morning. In a statement, Arya said he wants to make Canada a sovereign republic, which would require replacing the monarchy as the head of state. It's time for Canada to take full control of its destiny, he wrote in a statement. Arya said he also wants to a lead a small, more efficient government with a cabinet selected on merit and not on (diversity, equity and inclusion) quotas, the CBC reported. His multi-page announcement includes a list of policy proposals, including increasing the retirement age by two years in 2040, introducing a citizenship-based tax system and recognising Palestine as a state. I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations, Arya, who was first elected in 2015 in the suburban riding of Nepean, said. We are facing significant structural problems that haven't been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices, he wrote. I have always worked hard for what is best for Canadians, and for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary, he added. Arya said many Canadians, especially younger generations, face affordability issues and the working middle class is struggling. Canada deserves leadership that isn't afraid to make the big decisions. Decisions that rebuild our economy, restore hope, create equal opportunities for all Canadians, and secure prosperity for our children and grandchildren, he said. He hasn't always been in line with the government's policies. In 2023, he sponsored a petition calling on the Liberals to reconsider plans to introduce a foreign agent registry in response to serious allegations of foreign interference in Canadian politics, the CBC reported. The registry legislation has since passed, but it's not yet up and running. Arya is a vocal advocate for Hindu Canadians and has clashed with other parliamentarians, including his own Liberal caucus colleagues, over his views on relations between Ottawa and New Delhi and the actions of Sikh separatists in Canada, The Toronto Star newspaper said. A few months ago, Arya sparred with New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh and Liberal caucus colleague Sukh Dhaliwal after separatist Sikh protesters clashed with Hindu worshippers at a temple in the Greater Toronto Area during a visit from Indian consular officials. At the time, there were heightened tensions between Canada and India. Last year, Arya travelled to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A statement from Global Affairs Canada at the time said Arya "travelled to India on his own initiative and was not representing the Government of Canada". So far, Arya and former MP Frank Baylis are the only candidates to formally declare their intentions to run, The Toronto Star said. Several other candidates have said they are waiting for the party to set the rules for the race before they make an announcement. With fear looming over the national Capital since May last year due to a spate of bomb threats, the Delhi Police on Friday revealed that they have detained a Class 12 student for allegedly sending bomb threats to more than 23 schools in the city over the past few weeks as he did not want to write his exams. More than 15 educational institutions including Lady Shri Ram College across the national Capital received bomb threats, which later turned out to be hoaxes. Since May last year, more than 100 schools have been receiving bomb threats through mails. Police sources said the south district police apprehended the Class 12 student, a minor, Thursday evening in connection with the threats. According to police sources, the content of the mail received on Wednesday mentioned that since exams are going on in the schools, this will be the best time to strike and create maximum damage. Earlier in the day, officials said police will address a press conference at its headquarters to share more details but it was later cancelled. The sources said the accused had sent bomb threats to 23 different schools as he did not want to take school examinations. He used this method to trigger panic. The student got the idea from previous incidents and hatched a plan to change his IP address by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) and send threat e-mails to different schools. Further investigation is underway, said a source. This development comes after recent reports revealed that students from within at least three Delhi schools were responsible for bomb threats targeting their institutions. According to a police official from the Delhi Police special cell, an investigation uncovered that two siblings within one of the schools had orchestrated the threats in an attempt to delay their exams. During counseling, the students admitted to being inspired by past bomb threat incidents. Both students were later released after their parents received strict warnings. Similar incidents were also reported in schools located in Rohini and Paschim Vihar, where students were found to have sent threatening emails. Since May, more than 50 bomb threat emails have targeted not only schools but also hospitals, airports, and airline companies across Delhi, creating widespread concern and fear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first-ever podcast, opened up about significant moments from his political journey, including his experiences during the 2002 Godhra riots and the United States decision to deny him a visa in 2005. The podcast, hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, was released on Friday. Recalling the events surrounding the 2002 Godhra riots, Modi shared, On February 24, 2002, I became an MLA for the first time, and on February 27, I went to the Assembly. I was a three-day-old MLA when such an incident happened in Godhra. We first received reports of fire in the train, then gradually we received reports of casualties. I was in the House, and I was concerned. As soon as I came out, I said I want to visit Godhra. On Feb 24, 2002, I became MLA for the first time, and on Feb 27, I went to the Assembly. I was a three-day-old MLA when such an incident happened in Godhra. We first received reports of fire in train, then gradually we received reports of casualties. I was in the House,, the Prime Minister described the challenges he faced in reaching the site. There was only one helicopter... I guess it was ONGCs, but they said that since it is a single-engine, they cannot allow a VIP to use it. We had an argument, and I said that I would be responsible for whatever happened he stated. I reached Godhra, and I witnessed that painful scene, those corpses. I felt everything, but I knew I was sitting in a position where I had to stay out of my emotions and natural tendencies. I did whatever I could to control myself, he remarked. During the podcast, Modi also revisited the American governments decision to deny him a visa in 2005 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Reflecting on the incident, he said, Talking about setbacks, I was the MLA when the American government refused to give me a visa. As an individual, going to America was not a big thing, I had visited before also; but I felt the disrespect of an elected government and the country, and there was a dilemma in my mind as to what was happening. That day, I held a press conference, where I said that the American government had rejected my visa. I also said that I see an India, where the world will stand in queue for a visa. This is my statement in 2005, and today we are standing in 2025. So, I can see that now, the time is of India, remarked Modi. In the conversation, Modi also reflected on leadership, admitting that mistakes are part of being human. He said he is willing to discard old ideas and embrace new ones as long as they fit into his essential ideology of nation first. Noting that one-third seats for MLAs and Lok Sabha members will be reserved for women in near future, the PM said women are already present in local bodies due to 50 per cent reservation for them in many states and asked them to work to become as capable as they can be to prepare themselves for assemblies and Parliament. The prime minister described himself as not a typical politician, and his time is mostly spent on governance. Asserting that he has never confined himself to a comfort zone, Modi said his risk-taking ability has hardly been utilised. My risk-taking ability is several times more, he said, adding that it was because he never bothered about himself. In his third term, he said he felt more emboldened and his dreams have widened. In first two terms, he used to judge his work by the progress it has made since he began. Now my thoughts are in the context of Viksit Bharat by 2047, he added. On the current trend of evolution of social media, PM said the platform has strengthened democracy by opening up ways to verify information which earlier was available from a handful of sources with little alternatives. Preparations are in full swing in Ayodhya to celebrate the first anniversary of Ram Lallas Pran Pratishtha at the grand Ram Mandir. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, in collaboration with the district administration, is organising a three-day celebration from January 11 to 13, 2025. The festivities will begin with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performing the sacred Abhishek of Ram Lalla on January 11. Ram Lalla will be adorned in a specially crafted Pitambari outfit woven with gold and silver threads, symbolizing divine splendor. This outfit, crafted in Delhi, will arrive in Ayodhya on January 10 and will be used during the Abhishek. Devotees will have the opportunity to witness the sacred darshan. The highlight of the celebrations will be Ram Lallas Maha Aarti at 12:20 PM on January 11. Cultural performances, devotional rituals, and Ram Katha discourses will follow. Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, stated that the event is a special opportunity for those who missed last years consecration ceremony to participate. We have made extensive arrangements to welcome saints, dignitaries, and devotees from across India. The public is invited to be part of these historic celebrations, he said. The Shri Ram Mandir Trust has confirmed the presence of 110 VIPs and thousands of devotees. Invitations have been extended to prominent saints and spiritual leaders from across the country. Public events at Angad Tila will continue throughout the three days, offering everyone a chance to participate in the celebrations. Why the anniversary is on January 11 While the original Pran Pratishtha ceremony took place on January 22, 2024, this years anniversary is being observed on January 11, 2025. The shift aligns with Hindu Vedic traditions, which follow the lunar calendar. According to the traditional calendar, Paush Shukla Dwadashi-the same auspicious day as the original consecration-falls on January 11 this year. This years celebration is significant, as it coincides with ten auspicious yogas. It is believed that worshipping Lord Rama on this day fulfills devotees deepest desires. The day offers a rare spiritual opportunity, as devotees can perform puja and seek blessings from Lord Ram Lalla. The AAP and the BJP are sparring over the fake voters ahead of the assembly polls. The AAP on Friday alleged that the BJP is buying votes and Delhi BJPs leaders have embezzled funds meant for "buying votes with money". Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP has allocated Rs 10,000 per voter to its leaders for buying votes but only a fraction of the money reached the intended recipients. "Instead of distributing the full amount, BJP leaders allegedly handed out only Rs 1,000 or Rs 1,100 to voters, pocketing the remaining Rs 9,000 for themselves," Singh said. AAP convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media platform X to accuse the BJP of resorting to "buying votes" and banking on "money" to win the election. "The abusive party is losing the Delhi elections badly. That is why it now wants to contest the elections by buying votes with money," Kejriwal said on X. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP retorted by statig that AAP leaders, who are exasperated, have been masters at eating NGO funds and pretty well know that their misappropriation of public funds stands exposed today and Tihar and Vaishali are team Kejriwal's ultimate abodes. South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said, Sanjay Singh should note that yes the people of Delhi have decided to ultimately expose the scams and corruption of AAP government by widely voting against it. The entire AAP stands shattered since the announcement of Parvesh Sahib Singh as the New Delhi candidate which has changed the entire political climate of Delhi. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia described the situation as a "fraud" in a post on X and urged the Delhi residents to confront BJP leaders about the missing funds. "The BJP has crossed all limits of fraud in the Delhi elections. The top leaders of the abusive party sent Rs 10,000 to distribute but to earn money, their leaders kept Rs 9,000 and distributed only Rs 1,100," Sisodia said on X. He said people working with the BJP leaders know that the saffron party cannot win against Kejriwal in Delhi, "so why not take Rs 9,000 from the people of Delhi?" "People of Delhi, if they come to you asking for votes, ask them where is the other Rs 9,000?" Sidodia added. Sanjay Singh further alleged that the BJP leaders had orchestrated this scheme, knowing they were likely to lose the election to AAP, an official statement said. He called on the Delhiites to question the BJP over the alleged stolen money and expose their "corruption", it added. Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, also present at the press conference, accused the BJP of undermining democracy not just through vote-buying but also through voter list manipulation. He raised concerns about thousands of legitimate voters being removed from the list and fake entries being added. The AAP leaders have called on the Election Commission to intervene and ensure a free and fair election process in Delhi, the statement said. The people of Delhi are going to cast their votes on February 5 with counting to take place on February 8. An intense political battle is unfolding in the national capital with assembly elections less than a month away and AAP aiming for a third consecutive term while the BJP pulling out all stops to defeat it and come back to power after more than 26 years. The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the BJP met on Friday to finalize the remaining candidates to be nominated for the upcoming high-octane Delhi Assembly elections, slated to be held on February 5. Two separate meetings were held throughout the days to narrow down the names of the candidates for the remaining constituencies. The first meeting, which took place at the residence of Nadda, included senior leaders including Shah, BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, Co-Election In-charge MP Atul Garg and Organizational General Secretary Pawan Rana among others. The BJP has already released its first list, featuring 29 candidates, including eight prominent leaders who switched from AAP and Congress. Notable turncoats like Kailash Gahlot and Arvinder Singh Lovely have made their way into the BJP fold. The focus of the meeting was on key discussions regarding the partys strategy and preparations for the elections. All seven Lok Sabha MPs from Delhi, including Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal, Northeast MP Manoj Tiwari, Northwest MP Yogendra Chandolia, New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj, West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra and South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri were called in for the meeting one by one to review the names of the candidates from their constituency for the Delhi polls. Later in the day, the BJP convened a Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting at the party headquarters, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to confirm the final list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The party is set to announce its second list of candidates soon with Chandolia confirming that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders are meticulously reviewing nominations for all 70 seats, with a particular focus on the remaining 41 constituencies. "Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and all the leaders in charge of Delhi are discussing the nominations for all seats. BJP National President JP Nadda has asked for our opinions on the 41 remaining seats, and national leadership is thoroughly discussing each constituency. If the parliamentary board meeting concludes today, the list will be released tonight; otherwise, it will be announced tomorrow," Chandolia shared. Counting for the elections will be held on February 8. Delhi Police arrested an illegal Bangladeshi migrant and his maternal aunt for allegedly possessing 768 grams of heroin, valued at Rs 8 crore in the market, an official said on Friday. The Anti-Narcotics Squad (ANS) of the southeast district arrested Hamidul and his aunt Naseema from the Sunlight Colony area in Delhi, the official said. Hamidul (23) had entered India illegally three months ago and became involved in drug peddling to earn quick money, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ravi Kumar said. Naseema who previously worked for a news channel allegedly supplied the heroin, he added. Acting on a secret tip, the ANS conducted a raid at Jungpura Extension, where Hamidul was apprehended. A search of his accommodation led to the recovery of 75 grams of high-quality heroin. During interrogation, Hamidul revealed that Naseema had supplied the heroin to him for distribution and a subsequent raid at her residence yielded an additional 80 grams of heroin, Kumar said. The team located her at a hotel in Sunlight Colony, where 693 grams of heroin were seized from her possession, said the DCP. Hamidul disclosed that he joined the drug trade to make quick money after arriving in India illegally, the DCP said. The Enforcement Directorate Friday conducted searches in multiple states, including in Bihar on premises liked to RJD MLA Alok Kumar Mehta, as part of a money laundering investigation linked to alleged funds embezzlement at a state cooperative bank, official sources said. About 18 premises in Bihar, West Bengal (Kolkata), Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are being searched, they said. These include premises linked to RJD MLA and former Bihar minister Alok Kumar Mehta (58), who is among the promoters of the Bihar-based Vaishali Shahri Vikas (VSV) Cooperative Bank, apart from some other linked entities, the sources said. The RJD slammed the BJP-led central government over the ED action. The money laundering investigation stems from some state police FIRs filed against the bank and its office-bearers for alleged embezzlement of funds worth about Rs 85 crore, they said. The alleged fraud was committed through an estimated 400 loan accounts and disbursal of funds was done based on "fake or forged" warehouse receipts, an agency official said. The bank employees and other private persons, who are the alleged beneficiary of the proceeds of crime and worked in connivance with Alok Mehta and his associates, are also covered in the search operations, the sources said. The RBI had carried out a verification of the bank and identified the alleged diversion of the bank funds, they added. Mehta, a senior members of the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), is an MLA from the Ujiarpur seat of Bihar. He has earlier served as the minister for revenue and land reforms in the state. Commenting on the ED action, RJD spokesperson (Bihar unit), Mrityunjay Tiwary, told PTI, "The BJP uses ED, CBI and IT department against the RJD and leaders of other opposition parties... It is evident that the rulers in Delhi are afraid of the RJD and its leaders that's why they are using central probe agencies against our leaders". Butter-fingered India let Ireland off the hook with their pathetic fielding as visiting skipper Gaby Lewis carved out a classy 92 to lift her team to a respectable 238 for seven in the first women's ODI here on Friday. Opting to bat, Ireland were in deep trouble at 56 for four in the 14th over, but Lewis and Leah Paul (59 off 73 balls) added 117 runs for the fifth wicket to steer their team to safety. Lewis scored her runs in 129 balls, lacing the knock with 15 boundaries. Aided by at least three clear dropped catches and a few misfields, the duo of Lewis and Paul went about their job in a calculated manner and brought a semblance of stability to the Ireland innings while putting together the team's first-ever century partnership against India. Asked to bowl first, medium pacer Titas Sadhu effected the first breakthrough for India when she induced an outside edge from Sarah Forbes (9) after the batter tried to play away from her body, and Deepti Sharma did the rest in the slip cordon. Making their first visit to the country, Ireland were reduced to 34 for two thanks to a terrible mix-up that led to the run out of Una Raymond-Hoey (5), who attempted an inexplicable single despite hitting the ball straight to Jemimah Rodrigues at cover. By the time she was asked to return by non-striker Lewis, Raymond-Hoey was halfway down the pitch and stood no chance of making it back, as Richa Ghosh collected the throw on the half-volley before breaking the stumps. Orla Prendergast (9) was next to go as she was stumped by Ghosh off the bowling of leg-spinner Priya Mishra (2/56), leaving the visitors in a spot of bother at 56 for three in the 14th over. Having beaten Prendergast with turn, Mishra castled Laura Delany with a beautiful googly with her very next delivery, the ball crashing into the stumps after an inside-edge to reduce Ireland to a precarious 56 for four. The visitors were in dire need of a partnership and they found one after Paul joined Lewis in the middle. Paul was run out after a mix-up with Lewis who did not respond after the former took of for a run after hitting the ball towards mid-off. Soon, Lewis too got out, offering Deepti a catch off her own bowling. Lewis was troubled by cramps in her arm before the dismissal. Arlene Kelly then chipped in with an useful 28 off 25 balls. Taiwan on Thursday demonstrated its sea defences against a potential Chinese attack as tensions rise with Beijing, part of a multitiered strategy to deter an invasion from the mainland. The islands navy highlighted its Kuang Hua VI fast attack missile boats and Tuo Chiang-class corvettes in waters near Taiwans largest port of Kaohsiung, a major hub for international trade considered key to resupplying Chinese forces should they establish a beachhead on the island. The Kuang Hua VI boats, with a crew of 19, carry indigenously developed Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles and displayed their ability to take to the sea in an emergency to intercept enemy ships about to cross the 44-kilometer (24-nautical mile) limit of Taiwans contiguous zone, within which governments are permitted to take defensive action. China routinely sends ships and planes to challenge Taiwans willingness and ability to counter intruders, prompting Taiwan to scramble jets, activate missile systems and dispatch warships. Taiwan demanded on Wednesday that China end its ongoing military activity in nearby waters, which it said is undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and disrupting international shipping and trade. Mountainous Taiwans strategy is to counter the much larger Chinese military with a relatively flexible defense that can prevent Chinese troops from crossing the strait. Landing sites are few on Taiwans west coast facing China, forcing Beijing to focus on the east coast. Hsiao Shun-ming, captain of a Tuo Chiang-class corvette, said his ships relatively small size still allows it to deliver a formidable competitive power against larger Chinese ships. Chennai, Jan 10 (UNI) Sundaram Clayton Executive Director and a pillar of the TVS Group H. Lakshmanan passed away in Chennai on Friday. He was 92. A Transformative Leader Who Shaped Sundaram Clayton and TVS Motor Company, Mr Lakshmanan leaves behind his son, two daughters. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide Sundaram Clayton and TVS Motor and the business community for generations to come, according to a company statement. Mr Lakshmanan leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that spans seven decades. His remarkable journey to the pinnacle of corporate leadership stands as a testament to the power of integrity, dedication, acuity and unparalleled leadership. Known affectionately as HL, he exemplified a rare combination of strategic brilliance and unwavering ethical principles that became the cornerstone of TVS Group's corporate culture. Starting at the age of just 20, Lakshmanan worked closely with TVS Motor founder TS Srinivasan (Cheema), mastering every nuance of the business operationsfrom technical and legal contracts to labor relations. Together, they built India's largest auto components group, laying the foundation for future growth. When the untimely passing of TS Srinivasan brought a young Venu Srinivasan to lead Sundaram Clayton and the moped business, Lakshmanan became an invaluable guide through challenging times. "Through him I learnt the wisdom that had been passed down by my father. HL had an ability to think clearly, counsel sagely and work tirelessly, and he was my rock of Gibraltar," said Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Company. "He would never settle for less and in a great measure what TVS is today, is thanks to his dedication and sense of duty", he added. Lakshmanans mastery in negotiation and strategic planning transformed TVS Motor from a moped maker into a global powerhouse in two-wheeler manufacturing. Alongside he built Sundaram Clayton into what it is today. His exceptional ability to forge strong relationships across all levelsfrom shop floor workers to government officials and bankersset him apart as a leader of extraordinary calibre. Bankers regarded his word as sacrosanct, a testament to his impeccable reputation for honesty and reliability. In both personal life and business, Lakshmanan approached everything with unwavering conviction and a determination to succeed, whether establishing Sundaram Clayton or orchestrating the turnaround of TVS Credit into a thriving NBFC serving millions of customers. He was the person I would turn to the most when I took over at Sundaram Clayton, and it was remarkable how he mentored me with the same enthusiasm and patience as he did my father, said Lakshmi Venu, Managing Director, Sundaram-Clayton Ltd. He made a complex business, simple. Perhaps his most endearing legacy lies in his role as a mentor and guardian of TVS Group's core values of Trust, Integrity and Service. Working across three generations of the TVS family, he embodied fairness, respect, and dignity in every interaction. "To the younger generation he passed on lessons in values that have thrived since my grandfather's time," said Sudarshan Venu, Managing Director, TVS Motor. "We at TVS are deeply grateful for his enormous contributions. He leaves a void that will never be filled." Mr Lakshmanan's life story serves as an inspirational blueprint for future generations, embodying the perfect synthesis of professional excellence and personal integrity. UNI GV 1620 by Dick Edelstein A number of books published in Ireland in the past few years relate to the centenaries of the First World War and the fight for Irish independence. Apart from being an opportunity to sell books, the conjuncture afforded readers an opportunity to reflect while delving into a receding page of history. Mary ODonnells narrative collection Empire includes interlinked short stories dealing with the revolutionary period, along with a novella-length title piece. Notwithstanding its historical tie-in and informative potential, the true raison detre of this book is the pleasure of reading. All of the stories are eminently readable, as we can clearly see in the title piece. During the First World War, the Wheelers, an Irish newlywed couple, travel to Burma, where the husband takes up an engineering job with a British company on a three-year contract. Separately, both of the protagonists become aware of their growing distaste for the prevailing colonialist attitude towards the local population, and both in the end are compelled to reflect on their own sense of identity, but in very different ways. The spare writing vibrates with unstated meaning as the narrators tone mirrors the characters circumspect manner of speech. We can almost hear their inner dialogue as they delicately choose what to communicate to each other and what to leave unsaid. Gaps left by unspoken thoughts cast shadows of social norms and propriety, highlighting the contrasting postures of men and women imposed by the social roles they feel obliged to embody. Whether the characters modulated diction is informed by historical research or by the authors poetic sensitivity to language, the verisimilitude of the portrayal is palpable, and it is reinforced by a carefully created atmosphere. Craft is concealed by art, as when viewing a finely painted image whose effect we perceive immediately without discerning the brush strokes. The treatment of this story is novelistic, particularly in terms of character development, setting, atmosphere and storyline. Once comfortably engaged in the unfolding of the tale, some readers may wonder why this highly engaging story has not been written as a full-length novel. Only at the end will they find an answer to that question. Once she has returned to Dublin after her colonial adventure, Margaret Wheeler has clarified her thoughts about the currently acceptable roles for women and about her future plans: to her husbands surprise and consternation, she has decided to take up studies at a university. The author has posed a conflict in such a way that a denouement of any sort might blur the clarity with which it has been set up, so it is fitting that this tale of the evolution of the main characters attitudesand of their separate reflections on their own identitiesshould end in such a way, in media res. The book is more than just a collection of stories since they are interrelated through characters that link them, and this conjunction of fragmentary portrayals affords readers a clearer view of the confluence of historical and political currents and of how this conjuncture affected peoples lives in different ways. The Irish Uprising and the Civil War in its aftermath were fought again in 2016, this time with no real casualties. The centenary celebration of nationhood going on in Ireland at that time heightened peoples awareness that many national myths needed some polishing up, at the very least, before being held up to the eyes of a 21st century world, but it was impossible to get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet since some citizens wanted to remember and honour only republican supporters in the conflict while others had sympathy for all of the people who had suffered on account of being drawn into it. If dustups in side streets were just barely avoided, there was little restraint shown when it came to bullying by ideological hardliners. Among other nationalists, some followers of Sein Feina less user-friendly party nine years agodid not want to remember those who were drawn, however unwittingly, into the role of fighting against republicansor siding with their enemieseven when some of those unfortunate souls were barely conscious of the role they were playing in a larger political framework. In this scenario, Mary ODonnell finds a useful role for literature: rather than waving placards, she sketches out a nuanced portrayal of the ways in which a complex historical situation diversely affected a number of people of different stations and social class. The author avoids polemic, aiming to shed light on past events that are laden with ambiguity. Through the lives and experiences portrayed in these stories, readers are able to view the events of the revolutionary period from several viewpoints, and this is a useful exercise in itself. Without needing to look further, we can appreciate the potential dangers that still loom as the force of demographics in Northern Ireland has led implacably towards a shifting majority and a new balance of power, a crystal-clear example of the importance in todays world of being able to view political situations from multiple viewpoints. In a story entitled Fortune on a Fair Day, we meet a young man who falls in love, probably for the first time. He decides to join the British army just after the execution of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. His family and friends are divided over his decision, and some see it as folly or even treason. Folly it may be, but the young mans decision aptly illustrates the sort of situations that occurred in the midst of the political currents of the time, and this lesson in history may be particularly of interest to readers who are less familiar with some of the nuances of the Irish political scene and the historical complexities of the revolutionary period. Empire, ODonnells third short story collection, is an engaging and highly readable addition to a serious body of work that includes seven poetry volumes, four novels, and a corpus of critical writing and journalism. To readers interested in knowing more about ODonnells writing, I recommend the references cited below. Empire by Mary ODonnell, Arlen House 2018. Giving Shape to the Moment: The Art of Mary ODonnell, Poet, Novelist and Short-Story Writer. Edited by Maria Elena Jaime de Pablos. Oxford: Peter Lang, 2018. Giving Shape to the Moment: The Art of Mary ODonnell, Poet, Novelist and Short-Story Writer, review by Asier Altuna-Garcia de Salazar of the University of Deusto (Bilbao), Spain, published in issue number 14 (17 March, 2019) of Estudios Irlandeses, open-access journal of the Spanish Association for Irish Studies (AEDEI). Note: A previous version of this review was published in the Irish-British journal The Blue Nib, in both the print and online editions of Issue number 39, but the digital version is no longer accessible on the web since that much loved journal has ended a good run lasting several years. Thus, we are now publishing this revised and updated version of my original review since the book it deals with, although prominently reviewed in The Irish Times at the time of its publication, deserves broader critical notice, and this situation highlights the dismal fact that just a very small handful of Irish writers, whose names are familiar to the worldwide reading public, get significant attention in the press and media. Amongst the smouldering ashes of multi-million dollar mansions, the fire has ravaged some of the most exclusive areas of Los Angeles. There are true heroes here, though, people who are risking their lives to help the victims of this terrible fire. People like Moshe Liebowitz, a renowned plastic surgeon, whose clinic is offering the people of Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena free botox fillers, breast enlargements and ass enlargements in their time of need. Quote code: FILLITUP-NOW This is a fucking tragedy. Look at my deflated bottom lip? Lydia Mancuso, 43, who lost four of her mansions, told an ABC NEWS crew. Jim Tremende, 56, was also up in arms as his puffed out face looked even more puffed out than usual. I need more botox asap. Like, yesterday! Stat! Thanks to heroes like Dr. Liebowitz who is coming to my 5-star hotel suite in Beverly Hills which I booked after my goddamn Palisades mansion burned down, I will have an even bigger, fucking better bloated motherfuckin botox face. In Malibu, one residents breast implants exploded from the heat. I was enjoying a lil champagne and caviar looking out to the sea from my wonderful luxury mansion thinking about those adorable smelt fishies swimming around in rivers, what a beautiful thought. Anyway, suddenly I felt a little heat and my left fuckin tit exploded. The rock hard nipple cracked the fuckin glass of the window. Thank god for people like Dr. Liebowitz, I phoned him as the whole house burned down, and he booked an appointment for me immediately. Our thoughts are with the whole community in these trying times. Ian Henry MBE, CR Director at leading construction company Henry Brothers, has been appointed the new High Sheriff of Londonderry. The Chain of Office was recently presented to Ian by the Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Tanya Stirling, at a ceremony held in Councils Civic Headquarters, Cloonavin. Commenting on the appointment, Ian said: It is an honour to be named the High Sheriff of Londonderry and I am grateful to have the opportunity to connect and engage with local charities, community groups, and businesses to enhance the area in which we call home. Throughout my career, I am fortunate to have worked with a number of these groups already and am pleased that I will be able to build on these relationships further over the next 12 months." Ian, who has previously held the role of President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, was awarded an MBE in 2023 for outstanding contribution to economy and charity in Northern Ireland. Speaking after the handover, Councillor Stirling said: I am delighted to see Ian appointed to the role of High Sheriff. I wish him every success for the year ahead, and I have no doubt he will be a fantastic ambassador for the Borough. For more information, visit henrybrothers.co.uk The UK has recorded its coldest January night in 15 years as more freezing temperatures are expected to roll in over the coming days. In Altnaharra, a hamlet in Sutherland, the most northern region of the Highlands, overnight temperatures dropped to minus 14.5C overnight into Friday the coldest night of the winter so far in the UK. It was the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010 which was a month that saw temperatures drop below minus 15C several times at locations across the UK, including minus 22.3C on January 8 in Altnaharra. Weather warnings for ice were in place across most of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England, until 10am on Friday. The Met Office has said Friday will see the start of a change to our weather with milder temperatures attempting to move in from the south west through the morning. But this is expected to make only limited progress and patchy rain, sleet and snow is expected across parts of south-west Britain. The forecaster added: Amounts of snow are uncertain probably small and confined to high ground, but there is a risk of icy surfaces in places. Much of the rest of the UK will have another dry and bright day but remaining very cold, with few freezing fog patches lasting all day. Friday night is predicted to bring the lowest temperatures of the cold snap in parts of Scotland and northern England, with temperatures between minus 15C and minus 20C possible. Oli Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told the PA news agency: It will be another cold night tonight with temperatures as low as minus 15C again in the Scottish highlands. Theres a chance we could even see the coldest night of winter again. Were expecting to see frost in parts of the south west and Wales. Northern Ireland will be cold again but not as cold as Thursday night. But that will be the last of the really low temperatures, with milder weather coming in during the weekend. This will spread from the north down to the south and it could be Monday or Tuesday before the south west starts to feel the milder temperatures. BrrrThink it's cold where you are? It was the coldest night of winter so far in the UK, with the temperature falling to -14.5C in northern Scotland pic.twitter.com/kmXhgFa75Y Met Office (@metoffice) January 10, 2025 Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick previously said: Saturday is still going to be another cold one, unfortunately. But clouds will come in from the west which should prevent temperatures dropping as quickly, he said. The meteorologist added: Sunday will still be a chilly one, but not as cold as what weve seen for today and for tomorrow. By Monday, we are expecting the temperatures to come back up to what we would expect for this time of year, which is around sort of 7C (or) 8C. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has urged people to remain vigilant following recent flooding, with combined rainfall and snowmelt potentially contributing to continued river flooding in some parts of the country. Minor flooding along the River Trent was expected to continue on Friday, while new impacts were possible but not expected along rivers in parts of the Yorkshire and the Humber regions on Monday and Tuesday. As of 12.30pm on Friday, there were 20 flood warnings, meaning flooding was expected, and 67 flood alerts, meaning flooding was possible, in place. The Environment Agency said people in affected areas should follow advice from emergency services, particularly while travelling. As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted. Spokesperson for the RAC Alice Simpson said this week had been one of our busiest for breakdowns in the five years since the Covid-19 pandemic. She added: Were prioritising members who are away from home or in dangerous locations, and waiting times are inevitably longer. Drivers setting out must ensure they are ready for the conditions. Until the weather warms up on Sunday, there is an ongoing risk of ice and snow which will make the roads treacherous. Sticking to major routes that have been gritted is advised. We also urge anyone setting out to have an emergency kit in the boot, that includes warm clothes, waterproofs, food, a flask of hot drink and a mobile phone power bank. The AA has predicted that Friday could see a major increase in workload, with some roads, particularly in the north, likely to be affected. The insurance provider advised against all but essential travel in hard-hit areas and urged drivers to check forecasts before venturing out and to take extreme caution on hazardous roads. Snow and winds have also brought rail disruption this week, with some lines forced to close. National Rail said on Friday morning that some Southeastern services to and from London and Charing Cross had been affected by ice. Manchester Airport closed both its runways on Thursday morning due to significant levels of snow but they were later reopened. Transport for Wales closed some rail lines in the country due to track damage following a period of heavy wind, rain and snow. Hundreds of schools in Scotland and around 90 in Wales were shut on Thursday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Tuesday. Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 14, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said. The owner of British Gas warned on Friday that UK gas stores had fallen to concerningly low levels amid the freezing cold temperatures. Centrica said the UK now has less than a weeks worth of demand for gas in store. On Thursday, stocks at UK gas storage sites were 26% lower than the same period last year, leaving them about half full, the energy giant said. But a spokesman for Number 10 said the Government was confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient energy system. The spokesman added that reports the UK has been on the verge of an energy blackout are not true. UK-Taiwan tech partnerships deepen as British Representative to Taiwan concludes term John Dennis, Representative at the British Office in Taipei, will conclude his tenure in February 2025 after serving since December 2020. During his farewell address, Dennis highlighted the strengthening of trade and technological partnerships between the UK and Taiwan as the hallmark of his time in office. A key milestone was the signing of the UK-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement in November 2023, which he described as a pivotal achievement in fostering bilateral collaboration. "The Enhanced Trade Partnership marks a significant step forward in our collaboration," Dennis said, emphasizing its focus on critical areas including digital trade, investment, and renewable energy. He expressed optimism about the signing of additional priority pillars in the coming months, which aim to deepen ties in strategically important sectors. Strong trade growth drives partnership UK-Taiwan bilateral trade in goods and services grew by 13.7%, reaching GBP8.3 billion (approx. US$10.5 billion) in 2023. Taiwan is now the UK's fifth-largest trade partner in the Asia-Pacific region, while the UK ranks as Taiwan's third-largest trade partner in Europe. Dennis noted the increasing investment opportunities between the two sides, citing major Taiwanese companies such as MediaTek and Walsin Lihwa expanding their presence in the UK's infrastructure, energy, and technology sectors in recent years. Technology cooperation expands Dennis underscored the growing importance of science and technology in the bilateral relationship, calling it a "cornerstone" of cooperation. Key milestones include the establishment of two new sector-specific dialogues on semiconductors and health, as well as the successful launch of the UK-Taiwan Collaborative R&D Programme in 2023. The program now supports 18 joint research projects with GBP20 million (US$25.3 million) in bilateral funding. Taiwanese companies have also joined the UK's SONIC Labs program to test and develop next-generation telecom systems, including 5G and future 6G technologies. Additionally, the British Office hosted a UK pavilion at SEMICON Taiwan for two consecutive years, showcasing innovative UK companies in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. "We are seeing incredible demand for collaboration, particularly in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and engineering biology," Dennis remarked. "These fields present immense opportunities for both the UK and Taiwan to further solidify their global leadership." Future outlook Reflecting on his tenure, Dennis praised Taiwan's contributions to global supply chains and its leadership in semiconductors, while highlighting the UK's innovation-driven economy and robust tech ecosystem. He expressed confidence that his successor, Ruth Bradley-Jones, would continue to build on this foundation, fostering "exciting new chapters" for UK-Taiwan relations. Dennis concluded by reaffirming the UK's commitment to fostering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, aligning with broader Indo-Pacific strategies. "This is a partnership built on shared values and mutual respect, and I am proud to have played a role in its growth," he said. Credit: The British Office Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. CES 2025: Nvidia highlights robot partnerships, South Korea's absence raises concerns Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made a notable appearance alongside multiple partnered robots during his keynote speech at CES 2025. South Korean media observed that out of the 14 showcased robots, six were from Chinese companies, marking the highest representation, while none were from South Korean companies, sparking significant concern and discussion within the South Korean industry. According to media outlets including ZDNet Korea and Chosun Biz, Huang stated that artificial intelligence (AI) will expand into the physical world. During his recent keynote address at CES 2025, where he shared the stage with humanoid robots from global partners, South Korean media noted that Chinese enterprises dominated nearly half of the showcase, while South Korean robots were completely absent, raising alarms in the sector. Standing on stage alongside 14 humanoid robots displayed on the screen, Huang declared, "The ChatGPT moment for general robotics is just around the corner." The lineup included several iconic American robots such as Boston Dynamics' E-Atlas, Agility Robotics' Digit, Figure's Figure 02, and Apptronik's Apollo. Chinese companies had the highest representation with six robots, including Unitree's H1, XPeng's Iron, Galbot's G1, Robotera's Star 1, Agibot's A2, and Fourier's GR-2. The remaining robots include 1X's NEO from Norway, Mentee's MenteeBot from Israel, Neura Robotics' 4NE-1 from Germany, and Sanctuary AI's Phoenix from Canada. Despite South Korea's efforts in developing humanoid robots, the industry faces criticism over underwhelming results. The representative company for South Korean humanoid robots is Rainbow Robotics, known for creating the country's first humanoid robot, Hubo. Other notable players include A Robot and Holiday Robotics. Insiders in the South Korean securities industry pointed out that the complete absence of South Korean companies in Huang's lineup serves as a major warning sign, especially given that Chinese firms held the highest share among the 14 showcased robots. Furthermore, Huang announced the launch of a world foundation model development platform named Cosmos, which aims to accelerate the development of physical AI systems by simulating real-world conditions. The platform is open-licensed and available on GitHub. Tata Elxsi and Qualcomm join forces to create virtual models of Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions at CES 2025 Tata Elxsi is teaming up with Qualcomm to develop virtual models of Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions for cloud-native application development, showcased at CES 2025. According to Tata Elxsi's press release, the Tata Elxsi-Qualcomm partnership aims to develop a virtual electronic control unit (ECU) platform for automotive manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers using Snapdragon virtual system-on-chips (VSoCs), targeting the next wave of mobility solutions for various vehicle segments. The initiative will utilize Snapdragon Digital Chassis VSoCs to revolutionize software-defined vehicle development, enabling faster software development and validation by reducing reliance on hardware availability. This approach aims to streamline product development, ensuring quicker and more efficient market entry for advanced mobility solutions. At CES 2025, Tata Elxsi demonstrated its AVENIR SDV solutions integrated with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride Flex SoC, highlighting practical uses in infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems. Shaju S, VP and head of the Transportation Business Unit at Tata Elxsi, emphasized that this collaboration brings together a unique blend of world-class software, system expertise, virtualized models, and pre-developed SDV software. This fusion offers OEMs a robust and forward-thinking pathway toward SDVs and the next generation of mobility solutions. With this initiative, Tata Elxsi further cements its position as a key player in the automotive technology sector, demonstrating its commitment to delivering cutting-edge and future-ready automotive technologies. Laxmi Rayapudi, VP at Qualcomm, noted a major advancement for developers. Tata Elxsi's cloud-based demonstration of Snapdragon virtual SoCs is a breakthrough for early software development. Using the AVENIR SDV suite provides a cost-effective way for developers to access target hardware sooner, cutting the time needed to bring new applications to market. Donegal minister, Charlie McConalogue, is urging the farming community to stay vigilant and protect Irish livestock following confirmation of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Germany. Germanys first case of foot-and-mouth since 1988 was detected in water buffalo in the state of Brandenburg. I am dismayed to hear of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany today. I know this is a terrible blow to German farmers, particularly the affected herdowner and their neighbours, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine commented. I know the German authorities are working hard to resolve this. I want to urge everyone in Ireland, particularly farmers, to stay vigilant and to protect our Irish livestock, Minister McConalogue added. READ NEXT: Several Donegal politicians in running for Seanad election FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. It causes very significant economic losses, due to production losses in the affected animals and due to the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries. FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk. Ireland is free of FMD, having had its last case in 2001. The Department is taking action to protect Irish livestock following this outbreak. The Department has confirmed that no animals susceptible to FMD (i.e. cattle, sheep, pigs, etc) have been imported into Ireland from Germany since 1st November 2024, which is long before the case in Germany would have been first infected. Irelands controls to prevent FMD include strict prohibitions on the imports of animals and animal products from countries in which FMD is present; a comprehensive veterinary surveillance system to detect unusual disease outbreaks; and active follow up and veterinary investigation of any suspects reports. If a FMD case were to be identified in Ireland, the infected herd would be culled, the site disinfected, and a 3k protection zone and 10k surveillance zone set up, within which very strict movement controls and testing would be imposed. A national movement ban is very likely to be imposed in the first days after any initial FMD case. If a case of FMD were to occur in Ireland, it would lead to the immediate loss of market access for Irish animals and animal products. An independent review of how the Windsor Framework is functioning must be an honest assessment rather than an exercise in papering over problems, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said. The Government announced this week that former Northern Ireland and Welsh secretary Lord Murphy will carry out the review of the operation of the UK and EUs framework deal, following a vote by the Stormont Assembly to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements for the region for another four years. Lord Murphy has said he has a job of work to do, adding his role is to listen to the concerns people have about the trading arrangements. But Mr Robinson said there has to be more urgency in responding to the concerns of unionists. The Stormont debate and vote in December were required under the democratic consent mechanism in the Windsor Framework and were designed to give local elected representatives a say on the trade rules that now operate in the region. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. The Stormont vote on the parts of the framework which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland did not require cross-community support to pass. However, the vote passing on only a straight majority obliged the UK Government to instigate the independent review being led by Lord Murphy. He will provide a report in six months. Mr Robinson said it is an opportunity to focus on the damage being done to Northern Ireland. He added: The recent Assembly vote was rigged and discarded the principle of cross-community consent that is essential to all political progress in Northern Ireland. We note this appointment and the review. It must be an honest assessment rather than an exercise of papering over or explaining the problems. The Government has been slow to appoint the Independent Monitoring Panel and enable Intertrade UK to get to work. There must be more urgency. The Windsor Framework and the last governments Safeguarding the Union command paper did not secure all of our negotiating objectives, nor did these agreements remedy a number of the long-term problems born out of the NI Protocol. Building on progress secured to date, this party has a mandate to continue the fight to fully restore Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom. That includes removing the application of EU law in our country, which has created, and sustains, an internal Irish Sea border. There are weekly examples where costs are being driven up for manufacturers and additional paperwork is creating a chill factor for GB-based companies currently supplying the Northern Ireland market. The SDLPs Stormont leader Matthew OToole said the review must be fundamentally different to the clandestine bilateral Tory-DUP dialogue pursued by the previous government. He added: We need to look at the huge range of opportunities from our unique position in relation to Europe. We will be telling Lord Murphy that the best way to build trust and confidence in the arrangements is to maximise the positive benefits, whether via selling the potential of dual market access, increasing our voice in the European Parliament or leveraging new investment via the European Investment Bank. We also need to see the review focus not just on the east-west movement of goods but on the huge range of disruptions to the all-island economy which are not covered by the protocol, including this weeks introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme which could have serious implications for our tourism industry. Lord Murphy told the BBC Nolan Show that he hopes his recommendations will get cross-community support. He said: There wouldnt be a review if there had been cross-community support in that (Stormont) vote, because there wasnt it triggered the independent review. There is very much an acknowledgement that there is a job of work to be done. I am not here to persuade anybody about the merits or demerits of the Windsor Framework; my job is to listen to people and to see whether we can get a situation where there is support for it. Dundalk Simon Community has said that the time to tackle homelessness is now, following the release of the latest homeless figures by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which show that the number of homeless people in Louth and the North East region rose yet again in November. 273 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 18-24 November 2024 in the North East region, with 242 of them in Louth. This is up from 256 in October in the North East, which included 235 Louth. The North East region comprises Louth, Monaghan and Cavan. 12 people were recorded as homeless in Monaghan and 19 in Cavan. Of the 273 adults in the North East region, 140 were male and 133 were female. 46 were aged 18-24 years old; 144 aged 25-44 years old; 75 aged 45-64 years old; and eight of the people were aged 65 and over - up from six in October. 154 were Irish citizens; 60 were EEA/UK citizens; and 59 were non-EEA citizens. 69 families with 152 children were also recorded as homeless in the North East region in November. While it is down one on the 70 families recorded in October, the number of homeless children has increased by two. In a statement, Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dundalk Simon Community, said that it is imperative that solving the homelessness crisis remains at the top of the political agenda, and pointed to the fact that the latest government figures do not account for those rough sleeping, individuals in domestic violence shelters, refugees, or asylum seekers on our streets. These figures also exclude those in hidden homelessness: people sleeping in cars, staying with friends, on sofas, or in unsuitable conditions. Ms Kenny said that Between the election campaign and the government formation talks, our politicians have spent the last couple of months outlining what they see as the best way forward for our country. While we have listened to numerous promises, a simple fact remains: there are now over 15,000 people in emergency accommodation across the country, a number previously thought inconceivable. As each number continues to shatter the record made by the last, the term crisis begins to lose all meaning. The time for political debate is over, Kenny added. The incoming government must act decisively and urgently to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Words are not enoughnow is the time for tangible action. With a new government taking shape, there is an opportunity for bold action. Preventative measures are key to stopping the flow of individuals and families into homelessness, while increasing the stock of social and affordable housing is essential to ensure homeownership is accessible to all, regardless of income. Without urgent, coordinated action, this crisis will continue to spiral. Dundalk Simon said it is calling on the incoming government to take a comprehensive, interdepartmental approach in addressing homelessness. It added that the future coalition must ensure that cross-government cooperation is a reality in order to really improve the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Ireland. Nationally, 10,541 adults and 4,658 children were recorded as homeless in November, giving a total of 15,199 homeless people, up from 14,966 in October and another record high number of homeless people in the State. Commenting on Novembers Homeless report, David Carroll, Chief Executive of Depaul, called on the incoming government to take radical action as we witness never before seen homelessness numbers of 15,199, including 2,168 families, now accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation. Mr Carroll said that: Todays publication lays bare the heart breaking reality that thousands of children, families and individuals are now experiencing homelessness in Ireland. The obvious truth is the housing market is not working for those most vulnerable, and we have to draw a line in the sand on what is acceptable and reverse the trend as we begin a new year. We would ask that all social housing being delivered in the first six months of 2025 must be prioritised for those families stuck in temporary accommodation. The incoming Government must give hope to those more than 15,000 people languishing in temporary accommodation, many who have been there for over a year or more and there is no coherent housing plan for those in Direct provision who have permission to remain in Ireland. Mr Carroll added: Housing is the most basic and fundamental need yet a large number of people in this country do not have a secure, affordable, decent place to call home. Something has to change. I am Earth Rullan founder of Philippines top women's Life + Style blog Earthlingorgeous (EG) Earthlingorgeous.com is an established, well-trusted name in the blogging world, rocking the lifestyle scene for 17 years strongyes, seventeen! Its not just a blog; its one of the top lifestyle blogs worldwide. If you want your brand or service to stand out and be seen by a loyal, engaged audience, this is the only place you need to be. If you want refreshingly honest and entertaining opinion to help your brand reach your audience through this blog please send an email: LET'S WORK TOGETHER: earthlingorgeous@gmail.com Click here to subscribe and watch the Earthlingorgeous Youtube Channel Stay gorgeous everyone! Earthlingorgeous What if I tell you that with just a click of the mouse you can save marine biodiversity would you be as click happy like you are when you browse Facebook? The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has come up with another innovative way to encourage people to contribute in protecting Philippines marine environment for lifesaving food security via the I Click, I Save campaign. The I Click, I Save campaign empowers everyone with internet access using a computer arrow clicker as a weapon of choice to save the marine biodiversity. With the I Click, I Save campaign the computer mouses arrow becomes a conservation tool for Filipinos to do something to help save the Philippine marine environment. All they need to do is visit WWFs website and make a meaningful donation, said WWF President and CEO, Lory Tan. More than simply raising awareness of the issues that plague our marine environment, this campaign gives the Philippine public a chance to be part of the solution. While Filipinos are proud of our coastal attractions that rival the worlds best, most fail to recognize that these areas are rapidly deteriorating. This affects the marine food chain spreading a rapidly expanding blanket of threats over habitats, species and the 40 Million Filipinos who depend on seafood as their primary source of protein. Preserving marine life saves peoples lives. For a small monthly contribution help WWF educate individuals and corporations on how they can participate in eradicating environmental threats. Visit wwf.org.ph/donate to learn more about I Click, I Save. All donations shall benefit WWF conservation efforts within the country. To cite, WWFs community-based ecotourism transformed Donsols economy, becoming a 1st class municipality by the end of 2009 from a 5th class municipality in 1998. TIME magazine named Donsol as one of Asias Best Animal Encounters. With this, job opportunities opened up for the locals, providing a sustainable source of income to former blast fishermen like Embet Guadamor as a Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). Mang Embet, was a beneficiary of the WWF projects. During the launch of I Click, I Save campaign hosted by Marc Nelson he told us how WWF change his life from a simple fisherman who just get whatever he can, he is now informed that he cant do better. Ten years ago, I used to eat dolphins, Mang Embet told us in Filipino. I didnt know how precious these creatures were, all we know is as long as they can be eated, its fine, he elaborates. But when WWF came and taught us about the importance of every living thing in the ocean, we dont just get whatever we can, we now help protect the marine biodiversity. Through this our livelihood doubled. Mang Embet happily told us. He said there are more tourist in Donsol that they could handle, but he is not complaining. Mang Embet is now a Butanding Interaction Officer in Donsol. WWF marine conservation programs from Cagayancillo, Palawan to Donsol, Sorsogon, WWF-Philippines focuses on environmental sustainability as a means to providing for local communities. The I Click, I Save campaign only accepts credit card donations for now, but by the next months to come options like ATM contributions and SMS contributions will be available. Marc Nelson also demonstrated that contributing to WWF using your credit card is safe, he was sort of the key man insurance for the launch. Lets all do our part in saving our planet! Stay gorgeous everyone! Owning a credit card is both a luxury and a need. It is a luxury because of the fees included when you use it. It is a need especially for those who travel a lot as cards with known providers is accepted almost everywhere (except for night and day market of course). Just recently, I was introduced to a new credit card by Maybank in cooperation with Mastercard, the Maybank Platinum Mastercard which offers a high credit limit and perks that only a platinum card holder can avail of. While I was not offered one (thank goodness!) I found some of the features very enticing. I have listed below the reasons to own a Maybank Platinum Mastercard which you might find not available on the current credit card you own. I was also told by a source that if you are a current owner approval will be easy! To help prevent fraudulent transactions, they have embedded a EMV-compliant chip on the card and the number that will send an SMS messgae to the customers mobile phone after every transaction using the credit card. This allows cardholders to track their purchases and protects them from unauthorized transactions. A Maybank Secure Online Shopping (MSOS) , which is a one-time password that the card owner will recive via SMS before every online transaction at 3D secure websites. Philippine-issued cardholders of the Maybank Platinum Mastercard can enjoy all the perks as the locals have in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia card holder because of the cross-border privileges. They can also enjoy discounts and freebies offered at local merchants from other countries. For every Php50.00 spent using the Maybank Platinum MasterCard, a cardholder earn 1 Asia Mile or 1 KrisFlyer Mile, pick one where you want your miles credited. Using the card overseas also earns cardholders a 1% cashback rebate. Enjoy MasterCards Priceless Cities program which offers exclusive access to some of the most coveted places and events. You can know about the Mastercards Priceless Cities just google the term and its all there! My favorite benefit of owning the platinum card is the 1 mile for every Php50.00 purchase or charge using the card! That is very competitive offer that travel enthusiast would want to make use of a lot. To learn more about the Maybank Platinum MsterCard, you may visit www.maybank.com.ph Some of the last remaining tenants in social housing flats on Noonans Road have called on Cork City Council to properly secure vacant properties in the area, saying they are terrified since squatters have moved into one empty flat. Several tenants said a group of people had broken into one of the vacant council properties last weekend and had attempted to gain access to a number of other flats. The issue of security in the vacant flats was previously raised in November by former lord mayor of Cork Mick Finn, who was then running as an Independent candidate in the general election. Mr Finn said this week that councillors and officials needed to move on with redevelopment proposals. That there is squatting in the flats is no great surprise and it needs to be sorted by Cork City Council, he said. There is a distinct lack of urgency on this, which is not fair to the residents still living there in between the abandoned, boarded-up units. One local, speaking anonymously, said: One of the residents called the guards and they came up and visited the flat but said there was very little they could do, only refer the matter to the council." Another resident said there was a real fear that fire might break out in one of the vacant flats. When the guards came up there was a blazing fire going in the fireplace. That fireplace hadnt been used in years, nor the chimney cleaned in years. The whole place could go up, they said. They also claimed that although the previous tenant had said they had cancelled their electricity, there was still power in the flat and when gardai had called there was a pot of stew on and messages in the fridge. A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that, where appropriate, it securely shutters vacant units. The council has inspected the Noonans Road development, and is undertaking a security review, they said. Any shuttering deemed necessary will be undertaken, as well as ongoing monitoring in the coming weeks, with any additional security measures being taken as appropriate. As always, residents are advised to contact the councils customer service unit to report any matters of concern. A spokesperson said An Garda Siochana does not comment on statements provided by third parties. In September of 2023, council tenants on Noonans Road, St Finbarrs Road, Fort Street and Dean Street were told by Cork City Council that it favours rehousing tenants, demolishing the dilapidated blocks, and redeveloping the sites. Now, there are approximately 30 tenants left in the 90-odd Noonans Rd and St Finbarrs Rd flats, while the 38 flats on Fort St and Dean St remain mostly occupied. Several residents said they were calling on Cork City Council to fully secure all the vacant properties on Noonans Road. In all the years Im living here, I was never afraid before, but now with so many empty flats around, Im terrified at the thought of people trying to break in, one tenant said. Update 3.35pm: Gardai in Cork have charged the remaining two men arrested in a search operation that took place this morning. Five individuals have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into violent disorder incidents and related criminal activities that occurred in Cork city on Monday. All of the five arrested men have now been charged and are scheduled to appear before Cork District Court this afternoon. Update: Gardai in Cork have charged an additional two of the five men arrested in a search operation that took place this morning. They are scheduled to appear before Cork District Court this afternoon. The search operation took place as part of an ongoing investigation into violent disorder incidents and related criminal activities that occurred in Cork city on Monday. Earlier: Five individuals have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into violent disorder incidents and related criminal activities that occurred in Cork city on January 6. Gardai conducted a search and arrest operation this morning, during which the five individuals - males ranging from late teens to early twenties - were arrested. They have been taken to to garda stations in the Southern region. One male has since been charged and is due to appear in Cork District Court this afternoon. The operation this morning involved gardai from the Cork City Division assisted by the Armed Support Unit. They conducted searches at four residential properties in Cork over the course of the operation. A large quantity of weapons was recovered during the searches. A spokesperson from An Gard Siochana said: "Investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow." Thousands of people descended on the RDS in Dublin for day two of the 61st BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) yesterday. Nearly 150 Cork projects from over 40 schools across the county are among those being judged. They include 14 projects from St Marys Secondary School, Macroom, 14 from Colaiste Choilm in Ballincollig, and nine from Kinsale Community School. Thursday also saw the start of this years Primary Science Fair, an integral, non-competitive part of the exhibition, which gives third to sixth class primary school students across Ireland the chance to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and to make friends and have fun. This year, more than 1,000 primary school students representing 35 schools across Ireland, including two in Cork, are showcasing their projects at the RDS Dublin. The projects are judged by former BTYSTE overall winners. Anticipation mounting Elsewhere at the RDS, anticipation was mounting among the BTYSTE participants, as they prepared for the winner to be announced today. Its an honour to be a part of the judging panel at the 61st BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition and join all the team at BT Ireland in celebrating 25 years as custodian of this phenomenal event, said 2025 BTYSTE judge Peter Taylor. I feel very lucky to have played a part at the exhibition throughout those years, first as a participant and overall winner in 2001 and now for several years judging the amazing projects from finalists. This year has been no different when it comes to the calibre of entries on display, and the judges and I have an extremely challenging task of choosing the winners in the hours ahead. The BTYSTE was my first exposure to the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and the exhibition played no small part in steering my career into a STEM field. Today, final judging and deliberation will get underway early, before the 2025 BTYSTE awards ceremony begins at 5.30pm. Irish homeless charities have united in a call for the incoming government to end long term homelessness in Ireland by 2030, while Cork North Central Independent Ireland TD Ken OFlynn feels a merger of such organisations could help combat overall homelessness in Ireland. The Irish Homeless Policy Group (IHPG), which includes Focus Ireland, Threshold, and the Irish Refugee Council, have come together to outline 10 key actions they are calling for inclusion in the programme for government. These include developing collaborative structures to end homelessness and ensuring more than 55,000 homes are built each year to meet housing needs. The IHPG is also looking for the government to fully implement the Youth Homelessness Strategy, introduce measures to tackle issues facing homeless families, improve mental health services for people experiencing homelessness, and to improve the transparency of access to homeless services. Recent homelessness figures released show a further rise in amount of people homeless in Cork, with 568 adults accessing emergency accommodation from November 18 to 24. Speaking to The Echo, Mr OFlynn said merging the homeless charities in Ireland could prove productive. Whoever is in government needs to get a handle on this because the way it is going at the moment, it is certainly heading in the wrong direction and has been heading in the wrong direction for at least the past five years. If we stay on the track we are on, we are looking at 40,000 people homeless by 2030. That is the reality of it and climbing, Mr OFlynn said. I think we need a multi-faceted approach to this. There is a housing crisis and housing emergency in this country. Mr OFlynn adds that a merger of homeless charities in Ireland could help combat homelessness: While I think the joint statement is a very good idea, I think we should look at amalgamating a number of these homeless services into one, as well as homeless charities and NGOs that are there. I dont think there is a point of spending hundreds of thousands of euro on administration, when it could all come under one umbrella group as a national housing body. I think some of the points that they have made are very relative. But I also think that it is about time of giving value for money into the homeless services and that means amalgamating groups that are doing the one thing. A Cork woman has spoken of her grief at the death of her son, the third child she has lost in nine years. In an emotional radio interview, Christine Kavanagh, who is from Gurranabraher on Cork citys Northside, said her heart was broken at the loss of her 36-year-old son Damien. Damien, a father of two, was found dead in his apartment in Cardiff, in Wales, on Wednesday. An investigation into his death is currently ongoing. Damien was predeceased by his two brothers, Ross, who died in December 2016 at the age of 31, and Leon, who was also 31 when he died in March of 2021. Ross, who was a father of two, collapsed and died of an epilepsy-related condition, just weeks after being diagnosed. Leon, who had struggled with addiction and was known to various homeless services, had been sleeping rough in Cork city centre around the time of his death. Only days before he died, Leon had saved the life of another homeless man, who had taken an overdose. Now, not four years after Leons death, Ms Kavanagh is trying to come to terms with the loss of a third son. I dont think I can take any more, Ms Kavanagh told the Neil Prendeville Show on Corks Red FM on Thursday. My heart is broken, our world has ended, our hearts are crushed. Ms Kavanagh said Damien had struggled with addiction but had moved to Wales in 2019 to get away from the drugs scene in Cork. He got clean, everything going for him, got a beautiful apartment, she said. Ms Kavanagh said she had spoken with Damien on the phone during Christmas week, and he had spoken with one of his children on New Years Day. Ms Kavanagh said she couldnt believe it when she heard this week Damian had died suddenly, and she wept as she spoke of losing her sons. Theyre my three eldest boys, my first three children, she said. I said last night why me?" The radio show made contact with the Kevin Bell Trust, which helps bereaved families with the repatriation of the remains of loved ones who have died abroad in tragic circumstances. The charity was set up by Newry native Colin Bell, after his son, Kevin, was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in New York in 2013. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust has arranged for the repatriation of 2,035 people to Ireland in less than 12 years. Mr Bell told the programme that the charity would help Ms Kavanagh with the repatriation of Damiens remains. We will get her son home. That is what we are here for, he said. Meanwhile, a Go Fund Me page set up to assist Ms Kavanaghs family has raised more than 4,200. Supermarket customers were in fear as an armed conflict played out between feuding parties but it was claimed in court, as a number of men were charged with engaging in violent disorder, that peace had been brokered at 11am today. Sergeant John Kelleher suggested that a peace agreement was reported by parties to the feud in postings on Facebook but that this was motivated by a desire to prevent various parties from being put into custody. Judge Mary Dorgan refused to grant bail to 18-year-old Charles (Charlie) Faulkner of 61 Meadow Park Avenue, Ballyvolane, Cork. A second man, Jamie OBrien of 119 Ardmore Avenue, Cork, withdrew his application for bail following this refusal. He was also remanded in custody. Judge Dorgan said that she wanted independent verification from the Traveller organisation, Pavee Point, that peace had been brokered in the feud going on for the past number of weeks between members of the OBrien and Faulkner families in Cork. It is alleged that each family put forward two adults to broker a peace deal but that they were not qualified mediators. I am not satisfied there is any probative evidence that the peace allegedly brokered has in fact been brokered, Judge Dorgan said. The judge said the bail applications by Charles Faulkner and Jamie OBrien could be renewed on Tuesday, January 14, if there was evidence from Pavee Point mediation services that the feud was at an end. Incident Detective Garda Aidan Forrest gave evidence of an incident on the afternoon of January 6 at Hollyhill shopping centre where 15 people three from the OBriens and 12 from the Faulkners were allegedly involved. The occupants of vehicles exit, some carrying weapons Charles Faulkner is captured on CCTV exiting the front passenger seat of a silver Toyota Avensis. Jamie OBrien alights from a Ford Tipper Truck with a baseball bat and starts running. Charlie Faulkner allegedly chases Jamie OBrien around the carpark initially before he follows Mr OBrien inside Supervalu. Charlie is captured having an altercation with Jamie OBrien inside the store down one of the aisles. "He is then observed swinging a pickaxe handle at Jamie OBrien who was hiding behind the counter/till area. He then runs from the shop and gets into a black Passat which leaves the scene at speed, Det Garda Forrest said. Bail applications Donal Daly solicitor for 33-year-old Jamie OBrien of 119 Ardmore Avenue, Cork, said this defendant who is also charged by Detective Garda Mick Dolan with engaging in violent disorder at Hollyhill shopping centre reserved his position on bail until Tuesday in light of the judges decision on requiring the assistance of Pavee Point mediation services. There was no garda objection to bail for 21-year-old Michael Faulkner of 8 Curraheen Close, Bishopstown, Cork. He was charged with violent disorder also and was represented by Joseph Cuddigan solicitor. He was remanded on bail on conditions that include signing daily at Togher garda station, keeping an 11pm to 7am curfew, staying off social media and being available to engage with mediation through Pavee Point. 26-year-old Michael James Faulkner of Lower Killeens, County Cork, and of 13 Garrydhu Drive, Carrigaline, applied through his solicitor Aoife Buttimer for bail on the violent disorder charge related to Supervalu, Hollyhill, on January 6. Garda Killian OConnell objected to bail because of the seriousness of the allegations. He said that at approximately 4pm on January 6 he was actively involved with others in a violent disorder outside and inside the supermarket when he allegedly chased another man while armed with a weapon. Ms Buttimer said he is absolutely adamant that this is a case of mistaken identity where he was wrongly arrested and wrongly accused. It is not me, the defendant said. Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and remanded him in custody until January 14 so that the possible participation of Pavee Point could be considered. Garda David Shannon arrested 24-year-old Michael John OBrien of 110 Ard Na Bhaile, Buttevant, County Cork and charged him with causing criminal damage to a house. The particulars of the charge relate to Tuesday January 7 at 13 Garrydhu Drive, Carrigaline where it is stated that he damaged the front sitting room window and front door. There was no objection to bail in his case and he was remanded on bail until April 2 on conditions. A project focusing on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has won a student at St Brogans College in Bandon the top prize in the individual category at this years BT Young Scientist and Technologist Exhibition, at the award ceremony held in Dublins RDS this evening. Tomas Markey, an 18-year-old pupil at the secondary school, won first prize in the individual competition for his innovative approach to removing harmful gases from the atmosphere. Mr Markey was presented with his trophy by Education Minister Norma Foley and, as part of his prize, he will also travel to Japan later this year to participate in Expo Osaka. The overall award was won by sisters Ciara, Saoirse, and Laoise Murphy from Presentation Secondary School in Tralee, whose project entitled Aid Care Treat was a smartphone app aimed at improving the response of health services in emergency situations. Several more awards were won by students from Cork across all categories participating in the annual science and technology extravaganza, the 61st edition of the prestigious exhibition. Among them, a student at Bruce College in Cork won the 2025 Irish Aid/Self Help Africa Science for Development Award for a project entitled HemaSense: Screens for anemia, blood conditions without needle sticks a method of noninvasive blood screening of haemoglobin using smartphone cameras. Anaus Syed Muhammad was presented with the award by International Development Minister Sean Fleming at the prize giving ceremony. Mr Fleming described Anaus as a deserved winner of an innovative project. A huge amount of work went into developing this project and I want to congratulate him, his teacher Labhras White and the wider school community for receiving this award, Mr Fleming said. St Marys Secondary School in Macroom won the award for Best School in the Republic of Ireland and this award was presented to Shannen Foley, who along with Roisin OKeeffe, were the two science teachers working with the projects put forward by the schools students. The prize for best project in the Republic of Ireland went to Donnchadh O Cuilleanain and Vincent Mac Carthaigh of Colaiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire, for their analysis of digital and analogue photography. Caoimhin O Buachalla, a teacher at the school, won an Educator of Excellence award in the Health and Wellbeing category. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition. It is an unforgettable lifetime experience that was one of the formative events of my adolescence, when I won the overall prize all those years ago, in 1981 when I was 17. The first competition had taken place 16 years earlier in the Round Room of the Mansion House in 1965. It was the brainchild of two UCD physics researchers, Rev Dr Tom Burke and Dr Tony Scott, who came across the concept of Science Fairs while conducting research in New Mexico, America. The pair decided that this type of hands-on experience was something Irish students could benefit from by taking science out of the classroom. And so the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition was born. I first visited the Exhibition in the RDS when I was about 12. My father brought my three older siblings and me to the event and we wandered around and picked up as many leaflets as we could. There was something about it - an intoxicating mix of fun and adventure and curiosity - that got into my system. I recall the winners, corralled in the centre with bright lights, and lots of curious people asking questions, and I thought: that could be me. Four years later, I was there with my older brother, Peter, with a project on spiders. We discovered their webs were uniquely structured to match prevailing climate conditions more robust on wet and windy days then they needed to be on fine days. For our trouble, we won the overall group award. My brother now consultant nephrologist in Beaumont Hospital - was the chief scientist and I was the administrative assistant. He was the spokesperson and I was the back-up. That all changed the following year when Peter left school and I entered an individual project. I was chief scientist and chief communicator. The project looked at the spider and its web from every angle. I went to the Physics Department in UCD and asked them how I could invent an instrument and what scientific formulae I could use to measure the strength and elasticity of the fibres in the spiders web. It subsequently emerged that the tensile strength of the scaffolding fibres was stronger than steel and the radial fibres were highly elastic to prevent the wind tearing the web apart. I went to the electron microscopy unit in Trinity and asked could they put the different web fibres under a microscope to look at how their structure was adapted to their function. The images were fascinating, as the radial fibres showed fibres plaited together and the interconnecting fibres between radii had a wavy structure with the intervening gaps filled with glue - so that prey would stick and get caught in the web. High resolution images of the spiders legs showed them to be fitted with six different types of claws to allow them speed and support as they danced across the web. One was a comb-like structure to help them climbing. Another was a hook to allow balance as they dangled on the web. The meteorological office in Glasnevin supplied me with the data I needed to show how the web structure adapted to an unusually wet, windy summer - compared to the previous summer which had been much warmer and drier. A friends father, a photographer, lent me his cine camera to make movies of the process that occurred when an insect landed on the web and how the spider poisoned, ensnared and stored the prey for future use. The reason the project won the overall award in 1981 was a combination of constantly asking questions then trying to answer them by whatever means possible the more innovative and creative the better, supported by the best available evidence for what was already known in the field. At 17, I did not have all the answers, but I was not afraid to ask the experts how to go about answering a question. Without exception, those experts were all delighted to be asked and spent hours supporting me in devising instruments, teaching me about scientific formulae or facilitating the use of their complex technological equipment to help me find the answers. I learnt there is no such thing as a stupid question, and never be afraid to ask for help. The biggest learning came at the time of the judging. In those days, there was a day and a half where judges would come around in ones and twos to grill you for about 20 minutes on your topic. That grilling from the top science minds in the country was the foundation for oral exams, presentations and media communications for decades to come. If you can get through those judging sessions, you can get through anything. The Friday afternoon of the prize-giving was nerve-racking but very exciting. The then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey visited my stand and RTE filmed a piece for the evening news, so I knew I was in for a big prize but not sure which one. When the time came and my name was called out, I remember being in the middle of a crowd of people and knowing I had to push my way up to the front. But I could not feel my feet. At the last minute, I pushed forward and made it to the podium. A sea of flashing lights and cameras. It was all a bit surreal. My parents were not there my dad had an evening surgery. But my brothers were jumping up and down in the distance. Nobody really believed it. Later that evening, my dad drove over to the RDS and picked me up with my bike and put it in the boot. That night he had decided that I deserved a lift home. Thats how it was in those days. Back at home, all my relatives were gathered to celebrate with me. Family support is what makes it all worthwhile. Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork. Over the years, she has remained involved with the competition in different capacities. The following May, in Brussels, I won the overall European prize. Again, I could not believe it all the other projects looked so much more elaborate and technical than mine. Thats when I learned about perspective. When you are close to something, it looks easier than it is and when you view something from a distance, it can look more daunting than it is. So dont be put off by the competition. Arriving home from Brussels, the entire sixth year at my school, in Muckross College in Dublin, had been bussed to the airport arrivals they were all there basking in my win. All those wonderful memories have stayed with me over the years and many of those girls are still my best friends. Over the years, I have remained in contact with the Young Scientist competition as a judge and in other years as mentor and supporter of many projects some of whom have done really well. For me, the competition encompasses what science is all about. Asking a good question and thinking of ways to answer it. Discipline. Hard work. Innovation and creativity. Learning to communicate to an audience not just a scientific one but to anyone who is interested. Most of all, its about having fun. I hope all the competitors this year get a fraction of what I got out of the BT Young Scientist Exhibition and enjoy every second. By Jessica Coates, PA Friday's front pages focus on a range of stories from thousands of suspected fraud cases being unprocessed by gardai to Elon Musk wading in on Irish affairs on X. The Irish Times reports the volume of suspected fraud offences reported by financial institutions, including services such as Revolut, has been so large over the last 18 months that tens of thousands of reports have yet to be processed The Irish Examiner lead with Elon Musks online attacks on European countries spreading to Ireland, with the tech billionaire alleging that Irish nationals get longer sentences than so-called illegal immigrants in Ireland for sex offences. The Echo report some of the last remaining tenants in social housing flats on Noonans Road have called on Cork City Council to properly secure vacant properties in the area, saying they are terrified since squatters have moved into one empty flat. Friday's Mail... including first-hand reports on the California wildfires from our writers in LA pic.twitter.com/JjNRgeVcnG The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) January 9, 2025 Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/uEebX5N8CI The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) January 10, 2025 Morning, readers. Here's the front page of today's Belfast Telegraph. Stick with us for all your breaking news.https://t.co/bPJ0Ifm0F2 pic.twitter.com/WIBShQXhyh Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) January 10, 2025 In the UK, Britains borrowing woes continue to dominate headlines on Friday. The Independent and the Daily Mail lead on increased pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves after a surge in borrowing costs and the sliding value of the pound. Friday's front page (10/1/25) from The Independent: pic.twitter.com/FEeiqpSFbq The Independent (@Independent) January 9, 2025 Friday's DAILY MAIL: UK faces crisis like the 1970s, Reeves warned#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/5nRmDNt3au Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 9, 2025 Shadow chancellor Mel Stride tells the Daily Telegraph that Ms Reeves is missing in action after flying to China. Friday's DAILY TELEGRAPH: Reeves 'missing in action' on debt crisis#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/OUOvclfmPe Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 9, 2025 Meanwhile, the i reports Labour might be forced into a March mini-budget amid the economic turmoil. Ms Reeves has also told cabinet ministers to draft plans to aid economic growth, according to The Times. Friday's TIMES: Rattled Reeves searches for new ideas on growth#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/lkUFWrea7V Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 9, 2025 In social media news, the Daily Mirror writes Elon Musks posts are being probed by Britains counterterrorism unit. And the Financial Times says Mr Musk has privately discussed ways to oust Keir Starmer from the UKs top job. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 10 January https://t.co/JU5qk1RyfD pic.twitter.com/PaERmEaOR1 Financial Times (@FT) January 9, 2025 The Daily Express reports Shamima Begum and others held in Syrian detention could run free within days as guards come under attack. Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from: Daily Express Jhadi bride could run free within weeks Support press freedom and buy a newspaper #buyapaper #pressfreedom #journalist pic.twitter.com/44snMILZtw The Sentinel Current (@sentinelcurrent) January 9, 2025 Across the pond, Metro and The Sun lead on the devastation caused by wildfires blazing out of control around Los Angeles. Tomorrow's Papers Today LOST ANGELES Swathes of city ravaged by flames#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/c6GRrYpsJp Metro (@MetroUK) January 9, 2025 Lastly, the Daily Star focuses on Liz Truss cease and desist letter over claims she crashed the economy. Olivia Kelleher Irish Eurovision finalist Bambie Thug has spoken of how they nearly got caught up in the LA fires this week. The Macroom born artist told the Opinion Line on Corks 96FM of their narrow escape from the Runyon Canyon fire. Bambie received the warning alert and couldnt get an Uber. Bambi told PJ Coogan: I was watching the news, but I had turned it on mute and when I unmuted it immediately said 'Hollywood Hills evacuate now. "I was one of the many residents who received an urgent evacuation notice," they said. "So I went up to the roof and behind the house by this restaurant called Yamashiro, which is like this old Japanese, like historic restaurant. There was this big fire next to it. "There were eight of us on the roof. "I've never experienced a natural disaster. Obviously in Ireland we're lucky. "I was trying to book an Uber and they were cancelling on me and then a friend of mine actually came back into the building, gave me a lift down. So I was lucky. I'm in downtown LA now. While the situation was extremely serious, Bambie was amazed by the community spirit on display. "Residents were distributing masks and taking in those displaced by the fire. It's lovely to see, actually, there's a beautiful spirit here." Bambie is due to return home to Ireland at the end of the month. I'm actually just over to reboot. I'm on a holiday visa. I'm just like resting and seeing my friends. I'm writing myself. I'm safe and I'm well. I'm grateful to be alive. By Rebecca Black, PA The family of a Belfast man found dead in Spain have had an emotional homecoming. Billy George, whose son John, had been on holiday in Alicante when he went missing last month, said he would have stayed if Johns body had not been found. The 37-year-old father of two from west Belfast was last in touch with his family on December 14th. He was reported missing four days later after he failed to board his flight home. His parents Billy and Sharon, brother Darren, and sisters Courtney and Caitlin, along with up to 50 friends and wider family, were involved in the search operation. John Georges mother Sharon and sister Caitlin return to Belfast Airport (Brian Lawless/PA) A body was found earlier this week which Spanish police believe is that of John George. His family arrived in Belfast International Airport on Friday afternoon to be greeted by crowds of supporters who clapped and came forward to embrace them. Mr George told those gathered they are determined to bring his son home to claps and cheers, as well as chants of justice for John. He said they were overwhelmed by the support, adding I dont know how we can ever repay all these people. Many have been with me from day dot to find John, three and a half weeks, nearly into the fourth week, he said. Supporters gathered at Belfast International Airport on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) I wouldnt have come home today if I had not got John. Id have still got up every morning, put my boots on and searched fields. We had no leads, we had nothing. We did this ourselves as a family. I hate walking and I walked for eight hours a day, even when it got dark I wanted to get torches but was told it was too dangerous I would do anything to find any of my family and that what I did. I got my son. Mr George said they are now focused on getting his sons body home and giving him a Christian burial. Its never going to be the same without John, but at least hell be home in Belfast where he belongs, he said, adding: I pray that I get justice for my son. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have been assisting their Spanish counterparts with the investigation and had issued appeals for information after Mr George was reported missing. On Wednesday, the PSNI said it was made aware on Tuesday that a body recovered in Spain was believed to be that of Mr George. Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with the PSNI through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk. Information will be shared with Spanish police. John George, (left), also known as John Hardy, with his brother Darren (Family handout/PA) Meanwhile, a man who was arrested by police investigating the death of Mr George, has been released on bail in Spain. The man, who has not been named, appeared in court in Torrevieja on Friday. A spokesperson for the Valencian Communitys High Court of Justice said the man had been released with precautionary measures in relation to the homicide of a northern Irish citizen whose body was discovered in Rojales on Tuesday. The spokesperson said the man has had his passport withdrawn and must appear at the court every 15 days. The spokesperson said the court would now proceed with establishing the full facts of the case. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. The Buffalo National River in the Arkansas Ozarks is America's first designated national river. Grace Cox / iStock / Getty Images Plus A quarter of all freshwater animals, including crustaceans, fish and insects, face a high risk of extinction from threats like pollution, farming and dams, a new study has found. Rivers, lakes, wetlands and other bodies of freshwater cover a relatively small amount of Earths surface less than one percent but are home to more than 10 percent of the planets known species, including a third of vertebrates and half of fish, reported AFP. Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse and important for livelihoods and economic development, but are under substantial stress. To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters, the authors of the study wrote. Here we present the results of a multi-taxon global freshwater fauna assessment for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species covering 23,496 decapod crustaceans, fishes and odonates, finding that one-quarter are threatened with extinction. Prevalent threats include pollution, dams and water extraction, agriculture and invasive species, with overharvesting also driving extinctions. Roughly 30 percent of decapods like crabs, shrimp and crayfish were found to be at risk, compared with 16 percent of odonates such as dragonflies, 23 percent of tetrapods like reptiles and frogs and 26 percent of fish, AFP reported. Since the year 1500, 89 freshwater species are known to have become extinct, with an additional 178 suspected to have ceased to exist. The studys authors said the figures are likely underestimated since there is so little information about certain species. Most species dont have just one threat putting them at risk of extinction, but many threats acting together, said Catherine Sayer, an International Union for Conservation of Nature zoologist who was co-author of the study, as reported by The Associated Press. The study said that, between 1970 and 2015, 35 percent of wetland area had been lost. There is urgency to act quickly to address threats to prevent further species declines and losses, the authors wrote in the study. According to the findings, approximately a third of rivers more than 620 miles long are no longer free-flowing throughout their full length. Until recently, the freshwater realm has not been given the same priority as the terrestrial and marine realms in global environmental governance, the authors wrote. Stuart Pimm, a Duke University ecologist who did not contribute to the study, called the findings hugely important, The Associated Press reported. Almost every big river in North America and Europe is massively modified by dams, which put freshwater species at risk, Pimm said. South Americas Amazon River ecosystem is under threat from deforestation, illegal gold mining and wildfires, Charvet said. Forest clearing through illegal burning produces ash that ends up in the river, while mercury gets dumped into the water by unlicensed goldminers, Charvet explained. Wetlands and rivers concentrate everything that happens around them, Charvet added. If something goes really wrong, like an acid or oil spill, you can threaten an entire species. Theres nowhere else for these animals to go. Google has teamed up with the Linux Foundation to establish a new initiative called the "Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers." At the moment, most of the money that keeps Chromium, the open-source web browser project that produced the codebase powering Chrome, comes from Google. The company says it has no intention of reducing its contribution going forward, but it also continues to "welcome others stepping up to invest more." Under the Linux Foundation's management, the new initiative aims to fund the open development of Chromium projects and ensure proper support for contributions that could lead to technological advancements. It's also meant to provide a "neutral space" where developers, members of the academia and big industry players can work together. Aside from Google, Microsoft, Meta and Opera have also pledged their support for the initiative. Google said it established the new program after hearing from "many companies and developers about how critical the Chromium project is to their work" and how they would like to give it more than direct engineering support over the years. Chrome is just one of the browsers built on Chromium Microsoft's Edge and Opera are also based on the project's codebase, so their involvement in the initiative doesn't really come as a surprise. It's worth noting that the Department of Justice called for the breakup of Google last year, including a sale of the Chrome web browser. Google said in its announcement that it intends to continue supporting the Chromium project, but only time will tell if selling off Chrome will affect its contributions. We dive into our favorite PCs and gaming devices. Were officially recovering from CES 2025! In this episode, Devindra and Senior Reporter Sam Rutherford dive into their favorite PCs from the show, NVIDIA's RTX 5000 GPUs and debate the merits of Lenovos extra-large Legion Go S handheld. They explain why they like ASUSs ultra-light Zenbook A14, and Sam gives us his final thoughts on Dells clunky brand transition. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! This embedded content is not available in your region. Topics Lenovos surprising CES showing: ThinkBook Plus Gen 6s rollable screen 0:47 Legion Go S by Lenovo is the first third-party handheld to run SteamOS 4:35 NVIDIAs RTX 5000 seems great 10:16 But Jensen Huangs keynote on NVIDIAs future lacked focus 15:29 MicroLED TVs shown at CES are gorgeous and pricy 30:11 Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam Rutherford Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North Engadget spent the week of January 5 reporting live from CES 2025 in Las Vegas. See our picks for the Best of CES 2025. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Tina Knowles, mother of global superstar Beyonce, has revealed the heartbreaking news that her Malibu bungalow was destroyed in the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires. These fires, fueled by the strongest windstorms in over a decade, have caused widespread destruction since Tuesday, January 7, reducing thousands of homes to ashes and claiming at least five lives. In an emotional Instagram post, Knowles shared, "It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone!!" Her message was accompanied by a video of the ocean view from her beloved bungalow, where dolphins were briefly seen surfacing. The loss is even more poignant as it came just days after Knowles celebrated her 71st birthday at the property. She expressed her sorrow not only for her home but also for the lives lost, saying, "My deepest prayers are with you!" The Malibu property, which Knowles referred to as her "tiny little bungalow on the water," placed her close to her daughter Beyonce, 43, and son-in-law Jay-Z, who purchased a record-breaking $200 million Malibu estate in 2023. Tina's message also paid tribute to the first responders battling the blazes, saying, "God bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions. We thank you for your dedication and bravery." Tina concluded her heartfelt post by expressing solidarity with other victims of the wildfires. "To the people who lost their homes and belongings, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering and fear that you are enduring. My heart and deep prayers go out to all of you," she continued. Despite the devastation, she offered words of hope for recovery: "We are resilient though, and we will recover! 'This too shall pass,'" with one red heart emoji. The wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, leaving countless families, including celebrities, displaced. Knowles joins the likes of Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, and Ricki Lake, who have all lost their homes in these tragic fires. David Muir has been criticized by social media users and Megyn Kelly who believe that his "vanity" was on clear display in his live coverage of the devastating fires that have struck California. Kelly, in particular, blasted the actor-turned-reporter in her scathing commentary. Kelly, as well as people on social media, noticed Muir wearing a clothespin on his "fake fire-resistant jacket." David Muir appears to be using clothespins to keep his jacket fitted while reporting on the devastating LA fires Video via @JackOsbourne pic.twitter.com/EnaD1YFW8o Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) January 9, 2025 She stressed the dedication of other reporters like Anderson Cooper, Rick Leventhal, and Steve Harrigan, having observed that they willingly put themselves at risk in order to deliver the latest news to the public. Kelly further emphasized that unlike some, these journalists never seem concerned about their appearance on camera, prioritizing the critical stories unfolding around them. Kelly said on her SiriusXM show on Thursday, "What you're seeing on the close up as he turns to reference the scene behind him and shows us his back, which clearly he wasn't anticipating would make it on cam, his clothes pins, pulling his jacket in, cinching it...so that his waist looks more svelte on camera." "The abject vanity of this man," the host continued, while adding, "This is not dress up time. That's something that my little boys did when they were still in the single digits...not on the news when people are dying." She pointed out the unnecessary use of a fire jacket, given the presence of numerous ABC News personnel and equipment surrounding him. "He's an actor on screen," said Kelly. "That's what's happening there. And the clothespins just put a period behind that sentence." "Yes, he's an actor who's worried about his own vanity and beauty on camera," she emphasized. "God forbid you think David Muir might be a little boxy in the waist." While Kelly underlined her concern for her appearance when on camera, ensuring that she applies makeup and carefully considers her outfit before covering disasters, she expressed that this level of preparation was beyond what she deemed necessary. "[Muir's] little pretend fireman role, coupled with his 'is my waist looking skinny enough' vanity is too much." In the midst of it all, people in ABC were reportedly "embarrassed and horrified" over the incident. Several insiders highlighted Muir's Instagram profile, where the well-built anchor is often seen striking brooding poses in snug tops with noticeably short sleeves, showing off his toned physique. "His narcissism is quite large in the sense of this kind of thing," an insider told Page Six. "I like David, except for this part of him. Anderson [Cooper], [Chris] Cuomo wear all the [muscle shirts], but they would never wear this [during a wildfire]." Another source mentioned Muir's signature attire, often consisting of a fitted black T-shirt, during his fieldwork. They noted the absence of firefighter-style jackets designed to match the first responders, a unique aspect of his ABC-branded fire gear. A third source revealed to the outlet, "It's pathetic. All flexed muscles and posing. He's actually 'Zoolander' meets 'Anchorman.' He forgets he is the face of ABC News, not Abercrombie & Fitch!" As the Today team coined it, Hoda Kotb's last day on the show was a "Hoda-bration!" Friday, January 10 marked an emotional farewell for Kotb after 17 years as a host on Today. She first announced her plans to step away in September 2024, explaining her desire to dedicate more time to her two daughters. Despite her departure, Kotb will still contribute to the program and other NBC News projects. The broadcast opened at 7 am ET with a highlight reel showcasing the day's news stories, ending with a glimpse of Kotb's farewell celebration. This montage left both Kotb and Savannah Guthrie teary-eyed as the show began. Holding hands, Kotb declared, "One last time, let's do this." "You're teaching us the most important lesson of all how to say goodbye with grace." Jenna Bush Hager reads an emotional, heartfelt farewell letter to Hoda Kotb as she reflects on their five years hosting together and all that Hoda has taught her. https://t.co/ZrgTyWHSmu TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) January 10, 2025 During her farewell, Oprah Winfrey spoke to Kotb about her personal decision to step down from her own talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, after 25 years in 2011 in Chicago. "Hoda, Hoda, Hoda. Well, I know what making this decision feels like. I know how challenging it is to come to the moment where you say, I have done it, I have done it, and now it's time to move on to the next thing," she said. "And I will tell you that in the future, you're going to look back and you're going to say, 'Was that the right decision? Did I do the right thing?' And I will assure you that yes, you have made the right move, although it has been very hard to do, and I know that Haley and Hope are going to benefit so much from this decision, and whatever you decide to do in your next chapter, in the next adventure, it will be the best decision for you and for your family." Oprah sends Hoda Kotb a special message as she ends her 26-year run on "Today." pic.twitter.com/SKzee6qtak Page Six (@PageSix) January 10, 2025 Simone Biles also made a surprise appearance on Kotb's last day. "I can't believe you came," the mother of two said. "Of course. You showed up and supported me," Biles answered. Through tears, Kotb told the Olympic gymnast how she watched her grow up. "I watched you go to the mountain top. I watched you fall down and get back up again," Kotb said. She also told the Ohio native that before she had kids, Biles was someone she wanted her children to be like. She deemed Biles' parents as the leading example of "how to do things right" with your kids. See Jimmy Fallon's hilarious goodbye gift for Hoda Kotb! @FallonTonight @JimmyFallon https://t.co/zL1epxoLsk TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) January 10, 2025 Jimmy Fallon's appearance brought humor and heartfelt memories as he surprised Kotb with a framed piece of Rockefeller Center's iconic red carpet, complete with the NBC Peacock logo. Fallon, 50, affectionately named the gift "Onward and Upward," symbolizing Hoda's next chapter. His witty remark about the gift's size, joking that Hoda could stash it away until his visits, had the studio erupting in laughter. Reflecting on their shared moments, Kotb recalled the joy of sitting alongside Fallon, and her daughters, Haley and Hope, endearingly called him "Uncle Jimmy," highlighting their family-like bond. Gayle King, often mistaken as Hoda's twin, made a surprise visit to honor her friend's final day on Today. Kotb couldn't contain her laughter when King revealed a custom shirt featuring both their faces, cheekily labeled "Not Hoda" under King's image. The two shared a warm embrace as King praised the Oklahoma native for stepping away from her role "on her own terms" and celebrated their unique connection. The moment also underscored a milestone year for both women, with Kotb recently turning 60 and King marking her 70th in a celebration hosted by her best friend, Oprah Winfrey. Mel Gibson revealed his home was torched by Los Angeles wildfires while he was away recording a podcast interview with Joe Rogan. The legendary actor appeared on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports detailing the harrowing experience of returning home to the smoky rubble and expressed the "devastating" feeling of losing his home of nearly 15 years. "Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional," Gibson, 69, told Vargas. "You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. You remember George Carlin talking about your stuff? I had my stuff there, and it's all like, I've been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because it's all in cinders," the Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker expressed. Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson blast Gavin Newsom: "In 2019 he said he was going to take care of the forests. He didn't do anything. I think all of our tax dollars went for Gavin's hair gel. It's sad. The place is just on fire." pic.twitter.com/KltubgXZUJ TheBlaze (@theblaze) January 9, 2025 The Mad Max star explained that he was out of town recording a podcast episode of The Joe Rogan Experienced in Austin, Texas, revealing that his home was incinerated while he was out of town. Gibson had a hunch things would be bad in the neighborhood, but chose to stay calm and engaged. "I was doing the Rogan podcast... And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, 'I wonder if my place is still there,' " Gibson explained. "But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there." "I went home and I said to myself, 'Well, at least I haven't got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore,' " he seemingly joked. His wife, Rosalind Ross and their son Ross, managed to safely evacuate the home. He also added that his pet chickens survived the flames. "I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can't get back... All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to, you know, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, you know, pretty cool stuff, you know, but you know that can all be replaced," he explained. "These are only things. And the good, the good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and we're all happy and healthy and out of harm's way, that's all I can care about, really," Gibson concluded. Oddly enough, Rogan received an accurate prediction regarding the deadly fires from a firefighter back in July 2024, six months before the flames began to rage. "Yeah, we just get lucky.... We get lucky with the wind," Rogan, 57, was informed by the firefighter. "But if the wind hits the wrong way, it's just going to burn straight through L.A., and there's not going to be a thing we could do about it," Rogan stated on his podcast. During his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, the acclaimed director gave a highly-anticipated announcement, revealing that the sequel to 2004's The Passion of the Christ is underway. The production for the sequel, The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection which has been in development since 2016 could begin in 2026, per Variety. "And I think in order to really tell the story properly you have to really start with the fall of the angels, which means you're in another place, you're in another realm. You need to go to hell," Gibson teased. As dangerous fires continue to ignite, the tragedy made its way to torment some of the biggest names in show business including Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Jamie Lee Curtis, and royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. A young Florida TikToker has received a reduced sentence after driving his BMW at 150 mph and crashing into an SUV transporting six people, killing all of them. 20-year-old Noah Galle often posted videos on TikTok of him driving at incredibly high speeds, offering $25 to viewers who could correctly guess the speed he had been traveling at, reported The Palm Beach Post. In January of 2022, Mirlaine Julceus, 45; Filaine Dieu, 46; Vanice Percina, 29; Remize Michel, 53; Marie Louis, 61 and Michel Saint, 77, had all been leaving Pero Family Farms, where they worked, when, around 11 p.m., then-17-year-old Galle crashed into them, killing everyone inside. On Monday, Wellington resident Galle received a reduced sentence after entering a plea deal, preventing his case from going to trial. Galle will serve 12 years and 180 days in prison after pleading guilty to six counts of vehicular homicide. Galle, who is the son of Wellington attorney Craig Galle, was supported by a team of prolific attorneys including West Palm Beach criminal lawyer Michelle Susaker. Defense attorney Liz Parker read Galle's statement of remorse aloud in court. "There's not a day goes by that Noah doesn't think about his actions and what impact they have had on so many lives," she said. "He wishes every day that he had died in the accident and not the victims." Had the case gone to trial, Galle could have been facing 55 years in prison. Following his current sentence, the 20-year-old is also sentenced to seven additional years of probation, 800 hours of community service and a victim impact panel. He will also have to complete a 12-hour driving course, and his license will be revoked for three years. "The victims' families have written to us that they did not object to this plea. Some of them didn't even want him to go to jail at all. One wanted us to drop the case entirely," said a statement from the victim's families shared by Chief Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson. "What is the proper sentence in the case like this? No amount of prison time will bring the victims back to their families. We feel this is an appropriate resolution. This case is a tragedy." --Originally appeared on 'Latin Times.' Nick Cannon recently took to social media to share a heartfelt prayer following the devastation caused by the ongoing fires in California. In his post, Cannon wrote, "Counsel. Cultivate. Meditate.... A PRAYER OF RESTORATION. JOHN 14:27: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.' " He also referenced scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Psalm 23:3, emphasizing faith, forgiveness, and restoration. Cannon's post concluded with a reflective message: "No Judgement, Just Love. In the Sweet Consciousness and Mighty Name of Christ we devote, meditate, pray AMEN." The post sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media, with some praising Cannon's spiritual message and others questioning its authenticity. Supporters applauded his efforts to bring attention to faith and prayer in trying times. One commenter wrote, "Listen to the message... take your eyes off the messenger. It's time more now than ever. EVERY knee shall bow. Standing in agreement." Another user said, "Amen. From his mouth to God's ears. These times are unlike any other. Get right with God before it's too late!" However, not all responses were positive. Critics questioned the sincerity of the post, with one user remarking, "Why does EVERYTHING have to be recorded and put on social media? If it's sincere, it would NOT be on here!" Others accused Cannon, 44, of seeking attention, with one comment reading, "It just feels so unauthentic when you feel the need to set the camera up first." "No offense but I just can't take him seriously," another wrote. As dangerous fires continue to ignite, the tragedy made its way to torment some of the biggest names in show business including Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Jamie Lee Curtis, and royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Vince McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, has agreed to pay a $400,000 fine to settle charges brought against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC announced on Friday, January 10 that McMahon's personal payments violated WWE's internal accounting controls, resulting in significant inaccuracies in the company's financial statements for 2018 and 2021. McMahon was found to have "knowingly circumvented WWE's internal accounting controls" and made false or misleading statements to the company's auditors. Without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, McMahon consented to cease such violations, pay the civil penalty, and reimburse WWE $1.33 million under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The SEC investigation revealed that McMahon entered into agreements involving hush-money payments. One settlement required McMahon to pay $3 million to a former WWE employee to prevent her from disclosing their relationship or pursuing legal claims. Another settlement obligated him to pay $7.5 million to a former independent contractor under similar terms. These payments were not disclosed to WWE, which led to the company overstating its net income by 8% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2021. The payments were later disclosed in August 2022 after WWE restated its financial statements. Read more: Vince McMahon Resigns From WWE Following Sexual Assault Lawsuit In a statement on X, McMahon addressed the resolution, writing, "The case is closed. Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies... As today's resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading." McMahon described the issue as "minor accounting errors" related to personal payments and expressed relief at moving on from the matter. McMahon stepped down as CEO in June 2022 during a board investigation into the hush-money payments. He reimbursed WWE $17.4 million in 2023 for costs related to the probe. Despite his return as executive chairman in 2023 to facilitate WWE's merger with UFC, McMahon resigned from TKO's board in 2024 after a civil lawsuit was filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. McMahon has denied those allegations. Hannah Neeleman, founder of Ballerina Farm, recently announced on TikTok that she and her husband Daniel, along with their eight children, are embarking on "a very big adventure." The family temporarily left their Utah farm to move to Ireland, where Hannah and Daniel will attend Ballymaloe Cookery School. The school, located on an organic farm in southern Ireland, teaches students how to develop culinary skills while working harmoniously with the natural environment a concept that aligns with the Neelemans' ethos at Ballerina Farm. In her video, Neeleman explained the significant planning required to keep their farm operational during their time away. Documenting their journey, she shared moments from their travels, which included stops in Utah and New York before their flight to Ireland on JetBlue the airline founded by Daniel's father. She credited her mother for making the trip possible by helping care for the children, saying, "We truly could not have made this happen without her." The family arrived in Ireland on what Hannah described as "a very rainy evening" and settled into a charming cottage for their stay. On Thursday, January 9, Hannah shared a glimpse of her and Daniel's first day at culinary school, donning chef's jackets and learning to make dishes such as Quiche Lorraine and jam. @ballerinafarm Daniel and I moved the gang across the pond for the next little while to attend Chef school. First day of school for mom and dad @Ballymaloe Cookery School original sound - Ballerina Farm "Only a few days in and culinary school is teaching me and inspiring me tremendously," she wrote, expressing her love for creating food with quality ingredients. The couple has become well-known for their 328-acre Utah farm, where they sell natural products like protein powder and sourdough starters. Reflecting on their social media success, Hannah previously told PEOPLE, "I would've never thought that we would be to 10 million followers... But here we are, and it's fun it's crazy and fun." Morgan Geyser, now 22, has been granted release from a Wisconsin psychiatric facility, 11 years after the notorious "Slender Man" stabbing case that shocked the nation. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ordered her release on Thursday, January 9, following positive expert testimony about her progress. The case stems from a 2014 incident when Geyser, then 12, stabbed classmate Payton Leutner 19 times during a sleepover in an attempt to please the fictional internet character "Slender Man." Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier had lured Leutner into the woods under the pretense of playing hide-and-seek. Leutner survived after crawling to a nearby bike path where a passerby found her. Three psychologists testified to Geyser's improvement during her time at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Dr. Brooke Lundbohm noted that Geyser has been off anti-depressants for nearly two years without symptoms. Dr. Deborah Collins testified to Geyser's improved coping skills and expressed remorse, while Dr. Ken Robbins warned that continued institutionalization could be counterproductive to her rehabilitation. Judge Bohren ordered Wisconsin's Department of Health Services to place Geyser in a group home under supervision for 60 days for further evaluation. The judge noted her good attitude and compliance with treatment protocols, stating, "She's done what she's supposed to do." This successful bid for release follows several previous attempts, including a denied petition in April. Geyser's co-defendant, Weier, was released in 2021 after spending nearly four years in the same facility, stating in a letter that she needed to be part of society to become a productive member of it. Here you got ten moments on January 10th in human history. 1776 - "Common Sense" Published Thomas Paine published his influential pamphlet advocating for American independence. 1863 - First Underground Railway The London Underground opened as the world's first subway system. 1920 - League of Nations Founded The precursor to the United Nations was established. 1946 - First General Assembly of the UN The United Nations held its first meeting in London. 1951 - UN Headquarters Officially Opens The UN began formal operations in its new New York headquarters. 1962 - Avalanche in Peru A massive avalanche in Huascaran, Peru, killed around 4,000 people. 1985 - Sandinista Government Defeats Coup The Nicaraguan government repelled a CIA-backed coup attempt. 2003 - North Korea Withdraws from Nuclear Treaty North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. 2013 - Google Buys Nest Labs Google acquired the smart home device company for $3.2 billion. 2019 - Venezuelan Presidential Crisis Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela. The major fires in the Los Angeles area have killed five people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes. Tens of thousands of Yemenis joined a demonstration in Sanaa to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where smoke could be seen from Israeli strikes against Houthi rebel targets. Israel's Defense Minister said the airstrikes in Yemen were a clear message to Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. It also said that women and children account for over half of the fatalities, and that more than 109,000 had been wounded - it did not say how many of those killed were fighters or civilians. The announcement came as mourners gathered outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah for the funeral of five people who had been killed in airstrikes, including two babies. Explainer: What drives Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland? Xinhua) 10:39, January 10, 2025 WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would not rule out using military or economic action to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump said he would consider imposing tariffs on Denmark "at a very high level" if it resisted his offer to acquire the territory. Trump used to raise the issue of the United States taking over Greenland during his first presidency, and his renewed interest has sparked discussions worldwide about the island's strategic importance, its historical ties with Denmark and previous U.S. attempts to purchase the territory. WHY DOES TRUMP WANT GREENLAND? Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until it became an integral part of Denmark, with Greenlanders granted Danish citizenship in 1953. In 1979, Greenland was granted home rule, allowing for greater self-governance while remaining a territory of Denmark, with Copenhagen exercising control over its foreign and defense policy. The Act on Greenland Self-Government was enacted in 2009, granting further autonomy and recognizing Greenlanders as a distinct people under international law. This agreement allowed Greenland control over its resources and paved the way for potential future independence through a referendum. Greenland's location in the Arctic Circle makes it a crucial player in the region, especially as climate change opens new shipping routes and access to untapped natural resources. Its strategic position is vital for military operations, particularly for monitoring Arctic airspace. What might be even more appealing to Trump, however, is Greenland's rich deposits of natural resources, said Klaus Dodds, professor of geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London. The island is rich in minerals, including oil, gas and rare earth elements essential for modern technologies. According to the European Commission in 2023, 25 of the 34 strategically important materials for the EU can be found in Greenland. HISTORY OF ANNEXATION ATTEMPTS "Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation," Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday. On Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr., Trump's eldest son, visited Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, describing the trip as a private visit for tourism purposes. "We are just here as tourists, to see it all," he told reporters, declining to comment on broader American interest in Greenland. However, his father, Trump, expressed a different tone when mentioning the visit in a Truth Social post. "Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!" Trump's fascination with Greenland dates back to his first presidential term. He likened buying Greenland to "a large real estate deal." His 2019 offer to buy the island was firmly rejected by Denmark, and labelled as "absurd" by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The United States has a history of interest in Greenland due to its strategic location and abundant natural resources. In 1867, then U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward, who orchestrated the purchase of Alaska, also considered acquiring Greenland and Iceland. Later, in 1946, then U.S. President Harry Truman offered Denmark 100 million U.S. dollars in gold for Greenland, aiming to enhance U.S. security during the early stages of the Cold War. Denmark declined the offer, but the United States has been maintaining a permanent presence in Greenland by establishing the Pituffik air base in the island's northwest. REACTIONS FROM PARTIES INVOLVED Five years after rejecting Trump's Arctic ambitions, Frederiksen reiterated that Greenland's future rests solely in the hands of its residents. "Greenland has made it clear that it is not for sale," she said. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede voiced a similar sentiment. "Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. Our future is ours to shape," he posted on Facebook. Trouw, a Dutch newspaper, warned of potential North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) complications if the United States pursued military action against Denmark, a fellow member of the military alliance. Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday in Paris during a press conference with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot that Trump's intention to take over Greenland "is not going to happen." "The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one. But maybe more important, it's obviously one that's not going to happen," Blinken said. "So we probably shouldn't waste a lot of time talking about it." Speaking to France Inter radio on Wednesday, Barrot noted that Greenland is a "territory of the European Union and of Europe." "There is undoubtedly no way that the European Union would let other nations of the world, whoever they are, attack its sovereign borders," he said. He also warned of the resurgence of "might makes right" policies, calling on Europe to bolster its strength. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A rare reunion of the remaining members of the US presidents club at the funeral for 39th President Jimmy Carter. President-elect Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris don't interact before service starts. Friday, January 10, 2025 How President Trump can make the First Step Act work better for the Inmates, their Families, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons by Susan M. Giddings, PhD, Unit Management Section Chief, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Ret. Bruce Cameron MS LPC-S LSOTP-S Federal Bureau of Prisons Ret. South Central Regional Office With the new Trump Administration only weeks away, a Forbes.com column published earlier this week pondered what that might mean for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the First Step Act (FSA). Setting aside some inaccuracy, the columnist missed an opportunity to focus on real solutions while also perpetuating the false idea that the goal of the FSA was strictly to release people from prison sooner and save money. In 2018, President Trump told the American people the First Step Act was meant to incentivize meaningful participation in programs designed to reduce the risk of recidivism and increase the likelihood for these individuals to lead productive, law-abiding lives after serving their sentences and not return to prison.1 Early release and prerelease placement were the incentives, not the goal any cost savings are a byproduct. In the early days of implementation, the goals were clear, and the path was fairly obvious, but the nature of politics is such that elections happen, and they have consequences. In 2021, the incoming Garland Administration had a completely different idea about the FSA implementation and how time credits should be earned and applied a position that undercut the important change the FSA was intended to create. This seismic paradigm shift meant that more than two years into implementation, the Bureau was now bogged down with recoding, rewriting, and retraining. Today, only weeks from a new Trump Administration, the question of what President Trump's leadership can do to make the First Step Act work better for both the incarcerated population and the Federal Bureau of Prisons is a legitimate question. When President Trump spoke about the goals of the FSA, he emphasized this was only the "very big first step.1" We agree wholeheartedly it's time for the next steps, and we have some suggestions for him. The FSA allows incarcerated individuals to earn time credits toward both early release and prerelease community placement. With the first year of earned credit applied toward early release, individuals with shorter sentences only earn FSA credits toward release, and then their prerelease placement is under the Second Chance Act. Many, if not most, of these individuals, have minimum risk levels with verified home plans and could be placed in home confinement, which frees up critical bed spaces for those who need the residential resources of a halfway house. So, why doesn't the Bureau just do this? Because Second Chance Act prerelease placement restricts home confinement to 180 days or 10% of their sentence, whichever is less. Given the lessons learned from the Cares Act and extended FSA home confinement placements, this restriction no longer makes sense. President Trump can call on Congress to amend the Second Chance Act and strike the home confinement restriction, allowing the Bureau to place these low-risk, lower-need individuals into direct home confinement. The FSA statutory language is complexarguably unnecessarily soand the complexity has been and continues to be an ongoing challenge. Despite the statute outlining the requirement for incarcerated individuals to complete risk and needs assessments, be assigned to programs based on those assessments, and then monitored for successful participation and completion to earn time credits, Federal Magistrates and District Courts continue to weigh in on what they believe Congress intended. Of course, the role of the courts is to ensure federal agencies are implementing the laws passed by Congress, but the variety of decisions, both agreeing and disagreeing with the Bureau's implementation regarding the same issues, is dizzying. Some courts have even decided that credits are just given, not earned, with incarcerated persons not required to meet the provisions of the law. President Trump can call on Congress to amend the FSA statute by adding language to clearly articulate the conditions required to begin earning credit. Such an action would create clarity for both the Bureau and the incarcerated population, as well as eliminate the wasted time and resources spent by the courts and the Bureau. Another area of the statute that requires clarity relates to eligibility for prerelease placement. Because Congress did not specify that individuals needed to be eligible to participate in prerelease placement to have their earned time credits applied, the Garland Administration required the Bureau to place individuals with state detainers, unresolved pending charges, and pending deportation in non-secure, community-based halfway houses. Due to the increased risk for escape, these individuals are not permitted to transfer to home confinement and, as such, tie up bed space for extended periods of time presuming they don't escape anyway. Separate from the community risks, and these placements also displace other individuals who are eligible for and need the halfway house placement, with or without time credits. It's no secret that the Bureau needs more community prerelease bed space; Congress obligated the Bureau in the FSA to ensure there was enough space, but the process to establish new bed space is neither simple, quick, nor inexpensive, and Congress did not provide enough resources for the Bureau to fulfill this obligation. Further, community-based programs such as halfway house and home confinement were never designed for long-term placements, nor were they ever staffed to manage the workload of such placements. There are 22 Residential Reentry Management Offices (RRMO), typically with only seven employees each, that manage nearly 12,000 individuals in prerelease community placements and provide oversight to approximately 160 provider contracts, in addition to many other duties. With the FSA, the Bureau has had to adopt a new model that includes both short-term reentry programming and long-term community incarceration but was not provided the funding to make this shift. The Bureau needs President Trump to grant special contracting authority that would reduce the time it takes to establish new contracts and expand existing ones. The Bureau also needs the funding to pay for these new and expanding contracts, as well as increase staffing levels more oversight staff to manage the increased capacity (people and contracts) and case management and records specialists necessary to provide oversight to the earned time credit application for the community-based population. With the Second Chance Act restrictions on home confinement removed and the Bureau provided the resources they need to rapidly expand community-based programs, the Bureau could then expand home confinement placement for all individuals with a viable, verified home plan and who are already housed in minimum-security facilities with minimum recidivism risk levels. This would require greater support from Federal Probation and Pretrial Services to investigate and verify release plans more quickly and earlier in an individual's term of incarceration. Although the FSA already includes a provision for such collaboration, it has not fully materialized, and the resulting impact is release plan approvals are delayed, which, in turn, delays home confinement placement for otherwise eligible individuals and further exacerbates the bed space capacity issue. The incarcerated population needs President Trump to call on the Federal Judiciary and Federal Probation and Pretrial Services to support the home confinement initiative, which will allow for better management of space, better-serving individuals with an actual need for temporary housing, and yes, it would save money as well. These ideas are just easy, low-hanging fruit that could yield significant results as incarcerated individuals transition from prison to their communities as law-abiding, productive citizens. Other initiatives would require significant Congressional engagement and action. For starters, amend the statute related to earning and applying credit the complexity of the FSA's current language only created confusion and uncertainty, as well as an extraordinary administrative burden for Bureau employees at all levels. President Trump could also call on Congress to amend statutory language, creating a leaner, more efficient process a simpler, straightforward system of earning and applying credit that reduces, or even eliminates, the level of confusion created by the current language and at the same time significantly reduce the administrative burden. This change would allow case management and other frontline staff to focus on delivering programs and reentry planning. More than just amending the current legislation, it is time for what we are calling "next steps legislation" maybe President Trump can even call it the Next Step Act. The Forbes.com columnist suggested that, because of the early release benefits, Congress should expand the Residential Drug Abuse Treatment (RDAP) admission criteria to include individuals without a need for drug treatment; this is a poor idea as it would displace other individuals with an actual treatment need. A better idea would be expanding program-specific early release benefits President Trump, as part of the next steps legislation, can call on Congress to expand early release benefits for other major program completions, including residential programs like the Challenge, Brave, and Life Connections programs or certain non-residential programs such as GED completion and Department of Labor certified apprenticeships. A truly bold idea would be to re-envision eligibility for FSA earned time credits and the RDAP early release benefit, as well as any future early release benefits. The DOJ reported in the 2024 FSA Annual Report more than 90,000 people (roughly 65% of the population), were ineligible to earn and/or apply FSA credit due to their offense or/and recidivism risk level.2 Why should we limit incentivizing any group to engage in programming? Next steps legislation could create a path for higher-risk individuals to earn time credits and other early release benefits. This new earning eligibility path could be tied to program completion and clear conduct. The ideas here are just some examples of what can be done. The incarcerated population and the Bureau need President Trump to act immediately. The outgoing Administration only exacerbated the issues for the Bureau and undermined the good faith efforts of thousands of Bureau employees in implementing the First Step Act as intended by President Trump. The Garland Administration actively contributed to the prerelease bed space crisis and confusion for incarcerated persons, their families, and Bureau employees. The First Step Act was a good first step, but elevating it to the next level and truly realizing its full potential will take imagination and leadership. We believe President Trump has exactly what it takes to get it done. 1. Remarks by President Trump on H.R. 5682, the FIRST STEP Act. Available at https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-h-r-5682-first-step-act/ 2. First Step Act Annual Report, June 2024. Available at https://www.bop.gov/inmates/fsa/docs/first-step-act-annual-report-june-2024.pdf Friday, January 10, 2025 Join us as we dive deep into the powerful practice of content repurposing. In this episode, well explore strategies to maximize your contents reach, leveraging tools like Castmagic, Canva, and more to automate and streamline your workflow. Learn how quotes, graphics, podcasts, and text-based content can be utilized efficiently to save you time and expand your audience. Whether youre a seasoned creator or just starting out, weve got practical tips and insightful discussions to help you get the most out of every piece of content you produce. Grab your note-taking device and get ready to transform your content creation process! First, heres a gift for you to better understand AI and build sales Recommended AI tools for business growth. http://AItools4biz.com Heres Your Video Link: https://youtu.be/b6ThpM6-CMc Listen to this & other episodes on our podcast https://bit.ly/sre_podcast Here are some timestamps that can be useful for you: [00:00:44] Overcoming Content Overwhelm: Terry talks about overcoming the mentality of one and done and repurposing content using automation tools. [00:01:19] Importance of Leverage: Gina emphasizes the importance of getting leverage out of your content to increase visibility and effectiveness. [00:02:27] Long Form Video: Terry explains the concept of long-form video content and introduces tools like Cast Magic for managing transcripts and highlights. [00:03:57] Creating Quotes and Graphics with Canva: Gina shares how Canvas Bulk Create tool can be used to create visually appealing graphics from video transcripts. [00:07:10] Text-Based Content: Gina discusses the use of transcripts to create various forms of text-based content, including LinkedIn articles and Substack newsletters. [00:11:44] Benefits of YouTube Posts: Gina explains how YouTubes community posts can attract new subscribers and increase engagement, even without video content. [00:13:02] Importance of Systems and Checklists: Gina and Terry highlight the importance of having systems and checklists in place to ensure consistent and effective content repurposing. Heres your Spanish language summary of this episode: Claro! Aqui tienes un resumen de este episodio en espanol: Nombre del podcast: Stark Raving Entrepreneurs Titulo del episodio: Repurpose-Terry y Gina 10 de enero de 2025 Hosts: Terry Brock y Gina Carr Resumen del episodio: En este episodio, Terry Brock y Gina Carr discuten estrategias y herramientas para convertir y reutilizar contenido de manera eficiente, evitando la sensacion de estar abrumado por tener que crear nuevo material constantemente. Terry destaca la importancia de aprovechar el contenido de formato largo, como entrevistas o videos informativos, para crear multiples piezas de contenido de formato corto, como reels de Instagram o publicaciones en TikTok. Herramientas clave mencionadas incluyen Cast Magic, Taja y Alfana. Gina enfatiza la importancia de la visibilidad y como el uso de herramientas como Canva y su funcion Bulk Create pueden facilitar la creacion de graficos atractivos que llamen la atencion en redes sociales. Tambien abordan como convertir contenidos en podcasts, resaltando herramientas como Camtasia y Audacity. Ademas, Gina sugiere aprovechar los transcritos de video para generar contenido textual, como articulos de blog o newsletters en LinkedIn, usando herramientas como Otter AI y Substack. Ambos destacan la importancia de tener un sistema o checklist para gestionar el proceso de creacion de contenido de manera ordenada y eficiente, sugiriendo el uso de hojas de calculo de Google por su simplicidad. Finalmente, subrayan el valor de utilizar asistentes virtuales para manejar tareas adicionales mientras se usa la automatizacion de AI para tareas repetitivas de contenido. Heres the transcript of this episode for your convenience: Terry Brock [00:00:00]: You ever feel swamped and overwhelmed by working with YouTube, your podcast, the blogging, all that youre doing? Do you feel like that hamster thats on the treadmill trying to crank out content? Well, if you feel like that hamster with the right tools, the right rules and techniques, were gonna show you what you can do to overcome that. Get over that one and done mentality, and now take something and repurpose it into many different areas. This is gonna give you a lot of capability as a content creator. Hi. Im Terry Brock, and we talk about this at our start raving entrepreneurs. And in this video, were gonna show you how you can do that with some tools. This is where you wanna get your pen and paper ready to go or your note taking device of choice. Gonna show you what you can do, how to make that happenx with the white systems you have. Terry Brock [00:00:44]: Youre gonna put those in place and its gonna help you in a real big way. And the good news, you dont have to do it all manually. Theres ways you can use automation. Were gonna show you the specific tools were using right now to make this happy. And and not only happy, but also to make it happen. Im gonna show you how you can put all this together, making it work just the way that it should. And, yeah, well make it happy too because Ive got Gina Carr joining me right now, my co host and partner in this. Gina, content creation and repurposing is really big. Terry Brock [00:01:13]: What are your thoughts on it, and why should we even think about content creation and repurposing? Gina Carr [00:01:19]: Well, its so important that if youre going to the time, money, and effort to create something, that you get as much leverage out of it as possible. Its a concept that was drilled into me in my engineering days at Georgia Tech. You gotta have leverage. Right? So leverage is really important. This is something, this creates a lot more visibility so that people are gonna know who you serve and the problem that you solve. Its something we talk about all the time in Start Creating Entrepreneurs. Its, my one of my favorite pillars of our program, and so visibility is really core. Terry Brock [00:01:54]: So lets dive right into it. One of the best ways you can get started with this is with long form video. Now sometimes you might wonder, what is that? I know for me, I was wondering, what does that mean a long form? Well, with YouTube, you can create 60 seconds. They often call these shorts, and they do them in a vertical format. Under 60 seconds has worked now, theyve extended that to 3 minutes, so you can use that. Long form bin comes into anything over 3 minutes for sure, and you can use that. So lets give an example. That might be an interview you have with someone, or it could be you talking about a particular important topic yourself. Terry Brock [00:02:27]: Talking about that, with the right tools, you can take that and move forward. Get your pen and paper out. Were gonna give you some tools to see. Weve got some other videos on the channel that you can look at for those. One tool that is very good, we use a lot is called cast magic. Cast magic gives you the ability to do so. I think its really cool where we can look at your transcript. Thats a good way to do it. Terry Brock [00:02:47]: Start with your transcript. You can highlight from here down to there. Just highlighting it, and then you click clone the word captions, and it will do it. Now weve got a whole video were gonna show you about at the end of this video, so you can watch that and see in step by step detail how to make that happen. Another tool that we love is called Taja, t a j a, Taja. And it gives you the ability to do that and it finds clips for you. Pretty cool. You can run out and do that. Terry Brock [00:03:14]: Another one, Alfana. So were gonna have these listed for you in the description. Alfana, I really like because it does that as well. Highlighting a section, and then you go out and get what you want. Then you could take these and turn them into, content with your Instagram reels, Use it for TikTok. Use it for Facebook, for LinkedIn. Thats one that we use a lot, and it gives you a lot of capability for that. So these are tools you wanna combine, start working with them, and see how they work, and were gonna have some more video details for you on that. Terry Brock [00:03:45]: Now another way that you can do this is with quotes and graphics. I love the way this works. Gina, you have done some work with that. Tell us a little bit about first the benefits of that and then specifics that we need to know. Gina Carr [00:03:57]: Sure. One of my favorite tools for repurposing is Canva. I love creating graphics in Canva and sharing them. One of my one of the most powerful aspects is a tool called Bulk Create in Canva. And its kind of like the old days of doing a mail merge when you would write a letter and you wanna insert certain different peoples names in a mail merge. Its now you can create graphics and you can insert text. So lets say youve created that video, youve pulled the transcript, youve pulled some really good clips using a tool like Cast Magic. Now you can bulk create create in bulk those quotes into graphics that already have your your colors, some images that you can add very easily, and its just a really powerful tool. Gina Carr [00:04:49]: So theyre very visually appealing, which as we know, makes you stand out on social media. Terry Brock [00:04:56]: Yeah. Very much so. You get a chance to stand out and using those graphics just the right way can really help. Now graphics are one way you can do it. Another way that you can do it is with a podcast. A podcast gives you the ability to connect with people 1 on 1. I have a background in radio. Ive been in radio. Terry Brock [00:05:11]: I had a grad degree with radio, TV, and newspaper, and we talked about how the importance of the intimacy comes in there. The listeners feel like, wow, I know this person. A podcast gives you that magic, and you can do that very well today. We encourage you to look into that as a good possibility for you to get your message out to the world. Some tools that can work really well with that would be using for instance, Camtasia. I use that for my video editing, but then, when Im done with the video editing, I just click a little couple of buttons, and it gives me the ability to send it to an audio file, And it it makes it an m 4 a file. I take that and then put that into Libsyn, which is a tool that I use for sending out my podcast elsewhere. Our podcast gets out that way very nicely. Terry Brock [00:05:58]: And if theres, area that needs a little bit of touch up, one of the best tools out there is Audacity. Ive been using it for years and love, love, love Audacity. Its very inexpensive. They give you 2 hours free to get started. This is wonderful. I used a little bit extra there and I put in some extra, I think about 5 or 6 hours for, like, $11 Incredibly wonderful prices, and theyre not sponsoring this or anything like that. Im just a user that loves it, and we encourage you to take a look at what you can do with that. But think about the benefits of repurposing your video, pull out the audio and use that. Terry Brock [00:06:32]: One of the things you gotta be careful of, and we bump into this a lot, when we share tools on the screen and say, heres how you do click on that button right there, and then that button there, obviously, doesnt come out as well in a podcast. So I would encourage you to think about using content that might be audio only, and you can do that very easily with your smartphone, put it in there, and make sure that it looks really good. Now, in addition to that, what you can do is you can have a text based content as well. And that takes a variety of forms. Gina, you have done a lot with that. What are some forms of text based content? And what are kind of the principles we need to be aware of when were looking at those? Gina Carr [00:07:10]: Yes. We what you wanna do is you want to take the transcript from your video, and you can use tools like Otter AI, Camtasia, or Yoodly, or a number of other tools to grab that transcript. And then you can use that transcript in a number of ways. You can create an article that would use on your blog or LinkedIn newsletter article. We love the LinkedIn newsletter articles because they go into your subscribers email box. Thats really powerful. You can use a tool like Substack. Substack is very popular. Gina Carr [00:07:46]: A lot of people are doing really well with it. You can monetize on Substack directly. So thats a great way to get your text based content out into the world. These then take smaller threads, take smaller chunks, and turn it into threads on x. Posts on Facebook, posts on YouTube. Actually, posts on YouTube. I didnt mean to say that. There is a way that you can use YouTube as whats called post, and it comes out on your community tab. Gina Carr [00:08:19]: And people who are mobile users of YouTube like I am, I see a lot of peoples posts, and posts are text and or images. Its not a video on YouTube, although you can link to a video. So this is this is really powerful. And I just say, hey. Channel your intercept, Gordon. Turn these blogs blog posts into books. And if he can do it, why cant you? Terry Brock [00:08:46]: Yeah. Georgina, you raise a really good point there because you can write blogs, put a lot of content in there. Its already written. So what you do is you take just a portion of that, touch it up a little bit, run it through chat GPT, run it through perplexity or Claude, and then they can clean it up. Check the grammar, you can check the spelling, and it can give you some additional ideas. But heres an important point, dont let it be the writer that you just copy and paste. Do not do that. I like to say you wanna copy, paste and customize. Terry Brock [00:09:14]: Thats the key. You want to copy, then you paste that in there, but you dont stop there. You customize it using your voice, customize it for solving a particular problem that your audience has, and be able to put those together. I think that is really a better way to do it, and you get much more traction to build your business with that and doing a lot of different capabilities with it, start making a lot of different inroads into audiences, solving their problems and helping them in many different areas. And, you know, one thing I wanna talk with you about, together here, because I know youve done a lot of work with us also, is looking at carousels. You can create carousels with this with, Instagram, with LinkedIn, etcetera. Tell me a little bit, Gina, about the carousels youve heard of, youve worked with, and how you see those can be beneficial. Gina Carr [00:10:04]: Well, people are very inspired by and in tune with visual posts. So when you create, an image that catches attention, well, they might want to know more. So you can put you can include I think on LinkedIn, the minimum is 3 images and up to 10, which is fantastic. So you can put some words on a particular image, and then you put words on a related image and words on another related image. And people just scroll through them very quickly, and they get the essence of whatever it is that youre talking about. You can have a call to action on these images, but its more interesting and more people are more engaged when theyre scrolling through your carousels than just looking at a single image. So I really like this. You can do this on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, maybe some other places. Gina Carr [00:10:58]: Oh, YouTube. Yes. You can also do this on your post on YouTube. So I I think its really terrific. I know you create those images in Canva. Terry Brock [00:11:07]: Yeah. The Canva works beautifully. We love I love Canva because I am not a graphics person, but Canva designs the stuff for me. So I can say, hey. I like that one right there, the template. I just copy and paste. Thats where its okay on Canva. Put that in there and change it in there. Terry Brock [00:11:21]: So I like that. Wanna go back to the curacao. One of the things you mentioned, Gina, was YouTube. YouTube, that was kind of interesting when it came out and I think theyve done a great job with it. Or they can have a text, a text image kinda like youd see on Facebook or elsewhere, but do it on YouTube. That is something weve done a little bit of, and I wanna start doing a lot more. What do you see some of the possibilities on that on building your community on that, Gina? Gina Carr [00:11:44]: Well, part of whats wonderful about it is as people, you YouTube will show these posts to people who are not yet subscribed to your channel, And it will when it shows it, people can subscribe to your channel without even going to your video channel. So they they may see your post and like it and also subscribe right there to your actual YouTube channel, again, without ever going to your YouTube channel, without ever watching one of your videos. A lot of people will see your just the post that youve done, either text or images or a carousel, and say, oh, I like that. I wanna stay in tune. I wanna keep in touch with this person and see what they put out next because that was intriguing and valuable to me. And, so I Ive done that with several creators, and people are doing it with us, and I think its really powerful. Terry Brock [00:12:37]: Absolutely. I think all those techniques and all those tools can be very, very helpful. You wanna look at it. But the most important, we say the best to last. Most important is getting some checklist, your systems in order, the processes that youre gonna do. Gina, youre a real industrial engineer. Tell us a little bit about the importance of systems and why you would put those together and what we need to think about when we put them in place. Gina Carr [00:13:02]: Well, it its much like baking a cake. If youre gonna bake a cake or I like to make pudding a lot, avocado chocolate avocado pudding is my favorite. But if I was gonna make my pudding, I need a recipe. I I can freelance, free form it, but Im gonna be much more successful and not forget something important if I have a checklist or a recipe. So think about what youre doing, what you wanna do every single time so that you dont have a mistake or an error, and so that you really get the coverage and the visibility that you want to get. So we use just a simple Google spreadsheet checklist. That has worked really well for us, and what well do is well put, the actual post that were using or the video that started it all, then well put a link to the transcript. Well put a link to the 2 the x post that were created from it and then a link to the Facebook post and, just all the different things that were doing that were created from that single initial video, in this case, the longer form video. Gina Carr [00:14:09]: This is a great thing that were doing for ourselves as well as the clients that were helping, and this is, just a a great way to do it. There are other tools that are more complex that provide, like Trello, Asana, other other tools that that can help you with this, create some sort of a pipeline. But I really like Yes. Google Spreadsheets for the simplicity and the the easy ease of visibility of how do we do on this. Terry Brock [00:14:36]: So theres a lot to be said for simplicity and putting them together. So what we wanna do is give you a lot of tools that are available. These tools can really help you. And by using the tools the right way, you dont have to be that hamster on the treadmill trying to crank out your content. You can have a system that does it for you. Make sure that youre putting in quality content to build your business. Because thats what its all about. Youre creating the content so that people know about you, they like you, and they trust you. Terry Brock [00:15:06]: Know, like, and trust. Weve seen that so many times before, and its something that you can do with these tools if you do it right. Gina, any final words before we move along here and let people go back and start making their content? Gina Carr [00:15:20]: Well, you know, a lot of smart entrepreneurs use VAs or assistants to do this sort of work and and to help with it, and you can still do that. Its just that now with AI and the tools being so sophisticated, you can do a lot of these things yourself very easily even without giving it to a VA or hiring someone to help you with it. But you dont have to fire if you have already have a VA. You already have a a person who helps you with social media or your visibility marketing. Perhaps you can give them other tasks that they could do. They could spend their time doing, nurturing of your community, communicating with your community members, improving your onboarding process, or other creating better workbooks for the next workshop that youre doing. A lot of things that your VA could do that in the past, they would have spent a lot of time, doing these things that weve just mentioned that now we can do with tools, amazing tools. Terry Brock [00:16:16]: Yeah. These tools are great. So we encourage you to do that, and let us know what tools you are using in the comments below. However, youre getting this connection right here with us, wed love to hear from you. What tool are you using? What are you recommending? And by the way, yes, those of you who have our vendors and have a tool, wed love to hear from you. Let us know whos this tool is, what you have, and the benefits it has, how it sells it. We wanna hear from you. So we are going to look forward to seeing your content out there, be able to do even more. Terry Brock [00:16:45]: And thank you very much for joining us here at Star Craving Entrepreneurs. Be sure and join us as we have some other videos for you about programs we were talking about. Cast magic and Taja right here, so you can click on those on YouTube and be able to get the information on that. Im Terry Brock and for Gina Carr, thank you very much for joining us today. Two strong female authors will talk about the strong female main characters of their novels when Charlene Wexler and Alina Rubin speak at the Chicago Loop Synagogue, 16 S. Clark St., Chicago, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. Wexler will discuss her latest book, Farewell to South Shore, and Rubin will speak about her latest novel, A Girl With a Knife. Wexler's Farewell to South Shore, about growing up and coming of age, taps into and articulates a woman's emotions related to the changing world of the second half of the 20th Century, particularly its expectations of women. The book inspires perseverance and determination to help take charge of one's own life, as the protagonist, Sherrie, tackles a world vastly different than the idyllic South Shore Chicago community in which she grew up. Farewell to South Shore was named a Bronze Award winner in the contemporary fiction category of the Global Book Awards, and a Four Seasons Book Award Fall Finalist in 2024. Rubin's A Girl With a Knife tells the story of Ella, a young woman who wants to be a physician, which is not allowed in early 19th century England. To fulfill her dream, Ella must disguise herself as a man. As she excels in medical school, dogged by fear of discovery Ella must choose between truth and lies, and distinguish between real and false friends, before her pretense is uncovered. The public is invited. Reservations are required. Register online at http://www.chiloopsyn.org. Cost is $10 and includes light refreshments. Discounted parking ($10 for 12 hours, ask for coupon when you arrive at event) is available at the Madison-Washington-Wells Garage at 172 W. Madison St. Audience members will be able to meet and ask questions of the authors, and personalized autographed copies of both authors' works will be available for purchase on site. Award-winning author Charlene Wexler is the author of the novels Farewell to South Shore, Lori, Murder Across the Ocean, and Murder on Skid Row. Her books of essays and humor are Elephants in the Room and Milk and Oranges. Her work has also appeared in North Shore Magazine, Vision Magazine, Gazette Chicago, and many websites. Her advice for other aspiring writers is to "follow your dream. You can do it, and it's never too late." Char also is a published poet. See www.charlenewexler.com. Alina Rubin's latest novel is A Girl With a Knife, which won the Illinois Soon to be Famous Author Competition of 2022. Her other work includes A Surgeon and a Spy, Hearts by the Sea, Abigail's Song, and No Job for a Woman. She is now working on two historical fiction series with strong heroines. Her company Hearts and Sails Author Services is helping other indie authors publish books of their dreams. See www.alinarubinauthor.com. For more information, email anbcommunications@yahoo.com. SALEM, Ohio Aaron Siebeneck grows soybeans and corn on his family farm in Ottawa, Ohio. Most days, he spends more time paying attention to the weather and changes in the grain market than anything else. But five years ago, before the onset of a life-disrupting pandemic, something new caught his attention: the rollout of a program called H2Ohio, a comprehensive water quality plan launched by Gov. Mike DeWine to reduce agricultural runoff causing harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure and preventing lead contamination It made it really easy to start looking at how we do different things with our soil fertility and how we do our fertilizer differently, Siebeneck said. Siebeneck, who is also a member of the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors, has embraced the program, which altered his approach to fertilizer applications. He used to bulk-apply nutrients from a spreader truck. Now, Siebeneck has invested in a specialized, precision fertilizer toolbar that directly applies nutrients to crops, using the incentive payments he received from the H2Ohio program to purchase it. He fertilizes in-season rather than in the spring to mitigate excess runoff when heavy rainfall may occur. Siebeneck said he can now administer a more responsible amount of phosphate, potassium and nitrogen in a single pass under prime growing conditions. His fertilizer expenses decreased, and his soil health improved. And at the end of the day, what were able to see is a healthier, more efficient plant, and its growing more bushels on less fertilizer, essentially, he said. Siebeneck is one of the success stories of H2Ohio. The program was a big swing from the Ohio government, which has appropriated more than $270 million since its inception to address legacy water quality issues, from surveying major rivers for forever chemicals to supporting water infrastructure projects and protecting and restoring healthy wetlands. H2Ohio has garnered strong participation from farmers like Siebeneck, who adopt voluntary best practices like cover cropping, subsurface nutrient application and controlled drainage systems to reduce agricultural runoff into Lake Erie. Statewide, more than 3,200 producers have enrolled 2.2 million acres in the program. The states investment is beginning to pay off in some ways, but there are still challenges to getting farmers to participate, and theres still much work to be done. Ohios agriculture contributes phosphorus and nitrogen to waterways through fertilizer and manure runoff, fueling algal blooms that harm aquatic life and human health. About 11 million people get their drinking water from the lake. What is H2Ohio? The fight over the health of Lake Erie has been ongoing for decades. While the 2014 water crisis in Toledo is still fresh in peoples memories, the lake has suffered repeated setbacks due to pollution and nutrient runoff. By the 1970s, the lake, oversaturated with nutrients from farms, public sewers and heavy industry, saw mass fish kills and toxic algae outbreaks. Efforts to stem the tide, including the 1972 Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada, helped reduce point sources of pollution those coming from a single, identifiable location and revived the lake. But gradually, as more feedlots and farms appeared in the Western Lake Erie Basin, phosphorus began to wash into the lake. Blooms caused by agricultural runoff appeared again in the late 1990s and have continued largely unabated ever since, culminating in 2014 when a highly toxic algal bloom infiltrated Toledos water plant intake. The city issued a Do Not Drink advisory, effectively shutting off its water supply to between 400,000 and 500,000 households for two days. Officials pledged to work towards addressing agricultural runoff to reduce harmful algal blooms, and in 2019, DeWine launched H2Ohio in partnership with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Lake Erie Commission. The scope of the program has grown. Last year, DeWine announced the H2Ohio Rivers program, which has provided $1.7 million in grants to 31 local governments to upgrade road salt equipment and reduce salt runoff into rivers, lakes and streams. ODNR, for its part, has worked to restore and improve wetlands under the H2Ohio banner, with 183 wetland projects completed or in progress. H2Ohio also offers last mile funding to municipalities for drinking water projects and river improvement projects by way of the Ohio EPA, which in 2024 awarded more than 300 communities across the state a total of $27.3 million in grants. However, H2Ohios primary objective of reducing harmful algal blooms in the lake has yet to be achieved. In bloom The 2024 bloom started earlier than almost any other in the last 20 years, said Richard Stumpf, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist. It actually first appeared the last week in June, and thats, I think, only the second time (a bloom) has shown up then. It was measured as moderately severe by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and was more intense than the bloom in 2023. At its peak, the bloom covered 550 square miles. The key determination of how bad the bloom will be is basically the phosphorus load going into the lake. Because once it uses up all the phosphorus thats available, it cant grow anymore, Stumpf said. Jeffrey Reutter, former Director of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Stone Laboratory, said in a recent interview with Farm and Dairy that despite voluntary measures such as H2Ohio, the average concentration of phosphorus in the Maumee River released into Lake Erie has remained largely unchanged. In collaboration with the International Joint Commission in 2013, Reutter helped set a new goal for phosphorus load reduction: a 40% reduction in phosphorus loading from the Maumee River, identified as the largest contributor of phosphorus to Lake Erie, and Western Basin tributaries, or else harmful algal blooms will keep plaguing the lake. In 2016, both the United States and Canadian governments adopted that target. Reutter, however, said that since then, no appreciable progress has been made in achieving the goal, save for one exception. 2019 was so wet in the spring that farmers couldnt get out onto the fields to apply fertilizer and manure, he said. That resulted in a reduction of the flow-weighted mean concentration, or average, of phosphorus in Lake Erie by 29%. We were essentially three-quarters of the way to our target. We were almost there. Reutter believes it is possible to reduce the average level of pollutants in the lake, just like back in the 1970s and 80s. That was when the Clean Water Act took on sewage treatment plants and point sources of phosphorus runoff, and cut them down significantly. Lake Erie rebounded, becoming the walleye fishing capital of the world. It was just a massive success story, he said. Lake Erie became the best example in the world of ecosystem recovery. But gradually, the harmful algal blooms returned. Reutter says todays blooms are largely owed to the growth in livestock operations in the region, particularly manure applications from livestock enterprises that have expanded there so widely. An analysis completed by the Environmental Working Group found that, between 2005 and 2018, the total number of livestock operations in the Maumee basin especially those large enough to define as factory farms, producing substantial manure that contributes to phosphorus pollution in Lake Erie increased from 545 to 775, including permitted and non-permitted facilities. I think that there are a whole lot of people applying commercial fertilizer and (otherwise) trying to do the right thing, Reutter said. And I think that the good things theyre doing are being covered up by the increase in the amount of manure being applied every year, and those manure applications are now whats driving the harmful algal blooms. A worthwhile fight State officials are using a more optimistic tone to describe the work ahead of them, hopeful that Lake Eries water quality can still be improved. We are backlogged with many years of bad practices. But as we look to the future, we know that we are going in the right direction to continually improve on this problem, Ohio Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge told Farm and Dairy. The Ohio Department of Agriculture, in partnership with local soil and water conservation districts, administers participant contracts, provides technical assistance and supports producers with the implementation of best management practices. Last year, ODA reported that participating farmers reduced phosphorus discharge in the Western Lake Erie Basin by over 332,000 pounds, with projections reaching 420,000 pounds by the end of 2024 as enrollment grows. ODA verifies participating farmers are following the practices before incentive payments are processed, but they dont measure the specific impact on water quality on a granular level at individual farms. This year, nearly 90% of producers in the Maumee River Watershed who joined the H2Ohio program at its launch renewed their enrollment. Thats 2,600 farmers managing 1.85 million acres across 24 counties. This represents about 43% of the areas farmland. Baldridge said farmers are embracing science-based practices to address decades of inefficient nutrient use that fueled harmful algal blooms. By applying only the nutrients crops need and ensuring they are removed with the harvest, farmers optimize fertilizer use while reducing runoff. He hopes for 100% enrollment of our ag community in H2Ohio going forward, acknowledging some farmers opt out due to competing federal programs or other reasons. It is a very worthwhile fight, he said, to continually strive to decrease harmful algae blooms We in the ag community care about water quality and we care about soil health and conservation. But challenges persist. Some farmers, like Crawford County farmer and social media influencer Zoe Kent, find it difficult to apply H2Ohios better management practices such as cover crops because of weather and pests. I signed up. I did the cover crops. And then like the year after that, we had too many issues with slugs and voles damaging our crops So it wasnt profitable, Kent said. She described the process of submitting records for what she planned to grow and how, noting some initial stress caused by challenging fall weather that made it difficult to meet the required planting deadline, which was eventually extended. After completing all of the necessary documentation, the process faded from memory until Kent received a check in the mail. I had to, like, refresh my memory on what that was for, she said. While Kent left the program, she still follows the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations, which are cited as the standard by the program. She said she might re-enroll if incentives aligned with her existing practices. Under the program, each practice has its own payment rate, typically tied to the number of acres where the farmer implements that practice. For example, if a farmer meets the manure application standards outlined by ODA, they could earn $60 per acre for those fields. Crop producers can customize the program to their production and management practices. I wouldnt alter the way Im farming just to get a payment. But if theres an added little bonus for doing those things and theres money on the table, obviously I would be intrigued, she said, adding that at times she feels overwhelmed with tons of companies reaching out about different carbon programs and different initiatives to guide practices on her land. You have to make sure that youre not double enrolled It kind of more or less led me to not get involved with any of them, she said. To qualify for H2Ohio payments, a farmer must develop or already have a voluntary nutrient management plan. An approved VNMP is required for all cropland enrolled in H2Ohio. Additionally, farmers must document their nutrient management actions to remain eligible for the funding. Putnam County, located in the Maumee River watershed, saw an impressive surge in participation this year, with 402 new H2Ohio contracts signed. Samantha Bluhm, organization director for Allen, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert counties at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, said the countys enthusiasm for the program stems from leveraging existing methods and embracing precision agriculture. I think what we have found and the reason why (Putnam County) has been so successful in terms of the volume of acreage we have added to the program is really just the fact that we dont have to reinvent the wheel on a lot of stuff, she said. Farmers and agriculturalists, she said, are known for their resourcefulness, making it a natural transition for them to adopt new technologies such as large-scale soil testing and precision nutrient application tailored to individual plants. We have really been able to look in the mirror and say, Listen, we can do better. How do we go about doing that? she said. Bluhm believes the programs true appeal lies in its long-term impact. When you get down to the core of it, that is what keeps people going. They want the next generation or the next owner to inherit land that is healthy, that is nutrient-rich and waterways that are clear. So I think beyond the financial gain, thats a tactile incentive. It really is. A glyphosate-resistant population of Italian ryegrass has been confirmed on a farm in Kent, researchers have announced. This is the first field population of any weed to have glyphosate resistance in the UK, the Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) said. At present, in addition to the one confirmed case, three suspect populations of Italian ryegrass are under investigation, with results expected later this year. To date, Italian ryegrass is the only weed with suspect populations in the country. Extensive testing of black-grass and a 2023 survey of 166 brome samples found no populations of concern. John Cussans, principle weed science consultant at ADAS, who led the research, said: Glyphosate is probably the most important herbicide for UK farmers and there is no obvious replacement, hence any case of resistance is concerning. But we must retain perspective; its resistance in one weed species on one farm, it is not a widespread problem yet. "For context, over the period 2018 to 2023 we have collated data for samples of Italian ryegrass which were submitted for standard resistance tests. "They have been screened with glyphosate, and we have not found a single resistant sample. "This single case does, however, serve as a firm reminder of the importance of glyphosate stewardship otherwise we are likely to see more cases. Experience from around the world suggests ryegrass species are high-risk with regards to glyphosate resistance. Globally, there are several cases of resistance in annual ryegrass Lolium rigidum and Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum. Mr Cussans said, however, that other weeds can also develop resistance: "Glyphosate stewardship concerns every farmer, not just those managing Italian ryegrass. "We know that herbicide resistance tends to develop field-by-field so farmers can work to maintain glyphosate efficacy on their farm. There are fundamental stewardship steps that all farmers using glyphosate need to take, researchers at WRAG say. On top of that, farmers with higher risk systems have to be extra vigilant and consider adjusting their approach to reduce selection pressure for glyphosate resistance. From the cases we know about, the two main risk factors are Italian ryegrass populations and little or no mechanical weeding through cultivation in the system," Mr Cussans said. "There are many good reasons for a reduced cultivation system, but for all the benefits, more focus on glyphosate stewardship is one of the trade-offs in such a system. Of course, cultivation doesnt give farmers a free pass. They should also follow good stewardship practice, but they have more tools available. A long-awaited technology fund for farmers will launch this spring, but the government has not confirmed if it will commit the previously promised 44 million. The 'ADOPT' fund was first announced in November 2023 as part of the Farming Innovation Programme, by former Defra Secretary Steve Barclay. Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) promises farm businesses the opportunity to apply for a share of 44m. The aim of it is for farmers to test and trial new technology and techniques, however, the Labour government put it on hold. Speaking at Oxford Farming Conference, Defra Secretary Steve Reed confirmed the fund would go ahead this spring. He said would fund farmer-led trials "to bridge the gap between new technologies and their real-world application." However, when questioned, Mr Reed failed to confirm the value of the total fund, saying that the Treasury would confirm this in subsequent announcements. Our intention is to support these schemes and innovation because the future of the sector is dependent on getting that right, he said. Oxfordshire farmer and founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network Tom Allen-Stevens said the fund was 'desperately needed'. "[It] should never have been put on hold, so it is welcome news that it is now finally being rolled out," he explained. Farmers need access to the latest technology and innovation which is most appropriate to their businesses. "ADOPT is a very exciting programme which should make it possible to bring new tech onto farms to thoroughly test what does and doesnt deliver. However while Reed acknowledged the role of innovation in agriculture, he failed to commit to restarting other measures of the Farming Innovation Programme, importantly the Farming Equipment Technology Fund. This stimulus is desperately needed as we have already seen manufacturers diverting investment in innovation away from the UK since it went on hold last year. Tesco has today announced new plans to set up two low carbon concept farms to trial innovative greener farming methods. The multi-year commitment from the retailer will see the farms trial new technologies and share learnings to scale the adoption of sustainable approaches. The farms include one which supplies potato company Branston and one owned by livestock processor ABP. According to Tesco, they will explore innovations such as low carbon fertilisers, alternative fuels, state-of-the-art cold storage, and carbon removal techniques. Innovation in other areas will include in soil health, grazing management, biodiversity assessment and management, and genetic improvements. The retailer said the trial will aim to provide farmers in its supply network with a "practical demonstration of a route to net zero, helping pave the way to more low carbon farms in the future". At today's (10 January) Oxford Farming Conference, Ashwin Prasad, chief commercial officer at Tesco, will announce the new low carbon test farms. Before the event, he said: Weve already been working with farmers to help them reduce their environmental impact, from providing incentives to measure their carbon footprint to rolling out new innovations like low carbon fertilisers. "Were pleased to be building on this further with our new test farms, working with some of our supplier partners to pioneer new approaches to understand the most effective ways to reduce emissions and environmental impact." Tesco will also use today's conference to call on the government to better support farmers through a long-term food security strategy, as well as improved funding for all stages of innovation that aids sustainability. At the same time, the supermarket will say it will continue to support the industry to implement clearer sustainability requirements and standards. Two more lynx have been spotted on the loose in the Highlands as rural campaigners demand prosecution for wildlife criminals responsible for the illegal release. Police Scotland are investigating a sighting of another two lynx in the Scottish Highlands, seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie at about 7.10am today. Officers say they believe the sighting is connected to the release of two other lyn seen in the same area on Wednesday, which were safely captured on Thursday. Members of the public have been warned not to approach the wild cats, with police saying officers were working with specially-trained personnel to capture them. Experts from Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), along with police and Cairngorms National Park rangers, are trying to capture the animals. RZSS chief executive, David Field said: "Two more lynx have been sighted in the same Cairngorms location where we successfully captured a pair yesterday. "Further traps are being baited in the area and the hope is that these animals will be safely and humanely captured before being taken to Edinburgh Zoo to join the two captured yesterday in quarantine." Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, called for those responsible to be punished in "exactly the same way as any other wildlife criminals". "It is illegal and utterly arrogant to release predators into the countryside without proper consideration of their impact on domestic animals and vulnerable wildlife, without the consent of the local community. There may well be a case for reintroducing lynx to Scotland but that must be done properly," he said. Some conservation groups have been campaigning to have the wild cats re-introduced into Scotland. But the sheep sector has frequently said that any reintroduction could be far reaching, including the stress placed on farmers knowing that an apex predator is in the vicinity. Evidence shows that some European sheep flocks have suffered great losses due to lynx predation. The National Sheep Association (NSA) has previously called for a 'full consultation' before any decision is taken to reintroduce the Eurasian Lynx. The body's chief executive, Phil Stocker said there must be 'practical and science-based evidence and reasoning' from the government and charities. He said: "NSA would advocate for a case-by-case approach to ensure there is a robust and clear strategy to ensure unintended consequences are avoided. "As an organisation we will engage constructively with this conversation, on the understanding that it will inform whether a formal consultation should proceed in advance of any licence application. As sheep farmers, we will be far more directly affected than most and we have a duty and a right to express our views." The world's first carbon insetting programme has launched specifically for the global agri-supply chain. Regenerative farming certifier Regenagri's platform provides farmers with a route to monetise positive environmental impacts. An initial group of ten producer organisations across the US, Ivory Coast, Turkey, Brasil, Pakistan and India have joined the programme so far. This will turn their regenerative practices across over 870,000 acres into an opportunity for additional financial returns, the certifier said. The group includes individual farms, smallholder collectives and farm co-ops, growing a range of crops including cotton, coffee, nuts, soybeans, sugar and cereals. As part of the Regenagri annual certification process, farms undergo annual third-party audits to validate their emissions and carbon reduction data, according to approved methodologies and protocols. By the end of 2025, its insetting programme is expected to expand to reach 1.5 million acres of farmland and generate more than 600.000 carbon insetting units. Franco Costantini, Regenagri CEO, explains the carbon insetting programme offers farmers an integrated solution for reaping the rewards of impact from farm regenerative improvements. He says: For those registered for the insetting programme, carbon insetting units will be issued based on the reduction in carbon footprintoffering the opportunity of an additional financial benefit to producers, as well as benefitting the planet. "The insetting programme also provides supply chain organisations with the opportunity to decarbonise their supply chains by purchasing carbon insetting units generated by the very farms they source from. This ensures direct impact. Todd Straley, of Quarterway Cotton Growers in Texas, explains he is excited to partner with the insetting programme. He said: We believe innovation and collaboration are key to progress in agriculture. With this partnership, our farms can help solve the worlds carbon issues." All farms and supply chains with a current regenagri-certification are eligible to access the insetting programme. Young sheep farmers with a particular interest in agricultural policy will be able to join an event visiting the Houses of Parliament next month. The opportunity will allow a group of up to twelve farmers to learn more about how agricultural policy is brought about and its current influence on the sector. The initiative, by the National Sheep Association, includes a visit to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There will also be a meeting with major dignitaries and Defra representatives, according to the NSA, which has urged young sheep farmers to apply. The 2025 visit will take place on 11 and 12 February 2025 and will kick off with discussions on trade, hosted by Beef & Lamb New Zealand. This will follow an evening meal at the prestigious Farmers Club where Neil Farron MP, well known for his support of British agriculture, will join as an after dinner speaker. After an overnight stay in central London that will provide the opportunity to meet with other farmers, the group will then travel together to the Houses of Parliament. The two-day event will conclude with a visit and talk with influential retailer Marks and Spencers Agricultural buying team at their London headquarters. The trip has been arranged by NSA President Lord Inglewood, who is an active member of the House of Lords, as well as a farmer and landowner in Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumbria. NSA communications manager, Katie James said it was a 'fantastic opportunity' for young farmers with an interest in how laws are formed and passed. "We do hope to attract some enthusiastic young sheep farmers to join us for this inspiring trip," she said. "It really is a great opportunity to view behind the scenes of where the decisions affecting them happen at a crucial time for British agriculture. Applications, from NSA members and non-members, are now being invited from interested parties aged 18 to 35. Applications will close on 30 January, with those successful to be contacted on 3 February. Halle Berry is donating her "entire closet" to help victims of the California wildfires. Halle Berry has been helping victims of the California wildfires The Hollywood actress sprung into action after seeing fellow screen star Sharon Stone post an appeal for donations to help those who have lost everything in the disaster - which has claimed 10 lives and burned thousands of homes to the ground in southern California - and Halle urged others to help by bringing donations to the COOP store in Los Angeles. In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "Im packing up my entire closet and heading over to the COOP! If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same. This is something we can do right now today to help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics today! Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady." In a video posted on the platform, Halle added: "A group of thoughtful, committed citizens can make a difference. We're at COOP at 7282 Beverly Boulevard collecting gently used clothing for kids, men, women, children, people that have been displaced, affected by the fire. We have beautiful cashmere sweaters, jeans, new socks, shoes, clothes, blankets ... You can come and shop and you can also donate." Sharon previously appealed for donations on her Instagram page appealing for "gently used" clothing, hats, shoes and gloves as well as new underwear and socks. Jenna Cooper - who runs COOP - reveals she was inspired to help after realised the disaster was unfolding so close to home. She told The Hollywood Reporter: "I was nauseous and awake being just miles away from such wreckage. I kept thinking, what the hell can I do? ... "People need stuff immediately and there are people who are willing to shop for them or to donate. Well, I have a space to make it happen ... "My community has nice things so were basically giving the shirts off of our back. We set it up to feel like a curated space. "The Red Cross is amazing, but this is a way we are taking care of the community in a way where they can feel comfortable and get way they need. Come in, take what you want or tell us what you need and we will find it." Paris Hilton has returned to the charred remains of her Malibu beach house and admitted her "heart has shattered into a million pieces". Paris Hilton has returned to the ruins of her Malibu home The hotel heiress previously revealed she had watched her home burn to the ground on TV as wildfires swept across southern California and she has now gone back to the property to survey the damage - revealing she feels grateful to be safe along with her husband Carter Reum and their two children but she's devastated to have lost her beloved family home. In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "Im standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable. "When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock - I couldnt process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces." Paris - who bought the property for $8.4 million in 2021 - posted a video showing the smouldering remains of her home and added: "This house wasnt just a place to live - it was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family. "It was where [son] Phoenixs little hands made art that Ill cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes its devastating beyond words. "What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isnt just my story. So many people have lost everything. Its not just walls and roofs - its the memories that made those houses homes. Its the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives." Paris went on to add: "And yet, in this pain, I know Im incredibly lucky. My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe. Thats the most important thing, and Im holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. "And beyond grateful to all the the fire fighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires." Paris also thanked all her fans for sending her "love, prayers and kindness" and vowed to "rebuild". She wrote: "To everyone who has sent love, prayers, and kindness - youve reminded me that even in the ashes, there is still beauty in this world. " Thank you from the deepest part of my heart. And to everyone going through this pain, please know youre not alone. Were in this together. "We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before. "Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments. Life can change in an instant, and its the love we share that truly matters. Im sending all my love to everyone who is hurting right now." Sean Diddy Combs son has been filmed jokily performing a sex act on his girlfriend. Sean Diddy Combs son has been filmed jokily performing a sex act on his girlfriend Christian King Combs, 26, who has been dating influencer Raven Tracy, 31, since 2021, is seen in a new clip posted on her Snapchat story licking her chest as she wears only a skimpy bikini. Raven captioned the video: Caution, he may motorboat you with this top. Motorboating refers to someone putting their head in a womans chest and making a noise like a motor with the lips while moving the head from side to side and has featured in a string of Hollywood comedies including Wedding Crashers. Christian and Raven regularly document their lavish lifestyle online, which features private jet trips, stays in luxury hotels and flashing bling. The clip comes after Christian was accused in April last year of sexually assaulting a woman on a yacht during a family holiday in St Martin in 2022. Grace OMarcaigh alleged he physically and sexually assaulted her with his now-jailed father Sean Diddy Combs, 55m also named in the lawsuit. Combs is languishing at one of Americas toughest jails, the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City, since last September after being arrest on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denies all charges. It was reported before Christmas Combs has lost a huge amount of weight behind bars. A journalist who attended his last court proceeding Law and Crime journalist Elizabeth Millner was quoted by Page Six saying after a court hearing the rapper attended in December: He appeared just astonishingly thinner, which you can expect (from him being) inside a federal detention centre for a couple of months now. A lot different from the luxury lifestyle that he was living before, but he appeared very noticeably thinner and maybe being locked up in detention is starting to wear on him. The reporter added Combs appearance was starkly different from how he looked in a video that surfaced online of him playing hacky sack in Central Park days before he was arrested on 16 September. She added the rappers hair has also changed, saying: He appeared greyer a little bit. The all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser makes its first public appearance at the Brussels motor show (AutoSalon/Salon de lAuto 2025) today, 10 January. The new Toyota Urban Cruiser The latest addition to Toyotas growing range of battery electric models is a compact SUV that will give the brand a strong presence in one of the most competitive and fast-growing segments of the European BEV market. Prior to the models UK launch later this year, customers can sign up to be kept informed of details as they are released at www.toyota.co.uk. Urban Cruiser stands out with a powerful Urban Tech-influenced design that expresses its quality as an authentic SUV. The frontal styling presents the hammerhead look and slim headlight units that are distinguishing elements in a new generation of Toyota models, while the strong rear quarters and a wrap-around rear light bar project SUV-like strength and stability. In terms of size, Urban Cruisers external dimensions are slightly greater than Yaris Cross; its tight, 5.2m turning radius makes for nimble manoeuvring on urban streets. Inside, thanks to a long, 2,700mm wheelbase and a flexible, sliding rear seat arrangement, interior space is generous: rear seat leg room can be extended to rival that found in a D-segment model. The cabin design bears SUV hallmarks with a low-set, horizontal instrument panel and an elevated seating position that gives a good all-round view from the wheel. The cabin ambience can be enhanced with a lighting system that offers 12 different colour settings. Platform and powertrains Urban Cruiser is built on a strong yet lightweight new platform, dedicated to battery electric vehicles. Its design avoids the need for crossmembers in the floor, so there is more space for the battery without compromising cabin space. Urban Cruiser will be available with two battery pack options, both of which use durable but cost-efficient lithium-iron phosphate technology. A 49-kWh battery with an output of 106kW/142bhp/144 DIN hp will be offered exclusively with front-wheel drive while a 61-kWh battery will be available in both front and (according to market) all-wheel drive Urban Cruiser versions. In FWD format the 61-kWh battery will produce 128kW/172bhp/174 DIN hp; in the AWD model, the power is slightly greater at 135kW/182bhp/184 DIN hp. The AWD model uses an additional 48kW motor on the rear axle and is equipped with Downhill Assist Control, as well as Trail and Snow modes for extra assistance in slippery conditions. Safety and equipment The Urban Cruiser will be equipped as standard with an extensive suite of advanced active safety and driver assistance features, including pre-collision, adaptive cruise control and lane departure alert/keep assist systems. A fully digital user experience includes a 10.25-inch drivers combimeter and a 10.1-inch multimedia display, seamlessly integrated into a sleek, single unit. Easy smartphone integration will be provided for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems. Premium quality equipment features will be available, including a 360-degree camera, JBL sound system and power drivers seat adjustment. A fixed sunroof will also be offered. Cambodias apparel exports to ASEAN nations gained 4.23 per cent during January-October 2024. The shipment was valued at $190.759 million in the period which was slightly higher than the exports of $183.013 million in the same period of year 2023. ASEAN is a block of Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cambodia's apparel exports to ASEAN rose 4.23 per cent in January-October 2024, reaching $190.76 million compared to $183.01 million in the same period of 2023. The average export price increased to $11.41 per unit, marking the third consecutive yearly rise. Cambodia exported 15.316 million units in 2024's first 10 months, down from 19.787 million units in 2023, as per TexPro data. Cambodias apparel exports to ASEAN totalled $219.759 million in 2023, which was higher than the shipment of $182.391 million in 2022. Earlier, the exports were noted at $133.756 million in 2021, $272.621 million in 2020 and $240.5210 million in 2019. The average price of apparel exports from Cambodia to ASEAN also continued to rise in year 2024, for the third year in a row. The average price increased to $11.41 per unit of garment from $10.04 per unit in year 2023, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. The average price was noted at $8.05 per unit in year 2019. But it jumped to $12.20 per unit in 2020 due to COVID-19 related disruption. The price saw deep cut to reach $8.94 per unit in 2021. It recovered to $9.20 per unit in 2022 and $10.04 per unit in 2023. As per TexPro, Cambodia exported 15.316 million units of garments to ASEAN nations in the first ten months of 2024. It had exported 19.787 million units of garments in 2023, which was slightly lower the exports of 19.800 units in 2022. Cambodias garment export volume was noted at 14.969 million in 2021, 22.253 million in 2020 and 29.894 million units in 2019. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 9, 2025) - Wyatt Injury Law, PLLC, has taken a significant step forward by launching a new website. This development reflects the firm's commitment to enhancing access to legal resources and providing clients with a streamlined way to engage with their services. By prioritizing user experience, the revamped website offers potential clients a more intuitive and informative platform to explore. The updated website showcases essential information about the firm's services and areas of expertise. Visitors can now easily navigate to learn about the legal assistance available, ensuring they find the necessary support for their specific needs. The partnership with Premium Press Release highlights the strategic efforts to increase visibility and engagement. Details of the New Website Launch Wyatt Injury Law is excited to present its new website, offering enhanced features, improved user experience, and adherence to accessibility standards. This update aims to provide users with seamless navigation, attractive design, and easy access to essential information. Wyatt Injury Law Launches a New Website To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/236607_c54f656be497c860_001full.jpg Features and Functionality The new website for Wyatt Injury Law introduces an array of features designed to improve user interaction and functionality. Enhanced search capabilities allow visitors to locate content quickly. Interactive tools like client portals ensure that users access their case information securely. The website uses a responsive design, ensuring optimal viewing and interaction across all devices. Contact forms and live chat options facilitate easy communication with legal professionals. These upgrades are intended to deliver a comprehensive user experience tailored for client convenience. User Experience Enhancement User experience is prioritized through an intuitive design and efficient navigation system. Simplified menus and quick access links reduce the time needed to find relevant legal information. The website's layout uses clear headings and well-organized sections to guide visitors seamlessly. Visual enhancements are integrated with educational content, offering video tutorials and step-by-step guides for common legal inquiries. These improvements strengthen the firm's mission to provide a supportive online environment for current and prospective clients. Accessibility Compliance Wyatt Injury Law's commitment to accessibility ensures compliance with the latest ADA guidelines. The website includes features such as screen reader compatibility and text resizing options to accommodate users with diverse needs. This focus on inclusivity reflects the firm's mission of ensuring that everyone has equal access to legal resources. Contrast settings are optimized to enhance readability for those with visual impairments. An accessibility menu offers additional tools, empowering users to tailor their browsing experience. By implementing these comprehensive accessibility measures, Wyatt Injury Law reaffirms its dedication to serving all members of the community effectively. Impact on Clients and Online Presence The launch of Wyatt Injury Law's new website is set to enhance client interactions and boost the firm's online visibility. Improved Client Engagement Wyatt Injury Law's redesigned website prioritizes user experience, ensuring that clients find the information they need quickly. Simplified navigation and clear call-to-action buttons allow for easier interaction. Importantly, contact forms are now more accessible, streamlining the process for prospective clients to get in touch. A responsive design enables seamless access across devices, enhancing user experience on tablets and smartphones. This ensures that clients have a consistent, professional interaction with the firm's digital presence, irrespective of the platform. SEO and Visibility Strategy The new website is optimized for search engines to ensure better online visibility. The implementation of strategic keywords helps Wyatt Injury Law appear in relevant search queries, attracting potential clients seeking legal assistance. This approach integrates local SEO, ensuring that Wyatt Injury Law's services are prominently displayed to local searchers. Regular updates and content additions, such as blog posts, provide fresh material for search engines to index, further boosting rank. This strategy enhances Wyatt Injury Law's presence in the competitive legal market, positioning them as accessible and knowledgeable authorities in their field. Areas of Practice Wyatt Injury Law, PLLC covers a broad spectrum of personal injury cases. These include car accidents, dog bites, and workplace injuries. Each area is backed by comprehensive legal knowledge and an experienced team adept at navigating complex legal processes. They also handle cases involving product liability and wrongful death, ensuring that clients receive the justice and compensation they deserve. The legal team at Wyatt Injury Law, PLLC consists of seasoned professionals with diverse backgrounds in personal injury law. Their expertise enables them to offer strategic advice and effective representation for clients facing challenging legal battles. About Wyatt Injury Law Wyatt Injury Law, PLLC has established itself as a prominent legal firm specializing in personal injury cases. The firm is renowned for its dedicated representation, expert legal team, and wide-ranging practice areas. Founded over a decade ago, Wyatt Injury Law, PLLC has grown to become a trusted name in the legal community. The firm is known for its unwavering commitment to clients and boasts a strong track record of successful case outcomes. This success is built on their client-centered approach, offering personalized attention to each case. Media Contact: To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236607 SOURCE: GetFeatured TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese stock market has finished lower in two straight sessions, stumbling more than 475 points or 1.3 percent along the way. The Nikkei 225 now rests just above the 39,600-point plateau although it's likely to stop the bleeding on Friday.The global forecast for the Asian markets is murky as the U.S. markets were shuttered on Thursday - while the European markets were roughly flat with an upside bias, and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead.The Nikkei finished sharply lower on Thursday following losses from the financial shares, technology stocks and automobile producers.For the day, the index declined 375.97 points or 0.94 percent to finish at 39,605.09 after trading between 39,385.05 and 39,930.07.Among the actives, Nissan Motor plunged 3.64 percent, while Mazda Motor plummeted 4.33 percent, Toyota Motor surrendered 2.21 percent, Honda Motor stumbled 2.57 percent, Softbank Group fell 0.45 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial eased 0.08 percent, Mizuho Financial skidded 1.17 percent, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial slumped 1.21 percent, Mitsubishi Electric tanked 2.69 percent, Sony Group retreated 1.37 percent, Panasonic Holdings declined 1.44 percent and Hitachi weakened 1.41 percent.There is no lead from Wall Street as the U.S. financial markets were closed on Thursday in honor of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died in late December at age 100.Investors are looking ahead to the release of the Labor Department's closely watched monthly jobs report later today, which will potentially provide additional clarity about the strength of the labor market.Oil prices moved higher Thursday amid optimism about the outlook for global oil demand, and potential supply shortage due to the sanctions on Iranian and Russian crude exports. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for February settled higher by $0.60 or 0.82 percent at $73.92 a barrel.Closer to home, Japan will release November numbers for household spending later this morning. Spending is expected to slip 0.9 percent on month and 0.8 percent on year after rising 2.9 percent on month and falling 1.3 percent on year in October. Japan also will see November results for its leading and coincident indexes; in October, they were up 0.2 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Arlington, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 9, 2025) - Edge Total Intelligence Inc. (TSXV: CTRL) (OTCQB: UNFYF) (FSE: Q5i) ("edgeTI", "Company"), a leading provider of real-time Digital Twin software that enables and safeguards AI adoption, announces the addition of Michael Ostrom to its Industry Advisory Council as the second advisor in what will become a team of five to seven advisors working with edgeTI's CEO, Jim Barrett, who also leads Forbes Tech Council's Digital Twin Group. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10266/236666_30c49df3446fabfb_001full.jpg Industry Advisory Council of 5-7 Advisors to Drive Digital Twins Adoption and Safeguard AI Solutions. Michael Ostrom, Managing Director of TrailRunner International, has more than two decades of experience in delivering strategic solutions to engineering, transportation, and technology industries. Mr. Ostrom holds multiple patents leveraging behavioral, demographic, and spatial data in various ways to improve predictions, forecasting patterns, site selection and to assist in critical infrastructure protection and risk mitigation. "The IAC will help edgeTI to rapidly develop relationships and accelerate the deployment of edgeCore digital twin solutions - twins that increase situational awareness and deliver untapped value to our commercial and government customers in industry specific use cases," said Jim Barrett CEO of edgeTI. "Michael Ostrom brings ingenuity and technical insight into the creation of Digital Twin solutions which are needed in the engineering, transportation, and technology industries." Michael Ostrom serves as Managing Director at TrailRunner International based in the firm's Dallas/Fort Worth headquarters. Just prior to joining TRI, Michael was a Director at Burns & McDonnell/1898 & Co., a large management consulting/engineering firm where he helped Fortune 500 clients develop adaptive strategies, enhance corporate innovation, and improve strategic planning. A former CEO and CIO, Michael has served on multiple boards. He is an alumnus of Yale University School of Management. Michael is a rare innovator and business leader with more than two decades of experience in delivering strategic solutions in professional services across the engineering, transportation, and technology industries. Mr. Ostrom holds multiple patents leveraging behavioral, demographic, and spatial data in various ways to improve predictions, forecasting patterns, site selection and to assist in critical infrastructure protection and risk mitigation. His recent work has been in the areas of autonomous vehicles, electrification, and digital transformation and builds upon early successes in the first nationwide predictive traffic model and traffic light prediction system now featured as TLI in Audi vehicles. Michael is a frequent keynote and featured speaker at technology and data analytics industry events and also appears in various technology and infrastructure related magazines and podcasts for his experience, insights, and approach to value delivering solutions. "Having opened the door to digital, we're done dabbling. Business and governments are moving to applied AI and new cognitive user interfaces that redefine experiences to deliver more performant operations that achieve missions and profitable results. Digital Twins are the lynchpin for connecting legacy systems and data with AI, automation, and real-time simulation," said Michael Ostrom. "Visiting what edgeTI has assembled as an open platform to so many industries and use cases, I knew I wanted to support this company and work with its staff of trailblazers." Jim Barrett closed with, "the addition of Mr. Ostrom is a tremendous add to our Industry Advisory Council and I am confident that he will challenge my team and bring fresh ideas to progressing our capabilities in engineering, transportation, and technology industries as well as introducing new customers." This correction resolves an error in the conflation of titles between the parent of TrailRunner and Michael's current role as Managing Director of TrailRunner. About edgeTI edgeTI helps customers sustain situational awareness and accelerate action with its real-time digital operations software, edgeCore that unites multiple software applications and data sources into one immersive experience. Global enterprises, service providers, and governments are more profitable when insight and action are united to deliver fluid experiences via the platform's low-code development capability and composable operations. With edgeCore, customers can improve their margins and agility by rapidly transforming their siloed systems and data across continuously evolving situations in business, technology, and cross-domain operations - helping them achieve the impossible. Website: https://ir.edgeti.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/edgeti YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/edgetechnologies Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information and Statements Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements or information for the purposes of applicable Canadian and US securities law. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, competition and general economic, and market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236666 SOURCE: Edge Total Intelligence Inc. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 9, 2025) - Emperor Metals Inc. (CSE: AUOZ) (the "Company" or "Emperor Metals") - is pleased to announce that, further to its announcement on January 7, 2025 regarding the acquisition of the undersurface rights and interests to the Lac Pelletier Property (the "Lac Pelletier Property" or the "Property") from Maritime Resources Corp., it has now entered into a binding agreement of purchase and sale dated January 9, 2024 (the "Purchase and Sale Agreement") with a wholly owned subsidiary of Eldorado Gold Corporation ("Eldorado Gold") to acquire Eldorado's surface rights to the Lac Pelletier Property. The primary consideration for the acquisition is the assumption of all the liabilities of Eldorado Gold in connection with the rehabilitation and restoration plan related to the Property, including a cash bond and a surety bond in the aggregate amount of $305,349, and the release of Eldorado Gold's financial guarantee from the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests. The closing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement is subject to certain conditions customary for transactions of this nature, including no objection from the Canadian Securities Exchange. It is expected that the transaction will close before April 15, 2025. The surface rights to the Lac Pelletier Property are comprised of 5 lots which are located approximately 4 km southwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. These rights include a mining lease with a 1,000 tonnes/day mine permit. The Property is subject to a one percent (1.0%) net smelter returns royalty reserved to Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd. pursuant to an underlying royalty agreement. For further details regarding the Lac Pelletier Property, please refer to the Company's press release of January 7, 2025, which is available on SEDAR+ as well as the Company's website at www.emperormetals.com. About Emperor Metals Inc. Emperor Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused mineral exploration in Canada, and on proving the potential of the Pine Grove and other early-stage gold projects located near the Hemlo Gold Mine within the western portion of the prolific Wawa-Abitibi Gold Belt of Ontario, Canada. C AUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CERTAIN STATEMENTS MADE AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY CONSTITUTE "FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION" AND "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF APPLICABLE CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES SECURITIES LEGISLATION. THESE STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE BASED ON FACTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY AND THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT ACTUAL RESULTS WILL MEET MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY SUCH TERMS AS "ANTICIPATES", "BELIEVES", "TARGETS", "ESTIMATES", "PLANS", "EXPECTS", "MAY", "WILL", "COULD" OR "WOULD". FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE BASED ON CERTAIN FACTORS AND ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ESTIMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES, THE REALIZATION OF RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES, METAL PRICES, TAXATION, THE ESTIMATION, TIMING AND AMOUNT OF FUTURE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS, THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCING, THE RECEIPT OF REGULATORY APPROVALS, ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, TITLE DISPUTES AND OTHER MATTERS. WHILE THE COMPANY CONSIDERS ITS ASSUMPTIONS TO BE REASONABLE AS OF THE DATE HEREOF, FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON SUCH STATEMENTS AS ACTUAL EVENTS AND RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED HEREIN. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236667 SOURCE: Emperor Metals Inc. Agoura Hills, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 9, 2025) - Cydcor, the global leader in outsourced sales and customer acquisition services, proudly continued its tradition of giving back during the holidays. For the fifth consecutive year, Cydcor team members brought holiday joy to the children of Liberty Children's Home in Belize, ensuring more than 60 children, ranging from newborns to young adults, received gifts of new clothing and shoes. Liberty Children's Home in Belize To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10205/236649_c1ac5631e4be18f4_001full.jpg What began as a heartfelt initiative has grown into a meaningful tradition that Cydcor's team members eagerly anticipate every year. For many Cydcor team members and their families, shopping for gifts for the children at Liberty has become an event they eagerly look forward to. Cydcor's commitment to Liberty Children's Home exemplifies the company's deeply rooted "people helping people" philosophy. This year's gifts, generously donated by Cydcor team members, ensured that every child felt the spirit of the holidays. In addition to the gifts, a group including Cydcor Team Members also shared a day of celebration filled with a festive meal, games, and activities, creating unforgettable moments of connection and joy. "Every year, our support of Liberty Children's Home serves as a profound reminder of the difference compassion and connection can make in the lives of others," said Vera Quinn, CEO of Cydcor. "Seeing the joy on these children's faces reminds us that it's not just about the gifts, it's about sharing kindness in a meaningful way." The need to support children at Liberty Children's Home has grown significantly in recent years. Once a sanctuary for 40 children, Liberty now provides a safe and nurturing environment for more than 60. This increased need underscores the importance of continued support from organizations like Cydcor. "Liberty Children's Home and its incredible staff and kids know they can count on us year after year," said Vera Quinn, CEO of Cydcor. "Our commitment is about both presents and presence- letting these children know they are valued and loved." Liberty Children's Home, located in Ladyville, Belize, is a refuge for children who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected, including those with special needs and children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Through partnerships with organizations like Cydcor, Liberty remains a beacon of hope, ensuring children have access to education, care, and opportunities for a brighter future. For Cydcor, philanthropy is more than a program-it's a key part of company culture. In addition to holiday celebrations Cydcor's support has helped provide vital resources for Liberty Children's Home, including educational supplies, building repairs, and everyday essentials. For more information about Liberty Children's Home, visit www.libertychildrenshome.org. To learn more about Cydcor's commitment to community service, visit www.cydcor.com. About Cydcor Cydcor is the global leader in customer acquisition solutions for Fortune 500 and emerging companies. With expertise spanning in-person sales, call centers, and digital marketing, Cydcor has mastered the art of relationship-building to help clients grow and retain customers. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Agoura Hills, California, Cydcor remains committed to innovation, excellence, and making a positive impact through its "people helping people" philosophy. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236649 SOURCE: Cydcor LLC Recent statements from Nvidia regarding quantum computing's future timeline have triggered significant market volatility in the technology sector. The tech giant's assessment that practically usable quantum computers might be 15 to 30 years away, coupled with claims about the need for substantially more qubits than currently available, has led to a dramatic selloff in quantum computing stocks. The impact was particularly severe, with several leading quantum computing firms experiencing share price declines of up to 45 percent, highlighting the market's acute sensitivity to future technology projections. Industry Experts Challenge Timeline While Nvidia continues to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence through strategic partnerships and government contracts, including a landmark deal with the Dutch government, industry specialists have strongly contested the company's quantum computing timeline. Critics have particularly targeted the technical assumptions regarding required qubit numbers, sparking a heated debate that underscores the ongoing uncertainty in quantum computing development trajectories and their influence on investment decisions. Ad Fresh Nvidia information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Nvidia analysis... TOKYO & LONDON, Jan 10, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - JCB International Co, Ltd, the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co, Ltd, Japan's only international payment brand, has today released a new e-book "The Evolution of Payments: Key Growth Drivers across the European Region," providing expert insights into the key trends shaping the future of payments in Europe. The e-book explores:- The 5 biggest growth drivers in the European market- How to thrive in the new payments landscape- Insights from leading merchant acquirers, Worldpay, Nexi and WorldlineBy leveraging the strategies outlined in this guide, both merchants and acquirers can adapt to the evolving payments landscape and capitalise on the growing demand for seamless and secure transactions.The European region presents significant growth opportunities for merchants and acquirers, with consumers increasingly seeking frictionless payment experiences. The e-book highlights the rise in cross-border spending, fuelled by a resurgence in tourism and the continued growth of eCommerce. European tourism has rebounded, with visitor arrivals in 2024 exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 6% and spending up 13.7% compared to 2023.[1] This growth is particularly pronounced among Asian travellers, with arrivals from China and Japan up 64% and 53% respectively compared to 2023.[2]The e-book also addresses the growing importance of cybersecurity and fraud prevention, as digital payments become increasingly prevalent. It explores how innovations like AI, digital wallets, and contactless payments are transforming the payments landscape. By publishing this guide, JCB aims to showcase the need for businesses to adapt to evolving compliance and regulatory requirements to build trust and unlock new market opportunities. International travellers will enjoy a truly frictionless payment journey when merchants adopt these solutions and cater to their needs, enabling those businesses to thrive in today's dynamic digital marketplace.Omnichannel payments are also highlighted as a key driver of growth and customer loyalty. By providing seamless and personalised payment experiences across multiple channels, businesses can enhance customer engagement and drive repeat business.By combining industry research, data, and proprietary insights, JCB, Worldpay, Nexi and Worldline have shared a comprehensive perspective on the European payments landscape. As a result, this e-book aims to provide actionable steps for European business owners to adapt to the changing preferences of consumers, particularly digitally native generations, and create a payment experience that fosters loyalty and drives growth.Ray Shinzawa, Managing Director, JCB International (Europe) Ltd., commented: "In a fast-evolving payments landscape, growth is fuelled by trust, transparency, and partnership. Staying competitive requires a customer-first mindset, embracing change and collaborating across the ecosystem to innovate quickly and address challenges head-on. Our e-book is the perfect educational tool for businesses to understand and utilise the key growth drivers across the European region."Download and read the e-book:https://www.thepaymentshub.net/key-growth-drivers-across-the-european-region/About JCBJCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 53 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are now issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 164 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/MEDIA CONTACTS:JCB International (Europe) Ltd.Diana Lee: dlee@jcbeurope.euJCB (Head Office in Japan)Anna Takeda: jcb-pr@info.jcb.co.jp[1] European Tourism Soars in 2024 with Strong Revenues[2] Inbound Tourism to Europe is Set for a Record-Breaking Summer - ForwardKeysSource: JCBCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 9, 2025) - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) ("Lode Gold " or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has updated its trading symbol in the US on OTCQB. The company's common shares, which were previously traded under the ticker symbol LODFF on the OTCQB, will now be traded on the OTCQX under the same symbol LODFF, starting from December 10th, 2024. Lode Gold Resource will still be trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada under the symbol LOD.V. No action is required by current shareholders with respect to the ticker symbol change. About Lode Gold Lode Gold (TSXV: LOD) is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States. In Canada, its Golden Culvert and WIN Projects in Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high grade gold mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. A total of four RIRGS targets have been confirmed on the property. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in May 2024. In New Brunswick, Lode Gold has created one of the largest land packages with its Acadian Gold JV Co; consisting of an area that spans 420 km2 and a 42 km strike. McIntyre Brook covers 111 km2 and a 17-km strike in the emerging Appalachian/Iapetus Gold Belt; it is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project. Riley Brook is a 309 km2 package covering a 25 km strike of Wapske formation with its numerous felsic units. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in August 2024. In the United States, the Company is advancing its Fremont Gold project. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled and 23 km of underground workings. It was previously mined at 8 g/t Au in the 1940's. Mining was halted in 1942 due the gold prohibition in WWII just as it was ramping up production. Unlike typical brownfield projects that are mined out; only 11% of the veins - in 2 out of 7 deposits have been exploited. The Company is the first owner to investigate an underground high grade mine potential at Fremont. The project is located on 3,351 acres of private and patented land in Mariposa County. The asset is a 4 km strike on the prolific 190 km Mother Lode Gold Belt, California that produced over 50,000,000 oz of gold and is instrumental in the creation of the towns, the businesses and infrastructure in the 1800s gold rush. It is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Previously, in March 2023 the company completed an NI 43 101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"). Project Valuation has an after-tax NPV (5%) of USD $370M at $2000 2 /oz gold, IRR 31% and an 11-year LOM, averaging 118,000 oz per year. At $1,750 /oz gold, NPV (5%) is $217M. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MT Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike of Fremont property. Three step-out holes at depth (up to 1200 m) hit structure and were mineralized. All NI 43-101 technical reports are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.lode-gold.com). QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, Director, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAusIMM, and who is a "qualified person" as defined by NI-43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Wendy T. Chan, CEO & Director Cautionary Note Related to this News Release and Figures This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the completion of the transaction and the timing thereof, the expected benefits of the transaction to shareholders of the Company, the structure, terms and conditions of the transaction and the execution of a definitive agreement, the timing of submission to the CSE and TSXV, Gold Orogen raising an additional $1,500,000 and the anticipated use of proceeds. Forward-Looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-Looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: that the Company and GRM will be able to negotiate the definitive agreement on the terms and within the time frame expected, that the Company and GRM will be able to make submissions to the CSE and TSXV within the time frame expected, that the Company and GRM will be able to obtain shareholder approval for the transaction, that the Company and GRM will be able to obtain necessary third party and regulatory approvals required for the transaction, if completed, that the transaction will provide the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include adverse market conditions, general economic, market or business risks, unanticipated costs, the failure of the Company and GRM to negotiate the definitive agreement on the terms and conditions and within the timeframe expected, the failure of the Company and GRM to make submissions to the CSE and TSXV within the timeframe expected, the failure of the Company and GRM to obtain shareholder approval for the transaction, the failure of the Company and GRM to obtain all necessary approvals for the transaction, and r other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236682 SOURCE: Lode Gold Resources Inc. Wildpack Beverage Inc. (TSXV:CANS)(OTC PINK:WLDPF)("Wildpack" or the"Company") a leading middle market co-packer of canned goods, announces, further to its press releases dated July 5, 2024 and October 8, 2024 (the "Previous Releases"), an update regarding the Company's proposed restructuring transaction (the "Debenture Restructuring Transaction") with respect to its outstanding 8.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $45,007,000 (the "Debentures"), which were issued pursuant to a convertible debenture indenture between the Company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada (the "Base Indenture") dated as of June 30, 2021, which provides for the issuance of one or more series of unsecured subordinated debentures of the Company, along with supplemental indentures dated August 27, 2021, November 23, 2021 and March 31, 2022 (collectively, the "Indenture"). The Company provides an update below regarding the Other Sources Loan (as defined below). For additional information regarding the Debenture Restructuring Transaction, please refer to the Previous Releases. Except for any disclosures contained in this news release to the contrary, the information contained in the Previous Releases remains accurate. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Previous Releases. Other Sources Loan The Company is in the process of obtaining loans totaling $2,000,000 (the "Other Sources Loans"), from certain lenders to the Company which loans will be used to partially fund the Debenture Repurchase. The Other Sources Loans will provide an interest-bearing loan to the Company, bearing simple interest at 15% per annum (increased to 20% per annum after 120 days from the initial advance date), which loans can be prepaid without penalty and secured against the Repurchased Debentures until the Repurchased Debentures are cancelled. The Company has secured commitments in the aggregate amount of $1,730,000 in connection with the Other Sources Loan. The Company is in the process of securing the remaining $270,000 principal amount partially comprising the Other Sources Loans. Closing The Other Sources Loans and Debenture Repurchase are expected to close once the Company has secured Other Sources Loans in the amount of $2,000,000 and is subject to receipt of final approval of the TSXV. Cancellation of the Repurchased Debentures, the Shares for Debt Settlement and the Delisting are expected to occur following the record date for the Rights Offering and are subject to final approval of the TSXV. Per: "Mitch Barnard" Mitch Barnard Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact us at: invest@wildpackbev.com or Elijah Clare Vice President, Investor Relations elijah@wildpackbev.com Advisors Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is the legal advisor to Wildpack Beverage Inc. Visit our investor website at: https://investor.wildpackbev.com About Wildpack Wildpack provides beverage manufacturing and packaging to the middle market by providing sustainable aluminum can filling, decorating, packaging, brokering, sleeve/label printing services, and logistics to customers throughout the United States. Wildpack currently operates indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries and out of four facilities in Baltimore, Maryland; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada with a focus on digital innovation and green ready-to-drink packaging. Wildpack commenced trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CANS" on May 19, 2021. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the Debenture Restructuring Transaction and the associated transactions to be completed in connection therewith. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks including but not limited to risks related to obtaining regulatory approval of the Debenture Restructuring Transaction and the associated transactions to be completed in connection therewith. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied by Wildpack are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and conditions, many of which are outside of Wildpack's control, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Although Wildpack has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties related to Wildpack's business, including that Wildpack's assumptions in making forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and that Wildpack will not obtain regulatory approval of the Debenture Restructuring Transaction and the associated transactions to be completed in connection therewith. Except as required by securities law, Wildpack does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Wildpack Beverage Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Alphinat Inc. (TSXV:NPA.H:NEX) a leading Canadian provider of innovative software solutions, is pleased to announce that subject to regulatory approval the appointment of Mr. Mark Nasworthy, Mr. Brian Deeks, Mr. Nicholas A. Bartzis and Ms. Mahtab Abbasigaravand to Alphinat Inc. board of directors. Mark Nasworthy received his Bachelor of Science Chemistry in 1977 from University of Georgia with Minors/Emphasis Math & Physics. He completed his Post-Graduate Masters Studies from the University of Southern California. Mark was a career military officer and fighter pilot for the US Air Force, Captain for American Airlines, as well as a business owner and entrepreneur. His leadership brings a focus on excellence, discipline and the vision for structured growth. Brian Deeks, CPA will provide the board with a history of leadership across the spectrum of Governance, Finance, Accounting, Operations, Marketing, Business Development, Service/Solution Delivery, Administration, Cyber Security and Information Management. With over 30 years of experience building business cases for organizational investments. Including 8 years of experience working as a senior executive with a publicly traded company. Highly respected by clients and partners for business acumen and integrity; by executive colleagues and technical leaders for his ability to manage the convergence of sales and marketing, operations, finance and human resources; and, by staff for leadership, communications and ability to motivate. Nick Bartzis is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in strategic leadership and corporate governance. He holds a degree in Business Administration and has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation in not-for-profit and for-profit industries. Having served various roles on Boards of Directors, Nick brings a wealth of expertise in financial management, risk assessment, and organizational development. His collaborative approach and commitment to ethical practices make him an invaluable asset to any board, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. Nick also brings a passion for the outdoors and complements the team well in driving for a greener future. Ms. Abbasigaravand is an IT executive with over 14 years of IT experience, she is currently President and CEO of Alphinat Inc. She holds a master's degree in computer science focused on machine learning and sentiment analysis from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). The company also announces the approval by the board of directors for the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP as the auditor for the corporation. About Alphinat Alphinat is a FINTECH/GOVTECH company which develops SmartGuide software for governments and is actively used to serve over 50 million end-users of federal, state/province, and municipal digital services. Alphinat employs Artificial Intelligence and reduces the need to code, allowing managers to quickly deploy online solutions that easily integrate with existing systems. Recent advances include LIVEaiASSIST greatly accelerates solution development for easy-to-use digital services for public sector. Alphinat has also enhanced SmartProfile access management solution as a stand-alone software suite for public sector while keeping a focus on enhancing transfer & retention of knowledge within organizations. At Alphinat, we are driven by the passion to make application development easy for everyone and system interoperability issues a thing of the past. We enable people with the vision of how a finished application should look and behave to be a major part of the development process. After all, what better way to ensure favourable outcome than to provide those closest to an application's end-users with a vested interest in its success throughout its development. Visit us at www.alphinat.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you. Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this document, including those which express management's expectations or estimations with regards to the Company's future performance constitute "forward-looking statements" as understood by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are, of necessity, based on a certain number of estimates and hypotheses; while management considers these to be accurate at the time they are expressed, they are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and risks on the commercial, economic and competitive levels. We advise readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other known and unknown factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause significant differences between actual results and those described in forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's capacity to increase acceptance of its products on the market, and to penetrate new markets; the potential existence of defects or undetected problems in the Company's products; the Company's ability to manage its growth; the Company's ability to compete with others; potential commitments; maintaining the Company's intellectual property rights and defending against litigation putting those rights in question; the Company's reliance on the knowledge of its key personnel; and the Company's access to sufficient capital to finance its future needs. This is a partial and non-exhaustive list of factors that could bear on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are advised to not rely unduly on the forward-looking statements. This advisory applies to all forward-looking statements, whether expressed orally or in writing, attributed to Alphinat or to any individual expressing them in the name of the Company. The Company is under no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or other circumstances. Risks and uncertainties that bear on the Company are described in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report. NeitherTSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policiesof the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Ms. Mahtab Abbasigaravand Chief Executive Officer Alphinat Inc. (514) 398-9799 SOURCE: Alphinat, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com COLUMBUS (dpa-AFX) - An investment funds managed by KKR and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, one of Canada's largest pension investors, announced an agreement to acquire a 19.9% interest in American Electric Power's (AEP) Ohio and Indiana & Michigan transmission companies for $2.82 billion.KKR and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board or 'PSP Investments' have formed a 50/50 strategic partnership to pursue the acquisition.Upon the closing of the transaction, AEP will remain the majority owner and operator of the transmission assets. KKR is funding this investment from its core infrastructure strategy.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) said that Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Tammy Romo and Chief Administration Officer Linda Rutherford will retire from their positions effective April 1, 2025.Southwest noted that it will begin a search for Romo's replacement.Romo joined Southwest Airlines in 1991 and has held many Leadership roles in the past 33 years, including Head of Investor Relations, Controller, Treasurer, and Senior Vice President Planning. She became Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer in 2012.Rutherford came to Southwest in 1992 as a Public Relations Coordinator after time spent working as a news journalist. At Southwest, Rutherford has focused largely on the Communications space, including serving as the Chief Communications Officer for seven years before assuming her current role as Chief Administration Officer.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 9, 2025 / Zeus North America Mining Corp. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") reports that on January 7, 2025 the Supreme Court of British Columbia approved the plan of arrangement between the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Kelso Mining Inc. ("Kelso") dated August 26, 2024 (the "Arrangement"), to spin out its Chlore Property located in the Omineca Mining Division of North-Central British Columbia to Kelso. The Company announced the share distribution record date of January 29, 2025 (the "Share Distribution Record Date") pursuant to the Arrangement. Under the terms of the Arrangement, Zeus' shareholders will be issued one share of Kelso with respect to every 150 shares of Zeus owned on the Share Distribution Record Date. The Company plans to complete the Arrangement and distribute Kelso shares to the Company's shareholders and transfer the Chlore Property to Kelso on February 5, 2025. Holders of Zeus options and warrants, who exercise their options and/or warrants before the Share Distribution Record Date, will also be entitled to receive one share of Kelso with respect to every 150 shares of Zeus. The Chlore Property will be transferred to Kelso. Upon completion of the Arrangement, Zeus shareholders will ultimately own shares in two public companies: Zeus, which will be focused on its properties in the State of Idaho known as the Cuddy Mountain, Selway and Great Western properties and Kelso, which will focus on the Chlore Property. The disclosure regarding the Arrangement is provided in the Company's information circular dated November 5, 2024 and the news releases dated August 26, 2024 and December 20, 2024, which are available on www.sedarplus.com under the profile of Zeus North America Mining Corp. On behalf of the board of directors. "Dean Besserer" President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at info@zeusminingcorp.com FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730 ZEUS@kincommunications.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp. Exploring in Idaho's newest Copper Belt. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho, USA known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 102 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp.'s Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. Forward-Looking Statements When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's plans regarding the Arrangement and exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs; shareholder, court and regulatory approvals; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Red symbolises goodness and health. Try these dishes at home: Sicilian-style mini penne and pasta tubes with tomato sauce, made from canned organic tomatoes. NAPLES, Italy, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Canned tomatoes are among the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen, and they are essential for preparing tasty, quick and easy dishes whenever you need them. The "Red Gold from Europe" project, promoted by ANICAV (the Italian National Association of Canned Vegetable Industries) and co-funded by the European Union, which supports the consumption and export of Italian organic canned tomatoes to Sweden these valuable tips and recipes. Let's start with an Italian classic made from canned whole peeled tomatoes: Sicilian-style Baked Mini Penne Pasta: with its rich, delicious flavour, this is real comfort food. Check out this essential recipe: https://redgoldfromeurope.eu/recipes/sicilian-style-baked-minipenne-pasta/ Organic canned tomatoes are also ideal in slow-cooked sauces. A staple of traditional Italian cuisine, the Bolognese ragu is tasty and truly comforting. It is perfect as a tasty pasta sauce, for lasagna, or as a filling for a piadina or flatbread. It is made by slow-cooking minced meat (beef and/or pork) with onion, carrot, celery and organic tomato passata. Add some red wine and a little milk for a creamier consistency and cook for a few hours. https://redgoldfromeurope.eu/recipes/penne-with-bolognese-sauce/ And canned tomatoes also feature in aubergine parmigiana, a delicious dish made with alternate layers of fried aubergine, organic tomato passata, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, baked in the oven. https://redgoldfromeurope.eu/recipes/classic-aubergine-parmigiana/ A list of classic recipes would not be complete without meatballs (or fish balls) cooked in a rich tomato sauce and served with a side of mashed potatoes. And the Italian way of mopping up these sauces with a scarpetta or chunk of crusty bread is the only way to finish! Another quick and delicious dish: pasta with tomato sauce. Cook the pasta al dente and stir in a simple sauce made from canned whole peeled tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil, and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan to finish. The Red Gold from Europerecipe suggests using ridged pasta tubes. For more information about Red Gold from Europe and for more recipes, please visit our website https://redgoldfromeurope.dk or follow our social media accounts: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redgoldfromeuropedk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redgoldfromeuropedk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@redgoldfromeuropedk Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2590631/Red_Gold_from_Europe_Sicilian_style_baked_Mini_Penne_Pasta.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2186814/Visual_ORG.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2186816/Footer_SE.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/canned-tomatoes-give-pasta-dishes-and-sauces-added-depth-of-flavour-check-out-these-tips-and-recipes-from-the-red-gold-from-europe-project-302342304.html HONG KONG, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultima Markets celebrated a landmark evening for the financial trading industry as the Traders Fair concluded in grand style. This globally recognised event brought traders, investors, and experts to celebrate excellence together. Ultima Markets has been honoured with the "Best APAC CFD Broker 2024" award, a testament to its leadership in delivering innovative trading solutions, exceptional customer service, and diverse product offering. Ultima Markets captivated the crowd at its interactive booth, spotlighting its state-of-the-art trading platform and extensive portfolio of financial products. Visitors were drawn by the engaging exhibits and the buzz of the Bitcoin Valuation Challenge-a unique opportunity for attendees to showcase their market expertise in a lively and competitive setting. Winners celebrated with exclusive Ultima Markets merchandise, leaving a lasting impression of the company's innovative and client-focused spirit. Reflecting on the recognition, Jack Li, Regional Business Director at Ultima Markets, stated: "This award is more than an accolade; it reflects our dedication to empowering traders through cutting-edge solutions and exceptional service. Engaging directly with our clients, creating enjoyable experiences, and building lasting connections are the driving forces behind our pursuit of excellence." In a rapidly evolving financial landscape, Ultima Markets remains steadfast in its mission to lead the industry. The company continues to redefine trading excellence by delivering personalised strategies and introducing innovative tools that open new frontiers in trading, ensuring clients achieve their financial aspirations with confidence. About Ultima Markets Ultima Markets is a fully licensed broker and a multi-asset trading platform offering access to 250+ CFD financial instruments, including Forex, Commodities, Indices and Shares. We guarantee tight spreads and fast execution. We have now served clients from 172 countries and regions with our trustworthy services and well-built trading systems. Ultima Markets has achieved remarkable recognition in 2024, winning prestigious awards such as the Best Affiliates Brokerage, Best Fund Safety in Global Forex Awards, and the Best APAC CFD broker in Traders Fair 2024 Hong Kong. As the first CFD broker to join the United Nations Global Compact, Ultima Markets underscores its commitment to sustainability and the missions to advance ethical financial services and contribute to a sustainable future. To learn more about Ultima Markets, please visit our website, Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2593698/20250108_101422_TOUCHEDUP.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2509939/Ultima_Markets_LOGO.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ultima-markets-wins-best-apac-cfd-broker-2024-award-setting-new-standards-in-the-trading-industry-302347790.html Senior analysts from AM Best will review proposed updates to its draft criteria procedure, "Rating Captives and Other Alternative Risk Transfer Entities," in an online briefing scheduled for Wednesday, 29 January 2025, at 2 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. CET). AM Best requested comments from market participants in the insurance industry and other interested parties in early December 2024 on the draft update to its criteria procedure, currently known as "Alternative Risk Transfer (ART)." In the briefing, Dr Mathilde Jakobsen, senior director, analytics, and Myles Gould, senior director, Credit Rating Criteria Research Analytics, both of AM Best, will explore the anticipated revisions to the captive insurance-related criteria procedure. The presenters will provide an overview of AM Best's approach to rating captives and highlight the proposed revisions to the criteria. In addition, the webinar will explore the proposed changes to rating cell companies under various structures. Viewers will be able to ask questions during the one-hour briefing. Riccardo Ciccozzi, director, Market Development Europe, will moderate. To register for the complimentary briefing, "Captives Cell Companies: Revisions to 'Alternative Risk Transfer (ART)' Criteria," please go to https://web.ambest.com/about/events/briefings/revised-captive-art-methodology. To view the draft criteria procedure, please visit the methodology section of AM Best's website at https://web.ambest.com/ratings-services/rating-methodologies. The comment period will end on 20 February 2025. AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States and throughout the world. For current Best's Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com Copyright 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250109269071/en/ Contacts: Edem Kuenyehia Director, Market Development Communications +44 20 7397 0280 edem.kuenyehia@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com 10 January 2025 SELP JOINT VENTURE PRICES 500 MILLION 3.75 PER CENT UNSECURED BOND SEGRO, in its role as venture adviser to the SEGRO European Logistics Partnership ('SELP') joint venture, announces the pricing of a 500 million senior unsecured bond issue for SELP. The bonds have a seven year term and have been priced at 138 basis points above euro mid-swaps, equating to an annual coupon of 3.75 per cent. The bond issue was more than eight times covered at peak. Proceeds of the issuance will principally be used to refinance existing indebtedness. ENDS For further information, please contact: Gavin Pinder (SELP Finance Director) +44 (0) 20 7451 9144 / gavin.pinder@segro.com Gary Gaskarth (External Communications Manager) +44 (0) 20 7451 9069 / gary.gaskarth@segro.com Richard Sunderland / Eve Kirmatzis (FTI Consulting) Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 About SEGRO SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.8 million square metres of space (116 million square feet) valued at 20.6 billion as at 30 June 2024, serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries. For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing (including data centres) located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive. A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO's purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent. Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO's ambition to be the best property company. See www.SEGRO.com for further information. About SELP The SEGRO European Logistics Partnership (SELP) was created in October 2013 as a 50:50 joint venture between SEGRO and PSP Investments, the Canadian pension fund. At its inception, the portfolio injected by SEGRO comprised approximately 1 billion of grade A standing logistics investments and development land. The objective of the venture was to create a leading Continental European logistics platform, initially focused on six geographies, namely France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium and Netherlands. Since then, SELP has also invested in big box warehouses in Italy and Spain and a combination of acquisitions, development and capital value growth means that, at 31 December 2023, the portfolio was valued at 6.7 billion and generated 342 million of annualised headline rent across 5.8 million square metres of lettable area. SEGRO acts as asset, property and development manager for SELP. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lWdwZshrk2aayZtwZ8dnmmlsmpljxmfHaGXKm2Obasubm3CWlGmVbprKZnFqmW1q - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-89484-8217s.pdf CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against major currencies in the Asian session on Friday.The yen fell to a 2-day low of 158.43 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 162.85.Against the euro, the pound and the Swiss franc, the yen slid to 163.12, 194.78 and 173.61 from Thursday's closing quotes of 162.85, 194.58 and 173.30, respectively.Against Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the yen slipped to 98.20, 88.62 and 109.95 from Thursday's closing quotes of 97.94, 88.54 and 109.86, respectively.If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 159.00 against the greenback, 165.00 against the euro, 200.00 against the pound, 176.00 against the franc, 100.00 against the aussie, 90.00 against the kiwi and 111.00 against the loonie.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. 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. COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE Paris, 9 January 2025 La Poste SA announces the successful placement of a deeply subordinated notes issuance for an amount of 750,000,000 and sets the Maximum Acceptance Amount of its previously launched Tender Offer at 750,000,000 La Poste SA (the "Company") has successfully placed a 750,000,000 undated non-call 6.5 year deeply subordinated fixed rate resettable notes issuance (the "New Notes"). The New Notes are expected to be admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris. It is also expected that the rating agencies will assign the New Notes a rating of BB+/BBB+ (S&P/Fitch). The settlement of the New Notes is expected to occur on 16 January 2025. Following the placement of the New Notes, the Company announces the maximum acceptance amount of the tender offer (the "Tender Offer") on its 750,000,000 undated deeply subordinated fixed rate resettable notes issued in 2018 (all of which are currently outstanding) (ISIN: FR0013331949) (the "Existing Notes") up to the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes, i.e., 750,000,000 (the "Maximum Acceptance Amount"). The Company will announce the final aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes accepted for purchase under its Tender Offer at its sole discretion upon the publication of the Tender Offer results. The Tender Offer began on 7 January 2025 and will expire on 14 January 2025 at 5.00 p.m. (CET) subject to extension, withdrawal, reopening, or termination at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. The results of the Tender Offer will be announced as soon as practicable on 15 January 2025 and remain subject to the successful settlement of the New Notes (or waiver of this condition). Disclaimer This announcement does not constitute an invitation to participate in the Tender Offer or the issuance of New Notes in or from any jurisdiction in or from which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No offer to sell or solicitation of an order to sell or subscribe for a security may be made in a country or territory in which such an offer or solicitation would be contrary to the regulations in force or before its registration under securities law in force in such country or territory. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. Tenders of Existing Notes for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will not be accepted from qualifying holders in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Company does not make any recommendation as to whether or not qualifying holders should participate in the Tender Offer. United States Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or an exemption from the registration requirements of, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The New Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person as defined in Regulation S of the Securities Act (each a "U.S. Person"). The Tender Offer is not being made and will not be made directly or indirectly in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone, email and other forms of electronic transmission) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national securities exchange of, the United States or to U.S. Persons and the Existing Notes may not be tendered in the Tender Offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility from or within the United States, by persons located or resident in the United States of America ("U.S. holders" within the meaning of Rule 800(h) under the Securities Act). Accordingly, any documents or materials related to the Tender Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise transmitted, distributed or forwarded (including, without limitation, by custodians, nominees or trustees) in or into the United States or to any such person. Any purported tender instruction in response to the Tender Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid, and tender instructions made by a person located or resident in the United States of America or any agent, fiduciary or other intermediary acting on a non-discretionary basis for a principal giving instructions from within the United States will not be accepted. For the purposes of the above paragraph, United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the North Mariana Islands), any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia. ______________________________ About La Poste Groupe La Poste is a state-owned public limited company, a subsidiary of Caisse des Depots and the French State. La Poste Groupe is divided into four business units: Services-Mail-Parcels, Retail Customers and Digital Services, Geopost and La Banque Postale, which, with its subsidiary CNP Assurances, is the 11th largest bancassurer in the eurozone. La Poste Groupe has four public service missions that shape its identity: universal postal service, regional development, banking accessibility, and press transport and delivery. Committed to its regional coverage, La Poste Groupe relies on its network of local, human and digital services, the largest in France. This network comprises 37,500 contact points, including 17,000 postal contact points (post offices, local postal agencies, retail pickup points) and more than 20,500 points of access to a postal service (pick-up points in retail outlets and lockers, and Espaces Pro areas). La Poste Groupe delivers yearly over 15 billion items worldwide (letters, printed advertising media and parcels), six days a week. In 2023, La Poste Groupe generated 34.1 billion in revenue, of which 44% were generated outside France, and had a headcount of 233,000, in more than 60 countries over 5 continents, of which more than 179,000 in France. As part of its strategic plan "La Poste 2030, committed for you", the public company has set itself the course for profitable and responsible growth in France and abroad, based on a robust multi-business model. As a mission-driven company since 2021 and a leader in environmental transition and sustainable finance, La Poste Groupe is committed to reaching "net zero emissions" by 2040. ______________________________ Financial Communication and Investors' Relations Olivier Gall +33 6 22 25 50 42 olivier.gall@laposte.fr Stephane Dalla Sartora +33 7 87 39 58 80 stephane.dalla-sartora@laposte.fr Annie Dupeyron +33 6 48 00 61 49 annie.dupeyron@laposte.fr Press relations +33 1 55 44 22 37 service.presse@laposte.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mm+dZJppkpiZnpuckpppaZSZa5hllJXKl5aWxZZolMyYbW9hmWuTmsXGZnFqmW1t - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-89487-la-poste-cp-pricing_maa-en.pdf TAIPEI, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetina Corporation, a leading provider of edge AI solutions and a subsidiary of Innodisk Group, today announced a collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., who unveiled a revolutionary Qualcomm AI On-Prem Appliance Solution and Qualcomm AI Inference Suite for On-Prem. This collaboration combines Qualcomm Technologies' cutting-edge inference accelerators and advanced software with Aetina's edge computing hardware to deliver unprecedented computing power and ready-to-use AI applications for enterprises and industrial organizations. The flagship offering, the Aetina MegaEdge AIP-FR68, sets a new industry benchmark by integrating Qualcomm Cloud AI family of accelerator cards. Each Cloud AI 100 Ultra card delivers an impressive 870 TOPS of AI computing power at 8-bit integer (INT8) while maintaining remarkable energy efficiency at just 150W power consumption. The system supports dual Cloud AI 100 Ultra cards in a single desktop workstation. This groundbreaking combination of power and efficiency in a compact form factor revolutionizes on-premises AI processing, making enterprise-grade computing more accessible than ever. Richard Hung, Vice President at Aetina, emphasized the transformative potential: "Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies marks a significant breakthrough in edge AI deployment. By achieving the complex landscape in a desktop form factor, we're democratizing access to enterprise-grade AI capabilities. This solution enables businesses to run sophisticated AI models locally, ensuring data privacy while maintaining superior interoperability and cloud-level performance." The collaboration introduces innovative applications in generative AI, particularly through Large Language Models (LLMs) with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). This advancement enables organizations to rapidly develop, test, and customize generative AI models on standard PC workstations, with seamless scalability to private or cloud data centers. This capability is particularly valuable for industries requiring secure, high-performance AI processing, such as healthcare, finance, retail and manufacturing. Additionally, the collaboration strengthens Aetina's role as a key AI innovator within the Innodisk Group, highlighting its expertise in global partnerships. "We are excited to introduce novel and advanced on-prem AI inference appliance solutions with Aetina," said Rashid Attar, Senior Vice President of Engineering, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "These solutions address enterprise on-prem AI needs across a diverse set of sectors and combined with the AI Inference Suite enable a broad range of AI agents, applications, and use cases." The Qualcomm AI On-Prem Appliance Solution combines state-of-the-art processors with comprehensive Qualcomm AI Inference Suite for On-Prem to offer a powerful, localized AI computing solution that operates efficiently within enterprise environments. The new bundle solution will be available through global distribution partners starting in Q1 2025, marking a significant milestone in making enterprise-grade AI accessible to organizations of all sizes. For more information on how Aetina is revolutionizing edge computing, please visit Aetina's website. About Aetina Corporation Aetina, a provider of state-of-the-art AI solutions, offers a wide range of AI computing systems, platforms, hardware, and software tools ideal for the creation of different types of vertical AI. Aetina's integrated solutions empower its Arm, x86 computers, GPUs, ASIC hardware, cloud management software, and development tools with artificial intelligence, delivering comprehensive, tailor-made hardware and software suites to enable smooth, quick system intellectualization progress at the edge. With its ecosystem network, Aetina makes the creation and deployment of any specific AI-powered applications highly achievable by leveraging its global partners' AI technologies. Read more at: www.aetina.com Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2595343/img_Unleash_Ultimate_AI_On_Prem_Solution_with_Qualcomm_Cloud_AI_100_Ultra_Card.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1777543/Aetina_Corporation_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aetina-works-with-qualcomm-to-advance-edge-ai-with-groundbreaking-on-prem-solutions-302347855.html HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jan 10, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Europe, responsible for the European operations of Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda), today announced the introduction of "Mazda6e," the all-new Battery EV (BEV) in Europe. Premiered at the Brussels Motor Show 2025 in Belgium on January 10, the Mazda6e will go on sale summer of this year.Mazda6e is the European version of the Mazda EZ-6, the midsize sedan BEV unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2024. The all-new BEV is designed to attain the driving performance and functionality to meet European customers' needs.The Mazda6e was developed through the collaboration between Mazda and Changan Automobile Co., Ltd, Mazda's 20-year partner in China. The Mazda6e BEV boasts Mazda's signature design, craftsmanship and driving performance, while coming with Changan Automobile's electrification and smart-cabin technologies.Based on the design theme, "Authentic Modern," the Mazda6e's simple and flowing coupe form expresses the automobile's inherent charm coupled with a novelty unique to electric vehicles. The meticulously-tuned braking and handling performance, which respond linearly to driver input, produce Jinba Ittai-a sense of "car and driver as one." The Mazda6e also features smart functions, including an intelligent drive system that provides support for the driver as well as accident mitigation technology and smart cabin with voice, touch, and gesture controls, all of which is aimed to raise the bar for safety and convenience.Mazda will continue to pursue the 'Joy of Driving' under our core Human Centric value, and aim to deliver the 'Joy of Living' by creating moving experiences in our customers' daily lives.About Mazda's Brand Essence "Celebrate Driving"Mazda's Brand Essence is "Celebrate Driving". "Celebrate Driving" delivered by Mazda is not just about driving performance. Choosing a Mazda prizes the owner with confidence and pride. Driving a Mazda leading up to urge to take on new challenges. Not just our products but every encounter with Mazda evokes the emotion of motion and makes customers' hearts beat with excitement. All of these are contained in our brand essence of "Celebrate Driving". For more information, visit https://www.mazda.com/.Source: mazdaCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. BEIJING, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Professor JIN Zhao, Assistant Professor of Finance at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), was honored with the Brattle Group Prize - Distinguished Papers at the 2025 American Finance Association (AFA) Annual Meeting held in San Francisco on January 5, 2025. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding papers on corporate finance published in the Journal of Finance, one of the discipline's most esteemed academic journals. Professor Jin is the first scholar affiliated with a Chinese institution to receive this award since its inception in 1999. This achievement underscores the exceptional research capabilities and global impact of CKGSB's faculty. Professor Jin's award-winning paper, "Artificial Intelligence, Education, and Entrepreneurship," co-authored with Professor Michael Gofman from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, offers a novel perspective and rigorous methodology to examine the intricate connections between artificial intelligence (AI), education, entrepreneurship, and financing. The study highlights the negative impact of AI talent migration from academia to industry on education systems as well as the establishment and funding capabilities of entrepreneurial ventures. By addressing these challenges, the research provides valuable theoretical insights and policy recommendations to support the sustainable development of the global AI industry. Professor Jin Zhao is an Assistant Professor of Finance at CKGSB. He joined CKGSB in 2020 after earning his PhD in Finance from the University of Rochester. His research, which focuses on entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and corporate finance, has been presented at prestigious institutions, such as Stanford University, and published in leading academic journals. His work has also garnered attention from prominent media outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. About CKGSB Established in Beijing in November 2002, CKGSB is China's first privately-funded and research-driven business school. The school aims to cultivate transformative business leaders with a global vision, sense of social responsibility, innovative mindset, and ability to lead with empathy and compassion (https://english.ckgsb.edu.cn). View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ckgsb-professor-jin-zhao-becomes-first-chinese-business-school-scholar-to-win-afa-award-302347868.html WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Lebanese Army Chief Joseph Aoun has been elected as the country's new president, filling the post that remained vacant for more than two years.Lebanon's parliament chose the 61-year-old U.S.-trained Lebanese general as the head of the state Thursday.His election marks a significant development for the country, filling a political void amid ongoing challenges.Born into a Maronite Christian family in Sin el Fil, Aoun has been serving as the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces since 2017.Having overseen the army amid popular unrest in 2019 and during Israel's invasion last year, his leadership is seen as crucial for stabilizing Lebanon's polarized and sometimes sectarian political system and leading the country out of an economic crisis.President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke with Aoun to congratulate his counterpart, who is widely regarded as supported by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.Biden agreed that the time is now to fully implement the cessation of hostilities announced on November 26, 2024, and for Lebanon and its people to recover and rebuild, the White House said. He pledged to continue U.S. support for Lebanon's security forces, and for Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction efforts.Biden assured that he has full confidence President Aoun is the right leader to guide Lebanon through this moment of challenges and opportunities for his country.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Camino Minerals Corporation (TSXV:COR)(OTC PINK:CAMZF) ("Camino" or the "Company") today announced that, following discussions with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), the Company has restructured its previously announced C$2 million non-brokered private placement (as restructured, the "Financing"), as announced in its news release dated November 28, 2024. The Company also announced today a proposed consolidation of the common shares of the Company on a 6:1 basis, which is expected to be completed prior to closing of the Financing, subject to TSXV acceptance. Restructured Financing The Financing will continue to provide for an equity raise of aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$2.0 million, but will now contemplate the completion of a consolidation of the common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") on a 6:1 basis (the "Consolidation") prior to closing of the Financing, such that the Financing will consist of the issuance of up to 9,523,809 post-Consolidation Shares at an issue price (on a post-Consolidation basis) of C$0.21 per Share. The Company may pay finders' fees to certain eligible finders in connection with the Financing, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSXV. The Financing is expected to be completed in one or more tranches, with participation in the Financing by Denham Capital Management LP ("Denham Capital") or an affiliate thereof in the amount of $500,000, Mr. Jay Chmelauskas, CEO of Camino, who plans to invest C$200,000, and certain other insiders. The gross proceeds from the Financing will be applied towards corporate working capital, legal expenses, engineering studies, and general administrative expenses. In addition, the Company plans to commence an exploration drilling campaign at its Los Chapitos copper property in Peru with an additional C$1.5M in funding that was previously received from its partner Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd., as announced on December 12, 2024. Separate Denham Capital-advised funds hold an aggregate shareholder interest in Camino of approximately 15% and Justin Machin, a Managing Director of Denham Capital, is also a member of the Camino board of directors. The participation in the Financing by related parties constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions of the TSXV. Pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, the Company is exempt from obtaining a formal valuation and minority approval of the Company's shareholders in respect of the related party participation in the Financing due to the fair market value of the related party participation being below 25% of the Company's market capitalization for the purposes of MI 61-101. All Shares issued and sold under the Financing will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from their date of issuance. Completion of the Financing remains subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including TSXV approval of the Consolidation (as described below). Consolidation The Consolidation is being undertaken to better align the issue price of the Shares in the Financing with the policies of the TSXV governing the minimum permissible issue price per Share issued in a financing, which, given the particulars of the Financing (which is being conducted in the context of the Company's previously announced acquisition of the construction-ready Puquios copper mine in Chile) and taken together with the application of the definition of "Market Price" in TSXV Policy 1.1 - Interpretation, require the Shares to be issued at an issue price of not less than C$0.05. Completion of the Consolidation remains subject to TSXV acceptance, subject to the receipt of which, the articles of the Company empower the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") to approve and implement the Consolidation by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Closing of the Financing will be subject to the approval and implementation of the Consolidation. There are currently 209,251,638 pre-Consolidation Shares issued and outstanding. After giving effect to the Consolidation (but prior to closing of the Financing), there will be an aggregate of 34,875,273? Shares issued and outstanding. About Camino Corp. Camino is a discovery and development stage copper exploration company. On October 7, 2024, Camino signed a Definitive Agreement to purchase the construction-ready Puquios copper mine in Chile. Camino is focused on developing copper producing assets such as Puquios, and advancing its IOCG Los Chapitos copper project located in Peru through to resource delineation and development, and to add new discoveries. Camino has also permitted the Maria Cecilia copper porphyry project for exploration discovery drilling to add to its NI 43-101 resources. In addition, Camino has increased its land position at its copper and silver Plata Dorada project. Camino seeks to acquire a portfolio of advanced copper assets that have the potential to deliver copper into an electrifying copper intensive global economy. For more information, please refer to Camino's website at www.caminocorp.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD /S/ "Jay Chmelauskas" President and CEO For further information, please contact: Camino Investor Relations info@caminocorp.com Tel: (604) 493-2058 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking disclosures in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information in the release includes, without limitation, the terms and conditions of the Financing, the Consolidation, the subscription commitments to the Financing, the closing of the Puquios Acquisition, the use of proceeds of the Financing, the timing and ability of the Company to obtain final approval of the Financing and Consolidation from the TSXV, and an exemption being available under MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange from the minority shareholder approval and valuation requirements. Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking information in this release is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information. Such risk factors include, among others, that actual results of the Company's exploration activities may be different than those expected by management, that the Financing may not be fully subscribed or completed on the terms described herein, that the Company may be unable to obtain or will experience delays in obtaining any required authorizations and approvals and the state of equity and commodity markets. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Camino Minerals Corp View the original press release on accesswire.com Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(Frankfurt:TX0)(OTCQB:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of its 2025 wedge hole drilling program that will continue targeting the prolific Campbell Shear (CS) from master hole GTCM24-056 on the Con Mine Option (CMO) Property. Hole GTCM24-056 was drilled to a depth of 3,002 metres and will serve as a master hole from which to branch off with as many wedges as possible to evaluate the CS 600 metres below the current Robertson shaft depth (1,900 metres), up-dip and laterally. The wedge hole drilling program allows for a more efficient and cheaper evaluation of the CS rather than drilling holes from surface. The objective of the 2025 wedge hole drilling program is to continue testing for high-grade gold in the CS (past production of 5.1 Moz @ 16 g/t, refer to the Oct. 21, 2022 Technical Report) on the Con Mine below the historic Con Mine underground workings. The CMO Property is under option from a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation and is 100% acquirable by the Company upon fulfillment of certain conditions set out in the CMO Property Option agreement, as reported in the Company's news release dated November 22, 2021. The target is located downdip from the 5.1 Moz mined gold deposit plunging steeply to the south between elevation 1,900 metres (Robertson shaft depth) and 2,600 metres. Chairman and CEO, Gerald Panneton, commented, "Building on our work in 2024, we are pleased to start our 2025 wedge hole drilling program to assess the high-grade gold potential of the Campbell Shear below the Robertson Shaft. This approach is a very efficient and cost-effective way to assess the CS at depth. We anticipate that the wedge holes will open a large under-explored area down plunge from the prolific CS that is 600 metres to 800 metres below the existing infrastructure. Our aim is to eventually add additional high grade gold ounces to our next MRE (Mineral Resource Estimate)." 2025 Wedge Hole Drilling Program Highlights The wedge hole drilling program is starting on January 10, 2025. The 2025 drilling program will consist of an initial plan of wedge holes (5 to 7) with an approximate estimate drilling length of 3,000 metres. Figure 1 below is a cross-section showing the master hole GTCM24-056 from which numerous wedges of varying lengths are placed along to intersect the target area in depths shallower than that of the master hole. The first wedge is planned to start at 2,000-2,100 metres downhole with a CS target of 2,700 metres, or 800 metres below the Robertson shaft. Wedge holes are designed to target the CS at depth first, and then up-dip with each successive wedge being higher up the master hole. The CS was initially intersected at depth in deep hole GTCM23-055, which intersected 12.63 g/t Au over 1.7m in the CS structure approximately 150m below the Con Mine workings, demonstrating the potential of the CS at depth. Figure 1 is a cross section showing master hole GTCM24-056, the hanging granite wall zone, the Con Shear, and the gold potential window of the CS targeted by wedge holes. The 2025 deep drilling program aims to expand the September 2022 initial Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") (see September 7, 2022, press release) of 109,000 Indicated ounces of contained gold and 432,000 Inferred ounces of contained gold between surface and 400 metres below surface along a 2-kilometre corridor of the Campbell Shear (October 21, 2022 MRE titled "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" by Qualified Person, Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., SGS Geological Services, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Corporate Update - Shares for Debt Transaction The Company has entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the "Agreement") dated December 18, 2024 between Newmont FN Canada Holdings Ltd. and Miramar Northern Mining Limited (collectively, the "Creditors"), Goldcorp Inc. (the "Subscriber") and the Company to settle a debt in the amount of $89,364.75 pertaining to the maintenance costs paid on the Con Mine properties between 2020 and 2023. To settle the debt, the Company has agreed to issue 1,625,000 common shares to the Subscriber at $0.055 (being the 20-day volume weighted average trading price ending on the last trading day before the Company entered into this Agreement). Upon issuance of the shares to the Subscriber, the outstanding liability shall be deemed fully satisfied. The Transaction remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issuable in connection with the Transaction are subject to a hold-period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Gold Terra The Yellowknife Project (YP) encompasses 918 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YP is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where approximately 14 Moz of gold has been produced, (refer to Gold Terra Oct 21, 2022, Technical Report) and most recently on the Con Mine Option (CMO) property claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine which produced 6.1 Moz between the Con, Rycon, and Campbell shear structures (1938-2003). The YP and CMO properties lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that hosts the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com. For more information, please contact: Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO gpanneton@goldterracorp.com Mara Strazdins, Investor Relations Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102 strazdins@goldterracorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore, investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource could ever be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "Measured Mineral Resources," "Indicated Mineral Resources," or "Inferred Mineral Resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing. Cautionary Note to United States Investors The Company prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Terms relating to Mineral Resources in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended ("CIM Standards"). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has adopted amendments effective February 25, 2019 (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources", which are defined in substantially similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "Proven Mineral Reserves" and "Probable Mineral Reserves" to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Standards. U.S. investors are cautioned that while the foregoing terms are "substantially similar" to corresponding definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any Mineral Resources that the Company may report as "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the Mineral Resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of "Inferred Mineral Resources" cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear, potentially adding ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp View the original press release on accesswire.com LONDON, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LGC has announced that Joydeep Goswami is joining its Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Joydeep succeeds Euan O'Sullivan, who decided to step down from his role in early 2024 after fourteen years of outstanding and dedicated service. Euan has worked closely with the LGC Board since then on the appointment of his successor and will be available in an advisory capacity to Joydeep until March 2025. David King, Non-Executive Chairman of LGC, said: "On behalf of our Board and ELT, we are delighted to welcome Joydeep to LGC. He brings broad international experience in senior leadership roles in life sciences, focused on business transformation. He brings a strong commitment to LGC's purpose and values, as well as a track record of driving business performance serving customers, colleagues, and shareholders." David added: "On behalf of our Board, ELT and colleagues, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank Euan for his exceptional contribution to LGC. Prior to taking on Group-wide leadership responsibility in the summer of 2020, Euan led the expansion of LGC's Quality Assurance activities in the 2010s, substantially expanding our Standards business and establishing a leading presence in the clinical diagnostics and food supply chain assurance markets. As President and CEO, he has led LGC with distinction during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the subsequent necessary period of post-pandemic restructuring and renewal, against the backdrop of challenging macro-economic and geopolitical conditions. He leaves us with a tremendous platform to grow from, with the business performing well, a strong leadership team and a transformational investment programme substantially complete. We wish him every success for the future." In response to his appointment, Joydeep Goswami said: "LGC is a leading global life sciences tools company that is driven by its purpose - Science for a Safer World. I am pleased to be joining the company at this exciting time, particularly as key strategic capital investment projects reach completion. I look forward to being part of a customer centric company which plays a key role in driving science and innovation forward, partnering with customers to help diagnose, treat, feed and protect the growing global population." With over twenty-five years of global experience, Joydeep has a deep background in life sciences tools and a strong track record of developing strategy and leading new product development, partnerships, licensing, and mergers and acquisitions. His experiences as a P&L leader and CFO gives him the ability to bring customer, employee and investor perspectives to setting the strategy and allocating resources to drive strong profitable growth. Most recently, Joydeep served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer at Illumina. Prior to Illumina, Joydeep held a variety of global and business unit leadership roles with Thermo Fisher Scientific over sixteen years, culminating in his leadership of Thermo Fisher's Clinical Next Generation Sequencing and Oncology Division. Joydeep also serves on the Board of Biolife Solutions. Joydeep has an M.S., Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. About LGC LGC is a global leader in life science tools, dedicated to partnering with customers to deliver solutions that diagnose, treat, feed, and protect our growing population. With over 180 years of scientific heritage, we collaborate with the scientific community to tackle some of the world's most complex challenges, responding to global health crises, pioneering precision medicine, and enhancing the safety of food, medicines, and the environment. Operating in 14 countries, LGC's products and services are integral to industries that safeguard public health, food, water, and medicine. Our solutions help our diverse customer base-from pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic manufacturers to testing laboratories and food producers-maintain the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance. Together with our partners, we work toward a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world, advancing the science that protects people and the planet. For further information visit: www.lgcgroup.com Media contacts: Edel McCaffrey, Head of Corporate Communications, LGC Group edel.mccaffrey@lgcgroup.com +44 7587 315 615 Magda Bartoszewicz, Director, Corporate Communications, LGC Group magda.barto@lgcgroup.com +44 7522 141 822| Andrew Thomas, LGC Group Corporate Communications andrew.thomas@lgcgroup.com +44 7803 585 254 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2595470/LGC_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lgc-board-appoints-joydeep-goswami-as-president--chief-executive-302347913.html Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQB: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce two research reports by Queen's University and Universite de Quebec a Chicoutimi. The purpose of these reports is to describe and interpret the mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry of the Mountain, North and South Zones of the Begin-Lamarche igneous (anorthosite-hosted) phosphate deposit. The Begin-Lamarche deposit is part of the 1.14 Ga Lac-Saint-Jean Anorthositic (LSJA) Suite, Quebec, which is the largest anorthosite complex in the world. The studies are as follows: Characterization of First Phosphate's Begin-Lamarche Phosphate Deposit (Mountain Zone), Lac-Saint-Jean Anorthositic (LSJA) Suite, Quebec, Canada: Implications for Supplying Lithium Ferro (Iron) Phosphate (LFP) Batteries Drs. Sandeep Banerjee, Sarah Dare, Peir K. Pufahl Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University Departement des Sciences Appliquees/LabMaTer, Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi (UQAC) January 6, 2025 https://firstphosphate.com/MountainZone Characterization of First Phosphate's Begin-Lamarche Phosphate Deposit (North and South Zone), Lac-Saint-Jean Anorthositic (LSJA) Suite, Quebec, Canada: Implications for Supplying Lithium Ferro (Iron) Phosphate (LFP) Batteries Drs. Sandeep Banerjee, Sarah Dare, Peir K. Pufahl Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University Departement des Sciences Appliquees/LabMaTer, Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi (UQAC) January 6, 2025 https://firstphosphate.com/NorthSouthZone Details on First Phosphate's assets in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec, can be found at: https://firstphosphate.com/projects/begin-lamarche Details on First Phosphate's pilot plant for the purification of Quebec igneous anorthosite can be found at: https://firstphosphate.com/projects/pilot-plant Details on First Phosphate's pilot plant for the manufacture of PPA from Quebec igneous phosphate can be found at: https://firstphosphate.com/projects/ppa-production Details on First Phosphate's strategy for the creation of a fully integrated LFP battery supply chain in North America based on establishing an LFP battery valley in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec can be found at: https://firstphosphate.com/lfp-battery-strategy First Phosphate believes that Quebec igneous anorthosite phosphate rock is an untapped source of high purity phosphate which can potentially be mined and transformed into large quantities of PPA to service North America's need for LFP batteries. Investor Outreach Engagement The Company has engaged Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC ("Emerging Markets") to provide investor relations and communications services to the Company. The services will include continuing social media consultation regarding engagement and enhancement, social sentiment reporting, social engagement reporting, corporate video dissemination, and investor relations services. The term of the agreement with Emerging Markets is for a period of 12 months beginning January 8, 2025. Emerging Markets is based in Florida, USA and can be reached at 321-206-6682. The cash compensation for the engagement is USD $150,000. Qualified Person The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo. Mr. Laverdiere is Chief Geologist of First Phosphate and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). About First Phosphate Corp. First Phosphate (CSE: PHOS) (OTCQB: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in a responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate is owner and developer of the Begin-Lamarche Property in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec, Canada that consists of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of harmful concentrations of deleterious elements. Follow First Phosphate: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate -30- Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain statements and information that may be considered "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and other similar expressions. In addition, statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements, including, among other things: the Company's planned exploration and production activities; the properties and composition of any extracted phosphate; the Company's plans for vertical integration into North American supply chains; and the potential of the mining and transformation of Quebec igneous anorthosite phosphate rock into large quantities of PPA to service North America's need for LFP batteries. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on assumptions and estimates that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions set forth herein and in the Company's public disclosure record including the short form base prospectus dated June 5, 2024. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. There can be no assurance that any opportunity will be successful, commercially viable, completed on time or on budget, or will generate any meaningful revenues, savings or earnings, as the case may be, for the Company. In addition, the Company will incur costs in pursuing any particular opportunity, which may be significant. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company and, though they should be considered carefully, should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors described in the Company's other documents filed with the Canadian and United States securities authorities, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis dated October 21, 2024 and Annual Report on 20-F dated July 8, 2024, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking information or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236661 SOURCE: First Phosphate Corp. QUEBEC, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2025 / NuRAN Wireless Inc. ("NuRAN" or the "Company") (CSE:NUR)(OTCQB:NRRWF)(FSE:1RN), a leading supplier of mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions, is pleased to announce that it has received the full payment of an outstanding balance of arrears from its Mobile Network Operator (MNO) partner in Cameroon for an amount of approx. CA$ 788,000. The Company also reports that it has reached an agreement with its MNO partner on a revised site acceptance procedure. This process is now in place and is expected to be completed for the sites deployed in Cameroon by the end of January 2025. NuRAN invoiced 79 sites in November, with a monthly average revenue per site of CA$ 4,300. In addition, NuRAN is pleased to report that the purchase of materials necessary to build up to 183 additional sites has been completed. Since August 2024, the delivery process has been impacted by newly restrictive importation rules, especially concerning hazardous goods. To mitigate these rules, Management has taken steps to transfer inventories from other countries to Ivory Coast and Cameroon to support its rollout plan and add 21 sites to the 183 listed above. Since Cameroon's performance has exceeded even the most aggressive expectations, the main deployments will continue to occur in that country for the time being. As of today, the Company expects that the rollout of the new sites reliant on these materials shall begin in February, subject to their timely arrival. The material for the initial 3G trial is also en route to Cameroon, with deployment planned for Q1. The identification of the sites has been completed, while the implementation of the 3G core network elements is scheduled for February. "NuRAN remains focused on achieving continued EBITDA growth and reaching breakeven in Q2 2025. The entire team is fully committed to deploying as many sites as possible, as quickly as possible, given our current financial resources," stated Francis Letourneau, President and CEO at NuRAN Wireless Inc. About NuRAN Wireless: NuRAN Wireless is a leading rural telecommunications company that meets the growing demand for wireless network coverage in remote and rural regions around the globe. With its affordable and innovative scalable solutions of 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies, NuRAN Wireless offers a new possibility for more than one billion people to communicate effectively over long distances efficiently and affordably. "Bridging the Digital Divide, One Connection at a Time." Additional Information: For further information about NuRAN Wireless: www.nuranwireless.com Francis Letourneau, Director and CEO Francis.letourneau@nuranwireless.com Tel: (418) 264-1337 Frank Candido Investor relations Frank.candido@nuranwireless.com Tel: (514) 969-5530 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the Company being able to provide services similar to other tower companies and the Factor providing adequate funding for the business in this period leading up to the securing of additional funding. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, such as the uncertainties regarding include risks such as the uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and measures to prevent its spread, risks relating to NuRAN's business and the economy generally; NuRAN's ability to refinance its long term debt that is currently in default; NuRAN's ability to adequately restructure its operations with respect to its new model of NaaS service contracts; our ability to collect fees from our telecommunication providers and reliance on the network of our telecommunications providers, the capacity of the Company to deliver in a technical capacity and to import inventory to Africa at a reasonable cost; NuRAN's ability to obtain project financing for the proposed site build out under its NaaS agreements with Orange, MTN and other telecommunication providers, the loss of one or more significant suppliers or a reduction in significant volume from such suppliers; NuRAN's ability to meet or exceed customers' demand and expectations; significant current competition and the introduction of new competitors or other disruptive entrants in the Company's industry; effects of the global supply shortage affecting parts needed for NuRAN's sites and site installations; NuRAN's ability to retain key employees and protect its intellectual property; compliance with local laws and regulations and ability to obtain all required permits for our operations, access to the credit and capital markets, changes in applicable telecommunications laws or regulations or changes in license and regulatory fees, downturns in customers' business cycles; and insurance prices and insurance coverage availability, the Company's ability to effectively maintain or update information and technology systems; our ability to implement and maintain measures to protect against cyberattacks and comply with applicable privacy and data security requirements; the Company's ability to successfully implement its business strategies or realize expected cost savings and revenue enhancements; business development activities, including acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; the Company's expansion into markets outside of Canada and the operational, competitive and regulatory risks facing the Company's non-Canadian based operations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis that is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. SOURCE: Nuran Wireless Inc View the original press release on accesswire.com DRB Homes, the premier brand of the Development & Residential Building Group (DRB Group), is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Silver Award for Best Website for a Builder at The Nationals, the homebuilding industry's most esteemed awards program. This recognition also places DRB Homes in contention for the highly coveted Gold Award, to be revealed at The Nationals award ceremony on Feb. 25, 2025, in Las Vegas during the International Builders Show. Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) National Sales and Marketing Council, The Nationals celebrates innovation and excellence across the new home industry. Out of more than 1,200 submissions, DRB Homes' website distinguished itself with its intuitive design, innovative features, and ability to guide prospective homeowners through the exciting process of finding their dream home. This recognition underscores DRB Homes' commitment to leveraging creativity and technology to enhance the homebuying experience for both buyers and real estate professionals. "Winning the Silver Award for Best Website for a Builder is a testament to our dedication to innovation and customer-centric solutions," said Char Kurihara of DRB Group. "We are honored to be recognized by The Nationals and inspired to continue setting the standard for excellence in the homebuilding industry. Our mission has always been to enhance lives by creating exceptional homes, and this award reinforces that commitment." The award-winning DRB Homes website serves as more than just an online resource; it is a comprehensive, user-friendly platform designed to simplify and elevate the homebuying journey. Homebuyers exploring over 150 communities along the East Coast can seamlessly navigate the site's virtual tours, interactive tools, and detailed floor plans to personalize their dream home. For real estate professionals, DRB Homes' website offers robust resources such as real-time availability updates, community-specific insights, and a new agent resource portal launching in Q2 2025. Visit DRBHomes.com to experience the award-winning website and learn more about the communities and homes designed to meet diverse lifestyles and preferences. About DRB Homes DRB Homes, the premier brand of the Development & Residential Building Group (DRB Group), is a leading homebuilder offering over 150 thoughtfully designed communities spanning from Pennsylvania to Florida. Backed by a 30+ year legacy of dedication, craftsmanship, and quality, DRB Homes takes a personalized approach to turn the dream of homeownership into reality for buyers at every stage of life. SOURCE: DRB Group View the original press release on accesswire.com Datametrex AI Limited (the "Company" or "Datametrex') (TSXV:DM)(FSE:D4G)(OTC PINK:DTMXF) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Datametrex Korea, received a new Purchase Order (P.O.) of approximately $440K with projected gross profit of approximately 33%, on December 30, 2024. This achievement highlights the Company's resilience and effectiveness in navigating the competitive IT industry through its well-executed land and expand strategy. The continued progress of the Company's AI & Tech division showcases its strong financial performance and the strength of its partnership with its existing clients. This milestone reinforces the Company's dedication to delivering exceptional value to its clients. Paul Haber, CEO of Datametrex, commented, "We are pleased to announce Datametrex's continued growth and achievements in the AI and Tech division. By maintaining our strategic focus and fostering robust partnerships with our key clients, we are well-positioned to sustain this positive trajectory and deliver long-term value. We remain committed to driving innovation and success for all our stakeholders." About Datametrex Datametrex is an innovative leader in Technology Solutions, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare, and Mobile Gaming. The Company excels in delivering tools and solutions that enhance operational efficiencies and business outcomes. With a commitment to innovation, Datametrex is dedicated to supporting enterprises by setting a new standard for business protocols through cutting-edge technology. For more on Datametrex, please visit our Company website. For Additional Information Paul Haber, C.P.A., C.A., C.Dir CEO & Chairman info@datametrex.com (416) 318-6501 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements," which involve risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These statements are not historical facts and are generally identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," and similar expressions. Such statements include expectations related to game development and other Company plans. While Datametrex believes the forward-looking information is reasonable as of the date of this release, these statements involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ. Key factors include general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory developments, access to capital, industry competition, and the Company's ability to execute its strategies. The Company does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are detailed under "Risk Factors" in Datametrex's management's discussion and analysis and available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction where such would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable securities laws. We seek Safe Harbor. SOURCE: DataMetrex AI Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Previously at MeiraGTx, GSK and Novartis, Dr. Leighton will help Chemify scale the company's operational capacity to meet demand for the design and synthesis of complex small molecules. Chemify, a deep tech chemical science company combining chemistry, robotics and AI at scale to digitally design, discover and make new molecules, announced today that Dr. Alastair Leighton has joined as Chief Operating Officer (COO). With almost three decades in the biopharma industry working at leading global pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Leighton brings a wealth of experience in manufacturing, supply chain operations and commercial strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250110289063/en/ Chemify, a deep tech chemical science company combining chemistry, robotics and AI at scale to digitally design, discover and make new molecules, announced today that Dr. Alastair Leighton has joined as Chief Operating Officer (COO). With almost three decades in the biopharma industry working at leading global pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Leighton brings a wealth of experience in manufacturing, supply chain operations and commercial strategy. (Photo: Business Wire) "I'm excited to welcome Alastair to Chemify to help us with building and scaling our ability to make complex molecules on demand at scale for our partners using Chemputation," said Dr. Lee Cronin, CEO of Chemify. "His expertise with large biopharmaceutical organizations will help us continue to meet the strong demand for consistent, reproducible small molecule development." Prior to joining Chemify, Dr. Leighton was senior vice president of manufacturing and supply at MeiraGTx, where he was responsible for establishing end-to-end manufacturing and supply chain capabilities for the commercial-stage gene therapies. He also held several roles during his tenure at GlaxoSmithKline, including vice president and site director. Additionally, Dr. Leighton was senior director of supply chain operation and programs at Crucell, which is part of Johnson Johnson. Prior to Crucell, he held several roles at Novartis, including segment head, new primary operations and new primary operations start-up leader for their vaccines manufacturing facility. Dr. Leighton holds a BSc in Physics from the University of Sheffield and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester. "Chemify is uniquely positioned to disrupt the industry through its AI, digital chemistry and robotics platform that will not only optimize and expedite the discovery of novel molecules, but accelerate the availability of life-saving treatments for patients," said Dr. Leighton, COO of Chemify. "I'm excited to work with Lee and the team to scale Chemify's operational capabilities and meet the unmet customer demand for the design and synthesis of complex small molecules and innovative new drugs." About Chemify Chemify is a deep tech chemical science company reimagining the research, discovery and synthesis of novel molecules for medicines and advanced materials by revolutionizing the field of chemistry through digitalization. Chemify enables digital chemistry by turning code into molecules through the process of Chemputation, which combines robotics and artificial intelligence for the design and synthesis of superior molecules much faster than current methods. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Chemify was founded by CEO Professor Lee Cronin and spun out from the Digital Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Glasgow to digitalize chemistry on a global scale for the benefit of all humanity. Learn more at Chemify.io and follow them on X/Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250110289063/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Tim Ingersoll tim@linndencom.com Funding enables progress of RhyGaze lead asset through early clinical trials Led by GV, series participants included Arch Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital and RhyGaze founding investors BioGeneration Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund RhyGaze, a biotechnology company based in Basel, Switzerland and Philadelphia, Pa., USA, today announced that it has secured a Series A financing of USD 86 million. The round was led by GV (Google Ventures), alongside Arch Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital and founding investors BioGeneration Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund, who contributed USD 11 million to an earlier seed round. RhyGaze was founded on intellectual property exclusively licensed to the company by the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), a scientific institute led by Director Botond Roska, M.D., Ph.D., who is a scientific co-founder of RhyGaze. This funding will enable further development of RhyGaze's lead clinical candidate, a novel gene therapy for optogenetic vision restoration in diseases causing blindness. Activities to be supported include formal pharmacology and toxicology testing, a non-interventional, observational study to assess potential clinical endpoints in patient groups eligible for the therapy and a first-in-human clinical trial to test the safety, tolerability and potential efficacy of the lead candidate. "This program exemplifies a key goal of IOB: combining our deep understanding of retinal biology and vision with breakthrough technologies to develop novel therapies for vision loss," said Dr. Roska. Added Bence Gyorgy, M.D., Ph.D., a group leader at the IOB, RhyGaze scientific co-founder and board member and Assistant Professor at the University of Basel: "We are excited to see this program moving forward because it uniquely presents the opportunity to restore high-resolution vision in blind patients." "I look forward to partnering with colleagues at IOB to bring this novel gene therapy to patients, and I am excited about the team we are assembling to pursue this important goal," said Dr. Katherine High, CEO of RhyGazeand formerly co-founder, President and Head of R&D at Spark Therapeutics. "RhyGaze will determine over the next few years whether the compelling data generated at IOB can translate to clinical outcomes. If that is true, this innovation will have a world-wide impact in improved therapeutics for blindness." RhyGaze operates from Basel, Switzerland and Philadelphia, Pa., USA. About RhyGaze RhyGaze is a cutting-edge biotechnology company based in Basel, Switzerland, and Philadelphia, Pa., USA, focused on developing gene therapies for retinal diseases causing blindness. Founded on pioneering research from the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), RhyGaze aims to restore vision and transform the lives of patients worldwide. IOB scientists Drs. Botond Roska, Bence Gyorgy and Charles Gubser are the scientific founders of RhyGaze. The name RhyGaze derives from the Basel-German word for the Rhein (Rhy), on the banks of which the IOB is located. About IOB At the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), basic researchers and clinicians work hand in hand to advance the understanding of vision and its diseases, and to develop new therapies for vision loss. IOB started its operations in 2018. The institute is constituted as a foundation, granting academic freedom to its scientists. Founding partners are the University Hospital Basel, the University of Basel and Novartis. The Canton of Basel-Stadt has granted the institute substantial financial support. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250110360650/en/ Contacts: RhyGaze Media Contact Kit Rodophele Ten Bridge Communications 617-999-9620 krodophele@tenbridgecommunications.com IOB Media Contact Elsa Sigle Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) elsa.sigle@iob.ch Las Vegas, Nevada, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Roller Technologies, Inc . ("High Roller" and the "Company") (NYSE American: ROLR), operator of www.HighRoller.com and www.Fruta.com , each a premium brand in online gaming and a destination for high rollers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristofer Muscat as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective January 5th, 2025. In this role, Mr. Muscat will oversee operational strategy, drive growth initiatives, and enhance High Roller's commitment to delivering premium experiences in the online gambling and iCasino gaming industry. "Kristofer's operational expertise in the gambling industry and his proven track record of driving growth through innovation will be instrumental as we continue development of our technologies focused on machine learning to automate key functionality to enhance the player experience and reduce operational overhead," said Ben Clemes, CEO of High Roller Technologies. "His leadership will play a vital role in optimizing our operations and enhancing our mission to provide engaging, seamless, and world-class experiences for our users." Mr. Muscat brings a wealth of industry experience to High Roller. As the former Chief Operating Officer of Eastrock Group, he was pivotal in streamlining operations across offices in Sweden, Malta, and Hong Kong. He successfully enhanced efficiency, built customer-centric cultures, and supported Eastrock's expansion in the competitive iGaming sector. His leadership at Eastrock reinforced his reputation as a forward-thinking executive with a deep understanding of operational excellence in the gambling industry. Prior to Eastrock, Mr. Muscat held a management position at Bally's. "I am so excited to be joining High Roller at such a pivotal time in the company's evolution. The team's vision for innovation and their unwavering focus on creating exceptional experiences for players perfectly align with my values and expertise. I am eager to leverage my background in operations and strategy to help drive growth, strengthen High Roller's position as an industry leader, and elevate the brand's appeal to high-stakes players around the globe." commented Kristofer Muscat, new COO of High Roller Technologies. About High Roller Technologies, Inc. High Roller Technologies, Inc. is a leading global online gaming operator, known for its innovative casino brands, High Roller and Fruta , listed under the ticker ROLR on the NYSE American. The Company delivers a cutting-edge real-money online casino platform that is intuitive and user-friendly. With a diverse portfolio of over 4,000 premium games from more than 50 leading game providers, High Roller Technologies serves a global customer base, offering an immersive and engaging gaming experience in the rapidly expanding multi-billion iGaming industry. The online casino features enhanced search engine optimization, machine learning, seamless direct API integrations, faster load times, and superior scalability. As an award-winning operator, High Roller Technologies continues to redefine the future of online gaming through innovation, performance, and a commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit the High Roller Technologies, Inc. investor relations website , X , Facebook , and LinkedIn pages. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Vice President Kmala Harris has canceled her and the Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff's upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany.She will remain in the United States to support the federal response in California, Press Secretary Ernesto Apreza said in a statement.On Wednesday, President Joe Biden had canceled his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response to the catastrophic wildfires raging across Los Angeles.Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were scheduled to leave for Rome from Joint Base Andrews Thursday after attending a memorial service for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden made the decision to cancel his tour to Italy after returning Wednesday evening from Los Angeles, where he met with police, fire and emergency personnel fighting the major fires.At least 10 people have died as several major wildfires are burning in Los Angeles County for the fourth consecutive day.Tens of thousands of people have been advised to evacuate, while thousands have ost their homes and other valuables in the raging blaze.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. (OTC PINK:GRLF), a leading distributor of premium handmade cigars, today announced the completion regarding its authorized share reduction. The company has successfully reduced its authorized share count by 40 billion, a move that strengthens the company's capital structure and enhances shareholder value. This strategic action reflects Green Leaf Innovations' commitment to financial efficiency and long-term growth. "This reduction in authorized shares is a crucial step in optimizing our capital structure," stated Roberto Mederos, CEO. "It reflects our continued focus on maximizing shareholder value and reinforces our commitment to responsible financial management. We believe this action will positively impact investor confidence and provide greater flexibility as we pursue growth opportunities." The reduction of authorized shares from 60 billion to 20 billion is a significant step in aligning our capital structure with our current and future operational needs. This strategic move will streamline accounting procedures and potentially offer investors the opportunity for increased returns on their investments. This action does not impact outstanding shares or existing shareholder holdings. Furthermore, no adjustments to outstanding options or warrants are anticipated at this time. Green Leaf Innovations will continue to provide updates on key financial and operational developments as they unfold. A detailed financial analysis of the authorized share reduction will be included in the upcoming quarterly shareholder report. About Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. Green Leaf Innovations, Inc., a Florida corporation, is an emerging growth company engaged in the Marketing and Distribution of handmade premium cigars. The company strategically imports and exclusively distributes some of the best known premium cigar brands in the Market created by the Mederos family a Third generation Cigar maker with Robert Mederos at the helm who has owned and operated handmade cigar operation in Nicaragua and the US for over 20 years with a rich family history in the craft dating back to the 1800s Cuba, brands such as CUBANACAN, MEDEROS and TABACALERA SERRANO. In addition to it the company also distributes packaged whole leaf Tobacco to cigar lounges, smoke shops, C-stores and vape shops across the United States and soon International Markets. Additional information can be found on our websites http://www.greenleafinnovation.com or follow us on Twitter For more information, press only: Phone number: (800) 303-6268 Email: info@greenleafinnovation.com Safe Harbor Statement: The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and various other factors beyond the Company's control. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View the original press release on accesswire.com GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- China's ETF market demonstrated exceptional performance in 2024, with notable returns and substantial growth in assets under management. According to Wind, the average return of A-share ETFs (excl. ETFs launched in 2024) reached 11.36% for the year by December 31, and the total size of A-share ETF market reached USD 508 billion, a net increase of USD 223 billion from year-begin. Notably, CSI 300 ETF (Code: 510310), ChiNext ETF (Code: 159915), and Star 50 ETF (Code: 588080) managed by E Fund Management ("E Fund"), the largest mutual fund manager in China, ranked among the top ten in asset growth, underlining the company's strong position in the industry. A Two-Decade Journey of Growth Since the launch of the first domestic ETF in December 2004, China's ETF market has expanded significantly. This growth is not only marked by an increase in assets but also by an acceleration in ETF issuance. In 2024, 30 fund companies launched 156 new ETFs, with E Fund leading the market by introducing 14 new products - the most among all issuers. Over the years, the ETF market has evolved from focusing primarily on broad-based indices to offering a diverse range of products across sectors, asset classes, and themes. These innovations have broadened investment opportunities, providing both institutional and retail investors with low-cost, transparent, and flexible tools to achieve their financial goals. The Push for Low-Cost Investing In 2024, Chinese fund companies accelerated the trend of reducing management fees, particularly for broad-based ETFs. Leading the charge is E Fund, which has long been a pioneer in promoting cost-efficient investing. As early as 2015, E Fund set a market precedent by lowering the management fee of its flagship CSI 300 ETF (Code: 510310) from 0.5% to 0.2%, and further reduced it to 0.15% in 2019. E Fund's leadership in low-fee strategy is further exemplified by its extensive product range, nearly 50 ETF products offering the lowest management fee of 0.15%, accounting for 60% of its ETF portfolio. Shaping the Future of China's ETF Market With over 80 ETFs under management and total assets exceeding USD 83.7 billion, E Fund continues to innovate by offering a broad range of low-cost, high-efficiency investment solutions. As China's ETF market evolves and expands, E Fund remains at the forefront, driving innovation and setting new standards for accessibility and efficiency. The rapid growth in 2024 underscores not only the increasing popularity of ETFs but also their critical role in shaping the future of China's investment landscape. About E Fund Established in 2001, E Fund Management Co., Ltd. ("E Fund") is a leading comprehensive mutual fund manager in China with over RMB 3.5 trillion (USD 505 billion) under management.* It offers investment solutions to onshore and offshore clients, helping clients achieve long-term sustainable investment performances. E Fund's clients include both individuals and institutions, ranging from central banks, sovereign wealth funds, social security funds, pension funds, insurance and reinsurance companies, to corporates and banks. Long-term oriented, it has been focusing on the investment management business since inception and believes in the power of in-depth research and time in investing. It is a pioneer and leading practitioner in responsible investments in China and is widely recognized as one of the most trusted and outstanding Chinese asset managers. Source: E Fund. AuM includes subsidiaries. Data as of Sep 30, 2024. FX rate is sourced from PBoC. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2085383/_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2024-marks-breakout-year-for-chinas-etf-market-with-unprecedented-growth-302347971.html DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StockGro, India's leading platform for experiential financial education, has joined hands with the Global Indian International School (GIIS) Dubai to equip students in grades 9 to 12 with essential financial skills. This partnership marks StockGro's second major collaboration in the UAE, reinforcing its expansion into the GCC region. As GIIS's financial literacy partner, StockGro has integrated its innovative curriculum into the school's academic framework. Through expert-led sessions conducted every alternate month, students gain insights into financial concepts, stock market basics, and strategic investment approaches, fostering critical thinking and real-world application. A standout feature of the partnership is the stock market learning programs which consist of model portfolio exercises for grades 9 to 12. These stock market portfolio management activities allow students to apply their knowledge in a risk-free, real-world environment, building confidence and practical understanding of trading and investments. Ajay Lakhotia, Founder & CEO of StockGro, said, "This collaboration bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, preparing students to make informed financial decisions. It reflects StockGro's dedication to empowering the next generation with tools to navigate real-world financial challenges." Ms. Rajani Manikonda , Supervisor of Senior Secondary School, GIIS Dubai, remarked, "Empowering students with financial literacy is essential in today's interconnected world. This partnership with StockGro introduces our learners to the intricacies of financial management in an engaging, practical manner, ensuring they develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in the global economy." By partnering with one of Dubai's top Indian international schools, StockGro strengthens its foundation for future collaborations in the UAE and GCC region, advancing its mission to revolutionize financial education on a global scale. About StockGro StockGro is a leading experiential social learning platform for trading and investments, trusted by more than 35 million users worldwide. It has successfully empowered students across 1100+ prestigious educational institutions with immersive financial learning experiences. Through this collaboration, StockGro continues its mission of fostering financial literacy and practical education for the next generation. StockGro invites educational institutions across the GCC region to join hands in fostering a financially literate world. Write to us at community@stockgro.com so we can empower the next generation with essential life skills together. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2595456/StockGro_GIIS_Dubai.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stockgro-partners-with-giis-dubai-to-transform-youth-financial-literacy-in-the-uae-302347977.html 3 Manufacturing Events. 2 Interactive Days. 1 Rare Opportunity. Registration is now open for The ASSEMBLY Show South, The Quality Show, and the brand-new Adhesives in Action event. This year's lineup promises to deliver unparalleled insights, networking opportunities, and a spotlight on groundbreaking advancements across the manufacturing and quality industries. The three manufacturing events will be held at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN on Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17 with pre-conference workshops scheduled for Tuesday, April 15. Attendee registration is free until February 28, 2025, and one registration gives attendees access to all three trade show floors and education programs. "Over the next 10 years, manufacturers are committing billions of dollars to building infrastructure facilities in the resource-rich southern United States. We look forward to bringing together thousands of engineers, designers, decision-makers, and manufacturing professionals to Nashville to find the latest innovations and solutions to supercharge their business," said Bill DeYoe, Group Publisher, BNP Media, producers of the three events. "Attendees will have the opportunity to see the latest equipment, products, and technology with the most cutting-edge, top-of-the-line tools to streamline the manufacturing processes, connect face-to-face with like-minded peers, learn from business thought leaders, and uncover emerging trends that will provide endless resources on how to solve current challenges." The ASSEMBLY Show South , now in its third year, is a key event for manufacturing professionals seeking innovative solutions that can drive business growth. Exhibitors will showcase the latest in assembly technology, equipment, and products. Attendees will gain access to expert-led sessions, hands-on product demos from leading suppliers, and networking opportunities with industry decision-makers and potential partners. The ASSEMBLY Show South is produced by ASSEMBLY which covers the processes, technologies, and strategies for assembling discrete parts into finished products. The editorial staff writes about robots, conveyors, vision systems, and other technologies for assembly automation, as well as workstations, power tools, and other equipment for manual production. The Quality Show helps connect manufacturing professionals with a growing network of top-tier suppliers and cutting-edge subject matter experts on an array of topics. Exhibiting companies will showcase the latest in inspection, process improvement, and metrology. The show features the latest test, measurement, and inspection solutions, hands-on demonstrations, and numerous education and networking opportunities. Produced by Quality , the exclusive business-to-business brand that reaches discrete manufacturing professionals seeking to improve their manufacturing processes. In addition to the monthly issues of Quality, two special market segments, NDT and Vision & Sensors, receive individual coverage in regular supplements. The inaugural Adhesives in Action will be the first dedicated platform in the marketplace, focusing exclusively on the end-use applications of adhesives in various industries. The trade show and conference will focus exclusively on application rather than formulation and ensure clarity and relevance for attendees seeking practical solutions and industry insights. Produced by Adhesives & Sealants Industry (ASI) whose editorial staff provides the information researchers and industry professionals need to move the science of adhesion and sealing forward. As new technologies emerge, ASI is here to showcase the material science that holds the world together and ushers in the future innovations for adhesives and sealants. The show floor will feature hundreds of leading-edge companies including Platinum Sponsor Promess; Gold Sponsor Deltek TIP Technologies; Silver Sponsors Atlas Copco and Desoutter Industrial Tools; and Bronze Sponsors Schmidt Technology, UJIGAMI by Tutelar Technologies, and Weiss North America. For exhibiting and sponsorship information, click here. Highlighting the event series is an exciting keynote address by Eric Jefferies, Sr. Manager, Process Integrity and Compliance for Bell Textron and President, International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG), scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 at 9:00 am. Known for his expertise in global aerospace standards and quality assurance, Jeffries will deliver a thought-provoking presentation on the critical role of quality and innovation in the evolving aerospace landscape. As president of IAQG, Jefferies advances initiatives and processes employed by the supply chain that consistently deliver high-quality and safe products through global industry collaboration and standardization. The ASSEMBLY Show South, The Quality Show, and Adhesives in Action are produced by BNP Media, one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events, and market research. For more information, visit www.bnpmedia.com. # # # For Further Information, Contact: Amy Riemer, Media Relations Representative 978-502-4895 (cell) amy@riemercommunications.com SOURCE: Assembly Show South View the original press release on accesswire.com MARION, NC / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2025 / Greene Concepts, Inc. (OTC PINK:INKW) is excited to announce significant progress following its December 17, 2024, announcement of BE WATER distribution across six Southeast states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Preparations for this extensive rollout are well underway, and Walmart has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of Greene Concepts' BE WATER brand. This support includes not only the distribution of BE WATER in all Walmart stores across these six states but also plans for expansion into additional regions. Lenny Greene, CEO of Greene Concepts, stated, "Walmart recognizes BE WATER as a premium brand capable of competing with major bottled water manufacturers and establishing itself as a top marketplace contender. They appreciate our quality, our values, and our dedication to the health and well-being of our customers. Additionally, being a U.S.-based brand further strengthens our position." Mr. Greene added, "With Walmart's continued partnership, we are now preparing to expand distribution beyond the Southeast. This aligns with our broader strategy to make BE WATER available across the continental U.S. within the next two years and solidify our brand as a household name. Our internal systems and upcoming plant expansion will enable us to scale production to millions of bottles annually. We're deeply grateful to Walmart, Camping World, and other retail partners who currently carry or plan to carry BE WATER nationwide." About Greene Concepts, Inc. Greene Concepts, Inc. (http://www.greeneconcepts.com) is a publicly traded company whose purpose is to provide the world with high-quality, healthy and enhanced beverage choices that meet the nutritional needs of its consumers while refreshing their mind, body and spirit. The Company's flagship product, BE WATER, is a premium artesian bottled water that supports total body health and wellness. Greene Concepts' beverage and bottling plant is located in Marion, North Carolina, and their water is ethically sourced from spring and artesian wells that are fed from a natural aquifer located deep beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. Greene Concepts continues to develop and market premium beverage brands designed to enhance the daily lives of consumers. Safe Harbor: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a few uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Information Greene Concepts, Inc. Investor Relations ir@greeneconcepts.com SOURCE: Greene Concepts, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Hillcrest Energy Technologies (CSE: HEAT) (FSE: 7HI) ("Hillcrest" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of unsecured convertible debentures (each, a "Debenture") and concurrently settle certain debts of the Company in exchange for the issuance of Debentures (the "Debt Settlement" and, together with the Private Placement, the "Offering"). The Company expects to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 in the Offering and to close the Offering in one or more tranches. "As part of our commitment to aligning funding strategies with potential investors and funders who support our strategic goals, we are pleased to announce this convertible debenture financing. This offering not only allows the Company to retire some financial liabilities, it also has the potential to provide the immediate resources needed to drive our technology development and commercialization priorities. The debenture structure has been designed with investor interests in mind, and we anticipate participation from those who had committed to the previously canceled private placement. This financing highlights Hillcrest's dedication to advancing our mission of powering a more sustainable future," stated Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies. The Debentures issued in the Offering will bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum and mature on two years following the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"). The Company may from time to time, in its sole discretion, prepay all or a part of the principal amount and accrued interest without penalty. The outstanding principal amount owed under a Debenture may be converted into units of the Company (each, a "Unit"), each comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.12 per Common Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance, at a conversion price of $0.12 per Unit (the "Conversion Price") by the holder thereof at any time on or before the Maturity Date. At maturity, the Company may convert the outstanding principal amount, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, into Units at the Conversion Price; provided that, if the holder of a Debenture and the Company make different elections at maturity, the election by the party who opted in favour of the largest conversion of the principal amount into Units at the Conversion Price will prevail. The Debentures are also subject to a forced conversion right, whereby the Company may convert the outstanding principal amount and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon into Units at the Conversion Price if the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is greater than or equal to $0.36 for a period of ten consecutive trading days and the Company gives notice to holders of the Debentures by way of a news release. If the Company arranges a distribution of securities (a "Subsequent Financing"), other than pursuant to an equity incentive plan, at a price per Common Share, per unit of the Company comprised of a Common Share and Common Share purchase warrant or per security of the Company convertible into Common Shares or units comprised of Common Shares and Common Share purchase warrants, holders of the Debentures will be entitled to settle the outstanding principal amount, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, owed under their Debentures by participating in the Subsequent Financing on its terms by using the amounts outstanding under their Debentures. The Company must provide notice to the holders of Debentures of any Subsequent Financing by way of news release. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for retirement of existing accounts payable, technology development, general working capital and, where feasible, enhanced marketing and investor relations activities. As noted, some proceeds of the Offering will relate to the settlement of certain current and outstanding debts of the Company and will not form part of the proceeds that will be available to the Company following closing of the Offering. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities of the Company referred to in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. Hillcrest Energy Technologies is a clean technology company focused on providing advanced power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. From concept to commercialization, Hillcrest is investing in the development of energy solutions that will power a more sustainable and electrified future. Hillcrest is publicly traded on the CSE under the symbol "HEAT," on the OTCQB Venture Market as "HLRTF" and on the Frankfurt Exchange as "7HI". For more information, please visit: https://hillcrestenergy.tech/. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "intends," "is expected," "potential," "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "should," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this news release. The forward-looking information reflects our current expectations and assumptions and is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these assumptions will prove correct. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are advised to consider the risk factors under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's MD&A for the year ended Dec. 31, 2023, available at https://www.sedarplus.ca/ for a discussion of the factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236654 SOURCE: Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A closely watched report released by the Labor Department on Friday showed employment in the U.S. increased by much more than expected in the month of December.The Labor Department said non-farm payroll employment surged by 256,000 jobs in December after jumping by a downwardly revised 212,000 jobs in November.Economists had expected employment to climb by 160,000 jobs compared to the addition of 227,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.The report also said the unemployment rate edged down to 4.1 percent in December from 4.2 percent in November. Economists had expected the unemployment rate to come in unchanged.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SEOUL (dpa-AFX) - The United States and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on principles concerning nuclear exports and cooperation for peaceful purposes.This MOU, signed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of State with South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, finalizes the provisional understanding they reached in November.The United States and South Korea have worked together on civil nuclear power for more than 70 years. The cornerstone of this cooperation reflects the two allied countries' mutual dedication to maximizing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.This MOU provides a framework for the parties to cooperate in expanding civil nuclear power in third countries while strengthening their respective administration of export controls on civil nuclear technology. It will also provide a pathway to help both countries keep up with the emergence of new technologies in this sector, the U.S. Department of Energy said in a press release.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The UK Home Office says a total of 16,400 illegal migrants have been deported fom the country since the new conservative government assumed power in July.The government's target to drive removal of foreign criminals and immigration offenders to highest level since 2018 has been smashed, the UK Home Office said in a press release.Since the government came to office, enforced returns are up 24 percent compared to the same 12 months before, and Britain's streets have been made safer with the removal of 2,580 foreign criminals - a 23 percent increase on last year, it added.??Bespoke charter flights have removed immigration offenders to countries around the world, including 4 of the biggest returns flights in the UK's history carrying more than 800 people. Individuals removed since the election include criminals convicted of drug offences, theft, rape and murder.?By restarting asylum processing to help clear the backlog and redeploying 1,000 staff to work on immigration enforcement, the government has been able to achieve this level of removals within 6 months of coming to office.On Thursday, the government also announced the introduction of a new sanctions regime designed to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration, holding accountable those making money by putting lives at risk in the Channel.Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, 'This government was elected on a promise of change - and within just 6 months we have redeployed resources for a scheme that returned just 4 volunteers and instead worked to remove 16,400 people with no right to be here'.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Scope Technologies Corp. (CSE: SCPE) (OTCQB: SCPCF) (FSE: VN8) ("Scope Technologies" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received all proceeds regarding its previously announced $1,800,000 non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") (see news releases dated December 23, 2024 and December 27, 2024) and $1,000,000 convertible debt financing from First Majestic Silver Corp., a publicly traded mining company (see news release dated January 6, 2025). The Company issued 1,285,708 units (the "Units") at a price of $1.40 per Unit for total proceeds of $1,800,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit consists of one common share ("Share") and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of $1.80 until January 10, 2027. No finders' fees were payable under the Offering. The Shares under the Offering will be subject to restrictions on resale until May 11, 2025. The aggregate net proceeds of the Offering will be used to grow its team, with a focus on hiring additional sales and client staff, as well as for general working capital purposes. Alan Tam, the Chief Financial Officer and a director of the Company, subscribed for 18,000 Units for gross proceeds of $25,200, and such participation will be considered a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects to be exempt from the requirement to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in connection with Mr. Tam's participation in the Offering in reliance of Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, on the basis that Mr. Tam's participation in the Offering did not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. Stock Option Grants The Company has granted a total of 400,000 stock options to directors and consultants of the Company. The stock options granted are exercisable to purchase a common share of the Company at a price of $1.00 per share for a term of 5 years and subject to the Company's vesting terms. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of any of the securities offered in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including the United States of America. The securities being offered as part of the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. For more information on how QSE's quantum security solutions can help healthcare providers comply with the proposed regulations, visit www.qse.group. About Scope Technologies Corp. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Scope Technologies Corp is a pioneering technology company specializing in quantum security and machine learning. Through its flagship brands, QSE Group and GEM AI, Scope provides next-generation solutions in data security, quantum encryption, and neural networks, empowering businesses with secure, scalable technologies that drive growth and operational efficiency. LinkedIn: scope-technologies-corp Facebook: Scope Technologies Corp Twitter: @ScopeTechCorp Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical statements of fact are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, future, strategy, objectives, goals and targets, and more specifically, the use of proceeds of the Offering. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "aim", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, including, but not limited to, those risks and assumptions described in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. While Scope considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions, continued satisfaction of Canadian Securities Exchange requirements, product safety and recalls, regulatory compliance and risks associated with the Company's business. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. Not for Distribution in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236678 SOURCE: Scope Technologies Corp. Las Vegas Sands NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2025 / The 2024 Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build achieved a major milestone in Sands' decade-long partnership with Clean the World and its affiliated nonprofit organization, The WASH Foundation. In assembling 70,000 kits for people facing hardships in Sands' regions, Team Members surpassed the 1 million mark for Clean the World hygiene kits built since 2014. Marina Bay Sands Team Members put Sands over the milestone during its kit build on October 2 when more than 600 Team Members assembled 30,000 hygiene kits including shower amenities, dental care items and special messages of encouragement. Clean the World and The WASH Foundation distributed kits to people in need through Children International in the Philippines and locally by Singapore Red Cross. "We had a lot to celebrate this year - our 10th anniversary of the annual kit build with Clean the World and our one millionth hygiene kit assembled," Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives, said. "But what is most important to celebrate is the way our Team Members have made helping people facing hardships a beloved annual volunteer event with their enthusiastic and giving spirit. These milestones have happened because they've embraced the program so fully." Sands China held its build at the end of October, when 350 Team Members and community volunteers assembled 30,000 hygiene kits in just three hours. The kits were distributed to 15 community groups in Macao, Hong Kong and the Philippines for people facing hardships, natural disasters and other crises. The 2024 Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build series concluded at corporate headquarters in early November, when Team Members worked over three days to assemble 10,000 hygiene kits that are being distributed through Clean the World's Fresh Start Mobile Hygiene Unit, which offers free showers to homeless individuals; Project 150, which helps homeless and disadvantaged teens stay in school; The Shade Tree, Nevada's leading domestic violence shelter and resource center; U.S. Vets; and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. "It is amazing to consider the cumulative results of the Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build over the past 10 years," Shawn Seipler founder and CEO of Clean the World Global and chairman of the board of Clean the World Foundation, said. "Thanks to the enduring commitment and passion of Sands and its Team Members around the world for this annual event and our mission, we have created and distributed through our partners more than one million hygiene kits to individuals and families facing hardship and crisis. They have made a difference in thousands and thousands of lives, and we thank all of the Sands Team Members who have participated for their continued contributions." The annual Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build with Clean the World supports Sands' global priority on addressing hardship relief for people in need by delivering critical hygiene supplies to disadvantaged populations and aiding people in recovering from disasters and other crisis situations. The annual kit build is a major component of Sands' partnership with Clean the World and The WASH Foundation. The company has provided more than $5.6 million in Sands Cares funding since 2014 to support the nonprofit organization's water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives. The hygiene kit build is one of three global Sands Cares programs along with the Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build and the Sands Cares Accelerator, which helps advance nonprofit organizations to achieve greater community impact. Together, these programs unify Sands' regions around the world in helping to ensure their local communities remain great places to live, work and visit. The 1 millionth hygiene kit built for Clean the World by Sands Team Members at Marina Bay Sands View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Las Vegas Sands on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Las Vegas Sands Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/las-vegas-sands Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Las Vegas Sands View the original press release on accesswire.com DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Future of Robotics - Cobots, Humanoid & Soft Robots, Swarm Robotics, by Technology (Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twin, AR/VR, Cloud Computing), Industry (Automotive, Smart Cities, Space Exploration, Logistics, Agriculture) - Global Forecast to 2030 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets". The robotics industry is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and market demands. With AI, machine learning, and IoT integration, robots are becoming more autonomous, intelligent, and interconnected. Key trends like human-robot collaboration, advanced automation, and enhanced adaptability will shape the future of robotics, transforming industries and driving efficiency. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=56928872 Browse in-depth TOC on "Future of Robotics" 50- Tables 05 - Figures 60 - Pages The rise of collaborative robots and their role in transforming the future of robotics Collaborative robots are revolutionizing robotics by enabling humans and machines to work together seamlessly. Unlike traditional robots that operate in isolation, cobots are designed to collaborate with human workers, improving efficiency and safety across industries. By automating repetitive, dangerous, or physically demanding tasks, cobots free up human workers to focus on higher-value, strategic roles. Recent advancements in AI, machine learning, and sensors have made cobots smarter and more adaptable, allowing them to learn tasks, adjust to new environments, and interact with other machines in real-time. Their flexibility to be quickly reprogrammed for different tasks makes them ideal for dynamic production environments. Equipped with safety features like collision detection and force sensing, cobots work safely alongside humans, fostering safer and more productive workplaces. As key enablers of Industry 4.0, cobots are fully integrated with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), optimizing workflows and enabling data-driven decision-making. Looking beyond 2030, cobots will become even more autonomous, powered by next-gen technologies like 5G and augmented reality, transforming industries and creating human-centric workplaces that drive innovation and productivity. AI's Revolutionary Influence on Robotics and Its Future Implications AI is transforming robotics by making systems smarter, more adaptive, and autonomous. It empowers robots to process real-time data, make independent decisions, and optimize workflows, boosting efficiency and reducing errors. AI-driven computer vision enables robots to recognize objects, understand their surroundings, and adjust to dynamic conditions, making them ideal for precision tasks. In manufacturing, robots perform assembly and inspection with unmatched accuracy, while in logistics, they streamline warehouse operations. In healthcare, AI-powered robots assist in surgeries and patient care, ensuring high precision and safety. Collaborative robots (cobots) benefit from AI by interacting safely with humans, adapting to their actions, and ensuring smooth cooperation. AI also advances predictive maintenance, allowing robots to monitor their own performance, detect potential issues, and schedule maintenance to minimize downtime. Additionally, AI enables robots to learn and adapt to specific tasks through machine learning, enhancing flexibility. By embedding intelligence into automation, AI is driving innovation across industries like automotive, aerospace, electronics, and agriculture, creating systems that can handle complex tasks and optimize operations. In the coming years, AI will continue to shape the future of robotics by enabling even more autonomous, intelligent systems that will redefine industries, streamline processes, and create new opportunities for human-robot collaboration, pushing the boundaries of innovation and operational efficiency. The Impact of AR and VR on Robotics' Future Development Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are revolutionizing robotics by enhancing design, training, and operational efficiency. AR improves human-robot interaction by overlaying digital information onto real-world environments, allowing for better visualization of robotic systems and optimized workflows. For example, ABB Robotics uses AR to simulate robotic systems before physical construction, reducing costs and development time. In training, VR offers immersive environments where operators can practice without risk, while AR provides real-time guidance during complex tasks. This combination is especially beneficial in hazardous jobs, where VR-controlled robots enable remote operation for enhanced safety. Furthermore, the integration of AR with Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances robot performance through intuitive controls and feedback, facilitating advanced applications like robot-assisted surgery and navigation. The synergy of AR, VR, and robotics promises to drive significant advancements across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and logistics, shaping the future of robotics in the years to come. Humanoid Robots Are Pioneering a New Era in Human-Machine Collaboration. Humanoid robots are advanced machines designed to replicate human form and behavior, enabling them to perform tasks alongside humans in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and retail. Powered by cutting-edge technologies such as AI, mechatronics, and advanced sensors, these robots are engineered to operate in dynamic environments like factories, warehouses, and hospitals. Companies like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Agility Robotics are leading the way, investing heavily in AI-powered robots that are becoming increasingly capable and versatile. Tesla has already integrated its Optimus robots into its factory operations, with plans for wider deployment, while Agility Robotics is building a factory in Oregon to produce 10,000 robots annually. The US and China are at the forefront of this revolution, driven by significant investments and rapid technological advancements. Humanoid robots will transform industrial operations as they evolve to become more intelligent, adaptable, and cost-effective. Over the coming years, they will seamlessly integrate into human environments, improving efficiency, safety, and quality of life across sectors, marking the beginning of a new era in robotics. Swarm robotics will shape the future of automation and efficiency Swarm robotics is an emerging field inspired by the collective behavior of social insects like ants, birds, and bees. It involves coordinating simple, autonomous robots that work together to accomplish complex tasks. Unlike traditional robots, which are often centrally controlled and sophisticated, swarm robots operate through decentralized control. Each robot makes decisions based on local information, and through simple rules and interactions, the swarm exhibits emergent behavior that allows it to adapt and complete large-scale tasks. This approach offers advantages such as scalability, resilience, and flexibility, making swarm robotics ideal for applications like search and rescue, environmental monitoring, manufacturing, agriculture, and space exploration. The ability of swarm robots to function autonomously and collaborate without central control enables them to operate in challenging environments, such as disaster zones or distant planets. As technology advances, swarm robotics will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of robotics, offering innovative solutions that enhance automation, efficiency, and adaptability across various industries in the coming years. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=56928872 Asia-Pacific region is leading the way in robotics innovation The future of robotics in the Asia-Pacific region is set for significant transformation, driven by rapid industrialization, technological innovation, and strong government support. China's "Made in China 2025" initiative is advancing robotics in manufacturing and healthcare, focusing on automation to boost efficiency and reduce labor costs. Japan's "Society 5.0" strategy is integrating AI and robotics into daily life, particularly in automotive and electronics, with companies like Fanuc and Yaskawa leading in collaborative robots. India is emerging as a key player in service robotics, with a growing number of startups focused on healthcare and domestic automation solutions. The Indian government is supporting this growth through schemes like the "Production Linked Incentive" (PLI) scheme and "Startup India," encouraging innovation and research in robotics. Additionally, initiatives like "Atmanirbhar Bharat" aim to promote self-reliance in technology, fostering the development of affordable, scalable robotic solutions. South Korea's Smart Factory initiative is modernizing manufacturing through AI, while also advancing medical robotics. These nations are collectively reshaping industries, positioning the Asia-Pacific region as a global leader in robotics in the next 5-10 years. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=56928872 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/future-robotics.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/future-robotics.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/future-of-robotics-to-2030-market-and-beyond---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302347781.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2025 / T-Mobile Update: January 9, 2025 Network Status T-Mobile's network has held strong. We have restored roughly half of the sites that were impacted by commercial power loss. As conditions safely allow, our teams are evaluating impacted sites in Altadena, Duarte, Calabasas, Malibu, Fillmore and Agoura Hills, and continuing to deploy and refuel portable generators to sites until commercial power is restored. Today T-Mobile and Starlink opened up T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service over impacted areas of Southern California to deliver wireless emergency alerts and SMS and enable 911 texting. While SpaceX's direct-to-cell constellation has not been fully deployed, we are once again temporarily making this early test version available for those who need it most. First Responder and Community Support T-Mobile continues to engage with federal, state and local officials and emergency management agencies across California to help ensure critical connectivity, including deploying connectivity solutions like Wi-Fi routers at incident command posts at Zuma Beach in Malibu and Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. T-Mobile teams are on the ground in local communities offering free Wi-Fi connectivity and device charging 24/7 at the following locations. Please check back for updates as locations may change. T-Mobile Freemont & Huntington retail store: 1318 Huntington Dr., South Pasadena, CA 91030 Customer Relief and Store Locations As previously shared, we are offering unlimited talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Assurance Wireless customers in Altadena, La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles, Palisades, Pasadena and Sierra Madre who do not currently have this as part of their service plan through Wednesday January 15. Mint and Ultra Mobile are supporting impacted customers in Altadena, La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles, Palisades, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. Mint Mobile: Customers on 5GB, 15GB and 20GB plans will have their high-speed data allotment increased to 50GB through their current billing cycle, all of which can be used as hotspot. Customers on Mint's Unlimited plan will have their high-speed allotment increased to 2TB with no restrictions on hotspot. Ultra Mobile: Customers on plans with a data allotment will have their high-speed data allotment increased to 50GB through their current billing cycle, all of which can be used as hotspot. Customers on Ultra's Unlimited or Unlimited+ plans will have their hotspot allotment increased to 2TB through their current billing cycle. Some stores are temporarily closed or operating on reduced hours. Please use our store locator for updates. How to Help We encourage everyone to donate to our partner, the American Red Cross, which is providing comfort, support and relief. We are also matching our employee donations 2:1 through Benevity from now through January 23. Update: January 8, 2025 Concessions We are offering unlimited talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Assurance Wireless customers in the cities of Altadena, La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles, Palisades, Pasadena and Sierra Madre who do not currently have this as part of their service plan, effective Wednesday January 8 through Wednesday January 15. Community Support Our teams are on standby to deploy relief supplies, including Wi-Fi, device charging and "power packs" for charging, as conditions safely allow. First Responder Support T-Mobile for Government is actively engaged with numerous federal, state and local officials and emergency management agencies across the region including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and numerous city emergency operation centers. They are coordinating with California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department to support first responder command posts and staging sites ensuring critical connectivity. Employee We are reaching out to our employees in affected areas to ensure their safety and understand any impacts to them and their families. Our focus is to provide support, particularly to those who may have evacuated or have damage to their homes. Some locations may be operating under reduced hours or closed. For updates on local store operations, including temporary closures or modified hours, please use our?store locator. For more on our emergency response efforts, visit T-Mobile Emergency Response. Follow @TMobileNews on X for the latest updates. # # # January 7, 2025 Strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions sparked a rapidly growing fire in Pacific Palisades, California forcing mandatory evacuations in some areas and power shutoffs by local utility companies to reduce additional fire risk. With the Eaton Canyon fire above Altadena and other Southern California areas at risk, T-Mobile is actively monitoring weather conditions and taking steps to ensure our customers, communities and first responders stay connected. Network Our teams are actively supporting impacted areas in the following ways: Network Resilience : Across California, we have hardened and reinforced our network with generators should commercial power loss occur. Overlapping coverage in some areas may help reduce service interruptions. Our emergency teams have 600 permanent and portable generators in the impacted Southern California areas, with almost 200 portable generators already deployed to maintain service during commercial power outages. AI in T-Mobile's Network:?Our Cognitive Self-Organizing Network (SON) and automatic antenna tilting technologies enhance signal strength, expand coverage, and prevent congestion, helping to ensure reliable service as wildfires evolve. First Responders We are coordinating with federal, state and local public safety agencies, including California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)'s State Operations Center (SOC) in Sacramento and local officials in the impacted areas, to identify command posts and communication needs for public safety and to meet the needs of first responders and other agencies. Eligible first responders and critical infrastructure customers can register for Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to access priority coverage at no cost. For communication assistance, agencies can contact our 24-hour emergency hotline at 888-639-0020 or email ERTRequests@T-Mobile.com. For more on our emergency response efforts, visit T-Mobile Emergency Response. Follow @TMobileNews on X for the latest updates. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from T-Mobile on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: T-Mobile Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/t-mobile Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: T-Mobile View the original press release on accesswire.com Combined General Meeting of January 31, 2025 Access to information Paris, France, January 10, 2025. Atos SE shareholders are invited to attend the Combined General Meeting of the Company to be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 10 a.m. (Paris time) at the Company's registered office (River Ouest, in the auditorium, 80 quai Voltaire, 95870 Bezons). Please note that the General Meeting will also be broadcast live on video on the Company's website), and that the video recording will then be available for replay in the same section. The notice of meeting). The documents referred to in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code can be consulted and downloaded on the Company's website, under the "Annual General Meeting" heading in the "Investors" section). The documents referred to in Article R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code are available to shareholders as from the date of the convening notice for the meeting in accordance with applicable regulations: shareholders holding registered shares (actions au nominatif) may, up to and including the fifth day prior to the Meeting, request that the Company sends these documents to them. For shareholders holding bearer shares, the exercise of this right is subject to the provision of a certificate of registration in the accounts of the bearer shares maintained by the authorized intermediary; shareholders may consult these documents at the Company's registered office during the fifteen days period preceding the Meeting. *** About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 82,000 employees and annual revenue of c. 10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), and listed on Euronext Paris. The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space. Contacts Investor relations: David Pierre-Kahn | investors@atos.net| +33 6 28 51 45 96 Individual shareholders: 0805 65 00 75 Press contact : globalprteam@atos.net Attachment Southern Company NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 10, 2025 / James "Jimmy" Earl Carter, 39th United States president and former Georgia governor, passed away on Dec. 29, 2024. He was 100, the longest-lived President in U.S. history. After battling brain cancer in 2018, Carter faced a series of health complications and had been receiving home hospice care since Feb. 2023. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing, the Carter Center said on its website. During his life, Carter had a longstanding relationship with Southern Company spanning back to the 1970s. According to Southern Nuclear's website, in 1971 he led a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony using electric scissors at Plant Hatch. As Georgia governor, he played an instrumental role in the development of the Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act of 1973, which assigned territories for Georgia Power, co-ops and municipal utilities and established competition for major customers. He often collaborated with Georgia Power and depended on Southern Company to help recruit businesses to Georgia, calling the company his "best partner." The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter was a champion of energy and signed the Department of Energy Organization Act during his presidency, creating the Department of Energy, in 1977. Carter introduced several energy bills including the National Energy Act of 1978, which established energy goals, specifically reducing the nation's dependence on oil and increasing the use of renewable resources, such as solar energy. He was so firm in his commitment to renewable energy, Carter became the first president to use solar panels to power portions of the White House, installing 32 panels on the White House roof in 1979. "Today, we mourn the loss of an incredible man and one of the most important humanitarians of our time - President Jimmy Carter. From his humble beginnings growing up on a peanut farm to leading our great nation, he led a life dedicated to serving others and helping the less fortunate. And, as we honor him, I am reminded of how he always led with compassion, empathy and integrity," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. "President Carter championed clean and renewable energy, but most importantly he was a humanitarian," Womack continued. "He believed in peace and making the world a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. And the Carter Center right here in Atlanta will continue to move forward his mission to spread peace, health and democracy around the world. His legacy will undoubtedly be felt for generations to come. Our prayers are with the entire Carter family." Throughout his life, Carter sought to promote peace, human rights, and environmental conservation. According to the White House website, Carter improved the environment through expanding the National Park System to include protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands. He created the Department of Education, bolstered the social security system, and appointed record numbers of women, African Americans and Hispanics to positions in government in an effort to increase human and social services. After his presidency, Carter remained committed to the plight of the less fortunate through his volunteerism with the Habitat for Humanity. Over 30 years, the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity spanned 14 countries, amassed over 100,000 volunteers, and built, renovated, or repaired more than 4,000 homes. In 2017, Carter partnered with Georgia Power and Atlanta-based SolAmerica Energy to repurpose 10 acres of his farmland into a solar farm to help power his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A total of 3,852 solar panels operate on the land that was once home to nut and soybean crops. His solar farm can provide up to 1.3 megawatts of electricity under the right conditions. At the close of Southern Company's "Big Bets" documentary, Carter said: "The most transforming element in my life was when our family finally got electricity. Giving a family or human being this magic power is a life transforming element, you might say freedom." Carter received a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. He is survived by his four children Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He will be buried alongside Rosalynn Carter, his wife of 77 years, the Carter Center said. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Southern Company on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Southern Company Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southern-company Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Southern Company View the original press release on accesswire.com Santiago, Chile--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Copperprotek USA, the U.S.-based division of Copperprotek SpA, announced FDA/FSIS GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) approval of its patented microparticle. The announcement has led to a U.S.-based industrial-scale testing period to launch in 2025. Copperprotek is a biotechnology research firm with 9+ years of experience that produces a patented 100% copper microparticle-the first copper salts-based shelf life extension additive cleared by the FDA and FSIS designed to be layered into food-packaging materials. After a four-year process of intense testing, the FDA has validated the safety of Copperprotek-enhanced masterbatches, allowing the company to prioritize securing additional U.S.-based partnerships in the new year. Achieving FDA/FSIS GRAS approval in June 2024, Copperprotek can formally announce that it is launching production testing with a U.S.-based $5B global packaging firm in January 2025. This development paves the way for Copperprotek technology to be utilized in consumer-facing U.S. animal-based products such as fresh beef pork, as well as processed meats like ham and hot dogs, beginning in 2025. 10 Years of Research to be Tested in U.S. Markets Copperprotek SpA was founded in 2015 by esteemed research scientist Javier Lavin, a Chilean national who sought to leverage the country's status as the world's top copper producer (according to the International Trade Administration) to identify advanced, consumer-facing applications for the mineral. In 2015, Lavin identified copper's use as an antibacterial agent for food preservation in food packaging materials as the primary focus of his research. Since 2015, the company has completed two rounds of fundraising and achieved regulatory approval from ANVISA in Brazil, and now the FDA in the U.S. Copperprotek Logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10129/236159_5f5993bf04e7ca3c_001full.jpg Copperprotek's patented microparticle can be combined with virgin polyolefin resin, which is then layered into packaging film. After more than a decade of research and development, Copperprotek's technology can extend the shelf life of some proteins by up to 30 days, and findings have been substantiated and verified by the FDA/FSIS. Copperprotek ions disrupt bacterial membranes and inhibit their ability to reproduce. Additionally, they generate oxidative stress, damaging bacterial proteins, lipids, and DNA. Due to the minimal amount of copper required (80mg per square meter of packaging film) to achieve this effect in packaging film, no labeling disclosing the presence of copper is required by the FSIS. Additionally, Copperprotek-integrated packaging remains translucent. "Four goals drive our business, and they feed each other in this order: Enhance food safety by extending shelf life (even amid cold chain interruptions), reduce food waste, reduce packaging waste, and ultimately improve bottom lines for food manufacturers," said Jonathan Raineau, Managing Director of Copperprotek USA. "Gaining access to U.S. markets through FDA approval has allowed us to commercially test this hypothesis at scale in one of the world's most regulated spaces." Javier Lavin, Founder of Copperprotek To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10129/236159_5f5993bf04e7ca3c_002full.jpg About Copperprotek Copperprotek is a Chilean biotechnology company focused on developing innovative solutions that enhance food safety, extend shelf life, and reduce waste through the natural power of copper. Currently, Copperprotek is FDA-approved for use in U.S.-based packaging plants for the following foods: red meat, hot dogs, pork, deli meats, salmon, and cheese. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236159 SOURCE: AK Infinite Klaus Mitchell Weighs In on Trump's Environmental Policies and the Path Forward Klaus Mitchell, an environmental advocate and founder of the sustainability platform Earth Awake, brings a unique perspective to the global conversation on climate policy. With a background in environmental science and years of advocacy at international climate summits, Mitchell offers insights grounded in experience and expertise. His work focuses on bridging the gap between policy, science, and public engagement, making him a notable voice in environmental discourse. Disruption as a Catalyst for Progress Mitchell believes that disruption can inspire necessary change. His perspective was shaped in part by participating in Heineken's Worlds Apart campaign in 2017, a social experiment that paired individuals with opposing views to collaborate before revealing their differences. Matched with a climate change skeptic, Mitchell recalls, "At first, we couldn't have been further apart. But by the end of the day, we were laughing and continuing our conversation over a beer." The campaign, viewed over 50 million times, reinforced Mitchell's belief that engagement fosters progress. "We don't move forward by staying in echo chambers," he asserts-a philosophy that drives his advocacy for pragmatic environmental solutions. The Paris Agreement: A Push for Accountability Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement in 2020 was globally criticized. However, Mitchell views it as an opportunity to reevaluate the agreement's effectiveness. "Symbolic agreements are valuable, but their worth lies in execution," he explains. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reported in October 2024 that current efforts are insufficient, projecting a 3.1C rise in global temperatures by the century's end-far above the 2C target. Mitchell suggests that the withdrawal exposed weaknesses in accountability mechanisms, potentially pushing nations toward more measurable climate action. Renewable Energy: Market Forces Over Politics Despite Trump's support for fossil fuels, renewable energy sectors continued to expand. Under President Biden, U.S. oil and gas production reached record highs, surpassing Trump's first term. "It's a paradox," Mitchell notes, "but it shows that market forces, not political rhetoric, drive the energy transition." According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), investments in renewables generate three times more jobs per dollar than fossil fuels. "Even under Trump, renewables thrived," Mitchell says. "Economics favors clean energy - and Trump values economic success." Competing with China on Renewables Mitchell views Trump's competitive stance toward China as a potential motivator for advancing U.S. renewable energy investments. China leads global renewable energy markets, accounting for 60% of solar, wind, and battery capacity growth. "This isn't just about saving the planet," Mitchell explains. "It's about maintaining economic leadership. To outpace China, the U.S. must prioritize green innovation." Addressing Divisions in the Climate Movement Mitchell also acknowledges internal divisions within the environmental movement, particularly over nuclear energy. "Every dollar spent on nuclear isn't wasted-it complements renewables," he argues. Trump's support for nuclear energy and companies like Tesla suggests unexpected alignment with clean energy advancements. "His unpredictability might shift the focus from internal debates to unified climate action," Mitchell suggests. Unveiling Subsidy Dependencies Mitchell highlights the irony in free-market rhetoric defending fossil fuels, which rely on $7 trillion in global subsidies. The IEA estimates that $4.5 trillion annually could fund a sustainable economy by 2030. "Without subsidies, renewables would dominate," Mitchell explains. He draws parallels with the U.S. food system, where plant-based products succeed on consumer demand, while meat and dairy industries rely on $38 billion in subsidies annually. Optimism in the Face of Uncertainty While acknowledging challenges in Trump's environmental policies, Mitchell remains cautiously optimistic. "Every challenge brings opportunity," he says. "The key is adaptability, unity, and focusing on solutions." Mitchell emphasizes that disruption, even from unexpected sources, can lead to progress. "The world is at a tipping point," he concludes. "We need all stakeholders-even unlikely allies - to drive the transition toward sustainability." This release was prepared in collaboration with Klaus Mitchell, a leading environmental advocate and founder of Earth Awake, and curated by Evrima Chicago, a proud member of the Forbes Business Council dedicated to fostering thought leadership in technology and global innovation. PR & Media Contact: PR@evrimachicago.com Evrima Chicago SOURCE: Klaus Mitchell View the original press release on accesswire.com Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - NeuroXess is pleased to announce, with grace and hope, the positive results from a clinical trial as a new year dawned in Shanghai. A woman patient in Huashan Hospital, unable to move or speak, thought of "Happy New Year 2025," and her mind was immediately read by a computer. Next, the Chinese characters were displayed on a screen while a robotic hand performed a heart-shaped gesture symbolizing love. The first mind-controlled new year greetings marked a milestone in brain-computer interface (BCI) research. The procedure, which involves real-time Chinese speech decoding and motor decoding, was masterminded by NeuroXess, a startup company based in Shanghai. The success of the clinical trial demonstrated significant advances in both motor and language decoding, enabling the translation of thoughts into actions ("do") and words ("speak"). With this breakthrough, NeuroXess became the world's sole company to achieve real-time motor decoding and real-time Mandarin decoding using invasive BCI technology. In December 2024, based on the fully self-developed 256-channel implantable flexible BCI developed by NeuroXess, the teams of Dr. Tiger H. Tao, the founder of NeuroXess, and Dr. Jinsong Wu at Huashan Hospital successfully conducted the first clinical trial of real-time Chinese speech decoding. The core breakthrough of this brain-computer interface trial lies in the real-time decoding technology for the Chinese language. During the clinical trial, an epilepsy patient with a brain tumor in the language area achieved full coverage of 418 Chinese syllables decoding within seven days of the surgery. The accuracy rate was as high as 71% for 142 commonly used Chinese syllables five days after surgery, and the delay was less than 100 milliseconds, which marked the highest level of real-time Chinese speech decoding to date. Using this new decoding technique, the patient was able to synthesize Chinese in real-time through thought, control a digital avatar, interact with large language models, and convert speech neural signals into real-time commands to control a dexterous robotic hand. In another clinical trial in August 2024, the teams successfully enabled a 21-year-old epilepsy patient with a motor-area lesion to control digital applications such as social media applications WeChat, Outlook, and e-commerce platform Taobao, as well as smart home devices and a wheelchair using the BCI device. This trial indicated the practicality of the technology for the daily activities of patients with motor deficits. Speech Decoding, the Frontier Technology While the brain-computer interface (BCI) is gaining momentum globally, with other companies pioneering invasive BCI technologies, the focus has primarily been on motor decoding, scientists pointed out during the recent BCI Society International Forum in Shanghai. Compared with the decoding of 26 alphabetic characters in English, Mandarin has 418 essential characters and four tones. The research teams used the biggest database in the Chinese language to achieve the breakthrough. Peng Lei, the CEO of NeuroXess, noted that speech decoding opens up a vast space where disabled patients can regain their speech capability and healthy people can have direct connections and interface through both human brain intelligence and artificial intelligence, thereby turning the exchange of minds envisioned in science fiction into reality, creating a "super-brain." About NeuroXess Back in 2014, Tao joined the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences after receiving a doctoral degree from Boston University. In 2021, he founded NeuroXess, with a focus on the development and application of invasive BCI technologies. NeuroXess collaborated with top neurosurgeons in China, in particular with Dr. Mao Ying, the head of Huashan Hospital, and his team, which enabled the company to apply their research. "When NeuroXess started to seek investments from venture capitalists, they were interested initially. However, they backed off upon learning the commercialization may take over 10 years. When I was about to give up on raising money, one key investor had a video conference with me. After one hour of the meeting, he decided to pour in 30 million yuan (about US$4.2 million). He also advised me to take my time, as he is willing to wait for 20 or 30 years (before the commercialization). If it fails, that would be seen as his philanthropic act for scientific research," Tao recalled. In 2016, investment of US$1 billion was given to support the Institute's work, which focuses on research in three core areas - brain discovery, brain treatment, and brain development. Towards that end, the Institute supports interdisciplinary research concerning neuroscience, particularly research on brain mechanics, perception, and the impact of perception on behavior and well-being. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236326 SOURCE: Worldview Global Impact WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose sharply on Friday, riding on the Biden Administration's decision to impose additional sanctions on Russia's oil exports. Optimism about increased fuel demand from icy conditions in the U.S. and Europe too contributed to the surge in oil prices.West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for February closed higher by $2.65 or about 3.6% at $76.57 a barrel, the highest settlement in about three months.Brent crude futures settled at $79.76 a barrel, gaining $2.84 or about 3.7%.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement that the United States is taking sweeping action against Russia's key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine.According to reports, the sanctions measures by the U.S. will likely target 180 vessels and several key Russian oil firms, causing disruptions to its major buyers India and China. Sanctions are likely on major oil companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, and some major ship insurance providers as well as energy officials and top executives.Data from the Labor Department showed U.S. non-farm payroll employment surged by 256,000 in December, after jumping by a downwardly revised 212,000 jobs in November.Economists had expected employment to climb by 160,000 jobs compared to the addition of 227,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.The unemployment rate in the U.S. edged down to 4.1% in December from 4.2% in November. The rate was expected to come in unchanged.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Today, Transport Canada announced the coming pause of the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program. This is months ahead of the intended program end date and before Parliament can authorize future funding for the program. The iZEV Program was scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2025, or when the allocated funds were fully exhausted. Due to the increased demand for the program, the funds allocated to support the iZEV Program will be completely depleted ahead of the scheduled date of March 31, 2025. "This decision is particularly frustrating for dealers, who have done their part in building the infrastructure and resources required to support the EV transition," said Tim Reuss, President and CEO of CADA. "Now we are seeing governments at both the federal and provincial levels decommitting from a difficult and costly process that they, themselves, instituted. There is obvious hypocrisy in imposing ambitious ZEV targets and affiliated penalties on the industry and consumers when the government is showing a clear lack of motivation and support to meet these goals." "This announcement also highlights a troubling lack of preparedness and foresight. By failing to secure adequate funding for a transition it actively promoted, the Federal government has created uncertainty for both consumers and the automotive industry. Cutting short such a critical initiative while maintaining aggressive 2025 and 2030 ZEV targets send a contradictory and destabilizing message," added Reuss. CADA urges the federal government to address this funding shortfall immediately and to develop a consistent, long-term strategy for supporting ZEV adoption. Canada's climate goals can only be achieved through sustained, reliable commitments-not through sporadic and reactionary measures. About CADA: The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association is a federation of provincial and regional dealer associations, representing 3,400 franchised automobile and truck dealerships that sell new cars and trucks in Canada. These dealers collectively employ over 178,000 people across the country and represent a key sector of Canada's economy. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236806 SOURCE: Canadian Auto Dealers Association The abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ASGI, HQH, HQL, IFN, JEQ, THQ)(NYSE American:IAF) (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on January 10, 2025, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of December 30, 2024 (ex-dividend date December 30, 2024). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund Inc. (IFN) and abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) which paid on January 10, 2025, to all shareholders of record as of November 21, 2024 (ex-dividend date November 21, 2024). Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $0.2000 HQH NYSE abrdn Healthcare Investors $0.6200 HQL NYSE abrdn Life Sciences Investors $0.5000 IAF NYSE American abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. $0.1300 IFN NYSE The India Fund, Inc. $0.9300 JEQ NYSE abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. $0.1200 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $0.1800 Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. For the abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund Inc. (IFN) and abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) the stock distributions were automatically paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder to be paid in cash. Shares of common stock were issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price on December 17, 2024. The reinvestment prices per share for these distributions were as follows: $16.83 for abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH); $13.87 for abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL); $4.35 for abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF); $16.8 for the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and $5.81 for abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ). Fractional shares were generally settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who had whole and fractional shares added to their account. To have received the abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund Inc. (IFN) and abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) quarterly distributions payable in January 2025 in cash instead of shares of common stock, for shareholders who hold shares in "street name," the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must have advised the Depository Trust Company as to the full and fractional shares for which they want the distribution paid in cash by December 16, 2024; and for shares that are held in registered form, written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must have been received by Computershare Investor Services prior to December 16, 2024. Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions paid this month as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. The Funds' estimated sources of the current distribution paid this month and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows: Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2000 $0.0120 6% - - - - $0.1880 94% HQH $0.6200 - - - - - - $0.6200 100% HQL $0.5000 - - $0.1985 40% - - $0.3015 60% IAF $0.1300 $0.0117 9% - - $0.0104 8% $0.1079 83% IFN $0.9300 - - - - $0.9300 100% - - JEQ $0.1200 - - - - - - $0.1200 100% THQ $0.1800 - - $0.0234 13% - - $ 0.1566 87% Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year* to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains ** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.6200 $0.0372 6% - - - - $0.5828 94% HQH $0.6200 - - - - - - $0.6200 100% HQL $0.5000 - - $0.1985 40% - - $0.3015 60% IAF $0.1300 $0.0117 9% - - $0.0104 8% $0.1079 83% IFN $2.300 - - - - $2.3000 100% - - JEQ $0.1200 - - - - - - $0.1200 100% THQ $0.5400 - - $0.0702 13% - - 0.4698 87% * ASGI, HQH, HQL and THQ have a 9/30 fiscal year end. IAF and JEQ have a 10/31 fiscal year end. IFN has a 12/31 fiscal year end. **includes currency gains Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following tables provide the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 11/30/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI 8.79%3 11.79% -1.73% 2.01% THQ 8.82% 10.05% -4.20% 1.68% 1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of November 30, 2024. 3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through November 30, 2024. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 10/31/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV HQH 7.97% N/A* -2.31% N/A* HQL 7.91% N/A* -1.16% N/A* IAF 8.58% 9.36% 32.38% 9.36% IFN 9.71% 9.60% 16.79% 7.07% JEQ 2.99% 6.47% 24.10% 6.47% 1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of October 31, 2024. *The Fund's fiscal period to date is October 1, 202 to October 31, 2024, and there were no distributions in this period. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy"). While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state, and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter ### For More Information Contact: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds Investor Relations 1-800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - David H. Brett, President & CEO, EnGold Mines Ltd., (TSXV: EGM) ("EnGold" or the "Company") reports that long time EnGold director Dale Reimer has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company on an interim basis, filling a vacancy in that position. Also, longtime EnGold director John K. Brown has been appointed Chairman of the Company on an interim basis, a position that was also vacant. About EnGold EnGold is a Vancouver-based copper, gold, silver, and magnetite exploration company focused solely on its 100% owned Lac La Hache property in the Cariboo region of BC which hosts the Spout Copper Deposit, the Aurizon Gold Deposit, and the G1 Copper Deposit and other targets within a large porphyry mineralizing system. With world-class infrastructure at its doorstep, Lac La Hache is a great location to be exploring. EnGold Mines Ltd. David Brett President & CEO To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236830 SOURCE: EnGold Mines Ltd. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company") a Canadian biopharmaceutical company developing radiopharmaceuticals and ADC products using its proprietary platform and drug delivery technologies in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines, is pleased to announce its participation to the Biotech ShowcaseTM conference next week in San Francisco during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference to meet with industry leaders, partners and potential investors. The Biotech Showcase is a premier investor conference committed to creating a platform for biotech companies, offering them a unique opportunity to showcase their innovation and engage one-to-one with investors and biopharmaceuticals executives. The life science conference is taking place from January 13-16 in San Francisco during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference which is the premier healthcare investment symposium attracting thousands of industry leaders and investors. "Our CSO, Dr. Maxime Parisotto, and I will be actively participating in the healthcare conference and meetings related in San Francisco to meet with global industry leaders, potential partners and investors to reinforce our network in the US ecosystem and more importantly to clearly demonstrate the strength and importance of our proprietary Accum technology platform in the US life science market. The Accum technology platform has a great potential to play a pivotal role to improve ADCs and in the development of targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies, which we are fully dedicated to expanding in 2025" says Mr. Plouffe, CEO and president of Defence Therapeutics. The Company is also pleased to announce the closing of the 1st tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.60 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $300,000 (the "Closing"). Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each whole, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.75 per Share for a period of 24 months from the date of the Closing (the "Warrant Expiry Date"). In connection with the Closing, the Company paid a cash finder's fee of $24,000 and issued 40,000 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") to certain qualified arm's length finder. Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable into one Share at an exercise price of $0.75 per Share on or before the Warrant Expiry Date. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to advance its preclinical and clinical programs and for general working capital. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from their date of issue in accordance with applicable securities legislation. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and engineering the next generation of radio-immuno-conjugate and ADC products using its proprietary platform in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of radio-immuno-conjugates or ADCs in their intact form to target cells, and vaccine antigens. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236764 SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc. 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF)(PINK:TGIFF), a Nevada-focused cannabis cultivator and producer, is pleased to provide an update to its news release dated November 29, 2024 (the "Announcement") announcing its request for a management cease trade order (the "MCTO") relating to the late filing of the Company's audited financial statements, management discussion & analysis and applicable CEO and CFO certifications for the year ended July 31, 2024 (the "Audited Filings"). The Company's principal regulator, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "Commission"), granted the MCTO on November 29, 2024, under National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trader Orders ("NP 12-203"). Pursuant to the MCTO, Paul Rosen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brian Farrell, Chief Financial Officer, and Curtis Floyd, Director, may not trade in the securities of the Company until such time as the Company files the Audited Filings and the Commission revokes the MCTO. The MCTO does not affect the ability of shareholders to trade their securities. The Company's Board of Directors and management are continuing to work with its accounting team and other stakeholders to prepare the Audited Filings as soon as practicable and it is the Company's reasonable expectation that the Audited Filings will be finalized on or before January 27, 2025. Until the Audited Filings are filed, the Company intends to comply with the provisions of the alternative information guidelines as set out in NP 12-203 for as long as it remains in default, including the issuance of bi-weekly default status reports in the form of a news release. The Company has imposed an insider trading blackout pending the filing of the Audited Filings. The Company confirms that, since the date of the Announcement: (i) there has been no material change to the information set out in the Announcement that has not been generally disclosed; (ii) there has not been any other specified default by the Company under NP 12-203; (iii) the Company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings as of the date of this news release and (iv) there is no material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. In addition, the Company's Q1 2025 financial report, including financial statements, management discussion & analysis and applicable CEO and CFO certifications for the year ended Oct. 31, 2024, will not be filed until the Audited Filings are filed. The Company also announces that the contract agreement with Mr. Paul Rosen, Chief Executive Officer, has ended in accordance with the terms specified within such agreement and that Mr. Rosen will resign as CEO, effective February 1st, 2025 . Mr. Rosen will remain a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Brian Farrell, who currently serves as the Company's CFO, and who has served on the Board of Directors since 2018, will assume the role of Interim CEO. Mr. Farrell stated, "Paul joined 1933 Industries in 2020 as Interim CEO at a time when the Company was undergoing major financial difficulties and dealing with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under Paul's leadership, the Company survived the pandemic and the downturn in the cannabis industry by eliminating inefficiencies, restructuring debt, enhancing its senior management team, and reducing the labor force. As a result, the Company reached profitability for the first time in its history. The Company's in-house 'AMA' brand is currently one of the top selling brands in Nevada. The Company thanks Mr. Rosen for his many contributions over his tenure as CEO." About 1933 Industries Inc. 1933 Industries is a Nevada-based licensed producer, focused on the cultivation and extraction of a large portfolio of cannabis consumer products in a variety of formats under its flagship brands, Alternative Medicine Association (AMA) and Level X. Its product offerings are cultivated at the Company's 68,000 sq. ft. indoor facility and marketed directly to retail dispensaries. AMA branded flower, infused pre-rolls, and in-house boutique concentrates consistently rank as the top products sold in Nevada. For more information, please visit www.1933industries.com For further information please contact: Alexia Helgason, VP, Investor Relations 604-728-4407 alexia@1933industries.com Paul Rosen, CEO paul@1933industries.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. 1933 Industries undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: 1933 Industries Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Baymount Incorporated (TSXV: BYM.H) (the "Corporation" or "Baymount") announces today that further to its press release of September 6, 2024, the Company has terminated its previously announced private placement of units (each, a "Unit") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $100,000 through the issuance of Units at a price of $0.01 per Unit. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Corporation. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: risks associated with the Corporation's business plan and matters relating thereto, and risks associated with the need for additional financing, reliance on key personnel, the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the Corporation's public filings on SEDAR+. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236767 SOURCE: Baymount Incorporated Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2025) - Alma Gold Inc. (CSE: ALMA) ("Alma Gold" or the "Company") announces that Mr. Paul Teniere has resigned from the Company's Board of Directors, effective January 7, 2025. He will, however, continue to support the Company in his role as a technical consultant. Alma Gold extends its gratitude to Mr. Teniere for his valuable contributions to the Board over the years and wishes him success in his future endeavors. About Alma Gold Inc. Alma Gold Inc. is a gold-focused exploration company based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Alma Gold Inc. through its subsidiary Karita Gold Corp. is exploring the Karita West Project in northern Guinea, the Dialakoro project permits under application in the Siguiri Basin of Guinea and it owns the Clarence Stream North Gold Project in southwest New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Alma Gold Inc., please visit our website at: https://almagoldinc.ca. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and includes those risks set out in the Corporation's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Corporation's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Corporation believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236606 SOURCE: Alma Gold Inc. Sonu Soods Fateh is a big-screen entertainer and deserves an audience for its crisp storytelling and stylish action sequences read more Director: Sonu Sood Cast: Sonu Sood, Jacqueline Fernandez, Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz, Shiv Jyoti Rajput, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Prakash Belawadi, Binnu Dhillon, Suraj Jumani, Sheeba, Akashdeep Sabir Sonu Sood known for playing powerful antagonist roles in films like Dabangg, Shootout At Wadala and Simmba, turned real-life messiah during the COVID-19 phase because of his humanitarian work. Now, the actor and philanthropist has donned a new hat for his biggie Fateh. Yes, Sonu has made his directorial debut with the cyber-crime thriller, which has hit the screens today. While the trailer has struck a chord with the audience, does it turn out to be a worthy affair? Lets find out Advertisement Fateh Singh (Sonu Sood), an ex-Indian agent from an undercover agency who does covert operations, lives a simple life in Moga, Punjab as a Dairy farm supervisor after the agency shuts down. He is very close to people in his surroundings, especially Nimrat who is his neighbour and considers her as younger sister. Nimrat runs a small mobile shop but is under stress after becoming an agent of a bank loan app as she has made her several neighbours take that loan, who are now facing unnecessary penalties and interests, which lead them to take extreme steps. Nimrat now goes to Delhi to meet the person, who runs this app but goes missing. Now, Fateh takes the responsibility to bring Nimrat home and heads to Delhi. In the capital, he comes to know about the cyber-criminals through Khushi (Jacqueline Fernandez), who are not only looting middle-class people through fake loan apps but also hampering the Indian economy. Now, Fateh has two missions - one to find Nimrat and second to end this cyber-crime. Will he succeed in achieving these two objectives? For that, you have to watch Fateh on the big screen. After leaving his mark as an actor par excellence, Sonu Sood made an impressive directorial debut. In fact, his direction looks much better than many veterans. The screenplay is engaging with a gripping narrative, which keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, the biggest highlight of the movie is its stylized action sequences, which are bloody gory and whistle-worthy. Action directors - Lee Whittaker, RP Yadav, Riyaz Nasir Shaikh & Habib Haji Sayed have made the movie larger than life with their brutal action sequences. Advertisement The background score enhances the impact and elevates the mood and the men behind them are Hans Zimmer (2-time Academy Award winner known for his composition in Hollywood films like The Lion King, Gladiator, Interstellar, Inception, Dunkirk and others) and John Stewart Eduri. The camera work is top-notch by Vincenzo Condorelli, who stylishly presents Fateh as a big-budget extravaganza with his finesse in stunts and action sequences. The editing is crisp and sharp by Yash Parikh and Chandrashekhar Prajapati, who make every frame engrossing and keep the storyline gripping with its runtime of 130 minutes. Talking about the performances, Sonu Sood takes the movie on his strong shoulders and hits it out of the park. Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz are superb in their negative avatars while Jacqueline Fernandez is just average. Advertisement On the whole, Fateh is a big-screen entertainer and deserves an audience for its crisp storytelling and stylish action sequences. Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars) Fateh is playing in cinemas In the first high-level talks since the Talibans Kabul takeover, the Indian foreign ministry engaged with the Afghanistan regime in Dubai on Wednesday. The Taliban says it has urged New Delhi to issue visas to Afghan businessmen, patients and students during the meet read more The Taliban have called on India to issue visas to Afghan businessmen, patients and students. The request was raised during the meeting between Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Afghanistans acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday (January 8), the first high-level talks since the Talibans takeover of Kabul in 2021. Assuring New Delhi that Afghanistan did not pose a threat to any nation, the Taliban regime urged India to raise the level of diplomatic relations. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement did not mention the visa issue, only noting that Foreign Secretary Misri conveyed Indias readiness to respond to the urgent developmental needs of the Afghan people. Advertisement Lets take a closer look. Talibans demands from India The Taliban has asked India to ease the visa rules for Afghan businessmen, patients and students. In a series of posts on X, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesperson for the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry, said the request was made by acting Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi to Misri in Dubai on Wednesday. Afghanistans foreign ministry said in a statement after the talks, Assuring the Indian delegation that Afghanistan does not pose a threat to any nation, FM Muttaqi expressed hope for raising the level of diplomatic relations, and easing the visa regime for Afghan businessmen, patients and students. Hafiz Zia Ahmad claimed that the two sides agreed to facilitate visa and trade during the meeting. But visa was not mentioned in the MEA statement. Calling India a significant regional and economic partner, Afghanistans foreign ministry said the two sides discussed expanding their ties and enhancing trade through Chabahar Port in Iran. In line with Afghanistans balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner, the statement said. After the Dubai meeting, the MEA said that India would consider engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and providing material support to the country. Advertisement In response to the request from the Afghan side, India will provide further material support in the first instance to the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees, it said. Why visa is a complex issue The granting of visas to Afghans is a complicated issue for India due to several factors. New Delhi, like other foreign governments, does not officially recognise the Taliban administration. As per an Indian Express report, there are also security concerns flagged by Indian security and intelligence agencies regarding Afghan visa seekers. Currently, India also does not have a functional visa section at the Indian embassy in Kabul or operational consulates in Afghanistan. Foreign Secy @VikramMisri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai today. Both sides discussed 's ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bilateral issues and security situation in the region. India reiterated its commitment to pic.twitter.com/a3UyuIqkAG Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 8, 2025 Advertisement The Taliban delegation has tried to alleviate Indias security concerns, assuring there would be proper vetting of those getting visas from Afghanistan to travel to India, sources told the newspaper. After the fall of the Ashraf Ghani-led Afghan government and the capture of Kabul by the Taliban in August 2021, the Indian government has been strict in issuing visas to Afghans. Indias embassy in Kabul is presently run by a small team of technical experts, who ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance and stay in touch with the Taliban regime. Advertisement If India decides to grant visas to Afghans, it would need to increase manpower at the embassy. Why Taliban has turned to India Afghanistans healthcare system is in crisis under the Taliban. Last February, Human Rights Watch said in its report that the public health system in the Asian country was hit hard after a sharp fall in foreign aid. Women and girls have been disproportionately affected by the healthcare crisis, particularly because of Taliban abuses, the New York-based watchdogs report said. Now, the Taliban wants India to allow Afghans to travel for medical treatment. After the Taliban takeover, the Indian government has allowed some Afghans to come for medical treatment but the numbers have sharply reduced since August 2021. India has continued humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban, sending shipments of wheat, medicines, Covid-19 vaccines, and winter clothing. The Taliban and Indias high-level meeting comes at a time when ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have frayed. Islamabad accuses the Pakistan Taliban group of using Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan, a charge rejected by Kabul. Advertisement The talks between India and the Taliban are likely to ruffle feathers in Pakistan. With inputs from agencies As Guantanamo Bays population dwindles to its lowest point, the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to resolve high-profile cases, including plea deals for 9/11 suspects. With only 15 detainees remaining, questions about the legacy of Americas war on terror loom large read more In this photo reviewed by US military officials, flags fly at half-staff at Camp Justice, August 29, 2021, in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. File Image/AP After 23 years, the fate of the last remaining Guantanamo detainees captured worldwide following al-Qaidas devastating September 11, 2001, attacks is approaching a crucial juncture this month. Legal battles and negotiations are determining the future of these remaining detainees at the US naval base in Cuba, including those accused of involvement in some of the most significant attacks of the 21st century. US President Joe Bidens administration is striving to resolve as many cases as possible on its own terms before Donald Trump assumes office on January 20. Advertisement During his first term, Trump acted to keep Guantanamo operational, and his defence secretary pick has also voiced opposition to its closure. In the most prominent case, the Biden administration is making a last-minute effort this week to block a plea agreement for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, and two co-defendants. This deal, which would spare them from the death penalty, was initially overseen by the Defence Department but was later disavowed. At its height, Guantanamo housed nearly 800 Muslim men, apprehended by the US or its allies across the Middle East, Central Asia, and elsewhere. These detainees were transported to the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, often shackled, blindfolded, or hooded, as part of the George W Bush administrations declared war on terror. Many detainees were subjected to torture while in CIA custody, complicating legal proceedings and tarnishing the USs global reputation. According to Human Rights Watch, the majority of Guantanamo detainees were never charged or tried. Efforts to reduce the detainee population have now brought the number to its lowest ever: 15. How detainees ended up in Guantanamo The Bush administrations January 2002 decision to detain foreigners indefinitely at Guantanamo followed the 9/11 attacks, which profoundly disrupted the US and global order. Nineteen al-Qaida hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. As the US launched military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, it turned to a section of Cuba leased by the US Navy to house and prosecute the hundreds it captured, invoking World War II-era laws on military commissions. Many detainees were later found to have no ties to extremist groups. Advertisement The decision pushed US legal boundaries. Bushs vice president, Dick Cheney, described the detainees as the worst of the worst and defended military commissions. Cheney argued that the alternatives were to try the men within the US where constitutional rights would applyor kill them. In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that US treatment of Guantanamo detainees must comply with the Constitution. Why the detentions matter The US military response significantly diminished the capabilities of al-Qaida and later the Islamic State group to conduct large-scale attacks abroad. However, these successes were overshadowed by the human and financial costs of the wars, the torture of detainees in the early years, and their prolonged detention without charge. Legal experts frequently refer to the torture of detainees as the original sin of Guantanamo prosecutions, undermining the potential for fair trials. Advertisement Human Rights groups estimate Guantanamos annual costs at over $540 million, equating to $36 million per detainee based on the current population of 15. Negotiations between the Taliban & US The Biden administration is also negotiating with the Taliban to secure the release of three Americans believed to have been held in Afghanistan since 2022. These include Ryan Corbett, a businessman abducted during a trip; George Glezmann, an airline mechanic detained by Taliban intelligence; and Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghan American telecommunications contractor. As part of a potential exchange, an Afghan national detained at Guantanamo and central to the Senate Intelligence Committees report on CIA torture is reportedly under consideration for release. However, one source indicated that the Taliban might seek the release of additional detainees in US custody as part of any deal. Role Biden has played to transfer Guantanamo detainees Since taking office, Biden has reduced Guantanamos population from 40 to 15. This includes 11 Yemenis detained for over two decades without charge, whose transfers were announced this week after Oman agreed to take them. The US has faced challenges finding countries willing to host detainees while ensuring their safety and preventing extremist recruitment. Advertisement This week, an Iraqi detainee, Nashwan al-Tamir, is fighting a transfer to an Iraqi prison. His lawyers argue this would violate a plea agreement he made in 2022, in which he pleaded guilty to war crimes connected to al-Qaida in Afghanistan. Six of the remaining 15 detainees have not been charged, and rights groups are urging Biden to release them before leaving office. Fate of those charged in major attacks Seven detainees face charges, including Mohammed and four others for their roles in the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Others include one detainee charged in a 2002 Bali bombing that killed over 200 and another involved in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. Despite decades of delays in prosecuting the 9/11 case, military prosecutors informed victims families this summer that a plea deal was approved after two years of negotiations. The deal, seen as the best path to finality and justice, involves Mohammed and two co-defendants pleading guilty to 2,976 murder charges in exchange for life sentences. Advertisement US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has unsuccessfully sought to annul the agreement, arguing that only the defence secretary should decide on the death penalty in a case as significant as 9/11. This week, the Biden administration asked a federal appeals court to block the plea agreement. Without intervention, Mohammed is scheduled to plead guilty on Friday, with his co-defendants following later. What happens under Trump and Republican lawmakers It remains uncertain how Trump would approach Guantanamo in a second term. During his first term, he signed an executive order to keep Guantanamo open, reversing Obamas order to close it. Trumps defence secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, has supported keeping the facility open, criticising the lengthy legal proceedings for undermining the USs stance on counterterrorism. Outraged by the plea deals, Republican lawmakers have pledged to introduce legislation mandating death penalty trials for Mohammed and his co-defendants, requiring solitary confinement, and prohibiting their transfer to other countries. With inputs from AP As the California wildfires continue to burn, causing at least seven deaths, reports of looting have emerged with some residents complaining of seeing individuals entering abandoned homes and burglarising them. Authorities have detained 20 people for such actions, calling it unacceptable read more Skies over Los Angeles continue to remain a dystopian orange and plumes of smoke continue to arise from the area as wildfires continue to rage since they first broke out on Tuesday (January 7). At least seven people have died so far, with officials expecting the toll to rise and more than 10,000 structures being reduced to ashes. Amid this devastation, some residents are refusing to heed the calls for evacuation. Why? Because they fear that their homes will be looted. Advertisement Twenty people have already been arrested on suspicion of raiding homes in southern California amid the blazes with California Governor Gavin Newsom saying, looting will not be tolerated. What do we know of the looting? What are residents doing about it? We have the answers. Looting amid the wildfires As the wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, reducing everything in its way to ashes, local media has been reporting of some individuals taking to looting homes. Local news reporter Haley Winslow, whos been reporting from the Eaton fire, said, It has turned into the wild west here. It is just complete insanity on all corners. Police are doing the best they can. However, they are seeing people walking away with large televisions, just taking advantage of what little this town has left, she added. Elsewhere, Arturo Garcia, who has been hired to stand guard outside a mansion in the affluent area of Pacific Palisades, also reported that he seen looting. He said that he and his partner caught one man leaving a house with a luxury bag filled with a drone and a toy car. Two people hold each other in front of their destroyed home in Altadena, California. Seven people have died so far and over 10,000 structures have been burnt down in the fires. AP Other residents have also recounted witnessing people taking to looting at this time. Allison Agsten, a local, told KTLA, We just started seeing all these cars pull up, doors open, groups of men running up our street, going up to the doors of these houses. On Thursday (January 9), Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna addressed the looting taking place amid the wildfires, telling reporters that at least 20 people had been arrested on looting charges and warned others to stay out of evacuated homes. Over last night and this morning, we are up to 20 20 individuals who chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property, he said. Absolutely unacceptable, and Im going to give direction to our department members When we have an evacuation order, by law, if you remain in that area, you are guilty of a misdemeanour. If you commit certain crimes, it could jump up to a felony. Im going to be asking our employees to start enforcing that. Advertisement He vowed to crack down harshly on the criminals, saying, Were not going to tolerate that kind of activity. We have substantially increased our deployment of deputies. A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, California. AP Even LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger lamented the incidents of looting. She called the looters opportunists, adding, I will not stand by and allow an already traumatic experience to be further compounded. Similarly, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also condemned the incidents of theft. If you want to go ahead and loot, if you want to commit burglary, if you want to engage in grand theft, if you want to engage in internet scams where you are going to be taking advantage of people who are going to be seeking insurance and government benefits, you will be arrested and you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law, he was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times. Advertisement Private security to curb looting In an attempt to prevent such incidents, some residents of Los Angeles have taken to hiring private security. In fact, Herman Weisberg, the managing director of SAGE Intelligence, said that private security firms are slammed with requests for help. These private contractors have said that their demand has increased in the last few days. However, they are having to turn down business as they dont have the resources. As Weisberg explained in a Fox News report, We are slammed. Weve already pretty much committed all the assets I have in California to various assignments, but were trying to mobilise some more out of towners, which has its own issues. A man becomes emotional while looking at his home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. AP Looting amid natural disasters Reports of looting amid the wildfires bring up past memories of theft and burglaries during past storms in the US. Remember, there were reports of mass thefts and burglaries during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Several videos and images emerged at the time, showing people wading out in thigh-high floodwaters with armloads of clothing and trashcans full of goods. Even as people struggled to pick up the pieces of their lives in Florida after Hurricane Milton struck Florida last October, reports of wide-scale looting was reported. This had prompted Florida Govenor Ron DeSantis to say, I would probably say here, you loot, we shoot, you never know whats behind that door. If you go breaking into somebodys house and you are trying to loot, these are people that are going to be able to defend themselves and their families. Advertisement Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire as it engulfs structures in California. AP Wildfires refuse to simmer down The wildfires raging across Los Angeles are nowhere close to being contained and they continue on their path of destruction. At least seven people have died and over 10,000 structures have been burnt down. In the past 24 hours, Accuweather has nearly tripled its preliminary estimate for total damage from the wildfires. Its latest projection says losses could amount to as much as $150 billion. Thats revised from an estimate of up to $57 billion yesterday. The insurance industry is also bracing for a major hit, with analysts from firms such as Morningstar and JP Morgan forecasting insured losses of more than $8 billion. According to officials, the Palisades and Eaton fire have been contained six and zero per cent respectively, while the Sunset fire that has been menacing the well-known Hollywood Hills area has started to shrink. Advertisement Many Hollywood celebrities, including Paris Hilton, have also lost their million-dollar mansions in the blazes. In response to the situation, US President Joe Biden said he will send every federal resource possible to southern California, including hundreds of firefighters, 30 firefighting aircraft, eight defence aircraft and 500 military personal. Moreover, he has cancelled his visit to Italy in order to monitor the situation. Even Vice President Kamala Harris has called of her trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany. With inputs from agencies Assyrian Researcher: Social Contract Should Be Part of Syrian Constitution Barsoum Barsoum. Barsoum Barsoum, the advisor at the Syriac Research Center, emphasized the need for the social contract to be part of Syria's constitution. He rejected the imposition of a singular identity on Syria, stating, "There is a need for joint programs to build a democratic Syria. The social contract of North and East Syria is a result of similar efforts, and we hope that it becomes part of the Syrian constitution." Speaking to ANHA agency about decisions by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's administration and the needs of the Syriac community in Syria, Barsoum highlighted that Syriacs, as one of the region's indigenous peoples, are facing immense challenges due to Syria's ongoing crises. "We noticed during our visits to different regions in Syria that the Syriac people are optimistic but also apprehensive. They hope for a better future, but hostile practices and decisions by the interim government raise concerns about Syria's direction. These fears are not exclusive to the Syriac community; all communities with diverse ideas, ethnicities, and religions share these worries, " Barsoum said. Barsoum called for cooperation among all communities and factions to create shared programs aimed at building a secular, democratic, and decentralized Syria, ensuring everyone's values are constitutionally protected. He stressed the importance of alliances between communities, organizations, and societies to guarantee the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, adding, "Currently, the troubling issue is the repetition of the former regime's practices, now perpetuated by new radical figures. Decisions that fail to represent all communities clash with societal pressures. However, society has the power to reform these practices within a short period after the regime's downfall." Barsoum criticized Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's efforts to establish singular educational and judicial systems, stating: "Syria's communities, including ours, reject such decisions. Initially, they claimed to eliminate Baathist material from curriculums but instead introduced extremist content harmful to society. They altered curriculums that reflect Syria's rich history and culture. It is essential to recognize the Syriac people as indigenous, declare Syriac as an official language, and ensure the right of all communities, including Syriac, Kurdish, Turkmen, and Circassian." Barsoum proposed implementing the Autonomous Administration model of North and East Syria across the country: "This model could be applied fully throughout Syria. I participated in drafting the Autonomous Administration's social contract, which is highly effective in recognizing and protecting the rights of different peoples, cultures, religions, and communities through a decentralized approach. This is our primary demand for Syria as a whole and aligns with international treaties on human and indigenous rights. We hope that this social contract will be incorporated into the Syrian constitution, and we are working towards that goal." Putin open to contact with Trump after Jan. 20: Kremlin Xinhua) 10:45, January 10, 2025 MOSCOW, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin would welcome contact with Donald Trump if Trump's political will remains after his inauguration as U.S. president on Jan. 20, said the Kremlin on Thursday. There are currently no requests for contact from the U.S. side, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. However, it would be reasonable to wait until Trump takes office, he added. At a recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President-elect Trump said he was aware that the Russian leader would like to meet, adding that such a meeting would only be appropriate after his inauguration. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) At least 10 people have been killed and over 10,000 homes and other structures have been burnt by the two largest wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles area. Firefighters, trying to contain the nearly half-dozen blazes since Tuesday, have run into a major obstacle: the lack of water. While using water from the Pacific Ocean would seem like an easy fix, it is not the most obvious one read more Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, January 9, 2025. AP The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and burnt more than 10,000 homes and other structures. Amid the crisis, firefighters trying to contain the nearly half-dozen blazes since Tuesday have encountered a major obstacle: the lack of water. However, with a huge body of water just down the road, how could firefighters run out of water? Lack of water According to Chief Engineer Janisse Quinones, the three water tanks of the Los Angeles Fire Department of Water and Power, each of which has a capacity of around one million gallons, ran out of water on Wednesday morning. Were fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging, Quinones said. Advertisement A firefighter battles the Kenneth Fire, Thursday, January 9, 2025, in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. AP California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday told CNN the fires had caused complete and utter devastation. Weve depleted all our resources, as fire hydrants across the region ran dry. Those hydrants are typical for two or three fires, maybe one fire. And then you have something at this scale. Firefighters were observed using a firefighting plane to collect water from the Pacific Ocean in response to the scarcity of water, according to USA Today. Also read: Hollywood actors flee, Oscar noms postponed: How wildfires are ravaging Los Angeles Ocean water to put out fires Although this would seem like an easy fix, it is not the most obvious one. Theoretically, seawater could aid a fire. However, because of the potential negative effects of its salty ingredients, firefighters usually refrain from using it unless absolutely required. Technology.org explains that salt can also lessen the cooling impact of water, making it less effective as a firefighting agent. Additionally, salt water retains a charge better than fresh water, which makes it somewhat riskier for firefighters. Fire officials are also concerned about environmental health while using salt water to fight fires. Large amounts of salt water that are thrown onto a fire may eventually find their way into the ground or flow into adjacent bodies of water. Advertisement Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire as it engulfs structures in California. AP As one might anticipate at the scene of a wildfire, applying huge amounts of salt to regions with a lot of vegetation is nearly always harmful. Increases in soil salinity, or the amount of salt in the soil, hinder plants ability to soak up water and nutrients from the soil. Additionally, salt can poison the soil, inhibit the growth of seedlings, and damage the soils overall permeability, which refers to how quickly nutrients and water can pass through the ground. Having said that, firefighters do occasionally use salt water to combat flames; they simply need to use caution and judgment while using these techniques. Advertisement Desalination is required to use salt water as efficiently as fresh water, which is a controversial concept in parts of the United States. Several environmentalists advocated for a systemic implementation to combat wildfires and droughts, while others believe it is unnecessary, costly, and inefficient. A structure burns during the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, California. Several Hollywoods rich and famous have also lost their homes in the blaze. AFP Also read: Hollywood sign, Disneyland & more: Which famous landmarks are affected by LA wildfires? The Los Angeles wildfires All the major fires broke out this week are located in a roughly 40-kilometre band north of downtown Los Angeles, spreading a sense of fear and sadness across the nations second-largest city. In the hilly coastal neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires burning has destroyed over 5,3000 structures, and firefighters had no containment. The Eaton Fire near Pasadena that started Tuesday night has burnt more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings, and vehicles. Firefighters were able to establish the first bit of containment on Thursday. Advertisement A destroyed car stands amid the rubble of a burnt home as powerful winds fuelling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of west Los Angeles, California. Reuters The Kenneth Fire started late Thursday afternoon in the San Fernando Valley, just 3.2 kilometres from a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire. It moved into neighbouring Ventura County, but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. About 400 firefighters remained on the scene overnight to guard against the fire flaring up. Additionally, on Thursday, an evacuation was lifted after crews used water drops from planes to put out a fire in the Hollywood Hills. Of the 10 deaths so far, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley confirmed two were in the Palisades Fire. County officials said the Eaton Fire had killed five. Cadaver dogs and crews are searching through rubble to see if there are more victims. Advertisement Water is dropped by helicopter on the advancing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday. AP At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and groceries were burnt. Local landmarks, such as the Will Rogers Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, dating to the 1920s, were also burnt. AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, on Thursday increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to $135-$150 billion. At least 180,000 people were under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 117 square kilometres roughly the size of San Francisco. All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest, will be closed again Friday because of the heavy smoke wafting over the city and ash raining down in parts. Amid the wildfire crisis, several individuals were seen entering abandoned houses and looting. At least 20 arrests have been made as Santa Monica declared a curfew because of the lawlessness. National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. Theyll be stationed near fire-ravaged areas to protect property. With inputs from The Associated Press A growing number of Gen Z workers in the UK are resorting to career catfishing, a new workplace trend against unresponsive hiring managers. Zoomers accept the job offers only to never show up on their first day. But why? read more The rising trend, dubbed career catfishing, involves Zoomers (those aged 27 and under) accepting job offers only to never show up on their first day. Image courtesy: AFP Have you ever sent out countless CVs to job listings, only to be met with complete silence? Its a frustrating experience many can relate to. However, in a surprising twist, a growing number of Gen Z workers in the UK are turning the tables on unresponsive hiring managers. This act of rebellion, coined as career catfishing, is gaining traction as a new workplace trend, according to a recent study by the online resume-building platform CV Genius. Advertisement But what does career catfishing exactly mean? Heres a closer look. What is career catfishing? After slogging through the exhausting process of job hunting submitting countless applications, enduring endless rounds of interviews, and anxiously waiting for updates from unresponsive hiring managers Gen Z workers have found a way to reclaim the balance of power. The rising trend, dubbed career catfishing, involves Gen Zs (those aged 27 and under) accepting job offers only to never show up on their first day. According to a survey by CV Genius, which polled 1,000 UK employees across generations, approximately 34 per cent of Zoomers admitted to engaging in career catfishing. Our survey found that Gen Z workers, in particular, reported opting for creative ways to put themselves first before their jobs, UK-based experts told The New York Post. Interestingly, its not just Gen Z leading this movement. The findings also showed that 24 per cent of millennials (aged 28 to 43) have dabbled in career catfishing, compared to 11 per cent of Gen Xers (aged 44 to 59) and just 7 per cent of baby boomers (aged 60 and above). Unlike their older counterparts, Gen Z workers appear more focused on prioritising their personal needs over conforming to traditional corporate expectations. Advertisement Also read: Hate returning to the office? This new workplace trend, coffee badging, is for you The prevalent ghosting culture Gen Z alone cannot shoulder the blame for the rise of such behaviours. Office ghosting where one party cuts off communication without notice is now a common phenomenon. According to a 2023 survey by job search platform Indeed, three out of four UK employees admitted to abruptly ceasing contact with potential employers during the recruitment process. Younger workers, in particular, see such actions as a means of feeling in charge of their career, as highlighted in a report cited by Fortune. Ghosting has gotten to a point where 75 per cent of candidatesand 74 per cent of employersadmit that it is part of the hiring landscape, per separate surveys of over 4,500 job seekers and employers from Indeed. Research by Monster found that over a third of applicants who ghosted recruiters did so due to perceived rudeness or misleading information about a job role. Similarly, applicants without degrees were more likely to ghost employers when hiring managers took too long to respond. Advertisement In fact, ghosting has gotten to a point where 75 per cent of candidatesand 74 per cent of employersadmit that it is part of the hiring landscape, per separate surveys of over 4,500 job seekers and employers from Indeed. Also read: Burned-out workers are considering micro-retirement. What is it? Why career catfishing could backfire For Gen Z, landing a stable, full-time job has become an uphill battle. According to Fortune, the graduating class of 2025 is expected to apply to more jobs than their predecessors, with applications already up by 24 per cent compared to the previous year. However, despite the rising efforts, the job market remains dire. The number of job openings has significantly dropped from 2023 levels, leading to a fiercely competitive hiring landscape. This intense competition may be pushing Gen Z applicants to accept the first offer they receive, only to later realise its not a fit and decide not to show up on the first day. But while career catfishing might feel like a momentary win, it could be a risky move in the long run. Advertisement Gen Z workers are already battling negative perceptions among employers. A report by Resume Builder found that hiring managers often consider Gen Z to be the most challenging generation to work with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6h7MNRe5qg Managers and owners identified entitlement, motivation, lack of effort, and productivity as reasons for terminating Gen Z employees. Some even referred to them as the snowflake generation and claimed they were too easily offended, which further justified their dismissal. The practice of career catfishing could further reinforce these stereotypes, making it even harder for young professionals to build trust with potential employers. Ultimately, the trend underscores deeper flaws in the hiring process. To prevent such behaviours, both employers and candidates need to prioritise clear communication and mutual respect. Advertisement Clear communication, timely feedback, and accountability on both sides could help bridge the growing divide, ensuring hiring processes are as professional as the jobs theyre meant to fill. With input from agencies Originally from Karnatakas Tumkur district, Chandra Arya is a Canadian Member of Parliament representing the Nepean electoral district. A vocal critic of Khalistani extremism in Canada, Arya announced his campaign after Justin Trudeaus resignation, promising to make Canada a republic and recognise Palestine as a state read more Chandra Arya is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons. Image courtesy: X/@AryaCanada An Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament has declared his candidacy for the position of Canadas next Prime Minister. Chandra Arya, representing Nepean, said that his goal is to rebuild Canada" with a focus on a small, efficient" government. ALSO READ | Chrystia Freeland, Mark Carney & more: The many in fray to replace Justin Trudeau This announcement comes only a few days after Justin Trudeau stepped down as Prime Minister amid increasing dissatisfaction with his leadership and escalating unrest within his administration. Advertisement With Trudeaus resignation, he also announced the suspension of Parliament until March 24. When sessions resume, opposition parties are expected to push for a non-confidence vote, which could lead to a general election. Who is Chandra Arya? Chandra Arya, an Indian-origin Canadian MP has announced his candidacy for the race of Canadas next Prime Minister. Image courtesy: X/@AryaCanada 1. Arya is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons. 2. Originally from Dwarlu village in Sira Taluk of Karnatakas Tumkur district, he emigrated to Canada in 2006 with his wife and son. 3. He is a long-time supporter of Justin Trudeau. 4. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Kousali Institute of Management Studies in Dharwad. 5. Arya was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015 during Trudeaus Liberal wave, which secured a majority. ALSO READ | Is Justin Trudeaus resignation as Canadas PM good news for India? 6. A vocal critic of Khalistani extremism in Canada, Arya previously urged the Trudeau government to address the concerns of Canadas Hindu community. 7. In 2022, Arya gained attention for delivering a speech in Kannada at the Canadian Parliament. He said it was the first time that the language was spoken in any parliament outside India. Advertisement I spoke in my mother tongue (first language) Kannada in Canadian parliament. This beautiful language has long history and is spoken by about 50 million people. This is the first time Kannada is spoken in any parliament in the world outside of India. pic.twitter.com/AUanNlkETT Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) May 19, 2022 8. In November last year, he raised a triangular saffron flag outside the Canadian Parliament to celebrate Hindu Heritage Month and called for greater Hindu Canadian political representation. He said that Hindu Canadians are underrepresented in the political sphere. Chandra Arya celebrating Hindu Heritage Month outside the Canadian Parliament. Image courtesy: X/@AryaCanada 9. His campaign includes promises to make Canada a republic, eliminate the consumer carbon tax, and recognise Palestine as a state, according to his statement posted on X. 10. He is contesting to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party, joining another Indian-origin candidate, Canadas Transportation Minister Anita Anand, in the race. ALSO READ | What next for Canada after Justin Trudeaus resignation? Advertisement Chandra Aryas presidential bid In a video statement, he expressed his vision for leading Canada with an efficient government to rebuild the nation. I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations. We are facing significant structural problems that havent been seen for generations and solving them will require pic.twitter.com/GJjJ1Y2oI5 Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) January 9, 2025 I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations. I have always worked hard for what is best for Canadians. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary, he said. Arya promised to use his expertise as the next Liberal Party leader, if elected, to address several structural challenges. He pointed out Canadas economic difficulties, stating that many Canadians, particularly younger generations, struggle with affordability. If elected, as the next leader of the Liberal Party, I offer my knowledge and expertise to do so. We are facing significant structural problems that havent been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices. Our economic growth and fiscal strength are not benefiting many Canadians. Today, many Canadians, especially younger generations, face significant affordability issues, he said. He also vowed to revitalise the economy and provide better opportunities for Canadians. My full statement. More details, including expanding policy proposals stated in this statement, will be updated on my website https://t.co/Wiq07oCsOy which will be operational later today. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/mKLPkaITMK Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) January 9, 2025 The working middle class is struggling today and many working families are retiring directly into poverty. We must make tough decisions now, not only to revitalise our economy but also to ensure a stable society, he said. Arya also discussed the need to combat extremism, promising to criminalise the glorification of terrorists, extremism and terrorist organisations. He further stated that decisions under his leadership would be based on merit rather than DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) quotas. Why Justin Trudeau resigned Trudeau stepped down as Prime Minister amid rising voter dissatisfaction and internal party challenges. He admitted that he could not lead the party into the next election due to internal battles. I will always fight for this country, and do what I believe is in the best interest of Canadians. pic.twitter.com/AE2nSsx5Nu Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 7, 2025 ALSO READ | How Justin Trudeau became Canadas most unwanted leader He announced that he would remain the Prime Minister until the Liberal Party selects a new leader. He said, I dont easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well-being of democracy are something that I hold dear. Trudeau came to power in 2015, ending a decade of Conservative Party rule, and was initially celebrated for returning Canada to its liberal roots. However, his popularity declined in recent years due to issues such as the rising cost of living, surging immigration, and internal scandals. Over his tenure, Trudeau favoured several causes supported by his liberal base, including immigration, during a period when many nations tightened borders. As the second-youngest Prime Minister in Canadas history, he proved critics wrong who considered his age a liability after achieving a sweeping victory in 2015. With inputs from agencies The death of a 17-year-old boy has led to large-scale violent protests in the Pucheng region of Chinas Shaanxi province. Videos on social media showed angry residents gathering outside the school and clashing with police. While authorities have declared the incident an accident, allegations of a cover-up on social media have fuelled the turmoil read more Thousands of angry residents gathered outside the school and clashed with police. Image courtesy: X/@whyyoutouzhele The death of a student has caused massive protests in northwest China. Various videos circulating on social media show protesters throwing objects at the police, while some officers are seen beating the people at the scene. ALSO READ | Why Chinas lithium find should ring alarm bells in India The incident took place in Pucheng, which is located in Chinas Shaanxi province. But what led to the teenagers death? And why did this incident lead to the protests? Advertisement 17-year-old boys death: Accident or cover-up? Authorities claimed that the teenager, who was allegedly 17, fell to his death on January 2 in what they described as an accident at his school dormitory. However, allegations of a cover-up quickly spread on social media following the incident. Protests broke out soon after and lasted for several days before being reportedly brought under control earlier this week, according to BBC. pic.twitter.com/QPM2jXFZck Shaanxi Pucheng. About fifty thousand people have begun rallying after a student was bullied to death in his school. This is said to be the largest protest to break out in China since January 2023. The video shows the crowd repelling police. The Great Translation Movement (@TGTM_Official) January 6, 2025 In a statement released earlier this week, local authorities identified the teenager, surnamed Dang, as a third-year student at an educational centre in Pucheng, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Notably, according to state media, the officials had investigated the circumstances of Dangs death following a verbal and physical altercation with a roommate. The inquiry came after thousands of angry residents gathered outside the school and clashed with police. Advertisement According to the report, Dang was woken up in the night by other students chatting in his dormitory. After an argument and altercation with a fellow student, the matter was resolved by a school official. ALSO READ | Why Taiwan may consider allowing foreigners to join its army Later that night, another student found Dangs body at the foot of the dormitory building. The statement portrayed the incident as an accident where a student fell from a height at school. It further said that police investigations and an autopsy had been conducted, concluding that at present [it is] excluded as a criminal case. Was the teen bullied? What are the allegations? Videos shared by Sound of Hope showed large crowds shouting outside the school and swinging an ambulance in which the schools vice principal had allegedly sought refuge, as shown in the footage. Advertisement [The victims] family suspected that the deceased had been bullied on campus and accused the school of concealing the truth, read a post on X account DiplySync. According to the CCTV report, Dang was involved in a verbal and physical altercation after complaining that two roommates were talking too loudly, which prevented him from sleeping. He reported the incident to the colleges political education department and then returned to his dormitory. Advertisement At about 3 am on January 2, Huang, who shared a dormitory with Dang, found a wooden stool under the balcony window of the dormitory when he went to the toilet, the report stated. The sliding window was open, and the mesh screen on the window had been removed. Dang was down below, outside. Police concluded that Dang had died from falling from a height, ruling out foul play, the report said. However, online allegations have suggested otherwise. Some claimed, without evidence, that Dang took his own life after being bullied by the boy he had argued with earlier. Unverified claims from Dangs family have also circulated, alleging that the injuries on his body were inconsistent with the authorities account. They also claimed they were not allowed to examine his body for long, BBC reported. Advertisement These allegations have fuelled anger in Pucheng, leading to protests involving hundreds of people. It is reported that tens of thousands of people have gathered in Pucheng. Some are saying bad school management, economic struggles, and bigger systemic issues could trigger unrest across the whole country. pic.twitter.com/XiRd22R5ML China Confidential (@Chinaexposed101) January 9, 2025 Bullying in schools has become a highly sensitive issue in China, with past incidents of student deaths sparking similar unrest. Just last month, a Chinese court handed lengthy prison sentences to two teenagers convicted of murdering a classmate. ALSO READ | Is Chinas slowing economy behind spurt in mass violence incidents? The protests Videos shared on X on Monday, confirmed by BBC as being filmed at the Pucheng Vocational Education Centre, showed mourners paying respects to the deceased teenager. They laid flowers and offerings at the schools entrance and performed a traditional mourning ritual, throwing paper pieces from the rooftop of a school building. Other clips circulating online showed young protesters storming a building, clashing with police, and shouting, Give us the truth. Some visuals show damaged offices within the school compound and protesters dismantling a barricade at the entrance. Protests over a student's suspicious death have escalated into violent clashes. On Jan. 6, thousands confronted police at Shaanxi Pucheng Vocational School, with authorities using batons and pepper spray. Protesters retaliated with stones and fire extinguishers, targeting the pic.twitter.com/d0aZq3oppc Spotlight on China (@spotlightoncn) January 7, 2025 Lin Shengliang, founder of the Chinese Human Rights Accountability Database, told Voice of America (VOA) that the conflict between citizens and police arose from both accidental and inevitable factors. The accidental nature is that they (the authorities and the school) did not expect the public to doubt their account and for so many to stand up, Lin stated. More footage showed protesters throwing objects like traffic cones at the police, while officers responded by detaining and beating people with batons. Some protesters were seen with visible injuries, including blood on their faces and heads. The developments that took place later remain unclear, but social media visuals suggest a huge increase in police presence in Pucheng, with no further protests reported. Authorities have called on the public not to create rumours, believe in rumours, or spread rumours. Despite Chinas tight surveillance system and strict stability maintenance measures, public dissent does take place. However, such responses are often quickly suppressed, with posts erased from social media and participants warned to remain silent, Radio Free Asia said in a report. State media has not reported on the Pucheng protests, and any mentions or footage of the demonstrations have largely been censored from Chinese platforms. However, several videos have emerged on X, with some confirmed by BBC as being filmed at the site. A Class 12 student has been detained by the Delhi police for his alleged involvement in the bomb threat emails, which later turned out to be hoaxes, to dozens of schools, placing the entire city on alert for several weeks. The minor used this tactic to incite fear to get the examinations cancelled because he did not want to take the test read more Several weeks after a series of bomb threats, the Delhi police have exposed a meticulous plan by a minor to skip school exams. They have detained a Class 12 student for his alleged involvement in the threat emails, which later turned out to be hoaxes, to dozens of schools, placing the entire city on alert for several weeks. Heres all we know about him. Class 12 student detained Ankit Chauhan, DCP South Delhi, told ANI that the Class 12 student sent the last 23 threat emails to different schools in Delhi. During interrogation, he admitted that he had sent threat emails earlier as well, he said. Advertisement According to sources cited by NDTV, the minor used this tactic to incite fear to get the examinations cancelled because he did not want to take the exam at school. He allegedly sent at least six bomb threat emails, all of which targeted different schools save his own, according to the channel. Police are expected to provide more information at a press conference later today at its headquarters, according to officials. Also read: Bomb threat emails trigger security alerts in several Delhi hospitals Tech-savvy students behind the threats The Indian Express reports that the police have discovered significant evidence that links him to a group that reportedly sent bomb threats for months. However, before filing a complaint, the evidence is being checked with the assistance of forensic experts. According to the report, the emails were sent using Gmail, which enabled the authorities to track down the student and bring him in for interrogation. He eventually told investigators that the emails had been sent by him and some other students, a police source was quoted. All of the students are from the same school, according to the initial probe. They are tech-savvy and would send emails using VPN, said the source. Advertisement The hoax bomb threats In recent weeks, officials have been on high alert due to dozens of such bomb hoaxes. At 11.17 am on Wednesday, Tagore International School was the first to alert authorities to the threat, followed by Lady Shree Ram College at 11.40 am. According to the police, the email was also sent to many other schools, including Frank Anthony Public School, Delhi Public School in Vasant Vihar and R K Puram, Mothers International School, Modern School, Springdales School, G D Goenka Public School, St. Columbas School, Salwan Public School, Amity International School, Air Force Bal Bharati, and others. The most recent in a string of bomb threats was sent to about 10 educational institutions on Thursday, as per News18. There were massive and highly dangerous explosives on the school premises, the email said. Advertisement Your lack of strict bag checks for students entering the school has provided us with the perfect opportunity to carry out our plan, the e-mail, shared by police sources, read. Additionally, it stated that the operation was not an isolated act but rather was the product of a a powerful and dangerous dark web group with sinister assistance from Red Rooms. This is no ordinary threat, this is carefully orchestrated, and you are completely unprepared to handle it, it read. While sniffer dogs and the bomb squad stormed campuses, students were sent home again. At the end of the day, they would have nothing suspicious, but they would be wasting their time by giving the students a surprise holiday. Advertisement Due to the increasing number of false threats, the city police had also begun preparing educational staff and teachers for such emergencies. Along with the Education department, they even conducted a seminar on how to deal with these kinds of situations. The Delhi Police have been under fire for failing to stop bomb threats against schools and the citys worsening law and order situation. Former CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and CM Atishi had criticised the Delhi Police and Centre for the frequent bomb threats that forced students to be sent home from school. Similar instances in the past Over the past two months, schools and universities in Delhi have been bombarded with similar threats, which has caused fear and forced evacuation. Most of them turned out to be hoaxes, though. According to Delhi Police, the November bomb threat sent to Venkateshwar Global School was made by one of the schools own students. Two siblings sent the email hoping for a postponement of the exams. Advertisement In October, police were in a state of shock after an explosion occurred outside a CRPF school in Rohini, northwest Delhi. However, the incident did not result in injuries. More than 40 schools received threatening emails on December 9 of last year, starting the chain of threats. On December 13 and 14, more than 30 schools received similar emails. Over 50 bomb threat emails have also been received at Delhis airports and hospitals since May 2024. With inputs from agencies US President-elect Donald Trump is just days away from being sworn in on Inauguration Day. In the run-up to the big moment on January 20, tech giants and Wall Street leaders have written out fat cheques to Trumps inaugural committee. At last count, a whopping $170 million (Rs 1,459 crore) has been collected, far surpassing Trumps 2017 record of $107 million (Rs 918 crore) read more Construction workers finish up the reviewing stand for the upcoming Trump presidential inauguration outside of the White House in Washington, US. Trump will be sworn in as the US president on January 20. Reuters US presidential inaugurations are expensive really expensive. But it appears that Donald Trump wants to put all past inaugurations to shame when he is sworn in on January 20. It seems that the US president-elects second inauguration will be oozing with opulence, just based on how much Trumps inaugural committee has collected from donors a whopping $170 million. Reports state that the record amount has been made possible as tech executives, including Apples Tim Cook, and big donors have eagerly written large cheques to help bankroll the ceremony. Advertisement As we gear up for this big, extravagant affair, lets take a closer look at all things related to inauguration costs from who funds it, how much do inaugurations cost and much, much more. Trumps multi-million dollar inauguration fund With just 10-odd days left for Donald Trumps inauguration, people close to him and a part of his inaugural committee have said that they have raised a record-breaking $170 million (Rs 1,459 crore) and are on pace to approach $200 million (Rs 1,717 crore). Some of the big names who have made donations towards Trumps inauguration are OpenAIs Sam Altman, who has said that he will make a $1 million (Rs 8.5 crore) personal donation. Amazon has also made a donation of $2 million a huge jump from the $58,000 the company gave to Trumps 2017 inauguration. Mark Zuckerbergs Meta has also made a donation of $1 million to Trumps inauguration a move that many believe is his way of currying favour with the US president-elect. The company also on Tuesday (January 7) announced that it would be cancelling its fact-checking team, which also many perceived as a step to appease Trump and his supporters. Editors Picks 1 Why Donald Trump will have to wait until January to take power Many well-known executives, including Tim Cook and Sam Altman have made donations towards Donald Trumps inauguration fund. File image/Reuters There are also reports that Uber and its CEO Dara Khosrowshahi have made two separate donations of $1 million each. Goldman Sachs and Bank of America have also said theyd donate to the inaugural committees but havent disclosed the amount. Citigroup plans to contribute an as-yet undisclosed sum to President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration fund. Advertisement Americas most reputed car company, Ford Motor Co, isnt just donating money. The company has also given a fleet of vehicles to US President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration. Others such as General Motors, Toyota have also made donations towards Trumps big day. According to a New York Times report, such is the donation frenzy for Trumps D-Day that prospective donors have now been informed that no more seats were available for certain events. Inaugural funds of the past The sum collected by Trump this time around is way higher than 2017, which had then raised $107 million (Rs 918 crore). It is also more than double the $62 million President Joe Biden raised for his inauguration festivities. US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during the inauguration ceremony in 2017. Donations for Trump have surpassed last times. File image/Reuters In 2009, Obama raised $53 million in private donations, although, he had then refused money from lobbyists, corporations or political action committees and limited individuals to $50,000. In 2013, Obamas inaugural fund had received $44 million. Advertisement Before that, George W Bush had raised $40 million for his 2001 inauguration and supporters had donated $42 million in 2005 for his second inauguration. Bill Clinton, in 1993, raised $33 million and $30 million in 1989. Shouldering presidential inauguration costs Its important to note that the inaugural committee, set up before the big day, shoulders the major costs of this grand event, including the eye-catching events such as the inaugural balls and private dinners. The remaining costs are shouldered by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which includes the construction of the elaborate stage on the west side of the Capitol grounds and the official congressional luncheon for the new president and vice-president. Preparations are underway at the US Capitol building ahead of the Presidential inauguration in Washington. Reuters Actual cost of presidential inaugurations While Trumps inaugural fund has collected nearly $200 million, it is not yet known how much will the grand affair cost. However, if one goes by his previous inauguration, its bound to be prohibitively expensive. In 2017, Trumps inauguration reportedly cost approximately $200 million. A report later revealed that the bulk of the expense went towards vendors like hotel chains and payroll. Trump also spent $10,000 on makeup for 20 aides. There was also $1.5 million to Trump International Hotel for the use of a ballroom and other spaces and another $6.5 million to book hotel room blocks, only half of which were used. Advertisement Before Trump, Barack Obamas inauguration was a pricey affair, costing an estimated $170 million. A window of a gift shop displays products bearing the theme of the upcoming presidential inauguration for US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington. Reuters Trumps inauguration day While Trump will be sworn in on January 20, inauguration events begin on January 17. However, on January 20, the day will begin with a procession to the Capitol. After this, the vice president is sworn in, followed by the president. After this is the inaugural address at which the newly elected speaks to the country for the first time. After the pomp and pageantry at the Capitol, Trump will then head to the Presidents Room in the US Capitol to take their first official actions. Then, the new president, vice president and guests sit down for the traditional Inaugural Luncheon at Statuary Hall in the US Capitol. After all of this is finished, the new president and vice president head to the East Front steps of the Capitol where they review military troops before leading a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, which includes a procession of ceremonial military regiments, citizens groups, marching bands and floats. Advertisement Inaugural Balls are held later to further the celebrations. With inputs from agencies US President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced today. Headlines today also include Venezuelas presidential inauguration of Nicolas Maduro as the supreme court in the US will hear the TikTok ban case. In science, Indias ISRO aims for a docking milestone read more Former US President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan Criminal Court during his ongoing hush money trial, May 20, 2024, in New York. File Image/AP January 10, 2025, is set to be a pivotal day on the global stage. In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing in the hush money case, while the US Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments over a potential TikTok ban. Across the Atlantic, Austrias Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg steps in as caretaker chancellor amidst political uncertainty, and in Russia, a court will deliver its verdict in the trial of lawyers linked to opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Advertisement Meanwhile, Nicolas Maduros presidential inauguration in Venezuela draws international attention. In science and technology, Indias ISRO takes a leap forward with its ambitious SPADEX docking experiment. Trumps sentencing in hush money case President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled for sentencing on January 10 after being convicted in a criminal case involving hush money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Despite the historic nature of the case, Justice Juan Merchan indicated Trump is unlikely to face jail time or significant penalties. This unprecedented situation places Trump in court just 10 days before his January 20 inauguration, marking the first time in US history that a president-elect has faced criminal conviction. The charges stem from a $130,000 payment made by Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to Daniels to suppress allegations of a sexual encounter. Trump has denied the claims, but a jury in May found him guilty of falsifying records to conceal the payment during the 2016 presidential campaign. Presidential inauguration of Nicolas Maduro Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that he will attend the National Assembly on January 10 to take the oath of office for his new term, which will span from 2025 to 2031. This marks the continuation of Maduros leadership amid ongoing domestic and international scrutiny of his government. We have a National Assembly! he had said on Instagram, stating that the sovereign, constitutional and legitimate National Assembly of Venezuela has been installed. I confirm that together with millions of women and men of the people I will be on January 10 complying with the Constitution and attending the legal call to be sworn in as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, he stressed last week. We will see you in the streets! Because we will win, he said. US supreme court to hear TikTok ban case The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Friday regarding a potential US ban on TikTok unless it separates from its parent company, ByteDance. The case could have significant implications for the First Amendment and TikToks vast user base, though the courts decision remains uncertain. The justices will examine two consolidated cases challenging the federal law requiring ByteDance, a Chinese-owned company, to divest from TikTok. Failure to comply would result in TikTok being removed from US app stores and barred from American internet service providers. Advertisement One lawsuit is filed by TikTok and ByteDance, while the other comes from content creators who rely on the platform. Both argue that the law infringes on First Amendment rights, restricting users access to free speech. The federal government, however, contends that the measure is vital for national security due to concerns about ByteDances ties to China. With inputs from agencies Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has accused UK PM Keir Starmer of defamation over claims she crashed the economy. In a legal warning, Trusss lawyers argue that market turmoil during her tenure wasnt an economic crash but resulted from external factors read more Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss has taken legal action against current PM Keir Starmer, issuing a cease-and-desist letter demanding he stop claiming she crashed the economy. The letter, described as serious and formal, accuses Starmer of making defamatory statements that caused significant harm to Trusss reputation and contributed to her losing her parliamentary seat in South West Norfolk during the general election. The letter was first published by The Telegraph. The controversy stems from Starmers repeated remarks during Labours election campaign, in which he criticised Trusss seven-week tenure as prime minister and her economic policies. Trusss lawyers argue that these statements were false, misleading, and made with the intent to harm her reputation, especially as she sought re-election. Advertisement What happened during Trusss PM tenure? The focal point of the dispute is Trusss mini-Budget in September 2022, a sweeping set of tax cuts funded by borrowing. The announcement triggered turmoil in financial markets, leading to a sharp drop in the pound, skyrocketing borrowing costs, and declining investor confidence. This series of events ultimately forced Truss to resign after just 49 days in office, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history. Labour leader Keir Starmer and then-UK Prime Minister Liz Truss at Westminster Hall, London, where both Houses of Parliament are meeting to express their condolences following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, September 12, 2022. File Image/Reuters Trusss lawyers argue, however, that the economic turmoil following the mini-Budget does not qualify as an economic crash. They cite a lack of decline in economic output or a rise in unemployment as evidence that Starmers claims are unfounded. Economist Andrew Lilico, supporting Trusss position, told Planet Normal: There wasnt any crash in the economy. The economy actually grew faster in the period immediately following the mini-Budget. The thing that happened immediately following the mini-Budget was that the economy performed well. So its just preposterous to claim that she crashed the economy. Trusss legal team also points to regulatory failures by the Bank of England, specifically in its oversight of pension fund liability-driven investment (LDI) strategies. They argue that the Banks poor handling of the LDI crisis exacerbated market volatility, shifting responsibility away from Truss. How has Starmer reacted to the Truss legal notice? Starmer, undeterred by the legal notice, has remained steadfast in his position. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister was quoted by The Telegraph who indicated that he stands by his comments and has no plans to moderate his language. Im not sure Ive seen the detail of the letter, but from what I can gather, I dont think the Prime Minister is the only person in the country who shares the view in relation to the previous governments handling of the economy. And I guess the question is whether shell be writing to the millions of people up and down the country as well who felt like her economic record pushed their mortgage bills up, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Also Read | Explained: Pakistani grooming gangs scandal for which Elon Musk is attacking Keir Starmer Labour leaders, including Commons Leader Lucy Powell, have echoed this sentiment, stating that they wont cease and desist from telling the truth that [the Conservatives] crashed the economy. How is the UK economy now? The legal spat between Truss and Starmer comes against a backdrop of renewed economic strain in the UK. Government borrowing costs recently climbed to their highest levels in 16 years, while the pound fell to a year-low. Analysts warn that these developments could necessitate either spending cuts or tax hikes to meet fiscal targets. Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already hinted that spending reductions, not tax increases, will be the primary focus in upcoming economic plans, reported The Telegraph. Critics of the Labour government argue that Starmers accusations against Truss serve as a political distraction from ongoing financial challenges. Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride accused Labour of raising taxes without delivering tangible benefits to the public, further inflaming tensions between the parties. Advertisement What now for Liz Truss? In her letter, Trusss legal team has highlighted the importance of basic civility in political discourse, stating: The publication of these statements is not only extremely damaging but also grossly defamatory and indefensible. We trust that you will respond accordingly and cease repetition of factually incorrect and defamatory statements about our client. Truss has taken to social media to defend her record, accusing Labour, the Bank of England, and the media of unfairly undermining her policies. Labour, the @bankofengland and the media establishment smeared my budget and forced a reversal. Now, they've plunged the country into economic crisis. pic.twitter.com/fR3usn8LIt Liz Truss (@trussliz) January 9, 2025 She has called the allegations a smear campaign and claimed that her budget reversal was a result of pressure from the media establishment and deep state actors resistant to her tax-cutting agenda. While former UK PM Liz Truss seeks to rehabilitate her public image and refute accusations of economic mismanagement, Labours continued critique of her brief tenure reflects their broader strategy to hold the Conservatives accountable for years of perceived fiscal missteps. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies January 10 marks pivotal events in history, from the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I to the League of Nations launch. The first UN General Assembly convened on this day, and Project Diana bounced radar waves off the Moon. Its also the day we lost music icon David Bowie read more On January 10, 1920, the Treaty of Versailles came into force, formally ending World War I. Illustration: Santanu Kumar Santan From the end of World War I to breakthroughs in space communication and landmark peace agreements, January 10 has been a date of immense historical significance. As part of Firstposts ongoing series, History Today, we delve into the most notable events of this day. Treaty of Versailles takes effect On January 10, 1920, the Treaty of Versailles came into force, formally ending World War I for most nations involved. This treaty, signed on June 28, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles, imposed harsh reparations on Germany, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and significant financial penalties. While the treaty aimed to prevent another global conflict, its terms fueled economic and political instability in Germany, setting the stage for World War II. The United States notably did not ratify the treaty and instead signed separate agreements with Germany. Advertisement League of Nations Covenant becomes effective The same day the Treaty of Versailles took effect, the Covenant of the League of Nations, an integral part of the treaty, became operational. The League was the first international organisation established to maintain world peace by resolving disputes through diplomacy and collective security. Despite its ambitious goals, the League faced significant challenges, including the absence of major powers like the United States and the inability to prevent conflicts like the Second World War. Nevertheless, it laid the groundwork for the establishment of the United Nations. First UN General Assembly convenes On January 10, 1946, the first General Assembly of the United Nations convened at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London. Delegates from 51 founding nations gathered to discuss pressing global issues in the aftermath of World War II. The assembly addressed topics including the plight of refugees, nuclear disarmament, and the rebuilding of war-torn nations. This inaugural meeting symbolised a collective commitment to fostering international cooperation and peace, marking a turning point in global diplomacy. Project Diana On January 10, 1946, the US Army Signal Corps achieved a significant milestone with Project Diana. By successfully bouncing radar signals off the Moon and receiving the reflected waves, they demonstrated the feasibility of communicating across vast distances in space. This experiment marked the first time humans had intentionally sent and received signals to and from an extraterrestrial body, paving the way for space exploration, satellite technology, and future lunar missions. Tashkent Declaration On January 10, 1966, Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent Declaration, mediated by Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin. The agreement ended the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, which had erupted over territorial disputes in Kashmir. The declaration required both nations to withdraw to pre-war positions, exchange prisoners, and normalise diplomatic relations. However, it did not address the core issues fuelling the conflict. Shastri passed away in Tashkent the following day, an event shrouded in mystery and speculation. Death of David Bowie On January 10, 2016, the world lost David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians and cultural icons of the 20th century. Bowie passed away at 69 after a private 18-month battle with liver cancer. Known for his innovative approach to music, fashion, and identity, Bowie left behind a legacy of hits like Space Oddity, Heroes, and Lets Dance. His final album, Blackstar, released just days before his death, was seen as a farewell, reflecting his artistic genius until the end. Advertisement This day, that year 1776 : Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense, advocating American independence. 1778 : Death of Carl Linnaeus, Swedish naturalist and father of modern taxonomy. 1861 : Florida becomes the third state to secede from the Union during the Civil War. 1863 : The worlds first underground railway opens in London. 1935 : Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. 1949 : George Foreman, American boxer and entrepreneur, is born 1982: Dwight Clarks The Catch propels the San Francisco 49ers to their first Super Bowl. Also Watch: Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about making Canada the US 51st state. This, despite Canadas outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly and publicly shooting down such a notion. But did Trudeau actually offer to trade Trump certain parts of Canada in exchange for Vermont or California? read more Donald Trump has been obsessed with the idea of making Canada the 51st state. The US President-elect on Tuesday said he would use economic force to make it happen. This, despite Canadas outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly and publicly shooting down such a notion. There isnt a snowballs chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States, Trudeau wrote on X. Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each others biggest trading and security partner. Advertisement But did Trudeau make a counteroffer to Trump to trade Vermont or California in exchange for certain parts of Canada? Lets take a closer look: What happened? The incident occurred during Trudeaus visit to Mar-a-Lago in November. According to India Today, during the meeting Trump told Trudeau that Canada should consider joining the United States as its 51th state. Trump suggested this move to avoid tariffs. As per NBC News, Trudeau said he responded to Trumps suggestion by joking about swapping Vermont or California for parts of Canada. It actually sort of came up at one point, and then we started musing back and forth about this, Trudeau told _MSNBC_s Jen Psaki. And when I started to suggest, Well, maybe there could be a trade for Vermont or California for certain parts, he immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore, and we moved on to a different conversation. Trump in November had claimed that the meet with Trudeau was very productive." He added that the two men had talked about immigration and the massive trade deficit the US has with Canada. India Today quoted Trudeau on Thursday told US business leaders that Trump was attempting to gin up this topic to distract from the fallout of his proposed tariff hike. A hike in tariffs on imports would have negative impacts for both Canada and the United States, Trudeau said. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, were not American, Trudeau also told CNN. Advertisement What I think is happening in this is President Trump, who is a very skilfull negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation, Trudeau told CNN. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, were not American, Trudeau added. Flags of the U.S., Canada and Mexico fly next to each other in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. File image/ Reuters As per NBC News, Trudeau in the interview vowed a robust response from Canada if Trump delivers on his tariff threat. My focus has to be not on something that hes talking about that will not ever happen but more on something that might well happen: that if he does choose to go forward with tariffs that raise the cost of just about everything for American citizens, that on top of that, were going to have to have a robust response to that, Trudeau was quoted as saying. Advertisement India Today quoted Trudeaus office as saying, The prime minister emphasised the importance of a stable and predictable business environment and the concerning impacts that proposed US tariffs on Canadian products would have on Canadians and Americans alike. He emphasised that tariffs only raise prices, discourage growth and investment, and negatively affect financial markets, stressing the importance of continued free trade and the free flow of goods and services, Trudeaus office further said. With inputs from agencies Larsen & Toubros chairman SN Subrahmanyan has sparked a debate with his 90-hour work week remark. As the focus shifts to work-life balance, does overwork translate to better performance? Heres what research says read more Larsen & Toubros chairman SN Subrahmanyans remarks about a 90-hour work week have created furore online. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Subrahmanyan can be heard saying he regretted not being able to make his employees work on Sundays. Doubling down on the comments, he further said, What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working. Advertisement His comments drew flak from several quarters, with even Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone condemning the remarks. As the controversy snowballed, L&T released a statement defending the comments of its chairman. This is not the first time a business leader has advocated long working hours. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy have made similar remarks in the past, stirring a debate on work-life balance, mental health and productivity. Many studies have shown that longer working hours do not mean more productivity. Lets take a closer look. How 40-hour work week come to be People used to work 10-16 hours every day in the late 18th century to run the factories 24/7. However, these hours were inhumane and unsustainable. As a result, more factory workers started joining trade unions and holding protests to demand higher wages, reduced work hours, and better working conditions. In 1926, the US industrialist Henry Ford introduced a five-day 40-hour week for automotive workers at his factories. This resulted in increased productivity and boosted profits for Ford Motor Company. In the 1930s, shorter work hours reduced accidents by 41 per cent at Kelloggs, as per The Guardian. Eventually, a 40-hour work week was widely adopted. In the past century, average working time has fallen in major economies. However, in the 70s, this decline stagnated despite an increase in productivity. With the advent of digital technology, office workers have started feeling the pressure to always remain contactable. Now, some business leaders are again promoting longer work hours. Long hours, poor performance People work for long hours for various reasons. For some, it could be personal ambition, while for others, it might be the authoritative figures in their companies who do not let them have a work-life balance. Whatever the reason, overwork is bad news for both the employee and the employer. Many studies have shown long hours hamper an individuals performance. In 2023, a survey by Slack, a workplace messaging app, of 10,000 desk workers found that employees who logged off at the end of the workday reported 20 per cent higher productivity scores than those who feel obligated to work after hours. Advertisement These people who felt the need to stay logged on after hours also complained of twice the work-related stress and burnout levels than their peers who logged off on time. The conventional wisdom for productivity has always been if you want to produce more, just work more, Christina Janzer, senior vice president of research and analytics, told Forbes at the time. This is our opportunity to myth-bust. More hours dont necessarily mean better productivity. A 2014 study found that employee output declines sharply after a 50-hour work-week, and falls steeply after 55 hours. Many studies have shown long hours reduce productivity. Representational Image/Pixabay According to a Boston University study of consultants, managers could not distinguish between those who actually worked 80 hours a week and those who only pretended to do so. Advertisement When you look at all the evidence, anything over 40 hours, it can mean that theres less productivity, Jennifer Moss said on an episode of The 80 Percent podcast. We start to get really fatigued at about 50 hours. And basically at 60 hours, you might as well have not added that last 10 because it really just does make us so exhausted and burned out. A 2023 research from the business-to-business marketplace Expert Market revealed that countries with fewer working hours produced more amount of money per person, per hour than those with more hours. Longer hours have also been linked to absenteeism and employee turnover. Advertisement Health impact of overwork Overworking employees do not benefit the company. Research shows that working long hours leads to stress and burnout, triggering several health problems including impaired sleep and depression. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. A WHO research warns that working 55 or more hours per week enhances the risk of stroke by 35 per cent and the risk of dying from heart disease by 17 per cent. Working for long hours is counterproductive. The simple reality is that work, both mental and physical, results in fatigue that limits the cognitive and bodily resources people have to put towards their work, Ken Matos, senior director of research at the Families and Work Institute think tank, told CNBC in 2015. When they are not thinking clearly or moving as quickly or precisely they must work more slowly to maintain quality and safety requirements. Advertisement Ideal work hours While some want employees to work long hours, many developed countries are experimenting with a four-day workweek. Belgium has already introduced it, while countries like the United Kingdom and Germany are testing the concept. Some countries have already found work-life balance. According to a study by time management expert Laura Vanderkam, employees who work 7.6 hours per day feel they have the most time. This translates to a 38-hour workweek, which is similar to Denmarks 37-hour official workweek. Notably, Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world. When it comes to your work, try to work part-time, 3035 hours a week on average, happiness expert Dan Buettner says. Managers and employees have to join forces to ensure a work-life balance. No one will gain if you work yourself into an early grave. With input from agencies More than 40 crore devotees are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, from January 13 to February 26. The religious gathering, which dates back to the eighth century, has only grown in scale and popularity. The projected footfall this year is much higher than in 1989 when 1.5 crore devotees visited Prayagraj for a holy dip, entering the Guinness World Book of Records read more Sadhus or Hindu holy men from Niranjani Akhara take part in a religious procession during 'Peshwai' or the arrival of the members of an akhara or sect of sadhus for the upcoming 'Maha Kumbh Mela' in Prayagraj, January 4, 2025. Reuters The Maha Kumbh Mela will kick off in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj on a grand scale on January 13. The 45-day religious celebration, concluding on February 26, is expected to attract over 40 crore people from the country and other parts of the world. Touted as the worlds largest religious gathering, this years Maha Kumbh Mela is special as it marks the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles, occurring in 144 years. As devotees and pilgrims gather in Prayagraj to take a holy dip hoping to cleanse their sins and achieve salvation, we take a look at how the religious congregation has evolved over the years. Advertisement History of Kumbh Mela It is believed that the eighth-century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya encouraged regular assemblies of spiritual leaders and ascetics. He also introduced the monastery system and the 13 akharas, according to The Hindu report. However, as per The New Indian Express (TNIE), references to the Kumbh Mela can be found in the accounts of the Chinese monk Xuanzang who visited India in 629-645 CE, during the reign of King Harshavardhana. Since the eighth century, monks of various akharas have gathered in Prayagraj to take part in the Shahi Snan (holy dip) at a specific time on auspicious days. The Kumbh Mela is organised every three years on the banks of the rivers in Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj on a rotational basis. The Maha Kumbh is hosted every 12 years in Prayagraj. Sadhus of Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara, Shri Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhara, and Shri Panch Nirvani Ani Akhara take part in the Chavni Pravesh, the royal entry procession for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, towards Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, January 8, 2025. PTI From the ninth to 18th Centuries, the month-long Kumbh Mela was organised by akharas, with the order for the Shahi Snan triggering a rift, as per The Hindu report. The akharas have engaged in violent clashes over this hierarchy even leading to deaths. Now, the order is still decided by akharas but has been institutionalised by authorities, the newspaper mentioned. Historians say that the Kumbh Mela as we know it today can be dated back to the late 19th or early 20th Century. Advertisement In 2019, a 14th sect called Kinnar Akhara took part in the holy dip and will continue to be a part of the festivities. Kumbh Mela during British rule The Kumbh Mela continued to be organised during British rule, with the colonial administration overseeing the logistics related to the religious gathering. In the late 19th century, the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) emerged as a platform for fanning nationalist sentiments through religious activities. Part of this was because of the British governments policy of not interfering with religious affairs. So religion became a theatre for nationalist activities, James Lochtefeld, the author of The Construction of the Kumbh Mela (2004), was quoted as saying by Indian Express. From the beginning of the 20th century, Indian leaders started promoting nationalist ideas at the Kumbh Mela. Advertisement Haridwar Kumbh Mela in the 1800s. Wikimedia Commons As nationalism developed, the hub of politics emanating from Allahabads notables, such as Motilal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya and Purushottam Das Tandon, gave it a national reputation, giving the pilgrimage an extra dimension, historian Kama Maclean wrote in her book Pilgrimage and Power: The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, 1765-1954. Reports say Hindu ascetics were preaching swadeshi and nationalism during the mela in 1907. By the 1930s, the Congress leaders were using the Kumbh Mela to spread the idea of civil disobedience, reported Indian Express. These religious gatherings became a ground to galvanise support for the freedom movement. As per the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), even Mahatma Gandhi marked his presence at the Maha Kumbh Mela in 1918, interacting with other attendees. Advertisement Expansion over the years The Maha Kumbh Mela has grown in scale and popularity over the years. In 1966, more than seven lakh pilgrims took a holy dip on Magha Purnima the fifth important bathing day of the Maha Kumbh, reported The Hindu. The Maha Kumbh Mela in 1977 was highly auspicious as it occurred in 144 years, marking the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles. Held during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government, the religious gathering drew one crore people to Prayagraj on January 19 for the holy dip. The 1989 Kumbh, organised over an area of 3,000 acres, attracted 1.5 crore devotees to Prayagraj, entering the Guinness World Book of Records for the worlds largest gathering of people. Advertisement The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela will be spread across 4,000 hectares, with a tent city coming up for devotees and pilgrims. This year, the religious gathering has gone digital with CCTVs and AI-powered cameras being installed to track crowd movement. With an expected footfall of 40 crore, Uttar Pradesh could earn up to Rs 2 lakh crore, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said. In 2019, as many as 25 crore devotees attended the Kumbh Mela. With inputs from agencies Shubhada Kodare, 28, working at multinational business process outsourcing company, WNS, in Maharashtras Pune was killed in a sharp weapon attack in the companys parking lot on Tuesday in broad daylight. The accused, Krishna Kanoja, reportedly killed the woman because she declined to return the money she borrowed from him read more The victim, employed as an accountant, has been identified as Shubhada Shankar Kodare, a resident of Katraj. News18 A 28-year-old woman working at a multinational business process outsourcing (BPO) company in Maharashtras Pune was allegedly killed in a sharp weapon attack in the companys parking lot on Tuesday. The woman, who suffered severe injuries to her hand, succumbed due to excessive bleeding. The accused, one of her colleagues, reportedly killed the woman because she declined to return the money she borrowed from him. Lets take a look. Pune call centre staffers death The incident occurred at approximately 6.15 pm on Tuesday in the parking lot of WNS Global in Yerawada. The victim, employed as an accountant, has been identified as Shubhada Shankar Kodare, a resident of Katraj. The suspected attacker is Krishna Satyanarayan Kanoja, 30, a resident of Shivajinagar, who also worked as an accountant for the firm. Advertisement A blurry, one-minute video surfaced online on Thursday showing the attacker killing the victim using a cleaver in public view and trying to walk away from the spot. Firstpost has chosen not to include the images in this article due to the subjects sensitive and graphic content. Media reports claim that although several people witnessed the incident, none of them tried to stop it. Only after the attacker threw away the cleaver did a few witnesses manage to subdue him. The woman was rushed to a private hospital in Yerawada, where she later died due to excessive bleeding. Probe has revealed that Kodare was diabetic and often suffered from hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Preliminary information suggests that due to her condition resulting impaired clotting response, she suffered excessive bleeding and succumbed to the injury during treatment, the officer was quoted by The Indian Express. A case has been registered, and Kanoja was nabbed by police from the same area sometime later. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4), Himmat Jadhav, Kanoja was brought before a Pune court on Wednesday and has been placed under police custody till January 13. Although Kodares family is originally from the Chiplun district of Ratnagiri, they have spent the last few years living in the Karad area of Satara. In Karad, her father operates an electrical shop. Advertisement Kanoja is single, and his family consists of his parents and three married older brothers. Kanoja was formerly employed by WNS as a junior accountant and had taken a year off from the company. Four months prior, he had rejoined the firm as a senior accountant. According to a senior officer involved in the investigation, who the Indian Express mentioned, the two had known each other from Kanojas prior tenure with the WNS. Also read: Death video, harassment, & more: How Delhi cafe owners suicide bears similarities with Bengaluru techie The motive behind the attack The victim borrowed about Rs 4.5 lakh from the accused, who was attempting to recoup the money, according to the police. According to reports, she had borrowed the money for the previous two years, citing her fathers and her own medical treatment as reasons. Advertisement Citing her fathers illness, Kodare declined his request for the money back. After that, he travelled to her hometown to confirm her statement and discovered that her father was well and in good condition. When Kodare left the office at around 6 pm on Tuesday and arrived at the office parking lot, Kanoja confronted her and demanded the money back. He attacked and killed her in broad public view after she refused. According to the investigation, she called her father to inform him what had happened shortly after the accused colleague had struck her with a kitchen knife. The probe suggests the attacker also spoke with her father and repeated his demand that she return the money he gave her. Advertisement The officer claims that Kanoja needed money for eye surgery that he had in June. He demanded the money that had been loaned to Kodare, but she insisted that she would pay it back shortly. In the preliminary investigation we have ruled out any other reason for dispute or any other form of relationship between the two, the officer added. Also read: Killed Mahalakshmi after she bit me: What Bengaluru woman murder key suspects 3-page suicide letter say NCW condemns the killing In condemning the death of the 28-year-old woman, the National Commission of Women (NCW) has called for prompt and strong action against her attacker. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to Maharashtra Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla for an immediate and fair investigation. Advertisement Within 48 hours, the Commission ordered the state police to charge the accused and turn in an Action Taken Report and a copy of the FIR. Also read: Quicksplained: Why a 24-year-old woman was brutally stabbed to death in Bengaluru PG Police lacking somewhere In response to a query on koyta and the murder of the Pune call centre employee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said Pune is a huge city and it would be incorrect to conclude crime was on the rise here. Every single crime case must be taken seriously and police have managed to nab accused in all the cases. It is correct that some cases have taken place, but seeing the expanse of Pune, it would be incorrect to conclude that crime is on the rise. We are paying utmost attention to every case. Moreover, CCTV network is being expanded to curb crime. Yet, state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar subtly warned senior Pune police officers for failing to address the citys crime problem. Pawar said, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (who also holds the Home portfolio) has taken serious cognizance of these cases. Being a representative of this area, I have also taken this issue very seriously. Everyone understands there is no political influence in the functioning of the police, the NCP chief said, as per PTI, adding, Despite being given various facilities in terms of infrastructure, housing, new offices, and manpower, if police are unable to rein in these crimes, then it shows senior officers in the force must be lacking somewhere. If they are not able to tackle the situation, they should admit it and we will bring better officers to control crime." With inputs from agencies Will Indonesias Prabowo Subianto be the chief guest for Indias Republic Day 2025? With a little over two weeks left for Republic Day, India is yet to formally announce the name read more Traditionally, India has attached a lot of diplomatic importance to its choice of the chief guest invited for the Republic Day. Diplomatic channels begin the work months in advance and name or names are finalised at least weeks ahead of the event marking Indias declaration as a democratic republic announced adoption of the Constitution of the country post Independence. This years chief guest for the Republic Day event is yet not officially confirmed. The chatter in news media suggests that Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto is the governments choice for Indias Republic Day 2025. However, there is also confusion around the purported delay in official confirmation by the government. Republic Day is barely two weeks away. Advertisement So, why India is delaying formal announcement of R-Day chief guests name Reports suggest that the Indonesian president has tagged a Pakistan trip to Indias Republic Day visit. This possible plan of Prabowo has reportedly made New Delhi to dissuade Prabowo to skip Pakistan from the current itinerary. India has long pushed for de-hyphenating Pakistan from its bilateral ties with other countries. Meanwhile, Pakistan prepares to welcome Prabowo on Indias Republic Day Pakistan has reportedly already started its preparation to host Prabowo. As per a report in Pakistan-based Business Recorder newspaper, the Indonesian president is likely to begin his three-day official visit to Pakistan from January 26 itself. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set up a committee, headed by his governments planning and development minister Ahsan Iqbal, to finalise all proposals and actions ahead of the Indonesian leaders visit to the country. Change in optics India extends invites for Republic Day to only those countries with which it has strong diplomatic relations. The optics of Prabowo of combining his Indias trip with Pakistan is something that the Indian government is reportedly trying to avoid. Ties between India and Pakistan, the two neighbouring nations, have deteriorated in recent years over Islamabads support to cross-border terrorism. The two countries were engaged in an aerial dogfight in 2019 following Indias air strikes on terror training centre in Pakistans Balakot following a terrorist attack targeting Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. India raises issue with Indonesia According to a report by The Times of India, New Delhi has raised the issue diplomatically with Jakarta, hoping to dissuade Prabowo from directly travelling to Islamabad after Indias Republic Day celebrations. The Indian government views Prabowo taking a direct flight to Pakistan after the Republic Day parade as bad optics for its principled stand of not engaging with a country that uses terrorism as a tool of foreign policy. Another report by Deccan Herald, quoting a source in New Delhi, said the officials of India and Indonesia were in discussion about the itinerary of the Indonesian president. The last time an Indonesian president visited India for Republic Day celebrations was in 2018 when then-President Joko Widodo was a chief guest. Interestingly, Widodo also flew directly to Islamabad from New Delhi, but on that occasion, he was among 10 Southeast Asian leaders invited as joint chief guests for Republic Day. India has extended a joint invitation to all Asean heads of state to commemorate 25 years of engagement with the bloc. Advertisement Past records In 2010, former president of United States Barack Obama had dropped his plan to have a stopover in Islamabad, while visiting New Delhi after being informed about the sensitivities of India. In February 2019, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman de-hyphenated his Islamabad visit with a brief tour to Dubai. With inputs from agencies. From politics to when Xi Jinping expressed his will to visit the prime ministers hometown in Gujarat, PM Modi talked about a variety of subjects on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamaths podcast People with Prime Minister Narendra Modi read more In his first-ever podcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi got into a candid conversation with Zerodhas co-founder Nikhil Kamath where he touched upon a variety of subjects from politics to wars to the rise of technology. Kamaths podcast People with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by WTF aired on Friday. Heres all that was discussed: Mistakes happen, I am not god Kamath asked the prime minister to share his views on people who think politics is a place to play dirty games. Growing up in a South Indian middle-class home, we were always told that politics is a dirty game. This belief is so ingrained in our psyche that it is almost impossible to change it. What is your one advice for people who think the same? he asked. Advertisement PM Modi replied, If you believed in what you said, we would not be having this conversation. When being asked about some of his old speeches as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Modi said, When I became the CM, in one of me speeches, I had said that I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts. Secondly, I will not do anything for myself. Third, I am a human, I may make mistakes, but I will not make mistakes with bad intentions. I made them my lifes mantras. It is natural to make mistakes, after all I am a human, I am not God, but will not do wrong intentionally. Continuing his line of questions on politics, Kamath asked whether people require a basic skill set to enter the world of politics, to which the prime minister replied, There are two things: becoming a politician is one part and becoming a successful one is the other. I believe you need to be dedicated, committed, be with the masses in their good and bad times, be a team player. Jinping wanted to come to my hometown Recalling his first term as the Indian prime minister in 2014, PM Modi revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his desire to visit the formers hometown in Gujarat. When I became the PM in 2014, leaders from across the world make courtesy calls Chinese President Xi also made a courtesy call in which he said that he wants to come to India. I said you are welcome, you must visit. He said I want to visit Gujarat, your village Vadnagar He said you know why? Me and you share a special bond He said Chinese philosopher Hiuen Tsang resided the longest in your village and when he returned to China, he resided in my village, the prime minister said. I was denied American visa During the two-hour-long podcast, PM Modi said that he was denied an American visa when he was an MLA. I was the MLA when the American government refused to give me a visa. As an individual, going to America was not a big thing, I had visited before also; but I felt the disrespect of an elected government and the country, and there was a dilemma in my mind as to what was happening, he said. Advertisement That day, I held a press conference, where I said that the American government had rejected my visa. I also said that I see an India, where the world will stand in queue for visa, this is my statement in 2005 and today we are standing in 2025. So, I can see that now, the time is of India, PM Modi added. Damage control Meanwhile, Congress took a jibe at PM Modis not a god comment, saying that he is doing damage control eight months after claiming that he is non-biological. This from a man who proclaimed his non-biological status just eight months back. This is clearly damage control, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said. Indias security agencies deserve credit for effectively managing the threat posed by the Islamic State. However, it is important to avoid any sense of complacency, as this could be counterproductive read more The terror attack in New Orleans in the United States on 1 January by a radicalised US Army veteran who killed 14 people by driving a rented truck into a popular street crowded by people celebrating the arrival of the new year yet again underscores the re-emergence of the Islamic State (IS). The demolished group now occupies territory in Africas Sahel region and its potent Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan and Pakistan has demonstrated its capacity to carry out repeated attacks in both these countries, apart from Central Asia, Russia, Iran, and Turkey. In addition, the groups repeated messages continue to resonate in the minds and actions of radicalised men in Europe and the Americas, making it the most potent global terror outfit. Advertisement How did the group fare in India in 2024? Islamic State In India It was an assembly of four individualsall Sri Lankan nationalspursuing distinct professions in their civil life and yet a common goal in their radicalized existence: Mohammed Nusrat, a 35-year-old businessman dealing with telecommunication devices and electrical equipment imported from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai; Mohammad Nafran, 27, son of the first wife of a underworld criminal who was sentenced to death for the killing of a High Court Judge, 35-year-old Mohammad Faris, a cart puller in Colombo; and Mohammad Rashdeen, a 43-year-old driver, also from Colombo. Both Faris and Rashdeen had been arrested earlier for criminal activities and released on bail. All four men were earlier associated with the banned Sri Lankan radical militant outfit, National Thowheeth Jamath (NJT). At different points of time, all of them pledged their allegiance to the IS, after coming in contact with a Pakistani national nicknamed Abu, who remained their handler. After being paid SLR 400,000, all four took a flight out of Colombo and landed at Ahmedabads Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport via Chennai on 19 May. The mission was to carry out terror attacks on the after collecting the arms and weapons already dropped for them in a location in the city. However, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had been tipped off and all four were arrested. The ATS recovered three pistols and 20 cartridges abandoned at a location based on the geo-coordinates found on a mobile phone seized from their possession. By all means, it was one of the most elaborately arranged terror plots spanning over three countries. The arrests led to the launch of a high-powered investigation in Sri Lanka to look into the past activities of these four men and their handlers. Colombo, scarred from the 2019 Easter Sunday attack that killed 270 people by the IS, was not taking any chances. Following the announcement of a reward of SLR 2 million, they arrested 46-year-old Pushpraja Osman, believed to be one of the handlers of these four men. Other Arrests While this could have been the most sensational terror plot on Indian soil to have been thwarted in 2024, several other arrests across several states revealed the capacity of the law enforcers to be ahead of the terrorists, and at the same time, the lurking danger of terrorism, inspired by the yet-again-rising IS and its closer home affiliate the Khorasan province (ISKP). Advertisement The arrest in Gujarat came two months after the Assam Police arrested Haris Farooqi, allegedly the IS India head, and his close associate, Anurag Singh alias Rehan, in Assams Dhubri district which shares border with Bangladesh. On 19 March, both had crossed over from Bangladesh before their arrest the following day. Farooqi, a former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student is on the National Investigation Agencys (NIA) most-wanted list and hails from Dehradun. Rehan, a neo-convert to Islam with a wife from Bangladesh, belonged to Panipat. Both were handed over to the NIA. Explosion at the Rameshwaram cafe on 1 March that left nine persons injured involved Musavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Taha, both former residents of Thirthahalli in Karnatakas Shivamogga district who had been evading arrests since January 2020 in a case involving an IS-inspired module of the Al-Hind trust that operated in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Both were arrested near Kolkata, where they were hiding awaiting opportunities to flee to Bangladesh. Advertisement Other arrests included that of Tauseef Ali Farooqui, a student from IIT-Guwahati hailing from Delhs Zakir Nagar, who had pledged allegiance to the IS and had disappeared from the IIT campus after his social media posts went viral. Police described Tauseef as a studious and very intelligent loner, who had been radicalized through the dark web. Interestingly, he had copied his pledge email to the IS to a senior police official, a step differently described as rebellious and naive by experts. I disassociate myself completely from the accursed Indian-Construct that includes the so-called Indian Constitution, its institutions and so on, he wrote in his email. Advertisement Arrests also included a number of sympathisers and members of self-radicalised groups in various parts of the country. Among them was Faizan Bakhtyar, a Master of Social Work student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) (arrested on 17 January from Aligarh); four persons involved in clandestine radicalisation using study centres and online medium from Tamil Nadu (arrested on 10 February); Mohammed Zoheb Khan from Aurangabad, Maharashtra for paying allegiance to the IS (arrested on 15 February), creating a website for radicalising youths, and plotting terror activities along with a Libya-based IS cadre for anti-India; Faizan Sheikh, and an aspiring lone-wolf attacker radicalised with IS ideology (arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad on 4 July) from Khandwa. In August, Rizwan Ali, a member of the Pune module of the IS, was arrested by the Delhi police at the inter-state Delhi-Faridabad border. Ali had escaped from the Pune polices custody in July 2023, and a reward of Rupees 300,000 had been announced for tips leading to his arrest. Advertisement The Continuing Threat The low success rate of the IS/ISKP in India, compared to their repeated terror attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan notwithstanding, the groups attempts to find a foothold among the Muslim community have continued. In June 2024, Voice of Khurasan, the IS magazine accused the Afghan Taliban of forging alliances with India and turning a blind eye to numerous crimes allegedly committed by Hindu polytheists against Islam. The magazine concluded by calling the Muslim youth in India to rise against the government. The message was a mix of its frustration for not being able to radicalise the Indian Muslims as well as its continuous attempt to rekindle their supposed angst against the regime. This was corroborated by the 34th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team about ISIL (Daesh), al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities, released in the United Nations on 30 July 2024, which said that the ISKP seeks to recruit lone actors through their handlers based in India, despite not being able to conduct large-scale attacks in the country. The report further said that while al Qaeda seems to be exercising strategic patience, the threat from the ISKP emanating from Afghanistan is the gravest to the region. The Indian security agencies deserve credit for effectively managing the threat posed by the Islamic State. Indias democracy, along with the trust of all communities in the countrys governance, has acted as a strong defence against the attempts by global jihadists to incite radicalisation. However, it is important to avoid any sense of complacency, as this could be counterproductive. Such is the unpredictable nature of terrorism. The writer is the Director of Mantraya, a Goa-based research forum and the author of National Security Decision-making in India. He formerly served as a Deputy Director in the National Security Council Secretariat. He tweets @BibhuRoutray. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Donald Trumps second presidency is likely to be marked by a continuation of his provocative rhetoric and reliance on tariffs as his preferred tool of economic coercion read more In an increasingly fractured global order, President-elect Donald Trumps ambitions for Canada and Greenland might sound funny but points towards a broader expansionist agenda. By proposing economic integration of these territories into the United States, Trump is reimagining trade as a tool of economic growth but as a weapon of geopolitical influence. His rhetoric, while at times satirical, points to a broader trend: the use of economic pressure as a substitute for direct military engagement. This approach blurs the lines between coercion and diplomacy, raising critical questions about the ethics and effectiveness of leveraging trade to reshape global power dynamics. Advertisement Since his election as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump has embraced an expansionist rhetoric, frequently showcased through his Truth Social posts and media statements. One of the earliest examples of this was his pointed remarks about Canada. His overtures to Canada, including his threats of punitive tariffs and framing Canada as the 51st state, exemplify a deliberate use of economic coercion to recalibrate trade relationships. These actions reflect dependency theory. which suggests dominant states exploit economic asymmetries to maintain control over others. Canadas reliance on the U.S. market for trade and investment positions it as vulnerable to such coercive tactics, even as a developed nation. Trumps framing of this interdependence as a weakness allowed him to weaponize economic ties in ways that pressured Canada to renegotiate trade agreements under less favorable terms. Trumps tactics also align with theories of economic statecraft**,** particularly as articulated by David Baldwin in his seminal work Economic Statecraft (1985). Baldwin argues that trade policies, tariffs, and sanctions can be used as tools of power projection. They are simply not economic ends, but they also help in serving strategic and political objectives. Trumps second presidency will leverage economic penalties as bargaining tools. Trumps tactics challenge liberal theories of international trade, which emphasize the cooperative benefits of interdependence. Instead, his strategy illustrates how economic interdependence can be exploited asymmetrically, turning mutual reliance into a source of leverage. The renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA showcases this dynamic, where Canada made concessions under the threat of punitive measures. Greenland, with its immense natural resources and strategic Arctic location, represents another dimension of Trumps expansionist vision. The islands untapped reserves of rare earth minerals, oil, and natural gas have made it a focal point in the scramble for Arctic dominance. Trumps rhetoric on Greenland mirrors the principles of resource geopolitics, where control over critical materials becomes central to national security and economic competitiveness. The Arctic, as theorized by Kaplan (2009), is an emerging theater for great-power rivalry, and Trumps interest in Greenland reflects an acknowledgment of its strategic importance. His administrations willingness to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the region, even through economic pressure, underscores the relevance of Waltzs structural realism, which emphasizes the role of power in shaping international order. Advertisement The Panama Canal has become the third prey of Donald Trumps expansionist rhetoric, as he has vowed to reclaim the strategically vital waterway, citing its importance to U.S. economic and military security. During a press conference, Trump criticized the 1977 treaties that returned control of the canal to Panama, calling the decision a very big mistake and implying it left the U.S. vulnerable. He also accused Panama of overcharging U.S. ships and suggested that the canals operations are being influenced by China, despite Panamanian officials categorically denying such claims. Trumps framing of the canal as a critical asset reflects his broader strategy of leveraging economic arguments and security concerns to justify territorial expansion, mirroring his rhetoric about Canada and Greenland. Advertisement The Gulf of Mexico has emerged as another target of Donald Trumps expansionist rhetoric, with his proposal to rename it the Gulf of America symbolizing an effort to assert U.S. dominance over shared geographic spaces. Trump has framed the Gulfs renaming as a matter of national pride and economic security, despite the practical challenges such a change would entail. The Gulfs current name, used for over four centuries, reflects historical ties and shared ownership with Mexico, underscoring its complex geopolitical significance. Renaming it would require approval from the International Hydrographic Organization, which standardizes global waterway names, making the proposal more symbolic than actionable. Advertisement Two consistent themes run through Trumps expansionist rhetoric: first, it is predominantly directed at the United States closest allies, and second, it is consistently backed by the use of trade barriers, such as higher tariffs, as a coercive tool. Historically, trade has been a potent weapon in the arsenal of global powers. From the British Empires use of mercantilism to the United States post-World War II economic diplomacy, nations have long leveraged economic tools to achieve geopolitical objectives. Trumps approach is a modern iteration of these strategies, where tariffs, trade agreements, and investments replace gunboats and blockades. However, many might argue that such tactics risk undermining multilateralism and the norms of cooperative trade that have underpinned global stability since the Bretton Woods era. However, Trump 1.0 dealt a severe blow to multilateralism, undermining its very foundations by prioritizing unilateral actions and transactional diplomacy over collective global cooperation. This trend is likely to intensify under Trump 2.0, with a renewed emphasis on America First policies that could further erode multilateral frameworks, weaken international alliances, and prioritize short-term national gains over long-term global stability. Advertisement In Trumps next presidency, this trend is likely to intensify. His first term already demonstrated a preference for renegotiating trade deals and imposing tariffs, with economic statecraft often taking precedence over multilateral consensus. This aggressive stance, while effective in the short term, risks alienating allies and destabilizing established trade networks. A significant enabler of this strategy is the paralysis of the World Trade Organizations (WTO) Appellate Body, which has been non-functional since 2019 due to the US blocking new appointments. Without a functioning dispute resolution mechanism, the global trade system has become increasingly vulnerable to unilateral actions. The absence of a robust adjudication process provides fertile ground for Trumps unilateralism, allowing him to bypass traditional checks and balances in pursuing aggressive trade policies. The WTOs diminished capacity to enforce rules may well mark a turning point in global trade, with far-reaching implications for the balance of power. Trumps second presidency is likely to be marked by a continuation of his provocative rhetoric and reliance on tariffs as his preferred tool of economic coercion. While the specifics of his expansionist ambitions may shift, the constant will be the use of trade barriers to assert US dominance. Aditya Sinha (X:@adityasinha004) is a public policy professional. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. India is experiencing a cultural revival, with Hindi typography transforming from a simple tool into a symbol of pride, creativity and heritage, showcasing a nation confidently embracing its roots read more India is going through something of a cultural renaissance with more and more modern Indians rediscovering pride in the countrys rich heritage and expansive history. For decades, the shadow of British colonial rule left many of us grappling with a loss of identity as our own culture seemed to be sidelined in favour of foreign influences and the ever-growing allure of the West. But there is now a burgeoning move toward embracing our roots and looking inward reflected in an evolving landscape of design, especially in the world of typography. Advertisement On the occasion of World Hindi Day, let us acknowledge and celebrate the fact that one of the most notable shifts weve seen in the recent past is the resurgence of Hindi typography. Despite being the most widely spoken language in the country, Hindi was once considered less prestigious than English, perceived as utilitarian and common, and consequently relegated to mass markets. Today however, Hindi typography is celebrated for its distinctiveness, elegance and cultural flavour, with designers modernising Devanagari fonts to reflect both heritage and contemporary sensibilities and positioning it as a mark of premium quality and indeed, selfhood. A fusion of scripts One key trend is the fusion of Devanagari with other scripts, such as Latin, to create distinctive brand identities and a more culturally rooted visual language. Ziaho Chocolates, for example, used regional typography from various Indian states to highlight the origin of the ingredients used, blending it with Latin script to form a unique visual identity. This combination reflects Indias diverse culture while appealing to global audiences, as well as driving home the importance of sourcing locally. Breaking boundaries In Maharashtra, it is now mandatory for brands to feature their names in Hindi or Marathi on packaging, but designers are pushing the envelope by moving away from default fonts and reimagining brand identities in Devanagari, calling attention to Indian pride with contemporary elegance and flair. Its a remarkable development that brands are no longer content with simply meeting regulatory standards as required, instead tapping into their creativity and using typography as a tool for innovation and cultural expression. Advertisement Regional reawakening Rather than following global trends or taking a route already formed in Western markets, designers are consciously choosing to draw inspiration from local scripts and traditional motifs. In this way, regional typography builds originality in design and creates authentic, unique visual languages. This approach not only distinguishes brands and reinforces their individuality, but also ensures that their designs resonate deeply with the Indian audience and are as timeless as the scripts and typographical characters that we have all grown up with. A shift in sentiment The rise of these design practices reflects a broader cultural shift within India, one that has been a long time in the making. The use of Hindi typography in increasingly innovative ways is a powerful symbol, a manifestation even, of Indias growing confidence and pride in its own culture and heritage. Advertisement We are no longer looking to the West for validation, nor are we relying on foreign influences but are proudly drawing on Indias rich cultural traditions to create modern, distinctive identities. This embrace of Hindi typography is not just about aesthetics; its about cultural authenticity. Hindi typography has evolved from a simple tool for communication into a powerful statement of Indias identity. While we have already seen this in the fields of art, fashion, legacy media and pop culture, its refreshing to witness it taking shape in branding, packaging and digital media. That it is now used with sophistication, artistry and pride is a testament to how far we have come in accepting, embracing and finally celebrating who we are, reflecting a modern, confident India that is reclaiming its cultural legacy. Advertisement Krupa Sheth Kapadia is the Co-Founder and Creative Director at the branding and design agency Stratedgy. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. NVIDIAs vice president of government affairs, Ned Finkle, criticised the proposed rules, arguing that targeting mainstream AI chips under the guise of an anti-China policy is counterproductive read more Speaking at CES in Las Vegas, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said he believes Trumps administration could foster a faster-moving tech industry by cutting back on restrictions. Image Credit: Reuters NVIDIA has spoken out against a proposed policy by the Biden administration to introduce new restrictions on exporting AI chips, calling it a hasty move that could harm the US economy and global standing. The tech giant, which dominates the AI chip market, argued that such measures would have little impact on national security while pushing other nations to develop alternative technologies. The restrictions, expected to be announced soon, would impose tighter limits on the sale of US semiconductors, capping exports by country and company. This move is part of a long-term US effort to prevent adversaries like China and Russia from accessing cutting-edge technology. However, NVIDIA and other industry players believe the policy could backfire by stifling innovation and ceding global markets to competitors. Advertisement Concerns over economic impact NVIDIAs vice president of government affairs, Ned Finkle, criticised the proposed rules, arguing that targeting mainstream AI chips used in gaming PCs and data centres worldwideunder the guise of an anti-China policy is counterproductive. He warned that the extreme country caps would disrupt the availability of standard computing technologies across the globe without meaningfully advancing national security. The policy, which could be announced within days, is reportedly structured in tiers. US allies would retain full access to semiconductors, while most countries would face new restrictions, including caps on the computing power allowed to be exported to any single nation. Finkle expressed concern that this last-minute policy could undermine US businesses and alienate international partners. He suggested that President Biden should avoid preempting the incoming Trump administration, which is expected to take a different regulatory approach. NVIDIAs relationship with the incoming Trump administration NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has signalled a willingness to work with President-elect Donald Trump, expressing optimism about reduced regulation under his leadership. Speaking at CES in Las Vegas, Huang said he believes Trumps administration could foster a faster-moving tech industry by cutting back on restrictions. Huang also stated his readiness to meet with Trump and offer assistance to ensure the administrations success. This sentiment reflects NVIDIAs position as a significant beneficiary of the recent AI boom, which has propelled the company to become the worlds most valuable chipmaker. Industry pushback NVIDIAs criticisms are echoed by other major tech companies represented by the Information Technology Industry Council, which includes Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. The group has voiced concerns that the proposed rules would impose arbitrary limits on US companies, reducing their ability to compete in global markets. While the Biden administration argues that these measures aim to prevent AI from bolstering Chinas military capabilities, critics say the policy risks isolating the US tech sector and driving other nations to adopt alternative technologies. As NVIDIAs shares dipped slightly following the Bloomberg report on the proposed restrictions, it remains to be seen how the policy will play out in the coming weeks. With Trump set to take office soon, the tech industry is bracing for potential shifts in regulation and international trade strategy. For now, NVIDIA and its peers are advocating for a more measured approach that balances security concerns with the need to maintain global competitiveness. Advertisement South African police rescued 26 Ethiopians from a suspected human trafficking ring in Johannesburg after the group broke a window and removed a burglar bar to escape from a house where they were being held naked, according to a report read more South African police rescued 26 Ethiopians from a suspected human trafficking ring in Johannesburg after the group broke a window and removed a burglar bar to escape from a house where they were being held naked. According to The Guardian report, citing a statement from the Hawks serious crime unit, three individuals were arrested on charges of human trafficking and possession of an illegal firearm on Thursday night after neighbors in the Sandringham suburb alerted the police about the disturbance. Advertisement Police urged the public to report any other escaped naked people in the area. About 60 Ethiopian men were held captive in the bungalow, according to the report, citing the local TV station eNCA, showing what appeared to be blood spattered below an open window at the front of the house. Police said 11 people were taken to hospital for medical treatment. A number of the Ethiopians are still at large after not being picked up by police. The signs that we have is this is a human trafficking matter, because they were actually escaping from that house and they were kept naked, almost as if its a modus operandi to keep them humiliated and not trying to escape, The Guardian quoted Philani Nkwalase, a police spokesperson, as saying. Since the end of apartheid over 30 years ago, South Africa has become a destination for immigrants from across Africa. However, concerns about drug smuggling and rising unemployment and crime have fueled ongoing xenophobia. According to the 2022 census, South Africa has about 2.4 million foreign-born residents among its 62 million population. While most immigrants come from southern African countries, approximately 58,000 are Ethiopians. In August 2024, authorities found 82 Ethiopians crammed into a Johannesburg house without adequate food or sanitation. Seven were initially identified as minors, and 19 others claimed to be underage when they faced court for allegedly entering South Africa illegally. Advertisement They were all undocumented migrants who were not victims of trafficking but were smuggled into the country, The Guardian quoted the department of home affairs as saying in a statement later that month. Nkwalase said it is still uncertain whether the two cases are linked, noting that police are seeking an interpreter to overcome language barriers preventing them from questioning the men about their arrival in South Africa. A neighbor of the house from which the Ethiopians escaped expressed shock at the incident, mentioning that the only time she had seen anyone at the property was a few weeks earlier when her son went to retrieve a ball that had landed over the fence. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The UK government has said that compensating victims of child grooming gangs involved in a long-standing scandal is a complex issue that requires careful examination before any further action is taken, according to a report read more The UK government has said that compensating victims of child grooming gangs involved in a long-standing scandal is a complex issue that requires careful examination before any further action is taken. According to a Bloomberg report, so far, the government has declined requests from US billionaire Elon Musk and the main opposition Conservative Party to initiate a new inquiry into child sexual exploitation in British towns by gangs of predominantly Pakistani heritage, emphasising that its priority is to implement the recommendations of a previous investigation. Advertisement One of the recommendations is financial compensation for the victims, which the Financial Times reported this week could range from 5 billion ($6.2 billion) to 10 billion. The paper cited unnamed sources from both the Labour government and the previous Tory administration, reported Bloomberg. We need to work through the details before setting out further steps on this, Bloomberg quoted Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, Tom Wells, as telling reporters on Friday when asked about the potential for financial redress. Anything the government does will be in line with our commitment to economic stability, he said. With inputs from agencies As five fires ravage the US city of Los Angeles in California, the law enforcement and National Guard personnel have also been deployed to tackle looters who are targeting homes and businesses vacated under evacuation orders read more Even as firefighters and law enforcement personnel are stretched thin in tackling wildfires ravaging Californias Los Angeles, the authorities are facing another challenge from looters. The condition is such that National Guard, part of the US military reserves, has been deployed to aid police in tackling looters. The National Guard is also aiding in firefighting operations. As several thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed in fires and nearly 200,000 people have been forced to flee for their lives, looters have found an opportunity that police and National Guard are now tackling. A local told the media that as many as 100 people arrived in vehicles to enter houses to loot them. Advertisement There were like 100 men arriving in cars and on scooters trying to get into the houses. I hope there is a special place in hell reserved for people who prey on situations like this. #LosAngelesFire #lafires #CaliforniaWildfires pic.twitter.com/6CK4FC6BJJ Lindsay Kusiak (@lindsay_kusiak) January 9, 2025 Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press conference on Thursday that as many as 20 looters have so far been arrested. Not just looters but scamsters are also trying to make the most of the crisis. There have been reports that scamsters have been trying to fool people by posing as insurance company employees and duping them of money in the name of addressing the damage to their properties. California Governor Gavin Newsom said that 600 National Guards personnel have been mobilised for Los Angeles. These personnel are being tasked with traffic control, protecting critical infrastructure, and supporting law enforcement personnel, and first responders. You will be prosecuted to fullest extent of law In a warning to those wanting to take advantage of empty homes and businesses, Luna said that they would be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Luna said that looters chose to go into areas and deprive these poor people, who have been through so much, of their property, according to Washington Times. While Luna said 20 looters have been arrested, he did not specify the charges against them or publish their names. Luna said that not just looters but those people found loitering in areas under evacuation orders would also be held and prosecuted. Those held committing crimes would be charged with felonies. Advertisement Luna further said, If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there, you are going to be subject to arrest. Our first choice isnt to do enforcement. Its to help people, but if people choose to commit crimes, theyre going to be held accountable. Advertisement Separately, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that if you want to engage in these internet scams where youre going to take advantage of people who are going to be seeking insurance and government benefits you will be arrested. If you want to go ahead and loot, if you want to commit burglary, if you want to engage in grand theft, if you want to engage in these internet scams where youre going to take advantage of people who are going to be seeking insurance and government benefits you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law, said Hochman, according to CBS News. Los Angeles fires remain mostly out of control As per latest information, at least five fires are raging in Los Angeles and they are still largely out of control. At least 10 people have been killed, nearly 200,000 have been forced to flee for their lives, and entire neighbourhoods have been burnt to ashes. Advertisement The fires are being fanned by strong winds. Even as the first two fires were barely contained, new fires were also began on Wednesday and Thursday Total destruction in Malibu. These were beachfront homes on Pacific Coast Highway. #palisadesfire pic.twitter.com/DhQnJMmoUW Liz Kreutz (@LizKreutzNews) January 8, 2025 The five fires are being called the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst fire, the Lidia fire, and the Kenneth fire. The Palisades fire has been the most devastating and has burnt 19,978 acres of land and has only been contained 6 per cent, according to CNN. Advertisement The outlet reported that the Eaton fire, which has burnt 13,690 acres of land, has not been contained at all. It continues to rage with 0 per cent containment. The Hurst fire has been contained 37 per cent, the Lidia fire 75 per cent, and Kenneth Fire 35 per cent, according to the outlet. Japanese media have said that at least eight persons have been injured in a hammer attack at a university in Tokyo read more Police officers stand near the scene of a stabbing and shooting incident in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo on May 25, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) At least eight persons were injured on Friday (January 10) in a hammer attack at a university in Japanese capital Tokyo, according to Japanese media. Japanese state media NHK reported that a 22-year-old student was arrested in relation to the attack. The outlet reported that the attack took place at Hosei Universitys Tama Campus and all those injured were conscious. The outlet reported identified the arrested suspect as a woman and said she attacked people with hammer in the class. Advertisement The NHK and other outlets said the woman had said during the attack that she was being ignored and had pent-up frustration. While violence is common in US educational campuses, acts of violence are rare in Japan due. This is so because of strict gun laws. There have been rare stabbing attacks. Overall, the most shocking crime in recent years was the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. President Joe Biden plans to deliver a capstone address Monday on his foreign policy legacy, according to the White House.. read more President Joe Biden listens during a briefing regarding the federal response to the spread of wildfires in the Los Angeles area, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) President Joe Biden plans to deliver a capstone address Monday on his foreign policy legacy, according to the White House. The outgoing president is expected to use his address at the State Department to highlight his administrations efforts to expand NATO, rally dozens of allies to provide Ukraine with a steady stream of military aid to fight Russia, forge a historic agreement between Japan and South Korea to expand security and economic cooperation and more, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to preview plans for the address. Advertisement Biden also picked the State Department for his first major foreign policy speech at the start of his presidency nearly four years ago. During that February 2021 address, Biden sought to send an unambiguous signal to the world that the United States was ready to resume its role as a global leader after four years in which President Donald Trump pressed an America First agenda. But the one-term Democrat will bid farewell to US diplomats and make the case for his worldview as Trump prepares to return the White House with plans to drastically overhaul American foreign policy. The president-elect has decried the cost of US support for Ukraines war effort, called for NATO members to dramatically increase defence spending and said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he insists US control of both is vital to American national security. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) As Los Angeles faces its latest fire crisis, it must look to the lessons of past urban fires that led to sweeping changes and a stronger, safer future read more The Palisades Fire burns behind a sign for Will Rogers State Beach in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles on January 7, 2025. AP Los Angeles, a vast American city where urban life meets wild nature, is battling dangerous fires. This isnt a rare eventits part of a long history of fires that have shaped cities, tested communities and brought about big changes. Fires have both destroyed and renewed, highlighting weaknesses while sparking improvements. As Los Angeles fights this latest inferno, heres a look at the past to see how cities may emerge stronger and be better prepared in a world increasingly affected by climate change: Advertisement Lessons from urban fires through history The history of urban fires is full of important lessons. The Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, for example, destroyed two-thirds of the city and was rumouredthough never provento have been started by Emperor Nero. This disaster led to important changes, like stricter building rules and left a lasting mark on architecture such as the construction of Neros grand Domus Aurea. Similarly, the Great Fire of London in 1666, which began in a bakery on Pudding Lane, wiped out 80 per cent of the city. While it was devastating, it also got rid of areas affected by plague leading to a rebirth of the city under Christopher Wren and the use of fire-resistant materials in buildings. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 is another example. It started in a barn and destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city leaving 100,000 people homeless and causing damage worth $200 million. However, it helped Chicago become more modern, leading to the development of steel-framed skyscrapers and stronger fire safety rules. Fires caused by natural disasters, like the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 and the Tokyo Great Fire of 1923, show how disasters can severely impact cities. The Tokyo fire, which followed the Great Kanto Earthquake, killed over 1,40,000 people and led to a redesign of Tokyo with wider streets and better urban planning. Advertisement Smaller but equally important fires have also made a difference. The 1944 Victoria Dock Explosion in Mumbai killed over 800 people and revealed serious problems with how hazardous materials were stored. This tragedy led to major changes in Indias port safety rules, improving firefighting resources and regulations for handling dangerous goods. All these disasters share a common theme: urban fires, while destructive, often serve as turning points encouraging cities to rebuild in a safer and stronger way. The unique challenge of Los Angeles Los Angeles faces a fire risk unique in scale and complexity. Unlike historical fires confined to urban centres, LAs fires straddle the boundary between urban and wildland areas. This duality poses significant challenges as wildfires fuelled by climate change and urban sprawl merge to create unprecedented emergencies. Advertisement The citys location, climate and rapid urbanisation amplify its vulnerability. Drought conditions, high temperatures and strong winds exacerbate fire severity while dense housing and inadequate urban planning create ripe conditions for fire spread. Fires in LA not only threaten lives and property but also disrupt ecosystems, destroy habitats and release massive amounts of carbon dioxide contributing to the very climate change that fuels their frequency and intensity. Fire as a driver of urban reform History shows that despite its destructive power fire can lead to important changes. The Great Fire of London led to the use of stone instead of wood in buildings and Chicagos rebuilding after the 1871 fire introduced new ways to plan cities. Advertisement Similarly, Tokyos recovery after the 1923 fire led to city designs with safety in mind. Now, Los Angeles needs to follow this tradition of reform to fix its weaknesses. Role of climate change Modern fires, including those in Los Angeles, are increasingly influenced by climate change. Rising temperatures, long droughts and extreme weather events create conditions that make fires bigger and more destructive. Unlike past urban fires, which were often caused by accidents or human mistakes, todays fires are part of a larger problem that requires global cooperation. The 1871 Peshtigo Fire, the deadliest wildfire in US history, burned 1.2 million acres and showed how important it is to manage natural landscapes. Los Angeles faces a similar challenge, as uncontrolled urban growth and poor forest management make fire risks worse. Sustainable city planning must include climate adaptation strategies, like restoring ecosystems, managing plant life and investing in renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions. Advertisement Historical echoes in todays fires The fires in Los Angeles are similar to past disasters, not just in their destruction, but also in their ability to drive change. For example, the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London exposed serious problems with cladding materials and fire safety systems, leading to a worldwide reassessment of building rules for high-rise buildings. Similarly, LAs ongoing fire crisis shows the need for a thorough review of building practices, fire management methods and city planning policies. Like the Victoria Dock Explosion in Mumbai, the Los Angeles fires reveal deep problems that need to be fixed. Just as Mumbai put in place stricter safety rules after its tragedy, Los Angeles can learn from its current struggles to build a stronger and more resilient future. Resilience through renewal From Rome to Tokyo, urban fires have historically been turning points forcing societies to face their weaknesses and adapt. Los Angeles is at such a crossroads now. How the city responds to its fires will not only affect its immediate recovery but also its long-term ability to cope with growing climate challenges. While the size of modern fires is overwhelming, history provides a guide for recovery. By combining lessons from the past with new strategies for the future, LA has a chance to shift its story from one of destruction to one of renewal. Fire, the great destroyer, is also a powerful force for change. As Los Angeles faces its latest challenge, it has the potential to redefine what resilience means for future generations showing that from the ashes of disaster, a stronger and safer city can rise. Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. read more People watch a screen as Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is sworn in for a third six-year term, in Caracas, Venezuela January 10, 2025. Image- Reuters Canada on Friday imposed sanctions on 14 current and former senior Venezuelan officials, accusing them of involvement in activities that have supported to human rights violations in Venezuela. The Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement that the sanctions coincide with measures taken by Canadas allies including the United States and the United Kingdom, and demonstrate a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people,. Earlier today, the United States imposed new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials and increased to $25 million the reward it is offering for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro on the day of his inauguration to a third term following a disputed election last year. The outgoing Biden administration imposed further punitive measures on Maduros government following Venezuelas disputed July election. Both Maduros Socialist Party and opposition groups claim victory in the vote. Britain also announced new sanctions on Friday against 15 people associated with Venezuelan. The sanctions target 15 individuals, including the head of Venezuelas top court, members of the security forces and military officials, Britains Foreign Office said in a statement. Advertisement President Nicolas Maduro, sworn in for a third term on Friday has consistently rejected U.S. and international sanctions, deeming them an economic war meant to destabilize Venezuela. Despite the hardships and shortages, which he and his allies attribute to the sanctions, they claim that the country has shown resilience. With inputs from agencies. As Mauritius has reportedly asked the United Kingdom for more money for the Chagos Islands deal and billions in reparations, the deal appears to be becoming an embarrassment for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the way the Rwanda immigration plan haunted his predecessor Rishi Sunak read more As the British and Mauritian governments continue to spar over payments, the Chagos Islands deal appears to be becoming an embarrassment for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the way the Rwanda immigration plan haunted his predecessor Rishi Sunak. In a historic announcement in October 2024, the British and Mauritian governments said they had agreed that the United Kingdom would hand over the sovereignty of Chagos Islands, a cluster of some 60 islands around 1,000 kilometres from the Indian subcontinent, to Mauritius and secure a 99-year lease for the strategic US-UK military base at Diego Garcia one of the islands of the archipelago. Advertisement Shortly after the deals announcement, Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth, who presided over the negotiations of the deal, lost elections in a landslide defeat. The new Mauritian government of PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam ordered a review of the deal. It has since been learnt that Ramgoolam has essentially stalled the deal as his new government has demanded more money from the UK than stipulated in the deal negotiated originally by Jugnauths government. The stalemate that Starmer is facing is similar to the one that Sunk faced over the Rwanda immigration plan. In 2022, the Conservative government floated Rwanda Plan that said that all illegal immigrants entering the UK since 2022 would be transferred to Rwanda in Africa where their asylum claim would be processed. The plan was never implemented amid widespread domestic opposition. Starmer proposes frontloading payments to Mauritius: Reports While the Mauritian government never clearly said in public that its problem with the Chagos Islands deal was about money, its leaders have indicated it. Indicating that his governments stalled the deal over money that it considers less, Mauritian Deputy PM Paul Berenger told the parliament last week that the British government was quibbling on a small amount of money, according to The Daily Telegraph. In the weeks since the first reports the deals stalling emerged, it has been reported that the British government has proposed frontloading money worth payments of several years to keep the deal alive as per a middle-grounds approach, according to Bloomberg. However, the Mauritian government may still not be satisfied as its demanding too much. Advertisement The GB News reported a source as saying that the Mauritian government has demanded 800 million along with billions of pounds in reparations. Even as the Starmer government has never specified the amount, the British Foreign Office told The Daily Mail that an amount this high has not been considered at any point in negotiations between the UK and Mauritius. The GB News reported that one of the reasons why the previous Sunak government did not sign the deal was because of the price that Mauritius was asking. What was the original deal, where it stands now? Originally, the British and Mauritian governments agreed that the UK would cede sovereignty over Chagos Islands and would instead lease the Diego Garcia island with the US-UK military base for 99 years. The deal said the UK would pay annually for 99 years for the lease of the island as well as fund infrastructure development in the region. The new government in Mauritius has stalled the deal as it finds the money offered inappropriate. As a middle-grounds approach to this, Starmer has offered to pay several years worth of payments upfront. Advertisement The Financial Times has reported that deal on the table involves the payment of 90 million a year for 99 years in a nearly 9 billion deal and Starmers proposal would therefore offer Mauritius a lump sum payment of hundreds of millions of pounds without altering the overall amount of the deal. However, as GB News has reported, Mauritius is also understood to have asked billions more in reparations. The Times of London has reported a British government source as saying that the Mauritian government is asking for too much that the UK is unlikely to agree on. Theres not a bottomless pit of money we can sign over. Theres a ticking clock. If they want the money and they want the deal, then there is a hard deadline coming up, said the source. Advertisement Will Trump tank the Chagos Islands deal? As the UK operates the Diego Garcia base jointly with the United States, the US government needs to be onboard with the plan. While Trump has not yet said anything on the deal, people part of his incoming administration, such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, have opposed the deal. Diego Garcia remains our most critical basing option to counter the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party in the Indian Ocean region and ceding control of the Chagos to Mauritius could deliver the CCP an enormous strategic win, said Waltz in 2022. However, an unlikely reason might still keep the deal afloat: the partnership between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The GB News quoted an official as saying: Trump has said nothing about this Trump has described [Indian PM Narendra] Modi as his best friend in the whole world - and Modi wants this deal. Advertisement Denmark has already set aside $400 million to strengthen surveillance and intelligence in the Arctic and North Atlantic with long-range drones. read more Denmarks government has announced plans to boost its military presence in Greenland by acquiring two new Arctic inspection vessels and expanding dog sled patrols, local media reported. The move comes as US President-elect Donald Trump sets his sights on the island. According to broadcasters DR and TV2, the government also intends to upgrade the airport in Kangerlussuaq, a former US military base in western Greenland to support F-35 fighter jets. Denmark has already allocated $400 million to improve surveillance and intelligence capabilities in the Arctic and North Atlantic using long-range drones. Advertisement Trump made clear again this week that hed like the semiautonomous territory of Denmark to come under U.S. control and said he would not rule out the use of military force to make that happen. We need Greenland for national security purposes, Trump said. But Blinken said Wednesday that the incoming presidents ambitions are unlikely to amount to anything more than talk. The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has said she does not believe the United States will use military or economic power to secure control over Greenland and has appealed for U.S. behavior that is respectful of the Greenlandic people. Denmark, while responsible for Greenlands security and defence, has limited military capabilities on the vast island. At present, these include four ageing inspection vessels, a Challenger surveillance plane and 12 dog sled patrols, all tasked with monitoring an area four times the size of France. The tradition of using sled dogs for patrolling Greenland dates back to World War II, with the patrol being a specialized unit of the Royal Danish Navy. Following more than a decade of drastic cuts in defence spending, last year Denmark allocated 190 billion Danish crowns ($26 billion) for its military over a ten-year span, some of which will be for the Arctic. Advertisement Danish lawmakers began long-delayed talks on Friday on how to apportion those funds, which are being progressively allocated via political agreements. The discussions that commenced on Friday focused on what portion of the budget should be go to Greenlands defence requirements. The U.S. military maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenlands northwest. The strategic location is vital for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island. On Thursday, the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen stated that there were no plans to increase the U.S. military presence in Greenland. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. One person was killed and nine injured after Israeli warplanes bombed a power station and two ports in Houthi-controlled Yemen on Friday in retaliation for Houthi drone and missile strikes against Israel, according to a report, citing pro-Houthi media read more Houthi supporters raise their machine guns during an anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on Friday. AP One person was killed and nine injured after Israeli warplanes bombed a power station and two ports in Houthi-controlled Yemen on Friday in retaliation for Houthi drone and missile strikes against Israel, according to Reuters, citing pro-Houthi media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Iran-backed Houthi militia are paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against us. According to the report, citing Al Masirah TV, the main news outlet operated by the Houthis, a series of airstrikes targeted the Red Sea port of Ras Issa, the major port of Hodeidah, and also struck the Harf Sufyan District in Amran province. Advertisement The outlet reported that one employee at Ras Issa port was killed and six others were injured in the attacks. Earlier, British security firm Ambrey said airstrikes on the Ras Issa port targeted oil storage facilities in the vicinity of shipping berths, though no merchant vessels were reported to have been damaged. The supply of petroleum derivatives is stable, the Houthi government spokesperson Hashem Sharaf Eddine said after the attack. Thirteen airstrikes also targeted the Hezyaz central power station in Yemens capital Sanaa, Al Masirah TV reported. It said three citizens had been injured, including a worker at Hezyaz, and a number of homes had been damaged. An Israeli military statement confirmed the targets, saying the power station served as a central source of energy for the Houthi terrorist regime in its military activities. It added that the targets struck were examples of the Houthis exploitation of civilian infrastructure. Within the past 48 hours, the Houthis have fired three drones at Israels commercial hub Tel Aviv and more drones and missiles at the US aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, Reuters quoted Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree as saying. The Houthis have targeted Israel, hundreds of kilometres to the north as well as international shipping in waters near Yemen since November 2023 in support of Palestinian militants at war with Israel in Gaza. Advertisement Israel has responded with airstrikes in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, as have British and U.S. forces in the region. Netanyahu said last month Israel was only at the beginning of its campaign against the Houthis. With inputs from agencies The yet-to-be announced US sanctions will reportedly include Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, as well as ship insurers Ingosstrakh and Alfastrakhovanie read more Japan imposed sanctions on 11 individuals and 54 companies in Russia and dozens of companies in other countries, according to a cabinet decision announced Friday (January 10). The measures include export restrictions on 22 military-related organisations in Russia, targeting technology and machinery makers. Similar restrictions will be applied to 18 companies in China, one in the United Arab Emirates, one in Kazakhstan, two in Kyrgyzstan, one in Thailand, and eight in Turkey. Japan also ordered the freezing of assets belonging to a North Korean individual and Georgias MRB Bank. Advertisement Among those targeted by the asset freezes are Vladimir Artyakov, the first deputy director general at Russian state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec, and Pavel Marinychev, head of Russian diamond producer Alrosa. Organizations such as NPO Mashinostroyeniya, Aleksin Chemical Plant, and CMRBank are also included in the sanctions list. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the sanctions align with efforts by the Group of Seven (G7) nations to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions through third countries. The measures also ban exports of materials that could bolster Russias industrial base. US to announce sanctions soon In a separate development, Reuters reported Friday that the United States plans to impose its harshest sanctions yet on Russias oil sector. Citing a purported US Treasury document circulating among traders, the report said the sanctions target about 180 vessels, dozens of traders, two major oil companies, and several top Russian oil executives. The US sanctions will reportedly include Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, as well as ship insurers Ingosstrakh and Alfastrakhovanie, which provide coverage for many vessels delivering Russian oil to India, Moscows largest oil buyer. Until now, the Biden administration has avoided imposing the strictest sanctions on Russian oil traders and shipping to prevent a spike in global oil prices. Reports of the new measures caused oil prices to approach $80 per barrel on Friday. With inputs from agencies The Kremlin welcomed Trumps readiness to solve problems through dialogue, Peskov said Friday, adding Moscow had no prerequisites for staging the meeting read more Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin talk during the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam, November 2017. Source: Reuters | File. The Kremlin said Friday that President Vladimir Putin was open to talks with Donald Trump, after the incoming US president said a meeting between the pair was being set up. Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20, has said he can bring a swift end to the nearly three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine, without presenting a concrete plan. The president has repeatedly stated his openness to contact with international leaders, including the US president, including Donald Trump, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Trump on Thursday said a meeting with Putin was being arranged. He wants to meet, and were setting it up, Trump said at a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Advertisement President Putin wants to meet, hes said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with, thats a bloody mess, he said. The Kremlin welcomed Trumps readiness to solve problems through dialogue, Peskov said Friday, adding Moscow had no prerequisites for staging the meeting. No conditions are required. What is required is mutual desire and political will to solve problems through dialogue, he told reporters in a daily briefing. Trumps hopes for a swift end to the conflict have stoked concern in Kyiv that Ukraine could be forced to accept a peace deal on terms favourable to Moscow. Washington has delivered tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that without such support his country would have lost the conflict. He is pushing Trump to back his peace-through-strength proposal, seeking NATO protections and concrete Western security guarantees as part of any settlement to end the fighting. Ukraines foreign ministry dismissed Trumps comments on any forthcoming meeting with Putin. Trump has talked about plans for such a meeting before, so we see nothing new in this, said spokesman Georgiy Tykhy. Advertisement Our position is very simple: we all in Ukraine want to end the war fairly for Ukraine, and we see that President Trump is also determined to end the war, he said, according to the Interfax Ukraine news agency. Tykhy said Ukraine was preparing for high-level discussions between Kyiv and Washington immediately after the inauguration, including between Trump and Zelensky. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as many as 613 Nigerian people were forcibly asked to leave Libya following which they arrived in the desert town of Dirkou in Niger in trucks read more Irregular Nigerian migrants board a bus from the anti-migration bureau, tasked with coordinating deportations of foreigners who are in the country illegally, to be driven to Mitiga International Airport, in Tripoli on June 25, 2024. Representative image/AFP Over 600 people have been deported from Libya, in what is seen as the biggest mass expulsion from the North African nation to date. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as many as 613 Nigerian people were forcibly asked to leave Libya following which they arrived in the desert town of Dirkou in Niger in trucks. Azizou Chehou, of the migrant distress response charity Alarm Phone Sahara, said, This is something new. There was one expulsion of 400 people last July, but this convoy is the largest number to date. Advertisement The expulsions occur amid accusations that EU countries are turning a blind eye to the widespread and systematic human rights abuses against migrants in Libya while focusing on curbing migration to Europe. Italy has signed agreements with Tunisia and Libya to limit Mediterranean crossings. According to Italys interior ministry, 66,317 people arrived in the country in 2024, which is less than half the figure recorded in 2023. This is Europes border policy laid bare, outsourcing mass expulsion and death to Libya, where the desert becomes a graveyard, said David Yambio, spokesperson for the nonprofit organisation Refugees in Libya. He added, Leaders like [Viktor] Orban, [Giorgia] Meloni, or Trump applaud such efficient cruelty. Its no accident; its the design. The EU pays to erase migrants, to make suffering invisible, and to wash its hands while others do its dirty work. The journey from Libya to Niger across the Sahara desert was not an easy one. The 613 people had to experience a very dangerous and traumatising to make that trip out of Libya. Winter in the desert is very cold and with migrants packed like sardines, fights to find the most comfortable spots can break out and people can fall out of the truck breaking limbs. People will arrive [in Agadez] in a very sorry state, Chehou said. Libya has traditionally attracted workers, with migrants from Niger, Mali, and Chad heading to southern regions to find jobs in agriculture, construction, and retail. Many others travel to Libya to save money before making their way to the coast, where they board smugglers boats bound for Europe. Advertisement Rebecca Alvarez-Petit, a resident, was on a work call when her phone started flashing a message that read An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. Soon all the phones in the room began blasting with the alert message read more An apartment building burns during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on January 08, 2025. AFP As if the devastating wildfires were not enough troubling, residents in a Los Angeles county received alerts on their smartphones warning them about more blazes nearby and asking them to evacuate immediately. Panic ensued after their phones rang with the alert at a time when people were already standing on the edge as huge flames engulfed homes across the Californian city. Turns out, the message was sent by mistake. Rebecca Alvarez-Petit, a resident, was on a work call when her phone started flashing a message that read An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. Soon all the phones in the room began blasting with the alert message. Advertisement It was like a massive panic that I was watching in real-time, Petit told BBC. The group started looking up reports of nearby fires in haste to know whether they were in danger or not. But to their surprise, their phones popped up with another message saying, Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING. It was for Kenneth Fire Only. Were all on pins and needles and have been anxiously sitting by our phones, staring at the TV, having the radio going - trying to stay as informed as possible because there wasnt a good system in place, she said, adding And then this. Its like - you have got to be kidding me. More fire, more evacuations The two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures, officials said Thursday as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The orders came as Los Angeles County officials announced the Eaton Fire near Pasadena that started Tuesday night has burned more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. To the west in Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires burning in the LA area has destroyed over 5,300 structures. As many as 10 deaths have been reported in the city while many Hollywood celebrities have lost their homes to the ravaging fires. Swaths of the United States second-largest city lay in ruins Friday, with more than 10,000 structures destroyed according to the states fire service. Winds to subside soon Meanwhile, Firefighters hoped for a break Friday from fierce winds that have fueled massive blazes in the Los Angeles area. Fire danger warnings are in place through Friday afternoon, but winds have died down from earlier in the week when hurricane-force gusts blew embers that ignited hillsides. That could give firefighters a chance to make more progress, but meteorologist Rich Thompson warned the break could be short-lived. Advertisement Were looking for a little respite on Friday and Saturday from the Santa Ana winds but then theyre going to pick up again Sunday through most of next week, he said at a fire briefing Thursday evening. With inputs from agencies A Syrian monitor on Friday reported that fighters associated with the Islamist-led transitional administration publicly executed a local official on Friday, alleging he had been an informant for the ousted leader Bashar al-Assad read more A Syrian monitor on Friday reported that fighters associated with the Islamist-led transitional administration publicly executed a local official on Friday, alleging he had been an informant for the ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. According to AFP, citing the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the new authorities executed Mazen Kneneh by shooting him in the head in the street in the Damascus suburb of Dummar, calling him one of the most prominent loyalists of the former regime. Advertisement Britain-based monitor said Kneneh was accused of writing malicious security reports that led to the persecution and jailing of many young men who were tortured in prison under Assad, whose rule came to an end on December 8. A video circulating online, reportedly shows the mans slumped body tied to a tree trunk, his clothes bloodied from what appears to be a bullet wound to the head. The footage shows members of the public, including children, gathering around the body, with some filming on their mobile phones while others beat the body with sticks or kick it in the head. In recent days, Syrian authorities have conducted security sweeps aimed at targeting remnants of the regime of the deposed leader in several areas. Anas Khattab, the new General Intelligence chief, has pledged to overhaul the security apparatus, denouncing the injustice and tyranny of the former regime, whose agencies sowed corruption and inflicted suffering on the people. With inputs from agencies For many Greenlanders, Trumps remarks have been unsettling. Most have rejected the thought of their country being bought or sold read more Donald Trump's comments on buying Greenland and making it a part of the US have elicited a variety of responses from Greenlanders. File image/Reuters Greenlands Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has called for calm and unity after US President-elect Donald Trump sparked outrage by suggesting the use of tariffs or military force to acquire Greenland. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, Egede declared in a firm response to Trumps comments. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy dismissed the notion of US annexation, saying it is not going to happen, while Germany and France issued warnings against such moves. Trumps remarks have reignited tensions with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) allies and drawn sharp rebukes from Greenlanders and European leaders. Advertisement The controversy intensified when Donald Trump Jr. landed in Nuuk aboard a private jet emblazoned with the Trump name, vowing to make Greenland great again. Donald Trump Jr, son of US President-elect Donald Trump, visits Nuuk, capital of Greenland, on Tuesday. At the same time of Trump Jrs visit, the US president-elect reiterated his desire to purchase the Arctic island. Reuters Greenlanders react For many Greenlanders, Trumps remarks have been unsettling. The Guardian cited Ole Hjorth, a 27-year-old air traffic controller in Nuuk, as saying, Our country is ours its not for sale. If he used military force, that would mean going to war with the rest of Nato, and implementing sanctions and tariffs on Denmark, and therefore the rest of the EU as well. Frans H. Petersen, a 21-year-old student from Maniitsoq, exuded confidence in Greenlands leadership. When the Greenlandic government firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale and never will be, I felt reassured, Petersen said. While he supports eventual independence, he added that the current relationship with Denmark provides Greenlanders with a high quality of life. Paneeraq, a 22-year-old from Sisimiut, shared a more cautious view, citing the colonial history of the Americas. I will never support Trump and I will never support what colonial Americans have done to Native Americans, but there will always be hope for some type of agreement from both sides that would benefit the people of Kalaallit Nunaat, the Guardian quoted them as saying. Historical context Trumps ambition to acquire Greenland dates back to 2019, when he described it as essentially a real estate deal. Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, achieved the right to independence through a 2009 referendum but remains closely tied to Denmark. Its strategic location and natural resources have long attracted geopolitical interest. During World War II, the US occupied Greenland while Denmark was under Nazi control, but the territory was returned to Danish governance in 1945. The US maintains a military base in Greenlands northwest. Advertisement Trumps comments have come amid ongoing debates about Greenlands future. Egede has been a vocal advocate for independence, aligning with the aspirations of many Greenlanders. A 2019 University of Copenhagen poll found that 67.7 per cent of Greenlandic adults supported independence from Denmark at some point in the future. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in a speech that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had imposed the ban on PIAs operations in Europe because of an irresponsible statement by a former aviation minister read more Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane sits on tarmac, as seen through a plane window, at the Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan. Reuters State-run Pakistan International Airlines resumed direct flights to Europe on Friday following a decision by the European Unions aviation safety agency to lift a four-year ban over safety standards, officials said. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif inaugurated the twice-a-week flights to Paris and vowed that PIA will expand its operations to other European countries soon. The flight from Islamabad was fully booked with more than 300 passengers, the airline said. Asif said in a speech that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had imposed the ban on PIAs operations in Europe because of an irresponsible statement by a former aviation minister. Advertisement The curb on PIA was imposed in 2020 after 97 people died when a PIA plane crashed in Karachi in southern Pakistan. Then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said an investigation into the crash found that nearly a third of Pakistani pilots had cheated on their pilots exams. A government probe later concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error. The ban caused a loss of nearly $150 million a year in revenue for PIA, officials say. Meanwhile, the first international flight was scheduled to depart from Gwadar, a new airport in southwestern Pakistan, later Friday. The Chinese-funded airport was inaugurated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in October. The airport, Pakistans largest, is located in restive southwestern Balochistan province and is part of a massive investment by Beijing that links a deep seaport and airport on the Arabian Sea by road with China. US President-elect Donald Trump revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet him and a meeting is being set up between them read more Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin talk during the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam, November 2017. Source: Reuters | File. As the United States is busy preparing for the President-elects inauguration at the White House on January 20, Donald Trump has revealed that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is being set up, but shied from offering a timeline for talks. The revelation about the upcoming Trump-Putin meet was made by the incoming US President on Thursday evening during interaction with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago club. Putin wants to meet Trump said Putin wants to meet and any such meeting, were it to happen, would come after his inauguration as president. He wants to meet, and we are setting it up, Trump said. Advertisement President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. Thats a bloody mess, Trump said about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Why Trump-Putin meet is important Trump has been persistently saying that he wants to bring the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to a swift end. During his campaign, he has repeatedly pledged to resolve the war within 24 hours. However, earlier this month, Trump acknowledged that the process might take longer. The statement by Trump comes amid heightened speculation about the potential for a diplomatic resolution to end Russias invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022 and is now approaching 34 months. It has, however, led to fears in Ukraine that a quick peace deal could possibly come at a high price for Kyiv. Trumps advisors have floated proposals to end the Russia-Ukraine war that would effectively cede large parts of Ukraine to Russia for the foreseeable future. Amid this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, earlier on Thursday (January 9), said that Putin would welcome Trumps desire for contact, but so far there have been no formal requests. It would be more appropriate to wait for Trump to take office first, Peskov further said. Last month, Putin had said that he was ready to talk to Trump. With inputs from agencies. As many as 258 Pakistanis were deported from seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, the (UAE), and China in the last 24 hours read more A beggar sits on the streets of Lahore. A report reveals that an increasing number of Pakistani nationals arriving in the Saudi Arabia for hajj, engage in begging activities. Representational image/Reuters In the past 24 hours, 258 Pakistanis were deported from seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China, according to officials. A spokesperson from the Immigration department at Karachis Jinnah International Airport stated that 14 of those deported held Pakistani passports, while the remaining 244 were sent back on emergency travel documents. We arrested 16 deportees at the Karachi airport, including one with a suspicious identity, while the rest were released after questioning, he said. Advertisement As many as 232 Pakistani have been sent back to their country by Saudi Arabia, while 21 were deported from the UAE. He said nine of the persons deported from Saudi Arabia were professional beggars. Two of them were caught performing Hajj without permits and were sent back after completing their sentences, he added. He said that many of those deported from Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were working without sponsorship while four were deported on drug charges. One individual each was deported from China, Qatar, Indonesia, Cyprus, and Nigeria. The trend of deportations has been rising significantly, he said. In the past 24 hours, the Federal Investigation Agencys (FIA) Immigration Cell also offloaded 35 passengers at the Karachi airport who were travelling to various countries. Passengers bound for Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa were offloaded due to a lack of advance hotel bookings and insufficient funds for expenses. Passengers who wanted to proceed to Saudi Arabia on a work visa were offloaded for not having proper work visa documents. The authorities emphasised that passengers must ensure they have complete documentation, proper visas, advance bookings, and sufficient funds to avoid such incidents. With inputs from agencies. 2024 has been recorded as the hottest year of Earth with the planets global average temperature easily breached the previous years record heat. It surpassed even the long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) that the 2015 Paris climate pact set with the late 1800s as the benchmark read more A homeless man pours water over himself during an excessive heat warning in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US. Source: Reuters. It has been an annual recap story for the last few years. Extending its streak of warming, the earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024. But the big difference of the 2024 global warming was that it recorded such a big jump in temperature that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold, several weather monitoring agencies announced this on Friday. The global average temperature for 2024 easily breached the previous years record heat. It surpassed even the long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) that the 2015 Paris climate pact set with the late 1800s as the benchmark. The European Commissions Copernicus Climate Service, the United Kingdoms Meteorology Office and Japans weather agency all came up with the same conclusion in their reports. Advertisement The European team calculated 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.89 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming. Japan found 1.57 degrees Celsius (2.83 degrees Fahrenheit) and the British 1.53 degrees Celsius (2.75 degrees Fahrenheit) in releases of data coordinated to early Friday morning European time. American monitoring teams NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the private Berkeley Earth are expected to release their figures later Friday. European scientists said these agencies are also likely to show record heat for 2024. The six groups compensate for data gaps in observations that go back to 1850 in different ways, which is why numbers vary slightly. The primary reason for these record temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from the burning of coal, oil and gas, said Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead at Copernicus. As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, temperatures continue to increase, including in the ocean, sea levels continue to rise, and glaciers and ice sheets continue to melt, news agency AP quoted Burgess as saying. The same story, year after year Last year eclipsed 2023s temperature in the European database by an eighth of a degree Celsius (more than a fifth of a degree Fahrenheit). Thats an unusually large jump; until the last couple of super-hot years, global temperature records were exceeded only by hundredths of a degree, scientists said. The last 10 years are the 10 hottest on record and are likely the hottest in 125,000 years, Burgess said. July 10 was the hottest day recorded by humans, with the globe averaging 17.16 degrees Celsius (62.89 degrees Fahrenheit), Copernicus found. What fanning the fire By far the biggest contributor to record warming is the burning of fossil fuels, several scientists said. A temporary natural El Nino warming of the central Pacific added a small amount and an undersea volcanic eruption in 2022 ended up cooling the atmosphere because it put more reflecting particles in the atmosphere as well as water vapor, Burgess said. This is a warning light going off on the Earths dashboard that immediate attention is needed," said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd. Hurricane Helene, floods in Spain and the weather whiplash fueling wildfires in California are symptoms of this unfortunate climate gear shift. We still have a few gears to go. Advertisement Climate-change-related alarm bells have been ringing almost constantly, which may be causing the public to become numb to the urgency, like police sirens in New York City, Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist Jennifer Francis said. In the case of the climate, though, the alarms are getting louder, and the emergencies are now way beyond just temperature. Environmental cost is also economic loss The world incurred $140 billion in climate-related disaster losses last year third highest on record with North America especially hard hit, according to a report by the insurance firm Munich Re. The acceleration of global temperature increases means more damage to property and impacts on human health and the ecosystems we depend on, said University of Arizona water scientist Kathy Jacobs. The worry This is the first time any year passed the 1.5-degree threshold, except for a 2023 measurement by Berkeley Earth, which was originally funded by philanthropists who were skeptical of global warming. Scientists were quick to point out that the 1.5 goal is for long-term warming, now defined as a 20-year average. Warming since pre-industrial times over the long term is now at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Celsius). Advertisement The 1.5 degree C threshold isnt just a number its a red flag. Surpassing it even for a single year shows how perilously close we are to breaching the limits set by the Paris Agreement, Northern Illinois University climate scientist Victor Gensini said in an email to AP. A 2018 massive United Nations study found that keeping Earths temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius could save coral reefs from going extinct, keep massive ice sheet loss in Antarctica at bay and prevent many peoples death and suffering. Francis called the threshold dead in the water. Burgess called it extremely likely that Earth will overshoot the 1.5-degree threshold, but called the Paris Agreement an extraordinarily important international policy that nations around the world should remain committed to. Advertisement European and British calculations figure with a cooling La Nina instead of last years warming El Nino, 2025 is likely to be not quite as hot as 2024. They predict it will turn out to be the third-warmest. However, the first six days of January despite frigid temperatures in the US East averaged slightly warmer and are the hottest start to a year yet, according to Copernicus data. Still, there is a lack of consensus Scientists remain split on whether global warming is accelerating. Theres not enough data to see an acceleration in atmospheric warming, but the heat content of the oceans seem to be not just rising but going up at a faster rate, said Carlo Buontempo, Copernicus director. Advertisement We are facing a very new climate and new challenges climate challenges that our society is not prepared for, Buontempo said. This is all like watching the end of a dystopian sci-fi film, said University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann. We are now reaping what weve sown. (With inputs from AP and other agencies) The story of TikToks many legal challenges began in India when the country imposed a total ban on the platform in 2020 following New Delhis simmering geopolitical tensions with Beijing read more Will TikTok continue to host thousands of content creators in the US or not is up to the Supreme Courts hearing on Friday that would either force its Chinese owner to sell the video-sharing platform or shut it down. TikTok has appealed to the court to strike down a law that would ban it from US app stores and web hosting services unless ByteDance sells its stake by January 19. The US government alleges TikTok allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users and is a conduit to spread propaganda. China and ByteDance strongly deny the claims. Advertisement The story of TikToks many legal challenges began in India when the country imposed a total ban on the platform in 2020 following New Delhis simmering geopolitical tensions with Beijing. With this, TikTok received its first big jolt as it lost one of its biggest and most important markets. While the sudden removal of the app left a void in the digital content space, Indian content creators quickly found alternatives in YouTube and Instagram which now harbour twice as many users as they have in America. Which other countries have banned TikTok? Many countries around the world followed Indias suit after it imposed a full ban on the video-sharing platform. Afghanistan banned TikTok in April 2022, stating that its content was not consistent with Islamic laws and misled the younger generation. In 2023, Nepal took TikTok off from app stores citing disruptions to social harmony. However, the ban was overturned by the current Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in August 2024. Kyrgistan took the app offline in 2023 raising concerns over its impact on childrens development. Which countries have restricted TikTok? Meanwhile, in some countries, TikTok faces severe restrictions from time to time that limit the apps operation to the extent that they are as good as being banned. The Russian government has repeatedly fined TikTok for permitting content that violates the countrys censorship regulations, including topics related to sex, gender, and feminism. In November 2024, concerns arose regarding TikToks role in Romanias presidential elections. The platform was criticized for allegedly amplifying the reach of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who advanced from 5 per cent in polls to win the first round of the election. This prompted a European Commission-led probe over TikToks potential foreign interference in the electoral process. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Ukraine has launched a massive border vigil drive to stop fighting-aged men from fleeing the country as it campaigns to boost its armed forces fighting the Russian army on multiple fronts read more Ukrainian servicemen of 117th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade sit in the dugout after firing from their AS-90 self-propelled artillery vehicle towards Russian positions at the front line on Pokrovsk direction, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2024. Image- AP As the Russia-Ukraine war nears three years, Kyiv faces a serious challenge to keep the supply of eligible fighters for its military. Hundreds of fighting-aged men are said to be fleeing the country to evade military service in its armed forces fighting to stop Russian advances. Kyiv has launched a massive operation to seal its border to prevent such men from fleeing the country. Ukrainian police said on Friday that they were conducting hundreds of raids nationwide to shut down routes used by military-aged men to flee the country to avoid military service. Advertisement Ukraine has launched a large-scale mobilisation campaign over the past several months to boost its military, which is struggling to hold back Russias significantly larger army that is advancing in the east of the country, nearly three years after Moscow invaded. The divisive campaign has spurred panic among Ukrainian fighting-aged men and has seen thousands flee the country illegally towards Europe, sometimes utilising dangerous smuggling routes over mountains or rivers. More than 600 simultaneous searches are being conducted by the SBU (Security Services of Ukraine) operatives and National Police investigators, police said in a statement. This is only the first stage of a special operation to block the channels of trafficking of men of military age abroad, it said. It said that the operation was primarily targeting the organisers of schemes that aid draft evaders to illegally cross the Ukrainian border. It said it would provide more information on the operation soon. Police said criminals had helped hundreds of people cross the border via illegal routes and that the operation was being conducted across the country. Details of the operation will be made public after all investigative actions are completed, the statement added. Kyiv has been battling problems with systemic corruption within its military mobilisation infrastructure since the beginning of Russias invasion in February 2022. Advertisement Late last year, Ukrainian former prosecutor general Andriy Kostin resigned after a probe uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme that apparently provided military draft exemptions for government officials. That followed a decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to fire the heads of regional draft offices. (With inputs from AFP) It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded, Biden said of wildfires as he received a briefing in the Oval Office of the White House read more President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, left, receive a briefing from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, on screen top right, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell, on screen top left, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, on screen at bottom, regarding the federal response to the spread of wildfires in the Los Angeles area, on Friday, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. AP US President Joe Biden on Friday described Los Angeles as resembling a war scene as several major wildfires swept through neighborhoods in the area. He said there was clear evidence of looting amid the mayhem and slammed demagogues for spreading rampant misinformation about the devastating fires. It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded, AFP quoted Biden as saying as he received a briefing on the fires in the Oval Office of the White House. Advertisement Its almost like a battle scene, he added. Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in areas of Los Angeles affected by the fires due to concerns about looting. President Biden said the government is deploying security measures, ranging from military support to the National Guard. Theres clear evidence that theres looting. Theres clear evidence that people are going into these survivors communities and looting, Biden was quoted as saying. Biden also took a veiled swipe at incoming president Donald Trump, who has spread misinformation over the flames that has then been amplified on social media. Youre going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it, Biden said of the fires. Earlier, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said a curfew order was in place for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in all mandatory evacuation zones. The curfew order is in effect between 6 pm and 6 am. The only people allowed in those areas are disaster workers, reported The Guardian. You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest, The Guardian quoted Luna as saying. He said the curfew will be strictly enforced to enhance public safety, protect property and prevent burglaries or looting in the areas that residents have evacuated. Anyone found in violation of the curfew will be subject to arrest for a misdemeanor offense and conviction may result in a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time, he added. Advertisement We are not screwing around with this," Luna warned, adding, We dont want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimised. Meanwhile, Assistant Los Angeles police department chief Dominic Choi said an arrest was made late Thursday afternoon after residents reported seeing a person trying to light a fire in Woodland Hills. That suspect was taken into custody and interviewed, he said. Officers later determined there was not enough probably cause to arrest the person on arson or suspicion of arson, he said. The investigation is ongoing. The Palisades fire, currently the largest of five active wildfires in Los Angeles County, is only 8% contained. Firefighters made overnight progress thanks to favorable weather conditions, but increasing wind gusts expected during the day could test existing containment lines. Red flag warnings remain in effect across the county until 6 pm PT today, reported The Guardian. Advertisement The Eaton fire, located north of Pasadena, has burned approximately 13,956 acres and is only 3% contained. Damage estimates suggest that between 4,000 and 5,000 structures may be affected. A total of 1,527 firefighting personnel have been deployed to combat the blaze, which moved closer to Mount Wilson on Thursday. Fortunately, the observatory remains unharmed, and no structures have been reported destroyed there, added the report. Meanwhile, the Hurst fire, situated just south of Santa Clarita, has spread to 771 acres and is currently 37% contained. In the San Fernando Valley, the Kenneth fire has burned 1,000 acres and is 35% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings related to this fire have been lifted. Advertisement The Lidia fire is making progress, with 75% containment reported. The causes of these fires are still under investigation. As the situation evolves, the number of residents under evacuation orders has decreased to 153,000, with approximately 57,830 structures still considered at risk. An additional 166,800 residents remain under evacuation warnings. With inputs from agencies Judge Juan Merchan on Friday sentenced Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in the hush money payments to a porn star despite the President-elects last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House, according to a report read more Attorney Todd Blanche and President-elect Donald Trump, seen on a television screen, appear virtually for sentencing for Trump's hush money conviction in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday in New York. AP Judge Juan Merchan on Friday sentenced Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in the hush money payments to a porn star despite the President-elects last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House. This means that Trump will avoid jail time, fines or probation. This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgement of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land, is an unconditional discharge, AFP quoted New York judge Merchan as saying while delivering the sentence during a court session. Advertisement Trump, who attended the court proceedings virtually, addressed the court about his conviction on business fraud charges. This has been a very terrible experience. I think its been a tremendous setback for New York, the New York court system. This is a case that Alvin Bragg did not want to bring from what I read and what I hear, inappropriately handled before he got there, The Guardian quoted Trump as saying. I called a legal fee a legal expense and for this, I got indicted. Its incredible, actually. They all said this case that should have never been brought, its an injustice," Trump said, referring to claims that legal scholars thought the Manhattan district attorneys case was lacking. Continuing his attack on the substance of the case, he said, I get indicted for business records? Everybody should be so accurate. Its been a political witch hunt to damage my reputation so that Id lose the election, obviously that didnt work. He went on to recount how he had won the November election, noting that he had carried every swing state and the popular vote. I was under a gag order, Im the first pesident in history (under) a gag order, Trump said. I assume that Im still under a gag order but the fact is Im totally innocent, I did nothing wrong, he added. The gag order has been a long-running issue in this case, and was imposed on Trump by Merchan after he began attacking various parties to the proceedings. Trump also claimed that the justice department is involved in the New York case, which is not true. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg brought the charges against Trump. Advertisement The president-elect concluded by saying, I was treated very, very unfairly and told Merchan, Thank you very much. After Trump was done speaking, Merchan generally spoke about the challenges and considerations of sentencing a defendant. The task is always difficult and deserving of careful consideration whether the sentence be unconditional discharge or incarceration of 25 years to life, The Guardian quoted Merchan as saying. One can argue that the trial was in many respects somewhat ordinary, Merchan said of how proceedings unfolded, but the same cannot be said about the circumstances around this sentencing. To be sure, it is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary not the occupant of the office, the judge added. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Bass was visiting Ghana to take part in the inauguration of its new president. The former Democratic Congresswoman who became the mayor of the city in 2022, did not return to Los Angeles until Wednesday afternoon read more While the city of Los Angeles was burning to ashes, its Mayor Karen Bass was on the other side of the globe and was part of the American delegation sent by US President Joe Biden to Ghana. Bass was visiting the African nation for the inauguration of its new president. According to The New York Times, the former Democratic Congresswoman who became the mayor of the city in 2022, did not return to Los Angeles until Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement By this time, more than 1,000 homes were burned and 100,000 people across the region had been forced to flee their homes. The mayors absence drew severe backlash from people in California as they struggled to survive the tragedy. Throughout the whole tragedy, many residents complained that there was insufficient warning from officials about the likelihood of devastating fires. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles had begun warning of extreme fire weather conditions" by Thursday last week. By Sunday morning, the warnings became even more concerning with the NWS saying rapid fire growth and extreme behaviour with any fire starts. Despite all the warnings from the Meteorological department, Mayor Bass posted her warning on X only by Monday. Zero preparation What makes the matter concerning is the fact that Bass was already in California when she issued the alarm over the matter for the very first time. Her office did not even send out a news release about fire risk until nearly 11 am on Tuesday morning. By this time, a massive blaze in Pacific Palisades had already broken out. There was zero preparation. There was zero thought here, Michael Gonzales, 47, whose home burned down in Pacific Palisades told The New York Times. His family of five had to camp out in a hotel in Santa Monica on Wednesday as they began figuring out what to do next. Many claimed that Bass made a poor decision to remain overseas despite several forecasters warning that the situation would turn out to be the most dangerous fire the country witnessed in more than a decade. It was an utter breakdown in leadership and it starts with the mayors office, Gonzales said in an interview. Advertisement Amid criticism, Bass defended her move in her first news conference since returning on Wednesday. She insisted that the disaster was the result of months of little rain and winds that had not been seen in the city for at least 14 years. We have to resist any, any effort to pull us apart, she said. Bass insisted that she came back as soon as she could after the fire started to engulf several parts of Southern California. I took the fastest route back, which included being on a military plane, she said. But what was interesting in this whole situation is the fact that while Bass was parading around in Ghana, her bosses cancelled their respective overseas trips. Advertisement Harris and Biden both cancelled their trips abroad As the city struggles to control the ravaging blaze, both US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris cancelled their respective trips abroad. Harris was scheduled to take place in Singapore, Bahrain and Germany due to the wildfires in her home state. Harriss decision came a day after Biden cancelled his trip to Italy, where he was due to meet Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In response to the historic wildfires in Los Angeles, the Vice-President has decided to cancel her and (her husbands) upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany, the White House said on Jan 9. This begs the question of whether it was needed for Bass to travel abroad while her city was in shambles. On Thursday, city officials confirmed that water tanks ran dry during the intense firefight early Wednesday in Pacific Palisades. The authorities noted that the water demand surged four times the normal rate in just 15 hours. They maintained that their system was not designed to supply so much water in such a short period. Advertisement The lack of water in the hydrants, I dont think theres an excuse, said Rick Caruso, a real estate developer who lost to Bass in the mayoral race in 2022. This was very predictable, added referring to the forecasts that predicted the devastating windstorm. Caruso served two stints as the President of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He maintained that it would take time to account for why firefighters struggled to get enough water to fight the fires. This is a massive failure of epic proportions, he said. To know the storm was coming and then to leave, and not rush back. Leadership matters and the first thing is to be present," he furthered. Advertisement In the last two days, around 180,000 people had to evacuate their homes with the blazing fire killing 5 people as of now. However, the authorities fear that the death toll is most likely to increase read more Hundreds of rescue workers are scouring through the rubble in search of survivors as devastating wildfires take over the city of Los Angeles, California. On Thursday, tens of thousands of more residents were forced to flee as their neighbourhood was reduced to ashes. In the last two days, around 180,000 people had to evacuate their homes with the blazing fire killing 5 people as of now. However, the authorities fear that the death toll is most likely to increase. Advertisement According to The Guardian, the Eaton Gire near Pasadena has burned down between 4,000 to 5,000 structures including vehicles. Meanwhile, thousands of other structures in Pacific Palisades also witnessed the same fate. The Los Angeles country sheriff warned that the death toll is most likely to increase as rescue teams are being deployed across the city. As of now, the wildfires have burned more than 30,000 acres of land across the city. A spokesperson from the sheriffs department told the Los Angeles Times that their work has been hindered by the treacherous conditions in the fire zones. Meanwhile, a new bushfire also started on Thursday afternoon, adding more worries to the problem. A historic natural disaster The authorities maintained that while strong winds eased some challenges on Thursday, the wildfires are expected to strengthen in the evening and into the weekend, causing further panic in the city. Were facing a historic natural disaster. And I think that cant be stated strong enough, Kevin McGowan, the director of emergency management for Los Angeles County, told a press conference on Thursday. Firefighters insisted that the destruction was unlike any they had seen in their decades-long careers and officials described the scenes as apocalyptic. Robert Luna, the LA county sheriff, said some areas look like a bomb was dropped on them," while commenting on the latest satellite image, The Guardian reported. He asked people to remain patient throughout the challenging times. Right now, frankly, we dont know yet, he remarked. In the Pacific Palisades, one firefighter estimated only about one out of every five homes had been spared in the charred canyons. Not only this, the homes of several high-profile celebrities like Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal and Eugene Levy, burned down to the ground. Another challenge the authorities are currently facing is the fact that the fire has strained the citys water resources. Advertisement As they battled the blazes, firefighters struggled with reduced water pressure and fire hydrants that ran dry in some areas due to the increased demand. Those erratic wind gusts were throwing embers for multiple miles ahead of the fire, Chad Augustin, the Pasadena fire chief, told local reporters. By Thursday morning, all evacuation orders for the wildfire in the Hollywood Hills area had been lifted, and officials expressed cautious optimism that the fire in that area was under control. This firestorm is the big one, the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, told a press conference after cutting short an official trip to Ghana to return to the city. It is pertinent to note that out of the five fires, the Palisades fire on the west side of Los Angeles had consumed the most territory. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. The government cannot restrict speech in order to protect us from speech, TikToks attorney said. The governments lawyer argued that there is a distinct, sovereign harm to the US if China gets its hands on American citizens data read more The US Supreme Court on Friday (January 10) heard arguments in TikToks appeal of a law that could force its Chinese owner to sell the platform or shut it down entirely. The case centers on national security concerns and free speech implications tied to the video-sharing app. During the nearly three-hour hearing, TikTok, the US government, and content creators presented arguments for and against a potential ban set to take effect on January 19. Advertisement TikToks argument TikToks attorney, Noel Francisco, argued that the government must consider less restrictive measures, such as barring data sharing or issuing warnings about potential risks, rather than a full ban. He rejected the technical difficulties that the government says makes simply barring sharing impossible, BBC reported. Francisco also questioned why TikTok was being singled out when other Chinese apps, like Temu and Shein, also collect significant data from Americans. He dismissed concerns that TikTok could manipulate users, noting, The government cannot restrict speech in order to protect us from speech. Governments argument Representing the government, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar maintained that TikToks ties to China pose a unique national security threat. She argued that a warning to users would not adequately address risks, citing the potential for espionage or blackmail through data collected from TikToks 170 million American users. There is a distinct, sovereign harm to the US if our foreign adversary could collect this massive data set, Prelogar said, according to BBC. She said that a large user base of TikTok is young Americans, who could grow up to be military personnel, or senior government officials. Their data being accessed by China exposes the US to the risk of espionage and blackmail. Judges remain sceptic The Justices expressed scepticism about some government arguments. Justice Elena Kagan noted that TikToks Chinese ownership is well-known, not covert. Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned whether banning the platform over risks that have not yet materialised was a pretty paternalistic point of view. President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office one day after the bans scheduled implementation, has called for the law to be delayed, stating he plans to negotiate with TikTok. Unconditional discharges are generally reserved for low-level cases, making the ruling in Trumps case unusual. But what exactly is uncoditional discharge and why did the judges decide on it? read more In an unprecedented legal development, President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday (January 10) to an unconditional discharge after being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. But what does the term mean, and what are its implications? What does unconditional discharge mean? An unconditional discharge is a legal measure that upholds a guilty verdict without imposing a penalty on the convicted individual. While it confirms the conviction, it spares the defendant from any fines, probation, or jail time. In delivering the sentence, New York Judge Juan Merchan cited the need to ensure the presidency remains functional and free from legal entanglements. The American public has the right to a presidency unencumbered by pending court proceedings, prosecutor Catherine Steinglass said, supporting the decision. Advertisement Trump, set to retake the White House in just 10 days, avoided harsher consequences typically associated with felony convictions. Judge Merchan acknowledged that average citizens convicted of similar offences would likely face stricter penalties but deemed this outcome the only lawful way to safeguard the presidencys operations. Legal and practical implications Though Trump faces no direct punishment, the conviction carries broader implications. There is always a loss of rights in connection with a conviction, POLITICO cited Sarah Krissoff, a former federal prosecutor, as saying. For example, Trump is now barred from purchasing firearms in New York and Florida. Unconditional discharges are generally reserved for low-level cases, making this ruling unusual. It is uncommon but not unheard of in felony cases, said retired New York trial judge Jill Konviser. Presidency and conviction The ruling allows Trump to assume his second term as president despite the legal cloud. Judge Merchan, in his closing remarks, extended a note of support. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office, he said. While the sentence resolves Trumps legal challenges in this case, it is a precursor to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his return to the presidency as a convicted felon. With inputs from agencies While the DoJ will be allowed the share the report, the appeal court kept the initial three-day delay order in place to allow further appeals from Trumps team read more US President-elect Donald Trump received yet another legal blow on Thursday after a federal appeals court ruled that the Justice Department can release the report on Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election results. The report was drawn out by Special Counsel Jack Smith. While the DoJ will be allowed the share the report, the appellate court kept the initial three-day delay order in place to allow further appeals from Trumps team. The president-elect now has the option to ask the US Supreme Court to block the release of the report written by Smith. While responding to the latest ruling a spokesperson for Trump did not say whether the president-elect would appeal Thursdays ruling. Advertisement He instead decided to slam Smith in a statement. It is time for Joe Biden and Merrick Garland to do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our Justice system," Trumps spokesperson Steven Cheung further said in the statement. Trump faces two major legal blows The appeal courts ruling came just hours after Trump dealt with another legal blow when the US Supreme Court voted 5-4 to clear the way for sentencing in his New York hush money case to move forward Friday. The US President-elect was indicted in 2023 and again in 2024 on four counts. He was accused of overturning the 2020 election results, which was followed by the devastating Capitol riots on January 6 2021. The case was eventually dismissed following his election because of a long-standing Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. Meanwhile, Trump has promised to pardon an unspecified number of Jan. 6 defendants once he takes office again, who had pleaded not guilty when the case came to the court. In a letter to Congress on Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that he intends to release the election interference-related volume of Smiths report publicly if US District Judge Aileen Cannons order blocking the release of the report was overruled. The appeals court kept Canons order intact, requiring a brief delay before the release. With inputs from agencies. Although foreign leaders are not invited to inauguration days, Trump has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the grand event read more European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen will not be making an attendance to US President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration next week as she was not invited to the event, Brussels said on Friday. There has been no invitation and there are no plans to attend, EU spokeswoman Paula Pinho said. We will be seeking early contacts with the new administration. Although foreign leaders are not invited to inauguration days, Trump has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the grand event. Advertisement Other leaders who have indicated that they might stop by include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President of Argentina Javier Milei and former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro. Trumps inauguration will be held on January 20. Netanyahu to skip ceremony too Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not fly down to the US to attend Donald Trumps inauguration on January 20. The report came hours after the US President-elect shared an inflammatory video using crude words for Netanyahu. Netanyahus senior aide told the Times of Israel that Netanyahu is unlikely to attend Trumps inauguration day in the coming weeks, a plan that was set earlier. Trump and the EU The EU is nervously eyeing the return of the volatile former reality TV star to the White House at a perilous moment for Europe. The incoming US leader has pledged to end Russias war in Ukraine and European allies are desperate to convince him not to force a bad deal on the continent. They are also scrambling to avoid trade tariffs that Trump has mooted. Trump on Tuesday already set off a political firestorm by refusing to rule out using military force to seize Denmarks autonomous territory Greenland. Von der Leyen insisted on Thursday that the EU will always protect our citizens and the integrity of our democracies and freedoms. But she insisted the US is one of our closest partners and we are committed to strengthening the Transatlantic bond. With inputs from agencies Washington has also imposed fresh sanctions on eight senior Venezuelan officials for leading key economic and security agencies enabling (President) Nicolas Maduros repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela, the Treasury Department said read more President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters in Caracas, Venezuela ahead of Christmas celebrations. Maduro has pushed forward the holiday this year to October 1. File image/AP The United States on Friday announced a $25 million reward for the arrest and conviction of recently sworn-in Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The development comes hours after Maduro took oath as the president for the third time for another six-year-long term. Apart from Maduro, rewards have also been offered in exchange for information leading up to the arrest and conviction of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino. Washington has also imposed fresh sanctions on eight senior Venezuelan officials for leading key economic and security agencies enabling (President) Nicolas Maduros repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela, the Treasury Department said. Advertisement Among the sanctioned officials are people from the military and police, and the presidents of the countrys state-owned oil company and airline. Since last years election, Maduro and his associates have continued their repressive actions in Venezuela, acting Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith said in a statement. The United States, together with our like-minded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan peoples vote for new leadership and rejects Maduros fraudulent claim of victory, he added. Maduro was sworn in before parliament, pledging that his upcoming term would be a period of peace, just a day after thousands protested in the streets against his alleged power grab. Say what you want, do what you must, but this constitutional investiture could not be stopped and is a great victory of democracy in Venezuela, Maduro said as he took the oath. Meanwhile, the UK, Canada and the European Union are working to take similar actions against Maduro, demonstrating a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people, the Treasury Department said. The EU rejected Maduros swearing-in by saying that he lacks all democratic legitimacy. With inputs from agencies North Korea has so far been largely silent on the domestic turmoil that took hold of South Korea after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law last year. However, the US is of the view that Pyongyang could exploit this internal chaos read more US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned Friday (January 10) that North Korea could attempt to exploit domestic political turmoil in South Korea. Speaking at a briefing on the outgoing Biden administrations Asia policies, Sullivan reaffirmed the strength of the US-South Korea alliance despite recent challenges in Seoul. He addressed last years controversial declaration of martial law by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, calling it shocking and wrong but expressing confidence in South Koreas resilience as a democracy. Advertisement He also said that it is in Washingtons interest to support stability in its ally. In December, in an interview with political scientist Ian Bremmer, Sullivan had said, I think its important for us to recognise that dramatic events happen even in highly advanced, consolidated democracies. And the real test is, can the democratic institutions hold at the end of the day, even if they bend. And if you look at those dramatic moments in South Korea, with protesters pushing aside the guns of the troops that were deployed to block the National Assembly so that the assembly couldnt go in to repudiate the declaration of martial law; if you look at the fact that, actually, now the processes are working, theyre going through their paces it was quite a moment and something that I think were not entirely out of the woods on[]But the institutions in South Korea are holding." On Friday, Sullivan also expressed concern over the denuclearisation efforts on the Korean Peninsula being headed in the wrong direction a reference to North Koreas expanding nuclear weapons program. Earlier this week, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs, reported to the United Nations Security Council that Pyongyang is advancing its military capabilities under its five-year development plan, now in its final year. The plan includes tactical nuclear weapons, super-large nuclear warheads, intermediate and long-range ballistic missiles, military reconnaissance satellites, and a nuclear-powered submarine, according to Khiari. Advertisement With inputs from agencies A US soldier arrested last month in the United States for stealing and selling records from potentially as many as 15 telecommunication companies has been linked to a data breach at Indias BSNL last year read more A US soldier arrested last month has been linked to a data breach at the state-run telecom company BSNL, according to a report. Last month, US federal authorities arrested Cameron John Wagenius for alleged theft and sale of confidential telecommunication records. He used to conduct his alleged cybercriminal activities on darknet with the username Kiberphant0m. Now, the Hindustan Times has reported that Wagenius is likely the same person behind the data breach at BSNL in May 2024. Advertisement Wagenius has claimed to have stolen sensitive customer call records, including those of outgoing US Vice President Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump, by hacking into 15 telecommunication companies, according to cybersecurity news website KrebsOnSecurity. What happened in BSNL data breach? In May 2024, a threat actor known as Kiberphant0m hacked into BSNL and stole a wide range of data, including critical information such as International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, SIM card details, pin codes, and authentication keys, according to CNN-News 18. The report from June 2024 said that the breach also involved theft of data from DP Cards, DP Security Key, and snapshots of BSNLs SOLARIS servers. The user Kiberphant0m was selling the data on dark net was around $5,000 at the time. Cybersecurity firm Athenian Tech said in a report at the time: The threat actor priced the compromised data at $5,000, offered as a special deal valid from 5/30/2024 to 5/31/2024. This pricing highlights the high value of the data due to its sensitivity and extensive scope. During conversations on a dark web platform, the threat actor discussed the potential misuse of this data for activities such as SIM cloning and extortion, illustrating the serious risks associated with its criminal exploitation. While the breach happened in May 2024 and was reported soon after in the media, the Union government acknowledged it in July 2024 in the parliament. In response to a parliamentary question, Minister of State (MoS) for Communication and Rural Development PC Sekhar said the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) reported possible intrusion and data breach at BSNL on May 20, 2024. In the brief statement that avoided the specifics reported in the media or in the Athenian Tech report, Sekhar said that it was found that one file transfer protocol (FTP) server was having the data similar to the sample data shared by CERT-In. No breach into Home Location Register (HLR) of Telecom Network has been reported by Equipment Manufacturer, hence no service outage in BSNLs network. However, as a remedial measure to prevent such probable breach, BSNL has taken steps i.e. access passwords to all similar FTP servers have been changed and instructions to maintain air-gap for End Points have been issued, said Sekhar in the statement. Advertisement What we know of US soldiers link to BSNL breach? Wagenius, who is understood to be the cybercriminal kiberphant0m on darknet stole around 278 GB of data in the BSNL breach, according to Hindustan Times. Wagenius posted the information of the breach on darknet and directed visitors to a Telegram account for discussions about the sale. The HT reported that the Telegram account was cyb3rph4nt0m which was last active on December 7. The newspaper reported that while Indian users were aware of kiberphant0m, they were not aware of his arrest in the United States. A senior Indian official told the newspaper on the condition of anonymity: We knew about the kiberphant0m account and have been working on it. We didnt know who was responsible for the account. Attribution is very difficult in cyber domain. Allison Nixon, the Chief Research Officer of Unit 221B, a US cybersecurity firm that helped catch kiberphant0m, confirmed to the newspaper that the soldier arrested in the United States was the same as the cybercriminal who attacked BSNL. Advertisement Nixon, however, clarified that the attack on BSNL does not appear to be a state-sponsored attack. Nixon said, These large telcos are big targets and many different actors seek to target them with fraud or hacking. He is just part of a different group, and what they chose to do with the data is totally different from what the Salt Typhoon people chose to do. As for the course of action by Indian authorities, the newspaper reported that it does not appear that the BSNL filed an FIR in the matter. As sources indicated to the newspaper that neither BSNL nor Department of Telecommunications filed an FIR in the matter, options for seeking international cooperation are limited. These options open once an FIR has been filed, said Aaron Kamath, the head of technology practice at Nishith Desai Associates. Advertisement Kamath told the newspaper, Where the bad actor is beyond Indian shores, Indian law enforcement authorities, upon filing of an FIR, can initiate investigation, seek information and pursue action through international treaties, coordination with international agencies, or in cooperation with the foreign countrys law enforcement. US soldier linked to broader cybercriminal network Wagenius is an associate of Connor Riley Moucka, a prolific cybercriminal from Canada who was arrested in October 2024, according to KrebsOnSecurity. The outlet reported that Moucka stole data from dozens of companies that stored data at the cloud service Snowflake and extorting money from them. Moucka told the outlet that he only stole the data and outsourced selling it to Wagenius and other cybercriminals. Following Mouckas arrest, Wagenius claimed in a hackers forum on darknet that he had data from 15 telecom companies, including call logs for outgoing VP Harris and incoming President Trump. Advertisement Wagenius further said that he also had stolen content from the US National Security Agency (NSA). More than 180 oil-carrying vessels that are suspected to be part of a shadow fleet utilised by the Kremlin to evade oil sanctions as well as traders, oil field service firms and Russian energy officials are also targeted by the new sanctions. read more Days before outgoing President Joe Biden leaves office, The United States and Britain on Friday announced sanctions against Russias energy sector, including oil giant Gazprom Neft. The US Treasury Department said it was designating more than 180 ships and Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, fulfilling the G7 commitment to reduce Russian revenues from energy. At the same time, the UK government announced sanctions against the two companies, saying their profits were lining (Russian President Vladimir) Putins war chest and facilitating the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Reacting to this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky termed the more as a significant blow for Moscows war machine. These measures deliver a significant blow to the financial foundation of Russias war machine by disrupting its entire supply chain, Zelensky said in a post on social media platform X. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement Taking on Russian oil companies will drain Russias war chest - and every ruble we take from Putins hands helps save Ukrainian lives,. Gazprom Neft slammed the sanctions as baseless and illegitimate, Russian state news agencies reported. Gazprom Neft considers the decision to include its assets on the sanctions list as baseless, illegitimate and contrary to the principles of free competition, Russian state news agencies quoted a company representative as saying. The United States is taking sweeping action against Russias key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. With todays actions, we are ratcheting up the sanctions risk associated with Russias oil trade, including shipping and financial facilitation in support of Russias oil exports. Biden administration officials said that it will ultimately be up to Trumps administration whether to keep or scrap the new sanctions. Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Friday he would hold talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin after Washington announced sweeping sanctions against a range of energy companies, including a Serbian firm. Advertisement Vucic told a news conference he would speak with Putin first over the phone, and then explore other ways of communication. Earlier today, Japan also imposed sanctions on 11 individuals and 54 companies in Russia and dozens of companies in other countries, according to a cabinet decision announced Friday (January 10). The measures include export restrictions on 22 military-related organisations in Russia, targeting technology and machinery makers. Similar restrictions will be applied to 18 companies in China, one in the United Arab Emirates, one in Kazakhstan, two in Kyrgyzstan, one in Thailand, and eight in Turkey. Japan also ordered the freezing of assets belonging to a North Korean individual and Georgias MRB Bank. Advertisement Trumps warm relationship with Putin over the years has come under heavy scrutiny. The Republican president-elect has also balked at the cost of aid to Kyiv, pledging to move quickly to end the conflict upon his return to office on Jan. 20. Trump added a new layer of doubt about future American support earlier this week when he appeared to sympathise with Putins position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO. The president-elect has criticized the Biden administration for expressing support for Kyivs eventual membership in the transatlantic military alliance. The Biden administration unveiled a new $500 million military aid package on Thursday as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Advertisement Zelenskyy had been scheduled to meet with Biden in Italy on Friday, but Biden scrapped his plans to travel overseas so he could remain in Washington to help oversee the federal response to the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. Trump earlier this week expressed concern at the loss of life during the conflict, while arguing that the this war would never have happened if he were president. With inputs from agencies. The opposition accuses Maduro, 62, of stealing the election of July 28 last year, and the United States, European Union and several Latin American countries have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuelas legitimate president-elect read more Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (R) gestures next to First Lady Cilia Flores on arrival at the Capitolio -house of the National Assembly- for the presidential inauguration, in Caracas on January 10, 2025. AFP Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday for a third six-year term, shunned internationally over claims of election fraud and repression but bolstered by a loyal military. Maduro took the oath before parliament, vowing his next term would be a period of peace, a day after thousands took to the streets to protest his alleged power grab. Thursdays rallies were led by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who came out of hiding to participate and was briefly held by security forces, according to her team. Advertisement Critics denounced a fresh wave of repression in the lead-up to Fridays ceremony, with several activists and opposition figures arrested in recent days prompting the UN to express alarm. Just Thursday, at least 17 protesters were detained, according to a post on X by Gonzalo Himiob of the NGO Foro Penal. Maduro had ordered the deployment of thousands of police and soldiers who cast a menacing pall over Thursdays demonstrations and were keeping a watchful eye over the capital Caracas. Armed military personnel guarded the streets, many of which were closed off for the ceremony, and traffic was significantly lighter than usual as police manned numerous roadblocks. The opposition accuses Maduro, 62, of stealing the election of July 28 last year, and the United States, European Union and several Latin American countries have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuelas legitimate president-elect. Caracas confirmed the presence of President Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba one of Maduros few allies at Fridays ceremony. We are not afraid Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, had vowed to return to Venezuela to take power Friday, but those plans appear to have floundered with Caracas gripped by a wave of fear. Wanted posters offering a $100,000 government reward for his capture have been plastered all over the capital. More than 2,400 people were arrested, 28 killed and about 200 injured in protests that met Maduros claim of election victory last year. Advertisement He has since maintained a fragile peace with the help of the security forces and paramilitary colectivos armed civilian volunteers accused of quelling protest through a reign of neighborhood terror. Venezuelas CNE electoral council, loyal to the regime, had announced victory for Maduro within hours of polls closing last July. It has yet to provide a detailed vote breakdown. The opposition, for its part, released a tally of polling stations showing Gonzalez Urrutia winning at least two-thirds of the vote. Gonzalez Urrutia had replaced the wildly popular Machado, 57, on the ballot after she was barred from running by authorities. On Thursday, Machado defiantly addressed protesters in Caracas, vowing that: We are not afraid. Advertisement Her team reported that Machado was violently intercepted as she left the rally and knocked off the motorcycle she was on as shots had been fired in the vicinity. She was then detained and forced to record a number of videos before being let go, it said. International conspiracy News of Machados detention sparked a flurry of condemnation, including from neighbor Colombia, which hosts most of the estimated seven million Venezuelans to have fled their countrys economic collapse under Maduros rule 12-year rule. Citing an international conspiracy to disturb Venezuelans peace, Freddy Bernal, governor of the frontier state of Tachira, subsequently announced Friday that the border with Colombia was closed for the weekend. US President-elect Donald Trump insisted Thursday that Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia should not be harmed. During his first term in office, Trump had tightened punitive measures against the Maduro government for anti-democratic actions. Advertisement The sanctions were partly lifted, then reimposed, by his successor Joe Biden and may well be hardened in Trumps next term. Gonzalez Urrutia this week finalized an international tour seeking to pile pressure on Maduro to relinquish power. It included a stop in Washington to meet Biden, who called for a peaceful transfer back to democratic rule. Maduros previous re-election, in 2018, was also widely rejected as fraudulent but he managed to cling to power through a mix of populism and repression, even as the economy imploded. The protests were aimed at veteran leader Nicolas Maduro who expected to be sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday despite a disputed election read more Venezuela pro-democracy figurehead Maria Corina Machado emerged from months of hiding to lead a mass protest in Caracas Thursday, before conflicting claims that she was briefly detained by state security agents. The 57-year-old engineer-turned-dissident emerged from among a throng of thousands of opposition supporters in north Caracas, climbing atop a pickup truck to defy a massive police deployment across the capital. The protests were aimed at veteran leader Nicolas Maduro who expected to be sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday despite a disputed election. Advertisement He wishes to extend a quarter century of repressive military-backed rule that began with his larger-than-life mentor Hugo Chavez. We are not afraid! Machado told the rapt crowd, who turned out in smaller numbers than expected amid widespread fears of another bloody government crackdown. From today we are in a new phase. Venezuela is free, she insisted, before donning a dark jacket, an ink-black helmet and jumping on the back of a motorbike that spirted her away. What happened next remains unclear. Supporters said that after leaving the rally she was violently apprehended and taken away by force by security agents. For almost an hour her team said little about her whereabouts. Later they said she was knocked from the motorbike, shots were fired and she was forced to record several videos during a brief detention. Venezuelas powerful minister of interior Diosdado Cabello called that account a lie. If there were a decision to detain her, she would be detained. Shes crazy, he said. The opposition said Machado would later address the nation about the events. - Dont play with fire - Machados brief disappearance caused outcry among opposition supporters and much of the international community. Advertisement Exiled opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who many believe to be the actual winner of Julys flawed election, warned the security forces not to play with fire. Nations from Ecuador to Spain condemned her reported detention and even US president-elect Donald Trump weighed in. Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people, Trump said on his platform Truth Social. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE! he said, echoing his first term policy of maximum pressure against the authorities in Caracas. - US denies plot - Machados public appearance her first in over four months capped a day of rallies across the country over Maduros refusal to cede power. Advertisement Machado went into hiding shortly after the July 28 vote, when the security forces began cracking down on protests against Maduros claim of victory. She had urged opposition supporters to turn out in their millions but the crowds on Thursday were smaller than those in the direct aftermath of Maduros alleged power grab. Thousands of ruling party loyalists held their own rival demonstrations in central Caracas on Thursday, showing the government retains the strong support of some. Maduro has accused the United States long opposed to his rule of plotting to overthrow him. The Venezuelan leader, who counts on the backing of Russia and Cuba, the military, courts and electoral commission, has claimed that a senior FBI official was among a group of seven mercenaries arrested this week. Advertisement The US State Department denied US involvement in any coup plot. Maduro has ruled Venezuela since 2013 and despite a sustained economic crisis that has pushed seven million citizens to emigrate, has shown no signs of relinquishing power. Ahead of Thursdays protests, several activists and opposition figures, including a politician who ran against Maduro in July were reportedly arrested. With neither the charisma nor the flush oil revenues of his mentor Chavez, Maduro is accused of relying on brute force to hold on to power and of driving the economy into the ground. His last re-election, in 2018, was also marred by fraud allegations. Attempts by Trump to force Maduro out during his first term as US president by recognizing a parallel opposition-led government and imposing sanctions on Venezuelas oil sector, came to naught. Advertisement Amid worsening security situation in Pakistan, it has been reported that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has abducted 18 Pakistani nuclear engineers read more In this August 5, 2012, file photo, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) patrol in their stronghold of Shawal in Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan. (Photo :AP) The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has captured 18 Pakistani nuclear engineers in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a report. A video of engineers has surfaced that purportedly shows them in custody. The engineers are said to be requesting their government to rescue them in the video. Pakistan considers the TTP a terrorist organisation and holds it responsible for hundreds of acts of terror across Pakistan that have killed scores of people in recent years. While the TTP has presence in the restive northwestern Pakistan, it has its bases in Afghanistan from where it mounts cross-border attacks inside Pakistan. While it is separate from the Taliban group that rules Afghanistan, the two groups are aligned and TTP enjoys Afghans Talibans patronage. Advertisement The presence of TTP in Afghanistan and its continued attacks have worsened the Pakistan-Taliban relationship, leading to several rounds of cross-border conflict between the two sides. As for the video of the engineers, there has so far been no official word. Firstpost has not independently verified the authenticity of the video. BREAKING NEWS: TTP captures 18 engineers from Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission in Dera Ismail Khan. A shocking video shows the engineers pleading for rescue, exposing Pakistan's worsening security and the military's inability to protect critical assets amidst escalating pic.twitter.com/9s61E0PB8W Kabul Frontline (@KabulFrontline) January 9, 2025 In a post on X, Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute Director at The Wilson Center, said the incident highlights the fact that the security situation in Pakistan keep getting worse. Today, the TTP abducted 17 people working on a mining project linked to Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission (8 reportedly were rescued). This comes soon after the TTP warned it will start targeting companies run by the military. Pakistan's security crisis keeps getting worse. Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) January 9, 2025 Advertisement There have long been concerns around Pakistani nuclear programme. Critics have said that owing to the presence and influence of Islamist groups in Pakistan, and factionalism within the Pakistani security apparatus, there is no real civilian control of nuclear weapons. Moreover, as Islamist elements, including terrorist groups, are believed to be embedded with the state, critics have said for a long time that there is a real risk for these Islamist groups controlling Pakistans nuclear weapons. While it would be best if the Untied States would maintain the leadership of the group of nations supporting Ukraine, the group would adapt and rework plans if the incoming Donald Trump administration were to withdraw from the group, said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius read more Ahead of Donald Trumps inauguration as US president, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday an allies group aimed at speeding arms to Ukraine was best kept under US leadership but would adapt if Washington changes its involvement. And if those in the United States now decide not to maintain this format any longer, then we will have to make our own decisions, said Pistorius at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) Advertisement The group is sometimes referred to as the Ramstein Group after the US military base in Ramstein, Germany where the participating countries meet. Pistorius added that it was too early to speculate on what could happen to the groups format after Trump takes office on Jan. 20. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who launched the UDCG in 2022, called on Ukraines allies to continue to support Kyiv against Russias invasion but declined to speculate on whether Trump would convene UDCG meetings in the future. That is a decision thats for the next administration to make. And I wont speculate on which direction they would go in, Austin told reporters after hosting the talks at Ramstein Air Base. Washington has committed more than $63.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russias invasion and announced an additional $500 million in aid on Thursday, including air defense missiles, air-to-ground munitions and support equipment for F-16 fighter jets. Trumps return to the White House has sparked speculation about a potential push to end Moscows invasion but also fears in Kyiv that a quick peace could come at a high price for Ukraine. Advisers to Trump have floated proposals to end the war that would effectively cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Pistorius said that he was astonished by Trumps refusal to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of Greenland but was optimistic the president-elects comments would not influence modern US policy. I dont know exactly what hes aiming for, but allies and alliances are set up to stay that way and otherwise theyd just be loose alliances and not allies, said Pistorius. Pistorius said Germany would be providing further guided missiles to Ukraine for the IRIS-T systems, initially intended for the German army, at short notice, and would stick to its schedule for delivering the systems it promised. US, French and German envoys have warned Syrias new Islamist rulers that their appointment of foreign jihadists to senior military posts is a security concern and bad for their image as they try to forge ties with foreign states, two sources familiar with the matter said read more Khaled Brigade, a part of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), hold a military parade, after Syria's Bashar al-Assad was ousted, in Damascus, Syria, on December 27, 2024. Reuters US, French and German envoys have warned Syrias new Islamist rulers that their appointment of foreign jihadists to senior military posts is a security concern and bad for their image as they try to forge ties with foreign states, two sources familiar with the matter said. The warning from the US, part of Western efforts to get Syrias new leaders to reconsider the move, was delivered in a meeting between US envoy Daniel Rubinstein and Syrias de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday at the presidential palace overlooking Damascus, a US official said. Advertisement These appointments will not help them with their reputation in the US, the official said. The foreign ministers of France and Germany, Jean-Noel Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, also broached the issue of foreign fighters drafted into the army during their meeting with Sharaa on January 3, an official aware of the talks said. Reuters reported the appointments on December 30. The envoys comments on the appointments have not previously been reported. Sharaas armed group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led an offensive that ousted former president Bashar al-Assad on December 8 and has since installed a government and disbanded the Assad-era army. It is now making efforts to reconstitute the armed forces. Late last year, it made nearly 50 appointments including at least six foreign fighters, among them Chinese and central Asian Uyghurs, a Turkish citizen, an Egyptian and a Jordanian, Reuters reported at the time. Three were given the rank of brigadier-general and at least three others the rank of colonel, a Syrian military source said. HTS and allied groups have hundreds of foreign fighters in their ranks who came to Syria during the countrys 13-year civil war, many of them followers of hardline interpretations of Islam. Advertisement Foreign capitals generally view foreign fighters as a key security threat as they suspect that some may seek to carry out attacks in their home countries after gaining experience abroad. Officials of the new Syrian administration have said foreign fighters made sacrifices to help overthrow Assad and would have a place in Syria, adding they could be granted citizenship. The Syrian defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The German foreign ministry did not comment. A State Department spokesperson said Washington is in a continuing dialogue with the interim authorities in Damascus. Discussions have been constructive and have covered a wide range of domestic and international issues, the spokesperson said, adding there has been tangible progress on counter-terrorism priorities, including ISIS. Advertisement Middle Path During the war, some foreign fighters in Syria formed their own armed groups, while others joined established formations such as the ultra hardline Islamic State as it rampaged across Iraq and Syria before being beaten back. Other groups of foreign jihadists joined HTS, which disavowed previous links to al-Qaeda and Islamic State and fought bloody battles against them before going on to spearhead the lightning advance that toppled Assad. The US, European and Arab Gulf States are engaging with the new administration to try to push it towards an inclusive political transition and also to seek cooperation on counter-terrorism and limiting Iranian influence in the region. But they remain wary of how the rebels-turned rulers will manage the country and have questions over how they will bring together disparate groups with varying views on the direction the new Syria should take. Advertisement The U.S. official and a Western source said that Damascus explained the appointments of foreign fighters by saying they could not simply be sent back home or abroad where they may face persecution, and it was better to keep them in Syria. The U.S. official said authorities also explained that these people had helped rid Syria of Assad and some had been in the country for more than 10 years and so were part of society. Diplomats said the US, European and Arab countries, particularly Egypt and Jordan, opposed the appointments because they suspected the moves could send encouraging signals to transnational jihadists. Advertisement Those appointed to the post of brigadier-general include Jordanian citizen Abdul Rahman Hussein al-Khatib and Chinese Uyghur militant Abdulaziz Dawood Khudaberdi, also known as Zahid. Zahid commands the Turkistan Islamic Partys forces in Syria, which seeks to establish an independent state in parts of China and which Beijing designates as a terrorist group. Also appointed was Egyptian militant Alaa Mohamed Abdelbaqy, who fled Egypt in 2013 and was sentenced to life in prison in absentia in 2016 on terrorism charges. He headed the al Qaeda-linked al Nusra Front in Egypt and was the main link between it and other al Qaeda-linked groups, according to Egyptian security sources. Syria-focused diplomats and analysts say the countrys new rulers face a challenge balancing the interests and demands of many factions, including foreigners, with the demands of Western and Arab powers whose support they need to rebuild the country. Aaron Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the rationale from Damascus for appointing foreign fighters to the military was that they are trusted and loyal, but also that Syrias new rulers want to prevent them causing trouble in the country or abroad. Maybe this is a middle path that works for everybody that hopefully leads to nothing happening outside of the country, but also they become sort of part of just Syrian society now, Zelin said. But I imagine there will still be risks locally as well as concerns globally. The virtual encounter between the two took place on Thursday amid growing criticism over the billionaires vocal support of far-right parties in Europe read more In a one-hour-long conversation, Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushed his anti-immigration rhetoric and heaped praises for Alternative fur Deutschland Party leader Alice Weidel. During a live talk on his social media platform X, formally known as Twitter, Musk reiterated his claims that only the AfD can save Germany. The virtual encounter between the two took place on Thursday amid growing criticism over the billionaires vocal support of far-right parties in Europe. Musk has been also facing accusations that he is trying to meddle in the upcoming German election which is scheduled to take place on February 23. The far-right German party currently stands at the second position in the nationwide polls with 21.5 per cent. The party is only behind the conservative CDU/CSU. Advertisement Interestingly, Musk mispronounced the party leaders name as Weedel throughout the encounter. The 75-minute-long conversation covered almost all of the partys policy agency, including energy policy and education along with their joint wish to slash German bureaucracy and prevent illegal immigration. Musk & Weidel took jabs at the left Throughout the whole conversation, one thing that remained consistent was the fact that both Musk and Weidel took swipes at woke views. They also agreed on the need to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with Musk claiming that President Trump is going to solve that conflict very quickly. When asked as to what measures will be used to end the war, Musk appeared slightly flustered. To be clear, this is up to President Trump. He is the commander in chief I dont want to speak for him but it does require strong leadership in the States to get it done. More than 100,000 accounts were listening to the audio-only chat at any given time and, in all, more than 11 million accounts viewed the X post featuring the whole discussion. Musk has been frequently commenting on German politics since last month, when he endorsed the AfD. Before the interview took place, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz went on to describe the Tesla CEO as a troll. Musk receives backlash from European leaders The conversation garnered backlash from several European leaders. Germanys Party of European Socialists protested against Musks plans in a statement and asked the European Union to use all the legal means available to protect democracy against misinformation and foreign interference on social media. It is pertinent to note that X is already under investigation for potential violation of the European Unions Digital Service Act. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday that the ultra-right was being led by the richest man on the planet referencing the Tesla and SpaceX CEO without naming him directly. Advertisement He alleged that the movement incites hatred and openly supports the heirs of Nazism in Germany. One of the reasons why Germany is crucial for Musk is the fact that Tesla has a major factory outside Berlin, and the company has battled local opposition as it tries to expand its footprint. With inputs from agencies. Chinese President Xi Jinping will reportedly send a top-official to Washington for Donald Trumps inauguration on January 20. Read more to know who could possibly represent Xi read more Days after Donald Trumps win in the 2024 US Presidential elections, chatter started doing rounds that Chinese President Xi Jinping has been invited to his inauguration on January 20. Now, with the day nearing, a report has claimed that Xi will be sending a high-level envoy in his place for Trumps inauguration. A report by Financial Times quoted several people familiar with the development as saying that Beijing has informed Trumps transition team that instead of Xi, a top official would attend the event on January 20. Also, the envoys are said to hold talks with Trumps team. Advertisement Which Chinese top official can represent Xi at Trumps inauguration The Chinese president could send Han Zheng, a vice-president who sometimes stands in for him in ceremonial roles, the FT report quoted several sources as saying. Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, could also be picked by Xi to represent him at Trumps inauguration. A source cited by FT said with Xi planning to skip and send a top official, Trump advisers wanted Cal Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee who wields much more power than Han or Wang in his capacity as the right-hand man of the Chinese president. Trump could be unhappy The report cited another source aware of the development as saying there were views inside the transition team that there was some concern that Trump would be unhappy if the envoy was only at the level of Wang or Han given that he had invited the Chinese president. Wang would not be viewed as sufficiently high-level because he ranked below Cai and Han and was a career diplomat, said one China expert. By sending a special envoy of significant stature to get meetings with Trump and his cabinet, Xi can demonstrate that he wishes to get off on the right foot with the Trump administration without risking that he could return home empty-handed or publicly embarrassed," Dennis Wilder, a former top White House China adviser, was quoted as saying by FT. Interestingly, any leader or top official from China attending Trumps inauguration as the US President would be unprecedented, as till date China has been represented by its ambassador in Washington. Last month, Trump extended an unusual invitation to Xi to attend his inauguration on January 20. The move was seen as a sign that the incoming US President intended to resume the kind of high-level engagement with the Chinese leader that he conducted during his first term in the White House. Advertisement China desperate to ease friction with US Meanwhile, China is desperately finding ways to ease friction with the US, especially after Trump named numerous hawks to key posts in his incoming administration, including Republican US Senator Marco Rubio, Congresss most vocal China hawk, as secretary of State. Both Mike Waltz, Trumps incoming national security adviser, and his deputy Alex Wong are viewed as being very tough on China. Also, Beijing is bracing to ease terms with Washington as it prepares for a possible serious escalation in trade tensions. Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods unless the Asian nation does more to stop trafficking of the highly addictive narcotic fentanyl. Trump even warned of tariffs in excess of 60 per cent on Chinese goods while on the campaign trail. With inputs from agencies. The Linux Foundation has announced the launch of the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers initiative, aimed at advancing open-source development within the Chromium ecosystem. By providing a neutral space for developers, industry leaders, and the open-source community, the initiative aims to foster collaboration and drive innovation in Chromium-related projects. Goals of the Initiative The Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers initiative is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Chromium ecosystem. By encouraging collaboration among various stakeholders, it seeks to remove obstacles to innovation and broaden the adoption of Chromium-based technologies. Although the initiative will be housed under the Linux Foundation, the existing governance structures of Chromium projects will remain intact. Industry Support and Participation Leading organizations have already pledged their support for this initiative, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Opera. These companies are committed to contributing to the continued innovation and growth of the Chromium ecosystem. Parisa Tabriz, VP of Chrome at Google, stated: With the support of the Linux Foundation, we believe this initiative will establish a sustainable platform for collaboration between developers, academia, and the open-source community, advancing the development of Chromium. Meghan Perez, VP of Microsoft Edge, shared similar enthusiasm: This initiative aligns with our commitment to the web platform and will enhance collaboration within the Chromium ecosystem. We look forward to working with other organizations to achieve optimal outcomes for web users. Krystian Kolondra, EVP of Browsers at Opera, also expressed excitement: We are eager to contribute to the open-source ecosystem through this initiative. Our involvement will support the continued growth of innovative products for users globally. Googles Ongoing Commitment to Chromium Google, a major contributor to the Chromium ecosystem, revealed that Chromium is currently used by hundreds of projects worldwide, ranging from browsers like Chrome to applications in home electronics, application frameworks, and even custom software, such as Bloomberg terminals and SpaceX capsule control systems. In 2024, Google made over 100,000 commits to Chromium, accounting for approximately 94% of total contributions. While Google plans to maintain this level of investment, it welcomes additional contributions from the broader community. The company continues to invest significantly in the shared infrastructure necessary to support Chromium, including running millions of tests, addressing hundreds of bugs daily, and ensuring the projects overall health. Microsofts Continued Investment Microsoft also announced its participation in the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers initiative, reaffirming its commitment to the Chromium open-source project. Since adopting Chromium for Microsoft Edge six years ago, Microsoft has made substantial contributions to the platform, benefiting both Edge and other Chromium-based browsers. The company believes that the initiative will help increase the diversity of contributions by providing a neutral platform for third-party organizations. The initiatives governance model will emphasize transparency and community-driven development, focusing on the needs of developers and end-users alike. Whats Next? As the initiative moves forward, organizations like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Opera will continue collaborating with the open-source community to advance web technologies. The initiative will follow an inclusive and transparent governance model, with a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) guiding its development to ensure it meets the needs of the wider Chromium community. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. China's exhibition event attracts global industry experts for exchanges, cooperation Xinhua) 11:00, January 10, 2025 A participant tests his interpretation device during the 20th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ran) TIANJIN, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 20th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO), a key annual event in the global exhibition industry, opened in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Thursday, highlighting international exchanges and cooperation. Themed "Empowering a Sustainable Future with New Quality Productive Forces," the three-day forum has attracted over 600 industry professionals from 20 countries and regions, including China, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with participants sharing insights and discussing the future prospects of the global exhibition industry. In recent years, the exhibition industry in China has emerged as a vital tool for driving economic growth. Major events like the China International Import Expo and the China Import and Export Fair have played a significant role in boosting the exhibition economy and creating a ripple effect that supports broader economic development. Since its inception in 2005, the CEFCO has been held in various cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Macao. It has attracted tens of thousands of exhibition industry professionals from over 30 countries and regions, facilitated the launch of numerous high-quality exhibition projects, and played an important role in fostering cooperation between China's exhibition sector and its international counterparts. "The exhibition industry serves as a crucial link between production and consumption, supply and demand, as well as domestic and international markets. It acts as an important bridge connecting enterprises, markets, and resources globally. Its role is irreplaceable in driving economic and social development, while also advancing international trade and economic cooperation," said Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, at the opening ceremony. The CEFCO has allowed people to understand the latest trends in the development of the exhibition industry in China and the world, said Chris Skeith, chief executive officer of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. Lin Shunjie, chairman of the board of China International Exhibition Center Group Limited, said that the 20-year journey of CEFCO has closely mirrored China's trade liberalization process, noting that the exhibition industry will continue to evolve rapidly, with a future marked by increased internationalization, specialization, marketization, and sustainability. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) US Defense Officials Conclude Visit to Benin and Cote d'Ivoire U.S. defense officials have concluded a successful visit to Benin and Cote d'Ivoire, focused on reinforcing defense and security cooperation with our key partners in Coastal West Africa. The delegation, led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Maureen Farrell, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, engaged in high-level discussions with senior defense leaders in both nations to enhance regional stability and address critical security challenges. By LCDR Bobby Dixon, U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command Cotonou, Benin and Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire Jan 08, 2025 Ms. Amanda Dory, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Maureen Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Coordination Element concluded their visit to Benin and Cote d'Ivoire, a key diplomatic trip aimed at strengthening defense and security cooperation between the United States and Coastal West Africa. The visit featured high-level engagements with senior defense officials and military leaders. The trip reinforced the enduring commitment from U.S. Department of Defense and AFRICOM to regional stability and security in West Africa. The U.S. Delegation began the visit in Cotonou, Benin, where they met with several senior leaders, including Minister of Finance Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Foreign Affairs Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Defense Fortunet Nouatin, and Chief of Defense Staff Major General Fructueux Gbaguidi. Alongside the U.S. delegation discussed opportunities to deepen defense cooperation, enhance regional security frameworks, and address complex security challenges such as violent extremism, maritime security, and transnational crime. "Benin is an essential partner in West Africa," said Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, ACE lead. "We are committed to building on our mutual efforts to advance regional security and stability." Later in the week, the U.S. delegation traveled to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, where they met with Minister of Defense Tene Ouattara, Minister Director of the President's Cabinet Fidele Sarassoro, and other senior Ivoirian security officials for in-depth talks on strengthening bilateral defense cooperation, countering violent extremism, and securing the region's maritime trade routes. These discussions were supported by the leadership of Maj. General Kenneth Ekman, who reinforced the importance of close collaboration between the two nations militaries. "Cote d'Ivoire plays a vital role in the security of West Africa," said Maj. General Ekman. "We are committed to our growing partnership which is essential for addressing shared security challenges." Throughout the visit, the U.S. delegation emphasized the importance of continued engagement with African partners to tackle shared security challenges. Key topics included countering terrorism, maritime piracy, and regional instability, as well as building sustainable security capacity in both Benin and Cote d'Ivoire. The visit highlighted the shared resolve to develop innovative strategies to address these threats and ensure a secure, stable, and prosperous future for the region. The AFRICOM Coordination Element (ACE) is part of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a unified combatant command responsible for U.S. military activities across the African continent. The ACE is responsible for supporting AFRICOM's mission in West Africa by enhancing coordination, communication, and integration with various U.S. government agencies, host nations, and international partners. U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands. The command is responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, and security cooperation, and conducts crisis response on the African continent to advance U.S. interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rescuers search for survivors after China earthquake By VOA News January 09, 2025 Rescuers in China's Tibet region searched Wednesday for survivors trapped in rubble, a day after a powerful earthquake killed at least 126 people and injured 188 others. Chinese officials said more than 400 people have been rescued so far. Some 30,000 people have also been relocated after the quake, which destroyed more than 3,600 homes. Complicating the rescue effort were several hundred aftershocks and frigid temperatures in the region. Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for a massive rescue effort to minimize casualties and to resettle those whose homes were damaged. More than 3,000 rescuers were deployed, state broadcaster CCTV said. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the area to oversee the relief work and the government allocated $13.6 million for the effort. About 6,900 people live in three townships and 27 villages within 20 kilometers of the epicenter on the Chinese side, state media said. People in northeastern Nepal strongly felt the earthquake, but there were no initial reports of injuries or damage, according to the country's National Emergency Operation Center. The area around Mount Everest was empty in the depth of winter when even some residents leave to escape the cold. The quake woke up residents in Nepal's capital of Kathmandu about 230 kilometers from the epicenter and sent many of them running into the streets. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake measured magnitude 7.1 and was relatively shallow at a depth of about 10 kilometers. China's Earthquake Networks Center recorded the magnitude as 6.8. Shallow earthquakes often cause more damage. The epicenter was in Tibet's Tingri county, where the India and Eurasia plates grind against each other and can cause earthquakes strong enough to change the heights of some of the world's tallest peaks in the Himalayan mountains. There have been 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 in the area where Tuesday's quake hit over the past century, U.S. officials said. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finnish Government prepares to extend validity of Border Security Act Finnish Government Ministry of the Interior 9.1.2025 Press release The Finnish Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to extend the validity of the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration ('Border Security Act'). The purpose of the act is to respond to efforts to put pressure on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. "The security situation at Finland's eastern border is tense but stable for now. However, we must be prepared for rapid and critical changes. Finland still has no plans to open the eastern border," says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. Finland's eastern border is the longest external border that both the EU and NATO have with Russia. "We thank our partners for their support, and trust that it will continue. Finland will not allow its external borders to become a pathway for instrumentalised migration into Europe," Minister Rantanen says. The Border Security Act is an important tool for protecting national security The Border Security Act entered into force on 22 July 2024 and will remain in force for one year. It lays down the conditions under which Finland can decide to restrict the reception of applications for international protection in a limited area on Finland's national border and in its immediate vicinity. The purpose of the act is to prevent foreign states from exerting influence on Finland through the instrumentalisation of migrants. Finland's eastern border will remain closed until further notice The border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia have been closed since 15 December 2023 by virtue of a series of government decisions. The most recent decision was issued on 15 April 2024 and will remain in force until further notice. Applications for international protection may be submitted at other border crossing points at Finland's external borders that are still open for air and maritime traffic. The above government decisions and the enactment of the Border Security Act have achieved their intended effect, and instrumentalised migration has ceased for now. The aim is to submit a government proposal on the extension of the validity of the Border Security Act to Parliament in April 2025. The term of the project is from 9 January to 30 May 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns US, UK aggression on Yemen IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned the fresh US and UK attacks on infrastructures in three provinces of Sanaa, Hudaydah and Amran in Yemen on Thursday. He pointed out that these criminal acts cannot undermine the determination of the heroic people of Yemen in their support for and solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. "The repeated aggressions by the US and UK against Yemeni infrastructures are committed with the aim of supporting the criminal Zionist regime and in line with the continued genocide committed by the fake regime against the oppressed Palestinians," he added. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman termed these attacks a flagrant violation of the international law and principles of the United Nations Charter and a clear example of the 'crime of aggression' according to the statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Baghaei strongly condemned the inaction of the UN Security Council regarding the continued genocide in Gaza and the military aggressions of the US, UK and the Zionist regime against the vital infrastructures of Yemen and called and called for serious action by the international community, especially Islamic and regional countries, to stop the occupation, genocide and aggression of the Zionist regime and its supporters against different nations in the region. Local Yemeni sources told media early on Thursday that the aggressor US-UK coalition conducted new bombardment of Yemen in support of the Israeli regime. Yemeni Al-Masirah TV reported early on Thursday that American and British aggressor warplanes bombarded areas in the provinces of Al-Hudeydah, Amran, and Sana'a. Yemeni forces have targeted cargo ships and vessels linked to Tel Aviv and its allies, the US and Britain, in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where nearly 46,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israel's ongoing genocidal war since October 7, 2023. A coalition led by the US has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen, targeting critical infrastructure, including power stations, seaports, and the international airport in the capital. The air raids have been framed as a response to the operations in the Red Sea 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK warplanes conduct fresh airstrikes on Yemen IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- American and British warplanes have bombarded two areas in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, and the governorate of Amran, according to news sources. The US and UK forces executed three airstrikes on Harf Sufyan in the northern Amran governorate and targeted the Jarban area in southern Sana'a early on Thursday. Additionally, local media reported an airstrike in the Alluheyah District of the Al Hudaydah governorate in western Yemen. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage resulting from the attacks. Yemeni forces have targeted cargo ships and vessels linked to Tel Aviv and its allies, the US and Britain, in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where nearly 46,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israel's ongoing genocidal war since October 7, 2023. A coalition led by the US has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen, targeting critical infrastructure, including power stations, seaports, and the international airport in the capital. The air raids have been framed as a response to the operations in the Red Sea. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Baiba Braze and Kestutis Budrys: We have shared priorities - long-term support to Ukraine and protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Published: 09.01.2025 On Thursday, 9 January 2025, at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania, Baiba Braze and Kestutis Budrys reaffirmed their commitment to advance the close relations between the two countries and to work hand in hand towards shared goals - further provision of comprehensive long term support to Ukraine, promoting of international assistance to Ukraine, and strengthening their own security, including through facilitation of the connectivity of the Baltic States' infrastructure and energy independence. This also covers disconnecting their electrical systems from the Russian and Belarusian power grid (BRELL) and synchronization with the continental European grid this coming 9 February. This is also a priority for the Baltic Council of Ministers chaired by Latvia this year. Latvia is the second country after Ukraine that Kestutis Budrys is paying a bilateral visit to after assuming office on 12 December 2024. At the press conference, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister congratulated Latvia on the animation "Flow" by the Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis claiming the Best Motion Picture - Animated award at the Golden Globes. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze: "Lithuania is our neighbour and friend, and we will further strengthen close cooperation and support between Latvia and Lithuania, both in bilateral relations and in multilateral formats, which is particularly important in the current geopolitical situation. Ukraine has been, and will remain our shared priority, and we will continue advocating for support to Ukraine through all possible channels and formats - the Baltic States and Nordic countries (NB8), the EU, NATO, and the UN. Ensuring comprehensive assistance and a unified approach at the EU and international level to constraining Russia and stopping its war machinery, including by strengthening sanctions against Russia and its co-aggressor Belarus, are crucial to Ukraine's victory." Baiba Braze also underlined that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further highlighted the need to strengthen the protection and resilience of the Baltic States themselves and the entire region. In the current geopolitical context, NATO and close transatlantic relations play a central role in the security and defence of both the Baltic region and across the Euro-Atlantic space. Over 2024, contribution to defence in both Lithuania and Latvia has already exceeded 3% of their GDP, and in 2025, it will rise to 3.45% of GDP in Latvia and 3.85% in Lithuania respectively. Both the countries are aware of the need to further invest in their defence and strengthen their military industry and capabilities, while also prioritising those matters in the EU system. Both ministers emphasised the increasing importance of cooperation between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries (NB8), in particular, to strengthen the resilience of the Baltic Sea region to hybrid attacks, including the protection of its critical maritime infrastructure. The Ministers also stressed the need to strengthen joint NB8 action and coordination on international issues and in international organisations, including joint visits to partner countries and joint NB8 communications, on Georgia and Moldova among others. As part of his visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania met with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, Prime Minister Evika Silina, and Members of the Saeima comprising the Latvian Delegation of the Baltic Assembly and the Parliamentary Group for promoting cooperation with the Lithuanian Parliament. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Budrys at the meeting with the President of Latvia: "Attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea require a strong and decisive response" Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2025-01-09 On 9 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kestutis Budrys, is paying a working visit to Latvia. On Thursday morning, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy met with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics. The Foreign Minister of Lithuania and the President of Latvia discussed the security situation in the region and the Baltic Sea, energy resilience, defence capacity building, and support for Ukraine. Budrys emphasised that the situation in the Baltic Sea demanded immediate and active actions to ensure the security of critical infrastructure by increasing NATO patrols, imposing sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet, and reviewing shipping rules. "Attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea require a strong and decisive response. It is important to act together and mobilise all the tools at our disposal to prevent hostile regimes from engaging in malicious activities in our waters," said Budrys. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy also discussed support for Ukraine with Rinkevics. Budrys stressed the importance of continuing to support Ukraine militarily, financially, and politically and of mobilising allies for this purpose. Lithuania and Latvia have pledged military support to Ukraine worth 0.25 per cent of their GDP. "It is important to keep Ukraine in the international spotlight. Ukraine's victory - a lasting and sustainable peace - is the guarantor of a secure future for the whole of Europe," said the Foreign Minister. During the meeting, Lithuania's Foreign Minister and the President of Latvia discussed the need for NATO allies to increase defence spending. Budrys noted that Lithuania was currently spending more than 3% of its GDP on defence and would increase its spending already this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuela Fact-Finding Mission condemns recent arrests ahead of presidential inauguration 09 January 2025 GENEVA -- The recent arrests, including those of prominent human rights defenders, political leaders, and their relatives, constitute yet another attack on the rights and freedoms of the Venezuelan people, the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela said. These arrests come ahead of opposition-led demonstrations expected today and the presidential inauguration set for 10 January. Over the past two days, the Mission has registered 16 arrests or apprehensions in various States across the country, targeting political leaders, human rights defenders, and even relatives of opposition figures. "We reiterate that all these human rights violations and crimes may entail individual criminal responsibility under international law for those who carry them out, as well as for those who order or authorize them," said Marta Valinas, Chair of the Mission. "These detentions instill widespread fear among the population and prevent many people from expressing themselves freely or carrying out their legitimate work in defense of human rights." The Mission urgently calls for the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of the individuals arrested, ensuring that they are safeguarded and protected by law. All arbitrarily detained individuals must be released immediately and unconditionally. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken says taking over Greenland "not going to happen" People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:05, January 09, 2025 PARIS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday in Paris that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's intention to take over Greenland "is not going to happen." "The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one. But maybe more important, it's obviously one that's not going to happen," Blinken said during a press conference with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. "So we probably shouldn't waste a lot of time talking about it," he added. Speaking to France Inter radio earlier Wednesday morning, Jean-Noel Barrot noted that Greenland is a "territory of the European Union and of Europe." "It is undoubtedly no way that the European Union would let other nations of the world, whoever they are, attack its sovereign borders," he said. He also warned of the resurgence of "might makes right" policies, calling on Europe to bolster its strength. Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, gained home rule in 1979 and expanded self-government in 2009. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Modern equipment to boost Army's territorial defense power Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno January 9, 2025, 12:44 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Army (PA) is looking to acquire more modern armored vehicles, and long-range artillery with rocket and missile systems to beef up its territorial defense capabilities. This was said by PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala when asked Thursday by the Philippine News Agency what kind of equipment the Army is looking to further enhance its capacity. "Long-range artillery, armored vehicles, infantry equipment (that will boost our) capabilities," he said. Dema-ala also added that the PA is also proposing to acquire "multiple launch rocket systems" (MLRS), which are rocket weapons with long range and "chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear' (CBRN) protection equipment to allow Army troops to respond to such threats. "Air defense systems" to protect the PA units from threats coming from the air are also being eyed. During the PA-wide Command Conference held at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig on Jan. 7, Army commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido issued a "comprehensive command guidance" calling for sustained modernization and transformation of the service as the military shifts from internal security to territorial defense operations. The meeting also reviewed and evaluated the role of the PA in light of the pivot from internal security to territorial defense operations. Last year, the Department of National Defense announced the shift towards the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) that seeks to defend the country's territories including its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. "As we move from internal security to territorial defense and fulfill our mission of completely eliminating all security threats, we will continue to transform the Army. With our support for the AFP Campaign Plan 'Tatag Kapuluan', we intend to set forth every effort to modernize the Army's capabilities and equipment while making sure that our personnel (are) prepared and (have) improved skills to ensure our ability to secure the country," Galido said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Houthi: Israel incapable of tracking, downing Yemen's hypersonic missiles Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 5:40 PM The leader of the Ansarullah movement has praised Yemen's recent strikes, saying they showed Israel is incapable of intercepting and shooting down hypersonic Yemeni missiles. Adul-Malik al-Houthi made the remarks in a televised speech on Thursday evening, emphasizing that the failure points to the huge and significant gap in the Tel Aviv regime's defense capabilities. He said Yemeni forces have managed to target Israeli military positions deep inside the occupied lands multiple times, using hypersonic missiles and drones. Yemen's operations, which are being carried out in retaliation for the Israeli genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza, are imposing a substantial economic cost on the usurping regime, he added. "The operations have an enormous impact. They are instilling fear, anxiety and panic into the Zionist enemy, which has failed to intercept Yemeni missiles. The Israeli aviation industry has been dramatically influenced, as flights into and out of Ben Gurion Airport are halted during our operations." Houthi hit out at the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden for an $8 billion aid package for Israel that includes munitions for fighter jets and attack helicopters alongside artillery shells, stating that "the Zionist enemy will use the ammunition to kill women and children". He also took a swipe at "all indifferent, coward and stingy governments that are watching idly by the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza", stating that such regimes are complicit in Israeli atrocities. "This week, Israeli soldiers themselves have started looting the trickles of aid that have reached Gaza. What the Israeli enemy did to Kamal Adwan Hospital [in northern Gaza] was a blatant act of aggression, and one of the most horrendous crimes it has so far committed in the Gaza Strip," Houthi said. The Ansarullah leader also stated that mosques are among the primary targets that the Israeli enemy is keen to attack because it is an enemy of Islam and Muslims. "The Israeli enemy continues its crimes, raids, killings, and destruction in the West Bank and al-Quds. The Zionist regime constantly seeks to bring in more extremist Jews into occupied territories in pursuit of its expansionist schemes," he said. "Whatever the Israeli enemy does in southern Lebanon and its recurrent acts of aggression have all resulted in failure. The Israeli enemy has failed to achieve its declared goal of eliminating Hezbollah, as the resistance movement remains strongly present on the Lebanese scene." Turning to Israeli airstrikes against critical infrastructure and factories in Syria, Houthi stated that they are fairly linked to the Tel Aviv regime's interests, which revolve around occupation and looting. He also lashed out at the United States and Israel over attempts to recruit spies and set up sabotage cells aimed at inciting strife and disintegrating the Syrian society. Houthi called upon the Syrians to unite and protect their homeland against US and Israeli conspiracies. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Ansarullah leader strongly condemned and rejected an Israeli map that claimed Jordanian, Syrian and Lebanese territories as part of so-called "greater Israel," describing the map as "extremely provocative." "Muslim nations must take a real and effective stance against the Israeli enemy to deter it from achieving its ambitions. Collaboration with the Americans and Israelis enables them to achieve their goals at minimal cost. Such policies are extremely misleading," Houthi said. He also hailed the recent legal action initiated in Brazil to prosecute Israeli soldiers for war crimes committed in Gaza, terming it as a bold step that instills fear in the heats of the Zionist criminals. Houthi finally called upon all walks of the Yemeni society to come onto streets on Friday, and reaffirm their solidarity with Palestinians and wholesale rejection of Israeli actions in the West Asia region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon parliament elects Aoun as president, ending two years of deadlock Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 1:05 PM Lebanese lawmakers have elected army chief Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's new president, putting an end to a two-year-long political deadlock in the crises-hit Arab country. Legislators on Thursday chose Aoun after two rounds of voting in the 128-member parliament of the small Mediterranean country, which has been without a president since the end of the tenure of former president Michel Aoun, who is not associated with the newly-elected president, in October 2022. Hezbollah had previously supported Suleiman Frangieh, the leader of a small Christian party in northern Lebanon, as its preferred candidate. However, Frangieh announced his withdrawal from the race on Wednesday and threw his support behind Aoun, seemingly paving the way for the army commander. Aoun secured 99 out of 128 votes in Lebanon's deeply divided parliament, with support from across the political spectrum, including Hezbollah legislators and their rivals. His election ended a prolonged leadership vacuum that had stalled key reforms and heightened fears of a broader collapse amid the nation's multiple crises. Following his election as president on Thursday, Aoun, who had served as the 14th commander of the Lebanese armed forces since 2017, formally stepped down from his military role. He entered parliament to take the oath of office dressed in civilian attire. Aoun will need to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon while also establishing a new government capable of addressing post-war reconstruction. In November, the World Bank provided a preliminary assessment estimating the Israeli war's physical damage and economic losses at $8.5 billion. Before Thursday's parliamentary sessions, 12 attempts to elect a president had failed over the past two years. Since October 2022, the small Mediterranean country has been functioning without a formal government, which has worsened a financial crisis that prompted Lebanon to default on $30 billion in Eurobond debt some five years ago. Lebanon's divided sectarian power-sharing system is often susceptible to deadlock due to both political and procedural challenges. The country, which is currently struggling with its crises, has experienced multiple prolonged presidential vacancies, including the longest one, which lasted nearly two and a half years from May 2014 to October 2016, ending with the election of former President Aoun. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Israel's attacks in Gaza killed 369 aid workers since October Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 7:25 AM The United Nations reports that Israel has killed at least 369 aid workers in Gaza, warning that relentless attacks on humanitarian personnel, convoys, and facilities have severely hindered relief efforts in the besieged Palestinian territory. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its recent report on Wednesday said that 369 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel's military offensive on October 7, 2023, shedding light on the dire circumstances faced by civilians and aid workers alike. OCHA's latest weekly update highlighted that among the deceased, 263 were staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), underscoring the dire challenges facing humanitarian efforts in the region. This tragic milestone was marked following the death of a Palestinian aid worker who succumbed to injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike on a World Food Programme (WFP) flour distribution warehouse on Sunday. On the same day as the airstrike on the WFP warehouse, Israeli forces reportedly fired 16 bullets at a marked WFP convoy; fortunately, no injuries were reported. "Security conditions in Gaza must urgently improve for lifesaving humanitarian assistance to continue," the WFP stressed in a statement. This incident raises serious concerns about protecting humanitarian missions in conflict zones, despite clear international protocols designed to safeguard such operations. Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF) has also been affected by the violence, announcing that eight of its staff members have been killed since the onset of the conflict, along with numerous incidents impacting MSF or MSF-supported medical facilities, shelters, and personnel. In a statement, MSF expressed its frustration, stating that it has "yet to receive accountability or any admission of responsibility for the killing, maiming, or dehumanization of [its] staff and patients." Humanitarian operations in Gaza face severe challenges as attacks on aid workers, convoys, and facilities continue unabated, putting the safety of relief personnel at risk. Amidst this turmoil, hospitals and medical centers are not spared, with frequent bombings and direct assaults on the injured reported. A report published last week by the UN Human Rights Office stresses that "Israel's pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians' access to health and medical care." Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli regime has slaughtered more than 45,936 Palestinians in Gaza. Roughly 109,274 people are also injured. A considerable number of the casualties are women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK warplanes launch fresh attacks on Yemen in support of Israel Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 6:15 AM The United States and Britain have carried out fresh aerial assaults on Yemen as the Arab country continues its retaliatory operations against the Israeli regime. Yemen's al-Masirah television channel reported that Thursday's strikes targeted the districts of Jarban, al-Luhayyah, and Harf Sufyan, situated in Sana'a, Hudaydah, and Amran provinces, respectively. The report provided no information about possible casualties or damage. On Wednesday, the report added, US and British fighter jets also conducted air raids on Amran and Sana'a provinces. Meanwhile, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its warplanes had targeted two underground weapons caches belonging to Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement, without specifying the location of the attacks. The US and its allies have been bombing Yemen over the past months in violation of the country's sovereignty and international law. The illegal attacks came in response to Yemen's campaign in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid a genocidal Israeli war. As part of their campaign, the Yemeni Armed Forces have targeted ships heading to or departing ports in the occupied territories, or those linked to Israel, in the southern Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea. They have also conducted strikes against Israeli targets in the occupied lands. The Yemeni forces have stressed that they will continue their anti-Israel operations until the occupying regime ends its bloody Gaza onslaught. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jan. 8: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 3:28 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid the West-backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 45,900 Palestinians so far, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The major operations by the Palestinian resistance groups on Wednesday, January 8, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 8: Conducted a shooting operation in Al-Funduq, east of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the death of three Israeli settlers. Engaged in intense clashes with Israeli occupation forces in Jabalia, northern Gaza, and seized several drones during the encounter. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Jan. 8: The Ya'bad squad in Jenin, occupied West Bank, targeted a convoy of Israeli military vehicles using multiple explosive devices. The Kafr Al-Labad unit detonated a high-powered explosive device on Israeli military vehicles in Kafr Al-Labad, east of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank. Fierce clashes erupted in the Balawneh axis of Tulkarem, where resistance fighters opened heavy and direct gunfire on Israeli infantry and military vehicles. In the same area, the engineering unit detonated multiple pre-planted explosive devices on Israeli forces and vehicles. In Al-Thaghra, Tubas, in the occupied West Bank, an explosive device was detonated on a convoy of Israeli military vehicles. Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades' operations on Jan. 8: In a joint operation with the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, targeted the Israeli military's command and control headquarters in Juhr Al-Dik, south of Gaza City, using 60mm mortar shells. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese navy shadows Canadian warship in East China Sea: media Canada's HMCS Ottawa was on an international deployment enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea. By RFA Staff 2025.01.09 -- Canadian naval vessel HMCS Ottawa sailing in the East China Sea was closely shadowed by a Chinese warship, according to a reporter from Canada's CTV television network embedded on the ship. The hours-long incident took place on Tuesday, when the Canadian Halifax-class patrol frigate with 250 crew on board was on its first international deployment of the year to enforce U.N. sanctions against North Korea, called Operation NEON. Since then it has moved to Operation Horizon, a multi-nation effort to "promote peace, stability, and the rules-based international order," according to a press release from the Canadian defense department. The CTV National News reporter on board HMCS Ottawa said that less than 12 hours after leaving the south of Japan, "the Canadian crew on board quickly learned their ship was being closely watched." HMCS Ottawa's commanding officer Adriano Lozer was quoted as saying that the Chinese ship, "because we are in these regional waters, has decided to stick around us and is currently seven miles on our beam and has been in and out between two to seven miles all day." Two miles is considered the minimum safe distance between two ships in open waters in order to avoid collision. The People's Liberation Army naval ship was identified as Binzhou, a 4,000-ton Type 054A frigate that carries air defense and anti-submarine missiles. This was not the first time that Canadian military assets taking part in international missions were shadowed and harassed by the PLA. In October 2023, Canada accused Chinese fighter jets of intercepting a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft in an "aggressive manner" while the latter was flying over international waters also during an Operation NEON mission. 'Turning black into white' The Chinese military has not reacted to the CTV report but a news outlet known for its hawkish stance, the Global Times, accused the Canadian media of "turning black into white by hyping" the PLA shadowing the Canadian warship. Taking press aboard warships is "designed to allow media to exaggerate China's legitimate monitoring on its doorstep," Chinese military expert Song Zhongping was quoted as saying. "Canada is a country from outside of the region," Song said, stressing that China's identification and verification of foreign vessels near its waters "completely conforms to international law." Canadian and U.S. warships have often conducted joint transits in the Taiwan Strait, angering China, which sees them as a deliberate effort to challenge its control. Canada said it is committed to promoting freedom of navigation and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. In 2023, the HMCS Ottawa sailed through the waters between Taiwan and China's mainland twice, and also deployed two sorties of shipborne helicopters near the China-controlled Paracel islands. During the current Operation Horizon, it is expected to join allied naval vessels to carry out exercises and other operational activities to strengthen regional relationships "through security cooperation, building military-to-military interoperability, and enhancing Canada's role as a trusted international security partner," the Canadian defense department said. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dalai Lama says no reason to be angry at China over Tibet quake Meanwhile, residents conduct their own rescue operations to find more survivors. By RFA Tibetan 2025.01.09 -- In a prayer ceremony for victims of Monday's earthquake in Tibet, the Dalai Lama told listeners that because it was a natural disaster and "not caused by political tensions," there was no reason to be angry with Chinese authorities. The magnitude 7.1 quake left 126 people dead and destroyed 3,600 houses, according to Chinese officials although Tibetans inside Tibet say the death toll probably exceeds 200. "Even though it is in our human nature, do not feel dispirited or doomed by such disasters," the Dalai Lama told more than 12,000 Buddhist clergy members gathered for a ceremony in southern India on Thursday. "It helps to think that events like earthquakes are natural disasters and not caused by political tensions. "There is no reason to show anger or hatred towards China," he said. "Hence, Tibetans inside and outside Tibet should develop a kinder, more compassionate heart." Still, Tibetans are disturbed that Chinese authorities have called off search-and-rescue operations, promoted the government's official relief work, and banned them from sharing photos or videos about the quake on social media. The earthquake was centered around Dingri and Shigatse, close to the border with Nepal, in the southern part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, controlled by China. 'Meditate upon compassion' The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who is visiting the South Indian town of Bylakuppe which has the largest Tibetan settlement in the world outside Tibet counseled Tibetans not to lose heart in the face of the natural disaster. Instead, he urged them to transform this tragedy into a condition for the practice of compassion and spiritual growth and enlightenment. The Dalai Lama spoke at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Rinpoches that was re-established in exile in South India but originally founded by the First Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gendun Drup, in Shigatse, Tibet the region affected by the recent quake. "Even for me, seeing the pictures of ruins of Dingri after the earthquake encourages me to meditate upon compassion and emptiness and pray to Chenrezig, the Buddha of Infinite Compassion," the Dalai Lama said. "It empowers us to take adversities in our stride and not be crushed by them. That is our advantage as religious people." Tibetans in Dharamsala, North India the residence of the Dalai Lama and the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile held a candlelight vigil and prayer service on Thursday for those affected by the quake. On Wednesday evening, four NGOs the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women's Association, Students for a Free Tibet and the National Democratic Party of Tibet jointly organized a candlelight vigil from the Dharamsala suburb of McLeod Ganj to the Tsuglagkhang Temple, followed by a prayer service. They said they were holding the vigil was to show solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet and to demand transparency from Chinese authorities about the disaster. Search and rescue Inside the Tibet Autonomous Region, or TAR, Chinese officials announced the end of search-and-rescue operations to focus on the resettlement of those who now are homeless. But Tibetans continued to conduct their own rescue efforts in villages on Thursday, two sources in Tibet's capital Lhasa told Radio Free Asia. A third source told RFA that Chinese authorities stopped operations to recover bodies from the ruins, even as the general public continued to retrieve them from the rubble on Thursday. Most of the casualties were elderly people and children because many young people were away at work when the temblor struck, the source said. Li Ling, deputy director of the TAR's Special Disaster Investigation Office, attributed the earthquake to tectonic plate movement and blamed the high casualty numbers on poorly constructed traditional buildings. The Shigatse government has ordered residents not to post earthquake-related photos and videos on social media, saying it would harm rescue efforts and threatening severe punishment for violators, the two Lhasa sources said. Chinese authorities are restricting documentation of the actual situation and local rescue efforts while heavily promoting official government relief operations, they added. They are also preventing people from taking photos or sharing information about casualties and damage. One of the sources reported that after three days, some remote areas still hadn't received government assistance. Many villagers are sleeping in damaged building compounds without food, a source from the quake-affected region said. In Dingri's Dramtso village alone, over 20 people died, and the Dzongphug Nunnery suffered severe damage, killing two nuns and injuring many others. Residents still had not received aid by the Wednesday afternoon, said one of the Lhasa sources. The Dewachen Monastery in Dingri's Chulho township was completely destroyed, he added. Translated by RFA Tibetan. Edited by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan, and by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodian opposition critic Lim Kimya refused to be silenced After decades in France, Lim Kimya returned to Cambodia to win a National Assembly seat in 2013. By Yang Chandara for RFA Khmer 2025.01.09 -- The Cambodian opposition politician shot dead in Bangkok on Tuesday was a tireless government critic who refused to be cowed into silence on issues such as corruption and human rights despite the grave dangers that challenges to the powerful can bring. Lim Kimya, a former member of parliament from the Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, was shot twice by an assassin on a street near Wat Bowonniwet Vihara temple in Bangkok's old quarter, less than a kilometer from the Royal Palace, just after arriving in the Thai capital. Surveillance footage showed much of the shooting and a suspect was arrested on Wednesday in Cambodia's Battambang province. A Cambodian government spokesperson rejected any suggestion that Cambodia could be blamed for a killing in another country. Lim Kimya, a dual French-Cambodian citizen, won a seat in Cambodia's National Assembly in a 2013 election that saw the CNRP put in a surprisingly good showing, winning 44% of seats, as the ruling Cambodian People's Party, or CPP, lost ground though it still secured 55% of the seats. The striking result, marred by accusations of irregularities, was the CPP's poorest performace since 1998. Four years later, the Supreme Court made sure the CNRP would not get a chance to repeat that by banning it just ahead of a 2018 general election. As a member of parliament, Lim Kimya didn't hesitate to criticize the then prime minister, Cambodia's veteran strongman Hun Sen, and his family. At a National Assembly meeting in 2015, Lim Kimya said the Cambodian Red Cross, led since 1998 by Hun Sen's wife, Bun Rany, only provided humanitarian assistance to CPP loyalists. "The Cambodian Red Cross is biased in helping people who are affected by disasters," he said. "If the victims aren't supporters of the Cambodian People's Party, they'll definitely not receive assistance." An angry Hun Sen, who was present at the meeting, demanded that Lim Kimya swear that he was telling the truth. "Do you dare to swear to be struck by lightning?" Hun Sen asked. But Lim Kimya didn't appear to be intimidated and brushed off the prime minister's question. Return from France Lim Kimya was born in Battambang province in either 1951 or 1952. According to his Facebook page, he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. As the war in neighboring Vietnam engulfed Cambodia, he moved to France in the early 1970s, finding work with the French Ministry of Economy and Finance and living with his wife, a French citizen, near Paris. He returned to Cambodia about a year before the 2013 election and was a member of the CNRP's executive committee. In 2014, he was one of 10 supporters of top CNRP member Mu Sochua, who were beaten by security forces in a Phnom Penh park known as Freedom Park, a site for protests until the government banned gatherings there. Lim Kimya was hit in the face and some journalists were also attacked, Radio Free Asia reported at the time. In the National Assembly, Lim Kimya questioned the government's handling of natural resources, a sector that critics say has been riddled with corruption for years, and the sensitive issue of territorial integrity. At a public forum in Kampong Thom province in 2015, he complained that state institutions borrowed money "to build roads, build buildings" but failed to develop the country. "We live from day to day, without hope," he said. "The Cambodian People's Party has been in power since 1979 and ... it has not brought our country forward." Another CNRP lawmaker, Men Sothavarin, told RFA that Lim Kimya believed in democratic values. "He does clear work. He helps the people. He goes down to meet the people himself," he said. "He says what he sees." Daily Facebook posts In 2017, a private conversation between Lim Kimya and former Senate Deputy Secretary-General Hy Yoeun was posted on Facebook in which they discussed the recent death of Sok An, a top CPP lawmaker close to Hun Sen, in an exchange that CPP officials said was insulting. Both Lim Kimya and Hy Yoeun sent letters of apology to Sok An's family. Later that year, after the CNRP was banned, Lim Kimya told Agence France-Presse that he would "never give up politics" and planned to stay in Cambodia, even as many of the party's top leaders left. More recently, Lim Kimya posted almost daily on Facebook, often about Hun Sen's family, many of whom, like his elder son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, hold important government jobs. His last post was on Jan. 3, when he criticized Hun Sen's youngest son, Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, for organizing lavish public events, including a New Year celebration in Phnom Penh in which a big portrait of King Norodom Sihamoni caught fire and burned. The cause was not determined. Lim Kimya took a bus from Siem Reap province to Bangkok early on Tuesday, along with his wife and uncle. He was the first Cambodian politician to be shot dead in Thailand but Cambodian critics in self-exile there have been facing increasing danger of attacks and deportation, rights groups say. Several Cambodian opposition activists say they have been attacked in Thailand because of criticism of their government and in November, six activists were charged with treason shortly after Thai authorities sent them home. Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona dismissed any suggestion that Cambodia could bear blame for Lim Kimya's death. "Cambodia has no authority to be responsible for any problem that occurs on the sovereign territory of other countries," Pen Bona told the Kampuchea Thmey newspaper, which is owned by one of Hun Sen's daughters. Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Republika Srpska Holds Parade To Mark Banned Independence Day By RFE/RL's Balkan Service January 09, 2025 Former soldiers, students, and representatives of Bosnia-Herzegovina's rescue services and police departments marched on January 9 in Banja Luka to mark Republika Srpska Day despite the the country's Constitutional Court declaring it unconstitutional three times. The marchers carried flags, including the national flag of Serbia and the flag of Republika Srpska, and banners of Republika Srpska military units as the procession passed before a government officials and military officers standing on a dais. Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who is recovering from surgery, was not present, but Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who has been blacklisted by the United States, attended the event. Dodik is under U.S. and U.K. sanctions for actions that Western governments say are aimed at the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia. Dodik has denied that the Serbian entity of Bosnia has ever pursued a policy of secession. January 9 marks the anniversary of the region's 1992 declaration of independence. Bosniaks and Croats did not participate in the adoption of the declaration and view January 9 as the beginning of the 1992-95 Bosnian War. In years past, the banned holiday has been marked in Banja Luka by parades and marches by armed police. This year's event took place despite warnings from the international envoy for Bosnia, the EU delegation to Bosnia, and the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. International envoy Christian Schmidt warned that disobeying the decisions of the Constitutional Court may constitute a criminal offense and said Bosnia's law enforcement agencies are obliged to investigate. The U.S. Embassy noted that the Constitutional Court had ruled on multiple occasions that celebrating the Republika Srpska Day on January 9 is unconstitutional. "This ruling stands regardless of who participates in the celebration. The issue is not simply commemorating a holiday, but specifically choosing January 9, which coincides with an Orthodox religious holiday and violates several provisions of the [Bosnian] Constitution that prohibit discrimination," the embassy said on January 8 on X. The embassy said under the Dayton agreement that ended the 1992-95 Bosnian War all entities in Bosnia are obligated to fully comply with the decisions of Bosnian institutions, including the binding and final rulings of the Constitutional Court. "Failure to adhere to these rulings constitutes a criminal offense under the [Bosnian] Criminal Code," the embassy said, adding that the United States expects law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate. The Prosecutor-General's Office of Bosnia did not respond to RFE/RL's inquiry about whether an investigation had been launched into this year's commemoration or whether anything had been done about it last year after the Prosecutor-General's office said it monitored activities on January 9. The U.S. Treasury Department last year imposed sanctions against three individuals for their work in helping to organize the Republika Srpska Day parade. The three were members of the organizing committee and participated in a meeting when the event plan was approved. Dodik appointed the committee and demanded it plan the celebration, which included events taking place over three days beginning on January 8. The Bosnian Serb nationalist leader is on trial for failing to comply with Schmidt's decisions. Republika Srpska Interior Minister Sinisa Karan said that after the end of the proceedings against Dodik "it will be known whether the Dayton peace agreement and Bosnia will survive." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/republika-srpska-serbia- parade-independence-vulin-dodik/33270296.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon's New President Vows to Rebuild Nation After Israeli Aggression Sputnik News 20250109 BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that the reconstruction of the country after the war with Israel and building stronger relations with the Arab world are among the main goals of his presidential term, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Thursday. Earlier, the Lebanese parliament has elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president. He received 99 out of 128 votes. "My mandate is to rebuild Lebanon after the Israeli aggression and build stronger relations with Arab countries," Aoun said, addressing lawmakers after taking the oath of office. The Lebanese authorities intend to develop their foreign policy relations with both Western countries and the East, creating new alliances based on mutual respect, the president added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Panama Canal Chief Shuts Down Trump's Bias Claims Sputnik News 20250109 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Panama Canal Authority head Ricaurte Vasquez Morales has denied US President-elect Donald Trump's accusations that the canal is allegedly managed by China, while US ships face higher tariffs. "The accusations that China is running the Canal are unfounded. China has no involvement whatsoever in our operations. Rules are rules and there are no exceptions. We cannot discriminate for the Chinese, or the Americans, or anyone else. This will violate the neutrality treaty, international law and it will lead to chaos," Vasquez Morales told The Wall Street Journal newspaper on Wednesday. The average cost of crossing the canal for ships is about $750,000, but it can range from $300,000 to $1 million, the report said. "They [tariffs] apply to all ships from around the world and there are no exceptions," Vasquez Morales added. In addition, he reportedly noted that Panama had not requested funds from the United States to modernize the canal, since the authorities are financing the repairs from their own revenues. Trump said on December 22 that he would demand the rapid return of the Panama Canal to American ownership due to high fees for through it. The politician emphasized that the Panama Canal was critically important for US trade, as well as for the rapid deployment of US naval forces in the Atlantic and the Pacific. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump's 5% NATO Goal 'Unrealistic' - German Vice Chancellor Sputnik News 20250109 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck called US President-elect Donald Trump's demand that NATO allies increase their defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product unrealistic, in an interview out on Thursday. "What Donald Trump is proposing is unrealistic. We will not end up with 5%," Habeck told the Funke media group. The Greens minister called for increasing defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, stressing that the increase would be temporary. "3.5% is roughly what is currently being discussed in NATO as a medium-term goal... If we ensure a reasonable level of security for Germany in a few years we will be able to reduce spending again," Habeck said. In December, Trump's team informed European officials that his new administration would require allies to commit to spending 5% of their domestic industrial output on defense. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said defense spending should be significantly higher than the current 2%. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Countries Express Confusion Over Trump's Statements on Greenland, Panama - Scholz Sputnik News 20250109 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany's European partners expressed confusion over recent US President-elect Donald Trump's statements on Greenland and the Panama Canal, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. "In connection with current events, I exchanged views with a number of European heads of state and government and the president of the European Council at lunchtime. The inviolability of borders is one of the fundamental principles of international law," Scholz told reporters on Wednesday. The chancellor noted that during discussions with European partners, "a certain confusion over recent US statements became apparent." US President-elect Donald Trump first announced his claims for Greenland in 2019, when he was serving his first presidential term. In 2024, soon after winning the US presidential election he reiterated his interest again calling it "an absolute necessity" for the United States to own Greenland. On Tuesday, Trump told a press conference in Mar-a-Lago that he was not considering the use of military force to acquire Canada but could not guarantee the same for Greenland or the Panama Canal. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Transatlantic Quint Foreign Ministers US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 9, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary Blinken met today with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, French Middle East and North Africa Director Anne Grillo, and German Political Director Gunter Sautter. The group discussed the situation in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime and ways to help the Syrian people seize this opportunity to build a better future. They reiterated the need for all groups in Syria to respect human rights, uphold international humanitarian law, ensure Syria does not pose a threat to its neighbors or serve as a base for terrorism, and take all precautions to protect civilians, including members of minority groups. The ministers also exchanged views on the implementation of the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, stressing the urgency of continued support to the Lebanese Armed Forces. They further discussed the need to bring an end to the war in Gaza, return all hostages, and increase humanitarian assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon: UN hails election of new President as a critical first step 9 January 2025 - The United Nations has welcomed the election of a President in Lebanon. General Joseph Aoun was declared President on Thursday following voting in Lebanon's parliament. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated the new leader as he takes up his functions, saying this is a critical step towards overcoming Lebanon's political and institutional impasse after over two years of presidential vacuum. The election of the President provides an important opportunity to empower the state institutions to address the country's multi-faceted crises, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told journalists attending his daily media briefing in New York. Form a government Earlier on Thursday, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert welcomed the election of the new president. She called the development a long-awaited first step towards overcoming Lebanon's political and institutional vacuum and providing the Lebanese people with the functioning state institutions they deserve. "A Prime Minister must be designated and a government formed without delay. The tasks ahead of the Lebanese State are too monumental to waste any more time," she stressed. "Now is the moment for each and every decision-maker to put the interest of Lebanon above all personal or political considerations." Renewed hope She noted that the election of a president offers renewed hope and an opportunity to pave the way for progress towards consolidating the cessation of hostilities and preserving the country's security and stability, including by strengthening state authority across Lebanon and advancing comprehensive and sustainable reforms. She said the UN looks forward to working with President Aoun and relevant authorities to support Lebanon as it takes meaningful and measurable steps in this direction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pope Francis calls situation in Gaza 'shameful' By VOA News January 09, 2025 Pope Francis condemned Israel's military campaign in Gaza on Thursday, calling the humanitarian crisis "very serious and shameful." "We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians," the pope said in an address delivered on his behalf by an aide. The pope, 88, was present for the statement but asked an aide to read it because he is recovering from a cold. The remarks were part of an address to Vatican-accredited envoys from about 180 countries. "We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a country's energy network has been hit," the pope said. The pope's text also said he condemns antisemitism. The war in Gaza began with the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel in which the militants killed 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage. There are still about 100 hostages being held in Gaza, with at least one-third of them believed to be dead. Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count but said that more than half the victims have been women and children. In addition to those killed, the ministry said more than 109,300 people have been injured. Ministry reports 76 killed over 24 hours Earlier on Thursday, Gaza's Health Ministry reported that 76 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza over the past 24 hours. Among those killed were eight Palestinians killed in a house in Jabalia, the largest of Gaza's historic refugee camps. Nine other people, including a father and his three children, were killed in two airstrikes on two houses in central Gaza, according to health officials. Later on Thursday, six Palestinians were killed in two separate strikes. Four of them were killed at a school sheltering displaced families near Jabalia in northern Gaza, according to medics. Egypt, Qatar and the United States are leading efforts to try to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas with the release of hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a deal was "very close," and that he hopes to secure an agreement before President Joe Biden's term ends on Jan. 20. "I hope that we can get it over the line in the time that we have left, but if we don't, then the plan that President Biden put forward for a ceasefire-hostage deal will be handed over to the incoming administration," Blinken said. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others have designated Hamas as a terror group. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia 'observing' Greenland situation; Europe cautious on Trump remarks By Henry Ridgwell January 09, 2025 Russia has said it is closely watching the situation with Greenland, following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's refusal to rule out military or economic measures to take control of the territory from Denmark. "We are observing this rather dramatic development of the situation, but so far, thank God, [it remains] at the level of statements," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. "The Arctic zone is a zone of our national and strategic interests. We are present in the Arctic zone, and we will continue to be there," Peskov added. The vast territory of Greenland most of which lies above the Arctic Circle has been officially part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1953, although the island has its own government. National security Questioned at a news conference in Florida on Tuesday, Trump said the United States needs Greenland for security purposes, and he refused to rule out using economic or military means to achieve that goal. "People really don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. That's for the free world. I'm talking about protecting the free world," Trump said. "You have Chinese ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We're not letting that happen," he added. Like much of the Arctic, Greenland is rapidly warming. That is changing the geopolitics of the region, said analyst Liana Fix of the Council on Foreign Relations. "The Arctic is increasingly becoming a zone of a great power competition and rivalry. And the United States is concerned it is losing this game," Fix said. "The Arctic becomes much more accessible, both for trading goods but also for critical minerals, especially for rare earth [minerals]," Fix said. "And also it becomes increasingly a militarized zone," she added, noting that Russia is cooperating with the Chinese coast guard in the region. Not for sale Denmark has made it clear that Greenland is not for sale. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen rejected the suggestion that Trump's comments presented a foreign policy crisis for his government. "I see a president who is on his way into the White House, who has a heightened focus on the Arctic, and I can understand that he has that. We also have that from the Danish side, and we also have that within NATO," Rasmussen said Wednesday. Denmark faces a dilemma, said analyst Fix. "It is very clear for Denmark, too, that increased cooperation with the United States both on investments in Greenland but also on military cooperation would be actually in the interest of everyone," Fix told VOA. Several European leaders rejected Trump's comments, although most stopped short of directly criticizing the incoming U.S. president. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said basic Western values were at stake. "The principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country, regardless of whether it is to the east or west of us," he said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was more direct. "It is out of the question for the European Union to let any nation in the world, whichever it is and let me say starting with Russia define its sovereign borders," he said Wednesday. Greenland independence Greenland's government, meanwhile, is pushing for a referendum on full independence and has said that only the people will decide Greenland's future. "Greenland is on its way into a new era and a new year in which Greenland has been at the center of world attention. The Greenlandic people are one people, regardless of where they live. And as people in the times we live in, we must be united in order to be ready for a new future that our country is on its way to," Prime Minister Mute Egede said during a trip to Copenhagen on Thursday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan announces plan to resume oil production By Sheila Ponnie January 09, 2025 South Sudan announced early this week its plan to produce at least 90,000 barrels of crude oil per day as the country resumes normal production. This comes after oil supply to international markets were cut off last February because of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Ninety percent of South Sudan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from its rich fossil reserves. In the last 11 months, the country was unable to sell its oil to international markets after Sudan evoked the force majeure clause, which protected it from liability following the outbreak of conflict in Khartoum in early 2023. The ban was lifted on January 4, allowing neighboring South Sudan to resume production. Puot Kang Chol, South Sudan's minister of petroleum, said, "With the force majeure having been officially lifted by the government of Sudan, through its letter dated the 4th 2025 and based on that, the Ministry of Petroleum and partners would like to declare that the kickoff date of resumption is tomorrow. This is basically to say our 'D-Day' that we have been waiting for is tomorrow, the 8th of January, 2025." Chol is adamant that Juba will continue to pump more oil to the global market even as the work to replace fossil fuels with green energy picks up momentum. "We will continue to produce. ... South Sudan, and not only South Sudan, the continent called Africa, will continue to use oil resources for its own survival," he said. While Chol was making clear South Sudan's position on clean energy, or lack of it, in Gudele, a suburb in the capital, Juba, Betty Yobu, a citizen, is battling a chronic heart condition due to prolonged exposure to toxic gases. Betty said she has been using charcoal stoves for the past six years at her restaurant which targets low-income earners. The continuous exposure to carbon monoxide gases has made her health deteriorate. "I started feeling not OK, especially my chest. Because of the heavy work, no rest, my health became weak, and maybe I was thinking that it was because of the heavy work. I decided to go and see a doctor, and they found out that I started developing chest problems because of the firewood I was using, the charcoal. Then, I breathe in the carbon monoxide, and they affected my health," she said. But Chol insists that Juba will use its resources for the betterment of its people. "Now, we are faced with the reality, and the reality is, 'I go hungry, have no food, I will die.' We are faced with the reality that you have a woman who [has] no access to health care, and the only resource that you have that can allow you health care is the oil resources. We will not abandon it, because death is death," he said. In 2022, then-Finance Minister Agak Achuil said that South Sudan's oil had been sold until 2027, and that any revenue coming from the sale of crude oil was going toward the repayment of loans. Agak later said he was misquoted. He was fired by President Salva Kiir within a week. Environmentalists continue to criticize the oil sector. In 2018, South Sudan lawmakers accused the Dar Petroleum consortium operating blocks 3 and 7 of dumping chemicals near Bentiu, home to an oil block. "For any operations to restart in block 3 and 7, I think all environmental safeguards must be put in place," Joseph Africano Bartel, undersecretary of Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Despite the challenges that will come with the latest pronouncement of plans to resume oil production, Juba and Khartoum are optimistic that it will alleviate a significant financial burden for both governments. South Sudan, which is ranked third in sub-Saharan Africa for oil reserves, produces approximately 3.5 billion barrels annually. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chad investigates failed attack on presidential palace By Moki Edwin Kindzeka January 09, 2025 Chadian troops were heavily deployed around the capital, N'Djamena, Thursday as officials said they were investigating a failed attack on the country's presidential palace. Government troops foiled an attack by 24 heavily armed assailants on Wednesday night, officials said. President Mahamat Idriss Deby was in the palace at the time, they said, but is in good health. Eighteen attackers were killed on the spot, and the body of one attacker was found Thursday morning on the city's streets, the military reported, adding that one member of the presidential guard died in the assault and two others were injured. Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah told state TV that some 10 suspects were arrested. Koulamallah said that the reason for the attack is still undetermined but that it had nothing to do with a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang met with Deby hours earlier in the palace to discuss increased economic and military ties. The attack took place after Chad's government on Wednesday reiterated an order, first issued last month, for French troops stationed in the country to leave by Jan. 31. The reiteration followed remarks this week by French President Emmanuel Macron that African countries were ungrateful for France's role in helping to fight jihadist insurgencies. In response, Deby said that Chad is not benefiting much from military agreements with Paris and that the order for French troops to leave was irreversible and nonnegotiable. Government officials said reports on social media that the attack was carried out by armed groups that benefit from the presence of French troops and oppose military ties between Chad and China are unfounded. The unusual presence of large numbers of government troops, tactical vehicles and armored cars unsettled some residents of N'djamena, but Chadian state TV advised people to remain calm. The message, broadcast several times Thursday, said people should go about their daily activities without fear. Regardless, 27-year-old food seller Maimouna Yebgi said the presence of government troops on the streets scared people. Yebgi suggested that the troops would be better placed in villages outside the city center where the armed gangs that attacked the palace may be hiding. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World's largest dam to be built by China raises concerns in India, Bangladesh By Anjana Pasricha January 09, 2025 China's decision to build the world's largest hydropower dam on a river that flows into India and Bangladesh has sparked concerns in both countries over the project's potential impact on millions living downstream. Beijing last month approved the super dam's construction a new potential flashpoint between India and Beijing on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, which is known as the Brahmaputra River in India. The river plunges some 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) along a section called the "Great Bend" before entering India, offering huge potential to generate power. China's Xinhua news agency describes the development as "a safe project that prioritizes ecological protection" and says it would play a major role in meeting the country's carbon neutrality goals. But environmentalists in India have flagged concerns about the mega-project in an ecologically sensitive, mountainous region. They say harnessing the river could affect water flow in the country's northeastern states and Bangladesh. According to estimates, the planned project would dwarf China's Three Gorges Dam the world's largest and generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. India is urging China to ensure interests of downstream states aren't harmed by activities upstream. "We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said last week. Defending its plans, China says the decision to build the dam was made after rigorous scientific evaluation. "The project will not have a negative impact on the ecological environment, geological conditions and the rights and interests related to water resources of downstream countries," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said earlier this week in response to India's concerns. Experts in India and Bangladesh, however, are raising questions about the project. "The region proposed for dam construction is highly susceptible to landslides and is located on a geological fault line that intersects the Yarlung Zangbo," said Y. Nithiyanandam, head of the Geospatial Research Programme at the Bengaluru-based Takshashila Institution. "Planning a dam of this magnitude in such complex terrain poses significant risks to downstream regions of India and Bangladesh, especially in the event of a mishap or if there is alteration in the water flow." The recent earthquake in Tibet that killed at least 126 people has highlighted the region's vulnerability to such natural disasters, he said. "This is a critical reminder to reassess the proposal for building a mega-dam in such an environment." The proposed project's proximity to a heavily militarized border along India's northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state, which Beijing has renamed "South Tibet" and claims as its own, is another point of concern. Relations between India and China witnessed a thaw last October after both sides withdrew troops from two contested border areas. But analysts say a lingering mistrust underlies the project. "The Indian government is on alert," Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said Tuesday when asked about the Chinese project, according to the Press Trust of India. Indian foreign ministry spokesman Jaiswal said New Delhi had reiterated the need "for transparency and consultation with downstream countries." Some analysts say China's failure to share details, such as environmental impact assessments about the project, exacerbate concerns. "China acts unilaterally on issues related to trans-boundary rivers that originate in their territory. India, for example, has a treaty with Pakistan for common rivers that flow in both countries," said Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. "There are also questions as to why a dam is being built in a fragile area so close to an area that is contested between the two countries." Other analysts point to dams along the Mekong River, which flows from China into Southeast Asia. The dams have led to water scarcity in downstream countries, a fact that Beijing denies. "When the river crosses two or three countries, it becomes important for them to have a joint look at the project and come to a joint conclusion about how it is to be managed," said Brigadier Arun Sahgal, senior fellow at the Delhi Policy Group. "It is especially important because, in this case, having a dam so close to the border creates a mutual vulnerability for both India and for China." India has also planned a dam on the Brahmaputra River that it hopes will help offset the impact of China's hydropower project. "The Siang dam will be our counter to the Chinese mega-dam. This is a matter of national security," Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein told reporters on Monday. China's planned super dam has also raised worries in Bangladesh where the river flows beyond India that tens of thousands living along riverbanks could be affected if downstream flow is reduced. "There would be a huge negative impact in Bangladesh," said Malik Fida Khan, executive director of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services in Dhaka. "If there is an obstruction in the flow of the river, it could create water scarcity as well as the flow of nutrient-rich sediment, creating an ecological imbalance," he said. "Riverbank erosion could increase, and this will impact the lives of marginal communities as well as other economic activities in the area." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address African ministers meet in Uganda to shape 10-year food security, sustainability plan By Mohammed Yusuf January 09, 2025 Africa's agriculture ministers are meeting in Uganda this week to discuss the best way to transform the continent's food production systems. The ministers hope to agree on a 10-year action plan to reduce Africa's reliance on food from outside the continent and adapt its farming practices to climate change and modern technology. The ministers and more than 2,000 delegates are meeting in Kampala to discuss sustainable agriculture and food production systems. Speaking at the opening of the summit, Uganda's prime minister, Robinah Nabbanja, urged ministers to provide policies and solutions that can make the continent food self-reliant. "As the continent's agriculture sector ministers, I urge you to deliberately work to reduce Africa's over-reliance on food imports from outside of the continent," Nabbanja said. "We must position the continent in such a manner that our agriculture sector is resilient to climate change as well as other shocks and is adaptive to advances in technology." In recent years, Africa has witnessed a sharp increase in food prices due to droughts, floods, conflict and climate change. According to the U.N. trade and development agency UNCTAD, the number of people experiencing food insecurity worldwide increased from 512 million in 2014 to more than 790 million in 2021. The African ministers are meeting in Uganda again to review strategies for food security in the next 10 years, given the changing weather, people's food preferences, increased conflicts and shrinking agricultural farmlands. Despite the challenges ahead, David Nabarro, co-founder of the 4SD Foundation, an organization that works on the transformation of food systems, said that with cooperation between countries and organizations, Africa has the capacity to be food self-sufficient. "This could lead Africa as a region becoming less of a region that needs to import nutritious food for its people and move to a situation perhaps in 10 years where it can be self-sufficient or even in some cases more exporting," Nabarro said. "So individual African country's examples would be brought together and shared because the whole cadre approach is where you monitor progress and share that progress between countries and use that as a way to bring everybody's standards up higher." The director of the Institute of Livestock and Research Institute, Appolinaire Djikeng, said strong collaboration and greater investments in agriculture by African governments could bring lasting change in Africa's food production. "The food systems transformations and food systems challenges demonstrated that one organization cannot do it alone," Djikeng said. "It is about a coalition, and I want to see that part strengthened. But more importantly, I would like to see governments really investing, committing to invest in the national budget to develop agriculture and building capacities so that we have people who are trained, we have institutions, but also linking that to policy, we need to see the right policy." According to analysts who track the progress of the goals and targets of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), several countries, such as Benin, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Malawi, have spent more than 10% of their budgets to improve their agriculture sectors. The summit ends Saturday, and heads of state are expected to attend and endorse a CAADP strategy and action plan that could shape the continent's food systems for 10 years beginning in 2026. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Joe Biden's Call with President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon January 09, 2025 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon to congratulate him on his election victory. The Presidents agreed that the time is now to fully implement the cessation of hostilities announced on November 26, 2024, and for Lebanon and its people to recover and rebuild. President Biden pledged to continue U.S. support for Lebanon's security forces, and for Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction as President Aoun works with the United States and Lebanon's true friends in the international community towards a Lebanon that is once again secure, sovereign, and prosperous. President Biden assured President Aoun that he has full confidence President Aoun is the right leader to guide Lebanon through this moment of challenges and opportunities for his country. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from President Joe Biden on Lebanon's Presidential Election January 09, 2025 Today, the Speaker of Lebanon's Parliament convened a session of Parliament to elect Lebanon's next President, and an overwhelming majority of Lebanon's Parliament voted in favor of Joseph Aoun. I congratulate him on his election as President of Lebanon. President Aoun's election comes just six weeks after the United States secured an end to the hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Now, President Aoun will provide critical leadership as Lebanon and Israel fully implement that cessation of hostilities and as hundreds of thousands of people return to their homes and Lebanon recovers and rebuilds. President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time. For more than two years, the Lebanese people have suffered - not only from a devastating war and continuing financial crisis, but also from the absence of national leadership. Now, through their elected parliamentarians, the people of Lebanon have exercised their democratic right to choose their own future. They have chosen a path aligned with peace, security, sovereignty, and reconstruction, in partnership with the international community. And the United States will support them as they walk that path. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Forces kill 3 Naxals in gunfight in India's Chhattisgarh People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:23, January 10, 2025 NEW DELHI, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least three Naxals were killed Thursday in a gunfight with government forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, officials said. The gunfight between Naxals and a joint contingent of police and paramilitary forces broke out in a forest area in Sukma district, about 411 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. On Monday, eight policemen and a driver were killed after a vehicle they were travelling on was blown up by an improvised explosive device triggered by Naxals in Bijapur district. Currently, Naxals were active across central and eastern parts of India. The insurgency has reportedly claimed hundreds of lives and rendered thousands of people homeless. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 09 January 2025 - Day 1051 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 05 January 2025 in Russia's Kursk oblast, Ukraine launched a limited armoured counter-attack against Russian forces. The attack came as Ukraine continues to defend its salient of territory in Kursk against persistent attacks by Russian and North Korean forces. Despite high casualties, Russia has only been able to make minor advances against Ukrainian-held territory in recent weeks. In eastern Ukraine, Russia continued to focus attacks in central Donetsk oblast. Russian forces have largely seized the town of Kurakhove. Russia began assaults into the town in mid-November 2024. South of Pokrovsk, Russian forces have advanced westward, seizing several villages and occupying positions 4km from the south of the city. Central Donetsk oblast continues to be the most volatile area of the frontline in eastern Ukraine. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 144 combat clashes, the Russian enemy launched 38 aviation strikes, dropping 53 CAB, 884 kamikaze drone strikes, carried out 4627 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops. In the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian troops repelled two Russian attacks in the areas of Starica and Vovchansk. According to the enemy attacked Vovchans ki farms. The Russian aggressor made eight attacks on Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupians .komu direction near the Western, Kucherivka, New Kruglyakivka, Petropavlivka and Zagrizovoye. Ukrainian defenders have successfully repelled five attacks, three more clashes continue. In the Lyman direction, Russian troops 17 times a day stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of settlements Green Gai, Borivska Andriyivka, Kopanky, Tverdohlibove, Makiyivka, Grekivka and Ivanivka. The two clashes are still ongoing. Green Guy opponent attacked NARAMA. In the Siversky direction, Ukrainian troops repelled one Russian attack in the area of the settlement of Bilogorivka. At the same time, the enemy dropped three KABs on Verkhnyokamiansk. In the direction of kramators komu, Russian forces attacked seven times near the time gap and stupocok, all attacks have already been repelled. The air strike controlled by aviation bombs suffered Mayskie, Russian forces attacked near Klishchievka. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements of Toretsk, Bila Gora and Scherbinivka 11 times. In addition to the konstantinivku and toretsk were dropped three kabi, friendship attacked narami. In the Pokrovsky direction throughout the day, Russian forces committed 37 assault and offensive actions. The largest activity of the Russian occupiers is kept in the areas of settlements Baranivka, Mirolyubivka, Elizavetivka, Romin, Lisivka, Zelene, Zvirove, New Labor, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Uspenivka, Novovasilivka, Novoandriyivka and Novoelizavetivko. Seven clashes are still ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, today Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 197 and wounded 205 Russian invaders in this direction; destroyed three tanks, four BMPs, two vehicles, in addition, significantly damaged one BBM, a tank and three invaders' vehicles. Intensely attacks the Russian opponent and in the Kurakhiv direction. At this time of the day, there are already 23 clashes. Attacks Ukrainian warriors fought near Silver, Andriyivka, Petropavlivka, Kurakhovogo and Dachnogo. There is currently one confrontation in progress. In the Vremivsky direction, Russian forces 11 times tried to break through near the settlements of Yantarne, Konstantinopil and Rozliv, one confrontation is ongoing so far. The KABAMA air strikes suffered temirivka and great novosilka. Russian forces did not carry out active actions in the gulyajpil s komu and orihivs komu directions. In the Pridniprovsky direction, Russian forces twice tried to suppress the Defense Forces in the area of the Cossack and Zabich islands without success. Russian forces dropped four KABs on Kherson. In the Kurs komu direction Ukrainian defenders repelled 25 attacks of Russian zagarbnikiv, one combat is still ongoing. In addition, Russian forces made 19 air strikes, applying 31 cab, carried out 294 artillery shelling, including 11 from jet systems of salpovogo fire. In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces hit formations of one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU close to Volchansk (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were up to 45 troops and one motor vehicle. The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades of the AFU, three territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade near Dvurechnaya, Novaya Kruglyakovka, Kovsharovka, Ivanovka, and Zapadnoye (Kharkov region). Six counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses were up to 480 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, including one infantry fighting vehicle, one Polish-made Rosomak armoured personnel carrier, and one Kozak armoured vehicle. Three motor vehicles, three artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition depots were destroyed. The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation along the front line and defeated formations of two mechanised brigades and two airmobile brigades of the AFU near Belogorovka, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Chasov Yar, Vasyukovka, and Yantarnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by AFU units were repelled. The AFU losses were up to 245 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, including two infantry fighting vehicles, and one Patriot armoured vehicle. Five pickup trucks, one electronic warfare station, and one ammunition depot were wiped out. The Tsentr Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade of AFU, and one brigade of the National Police of Ukraine near Dzerzhinsk, Shcherbinovka, Shevchenko, Sribnoye, Petrovka, Vozdvizhenka, Novovasilevka, Petropavlovka, and Novoyelizavetovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, 12 counter-attacks of AFU assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses were up to 510 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, including one infantry fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made M113 and one French-made VAB armoured personnel carriers, six motor vehicles, and five howitzers. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces advanced into the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanised brigades of the AFU, one marine brigade, and one territorial defence brigade close to Bogatyr, Konstantinopol, Velikaya Novoselka, Razliv, Komar (Donetsk People's Republic), and Temirovka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses were more than 155 troops, one tank, seven motor vehicles, five field artillery guns, including one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer. One ammunition depot was wiped out. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces engaged manpower and hardware of one infantry brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the AFU, and one national guard brigade close to Stepnogorsk, Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region), Ponyatovka, Antonovka, and Pridneprovskoye (Kherson region). The AFU losses were up to 45 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and seven motor vehicles. Four electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were destroyed. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck infrastructure of military airfields, UAV workshops and depots, as well as engaged manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU formations and foreign mercenaries in 163 areas. Air defence units shot down one French-made Hammer guided aerial bomb, 14 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 71 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 39,794 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,307 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,507 MLRS combat vehicles, 20,352 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,012 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one tank brigade, two mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, and two territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Daryino, Zazulevka, Kazachya Loknya, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolayevka, Novaya Sorochina, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Bondarevka, Veselovka, Goncharovka, Guyevo, Kruglenkoye, Kubatkin, Loknya, Martynovka, Mirny, Nikolsky, Pogrebki, Russkoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Bogdanovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, and Miropolye in Sumy region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were up to 190 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one artillery gun, four mortars, one electronic warfare station, and one ammunition depot. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 50,310 troops, 294 tanks, 218 infantry fighting vehicles, 161 armoured personnel carriers, 1,517 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,435 motor vehicles, 348 artillery guns, 44 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 16 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 90 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 29 units of engineering and other materiel, including 15 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, seven armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan - Fourth Civil War - 2023-20?? Sudan plunged into conflict in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo broke out in a conflict that has displaced about 12 million people. The war continues to rage, with the RSF and the Sudanese army accusing each other of war crimes, including targeting civilians and indiscriminately shelling residential areas, which have resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said 07 January 2025 his government had determined that Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied militias have committed genocide in the war against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAR) which started in April 2023. Blinken cited the 638,000 Sudanese experiencing the worst famine in Sudans recent history, over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and tens of thousands dead as reasons for the determination. Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, genocide is acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. "The RSF and RSF-aligned militias have continued to direct attacks against civilians. The RSF and allied militias have systematically murdered men and boyseven infantson an ethnic basis, and deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence. Those same militias have targeted fleeing civilians, murdering innocent people escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies. Based on this information, I have now concluded that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan." Since the war began, the RSF has demonstrated little ability to govern territories under its control, with fighters often looting, kidnapping for ransom and generating chaos. Many Sudanese, therefore, view the RSF as an existential threat to the state despite their acute concerns and traditional opposition towards the army. The RSF typically recruited fighters from its core tribal base in western Sudan, and the army regularly treated civilians from these regions as RSF collaborators or sympathisers, say local monitors and rights groups. Arab and non-Arab are loose categories in rural Sudan as the former mainly refers to nomadic and pastoralist tribes while the latter refers to sedentary farmers. Both are black and Muslim and have intermarried for centuries. The army has increasingly relied on a number of militias to spearhead its advances in recent months. Two of them, the Sudan Shield Forces and al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion, led the extrajudicial killings against unarmed men. Al-Baraa bin Malik - a militia tied to Sudans Islamic movement, which was the main part of former President Omar al-Bashirs state apparatus for 30 years - has also committed some of the worst abuses so far. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) inflicted a significant setback on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 24 January 2025, breaking through the frontline in Khartoum Bahri to link up with besieged forces in Kober and northern Khartoum, where the SAF headquarters has been surrounded for nearly two years. SAF troops operating from northern Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman had been slowly gaining ground for several weeks, clearing a corridor along Ingaz Street, the main avenue that runs north-south through central Bahri. A final push yesterday closed the remaining 2-3 km gap, breaking through to Signal Corps and General Command. This action ended the threat to the SAF headquarters and positioned SAF for a new push to recapture the capital. Khartoum and Bahri braced for more fighting as SAF reinforcements pour into southern Bahri and central Khartoum for the first time since 2023. The RSF remain in control of most of the capital Khartoum, but it would be harder for them to defend as the SAF could revive fighting on a frontline around General Command that had largely been quiet. Sudan is the scene of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, and millions have fled the civil war. The former PM said 04 November 2024 that the displacement and famine are "much, much greater than Gaza and Ukraine combined." In November 2024 a new study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine looked at multiple sources and suggests the death rate is much higher than previously thought - about 61,000 deaths due to disease, starvation and directly from the violence itself. Among that 61,000, there were about 26,000 who had been killed directly by violence. In the end there can be only one. Violence erupted over the planned integration of Daglo's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the regular army. The integration was a key element of talks to finalise a deal that would return the country to civilian rule and end the political and economic crisis sparked by their 2021 coup in one of the world's poorest countries. Official sources stated that the early July 2024 clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had escalated on multiple fronts across Sudan, notably in Sinnar, West Kordofan, and North Darfur states. The terms Arab and non-Arab are slippery labels in many regions in Sudan. Both communities are Black and Muslim and have inter-married for centuries. The labels mostly denote communal ways of life. Arabs are traditionally pastoralists and camel herders, while non-Arabs are sedentary farmers. Commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, the Rapid Support Forces was formed in 2013 as a paramilitary force composed mostly of former Janjaweed fighters. The Janjaweed were notorious for their involvement in the Darfur genocide, which began in 2003 and was considered one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. Since its formation, the RSF had been accused of human rights abuses, including rape, torture, and extrajudicial killings. In 2019, the RSF was involved in a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Khartoum, which resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. The RSF had also been involved in the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region, where it had been accused of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing against non-Arab groups. After the Darfur Genocide, Hemedti faced a one-way ticket to The Hague. The military in Sudan sought to disempower civilians after its October 2021 coup, a cause that united different factions within the security sector, including Hemedti. The Sudanese people who had been protesting for four years, demanding a democratic civilian government, had been right all along, and everyone forcing them to compromise with the army and the militia had been wrong. Democracy would bring stability to Sudan, yet civilians are disunited on everything. The International Crisis Group noted "In courting the civilian elites, Hemedti exploited the fact that many of them much as they distrust the RSF view the army as their historical enemy, a redoubt of Bashir sympathisers including Islamists who had staffed the former presidents bureaucracy. In December 2022, a framework agreement promising to restore civilian rule accentuated their rivalry. While Burhan signed the deal only under heavy external pressure, Hemedti championed it, due to clauses he saw as giving him autonomy from Burhan and the army. The agreement recognised the RSF as a regular entity affiliated with the armed forces but placed it under the direct command of a civilian head of state, rather than the army chief, during a transition period. The deal also required the RSF to integrate into the army but left the timetable open to negotiation. This arrangement only deepened the distrust between Sudans two military overlords." By April 2023, with civilians removed from the political process, the inevitable clash between Hemedti and al-Burhan erupted. Sudanese soldiers shouted Allahu Akbar, celebrating the capture of other Sudanese soldiers wearing a slightly different camouflage uniform, all boasting the Sudanese flag on their chests. Violence broke out on 15 April 2023 between forces loyal to Sudanese Armed Forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Previous allies worked together to overthrow the interim Sudanese government in 2021, now clashed for power with neither party gaining a visible advantage. Negotiations had been under way to get the country back on a path to democracy. Under international pressure, Burhan and Hemedti agreed in December 2022 to a framework agreement with political parties and pro-democracy groups. But the deal was vague on key points of dispute, including how the RSF would be integrated into the armed force and who would have final control. The framework agreement ratcheted up tensions when it elevated Hemedti's position into Burhan's equal, rather than his deputy. That shift in power was why conversations about security sector reform and integration of the RSF ended up in armed conflict rather than heated debate around the table. Because the SAF and RSF were designed to be complementary rather than competing forces within one state, the conflict setting in Khartoum put both in a deadlock, observers say. At the same time, the rift between al-Burhan and Hemedti had weakened state power. The unclear situation on the ground deterred political actors from intervening, in another blow to the already faltering democratic process. The coup in 2021 made it very clear that powerful figures in the security services were not willing to allow democratisation without serious preservation of their powers and the spoils they are getting from the system. As long as neither RSF nor SAF had the upper hand, a chance for negotiations would not be in sight. Neither of these sides wants to end the fighting. They had agreed to every ceasefire, though they did not implement them. What might create a real opening for dialogue was if one side was about to win. If one side gains a tactical advantage like if the RSF was driven out of Khartoum that might create a real opportunity for them to talk. The military can use long-range artillery and fighter jets to defend their positions. Up close they had tanks and heavy armor. The RSF was not positioned to hold territory and defend positions because it was configured like a guerilla force that strikes and retreats quickly. Many RSF recruits are also unfamiliar with the operational environment in the capital. These are people from the peripheral regions of the country with very little knowledge of the streets and neighbourhoods in Khartoum. The SAF had an advantage there because the SAF knows Khartoum. At the same time, the SAF was not mobile; it cannot defend positions reasonably well and it was not going to be able to chase the RSF around the city. Still, neither force appeared to be adjusting its combat tactics to its surroundings. RSF used the same tactics from the Janjaweed: they are pillaging, marauding, and looting in neighborhoods. With no established supply lines in Khartoum and their headquarters destroyed, RSF fighters go into peoples homes to steal food, water, supplies, and occupy them]. The United States expected the fighting between two military chiefs in Sudan to continue as neither had an incentive to seek peace, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said. The fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is, we assess, likely to be protracted as both sides believe that they can win militarily and had few incentives to come to the negotiating table, Haines told a US Senate hearing on 04 May 2023. Both sides are seeking external sources of support, which, if successful, was likely to intensify the conflict and create a greater potential for spillover challenges in the region, she said. Following the failure of the peace initiative and the offensive of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in December 2023, the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fatah al-Burhan, carried out additional recruitment into the SAF under the slogan of popular resistance. In the second half of January 2024, the SAF launched an offensive from Shendi (River Nile State) to the northern areas of the Khartoum metropolitan area. One of the main directions for the SAF was an operation in the central part of Omdurman with the goal of breaking the blockade of the engineering corps. After prolonged fighting, the SAF finally broke through the ten-month blockade of the Corps of Engineers at Omdurman on 20 February and achieved its first major military victory in a long time. Among the significant factors that provide new capabilities to the SAF are the Iranian Mohajer-6 UAVs. Their regular supplies are carried out by flights from Iran to Port Sudan. And although the RSF forces have already reported the downing of 3 such UAVs, they continue to be widely and effectively used by the SAF. Sudans war has entered a new phase following an army breakthrough in central Omdurman, the nations largest city, in mid-February 2024. The breakthrough relieves the 10-month siege of a military district known as Corps of Engineers, and it represents the armys first major offensive success of the war. The breakthrough also severs the connection between RSF troops in Ombada and the eastern neighborhoods known as Old Omdurman. Attempts by the army to eradicate RSF resistance in this eastern part of the city could represent the next phase of the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan War Monitor reported. The Sudanese military has suffered major defeats at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rogue paramilitary, which outmatched it in tactics and maneuver warfare early in the war. The central government has retreated to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. What little budget it has left it spends on military equipment and operations. It has few international allies. Eritrea and Iran have emerged as its main military backers, while Egypt, in spite of its historical ties with the Sudanese army, has not intervened. Egypt is currently going through a deep economic crisis of its own. China is also a long-time supplier of military equipment to Sudan, though it isnt play a political role in the war. Sudan War Monitor reported 12 March 2024 that "The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are being steamrolled in Sudans largest city, Omdurman, losing a large amount territory, men, and equipment under a relentless combined-arms assault involving infantry, drones, and artillery. The latest fighting coincides with the first two days of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, ignoring appeals by the United Nations for a temporary ceasefire. After relieving the siege of Corps of Engineers in central Omdurman mid-February, the Sudanese army trapped hundreds or possibly thousands of RSF fighters in eastern neighborhoods of the city, an area known as Old Omdurman. In the following weeks, the army consolidated control over northern neighborhoods of this districtincluding Wad Nubawi, Abu Rof, and Beit al-Malconfining the RSF troops in an increasingly small pocket of territory centered around the state television and radio complex in Al-Mawrada. The battle culminated today in an attempt by the RSF to break out of this pocket, which failed spectacularly... " NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM refutes Japanese side's linking Chinese hacker to cyberattacks on Japanese business entities, organizations Global Times Tokyo should refrain from hyping and politicizing while expressing desire to improve ties: expert By GT staff reporters Published: Jan 09, 2025 04:17 PM China firmly opposes and fights all forms of hacker attacks in accordance with law, and opposes politicizing cybersecurity issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday, in response to reports that Japan's National Police Agency claimed a Chinese hacking group launched more than 200 cyberattacks on Japanese enterprises, institutions, and organizations. Japan on Wednesday linked more than 200 cyberattacks over the past five years targeting the country's national security and high technology data to a Chinese hacking group, MirrorFace, detailing their tactics and calling on government agencies and businesses to reinforce preventive measures, according to the Associated Press. The National Police Agency said its analysis on the targets, methods and infrastructure of the cyberattacks by MirrorFace from 2019 to 2024 concluded they were systematic attacks linked to China with an aim of stealing data on Japanese national security and advanced technology, said the AP report. "As many can see, the virtuality of cyberspace makes it difficult to trace the source of actions, and the actors in cyberspace are diverse. It is neither professional nor responsible for relevant Japanese institutions to make judgments based solely on the targets and methods of the hacking attacks," said Guo. "We have noticed that some allies of the US have recently started to assist the US in spreading disinformation about China. We hope that all parties will approach cybersecurity issues on the basis of facts, guided by international rules, and with objectivity, fairness, and professionalism rather than playing supporting roles in political stunts," Guo added. Hacker attacks are difficult to trace, and many countries have faced similar incidents. Accusing China without evidence is an irresponsible act that could harm bilateral relations, Lu Chao, an expert on the Korean Peninsula issue at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. Japanese media NHK said in a report on Wednesday that "Police in Japan and the government's cybersecurity center have warned that a group "suspected" to be linked to China is carrying out cyberattacks on government offices and private firms." However, it is noticeable that some Western media, building on claims from Japan, removed the word "suspected" and directly linked the cyberattacks to China. Japanese side's accusation came amid the recent thawing momentum of Beijing-Tokyo ties. According to a Japan Times report, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed an eagerness to visit China as soon as possible during a meeting with the secretaries-general of the ruling parties on Thursday. The Japanese media outlet said that from January 13 to 15, a delegation from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, will visit China for talks with the Communist Party of China. Ishiba told the delegation that he hopes Japan and China will continue dialogue at various levels. Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday that China and Japan have common channels and mechanisms on cyber security. If Japan has concerns, the two sides should sit down for technical discussions through those channels instead of hyping and politicizing the issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No election observation mission in Belarus due to lack of invitation, in breach of OSCE commitments OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe WARSAW/COPENHAGEN 9 January 2025 WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 9 January 2025 -- The decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE participating States to observe the country's presidential election on 26 January is deeply regrettable and prevents an impartial and independent assessment of the election process, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said in a statement today. "I deeply regret the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE states through ODIHR to observe the forthcoming presidential election, depriving the country's citizens of a transparent and full assessment of the entire process," said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian. "This decision underscores the continued lack of commitment by the Belarusian authorities to invite other OSCE states to observe and provide an independent view on whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards." ODIHR has made efforts in recent months to engage with the Belarusian authorities regarding the invitation to observe. With election day less than three weeks away, ODIHR has been unable to monitor key stages of the process. "Once again, the Belarusian government has decided to disregard its obligation as a signatory to the 1990 Copenhagen Document to invite observers from other OSCE participating States for its elections," said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma. "This decision is deeply regrettable. The lack of co-operation from Belarus diminishes the spirit of trust that underpins the OSCE even more and the lack of transparency further undermines faith in the electoral system of Belarus." This is the third time since the August 2020 presidential elections that ODIHR has been unable to observe elections in Belarus due to the lack of a timely invitation. All OSCE states have repeatedly recognized the value of ODIHR's observation and the effectiveness of its comprehensive and objective methodology that is applied in the same way in every country. They have also committed to inviting observers from other OSCE participating States to observe, as well as following up swiftly on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations. While ODIHR will not observe the forthcoming presidential election, the Office continues to monitor events in Belarus within all the areas covered by its mandate. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on January 9, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: January 09, 2025 18:35 At the invitation of the government of Venezuela, President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wang Dongming will attend the inauguration of Venezuela's President in Caracas on January 10. At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Grenada Dickon Mitchell will pay an official visit to China from January 11 to 17. CCTV: African media wrote in their recent report that African countries are pressed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, due to internal and external reasons. However, the consolidation of China-Africa relations within such frameworks as the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and the commitment to sharing the gains of modernization provide a strong foundation for transformative green transition in Africa. Many African countries came up with the idea of "green is gold" by drawing experience from China's philosophy of "green mountains and lucid waters are mountains of gold and silver." What's your comment? Guo Jiakun: Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Africa pointed out that China supports Africa's green development and is committed to working with Africa to advance eco-friendly modernization. In climate response and the pursuit of green development, China and Africa have always been taking concrete actions as partners. By drawing experience from China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, African countries have launched the Great Green Wall initiative to hold back the Sahara desert. China implemented hundreds of projects in the field of clean energy in Africa. The installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants jointly built by China and Africa totaled over 1.5 gigawatts. China's juncao technology has been introduced to Africa, becoming a fine example of "small and beautiful" cooperation projects. The cooperation on green technologies, such as wind power, geothermal energy and solar power, has given a strong boost to African countries' energy transition. The Beijing Summit of FOCAC in 2024 proposed that China and Africa should jointly advance modernization characterized by six features and the 10 partnership actions, including advancing modernization that is eco-friendly and the Partnership Action for Green Development. Thirty clean energy projects will be launched in Africa, 30 joint laboratories will be established, and the two sides will collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. Green development will become another highlight of China-Africa cooperation. AFP: The Philippines has said that around 400 foreign nationals, many of whom were Chinese, were arrested yesterday in a large-scale raid on a suspected online scam farm in Manila. Can the Foreign Ministry comment on this and provide any more details? Guo Jiakun: I am not familiar with what you mentioned. On fighting telecom fraud, China's position is consistent and clear. Global Times: You just announced that Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell will pay an official visit to China. Could you share with us the program of this visit and China's expectations? Guo Jiakun: January 20th will mark the 20th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between China and Grenada. We welcome Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell's official visit to China on this special occasion. President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, Premier Li Qiang will hold a welcoming ceremony and hold talks with Prime Minister Mitchell, and the two of them will jointly attend a signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will also meet with the prime minister. The two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. In addition to Beijing, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell will visit Zhejiang and Shanghai. Grenada is an important country in the Caribbean and an important cooperation partner of China in this region. Over the past two decades since China and Grenada restored diplomatic ties, the two countries have treated each other with mutual respect and on an equal footing, and have understood and supported each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns. Bilateral relations remain sound and steady. China believes that this visit will further cement political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation in various areas, enhance the friendship, and take bilateral relations to a new height. AFP: Several hundred people demonstrated yesterday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protest illegal mining in the eastern part of the country where authorities are investigating claims of widespread illicit Chinese involvement. This follows the announcement on Sunday of the arrest of three Chinese nationals who are found in possession of gold bars and large sums of cash. Does China have a comment on this? Guo Jiakun: I am not aware of the specifics you mentioned. The Chinese government always asks Chinese citizens and companies overseas to strictly observe local laws and regulations. Kyodo News: It is reported that the Secretary-Generals from Japan's ruling parties, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, will visit China on January 13 and have exchanges with officials of the Communist Party of China. Could you share with us China's expectation for this visit? Guo Jiakun: I would like to refer you to the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC for your specific question. The IDCPC has published information on the 9th Meeting of the China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism. Party exchange is an important component of China-Japan relations. China values the dialogue with Japanese political parties, both ruling and opposition, as well as individuals from all walks of life, as part of the effort to jointly bring China-Japan relations forward. The Paper: We noted that, in the past few days, several foreign enterprises announced to increase their input in China. A Japanese automaker announced to set up EV production factory in China. A German automaker has reached significant cooperation agreement with a Chinese automaker. A French pharmaceutical company is going to set up a new production base in China. The Malaysian department store group is undergoing renewal and upgrade in China. Several foreign enterprises have launched "super factories" in China. Analysts believe that the increased investment in China by foreign enterprises reflects the advantages of China's industrial and supply chains and market opportunities. What's your comment? Guo Jiakun: Foreign enterprises' increased investment in China once again demonstrates the mutually beneficial nature of the economic and trade cooperation between China and other countries. In the first 11 months of 2024, more than 50,000 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established in China, a year-on-year increase of 8.9 percent. In the past five years, the returns on direct investment in China by foreign investors stood at about 9 percent, ranking among the top in the world. The steady growth of China's economy and the continuous expansion of high-standard opening up are the greatest sources of confidence for foreign investors to increase their stake in China. Since 2024, we have reduced the restrictions on the national negative list for foreign investment access to 29 items, eliminated all access restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, fully implemented the national treatment for foreign enterprises, and continuously improved the business environment. The Central Economic Work Conference has made a series of arrangements for steadily expanding institutional opening up and deepening the reform of the foreign investment promotion system and mechanism, which has provided foreign enterprises with broader space to grow and stronger confidence in China. In their global investment outlooks for 2025, multiple foreign investment institutions remain optimistic about the Chinese market. Investing in China is investing in the future. We welcome countries around the world to seize the opportunities in China, share in China's development dividends, and achieve mutual success. AFP: At least 19 people were killed when gunmen attacked Chad's presidential complex on Wednesday evening. This coincided with an official visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Chad. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm that Wang Yi was not affected by this incident and is safe and unharmed? Guo Jiakun: We noted media reports on the attack. China firmly supports Chad's effort to keep the country safe and stable. The peace and stability in Chad will not be affected by this attack. On January 8, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi paid an official visit to Chad. He met with Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno and Prime Minister Allamaye Halina, and held talks with Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah. His Chad visit has concluded smoothly and successfully. TV Asahi: Yesterday, the Japanese National Police Agency announced that a hacker organization allegedly affiliated with the Chinese government has launched cyberattacks against more than 200 Japanese enterprises, institutions, and organizations. What is China's comment? Guo Jiakun: We noted the reports. China firmly opposes and fights all forms of hacker attacks in accordance with law, and opposes politicizing cybersecurity issues. This position is consistent and clear. As many can see, the virtuality of cyberspace makes it difficult to trace the source of actions, and the actors in cyberspace are diverse. It is neither professional nor responsible for relevant Japanese institutions to make judgments based solely on the targets and methods of the hacking attacks. We have noticed that some allies of the US have recently started to assist the US in spreading disinformation about China. We hope that all parties will approach cybersecurity issues on the basis of facts, guided by international rules, and with objectivity, fairness, and professionalism rather than playing supporting roles in political stunts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EXPLAINED: How the Chinese Communist Party manages public opinion The party's 'public opinion guidance' system includes tightly controlling the media but also populating social media platforms with views seen as 'correct' by Beijing. By Qian Lang for RFA Mandarin 2025.01.09 -- Cai Qi, a high-ranking Communist Party official, has called on China's propaganda workers to "cultivate mainstream public opinion" in a way that rallies the people to "work together in unity," particularly when it comes to positive economic news. Cai, a member of the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee under General Secretary Xi Jinping, wants the party to "forge souls" by "upholding the correct orientation of public opinion and strengthening economic propaganda." Speaking at the National Propaganda Ministers' Conference on Jan. 4, Cai also called for "a more effective international communication system" to spread Beijing's ideas to the rest of the world. A senior journalist who gave only the surname Gao for fear of reprisals said the conference was largely concerned with whitewashing the "hellscape" that is the current economic situation. "That includes the economic downturn, the fact that they spent so much trying to prop up the stock market, only to have it fall again, and also the continual occurrence of social revenge incidents and car attacks," Gao told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview. They believe they can achieve this by manipulating public opinion, he said. What is public opinion management? The idea that the Communist Party should ensure that all media are on message when covering breaking news and major events can be traced back to documents in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, criticizing ousted Premier Zhao Ziyang for telling the media it can "open up a little bit." This openness was blamed for allowing all manner of public criticism of the government to emerge in state media, and blamed for enabling the protests that were quashed in a bloody crackdown by the People's Liberation Army on the night of June 3, 1989. The idea has become a dominant one under Xi, who ordered the media to align themselves completely with the ruling party in a speech made on a landmark visit to several state media outlets. According to Xi, the party's news and public opinion mission is to provide guidance, to serve the "overall situation" -- the party's grip on power -- and to unite and influence the people. It should also communicate with the rest of the world. "All news reports must adhere to the correct orientation," he said in his 2016 speech. "Any news report has an orientation. What to report, what not to report, and how to report it all involve positions, views, and attitudes." "When a piece of news appears in the newspaper, how much attention will the masses pay? What kind of impact will it have on the people? Will it have a negative impact on social stability and development? These should be the primary considerations," he said. Xi is adamant that only views and information that serve the party's interests should appear in state media outlets, but he has also expanded that policy since taking power in 2012 to cover anything that is posted online, including private posts and comments. How does the party manage public opinion? The Central Propaganda Department has long managed state media content with behind-the-scenes phone calls and other directives to editorial staff. Since the advent of the internet and social media, the government has invested massively in monitoring and policing everything that is posted online, in addition to the Great Firewall of blocks and filters that prevents unauthorized overseas content from being viewed by China's 900 million internet users. In 2014, Xinhua announced a certified training course for the "50-cent army" of online propagandists who are paid to manipulate public opinion by posting and retweeting comments favorable to the government. The exact numbers of people grouped under the "50-cent army" is unknown, and many are employed by separate organizations under different job titles. But they share the same role: to try to swing the opinions of China's increasingly frustrated citizens in Beijing's favor, posting pro-government opinions and trying to deflect criticism and dissent. Provincial governments have followed suit, with Guangdong rolling out a program to train 10,000 "opinion-makers" in 2012 following mass protests in the rebel village of Wukan. And it's not just official bodies that do this. A 2022 directive from the Cyberspace Administration made commercial service providers responsible for monitoring and deleting comments on their platforms, as well as requiring them to hold personal details about users and to take action against anyone causing trouble. The government is also extending its "patriotic education" program in schools and universities to ensure that the nation's young people are fully versed in politically "correct" views from kindergarten upwards. Is everything on the Chinese internet written by the government? No, and the authorities have been cracking down in recent weeks on "trolls" who post clickbait, false advertising and controversial content to drive traffic to a site for financial gain. Such "trolls" have been engaging in "homogenous copywriting," manipulation of comments, hyping up search terms and giving a fake sense of popularity for online stores and celebrities, according to the Cyberspace Administration. Many pro-government commentators -- known as "little pinks" -- aren't paid at all, but are expressing a nationalistic fervor they learned from an early age. While their strident online activity demonstrates to the world that their Communist Party credentials are in the right place, their more extreme comments are sometimes frowned upon by officials if they get in the way of policy priorities. The authorities are also concerned that Chinese internet users continue look for information on social media that goes beyond what the official media are permitted to report -- people also use circumvention software to get around blocked overseas sites like X and Facebook, where China-related news is more freely available. The party propaganda machine regards any information it didn't approve as a "rumor," and goes to considerable lengths to stop anyone taking on the role of citizen journalist, most notably during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, when police detained and later jailed several bloggers for reporting from the front line. The Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission is currently setting up a unified "rumor-refuting mechanism" to "proactively respond to social concerns and authoritatively refute rumors," which it described at a meeting in December 2024 as "an important measure to maintain online political and ideological security." Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China aims to deepen Central Asia influence with new railway project By William Yang January 09, 2025 A major railway project connecting China and Central Asia is set to begin construction in July, after over two decades of negotiation. Spanning more than 400 kilometers, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, or CKU, is planned to start in Kashgar City in China's northwestern Xinjiang autonomous region, pass through the Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, continue west through the Kyrgyz border city of Jalalabad, and end in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan, according to Chinese state media. Construction of the railway was stalled for more than 20 years by financing and technical issues and attempts by Russia and Kazakhstan to dissuade Beijing from funding the project, some regional observers told VOA. However, analysts say regime changes in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan since 2016 and Russia's Ukraine war have paved the way for the three countries to agree on starting the construction. While Uzbekistan had been concerned with some of the issues that had come up with the project, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's government "is opening up to the project since it has been something that Uzbekistan has been planning for decades," said Temur Umarov, a Central Asia specialist at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, in Berlin. He said Kyrgyzstan was "skeptical" about the CKU under the previous administration because some political elites benefited from Kyrgyzstan's geographic advantage of being between China and other Central Asian countries that do not border China. These people would "sell some products from China to those Central Asian countries," he told VOA by phone. "But the current Kyrgyz president, Sadyr Japarov, has talked about the project since his early days in office and it is one of the most important political projects to his presidency," Umarov added. In addition to the Uzbek and Kyrgyz governments' changing attitudes, other experts say the Ukraine war has prompted China and Central Asian countries to seek new transit routes to Europe. Landlocked Central Asia's trade mainly goes through Russia and most of China's trade with Europe under its Belt and Road Initiative also goes through Russia, Edward Lemon, a China-Central Asia relations specialist at Texas A&M University, said. "All three countries are seeking alternatives, including greater trade among themselves and other routes via Iran and the Middle Corridor across the Caspian Sea. The railway forms part of those routes," he told VOA in a written response. The Middle Corridor refers to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route that starts in Turkey and passes through the Caucasus region, the Caspian Sea, Central Asia and Western China. It is the shortest route between western China and Europe. The railway project is one of several railway projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, a global infrastructure project including more than 150 countries and 32 international organizations. In Southeast Asia, China is trying to build the Kunming-Singapore Railway, also known as the Pan-Asia Railway, which would include three routes linking Kunming to Singapore via Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia through connections with previously existing rail lines in those countries. Under the current plan for CKU, China will build the Chinese section of the railway, and Uzbekistan will focus on upgrading its section. A joint venture authorized by the three countries, CKU Railway Co., will help finance and build the Kyrgyz section of the railway. Leaders from China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan praised the project prospects last month. During a Dec. 27 commencement ceremony in the Kyrgyz city of Jalalabad, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his congratulatory letter that the CKU should be made into a "new demonstration project for Belt and Road cooperation" that would "contribute to the economic and social development and the improvement of people's well-being in the region." Kyrgyzstan's president, Sadyr Japarov, who attended the ceremony, described the project as "a strategic bridge" that will "strengthen inter-regional ties" and enhance Central Asia's competitiveness as an international transport and transit hub. In his remarks, read by Deputy Prime Minister for Trade and Investment Jamshid Khodjaev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said CKU would "further expand multifaceted cooperation and strengthen the strategic partnership among our countries." Umarov said Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan could both benefit from the CKU. "Uzbekistan used to rely on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as the middlemen in trade with China but now with the railway, it would be much easier for them to export products to the Chinese market," he told VOA. "Kyrgyzstan could use the project to resolve its domestic connectivity issues and this will lead to growing economic opportunities in the cities that the railway would go through," he added. As for China, Umarov thinks the railway project could allow Beijing to "be more present in Central Asia from the trade and economic perspective, which is part of Beijing's strategy to deepen relations with countries in the region." Some Chinese analysts say CKU could also play a crucial role in connecting Asia and Europe. Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China's state-run tabloid Global Times that CKU "represents a significant opportunity for enhancing cooperation between Asia and Europe, as it will probably offer the shortest route for transporting goods from China to Europe and the Middle East via the China-Europe freight train." In addition to increasing presence in Central Asia, experts say China will try to use CKU to promote and advance the BRI, which has struggled to attract more countries. "The current BRI projects in place are not doing well and some have been facing a lot of delays," said Niva Yau, an expert on China-Central Asia relations at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub. "At such a time, signing on this project helps remind people what the BRI is about," she told VOA by phone, adding that the initiation of CKU also helps maintain China's image as a provider to Central Asia. Despite these benefits, Yau and Umarov both said there are still some problems facing construction of CKU. "They are building a railway across mountains that requires drilling of tunnels and sophisticated technologies that only China has domestically," Yau said. "We're talking about a pathway in Kyrgyzstan, which does not even have [electricity] or waterways or any of those things. Various basic things have not even met the conditions yet," she added. In addition to technical problems, Umarov said the project could make Kyrgyzstan overindebted to China. Kyrgyzstan's debt to China is about one-third of its gross domestic product "and relying more on Chinese investment on this big project will definitely be a big challenge for its economy," he told VOA. Lemon said while China could boost its image in Central Asia through CKU, Russia may feel further excluded from the region once the project is completed. "Central Asia's dependence on Russia as a transit country for trade has been key to its leverage over the region. But in the end, as it is distracted with the war in Ukraine and in desperate need of allies in the region, there isn't much [Russia] can really do about it," he told VOA. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Delegates Trade Barbs over Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Hypersonic-Missile Launch, Military Ambitions Meetings Coverage Security Council 9833rd Meeting (PM) SC/15962 8 January 2025 Many Condemn Violations of Council Resolutions while Pyongyang Says Acquiring New Capabilities Is for Deterrence The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been actively working towards acquiring new military capabilities that undermine the global non-proliferation architecture, a senior United Nations official warned the Security Council today, as its members condemned that country's 6 January launch of a new-type intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. "While stating that the launch had no negative impact on the security of neighboring countries, [Pyongyang] regrettably did not issue airspace or maritime safety notifications," said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. According to the country's official statement, the system can "deal a serious military strike to a rival by effectively breaking any of its dense defensive barriers", he said, adding that hypersonic glide vehicles travel at least five times the speed of sound and make evasive maneuvers, making defence measures against the weapon much more difficult. Pyongyang's current five-year military development plan entering its final year in 2025 has called for the development of tactical nuclear weapons, "super-large" nuclear warheads, various intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile capabilities, military reconnaissance satellites and a nuclear submarine. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's persistent pursuit of its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes continues to undermine [...] global nuclear disarmament," he cautioned, noting that such conduct escalates tensions and contributes to the country's isolation. Underscoring that diplomatic engagement remains "the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula", he welcomed offers to engage in dialogue with that country without preconditions and called on Pyongyang to expedite the return of the UN country team. In the ensuing discussion, many speakers condemned Pyongyang's recent missile test as a clear violation of Council resolutions that exacerbates an already unstable situation. Several including the representatives of Greece and France pointed out that Moscow's veto of the renewal of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 Sanctions Committee has weakened the Council's ability to monitor and address sanctions violations. "We cannot overlook the fact that each missile test violates relevant Security Council resolutions," noted Somalia's representative, while adding that such resolutions must be implemented "in a manner that minimizes unintended consequences". He thus urged an approach that balances "security imperatives with humanitarian considerations". The representative of Pakistan added: "Provocations such as missile tests on the one hand and coercive actions and threats on the other must be ended." Panama's representative, while noting that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula parallels "mistakes of the past", said Pyongyang's recent launch jeopardizes air and maritime transport in the region. Accordingly, he called on the Council to end these "destructive dynamics" and prioritize the well-being of the most vulnerable. The representative of Guyana echoed that, stressing that "divestment of the ballistic-missile programme would free up resources for human development in the country". Sierra Leone's representative called both for increased diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fully comply with the numerous Council resolutions that prohibit its "continuous and increasingly alarming" weapons programmes. Further, he called for concerted, concrete efforts to combat Pyongyang's "proliferation actions, which if not addressed comprehensively might lead to unimaginable consequences of nuclear proportions". Amid its intensified illegal military cooperation with the Russian Federation, the world's most isolated and impoverished regime under stringent Security Council sanctions is increasingly having access to high-end dual-use technology and material, said the speaker for the Republic of Korea. Pointing to "significant losses" suffered by Democratic People's Republic of Korea troops that joined Moscow's illegal war, he stressed that the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains "intrinsically linked" to international peace and security. His counterpart from Denmark also denounced Pyongyang's illegal supply of weapons and ammunition to support Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine. Voicing concern over the deployment of thousands of Democratic People's Republic of Korea troops to fight alongside Russian troops, she emphasized that Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security are "closely linked". "This is not merely a regional issue, but is fundamentally related to global non-proliferation, about which we should all be united," said Japan's delegate, criticizing the Council's failure to show its resolute stance against the repeated provocations by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Warning against the systemic danger of the irresponsible "loosening-up sanctions approach", he stated: "Our silence would only send the wrong message not just to Pyongyang, but to the entire world, including potential proliferators." Also criticizing the international community's inability to unite against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued flouting of the global non-proliferation architecture, the United Kingdom's delegate underscored the need to "remain clear-eyed on the cost of this Council's silence". Slovenia's delegate concurred that the Council's inaction "only fuels further expansion of Democratic People's Republic of Korea's illegal nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programmes". "It is no mystery why the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] feels emboldened," underlined the representative of the United States, stating that the Russian Federation and China have "muzzled" the Council on this issue. Urging Pyongyang to engage in "meaningful dialogue", she also called on all Council members to support a "clear denunciation" of Pyongyang's behaviour and work to prevent the procurement activities and revenue flows supporting its illegal weapons programmes. However, the representative of the Russian Federation emphasizing that relevant Council resolutions stipulate that issues in the Korean Peninsula must be resolved "exclusively through peaceful means" said that Western States' practice of "pumping weapons into the region" and participation in military exercises are "nothing other than systematic violations of international law". Further, he stressed that the Moscow-Pyongyang "strategic partnership" is designed to "become one of the components of a robust security architecture in the region". Along those lines, China's representative urged those present to pay attention to the "legitimate security concerns of all regional countries and push for a balanced, sustainable security architecture". Pointing to the United States' approach of provoking confrontation by increasing its military presence in the region, he stressed that this is "counterproductive to resolving the issue". Urging relevant parties to "draw lessons from history", he called on Washington, D.C., to display flexibility to create conditions for dialogue and political settlement. For his part, the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea stressed that the test-fire of a new-type intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile is part of the plan to develop national defence capabilities to enhance the sustainability of the strategic deterrent, in conformity with the changing security environment of the region. As such, it had no negative impact on the neighbouring countries' security. He further pointed out that despite the civilian death toll in Gaza the United States embellishes Israel's nefarious mass atrocities as "the right to self-defence". Meanwhile, it takes issue with Pyongyang's legitimate exercise of the right to self-defence, he observed, rejecting such "nuclear blackmail". If "physical conflict" is created on the Peninsula due to "the reckless mania kicked up by the United States and the Republic of Korea", the Council should be held accountable for criminalizing the just exercise of his country's sovereign right by applying double standards, he asserted. "The path forward though difficult is clear," said the representative of Algeria, Council President for January, speaking in his national capacity. "It requires the courage to choose dialogue in the face of mounting tensions, patience when progress seems distant and commitment when obstacles appear insurmountable," he stated, adding: "This is the only route to lasting peace." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on DPRK's Ballistic Missile Launch on 06 January 2025 Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs 09 January 2025 MANILA 09 January 2025 -- The Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the continuing ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Such provocative actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region. We renew our call on the DPRK to promptly cease these activities and abide by all international obligations, including relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and to commit to peaceful and constructive dialogue. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Security and Defence Industry Strategy for the Zeitenwende Germany - Federal Ministry of Defence Jan 9, 2025 On 4 December 2024, the Federal Cabinet adopted the National Security and Defence Industry Strategy. The new National Security and Defence Industry Strategy sets the political and strategic framework for the defence industrial requirements related to national and collective defence. It focuses on the Federal Government's new political guidelines for the security and defence industry. The new National Security and Defence Industry Strategy replaces the 2020 Strategy Paper on Strengthening the Security and Defence Industry. It is a response to the new security challenges of the Zeitenwende - in particular to the new threat situation following Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The strategy states that "Germany and Europe face a heightened imperative to assume responsibility for their own security and to work as strong, reliable actors in close cooperation with their international partners." The draft was jointly submitted by Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence, and Dr Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The National Security and Defence Industry Strategy serves as the Federal Government's new guideline for strengthening the security and defence industry. It sends a clear message to the industry and emphasizes its crucial contribution to Germany's defence capability. The National Security and Defence Industry Strategy serves as the Federal Government's new guideline for strengthening the security and defence industry. It sends a clear message to the industry and emphasizes its crucial contribution to Germany's defence capability. "The presence of innovative and efficient defence companies in our country is crucial for Germany's defence capability. This is the only way we can develop state-of-the-art weapon systems and, in particular, produce them in sufficient quantities, also together with our allies. The current threat situation requires us to promote key technologies in Germany. At the same time, we are facilitating European and international cooperation. This will make it easier for us to close NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization capability gaps in the future. With the National Security and Defence Industry Strategy, we are improving the general conditions for companies and opening a new chapter in the relations between government and industry, as required for the Zeitenwende," said Federal Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. Focus on armaments: concrete contents of the strategy Germany depends on an efficient national and European security and defence industry that is effective in all situations. The strategy is therefore centred around a dynamic, scalable and innovative industry that meets the requirements of the Bundeswehr and of the authorities and organisations with security tasks in a rapid and reliable way. With the National Security and Defence Industry Strategy, the Federal Government aims to further expand the robust, effective and future-oriented security and defence industry in Germany and the EUEuropean Union . In this respect, the defence industrial requirements related to national and collective defence are the main priority. The National Security and Defence Industry Strategy provides the necessary framework by: further enhancing and promoting key security and defence industrial technologies placing an even stronger emphasis on European and international cooperation taking measures to protect supply chains putting a stronger focus on the financial conditions for the security and defence industry making it clear, with regard to sustainable financial investments, that a sustainable fund, for instance, can also invest in companies in the security and defence industry identifying inhibiting regulations and initiating adjustments working intensely to further secure the supply of skilled labour The national security and defence industry includes all companies headquartered in Germany that generate a significant portion of their revenue in the security and defence industry and/or provide equipment and services in Germany to support civil security protection or military national and collective defence. They offer systems, products or services, or they are part of the associated value chain as suppliers or producers. The Federal Government regularly engages in dialogue activities with the security and defence industry on specific topics. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Defence is responsible for the strategic industry dialogue and has also been organising the round table for medium-sized companies in the defence industry since 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany rejects Trump's call to raise NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has voiced opposition to US President-elect Donald Trump's call for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to raise defense spending to five percent of Gross domestic product (GDP). Scholz said on Thursday that five percent of GDP is a significant amount of money, emphasizing that they have a very clear decision-making process in NATO, and the alliance members are currently encouraged to allocate two percent of their GDP to defense. He noted that for Europe's largest economy, five percent of GDP would approximate 200 billion euros (about $206 billion) annually, while Germany's federal budget is approximately 490 billion euros. Meeting Trump's demand would require Germany to either save or borrow an additional 150 billion euros each year, Scholz stated. "That's why I believe it's better to focus on the path that NATO has long agreed upon," he added. Incoming US president Donald Trump has urged NATO countries to significantly increase defense spending to five percent of GDPmore than double the current target. However, few in Europe consider this figure feasible and many others oppose this demand. Many European countries are experiencing budget constraints and struggling to meet even the 2-percent target. For example, France is currently grappling with how to continue increasing its defense spending, as the country's budget process is hindered by political uncertainty. In the UK, there is no clear timeline for reaching the target of 2.5 percent defense spending. Also, the Czech government announced this week that it will achieve a defense spending level of 2 percent for the first time ever. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated on Wednesday, "It is realistic to talk about reaching 3 percent in several years." 3266**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swiss national charged with espionage commits suicide in Semnan prison: Judiciary official IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The chief justice of Semnan province in Iran has announced that a Swiss national who had been arrested for espionage committed suicide in Semnan prison. Mohammad Sadeq Akbari said on Thursday that a Swiss national committed suicide in Semnan prison earlier in the day. The Swiss national had been arrested by security agencies for spying, and an investigation into the case was underway, he added. He further said that efforts to revive the prisoner were unsuccessful. The Iranian judicial official noted that all evidence from the place where the prisoner was held has been thoroughly reviewed and it has been determined that the death was a suicide. 3266**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC forces launch final stage of major drill in western Iran Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 2:55 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has launched the final stage of the Payambar-e-A'azam (The Great Prophet) 19 military exercise in western Iran. Rapid response operation scenarios were performed on Thursday, with the swift transfer of troops and equipment to the exercise area. The participating units, equipped with all necessary gear and accompanied by IRGC Ground Force Airborne Division's helicopter air cover, swiftly mobilized and deployed to the exercise area in the shortest possible time. A heliborne and Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE) exercise by the Saberin Special Forces of the IRGC Ground Force was also conducted in the general area of the war game. The forces were deployed to predetermined areas to practice seizing high ground and enemy supply routes to cut off support lines. In another part of the exercise, the IRGC Ground Force Airborne Division's Cobra helicopters practiced destroying predetermined targets. The choppers used 70mm Hydra rockets and 20mm cannons to destroy their designated targets. Addressing the units, the chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Iran's armed forces are more prepared than ever to defend the country's territorial integrity and independence. Major General Hossein Salami said arrogant powers, spearheaded by the United States, its regional allies and the Zionist regime, have brought Muslims nothing other than warmongering, divisions, destruction, and backwardness. "The dream is floating in the minds, thoughts and desires of our enemies. They believe they must burn down the fate, security, and homes of Muslims in order to survive and live in security. In this regard, they do not hesitate to take any action, and even attack nations that have nothing to do with them," he said. Turning to the recent Israeli strikes on Syria, General Salami denounced the attacks on the defenseless Arab nation and the destruction of its factories, industries, infrastructure, and defense facilities. "You have seen with your own eyes that if a nation is left defenseless and not powerful and strong, these criminals of history will not give them a reprieve," he said. The IRGC chief commander stated that there is no logic, justice, or fairness in the ideology of arrogant powers. "If they feel a country is weak, they will attack and destroy it, bury its people under rubble, and show no mercy to its infants." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC Ground Force unveils Rezvan suicide drone with 20 km range Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 9:47 AM Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has unveiled a new type of suicide drone with a range of 20 kilometers as the military unit continues to upgrade its cutting-edge warfare technology. The loitering drone named "Rezvan" was introduced and operationalized on Thursday, the final day of Great Prophet 19 military drills by the IRGC Ground Force in western Iran. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a range of 20 kilometers and a 20-minute flight endurance. The suicide drone is equipped with a camera mounted on the front that sends images after being launched from its cylindrical launcher, allowing the operator to select, lock on and attack a target. Owing to their versatility and rapid deployment, the loitering UAVs provide the IRGC Ground Force's rapid response units with new capabilities to combat terrorist groups, not least in complex mountainous geography. Loitering munitions refers to a group of weapons that, after being launched, are guided towards the target by optical and thermal systems, and detect and destroy the target by crashing into it. The aerial weapons are used in ground combat, especially anti-ambush operations, and due to their small size and man-portability, they have become a suitable weapon for ground forces. The unveiling came amid ongoing military maneuvers in Iran's western and central areas, which have enlisted the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces. The Armed Forces, including the IRGC and the country's Army, have been continuously enhancing their military hardware and combat readiness in line with the directives of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The forces have vowed to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of the threats by the Iranian nation's enemies. 1,000 drones to join Army In a related development on Thursday, the Army announced that it is set to take delivery of 1,000 strategic drones designed and produced by the force and the support of the Defense Ministry. Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari said earlier that the new military equipment joining the Army has capabilities like maneuverability, precision, and smartness, and is network-based, which will be used to counter any type of threat. Praising the Army's use of advanced technology, Heidari said, "Over the years, the Army's Ground Force has proven that it can thrash any enemy in the fastest possible time, and anywhere in the country." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swiss Citizen Dies In Iran After Being Accused Of Spying By RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 09, 2025 A Swiss national who was accused of spying by Tehran was found dead in prison in what officials say was a suicide. The Mizan news website, which is affiliated with Iran's judiciary, said the Swiss citizen had been "arrested by security agencies for espionage and his case was under investigation" when he took his own life at the prison in the eastern city of Semnan on January 9. The Swiss foreign minister confirmed in an e-mail to RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Switzerland had been informed of the situation and is seeking further details. "The FDFA (Swiss Foreign Ministry) confirms the death of a Swiss citizen in Iran. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran is in contact with the local authorities to clarify the circumstances of the death in an Iranian prison," said ministry spokesman Pierre-Alain Eltschinger. "The FDFA is providing consular protection to the relatives. At this stage, the FDFA cannot provide any further information." Mizan quoted Mohammad Sadeq Akbari, the chief justice of Semnan Province, as saying the individual was being held in a cell with another prisoner and took his life when the cellmate was not present. Akbari did not name the Swiss citizen or provide further details, saying an investigation is being conducted and so far "suicide is certain" as the cause of death. No details of the charges against the Swiss citizen were revealed. Several European countries and the United States have characterized the Islamic republic's arrest of Western citizens as "hostage diplomacy," claiming Tehran uses such detentions as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. Three years earlier a Swiss diplomat died under mysterious circumstances. Iranian media said the person died from a fall from a high-rise building just outside of Tehran. Swiss authorities did not identify the victim, nor did they give details on the incident. In December, the Swiss Attorney General's Office said the case of the diplomat's death had been closed and that an investigation had not proven any "criminal interference by a third party." The investigation reportedly was complicated by the absence of organs in the victim after an initial autopsy was performed in Iran. Switzerland has represented the United States diplomatically in Iran since Washington and Tehran cut ties in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/switzerland -confirms-death-of-citizen-held-in-iran- for-allegedly-spying/33270179.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swiss prisoner committed suicide in custody, Iran judiciary says By VOA News January 09, 2025 Iran's judiciary said Thursday a Swiss citizen being held in the country's Semnan prison has committed suicide. On the Iran judiciary's Mizon Online news website, Semnan Province Chief Justice Mohammad Sadeq Akbari is quoted as saying the Swiss citizen had been arrested for espionage and was being held in a suite with another prisoner. According to Akbari, the Swiss prisoner asked his cellmate to get him some food from the prison buffet and killed himself while he was alone. Akbari is quoted as saying, "Prison officials immediately took action to save this person, but efforts to save him were unsuccessful." The chief justice added, "All evidence and documents from the place where this person is being held have been reviewed, and according to the documents, it is clear that he committed suicide." There was no additional information provided regarding the identity of the prisoner or the manner of death. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are known for arresting dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have criticized Iran for using such arrests to extract diplomatic concessions, a claim Tehran denies. Reuters news agency reports Switzerland plays an important intermediary role between Washington and Tehran as it represents U.S. interests in Iran and shares messages between the two countries. Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar junta bombs Rohingya Muslim village killing 41, rescuers say The military has responded to an insurgent offer of talks with even more airstrikes, residents say. By RFA Burmese 2025.01.09 -- The Myanmar air force has bombed a fishing village in Rakhine state killing 41 civilians and wounding 52, most of them Rohingya Muslims, residents involved in rescue work said on Thursday, in an attack insurgents condemned as a war crime. Military planes bombed Kyauk Ni Maw village on the coast in Ramree township on Wednesday afternoon sparking huge fires that destroyed about 600 homes, residents said, sending clouds of black smoke up over the sea. The area is under the control of anti-junta Arakan Army, or AA, insurgents but a spokesman said no fighting was going on there at the time of the air raid. "The targeting of innocent people where there is no fighting is a very despicable and cowardly act ... as well as a blatant war crime," AA spokesman Khaing Thu Kha told Radio Free Asia. Hla Thein, the junta's spokesman for Rakhine state, told RFA he was not aware of the incident. Posters in pro-military social media news channels said Kyauk Ni Maw was a transport hub for the AA. A resident helping survivors said medics were trying to give emergency treatment to the wounded amid fears that the air force could return at any time and let loose bombs and missiles. "People are going to help them out and more are coming," said the resident, who declined to be identified for safety reasons. "We've been treating the injured since last night but we don't dare to keep too many patients in the hospital for fear of another airstrike." The AA has made unprecedented gains against the military since late last year and now controls about 80% of Myanmar's westernmost state. On Dec. 29, the AA captured the town of Gwa from the military, a major step toward its goal of taking the whole of Rakhine state, and then said it was ready for talks with the junta, which seized power in a February 2021 coup d'etat. But the junta has responded with deadly airstrikes, residents say. The military denies targeting civilians but human rights investigators and security analysts say Myanmar's army has a long reputation of indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas as a way to undermine popular support for the various rebel forces fighting its rule. "The military is showing its fangs with its planes, that people can be killed at any time, at will," aid worker Wai Hin Aung told RFA. The bombing of Kyauk Ni Maw is the latest bloody attack on members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority. About 740,000 Rohingya fled from Rakhine state to neighboring Bangladesh following a bloody crackdown by the military against members of the largely stateless community in August 2017. Over the past year, Rohingya have suffered violence at the hands of both sides in the Rakhine state's war, U.N. rights investigators have said. The AA took a hard line with the Rohingya after the junta launched a campaign to recruit, at times forcibly, Rohingya men into militias to fight the insurgents. On Aug. 5, scores of Rohingya trying to flee from the town of Maungdaw to Bangladesh, across a border river, were killed by drones and artillery fire that survivors and rights groups said was unleashed by the AA. The AA denied responsibility. Edited by RFA Staff. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Militants kidnap 16 government employees in northwest Pakistan By Ayaz Gul January 09, 2025 Police and security officials in northwestern Pakistan said Thursday that militants have abducted at least 16 government workers and set unclear demands for their release. The group of civilian hostages are employees of a mining project related to the state-run Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in the militancy-hit Lakki Marwat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The men were commuting to work on a minibus when they were ambushed and taken hostage at gunpoint, area police officer Mohammad Ijaz said. The kidnappers then set the vehicle on fire before fleeing with the captives. The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, reportedly took responsibility for the kidnapping and released a video featuring the kidnapped workers. Some of the hostages were seen urging authorities to ensure their safe release by complying with the militant demands but did not elaborate further. VOA could not independently verify the militant claims or the authenticity of the video. Police reported hours later that an ongoing search operation freed eight of the hostages and efforts were underway to secure the release of the rest. The operation left three of the freed men injured, with one of them in "critical condition," said police officials, without sharing further details. Officials say the PAEC is tasked with promoting and conducting research on the peaceful applications of atomic energy in agriculture, medicine, industry, and development projects related to nuclear power stations and electric power generation. Several districts, including Lakki Marwat in the Pakistani province bordering Afghanistan, routinely experience TTP attacks targeting security forces and government officials. Thursday's kidnapping came a day after heavily armed separatist militants in Pakistan's sparsely populated southwestern Balochistan province briefly seized a government office, robbed a bank, and vandalized a police station in a remote district. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, claimed responsibility for staging the attack that officials said did not cause casualties. The natural resources-rich, largest Pakistani province has experienced a spike in BLA-led insurgent attacks in recent months. The insurgents claim to be fighting for the independence of Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan. Islamabad claims that TTP and Baloch insurgents operate from safe havens in Afghanistan, and their attacks have intensified since the Islamist Taliban took power in the neighboring country in 2021. However, the de facto authorities in Kabul deny the existence of foreign militant groups within their borders, asserting that they do not allow anyone to threaten neighboring countries from Afghan soil. The TTP is designated as a global terrorist organization by the United Nations. Recent U.N. security assessments have described the TTP as the "largest terrorist" group in Afghanistan, with up to 6,000 fighters. Some information in this report was provided by the Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China greatly concerned about Syrian army granting senior military ranks to foreign terrorist fighters, including head of ETIM Global Times By Global Times Published: Jan 09, 2025 08:21 AM China is greatly concerned about the reports that said the Syrian army has recently granted senior military ranks to a number of foreign terrorist fighters, including the head of a Council-listed terrorist organization, the Turkistan Islamic Party, also known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council Briefing on Syria on Wednesday, while calling on Syria to fulfill its counter-terrorism obligations and to prevent any terrorist forces from using the Syrian territory to threaten the security of other countries. Fu said the situation in Syria is at a critical stage with daunting challenges. The international community should strengthen solidarity and coordinate its actions to support and help Syria achieve stability and development, according to a statement published on the website of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN. No matter how the domestic situation in Syria develops, the bottom line of zero tolerance for terrorism cannot be changed. The Council recently issued a press statement on Syria, making it clear that states should combat all terrorist organizations listed by the Council and deny safe haven for terrorists, said Fu. The opposition forces that overthrew Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria are a mix of extremist groups and terrorist organizations, Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday. This has largely raised concerns from the outside regarding a significant issue, as the opposition is primarily composed of two major factions, Liu noted, adding that the future political transition process in Syria, particularly the struggle between extremist factions and secular groups, is likely to influence the country's political arrangements, Liu said. Amid Syria's political transformation, there is a certain degree of power vacuum in the domestic political landscape. The ongoing turmoil in Syria, combined with the regional instability caused by the spillover effects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, could provide a breeding ground for the proliferation of extremism and terrorism, said Liu. China's position on counter-terrorism has always been consistent: it firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and calls for all nations to reject double standards in their counter-terrorism actions, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Thursday. The Syrian interim government should uphold its responsibility to the nation's future and its people, firmly taking a stand against terrorism to ensure that Syria does not become a haven for extremist organizations and terrorist activities, which aligns with the fundamental interests of its people, Sun said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNSC holds meeting to assess situation in Syria IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 9, 2025 New York, IRNA -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen has said that there were still signs of instability in areas under the control of armed opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir a-Sham (HTS) in Syria, warning that Daesh remains a major concern as its activities continue and may seek to take advantage of insecurity in the Arab country. Pedersen made the remarks while briefing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened on Wednesday local time to discuss the situation in the Middle East, especially Syria. While there are many areas where law and order appear to be good, we have seen numerous reports of violent incidents - in the coastal region and Homs and Hama in particular - including reports of degrading treatment, abuse or extrajudicial killings by officials of the former government, the UN envoy told the Council, adding that "there are very real threats to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria". While calling for dialogue among all parties and factions in Syria, Pedersen expressed concerned over the continued Israeli military presence and activity, including beyond the de-escalation zone in violation of the 1974 agreement and said: "Attacks on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must cease". The UN Special Envoy suggested approaches to bring calm to Syria that according to him is possible with a credible, inclusive and transparent and non-sectarian transitional government, a new constitution drafted through a credible and inclusive process as well as free and fair elections, inclusive of all Syrians, in line with international standards. OCHA: 15m Syrians in need of humanitarian support The meeting was also briefed by Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The humanitarian crisis in Syria remains significant, OCHA official said, adding that nearly 15 million people are in need of humanitarian support, health services, already weakened by years of conflict in the country. He highlighted water and electricity problems as well as acute food insecurity facing nearly 13 million people, saying the shortages are being exacerbated by lack of fuel and cash. "While many of those displaced in November and December have returned to their homes, as harsh winter conditions set in in many parts of the country, more than 620,000 people remain displaced," Fletcher said, adding that Israeli attacks in the south have forced civilians, including children, the wounded and residents, to evacuate parts of Quneitra governorate. Wednesday's meeting was addressed by several members of the 15-member council as well as permanent representatives of some regional countries, including Iran and Egypt. Iran: Syrians should decide their own future without external interference Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani echoed Pederson's call for an all-inclusive government in Syria but said any decision on the Arab country's future should be made by its own people without external interference. "The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its steadfast commitment to Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity," Iravani said at the UNSC meeting. "Decisions about Syria's future must be made exclusively by the Syrian people, free from any external interference or imposition," he added. Syria: We seek friendly relations with all Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations said that his country wants friendly relations with all UN member states, away from political fronts. While calling for the complete lifting of sanctions on Syria, Qusai Al-Dahhak said: "Now is the time for the Syrian people to live in security and comfort and create a better future." He continued by saying that the Israeli regime is exploiting the current situation to "institutionalize a new reality in Syria," reference to seizure of more Syrian land by the Zionist regime following the fall of the Assad government. The Syrian representative also called for an end to seditious statements and actions against the war-weary Arab country. Algeria warns against dividing or annexing parts of Syria Algeria's permanent representative to the United Nations expressed his opposition to any attempt to divide Syria or annex parts of its territory, a reference to the recent Zionist incursions into Syrian territories. According to IRNA on Thursday morning, Ammar bin Jame, whose country hold the current rotating presidency of the UNSC, stressed the need to maintain Syria's integrity and called for adherence to the 1974 agreement and halting the advance of Israeli troops on the Arab country's territory. He also called for need to provide suitable conditions for the return of Syrian refugees, including improving the security situation and providing basic services there. Egypt calls for end to Israeli aggression against Syria Egypt's permanent representative to the United Nations also slammed any aggression against Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "We call on the Security Council to take action to stop the Israeli aggression against Syria and end the presence of foreign forces on the country's territory," Osama Abdel Khaliq said in his address to the meeting on Syria. The Egyptian envoy stressed the need to help the Syrian people and rebuild the country in order to begin the voluntary return of refugees. Russia expresses readiness to help Syrians Vasily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a Security Council meeting that Moscow is ready to actively participate in efforts to support Syria and its neighbors. The senior Russian diplomat at the UN stressed: In particular, Russia intends to continue providing multilateral assistance to the Syrian people, including through relevant international agencies, providing humanitarian aid, rebuilding social infrastructure, facilities destroyed during the conflict, and paving the way for the return of Syrian refugees. He also pointed out the importance of international coordination on issues related to relief and reconstruction in Syria and stressed the need for the UN to play a role in resolving Syrian issues. US calls for Syria free of terrorism, fails to talk abut Israeli incursions The US Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN expressed her country's support for any Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process which is based on UNSC Resolution 2254. This process must lead to an inclusive and representative government that fully respects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Syrians, including women and different communities in Syria, Dorothy Shea said on Wednesday local time at the Security Council meeting. The American diplomat emphasized that it is also vital for actors in Syria to allow UN agencies, other international organizations, and civil society access documents and work freely in the country to help people. Syria must not be used as a platform to advance the interests of other countries at the expense of its people, he warned but said that the Syrian interim institutions must also ensure that the country does not pose a threat to its neighbors, does not serve as a base for terrorism, or does not harbor groups such as Daesh. Shea, however, failed to talk about her country's illegal presence in the Arab country or the ongoing Israeli incursion into the Syrian territory in violation of the UN charter and international law. UK says Syrians should focus on establishing democratic gov't British Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations said at a Security Council meeting on the new Syrian authorities to focus on building a democratic state that represents the rich diversity of the Arab country. Barbara Woodward added: Much needs to be done in the short term to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches 17 million people in need. The British ambassador also called on all parties and factions to cease activities that could lead to an escalation of tensions or further suffering for the civilian population, and to protect vulnerable displaced populations. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Scores killed as US, Turkish proxies clash in northern Syria Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 7:14 PM About 40 militants have been killed during the most recent fierce fighting between Turkish-backed groups and US-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria , a London-based war monitor says. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "fierce battles in the Manbij countryside... in the past hours between the (Kurdish) Syrian Democratic Forces and the (Turkish-backed) National Army factions... with Turkish air cover." "The attacks killed 37 people in a preliminary toll," mostly Turkish-backed combatants, but also six SDF militants and five civilians, said the British-based Observatory. At least 322 people have been killed in fighting in the troubled region since armed militants, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of Damascus following the President Assad's rule on December 8. The pro-Ankara groups succeeded in capturing Kurdish-held Manbij and Tal Rifaat in northern Aleppo province in recent weeks. The latest reported fighting comes despite the United States assuring that it was working to address Turkey's concerns in Syria to dissuade the NATO ally from escalating an offensive against Kurdish fighters. Washington's Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Turkey had "legitimate concerns" about Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants inside Syria and called for a resolution in the country that includes the departure of "foreign terrorist fighters." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in a recent interview threatened to launch an offensive against the the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, which it accuses of being aligned with the PKK. Top Turkish diplomat stressed that the ruling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration in Syria must address the issue of the YPG's presence. Fidan further noted that the United States supported the YPG for various reasons when it was present in Syria. However, he said, many of these reasons no longer exist, adding, "The ultimatum we gave them (the YPG) through the Americans is obvious." Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. Syria's Kurds control much of the oil-rich northeast of the country, where they enjoyed de facto autonomy. For years, the US policy has relied on collaborating with Kurdish militants in northern Syria with a goal of maintaining some leverage over the future of the conflict. US president-elect Donald Trump earlier admitted on more than one occasion that American forces were in the Arab country for its oil Turkey, which shares a 911-kilometer- (566-mile-) long frontier with Syria, has been a main backer of opposition groups aiming to topple Assad since 2011. Turkey has mounted multiple operations against the SDF since 2016. While Turkish officials have strongly rejected claims of any involvement in the anti-government campaign that led to Assad's fall, observers believe that the offensive, which appears to be aligned with Turkey's long-time goals, could not have gone ahead without Ankara's consent. Israeli arrests lawyer, journalists in southern Syria In southwestern Syria, Israeli forces detained a Syrian lawyer and a French journalist in Quneitra province, as well as a team of journalists, confiscating cameras and other equipment. The lawyer was identified as Mohammed Fayyad, a local resident, while the French journalist was named Sylvain Mercadier. Mercadier had recently written an article about Israeli attacks in Quneitra and its attacks on the local population. The journalists were detained by Israel despite clearly wearing vests indicating their status as members of the press. Following the fall of President Assad's government last month, Israel which has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967 invaded a UN-patrolled buffer zone in southwestern Syria, taking over the Syrian side of Mount Hermon as well as a number of Syrian towns and villages. Israel claims destroying Syrian army weapons in Golan Heights In another development, the Israeli army claimed on Thursday to have destroyed Syrian army weapons found in the demilitarized zone in the occupied Golan Heights. A military statement said Syrian weapons and military infrastructure were seized and destroyed in the demilitarized zone it seized last month. The army claimed that it found an armored personnel carrier (APC) containing numerous weapons, anti-tank missiles and explosive devices. The Israeli army launched massive airstrikes against Syrian military installations in recent weeks, drawing widespread condemnation for violating Syria's sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden to defer decision on keeping Syria's HTS on terrorism list to Trump: Officials Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 9:17 AM Outgoing American President Joe Biden will defer to incoming Donald Trump the decision on whether to continue keeping the leader of Syria's ruling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group on the list of foreign terrorist organizations, a report says. Foreign-backed militants, led by HTS, took control of Damascus on December 8 and declared an end to Bashar al-Assad's rule in a surprise offensive that was launched from their stronghold in northwestern Syria, reaching the capital in less than two weeks. Although the United States has already removed the long-standing $10 million bounty on the HTS leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, following a high-level US delegation meeting with him, his group is still on the US's list of foreign terrorist organizations. Citing three unnamed US officials familiar with the matter, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration would keep HTS rulers, including al-Julani, on the terror list, until the end of his tenure, leaving the final decision to the incoming Trump administration. Sources also emphasized that the HTS militant group must fully sever ties with terrorist organizations, particularly al-Qaeda to have its terrorist designation lifteda label that significantly impedes Syria's economic recovery. This is while the US Treasury, earlier this week, issued a sanction exemption for transactions with the ruling HTS administration in the Arab country for six months, as part of efforts purportedly seeking to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance following the downfall of Assad's government. The exemption, known as a general license, also allows some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7. The action, however, did not lift any sanctions against the Arab nation, whose situation remains very fluid and fragile, amid the ongoing political instability. The US, Britain, the European Union and other Western governments imposed tough sanctions on Syria at the height of the foreign-sponsored militancy against the country in 2011. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's UN envoy urges respect for Syria's sovereignty, formation of inclusive govt. through fair elections Iran Press TV Thursday, 09 January 2025 8:15 AM A senior Iranian diplomat urges respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the formation of an inclusive government through free and fair elections. Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani was speaking before the United Nations Security Council session on the situation in Syria in New York on Wednesday. Iravani reaffirmed Iran's unwavering commitment to Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, saying it is the Syrian people who must exclusively make decisions about the war-ravaged country's future without any external interference or imposition. "Iran advocates for the formation of an inclusive government through free and fair elections and a comprehensive national dialogue that ensures representation for all ethnic, political, and religious groups," the ambassador added. He stressed the importance of drafting a new constitution as a "key priority" in Syria, which will serve as the foundation for the country's future governance. Pointing to Iran's "legal" presence in Syria, which had been at the request of the former Syrian government, Iravani said, "Iran participated in an advisory capacity to combat terrorism, aiming to prevent insecurity from spreading throughout the region." He also defended Iran's withdrawal from Syria, saying it was conducted in a "responsible manner, with careful consideration of potential impacts on the Syrian people." "Nevertheless, achieving peace, stability, and security in Syria, ending foreign occupation, and ensuring a Syria free of terrorism remain the cornerstones of Iran's foreign policy toward the country," the senior Iranian diplomat emphasized. He warned about the severe economic and humanitarian challenges that the Syrian people are facing and said nearly 1.1 million people -- mostly women and children - have been displaced since November 27, 2024. Iravani commended the tireless efforts of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and humanitarian partners in alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people. "Rebuilding critical infrastructure, restoring essential services, and facilitating the safe return of refugees and displaced persons are essential steps toward recovery," he said. He highlighted the significance of swift removal of "extraterritorial, unilateral, unjust and illegal" sanctions imposed by Western countries on Syria, saying, "Exploiting the situation in Syria to impose political conditions and undermine Syria's sovereignty in exchange for sanctions relief severely harms the most vulnerable populations and violates the fundamental rights of the Syrian people." It is imperative to respect the rights of all minorities in Syria, including Alawites, Shias, and Christians, and to ensure the protection of diplomatic personnel and premises in accordance with international law, he further said. Iravani expressed serious concern over the resurgence of terrorism in Syria, particularly the covert operations of sleeper cells linked to al-Qaeda and Daesh, explaining that such terrorist groups have the potential to reconnect and reignite terrorism across the region. "Compounding the crisis is the presence of over 60 armed groups, including foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) with divergent and often conflicting agendas, which has deepened instability and poses a severe threat to both regional and global security," he said. He warned against the pressing challenge of the fate of thousands of Daesh-affiliated militants held in camps and prisons in northeastern Syria, demanding urgent action in this regard. "These individuals must be swiftly repatriated to their countries of origin based on their nationality and subjected to legal proceedings to ensure accountability." The Iranian ambassador reaffirmed the country's commitment to combating international terrorism and collaborating with legitimate international partners to address this critical challenge. Iravani described Israel as "the most significant threat" to Syria's present and future, saying the occupying regime continues violations of the Arab country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, by various means, including military aggression and ongoing occupation of Syrian territories. Pointing to Israel's refusal to withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights in defiance of Security Council Resolution 497 (1981), he said, "With US support and exploiting Syria's situation, Israel has expanded its occupation by occupying over 500 additional square kilometers of Syrian territory and systematically destroying nearly all of Syria's military and research infrastructure." Israel is flagrantly violating international law, the UN Charter, and relevant Security Council resolutions, he added, urging the world body to "take decisive action to halt these violations and hold Israel accountable for its destabilizing actions." The Israeli regime has occupied some 600 kilometers of Syrian territory since the government of former president Bashar al-Assad was toppled last month by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants. The militants took control of Damascus on December 8 and declared an end to Assad's rule in a surprise offensive that was launched from their stronghold in northwestern Syria, reaching the capital in less than two weeks. Iravani said Iran was willing to play a constructive role in Syria and work with the United Nations, regional partners, and a Syrian government representing the will of the country's people to achieve lasting peace and stability in Syria and the broader region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkiye Pushes for Urgent Regional Talks on Syria - Reports Sputnik News 20250109 ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkiye has called on Syria's neighbor countries to meet "without significant delay" to discuss the war-torn country's future, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is working with his Iraqi, Lebanese and Jordanian counterparts to prepare the meeting as part of a region-led effort to solve regional issues. The date and the host country have not been determined. Turkiye, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan will discuss regional solutions to Syria's economic, humanitarian and terrorism, the paper said. Israel will not be invited. Syria's armed opposition captured Damascus on December 8. Syrian President Bashar Assad stepped down after negotiations with participants in the Syrian conflict and left Syria for Russia, where he was granted asylum. Mohammed al-Bashir, who ran an Idlib-based administration formed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other opposition groups, was named interim prime minister on December 10. He announced that an interim government had been formed and would remain in place until March 2025. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 125,000 refugees return to Syria in desperate conditions 9 January 2025 - A month since the fall of the Assad regime, more than 125,000 refugees have returned to Syria "full of hope after years of exile", only to find themselves confronted by desperate conditions, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday. Leading calls for the international community to "move from words to action" to help the country's most vulnerable returnees urgently, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that many families have little shelter and few economic prospects. "In recent weeks, there has been talk in high-level international circles of the need for 'early recovery' and 'rebuilding,'" said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR Representative in Syria, a day after a Security Council meeting charting the way ahead for a peaceful future for all Syrians. "But until we move from words to action, for many returnees...their new life in Syria will unfortunately mean sleeping surrounded by plastic sheeting." After 14 years of war - that ended on 8 December after a lightning military takeover in Damascus by forces including Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) - and as international aid teams return to the country, the sheer scale of the destruction across Syria's towns and cities has become increasingly clear. In addition to the refugee returnees, nearly 500,000 internally displaced people uprooted by the war made their way back to northwest Syria by the end of last year, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. Before the fall of the Assad regime, it estimated that 7.4 million people had been internally displaced inside Syria, with 2.3 million residing in camps and a total of 16.7 million people relying on humanitarian assistance. Following the Security Council discussions, the foreign ministers of Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, in addition to the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, prepared to meet in Rome on Thursday to discuss the situation in Syria. Winter shelter priority Echoing the UNHCR alert, the UN migration agency, IOM, pointed to massive winterization needs across Syria for people uprooted or returning to the country, in a call for $73.2 million to assist more than 1.1 million people over the next six months. This represents a substantial increase from the previous $30 million appeal issued in December 2024. "This effort aims to provide immediate assistance to the most at-risk and vulnerable communities, including displaced and returning groups, across Syria," IOM said in a statement. "The funds will be used to provide essential relief items and cash, shelter and protection assistance, water, sanitation, hygiene, and health services, as well as early recovery support to people on the move." Since December 2024, IOM's operations inside Syria have reached more than 80,000 people with winter relief items, 170,000 with emergency water and sanitation (WASH) services, and 15,000 with multipurpose cash assistance. Challenge to restore basic services In an update later on Thursday, OCHA noted that restoring water and electricity supply, among other basic services, remains challenging across Syria due to insecurity and infrastructure damage. The agency said the Tishreen Dam in Aleppo is still non-operational since it was damaged in conflict a month ago, and clashes continue in the area, cutting off regular water and electricity access for more than 410,000 people in the cities of Menbij and Kobani. Ongoing hostilities in parts of Aleppo governorate are reportedly causing civilian casualties, as well as damage to infrastructure and disruptions to aid operations. The UN and partners continue to support the health response in Syria - including the delivery of medicine, trauma kits and vaccines - but needs remain immense. Humanitarians report that cases of influenza-like illness are on the rise throughout the country. They also warn that recently released detainees are facing heightened risks of pneumonia, tuberculosis and malnutrition due to pre-existing poor health conditions. OCHA said many health and nutrition facilities in northwest Syria remain closed, with many having been severely damaged due to shelling in recent months, while others have run out of funding. Meanwhile, medical mobile units in the northeast are facing staffing shortages due to the lack of health workers, and pharmaceuticals and medical supplies are urgently needed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ministry of National Defense Press Release on "Chinese Communist Party Launching Carrier Rocket" ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/01/07 Ministry of National Defense Press Release Release Time: 07:00, January 7, 2025 The Ministry of National Defense stated that on the 7th at 04:00 a.m., the Chinese Communist Party conducted a carrier rocket launch carrying a satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan. The rocket's flight path crossed over central Taiwan, heading towards the western Pacific and its trajectory was above Earth's atmosphere. This posed no threat to Taiwan. The ROC Armed Forces are closely monitoring the situation using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, maintaining appropriate alert levels and responding accordingly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ministry of National Defense Press Release on "Chinese Communist Party Conducting Joint Combat Readiness Patrols" ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/01/07 Ministry of National Defense Press Release Time: 17:20, January 7, 2025 On the 7th, the Ministry of National Defense stated that starting from 12:55, a total of 24 aircraft, including Chinese J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, various other types of fighter aircraft, aircraft with auxiliary power units, and drones were detected conducting activities over the sea. Among these, 18 aircraft crossed the median line and its extension, entering Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and eastern airspace. These activities were coordinated with Chinese naval vessels as part of a "Joint Combat Readiness Patrol." The ROC Armed Forces are closely monitoring the situation using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (IRS) system. Mission aircraft, ships, and coastal defense systems have been appropriately deployed to respond to the situation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan stages military drill in waters off Kaohsiung naval base ROC Central News Agency 01/09/2025 07:17 PM Kaohsiung, Jan. 9 (CNA) Taiwan's military on Thursday offered the public a glimpse into its routine naval patrols with a drill simulating an emergency response to approaching Chinese vessels. The drill off Kaohsiung's Tsoying Harbor was part of the Ministry of National Defense's customary exercises before the Lunar New Year to reassure the public of its capability to defend the country during the holiday. The Navy dispatched two Tuo Chiang-class corvettes, the Wan Chiang and the Hsu Chiang, as well as four Kuang Hua VI-class missile boats in a simulated response to Chinese warships approaching waters off Taiwan's southwestern shores. Meanwhile, missile vehicles from the Navy's Hai Feng Group rolled into formation, standing by on a shore to provide the naval ships with backup. The ships, traveling at a speed of over 20 knots, simulated firing missiles at enemy ships before returning to the Tsoying Harbor for replenishment. Commander of the 192nd Flotilla Major General Chen Ming-feng () said Thursday's drill was close to the Navy's routine patrols countering almost daily "gray zone" activities by People's Liberation Army ships around Taiwan. The Navy will continue refining its drills so they more closely approximate wartime scenarios, Chen said. The Navy also demonstrated the maneuverability of the first of its Da Wu-class rescue and salvage ship by rotating the ship, shooting its water cannons, and releasing a diving bell in the harbor. The ship, delivered to the Navy by contractor CSBC Corp in Oct. 2024, is set to be officially commissioned this year, Chen said. (By Wu Su-wei and Sean Lin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Locarno Speech by the Foreign Secretary: 9 January 2025 Foreign Secretary David Lammy delivered a speech on the future of the UK's foreign policy. 9 January 2025 Well can I just begin by thanking Philip Barton for all the work he's done, 30 years of public service. He is the personification of public service on behalf of our country for which we are incredibly grateful. And I am particularly grateful for the way you have led the transition for this new government over the last 6 months, and I think we all wish you a very, very happy retirement. So 6 months after becoming Foreign Secretary, I've gathered you here, in the Foreign Office, to talk about the future. But I want to begin by looking back. Because it was here that Ernest Bevin developed a plan that has kept us safe for almost eighty years. Six months after Attlee's great government began. In January 1946, Bevin stared into geopolitical fog at that time. The Second World War had only just ended. It was hard to see 6 months, let alone 6 years ahead. But Bevin did not sit waiting for the fog to clear. He was a minister of action, who saw that what matters is not just what Britain say but what it does. What matters is not just what Britain wants but what it builds. And what matters, what makes us matter, is having a strategy. Which is why Attlee's manifesto was called 'Let Us Face The Future'. In foreign affairs, this meant pooling defences in a new transatlantic alliance. Acquiring a nuclear deterrent - which still protects the UK and NATO. And a robust commitment to international law and new institutions like the United Nations. A strategy that was both progressive and realist. That took the world as it is. Whilst working for the world that we want to see. Today, we must face the future once again with our Plan for Change. Fixing the foundations at home of economic stability, secure borders and national security. So that we can deliver the priorities of hard-working people and a decade of national renewal. But to succeed in that task, we must navigate an increasingly volatile world. To deliver at home, and this department must deliver our international strategy abroad. Such a strategy is not about crystal gazing on what might happen next week in X or Y or in the Middle East. That's not what I am focused on today. Rather I want us to be looking at how we can get to a more progressive 2035. And that means confronting some hard truths, about the state of the country, about the state of the world, and the need for reform. First, we must recognise that foreign policy begins at home. [Political content redacted] Second, we have to accept that there is no going back. We must stop the 1990s clouding our vision. The post-Cold War peace is well and truly over. This is a changed strategic environment. The number of conflicts higher than at any time since 1945. The spectre of famine from Gaza to Sudan. And the most refugees and displaced people on record. I am occasionally asked on my travels, here and of course on the doorstep around the country, when will the Kremlin threat, this upheaval that we're experiencing, end? When will things get back to normal? My answer is that they will not. Europe's future security is on a knife-edge. Bevin warned in 1948 that we would only preserve peace by mobilising such force and I quote, "As will create confidence and energy on the one side and inspire respect and caution on the other." And this is exactly what we need now. That's why our foreign policy has had to change. Inspired by Bevin, I call our new approach Progressive Realism. Taking the world as it is not as we wish it to be. Advancing progressive ends by realist means. Through a storm of crises we have been putting this into practice. In Europe, progressive realism means working with our European neighbours rather than bickering and isolating ourselves from them. New defence and migration agreements with Germany, an ambitious UK-France Summit in the works, a new era in relations with Ireland, a new foreign policy dialogue with the European Union, the first step towards a UK-EU Security Pact. With the United States, our closest ally, progressive realism means strengthening our friendship with both sides of the aisle. Joining them to defend Israel from Iranian attacks, together with Australia, further progressing the AUKUS partnership and making a breakthrough for UK defence companies thanks to the ITAR changes. Against Russia, progressive realism means not allowing Putin's mafia state to act with impunity. And showing the world our resolve to stand by Kyiv until they prevail, guaranteeing 3 billion a year in military aid for as long as it takes and unlocking new funding backed by frozen Russian assets. As well as stepping up action with allies on Kremlin disinformation and making it my personal mission to choke off Russian revenues through our sanctions, imposing the most of any country against Russia's Shadow Fleet and driving forward our campaign against kleptocracy. In the face of conflicts in the Middle East and beyond, progressive realism means standing firm against terrorism and behind international law. Doubling our aid for Sudan, helping hundreds of Brits leave Lebanon, restoring funding for UNRWA, standing up for international courts, taking tough decisions on export licences. But not flinching from defending Israel against an Iranian regime that wants to destroy it, while at the same time working for that ceasefire in Gaza so we can surge in the aid and bring all the hostages home and advance a two-state solution. And when it comes to China, progressive realism means consistency, not oscillation. As I set out when I was visiting Beijing and Rachel Reeves is continuing this week. Pragmatic engagement to cooperate with China where we can, such as on trade, climate, global health, AI regulation. But also a very robust dialogue and challenge where there are clear threats. Sanctioning Chinese firms who supply technologies to support Putin's war, working for the release of Jimmy Lai, calling for an end to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, an end to cyber-attacks on the UK, and an end to sanctions on our parliamentarians. And on the climate and nature crisis, progressive realism sees global action as fundamental to our energy independence and national security. We have launched the Global Clean Power Alliance bringing twelve countries on board in its first mission to turbocharge the rollout of clean energy and drive green jobs and investment at home. And with the Global South, progressive realism means working together - no more lectures. Showing respect. Renewing partnerships, and new agreements, like those that I've launched with India, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria. That's all just in the last 6 months. This is just the beginning. And I am determined for my tenure to be more than day-to-day crisis management kind of Foreign Secretary. That's why I want to lay out 3 realist principles that will guide our foreign policy to get us to a more progressive 2035. First, we and our allies must relearn the Cold War manual. Long-term thinking, not short-termism. Consistent deterrence, not constant distraction. Adapting as emerging technology reshapes the strategic environment. Securing strategic stability in an unstable world. Our opponents are coordinating ever more closely. With Iranian drones fired on Ukrainian cities and North Korean troops now fighting against Ukraine. We too need a whole new level of global engagement with our closest allies in the United States, Europe and the Five Eyes our strategic partners in Japan and South Korea and with all those committed to the principles of the UN Charter. That's why we will engage with China. We have to challenge them not to throw their lot in with Putin. And second, to be taken seriously by opponents and allies alike we must put our money where our mouth is. That starts by facing the facts. Donald Trump and JD Vance are simply right when they say that Europe needs to do more to defend its own continent. It is myopia to pretend otherwise, with Russia on the march. So this government will lay out a clear pathway to reaching 2.5% of our GDP on defence. [Political content redacted] And with John Healey, we will lead and we will change to convince all of our NATO allies that rising defence spending is a strategic necessity. And third, we must forge closer partnerships with the Global South. Because the world is larger than the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. We cannot divorce the Euro-Atlantic from the Indo-Pacific, and the Kremlin has spread its tentacles across the world spewing out disinformation on every continent, dispatching mercenaries to Africa and seeking closer relations within the BRICs formation. A grim vision of unending competition is not compelling to the vast majority of states. We must avoid repeating the mistake of the early Cold War where the West lost ground to the so-called Third World. From Jakarta to Kampala, the Non-Aligned Movement was the result. And today many of those same states are structuring their foreign policy to avoid harm from US-China competition. To shape 2035, we must offer a new vision of partnership, which approaches those countries as equals. Working with pioneers like Mia Mottley to reform the global financial system. More climate finance, delivered faster and with greater impact is not a luxury but a geopolitical necessity. Failing to deliver means failing the Global South. And that only advantages Vladimir Putin. When the world changes, you need to see it as it really is and the same goes for your institutions. Again and again, realism has meant progressive reform. The Hardinge-Crowe reforms of 1905, created a modern policy bureaucracy, which helped Britain keep pace with its rivals in the years preceding the First World War. The Eden reform of 1943, creating a modern diplomatic service during a World War, made it open to women for the first time, paid for the first time, and fit to keep the peace. And Robin Cook's foresight in 2000. First putting climate on the Foreign Office agenda. Over the last 6 months I have seen in the FCDO the most dedicated public servants I have ever met in my life working all over the world to avert disasters and bring countries closer together. But we must do more to harness the strengths of the Foreign Office and deliver the government's Plan for Change. That's why I set in train 3 reviews and I'm very grateful to Martin Donnelly to Ngaire Woods to Minouche Shafik for all their work into the FCDO's role and capabilities, looking particularly at our economic capability in this department, at our global impact in this department, and our fusion of development and diplomacy. And in each case asking how can we ensure that the tools at our disposal provide maximum benefits to UK prosperity and security. The stories of the reviews is a world where the foreign and the domestic, the political and the economic, have blurred. Vladimir Putin has mastered this with his hybrid playbook. And this department needs to reflect this reality. That's why diplomacy and development belong together. While poverty reduction is an end in itself, our development work cannot be siloed off from geopolitics. And that's why I am reforming this department, connecting its work better to 2 domestic priorities of the British people that cannot be solved without work abroad. Tackling irregular migration. And boosting economic growth. On irregular migration, the FCDO is critical to trying to solve this issue. A realistic strategy involves transactional, hard-headed diplomacy and to agree with partners smart interventions at every stage along the international people smuggling pathway so together we can strengthen borders, smash the gangs, and get those with no right to be here returned to their countries. There are those who have told me that this isn't a progressive issue. I'm afraid they are wrong. There is nothing progressive about leaving the most vulnerable exploited, letting criminal gangs get rich and commit more crime on British streets. [Political content redacted] Make no mistake. This government, from the Prime Minister down, see the challenge for what it is. And that's why I am working so closely with Yvette Cooper, using our Departments' new joint irregular migration unit to deploy every tool at our disposal to restore control to our borders. Improving cooperation on returns is how we send people home. Conflict prevention is how we stop people fleeing their homes in the first place. Development work upstream is how we encourage people to stay in their homes, like the projects that we've now got in Albania, Vietnam and Iraq. And we must use our sharpest diplomatic weapons to help restore control of our borders. Today, I am very pleased to announce, after a lot of hard work, that the UK is set to be the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime. This will help to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and the smuggling of migrants into the UK. That's playing our full part on the issue of irregular migration. But what about growth? This department needs to change to help deliver and invest by 2035, the government's modern industrial strategy. When I visit the world's largest and fastest-growing economies and the cities and regions which are driving their growth, it's crystal-clear how much their businesses and investors want to work with us, particularly now that we have begun to rebuild the UK's reputation for economic competence. And this is as true in Europe - [political content redacted] - as it is in the United States, the Gulf and Asia. The FCDO's network needs to work hand-in-glove with the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Investment. To spot opportunities abroad and help overseas firms to grasp those opportunities from doing business with Britain. To get better at delivering on this agenda overseas, we need to recruit more diplomats with more private sector skills and experience. More expertise in sectors like tech, data, life sciences particularly, where the UK is at the cutting edge. More understanding of the everyday economy right across the country, not just in the City of London. And I am making it a priority in my time in this job to get more of our staff with these skills and experience posted across the most important markets for UK growth. Because we have a compelling story to tell of the world's second largest exporter of professional and business services, with 4 of the world's top 10 universities, and ranking first in Europe when it comes to tech unicorns. And one of our great strengths, of course are our creative industries - [political content redacted] - which account for almost 15% of our service exports as well as being a force multiplier for wider British influence, influence through their power to attract, not to compel. Together with Lisa Nandy, I will therefore shortly be launching the new UK Soft Power Council so that the government can be a partner to those in business and beyond who are so important for our prosperity at home and our standing abroad. Across both these priorities, we will do much more, much more quickly if we embrace the greatest enabler of our time - technology. I am less interested in admiring the FCDO as a historic institution than fulfilling its potential to be a cutting-edge institution, which is why I am also planning to bring AI into the heart of our work. By the end of this parliament, our reform agenda will deliver a radically reshaped organisation with redeployed resources and a completely modernised way of working. I believe that AI can be transformative for the practice of diplomacy. And I am determined for the Foreign Office to be a pioneer in harnessing its power. An upgraded data science team will sit at the core of this office, bringing more empirical rigour to everything that we do. This is not a far-fetched vision. The capability frankly already exists. In use by our friends in the US, and even some departments in Whitehall. Now is the time to mainstream it. Liberating more diplomats from their desks in the UK. And getting them out into the global network, combatting irregular migration and driving growth, delivering for hardworking people at home. Friends, this country has had its mettle tested before, often there have been those who have written us off, but British leaders saw our potential and in their plans for change, they pulled out strength and depth from within us. In 1946, amid the ruins of the war, Bevin and his colleagues built NATO and the National Health Service. In the 1960s, Harold Wilson embraced the white heat of technology. In the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher unleashed the City of London. And as I entered politics, it was Tony Blair modernising Britain at home and abroad. In 2025, we need to look within and see our power and our potential. Our potential to secure our borders and reform the National Health Service, our potential to unlock growth and drive the clean energy transition, our potential to reconnect with the world through a foreign policy which enables and empowers change at home, and through a long-term international strategy. We can be realists and optimists. We can seize the opportunities coming into view. And we can show the world what a more progressive 2035 can be like and deliver the promise of a decade of national renewal. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Telford is at the heart of UK Defence" - Minister visits site behind next generation of tanks and armoured vehicles Telford's skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers with high-tech equipment and drive the government's growth mission, Defence Minister Maria Eagle has said. 9 January 2025 State-of-the-art facility in Telford plays a key role in delivering cutting-edge armoured vehicles to the British Army. Investment in defence has attracted over 56 million for defence manufacturing facility in Telford. New Defence Industrial Strategy to help secure Britain's growth mission and create high value jobs across UK. Telford's skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers with high-tech equipment and drive the government's growth mission, Defence Minister Maria Eagle has said. Her comments came on a visit today to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL)'s Hadley Castle Works Factory in Telford, where she met crucial defence procurement staff and chaired a roundtable with defence industry leaders from the Telford area, as part of consultation for the new Defence Industrial Strategy. The site is at the forefront of producing the Army's newest tank, the Challenger 3, which is at the heart of the Army's armoured warfighting force and will serve as the most lethal tank ever used by British Armed Forces. Under a 950 million contract, Challenger 3 production has generated nearly 300 highly skilled jobs within RBSL, including 130 engineers and 70 technicians, as well as an additional 450 roles supported across the UK supply chain. Contracts like this are a key part of the UK Government's Plan for Change, safeguarding national security whilst raising living standards across the UK with good, skilled, productive jobs. Defence investment continues to make a substantial contribution to the local economy, supporting over 1,500 skilled jobs and nearly 40 apprentices and graduates in Telford and Wrekin. Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said: Telford is at the heart of UK defence, and I was pleased to witness first-hand how our defence industry is equipping the Armed Forces with 21st-century armoured fighting vehicles. In the face of global threats, the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will drive economic growth, boost British jobs, and strengthen national security. 5 billion is being invested in equipping the British Army with 148 Challenger 3 tanks and 623 Boxer armoured vehicles, planned to be in service by the end of 2030. These investments continue to solidify the UK's position as a global leader in defence innovation and manufacturing. Will Gibby, Managing Director of RBSL, said: We are proud to welcome Maria Eagle MP to our Telford facility. Through programmes like Boxer and Challenger 3, RBSL is committed to providing sovereign capability for the UK, supporting the British Army, and investing in the workforce of tomorrow through our apprenticeship and graduate schemes. Today's visit highlights the value of UK-based manufacturing and the expertise we bring to the defence industry. Nick Taylor, Head of Combat Vehicles at DE&S, the MOD's procurement agency delivering Challenger 3 and Boxer said: This has been a great opportunity for the Minister to experience the close collaboration that exists between RBSL, the Army, and DE&S colleagues to re-establish armoured vehicle manufacturing in Telford and deliver our two major programmes - Challenger 3 and Boxer. The Defence Industrial Strategy underlines the government's commitment to forging long-term partnerships with the defence industry. This strategy will ensure economic growth, regional prosperity, and resilience by supporting skilled jobs and apprenticeships. Defence investment continues to make a substantial contribution to the UK economy. Over 1500 (200 RBSL and 1,497 Leidos) businesses across the UK are sustained through the supply chain because of defence investment. Findings from the British Army's Oxford Economic Report highlight the major contributions Armed Forces spending makes to the UK economy. For every 1 directly contributed by the Army, a total of 2.70 is stimulated through multiplier effects. There has also been 169 million in R&D investment and the upskilling of over 12,000 recruits through apprenticeship programmes, with 1,400 enrolled in higher education schemes. Alongside her visit to the factory and industry talks, Minister Eagle also had the opportunity to tour the cutting-edge Defence Fulfillment Centre (DFC). The 83 million DFC at MOD Donnington plays a crucial role in supporting the UK Armed Forces by ensuring the efficient delivery of critical equipment and supplies across the globe. Operated by DE&S in partnership with Leidos, the DFC exemplifies innovation within defence logistics and supports operational readiness. It is one of two major storage and distribution locations for the Ministry of Defence, the other at MOD Bicester, with a new facility at Longtown currently in construction. Simon Hutchings, VP Logistics Commodities Services Transformation Programme (LCST) at Leidos, said: I am immensely proud of what Leidos has achieved to date on the development of the Defence Fulfilment Centre in Telford and as the prime integrator for LCST. The flexible capacity and strategic network resilience we've established have significantly bolstered defence resilience and enhanced our ability to support the war fighters with better, more agile adaptive logistics. Since 2015, the LCST, based at the DFC, has delivered over 1 billion worth of products to the UK Armed Forces, getting everything from food rations to boots exactly where they need to be, at the right price and at the right time. The LCST contract has helped bring the UK MOD into 21st-century, by identifying how the private sector can be leveraged to support UK Defence in distributing equipment to military personnel so they're able to carry out their critical duties, all while delivering significant value for money to the taxpayer. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MOD and Trade Unions agree substantial pay rise for key personnel supporting Navy operations Eligible Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) employees will receive a substantial pay rise in 2024/25, with agreement including key reforms and modernisation. 9 January 2025 Eligible Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) employees will receive a substantial pay rise in 2024/25. Pay award includes key reforms and modernisation. Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard visits RFA Proteus today (Thursday 9 January) to thank seafarers for supporting Royal Navy operations. Staff supporting critical Royal Navy operations around the world will receive a pay boost, ending the long-running pay dispute. The pay deal, which has been agreed by the RMT and Nautilus Union, recognises the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's unique contribution to Royal Navy operations, and is accompanied by wider reforms to the organisation, including working terms and conditions. This agreement between the government and unions is a significant step in a plan to reform the RFA. These reforms will improve the wider employee offer for those serving in the RFA and ensure that it can continue to perform its vital role supporting the Royal Navy and our allies. Today (Thursday 9 January), Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard visited RFA Proteus and her crew, to get a first-hand account of the UK's first underwater infrastructure surveillance vessel and how its work contributes to maritime security. The minister will also present Command Pins to Captain RFA, Martin Jones and Commodore RFA, Sam Shattock during his visit. Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard said: We welcome the agreement on this pay award. The RFA makes a vital contribution to keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad, not least our colleagues on the RFA Proteus who I had the privilege of visiting today. They excel at supporting our armed forces around the world and it's only right that they are recognised for their work. The pay award represents the first step towards a wider Recovery Programme to ensure current and future seafarers are best supported. This is yet more evidence that our new Government is delivering for defence. Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns said: Through their crucial work with the Royal Navy and our allies, The Royal Fleet Auxiliary are vital to our national security, keeping us all safe. We thank the Maritime Trade Unions for their support in reaching a resolution with RFA members which recognises their unique contribution to Defence. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary provides vital logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and is made up of a civilian maritime workforce that benefit from specialist training as part of the Ministry of Defence. Proteus is the first of a new generation of survey and surveillance ships that helps to ensure the security of our critical underwater infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence Minister Bill Blair commits $440 million in military assistance to Ukraine National Defence News release January 9, 2025 - Ramstein Air Base - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, at the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced $440 million in military assistance to Ukraine. Ammunition remains one of Ukraine's highest priorities and today's announcement includes the contribution of $200 million to Czechia's initiative to procure and deliver large-calibre ammunition for Ukraine. This contribution comes in addition to over $53 million announced last year for the Czech initiative, which has already provided approximately 11,500 rounds of large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine. An additional $50 million will also be made available for procurement of various calibres of ammunition from Canadian industry. Minister Blair also committed $100 million to the Danish Model to support the production of military drones by Ukraine's domestic defence industry. Drones have become critical in this conflict and Ukraine's defence industry is excelling in innovation and experimentation in this field. This contribution builds upon the $3 million that Canada donated in April 2024 to this initiative, and the donation of 900 Canadian-built SkyRanger drones from Teledyne FLIR in Waterloo, Ontario560 of which have already been delivered to Ukraine. In addition, Minister Blair announced the donation of: $30 million for winter gear, including sleeping bags, winter boots and thermal layers. Several tranches of this donation were delivered to Ukraine in December 2024; $64 million worth of high-resolution drone cameras, that were delivered to Ukraine in November and December 2024; The donations announced today are part of the additional $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine announced at the 2024 NATO Summit, and the $1.6 billion announced in Budget 2024. This brings the total value of Canadian military assistance to $4.5 billion since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Minister Blair also provided an update on the ongoing military assistance to Ukraine: a batch of approximately 1,300 CRV-7 rocket warheads was delivered in December 2024, following a delivery of over 2,000 CRV-7 rocket motors in September 2024; the first deliveries of Armoured Combat Support Vehicles arrived in the fall of 2024 and all training has been completed. Forty additional vehicles will be delivered between May and December 2025. Quotes "The military assistance announced today provides Ukrainians with resources needed to resist Russian aggression. The UDCG, through the leadership of Secretary Austin, has been vital in ensuring that the military aid we're collectively providing Ukraine is comprehensive, well-coordinated, and meets the country's most pressing needs. Canada remains strongly committed to working with our Allies and partners to support Ukraine until victory." - The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence Quick facts Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $19.5 billion in total assistance to Ukraine, including $4.5 billion in military assistance. This includes multi-mission drones, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition. Canada is allocating up to $389 million to enhance F-16 pilot training through the UDCG's Air Force Capability Coalition. This commitment will support training for pilots in the AFU and provide critical equipment to support Ukraine's safe operation of F-16s. Since the launch of Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has trained more than 43,000 members of the AFU, more than 10,000 of whom have been trained in various locations across Europe following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Canada has announced the extension of this mission until March 2026 so the CAF can continue to respond to Ukraine's training needs. Canada continues to train AFU members under Operation UNIFIER, with approximately 350 CAF members currently deployed in the United Kingdom, Poland, and Latvia in various roles. These donations are all Ukraine-identified priorities that have been validated by the UDCG and the International Donor Coordination Centre. They further demonstrate Canada's strong commitment, along with its Allies, in supporting Ukraine's fight against Russia's unjustifiable war. Canada is currently a member of the UDCG's Armour, Air Force, Drone, and Information Technology capability coalitions. The UDCG was created by the US Secretary of Defense in April 2022 to allow Allies and partners to synchronize donations, consult and coordinate military assistance to Ukraine, and build up the capabilities of the AFU. The UDCG now comprises more than 50 countries. Since late March 2022, the Royal Canadian Air Force has transported over 24 million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada, Allies, and partners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military equipment from the Ukrainian Defence Industry on its way to the frontline Danish Ministry of Defence Denmark and Ukraine have finalized procurement of weapons and military equipment in the Ukrainian defence industry totalling at an amount of 538 million euros. The cooperation sends much needed material to the frontline. January 9, 2025 - 10:45 (Updated at 3PM) In December 2024 and during the turn of the year, Denmark and Ukraine have finalized procurements in the Ukrainian defence industry for approximately 538 million euros channelled through the Danish model for procurements in Ukraine. The procurements have been financed partly by windfall profits from immobilized Russian assets, where Denmark has acted as implementing actor on behalf of the EU through the European Peace Facility as well as funds from Sweden and Iceland and from the Danish national fund for military support to Ukraine. "I am very proud of the cooperation between Denmark and Ukraine on the Danish model. I am also impressed by the speed the Ukrainian defence industry can deliver. Important materiel is now at the frontline or on its way and I encourage more nations to consider supporting Ukraine through its defence industry. Denmark will continue to lead the way" says the Danish Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen. Based on Ukrainian requests the Danish model has financed procurement of further Bohdana artillery systems in addition to the systems already donated by Denmark in the early autumn. The procurements also include long-range strike drones, anti-tank missiles and systems, and anti-ship missiles. "We are grateful to Denmark for its leadership, unwavering support, and the effective implementation of the 'Danish model' of cooperation with Ukraine's defence industry. The procured equipment has already proven its effectiveness on the battlefield, strengthening our ability to resist the enemy and bringing us closer to victory. We hope Denmark's example will inspire other countries to undertake similar initiatives, as this will contribute to the shared future security of Europe and the world," says Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov. Procurements through the Ukrainian defence industry have many advantages including fast delivery, competitive prices and the possibility of conducting training and maintenance near the frontline. Also, the procurements are a way to support the Ukrainian society in a difficult time of war as workplaces are kept open. Denmark has allocated 135 million euros for procurements in the Ukrainian defence industry in 2025. Facts: Approx. 125 million euros are funded by the Danish national Ukraine Fund. Approx. 390 million euros from the windfall profits from immobilized Russian assets are implemented on behalf of the EU through the European Peace Facility. Approx. 20 million euros are implemented on behalf of Sweden. Approx. 2.7 million euros are implemented on behalf of Iceland. Approx. 43 million euros will be implemented on behalf of Norway in 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address January 9, 2025 Speech Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Ramstein Air Base, Germany Good morning, everyone. And welcome back to Ramstein. It's good to see everyone. And I'm honored that you could join us for the 25th gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. I know that you've seen the American flags flying at half-mast today. That's a tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter, who will be honored today in our nation's capital. And I hope that we will all carry forward his deep devotion to the cause of human rights and human decency. Now, all Americans are also watching the terrifying wildfires that are ripping through parts of Southern California. The Department will continue to stand ready to surge support as needed. That includes federal air assets that California can request to help fight the fire from the sky. And many U.S. military installations in the area have personnel and equipment that can also be surged to fight this awful blaze. We stand with the people of California in this terrible time. And now, let me turn to our agenda here. Let me welcome our Ukrainian colleagues, who have again made the trip from Kyiv to Ramstein. As you know, we are honored to be joined today by a leader who has made history: President Zelenskyy. [Applause] Mr. President, it's an honor to have you back in Ramstein. The whole world has been moved by the courage of Ukraine's forces and the strength of Ukraine's people. And you know firsthand how much this Contact Group has meant for Ukraine's fight for freedom. President Zelenskyy, the floor is yours. [President Zelenskyy gives remarks.] Well thank you, President Zelenskyy. I know that I speak on behalf of everyone here. The spirit of Ukraine has inspired us all. And it has reminded us all to never take our freedom for granted. That's been true ever since the Contact Group convened for the first time here on April 26, 2022. That first meeting and today's meeting would not have been possible without our hosts. So let me invite Minister Pistorius to say a few words. Boris, over to you. [Minister Pistorius gives remarks.] Minister Pistorius, thanks again. A special thanks for those very generous words. And thanks for all that your government has done for Ukraine. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a big day. And this is a great cause. I continue to be moved by the dedication of the countries that are here today. And I continue to be inspired by this Contact Group. You are all helping to ensure that Ukraine can defend itselfand fight for its freedom. Nearly three years ago, we gathered at Ramstein for the first time. It was a moment of great uncertaintyand urgency. The Kremlin was just two months into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's survival was in danger. And so much was unsettled at our first meeting at Ramstein. But two things were already clear. The Ukrainian people had chosen to fight. And they needed help from countries around the world. So we gathered here. And we began to coordinate security assistance to Ukraineswiftly and decisively. Back in April 2022, few people could have imagined the level of support that our countries have delivered to Ukraine. Putin clearly never imagined it. In the first months of the war, we provided everything from Javelin missiles and Stinger missiles to artillery systems. And that helped Ukraine withstand the first thrust of Putin's invasion. Month after month, members of this Contact Group have helped provide, produce, and sustain the systems and the munitions that Ukraine needs. That includes advanced air-defense systems and long-range strike capabilities. Ukraine has suffered terribly from Russia's imperial aggression. But sustained, principled commitments by the countries gathered here have made all the difference. This Contact Group has evolved. And so have the capabilities that its members have provided. We have stood up eight Capability Coalitions. They are led by 14 countries, as well as Ukraine. In close partnership with our National Armaments Directors, these new coalitions ensure that our support is coordinated, efficient, and sustainable. And their work has helped Ukraine to more swiftly absorb the security assistance that we provide. Thanks to the leadership of the Air Force coalition, Ukraine is now flying fourth-generation fighters. And thanks to the Maritime coalition, Ukraine is building up the capabilities that it needs to defeat and deter Russian aggression in the Black Sea. Earlier today, the Coalition Leadership Group met again, including representatives from our 15 countries. And they endorsed Capability Coalition roadmaps leading to the year 2027. And through the Capability Coalitions, partner countries can continue to support Ukraine's urgent battlefield needs. And they can continue to help Ukraine build a force that will deter more Russian aggression over the long haul as Ukraine implements its own critical reforms on mobilization and other areas. The Kremlin's assaults today remind us of the scope of the danger. Putin isn't letting up. His forces continue their grinding offensive in the east of Ukraine. In Kursk, Russian troops are fighting alongside North Korean forces to drive back Ukraine's troops. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to bombard Ukraine's civilians and critical infrastructure without pity or pause. Yet again, Ukraine faces a winter of war. And yet again, Putin is targeting Ukraine's energy grid. And he's using increasingly ruthless missile and drone strikes. In February, we will mark three years of Putin's war. And the stakes are still enormousfor all of our security. If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will only grow. If autocrats conclude that democracies will lose their nerve, surrender their interests, and forget their principles, we will only see more land grabs. If tyrants learn that aggression pays, we will only invite even more aggression, chaos, and war. But we are still determined to not let that happen. And so are the free people of Ukraine. And so are the nations of goodwill around the worldand around this table. Retreat will only provide incentives for more imperial aggression. And if we flinch, you can count on Putin to push furtherand punch harder. Ukraine's survival is on the line. But so is the security of Europe, the United States, and the world. And that's why the some 50 members of this Contact Group continue to stand united with Ukraine. And now, as you all know, today marks my last Contact Group. And I am incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. Over the past few years, we have moved heaven and earth to get Ukraine the security assistance that it needs. And together, we've committed more than 122 billion dollars' worth of security assistance and expanded factories around the world. That has rushed capabilities to Ukraine ranging from artillery systems to ammunition to main battle tanks. It includes air-defense platforms, interceptors, and drones. In just the past few weeks, we've seen Contact Group members step up with important new donations. Germany announced that it will deliver 680 million dollars' worth of military equipment to Ukraine by the end of the year. Others have already budgeted generous sums of 2025 aid. And Norway has committed more than 2 billion dollars for military support. And the U.K. is allocating 3 billion pounds annually. As a percentage of GDP, Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia are now the top three providers of assistance to Ukraine. So we must not let up. That's why I am announcing today another Presidential Drawdown Authority package, valued at approximately $500 million. It includes additional missiles for Ukrainian air defense, more ammunition, more air-to-ground munitions, and other equipment to support Ukraine's F-16s. Here again in Ramstein, I am determined to do all I can to help Ukraine live in freedom and securityand to forge a more just and decent world. And together, our work must continue. Here is the fundamental truth: Ukraine's fight matters to all of us. As I said here in Ramstein back at our first meeting in April 2022, Putin's war "is a challenge to free people everywhere." And we all have a stake in ensuring that autocrats cannot place their imperial ambitions ahead of the bedrock rights of free and sovereign peoples. Ukraine is waging a just war of self-defense. And it is one of the great causes of our time. Chairing this Contact Group has been one of the great honors of my life. But this is a day for business, and not talk. And I'm looking forward to yet another highly productive meeting. So we'll pause as our friends in the media depart. And then we'll get to work. Thank you very much. [Applause] https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4025037/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address January 9, 2025 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News Austin Challenges Contact Group to Keep Supporting Ukraine At the conclusion of the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the last such meeting for Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, the outgoing secretary challenged group members to maintain the level of support to Ukraine they have built over the past three years. Today, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Austin concluded the last meeting of the group he spearheaded the development of in April 2022. As part of his departure, he asked the nearly 50 members nations who participate in providing support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, to keep up that support and not falter in their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty. "In my final hours at Ramstein as secretary of defense, I mourn for every Ukrainian man, woman and child killed in Putin's murderous war, and I salute the Ukrainian troops who are fighting so bravely for their country and for their freedom," Austin said. "And this coalition has had their backs for nearly three hard years of war, and we must not stop now. So, I'm leaving this contact group, not with a farewell, but with a challenge: The coalition to support Ukraine must not flinch. It must not falter, and it must not fail. Ukraine survival is on the line, but so is all of our security." When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many nations stepped up to provide support, by delivering weapons and munitions. But Austin said he knew at the time that in order for Ukraine to succeed in preserving its sovereignty, that support must be coordinated. "I opened our hastily arranged first meeting by urging some 40 countries to build a common understanding of the situation in Ukraine," he said. "Today, this ... group provides more than a common understanding, it provides a common cause. And today, some 50 countries of conscience are coordinating closely with Ukraine to send vital, consistent and cutting-edge security assistance. And that has helped turn Ukraine's struggle into one of the great military success stories of our time." With the support of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Austin said, Ukraine has been getting the weapons and supplies it needs to defend itself from continued Russian aggression. At the same time, he said, America and partner nations who are providing support to Ukraine have made sure to maintain their own readiness as well. The secretary highlighted the stark difference between how Ukraine equipped itself at the start of the Russian invasion, with how it is equipped now. "Ukraine has started to fly fourth generation fighter jets," he said. "It now fields advanced Western air defense capabilities, and it produces and operates state of the art unmanned systems. All of this positions Ukraine to defeat Russian aggression today and to deter Russian aggression tomorrow. And so our work has changed the course of history." Altogether, Austin said, the UDCG members have contributed more than $126 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. That includes tanks, air defense systems, combat vehicles, munitions, F-16 aircraft and training for pilots. In providing that equipment, Austin said, the United States and other UDCG member nations have also increased support to their own defense industrial bases. "The Ukraine crisis exposed some shortcomings in our defense industrial base," he said. "We've still got a lot more work to do. But we have galvanized our own defense industry, investing nearly $70 billion at home to produce capabilities for Ukraine and replenish our own stocks." At his last meeting of the group he created, Austin said the group has accomplished a lot. But Russia still remains in Ukraine, and the work is not yet concluded. "We have come so far over the past ... 25 meetings of this contact group and the structure of this coalition is built to succeed, built to adapt, and built to last," he said. When the contact group stood up, Austin said, he said the group's creation reflected a galvanized world, and that Russia's war was both reckless and lawless. The secretary said he still believes those things. "I will always be proud that the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has held high the torch of security and freedom, and so I will keep saying it: free people must refuse to replace an open order of rules and rights with a violent world of force and fear." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pevkur in Ramstein: Ukraine Defence Contact Group is critical in assisting Ukraine's victory Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence 9. January 2025 Today, at the 25th Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held in Ramstein, Germany, defence ministers from over 50 countries convened for the final time under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. "The United States' contribution to aiding Ukraine has been of existential significancewe may never know how many lives it has saved. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group has become much more than just a gathering of defence ministers. It brings together over 50 nations and has given rise to several international efforts to support Ukraine. Therefore, it is crucial for the Contact Group to continue its meetings even with the inauguration of a new U.S. administration," said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. "All discussions related to supporting Ukraine and strengthening our own defence capabilities point to one conclusion2% of GDP is no longer sufficient, even as a baseline. At the Hague Summit, we must set more ambitious targets for defence spending. It is very encouraging that we are actively discussing greater contributions among member states," added Minister Pevkur. Estonia has committed to supporting Ukraine in the coming years with 0.25% of its GDP and, alongside Luxembourg, leads the IT Coalition, which has raised 500 million in financial and material aid over the past year. "Next year, Estonia's contribution to the IT Coalition will doubleour 5 million investment will help establish a secure and NATO-compliant ICT infrastructure for Ukraine's armed forces, thereby enhancing their combat capabilities," explained Minister Pevkur. Additionally, during the meeting, the Nordic and Baltic defence ministers convened to discuss regional security issues. The main goal of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meetings is to coordinate cooperation within capability coalitions with allies and to ensure that aid reaches Ukraine swiftly and effectively. At the September 2023 UDCG meeting, the IT Coalition was launched, co-led by Estonia and Luxembourg. To date, 16 countries have joined the IT Coalition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway contributes to new donation of drones to Ukraine Government of Norway News story | Date: 09/01/2025 'Norway has recently contributed NOK 700 million to a multinational initiative to procure drones for Ukraine,' said Norwegian Minister of Defence Bjrn Arild Gram. On 9 January, he attended a Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) convened for the 25th time, bringing together representatives from nearly 50 countries and organisations to discuss further military support for Ukraine in both the short and long term. The Minister of Defence also held a bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov. During the meeting, the Minister of Defence announced that Norway is contributing to a new donation of drones in collaboration with the United Kingdom and the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). 'Ukraine continues to have a strong need for additional military equipment to defend itself against Russia's war of aggression. Drones are a critical part of this effort, both for protecting critical infrastructure and for use on the front line,' Gram said. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, also highlighted the need for additional drones, among other capabilities, during his opening remarks at the meeting. Discussions at the meeting focused on continued support for Ukraine, resulting in agreement on the capability coalitions' roadmaps for further assistance. Read more here: Joint Statement of the Coalition Leadership Group > U.S. Department of Defense > Release Norway is co-leading the maritime coalition alongside the United Kingdom. 'The various coalitions are working closely with Ukrainian authorities to provide the best possible support for Ukraine in both the short and long term. The coalitions' efforts are also coordinated with NATO's initiatives to support Ukraine and are essential for ensuring Ukraine's future interoperability with the Alliance,' said the Minister of Defence. An independent and free Ukraine, with the freedom to determine its own foreign and defence policies, is essential for European and Norwegian security. 'Together with our allies, we will continue our political, military and economic support for Ukraine's defence efforts,' Gram said. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III chaired this format for the last time before the change in the US administration. Read his remarks here: Secretary of Defense Opening Remarks at the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Prepared) > U.S. Department of Defense > Speech 'I would like to thank my good colleague Austin for his close and constructive cooperation in many areas and for the crucial leadership he has shown in coordinating Western military support for Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in 2022. I look forward to continuing this collaboration with the United States under the incoming administration,' Gram said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Minister for Foreign Affairs' working visit to Ukraine Government of Iceland 09 January 2025 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, made a working visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, 7 January. During the visit she met with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and reaffirmed Iceland's support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's illegal invasion. "I saw first-hand the destruction that Russia has caused with their systematic attacks on civilian infrastructure, which is intended to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. It is truly inspiring to witness the resilience of Ukrainians, who have now fought heroically and with fortitude for their freedom and sovereignty for almost three years. In my visit, I reaffirmed Iceland's unwavering support for the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's illegal invasion. Support for Ukraine is support for for international law, democracy and human rights. Allies and Ukraine's friends must remain united in their support, and we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes," says Minister Gunnarsdottir. The Icelandic parliament, Althingi, recently approved additional ISK 1.5 bn in defence-related support for Ukraine in accordance with Iceland's parliamentary resolution on long-term support for Ukraine. This includes a contribution of ISK 600 million to the Demining Coalition Fund, co-led by Iceland and Lithuania, ISK 400 million to a project initiated by Denmark to support the Ukrainian defence industry, ISK 300 million to the Comprehensive Assistance Package of NATO, and ISK 200 million to the UK-led International Fund. Today the Minister attended the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, Germany. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Every russia's tank destroyed in Ukraine adds to our security, says Minister of National Defence at the Ramstein format meeting Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2025-01-09 International cooperation Minister of National Defence Dovile Sakaliene attends the 25th meeting of the so-called Ramstein format Ukraine Contact Defense Group in Germany. Minister urged donors to step up military aid to assist Ukraine to fend off the aggressor. According to Minister, if each Ukraine's donor in the Ramstein format would dedicate 0.25% of GDP in aid to Ukraine, it would be possible to strengthen its positions in the war enough to change what the world begins to see as an illusion of peace into actual sustainable peace through clearly projected strength. Lithuania has donated to Ukraine with 0.28% of GDP in 2024 (EUR 210 million) and is ready to stay the course. Shortly Ukraine will receive another EUR 10 million injection to its defence industry and EUR 30 million to the fund of the Capability Coalition for Demining. "We cannot afford to sacrifice Ukraine. We all know perfectly that we are not dedicating enough to ensure Ukraine's victory against the aggressor. Members of the Ramstein format constitute an incomparably more significant and wealthier force than russia. However, this power gutters out on paper. We are still too slow and treat the war in Ukraine as if it was an exercise, as if we were deaf to the russian threats to the NATO Alliance. Every Russian tank destroyed on the Ukrainian soil is a tank that will never get its way into our territory," said Minister D. Sakaliene at the meeting. The meeting of Capability Coalition leaders were held on the sidelines of the Ramstein format meeting with participation of the Ministers of Defence of eight Allies leading the coalitions. Minister D. Sakaliene presented the action plan, strategic objectives and arising challenges of the Lithuanian and Icelandic-led Capability Coalition for Demining. Minister of National Defence continued the effort to develop Lithuania's leadership in mobilizing the region in meetings with Minister of Defence of Sweden Pal Jonson, Minister of Defence of Finland Antti Hakkanen, Minister of Defence of Italy Guido Crosetto, Federal Minister of Defence of Germany Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of National Defence of Luxembourg Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence of Latvia Andris Spruds, as well as informal communication with other regional leaders. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group was initiated by the United States in April 2022. The previous meeting of NATO Allies and partners took place in September. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Has Launched A New Offensive Into Russia. Why And Why Now? By Todd Prince January 09, 2025 Since August, Ukrainian forces have been struggling to hold onto territory they seized in Russia's Kursk region, part of a cross-border incursion that, despite having unclear tactical aims, surprised Kyiv's Western allies and the Kremlin. Now Kyiv has launched a new offensive in Kursk, pushing against Russian forces supported by North Korean soldiers who have clawed back more than half of the territory Ukraine captured. It's not clear why Ukraine is waging a new assault in Kursk, and why now. Ukraine is struggling in multiple locations along the front line. It's outgunned by Russia. It has major problems recruiting and mobilizing enough men to replenish its depleted ranks. So why expend scarce resources on a new, possibly futile offensive? The goal, experts say, could be to change the narrative of the nearly three-year war. "Ukraine's center of gravity is U.S. support. Any gains it makes inside Russia will make it harder for the new administration to call the war a lost cause," said John Nagl, a professor at the U.S. Army War College. Boosting Morale Ukrainian forces have made limited gains since launching their new assault on January 5. And it remains unclear if it is a feint operation -- designed to draw Russian forces in from elsewhere on the front -- or part of a larger counteroffensive. Ukraine's incursion into Kursk in August was seen as an attempt to draw Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and slow down their advance.But Kyiv's strategy largely failed as Russia prioritized advances in eastern Ukraine. Moscow also received help from North Korea, which sent some 11,000 troops to Kursk to support Russian forces. Russian troops have continued to push forward in eastern Ukraine, seizing the town of Vuhledar in October. They are now close to capturing Pokrovsk, an important logistics hub in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has defended the incursion into Kursk. But military experts have questioned the move. "Russian gains in the vicinity of Pokrovsk are militarily significant and have political weight; Kursk is of less military importance," said Nagl, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Nonetheless, gains in Kursk could boost Ukrainian morale and change the battlefield narrative at a critical time in the war. Pessimism has grown over Ukraine's chances with each new town captured by Russia. It would also be a blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's image as a "strong man defending Russia," said David Silbey, a professor of military studies at Cornell University. During the highly choreographed annual call-in with the public in December, Putin promised to drive out Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region, though he did not give a time frame. Silbey said Ukraine's chances of success in Kursk are higher than in the heavily fortified eastern front. Russia not only has most of its forces deployed in eastern Ukraine but also extensive defensive lines. "An offensive [in eastern Ukraine] would be a slow grind likely with limited success and heavy casualties, and it would weaken Ukrainian defenses in the area. The Ukrainian units are already wearing down really badly in eastern Ukraine and I don't think Zelenskiy wants to hasten that," added Silbey. Ukraine is struggling to recruit soldiers, leading to a shortage of manpower along the 1,000-kilometer front line. A shortage of fighters, not weapons, is now the biggest problem for Ukraine's armed forces, experts say. Silbey said he did not expect Ukraine's offensive in Kursk to last long considering the manpower constraints. Bargaining Positions Experts say the aim of Ukraine's new Kursk offensive could also be to boost Kyiv's leverage in any future peace negotiations. The fresh Kursk operation comes just two weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has pledged to quickly end the war and previously threatened to cut billions in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. At a news conference on January 7, Trump said he hoped to end the war within six months. He said it will be "tough" to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine but added he is determined to get things "straightened out." Trump is reportedly seeking to freeze the conflict along the current front line, meaning any gains by either side in the meantime would strengthen their respective bargaining positions. "In some ways, I see this as the opening salvo in the peace negotiations, getting Ukraine into as strong a position as it can be, and giving more to trade back to Russia at the negotiating table," Silbey said. RFE/RL correspondent Mike Eckel contributed to this story. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-offensive-kursk- north-korea-us-support/33268874.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Pledges New Ukraine Aid In What May Be Biden Office's Final Move By Olena Abramovych January 09, 2025 RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced a new $500 million package of military aid as part of the outgoing Biden administration's goal of sending as much support as possible before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. The package includes "additional missiles for Ukrainian air defense, more ammunition, more air-to-ground munitions, and other equipment to support Ukraine's F-16s," Austin said. Austin spoke at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which is made up of about 50 partner nations that the U.S. Defense Secretary brought together to coordinate weapons support months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "It's important to look at this as a comprehensive effort by the international community to support Ukraine," U.S. General Patrick Ryder told RFE/RL at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is also attending the meeting, called on Europe to coalesce around Kyiv if U.S. support wanes under the incoming White House administration. "It's clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world -- just 11 days from now, a time when we have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more, and achieve even greater results together. I see this as a time of opportunities," he said. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, also in Ramstein, said he expects leaders of the defense coalitions to approve "road maps" for strategic goals and key needs for military assistance until at least the end of 2027. "These documents, developed and agreed upon jointly by Ukraine and partners, will become the basis for support and allocation of assistance in areas such as air defense, artillery, armored vehicles, drones, air force, maritime security, and other important areas. There is a lot of work ahead," he added after a meeting with Austin. The Ramstein gathering comes a day after Ukraine suffered one of its worst single losses of life in weeks -- an attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhya that killed 13 people. Authorities believe Russia carried out the attack using glide bombs aimed at an industrial site. Ukraine claimed earlier on January 8 that its forces hit an oil depot inside Russia that served as a strategic air base in the southern Saratov region. The Ukrainian military's General Staff said the strike created serious logistical problems for Russian aviation and significantly reduced its ability to strike Ukrainian cities and civilian objects. Members of the contact group have said the January 9 meeting could be the last one as its fate remains unclear under Trump. "The most important format is to have a strong-willed determination for finding specific funding and equipment and training possibilities for Ukrainians," Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds told RFE/RL at the meeting, adding that bilateral commitments and willingness to support Ukraine are a "backbone of support." The outgoing U.S. administration has been working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump takes office on January 20 to improve Kyiv's negotiating position. Trump -- who has repeatedly criticized U.S. assistance to Kyiv -- has claimed he could quickly negotiate an end to the war after he returns to office. This has raised fears in Ukraine that any hastily arranged negotiations would be used by Russia to hold on to Ukrainian territory it occupies and allow its troops to rest and rearm. Austin has said it is important for the contact group to continue providing military aid, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has also warned against the West slacking off on support for Ukraine. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ramstein-500m-us-aid-ukraine- before-trump-term/33269668.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Designated U.S. Envoy For Ukraine Says Trump Wants Equitable End To War By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 09, 2025 U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's designated envoy for Ukraine and Russia said Trump will take Ukraine's interests into account when he starts working on a settlement to end the war in Ukraine and will aim to make sure the solution is equitable. "People need to understand he's not trying to give something to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin or the Russians," said Keith Kellogg, the retired lieutenant-general whom Trump has designated as his envoy and tasked with leading negotiations to end the war. "He's actually trying to save Ukraine and save their sovereignty," Kellogg said in the interview with Fox News on January 8. "He's going to make sure it's equitable and it's fair and he's said that repeatedly," including to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump said during last year's election campaign he could end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. He now says he hopes to end the fighting within six months. "I hope long before six months," Trump said at a news conference on January 7 when asked if he could solve the war within half a year. Kellogg said he would prefer to set an even shorter time span of 100 days from Trump's inauguration on January 20. "I'm on the clock. He's on the clock as well because he wants to end [the war] as quickly as he can," Kellogg said. "He knows it's tough one...but he's committed to it." Kellogg declined to divulge the content of any of his conversations with Trump on the war, saying Trump "speaks for himself" and more information would be forthcoming after the inauguration. He indicated that the groundwork is being laid for Trump and Putin to talk. "We'll set the conditions...and he will eventually get to the position where he'll be talking with Putin and also President Zelenskiy as well, and I think they are going to come to a...solution in the near term," Kellogg said. He was not asked about the postponement of a trip that he was expected to make this month to Kyiv and other European capitals. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced on January 7 that the trip would be rescheduled. The envoy-designate in the interview criticized President Joe Biden for not talking with Putin, saying it has been more than two years since they spoke. Trump on the other hand speaks with America's adversaries and allies alike, he said. "He actually knows that you need to talk to people to get to an end state and that is what we are going to do," Kellogg said. With reporting by Fox News Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-trump- kellogg-putin-war-talks-zelenskiy/33269282.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (9 January 2025) 09.01.2025 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one tank brigade, two mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, and two territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Daryino, Zazulevka, Kazachya Loknya, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolayevka, Novaya Sorochina, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Bondarevka, Veselovka, Goncharovka, Guyevo, Kruglenkoye, Kubatkin, Loknya, Martynovka, Mirny, Nikolsky, Pogrebki, Russkoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Bogdanovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, and Miropolye in Sumy region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were up to 190 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one artillery gun, four mortars, one electronic warfare station, and one ammunition depot. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 50,310 troops, 294 tanks, 218 infantry fighting vehicles, 161 armoured personnel carriers, 1,517 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,435 motor vehicles, 348 artillery guns, 44 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 16 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 90 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 29 units of engineering and other materiel, including 15 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, seven armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 30,000 new drones for Ukraine in boost to European security It comes as a further 190m for the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine was announced following further pledges from allies 9 January 2025 30,000 drones will be sent to Ukraine after 45 million worth of contracts were placed by the international Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia as the UK steps up leadership supporting Ukraine in 2025. Defence Secretary John Healey announced this milestone alongside Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group held at Ramstein Air Base today [Thursday 9 January]. Healey arrived last night for talks with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the US Air Base. The Drone Capability Coalition supports Ukraine with uncrewed surveillance and attack capabilities. Funding for the new 30,000 drones comes from UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden. These state-of-the-art, first-person view drones will help Ukraine fight against Russian aggression, allowing Ukraine's Armed Forces to manoeuvre past Russian air defences to target enemy positions and armoured vehicles. Today's announcement follows the UK's 7.5 million investment for the Drone Capability Coalition's Common Fund, set out in November, and brings the UK's total investment in the fund to 15 million to date. So far, the fund has raised around 73 million from the UK and partners. As well as this, the Defence Secretary confirmed that the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine now stands at over 1.3 billion, of which the UK has contributed 500 million. He also outlined the Ministry of Defence's plan for Ukraine's Defence in 2025 to more than 50 allies and partners gathered for the meeting. John Healey discussed the plan with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv in December. Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: The fierce courage of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world, and this meeting of more than 50 nations sends a clear message to Putin about the international community's unwavering support for Ukraine. I am proud of the UK's leadership in supporting Ukraine. From heading coalitions which are delivering essential equipment alongside allies, to training recruits, we're standing strong with Ukraine against Putin's aggression. Our commitment to provide 3 billion a year of military aid for as long as it takes will ensure Ukraine can defend themselves and is essential to protect the security of the UK - because the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. In a further sign of the strength of international support for Ukraine's efforts to repel Russia's illegal invasion, more than 190 million of extra funding has been committed to the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine by allies and partners, with Portugal and Germany contributing for the first time. The fund uses financial contributions from international partners to rapidly procure priority military equipment for Ukraine. The new contributions include: 67 million from Denmark for capabilities including drones, air defence systems and training equipment 59 million from Norway for specialist capabilities including drones and maritime training 43 million (52 million) from Portugal for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones 20 million from Sweden to fund the repair of Archer self-propelled artillery systems and maritime training 4 million from Germany for maritime training 1 million from Iceland to fund coastal radars Since taking office in July, the government has stepped up international leadership supporting Ukraine and demonstrated its ironclad support, committing to 3 billion of military support to Ukraine every year for as long as it takes. In October, an extra 2.26 billion was announced, using the profits from seized Russian assets. The meeting of allies and partners at Ramstein follows the Defence Secretary's visit to Kyiv last month, where he met with his counterpart Rustem Umerov, to discuss the priority areas for UK defence support and announced a new 225 million package, including 186m from the International Fund for Ukraine, of military support. The government is clear that the UK's defence starts in Ukraine, and that providing military support is essential to promote both the UK's national security and stability in Europe. As part of the Plan for Ukraine's Defence in 2025, the UK's continued leadership on the war in Ukraine throughout 2025 will see an increase to Ukraine's military capability; will build on the success of Operation Interflex by enhancing the training offered to Ukraine; will strengthen defence industrial cooperation; will increase cooperation with our allies to support Ukraine; and will increase pressure on Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Giorgia Meloni Discussed Strengthening Ukraine's Air Defense President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 23:09 In Rome, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni. One of the key topics of their discussions was addressing Ukraine's defense needs, particularly enhancing its air defense. The President expressed gratitude to the Italian government for approving the tenth military aid package. Strengthening Ukrainian forces on the battlefield, as well as protecting cities and villages from Russian attacks, is critically important for achieving a just and lasting peace. "We are now looking to expedite certain elements of this package. We have joint Italian-French SAMP/T air defense systems, and the number of missiles is very important for us - we are counting on it. There's a batch of missiles we are already receiving, but there's another batch that still needs to be finalized so they can be delivered to us," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The President also highlighted active efforts to prepare for the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2025), which is scheduled to take place in Rome on July 10-11. "Our teams have started working on this year's recovery conference, with a particular focus on cultural heritage. Here, we are relying primarily on Italy. We are also collaborating with UNESCO and will engage separately with France. I would like Italy to make a significant contribution to the recovery of our historical heritage - they are highly skilled in this area," the President emphasized. Additionally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Giorgia Meloni paid special attention to supporting Ukraine on its path to EU membership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Strengthening Air Defense and Engaging NATO Countries in Procuring Ukrainian Weapons under the Danish Model: President Meets NATO Secretary General President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 18:03 At the Ramstein Base, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The key topics of the meeting included the need to bolster Ukraine's air defense and involve NATO countries in procuring Ukrainian weapons under the Danish model. The President emphasized that the shared task of the partners is to ensure a strong position for Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte discussed potential formats for leveraging NATO's platform to reach this goal. The President also highlighted the importance of launching NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) initiative to effectively coordinate military aid and training of Ukrainian troops. Additionally, the parties discussed the work of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format and its contribution to decision-making aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Discussed Support for Ukraine with U.S. Secretary of Defense President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 17:44 During the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The President expressed gratitude to the United States for the $500 million security assistance package announced during the Ramstein meeting, provided under the presidential drawdown authority. Ukraine is thankful to the United States, the entire American people, and the bipartisan and bicameral support that helps safeguard independence and protect lives in the fight against Russia's unprovoked and criminal aggression. Thanks to the support of the U.S. and all partners, Ukraine has managed to save hundreds of towns and villages from destruction by the Russian army. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Lloyd Austin discussed the situation on the battlefield in detail, including developments in the Pokrovsk direction and the Kursk operation. Both sides acknowledged the critical role of drones at this stage of the war. The President outlined Ukraine's defense needs for various types of UAVs, emphasizing that Ukraine's strong positions on the battlefield are essential to achieving a just and lasting peace. One of the key topics of the meeting was the implementation of decisions of the NATO summit in Washington, particularly the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense. The President and the Secretary of Defense explored the prospects of providing additional air defense systems, including through cooperation with other partners. They also discussed the continued work of the Ramstein format coalition and the launch of NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) initiative. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At Ramstein, the President Urged Partners to Contribute to Building a Drone Arsenal, Strengthen Ukraine's Air Defense, and Intensify Sanctions Against Russia President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 16:39 In 11 days, a new chapter will begin for Europe and the entire world - a time when we have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more, and achieve even greater results together. This was the message from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his speech at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in the Ramstein format, attended by representatives from 49 partner countries. The President emphasized that Ukraine aims to set a record this year in both the quantity and quality of drones it manufactures and receives from partners. As these are the weapons that have already changed the nature of the war. "Ukrainians have the most experience in Europe with using drones, and we also have the biggest capacity in Europe to produce drones. So, first, please invest more in this Ukrainian strength, because after the war it will also be your strength. Second, invest in the talented people in your countries who can help make all of us stronger in the drone field," the President noted. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called on partners to fulfill all agreements regarding the delivery of aid packages to the front and the air defense systems promised at the last NATO summit. "You've seen what happened yesterday in our city of Zaporizhzhia - Russia's bombs killed 13 people, 112 were injured. That was just one day, just one attack, one strike from the air. We must stop Russia's terror. And you can do it," he emphasized, The President pointed out that Ukraine already has bilateral security cooperation with most countries represented at Ramstein, secured through 27 agreements, and invited others to join these efforts. Additionally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's partners, particularly the United States and the European Union, to increase sanctions on Russia's energy sector and put an end to its shadow fleet operations. "Russia's war budget for 2025 is 25% bigger than last year's. If we want to stop the killing, we've got to cut off Putin's cash flow. Putin will start thinking about peace only when his inner circle tells him he's out of money," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At the Ramstein Base, the President Met with Germany's Minister of Defense President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 16:22 As part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in the "Ramstein" format, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Germany's Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius. The Head of State expressed gratitude for Germany's military support and highlighted its leadership in bolstering Ukraine's air defense. Ukraine is thankful to Germany for the provided air defense systems and their contribution to saving lives. This support, along with Ukrainian-German cooperation, has saved thousands of Ukrainian lives. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Boris Pistorius discussed the possibility of increasing funding for military aid to Ukraine in 2025. This support is critically important for Ukraine to strengthen its positions on the battlefield, as only this can exert pressure on Russia and force it into a just and lasting peace. The President separately emphasized the importance of further strengthening Ukraine's air defense and providing additional air defense systems. Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would soon deliver additional missiles for previously supplied systems. During the meeting, the parties also discussed the future work of the "Ramstein" format and the possibility of financing Ukrainian weapons and equipment production based on the Danish model. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address When We Come and Belong Together - No One Is Too Small to Make a Real Impact on History - Speech by the President at the Ramstein Meeting President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 15:49 Thank you very much! Thank you for your words, strong words about our people and about us. Thank you very much, Secretary! And I'm grateful to you, for your personal leadership during all these years and your personal involvement, and the United States for coordinating this format and working together with us since the start of the full-scale war. Minister Pistorius, I dearly appreciate your help and Germany's impactful support for all our people, for Ukraine. Ladies and gentlemen! Dear our friends! It's clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world - just 11 days from now, a time when we have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more, and achieve even greater results together. And I see this as a time of opportunities. And in almost three years of full-scale war, we've shown that when we come and belong together - no one is too small to make a real impact on history. And we've come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions we've created - especially since they're already helping us grow and strengthen what's basically our shared defense power. No matter what's going on in the world, everyone wants to feel sure that their country will not just be erased off the map. That used to depend on a handful of big capitals, but now it's on all of us - on how we work together, how ready we are to own our future, and how well we can convince our partners to stand with us. The more determination we show in defending our interests - the more interest our partners, and especially the U.S., will see it's good to stay on our side. Yesterday I held a special meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff. And the focus was on the production and supply of drones for our soldiers, for our army and electronic warfare. Drones are something that has already changed the nature of war, and the changes are far from over. Today, there is a direct dependence - to stop the advance of the enemy, to stop losing people and territories we need drones. Drones deter the enemy - keep them at the distance. It can be done. Production of drones in Ukraine is more cost-effective than anywhere else. This year, we in Ukraine want to set a record for the number and quality of drones we produce and get from our partners. And we're focusing on drones that our brigades need to hold the front lines, and drones essential for ensuring security like maritime drones, and drones made for deep strikes on the enemy's military facilities and infrastructure in their territory. We've already signed a significant number of contracts, with many more still in the works. I urge all of you to get even more actively involved in building up this arsenal of drones. Ukrainians have the most experience in Europe with using drones, and we also have the biggest capacity in Europe to produce drones. So, first, please invest more in this Ukrainian strength, because after the war it will also be your strength. Second, invest in the talented people in your countries who can help make all of us stronger in the drone field. Next. With most of the countries represented here, we already have bilateral security cooperation. I'm grateful to those countries with which we've signed bilateral security agreements - 27 of them as of today. And fully implementing these agreements is a real contribution not only to our security in Ukraine but also to your security. But we are a bigger number here in Ramstein. Much bigger. Let's pull our strength together and make such agreements with all the participants. And I'm asking my Minister of Defense to work with the Secretary and with all the ministers to increase the number of these documents, of course, if partners will support this idea. And I know that it will strengthen our frontline, and it will protect, which is very, very important especially in winter, it will protect our energy sector too - not only in Ukraine but also in your lands. It will boost the security programs. And now we see all the reports with underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. And we all see drone incidents in some countries that are raising serious concerns. We see destabilization in Africa, which threatens Europe with new migration waves. And we're also learning more about how Russian intelligence paid militants in Afghanistan to target coalition soldiers when your troops were present there - Moscow cashed in to kill your soldiers - American soldiers, NATO countries soldiers. How can this be forgiven or forgotten? Russia's hybrid aggression and sabotage against the entire Western world is ongoing, and only by keeping and strengthening our cooperation, by boosting our agreements and coalitions can we truly protect the normal lives of people in all our countries. I do everything I can to end this war with dignity for Ukraine and all of Europe this year. And I know I can count on your support. And we all must remember that ending the war is our shared goal - our, not Russia's, it's what Ukrainians, Europeans, Americans, and many of our global partners want. Countries as far apart as Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina also wish us peace. But here is the thing - Putin is not just holding on to his investments in aggression, he's doubling down. He's even started, basically, hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going. North Korea studies modern warfare. They do not value their people, and we know it, they lose them - 4,000 as for today. But Pyongyang gets experience cheap to re-export the war, maybe there in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, this collusion with North Korea shows Putin's weakness - because no ruler in Moscow would ever lower themselves to beg in Pyongyang unless facing critical problems. So we've got to keep the pressure on Russia. That's what ensures our soldiers get the weapons they need. That's what sanctions are for. And I'm asking all our partners - especially the U.S. and the EU - to turn up the heat on Russia's energy sector. Sanctions are needed against every element of Russian energy, and the Russian tanker fleet must be stopped. Russia's war budget for 2025 is 25% bigger than last year's. If we want to stop the killing, we've got to cut off Putin's cash flow. Putin will start thinking about peace only when his inner circle tells him he's out of money. And one more thing. The key to resisting aggression is motivation. And we know it. Motivation to risk your life to save your country. But motivation needs fuel, and the best fuel is success - I mean successful actions, successful agreements. When our troops can shoot down Russian missiles, including ballistic ones, and keep Russian aircraft away from Ukraine, it provides the motivation we desperately need. And we've had talks with the U.S. about licensing the production of air defense systems and missiles here in Ukraine, and this could become a significant part of our security guarantees - and it's absolutely doable. But we must keep in mind that the last NATO Summit promises haven't been fulfilled yet - we need, very much, we need the air defense systems you gave us already, thank you so much, and we need very much the systems you promised us. You've seen what happened yesterday in our city of Zaporizhzhia - Russia's bombs killed 13 people, 112 were injured. That was just one day, just one attack, one strike from the air. We must stop Russia's terror. And you can do it. And we ask for urgent deliveries of air defense systems. We also need to deliver on all our agreements for frontline supplies. And I want to thank again every country helping us with artillery, armored vehicles, and everything else we need. Our men and women on the frontlines need to feel that the world has their back, and nothing proves that better than making sure they have what they need to hit back at Russian attacks. Last year France came up with the idea to deploy partners' contingents in Ukraine, and you know it - to make peace closer. And we all understand - as for today, Putin's aims remain unchanged. And he wants to totally destroy Ukraine - and to break all of us and you too. That's why our goal is to find as many instruments as possible to force Russia into peace. I believe that such deployment of partners' contingents is one of the best instruments. Let's be more practical in making it possible. And we've heard signals also from some of our partners, from the United Kingdom - in support of this. And we must be brave, and we must propose truly strong instruments. Take, for example, the Kursk operation - it's one of our wins, I think one of the biggest wins, not just last year, but throughout the war. Russia had to pull almost 60,000 troops off the Ukrainian front to deal with it. And as of this Monday, it's been five months since our troops have maintained a buffer zone on Russian territory. Many of Russia's threats and bold claims turned out to be bluffing - especially after Ukrainians moved into the Kursk region. And I'm sure even more of their threats will prove to be bluffs if we all work even harder together to push Russia toward peace. Thank you for your attention. Thank you, Secretary! Stay confident. ! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Presidential Office Hosted a Meeting on Drafting a Law on the Military Ombudsman President of Ukraine 9 January 2025 - 15:39 The working group, chaired by the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and Their Families, Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska), continued drafting a law on the military ombudsman. Its general framework was previously developed by the Central Department for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemembers of the Ministry of Defense. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civil society organizations. "There is a shared position among the public, the Ministry of Defense and the President that the Office of the Military Ombudsman should be a separate institution with appropriate powers that will allow it to effectively protect the rights of military personnel and rights and freedoms within the security and defense sector in general," Olha Reshetylova said. The working group discussed the status and powers of the future Military Ombudsman and their office, subordination and interaction with other state bodies. They also considered a proposal to establish Military Ombudsman offices within all branches of the Security and Defense Forces. Representatives of civil society organizations also recommended creating distinct mechanisms for the appointing the Military Ombudsman during martial law and in peacetime, along with defining clear procedures for processing complaints. The members of the working group agreed to work through all the proposals and discuss them at their meeting next week. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian shellings kill four in Ukraine By VOA News January 09, 2025 Four people were killed in shellings in Ukraine on Thursday, regional officials said. In Donetsk region, where Russia is slowly advancing westward, regional Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram that two people were killed by Russian shelling in the town of Siversk. Farther south in a Russian-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia region, two people were killed when the town of Kamyanka-Dniprovska came under Ukrainian fire, the Russia-appointed Governor Yevgeny Belitsky said on Telegram. VOA could not immediately verify either report. Ukraine's military said earlier Thursday it shot down 46 of 70 drones that Russian forces used in attacks targeting areas in central and eastern Ukraine Falling debris from downed drones damaged houses in the Cherkasy, Kharkiv and Sumy regions, the Ukrainian air force said. Ukraine's air defenses also shot down drones in the Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv and Poltava and regions. The attacks came a day after Russian missiles struck the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 13 people and wounding 30 others. "There is nothing more cruel than launching aerial bombs on a city, knowing that ordinary civilians will suffer," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday. Russia has launched more than 51,000 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, the Ukrainian air force said on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Zelenskyy said the potential deployment of allies in Ukraine "is one of the best instruments" to push Russia into peace. "Let's be more practical in making it possible," he said in an address to allies at the Ramstein military base in Germany. Zelenskyy's statement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday that the United States will provide an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine. Separately, U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to unveil new sanctions this week targeting Russia's economy, including the oil sector, according to media reports. Russia's Defense Ministry said Thursday it shot down 15 Ukrainian drones, including over the Belgorod, Bryansk and Krasnodar regions along the Russia-Ukraine border. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram that drone debris damaged a home, but that there were no casualties from the Ukrainian attack. Some information for this report came from Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy urges coalition aiding Ukraine not to 'drop the ball' By Carla Babb, Jeff Seldin January 09, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thursday told allies and partners in Germany that it would be "crazy to drop the ball now" and end support for Ukraine against Russia. "It's clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world just 11 days from now," Zelenskyy told the Ukraine Defense Contact Group during opening remarks in Ramstein Germany, referring to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration as president. "We have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more and achieve even greater results together," he said. "No matter what's going on in the world, everyone wants to feel sure that their country will not just be erased off the map." As Ukrainians fight continuing Russian assaults, international support for their fight is uncertain. Trump has not indicated whether he will continue America's leadership of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group when President Joe Biden leaves office January 20. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the group of about 50 nations has provided Kyiv with more than $126 billion in weapons, training and equipment. The U.S. has provided about $66 billion, slightly more than half of the group's aid. That U.S. aid includes a $500 million package unveiled Thursday by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, consisting of additional missiles for Ukrainian air defense, more artillery ammunition, more air-to-ground munitions and equipment to support Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets all coming from U.S. stockpiles in the hope they can be delivered by the end of the month. "This coalition has become the arsenal of Ukrainian democracy," Austin told reporters following Thursday's meetings. "It has become an engine of global security ... the most consequential global coalition in more than 30 years." The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, he added, "has helped turn Ukraine's struggle into one of the great military success stories of our time." But not all of the security assistance allocated by the U.S. for Ukraine is guaranteed to reach Kyiv. U.S. officials have said about $3.8 billion remains untapped, leaving it up to the incoming Trump administration to decide whether and how to use it. And while several coalitions within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine's long-term security needs through at least 2027, member countries are grappling with what to expect from the Trump administration. "We think about options and alternatives," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters. "But the best solution would, in any case, be to continue the format as it used to be with the leadership of the United States of America." Some U.S. allies have been shaken by Trump's recent threats to take Greenland from NATO ally Denmark by force. Pistorius Thursday downplayed the comments. "I'm quite optimistic that remarks like that won't really, and I hope so, won't really influence U.S. politics after the 20th of January," the German defense minister said, though he added Trump's threats were "diplomatically astonishing." "I don't know what his objectives are to do that," Pistorius said. Austin, Thursday, declined to answer questions about Trump's Greenland comments, saying only, "that is a decision that's for the next administration to make." The U.S. defense chief emphasized, however, the importance of the U.S.-led coalition backing Ukraine, saying the impact goes far beyond the current conflict and that coalition members "must not flinch." "Every autocrat on earth is watching to see whether Putin gets away with it," Austin told reporters. "No responsible leader would let Putin have his way." "If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will only grow," Austin warned. "If autocrats conclude that democracies will lose their nerve, surrender their interests and forget their principles, we will only see more land grabs. If tyrants learn that aggression pays, we will only invite even more aggression, chaos and war." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN accuses Russia of waging war of attrition against Ukraine By Lisa Schlein January 09, 2025 U.N. human rights experts have accused Russia of waging a war of attrition against Ukraine by pursuing a policy of mass destruction to crush the spirit of the nation. A report issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or OHCHR, Wednesday says that since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, there has been "a dangerous escalation of hostilities," which has had a huge, injurious impact "on the civilian population." U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif, who presented the report to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, told the 47- member body that "September, in fact, marked the highest number of civilian casualties since July 2022." Most civilian casualties, she said, were caused by "relentless attacks with aerial glide bombs, long-range missiles, and drones that contributed to the killing of some 574 civilians an increase of 30% over the previous year." "Russian bombardment damaged civilian infrastructure and water, heating and transportation services, including four major attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since mid-November," she said. The report covers the period from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2024. It documents continued and increasing gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of humanitarian law, "including possible war crimes." "We are deeply concerned by the impacts on civilians of the increased use of drones and the use of new weapons during the reporting period," said Al-Nashif. "Russian armed forces launched some 2,000 long-range drones in November alone, killing scores of people," she said. "We are also concerned about the potential increased use of anti-personnel landmines, due to the threats they pose to civilians, both now and long into the future." The report documents "credible allegations" of executions of Ukrainian military personnel captured by Russian armed forces, noting that "summary executions constitute a war crime." The OHCHR has verified the execution of 68 Ukrainian POWs captured by Russian armed forces. The office also has verified the summary executions of 170 civilians since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, in areas controlled by Russian armed forces, including in places of detention. "Accountability for all of these killings is essential. Instead, there is almost total impunity," Al-Nashif said. The 26-page report also documents torture of POWs at the hands of Russian and Ukrainian armed forces, calling it "a violation of international law." However, the report says the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war carried out by Russian armed forces is far worse than it is for those captured by Ukrainian military personnel. It describes the torture of Ukrainian men and women POWs by Russia subjected to severe beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence and other abuse as "widespread and systematic." While Russian prisoners of war held by Ukraine also "were subjected to torture and ill-treatment, from severe beatings to sexual violence and dog attacks," the report notes the abuse occurred mostly in places of transit before reaching official places of internment. "The high commissioner's report lays bare the harrowing reality of Russia's war against human rights and fundamental freedoms in Ukraine," said Filipenko Yevheniia, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. "In the dead of winter, Russia has calculated strikes on power grids, water systems and heating infrastructure. They have left millions freezing in their homes, struggling without electricity or clean water," she said in a statement. "These are not unintended consequences. These are deliberate acts of terror calculated to spread suffering, target the most vulnerable, and shatter the spirit of the nation," she said. Russia's representative at the council sharply criticized what he called "the selective nature and the bias of the U.N.'s pseudo human rights defender in chief" who, he said produced a report that "hypocritically whitewashed the crimes" and numerous human rights violations in Ukraine. "If you are so desperate to talk about Russia, then you should write about the daily shelling of Donetsk and Belgorod, of atrocities committed by Ukrainian thugs and Kursk terrorist acts on homes in various Russian regions," said Evgeny Ustinov, first counsellor at the Russian Federation's Permanent Mission in Geneva. "The OHCHR clearly does not want to speak about the blatant discrimination against Russia and Russian speakers in Ukraine or about the harsh censorship, elimination of dissenters, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention ... and crimes committed by Ukrainians against peaceful civilians in Russian cities in the Donbas, Bucha, Belgorod and other oblasts of our country," he said. The U.S. representative disagreed with this assessment, describing the OHCHR's documentation of Russia's violations and abuses against Ukraine as "exemplary." "Next month will mark a cruel milestone, three years of Russia's unjust and unprovoked war in Ukraine," said Michele Taylor, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Council. "In those three years, we have seen Russia's forces commit war crimes, and with other Russian officials, crimes against humanity," she said, adding that "Russia must answer for all of its reprehensible and unlawful actions." Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the OHCHR said, more than 12,300 civilians have been killed, including over 650 children, and more than 27,800 people have been injured. It said more than 700 medical facilities and 1,500 schools and colleges have been damaged or destroyed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dublin, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Defense Electronics Obsolescence Management Market by System, Platform, End-Users - Global Forecast 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Defense Electronics Obsolescence Management Market has demonstrated consistent growth with an anticipated CAGR of 7.67% from 2024 to 2030. Experts forecast the market to reach a value of USD 4.97 billion by the end of the decade, up from USD 2.96 billion in 2023. This substantial growth indicates the industry's response to the urgent need for sustainability initiatives within military systems and a drive towards minimizing the impact of technology obsolescence. Strategic Innovations Fueling Market Expansion Innovation remains at the forefront of market growth, with modernization efforts and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), becoming critical. The predictive obsolescence management tools and the application of advanced analytics for life cycle prediction are primary factors influencing market dynamics. Companies are encouraged to prioritize strategic investment in data analytics and forge collaborative partnerships to navigate supply chain challenges. Understanding Influential Market Forces A deep dive into the Defense Electronics Obsolescence Management Market dynamics uncovers significant drivers, including the increasing demand for cost-efficient solutions and favorable government initiatives aimed at the reliability and life extension of defense systems. However, the market faces challenges, like the high costs associated with upgrading obsolete components and complexities in legacy systems integration. Comprehensive Market Analysis The application of models such as Porters Five Forces and PESTLE analyses provides a multi-dimensional view of the market. These strategic tools offer insights into competitive rivalry, potential economic impact, and understanding legislative, technological, and environmental factors shaping market trends. A market share analysis highlights the performance and competitive stance of leading vendors, while the FPNV Positioning Matrix helps businesses align their strategies with market requirements. Future Market Opportunities and Vendor Landscape As the market continues to evolve, opportunities arise for innovation in component longevity and predictive management of obsolescence. Furthermore, detailed profiling of key companies contributes to an understanding of market leadership and emerging players. The market is segmented by systemsincluding communication, flight control, human-machine interface, navigation, and targeting systemsplatforms such as airborne, land, and naval, and by various end-users. Anticipating Market Direction and Vendor Strategies Organizations seeking to capture market share in this competitive landscape can benefit from a comprehensive strategic analysis. Identifying areas for improvement and capitalizing on industry changes will be vital to securing long-term success within the Defense Electronics Obsolescence Management Market. The expansive market segmentation aids stakeholders in precise decision-making processes, ensuring that the increasing demands for reliable, efficient, and sustainable defense systems are met. This press release reflects the latest trends and market insights without advocacy or subjective claims. The growing Defense Electronics Obsolescence Management Market signifies an important shift in defense strategies globally, with a focused commitment to addressing the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technologies and system obsolescence. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 191 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $3.17 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $4.97 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.6% Regions Covered Global The leading players in the Defense Electronics Obsolescence Management Market, which are profiled in this report, include: ACTIA Group Astute Electronics Ltd. BAE Systems PLC CAE Inc. Cobham Limited Curtiss-Wright Corporation Elbit Systems Ltd. Honeywell International Inc. L3Harris Technologies Inc. Leonardo S.p.A. Lockheed Martin Corporation Matric Group Micross Components, Inc. Northrop Grumman Corporation Rheinmetall AG Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC SAAB AB ScanCAD International Inc. Textron Inc. Thales Group Ultra Electronics Holdings For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2a0kwv About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Verizon Foundation is stepping up to support communities devastated by the Southern California fires and windstorms with a total of $1 million in donations. The contributions aim to provide much-needed aid and resources to support firefighters and the community. The donations include $500K to the American Red Cross and $500K to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation ( LAFD ). The American Red Cross donation will support emergency relief efforts in the LA area. The LA Fire Department Foundation donation will help cover the costs of essential tools and safety equipment for LAFD firefighters, including hydration backpacks, wildland brush tools and emergency fire shelters. The fires and windstorms are absolutely devastating, and Verizon Foundation is stepping up immediately to ensure support reaches those who are in such urgent need, said Donna Epps, Verizons Chief Responsible Business Officer. The Verizon Foundation is supporting the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they provide relief for communities to contain the fire and keep people safe. The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those impacted by the devastating wildfires in California, said Anne McKeough, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. We are so grateful for partners like the Verizon Foundation as we work together to provide relief and hope for communities in the wake of this heartbreaking disaster. Our LAFD firefighters continue risking their own safety to defend our communities as the Palisades Fire rages on, said LAFD Foundation President Liz Lin. We must do everything we can to ensure they have the tools and equipment they need to protect homes and lives. We cannot thank Verizon enough for this incredible support. Media contacts Hope Armanus hope.arcuri.armanus@verizon.com Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Zeta To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 in Zeta between February 27, 2024 and November 13, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (Zeta or the Company) (NYSE: ZETA) and reminds investors of the January 21, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that Zeta used two-way contracts to artificially inflate financial results; (2) that Zeta engaged in round trip transactions to artificially inflate financial results; (3) that Zeta utilized predatory consent farms to collect user data; (4) that these consent farms have driven almost the entirety of Zetas growth; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On November 13, 2024, Culper Research published a report alleging that the integrity of the Companys data collection and reported financials is severely undermined by two factors. First, the report alleged that Zeta has formed two-way contracts with third party consent farms wherein the Company simultaneously acts as both a supplier and a buyer of consumer data, allowing the Company to flatter reported revenue growth and indicating possible round-tripping of revenue. Second, the report alleged that Zeta collects the majority of its customer data from a network of sham websites that hoodwink millions of consumers each month into handing their data over to Zeta under false pretenses. For example, the report alleged the Company and its subsidiaries operate a number of fake job boards which are designed to trick individuals into submitting personal data under the pretense of job applications. The report further alleged that the Companys most valuable data comes from these predatory websites, dubbed consent farms, which are responsible for almost the entirety of the Companys growth. On this news, the Companys stock price fell $10.46, or 37.07%, to close at $17.76 per share on November 13, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Zetas conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Zeta Global Holdings class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ZETA or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( www.faruqilaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b78d6d9-524e-4bfa-9772-9599dc664268 CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Premium Sand Inc. (CPS or the Company) (TSXV: CPS) is pleased to announce the conclusion of the previously announced warrant exercise and its fiscal year end 2024 financial results. The Companys audited financial statements and notes thereto and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three months and year ended September 30, 2024, are available under CPSs SEDAR+ profile. Warrant Exercise and Expiration of all outstanding Warrants Following the Companys December 16, 2024 announcement regarding exercise of common share purchase warrants (Warrants) and extension of the convertible debenture maturity date, the Company is pleased to report that in the month of December, 9,206,404 Warrants were exercised by the Companys large shareholders, board members and management. The Warrants were exercised at a price of $0.40 per Warrant, generating gross cash proceeds to the Company of $3,682,562. The Company now has 92,627,156 common shares outstanding. Proceeds from this exercise will support the advancement of the Companys pattern solar glass manufacturing projects and general corporate purposes. Of the 32,100,000 Warrants issued by the Company on August 31, 2022, a total of 14,811,496 have been exercised with the remaining 17,288,504 unexercised Warrants having expired on December 31, 2024. 2024 Highlights During the financial year ended September 30, 2024, the Company invested $0.52 million to progress its pattern solar glass manufacturing facility in Selkirk, Manitoba (the Selkirk Project) and progress discussions with a potential strategic partner to develop a solar glass manufacturing operation in the US (the US Project). Specifically, the Company: Announced indication of financial support for the Selkirk Project from the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada totaling $272 million made available through various provincial and federal programs. As part of the $272 million support package, the Company progressed formal application for the $100 million non-dilutive financial support for the Selkirk Project from the Federal government and is now in the due diligence phase. Held discussions with Manitoba based indigenous groups related to their investment participation of up to $100 million for the Selkirk Project utilizing the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program. Worked towards formalizing elements of the $72 million financial support from the Province of Manitoba for the Selkirk Project. Selected a site in the US to re-purpose a former glass manufacturing facility to produce 4GW per year of pattern solar glass with a potential strategic glass manufacturing partner. Established a wholly owned US subsidiary and applied for a tax credit with the U.S. Department of Energy to support development of the US Project. Advanced conversations with customers related to the supply of pattern solar glass from both projects. 2024 saw the Company establish a broader strategic vision to supply both low-carbon product from the Selkirk Project and US manufactured product from the US Project, totaling approximately 10GW per year of pattern solar glass production. The financial support from its large shareholders, Board and Management through the exercise of outstanding warrants, represents a strong endorsement of the Companys strategic direction, stated Company President & CEO, Glenn Leroux. About Canadian Premium Sand Inc. The Company is developing North American manufacturing capacity for ultra-high-clarity pattern solar glass through multiple facilities, utilizing high-purity low-iron silica sand from its wholly owned Wanipigow quarry leases. The Companys low-carbon facility located in Selkirk, Manitoba will utilize renewable Manitoba hydroelectricity and produce 6GW of low-carbon solar glass. The Companys planned jointly owned facility located in the U.S. will produce 4GW of domestic solar glass. With 10GW of annual proposed solar glass manufacturing capacity, the Company is well positioned to become the largest and preferred supplier in North America. The Company is a reporting issuer in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Its shares trade on the TSXV under the symbol "CPS". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT INFORMATION: Canadian Premium Sand Inc. Glenn Leroux President & CEO glenn.leroux@cpsmail.com Isha Kular Chief Financial Officer isha.kular@cpsmail.com Investor Relations IR@cpsmail.com 587.355.3714 www.cpsglass.com Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation, expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including information as to the future events, results of operations and the Companys future performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as expects, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, plans, seeks, projects or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs, estimates and opinions regarding its future growth, results of operations, future performance (both operational and financial), and business prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made by the Company that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, but not limited, to: the expectation that significant shareholder value will be created in 2024 by commercializing the Project; the financing of the Project; the anticipated market for the Company's patterned solar glass; future development plans; industry activity levels; industry conditions pertaining to the solar glass manufacturing industry; the ability of and manner by which the Company expects to meet its capital needs; and the Company's objectives, strategies and competitive strengths. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. Washington, DC, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Mint (Mint) today released the designs for the 2025 American Innovation $1 Coin Program. This multi-year series that began in 2018 honors innovation and innovators by issuing $1 coins for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. The Mint works with the office of the Governor or other Chief Executive for each state, territory, or city, along with subject matter experts, to determine design concepts emblematic of innovation that are significant and meaningful to its jurisdiction and/or its role in the Nation. Once the Secretary of the Treasury approves the design concepts, the designs are developed and reviewed. The Secretary of the Treasury selects the final design for each coin. The 2025 designs honor innovations and/or innovators from Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, and Texas. American Innovation Arkansas Designer: Elana Hagler, Artistic Infusion Program Designer Sculptor: Eric David Custer, U.S. Mint Medallic Artist This design features Raye Montague visualizing a United States Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, a ship she designed by computer. The grid pattern over the sea evokes the engineering and drafting techniques she digitalized to accomplish her design. Included inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ARKANSAS, and RAYE MONTAGUE. American Innovation Michigan Designer: Ron Sanders, Artistic Infusion Program Designer Sculptor: John P. McGraw, Mint Medallic Artist This design features a 1930s-era assembly line where a team of auto workers lowers an automobile cab into place. Included inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MICHIGAN, and AUTO ASSEMBLY LINE. American Innovation Florida Designer: Ron Sanders, Artistic Infusion Program Designer Sculptor: Eric David Custer, Mint Medallic Artist This design presents an image of a NASA Space Shuttle lifting off from Launch Complex 39 at Floridas Kennedy Space Center. Smoke from the solid rocket boosters fills the lower edges of the design with stars in background. Included inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FLORIDA. American Innovation Texas Designer: Ron Sanders, Artistic Infusion Program Designer Sculptor: John P. McGraw, Mint Medallic Artist This design features an American astronaut conducting a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. The image represents the culmination of the Mission Control Centers economic, logistical, and intellectual support for NASAs human space program, as well as its support of astronauts from the many countries that participate in the International Space Station program. Included inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TEXAS. The obverse (heads) design of American Innovation $1 Coins features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST and $1. The design also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation. The edge-incused inscriptions are 2025, the mint mark, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. Images are available at https://www.usmint.gov/news/image-library/american-innovation-dollars. On-sale dates for products containing the 2025 American Innovation $1 Coins will be published on the Mints 2025 Product Schedule. When available, the Mint will accept orders at usmint.gov/. Information about shipping options is available at https://www.usmint.gov/help-center/shipping.html. About the United States Mint Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Visit www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-innovation-dollar-coins to learn more about the American Innovation $1 Coin Program. Visit www.usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint. Visit https://www.usmint.gov/help-center/newsletters-and-alerts to subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, public statements, and the monthly educational newsletters, Coins Online and Lessons That Make Cents . and . Visit and subscribe to the United States Mints YouTube channel to view videos about the United States Mint. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. # # # United States Mint Connecting America through Coins NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZoomInfo Technologies (ZoomInfo or the Company) is a Delaware company headquartered in Vancouver, Washington. ZoomInfo is a subscription-based software company that sells access to its database of information about businesspeople and companies to sales, marketing and recruiting professionals. ZOOMINFO INVESTIGATION ZoomInfos express and implied representations governing their ZoomInfo Lite (f/k/a Community Edition) program guarantees that ZoomInfo will not view, read, or otherwise inspect the contents of users email communications and only extract business information like business contacts and company names from users email by selectively focusing on address books, email headers, and email signatures. Lowey Dannenberg is investigating whether ZoomInfo among other things, has (i) unlawfully and intentionally intercepted, accessed, viewed, read, and/or scanned individuals personal information contained within their electronic communications without knowledge or consent, (ii) subsequently unauthorizedly used, disclosed, disseminated, and/or sold those electronic communications to third parties including marketers, recruiters, and advertisers; and (iii) engaged in false and deceptive representations that ZoomInfo does not access, view, read, or scan personal information contained in users electronic communications. If you are a resident in the State of California and wish to know more about this investigation, please contact our attorneys at (914) 733-7256 or via email at investigations@lowey.com . About Lowey Dannenberg Lowey Dannenberg is a national firm representing institutional and individual investors, who suffered financial losses resulting from corporate fraud and malfeasance in violation of federal securities and antitrust laws. The firm has significant experience in prosecuting multi-million-dollar lawsuits and has previously recovered billions of dollars on behalf of investors. Contact: Lowey Dannenberg P.C. 44 South Broadway, Suite 1100 White Plains, NY 10601 Tel: (914) 733-7256 Email: investigations@lowey.com SOURCE: Lowey Dannenberg NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- Roth Capital Partners, LLC (ROTH), www.roth.com , announced today the addition of five seasoned professionals to its Sales and Trading team: Todd Trimmer , Nathan Cahill , Ken Hawkins , Matthew Job , and Michael Shea . Todd Trimmer joined ROTH in September 2024 as Managing Director, Head of Trading Recruitment and Strategy, bringing over 30 years of experience in investment banking and broker-dealer businesses. His distinguished career includes leadership roles such as Senior Managing Director at Maxim Group, Co-Head of U.S. Equities at Auerbach Grayson, and CEO of Weeden & Co., where he served for 21 years. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Trimmer is actively involved in philanthropy, serving as Chair of the St. Jude Childrens Hospital Wall Street Committee and on the boards of several organizations. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University. Nathan Cahill joins ROTH as Managing Director, Institutional Sales, bringing over 20 years of extensive experience across multiple roles and divisions, including Institutional Equities, Equity Research, Capital Markets, Investment Banking, and Fixed Income. His career has included positions at prestigious firms such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Wedbush, Wells Fargo, and Nomura. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in Business with a concentration in Finance and Business Economics. Ken Hawkins joined ROTH in November 2024 as Event Driven & Risk Arbitrage Trader. With over 25 years of experience trading in this specialized space, Ken has worked at leading firms including Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley, Citi, FBR, and most recently, RW Baird, where he spent eight years. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Matthew Job joined ROTH in October 2024 as Executive Director, Senior Sales Trader. Before joining ROTH, he spent six years at Craig-Hallum Capital Group as a Senior Institutional Sales Trader, where he built strong relationships with hedge funds and family offices. He holds a B.A. in Economics from St. Olaf College. Michael Shea, a seasoned financial services professional with 29 years of industry experience, joins ROTH as a Managing Director, Senior Sales Trader. Throughout his career, he has held several senior leadership roles, including 11 years as a Senior Sales Trader at Leerink Partners, CEO of VenDerMoolen Institutional Services from 2007 to 2010, Managing Partner at DAP Execution Brokers, and Senior Vice President at LaBranche Financial. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in American History from The University of Michigan. Sagar Sheth, CEO of ROTH, highlighted the significance of these additions, stating, These strategic hires exemplify ROTHs commitment to expanding teams of professionals across departments and advancing our mission to deliver unparalleled service, innovation, and growth for clients and stakeholders alike. About ROTH ROTH is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Our full-service platform provides capital raising, high-impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, ROTH is a privately held, employee-owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.roth.com . Investor Contact: ROTH Isabel Mattson-Pain Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer 949.720.7117, imattson-pain@roth.com ROTH Member FINRA/SIPC www.roth.com Media Contact: VILNIUS, Lithuania, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WhiteBIT TR cryptocurrency exchange has announced a strategic partnership with Turkey's first neobank, Misyon Bank, ushering in 2025 with a significant milestone for the Turkish cryptocurrency sector. This collaboration enables Misyon Bank to connect with individual investors across Europe through WhiteBIT TR, marking its third major initiative in the digital assets space, following two global partnerships. As per the agreement between MisyonTech, the financial technology and digital asset subsidiary of Misyon Bank, and WhiteBIT TR, the latter will provide liquidity for major cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, and AVAX, on Turkey's first bank-secured crypto asset platform, which also features advanced tokenization capabilities. At the signing ceremony, Emre Yetiskin, Chairman of the Board of WhiteBIT TR, emphasized that Misyon Bank, listed in the Capital Markets Board's Crypto Asset Service Providers List, is the first institution in Turkey authorized to offer both custody and platform services in the cryptocurrency sector. Yetiskin stated, Turkey, as a regional leader in the crypto asset sector, also dominates stable cryptocurrency trading volumes in the region. We commend the progress Misyon Bank has made as a pioneer in Turkey's digital asset space, aligning with global trends while showcasing a forward-thinking regional vision. We are proud to contribute to Misyon Bank's journey as it advances toward its ambitious goals. "We reached over 100,000 users in a short time" Evaluating WhiteBIT Group's position in the global and Turkish markets, Yetiskin said, "The high performance behind this success lies in being one of the safest exchanges in the world and our asset diversity. We offer more than 330 digital assets and 440 trading pairs to our users. In Turkey, where we have been operating with a 100% compliance commitment since 2022, we reached over 100,000 users in just six months." "Secondary regulations are strengthening Turkey's position as a regional investment hub" Muhammet Cerit, CEO of MisyonTech, stated, "Turkey ranks first in Europe, second in MENA, and third in the world in terms of crypto asset ownership. This year, we took significant steps in regional expansion with global partnerships across 25 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The agreement we signed today with WhiteBIT TR is the first stage of our goal to reach individual investors in Europe. WhiteBIT TR, which has been serving Turkish users since 2022, is one of the exchanges that knows our country and market, standing out in Turkey with its speed and security features. We are happy to partner with a strong ally that will support our goals of expanding our investor base both in Turkey and globally and providing access to Turkish assets for foreign individual investors."During the signing ceremony, Cerit also answered questions about digital asset regulations in Turkey, stating, "The initial regulations on digital assets in our country have strengthened Turkeys position as a regional investment hub. We expect the completion of secondary regulations in the first month of 2025, which will also renew crypto investors' confidence in the market. In this context, our platform is ready to meet the growing supply of crypto assets, both for custody and trading operations." WhiteBIT Group is actively developing the direction of crypto-as-a-service for the B2B sector. It currently has more than 1,300 institutional clients and is open to partnerships with banks, digital payment providers, and other financial institutions. Thus, WhiteBIT and Visa recently introduced the first debit card for crypto payments. By incorporating crypto solutions into business, financial institutions can enhance functionality and unlock new revenue streams by providing customers with opportunities to purchase crypto with fiat, store digital assets, create crypto wallets, and more. WhiteBIT Group is ready for new collaborations and expanding its influence on international markets. About WhiteBIT TR WhiteBIT, Europe's largest cryptocurrency exchange, established WhiteBIT TR in April 2024 with a Turkish team. Within six months, the crypto exchange surpassed hundreds of thousands of active users, operating in full compliance with Turkey's regulations. WhiteBIT TR fully adopts the technology and security measures of a global platform that became the first exchange to achieve the highest cryptocurrency security standard level. The company has successfully passed the CryptoCurrency Security Standard (CCSS) certification, which secured the top position in the CER.live cryptocurrency exchange security ranking, achieving a perfect score of 100 out of 100. WhiteBIT, a sponsor of FC Barcelona and FC Trabzonspor, has achieved significant growth through WhiteBIT TR, surpassing 100 corporate clients and ranking among the top 10 cryptocurrency applications. With a portfolio of over 330 digital assets and 440 trading pairs, WhiteBIT TR provides a range of B2B and VIP services, including crypto-as-a-service. WhiteBIT TR continues to enhance the WhiteBIT Groups product ecosystem which includes WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) operating on its proprietary blockchain, Whitechain, while delivering optimal conditions for all its clients. About Misyon Bank Misyon Bank, Turkeys first neobank, is progressing with the goal of becoming the region's leading investment bank by focusing on custody, platform, service banking, and digital asset services to meet the needs of the new economy. With the largest custody ecosystem in Turkey, Misyon Bank has localized and strengthened Swiss custody technology in collaboration with ITU Teknopark. Offering securities custody services under the "anakasa" brand to the capital markets, Misyon Bank has completed its preparations in the digital asset custody space and, together with its subsidiary MisyonTech, is listed in the Capital Markets Board's Crypto Asset Service Providers List. Misyon Bank is the only institution in Turkey authorized to provide both custody and platform services in the cryptocurrency field. Contact WhiteBIT pr@whitebit.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81a73291-3113-47cb-8a7a-7ae9e964b011 China Film Day marked in Kathmandu Xinhua) 11:11, January 10, 2025 A staff member of the China Film Administration speaks to the press at a China Film Day event in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 9, 2025. A China Film Day was hosted here on Thursday afternoon, showcasing three Chinese films released lately. Screened on the occasion were Her Story directed by Shao Yihui, The Midsummer's Voice directed by Zhang Yudi, and G for Gap directed by Long Fei. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua) KATHMANDU, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- A China Film Day was hosted here on Thursday afternoon, showcasing three Chinese films released lately. Screened on the occasion were Her Story directed by Shao Yihui, The Midsummer's Voice directed by Zhang Yudi, and G for Gap directed by Long Fei. Among the audience were artists, directors and technicians from the Nepali cinema sector. It is the first time for the China Film Administration to host such an event abroad in 2025 after China and Nepal agreed to organize a Chinese Film Festival in Nepal this year under a joint statement signed in early December 2024, noted Xu Yang, director of the international department at the administration. As 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal as well as Visit Nepal Year in China, the China Film Day was organized as a platform for exchanges and cooperation between filmmakers from the two countries and for promoting mutual learning between Chinese and Nepalese civilizations, said Wang Xin, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. "If Nepali films find a place in the vast Chinese market, that would be a huge achievement," said Barsha Man Pun, a member of the House of Representatives and former finance minister of Nepal. "Films have an unparalleled capacity to break the language barrier and connect all the people," he said at the event. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) in connection with Southwest Airlines information technology infrastructure impacting Southwest Airlines business, operations, and stock price. If you currently own shares of Southwest Airlines stock, please visit the firms website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=10716 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@rosenlegal.com. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC:MECPF, FRA:92T) (the Company or Mustang) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Konigsstuhl Project, a 5,228 hectare property located in the Eastern Athabasca Basin in northern, Saskatchewan. Secured through cost-effective staking, the Konigsstuhl Project adds five 100% owned mineral claims to Mustangs expanding portfolio of promising uranium assets in one of the worlds premier mining districts. Project Highlights: Location: The project is located approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Camecos McArthur River Mine and 45 kilometres southwest of Camecos Cigar Lake Mine. The project is located approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Camecos McArthur River Mine and 45 kilometres southwest of Camecos Cigar Lake Mine. Adjacent property mineralization (see Figure 1): Drill hole WMA-010 intersected 0.29% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m from 881.3-881.8 m, with anomalous Pb, V, Co, Ni, As, in a bleached, clay-altered fault in graphitic pelite 1 . (SMDI# 3553) Drill hole WMA-004 intersected 0.28% U 3 O 8 over 0.2 m from 1016.0 - 1016.2 m four metres below the Athabasca unconformity associated with a clay-filled fracture in hematite-chlorite paleoweathered semi-pelite 2 . (SMDI# 3551) Drill Hole CL-138 intersected 547 ppm U(partial) over 0.5 m from 609.3-609.8 m in pelite below the unconformity at 606.6 m 3 . (SMDI# 3549) Previous Exploration: The property benefits from extensive high-resolution geophysical coverage including a 2011 ZTEM survey over the southern claim area4, a 2005 MEGATEM survey across the northern claim block5, and a 2005 Radiometric survey covering the entire property6. Figure 1: Overview of Mustang Energy's newly acquired claims Konigsstuhl Project7,1 We are pleased to add the Konigsstuhl Project to our growing portfolio of uranium assets in the Athabasca Basin, said Nick Luksha, CEO of Mustang Energy Corp. By strategically claim-staking, we continue to secure 100% ownership of promising properties while keeping costs low. With a strong technical team and access to an exceptional geophysical dataset, we are looking to advance exploration efforts and generate new opportunities for discovery on this underexplored property. Project Geology and Mineralization The Konigsstuhl Project is underlain by basement rocks consisting of Archean granitoids and Lower Proterozoic (Trans Hudson) Wollaston and Mudjatik Group metamorphic rocks. These metamorphic rocks are composed of supracrustal rocks such as psammites, pelites, and minor greenstones, along with associated intrusions. Overlying these basement rocks are an estimated 700 to 900 meters of flat-lying Athabasca sandstones and conglomerates7. The geological setting of the Konigsstuhl Project demonstrates potential for the discovery of unconformity-style and basement-hosted uranium mineralization similar to that found at Cigar Lake and McArthur River. The property features potential EM conductors and mapped faults identified through previous exploration3,4, which serve as both conduits and traps for uranium mineralization. Strategic Importance The acquisition of the Konigsstuhl Project aligns with Mustangs vision of building a robust portfolio of uranium assets in the Athabasca Basin, a region known for its high-grade uranium deposits. As global energy markets shift toward low-carbon solutions, nuclear energy remains a cornerstone of sustainable power generation, driving demand for uranium resources. Mustang remains committed to executing its exploration strategy responsibly, contributing positively to local communities, and ensuring environmental sustainability in all its operations. References 1. SMDI# 3553, https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/3553 2. SMDI# 3551, https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/3551 3. SMDI# 3549, https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/3549 4. SMAD# 74H-0061, http://mineral-assessment.saskatchewan.ca/Pages/BasePages/Main.aspx 5. SMAD# 74H14-0056, http://mineral-assessment.saskatchewan.ca/Pages/BasePages/Main.aspx 6. SMAD# 74H-0061, http://mineral-assessment.saskatchewan.ca/Pages/BasePages/Main.aspx 7. Saskatchewan GeoAtlas, https://gisappl.saskatchewan.ca/Html5Ext/index.html?viewer=GeoAtlas Qualifying Statement The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo., Technical Advisor for Mustang Energy, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Ms. Guillaume is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Adjacent Property Disclaimer: This news release includes references with respect to uranium occurrences as well as references to geological favourability of Adjacent Properties, which are located near the Konigsstuhl Project. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on the Adjacent Properties and any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Konigsstuhl Project, or the Companys ability to commercially exploit the Konigsstuhl Project, or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. The Company cautions investors on relying on this information as the Company has not confirmed the accuracy or reliability of the information. Update on Engagement with MCS Market Communication Services GmbH Further to the Companys news release dated September 16, 2024 and December 6, 2024, and pursuant to the independent marketing service contract (the MCS Agreement) dated September 12, 2024 with MCS Market Communication Service GmbH (MCS), the Company has increased its promotional campaign budget from EUR500.000 to EUR750.000, effective January 9, 2025. Pursuant to the MCS Agreement, the Company agreed to an initial budget of EUR250.000, with an option (the Option) to increase the budget during the term of the engagement, which Option was first exercised on November 29, 2024 to increase the budget to EUR500.000. Pursuant to the MCS Agreement, MCS agreed to create a promotional campaign for Mustang consisting of text materials, advertisements, keyword research for search term optimization, and other such online marketing activities. The promotional campaign is for a period of six months ending on March 23, 2025. The Company will not issue any securities to MCS as compensation for the services. As of the date hereof, to the Companys knowledge, MSC and its directors and officers do not own any securities of the Company and have an arms length relationship with the Company. This partnership will focus on building brand recognition and investor outreach in the European markets, further complementing the Companys recent Frankfurt listing. MCS is an independent company which will, as appropriate, provide project management and consulting for an online marketing campaign, coordinate marketing actions, maintain and optimize AdWords campaigns, adapt AdWords bidding strategies, optimize AdWords ads, and create and optimize landing pages. The promotional activity will occur by email, Facebook, and Google. MCS Marketing has an address at Rheinproimendate 13, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, NRW, Germany, and can be reached at info@mcsmarket.de or 49-160-99032182 About Mustang Energy Corp.: Mustang is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada and holds 77,318 hectares in around the Athabasca Basin. Mustang's flagship property, Ford Lake, covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 3,442 hectares in the Wollaston Domain. Mustang has also established its footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the Yellowstone Project (21,820 hectares) and further expanded its presence in the south central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project (7,633 hectares). For further information, please contact: Mustang Energy Corp. Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director Phone: (604) 838-0184 Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends, believes or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as forwardlooking statements, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the future potential of the minerals claims held by the Company, including the Konigsstuhl Project; the completion of future work on the Konigsstuhl Project; that marketing campaigns led by MCS will expand the Companys presence in Europe; and that the Company is strategically positioned for substantial growth. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to continue exploring its properties given various environmental and economic factors outside of its control; that the marketing campaigns created by MCS will be completed as planned; and that the marketing engagement with MCS will have the desired impact on Mustangs presence in Europe. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/69b53c74-126d-4abe-95ca-9cd24f42ea1d Mithril Silver and Gold Ltd. ("Mithril" or "the Company") (MTH:ASX, MSG:TSXV) is pleased to announce the engagement of highly experienced technical consultants Daniel Kunz & Associates, LLC to provide additional support for the advancement of our flagship Copalquin property. HIGHLIGHTS Mithril has engaged Daniel Kunz Associates (DKA) to enhance its technical strength ahead of the significantly expanded work program at its high-grade Copalquin silver-gold district property in the Sierra Madre Trend, Durango State, Mexico. Mr Kunz brings extensive international mining experience as a previous CEO of Ivanhoe Mines and more recently as the founding CEO of TSX listed Prime Mining Corp., which is advancing its Los Reyes precious metals property, within the same geologic region as Copalquin. Associated with the engagement, DKA will be issued 735,000 unlisted share Options exercisable at A$0.70 for 2 years from the date of issue. Drilling is already underway for 2025 ahead of the 35,000 metres planned for completion by the end of this year. John Skeet, Mithril's Managing Director and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to continue to bolster our technical strength by engaging Dan and his consulting firm DKA. Dan and his team have significant and relevant success and experience in our region of Mexico, invaluable to our expansive exploration program at Copalquin. Drilling has already commenced for 2025 at the maiden resource Target 1 area ahead of our planned resource upgrade as we await assays for drill samples dispatched in December 2024. Preparations are on track for our 2025 exploration program, which includes commencement of drilling at two further resource target areas and development and testing of the large district geologic model. The Copalquin District municipal access road upgrade is on schedule, facilitating the expanded exploration program for the district, with ensuing news flow." Daniel & Kunz and Associates, LLC (DKA), founded and led by Daniel Kunz, is a mining consulting firm based in Boise, Idaho. Mr. Kunz has significant experience in international mining, exploration, engineering, and construction, including marketing, business development, management, accounting, finance, and operations. Mr. Kunz was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. ("Ivanhoe Mines") from November 1997 until October 2000, and then was President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Ivanhoe Mines from November 2000 until March 2003. Mr. Kunz was one of the driving forces in taking Ivanhoe Mines into Mongolia where, in 2001, the Company discovered Oyu Tolgoi, one of the world's largest copper-gold deposits. During his seven-year tenure, the market capitalization value of Ivanhoe Mines increased from $400 million to $4.4 billion. More recently, Mr. Kunz was a co-founder, CEO, President and Director of Prime Mining Corp. ("Prime"), until his planned succession as CEO and President in February 2024. Mr. Kunz was instrumental in several significant milestones for Prime, including Prime's graduation to the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange, resource growth for the Los Reyes Project, the inaugural sustainability report, as well as significant financings. The Initial term for services is 12 months and will include review and analysis of all geological parameters derived from core logging, multi-element assays, core orientation, geotechnical, mapping and sampling work and integrating results from the LiDAR survey, training of geology personnel, assistance with the development of the hydrothermal model, 3D modelling and ongoing support for resource estimation work. ABOUT THE COPALQUIN GOLD SILVER PROJECT The Copalquin mining district is located in Durango State, Mexico and covers an entire mining district of 70km2 containing several dozen historic gold and silver mines and workings, ten of which had notable production. The district is within the Sierra Madre Gold Silver Trend which extends north-south along the western side of Mexico and hosts many world-class gold and silver deposits. Multiple mineralisation events, young intrusives thought to be system-driving heat sources, widespread alteration together with extensive surface vein exposures and dozens of historic mine workings, identify the Copalquin mining district as a major epithermal centre for Gold and Silver. Within 15 months of drilling in the Copalquin District, Mithril delivered a maiden JORC mineral resource estimate demonstrating the high-grade gold and silver resource potential for the district. This maiden resource is detailed below (see ASX release 17 November 2021)^ and NI43-101 Technical Report filed on SEDAR+ 2,416,000 tonnes4.80 g/t gold, 141 g/t silver for 373,000 oz gold plus 10,953,000 oz silver (Total 529,000 oz AuEq*) using a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t AuEq* 28.6% of the resource tonnage is classified as indicated Tonnes (kt) Tonnes (kt) Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) Gold Eq.* (g/t) Gold (koz) Silver (koz) Gold Eq.* (koz) El Refugio Indicated 691 5.43 114.2 7.06 121 2,538 157 Inferred 1,447 4.63 137.1 6.59 215 6,377 307 La Soledad Indicated - - - - - - - Inferred 278 4.12 228.2 7.38 37 2,037 66 Total Indicated 691 5.43 114.2 7.06 121 2,538 157 Inferred 1,725 4.55 151.7 6.72 252 8,414 372 TOTAL 2,416 4.80 141 6.81 373 10,953 529 Table 1 - Mineral resource estimate El Refugio - La Soledad using a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t AuEq* * The gold equivalent (AuEq.) values are determined from gold and silver values and assume the following: AuEq. = gold equivalent calculated using and gold:silver price ratio of 70:1. That is, 70 g/t silver = 1 g/t gold. The metal prices used to determine the 70:1 ratio are the cumulative average prices for 2021: gold USD1,798.34 and silver: USD25.32 (actual is 71:1) from kitco.com. Metallurgical recoveries are assumed to be approximately equal for both gold and silver at this early stage. Actual metallurgical recoveries from test work to date are 96% and 91% for gold and silver, respectively. In the Company's opinion there is reasonable potential for both gold and silver to be extracted and sold. Actual metal prices have not been used in resource estimate, only the price ratio for the AuEq reporting. Formula for AuEq. = Au grade +( (Ag grade/gold:silver price ratio) x (Ag recovery/Au recovery)) ^ The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves is based on information provided in the following ASX announcement: 17 Nov 2021 - MAIDEN JORC RESOURCE 529,000 OUNCES @ 6.81G/T (AuEq*), which includes the full JORC MRE report, also available on the Mithril Resources Limited Website. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. Mining study and metallurgical test work supports the development of the El Refugio-La Soledad resource with conventional underground mining methods indicated as being appropriate and with high gold-silver recovery to produce metal on-site with conventional processing. Mithril is currently exploring in the Copalquin District to expand the resource footprint, demonstrating its multi-million-ounce gold and silver potential. Mithril has an exclusive option to purchase 100% interest in the Copalquin mining concessions by paying US$10M on or any time before 7 August 2026 (option has been extended by 3 years). Mithril has reached an agreement with the vendor for an extension of the payment date by a further 2 years (bringing the payment date to 7 August 2028). Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1 - Copalquin District location map with locations of mining and exploration activity within the state of Durango -ENDS- Released with the authority of the Board. For further information contact: John Skeet Managing Director and CEO jskeet@mithrilresources.com.au +61 435 766 809 Mark Flynn Investor Relations mflynn@mithrilresources.com.au +61 416 068 733 Competent Persons Statement - JORC The information in this announcement that relates to metallurgical test results, mineral processing and project development and study work has been compiled by Mr John Skeet who is Mithril's CEO and Managing Director. Mr Skeet is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. This is a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO) under the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code. Mr Skeet has sufficient experience of relevance to the styles of mineralisation and the types of deposits under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Skeet consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. The Australian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. The information in this announcement that relates to sampling techniques and data, exploration results and geological interpretation for Mithril's Mexican project, has been compiled by Mr Ricardo Rodriguez who is Mithril's Project Manager. Mr Rodriguez is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. This is a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO) under the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code. Mr Rodriguez has sufficient experience of relevance to the styles of mineralisation and the types of deposits under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Rodriguez consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. The information in this announcement that relates to Mineral Resources is reported by Mr Rodney Webster, Principal Geologist at AMC Consultants Pty Ltd (AMC), who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The report was peer reviewed by Andrew Proudman, Principal Consultant at AMC. Mr Webster is acting as the Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, for the reporting of the Mineral Resource estimate. A site visit was carried out by Jose Olmedo a geological consultant with AMC, in September 2021 to observe the drilling, logging, sampling and assay database. Mr Webster consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears The Australian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Qualified Persons - NI 43-101 Scientific and technical information in this Report has been reviewed and approved by Mr John Skeet (FAUSIMM, CP) Mithril's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Mr John Skeet is a qualified person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Vast Resources Plc / Ticker: VAST / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining 10 January 2025 Vast Resources plc ('Vast' or the 'Company') Financing Update Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, is pleased to announce that, whilst continuing to finalise its various funding options as previously announced, the Company has accepted an interest free, unsecured loan of 500,000 from its Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Prelea, repayable when the Company finalises funding and can afford to do so. The loan will be applied towards the Company's general working capital requirements. The loan from Andrew Prelea to the Company is a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13 and accordingly, the directors, other than Andrew Prelea (who, as an interested party, is excluded from voting on the matter), consider, having consulted with the Company's Nominated Adviser, that the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable as far as the shareholders are concerned. The Company is currently reviewing progress on its overall operations and expects to give a further announcement on its position within the coming weeks. **ENDS** For further information, visit www.vastplc.com or please contact: Vast Resources plc Andrew Prelea (CEO) www.vastplc.com +44 (0) 20 7846 0974 Beaumont Cornish - Financial & Nominated Advisor Roland Cornish James Biddle www.beaumontcornish.com +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited - Joint Broker Toby Gibbs / James Thomas (Corporate Advisory) www.shorecapmarkets.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7408 4050 Axis Capital Markets Limited - Joint Broker Richard Hutchinson www.axcap247.com +44 (0) 20 3206 0320 St Brides Partners Limited Susie Geliher www.stbridespartners.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 ABOUT VAST RESOURCES PLC Vast Resources plc is a United Kingdom AIM listed mining company with mines and projects in Romania, Tajikistan, and Zimbabwe. In Romania, the Company is focused on the rapid advancement of high-quality projects by recommencing production at previously producing mines. The Company's Romanian portfolio includes 100% interest in Vast Baita Plai SA which owns 100% of the producing Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine, located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romania's largest polymetallic mines. The mine has a JORC compliant Reserve & Resource Report which underpins the initial mine production life of approximately 3-4 years with an in-situ total mineral resource of 15,695 tonnes copper equivalent with a further 1.8M-3M tonnes exploration target. The Company is now working on confirming an enlarged exploration target of up to 5.8M tonnes. The Company also owns the Manaila Polymetallic Mine in Romania, which the Company is looking to bring back into production following a period of care and maintenance. The Company has also been granted the Manaila Carlibaba Extended Exploitation Licence that will allow the Company to re-examine the exploitation of the mineral resources within the larger Manaila Carlibaba licence area. The Company retains a continued presence in Zimbabwe. Vast has an interest in a joint venture company which provides exposure to a near term revenue opportunity from the Takob Mine processing facility in Tajikistan. The Takob Mine opportunity, which is 100% financed, will provide Vast with a 12.25 percent royalty over all sales of non-ferrous concentrate and any other metals produced. Also in Tajikistan, Vast has been contracted to develop and manage the Aprelevka gold mines on behalf of its owner Gulf International Minerals Ltd ("Gulf") under which Vast is entitled, inter alia, to 10% of the earnings that Gulf receives from its 49% interest in Aprelevka in joint venture with the government of Tajikistan. Aprelevka holds four active operational mining licences located along the Tien Shan Belt that extends through Central Asia, currently producing approximately 11,600oz of gold and 116,000 oz of silver per annum. It is the intention of the Company to assist in increasing Aprelevka's production from these four mines closer to the historical peak production rates of approximately 27,000oz of gold and 250,000oz of silver per year from the operational mines. Nominated Adviser Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it. Vancouver, January 10, 2025 - Electrum Discovery Corp. ("Electrum" or the "Company") (TSX-V:ELY |FRA:R8N |OTC:ELDCF) is pleased to announce that the Company has retained North Star Investor Relations Inc. ("North Star IR") to provide a full suite of investor relations services to Electrum. Mr. Graham Farrell will be responsible for overseeing the investor relations program for the Company including the development and implementation of strategic marketing and financial goals to create shareholder value. "Appointment of Mr Graham Farrell and North Star Investor Relations Inc. is another stepping stone in Electrum's commitment to building an industry-leading team comprised of professionals with a demonstrated history of creating value. Electrum's ability to serve shareholders and reach in the institutional and retail investor space will be greatly expanded through Graham's network, and his reputation for quality work and timely execution is precisely what we value at Electrum. As we step into our maiden drilling programme, and our news flow intensifies, this is another exciting development for the company," Dr Elena Clarici, CEO and President commented. "We are excited for the opportunity to work with Dr. Elena Clarici and her accomplished team at Electrum. In a world where major resource discoveries are becoming increasingly more difficult to find, Electrum is situated in a jurisdiction that is very mining friendly and still has major potential to discover a globally significant copper project." Stated Graham Farrell, Founder and President of North Star IR. Mr. Farrell has been involved in the Canadian and U.S. capital markets for over 20 years. Prior to his current investor relations work, Graham spent 15 years working on the institutional sell side at well-known boutique investment banks where he ran trading operations and supported capital raising efforts for issuers in various sectors. North Star Investor Relations is a full-service investor relations advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada, founded by Graham Farrell and provides a suite of services to its clients including, but not limited to, investor engagement and outreach, social media support and content generation, in-person and virtual roadshows and marketing campaigns, investor conference selection and support, and implementation and execution of capital markets strategies. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay North Star IR a cash retainer of $10,000 per month, plus applicable taxes and out-of-pocket expenses. The agreement has a term of 12 months and commenced on January 1, 2025. Mr Graham Farrell nor North Star IR will not receive any securities of the Company as compensation for services under the agreement. For more information contact: Dr Elena Clarici, Chief Executive Officer and Director T: +1 604 801 5432 | E: elena@electrumdiscovery.com | W: electrumdiscovery.com Graham Farrell, Investor Relations T: +1 416 842 9003 | E: graham@electrumdiscovery.com About Electrum Discovery Corp. Electrum Discovery Corp. is an emerging mineral exploration and development company focused on the prolific Western Tethyan Belt with two main projects spanning 645 square kilometers of prospective exploration ground in the Republic of Serbia. Timok East extends over 123 square kilometers across the Timok copper-gold region and includes the recently discovered Bambino copper-gold anomaly, located less than five kilometers from the Bor Copper-Gold Mining Complex. Novo Tlamino, located in the south-east of the Republic of Serbia, covers 522 square kilometers and includes an inferred mineral resource estimate of 670,000oz AuEq (7,100,000t at 2.9 g/t AuEq average grade), PEA (January 7, 2021)[1] Electrum Discovery is looking to maximize the value of our mineral projects for all stakeholders including our shareholders, the local community and government. We have an open-door policy and encourage all stakeholders to contact us through our website. We have a strong environmental and ethics policy to complete all our work in line with regulations in an open and transparent process. Our projects are at an early stage, and we plan continue our consultation with all stakeholders in a climate of mutual respect, while fostering sustainability, governance and knowledge transfer in the region. Additional information on Electrum can be found by reviewing the Company's page on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Such statements include the expected development of a new geological concept at Timok East as a result of the Program; the Company's expected achievement of specified milestones; results of operations; and expected financial results of the Company. Often, but not always, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Electrum, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, uncertainties inherent in the PEA and exploration results and the estimation of mineral resources; risks related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in Electrum's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under Electrum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Rock chip and surface results are early stage and there is no assurance that future exploration will find mineralization of further interest. Although Electrum has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management. Forward-looking information has been made as of the date hereof and Electrum disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. [1] Preliminary Economic Assessment and NI43-101 Technical Report for the Medgold Tlamino Project, January 7, 2021, www.sedarplus.ca. The effective date of the resource estimate is January 7, 2021. Authors of the Reports are: Mr. Richard Siddle, MAIG, of Addison Mining Services Ltd for Mineral Resources; Dr. Matthew Randall, FIMMM, of Axe Valley Mining Consultants Ltd for Mining; Mr. Ian Jackson, FIMMM, of Bara Consulting for Mineral Processing, and Dr. Andrew Bamber, MCIM, of Bara Consulting Ltd for Economic Analysis. The PEA is preliminary in nature, and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be characterized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realised. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER, Jan. 10, 2025 - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news releases dated December 4th, 5th and 31st, 2024, the Company has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "NBPP") comprised of an additional 6,375,000 units (the "Units") in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.10 per Unit for gross proceeds of $637,500. Each Unit consists of one common share (each, a "Share") and one transferable Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share of the Company at a price of $0.25 per share for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. Combined with the closing of the first tranche of the NBPP and the closing of the listed issuer financing exemption non-brokered private placement (the "LIFE Offering"), the Company has raised total gross proceeds of $3,367,024.80. David Greenway, President & CEO of Giant Mining commented, "We are excited to close this private placement and move forward with our drilling program for 2025. These funds will enable us to unlock the true potential of our properties, enhancing their value while addressing the growing demand for copper, a critical resource for the electrification of the world's economy. As industries like data centers, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy continue to expand, the need for copper becomes even more vital. Giant Mining is proud to play a key role in meeting this demand and contributing to a sustainable, innovative future." The Warrants have an acceleration provision, which provides that in the event that after four months and one day after the Warrants are issued, the weighted average daily trading price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange, or such other market as the Shares may trade from time to time, is or exceeds $0.40 for any five (5) consecutive trading days, the Company may provide notice, whether by written notice or the issuance of a news release (the "Acceleration Notice") to the Warrant holder that the expiry date of the Warrants has been accelerated and that Warrants not exercised within 30 days of the date of the Acceleration Notice will expire 30 days from the date of the Acceleration Notice. The securities issued pursuant to the NBPP and LIFE Offering have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. Persons" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Certain insiders of Giant Mining purchased an aggregate of 2,750,000 Units in the NBPP (the "Insider Participation"). The Insider Participation is exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") by virtue of the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 based on that the fair market value of such Insider Participation does not exceed 25% of Giant Mining's market capitalization. In connection with the final tranche of the NBPP, the Company paid an aggregate of $21,400 in cash finders' fees and issued an aggregate of 214,000 finders' Warrants. The finders' Warrants are non-transferable and have the same terms as the Warrants forming part of the Units. The Units including the Shares, Warrants and finders' Warrants issued as part of the final tranche of the NBPP are subject to a hold period until May 15, 2025, pursuant to applicable securities legislation. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the NBPP and LIFE Offering on its core drilling program, updating 43-101 report and general working capital. About Giant Mining Corp. Giant Mining Corp. is focused on identifying, acquiring, and advancing late-stage copper and copper/silver/gold projects to meet the growing global demand for critical metals. This demand is driven by initiatives like the Green New Deal in the United States and similar climate-focused programs worldwide, which require substantial amounts of copper, silver, and gold for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and the modernization of clean and affordable energy systems. The Company's flagship asset is the Majuba Hill Copper, Silver, and Gold District, located 156 miles (251 km) from Reno, Nevada. Majuba Hill is situated in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with supportive regulations and has the potential to become one of the next major copper deposits, critical for meeting the increasing need for this red metal. In addition, Giant Mining Corp. holds a 20% ownership stake in the Friday Gold Project, located in the historic Orogrande Mining District, Idaho, approximately 16 km south-southwest of Elk City. With a resource base of 1,237,000 ounces of gold, Friday Gold presents promising opportunities for exploration and development, reinforcing the Company's strategy of advancing high-value resource assets in stable, mining-friendly regions. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp. "David Greenway" David C. Greenway President & CEO For further information, please contact: E: info@giantminingcorp.com P: 1 (236) 788 0643 VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS www.giantminingcorp.com LIKE AND FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn DOWNLOAD INVESTOR INFORMATION Click Here Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward?looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward?looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2025 - EnviroGold Global Ltd. (CSE: NVRO | OTCQB: ESGLF | FSE: YGK) ("EnviroGold," or the "Company"), a technology company enabling the global mining industry to monetize valuable metals contained in mine waste and tailings, reduce environmental liabilities and improve social and environmental outcomes, is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing due to increased investor interest, to raise up to CAD $4,000,000 of gross proceeds, consisting of up to 4,000 units (the "Units") issued at a price of CAD$1,000 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of CAD$1,000 principal amount of unsecured convertible notes and 11,112 common share purchase warrants of the Company. All other terms of the Financing remain as set out in the Company's December 19, 2024 news release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About EnviroGold Global EnviroGold Global is a technology company enabling the global mining industry to monetise valuable metals from mine waste and tailings and reduce environmental liabilities. EnviroGold's proprietary technology is at the leading edge of demand for precious and critical metals and greater social demand for better environmental outcomes. The Company operates on a technology license fee model with low capex requirements and intends to establish itself as a leading global technology company focussed on shareholder value. CONTACTS: EnviroGold Global Investor Cubed David Cam, CEO Neil Simon, CEO 416.842.9003 647-258-3310 ir@envirogoldglobal.com nsimon@investor3.ca Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, earnings guidance, economic guidance, operational guidance and future capital spending amounts. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements pertaining to the use of funds from the Financing and the anticipated closing date of the Financing, and the Company's ability to accelerate the world's transition to a circular resource economy. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the continued commercial viability and growth in the clean technology and mining waste reprocessing industry; continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued development of clean technology and mining waste reprocessing technology; and the continued growth of the Company. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the Company's inability to accelerate the world's transition to a circular resource economy, the risks associated with assessing metallurgical recovery rates from mine tailings and waste and related volumetric assessments, the risks associated with the mining and mining waste recycling industry in general; increased competition in the clean technology and waste reprocessing market; the potential unviability of the clean technology and mining waste reprocessing market; incorrect assessment of the value and potential benefits of various transactions; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to clean technology and mining waste reprocessing; risks associated with a potential collapse in the value of clean technology and waste reprocessing; and risks relating to the Company's potential inability to expand its reprocessing pipeline. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. Vancouver, January 9, 2025 - Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM / FSE:FIR / OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to advise excellent progress is being made on its follow-up drill program at the emerging Piuquenes copper-gold porphyry project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Piuquenes is a newly discovered, gold rich copper porphyry deposit located immediately adjacent to the north of Aldebaran Resources' (ALDE:TSX-V) giant Altar porphyry copper system. Other large porphyry copper projects in the San Juan Miocene porphyry belt include, El Pachon (Glencore), approximately 30 km to the south, the operating Los Pelambres copper mine (60% Antofagasta plc) in Chile, and Los Azules (McEwen Mining) 50 km to the northeast. Corporate and exploration activity along the belt remains high, with major companies including Rio Tinto, South 32, BHP and Teck also active. Hole PIU-04 2025DDH (PIU-04) was collared from the eastern margin of Piuquenes Central, 250m northeast of PIU-01 2024DDH (422m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au, including 132m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/t Au, refer 18 March 2024 News Release) and 135m northwest of historical shallow drill hole DDH-06 (refer 18 September 2024 News Release). PIU-04 was completed to a depth of 1,105.9m, the deepest hole at Piuquenes to date. PIU-05 2025 DDH is also a significant step-out, collared 220m east of PIU16-01DDH (558m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, including 130m @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au, refer 5 December 2024 News Release) and 270m southwest of PIU02-2024DDH (448m @ 0.42% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, including 126m @ 0.66% Cu, 0.74 g/t Au, refer 6 May 2024 News Release). Drilling continues at depths of ~900m, with partial logging completed to ~660m. Samples are being progressively dispatched to the ALS lab in Mendoza and results are pending. Key Highlights Hole PIU-04 2025DDH intersected variable intensity porphyry veining, alteration and copper mineralization over wide intervals and significantly expanded the footprint of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to the northeast. Hole PIU-05 2025DDH has intersected several significant intervals of bornite-rich copper mineralization and extended the core of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to depth. Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-05 2025DDH (to end of logging at 660m) Drill hole PIU-05 2025DDH (PIU-05) drilled transported cover to 42 m and below that to 570 m variably altered, veined and brecciated pre-mineral diorite porphyry host rock. Brecciation is predominantly pre-mineral magmatic-intrusion breccia, however local zones of magmatic-hydrothermal breccia with biotite-magnetite cement occur. Below 570 m the hole intersected intervals of the quartz-bearing "causative" porphyry, similar to those intersected in the 2024 campaign. The upper parts of the hole traverse phyllic and intermediate-argillic alteration which progressively give way to biotite-magnetite potassic alteration below approximately 250 m and then overprinting K-feldspar-bearing alteration from approximately 350 m. Low intensity porphyry-style quartz-sulfide veining occurs from 250 progressively increasing to approximately 530 m where the intensity increases, and sulfide contents are higher until the end of the current logging. The quartz-sulfide veins are multi-phase with several generations of quartz A-veins observed including one phase of bornite-dominated A-veins. A later, sulfide dominated, quartz-poor chalcopyrite-rich vein phase is also observed. The higher sulfide zone encountered to-date is notable for its bornite content; although overall bornite remains less than chalcopyrite, the occurrence of a consistent bornite zone below 530 m (downhole) is encouraging and may signal that hole PIU-05 has encountered a zone of the system closer to a latent bornite-dominated core at depth. Click Image To View Full Size Image 1. PIU-05 631.5m. Chalcopyrite-bornite veinlet exposed along a fracture. Hole PIU-05 has extended the core of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to depth and has intersected the most bornite-rich mineralization yet encountered. Click Image To View Full Size Image 2: PIU-05 571.9 - 577.5m. Strongly veined and porphyry and diorite host rock and intercalated quartz-porphyry, showing multiphase quartz A-veins and associated K-feldspar bearing potassic alteration. Click Image To View Full Size Image 3: PIU-05 605 - 610.5m. Strongly veined and porphyry and diorite host rock, showing multiphase quartz A-veins and associated K-feldspar bearing potassic alteration. Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-04 2025DDH Drill hole PIU-04 2025DDH intersected 32.4 m of cover and then to the end of the hole (1,105.9m) traversed pre-mineral diorite porphyry with minor intercalations ("Blocks") of andesitic volcanic rock. Quartz-bearing porphyry of the probable "causative" porphyry complex was encountered from 794-810m downhole. Within the pre-mineral diorite porphyry, long sections of intrusion breccia and lesser hydrothermal breccias occur. Significantly, within the hydrothermal breccia clasts of veined intrusion occur and potentially indicate the presence of "blind" system beneath the upper part of hole PIU-04. The hole commenced in intermediate argillic alteration and transitioned, at approximately 290 m, to a biotite-magnetite dominated potassic alteration with lesser K-feldspar bearing potassic alteration. The hole transitioned out of potassic alteration back into intermediate argillic alteration from 950 m. Patchy potassic alteration is present down to 1030 m. Weak porphyry-style quartz veinlets occur from 250 m to 390 m from where they increase, and porphyry style quartz A veins become consistent until 880 m from which point they decrease until disappearing at 970 m. Pyrite dominates the sulfide until 340 m, with 340 - 710 m showing a mix of pyrite and chalcopyrite whereas below 710 m chalcopyrite and minor bornite dominate over pyrite. Pyrite dominates from 910 m to the end of hole. Click Image To View Full Size Image 4: PIU-04 349.79 - 355.0 m. Volcanic andesite host rock with strong biotite-magnetite alteration and consistent quartz-sulfide veining. Hole PIU-04 has significantly expanded the footprint of the mineralized Piuquenes Central porphyry system to the northeast and the consistency of alteration and sulfide zoning will be invaluable in ongoing interpretation and modelling toward further targeting. Click Image To View Full Size Image 5: PIU-04 834.47 - 836.80 m. Strongly biotite-magnetite altered pre-mineral diorite porphyry with moderate intensity quartz porphyry style A-veins. Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: "We remain fully focused on driving significant shareholder value through the discovery and delineation of an economic deposit(s) on the Piuquenes property and are extremely pleased with progress to date. Intersecting wide intervals of strong bornite mineralization and significantly expanding the footprint of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system at this early stage of the program is very promising. Drilling will shortly commence testing a second compelling undrilled porphyry target which outcrops at Piuquenes East. Several other recently defined targets across the recently expanded land package are also being advanced through surface exploration". ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD INVESTOR CONTACT Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO Joseph van den Elsen | Joseph@pampametals.com ABOUT PAMPA METALS Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges. In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina. QUALIFIED PERSON Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Focus Graphite Inc. ("Focus" or the "Company") (TSX-V: FMS; OTCQX: FCSMF; FSE: FKC), announced today that further to its October 23, 2024 news release, it has settled an aggregate of $865,000 in debt owed by the Company to JJJY Holdings Inc. (the "Lender") in respect of an unsecured loan made to the Company of $2,300,000 (the "Debt"). The balance of the Debt has no maturity date and bears no interest. In settlement of the Debt, the Company issued 11,533,333 common shares of the Company to the Lender at a deemed price of $0.075 per share (the "Debt Settlement"). The common shares issued in connection with the Debt Settlement are subject to a hold period that expires on May 7, 2025. The issuance of the shares pursuant to the Debt Settlement is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the Lender is a company controlled by a director and Chairman of the Board of Focus. The Debt Settlement is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsection 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the transaction nor the fair market value of the consideration exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Article I.About Focus Graphite Inc. Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced materials company developing sustainable mining and technology innovations. At the heart of our operations is the Lac Knife flake graphite deposit, known for its exceptional high purity and grade-ideal for applications in the military, defense, and green energy revolutions. Currently advancing through Canada's mine permitting process, Focus Graphite is on the verge of transforming this resource into a cornerstone for critical mineral supply. Our proprietary, environmentally sustainable processing technologies ensure a green, chemical-free pathway from mine to market. The Company's proprietary silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite patent technology is aimed at improving battery performance. We specialize in producing advanced, high-purity graphite materials tailored for diverse industries, including EV batteries, military applications, and high-tech manufacturing. Focus Graphite's commitment extends beyond resource extraction-we are actively building partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies to accelerate the commercialization of advanced materials and technologies derived from our flagship project. As a proud Canadian company, we are dedicated to contributing to North America's secure and sustainable critical minerals supply chain. For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit https://focusgraphite.com/ Investors Contact: Dean Hanisch CEO, Focus Graphite Inc. dhanisch@focusgraphite.com 613-612-6060 Article II.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Five years ago, Google Earth worried government -- the initial reaction to satellite photos available for commercial use was that someone might use it to do harm. But recently, some governments have realized that the benefits far outweigh the risks, and have turned to this tool to help them in numerous and varied capacities.Some governments were more willing than others to embrace Google Earth. For example, Alabama's Department of Homeland Security established Virtual Alabama in 2007, an application that delivers data and query instruments to more than 1,200 state and local officials, such as health-care providers, firefighters, county assessors and sheriffs. In 2010, Riverhead, New York, officials used the tool to track down 250 unlicensed pools . In St. Louis County, Minn., Google Earth files show property boundary lines . Conservationists in the Los Gatos region of California's Santa Cruz Mountains use it to track illegal logging More recently, in August 2011, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) used Google Earth as a supplementary tool to track Hurricane Irene in real time. MEMA has its own in-house GIS tool called the Emergency Management Mapping Application (EMMA), created with Towson University. But Google Earth can be especially useful for collaboration on emergency management, says MEMA Technology Planner Mick Brierley.During Hurricane Irene, people were posting up information and data that was made available. The newest data, Brierley says, can be processed quickly and thrown up on Google Earth, whereas if MEMA receives the raw data, it can't incorporate it into its tools as quickly. And in emergency situations, the most up-to-date data is most useful.Some cities are just now starting to embrace Google Earth. In Contra Costa County, Calif., the Transportation Authority currently is updating its Countywide Travel Demand Forecasting Model, and asked for local experts help in reviewing land-use data and predictions through the year 2035.Previously, the authority sent spreadsheets of this data to all the cities for their review, says Associate Transportation Planner Matt Kelly. But using this method, those people had to look at the spreadsheet, and then gather maps and aerial photos in order to evaluate -- a cumbersome process. "We've also had to pay for aerial photos in the past," Kelly says, "thousands of dollars for a whole county's worth of aerial imagery."This year, the Transportation Authority changed it up. To serve up all of that data in one location, the authority turned to Google Earth. Kelly says the aerial imagery is much more up to date. "We'd probably be buying stuff that was a year or two old," he says, "and in some cases, the Google Earth stuff is a couple of months old."The platform also now has historical imagery, so when the authority asks the various planners to look at what's happened in their communities between 2000 and 2010, they can quickly and easily see the change over those 10 years. "It just seemed like a really good way to serve up all these various layers to our local jurisdictions who have very few resources at this point," Kelly says, adding that a big draw is that the tool is free. "It's a cheap, quick and convenient way to distribute a lot of data to a lot of different people; it's easier for us and them."This was the authority's first attempt at using the tool. Kelly says that because he's getting a good response from the users, it's likely the authority will look for more ways to use it in the future. "Anytime where we have to go out to all the cities at once," he says, "we feel like if we can find a way to use Google Earth, it will help everyone." Featured Ghana ranks second in global IMF Concessional Lending Debt GraphicOnline Business News Jan - 10 - 2025 , 07:36 Ghana has emerged as the second most indebted country globally under the International Monetary Funds (IMF) Concessional Lending and Debt Relief Trust, with an outstanding exposure of 2.242 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR), representing 17 percent of total borrowings from the Fund. This was revealed in the IMFs latest financial statements and quarterly reports ending 31st October 2024. The concessional lending facility, provided under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), offers low-interest loans to low-income countries to support economic recovery and development over a one to three-year period. Ethiopia Tops List, Zambia in Third Ethiopia topped the list of concessional lending debtors with an outstanding amount of 2.256 billion SDR, slightly ahead of Ghana. Zambia followed in third place with 1.272 billion SDR in IMF obligations. Advertisement Kenya and Ivory Coast ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, while other countries accounted for the remaining 44 percent of SDR borrowings. Africa Holds Majority of Poverty Loans The IMF report highlighted Africas dominance in concessional lending, with the continent holding 78 percent of the outstanding poverty loans. By contrast, Europe was the least recipient region, accounting for just one percent of the loans. Ghanas Economic Challenges and IMF Assistance Ghana, alongside Zambia, has defaulted on its debt obligations, prompting both countries to seek financial support from the IMF. In 2023, Ghana secured a $3 billion bailout under the IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) to stabilise its economy amid severe financial difficulties. As part of the ECF programme, Ghana has received $1.92 billion so far, with the remaining tranches expected in the coming months. The countrys heavy reliance on concessional lending underscores its ongoing economic challenges and the need for structural reforms to address its fiscal and debt sustainability issues. Ghanas position as the second largest IMF debtor highlights the delicate balancing act required to manage its debt obligations while implementing measures to foster economic stability and growth. Previous article: (PHOTOS) Moses Bliss announces birth of first child, says it is the doing of the Lord Featured GH fashion Industry needs financial boost Belinda Baidoo Edith Mensah Showbiz News Jan - 10 - 2025 , 09:00 2 minutes read INTERNATIONAL fashion model and Creative Director of BB Boutique Belinda Baidoo has called for financial support from government and private investors to rejuvenate Ghana's fashion industry. The financial support has become necessary because the fashion sector, despite its potential, remains stifled by inadequate funding and neglect, preventing it from attaining global recognition. Speaking exclusively to Graphic Showbiz recently, Ms Baidoo emphasised the critical role the fashion industry plays in job creation, revenue generation and overall economic development. She highlighted the potential of the fashion value chain from raw material production to retail to make a significant economic impact if adequately supported. (Read Belinda Baidoo hosts Sip and Wine Expo to champion Made-in-Ghana wear) The fashion industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country, yet it continues to face neglect. This is an industry that can provide employment and boost economic growth if the right attention is given to it, she said. Advertisement The model, who has worked with top international brands such as Nike, Victoria's Secret, Giorgio Armani and Guinness, attributed the industry's stagnation to a lack of financial support from both government and private stakeholders. She urged the government to waive some of the burdensome taxes on fashion imports and provide funding for local manufacturers, designers and retailers to ease them of some of the financial weight. We need funds. The government needs to pour funds into fashion. What we overlook is what some of us have dedicated our whole lives to. We need to support the creative side of the industry. The women at Makola, the local manufacturers, the very people who import these items for mass production and the entrepreneurs striving to grow their businessesthese are the people who need help. When tourists visit Ghana, they shop everywhere, not just in fancy stores. Supporting these local players is crucial if we want to see growth in our industry just like what is happening elsewhere, she added. Next article: TikTok to make final plea at Supreme Court against US ban Featured Man told he can't recover 598million of Bitcoin from refuse dump bbc.com International News Jan - 10 - 2025 , 11:42 3 minutes read A judge has thrown out a man's attempt to sue a council to recover from a rubbish tip a Bitcoin hard drive that is now worth about 598m. James Howells had argued that his former partner had mistakenly dumped the hard drive containing a Bitcoin wallet in 2013, and he wanted to access the site and recover the cryptocurrency. But Newport council asked a High Court judge to strike out Mr Howells' legal action to access the landfill or get 495m in compensation. Judge Keyser KC said there were no "reasonable grounds" for bringing the claim and "no realistic prospect" of succeeding at a full trial. Advertisement Reacting to the decision, Mr Howells said he was "very upset". "The case being struck out at the earliest hearing doesn't even give me the opportunity to explain myself or an opportunity for justice in any shape or form. There was so much more that could have been explained in a full trial and that's what I was expecting," he said. He added he had "been trying to engage with Newport City Council in every way which is humanly possible for the past 12 years" and to now be told he was out of time felt like "a kick in the teeth". "It's not about greed, I'm happy to share the proceeds but nobody in a position of power will have a decent conversation with me," he said. "This ruling has taken everything from me and left me with nothing. It's the great British injustice system striking again." During the hearing in December the court heard how Mr Howells had been an early adopter of Bitcoin and had successfully mined the cryptocurrency. As the value of his missing digital wallet soared, Mr Howells organised a team of experts to attempt to locate, recover and access the hard drive. He had repeatedly asked permission from the council for access to the site, and had offered it a share of the missing Bitcoin if it was successfully recovered. Mr Howells successfully "mined" the Bitcoin in 2009 for almost nothing, and says he forgot about it altogether when he threw it out. The value of the cryptocurrency rose by more than 80% in 2024. But James Goudie KC, for the council, argued that existing laws meant the hard drive had become its property when it entered the landfill site. It also said that its environmental permits would forbid any attempt to excavate the site to search for the hard drive. The offer to donate 10% of the Bitcoin to the local community was encouraging the council to "play fast and loose" by "signing up for a share of the action," said Mr Goudie. In a written judgement, the judge said: "I also consider that the claim would have no realistic prospect of succeeding if it went to trial and that there is no other compelling reason why it should be disposed of at trial." The landfill holds more than 1.4m tonnes of waste, but Mr Howells said he had narrowed the hard drive's location to an area consisting of 100,000 tonnes. Mr Howells has speculated that, by next year, the Bitcoin on his hard drive could be worth 1bn. What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is often described as a cryptocurrency, a virtual currency or a digital currency and is a type of money that is completely virtual - there are no physical coins or notes. You can use it to buy products and services, but not many shops accept Bitcoin and some countries, including China and Saudi Arabia, have banned it altogether. Featured Bawumia embarks on Umrah Pilgrimage following Prez. Mahama's inauguration GraphicOnline Jan - 10 - 2025 , 16:16 2 minutes read Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in last December's election is in Mecca with his wife, Hajia Samira Bawumia, and close friends including the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif to perform Umrah, the Islamic pilgrimage. The trip, which took place shortly after the January 7 inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama marked a moment of reflection and thanksgiving. Running on the ticket of the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Bawumia lost the December 7, 2024, Presidential Election to Mr. John Dramani Mahama who run on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). In a post on his social media channels, Dr. Bawumia shared his reasons for the pilgrimage, saying, Together with Hajia Samira Bawumia and some friends, I arrived in Mecca yesterday to perform Umrah (Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca). This is to thank the Almighty Allah for His grace. We also prayed for guidance and protection for us and for our nation, Ghana. Advertisement Dr. Bawumia, who attended President Mahamas inauguration on January 7, 2025, continues to express his gratitude for the support of his followers during the election campaign, while also seeking spiritual renewal as he embarks on this sacred journey. About Umrah Umrah is a pilgrimage in Islam that can be undertaken at any time of the year, unlike the Hajj pilgrimage, which has specific dates in the Islamic calendar. It is considered a lesser pilgrimage, but it holds significant spiritual importance. During Umrah, Muslims perform a series of rituals that are meant to purify the soul and bring them closer to Allah. These rituals include: - Ihram: Before entering Mecca, pilgrims wear special white garments known as Ihram to signify purity and unity. - Tawaf: Pilgrims walk around the Kaaba, the holiest structure in Islam, seven times in a counter-clockwise direction. - Sai: Pilgrims walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, emulating the actions of Hagar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), as she searched for water for her son, Ismail (Ishmael). - Shaving or Trimming Hair: After completing the rituals, male pilgrims typically shave their heads or trim their hair, while female pilgrims cut a small portion of their hair. While it is not a mandatory act of worship like Hajj, Umrah is highly recommended for Muslims who are able to perform it, and it is believed to bring great spiritual rewards. Next article: Ghana will reopen talks with US over US$190m MCC grant President Mahama Featured PHOTOS: 3 Killed in attempted gold robbery incident at Ntotroso Biiya Mukusah Ali Jan - 10 - 2025 , 09:36 2 minutes read Three persons have been confirmed dead following an alleged attempt to steal gold at the Newmont Mining Site at Ntotroso in the Ahafo Region. The police said four other persons also sustained injuries during the incident. The incident occurred last Wednesday night when the police confronted the suspects during their operation to contain the situation, leading to the death of the three persons and injuries to four other people. This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi. Advertisement Calm restored "The Ghana Police Service has restored calm at Ntotroso in the Ahafo Region following an attempted breach of security at the Newmont Mining Site by some persons to allegedly steal gold last night, Wednesday, January 8,2025," it said. It said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, worked on the phone with the Ahafo Regional Police team to engage community leaders and the youth throughout the night till yesterday morning to stabilise the situation. The statement said there had been no reprisal attacks or escalation of the situation in the community. Investigation team It said a special investigation team from Accra had been sent to the area to investigate the incident, while a reinforcement team had also been sent to the community to help ensure that there was peace, security, law and order. The police said they had received information that the deceased were Muslims, and the due process of the law had been followed for the bodies to be released to their families for burial later yesterday. The statement urged the public to remain calm as the police continued to work to ensure law and order prevailed Featured Deputy Minority Leader calls for more women on committees Rosalind K. Amoh Jan - 10 - 2025 , 10:49 2 minutes read The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, has advocated that more women MPs be appointed to the various committees of the Ninth Parliament which has begun work. She said it was important for the House to also acknowledge the efforts of the women MPs and give more support for gender equality by having more women appointed to serve on the various committees. In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Ms Appiagyei said having more women on the various committees would help the Legislature lead the charge in promoting inclusivity and gender equality. She was reacting to her appointment as the Deputy Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee as announced by the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, last Wednesday. Advertisement The Ninth Parliament has 41 women MPs, one more than the 40 that the Eighth Parliament had. Of the 41,the NDC has 35 while the NPP has six. It is my hope and I look forward to seeing more women MPs being appointed to serve on the various committees of the House. Unfortunately, there are not many of us from the minority side, but the NDC has more women and it will be good to have significant numbers. That way, we lead the charge and give real meaning to the Affirmative Bill the Eighth Parliament passed. The passage of Affirmative Action Bill into law which promotes, among other things, equity is intended to address the disparity between men and women in public and private sectors and that includes our august House so we will have to do better, she said. Longest-serving female MP Ms Appiagyei is the longest-serving female Member of Parliament in the Ninth Parliament. She first became a Legislator during the fifth Parliament and has subsequently served in the sixth, seventh and eighth Parliaments. Appointments Committee Last Wednesday, Parliament approved the composition of its Appointments Committee, which is tasked with vetting and recommending nominees for ministerial and other key appointments. The committee is chaired by the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, with Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah serving as Vice Chairperson. The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is the Ranking Member, while Ms Appiagyei serves as the Deputy Ranking Member. The Appointments Committee is responsible for vetting, scrutinising and recommending to Parliament the approval or otherwise, of persons nominated by the President for appointment as ministers of state, their deputies and other positions specified under the Constitution or relevant legislation. Also named are the Business Committee and the Committee of Selection Featured Energy crisis looms: $1.2bn needed for Accra - Govt, stakeholders scramble for solution Timothy Gobah & Kester Aburam Korankye Jan - 09 - 2025 , 07:26 5 minutes read The government has expressed concern about a potential energy sector crisis in the country, with Accra and its environs alone requiring around $1.2 billion of fuel cost for its predominantly thermal power plants. Consequently, a committee set up by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, under the instruction of President John Mahama has met with industry stakeholders to find a quick solution to the looming crisis. The situation emerged less than 24 hours after the inauguration of President Mahama at the Black Star Square in Accra last Tuesday. Government sources say there could be potential power outages in the energy sector due to the unavailability of liquid fuel to power thermal plants in Tema and planned maintenance on the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP), which would affect gas supply for power generation. Advertisement The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCO) had earlier announced plans to undertake mandatory maintenance on the offshore WAGP from January 20 to February 16, 2025. Setback However, Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the scheduled maintenance work on the WAGP was supposed to be done in October last year but the then government postponed it to January 20 this year with the excuse that it needed time to procure fuel as an alternative means of powering the terminal plants in the absence of gas supply from the WAGP. Mr Ofosu said although the outgone government, during the transition period promised to procure the fuel ahead of the planned maintenance work, the government only realised on Tuesday, after the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama, that the fuel was not purchased. He said these challenges could lead to a significant loss of dependable capacity as Accra would require around $1.2 billion to purchase fuel for its predominantly thermal power plants. Mr Mahama asked specific questions regarding the implementation of the plan and was given firm assurances that everything was in order only for us to find out yesterday that they didnt. So there was some dereliction of duty on the part of the outgone government, he said. Procedures During the maintenance period, WAPCO will carry out two key activities. First, the company will conduct pigging, a process that involves cleaning the pipeline to remove any debris or residue that may have accumulated. Second, WAPCO will inspect and replace subsea valves, a crucial component of the pipeline's infrastructure. This work will help to ensure that the pipeline remains in good working condition and can continue to transport gas safely and reliably. During the pigging operations, Gas supply to Togo, Benin and Tema will be temporarily shut down, while all gas from Nigeria will be redirected to Takoradi. Additionally, the reverse flow of gas from Takoradi to Tema will not be possible during this period. Despite these adjustments, approximately 80-90 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas is expected to be delivered at Takoradi. The Director of System Operations at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO), Frank Okyere, who briefed government officials, including the Chief of Staff and the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Calistus Mahama, on the current situation in the energy sector, said to minimise disruptions, several planned generator shutdowns would be rescheduled outside the pigging period. These include routine maintenance at Kpong Generating Station's Unit 2, originally set for January 20-26, 2025. At the TICo power plant, Unit 1's maintenance, previously scheduled for February 6-9, 2025, and Unit 2's maintenance, initially set for February 13-16, 2025, will also be rescheduled. Impact on plants The pigging operations on the WAGP are expected to significantly impact the supply of gas in Tema. Normally, a total of 180 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas is consumed by six major thermal plants in Tema, including Sunon Asogli, Cenpower, KTPP, TT IPP, AKSA, and Bridge Power. However, during the pigging period, the WAGP lateral in Tema will be closed, resulting in a complete shutdown of gas supply to these thermal plants. This disruption is likely to have far-reaching consequences for power generation. With regard to Takoradi and Kumasi, typically, the region consumes around 335 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas, with the majority (230 mmscfd) being used by power plants such as TAPCo, TICo, Karpower and Twin City. However, with domestic gas production in the West sufficient to meet demand, the 80-90 mmscfd of gas expected to be delivered at Takoradi from Nigeria will be more than what can be consumed. As a result, gas production from ENI (245 mmscfd) and Tullow (100 mmscfd) will need to be reduced to avoid oversupply. This reduction in domestic gas production will be necessary to balance the excess gas from Nigeria, ensuring that the region's gas supply remains stable and efficient. Fuel stock Meanwhile, liquid fuel stocks for these plants are inadequate as the outgone government failed to procure fuel as an alternative to the envisaged shortage of gas supply due to the planned maintenance on the WAGP. As of Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the available fuel stocks painted a dire picture. At the Cenpower plant, 260,468 litres of LEO fuel were available, sufficient to power two units for approximately 23 days. However, the situation is even more precarious at the Sunon Asogli plant, where only 1,275 megawatts of DFO fuel are in stock, enough to power one unit for less than two days. Meanwhile, the AKSA plant has 440 megawatts of HFO fuel, which can sustain seven units for six hours only. Featured Ghana will reopen talks with US over US$190m MCC grant President Mahama GraphicOnline Jan - 10 - 2025 , 07:59 3 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to reopen discussions with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for the release of a US$190 million grant to support reforms in Ghanas electricity distribution sector. Speaking during a meeting in Accra on Wednesday with Ousmane Diagana, the Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa at the World Bank, President Mahama highlighted the critical state of Ghanas energy sector, describing it as the Achilles heel of the nations financial and economic stability. I spoke to the Americans during my last visit to the US. We met with the MCC and we asked if it was possible for them to reinstate the US$190 million that they had devoted to it, and they said the door is not closed. So we need to pursue that discussion, the President disclosed. MCC grant and energy sector reforms Advertisement The US$190 million grant was initially part of the Ghana Power Compact, a US$316 million agreement signed by President Mahama in 2014 to address inefficiencies in the power sector. However, Ghana lost access to the funds following the cancellation of a concession agreement between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Power Distribution Services (PDS) in 2019. President Mahama stressed the importance of fixing the ECG to build a resilient energy sector capable of supporting economic growth. We want to take a look at that again because if we dont fix the ECG, we will continue to have a major problem with our whole value chain. So going ahead with privatising the last point of distribution of electricity to bring in private sector efficiency is something we want to take up again, he emphasised. Collaboration with the World Bank In addition to seeking the reinstatement of the MCC grant, President Mahama revealed plans to collaborate with the World Bank for technical expertise to address inefficiencies in the energy sector, particularly losses associated with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The MCC grant notwithstanding, we will fall on the World Bank for the needed expertise to undertake that exercise so that we can reduce the losses where it has to do with the IPPs, he noted. For the short term, the President stated that his governments priority is to restore transparency and stabilise the energy sector through measures such as the reinstatement of the cash waterfall mechanism. World Banks commitment Mr Ousmane Diagana assured Ghana of the World Banks readiness to support the country in tackling the persistent challenges in the energy sector. He described Ghanas energy sector as a long-standing concern for the World Bank, stating that it needs fixing. Background on the Ghana Power Compact The Ghana Power Compact with the MCC was designed to transform the countrys energy sector through investments in power infrastructure, promoting energy efficiency, and creating inclusive economic opportunities. Signed in 2014, the pact aimed to resolve bottlenecks in the sector and improve service delivery. Next article: 3 persons killed as Police foil attempt to steal gold from Newmont mining site Previous article: Trial of second preacher arrested over damaged vehicles at Parliament adjourned Featured Man fined GH18,000 for impersonating military officer on TikTok, possessing uniforms GNA Jan - 10 - 2025 , 06:06 2 minutes read An Accra Circuit Court has fined a 20-year-old washing bay attendant for impersonating a military officer by wearing camouflage trousers and a naval vest, posting a TikTok video of himself. Alex Cobbina, also known as Mobitel, was fined GH12,000, with a three-year prison sentence in default. He was charged with falsely pretending to be a public officer and possessing military uniforms and accoutrements. Cobbina pleaded guilty and sought forgiveness when he was first arraigned on December 20, 2024. Advertisement The court convicted him and deferred sentencing to today. Presiding Judge Mr. Bright Samuel Acquah imposed the fines, sentencing Cobbina to pay GH12,000, or serve three years in prison, and an additional GH6,000 fine or two years in hard labor for the charge of possessing military gear. Both sentences will run concurrently. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Abel Amanie, told the court that the complainants were officers from the Ghana Navy headquarters, while Cobbina worked as a washing bay attendant in Apam, Central Region. On December 9, 2024, the Chief of Naval Staff spotted Cobbina on social media, dressed in military camouflage trousers and a naval T-shirt, posing as a military officer. In the video, Cobbina was heard discussing President Mahamas statement about sacking military recruits taken through protocol means. After surveillance, Cobbina was arrested at Madina, Accra, and handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigation. Cobbina claimed that a soldier client had left old military uniforms in his car after washing it, which he kept. He also mentioned that he made the video because he was concerned that his senior schoolmates might be affected by the Presidents statement. During the investigation, military-related items such as camouflage trousers, a naval inner vest, a camouflage nose mask, and boots were found at Cobbinas residence in Apam. The items were recovered in the presence of his employer, Mr. Ernest Baidoo, and were kept as evidence. In his caution statement, Cobbina denied being a military officer but admitted to making and posting the video. He also said that he deleted the video the following day. Next article: Bawumia embarks on Umrah Pilgrimage following Prez. Mahama's inauguration Featured Mahama orders investigation into eight deaths from 2020, 2024 election violence Graphic.com.gh Jan - 10 - 2025 , 16:32 1 minute read The Office of the President has directed the Inspector-General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into the deaths of eight Ghanaian citizens during the 2020 and 2024 general elections. In a letter dated January 10, 2025, the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, instructed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to prioritise the inquiry. The investigation will focus on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the fatalities, which occurred at polling stations across the country. A special task force within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is expected to lead the probe. Advertisement Its mandate includes interviewing witnesses, consulting victims families, and employing forensic techniques to analyse evidence such as bullet casings and weaponry. The directive also calls for collaboration with the Electoral Commission and civic groups to review past election reports for added context. Regular updates on the investigations progress have been requested to ensure transparency and accountability. These deaths demand answers, and justice must be served. The integrity of our democratic process depends on it, the statement from the presidency read. Featured Mahama pledges support for Muslim community with reduced Hajj fares, extra holidays and Hijab protection Kweku Zurek Jan - 10 - 2025 , 15:22 3 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has made a series of commitments aimed at supporting Ghana's Muslim community, including reduced Hajj fares, additional holidays and protection for Muslim women wearing the hijab. At the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving service held at the National Mosque today in Accra, he reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling promises made in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto. The promises stem from a proposal made by the National Chief Imam and other Muslim leaders during the election campaign. "My father, the National Chief Imam, led the Muslim group to present to me the Muslim manifesto for inclusion in our NDC manifesto," President Mahama said. "As you've heard, 12 of the 14 points that were presented to us were captured in our manifesto." Among the key pledges, the President outlined plans to reduce Hajj fares significantly, making the pilgrimage more accessible to the Muslim community. He revealed the formation of a five-member Hajj task force, headed by the longest-serving MP, Collins Dauda, which will travel to the Holy Land to participate in the Hajj Conference and explore ways to lower the costs. Advertisement "We will reduce Hajj fares drastically," President Mahama confirmed. "One of the tasks that I have given them is to go and make arrangements so that we can bring the Hajj fares as low as possible so that as many Muslims who intend to perform the pilgrimage can do so." In addition, Mahama promised to grant an extra holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, saying, "We promised to add one more holiday to the Eid-ul-Fitr. So as soon as Parliament settles, we're going to amend the Holidays Act to include an extra holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr." This year, the community will enjoy two holidays during the Sallah festivities. The President also reaffirmed the government's commitment to defending the constitutional rights of Ghanaians to freely express their religion, which includes the right for Muslim women to wear the hijab in public. "We will protect the rights of Muslim women to wear their hijabs wherever," he added. Other promises made by the NDC government included scholarships for students in deprived Muslim communities, particularly in fields such as medicine, law and ICT. President Mahama also pledged to increase the number of Arabic teachers and establish the Soiya Fund, a microcredit scheme to support families in underprivileged Muslim communities. Finally, the President announced plans to introduce Islamic banking instruments in Ghana. "We also promised to introduce Islamic banking instruments in Ghana and so we will begin the discussion with the Bank of Ghana on how we introduce Islamic banking instruments into our banking and financial system," he said. Featured President Mahama calls for justice and compensation for election-related deaths Kweku Zurek Politics Jan - 10 - 2025 , 15:08 2 minutes read At the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving service held at the National Mosque in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama expressed deep concern over the loss of lives during the December 7 election, calling for justice and accountability. While acknowledging the peaceful nature of the election, President Mahama lamented the deaths of five citizens during the process. He also recalled similar incidents in the 2020 elections, where eight lives were lost, emphasising the need for immediate action to prevent such tragedies in the future. Even though this election passed on peacefully, we must recognise that a few of our citizens lost their lives. My understanding is almost five of our citizens were killed in the process of the election. This is not the first timein 2020, we know that eight of our citizens were killed. If these continue and justice is not served, then what it does is it breeds impunity, he stated. President Mahama reiterated his partys commitment to ensuring accountability, announcing that steps had already been taken to address the issue. Thats why, as a party, we have said that we must investigate and find out what led to these killings so that we can take action, so that they dont happen again, he said. Advertisement He revealed plans to engage the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney Generals Department to expedite investigations and ensure fair compensation for the bereaved families. Ive asked my Executive Secretary to write to the IGP to give us a report on the status of investigations into these killings. Justice must be done. And we also will ask the Attorney General, when he takes office, to determine fair and adequate compensation for the families of those who have lost their lives, President Mahama added. President Mahama, running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress, won the election with 56.42 per cent of valid votes cast. Opponents of the controversial Rail Tie wind farm in southern Albany County have sued federal regulators, hoping to halt the 149-turbine renewable energy project that would span 26,000 acres. The suit, filed Dec. 23 in the U.S. District Court of Wyoming and assigned to Chief Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, alleges the federal Western Area Power Administration - a division of the U.S. Department of Energy - failed to adequately weigh impacts on wildlife, wetlands, cultural resources and the Ames Monument. The agency also ignored public comment and relied on a "stunning dearth of dispositive information" in its impact analysis and engaged "in what amounts to guesswork adorned with rhetorical misdirection," plaintiffs claim. "They [Western Area Power Administration] said 'We can't do anything to mitigate the environmental impacts,' which just does not really track," said plaintiffs' attorney Bill Eubanks of Washington D.C.-based Eubanks & Associates. "If they really have no ability to reduce the impacts then why would you spend a bunch of time and taxpayer dollars doing these environmental reviews?" The southeast region of the state is already inundated with wind development, plaintiffs say, which has impaired rural housing areas, industrialized ranchlands and other undeveloped areas while threatening to decimate golden eagle populations. "It's just awful, and it's just going to continue to get worse and worse and worse," plaintiff Mike Lockhart told WyoFile regarding ongoing impacts to golden eagles. Lockhart is a Laramie-based wildlife biologist who has tagged and tracked more than 150 golden eagles in the Wyoming-Colorado region since 2014. At least 10 of those tagged raptors were killed by turbine-blade strikes or power lines, according to Lockhart, whose analysis shows that nesting golden eagles have not demonstrated avoidance behavior after wind farms are constructed. Worse, he said, project-by-project analysis has so far failed to account for cumulative impacts on the species. Mandatory mitigation efforts to avoid bird mortality meanwhile remain woefully inadequate, he said. There are many more wind energy projects in queue in Wyoming, and permitting agencies need to more carefully scrutinize avoidance areas and act on data that justify more stringent impact avoidance measures, according to Lockhart. "It's pretty damn obvious what's happening," he said. "There's nothing that's being done that's protective of golden eagles." Other plaintiffs include Albany County residents Michelle White and Natalia Johnson, as well as the Albany County Conservancy and Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. They allege the Rail Tie project - backed by Repsol Renewables, a division of Spanish-based Repsol - represents a preference among many wind energy developers to site development on private property to avoid stringent federal reviews. By avoiding U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands, the developer got what it was hoping for, they said: The Western Area Power Administration didn't adequately adhere to the National Environmental Policy Act nor the National Historic Preservation Act. They suggest that - among other environmental review failings - deficiencies in complying with the National Historic Preservation Act, as it applies to the Ames Monument National Historic Landmark near Interstate 80 east of Laramie, should convince the court to order a redo of federal analysis. Project and litigation The $500 million Rail Tie project would straddle Highway 287 south of Laramie with up to 149 wind turbines. Shell's Renewables U.S. originally proposed wind development in the valley more than 10 years ago. ConnectGen picked up the project and then sold it to Repsol Renewables. Now the wind farm is projected to be in operation by the end of 2026, according to the company. Developers struck deals with private landowners in the area, but triggered a federal review with a proposal to connect the wind-generated electricity to the Western Area Power Administration's Ault-Craig interstate transmission line to either sell the power to the agency or one of its clients. The Western Area Power Administration was created to manage power from hydroelectric plants in the West. Plaintiffs allege the agency failed to adequately consider and disclose impacts when it issued the environmental go-ahead in 2022, but waited until the agency conducted a follow-up analysis under the National Historic Preservation Act, which was completed in the fall of 2024. Eubanks explained that opponents believed they'd have a better outcome in court if they waited to file suit after both reviews were completed. The latest review, among other things, required an analysis of potential degradation to viewsheds and aesthetics - as well as prudent mitigation measures - regarding national historic landmarks. The agency settled on a 2-mile minimum buffer zone between wind turbines and Ames Monument. However, the BLM, when considering mitigating measures regarding industrial development and national landmarks elsewhere, has imposed setbacks up to nine miles, according to Eubanks. It's unclear how visible Rail Tie turbines might be from Ames Monument. Repsol did not respond to a WyoFile inquiry. "The way that you experience [Ames Monument] can be very different now that you have this modern, intrusive infrastructure that's essentially right there in your view," Eubanks said. Area residents who oppose the project note that more and more people are building homes in the valley, making it a high-conflict area for industrial development. "Basically, these turbines are going to completely bathe this whole valley," Michelle White said. "I think that they're kind of scavenger companies. Their MO is to come into depressed areas, or agricultural-based areas, and kind of ramrod over the locals and pick up projects that didn't progress for whatever reason." Best of poor options For its part, the Albany County Commission voted unanimously to approve the aspects of the project that it had authority over while imposing some limitations and cooperative measures such as county road maintenance. However, the three-member commission did so understanding there were downsides for residents, commission chairman Pete Gosar told WyoFile. "There are impacts for us not moving to a clean-energy future," Gosar said. "As a decision maker, you try to weigh everything you can and you try to come down on what makes the most sense for your community. I thought this made the most sense for our community." Though he doesn't like to see landscapes industrialized, and sympathizes with residents who will bear the brunt of it, the Rail Tie project represents the best - not the perfect - choice among a shrinking number of good options to address the climate crises, Gosar said. Residents also had "plenty" of opportunity to air their concerns early in the process, he added. Many opponents of the Rail Tie project also didn't show up when wind projects were proposed in the northern part of the county, he said. "Those [impacts] only became concerning once it was closer to them," Gosar said. "When wind farms came to northern Albany County, very few said a word about it. "I feel like the duty - as a person in an elected, official position - you do the best you can," he added. "You tell people what you think and why you think it, and then they get to weigh in on whether you should be there again or not come next election." There have been about 14 different wind energy projects proposed in Wyoming since 2012, according to the state. Wyoming has nearly doubled its installed wind energy generation capacity since 2020 for a total of 3,236 megawatts, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That's more than 30% of the state's total electrical generation capacity from all sources - coal, natural gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric. Wyoming ranks 17th in the nation for installed wind energy capacity. One megawatt hour can power the average American home for about 1.2 months. TransWest Express LLC - a division of the Anschutz Corporation - began construction last year on the $3 billion TransWest Express transmission line after 15 years of planning and federal reviews. It will deliver electricity from Power Company of Wyoming's $5 billion Chokecherry Sierra Madre wind energy project in Carbon County, also currently under construction. The wind farm will have a generation capacity of 3,500 megawatts, according to the company. The 15-years-long review process afforded the developers the ability to continually refine the projects to mitigate environmental impacts, including for raptors and other wildlife, they say. Meantime, Lockhart charges that wildlife agencies with the authority to impose protective measures continue to gloss over and underestimate the cumulative impacts of wind turbines and powerlines on golden eagles, despite ongoing data collection and evidence. "I never expected it to be this bad," Lockhart said, adding that he fears golden eagle populations in the region may not recover. "I never really expected that golden eagles would be as heavily impacted as they are." WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Wyoming's water chief wants emergency funds for hydrologists to measure flows in the state's portion of the troubled Colorado River Basin, documentation he said is vital to preserving irrigation and other uses. State Engineer Brandon Gebhart asked for $167,210 in supplemental budget funds, a piddling amount in the world of western water finances, but a critical sum necessary to launch the work this spring. He called parts of the proposed allocation an "emergency," a designation that would enable disbursements to begin this fiscal year. Among other things, the money would employ three full-time hydrographers to measure flows in the Green and Little Snake river drainages. The total figure covers money specifically directed toward Colorado River issues as Wyoming girds to protect irrigators and other water users. Climate change and drought have upset basin flows and could upend allotments agreed to in the seven-state 1922 Colorado River Compact. That, in turn, could threaten Wyoming's water rights. "What we're seeing is an increase [in] demand and a decrease in supply," Gebhart told members of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee in December. "This likely means that our downstream states will have a greater interest in our water. Being a headwater state, it's somewhat concerning." Upper basin states - Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico - don't agree with lower-basin users in Arizona, California and Nevada on how or whether to reapportion dwindling runoff that supports some 40 million people. Lower basin states want equal "one-for-one" cuts shared between the two divisions, Gebhart told irrigators last summer. "Mandatory reductions are pretty much a hard 'no' for me," a position shared across the upper division, Gebhart said. Enhanced storage "You're not going to hear me in the press," Gebhart told irrigators in Baggs last summer, but he's outlined Wyoming and upper basin states' position in several public meetings. "We have less water than was ever anticipated when the compact originated," Gebhart said. "The last 22 to 24 years are the driest, the least flow in that basin in over 1,000 years." The 1922 Colorado River Compact requires upper division states to allow 75 million acre-feet to flow past Lees Ferry, a gauging station just below Lake Powell's Glen Canyon Dam, during a rolling 10-year span. Wyoming's responsible for about 14% of that and, conversely, can use a similar percentage of what doesn't run past the gauge. Wyoming believes it hasn't fully tapped its 1922 share and is pursuing three significant water storage projects to fulfill its rights. Those are at New Fork Lake, Fontenelle Reservoir and a proposed reservoir on the West Fork of Battle Creek above the Little Snake River. Those plans would primarily increase water available to Wyoming irrigators and other users. Enhanced storage could also help fulfill Lees Ferry flow obligations, but Gebhart has made clear Wyoming is unwilling to contribute "more than what we're already under obligation for in the compact," unless that comes from conservation, including paid-for voluntary conservation. Unlike the lower basin states that rely on Lake Mead, "we don't have a large reservoir to supply our releases," Gebhart said. Instead, Wyoming's Colorado River Basin reservoirs provide only late-season irrigation, not years of backup. "We're dependent on whatever Mother Nature gives us [in] the run of the river," Gebhart said. But, "the hydrology is drying out. We have less. "We already suffer what they refer to as shortages," he said. "Every year we go out, we regulate off users because there's not enough water." Enhanced measurements For Wyoming to protect its share, it needs to know how much water diverted from rivers makes it to agricultural fields. Without documentation that can withstand legal challenges, others might say Wyoming is consuming more water than it puts to beneficial use. Beyond what water makes it to the alfalfa field, hydrologists could also document how much leaks from irrigation canals and flows back to the main waterway, thereby remaining in the system. They can also measure how much of the water applied to fields eventually seeps back to a river or stream and down toward the lower basin. Rules of thumb that previously served water managers may not stand up in court. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Sweetwater County's first baby of the new year has officially arrived. Baby Huxxton was born bright and early at 6:39 a.m. January 1, 2025, to Brittany Bird and Derek Bird. He came into the world at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County weighing six pounds, one ounce, and measuring 17 inches. Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Auxiliary welcomed the New Year Baby by donating a basket to the family with a variety of items for the new parents and baby. The donation included $50 Walmart gift certificate, baby bathtub, clothes, teethers, cloth books, blankets, towels, washcloths, changing pad, baby wipes, first memories scrapbook, a range of learning toys and much more. Local law enforcement agencies are saying goodbye to some of their own who are retiring from their positions. On Thursday, January 2, the Green River Police Department (GRPD) announced the retirement of Captain Brad Halter. The next day, January 3, GRPD announced another retirement, this time for Detective Sergeant Fischer. The same day, the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) announced a retirement as well, saying goodbye to Michelle Hall. The respective agencies issued the following statements regarding these retirements. GRPD Brad Halter It is with a profound sense of gratitude and respect that we bid farewell to an exemplary leader, a dedicated officer, and a true asset to the Green River Police Department: Captain Brad Halter. After 20 years of distinguished service, Captain Halter's retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter, one that has left a lasting mark on this department and the city he so selflessly served. Throughout his career, Captain Halter was a beacon of excellence, a standard-bearer for professionalism, and a mentor to all who had the privilege of working alongside him. His commitment to public safety went far beyond the call of duty, and his influence was felt not only within the department but throughout the entire community. Captain Halter was particularly exceptional in his work with DUI enforcement, where his tireless efforts led to countless lives being saved and countless dangerous drivers being removed from the roads. His dedication to this cause was second to none, and his leadership in this area was instrumental in shaping the department's success. Additionally, his time as a canine officer highlighted his ability to connect with and lead others, demonstrating time and time again his passion for service, his devotion to his K-9 partner, and his unwavering commitment to the mission. Beyond his technical accomplishments, Captain Halter's leadership was defined by his integrity, wisdom, and ability to inspire those around him. He set the bar high and led by example, always going above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of the people he served and the officers he led. It is with both pride and sadness that we see him go. His retirement is a tremendous loss to the Green River Police Department and to the city that benefited so greatly from his service. We know that the impact of his work will continue to resonate for many years to come. Thank you, Captain Halter, for your outstanding 20 years of service. Your commitment to this department and community will never be forgotten. You have truly made a difference, and for that, we are forever grateful. GRPD Detective Sergeant Fischer Today, we are saying goodbye to Detective Sergeant Fischer, who is retiring after an incredible 24 years of service with the Green River Police Department. From his early days on patrol to his time as a Detective, Sergeant Fischer filled many roles during his career. He served as a Field Training Officer, shaping the next generation of officers with the knowledge and wisdom he gained over the years. His time in Detectives saw him rise through the ranks to the position of Detective Sergeant, where he would finish out his career. While his professional achievements are remarkable, the role he is most proud of is being a father to all his children. His dedication to his children reflects the same passion and commitment he showed to his work. Though we will miss him here at the Green River Police Department, the good news is that he won't be far. We are happy to share that he has taken a new position with the City and we look forward to seeing him around from time to time. Detective Sergeant Fischer, thank you for your years of service and your unwavering dedication to our community. We wish you all the best in your next chapter and know you'll continue to make a positive impact wherever you go. SCSO Michelle Hall Today, we salute and say goodbye to an incredible human, a true warrior, and a quietly confident, impeccably competent leader: Michelle Hall. Whether on the street, as a detective leading the way in child sex crimes investigations in Wyoming, a trusted supervisor, or a valued administrator, Michelle has been nothing short of a tour de force for our agency -- constantly pushing boundaries, upholding our mission, and inspiring everyone around her. Michelle's dedication, courage, and compassion touched countless lives and shaped our agency for the better. Michelle, thank you for your unwavering commitment and service. We are grateful for all you've given and wish you and Tony joy and success as you begin this next chapter of your lives. You (both) will be sorely missed! Last weekend, residents let loose at the 11th annual Music for Vets. The event was created by local band Zamtrip and is hosted by Tom Whitmore Post 28 of the American Legion. Post 28 also manages the Veterans Relief Fund, which is where the proceeds go. This event has grown every year since its start. The first Music For Vets happened in 2015, raised about $1,500, and was hosted by the American Legion in Rock Springs. The second, third and fourth years were hosted at Tom Whitmore Post 28 in Green River. Following the fourth year, it became clear that a bigger venue was needed, and it was subsequently moved to the Green River Island Pavilion, where it has taken place ever since. According to Tom Niemiec, the finance officer at Tom Whitmore Post 28, who is also on the Music For Vets Committee, there is no "profit" from the event, because all the money after expenses goes into the Veterans Relief Fund. The Veterans Relief Fund provides funding for veterans and veterans' families through an emergency grant when needed. Local Post 28 manages this money. The two requirements are the individual must be a veteran, and there must be a need. Niemiec explained: "We help veterans in the region, and veterans traveling through the region. They must be a veteran in need. If the need is for a veteran with children, we also fill out national assistance forms to get more assistance." Niemiec said, "We gauge the success of the event on the gross of the event, growing more than the previous year." Niemiec reported that last year the event grossed just over $66,000, with expenses last year totaling near $18,000. "This year we grossed, currently, $70,058, but we have a little more coming in," Niemiec explained. "Expenses are still being tallied, with a few more expenses still happening. Expenses should be less than $20,000 this year but we are not done paying the bills." There is a lot that happens behind the scenes to ensure the success of this event, and it would not be possible without the Music For Vets Committee.The Music For Vets Committee consists of local volunteers from the American Legion, Sons of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the members of Zamtrip, members of other local bands, and other citizens in the community. The committee meets monthly from January to October, every two weeks in November, and weekly in December until the event. The event always takes place the first Saturday in January. "The committee works hard to determine the bands and lineup for the event," Niemiec explained. "Zamtrip is committed to always have local artists perform in this event. We also work on growing the event with music acts and events that help the event grow. We discuss what acts locally are available. We use band-to-band communication, national talent agencies, bands that have performed locally, bands that have played the Legion, etc. " Niemiec added that event organizers would love to see more involvement with the local government in the future, since the event helps support the local economy. "We have had many attendees from out of state come to this event," he said. "We know we fill up our hotels and these folks provide positive economic impact to the county. We would love to have support regarding this event from other local government entities. We know that this year we had people attend from Colorado, Utah, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Arizona, California, Texas, Wyoming, and North Pole, Alaska." Niemiec emphasized how this event has become an important part of the community and how grateful the organizers are for all the support. "We love bringing this event, which is the second largest music event in the county, to the community," he said. "This event is more than just a concert. This benefit has sponsorship from many local businesses. There are 76 businesses on the back of our concert shirts. These sponsors are both monetary and in-kind sponsors. Without them we could not bring this wonderful event to this community and raise the funds for Veterans Relief. All our sponsors are key, from the people and businesses that donate a raffle basket to the monetary sponsors. Most of our sponsors are sponsors every year. This event included seven musical acts, raffled items, food by local business Native Son, and sodas and beer by our local distributors, all for $15 advanced or $20 at the door. We also donated 20 tickets to be distributed through vettix.com and many veterans and first responders received free tickets." Music For Vets would like to thank the following: the City of Green River; Between the Lines for providing shuttle service from the parking to the pavilion; those who provide sound technician expertise (from Green River, Rock Springs, and the Ft Bridger Valley) including Scott Anson, Pick'nPalace, Shayne Lewis and the primary sound tech running the system, Nick "TooTall" Sondrop from Salt Lake City; Western Wyoming Community College for donating stage use; and event Photographer Kiarra Zampedri. Music for Vets would also like to give special recognition to Al Harris who has MC'd the event for seven years. Tom Whitmore Post 38 also hosts a Summertime Music For Vets event that doubles as a thank you to their Sponsors. For more information, follow tomwhitmorepost28.org, the Music For Vets Facebook Page, the Zamtrip Facebook page, and zamtrip.com. The next iPhone SE apparently won't be called that anymore, but instead will go with the iPhone 16E moniker. According to a recent report, this should be launching by April, and today we have a list of specs for it courtesy of Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station. Think of the iPhone 16E as an iPhone 14 with some changed bits here and there and you'll get the picture, as it's said to have the same 6.06-inch FHD+ LTPS OLED screen with 60 Hz refresh rate and a notch for the (new to the SE series) Face ID tech. It also gets a flat metal frame, a single rear camera, a water resistance rating, and the Apple A18 chip, which is the biggest upgrade in tow when comparing it to the aforementioned iPhone 14. The iPhone 16E will be the cheapest iPhone according to the same source, based on its launch price, which has in the past been rumored to be $499. That would make it $70 more expensive than its predecessor from 2022, but the chipset upgrade is probably worth that alone, not to mention the addition of Face ID and an OLED screen. Oh, and the 16E will also support Apple Intelligence thanks to its rumored 8GB of RAM. Apple iPhone 14 Apple iPhone SE (2022) Source (in Chinese) | Via Xiaomi introduced the Redmi Note 14 series in China in late September, then brought (mostly) the same models to India in December. Now the company is launching a completely different set of Redmi Note 14 phones that will be available in the European market. There are five new models this time, not just three, here we will cover the Pros. You can read up on the vanilla models in another article. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, which promises a small performance boost over the Dimensity 7200 Ultra that the 13 Pro+ used. The phone will be available in several configurations starting at 8/256GB. The top-specced model has 12GB of RAM (LPDDR4X) and 512GB storage (UFS 2.2). The display is similar to the previous model a curved 6.67 OLED panel with 1,220 x 2,712px resolution. It renders 12-bit colors with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. It can reach 3,000 nits (up from 1,800 nits) and uses 1,920Hz PWM dimming. One upgrade this generation is the move to Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The back uses either Gorilla Glass 7i (Frost Blue and Midnight Black) or vegan leather (Lavender Purple), depending on which color you pick. A curved 6.67 120Hz OLED display on the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Like last year, Xiaomi equipped the Pro+ with a 200MP camera the 1/1.4 sensor uses 16-in-1 pixel binning and can offer lossless 2x and 4x zoom (and it is optically stabilized, which will help at 4x). The ultra-wide camera remains at 8MP and there is a 2MP macro module on board. 200MP main camera with OIS and 2x/4x in-sensor zoom The selfie camera did get an upgrade to a 20MP sensor and a wider lens (Xiaomi advertises it as 0.8x). The Dual Video feature allows you to record with the front and rear cameras simultaneously. The new model has a slightly larger battery than before with 5,110mAh capacity (up from 5,000mAh). Once again, the Pro+ has exclusive access to 120W fast charging a 120W charger will be included in some (but not all) regions. The regular Pro model comes in two flavors: 4G and 5G. They use different chipsets, of course, Helio G100 Ultra and Dimensity 7300 Ultra, respectively. Thats not the only difference, however. Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is more like the Pro+. It uses the same curved 6.67 1220p+ display with the same 20MP selfie camera. The IP68 rating is the same too. The 5,110mAh battery has the same capacity, though it only supports 45W charging (a 45W charger will be included in some regions). The Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G also has a curved 6.67 OLED display, though this one has a lower resolution of 1,080 x 2,400px. It still uses Victus 2 glass, but the phone is only rated IP64 for protection against splashes and not immersion. Note that the display has 10-bit colors and lacks Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. Its peak brightness is lower too, reaching only 1,800 nits. Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G The selfie camera has a 32MP sensor with the same wider 0.8x lens (Xiaomi hasnt revealed the exact focal length). Also, the charging is the same at 45W (with an included charger in some regions), but the battery has a higher 5,500mAh capacity. The important thing is that both Pro models have the same rear camera setup as the Pro+: 200MP main (1/1.4, 16-in-1 binning, OIS), 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro. 200+8+2MP cameras on both the Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G and 5G The two Pros and the Pro+ have dual-SIM slots. However, the two 5G models also have an eSIM on board, the Pro 4G does not. On the flip side, the Pro 4G is the only one that has a microSD slot (its a hybrid slot, so you have to choose between extra memory and a second phone line). Okay, now that weve covered the similarities and differences between the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ and the two Redmi Note 14 Pro models, its time to look at the prices, which weve summarized in the table below: Model 8/256GB 12/512GB Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G 300/250 - Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G 400/300 - Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 500/400 550/450 Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G (Global) Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (Global) Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G (Global) Xiaomi brought Redmi Note 14 to the global scene today, one month after launching the phone in India. The phone is essentially the same, with one major improvement in the camera department. We also saw the introduction of an LTE-only variant, which is an entirely new handset with a Helio chipset, a different footprint and a revamped camera setup. Redmi Note 14 5G The international variant, just like its Indian and Chinese namesakes (which are two different phones), runs on Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset, though it remains unclear how it's better than the regular 7025. Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. 128GB 6GB RAM 17,998 128GB 8GB RAM 18,998 Show all prices Upfront is a 6.67" AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution, up to 120 Hz refresh rate, and an under-display fingerprint scanner. The panel offers 2,100 nits peak brightness and is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. There is a single punch hole for the 20 MP selfie camera. At the back Redmi Note 14 5G brings a 108 MP main shooter with OIS, a 1/1.67" sensor with 0.64 m pixels. There is also an 8 MP ultrawide camera and a 2 MP macro shooter. We have to point out the IP64 dust and water resistance of Note 14, which is a bump over the IP54 certification from the predecessor. The phone also has a 3.5 mm audio jack, a feat we rarely see anymore, even on affordable devices. The Redmi Note 14 comes with a 5,110 mAh battery with 45W wired charging support. Xiaomi said there is a 45W PD charger in the box, unless you are living in the EU, where bundling an adapter with the phone is now banned. The phone comes with HyperOS on top of Android 14 Xiaomi is yet to release a smartphone on the global market with the current Android OS out of the box. At least the interface brings some AI features like AI Erase, AI Sky, and AI Beautify, and the Gemini app comes pre-installed for more generative AI features. Color options of the Redmi Note 14 5G are Black, Purple, and Coral Green. There are three memory versions 6/128 GB, 8/256 GB, and 12/512 GB, but their availability is market-dependent. Pricing will be announced soon. Redmi Note 14 4G The LTE variant of the Redmi Note 14 is definitely a downgrade in terms of performance. It it powered by the Helio G99 that is over 2.5 years old. The cameras are also less impressive Xiaomi kept the 108 MP main shooter with the 1/1.67" sensor and 0.64 m pixels but lacks OIS. There is also no ultra-wide camera the second cam is a 2 MP depth sensor, and the third is the 2 MP macro snapper. At least the front-facing camera is the same 20 MP unit. Looking at the front, Redmi Note 14 keeps the 6.67 AMOLED with Full HD+ resolution and up to 120 Hz refresh rate with Gorilla Glass on top. The panel offers 1,800 nits peak brightness and is certified by TUV Rheinland for low blue light. We have to point out the phone has a bigger footprint and, therefore, a bigger battery than its 5G sibling with a 5,500 mAh cell and support for 33W wired charging. Again, the adapter is included in the box unless you live in the European Union. This Redmi Note 14 has IP54 dust and splash resistance and also has a 3.5 mm audio jack. Software-wise, we are looking at another HyperOS phone with Android 14 and some basic AI features . It comes in Black, Purple, Blue, or Lime Green colors and has no less than three memory options 6/128 GB, 8/128 GB, and 8/256 GB. The basic is priced at 200/180, while the middle variant costs 230/230. More pricing and availability will vary by region. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 TL;DR: Galaxy S24 series again, except this time with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset for all markets. Snark aside, there are a few more upgrades coming to the Galaxy S25 series, but one could argue that these should have been done years ago. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, its getting a 50MP ultra-wide camera these days you can get that on a mid-range phone too. The 200MP main, 50MP 5x periscope and 10MP 3x cameras will be essentially unchanged, the same goes for the 12MP selfie camera. One tipster claims that the new ultra-wide camera will be four times better than the old one. Also, the Galaxy S25 series will leverage AI to improve the image quality with color and brightness improving by 43% (it will be interesting to hear how Samsung arrived at this number). One more important change is that the S25 series will get support for log video recording, which helps preserve more dynamic range. Also, the leakster claims that Samsung has made switching between lenses less janky. A new Audio Eraser feature will be available to remove noises from your videos. The S25 Ultra will stick with 12GB of RAM (at least for the European market) and will come with a choice of 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage. The battery will be the same too with 5,000mAh capacity and 45W charging. The speed of the wireless charging is unknown, but we dont expect a major upgrade. Samsung Galaxy S25 Samsung Galaxy S25+ Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra The Samsung Galaxy S25+ isnt getting any upgrades, besides the chipset (that is if rumors are to be believed). It will have 12GB of RAM and 256/512GB storage, a flat 6.7 QHD+ screen and a 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired charging. Again, the leaksters dont have details on the wireless charging. Unfortunately, this leak doesnt offer any insight into the Galaxy S25 Slim and how it and the S25+ will coexist. Doesnt the Slim deprecate the Plus? Were curious to find out. This leaves the Samsung Galaxy S25 its 6.2 display will stick to the 1080p+ resolution instead of going up to QHD+. One crucial change is that the small model will have 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB (finally!), but the base storage is said to remain the same at 128GB. There will be 256GB and 512GB options. The battery is the same too, 4,000mAh with 25W wired charging (even the A-series does 45W now). As for cameras, the S25 and S25+ will use the same hardware as last year 50MP main, 10MP 3x tele and 12MP ultra-wide. This means a lot is riding on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite ISP and the new AI features to make a difference in image quality. Finally, here are the dimensions and weight of the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra compared to their predecessors: S24 S25 S24+ S25+ S24 Ultra S25 Ultra Height 147.0mm 146.9mm 158.5mm 158.4mm 162.3mm 162.8mm Width 70.6mm 70.5mm 75.9mm 75.8mm 79.0mm 77.6mm Thickness 7.6mm 7.2mm 7.7mm 7.3mm 8.6mm 8.2mm Weight 167g 162g 196g 190g 232g 218g Source 1 | Source 2 Haiti - FLASH : NOTICE of recruitment for the referendum (CEP) As part of the organization of the referendum and the upcoming elections, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) invites qualified citizens to submit their applications for the positions of members of the Departmental Referendum Bureaux (BRD) and the Municipal Referendum Bureaux (BRC). Positions to be filled : - BRD members : 2 per department, a vice-president and a secretary-treasurer. - BRC members : 3 per commune, a president, a vice-president and a secretary-treasurer. Required qualifications : 1. Be of Haitian nationality and reside in the department or commune concerned; 2. Be at least 25 years old for the BRC and at least 30 years old for the BRD; 3. Enjoy their civil and political rights; 4. Be recognized for their integrity and morality; 5. Hold a university degree; 6. Have experience in the administrative, legal, electoral, or community fields is an asset. Main missions : - Supervise and coordinate referendum operations at the departmental or municipal level; - Actively participate in the organization and implementation of the referendum and elections; - Ensure compliance with the electoral procedures and regulations in force. Application file : Interested persons must submit a complete file including : 1. A cover letter addressed to the Provisional Electoral Council; 2. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV); 3. A copy of the national identification card (CIN); 4. A copy of the tax identification number (NIF); 5. A certificate of good character; 6. A copy of the university degrees obtained; 7. Two professional or community references. Submission of applications : Application files will be received at the Departmental Office of the CEP from January 13 to 16, 2025. Female applications are strongly encouraged. Competition : The competition will take place on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the address that will be communicated later by the President of the Departmental Electoral Office (BED). HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : House of Representatives adopts bill threatening asylum seekers... On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act, an immigration bill targeting undocumented offenders accused of minor crimes, by a vote of 252 (all Republicans plus 48 Democrats) and 157 against. This bill if passed in the Senate and signed into law by Trump could have significant implications for immigrant communities, including Haitians, in the United States. Opponents of the bill point out that the law mandates immediate detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft-related offenses, even minor offenses such as shoplifting, without waiting for a conviction. The bill does not distinguish between minor and serious crimes, which could have a disproportionate impact on asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups, including Haitians, who could face increased deportation due to the laws expanded detention criteria. While supporters of the Laken Riley Act say the legislation will enhance public safety by ensuring that all offenders are detained and deported. Human rights groups warn that the bill could increase fear and distrust of law enforcement, making immigrants less likely to report crimes... The Republican-led Senate is expected to vote on the bill soon. If the bill passes, which is highly likely, the bill will go to President Trump for ratification and enactment. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... FLASH : Appointment booking, Brazil VITEM 11 The Visa Application Center for Brazil (BVAC) operated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti, informs interested persons that the link https://cavb-ht-v11.iom.int allows you to access the appointment booking for the family reunification visa VITEM 11 See read : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44021-haiti-flash-procedures-and-documents-required-for-the-family-reunification-visa-in-brazil-vitem-11.html . Make sure your documents meet the requirements for filing, as the processing fees are not refundable. Download the documents required for the family reunification visa application (Vitem 11) (PDF in French and Creole) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/DOCUMENTS-REQUIS-POUR-LA-DEMANDE-DE-VISA-HUMANITAIRE-VITEM-XI_Francais-et-Creole-2.pdf . If your physical documents are blocked in Brazil, note that those with digital legalization must be sent to the following address : bvachaiti@iom.int Caribbean Port Services operations suspended Thursday, January 9, 2025, Caribbean Port Services (CPS, the main operator of the Port-au-Prince port, had to suspend its activities under pressure from the Wharf Jeremie gang, led by Chief Micanor Altes alias "Wa Mikano" author of the massacre of 207 people in December 2024 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43913-haiti-flash-wharf-jeremie-massacre-more-than-207-dead-investigation-report.html PAP : Charter flight to Brazil Wednesday, January 8 2025, a new charter flight to Brazil took off from Toussaint Louverture International Airport. A flight considered by many passengers as an alternative to the ban on commercial flights of American airlines in Haiti by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the USA, until March 12, 2025. These charter flights, including several other flights to Brazil scheduled for the coming days, although more expensive, offer passengers the opportunity to travel and escape the growing insecurity in the country. Muscular operation of the PNH Several specialized units of the National Police such as the Departmental Operation and Intervention Brigade (BOID), the SWAT, the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) accompanied by the Drone Unit and the Heavy Equipment Section, carried out a series of interventions in the area of Fort National, Avenue "Poupelard" and Rue "Widmaer". As part of these interventions, law enforcement officers were able to dismantle several areas where criminal gangs were hiding to operate and commit criminal acts. Arms Trafficking : Haitian-American Police Officer Arrested in the US Jean Robert Casimir, a Haitian-American police officer arrested in Florida last month for arms trafficking, also ran a company private security in Haiti. Records indicate that he has purchased at least 87 firearms in the past two years. Sunrise Airways News The private Haitian airline Sunrise Airways still has no date for the resumption of its flights to and from Toussaint Louverture International Airport. In addition, according to our information, Sunrise is also considering launching a new route between Jacmel and Cap-Haitien in the coming weeks. HL/ HaitiLibre The Finnish government intends to extend the closure of its border with Russia and continue the use of a contentious migration law aimed at preventing instrumentalised migration. The decision reflects ongoing concerns about security at Finlands 1,340-kilometre eastern border, which serves as the EU and NATOs longest shared boundary with Russia. She stated that Finland must remain prepared for rapid changes, reinforcing the decision to keep the border closed and extend the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration. The Border Security Act, enacted in July 2024, grants Finnish authorities the power to restrict asylum applications at specific border areas if national security is threatened. The law, activated for one-month periods, was introduced after Finland accused Russia of facilitating a surge of migrants at its border in 2023. Moscow has denied the allegations. The law allows border guards to reject most asylum applications, with limited exceptions for children and people with disabilities. Critics, including legal experts, argue that the legislation violates Finlands constitutional and international obligations on human rights. Once denied, asylum seekers have no avenue to appeal decisions made under the act. Despite these criticisms, Finnish authorities claim the law has been effective in halting instrumentalised migration. Applications for asylum can still be submitted at air and maritime border points, which remain open. Since December 2023, all eight land crossings with Russia have been closed. The Finnish government has repeatedly extended the closure, citing security threats and the risk of hybrid attacks. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo reaffirmed this policy, stating, The threat assessment of the eastern border remains unchanged, which is why we cannot open the border. Officials claim that the border closures, along with the migration law, have successfully deterred hybrid attacks. Finland will now propose extending the laws validity until at least mid-2025, with the government planning to submit a formal proposal to Parliament by April. Prime Minister Orpo also pointed to Russias shadow fleet as a significant security issue in the Baltic Sea. NATO and EU nations are reportedly coordinating efforts to counter the fleets activities, which include bypassing sanctions and threatening maritime infrastructure. HT The strike warnings come amid prolonged disputes between unions and employers over wage increases and broader collective agreements. The Finnish Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) and the Union of Professional Employees (Pro) have issued strike warnings for late January, impacting 50 companies across Finlands technology and chemical industries. If negotiations remain deadlocked, the strikes are set to begin on 27 January and continue through 1 February, affecting over 13,000 workers. The Finnish Industrial Union has been negotiating with employer representatives in the technology and chemical sectors since September 2024, but no agreements have been reached. Teollisuusliitto is demanding a 10% pay rise to address workers declining purchasing power, a key issue for its members. Our members need reasonable, purchasing power-improving wage increases to strengthen their livelihoods and ensure security in daily life, said Riku Aalto, Chairperson of Teollisuusliitto, in a statement. The chemical industry dispute involves broader disagreements over the terms of collective agreements, while the technology sector negotiations focus on setting new wage benchmarks after previous agreements expired late last year. The strike warnings include prominent companies such as Metso, Wartsila, and Valmet, as well as other major employers in the affected sectors. A detailed list of companies has been published on Teollisuusliittos website. Separately, Pro announced strike actions targeting 21 companies in the technology sector, coinciding with Teollisuusliittos planned strikes. Both unions expressed frustration over delays in reaching agreements, warning that prolonged negotiations only further postpone urgently needed wage increases. The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries and the Chemical Industry Federation have expressed disappointment over the unions strike warnings. Jarkko Ruohoniemi, CEO of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, stated that the employers side has proposed significant wage increases but noted that unions have deemed these offers insufficient. Both sides have yet to align on what would be a realistic level for wage adjustments in the coming years, Ruohoniemi said. The National Conciliator will mediate between the parties, with talks scheduled to resume on Monday. Both unions and employer representatives have signaled willingness to continue negotiations in hopes of averting widespread industrial action. HT Purra published the blog post in response to a survey commissioned by Ilta-Sanomat , which showed that growing income inequalities are the single largest concern for Finns. MINISTER of Finance Riikka Purra (PS) has set off a debate with a blog post in which she indicated that the criticism levelled at spending cuts stems from public ignorance and blamed the media for public misconceptions about income differences. Income differences are definitely not a problem in Finland. They are small relative to our peer countries some of the smallest in the entire EU and world because incomes are strongly balanced with both taxes and income transfers, she wrote. She implied that larger income differences could be beneficial for the national economy, adding that too small differences are indicative of incentive traps. According to Statistics Finland, income differences are presently at the same level as at the start of the millennium that is, 25 years ago. If the economy was growing and we had the necessary dynamism in Finland, it would also be reflected in income differences, said Purra. Niku Maattanen, a professor of macroeconomics at the University of Helsinki, confirmed to Helsingin Sanomat that robust economic growth often correlates with the widening of income differences. The Gini coefficient typically grows with the economic situation. Its indeed true that the widening of income differences doesnt necessarily mean that low-income people are worse off. Sometimes the widening of income differences can be a signal of economic growth thats benefiting everyone. The economy isnt a zero-sum game, he reminded. He added that questions about the interrelationship between employment incentives and income differences, as well as that between income differences and economic growth, are complex and do not have an unambiguous answer. For example, strongly progressive income taxation can reduce incentives to pursue a very high income. But on the other hand you can imagine a society where the economy and political power are intertwined so that income differences are based on completely other things than working or taking on risks as an entrepreneur. Income differences can be caused by a variety of things. Purra also argued that the media has created a false impression of the number of people affected by the spending cuts and tax hikes implemented by the right-wing ruling coalition. Only seven per cent of the population are faced with income losses exceeding five per cent, she wrote. Does this in your view correspond with the picture that you can get from the public debate and the criticism of opposition parties? It is natural, she added, that the effects are concentrated on low-income people because the government is slashing social security benefits. The greatest impacts in 2024 and 2025 will be faced by students and the unemployed, meaning groups who in principle have the ability to improve their situation by seeking employment, she commented. On X, she also argued that the static impact of the social security cuts and tax increases on income inequality and low-income households will be smaller this year than last year. Jussi Tervola, a researcher who has assessed the impacts of the policy decisions at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), said to YLE that Purra is understating the effects on low-income earners. He viewed that it is difficult to describe the impacts as small. The impacts are considerable particularly on the ratio of low-income earners, with previous estimates indicating that the ratio will increase by 1.7 percentage points as a consequence of the measures. Almost 100,000 Finns will consequently fall below the poverty line, meaning they will earn less than 60 per cent of the national median income. Purras interpretation is baseless at least if you look at previous electoral terms and the history of Finland, Tervola said to the public broadcasting company. Purra also wrote that the impressions do not match reality. Citizens who brought up growing income disparities as their greatest concern dont necessarily know the aforementioned facts. Generally speaking awareness of things like these is weak. Its not the citizens fault, she said. She also described the media as the most vocal opposition force in the country, accusing it of treating right-wing governments more harshly than left-wing ones. Finlands media environment is if not outright socialist, then at least social-democratic. Aleksi Teivainen HT ONE of the largest employers in Henley is set to relocate following the sale of its premises for housing. Pump manufacturer Stuart Turner is currently based at Empstead Works, off Greys Road, which is set to be developed. Henley Enterprise Park, which owns the site, has agreed to sell it to London developer, the Green Regeneration Property Company which wants to build 54 new homes there. This would comprise 47 houses, 10 with two bedrooms, 23 with three bedrooms and 14 with four bedrooms, as well as seven maisonettes, five with one bedroom and two with two bedrooms. The firm is also looking to set aside 1,638 sq m for non-residential uses, such as retail space, a gym, nursery and a rooftop nursery play space. It has also said that 1,050 sq m will be used as a central green square, which will include a play space and further space allocated for car parking. Letters have been sent to neighbouring properties, inviting residents to comment on the plans by January 15. In the joint Henley and Harpsden neighbourhood plan, Emsptead Works has been allocated for about 42 dwellings as well as at least 3,000 sq m for town centre mixed uses including employment and 1,500 sq m for a single format food store. Stuart Turner, which employs around 80 people, has a lease agreement until 2027. It was founded in Henley in 1906 and has been based at the site in Greys Road since 1917. It produces water pumps and pressure-boosting systems used in showers, plumbing and heating systems for homes and businesses. Dominic Hill, the companys chief executive since 2023, revealed that while he was aware that the site was being sold when he took over the role, he didnt see the plans until recently. Mr Hill, 48, said the company was intent on honouring its lease but had been looking for alternative premises as early as the end of 2022. He said: The fact remains that the heritage of the business and all of the history of the business resides in Henley. We have been here for 118 years. Marmaduke Stuart Turner founded the business here and this is where weve grown up as a company. I guess the challenge for us is trying to find a suitable property in the Henley area. That has always been the challenge from a logistics perspective. On any given day, if you walk past the Greys Road entrance to the site, youll see artic lorries trying to navigate their way through the narrow roads of Henley. Its not the optimal site but it is our birthplace, it is our legacy. While the manufacturer employs a number of Henley residents, about 85 to 90 per cent of the companys workforce lives in the Reading and Caversham area. Mr Hill said: Very few people actually live in Henley but we will look to relocate to a suitable property with suitable transport links for all of our employees. If we could do that in Henley, that would be fantastic but I think the likelihood of that happening with the lack of industrial space in the town is pretty remote. We need to find alternative premises, but we've got two and a half years to do so. Were not going to jump into making a rash decision. We want to make sure the decision is right for the workforce. Mr Hill said that the move would in no way affect the job security of those currently at the company. He said: We are growing business, a very profitable business and we have no ambition to change what we do. Our staff is the backbone of the business and thats what has made it a success. Were not a highly automated, highly skilled manufacturing environment. We dont have much state-of-the-art technology. We produce a product by look and feel and thats the reason why the quality of the product is market leading and why we have been the market leader for the last 25 or 30 years. Mr Hill said that the company would hold a consultation process with its staff about the search for a new premises and would be very open and transparent about the move. He said: While there are some challenges with the logistics of this site, I didnt foresee us ever leaving it if we didnt have to so this is a decision thats completely out of our control. The company first began by making model steam engines and gas engines for domestic equipment but then moved into two-stroke engines for light motorcycles. After the First World War it began producing marine engines and model steam boats. It stopped this in the late Seventies and sold its model-making division to focus on water pumps about a decade later. The old models and engines are popular with collectors. In 2022 Stuart Turner was bought by private equity firm Epris with the aim of expanding its product range. A spokesman for The Green Regeneration Property Company said it was committed to delivering 40 per cent affordable housing as part of the scheme. He added: Redevelopment of the site will not be taking place for some time and we intend to offer assistance, via the current site owners, in supporting existing tenants as they approach the end of their leases. For more information about the development and to provide feedback, visit empsteadworks.co.uk (JTA) - Some Jewish stories of the last year have been impossible to miss: Israel at war, antisemitism around the world, a U.S. presidential election featuring Jewish politicians. Others may have slipped under the radar, drowned out by the drumbeat of breaking news. Here, we draw your attention to eight such stories, starting with one we published at the very beginning of the year. The magical life of Albert Levis, a scholar of storytelling who has his own improbable tale Albert Levis, in his late 80s, is a Holocaust survivor from Greece, a psychiatrist, a real-estate investor, a businessman,... THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, has gained attention for its potential in pain management, particularly in the form of THC-infused gummies. These gummies offer a convenient and discreet way to consume THC, potentially reducing pain without the harmful effects associated with smoking. However, its crucial to approach edibles with caution, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing to avoid adverse effects. Unlike smoking, which delivers almost instantaneous effects, edibles can take one to two hours to kick in. This delayed onset increases the risk of consuming too much THC... (JNS) - Last August marked the centennial of the birth of author Leon Uris, yet it passed with little commemoration in the Jewish cultural sphere. This absence is understandable as world Jewry is likely facing its greatest challenges since the end of World War II or, at least, since 1967. Many of us felt despair before the turning point in Israel's war with Hezbollah. Even now, we grieve for the hostages, and for family members and friends who served in Gaza or Southern Lebanon. Still, it is important to summon the emotional energy to honor someone who inspired countless people in the United S... (JTA) - WASHINGTON (JTA) Jimmy Carter, the one-term president who brokered the historic Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt but earned pariah status in some corners of the Jewish community for his criticisms of Israel, has died. Carter, who had remained active into his final years despite a 2015 diagnosis of liver cancer, died Dec. 29, 2024, at 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia, his nonprofit announced. Carter's work at Camp David in 1978 led to the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state and radically changed the landscape of the Middle East, diminishing - for the first... (JTA) Two Israelis were among those injured in Jan. 1s truck ramming attack in New Orleans, which authorities are investigating as the work of a terror cell tied to the Islamic State. The attack, perpetrated in the first hours of the new year, killed 15 people at a crowded celebration in the citys French Quarter, and wounded dozens. The attacker, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, was killed in a firefight with police. Jabbar, 42, had an ISIS flag in the car with him, and authorities are investigating the possibility that he did not work alone. Jabbar had reportedly posted videos to social media pr... (JNS) - A rare prehistoric ritual complex has been uncovered in the depths of the Manot Cave in the Western Galilee, Israel. The study of this complex, published in the journal PNAS, was led by Dr. Omry Barzilai from the University of Haifa and Israel Antiquities Authority, Prof. Ofer Marder from Ben-Gurion University and Prof. Israel Hershkovitz from Tel Aviv University. "The rare discovery provides a glimpse into the spiritual world of Paleolithic hunter-gatherer groups who lived in our region approximately 35,000 years ago," said Dr. Barzilai. "The engraved rock was deliberately placed in a... (JNS) Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant announced his resignation from parliament in a national address on Wednesday evening, almost two months after being fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a stop on a longer journey that has not yet been completed. As on the battlefield, so is the public service: there are moments when you have to stop to assess the situation and choose the direction of action, the Knesset lawmaker began. Although he was leaving the Knesset, Gallant stressed that he was staying within Netanyahus Likud Party. The way of the Likud is my way, G... (World Israel News) Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters descended onto Times Square to mark New Years by calling for an intifada against Jews. They carried signs with slogans like End Zionism, No War on Iran, and End All Aid to Israel. The Palestinian Youth Movement, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the Peoples Forum organized the protest. Members of the crowd, many wearing keffiyehs and face masks, chanted, There is only one solution: Intifada revolution, We will honor all our martyrs, and Gaza, you make us proud. One speaker said, 2024 was a year of struggle agains... (JNS) The Israel Defense Forces is carrying out engineering operations aimed at setting conditions for the safe return of the some 60,000 Israeli civilians displaced from their homes in the countrys north, the army said on Monday. As part of efforts to create the conditions for the return of the northern residents to their homes, the IDF is conducting a wide-ranging operation to restore and clear up communities in northern Israel, the IDF stated. IDF engineering squads and other units are operating in more than 40 communities to clear out unexploded Hezbollah ammunition, as well as remove... (JNS) Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called for an emergency meeting to prepare for an expected spike in immigration as antisemitism rises globally in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre. In a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu on Wednesday evening, Saar said that a wave of worldwide antisemitism has eroded Jews sense of security in the Diaspora and has already generated a greater demand for immigration to Israel. A broad national plan is required that will also include optimal absorption of the expected immigration, he wrote. The top diplomat noted that last year a rise... (JTA) Israel is closing its embassy in Dublin in response to the Irish governments criticism, Israels foreign minister announced on Sunday. The move does not end diplomatic relations between the two countries. Still, it offers a dramatic illustration of how Gideon Saar, who became foreign minister last month after a rapprochement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is approaching ties with countries that are critical of Israel. In a statement on social media, Saar cited Irelands recognition of a Palestinian state, its support for cases against Israel and Israelis in international cour... The Jewish Chamber of Commerce in Orlando, led by Board President Harrison Shames of the Jewish National Fund, continues its mission of fostering community connections and providing networking opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds. Each month, the Chamber hosts a free networking breakfast at One Senior Place in Altamonte Springs, welcoming both members and non-members, regardless of faith or affiliation. Held every first Thursday morning at 8:30 am, the networking breakfast offers a space for local business leaders and professionals to connect, collaborate, and support one another.... (JTA) - Jewish groups are mourning Jimmy Carter, the former president and broker of Israel's peace deal with Egypt who died Sunday at 100. In statements issued following his death, many of the groups are citing the peace deal and other landmark moments in Carter's presidency, which stretched from 1977 to 1981, as examples of Carter's legacy. Several of them are also acknowledging that in his post-presidency, the longest in American history, Carter aggrieved some American Jews by aggressively criticizing Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. "While AJC had some profound disagreements... Its been 458 days since the Oct. 7, 2023, inhuman massacre of 1200 people in Israel by Hamas terrorists, and kidnapping of 251 people, 100 of whom are still being held in captivity in Gaza. 458 days of unimaginable terror, pain, abuse, loss, grief, and suffering, especially for those most directly impacted. But all of Israel has been experiencing trauma since, something that I describe as Present Traumatic Stress Disorder. For most of us, Post Trauma is still far off. Today a step toward that may have been taken. A list of 34 hostages to be released as part of a proposed deal with Hamas has b... Stop incendiary remarks about Israel, Conference of Presidents tells pope (JNS) The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations appreciates and shares the popes concern for the suffering of innocent civilians and desire to spread peace and compassion around the world. But Pope Francis has gone beyond that and said troubling things about the Jewish state, Harriet Schleifer and William Daroff, chair and CEO respectively of the umbrella Jewish group, wrote to the pontiff on New Years Eve. We write in the spirit of this holiday season to express our concern over recent... (JNS) I remember growing up as a kid in Brooklyn, N.Y., singing the chant Am Yisrael Chai with great excitement and pride. Much later, as a young adult who was growing into my career as a professional Jew working for various nonprofits, I remember always ending my talks and social-media posts, leading the audience by saying Am Yisrael and having them respond, Chai. Friends and colleagues thought it was cutereminiscent of a time when they, too, may have sung the song as kids, and theyd chuckle. Thats what I was known for. I was the guy who would scream out Am Yisrael Chai wherever... (JNS) The burning of a Christmas tree by gunmen in the Syrian city of Hama is a sinister portent of what minorities might expect under the evolving situation in the country. The dominant group in charge, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has sent out messages reassuring religious and ethnic groups that they will be protected. It blamed foreign fighters for the tree burning, but can HTS be trusted? Its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has jettisoned his nom de guerre and his Kalashnikov rifle, preferring to be known by his real name of Ahmed al-Sharaa. Projecting his new image of moderation and respecta... Ok, Jimmy Carter died. Many will fill volumes writing now that he was a good guy, honest, smart, did some good things as president and in his post presidency. Despite many of these things being true, to me Carter was an unrepentant antisemite who made excuses for Arab aggression and terror against Israel. For that alone and using the pulpit of his presidency in exile to spread these messages, I say good riddance. As a failed one-term president despite some achievements including helping to broker the Camp David peace agreement with Israel and Egypt, Carters abysmal policies vis a vis Iran lef... (JNS) Throughout its millennia-long history, the Jewish people have endured relentless persecution, a reality that has forged a tradition of resilience and leadership. From biblical figures such as Mosesthe liberator of the Israelites and a lawgiver whose influence shaped modern civilizationto more modern heroes like Judah Maccabee, Tuvia Bielski, Mordecai Anielewicz and Hannah Senesh, Jewish history is marked by individuals who have led their people through adversity. To this list, contemporary history now adds Benjamin Netanyahu, whose leadership in a time of unparalleled crisis has rest... (JNS) As we make our way through Chanukah, its impossible not to reflect on the holiday we experienced last year. My husband was in the Israel Defense Forces reserves, and I lit the first candle alone with our four children. There was a sense of uncertainty and disruption of the stability we once knew. This year, like then, many mothers will stand before the burning candles without their partnerssome due to reserve duty, and others, sadly, because their husbands fell or were murdered in the past year. Our hearts break for the new families who have joined the circle of bereavement, for the... China cultural center opens in South Sudan Xinhua) 13:08, January 10, 2025 JUBA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese language and culture center opened Thursday at the University of Juba, the leading institution of higher education in South Sudan. Robert Mayom Deng, vice chancellor of the university, said the center, which contains a solar e-classroom, will offer Chinese language lessons and host cultural exchange activities. "This solar e-classroom is an integrated space with 40 desks and chairs; it has an interactive flat panel, solar-powered lighting and air conditioning, so the students who are going to use it will never find a place more comfortable than this one," Mayom said during the handover ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. He encouraged university students to make full use of the facility, which is not available in other universities across the country. Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang said education is a focal point of exchange and cooperation between the people of the two countries, adding that South Sudan and China, bonded by shared historical experiences and development aspirations, have seen their diplomatic relationship flourish over the past 13 years. "China's commitment is evident through the construction of several primary and secondary schools in South Sudan, the training of over 5,000 professionals across various fields, and the provision of hundreds of scholarships for South Sudanese students to study in China," Ma said. He noted that the second phase of the China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project in Education, launched in December 2021, has been a significant milestone, contributing millions of textbooks in key subjects such as English, mathematics, and science. "The Chinese Embassy places great importance on strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the University of Juba, including offering opportunities for management training in China to enhance the university's capability," Ma said. Since 2021, the embassy has funded the "Chinese Ambassador Award" four times, supporting academically excellent and financially disadvantaged students as well as outstanding teachers, said the ambassador. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Dear Editor: Thanks to Jeff Gaeser for publishing the Heritage since 1982 in a manner that was in the best tradition of news coverage in this free country. All the news of Jewish interest was reported without prejudice providing opposite views on the same subject on the same page. I wish the enthusiastic new publishers success in their new ventures, building on what we have become accustomed to in looking forward to in weekly Jewish news. I need to comment on one item in a recent issue of the Heritage which is of much concern at a time when we seem to be preoccupied with antisemitism from non-... Chinese FM calls on China, Nigeria to firmly support each other on issues related to core concerns Xinhua) 13:27, January 10, 2025 ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and Nigeria should continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core concerns and always be good brothers of mutual trust to inject impetus and confidence into the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation and Africa's modernization, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar in Abuja. Under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the development of China-Nigeria relations has achieved three outstanding achievements, Wang said. First, the positioning of the relationship has achieved a new leap with the two heads of state jointly announcing that China-Nigeria relations have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership, he said. Second, a new platform has been established through solidarity and collaboration. The first plenary session of the China-Nigeria Intergovernmental Committee was held successfully, which promoted the upgrading and coordinated progress of China-Nigeria cooperation, Wang said. Third, international cooperation has reached a new height. The two sides coordinate closely on international and regional affairs and work together to promote the collective rise, development and revitalization of the Global South. Wang said that over the past half-century since the establishment of diplomatic relations, regardless of changes in the international situation, China and Nigeria have always been deepening friendly and practical cooperation based on mutual respect and equality, becoming a successful example of South-South cooperation and an important benchmark for China-Africa cooperation. Both sides should maintain the "strategic nature" of China-Nigeria relations under the guidance of the two countries' leaders, Wang said. The two countries should highlight the "exemplary nature" of China-Nigeria relations by continuing to "take the lead," he added. Wang also said that both sides should leverage the "complementary nature" of China-Nigeria relations by fully aligning their respective strengths and continuously exploring cooperation potential in new areas such as clean energy, green minerals, finance and more. China and Nigeria should expand the "comprehensive nature" of China-Nigeria relations, promoting coordinated development in trade, agriculture, culture, defense, science and technology, space and other sectors, said the Chinese foreign minister. Wang expressed confidence that through joint efforts, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Nigeria will have an even brighter future. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) UK's largest hotel company signs agreement-for-lease with JHT Hotels Limited Construction of consented 81-bedroom Premier Inn is expected to commence in 2025 Belfast International acquisition is the third leasehold development Whitbread has committed to at UK airport locations since September 2024 Whitbread PLC, the UK's leading hospitality company and owner of Premier Inn, has committed to opening an 81-bedroom Premier Inn hotel at Belfast International Airport. The company, which currently operates seven Premier Inn hotels in Northern Ireland, signed an agreement-for-lease with JHT Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of Northern Ireland developer J H Turkington and Sons in late December, paving the way for the delivery of the new hotel in 2026. The deal is the latest in a series of investments by Whitbread in UK airport locations. Since September 2024 the company has added more than 550 Premier Inn bedrooms at Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast Airports as part of its strategic growth plan. Currently, in its main UK and Ireland market, the business operates more than 85,500 bedrooms from 855 locations and has an ambition to expand its offer to 125,000 UK & Ireland rooms. The Belfast Airport development will bring Premier Inn's signature combination of quality and affordability to Northern Ireland's busiest airport, and a travel hub serving around six million passengers a year (2023 figures) travelling to 55 domestic and international destinations. The hotel will feature an on-site restaurant and bar, dedicated parking facilities with 125 car spaces and seven mobility-impaired spaces, landscaped grounds, and improved site access. Local planning authority Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council granted planning permission for the development in mid-November 2024, paving the way for construction of the new hotel to begin in 2025. Around 30 new permanent roles will be created at the hotel when the doors open in mid-2026. The new Belfast International Airport hotel will be constructed at the junctions of Airport Road, Antrim Road and British Roads - opposite the airport's popular long-stay car park and within easy walking distance of the airport terminal building. It is the first Premier Inn to be built in Northern Ireland since the opening of Premier Inn Lisburn hotel in 2019, with Whitbread set to invest more than 6 million in the new hotel (on a capitalised lease expenditure basis) Beyond Belfast, Whitbread is actively looking for new locations for Premier Inn in Belfast City Centre, Enniskillen and Newry (see whitbread.com/property for more information) to add to its network of trading hotels in Belfast, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Lisburn and Derry / Londonderry. Hotel website JW Marriott Grosvenor House London is delighted to announce the appointment of Patrick O'Sullivan as Executive Chef for Park Lane's first hotel, renowned for its iconic Great Room. O'Sullivan returns to Grosvenor House from The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco where he held the position as Executive Chef, overseeing the hotel's award-winning restaurant Parallel 37 and the banqueting operations. O'Sullivan joined Grosvenor House in 2011 as Junior Sous Chef, working under the helm of Nigel Boschetti and left the hotel eight years later in 2019 as Banqueting Head Chef to join The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco as Executive Sous Chef. O'Sullivan returns home to Grosvenor House to oversee all the food and beverage operations across the 496-room hotel, including banqueting for the Great Room & Ballroom, 20 meeting and function rooms, in-room dining, The Park Room, and the JW Steakhouse which has started an exciting renovation, reopening in March 2025. Chef O'Sullivan will showcase his culinary expertise and bring a new, valuable perspective to Grosvenor House after recently leading his culinary team at the California Michelin Awards ceremony and spearheading the Forbes Bootcamp at the St. Regis Atlanta. Additionally, his international credentials were bolstered by an invitation to Astana, Kazakhstan, where he catered for the British Ambassador to Kazakhstan and local government dignitaries at The Ritz Carlton Astana. O'Sullivan is also committed to operating sustainably and helping the community; notably curating menus using produce from local farms and supporting the "One Big Table" event for the San Francisco & Marin Food Banks to combat hunger within the city. Throughout his career, O'Sullivan has earned various awards with Marriott International such as 'Inspiring Leader of the Year' in Europe and was honoured with the 'Award of Culinary Excellence Europe Rising Star.' He earned his Professional Chef Diploma by attending Westminster Kingsway College in London. Nicholas Durslag steps into the director of sales and marketing role with an impressive international background spanning Spain, Mexico, Thailand, Switzerland, and the United States. In his most recent role as director of transient and business travel at Royal Sonesta San Francisco, Durslag achieved remarkable results, including a 126% increase in consortia market penetration index and an 84% rise in wholesale revenue within key international markets. Durslag's experience with leading hospitality brands such as Marriott, Accor, and Sonesta has equipped him with comprehensive industry knowledge. Combined with his Master's in Hotel Management from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and specialized certifications from Cornell University in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Revenue Management, Durslag's background will be instrumental as The Bower establishes market presence as one of San Diego's premier boutique hotels. Miami - The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and The BHN Group have opened nominations for the prestigious ALIS CALA Rising Star Award (formerly Rising Star Award Caribbean) to be presented at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean and Latin America (ALIS CALA), a merger of the former CHRIS and HOLA conferences. This is the 15th year ISHC and The BHN Group have collaborated to recognize emerging, talented leadership in the Caribbean, and now Latin American, regions. Candidates must meet the following criteria and will be evaluated on three key categories Achievement, Impact, and Recommendation: 35 years of age or younger, born on or after April 20, 1990; Is currently, and has been, working in a hospitality-related field; Is recognized by leaders in the hospitality field as a rising star; and Is currently living and working in the Caribbean or Latin America with a minimum of two years experience in the market For more information or to nominate a candidate, please visit the ISHC Rising Star Award webpage. The deadline for submissions is on or before midnight EST on March 3, 2025. Please note that all candidates need to be nominated by another person from within their organization or someone with direct work experience with the nominee. About ALIS Caribbean and Latin America (ALIS CALA) The newly launched event, called ALIS Caribbean Latin America (ALIS CALA), will debut on April 29-May 1, 2025 (Tuesday-Thursday) at the Loews Coral Gables in Coral Gables, Florida. The merger of the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) conferences into ALIS CALA promises to create an enriched and more comprehensive conference experience for sponsors and attendees alike, bringing together the best of both events. This approach will lead to the overall continued growth and collaboration reaching investors, owners, and developers throughout the vibrant Caribbean and Latin American regions and the continued focus on local equity, debt, and development firms will ensure that ALIS CALA remains a key platform for fostering connections and driving growth in the region. ALIS CALA is produced by Northstar Travel Group in association with The BHN Group. Visit the ALIS CALA website for more information. About Northstar Travel Group (www.northstartravelgroup.com) Northstar Travel Group is the leading B-to-B media company providing information and marketing solutions for the global travel industry. The company owns 14 media brands connecting 1.4m industry professionals through a comprehensive portfolio of digital, social, print and more than 100 events in 13 countries. Northstar Travel Group is owned by EagleTree Capital. Northstar Travel Group is based in Rutherford, NJ, and more information is available at northstartravelgroup.com. About The BHN Group The BHN Group is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. With over three decades of experience, more than 190 events completed to-date, and in excess of 130,000 international delegates, these conferences have become must attend events for industry leaders who come together to network, conduct business, and to learn about the latest trends. The current slate of events include: the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles; ALIS Law in Los Angeles; ALIS DESIGN+ in Los Angeles, the ALIS Summer Update series held in various U.S. cities; ALIS CALA in Miami; Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Singapore; HICAP UPDATE in Hong Kong, and HICAP Australia New Zealand (HICAP ANZ) in Sydney. The BHN Group also publishes Hotel Investment Today, a digital media outlet focused on the ROI of hotel investment. The BHN Groups website is the gateway for information about the annual conferences it produces, as well as a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world. About ISHC The International Society of Hospitality Consultants is truly The Leading Global Resource for Hospitality Expertise, represented by over 250 of the industry's most respected professionals from across six continents. Collectively, ISHC members provide expert services in over 50 functional areas and have specialized skills in virtually every segment of the hospitality industry. ISHC is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of professional consulting standards and practices for the hospitality industry. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, ensuring that all ISHC members have a reputation of integrity and are qualified by their experience, training, and knowledge to develop and express sound judgment on industry issues. Additional information about the organization and membership process, along with a directory of ISHC members, is available on the ISHC website at ishc.com. Jennifer Castellarin Director of Membership & Marketing +1 413 563 6449 ISHC Key Takeaways Airbnb.org is providing free, temporary housing for people who have been displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires. The organization has partnered with 211 LA to connect people with a free place to stay. To support residents who have been displaced from their homes or forced to evacuate by the wildfires, Airbnb.org is working with 211 LA, which serves Los Angeles County, to offer free, temporary housing. Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org. How it works Airbnb.org works with local organizations to help identify those in greatest need of temporary housing and may expand support to other areas affected by the wildfires. We will update this page with more information accordingly. Currently, Airbnb.org is partnering with the 211 LA who is identifying residents in need of temporary housing and helping to connect them to Airbnb.org stays. They are specifically focused on residents who have either lost their home or been forced to evacuate in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar areas. Impacted residents can request assistance for temporary housing support from Airbnb.org by filling out this intake form with 211 LA. Airbnb.org is a nonprofit founded by Airbnb that provides free emergency housing in times of crisis. Airbnb.org has provided more than 1.6 million nights of emergency stays for more than 250,000 people. Airbnb.org partners with nonprofits and governments to identify those impacted by disasters, and is able to offer free stays because of funding from Airbnb, private donations, and Airbnb hosts who offer their homes for free or at a discount. 211 LA is a nonprofit organization and the designated 2-1-1 information and referral service for Los Angeles County, connecting residents with essential health and human services. For more than 40 years, 211 LA has served as a trusted community resource, providing 24/7 multilingual support to individuals and families in need. Most recently, Airbnb.org has offered free, temporary housing to people displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, wildfires in San Bernardino, California and Jasper, Canada, floods in Brazil, and the earthquake in Japans Noto Peninsula. Note: Airbnb.org does not offer housing directly to individuals at this time. Airbnb.org stays for people impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires will be coordinated by the 211 LA in Los Angeles County and should fill out this intake form. How to help Those interested in offering free or discounted stays to people impacted by the wildfires can visit Airbnb.org for more information on how to sign up to host. Airbnb waives all service fees for Airbnb.org hosts and guests. Hosts who sign up to share their home through Airbnb.org receive damage protection and liability insurance with AirCover for each booking. You can also support people impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires and other crises globally by donating to Airbnb.org. 100 percent of donations go toward providing emergency housing. About Airbnb Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way. About Airbnb.org Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.'s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org's charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. Airbnb Press Airbnb Press Office Airbnb View source As we approach 2025, the hospitality sector is gearing up for a tech-based transformation. Several key trends and developments are expected to revolutionise the industry, empowering businesses to remain competitive, streamline operations, and enhance guest experiences. 1. The multifaceted capabilities of AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take centre stage in transforming how hotels engage with their guests. Sophisticated AI-powered tools and technologies will be able to anticipate guests' needs based on previous stays, preferences, and data collected from various interactions. Expect customised room arrangements, specialised activity recommendations, and flexible pricing strategies to become more mainstream, making each guest feel uniquely valued. This year, the industry will see the use of AI for diverse purposes, including decision support, assisting employees, training and upskilling of employees. Responsible AI, which works within the framework of cybersecurity and personal data protection would be introduced too, ensuring that technologies are deployed ethically, securely, and in compliance with privacy standards. 2. Cybersecurity and guest data protection According to RH-ISACs annual Holiday Season Cyber Threat Trends report, social engineering, ransomware, and Scattered Spider activity are likely to remain key threats to the industry in 2025. With hospitalitys growing reliance on digital systems and online transactions, these threats are likely to continue. To protect sensitive guest data and prevent cyber threats, more hotels will leverage cybersecurity measures, including advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and AI-driven security systems that can detect and neutralise potential threats in real time. Building trust in AI applications would be a key initiative this year as well; AI systems that are transparent, accountable, and ethically deployed will foster greater confidence among customers and stakeholders. 3. The rise of integrated hotel management platforms 78% of hoteliers will increase their investment in hotel technology in the next three years, according to research by Duetto. There is a major shift towards fully integrated hotel management systems on the horizon, also accelerated by cloud technology adoption. These comprehensive platforms are set to centralise key operations, including booking, guest services, housekeeping, and revenue management. By consolidating data and tools in one place, hoteliers can reduce manual processes, minimise errors, and boost efficiency, promising a seamless guest experience. Clean and meaningful data will provide the platform for AI adoption, enabling hotels to leverage advanced analytics and predictive insights, optimising decision-making, enhancing efficiency, and offering tailored recommendations. 4. Tech adaptation for staff training Despite technology not being able to replicate the human touch that is essential in hospitality, it will certainly help in bridging the gaps in staff requirements. Mobile-first self-learning solutions, particularly in the context of hospitality, are designed to support staff in upskilling and adapting to new technologies, making them an essential part of tackling staffing shortages. These solutions often offer resources that can be accessed easily from mobile devices, enabling employees to learn on the go. For instance, AI-powered mobile platforms guide staff through tasks, helping them troubleshoot issues, manage requests, and stay up to date on company protocols. Consequently, these solutions contribute to alleviating staff shortages by improving operational efficiency, reducing the time spent on training, and allowing employees to take on a greater range of responsibilities with confidence. 5. Growing focus on sustainability Modern guestsespecially younger demographicsdemand more eco-conscious options, ranging from energy-efficient room features to sustainably sourced food and responsible waste management. With the demand rising, sustainability has become a key part of brand identity and strategy in the hospitality industry. Using smart thermostats and lighting to save energy, AI to reduce food waste, plastic-free policies, and digital tools like apps and kiosks, all help make accommodations, dining, and travel more eco-friendly. These efforts lower the industry's environmental impact and support critical ESG goals, while positioning brands as responsible, forward-thinking leaders. 6. Omnichannel payment options As the digital economy continues to evolve, so will the way guests pay for their hospitality services. Omnichannel payment solutions will become the norm in 2025. Joined with advanced cybersecurity and AI fraud detection, these options will offer access to a range of payment methods while also ensuring maximum security. Whether guests are booking a room via a mobile app, paying for services at the front desk, or ordering food through an online ordering system, payment methods will be integrated across all touchpoints. Digital payment options, such as contactless payments, digital wallets, cryptocurrencies, and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) options, are set to maximise the ease and convenience for guests. 7. The surge of wellness travel The wellness travel trend is gaining momentum with an increased demand for holistic wellness experiences that promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Guests are seeking integrated wellness experiences that go beyond traditional fitness activities and spa treatments. Hotels and resorts will cater to that via personalised wellness plans that incorporate fitness classes, spa treatments, meditation and yoga sessions, and healthy menu options tailored to individual needs. In-room wellness amenities will also become more advanced, with features such as mood lighting, air purifiers, and sleep-enhancing technologies. In the coming year, the industry can expect a surge of wellness ERP utilisation to manage the growing demand as well. Heralding a new era in hospitality The hospitality industry is entering a new era, driven by advancements such as artificial intelligence and other transformative innovations. The industry is heralding an era of extraordinary guest experiences, where the seamless collaboration between human expertise and digital intelligence creates unparalleled service. About IDS Next IDS Next is the largest hospitality solutions provider in emerging markets, catering to global customers in over 50 countries with award-winning software. Streamlining both front and back-office hospitality operations, IDS Next provides full-stack ERP solutions for hotels, restaurants, leisure and wellness sectors and integrates with over 100 leading technology partners. Having over 35 years of experience, the company promises the most secure operations with its PA DSS-certified and GDPR-compliant solutions. Today, the company powers 300,000+ rooms, 220+ hotel chains, 25,000+ POS outlets and 300+ leisure venues across the globe. Spanning across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, the company is trusted by renowned hospitality brands, including Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Taj Hotels, ITC Hotels, Choice Hotels and Louvre Hotels Group, for more, visit www.idsnext.com. Binu Mathews CEO IDS NEXT In a world where technology and medical advancements have raised the bar for healthcare quality, today's medical sector is however facing a significant challenge regarding patient satisfaction. Whether internally or externally, both patients and professionals are looking for a service that goes beyond excellence in clinical care. Could lessons from the hospitality industry provide the missing link? The role of Chief Experience Officer, inspired by hospitality competencies, might hold the key to redefining patient satisfaction in healthcare. Hospitality Competencies - the Missing Link Imagine a healthcare environment where patient care goes beyond clinical expertise to create a deeply human and personalized experience. Indeed, as Young and Chen (2020) show, while essential, the quality of medical care is not the only driver of patient satisfaction. For example, the quality of infrastructure and, more importantly, the quality of interactions with staff are important determinants of patient and family satisfaction. As mentioned by Godovykh and Pizam (2023), there is a growing need for a better patient experience. Patients and their families are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction, and in response, hospitals are scrambling to find solutions. Various projects have been launched to improve the experience for patients and professionals alike. However, more than goodwill is needed when these projects are implemented within large structures. Creating meaningful and effective experiences is a complex endeavor that requires a solid foundation of skills and knowledge. As a result, many projects get stuck in the development stage, while others fail to achieve the desired results. What's often missing is a conductor for this complex orchestra that is a hospital, i.e. a person capable of centralizing everyone's actions and efforts to design and implement quality experiences. What is a Chief Experience Officer? In the hospitality industry, the client experience is central and is the responsibility of a person and a team dedicated to the experience. This person is the Chief Experience Officer (CXO), a strategic-level executive whose primary role is to oversee and improve both the customer experience (CX) and the employee experience (EX) within an organization. This central figure represents the voice of the customer in strategic decision-making processes, ensuring that their needs and perspectives are always considered and placed at the center of organizational dynamics. Transferring this concept to the medical sphere, the CXO role can enable hospital services to be tailored to each patients specific needs. Experience Officers also ensure that employees deliver on the brand promise and provide services that make for a better experience. This means significantly improving the employee experience, focusing on personal or professional development programs and nurturing employee fulfillment. The CXO participates in the organization's comprehensive strategy and takes concrete action to make the customer experience a central element of the hospitals identity. The role is at the heart of the organizational structure; it consists in getting all stakeholders who directly or indirectly contribute to the customer and employee experience to work together seamlessly and effectively. As a result, CXOs help to strengthen patient loyalty, increase employee motivation, reduce turnover, and, in general, significantly improve the organization's performance. Mastering the Role of CXO Even today, hospitals rarely have a dedicated CXO position in their ranks, even though the need for experience is just as critical as in other service sectors. This scarcity is partly explained by the dearth of training programs that specifically focus on aspects related to the experienceor customer service for that matter in the healthcare domain. While some institutions have taken the initiative to recruit professionals from the service sector to fill this role, others entrust the CXO position to motivated people who are unprepared for the challenges of managing experiences in an environment as complex as a hospital. Yet experience management requires mastering a wide range of knowledge and skills, made even more complicated by the cross-functional nature of the CXO role. Indeed, this unique position requires juggling strategic, operational and relational dimensions with the overall aim of aligning all of the goals of all departments - while maintaining a vision focused on the needs of patients and employees. In light of the lack of training dedicated explicitly to the CXO role in healthcare, we have identified five categories of skills that can effectively drive the CXO role in healthcare organizations. 1. Understand How a Hospital Works First and foremost, the CXO's role in a hospital is based on a thorough understanding of the specifics and rules of this complex environment. Hospitals must meet standards and requirements driven by one need: provide the best possible clinical care to their patients. The CXO must, therefore, integrate the emotional dimensions of the patient experience while mastering the technical, regulatory and ethical aspects specific to the hospital environment. This requires in-depth knowledge of medical processes, quality and safety standards, and stakeholder expectations. Hospitals are extremely complex workplaces with multi-faceted business models that the CXO must understand inside and out. In addition, they must be able to navigate a highly regulated environment while maintaining a focus on improving the patient and employee experience. 2. High-Performance Leadership The CXO should be an inspiring leader who is able to work across the organizational silos inherent in hospital operations. Specifically, this means engaging physicians, nurses, administrative staff, technicians and logistics managers around a shared, inclusive vision of the human experience. The CXO's leadership is based on their ability to unite these often highly independent, disparate teams and coordinate their efforts. CXOs must also communicate with clarity and empathy, tailoring their message to the person they are speaking with - be it a department head, an administrative director, or a receptionist. This 'catalyst' role requires natural authority and the ability to influence without necessarily having direct hierarchical authority across all departments. To maximize these technical skills and knowledge, CXOs need to cultivate and promote a people-centric mindset within their organization. 3. Data Management Experience-related decisions should be backed by solid data. The CXO collects, analyzes and interprets a variety of indicators, such as patient feedback (via satisfaction surveys, online reviews, or focus groups), operational data (wait times, readmission rates) or employee well-being indicators (absenteeism rates, job satisfaction, turnover, etc.). Based on this information, CXOs can map patient and employee pathways, identify friction points, design appropriate solutions and measure the impact of initiatives that have been implemented. Mastery of data analytics tools, combined with an understanding of emerging user experience trends, is obviously a key asset. 4. Knowing How to Design and Implement Experiences Creating meaningful experiences requires specific expertise in designing and engineering human experiences. The CXO identifies key moments and pain points in the hospital experience. For example, this may involve streamlining the front desk, rethinking department transitions/transfers, or improving staff interactions. CXOs should include patients, their families and staff in the design process. Ideally, they should have previous experience in implementing similar initiatives. They will need to promote interdisciplinary teamwork whilst, more importantly, encourage collaboration between the hospital and its patients and their families. The overarching goal is to curate memorable and personalized human experiences. 5. Pursue Service Excellence To deliver a world-class hospital experience, why not look to the hotel industry for inspiration? This means paying close attention to the details that influence patient comfort and perception: creating friendly and efficient reception areas, personalizing services, fulfilling individual needs and developing a warm and inviting environment. The goal for the CXO is to take the elements that make service excellence possible in a general hospital context and adapt them to their specific environment. Service excellence should not only be reserved for patients but should also be extended to employees to motivate them and provide them with a stimulating and rewarding work environment. The Synergy Between Hospitality and Healthcare Both hospitality and healthcare revolve around meeting human needs, but with very different approaches. While hospitality focuses on creating positive, memorable experiences for guests, healthcare emphasizes clinical outcomes and operational efficiency for patients. The intersection of these fields reveals a powerful synergy: the potential to bring hospitalitys focus on comfort, personalization and emotional connection into healthcare settings. As patient satisfaction is increasingly based on hospitals providing better service, the role of the Chief Experience Officer should be seen as a strategic necessity. By centralizing and orchestrating patient and employee experience initiatives, the CXO can transform how healthcare organizations meet more human-centric needs. As a result, it is critical to train professionals with the specific skills needed to meet these challenges. In taking inspiration from roles within the hospitality industry, healthcare organizations can redefine their care delivery and set a new benchmark for holistic and patient-centered service excellence. EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source Hospitality Procurement Trends: What's In and What's Out in 2025 - Image Credit Futurelog The hospitality industry is continuously evolving, significantly influencing operations and guest experiences. Comparing procurement trends in the hospitality industry from 2024 to 2025 shows that procurement is no longer just an operational task. It has become a crucial part of driving innovation and sustainable growth. The hospitality industry is continuously evolving, significantly influencing operations and guest experiences. Comparing procurement trends in the hospitality industry from 2024 to 2025 shows that procurement is no longer just an operational task. It has become a crucial part of driving innovation and sustainable growth. Trends like full automation, AI, open access to data, and strategic partnerships with vendors powered by P2P solutions are improving efficiency and creating value in new and transformative ways. Here are the top five key emerging themes in global procurement that are transforming the hospitality industry as we move from 2024 to 2025: 1. Consolidating Fragmented Systems into Unified Platforms What's Out What's In Isolated point solutions that result in data silos, hindering a comprehensive spending overview. Hotels often employ multiple systems to manage various procurement elements such as sourcing, purchasing, invoice approval, and payments, leading to fragmented visibility of expenditures. Comprehensive procure-to-pay (P2P) platforms that offer complete transparency and organisational control. By integrating all procurement activities into a single cohesive system, these platforms provide real-time insights into spending. This holistic perspective empowers hotel management to detect inefficiencies and make informed, cost-cutting decisions. Why it Matters: Consider a global hotel chain that transitioned from utilising an array of disparate systems to a streamlined, integrated procure-to-pay platform. This transformation has granted unprecedented visibility into spending through consolidated procurement data, enabling the hotel to pinpoint supplier overlaps and negotiate more favourable contract terms, which in turn delivers significant cost efficiencies. Key Benefits: Enhanced Spend Visibility: Real-time monitoring of expenditures across categories, departments, and locations. Improved Compliance: Enforcing procurement policies and meeting regulatory requirements. Cost Reduction: Better negotiation opportunities, prevention of unauthorised spending, and well-informed purchase decisions. Increased Efficiency: Workflow optimisation, task automation, and error reduction. 2. Shift from Manual Processes to Automated Workflows What's Out What's In Slow, mistake-prone manual tasks that lower productivity and increase costs. Traditional procurement involves manual data entry, paper approvals, and inefficient communication, often resulting in errors and delays. Automated processes that improve procurement efficiency. P2P platforms automate purchase orders, invoices, and approvals, allowing teams to focus on important tasks like managing relationships and negotiating contracts. AI helps with tasks like spend analysis, enabling strategic decision-making. Why It Matters: Imagine a boutique hotel adopting automated invoice processes, cutting the invoice cycle by 70% with P2P technology. This change reduces late and incorrect payments, allowing teams to focus on strategic areas like supplier management. Key Benefits: Elevated Productivity: Automation lets staff focus on valuable tasks. Reduced Errors: Consistent processes reduce manual errors. Accelerated Processing: Fast procurement cycles and delivery. Enhanced Accuracy: Maintains data integrity and reduces costly mistakes. 3. From Data Silos to Data Democratisation What's Out What's In Data silos that restrict access to key information, hindering decisions. In many organisations, procurement data is separated across systems, making it hard to access and analyse. Data democratisation that allows stakeholders access to key procurement data. Modern P2P platforms provide self-service dashboards and reports, enabling real-time data interaction. This transparency improves collaboration and data-led decision-making across the organisation. Why It Matters: Consider a global hotel chain with independent regional procurement departments. This often leads to redundant purchases and missed bulk discounts. By centralising procurement data through data democratisation, organisations can make better decisions on supplier contracts and cost-saving measures. Key Benefits: Informed Decision-Making: Stakeholders have access to accurate data. Enhanced Collaboration: Better interdepartmental cooperation. Heightened Transparency: Promotes accountable procurement practices. Improved Insights: Better understanding of spend patterns to optimise. 4. From Reactive to Proactive Risk Management What's Out What's In The old way was to deal with problems once they appeared, such as supply chain issues or price hikes. This could cause delays and hurt a hotel's reputation. Using advanced procurement tools helps hotels plan for risks before they happen. This means monitoring suppliers and having strategies for handling outages. It protects their reputation and keeps finances on track. Why It Matters: Imagine a hotel that faced delays due to unexpected supply chain issues. By planning ahead, they learned to spot potential problems with suppliers and created backup plans, avoiding costly holdups. Key Benefits: Stronger Supply Chains: Avoiding disruptions keeps things running smoothly. Cost Savings: Avoiding expensive delays and related issues. Better Reputation: Protecting the brand while ensuring customer happiness. More Agility: Quickly adapting to changes and surprises. 5. From Cost Reduction to Value Creation What's Out What's In Just focusing on cutting costs misses out on supplier quality and innovation. A smarter procurement focuses on creating value and long-term supplier relationships. Hotels are shifting to strategies that go beyond saving money, aiming for lasting benefits and better guest experiences. Why It Matters: A branded hotel saw growth limited by only focusing on cutting costs. They decided to shift efforts to strategic sourcing, long-term supplier partnerships, and fostering innovation. By building strong relationships with suppliers, they were able to unlock new opportunities, improve offerings, and create truly exceptional guest experiences. Key Benefits: Better Supplier Ties: Building trustworthy and cooperative relationships. Increased Innovation: Using supplier insights to enhance offerings and customer experience. Sustainable Practices: Promoting eco-friendly buying and reducing environmental impact. Competitive Edge: Gaining a strategic advantage through effective sourcing and supplier networking. Conclusion The hotel industry is stepping into a new age of procurement with technology and data insights leading the way. Hotel leaders must adopt advanced technology that makes processes easier and provides valuable insights, build strong partnerships for efficient supply chains, and stay ready to quickly adapt to market shifts. By investing in new procurement tools, your organisation can gain a competitive advantage, becoming more resilient, driving innovation, and leading in the industry. This change demands a forward-thinking approach, strategically considering each step, similar to a strategic game, to foresee and outpace the competition. By leaving behind outdated methods and embracing the future, your organisation is poised to lead the hospitality sector in 2025! About the Author Johannes Vocke is the Chief Financial Officer at FutureLog, the leading global cloud-based procure-to-pay platform for the hospitality and gastronomy industries. Prior to joining FutureLog, Johannes spent over a decade at prestigious Big 4 firms spanning Germany, the U.S.A. and Switzerland, working primarily on professional audit services and honing his skills in finance. With an M.Sc. in Accounting and Taxation from Mannheim, Germany's #1 Business School, and a B.Sc. in Economics and Law from the University of Munster, Johannes is responsible for leading all strategic financial initiatives across the organisation and is driven by his passion for innovation, analytics, and process optimisation. In his free time, he enjoys travelling, exploring the great outdoors (sometimes on foot, sometimes on his motorbike!), and is an avid festival-goer. Connect with Johannes on LinkedIn. About FutureLog FutureLog provides a fully integrated, cloud-based procure-to-pay platform for the hospitality industry. We facilitate an end-to-end procurement process from purchasing, through inventory management and up to invoice processing; all available in one platform to save you time and money. The FutureLog procure-to-pay platform is the foundation for seamless connectivity between Hotel Operations, Corporate Centres and Suppliers. Suzanne Ward Vice President Digital Marketing and Communication +41 41 759 1861 FutureLog MountainOne Celebrates Graduates of the Emerging Leaders Program NORTH ADAMS, Mass. MountainOne announced that eight of its rising Mountaineers have graduated from the company's Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). The ELP is a cornerstone of MountainOne's commitment to developing talent within the organization. Over the course of the 2024 program, this group of Mountaineers enhanced their leadership skills, while also taking on projects that created tangible business impact, and helped each participant build confidence and competency along this path. This year's cohort included the following eight Mountaineers: Alyson Lesure, Claims Representative & Branch Support Supervisor (Insurance) Betsy Kapner, VP, Marketing Manager (Marketing) Erik Ray, Community Banking Officer (Community Banking) Erin Galvin, Community Banking Officer (Community Banking) Jessica Andrews, AVP, Deposit Compliance Officer & Fraud Administration Officer (Risk Management) Kyle Shepard, Operations Analyst (Operations) Paula Malloy, AVP, Assistant Controller (Accounting) Ryan Belanger, Network & Systems Officer (IT) The ELP consists of two phases: the first focuses on leadership training and self-discovery, and the second involves actionable activities to address high-priority projects that explore new possibilities for MountainOne. Participants were split into two groups, with one team focusing on the impact of chat platforms and their potential to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration. The second team created a sustainable Social Media Ambassadorship Program, an initiative aimed at empowering employees to actively support MountainOne's brand on social platforms. The groups presented their final projects to the executive and senior leadership team in November. At this time, a commencement ceremony was held to recognize the growth and achievements of this cohort of emerging leaders. "The Emerging Leaders Program is about more than just building leadership skillsit's about giving our employees the tools, confidence and opportunity to make a real impact," said Beth Petropulos, SVP, Senior Human Resources Officer. "This year's graduates tackled meaningful challenges with creativity and focus, delivering results that will have a lasting impact on our organization. It's exciting to see the talent and potential we have within MountainOne, and I'm very proud of each participant for their hard work and dedication." Worldwide PowerSchool Breach Reaches Pittsfield, North Berkshire Schools PITTSFIELD, Mass. Pittsfield Public Schools students and teachers had their personal information accessed as part of a worldwide PowerSchool breach. Mount Greylock Regional School District and Northern Berkshire School Union also reported some data was accessed. "This is not unique to the city of Pittsfield," Superintendent Joseph Curtis told the School Committee on Wednesday. "Every one of the 18,000 PowerSchool customers has experienced a data breach. We were informed yesterday with a very brief notice from PowerSchool and our technology department began to dig into the impact near immediately." The breach reportedly took place between Dec. 19 and 28, when it was detected by PowerSchool and all accounts were locked down. It is being investigated by the FBI and a third-party cybersecurity firm. On Jan. 8, PowerSchool hosted a webinar with the investigative team to provide school districts with further details about the situation. "PS has not provided districts at this point with the kind of concise and actionable info around what it's prepared to do in terms of assistance and longer term support for anyone impacted particularly the small group where SSNs were part of that breach," interim Superintendent Joseph Bergeron told the Mount Greylock School Committee on Thursday. "I think the whole world is putting a lot of pressure on PS right now, thankfully, it's not just us, to have next steps." The Pittsfield Public School's technology department investigation found that personal information from the fields "Student" and "Teacher" were accessed. This includes home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Other school districts have reported access to student grades, health information and Social Security numbers. Bergeron referenced 52 Social Security numbers accessed after investigation by the Mount Greylock district's information and education technology directors. "The speed with which on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, they were able to, in my opinion, be well ahead of many districts in the country and Canada, pin down what data was accessed our ability to say 52 SSNs pretty clearly and accurately in less than 24 hours is a testament to their knowledge of the system and ability to respond quickly," he said. Northern Berkshire School Union also relied on its IT director, Josh Arico, to determine if the data had been hacked after being told by PowerSchool that it believed no files had been accessed. "In his own diligence, he investigated, and PowerSchool provided the address of the hacker, and he did find it," Northern Berkshire Superintendent John Franzoni told his School Committee on Thursday. The district had held off on sending a communique to parents until it could assure them what had happened. Arico found that the hacker may have accessed some demographic information and a letter was sent to parent on Thursday. "He did go through files for the last three days just trying to figure out if there was anything and he did uncover some information," Franzoni said. "We feel confident that it's not significant, but we also want to make sure that our No. 1 priority is always the safety of our students and staff and families. So as information comes in, we will make it aware of the families." On Thursday, the North Adams Public Schools said its data was not comprised as a part of the breach. The district was notified by PowerSchool on Jan. 7 that its support portal was internationally breached and school districts' data had been compromised. After an extensive internal investigation including a review of all exported reports, NAPS said there was no reason to believe that our data was compromised as part of this event. The district reiterated that Social Security numbers are not stored in PowerSchool and special education data was not accessed. As a cybersecurity computer science student, Pittsfield School Committee member William Garrity found the breach "deeply concerning." "I am concerned by the security practice PowerSchool had implemented before this," he said. "I think there was a lot of this oversight, I'm not going to get into it in this meeting. Hopefully not just us but other districts around Massachusetts, the county, and the world hold PowerSchool accountable for their security practices." Curtis reported at Wednesday's meeting that a hacker got into the information through a compromised PowerSchool employee account that has since been disabled and the software company took immediate steps to secure its system. "Almost all of the Berkshire County, and certainly across Massachusetts, the United States, and the globe use PowerSchool," the superintendent said. "There are very few alternatives to student information systems as they are bought up by each other and PowerSchool is certainly one of the main ones. We've had PowerSchool for about 22 years at this point." PowerSchool will provide credit monitoring to affected adults and identity protection services to affected minors per regulatory and contractual obligations. "We did two family information releases today and two staff information releases, and then some individual staff contacts as well," Curtis said, adding that additional information about the breach will be shared publicly once it is received. Bergeron noted that the software contract is through the state of Massachusetts and that the district's legal counsel is aware of potential class-action suits with other districts. "The Mass AGO is certainly aware and thinking about what role it needs to play if any," he said. "I think right now everybody is waiting on PS to issue the structured resolution that it is supposed to issue. We're all waiting for that so we know what we should respond to next." PowerSchool is a cloud-based software company that provides student information systems (SIS) for K-12 schools in more than 90 countries, providing services to 18,000 educational organizations with more than 60 million students. It holds student information such as grades and attendance, administrative tasks, compliance reports, emergency management, and learning tools. It indicated that it will continue to provide general updates as the investigation continues and will release a final report at the conclusion. Editor's note: complete write-thru Jan. 13 with new information and clarification. North Adams Schools Prep for Budget, Review Grants NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The School Committee was presented the timeline for the fiscal 2026 budget on Tuesday. "The cabinet and members of the district leadership team have been very, very busy with starting to kind of proactively prepare for FY 26 budget cycle," said Superintendent Barbara Malkas. "We're still in the area of some unknowns, not having yet received the governor's budget or, you know, an understanding of where Chapter 70 [state education aid] may land." Gov. Maura Healey is set to release her budget proposal on Jan. 22; the administration will meet with principals and department heads in February to develop a draft spending plan. A public hearing and final approval will be in May or June. "We've been working on it for the last couple of months, and the starting point is really looking at where we are in FY 25, look at our current staffing and making adjustments based on the current status," said Director of Finance and Administration Nancy Rauscher. "One of the key dates that we're looking forward to is Jan. 22 which is when we expect the governor to submit her budget. And that will really help inform us from a funding standpoint, in terms of what our Chapter 70 will look like." She said they were looking not only at the operating budget, but other funding sources, including school choice and circuit breaker funds, with a goal of establishing a best practice of rolling over circuit breaker revenue to better support out-of-district tuition. A third funding source is grants and Carrie Burnett, grants, special projects and procurement officer, gave a presentation on grant funding for fiscal 2025. The district received $3.77 million in grant funding so far this year, the bulk of which were federal and state funding. This is down from $6.4 million in fiscal 2024 although some grants are still pending. The decrease this year is in large part because of the loss of some $2.2 million from the expired federal Elementary Secondary School Emergency Relief Program, or ESSER. Malkas pointed out that the school district doesn't have a dedicated grants writer and that "there are many, many grants in this district, and they're handled by different people." Burnett's coordination is critical to keeping track of deadlines and reporting requirements, she said. Burnett explained that grants are for targeted initiatives and programs to "ensure all students are receiving high quality and excellent education." She went over some of the grant programs and writers and the GEMS, or grant education management systems that vary between federal, state and private programs. "Most of the entitlement grants, the federal grants, will be multi-year grants, meaning that we're awarded a specific amount in one year, and if you don't spend it all down in that year, we can extend it through the next fiscal year so we don't lose it," Burnett said. "Most of the state grants will have an end date of that same fiscal year, which would be in June." Some grant funds are entitlements and others are competitive. She described the district as "crushing it" in competitive grants with more than $770,000 to date. "Since I pulled this data together for this presentation, the competitive grants have already increased by $35,000," she said. Malkas said the Massachusetts Association of School Committees had brought to their attention that the School Committee has the authority to approve grants. This presentation was provided to show people where the grants are coming from and where they are being used. Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee, said the grants would be reviewed quarterly from now on and asked for more details on where they are being spent. In other business, the district has hired two permanent substitutes since raising rates for the positions last month. The substitute pool had gotten so low that administrators were filling in. Malkas said some former Drury students also applied as subs while home over winter break "so that will be very helpful to us for when they finish up in May, early May, and we still have six more weeks of school to get through." The district is also reaching out to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to see if their students would be available one or two days a week. "So we are doing better with having availability of substitutes," she said. "It's not it's not perfect, but it is an improvement." Officials and stakeholders in the proposed Adventure Trail in North Adams pose with the amount of money coming from the federal government to make the 9.3-mile path 'shovel-ready.' Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan presents Neal with a medal for being an Ashuwillticook Hero. Eric Kerns and Ben Svenson talk about dreaming big. PreviousNext North Adams, Partners Celebrate $17.3M in Federal Money Toward Bike Path U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, wearing an MCLA scarf, announces the funding for the project design and planning at City Hall on Friday morning. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. It's been 26 years since the concept of a Connecticut to Vermont bike trail was first proposed and 130 since a proposal was put forward for a path between North Adams and Williamstown. Those dreams took another step forward on Friday with the announcement of $17.3 million in federal funding for the "Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail," a 9.3-mile section from the Mohican Path at Williamstown's Spruces to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and to connect to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams. "This is a major success because it connects Williamstown and Adams and North Adams," said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who was instrumental in obtaining the funding as chairman of Ways and Means Committee. "It's a big deal, and we're going to hear from experts, but I want to thank the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Great work on this. I can be helpful to you, for sure, as Eddie and Elizabeth were [U.S. Sens. Markey and Warren], but I can't be helpful to you unless you have a good product, and you had a good product." Marge Cohan, president of the Berkshire Bike Path Council, likened it to the golden spike that connected the transcontinental railroad. The grant award is the result of a collaborative effort involving Berkshire Funding Focus, a government funding initiative of the BRPC, along with Adams, North Adams and Williamstown, Mass MoCA and the Tourists resort through which the bike path will run. BRPC is the lead agent and will coordinate the partnership and manage the grant award over the course of the four-year process. Neal was joined at City Hall by Mayor Jennifer Macksey, state Sen. Paul Mark, state Rep. John Barrett III, BRPC Executive Director Tom Matuszko, Mass MoCA Director Kristy Edmunds and Benjamin Svenson and Eric Kerns, of the Tourists resort. Macksey explained why spending $17 million on bike path planning was important, in the same way she had to her 93-year-old mother. "She said, 'we need water improvements. We need bridges fixed. Why are you building this bike path? And we had a conversation about economic development. We had a conversation about recreation. We had a conversation about wellness in the community," the mayor said. "But most importantly, we had a conversation that our communities cannot be siloed anymore, that we have to connect them, and this is the way of the future." Her comments were echoed by John Duval, chair of the Adams Selectmen, who touted the economic benefits of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail that now runs from Crane Avenue in Pittsfield to Lime Street in Adams. "We have to work together to have the successful big ideas to happen. And I've been on the Board of Selectmen for 13 years now, and the projects I am seeing happening today were dreams of people back 20, 30, and even 50 years ago," he said. "People say that nothing happens with government. This just goes to show that it takes time to make these big projects happen. It takes a lot of people, a lot of volunteers, and a lot of discussions. ... "We have got to work together, and I'm going to work together with our partners and with Northern Berkshire to make this the outdoor recreation capital destination in New England. We can do it." The funding comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act; it will come through the state Department of Transportation and be managed by the BRPC. It will cover the entire preparation phase planning, design and permitting to emerge in "shovel-ready" status. Neal expressed confidence in the ability to get funding for the construction phase, pointing to the Blackstone River Bikeway and Heritage Center as an example. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail began in downtown Adams in 2001, connecting with Cheshire. There are plans to move it north along the east side of the Hoosac River to Hodges Cross Road then downtown North Adams to connect with the Adventure Trail. The length of the trail from the Williamstown border to Lime Street is about 9.3 miles. "This is particularly important, and it's been highlighted for the economic benefits, not only for the people who live here ... but as a way to bring in new people into the county. I think this is going to be a real stimulus to that," said Matuszko. "This section is particularly hard because there are wetlands. You know, there is not an easy way to get through here. And I have to say that when I first heard some of the vision coming out of the first I was a little skeptical. You know, they had this grand, you know, bridge and tunnel underneath things. But it really is. It really has captured people's imagination. And I think without their leadership on it, it it would have not gone as far as it did." A trail along the problematic path on the north side of the Hoosic River, between State Road and Massachusetts Avenue has been considered problematic because of the wetlands and topography. The initial concept had been to run the trail from Galvin Road and along public land parallel to Chenaille Terrace to the airport drew strong opposition by residents there. Tourists on State Road, which now owns a large tract of the property Ashton Avenue east, proposed to run the path through that parcel including the former Blackinton Mill. Kerns and Svenson read the short opinion from the 1896 North Adams Transcript how bike path "would have much to do with drawing visitors and investors to this delightful section. A good starter would be to connect Williamstown and North Adams with a bike path. It could be done at comparatively small expense (which drew laughs)." "Every time I come up against a struggle, the question I ask is, am I struggling because I am thinking too big, or am I struggling because I'm thinking too small? It's almost always because I'm thinking too small. Thinking big is great. Ambition is great. All there are all of the self-evident things about why big ideas matter," said Kerns. "The thing I've really learned is thinking big allows you the opportunity to get overwhelmed and ask for help. I have asked almost everyone in this room for help for 10 years and a ton of people who aren't here. ... "We're all going to look each other in the eyes right now today, and we commit to sprinting for the finish, and we're going to get tired, and we're going struggle. You can call me, you can call anyone in this room and ask for help, and they will help you." Page Content A landmark declaration strengthening global aviation security and cybersecurity measures was adopted at ICAO Security Week 2024 in Muscat, Oman on 11 December 2024. Some 31 Ministers and high-level officials endorsed this crucial step forward in protecting international civil aviation. A powerful result of intense advocacy and leadership by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Muscat Declaration States to strengthen efforts against both traditional and emerging threats, including insider threats and cyber-attacks. It calls for aviation security and cybersecurity to receive the same high priority and support as other aspects of civil aviation operations, while emphasizing the need for risk-based and outcome-focused policies to guide the development of sustainable security measures. "We cannot stand still," stated ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano in his opening address to the Ministerial Segment. "We must innovate and evolve to counter both new and existing threats. This is why we have gathered here today - to reaffirm our commitment to aviation and cyber security, and to unite in protecting our critical infrastructure." The Declaration places particular emphasis on information sharing for threat assessment and prevention, the development of qualified security professionals, and the implementation of ICAO's Aviation Cybersecurity Strategy. It also advocates for States to ratify the Beijing Convention and Protocol of 2010 as crucial instruments for deterring and responding to attacks against civil aviation. The Declaration calls for enhanced regional cooperation through programmes such as the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa and the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme for the Middle East. These initiatives support ICAO's "No Country Left Behind" goal by providing targeted assistance and capacity-building to States in need. "This Declaration ensures that this meeting will be seen as a significant milestone in our aviation security journey," remarked ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar in his closing address to the Ministerial Segment. "Together, we have reaffirmed our dedication to safeguarding our skies with determination, ambition, and unity of purpose." Security Week Context and Achievements The Declaration was adopted during ICAO Security Week, held for the first time outside ICAO Headquarters. The Civil Aviation Authority of Oman's generous hosting of the event is a salient illustration of its commitment to this priority, as also demonstrated through its chairpersonship of the Middle East Regional Aviation Security & Facilitation Group and its dynamic contributions to global aviation security initiatives. The gathering coincided with several organizational milestones, including the 80th anniversary of the signature of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation, and the 50th anniversary of the Conventions Annex 17 on Aviation Security. During the week, ICAO also unveiled the second edition of its Global Aviation Security Plan, which sets an ambitious target for States to reach or surpass 75 percent Effective Implementation of aviation security Standards by 2033. The Declaration will guide preparatory work for the 42nd ICAO Assembly in 2025, driving the review of consolidated policies on Aviation Security and strengthening resolutions on cybersecurity. Bilateral and multilateral meetings On the margins of the event, ICAO leadership held several high-level bilateral meetings. ICAO Council President Sciacchitano met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani, Qatar Minister of Transport; Capt. Zhenjiang Hu, Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC); and H.E. Eng. Said bin Hamood bin Said Al Mawali, Oman Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology. Secretary General Salazar held discussions with David P. Pekoske, TSA Administrator; Dr. Abdulsalam Saleh Hamid Hadi, Yemen Minister of Transport; representatives from China and Oman; and Magda Kopczynska of the EU Air Transport Directorate, DG MOVE. iciHaiti - PNH : Graduation ceremony for 700 new police officers The Press and Public Relations Coordination of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) announces that this Friday, January 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., the graduation ceremony of the 34th promotion of the PNH will take place at the National Police School on the Route de Freres. After 6 months of intensive training, approximately 700 aspiring police officers will receive their diploma before officially joining the ranks of the PNH and engaging in the fight against insecurity. According to Divisional Commissioner Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, Spokesperson for the PNH, "[...] these new police officers will be deployed mainly in specialized units engaged in the field in the fight against armed groups." These 700 new police officers will strengthen the operational capacity of the PNH in the face of the rise of gangs. TB/ iciHaiti Chinese humanoid robots impressive at CES, supported by homegrown technology innovation 13:57, January 10, 2025 By Tao Mingyang, Zhang Yiyi ( Global Times At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025) in Las Vegas, multiple humanoid robots developed by Chinese companies came under the spotlight amid the global AI craze, highlighting China's front-runner position in cutting-edge technology innovation. NIVIDA CEO Jensen Huang announced at the CES 2025 that a batch of leading robotics and automotive companies, including six Chinese companies - ROBOTERA, Agibot, Fourier, Galbot, Unitree, and XPENG - to first adopt its latest AI platform Cosmos. Cosmos is aimed to advance the development of physical AI systems such as autonomous vehicles and robots, according to NVIDIA's websites. The humanoid robot 'Iron,' developed by Chinese automaker XPENG, debuted in November 2024, and has been deployed in XPENG's auto assembly plant in South China's Guangzhou Province. The cooperation with NIVIDIA's Cosmos platform will further accelerate the company's development of humanoid robots, according to a statement sent from XPENG to the Global Times on Thursday. Aside from ROBOTERA's humanoid robot "Star 1", the Chinese company also exhibited its XHand at CES 2025 -- a human-like robotic hand designed for object manipulation, which can be installed on embodied robots. The debut of ROBOTERA at CES demonstrates the company's technological and product innovation strength in the field of embodied intelligence, as well as serving as proof of the company's global vision and market potential, said the company on its social media account. Galbot said in a social media post that under the collaboration with NVIDIA, both parties are making progress in areas like simulation and synthetic data, with a shared commitment to advancing embodied large-model robots for practical applications. Chinese humanoid robot companies' increasing exposure to global industrial shows highlights the significant progress in China's humanoid robot making, driven by robust policy support and investments, Pan Helin, a member of the Expert Committee for the Information and Communication Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told the Global Times on Thursday. At the beginning of 2025, Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park on Monday released a draft action plan to develop local embodied intelligence technology, emphasizing intelligent, efficient, and large-scale applications for embodied intelligent robots. By 2027, Beijing will cultivate no less than 50 core enterprises in the upstream and downstream of the embodied intelligent robot industrial chain, develop no less than 50 mass-produced products, achieve no less than 100 large-scale industry application projects, and be the first to exceed a total production scale of 10,000 units, the draft action plan revealed. "China boasts strong advantages in robotics development, including high demand, a robust manufacturing base, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. With scaled applications, the industry is enhancing its competitiveness, refining its supply chain, and forming industrial clusters.," Liu Gang, chief economist at the Chinese Institute of New Generation AI Development Strategies, told the Global Times on Thursday. Pan pointed out that China's humanoid robot industry has reached a globally leading level in terms of application scenarios, market penetration, and the scale of the industrial and supply chains, adding collaborations with foreign companies could resolve computing power challenges and accelerate technological innovations. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Thursday 9 January 2025, 17:45 - Last updated: 10 January, 10:33 The case of Emanuela Orlandi remains one of the most enigmatic chapters in recent Vatican history. She vanished on June 22, 1983, and the truth behind her disappearance has yet to be uncovered. Investigators are now focusing on the connection between Emanuela and Enrico De Pedis, a member of the notorious criminal organization known as the "Banda della Magliana." The new testimony comes from Monsignor Pietro Vergari, former rector of the basilica where Enrico De Pedis was buried in a crypt. He spoke during a hearing before the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the disappearance. The Enigma of Emanuela Orlandi and Vatican Intrigues The testimony When he was the rector of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare, Monsignor Pietro Vergari stated that he never saw, met, or encountered Emanuela Orlandi. Also, De Pedis' lawyer says the connection between his client and the girl is false. It was a pretty complicated and confusing interrogation, due to Pietro Vergari's health conditions. The Monsignor, sat in a wheelchair, spoke in a faint voice while responding to the commissioners questions. He said he knew De Pedis "before" Emanuela Orlandi's disappearance. The priest had formed a strong relationship with the former member of the Banda della Magliana De Pedis at the time of Emanuela's disappereance, to the point he officiated the wedding of the boss with Carla Di Giovanni. He also interceded with the then Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Ugo Poletti, to have the boss's remains, killed in an ambush on Via del Pellegrino on February 2, 1990, buried in the underground of the church of Sant'Apollinare (the church next to the music school attended several years earlier by Emanuela Orlandi). Mons. Vergari recalled that De Pedis "had been in prison" where he had good conduct and that he frequented "the church of Sant'Apollinare" and "was very attached to the church." Did De Pedis ever talk to you about Emanuela or the Orlandi case? "No," he replied Mons. Vergari. According to Don Vergari Sister Dolores, then director of the music school, knew De Pedis, who, besides Sant'Apollinare, according to him, also supported the school financially with "small donations." His words on Sabrina Minardi, a key witness During the hearing, responding to the commissioners, Mons. Vergari also said he had "never" met Sabrina Minardi, De Pedis' ex (a testimony who spoke in 2006 on the alleged involvement of the Banda della Magliana in the kidnapping of the girl). He stated "Enrico was a very kind man" and devoted to the church of Sant'Apollinare, often bringing flowers. The mystery of the tomb at Sant'Apollinare and the trail linked to the Banda della Magliana are central themes addressed by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, chaired by Senator Andrea De Priamo. But for Vergari the key witness Sabrina Minardi was a liar. Also Renatino De Pedis greeted Oscar Scalfaro when he met him at Sant'Apollinare. Vatican Acknowledges Existence of Orlandi Dossier Amidst Family's Concerns For him, the key witness Sabrina Minardi, who was connected to De Pedis and already considered unreliable by Roman magistrates, was a "fraud," while claiming that he had "never personally met her." The names of the former President of the Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, Judge Antonino Scopelliti, and the former personal secretary of Pope John Paul II, Stanislaw Dziwisz, came up during Mons. Vergaris testimony. Vergari appeared in a wheelchair and at times seemed to be in a confused state, contradicting himself multiple times. For this reason, after about an hour and a half, President Andrea De Priamo decided to interrupt the hearing. Thursday 9 January 2025, 14:32 - Last updated: 10 January, 09:57 A simple ring on the left ring finger was enough to spark gossip. A buzz that lasted only a few hours before the official confirmation arrived: Zendaya and Tom Holland are getting married. The news was revealed by the actress herself, who appeared radiant at the 2025 Golden Globes wearing a Louis Vuitton dress in warm terracotta tones. Zendaya dominated the red carpet, but the eyes of fans and photographers were not just on her impeccable look. The engagement ring, a masterpiece by Jessica McCormack with a five-carat diamond, did the rest, marking the next big step in her relationship with Tom Holland. Zendaya and Tom Holland Engagement: an intimate proposal and the diamond ring reveal at the Golden Globes How long have Tom Holland and Zendaya been dating? The love story between Zendaya and Tom dates back to 2016, when they met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming. After years of friendship and speculation, the two made their relationship official in 2021, becoming one of Hollywood's most beloved couples. Always discreet in their private lives and sparing in public appearances, Tom and Zendaya have managed to keep their love away from the spotlight. Not surprisingly, even at the 2025 Golden Globes, Zendaya walked alone, with her fiance letting her take the stage, as he often likes to do. Zendaya is not only an extraordinary talent on the big screen but also a style icon who has built an unmistakable image year after year. From her beginnings as a model and Disney star, through collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, to her current role as a fashion muse, her growth has been a continuous transformation. If in the early years she preferred casual and trendy looks, today her wardrobe is a celebration of contemporary elegance and vintage couture. What will Zendaya wear for her marriage? Together with her longtime stylist, Law Roach, Zendaya has turned every public appearance into a memorable event. Among the most iconic moments are the Cinderella dress by Tommy Hilfiger at the 2019 Met Gala, the "wet look" in Balmain during the Dune promotional tour, and the shocking pink Valentino dress that won everyone over. The Zendaya-Law duo has also paid homage to archival fashion, as demonstrated by the Tom Ford breastplate at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards or the archival Mugler worn for the promotion of Dune: Part Two. Their preference for bold silhouettes, innovative textures, and sartorial details have made Zendaya one of the leading figures on international red carpets, as well as an endless source of inspiration for new generations. With the wedding on the horizon, it's impossible not to wonder what Zendaya will wear for her big day. Will she surprise us once again? If the past is any indication, it's likely that the star will opt for a unique creation that blends tradition and innovation. Louis Vuitton, with whom she has forged an increasingly close collaboration, seems to be the most likely candidate, but surprises cannot be ruled out. Zendaya might choose an archival dress to honor fashion history or a custom-made creation that tells something intimate about her story with Tom. Whether it's a romantic silhouette or a bolder design, one thing is certain: Zendaya's bridal look is destined to be remembered, once again cementing her status as a global icon. Almost 60 beaches across Sydney were flagged as unsuitable for swimming due to contamination but under the surface lies a secondary danger. Swimmers have been advised to avoid more than 50 beaches around Sydney due to pollution. Source: Beachwatch We may be in the height of summer but Aussies are being warned to stay away from dozens of beaches around the country's biggest city with the presence of two major threats under the water. A total of 56 beaches around Sydney were contaminated with stormwater pollution on Friday after heavy rain, with experts telling Yahoo News swimmers could potentially be exposed to viruses and bacteria like E. coli. All beaches in Sydney Harbour were marked as unsuitable for swimming, along with those in Botany Bay, Pittwater, the Port Hacking River, and the popular Bronte, Tamarama, Queenscliff and Malabar beaches. The pollution was recorded as far north as The Entrance channel on the Central Coast, and is infiltrating beaches as far south as Bundeena. Some swim sites across the Sydney and Central Coast region may remain impacted by stormwater pollution this morning For more details, visit our website: https://t.co/XvqQ8ASUOB Before you swim, check for signs of pollution For beach closures and conditions, contact lifeguards Beachwatch NSW (@BeachwatchNSW) January 9, 2025 Check if your local beach is safe here. Stormwater runoff can carry viruses, faeces Water samples are being tested by Beachwatch for E. coli as an indicator for faecal contamination. Exposure to the bacteria can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, along with skin, eye, ear and upper respiratory tract infections. ADVERTISEMENT Young children, the elderly and people with compromised health may be more at risk. "At beaches, people should avoid swimming during heavy rain and for at least one day after," a spokesperson from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told Yahoo. At estuaries and inland waterways, avoid swimming for up to three days after heavy rain." The department also advised beachgoers to "check before you swim" by visiting the Beachwatch webpage. The rain over Sydney is likely to continue over the weekend, with further storms and showers predicted. Swimmers have been advised to avoid more than 50 beaches around Sydney due to pollution. Source: Beachwatch Bull sharks attracted to rivers after heavy rainfall If the worry of bacteria isnt enough, the wet weather has also increased the numbers of bull sharks around beaches and waterways, as rain stimulates their feeding, Bond University environmental scientist Dr Daryl McPhee explained to Yahoo News. ADVERTISEMENT Its the nutrient pulse which can create a good feeding environment for a range of fish. Its also the muddy water. Bull sharks are very well adapted to feeding under very low light levels and in very dirty water, so they dont rely on vision too much for feeding under those conditions, Dr McPhee said. In areas affected by rainfall you generally do see more bull sharks but theres often a lag from when the rainfall occurs in a catchment, to when the bull sharks are more prevalent, he added. Bull sharks thrive in murky water and are attracted to the nutrients in the water following heavy rainfall. Source: Getty That lag could be anywhere from 10 days to two weeks, with swimmers advised to be cautious if the water remains murky. Theres still runoff occurring even when that rain has stopped. A bull shark was detected by NSW authorities off Bondi on Thursday afternoon as warming water lures the species south down the NSW coast. On Friday afternoon a great white was observed by surf lifesavers at the popular Mid North Coast beach of Crescent Head, and lifesavers also saw a bull shark at Yamba Beach in the Northern Rivers region. Both beaches were closed and evacuated. ADVERTISEMENT Sharks not the scariest thing in the water Dr McPhee said even with sharks being prevalent in the water, the biggest danger still lies in pollution. The biggest risk is still exposing yourself to poor water quality which can have E.coli and other stomach bugs and skin irritants potentially in it. The biggest risk is not from sharks, its from the general water quality in Sydney and surrounds, he said. The Sydney area still needs to do a lot more in terms of improving water quality. Sydney Harbour is a jewel for Sydney but it is certainly tarnished due to stormwater runoffs and runoff from the upper catchments. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Epson, ASEANs leading brand for desktop color label printers, has announced the launch of the ColorWorks CW-C8050, its newest ColorWorks on-demand color label printer. The CW-C8050 is designed to meet the rigorous needs of businesses that require high-volume batch printing such as manufacturing and packaging industries. Packed with enhanced features, the CW-C8050 delivers high-speed printing with unmatched print quality, higher ink capacity, advanced system integration, and expanded media flexibility to drive efficiency in high-volume operations. Epson ColorWorks CW-C8050 label printer The ColorWorks CW-C8050 builds on the success of its predecessor, the CW-C7510/G, Epsons first industrial color label printer with PrecisionCore printhead technology, which launched in 2015. With the CW-C8050, Epson offers businesses a host of advancements tailored to support the regions rapidly growing industrial sectors. Precision, speed and durability for high-volume label printing With increasing demand for cost-efficient, high-quality labelling solutions across Southeast Asia, the CW-C8050 is purpose-built to empower businesses to streamline their workflows and scale their operations, while maintaining quality and consistency. This powerful printer features advanced PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology and uses high-performance UltraChrome DL pigment inks to deliver smudge and fade-resistant labels with accurate colours, smooth gradations, precise barcodes and sharp text. Capable of printing at speeds of up to 11.8 inches per second, the CW-C8050 is ideal for busy, on-demand environments. The new offering also provides businesses the flexibility to print on a variety of media types including matte and gloss paper, film and synthetic, supporting print widths from 1 to 4 inches. When using the adjustable platen gap, thicker media up to 0.6mm can be printed on effortlessly. Additionally, the CW-C8050 takes the guesswork out of label printing. With its spot color management and ICC profiling functions, the label printer ensures precise colour matching for outstanding results. Minimal Maintenance Its user-friendly design and features ensure easy and minimal maintenance. The CW-C8050 produces reliable, quality printouts with Epsons unique Nozzle Verification Technology (NVT) and dot substitution, which help prevent misprints and dead pixels. The NVTs auto maintenance function, which works behind the scenes to detect and revive blocked nozzles back to maximum operating performance, helps to ensure minimal user intervention is needed. Further, advancements have been made to the CW-C8050 to reduce nozzle clogging probability and failure rates. Compared to its predecessor, the CW-C8050 uses high-yield ink packs, providing 1.9 liter total ink capacity, allowing for fewer interventions, low cost per milliliter and low consumable waste. Maximize your workflow with ease No matter your working environment, this printer prioritizes convenience and flexibility with USB 3.0, high-speed Ethernet and an I/O port for easy setup, cloud printing support and optional Wi-Fi. It integrates smoothly with legacy systems using the ESC/Label command, ensuring compatibility, supports popular middleware and includes Device Type and ABAP drivers for straightforward SAP Direct Printing. With Epson Cloud Solution PORT, businesses can also seamlessly integrate large printer fleets, monitor printer status, track ink consumption and access operation history remotely, to ensure optimal performance at all times. Noelle Gonzalez, Marketing Division Head at Epson Philippines, said, The next evolution in labels goes beyond functionality to transform packaging into dynamic marketing tools that captivate consumers and elevate brand visibility. Epson wants to help businesses unlock new possibilities by leveraging full-color capabilities, single-step simplicity, and our powerful PrecisionCore technology. The CW-C8050 enables real-time, high-quality label production, eliminating the need for excess inventory and reducing pre-printed label waste, helping companies stay competitive and sustainable in todays fast-paced markets. Visit Epsons website or contact the nearest Epson Authorized Dealer store for more information. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alec Baldwin has brought a lawsuit against the district attorney and other officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico alleging he was wrongfully prosecuted for manslaughter. The 30 Rock actor, 66, stood trial last year over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Western movie Rust. The case against Baldwin dramatically collapsed in court and was eventually completely dropped. Baldwin has now filed a complaint, seen by The Independent, which accuses District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey of a number of abuses, including eliciting false testimony and withholding evidence. The complaint asserts that Morrissey wanted to teach Baldwin a lesson because she deemed him to be an arrogant prick. It goes on to state that: Defendants must now be held accountable for their malicious and unlawful pursuit of Baldwin. Although no verdict in this civil case can undo the trauma the States threat of conviction and incarceration has inflicted, Alec Baldwin has filed this action to hold Defendants responsible for their appalling violations of the laws that governed their work. Alec Baldwin is suing New Mexico officials for malicious prosectution ( Getty ) In December, the case against Baldwin formally came to an end when Morrissey announced that she had withdrawn her appeal of an order that dismissed the case. The states efforts to continue to litigate the case in a fair and comprehensive manner have been met with multiple barriers that have compromised its ability to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, Morrisseys statement said. This has always been about seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins. We regret that Mr Baldwin will not be held accountable for the role he played in the death of Halyna Hutchins and as we withdraw the appeal, we do so with the hope that the outstanding lawsuits bring some measure of justice to the family of Halyna Hutchins. Baldwins lawyers, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, said in a statement at the time that the collapse of the case against Baldwin was a vindication. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Todays decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime, they said. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico. The fatal incident that resulted in Hutchinss death occurred in October 2021, when Baldwin the lead actor and a co-producer of Rust pointed a prop gun in Hutchinss direction during a rehearsal. The gun went off, discharging a real bullet that killed her and wounded director Joel Souza. Baldwin faced up to 18 months in prison if he was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter charges, though he consistently maintained his innocence leading up to the trial. However, the case was dismissed in July after it was found that prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense that could have shown how live rounds got onto the set. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Glenn Close has hit out at JD Vance after starring in the film about his life, Hillbilly Elegy. Since he was announced as Donald Trumps running mate, Vance has been criticised for comments that saw him refer to women, such as Trumps presidential rival Kamala Harris, as childless cat ladies. This prompted swift backlash and accusations of sexism, with Vance claiming the remarks were made in sarcasm. Before Vances political career, he was known for being the author of memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which was later adapted into a Netflix film. Close played Vances grandmother Mawmaw in the movie, alongside Amy Adams as his mother. Vance himself was an executive producer on the film, and is portrayed by Night Agent actor Gabriel Basso. On an episode of The View, Close reflected on the film weeks before Vance officially becomes Trumps vice president. The View co-host Joy Behar said: I remember him hawking it in the old days he even visited the set at the time you were doing that. To which Close replied: He did, and he helped young Owen [Asztalos], who was playing him [at a younger age]. He helped him. Close, who received an Oscar nomination for the film, also revealed that the cast, including Adams, individually sat down with Vance and his family one-on-one to fully prepare for their roles. open image in gallery Glenn Close says she doesnt know whats happened to JD Vance ( AFP via Getty Images ) When Behar noted Vance had a whole different personality in those days than he has now, Close said: I dont know what happened, suggesting that political success might have altered his outlook. Power is probably the biggest aphrodisiac for a human being, she told Behar. Hillbilly Elegy director Ron Howard didnt hold back when he was accused of unleashing the polarising, volatile conservative with his memoir adaptation. He told Deadline in September 2024: Well, we didnt talk a lot of politics when we were making the movie because I was interested in his upbringing and that survival tale. Thats what we mostly focused on. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free However, based on the conversations that we had during that time, I just have to say Im very surprised and disappointed by much of the rhetoric that Im reading and hearing. People do change, and I assume thats the case. Well, its on record. open image in gallery Glenn Close in Hillbilly Elegy ( Netflix ) Howard continued: When we spoke around the time that I knew him, he was not involved in politics or claimed to be particularly interested. So that was then. He said that he thinks the important thing is to recognise whats going on today and to vote, telling the outlet: And so thats my answer. Its not really about a movie made five or six years ago. It is, but we need to respond to what were seeing, hearing, feeling now, and vote responsibly, whatever that is. We must participate. Thats my answer. Before Vance was a couple of steps away from the most powerful position in the world, he was just a self-proclaimed hillbilly raised in the Appalachian mountains, living in poverty, despair and dysfunction. His journey to Yale Law School was documented in the memoir, which was published in 2017. open image in gallery JD Vance caused controversy with many remarks in the US election ( AFP via Getty Images ) In the introduction to the book, he said: Ill be the first to admit that Ive accomplished nothing great in my life, certainly nothing that could justify a complete stranger spending money to read about. I am not a senator, a governor, or a cabinet secretary. The film was described by The Independents critic Clarisse Loughrey as a sickeningly irresponsible parade of death and despair. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mandy Moore has responded to the backlash she received after sharing a GoFundMe asking for support for her brother-in-law and his wife in the wake of devastating fires in Los Angeles, telling critics to Kindly F Off. Moore and her husband Taylor Goldsmiths home in Altadena was gutted by one of several wildfires that have raged across Southern California. Goldsmith is in the rock band Dawes along with his brother, Griffin Goldsmith, who lost the nearby home he shared with his wife Kit. The couple are currently expecting their first child. On Thursday (January 9), Moore shared a GoFundMe to support her relatives, writing: Yesterday, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law Griff & Kit lost their home and everything they own in the Eaton Fire. With their first baby on the way in a matter of weeks, they need our support now more than ever. Griff is a touring musician and also lost his entire arsenal of drums/percussion he uses to make a living. Its all so much. So many have asked how to help during this unimaginable and stressful time Please consider donating and sharing to help them rebuild. Find all live updates on the California fires here After posting the link, many critics questioned why Moore, being a successful actor, couldnt support her family herself. Mandy Moore attending the premiere of Dr Death in Hollywood in December 2023 ( Amy Sussman/Getty Images ) In an update to the post, Moore added: And people questioning whether were helping out our own family or attributing some arbitrary amount of money google says someone has is NOT helpful or empathetic. Of course we are. Our buddy Matt started this go fund me and im sharing because people have asked how they can help them. We just lost most of our life in a fire too. Kindly F OFF. no one is forcing you to do anything. In a separate post, Moore wrote about the damage to her own home, saying: We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss. Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact. We lost Taylor and griffins studio with every instrument and piece of equipment theyve ever owned. We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends. Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support. Thanks for everyone for checking on us and offering us help. Altadena strong. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Moore is one of many celebrities to have lost homes this week, including Anthony Hopkins, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake and Eugene Levy. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As movie theaters worked to entice viewers back into seats after COVID-19 lockdowns and labor strikes, the industry marketed blockbuster films like " Wicked and the dueling releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer as no less than cultural events. But when certain movies become events unto themselves, sometimes different behavior accompanies them. During the theatrical run of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour last fall, fans danced and belted lyrics in the theaters, sharing their glee on social media. Last year, fans at early screenings of Wicked did the same, to the chagrin of other moviegoers. One video of a woman dressed as Glinda the Good Witch racked up over a million views on TikTok and beyond for announcing to her theater, Im here to hear Cynthia and Ariana sing, not you. After a period of growing accustomed to watching movies only from the comforts of home, Americans have been slowly returning to theaters following COVID-19 lockdowns. Along the way, as attendance spikes, the question of how to behave as part of a moviegoing audience has become a topic of passionate online debate. When asked whether its appropriate for fans to sing in the theater, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, told NBC that she thinks the practice is wonderful and that its time for everyone else to join in. Dwayne Johnson, who stars as Maui in Moana 2, told the BBC that theatergoers who have spent their hard earned money for a ticket should be able to sing. Online backlash was swift, with one user retorting, I paid my hard-earned money for a ticket too and I dont wanna hear yall attempting to sing so what now. open image in gallery A collection bucket and cup for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour film is sold at Regal Cinemas ( Copyright 2022, News and Advance, V.A. All rights reserved ) It all circles around two questions that, like anything else in the culture, are constantly evolving: When youre seeing a movie in a theater, how should you behave? And when can a viewer become a participant? Actual in-person disruptions at movie theaters appear minimal. Representatives from Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a prominent chain known for diverse film screenings and food service, and ACX Cinemas, a family-owned chain based in the Midwest, both say theyve experienced nothing major. The instinct to join in is hardly new. Sing-along screenings have been a principal part of moviegoing going back over 100 years," says Ross Melnick, a professor of film and media studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. But singing, he says, typically occurs in designated sing-along environments where it is clear that theres a collective performance of the audience. According to Esther Morgan-Ellis, author of Everybody Sing!: Community Singing in the American Picture Palace, American film screenings in the late 1920s and early 1930s were often preceded by sing-alongs. An organist would perform three or four popular songs and audiences were encouraged to join in, often guided by lyrics projected onto the screen. In other cases, the sing-along would be coupled with a short film that included lyrics and a bouncing, on-screen ball that would hop across the words to help audiences keep tempo. While singing has long been common, other behaviors were once hotly debated. When movies were a new medium, Americans quarreled over not just the content of the films themselves but the venue at which people viewed them. Was the dark room a hotbed for vice and immoral behavior? Should films be screened with the lights turned up? Should talking be allowed or forbidden? And, of course, there was segregation; movie theaters were not fully integrated until the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. We have never been a monolithic society. Not ever, and increasingly so now, Melnick says. You can tell so much about America by looking at whats going on in its movie theaters. In 1944, MGM, the film studio that had produced "The Wizard of Oz just five years prior, released a short film titled Movie Pests that warned moviegoers against engaging in disruptive behavior. Some of the films concerns sticking gum under chairs, removing shoes are still considered no-gos today. But the short also showcased etiquette of another era, such as removing jackets in the lobby and using the hat rack under your chair. open image in gallery Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande attend the premiere of Wicked at the Museum of Modern Art, ( Invision ) Today, acts of participation can be more ad hoc. One Ariana Grande fan account started an online firestorm after posting on X that users should share photos theyd taken of their favorite scenes from Wicked. While some commented and posted their own photos, others responded with snarky remarks. One clap-back came from the Alamo Drafthouse account, which retorted, Or, dont do that. The theater chain has a no-talking or texting policy, and violators are ejected after one warning. Chaya Rosenthal, Alamo Drafthouse's chief marketing officer, said the policy "is all about respect respecting the films, the filmmakers and fellow moviegoers who paid for a ticket who deserve an immersive experience. To allow visitors to choose their preferred viewing experience, theaters have offered special sing-along showings of Wicked. The Main Cinema in Minneapolis declared screenings on Mondays (and Mondays only) as singing-friendly. Universal Pictures, which produced Wicked, began holding special sing-along screenings of the film starting on Christmas Day. When fans of Taylor Swift caused a ruckus in 2023 by dancing and singing along during screenings of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Michael Barstow, the executive vice president of ACX Cinemas, saw the hoopla not as a nuisance but part of the draw. The reason why they paid money and went and saw that inside movie theaters was to have a dance party with other people, Barstow says. Thats something we should lean into and embrace and try not to be too much of the fun police in those auditoriums. To draw people back to the theater, movie distributors and theater owners have expanded the types of experiences they offer. ACX Cinemas hired actors to dress as characters from Wicked and Moana to take photos with visitors and hosted a themed brunch at its affiliate restaurant. Theaters have begun offering slates of themed popcorn buckets to accompany tentpole films sandworm-shaped buckets for Dune 2 and gothic coffins for Nosferatu. Even before pandemic lockdowns, theaters were upgrading sturdy plastic chairs to comfy leather recliners, and waiters at bespoke theaters began offering seat-side dining service (often at the cost of interrupting viewers to hand them the bill). Alamo Drafthouse hosts movie party events where interaction is encouraged and its strict no-phone policy is void. Attendees at a special Magic Mike XXL screening were given fake money to throw at the screen, and visitors were encouraged to dress in regency garb for tea party screenings of movies like Pride and Prejudice and Emma. " And though unique theater experiences may be rising in notoriety, decades of late-night screenings of The Room and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have enticed devotees to adopt unorthodox viewing practices. Longtime viewers gather at regular screenings to shout synchronized snark, toss items at the screen and even act out the movie. Its really hard, what we all do, especially coming out of the last four years, Barstow says. The fun part is, all gloves are off as far as being creative and trying things. And thats exciting. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Coronation Streets cast exodus is continuing, with a fifth star set to leave amid a slew of departures. While Marc Baylis returned as Rob Donovan in the latest episode of the ITV series, and Katy Cavanagh is set to return as Judy Carp later this year, many exits are set to rock the soap in 2025. The latest star to announce they are leaving the series, amid an alleged behind-the-scenes cash crisis, is Charlotte Jordan, who plays popular Rovers Return barmaid Daisy Midgeley. Unlike PC Craig Tinker star Colson Smith, who revealed earlier this week he had been dropped by bosses, Jordan left on her own accord. She said on Tuesday (7 January): My time at Coronation Street is something Ill always cherish. After a brilliant four years for Daisy, its time for me to start a new chapter and explore other opportunities. The actor, who won a British Soap Award for the role in 2023, added: Its been a privilege to be part of a wonderful institution with even more wonderful colleagues who have taught me so much. She won the prize for Best Dramatic Performance after a storyline that saw her character become the victim of a wedding day acid attack. According to The Sun, Jordan told bosses she wanted to leave last April, which has given writers time to prepare a dramatic storyline for her exit. Daisy (Charlotte Jordan) is leaving Corrie in 2025 ( ITV ) Jordan is the latest in a growing list of Corrie stars to either quit or be axed. In the last few weeks, the series, which began in 1960, has seen big changes in front of the cameras following the departure of Gail Platt actor Helen Worth and Luca Toolan, whose character Mason Radcliffe was killed off in heartbreaking scenes that aired on Monday (6 January). Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster) and Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) are also set to leave the soap in 2025. It has been reported by The Sun that cast members are in danger of being dropped from the soap due to an alleged cash crisis occurring behind the scenes, with bosses opting to shine the light on the shows younger actors because they are cheaper to retain. While Devaney was initially left gutted by producer Kate Brookss decision to kill off her character in a hard-hitting Alzheimers storyline, she is said to now be fixated on the shows potential to raise awareness about the disease. Meanwhile, Cleaver opted to leave the show after 25 years as she is looking for new adventures, but she assured fans that the door is still firmly open for a potential return one day in the future. The Independent has contacted ITV for comment. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hoda Kotbs final episode on the Today show was as emotional as expected. The 60-year-old TV host is officially leaving the morning news program after 26 years at NBC. Her last segment got tearful, with her colleagues sharing a moving video tribute to her including a series of messages from her co-workers and pictures of her time at Today. That was not fair, she said after watching the video as she wiped away tears. She also thanked her colleagues who sat beside her during the show, including Carson Daly, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, and Craig Melvin, the latter of whom is taking over her responsibilities at Today. You are going to be fantastic. Youre going to bring it home, she told Melvin, whose first broadcast is on January 13. Kotbs 8am segment continued with some more special moments, including a pre-recorded video and a gift from Jamie Lee Curtis. I did have something made for you by Moy Thompson, and its one of my orbs, and it says, Every Today with you is a better day, and the dates of your time at Today, Curtis said. So from all of your fans, your friends, me included. Thank you for being such a shining example to all of us of whats really important, and the reason that youre stopping is the most important. God bless you and thank you! Hoda Kotb wipes tears as she receives gift from Jamie Lee Curtis ( NBC ) The Freaky Friday star was supposed to be on the program in person on Friday, but she had returned to Los Angeles amid the devastating Pacific Palisades fires. Meanwhile, fellow TV legend Oprah Winfrey also appeared on Kotbs last show, with a special pre-recorded message. Winfrey noted that while it must be difficult for Kotb to leave the network, the now Today alum knew it was time to move on to the next thing. And I will tell you that in the future, youre going to look back and youre going to say, Was that the right decision? Did I do the right thing? Winfrey told the mother of two daughters, Haley, seven, and Hope, five. And I will assure you that yes, you have made the right move, although it has been very hard to do. Winfrey added: I know that Haley and Hope are going to benefit so much from this decision, and whatever you decide to do in your next chapter, in the next adventure, it will be the best decision for you and for your family. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free In September 2024, Kotb emotionally announced that shed be leaving Today in order to spend more time with her daughters, who she shares with ex-fiance Joel Schiffman Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have, she said on the show. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world. Kotb joined NBC in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline. In 2007, she became co-host of the fourth hour of Today, which is now known as Today with Hoda and Jenna. Kotb and Savannah Guthrie have co-anchored Today since 2018, marking the shows first all-female anchor team. Hours after announcing her exit from Today, Realtor.com revealed that shes leaving New York City to live in her new $2.8 million home in Brownsville, New York. Kotb opened up about living in the suburbs during a previous episode of Today last September. Everything changed like that. I have a whole new town and a whole new school and all the new things, Kotb who used to live in the Upper West Side explained. We went for our first day of school, I carried a coffee and I had sneakers [on], and I walked my kids to school like normal people. It was awesome. While Kotb is leaving Today, that doesnt mean that she wont be working with NBC anymore. She recently revealed that shell cover the next two Olympics with the network. She told Page Six on Thursday (January 9) that in addition to going to the 2026 Olympics in Milan and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, shell still appear on monthly segments of Today. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Paris Hilton has made an emotional return to the burnt remains of her Malibu mansion house that was destroyed in the fast-moving catastrophic wildfires that continue to devastate southern California. On Thursday (9 January), the reality TV star and hotel heiress revealed that she was among the Hollywood stars who have lost their homes to the wildfires as she saw her $8.4m oceanfront home burn to a crisp during a live news broadcast. Hilton has shared her heartbreak as she visited the site where the property stood, telling fans that she feels like my heart has been shattered into a million pieces. The socialite recorded the clip as she walked through the remains of the entrance, which was still standing, but the rest of the house had been reduced to rubble. Follow live updates on the California fires here. When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock I couldnt process it, she wrote. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces. Hilton said she was incredibly lucky that her family, including husband, the entrepreneur Carter Reum, and their two one-year-old children, Phoenix and London, as well as her four tiny dogs, were all safe. She continued: This house wasnt just a place to live it was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family. It was where Phoenixs little hands made art that Ill cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes its devastating beyond words. open image in gallery The destroyed remains of Paris Hiltons Malibu mansion ( Instagram via @parishilton ) Im holding onto that gratitude with everything I have, she said. And beyond grateful to all the fire fighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires. The video comes after Hilton told fans that her home had become engulfed in the blaze and that she watched it burn during a breaking news broadcast. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery Paris Hiltons Malibu mansion was burnt to ashes in the catastrophic wildfires raging through Southern California ( Instagram via @parishilton ) She said: Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. Hilton said that the devastation is unimaginable and to know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking. open image in gallery Paris Hilton shared news footage showing her house burnt to the ground ( Instagram ) However, she thanked fans for their kind words and for showing her that even in the ashes, there is beauty in this world. Thank you from the deepest part of my heart, she said, before addressing the people who have also seen their homes destroyed by the wildfires. And to everyone going through this pain, please know youre not alone. Were in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before. open image in gallery Hilton said that her family, including husband Carter Reum and their two one-year-old children were all safely evacuated ( AFP via Getty Images ) The fast-moving wildfires in Los Angeles, which have left at least seven people dead and countless others injured, have seen thousands of firefighters battling desperately to extinguish the blaze, as wind gusts of up to 60 mph are continuing to work against their firefighting efforts. The Palisades Fire has been called one of the most destructive wildfires that the city has seen, at six per cent containment. The fire has scorched 19,978 acres, while the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire has burned 13,690 acres. A new blaze, the Kenneth Fire, broke out north of the Palisades fire on Thursday, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said fire-destructed neighbourhoods in west LA look like an atomic bomb was dropped on these areas. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sesame Street has revealed what lessons they will be focusing on in the newest season that will be premiering in 2025. This year, the acclaimed family program will be airing its 55th season, which will feature a star-studded lineup of musicians that would be the envy of any summer festival: SZA, Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, Renee Rapp, and Samara Joy. The new season comes after Warner Bros. Discovery ended its agreement to air new episodes of Sesame Street on HBO and Max, leaving the beloved kids show searching for a new home. The upcoming season will focus on lessons in emotional well-being. It debuts on January 16 on Max with new episodes releasing every Thursday. Sesame Street will also be available on PBS stations and to stream on PBS Kids in the fall. This will be the last season aired on Max as the network revealed its desire to focus on more adult content. It has been a wonderful, creative experience working with everyone at Sesame Street on the iconic childrens series and we are thrilled to be able to keep some of the library series on Max in the U.S., a spokesperson for Max told The Hollywood Reporter. As weve launched Max though and based on consumer usage and feedback, weve had to prioritize our focus on stories for adults and families, and so new episodes from Sesame Street, at this time, are not as core to our strategy. The new season of Sesame Street will premiere on January 16 ( HBO ) However, Max will continue working with the producer of the program, Sesame Workshop. Max will still stream old episodes from Sesame Streets catalog until the end of 2027. Despite the loss of a network in the future, those involved with the childrens show are optimistic about the current season. There's a lot to learn from music yeah, timing and harmonies and melody and different styles and different cultures, Elmo told The Associated Press in an interview about the new season. It's really cool! We've got a lot of wonderful people to come and do some music with us on Sesame Street, like Miss Renee Rapp and SZA! Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, Samara Joy lots of great people! Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Songs double as life lessons on Sesame Street, from an alt-R&B-pop track about gratitude with SZA to an acoustic number about feelings with Rapp. SZA is really cool really talented. And gratitude was a new word for Elmo, too. So, Elmo learned all about gratitude with SZA, he said. Elmo was feeling really, really happy after his playdate with Miss Renee. It was a really beautiful song. She's got a great voice and Elmo hopes she comes back soon. Other highlights from this season include Kahan performing a foot-stomping folk song about music and feelings, Joy using jazz improvisation to teach a lesson in taking turns, and a country ode to music and friends courtesy of Stapleton. Chris Stapleton really wanted to write his own song, music director Bill Sherman said, and so the pair hopped on a Zoom and wrote a song together, Stapleton with his guitar in tow, ideas flowing. It was really one of the most surreal two-hour Zooms that I really ever had in my life. Joy took a different approach. Samara Joy insisted on singing live," says Sherman. It very rarely happens on Sesame Street. I can only count, like, a few times. So, there was like Stevie Wonder back in the day, which is a classic. And theres like Billy Joel, theres John Legend, theres a couple people that actually sing live. But Samara insisted on it. Her reasoning was simple. She said, Well, this whole episode is about improvisation and thinking on your toes. And so, if its prerecorded, thats the opposite of what were trying to teach. If there is a theme that connects all these performances to one another, it's a spirit of connection. At least, that's Elmo's theory: Elmo thinks that music brings people together, you know? And some people who like some things and some people who like other things can kind of come together because they like the same kind of music. And that's kind of cool! Sesame Street, designed by education professionals and child psychologists, is shown in more than 150 countries, has won over 200 Emmys, 11 Grammys, two Peabody Awards, and received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievement, the first time a television program got the award. Additional reporting from The Associated Press Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The late-night hosts are mocking Donald Trump over his response to the deadly California wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area. At least seven people have been killed and countless others injured as fast-moving wildfires continue to tear across the outskirts of Los Angeles, leaving thousands of firefighters battling desperately to extinguish the blaze. Trump blamed the states governor, Gavin Newsom, in an eyebrow-raising Truth Social post that inaccurately claimed he refused to sign a water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water to help put out the fires. According to Trump, this declaration, which Newsoms office said was non-existent, would have allowed excess rain and snow melt from the North to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way. Find all live updates on the California fires here Seth Meyers hit out at Trump for lying about the water that brave firefighters are using to battle the wildfire. open image in gallery Seth Meyers hit out at Trumps inaccurate claim about California governor Gavin Newson ( YouTube / Getty Images ) He commended the firefighters for doing courageous work, adding: And then theres the president-elect, who has decided to chime in, not to help, but to spread bulls*** that will just make the emergency response more difficult. Desi Lydic, appearing on The Daily Show, called Trump one of the countrys leading blame producers, questioning another of the president-elects claims namely that Newsom didnt sign the non-existent declaration as he wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt by giving it less water. Lydic told viewers: For the record, no, the LA fires have nothing to do with smelt. But in Trumps defence, words are hard, and smelt only has one syllable, while climate change has three. open image in gallery Desi Lydic mocked Trump for his response to California fires ( Comedy Central ) Officials said on Thursday (9 January) that while progress had been made on the Sunset, Woodley, Hurst and Sunswept Fires, more extreme fire behaviour and wind gusts of up to 60 mph are continuing to challenge firefighting efforts. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said fire-ravaged neighbourhoods in west LA look like a bomb was dropped in them. Police have announced the arrest of an arson suspect, who allegedly attempted to light a fire in Woodland Hills near the areas newest blaze, the Kenneth Fire. Many Hollywood stars, including Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton, have lost their homes in the fires. Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th US president on 20 January. The electric bike tracks look like harmless fun at first glance. Electric bike tracks on Peregian Beach in Noosa poses a risk to both the environment and wildlife. Source: Facebook/Peter Grahm A photo of a beach with criss-cross tracks through its sand may appear as harmless fun on an electric bike, but the markings expose a damaging trend wreaking havoc on Aussie coastlines. The latest incident of beachgoers riding e-bikes along dunes occurred at Peregian Beach near Noosa Heads in Queensland over the weekend and a local blasted those responsible. "More idiot behaviour by kids on e-bikes riding over the dunes. Never mind the turtle nests!" the local wrote. Yahoo News reported the incident to Noosa Shire Council, and while it appears there are no rules stopping people from riding e-bikes on the beach, riders are expected to keep off the sand dunes. Noosa Shire's Environmental Services Manager Ben Derrick explained dunes play a vital role in the environment, creating a natural flood barrier and a buffer for wind erosion. "Dunes protect and buffer communities, infrastructure and terrestrial ecosystems from coastal hazards and it's important they are maintained in their natural condition as much as possible," he told Yahoo News Australia. "It's disappointing that people choose to do the wrong thing." Tyre tracks on the sand can cause turtles to get stuck, endangering their lives. Source: Supplied/Darren Jew Driving on beach dunes 'seriously' threatens wildlife Not only does driving on dunes pose a risk to the land, but it can also have a catastrophic impact on wildlife especially during nesting and hatching season. ADVERTISEMENT This was seen recently at Seacliff Beach in Adelaide, where a plover chick was found dead along e-bike tracks by wildlife rescuers, believed to have been hit by a passerby. Turtles are also at risk of being injured as they use the dunes to nest their eggs before hatching and many have recently perished along the Cooloola Coast, north of Noosa Heads, due to 4WD motorists driving along the dunes. "The destruction of fragile root systems by vehicles can disturb feeding or roosting shorebirds and seriously threaten the nesting season for loggerhead and green turtles, Derrick said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Warwick Davis will be awarded the Bafta Fellowship for his outstanding contribution to film and TV and for championing the voices of people living with dwarfism. Each year, Bafa recognises exceptional contributions to the arts through the fellowship, which is the arts charitys highest accolade. It has been announced that Davis will be presented with the award at the EE Bafta Film Awards on Sunday 16 February. Davis, 54, who appeared in the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises, was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, which is a rare form of dwarfism. Throughout his successful career working on some of the enduring film franchises in history, Davis has advocated for more inclusivity in the screen industry, and has been credited for using his platform to encourage people with dwarfism that they can lead full and meaningful lives. Davis is the founder of Willow Management, an agency dedicated to representing actors under five feet and over seven feet tall. He also co-founded the charity Little People UK with his late wife, Samantha, who died last year aged 53. The charity offers support and guidance to people with dwarfism, as well as their families, and works to build a positive future for people with dwarfism. Alongside this, Davis founded the Reduced Height Theatre Company, which supports actors under five feet tall and helps them build careers in the arts. Davis has said that he will accept the award on behalf of everyone living with dwarfism and any form of difference. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery Davis pictured with his late Samatha, whom he founded Little People UK with, and their children Annabel and Harrison ( Getty Images for Disney ) Our uniqueness can be our greatest asset, he said. I also want to acknowledge the wonderful colleagues and friends whove worked behind the scenes costumers, makeup artists, camera crews who quietly and tirelessly pour their hearts into every production. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this incredible honour. Davis, born in Epsom, Surrey, began his career when he was 11 after being selected by George Lucas to play Wicket the Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, which was released in 1983. open image in gallery Warwick Davis pictured in 2011 ( Getty Images ) The role instantly won Davis a large following, which led him to return to the franchise several times, with his most recent appearance being in 2019s Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker. The actor further established his place in Hollywood when he starred in the fantasy adventure film Willow in 1988 which Davis recently adapted into a TV series and went on to play the Hogwarts charms teacher, Professor Filius Flitwick, and a range of other characters, in the Harry Potter franchise. open image in gallery Warwick Davis as Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter franchise ( Warner Bros ) Speaking about his Bafta Fellowship award, Davis added: The Fellowship, to me, embodies the spirit of inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration that BAFTA stands for. This recognition is not just about the body of work Ive contributed but also about the people whove stood by me and the audiences who have made this journey worthwhile. Davis said that he will be continuing to champion fresh perspectives, advocate for better representation and inspire the next generation of storytellers to dream big. Recent recipients of the fellowship have included Baroness Floella Benjamin for her tireless support of children and young people and for her unwavering championing of diversity, and The Walking Dead actor Samantha Morton, who dedicated her win to every child in care. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy North Korea is significantly benefiting from its troops gaining battlefield experience fighting alongside Russian forces as it makes them more capable of waging war against rivals South Korea and Japan, a US official warned the UN. Nearly 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been training in Russia and fighting to repel the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region, deputy US ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea told the UN Security Council, which was meeting to discuss Pyongyangs launch of a new intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile on Monday. North Korea is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbours, Ms Shea said. "In turn, the DPRK will likely be eager to leverage these improvements to promote weapons sales and military training contracts globally," she said, using the acronym for North Koreas formal name of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Washington last week claimed that more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. The US and the UK have criticised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for sending soldiers to a foreign country to fight its war. The Norths alleged deployment of troops last year to aid the Russian war effort reinforced their diplomatic and military alliance. The two countries signed a comprehensive strategic defence treaty during Mr Putins state visit to Pyongyang last year that calls for each side to come to the others aid in case of an armed conflict. South Koreas UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, told the council that North Korean soldiers are essentially slaves to Kim Jong Un, brainwashed to sacrifice their lives on faraway battlefields to raise money for his regime and secure advanced military technology from Russia. The North Korean ambassador justified the recent missile test and condemned the US for its involvement in Israels war on Gaza, accusing it of mass killings in the besieged Palestinian territory. When the civilian death toll exceeded 45,000 in Gaza, the United States embellished Israels nefarious mass killing atrocity as the right to self-defence, Kim Song told the council. Meanwhile, it takes issue with the legitimate exercise of the right to self-defence of the DPRK. The US, the biggest arms supplier and diplomatic supporter of Israel, has been under fire as Israeli forces have relentlessly bombed and shelled Gaza for nearly 15 months, killing over 45,000 people and causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Israel says it is targeting Hamas, which carried out an attack in southern Israel in October 2023 that left nearly 1,200 people dead. Russias UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, sided with North Korea, repeating their longstanding accusation that the US, South Korea and Japan were provoking North Korea with military exercises. He also rejected as "wholly unsubstantiated" the US allegation that Russia intended to share satellite and space technology with Pyongyang. "Such statements are the latest example of baseless conjecture which is geared towards smearing bilateral cooperation between the Russian Federation and the friendly nation of the DPRK," said Mr Nebenzia. Additional reporting by agencies. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Indian tax officials raiding a former lawmaker's house in Madhya Pradesh state's Sagar city found three crocodiles in a pond. The crocodiles were found on the property of Harvansh Singh Rathore, former member of the state assembly from the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The officials, over the course of a three-day raid at properties linked to the politician, reportedly recovered 14kg gold and nearly Rs30m (283,668) in cash and multiple luxury vehicles, NDTV quoted tax authorities as saying. Mr Rathore was elected to the state assembly in 2013. The raid was reportedly carried out following complaints of irregularities in transactions related to the former state lawmakers business of 'bidi', which is a handrolled local cigarette made from tobacco wrapped in a leaf of Coromandel ebony tree. Mr Rathore reportedly claimed to have obtained permission to keep the crocodiles, despite it being illegal to keep crocodiles as pets in India. The forest department was informed and an investigation launched, local media reports said. open image in gallery One of the crocodiles found at a former lawmakers house in India ( Screengrab/ Peoples Samachar ) Earlier this week, a Canadian man was arrested at the Delhi airport for carrying a crocodile skull in his luggage. Customs officials stopped the 32-year-old man during a security check at Terminal 3 of Delhis international airport on Monday and found "a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a baby crocodile" wrapped in a cloth. The skull weighed about 777 grams, the customs department said in a statement on Thursday. The man was arrested for violating Indias Wildlife Protection Act and the skull was handed over to the forest department. In September 2024, two people were caught at the Mumbai airport allegedly attempting to smuggle baby Caiman crocodiles. The five baby reptiles were found concealed in toothpaste boxes in their hand luggage, according to the customs officials. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A rescue operation is underway to save 12 miners who were trapped in a coal mine in Pakistan following a gas explosion. Abdul Ghani, a mines inspector, said the explosion occurred on Thursday night in Singidi, a town in Balochistan province around 40km from the provincial capital of Quetta. He said rescue workers had been carefully removing debris from the mine for hours but they had not reached any of the miners yet. An operation has been launched to extract the miners. Efforts are being made to pull all the miners out alive, he told the Dawn newspaper. The explosion was caused by an accumulation of methane gas, the provincial mining department said. Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, said all available resources were being used to save the miners. He added that an investigation had been ordered to determine the cause of the mines collapse. Mining accidents and explosions, blamed mainly on lax safety standards, have killed dozens of coal workers in Pakistan in recent years. In June last year, 11 miners died after inhaling methane gas inside a coal mine in the Sanjdi area. Authorities said the miners were working around 1,500 ft deep when the methane gas escaped and spread. The mine owner was booked for alleged negligence the next day, according to media reports. A few months earlier, in March, almost a dozen miners had died in a gas explosion in Balochistan. Pakistani security forces on Thursday, meanwhile, rescued at least half of the 16 miners who had been kidnapped by militants in Balochistan. The restive southeastern province is home to several separatist groups that accuse the federal government of unfairly exploiting local natural resources like oil and minerals, and routinely target resource extraction projects. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two doctors in Malaysia have been ordered to pay RM6m (1m) to the family of a woman who bled to death after one of them left the hospital to grab a drink. Punitha Mohan, 36, died on 9 January 2019 from postpartum haemorrhage at the Shan Clinic and Birth Centre in Klang, Selangor, shortly after delivering her second child. On Thursday, the High Court in Klang ruled that the two doctors, Muniandi Shanmugam and Akambaram Ravi, as well as three nurses on duty were guilty of medical negligence which led to the womans death. Justice Norliza Othman said the two obstetrics specialists had failed to ensure their patient was out of danger and without any complications before leaving her in the care of the nurses despite years of experience delivering babies. She said the tragedy could have been avoided if the doctors had performed their duty with responsibility. The judge said postpartum haemorrhage, excessive blood loss after delivery, can happen to any woman but her life can be saved if treatment is given on time. Mohan gave birth at around 10.30am local time under the care of Dr Ravi and the nurses showed the baby to Mohans family while she remained in the delivery room, according to court documents. The situation took a tragic turn when Mohan began screaming, prompting her mother to enter the delivery room. Her mother told the court she saw her daughter bleeding profusely. According to the judgement released on Thursday, Dr Ravi told the family he had to put his hand inside Mohan to extract the placenta, which could have led to excessive swelling and heavy bleeding. The doctor left the clinic, assuring the family there was nothing to worry and told the court he only went for a drink and planned to return almost immediately. The family told the court Dr Shanmugam, who owns the clinic, was seen leaving the delivery room and the two left Mohan under the care of the three nurses. Almost two hours after the birth, the nurses scrambled to find help and called a nearby hospital where Mohan was taken. She died at around 5.25pm after undergoing surgery. Mohans mother said she saw her daughter having difficulty breathing and turning cold as the nurses tried to stop the bleeding with cotton pads. The court asked the two doctors to pay the family nearly RM6 million in damages, including RM1m (180,000) each for Mohans two children. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 40 civilians, including children, have been killed in an airstrike by Myanmars army on a village controlled by an armed ethnic group, officials and a charity said. The attack reportedly occurred in the Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree Island, a township currently held by the Arakan Army in western Rakhine state, on Wednesday. The bombing caused a huge fire in the densely populated village that reportedly burned down at least 500 houses. The military has not announced any attack in the area. Myanmar has been engulfed in a civil war since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyis party in a coup in February 2021. The army has used lethal force to crack down on ethnic groups as well as peaceful demonstrations opposing junta rule, sparking conflict and armed violence in many parts of the country. The Arakan Army is the military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement which seeks autonomy from Myanmars central government. It is a member of an alliance of armed groups that recently gained territory in the countrys northeast on the border with China. The group captured Ramree, which is 340km northwest of Yangon, the largest city, in March last year. open image in gallery Flames rising after an airstrike by the military in Kyauk Ni Maw village in Ramree township ( AP ) The airstrike on Kyauk Ni Maw also injured more than 20 people, Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told the Associated Press. "All the dead were civilians. Among the dead and injured are women and children," Mr Thukha said, adding that a fire sparked by the airstrike spread through the village, destroying over 500 houses. The villagers told The Irrawaddy newspaper that the death toll was expected to rise as medicines and treatment facilities in the area were scarce. open image in gallery A huge fire erupted following the airstrike ( Arakan Army via Getty ) Mr Thukha denounced the strike, which took place at 1.30pm on Wednesday, as cowardly. It was carried out even though there was no fighting in Ramree, he added. Launching deadly airstrikes on civilians is a blatant war crime, the spokesperson said. A local charity said the strike targeted the villages market and put the number of injured at around 50. The military junta has intensified airstrikes on armed groups over the last three years, leading to the displacement of thousands of people, especially the minority Rohingya Muslims. The Arakan Army launched its offensive in Rakhine in November 2023 and went on to gain control of 14 of its 17 townships as well as a strategic regional military headquarters, leaving only the states capital, Sittwe, and two important townships near Ramree still in military hands. Rakhine, formerly known as Arakan, was the site of a brutal army crackdown in 2017 that drove some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims to seek safety across the border in Bangladesh. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The daughter of late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos and her husband have been banned from drinking on airplanes and in airports after they got into a drunken brawl on a Jetstar flight. Analisa Josefa Corr and James Alexander Corr caused a disturbance with their disorderly behaviour while intoxicated on a flight from Hobart to Sydney on 29 December, the Australian federal police said. They had to be escorted off flight JQ720 by federal police. Ms Corr was accused of grabbing and shaking another passenger while exiting the aircraft toilet. The pair were allegedly intoxicated and drinking alcohol they had brought with them onto the flight, the federal police said. The couple pleaded not guilty to charges of not complying with safety instructions and consuming liquor not served onboard. Each charge carries a potential fine of up to A$13,750 (6,925). Ms Corr also denied a charge of assault onboard the aircraft. This charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. The couple were presented at the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday to vary their bail conditions and get their passports back. Their request was unopposed by a prosecutor for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. A Jetstar spokesperson, without referring to the incident directly, said the airline will never tolerate disruptive behaviour on our aircraft and the safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is our number-one priority, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The case will be heard next on 24 February. Ms Corr, 53, describes herself as an interior designer while her husband, 45, is a former soldier, Australian media reported. The police have urged travellers to be mindful of their behaviour at airports. You dont want to start the new year with a significant fine or worse, behind bars, Australian federal police Sergeant Luke Stockwell said. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Southern California had faced drought for months, which helped create the right conditions for a massive fire. Then the Santa Ana wings moved in, and forecasters warned that settings were about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather. This week, that environmental spark was lit and Los Angeles burned. Los Angeles has faced days of wildfires that have torn through communities, leaving 10 dead and unimaginable scenes of destruction. An award-winning author has shared with The Independent how the conditions had been forming for months and led to the spate of wildfires. Humidity below 10 percent, taking moisture from the air, was one of the main driving factors. Thats drier than firewood. Thats drier than a matchstick, said John Vaillant, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World and a part of the inaugural 2024 class of The Independents Climate 100 List. And so, its explosive, and there hasnt been rain in eight months. So, were all sitting on this, living this kind of beautiful life ... on top of a tinderbox. Were sitting on a bomb and a bomb went off in L.A. County. open image in gallery A man walks past a fire-ravaged business after the Eaton Fire on Wednesday in Altadena, California. Devastating and deadly wildfires tore through and flattened communities this week, fanned by dangerous Santa Ana winds ( AP ) Vaillant spoke from Orange County, just 50 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, and has seen few impacts from the massive fires in the north. The whole state could burn no problem and nothing has really slowed down. The winds slightly, but they still have to pick up again north of us and can certainly move this way. So, its a weird watching and waiting time, he said. In the hours that followed and after a relatively quiet morning, Los Angeles County residents were starting to return home to survey the utter devastation in their flattened communities. Many returned to the areas where their homes once stood to find absolutely nothing left. But, fires were still burning there and in Ventura County. As of Friday, five active wildfires have scorched nearly 36,000 acres. The largest, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, are now some of the most destructive in the states history. The blazes have put 57, 830 structures at risk, officials said. Some 10,000 properties have been damaged or destroyed, according to initial reports. And, 153,000 people remained under evacuation orders. their futures uncertain due to more critical fire weather conditions and strong wind gusts. Those dangerous winds that fanned these wildfires are projected to continue on Friday, although offshore winds will continue into early next week. open image in gallery A firefighter battles the Eaton Fire on Wednesday in Altadena, California. The blaze is now 3 percent contained ( AP ) Explosive wildfire outbreaks are nothing new to Vaillant. However, Vaillant said the only thing he could compare that destruction to was photos hed seen of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima atomic bombings of August 1945. What he saw scarred him. Ive walked through those communities, or the absence of them, and it is absolutely shocking and talked to families who are just looking at where their lives just were, Vaillant said. And, it happened so fast. 12 hours earlier, they might have been having dinner together and now its totally gone. And so, that is something that you really cant prepare people for. He was surprised that fire-weary Californians were shocked by the speed and force of these wildfires. Human-caused climate change, driven by the production of greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels, has made wildfires more frequent and extreme. Research published in the journal Science last October also found that western wildfires are also spreading faster. In California, the authors found that wildfires spread almost four times as fast in 2020 as in 2001. The state has had dozens of fires in the first nine days of 2025, and a storied history of terrifyingly large burns. Still, tenured officials and firefighters have repeatedly stated that this situation is new for them. I think this is way beyond current politics or climate denial or anything like that. And, I think Homo sapiens, our species, is built for resilience and is built for certain kinds of short memory. And, I think around trauma the natural instinct is to try to move on. And, unfortunately, what were finding and what therapists are finding is these events actually generate a lot of PTSD, he said. And so, now you have thousands of Angelenos who have been traumatized one way or the other, Vaillant continued. They may not even realize. But, its an existential trauma to see your neighborhood rendered unrecognizable in the space of a workday. And, you cant go back. So, now you really are a refugee in your own country. And, I think its fair to call them climate refugees. open image in gallery Fire-damaged vehicles are lined up at a dealership after the Eaton Fire on Wednesday in Altadena, California. Windy weather was expected to continue on Friday, fanning the flames ( AP ) With the wildfire season now year-round, the conditions across California for more blazes will remains - even after the Los Angeles disaster is under control. With thousands of personnel working to respond to the wildfires, Vaillant said nobody has enough firefighters to deal with climate change and future fire seasons in warmer global temperatures. Its hard to imagine it being worse. I mean, being up there. Theres certainly nothing a firefighter can do. Theres nothing water can do. Its really like another planet, said Vaillant. He brought up NASAs Voyager spacecraft. You know, when you see Voyagers pictures of those sunbursts and things like that. Those crazy rays of light spraying out of the body of the sun: thats what it looks like. Thats what those houses looked like up there and theres nothing you can do except run away. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Film director Jim Jarmusch erupted during a critics awards event to attack climate change deniers as wildfires tore through Los Angeles. Jarmusch took the opportunity to address the issue while presenting the Best Screenplay award to Anora director Sean Baker at the New York Film Critics Circle Wednesday night. We are all worried about our friends in L.A., Jarmusch said before flatly declaring: Climate crisis is brought to you by climate [change] deniers. The director of iconic indie films Coffee and Cigarettes and Stranger Than Paradise, angrily added: They are telling us that woke is a negative thing. I would just like to say its time we wake the f*** up! open image in gallery Film director Jim Jarmusch has had it with politicians blaming the Los Angeles firestorm on everything but the most obvious ( Getty Images ) Jarmusch spoke out in the wake of billionaire Elon Musks bizarre claim that the firestorm destroying LA was somehow inexplicably caused by Californias diversity policies. When extremist podcaster Alex Jones insisted in a post on X that the fires were part of a globalist conspiracy aimed at toppling America, Musk also got onboard that train, responding: True. open image in gallery Extremist podcaster Alex Jones and Elon Musk are on the same page on theory that Los Angeles fires are part of a globalist plot to topple America ( Alex Jones/Elon Musk/X ) Trump blamed Joe Biden for Californias dry fire hydrants. Yet Trumps mantra during his campaign was drill, baby, drill to boost fossil fuel use, which is viewed as the key driver of climate change and extreme weather events. Trump claimed Tuesday that he could have saved California if only the states governor, whom he insultingly referred to as Gavin Newscum, had signed a mysterious water restoration declaration, which Newsom responded does not exist. California needs rain to restore its water. L.A. has received a scant fifth of an inch of rain downtown since July, the second-driest period in at least 150 years, according to CalMatters. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Blake Lively returned to social media for the first time since filing a bombshell lawsuit filing against Justin Baldoni. With five dangerous wildfires sweeping across several neighborhoods in Los Angeles, the Gossip Girl alum took to her Instagram story on January 9 to share resources provided by Mutual Aid LA for anyone impacted by the disaster. In a second post on her story, she scrolled through a spreadsheet listing local shelters, animal rescues and food banks that are currently open for refuge and supplies. While its not known if Lively has been directly affected by the fires, a number of Hollywood stars, including Adam Brody, Anna Faris, Billy Crystal, and Paris Hilton, have lost their homes since the flames sparked in the Santa Ana winds on January 7. As of Thursday, three of the five Palisades, Eaton and Sunset have yet to be contained. Livelys urgent message to her followers comes nearly three weeks after the 37-year-old filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, 40, alleging sexual harassment. open image in gallery Blake Lively shares a Mutual Aid LA resource list for the Los Angeles wildfires on her Instagram story on January 9 ( Instagram/Blake Lively ) open image in gallery The actress scrolls through a spreadsheet of shelters, animal rescues, and food banks available on Instagram ( Instagram/Blake Lively ) In the lawsuit, the A Simple Favor lead claimed Baldonis behavior on set caused her severe emotional distress. The lawsuit also states that Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, and their respective lawyers all met amid filming for the movie to address her claims about the work environment. Additionally, the lawsuit states that Lively had listed several requirements that needed to be met in order for her to continue working that were supposedly approved by Sony Pictures, the distributors of It Ends With Us. These requirements included: No more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldonis alleged previous pornography addiction, no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crews genitalia, no more inquiries about Blakes weight, and no further mention of Blakes dead father. No more adding of sex scenes, oral sex or on camera climaxing by BL outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project. open image in gallery Lively claimed Baldoni orchestrated a campaign to destroy her reputation ( Getty Images ) Lively then claims in the lawsuit that Baldoni started a campaign to destroy her reputation after their meeting. I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted, Lively said in a statement sent to TMZ. On December 22, The New York Times published an investigation that alleged Baldoni is responsible for orchestrating a PR campaign that would hopefully bury Lively. As a result, the director is suing the outlet for $250 million, and his lawyers are allegedly considering filing a countersuit against Lively. The shock of Demi Moore winning a Golden Globe is still sinking in. Not because, at 62 years old, shes at an age when most women struggle to even get roles in Hollywood (even when they are as honey-limbed and sleek-haired as Moore). The irony of her winning for a film, The Substance a dark satire on the ageism of the film industry was lost on no one. No, the real shock came during her acceptance speech, where she described a scenario I had presumed only happened to mere mortals with pudgy upper arms. Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me I was a popcorn actress, said Moore, referring to someone who is possibly now deceased or, if still alive, likely unemployable. That I could do movies that were successful and made a lot of money, but that I couldnt be acknowledged. And I bought into it. I believed it. That corroded me over time to the point where I thought, a few years ago, that maybe this was it Reading between the lines, the producers popcorn actress comment led Moore to believe she wasnt good enough for the award-worthy big gun roles just the frivolous, daft ones reserved for women deemed hotties. Excuse me? Decades of imposter syndrome for my Demi!? The fierce fashion icon who has always been such an inspiration to me, especially when I worked on fashion magazines? And then I remembered my own popcorn moment. Between 2004 and 2013, I held the rather lofty title of executive fashion editor at ELLE magazine. One morning, eyeing me from her office as I rolled in wearing yesterdays everything, the then-editor-in-chief said, Give that woman a column. She didnt quite say it like that, but according to her, being funny and outrageous meant I was just what ELLE needed. Being given a regular column would have been a big deal for anyone, but for me someone who had messed up art school and hadnt gone to a posh school, let alone university this was it. Yet despite my back-page musings being hugely popular and running for over six years, it would still be years before I dared call myself a writer. Theres a good reason for that. Tasked with editing my column, Mademoiselle: Confessions of an ELLE Girl, a self-appointed important writer on the magazine sauntered over to my desk brandishing a ubiquitous red pen. Leaning over, she whispered, Id forgotten youre not a trained writer. Nor are you a trained journalist. In fact, youve never written before (Cue red pen marks all over the page and, quite possibly, my face.) From the moment I heard the words not a trained journalist, every time I filed my copy, my heart skipped a beat, and my stomach lurched. I was convinced it would be my last. I never thought I was good enough. When I described my popcorn moment this week, it struck a chord. Shared, saved, and viewed thousands of times by my social media followers, the comments revealed a story of generations of women being put down, ridiculed, and publicly humiliated at work not just by male bosses, but by female bosses too. One follower described working at a high-flying banking firm where, during a promotion discussion, a male hiring manager quipped that one of the senior women was against taking her on because she thinks you get by on a smile and a swish of a ponytail. He then told her, Dont make me eat egg on this when he gave her the good news that hed taken a punt on her. Another follower shared how, at just 24 years old, she was told on her first day in a new job that she was no spring chicken. One woman recalled being told by a male boss, twice her age, that she wasnt born to lead but would do fine accepting she was good at playing second fiddle. An actor recounted coming back to work after maternity leave only to be told by a casting director that roles were thin on the ground because he could only see her as a mother now. I lost count of the women who said theyd been told they were hired purely for their looks, including one who, early in her now highly successful career, was asked by a boss if she was happy she wasnt an air hostess. Moore in The Substance ( Mubi ) Another lawyer recalled being told by a senior partner that if any judge was going to be swayed by a pretty woman in a short skirt, it would be him entirely dismissing her brilliant closing argument. One woman, who had set up her own training company, heard a well-known broadcaster tell her cameraman that she was just an office girl pretending to be the boss. These moments didnt stop these women from achieving great things, but they left scars whispers of doubt that dented their confidence and were never quite shaken off. Does this happen to men? Do men crumble when someone in power takes a shot at them? Perhaps, especially if they dont come from a background that doles out self-confidence in spades. Reflecting on my own experience, I can only hope Ive never inadvertently done the same to anyone else. If I have, Im sorry. Of course, at the time, it would never have been meant as a popcorn put-down but as sound career advice from the heart. Swishes off. Do you have a popcorn career moment? Let us know Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Naomi Watts has said she was told she would never work again if she admitted to being in menopause. The King Kong star recalled how she was warned against revealing that she was menopausal due to the stigma older women face in Hollywood. Watts, 54, opened about her experiences of menopause, including changes to her sex life and libido, in her frank new book Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish Id Known about Menopause. In an extract published by The Times, Watts said that she was informed that she was close to menopause by a doctor when she was 36 years old which she called early menopause. According to the NHS, most women in the UK experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. Watts said that she had long rejected the prospect of publishing a book on the subject. My fear was too great, she wrote. Besides, I still knew nothing just that it was fast approaching and I was s*** scared. Speaking about the ramifications she would face in Hollywood as a result of speaking out, Watts said: Id been warned ever since I started acting that calling attention to your age when that age was not 23 or younger would be career suicide. I was told I would never work again if I admitted to being menopausal, or even perimenopausal. Hollywoods lovely term for such women was unf***able. open image in gallery Naomi Watts said she was warned against calling attention to her age after she turned 24 ( Getty Images ) Perimenopause is when the body starts the transition into menopause. The actor decided to write the book after coming to the realisation that there is nothing sexier than a woman who knows what she wants. All good relationships at work and at home and at the doctors office require communication, she said. We can discuss without shame the details of menopause how to navigate it, what the symptoms could be, and not just, Oh, you might feel warm at some point, but the gory details. open image in gallery Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts attend the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards at Barker Hangar on February 27, 2022 ( Getty Images for WarnerMedia ) Watts went on to list the symptoms of menopause that shocked her, writing: I didnt know my skin would get so dry, or that urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal issues would become commonplace, or that there was such a long list of other issues connected to the menopausal transition. I was craving information on menopause, and certainly no one in Hollywood was breathing a word about it. We were all behaving as if between the seductress years and the grandmother roles, women just I dont know, vanished? Elsewhere in the book, in a discussion about her changing libido, Watts recalled filming a sex scene with the actor Billy Crudup so steamy that it sparked their relationship. They got married in 2023. open image in gallery In her new book, Naomi Watts talks about the gory details of menopause ( 2024 Invision ) Watts said she hopes that her book will raise awareness around menopause and help women get better treatment. In 2022, she founded a company called Stripes Beauty in order to address the various practical needs of women my age. Products that are sold include a lubricant play oil for sex and an intensive skin moisturiser. Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish Id Known about Menopause by Naomi Watts is published on 23 January. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have urged Californians to open their homes to wildfire victims after they opened their own Montecito mansion to friends forced to flee. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a formal statement regarding the wave of devastating wildfires that continue to burn across Los Angeles. It suggested ways in which people may be able to rally around those displaced by the flames, including by opening their homes to shelter victims. If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do, a statement posted to their official website on Thursday reads. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating. They also suggest donating clothing, childrens toys & clothing, and other essentials to the American Red Cross. open image in gallery California Wildfires Photo Gallery ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The statement goes on to list a number of organisations that are seeking to support those affected by the fire, including Chef Jose Andres World Central Kitchen, the LA Fire Department Foundation and the Animal Wellness Foundation. According to reports, the duke and duchess have themselves moved to support their neighbours in need by opening their doors to friends and loved ones affected by the disaster. The couple live in nearby Montecito, California, where they are at risk of having to be evacuated and may face power outages. It is also believed that they have themselves contributed clothes, childrens toys and other suuplies to thosevaffected by the fires and are working with staff from their Archewell Foundation to support the community. Find all live updates on the California fires here open image in gallery The fires, which have claimed five lives and forced more than 70,000 people to flee their homes, continue to rage across Los Angeles County, fuelled by high winds. ( Reuters/EPA ) Harry and Meghans statement goes on: In the last few days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, medical care centers, and so much more affecting tens of thousands from all walks of life. A state of emergency has been issued. The fires, which have claimed five lives and forced more than 70,000 people to flee their homes, continue to rage across Los Angeles County, fuelled by high winds. The Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires erupted on Tuesday, while two more the Tyler and Woodley fires ignited nearby on Wednesday. A state of emergency has been declared in the city. open image in gallery Among the thousands to lose their homes are celebrities including Billy Crystal, Anthony Hopkins, Anna Faris and Eugene Levy. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Among the thousands to lose their homes are celebrities including Billy Crystal, Anthony Hopkins, Anna Faris and Eugene Levy. In a joint statement with his wife Janice, Crystal said: Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cant be taken away. We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of our children and friends, we will get through this. Earlier today, Jamie Lee Curtis announced a $1 million donation to support a fire relief fund. Announcing the donation on Instagram, Curtis wrote: As the fire still rages on and @calfire @losangelesfiredepartment and all the available first responders and agencies involved in fighting fire and saving lives are still hard at work and neighbors and friends are banding together to save each other, my husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Puerto Ricos new natural resources secretary has shelved an investigation into allegations of illegal construction in a protected area on the islands southwest coast, sparking an outcry. The administrative order, published late on Thursday, comes after Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez, who was sworn in last week, called the investigation that began under the previous administration political persecution. The investigation targeted alleged violators, including Gonzalezs in-laws, who are accused of illegally cutting mangroves and expanding and remodeling a platform or dock at their home at La Parguera, which was designated a natural reserve in 1979 and is known for its bioluminescent bay. Gonzalez and her in-laws Jose Vargas and Irma Llavona have denied the accusations. On Thursday, Gonzalez named Waldemar Quiles as Puerto Ricos new natural resources secretary. She said that the investigation was part of a political process that occurred last year before Gonzalez's partys primaries, in which she beat former Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, who was seeking a second term. Pierluisi has previously denied that it was an alleged political attack. Quiles's first administrative order was to shelve the investigation and, among other things, legalize the presence of homes in La Parguera via a fee that owners must pay every five years. That is illegal, said Pedro Saade, a Puerto Rican attorney and expert in environmental law, who noted that theres a required procedure to grant concessions on public domain assets. How are you, as your first act, going to exempt from scratch and in a broad way, a whole line of illegal uses of public domain assets? Saade said of the secretarys move. In a phone interview, he said that he worried that the order would set a precedent and roll back protections for other areas in Puerto Rico as it struggles with a growing number of illegal developments. On Friday, the president of the Sierra Club's Puerto Rico chapter, Hernaliz Vazquez called on officials to rescind Quiles's nomination as natural resources secretary and criticized his order. This action is a direct affront against environmental protection and justice," Vazquez said. It is unacceptable that the secretary ... whose mission should be to safeguard our natural resources, uses his position to benefit the governors in-laws. Retroactively legalizing constructions that have negatively impacted a protected nature reserve is not only irresponsible, it is illegal, Vazquez added. The first structures were built in La Parguera around the 1960s, with fishermen living in ramshackle houses that have largely been replaced by high-end homes that environmentalists say must be removed. The investigation, which proposed a $25,000 penalty against Gonzalezs in-laws, was led by former natural resources secretary Anais Rodriguez. She told WKAQ radio station last year that the investigation against Gonzalezs in-laws should continue under the new administration. On Friday, Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz wrote on Facebook that the Senate will ask Quiles to explain his administrative order. He wrote that remedies to avoid selective prosecution require caution, transparency and firmness so as to avoid falling into what could appear, be perceived or in effect be a selective benefit or privilege. In written statements made public Friday, Quiles said that his administrative order had been prepared by the previous administration and that it recognizes the acquired rights of those with homes in La Parguera and establishes responsibilities with which they must comply. This way, we end the legal limbo that has lasted for decades, which has been detrimental to both the owners of the residences in La Parguera and the government of Puerto Rico. he said Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An internet prankster who planted a fake Aldi supermarket on Google Maps has caused havoc in rural south Wales. Expectant shoppers and even giant delivery truck drivers have become stuck as they tried to visit the ghost supermarket - only to find a remote, narrow farming lane in Cyffylliog, Denbighshire. One local farmer has told how he came to the aid of a distressed milk tanker driver who got stuck while searching for the phantom superstore. He said: Poor fella tried pulling up and backing the trailer up our hill in a misguided attempt at turning around. Went down with a tractor but the fella had no idea where the towing eye was, so I left it to the experts. They straightened him out to go to Hiraethog to turn around. As he was rounding the corner at the bottom of the hill, he slowed down to open his window and thank us - and nearly got stuck again. Bless his cotton socks. He added: Now we have an endless stream of day trippers and holiday makers turning up and looking confused. Locals believe the confusion is the result of a prankster, who they say created the phantom superstore. open image in gallery The Aldi pin has now been removed ( Google ) County councillor Elfed Williams said the apparent prank did have a serious side with residents complaining about the large trucks wreaking havoc in their small village. He said: Anybody who knows the area knows its back roads and windy roads and really unsuitable for people to come along. People have been bemused by not finding an Aldi store here... on one level its amusing but on another level it is quite serious where are the controls for Google to allow such a thing to happen? Since the matter was brought to Aldis attention it has been deleted and the address of the closest Aldi in Ruthin has been reinstated. A spokesperson for Google told the BBC: Our automated systems and trained operators work around the clock to monitor maps for suspicious behaviour, including incorrect edits to places. We also make it easy for people to report misleading places and inappropriate content, which helps us keep the information on maps authentic and reliable. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The first cold weather payments of 2025 have been triggered as snow falls on neighbourhoods across the UK and temperatures continue to plunge. To help support people during cold snaps like these, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) runs the cold weather payment scheme for qualifying households. This is a one-off payment of 25 that is triggered for every seven-day period where the temperature in your area is at or below zero degrees. However, all the affected postcode areas are eligible for double this and can expect a payment of 50. This is because the cold snap has been so long-lasting that the criteria was triggered twice. Drivers brave the snow in the Peak District ( AFP/Getty ) An estimated 6,000 people across 23 postcode areas can now expect a payment. These areas are split across the country, with 16 in northern regions and seven near the southwest coast. Heres everything you need to know about the scheme: Am I eligible for a cold weather payment? You are eligible for the payment if you receive any of the following: Pension Credit Income Support Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Universal Credit Support for Mortgage Interest You must also live in an area that has experienced seven days of zero or sub-zero temperatures. Here is a map of all the latest areas to qualify: The DWP uses its own equipment to measure temperatures across all UK postcodes. If you disagree with the judgement, it is possible to appeal directly to the department. You do not qualify for this scheme if you live in Scotland, as the Scottish government has recently replaced the scheme with Winter Heating Payments. When will I get the payment? If youre eligible, you will get these payments automatically. They should arrive in the same bank account you receive benefit payments, within 14 working days of the cold period. If you believe you are eligible but have not received the payments, you should contact the DWP. Full list of postcodes eligible for cold weather payment Here are all the postcode areas where cold weather payments have been triggered since November: Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Winter fuel payments have been stopped for millions of pensioners this winter following Labours drive to boost public finances by means-testing the cold weather benefit. The government had been urged to review its decision affecting 10 million pensioners after the regulator Ofgem announced household energy bills will rise by 150 in October. Sir Keir Starmer faced warnings the double hit will lead to disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes or living in vulnerable circumstances due to ill health. But the prime minister remained steadfast, keeping the change in place as the deadline for new applications closed on 21 December. Rachel Reeves announces her cost-cutting measures in Commons ( Reuters ) Rachel Reeves revealed the change amongst several cost-cutting measures in July last year, designed to plug the 22bn black hole in public finances which Labour says was concealed by the previous government. In December, The Independent revealed that the extra pressure the measure is putting on the DWP has led to waits of over 100 days to receive the payment for many pensioners. Analysis shows energy bills this winter will be the highest on record for older people who previously received the winter fuel payment, worth up to 300. The winter fuel payment was introduced by Tony Blairs government in 1997, and expanded to all pensioners from 2000. The new change will now mean that only those in receipt of pension credit or other certain benefits will continue to receive them. The payment amount remains unchanged, at 200 for those aged between 66 and 79, and 300 for those over 80. Since announcing the measure, charities and campaigners had urged the government to reconisder. Research from Age UK shows that around 2 million vulnerable pensioners were likely to miss out, while money expert Martin Lewis has also said Labour should rethink the measure. If youve been affected by the change to winter fuel payments heres what you can do: Check if youre eligible for pension credit The first thing anyone affected by the changes to the winter fuel payment should do is check if theyre eligible for pension credit. If you are able to claim this benefit, it will now unlock the winter fuel payment for you. The deadline to receive a backdated winter fuel payment for 2024 has now passed, but those eligible should still apply in good time to secure their entitlement for this year. Research from Age UK shows that around 800,000 pensioners are missing out on pension credit. The charity recommends calling their helpline or using their handy benefits calculator to check their eligibility. To qualify for pension credit, you must be above state pension age currently 66 and on a low income. It will top up your weekly income to either: 218.15 if youre single 332.95 if you have a partner (shared jointly) This works out at 11,343.8 a year if single, or a shared income of 17,313.4 for two. Its crucial those who are eligible for the credit apply for it, as experts describe it as a passport benefit. Alongside the winter fuel payment, claiming pension credit can unlock housing benefit, support with mortgages, a free TV licence and help with NHS dental appointments. This can add up to thousands of pounds in additional support. However, the eligibility is not tapered: if you receive even 50 over the pension credit income, you will not qualify for this additional support. Age UK says there are around one million pensioners in this situation. A spokesperson said: Older people in this group often tell us they really struggle financially; the proposed change will make it even harder for them to afford to stay warm when it gets chilly. Means-testing WFP this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision, and one that will potentially jeopardise their health as well as their finances the last thing they or the NHS needs. Other support available if youre not eligible for pension credit: Attendance allowance Attendance allowance is a non-means tested benefit is designed to support pensioners who need daily living help. It offers a minimum of 3,700 a year, rising to 5644.6 depending on the level of support needed. To be eligible for the benefit, the claimant must have needed help or supervision for six consecutive months, even if none has been received. This means you need assistance with daily living, or someone to watch you to avoid danger to yourself. Money guru Martin Lewis recently launched a campaign to raise awareness of the benefit, which he says is going unclaimed by around a million eligible pensioners. Household support fund The household support fund is money given to all local councils to support vulnerable households in their area. Councils are free to allocate the funds however they feel is best. Some have provided cash grants, supermarket vouchers, or energy bill assistance. You will need to visit your local councils website to find out what help may still be available. To find out what support is available, the End Furniture Poverty charity offers a helpful assistance finder tool. Energy provider help Some energy suppliers are offering help for those struggling with their energy bills. These include Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON and Octopus. You will need to contact your energy provider to find out if you are eligible. British Gas also offer a grant of up to 2,000 to customers of any energy provider. You will need to meet specific criteria to be eligible, and can apply on the British Gas Energy Trust website. Charitable grants If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for certain charitable grants. There are a wide range of grants available depending on your circumstances. However, these grants will typically require you to meet specific criteria and only be able to offer limited funds. Several charitable grants are available for older people, with some having additional criteria such as being disabled or ill and many more. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to search for grants which may be available to you. For the latest benefits and pensions payment dates and cost of living support, visit The Independents regularly updated guide Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police have launched an urgent search for two sisters who were last seen more than three days ago and appeared fine, according to their brother. Police Scotland is appealing for help in finding 32-year-old triplets Eliza and Henrietta Huszti after they were reported missing from their home in Aberdeen city centre. Their brother Jozsef Huszti said their mother spoke to the pair for 40 minutes on Saturday and nothing seemed unusual. open image in gallery The last sighting of the pair was on CCTV in Market Street at Victoria Bridge at around 2.12am on Tuesday ( Police Scotland ) The last sighting of Eliza and Henrietta who are originally from Hungary but moved to Scotland around seven years ago was on CCTV in Market Street at Victoria Bridge at around 2.12am on Tuesday. They were then seen crossing the bridge and turning right onto a footpath next to the River Dee heading in the direction of the Aberdeen Boat Club. BBC News reported their close-knit family do not know what could have happened to them, although their disappearance is not believed to be suspicious at this stage. open image in gallery Eliza Huszti is described as white and of slim build with long, brown hair ( Police Scotland ) Officers said extensive enquiries are underway, including in the area the siblings were last seen, with police dogs and the forces marine unit involved in the search. Both are described as white and of slim build with long, brown hair. open image in gallery Henrietta Huszti and her sister were reported missing from their home in Aberdeen city centre ( Police Scotland ) Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: Extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace Eliza and Henrietta and searches are being carried out in and around the area where they were last seen. Local officers, led by specialist search advisors are being assisted by resources including the police dogs and our marine unit. The Torry side of Victoria Bridge where they were last seen has many commercial and industrial units. Searches are ongoing here and we would urge businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to please review their CCTV footage for early morning on Tuesday, 7 January, 2025 and contact us if it holds anything that may be relevant to our investigation. We also ask anyone with dashcam footage from that time to contact us. We are continuing to speak to people who know Eliza and Henrietta and we urge anyone who has seen them or who has any information regarding their whereabouts to please contact 101 quoting incident number 0735 of Tuesday, 7 January, 2025. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police are investigating a sighting of another two lynx in the Scottish Highlands. Police received reports the animals had been seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie at about 7.10am on Friday. Officers said they believe the sighting is connected to the release of two lynx seen in the same area on Wednesday, which were safely captured on Thursday. Members of the public have been warned not to approach the animals, and police said they are working with specially trained personnel to capture them. Police said inquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances of the sighting. They are appealing to anyone who saw anything in the area, or who has any information, to call 101, quoting incident number 0387 of Friday January 10. Earlier this week experts warned the creatures could have died if they had remained in the wild. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) announced its staff, working with Police Scotland, had humanely trapped two of the animals earlier this week, with the conservation charity branding their release highly irresponsible. open image in gallery The RZSS named the lynx the Killiehuntly Two (RZSS) Now they have been captured, the animals which the RZSS has named the Killiehuntly Two are being cared for in quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, where their health and welfare will be assessed. RZSS chief executive David Field said: We condemn the illegal release of these lynx in the strongest possible terms. It was a highly irresponsible act and it is very unlikely they would have survived in the wild due to a lack of adequate preparation. Their abandonment was reckless to the animals, public, the community and nature. For now, we have named them the Killiehuntly Two and thankfully they appear to be in good health. David Barclay, manager of the RZSS Saving Wildcats team, said that long term the creatures may be homed in the Highland Wildlife Park. He told how the lynx had been captured, saying: We set live trail cameras near baited traps and it was a long night for our specialist keepers who were taking turns to monitor any activity. It was amazing to see the lynx being captured safely and humanely, which makes the lack of sleep more than worth it. Mr Barclay continued: Biosecurity laws mean the cats need to spend 30 days in suitable quarantine facilities, so we will transfer them from Highland Wildlife Park to Edinburgh Zoo, where we will further assess their health and welfare. Long term, they may return to Highland Wildlife Park, which is near where they were trapped, though it is too early to say for certain. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two lynx set loose in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland have been captured nearly two days after a different pair were also caught. Zoo experts think all four had been cared for by humans indoors before being illegally left in the wild. Police are investigating how both pairs came to be in the Dell of Killiehuntly near Kingussie, Highlands, and asked people not to go there. The drama began on Wednesday evening when Cairngorms National Park Authority officials said that two lynx were at large, and people who spotted the animals were warned not to approach them. The couple, which are around a year old and said to have been tamed, were trapped within hours, and zoologists who are working on the reintroduction of Scottish wildcats took them into their care. open image in gallery The first pair were spotted on Wednesday ( Royal Zoological Society of Scotland/PA Wire ) But early on Friday morning, another pair of lynx, which appear to be older, were spotted, also on the loose. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said the animals were thought to have been deliberately abandoned. The two pairs may be related, according to the societys chief executive. The second couple were spotted on camera traps overnight and humane traps put out to catch them. Together with Police Scotland and rangers from the park authority, zoo officials monitored the area. open image in gallery The second pair appeared slightly older ( Royal Zoological Society of Scotland/PA Wire ) The RZSS said on Friday evening: The animals were captured at around 6.30pm, near to the Dell of Killiehuntly, where two other lynx had been successfully caught the previous day. The animals were taken to the nearby Highland Wildlife Park to be checked over by vets before they were due to be moved into quarantine in Edinburgh Zoo, as was the case with the first pair. RZSS chief executive David Field there were around 20 privately owned lynx in the UK and it was possible the owners found themselves unable to care for them. Lynx are perfectly able to live outside in the wild in Scotland, but these individuals are used to heated, warm environments and food being prepared, and humans. We wouldnt pet them as they are wild animals, not pets. But you cant just put an animal into the wild and expect it to survive. The people who have done this are negligent and have abandoned these animals. All the responsible organisations which work for rewilding are saying this is not the way to do it. Helen Senn, head of conservation, said: Im sure that everyone in the community will be happy and relieved to know that the second pair of lynx have been safely captured. Early reports are that they appear to be in good health, which is the most important thing. Although we dont think there are any more lynx out there, we will continue to monitor the release site. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Great Wall Motor (GWM) showcased its core vehicle models and cutting-edge technologies at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. These included the all-new Blue Mountain (named "Lanshan" in Chinese pinyin) under the WEY brand, the SOUO S2000 motorcycle, and the Hi4 powertrain architecture. Photo credit: WEY To address the convergence of AI paradigms in intelligent driving and smart space, GWM introduced a new approach to AI development, namely the Agent of Space & Language (ASL). In the ASL stage, vehicles can process information and make intelligent decisions based on a comprehensive set of data, including destination characteristics, passenger needs and preferences, and real-time traffic and environmental information, allowing smart vehicles to evolve into genuine AI agents. Photo credit: WEY In addition to AI technologies, LE NEINDREYVAN, Chief Engineer of GMW's powertrain platform center, introduced the company's Hi4 intelligent four-wheel-drive hybrid system at the event. Currently, the Hi4 hybrid technology system covers four series, including the Hi4, the Hi4 Performance Version, the Hi4-Z, and the Hi4-T. With over ten vehicle models equipped with this technology system, the Hi4 has demonstrated its versatility across various vehicle segments, including urban SUVs and off-road vehicles. The Hi4 and Hi4 Performance Version feature an innovative all-wheel-drive system with dual motors on both front and rear axles. This configuration delivers strong power, low fuel consumption, and enhanced safety, with such models as the Haval Menglong and WEYs all-new Blue Mountain equipped with the system. The Hi4-Z is the super electric hybrid platform GWM designs for off-road vehicles, featuring a 2.0T/3.0T engine, dual electric motors (215 kW for front and 240 kW for rear), a power split and 3-speed longitudinal transmission, and a 59.05 kWh battery. The vehicles built on the Hi4-Z platform can offer a battery-power-alone range of over 200 km, fast charging speeds above 160 kW, and powerful acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds. The first model to feature this platform is the TANK 500 Hi4-Z, which hit the market on January 1, 2025. The Hi4-T is a robust off-road solution based on parallel hybrid technology, delivering consistent power while maintaining traditional mechanical four-wheel drive capabilities. This platform is widely equipped in vehicles under the TANK and POER brands. GWM also showcased the SOUO S2000 model under the company's motorcycle brand SOUO at the CES 2025. The SOUO S2000 carries GMW's in-house developed horizontally opposed 8-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, representing a hallmark of the SOUO brand. The SOUO S2000 features a digital instrument cluster powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip and offers hardware & software integrated solutions. The SOUO S2000 has seen remarkable success, with the first batch of 288 units sold out shortly after it hit the market in October 2024. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The head of the National Trust says she received death threats over a report in which the organisation acknowledged its links to slavery. In 2020, the National Trust which, as Europes largest conservation charity, looks after more than 500 historic properties in the UK published a report revealing that more than 90 of its properties had links to slavery and colonialism. The report sparked a culture wars firestorm, with multiple Tory MPs accusing the trust of following a woke agenda and demanding that the culture secretary review its funding. Some people threatened to cancel their memberships in anger. In a new interview done as the trust launches a new 10-year strategy to mark its 130th anniversary, the organisations director general Hilary McGrady spoke about death threats she received in relation to the report. Im from Northern Ireland so most of the time I have perspective, I think, Seriously youre getting so worked up about this stuff you think this warrants a death threat? Its completely bizarre, Ms McGrady told The Times. Ms McGrady added: Some [critics] were saying we shouldnt say anything about colonial relationships weve had in the past. But others said, Youre not doing enough on this, you should be saying more. While the trust has been no stranger to controversy over the decades, Ms McGrady who has worked there for 19 years, including seven at its helm warned that the latest response to the report carried a different edge, despite YouGovs latest polling suggesting it is among the UKs 20 most-loved charities. Everyones within their rights to have their own view about us, but the tone of this debate has felt quite personal to some degree, she said, adding: The culture wars were trying to grapple with are never something I supported or tried to attract. open image in gallery The National Trust is restoring peatlands in a bid to help tackle climate change ( National Trust ) Often its felt as if [attacks] have been used as a mechanism to push other agendas and were caught in the middle. The trust has reportedly since lent advice to other widely-beloved UK institutions dragged into the culture wars, such as the RNLI, which has faced attacks from Nigel Farage and others accusing it of being a taxi service for illegal trafficking gangs for efforts to rescue asylum-seekers at sea. In its 10-year strategy, the National Trust says it will ramp up its efforts to address the new national need: the climate and nature crises. Following a 70,000-strong public consultation, the charitys largest ever, the trust is now vowing to create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes an area 1.5 times the size of Greater London both on existing National Trust sites and elsewhere in the UK. That includes restoring vital peatlands, which store more carbon than the forests of Britain, France and Germany combined, reducing flood risks for thousands of homes and businesses, and improving the health of enough soil to provide a habitat for one billion earthworms enough to circle the Earth twice. The trust is also promising to support 100 towns and cities to transform and grow their green spaces, while developing a new partnership with mental health charity Mind to help improve access to nature. People are really conscious the nature they have been familiar with is disappearing and, in the context of climate change, isnt going to be around for future generations, Ms McGrady said. open image in gallery Angela Rayner is pushing to build 1.5 million new homes to tackle the housing crisis ( Andy Buchanan/PA ) This new commitment, however, comes as the new Labour government seeks to urgently build 1.5 million new homes to address the housing crisis currently blighting the UK. Ms McGrady told The Times: We recognise the need for people to have homes to live in, but what we would also be saying is people also need access to green space, so if were building houses we should be doing that sustainably in places that are appropriate, where people have access to the sort of environment that allows them to thrive. So weve been working pretty closely with the [housing] department to get those points across. Theyre sympathetic, but they clearly have an agenda, so well keep the pressure on to say we need balance. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A swarm of earthquakes that shook houses in Surrey could have been caused by drilling operations in the area, a study has suggested. Around 1,600 people reported the seismic activity, with some suffering cracked walls and others being shaken in their beds as tremors in the village of Newdigate, near Gatwick Airport, reached a peak magnitude of 3.18 in 2019. Suspicions were soon aroused when it was discovered the epicentre of the tremors was near UK Oil & Gass drilling operaton at Horse Hil oil field - but research by the British Geological Survey found no link with the oil and gas works. open image in gallery Monitors installed near fuel drilling sites amid extreme concern from locals over the tremors ( BGS ) However, for years, environmentalists have blamed the nearby oil extraction for the quakes. Now a new report commissioned by University College London (UCL) has been published on the issue. Matthew Fox and Philip Meredith ran computer simulations based on the location and magnitude of oil extraction. Our findings indicate it is plausible that oil extraction triggered the earthquakes, said Dr Matthew Fox, lead author of the study. Using the Bayesian mathematical model, the researchers predicted the number of earthquakes that might occur based on how much oil had been extracted, accounting for the two different rock types that oil was extracted from. They also found that there had not been an earthquake in Surrey for decades. Dr Fox added: We cannot rule out that this link is a coincidence. More work needs to be done to understand if this is cause and effect. Members of the public said nearby buildings could be heard to creak and reported feeling a large impact then two or three seconds of shaking during the swarm of earthquakes that happened in 2018 and 2019. Tremors were felt in Newdigate, Dorking, Horley and Charlwood in Surrey, and also Crawley and Horsham in West Sussex. UK Oil & Gas controlled oil extraction at Horse Hill until October 2024, when planning permission from Surrey County Council was withdrawn following a court case brought by campaigners. A spokesperson for the company told The Independent: This is an incident that was answered and dealt with many years ago when the BGS seismologists were satisfied it was a natural event associated with movement on a deeper unassociated fault many kilometres deeper and distant from the site. Our focus is now on renewable energy and the storage of hydrogen in salt caverns in Dorset and East Yorkshire, fully in step with the governments Clean Power 2030 target. This article was amended on 13 Janaury 2025. The headline on the article originally used the term fracking, this was incorrect. It should have refered to drilling. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A zebra has died at a zoo in Essex following an incident with a rhino, a spokesperson for the attraction has said. In a post on social media, Colchester Zoo said the incident took place at about 2pm at the mixed species African habitat between the rhino and a male zebra. At this time we are directing our resources to make sure the rest of the animals in the habitat are settled, they said. These sorts of incidents are extremely rare and we will continue to monitor the situation over the next few days. open image in gallery The zoo said they were directing their resources to ensure the wellbeing of other animals in the habitat ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) We are devastated by this loss and thank you for your understanding and support at this time. After first opening in 1963, Colchester Zoos website says it first welcomed rhinos in 1972, with the Kingdom of the Wild mixed species habitat completed in 2001. Its website says: This habitat is one of the few areas where you can see a range of different animals interacting as they would do out in the wild. You will have the chance to see reticulated giraffes, maneless zebra, white rhino, ostrich, crowned crane and greater kudu enjoying their savannah environment. In 2023, the zoo celebrated its 60th anniversary and announced that it plans to become a charitable trust known as Colchester Zoological Society in 2025. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Panic over sky-high rates of flu in hospitals has left chemists struggling to stock jabs even before cases of the illness peak, pharmacy leaders have warned. Professor Claire Anderson, the president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, hit out at the difficulties as she called for better national coordination and planning to ensure everyone eligible can access flu vaccinations easily. On Tuesday, NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said those eligible for an NHS jab could still get protected by visiting a Covid walk-in vaccination site or finding a pharmacy offering the flu vaccine. But an investigation by The Independent found chemists in areas including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Stourbridge in the West Midlands reporting that they could not get hold of the inoculation. The National Pharmacy Association said that they had heard of pharmacies that are part of their organisation being unable to get hold of supplies of the jabs in St Albans. At the weekend, Adam Osprey, head of policy and development at Community Pharmacy Scotland, which represents pharmacy owners, also warned that demand was outstripping supply. open image in gallery Chemists are struggling to stock flu jabs ( PA ) More than 18 million people get a flu jab every year. But Professor Anderson said that access to the vaccine was currently varied across Britain. She warned that high demand in England has led to stock issues while she said that in Scotland a late change in NHS eligibility for free vaccinations, which saw the age rise from 50 to 65 and over, may have been a contributing factor to a surge in demand for private flu jabs. She warned: These challenges highlight the need for better national coordination and planning to ensure everyone eligible can access flu vaccinations easily. Ex-health minister and the former chair of the Commons Health select committee, Steve Brine, told The Independent that this years flu vaccination programme has been pretty muted and not good enough. In 2023 his committee produced a report calling for a more flexible delivery model, that makes the most of the wide range of healthcare professionals to ensure that nobody misses out on vital vaccine protection. open image in gallery NHS Englands national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis has said those eligible can still get protected by finding a pharmacy offering the flu vaccine ( PA ) On Thursday new figures showed that the number of flu patients in hospitals in England was more than triple what it was a year ago, amid a mammoth demand on wards. NHS data showed there were 5,111 flu cases in hospitals on Sunday, up from 5,074 the week before and more than three times the 1,523 figure for the same date last year. It comes after multiple hospitals declared or extended critical incidents, the highest NHS alert level, as the surge in respiratory cases overwhelms accident and emergency departments. In response, Professor Powis said hospitals were under exceptional pressure with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams. He praised NHS staff who he said were often working in hospitals that are full to bursting. At the same time Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, warned flu cases had yet to peak. Professor Redhead said: Its too early to say its definitively peaked. I would hope there would be a peak in the next one to two weeks. We have pressure in emergency care all year round but the winter, with the added pressures of flu and other viruses, really makes that a really stark feeling of pressure Wards are now full to bursting and that pressure is feeding back into A&E departments, with patients being treated in environments not usually used for clinical care. In recent days, hospitals in Northamptonshire, Cornwall, Liverpool, Hampshire, Birmingham, Plymouth and the Wirral have declared critical incidents. One local pharmacist in Birmingham, who asked not to be named, said: We cant get any in and we are still getting patients come in. We do have a list of patients and their numbers, so if they do come back, we will contact them. This week, weve had about five or six people enquire about it. So maybe averaging one a day. He added that he had not been given as reason why they dont have them in stock. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are not aware of any vaccine shortages and there is still stock available. Anyone eligible who has not been vaccinated should do so there are vaccines available for you. Decisions about the shape of our vaccination programmes are guided by expert advice from the independent JCVI about how best to protect those most at risk from flu. It is vitally important that everyone has their recommended vaccinations, as they are the best way to help protect people from diseases that can cause serious harm. People can still come to walk-in vaccination centres or receive a vaccine at some local pharmacies around the country without needing to book in advance. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The boss of the CBI has warned Elon Musk he will have to come through me first in an extraordinary defence of Home Office minister Jess Phillips. Rupert Soames, who is the grandson of Winston Churchill, backed the Labour politician days after the billionaire used his X social media platform to accuse her of being a rape genocide apologist. The CBI president told Politicos Power Play podcast: If anybody wants to get at Jess Phillips, theyre going to have to come through me first How is it in this world that you can have somebody who can land a space rocket in between two chopsticks, who can create this enormous car company and then becomes obsessed by throwing darts at politicians and people in other countries? open image in gallery The billionaire has called the Labour minister a rape genocide apologist ( Getty/PA ) Safeguarding minister Ms Phillips has revealed that she faced a deluge of hate after the Musk attack. It followed Labours decision to decline a Whitehall-led inquiry into child sexual abuse in Oldham. Foreign secretary David Lammy also hit back following the onslaught of posts by Mr Musk over the grooming gangs scandal in recent days. He told BBC Breakfast: "Well, I insist that we focus on the truth, we focus on the facts. "I recognise that there is a heated debate about free speech and Elon Musk is at one end of that debate. "But to have free speech it must be based on facts and on truth, and some of what weve seen online is peddling mistruth, is creating bad faith, is very unfair to those victims." open image in gallery Rupert Soames, the grandson of Winston Churchill ( Getty ) He also defended Ms Phillips saying she had done a considerable job standing up for women. He added: "Weve had this debate. Were moving forward and were dealing with the horrendous, horrific crimes of paedophilia against young people, young children vulnerable young children often and going after those who commit it, Ive no doubt about that. On Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer suggested the door was open to a U-turn on a national inquiry despite ordering his MPs to vote against initiating one. After Ms Phillips said a new national probe into the scandal was still on the table, the prime ministers spokesperson said the government would grant one if victims groups called for it. Labour has previously said any inquiry into grooming gangs should be locally led. On Monday, home secretary Yvette Cooper said the government would begin to implement Professor Alexis Jays call for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, with further details expected to be set out in the coming weeks. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy MPs for Nigel Farages Reform UK party have been making thousands of pounds from posts on the social media site owned by Elon Musk, X, new reports reveal. The Reform UK leader, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe MP have all declared payments from the company in the most recent parliamentary register of interests, profitting from a programme set up by the US billionaire. The revelation marks the latest development between the Reform UK leader and eccentric US billionaire, whose relationship recently took a very public turn for the worst. open image in gallery Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (PA) ( PA Wire ) The pair have been linked since Donald Trump secured his second term as US president, with Mr Musk becoming a close ally on the campaign trail. Statements from the three would indicate that their politics are all in alignment, but the reality has been far less simple. Heres everything you need to know about Elon Musks relationship with Nigel Farage: When did Musk and Farages relationship begin? Mr Musk first began showing an interest in the Reform UK leader in June 2024, nearly half a year before Donald Trump would win his second term as president. Posting on X, the social media site he bought in 2022, the US billionaire responded to a video uploaded Mr Farage to ask: Why does the media keep calling you far-right? The Reform leader promptly responded: Because we believe in family, country and strong borders. Call me! open image in gallery Nigel Farage and Party treasurer Nick Candy meet Elon Musk in the US (Stuart Mitchell/Reform UK) ( PA Media ) After a few more reaffirming replies to Mr Farages content on X hes been known to post up to 150 times a day it would appear Mr Musks call finally came as the pair met at Trumps residency, Mar-a-Lago, in December. Britain Needs Reform, Mr Farage captioned a picture of himself, Mr Musk and Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy stood in front of a portrait of a youthful-looking Trump. Absolutely, the US billionaire replied. This was Mr Musks strongest endorsement yet of Reform. Paired with continuous attacks on the new woke Labour government, his views on UK politics were laid bare. But it would be the next year when his involvement reached a new level. Bankrolling rumours Following Mr Musks meeting with Mr Farage, rumours began to swirl that the US tycoon who is the worlds richest man was looking to donate substantial sums to Reform. This was later confirmed by the party leader, who told reporters he was in open negotiations with Mr Musk, and confirmed that the pair did talk about money at Trumps Florida retreat. He wants to help us, hes not opposed to the idea of giving us money, provided we can do it legally through UK companies, he added. Media reports rumoured the amount floated to be $100 million, although Mr Farage shot this figure down. The political intervention would not be unprecedented for Mr Musk, who donated a substantial amount to Mr Trumps recent election campaign. Through his super political action committee (Pac), his contribution was reported to exceed $200 million. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Elon Musk ( AP ) Perhaps in return for his loyalty, Mr Musk has been awarded a front-row seat to the second Trump presidency. The billionaire was soon appointed co-head of the presidents new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the pair have regularly been spotted together in recent months. Mr Musks allyship with Mr Farage would seem like a natural fit, given that the Reform leaders relationship with Mr Trump goes back much further. The pair first met in 2016, shortly after the president-elects first election victory, and they are thought to have remained allies since. Responding to 2024 UK general election results, Mr Trump wrote: Congratulations to Nigel Farage on his big WIN of a Parliament Seat Amid Reform UK Election Success. Nigel is a man who truly loves his Country! DJT. Sudden change of heart But January would see Mr Musk change his mind about his new friend in the UK, and publicly disavow him. Posting on X, the Trump ally wrote: The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesnt have what it takes. Reacting with shock, Mr Farage said: Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles. Although Mr Musk did not mention far-right activist Tommy Robinsion by name, he has in the past been a vocal supporter on X. Mr Robinson is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court for repeating false allegations about a Syrian refugee. open image in gallery Tommy Robinson (Yui Mok/PA) ( PA Wire ) It was easy to miss Mr Musks change of heart as his post was buried under an avalanche of other posts taking aim at other issues in UK politics. On the same day, he would also write that the Labour party is complicit in grooming gangs in the UK, and spend his time enaging with content from far-right accounts on the platform. The platform owner would also implicitly back new Reform MP Rupert Lowe on the same day. Mr Farage has said he wants to mend his relationship with Mr Musk during an upcoming visit to the UK, telling reporters: Not having Elons support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so Im being frank about that, and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can. In what is proving to be a highly controversial move, county councils all over England are seeking to postpone local elections due this May. The reason given is the impending reorganisation of local government in England, which includes creating new, larger authorities that encompass a number of existing counties a result of the governments drive to promote regional devolution and to lower costs. Some of the counties keen on reform argue that they need to concentrate on the complex new arrangements, and elections would get in the way. The assumption is that the delay would be for a year. Some millions of voters would be deprived of their local democracy, according to the District Councils Network, which represents the smaller district local authorities, who are likely to lose out. As youd expect, theres lots of party politics involved, too... What are the reforms? This time round theyre concentrated on streamlining two tier governance, mostly in those English counties with famous, historic names Essex, Devon, Surrey and so on. Sometimes this is coupled with merging a number of counties into one combined authority. Since the last shake-up in the 1990s, many areas of England have two tiers of local government: county councils responsible for transport, education, and social care, for example and district, borough or city councils, who look after planning applications, refuse collections, and housing, among other things. Of course there is also a two-tier system in London and the larger metro mayoral authorities, such as Greater Manchester or the West Midlands, where authorities such as Lambeth, Bury and Birmingham coexist with their elected mayoralties but these are not being altered. Nor are parish councils. Police authorities and NHS areas often dont align with local authority jurisdictions. Whos affected? Many of those with two tier government, which include more or less all of the existing 21 English counties. A typical example would be Devon, where the county council has already voted to postpone its elections. The Devon area has eight district, city and borough councils, above which is Devon County Council; there are also two entirely separate unitary authorities, providing all services in Torbay and in the city of Plymouth. The proposed changes would create a single combined Devon authority, with a directly elected executive mayor along with a devolution funding settlement and more powers, to come into effect in 2026. (Some dream of a Devonwall scenario, in which it would combine with Cornwall Council.) Its not yet clear what the old districts and the Plymouth and Torbay councils will do, if anything. There, and across the country, the district councils had elections last year, so those are not going to be postponed, even if these authorities are to be reformed or abolished in the near future. In some places theyll be basically going back to the reforms of 1974, which combined old city and county councils into one unit, with some discomfort. So whos postponing? Contrary to the impression sometimes given, its not being decided by Keir Starmer or Angela Rayner (the minister responsible for all this) but by the counties themselves. Thus far the following want to postpone the poll: Devon; East Sussex; Essex; Gloucestershire; Hampshire; Kent; Norfolk; Suffolk; Surrey; Warwickshire; West Sussex; and Worcestershire. Others may follow. Whos not postponing? Some council elections will go ahead as elections for new authorities, such as the grandiose-sounding Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, which combines the existing North East and North Lincolnshire unitary councils plus Lincolnshire County Council. There will also be elections, as scheduled, for 10 unitary authorities (eg County Durham, Cornwall); for four combined authorities (Greater Lincolnshire, West of England, Hull and East Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough); two unitary boroughs (Doncaster, North Tyneside); plus two nonpartisan contests in the City of London Corporation (in March) and on the Isles of Scilly. What are the precedents? The elections for the Greater London Council in 1985 were scrapped by the Thatcher government in preparation for the abolition of the GLC in 1986. In 2021, local elections in North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Somerset were similarly delayed pending reorganisation. Its complicated, isnt it? Yes, and it creates a kaleidoscope of different regimes across England, with Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland having the added feature of their own parliaments and governments. Who benefits from postponement? The Conservatives, who had a very good year last time the seats came up in 2021, and run almost all of the counties. Given their current low ratings, theyd expect to lose many of those in May, even if theyve picked up a little support by then following the nadir of last Julys general election. Avoiding elections therefore means avoiding defeats. Reform UK will be the big losers, as they didnt even exist in 2021, and would benefit from their current momentum and a substantial protest vote in places such as Essex. Still, Andrea Jenkyns, former Tory MP and recent defector, might well win Greater Lincolnshire for them, and theyll boost their local government representation anyway. Electorally, Labour doesnt have much to gain, while the Liberal Democrats would have exacted a little more in the home counties. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson are among three Reform MPs accused of profiting from spreading hateful rhetoric after it emerged theyve made thousands of pounds from posting on Elon Musks X. Mr Farage, Mr Anderson and Rupert Lowe MP have each declared thousands in payments from the company in their recent parliamentary register of interests, via billionaire Musks creator revenue programme. The scheme allows premium users with more than 500 verified followers to monetise their accounts on the controversial site, which has grown increasingly toxic since it was taken over by the Tesla tycoon in 2022. More than 10,000 has been paid to the right-wing trio since July last year, with Mr Farage having earned the most so far, according to parliamentary filings. The Clacton-on-Sea MP, who has 2.2 million followers, has made in excess of 5,000 since entering the scheme. A Labour source told The Independent: Weve always known that for every person who spreads hateful rhetoric on X because they want to divide our society, there is another set of grifters who do it just to make money. It looks like these Reform MPs fall in both categories, and no one will be in the least bit surprised. open image in gallery Xs creator revenue sharing programme was launched under Musks leadership in 2023 ( via Reuters ) Carla Denyer, MP for Bristol Central and Green Party co-leader, said the profits mark an unholy alliance between the right wing and Elon Musk. The fact that Reform MPs are profiting financially from posting on Musks X tells us all we need to know about how genuine their motives are, she said. Neither Musk nor Farage have ordinary peoples interests at heart. They dont want to make peoples lives better, and they dont value our democracy. They want to strip away protections for workers to make it easier for them and their super-rich buddies to make money, and dont care what damage they do to our communities in the process. Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for science, innovation and technology:[Reform MPs] have been happy to whip up a frenzy online, riding on the coattails of Mr Musk himself no matter the cost to communities. And now we discover, to no ones surprise, that theyre lining their pockets with this kind of online behaviour. However, Mr Farage has suggested that Reform MPs are not the only politicians making money from the scheme, though he and his colleagues are the only MPs to have declared payments. He said: Many MPs are on X and have the tick. Whilst their views are tiny compared to ours they will be receiving money; its automatic once you pay for the tick so why are we the only ones declaring? On 16 December, Mr Anderson said he had been paid 107.50 from the corporation. The day after, the Ashfield MP declared he was expected to receive a further 1,612.63. open image in gallery Lee Anderson has been paid over 1,700 from creator revenue ( PA Wire ) He said: I am making a few quid on X and paying 40 per cent income tax which will help pay for public services. He suggested other MPs were quite happy to rip off the taxpayer with their wages and expenses yet at the same time refuse to help thousands of young girls who have been raped by Pakistani rape gangs. They should hang their heads in shame. His fellow Reform MP Mr Lowe declared on 11 December that he had received 1,384.81 from the company. It comes after he registered a 3,259.18 payment from X Corp on 3 December, meaning he has received over 4,600 from the corporation in total. The Great Yarmouth MP said he donates his entire MP salary to local charities and said: This is the most expensive job I have ever had if I was in this to make money, I am going about it in an incredibly stupid way. Mr Musk, who promotes the system as a way for users to get paid to post and earn a living on X, previously claimed that its revenue-sharing programme would reward accuracy over sensationalism. In a recent update, X said it evaluates earnings based on genuine interactions, such as replies, likes, bookmarks and the time Premium users spend viewing your content. However, a former X/Twitter curator, who worked for the organisation for seven years, warned of the dangers of monetising content. Writing for this publication, Marc Burrows said: Unlike traditional media, where editorial standards might temper the most inflammatory content, Xs monetisation strategy actively incentivises division. The more outraged people are, the more they engage. The more they engage, the more the poster earns. Truth, accuracy and adding value to public discourse are secondary concerns. This is about generating heat rather than light. The former curator, who left his post in protest a month before Mr Musk arrived, added: By monetising outrage, X has created a self-perpetuating ecosystem where inflammatory content rises to the top, dragging political discourse ever further toward the extremes. Mr Farage has also received payments from Meta and Google, amounting to 2,793 and 11,116 respectively since last summer. open image in gallery Rupert Lowe, Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth ( PA Archive ) Meanwhile, Mr Musk has been increasingly vocal on UK politics, with his involvement intensifying in the last week after he launched an attack on Labours handling of the child grooming scandal. The Tesla boss has been a steadfast supporter of Reform UK, having met Mr Farage at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in December. However, relations have recently soured after Mr Musk seemingly withdrew his support for the Clacton MP on Sunday over Mr Farages rejection of calls to support jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Mr Musk posted: The Reform Party need a new leader. Farage doesnt have what it takes. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Los Angeles area residents are returning to their homes to find nothing but ash and rubble as wildfires devastate Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires, along with other smaller blazes, have burned more than 36,000 acres of land throughout the Los Angeles area. At least ten people are dead and more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed by the flames as of Friday afternoon. The deadly fires prompted some 200,000 people across Southern California to evacuate their homes. As evacuation orders are lifted for certain neighborhoods, many residents are returning to find their homes and belongings reduced to rubble. Thomas Korn, who lived in Altadena, teared up as he spoke about his now-destroyed home. Theres nothing left. Ive been here about an hour and a half and I dont want to leave, Korn told the Associated Press. I really cant put it into words. open image in gallery A family cries as they discover their Altadena home was scorched by the Eaton Fire on Thursday. Several residents like them are now returning to find their homes were destroyed by the flames ( AFP via Getty Images ) Patrick Williams, an Altadena resident who lost his home, told the AP, Everything that we know and love is gone. This house, my whole city is gone, Williams said. The whole thingeverything, my whole neighborhood, everything that I grew up to love and know is burnt up. Palisades resident Rick McGeagh returned home to find only a Virgin Mary statue standing at his ranch house, according to Reuters. He described it as an amazing blessing that the statue his grandmother once owned remained standing. His neighborhood had been leveled with only six homes, out of 60, still standing. Everything else is ash and rubble, McGeagh told Reuters on Friday. Jimmy Dunne lived in the Palisades and told USA Today he was one of the lucky ones as his home was still standing. Two of his children were not as fortunate. Everybody at this point is just numb, he told the outlet Police had helped some people hope for about 15 minutes, allowing them to get whatever possessions they could before taking them back to safety, USA Today noted. open image in gallery Drone footage shows burned homes in Los Angeles. Some residents have returned to find their neighborhood destroyed ( Reuters ) Lucy Sherriff, a BBC journalist and Palisades resident, published the details of her harrowing evacuation and the eventual discovery that her house was destroyed. It took a while to get out, Sherriff wrote. There were thousands of cars trying to leave, all desperate to flee the flames. The frustration and fear was palpable. We returned on Wednesday afternoon and were allowed to drive in because of my press credentials, she continued. When we reached Sunset Blvd, our road, we saw flames and fire engines in front of our block of condos. My heart sank. We drove past and saw our entire cluster of condos had been leveled. Sherriff recounted how she decided what to take from her now-destroyed home before evacuating. The journalist at first scrambled to collect her clothes, jewelry and shoes but soon realized she needed none of it. I grabbed my grandmothers ring, passports, birth certificates, and left everything else to burn, she wrote. open image in gallery The Eaton Fire has destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and more than 200,000 were forced to flee during the disaster ( Getty Images ) Evacuation orders remain in place for more than 100,000 Los Angeles residents as the fires reach their fourth day. But as firefighters begin to contain some of the blazes, they should be eased in the coming days. That will allow more people to return home, but it will be to find their homes and possessions gone. The blazes have been driven by the Santa Ana winds: dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from Nevada and Utah to Southern California toward the coast. While gusts calmed on Thursday, aiding firefighting efforts, another bout of Santa Ana winds could hit California early next week. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man accused by Los Angeles residents of attempting to ignite a blaze around the area of the newly-sparked Kenneth fire has not been charged with arson, police said Friday. The Kenneth blaze broke out north of the Palisades fire on Thursday, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, as wildfires continue to cause devastation across southern California, taking at least 10 lives, according to the Department of Medical Examiner. It has since spread to almost 1,000 acres and is 35 percent contained. While the cause for the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst friends are still under investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department initially said it believed the Kenneth fire was started intentionally. Around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, law enforcement officers responded to reports of a man attempting to light a fire behind a van on the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills. On Friday morning, Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Dominic Choi, told reporters that authorities did not have enough probable cause to charge the suspect of any arson crimes. The suspect was instead charged with a felony probation violation. An investigation remains active, Choi said. open image in gallery One of the residents involved in the citizens arrest, Renata Grinshpun, said the man was carrying an incendiary device ( KTLA 5/YouTube ) The Independent has contacted the LAPD for more information. According to a witness, the man is believed to be in his mid-20s and speak Spanish as his first language. What we know right now is the incident occurred; started here, Sean Dinse, Senior Lead Officer of the Los Angeles Police Departments Topanga Division, told KTLA 5. And about 20 minutes 30 minutes later, a suspect was detained over in the Woodland Hills area by citizens. Locals who spotted the suspect and called 911 rallied together to corner the man, before binding his wrists with rope and zip ties and holding him down until police arrived. All of a sudden I hear a car come to a screeching halt, and I hear a guy running out saying, Stop, stop, drop what youre holding, drop what youre holding, Renata Grinshpun, a woman involved in the citizens arrest, told the local news station. The next thing we hear is, Neighbors, neighbors, hes trying to start a fire. Call 911, call 911. My mom ran out in a bathrobe ready to fight that guy and all of the neighbors started coming out, calling 911. We really bound together as a group. The man was allegedly wielding some sort of incendiary device, according to the witness. open image in gallery Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday ( AP ) He had a propane tank, or a it was a big yellow tank, like a flame-thrower basically. The neighbor said he saw the guy behind a van, trying to light something on fire, she continued. The suspect claimed that he used a blowtorch to smoke marujuana because he couldnt afford a lighter, according to Grinshpun. The incidents comes as brush fires raged across the Los Angeles area for a fourth day Friday. The Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive the city has seen, is now at 6 percent containment. The fire has scorched almost 20,000 acres, while the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire has burned 13,690 acres. The Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills engulfed 43 acres before it was extinguished on Thursday. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 8, autonomous driving tech company Nullmax announced a collaboration with Black Sesame Technologies to release a multimodal AI large model-enabled smart driving solution based on the latest generation A2000 chip from the Huashan series. This innovative end-to-end architecture and high-performance autonomous driving SoC (System on a Chip) is designed to power next-generation autonomous driving applications across various scenarios. Debuting globally at the CES 2025, the aforesaid new smart driving solution enables full-scenario autonomous navigation-assisted driving worldwide across diverse and fragmented environments such as urban roads, structured roads, and parking lots. It aims to provide customers with a comfortable, consistent, and efficient driving experience, addressing long-standing challenges in advanced autonomous driving applications, including poor generalization, inferior user experience, and high costs. A2000 chip; photo credit: Nullmax The A2000 multimodal AI large model employs a vision-based system and can also process multi-modal inputs such as camera and audio data, enabling the vehicle to see, hear, and understand its surroundings. This allows for diverse inference outputs including visual information, scene descriptions, and driving behaviors. Without relying on LiDAR or HD maps, the solution can provide advanced features such as city navigation, memory driving, highway navigation, and memory parking through pure-vision solutions combined with basic navigation information. On December 26, 2024, Black Sesame Technologies launched the Huashan A2000 chip family, a high-performance chip platform designed for next-generation AI models. According to the company, the A2000 family integrates industry-leading multi-function units such as CPU (central processing unit), DSP (digital signal processor), GPU (graphics processing unit), NPU (neural processing unit), MCU (microcontroller unit), ISP (image signal processor), and CV (computer vision), enabling high integration and multi-task processing on a single chip. The chip also supports Transformer models. Leveraging the A2000 family's abundant computing resources and versatile toolchain, Nullmax isdeploying its multimodal AI large model-enabled smart driving solution. The LMDAM (Large-Multimodal-Description-Action Model), which has been used in Nullmax Intelligence (the new-generation autonomous driving technology launched in July 2024), is set to be deployed on A2000 chip for real-car intallation. Through the new in-depth collaboration, Nullmax and Black Sesame Technologies aim to build a next-generation intelligent driving solution. The combination of multimodal AI large model for smart drivng and the A2000 chip will provide cutting-edge autonomous driving applications and an exceptional experience, meeting the market demand for intelligent mobility. Black Sesame Technologies, founded in 2016, is a leading provider of automotive-grade intelligent computing chips and chip-based solutions. The company has unveiled the Huashan series of high-performance chips, designed for autonomous driving, and the Wudang series for cross-domain computing, addressing the growing complexity of intelligent vehicle functions. The company's automotive-grade products and technologies empower smart vehicles with critical capabilities, including autonomous driving, smart cockpits, advanced imaging, and interconnectivity. Through in-house developed IP cores, algorithms, software-driven SoC, and SoC-based solutions, the company provides full-stack autonomous driving capabilities to meet the diverse needs of its customers. Nullmax is an AI technology company specializing in autonomous driving applications. It is dedicated to creating full-scenario autonomous driving solutions and accelerating mobility transformation. Nullmax employs a machine learning-first technical approach and has developed a complete full-stack autonomous driving technology, the MAX. Based on this, it has constructed a cornerstone architecture comprising a data platform and an algorithm platform, providing a universal AI development platform that endows machines with human-like perception, learning, and interaction capabilities. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man whom residents accused of trying to start a blaze was arrested near the Kenneth fire that broke out in Los Angeles on Thursday night but there was not enough evidence to charge him with arson, police confirmed Friday. The Kenneth fire broke out north of the Palisades fire, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, and a Los Angeles Police Department official previously said they believed the blaze was started intentionally. At a press conference on Friday morning, LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi gave an update and confirmed there was not enough probable cause to arrest the man on suspicion of arson. He was arrested on a felony probation violation, and the investigation is ongoing, he added. The Department of Medical Examiner confirmed late on Thursday that the death toll from the blazes has now risen to 10, with nearly 10,000 structures devoured by flames, as five fires burned into a third night. open image in gallery The so-called Kenneth Fire broke out north of the Palisades fire on Thursday, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills ( AP ) The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the citys western flank and the Eaton fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in L.A.s history, consuming more than 34,000 acres as well as many homes of celebrities, with the Palisades Fire just 8 percent contained and the Eaton Fire 3 percent contained. Meanwhile, the Kenneth fire expanded to 960 acres in a matter of hours on Thursday. As it continues to grow rapidly, below, The Independent details everything we know about the man detained. What we know about the arrest made Choi confirmed that after further investigation there was not enough probable cause to arrest the suspect on arson or suspicion of arson. The man has been arrested on a felony probation violation but no further details were given at Fridays press conference. After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson, Choi said. The investigation is ongoing, he added. I would like to thank those community members that were involved in bringing this person to our attention. Minutes after the Kenneth fire broke out on Thursday, the man was reportedly restrained by citizens using rope and zip ties after they accused him of trying to light a fire in Woodland Hills. open image in gallery The destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday ( AP ) He was later detained by police, Sean Dinse of the LAPDs Topanga Division told KTLA 5. What we know right now is that the incident occurred here and about 20 to 30 minutes later, a suspect was detained by citizens, said Dinse. The suspect allegedly had a propane tank or a flamethrower, according to a local involved in the citizens arrest. The suspect was reportedly arrested before being taken to Topanga station, although LAPD Drake Madison said: We cannot confirm any connection to any fire at this time. What we know about the suspect Little is so far known about the man arrested. He is a homeless man aged in his 30s, according to Fox News. Other publications are reporting that he is believed to be in his mid-20s. According to a witness of the citizens arrest, the restrained man was believed to be in his mid-20s and speak Spanish as his first language. Authorities have not revealed the identity of the man. What happens next When asked if he believed the Kenneth fire was purposefully started, LAPD senior lead officer Charles Dinsel previously told NewsNation: At this time, thats what we believe, yes. However, he said there is currently no clear motive. He added that there is a crime scene in place there, with the area closed off for further investigations. The investigation is ongoing, Choi said at Fridays press conference. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A woman whose remains were found in a Michigan house nearly two decades ago has been identified and police believe she could be the victim of a serial killer. Darylnn Washington died just days before her remains were found in June 1996, but she remained a Jane Doe despite authorities attempts to identify her. Her information was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and a forensic composite of what she may have looked like was released to the public in hopes someone would know her. But her case went cold and her was identity unknown. Until now. Authorities said in a news release on January 6 that the woman was identified as Washington through DNA testing after the Detroit Police Department reached out to Othram, a forensic genetic genealogy company, in 2022. The company specializes in advanced DNA technology. open image in gallery Darylnn Washington died just days before her remains were found in June 1996 ( DNASolves/Othram ) When Washingtons remains were first discovered at the abandoned house on the east side of Detroit, it was determined that she was a Black female between the ages of 20 and 30 years and that she was about five feet tall. But no other identifying characteristics could be determined. Washingtons death was ruled a homicide and authorities said it was believed she was a victim of Detroit-area serial killer Shelly Brooks, who allegedly confessed to the murder, according to the release. When her remains were identified, the family of Washington, who was born on June 15, 1959, was notified. Investigators learned that her family believed their loved one had been murdered by a serial killer, but her remains were never located. In 2006, Brooks was charged with killing seven women with whom he had paid for sex, the Associated Press reported. open image in gallery Its believed Washington was a victim of Detroit-area serial killer Shelly Brooks, who allegedly confessed to the murder ( MDOC ) All their bodies were found in remote locations in Detroit: an abandoned apartment building, a vacant garage, an alley, a vacant field, and a vacant house, the Michigan Court of Appeals said in a summary in 2008. He stood trial for two of the murders, convicted and sentenced to life in prison, records show.The other cases were no longer pursued in court after Brooks life sentencing, according to Maria Miller of the Wayne County prosecutors office. Brooks, now 55, is serving his time at Kinross Correctional Facility in Michigans Upper Peninsula, records show. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Pizzagate gunman who sprayed a round of bullets at a pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C. in 2016, after traveling hundreds of miles to self-investigate a conspiracy theory, has been shot dead by two police officers at a traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch, of Salisbury, was shot at around 10pm Saturday after he pulled a handgun on two Kannapolis Police officers and failed to back down, according to a Kannapolis Fire and Police Department statement Thursday. On December 4, 2016, Welch made national headlines when he drove from North Carolina with an assault rifle and stormed Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington after believing an unfounded conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were behind a child sex trafficking ring operating from inside the pizzeria no one was injured in the attack. The hoax fringe theory, dubbed Pizzagate, began circulating online during the 2016 presidential election and spiraled to unprecedented lengths, gaining a cult following on alt-right forums, convincing the likes of conservative journalists, and those opposed to Hilary Clinton online. At the time of Welchs death, the conspiracy theories around the Pizzagate saga extended to rumors that he was the brother of Hailey Welch aka The Hawk Tuah girl. The Pizzagate theory was propagated by users of 4chan, a message board known for free speech and extreme content, who trolled the internet looking for prominent politicians to tie to the paedophile sex ring allegation and the Comet restaurant. open image in gallery Police arrested Welch (pictured) December 4, 2016 after he unleashed a spray of bullets at Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington. He quickly discovered the criminal theories to be false when he found no evidence of the operation inside ( Sathi Soma ) Consequently, James Alefantis, the then owner of Comet Ping Pong, who had ties to the Democrats, began receiving waves of abuse making life hell for him and his employees. In 2020, Pizzagate made a resurgence when the high-profile suicide of child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was announced along with his deep ties to the political establishment. Even Elon Musk jumped on the bandwagon when he boosted the Pizzagate theory on his platform X, formerly Twitter, in 2023 after facing an advertiser exodus when he embraced an antisemitic conspiracy theory, according to CNN . Welch, who was 28 at the time of his arrest , was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and then sentenced to four years in prison in June 2017 after he pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon. His death, nine years later, stemmed from him being pursued for an outstanding arrest warrant. Police identified him while he was driving along North Cannon Boulevard in a gray 2001 GMC Yukon. When he opened the door, the front seat passenger pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer. That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for the passenger to drop the gun. The statement added: After the passenger failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him. Welch was taken to Atrium Health in Charlotte for additional care but succumbed to his injuries Monday, said Kannapolis officials. As the U.S. steps closer towards a Trump-led ultra-truth era, the world witnesses an expansion from conspiracy movements buried in pockets of the internet like the alt-right to more apolitical groups thanks to the surge and popularity of TikTok something we may see more of as the future of fact-checking hangs in the balance. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man who became know as the Pizzagate gunman died earlier this week after he was fatally shot by North Carolina police who had pulled him over in a traffic stop, authorities reported Thursday. The dead man, Edgar Maddison Welch, was charged years ago in 2016 after brandishing an assault weapon and revolver at a Washington D.C. pizza shop at the center of the notorious fake Pizzazgate conspiracy theory that the restaurant was the headquarters of a child sex-trafficking ring run by Democrats. Welch had driven from his North Carolina home then to hunt for Hillary Clinton. He was sentenced to four years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon, and interstate transport of firearms. Last Saturday night an Kannapolis police officer recognized Welchs car and pulled it over over because Welch had an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony probation violation, officials reported. When the officer opened the car door to arrest the 36-year-old man, he pulled a gun, said authorities The arresting officer and a second officer shot the Pizzagate gunman when he refused orders to drop the weapon, according to a police statement. Welch was rushed to a local hospital but died of his injuries two days later. City of Kannapolis communications director Annette Privette Keller confirmed Welch was involved in the Pizzagate incident. None of the three officers on the scene, the vehicles driver, or a third passenger in a back seat were injured. The officers who fired on Welch have been placed on administration leave as the shooting is further investigated. The confrontation marked a bloody end to one of the most notorious anti-Democrat conspiracy theories that kicked off an era of increasingly wild, completely false political fantasies. Pizzagate conspiracists claimed Hillary Clinton and her then-presidential campaign manager in her race against now President-elect Donald Trump were involved in the satanic nest of child sex-traffickers They cited leaked emails between the two that were actually conversations about an possible upcoming political fundraiser at the restaurant, Comet Ping Pong pizzeria, which the conspiracy theorists insisted were in code. open image in gallery Edgar Maddison Welch, of Salisbury, N.C., surrenders to police, in Washington, D.C. in 2016. ( Sathi Soma/AP ) When Welch stormed the restaurant brandishing his weapons, families with children fled for their lives. He searched for members or any evidence of the ring, but found nothing because it didnt exist. He fired once into the door of a closet at the restaurant, but no one was injured. He said after his arrest that the information he read in extremist news and social media sites that the intel on this was not 100 percent. I just wanted to do some good and went about it the wrong way, Welch later told The New York Times in an interview. I regret how I handled the situation. The restaurant became the targeted of a deluge of death threats and staff and customer harassment as the fake conspiracy circulated. The restaurants owner, James Alefantis, told The New York Times at the time: From this insane, fabricated conspiracy theory, weve come under constant assault. Ive done nothing for days but try to clean this up and protect my staff and friends from being terrorized.[9] The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Wisconsin woman who stabbed her classmate to please the fictional horror character Slender Man is set to be released from a psychiatric hospital, a judge ruled on Thursday. Morgan Geyser, 22, has been at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute for nearly seven years after being convicted in the 2014 stabbing attack of Payton Leutner. Geyser and another classmate Anissa Weier were 12 in 2014 when they lured Payton Leutner, who was also 12, to a Waukesha park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged her on. Leutner barely survived. The girls later told investigators they wanted to earn the right to be servants of the fictional Slender Man and that they feared he would harm their families if they didnt carry out the attack. open image in gallery Morgan Geyser and another classmate Anissa Weier were 12 in 2014 when they lured Payton Leutner to a Waukesha park after a sleepover and attacked her ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was sent to the psychiatric institute due to mental illness in 2018. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide. She was also sent to the psychiatric center but was granted release in 2021 to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor. Geyser previously filed a petition with Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren seeking her release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. The petition marks the third time in the last two years she has asked Bohren to let her out of the facility. Bohren decided to grant her release after a day-long hearing Thursday, finding that she had maximized her treatment options at the facility and was no longer a safety risk. He said that her crime was a brutal, terrible offense but Geyser has since grown up and to be truly rehabilitated she must exist as part of society. Shes done what shes supposed to do, Bohren said. She appears to have a good attitude. He ordered the state Department of Health Services to set up a plan to house her in a group home and supervise her for his consideration at a hearing within 60 days. open image in gallery Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier were both arrested in the attempted murder of Payton Leutner ( Waukesha Police Department ) The plan to kill Leutner in 2014 was fuelled by the girls desire to please Slender Man. According to a criminal complaint, the plan was initially supposed to be carried out on May 30, 2014, the night of Geysers sleepover to celebrate her 12th birthday. But then they changed the plan and decided to kill her the next morning at a nearby park in Waukesha. Once at the park, Weier suggested they go for a walk to play hide-and-seek in nearby woods, she told investigators. They just wanted to go on a walk, Leutner later told ABC News. And I didnt think much of it. Its just a walk. Its in Waukesha. What bad stuff happens in Waukesha, Wisconsin? But Weier told Leutner to lie down and with a kitchen knife Geyser had brought from her home, she began to repeatedly stab her while Weier egged her on. Leutner suffered 19 stab wounds and barely survived, according to medical staff who treated her. The girls left Leutner for dead but she crawled onto a bike path and was found by a passerby. Police captured Geyser and Weier later that day as they were walking on Interstate 94 in Waukesha. Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors and a judge sent her to the psychiatric institute after determining she had a mental illness. She was diagnosed with early-onset schizophrenia after being taken into custody, according to Rolling Stone. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was also sent to the psychiatric facility after a jury found she was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack. open image in gallery Payton Leutner was 17 years old when she finally told her story ( ABC News ) In December 2017, Weier received the maximum 25 years in a mental health facility after pleading guilty to being an accomplice to second-degree intentional homicide. In February 2018, Geyser received 40 years in a mental hospital after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide. In 2021, Weier was granted a conditional release to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor. After the attack, Leutner underwent 25 surgeries to repair her heart, liver, stomach, and pancreas after the attack, her mother Stacie Leutner told ABC Action News in Tampa Bay, Florida. But her emotional trauma was just as scarring, as she later revealed that she slept with scissors under her pillow for protection. She was 17 years old when she finally told her story, explaining that she had worked hard over the last five years to heal and rebuild a normal life. Who is Slender Man? Slender Man is a fictional supernatural character that originated as a creepypasta or horror internet meme created in 2009 by Something Awful forum user Eric Knudsen under his username Victor Surge. The creation was part of a Photoshop challenge in which users were asked to manipulate real photos to give them a paranormal edge. Slender Man is typically depicted as a spidery figure in a black suit with a featureless white face and regarded alternately as a sinister force and an avenging angel. Geyser and Weier discovered Slender Man on Creepypasta Wiki, apparently believed he was real and decided to become what they called proxies of the character, thereby proving their dedication to him and his existence to skeptics, according to the criminal complaint. Slender Man - Trailer 2 But to fully prove their dedication, the girls believed they had to kill someone. They decided that person would be their friend Payton. Following the 2014 attack, Mr Knudsen released a statement to the media: I am deeply saddened by the tragedy in Wisconsin and my heart goes out to the families of those affected by this terrible act. The stabbing of Payton Leutner sparked a fear of Slender Man in parents across the nation. Russell Jack, who was the police chief of Waukesha at the time, warned that the Slender Man stabbing should be a wake-up call for all parents and that the internet is full of dark and wicked things. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The fast-moving wildfires ripping through Southern California are being fueled by the states fierce Santa Ana winds. The Los Angeles Fire Department is bracing itself for the bruising winds to reach gusts of up to 60 mph through Thursday. In some parts, the Santa Anas could reach speeds of up to 100 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS has issued an extreme weather warning of a life-threatening and destructive windstorm for some areas. Thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate LA and more than 300,000 people have been left without power after several fires ignited across the county on Tuesday evening. Five people have died. The Pacific Palisades fire has spread to nearly 16,000 acres as of Wednesday afternoon, while the Eaton fire has spread to over 10,600 acres through Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre. By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday. I saw firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers and the number of structures that are destroyed. Not a few, many structures already destroyed. open image in gallery Residents of a senior center are evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025, in Altadena, California ( AP ) What are the Santa Ana winds? With the ability to turn a small spark into a raging wildfire, the Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from Nevada and Utah to Southern California toward the coast. They move in the opposite direction of the normal onshore flow that carries moist air from the Pacific into the region. The name is understood to be linked to Santa Ana Canyon in Orange County, but the weather has other nicknames such as devil winds or red wind. Santa Ana occurs during the cooler months between September and May. Southern California is particularly vulnerable to them. Fire ecologist Chad Hanson told BBC News that it would be a rough night for fire crews. These winds are unique to southern California and it results in extreme, sustained wind events with pretty dramatic gusts. open image in gallery Wind pushes embers into a home as the Eaton Fire moves through the area on January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California ( Getty Images ) How do the winds form? Santa Anas are created by high pressure over the Great Basin the vast desert interior of the West overlapping Nevada, parts of Utah and other states. The sinking air loses its moisture and flows in a clockwise direction toward Southern California, where it must get past towering mountain ranges that separate the desert from the metropolitan region lining the coast. Like a slow-moving river that suddenly narrows and turns into rapids, the air speeds up as it squeezes through mountain passes and canyons, becoming drier and warmer as it descends. Alex Hall, director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of California, said to imagine the Great Basin as a big bowl lined with holes that represent mountain passes. open image in gallery Apocalyptic pictures from the wildfire engulfing a home in the Pacific Palisades ( AP ) If you have a lot of heavy, high pressure sitting there in the bowl, youre going to be pushing air out through the holes, Hall told TheNew York Times. As air charges through the mountain passes, or the imaginary holes in the bowl, the winds pick up speed and funnel toward the Southern California coast. Why the winds can be deadly The air in Southern California is dry at the moment, with humidity around 10-20 percent. It is likely to fall further, according to meteorologists, thus creating the perfect conditions for fire to spread. A lack of humidity in the air causes vegetation to dry out and essentially become kindling for a fire. The wind speeds can stoke any spark, from a fallen power line to a discarded cigarette bud, and rapidly spread. When and where will the winds be the most extreme? open image in gallery The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. ( AP ) The National Weather Service has issued an extreme weather warning for parts of southern California due to the Santa Anas winds fueling the flames. It said that the time period of the greatest concern would be Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon local time, where it warned of widespread gusts of 50 - 80 mph, with isolated speeds of 80 - 100mph in the mountains and foothills. The agency says the areas of greatest concern are: Highways 118/210 corridors, San Gabriel/ Santa Susana / Santa Monica Mountains and Foothills; San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys, Pasadena, Burbank, San Fernando, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Simi Valley, Sylmar, Porter Ranch, Altadena, La Crescenta and Malibu. Winds are linked to some of Southern Californias worst wildfires open image in gallery A firefighter battles a hotspot caused by the Woosley Fire in Malibu, California, 10 November 2018 ( EPA ) Santa Anas are linked to some of the worst wildfires Southern California has experienced. The devastating 2018 Woosley fire broke out on November 8, 2018 and was not fully contained until November 21. It burned almost 100,000 acres, including more than 21,000 acres of National Park Service land. Santa Ana winds pushed the fire south, where it went into the Santa Monica Mountains. The Associated Press contributed reporting The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The wildfires that destroyed homes across Los Angeles area will test Californias efforts to stabilize the states insurance marketplace after many insurers stopped issuing residential policies due to the high fire risk. The wind-driven blazes roared through neighborhoods from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena and the Hollywood Hills. The vast property damage in a disaster-prone state with high real estate prices and an uncertain insurance landscape could make coverage more expensive and even harder to find. The death toll from the blazes rose to 10, Los Angeles Countys Medical Examiner said in an update late on Thursday, without providing identities or other details. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told an earlier press conference he expected the number to grow. It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I dont expect good news, and were not looking forward to those numbers, Luna said. open image in gallery ( Cal Fire ) One area likely to feel the impact and encounter challenges rebuilding is Pacific Palisades, an affluent community sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains. This week's wildfire there has been named as the most destructive in the modern history of the city of Los Angeles. Flames destroyed businesses, a library, cultural landmarks as well as houses. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners insurance costs. State authorities previously listed the Palisades as one of the five Southern California areas with the highest concentration of potential wildfire risks. The community also is among the areas most impacted by an unavailability of insurance coverage. When State Farm decided to discontinue coverage for 72,000 houses and apartments in California last year, it dropped nearly 70% of its market share in Pacific Palisades, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. open image in gallery Smokes and flames overwhelms a commercial area during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area ( AFP via Getty Images ) Here's what to know about California's residential insurance crisis and how the ongoing wildfires may further disrupt the policy market: Why does California have a home insurance crisis? California has seen other major insurers pull back on property coverage in the nation's most populous state as climate change makes wildfires, floods and windstorms more common and damaging. Of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in state history, at least 15 occurred since 2015. The data did not include the Los Angeles area fires this week. open image in gallery Smoke lingers over a neighborhood devastated by the Eaton Fire on Thursday ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) In 2023, seven of the 12 largest insurance companies by market share in California either paused or restricted issuing new policies in the state. That has made it extremely difficult for homeowners in high-risk areas to obtain or afford insurance. What happens to residents who can't get regular home insurance? California homeowners in wildfire-prone areas either go without insurance or join the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, which the state created as a last resort for homeowners who couldn't find insurance. Many people purchase the FAIR Plan to satisfy their mortgage requirements, but the policies only cover basic property damage and carry a $3 million limit. Given the value of the real estate involved and the limited coverage, FAIR Plan policyholders who lost homes in this week's fires may struggle to be made whole. The policies can be very bare bones, with some options only covering the actual cash value of what was lost rather than the true replacement costs, said Amy Bach, executive director of the consumer advocacy group United Policyholders. The plan was designed to be a temporary solution, but more Californians are relying on it than ever. The number of FAIR residential policies issued in the state more than doubled between 2020 and 2024, reaching nearly 452,000 policies. Could claims from the LA fires push the FAIR Plan into insolvency? Policies sold to FAIR customers primarily fund the plan, but insurers would have to pay into the fund if it becomes insolvent or to keep it from insolvency. Under a new state rule, insurers could ask the state to approve rate increases to recoup the money spent on bailing out the FAIR Plan. open image in gallery The sun sets over damage from the Eaton Fire, ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) FAIR Plan spokesperson Hilary McLean said it could take years to tally total losses from the Los Angeles area fires. While it's too soon for reliable loss estimates, the FAIR Plan anticipates being able to pay out claims from the wildfires, McLean said. We are aware of misinformation being posted online regarding the FAIR Plans ability to pay claims," she said in a statement. "The FAIR Plan has payment mechanisms in place, including reinsurance, to ensure all covered claims are paid. The plan has roughly $700 million in cash on hand and about $2.5 billion in reinsurance, according to testimony given to California lawmakers last year. The mean home value in Pacific Palisades and its surrounding areas hovers around $3.3 million, according to real estate company Redfin. Owners of the most valuable properties probably are not relying on the FAIR Plan because of the coverage limit, said Jamie Court, president of nonprofit organization Consumer Watchdog. The claims from the fires will be significant, Court said, but this is not enough to put the industry out of business or the FAIR Plan out of business. How has California responded to the insurance crisis? In a new tactic, state officials undertook a yearlong overhaul to give insurers more latitude to raise premiums in exchange for more issuing policies in high-risk areas. A new regulation that took effect this month allows insurers to consider climate change when setting their prices. California previously did not let insurance companies factor in current or future risks when deciding how much to charge. Many companies cited the restriction as their reason for retreating from the state's insurance market. open image in gallery Robert Karban fills a bucket with water from a swimming pool to put out hot spots at a home destroyed by the Eaton fire,. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The state is also in the final stage of approving a rule that would let insurance companies pass on the costs of reinsurance to California consumers. Insurance companies typically buy reinsurance or insurance for themselves in case they face huge payouts from natural disasters or catastrophic losses. California is the only state that doesnt already allow the cost of reinsurance to be borne by policyholders. The new rules have prompted Farmers, the second-largest insurer in the state, to resume writing new policies for homeowners last month. Consumer Watchdog's Court says the rules also could make it easier for insurers to raise rates with little oversight. How will the fires impact California's insurance market? It's premature to assess whether the wind-whipped fires and their destruction will put a damper on California's attempt to preserve home insurance options for residents, said Denneile Ritter, a vice president with the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the largest national trade association for home, auto and business insurers. But higher homeowner premiums could be coming soon, RAND economist Lloyd Dixon said. If insurers' models signal a potential increase of risk, then youd expect to see the requests for premium increases by the insurers, he said. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said Wednesday that the newly enacted rules allowing climate change consideration in premiums will help insurers accurately assess risks and set fair rates. The state is also issuing a one-year moratorium prohibiting insurance companies from dropping coverage in areas affected by fires. Insurance companies are pledging their commitment to California, and we will hold them accountable for the promises they have made, Lara said in a statement. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have killed at least 16 people and destroyed 12,000 structures, with six fires burning into a fifth night. The 23,000-acre Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank among the most destructive blazes in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 53 square miles and turning entire neighborhoods to ash. The death toll from the blazes is now at 16, Los Angeles County's Medical Examiner said on Saturday night. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said earlier he expected the number to grow. Wildfires have now scorched more than 39,000 acres of land in Southern California. It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I dont expect good news, and were not looking forward to those numbers, Luna said. open image in gallery A building burns in Altadena, California, as wildfires scorch much of the Los Angeles area. The fires could soon spread to other aras if not contained ( Invision ) Forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, warning of a difficult recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs. President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100 percent of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries. Where are the fires currently burning? open image in gallery Mapped: Los Angeles wildfires ( Datawrapper/ The Independent ) In all, six wildfires burned in Los Angeles County, with the largest Palisades fire just 11 percent contained and the Eaton fire 27 percent contained as of Sunday morning. Skies buzzed with aircraft dropping retardant and water on the flaming hills. A large Super Scooper aircraft on loan from Canada was damaged and grounded after hitting an unauthorized civilian drone near the Palisades fire, the L.A. County Fire Department said. There were no injuries. One rapidly growing blaze broke out on Thursday near Calabasas, one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. and home to numerous celebrities and gated communities. The Kenneth Fire expanded to 1052 acres in a matter of hours but is now 100 percent contained. open image in gallery The wind whips embers while firefighters battle the fire in the Angeles National Forest near Mt. Wilson ( REUTERS ) Some Pacific Palisades residents ventured back to areas the fire had already swept through, where brick chimneys were left looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles. Winds dropped on Thursday from the 100 mph gusts seen earlier in the week, permitting crucial aerial support for crews on the ground. Firefighting crews managed to fully control the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, after flames had raged atop the ridge overlooking Hollywood Boulevards Walk of Fame on Wednesday night. Where could the wildfire move to next? AccuWeather forecasters said winds on Friday are not expected to be as strong as they were earlier this week during the windstorm. Offshore winds are expected to pick up again Sunday in advance of another area of low pressure that will move south through California, the forecaster said. open image in gallery Offshore winds are expected to pick up again Sunday in advance of another area of low pressure that will move south through California ( AccuWeather ) The Santa Ana winds are expected to pick back up early next week, The Weather Channel noted. Los Angeles County remains under a red flag warning which indicates dangerous fire conditions until at least Friday evening. AccuWeather predicts wind gusts of 40-60 mph starting Monday through Tuesday night. open image in gallery AccuWeather predicts wind gusts of 40-60 mph starting Monday through Tuesday night ( AccuWeather ) Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, said the wildfire disaster in Southern California is the latest multi-billion-dollar weather disaster in the United States that is straining state and federal firefighting and emergency resources. Many parts of the world face serious impacts and threats from our warming climate and changes to extreme weather patterns. California is on the forefront of climate change in the United States, and this tragic disaster is the latest in a devastating series of extreme weather events resulting in multi-billion-dollar disasters, Porter said. Live: evacuation order areas in Los Angeles County What is causing the fires? The fast-moving wildfires are being fueled by a weather phenomenon known as the Santa Ana winds. The Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from Nevada and Utah to Southern California toward the coast. They move in the opposite direction of the normal onshore flow that carries moist air from the Pacific into the region. The name is understood to be linked to Santa Ana Canyon in Orange County, but the weather has other nicknames such as devil winds or red wind. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Biden administration succeeded Thursday in temporarily blocking accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed from entering a guilty plea in a deal that would spare him the risk of execution for al-Qaida's Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It is the latest development in a long struggle by the U.S. military and successive administrations to bring to justice the man charged with planning one of the deadliest attacks ever on the United States. It stalls an attempt to wrap up more than two decades of military prosecution beset by legal and logistical troubles. A three-judge appeals panel agreed to put on hold Mohammed's guilty plea scheduled for Friday in a military commission courtroom at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In an unusual move, the Biden administration is pushing to throw out a plea agreement that its own Defense Department had negotiated with Mohammed and two 9/11 co-defendants. open image in gallery The two-decade long struggle to bring justice to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, center, has once again hit a bump. ( AP ) Mohammed is accused of developing and directing the plot to crash hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Another of the hijacked planes flew into a field in Pennsylvania. A small number of relatives of some of the nearly 3,000 victims already had gathered in Guantanamo to hear Mohammed take responsibility in one of the most painful chapters in American history. "It's very upsetting," said Elizabeth Miller, who lost her firefighter father, Douglas Miller, in the attacks and leads a group of 9/11 families supporting the plea agreements and opposing execution for the defendants. She sees the deals as "the best way for families to receive finality." "It's unfortunate that the larger government isn't recognizing it," she said by phone Thursday from Guantanamo. But Gordon Haberman, whose daughter, Andrea, was killed at the World Trade Center while on a business trip, took heart. "If this leads to a full trial for these guys, then I'm in favor of that," he said. The appeals panel stressed that its order would hold only as long as it took to more fully consider arguments and that it should not be considered a final ruling. The court scheduled some of the next steps for Jan. 22, meaning the fight would extend into the Trump administration. Defense lawyers had worked to wrap up the pleas by President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. It's not clear whether Trump would seek to intervene in the military commission's work. open image in gallery Defense Secretary has long opposed the deals, believing the decision on the death penalty should only be made by someone holding his office. ( REUTERS ) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has led the fight to overturn the politically divisive plea deals, saying a decision on the death penalty in an attack as grave as Sept. 11 should only be made by the defense secretary. Defense lawyers said in filings that attempts to throw out the agreement is the latest in the government's two decades of "fitful" and "negligent" mishandling of the case. They say the deal is already in effect and that Austin has no legal authority to throw it out after the fact. The fight has put the Biden administration at odds with the U.S. military officials it appointed to oversee justice in the attacks. The deal, negotiated over two years and approved by military prosecutors and the Pentagon's senior official for Guantanamo in late July, stipulated life sentences without parole for Mohammed and two co-defendants. It also obligates them to answer any lingering questions that families of the victims have about the attacks. Legal and logistical challenges have bogged down the 9/11 case in the 17 years since charges were filed against Mohammed. The case remains in pretrial hearings, with no trial date set. The torture of Mohammed and other 9/11 defendants in CIA custody has posed one of the biggest obstacles, potentially rendering their later statements unusable in court. open image in gallery Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, pictured shortly after his capture, was tortured by CIA agents, along with his co-defendants. ( AP2003 ) With that in mind, military prosecutors notified families this summer that the senior Pentagon official overseeing Guantanamo had approved a plea deal. They called it "the best path to finality and justice." Austin unexpectedly announced Aug. 2 that he was scrapping the agreement. After the Guantanamo judge and a military review panel rejected Austin's intervention, the Biden administration went to the District of Columbia federal appeals court this week. Mohammed's attorneys argued that Austin's "extraordinary intervention in this case is solely a product of his lack of oversight over his own duly appointed delegate," meaning the senior Pentagon official overseeing Guantanamo. The Justice Department said that if the guilty pleas were accepted, the government would be denied a chance for a public trial and the opportunity to "seek capital punishment against three men charged with a heinous act of mass murder that caused the death of thousands of people and shocked the nation and the world." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Agents representing Donald Trumps newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the non-governmental agency being spearheaded by tech billionaire duo Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - tasked with trimming excess federal spending have already set to work, even before the new president has been inaugurated. Surrogates for DOGE, which is still very much a work-in-progress, have already visited 12 federal agencies for preliminary interviews with staffers about the running of those workplaces, The Washington Post reports. The Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and the departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services are among the bureaus that have already answered the door to the agents and addressed their questions, according to the Post. The development comes shortly after Musk, the worlds richest man, began to walk back his boast that DOGE would be able to find $2 trillion in savings as part of its mission to rein in bureaucracy and waste in Washington DC which appears to be premised on proposing drastic cuts and mass firings, as occurred at Twitter after Musk acquired the social network in 2022 and rebranded it as X. Taking part in a remote interview with Stagwell CEO Mark Penn as part of the CES tech trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday, Musk was asked: Do you think the $2 trillion is a realistic number now that youre looking more closely at it? I think well try for $2 trillion. I think thats the best-case outcome, he answered. But I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, weve got a good shot at getting $1 [trillion]. Much is currently unknown about precisely how his department will operate, with its role ostensibly advisory and limited to making recommendations for the White House Office of Management and Budget to act upon as it sees fit. There also appears to be a good chance that DOGE will encounter plenty of obstacles as it goes about its business, from both congressional Republicans reluctant to wave through large budget cuts that could impact their constituencies and career civil servants uncomfortable with Silicon Valleys disrupter culture being let loose on the slow-moving and necessarily intricate machinery of Washington. It is also currently unclear what authority the fledgling body currently has, how it fits into the wider Trump transition teams schedule of briefings with staff from agencies it is about to assume control of and who, at this stage, is paying the agents salaries. Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk ( AFP/Getty ) More generally, it is not obvious how DOGE hopes to go about driving change, with the next fiscal year for the US government not beginning until October 1 and spending for the current one being thrashed out on Capitol Hill under the leadership of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Musk tried to incite a rebellion against Johnson last month over a stop-gap spending bill he took exception to, only for Johnson to break it up into separate legislation and pass many of the provisions he objected to anyway, with the speaker subsequently re-elected to a new term last week. The Department of Defense was one agency that the GOP voted overwhelmingly to boost spending for in light of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza it is also a bureau the billionaires had singled-out for downsizing. What is known is that DOGE currently has around 50 staff working out of Musks SpaceX office in downtown DC and that hiring is continuing apace, with insiders telling the Post that the aim is to double the size of its employee roster by the time Trump is inaugurated on January 20. Musks agency has already made executive appointments, adding the likes of Boring Company president Steve Davis and former Uber executive Emil Michael to oversee its project, with the president-elect also assigning political insiders Katie Miller and Bill McGinley to help out. When advertising positions, DOGE has invited applications from super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting and has reportedly been using the encrypted messaging app Signal to orchestrate its efforts. Immediately after Christmas, it said it was seeking personnel to work on its IT, HR and financial arms in full-time, salaried positions and has since put out a call for full-time software and information security engineers to join its ranks. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 9, 2025, Bebest (Shanghai) Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. (BIBO) announced the completion of its Series B funding, which raised for the company over 300 million yuan. Photo credit: BIBO The fresh round was led by Puhua Capital, Orient Renaissance Capital, Hang Lung Group, and Baolong Automotive. With the funds, BIBO has made strides in the mass production and delivery of its intelligent braking and suspension products. The company has also firmed up several strategic partnerships and projects in the realm of intelligent steering. A key highlight of this round is introducing Hang Lung Group as a new strategic investor, which has already collaborated with BIBO on intelligent rear-wheel-steering and steer-by-wire systems. These products have undergone successful testing with nearly ten clients. Besides, Baolong Automotive, as an existing shareholder, continued to invest in this round. The intelligent suspension air supply system, a collaborative effort between Baolong Automotive and BIBO, has entered mass production and garnered robust order volumes within a year. Currently, BIBO has achieved mass production of its full range of intelligent braking and suspension products. Its intelligent rear-wheel-steering system, steer-by-wire system, and electronic mechanical braking system are in the final testing stage before mass production, with full-scale production set to commence in 2026. BIBO has developed a comprehensive product portfolio encompassing intelligent braking, steering, and suspension systems, and domain controllers. BIBO's flagship product, BIBO Integrated Brake Control System (BIBC/One-Box), achieved large-scale shipments in 2024, with deliveries projected to exceed 300,000 sets in 2025. In addition, BIBO so far has delivered over 500,000-set intelligent braking products cumulatively, with monthly deliveries surpassing 40,000 sets. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump Jr.s team gave unhoused and socially disadvantaged people MAGA hats and offered them a free meal during his recent trip to Greenland, according to a Danish media outlet. Trumps oldest son visited Greenland this week as his father expressed interest in buying the island despite officials making it clear its not for sale. Danish public media organization DR News reports that many of the Trump supporters pictured dining with the president-elects son were unhoused and socially disadvantaged people asked to wear MAGA merch and offered a free dinner at Hotel Hans Egede in the town of Nuuk. After his visit, Trump Jr. said Greenland residents [love] America and Trump. But multiple employees told DR News that Trump Jr.s team handed MAGA hats to several people in front of Brugseni, a nearby grocery store, while inviting them to a free lunch at the hotel. Brugseni employees and long-time town residents told DR News they recognized many of the people photographed dining with Trump Jr. Tom Amtoft, a Nuuk resident of nearly three decades, told DR News that they are unhoused and elderly people who have difficulty making ends meet. All they have to do is put on a cap and be in the Trump staffs videos...it is deeply distasteful, Amtoft said. The Independent has contacted Trumps transition team for comment. Trump has floated the idea of buying or otherwise taking over Greenland, an island home to 56,000 people. He refused to rule out the possible use of military force in Greenland when pressed Monday during a press conference. For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity, Trump wrote on Truth Social last month. Denmarks prime minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that Greenlands Prime Minister, Mute Edege, "has been very, very clear ... there is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The fundraising for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump has beaten all records, gathering an unprecedented $170 million. Tech executives and big donors have donated massive sums of money to curry favor with the incoming president. The donations are usually spent on events surrounding the inauguration, such as the oath of office ceremony, a parade, and several inaugural balls. The fundraising sum was initially reported Wednesday by The New York Times. Federal Election Commission records reveal that President Joe Biden brought in $62 million for his inauguration four years ago. When Trump was inaugurated in 2016, the donations also set a record then as he collected more than $106 million. Following Trumps second election victory in November, Amazon and Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, revealed that they would each donate $1 million to the inauguration. Meanwhile, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, said he was planning on making a $1 million donation. Similarly, Google has also donated $1 million to the inaugural fund. Altman has been critical of Trump in the past but recently told Bloomberg: Hes the president of the United States. I support any president. Late last year, Trump indicated that he wouldnt rule out antitrust enforcement, a sensitive area for Google. Google is pleased to support the 2025 inauguration with a livestream on YouTube and a direct link on our homepage. Were also donating to the inaugural committee, the global head of government affairs and public policy, Karan Bhatia, told CNBC in a statement. A spokesperson noted that the company has donated to previous inaugurations and that the link on the homepage and the YouTube livestream are also similar measures to past inaugurations. U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. His inaugural committee has raised more than $170 million for his next inauguration ( Getty Images ) Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is also reported to have contributed to the inauguration. After an election victory, candidates typically appoint an inaugural committee, which then organizes and finances events, such as opening ceremonies, balls, and the parade. There are no limits on how much an individual, company, or group can donate to the committee. Last month, Ford joined the tech companies donating to the inauguration, pledging $1 million and a fleet of vehicles backing the proceedings. Microsoft has also joined the other tech giants in donating $1 million to the inauguration, according to Forbes. Similarly, AI search startup Perplexity will also donate $1 million to the inaugural fund, and its also handing the administration a free version of its premium software to be a good partner to the incoming administration, chief business officer Dmitry Shevelenko told Bloomberg. The inaugural committee has to file a report with the Federal Election Commission outlining all of the donations by the 90th day following the inauguration. The inaugural committee is no longer selling tickets to major donors to attend the swearing-in ceremony and private events in the nations capital, according to The New York Times. Even some donors who have donated more than a million dollars have been put on waiting lists or have been told that they probably wont get VIP tickets as the events are already full, the paper reported. Donors are usually looking for seats at the inauguration or tickets to one of the inaugural balls. Inaugural events are important for lobbyists as they leverage donations from corporate sponsors and wealthy donors in a bid to boost their influence or improve their relationship with an incoming administration. Possible donors were told this week that no further seats were available for some events, and the donation link fundraisers were sharing with their networks no longer functioned by Tuesday and Wednesday. Events connected to the inauguration begin on January 17 with those who have given $1 million or raised $2 million supposed to get six tickets to six events, including the swearing-in ceremony and a candlelight dinner on January 19 with Trump and incoming First Lady Melania Trump. Those individuals also got two tickets to a dinner with Vice President-elect JD Vance and wife Usha Vance. Packages put forward to corporate and individual donors were initially advertised as being available until Friday, but they ended earlier because of higher-than-expected demand. The committee could ultimately raise more than $200 million. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy President-elect Donald Trump said that a meeting is being planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the incoming commander-in-chief pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and a greater presence in the Arctic. Trump told the press at Mar-a-Lago that Putin wants to meet and we are setting it up. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. Thats a bloody mess, he added. The Kremlin responded that it was open to having talks but that no specific details had been decided. Trump has long said that he plans to negotiate an end to the conflict and shared deep skepticism of U.S. support for the Ukrainian war effort. A Ukraine foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday that they expect talks to occur with the Trump administration following the January 20 inauguration, according to the BBC. That would also include a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has nominated former national security adviser and retired lieutenant-general Keith Kellogg to be the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. In April last year, Kellogg outlined his thoughts on how the conflict may come to an end in a research paper released by the Trump-supporting think tank the America First Policy Institute. He suggested that Ukraine should only get additional aid from the Americans if it agreed to take part in talks with the Russians to end the war. But Kellogg also said that the U.S. should continue its funding of the Ukrainian war effort if the Russians refuse to come to the table. After Trumps victory in November, Zelensky said he thought the war would end sooner than it would have otherwise and that he had had a constructive exchange over the phone with him, without sharing if the president-elect had put forward any requirements on talks with Russia. open image in gallery Trump has said that a meeting with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin is being set up as he promises to end the war in the Ukraine. ( AFP via Getty Images ) We have a lot of meetings set up with a lot of people. But Id rather wait after the 20th, Trump said of the possible meeting with Putin. The Kremlin said Friday that Putin is willing to meet with Trump without any conditions, according to the TASS news agency. President Putin has repeatedly stated his openness to contacts with international leaders, including the U.S. President and Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to the agency. No conditions are required for this. What is required is a mutual desire and political will to conduct a dialogue and resolve existing problems through dialogue. On Thursday, Peskov said no official requests had been made from the Trump team for a meeting. If, after taking office, the political will to resume contacts at the highest level remains, then, of course, President Putin will only welcome this, Peskov said during a press conference. While Trump has claimed that he can end the war in 24 hours, there are concerns that a quick peace deal will be harmful to the Ukrainians. But on Tuesday, Trump suggested to reporters that six months would be a more realistic timeline. The Kremlin has claimed that it prefers diplomacy to war even as it pushes on with its territorial claims over five regions in Ukraine, according toThe New York Times. We need a mutual desire and political willingness to engage in a dialogue, Peskov said Friday. We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to solve issues via dialogue. We welcome that. It looks like things will start to move after Trump enters the Oval Office, he added. However, Peskov didnt confirm that Putin had asked for a meeting with Trump or that one was being planned. One of the top requirements for Russia to end the war is that Ukraine doesnt join NATO, and speaking during the press conference on Tuesday, Trump said he was sympathetic to that position. open image in gallery Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that he believes the war will end quicker under a Trump administration. ( AP ) This comes as Trump continues to push for more control over the Arctic in a showdown with Russia and China. Trump has recently been arguing that the U.S. should purchase Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. This week, Trump declined to rule out military action to acquire Greenland. This is not just about Greenland. This is about the Arctic. You have Russia that is trying to become king ... Its oil and gas. Its our national security. Its critical minerals, Trumps incoming national security adviser said during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday. Other Arctic nations are keeping a close eye on the actions of their larger neighbors, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre reiterating that the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard belongs to Norway and that its safe during an appearance on the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Andreas sthagen, a researcher at the Oslo Fridtjof Nansen Institute, told Politico that Trumps statements about taking over Greenland could provoke other countries, such as Russia and China, to view the use of military force against another country to pursue their national interests as a legitimate means of operations in international affairs. Greenland is quite far away from Russia. I would be more worried about other targets like the Finnish border, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, or even the maritime boundary between the U.S. and Russia. I think those are more vulnerable [...] than Greenland per se, he added. open image in gallery Greenland has become a renewed target for Trump. His son, Don Jr, visited the autonomous territory on Tuesday, although his meetings with enthusiastic MAGA locals have been questioned. ( via REUTERS ) Trumps renewed interest in Greenland led to his son, Don Jr, traveling there this week. Although footage released from the trip featured locals who were seemingly sympathetic to the MAGA cause, Greenland lawmaker Pipaluk Lynge claimed that the visit was staged. No journalists were allowed to interview him. It was all staged to make it seem like we the Greenlandic people were MAGA and love to be a part of the USA, Lynge told Politico. A spokesperson for the son of the president-elect told the outlet that the visit was not staged and that the claim was ridiculous. We know how they treat the Inuit in Alaska, Lynge said following the president-elects refusal to rule out military action. Make that great before trying to invade us. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump will be sentenced in his historic New York hush money case today, becoming the first US president former or sitting to face a criminal trial, let alone a guilty verdict and subsequent sentencing. Mr Trump is set to be sentenced at 9:30am local time (2.30pm GMT) after Manhattan-based Judge Juan Merchan denied his attempt to throw out the guilty verdict and the Supreme Court voted 5-4 against pausing the sentencing. The court ruled the hearing will not be delayed because Mr Trumps argument for throwing out the verdict can be addressed in the standard appeals process, and the sentencing will place an insubstantial burden on Mr Trump as no penalties will be imposed. What is Trump being sentenced for? Mr Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, with prosecutors arguing Mr Trump falsely recorded reimbursements he made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen for paying $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels, so she would keep quiet about an alleged affair with the then-candidate. The trial played out with the extraordinary backdrop of Mr Trumps hugely successful campaign to retake the White House four years after he was kicked out of office. open image in gallery Donald Trump speaking at a press conference following his guilty verdict in the criminal hush money trial in May 2024 ( REUTERS ) Ms Daniels was claiming she had had a sexual encounter with Mr Trump. Mr Trump denies this and denies allegations of an affair. State prosecutors contended at trial that Mr Trump marked these repayments to Cohen as legal expenses on financial documents, intendeding to hide Trumps violation of New York election law, which forbids promoting any person to office through unlawful means. They said that the unlawful means were the payoff to Daniels, as they cast it as an illegal campaign contribution. Trump denies the charges. What is Trumps sentence likely to be? Judge Merchan has said there is no legal impediment to sentencing. It is this Courts firm belief that only by bringing finality to this matter will all three interests be served, the judge wrote in a ruling in early January, which the Supreme Court later refused to overrule. A jury heard evidence for nearly seven weeks and pronounced its verdict; Defendant and the People were given every opportunity to address intervening decisions, to exhaust every possible motion in support of and in opposition to, their respective positions in what is an unprecedented, and likely never to be repeated legal scenario, the judge said. This Court must sentence Defendant within a reasonable time following verdict; and Defendant must be permitted to avail himself of every available appeal, a path he has made clear he intends to pursue but which only becomes fully available upon sentencing, Judge Merchan added. open image in gallery Justice Juan Merchan says an unconditional discharge is the most likely option ( REUTERS ) Each count is punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000. A prison sentence was effectively ruled out by Judge Merchan in his early-January ruling, who noted that prosecutors had acknowledged incarceration would not be practicable. Granting unconditional discharge is the most viable solution, the judge said. This means Mr Trump will remain convicted but will not have any penalties imposed on him. According to New York law, the court would have to explain its reason for giving unconditional discharge to the defendant, who is released without imprisonment, fine or probation supervision. In theory, Mr Trump could be fined up to $170,000 even if he is not given prison time, and could be issued penalties such as probation. Will Trump be able to pardon himself? A sentencing means Mr Trump will be formally convicted of the crimes, even when given unconditional discharge. The sentencing means Mr Trump will be allowed to formally appeal the jurys verdict against him, which he couldnt do previously. Mr Trump will not be allowed to pardon himself. As the criminal case was brought in a state court there is no mechanism by which Mr Trump can pardon himself. There is legal debate around whether Mr Trump would be allowed to pardon himself in a federal case, rather than a state case - but this does not apply to the hush money case. The two federal criminal cases against Mr Trump have both previously dropped. open image in gallery Trump, alongside his attorney Todd Blanche, speaks to the media as he arrives for his criminal trial ( via REUTERS ) What will Trumps conviction really mean? As a convicted felon, Mr Trump will face a number of restrictions - but as incoming president many will likely not apply to him. The conviction did not affect his election as president. The US Constitution states only that the president must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of the US and have been a resident of the US for 14 years. Legally, Mr Trump wont be able to serve on a jury, own a firearm, or travel to a number of countries which bar convicted felons, such as Canada. Precedent was set for this by president George W. Bush, who required a waiver to enter Canada after previously pleading guilty to drunk driving. Australia, Canada, China, Japan and the United Kingdom also have these restrictions in place, according to Forbes. The restrictions vary state-by-state, but according to The Law Dictionary can also include voting, employment in certain fields, and parental benefits - none of which are likely to have much impact on Mr Trump. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Trump family is in talks to reacquire their Washington D.C. hotel, which could reveal how the president-elect is set to handle issues related to possible conflicts of interest. This week, Eric Trump met at Mar-a-Lago with a bank executive from BDT & MSD, which is in control of the lease on the building, people familiar with the meeting told The Wall Street Journal. Eric Trump is an executive vice president at the president-elects real estate company, and he discussed possibly buying the lease. What was the Trump International Hotel at the Old Post Office building is now the Waldorf Astoria. The building is owned by the federal government and was leased to the Trump family. Trump opened the hotel the same year that he was initially elected to the presidency in 2016. He sold the lease in 2022 for $375 million. The family company is now looking to operate a hotel in the nations capital as Trump once again prepares to enter the White House. The family is still interested in the Old Post Office Building, according to The Journal. Getting the rights to the hotel back could cost more than $300 million, the paper noted. Democrats argued during his first term that Trumps stake in the hotel violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause, a constitutional provision forbidding a president from receiving things of value from foreign or state governments. Critics argued that this would also apply to foreign officials spending large amounts of money on Trump hotel rooms, the hotels restaurant, and room service. At the time, The Trump Organization said that it didnt market the hotel to foreign officials and that it handed a check to the Treasury Department for the funds made from guests representing foreign governments. But the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia still filed lawsuits in connection to the emoluments clause. The Trump family is reportedly interested in reacquiring the lease for the Old Post Office in Washington, D.C., despite the issues it caused during the president-elects first term. ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Supreme Court dismissed the case in 2021 after President Joe Biden entered office. If the Trumps reacquire the hotel, similar conflicts of interest claims will likely be made once more. The Trump Organization issued an ethics pledge for the second term of Donald Trump on Friday, which included appointing an outside lawyer and restricting Trumps access to specific financial information. But ethics lawyers said the measures were insufficient, according to The New York Times. The measures are mostly similar to those put in place eight years ago. The outside attorney is to review family business transactions above $10 million and assets owned by Trump will be kept in a trust. But unlike eight years previously, the Trumps are not committing to stopping any new international real estate agreements. But it is agreeing to conduct no new transactions with foreign governments. We are going above and beyond, Eric Trump told The Times Friday. George W Bushs White House ethics lawyer, Richard Painter, told the paper that If the president receives any profits or benefits from foreign governments not just new deals then he is in violation of the Constitution. The money flow has to stop on January 20, he added. The Trumps won a bidding war for the long-term lease on the Old Post Office building in 2012, which, during Trumps presidency, became a place for lawmakers, supporters, lobbyists, and others with business in connection to the Trump administration to meet. The New York Post previously reported that Trump is thinking about making a second bid for the hotel. Rep. Gerry Connolly, the Democratic ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement Friday that a second Trump presidency will bring with it another round of blatant self-dealing. The Trump Hotel in Washington is a billboard for conflicts of interest. Trumps D.C. hotel received an estimated $3.7 million from foreign governments during his time in office, and he now returns to dip his fingers back in the pot. This kind of in-your-face self-enrichment cannot be tolerated again. The Trump family hired the real estate firm JLL in 2019 to find out if there was a buyer for the hotel. Eric Trump said at the time that the possibility of selling the rights to the hotel was prompted partly by the criticism that they were violating ethics rules as they made money from the property. People are objecting to us making so much money on the hotel, and therefore we may be willing to sell, he told The Wall Street Journal. The CGI Merchant Group subsequently bought the lease for $375 million but defaulted on the debt in connection with the deal in 2023. The lender, BDT & MSD Partners, foreclosed on the building and asserted control over the lease. The bank has been operating the hotel ever since. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A key immigration enforcement measure could be on track for passage thanks to Democrats crossing party lines to support it. The failure of the Democratic Partys leadership and standard-bearers to present a winning message on immigration reform in 2024 is coming back to bite outgoing President Joe Biden. With days left of his presidency and the fight to define his legacy begun, his allies in Congress are seemingly prepared to compromise with the GOP on a bill that would direct immigration authorities to detain any undocumented person charged with theft. The legislation, which is named after a woman slain by an undocumented Venezuelan migrant, would represent a major messaging victory for Republicans to ring in the new year were it to be passed. But Americans anger over inaction on the issue has given the GOP a political opening, and the bill won dozens of Democratic votes as it passed the House last week. In the Senate, the bill easily passed a key vote to allow debate to begin next week. Democrats signaled Wednesday that theyd vote for cloture after John Thune, the GOPs new majority leader, allowed amendments to the bill. The vote was 84-9 in favor. open image in gallery Chuck Schumer, leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, joined all but a handful of his party in voting to advance the Laken Riley Act to the floor for debate on Thursday. ( Getty Images ) The debate on amendments could be contentious. However, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday that numerous Democrats are prepared to vote for the bill as is, meaning that a filibuster may not materialize even if all of the Democratic-sponsored amendments fail. Part of that stemmed from the decision of two relative newcomers to the chamber, John Fetterman and Ruben Gallego, to cosponsor the Act before any amendments were announced. Gallego told reporters on Thursday that voters in November made clear their expectations for Congress and the White House to work together and address Americas overwhelmed immigration system. It doesnt necessarily have to be this bill, but I do think that there is a general consensus that has come from the voters, Gallego told The Independent ahead of the vote. They want us to work together. President Biden and the White House have been virtually silent on the issue. With just 11 days until he turns over the keys to the Oval Office back to Trump, administration officials acknowledge that tougher border and migrant policies are back in vogue. At least one such official Bidens outgoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director, P.J. Lechleitner is speaking out against the lax way the outgoing administration handled migration policy. He told NBC News that he and other career DHS officials wouldve preferred that the border restrictions Biden imposed this past June had come much earlier in the presidents term. In an interview, he told the network that Biden absolutely shouldve acted more quickly to stem the migrant flows. I think the career people in DHS would have liked that and all of us in DHS, quite frankly, I dont know if anybody in DHS wouldnt have wanted that earlier, he said. Privately, White House aides dont disagree with the sentiment. It is understood that among those close to the president, theres long been a sense of frustration over how the Democratic Partys full-throated resistance to Trump over his first term effectively poisoned the well and made it impossible for Biden to take a tougher line even as record numbers of asylum seekers poured over the border and overwhelmed both border communities and the urban strongholds where GOP governors began sending the migrants for political effect. When Biden came into office after a 2020 election win seen as a repudiation of Trump, anything with even a whiff of restrictionism risked setting off alarm bells with migrant rights groups who werent shy about stoking progressive anger. While some in the leftward reaches of the Democratic Party are still pushing against the GOP-authored bill, congressional leaders have not been actively whipping votes against the legislation or speaking out in opposition. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, voted to advance the bill to the floor on Thursday over opposition from some progressives. Progressives decried the lack of resistance from their party. Opponents of the legislation say that the beginning or completion of deportation processes before an undocumented person is convicted of a crime represents violations of due process rights. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent on Thursday that she hoped to see more resistance from her party in the Senate next week. open image in gallery Freshman Senator Ruben Gallego was one of two Democrats to come out as a co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act this week. ( AFP via Getty Images ) What people need to understand is that if we startrounding people up just based on an accusation of a crime, remove peoples day in court, eliminate the basic constitutional rights...thats the beginning of the end when it comes to the erosion of our civil liberties in America. The bills supporters include Republicans including president-elect Donald Trump who have raised fears about a supposed migrant crime wave, which experts and conviction statistics say is wholly imaginary. The killing of Laken Riley and other crimes committed by migrants have received massive media attention, and fueled those fears. But they also include Democrats in purple districts and states answering to voters shocked by images of massive groups of migrants bound for the US border which have been displayed across rightwing and mainstream media alike. Concerns about ongoing criminal cartel violence in Mexico and Central America remain high in border states as well, especially given the dominance of those groups over routes used by migrants aiming to cross the border illegally. One of the battleground state Democrats due to support the bill with or without amendments was Michigans newly-elected Elissa Slotkin. She noted on Twitter, however: No matter what, this bill certainly doesnt address the root causes of our broken immigration system, which we need to do to ever truly deal with immigration issues writ large in this country. In the Senate, I will work with anyone anyone! who is serious about real immigration reform that secures our southern border and stops the flow of fentanyl, keys our immigration system to the real needs of our economy, and lives up to our American values, said Slotkin. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Immigration attorneys and civil rights groups warn that the first immigration bill of the new Congress is opening the door to Donald Trumps planned mass deportation operation his pledge to invoke a national emergency, deploy military assets and send state and local law enforcement into immigrant communities across the country within his first days in office. The Senate voted 84-9 on Thursday to begin debate on the Laken Riley Act, with only nine Democratic senators voting against it and five not voting at all. The House passed the bill by a vote of 264-159 on Tuesday, with 48 Democrats voting for it. Republicans, led by Trump, have consistently hammered Democrats on the US-Mexico border, often using dehumanizing language that the United States was being invaded. The bill was named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed by Jose Ibarra, who was in the country illegally from Venezuela. In a letter to Congress, the ACLU called the legislation a slippery slope to Trumps anti-immigration agenda that exploits Rileys death to escalate a consistently xenophobic and false narrative about immigrants. It is also a serious threat to civil liberties that would inflict damage on an already taxed immigration system, invite racial profiling of longtime residents, and violate bedrock constitutional principles, the letter said. open image in gallery Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to advance immigration legislation that civil rights groups fear will open the door for Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda ( Getty Images ) Kerri Talbot, executive director of immigration policy organization Immigration Hub, told reporters on Thursday she was shocked how quickly lawmakers were advancing a dangerous and unconstitutional bill. As written, the bill would require federal authorities to detain people who have not been convicted or even charged with minor crimes like shoplifting, potentially sweeping thousands of people into mandatory detention at enormous taxpayer expense and diverting law enforcement resources, according to the ACLU. Immigrants who are arrested without being convicted could be subject to indefinite detention and deportation for petty offenses, including those that are often dismissed, according to Immigration Hub, which labeled the measure a backdoor to mass detention. State attorneys general would be allowed to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement issues. That includes bans on visas from entire nations what the American Immigration Councils Aaron Reichlin-Melnick called the most internationally significant part of the bill. The bill will open the floodgates to bad-faith lawsuits brought by hostile anti-immigrant politicians, ACLU senior border policy counsel Sarah Mehta told reporters, noting it will line the pockets of the private prison industry preparing for Trumps mass deportation and incarceration plans. She called the legislation an alarming threat to due process. The bill would also hamstring federal immigration authorities by forcing agents to shift resources towards arrests and detention for minor crimes while there is a shortage of facilities and beds, according to former Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief of staff Jason Houser. Agencies would be forced to move from determining how to humanely deter illegal immigration towards driving to pick someone up for petty theft at a CVS in the most rural part of Texas, he told reporters. People want sensible solutions. They want something done. They want order. They dont want chaos, Talbot said. This legislation does the exact opposite, she said. open image in gallery Immigrants turn themselves in to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers after crossing over a section of border wall January 5 in Arizona. ( Getty Images ) Several Democratic senators are supporting the legislation outright, while a handful of other Democrats agreed to bring the bill to a vote in order to introduce amendments that can scale back some of its far-reaching measures. Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the bill a gross violation of civil rights. When we start rounding people up just based on an accusation of a crime, remove peoples day in court, eliminate the basic constitutional rights that we are all important in this country, thats the beginning of the end when it comes to the erosion of our civil liberties in America, she said Thursday. What I want people to understand is that immigration has always been the Trojan Horse by which our rights, our surveillance, our civil liberties of everybody in this country begins to erode, she said. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told The Independent that hes concerned that the bill empowers state attorneys general to enforce immigration law and targets immigrants with arrest records rather than convictions, with a potentially sizable cost to taxpayers. Theres a cost to this bill, but because its not been through a committee, nobody knows what it is, but I think its going to be sizable, he told The Independent. I think its an important topic, and we ought to be debating it, but I have a lot of concerns, and I hope that we may be able to address some of them. Eric Garcia reports from Washington D.C. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The wife of Taliban detainee Ryan Corbett has announced her decision to show up unannounced to President-elect Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago home to forcibly demand his help in securing her husbands release. The decision, announced in a video on X , came as US-Taliban discussions proposed the exchange of a prisoner being held in Guantanamo Bay for the release of three Americans being held captive in Afghanistan, reports CNN . Top U.S. hostage envoy, Roger Carstens, was reportedly in Doha, Qatar, in recent days to present the new offer to the Taliban, the network reported citing a source close to the negotiations. In her most recent video, where Anna is seen packing her things for the trip, she says For 882 days, I have begged the Biden administration to bring him home alive. They have not delivered. We just celebrated Christmas without him and he has missed so many firsts in my childrens lives. Hes the heartbeat of our family and has left a huge gaping hole. open image in gallery Ryan Corbett, (pictured center with family), 40, a business consultant who was traveling with a German colleague when he was taken by the Taliban in August 2022 ( www.freeryancorbett.com ) Anna revealed that she had just received a text that President Trump has been briefed about the failed Biden administration prisoner swap. It seems like the only person who can do this is President Trump. A press spokesperson advised that Anna was unable to comment while she travels to Mar A Lago a decision she had no other choice to make after having 16 unsuccessful trips to Washington D.C. over two and a half years to attempt to talk with President Joe Biden about instigating Ryans release. This time, she hopes things will be different with the newly-elected Republican nominee. Her husband, Ryan Corbett, 40, George Glezmann, 65, and Mahmoud Habibi, 37, were all detained in Afghanistan in 2022 during a business trip to northern Afghanistan though The Taliban never acknowledged detaining Habibi, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Biden administration reportedly began the negotiations in July to discuss the exchange of the trio for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-profile prisoner alleged to be an Osama bin Laden associate held in Guantanamo Bay since 2008. open image in gallery Anna Corbett (pictured right) with Ryan (left) claims to have visited Washington D.C. sixteen times since her husband was captured but insists that the Biden administration has let her down ( www.freeryancorbett.com ) The day the Biden administration proposed the offer, in November 2024, the Taliban counteroffered seeking Rahim plus two others in exchange for Glezmann and Corbett, added The WSJ. In March 2024, Anna revealed that she and their three children received a "deeply disturbing 12-minute call from Ryanin which Ryan exhibited a significantly deteriorated mental state, according to CBS News. His captors have told him that he is forgotten by his country, and it seems he now believes them", the statement added. At that time, the family had only had five short phone calls from Ryan which totalled 44 minutes since he was detained in Afghanistan. But the swap has reportedly been stalled by Taliban officials wanting to curry favor with Trump opting to wait until President-elect Trump takes up office, according to The Telegraph Friday. The Independent contacted The White House for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Supreme Court justices slammed First Amendment arguments made by TikTok as the popular social media app tries to avoid a U.S. ban in the coming days. Lawyers for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, went before the Supreme Court on Friday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the app from vanishing. The government passed a ban on the app, unless it is sold, citing national security concerns given TikToks ties to Chinas communist party. TikTok has argued that the app should be able to exist in the U.S. under free speech claims. TikTok is one of the most popular social media applications in the U.S. with more than 170 million monthly users and more than half are under the age of 30. Congress doesnt care about whats on TikTok, Chief Justice John Roberts said during oral arguments. They dont care about the expression. Thats shown by the remedy. Theyre not saying TikTok has to stop. Theyre saying the Chinese have to stop controlling TikTok. open image in gallery Young advocates of TikTok protested outside of the Supreme Court on Friday in the hopes that justices strike down the law which would ban the app. Justices seemed unconvinced at TikToks First Amendement arguments as it faces a potential U.S. ban ( Getty Images ) Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned lawyers and noted they kept referring to the so-called shutting down of the app. The Trump-appointed Justice stated TikTok didnt have to close, just that it needed to find a new owner. Fellow Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned the free speech issues and argued the countrys answer to problematic speech is counter-speech. It wasnt just conservative justices that attacked the TikTok arguments. Newest, and Biden-appointed, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked: Im trying to understand what the burden is that you are articulating and really whether its about association and not speech...What youre really complaining about is the inability to associate with ByteDance and its algorithm. Even Obama-appointed Justice Elena Kagan said ByteDance doesnt have the same rights as everyday Americans. The law is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesnt have First Amendment rights, Kagan stated. The harsh tone justices took toward TikToks argument have some believing that it is likely the ban will be upheld. But, it will be up to a future Supreme Court ruling to signal where the justices fall. open image in gallery The supreme Court is TikToks last hope to avoid a ban if it parent company doesnt sell the app. It is a favorite among many Gen Z users - who detail their lives and favorite dances through the site ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Many of the apps Gen-Z users are not happy with a potential ban. We are starving, we are dying, people are in jail for f***ing marijuana charges, were in a war that we should not be in in the first place and TikTok is our most pressing concern? I dont think so, Make-up artist James Charles said in an interview with NBC in March. The law, Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was passed by Congress in April with bipartisan support something that justices found compelling. Lawmakers were concerned that the Chinese government could obtain Americanss data and covertly manipulate what U.S. users see or spread misinformation and propaganda. One example, used on Friday, outlined the possibility of the Chinese government collecting the data of a young TikTok user who eventually grew up to become a member of the military or federal government. Now, the Chinese have data on a person who could hold a key position. That argument seemed to get the justices attention. Some First Amendment proponents agree with TikTok and say its a massive platform with a highly unique algorithm that essentially functions as a public square. Muting it would restrict Americanss speech, they argue. Ramya Krishnan, an attorney and senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, focuses on issues related to government transparency, censorship and social media. She and her colleagues, who submitted and amicus brief in the case, believe the governments case does not justify outright banning the app. To the extent that the government is concerned that there is covert manipulation, the most direct way to address that concern is disclosure,: Krishnan told The Independent. If the concern is with foreign government speech or propaganda, as we argue in our brief, that kind of concern cant justify a flat-out ban on Americans access to speech from abroad. TikToks lawyers made that point during arguments, saying the platform could add a disclosure on its app essentially informing people every time they go on it that their data could be used by the Chinese. The government believes thats not good enough because its not specific and thus people would just ignore it. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar suggested China could covertly manipulate what videos people see as a means to generate chaos and arguments. Justices did not seem convinced that was a compelling reason, that is, after all, how algorithms work on every other platform. You get what you get and you think thats puzzling, Kagan said to laughter. Its all a little bit of a black box. open image in gallery TikTok educational influencer, Tiffany Cianci livestreams outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building as the court hears oral arguments ( Getty Images ) Regarding the governments concerns about protecting Americans sensitive data, Krishnan says it is a compelling interest but there are still other ways to achieve that such as passing a comprehensive data privacy law. Creators are seemingly preparing for a world in which TikTok disappears by diversifying their content mediums. Whether its starting a YouTube channel or podcast, opening a new business or moving their short-form videos to Instagram. The government says TikTok could be reinstated, even after January 19, so long as ByteDance divests from it. They believed the current deadline would light a match under ByteDance to work harder to find a U.S. operator. The court could also place a pause on the law taking effect and wait for President-elect Donald Trump to take office something he asked the court to do. Despite Trump trying to ban TikTok during his first term, he now claims he will save it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The U.S. Supreme Court has said it would hear arguments in TikToks challenge to a law that threatens to ban the app from millions of users in the United States. In an order on Wednesday, justices said they would hear arguments in the case on January 10 just nine days before the law is set to take effect. TikTok and the government will be presenting arguments on whether or not the bipartisan law, Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, violates the First Amendment by forcing TikTok to sell to a U.S.-based company or be banned. The law, passed in April, was part of a foreign aid package and generated congressional support over fears that TikTok, owned by the Chinese-based company ByteDance, was storing Americans data for surveillance reasons. TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in the U.S., with more than 150 million users. open image in gallery TikTok users, including paid creators, urged Congress not to pass the law ( Getty Images ) ByteDance had nine months to sell off TikTok, one of the most popular social media apps, or lose access to U.S. app stores and web-hosting services on January 19. For months, TikTok has been trying to fight the law from taking effect, arguing it will shutter one of Americas most popular speech platforms and thus create a chilling effect. But they have been unable to convince courts thus far. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court upheld the law saying the Chinese governments ability to collect Americans data served as a compelling national security interest. After the failed attempt to delay the law, TikTok asked the Supreme Court to rule on the matter on Monday. Justices reviewed the request and chose to take up the case in just two days. By setting oral arguments for less than a month from now, the court has indicated intervening in the matter is critical and requires swift action. That stands in juxtaposition to the courts timeline on President-elect Donald Trumps request for sweeping criminal immunity in his federal election interference case this past term. It took the court 17 days to agree to hear Trumps case, another two months to hear oral arguments, and then a little over two months to make a precedent-setting decision. open image in gallery TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew faced interrogative questioning from lawmakers during his congressional hearing last year ( AP ) Since arguments are set to take place before Trump takes office on January 20, the Biden administration will be arguing on behalf of the government though it was Trumps first administration that moved to ban the social media app. Despite Trump attempting to ban the app while president, he changed his position during his presidential campaign and vowed to protect it from being banned. I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok, the president-elect said this past week after meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. A spokesperson for TikTok said in a statement, Were pleased with todays Supreme Court order. We believe the Court will find the TikTok ban unconstitutional so the over 170 million Americans on our platform can continue to exercise their free speech rights. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 9, Chinese new energy vehicle maker NETA Auto made its debut at the Singapore Motorshow 2025. The company also announced that the NETA X and the NETA AYA models hit the local market, with 52-unit orders secured on the same day. Photo credit: NETA Auto NETA Auto said that both the NETA X and the NETA AYA models have completed the local certification for Singapore's new energy vehicle (NEV) standards, with new stores set to open shortly. In recent years, NETA Auto has been expanding its overseas market. In December 2024, NETA Auto Indonesian renewed its partnership with PT Bank Central Asia Tbk in Jakarta. The bank plans to continue providing financing services to support the automaker's growth in Indonesia. In addition, at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2024 in November 2024, NETA Auto offered the overseas debut of the all-new NETA S Shooting Brake, a model featuring Super EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) technology. Moreover, the company opened its first flagship store in Malaysia in last October, with the first 50 vehicles delivered to local customers. Furthermore, NETA Auto has established over 30 sales outlets in Brazil, covering key sales regions across first-, second-, and third-tier cities. In September 2024, NETA Auto celebrated the market launch of the NETA X in Jakarta, Indonesia, and announced the delivery to the first 500 customers who had placed their orders. The NETA X, designed for youthful families in Indonesia, follows the brand's concept of "experiencing the electric technology journey." It can be charged from 30% to 80% of its battery capacity in 30 minutes, with a range of up to 480 kilometers. To better serve the local market, the automaker equips the NETA X with the CCS2 (Combined Charging System 2) charging interface, one of the most common facilities at Indonesian charging stations. Over the next two years, NETA Auto plans to expand its global sales network to 50 countries and regions, and establish 500 overseas sales and service outlets. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy President-elect Donald Trump ranted about a very terrible experience and declared his innocence as he was given a slap on the wrist for his 34 felony convictions in New York. Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump Friday after a jury found him guilty of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to cover up an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump has denied the affair, but the jury found him guilty over the record-keeping of the $130,000 in hush-money payments to Daniels. Merchan handed down an unconditional discharge sentence, meaning Trump will not face jail time or fines. Virtually everyone that I know of not one, these people are not exactly friends of mine, to put it mildly have all said its a case that should never be brought, Trump told the court before listing off authors and legal analysts he says support his view. open image in gallery President-elect Donald Trump was definant as he was setenced on 34 felony counts in New York ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Throughout his remarks, the president-elect maintained his innocence: Im totally innocent, I did nothing wrong The business records were extremely accurate. It has been a political witch hunt, it was done to damage my reputation, he added. I would just like to explain that I was treated very, very unfairly. Thank you very much. open image in gallery A Trump flag sits outside Manhattan Criminal Court, where the president-elect was sentenced on Friday in his business records case. Trump will face no jail time or fines related to his felony convictions ( Getty Images ) Minutes after the sentencing, the president-elect posted a statement on Truth Social calling the case a scam. Todays event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice, Trump wrote. The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History, he added. open image in gallery The president-elect appeared virtually in Manhattan Criminal Court. Fridays hearing came after the Supreme Court said it would not stop Trumps sentencin ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Fridays hearing came after the Supreme Court said it would not stop Trumps sentencing. Earlier this week, prosecutors argued the nations highest court should intervene to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government. In a one-page order on Thursday night, hours before Trumps sentence, the Supreme Court said Trumps arguments can be handled through the ordinary course of appeal. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would have granted Trumps application. Trump called the Supreme Courts ruling a fair decision and said he planned to appeal the verdict in a speech from Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night. Ill do my little thing tomorrow, the president-elect said. They can have fun with their political opponent. President-elect Donald Trump is not going to jail, at least not today. He isnt being forced to pay any fines. He wont have to check in with a court-ordered probation officer like most criminal defendants with felony convictions. But a sentence handed down by a judge in a criminal courtroom in Manhattan on January 10 preserves one of the most important parts of the first ever criminal trial of a former and future president: the verdict itself. Trump has desperately fought off his four criminal cases to prevent the historic embarrassment of entering the White House a second time as the first criminally convicted president. His two federal cases were effectively closed with his election victory. Another case lost the prosecutor who brought the charges. But one made it to trial. More than seven months after a jury of his 12 Manhattan neighbors unanimously found Trump guilty on all 34 counts against him, the president-elect has escaped any criminal consequences on convictions that would most certainly land anyone not named Trump in jail. But the verdict remains, and unless an appeals court overturns the case altogether imminently, Trump will enter the White House on January 20 as a convicted felon. He cant pardon himself on his convictions, and he was denied the indignity of appearing in handcuffs or in a prison jumpsuit he would certainly use in fundraising and propaganda. Instead, he must live with the vote of 12 of his Manhattan neighbors. The significance of the fact that the verdict was handed down by a unanimous jury of 12 of Defendants peers, after trial, cannot possibly be overstated, New York Justice Juan Merchan wrote in his refusal to impose any further delays in Trumps sentencing. Indeed, the sanctity of a jury verdict and the deference that must be accorded to it, is a bedrock principle in our nations jurisprudence, he added. open image in gallery Donald Trump declared his innocence and criticized his hush money case a witch hunt in his seven-minute remarks before Judge Juan Merchan sentenced him ( AP ) The former presidents pile of civil and criminal cases created Russian nesting dolls of courtroom battles, with seemingly every case spinning off into appeals courts and separate debates over evidence, gag orders and legal strategies, all of which bought him exactly what he wanted: time. The Supreme Courts landmark decision on presidential immunity which he used as his defense against charges for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election ensured he would not face a trial before the next one. He then relied on that sweeping decision to try to shut down virtually every case against him. When he won the election, his attorneys argued that his status as president-elect should also shield him from any criminal proceedings effectively extending that immunity to citizen Trump. And when it came time to face the judge one last time, he spent seven minutes of a 30-minute sentencing complaining as if he was at a press conference. A report prepared by a probation officer found that Trump sees himself as above the law and wont accept responsibility for his actions, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the court. Any other person not named Trump who committed those same 34 felonies would very likely face a jail sentence, said Norm Eisen, a special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee majority during Trumps first impeachment. Ending the case without any consequences isnt the fault of Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who are simply dealing with the realities of the Supreme Courts complicit and corrupt decision about presidential immunity, he told The Independent. The fact is, Trump facing any sentencing is a form of accountability in itself, and the fact that the judge [gave] him an unconditional release does not in any way detract from the profound offenses against democracy that occurred here, he said. open image in gallery Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche appeared virtually for his sentencing hearing in Manhattan criminal court, while his attorney Emil Bove sat alone in the courtroom ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) A group of former prosecutors, elected officials and legal scholars, represented by pro-democracy group State Democracy Defenders Action, told the Supreme Court that delaying his sentence would subvert the rule of law by elevating a private citizen above the law, absolving him of sentencing for prior conduct because he subsequently won a presidential election. The only reason for delaying sentencing is because of the continuing personal stigma associated with being sentenced following a conviction which [Trump] can challenge on appeal, they wrote. Treating [Trump] differently, solely because he is about to be President, violates the fundamental principle that no one is above the law. Prosecutors and Merchan have reiterated that it is in the best interests of the country to bring closure to this matter prior to the inauguration, former prosecutor and New York criminal attorney Francisco Mundaca told The Independent. Theres no reason for the courts to have tried to stop Trumps sentencing, according to Jordan Lebowitz with government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The Supreme Court made a terrible mistake with the immunity decision, but this should go through even under that, he toldThe Independent. The sanctity of the American justice system requires this case to reach its logical and legal conclusion. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy President-elect Donald Trump is not someone who plays down expectations, whether about himself or the United States. And he raises the expectations of others accordingly. His re-entry onto the world stage after his victory in last years election prompted urgent shifts in international dynamics on the part of national leaders around the world, simply in anticipation. From midday on Monday, Mr Trumps power is real. With it comes promise and peril. Four years ago, the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president was greeted, especially in Europe, as heralding a welcome return to normality. By which was meant a re-emphasis on Atlanticism abroad, a respect for the constitution at home, and, above all, a steady, predictable hand on the global tiller. That is not quite how it turned out. From the chaotic end to the US-led intervention in Afghanistan to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the new hostilities in the Middle East, Bidens four years encompassed as much, if not more, destructive disruption as any recent US presidents term. That needs to be borne in mind as Mr Trump enters the White House again. Stuff happens. But Mr Trump is different and not just from his predecessor in both the scope of his personal ambition and how he believes he can use American power, but also in the extent to which his personality dictates the terms and draws the limelight for better and worse. Early proof of the promise his presidency could bring were the joyous scenes that followed the agreement between Israel and Hamas; the celebrations on the streets of Tel Aviv, the festivities even amid the devastation of Gaza, and the rapturous reception, on both sides, for the released captives. The Biden and Trump teams may dispute where the credit lies for this lamentably overdue ceasefire, but Mr Trumps imminent inauguration and the pressure exerted by his envoy on the hitherto immovable Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu are surely part of the explanation. It must be hoped that President Trump we must become used to hearing that combination again can follow through, not only to pre-empt any backsliding by either signatory to this agreement but to ensure that the next stages are honoured, bringing the release of all Hamas hostages, and the possibility of rebuilding in a peace that increasingly embraces the whole region. This will not be easy; Syria, Iran and maybe Turkey are, or could all be, in the throes of change. Mr Trumps other foreign policy projects, as so far outlined, present at least as much peril as promise. He has undertaken to end the war in Ukraine, but he must do so without placing Ukraines future at still greater risk or appearing to acquiesce in the change of national borders by military force. Unpredictability and risk-taking here could have lethal consequences. European members of Nato have been making some efforts to prepare for a time when they might have to take more responsibility for Europes security, but there is a long way still to go. Trump 1.0 raised concerns in the end unwarranted that the US could forsake Europe. There is less alarm over Trump 2.0 but no room for complacency, either. Mr Trump has a keen sense of where power lies, abroad as at home. He has US relations with China in his sights as a priority hence the invitation to President Xi Jinping to his inauguration. Mr Xi himself is not going but he is sending a deputy; the honour, in other words, was recognised, not spurned. Will Mr Trump suspend, or soften, the ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, if only as a gesture? Is that the right thing to do? Will Mr Trump start a wider trade war with his threat to impose tariffs, or is the threat more by way of a signal from this arch-realist and disruptor that the rest of the world must strike new bargains to protect what he sees as the US national interest? Europe, in particular, must be as much on its guard as it was eight years ago, so as not to be wrong-footed by a US president whose exclusive concern, to a greater extent than many recent predecessors, is the security and prosperity of the United States. This is also how his striking talk about Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal might be taken, as a 21st-century Monroe Doctrine, which sees the US in hemisphere, rather than global, terms. There have been mixed signals about how far Mr Trumps British in fact, Scottish connection could translate into closer, or less close, relations with the UK. With gaps already evident over policy towards Ukraine and the Middle East, not to mention the Chagos Islands, this is already looking to be a delicate relationship, even as it has become more crucial for the UK after Brexit. If, however, as The Independent has reported, the new US administration could decide to reject Sir Keir Starmers nominee for ambassador, that could not but sour relations, while underlining the disparity in power. Lord Mandelson has his flaws but an ambassador with the ear of the prime minister and expertise in trade matters can be an asset for both sides. President Trump is nothing if not his own man, and a respecter of power his own and that of others. The UKs position vis-a-vis the United States under such a president would be stronger, the more it can make common cause with the EU and the European members of Nato. A strong and united voice in Washington from across the Atlantic would be one way, probably the best way, to make the most of Mr Trumps promise, while reducing the peril. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Supreme Court will not stop Donald Trumps sentencing in his criminal hush money trial, leaving the president-elect without any remaining options to block his imminent return to Manhattan criminal court. Trump is scheduled to face New York Justice Juan Merchan at 9 a.m. Friday 10 days before his second inauguration to the presidency. Merchan has signalled he will issue an unconditional discharge sentence that will not include jail time or fines. The president-elect will appear virtually. On Wednesday, attorneys for the president-elect argued that the Supreme Court should intervene to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government. Trump argued that the Supreme Courts landmark decision on presidential immunity should apply to the evidence used against him at trial and shield him from any criminal proceedings as president-elect. In her one-page order on Thursday night, hours before Trumps sentence, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Trumps arguments can be handled through the ordinary course of appeal. The burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing, she wrote. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh would have granted Trumps application. Donald Trump will be sentenced in his hush money case in Manhattan criminal court on January 10 after the Supreme Court declined to pause the proceedings ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) In remarks from Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night, Trump called the Supreme Courts ruling a fair decision and that he planned to appeal his verdict. Ill do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their politican opponent, he said. Prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued to the nations high court on Thursday that none of Trumps claims comes close to justifying a pause in the proceedings, which have been repeatedly delayed through Trumps presidential campaign. Trump makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office, from all state-court criminal process, prosecutors argued. This extraordinary immunity claim is unsupported by any decision from any court. It is axiomatic that there is only one President at a time, they wrote. Merchan and prosecutors have argued that Trumps actions at the center of the case in which he falsified accounting records to hide reimbursement payments to his former attorney for so-called hush money to an adult film star have nothing to do with the official actions of the presidency that are protected by immunity. That immunity is strictly limited to the time of the Presidents term in office, prosecutors added. On May 30, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records after a six-week-long trial. Prosecutors said Trump falsified records in connection with a scheme to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign. Trumps reimbursements to his then-attorney Michael Cohen, who paid off Daniels, were falsely recorded in accounting records as legal expenses. The former president insists he has done nothing wrong. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to block a federal laws imminent ban on TikTok in the United States if the popular apps Chinese parent company doesnt sell it by next months deadline. The nations highest court will hear arguments in the case on January 10. In a filing with the Supreme Court on December 27, Trumps attorney D. John Sauer who is also Trumps nominee for U.S. solicitor general said the president-elect doesnt take any position on the challenge, but he is asking the justices to pause the law to allow his incoming administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case. A federal appeals court this month turned down TikToks challenge of a quickly approaching forced sale or nationwide ban, teeing up the Supreme Court challenge. TikTok argued that the ban infringes on its users First Amendment protections, but a three-judge appellate panel agreed that the government offered persuasive evidence that a law passed by Congress to potentially ban the app is narrowly tailored to protect national security. President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act into law earlier this year after bipartisan passage in Congress, which set a deadline of January 19 one day before Trumps inauguration for ByteDance to divest from the platform to an American company, or face a ban. TikTok said in a statement this month that the ban was jammed through Congress using flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people. open image in gallery Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago this month that he has a soft spot for the immensely popular app he once tried to ban during his first stint in office ( AP ) On the campaign trail, Trump appeared to change his tune around the app, which he had previously supported banning. He had issued an executive order banning the platform in 2020 during his first stint in office but the company successfully challenged the order in court. I was at the point where I could have gotten it done if I wanted to, he told MSNBCs Squawk Box on March 11. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it. There are a lot of users. A few months later, Trump launched his own TikTok account. Trump also met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew this month after telling reporters at a Mar-a-Lago press conference he has a warm spot for the app, as he falsely claimed that he won youth in the 2024 presidential election by 34 points. There are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it, he said. (Trump gained some ground with young voters but lost to Kamala Harris by roughly 10 percentage points among voters aged 18 to 29.) President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged, Sauer told the Supreme Court. Members of Congress and federal law enforcement agencies have argued that the app presents a national security threat that could allow the Chinese government to mine data from its millions of users and show manipulative content. Several Republican-led states have also banned TikTok from government devices, while the state of Montana banned the app altogether, though that law was blocked in federal court. This story was first published on December 27 For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nazi swastikas were spray-painted on a synagogue in southern Sydney, sparking outrage from Australias Jewish community. The Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah was daubed in anti-Jewish graffiti on Friday in an incident that political leaders labelled horrific and hate-filled. New South Wales premier Chris Minns condemned the attack as hateful and divisive while prime minister Anthony Albanese urged for strict legal action, emphasising the importance of inclusivity in Australias multicultural society. Its disgusting and disgraceful, Mr Minns said. He said there were people out there that are determined to rip into our community and they should be ashamed of the actions that theyve taken this morning. Mr Albanese said such crimes should be called out for what they are. They are hateful and have no place in Australia, he said. Australians should respect each other and overwhelmingly do, regardless of their faith. We are a multicultural nation, we need to be inclusive and cohesive and thats what my government is determined to support. In a separate incident on Monday, a car in Queens Park, home to some members of Sydneys Jewish community, was defaced with antisemitic words. David Ossip, head of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said: No Australian should have to wake up every morning filled with apprehension about whether or not theres been another anti-Semitic hate crime overnight. In early December, antisemitic slogans were scrawled on buildings and footpaths in Woollahra and an advertising board in Sefton, a western Sydney suburb, was defaced. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief of the executive council of Australian Jewry, wrote on X: As long as these people evade justice for trying to terrorise Australian citizens, it will continue. Were also calling on our fellow Australians, particularly those in positions of influence across society, to end the silence and publicly denounce this behaviour as repugnant to our national values and a threat to us all. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Elon Musk urged Germans to vote for the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) in an upcoming election in a conversation with its leader on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that highlighted the US billionaires growing ambition to sway European politics. In a wide-ranging, sometimes stilted conversation that touched on immigration, German bureaucracy, energy policy, space colonisation, God and Adolf Hitler, Mr Musk and AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel agreed that the AfD was the answer to Germanys malaise. People really need to get behind AfD, otherwise things are going to get very, very much worse in Germany, Mr Musk said. I think Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person. Nothing outrageous is being proposed. Mr Musk was doubling down on his endorsement last month of the anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party labelled as right-wing extremist by German security services, which has caused consternation in Berlin and accusations of undue influence. The AfD has almost no chance of forming a government despite polling in second place as other parties refuse to work with it. Still, critics worry that Mr Musks support for the AfD could further bolster its popularity, eroding support for mainstream parties and making it harder for them to form a coherent coalition. Mr Musks endorsement of the AfD and increasingly vocal support for far-right and anti-establishment parties across Europe comes after he used X and his vast wealth to help Republican candidate Donald Trump win the 5 November presidential election. open image in gallery Leaders across Europe have expressed alarm over Musks political activities in recent weeks ( AP ) Speaking in fluent English, Ms Weidel expressed gratitude for Mr Musks support, saying that the opportunity to speak with Mr Musk was the first time in 10 years that she had been allowed a platform to say her piece without interruption from a media world that, she said, was biased against her. While the two touched on policy, agreeing that Germanys decision to exit nuclear power was crazy and that immigration was out of control, they were more animated when discussing abstract matters. Asked by Mr Musk to dispel any concerns that her party might be similar to Hitlers Nazis, Ms Weidel said the genocidal dictator was a communist whereas hers was a conservative libertarian party. The biggest success [of other parties] after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right and conservative. He was exactly the opposite. He wasnt a conservative, he wasnt a libertarian. He was a communist socialist guy, she said. Almost all historians agree that Hitler, an eliminationist nationalist, was of the far right. Mr Musk has defended his right to weigh in on German politics because of his significant investments, namely Teslas first European plant, and has praised the AfDs approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation. open image in gallery Alice Weidel is the chancellor candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the upcoming election ( DPA ) Mr Musk recalled the bureaucratic hurdles that confronted him in opening the German Tesla plant. I think it was 25,000 pages was our permit. And it had to be all printed on paper, Mr Musk said. And then there has to be many, many copies made. So it literally was a truck of paper. Last August, Mr Musk held a similar talk with Mr Trump, who has since tasked the entrepreneur with leading a drive to make US government more efficient. Ms Weidel led the second half of the conversation, inviting Mr Musk to explain his vision for peace in Ukraine, the colonisation of Mars and the concept of God. On the latter two points, Mr Musk was forthcoming, but he declined to be drawn on Ukraine, saying a settlement was a matter for Mr Trump. On energy, Mr Musk backed Germanys renewable ambitions but agreed with Ms Weidel that turning off the nuclear power plants was a bad idea. When I saw that Germany was turning off the power plants after being cut off from gas supplies from Russia, I thought ... this is one of the craziest things Ive ever seen, he said. Leaders across Europe have expressed alarm over Mr Musks political activities in recent weeks, with some urging the EU to use its laws more robustly to guard the continents democracies from outside influence. The European Commission has said it will look at the discussion as part of its ongoing probe into X and possible violations of its Digital Services Act for potentially giving preferential treatment to certain types of content. Mr Musk has in recent weeks targeted the UKs Labour government with a series of social media attacks centred on grooming gangs after Labours decision to decline a Whitehall-led inquiry into child sexual abuse in Oldham. He has accused Home Office minister Jess Phillips of being a rape genocide apologist who deserves to be in prison. He also claimed prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was complicit in the scandal and criticised his handling of it while he was director of public prosecutions. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The German government is in permanent discussions over whether to delete its presence on the X platform due to concerns over its algorithms, a spokesperson said on Friday. This is a permanent consideration that we have to make again and again, the spokesperson said, a day after a live talk on the platform between billionaire Elon Musk and the leader of Germanys far-right party Alice Weidel. During the talk Musk urged Germans to vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an upcoming election in a conversation with its leader on his social media platform. In a wide-ranging, sometimes stilted conversation that touched on immigration, German bureaucracy, energy policy, space colonisation, God and Adolf Hitler, Musk and AfD chancellor candidate Alice Weidel agreed that the AfD was the answer to Germanys malaise. open image in gallery Alice Weidel ( REUTERS ) People really need to get behind AfD, otherwise things are going to get very, very much worse in Germany, Musk said. I think Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person. Nothing outrageous is being proposed. Musk was doubling down on his endorsement last month of the anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party labeled as right-wing-extremist by German security services, which has caused consternation in Berlin and accusations of undue influence. Speaking in fluent English, Weidel expressed gratitude for Musks support, saying that the opportunity to speak with Musk was the first time in 10 years that she had been allowed a platform to say her piece without interruption from a media world that, she said, was biased against her. Asked by Musk to dispel any concerns that her party might be similar to Hitlers Nazis, Weidel said the genocidal dictator was a communist whereas hers was a conservative libertarian party. The biggest success (of other parties) after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right and conservative. He was exactly the opposite. He wasnt a conservative, he wasnt a libertarian. He was a communist socialist guy, she said. Weidel led the second half of the conversation, inviting Musk to explain his vision for peace in Ukraine, the colonisation of Mars and the concept of God. On the latter two points, Musk was forthcoming, but he declined to be drawn on Ukraine, saying a settlement was a matter for Trump. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was briefly wrongfooted by a surprise question about ants on Thursday when she faced a grilling by Italian and foreign reporters lasting more than two hours. After covering major domestic and international issues, such as Italys dealings with Elon Musks Starlink, the war in Ukaine and Donald Trumps return to the White House, proceedings took a slightly surreal turn. Meloni flew to Florida last weekend for unannounced talks with Trump, winning praise from the incoming president, who called her a fantastic woman. Id like to ask you a very simple question. I hope a far-reaching one, too...prime minister: do you step on ants? Do you pay attention when you walk?, Meloni was asked by a video journalist, originally from Bulgaria. He said the question was connected to a folk saying about treading on ants leading to rainfall. Looking visibly taken aback, Meloni laughed nervously. Do I walk on ants? Well, if I see them no, I confess. But I dont see them all the time. Is that the right answer? I dont know, what can I say? Im at a loss, guys, she said, before moving on to the next question - which was about Musks contested political views. open image in gallery Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds the 2024 year-end press conference, in Rome ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Away from ants, Meloni used Thursdays two-hour news conference to allay concerns that Trump might break with Washingtons traditional European allies as he pursued a Make-America-Great-Again agenda. Trump alarmed many Western capitals this week when he refused to rule out using military or economic action to pursue an acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland, and also floated the idea of turning Canada into a U.S. state. Regarding the Greenland-Panama issue, I feel confident in excluding the possibility that the USA will attempt to annex territories of interest to them by force in the coming years, Meloni said. She said Trump was simply flagging that he would not let key strategic concerns close to the United States fall under the sway of foreign competitors, such as China. My thinking is that these statements are ... a vigorous way to say the United States will not stand by while other major global players move into areas that are of strategic interest to the United States and, I would add, to the West, Meloni said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Friday accused Algeria of trying to humiliate France after the North African country refused to admit one of its nationals who was being deported. The influencer was arrested in the city of Montpellier on Sunday on charges of inciting violence in videos he posted on social media. French immigration officials put him on a flight to Algiers Thursday, but Algeria refused to admit him, saying he was banned from entering its territory. He was finally sent back to France that evening, the French interior ministry said. Police in France have in recent days arrested four Algerian nationals described by authorities as social media influencers accused of posting videos inciting violence, against a backdrop of soured relations. I want to express my astonishment, Retailleau said Friday. I think weve reached an extremely worrying threshold with Algeria. Its clear that Algeria is trying to humiliate France. The two countries have a turbulent relationship: Algeria, once a French colony, shook off rule from Paris in 1962 after a brutal war. Two other Algerian influencers were arrested last week in the Alpine city of Grenoble and the western port city of Brest, while a female TikTok influencer was taken into police custody in the city of Lyon on Thursday. She is accused of making death threats against opponents of the government in Algiers. Theres absolutely no question of giving free rein to the hatred of these individuals who are spreading antisemitism, murder etc., Retailleau said. Social networks are not a lawless zone. Retailleau also sharply criticized the detention since November of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria, who is an outspoken critic of the Algerian government. Retailleau said Sansal is old and ill and accused Algiers of keeping him in prison for the wrong reasons." A shift last July in Frances decades-old position on the disputed Western Sahara region of northern Africa angered Algeria and prompted the withdrawal of its ambassador in Paris. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. CATL's subsidiary CAIT-SH showcases integrated intelligent chassis at CES 2025 Contemporary Amperex Intelligence Technology (Shanghai) Limited (CAIT-SH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CATL, showcased its integrated intelligent chassis (CIIC) and related technologies at the COVESA Networking Reception & Demonstration Showcase during the CES 2025. At the event, CAIT-SH and the Intelligent Racing Foundation (IRF) officially signed a strategic memorandum of understanding, under which two parties will collaborate to advance the development of global AI-powered racing cars and intelligent skateboard chassis technologies. Photo credit: CAIT-SH Chinese embodied AI company AI Robotics secures hundreds of millions of yuan in Pre-A funding round On January 7, Chinese embodied artificial intelligence (AI) company AI Robotics announced the successful completion of its Pre-A financing round, which raised for the company hundreds of millions of yuan. This marks the first major financing in the embodied AI sector ever achieved in 2025. The fresh round was led by Fortune Capital and Dunhong Capital Management, with the participation of CoStone Capital. ZEROG, Parrot Aero form cooperation on eVTOL's urban scenario application On January 9, Zero Gravity Aircraft Industry (ZEROG), a Chinese new energy aircraft manufacturer, and Parrot Aero signed an agreement, under which the latter will procure electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, named ZG-ONE "Magpie Fly", from the former. Two companies also formed strategic collaboration on the application of eVTOL products in urban scenarios, leveraging the aircraft's vertical takeoff and landing capabilities as well as its eco-friendly and low-noise characteristics. SAIC Motor, CATL cement cooperation in tech R&D, battery swapping, global expansion business On January 10, CATL announced it has signed an agreement with SAIC Motor to cement their strategic collaboration in multiple areas, including co-development of technologies, aftermarket services for vehicles and batteries, overseas expansion, and battery-swapping innovations. NETA Auto forays into Singaporean market On January 9, Chinese new energy vehicle maker NETA Auto made its debut at the Singapore Motorshow 2025. The company also announced that the NETA X and the NETA AYA models hit the local market, with 52-unit orders secured on the same day. Desay SV, Qualcomm launch new AI-powered smart cockpit platform at CES 2025 On January 9 (Pacific Time), Desay SV launched its next-generation smart cockpit platform, the G10PH, co-developed with Qualcomm at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. Chery Automobile sets up robotics tech company On January 7, Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. (Chery Automobile) established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Anhui Mojia Zhichuang Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. ("Mojia Zhichuang" is Chinese Pinyin), with a registered capital of 100 million yuan, according to Chinese enterprise information inquiry platform Qichacha. Chinese intelligent chassis solution supplier BIBO bags over 300 million yuan in Series B funding On January 9, 2025, Bebest (Shanghai) Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. (BIBO) announced the completion of its Series B funding, which raised for the company over 300 million yuan. Nullmax, Black Sesame Technologies launch A2000 multimodal smart driving solution at CES 2025 On January 8, autonomous driving tech company Nullmax announced a collaboration with Black Sesame Technologies to release a multimodal AI large model-enabled smart driving solution based on the latest generation A2000 chip from the Huashan series. This innovative end-to-end architecture and high-performance autonomous driving SoC (System on a Chip) is designed to power next-generation autonomous driving applications across various scenarios. Great Wall Motor showcases key vehicle models, technologies at CES 2025 Great Wall Motor (GWM) showcased its core vehicle models and cutting-edge technologies at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. These included the all-new Blue Mountain (named "Lanshan" in Chinese pinyin) under the WEY brand, the SOUO S2000 motorcycle, and the Hi4 powertrain architecture. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets on Friday as protests against the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico spread from Slovakia's capital to towns and cities across the country and abroad. The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fueled by Ficos unexpected trip to Moscow before Christmas to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ficos meeting with Putin is unacceptable, protest organizer Lucia Stasselova from the Peace to Ukraines nongovernmental organization told the crowd in Bratislava. Stasselova said that Fico went to Moscow at a time when our neighbors face a huge military aggression, at a time when the whole civilized and democratic world condemns this aggression. We're ashamed of Fico, the crowd chanted. Fico said that his trip, a rare visit to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Moscows all-out invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022, was a reaction to Ukraines move to halt Russian gas supplies to European customers through its pipeline network after a prewar transit deal expired at the end of 2024. Slovakia has no shortage of gas supplies and can receive it through other EU countries, the government said. But Fico said that his country would lose around 500 million euros ($515 million) a year in transit fees. He threatened to end sending electricity supplies to Ukraine, reduce support for Ukrainian refugees, halt humanitarian aid and block EU financial aid to Ukraine in retaliation. The crowd condemned Ficos plan. Fico acts as an agent of a foreign power, former Foreign Minister Rastislav Kacer said. The rallies also took place in more than a dozen places, including locations in Slovakia, Czech capital Prague and Krakow, Poland, organizers said. They said that their protests would continue. Fico's views on Russia have sharply differed from the European mainstream. He returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended Slovakia's military aid for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A request to remove late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny from a list of terrorists and extremists has been rejected despite his death last year, his widow Yulia Navalnaya has revealed saying that it shows Vladimir Putin is still afraid of her husband. Russias financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, said in a letter published by Ms Navalnaya that her late husband had been criminally investigated for money laundering and financing terrorism. Because it had not been informed of a move to drop the case, Mr Navalny was still on the list, the letter said. Nearly a year has passed since Mr Navalny, Russias most prominent political dissident, was announced dead by Russian authorities while serving time in a special regime penal colony in central Russia. The 47-year-old had reportedly fallen unwell after a walk at the jail before losing consciousness. open image in gallery Ms Navalnaya stands in a queue outside the Russian Embassy in Germany, on the final day of Russias presidential election ( REUTERS ) Mr Navalny was serving sentences totalling more than 30 years on a number of charges, widely rejected by the international community as trumped up. Ms Navalnaya believes that Putin is responsible for Mr Navalnys death and has offered a reward to witnesses who may have evidence that he was murdered. World leaders have lined up to lay blame for the death at Putins door. The Kremlin has rejected the allegation. Russian investigators say Mr Navalny died of natural causes. Ms Navalnaya said Putin is afraid of her late husband even after he killed him in a message posted on Telegram. The terrorist and extremist label for her husband is only being used as a tool to intimidate Russians away from political disobedience, she said. "Why does Putin need this? Obviously, not to prohibit Alexei from opening bank accounts. This is no longer possible," she said. "Putin is doing this to scare you. He wants you to be afraid even to mention Alexei and gradually forget his name. But no one will forget." open image in gallery Relatives and friends pay their last respects at the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow last March ( AP ) Ms Navalnaya herself is on the list, which empowers Rosfinmonitoring to freeze the subjects bank account. Three lawyers who worked for her late husband, who are also on the list, are due to be sentenced next week on charges of belonging to an extremist group. Russian prosecutors say the lawyers enabled Mr Navalnys subversive activity even while he was in prison - but supporters contend they were simply doing their job and that their prosecution marks a new era of political repression under the Putin regime. Verdicts against the three lawyers - Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin - are expected to be delivered on January 17. The trial, which opened in September, has been held behind closed doors. Mr Navalny condemned the arrests in February 2024 as outrageous, and described it as part of a plan to isolate him in jail. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The prime minister of Greenland has called for everyone to respect for the territorys independence, as US president-elect Donald Trump continues to express his desire to take it under US-control . Mute Egede , who has led the semi-autonomous Danish territory since 2021, says he has not spoken to Donald Trump, who said this week that US ownership and control is an absolute necessity to guarantee American security. At a joint press conference with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen , Mr Egede said: "We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house ... This is something everyone should respect. Greenland is willing to increase dialogue with the US, Mr Egede added, and it will continue to cooperate with the Trump administration. open image in gallery Trump was today sentenced in the hush money case in New York ( REUTERS ) But Mr Trump has not ruled out using military or economic action such as tariffs against Denmark to gain control of the island. Greenland also wants to be given more influence over its own foreign policy from the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr Egedesaid during the conference. It is the larger of two autonomous territories within the Kingdom of Denmark, with all of its roughly 57,000 inhabitants full citizens of the north European country. The row was sparked when Mr Trump called for the US to buy Greenland in a post on his Truth Social platform in December. For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity, Mr Trump, who will take office on 20 January, wrote on Truth Social. He was instantly rebuked by Mr Egede, who said in a statement in late December: Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom. Greenland has been tied politically and culturally to Denmark for over a century, but the US has a small military presence on the island, which hosts one of its vital early-warning missile defense systems. open image in gallery Mr Egede said Greenland wants more influence over foreign policy ( Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima ) Earlier this week, Danish King Frederik demonstrated his intention to keep the territory within his kingdom, when he changed the royal coat of arms to feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands - the other of the two autonomous territories - more prominently. In the new version of the coat of arms, images of a polar bear and ram, which symbolise the two territories, were enlarged. It appeared to be a rebuke to Donald Trumps comments about Greenland. King Frederik said in his first speech of 2025: We are all united and each of us committed for the kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in South Schleswig which is even situated outside the kingdom and all the way to Greenland. We belong together. US interest in buying Greenland did not start with Mr Trump - rather it dates back to 1867, when then-secretary of state William Seward issued the first push to buy the territory. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An Israeli hostage has been found dead alongside his father in Hamass network of underground tunnels in southern Gaza, the Israeli military has confirmed. Israeli Bedouin Hamza Ziyadne, 22, was discovered near Rafah with his 53-year-old father Youssef Ziyadne by Israeli troops on Tuesday. Hamzas family was told earlier this week that his body was recovered but the Israeli military only confirmed his death today following forensic testing. Youssef and Hamza were kidnapped along with another two of Youssefs children, Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17, while working at a Kibbutz near the Gaza border on 7 October 2023. That day, Hamas attacked southern Israel Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Israels retaliatory offensive in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the enclave laid waste and most of the territorys people - displaced multiple times - facing acute shortages of food and medicine due to Israels actions, humanitarian agencies say. Bilal and Aisha were released on 30 November 2023 after more than 50 days in Hamas captivity, with their older sibling and father presumed alive until this week. His family hit out at the Israeli government for not securing a ceasefire deal which they said could have saved them. Youssefs relative Odeh Ziyadne told Hebrew media outlet Ynet: We had hope, Youssef was on the list. They could have rescued them alive. Youssefs brother Ali Ziyadne added: We wanted them to come back to the family alive. Its a difficult and shocking disaster. Every day, the boys and I checked to see if there was anything new, he said. We thought that they would be released in the new deal because we saw reports that they were among those who would be released, we had hope that they were still alive. It comes amid renewed efforts by mediators Qatar, the US and Egypt to reach a ceasefire deal and free the remaining Israeli hostages before US president-elect Donald Trump takes office on 20 January. The Hostages and Missing Family Forum, the organisation representing most of the families, also said Youssef and Hamza could have been saved if an agreement had been secured earlier. Negotiations have been at an impasse for a year over two key issues. Hamas has said it will only free its remaining hostages if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. Israel says it will not end the war until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are free. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After amassing more than 170 million users in the country in less than seven years, TikTok has stopped working in the United States and disappeared from app stores. TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday and disappeared from Apple and Google app stores ahead of a law that takes effect on Sunday requiring the shutdown of the platform. President-elect Donald Trump has said he would most likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office on Monday, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you cant use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned, the message notified users trying to use the app late on Saturday night. The US is not the first major market for TikTok to cut off the video-sharing app. In 2020, India issued a complete ban of the app that cut off around 200 million users. The Indian government cited privacy issues with the app, claiming that alleged ties between ByteDance and the Chinese government posed a threat to Indias sovereignty and security. Other countries and areas, including the European Union, have put partial bans in place, which prevent government workers and military personnel from installing the app on their devices. Various federal and state TikTok bans are already in place in the US, with lawmakers citing national security concerns. These fears have done little to stem TikToks growth in the US. The app has proved to be one of the most popular both in America and globally last year with 52 million downloads in the US and 733 million worldwide despite more than 3 billion people around the world being blocked from downloading it. This has helped bring the total number of TikTok users around the world to above 2 billion, with only Indias ban nearly three years ago slightly slowing its growth and only temporarily. A survey poll from the Pew Research Center last year found TikTok to be the fastest-growing platform in the US, as users beyond the social media apps typically young demographic began to adopt it. US adults who have TikTok accounts are increasingly using the app as a source of news, with roughly a third of people aged 18-29 regularly using it to consume news in 2023. The FBI claims that Chinese state ties to parent company ByteDance could allow the app to manipulate content in order to spread harmful propaganda. Fears around national security have been countered with questions about censorship, with the Electronic Frontier Foundation describing the prospect of a ban as a seed of genuine security concern wrapped in a thick layer of censorship. The US digital liberties group has called on people to resist a governmental power to ban a popular means of communication and expression. In its filing with the Supreme Court on Monday, TikTok alleged that banning the app would shutter one of the most popular speech platforms at a highly political moment. The act will shutter one of Americas most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration, TikTok wrote. This, in turn, will silence the speech of applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts, and other matters of public concern. Under the law passed last year and upheld on Friday by a unanimous Supreme Court, the platform had until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent or shut down its U.S. operation to resolve concerns it poses a threat to national security. Bidens White House reiterated on Saturday that it was up to the incoming administration to take action. The United States has never banned a major social media platform. The law passed overwhelmingly by Congress gives the incoming Trump administration sweeping authority to ban or seek the sale of other Chinese-owned apps. Other apps owned by ByteDance, including video editing app CapCut and lifestyle social app Lemon8, were also offline and unavailable in U.S. app stores as of late Saturday. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Authorities in Los Angeles are continuing to tackle the wildfires that have spread across California, which has now burned over 40,000 acres in the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) said Wednesday that wind speeds in southern California are dwindling, though sudden gusts and dry conditions could still help ignite new fires. However, the NWS added that the winds will be slow to weaken and as conditions change, the potential for rapid fire growth and localized downed trees and power outages will still remain. More than 90,000 residents have been urged by officials to stay alert and follow any evacuation warnings and orders, while at least 25 people have been killed amid the devastating blaze. Power outages have been experienced by many over the past week, while thousands of others have seen their homes or businesses burn down, including in the Pacific Palisades, known for being the home of several A-listers. California Governor Gavin Newsom has described the Los Angeles wildfires as the worst disaster in US history, while fire personnel continue to try and fend off the blaze, deploying more water trucks to help. Pacific Palisades is a residential community and attracts very few tourists, however, the area it sits in, Los Angeles County, is popular with visitors who are heading to the sandy shores of Venice Beach, exploring Hollywood as well as touring studios and museums among many other attractions. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) sits relatively close to the Palisades fires, but so far minimal travel disruption has occurred. Several airlines have offered temporary fee waivers to travellers who had upcoming travel plans to the area, while local train transportation is offering free or discounted fares while the conditions continue. Meanwhile, several roads including parts of the Pacific Coast Highway have been closed as of early Wednesday morning. Has the fire impacted flights at LAX? LAX is roughly around 18-19 miles south of Pacific Palisades, but the majority of arrivals and departures have continued as normal amid the wildfires. As of Thursday morning, the majority of flights scheduled to arrive have done so on time over the past few days, with the exception of a couple of flights that had been delayed and a handful of cancellations, data from FlightRadar24 shows. On Wednesday, departures were also operating as normal yet some flights were running ever so slightly delayed, especially in the late morning and late evening. LAX is open and operating normally. Passengers should check their flight status directly with their airline, the airport has said on its website. Has the fire impacted other travel? Large roads such as the Pacific Coast Highway have been out of action in various places for several days since the wildfires started. Caltrans, Californias Department of Transportation, has announced several road closures due to the wildfires throughout the region. Closures as of 6.45am Wednesday local time: I-405 at Getty Center Drive, access to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard is restricted. I-405 southbound Skirball Center Drive off-ramp closed. I-405 southbound Valley Vista Boulevard off ramp closed The Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) is closed southbound at Sweetwater Canyon Drive and northbound at McClure Tunnel. I-10 closed westbound at Lincoln Boulevard and the westbound 4th and 5th Street on-ramps closed. Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27) is fully closed between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive. San Gabriel Canyon Road (State Route 39) is closed as a preventative measure north of Azusa, only residents are allowed to enter. Authorities have warned that due to power outages, some traffic lights may be malfunctioning. When traffic signals are dark or blinking red, treat them as a stop sign. Due to heavy winds and power outages, some highway and on and off-ramp locations may have signals that are temporarily out. Slow down if power is out in your area, Caltrans said. Be prepared to take alternative routes to avoid road closures and come to a complete stop when lights are flashing red or malfunctioning during the Palisades Fire, the City of Malibu added. The Metro Los Angeles said that all rail lines are currently running regular service, but there are a few service impacts on some bus routes due to the wildfires. The LA County Supervisor has authorised free fares systemwide on the metro for as long as the conditions last. Amtraks Pacific Surfliner is offering $10 fares for travel anywhere between San Diego and San Luis Obispo until 24 January. What attractions have reopened and what remains closed? After two days of closure, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk announced that they reopened on 10 January and have resumed regular operating hours. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to those impacted by the recent and ongoing fires, as well as our deepest appreciation to the first responders for their valiant and ongoing efforts during this difficult time, the park said in an update to guests. The Getty Center and The Getty Villa had a preliminary date to reopen early this week, but in an update, it said that the Center will be closed through 20 January, and the Villa will be closed until further notice. Fire reached the grounds of The Getty Villa Museum, located in the Palisades, on Tuesday and burned some vegetation, but officials have said that the structure and its collections have remained safe. The Griffith Observatory announced they would reopen at 12pm on 16 January and Griffith Park at 8am the same day. The Norton Simon Museum will reopen on 16 January, with free admission through 20 January. The USC Pacific Asia Museum remains closed, the Hammer Museum will reopen on 18 January and The Huntington reopened on 15 January. The Angeles National Forest has extended its closure for public safety and the protection of natural resources through 19 January. LA Parks have strongly advised Angelenos to avoid hiking trails, hillsides and forested areas of parks during high wind and particularly dangerous red flag warnings. The Will Rogers State Historic Park and the Topanga State Park remain closed until further notice. Government travel advice The UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for the USA, warning travellers of the fast-spreading wildfires that are currently active within Los Angeles County. The FCDO wrote: Monitor local media and follow the advice of the local authorities. More detailed information can be found on CAL FIRE. If you are in need of consular assistance, you should call +1 310 789 0031 or visit Emergency help. In the UK, call +44 (0) 20 7008 5000. Where are the fires? The wildfires that have engulfed thousands of structures have spread around the affluent Pacific Palisades area in Los Angeles County. The fires have spread across 40,660 acres, fanned by a windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds since it broke out. The Palisades Fire has spread across over 23,700 acres at a 21 per cent containment; the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton Fire at over 14,000 acres with 45 per cent containment and the Hurst fire at 799 acres at 98 per cent containment. Can I cancel my holiday or flight and get a refund? Flights Several airlines that serve the Los Angeles area have waived fees for flight changes for those who had upcoming travel plans to the area. Subject to different dates, terms and conditions and airports, American Airlines, Southwest, JetBlue and United are among the carriers that are offering various forms of fee waivers to those planning to travel to Los Angeles. As for cancelled flights, Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent, says: Whatever the cause of a cancellation, and regardless of the amount of notice that is given, you can insist upon replacement transport: the airline must get you to your destination as soon as possible if that is what you want. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says that means if a flight is available on the original day of travel, the passenger must be booked on it even if it is on a rival carrier. However, cash compensation may not be available, as the airlines may claim the wildfires come under extraordinary circumstances, which means that the cancellation was not the airlines fault. The rules are similar in the US: If your flight is cancelled, most airlines will rebook you on their first flight to your destination on which space is available, at no additional charge. Regardless of the reason, if an airline cancels a flight it is required to provide a refund if the passenger chooses not to travel, including those with non-refundable tickets, or if the passenger chooses not to accept the alternative offered, such as rebooking on another flight. Holidays As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to the USA, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so its best to contact them if youre looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes. In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast Get Away is a new film from the mind of Nick Frost but whats it really like inside there? The horror-comedy, set in Sweden, follows a family of four (Frost, Aisling Bea, Sebastian Croft and Maisie Ayres) whose holiday takes an unexpected turn when they discover the remote island theyre staying on is inhabited by a serial killer. Speaking at the movies premiere in London on Tuesday, 7 January, Frosts co-star Bea praised the Hot Fuzz actor for the beautiful kaleidoscope of silliness and joy inside his head, which Croft described as the best world to exist in. Paris Hilton documented her emotional return to her Malibu home that was reduced to ashes and rubble this week in the fast-moving California wildfires. At least 10 people have been killed by the fast-moving wildfires tearing across the Los Angeles area, while a suspected arsonist, allegedly armed with a flamethrower, has been arrested. The media personality, 43, had evacuated her property with her four dogs before it was burnt to the ground. Hilton captioned the video on social media: It feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces. What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isnt just my story. So many people have lost everything. The revelation that Reform MPs Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe have pocketed over 10,000 from Elon Musks X between them is deeply depressing and not just because wealthy, unpleasant men shunting money back and forth between each other turns the stomach. The whole business is a red flag for how social media shapes political discourse, and how bad-faith figures like Musk rely on divisive rhetoric. The natural endpoint of Musks social platform is a constant churn of money and influence, powered entirely by horrible opinions. Heres how it works: Xs Creator Revenue programme pays verified users with more than 500 followers based on engagement with their posts. The more people interact replies, likes, shares, or time spent reading the more money flows into the posters account. Users are incentivised to create engaging content, which keeps the platform fresh and makes it interesting to the community, and, therefore, desirable to advertisers. Everyones a winner... right? Actually, no. Unlike traditional media, where editorial standards might temper the most inflammatory content, Xs monetisation strategy actively incentivises division. The more outraged people are, the more they engage. The more they engage, the more the poster earns. Truth, accuracy and adding value to public discourse are secondary concerns. This is about generating heat rather than light. Was it specifically conceived with that in mind? Possibly. Certainly, anyone who has spent time working in the social space would have known that this was the direction things would go. There are two possibilities here: that Musk is deliberately creating dissent and chaos for profit; or that he simply doesnt really care where the money comes from or goes to, as long as it flows. Im willing to accept either option theres evidence to support both. This explains why Reform UK MPs, with their knack for provocative statements and culture war rhetoric, are the schemes most successful parliamentary participants. According to the available records, no other British MPs have declared earnings from X, despite many having significant followings. This is because its not really about follower count, its about creating moments that trigger emotional responses Anderson especially has made ranting online about Pakistani rape gangs into literally profitable content. Musk claims the system rewards accuracy over sensationalism, as X evaluates earnings based on genuine interactions but what makes an interaction genuine? A thoughtful reply takes time to compose and counts as one interaction. A dozen angry responses fired off in quick succession count as 12. The system doesnt distinguish between agreement and outrage; it just counts the clicks. By monetising outrage, X has created a self-perpetuating ecosystem where inflammatory content rises to the top, dragging political discourse ever further toward the extremes. Its no coincidence that Farage, who has mastered the art of provocative posting, has earned the most. His 5,400 payday is a reward for reliably generating the kind of controversy that keeps users engaged and advertisers interested. The only conclusion here is bleak: were moving into an era where politicians can earn direct financial rewards for being as divisive as possible. Its not enough that inflammatory rhetoric might win votes now it literally pays dividends. The platform formerly known as Twitter has always had issues with trolling and harassment but there was also a genuine desire in the company to combat it. For all its faults, it was a platform run on good faith. Now, under Musks leadership, trolling has been weaponised into a business model. Politicians who can reliably generate outrage can effectively be put on Musks payroll, creating a direct financial incentive to be as inflammatory as possible. This is the world Musk has built: one where politicians can moonlight as professional provocateurs, where truth is less profitable than outrage, and where the very mechanics of the platform are designed to reward those who divide us. And this is just the beginning. As more politicians realise theres money to be made in manufacturing outrage, expect to see more of them join the gravy train. The question isnt whether this will further degrade our political discourse its how much damage will be done before we realise the true cost of turning division into a business model. Welcome to the future of political discourse, where the most divisive voices quite literally get paid to shout the loudest. And its Elon Musk thats writing the cheques. Marc Burrows is a freelance journalist, author and comedian based in Bristol, specialising in internet and pop culture. He is a former curator at the pre-Musk Twitter and senior community moderator at The Guardian Chinese photographer devotes 38 years to recording beauty of Yellow River 14:02, January 10, 2025 By Li Rui ( People's Daily "It's coming!" Liu Fuhai shouted, lying prone on a rock, one of his eyes pressed against his camera. Beads of sweat could be seen on his forehead. Roaring water in the Yellow River plunged from the cliff, making gigantic splashes that eventually turned into thick mists. Liu, holding his breath, clicked the shutter quickly to capture the grandeur of the Hukou Waterfall, the largest waterfall on the Yellow River. A photographic work of the Yellow River by Liu Fuhai. (Photo provided by Liu Fuhai) Liu, in his seventies, lives in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong province. He is a member of the China Photographers Association. The man has a deep affection with the Yellow River, known as the "mother river" of China. During the past 38 years, he has taken tens of thousands of photos of the river, from its source to its estuary in Dongying, Shandong province. To the Hukou Waterfall alone, he has made more than 40 visits, with each round trip covering nearly 2,000 kilometers. His affection with the Yellow River originated when he was an adolescent. "Back then, everybody enjoyed playing on the dam," Liu said, amazed by the rolling water in the Yellow River. In the 1980s, Liu worked in a vehicle manufacturing plant in Jinan. In 1987, he and his colleagues traveled afar to the Hukou Waterfall to take photos of it as promotional materials for his company. "It was midsummer. When we were approaching the waterfall along the bank, a steady thrum flew into our ears," Liu recalled. "The sound gradually became clear. As we stepped closer, a blurred vision of a waterfall appeared in front of us. The sound was like a train roaring past us. It was so exciting that we all jumped." Standing in front of the waterfall, Liu saw nothing but the tremendous momentum of the Yellow River, which brought back his boyhood memories. A photographic work of the Yellow River by Liu Fuhai. (Photo provided by Liu Fuhai) "This is probably the might of the mother river," he said, with his eyes wet. On his way back, Liu decided to become a Yellow River photographer, so that he could present the beauty of the river to more people. Capturing the true essence of the Yellow River is no simple task. Determined to do justice to its beauty, Liu dedicated himself to honing his photography skills. He delved into numerous photo albums showcasing the river, and studied the techniques of composition, exposure, focus, and filters from seasoned professionals. With time and practice, he forged his own unique path towards capturing the river's magnificence. As a Yellow River photographer, he may confront danger sometimes. Once, while searching for a better location to capture his shots, he walked onto the mud flat barefooted, and found himself stuck in the mire. Despite his efforts to free himself, he only sank deeper into the quagmire. "Half of my body was swallowed by the mud, yet my instinct was to raise my camera high to protect the precious photos," Liu said. Thankfully, his fellow photographers came to his rescue and pulled him from the mud, but his soles were infected due to cuts by sharp rock, leading to a lingering ailment. Liu told People's Daily that capturing novel images can be challenging in commonly accessible locations. He holds that a photographer should find unique perspectives in places that are not easy to reach in order to create exceptional photographs of the Yellow River. Photographer Liu Fuhai. (Photo provided by Liu Fuhai) In 2019, Liu released a photo album featuring the Yellow River. Each photograph captured a distinct aspect of the river, narrating its own compelling story. "I want to use powerful visual impacts to demonstrate the dynamism of the Yellow River and the development of the regions along its course," Liu said. With his camera, Liu not only presents how folk customs vary along the banks of the Yellow River, but also records the rapid social and economic development. "Look, some places were once hindered by poor transportation," Liu said, flipping through his photos. "Through tourism, local people got rich, and tourists gradually began to appear in my photos. Today, tourists are everywhere. This is a real and tangible change." In the summer of 2024, a photo exhibition themed "civilization dialogue between the Yellow River and the Nile" was hosted during the China-Africa People's Forum. To attend the exhibition, Liu was busy shooting photos of the Yellow River at different locations. "I want to keep recording the beauty and telling the stories of the Yellow River with my photos," Liu said. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Photo Credit: Garrett Fedewa Given the unethical, dangerous, and otherwise questionable activities seen daily on social media, what Garrett Fedewa did one-day last fall seems almost trivial. According to TheState.com, on Nov. 8, Fedewa, a popular TikTok creator known as GFed, toured Clemsons Memorial Stadium. It was not a guided tour Fedewa entered the stadium through an open door and walked around shooting video. Hes done it before at many other stadiums with his Walk-On Challenge, billing himself as the internets stadium tour guide. This tour did not end well for Fedewa. Clemson University police issued him a formal trespass notice for entering the stadium without authorization, citing him for engaging in suspicious activity. He was not arrested, and left without incident. Hes now banned from campus indefinitely. Fedewa told TheState he understands police were only doing their job. They simply did what they were instructed to do, Fedewa said. We had a productive conversation off camera, and based on the information they gathered they gave me a trespass notice, which I thought was fair enough. On the surface, its a minor incident, handled according to the law, with no lasting animosity on either sides part. On a deeper level, it raises questions about how far social media creators can go creating videos in public. Memorial Stadium is listed as a publicly available facility in university publications. While Clemson dismissed Fedewas trespassing with the legal equivalent of a slap on the wrist, another school where he filmed a stadium tour took the matter more seriously. After Fedewa posted a tour of Georgias Sanford Stadium in November 2023, the university police issued three misdemeanor arrest warrants for unlawfully entering UGA property. When Clemson contacted UGA while they talked with Fedewa, Georgia declined to have Fedewa arrested and extradited on those charges. Please enable JavaScript to view the poll powered by Disqus. Fedewa has not posted his Clemson tour video but hopes to get clearance from the university. I really just feel more unlucky than anything, because this was the very last FBS campus in the lower 48 we havent been to. And of course, this happens, Fedewa said in a video posted on X. To all my doubters out there, these videos are very real, Fedewa continued. We take very real chances every time we post. And if you wanna try to do what I do, youre gonna be taking on those exact same risks, too. Move fast and break things. If there is one saying about the ethos of the new tribe of digital entrepreneurs sometimes known as information oligarchs its this one, credited to Mark Zuckerburg, CEO and founder of Meta. These guys dont hang around. And, boy, did they move fast once they knew that the new president of the United States would be one Donald Trump. First the courtesy visits to Mar-a-Lago, then the donations. Then the rearranging of the boards and top executive teams. And as we saw this week a stream of announcements about revised policies and processes to be more aligned with the thinking of the incoming administration. No one is pretending that Metas decision to think again about its approach to content moderation and fact-checking was anything other than political. Trump is surrounded by people who think of themselves as free-speech absolutists. They genuinely believe that many, if not most, attempts to temper words, pictures or videos on social media amount to politically motivated censorship. And so, barely two weeks before Trump takes office, Zuckerberg recorded a video which felt as if it was intended for an audience of one. In the US, at least, there will be no more attempts to check facts: in future, Meta will imitate Musks use of community notes whereby other users can contest facts, or even create alternative ones. Almost comically, Californians can no longer be relied upon to run the trust and safety teams: that work will now be entrusted to Texans, who are famously without bias. If this model of community notes had applied in Britain at the time of the Southport riots last year, there would have been no one to arbitrate on wild rumours about the identity or religion of the alleged assailant: the truth would take second place to the competing claims of whoever wished to pitch in. Imagine how such community notes would work in raging conflicts where communities are torn apart, extremely polarised or under unprecedented existential pressure such as the ongoing very fragile transition in Syria, where sectarian and vindictive violence could flare up courtesy of incitement and disinformation on pervasive social media platforms. In the recent elections in Georgia, it took some courage from on-the-ground fact-checkers to uncover fake content, disinformation and propaganda. No surprise to read a warm welcome from the ruling populist pro-Russia Georgian party for this weeks announcement: GD rejoices at news of Meta rolling back fact-checking. But thats to get ahead of ourselves, for there is no suggestion yet that these measures designed to placate people living in the very polarised society where Meta is based will be pushed out across the rest of the world. Insiders believe it could take Meta up to a year to design and engineer a community notes system for the United States. By which time, the country will be gearing up for the 2026 mid-term elections which could conceivably see a very changed political environment from the one in which Trump has effective control of the White House, Senate and Congress, along with a politically sympathetic Supreme Court. Who knows if, by then, it will be time to move fast and break things again? But there is a bigger problem. The hastily introduced changes to major policies governing content on Meta platforms are in danger of rebranding Meta as an American rather than a global company whose majority of users (not to mention revenue) are outside the USA. That may please the incoming US administration, but Zuckerberg must now consider how he can reconcile his evident wish to please Trump with the way much of the rest of the world is going. In Europe and the UK, for instance, the mood is (rightly, in our view) pulling in the opposite direction, with a growing legal and regulatory consensus to force the big tech giants to demonstrate that they have systems and processes in place to mitigate the harms that can flow from unfettered speech on social media platforms. It is worth reading Metas 95-page analysis of systemic risk assessment and mitigation which it submitted only four months ago as part of its obligation under the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA). It is a very comprehensive document showing a company apparently sincerely trying to grapple with the burden of being responsible for the speech of 2.5 billion people on the planet. It boasts that it has assembled a cross-functional team of more than 1,000 people to meet the safety and integrity requirements of the EU. Cut to January 2025 and Mark Zuckerberg is promising to work with Donald Trump to push back on governments around the world [who are] going after American companies and pushing to censor more. As a global company with global rules, Meta cannot at least as it presently operates have radically varying systems in different geographies. Technically, this would be a rather daunting challenge. Would professional fact-checking by a French company be accepted when it affects an American user posting from Tunisia on transgender issues in Texas? There will be technical and jurisdictional challenges, many of which seem to have not been well-considered before the hurried changes announced by Zuckerberg. Content policy changes affecting billions of users are usually the outcome of a deliberative process that includes stakeholders such as governments, experts and civil society organisations. It is very doubtful this was the case with the changes to the very complex policies on hate speech that Meta introduced this week hours after Zuckerberg posted his video. As journalists, we of course cherish freedom of expression. But we also understand the absolute need for information integrity and credible sourcing, as well as concerns around impact. Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech including dehumanisation can very much kill, as we have seen in Rwanda, Myanmar (Meta was implicated here), and now in Gaza; lead to wide civil disturbance as we have seen in the USA and the UK; or exacerbate conflicts as has been evident in Ethiopia and the Sudan. If left to proliferate unchecked, misinformation and disinformation also undermine public trust in general and allow all forms of conspiratorial views to dominate. We know how the vilification of whole groups of people based on their national, ethnic, religious or class background can lead to real-world harm. Meta knows that from its years of experience. Its too early to predict how these changes will play out. In line with its company mantra, Meta has moved fast to redraft its policies and community standards to be more permissive of certain kinds of speech and to change the classification of content deemed to be violating the rules. This is a technical challenge as much as an ethical one and the devil may well be in the engineering detail. Where does this leave Metas Oversight Board, of which we are members? You can make the case that this is where its role gets really interesting. Many of us became involved because it was patently unsatisfactory for one man Mark Zuckerberg to have unfettered control over the speech of billions of people. At the same time few living in democratic societies, not to mention authoritarian regimes, would wish to hand that responsibility over to politicians. Meta hasnt gifted control of its platform to Donald Trump, but its behaviour this week suggests a company which is extremely keen not to displease him. All the more important, then, that there is an independent, empowered body that can push Meta publicly with binding decisions and advisory opinions over many contentious issues. We welcome the challenge. No one would pretend that the current policies and standards never mind fact-checking and moderation processes are perfect. Theyre clearly not. But the danger of breakages by moving fast is that what is at risk are not things but people their safety, the credibility of information they rely on, societal trust and other valuable public goods. Such things are not easily fixable when broken and the price could be exorbitant. Khaled Mansour is a writer and novelist. Alan Rusbridger is editor of Prospect and a former editor-in-chief of the Guardian. They both serve on Metas independent Oversight Board, but this article represents their own views For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UKs icy blast continues with temperatures hitting as low as minus 20C. Snow and sleet began to hit southern England on Wednesday afternoon as an amber weather warning came into force, with the Met Office adding further warnings for much of the country on Friday. Yellow warnings for ice in parts of Wales, northwest England, east England and the southwest, will all be lifted by 11am, while a snow and ice warning in northern Scotland will be lifted at 10am. Friday will signal the beginning of the end of the cold snap, which has caused travel disruption, school closures and seen much of the UK freezing over as temperatures dipped as low as -13.3C. As milder air moves in, temperatures are forecast to turn much warmer by the beginning of next week, reaching double digits in Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland, according to the Met Office. Pupils across the country have had their Christmas holidays extended as classrooms have failed to reopen due to flooding, icy conditions and bad weather. Parents are urged to check with on their childrens school websites in the morning, with information also posted on council sites and on local radio stations. Here is a list of likely affected council websites The Independent has compiled: Scotland Several schools in the Scottish Highlands were also closed, with a full list for Thursday available here - https://www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures The Scottish government also has an online directory here for you to search if your childs school is closed - https://www.mygov.scot/school-closures England This week nearly 200 schools were closed across Bradford due to adverse weather conditions. The full list will be updated here - https://www.bradford.gov.uk/education-and-skills/school-holidays-and-term-dates/school-closures/ Only one school in Wakefield is closed on Friday, full details here for any further announcements - https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/schools-and-education/schools/school-closures/ Parents with children attending school in Lancashire can check their council page here for more information - https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/unexpected-school-closures/ Lists of schools that are closed in Manchester will be made available on their council website - https://www.manchester.gov.uk/education North Yorkshire has listed five schools for closure on Friday - https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-closures Any updates in Stockport will be posted here - https://www.stockport.gov.uk/school-closures-and-disruptions Parents should check for their childrens schools in Staffordshire after dozens were forced to close on Wednesday -https://apps2.staffordshire.gov.uk/sln/schoolclosures/ With the snow and bad weather moving to the southern counties, Somerset council have updated their list of school closures - https://www.somerset.gov.uk/children-families-and-education/school-life/school-closures/ Two schools are closed in Suffolk on Friday, according to the countys website - https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-closures/school-closures-in-suffolk Wales A number of schools are closed in Carmarthenshire, Wales, today - https://schoolclosures.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/ Northern Ireland A list of school closures in Northern Ireland due to severe weather can be read on the NI Direct website - https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/school-closures Property price rises vastly outstripping increases in incomes, CSO figures show House prices expected to rise by between 5pc and 8pc in the coming year. First-time buyers are being forced to borrow more due to the surge in house prices. New figures show the average first-time buyer mortgage rose by more than 24,000 in the year to November. It hit a new high of 319,000, reflecting strong growth in residential property prices. And the number of first-time buyers approved by a lender to take out a mortgage hit a record high in November. More than 31,000 new buyers were approved in the year to November, according to figures from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. The latest property price statistics from the Central Statistics Office show that property price rises are vastly outstripping increases in incomes, putting huge strain on new buyers. Prices shot up by 9.7pc in the year to October, according to the latest CSO figures. It was the 14th month in a row of increases. These raised the average cost of a residential property to 429,000, which works out at 8.6 times average annualised earnings. And prices are to keep rising this year, according to property advisers DNG. The estate agency has forecast average house prices will rise by between 5pc and 8pc in the coming year. Experts at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recently warned that Irish house prices are overvalued by 10pc, a situation that is increasing risk of a painful correction. However, a severe shortage of new homes and too few second-hand homes coming up for sale is pushing up prices. The Banking and Payments Federation said a total of 4,400 mortgages were approved last November. First-time buyers were approved for 2,657 mortgages, which works out at six in 10 of the total number of approvals. More people get approved for mortgages than the total number of home loans drawn down. House prices expected to rise by between 5pc and 8pc in the coming year. Today's News in 90 seconds - 10th January 2025 This is because although they are approved to borrow they cannot secure a purchase in the current red-hot market. Mover-purchasers were approved for 952 mortgages in November, or one in five of the total. The number of mortgages approved fell by 9pc month-on-month, but rose by almost 5pc compared with the same period last year. Re-mortgage/switching activity rose by 26.5pc in volume terms year-on-year. Chief executive of the Banking and Payments Federation, Brian Hayes said that first-time buyer mortgage approvals have again reached record highs. The data series began in 2011. He said the value of first-time buyer approvals for the year to November was 9.5bn. Looking more closely at the monthly figures, the report shows that there were 4,400 mortgage approvals, valued at 1.365bn in November 2024, with first-time buyers accounting for 60.4pc of the total volume and 62.1pc of the value. He said new buyers were being forced to borrow more, as property prices continue to rise. The average first-time buyer mortgage rose by 8.3pc, or more than 24,000, year on year in November 2024 to a new high of 319,161, reflecting strong growth in residential property prices. Mr Hayes said it is likely that mortgage activity will remain strong. He said approvals activity tends to slow down between December and February but the strong approvals activity in the past year has resulted in a healthy pipeline for mortgage drawdowns in the months ahead. How generations of Ukrainians defied Russian attempts to erase their culture Stories from Ukraine testifies to the enduring power of literature to inform, inspire, and unite it is a form of resistance against cultural erasure. Independence Day celebrations: Ukraine has been fighting back to reclaim its culture after the Soviet era. Photo: Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Getty Ksenia Samotiy Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 03:30 The power of stories may be a bit of a cliche, but when youre fighting against the military machine of a state that wants to crush not only your independence but your entire culture, you understand what it means. Storytelling is an act of resistance a vital tool for cultural preservation and self-representation. Why are some media outlets so excited about something that happens every few years? Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) looking as happy as ever in EastEnders. Photo: BBC Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), who's had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, is making another return to EastEnders for its 40th anniversary. Photo: BBC Some of us are old enough to remember when Coronation Street featured characters like Ena Sharples, a harridan in a hairnet; Minnie Caldwell, Enas meek, mouse-like best friend; and Elsie Tanner, Weatherfields original sex bomb. Some of us are old enough to remember Emmerdale when it was called Emmerdale Farm, went out in the afternoons and was regarded as the least eventful programme on television. Months could pass without anything of any significance whatsoever happening. It follows, then, that some of us are also old enough to remember when EastEnders was good. The very first episode on February 19, 1985 which opened with the discovery of the first of the soaps many dead bodies blew through the TV schedules like a gale-force wind, knocking spots off Coronation Street. Corrie, like many of its cast, had grown old and stale. It was rooted in a cosy, cobblestoned vision of Manchester as it used to be in the 1960s, not as it was in Thatchers Britain. In contrast, the new soap on the block was brash, edgy and full of energy. Where Corrie was overwhelmingly white, the original cast of EastEnders seemed to reflect Londons multicultural make-up. It even introduced a couple of gay characters, something Corrie wouldnt get around to doing until 2003. In so far as any soap opera can feel like it has one foot planted in reality, thats how early EastEnders felt, even when serving up a melodramatic storyline such as Den Watts presenting wife Angie with divorce papers on Christmas Day, 1986. For my money, the point at which EastEnders stopped being good was when the Mitchell brothers, or the Mitchow bruvvers if you prefer, Grant and Phil (Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden), arrived in Albert Square. The bullet-headed siblings who were introduced as a kind of pound shop version of the Krays, with less hair and poorer dress sense dominated the storylines over the next few years, pushing the soap ever further away from the original concept. Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) looking as happy as ever in EastEnders. Photo: BBC The more prominence the Mitchells received, the smaller and sillier the storylines became. Remember 1994, when Grant discovered his wife Sharon was having an affair with Phil and tried to murder his brother? Things got even worse that year with the second coming of matriarch Peggy Gerourramypub Mitchell, previously played (briefly) in 1991 by Jo Warne, but now reincarnated as the well-upholstered Carry On regular and friend of the actual Krays, Barbara Windsor. Or as we used to call her in my house, Bawbwa Windsah. Ross Kemp, who has carved out a second career presenting action-man documentaries, has quit EastEnders multiple times over the years, vowing never to return. If anything, hes never stopped returning. He pops up for short stints every few years, most recently in 2016. Phil is still there, of course, still scowling and growling and threatening people while simultaneously battling whatever personal demon is assailing him this month Which makes it all the more strange that his latest return for another of those stints to mark the soaps 40th anniversary next month is being greeted with a baffling degree of excitement by certain sections of the media. Columnists in The Guardian and The Sun, newspapers that would usually agree on nothing, separately described Grants return as genius. Overreacting much? Its not like EastEnders is running short of Mitchells. Phil is still there, of course, still scowling and growling and threatening people while simultaneously battling whatever personal demon is assailing him this month. In fact, Albert Square is swarming with several generations of Mitchells, a clan that seems to procreate like mice on Viagra. Bringing Grant back (again) is presumably designed to inject some freshness into EastEnders. Im all in favour of giving this miserable soap a shot in the arm. Preferably potassium chloride. Slaughtered sheep at a farm on the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth in March 2001 during Ireland's last foot-and-mouth outbreak. Photo: PA German authorities confirmed the country's first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in nearly 40 years on Friday in a herd of water buffalo on the outskirts of Berlin. Foot-and-mouth disease causes fever and mouth blisters in cloven-hoofed ruminants such as cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Measures to contain the highly infectious disease, which poses no danger to humans though they can transmit it, are being implemented, and the affected animals have already been euthanised, said local authorities. An exclusion zone of 3km and a monitoring zone of 10km have been set up, and no more products or animals may be taken out of these zones, said a federal agricultural ministry spokesperson at a regular government news conference. Local authorities are investigating how the animals became infected, but there are no plans for measures at the federal or international level, the spokesperson added. Germany and the European Union are officially recognised as being free of the disease. The last cases in Germany occurred in 1988, according to the FLI animal health research institute. The FLI said the disease occurs regularly in the Middle East and Africa, in many Asian countries and in parts of South America. Illegally imported animal products from these countries pose a threat to European agriculture, it said. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said he was dismayed to hear of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany today. I know this is a terrible blow to German farmers, particularly the affected herdowner and their neighbours. I know the German authorities are working hard to resolve this. I want to urge everyone in Ireland, particularly farmers, to stay vigilant and to protect our Irish livestock. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven hoofed animals. It causes very significant economic losses, due to production losses in the affected animals and due to the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries. FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk. Ireland is free of FMD, having had its last case in 2001. The Department is taking action to protect Irish livestock following this outbreak. The Department has confirmed that no animals susceptible to FMD (i.e. cattle, sheep, pigs, etc) have been imported into Ireland from Germany since November 1, 2024, which is long before the case in Germany would have been first infected. Ireland suffered an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001, its first case since 1941. On March 22 the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth was confirmed in the Irish Republic in a sheep flock near Jenkinstown, Co Louth. An aggressive slaughter policy was initiated with the cull of animals extending to 13,000 sheep and 3,000 cows within the exclusion zone in Co. Louth. While a lifting of the restrictions was announced a month later in the area, the overall cost of controlling the FMD outbreak is estimated at around 0.2pc of GDP. Steve Reeds speech to the Oxford Farming Conference was a chance to reset Labours relations with farmers after a Budget so disastrous that it brought 45,000 farmers onto the streets of Whitehall in protest I was so angry that I travelled all the way from Galloway. Judging by the reaction to yesterdays speech, the UKs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs failed. But whatever he said would not have been trusted. In farming your word is your bond and the saying is, You will only get to cheat me once. When he stood there in his 420 Le Chameau wellies allegedly gifted from Lord Alli during the election campaign and promised Labour would not touch inheritance tax, he was taken at his word. But we have now learnt to read between the lines and assume the worst. His previous messaging that farmers would have to learn to do more with less (presumably so that Labours client state could be paid to do less with more) was taken as a coded message that Labour would turn the farm subsidies tap off, which they have duly proceeded to do. His message at Oxford was that farmers need to diversify. Politicians say that when they mean We dont care about food security. We would much rather grow solar panels. Find something else to do with your land. Dont expect any help from us. It is insulting because farmers have already diversified more than any other profession. In fact, if you dont tax us too much or strangle us with red tape, that is what we do. My farm is not untypical and we have over the years branched out into holiday cottages, housing, bed and breakfast, firewood, beekeeping, horse liveries, shooting, falconry and other diversifications. Others do Christmas trees, weddings, farm shops, light engineering and glamping. But I cant remember a time when I have felt less like investing to diversify. My marginal rate of tax here in Scotland is over 50%, so any profits would be gobbled up. Even if I could find anyone to tempt off benefits and into employment, the higher employers National Insurance and minimum wage would be powerful disincentives. The thicket of red tape from a ballooning rural quangocracy, including, (I pray not), a Galloway National Park, would put me off. The higher borrowing costs following the Reeves Budget would make it very risky. And finally, to add insult to injury, when I die, the state would confiscate 20% of the value from my grieving children, who would probably have to sell it anyway. It is no surprise the economy is stalling. Farmers have actually stopped diversifying in response to Mr Reeds partys policies. For many of my neighbours, the rational response will be to sell their farms for forestry and emigrate to Italy with a warm welcome from Georgia Meloni, taking their money with them. When the food processing industry sheds all its jobs for lack of raw materials from Britains farms, and tourists stop coming because the landscape has disappeared under a blanket of Sitka Spruce, we will be sorry and we will blame this Governments policies. But by then the current crop of politicians will have their snouts in other troughs. Survey reveals a strong appreciation for farmers among EU citizens as 92pc say that agriculture and rural areas are important for our future. Photo: Getty More than half of Irish people (53pc) are willing to pay 10pc extra for agricultural products produced with a lower carbon footprint, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. Over three quarters of Irish respondents agree that EU farmers need to change the way they produce in order to fight climate change, even if that means that EU agriculture will be less competitive. Of the 1,010 Irish people interviewed, 95pc agree that extreme weather events such as increasingly severe floods and droughts can have an impact on food supply and food security in the EU. Support for the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) has reached an all-time high according to the survey. The level of public awareness across European citizens for the CAP is at its highest level since 2007, with 78pc of respondents saying they are aware of the EU's common agricultural policy. Over 70pc of respondents agree that the EU, through the CAP, is fulfilling its role in providing safe, healthy and sustainable food of high quality. Most EU citizens believe that the EU, through the CAP, is fulfilling its role in securing a stable supply of food at all times (81pc). Furthermore, around seven in ten respondents believe that the CAP contributes to sustainable management of natural resources (72pc), development of research and digital solutions to support agriculture and food sectors (71pc), and strengthening the role of farmers in the food chain (70pc). The survey also reveals a strong appreciation for farmers among EU citizens as 92pc say that, in the EU, agriculture and rural areas are important for our future, with 52pc considering them very important'. More than half (56pc) indicate that the level of EU financial support to farmers to help stabilise their income is right, an increase of ten percentage points since 2022 and the highest level since 2013. Close to nine in ten (88pc) are in favour of the EU continuing making subsidy payments to farmers for carrying out agricultural practices beneficial to the climate and the environment. The results also show that 62pc agree that agriculture has already made a major contribution in fighting climate change. In terms of priorities and expectations, an overwhelming majority of respondents replied that securing a stable supply of food in the EU at all times (94pc), ensuring reasonable food prices for consumers (92pc), ensuring sustainable management of natural resources (91pc), and strengthening the farmer's role in the food chain (90pc) are important. Contracts of 27,000 a year fall short of the base requirement Some care workers receive less than 13.50 an hour. Stock image Employers must uplift healthcare assistants pay if they earn less than the new national minimum wage, a government department has warned. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was responding after a union claimed most migrant healthcare assistants are being paid less than the minimum wage of 13.50 an hour. The minimum wage rose by 80 cent an hour on January 1. Unite said migrant healthcare assistants are on a yearly salary that was set by the Department at 27,000, while those on the newly-increased national minimum wage earn 450 more than that per year. It said the Government decision leaves most migrant care assistants below the minimum wage. A Department spokesperson said the minimum annual remuneration for which an employment permit can be granted was set at 27,000 in 2021 for a 39-hour week. The minimum hourly rate in this deal was 13.31. It is a requirement for employers to pay their staff in line with the minimum annual remuneration salary She noted that the national minimum wage increased to 13.50 per hour last week. It is a requirement for employers to pay their staff in line with the minimum annual remuneration salary or, where it is higher, national minimum wage rates, the spokesperson said. As such, healthcare assistants on pay rates of 27,000 per annum (equating to 13.31 per hour) should have their salaries uplifted in line with national minimum wage rates as of January 1, 2025. She said a new minimum annual remuneration will be in place for healthcare assistants, home carers and care workers from next Friday. Any applications, new employment permits or any permits that are renewed must meet a minimum pay threshold of 30,000 and minimum hourly rate of 14.79. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is committed to ensuring that all future increases in the minimum annual remuneration for these roles are implemented in a manner sustainable for employers and permit holders, she said. As part of this, ongoing engagement with the Department of Health, Department of Justice, and representatives of both long-term care employers and workers will continue through 2025. However, Unite said migrant healthcare assistants on existing contracts will not benefit from the new government-mandated minimum annual remuneration of 30,000, which will only apply to those on the new contract agreements. The incoming government must stop listening to bosses and move immediately to ensure that the increased salary applies to all workers The increase in the government-mandated salary was originally due to take effect in January 2024 but was postponed a year following lobbying by employer groups, it said. Even the 30,000 rate for new healthcare assistant recruits is still below the current non-European employment permit scheme standard minimum salary of 34,000. Unite Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: Migrant HCAs provide essential care to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. The incoming government must stop listening to bosses and move immediately to ensure that the increased salary applies to all workers regardless of whether they are on new or existing contracts. A daytime broadcasting ban on alcohol advertising comes into effect from today, with ads for alcohol products restricted to certain time periods on TV and radio. The new watershed does not allow alcohol marketing on television from 3am to 9pm and on radio on weekdays between 3pm to 10am the following morning. It aims to help reduce the level of exposure of children to alcohol promotion. Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has welcomed the enactment of the ban, but has called on Government to stop dragging its heels on two further sections of the Public Health Act that are yet to come into effect. CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany described the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 as a suite of quite modest measures designed to provide some degree of protection from the tactics of an aggressive industry acting against the populations health through relentless marketing. The new rules on alcohol advertising are part of Section 19 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, which has also included the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol. Dr Gilheany said two crucial parts of the Act are yet to be commenced and called on Government to stop dragging its heels and take action. She said the broadcasting ban comes into effect today almost seven years after first being signed into law, and the public health benefits of the Act will only be fully realised when all the sections are enforced. Section 13 would put restrictions on the content of alcohol advertisements, while Section 18 relates to advertisements in publications. Ads would also be required to include health information such as cancer warnings and details of the HSE alcohol information website. Dr Gilheany added: Even if commenced today, it will take three years before the section is enforced, so that would be a 10-year delay on legislation that was signed into law in 2018. The bizarre thing is that Section 13 is designed to work in tandem with health warning labelling regulations, which come into force in May 2026, so why is there such a delay in its commencement? "There is strong public support for controls on alcohol marketing and a need for more information on alcohol with polling indicating over 70pc in favour of such measures. We must stop this deference to industry and implement the law without any further delay. Drinks Ireland said the industry takes its responsibility around marketing products very seriously, with director Cormac Healy saying current laws on advertising of alcohol products are some of the most comprehensive and stringent. "The industry takes its responsibility in this area very seriously as evidenced by the strict adherence and compliance with the regulations and legislation in place, including the provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, and advertising and broadcasting codes including Coimisiun na Mean, ASAI and Copy Clear, he said. "The high level of compliance is independently monitored and verified. We will continue to follow these and the new parameters governing advertising and marketing. Alcohol consumption trends have been changing for some time in Ireland and the progress made needs to be recognised. "Per capita alcohol consumption in Ireland has decreased by around 30pc in the last 20 years, with clear trends showing that people are seeking more balance in how they drink and choosing more premium products. Screen grab: WWE On Friday, news broke that WWE founder and former chairman Vince McMahon had reached a settlement with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding charges that he had failed to properly disclose hush money payments he made to multiple women who accused him of sexual misconduct during his time running the company. According to The Wall Street Journal, the 79-year-old McMahon agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty while reimbursing WWE $1.3 million without admitting or denying the SECs findings as a part of the settlement. Shortly thereafter, McMahon took to social media to release the following statement: The case is closed. Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As todays resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading. In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. Im thrilled that I can now put all this behind me. Yet despite McMahons assertion that the case is closed it might be more accurate to state that a case is closed. Thats because the lawsuit against McMahon by a former WWE employee, Janel Grant, accusing him of sexual misconduct, including assault and trafficking, is still pending, with Grants legal team releasing its own statement with regard to the former chairmans settlement on Friday. A veteran Irish Rail station master with 43 years experience has told a tribunal he felt he had to retire because he never got an apology for what he called a false allegation that he assaulted a senior manager when a row broke out between them at a staff meeting in 2019. Mick OGrady (64), the former manager of Pearse Street DART station in Dublin, finished giving evidence to the Workplace Relations Commission this afternoon on his claim for constructive dismissal over the companys handling of the incident five and a half years ago. His complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 followed failed attempts to resolve the dispute through internal company processes and confidential mediation at the WRC prior to his retirement in December 2022. The tribunal has been told there was disagreement between Mr OGrady and his district manager during a meeting about works at Tara Street DART station on 27 June 2019. There were electricity supply difficulties for part of the building at the time, Mr OGrady said, and the district manager had told him and four of their subordinates at the meeting: This is not good enough. Everyone knows were to open on Monday. The district manager then proceeded to tell the workers: I need the car park fobs back, the complainant said. The staff wouldnt give up the fobs, because their fobs for the car park were there for them finishing up late shifts, Mr OGrady said. An email written by the district manager, quoted to the tribunal in the course of the hearing, said that the complainant became very hostile and told his boss that the staff had refused to give up the parking fobs and that he was not a f***ing magician. The district manager then told the more junior staff present to leave and close the door, the tribunal was told. He [the complainant] then very aggressively came over to me and said I was really starting to annoy him, poking his finger into my upper arm, the district managers email continued. Stock image Today's News in 90 seconds - 10th January 2025 Mr OGradys evidence was that because he was on leave, he missed the email the day after, but became aware during his holiday that a worker had been asked to give a statement. It was known in the organisation that I was sent home. It was labelled on me that I assaulted my district manager, everyone heard that, Mr OGrady said in evidence. Counsel for Irish Rail, Cathy Maguire SC, put it to Mr OGrady in cross-examination that he had admitted using strong language towards the district manager. Mr OGrady said the f***ing magician remark was not directed at his boss but at himself, adding that it wouldnt be the first time that adults had used such language in an office setting. I vehemently deny I laid my hand on any member of staff, never mind [the district manager] on that date, on any member of staff, in 43 years working for CIE or Iarnrod Eireann, Mr OGrady said. On 16 July 2019, when both men were next on duty together the district manager told Mr OGrady he was to meet him about the events of 27 June, with Mr OGrady refusing on the basis he wanted his trade union representative to accompany him. His manager then sent him home, the tribunal was told. It was put to Mr O'Grady that there was no mention of a disciplinary meeting when he was called to the district manager's office. He replied: "I was aware of his email where he claimed I assaulted him, poked him. I was not willing to have an opportunity with a man that falsely, unjustly, said I assaulted him." Irish Rails position is that Mr OGrady was refusing a reasonable management instruction by failing to come to the district managers office. Mr OGrady said when the district manager told him to go home, he regarded himself as suspended from that point onward. On the poking allegation, the company investigator, Pat Casey, concluded in his report: Due to the fact that no other person was present the investigation cannot reach a definitive conclusion on this matter, the WRC heard. The investigator had previously urged the parties to consider mediation, but talks at the WRC in October 2020 failed to resolve matters, the tribunal heard. Mr OGradys barrister, Emma Davey BL, argued there was a lack of a definitive conclusion in the matter Irish Rails position was that Mr OGrady was only sent home for one day, and that his absence after that was certified sick leave due to perceived work-related stress. Its chief medical officer initially identified that having to work under the district manager could be a potential stressor for Mr OGrady, but had cleared the complainant to go back to work without reservation by early summer 2021, the tribunal heard. At a return-to-work meeting on 29 July 2021, Mr OGrady said he asked the district manager to withdraw the allegation, the tribunal was told. A senior Irish Rail director, Billy Gilpin, spoke on behalf of the senior manager and stated that as the incident had been subject to a formal process, he wouldnt be allowing the district manager to answer. The manager sat behind the desk and had his eyes on his shoelaces through the entire meeting, Mr O'Grady said. Ms Maguire said the meeting was meant to be so that those involved could move on. The complainant wrote to Irish Rail CEO Jim Meade in March 2022 in an attempt to invoke the company grievance procedure, but railway management declined to reopen the matter, the tribunal was told. Mr OGrady gave notice of retirement in October that year and left his employment on Christmas Eve 2022. He said he had been willing, able and physical to work until his 66th birthday but was not prepared to continue to work under a man that Ive lost respect for because he hadnt the audacity to say, lets shake hands, can we make up? The allegation was not upheld, but that wasnt enough for you, it wasnt enough that it was effectively a draw, you had to win, you had to have [the district manager] withdraw it and have the organisation apologise to you, Ms Maguire said. I left because my name was mud, Mr OGrady said. Adjudicator Brian Dalton has adjourned the case under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 to March, when more witnesses are expected to testify. The funeral is set to take place tomorrow, Saturday, of mother-of-two Paula Canty who was found dead in her flat in Mallow, Co Cork earlier this month after an assault. The body of Ms Canty was found in an upper storey flat in Bridewell Lane in Mallow on January 3. Joseph Butler (42) of the Belfry, Bridewell Lane, Cork appeared before Midleton District Court yesterday charged with the murder contrary to common law of Ms Canty. Paula is survived by her mother Sinead, her children Alyisha and Aoibhe and her siblings Darragh, Donna, Latoya, David and Rianna. Ms Canty (31) will be lying in repose in Gabriel and O'Donovan's Funeral Home in her native Kinsale on Friday from 5pm. Her requiem mass will take place tomorrow at 11am in St. John the Baptist Church, Kinsale. Burial will follow at St Patrick's Cemetery, Nohoval. A postmortem examination was carried out on January 4 at Cork University Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. The investigation was upgraded to murder following the completion of the post mortem. Paulas mother Sinead has set up a memorial fund in honour of her beautiful daughter Paula. The organisation I have chosen to be the beneficiary of the funds is Street Angels in Cork who provide a brilliant service to all those in need. Our beautiful, kind Paula has gained her wings this week. "Paula was looking forward to a fresh, bright new year start with her loving family and with her good friends. The community, our family, relatives, neighbours, and a large circle of friends are just heartbroken. We ask if you wish to donate to Paula's Memorial Fund please do so to Street Angels organisation in Cork, which is close to our hearts. We thank you from the bottom of our heart for all your support, thoughts and love shown to us throughout this very hard time. Vehicles and a house burn in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. REUTERS/David Swanson. Singer and Irish Eurovision finalist, Bambie Thug, has spoken of how they fled the Hollywood Hills amid the Los Angeles wildfires this week, saying: Im grateful to be alive. The Macroom born artist told the Opinion Line on Corks 96FM of their narrow escape from the Runyon Canyon fire. At least 10 people have died and more than 180,000 people have been evacuated in what have been described as the worst natural disaster to hit California in decades. Large swathes of Los Angeles County have been destroyed by the fires, which were fuelled by very strong winds. Bambie received an official warning alert to evacuate immediately. I was watching the news, but I had turned it on mute and when I unmuted it immediately said 'Hollywood Hills evacuate now. I was one of the many residents who received an urgent evacuation notice. "So I went up to the roof and behind the house by this restaurant called Yamashiro, which is like this old Japanese, like historic restaurant. There was this big fire next to it. Vehicles and a house burn in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. REUTERS/David Swanson. Death toll from Los Angeles-area fires rises to 10 There were eight of us on the roof. "I've never experienced a natural disaster. Obviously in Ireland we're lucky. "I was trying to book an Uber and they were cancelling on me and then a friend of mine actually came back into the building, gave me a lift down [out of the Hollywood Hills. So I was lucky. I'm in downtown LA now, Bambie said. While the situation was extremely serious, Bambie was amazed by the community spirit on display. "Residents were distributing masks and taking in those displaced by the fire. It's lovely to see, actually, there's a beautiful spirit here." Bambie is due to return home to Ireland at the end of the month. I'm actually just over to reboot. I'm on a holiday visa. I'm just like resting and seeing my friends. I'm safe and I'm well. I'm grateful to be alive, Bambie said. The wildfires menacing Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people and devoured nearly 10,000 structures, with five fires burning into a fourth day on Friday, as dry desert winds fanning the flames again gathered strength. The Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares), turning entire neighbourhoods to ash. The death toll from the blazes rose to 10, Los Angeles County's Medical Examiner said in an update late on Thursday, without providing identities or other details. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told an earlier press conference he expected the number to grow. "It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don't expect good news, and we're not looking forward to those numbers," Luna said. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion. "We're already looking ahead to aggressively rebuild the city of Los Angeles," said Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, who faced criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans over her handling of the disaster. President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100pc of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries. "I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires," Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House. Former government minister Michael Lowry has said he is confident he has no liability as a garda file goes to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the Moriarty tribunal findings. The development has thrown the spotlight on government formation talks, but the Taoiseach and Tanaiste are confident Mr Lowry will remain a background figure, even as he engineers participation in power by the Regional Independents. The Irish Independent understands Mr Lowry personally reassured Micheal Martin and Simon Harris that he was not seeking public office for himself. In a statement yesterday afternoon, Mr Lowry said he met gardai last year over the Moriarty Report. I learnt, with surprise, from newspaper reports this morning that it has been stated that a file has been sent by An Garda Siochana to the DPP arising from findings of the Moriarty Tribunal, he said. Last year, I received a request for assistance from An Garda Siochana. I freely, voluntarily and willingly met with them on one occasion and was fully co-operative. This was the only engagement or correspondence I had with the gardai over the 14 years since the report was published. At no point, on that occasion or since, was it suggested that there were or are any charges being contemplated against me. I am fully confident that there is no basis for any liability attaching to me. Former government minister Michael Lowry. Photo: Collins Taoiseach and Tanaiste refuse to comment on trust in Lowry All those involved, including myself, have steadfastly maintained that there was no wrongdoing or impropriety attached to the award of the GSM licence, some 29 years ago. The award of the licence was made after a fully fair process, which included experienced members of the civil service and independent professional experts. Furthermore, the State, through the Chief State Solicitors office have consistently and vigorously defended the award of the licence in long drawn-out speculative civil cases taken by (just) two of the unsuccessful applicants. Gardai confirmed that a file relating to its investigations around the findings of the tribunal has been forwarded to the Office of the DPP 14 years after the tribunals final report. The DPPs office now has to decide if any person investigated has a criminal case to answer. The Regional Independents Group has included Mr Lowry among seven TDs who are willing to negotiate as a bloc. Last year, it was reported Mr Lowry was interviewed by Criminal Assets Bureau gardai, who are investigating matters related to the Moriarty Tribunal. The tribunal was set up in 1997 to examine payments made to former taoiseach Charles Haughey and Mr Lowry. In 2011, it also found that as communications minister Mr Lowry helped businessman Denis OBrien secure the States second mobile phone licence for his company Esat Digifone in 1995. The tribunal criticised Mr Lowrys behaviour as profoundly corrupt. The Tipperary TD last month engineered the election of Independent Deputy Verona Murphy as Irelands first female Ceann Comhairle. He was expected to shepherd the rest of the Regional Independent into the pen of the emerging Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition. Speculation has focused on Independents Sean Canney and Kevin Boxer Moran as potential ministers in a coalition, with Mr Lowry remaining on the sidelines. Nonetheless, his apparent role as puppet-master has drawn criticism, and forced politicians on to the defensive yesterday. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who called on Mr Lowry to consider his position as a TD when the scandals first broke, said: There certainly are issues, in the context of what has transpired now, to be reflected on. No one was a kingmaker in negotiations with the Regional Independent Group, he added, saying Mr Lowry would not hold ministerial office. Simon Harris was also asked about the developments as he attended the annual BT Young Scientist Exhibition at the RDS, and whether Mr Lowry was trustworthy. He replied that, on a personal level, he respected the mandate of every individual member of Dail Eireann, elected by the people. He added: Its very important that nobody in political life says anything to cut across any independent processes that may or may not be under way. But I think the reality here is theres a number of independent democratically elected members of Dail Eireann who have come together in what they call a Regional Independent Group. They have expressed a willingness to engage with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in terms of providing stable government for the next number of years. Weve yet to sit down with them actually as a group. Members of the group had gone to ground last night, but a source close to one of them denied there was any skittishness on the issue. Another source said: Least said, soonest mended. The two main parties, meanwhile, had a consultation yesterday with the four-strong Independent Ireland group, but there is as yet no sign that these may be adopted in place of the Regional Independents. Termination notice deemed invalid as tenants awarded damages of 1,500 A witness backed up complaints that the water supply at the Galway apartment was unsatisfactory. File photo A mother and son renting a property in Co Galway had to join a health club in a hotel to shower and cannot wash their dishes due to inadequate water supply, a tribunal hearing was told. The house in Monivea Park, Ballybane which has been divided into two apartments is owned by a Cyprus-based cuckoo fund called Xerico Ltd that has invested in hundreds of properties in Ireland. Sisters Laoise (12), Ciara (17) and Saoirse (15) Murphy, from Presentation Secondary School Tralee, Co Kerry, who have won the Young Scientist competition at the 61st BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE) in Dublin. Photo: PA Sisters Laoise (12), Ciara (17) and Saoirse Murphy (15) have been announced as winners of the 61st BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSE). The students from Presentation Secondary School Tralee in Kerry won the top prize with their project ACT (Aid Care Treat): App-timising emergency response. The BTYSE trophy was presented to the winners on Friday evening at the RDS in Dublin by Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh. ACT is a medical assistance app designed to support emergency healthcare responses. It integrates crucial features to provide swift and effective aid during critical situations. This is the second year the project has been recognised at the exhibition having previously been awarded Runner-Up Group in 2024. Im very proud, its the most amazing thing weve got to do together so we are delighted. Its such a fantastic finish to such a fantastic week, said Ciara Murphy. Ciara (17), Saoirse (15) and Laoise (12) have spent the last 12 months working on their project along with public and private sector stakeholders, including the Department of health, the HSE and the National Ambulance along with the Gardai. The transformative app is designed to tackle challenges in transferring medical data effectively and efficiently to the emergency services. The sisters win a prize of 7,500 and they will also represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists being held in Riga, Latvia. For the first time, the Young Scientist winners will be awarded a trip to the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Sisters Laoise (12), Ciara (17) and Saoirse (15) Murphy, from Presentation Secondary School Tralee, Co Kerry, who have won the Young Scientist competition at the 61st BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE) in Dublin. Photo: PA Three Kerry sisters take top prize at the BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition Speaking at the awards ceremony this evening, Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said: Id like to sincerely congratulate Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise on their extraordinary achievement. This win is testament to their creativity, dedication and hard work and the tremendous support of their family, teachers and school. It has been a privilege to meet students here in the RDS and to see the innovation, creativity and attention to detail in their projects, she added. Professor Joe Barry, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Group Judges said: I would like to congratulate Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise on bringing this project so far. This project with the support of the emergency services has the potential to make a real difference in helping citizens in an emergency situation". Other student projects that were displayed over the three days of the competition include Taylor Armstrongs project THMs and Pesticides: Hidden Hazards. Winner of the BT Young Scientist and Technology competition are Kerry sisters Laoise (12), Ciara (17), Saoirse (15). Photo: Hannah Daygo The Colaiste Muire Crosshaven student won second place in the Individual Award for the Chemical, Physical, Mathematical Sciences category. Her project investigated the levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and pesticides in Irish waters, including the River Lee, the River Shannon, the River Boyne and others. THMs are created when organic matter like plants and leaves are mixed with chlorine, said the fifth year student. I saw a report on the news back in January last year that Ireland had exceeded THM levels and it inspired me to start the project. Ireland has the third highest levels of THMs in Europe, it's definitely an important area of research, she added. Some THMs can be carcinogenic to humans and animals, including bromoform, a THM Ms Armstrong tested for. Looking to the future, the student aims to develop new experimental methods to build on her study. Another project that was on display was a group project from Mount St Michael in Cork. Caoimhe Scully, Niamh Wygers and Miya Sullivans project Honey Healers, investigated the use of West Cork honey for the production of antimicrobial bandages. Fifteen qualifying projects from seven Meath secondary schools are among over 1,000 finalists competing to be crowned the BT Young Scientist for 2025. Photo: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography Currently most antimicrobial bandages are made out of manuka honey which can cost up to 40. We found that one of the Irish honeys we tested had the best antimicrobial properties was Caoimhes honey from hives in West Cork, said Niamh Wygers. Caoimhes family manages ten hives of bees, five in Inchodeny and five in Reenascreena. Caoimhe told the Irish Independent: Once we harvested the honey we visited the microbiology lab in UCC and we worked with one of the professors there to test the honeys. The students did a series of tests using agar plates and varying bacterias. We swabbed the plates and then placed the honey bandages on top to test them. The honey that killed the most bacteria was my family's honey from Inchydoney. That particular batch included samplings of heather, lavender and fir, boosting its antimicrobial properties. Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland, said: I would like to congratulate all the participants and finalists of this years BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, who have showcased some truly innovative project ideas. In addition to demonstrating boundless energy and ingenuity across topics ranging from Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyber security, mental health, sustainability, agriculture and many more, what has been most uplifting is seeing how STEM subjects can be used for the betterment of society and the world around us, he added. The exhibition continues on Saturday and tickets are available through the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition website or onsite at the RDS in Dublin. Mick Lynch, outgoing general secretary of the UKs Rail, Maritime and Transport union, at its London HQ. Photo: PA Mick Lynch said he didnt want to fossilise Britains biggest rail workers union after announcing his retirement as its general secretary yesterday. The 63-year-old, who was elected general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union in 2021, said a grand tour of Ireland may be high on his agenda when he finishes up in the coming months. The Londoner, who has strong Irish roots, is well known for his sharp retorts in TV interviews while leading the union through a series of pay strikes. His father, Jackie, came from Cork and his mother, Ellen, was from Armagh. Shortly after his retirement was announced yesterday, his name was trending online and there were many glowing tributes. Its nice when people say nice things, he told the Irish Independent. Ive still got a bit more to do before Im finally finished, but yeah, its nice when people say that and Im glad Ive made an impact. Im glad we got some good outcomes for our members over the last few years as well. Mr Lynch said his wife has suggested they do a grand tour of Ireland, taking in the four provinces. He added: We probably wont get through half the people we need to see. Were overdue a visit. Well get back to all parts. He plans to drop in to the Robert Tressell Festival in Dublin and attend a couple of Ireland rugby internationals. You dont want to fossilise the union. You need to get new people coming through Thatd be nice, he said when asked if hed be open to another appearance on The Late Late Show. That was a highlight. It was great being on there for somebody from the Irish community over here thats a bit of a landmark show. So it was great. I was delighted. Paddy (Patrick Kielty) was very nice and all the people that were on the show. If they want me back, Ill come over and talk to them but you know, once the limelight moves away, I suppose you fade into the background a bit. Mr Lynch plans to get fit, spend time with his wife and take a few holidays. He also suggested the time was right. Im healthy, he said. Im in a good place. I want to enjoy my time and my wife and my family. I dont think people can hang on for ever. You dont want to fossilise the union. You need to get new people coming through. Weve got a united union. Weve had some good results. The membership is growing and when youve got strong support for platforms that we have, thats a good time to have an election. Working with the new Labour government represents an opportunity, he said, but added: Weve got to push them hard. Mr Lynch said some unions have gone with the consensus for far too long. The job of a trade union is to challenge the consensus, to challenge the middle of the road and make sure that youre in tune with what workers want. When I speak to Irish workers, theyre saying they want a bit more of what weve had here in the UK over the last couple of years where you challenge austerity, you challenge the big corporations, you challenge the fact that the big corporations arent paying enough tax. He said the Irish Labour Party lost its way by going along with the consensus and not standing out on a workers-based agenda. So thats whats got to be rebuilt, he said. Eddie Dempsey, who also has strong Irish connections, is a contender to succeed him as leader of the RMT. Hell be running and I wish him success, but its up to the members who they elect, said Mr Lynch. The unions executive committee has adopted a timetable for the election of a new general secretary, which will conclude in the first week of May. It brings the number of arrests in the ongoing investigation to 65 A scene from the Dublin riots on November 23 last year. Photo: Mark Condren A woman has been arrested in connection with the Dublin riots in November 2023. Gardai in Store Street arrested the woman, aged in her 30s, earlier today as part of ongoing investigations into the serious public disorder events of November 23, in Dublin city centre. She has been arrested for an offence contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1991 and is current detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. A Garda spokesperson said this brings the number of arrests in the ongoing investigation to 65. The spokesperson added that the arrested woman is not one of the persons of interest from the gallery published by An Garda Siochana last year. Ahead of the first anniversary of the riots, gardai had posted images of 99 individuals on www.garda.ie in November. Gardai said the purpose was to identify these people in a bid to either rule each individual in or out of the criminal investigative process. Following a very significant public response to their appeal for information, gardai began removing images of those that had been identified. Rioting broke out in the capital after three children and a care worker were injured in an attack outside a primary school and creche on Parnell Square East. Almost 30 vehicles including a Luas and garda cars were burnt out, while over 60 businesses were targeted, with more than 17,000 hours of CCTV footage harvested so far. Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin, of Store Street Garda Station, has previously said they will not give up until every person involved in the Dublin riots is brought to justice. He said they were asking for public assistance, but also appealed to any person featured in the images to come forward. It may be the case that after meeting with you we can eliminate some from inquiries or progress the investigation in relation to your participation, Chief Supt McMenamin said. Martina Devlin: Yes, conservative, masculine forces are on the rise and theyre being aided and abetted by Big Tech billionaires Donald Trump and Elon Musk are motivated by self-interest and they have cranked up the machinery of division since the US election Neither Trump nor Musk has a cogent world view and neither is interested in constructing a fairer society. Photo: Jim Watson Martina Devlin Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 03:30 Something chilling is radiating out from the US, colouring other democracies and potentially corrupting them. Its roots lie in the nexus between ownership of global technology platforms, enormous wealth and political power. Uisce Eireann crews alongside ESB and local authority teams worked in difficult freezing conditions to return supplies to those affected. Photo: Stock image In the grind of humdrum routine, it is easy to imagine life as a solitary struggle. So often, it is only when faced with the extreme that people reveal their caring side and we are all lifted by their example. In the last week, as the country froze and most of us stayed close to home to keep warm, we witnessed inspirational efforts from people all over the country, who have taken care of the sick, or protected those left vulnerable by the freezing conditions. This is an age where self-interest is celebrated and richly rewarded, while sacrifice is often taken for granted or ignored. All the more reason, therefore, to salute the work of the dedicated and committed few on whom we all depend. Last Monday, more than 40,000 people were without electricity. Thanks to the professionalism of ESB Networks and the Army, almost everyone was reconnected by yesterday. Response to power failure was met with a surge in public spirit. On farms and in villages all over Ireland, neighbours helped where they could, visiting isolated people. In Co Limerick, local Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin sang the praises of ESB crews, council staff and Uisce Eireann. The scale of the effort was just phenomenal, he told RTE. Staff at crowded hospitals had to brave the cold spell. A spike in flu cases the highest in seven years saw many working round the clock. Charities working with homeless people were also flat out to get people off our freezing streets. But, with a bit of luck, as national director for fire and emergency management Keith Leonard said: Were hopefully moving out of this phase of very severe weather. He added: The focus remains on that and also just keeping the country moving and trying to make sure that roads are clear. Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue members Mike Ryan and John Walsh assisting Ballybunion Meals on Wheels volunteer Anthony Sheehan. The combined efforts of all were a reminder how individual impulses of kindness, when channelled, can have transformational results. In south Kildare, where icy conditions closed many rural schools, Fianna Fail councillor Veralouise Behan said: Farmers are helping elderly people get about. The slumbering spirit of the meitheal: communities coming together, and affirming a sense of belonging, was reawakened in adversity. Urban life has an unfortunate habit of distancing us from engagement. But at times like this, circumstances can drive home the message: while none of us can help everyone, everyone can help someone. Wellington Oliveira and CJ Fitzpatrick bring dinners to neighbours in Millford, near Charleville in Co Cork When children in remote parts of the country needed to get to the capital for the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, some only made it thanks to a fleet of tractors mobilised by farmers who had volunteered to get them safely on their way through the drifts. In a more self-centred society, service is something we often take for granted and shamefully undervalue. Agriculturalist Nelson Henderson argued: The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. Planting trees may not always be an option, but appreciation for those who look out for us should be. Charleville has seen massive falls of snow in recent days Frost early overnight, has turned to rain in many areas with black ice being reported in the Mitchelstown area this morning. Cork County Council will continue to deploy additional resources to clear routes today and throughout the weekend. The priority is providing access to isolated communities in the worst affected areas and ensuring good access to schools before Monday. Council crews are being supported by contractors with Cork City Council also providing machinery. Cork County Council is urging all road users to exercise extreme care, especially in areas with compacted snow, as rain and melting snow will lead to treacherous driving conditions over the coming days. Drivers are asked to slow down even in places that have thawed as there may be significant damage to road surfaces across the county. Cork County Councils Severe Weather Assessment Team convened on Friday morning, January 10 to assess the situation. A Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning remains in place until midday today, however lying snow and ice will continue to be an issue in north-west and north Cork. Significant progress has been made in the Mallow, Charleville and Kanturk areas. In the Millstreet area crews were in operation in the Hollymount, Coolinarna, Ballinagree, Stuake, Ahadallane to Waterloo, Meenachoney and Aghabullogue yesterday. Today the focus will be in Baurahairin, Knocknakilla, Caherbarnagh, Knocknagowan, Mullenroe and Curragh. Crews have also been deployed in the Taur area in recent days, one lane has been cleared and treated however driving conditions remain challenging. The area offices in Newmarket, Kanturk and Charleville will remain closed today. However, libraries are expected to be open across the county. Mallow Civic Amenity Site will open at the later time of 11am today and Kanturk Civic Amenity Site remains closed. Cork County Councils Emergency Line will remain open on 021 4800048 to report issues or request assistance. The body of an adult male was found at a vacant property in Dundrain, Burnfoot, County Donegal, at approximately 2.30pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Photo: Northwest News Pix Foul play is not suspected in the death of a man whose body was found at a vacant property in Co Donegal. A post-mortem was carried out on Thursday on the body of a man, aged in his 30s, who was found at a vacant property in Dundrain, Burnfoot, Co Donegal on Wednesday afternoon at around 2.30pm. The results of the examination are not being released for operational reasons and the deceased has not yet been identified. A spokesperson for gardai said, A post-mortem examination has been carried out by State Pathologist Dr. Linda Mulligan on the body of a man, aged in his 30s, discovered at a vacant property in Dundrain, Burnfoot, County Donegal, yesterday, Wednesday, 8th January 2025. The results of the examination are not being released for operational reasons. A file will now be prepared for the coroner. Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal District and Buncrana Councillor Jack Murray said there is a sense of shock throughout the community following the mans death. When the news broke late on Wednesday night, it came as a complete shock to everyone in the community. It is news that nobody would have expected to hear and everyone is concerned and worried. Our thoughts are with this poor man and his family at this time. The community is shocked at such a horrible incident, said Cllr Murray. Cllr Murray said the cause of the mans death is not yet known. However, he urged people to look out for each other and neighbours as the cold snap continues to impact the county. As temperatures have plunged, it presents a danger everywhere. We do not know the circumstances of this mans death yet but it does serve as a reminder the importance of checking on vacant properties, sheds or any buildings nearby and particularly looking out for elderly and vulnerable people. Look out for your neighbours. "It might only take a few minutes but it could be vitally important when the temperatures are at such a dangerously low level, said Cllr Murray. Gardai are continuing their investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station 074- 49320540 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. Planned works by Irish Water are causing disruption to supply in north county Dublin Residents in Donabate and surrounding areas of north county Dublin are dealing with water outages today. Works scheduled to take place until 4pm today, January 10, are expected to cause supply disruptions to areas including Beaverstown, Beaverbrook and Donabate. New connection works may also cause supply disruptions to Portrane Road, Donabate, and surrounding areas. Water supply disruptions still remain. I spoke to engineers who are onsite investigating this matter, councillor Corina Johnston, a Labour Party councillor in the Dublin Fingal, Rush-Lusk area, said. Residents in The Links and Carrs Mill estates Donabate are having issues with water supply such as low pressure and tanks not refilling following yesterdays planned outage on the Portrane Road. I reported this matter to Uisce Eireann last night. I have been in contact with Uisce Eireann again this morning requesting that this matter be prioritised, investigated and water restored as soon as possible. Uisce Eireann has confirmed their field engineers will investigate this matter as a priority. A spokesperson for Uisce Eireann said: We recommend that you allow three to four hours after the estimated restoration time for your supply to fully return. Please take note of the following reference number and enter it into the search bar should you wish to return for an update: FIN00087407. The Irish Independent has contacted Uisce Eireann for further comment. Cannabis with an estimated street value of 20,000 was found at a property in County Roscommon. Photo: Galway An Garda Siochana Facebook. Gardai investigating an incident of aggravated burglary in Co Galway seized guns and drugs worth over 20,000 during a search in Co Roscommon. A sawn-off shotgun, a handgun, cannabis with an estimated street value of 20,000 and a quantity of cocaine were found during a search in Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon on Wednesday, January 8. The haul comes as Gardai from the crime office in Ballinasloe supported by the Athlone crime office and Eastern Region Armed Support Unit searched a residential property on Wednesday. Follow Independent Roscommon on Facebook The search was in relation to an incident of aggravated burglary at Garbally Demesne, Ballinasloe, Co Galway on December 27, 2024. The items were found in the undergrowth during the search. A sawn-off shotgun was found at a property in County Roscommon. Photo: Galway An Garda Siochana Facebook. Three men, two aged in their 40s and one in his 30s, were arrested and detained at a Garda Station in County Galway under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They were subsequently released without charge, pending further investigations. Cannabis with an estimated street value of 20,000 was found at a property in County Roscommon. Photo: Galway An Garda Siochana Facebook. The firearms were made safe and will now be sent on to the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau to undergo analysis. The drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. Gardai confirmed the incident and a spokesperson said, Gardai arrested three men and seized two firearms as well as quantities of cocaine and cannabis at Athlone, Co Roscommon, on Wednesday, 8th January. "As part of investigations into an aggravated burglary at Garbally Demesne, Ballinasloe, Co Galway on 27th December, 2024, Gardai from the crime office in Ballinasloe supported by the Athlone crime office and Eastern Region Armed Support Unit searched a residential property on Wednesday in Monksland, Athlone. Three men (two aged in their 40s and one in his 30s) were arrested and detained at a Garda Station in Co Galway under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They were subsequently released without charge, pending further investigations." Kilgarvan TD Michael Healy-Rae has said there is still a long way to go before a Government is formed but he indicated talks are going well. Deputy Healy-Rae and his brother Danny Healy-Rae have met with Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris in Government Buildings this week in relation to forming a new Government and they are to meet again with the leaders of both parties. The two brothers are among the groups FG and FF are in talks with to try and form a Government. While the main forerunners for Government formation appear to be the Regional Independent Group, which does not include the Healy-Raes, nothing is set in stone and talks are continuing with various parties. Further talks are to take place between the Healy-Raes and party leaders and Deputy Michael Healy-Rae termed this weeks talks as positive The meeting was very positive and productive, we had an hour long discussion in relation to policy platforms and the Healy-Rae team supporting an incoming Government. We agreed that we would meet both party leaders together and their negotiating teams over the coming days. While the Kerry TD refused to say what the Healy-Rae's would want for Kerry in return for Government support, he said the priority for the Healy-Rae team is to help Kerry. "Im hoping at the end of this that the Healy-Raes will be in a stronger and better position to help the people who voted for us and those who didnt vote for us and help all sectors in a stronger way than we did before. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin already met Michael Healy-Rae before Christmas alone and with his brother and the three other Healy-Rae Kerry councillors, The Kerryman understands. Michael Healy-Rae said this week all the Healy-Rae team are included in the talks, including the Healy-Rae councillors, as well as Cllr Sammy Locke and Cllr Liam 'Speedy' Nolan as all five are on the team on the ground and see the problems throughout Kerry. "We are trying to get to the stage where we are in a better position to help with the problems we have in Kerry, Deputy Healy Rae said. However, while Michael Healy-Rae refused to be drawn on how he would help, he said roads, health, housing, farming and fishing would all be in the mix. He also said he would not comment on whether a ministerial position for himself would be in the cards as has been mooted. Following the election in December Michael Healy-Rae told The Kerryman that Kerry would be his priority if asked to talks which have come to pass. If it was good for Kerry, if there was money for Kerry, if it was good things for the people who voted for us, we would be honour-bound to do it, Michael Healy-Rae told The Kerryman. There is an onus of responsibility on the two Healy-Raes that if we are asked to sit down and talk, whoever it may be, we have a duty of care to the people who voted. It is not anything for us, it is about Kerry, he continued. "There are three things that are important to Kerry and to the Healy-Raes doing their job and that is Kerry, Kerry and Kerry, that is the only condition. While Deputy Healy-Rae didn't cite any specific projects at that time either, he said the issue the Healy-Raes would want taken care of is funding, whether thats for the infrastructure, health, farming or fishing there are so many things. The Healy-Raes previously supported the government, in 2007, when Jackie Healy-Rae's price for supporting Bertie Ahern's Government was a reported 100m bonanza for the Kingdom which included infrastructural projects. A woman has been charged in relation to an alleged hit and run incident involving a cyclist outside Dundalk last Monday. Gagandeep Kaur of Adamstown, Dunleer appeared before Judge Stephanie Coggans at Ardee District Court on Friday morning. The 37-year-old was brought to court in custody, but was granted bail after an in-camera hearing. Garda Conor Hegarty provided evidence of charging Kaur at 9.16pm on Thursday, January 9 at Drogheda Garda Station, contrary to section 106 of the Road Traffic Act. Garda Hegarty testified that the accused replied, I agree with the charge. The alleged incident occurred at approximately 6.25pm at Mooretown, Dromiskin, Co. Louth on Monday, January 6. The cyclist, a man aged in his 40s, was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with serious injuries and remains in a critical condition. Judge Coggans granted bail in the accuseds own bond of 5,000 and an independent surety of 10,000, with 5,000 to be lodged. She was remanded to appear before Ardee District Court again on March 14. Stock image Today's News in 90 seconds - 10th January 2025 A newly launched community insurance initiative which allows Local Authorities to obtain insurance for Tidy Towns through a partnership between Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Insurance and local authorities has been welcomed by Sligo/Leitrim TD, Frank Feighan. Volunteer and local groups such as Tidy Towns are central to communities right across the country, not only through their work in keeping our towns clean, presentable, and attractive for residents and visitors alike, but crucially in providing a pathway for people to give back to their community, providing support and meeting the needs of the area. This innovative partnership between Irish Public Bodies and Local Authorities will ensure that Tidy Towns have insurance to continue this vital work, Deputy Feighan. Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Neale Richmond acknowledged and thanked Irish Public Bodies for providing this partnership and for their support for Tidy Towns groups across the country.2 This initiative allows local authorities to offer insurance coverage to Tidy Town groups at no cost, thereby ensuring that this vital work can continue, bringing benefits to the community, and indeed the country, as a whole. The scheme is also an illustration of the effectiveness of the governments insurance reform agenda. The implementation of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform has brought significant benefits to consumers, with insurance capacity now available in previously problematic areas, such as hospitality, leisure activities and community groups. The ten-week Eirgrid public consultation was launched on November 12, 2024, and will last until Friday, January 24, 2025 EirGrids consultation period whereby the public can submit views on the companys offshore energy developments, will close later this month. EirGrid, the operator and developer of the national electricity grid, is seeking the publics input into its project to build the new transmission grid infrastructure necessary to bring power generated by offshore windfarms into Irelands national grid. With Ireland set to take a significant step towards a greener energy future with plans to deliver offshore renewable energy infrastructure off the south coast, the public now has the opportunity to find out more about EirGrids proposed plans at a series of information events. The ten-week consultation was launched on November 12, 2024, and will last until Friday, January 24, 2025. The aim is to give the public, communities, the maritime and seafood sector and businesses across Waterford, Cork, and Wexford, the opportunity to share their feedback on the proposed onshore and offshore station locations, landfall locations and grid connection points which will be required to deliver this transformational project. They will also hear further information about benefits to local communities, including the establishment of a community forum made up of local stakeholders. These information sessions, follow on from initial public consultation events held in June 2023 where this project was introduced to stakeholders. The public, communities and businesses in the region can now submit their views on the proposed plans through this consultation. Submissions can be made online at consult.eirgrid.ie. Observations can be made online or by post, and public information events are also being held in-person and online to allow those interested to speak with EirGrid representatives and learn more about the proposals. As part of Irelands ambition to achieve its climate target of producing 80pc of electricity from clean renewable sources as outlined in the governments climate action plan, EirGrid has been tasked by government to deliver a plan-led approach for connecting offshore wind to the electricity grid. The windfarms will be delivered by private developers following a competitive auction process, and subject to all necessary planning and consents, said a spokesperson. When delivered, the infrastructure will have the capacity to bring 900 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity on to the national grid enough to power nearly a million homes. Mary Gallagher has stepped down as chair of Music for Wexford after over 20 years in the role. While Mary will remain on the committee as the organisation moves into a new era, her position as chair will be taken over by Michael Conway, who brings with him "fresh energy and a deep passion for the arts. Beth McNinch, artistic director of Music for Wexford, paid tribute to Marys contribution over the past two decades and more. Mary has been the driving force behind Music for Wexford for over 20 years, she said. Without her and the late Betty O'Brien's hard work and vision, we wouldnt have this wonderful organisation thriving here in Wexford. "Their dedication has ensured a legacy that nurtures both emerging Irish talent and world-class performances for local audiences. Looking to the future, Music for Wexfords 2025 season kicks off on February 7 at 8 p.m. in Greenacres with a concert featuring twice Grammy-nominated vocalist Iarla O Lionaird. Joining him will be renowned pianist and composer Cormac McCarthy and clarinet maestro Matthew Berrill. Tickets for the concert are available now on Eventbrite. As a special gesture, attendees are invited to join the committee for a complimentary glass of wine after the performance. Full details of the 2025 season can be found at musicforwexford.ie Stressing the importance of this and its other shows, Betty said that Music for Wexford plays a pivotal role in the Irish arts scene, providing unique opportunities for young, upcoming Irish artists to showcase their talents. Equally, it offers Wexford audiences the chance to experience performances by internationally acclaimed musicians, creating a vibrant cultural exchange right on their doorstep. Brays Mermaid Arts Centre will host three showings of local actor Emmet Kirwans renowned show Accents, which features music composed by the late Cork artist Eoin French (Talos) and had its preview at the venue in August 2022, before it toured nationwide to huge critical acclaim. The show is now being toured around the country in 2025 and is dedicated to the memory of Eoin, who composed the music before his sad and untimely passing last year. The show is set around the complicated nature of families and living a life delayed in the modern world. Accents followed the success of Kirwans previous work Dublin Oldschool which earned the Bray writer the Stewart Parker Trust Award. It is a transformative show about the arrival of new life, the families we try to create, the families we may never have, and the post-crash boom generation living a life delayed. Prompted by the birth of Kirwans first son, the actor-writer explores the sounds of our voices and how they define us, how were perceived and how they can give us power. The play takes the form of eight poems delivered against Frenchs incredible soundtrack. The show has its own unique universe with its own gravitational pull, with an expanding and contracting celestial rhythm driven by playwright and spoken word artist Emmet Kirwan, under the compelling and energetic direction of one of Ireland's most exciting directors, Claire O'Reilly. It is Kirwans Big Bang stage presence, his pulsating life-affirming energies through words and movement that make this show a must for your new year outings. Accompanied by the amazing musical talents of Ben Bix and Brian (The Line) Dillon, two classically trained musicians and members of the experimental electronic super group Melty Brains. Through their multi-instrumental talents they bring Eoins exquisite score to life. Speaking about Accents, Emmet said: I am thrilled to bring Accents back to Irish stage and to a larger audience. I set out to write a contemporary piece about life in modern Ireland five years ago alongside Eoin. "Life has changed for everyone since then including myself and becoming a father and that changed the narrative of not only my own story but the narrative of this play, and the loss of Eoin has profoundly affected all of us and changed how we see the world and his work, we hope to bring Eoin French's incredible score and body of work back to the stage so it can be heard by new audiences and make sure that it still pulsates and lives on in peoples memories. "I know he was incredibly proud of what he made and we want people to hear that. This show is laugh out loud funny, energetic, entertaining, and also extremely life affirming. Accents comes to Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, on Wednesday 5, Thursday 6 and Friday 7 February at 8.00pm. Tickets priced 21/19 from mermaidartscentre.ie With their proposed merger thwarted for "national security" concerns, Japan's Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel filed a suit against the Biden administration on Monday in a last-ditch attempt to revive the transaction, accusing Biden and his team of "ignoring the rule of law" to gain political favor. "As a result of President Biden's undue influence to advance his political agenda, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. failed to conduct a good faith, national security-focused regulatory review process," claimed Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel. Why the transaction? Widely seen as a symbol of American industrial prowess in the old glory days, U.S. Steel has been declining for decades as a result of a myriad of facts including labor costs, a lack of investments and global competition. Unit operating costs for America's steel industry were about "40 percent higher" than those of producers in Japan, according to the Associated Press. In this context, U.S. Steel had eventually become a takeover target. In December 2023, Japan's largest steel manufacturer Nippon Steel announced its intention to purchase the American company for $14.9 billion in cash it is a surprisingly generous bid valued at over twice Cleveland-Cliffs' offer of $7 billion. To allay fears that the deal could threaten the U.S. supply of steel, Nippon Steel promised to keep U.S. Steel American-led by retaining its name and its Pittsburgh headquarters. All members of the company's core senior management team would also be American citizens post-acquisition. The Japanese giant, in a gesture to show its sincerity in the transaction, pledged no layoffs, no plant closures and no cuts to U.S. Steel's output for 10 years. The combination of Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel, as the Atlantic Council put it, "could unlock efficiency-promoting technology." "A revitalized company producing better products at better prices is a boon to both the U.S. manufacturing sector and to securing national interests," Forbes said in its article, adding that "Rather than an economic drag or a national security threat, Nippon Steel's purchase of U.S. Steel is an opportunity to help revitalize an iconic U.S. company, improve steel manufacturing in the U.S., and grow the economy." National security as a Master Key Interestingly, the transaction deal drew instant bipartisan opposition. "This acquisition would place one of America's largest steel producers under foreign control and create risk for our national security and our critical supply chains," Biden said in a statement on Friday, explaining the motives behind his decision to scuttle the merger. While voicing national security concerns, the Biden administration has so far failed to provide any solid evidence. Biden's determination was immediately criticized as "illegal." "The presidential order was issued after the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) failed to appropriately conduct its review process due to President Biden's illegal political interference," Eiji Hashimoto, chairman and chief executive officer of Nippon Steel, responded to Biden's order. It is worth noting that even before the CFIUS began reviewing the national security implications of the merger, the Biden administration had clarified its opposition stance on the deal as early as March 2024, claiming that "it is vital for it (U.S. Steel) to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated." Biden's clear stance, without doubt, is widely seen as prejudicing the CFIUS's decision. Under political pressure, the CFIUS failed to reach a consensus on the transaction, thus leaving Biden an opportunity to block the agreement. This is not the first time the White House has abused "national security" concerns to contain other countries including allies. For decades, American politicians have demonstrated their unrivalled political wisdom of playing the "national security" card. In December last year, U.S. Senator Rick Scott blatantly accused Chinese garlic of posing a "major threat" to American food safety and thus urged for the launch of a Section 301 investigation against imports from China. Yes, garlic as a national threat. You heard me right. While a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded by saying that "it is believed that garlic probably has never imagined it could pose a major threat to the U.S.," provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 go ahead and require U.S. military stores to ban the sale of Chinese garlic; not to mention the Chinese refrigerators, drones, cranes and any other products that Washington regards as globally competitive are all unsurprisingly labelled as "national security risks." While "national security" concerns were used to block highly sensitive items, "they are now being used regularly to justify trade restrictions on innocuous items such as cocoa beans, alcoholic beverages, animal feed, lighting products, and doorframes," according to an article on the Council on Foreign Relations website. Allies deserve the same in American politicians' eyes. In the past decades, a slew of companies from G7 countries have been repeatedly targeted and sanctioned by Washington all with the charge of "national security." In the 1980s, Japan witnessed the thriving of its semiconductor industry. The country's market share of dynamic random access memory products reached some 80 percent in 1987, according to a 1992 report by the Los Angeles Times. This, apparently, Washington was not happy to accept. And unsurprisingly, Japan's leading chip producer Toshiba became a prime target. In 1987, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to bar Toshiba from doing business in the U.S. for up to five years, according to media reports. The reason, again, was "national security risk." In 2018, Toshiba sold its chip unit to an American consortium at $18 billion perhaps the best solution Washington could think of to address its "national security" concerns. The U.S. applied the same dirty tactic to take over French power company Alstom. In the early 2010s, Washington's repeated harassment against Alstom top managers came as American General Electric (GE) sought to acquire Alstom's energy operation. In his book The American Trap, former Alstom executive Frederic Pierucci detailed how Washington's deliberate crackdown on foreign companies has eventually led to their decline or acquisition by American companies. In 2014, GE successfully purchased Alstom's power and grid businesses. Who wins? In Nippon Steel's case, the acquisition means a huge boost to the Japanese tycoon's manufacturing and technology capabilities. As a result of the combination, Nippon Steel's "expected total annual crude steel capacity will reach 86 million tonnes accelerating progress towards NSC's strategic goal of 100 million tonnes of global crude steel capacity annually," according to a joint press release by Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel. The bright prospect of the Japanese tycoon explains, although unjustified, the Biden administration's opposition to the deal. But for the White House, the block is more a result of selfish political calculations than the country's overall interests. To begin with, let's rewind. Debates and discussions over the potential merger happened at a time when Democratic Biden was counting on labor unions as a bulwark against his dropping support rate. Clear about the United Steelworkers (USW)'s strong opposition against the merger, the Biden administration was unlikely to displease its supporters, especially ahead of the general election last November. Promising to kill the deal turned out to be an effective way to woo voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania where U.S. Steel is headquartered. Biden sought to kill the deal to "curry favor with the USW leadership in Pennsylvania in his bid for reelection," Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel allege in a statement. "He (Biden) gave a political payback to a union boss out of touch with his members while harming our company's future, our workers, and our national security," U.S. Steel's president and chief executive officer David Burritt said. Biden sought to secure his political interests, but is sacrificing his country's overall interests. Washington's repeatedly protectionist attempts could warn foreign companies from investing in the United States. "Blocking the deal could be politically popular domestically but could scare away foreign investment in other U.S. companies. It could also starve U.S. Steel of investment it says it needs," CNN put it straightforwardly in an article published last week. The outcome "could have a chilling effect on international investment in America," Bloomberg quoted John Murphy, who leads work on international trade at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as saying. Global competition is vital to revive domestic industries. Shutting the door against rivals has not only denied a world of possibilities but also means a crippled will to innovate. This is suicidal for American industries in the era of global integration. Moreover, the Biden administration, by scuttling the deal, attempted to save American jobs, but the result could be exactly the opposite. Japan, as the largest source of foreign direct investment in the U.S., supports almost one million American jobs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Washington's saying no to the Japanese tycoon means putting these job opportunities at risk. Burritt warned in September that if the merger failed, U.S. Steel may have to move its headquarters away from Pennsylvania where the company supports over 11,000 jobs and generates $3.6 billion in total economic impact a year. For decades, the U.S. has resorted to protectionism to revive domestic industries, but so far has not prevented the loss of manufacturing jobs. "Rather than creating 'high paying' jobs and increasing economic activity, preventing this purchase will weaken the U.S. manufacturing sector, eliminate potential new high-paying jobs, and thwart efficiency gains in domestic steel manufacturing," Forbes said. Putting economic woes aside, Biden's block could create a trust crisis between the U.S. and its important ally in the Asia-Pacific. Nippon Steel's lawsuit is the first of its kind by a Japanese company against a U.S. President, according to Japanese media reports. While Tokyo, in the past decades, has been actively dancing to the U.S. tune in exchange for Washington's economic and political support, the Biden administration's stance on the deal is a stark reminder that the world's superpower stands ready to sell its allies for selfish gains. This, without doubt, could impact Japan's stance on issues where the U.S. needs support, particularly in the realm of economic cooperation. Consequently, the U.S. will become increasingly isolated, both economically and politically, as a result of its rising protectionist tendency. American factories will suffer losses, American people will lose their jobs and American industries will decline as a result of Washington's closed-door policy costs that American politicians have purposely ignored to secure their selfish political interests, whether successful or not. That is what matters for the White House. Source: CGTN) With a new look, new graphics, a new colour scheme and a new year, the First Dates Ireland restaurant opened its doors to a new batch of singletons hoping to be shot through the heart by Cupids arrow, with the first instalment featuring primary school teacher and comedian Sinead, from Louth, and part-time DJ John, from Shankill, south County Dublin. But it wasnt all out with the old, in with the new for its tenth anniversary, as caring table angels Alice and Pete were on hand, alongside Neil, the worlds friendliest barman, available as always to offer contestants a cocktail settler with a chaser of sound advice. Trusty maitre d Mateo, as per usual, opens the show with some sound advice of his own, when he shrugs in that typical Gallic manner (yes, we know he is from Croatia) and says: Its normal to be nervous. DJ John and Sinead. Cue shots of the first seasons contestants with serious jitters, feet going like kango hammers under the table, fiddling with their drinks and even a pepper grinder above the table, and generally looking very very nervous. Sinead doesnt show any nerves. With pink hair and a pair of matching pink feathers in her ears, Sinead (41) is first to introduce herself by blowing out a very large lungful of air that could well be misconstrued as disinterest. Lucky DJ John wasnt around to see it. But well put it down to nerves. Proclaiming that I have loved lots of people, she fires off a very large party popper and shoots down any talk of the love-at-first-sight kind, before going on to explain how she likes to select different items from different menus on any given night, an analogy that suggests DJ John better have brought his very best mix tape for the evening. As a primary school teacher, Sinead divulges at the bar to Neil and Mateo that there is an expectancy for her to be that nice, caring person, which I am, but as a comedian, who has cut her teeth at the Edinburgh Fringe, is also this other person. Barman Neil and you dont get much past him, in fairness wants to know what the default Sinead looks like. To which she answers hostile, with a peal of laughter so loud that DJ John, despite the hazards of his career, must have heard on approach. DJ John (51), who we are told has recently returned to single life, in his own inimitable style arrives with a shock of orange hair (we did say new colour) that will surely impress pink Sinead, with yellow shoes and a shirt with a pattern that looks like the contents of an aquarium had fossilised onto it. Its garish, it's daring but its also very admirable. "I like people that embrace fashion, and colour and style, he says, admitting that over the last year he has rediscovered a sense of confidence that has allowed him to express himself more. Some would call that a mid-life crisis, and he has mistakenly led people on first impressions to think hes gay. Which hes not, and he doesnt mind, but it doesnt do him any favours, he says.. At 51, hes still up for clubbing and the clubbing people, he says, are my kind of people. Which is genuinely refreshing to hear. So what does Sinead think, when the colourful pair finally clash meet? Side by side, they look like extras from Willy Wonka, or that Oz remake Wicked, but there are positive signs, it has to be said, as they embrace and admire each others sartorial efforts. Game for a laugh at least, is how you would have to describe them and even at this early stage of the night, this is one couple you would like to see walk out hand-in-hand. I love the hairs, says Mateo, with a wink as they go to the table for a natter. The pair have a frank, genuine discussion about having to take the bold steps in life, Sinead describing how she got over her fear of performance by taking the plunge at Edinburgh, and DJ John chimes in with a break the fourth wall moment and admits that even doing this motioning to the whole set-up takes courage. Sinead also discusses her ambition to own her own house, having lived in a mobile home with no running water and a compost toilet, which have definitely hampered any kind of romantic situation, I would say. It's also hard to attract a man back to the house when you have a toilet that needs to be emptied they dont love it. Asked about her material for her shows, Sinead, who is well-travelled, concedes its all about being single and how I cant get a man, which might have led some men to make their excuses and run, but DJ John, with just the right amount of empathy, has a good old-fashioned belly laugh and handles it perfectly. John talks about losing his interest in music after having kids but that he has started DJing and really getting into music again. Another honest and mature conversation follows where the pair discuss their careers, and Sinead drops the comic mask in place of something a little more stern as she demands that people at a certain stage of life need to know who they are. This leaves DJ John who had just recounted a tale of burying a six-pack of beer near a tree at a festival (inspired by The Shawshank Redemption no doubt), for safe-keeping, only to discover the festival was in a different field looking, for the first time, a little squirmish. As expected, DJ John takes the bill as we get to hear Sinead, off camera, tell us that she would love to say there is a spark. But that would be too easy, she adds, leaving us wondering what scale of rites challenge she was actually expecting over dinner. Your heart, and this is all about matters of the heart after all, goes out to John when you know whats coming next. He did seem keen. But alas, love works in mysterious ways and when Sinead is first to shake her head when asked if they would meet again, its down to John to have the final word and say while there was plenty of conversation, there was no romantic spark really. Which is a pity. From a distant couch they looked like a nice match. John, take it to the bridge and go and dig up that beer. The former President of the Tree Council of Ireland, Eanna Ni Lamhna, has been invited by the West Wicklow Environmental Network to speak about climate change and biodiversity at Blessington Community College. Eanna Ni Lamhna is one of the best-known biologists, environmentalists and wildlife consultants in Ireland, and is also a radio and television presenter, author and educator. Eanna has one of the most instantly recognisable voices on Irish radio and has been for many years a member of the panel of experts on RTEs wildlife programme Mooney Goes Wild. She was president of the national environmental charity An Taisce for five years in the 2000s, and is their nominated candidate for the 2025 Seanad election on the Cultural and Educational vocational panel. She served two terms as President of the Tree Council of Ireland, from 2012 to 2014 and from 2020 to 2023. Eanna is also the author of several popular wildlife books, including Talking Wild, Straight Talking Wild, Wild Things at School and Wild Dublin: Exploring Nature in the City, shortlisted for the Reading Association of Ireland Award. Her biodiversity and climate change talk takes place in Blessington Community College on Wednesday, January 15. Tea and coffee will be served from 7pm and the talk commences at 7.30pm. American actor and TV host RuPaul Charles opened RuPauls DragCon UK event by paying tribute to fellow drag queen The Vivienne as someone with a passion for love and life. James Lee Williams won the first series of the BBCs RuPauls Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of ITVs Dancing On Ice before they died aged 32 at the weekend. Drag queen and TV presenter RuPaul, who hosts the US, American and Australian versions of the popular reality competition show, told the crowd at the Excel in London on Friday that he was here to celebrate life, to celebrate love. He added: We are here to start these festivities, but before we do that, we want to focus on love, and were going to remember our dear, The Vivienne, with love, life, and thats what she was all about. She would love for you to live your lives and to be free and to have a lot of fun and to spread it around, isnt that right? Standing close to his friend, the RuPauls Drag Race judge and BBC Radio 2 presenter Michelle Visage, who wore a T-shirt with The Viviennes name on it, then cut the ribbon to open the drag convention, which lasts until Saturday. RuPaul previously said on Instagram that his heart was broken, and he was mourning the loss of The Vivienne an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being. Elsewhere, a memorial wall and book was put up for fans and performers at the event to write messages remembering The Vivienne. The written posts included RuPauls Drag Race UK contestants Charity Kase and Alexis Saint-Pete. James Lee Williams, known as drag artist The Vivienne. (Jonathan Brady/PA) English performer Kase wrote: The world was better with you in it. Polish drag queen Saint-Pete wrote: We love you so much, and miss you even more. The event is billed as the largest gathering of Drag Race queens and fans in the world. Tributes have come flooding in for The Vivienne, who competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series, starred in BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, and was on Channel 4s Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer in 2022. Coronation Street star Antony Cotton, RuPauls Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon Boulash, Visage, RuPauls Drag Race winner and Doctor Who star Jinkx Monsoon, Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse and former EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer are among those who have posted tributes to the drag queen. Williams, who was born in Wales, adopted the drag name as they were known for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing. They performed as the wicked witch of the west in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year. They were due to be back on tour next month performing in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical in the role of The Childcatcher. A spokesman for Cheshire Police said officers had been called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death. The spokesman said: Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances. A file will be prepared for the coroner. The Indo Daily: Why is even the mention of water charges like playing with fire for politicians? latest | Donald Trump to be sentenced on Friday afternoon in Stormy Daniels hush money case, days before his inauguration Supreme Court rejects Trump's request to halt sentencingTrump's case marks first criminal conviction of a US presidentTrump claims legal cases are politically motivated attacks US President-elect Donald Trump speaks after a meeting with Republicans in Congress at the US Capitol building in Washington. Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon Luc Cohen Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 09:43 US President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday for his criminal conviction stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, a case that for a time overshadowed his bid to retake the White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is having his prostate removed on Sunday, his office said (Maya Alleruzzo/Pool/AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met security officials on Friday to discuss Gaza ceasefire talks, an Israeli official told The Associated Press. The prime minister and security officials received an update from negotiators and instructed them to continue the talks in Qatar, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic matter. Progress in talks but Gaza death toll passes 46,000 as Pope criticises shameful Israel campaign Breakthrough in narrowing gaps as mediators push for ceasefire Palestinians carry the dead body of a child at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip yesterday. Photo: Reuters Nidal al-Mughrabi Fri 10 Jan 2025 at 03:30 US and Arab mediators have made some progress in their efforts to reach a ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but not enough to seal a deal, Palestinian sources close to the talks said yesterday. Robert F Kennedy Jr has been criticised for his support of conspiracy theories and opposition of school vaccine programmes. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo More than 15,000 doctors have signed a letter imploring the US Senate to reject Robert F Kennedy Jrs confirmation for secretary of health and human services. The letter, organised by the advocacy group Committee to Protect Health Care, calls president-elect Donald Trumps decision to nominate Mr Kennedy a slap in the face to every health care professional who has spent their lives working to protect patients from preventable illness and death. Indias Medical Devices Industry: Investor Outlook Over the past decade, India has evolved from a medical device market and research hub for multinational corporations into a prominent manufacturing center. Valued at US$12 billion, the sectors growth is driven by strategic government initiatives, regulatory reforms, skilled engineering talent, and precision manufacturing capabilities. Overview of Indias medical device industry Indias medical device industry, valued at US$12 billion in FY 2023-24, is growing at a robust 15 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past three years and is projected to reach US$50 billion by 2025. The sector is a hub for innovation, attracting seed and venture capital funding. Indias precision manufacturing sector has undergone notable advancements. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like CNC machining, 3D printing, and robotics, domestic manufacturers now produce high-quality, precise, and reliable medical devices. Key domestic players such as Trivitron Healthcare (medical imaging) and Transasia Bio-Medicals (surgical instruments) compete with multinational giants like Philips and Siemens. This progress is underpinned by a skilled workforce with expertise in advanced engineering and a robust ecosystem that includes state-of-the-art research and development facilities. Emphasis on stringent quality control measures and adherence to international standards has further enabled Indian manufacturers to meet the rigorous demands of global markets. Key segments of Indias medical device industry The medical devices sector plays a crucial role within Indias healthcare system, serving as a key component alongside healthcare providers, pharmaceuticals, and the health insurance industry. It supports the objectives outlined in the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 by facilitating the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of various medical conditions and disabilities. The medical device sector is multi-disciplinary and broadly classified into five categories: Electronic equipment Implants Consumables and disposables Surgical instruments In-vitro diagnostic reagents Many segments of the medical devices industry are highly capital-intensive, characterized by long gestation periods, continuous technological advancements, and the need for ongoing training for healthcare professionals to adapt to innovations. Additionally, stringent regulatory requirements mandate that medical devices must demonstrate safety, quality, and efficacy before entering the market. Moreover, despite Indias immense potential, per capita medical device spending remains low at just US$3, compared to the global average of US$47 and US$415 in the United States and US$313 in Germany. India is home to over 800 small-scale medical device manufacturers, primarily focused on consumables and disposables. According to sector experts, Indian medical device makers have traditionally focused on low-cost, low-technology products such as consumables and disposables, with about 65 percent of manufacturers catering to local demand and having limited export capacity. In contrast, multinational companies (MNCs) dominate the high-technology segment, leveraging extensive service networks. Nevertheless, Indias emergence as a global medical device manufacturing hub post-COVID-19 is noteworthy, driven by the growing involvement of large Indian conglomerates. Traditionally focused on sectors like automotive, aerospace, and electronics, these corporate giants have leveraged their resources and technological expertise to diversify into medical materials, a critical component of device production. This strategic shift has enhanced sector capabilities, fostering innovation and creating a transformative ecosystem for medical device manufacturing and exports. Trade data from AprilOctober 2024 shows a 5.74 percent year-on-year increase in Indias medical device exports, with the exports of optical, medical, and surgical instruments rising from US$2,214.67 million to US$2,341.72 million. The global medical devices market is projected to reach US$433 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.1 percent from 2020 to 2025. The United States, Europe, and Japan dominate the market, contributing 40 percent, 25 percent, and 15 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, emerging markets such as Thailand, Brazil, and China are experiencing rapid growth, with Chinas sector expanding at an annual rate of over 20 percent. Indias Exports of Optical, Medical, and Surgical Instruments (Value in US$ Million) Commodity classification Apr-Oct 2023 Apr-Oct 2024(P) % growth Optical, medical & surgical instruments 2,214.67 2,341.72 5.74 I1 Surgical 405.75 427.83 5.44 K4 Optical items (including lens etc.) 421.68 324.02 -23.16 M8 Medical and scientific instruments 1,387.24 1,589.87 14.61 Source: System on Foreign Trade Performance Analysis (FTPA) Version 3.0, Department of Commerce Top 10 medical device companies in India India Medtronic Private Limited A subsidiary of Medtronic Plc, established in 1979, India Medtronic manufactures a wide range of innovative medical technologies such as cardiac devices (pacemakers, heart valves), neurostimulation systems, and minimally invasive surgical tools. Johnson & Johnson Private Limited International brand J&J manufactures range of medical devices across surgery, orthopedics, and cardiology. Abbott India Limited The company founded in 1910, Abbott India specializes in medical devices for diagnostics (blood glucose monitors, immunoassays), diabetes management, and cardiovascular care. Siemens Healthcare Private Limited Established in 1984, Siemens Healthcare manufactures advanced imaging technologies (X-ray, CT, MRI), laboratory diagnostics, and cancer care solutions. GE Healthcare Private Limited Wipro GE Healthcare, a joint venture established in 1990, offers advanced medical solutions in imaging, patient monitoring, and ultrasound. DHR Holding India Private Limited Operating since 1997, DHR Holding distributes diverse medical devices and laboratory equipment, including blood glucose monitors, dental tools, and clinical instruments. 3M India Limited 3M India produces advanced medical solutions such as surgical drapes, sterilization wraps, and wound care dressings. Baxter India Private Limited A subsidiary of Baxter International, operating in India since 1996, Baxter supplies life-saving devices for critical care, renal care, and surgical needs. They also produce key medical products, such as infusion pumps and dialysis machines. Stryker India Private Limited International manufacturer Stryker entered India in 1999, and has since manufactured wide range of medical devices, including orthopedic implants, endoscopy equipment, and navigation systems. B. Braun Medical India Private Limited The company has been operations in India since 1984, and currently B. Braun delivers over 5,000 products, including infusion systems, catheters, and dialysis equipment. Indias cost advantage and policy support Indias cost advantage has played a pivotal role in its ascent, driven by factors such as competitive labor costs, engineering expertise, and modernizing supply chains. Initiatives by policymakers like the Make in India campaign, launched in 2014, have been instrumental in fostering a favorable environment for manufacturing. This program encourages both domestic and international companies to set up operations in India, driving investment and innovation. Additionally, policies such as the Medical Device Rules (MDR) 2017 have established a robust regulatory framework that aligns with global standards, ensuring the quality and safety of medical devices. Dedicated MedTech zones and clusters, equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure, have further accelerated the growth of the sector by providing manufacturing facilities, research centers, and testing laboratories. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been another crucial initiative, designed to boost domestic manufacturing and attract investment in the medical device sector. India allows 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) into its medical devices sector. Similarly, the National Medical Device Policy 2023 offers a comprehensive framework to support the industrys growth and development. Encouraging private sector participation through PLI scheme On February 11, 2021, under the PLI scheme, the central government approved nine major projects, including those by Siemens Healthcare, Wipro GE Healthcare, and Sahajanand Medical Technologies, with a combined investment commitment of INR 7.29 billion (US$84.8 million). These projects are expected to create 2,300 jobs and enhance Indias domestic manufacturing capabilities. To promote domestic manufacturing, India launched the PLI scheme for medical devices, with a total fund allocation of INR 34.2 billion (US$398.1 million) for FY21FY28. By October 2021, 13 companies had been approved under the scheme. Additionally, a broader PLI scheme for pharmaceuticals worth INR 150 billion (US$1.74 billion) was introduced in March 2021 to enhance production and investment across the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, ensuring affordable medicines for consumers. Indias definition of medical devices In India, medical devices are governed under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. Medical devices encompass instruments, apparatus, appliances, implants, materials, or other articles, including software or accessories, intended for human or animal use. These devices do not primarily function through pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic means but may support their intended use for purposes such as: Diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, or alleviation of diseases or disorders Diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, or assistance for injuries or disabilities Investigation, replacement, modification, or support of anatomical or physiological processes Life support or sustenance Disinfection of medical devices Contraception control Risk-based classification of medical devices Medical devices are categorized based on risk levels as specified in Part I of the First Schedule of the Medical Devices Rules, 2017: Class A: Low risk Class B: Low-moderate risk Class C: Moderate-high risk Class D: High risk Indias medical device clusters and parks According to a survey report published by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in February 2023, India has 21 medical device clusters across nine states, with Uttar Pradesh leading with 6 clusters, followed by Maharashtra and Haryana with 4 clusters each. These clusters are established to reduce production costs and foster domestic manufacturing. Medical Device Manufacturing Clusters in India Sl. No. State/UT Region Number of medical devices clusters Share of medical devices clusters (%) 1 Uttar Pradesh Agra Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar Sahibabad, Ghaziabad Kanpur Lucknow Meerut 6 29 2 Maharashtra Ambarnath, Pune Satpur, Nashik Sinnar, Nashik Bhiwandi 4 19 3 Haryana Faridabad Karnal Bhiwani Gurugram 4 19 4 Karnataka Bengaluru Mysuru 2 10 5 Andhra Pradesh Visakhapatnam 1 5 6 Gujarat Lodhika 1 5 7 Rajasthan Jodhpur 1 5 8 Tamil Nadu Chennai 1 5 9 Telangana Hyderabad 1 5 Total 21 100 Source: Field Survey by CMRSD The Indian governments survey report, compiled by Centre for Market Research & Social Development (CMRSD), reveals that India has a total of 736 operational industries within these clusters, averaging 35 units per cluster. Key hubs include Gurugram and Bhiwani in Haryana, Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and Hyderabad in Telangana. Establishment of medical device parks India has sanctioned multiple medical device parks to enhance infrastructure and attract investment: Himachal Pradesh: In July 2024, the Himachal Pradesh state government announced its plan to independently develop INR 30 billion (US$349.2 million) medical device park in Nalagarh, Solan district. Tamil Nadu: A 350-acre medical devices park is being set up at the SIPCOT industrial complex at Oragadam in Kancheepuram district with a potential to attract INR 35 billion (US$ million 407.4 million) in investments. Uttar Pradesh: An INR 5 billion (US$58.2 million) park announced in July 2021, anticipated to boost the states medical device industry. In May 2023, it was reported that as many as 59 companies have been allotted land in the upcoming medical device park near Noida and these firms would invest around INR 4.15 billion (US$48.3 million) in setting up their businesses. Survey insights on medical device clusters The 2023 CMRSD survey outcome notes Indias medical device manufacturing clusters encompass a range of industry sizes: 20 percent are micro-industries (147 units), 31.1 percent are small (229 units), 38.6 percent are medium (284 units), and 10.3 percent are large-scale industries (76 units). Most clusters are equipped with essential infrastructure, such as testing and prototyping facilities, warehousing, accreditation labs, regulatory awareness hubs, and training centers. However, the lack of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Common Logistics Centers have been identified as a bottleneck, impeding the growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities within the sector. Medical device clusters production and export performance As per the 2023 CMRSD survey findings, the collective output from the clusters is valued at approximately US$5,985 million annually, with domestic production accounting for US$3,250 million. A total of 126 export-oriented industries operates across these clusters, serving key markets like the USA, Germany, China, France, Singapore, and the UAE. Indias medical device exports have shown consistent growth over the past five years, as reported by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC). Export figures have risen from US$1,868.05 million in FY 201718 to US$2,923.16 million in FY 202122, marking a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.05 percent. (US$1 = INR 85.89) MTV Roadies Double Cross OTT Release Details: One of Indias longest-running reality shows is ready for its grand premiere on 11th January 2025. You can watch the show every Saturday and Sunday at 7 PM only on MTV. If you are a vivid OTT consumer, then stream MTV Roadies Double Cross on JioCinema anytime anywhere. Read on to learn more about the upcoming season! Rannvijay Singha to return as the shows host after a hiatus of two seasons Singha was the winner of Roadies first season and since its second season, was associated with the show either as a host or a leader. However, just before the launch of season 18, Rannvijay was replaced by Sonu Sood. Better late than never, the love of fans has brought him back in the upcoming - 20th season of Roadies. Whats new in MTV Roadies Double Cross? This season, the makers are introducing the live raw experience of the GD (Group Discussion) exclusively available only on JioCinema. For the first time ever in the history of the genre-defining show, fans will be treated to an exclusive, unfiltered look at the chaotic madness and drama of making it to the biggest adventure reality show in India. Sounds exciting enough? Meet the gang leaders of MTV Roadies Double Cross Celebrating a remarkable 10-year journey with MTV Roadies, Gang Leader Prince Narula is returning to rule the throne yet again. The 34-year-old shared, After a decade with MTV Roadies, it still gives me goosebumps. Double Cross is going to test everyone and Im ready to lead my gang through every twist and turn. Neha Dhupia who was also off for the last two seasons is making a fiery comeback, bringing her trademark blend of wisdom and firepower. She shared, "The love from fans has been overwhelming, and Im back to fulfil their wish. MTV Roadies has always been about strength and power, and as a woman, Im here to lead with courage and inspire my gang to break boundaries and shine." Last seasons reigning champion Rhea Chakraborty is set to defend her title and in a media statement expressed, Winning last season was exhilarating, but this time, Im prepared to defend my crown with twice the grit. The theme of Double Cross aligns perfectly with the fierce competition that MTV Roadies stands for and I am excited to experience it. Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner and YouTuber Elvish Yadav is making his debut as a gang leader this season. Speaking about the same, he said, "Im here to bring the josh and shake things up! MTV Roadies Double Cross is the right place for the bold and Im ready to lead my gang with full power. Get ready for some strong competition and true sportsmanship!" With its 20th season, MTV Roadies Double Cross promises to deliver the ultimate adrenaline rush, blending adventure, strategy, and drama like never before. Excited? Share your thoughts @indiatimes. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Game Changer X review: Game Changer, the biggest release of the Sankranti season, is out in theatres. The film created a great deal of buzz among fans ahead of its release with its stylish trailer and catchy songs. The fact that it marks Shankars Telugu debut too has added to the excitement surrounding the political action drama. So is the film worth the hype? Heres a look at what netizens feel about Game Changer. Game Changer Twitter review Ram Charan, one of Tollywoods biggest stars, is back in the limelight with his latest film Game Changer. The action drama, which is his first major release after RRR (2022), hit the screens today (January 10) amid fanfare. Not surprisingly, it has become the talk of the town in no time. Several netizens took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their opinions about the biggie. The ensemble cast, including @yoursanjali and @iam_SJSuryah, adds depth, with Anjali's standout performance likely to earn national recognition. Ram Charan commands the screen with charisma, portraying an incorruptible force for good. "Game Changer" lives up to its name. Revanth Nandan Saaho (@_oneirophrenia) January 9, 2025 Just watched Game Changer Movie Good Film with all commercial elements Good film from Sankar and Ram Charan is the minus for the film #Gamechager #GameOver pic.twitter.com/TjdSvA7IoL Oviya (@happyOviya) January 9, 2025 Game Changer Review: Game Changer is a strictly above-average political entertainer with its highs and lows. The movie opens with an oora mass train fight scene featuring Ram Charan, setting the tone with sheer energy and action. This is followed by the vibrant Ra Macha Macha avengerallyTFI (@avengerallytfi) January 9, 2025 Game Changer is a waste of time for Ram Charan which will never come back! What a horrible piece of cinema this is, terribly inconsistent and cringe pro max!@shankarshanmugh exit please Charlie Harper (@suryatej_borra) January 9, 2025 #GameChanger If #Pushpa2 was released in 2025, there would have been a tough competition for national award between #AlluArjun and #RamCharan Ram charan excelled in acting in game changer movie pic.twitter.com/utRf6q3Rnq Rahul (@attention_kukka) January 9, 2025 Game Changer, which is Shankars maiden Telugu film, has been shot on a budget of nearly Rs 500 crore. Whats Game Changer about? Game Changer is a political action drama, directed by S Shankar. The film centres on Ram (Ram Charan), an honest IAS officer with anger issues, as he tries to fight corruption. The cast includes Anjali, Kiara Advani, SJ Suryah, Brahmanandam, Vennela Kishore, and Sunil. The films music is composed by S Thaman. Game Changer hit the screens on January 10 and is now playing in theatres. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Join in the celebrations and spread joy with meaningful messages that reflect the spirit of this sacred occasion. Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025: Vaikunta Ekadasi, also known as Pausha Putrada Ekadashi or Mukkoti Ekadashi, is an important Hindu festival celebrated on January 10, 2025. This special day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and marks the opening of the heavenly gates of Vaikuntha, the divine home of the god. It is observed during the growing phase of the moon in the month of Pausha, and this festival holds great spiritual value for followers who fast, pray, and perform different rituals to seek blessings for peace, prosperity, and freedom from the cycle of life and death. Also Read: Ekadashi January 2025 date The celebration of Vaikunta Ekadasi is especially popular in South India, where it is celebrated with great enthusiasm in temples, particularly in Tirupati. As people get ready for this sacred day, they show their devotion through warm wishes and messages. Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025: A Celebration of Devotion Vaikunta Ekadasi is one of the most auspicious festivals in Hinduism, particularly for devotees of Lord Vishnu. In 2025, this auspicious day will be celebrated on January 10. The festival is observed with great fervor at the famous Tirumala Temple, attracting thousands of pilgrims from across the country. Check: ISKCON Ekadashi Calendar 2025 Tirumala Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025 Dates and Schedule The celebrations for Vaikunta Ekadasi will span from January 10 to January 19, 2025. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has made extensive arrangements to accommodate the expected outrage of devotees. Key highlights of the schedule include: January 10, 2025: 4:30 AM : Protocol darshan begins. : Protocol darshan begins. 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Grand procession of Sri Malayappa Swamy on a golden chariot. January 11, 2025: 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM: Special Chakra Snanam ritual. Booking Tickets for Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025 To ensure a smooth experience for devotees, TTD has opened online bookings for special entry darshan tickets. Here are the details: Ticket Booking Start Date: Online bookings began on December 24, 2024. How to Book: Visit the TTD official website. Register or log in to your account. Select the date and time slot for your visit. Complete payment and receive an e-ticket. Due to high demand, it is advisable to book tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Meta AI 50+ Wishes and Messages for Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025 On this sacred occasion, sharing heartfelt wishes and messages with loved ones is common. Here are some: Vaikunta Ekadasi Wishes May Lord Vishnu's blessings lighten your life with peace, prosperity, and happiness this Vaikunta Ekadasi. Happy Vaikunta Ekadasi! May the divine gates of Vaikunta open for you and fill your life with bliss. On this sacred day, may Lord Vishnu guide you toward the path of righteousness and peace. Wishing you divine blessings and unwavering devotion on Vaikunta Ekadasi. Let this Vaikunta Ekadasi bring joy, good health, and spiritual awakening to your life. Jai Shri Vishnu! May the glory of Lord Vishnu inspire you to lead a virtuous and fulfilling life. Celebrate this Vaikunta Ekadasi with devotion, faith, and gratitude. Wishing you joy and peace. May this Vaikunta Ekadasi open the gates to success, happiness, and spiritual growth. Happy Vaikunta Ekadasi! May your prayers be answered and your life be filled with positivity. On this holy day, let's seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu for a life of love and harmony. Vaikunta Ekadasi Messages Vaikunta Ekadasi reminds us of the power of devotion and the path to liberation. Wishing you a blessed day. May the grace of Lord Vishnu protect you from negativity and guide you to eternal peace. This Vaikunta Ekadasi, let's pray for health, happiness, and prosperity for all. Jai Shri Vishnu! On this auspicious day, may your life be filled with positivity, devotion, and divine grace. Let's observe this Vaikunta Ekadasi with fasting, prayers, and kindness. Wishing you a blessed day! Celebrate Vaikunta Ekadasi by spreading love, forgiveness, and devotion to all. Seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu on this sacred day and embrace a life of purpose. Let's honor Lord Vishnu this Vaikunta Ekadasi with devotion and gratitude. Jai Narayana! May your soul be enriched with divine energy and peace on this holy day. Wishing you a blissful Vaikunta Ekadasi filled with divine grace and blessings. Vaikunta Ekadasi Quotes Fasting on Ekadasi is not abstaining from food but feeding the soul with divine grace. Vaikunta Ekadasi teaches us that devotion is the gateway to eternal peace. In the light of Lord Vishnu, darkness fades, and the soul finds its way home. The soul's journey to Vaikunta begins with faith, devotion, and selflessness. This Vaikunta Ekadasi inspires us to lead a life of discipline, devotion, and peace. Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025: Additional Wishes May Lord Vishnu shower his blessings upon you today and always. On this special day, may your heart be filled with joy and gratitude. Celebrate the spirit of Vaikunta Ekadasi by sharing love with everyone around you. Let us come together in prayer for a world filled with peace and harmony. Wishing you success in all your endeavors as we celebrate this holy occasion. May your home be filled with happiness as we honor Lord Vishnu today. Embrace the teachings of Lord Vishnu on this sacred day for a better tomorrow. This Vaikunta Ekadasi, may you find strength in your faith and devotion. Lets celebrate with joy in our hearts as we remember our beloved Lord Vishnu. Sending warm wishes for health, happiness, and spiritual growth on this auspicious day. May your faith shine bright like the stars as we celebrate Vaikunta Ekadasi together! Lets spread kindness today in honor of Lord Vishnus teachings. Wishing you a peaceful mind and a joyful heart on this holy occasion! May every prayer you offer today bring you closer to divine blessings! Happy Vaikunta Ekadasi! May your life be filled with love from family and friends. On this special day, lets reflect on our spiritual journey together! May the light of Lord Vishnu guide your path towards success! Celebrate this holy occasion by sharing joy with everyone around you! Wishing you all the happiness in the world today on Vaikunta Ekadasi! Lets make every moment count as we honor our beloved Lord Vishnu! May today bring new beginnings filled with hope and prosperity! Embrace the spirit of devotion today in all that you do! Happy Vaikunta Ekadasi! Lets cherish our loved ones today more than ever! May your heart be filled with love as we celebrate together! Sending heartfelt wishes for a blessed day filled with divine grace! Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025: Live Coverage and Videos For those unable to attend in person, many platforms will provide live coverage of the festivities. You can watch live streams and videos showcasing the rituals and celebrations associated with Vaikunta Ekadasi in Tirupati. This allows devotees worldwide to participate in the spiritual experience from afar. Meta AI Vaikunta Ekadasi in Telugu Culture In Telugu culture, Vaikunta Ekadasi holds significant importance. The rituals and prayers performed during this time are deeply rooted in tradition. Many devotees engage in fasting and special prayers dedicated to Lord Vishnu, seeking his blessings for peace and prosperity. Images and Visuals from Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025 As the festival gets closer, many beautiful pictures showing the spirit of Vaikunta Ekadasi will be observed in Tirupati. These pictures often show the joyful celebrations, rituals, and the grand Tirumala Temple during this special time. Meta AI Vaikunta Ekadasi is not just a religious observance; it is a celebration of faith, devotion, and community. As devotees prepare for this significant day in January 2025, they look forward to experiencing divine blessings and sharing heartfelt wishes with loved ones. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka has responded to the absurd comments made by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan calling for a 90-hour workweek. In a video that has gone viral, Subrahmanyan claimed that he regretted not being able to make people work on Sundays. 'Work-life balance in not optional' Responding to Subrahmanyan's comments, Goenka said perpetual office shifts would only result in burnout and added that, in his view, work-life balance isnt optional but essential. CREDIT: BCCL "Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? Thats a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isnt optional, its essential. Well, thats my view!" he wrote on social media. L&T Chairman becomes latest boss to mock work-life balance Subrahmanyan is the latest in a growing list of top executives in India who have made their desire to make their employees work more hours clear. Many also have rejected the idea of work-life balance and weekend offs for employees, calling them Western concepts. CREDIT: BCCL 90-hour workweek While the debate around this was initiated by Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy, who advocated for a 70-hour workweek, Subrahmanyan went one step further by claiming that people should work 90 hours a week. In the viral video, Subrahmanyan said, "I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays." 'Why spend time with family when you can work in office' He also mocked people for spending time with their families, saying, What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working. CREDIT: BCCL L&T uses nationalism to defend Chairman After his comments were widely criticised online, L&T issued a statement defending Subrahmanyan, saying his comments reflect the larger ambition of becoming a developed nation. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. To the surprise of many on social media, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has bagged the honour of hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his podcast debut. The Zerodha co-founder, who hosts the WTF is with Nikhil Kamath podcast, on Thursday released the trailer of his interaction with the Indian PM. Episode six of People by WTF Modi will be the guest on episode six of People by WTF, which in the past has hosted Bill Gates, Nandan Nilekani, and Ranbir Kapoor. "People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi | Ep 6 Trailer," Kamath said while sharing the update on social media. Modi's podcast debut "This is my first podcast, I don't know how it'll go with your audience," PM Modi is heard saying in the video. Kamath, who admitted that he felt nervous about sitting with the PM for the podcast, also explained that his show was aimed at exploring the intersection of politics and entrepreneurship. During their conversation, Modi and Kamath touched upon a wide range of topics, including his time as Gujarat Chief Minister. "I said something in an insensitive way. Mistakes happen. I am human, not a God," PM Modi can be heard saying. People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi | Ep 6 Trailer@narendramodi pic.twitter.com/Vm3IXKPiDR Nikhil Kamath (@nikhilkamathcio) January 9, 2025 Kamath also spoke about his own experience and how politics was viewed negatively during his upbringing. "Growing up in a South Indian middle-class home, we were always told that politics is a dirty game. This belief is so ingrained in our psyche that it is almost impossible to change it. What is your one advice for people who think the same?" he asked. Social media wonders why Modi chose Nikhil Kamath While the trailer of the podcast has created quite some waves on social media, many also wondered why PM Modi chose Kamath's show to make his podcast debut. ANI he does very often but no one from the RW expected Modi to be on Beerbiceps. Thats downfall Beerbiceps is Chunky Pandey of Podcasts When it comes to Nikhil, he does clean, innovative and interactive podcasts pic.twitter.com/DW2D4Ye6KS https://t.co/hdxkqp1vgS Prakash - - (@saireddy95) January 8, 2025 Many said that they would have expected PM Modi to make his podcast debut with BeerBiceps, aka Ranveer Allahbadia, or on ANI's editor Smita Prakash's show. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. While previously leaked, it has now been officially confirmed by BTS rapper Jung Ho-seok, aka J-Hope, that he is embarking on his first-ever solo tour. After delivering a powerful performance at the 2022 Lollapalooza music festival in Chicagodubbed Hobipalooza by ARMYit's time for him to bring his solo music to stages around the world. J-Hope will be the second BTS memberafter SUGA (AGUST D)to go on a solo tour. Titled "HOPE ON THE STAGE", the tour will kick off in his home country of South Korea, starting with three performances at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on February 28, March 1, and March 2. He has also teased fans with a music update set for March. On Weverse, he shared a heartfelt message expressing condolences to the Los Angeles community affected by devastating wildfires. HOPE ON THE STAGE solo tour The group's main dancer will perform live for three nights at the KSPO Dome, and the concerts will also be streamed online for fans unable to attend in person. Following the Seoul shows, J-Hope's tour will take him to: Brooklyn on March 13 and 14, Chicago on March 17 and 18, Mexico City on March 22 and 23, San Antonio on March 26 and 27, Oakland on March 31 and April 1, and Los Angeles on April 4 and 6. Interestingly, J-Hope will make history as the first BTS member to headline a solo stadium show, performing at Los Angeles' BMO Stadium. He also became the first Korean soloist to book the venue, solidifying his pioneering role in both BTS and K-pop. BigHit - the agency, however stated that in light of the large-scale wildfires in California, further details for the North American leg of the tour will be shared at a later time. He will then return to Asia, performing in Manila on April 12 and 13, Saitama on April 19 and 20, Singapore on April 26 and 27, Jakarta on May3 and 4, Bangkok on May 10 and 11, Macau on May 17 and 18, Taipei on May 24 and 25, and Osaka on May 31 and June 1. New music album In addition to the tour, J-Hope got ARMY excited as he announced his upcoming album. He shared a video on Instagram offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse of his new music video, titled Beginning of a New Dream, and captioned it: "New music on the way. 2025.03." J-Hope's post on Weverse After spending months in the USA following his release from military duties and ahead of his Los Angeles performances, J-Hope shared his thoughts on the ongoing wildfires in California. "My heart is really heavy, and Im deeply worried to hear about the severe wildfire news in California. I hope to meet you all safely and healthily. Sending my deepest condolences to the Los Angeles community and those who have lost their homes and loved ones. Please stay safe," he wrote on Weverse. 250110 Weverse Translations Thread J-Hope's Post My heart is really heavy and I'm really worried to hear about the severe wildfire news in California. I hope to meet you all safely and healthily. Sending my deepest condolences to the Los Angeles community and those who BTS Translations / Bangtansubs (@BTS_Trans) January 10, 2025 For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Dont forget to mark your calendars! Join us on Wednesday, January 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for our first Sustainability Speaker Series event of 2024-2025. This year's theme is Beyond the Shoreline!Discover how wetland restoration helps built and natural communities adapt to climate change. Ecological Engineer, Christina Toms, and Senior Water Resources Specialist, Judy Nam, will discuss how these efforts enhance community well-being and foster climate resilience. Explore actionable ways to contribute and make a meaningful impact.For any additional questions email green [at] sunnyvale.ca.gov or call 408-730-7717. An investigation is underway at the "Korgialenio-Benakeio" Red Cross General Hospital in Athens after an elevator incident injured four people on Thursday. The incident occurred around 1:15 PM and involved a discharged patient, their companion, and two paramedics from a private ambulance service. According to the hospital administration, all four individuals sustained minor injuries and are currently under observation. Hospital Director Olga Balaoura confirmed that the elevator had passed recent safety inspections and that the maintenance contract is up to date The 1st Health District of Attica has launched an administrative inquiry to determine the cause of the incident and ensure accountability. The hospital administration has reassured the public that all necessary safety protocols are being followed and that patient safety remains a top priority. This incident comes as Greece continues to grapple with aging infrastructure in some public facilities. While the Red Cross Hospital maintains that the elevator met safety standards, the investigation will examine all potential factors that may have contributed to the incident. iefimerida.gr The European Union's Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) recalled the approval of the name "Turkaegean" as a "trademark" for Turkiye, it was announced on Friday. Approved in December 2021 and valid for 31 years, the name was officially challenged by Greece through the Development Ministry and the Hellenic Industrial Commenting on the event, Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos welcomed the invalidation, saying that the decision was a vindication of Greek positions. Greece under the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he said, "is strong globally and defends its interests in the commercial field decisively and effectively. We claim our right with all our powers and lawful means." OBI president Dimitris Chronis noted that the decision "fully satisfied Greek positions and fully vindicates our decision to resort to challenging the trademark." OBI General Manager Panagiotis Kanellopoulos noted that OBI and a legal team worked very hard and systematically to reach this result through a difficult legal battle. iefimerida.gr A renowned dragster racer with a criminal past was arrested in Mytilene on Wednesday after a dramatic chase that left a coast guard officer injured. The 57-year-old suspect, who was wanted for a previous conviction, was apprehended following a daring escape attempt and foot pursuit. The incident began when the suspect arrived in Mytilene by ferry and refused to comply with a routine vehicle inspection at the port. As a coast guard officer approached his car, the suspect suddenly accelerated, forcing the officer to jump onto the hood to avoid being hit. The officer, a 27-year-old, sustained injuries to his leg and head when he was thrown from the vehicle. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. The suspect then crashed his car a short distance away and attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended by coast guard and police officers. During the arrest, authorities discovered burglary tools and a balaclava in the suspect's possession, suggesting he may have been planning further criminal activity. The arrest brings an end to the suspect's time as a fugitive from justice. Law enforcement officials praised the quick action of the coast guard and police in apprehending the dangerous individual and ensuring public safety. iefimerida.gr The Hellenic Air Force welcomed the final Rafale fighter jet to its fleet today, marking the completion of a major defense acquisition that significantly enhances Greece's air The 24th Rafale arrived at the Tanagra Air Base and joins the 332nd Squadron, known as "Hawk." Greece initially acquired 18 Rafale jets, followed by an additional order of six, bringing the total to 24. These advanced 4.5-generation fighters are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including powerful self-defense systems and Meteor missiles with a range of over 100 kilometers. The Meteor missiles provide a significant deterrent capability, effectively creating a "no-access zone" that can neutralize enemy aircraft before they even enter Greek airspace. The Rafales have already participated in numerous military exercises, demonstrating their advanced capabilities and integration into Greece's defense strategy. The completion of the Rafale acquisition marks a major milestone for the Hellenic Air Force, bolstering its combat readiness and strengthening Greece's overall defense posture. The advanced fighter jets enhance the country's ability to protect its airspace and contribute to regional security in the Eastern Mediterranean. iefimerida.gr Some gunmen, suspected to be bandits have killed 21 persons in an attack on Baure village, Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State. In statement on Friday by Abubakar Aliyu, the Katsina State Police Commands Spokespeman, disclosed that the assailants targeted a joint team of Katsina State Community Watch Corps and vigilante members. Aliyu added that the victims were ambushed while returning from a condolence visit on Tuesday. Advertisement READ MORE: Suspected Bandits Invade Katsina Village, Kill Miyetti Allah Chair, Others He said: On January 7, 2025, in Baure village, Safana LGA, Katsina State, some suspected armed bandits attacked a joint team of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and vigilante members, who were returning from a condolence visit. The incident occurred around 16:30hrs, prompting a swift response from police operatives attached to Safana Divisional Headquarters, who rushed to the scene and restored normalcy. Sadly, twenty-one people were fatally shot as a result of the attack. Efforts are currently underway to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Further developments will be communicated in due course as the investigation progresses. ALX Africa is arguably one of the worlds biggest accelerators for high-quality tech and entrepreneurial skill programs at a low cost and immense scale. Present physically in 8 markets, including Nigeria, the country teams performance this 2024 has brought a fresh example to the concept Naija no dey carry last. As seen in its brag sheet below, ALX Nigeria received nearly half a million applications. It transformed the careers of over 76,000 youths across Nigeria, providing them with in-demand skills in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Front and back-end development, Virtual Assistance, and so many more! At the heart of ALX Nigerias success is its extensive network of over 30 public and private collaborators, including key stakeholders like the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Wema Bank, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 9mobile, and many more. All these successes were evident in the ten awards received in one calendar year. Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager for ALX in Nigeria, spoke about last years highlights: We are deeply proud of the milestones we reached in 2024 and want to do exponentially more in 2025, with more collaborators. 76,000 is a huge number, but we are going into the millions. Advertisement To get a taste of the ALX Nigeria magic, why not join them online on Friday, 17th January, to Create your Vision Board or the day after on Saturday, 18th, to get an Introduction to AI?. To learn more about how you can participate in these upcoming events, train your staff, donate, or just know more about ALX programmes, visit www.alxafrica.ng The Presidency has fired back at Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, over his constant criticism of the tax reform bills. The controversy surrounding the Executive Bills has been ongoing since its presentation to the National Assembly in 2024. According to Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Governor Mohammed is playing irresponsible politics, hence, should focus on addressing the challenges facing his state instead of attacking the bills. Advertisement Dare emphasized in a statement on Friday that the President has a duty to all Nigerians, just as Governor Mohammed has a greater duty and responsibility to the people of Bauchi State. The question to Governor Bala Mohammed by journalists is to know what he is doing to make life better for the people of Bauchi State, Dare stated. READ ALSO: Gov Bala Knocks Tinubus Govt, Says Economic Polices Not Working How well are the people of his state who still rank as most impoverished among Nigerians faring under his leadership? Dare also advised Governor Mohammed to utilize the legislative process to make recommendations on the tax reform bills, rather than attempting to stampede or abort the process. He stressed that President Tinubu is focused on revamping the economy and has a four-year mandate to deliver on his promises. Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image. President Tinubu is a listening leader and also a leader that strongly believes in the institutions of State, Dare added. The Presidencys response comes after Governor Mohammed continued to push for the withdrawal of the tax reform bills, citing concerns that they are against the interests of the North. The Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission have accused South-East governors of ignoring agitation for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. In an open letter dated January 8, 2025, addressed to governors in the region, the clerics accused them of betraying Igbo nations common interest by not putting pressure on President Bola Tinubu-led administration to release Kanu. The Ministers accused President Tinubu and South East Governors for reaching secret agreement for the continued detention of IPOBs leader. Advertisement The letter partly reads: It is now evident that Mr. President and the South East governors took an oath not to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Last week, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, revealed their deal before the 2023 general election with Seyi Tinubu, the Presidents son, with the approval of his father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on how Kanu would be released if Tinubu won the Presidency. During his campaign in Imo State, the President promised that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would be liberated during his presidency, but nothing has happened in nearly two years now. Sadly, no South East governor confronted Mr. President during his tour of the region about Mazi Nnamdi Kanus infamous and illegal detention. It is now evident to everyone that our South East governors are the true source of insecurity in the South East. Otherwise, they should have pressed for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, who holds a lasting solution to the insecurity in the region. READ MORE: Kanus Lawyer Insists On Replacement Of Justice Nyako, Rejects FGs Request For Trial Resumption Mr. President, being misled by the South East governors, is on a path that can ruin his name and political ambitions in the region. God will appear in His time to expose the actions of the South East governors who, in one way or another, have benefited from Mazi Nnamdi Kanus unlawful incarceration. We, as a group, are now urging all religious leaders to begin raising questions about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is yet to be released. The utmost hypocrisy of Igbo politicians is to use the media to fool our people with frivolous promises that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released. They have all failed Ndi Igbo and should not be re-elected if they continue to fool us and politicize Mazi Nnamdi Kanus release. Mazi Nnamdi Kanus continued detention is an outright humiliation of Ndi Igbo. No fewer than six persons have been arrested by men of Ekiti State Police Command following a clash that happened between two groups in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital. It was gathered that the riot erupted between some members of Oodua People Congress and commercial motorcycle riders on Thursday, over the death of a motorcycle ticketing officer. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the two groups engaged one another with dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, knives, among others. Advertisement A source who refused to reveal his identity told PUNCH that the OPC members were accused for allegedly killing one of the okada riders. He said: The motorcycle riders are accusing the OPC of being responsible for the death of a motorcycle ticketing officer, whom they said was normally stationed at the OPC office in the area. That is what we learnt is the cause of the crisis. READ MORE: Amotekun Apprehends Three Suspects For Phone Theft In Ekiti Some people have been injured in the process but I cannot say the number. It was when the police arrived at the scene that normalcy was restored. The police have made some arrests in connection with the incident. Confirming the incident on Thursday, Spokesman of Ekiti State Police Commands Sunday Abutu said: Today, being 09/01/2025 at about 11:20 hours, the command received a distress call that some hoodlums were attacking and robbing innocent people in the Atikankan Area of Ado Ekiti. The operatives of the RRS were deployed to the axis where six of the suspects were arrested. They are currently undergoing investigation. Effort is underway to arrest other fleeing members of the gang. Rivers State is embroiled in a deepening crisis as the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly passed three laws without Governor Siminalayi Fubaras consent. The laws in question are the Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) (Amendment) Bill, the Rivers Electricity Market Bill, and the Rivers State Commissions of Inquiry Bill 2024. Amaewhule, in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Martins Wachukwu on Thursday, accused Fubara of seeing himself as above the constitution, judiciary, and other extant laws of the State. Advertisement READ ALSO: Only One Authentic Assembly In Rivers, Says Fubara Fubara sees himself as one who sees himself as above the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the judiciary and other extant laws of the state. The governor cannot hold back the state as a result of his indolence and ineptitude; the state must move forward, Amaewhule said. He emphasized, citing Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, as the enabling provision that empowered the House to override the Governors decision to withhold his assent. Controversial Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has declared readiness to go after bandits hiding in forests across the South-West Region. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, recently raised alarm, claiming that some gunmen, suspected to be bandits are fleeing from the North-West to Oyo State as their new abode. Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, Igboho declared that he wont fold his two arms, seeing terrorists group, disturbing the peace of the region. Advertisement He said: I cant fold my arms and refuse to stop the marauding bandits and herdsmen attacking, raping and killing my people engaging in farming and other legitimate activities in various communities. READ MORE: Bandits Relocating To Oyo Due To Military Operations In North-West Makinde Vows To Find, Deal With Them I will go after the bandits and herdsmen lurking in the forests and some communities in the South West provided the government gives me the go-ahead to do so. I am always ready to defend and protect my kinsmen anywhere in the South-West against the inimical activities of bandits and rogue herders, who have already infiltrated our forests. It is callous and unjustifiable for anyone or group of people to unleash violence on innocent farmers earning their living anywhere in Nigeria. Government and other relevant stakeholders must rise to ensure the safety of the citizenry. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, the sacked secretary to the Kano State Government, has vowed to expose those he claims betrayed him. In a viral video, Bichi told his followers that a bomb would soon be dropped, revealing the truth about his removal from office by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Advertisement Bichi, who had been silent since his sack, expressed gratitude to the people of Bichi, saying, You will hear from us in a short while because what we want is to help people. READ ALSO: Kano: 2027 Election Not My Focus, Performance Will Speak For Me Gov Yusuf He also stated that he had done his work in good faith and that the time for talking would come soon. The sacked SSG accused some individuals of being untrustworthy, saying, I am done with work in good faith; now its not the time to talk, there is a lot to say. There are many things written, in audio and in video. God crossed our path with people that are not trustworthy; time will come that we will bring things out for people to hear and understand who they are. They are not to be trusted, they dont know anything but deceit and betrayal. Nigerias Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has alleged international conspiracy aiding the provision of financial and military support to the notorious terrorist group, Boko Haram. In an interview with Al Jazeera, General Musa expressed concerns about the groups persistence, despite the Nigerian militarys efforts to defeat them. General Musa pointed to evidence that many captured Boko Haram fighters were found with funds linked to powerful foreign nations, suggesting international complicity in supporting the group. Advertisement READ ALSO: Boko Haram Attack Police Station, Kill Two Officers In Borno He however called on the United Nations to investigate the sources of funding and training for Boko Haram militants. Over 120,000 Boko Haram members have surrendered, and many have been found with money from powerful foreign countries. Where are they getting this money? Who is training them? Who is supplying them with weapons? General Musa asked, emphasizing the need for the international community to investigate the global funding networks that enable Boko Harams insurgency. The Chief of Defence Staff also noted that Boko Haram has developed new strategies, including the use of drones for surveillance and targeting security forces. He urged the United Nations to help identify those funding and arming the insurgents, expressing uncertainty about which countries might be sabotaging Nigerias security. The UN needs to come in because we need to trace the funding. It is an international flow, and we dont have control over that, he said. Musa said he suspected an international conspiracy, questioning how are they able to sustain themselves for 15 years? That is one question I think everybody should ask themselves. The Ogba Chief Magistrate Court has remanded a teacher, Stella Nwadigo in Kirikiri Correctional Center for assaulting a three-year-old pupil of Christ-Mitos Primary School in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Mrs. Nwadigbo was spotted in a viral video slapping the toddler for not learning how to write properly. During the arraignment on Thursday, the police prosecutor, Supo Akeem Raji, told court that the defendant committed the offences on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at about 11 am. Advertisement Mr. Raji added that the 45 years old suspect assaulted Michael Abayomi, the student by giving him blows consistently on his face, which caused him injury and swollen face. According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 135 and 172, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. In her judgement, Magistrate Olabisi Kusanu granted her bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum who are gainfully employed. RRAD MORE: Lagos Court Jails Man 10 Years For Touching Minors Breasts, Anus Meanwhile, in a statement by Lagos State Police Commands Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin on Thursday, disclosed that the suspect has been remanded in Kirikiri correctional facility until February 18, when the case would continue. He added that the three years old pupil has been taken to hospital for proper medical checkup. The statement reads: The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned Stella Nwadigo, aged 45, for indecent treatment and assault of a child. The suspect, who was arraigned in Magistrate Court 1, Ogba today, January 9, 2025, had been captured in a viral video indecently treating and assaulting a three-year-old pupil of a primary school in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Following receipt of the video, the Family Support Unit of Ikorodu Police Division promptly arrested the suspect on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, and transferred her to the Gender Unit of the Command Headquarters the same day after preliminary investigations. The victim was taken to a medical facility for adequate medical attention. The suspect has since been remanded to the Kirikiri correctional facility till February 18, 2025, when the case comes up for continuation of hearing. Im Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has urged African Youths to embrace positive leadership in effort to end bad government. Obasanjo led this out on Friday, while addressing 15 young men and women who were selected from across the continent to participate in an interactive session at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The former military leader urged youth to assume constructive leadership positions for the continent. Advertisement He also disclosed that his attitude of not keeping quiet on national and international issues led him to jail under the leadership of the late Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha, in 1995. Obasanjo added that his prison experience was part of the challenges of life he had, and the journey to it started with his inability not to always keep mute. READ MORE: Obasanjo Thanks Gowon Over Appeal To Abacha For His Freedom While In Prison He said: I joined the Army, and at the age of 42, I finished my career as a military officer, but what could I do? I was still young, energetic, and dynamic, but I was still young. So, I took to Agriculture, and during that time, I went into prison, and that is not what I really wanted. Going into Prison is really a challenge because I refuse to keep quiet. For me, if there is anything to comment on, I did comment on them, and so, I landed in prison, and that is a challenge. And, when I came out from prison, the situation was so bad in the country that some people felt the need to be saved, and pressure started coming. Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has reiterated his call for Nigerias breakup, citing the countrys persistent insecurit as a major reason. Igboho made this statement in a video shared on Thursday, where he was seen at a United Kingdom airport. According to Igboho, the lack of security in Nigerian airports is a testament to the countrys broader insecurity challenges. Advertisement READ ALSO: Tinubus Policies Caused Hardship Igboho Denies Opposing Planned Nationwide Protest Even inside the airport, there is no security. They can steal your belongings inside your bag, he said. Igboho further stated that the numerous problems facing Nigeria, including insecurity, are reasons why citizens are not proud to identify as Nigerians. Things like that make us sad to identify ourselves as Nigerians. This is why we advocate for separation. If Nigeria is not working as a country, it is better we go our separate ways, he emphasized. Igboho has been a vocal advocate for the separation of Nigeria, and his recent statement is a reiteration of his long-held position. The Labour Party has raised concerns over difficulty in serving court papers to six members of the House of Representatives who defected from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Recall that Ajang Iliya (Jos South/Jos East, Plateau), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau), all defected to APC in December, 2024. Iliya cited internal crises within the party and the need to align with President Bola Tinubus developmental policies as his reasons for joining the APC. Advertisement Speaking to PUNCH on Thursday, the LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, revealed that the defectors had been evading service of court documents. Despite their tough stance, the opposition party expressed readiness to welcome the defectors back under strict conditions. READ MORE: Defected Lawmakers Are Liabilities, Wont Be Missed Labour Party Ifoh said: We have made multiple attempts to serve them court papers, but they continue to evade service. We may be left with no option but to involve the Clerk of the National Assembly and publish their names in national newspapers. We have taken similar cases to court in the past, and we won. Theyre wasting their time in the APC. Most of them will not return to the National Assembly, and those who do will be very few. The exterior of Macys at 13th and Market Streets on Thursday. Read more The closure of Macys in Center City will put 128 people out of work, the company said in a notice to the government on Friday. While thats not news to the department stores staff, after the company on Thursday announced its plans to close its Center City store, it highlights the economic ripple effects of the closure, which the citys commerce director has called the end of an era for Philadelphias retail landscape. Advertisement Job eliminations will take place between March 18 and March 31, Macys said in a letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. The notice was filed in accordance with the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), which requires employers to give advance notice of major layoffs and plant closures. That WARN notice did not include the jobs at the Exton Square Mall Macys, which is also set to shut down, as part of a wave of 66 store closures across the country. The Center City store will close in March. The iconic building previously, and for much of its history, housed John Wanamakers flagship department store. In its WARN letter, Macys said employees would receive information about benefits and the possibility of transferring to other Macys locations. None of them are represented by a union, the letter said. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible, wrote Allison Johnson, a human resources VP for Macys. The number of employees affected by the Macys closure 128 is yet another illustration of the department stores massive footprint in Center City. Other clothing stores that announced their plans to close last year had employed a dozen or two dozen workers, like Vans, which accounted for 12 employees in a WARN notice filed last month. The recently closed Giant Heirloom Market at 801 Market St., a 32,000-square-foot grocery store, had half as many employees as Macys, 61, when it announced its plans to shutter in November. Employees were told about the stores impending closure on Thursday morning, hours before the Parker administration held a public announcement to discuss it. Some workers told The Inquirer on Thursday they were not surprised by the news. Morgan Lytle, a beauty consultant at Macys, said she saw it coming, calling the retailer a pretty dead store. Thats not a unique issue. East Market between Macys and Independence Hall, once a bustling, go-to shopping district, has been plagued by vacancies despite attempts at revival. Last year at the Center City location, Macys security guard Eric Harrison was stabbed to death and another security guard was wounded by a man who had attempted to shoplift and was confronted by the guards. The man pleaded guilty to murder last month. Harrisons family sued Macys and its affiliates, alleging a lack of security and safety measures that they say might have prevented their sons death. Customer Fazal Khaliq shops inside Macys at 13th and Market Streets on Thursday. The Center City and Exton locations are set to close along with dozens of other stores nationwide. Read more With the announcement that Macys is closing its iconic Center City store, among dozens of other locations nationwide, some Philadelphia shoppers are left bereft. The 13th and Market store feels like home, like an anchor that brings life to Center City, said regular customer Kathleen Neary, 74, whose eyes filled with tears when she heard the news on Thursday. Advertisement For impacted shoppers, sadness may be mixed with confusion and uncertainty. READ MORE: Center City Macys, located in iconic Wanamaker Building, will close in March Macys published an FAQ in an attempt to answer some of the most pressing questions about the closures, which include not only the Center City location but also the Exton Square Mall store. Macys locations in Cherry Hill, Deptford, King of Prussia, Langhorne, Maple Shade, Mount Laurel, Northeast Philadelphia, North Wales, Springfield, and Willow Grove will remain open. Heres what you should know if youre a Macys customer. I shop in Center City or Exton. When will my Macys close? Stores will close sometime in March. Before then, will these Macys stores have going-out-of-business sales? Yes. At stores set to shutter, clearance sales will begin this month and run for eight to 12 weeks. Can I still make returns at a Macys that is closing? Yes, with some exceptions. Anything purchased before Monday, Jan. 13 can be returned at the Macys stores in Center City or Exton through Tuesday, Feb. 11. Macys standard return policy which gives customers until Jan. 31 to return most holiday purchases still applies, and in-store returns remain free. Any purchases made on or after Monday, Jan. 13 at Macys in Exton or Center City cannot be returned. Can I use a gift card at my closing Macys? Yes, gift cards can be used at the store until it closes and can always be redeemed online at macys.com. After Saturday, Jan. 11, gift cards will not be sold at stores that are set to close. Will closing Macys stores accept coupons? Coupons will be accepted at closing stores until Sunday, Jan. 12. Can I earn or use Macys Star Rewards money at closing stores? Star Rewards money can be earned or redeemed at the Macys in Center City and Exton this weekend. After Sunday, it can only be earned or redeemed online or at other locations that are not set to close. Why are these Macys stores closing? Macys is closing underproductive locations, Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macys, said in a statement. We regularly evaluate our stores to make sure were bringing you the best shopping experience possible, the company wrote on its consumer FAQ page. In some cases, that means closing a certain location so we can focus our efforts on improving others. At the Center City Macys, the closing comes amid rising vacancy along East Market Street and after the in-store stabbing last year of Macys security guards Eric Harrison and Christian Mitchell. Harrison was killed in the attack. What will the closing of Center City Macys mean for the light show and Dickens Village? It remains unclear. City officials on Thursday said they did not know what the closure would mean for the holiday traditions, which have been around for almost four decades. READ MORE: What will happen to the Macys light show and Dickens Village in the Wanamaker Building? What will the closing of Center City Macys mean for the organ and eagle statue? The Wanamaker Building holds rare historical protections, so its inside may be spared from major changes. It is one of only five protected interiors in the city. READ MORE: The Wanamaker Buildings Macys may be closing, but its iconic eagle and organ are protected I have another question. How can I reach Macys to ask? Macys customer service can be reached by phone at 1-800-289-6229. Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, with his son X, at the U.S. Capitol building on Dec. 5 in Washington. Musk and Ramaswamy have proposed cutting government spending by 30%. Read more There is an urban legend that governments are horribly inefficient, and all it takes is cutting the workforce and getting rid of waste and fraud to change things dramatically. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and asked Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the quasi-government organization to do just that. Can they succeed? It is doubtful. Advertisement There are two major problems the DOGE heads face. First, the government doesnt actually produce much, so adopting a corporate restructuring model may not make sense. Second, their suggestion that $2 trillion can be cut from the budget runs up against the reality of how the government actually spends its money. Most of the budget goes to entitlements, defense, and interest on the debt. Changes would require politicians to cut popular programs. Lets start with the first problem: The government is not a factory. It builds almost nothing, so standard efficiency models, which usually involve cutting workers and adding capital, may not be relevant. For example, the Department of Defense doesnt build a tank, a jet, a ship, an assault weapon, a uniform, or a boot. It didnt build the Pentagon. Who does that work? The private sector. The government is a wealthy consumer who directly supports a significant portion of the private sector economy through its purchasing activity. Can government programs be streamlined and costs lowered by reducing the number of workers building everything the military needs? Probably, but it would mean the government telling private companies how to run their businesses. That also means there would be fewer private sector employees. And what is true for the Defense Department is true for all the other federal departments. Yes, there are roughly 2.4 million federal government workers, but many are in oversight or program management positions, or directly servicing clients. Cutting them makes fewer employees responsible for ensuring contracts are followed and services provided. Can you say fraud? My guess is that DOGEs biggest proposal will be replacing workers with AI across as many departments as possible. That could potentially cut red tape, the one thing that government does produce efficiently. But how much money would it save? The federal government spent roughly $300 billion in 2024 on salaries and benefits for its civilian employees. Even if AI allowed for a 10% reduction in workforce, the $30 billion in savings would constitute less than a 0.5% cut in government spending. Simply put, even if there are workforce reductions, the potential savings are limited. The next problem: most federal government spending goes to income transfers, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, farm subsidies, and student loans. And there is also the most important expenditure of all: interest on the debt. A breakdown of the federal spending will make the problem clear. The federal government spent $6.752 trillion in the latest fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2024. The largest share, 21.6%, went to Social Security. Next came health and human services, which ate up 13.5% of the budget, followed by interest on the debt, 13.1%. Similar shares, 12.9%, went for national defense and Medicare each, while income security-related concerns constituted about 10% of all spending. Spending on veterans programs (4.8%), education (4.5%), transportation (2%), and other (4.6%) accounted for the rest of the outlays. The DOGE leadership claims it can cut $2 trillion from the budget. That would reduce the budget by about 30%. Where can they find the money? Got me. Most of the governments spending is categorized as entitlement spending. If you qualify for it, you get it. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, and health security (Obamacare and childrens health insurance) are examples. Unless Congress changes the formulas and/or the qualification requirements, DOGE will have no control over those funds. Roughly two-thirds of the budget goes toward mandatory spending. When you add in interest on the debt, the share hits about 80%. Most of what is leftover goes to defense spending, leaving about 7% for what is known as discretionary spending. In other words, on an annual basis, Congress gets to play with only about 7% of the budget, and much of that is for programs that are politically untouchable, such as farm supports. So, what will Musk and Ramaswamy do? Consider the proposal to eliminate the Department of Education, shift its responsibilities to other departments, and terminate programs. In fiscal 2024, the Education Department spent $268.4 billion, or only 4% of the total budget. Most of that money (60%) went to student aid (loans). Moving student loans to other departments would still require an infrastructure to oversee the programs. There is very little to be gained by terminating the Department of Education. Of course there is always the biggest discretionary category: defense. Does anyone really believe the Trump administration is going to suggest cutting defense spending? What about farm supports? Not likely. Indeed, the biggest portion of the Agriculture Departments spending (72.5%) goes for nutritional programs for the poor that are some of the most effective at lowering future government costs. So, what will they cut? Discretionary spending that representatives and senators stuff into budgets so they can show they are taking care of their districts and states special needs? Social Security? Medicare? Medicaid? Unemployment insurance? Income, health, food support, and/or housing assistance for the poor? Homeland Security? How about defaulting on the debt? Good luck with cutting any of those. Really, how can anyone take Musk and Ramaswamy seriously if they start off with a ridiculous proposal to reduce government spending by 30%. But they keep getting lots of press. And that reminds me of a line from the 1962 movie The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. It went: This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. This is Washington, and the urban legend that it is easy to cut federal government spending has become fact, so the politicians are pushing the legend. Dont expect much from DOGE other than lots of talk and some smoke and mirrors. Guy Pearce, Adrien Brody, and Isaach DeBankole in "The Brutalist." Shot in Hungary, the scene depicts Brody's character shoveling coal in 1950s' Philadelphia. Read more The Brutalist, the epic film that won the Golden Globe for best motion picture-drama on Sunday, is set mostly in Philadelphia and Doylestown, Bucks County. While it was filmed in Hungary, theres something in the film that helps set the scene and establish the centrality of Pennsylvania to the narrative: footage from the 1950s, extolling the virtues of the state of Pennsylvania, from its role in the establishment of freedom of worship to the power of its steel industry. The footage is from an actual film called Pennsylvania Land of Decision, which was produced by what was then called the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, to promote Pennsylvania as a destination for tourism and industry. The Brutalist swaps out the films music in favor of Daniel Blumbergs much-lauded original score but keeps the original voice-over. Advertisement READ MORE: The Brutalist recreates the drama and beauty of mid-century Philadelphia In effect, the Land of Decision clips become like an ironic Greek chorus throughout The Brutalist. They paint an idealistic portrait of Pennsylvania and the broader American ethos of the mid-20th century, while the experience of Laszlo Toth (Adrien Brody) as a Hungarian Jewish immigrant in America is not so ideal. One clip plays as Toth, a famed European architect and Holocaust survivor, rides a bus from New York City to Philadelphia to be reunited with his cousin. Perhaps no state or nation in the entire history of man has been the deciding ground of so many human issues as the state of Pennsylvania, a voice booms over visuals of lush landscapes, churches, smokestacks, and triangular houses. Later, as Toth struggles as a laborer shoveling coal, separated from his family, another clip describes Pennsylvania as a place for families who want a wonderful place to live, and work, and to enjoy the richness of leisure. Land of Decision is a Pennsylvania product, as are the founders of the archival company that provided the film to the production team. A March 1955 issue of the Kutztown Patriot announces a screening of Pennsylvania Land of Decision, along with another film called This is New York at the Rotary Club at Topton House in Berks County. This likely dates the films original release to around then. The full 27-minute version of Land of Decision was posted to YouTube in 2021 by Periscope Film, a Los Angeles-based archival firm founded by Doug Weiner and Nick Spark. Weiner is from Abington and went to Penn Charter; Spark is from Elkins Park. The company collects and preserves old 16mm films, and funds its work by licensing content to filmmakers. Land of Decision ended up in Periscopes catalog through the collection of New Jersey-based film collector Mitchell Dakelman, whom Spark met through a film collector group. A historian of the New Jersey Turnpike and leader of a chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society, Dakelman collects industrial films related to New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania film [which was licensed from Periscope by The Brutalists archival producer, Hashim Alsaraf] is one of many from [Dakelmans] collection which weve scanned and archived, Spark said. He often says that if it wasnt for us, no one would have ever seen these films and theyd still be sitting in his closet, because aside from the occasional screening he might do for a community or NRHS group, he had never shown them to anyone. While many reviews of The Brutalist have described the vintage films as newsreels, thats not quite accurate. Its more what I would call a travelogue or a promotional film, Spark said. It seems geared towards showing off the state and its resources either to visitors or more likely to industry titans who might be interested in opening a branch or a factory. Among other archival images of Philadelphia used in The Brutalist is a brief clip from 1948 of cars crossing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which was then known as the Delaware River Bridge. The clip came from the Pa. State Archives, a representative from A24, The Brutalists distributor, said. It is a somewhat typical, somewhat exultant, mid-century promotional film that expounds on all the busy industry, commerce, and raw potential of the state in the post-war period, Spark said of Land of Decision. It works like gangbusters in the film. An earlier version of the article misstated the location of Topton House. It was in Berks County. The Brutalist opens in Philadelphia theaters on Jan. 10. To avoid respiratory illnesses like COVID and flu and gastrointestinal illnesses like norovirus, public health experts say good hand-washing practices are key. Read more Its sick season in Philly: the cold-weather months when cases of respiratory illnesses and the stomach bug norovirus rise. Some public health experts have called the combination of viruses circulating the quad-demic referring to a wave of illness from the simultaneous spike in COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, and norovirus. The quad-demic of seasonal illness follows another sick surge. In the late fall, childrens hospitals in Philadelphia dealt with rising cases of another respiratory illness: walking pneumonia, or mycoplasma pneumonia. Advertisement Now cases of walking pneumonia are waning, and its hard to gauge the extent of the misery locally due to limited reporting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that wastewater testing shows very high levels of COVID and moderate levels of the flu in Pennsylvania. Wastewater testing is one of the more accurate ways to understand the spread of COVID in a region because most at-home COVID tests are not reported to public health authorities. Emergency-room visits for COVID in the state are moderate, the CDC reported, and visits for flu and RSV are high. And cases of norovirus, a gastrointestinal illness that causes vomiting and diarrhea and is spread through oral contact with infected fecal matter, are also on the rise. Because neither Pennsylvania nor New Jersey reports all cases of norovirus to the CDC, it is difficult to track the extent of the spread. But several area hospitals voluntarily report positive norovirus tests to the agency, which reports that the percentage of positive tests in the Northeastern U.S. are the highest they have been since summer 2018. The Philadelphia health department said that since early December, the city has seen a steady increase in people seeking care for vomiting or diarrhea at local hospitals, although that number also likely includes other gastrointestinal illnesses as well. Donald Schaffner, a food microbiology professor at Rutgers University, said that though norovirus and respiratory illnesses spread through different means, they both spike in the winter for similar reasons. Some evidence shows viruses survive better in colder, drier weather. And more people are inside, interacting with each other in close quarters, in the winter. Its two separate issues, but it may be driven by the same underlying behaviors. The fundamental thing thats driving all of this is person-to-person contact, he said. The isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about shifts in typical seasonal illnesses norovirus cases decreased, for example, and the virus typical seasonal peak came later in the year, he said. But now cases are adhering more closely to their pre-pandemic patterns, Schaffner said. Changes in seasonal virus patterns At the height of the rise of walking pneumonia cases last fall, Doug Thompson, the chief medical officer at St. Christophers Hospital for Children, saw more children hospitalized with the illness than at any other time in his career. Typically, the disease affects teenagers and adults, but last year, his patients were younger and sicker. Its a mild pneumonia that typically causes a severe cough but less fatigue than more serious forms of the disease. Nationally, mycoplasma pneumonia cases were high in 2024, especially among children, the CDC reported. Because the CDC does not track the disease nationally, the agency said, its hard to know the full extent of cases. It typically peaks in the late spring, and can remain high in late summer and early fall, but we saw higher than usual rates in the early fall, said Katie Lockwood, a Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia pediatrician. These days, she said, many patients with a cough and fatigue visit her office assuming they have walking pneumonia, after hearing reports that cases are on the rise. But when I check them out, they have flu and RSV, she said. Over the holiday break, things seem to have shifted, and now RSV and flu have seemed to rise, as well as stomach viruses like norovirus, she said. COVID isolation and seasonal illnesses Its unclear why mycoplasma pneumonia surged last year, but isolation during COVID was likely a factor, as now is playing out with the norovirus. Many children build some immunity to respiratory illnesses through everyday exposures. (Those with underlying medical conditions, newborns, and infants are particularly at risk during typical seasonal patterns of illness.) When we isolated during COVID, we saw dramatic decreases in our typical respiratory viruses like flu and RSV. We had a whole year where we didnt see a single case of flu in the hospital thats an incredible track record, Thompson of St. Christophers said. We disrupted the normal exposure to these viruses, the natural immunity you develop. Then your body is less used to seeing [a virus] and it isnt as prepared, so all of a sudden your immune system has to respond. There isnt a vaccine for mycoplasma pneumonia, which is caused by bacteria. COVID isolations could have kept some children from getting vaccinated on time for other respiratory diseases, like whooping cough, which also saw a surge in cases in Pennsylvania last year. Theres also growing vaccine skepticism among some parents, which could also contribute to fewer kids getting vaccinated. Vaccination rates for adult and child immunizations dropped in the months after stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia, the city health department reported, but returned to normal rates the next year. Still, in the 2023-24 school year, the citys kindergartners were slightly less likely to have received recommended vaccines than their 12th-grade counterparts. COVID, flu, and RSV rising Cases of walking pneumonia have leveled off, but other respiratory illnesses are on the rise. Were starting to see the typical viruses climb up again, CHOPs Lockwood said. Its not too late to get your flu shot, and folks should make sure theyre up to date with their COVID vaccination status as well, she said. Mycoplasma pneumonia in particular has a two-week window between exposure and symptoms, so people with significant coughs should be careful not to expose others. Rutgers' Schaffner added that people should also wear masks to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, and should wash their hands thoroughly and avoid others if they are sick to prevent the spread of both respiratory disease and norovirus. The bottom line is to just stay away from people who are sick as best you can, and wash your hands, Schaffner said. With norovirus, it doesnt take much to make you sick. Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, director of public safety in Philadelphia, confers with police officers and officials in 1924. Read more Maj. Gen. Smedley Darlington Butler led contingents of Marines into action over a 20-year period at the beginning of the 20th century. He charged through Cuba, the Philippines, China, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, and Haiti, and along the way he collected the Congressional Medal of Honor twice. But nothing compared to his time as Phillys top cop over nearly two years in the mid-1920s. Advertisement Cleaning up Philadelphia, he later lamented, was worse than any battle I was ever in. Butler, a native of West Chester and the son of a U.S. representative, was named Philadelphias director of public safety in 1924, on loan from the U.S. Marine Corps. New Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick wanted help in ridding the town of its debauchery, decided he needed a drastic solution, and received presidential permission to call upon the 42-year-old war hero. During his Prohibition-era tenure, Butler was tasked with cleaning up corruption in the police and fire departments, and purging vices from the city. Butler had carte blanche when he officially took the reins on Jan. 7, 1924. It looks as though nobody in Philadelphia is being shot but policemen, he said during a meeting of police at the Metropolitan Opera House on that first day of service. Youll have to snap out of that habit. Get some notches on your guns for bandits. Well see to it that you get [a] real reward for every notch. It escalated quickly. He raided speakeasy clubs and Republican ward clubs and gentlemens clubs, with or without proper warrants. He busted bottles of confiscated hooch, and busted friends of politicians. He shut down gambling halls and saloons and all other dens of iniquity. Church bells rang throughout the city on Sunday, Jan. 13, from grateful clergy in celebration of Butlers work combating powers of darkness. Butler ran up a high arrest total, with some outlets reporting 17,000 during his tenure. But the number of convictions was much smaller, some reports listing a few hundred, as Butler lacked support in the citys court system. And as his tear through the city included venues that were reportedly connected to the mayor who hired him, Butlers crusade started losing steam. By Christmas Eve 1925, the mayor fired Butler, and the experiment was over. Butler returned to the Marines until his retirement in 1931, and settled in Newtown Square until his death in 1940 at age 58, less than two decades after the church bells rang. A supporter holds a poster with a photo of Laken Riley before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Rome Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Read more Democrats in the Senate, including the representatives from Pennsylvania and Delaware, overwhelmingly supported advancing a GOP-led bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration Thursday. New Jerseys Democratic senators, meanwhile, were among the nine members who voted against it. The bill, which would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes, was the first to be voted on by the newly installed Republican-controlled Senate. Advertisement Lawmakers named the legislation after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was murdered while jogging at the University of Georgia. Her convicted killer, Jose Ibarra, had entered the U.S. illegally and had previously been released after an arrest for stealing merchandise from a Walmart store. He was sentenced to life without parole in November. Rileys tragic killing became a flashpoint in the 2024 presidential campaign as President-elect Donald Trump and his allies vowed to crack down on illegal immigration. The Senate voted 84-9 to begin debate on the bill, which could still be amended and would need to pass a final vote. Still, the wide margin of Democratic support reflects how the party is reexamining its stance on immigration, which played a key role in the presidential campaign in Pennsylvania and nationally. Sen. John Fetterman was originally the lone Democratic cosponsor on the bill, which ended up gaining additional Democratic cosponsors before getting robust Democratic support. READ MORE: Fetterman cosponsors GOP-led Laken Riley bill, one of the few Democrats backing it Laken Rileys story is a tragic reminder of whats at stake when our systems fail to protect people, Fetterman said in a statement earlier this week. ... Immigration is what makes our country great. I support giving authorities the tools to prevent tragedies like this one while we work on comprehensive solutions to our broken system. Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick also cosponsored the bill, the first to advance in the new Congress. Im proud that my first vote in the United States Senate was to advance the Laken Riley Act, McCormick said in a statement. ... This commonsense bill gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority and strength they need to keep our communities safe. The Laken Riley Act cleared the House on Tuesday with the backing of 48 Democrats, including U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D., Philadelphia) and Chris Deluzio (D., Allegheny). Delaware Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons voted to advance the legislation toward debate in the Senate though both said they wanted it amended. Sen. Blunt Rochester has her concerns, but she is in favor of moving along to the full amendment process if it moves us closer to finding a comprehensive, bipartisan solution to immigration reform, a spokesperson said. A spokesperson for Coons said the senator looks forward to a robust amendment process. In addition to requiring federal detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft, the bill would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused to their citizens because of illegal immigration, greatly expanding the authority of state attorneys general. Immigrant advocacy groups have cautioned that the bill does not grant due process to those accused of crimes, as any undocumented immigrant arrested for theft, as minor as shoplifting, would be detained by ICE and could face deportation. And the power of states to sue the federal government could also threaten the federal governments constitutional role in overseeing immigration policy. Booker and Kim vote no New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats, were among the nine no votes on the bill. All of us should be in full agreement that individuals who are convicted of committing crimes face consequences, and it is already law that undocumented immigrants that are convicted of felonies face detention and deportation, Kim said. But mandating detention for those facing accusations before they go before our judicial system runs counter to our Constitution, Kim said, adding that he supports urgently [taking] bipartisan action to fix our broken immigration system. Booker said in a statement that the bill doesnt present solutions to immigration or public safety, and instead is meant to scapegoat and intimidate immigrant communities. It would bring about a sweeping expansion of mandatory detention for people not convicted of any crime and would invite state and local law enforcement to profile and indiscriminately arrest immigrants. A provision in the bill allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government if an undocumented immigrant is arrested, released and then commits a crime against the state or a resident of the state. Booker said that provision allows a single state to decide immigration policy for the rest of the country. READ MORE: Two New Jersey Democrats running for governor skipped out on a controversial immigration vote. Heres where they stand. U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, one of five Pennsylvania Democrats in the House to oppose the bill, stressed that it removes the right to due process by applying to anyone accused or arrested of theft-related crimes. Trump promised these kinds of dangerous changes, and the Republicans in Congress are desperately trying to satisfy him regardless of the implications of the legislation should it become law, she said. Last year, the bill did not advance out of the Senate, but several Democrats who opposed it then have changed their stances, and the chamber is now GOP-controlled. The Democratic shift on immigration restrictions reflects a public opinion pivot on immigration more broadly that occurred over the last year. A Gallup poll found this summer that more adults 55% would like to see immigration to the U.S. decreased than the 41% who favored a decrease in 2023. It marked the first time since 2005 that a majority of Americans said they wanted less immigration. The Senate reconvenes next week when Republicans would need seven Democrats to support passing the legislation as written. It would otherwise advance to amendments, in which case it would go back to the House for final passage. Jamila H. Winder (from left), Neil Makhija, and Thomas DiBello are seated together on stage at the Montgomery County Community College gymnasium Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, during ceremonies before they were sworn in as Montgomery County's new Board of Commissioners The County's Row Officers were also sworn in. Read more Montgomery County is expanding its efforts to protect immigrants, regardless of status, days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. County commissioners voted Thursday to approve the creation of a new position: director of immigrant affairs. Neil Makhija, the boards new chair, said the role is designed to ensure immigrants living in the county can feel safe and continue to contribute to the community. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, just over 11% of the countys population is foreign-born. Advertisement The step is the first in what Makhija said would be a broader effort to respond to the Trump administrations actions on immigration and other issues. In Montgomery County we did not vote for whats going to happen at the national level and there are people who have serious concerns, Makhija said. While Trump won Pennsylvania, Montgomery County remained overwhelmingly Democratic, with more than 60% of the countys voters favoring Vice President Kamala Harris. Montgomery Countys move comes as Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has faced increasing pressure to reassert the citys sanctuary city status before Trump takes office. Makhija said the county will likely wait to see what actions the administration takes before developing a firm policy on cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We have to see what theyre going to do, he said, noting that there are several options the county can take aside from simply restricting cooperation with ICE. Why Montco is creating a director of immigrant affairs The countys new immigrant affairs position was approved on a 2-1 vote along party lines during a salary board meeting. It was included in a vote that also approved funding for every other position in the county. Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello voted no, citing broad concerns with funding new positions. In an interview, DiBello said he supported adding the immigration services director to ensure the county is serving its diverse population. But he pushed back on the idea that the position should serve as a counter to Trump immigration policies. While DiBello said he opposes harboring undocumented immigrants, he said the county already does not ask residents their immigration status when they interact with government services. Thats never been an issue in Montgomery County as long as Ive been here, he said. In an interview Thursday, Makhija said the director will serve as a point person in the county to advise departments on how to best protect immigrants. That will include ensuring immigrants feel safe interacting with government services regardless of their status. Trump has said he will institute mass deportations upon taking office. Makhija said the countys goal will be to develop policies that limit the impact fear of those deportations could have on peoples willingness to interact with the government. If the concern is that were going to have ICE at the courthouse, or were going to have ICE show up at a mental health clinic, people are not going to seek services, he said. The position will be in the countys department of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the salary will be between $98,645 and $147,965, according to county records. In addition to approving the director of immigrant services, Montgomery County commissioners approved six additional attorneys in the county solicitors office. Those attorneys, Makhija said, will help the county defend against and proactively object to Trump administration policies alongside other responsibilities. Makhija said he intended to join other counties in climate lawsuits and anticipated a need to protect Montgomery County businesses that export to countries, such as Canada, targeted by tariffs Trump has advertised. I have no doubts theres going to be overreach with this administration, he said. DiBello, the Republican commissioner, dismissed the suggestion that attorneys would be used to combat the Trump administration as political showmanship. Presidential administrations, he argued, had little impact on county business. If were trying to give the illusion that were going to be challenging the Trump administration, then its going to be a lot of fun in Montgomery County, because Im not going to stand for political games, he said. People sign the door of opportunity that was raised in Dilworth Park by Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. The organization honored the contributions of former President Jimmy Carter by raising a wall with a door to symbolize the many doors of opportunities that late president made through his service with Habitat for Humanity. Read more In 1988, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter spent a couple of days in North Philadelphia. And, like the other volunteers gathered on the 1900 block of West Wilt Street, they were there to work, rolling up their sleeves and grabbing tools to help renovate five vacant houses that would eventually go to first-time homebuyers. The Carters were very much just a part of the volunteers that show up two and a half days with us, said John McClintick, who volunteered alongside the Carters in Philadelphia before the former president and first lady moved on to another project in North Carolina. Advertisement Nearly four decades later, those five North Philadelphia houses which are still owned and occupied by Habitat for Humanity families are just a small part of the vast legacy of humanitarianism from Carter, who died at 100 on Dec. 29, and Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023 and will be the namesake for four under-construction Habitat homes in Mantua. As Carters state funeral was underway Thursday in Washington, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier joined leaders from Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia in front of City Hall to honor the Carters' more than three decades of volunteer service with the organization, including the building and restoration of thousands of homes around the world through their Carter Work Project. Braving the cold, the elected officials and organization leaders stood in a corner of Dilworth Park in front of a wooden door of opportunity symbolic of the many front doors the Carters gave to homeowners as they commended the former president for his willingness to get his hands dirty and provide a public service to people in need. People have asked is there a plaque on Wilt Street? And I was like, No, the Carters arent plaques-on-buildings people. They roll up their sleeves, pick up the hammer, and do their work, said Corinne OConnell, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. The door, Habitat leaders said, will eventually be a part of a future Habitat for Humanity home. Parker, who is expected to share the details of her housing plan this year, said the Carters work is the example. This is the blueprint on today as the 100th mayor of the city of Philadelphia, as the first woman mayor of the city of Philadelphia, I say to President Carter and the entire Carter family, thank you for sharing him with us, Parker said. The recognition came as Habitat for Humanity organizations across the world paid tribute to the 39th president, according to the organization. Carters state funeral was held Thursday at Washington National Cathedral after the former president lay in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Carter is the longest-lived American president, whose advocacy work for affordable housing and other humanitarian issues often outshined his single term in the White House, which was marked by tumultuous events at home and abroad. Gauthier, whose district encompasses the under-construction Habitat homes in Mantua that will be named Rosalynns Way, said Carter, after losing his bid for reelection in 1980, could have done what many politicians would have done licked his wounds and said, See you never. Instead, President Carter doubled down on his priorities, diving headfirst into causes near and dear to his heart well into old age, Gauthier said. For more than 35 years after their time in the White House, the Carters joined more than 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate, or repair 4,390 homes, and raising the organizations national profile, according to Habitat for Humanity. President Carter has shown us what it means to continue to give long after public office has been left behind, said Clissita Daniels, a Habitat homeowner. Daniels moved to Philadelphia 16 years ago, and at the time was experiencing homelessness while taking care of four children. She applied twice for Habitat for Humanity, building up her sweat equity hours so she could create a home for her family. I was determined to have a home for my family, and President Carter knew firsthand about the sweat equity, Daniels said. He, too, worked hands-on to build houses, but not for himself, for people like me. It was a full-circle moment for McClintick, who got to see some of that sweat equity typically new homeowners investing in housing for themselves or another family in person. When McClintick signed the door of opportunity, he added his initials and those of his children and his wife, whom he met while participating in Habitat for Humanity. Around their initials, he drew a heart. Jimmy Carter, you know, hes a Georgia farm boy, McClintick said. And knows one end of a hammer from another. Deon Cole (from left), Nate Bargatze, and Kathy Griffin are just a few of the best stand-up comedians coming to Philadelphia in 2025. Others include Colin Jost, Jordan Jensen, Adam Ray, Rachel Scanlon, and Sheng Wang. Read more Philadelphia is a city that knows how to take and deliver a punchline. From the biting wit of Bill Burrs infamous 2006 roast, dubbed the Philadelphia Incident, to the comedic brilliance of hometown heroes like Kevin Hart, Tina Fey, and the late Bob Saget, the City of Brotherly Love has long been a hub for laughter. Advertisement While touring comedians regularly stop by, the local comedy scene thrives with weekly stand-up nights featuring up-and-coming talent. Whether youre looking for a casual open mic or a polished performance, Philly has you covered. For weekly stand-up comedy shows look no farther than Next In Line Comedy, the citys hottest spot for any local comedian worth their salt. Despite its relaxed vibe, its no hole-in-the-wall open mic, with notable comics like Saturday Night Lives Devon Walker and Todd Glass having appeared at the club. Theres also the burgeoning Case Comedy in West Philadelphia, whose weekly presence got them award nods from local publications. While not homegrown, Dont Tell Comedy introduces some of the best touring stand-up comics to cities worldwide at locations only revealed the day of the show, including in Philly where Next In Line Comedy is one of its secret locations. Plenty of big names are heading to Philadelphia, including your favorite stand-up comics favorite performers, cast members from Saturday Night Live, and rising stars making waves in the comedy world. Deon Cole For the past 30 years, Deon Cole has been writing and performing some of the best jokes on television, from his work as a staff writer for The Tonight Show with Conan OBrien to starring in the hit network comedy Black-ish and quipping through Old Spice commercials. See his Amazing Birthday Extravaganza at Helium Comedy Club on Jan. 12 (Jan. 10-11 shows are sold out). Jan. 12, $42,2031 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com Che Guerrero Phillys own Che Guerrero recounts his childhood leaving the Dominican Republic and growing up undocumented as a Philadelphian in his 2019 comedy album, recorded at Punch Line Philly. Energetic, personal, and with sharp humor, Guerrero always delivers a special performance. See him at Punch Line Philly for one night on Jan. 18. Jan. 18, $27,33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, punchlinephilly.com Andrew Santino Host of one of the countrys most popular comedy podcasts, Bad Friends, and a costar on Cheltenham native David Burds (a.k.a. Lil Dicky) FX show Dave, Andrew Santino is a bold and fiery voice in comedy. Catch him at the Met Philadelphia for one night on Jan. 24. Jan. 24, $41,858 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, themetphilly.com Dusty Slay Dusty Slays Alabamian accent twangs through blue-collar jokes from silly semantics over electric company bills to milking the time left at a job on two weeks' notice. He cohosts the Nateland podcast alongside top-selling comedian Nate Bargatze. See him for one night only on his Night Shift Tour at the Miller Theater on Feb. 1. Feb. 1, $36,250 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, ensembleartsphilly.org Rachel Scanlon From being raised in a religious Minnesotan family, to watching lesbians getting married during quarantine while straights were breaking up, and coming out during the Bush administration, Rachel Scanlon has enough stories to last the night. Catch her for one night at Helium Comedy Club on Feb. 2. Feb. 2, $27,2031 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com Rhys Darby Rhys Darbys Kiwi accent and unmistakable delivery, whether portraying the band manager in Flight of the Conchords or the leader of a werewolf pack in What We Do in the Shadows, bring wit, silliness, and self-deprecation to his stand-up comedy. Bask in Darbys comedy for two nights at Helium Comedy Club Feb. 25 and 26. Feb. 25-26, $32,2031 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com Sarah Keyworth English stand-up comedian Sarah Keyworth is a must-see act from across the pond. Nominated as a best newcomer at the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, they explore dating, gender, and the small squabbles in life like which side of the bed do you sleep on? Watch Keyworth live for one night only at Helium Comedy Club on March 12. March 12, $32,2031 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com Saturday Night Live comedians in Philly SNL, currently in its 50th season, is a revolving door for stand-up comics, improvisers, impressionists, and joke writers. Some recent SNL cast members are touring in Philly soon. Sheng Wang Sheng Wangs punchlines come out of nowhere with his unassuming delivery and smooth buildup to jokes, delivering insight into the mundanity of life, like too-ripe avocados, or critiques of modern capitalism, like celebrating hospital bills in January to get the deductible out of the way early. See him live on March 7 at the Miller Theater. March 7, $40,250 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, ensembleartsphilly.org Kathy Griffin After nearly seven years off the comedy stage, the Grammy and Emmy Award-winning and controversial Kathy Griffin is making a comeback on a nationwide tour. See her for one night only at the Met Philadelphia on March 15. March 15, $76,858 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, themetphilly.com Adam Ray Adam Ray has been on your social media timeline, and you may not even know it. The stand-up comedian and actor has a penchant for impersonating famous TV personality Dr. Phil, along with others, and his work has garnered millions of views. He was even at Phillys Miller Theater this past October as Dr. Phil for a live show. Hell be at Punch Line Philly for five shows from March 20-22. March 20-22, $32,33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, punchlinephilly.com Bruce Bruce Bruce Bruce has been a consistent name in the countrys comedy scene for the last 30 years, featuring on television, in movies, and even as the spokesperson for Popeyes. His observational, mostly clean comedy is perfect for any audience. Watch him at Punch Line Philly March 28-30. March 28-30, $43,33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, punchlinephilly.com T. Murph T. Murphs charisma and charm are undeniable whether hes acting in Hulus Woke or coming to life on stage. His stand-up will have audiences hypothesizing what a sneakerhead zombie would do to avoid scuffing his Off-White Jordans to hearing Murphs own experience getting catcalled in his gym sweats. See him live at City Winery Philadelphia, located in the Fashion District, on April 6. April 6, $31,990 Filbert St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107, citywinery.com/philadelphia Jordan Jensen Jordan Jensen is a New York comedy scene regular, having been the first female comedian crowned NYs Funniest in 2021 at the New York Comedy Festival. When shes not touring the country with her set, she can be seen at New Yorks famous Comedy Cellar. Shell be at the Helium Comedy Club April 10-12 April 10-12, $26,2031 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com Asif Ali Asif Alis hilarious and stinging humor, which got him a spot on Varietys list of must-watch comics in 2024, delivers sidesplitting laughs, whether discussing the U.S. becoming a sugar daddy for foreign war, or needing a GPA to get into heaven. Hes also racked up credits in major television shows like Marvels Wandavision and Netflixs BoJack Horseman. See him at Punch Line Philly May 1-3. May 1-3, $32,33 E. Laurel St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123, punchlinephilly.com Sarah Millican A very popular English stand-up comedian and television host, Sarah Millican has been making people laugh for more than 20 years. In her stand-up, she tackles everyday life, those friends who say its five oclock somewhere, and is a pro at working the crowd for more jokes. Shell be at the Met Philadelphia on June 8. June 8, $54,858 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, themetphilly.com Nate Bargatze When asking a comedy fan who is the most popular stand-up comedian in the country, Nate Bargatze would be at the top of the list by some accounts, he has had the top-grossing comedy tour in the past year. With a slow Southern drawl and an affinity for self-deprecation and observational comedy, Bargatze is a solid choice for all adult audiences. Hell be at the Wells Fargo Center Aug. 7-8. Aug. 7-8, $44,3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19148, wellsfargocenterphilly.com The increasing problem of unaffordable and unavailable insurance has severely impacted some insurance lines. According to global industry stakeholders, the result is rising numbers of underinsureds in advanced economies. This can leave brokers with the difficulty of balancing customers insurance needs against the reality that finding coverage may not be possible. Globally, major insurance companies like Allianz, Zurich, Munich Re, Suncorp, Generali, and others are aligning themselves with net-zero emissions targets by halting the underwriting of fossil fuel expansion. Yet no Canadian insurer has made such a commitment, and few have even published plans to achieve net-zero, wrote Kiera Taylor, senior analyst with Investors for Paris, in a blog post. Meanwhile, Byrnes Agencys namesake Jay Byrnes saw the importance of this partnership, stating "It was critical that we joined an organization where our hard-working and talented team could continue to grow their careers and where our clients could see expanded offerings. We feel strongly that we have found the right partner." The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled that an insurer had no duty to defend an insured employer against an injured employees personal injury lawsuit alleging negligence and intentional harm. The high court found that Hartford Underwriters Insurance Co. was not obligated to defend its insured, SIR Electric LLC, under a combined workers compensation and employers liability policy. The high court agreed with lower courts that Hartford had no duty to defend SIR against Dionicio Rodriguezs negligence, recklessness and intentional wrongdoing claims, although the high court differed on why the intentional wrongdoing claim was not covered. The high court agreed with lower courts that negligence- based allegations by Rodriguez were subject to the workers compensation exclusivity bar under the first part of Hartfords insurance policy. But whereas the lower court lumped all of the allegations into one, the high court found that the allegation of intentional wrongdoing was different from the negligence claims. The high court found that this claim was also excluded from coverage, not by the workers compensation section of Hartfords policy, but under the employer liability section of the policy that excludes allegations of intentional wrongdoing. While working for the electrical contractor SIR, Rodriguez injured himself when opening an electrical panel on a breaker. Rodriguez filed for workers compensation benefits under SIRs policy with Hartford and the insurer paid those benefits. After Rodriguez began receiving benefits, he filed a personal injury complaint against SIR seeking money damages for his workplace injuries. SIR sought defense of the complaint from Hartford but the insurer disclaimed any obligation to provide a defense. SIR then sued Hartford, claiming that Hartford wrongfully denied defense coverage. A trial judge granted Hartfords motion to dismiss SIRs complaint. The trial judge characterized Rodriguezs case as specifically and solely a Laidlow claim, referring to a 2002 opinion (Laidlow v. Hariton Mach. Co., Inc.) that addressed the rare exceptions to the workers compensation acts exclusive remedy of cases involving intentional wrong. Under Laidlow, the only exception to the workers compensation bar is for injuries caused by intentional wrongs, for which an employee may still seek redress under common law causes of action. In Laidlow, the high court clarified the test to determine that an intentional wrong is not limited to actions taken with a subjective desire to harm, but also includes instances where an employer knows that the consequences of those acts are substantially certain to result in such harm. The employer liability section of Hartfords policy specifically excludes from insurance coverage any claims for bodily injury intentionally caused or aggravated by SIR. Accordingly, the state Supreme Court concluded that Rodriguezs negligence, gross negligence, and recklessness claims are limited by workers compensation exclusivity bar. His Laidlow intentional wrongdoing claim, by contrast, is not limited by that exclusivity bar but is not covered because the employer liability section of the Hartford policy specifically excludes any claims for bodily injury intentionally caused or aggravated. Thus, Hartford had no duty to defend SIR. Topics Lawsuits Carriers Commercial Lines Workers' Compensation Business Insurance The European Union Aviation Safety Agency warned airlines to steer clear of several cities in Russia following the fatal crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that was likely shot down by Russian forces. EASA advised carriers to avoid five Russian regions in the south and west of the country, including Moscow and St. Petersberg, the two biggest cities. The new safety bulletin is aimed at non-European carriers, as most of those within Europe suspended Russian overflights in 2022. Azerbaijan Airlines halted flights to two cities in southern Russia after a passenger plane to the area was diverted across the Caspian Sea and crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing dozens. Azerbaijans president has said the plane was accidentally shot down by Russia. Israeli airline El Al has canceled flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow route through March, while FlyDubai in the United Arab Emirates extended suspensions to two Russian cities until late January, according to its website. In 2024, commercial aviation suffered its deadliest year since 2018 after the Azerbaijan Air crash and Jeju Air Co. disaster in South Korea drove up the toll in late December. In the Jeju accident, all but two of the 181 people on board died. Photograph: Emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Dec. 25, 2024. Photo credit: Issa Tazhenbayev/AFP/Getty Images Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Europe Aviation Russia A Minnesota judge has ordered MyPillow to pay nearly $778,000 for unpaid bills and other costs to package delivery service DHL, which had sued the company thats synonymous with its founder, chief pitchman and election denier Mike Lindell. The award includes over $48,000 in interest and over $4,800 for DHLs attorneys fees. The order, signed last month by Hennepin County Judge Susan Burke, said MyPillow had agreed in October to pay DHL $550,000 but failed to do so and did not send anyone to a hearing last month on DHLs effort to collect. DHLs lawsuit, filed in September, is one of a series of legal and financial disputes involving Chaska, Minnesota-based MyPillow and Lindell, a prominent supporter of President-elect Donald Trump who has helped amplify Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Lindell said after the lawsuit was filed that MyPillow stopped using DHL over a year earlier in a dispute over shipments that he said were DHLs fault. The MyPillow Guy is also being sued for defamation by two voting machine companies, Dominion Voting Systems in Washington, D.C., and Smartmatic in Minnesota. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Minnesota General agency Warner Pacific said it has acquired five general agencies from broker and fintech specialist, Acrisure, effective Dec. 1 2024. Financial terms were not disclosed. Westlake Village, California-based Warner Pacifics Jan. 7 announcement said it will provide general agency support to Acrisures North American retail business while also gaining access to distribute Acrisures wholesale product suite across its broker network. The five Acrisure General Agencies moving under Warner Pacific include: Employee Benefit Risk Management Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Group Benefit LTD Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa. Professional Group Marketing Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Brewster, New York. National United Brokers Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Westerville, Ohio. Mature Health Services Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Palatine, Illinois. Today marks an exciting milestone for Warner Pacific as we take another step toward becoming the leading wholesale benefits distributor across the US, said Dave Nelson, co-CEO of Warner Pacific. Acrisures Seth Denson, global head of benefits, life & health, said alliance with Warner Pacific unlocks yet another layer of unique and extraordinary value for small and medium enterprise (SME) businesses. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies If insurance carriers want dibs on a companys assets as premium security or collateral, they had better specify that those assets include potential tort-claim settlements, a federal appeals court said Wednesday. In a case that involved a Florida staffing company, the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, SUNZ Insurance Co. and the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said it all came down to one thing: Whether a $1 million oil-spill compensation plan was considered a tort claim or a contract. It was a tort claim, the appellate judges concluded, upholding a bankruptcy courts and a federal district courts rulings. SUNZ, headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, had provided workers compensation insurance to the ailing Payroll Management staffing firm, based in Fort Walton Beach. Because Payroll was in some financial trouble and was struggling to make its workers comp payments, SUNZ had required a collateral/security agreement when it sold the new comp insurance policy. The agreement mandated that Payroll give SUNZ an interest in its assets, including existing contracts. The insurer, however, did not specify that the security agreement applied to lawsuit awards, so the insurance company did not have precedence over the IRS in later bankruptcy proceedings, the judges found. Because Sunz did not have a security interest in Payrolls commercial tort claims, the district court also agreed with the bankruptcy court that the (IRS) tax lien perfected first and, therefore, held first priority over the payment, the panel of 11th Circuit judges wrote in its Jan. 8 opinion. IRS tax liens often are given priority in bankruptcy proceedings if the liens are perfected first, before other claims. In this case, Payroll Management had failed to pay millions of dollars in federal employment taxes as it slid into financial difficulties. The IRS filed a $23 million lien against the staffing company in 2017, a year before Payroll sought bankruptcy protection. SUNZ argued in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that it had perfected its own claim the security agreement earlier, when Payroll agreed to be part of the settlement with BP, one of thousands under multi-district litigation after the oil spill, which offered compensation to Gulf Coast companies that had been affected by the oily mess and economic slowdown. By agreeing to be part of the settlement and avoiding further lawsuits, Payroll had converted the tort claim to a contract, the insurer argued. The appeals court explained that the Uniform Commercial Code, adopted by Florida, does, in fact, dictate that a creditors security interest attaches to a debtors collateral when the debtor signs the agreement that describes the collateral. But for tort claims, a creditors interest does not attach unless the security agreement explicitly describes the tort claim. On top of that, federal law, which generally preempts state law, notes that an IRS lien attaches to all of a debtors assets, including tort claims, once taxes are assessed. The lien perfects, the court said, when the IRS files a lien notice with the state. Sunz did not have a security interest in Payrolls commercial tort claims because its security agreement did not describe commercial tort claims as collateral, much less specifically describe them, the appeals court noted. Payrolls settlement plan with BP did not convert to a contract early on because it was not finalized until later, the judges said. The staffing firm had asked for more than BP had initially offered, and had to go through a review and final settlement approval before the payment became available. A contractual obligation to pay did not arise until that claims review process ended with a signed individual release that stated the amount to be paid, the court said. And in March 2017, Payroll hadnt yet reached the end of the claims review process. The full opinion can be seen here. Photo: The Deepwater Horizon rig burns on April 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Topics Claims ATLANTA (AP) After years of stalled efforts to limit civil lawsuits, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican lawmakers are doubling down with a new push. Supporters, most prominently business groups, call the state a judicial hellhole, and argue that businesses are being crushed by rising insurance costs driven by excessive lawsuits that have helped plaintiffs get big payouts. This issue is not about business, said Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, a Dahlonega Republican. Its about every Georgian paying more and more premiums for their insurance. Whatever we can do to make it more affordable to own a home, operate your vehicle and protect your family with insurance, we need to do it. But opponents say theres no proof that lawsuits are closely linked to rising insurance rates and that limits will make it harder for injured parties to win justice in court. This is about trying to do some favors for people who hopefully will line your political pockets, said Jen Jordan, an attorney and former Democratic state senator. At the end of the day, Georgians are going to be hurt. Kemp in 2023 promised the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, one of his top allies, that he would seek to limit lawsuit costs, a push that many call tort reform. But he admitted in 2024 that the effort was complicated, and instead signed a law to gather data on lawsuit verdicts. Even as Kemp held events to build public support ahead of the legislative session, which begins Monday, the Republican governor is having to contend with GOP lawyers in the General Assembly who make a living by filing lawsuits, Democrats who mostly oppose changes, and a state Supreme Court that has voided earlier limits. One key issue is lawsuits against stores, apartment complexes and other businesses over crimes or injuries on their property. In one such lawsuit, Georgia mother Sheila Brooks sued Family Dollar and Dollar Tree last year after her son Lem Johnny Johnson IV was fatally shot at one of their south Atlanta stores. Police say the shooter wasnt a Family Dollar employee, but the lawsuit alleges that Family Dollar knew about earlier incidents involving gunshots, gunplay, assault, violent threats with weapons, and disturbing acts of violence at and near the location. The store should have taken more security measures to protect their customers, the complaint said. Supporters of lawsuit limits say property owners shouldnt be held responsible for the wrongdoing of customers and trespassers. If we fix this problem, Georgia could be a much easier, well-perceived place for businesses and their insurers, said attorney Bill Custer. It will fix our reputation as a bad-boy state. Nancy Palmer, a spokesperson for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, said Georgias legal landscape has driven insurance companies out, making it difficult for businesses to get adequate coverage. She said insurance costs have become untenable across industries, affecting day care centers, grocery store owners, pharmacies, low-income housing providers and others in urban and rural areas alike. Darion Dunn, a managing partner at Atlantica Properties, which develops affordable housing and is behind a micro community for previously unsheltered people known as The Melody, said insurance companies are raising premiums or denying coverage in areas they label as high crime due to concerns about litigation. Because of these rising insurance costs, weve had to walk away from projects that would otherwise have brought much-needed affordable housing, Dunn said. Dunn wants to see lawmakers limit the amount of compensation people can seek for non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering. Georgias legislature capped such verdicts in 2005, but the state Supreme Court overturned the law in 2010 as unconstitutional. Related: Insurers Taking Note of Big Verdicts But Trial Lawyers Dont Expect Changes The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association disputes the idea that insurance costs are rising because of jury verdicts, and said in a statement that insurance companies have continued to raise premiums despite making record profits. To limit a property owners liability, lawmakers could limit the kind of evidence lawyers can use to prove property owners knew about the risk of incidents like Johnsons killing. Lawmakers could also instruct juries to assign a minimum amount of blame to the person who committed the crime. In an oft-cited 2023 case, a man was awarded almost $43 million in a lawsuit against CVS after he was shot in a CVS parking lot during an armed robbery. The jury found CVS 95% responsible for the shooting, the victim 5% responsible and assigned no responsibility to the shooter. These kinds of large verdicts are rare, said Madeline Summerville, an Atlanta attorney and political consultant for Democrats. She said large verdicts often result when insurers refuse to settle cases they should, and while some cases are frivolous, most arent. You cant make legislation based on the fact that theres a minority of folks that are trying to game the system and then convince all of the people of Georgia that thats the majority of the cases that are coming through, Summerville said. Summerville is particularly worried about changes to medical malpractice lawsuits, where people sue medical providers for botched work. If medical practitioners arent held accountable, the level of care will decline, she said. In a roundtable hosted by Kemp last fall, medical executives said insurance costs are rising and doctors fear working in Georgia because they might get sued. Van Loskoski, CEO of Stephens County Hospital in Toccoa, said the hospital couldnt recruit obstetricians because of the fear of lawsuits and stopped delivering babies in 2021. The hospitals medical malpractice premiums then fell by 13%, Loskoski said. Lawmakers also could consider other measures, including some similar to laws passed in Florida in 2023. For example, they could require attorneys to show jurors how much plaintiffs actually paid in medical bills, as opposed to phantom damages based on the amounts they were originally charged. Legislators could also order separate trials to determine who is at fault for medical damages and what those damages are. Photo: Darion Dunn, managing partner at Atlantica Properties, at The Melody rapid housing development in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon) Author Charlotte Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Georgia ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) North Carolina governments are receiving over $1.65 billion in federal block grant money to help address historic levels of damage caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The money $1.43 billion for North Carolina state government and $225 million for the city of Asheville is from Community Development Block Grant funds. The money comes from a bill approved by Congress last month that provided more than $100 billion in relief to address Helene and other disasters, according to officials. The funds will help rebuild homes, develop affordable housing, assist impacted small businesses, and repair roads, schools, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a news release from new Gov. Josh Steins office. Todman and Stein announced the block grants while visiting Asheville on Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who also was involved in the legislation, said in a separate release revealing the grants that it is a crucial step in the long journey toward recovery for Western North Carolina. The Asheville announcement marked the second public trip by Stein to the storm-battered region struck since he was sworn in on Jan. 1. On the first trip last Thursday, Stein announced several executive orders, including some addressing temporary housing units for displaced residents and repairs to private roads and bridges. Another executive order from Stein last week created a new Governors Recovery Office for Western North Carolina that would oversee the work of the executive branch and its agencies on recovery and revitalization. Earlier Tuesday, Stein announced top staff in the recovery office. The office director will be Matt Calabria, a veteran Wake County commissioner and the commissions current chairman. Calabria had said last week he would be stepping down from the commission for a new job in Steins administration. Photo: FEMA employee Jirau Alvaro surveys the damage at Daniel Mancinis property near Black Mountain, North Carolina, after Helene. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics North Carolina The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited Safeway $182,000 in proposed penalties for safety violations that reportedly put roughly 1,700 workers at risk of serious injuries at the companys warehouse in Tracy, their largest facility in the nation. Cal/OSHA issued citations for 27 violations, including eight that were serious in nature, after completing an inspection at Safeways Northern California Tracy Distribution Center. Issues Identified during this high-hazard industry inspection Include: Safeway failed to identify and fix issues related to lifting, carrying, and moving heavy items; and did not provide effective training to their supervisors or workers on these hazards. The employer failed to ensure the accuracy of annual employee injury and illness summaries, and failed to provide injury and illness recordkeeping documents to Cal/OSHA in a timely manner. Safeway failed to establish and maintain effective procedures to address indoor heat hazards in the warehouses dry building, which is not temperature controlled, and failed to effectively train employees on the hazards of indoor heat. The employer provided inadequate ventilation or exhaust systems for employees welding in two buildings, risking exposure to toxic substances. The worksite had multiple damaged electrical cords and unsafe electrical panelboards. Safeway failed to provide effective refresher training and evaluations for industrial truck operators to ensure that operators had the skills needed to operate trucks safely. Employers have the right to appeal any citation and notification of penalty by filing an appeal with the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board within 15 working days from the receipt of notification. Topics Workers' Compensation AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of Reno, Nevada-based Employers Holdings Inc.s subsidiaries to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and their Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to a (Excellent) from a- (Excellent). Concurrently, AM Best upgraded the Long-Term ICR of Employers Holdings to bbb (Good) from bbb- (Good). The outlook of each of these ratings has also been revised to stable from positive. According to AM Best, the rating upgrades are driven by Employers balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk management. Employers Holdings is a holding company with subsidiaries that are specialty providers of workers compensation insurance and services focused on small and mid-sized businesses engaged in low-to-medium hazard industries. Insurance is offered through Employers Insurance Company of Nevada, Employers Compensation Insurance Co., Employers Preferred Insurance Co., Employers Assurance Co. and Cerity Insurance Co. Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance AM Best As firefighters gain more control over what have become the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history in a matter of days, the scale of the destruction and losses is becoming clearer. Despite the cacophony of a world stage that includes two wars and political turmoil abroad, and a change of U.S. leadership in days, the news has been dominated by the fires that raged around Los Angeles and will cost billions of dollarsdestroying 10,000 homes and forcing nearly 200,000 evacuations. There are almost too many stories to read and too much information out there, so weve compiled a rundown of the important news and information to know about the fires. Total Losses Estimates for total losses from the fires rose nearly threefold in a day. AccuWeather on Thursday updated and increased its preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss to between $135 billion and $150 billion. AccuWeather on Wednesday had issued a preliminary estimate for the total damage and economic loss that ranged from $52 to $57 billion. These fast-moving, wind-driven infernos have created one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern U.S. history, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter stated. Hurricane-force winds sent flames ripping through neighborhoods filled with multi-million-dollar homes. The devastation left behind is heartbreaking and the economic toll is staggering. AccuWeather said the estimate for total damage and economic loss may be revised upward, perhaps even substantially. Insured Losses Insured loss estimates currently ranged from $8 to $20 billion into late Thursday, but that was when the number of homes believed to have been lost in the fires so far were in the low thousands. Reports are now that more than 10,000 homes have been lost in the fires. J.P. Morgan doubled its forecast of insured losses to more than $20 billion, while Wells Fargo also expects similar insured losses. Wells Fargo said the total economic hit from the disaster could be well above $60 billion, Reuters is reporting. Modelers like Karen Clark & Company and CoreLogic are expected to produce estimated losses soon, so well have that news when it arrives. Reinsurance Re/Insurance losses from the wildfires are expected to be significant but manageable, according to S&P Global Ratings. S&P issued preliminary estimates ranging from $10 billion to $15 billion. The firm said wildfire losses could rapidly deplete the catastrophe budgets of U.S. primary insurers, leading to earnings pressure later in the year. Although expected losses are steep, we believe many of our rated insurers have the capital resilience to absorb them, after strong results in the first nine months of 2024 (and likely for the year), S&P stated. Fires There were six quick-growing fires threatening properties and people around the area at one point. Heres a CalFire has a rundown on the fires: The biggest fire is Palisades Fire north of Los Angeles. It has grown to cover nearly 20,437 acres. It is 8% contained. The Eaton Fire in Altadena has burned more than 13,690 acres and is 3% contained. The Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties is 1,000 acres and its 35% contained. The Hurst Fire north of San Fernando has burned 771 acres and is 37% contained. The Lidia Fire in the Canyons near Acton is 395 acres and it is 75% contained. The Sunset Fire, which broke out Wednesday evening in Hollywood Hills, triggering evacuation orders and threatening local landmarks, grew to 50 acres before being fully contained on Thursday evening. Weather Hurricane-force winds drove the fires to grow too quickly to contain. Wind conditions in the region known as the Santa Ana winds produced wind speeds of more than 80 mph. Critical fire weather conditions continued across Southern California in the morning on Friday, while winds were expected to begin to taper off in the afternoon and into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. An NWS outlook calls for northeast winds of around 5 mph turning to south-southwest winds in the afternoon. North-northeast winds from 5-10 mph are expected on Sunday, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Dave Houk, a senior forecaster and Western U.S. expert for AccuWeather, said to expect rounds of winds, dry fuels and low relative humidity will continue to keep the risk of new fire starts and rapid spread, while also causing unfavorable for battling the ongoing fires. He said that following some easing on Sunday night, the winds will pick up out of the northeast quickly on Monday with more of an easterly component possible for the offshore winds. The winds will be strongest in Ventura and northern L.A. counties, and what look to be 40 mph to 60 mph gusts at times on Monday through Tuesday, which may not start to ease until Wednesday morning, according to Houk. Southern California Edison Southern California Edison is getting notices from insurers to preserve evidence related to the Eaton Fire. Fire agencies havent pointed the utilitys connection to the fire, but the utility is often connected to wildfires. SCE and a growing number of utilities have been found liable for a number of fires and have lost numerous costly lawsuits as a result, so they are resorting to the extreme measure of preemptively cutting electricity during dangerous fire conditions. The group, a unit of U.S. utility Edison International, said its filing to regulators was triggered by online publications that seemingly suggest the groups equipment may have been associated with the fires ignition. To date, no fire agency has suggested that SCEs electric facilities were involved in the ignition or requested the removal and retention of any SCE equipment, the company stated. Glitch An emergency alert that when out to millions of residents L.A. residents, including those not directly impacted by the fires, caused a stir. They received the notification reading: An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. Remain vigilant of any threats and be ready to evacuate. Gather loved ones, pets, and supplies. Continue to monitor local weather, news, and the webpage alertla.org for more information. Phones alarms were triggered in communities like Long Beach, Newport Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes and Torrance. That message was quickly retracted with another alert. Kevin McGowan, head of the L.A. Office of Emergency Management, apologized for the false alarm during a news conference, and said they were not sent by an individual. He also asked people not to disable the alert messages on their phones. Moratorium Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a one-year moratorium on insurance non-renewals and cancellations. The order shields those within the perimeters or adjoining ZIP Codes of the Palisades and Eaton fires regardless of whether they suffered a loss. Lara issues moratoriums regularly after destructive wildfires. His last moratorium was to preserve residential insurance coverage for more than 200,000 policyholders affected by the Mountain Fire, which destroyed 243 structures. Top photo: The Palisades Fire started in the Los Angeles area on Jan 7, 2025. Source: CalFire. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Louisiana Irish farmers are urged to be vigilant after Germany confirmed its first case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) since 1988. The disease was detected in water buffalo in the state of Brandenburg. The German authorities have put in place controls to prevent onward spread and are investigating the circumstances of the outbreak. The Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said everyone in Ireland, particularly farmers, should stay vigilant to protect Irish livestock. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. It causes very significant economic losses, due to production losses in the affected animals and due to the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries. FMD does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk. Ireland has remained free of FMD since 2001 when an outbreak caused serious disruption. While Ireland was not as severely impacted by that outbreak as the UK was, efforts to contain the disease led to widespread containment measures and restrictions on events including the cancellation of St Patrick's Day parades and the postponement of international rugby games. "The Department is taking action to protect Irish livestock following this outbreak," the minister said. "The Department has confirmed that no animals susceptible to FMD (cattle, sheep, pigs, etc) have been imported into Ireland from Germany since 1st November 2024 which is long before the case in Germany would have been first infected. Irelands controls to prevent FMD include strict prohibitions on the imports of animals and animal products from countries in which FMD is present; a comprehensive veterinary surveillance system to detect unusual disease outbreaks; and active follow-up and veterinary investigation of any suspect reports. If an FMD case were to be identified in Ireland, the infected herd would be culled, the site disinfected, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone set up, within which very strict movement controls and testing would be imposed. A national movement ban is very likely to be imposed in the first days after any initial FMD case. If a case of FMD were to occur in Ireland, it would lead to the immediate loss of market access for Irish animals and animal products. If you are reading this I am guessing you are not doing dry January either. Obviously I cant abstain from alcohol for work reasons which I consider a brilliant excuse. However I also think January is the dumbest month possible to avoid alcohol given the dark evenings and our general low mood following the joys of December. Why not do give up alcohol in July when the weather is warm and you can make fresh lemonade or delicious fruit juices? Also dont get me started on Veganuary, only a masochist would give up meat in the one month of the year when the only fresh locally grown vegetables you can find are Brussels sprouts and turnips. Dont get me wrong I like these vegetables but if Im giving up meat Im doing it in June or July when fresh peas and new potatoes are in season. And no, Im certainly not going to pollute my body with highly processed meat substitutes. One good reason to give up alcohol is of course for the calories, and this I understand. The average glass of standard wine contains around 90 calories, similar to a glass of Coke. To figure out the calories in a bottle you should multiply the ABV by 40.95. The only way to cut calories and drink wine is to go with lower ABV wines as recommend below. Hence a bottle with 11% ABV will have 450 calories from the alcohol and one with 8.5% ABV 348. The Traces wine below has 78 calories per glass assuming you have a 125ml glass: it contains no sugar. The Dr. Loosen Riesling has 43g of sugar per litre which sounds like a lot, but this adds just an extra 129 calories which makes it similarly calorific. The GuiGas Vinho Verde has the lowest calories per glass at around 70. Gui Gas Vinho Verde, Vinho Verde, Portugal 9% ABV, 12.99 Gui Gas Vinho Verde, Vinho Verde, Portugal 9% ABV, 12.99 No. 21 Off-Licences; McHughs; La Touche; Independents. A blend of Arinto, Loureiro and Trajadura (all quality grapes) this is vibrant and fresh with just a hint of spritz. Vinho Verde is the most northerly region of Portugal but also now a style of wine low in alcohol and often with a touch of fizz. This is a classic example lemony, zingy and refreshing. Dr. L Riesling Qualitatswein, Mosel, Germany 8.5% ABV, 15.95 Dr. L Riesling Qualitatswein, Mosel, Germany 8.5% ABV, 15.95 ODonovans; OBriens; CarryOut; Independents; Wineonline.ie Dr. Loosen wines are brilliantly made in the classic Mosel style which includes some sweetness but also balancing acidity. Serve it well chilled (note that the sugar adds around 120 calories to the bottle). Tropical fruit and baked lemon aromas, fruity and found with sweet pear fruits balanced by zingy green apple acidity on the finish. Traces Cinsault, Languedoc France 11% ABV 10 Traces Cinsault, Languedoc France 11% ABV 10 Tesco stores nationwide Traces launched last year and is calling itself a lifestyle brand. Normally Id run a mile from that description but the wines are actually fairly solid. The front label promises 78 calories per glass and zero sugar. Juicy red fruit aromas that follow through on the palate, bright and lively. There is also a rose and a Sauvignon Blanc. Non-Alcoholic Beverage of the week Fierce Mild Extra Pale Ale, <0.5% ABV 3 Fierce Mild Extra Pale Ale, <0.5% ABV 3 Bradleys; Matsons; 1601; Ardkeen; Fiercemild.co This is by far the best non-alcoholic beer Ive found, brewed in Co. Louth by two brothers-in-law from their own grain and using a special yeast and good quality hops (Centennial, Strata and Galaxy). Bright floral aromas with a malty background and a touch of tropical fruits, crisp and fresh with some hop bitterness on the finish. Tesco revealed the most popular items purchased by Irish shoppers last year and TikTok may be the reason one is sitting in second place. The supermarket chain's Clubcard Unpacked 2024 Data was released on Friday and offered some insight into how we shopped over the last year. The top item purchased by Tesco shoppers in 2024 was perhaps unsurprisingly milk. Two-litre Tesco Fresh Milk topped the list, with the full-fat three-litre carton appearing at number five. Milk appears twice in Tesco's top 10 Social media trends may have influenced the second most purchased item in Tesco in 2024, with the shops whole cucumber placing at number two. Last summer, TikTok user Logan Moffit began sharing recipes using a whole cucumber which took the platform by storm and inspired many people to try it. The recipe involved slicing an entire cucumber, adding soy sauce, sugar, sesame seeds, fish sauce, sesame oil, scallion and MSG, putting on a lid to the container and shaking it all up. The influx of cucumber sales was not the only impact of the video. Sales of the mandolin slicer the model Moffitt uses in his videos skyrocketed in October last year as a result of the series. Cucumber recipes took TikTok by storm last summer In a Forbes article, Moffitt was described as epitomizing what it means to be an influencer literally impacting the choices consumers make, in his case, in his kitchen. Also on Tescos Clubcard Unpacked 2024 was 150g pack of blueberries, in at number three, and 227g strawberries at number four. The popular Tesco Meal Deal was also examined in the research, with the most popular combination including a Southern Fried Chicken BBQ Slaw Wrap, Tayto Cheese and Onion Crisps and a can of Coca-Cola Zero. Feeling inspired? Here are some cucumber recipes to try Crab Cocktail with pickled cucumber recipe by:Aishling Moore This classic can also be served in a brioche bun to rival the ever-popular lobster roll. Servings 4 Preparation Time 50 mins Total Time 50 mins Course Side Ingredients For the cucumber: 1 cucumber 1 tsp sea salt 150ml apple cider vinegar 150g caster sugar 75ml water For the cocktail: 250g picked white crab meat 1.5 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp creme fraiche 1 tsp hot sauce 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp ketchup Juice of one lemon, zest of half Sea salt and black pepper 4 baby gem lettuces 2 tbsp olive oil 2 sprigs of dill tsp smoked paprika Method For the cucumber: Finely slice the cucumber into discs. I like to use a mandolin, so the cucumber slices are wafer thin. Place in a small bowl, add the sea salt and toss well. Stand for 20 minutes to draw the water out of the cucumber. Place the vinegar and caster sugar in a small pot and warm to dissolve the sugar. Add the water to the pickle solution and allow to cool. Rinse the cucumber slices to remove the salt and drain in a colander. Transfer to a bowl or a jar and pour over the pickle solution. Allow to marinade for 30 minutes before serving. Store in the refrigerator. This pickle will keep for five days. For the cocktail: Place the picked crab meat in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, hot sauce, mustard, ketchup, lemon zest and half the juice of one lemon and mix well. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Taste and adjust to your liking. To serve quarter each baby gem lettuce. Arrange on a large serving platter or dish and drizzle with the olive oil and the remaining juice of half a lemon. Dollop the dressed crab among the wedges of lettuce, add the pickled cucumber discs and a retro pinch of smoked paprika on top of the crab. Finish with a final grating of lemon zest over the top and garnish with some fresh sprigs of dill. Combine all the above in a brioche bun to rival the ever-popular lobster roll. Mackerel and cucumber salad recipe by:Michelle Darmody For a fresh, peppery dish with a hint of chilli and vibrant colour, try this creamy, summertime salad Servings 1 Preparation Time 10 mins Total Time 10 mins Course Starter Ingredients tsp lemon juice zest of 1 lemon 1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, crushed 100g natural yoghurt 2 small cucumbers, sliced handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced 4 handfuls of rocket leaves 4 fillets of mackerel tsp cayenne pepper or mild chilli powder Method Whisk the lemon juice and zest with the garlic, natural yoghurt and some seasoning. Toss the cucumber, tomatoes and rocket in the dressing, coating them all lightly. Crumble the mackerel on top, then sprinkle with the cayenne pepper and serve. Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad recipe by:Caitriona Redmond This is a creamy salad thats simple to prepare. Best assembled about 30 minutes before eating, its the perfect counterpart to spicy barbecue food. Servings 4 Preparation Time 20 mins Total Time 20 mins Course Side Ingredients 1 large cucumber teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons natural greek yoghurt 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 minced cloves of garlic Juice of a lemon Handful of fresh mint Method Slice the cucumber lengthways and use a teaspoon to remove the watery centre containing the seeds. You can use this flesh to make cucumber ice cubes for summery drinks, so dont discard it. Once the centre has been removed, slice the cucumber into chunky pieces or thin slices, whichever you prefer. Put the sliced cucumber into a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Stir so the cucumber has been coated in salt, and wait 5 minutes. Strain away any excess water in the bottom of the bowl after 5 minutes. On top of the cucumber, spoon the yoghurt, oil, garlic, and juice of a lemon and stir so the slices are well coated. Taste and add more salt and garlic if the salad needs it. Tear or chop mint leaves on top of the mixture to garnish and add an additional layer of flavour. If you dont have mint, you could use dill instead. Fiction Cork noir continues to thrive, with this months release of The Dark Hours, by Amy Jordan (Harper Collins). A retired detective must return to Cork City for a sinister case from her past. In Burn After Reading (Bantam, March), Cork author Catherine Ryan Howard delivers another deviously plotted thriller, in which a rookie ghostwriter signs up to do the memoirs of a suspected killer. Solicitor Catherine Kirwan is inspired by real-life events in The Seventh Body (Hachette, March), with Detective Alice McCann on the case as an excavation beneath a former pub in Cork City reveals skeletal remains. In Some of This is True, by Cork-based author Michelle McDonagh (Hachette, May), a mother investigates her daughters death at Blarney Castle. Detective Lottie Parker returns to investigate the death of a teenage girl at a party in The Guilty Girl, by Patricia Gibney (Sphere, January). In The Stolen Child, by Carmel Harrington (Hachette, February), a psychotherapist delves in to the truth about her missing brother. Jane Casey continues to dial up the sexual tension as DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent return in The Secret Room (Hemlock Press, April), investigating a mysterious death in a luxury hotel. The consistently brilliant John Connolly is back with The Children of Eve (Hachette, May), in which Charlie Parker investigates the disappearance of an ex-soldier and the abduction of children in Mexico. Cathy Kelly's 'Sisterhood' celebrates family and friendship as two sisters set out on a life-changing journey. File picture: Moya Nolan Rom-com fans will love Roisin Meaneys Moving On (Hachette, February), billed as One Day meets The Flatshare. Sisterhood, by Cathy Kelly (Harper Collins, February), celebrates family and friendship as two sisters set out on a life-changing journey. In Before Dorothy (Harper Collins, June), Hazel Gaynor gives readers the fascinating back story of Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz. Confessions (Viking, January), by Catherine Airey, is an epic debut following three generations of Irish women between Donegal and New York. It was written by the author while staying in West Cork. One of the most intriguing and interesting Irish writers at work today, Adrian Duncan, returns with The Gorgeous Inertia of the Earth (Tuskar Rock, January), described as a masterful excavation of human desires. The Ghosts of Rome (Harvill Secker, January), by Joseph OConnor, is the second novel in the Escape Line trilogy, inspired by the true story of Kerryman Monsignor Hugh OFlaherty, who saved the lives of thousands of soldiers and refugees during the Second World War. In The City Changes Its Face (Faber & Faber, February), Eimear McBride captures an intense conversation between two lovers. Fiona Scarlett follows up her acclaimed debut Boys Dont Cry with May All Your Skies Be Blue (Faber & Faber, February), a story of love and friendship that unfolds over three decades. Colum McCann's 'Twist' is a timely exploration of connection and disconnection and follows a journalist writing about the vast unseen network of underwater cables. File picture: Moya Nolan In The Language of Remembering, by Patrick Holloway (Epoque Press, February), a mother and son embark on a journey of discovery and reconnection in the Cork seaside village of Crosshaven. Paraic ODonnell gives us another slice of gothic Victorian detective fiction in The Naming of the Birds, featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Henry Cutter and Sergeant Gideon Bliss (Hachette, February). Twist, by Colum McCann (Penguin, March), is a timely exploration of connection and disconnection and follows a journalist writing about the vast unseen network of underwater cables. Writers Anonymous, by Cork author William Wall (New Island, April), follows an acclaimed writer who must face up to a story he has kept secret his whole life. Poet Sean Hewitt makes his fiction debut with Open, Heaven (Penguin, April), the story of a life-changing first love. Another debut and coming-of-age tale is Fun and Games, from John Patrick McHugh (Fourth Estate, April), whose previous short story collection, Pure Gold, made a big impression. The Best of Everything (Headline, April), by Kit De Waal, is another heart-warming story, from the author of the acclaimed My Name is Leon, about what it means to care for others. In Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way (Harvill Secker, May) by Elaine Feeney, a woman must reckon with her past when she returns home to care for her dying father. Belfast author David Park is arguably one of the finest, and most under-the-radar, writers on this island. His latest novel, Ghost Wedding (Oneworld, May), follows two troubled men, separated by nearly a century, but bound by the ghosts that haunt an imposing Irish manor. Known for her masterful and commanding short stories, Wendy Erskines eagerly awaited debut novel, The Benefactors (Sceptre, June), is about three mothers who will go to any lengths to protect their teenage sons when they are accused of sexual assault. Non-fiction and memoir A Time for Truth (Hachette, February), by Sarah Corbett Lynch, is a powerful and affecting account of the long and gruelling fight for justice following the killing of her father, Jason, and how Sarah has navigated her own journey of grief and recovery from trauma. In The Age of Diagnosis (Hodder, March), Wellcome Prize-winning Irish neurologist Dr Suzanne OSullivan examines how the growing obsession with medical labels is making us sicker and sometimes a diagnosis can do more harm than good. Former journalist and Kilkenny native Tim MacGabhann made a splash with his debut novel Call Him Mine, inspired by his investigations of Mexican drug cartels. In The Black Pool: A Memoir of Forgetting (Hodder and Stoughton, May), he tells the equally gripping and personal story of his own addiction and recovery. We can guess what hes been doing with his time since he left office, as former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gives us a glimpse behind the personal and political curtain in his memoir (Sandycove, September). It was the hashtag that went viral around the world WTF Happened: #WakingTheFeminists and the Movement that Changed Irish Theatre (UCD Press, May), edited by Sarah Durcan and Lian Bell, tells the story of the movement that emanated from the Abbey Theatres failure to celebrate womens contribution to Irish theatre in the 1916 centenary celebrations. Jacqueline Connolly is the sister of Clodagh, who was murdered by husband Alan Hawe, along with her sons Liam, Niall, and Ryan. In her book, Deadly Silence (Hachette, May), she recounts the familys search for truth and justice, uncovering a shocking story of secrecy, coercive control, and premeditation. The Episode: A True Story of Loss, Madness and Healing, by Mary Ann Kenny (Sandycove, May), is a compelling memoir in which the author details her terrifying descent into psychosis after the sudden death of her husband, and how she found her way back to happiness. What is real and not real is my business, announces Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie), and really, who are we to argue? Maria (12A), a biopic of one of the greatest sopranos in the history of opera, opens in 1977 with the Divine One living a semi-solitary life in the company of her devoted butler Ferrucio (Pierfranceso Favino) and housekeeper Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) as she rattles around her vast Parisian apartment. Self-medicating with pills, her powers long since diminished, the aging Maria embarks on an imagined interview with Mandrax (Kodi Smit-McPhee), during which she waxes lyrical about her many triumphs. These we see in flashbacks to her great performances, which are lavishly recreated by director Pablo Larrain, when we hear the majestic purity and power of that inimitable voice. Alas, we also hear Maria singing for Bruna, and the contrast is harsh. A woman of vivid imagination she might be, but Maria cannot deceive her own ear; she hangs suspended between the pain of singing and the agony of not being able to sing. Larrain has previously directed Spencer (Lady Diana), and Jackie (Jacqueline Kennedy), and Maria is the third in a loose triptych about complex women obliged to live their tragedies in public. The film is a gorgeous, rich tapestry of public acclaim and private pain, with Maria still mourning the loss of the little ugly guy, Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer), who was the great love of her life. Angelina Jolie is perfectly cast as the aloof, austere, and elegantly brittle Maria, whose latter years are a one-woman regal procession through the fabulous memories that haunt her like so many ghosts. Stately, beautifully filmed and featuring many of Callass finest arias, Maria is a sumptuous affair. A Real Pain stars Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg A Real Pain In cinemas A Real Pain (15A) stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as two American cousins, David and Benji, who decide to honour the memory of their recently deceased grandmother by travelling to the village of her birth in Poland. Joining a heritage tour that details the experience of Polands Jews during the Holocaust, the non-observant pair quickly find their closeness during childhood has changed, and perhaps irrevocably. Family man David is uptight, anxious, and professionally successful, while Benji has become a dope-smoking slacker, his laidback and chaotic personality as divisive as it is charming. Their Odd Couple schtick gradually gives way to more profound relationship, however, as writer-director Eisenberg takes us through the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw and on to the Lublin/Majdanek death camp. Culkin is superb here, as his Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actor attests, while Eisenbergs breezy direction and blackly comic script deliver a thoughtful exploration of grief, pain, and survivors guilt. Nicole Kidman stars in Babygirl Babygirl In cinemas Babygirl (16s) opens with two orgasms, one public and one private, as Romy (Nicole Kidman) seeks to reassure her husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas) that all is well in the bedroom. But when dissatisfied Romy, the ice-cool CEO of a company specialising in automation and a feminist heroine to her subordinate Esme (Sophie Wilde), meets the new intern Samuel (Harris Dickinson), who is half her age, her immediate instinct is to surrender her power to his brashly confident sexual aura. Writer-director Halina Reijn emphasises the issue of consent as Romy and Samuel embark on a torrid affair, which proceeds on the basis of giving and taking power, but which largely consists of Romy submitting to Samuels ironic domination. We are supposed to feel uncomfortable, of course, watching scenes that subvert the traditional relationship between employee and boss by flipping the Fifty Shades gender dynamic, although its ominous, to say the least, that Romy is initially left breathless by Samuels instinctive control of an out-of-control dog. The overall conceit is intriguingly challenging to received notions of conventional sexuality, certainly, but the relationship is ultimately unconvincing due to a lack of chemistry between the supposedly obsessed lovers. Families of stranded Myanmar personnel appeal for help following rescue of missing Chinese actor Wang Xing 14:05, January 10, 2025 By Hu Yuwei ( Global Times A joint letter asking for help from the families of 174 individuals trapped in Myanmar has been trending on China's social media platform Sina Weibo on Thursday, following the rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing from a Thailand-Myanmar border region, which brought the public spotlight again on telecom fraud operating in Myanmar as Thai police said Wang was a victim of human trafficking. In the wake of an online call launched by Jia Jia, who claimed to be Wang's girlfriend, which brought significant awareness to the actor's situation, the families of the 174 individuals trapped in northern and eastern Myanmar are worried that they are victims of human trafficking and thus wrote a joint letter to ask for help online. In a group on WeChat established by the families, the Global Times found a document containing information about their missing relatives including the age, origin, time, and routes of disappearance. The document indicates that most of the missing persons are aged between 17 and 35 with men being the majority. The information reveals that the missing individuals have been unaccounted for, for a few months to three years. One of the WeChat group organizers, Dai, told the Global Times on Thursday that she had made the online document public in an effort to expand the database and help more victims return home. After analyzing the document, the Global Times found that the missing relatives' disappearance primarily follows two routes: Some went missing after entering Myanmar near the Thai-Myanmar border, while others disappeared after crossing the border from China's border city of Yunnan into Myanmar. Three families told the reporter that they occasionally received messages sent by their relatives that suggested that they were taken to northern and eastern Myanmar after traveling through Thailand, particularly in Myawaddy and Tachilek, where they were forced to participate in telecom fraud or other illegal activities. The number of families contributing information to the document continues to grow. One family member surnamed Bai, shared with the Global Times that his son went missing in early August 2024 after entering Myanmar to "discuss business investment pitched by a friend." The son later managed to send a covert distress signal to his family 10 days later, indicating that he was in fact trapped in a telecom fraud center and forced to engage in illegal transactions. All of his personal belongings had been confiscated or burned, and the location he managed to send back was distorted by the center's jamming devices. Bai's son said that upon entry, he was transferred to different vehicles, and he and other victims were filmed and photographed while being coerced into admitting they had "voluntarily entered Myanmar." The "organizers" then sent the victims to different scam centers based on the price they could fetch. According to the three family members, the messages also indicated that due to intensified police crackdowns by the authorities in China, Myanmar, and Thailand, profits from these scam centers have since dwindled. As a result, these centers have ramped up their deceptive tactics. With the increased pressure from law enforcement, they moved from northern Myanmar to the eastern regions of the country. New types of scams are also emerging, such as luring victims under the guise of recruiting actors or language teachers, according to Bai. Zhuang Hua, an associate professor at the Guangdong Police College who has long studied cross-border crime, told the Red Star News affiliated with Chengdu Commercial Daily, that in recent years, as criminal gangs involved in telecom fraud have continuously updated their operational tricks and technologies, the government has also been intensifying its efforts to regulate the related industrial chains of cybercrime. This includes comprehensive control of these black and gray industries from the source and across the entire chain, implementing measures such as cleaning up fraudulent bank cards, phone cards, and internet accounts. Despite the deepening efforts, with increasing intensity, frequency, and coverage, new fraud tactics continue to emerge in response to changing circumstances, making it more challenging to completely eradicate online telecom fraud, said the expert. In recent years, telecom fraud syndicates operating in northern Myanmar have been unscrupulously targeting Chinese citizens, luring them to travel to their sites and participate in their fraudulent schemes against residents in China. These criminal activities posed a significant threat to the safety and property of Chinese citizens. China's Ministry of Public Security has been promoting cross-border law enforcement cooperation to combat telecom fraud originating from northern Myanmar since September 2023, according to a CCTV news report. On November 21, 2024, the ministry declared that all large-scale telecom fraud centers located near the China-Myanmar border in northern Myanmar had been wiped out. Over 53,000 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom frauds were arrested with cooperative efforts from Chinese and Myanmar police, according to the Xinhua News Agency. On December 30, a total of 39 members of major criminal groups based in northern Myanmar were prosecuted in China for telecom fraud and other crimes targeting civilians in China. Additionally, several thousand other suspects linked to the criminal groups are currently under investigation by procuratorates in Wenzhou and other locations across China, Xinhua reported. Over 10,000 confirmed cases of telecom fraud associated with these suspects have been reported, amounting to billions of yuan, with several Chinese citizens having lost their lives. Chinese procurators emphasized that the case reflects China's dedication to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the nation and its citizens. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Despite having an eleven week old baby at home, Tipperary farmer Liam Richardson along with friends Raymond OHalloran and Paul Sweeney are being hailed as heroes by the local community in the Glen of Aherlow. They have tirelessly volunteered their time since Sundays snowfall, delivering food and essential supplies to the isolated and vulnerable, clearing roads and rescuing stranded motorists. A couple returning home from socialising in Cork City were accosted and robbed on Shandon Street on January 7, and now gardai have objected to bail being granted to the man described as the main instigator of this crime. Dean Madden, of Lagan Grove, Mayfield, Cork, was staying briefly at an address at Dominic Street in Cork at the time of the alleged attack. Detective Garda Elaine Murphy made an objection to bail being granted to the accused on the robbery charge. The grounds for the objection included the seriousness of the charge. Judge Mary Dorgan decided to grant him bail and adjourned the case until April 9 on various conditions including curfew and signing on at his local Garda station. It was alleged that at around midnight on January 7, a man and a woman were walking down Shandon Street, Cork, when they were accosted by a man and two women. High-quality CCTV was harvested in the course of the investigation and Dean Madden was allegedly identified as the man who was involved in the crime. Det Garda Murphy said the CCTV showed the man punching the injured man a number of times in the head and later going through a handbag that was taken during the incident. The detective said the injured party first slipped on ice and soon afterwards was set upon by the man and two women and that this was all captured on CCTV. It was further alleged he has a heroin addiction and he was the main protagonist in this crime. "I believe he is a danger to himself and others. This was a nasty enough incident where it was a totally unprovoked attack." Frank Buttimer, solicitor, referred to the fact it was easy to locate the accused who was staying at an address close to the scene of the crime. His own address is in Mayfield. Mr Buttimer said Mr Madden came upon a scene involving a woman in his company. Det Garda Murphy said this would not be her account, as seen on CCTV. It appears that Dean instigated this, the detective said. Mr Buttimer responded, That would be disputed. He picked up a phone because he thought it belonged to one of the people in his company, the solicitor said. Mr Madden said: I picked up a phone and did not know who owned it. I went through no handbag. An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for the use of a property close to the waterfront in Kinsale, Co Cork, for short-stay tourist lettings, as it would contribute to the existing shortage of long-term rental accommodation in the town. The board upheld the decision by Cork County Council to refuse retention permission for the use of the house at Viking Wharf in Kinsale for tourist accommodation, which the local authority said was unacceptable". The propertys owners, Denis and Inge Vaughan Buckley, who are based in Howth, Co Dublin, had applied for retention permission for use of the property as both a holiday home for family members as well as for short-term holiday lettings at other times. An Bord Pleanala said the proposed use of the property for tourist accommodation would be contrary to both national and local housing policy. The board said it had taken into account that the three-bedroom terraced house, which is located within a designated rent pressure zone (RPZ) and within walking distance of the centre of Kinsale, was suitable for long-term letting. It also noted there was a lack of sufficient evidence to demonstrate the site already had a specific grant of planning permission for use as a holiday home or short-term letting. An Bord Pleanala pointed out the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 sets a strategic aim for additional residential development to be provided in Kinsale, which would reinforce the towns compact form and to focus on the better utilisation of existing buildings. For that reason, the board said the proposal by the Vaughan Buckleys to use the property for short-term letting would contribute to the existing shortage of long-term rented accommodation available in the town. The board rejected the recommendation of its own planning inspector, who recommended granting retention permission for the change of use to short-term letting. It acknowledged the competing demands for residential and tourism accommodation in Kinsale but restated its reasons, including the sites location in a RPZ. Cork County Council had also highlighted the proposed retention of short-term letting of the property contravened the Governments national housing policy that seeks to regular short-term letting. Council planners observed there was a clear imbalance between long-term renting and short-term tourist accommodation in Kinsale. They noted there were 15 properties in the Kinsale area advertised for rent on Daft.ie, while 15 entire homes and apartments in the town were advertised on tourist accommodation site booking.com at a time when there were 50 approved households with a need for three- and four-bedroom homes were on the councils housing waiting list. Officials accepted the use of the property as a holiday home by the applicants and other family members was unaffected by the planning application. In their appeal, the Vaughan Buckleys said they had provided undisputed sources of evidence to show the property had been used as a short-term let and as a family holiday home continuously since 2009. They also noted they were immune from any enforcement action being taken against them under the seven-year rule under the Planning & Development Act 2000 for continuing to use the property as a short-term let. The couple explained the sole reason they sought retention permission was to re-register the property with Failte Ireland and to be on the proposed EU short-term letting register, which will require proof of planning permission to allow them to advertise the house on Failte Irelands website and booking.com. They informed An Bord Pleanala the house at Viking Wharf had been bought in 2008. They also said they had extended and upgraded the property at very considerable expense and it was given a four-star rating for self-catering accommodation by Bord Failte. They pointed out they never had any complaints from neighbours or contact from the council about its use as tourist accommodation. The couple said they have a strict policy of no hen or stag parties and have never advertised on Airbnb. We use the house very regularly ourselves and there is zero possibility of us either selling or long-term renting out the house, so to put it to use in Kinsales tourist economy seems a far more efficient use of the property than leaving it stand vacant when our own family and friends are not using it, they added. Telecoms company eir has apologised to a cafe owner in Cork City after admitting it made a mistake by issuing him with a warning letter about illegal music downloads on his wifi network. The company said such warning letters should only apply to residential customers and not business customers. Paul Walsh, who runs 3 Little Piggies on Union Quay, spoke out after he received a warning letter from eir about illegal music downloads and file sharing on an eir IP address linked to his cafes broadband account. Eir claimed the website or protocol Torrent was used to download the track, If I cant have love, I want power by US artist Halsey. The company said it works closely with the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), which carries out independent monitoring of internet traffic and activity for illegal music downloads and file sharing, and that IRMA had informed it about the activity on the cafes broadband account. Mr Walsh said while it was a warning about a music download on a publicly available wifi network, he had concerns about the implications for him as the account holder, and said other businesses offering wifi to the public should be aware of the issue. What if something more sinister was downloaded and shared using our wifi. Where does that leave me? The implications are scary and I think other businesses need to be aware, he said. However, in response to queries from the Irish Examiner, eir confirmed on Friday that the warning was sent to Mr Walsh in error. eir in conjunction with IRMA has a longstanding 'graduated response system in place aimed at addressing music copyright piracy, where customers receive three warnings before any action is taken, a spokesperson said. This process was designed to prevent music copyright piracy and a similar process is now applied by IRMA and all of the major Irish internet service providers. eirs graduated response process applies exclusively to eirs residential customers and unfortunately, due to an error, a letter was mistakenly sent to an eir business customer. We have been in contact with the customer to apologise directly and are implementing changes to ensure this does not happen again." Mr Walsh said he accepts the apology and hopes that some good will come from the conversation on the issue. He also has updated his firewall security. US President-elect Donald Trump faces sentencing on Friday for his New York hush money conviction after the nations highest court refused to intervene. Like so much else in the criminal case and the current American political landscape, the scenario set to unfold in an austere Manhattan courtroom was unimaginable only a few years ago. A state judge is to say what consequences, if any, the countrys former and soon-to-be leader will face for felonies that a jury found he committed. President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida (Evan Vucci/AP) With Trump 10 days from inauguration, Judge Juan M Merchan has indicated he plans a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge and prosecutors are not opposing it. That would mean no jail time, no probation and no fines would be imposed, but nothing is final until Fridays proceeding is done. Regardless of the outcome, Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Trump, who is expected to appear by video from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, will have the opportunity to speak. He has pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. The judge has indicated that he plans the unconditional discharge a rarity in felony convictions partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would arise if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trumps presidency. The hush money case accused him of fudging his business records to veil a 130,000 dollar (105,000) payoff to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in Trumps 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. President-elect Donald Trump talks to reporters after a meeting with Republican leadership at the Capitol in Washington (Jose Luis Magana/AP) I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge, the Republican president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform last week. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the charges, is a Democrat. Mr Braggs office said in a court filing on Monday that Trump committed serious offences that caused extensive harm to the sanctity of the electoral process and to the integrity of New Yorks financial marketplace. While the specific charges were about cheques and ledgers, the underlying accusations were seamy and deeply entangled with Trumps political rise. Prosecutors said Ms Daniels was paid off through Trumps personal lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trumps alleged extramarital escapades. Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. I was hiding nothing And while prosecutors said Mr Cohens reimbursements for paying Ms Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Trump says that is simply what they were. There was nothing else it could have been called, he wrote on Truth Social last week, adding: I was hiding nothing. Trumps lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled virtually every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed. They have made various arguments to Judge Merchan, New York appeals judges, and federal courts including the Supreme Court. The Trump lawyers have leaned heavily into assertions of presidential immunity from prosecution, and they got a boost in July from a Supreme Court decision that affords former commanders-in-chief considerable immunity. Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Ms Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Mr Cohen were made and recorded the following year. On one hand, Trumps defence argued that immunity should have kept jurors from hearing some evidence, such as testimony about some of his conversations with then-White House communications director Hope Hicks. And after Trump won this past Novembers election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office. Judge Juan M Merchan in his chambers in New York (Seth Wenig/AP) Judge Merchan, a Democrat, repeatedly postponed the sentencing, initially set for July. But last week, he set Fridays date, citing a need for finality. He wrote that he strove to balance Trumps need to govern, the Supreme Courts immunity ruling, the respect due to a jury verdict and the publics expectation that no-one is above the law. Trumps lawyers then launched a flurry of last-minute efforts to block the sentencing. Their last hope vanished on Thursday night with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to delay the sentencing. Meanwhile, the other criminal cases that once loomed over Trump have ended or stalled ahead of trial. After Trumps election, special counsel Jack Smith closed out the federal prosecutions over Trumps handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. A state-level Georgia election interference case is locked in uncertainty after prosecutor Fani Willis was removed from it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met security officials on Friday to discuss Gaza ceasefire talks, an Israeli official told The Associated Press. The prime minister and security officials received an update from negotiators and instructed them to continue the talks in Qatar, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic matter. Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been mediating the indirect talks that have stalled repeatedly during 15 months of war. Just one brief ceasefire has been achieved, occurring in the earliest weeks of the fighting. The recovery of the bodies of two hostages in Gaza this week again put pressure on Mr Netanyahu from families and others to reach a deal to bring the remaining hostages home. People sit in front of the US Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, Israel, during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Also on Friday, the Israeli military said an inquiry into the deaths of two kibbutz residents during the October 7 2023 militant attack that sparked the war in Gaza found it highly likely that one Tomer Eliaz-Arava was killed by Israeli soldiers after they saw a person they misidentified as a suspicious figure. The findings released on Friday also note a reasonable possibility that another resident, Dikla Arava, was killed by military fire while in a vehicle after being seized by militants. The military says the shootings occurred during fierce combat with militants who had infiltrated Kibbutz Nahal Oz. It emphasises it is impossible to determine with absolute certainty what caused the deaths. The military says the broader inquiry into the battle at the kibbutz continues. Elsewhere, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed at least two people and wounded two others, the countrys health ministry said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack in Tyre province, and it is unclear what was targeted. Lebanons state media reported the strike hit a car in the town of Tayr Debba. Amid a tenuous ceasefire, Israel insists it has the right to attack Hezbollah anywhere in response to alleged truce violations. Both sides have until January 26 to pull their forces out of southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media reported Israel carried out new home demolitions and explosions in several southern villages on Friday. This adds to the near-daily Israeli operations in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect in late November, according the Health Ministry. And Israels military says it has carried out new airstrikes against what it calls Houthi rebel targets inside Yemen. Its statement on Friday says fighter jets struck on the western coast and inland Yemen, and targets included what it called military infrastructure sites in the Hizaz power station as well as military infrastructure in the Hodeida and Ras Isa ports on the west coast. At least three people were wounded, the Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported. Apple Inc. and Goldman Sachs have announced relief measures for victims of the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, postponing Apple Card payments and waiving interest charges for affected users. This follows an earlier commitment by Apple CEO Tim Cook to donate to recovery efforts for the disaster-stricken region. Apple Card Extends Relief to Los Angeles Wildfire Victims According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple and its financial partner, Goldman Sachs, have informed Apple Card users in areas designated as "natural disaster zones" that they "may be eligible" for payment assistance. The program allows affected users to defer their payments without accruing interest on outstanding balances. This initiative, part of the companies' Disaster Relief Program, ensures accounts in good standing remain current while enrolled. Users with past-due accounts will retain their status but will have the opportunity to address overdue payments without additional penalties during the relief period. Apple and Tim Cook Pledge Support to Wildfire Victims The Los Angeles wildfires have prompted numerous organizations to offer aid, with Apple among those stepping forward. CEO Tim Cook announced the company's plans to donate to the wildfire victims, emphasizing Apple's commitment to supporting recovery efforts. Apple Card Services and Goldman Sachs Collaboration Apple Card, launched in partnership with Goldman Sachs, has provided a seamless way for users to make transactions through Apple devices. However, the collaboration has faced challenges over the years, including reports of a potential split between the companies. Despite these difficulties, the duo recently introduced the Apple Card Savings program, allowing users to earn high-yield interest on savings. While the program's annual percentage yield (APY) has fluctuated peaking at 4.50% before dropping slightly below 4.15% it remains a notable feature of the partnership. The ongoing relief efforts in Los Angeles underscore the ability of Apple and Goldman Sachs to collaborate in addressing critical situations, demonstrating their shared commitment to providing meaningful assistance in the face of disaster. As the wildfires continue to impact Angelenos, Apple's donation and its financial relief measures through the Apple Card aim to ease the burden for affected residents while reinforcing its role as a socially responsible corporation. Today Rain showers in the morning, then partly cloudy and windy in the afternoon. High 64F. Winds WSW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Windy early. Low around 50F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tomorrow Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High near 65F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Today Light rain and wind this evening. Then clearing overnight. Low near 50F. W winds at 25 to 35 mph, decreasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph. Tonight Light rain and wind this evening. Then clearing overnight. Low near 50F. W winds at 25 to 35 mph, decreasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph. Tomorrow Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 64F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Elon Musk has called on Germans to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the upcoming general election during a program he hosted with the partys co-leader on his social media platform X. Last year, Mr. Musk utilized X and his considerable wealth to assist Republican candidate Donald Trump in winning the presidential election in the United States on 5 November. Currently, he is openly supporting far-right and anti-establishment parties in Europe as the election in Germany approaches on 23 February. The worlds wealthiest individual has taken a special interest in Germany, where he opened Teslas first European factory in 2022. During a discussion filled with laughter from both individuals, they concurred that Germany suffers from a crazy energy policy, excessive bureaucracy, and uncontrolled immigration. People really need to rally behind AfD; otherwise, things are going to get significantly worse in Germany, Mr. Musk stated. I think Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person. Nothing outrageous is being suggested. He reiterated his endorsement of the AfD from last month, an anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party regarded as right-wing extremist by German security agencies, causing concern in Berlin. Speaking fluently in English, Ms. Weidel voiced appreciation for Mr. Musks backing, stating that her opportunity to speak with him was the first time in a decade she had a platform to express her views without interruptions from a media landscape she described as biased against her. People love to censor views they disagree with, Mr. Musk agreed. The two compared the media and German politicians reactions to the AfD to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitlers treatment of pro-Jewish advocates in the 1930s. Leaders across Europe have reacted with alarm to Mr. Musks political engagements. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused him of undermining democracy, without naming him, while Frances foreign minister urged the European Union to rigorously utilize its laws to guard against external interference. Irelands European Commissioner Michael McGrath stated the commission possesses strong powers to act if discussions violate EU law. Mr. Musk, who identifies as a libertarian, has labeled German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier a tyrant for criticizing the AfD and has called for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign following a deadly car attack at a German Christmas market. Both officials are members of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). The owner of Tesla and SpaceX recently reaffirmed his support for the AfD, calling the party the last hope for Germany in an opinion piece for Welt Am Sonntag. Last August, he hosted a similar discussion with Mr. Trump, who has since assigned the entrepreneur the task of leading a campaign to enhance the efficiency of the US government. Mr. Musk is currently embroiled in a bitter conflict with the British government regarding accusations he has made against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips over historic crimes committed by grooming gangs in northern England. During his conversation with Ms. Weidel, Mr. Musk recalled the bureaucratic obstacles he encountered when opening the German Tesla factory. I think it was 25,000 pages was our permit. And it had to be all printed on paper, he explained. And then there had to be numerous copies made. So it literally turned into a truckload of paper. On the topic of energy, Mr. Musk supported Germanys renewable energy goals but agreed with Ms. Weidel that shutting down nuclear power plants was a poor decision. When I saw that Germany was shutting down its power plants after being cut off from gas supplies from Russia, I thought this is one of the craziest things Ive ever witnessed, he remarked. Mr. McGrath mentioned that the risk is that Mr. Musk could use in-built algorithms to artificially increase the visibility of the conversation in a manner that would benefit the AfD in the upcoming German election. The issue at hand is whether there is unfair amplification of certain content, he stated before the broadcast of their conversation. There is never an issue or problem with conducting any interview. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in the European Union, and it is my responsibility to ensure that this right is upheld at all times. However, very large online platforms have tremendous power, and they can elevate certain content beyond others. When it comes to elections, we need to ensure they are conducted in a free and fair manner, without undue interference. As Justice Commissioner, Mr. McGrath plans to introduce legislation later this year to launch the EUs so-called Democracy Shield, aimed at safeguarding European elections from outside manipulation. His commission colleague, Henna Virkkunen, is accountable for the Digital Safety Act (DSA), which legally compels large social media platforms, like X, to ensure effective content moderation and the removal of harmful content. Mr. McGrath remarked: The [European] Commission services are prepared to intervene where necessary if we believe that the Digital Services Act has been violated. The commission is already conducting an investigation into X, initiated in December 2023, to determine whether the platform complies with the risk mitigation obligation under the DSA, how it moderates content, maintains advertising transparency, grants access to researchers, awards blue verification ticks, and whether it implements so-called dark patterns that manipulate users into making unplanned decisions. Mr. McGrath confirmed that this investigation is distinct and must follow due process. The commission will reach a conclusion once the necessary evaluations have been completed. Mr. McGrath stated: It is the misuse of technological tools that could potentially affect elections, where the commission has the authority to intervene as necessary, but that will happen on a case-by-case basis and always based on evidence that we can gather. The Digital Services Act was proposed before Mr. Musk acquired Twitter and renamed it as X. When asked if the legislation had been overtaken by recent events, Mr. McGrath described the act as a very powerful legislative tool that the European Commission would utilize judiciously. We must, on one hand, protect freedom of speech, which is a fundamental right, and on the other hand, ensure that these major online platforms do not exploit their significant resources to promote particular messages with the intention of influencing electoral outcomes. We are prepared to act and to intervene using the DSA where appropriate. There are substantial penalties available to the commission, including hefty fines based on a percentage of the companies global turnover. However, these are measures we prefer not to take. The commission will intervene only based on substantial evidence, he asserted. The Prime Minister of Denmark announced that she had contacted US President-elect Donald Trump in light of his comments about taking control of Greenland, which Denmark is taking seriously. Mr. Trump, set to officially take office on January 20, raised concerns on Tuesday when he did not dismiss the possibility of military action to gain control over the Panama Canal and Greenland. Denmark has expressed its willingness to discuss US interests in the Arctic, but the Prime Minister emphasized that Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. European leaders have also backed the sovereignty of the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Russia has expressed concern regarding the preservation of peace and stability in the area. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen spoke to the press yesterday While few specifics emerged during the two-hour discussions, Frederiksen told reporters afterward that her office had reached out to Trump, although they had not yet had a conversation. We have suggested a dialogue between us. I dont expect anything concrete until the President-elect is in office, she stated. She reiterated her belief that Trump would not attempt to seize Greenland by force. We have no reason to believe that would occur. The leader of the right-wing Danish Peoples Party, Morten Messerschmidt, told TV2 after the discussions that he was completely confident that the (Danish) government aims to collaborate closely with the United States our most crucial economic and defense partners. Conversely, another right-wing populist figure, Inger Stojberg of the Denmark Democrats, expressed her view that the government lacked a concrete plan and seemed paralyzed. I hope the government will take more initiative with Trump once he is in office, she remarked. Aki-Mathilda Hoegh-Dam, a representative from Greenland, commended Frederiksen for fostering a good dialogue. Its vital to maintain composure and remember that we have a good partnership, and this situation does not alter that, she said. Prior to the discussions, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen informed reporters that Denmark had no intentions whatsoever to escalate a war of words with a president preparing to enter the Oval Office. Yesterday, Mr. Lokke Rasmussen mentioned that Denmark is open to discussions with the United States regarding safeguarding US interests in the Arctic, especially given the increasing rivalries with China and Russia in the region. The United States maintains an active military base in northwestern Greenland, which has strategic significance in the Arctic as melting ice due to climate change opens new shipping routes. Ms. Frederiksen also indicated that the government was arranging to meet representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islandsanother autonomous Danish territorytomorrow. In an Instagram post, Ms. Frederiksen emphasized that the government was taking all necessary actions to protect Denmarks and the Danish Realms interests. Mr. Trump initially expressed interest in purchasing Greenland back in 2019 during his first presidential term, an offer that Greenland and Denmark quickly rejected. His recent comments coincided with a private visit to Greenland by his son, Donald Trump Jr. Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland on Tuesday Greenland, which is striving for greater autonomy from Denmark, possesses vast untapped mineral and oil resources; however, oil and uranium exploration are currently prohibited. Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, stated that the territorys sovereignty must be upheld, asserting that Greenland is part of Denmark. We must respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz underscored that borders must not be altered by force. This principle applies to every nation, whether in the east or west. Conversations with our European allies have revealed unease regarding recent statements from the US. It is evident: We must remain united, he posted on X. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that Russia is observing the situation closely. We are monitoring this rather dramatic evolution of events, which thankfully remains at the level of statements for now, Mr. Peskov stated. We are committed to maintaining peace and stability in this area and are ready to cooperate with any parties for such peace and stability, he added. Wildfires surrounding Los Angeles have claimed the lives of at least ten individuals and have devastated nearly 10,000 structures, with five fires continuing to rage into a third night, as dry desert winds once more intensified the flames. The Palisades Fire, located between Santa Monica and Malibu on the western side of the city, along with the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena, have already become the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles, burning through over 34,000 acres and reducing entire neighborhoods to ash. The death toll from these wildfires has risen to ten, according to the Medical Examiners office in Los Angeles County, which provided an update last night but withheld specifics about the victims. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned at an earlier press conference that he anticipates the casualty figures to increase. Aerial footage revealed entire blocks of leveled homes, while satellite images depicted the two main fires encircling the city with thick smoke being blown out over the Pacific Ocean. In total, five wildfires were burning in Los Angeles County, with the major Palisades Fire only 6% contained and the Eaton fire 0% contained. Aircraft buzzed in the skies, dropping retardant and water onto the flames engulfing the hills. We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences According to the LA County Fire Department, a large Super Scooper aircraft borrowed from Canada was damaged and grounded after colliding with an unauthorized civilian drone near the Palisades fire, though there were no injuries reported. It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I dont expect positive news, and were not looking forward to the updated numbers, Sheriff Luna stated. Winds subsided yesterday from the 160km/h gusts experienced earlier in the week, allowing for essential aerial support for ground crews. However, officials warned that winds had picked up again overnight, with red flag conditions expected to persist until this afternoon. In the Altadena area, a community characterized by its racial and economic diversity, many residents expressed concerns that government resources might be disproportionately allocated to high-profile regions favored by A-Listers, while insurance companies might shortchange less affluent households that lack the financial resources to contest fire claims. They wont give you the true value of your house if they do, you really have to fight for it, lamented Kay Young, 63, as tears welled in her eyes while she gazed at the scorched remnants of a home that had belonged to her family for generations. Firefighters worked to extinguish hot spots emerging from a house reduced to ashes in the Palisades Fire, situated along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic losses could be between $135 billion and $150 billion, predicting a lengthy recovery ahead and rising homeowners insurance premiums. Southern California Edison has reported receiving notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence connected to the Eaton Fire but noted that no fire agencies have indicated a link between the utility and the blaze. We are already planning to aggressively rebuild the city of Los Angeles, remarked Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, who faced criticism from president-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans for her management of the disaster. The states National Guard was deployed to patrol the impacted areas. Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the National Guard members are part of a substantial deployment of state personnel. We are utilizing all resources availableincluding our National Guard service membersto safeguard communities in the days ahead, he declared. And to those who might attempt to exploit evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated. The wind swirled embers in the Angeles National Forest near Mt. Wilson. A home was observed burning amidst the Palisades Fire on Wednesday. President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, assured yesterday that the federal government would cover 100% of recovery costs for the next 180 days to facilitate debris removal, hazard material clearance, temporary shelters, and first responder salaries. We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences I told the governor and local officials to spare no expense in containing these fires, Mr. Biden mentioned after a meeting with senior advisors at the White House. A rapidly advancing fire erupted yesterday near Calabasas, one of the wealthiest cities in the United States and home to many celebrities and exclusive communities. The blaze, referred to as the Kenneth Fire, swiftly expanded to 960 acres within hours. Amid escalating tensions, Los Angeles County unintentionally issued a countywide evacuation notice to its 9.6 million residents, although it was originally intended only for the area affected by the Kenneth Fire. A prompt correction was dispatched. Some residents of Pacific Palisades returned to areas already ravaged by the fire, where brick chimneys stood in stark contrast to the charred debris and burnt-out vehicles. Wildfire smoke from the Palisades and Eaton fires enveloped views of downtown Los Angeles. We are alive. Thats all that matters, Bilal Tukhi stated while keeping watch outside his employers damaged home, likening the scene to his native, war-torn Afghanistan. Schools were closed for a second consecutive day due to smoke, ash, and particulate matter contaminating the air, as confirmed by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. While still strong, winds had decreased since the 160km/h gusts earlier in the week, enabling critical aerial support for ground crews. Nevertheless, officials cautioned that forecasts indicated worsening winds overnight, with red flag conditions lasting until this afternoon. The Eaton Fire reached the Mount Wilson Observatory grounds, the site where Edwin Hubble discovered galaxies beyond the Milky Way a century ago, confirming that the flare-up seemed to be under control. Firefighting crews successfully controlled the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills after flames threatened the ridge overlooking the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame on Wednesday night. The two largest firesthe Palisades and Eaton firesformed a vast encirclement around the city, so extensive that it was visible from space. A beach house was engulfed in flames as the Palisades Fire raged along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. In Pacific Palisades, once-majestic homes are reduced to ruins, and downed power lines alongside abandoned vehicles clutter the roads. John Carr, 65, recounted how he disregarded evacuation orders, successfully protecting his home in the process. The house was built by my mother and father in 1960, and Ive lived here my whole life, so there are many memories tied to it. I thought I owed it to them to do my best to save it, he explained. Mr. Carr noted that there were no fire crews available to assist in protecting his neighbors homes. If they had dispatched some fire trucks and just done a little spraying here and there, paying attention to things, all of these houses would still be standing, he asserted. Read more:We have lost everything: Despair in the Los Angeles fires The air was thick with the smell of smoke, and residents wearing masks rode bicycles, hoping to catch a glimpse of their damaged properties. Homes belonging to movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by the flames. Chef Jose Andres, recognized for providing free food to disaster victims globally, set up a food truck near the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway. Everyone requires support and compassion in these moments, regardless of wealth, he expressed. Actor Jamie Lee Curtis pledged that her family would contribute $1 million to disaster relief efforts. Firefighters from multiple states across the US and Canada are being mobilized to California, alongside federal personnel and resources. To our American neighbors: Canada is here to help, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated, referencing his countrys own challenges with severe wildfires. Review of Allen James Fromherz, The Center of the World: A Global History of the Persian Gulf from the Stone Age to the Present (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024). Munich, Germany (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Historically known as the Persian Gulf, the body of water stretching from Iraq on the northwest to Oman on the southeast has increasingly been called the Arab Gulf since the rise of Arab nationalism in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the Gulf was the scene of military attacks by Iran and Iraq against merchant vessels in what was known as the Tanker War. More recently, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has occasionally seized ships transiting the Gulfs waters. In April 2024, for instance, the IRGC took hold of a container ship with alleged ties to Israel as a response to the Israeli attack against the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The Gulf might have a contested terminology and a recent past of significant military tensions. And yet, focusing too much on these conflictual dynamics would obscure the broad contours of the Gulfs history. This history, explains Allen James Fromherz in his book The Center of the World: A Global History of the Persian Gulf from the Stone Age to the Present, has been largely dominated by personal and commercial interactions across the Gulfs shores and beyond. The Gulf has historically been more of a channel between lands than an unbridgeable rift, argues Fromherz, a historian and Director of the Middle East Studies Center at Georgia State University. Many authors would be daunted by the task of synthetizing over four millennia of history in a geographical area that encompasses eight different modern states. But Fromherz rises to the challenge. The way he structures the book certainly helps. Fromherz does not present a comprehensive historical accountthis would have been an impossibility in less than 300 pages. Instead, he chronologically presents the stories of six different port cities in the Gulf that, in turn, open the door to exploring different historical eras in the region. The Center of the World starts in Dilmun, an ancient kingdom centered in todays Bahrain, and moves to Basra or Hormuz before concluding with the modern metropolis of Dubai. The centrality of the Gulf for world history, notes Fromherz, is related to the region being a link between the Mediterranean and India via the Fertile Crescent. It was in the Gulf that trade first emerged and later, in the second half of the eighth century, Basra became Islams economic and cultural powerhouse.[1] Geography is destiny is a sentence attributed to Ibn Khaldun, the Arab scholar born in the fourteenth century. It is perhaps no coincidence that Fromherz is also a biographer of the North African historian and philosopher. In The Center of the World, Fromherz greatly relies on geography to explain the Gulfs history. The Seleucids, the Parthians, the Romans, the Sasanians, and the Ottomans, all failed to dominate the Gulf. This, explains Fromherz, is connected to the Gulfs three natural barriers. On the Arabian side, vast deserts. On the Persian side, high mountains. And north of Basra, extensive marshes. When the Iranian Sasanian Empire tried to collect taxes from the people living in the Gulf, they would often disappear into the mountains or find temporary refuge in desert oases. Meanwhile, before the advent of modern topography, the Gulfs coasts offered small boats too many places to hide for powerful fleets to dominate the waters. The British Empire, the first to accurately chart the geography of the Gulf in the second half of the nineteenth century, was not interested in territorial domination there. To British eyes, the Gulf was a trade area and a vital link between Britain and territories where London wanted to exert direct control, such as India. Allen James Fromherz, The Center of the World: A Global History of the Persian Gulf from the Stone Age to the Present (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024). Click Here to Buy Lacking fertile lands to grow agricultural surpluses and develop large urban centers, long before oil could be exploited economically, the people of the Gulf prospered on trade. That was the case of Siraf, in what is currently southern Iran. Even though it had to import freshwater on ships, Siraf grew in the tenth and eleventh centuries as it became an important transit point for Basra and Shiraz. Siraf lived and died by trade, as it collapsed when commercial routes changed in the twelfth century. Fromherz credits the importance of trade with fostering a climate of tolerance and co-habitation among different religious and ethnic groups in the Gulf. While on the sea, people of diverse creeds and origins coincided as passengers on the same ship. On the dry land, communities that would have been separated in other contexts had to share quarters in small port cities such as medieval Siraf or Hormuz under Portuguese rule. Tolerance also made economic sense for the Gulfs rulers. An open-minded attitude allowed a port city to attract all kinds of traders (and the customs revenue that came with them) if they knew their traditions would be respected there. As Fromherz explains, because a port city would quickly shrivel and die without trade and comparatively advantageous taxation, different levels of society had a vested interest in openness and toleration of diverse groups from throughout the Indian ocean.[2] King Sebastian of Portugal, who reigned during the second half of the sixteenth century, is believed to have died during a crusading mission against a Moroccan sultan. Leaving behind this crusading zeal, the same king intervened to stop the planned destruction of a mosque in Hormuz. Highly indebted, Portugal could not afford to antagonize the Hormuzi Muslim traders, who might have moved elsewhere leading to a loss of customs revenue. Hindu temples and synagogues were also spared, and the Catholic priests in Hormuz were relatively restrained in their conversion efforts. Portugal would ultimately be humbled in 1650 when it lost Muscat to an alliance of Muslim Omanis and Hindu Banians. The conquest of Muscat shocked Europe because a major imperial Western power had been bested not by another Western navy but by an emerging Gulf coalition.[3] Similar to the naval battle of Tsushima in 1905, when the Japanese vanquished the Russian navy at the end of the Russo-Japanese War, Portugals defeat in Muscat questioned beliefs in Western superiority. Tsushima was the parting shot in The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia, as Pankaj Mishra puts it in his book about the rise of the Asian continent. In contrast, three centuries passed between the Portuguese defeat in Muscat and the emergence of the Gulf as an independent center of power. If the nineteenth century in the Gulf was dominated by the pearling industry, the twentieth century would bring with it the much more lucrative oil industry, changing the region forever. Oil was first exploited in commercial quantities in Bahrain, but the largest oil reserves in the Gulf are found in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq. Oil exploitation not only catapulted the regions economy but dramatically altered the lives of its citizens. In 1960, life expectancy in the United States was 70 years. In Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the figures were 59 and 46 years, respectively. By 2022, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia had overtaken the United States, with Qatari citizens living 82 years on average, five more than US citizens. A similar dynamic had taken place in terms of infant mortality. In a book that is highly original and full of meaningful anecdotes, the last chapter, which covers the recent history of the Gulf, feels comparatively dull. Even so, Fromherz concludes with some observations about the future of the Gulf worth taking into consideration. He notes that the Gulfs rulers should avoid rising nationalism, war threats, and isolation from their subjects. Instead, he reminds the readers that commerce, consensus, and cosmopolitanism exist deep in the veins of Gulf history, often originating there long before they were practised in the West.[4] Although often incomplete, the end of the Qatar blockade in 2021, the truce in Yemen in 2022, and the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in early 2023 were positive steps. Since late 2023, though, the war on Gaza and its regional implications have thrown the Gulf into new uncertainty. The future of the US presence in the Gulf is also difficult to predict, especially when we are only days away from the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, who has been sending mixed signals on the matter. If the US were to withdraw progressively from the area, Fromherz believes the Gulf would focus on south Asia, its natural partner. This would, in a way, strengthen the notion of history being circular. [1] Allen James Fromherz, The Center of the World: A Global History of the Persian Gulf from the Stone Age to the Present (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024), p. 77. [2] Ibid., p. 25. [3] Ibid., p. 161. [4] Ibid., p. 258. January 9, 2025 TheNewswire - Vancouver, British Columbia - Pampa Metals Corp. (Pampa Metals or the Company) (CSE:PM / FSE:FIR / OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to advise excellent progress is being made on its follow-up drill program at the emerging Piuquenes copper-gold porphyry project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Piuquenes is a newly discovered, gold rich copper porphyry deposit located immediately adjacent to the north of Aldebaran Resources (ALDE:TSX-V) giant Altar porphyry copper system. Other large porphyry copper projects in the San Juan Miocene porphyry belt include, El Pachon (Glencore), approximately 30 km to the south, the operating Los Pelambres copper mine (60% Antofagasta plc) in Chile, and Los Azules (McEwen Mining) 50 km to the northeast. Corporate and exploration activity along the belt remains high, with major companies including Rio Tinto, South 32, BHP and Teck also active. Hole PIU-04 2025DDH (PIU-04) was collared from the eastern margin of Piuquenes Central, 250m northeast of PIU-01 2024DDH (422m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au, including 132m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/t Au, refer 18 March 2024 News Release) and 135m northwest of historical shallow drill hole DDH-06 (refer 18 September 2024 News Release). PIU-04 was completed to a depth of 1,105.9m, the deepest hole at Piuquenes to date. PIU-05 2025 DDH is also a significant step-out, collared 220m east of PIU16-01DDH (558m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, including 130m @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au, refer 5 December 2024 News Release) and 270m southwest of PIU02-2024DDH (448m @ 0.42% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, including 126m @ 0.66% Cu, 0.74 g/t Au, refer 6 May 2024 News Release). Drilling continues at depths of ~900m, with partial logging completed to ~660m. Samples are being progressively dispatched to the ALS lab in Mendoza and results are pending. Key Highlights Hole PIU-04 2025DDH intersected variable intensity porphyry veining, alteration and copper mineralization over wide intervals and significantly expanded the footprint of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to the northeast. Hole PIU-05 2025DDH has intersected several significant intervals of bornite-rich copper mineralization and extended the core of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to depth. Geology and Mineralization Diamond Drillhole PIU-05 2025DDH (to end of logging at 660m) Drill hole PIU-05 2025DDH (PIU-05) drilled transported cover to 42 m and below that to 570 m variably altered, veined and brecciated pre-mineral diorite porphyry host rock. Brecciation is predominantly pre-mineral magmatic-intrusion breccia, however local zones of magmatic-hydrothermal breccia with biotite-magnetite cement occur. Below 570 m the hole intersected intervals of the quartz-bearing causative porphyry, similar to those intersected in the 2024 campaign. The upper parts of the hole traverse phyllic and intermediate-argillic alteration which progressively give way to biotite-magnetite potassic alteration below approximately 250 m and then overprinting K-feldspar-bearing alteration from approximately 350 m. Low intensity porphyry-style quartz-sulfide veining occurs from 250 progressively increasing to approximately 530 m where the intensity increases, and sulfide contents are higher until the end of the current logging. The quartz-sulfide veins are multi-phase with several generations of quartz A-veins observed including one phase of bornite-dominated A-veins. A later, sulfide dominated, quartz-poor chalcopyrite-rich vein phase is also observed. The higher sulfide zone encountered to-date is notable for its bornite content; although overall bornite remains less than chalcopyrite, the occurrence of a consistent bornite zone below 530 m (downhole) is encouraging and may signal that hole PIU-05 has encountered a zone of the system closer to a latent bornite-dominated core at depth. Image 1. PIU-05 631.5m. Chalcopyrite-bornite veinlet exposed along a fracture. Hole PIU-05 has extended the core of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system to depth and has intersected the most bornite-rich mineralization yet encountered. Image 2: PIU-05 571.9 - 577.5m. Strongly veined and porphyry and diorite host rock and intercalated quartz-porphyry, showing multiphase quartz A-veins and associated K-feldspar bearing potassic alteration. Image 3: PIU-05 605 - 610.5m. Strongly veined and porphyry and diorite host rock, showing multiphase quartz A-veins and associated K-feldspar bearing potassic alteration. Geology and Mineralization Diamond Drillhole PIU-04 2025DDH Drill hole PIU-04 2025DDH intersected 32.4 m of cover and then to the end of the hole (1,105.9m) traversed pre-mineral diorite porphyry with minor intercalations (Blocks) of andesitic volcanic rock. Quartz-bearing porphyry of the probable causative porphyry complex was encountered from 794-810m downhole. Within the pre-mineral diorite porphyry, long sections of intrusion breccia and lesser hydrothermal breccias occur. Significantly, within the hydrothermal breccia clasts of veined intrusion occur and potentially indicate the presence of blind system beneath the upper part of hole PIU-04. The hole commenced in intermediate argillic alteration and transitioned, at approximately 290 m, to a biotite-magnetite dominated potassic alteration with lesser K-feldspar bearing potassic alteration. The hole transitioned out of potassic alteration back into intermediate argillic alteration from 950 m. Patchy potassic alteration is present down to 1030 m. Weak porphyry-style quartz veinlets occur from 250 m to 390 m from where they increase, and porphyry style quartz A veins become consistent until 880 m from which point they decrease until disappearing at 970 m. Pyrite dominates the sulfide until 340 m, with 340 710 m showing a mix of pyrite and chalcopyrite whereas below 710 m chalcopyrite and minor bornite dominate over pyrite. Pyrite dominates from 910 m to the end of hole. Image 4: PIU-04 349.79 355.0 m. Volcanic andesite host rock with strong biotite-magnetite alteration and consistent quartz-sulfide veining. Hole PIU-04 has significantly expanded the footprint of the mineralized Piuquenes Central porphyry system to the northeast and the consistency of alteration and sulfide zoning will be invaluable in ongoing interpretation and modelling toward further targeting. Image 5: PIU-04 834.47 836.80 m. Strongly biotite-magnetite altered pre-mineral diorite porphyry with moderate intensity quartz porphyry style A-veins. Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: We remain fully focused on driving significant shareholder value through the discovery and delineation of an economic deposit(s) on the Piuquenes property and are extremely pleased with progress to date. Intersecting wide intervals of strong bornite mineralization and significantly expanding the footprint of the Piuquenes Central porphyry system at this early stage of the program is very promising. Drilling will shortly commence testing a second compelling undrilled porphyry target which outcrops at Piuquenes East. Several other recently defined targets across the recently expanded land package are also being advanced through surface exploration. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD INVESTOR CONTACT Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO Joseph van den Elsen | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ABOUT PAMPA METALS Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges. In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina. QUALIFIED PERSON Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 9, 2025 / Zeus North America Mining Corp. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") reports that on January 7, 2025 the Supreme Court of British Columbia approved the plan of arrangement between the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Kelso Mining Inc. ("Kelso") dated August 26, 2024 (the "Arrangement"), to spin out its Chlore Property located in the Omineca Mining Division of North-Central British Columbia to Kelso. The Company announced the share distribution record date of January 29, 2025 (the "Share Distribution Record Date") pursuant to the Arrangement. Under the terms of the Arrangement, Zeus' shareholders will be issued one share of Kelso with respect to every 150 shares of Zeus owned on the Share Distribution Record Date. The Company plans to complete the Arrangement and distribute Kelso shares to the Company's shareholders and transfer the Chlore Property to Kelso on February 5, 2025. Holders of Zeus options and warrants, who exercise their options and/or warrants before the Share Distribution Record Date, will also be entitled to receive one share of Kelso with respect to every 150 shares of Zeus. The Chlore Property will be transferred to Kelso. Upon completion of the Arrangement, Zeus shareholders will ultimately own shares in two public companies: Zeus, which will be focused on its properties in the State of Idaho known as the Cuddy Mountain, Selway and Great Western properties and Kelso, which will focus on the Chlore Property. The disclosure regarding the Arrangement is provided in the Company's information circular dated November 5, 2024 and the news releases dated August 26, 2024 and December 20, 2024, which are available on www.sedarplus.com under the profile of Zeus North America Mining Corp. On behalf of the board of directors. "Dean Besserer" President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. About Zeus North America Mining Corp. Exploring in Idaho's newest Copper Belt. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho, USA known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 102 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp.'s Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery. The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. Forward-Looking Statements When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's plans regarding the Arrangement and exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs; shareholder, court and regulatory approvals; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. On 11 December 2024, Ian Lundin, one of the two defendants, finally spoke. This was the 164th day of proceedings, just over halfway through the biggest trial in Swedish history. At the time chairman of Lundin Oil, a Swedish oil company that changed its name several times, he is accused of complicity in war crimes committed in Sudan between 1997 and 2003. The other accused is Alexandre Schneiter, who was CEO. The investigation leading to this two-and-a-half year mega-trial was launched in 2010 after Magnus Elving, the prosecutor who died a year ago, read the Unpaid Debt report by the NGO European Coalition on Oil in Sudan (ECOS). This report examined the war crimes committed in Block 5A during the years when an oil consortium led by Lundin Oil AB was operating there. In this block covering 29,885 km2 in Unity State (now part of South Sudan), 12,000 people lost their lives and 160,000 others were displaced during the period, according to the report. Several days are set aside for the questioning of Ian Lundin, which was interrupted for the Christmas holidays and will resume in mid-January for a few days. Alexandre Schneiter will then be questioned for a week by the prosecutors, representatives of the civil parties and by his own lawyers. I dont remember In room 34 on the second floor of the Stockholm courthouse, a surprising exchange took place in several languages. During the four days of questioning before the Christmas break, prosecutor Karolina Wieslander put her questions to Lundin in Swedish. He is a Swedish citizen who has lived abroad all his life and speaks Swedish poorly. Although he understands the questions in Swedish, he had asked to answer in French or English, the language finally chosen. Since the start of the trial, with the exception of the civil parties from South Sudan, only Alexandre Schneiter has followed the exchanges with headphones on, as he alone does not understand Swedish. During breaks in the courts cafeteria, the two defendants talk to each other in French. In the witness box, Lundin told the court that the International Petroleum Corporation - the forerunner of Lundin Oil, now Orron Energy - was an oil exploration company focused on finding and selling concessions, and that he held management positions there, insisting that he delegated technical responsibilities to his subordinates. But Lundins response to questions quickly became mechanical as he repeated I don't remember. This seemingly frustrating answer did not deter the prosecutors who patiently weaved their web of questions to show the extent to which the company was linked to the Sudanese army. Security management at Block 5A Lundin was questioned about the reporting and decision-making processes within the company, particularly the security reports from Khartoum. He denies any direct involvement in operational decisions relating to security. In a remote operation like Sudan, communication is limited and decisions have to be taken locally, he said. Who made the final decision on the security protocols and military interventions around Block 5A? asked the prosecutor. Military decisions were not our responsibility. It was the Sudanese government that decided on the security measures around our operations, replied the accused. A little later he said: I think its normal that we were dependent on the government [in Khartoum] for security, and if the army was considered responsible for providing security that was their decision, not ours. So, continued the prosecutor, it was apparently accepted that the army would provide security. How was this solution arrived at? I don't think there was any negotiation. It came from the realisation that the local police were unable to provide security. But who came up with this solution? insisted the prosecutor. I dont know, but it would be normal for the regular army to act as the main provider of security if the local police were unable to do so. And who had the mandate to hold this kind of discussion? The local management. Who? I cant answer that exactly. After the break, the prosecutor resumed: If I have understood correctly, it was the SSDF (South Sudan Defence Forces, a militia working for the Khartoum government at the time) that was responsible for security in the area. You mentioned local police. Are we talking about the same thing? I don't really see the difference between the local police and the SSDF. Block 5A of the Lundin oil field in Sudan, on a company map from May 1998. The hatched area indicates rebel activity, making it a no-fly zone. No involvement at local or operational level? As the questions went on, Lundin explained that decisions relating to security were managed by the local team in Sudan and that his own role was limited to a strategic level, far removed from operational decisions. Ian Lundin gave the impression that he was not aware of the details of decisions taken on the ground. This is likely to increase the pressure on his co-defendant, Alexandre Schneiter of Switzerland, who had a much more operational role in the field. Some of Lundins answers nevertheless illustrate the complicated position in which he finds himself. Between November 2023 and February 2024, when presenting the facts from their clients point of view, Lundins lawyers repeated over and over that the conflicts in Block 5A were essentially the result of cattle rustling between clans, sometimes caused by rebels, and therefore had nothing to do with Lundins oil exploration activities. During his interrogation that began last December, Lundin has remained evasive. He has not repeated his lawyers arguments and has avoided showing if he had a significant degree of involvement in business conduct on the ground or too detailed a knowledge of the local situation. For example, the construction of a road was essential to access the prospecting area. However, Lundin claims that the decision to build it was taken by local teams, without his direct involvement. When the prosecution claimed that this road required military operations in sensitive areas, Lundin denied having been informed of these aspects. Every time Lundin pleaded no memory or that he was distant from the field because of his position, the prosecution tried to bounce back. Didnt you know that the militarisation of the region was designed to facilitate your operations, to the detriment of civilians? My understanding was that the army was a neutral force in these factional conflicts and that it would have a stabilising effect. How could the presence of the army allow you to be considered neutral? That was the conclusion of the local management, Lundin replied. Radios supplied to Sudanese soldiers When prosecutor Henrik Attorps took over, he showed a confidential report from the company dated June 1999, dealing with security and the need to improve communications. Citing point 9 of the report, he talked about Lundin providing equipment to soldiers, including radios for 13 men guarding the Rubkona base. Lundin took the time to read the document displayed on the wall screen in front of him, above the prosecutor. That's not what it says, he replied calmly after a few moments. It says that guards are going to be equipped. The prosecutor moved on to another point in the document, before arriving at point 32. It also says that the Sudanese army will receive communication systems for the convoys, HF and VHF radios. Do you see any problem in supplying this type of equipment to an army involved in a civil war? Again, it was a security force for protection purposes, replied Lundin. You dont see any problem with the fact that if you supply radios to the army, you are also helping it in general? insisted the prosecutor, implying in its civil war operations. No, thats not how I see it, replied Lundin. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - An advocacy group in South Africa has mourned an 11-year-old girl, Boitumelo Ranyamatsane, 11, who was allegedly r3ped and m8rdered by her 50-year-old neighbour. The group in a statement on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, said Boitumelo's lifeless body was found on the railway tracks in Bohlokong, Free State, on 29 December 2024. It's alleged that the suspect had summoned the girl to his home and requested her to buy him cigarettes. She was laid to rest on January 5. A journalist on Tuesday, January identified the suspect as Dingani Mbhele. It is alleged that Boitumelo was raped and murdered by her neighbour, 50, who was arrested after her body was discovered," the group said in a statement read. "The neighbour allegedly strangled and brutally killed Boitumelo, as she was found with an open wound on her neck. "We are heartbroken over the loss of such a beautiful soul, and our thoughts are with her family. Fly high, little sister." Meanwhile, the suspect appeared before the Bethlehem Magistrate court on Thursday, 02 January 2025, facing a charge of m8rder. The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, has sent her condolences to the family for their loss and assured them that justice will prevail. The crimes against children won't be tolerated, Motswenyane said. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - A 21-year-old woman, Zanele Dibaza, 21, was brutally attacked and beaten to d3ath by her boyfriend in Greenfields, Gqeberha, South Africa on New Years Day, 1 January 2025. Advocacy group, Women For Change disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, January 8, 2024. It is reported that Zaneles family was waiting for her, and when she didnt arrive, her sister went to the boyfriend's home, where she found Zaneles naked body. Zanele was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The boyfriend, 25, handed himself over to the authorities and has been charged with murder. Her sister, Anela said Zanele had just been paid and promised to take the family to the beach for the first time in three years. Baxolise came to pick her up from our house and she had promised shed buy snacks for the little ones in the house. So when she didnt come home for hours on end, I decided to go to her boyfriends house to ask her to give me her bank card, said Anela. "When I got there, I knocked and her boyfriend told me to wait. I waited for about 30 minutes and he still wouldnt open. I called out for his mother and she used a knife to open his backroom door and when we got inside my sister was lying there naked with her head swollen and a scar on her forehead wide open. Anela said Baxolise was still angry and aggressive. He tried to force her sister to stand up saying that she was faking not being able to get up. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed that Baxolise handed himself over around 8pm on 1 January. She and her partner were at her house on 1 January and everything seemed fine before they left together at about 6.30am. About an hour later, her sister wanted her to go with them to the shop and she found her sister at the boyfriends house in the same area, said Beetge. She had suffered severe head wounds and was rushed to hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Vuso appeared in court on Friday on a charge of murder and his case was remanded to a later date. Friends held a candlelight ceremony for Zanele on Wednesday in Qunu, Booysens Park. Friday, January 10, 2025 - After days of scrupulous searching for a suspect in a case of stealing from a locked motor vehicle reported on January 3, Starehe detectives have netted Charles Kuria Kamau, 30. From his house, they recovered 96 original Kenya national IDs belonging to different citizens, 10 dummy foldable Samsung phones, several SIM card plates, and other suspected stolen items. Kuria was traced to his house within the Hilton Estate of Ruiru township, where a search led to the recoveries. On interrogation, detectives established that the suspect has been using the national IDs to register multiple Jiji accounts, which he then uses to swindle unsuspecting Kenyans by pretending to be in a position to sell them genuine foldable Samsung phones, only to swap them with the dummies. When victims realize they've been conned and report to the police, Kuria's tracks are far from any criminality as investigations lead to the bearers of the lost or stolen IDs used in the registration. Kuria is currently being held at Ruaraka Police Station with DCI Starehe handling the case. The investigators believe more complainants who fell for the suspect's machinations are out there, and are being called upon to report at the station to record their statements. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - An expat working in Kenya has criticized President William Rutos regime in a hard-hitting post on LinkedIn. He accused the Head of State of looting mercilessly through shady deals such as the cancelled Adani deal. The expat expressed concerns that the country is going down the drain under Rutos leadership. Read his post. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has dared Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya to sue him for defamation, threatening to spill the beans. This is after Natembeya threatened to take legal action against Ichungwah for linking him to the abductions, disappearance, and killings of innocent Kenyans some of whom were dumped in River Yala during former President Uhuru Kenyattas rule. Ichung'wah, through his lawyer, Adrian Kamotho, dismissed Natembeyas allegations of defamation as baseless and warned that any lawsuit would be dead on arrival. Natembeyas legal team, Oringe Waswa & Opany Advocates, had earlier demanded an apology from Ichung'wah over statements accusing the governor of crimes against humanity. In a response, Kamotho did not mince words, asserting that Natembeyas alleged reputation was already tarnished by his public confessions. He cited two controversial statements by Natembeya, including one where he claimed powers to 'butcher and slaughter people' had been delegated to him by the presidency. "With a heavy heart, our client takes liberty to once again refresh your client's memory regarding some abhorrent public confessions and admissions to crimes against humanity that he has made in the recent past," read the letter in part. Kamothos letter further accused Natembeya of harbouring a bloated sense of self-importance and being unable to handle the public scrutiny brought upon him by his actions. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - An Italian priest is being investigated for manslaughter over the death of a newborn who was found in a cradle meant for abandoned babies at a church in southern Italy. The infant, believed to be around a month old, was reportedly found in a 'thermal cradle' at the church of San Giovanni Battista, in Bari, Italy, on January 2. Parish priest, Father Antonio Ruccia, has been named as a suspect by Italian police despite being absent from the church at the time. According to the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, placing a baby in the church's thermal cradle activates the heating and an alert is immediately sent to the priest's phone. But Father Ruccia, who was away in Rome, told local media he did not receive any notifications on his phone and no one tried to retrieve the child. It is not clear whether the baby died before arriving at the church, whether the thermal cradle's alarm system malfunctioned, or if it had not been repaired after a recent electrical blackout. An investigation has been launched into the priest and a local technician who carried out recent maintenance work on the heated crib. The child's body was found by local funeral home director, Roberto Savarese, who was preparing for a funeral that day. The concept of the baby boxes dates back to medieval times and it provides a safe and anonymous way for parents to give up their newborn babies. A poster outside the entrance to San Giovanni Battista urges those in difficulty to leave their child in the care of the parish. It is accompanied by a picture of a newborn with the caption: 'No baby is a mistake.' An autopsy is being conducted and Italian police are checking CCTV footage in a bid to identify the parent or person who abandoned the child. Friday, January 10, 2025 - Finland-based researcher Charles Ngieno has confirmed that he is dating renowned digital influencer and entrepreneur Cebbie Koks' Nyasego after her marriage with city lawyer Steve Ogolla crumbed. Speaking to blogger Edgar Obare, the polished man revealed that he has been dating Cebbie for quite some time, only that they had decided to keep their affair under wraps. I cant deny the fact that I have been seeing Cebbie Koks. Thats a fact, he told Edgar. However, he was cagey when asked to address rumours that he recently discovered Cebbie was cheating on him with Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi and bringing him to their lavish apartment in Westlands when he is out of the country. He, however, acknowledged that their relationship has faced challenges, like any other. If there are challenges, they are normal. Every household goes through them, he said. Rumours are not rumours. They are true. On that account, I cant account much since I dont know how it started, he added. See the conversation that he had with Edgar Obare. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - Chloe Bailey, 26, and Burna Boy sparked dating rumours after they were seen together multiple times last month in Lagos, Nigeria. Footage surfaced online showing them getting cosy in various hotspots. However, neither Bailey nor Burna addressed the speculation that they are an item. Chloe Bailey was asked about her relationship with Burna Boy during her appearance on The Breakfast Club on Wednesday, January 8. During a discussion about her recent NAACP Image Awards nomination, Chloe Bailey was asked if Burna Boy is her date for the event. Youll have to ask him, she said, dodging the question. Undeterred, the host continued to press her about the Afrobeats legend, but again, Bailey deflected. Nigeria was so beautiful, she said, as the hosts erupted into laughter. I had the best time. Bailey continued avoiding the conversation, talking about the food she ate and the nightlife. When asked directly if theyre in a relationship, Bailey refused to answer, saying Im a grown woman. The 26-year-old artist also insisted she hadnt seen rumours of Burna with another woman after she left Lagos. Hes a grown man, she stated. Just like Im a grown woman. Watch the interview below. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - Firefighters in Los Angeles, US, are battling several blazes in the city's suburbs, prompting the mandatory evacuation of more than 80,000 people. The fires were sparked by a combination of dry conditions and powerful winds. Currently, authorities say there is no possibility of bringing some of the fires under control. More than 2,000 structures have been burnt with 80,000 residents under evacuation orders. At least five people have also been killed in the fire. According to BBC, seven fires are currently being tackled; The Palisades fire was first reported at 10:30 (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday and grew in just 20 minutes from a blaze of 20 acres to more than 200 acres, and by Wednesday night was approaching 16,000 acres. At least 30,000 people have so far been ordered to leave their homes. The Eaton fire grew to cover 1,000 acres within the first six hours of breaking out. It started in Altadena in the hills above Pasadena at around 18:30 local time on Tuesday. By Wednesday night, January 8, five deaths had been reported and it had spread to more than 10,000 acres. The Hurst fire is located just north of San Fernando. It began burning on Tuesday at around 22:10 local time, growing to 850 acres, according to local officials. It has triggered evacuation orders in neighbouring Santa Clarita. The Woodley fire broke out in Woodley Park at approximately 06:15 local time on Wednesday. The LA Fire Department (LAFD) says it has now been contained. An Olivas fire erupted in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, and was burning across about 11 acres of land, though has also now been contained. The Lidia fire broke out at around 14:00 on Wednesday in the mountainous Acton area north of Los Angeles and grew to cover almost 350 acres. As of 21:00, it had been 40% contained. The Sunset fire broke out at around 18:00 in the Hollywood Hills, a residential neighbourhood overlooking the historic Hollywood area of the city. It currently covers around 50 acres and is 0% contained. A mandatory evacuation order is in place. Many Hollywood stars including Ben Affleck, Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, Eugene Levy, Miles Teller Leighton Meester, Anna Faris, Billy Crystal, and many more have been forced to evacuate their mansions which have been destroyed by the fire. Friday, January 10, 2025 - The Nairobi County Government has banned hawking in eight streets as part of its efforts to decongest the Central Business District (CBD), which has become overcrowded with hawkers selling various types of merchandise. In a public notice issued on January 6, 2025, and signed by Acting County Secretary Godfrey L. Khamala, the county government said hawking will be allowed only from 4.00 pm in some designated areas and not in the streets. "Nairobi City County Government hereby gives notice to all hawkers in the Central Business District that hawking of merchandise will only be allowed on backstreets and lanes; Monday to Saturday from 4 PM to 10 PM. "The designated backstreets are within the zone from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road," read the notice. The county listed eight key areas where hawking is now prohibited. These streets include Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road and River Road. Additionally, the notice stressed that all walkways within the CBD are strictly for pedestrians and not trading. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - Paris Hilton is the latest celebrity to lose their home in the Palisades Fire. The heiress' beachfront house in Malibu has been burned down, she confirmed in an emotional social media post. Heartbroken beyond words. Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burned to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience, Hilton, 43, wrote while sharing local news coverage of her area. She reflected on the memories shed had in the house, noting that it was a special place for her two young children. This home was where we built so many precious memories. Its where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London, Hilton continued. While the loss is overwhelming, Im holding onto gratitude that my family is safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires, she said. To all the people who have lost their homes, their memories, and their beloved pets. My heartaches for those still in harms way or mourning greater losses. The devastation is unimaginable. The Malibu house is not Hiltons main residence. The Cooking with Paris star owns multiple properties in the Los Angeles area. The Palisades Fire was first reported Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. PT. By nightfall, the blaze had spread to more than 2,900 acres and torn through the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes as the wildfire continued to wreak havoc across the Pacific Palisades. Several other fires have also started to rage in the region. The flames were fanned by winds that reached over 100 miles per hour in some areas. Hilton was not the only celebrity to be affected by the fire. Mark Hamill, Ben Affleck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eugene Levy and Mandy Moore are among those who have evacuated their homes. Reality TV stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, Oscar nominee James Woods, along with Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, have lost their homes to the fires. Friday, January 10, 2025 Nairobi hawkers have suffered a severe blow after Governor Johnson Sakaja banned hawking in the Central Business District (CBD). In a notice, Sakaja imposed a ban on hawking along walkways within the CBD. Furthermore, hawkers were warned against engaging in business along main streets and roads, which the county government insists are meant for pedestrians and not for trading. Sakaja specifically listed Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road as areas that are off-limits to hawkers. However, it is not all gloom for the traders, as the county government further stated in the notice that hawking would be allowed on designated backstreets and lanes from Monday to Saturday. The designated backstreets are located along the road from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road. "The general public is asked to take note that anyone contravening this notice will be prosecuted under Nairobi City County Government law," the notice read. Notably, the notice serves as the latest effort by the Nairobi County government to mitigate congestion within the Nairobi CBD, according to Governor Sakaja. Previous efforts to relocate traders from the CBD to the Kangundo Road market sparked outrage and public protests. Sakaja has particularly been critical of hawkers who sell their wares on the refurbished walkways that were recently constructed by his county government. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - Migori County United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman, Zachary Obado, has called for unity between President William Rutos party and ODM. Speaking in Uriri in Migori County, Obado said there is no need for hatred between the two political parties since members of the parties currently back President Ruto. Obado cited the recent shifts in political allegiances, including the appointment of former ODM chairman John Mbadi to head the National Treasury despite his previous criticisms of the Ruto administration. He also cited ODM leaders, including Hassan Joho, now serving as Cabinet Secretary for Blue Economy, and Wycliffe Oparanya, the CS for Cooperatives and MSME, as examples of the changing political landscape. The need to work together is paramount. We must champion unity in diversity and support Ruto in delivering his promises to wananchi, Obado stated. He further said that former Prime Minister Raila Odingas decision to back Ruto marked a turning point in the countrys political discourse. Raila saw the light at the end of the tunnel long before many of us, Obado said as he encouraged UDA and ODM supporters to follow in their footsteps. Today, we stand at a central crossing point So I urge UDA and ODM supporters to embrace one another under the broad-based coalition arrangement. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - Renowned Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) blogger Gabriel Oguda and former nominated MP Wilson Sossion are among the 109 candidates shortlisted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) for various Principal Secretary (PS) positions. In a notice on Thursday, PSC shortlisted Oguda and Sossion alongside former Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu and Director General of Health Patrick Amoth. Other notable candidates shortlisted for PS jobs include former Chief Administrative Secretary David Michael Otieno Osiany and former Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Oluga Fredrick Ouma. According to PSC, a total of 2,517 applicants applied for the positions before the commission shortlisted 109 of them. PSC CEO Amb. Anthony Muchiri disclosed that the shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by PSC on dates that will be published on the commission's website. "The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed at the Public Service Commission, off Harambee Avenue Nairobi. The interview schedule showing the date and time will be published on the Commissions website www.publicservice.go.ke," Muchiri stated. At the same time, the PSC CEO invited members of the public to avail any credible information of interest relating to any of the shortlisted candidates through sworn affidavits. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - OpenAI co-founder and CEO, Sam Altman has denied allegations made by his sister in a lawsuit filed this week, which claimed he s3xually abused her for almost a decade. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Missouri, accuses him of sexual assault and sexual battery spanning from 1997 to 2006. His sister, Ann Altman, alleged the s3xual abuse began when she was three years old and her brother was 12 at their family home in suburban St. Louis, Missouri, according to the suit. The alleged abuse included numerous acts of rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, molestation, sodomy, and battery, according to the lawsuit. She also alleged the last instances of abuse occurred when she was a minor and her brother was an adult. Altman, in a joint statement with his mother and brothers, said the claims were false and that his sister had struggled with mental health issues and refuses conventional treatment. All of these claims are utterly untrue. The situation causes immense pain to our entire family, the statement, posted on X Tuesday, said. Sam Altman said Annie continued to demand money from the family despite financial support. Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being, the statement said. Annie receives monthly financial support, which we expect to continue for the rest of her life. Despite this, Annie continues to demand more money from us. In response to the Altman family statement, Ann Altmans lawyer Ryan Mahoney said It is not uncommon for parents and other family members to deny (sexual abuse perpetrated by a sibling). In this case, they are focusing on the wrong sibling. Mahoney told the Wall Street Journal There is no evidence that her own mental health has contributed to her allegations. Ann Altman, who was 30 when the lawsuit was filed, claimed she has experienced PTSD and extreme emotional distress, mental anguish and depression and has incurred medical bills as a result, according to the lawsuit. She is seeking at least $75,000 in damages. Ann Altman had previously alleged abuse on her X account beginning in 2021. The lawsuit says the claims were brought under a Missouri law allowing child sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits up until their 31st birthday. Ann Altmans X profile indicates she turned 31 on Wednesday, two days after the lawsuit was filed. Sam Altman is a 39-year-old venture capitalist and the CEO of OpenAI, which kicked off the artificial intelligence wave with its ChatGPT bot. The Microsoft-backed OpenAI had a $157 billion valuation as of October. Friday, January 10, 2025 - Nyeri County Governor, Mutahi Kahiga, has urged President William Ruto to give Mt Kenya residents time to heal following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The county boss, who has been a vocal defender of Gachagua, said Mt Kenya residents needed more time to heal following Mr Gachaguas removal from office. Kahiga told Ruto that it is too early to send politicians in the region to try and win back support. When they kicked our son (Gachagua) out of the government they celebrated but we were very devastated. "We were in great pain and this is not the right time to send emissaries to try and woo us back. "After the loss we became disoriented and they should give us time to heal. Please leave us alone, Kahiga said. The latest attempt to win back Mt Kenya region was the dramatic entry of former Mungiki leader, Maina Njenga into Nyeri on New Years Eve where he addressed hundreds of youth and urged them to support President William Ruto. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, January 09, 2025 - Pope Francis warned on Thursday, January 9 of the dangers of misinformation and its spread via social media and artificial intelligence (AI), cautioning it could be misused to manipulate minds. In his traditional New Years address to diplomats at the Vatican, Francis talked about the increasing polarisation of society, aggravated by the continuous creation and spread of fake news, which not only distorts facts but also perceptions. This phenomenon generates false images of reality, a climate of suspicion that foments hate, undermines peoples sense of security and compromises civil coexistence and the stability of entire nations, the 88-year-old pontiff said. His comments on Thursday come two days after tech giant Meta which owns Facebook announced it was ending its third-party fact-checking programme in the United States and adopting a crowd-sourced model to police misinformation similar to that of the Elon Musk-owned X. In remarks directed at political leaders, the pope said: In our time, the denial of self-evident truths seems to have gained the upper hand. These tendencies can be amplified by the modern communications media and by artificial intelligence; they can be misused to manipulate minds for economic, political and ideological ends, he added. Francis, who has been head of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, emphasised the need for media literacy education to promote critical thinking. He did not deliver the speech himself, saying he had a cold, but it was read out on his behalf by a senior cleric. In the address, the pope also warned against cancel culture, which tolerates no differences and focuses on individual rights to the detriments of duties towards others, especially the weakest. He cited as particularly worrying attempts to manipulate multilateral documents by changing the meaning of terms or unilaterally reinterpreting the content of human rights treaties in order to advance divisive ideologies. In this regard, it is unacceptable, for example, to speak of an alleged right to abortion that contradicts human rights, particularly the right to life, he said. Francis also cautioned that multilateral institutions risked becoming like-minded clubs that only let in those who think in the same way and as such, said they no longer seem capable of ensuring peace and stability. Friday, January 10, 2025 Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas ODM will support President William Rutos re-election bid come 2027. This was revealed by Kisumu County Senator Tom Ojienda who claimed the 2027 game plan has already been sealed between Ruto and Raila. Ruto is expected to defend his seat in 2027 and eyes will be on Raila to see who he will back or whether he will be on the ballot again. Currently, Ruto is working with ODM after forming a broad-based government, sparking speculation that the opposition and ruling party might form an alliance in the next election According to Ojienda, this is a possibility. ODM will support President Ruto for a second term, and I will tell you this: Senator Sifuna will be advised by the party leadership. I am sure that on February 28, this year, Raila Odinga will become the CEO of the African Union Commission, and he will move to Addis Ababa, and I will remain here with Senator Sifuna, and he will be advised that the way we go in 2027 is to support William Ruto, Ojienda said during an interview. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has accused President William Ruto's government of jeopardizing children's future through the implementation of the competency-based curriculum (CBC). Speaking after the release of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, Natembeya faulted the new curriculum, saying it is a disaster in waiting. According to Natembeya, there is a lack of understanding of the system by education stakeholders including parents, teachers, and the Ministry of Education. I do not understand CBC myself. I have asked the teachers and they do not understand. The parents, the ministry and even the president, who has formed a task force, do not understand CBC. We are wasting the future of our children, he stated. Fellow Kenyans, lets have an honest conversation about the CBC system. Are we truly preparing our children for the future, or are we risking it? Its time to reflectour children deserve better. In October 2024, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma proposed the return of the 8-4-4 education system in Kenya to replace the newly introduced competency-based curriculum (CBC). In a statement on October 23, 2024, Kaluma said that the country lacks proper facilities and resources to implement the CBC system. According to Kaluma, learners in the CBC system have not been learning since the system was introduced in 2017. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a competency-based curriculum is a curriculum that emphasizes what learners are expected to do rather than mainly focusing on what they are expected to know. UNESCO had termed the 8-4-4 system as too rigid and with limited opportunities to align basic education with childrens career interests, aptitudes, and abilities. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - The United Kingdom is also demanding answers from President William Rutos administration over the recent spate of abductions. In a statement yesterday, British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan urged Ruto and his government to conduct swift and transparent investigations into the recent disappearances of youthful Kenyans. The Ambassador expressed approval for the release of the five Kenyans who were found alive on January 6 after their mysterious disappearances. However, he maintained that Kenyas decision to address these abductions would demonstrate the country's commitment to upholding fundamental rights. According to the British representative, it would also boost the country's position on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which Kenya leads. We welcome the release of 5 Kenyans on 6 January, following their disappearance. Swift and transparent investigations into reported abductions will demonstrate Kenyas commitment to fundamental rights, Neil Wigan commented. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - The United Kingdom Government has expressed concern over rising cases of abductions of young people in Kenya. For the last six months a total of 67 young Kenyans have been killed and hundreds are missing after they were abducted by state agents according to data from Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC). Reacting to the abductions, UK High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan called for swift and transparent investigations into cases of reported abductions. In a statement on Thursday, Wigan noted that such actions would reinforce Kenyas commitment to protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. "We welcome the release of 5 Kenyans on 6 January, following their disappearance. Swift and transparent investigations into reported abductions will demonstrate Kenyas commitment to fundamental rights, as it takes up its seat on the UN Human Rights Council," he said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, January 10, 2024 - Former ICT Cabinet Secretary Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u has rejected a job offer from President William Ruto. When Nyambura Ndungu, a renowned scholar, was sacked in December 2024 from cabinet, President William Ruto nominated her as Kenya's ambassador to Ghana. Nyambura was scheduled to appear before the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. for her vetting but failed to show up. The former CS had sent a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge informing him of her decision to decline Ruto's offer. In her letter, Nyambura expressed gratitude for the opportunity but cited personal and family obligations as her reasons for turning down the appointment. I would like to give my appreciation for the invitation to appear before the departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on January 10, 2025. Pursuant to section 6(10) of the Public Appointment Parliamentary Approval Act No.3 of 2011, I wish to inform you that I would not appear before the said committee at the time and venue specified for approval hearing," the letter read. "This has been compelled by my personal and family matters, which matters taking into consideration would not allow me to take up the position as the High Commissioner to Ghana as nominated by President William Ruto," the letter added. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, January 10, 2025 - Kapseret Member of Parliament, Oscar Sudi, has criticized young Kenyans on social media who have been calling for President William Ruto's resignation, dismissing the online protests as mere noise. Sudi, who spoke at a roadside rally on Friday while accompanying Ruto, said the Head of State is not resigning as some Kenyans are demanding "You know those social media users criticising the government in Nairobi? They are making noise claiming that Ruto must go; I told them yesterday that even if they jump up, go down, or move sideways, Ruto is not going anywhere. "They are pretending that they are the only ones that should run the country, but that's not it," Sudi said. Sudi's remarks come amid rising concerns over the government's approach to dissent, following reports of abductions and intimidation targeting critics. Notably, cartoonist Gideon Kibet, known for his satirical depictions of the president, was among those abducted by suspected state agents but has since been released. Other government critics who went missing but later resurfaced are Kibet Bull's brother Ronny Kiplagat, Billy Mwangi, Bernard Kavuli, and Peter Muteti. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Eva Osborne The man in his 50s who was arrested in relation to a firearm incident at Connolly Station has been released without charge. Gardai said a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The man was arrested after a suspected firearm was reportedly seen on a train arriving in Dublin on Wednesday evening. Gardai said that shortly after 6:20pm it received a report of a male passenger with a suspected firearm on a commuter rail service arriving into Connolly Station. The person is not alleged to have made any threat towards any passenger on board. A large scale response involving several Armed Response Units was deployed to the Dublin station. Connolly Station was evacuated to ensure full public safety, gardai said, and a security sweep of both the station and the train on which the person was a passenger was conducted. The station reopened at around 7.25pm as there were no ongoing public safety issues, gardai said. Investigations are ongoing. THE Newbridge theatre at Riverbank Arts Centre welcomes play Pucked by Cathal Ryan to its stage on Saturday 1 March. Pucked is a fast-paced, comedic, theatrical, one-man show that tells the story of the young and ambitious hurler Matty Daly. Immersed in the GAA from birth, Matty has one dream and one dream only, to play on his senior team. When Matty finally gets called up, we join him as he learns the hard way, that playing senior isnt everything its cracked up to be. Pucked tackles issues such as self- confidence, individualism, masculinity and ambition with humour and energy, all the while celebrating hurling. Playwright Cathal Ryan said: With Pucked, I dont want to teach anything but Id hope that people coming to the play, particularly young men, might feel that there are thoughts in it that theyd share. Originally produced as part of the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, Pucked received widespread acclaim when it first toured in 2022. Endorsed by the GAA, this is a show for theatre and GAA fans alike. Kicking off its All-Ireland tour at Source Arts Centre in Thurles, the play will embark on a twelve venue tour across Ireland, including Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge. Over 5,000 has been raised by a local company in memory of a Kilkenny man and 'beloved' former colleague who sadly passed away. Ger Doran died this week aged just 31, leaving a heartbroken family behind. In his memory and to support his family financially, Cybermaxx have set up a GoFund Me Page which has garnered huge support by members of the local community so far. "With sorrow and deep sadness CyberMaxx mourns the loss of a beloved colleague, Gerard (Ger) Doran of Kilkenny," a post to the GoFund Me Page read. "Ger was a cherished member of our Ireland Security Operations Team (SOC) team since March 2018 and contributed immensely to the business during his tenure." FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE "Gers warmth, dedication, drive, intelligence, passion and his friendship will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure to work, and more importantly, to know him," the post added. "Ger leaves behind his wife Chloe, who he married in September 2021, and who stood by his side lovingly everyday. The loss of Ger at such a young-age places financial pressures on Chloe for which we are seeking heartfelt donations for the benefit of Chloe as she mourns the loss of her loved husband and best friend." CLICK HERE TO DONATE Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Bird-watching activities bring both ecological, economic benefits to county in Yunnan 16:02, January 10, 2025 By Yang Wenming ( People's Daily The period from October to May of the following year is the perfect time for bird watching in Yingjiang county, Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province, as the rainfall decreases and the dry season approaches. At this time, Xu Xiaolong, a villager from Shiti village in Taiping township of Yingjiang county, would get his homestay ready to accommodate the influx of tourists, which is almost fully booked every day during this peak season. A hornbill flies in the Tongbiguan provincial-level nature reserve in Yingjiang county, Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Jialin) With a forest coverage rate of over 90 percent, Shiti village is home to over 450 bird species, accounting for more than 1/3 of those found across China. It boasts a large number of bird species under national-level protection such as the grey peacock-pheasant, collared falconet, and bay-headed bee-eater. Additionally, three species of hornbills, including the malabar pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, and great hornbill, have stable breeding grounds in Shiti village, making it known as the "hornbill valley of China." Leveraging the abundant bird resources, Yingjiang county has vigorously developed the bird-watching industry. By coordinating bird-watching activities with ecological conservation efforts, a new path for development has been paved. In the past, Shiti village was home to over 300 residents. However, as the village was rarely visited by tourists due to its poor transportation, these residents lacked the expertise in tourism services. In 2015, the government of Yingjiang county initiated a campaign to promote bird-watching activities, and local bird-watching enthusiasts also established a bird-watching association of Yingjiang county, which not only bolstered bird conservation efforts but also facilitated the development and utilization of bird-watching resources in the area. Additionally, significant improvements were made to local infrastructure, and financial incentives were provided to villagers who transformed their residential properties into homestays. In a couple of years, the "hornbill valley of China" began to gain reputation. Currently, there are over 30 bird-watching spots in Shiti village, with more than 50 bird guides who can proficiently identify over 100 bird species. The village provides a number of services for bird enthusiasts from accommodation to tour guide, and to transportation. The per capita disposable income in Shiti village surged from less than 2,000 yuan ($273) in 2015 to 12,800 yuan in 2023, thanks to the booming bird-watching industry. This not only lifted residents out of poverty but also effectively protected the local mountains and forests, fostering harmonious coexistence between bird-watchers and birds. Photo shows an aerial view of Shiti village. (Photo/Zheng Shanhe) Today, protecting birds, forests and the ecology has been incorporated into village regulations and become a consensus among villagers. Even children in the village are aware of the importance of protecting birds. Developing a bird-watching industry presents significant challenges, with the creation of bird-watching sites being one of the toughest. A successful bird-watching spot requires attracting birds to the area and keeping them there. Building ponds, introducing food sources, and ensuring the right environment can help establish a thriving bird habitat. From a distance, shelters or hides allow visitors to observe and photograph birds without disturbing them. As Xu explained, "Photographers often travel long distances. If they spend three to five days waiting without capturing anything worthwhile, it's hard to maintain a steady stream of visitors." Creating a bird-watching site may seem easy, but Xu has faced his share of obstacles. Choosing the right location, studying migration routes, ensuring adequate water sources, and providing food for the birds are all delicate balances to strike. If the site is too close to people, the birds may avoid it; if it's too far from where people live, it might deter visitors. Underfeeding won't keep the birds around, but overfeeding increases costs and risks altering the birds' natural behavior. Since 2017, the bird-watching association of Yingjiang county has conducted 10 training sessions in Taiping township, teaching local residents to identify common species in the area, and providing practical guidance on bird-watching services. Xu found these sessions invaluable, saying, "I've learned so much." In Shiti Village, bird watching spots are divided into two types. One includes sites where bird watchers can feed the birds, and the other is for watching hornbills where feeding is not allowed. Why is artificial feeding necessary? Tourists watch birds in Shiti village. (Photo/Yin Yipei) "During the dry season when food is scarce, timely and appropriate feeding supplements the food for birds," said Jin Yinde, an official with the Yunnan Tongbiguan provincial-level nature reserve. However, unlike "bird cages," birds in these spots come and go freely without restrictions, and sufficient food and water sources help the survival of bird species. Yingjiang county guides villagers to develop in a differentiated manner and has built 55 spots for watching great hornbills, collared falconets, and grey peacock-pheasants. Birdwatchers are flooding into the village as the number of bird-watching spots expands. The rich bird resources and sound ecological environment are also attracting more and more tourists to the village. This poses challenges to Shiti village - how should it balance protection and development, regulate bird-watching activities and avoid disorderly competition? "Core zones of protected areas must stay closed," Jin told People's Daily. Located near the Tongbiguan provincial-level nature reserve, Shiti village must coordinate bird-watching activities with ecological protection when building bird-watching spots, strictly adhere to ecological red lines, plan bird-watching spots reasonably, set appropriate distances between the spots, and strictly control the density of bird-watching spot distribution. Shiti village has established a specialized cooperative invested by households involved. Under unified management, it distributes profits to its investors. The village has also invited the bird-watching association of Yingjiang county to provide training sessions, guiding villagers to strengthen the management of bird-watching spots, strictly control the daily number of tourists based on environmental carrying capacity, and feed the birds in moderation and at appropriate times, so as to minimize disturbances to the environment. In Yingjiang today, ecological conservation projects such as artificial nests for birds, hornbill conservation, and transnational cooperation on bird protection are continuously advancing. The activities of bird watching and bird protection have formed a virtuous cycle. More and more wild and rare bird species are choosing to settle down in Yingjiang. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) TAP '>' ARROW ABOVE or 'NEXT' FOR NEXT PIC Saint Nicholas Church, Killamery, County Kilkenny The opportunity to acquire a de-consecrated former Church of Ireland building which is now in ruins, just off the Clonmel/Kilkenny Road (N76) at Killamery, has been taken by an unknown buyer. The church, that went to market with a price tag of 25k, has now been listed as sold by the agents. Killamery is a tiny scenic village in Kilkenny which contains many historic treasures. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Saint Nicholas Church was built in 1815 in the grounds and graveyard where Saint Gobhan established a Monastery in AD 632. The shared graveyard contains a fine 9th Century sandstone Celtic High Cross. Saint Nicholas Church ceased to be used for public worship in 1903 and is a protected building. To the north of the Saint Nicholas Church property being offered for sale and contained within the shared boundary wall, is a small stream and beyond is the slightly elevated Roman Catholic cemetery where the High Cross is also located. This cemetery is an active one and the whole area has been very well maintained by local relatives. It is also visited by tourists interested in Irish history and the areas beautiful scenery. Any future purchaser of Saint Nicholas Church will be contractually obliged to grant right of way to all visitors to the graveyard and High Cross. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Radio NZ reports: Labours spokesperson for prevention of family and sexual violence, Ginny Andersen, said the death of two children in the first week of this year is a reminder that New Zealand needs to closely look at frontline services for vulnerable families. Two men are in custody facing murder charges in separate cases the death of a child in Hamilton and another child in Auckland. She said the governments cuts to frontline social services are very concerning, leaving providers struggling and vulnerable families facing the consequences. Frontline service providers warned of the safety risks if that funding was cut, and weve seen more than 330 services ones like Family Start and women support, have those cuts that directly impact upon their service delivery, she said. Last August, Oranga Tamariki discontinued funding to 190 service providers, saying they were underperforming or operating at a surplus. Another 142 providers had their funding reduced. Andersen said the cuts were risking the safety of whanau. This government has seen police step back from family violence, while also at the same time, cutting frontline services, and so were going to see some ramifications from those cuts, and I sincerely hope that its not more fatalities, she said. So in Hamilton a 34 year old man stabs a woman, child and baby and it is the fault of the Government. Likewise the alleged murder of a child in south Auckland is also the fault of the Government, according to Labour. Im not even sure where to start with this disgusting attack. Firstly politicians should be very very careful about linking any homicide or murder to government policy or action unless there is very clear link such as a failure by government agencies or a law change. Secondly if one is going to try and go down the path of blaming the government for homicides, well lets look at the data. From 2009 to 2017 there was an average of 46 homicides a year. From 2018 got 2022 there was an average of 71. So 53% higher than under the previous Government. Even if you remove the victims of the mosque massacre from the data, it is an average of 61 compared to 46. But this is all homicides. How about just stuff involving kids. Well I cant find a data series for child homicides, but the Police do have data back to 2014 for all offences by age. We can assume almost all offences against under five year olds is violence. So what does that data say. From 2014 to 2017, there were 1182 victims aged under five, or 394 a year. From 2017 to 2023, there were 7,248 victims aged under five, or 1,208 a year. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr The University of Missouri-Kansas City pharmacy school program has seen about a 40% decline in enrollment in the past three to four years amid growing concerns about declining pharmacy intern rates and the rise of pharmacy benefit managers in the industry. During the 2023 fiscal year in Missouri, total intern pharmacists decreased 28%, which marks the largest decline since 2016. Nationwide, pharmacy student rates fell by 16.3% in 2022, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. "We are also seeing that (decline) here in the state of Missouri not quite as drastically here locally in Columbia," said Erica Ottis, associate dean of the UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU. "We have quite a large undergraduate population here that we're able to communicate with about the profession on a regular basis, but UMKC as a whole is experiencing that same national downtrend." At a peak in 2018 and 2019, around 14,000 pharmacists graduated nationwide, according to a report from the deans of the UMKC School of Pharmacy and St. Louis College of Pharmacy. However, this is projected to drop to fewer than 8,000 graduates in 2026. Although the schools expected a slight decrease during the pandemic due to the tough nature of being a medical student during COVID-19, the drop has persisted. Some pharmacies are also struggling to maintain their hours and availability and stay afloat with fewer pharmacists available particularly in small towns and minority neighborhoods. Even some corporate pharmacies are limiting hours on the weekends, Ottis said. Now, UMKC's pharmacy program is focusing on developing the pipeline to pharmacy school by offering a pharmacy technician class in a Kansas City-area high school, offering an introductory class at MU for undergraduates and pre-pharmacy clubs. "Our biggest challenge right now, at least from a pharmacy academia perspective, is enrollment," Ottis said. "Solving the workforce problem, that's going to be part of it, making sure we're developing the pipeline." According to The Beacon, Kansas City has lost close to 100 pharmacies over the past decade. Here in mid-Missouri, Whaley's Pharmacy closed its three locations in July 2023 after 80 years of serving Jefferson City and sold to Walgreens. Walgreens itself is in a tough spot. In early December, the Wall Street Journal reported public corporation Walgreens was in talks to sell to a private equity firm as profit margins stagnate. "Reimbursement is very small from insurance companies," said Bill Morrissey, a pharmacist and partner in Kilgore's Medical Pharmacy who runs the North Providence location in Columbia. "In the past, what you had to do was increase your volume to do that, and in a small community, there's a limit on how you can do that. And so the cash flow is tight." The loss of hometown pharmacies doesn't just mean having to move prescriptions and a longer drive it's the loss of more personalized medical care, easy access for questions and basic medical care like flu shots and vaccines. "We're really the most accessible health care professional," Ottis said. "So at a minimum, if a patient gets their prescription every 90 days, they're seeing us four times a year. Or if they're filling prescriptions monthly, they're seeing us 12 times a year. There's not any other health care professional that you can access that easily." Pharmacy benefit managers cause higher prices for consumers and pharmacy closures This trend of rural pharmacy closures is mainly due to the rise of intermediaries called pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. According to a Drug Channels Institute report, the main three PBMs (CVS Health Caremark, Express Scripts and Optimum Rx) control just under 80% of all prescription claims. PBMs can be a conglomerate of a corporation: insurance company, government contractor and pharmacy all in one (namely, CVS in mid-Missouri). Efforts to investigate PBMs by the Federal Trade Commission are underway, and the FTC has already brought action against some companies for allegedly inflating insulin prices. "Name me an industry that the person selling something doesn't have a say in how much it's sold for," Morrissey said. The New York Times reports that PBMs often pay pharmacies at rates that do not cover the costs of buying the drugs. Then, they do not provide enough in insurance reimbursements to ensure profits. For Columbia's Flow's Pharmacy owner Anthony DeSha, the financial loss should be antithetical to how much business is growing but with the prices of drug wholesalers profits are actually worse. "I've had a 67% increase in sales. That's insane. Over ten years. With a 57% decrease in profits," said DeSha. DeSha said he expected his Holt's Summit location, which will be open two years in February, to fill 100 prescriptions a day. The location actually averages three times better in sales than expected, with 300 prescriptions a day and they've yet to take "a single penny of profit in two years." DeSha said a associate who was just elected to the House of Representatives (he did not provide the name) was recently invited to an event at the Express Scripts (a PBM) headquarters in St. Louis. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. "The pharmacy does not determine the price you are paying for the medicine; that little card in your billfold does," Morrissey said. "In a smaller community, because there is a smaller number of individuals who live there, the large number of prescriptions or the top number of prescriptions they can fill in a day is limited. And those insurance companies on those little cards have cut reimbursement significantly." As pharmacists and industry associations raise awareness of the financial impact, there is legislation action being taken against these PBMs. On December 11, Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo). and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent parent companies of a PBM or insurance company from owning a pharmacy company. In January 2024, President Joe Biden's administration brought down direct and indirect remuneration fees (a loophole through Medicare) to prevent retroactive additional fees being brought against pharmacies. "It's really hard to fill a prescription and not know what you're truly getting paid for it until three months or six months later," Morrissey said. "So imagine going to a restaurant, ordering a steak dinner and a potato, and they say, 'Well, we're going to charge you $20 now, but you're going to get a bill in the mail for the rest of it.'" The DIR legislation was finalized in April 2022 and took effect in Jan. 1, 2024, so Kilgore's had time to prepare financially, Morrissey said. However, in the first months of 2024, many pharmacies nationwide had to finish paying the retroactive fees from the last three months of 2023 and were also earning less money. Therefore, some were not able to absorb the change with their already small margins and chose to close their doors. Pharmacy school student numbers are down since pandemic From the 1980s to the late 1990s, there was a similar shortage of pharmacists available. The solution then was to build more pharmacy schools which UMKC did by expanding to Columbia's MU campus in 2005 and to Springfield in 2014 but Ottis said that the "expanded access" approach is not the focus now. Due to the Columbia satellite location, Morrissey said the loss of pharmacists hasn't been "that big of an issue" for the three Kilgore's locations in Columbia and Ashland. Graduates tend to stay in the Columbia area or head back home to their Missouri hometowns, Ottis said. However, more entry-level positions are still proving difficult to fill post-pandemic and Ottis said the turnover rate for introductory jobs like technicians is very high. The turnover rate could be due to pay or the natural development of pharmacy technician to student and intern and finally a fully licensed pharmacist. "Our delivery positions and our pharmacy technician positions, yes, we have struggled and are still struggling immensely to fill those type of positions," Morrissey said. "It's a standing joke with some of our hiring managers. They're like, 'Are you hiring?' 'Yes, always.'" In Missouri, nearly 15% of pharmacists will be 62 years old and eligible for Social Security in 2028, according to the deans' report. This adds another factor to the need to graduate a sufficient number of pharmacists to replace those aging out. Within the schools, efforts to recruit are a priority, but academics and industry associations are also pushing to include pharmacy in ongoing legislation talks to help bolster the number of community pharmacists. "There's been some legislation (House Bills 1925 and 1898) to make school more affordable for health care professionals loan repayment programs or incentives to work in rural areas, and pharmacists haven't been included in those bills," Ottis said. "And so that's another issue that we're trying to work on because making education accessible is something that's very important to us." Within UMKC, fewer than half of graduates are taking the "traditional" community pharmacy route. This aligns with the growing national trend of students not taking the NAPLEX licensure text upon graduation, which grew from 1.9% not sitting for the exam in 2018 to 8.3% in 2023, according to the UMKC and St. Louis College of Pharmacy deans' report. There are plenty of options aside from working in a standard pharmacy in clinics, public health, hospitals, and IT. Therefore, the program is trying to market itself now more than ever, an effort Ottis said it has not had to do much before. Applications to pharmacy school have risen this year from between 15-20% according to Ottis, but at least two years of data are needed to know whether the pharmacist shortage is on the decline. Nationally, one barrier that has been removed recently is the PCAT exam, which is similar to medical school's MCAT entrance exam. The exam is no longer offered nationwide a national trend with other standardized tests for undergraduates no longer being required for some universities but Ottis said admissions standards still remain high. "We can't really prevent the storm from happening," Ottis said. "We know it's going to happen and that it's going to get worse before it gets better, and so we need to continue to focus as a profession on talking about these things ... practice reform, legislative reform around payment models and payments for pharmacists services." This "perfect storm" of PBMs and declining student rates is affecting not just the those in the industry, but plenty of patients and their health too. DeSha says he has heard of elderly people who have just stopped taking their medicine because they aren't able to access pharmacy care. "I know you hear it all the time, but my biggest thing is: [the PBMS are] putting profits over patients," said DeSha. "And I can't tell you how many times we've lost money and I'm just like, 'It's fine, it is what it is, because at the end of the day, I care more about you than I do about making money.'" Weather Alert ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON FRIDAY TO 1 AM CDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois and central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From noon Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && Internationally acclaimed Korean director Bong Joon-ho's new film, "Mickey 17," is set to premiere in South Korea next month, the film's distributor said Friday. The sci-fi fantasy will hit theaters Feb. 28 in Korea, followed by a North American release on March 7, according to Warner Bros. Korea. Starring Robert Pattinson and Steven Yeun, "Mickey 17" is adapted from Edward Ashton's novel "Mickey7," which revolves around a cloned space explorer sent to an ice-covered planet. It marks Bong's first project since the Oscar-winning "Parasite" (2019). Lead actor Pattinson is scheduled to visit South Korea on Jan. 20 for the first time as a movie star to promote his latest film. (Yonhap) BTS' J-Hope is set to embark on his first-ever world tour, starting in Seoul next month, his agency said Friday. BigHit Music said the artist will kick off the tour, titled "Hope on the Stage," with a three-day concert at Seoul's KSPO Dome from Feb. 28 to March 2. The concerts will include live performances of tracks from his special album, "Hope on the Street Vol.1," which was released in March last year. It will mark the first time these songs will be performed onstage. The tour will cover 15 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Mexico City and Taipei. Additionally, the Seoul concerts will be livestreamed for global fans. J-Hope was discharged from mandatory military service in October. (Yonhap) By Lee Gyu-lee J-Hope of BTS will go on his first solo world tour, starting with a concert in Seoul next month. The artist announced the upcoming tour, "Hope On The Stage," through the fan platform Weverse on Friday, sharing the tour's poster showing himself posing against a red backdrop. The tour will kick off with a three-day concert at the KSPO DOME in Songpa District, Seoul, from Feb. 28 to March 2, which will also be streamed live. He will then meet fans worldwide through 31 shows across 15 cities, including Brooklyn, Chicago and Mexico City in North America, as well as Manila, Saitama, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Macao, Taipei and Osaka. This is the first time the artist is going on a world tour as a solo artist in his 12-year music career since debuting with BTS in 2013. The concert title does not only mean 'J-Hope on stage' but also indicates that he will express his hopes, wishes and dreams to the audience in various forms through the stage, the artists agency BigHit Music said in a release. He is expected to stage diverse performances, including the first live showcase of songs from his special album 'HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1', which talks about his roots. Earlier this month, the artist shared a New Year's message on Weverse, saying, "I can feel in nature's flow that 2025 will be an incredibly important year for me. Wishing for a beautiful year for his fans, he said he plans to take a different approach with his act this year. I'm approaching it with plans that are more mature, more suited to me and aimed at everyone's satisfaction. Looking back, 2024 was truly a year of mixed emotions and alternating feelings for me, he said. After being discharged from military service, I experienced overwhelming joy, and while working on various projects, I think I ended the year in solitude, filled with both tension and excitement about 2025 Though each person probably had their different joys and sorrows, I want to take a moment with a warm heart to comfort and bid farewell to 2024. J-Hope took his first steps as a solo artist with the studio album Jack In The Box in July 2022. He released an EP, HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1, in March last year, claiming No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album captured his passion and identity rooted in the street dance genre. For the album, he expanded his role as a creator by personally planning promotions that connect music, a documentary and pop-up events under the albums theme. Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Friday urged continued vigilance despite slight easing of volatility in the country's financial and foreign exchange markets. "Although volatility in the financial and foreign exchange markets has recently shown signs of easing, the situation remains uncertain given both domestic and external risks," Choi said during an economic meeting attended by the Bank of Korea governor and the heads of the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service. He called on all relevant institutions to maintain a high level of alertness and conduct 24-hour monitoring and response efforts, emphasizing the need to manage the economy as stably as possible. Additionally, Choi stressed the importance of accelerating efforts to modernize the capital market, including improving corporate governance. Choi, who also serves as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister, has said he will convene the meeting with top economic officials every week to assess the situation amid the political unrest stemming from President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law and his subsequent impeachment last month. (Yonhap) By Baek Byung-yeul The Australian War Memorial's misrepresenting Chinese clothing as traditional Korean attire is sparking controversy. Despite calls for correction, the display remains in place, professor Seo Kyoung-duk, known for his efforts to rectify misinformation about Korea, said Friday. The memorial, in the Australian capital of Canberra, shows clothes worn by children during the 1950-1953 Korean War in front of Korea's national flag, the Taeguekgi, introducing the Chinese-style clothing as "traditional Korean children's clothing," the Sungshin Women's University professor said. Seo explained he first received reports about the misrepresentation in 2024 and subsequently requested a correction to the memorial. However, the display remains unchanged. "Last year, I received numerous reports (about the issue) and immediately lodged a protest with the memorial," he said on Instagram. "Korean Australian communities also joined the protest, but the situation has not been rectified." Due to the continued lack of action, the professor sent another letter of complaint to the memorial early this month. "Because this is the most important national memorial in Australia and a place visited by many international tourists, such errors cannot be left unattended," Seo said. Seo, who has been promoting accurate representation of "hanbok," Korean traditional dress for many years, explained to the memorial why the displayed clothing is not Korean. He pointed out the differences in tailoring, color schemes and embroidery styles. "In this latest letter of protest, I explained that the clothing currently on display, including the cut of the collar and sleeves, the color combinations and the embroidery, is of Chinese design, not Korean," Seo said. He further noted that hanbok is the true traditional Korean dress, adding, "At a time when China continues to make unfounded claims that hanbok originated from its own culture, it is crucial to correct misinformation around the world and promote Korean hanbok culture more widely." Seo has been a voice in addressing misinformation about Korea. In November, he advocated for barring the Korean service of a Chinese game after its developer claimed hanbok was Chinese clothing. He is also involved in raising awareness about Korean independence activists who fought for Korea's freedom during the 1910-1945 Japanese colonial period, working with actor Song Hye-kyo. North Korea has included Russian in the description of its new postal stamps set to be issued in the new year, the website of its stamp agency showed Friday, reflecting the country's growing alignment with Russia. A stamp release notice uploaded on the Korea Stamp Corp.'s website included images and descriptions of four postal stamps scheduled for issuance on Jan. 20 in four languages -- Korean, English, Chinese and Russian -- along with an order form. It is believed to be the first time that North Korea's stamp release notice has included Russian. The Russian language was not even included in the notice for the North's stamp issuance celebrating the special year of friendship between Pyongyang and Moscow in 2015. The new development is widely seen as reflecting accelerating cooperation between the two countries following their leaders' signing of a mutual defense treaty in June. Since forging the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty, the North has deployed thousands of troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine and has strengthened cooperation in military, economic and other fronts. In addition, stamp albums, published by North Korea last month on the themes of the country's friendship with China and Russia, were assigned with the code "Ba79" for the Russian version and "Ba80" for the Chinese version, placing the Russian album ahead of the Chinese one. The phenomenon has sparked speculation that North Korea may now prioritize its relationship with Russia over its ties with China, the North's traditional ally and main economic benefactor. (Yonhap) Ri Son-gwon, director of North Korea's abolished United Front Department (UFD) in charge of affairs with South Korea, appears to have retained his political status even after the department's purported dissolution, according to state media on Friday. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Ri attended a banquet held the previous day for a visiting art troupe of Korean schoolchildren from Japan and gave a speech, referring to his official title as department director of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)'s Central Committee. The report confirms Ri's retention of directorial status, refuting speculation that he may have been demoted after the UFD was reportedly abolished as part of North Korea's policy shift on the South. The latest report indicates that he may be heading one of the specialized departments under the WPK, apart from the abolished organization. North Korea is presumed to have disbanded all of its roughly 10 official organizations responsible for addressing inter-Korean issues, following leader Kim Jong-un's 2023 order to codify South Korea as its primary foe. As part of the organizational revamp, the UFD was reported to have been downgraded in status and renamed "Bureau 10" of the party's Central Committee. Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson of South Korea's unification ministry, said in a briefing that despite the renaming, the entity retains its department status within the party, with its head, Ri, also maintaining his directorial position. Ri has had a prominent role in North Korea's officialdom, having served as a member of the party's powerful politburo and as foreign minister from 2020-2022. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyun-bin The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) hosted the 12th ASEAN Connectivity Forum, a two-day event that began Tuesday in Seoul, offering a platform to review the achievements of the past 15 years and discuss the future of the ASEAN-Korea partnership. ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Established in 2013, the forum is the only event in Korea dedicated to ASEAN connectivity. It marked its 12th anniversary this year as the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 also approaches its conclusion. The MPAC 2025 was initiated in 2010 to integrate the ASEAN economic community into a single market and production base. Its five strategic focus areas included sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence and people mobility. As we mark the 12th anniversary of this forum, it served as a platform to discuss challenges and lessons from past projects and explore ways to enhance ASEAN-Korea cooperation in connectivity initiatives, AKC Secretary General Kim Jae-shin said. The two-day forum featured thematic sessions, a strategy planning session and high-level discussions. Day 1 on Thursday included three sessions focusing on physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity. The first session addressed physical connectivity, including transportation and internet infrastructure as well as energy connectivity, and was moderated by Lee Jae-hyon, principal fellow and director of the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. The second session covered institutional connectivity, including ASEAN economic integration, data connectivity, the establishment of data centers and regulatory frameworks, moderated by Win Min Phyoe, head of the investment and trade unit at the AKC. The third session focused on people-to-people connectivity, addressing labor mobility and case studies of ASEAN-Korea labor mobility cooperation in both public and private sectors, moderated by Christina Chan, head of the culture and tourism unit at the AKC. Day 2 commenced with an opening ceremony, including remarks by Kim Jae-shin, secretary general of the AKC; Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Tanee Sangrat, ambassador of Thailand to Korea and ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations coordinator. The days highlight was the strategy planning session moderated by Suh Jeong-in, former Korean ambassador to ASEAN and member of the board of directors at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Panelists included Intan Ramli, senior policy fellow at ERIA; Raymond Yee, vice president for Customs & Regulatory Affairs at DHL Express; Bingxun Seng, partner and ASEAN economic advisory leader at EY Corporate Advisors; and Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso, eminent person of the Philippines to the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The session evaluated 15 years of ASEAN connectivity projects and outlined the direction for post-MPAC 2025 initiatives, emphasizing the potential for a strengthened ASEAN-Korea partnership. w The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan will hold talks early next week on bilateral relations and other shared issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday, The talks between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will take place in Seoul on Monday, the ministry said in a message to reporters, without providing further details. The upcoming talks come as South Korea is working to reassure foreign partners that it remains capable and committed to diplomatic engagement despite the political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched attempt to impose martial law and his subsequent impeachment. It will mark the first one-on-one meeting between Cho and Iwaya, aside from their talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru last November. The leadership vacuum in South Korea has raised concerns that it could weaken policy coordination with the United States, Japan and other key partners amid growing military threats from North Korea and its deepening ties with Russia. Japan, along with the United States, has expressed confidence in South Korea and its democratic process. Monday's talks are expected to center on discussions on efforts to continue the positive momentum for the bilateral relations that have significantly improved since Yoon came into office. In March last year, Yoon announced a decision that South Korea will compensate its victims of Japan's wartime forced labor without contributions from responsible Japanese companies. His decision has led to the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy," or regular visits by the two countries' leaders, and various exchanges at both the government and private sector levels. Also high on the agenda will likely be arrangements for celebrating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations this year. The two sides are also expected to discuss efforts to facilitate a planned trilateral summit involving China, with Japan hosting the three-way meeting this year. (Yonhap) The head of the American business chamber in Korea on Friday highlighted the country's resilience in dealing with ongoing political chaos triggered by a botched martial law order last month. In his meeting with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, James Kim, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), said the chamber has "engaged with our ecosystem and foreign media to highlight the long-term stability and strength of the Korean economy." Kim added, "We believe in Korea's resilience." He said the AMCHAM plans to send a delegation to Washington in the coming weeks to emphasize the importance of further deepening bilateral industrial collaboration in key sectors. "We will highlight the economic contributions of record-breaking Korean investments in the U.S. and how bilateral trade dynamics reflect this partnership," Kim said. The chairman also stressed the need for the Korean government to showcase its commitment to deregulation and economic stimulus measures to address concerns over potential U.S. tariff increases under the second Donald Trump administration. (Yonhap) By Lee Hyo-jin As U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20 approaches, all eyes are on which Korean figures will attend the event amid the ongoing political turmoil at home. With the fallout from President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle and subsequent impeachment still unfolding, the presence of Korean attendees at Trumps inauguration is seen as a crucial opportunity to strengthen communication with the incoming U.S. administration. According to political parties, Friday, seven lawmakers from the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee four from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and three from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are expected to attend the event. From the PPP, Reps. Kim Seok-ki, Ihn Yo-han, Yoon Sang-hyun and Kim Gi-hyeon will make the trip, while DPK Reps. Hong Kee-won, Kim Young-bae and Cho Jeong-sik will also attend. The lawmakers are scheduled to travel to the U.S. on Jan. 18 and 20 for the inauguration ceremony and meetings with officials in Washington. Some other ruling party members have been invited due to personal relationships with Trump's aides. Rep. Na Kyung-won, who previously chaired the foreign affairs committee, has received an invitation to the ceremony. She has close connections with Senator Bill Hagerty and former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton. Rep. Kim Dai-sik of the PPP also received an invitation from Senator John Cornyn, according to Kim's office, and is set to meet with Senators Cornyn and Ted Cruz during his visit to Washington. Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, a former PPP member and seasoned politician, has also been invited, according to Daegu Metropolitan City. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to officially confirm details of the government delegation for Trump's swearing-in ceremony, based on past precedents, Korea's Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong and his spouse are likely to attend. Several figures from the business sector will also attend. This includes Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, SM Group Chairman Woo Oh-hyun, SPC Group Chairman Hur Young-in and Poongsan Group Chairman Ryu Jin, who is also head of the Federation of Korean Industries. Trump's second inauguration has drawn heightened attention from allies, as he has broken a long-standing tradition of limiting the presidential swearing-in ceremony to domestic dignitaries by inviting world leaders. Among the foreign leaders reportedly invited are El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei. Notably, Trump extended an invitation to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, an unusual gesture toward a communist leader from an American president-elect. However, recent reports suggest that Xi is unlikely to attend and may instead send a government delegation. A Chinese tourist has been apprehended for illegally filming Jeju International Airport on the southern Jeju Island, classified as a top-level national security facility, with a drone, police said Friday. The Jeju Provincial Police Agency said it was investigating the Chinese national, whose identity was withheld, on charges of violating the Aviation Safety Act. The suspect is accused of flying an unauthorized drone about 2 kilometers from the Jeju airport's runway on the afternoon of Dec. 31, 2024, and filming the airport. The police, together with the National Intelligence Service and the airport authorities, are reportedly questioning the Chinese national about suspicions related to terrorism or espionage. Drone flight is banned within a 9.3-kilometer radius of Jeju International Airport for national security purposes. In a separate incident last year, an object suspected to be a drone was spotted over the Jeju airport, leading to the suspension of flights and causing inconvenience to airport users. (Yonhap) Tension high in Hannam-dong over warrant to detain Yoon By Jung Da-hyun An accessory shop near the presidential residence in central Seoul's Hannam-dong saw a significant decline in visitors, particularly foreign tourists, amid ongoing protests both in support of and against impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law. "Noise is a major issue, with protesters shouting and chanting loudly, Park Yeon-chan, the stores manager, said. "Our shop typically attracts many foreign visitors, but they feel more intimidated as this is often their first time witnessing such rallies." Hannam-dong, once a popular destination for young people and foreign tourists with its stylish showrooms, shops and cafes, has turned into a battleground following the issuance of a detention warrant for Yoon on Dec. 31, 2024. Demonstrations by both supporters and opponents of Yoon's detention have transformed the area into a scene of constant tension. The Seoul Western District Court recently approved an extension of the warrant requested by investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) after their failed attempt to execute the warrant on Jan. 3. With the rallies expected to continue, local merchants, like Park, are bracing for prolonged disruptions to their businesses. A dessert shop across from the protest sites has identified noise as its biggest challenge. "Loud sounds from microphones create not only noise but a disruptive and chaotic atmosphere," said an employee of the shop, who requested anonymity. He noted that foreign visitors, often unable to understand what the protesters are saying, frequently inquire about safety. "They ask us if its safe and whether its okay to walk around the area," he said. "While staff members understand the protests are unlikely to escalate into violence, they sometimes feel unsafe as we witness participants fight in the streets." The rallies also make it difficult for people to talk to each other inside the shop. "The noise makes it difficult for staff and customers to converse. We often have to ask people to repeat themselves or raise our voices to be heard," the employee explained. Additionally, roadblocks set up to manage the rallies have created commuting challenges for both customers and staff. "Some employees couldnt catch their buses because of road closures caused by the rallies," he said. "Weve had to walk to other subway stations, which takes more time." The chaotic atmosphere around Hangangjin Station on Seoul Metro Line 6, the nearest subway station to the presidential residence, has further deterred visitors. On Wednesday afternoon, numerous protesters in the area were carrying placards both supporting and opposing Yoon, while police were stationed at the site to manage the crowds and ensure public safety. As a result of the ongoing rallies, the dessert shop has seen its sales drop by one-third, reflecting the broader impact on businesses in the area. A staff member at a nearby clothing store said the number of visitors has dropped by about 10 percent since the rallies began. "Even regular customers are hesitant to come by. Theyve been calling the store to say theyll visit later because of the ongoing protests in the area," the employee said. "I understand the freedom of assembly and demonstration, but its hurting small businesses." Trash has become another growing problem. Streets and alleys near the protest sites are often littered with garbage and placards, leaving the area messy. Data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government shows that daily garbage collection in Yongsan District reached an average of 601 tons, rising from 593 tons. In response, the city government said Thursday that it will deploy 334 cleaning personnel and 58 pieces of cleaning equipment to the district. It also plans to provide financial support to the district for waste disposal expenses. Galleries near the protest sites in Hannam-dong have reported disruptions, with some visitors being harshly questioned by protesters about their destinations. One gallery has faced cancellations of exhibitions amid the chaotic atmosphere, and inquiries about access to the area have become frequent. Another gallery expressed concerns for an upcoming exhibition. "Were in the middle of preparing an exhibition, which includes installation and eventual dismantling," a staff member of the gallery surnamed Jang said. She was concerned about the ongoing road closures, which have hindered the movement of large trucks necessary for the preparation process. "We cannot confidently assure visitors that the exhibition will proceed as planned," she said. The rallies have also impacted a nearby school. Hannam Elementary School, located adjacent to one of the rally sites, canceled its after-school program on Jan. 6 due to safety concerns. The school also postponed pre-enrollment events originally scheduled for Jan. 6 and 7. The rallies are expected to persist in the coming days as the CIO is set to make a second attempt to detain Yoon. Police on Friday convened a meeting of field commanders ahead of a second attempt at detaining impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched imposition of martial law. The National Office of Investigation (NOI) ordered the leaders of the police investigation teams of Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and other jurisdictions in the capital area to gather at the NOI headquarters to discuss planning for the second detention attempt. Investigators are believed to be preparing to execute a court-issued warrant to detain Yoon on insurrection and abuse of power charges. Their first attempt to execute the warrant last Friday failed after Yoon's bodyguards blocked them from entering the official presidential residence in Seoul. On Thursday, the NOI sent an official note to investigation teams across the capital area requesting they prepare to mobilize around 1,000 investigators for the second attempt. (Yonhap) By KTimes A message allegedly sent by a staff member of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) was revealed on a radio program as another attempt at detaining President Yoon Suk Yeol draws near. MBC Radios "Kim Jong-baes Focus" on Friday shared the message from a source who said they know a PSS employee. Host and commentator Kim Jong-bae said, I received a message from someone whose identity cannot be disclosed, saying his acquaintance, a PSS employee, expressed their distress over the current situation. The message, from a PSS staff member referred to as "A," began with, Im currently on duty. Its cold, and I feel anxious. A continued, The special police forces might come, and I hope they handle this properly. The message described the atmosphere among the staff, saying, Most of us are here reluctantly, following orders. Were just standing by because we cant simply open the doors. Only the leadership and the (former Defense Minister) Kim Yong-hyun and (first lady) Kim Keon Hee faction remain intact, while regular staff are deeply unsettled. The message also conveyed frustrations about the leadership. The leadership seems desperate because they know theyll fall if everything collapses," it said. "Given the nature of the PSS, most staff members are reluctantly enduring, fearing theyll be branded as cowards if they dont cooperate. A concluded by expressing hope for a resolution. I just want this situation to end soon. The pride and honor we had in the PSS have been destroyed over the past two years. Once this is over, I hope the root causes are eradicated, and the PSS can be rebuilt. Kim Jong-bae noted the significant emotional and professional toll on PSS staff. These employees are not at fault, yet they suffer not only mentally but also face risks of prosecution if they are forced to obstruct the arrest warrant and are charged with obstructing official duties. This could cost them their honor, pensions, and jobs, he said. Reports indicate that morale within the PSS is declining. On a CBS radio program the previous day, Rep. Youn Kun-young of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said, Theres a complete disconnect between the upper leadership and the younger security officers. Many of the younger staff are visibly frustrated by the actions of certain senior officials. He added, In private, some even say things like, Are those people insane? reflecting the growing discontent internally. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. News / National by Staff reporter Four Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials have been arrested for allegedly demanding and receiving bribes in connection with an anti-smuggling operation.The accused - Maguta Jonathan, Mitwira Obert, Homera Simon, and Gwatirinda Paul - are revenue officers facing charges of extortion or, alternatively, criminal abuse of duty as public officers.The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) arrested the quartet after they reportedly demanded a US$6,000 bribe from Beatrice Maramwidze, the director of Best Express Logistics, to facilitate the release of a bus impounded during a clampdown on smuggling.According to ZACC, the transport company had already paid ZWG55,000 in excess duty for the seized bus. Despite this, the officials allegedly insisted on the bribe to clear the vehicle. Maramwidze reported the matter to ZACC, prompting an investigation.The officials were apprehended after accepting a US$1,500 bribe while traveling in a ZIMRA-branded vehicle. A subsequent search uncovered an additional US$3,951, believed to be part of the extorted funds.The suspects are currently detained at Avondale Police Station and are expected to appear before the Harare Magistrates' Court on January 11, 2025, to face the charges.In a statement, ZACC urged members of the public and the business community to report any instances of corruption. We remain committed to fighting corruption and ensuring that public officers are held accountable for their actions, the commission said.The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by ZACC to curb corruption within public institutions and reinforce accountability among civil servants. By Lee Hyo-jin Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is facing criticism for supporting a controversial civic group calling itself the "anti-communist youth group," which pledges to stop investigators from detaining President Yoon Suk Yeol. Opposition lawmakers said Friday that they are considering submitting a motion to expel the conservative lawmaker. The PPP leadership called Kim's actions "inappropriate" but were not severe enough to issue a formal penalty. Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday alongside the "anti-communist youth group," a civic organization made up of members in their 20s and 30s. Though not officially launched, the group has been staging protests near Yoon's residence to protect him from being detained as investigators prepare to execute a warrant related to his botched martial law imposition on Dec. 3. Kim Jeong-hyeon, the group's leader, expressed concerns over the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Yoon, warning that such actions could threaten the nations constitutional order and deepen national divisions. "We issue a stern warning against the unreasonable attempts to arrest the president," he said. He added that the group has a sub-unit called "Baekgoldan," which would function as a "vigilante group" offering surveillance and protection for the embattled president. The press conference immediately sparked controversy, as Baekgoldan, literally translating to "White Skull Squad," refers to a notorious combat police unit infamous for suppressing pro-democracy activists during the 1980s and the '90s. These police officers were known for wearing white helmets and jean jackets to blend in among the demonstrators. Similarly, members of the "anti-communist youth group" wore white helmets during Thursday's press conference and at previous rallies near Yoon's residence. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) accused Rep. Kim of trying to bring back "gangsters" into the political arena, while the minor Reform Party also criticized her for stirring political instability. Kim issued an apology on Thursday evening, stating that she would retract the press conference. "I apologize for not properly understanding wider views of President Yoon's young supporters and for failing to gather accurate information about the participants before arranging the press conference," she wrote on Facebook. However, her apology failed to quell the backlash. "We are considering introducing a motion to expel Kim for bringing individuals associated with Baekgoldan back into the National Assembly and attempting to repeat the tragic history," Rep. Kim Yong-min of the DPK said in an interview with CBS on Friday. PPP floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong said, "I think it was inappropriate for her to arrange a press conference when the name or the role of the group remained unclear." But Kweon added that since Kim acknowledged her mistake and apologized, her actions do not constitute grounds for formal disciplinary action. Prosecutors on Friday indicted a former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command (DIC) over his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid last month. The prosecution's special investigation team indicted retired Army Maj. Gen. Noh Sang-won with physical detention on insurrection and abuse of authority charges. Noh is accused of discussing martial law operation plans with former and incumbent military intelligence officers at a burger franchise in Ansan, southwest of Seoul, two days before the plans were executed and on Dec. 3, the day of their imposition. He is also suspected of ordering intelligence officers to take over the National Election Commission's headquarters and arrest and confine its employees to prove allegations the watchdog rigged the results of past parliamentary elections. (Yonhap) Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Friday that the government is open to readjusting the country's medical school admissions quota for next year from scratch, urging doctors to resume talks aimed at resolving the prolonged deadlock over medical reform. The remarks raise hope for a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout by thousands of trainee doctors, which has disrupted hospital services across the nation, particularly emergency room operations. The medical community has demanded a reconsideration of the proposed increase in medical school quotas. "If the medical community participates in discussions, we are willing to negotiate the scale of the 2026 medical school quota increase flexibly from a zero base," Choi said during a meeting with ministers on social issues. Earlier, the government announced plans to increase medical school admissions by 1,500 students for 2025, as part of a broader initiative to raise the total by approximately 10,000 over the next five years to address a shortage of doctors. President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose duties have been suspended following his short-lived imposition of martial law in December, had been believed to be firmly sticking to the plan for a 2,000-seat increase annually. Choi said the government will take into account various factors, such as supply and demand, as well as the fact that many medical students were unable to attend classes last year. Choi also instructed the health ministry and other relevant government agencies to actively review measures that would facilitate the return of medical residents and medical students to their duties. (Yonhap) A shaman allegedly involved in the presidential campaign of now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted on charges of taking illegal political funds from a politician who ran for the 2018 local elections, officials said Friday. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office said it indicted Jeon Seong-bae without physical detention on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Jeon, better known as Geonjin, is suspected of receiving about 100 million won ($69,027) in illegal political funds from a candidate during the ruling People Power Party's nomination race for the elections. He is also believed to have played a role in Yoon's presidential campaign prior to the election in March 2022 and has been accused of leveraging his personal connections with the first family to influence business interests. The indictment follows the prosecution's two unsuccessful attempts to secure a court-issued warrant for Jeon's detention. However, prosecutors ultimately decided to indict him without physical detention and will not seek another arrest warrant, as the seven-year statute of limitations for violations of the Political Funds Act was nearing expiration, according to sources familiar with the investigation. (Yonhap) A parliamentary judiciary subcommittee on Friday passed a new opposition-led bill mandating a special counsel probe into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. Opposition parties unilaterally passed the bill during a subcommittee meeting of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee. Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote in protest of the bill. The new version proposes that the Supreme Court's chief justice recommend a special counsel to look into Yoon's insurrection charges in an apparent effort to secure more defection votes from the PPP. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) also excludes a clause that allows opposition parties to request a new recommendation in the event the proposed candidate is deemed unfit. Instead, the revised bill expands the scope of the investigation to include fresh allegations of "treason" committed by Yoon against his own country. The DPK claims Yoon attempted to provoke military attacks from North Korea to justify his plans for martial law declaration. "It is difficult to say that the overall arrangement, plan and implementation process of the insurrection have been fully revealed," DPK Rep. Park Beom-kye, the subcommittee chair, said. Park stressed that the special counsel should investigate the insurrection more broadly than previously investigated by the prosecution, police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. To address concerns about the potential leakage of military information, searches and seizures will be allowed but details will be prohibited from being disclosed during press briefings. The number of prosecutors and investigators dispatched will also be reduced from 205 to 155, and the investigation period has been shortened from 170 days to 150 days. The previous bill, which proposed special counsel recommendations from the DPK and the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, was scrapped Wednesday after being voted down by just two votes. When the new bill passes the plenary session of the legislation and judiciary committee Monday, it is expected to advance to a full floor vote next week. (Yonhap) By Lee Min-hyung Hyundai Motor Group has formed an artificial intelligence (AI) partnership with Nvidia to integrate the software and fabless company's AI technologies into the carmaker's key mobility value chain, both companies announced Friday at this years CES tech fair in Las Vegas. Under the alliance, Hyundai Motor will adopt Nvidias AI solutions in areas such as software-defined vehicles (SDVs), robotics and smart manufacturing. For instance, the carmaker plans to utilize Nvidias Omniverse digital twin technology to simulate a virtual representation before building new manufacturing facilities. The technology is expected to enhance production efficiency and improve the quality of end products in the era of smart factories, according to the carmaker. Hyundai Motor Group is also set to take advantage of the AI chipmakers Isaac robot development platform to develop more sophisticated AI robots. The vision reflects the carmakers will to turn its robotics business into its next major revenue generator after acquiring Boston Dynamics in 2021. In addition, the Korean mobility solutions provider will strengthen its partnership with Nvidia to leverage the tech company's AI expertise in key mobility growth areas, including SDVs and autonomous driving. The carmaker is fully committed to equipping its vehicle lineup with advanced software systems to lead the smart mobility era. The carmaker said Nvidias accelerated computing and AI enterprise software will help the group manage the massive amounts of data required to safely develop and train AI models for various mobility applications. Hyundai Motor Group is exploring innovative approaches with AI technologies in various fields, such as robotics, autonomous driving and smart factory, Kim Heung-soo, executive vice president and head of the global strategy office at the group, said. The partnership will accelerate our progress and help position the group as a frontrunner in driving AI-empowered mobility innovation. Nvidia also spoke highly of the tech alliance with the carmaker, underscoring the importance of AI for safer mobility. Accelerated computing, generative AI and Omniverse are unlocking a new era of mobility, Rishi Dhall, vice president of automotive at Nvidia, said. This partnership will drive the creation of safer, more intelligent vehicles, supercharge manufacturing with greater efficiency and quality, and deploy cutting-edge robotics to help build a smarter, more connected digital workplace. The latest announcement came a day after Hyundai Motor Group revealed its 24.3 trillion won ($16.67 billion) investment plan for 2025 in Korea. The carmaker plans to allocate a significant portion of the investment to autonomous driving, software, and AI, all of which are identified as the groups next core growth areas. Intensifying political dispute feared to discourage investments in Korea By Park Jae-hyuk The government, lawmakers and municipalities have continued reaching out to foreign businesspeople in Korea to reassure them of the resilience of the Korean economy after political chaos intensified following President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law on Dec. 3. Although government officials had regularly met with foreign business communities here even before the martial law fiasco, it is unusual for top policymakers to hold a series of meetings in such a short period of time. On Friday, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, had respective meetings with the chairman and members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), which has continuously emphasized its trust in the long-term stability and strength of the Korean economy. "The people of Korea, the National Assembly, and the business community are all united in their efforts to overcome the current challenges," Woo said. "I would greatly appreciate AMCHAM's support in sharing this determination with the United States and the international community." The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which hosted AMCHAM's meeting on Dec. 16 with the party's leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, will organize another meeting on Jan. 13 between Rep. Park Chan-dae, the party's floor leader, and the largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea. Acting President Choi Sang-mok held luncheons with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Wednesday and with the chambers of commerce from major European countries on Thursday. "For foreign companies' investments in Korea and their economic activities to remain stable in any circumstances, the government will continue systematic policy responses as usual," he said. Before Choi started assuming the role as an acting president late last year, he had a roundtable meeting with representatives of foreign chambers of commerce in Korea in the capacity of the finance minister on Dec. 6, along with Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who had another meeting with foreign businesspeople on Dec. 19. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with the Seoul Japan Club on Dec. 24 and AMCHAM on Dec. 26 in his capacity as acting president, although his suspension from duties on Dec. 27 interrupted his plans to continue meetings with other foreign chambers of commerce. In the capacity of a prime minister, Han also attended an end-of-year event co-hosted by the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Dec. 11, three days before the National Assembly's passage of a motion to impeach Yoon. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo had a breakfast meeting with the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) that day. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo, who met with AMCHAM the same day, participated in the New Year's kick-off reception hosted by the Korea Foreign Company Association on Wednesday and asked for expanded investments in Korea. Among the heads of municipalities, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon invited AMCHAM to an emergency economy meeting on Dec. 10 and hosted another meeting on Dec. 13 with foreign chambers and investment banks. Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon paid visits to the headquarters of AMCHAM and ECCK on Wednesday. He also visited ON Semiconductor's plant in Bucheon the following day to encourage the U.S. semiconductor supplier to increase its investments in Korea, so as to display belief in the country's resilience. Mended ties with Westinghouse boosts prospects for final deal By Park Jae-hyuk Korea appears to have taken a step closer to signing a deal worth 400 billion Czech korunas ($16 billion) in March to build nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, as Westinghouse Electric is expected to end its two years of dispute with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) over the U.S. firm's intellectual property rights. According to industry officials on Friday, Westinghouse is likely to stop complaining about the Czech government's selection of KHNP as a preferred bidder to build nuclear reactors in Dukovany. This follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the governments of Korea and the United States in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time), regarding principles concerning nuclear technology exports and cooperation. "The latest agreement is based on confidence in each other as comprehensive strategic partners, so it is expected to contribute to promoting reciprocal cooperation between the two countries in the global market," the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a press release, signaling that the companies of both countries will also restore their relations. The Czech government welcomed the stronger ties between Korea and the U.S. in the nuclear energy industry. "We view this step positively, especially with regard to the Czech project for new nuclear sources in Dukovany," Czech Industry Minister Lukas Vlcek wrote on X. Westinghouse also announced on Thursday (local time) that CEO Patrick Fragman will step down at the end of March, after more than five years in the role. The outgoing CEO is the one who led the company's lawsuit against the Korean government-owned nuclear power plant operator. Westinghouse claimed its technology is used in the nuclear plant type that KHNP is planning to export, and the Korean company does not have the right to use the technology without its consent. The French national previously worked in various energy-focused roles within the government of his country, home to EDF, another bidder for the Czech nuclear project, which filed a complaint last year against the selection of KHNP as the preferred bidder for the project. In November, the Czech antitrust watchdog denied both complaints from EDF and Westinghouse over the selection process. "The proceedings on the proposals of both companies were mostly terminated, while other parts of the proposals were rejected," the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition said at that time. Buoyed by the favorable news reports, the prices of stocks related to the nuclear energy industry soared during Friday's trading session. The share price of Doosan Enerbility, which belongs to the KHNP-led consortium for the Czech nuclear project, closed at 20,000 won, up 6.21 percent from the previous session. The nuclear energy industry also remained optimistic about Korea's success in its first nuclear reactor export in 15 years. "I hope for success in signing the final agreement for the Czech nuclear project this year and for increased nuclear reactor exports," Hwang Joo-ho, CEO of KHNP and chairman of the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, said during a New Year gathering of nuclear industry insiders on Friday. LCC faces leadership reshuffle before integration with Jin Air By Lee Min-hyung Korean Air is expected to reject calls to separate Air Busan ahead of its planned integration with Jin Air, despite strong opposition from the nation's southern port city, as the regional airline is on track to stabilize its earnings, according to industry officials on Friday. The national flag carrier is in the process of merging three low-cost carriers (LCCs) Jin Air, Air Seoul and Air Busan after completing its long-awaited acquisition of Asiana Airlines in December. However, the plan faces strong opposition from the city of Busan and regional companies holding a stake in Air Busan. According to a regulatory filing, Asiana is the largest shareholder of Air Busan, with a 41.89 percent stake in the regional LCC as of the end of 2024. The city government and local firms there also hold a 16 percent stake combined in Air Busan. This is not the case for Jin Air and Air Seoul, both of which are fully controlled by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, holding a 100 percent stake in each LCC, respectively. The Busan city government and local companies are urging Korean Air to either consider selling Air Busan or relocate the headquarters of the merged LCC to the nations second-largest city. However, Korean Air is unlikely to accept such a demand, as it would not contribute to boosting revenues, especially as Air Busan is on track to stabilize its earnings, according to industry officials. Air Busan achieved a major turnaround in 2023 and is on course to enhance its profitability throughout 2024, so Korean Air has little incentive to hive off Air Busan simply due to opposition from the region, an official from the aviation industry said. Air Busan reported sales of 757.8 billion won ($518.18 million) in the first three quarters combined in 2024, up 18.07 percent from a year earlier. Its net profit also jumped by 30.97 percent to 60.9 billion won during the same period. In 2022, Hanjin Group and Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae said that the converged LCC will be operated under the brand of Jin Air, and the western city of Incheon will be the base for the rebranded LCC. But the city government of Busan reiterated its willingness to keep protesting the move. In an interview early this year, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon displayed a willingness to push Korean Air to relocate the headquarters of the converged LCC to the southern city. However, Korean Air is moving to speed up Jin Airs acquisition of Air Busan. Under the drive, Air Busan plans to hold a temporary shareholders meeting on Thursday for a top management reshuffle. A group of executives from Korean Air will be appointed as new board members for Air Busan, according to Air Busans regulatory filing submitted to the Financial Supervisory Service. A state funeral service for former President Jimmy Carter took place at the Washington National Cathedral in the U.S. capital on Thursday, in a highlight of a solemn send-off process to honor the nation's 39th president who passed away late last month. The pomp-filled event brought together President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump and former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton as they bid their last farewell to Carter who served as America's commander-in-chief from 1977 to 1981 Carter, a 2002 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and statesman noted for his interest in Korean Peninsula peace efforts, died at his home in Georgia's countryside town of Plains at the age of 100 on Dec. 29. Biden declared Thursday as a "national day of mourning." The funeral service kicked off as a team of uniformed officers carried into the high-profile cathedral Carter's casket draped in the U.S. national flag, with all participants standing and watching in a show of their homage to the late president. Biden, Carter's grandsons and friends delivered their last words to Carter, underscoring his legacy in life, including contributions to world peace and humanitarian endeavors, such as his dedication to Habitat for Humanity, a nongovernmental organization meant to build affordable housing. Biden recalled a time decades ago when he endorsed Carter's candidacy for president based on what he called "Carter's enduring attribute character." "Because of that character, I believe, is destiny in our lives and quite frankly, destiny in the life of the nation," he said in an eulogy as he stood behind the podium overlooking Trump and all living former presidents. "It's an accumulation of a million things built on character that leads to a good life in a decent country, life of purpose, life of meaning." He went on to say that his friendship with Carter taught him that the strength of character is "more than the title or the power we hold." "It's the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, that everyone deserves an even shot, not a guarantee," he said. "We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor and to stand up (against) what my dad just said is the greatest sin of all -- the abuse of power." Biden paid his tribute to Carter's versatile life as a "white Southern Baptist who led civil rights, a decorated Navy veteran who brokered peace, a brilliant nuclear engineer who led nuclear nonproliferation and a hard working farmer who championed conservation and clean energy." Jason Carter, grandson of the former president, said that Carter's presidency and political life was not just ahead of its time, but "prophetic," while stressing Carter had the "courage and strength" to stick to his principles even when they were politically unpopular. "As governor of Georgia, half a century ago, he preached an end to racial discrimination and an end to mass incarceration. As president in the 1970s, he protected more land than any other president in history," he said. "Fifty years ago, he was a climate warrior who pushed for a world where we conserved energy, limited emissions and traded for expanded renewable sources," he added. He also recalled that he never perceived a difference between Carter's public face and private one. "He was the same person no matter who he was with or where he was, and for me, that's the definition of integrity," he said. Following the cathedral service, Carter's remains returned to Georgia for a private funeral service and burial alongside his wife Rosalynn Carter who died in November 2023 at 96. Many South Koreans have expressed their condolences over the passing of Carter as well due in part to his ties to Korean Peninsula affairs both during and after his presidency. While in office, he went through a rough patch with then South Korean President Park Chung-hee as he pushed to deliver on his campaign pledge to withdraw U.S. forces from the peninsula, taking issue with human rights issues under the Park administration. His push for troop removal put to the test the South Korea-U.S. alliance forged after the 1950-53 Korean War and further cemented in the wake of South Korea's participation in the Vietnam War. But it came to a halt later amid opposition from congressional members, the intelligence community and others. Carter also forged an image as a peacemaker and a troubleshooter when he visited North Korea in 1994 and met with then leader and national founder Kim Il-sung in the midst of nuclear tensions. His negotiations led to a landmark nuclear disarmament deal between Pyongyang and Washington, known as the Agreed Framework, though the agreement later fell apart with the outbreak of another nuclear standoff in late 2002. In 2010, Carter traveled again to North Korea and brought home an American citizen detained in the country. He is survived by his children Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. (Yonhap) News / National by Staff reporter Former President Robert Mugabe's children, Bona, Tinotenda, and Chatunga, have secured a legal victory after Chinhoyi magistrate Kudzanai Mahaso barred a Zvimba headman from conducting an inspection of Mugabe's grave as part of a legal bid to exhume his remains.The case, initiated by Headman Tinos Manongovere, sought to inspect the gravesite at Mugabe's Kutama homestead, claiming the burial contravened Zvimba cultural traditions. However, Mugabe's children opposed the application, arguing it lacked procedural and substantive compliance.Magistrate Mahaso ruled that Manongovere's application was procedurally defective, noting his failure to submit a properly commissioned founding affidavit to support his request for an inspection in loco. The ruling emphasized that such affidavits are essential to outline the basis for such applications."Failure to file a founding affidavit is a fatal flaw that can lead to the application being struck off the roll," Mahaso said. He further stated that an inspection in loco is not automatic and remains at the court's discretion, especially when private property is involved.Manongovere argued that Mugabe's burial inside a fortified structure at his homestead violated Zvimba customs, which prohibit burials inside homes. He claimed an inspection in loco was crucial to verify whether Mugabe was buried inside a house.However, the court ruled that the inspection could infringe on the family's property rights and privacy. "Entering someone's property without permission amounts to trespass," Mahaso stated, adding that alternative means, such as witness testimony, could resolve the factual dispute.Magistrate Mahaso underscored the constitutional right to privacy, which protects individuals from arbitrary interference with their home or family. "The right to privacy is essential in consideration of an application for inspection in loco," he said, affirming that such inspections require the full consent of property owners.Mugabe, Zimbabwe's longtime ruler, was buried at his homestead in Kutama after the family rejected burial at the National Heroes Acre, where a mausoleum had been prepared for him. The family fortified the gravesite to prevent exhumation amid a legal and cultural tussle over his final resting place.A previous court inspection in loco had already been conducted at Kutama village, where other Mugabe family members are buried, but the magistrate ruled against extending it to the private gravesite.The ruling highlights the delicate balance between cultural practices, legal procedures, and constitutional rights. While the case over Mugabe's burial remains unresolved, the court's decision reinforces the family's control over his final resting place and underscores the importance of procedural rigor in legal disputes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin wanted to meet and that a rendezvous between the pair was being arranged. He made the statement just a week and a half before taking office, following promises during his campaign to bring peace to Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion since February 2022. "He wants to meet, and we're setting it up," Trump said at a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. "President Putin wants to meet, he's said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with, that's a bloody mess." Trump has never made any concrete proposals for a ceasefire or peace deal, and has often criticized the large amount of military aid the United States has sent to Kyiv. Trump has also frequently mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "salesman," while raising eyebrows in Washington by rarely criticizing Putin -- and even speaking admiringly of the Kremlin leader. In addition to criticizing the massive military aid sent to Ukraine under President Joe Biden, Trump has raised doubts over continued U.S. involvement in the Western military alliance NATO. The United States under Biden has been Ukraine's biggest wartime backer, providing military aid worth more than $65 billion since February 2022. (AFP) Elon Musk's expected hosting of Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, for a discussion on his X platform on Thursday was being watched by the European Commission to check for any spreading of misinformation before next month's German election. The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) is intended to address illegal content such as hate speech and intentional manipulation to influence elections. X has been under investigation under the DSA since 2023 over suspected dissemination of illegal content and the effectiveness of its measures to combat information manipulation. How is Musk involved in European politics? Since publicly supporting Donald Trump to become U.S. president last year, Musk has endorsed Britain's right-wing Reform party as well as the AfD on X. "The traditional political parties in Germany have utterly failed the people. AfD is the only hope for Germany," he posted on X last month. Musk's endorsement of the AfD, an anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party designated as right-wing-extremist by German security services, has caused consternation in Berlin, where all other parties rule out working with a party they regard as dangerous and undemocratic. After a Saudi doctor killed five people in a Christmas market last month in the German city of Magdeburg, Musk called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz an "incompetent fool" on X and urged him to resign. What is the EU's digital services act? The DSA regulates big online platforms such as X and Meta with more than 45 million users per month in the European Union, as well as the app stores of companies such as Apple and Alphabet. Its main goal is to prevent illegal and harmful online activities and the spread of misinformation. Musk's X was the first company to be investigated under DSA for illegal content, in December 2023. A company can be fined up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover for breaching the DSA, and up to 5 percent of daily worldwide turnover for each day of delay in complying with remedies. If the infringement persists and causes serious harm to users, the Commission can request suspension of the service. The Commission has also opened proceedings against Meta and China's AliExpress, Temu and TikTok. All the cases including that against X are still open except for one against TikTok, closed after the video sharing platform addressed EU concerns. What will regulators do on Thursday? About 150 EU staff are responsible for enforcing the DSA, both at the Commission's DG CONNECT department in Brussels and the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency in Spain. Former EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton reminded Weidel on X about DSA rules intended to protect democracy around elections. Senior EU officials acknowledge the challenge presented by Musk but insist the DSA is up to the job. "Mr Musk is free to express his opinions in the EU online and offline, within legal boundaries," said Michael McGrath, European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection. How has Musk clashed with the EU? The EU and Musk have clashed several times since he took over his social media platform, then called Twitter. Before Musk interviewed Trump last August, Breton urged him to comply with EU law as the livestream would be accessible in the EU. X CEO Linda Yaccarino called the letter an "unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US." The EU has accused X of deceiving users with its blue checkmark, which previously indicated that an account had been verified as belonging to a public figure but was changed to designate a paid subscriber. Musk threatened litigation, and accused the Commission, without providing evidence, of offering X an illegal secret deal to censor speech. Breton denied this. The commission has also accused X of failing to provide easy access to searchable and reliable information about advertisements, and blocking researchers from accessing its public data. (Reuters) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Girl group Billlie has announced the cancelation of shows in the Southeast Asian leg of their world tour. The septet's agency MSYTIC STORY released a statement, with information on how to obtain refunds. "Dear Belllie've, We regret to announce the cancellation of Billlie's concerts in Bangkok (Feb. 11), Jakarta (Feb. 13), and Kuala Lumpur (Feb. 15). This decision was not made lightly, as we truly want to share the magic of this tour with all of you. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to proceed as planned. Refunds for all tickets and benefit packages purchased through KPOPTICKETS will be processed automatically to the original payment method. Please allow 7-15 business days for the refund to reflect in your account. We sincerely apologize for the disappointment and thank you for your understanding. Belllie've, your love and support mean everything to us, and we look forward to creating magical memories with you in the future." Fans can reach out to support at tickets@kpoptickets.com for any questions or concerns regarding their refund. Billlie kicked off their world tour in July in Munich, Germany, with upcoming shows in Hong Kong and Taipei as they advance into the Asia leg of their tour in February. In late February, the septet will meet fans in three Australian cities, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney and wrap up their tour in Japan's Osaka and Yokohama. NewJeans' Hanni has been reported to South Korea's Immigration Office for alleged illegal stay. An anonymous citizen filed a complaint regarding the idol's visa status to the National Petition, according to SPOTV News. Seoul Immigration Office's Investigation Division of the Ministry of Justice released a statement on January 10, announcing a plan to take action once Hanni and NewJeans' contract termination proceedings are settled with label ADOR. "We plan to take appropriate measures as soon as the employment relationship between the parties is resolved," they said. Hanni, a dual citizen of Australia and Vietnam, does not possess Korean citizenship and remains in the country because of her E-6 artist visa, which allows her to reside and work in Korea. In order to continue to reside and work in Korea, the NewJeans member would need to extend her E-6 visa, which is usually granted for a period of a year and is renewed annually through their agency. Hanni's visa, issued through NewJeans' label ADOR, expired in December, according to a report by TenAsia. If the girls' claims of contract termination hold up, Hanni will technically have been an illegal resident in Korea since December 14. Seoul Immigration Office, keeping track of the ongoing cases, explained that the situation regarding Hanni's visa remains convoluted without ADOR's contract resolution. "It is difficult to answer personal details such as whether or not a specific foreigner violated the Immigration Control Act," they said. "For foreign entertainers staying in Korea with an E-6 visa, the immigration office determines the domestic residency qualification and period of stay based on employment contracts with domestic agencies, and plans to take corresponding measures once the employment relationship is settled between the parties." News / National by Staff reporter South African police have captured Zimbabwean national Lovemore Musoyi, who had been on the run since 2023 after escaping from custody in Mpumalanga Province. Musoyi, who faces over 10 criminal charges, was apprehended last week by a task force from the South African Police Service (SAPS), ending a year-long manhunt.In a statement, SAPS confirmed the arrest and commended the joint efforts of law enforcement and private security personnel.The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, hailed the collaborative efforts between SAPS and private security personnel who worked tirelessly to track and apprehend the elusive fugitive. He had been on the run after escaping police custody, during which he attacked and disarmed two police officers in Motetema, read the statement.Musoyi, 32, is accused of a range of serious crimes, including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, business robbery, housebreaking, kidnapping, stock theft, assault, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. These offenses were allegedly committed across several areas, including Elandskraal, Motetema, Dennilton, and Rakgoadi, within the Sekhukhune District.The fugitive was arrested on January 3 after police received a tip-off that he was hiding in the mountains of Rakgoadi. He was reportedly armed with an unlicensed firearm at the time of his capture.Musoyi's 2023 escape had sparked outrage after he attacked two police officers and fled while being transported to prison. Since then, he had evaded authorities despite extensive efforts to apprehend him.The suspect is now set to appear before multiple magistrates' courts in the Sekhukhune District to face the numerous charges against him. Authorities have lauded the collaborative efforts that led to his arrest and have reaffirmed their commitment to bringing criminals to justice. The Neville Park Hotel Group is pleased to announce that its Christmas Community Donation Initiative, Dine Out & Donate, raised 21,736 for charities selected by its dedicated employees. During December, every meal purchased at the restaurants within the Neville Park Hotel Group, including Kellys Steakhouse and Charter Bar & Eatery at Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, the Prom Bar and Alamo Steakhouse at Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, and Jaspers Restaurant at the Crown Quarter in Wexford Town, contributed 1 toward a charity selected by the employees of each property. This successful initiative resulted in a remarkable 11,496 being raised by the Midlands Park Hotel team for Friends of Suicide Loss, an organisation dedicated to offering support services for individuals impacted by suicide in Dublin and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, at the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, 7,538 was raised to support Futures In Mind (formerly Talk To Tom), a local charity dedicated to suicide prevention, mental health awareness and bereavement supports. Also in Wexford, the Crown Quarter raised 2,729 for the Hope Cancer Support Centre which provides vital services to people throughout Wexford whose lives have been changed by a cancer diagnosis. Commenting on the announcement, Colm Neville from the Neville Park Hotel Group said, We are delighted with the incredible results of this programme supporting such meaningful causes. It embodies our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve and championing the issues our teams are passionate about. We look forward to expanding on this initiative in 2025 with the inclusion of Newtown Park Hotel, the most recent addition to the Neville Park Hotel Groups portfolio." LAOIS Heritage Society launched its 11th issue of its local history journal in the Midland Park Hotel recently. The launch was held as part of the annual Laois Heritage Seminar which was also organised by Laois Heritage Office. The latest journal is full of interesting articles on the history of Laois with contributions covering events of the past from many parts from around the county, from the Gaelic Ireland to recent times. Articles range from nostalgic pieces and social history to new work that challenges accepted historical views. The publication contains 20 articles by 19 different contributors, ranging from Laois Heritage Society members such as Teddy Fennelly, Regina Dunne, Jackie Hyland, Martin Finn and Sinead Holland, to popular local writers such as John Dunne, James Bennett, Paul Delany, Enda McEvoy and Bernadette Dunne. Laois Heritage Society launched its 11th issue of its local history journal recently The journal includes articles by academic and international contributors such as John Stocks Powell, Paul MacCotter, James G. Ryan, Niall Moore, Sharon Kelly and Laois native Mairtin DAlton. A range of lesser-known Laois people who made an impact at home or abroad are also included such as boxer Joe Kerry, brewer John Kinder Labatt and politician Patrick Doran, to Laois people completely forgotten in time such as the 18th century servants of Durrow Castle, the women of Cumann na mBan and the Septs of Laois - who dont appear on roundabouts. Other articles explore the earliest history of Laois places, such as the Rock of Dunamase, the old town of Portarlington and the Commons of Maryborough, while others reveal the significance of structures such as the Tentore House, Portarlington Tholsel, the Electric Cinema and buildings on Bull Lane. The journal tells of tuberculosis in Laois and the sanatorium that didnt survive, a local tramway that never happened and the Laois connection to Irelands first ever Talkie. Women are not overlooked either with articles on the forgotten Laois women of Cumann na mBan and the Volunteer Aid Detachment. Niall Moore and Sharon Kelly have written an article that uses DNA to question some of our core assumptions on early Laois history, such as the Seven Septs of Laois and the OMoore genealogy. Paul Mac Cotters article on the early history of Dunamase also interrogates our long accepted local history beliefs. There are two articles relating to early cinema in Laois, a lovely nostalgic piece on the Electric Cinema by Paul Delany and one on the Laois connection to Irelands first talkie. Local historian John Dunne, a reliable and valued contributor, has an article on the history of Bull Lane and one on TB and the Queens County Sanatorium. Overall it is a nice mix of well researched articles covering many places in Laois in many points in time. Copies of the journal, priced at 20 each are available to purchase from all local bookshops or through the committee or by emailing Laoisheritagesocietywebsite@gmail.com. A CHEERFUL Laois bachelor has regained his rightful place behind the bar as the new series of First Dates Ireland gets underway. Neil Kenna from Durrow, a familiar face on the popular RTE2 TV series since 2022, is showcasing his intoxicating blend of moustache, banter and cocktails on the weekly shows 10th season, which began on Thursday 9 January. From Erkindale Drive in the heart of Durrow, Neil has won many hearts since he replaced previous barman Ethan Miles on the show three years ago. Formerly manager at ELY Wine Bar and Brasserie in central Dublin, Neil is general manager at The Dunmore restaurant in Rathmines and has over 22 years experience in the bar trade. Its an ideal CV for his main role on the show, as he helps nervous first daters to relax with the help of expertly mixed concoctions and conversation. Filming of the entire season is completed in just five long, exhausting but exhilarating days at The Gibson Hotel in Dublin, leaving him free to focus on his busy day job for the rest of the year. The full 10th season is in the can and airs every Thursday at 9.30pm. Still an eligible youngish singleton, Neils first close encounter with First Dates Ireland came in 2020, when he auditioned to appear as a first dater due to boredom during the Covid lockdown. Instead, he landed the position of long-term bartender, which has proved to be a marriage made in heaven. He loves the easy-going format of the programme, saying: Its genuine people coming on and Irish people are very chatty. Most people arent afraid to open up so when they come on, the majority of them are 110% themselves and they are there for the experience. His sage advice on relationships, whether on or off the airwaves, is: Be yourself. Always go in with an open heart. Give a bit of trust at the start and don't let your previous relationships cloud the next relationship. As for his own single status, he says: Im getting lots of dates but I get more situationships than I do dates now at this stage. Who knows - maybe all that will change in 2025! A PORTLAOISE hotel raised almost 11,500 for a deserving charity over the festive season, with a special Dine Out and Donate campaign. Staff at the Midlands Park Hotel were thrilled with the total raised for Friends of Suicide Loss, which provides support services for people affected by devastating suicide deaths. During the busy Christmas social season from the beginning of December, 1 from every meal at the Kellys Steakhouse and Charter Bar and Eatery in the hotel went to the charity, raising a remarkable 11,496. A Midlands Park Hotel team that included Aaron Lane, Shauna Boxwell, Derek Donovan, Austin Delaney and Vanessa Langford presented the cheque to Terry Connolly from Friends of Suicide Loss at a presentation in the hotel. The Dublin-based charity provides a range of support services for people bereaved by suicide, including one-to-one and group counselling, educational programmes, publications and workshops. The Portlaoise hotel is part of the Neville Park Hotel Group, which spearheaded a Christmas Community Donation Initiative in three of its hotels, two in Wexford and one in Laois. In total, the Dine Out and Donate initiative raised 21,736 for charities selected by hotel employees. Colm Neville from the hotel group said: We are delighted with the incredible results of this programme supporting such meaningful causes. It embodies our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve and championing the issues our teams are passionate about. Bhubaneswar, Jan 10 (PTI) Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday to discuss the development of the American IT firm's biggest campus in India in the state, a statement said. At the meeting, Majhi said the state government would allot land in Bhubaneswar city for development of the Cognizant campus and provide all support, it said. Also Read | What Is a Rental Scam? Here's How Fraudsters in Bengaluru Target Renters With Fake Property Deals. "Both discussed on developing Cognizant campus in Bhubaneswar as its biggest centre in India," it added. Ravi Kumar S, who is of Odisha origin, was in Bhubaneswar to attend the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention. Also Read | Social Media Strengthened Democracy by Providing Multiple Sources for Verifying Information: PM Narendra Modi. He expressed happiness over the growth of the firm's existing centre in Bhubaneswar, and exuded confidence that it would grow further in the next five years, the statement said. The CM sought his cooperation for bringing more investments in the IT sector in Odisha, and he assured all help, it said. Majhi congratulated him for his success and the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman being conferred on him. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 10 (ANI): Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to provide Karti Chidambaram with a three-day prior notice if they intend to arrest him in connection with a fresh case of corruption. The fresh case filed by the CBI alleges that Chidambaram provided favourable treatment to Diageo Scotland, an alcoholic beverage company, by intervening to lift a ban on the duty-free sale of its whisky. Also Read | Aero India 2025: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Calls for Cohesiveness in View of Current Global Security Environment. The court emphasized that Section 35(3) of BNSS (41A CrPC) must be fully adhered to. Karti Chidambaram had approached the court expressing concerns about a potential arrest in the ongoing case. However, the applicant shall join the investigation of the case upon his return to the country and co-operate in the process of investigation, as and when so required in accordance with law, said the court. Also Read | Telangana Road Accident: 5 Migrant Workers From Odisha Killed, 16 Injured As Bus Hits Stationary Truck in Suryapet District (Watch Video). The court observed that, based on the FIR, the current case was filed following a complaint lodged by CBI, on December 30, 2024. This complaint stemmed from a preliminary inquiry initiated on June 29, 2018. The applicant has not been called to participate in the preliminary inquiry thus far. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2004 and 2010, with all charges carrying a maximum sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment. The court further noted that in light of the CBI's submissions, the Senior Counsel for the applicant requested that the current application be disposed of, with the liberty for the applicant to file an appropriate application under the relevant statutory provisions if needed in the future. Additionally, it was urged that the investigating agency be directed to provide a three-day notice before arresting the applicant, should his arrest be necessary after he joins the investigation upon his return to the country. "I have considered the submissions made. The law, as established by the Supreme Court regarding the mandatory requirement of issuing a notice under Section 35(3) of BNSS (which corresponds to Section 41A Cr.P.C.), is unequivocally binding on the Investigating Agency and must be adhered to rigorously. Furthermore, as previously stated, it has been clarified that the Investigating Agency has not opened any Look Out Circular (LOC) against the applicant," said Special Judge Kaveri Baweja. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 10 (ANI): Janta Dal (United) working President Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal of "hating" the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Jha strongly criticised Kejriwal's recent remarks about "fake voters" from these states and demanded an immediate apology from Kejriwal for his comments. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jha expressed his anger, asking, "Why do you hate people from Bihar and UP so much, @ArvindKejriwal ji? You should not forget that Delhi is not your property, it is the capital of the country and belongs to all the countrymen. The people of Bihar and UP have achieved a position not only in Delhi but across the world on the basis of their hard work and talent." Also Read | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Steve Jobs' Widow Laurene Powell To Observe Kalpavas, Will Stay in Prayagraj For 2 Weeks. "The palace you have built for yourself is also built using the tax money of the people of Bihar and UP living in Delhi. Your repeated insult to the people of Bihar-UP is intolerable. You should apologize immediately," read the post further. Notably, the dispute arose after an AAP delegation led by Arvind Kejriwal met the Election Commission to raise concerns about alleged voter irregularities in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Set To Feature on Nikhil Kamath's 'People by WTF' Podcast; Trailer Revealed (Watch Video). The party highlighted a significant surge in voter registrations and deletions on the seat while alleging a "voter fraud" taking place at a large scale. Former Delhi CM Kejriwal said that a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. He also claimed that out of 89 people who had applied for deletion of 5500 names from the voter list, 18 denied submitting the request. "The Chief Election Commissioner is out, but we met with the other two commissioners. One of the issues we raised was that in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly, between December 15 and January 7, a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. The total votes in this assembly are 1,00,000. This means that 5.5 per cent of the votes were registered in the last 22 days, which clearly indicates some irregularities. There are issues with these applications," Kejriwal told reporters after meeting the Election Commissioners, here on Thursday. "When the lower officials investigated, the individuals whose names appeared on these applications denied having submitted any request to cut votes. 89 people had applied for 5,500 votes, and 18 of them came to the Election Commission and denied submitting any applications. This means there is a large-scale election fraud happening," he added. Furthermore, the AAP Chief also alleged that from December 15 to January 8, 13,000 new voter applications were received. On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote another letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, raising the issue of adding and deleting the names of voters in the New Delhi Assembly constituency and seeking an immediate meeting on the issue. CM Atishi previously wrote another letter to the CEC regarding the same issue on January 5. The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eight seats. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 10 (PTI) A Kerala court on Friday found eight BJP-RSS workers guilty in a case of beating and stabbing to death a CPI(M) activist near Alamcode here in May 2013. Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Judge IV Aaj Sudarsan found Shambhu Kumar alias Shambhu, Sreejith alias Unni, Harikumar, Chandramohan alias Ambili and Santhosh alias Chandu, guilty for the offence of murder under the IPC. Also Read | JEE Main Exam City Intimation Slip 2025 Released at Jeemain.nta.nic.in, Check Steps To Download. The court found three others -- Abhishek alias Anni Santhosh, Prashanth alias Pazhinji Prashanth and Sajeev -- guilty of being part of the criminal conspiracy to commit the offence of murder, special public prosecutor (SPP) A A Hakkim said. It will pronounce their sentences on January 15, the SPP said. Also Read | Delhi: 19-Year-Old Man Uploads Video With Firearms on Social Media, Arrested. According to the prosecution, the reason behind the killing of the victim -- Sreekumar alias Ashokan -- was a financial dispute between his friend Aad Binu and one of the accused, Shambhu. Sreekumar had intervened in the financial row and caused injuries to Shambhu, the SPP said. Subsequently, the eight accused hatched a plan to retaliate and beat up and stabbed to death the victim near Alamcode on May 5, 2013, the prosecutor said. The SPP also said that eight other accused in the case -- who were charged with destruction of evidence and helping the attackers to abscond -- were acquitted due to lack of evidence against them. The prosecution examined 45 witnesses and placed 110 documents before the court in support of its contentions, the SPP said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said like-minded countries should strive together for collective actions for peace in view of the state of flux triggered by multiple conflicts in the world. In an address at the Ambassadors' Round Table, Singh said the next month's Aero India aerospace exhibition in India presents an opportunity for nations to jointly explore strengths and capabilities and address "strategic" and "tactical needs". Also Read | Telangana Road Accident: 5 Migrant Workers From Odisha Killed, 16 Injured As Bus Hits Stationary Truck in Suryapet District (Watch Video). The defence minister said aerospace power is the "new frontier of military dominance" which acts as strategic deterrence. India's biennial aerospace exhibition Aero India will be held at Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru from February 10-14 with an aim to project the country as a hub for defence manufacturing. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Will Central Government Employees Receive DA Hike in January 2025? Check Latest Update. "It is of paramount importance that the like-minded countries should strive together for collective actions for peace and prosperity," he said. "Without these, our future generations will not be able to take advantage of economic growth or technological innovations that we are experiencing in today's era," Singh told envoys of several countries. Singh said India is emerging as a leading voice for the Global South, and it advocates for a multi-aligned policy approach which ensures that diverse views are considered in the collective pursuit of prosperity. "In today's geopolitical landscape, fostering unity among like-minded nations is essential for ensuring mutual prosperity and peace, while addressing contemporary challenges," he said. The defence minister said India has always championed shared prosperity and shared responsibility based on the fundamental principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (One Earth, One Family). Singh described Aero India as one such event where "nations come together and form bonds beyond boundaries". Elaborating on the vision behind the biennial event, he said it has proven itself to be the meeting ground for the aerospace and defence sectors to showcase their products/technologies. He defined it as a forum to forge strategic partnerships towards increasing opportunities for business, transfer of technology, joint development and co-production. The Aero India will feature a Defence Ministers' Conclave, CEOs' round-table and a large exhibition comprising India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies. The first three days of the event will be business days while February 13 and 14 have been set as public days to allow people to witness the show. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India] January 10 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against the ninth accused in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-linked Bengaluru prison radicalisation case, the agency said on Friday. The supplementary chargesheet was filed against Vikram Kumar alias Chota Usman before the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru. Also Read | Telangana Road Accident: 5 Migrant Workers From Odisha Killed, 16 Injured As Bus Hits Stationary Truck in Suryapet District (Watch Video). Kumar, a resident of Begusarai, Bihar, has been charged under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 17, 18, 20, 23, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Section 120B of the Explosive Substances Act. The case, which was taken over by the NIA from Bengaluru City Police in October 2023, involves a conspiracy to promote the LeT's agenda to disrupt India's unity, integrity, and security. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Will Central Government Employees Receive DA Hike in January 2025? Check Latest Update. Investigations revealed the seizure of arms, ammunition, and digital devices, including walkie-talkies from the accused. According to the NIA, Kumar was radicalised while in Bengaluru Central Prison, where he came into contact with T Naseer, a convicted terrorist. Kumar, who was jailed in a 2017-18 murder case, continued to collaborate with Naseer and absconding accused Junaid Ahmed after his release. In May 2023, the agency said, Kumar acted on Junaid Ahmed's instructions to collect a parcel containing hand grenades and walkie-talkies from Ambala, Haryana. "These items were later delivered to other accused individuals in Bengaluru as part of a plan to facilitate Naseer's escape during a court transfer," said the agency. Junaid Ahmed also provided financial support to Kumar to further LeT activities. The NIA had earlier filed chargesheets against eight accused, including Ahmed, in January 2024. Investigations in the case (RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI), which originated in July 2023, are ongoing, with efforts underway to trace the absconding accused. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Fishing manuals record China's early footprints in South China Sea Xinhua) 16:09, January 10, 2025 HAIKOU, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- In China's southernmost island province of Hainan, local fishing families still keep their cherished heirlooms: worn sea route manuals known as Geng Lu Bu. For centuries, far before the invention of GPS and modern mapping technologies, local fishing families relied on these handwritten books for directions and navigation guidance in the South China Sea. The Chinese characters "Geng Lu Bu" mean "seaway manuals." "Geng" in Chinese is a unit of length equal to 10 nautical miles, while "Lu" means "routes" and "Bu" translates to "books" or "manuals." Some fishing families still own their unique Geng Lu Bu, yellowed with age, despite having long since switched to modern fishing methods. In Tanmen Township, a famous fishing port in Hainan's Qionghai City, stands a Geng Lu Bu museum. The museum offers an insightful glimpse into the local history of discovering and sailing to the islands in the South China Sea. Numerous Geng Lu Bu are exhibited in the museum, along with compasses, fishing spears and other fishing tools. Wang Zhenzhong, founder of the museum and owner of a local handicraft factory, was born to a fishing family in 1977. Both his grandfather and father were skilled fishing boat captains, and he has also sailed to Nansha Qundao. On a wrinkled, broken page of his family manual, his ancestors wrote a note: "Da Tan to Chuan Yan Wei goes in the direction of Qian Xun for 15 Gengs." Da Tan is a deep pool outside the Tanmen port, and Chuan Yan Wei is now known as Xishazhou, an island of Xisha Qundao. Qian Xun is a direction marked on the ancient Chinese compass, and 15 Gengs is about 150 nautical miles. The manual covers sea routes, weather conditions, wind directions and ocean currents for different times of the year. For example, it warns against setting sail on certain days, including the third day of the third lunar month and the 19th day of the sixth lunar month. Wang remembers that in the late 1980s, his father set out to sea on one of these dates only to find the ocean was truly treacherous. "He barely made it back to shore," Wang said. These manuals were exclusive to fishing boat captains, and were edited and rewritten every generation, according to Wang. With a Geng Lu Bu, a compass and an incense burner, fishermen could set sail across the South China Sea. At the bow of each fishing boat, a stick of incense would be lit inside a wind-protected burner. The incense would take about two hours to burn out, allowing seafarers to track the time. They also had a unique method to measure sailing speeds: they would throw a jar attached to a rope into the water, and the captain would hold on to the rope to gauge the speed by feeling the force exerted on it. Wang learned the art of fishing in coral reefs from his father and other seasoned professionals. Wearing masks and breathing tubes, they dive 20 to 30 meters below the surface of the water. Experienced fishing divers can hold their breath for up to five minutes. With fishing spears or just their bare hands, they catch sea cucumbers, lobsters and abalone hiding in the reef. Valuable fish like groupers cannot be speared, as any injury reduces their market value. Divers therefore use a natural anesthetic extracted from the stems and leaves of a plant to stun the fish, which then float to the surface and are collected by people on the boats above. "In Tanmen, unless you're very timid or in poor health, everyone heads out to sea," said Fu Minglin, a fisherman-turned-B&B-owner in his forties. Fu has more experience in sailing and fishing than Wang, having regularly sailed to Meiji Jiao and Zhubi Jiao, two major reefs of China's Nansha Qundao. He has also sailed to Huangyan Dao and Zengmu Ansha, China's southernmost territory. Fu's uncle, a skilled captain who could navigate the seas using only his Geng Lu Bu and a compass, taught him a great deal, including how to observe the color of the clouds to locate islands and reefs. Shallow and deep waters reflect light on the clouds differently, creating subtle color variations that reveal what lies below. Long ago, fishing journeys usually lasted several months, depending on the monsoons. Fu said that according to the Geng Lu Bu, fishing boats would ride the northeast wind to the south during the 12th month of the lunar calendar each year, and they would return during the fourth month of the lunar calendar the following year. During their voyages, fishing crews would either remain aboard their boats or settle temporarily on islands, leaving behind traces of development and habitation that are still preserved today. "The South China Sea is where our great-grandparents journeyed, so we journey there too," Fu said. In recent years, Geng Lu Bu have been increasingly recognized as important historical documents. In 2008, Geng Lu Bu were included in China's national intangible cultural heritage. Later that year, Wang's father, Wang Shubao, was honored as an official inheritor of this heritage. For Wang, the manuals document how his ancestors and other fishermen and women mapped the routes across the vast, unmarked South China Sea, where they discovered, named, stationed at and developed many islands and reefs. Yan Genqi, a professor at Hainan University and a Geng Lu Bu expert, says the paper-based manuals were created no later than the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while orally relayed sailing directions had already begun to take shape in the Hainan fishing community as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Since 1974, researchers have discovered 52 Geng Lu Bu, in which more than 100 islands are named in the Hainan dialect, according to Yan. On some of the islands mentioned in these Geng Lu Bu, people have found wells, houses and temples built by Hainan fishermen. "The systematic and regular use of monsoons for continuous navigation and fishing activities in the Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao and Nansha Qundao areas over hundreds of years is unparalleled by any other country," Yan noted. Geng Lu Bu is among the historical evidence that the Chinese were the first to discover, name, develop and administer the islands of the South China Sea, Yan said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) New Delhi, January 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined his vision of 'Viksit Bharat' emphasising on a 'problem free' India and 100 percent delivery of government schemes. Speaking in a podcast with Zerodha Co-founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said that his morale and dreams have grown in the third term. Sharing his vision of 'Viksit Bharat' he added that problems like toilets, water, electricity should be resolved by 2047. "In the first term, the people were trying to understand me and I was trying to understand Delhi. In the second term, I used to think from the perspective of the past. In the third term, my thinking has changed, my morale is high and my dreams have grown. The essence of what I'm saying is that I want 2047 to be Viksit Bharat. Which means everything should be free of problems. Toilets should be built for everyone. Electricity should be available for everyone. Water from taps should be available for everyone. Does the common man have to beg from their own government? Is this a British rule? It is his right. There should be 100% delivery of government schemes. Beneficiaries should get thier due," PM Modi said. PM Narendra Modi Makes Podcast Debut As He Joins Nikhil Kamath For Exclusive Interview, Talks About Changing Perception of India Abroad (Watch Video). PM Modi believed AI, which he described as "Aspirational India" will be the driving force behind achieving his vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. "There should be 100% delivery of govt schemes. This is real social justice and secularism. The driving force behind this is - AI-'Aspirational India'." PM Modi said. PM Modi highlighted the necessity of stepping out of ones comfort zone in order to achieve success. He said that person must have a risk-taking capacity. "The life I have lived I find joy in the smallest of things. I am happy with what I have. I think people fail in life because they become accustomed to their comfort zone. Even if an industrialist doesn't come out of his comfort zone and take risks he may lose out. There must be a driving force. I think my risk-taking capacity has not been used fully. I don't care about my own benefit and that increases my risk-taking capacity," the Prime Minister said. I Am a Human Being, Not God: PM Narendra Modi Makes Podcast Debut With Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath (Watch Video). Speaking on how India's perception has changed around the world, PM Modi recalled saying that the day would come when the world would stand in line for an Indian Visa. "As a the head of the state, America had refused me a visa. I held a press conference that day where I had said, "One day the world would stand in line for an Indian visa". I gave this statement in 2005. Now, it is 2025. I can see that this is now is the time for India... I used to say publicly that you (NRIs) will regret if you don't come back to India, the world is changing," PM Modi said. "I recently visited Kuwait. I went to a labour colony...one labourer asked me when will there be an international airport in my district (in India) ...it is this aspiration that will make India Vikist in 2047," 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) Chennai, Jan 10 (PTI) An Air India flight bound to Singapore from here on Friday returned to the city after pilots detected a technical snag mid-air, officials at the airport here said. The pilots contacted the airport upon discovering the issue, to return to the city and the flight, with about 170 passengers later made a safe landing, they added. Also Read | AMU Bomb Threat: Aligarh Muslim University Receives Email Threatening Bomb Blast if INR 2 Lakh Ransom Not Paid, UP Police Begin Investigation. Engineers were attending to the snag and the flight is expected to resume its journey later. Air India authorities are not immediately available for comment. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Jan 10 (PTI) The ruling TMC on Friday suspended its former Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen and ex-MLA Arabul Islam for alleged "anti-party activities", the party's vice-president Jayprakash Majumdar said. The action comes as the party continues to grapple with internal discord. Also Read | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025: President Droupadi Murmu Urges Indian Diaspora To Contribute Towards Viksit Bharat 2047 Mission (See Pics and Video). Sen, a doctor by profession and seen as a loyalist of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, had criticised the police for its investigation into the rape and murder of the medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. His vocal stand on the issue created a furore within the party, especially given his close ties to the young leader. Also Read | What Is a Rental Scam? Here's How Fraudsters in Bengaluru Target Renters With Fake Property Deals. He could not be reached for comment. Islam, on the other side, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the years. A leader from Bhangore on the outskirts of Kolkata, his tiff with party MLA Saukat Mollah has often resulted in embarrassment for the top leadership. The suspensions signal the TMC leadership's effort to restore discipline within the ranks in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formed several disciplinary committees in November and warned party leaders of going against the party line on different issues. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Jan 10 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Friday said the state government will introduce a bill in the state assembly aimed at strictly curbing illegal immigration. The proposed legislation will be presented in the upcoming budget session, he said. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Will Central Government Employees Receive DA Hike in January 2025? Check Latest Update. According to an official statement, Saini also said the government has set a target to make 70 per cent of the villages in the state drug-free by the end of 2025. Saini chaired a state-level review meeting in Panchkula, which was held with senior police officers to assess law and order in the state, the statement said. Also Read | H-1B Visa New Rules To Take Effect From January 17: How Will H-1B Visa Reforms Affect Indians? All Details Here. The state government will soon unveil a policy to reward police personnel for their exceptional service. This policy will not only recognize and encourage good work but will also provide for strict action against any lapses in crime prevention, the CM said. According to the statement, Haryana has witnessed a significant reduction in crime rates. In particular, incidents of crime against women have decreased in 2024 compared to the previous year, and the state has made commendable progress in addressing cybercrime, Saini added. The CM also said police officers have been instructed to take stringent action against criminals, and directed them to be sensitive towards the public. "A target has also been given to further the de-addiction campaign, with the goal of making 70 per cent of the villages drug-free by the end of 2025. Besides, instructions have been given to take strict action against those involved in the illegal drug trade," he said. Saini said instructions have been given to police to launch a campaign targeting criminals involved in activities such as extortion calls made from abroad, as well as those aiding them within the country. He said a battalion of the Haryana Police will be established to strengthen law and order in Nuh district. For this, the officer concerned has also been instructed to identify land, he added. The CM said the BJP government had committed to implementing schemes worth Rs 300 crore for the modernization of the police force, as outlined in the party's election manifesto. Police department has been directed to prepare a detailed proposal and submit it to the state government at the earliest, the statement said. Saini said that police are continuously enhancing their infrastructure to effectively combat cybercrime, with the aim of completely curbing cyber fraud and apprehending cybercriminals. Over the issue of Rohingya, the CM said Rohingya and those coming illegally from Bangladesh will be identified, and a list will be compiled. Following this, appropriate decisions will be made about them, said Saini. On some individuals operating crime networks from abroad, he said since this is an international issue, the Haryana Police regularly coordinates with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He asked all superintendents of police (SPs) to focus on eradicating drug abuse in their respective districts to protect the youth. Saini expressed his goal for Haryana to become number one in dismantling drug smuggling operations. He also directed police to take stringent measures to curb cow smuggling cases. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhaka [Bangladesh], January 10 (ANI): The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday called India's allegation of the "mistreatment of Indian fishermen" as "baseless and fabricated". The Bangladeshi MOFA said that the allegations undermine the spirit of trust between the two countries. Also Read | Earthquake in El Salvador: Strong Quake of Magnitude 5.8 on Richter Scale Shakes Central America, No Initial Reports of Damage. "Bangladesh expresses its utter dismay and deep disappointment over the unfounded remarks and fabricated allegations of ill-treatment including physical abuses of the detained Indian fishermen by the Bangladesh authorities. Bangladesh firmly rejects such unfounded allegations which undermines the spirit of trust, goodwill and mutual respect between Bangladesh and India. Concerned authorities of Bangladesh have confirmed that, under no circumstances, were the detained fishermen physically abused. The matter was thoroughly investigated and it was found that no such ill-treatment or incident of physical abuse happened," the statement said. The MOFA further claimed that they treated the Indian detainees appropriately. Also Read | UK Bestiality Horror: Man Breaks Into Farm in Wiltshire, Has Sex With Shetland Pony; Investigation Underway. "Bangladesh wishes to mention that the detained 95 Indian fishermen/crew members were treated appropriately during their stay in Bangladesh. As per international norms, consular accesses were duly granted to the representatives of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, who visited the fishermen during their detention. The representatives of the Indian diplomatic missions were also present during the release of Indian fishermen from the jails on 02 January 2025 and during the fishermen's departure from Mongla on 04 January 2025. The relevant hospitals completed the health screenings of all Indian fishermen, confirming that they were medically fit. During their journey towards the maritime border, Bangladesh Coast Guard authorities extended all necessary support and provisions," the statement added. The MOFA said that they expected the repatriation from India to be amicably solved. "The reciprocal repatriation process of the fishermen manifests the commitment of the Government of Bangladesh in resolving humanitarian issues amicably and collaboratively with the Government of India. Bangladesh calls upon all parties to avoid making such unfounded allegations that undermine the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between the two countries," it said. "The reciprocal repatriation of 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew detained in India and 95 Indian fishermen/crew detained in Bangladesh was successfully completed in the afternoon of 05 January 2025 near the International Maritime Boundary Line. In the presence of the representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Fisheries, and Border Guard Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Coast Guard received 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members and handed over 95 Indian fishermen/crew members to the Indian Coast Guard. Simultaneously, the exchange of detained vessels was also completed, two Bangladeshi fishing vessels, "FV Laila-2" and "FV Meghna-5", were returned to Bangladesh, while six Indian fishing boats were returned to India," the statement added. In a mutual exchange of fishermen coordinated between the Indian Coast Guard and the Bangladesh Coast Guard, ICG Ship Varad and Amrit Kaur successfully repatriated 95 fishermen along with four Indian fishing boats while handing over 90 Bangladeshi Fishermen including 12 rescued from a sunken fishing boat "Kaushik" on Sunday, as per an official statement. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington DC [US], January 10 (ANI): US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Leo Terrell as the Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the US Department of Justice. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that Leo Terrell will be Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice. He will work alongside Harmeet K. Dhillon, a fellow Californian, and our incredible Nominee for United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Justice Department." Also Read | Chandra Arya, Indian-Origin MP, Joins Race for PM, Says 'I Am Running To Be the Next Prime Minister of Canada' in Video Statement. " Leo is a highly respected civil rights attorney and political analyst. He received his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and has defended many high profile cases throughout his incredibly successful career. Leo will be a fantastic advocate for the American People, and ensure we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!", the post further added. In a video message posted on X, Leo Terrell thanked Trump and said, "Today, the President of the United States of America, Donald J Trump, appointed me as a Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General in the civil rights division. I want to thank the president. I accepted the position because I want to help President Trump make America great. " Also Read | India Retains Title of World's Fastest-Growing Large Economy, UN Projects Annual Growth Rate of 6.6%. He further said, "This is an honour, and for those people who have heard me articulate my views on the equality of law and treating everyone fair, help is on the way. For those people who believe that the system was used illegally against certain groups because of their political views. Help is on the way. If you know how I've articulated my views on what is fair and unfair, what is legal and illegal, it's my goal to work with President Donald J. Trump, with Pam Bondi, with Harmeet Dhillon and we are going to provide fairness in the legal system and make America proud of the United States Department of Justice. God bless America. God bless President Trump. God bless everyone". https://x.com/TheLeoTerrell/status/1877512523257360684 Earlier, US President-elect Donald Trump had earlier announced the nomination of Indian-origin Harmeet K Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky along with other delegates. (Photo/X@SecDef) Berlin [Germany], January 10 (ANI): The Biden administration on Thursday (local time) approved an additional USD 500 million in military aid to Ukraine, along with the weapons and equipment package, drawing from the existing US military stockpiles, as reported by The Hill. The package was announced by US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin during his final trip as Pentagon chief to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Also Read | Earthquake in El Salvador: Strong Quake of Magnitude 5.8 on Richter Scale Shakes Central America, No Initial Reports of Damage. According to The Hill, the package includes various air defence missiles, air-to-ground munitions, F-16 support equipment, armoured bridging systems, small arms, ammunition, spare parts, and additional communications equipment. The weapons are being delivered quickly through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows for expedited transfer from the US stockpiles. This move aims to strengthen Kyiv's defences ahead of President-elect Trump's upcoming inauguration, likely making it the final assistance package under President Biden's leadership. Also Read | UK Bestiality Horror: Man Breaks Into Farm in Wiltshire, Has Sex With Shetland Pony; Investigation Underway. Defence Secretary Austin, who also hosted the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, an alliance of nearly 50 countries coordinating military support for Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022, warned that if Russia's President Vladimir Putin succeeds in overtaking Ukraine, it could embolden further aggression and stressed the importance of standing firm against autocrats to prevent further territorial expansion and instability. "And the stakes are still enormous -- for all of our security. If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will only grow. If autocrats conclude that democracies will lose their nerve, surrender their interests, and forget their principles, we will only see more land grabs," Austin said as quoted by The Hill. "If tyrants learn that aggression pays, we will only invite even more aggression, chaos and war," he added. To date, the US has provided over USD 66 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war's start. However, less than USD 4 billion of congressionally approved funding remains for Ukraine, with the remaining amount likely to be handled by the incoming Trump administration if not authorised before Biden's term ends, as reported by The Hill. This latest tranche marks the 74th delivery of US military equipment to Ukraine since August 2021. In December, the US finalised additional drawdown and security assistance packages for Ukraine totalling USD 1.25 billion and USD 1.22 billion, respectively. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Berlin, Jan 10 (AP) An oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's efforts to evade sanctions went adrift and had to be towed by a German tugboat on Friday in what Germany's foreign minister called a danger to security and tourism in the Baltic Sea. The Panamanian-flagged Eventin was believed to be carrying 99,000 tons of oil from Russia en route to Egypt when it went adrift for several hours north of the German island of Rugen. Also Read | Donald Trump Sentenced to 'Unconditional Discharge': Judge Sentences US President-Elect in New York Hush Money Case but Declines To Impose Punishment. The Bremen Fighter tugboat was deployed to pull the ship into a harbour, and there was no immediate danger to the environment, the German news agency dpa said. Greenpeace says that Eventin belongs to a so-called Russian shadow fleet, which is made up of hundreds of aging tankers that are dodging sanctions in order to keep oil revenue flowing into the Russian state budget. The sanctions were imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Also Read | Wayfair Layoffs: US-Based E-Commerce Company Plans To Reduce Global Workforce by 3% Affecting Hundreds of Employees, Exit Germany Market Amid Challenges. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the incident shows that Russia is endangering European security not only with its war of aggression on Ukraine but with sabotage and disinformation and even with dilapidated oil tankers". She said that Russia was not only circumventing sanctions with the nefarious use of a fleet of rusty tankers, but also endangering tourism in the Baltic Sea. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 10 (ANI): India on Friday sent humanitarian assistance to Cuba following the devastation caused by Hurricane Rafael. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that a consignment of essential medicines, including antibiotics, and painkillers has been dispatched to aid the people of Cuba in their recovery efforts. Also Read | January 10 Birthdays and Birth Anniversaries: Know About Famous People and Celebrities Born on January 10. Sharing a post on X, the MEA spokesperson wrote, "Vishwabandhu Bharat: India sends Humanitarian Assistance for the people of Cuba." "In the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael, a consignment in the form of Essential Medicines comprising Antibiotics, Anti-pyretics, pain killers, ORS, muscle relaxants has departed for Cuba today," the post added. Also Read | Chandra Arya, Indian-Origin MP, Joins Race for PM, Says 'I Am Running To Be the Next Prime Minister of Canada' in Video Statement. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1877615984158085561 Notably, Hurricane Rafael made landfall in the western Cuban province of Artemisa as a Category 3 storm on the afternoon of November 6, 2024. The hurricane approached the island from the south, having skirted past Jamaica on November 5 as a tropical storm, according to NASA Earth Observatory. Approaching Cuba, it traversed warm waters and encountered light to moderate vertical wind shear--environmental conditions that helped the storm to strengthen into a major hurricane. Rafael's sustained wind speeds peaked at 185 kilometres per hour prior to landfall, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) had reported. It weakened slightly upon encountering land, downgrading to a Category 2 storm as it moved across Cuba and tracked northwest into the Gulf of Mexico. Citing news reports, the NASA Earth Observatory said that the Cuban government announced the hurricane had knocked out power across the entire island before landfall. Several airports had suspended flights. Western Cuba was expected to receive 100 to 200 millimetres of rainfall from the storm system, according to the NHC, with several inches also forecast for the Cayman Islands and Florida Keys. The NHC had also warned of strong storm surge that could raise water as much as four metres above normal levels along Cuba's southern coast. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Karachi, Jan 10 (PTI) Armed militants attacked the residences of a senior minister and a deputy commissioner and stormed a police checkpost in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said. A senior police official said armed militants attacked the residence of Balochistan Minister for Finance and Mineral Resources Mir Shoaib Nosherwani with a hand grenade in his native town of Kharan late on Thursday night. Also Read | Chandra Arya, Canadas Indian-origin MP, Says Hell Run for Prime Ministership (Watch Video). The armed men came on motorcycles and drove away after hurling the hand grenade, he said. No casualty has been reported in the incident, he said. Also Read | Hush Money Case: US-President Elect Donald Trump Loses Supreme Court Appeal, Faces Sentencing. In a similar incident, the militants attacked the residence of the Kalat deputy commissioner with a hand grenade on Thursday night, injuring one police constable on duty at the gate. In the third incident, the armed militants attacked the police checkpost in Mastung town on Thursday night and set fire to machinery and equipment of a cement factory in the vicinity before escaping the scene, authorities said. A police official confirmed the attack took place at a time when the security personnel were changing at the checkpost. The official said the militants snatched guns, ammunition, wireless sets and motorcycles before putting equipment in the cement factory on fire. The official said the militants escaped well before security personnel reached the scene. However, there were no casualties in the attack, the official said. He said the armed militants suspected of being members of outlawed separatist groups on Thursday also carried out a similar operation in Khuzdar, an area in the Balochistan province. He said the militants robbed a bank and burnt a police station before escaping from there. Security and political think tank groups say that since last year the separatist groups operating in the province have become increasingly bold and stepped up their terror attacks on security forces, installations, and civilians working in Balochistan from other provinces. Balochistan is a big province in terms of land and most of this land is in rough mountainous terrains and remote areas and it becomes easier for these militants to carry out their attacks, one security analyst said. Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is home to a long-running violent insurgency. Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several attacks targeting CPEC projects. The BLA accuses China and Islamabad of exploitation of the resource-rich province, a charge rejected by the authorities. It has fought a long-running insurgency for a separate homeland. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Muscat [Oman], January 10 (ANI): Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammad Al Yousef, on Thursday lauded India's economic growth and congratulated its leadership for the country's remarkable transformation over the past two decades. During a media interaction in Oman's capital of Muscat, Oman's commerce minister said, "Actually, we congratulate India on what it has achieved--honestly, the growth, impressive growth, impressive transformation over the last 20 years. So we congratulate your leadership, and the people of India; you have worked hard to achieve economic growth. the middle sector has grown; the growth in your digital transformation, even in many aspects, in science and technology. So we congratulate you for what you have achieved and wish the people and government of India all the best." Also Read | Earthquake in El Salvador: Strong Quake of Magnitude 5.8 on Richter Scale Shakes Central America, No Initial Reports of Damage. On the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and Oman, the minister said, "The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is still under negotiation. We have had several rounds and we are having one round coming up. And then we will see how it progresses. So things are still progressing." "In terms of the G20, we were invited and we are very appreciative to the government of India for inviting the Sultan of Oman to be a guest country attending the G20. Honestly, the Sultan of Oman, and the Ministry of Commerce, made sure that we and the other government agencies attended all the meetings and participated actively. And what you have been able to achieve in that G20 has been significant. And we think that especially when it comes to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, it was negotiated and discussed several times during at least my visits during the G20," he added. Also Read | UK Bestiality Horror: Man Breaks Into Farm in Wiltshire, Has Sex With Shetland Pony; Investigation Underway. On the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, he said, "Any sort of project that can ease business and trade is always welcome. And we have to see how it progresses. But at the moment, you know, shipping and logistics are essential elements of connecting and connectivity and also have an impact on the cost of doing business. So that's always welcome." In terms of how the joint statement between India and Oman was progressing, the minister said, "We are having a joint commission meeting this month, in January, if things go as planned. This will be one of the items on the agenda to discuss the progress on various aspects. But I can let you know that there is a lot of interest from Indian investors in Oman. And we've had several, I would say, larger investors having interest in Oman. And they're already planning for the future. They're already seeing the opportunity, if this CEPA takes place, they're not waiting for it to happen. They're very shrewd. And they're already planning...And that's why India is one of the top three, four countries that are interested in investing in Oman." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Balochistan [Pakistan], January 10 (ANI): Pakistani forces have allegedly forcibly disappeared seven people in separate incidents across Khuzdar, Kharan, and Kech districts of Balochistan. In the Zehri area of Khuzdar, three shopkeepers were arrested during raids on Thursday, as reported by The Balochistan Post. Local traders claimed that the detainees were in custody and their identities have not been revealed. In response, the traders organized a sit-in outside a police station, demanding the immediate release of the shopkeepers, The Balochistan Post reported. Also Read | Chandra Arya, Canadas Indian-origin MP, Says Hell Run for Prime Ministership (Watch Video). In Kharan, two teenagers, Asim Qambarani (13) and Bilawal Qambarani (14), were detained on Wednesday evening in Killi Sarawan. Family members stated that the boys, who were studying in Quetta, were on their way back home for the holidays when they were taken. The families have called on human rights organizations to step in, expressing concern for the children's safety. In a separate incident in Kech district's Buleda area, two men, identified as Kiyya (son of Faiz) and Kenagi (son of Bashir), were reportedly taken from their home in Minaz during a raid. Their families have stated that they have not received any information regarding the men's whereabouts since their detention. Also Read | Hush Money Case: US-President Elect Donald Trump Loses Supreme Court Appeal, Faces Sentencing. Human rights groups have long accused Pakistani forces of conducting enforced disappearances in Balochistan. AActivists say these cases often leave families with no knowledge of their loved one's fate, adding to the region's ongoing atmosphere of tension. The growing wave of disappearances has prompted protests across Balochistan, with the families of the victims organising sit-ins and blocking key highways. These actions aim to raise awareness of the escalating issue of enforced disappearances and human rights violations in the region. The protests reflect the increasing frustration and desperation of the affected communities, calling for immediate government intervention and accountability. The situation highlights the urgency of addressing these grave human rights concerns, with both national and international bodies urged to take swift action to stop the cycle of abductions and ensure justice for the victims and their families, The Balochistan Post reported. The families of the abducted individuals have urgently appealed to the government, political parties, and human rights organizations to intervene and take action to ensure the safe return of their loved ones while holding the perpetrators accountable. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, January 10: Major festivals like Pongal and Makar Sankranti (Lohri) are falling in the third week of January 2025, starting January 13. In view of the festivities, there will be a bank holiday on a select date in certain states. Will banks remain open or closed on January 13? Is there a bank holiday on January 14 and 15? How many days will banks remain shut between January 13 and January 19? If you are looking for the answers, this article has a state-wise list of bank holidays falling between January 13 and 19. Bank holidays are decided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), considering national or state holidays and cultural or religious observance among other factors. The RBI releases the bank holiday calendar for every year in advance, so that people can schedule their bank-related works. Pongal 2025 School Holiday: Check Dates for School Holidays in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh for Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti. State-Wise List of Bank Holidays Between January 13 and 19 January 13: As per the bank holiday calendar released by the RBI, there is no bank holiday on January 13. Therefore, all banks in India will remain open on January 13. January 14: There will be a bank holiday on January 14 on account of Makar Sankranti and Pongal. Hence, banks will remain shut in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. January 15: A bank holiday will be observed on January 15 in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Sikkim due to Makar Sankranti and Pongal festivities. In Assam, banks will remain closed on account of Magh Bihu. Banks will remain shut in Chennai to observe Thiruvalluvar Day. January 16: There will be a bank holiday on January 16 in Andhra Pradesh to celebrate Kanuma Panduga. Banks will also remain closed in Channei to observe Uzhavar Thirunal. January 17: All banks will remain open across India. January 18: All banks will be operational across India. January 19: All banks in India will be closed on January 19 as it is a Sunday. You can get the state-wise full list of bank holidays in 2025 by clicking here. Notably, irrespective of the bank holidays, online banking services remain operational throughout the year, except when there is a downtime due to technical issues. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2025 04:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bengaluru, January 10: Bengaluru residents are set to experience a planned power outage on Saturday, January 11, as the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) undertakes emergency maintenance work. The outage, scheduled from 10 AM to 5 PM, will last approximately seven hours. The maintenance is being carried out by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) at the 66/11 kV IISc substation in Malleshwarams C6 sub-division. BESCOM has advised residents and businesses in the affected areas to prepare for the disruption, emphasising that the maintenance is crucial for improving the citys power distribution network and preventing future breakdowns. Delhi Weather Update Today, January 10: Over 100 Flights Delayed As Dense Fog Hits Operations at IGI Airport (Watch Video). The areas set to be impacted include Malleswaram, MD Block, Vyalikaval, Swimming Pool Extension, Kodandarampur, Ranganathapura, BHEL, IISc Brain Center, Ambedkar Nagar, Yeshwantpur Pipeline Road, LN Colony, Subedrapalya, Diwanara Palya, KN Extension, Yeshwantpur 1st Main Road, HMT Main Road, Model Colony, Sharif Nagar, and nearby localities. Rajasthan Weather Update: Minimum Temperature Rises to 3.3 Degrees Celsius From 1.1 Degrees Celsius; Rain and Hailstorm Alert Issued. This planned outage follows another disruption on Friday, January 10, when power was cut from 10 AM to 3:30 PM due to maintenance at the 66/11 kV Well Cast Substation. Areas affected included Ravindra Nagar, Prashanath Nagar, Santosh Nagar, Air Force Jalahalli West, and key commercial zones like KSRTC Bus Stand, Volvo, Wipro Velcast Factory, ITC, and Avery Dennison. BESCOM has assured consumers that such maintenance efforts are aimed at enhancing reliability and minimising power outages in the future. Residents are encouraged to plan their activities accordingly. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2025 07:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Thursday received a bomb threat via email prompting swift action from university authorities and law enforcement agencies. The email, which demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakh, sparked a thorough search operation across the campus. On 9 January Panamas Presidentparticipated in an event to commemorate the 61anniversary of Martyrs Day, which marks the death of 21 protesters in clashes with police and the US army as riots erupted over US sovereignty over the Panama Canal. End of preview - This article contains approximately 360 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options En espanol Mexican authorities offered protection to Natanael Cano this week after drug cartels threatened to kill him. However, the regional Mexican music artist, often dubbed the daredevil of the genre, didn't flinch. Instead, he responded with a sarcastic video. The threat was deemed credible enough for Sonora State Prosecutor Gustavo Salas to intervene. It surfaced in the form of a "narcomanta" (a cartel banner) at a high school in Hermosillo, Mexico. The banner read: "Stick to your profession as musicians. This isn't about singing corridos, it's about collaborating financially or through any illegal actions. If you ignore this warning, you will be executed. Att. Jalisco Mata Salaz." The message was printed on a tarp, which is a method often used by criminal organizations for public threats. Several individuals were named in the warning, including Cano (nicknamed "El Nata" by his fans), Tito Torbellino Jr., Javier Rosas, and local groups in Hermosillo, Guaymas, Ciudad Obregon, and Navojoa. The banner was signed by "Los Matasalas," a group reportedly created by "Los Chapitos"the faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by the sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. They are currently fighting for control of the cartel in a war against their rivals, "La Mayiza." Experts note that "Los Chapitos" are vying for control over drug production and trafficking routes, including fentanyl, between Sonora and Arizona. Natanael Cano's reaction Cano is not the first regional Mexican artist to be targeted by drug cartels. Others, including Peso Pluma, have also faced death threats. However, this case is unique because the artists weren't just warned against performing in specific areas but accused of financing rival groups. Most artists respond by canceling shows and avoiding the subject. However, Cano took a different approach. He made it very clear what he thought of the threat on his Instagram stories. He posted a picture expressing his thoughts on the threat with a sarcastic caption: "The only blankets I'm worried about right now. Do you think they'll keep me warm?" followed by a laughing emoji. The photo showed two blankets featuring his face on a bed. Cano's reaction suggests he's not overly concerned. Whether Cano has taken the threat seriously or accepted the protection offered by the Sonora prosecutor remains unclear. What is certain, however, is that the Sinaloa Cartel is embroiled in a violent internal war. The factions, led by "Los Chapitos" and "La Mayiza"supporters of El Mayo Flaco, son of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambadaare fighting for dominance. Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo, was captured last year in the United States. Originally published in The Latin Times En espanol After controversies surrounding Miss Universe and the recent dismissal of Miss Argentina, a new scandal has emerged involving the Miss Universe Cuba organization. The situation has escalated to the point where the contest organizers were forced to address the matter concerning Marianela Ancheta, Miss Cuba 2024. The controversy began when alleged comments criticizing the Cuban exile community, supposedly made by Ancheta, went viral. These remarks appeared on an Instagram account using Ancheta's image but were not linked to her official profile. The account in question, @misscuba, shared posts supporting statements against Cuba's exile community. A shaken Miss Cuba The situation intensified after these comments were highlighted on the show of Alexander Otaola, a Cuban-American influencer based in Miami. One of the comments shared read: "The real culprits for Cuba's current state ran away in a hurry. We were born into a ruined Cuba because they failed to defend it." Miss Universe Cuba responds In response, the Miss Universe Cuba organization issued an official statement on Instagram, firmly denying that the comments came from Marianela Ancheta. The statement clarified that the organization does not take responsibility for content shared by unauthorized sources. The organization emphasized that Marianela Ancheta has only two official accounts: @marianelaancheta on Instagram and @anchetamarianela on TikTok. Any other accounts using her name or image are unauthorized and do not represent Miss Cuba 2024. Additionally, the statement called for greater responsibility and ethics in sharing information. It urged the public to verify sources before spreading news, warning that any violations could result in legal action. A controversial selection process Ancheta's selection as Miss Cuba 2024 was not without criticism. The pageant, held in Miami, allowed participation from candidates born in Cuba or with Cuban parents in exile. This decision sparked mixed reactions both within Cuba and among the Cuban diaspora. In Havana some opposed the idea of a Miss Cuba representative living abroad. Conversely, the Cuban exile community in the U.S. welcomed the decision. Despite the controversy, after nearly 60 years without Cuban representation in Miss Universe, Marianela Ancheta made her debut on November 16 in Mexico City, drawing significant attention. More than a model Born in Ranchuelo, Villa Clara, Marianela Ancheta has shared her inspiring journey in several interviews. She emigrated to Mexico and later to the United States at age 13, crossing borders with her mother. "Mexico holds a special place in my heart because I crossed the border with my mom," she recalled in a recent interview. In addition to being a model, Ancheta is an entrepreneur. She is the founder of ARMA FACE Skincare, a brand specializing in skincare products. She describes herself as brave, compassionate, and genuinea reflection of her personal and professional journey. Read more: The Outfit Made of Condoms Nobody Saw at Miss Universe 2024 Originally published in The Latin Times After just shy of a year in operation, the doors have already closed on the Lehigh Valleys first drive-thru Wawa. The 2,200-square-foot store was shuttered Thursday at Jaindl Land Co.s Trexler Business Center, 6216 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie, a Wawa spokeswoman confirmed. The store closed due to a business decision, she said. Wawa is constantly testing new concepts to meet the needs of our customers, said Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce in an email. Bruce said a Largo, Florida, store continues to operate with a drive-thru for testing purposes. All employees from the Lower Macungie site were offered jobs at other stores, she said. The Wawa store drive-thru opened in February with major fanfare a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition and T-shirt giveaways for the stores first 100 attendees. At the time, there was just one other standalone Wawa drive-thru of its type open in Morrisville, Bucks County. That store also reportedly closed in November. The idea behind the smaller Wawa was to allow guests to stay in cars as they placed orders versus entering a larger convenience-type store. There were no gas pumps or entry doors. The modern-looking building also featured a limited menu, focusing on quick service food and drink options. The southern-based chicken chain Raising Canes opened its first regional site in August beside the new Wawa. Patrons at Raising Canes waited in drive-thru lines for an hour or more. A lehighvalleylive.com reporter didnt witness the same high demand or turnout during multiple visits at the adjacent Wawa into the fall months. Delaware County-based Wawa Inc. has more than 1,000 convenience retail stores with hundreds offering gasoline across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. Regionally, Wawa has about two dozen locations and continues to grow rapidly. Some of its most recent additions include a store that opened in April on the site that formerly housed Leisers Rentals and Sales in Bethlehem Township. Another Wawa opened in December 2023 along Route 412 near the Interstate 78 interchange at the site of the former Chriss Restaurant in South Bethlehem. Wawa in March 2022 opened an Allentown location at 364 Susquehanna St. It followed an Upper Saucon location at 6680 Route 309 opening in January 2022. A Lower Nazareth store then opened in September 2022 at 4089 Jandy Blvd. Even more regional Wawa stores remain under construction or are proposed. Those projects include at 90 Highland Ave. in Hanover Township, Northampton County. There also are reportedly plans moving forward for a store at Route 309 and Chapmans Road, South Whitehall Township; as well as plans for a second Bethlehem Township location at 4457 Easton Ave. That store would sit between the Blue Grillhouse and Farmersville Road and includes designs for a four-story, 60-unit apartment building. A developer is eyeing the property that previously occupied The Brass Rail restaurant at Lehigh Street and Oxford Drive in Allentown, for another Wawa site. Its unclear if anything is on tap to replace the Wawa at Trexler Business Center. Township Manager Bruce Beitel didnt immediately return a request for more information Thursday afternoon. Aside from Raising Canes, the shopping center includes Bastian Carpet One; Movie Tavern Trexlertown; the First Commonwealth Credit Union Headquarters; and a First Commonwealth Credit Union branch. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Amazon is offering a mega deal on this bestselling Solar-Charging Power Bank that drops the sale price to an all-time low. The Solar Power Bank from the Mregb is now on sale for $30, instead of $36, for a savings of 17% off. This sale price drops even lower with an extra 15% off clickable coupon, making the device on $26. This is the lowest price weve ever seen on this top-rated Solar-Charging Power Bank on Amazon, which is even better than the discount offered on Black Friday. At 42800mAh, this Portable Solar Power Bank has internal batteries that can be charged with solar power or the USB cable. The power bank is compatible with all types of USB devices, including smartphones and tablets from Apple, Android, Samsung and more. Featuring two USB ports, this Solar Power Bank allows you to charge multiple devices at once with a fast-charge option available. It also has a durable design that is waterproof, heat resistant, dust proof and drop proof with a built-in LED flashlight is also included. Amazon is offering free same-day Prime delivery on this Solar Power Bank, so you can have it delivered ASAP. Shop for this Solar Power Bank deal on Amazon here. You can also check out more solar power banks on sale from Amazon, including these top-rated offers: Find more discounts on solar power banks on Amazon here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania) has announced that he will open seven regional offices across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the end of next week. He said in a statement that the Harrisburg office opened on Monday and that the other six will be opened by the end of next week. The address, phone number, scheduled open date, and hours of operation for each of the seven regional offices are listed below. Constituents can find additional information, including a web contact form to reach McCormick, by visiting www.mccormick.senate.gov. Here is the list: A water main break has prompted the early dismissal of a Bethlehem Area School District elementary school. Asa Packer Elementary School, 650 Kenwood Drive, dismissed all pupils by noon Friday. It happened after the water main break began around 9 a.m. along Kenwood Drive, in the vicinity of the school. The break was ongoing Friday morning, school officials posted on the districts website. The incident additionally has led to students enrolled in the districts after-school childcare program to be transported to Hanover Elementary School, 3890 Jacksonville Road, in the city. Asa Packer houses more than 300 students in grades K-5. Ed Boscola, the citys director of Water and Sewer Resources, said there were no evacuations of homes during the water main break. The school temporarily had their water shut off, but service has since been restored, Boscola said. Crews quickly repaired the break within three hours, he said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. A chef who was caught doing 175kph on the motorway will need to donate 5,000 if he is to keep his driving licence. Lukasz Maslowski (39) of 9 Royston Village, Kimmage, Dublin was caught driving at 175kph on the M7 at Ballydavis, Portlaoise on June 30, 2024. Garda Ross Foy said the incident occurred at 10.24am on the date in question. Garda Foy said the defendant was driving a 181D registered Volvo S90 and visibility was good. The defendant cooperated fully and passed the roadside breath and drug test when caught, he said. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client had attended a wedding the day before and was returning to Dublin as he had to work from lunch that day. He said the man had been very careful at the wedding the day before. Mr Meagher said his client had no penalty points and had never been involved in an accident. He said the man had brought 2,500 to court and was asked that the court consider reducing the dangerous driving to careless driving, which doesnt involve an automatic disqualification. Judge Cody noted the man was driving a nice Volvo S90 on the date in question. He said it was a very significant speed and the defendant would need to double the sum before he would consider reducing it to careless driving. He would be willing but he would need significant time, said Mr Meagher. He told Judge Cody that there was an outstanding loan on the car. I would ask him to make that donation to the Merchants Quay programme, said Judge Cody. He said the man would get tax relief on the donation. Judge Cody adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on May 1 and said if 5,000 was donated to Merchants Quay I will reduce it to Section 52(Careless driving) and there will be a fine of 400. 23 year-old Sophie Murphy from Kilcullen has made it through to the final of Miss Ireland 2025 and is currently seeking sponsorship to support her during the campaign. You can donate HERE. Sophie said on her GoFundMe page, "The sponsorship package requires a 1,500 contribution, which will help to cover a variety of aspects to the competition. This includes tutorials, workshops, photoshoots and the final event, which takes place in March 2025. "I have always appreciated the sense of community in Kilcullen and Im hoping that this amazing community can get behind me and support my journey to Miss Ireland." Sophie is closing in on half way to her fundraising goal and any excess contributions will be donated to The Childrens Health Foundation. Sophie works in healthcare and is hoping to continue to be a major mental health advocate during her campaign. She said, " Drawing from my own personal experiences with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Depersonalisation Disorder (DPD), putting efforts into better managing our minds and harvesting healthier, more positive thought processes is vital. I also believe that OCD is often misunderstood and under-discussed. Therefore, I aim hoping to raise awareness and provide support for those facing similar challenges to me." Tributes have been paid to leading Leitrim barrister, Mr Donal Keane, BL, who has died. Mr Keane, who was the State Prosecutor in Co Leitrim and regularly appeared at courts in Donegl, passed away suddenly following a brief illness. A barrister since 1992, Mr Keane practised on both the Midland and Northern court circuits. Judge Ciaran Liddy led tributes to the late Mr Keane saying it was with "profound sadness" that the court paid tribute to their esteemed colleague. He told a sitting of Letterkenny District Court: "A barrister of exceptional character and ability, Donal exemplified the finest qualities of our profession. "Throughout his distinguished career, he was more than a legal advocate. He was a gentleman, whose kindness, integrity and pleasant disposition left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. "He had balance, insight and a deep understanding of not just the law but also of the case in hand." Judge Liddy said Mr Keane was not just a colleague but a friend to the profession, ever willing to offer guidance, share his wisdom, and support his peers in moments of need. He said: "Donal will be remembered not only for his sharp legal mind but also for the grace and humility with which he carried himself. In court, he was an advocate of fairness; in life, he was a model of decency and compassion. "As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate a life well-lived - a life dedicated to the legal profession and the enrichment of all those around him. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Frederique and their children, family, friends, and all who knew and admired him. May he rest in peace." Barrister Niall O'Neill BL, said the late Mr Keane was a friend of his and he actually sat across from Donal in the law library. He described the late Mr Keane as a "very effective barrister" saying he would try to resolve matters when they could be resolved but that he would always fight on behalf of his client. "He was an example to all about how to be a good barrister. He was excellent at what he did. I was involved in many cases with him, both family law and criminal cases. He was always person who was easy to get along with. "I had an awful lot of respect for him as a barrister. He said he often went for coffee with Mr Keane and that he enjoyed his company and his stories but always "valued his advice." "He was such a positive man and I shall certainly miss him," Mr O'Neill said. Solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian spoke on behalf of the local solicitors. He said he had known Mr Keane for many years as their fathers had been friends and that he had been to university with Mr Keane's brother. He referred to the "practical and calm approach" Mr Keane had always displayed in court but said he will always be remembered for his "humour, knowledge and accuracy." He added that Mr Keane never used excessive words but always got his message across clearly in court. Mr Dorrian said that he never heard a complaint from any of his colleagues about Mr Keane. "He will be greatly missed as he presented as a kind, decent and proper colleague," he added. State solicitor for Donegal, Mr Kieran Dillon, said he wished to be associated with all the previous remarks about Mr Keane. He said: "I knew Mr Keane very well and this is just a sad day. I just want to agree with everything that was said here today. He will be missed." Manager of the Courts Service in Letterkenny, Mr Geoffrey McGonagle, spoke on behalf of the courts service and the staff at Letterkenny courthouse. He said: "I would also like to be associated with all the kind words that were said this morning about Donal Keane. I would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to Donal's family at this difficult time. "We got to know Donal well in the past year as he was assigned here for a lengthy case and he was always a gentleman to deal with. Finally, I would like to extend our sympathies to Donal's colleagues and friends at this difficult time." State prosecuting barrister for Donegal, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, has also paid tribute to Mr Keane. Ms Crawford said: "Donal was an absolute gentleman, he was such a decent person and a fine lawyer. A farmer really at heart. As a colleague he was level headed and unflappable and always in good form. "Always a pleasure having the chats in The Quiet Moment. It is a sad and sudden loss and sympathies are with Frederique and the family." READ MORE: TD Martin Kenny calls for transport policing after Sligo train shotgun incident Four arts organisations in Leitrim have been awarded a total of 925,990 in the Arts Councils first round of funding for 2025, highlighting the county's vital role in Irelands cultural landscape. The funding forms part of a 68.5 million package distributed to 175 arts organisations, centres, and studios across the country. The Leitrim Sculpture Centre, based in Manorhamilton, has received 350,000 under the Strategic Funding programme. This grant will support its ongoing work as a leading centre for sculpture and visual arts, both in the region and nationally. Similarly, Teac Damsa, known for its groundbreaking work in theatre and dance, has been awarded 410,000 through the same funding stream, enabling the organisation to continue its innovative productions. The Dock, located in Carrick-on-Shannon, has secured 156,000 through the Arts Centres funding programme. As a cultural hub in the county, this funding will bolster The Docks ability to deliver an extensive programme of exhibitions, performances, and workshops that engage local audiences and artists alike. Caret (^), a unique initiative supporting visual artists, will receive 9,990 under the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme. This grant will directly benefit six artists, providing them with vital workspace and resources to develop their creative projects within Leitrim. This funding is part of a wider effort by the Arts Council to strengthen arts infrastructure across Ireland. Nationally, 57.7 million has been allocated to 104 organisations under the Strategic Funding programme, while 10 million is earmarked for 41 arts centres, and 746,000 is set to support 30 art studios across 15 counties. Commenting on the announcement, Arts Council Chair Maura McGrath said the funding would help bring communities together through the power of art. Director Maureen Kennelly emphasised the importance of supporting regional organisations like those in Leitrim, which are central to ensuring the arts remain accessible to all. This significant investment affirms Leitrims position as a vibrant centre for creativity, with its arts organisations playing a crucial role in fostering cultural growth and engagement both locally and beyond. Property prices in County Leitrim have risen by 10,025 in the last quarter, according to the latest MyHome Property Price Report, published in association with Bank of Ireland. The report for Q4 2024 highlights that the median asking price for a property in the county now stands at 189,975, an increase of 20,975 compared to the same period last year. Despite the rise, Leitrim remains the most affordable county in Ireland for property purchases, with the average house price reaching 193,124 by the years end. The price of a 3-bed semi-detached house rose by 20,000 over the quarter, bringing the asking price to 190,000. Meanwhile, 4-bed semi-detached homes saw a smaller quarterly increase of 4,525, but their annual rise of 67,475 brought the median asking price to 244,475. The supply of homes on the market continues to tighten, with only 111 properties for sale in the county at the end of 2024, marking a 10% decrease compared to the previous quarter. These figures highlight a strong upward trend in Leitrims property market, reflecting growing demand and limited supply in the county. Demand is still fierce in the market and indeed has strengthened as the year has gone on, according to Conall MacCoille, Chief Economist at Bank of Ireland, who authored the report. The average time for a property to have a sale agreed upon in the county after being placed up for sale now stands at just over two months. The pressure on housing demand nationally is unlikely to let up in the next year, and with that prices will continue to rise, according to the report. The report states that first-time buyers are taking out larger loans to pay for homes with this year marking the first time since the Celtic Tiger that would-be homeowners in Ireland have had to take out loans that are bigger than those in the UK. The average leveraged loan given to buyers in Ireland last year was 3.37 times their income. The pressure on housing demand is unlikely to let up in the next year, and with that prices will continue to rise according to the report. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, the outlook is extremely uncertain. For now, we are sticking with our forecast for 42,000 housing completions next year, rising to 45,000 in 2026. We also expect a 4% rise in Irish house prices. However, if anything this view could be too conservative, MacCoille says. There may be signs of improvement in pricing as more houses come on the market nationally in springtime ahead of summer and ECB rate cuts come into effect, which will support house prices, however, MacCoille warns that any initial improvement in affordability may be diluted by homebuyers bidding up house prices. READ MORE: Cloone Postman airlifted to hospital after collision on icy roads in Leitrim Tech giant Elon Musk has slammed Ireland following a claim on his X social media platform that illegal immigrants get shorter sentences. Musk reposted a post from an Irish user and said: "Irish citizens get longer sentences than illegal immigrants. Thats messed up." The post in question contained screenshots of parts of two articles from 2001 and 2003 which described a case in which an Algerian man was sentenced to 10 years with 18 months suspended for the rape of one woman and the rape and kidnapping of another woman. The screenshots were posted alongside a tweet which said: "For over 20 years, Muslim illegal immigrants have been handed lesser sentences for raping women in Ireland. READ MORE: Gardai stand down search for 15-year-old girl missing since before New Year's amid update "Sid Ahmed Benflici assaulted an Irish woman in October 1999 and spent just 3 months in prison. On April 16th, 2000, he kidnapped and raped an Irish woman. Just 2 days later, on the 18th, he raped another Irish woman. He was given 3 months for assaulting the first woman. He was given 6 years for the first rape, and the judge said if he was Irish, he would have been sentenced to 10 years. "For the second rape, he was sentenced to 10 years, but the judge suspended 18 months, so the sentence was 8.5 years. Ireland is a broken country." It was posted by an Irish individual whose bio reads: "Irish. Banned by Twitter regime. Restored by Elon and X." followed by a cover photo sporting the hashtag "IrelandBelongsToTheIrish". The claim made in the post that Irish people serve longer sentences than migrants who are in the country illegally cannot be verified. According to an article from 2017 which was published by the Irish Examiner, an Irish man by the name of Michael Murray was jailed for the rape and sexual assault of a woman and had his 15-year prison sentence increased to 19 years as a result of an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He had abducted the womans child in the same incident which saw charges brought against him of attempted rape, oral rape, and aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill or cause serious harm, false imprisonment, and theft, at a Dublin apartment on February 12 and 13, 2010. More recently, in July 2024, Jonathon Moran was sentenced to 9 years in prison for the rape Blathnaid Raleigh in July 2019. In 2002, the Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland Report (SAVI) highlighted that just one in ten victims of sexual crime in Ireland will report their assaults. Of that one in ten, just 7% will secure a conviction meaning that out of 100 victims of sexual crime only 10 report that crime and less than 1% or barely one victim from that 100 will see their attacker pay for their crimes. CANADIAN UTILITIES LIMITED ELIGIBLE DIVIDENDS Increases Common Share Dividend for the 53rd consecutive year CALGARY, AB, Jan. 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Canadian Utilities Limited (TSX: CU) The Board of Directors of Canadian Utilities Limited, an ATCO Company, today declared a first quarter dividend of 45.77 cents per Class A non-voting (TSX: CU) and Class B common share, a one percent increase over the 45.31 cents paid in each of the four previous quarters. This common share dividend is payable March 1, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 6, 2025. The Board of Directors of Canadian Utilities Limited also declared the following Cumulative Redeemable Second Preferred Share Dividends: Shares TSX Stock Symbol Dividend Per Share ($) Record Date (2025) Payment Date (2025) Series Y 5.196% CU.PR.C 0.32475 06-Feb 01-Mar Series AA 4.90% CU.PR.D 0.30625 06-Feb 01-Mar Series BB 4.90% CU.PR.E 0.30625 06-Feb 01-Mar Series CC 4.50% CU.PR.F 0.28125 06-Feb 01-Mar Series DD 4.50% CU.PR.G 0.28125 06-Feb 01-Mar Series EE 5.25% CU.PR.H 0.328125 06-Feb 01-Mar Series FF 4.50% CU.PR.I 0.28125 06-Feb 01-Mar Series HH 4.75% CU.PR.J 0.296875 06-Feb 01-Mar These dividends are eligible dividends within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Canadian Utilities Limited and its subsidiary and affiliate companies have approximately 9,000 employees and assets of $23 billion. Canadian Utilities, an ATCO company, is a diversified global energy infrastructure corporation delivering essential services and innovative business solutions. ATCO Energy Systems delivers energy for an evolving world through its electricity and natural gas transmission and distribution, and international operations segments. ATCO EnPower creates sustainable energy solutions in the areas of renewables, energy storage, industrial water and alternative fuels. ATCO Australia develops, builds, owns and operates energy and infrastructure assets. More information can be found at www.canadianutilities.com. Investor & Analyst Inquiries: Colin Jackson Senior Vice President, Financial Operations [email protected] 403 808 2636 Media Inquiries: Kurt Kadatz Director, Corporate Communications [email protected] 587 228 4571 Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. In particular, forward-looking information in this news release includes references to the payment of dividends. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. SOURCE Canadian Utilities Limited 9 january 2025 at 18:19 News published onand distributed by: Leading Independent Proxy Advisory Firms Recommend Orla's Shareholders Vote for the Proposed Acquisition of Musselwhite Mine from Newmont Corporation VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX: OLA) (NYSE: ORLA) ("Orla" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the two leading independent proxy advisory firms have each recommended that Orla's shareholders vote FOR the resolution to approve the Company's proposed acquisition of the Musselwhite Mine (the "Transaction") from Newmont Corporation ("Newmont"). The proxy advisory firms also recommended voting FOR a resolution to approve a concurrent private placement of convertible notes and common share purchase warrants to Pierre Lassonde and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. The net proceeds from the private placement will be used to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Transaction (the "Concurrent Private Placement"). Your Vote is Important The deadline for voting your shares by proxy is 8:00 a.m. ( Vancouver time) on Friday January 17, 2025 . ( time) on . Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. Vote today! Shareholders who have questions or need assistance with voting their shares should contact Orla's proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group, by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 or by email at [email protected] . Orla's Special Meeting of Shareholders A special meeting of shareholders of the Company will be held on January 21, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) at Suite 3500 -1133 Melville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4E5, to consider the Transaction and Concurrent Private Placement. Recommendations of Orla's Board of Directors Orla's Board of Directors (excluding Scott Langley, Newmont's representative on the Board), having considered all factors it has deemed to be necessary to be considered, unanimously recommends Orla's shareholders vote FOR the resolutions approving the Transaction and the Concurrent Private Placement. Shareholders are encouraged to read the Company's management information circular dated December 9, 2024, and vote their shares as soon as possible. The management information circular is available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively, as well as the Company's website at www.orlamining.com/investors/musselwhite-special-meeting. About Orla Mining Ltd. Orla's corporate strategy is to acquire, develop, and operate mineral properties where the Company's expertise can substantially increase stakeholder value. The Company has two material gold projects: (1) Camino Rojo, located in Zacatecas State, Mexico and (2) South Railroad, located in Nevada, United States. Orla is operating the Camino Rojo Oxide Gold Mine, a gold and silver open-pit and heap leach mine. The property is 100% owned by Orla and covers over 139,000 hectares which contains a large oxide and sulphide mineral resource. Orla is also developing the South Railroad Project, a feasibility-stage, open pit, heap leach gold project located on the Carlin trend in Nevada. Orla has also entered into a definitive agreement with a subsidiary of Newmont to acquire the Musselwhite Mine, located in Ontario, Canada. This Transaction is subject to certain conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. The technical reports for the Company's material projects are available on Orla's website at www.orlamining.com, and on SEDAR+ and EDGAR under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively. Forward-looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the United States Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or in releases made by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, all as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's special meeting held to consider the Transaction and Concurrent Private Placement and the expected closing date of the Transaction. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated March 19, 2024, which are available on www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE Orla Mining Ltd. 9 january 2025 at 18:29 News published onand distributed by: Gold Terra Announces Start of 2025 Drilling Program Targeting High-Grade Gold in the Campbell Shear, Con Mine Option Property, NWT Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(Frankfurt:TX0)(OTCQB:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of its 2025 wedge hole drilling program that will continue targeting the prolific Campbell Shear (CS) from master hole GTCM24-056 on the Con Mine Option (CMO) Property. Hole GTCM24-056 was drilled to a depth of 3,002 metres and will serve as a master hole from which to branch off with as many wedges as possible to evaluate the CS 600 metres below the current Robertson shaft depth (1,900 metres), up-dip and laterally. The wedge hole drilling program allows for a more efficient and cheaper evaluation of the CS rather than drilling holes from surface. The objective of the 2025 wedge hole drilling program is to continue testing for high-grade gold in the CS (past production of 5.1 Moz @ 16 g/t, refer to the Oct. 21, 2022 Technical Report) on the Con Mine below the historic Con Mine underground workings. The CMO Property is under option from a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation and is 100% acquirable by the Company upon fulfillment of certain conditions set out in the CMO Property Option agreement, as reported in the Company's news release dated November 22, 2021. The target is located downdip from the 5.1 Moz mined gold deposit plunging steeply to the south between elevation 1,900 metres (Robertson shaft depth) and 2,600 metres. Chairman and CEO, Gerald Panneton, commented, "Building on our work in 2024, we are pleased to start our 2025 wedge hole drilling program to assess the high-grade gold potential of the Campbell Shear below the Robertson Shaft. This approach is a very efficient and cost-effective way to assess the CS at depth. We anticipate that the wedge holes will open a large under-explored area down plunge from the prolific CS that is 600 metres to 800 metres below the existing infrastructure. Our aim is to eventually add additional high grade gold ounces to our next MRE (Mineral Resource Estimate)." 2025 Wedge Hole Drilling Program Highlights The wedge hole drilling program is starting on January 10, 2025. The 2025 drilling program will consist of an initial plan of wedge holes (5 to 7) with an approximate estimate drilling length of 3,000 metres. Figure 1 below is a cross-section showing the master hole GTCM24-056 from which numerous wedges of varying lengths are placed along to intersect the target area in depths shallower than that of the master hole. The first wedge is planned to start at 2,000-2,100 metres downhole with a CS target of 2,700 metres, or 800 metres below the Robertson shaft. Wedge holes are designed to target the CS at depth first, and then up-dip with each successive wedge being higher up the master hole. The CS was initially intersected at depth in deep hole GTCM23-055, which intersected 12.63 g/t Au over 1.7m in the CS structure approximately 150m below the Con Mine workings, demonstrating the potential of the CS at depth. Figure 1 is a cross section showing master hole GTCM24-056, the hanging granite wall zone, the Con Shear, and the gold potential window of the CS targeted by wedge holes. The 2025 deep drilling program aims to expand the September 2022 initial Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") (see September 7, 2022, press release) of 109,000 Indicated ounces of contained gold and 432,000 Inferred ounces of contained gold between surface and 400 metres below surface along a 2-kilometre corridor of the Campbell Shear (October 21, 2022 MRE titled "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" by Qualified Person, Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., SGS Geological Services, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Corporate Update - Shares for Debt Transaction The Company has entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement (the "Agreement") dated December 18, 2024 between Newmont FN Canada Holdings Ltd. and Miramar Northern Mining Limited (collectively, the "Creditors"), Goldcorp Inc. (the "Subscriber") and the Company to settle a debt in the amount of $89,364.75 pertaining to the maintenance costs paid on the Con Mine properties between 2020 and 2023. To settle the debt, the Company has agreed to issue 1,625,000 common shares to the Subscriber at $0.055 (being the 20-day volume weighted average trading price ending on the last trading day before the Company entered into this Agreement). Upon issuance of the shares to the Subscriber, the outstanding liability shall be deemed fully satisfied. The Transaction remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issuable in connection with the Transaction are subject to a hold-period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Gold Terra The Yellowknife Project (YP) encompasses 918 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YP is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where approximately 14 Moz of gold has been produced, (refer to Gold Terra Oct 21, 2022, Technical Report) and most recently on the Con Mine Option (CMO) property claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine which produced 6.1 Moz between the Con, Rycon, and Campbell shear structures (1938-2003). The YP and CMO properties lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that hosts the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com. For more information, please contact: Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO [email protected] Mara Strazdins, Investor Relations Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102 [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore, investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource could ever be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "Measured Mineral Resources," "Indicated Mineral Resources," or "Inferred Mineral Resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing. Cautionary Note to United States Investors The Company prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Terms relating to Mineral Resources in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended ("CIM Standards"). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has adopted amendments effective February 25, 2019 (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources", which are defined in substantially similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "Proven Mineral Reserves" and "Probable Mineral Reserves" to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Standards. U.S. investors are cautioned that while the foregoing terms are "substantially similar" to corresponding definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any Mineral Resources that the Company may report as "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the Mineral Resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of "Inferred Mineral Resources" cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear, potentially adding ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp 10 january 2025 at 07:00 View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by: Andreessen Horowitz Partners with Lilly to Launch First-of-Its-Kind Biotech Ecosystem Venture Fund Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio + Health today announced a newly formed, first-of-its-kind venture capital fund to fuel broader innovation in human health, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly"). The Biotech Ecosystem Venture Fund ("Fund") seeks to drive transformative progress in healthcare by investing in therapeutic platforms and cutting-edge technology companies that can bring new medicines and disease treatments to improve patients' lives. Managed by a16z Bio + Health, the Fund will deploy up to $500 million to invest in companies at all stages - from company creation to growth. The Fund will focus on advancing the development of new medicines, enabling novel modality platforms, and scaling emerging health technologies. As a complementary source of capital to traditional venture funding, the Fund will take a long-term view to enable disruptive companies to realize the full potential of new biological science, engineering technologies, and AI capabilities. The Fund aims to foster a technology ecosystem of ambitious bio + health entrepreneurs and innovators. Vineeta Agarwala, M.D., Ph.D, general partner at a16z Bio + Health, stated, "The Biotech Ecosystem Venture Fund seeks to enable visionary founders to create enduring solutions in biotech and healthcare. Combining our strengths as organizations will empower founders with not only the venture backing needed to advance groundbreaking technologies, but also the resources needed to strategically select the most promising application areas for these platforms. The creation of this new fund signifies a shared passion and commitment with Lilly to deliver truly meaningful change in our ability to treat and care for people living with disease." The Fund leverages the strengths of a16z in sourcing, building, and scaling bio + health companies, and combines it with Lilly's deep expertise in life science R&D. Beyond contributing all the capital, Lilly will have the ability to provide additional resources to the companies, including Catalyze360tm which is a specialized support structure for biotech startups that includes Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs?, and Lilly ExplorR&Dtm? all of which provide biotech startups with access to world-class pre-clinical and clinical drug development talent and resources. Together, a16z's distinct experience at the intersection of life sciences and technology, and Lilly's scientific, clinical, and commercial expertise create an alliance powered to overcome complex challenges within the healthcare ecosystem. "Catalyze360 was created to accelerate the success of emerging biotech startups by providing access to people, tools, capabilities, and expertise that is traditionally hard for early-stage companies to reach," said Nisha Nanda, Ph.D., group vice president, Catalyze360. "With the Biotech Ecosystem Fund, we can further scale our work to empower entrepreneurs as they work to bring transformative therapies to patients faster." About Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Founded in Silicon Valley in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz (known as "a16z") is a venture capital firm that backs bold entrepreneurs building the future through technology. We are stage agnostic: We invest in seed to venture to late-stage technology companies, across bio + health, consumer, crypto, enterprise, fintech, games, and companies building toward American dynamism. a16z has $44B in committed capital across multiple funds. The Bio + Health practice invests in bold entrepreneurs who are innovating new ways to treat and tackle diseases and building the modern, efficient and enduring healthcare system for better care. 10 january 2025 at 08:50 News published onand distributed by: VerifiedX Releases VFX SwitchBlade Wallet Featuring First-Mover Bitcoin Utility at BitMart TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The VerifiedX (VFX) Network, VerifiedX.io, has launched its mainnet non-custodial wallet VFX SwitchBlade, which enables full native Bitcoin functionality. The VFX SwitchBlade also supports a 'first-mover' fully decentralized and self custodial Bitcoin Tokenization (Verified Bitcoin) with on-chain native features, enabling real day-to-day utility, while solving current frictions for all Bitcoiners globally today. Verified Bitcoin (vBTC) enables anyone the ability to save, spend, withdraw, borrow, lend, mint & transfer media / documents, and vault actual Bitcoin with on-chain recovery features eliminating the need for third-parties or hardware wallets, through a feature rich simple text smart contract. This incredibly unique Bitcoin token provides for enhanced privacy with near-instant transaction finality, all with near-zero fees. Verified Bitcoin tokens are transferable in any denomination completely peer-to-peer, so long as they have a native Bitcoin balance and always maintain a fully decentralized and non-custodial evergreen 1:1 peg. This means that 1 vBTC will always equal 1 BTC and token owners may withdraw their underlying Bitcoin anytime with a 'one-click' multisig action or off-ramp the token itself, in whole or in part, at any participatory liquidity provider. This empowering development will inevitably help provide congestion relief for the Bitcoin network, dramatically reduce Bitcoin holders cost of ownership and transfers, enable media embedding, and increase self-custodial security exponentially, adding immediate utility to holders of the largest digital asset class. It is anticipated that Verified Bitcoin may also help facilitate additional native scarcity with Total Value Vaulted (TVV) over time on VerifiedX Vaults. VerifiedX - VFX (VerifiedX.IO) is the first open-source decentralized network that is both a universal layer 1 and a Bitcoin specific sidechain for the purpose of tokenized self-custody, on-chain storage, and peer-to-peer commerce of both digital & physical assets. For Further Inquiries: Website: https://verifiedx.io/ Discord: https://discord.gg/7cd5ebDQCj Twitter (X)): https://twitter.com/vfxblockchain Github: https://github.com/verifiedxblockchain SOURCE VerifiedX.io 10 january 2025 at 10:57 News published onand distributed by: You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close WHAT looks like an exotic new club in Limerick is causing a stir, but, on closer inspection, its all just smoke and mirrors! Shoppers and passersby at Cornmarket Row in the city centre have been doing double-takes this Friday at signage which appears to advertise an exotic club that seems to have sprung up overnight. However, the truth behind the provocative facade is it's all part of a movie set. "Exotic TOPLESS GIRLS All Night," one of the daring neon pink and gold signs screams out. "Girls, Girls, Girls. 18 & Over. Open 5 Nights," reads another with a silhouette of a dancing female. One reader forwarded two images of the scenes to Limerick Live wondering if a new nighttime business venue was opening up in the city while shops were closing down. A reliable source confirmed however, that the signs are part of the set for the movie, 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, starring Golden Globe-winning actor Liam Neeson. "The crew of 4 Kids Walk into a Bank were filming at Angel Lane the last two days," a source told Limerick Live in relation to the signage erected on the doors of the popular Limerick nightclub. READ ALSO: Filming resumes in Limerick of 4 Kids Walk into a Bank movie starring Liam Neeson Filming for the movie has sparked great excitement since it began in the city last month. It restarted this week following the Christmas break. Other areas of the city, including Gleeson's Spar on the corner of Catherine Street and Glentworth Street, have been redesigned to appear as stores and venues in the United States of the 1990s. THE BURGLARY of a service station store in Limerick, where intruders escaped with large amounts of cigarettes, vapes and cash, is being investigated by gardai. The Texaco / Spar Service Station in Caherline, near Caherconlish, was broken into and burgled in the early hours of this Friday, January 10, gardai have confirmed. The service station store is owned by businessman James Beechinor, who also owns a total of seven other shops and service stations around the county including three in Kilmallock and the south Limerick area, one in O'Rourke's Cross near Bruree and another Holycross on the R512. As proprietors of the business in Caherline, James Beechinor and former garda superintendent Alan Cunningham say the incident last night was not the first time burglars attempted to rob the store. READ ALSO: Race against time as community beg for help in rescuing snow-trapped sheep At 2:30am this morning, intruders entered the premises, forced the door open and ransacked it. They escaped with a large amount of cigarettes and vapes and took a substantial amount of cash as well. This is the fourth time our shop has been targeted by criminals. The shop has been closed and we havent been able to provide essential services for the local here community here because of the criminality that has taken place, so it has really affected the local community in a big way. With plans to extend the site in Caherline, despite this setback, Mr Beechinor said in conversation with Cllr Noreen Stokes: We have a planning application submitted to Limerick City & County Council for a whole new development here and we are looking forward to getting that up and going and It will be a major boost for the local community here in Caherline Additionally, former Detective Superintendent Alan Cunningham of Bruff said These are very challenging and difficult times for small businesses like ours. Id like to firstly thank the local community for their continued and valued support and we hope to develop the business better and to improve the facilities for the area. I would also like to thank the Members of An Garda Siochana from Caherconlish and Roxboro for their prompt response and ongoing support to us. This has been a major setback, with it being the fourth intrusion weve had since opening the business here. It has been very challenging times, very difficult, but we are doing our best and with help and support from the public, we will get there, please God. In a statement to Limerick Live, gardai said that they are investigating an incident of burglary at a business premises in Caherconlish, and that investigations are ongoing. James and Lelia Beechinor own and operate multiple shops and service stations around Limerick since 2003 and are opening a new post office and Spar shop in Bruree in the coming week. Finally, the proprietors would also like to thank Cllr Noreen Stokes for her help and support. She was the only public representative that called to offer assistance and enquire for our welfare and that of the business, said James. She was also first on the scene on December 12, 2024, at our Service Station in Holycross when the storm blew the roof off, contacting various bodies including the ESB and getting our power back, a sincere thank you to you Noreen a great ambassador for your party and a great community person. PROPERTY prices in Limerick stayed flat in the last three months of 2024, according to the latest MyHome Property Price Report. The report for Q4 2024, in association with Bank of Ireland, shows that the median asking price for a property in the county is still 275,000. This means prices have risen by 35,000 compared with this time last year. Asking prices for a 3-bed semi-detached house in Limerick stayed flat over the quarter at 265,000. This means that prices in the segment have risen by 17,000 compared to this time last year. Meanwhile, the asking price for a 4-bed semi-detached house in Limerick rose by 15,000 over the quarter to 350,000. This price is up by 40,000 compared to this time last year. There were 385 properties for sale in the county at the end of Q4 2024 a decrease of 6% over the quarter. The average time for a property to go sale agreed in both Limerick County and city after being placed up for sale now stands at just over two months. National picture The author of the report, Conall MacCoille, Chief Economist at Bank of Ireland, said: The message from this report is that pricing has retained its momentum, and has still not softened even as affordability has become stretched through 2024. Demand is still fierce in the market and indeed has strengthened as the year has gone on. This demand has been impacted by rising mortgage approval values, and the first-time buyer market is particularly hot. READ MORE: Crystal structures and brown dwarfs go under the microscope Household savings are playing their part in this demand; new Central Bank data show the average first-time-buyer purchase price was 375,000 in H1 2024, up 21,000 (or 6%) on the year, two-thirds of which was accounted for by mortgage debt, but one-third (or 7,300) by larger deposits. First-time-buyers are also taking on more leveraged loans, an average loan to income (LTI) ratio was 3.37x in H1 2024 compared with 3.25x in H1 2023. This is the first time since the Celtic tiger years that the first-time buyer ratio is greater than that of the UK, where the LTI is currently 3.31x. This follows the loosening of the Central Bank mortgage lending rules and reflects greater numbers of first-time buyers just below the 4x threshold." Mr MacCoille said that, prior to relaxation of the Central Bank rules, close to 60% of first-time buyers had a mortgage loan just below the 3.5x LTI threshold. In the first half of 2024, close to half of first-time buyers had mortgage loans with an LTI ratio just below four times their income. There are some modest signs of improvement. There were 6,400 new homes listed for sale in the first nine weeks of Q4 2024, up 8% on the same period of 2023 and housing completions in Q3 2024 were up 6% on the year to 8,900. Of course, the acid test will come in the spring, as new listings tend to start to accelerate ahead of next summer, he said. ECB rate cuts this year will also support house prices. However, with limited homes for sale, any initial improvement in affordability may be diluted by homebuyers bidding up house prices. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, the outlook is extremely uncertain. For now, we are sticking with our forecast for 42,000 housing completions next year, rising to 45,000 in 2026. We also expect a 4% rise in Irish house prices. However, if anything this view could be too conservative. Joanne Geary, Managing Director of MyHome, said: Our latest report shows the extent of the demand in the property market, with residential transactions on average being settled at 9% over the asking price and annual asking prices nationwide at their highest level since summer 2022. In our last report, we noted that Ireland would need an additional 200,000 homes to match the UKs housing to population ratio. This time, we drew the comparison on the demand side, with first-time buyers here now taking on more debt relative to income than their UK counterparts for the first time since the Celtic tiger era. As we look to the rest of the year, a key metric to watch will be housing completions. Given we do not see any short-term easing in demand, it underscores the importance of increasing our stock levels. Tension between national-security hawks and the biggest American technology companies over China policy has burst out into the open. The trigger: a Biden administration plan to limit the global sale of advanced artificial-intelligence chips. It seeks to ensure the U.S. keeps control over the future of AI by blocking Beijing from accessing AI technology through third countries. The plan drops the mother of all regulations" and does more to achieve extreme regulatory overreach than protect U.S. interests," said an Oracle executive vice president, Ken Glueck, in a blog post. On the other side, a Republican-led House committee urged the administration to go through with tough curbs, calling it a once-in-a-generation moment" to block Beijings ambitions. The battle lines in this clasha Democratic president and leading Republicans squaring off together against a major U.S. industryare unusual enough. Just as unusual is the timing, coming in the final days of the Biden presidency. Opponents of the new restrictions say a lame-duck government shouldnt be making sweeping policy moves. But unlike some other areas such as oil drilling, this isnt a case of President Biden trying to thwart his successor with last-minute decisions promoting Democratic priorities. Many in the camp of President-elect Donald Trump are just as hawkish on China, and the battle by tech companies to forestall anti-China policies they view as harmful is likely to continue in the new administration. The gloves came off this week because of anticipation that the Commerce Department would imminently introduce a global export license regime for graphics processing unitsthe type of chip critical to AI applicationsand set sales caps for certain countries. The goal would be to close off loopholes that otherwise could allow China to access AI chips by tapping data centers in regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East. While Commerce hasnt detailed its plans publicly, drafts of the rule have circulated in Washington, industry officials said. The limits would be the capstone of the Biden White Houses strategy over the last four years to stymie Chinas progress in technology critical to future weapons development and industrial leadership. In October 2022, the Biden administration placed restrictions on the export to China of high-end American chips and some tools used to make them. It also prohibited other countries from selling those goods if they used any U.S. technology to produce them. It followed by expanding the curbs several times, most recently in December when it banned the export to China of certain memory chips essential to the training of AI algorithms. Both sides in the current dispute agree the rules were a milestone in American policy and have at least hindered Chinas AI ambitions by making it hard for Chinese entities to buy the most advanced chips from AI leader Nvidia and others. The hawks say the rules have been well-intentioned, but left backdoor routes for China to access U.S. technology. Some say U.S. officials moved so slowly that Beijing was able to stockpile much of the banned technology. Many tech companies counter that the regulations so far risk hobbling Americas industry leadership. Even before the public clash this week, tensions had bubbled beneath the surface. Weeks after the first round of U.S. export controls, Nvidia released new chips for the Chinese market that were modified so they didnt require a U.S. export license. A year later, the U.S. updated its controls, and Nvidia updated its China chips so they would again avoid the export ban. Such moves drew the wrath of U.S. officials, who felt that Nvidia wasnt aligning itself with the spirit of the law, according to people familiar with the matter. Nvidia says the company complies with all applicable export-control laws and requires its customers to do the same. In December 2023, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressed frustration at dealing with what she described as industry resistance to export controls. Theyre in the business of making money. Every time I take an action, it denies them revenue," Raimondo said. We have to be eyes wide open about the threat from China and work together." Now tech companies are openly fighting back against policymakers. A last-minute rule restricting exports to most of the world would be a major shift in policy that would not reduce the risk of misuse but would threaten economic growth and U.S. leadership," Nvidia said. The Information Technology Industry Council, a Washington-based group that represents Google, Microsoft, Amazon and other large companies, accused the administration of failing to consult companies. Industry officials say if U.S. companies had to go through red tape in Washington every time they tried to sell an advanced chip or server overseas, customers would get fed up and opt for more stable and reliable Chinese alternatives, even if inferior. That, they said, would give the Chinese industry the foothold it needs to catch up and dominate the AI business globally, replicating Chinese companies lead in high-tech areas such as electric vehicles and solar panels. Lawmakers and former White House staffers under both Trump and Biden say that any time advanced American AI technology is sold abroad, it could end up in Chinas hands and needs to be regulated for that reason, just as the U.S. wouldnt allow an American jet fighter sold to Saudi Arabia to be resold to China. On Jan. 2, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said China uses illicit methods and loopholes" to access U.S. technology in third countries and we strongly believe the United States needs a global answer." In the AI competition, a few years is a lifetime," said Matt Pottinger, who served as Trumps deputy national security adviser from 2019 to 2021. Export controls are one area where Bidens team expanded on Trumps original work, and Trump can expand on it again to win the AI race," said Pottinger, now head of Asia-focused research firm Garnaut Global. The Biden administration has indicated that it wants to hear industry views on the coming rules but that ultimately national security comes first. Trump hasnt recently detailed his position on export controls, but in his first term he blocked Chinese telecommunications equipment leader Huawei and other Chinese civilian tech companies from accessing U.S. technology. The Trump transition team has yet to reach out to Alan Estevez, the top Commerce Department official, to discuss export controls, U.S. officials say. That leaves less than two weeks for the incoming administration to coordinate and prepare for how to handle important AI issues as well as the policy of constraining Chinas access to sensitive technologies. Raimondo, however, has spoken to Trumps nominee to replace her, Howard Lutnick. A Commerce spokesman and the Trump transition didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. His personnel picks, including incoming national security adviser Michael Waltz, are known for their tough views on China. Jacob Helberg, Trumps choice as the State Departments top economic policy and trade official, is a founder of a consortium of tech investors and lawmakers concerned about the rise of China. Stu Woo and Raffaele Huang contributed to this article. Write to Liza Lin at liza.lin@wsj.com Infosys Ltd has alleged that its former executive S Ravi Kumar deliberately delayed the rollout of its product rivalling Cognizant Technology Solutions Corps healthcare solution as he was in talks to join as the chief executive of the Nasdaq-listed firm. Infosys Ltd filed a complaint in a US court on Thursday, claiming that Kumar delayed Helix, Infosyss healthcare claims processing software, by 18 months when he was negotiating a switch to Cognizant. Kumar quit Infosys in October 2022 and took over as its rivals CEO in January 2023. The claim by Infosys in a filing dated 9 Januaryand reviewed by Mintis a rare instance of a case being filed against its former employee. The counter-complaint stretches the legal battle between the two of the worlds largest software services providers. The first salvo was fired by Teaneck, New Jersey-headquartered Cognizant in August last year, alleging that Bengaluru-based Infosys stole trade secrets from its healthcare software arm TriZetto. Cognizant is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in all business operations and will take decisive action to address any allegations that compromise competitive standing. Cognizant encourages competition, but competitors cannot use Cognizant's IP to unfairly compete, as Infosys has done. Cognizant's software products are widely used in the marketplace for being best-in-class and most preferred among customers," said the company in an emailed response to Mints queries. Own healthcare solution Infosys said it developed its own healthcare solution Helix as a competitor to Facets and QNXT, the software products owned by Cognizant. Kumar was then a president at Infosys and played a critical role in its development, the complaint said. But Kumars optimism and excitement for the Infosys Helix product suddenly changed in Spring 2022. He began to pull back support of Infosys Helix, declining requests for needed resources, which delayed the completion ... by at least 18 months," read Infosyss counterclaim. It accused Cognizant of poaching talent critical to Helix and hindering its development. Also read | US court rules Cognizant discriminated against non-Indian employees To date, Infosys has invested significant funds and resources to build Infosys Helix, but the product and business were delayed by at least a year and a half due to decisions made by Kumar, with the help of (Shveta) Arora and (Ravi Kiran) Kuchibhotla, while they were plotting their move to Cognizant," said the company in its complaint. Arora is SVP, global head of consulting at Cognizant, while Kuchibhotla is chief strategy officer at the company. Infosys, which reported $18.6 billion in revenue last fiscal, said it suffered millions of dollars in lost sales and increased costs due to Cognizants anticompetitive conduct". Monopoly in claims processing The Bengaluru-based company said Cognizant is not allowing business to flourish from the healthcare segment because of its alleged monopoly in the claims processing business in the US. This is an antitrust case about Cognizants anticompetitive scheme to achieve, maintain, and enhance its dominance in both the healthcare payor software market and the related IT services market for that software," read Infosys counterclaim filed by Brent Caslin, representing Infosys through Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block LLP. Cognizant acquired QNXT and Facets in 2014 by taking over TriZetto, which provides administrative solutions in the healthcare space. These products are used by health insurance companies in the US to process claims. Both Infosys and Cognizant have been servicing clients in the healthcare sector using the two software products. Also read | Cognizant files lawsuit against Infosys over trade secrets; Infy refutes claim The Bengaluru-headquartered information technology (IT) services company accused Cognizant of six counts of not just hurting potential revenue but also establishing anti-competitive practices. It alleged Cognizant indulged in anti-competitive practices by limiting training of executives who were to service clients using Facets and QNXT software. It also said that Cognizant was rejecting vendors who could maintain the two platforms, and was charging high fees from clients because of lack of competing softwares that could process insurance claims. Because of Cognizants anticompetitive scheme, healthcare payors covering 65% of the United Statess insured population continue to use Cognizants outdated software and pay more for that software and related IT services than they would absent Cognizants conduct in a competitive market," the company said in its lawsuit. Not the first instance Infosyss complaint mentioning Kumar is not the first instance of Cognizant executives being questioned of their integrity. In November 2023, Wipro filed a lawsuit against its former executive Jatin Dalal for joining the rival firm within a year of leaving Wipro. Dalal was to take over as chief financial officer of Cognizant in the following month. Which means Cognizants CEO and CFO are under the firing line by their former employers. The complaint definitely puts the spotlight on Cognizants leadership team and the company will have to answer more and more questions from stakeholders. The board will also have to probably pitch in to address this issue," said a former executive of one of Indias largest IT services companies on condition of anonymity. Cognizants earnings from clients in the healthcare segment are four times that of Infosys. While Infosys gets about 7.5% or $1.4 billion in revenue from clients in the life sciences sector, Cognizant gets 29.3%, or $5.7 billion. Also read | Rajesh Nambiar quits Cognizant to lead Nasscom; Rajesh Varrier his successor Infosys and Cognizant have been locked in a battle to be Indias second largest IT services company. Infosys pipped Cognizant reported a revenue of $4.89 billion in the three months ended September 2024. However, Cognizant regained its lead with $5 billion in quarterly revenue a few days later. While Cognizant follows a January-December financial calendar, Infosys follows April-March reporting. Though Cognizant is listed abroad, more than 70% of its 336,300 employees are based out of India, a reason why it is considered an Indian heritage IT services company. Infosys requested the court for a trial by jury to award a warning to Cognizant, prohibiting it from indulging in what it considers anti-competitive behaviour. It has also requested the court to award Infosys thrice the financial damages it has suffered including legal fees. Indias largest hydropower generator NHPC Ltd is keen on buying out its public sector co-promoters in power trading firm PTC India Ltd, three people aware of the plan said. The Union power ministry officials will meet top executives from the four PSU promoters on Friday when the PTC India stake sale is likely to be discussed, one of the three people said on the condition of anonymity. Currently, NHPC, NTPC Ltd, Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd and Power Finance Corp. Ltd hold about 4.05% each in PTC India, totalling 16.2%. The four PSUs had appointed ICICI Securities as merchant banker in 2022 for the transaction, after the power ministry approved their exit plan. The companies have been eyeing an exit for some time now and are expecting to carry out the stake sale by the end of this financial year," the person cited above added. Queries emailed to NHPC, NTPC, PowerGrid and PFC remained unanswered. Acquiring PTC India would expand the power trading share of NHPC, which already has a licence for this purpose. The move may also help since NHPC is involved in hydro projects in Nepal and Bhutan, countries which export power to India. Having a power trading company of its own would help NHPC in efficient trading and supply of green power. Also read | Hydropower mega-merger of NHPC, two others put on hold However, NHPC will not buy PTC India Financial Services (PFS), the controversy-hit financing arm of PTC India, the two people said. Both PTC India and PFS have been under strict regulatory scrutiny over issues of corporate misgovernance and ever-greening of loans by PFS. A PTC India spokesperson said the company is not aware of any development on the stake sale. The information below concerns our promoters investment into PTC India. They have been promoters of PTC since inception days. Since the companys public listing and follow-on QIPs, they collectively hold 16.20% in the company." PTC India has been a dividend-paying company prior to listing, and promoters collectively have received more than 320 crores as dividend since their investment, the spokesperson added. Any sell-off/consolidation or activity and arrangement can be a part of their investment (severally or jointly) outlook which company is not aware of." Although there was a rethink in the government in 2023 over the stake sale, talks have picked up in the past few months. Also read | PTC CMD, former PFS MD barred from boards, managements of listed companies There is an internal thought in the company (NHPC) that the core trading business of PTC India has been largely doing well and has created value for the investors over the years. Dividend flow has also been largely consistent. So, if other promoters want to exit it, then the hydro major would offer to buy out their shares. Its better not to exit the company as a whole. However, given that that promoter stake is just around 16%, and not a majority stake, it cannot be said to be a strategic investment," the second person said. PTC India is among Indias largest power trading companies. NTPC too has a separate power trading arm, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. Both PTC India and its subsidiary PFS have been in the news after several PFS directors resigned in February 2022 alleging corporate misgovernance. In June, the Securities and Exchange Board of India barred the PTC Indias former chairman Rajib Kumar Mishra, and PFS former managing director Pawan Singh from holding any position on the board or management of listed companies for six months and two years respectively over suspected corporate misgovernance in PFS. The market regulator also imposed penalties of 10 lakh and 25 lakh respectively on Mishra and Singh. Also read | NHPC plans 1.76-tn pumped storage units However, last month, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) quashed the Sebi order barring Mishra as director in listed firms. Mishra had approached SAT on the grounds that he was not in charge of PFS. Following this, the PTC India board met and decided that Mishra cannot be inducted as a director or CMD of the company. On Thursday, shares of PTC India fell 3.93% to close at 138.15, while the benchmark Sensex index fell 0.68%. Its market capitalization stood at 4,089.35 crore. BENGALURU : For consumer brands, smart appliances are the next big thing. And venture capitalists are looking to seize the day by betting on new companies making everything from smart chimneys and hobs to artificial intelligence (AI)- powered cooking assistants and internet-of-things (IoT)- enabled products. Over the past six to twelve months, they have backed about half a dozen startups, including Beyond Appliances, Upliance, and Karban, with $1-4 million early-stage cheques. While Beyond Appliances and Upliance are automating cooking functions through AI, Karban leverages CFD (computational fluid dynamics) technology and aerospace engineering to optimize the efficiency of airflow devices like fans and air purifiers. On2cook, Alste Technologies and Keus have also raised funding to make kitchens smarter through technology. Consumer appliances brand Atomberg Technologies was among the first new-age companies to have tapped into the segment. It raised $86 million in its series C funding round led by Temasek Holdings and Steadview Capital Management in 2023. The company, which launched a series of IoT-enabled smart ceiling fans in 2023, is growing rapidly and has seen its revenue from operations rise 31.5% to 848 crore in 2023-24 from 645 crore a year ago. The Indian kitchen appliance market is ripe for innovation yet remains largely untapped in terms of smart, consumer-centric solutions, according to Vinay Singh, co-founder and partner, Fireside Ventures, which led a $2 million funding round in Beyond Appliances in November 2024. The consumer of kitchen appliances is changing rapidly, driven by key trends such as the desire for convenience, the importance of safety, and the need for enjoyable kitchen experiences. With a projected market size of $5.5 billion and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.86% over the next five years, this space offers tremendous potential," Singh told Mint, noting the smart kitchen space is at an inflection point, with consumer demand shifting toward intelligent, connected appliances that solve real, everyday problems. Beyond Appliances, for instance, launched just six months ago and has already seen over 1,200 customers across major metros. The opportunity To be sure, the overall smart appliance market in India is projected to grow by 8.56% from 2024 to 2029, resulting in a market volume of $4.6 billion in 2029, according to research platform Statista. We have aggressive growth plans for 2024-25, supported by our upcoming launch of eight new innovations and strategic expansion into more cities. We are looking to become a 100 crore brand in two to three years," Eshwar K. Vikas, chief executive and co-founder of Beyond Appliances, told Mint. Despite people spending two to three hours daily in their kitchens, these spaces have seen minimal technological innovation, according to Vikas. Our research shows that consumers, particularly in the 35-50 age group, are actively seeking solutions that make cooking more efficient and enjoyable," he said, adding that the company has identified several opportunities in the smart kitchen space and is developing AI-powered features and IoT integration capabilities. Upliance, with one flagship product, a smart cooking assistant, is looking at new product lines, including new hardware accessories to enhance versatility and speed and features or services leveraging AI, like personalized meal planning or health-focused add-ons, according to Mahek Mody, co-founder and chief executive of the startup. He added the company recently hit an annual revenue run rate of over 15 crore. These companies are leveraging the latest technologies to address the unique needs and preferences of Indian consumers, helping their growth, said Shivaraj Jayakumar, practice leader, consumer and internet at business consulting firm Praxis Global Alliance. He said changing consumer preferences for using the latest technology, openness to adopting smart home solutions, and recognition of their potential to improve efficiency and convenience in the kitchen are driving interest in these companies. Dinesh Pai, vice president of business analysis and investments at Rainmatter by Zerodha, which invested in smart kitchen company Upliance, said, Our investment in Upliance was based on the view that as more and more youngsters eat outside, the chances of them eating unhealthy foods only keep increasing. We need solutions that make it easier for Indians to cook food at home. Upliance does just that." Traditional players are also catching up with the new trend of smart appliances. Wonderchef, founded in 2009, launched Chef Magic, an all-in-one kitchen robot with fully automated cooking processes, in April. The company, however, last raised funding in 2021, showing a muted investor sentiment. Other popular traditional appliance startups such as Femora and Vaya haven't raised any capital yet. The challenge As most of these companies cater to the premium segment, pricing could be a challenge. Smart kitchen appliances are still in their infancy in India, offering significant headroom for growth and share gain for early movers. However, consumers are still largely price sensitive, and companies will need to offer competitive pricing to drive adoption," said Jayakumar. However, Vikas believes pricing wont be a problem for the company as customers acknowledge the value-add. When you look at our smart hob range starting at 15,000 and going up to 24,500, it competes effectively with traditional four-burner hobs priced around 15,000, but offers significant additional value through features like Flame Failure Detection and digital timersWhat's encouraging is that customers clearly recognize this value equation," he said. At the same time, Upliance is exploring lower-cost variants or subscription options to make the product accessible to more households, Mody said. These companies would also need to overcome infrastructure challenges like limited broadband connectivity and power outages that can impact user experience. As he prepares for a second term, Donald Trump will receive the same simple message from all 18 of Americas intelligence agencies: Russia may be causing mayhem in Europe, but only China has the wherewithal to mount a global challenge. Beijing is accelerating the development of key capabilities," said the co-ordinating body for American spooks last year. Those capabilities, it added, are ones that China believes the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) needs to confront the United States in a large-scale, sustained conflict". The PLA is still far from being ready for war with America. Chinas official aim is to modernise" its armed forces by 2035 and make them world-class by 2049. But the PLA has already undergone an extraordinary transformation, from an ill-equipped outfit two decades ago to a regional power today. The old image of Chinas armed forces focusing on quantity over quality is outdated. In recent years China has improved the effectiveness of its arms to such an extent that, in some areas, it has already matched or surpassed America. Any analysis of Chinas advantages has to begin with its navycalled the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It is not just the worlds largest, but also has the newest vessels. Around 70% of Chinese warships were launched after 2010, compared with a quarter of Americas, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think-tank. When it comes to design and material quality, many Chinese ships are comparable to Americas, says the US Office of Naval Intelligence. View Full Image In-some-areas-of-military-strength--China-has-surp American warships tend to be larger and better armed, but China is catching up. One important measure of naval power is the number of vertical launch system (VLS) cells, or advanced missile launchers. CSIS estimates that in 2004 American ships, on average, had 222 VLS cells for each Chinese one. But the ratio will soon tip in the PLANs favour (see chart). China is also innovating. America has nothing like the hybrid propulsion systems in Chinas Zhou-class submarines, says Tom Shugart, a retired American naval officer. He also points to a Chinese amphibious assault ship under construction, called the Type 076, which will be the worlds largest and the only one with a catapult to launch drones. Chinas air force, called the PLAAF, is on a similar trajectory. Its most advanced warplanes are probably not as state-of-the-art or stealthy as Americas. But having once struggled to develop high-quality jet engines, China now produces models that are near the calibre of those from NATO countries, says Brendan Mulvaney of the China Aerospace Studies Institute, a US Air Force think-tank. China is also thought to churn out stealth fighters faster than America does. And the weapons carried by Chinese aircraft have improved dramatically. China is often ahead in areas where America has failed to invest, says John Culver, a former CIA man. He points to the range, speed, sensors and anti-jamming capabilities of Chinese air-to-air and anti-ship missiles. The most striking progress by China has come in the area of hypersonic missiles, which fly and manoeuvre at more than five times the speed of sound. Such weapons have forced countries to rethink their defences. Earlier this year Jeffrey McCormick of Americas National Air and Space Intelligence Centre told Congress that China had the worlds leading hypersonic arsenal. America is testing faster and more accurate missiles, says Mr Mulvaney. But China has already deployed multiple hypersonic-weapon systems. With other arms that rely on newer technologies it is often difficult to judge who is ahead, not least because they are rarely tested in public. But the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, another think-tank, publishes an annual critical-technology tracker measuring high-impact research across countries. Its survey in 2024 found that China ranked top in six out of seven crucial defence-related areas: advanced aircraft engines, drones and collaborative robots, hypersonic detection and tracking, advanced robotics, autonomous systems and space-launch systems. America was ahead only in small satellites. Such rankings are contested and fail to capture the secret research done on all sides. Moreover, combat effectiveness is not just the sum of individual weapons and technologies. The failure of Russias initial invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was at odds with many Western assessments of Russian military prowess, which did not account for intangible factors. Chinas armed forces have their own problems, such as corruption, inadequate logistics and poor integration between the army, navy and air force. China also lacks combat experience, having not fought a war in decades. But that is scant consolation for those watching the PLAs progress over the past two decades. Few peacetime precedents exist for the speed and scale of Chinas military modernisation. It has done it while barely breaking a fiscal sweat, spending less than 2% of its GDP on the armed forces, compared with more than 3% in America. We are in a race for military technological superiority with a capable pacing challenge," said Frank Kendall, the US Air Force secretary, in April. Our cushion is gone. We are out of time." Indian stock markets are currently under pressure, primarily due to significant selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs). Over the past three months, FIIs have sold Indian equities worth approximately 1.75 trillion. However, most of this selling has been offset by domestic institutional investors (DIIs), limiting the net impact compared to previous years. Read this | Why is asset class diversification more crucial now than ever? Despite the continuous FII outflows, we believe small-cap stocks are unlikely to be significantly affected, as FIIs hold negligible stakes in this segment. On the other hand, large-cap stocks may remain under pressure in the short to medium term due to sustained FII selling. For quality small-cap investors, this market weakness presents an opportunity to accumulate fundamentally strong small-cap stocks Three multibagger stocks to buy Bajaj Steel Industries Ltd (BSE Code 507944) - Bajaj Steel Industries Ltd has been selected as a promising investment based on Indias growing focus on manufacturing, a key pillar of the "Make in India" initiative. The company is a diversified engineering player, manufacturing products such as cotton ginning machinery, electrical panels, pre-engineered buildings, fire extinguishers, specialty conveyors, structural fabrications, steel doors, laser cutting machines, and other allied products. With the Indian government's emphasis on boosting domestic manufacturing, Bajaj Steel Industries stands to benefit significantly, as its products are essential for setting up new manufacturing facilities. Additionally, the ongoing data centre boom in India is expected to drive demand for electrical panels. Bajaj Steel Industries is aggressively expanding its operations to capitalize on this demand. In November 2024, the company commenced commercial production at its new pre-engineered building plant in Nagpur. By 2025, it plans to launch another plant for electrical panels, which will more than double its manufacturing capacity in this segment. From a valuation perspective, the stock is trading at an attractive level, with a price-to-book ratio of less than 5. Considering its strategic expansion, favorable industry tailwinds, and strong fundamentals, we believe Bajaj Steel Industries has significant long-term growth potential. Investors with a 3-5 year horizon may find this stock to be a compelling opportunity. Titan Biotech Ltd (BSE code 524717) - Titan Biotech is an ISO 9001:2008 certified and cGMP-compliant manufacturer and exporter of biological products catering to diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food and beverages, biotechnology, fermentation, cosmetics, veterinary and animal feed, agriculture, microbiology culture media, and plant tissue culture media. The company stands to benefit significantly from Indias recently introduced BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment). Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, this policy emphasizes biomanufacturing to foster a sustainable, innovative, and resilient economy. As a key player in Indias biotechnology space, Titan Biotech is well-positioned to capitalize on this initiative. Titan Biotechs portfolio includes branded and patented products, such as Oxibil, each supported by its own dedicated website. The company has demonstrated consistent growth, with sales and profits increasing at an impressive CAGR of approximately 20% over the past five years. With substantial investments in plant and machinery over the last 1-2 years, its growth trajectory is expected to accelerate further. From a valuation perspective, the stock is trading at a price-to-book ratio of less than 5, making it highly undervalued at present. Considering its robust fundamentals, strategic positioning under the BioE3 policy, and strong growth potential, we believe Titan Biotech Ltd has significant multibagger potential over the long term. Investors with a 3-5 year horizon may find this an attractive opportunity. Suraj Products Ltd (BSE code 518075) - Suraj Products Ltd (SPL) is a secondary steel producer engaged in the production of sponge iron, pig iron, ingots/billets, TMT bars, and power generation. The company derives a significant portion of its revenue from semi-urban and rural areas, reflecting its deep market penetration. In a notable move, SPL recently established a new subsidiary in Dubai, marking its entry into international markets. One of the companys key strengths lies in its integrated operations, which provide significant cost advantages. For instance, sponge iron produced in-house is used to manufacture billets, which in turn are used for producing TMT bars. Additionally, its captive power plant further enhances cost efficiencies. The company has shown steady growth in sales and profits over the past four years. With the Indian governments strong focus on infrastructure development and affordable housing, demand for TMT bars is expected to remain robust, providing long-term earnings visibility. Also read | Top sectors to pick and avoid in 2025 On the valuation front, SPL is attractively priced, trading at a price-to-book ratio of less than 4 and a price-to-earnings ratio of under 20. Given its strong fundamentals, integrated operations, and favourable industry outlook, we believe Suraj Products Ltd has significant multibagger potential over the long term. Investors with a 3-5 year horizon may find this an appealing opportunity. Manish Goel is founder www.manishgoelstocks.com. He is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH100004775. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. The analyst and his clients have positions in the above stocks. Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are jockeying for influence with Syrias Islamist government, hoping to gain an advantage on rivals in the strategically positioned country despite misgivings about the jihadist past of its new leaders. The kingdom, along with Jordan and Qatar, is rushing humanitarian aid and energy assistance to Syrias war-weary population. The Arab states are betting that doing so could advance both narrow and strategic goalsfrom cutting the flow of drugs and radical fighters across Syrias borders, to countering the influence of competitors such as Turkey and Iran. Governments in the region are worried by the new rulers Islamist pedigree but also that their popularity could have a contagious effect among their own population," said Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert and professor at University Lyon 2 in France. They also want to have a seat in the new Syria." How the countrys political contours take shape after the rapid and unexpected fall of the Assad regime has wide-ranging ramifications for the region. In more than a decade of conflict, foreign actorsincluding former Syrian President Bashar al-Assads main backers, Iran and Russiasupported different factions to further their often competing agendas, turning Syria into a theater for proxy wars. The Arab League suspended Syria from its ranks after the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, but Saudi Arabia had led a push to renew ties in recent years. In the post-Assad vacuum, new Arab entrants are offering to help rebuild and to alleviate the countrys food and energy shortages, moves that analysts say are motivated by more than altruism. In recent days, Saudi Arabia opened a humanitarian air bridge to Syria, delivering food, shelter and medical supplies. The kingdom has also offered to train and equip Syrias civilian police and replace sanctioned Iranian oil supplies to help ease Damascuss energy crisis, proposals that are still under discussion. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that led the assault that toppled the Assad regime, was formed as an offshoot of al Qaeda, which has sought to bring down the Saudi ruling family and began attacking the kingdom directly in 2003. HTS said it has shed its links to jihadists. Many Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, fear the resurgence of Islamist groups such as al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic State in the Middle East. They have sought to prevent the spread of political Islam in the region since the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 resulted in the ouster of longtime leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. That void was filled in some cases by Islamist groups, including by a Muslim Brotherhood faction in Egypt, which was subsequently ousted in a military coup. Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. have since pumped billions of dollars into Egypt to support the general-turned-president, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was an anti-American jihadist in Iraq. He disavowed extremism years ago and has pledged to respect Syrias ethnic and religious diversity as his group seeks international recognitionas well as funds to rebuild the country, restart the economy and resettle millions of refugees. Syrias new foreign minister chose Saudi Arabia for his first trip abroad last week, before beating a path to other Arab states, including Qatar, the U.A.E. and Jordan. Still, Turkey has existing links with HTS and other groups that opposed Assad, giving Ankara a head start with Syrias new government over its longstanding rival Saudi Arabia. Days after Assad fled Syria, Turkey sent officials and businessmen to Damascus, expressing interest in helping rebuild the countrys energy sector, according to statements by the new Syrian administration and the Turkish Energy Ministry. Turkey is now in a stronger position to put pressure on Kurdish militias it opposes in Syria, and has an expanded platform to project power in the region. Riyadh, which lost out to Tehran in the race to exert influence in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, is seeking to use aid in part as a way to counter Ankaras moves in Syria, said analysts. The kingdoms rivalry with Turkey reaches back into the Ottoman empire and into recent history during the struggle for influence in the Middle East in the fallout from the Arab Spring. Saudi Arabias goal is to counterbalance Turkeys significant role in the new Syria," said Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. He added that Riyadh also wants to ensure that Syria doesnt descend again into violence and social upheaval, which would threaten regional stability. Qatar long supported groups opposed to Assad and chose not to join Saudi Arabia and other Arab states when they normalized relations with Syria in 2023. Doha is in advanced talks with the countrys new government to provide energy and financial assistance, Middle Eastern officials said. Qatar Airways, the Gulf states national airline, on Tuesday became the first international carrier to resume commercial flights to Damascus, after a 13-year hiatus. Jordan, despite its own economic troubles, is offering to supply electricity to Syria and is in talks to expand ties with the new government there. The Gulf Cooperation Council, a Saudi-dominated bloc of hydrocarbon-rich countries in the Persian Gulf, intends to offer technical assistance to rebuild state institutions and help rehabilitate roads, electricity, schools, hospitals and homes in Syria, Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, a GCC official in charge of political affairs, wrote in a leading newspaper, Arab News. But not all Arab states are rushing to embrace the HTS-led government. The U.A.E. welcomed the Syrian delegation this week, but didnt publicly offer any economic aid. The new rulers Islamist roots and past links to extremist groups are quite worrying," Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the Emirati government, said at an Abu Dhabi conference in mid-December. If radical elements among the factions end up dominating, this will all lead us to another crisis in the region," he said. Western powers are also wary about the direction that Syrias new Islamist leaders could eventually take and are holding back on lifting sanctions on the country or removing the terrorist designation from its leadership. Still, this week, the Biden administration said it was easing restrictions on humanitarian aid for Syria for six months. The U.S. lifted the $10 million bounty on HTSs Sharaa after he pledged not to be a threat to the U.S. and its allies. Most U.S. sanctions on Syria remain in place. The United Nations and others have said there are no immediate plans to remove sanctions on Sharaa and HTS, and added that any such decisions would depend on how democratic and inclusive the new regime turns out to be. Stephen Kalin contributed to this article. Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com and Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com A year ago, a decision was made to start digging on a plot of dirt at the end of Elm Street in Lindsay, a village in the northwestern corner of Platte County, about a 35 minute drive from Columbus. On Monday, that decision came to fruition with the opening of Lindsay Academy, a high school with a unique origin story. The story really started when Lindsay Holy Family's high school was shuttered, said Jenny Korth, secretary treasurer of Lindsay Area Development. A coincidental need for space and recent acquisition of land met to form something special. "The community kind of came together," Korth said. "Lindsay Area Development is the economic development group (in town) and we already had the property and were in the works to do the event and wellness center." The school board, wanting to build an educational facility, came to Lindsay Area Development with the idea of merging the projects build a school on the same property using the same construction crews. After smoothing out the details, the project began in earnest. The 14,000 square foot school facility alone cost approximately $6.1 million. The adjoining event and wellness center is unfinished, but once completed will sport an event space and fitness facilities. The school will pay Lindsay Area Development for their use of the building. "That's where we decided we'd be able to partner together, leverage the same engineers, architects, construction management company to work together to get some cost efficiencies by partnering," Korth said. "We'll be able to have a public library and then the school will be able to partner and use the facilities as well." Lindsay Academy hosted an open house on Tuesday, Jan. 8, allowing visitors to roam the halls and classrooms of the new building. Tyler Beranek, the school's principal, and Kylie Hollatz, assistant principal, welcomed families and answered questions as they perused the six classrooms, three study rooms, library and main entrance area. "They (the Lindsay community) made it happen for the kids now, they made it happen for kids in the future and they also made it happen to honor the past," Beranek said. "They weren't going to let the high school system here in Lindsay die off. That's the coolest part to me is how it came together and what it's for." The rooms themselves were built to accommodate specific classes while also allowing room for growth. For example, the science classroom is fitted with an eye wash station, a poseable fume hood mounted on the ceiling to remove gases from chemistry demonstrations and a tank for Nebraska Game and Parks' Trout in the Classroom project. The English classroom is equipped with a library and the still-in-progress family and consumer services classroom will eventually be equipped with sewing machines. The theology classroom can become a chapel space, watched over by a bronze sculpture of the crucifix brought from Italy in memory of Oda Preister-Schneider. Schneider was an alumna of Lindsay Holy Family Catholic Schools who passed away in 2023. The FCS classroom is a new feature in Lindsay, Korth said, a program they didn't have the facilities for in the past. Blair Korth will teach that course as well as journalism. She will also serve as Family, Career and Community Leaders of America advisor, National Honors Society sponsor and senior class sponsor. "We just got some sewing machines in, waiting on the tables to come to put those on, but the kids will be able to sew," Blair said. "We got a Cricut (computer controlled cutting machine) donated, so I'm hoping to do some heat press on apparel and then we will also be able to use the kitchen down the hall for the foods class." Hollatz, the assistant principal, said of the new rooms, the theology one has caught a lot of attention. It's also one of her favorite parts of the building. The building has many things to celebrate, Hollatz and Beranek agreed. "I think that theology room (excites people) as well, keeping it faith-based and to see that that's cool," Hollatz said. "Our non-public school faith base is huge for the community and they take a lot of pride in that room. The opportunities that our kids are going to have when they're out and the community's pride in this building are just out of this world." The students' faith is also exhibited in the study rooms, which are named after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Jerome and St. Mary Magdalene. Each are adorned with a sign explaining the students' logic in choosing to name the rooms after those particular saints. In addition, the school has a fresh start here, Beranek said. They can expand quite a bit to accommodate their students', teachers' and community's needs. "The opportunity for different programs, starting an FFA (Future Farmers of America) program next year and knowing that we have the space to currently get that ball rolling? That's awesome," Beranek said. "When our teachers come to us and say, 'can I try this?' We can say, 'sure.' We'll look at the logistics, but we're going to try our best to make it happen." A second open house will be held Jan. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 701 Elm St. in Lindsay. A Longford energy healer, who was found guilty at Longford Circuit Court of sexually assaulting one of his clients, and continues to victim-blame despite the guilty verdict, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. David Reilly (50), with a current address of Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, Co Laois, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of offensive conduct of a sexual nature following a lengthy jury trial in July. Over the course of three days, he appeared before Longford Circuit Court for the purpose of a sentence hearing, with sentence being passed on the final day of the November sitting. Detective Garda John Gormally gave evidence of how, in August 2021, the injured party had attended an energy healing session with Mr Reilly, which she said had helped her symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), more commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Also read: Suspended sentence for Longford woman who hid 40,000 worth of cannabis in graveyard She attended another session, accompanied by her daughter, where she said Mr Reilly leant down to whisper in her ear and asked if shed ever been taken advantage of in the past. When the woman confirmed that she had been, Mr Reilly told her that she had some sexual blockages and would need to come back alone. The woman booked a third appointment and attended Energy Healing Ireland on September 2, 2021, on her own. When giving evidence back in July, she said that, on that occasion, Mr Reilly got her to stare into his eyes and breathe downwards, while repeating the words happiness and oh my god in her head. Mr Reilly made her touch him on his bottom and upper thighs, she said. She could feel that he had an erection and his hands were below her belly button, going lower towards her pubic bone. She said Mr Reilly was trying to get her to move her hands upwards and said she felt dizzy and intimidated and sick. When other clients came in the front door, she said Mr Reilly moved her to the sofa and continued to rub her lower stomach, telling her she still had five blockages. Also read: Longford Gardai arrest man who was driving stolen JCB through town at midnight She said he later brought her into a darker, back room and pulled her arms behind her back. She said the ordeal ended because the receptionist waved through the glass on the door once or twice to gesture that other clients were waiting. In a victim impact statement read out by Det. Gda Gormally in court, the woman said she has been kept awake late into the night on countless occasions, reliving not only the sexual assault, but also the trial. I had to listen to David Reilly and his associates make up the most shocking and horrific lies about me after swearing on the bible that they were speaking the truth, she said. "I had to sit there day after day knowing I was being judged by a courtroom full of people and listen in horror to the endless stream of the most outlandish allegations against me. Also read: Longford Gardai put out appeal for witnesses to collision She said she had lost sleep before and during the trial due to stress, anxiety, anger, embarrassment and complete horror at the things that I had to listen to every day in court. David Reilly's actions retraumatised me in terms of abuse that I suffered as a child which I had already dealt with long ago and left in the past, she said. The fact that David Reilly asked me if I was taken advantage of in my past, then used that information as a green light to sexually assault me is something I have found incredibly upsetting and disturbing. After the assault, the injured party felt extremely anxious, shocked, distressed, violated, tearful, hopeless, angry, which only added to the despair that I already felt from being so unwell to begin with. Also read: Investigation into phone thefts from Longford Shopping Centre Barrister for Mr Reilly, Gerard Groarke BL, submitted a 100-page booklet including almost 80 testimonials, a letter from Mr Reilly himself, and a letter from his partner indicating how difficult it has been for her and their 18-month-old son while he has been in custody. Of the near 80 character references individually verified by Det. Gda Gormally, twelve of those were read out in court by their authors. Despite those submissions, Judge Kenneth Connolly expressed his concern for the victim of the assault. He said that, although it was good to see people supporting someone convicted of such serious offences, he was surprised at the volume of testimonials provided in favour of Mr Reillys character, stating that normally one or two would suffice and, should the sentence imposed be appealed, the Court of Appeal will not overturn it on the basis that Mr Reilly is a nice guy. PICTURES | Silver Jubilee reunion for Dromard's all conquering Longford senior football kingpins Im also aware that there is a possibility of re-traumatisation of the injured party. Some of the testimonials referred to allegations against Mr Reilly and Id like to point out that weve passed the point of allegations and now were at a stage where he has been convicted, said Judge Connolly. I know the people in court today mean well. Nonetheless, it would have been very nice and appropriate to hear one word of remorse or sympathy towards the victim, he said, referring in particular to a psychotherapist who had given a character reference but not acknowledged the trauma that the victim had suffered, despite her line of work. Turning to sentence, he said that the trial was very difficult for everyone involved - most especially the victim. She presented her case before a jury of all of our peers over the course of eight days. They came back with a unanimous verdict of guilty, he said. That means she was a victim of sexual assault at the hands of Mr Reilly and of offensive conduct of a sexual nature. A victim. Not a person who made an allegation. A victim. And it had to be very difficult for her to sit here today and listen to glowing testimonials knowing not one of these people believed her. I want to offer the courts apologies that shes had to sit through this again. Referencing a remark made by Mr Groarke regarding his previous comments that the evidence in the trial brought him back to the Victorian era and that the defence was farcical at times, he said he will not resile from those comments. I did comment and I did use the word farcical and I do stand over that, he said, adding that he had watched the victim literally squirm in her seat when it was put to her that she had flirted with Mr Reilly and his receptionist. He went on to reaffirm that he did find the defence, at times farcical and Victorian era-esque, particularly when Mr Reillys receptionist, Paul Galvin told the court that the injured party was flirting with him by flicking her hair, crossing her legs, and that she, on one visit, wore a skirt with a slit in it, which showed her leg. Also read: 'Heartbroken': Longford community mourns passing of highly regarded mother and daughter I ask myself, even if this happened, if any person wears a skirt with a slit down the side of it so what? It is irrelevant, he stressed. A probation report furnished to the court noted that Mr Reilly had claimed no one wants to listen to him and that he believes the allegations were of a malicious nature. He showed no remorse or empathy and, while he was assessed at low risk of reoffending, he continued his denial of the offence and continued victim-blaming. Judge Connolly proceeded to impose a two year and three month sentence with the final nine months suspended, meaning Mr Reilly will serve 18 months, backdated to July 31 when he first went into custody. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: January 10 2025 The drive, which ran from Dec. 2 through 22, yielded nearly 120 bags filled with new and gently used winter jackets, as well as donations of other winter essentials. Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D Plainview) thanks the Jericho, Syosset, Plainview and Old Bethpage communities for their tremendous support of his third annual Winter Coat Drive for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. The drive, which ran from Dec. 2 through 22, yielded nearly 120 bags filled with new and gently used winter jackets, as well as donations of other winter essentials like scarves, gloves, and hats. The Plainview-Old Bethpage, Jericho and Syosset Public Libraries and Always Orthodontics in Syosset served as drop-off points throughout the drive. Founded in 1985, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless began as a grassroots local advocacy effort to bring non-profits and other community partners together to unite around the cause of homelessness so that they could expand and enhance services to meet local needs. Over time, the Coalition has expanded services to align with local community needs and evidence-based strategies for addressing homelessness, including street outreach, housing navigation, system data management and outcomes tracking. Travellers planning trips using Booking.com are being cautioned about fake emails and messages designed to steal money or credit card details. The UK's fraud and cybercrime reporting centre has identified instances where criminals gain control of hotel accounts on the platform, allowing them to send fraudulent payment requests to unsuspecting customers. Between June 2023 and September 2024, over 530 cases were reported, with victims collectively losing 370,000. These scams often involve emails, in-app messages, or WhatsApp communications, appearing to come from the hotel where the customer has booked, but actually sent by fraudsters. The breaches are believed to result from phishing attacks targeting hotels or accommodation providers rather than vulnerabilities in Booking.coms systems. Adam Mercer, deputy head of the UKs anti-fraud team, emphasised the need for vigilance: If you receive unexpected requests for bank or credit card details from a hotel via Booking.com, be cautiousit could be a scam. Contact Booking.com or the hotel directly to verify the request. Travelers are encouraged to forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk or report fraudulent text messages to 7726. Booking.com and Action Fraud advise travelers to remain cautious and vigilant against scams. Legitimate Booking.com transactions will never request payment details through phone, email, or text messages, including WhatsApp. While some hotels may handle their own payments and request information directly, its crucial to verify the authenticity of such communications. Also be wary of urgent payment requests threatening booking cancellations, and always confirm such messages with Booking.coms customer service via their official website or app. Additionally, any message containing links or downloadable files should be approached with suspicion. Travellers should double-check all payment requests against their original booking confirmation and use official contact details from Booking.com to resolve any doubts. Manchester, VT (05254) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. The Bruins played harder and better than Tuesdays dud against Edmonton, but the result turned out the same. Despite a terrific effort by Jeremy Swayman and a strong third period by Boston, they fell to Tampa Bay, 4-1, on Thursday in Florida. The Bruins (20-19-5) are winless in six straight. Theyll try to prevent the drought from getting to seven games on Saturday at Florida. The Lightning, who have five games in hand on Boston passed them in the standing to move into third place in the Atlantic. After the Bruins penalty kill gave them a lift early with three good kills, the power play made a compound mistake that deflated any moment. A poor giveaway by David Pastrnak in the offensive zone led to a breakaway by Brandon Hagel, which was bad enough, but his shot was wide. Mason Lohrei couldnt collect it the puck. But despite having numbers, no Bruin picked up Anthony Cirelli, who alertly followed the play, grabbed the long rebound and snapped it by Jeremy Swayman. Tampa added a second goal late in the period. Lohrei sagged too deep and the dropped to a knee trying to block the shot. Instead, he may have screened Swayman. Michael Eyssimont took advantage firing a dart between Swaymans blocker and the near-side post. After his tough second period, Lohrei scored his first goal since October. He moved in from the point to the high slot and snapped by puck by Andrei Vasilevskiy to make it 2-1, 2:05 into the third. It was the first Bruins goal by a defenseman since early December. But while the Bruins outshot Tampa in the third, they couldnt get the tying goal. The Lightning added an empty-netter and then a late power-play goal to turn a close game into a min-rout late. Swayman made 27 saves for the Bruins A Massachusetts city could be getting a second Trader Joes. The company told MassLive Thursday it plans to open another grocery store in Newton. There is already a Trader Joes at 1121 Washington St. in West Newton. We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year, a Trader Joes spokesperson told MassLive in an email. While we have plans to open a store in Newton, we do not have a location or timeline to confirm at this time. The spokesperson also confirmed that Trader Joes does not have plans to close any existing stores. Trader Joes currently has locations in 20 Massachusetts cities and towns. Boston has three stores and a fourth in Allston while Cambridge has two stores. Trader Joes most recently opened its Milford store in November. Announcements about new Trader Joes stores can be found on the companys website. The highest-ranked woman in the Massachusetts State Police force did not feel welcomed when she joined the academy more than 20 years ago, considering she wasnt very tall and she had only studied journalism. When you enter the academy as a woman, 5-feet tall with no prior police experience and no prior military experience theres a sense of, What are you doing here? Massachusetts State Police Major Kathryn Downey said. Downey was one of two women who graduated in 2005 from a 137-person recruit training class. She described it as a very solitary experience, feeling like you really didnt have a support system when you were there. After the academy, Downey faced unique challenges as a woman that her male colleagues did not. But in recent years, police departments across Massachusetts pledged to make a change. Ten departments have signed onto the 30x30 Initiative, a plan to increase the number of women in each agency to 30% by the year 2030 while they work to cultivate a culture of inclusion and equality by addressing individual department barriers. To date, the following police agencies have signed onto the initiative: Arlington, Babson College, Boston Housing Authority, Boston, Boston University, Brookline, Lexington, Massachusetts State Police, New Bedford and Northampton. Some agencies signed on as recently as last fall. Arlington, Northampton and state police were the first to sign on to the 30x30 Initiative in April 2021 the recruitment efforts of which Downey described as very, very ambitious. Making police more welcoming for women When Brookline Police Chief Jennifer Paster took over as the departments leader in May 2023, she identified the 30x30 Initiative as a top priority. Paster said the pledge aligns with my vision of ensuring our department reflects the community of Brookline, while leveraging the diverse perspectives women bring to policing. In her tenure, Paster has appointed 27 officers, of whom 33% or nine officers are women. Currently, 18% of the departments sworn officers are women, and 18% of police supervisors are women, she said. However, the improvements didnt happen overnight. Achieving these goals has required addressing structural and cultural barriers, Paster said. An immediate focus was the renovation of inadequate locker rooms to support the growing number of women officers and to include accommodations for nursing. The town-funded project is expected to be completed early this year and is an important step in making our workplace more inclusive, Paster said. The Brookline Police Department has a strong partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE). With funding from the town, the department sent several officers and employees to the annual MAWLE training held in 2024. Sworn members of the Brookline Police Department along with the agency's crime analyst, dispatch supervisor and Northeastern University co-op students at the annual MAWLE conference in Norwood in 2024. Photo courtesy Brookline Police DepartmentBrookline Police Department To Downey, one of the most important parts of the 30x30 Initiative is each police department is creating an environment that allows women to thrive which will actually allow departments to reach their recruitment goals. We need to focus on not pulling in from the outside, but looking at the inside so that a woman on our job will reach out to somebody that she knows and say, Hey, its great here. You should join, Downey said. Downey said she still sees a lot of work needed to that end. In 2018, Downey sued the state police and another trooper with claims of sexual discrimination, whistleblower violations and retaliation. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in October 2021, but last summer, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled the discrimination part of the lawsuit could proceed. 30x30 Pledge In 2018, the chronic under-representation of women in U.S. policing was discussed at a national research summit that included 100 women who represented law enforcement leadership, researchers and other professional organizations. The report inspired the nationwide 30x30 Initiative, which requires pledged police departments to report on their recruitment efforts and identify problems that women officers face in their careers, according to the 30x30 website. Its a flexible framework that encourages agencies to share their stumbling blocks and acknowledge success through progress reports that allow departments to learn from one another. Similarly to Brookline, women make up 18% of the current Lexington Police Department force of 50 officers, and the Northampton Police Department is at 17.5% with 10 sworn women officers. When the Boston University Police Department joined the initiative in September 2024, it started with women representing 15% of its force, with a new strategic plan released at the end of last year prioritizing the initiatives implementation. But women only made up 10% of the most recent State Police recruit class in October 2024. In the past five years, that number fluctuated to a high of nearly 14% immediately after signing the initiative in 2021 and fell down to 9% with seven women in its 75-person graduate class of February 2024. Downey said state police do not have a strong enough action plan when it comes to actually working on the pledge, nor any measurable outcomes that show that we are doing enough to further its goals. But the actions of the newly-appointed Colonel Geoffrey Noble have given Downey hope for her agency to start progress on 30x30. Our new Colonel ... seems to be engaging in very thoughtful conversations about issues that pertain to and that matter to women, and this [30x30 Initiative] is one of them, Downey said. Currently, a womens working group made up of troopers and sergeants have been in great conversations with Noble on what women face on the job, Downey said. The department is also in the beginning stages of a State Police Leadership Institute and within it, a womens leadership working group to discuss the positives, negatives and improvements needed on the job. Additionally, the process of how troopers are promoted which is either through a promotional exam or appointed rank is being internally reviewed to determine the best system of putting leaders in the right places on this job, who are diverse representatives of all groups, especially women, Downey said. A seat at the table Early in her career, Downey made sure she would have the same opportunities for promotions as her male peers by studying for promotional exams and putting herself in a place where I could have a seat at the table to make change. Downey said that, in the past, male officers offered to take her calls without her asking. Shes also faced inappropriate moments, she said. By addressing issues directly in the moment and head-on rather than brushing comments away, Downey said shes seen positive outcomes. If somebody said, Oh, youre like one of the guys, I would correct them, Downey said. I know they meant, We like working with you, we get along with you, but I always took that as an opportunity to say, Im not one of the guys. I appreciate that, but I can do this job as a woman, and I dont need to be one of the guys to do this job, she said. The response was always well-received, she added, and people would say, Hmm, never thought about it that way. By creating a more positive path for herself, Downey said, she helped pave a path for other women coming through the ranks. As the highest-ranking woman in the state police force, shes making sure recruits dont face the same What are you doing here? sentiment she faced early in her career. I had virtually no female role models as I was going through my first five or 10 years of the job, which are very formative years, she said. Eventually, she did find a support network of other women officers. I was able to build some relationships, and having that support and people who could relate to what you were going through was huge, she said. The Plymouth County District Attorney has said he appeared before the Massachusetts Parole Board to testify against the release of a man convicted of first-degree murder in 1987. Micheal Eagles, 59, and Jeffrey Roberio were found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in 1987 in connection with the brutal killing of Lewis Jennings, 79, of Middleborough, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said in a statement. Cruz appeared before the board to testify against Eagles' release. Roberio, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was granted parole to a long-term residential program with special conditions on Sept. 22, 2020, according to a decision from the Massachusetts Parole Board. He was initially denied parole during his first hearing in 2015. On July 29, 1986, Roberio and Eagles devised a plan to break into Jennings' home and steal a large amount of cash, Cruz said. Eagles said he wanted to rob the home to fuel his drug addiction during his hearing before the Massachusetts Parole Board Wednesday, Cruz said. Eagles and Roberio broke into the Middleborough home and beat Jennings while they demanded to know where he kept his money, Cruz said. The men stole Jennings' money, leaving him to die from his injuries, Cruz said. Jennings' spine was fractured. His elbow was dislocated. Several ribs and neck bones were fractured too. His face was also badly beaten. Eagles was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without possibility of parole, Cruz said. Eagles, who was 20 at the time of the murder, became eligible for parole after the Massachusetts Supreme Court Judicial Court ruled last year that life without parole sentences were unconstitutional for adults between 18 and 20, Cruz said. Sitting through this parole board hearing, we are reminded of the pain and suffering that the Jennings and Villaire families have had to endure, Cruz told the parole board on Wednesday. We live in a world where defendants are treated as victims, and the real victims are seated over there. In my opinion, this man should not be released. The Massachusetts Parole Board will hand down a decision on Eagles' case in the next few months, according to Cruzs office. A Facebook post asked Marshfield residents to identify a 14-year-old boy hospitalized and in a coma following a hit-and-run crash. We urgently need assistance in identifying a young boy approximately 14 years who was involved in a hit and run incident, and left for dead by the side of the road in #Marshfield, the Jan. 8 post read. He is currently in a coma, and the deputies are unable to identify him because he is missing her [sic] ID. Lets bump this post so it may reach people who can be able to identify him. However, in calls to the Marshfield Police and Fire departments, MassLive confirmed that there were no recent hit-and-run crashes in town. However, the photo and a similar message were also posted together on community pages from Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Washington. Each fake post exchanged #Marshfield with #Hazleton, #Atmore and #Spokane, respectively. The rest of the language in the post is identical to what is seen in the Marshfield post. Each of these posts has the comments turned off. A Google Lens search shows the photos origin. And it tells the true story. On Aug. 10, 2024, Anthony Rosales, 17, was with his family in Grand Prairie, Texas, driving home after a day at Six Flags, according to the New York Post, which cited local reporting. A suspected street racer crashed into the familys SUV. The crash killed Rosales' family and left him in critical condition, the Post reported. The story is accompanied by a photo of Rosales in his hospital bed, eyes closed and on a ventilator in critical condition, appears. This is the photo shared in the Facebook posts. But Rosales was not in a coma. A GoFundMe page explained that he was released from the hospital two weeks later. By Aug. 30, he physically attended the funeral of his parents, his younger brother, and his younger sister. A similar online post with photos of a 2-year-old boy with cuts all over his face was used in what the Better Business Bureau called a bait and switch scam. Such scams are orchestrated after the scammer changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad or sometimes to a link pointing to a survey that guarantees a cash prize, the BBB reported. A Massachusetts FedEx driver mightve been targeted in an armed robbery Thursday, the Harvard Police Department said. At about 12:40 p.m., a FedEx driver was delivering a package in Harvard when a white, late-model Acura TLX with very dark tinted windows and a Connecticut license plate with the letters BN pulled up alongside his van. Two masked men got out of the Acura and approached the driver from behind, forcibly taking the package, police said. The masked men made verbal threats implying they were armed, police said. Thankfully, the driver was not physically harmed during the encounter, police said. Home video surveillance footage captured the incident, which police shared on Facebook. The video shows one of the men coming up behind the FedEx driver and taking the package. The FedEx driver then runs after the men. Once both men are inside the car, it drove away. Police believe the robbery was premeditated and that the men were specifically targeting this delivery, as a neighbor reported noticing the suspect vehicle parked in the vicinity for several hours prior to the robbery. We want to emphasize the importance of community vigilance in light of this incident, police wrote on Facebook. We urge all residents to stay alert and report any unusual or suspicious activity immediately. Anyone with information related to the incident, or who may have seen the vehicle in the area before or after the robbery, is encouraged to contact detectives at cgenetti@harvard-ma.gov or call 978-456-1212. After a Massachusetts teacher and his family died on Christmas due to carbon monoxide poisoning, a fire department is hoping to prevent it from happening to other families. After the tragedy I received so many phone calls about carbon monoxide safety, questions on carbon monoxide detectors and locations. I was surprised to find so many people still did not have carbon monoxide detectors, Millis Fire Chief Richard Barrett wrote in a letter on Facebook. He then began thinking what he could do for the community so that no family has to suffer so much loss again. The fire department was able to team up with the American Red Cross to offer free carbon monoxide detectors to families that dont have one or need to replace one that is at least 10 years old. The Goldstein family Matthew, 52; Lyla, 54; Valerie, 22, and Violet, 19 died in their vacation home in New Hampshire on Christmas. The Newton family of four was supposed to attend a holiday event, Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said in a virtual press conference. When they didnt show up, family members requested local authorities check up on the Goldsteins at 2962 Province Lake Road in Wakefield, New Hampshire, Toomey said. There, authorities found the Goldsteins dead, according to the fire marshal. The home didnt have any working carbon monoxide alarms inside. The homes propane gas system malfunctioned and stopped filtering out carbon monoxide, causing the deadly gas to leak through the home instead, Toomey said. The family died overnight, Toomey added. Three of them were found dead in a bedroom, while one was found in the bathroom. Carbon monoxide deaths in New Hampshire have spiked in 2024, with 10 cases reported this year, according to Toomey. There are usually two to three cases per year. The most recent carbon monoxide deaths happened in Bedford, New Hampshire, when a woman and a man, both 79, died due to the colorless gas, according to CBS News. Matthew Goldstein grew up in Millis and went to high school with Barrett. Matt was a teacher, father and friend to many people and his familys loss has touched so many people, Barrett wrote. People should follow these safety tips to ensure their carbon monoxide alarms are working properly: Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations, as required by laws, codes or standards. If you have combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms, follow the directions for smoke alarm installation. Test carbon monoxide alarms once a month and replace them if they fail to respond correctly when tested. Replace the carbon monoxide alarm according to the manufacturers instructions or when the end-of-life signal sounds. Know the difference between the sound of the carbon monoxide alarm and the smoke alarm and each alarms low-battery signals. If the audible low-battery signal sounds, replace the batteries or replace the device. Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms, and vice versa. Know the difference. Prior material from MassLive was used in this article. Reading firefighters attempted to rescue people trapped inside a vehicle following a crash at the Route 129 rotary on Wednesday. The rescue attempt included "heavy entrapment and prolonged extrication," according to Reading Fire Local 1640, the union representing the Reading Fire Department, in a post on X. A medical helicopter has been requested, fire officials also noted. It is unclear how many cars were involved in the crash or how severely anyone was hurt in the crash. The cause of the crash is also unclear. More information about the crash will become available, the firefighters union said at the end of its statement. By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman On a quiet Saturday without any graded stakes on the agenda, one of the most intriguing races is the $150,000 Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs, a seven-furlong dirt sprint for three-year-olds. Every now and then, the Pasco tosses up a Kentucky Derby starter. Half a dozen Pasco alumni have entered the Run for the Roses since 2009, including West Saratoga last year. The 2025 Pasco field has come up small but strong. Only six horses have been entered, but there are several promising names in the mix, including established Road to the Kentucky Derby competitor #6 Owen Almighty. Trainer by Brian Lynch (who has gone 2-for-2 at Tampa this meet), Owen Almighty started his career on a high note. In June, he won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 3 1/2 lengths. In August, he dominated the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile S. by 4 3/4 lengths over Bashford Manor S. winner Politicallycorrect. Owen Almighty also ran well when making his graded stakes debut in Churchill's one-mile Iroquois (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, closing from just off the pace to finish second by 2 3/4 lengths to Jonathan's Way, who later ran second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). Unfortunately, Owen Almighty hasn't run since. A gastrointestinal infection interrupted his training, and he disappeared from the work tab for nearly two months. He returned to serious training at the end of November and has posted half a dozen workouts in preparation for the Pasco, including a quick half-mile from the Palm Meadows starting gate in :47 3/5. Lynch wins at a 23% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more, so chances are Owen Almighty will be primed for a fine showing in his comeback. But he may need his absolute A game to defeat #4 Rookie Card, an up-and-comer with a strong chance to spring a mild surprise. Rookie Card has knocked heads with some tough rivals in his first three starts. He debuted in a deep six-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga, where he ran second by a head against next-out Champagne (G1) winner Tip Top Thomas while finishing three lengths ahead of future Street Sense (G3) conqueror Sovereignty. In his second start, Rookie Card finished second in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct, beaten half a length while pulling 8 1/4 lengths clear of the rest. He finally graduated when tackling a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct, leading all the way to romp by five lengths over a field containing next-out winner and recent Mucho Macho Man S. runner-up Treaty of Rome. Having demonstrated his worth against stakes-caliber rivals like Tip Top Thomas, Sovereignty, and Treaty of Rome, Rookie Card should be ready to step up in class for the Pasco. His Beyer Speed Figures and Brisnet Speed ratings compare favorably to Owen Almighty, and his abundant early speed (he's set the pace in all three of his starts) may lend him a tactical advantage. Rookie Card is my choice to win the Pasco. Owen Almighty can take home second place over #5 Naughty Rascal, a two-time stakes winner on dirt and turf who finished second in Tampa's six-furlong Inaugural S. last month. Selections 1st: Rookie Card 2nd: Owen Almighty 3rd: Naughty Rascal Bonus Pick Race 3 on the Saturday card at Tampa Bay Downs is a maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs on dirt, and I'm keen to support #8 Cease Fire, one of two first-time starters conditioned by trainer Christophe Clement. Did you know Clement is almost unstoppable when debuting horses in dirt sprints at Tampa Bay Downs? Since 2020, he's gone 7-for-9 (78%) with such runners. That powerful statistic alone is reason enough to back Cease Fire, but there are other positives in her favor. She enters off a bullet three-furlong workout in :36 4/5 at Payson Park. She's a daughter of War Front, who sires a solid 14% winners from first-time starters per Brisnet statistics. And she'll be ridden by five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who has gone 3-for-6 (50%) teaming up with Clement over the last two months. The War Front and Ortiz angles are the reasons I prefer Cease Fire over her stablemate #7 Curlaine. Since the Pasco is Race 4, consider betting a cold Cease Fire/Rookie Card daily double. Now it's your turn! Who do you like at Tampa Bay Downs this Saturday? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contest pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. Fox host Jesse Watters tells Ontario Premier it is 'a privilege' to be taken over by the US (People's Daily App) 16:52, January 10, 2025 Fox News host Jesse Watters said to Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday night that he would think it is "a privilege to be taken over" by the US, via video link. US President-elect Donald Trump said at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago earlier on Tuesday that he's open to using "economic force" to acquire Canada. Trump also refused to rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Augustus Sol Invictus, the Florida man and failed U.S. Senate candidate convicted in October for his role in the torch-carrying mob that marched across University of Virginia Grounds ahead of the infamous Unite the Right rally-turned-riot in Charlottesville, was sentenced Wednesday. Invictus, born Austin Gillespie, will serve 9 1/2 months behind bars for using fire as a means of racial intimidation, outlawed under Virginias so-called cross-burning statute originally established to drive the Ku Klux Klan out of the commonwealth. It was a terrible and unacceptable thing that happened that night, said Judge Richard Moore, and it didnt have to happen. Moore spent about an hour explaining his ruling and stressing, contrary to what the defense had argued, that Invictus, one of at least 300 torch-bearers who gathered at UVa on the night of Aug. 11, 2017, was not getting prosecuted for exercising constitutional rights. The march, which incorporated such chants as Jews will not replace us and the Nazi slogan Blood and soil, drew widespread condemnation. I think this man is being prosecuted for his political beliefs here, said Invictus lawyer Terrell Roberts III, and that is not consistent with the First Amendment in the United States of America. The judge disagreed. Hes not being prosecuted and punished for his views, said Moore. The right to assemble and protest and spout unpopular views is enshrined in the Constitution. Moore focused on what happened after Invictus and the other marchers walked over to the iconic UVa Rotunda and encountered 20 to 30 counterprotesters gathered around a statue of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. It was a massive throng continuing down and encircling the students and others, said Moore. They were literally surrounded. Thats where it converted into a criminal act. Moore said that while Invictus didnt hit anyone, his actions met the classic definition of an assault without the battery. I think he wanted to induce fear, said Moore. Thats what the statute is talking about, putting people in fear of bodily harm. At least an hour of Wednesdays nearly five-hour hearing was dedicated to an effort by Invictus lawyer to set aside the verdict on constitutional and other issues. His lawyer did secure one concession: a 60-day suspension of Invictus deadline to report to jail. I think you do have some legitimate issues that could be contrary to what Ive ruled, said Moore, noting in particular the belated nature of the prosecution. The decision to prosecute was made by Albemarle Commonwealths Attorney Jim Hingeley, who campaigned on the issue before he was elected in 2019. Hingeley announced the prosecutions, the first tests of the states cross-burning law, in April, 2023. The Virginia General Assembly enacted the statute, which can carry a penalty up to five years, in 2000 as a content-neutral way to outlaw cross-burning, a longtime Klan ritual and means of intimidation. Prior to Invictus conviction, Hingeleys office secured five guilty pleas with jail terms; another five men pleaded guilty to a no-jail misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Only one other man took his case to trial, Jacob Joseph Dix, and his charge was dismissed last year after a jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared. Throughout Wednesdays hearing, Hingeley sat at the prosecutors table, but he let Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Lawton Tufts do the talking. A message needs to be sent to the community that this is not acceptable, said Tufts, as he urged an active sentence of one year and three months. Tufts introduced two victim impact statements, including one that he read aloud by Devin Willis, a Black UVa student who testified at the trial that he felt as though he was in the presence of a lynch mob. Willis contends in his letter that anxiety after the incident cost him his mental health, his good grades and ultimately his chance to become a lawyer. I took him at his word, said Moore, that at one point he thought he was going to get lynched. Another witness for the prosecution appeared in person. UVa librarian Tyler Magill, the husband of former Charlottesville City Councilor Sena Magill, told the court that a double ischemic stroke he suffered several days later came from getting hit in the neck by a torch. A UVa police officer testified that she saw a posting Invictus made on X shortly before his sentencing that seemed to endorse the concept of political violence. In 2015, Invictus ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida and released a YouTube video entitled A Call for Total Insurrection, but the campaign foundered after he admitted to drinking goats blood during a so-called purification ritual. At his trial, Invictus revealed that he had intended to announce a new Senate campaign while in Charlottesville, and he said that America seems headed toward a new civil war. The planned Unite the Right rally, organized to protest the citys removal of its monument to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, made Charlottesville a household name after the world witnessed violent racists come to blows with counterprotesters. After law enforcement called off the rally, an Ohio neo-Nazi named James Alex Fields Jr. drove his car through a group of peaceful protesters, killing a counterprotester named Heather Heyer. Fields was later convicted of murder and committing a hate crime, receiving multiple life sentences. Invictus declined to make a statement prior to his sentencing Wednesday, but he did interject during a subsequent discussion of bail conditions that he expected the conviction to cause his disbarment as a lawyer. On Oct. 11, the day an Albemarle County jury convicted him, Invictus posted on X that he would appeal. Losing at trial is the first step toward taking a case to the United States Supreme Court and setting nationwide precedent, he wrote. Here, at this courthouse, where Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, & James Monroe all practiced law, is where it starts. Making history, one day at a time. His lawyer said that he has become a practicing Catholic and devoted family man since the 2017 march and blasted the counterprotesters at the Jefferson statue as heckling antifa. The judge took a dim view of any portrayal of the people surrounded as interlopers. I dont think you get it, said Moore. Im not seeing any remorse, regret or penance. I think you are so invested in your image, your power and your leadership that you dont see what happened here. Watching the proceedings from the gallery was Anne Coughlin, a UVa professor who long urged the commonwealth to prosecute the torch-carrying mob, something that prior Albemarle County Commonwealths Attorney Robert Tracci declined to do. She said that Moores lengthy explanation of his ruling will give this conviction a stronger chance of surviving an appeal. The judge really left no stone unturned, she told The Daily Progress. He was very, very thoughtful in addressing the First Amendment concerns. The parties are slated to return to court for a review of where the appeal stands on March 10. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Friday in a high-stakes case reviewing a federal law that would effectively shut down TikTok in the United States in less than two weeks if the company does not divest from Chinese ownership. After roughly 2 hours of arguments over the law, the justices appeared likely to uphold it. Attorneys for TikTok, its parents company ByteDance, and content creators argued that the ban-or-sale law would be a sweeping violation of free speech protections for the platforms more than 170 million users in the United States. TikTok lawyer Noel Francisco also said it could also open the door to a dangerous form of censorship. He added that we shut down if the law goes into effect, although other legal experts dispute that contention. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar countered that TikTok was a glaring national security threat that could be used by China to harvest data from millions of Americans, manipulate them or even blackmail them. The law is set to take effect Jan. 19, unless the Supreme Court acts to block it. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District., who was one of the sponsors of the underlying bill, said the company doesnt have to go away; it just has to be owned by people who will respect American values. If the Soviet Union tried to buy CBS and ABC in 1985, do you think Americans would have been alarmed? Moulton asked. TikTok has that reach, and the Chinese Communist Party has that level of control. China could easily decide to swing a U.S. election as TikTok now stands. If you care about free speech, you should not want TikTok owned by a dictator. MassLive Politics Editor John L. Micek contributed additional reporting. Brookfield residents plan to gather in the town common Friday night, a day that marks two years since Brittany Tee, a 35-year-old Brookfield woman, went missing. This will undoubtedly be a difficult day for Brittanys friends and family, and a time when they will need the support of their community both in their grief and in their fight to keep the search for Brittany going, according to an event description for the vigil on Facebook. No one should hold such tremendous grief or carry the burden of searching alone. Last years vigil brought about 100 people together at the Brookfield Common, giving friends and family a chance to reminisce about Tee, the Telegram & Gazette reported in January 2024. Missing Brookfield woman Brittany Tee, 35, was last seen leaving a residence in Brookfield around 8:30 p.m. Jan. 10. She was last seen wearing a black winter coat, hoodie, jeans and work boots, officials said. (Worcester District Attorney's Office) Three days before she went missing in January 2023, Tee was last seen in the area of Lewis Field on Main Street in Brookfield. Her family then reported her missing to Brookfield police, resulting in extensive searches in the weeks that followed. Search teams included the Massachusetts State Police and its Special Emergency Response Team, the State Police K-9 Unit, the State Police Air Wing, the State Police Marine Unit, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Brookfield Police and Fire Departments, and the Worcester Police Department. In a short statement, a spokesperson for Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.s office said on Wednesday that the investigation into Tees disappearance and search for her whereabouts remains ongoing. So far, no upcoming ground searches are planned, Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Tim McGuirk told MassLive. Speaking with the Telegram & Gazette, Tees sister, Bethany Tee, said there have been no new developments pointing to where the missing woman is. It continues to be very difficult, she told the newspaper on Monday. Every day we think of her. In September 2024, Tees family approached Private Investigations for the Missing to look into the case, the Telegram reported. A page on the organizations website gives a description of Tee, what she looks like, where she was last seen and that she would be 37 years old now. Case manager Louis Barry, who is also on the organizations board, told the Telegram that they took on the case because there may be some solvability to it. We obviously dont guarantee anything at all, except that well try, Barry said to the newspaper. Many times, the police are not overly communicative with the family as to what is or is not happening in the case, and the families get frustrated. At least with a private investigator, they know somebody is working on the case, and that gives them some hope that that theres going to be a resolution to it. On Jan. 22, 2023, state police said they covered 250 acres during search efforts, with other search efforts done in a large area of woods near her Brookfield home and along routes 9 and 148. Earlys office has previously repeated that the search is not a criminal investigation. People who authorities have spoken with during the investigation have been cooperative. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, state police conducted a search of 18 Main St. in Brookfield, the address where missing Brookfield woman Brittany Tee was last seen. Prior searches conducted by State Police divers and the marine unit and Massachusetts Environmental Police searched the Quaboag River, Quaboag Pond, and Dunn Brook and surrounding marshland yielded no results. Tee is described as 56 inches tall and 120 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a black winter coat, a hoodie, jeans and work boots when she was last seen. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the tip line at 508-453-7589 or email WorcesterDAUnresolved@mass.gov. Tips can be left anonymously. The owner of Piccolos, an Italian restaurant located in Worcester, was released on Friday after he was charged in connection with spray-painting an activist before a city council meeting in November. John Piccolo, who is also president of the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty before Judge Timothy Bibaud, who ordered Piccolo released on personal recognizance. Piccolos pretrial conference is scheduled for March 4. Piccolos charge stems from a Nov. 19 city council meeting where at around 6:30 p.m., police arrived at city hall about a reported physical altercation, City Manager Eric Batistas office said in a statement. Police found a man with dark paint on his face. The man, David Webb, previously told MassLive that his face was spray painted when he was on his way to make a public comment during the council meeting. Sorry Im shaken up, the owner of Piccolos just spray-painted my face out there, Webb said during the meeting. Video of the meeting shows his forehead and right cheek covered in black paint. Piccolo left the courtroom following his release while Webb spoke with reporters. Black paint could still be seen on his red eyeglasses. In the nearly two months since the incident, Webb said he was still frazzled. Physically, he said, hes fine but he has started seeing a therapist in the wake of the incident. Its important to be part of the process, Webb said about appearing for Piccolos arraignment. ... Its the very beginning of justice, hopefully ... If what he did makes sense, you need to rethink your priorities. An activist, Webb told MassLive in November that Piccolo was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, identified him and then pulled up a spray can. I closed my eyes and then yelled, swung my hands down and he wasnt there moments later, Webb said. Webb screamed so others could see what happened, and a person tackled Piccolo before he left in an elevator. Prior to the incident, Webb had never previously interacted with Piccolo, he said. The attack appeared to be motivated by an Instagram post calling a fundraiser for School Committee Member Dianna Biancheria at Piccolos restaurant a racist convention, Webb said. The post was meant to be a warning to politicians who might attend the event, which Webb said was for people who support conservative oppressive beliefs would keep actual progressives away from it and start conversations about antiracism in our city. He called Piccolo an angry man preventing speech and added that it was the first political-based violence in Worcester since [President-elect Donald] Trump was [re-elected]. Webb added that he has plans to run for local office and said the attack validated that hes challenging prominent voices within the city. Recent revelations about crime and violence in the states emergency shelters have provided a new flashpoint as lawmakers on Beacon Hill get ready to take up the Healey administrations nearly half-billion dollar funding request for the cash-hungry system. And the emerging battle lines are familiar ones, with echoes of the broader, nationwide debate over illegal immigration and the specter of mass deportations. The shelter system was back in the spotlight again this week in the wake of a Boston Globe story revealing more than 1,000 serious incidents, including rapes and sexual assaults, in state-funded sites. That news comes on the heels of last months arrest of an undocumented migrant who was living at a Revere shelter site and was charged with possession of an AR-15 and nearly 5,000 grams of suspected fentanyl, MassLive previously reported. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who submitted her $425 million funding request on Tuesday, has condemned the violence even as she has sought to downplay it. You know, the vast majority of folks are complying with rules, kids are in school, many of them are working, and those whove come through immigration have most of them have received work authorizations and are also working, she said, according to State House News Service. On Monday, Healeys office said it had ordered an inspection of all state-run emergency shelters and a review of its intake procedures in response to that arrest in Revere, MassLive previously reported. I have no tolerance for criminal activity in our shelters or anywhere, for that matter, Healey said during an appearance Tuesday on GBH News' Boston Public Radio program. Republicans, joined by some Democrats, meanwhile, have said the state needs to tighten up its shelter rules and rein in spending. On Wednesday, state House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, said the system, which houses a mix of permanent Massachusetts residents and migrant arrivals, needed a fix. You have to start screening better at the door, and thats what needs to be done. And Im sure thats what theyll end up doing, the Quincy lawmaker said this week, according to State House News Service. State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Worcester/Hampshire, a spending hawk, argued Thursday for prioritized funding for state residents, along with residency requirements for people who seek shelter. Right now, Massachusetts Right to Shelter law compels the state to offer services to those who seek them. We have been predicting this for years now, Durant said of shelter costs that now approach $1 billion a year. Weve been talking about this for two-and-a-half years now, and nothing has really gotten better. This $400 million is going to come up. Thats for this fiscal year. Were about to go through a budget cycle thats going to allocate money for the next fiscal year. So these costs arent going away. Speaking to State House News Service this week, Mariano did not say whether the majority-Democrat chamber would make fixes to the system a condition for funding. But with the shelter system set to run out of funds sometime this month, he did acknowledge that the meter is running. Well take a look at it. Well see what the additional costs would be, he told the wire service. But I think you need to have something at the door, obviously, because these people are walking in. We will discuss a lot of prerequisites. On the campaign trail last year, Republicans from President-elect Donald Trump on down used the often-exaggerated threat of violence by undocumented immigrants to argue the case for get-tough immigration policies and the looming threat of mass deportations. Those arguments, in turn, sparked fierce rebuttals by Democrats and immigration advocates who pointed to data showing undocumented immigrants committed crimes at a lower rate than native-born citizens. On Capitol Hill this week, the U.S. Senate was expected to advance legislation imposing new penalties on migrants accused of crimes, Reuters reported. The bill, dubbed the Laken Riley Act for a slain Georgia college student, previously passed the House. Taken together, the legislative action here and in Washington, underlines the political volatility of the issue, and the very real human costs of the debate, one veteran observer told MassLive. When you put anyone in the conditions of shelter life, you will see conflict, and you will see crime, Jerold Duquette, a Central Connecticut State University political science professor who studies Massachusetts politics, said. And if your legal status is precarious, you will behave better, not worse, Duquette added. The recent spike in crime does not mean that we should be more afraid of immigrants, Duquette concluded. It means that we should be putting more energy into creating a safe space, and [avoiding] immigrant-on-immigrant crime. Because thats what were talking about here. Beacon Hill Republicans issued a scathing rebuke to the Healey administration on Friday in the wake of a published report revealing that it did not conduct full background checks on people admitted to the states emergency shelter system. The Democratic administration, buffeted by criticism about widespread crime in the shelters, had previously insisted that the state had a thorough vetting process, The Boston Globe reported. The admissions are completely unacceptable and represent a serious betrayal of the publics trust, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-20th Middlesex, said in a statement his office released on Friday. The administrations handling of the situation has been a total disaster, with the failure to carry out the most basic of public safety protocols needlessly placing other people in harms way by housing them alongside dangerous criminals, Jones continued. Jones' statement was swiftly followed by a broadside from the state Republican Party, which has kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism of Gov. Maura Healeys management of the shelter crisis. Either the Governor has been dishonest with Massachusetts residents, or she is oblivious to how her administration is mismanaging the migrant crisis, state GOP Chairperson Amy Carnevale said. On Friday, Healey said shed tapped former Boston Police Department Commissioner Ed Davis to conduct an independent review of shelter security, The Boston Herald reported. Healey said shed asked for a report within 30 days, which she intended to make public. The Arlington Democrat did not say how much Davis would be paid, the newspaper reported. On Tuesday, Healeys office sent the majority-Democrat Legislature a $425 million supplemental funding request for the shelter system, which is slated to run out of money this month. It came hard on the heels of another Globe story revealing more than 1,000 serious incidents, including rapes and sexual assaults, in state-funded sites. Those revelations further came after last months arrest of an undocumented migrant who was living at a Revere shelter site and was charged with possession of an AR-15 and nearly 5,000 grams of suspected fentanyl, MassLive previously reported. This week, Healey condemned the violence even as she sought to downplay it. You know, the vast majority of folks are complying with rules, kids are in school, many of them are working, and those whove come through immigration have most of them have received work authorizations and are also working, she said, according to State House News Service. While they have not made funding conditional on changes to the system, senior legislative Democrats have said the system needs a fix. You have to start screening better at the door, and thats what needs to be done. And Im sure thats what theyll end up doing, state House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, said this week, according to State House News Service. Beacon Hill Republicans, meanwhile, have spent months scrutinizing taxpayer support for the shelter system, which houses both permanent Massachusetts residents and migrant new arrivals. On Friday, Jones, the House Republican leader, blistered the administrations fiscal stewardship, arguing that its time for heads to roll. A complete top-to-bottom review of the program is needed to ensure that not only all of those applying for emergency shelter assistance are properly vetted at the point of entry, but also to identify those individuals who are already in the system but should not be, Jones said. Dangerous criminals should be removed from the program immediately, and swift legal action taken. He added that its become abundantly clear that this program is wildly unsustainable and unmanageable for the Healey Administration, and it is well beyond time to change course. The state did conduct searches for sex offenses and outstanding warrants, according to the Globe. But it did not do checks for past criminal activity, the newspaper reported. Warrant checks for new entries, meanwhile, were previously conducted just once. They now are conducted every 30 days, Noah Bombard, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, told the Globe. When the newspaper asked whether the state knew how many people with criminal backgrounds are now living in the shelter system, Bombard responded I cant give you an answer to that. On Friday, Republicans said the administrations answers were insufficient and called for an overhaul of the system. The Legislature must stand united and demand urgent reforms to the states right-to-shelter law, Carnevale said. Massachusetts taxpayers cannot continue to fund a broken system that perpetuates this humanitarian disaster. The time for excuses is over. Speaking to reporters after an unrelated event on Thursday, State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Worcester/Hampshire, a spending hawk, argued Thursday for prioritized funding for state residents, along with residency requirements for people who seek shelter. Right now, Massachusetts Right to Shelter law compels the state to offer services to those who seek them. We have been predicting this for years now, Durant said of shelter costs that now approach $1 billion a year. Weve been talking about this for two-and-a-half years now, and nothing has really gotten better, Durant said. This $400 million is going to come up. Thats for this fiscal year. Were about to go through a budget cycle thats going to allocate money for the next fiscal year. So these costs arent going away. After a campaign defined around what New Hampshire shouldnt do emulate its Democratic-run neighbor Massachusetts Gov. Kelly Ayotte delivered an inaugural address Thursday that sought to carve out what the state should do. One answer Ayotte gave: reduce state government. HOLYOKE Holyoke Community College will hold a special Registration Express event for the spring semester on Saturday. Prospective students can apply for admission, take the college placement test, meet with an academic adviser, register for classes and set up financial aid all in one day. HOLYOKE In just three weeks, Holyoke residents will head to the polls to decide if the city treasurer should continue to be an elected position or transition to an appointment by the City Council. City Hall supports the move to an appointed position, citing improvement to the citys financial and administrative operations, and because its recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the IRS. Info/News: Merck Foundation announced the Best African Women Researchers and African Young ResearchersCollaboration sud-african pour le ministere de LEgalite du GenreWHO prequalifies diagnostic test to support safer administration of P. vivax malaria treatmentsCanons strong commitment to sustainability recognised[Document] Consumer Price Index for December 2024Bocuse dOr 2025 Grand Final, Honorary PresidentMission entrepreneuriale regionale du 3 au 7 fevrier 2025, a MayotteDikeledi : Septieme communique special pour St BrandonA booming continent needs a new payment infrastructureeQ Residences by 2Futures[Document] Les paiements digitaux ont la cote chez les clients de la MCBMeteo du 10 janvier 2025Dikeledi est passe au pres de MauriceDikeledi: Sixieme communique special pour St BrandonDikeledi: Cinquieme communique special pour St BrandonBruneau Laurette demandeDekiledi : Quatrieme communique special pour St BrandonGabriel Caliste a signe avec West HamLe MSM satisfaitDikeledi 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pluies nest en vigueur a Maurice The annual release of the archival State papers make for welcome news fodder for the national media in the fallow final days of each calendar year. The disclosures of secret memos, off-the-record observations, and the bread-and-butter interactions of political leaders make for interesting background detail to what at the time were the major events of the day. The State papers are normally of grave import, but there is always a gem or two of humorous provenance to be found in the heavy detail. This year, the incident of the visit of the Soviet leader, Boris Yeltsen, in 1994 recalls memories of when the Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, was left waiting at the bottom of the aircraft steps at Shannon while Russian officials tried, without success, to rouse their leader from his alcohol induced slumber. His non-appearance for the visit caused much mutual embarrassment, allayed somewhat by the diplomatic discretion much to the gratitude of Moscow which the Irish accorded the incident. But the real gem of this years crop was the time and attention devoted to the question of whether the Laois/Offaly TD, Oliver J Flanagan, was entitled to style himself Sir Oliver, having been invested by the Vatican into the Knighthood of St Gregory. The colourful Flanagan had claimed that, under pressure from his constituents, he had decided to adopt the Sir Oliver appellation. However, the protocol section of the Government thought otherwise, finally ruling that Papal honours do not equate to Royal honours, which, subject to approval of the Government, allow the recipient to be addressed as Sir or Lord. But the rebuke would hardly have bothered Oliver J, a politician who loomed large on the Irish landscape for the 40 four years he served as a TD. Divisive, colourful, controversial and eccentric, he was a household name across the land, well known as much for his intemperate views as for the masterful way he courted the media and garnered the headlines. He had been elected a TD in June 1943 at age 23, and went on to contest 14 general elections over a career of forty-three years, topping the poll in eleven of these contests. His career began as an Independent, representing a grouping known as The Monetary Reform Party. Although its central theme was said to be poorly understood by the electorate (involving a redistribution of wealth under a system of social credit, designed to ease poverty and to provide full employment), his main target soon became clear. The worlds wealth, he opined, was being held in the hands of the Jews and the Freemasons, and until they were toppled there could be no justice in the world. In his maiden speech to the Dail in July 1943, he urged the Government to emulate the Nazis and rout the Jews out of the country. Where the bees are, there is honey; and where the Jews are, there is money, he said. Some years later, he advocated the Government turn the Emergency Powers Act on the Jews, who sacrificed Our Saviour nineteen-hundred years ago, and who are crucifying us every day of the week. He was highly suspicious of the banking system, at one stage declaring that he would give a medal or a pension to every man who robbed a bank, a piece of advice that saw him brought before the court on a charge of breaching the peace, the outcome of which saw him promise not to repeat that particular call to action. A noted Catholic lay activist with a deep fear of the permissive society that he believed was threatening to undermine Catholic morality, he famously told RTE that there was no sex in Ireland before television. But his big moment came in 1947 when, in his eagerness to oust the Fianna Fail government, he levelled allegations of corruption against the Taoiseach Eamon de Valera and the Minister for Industry and Commerce Sean Lemass. They were proposing, he said, the selling off of Lockes Distillery in Kilbeggan to a Swiss syndicate in contravention of the law. He claimed that De Valeras son, Vivion, had been gifted a gold watch as part of the payoff. A tribunal of inquiry, headed by three judges, found not a scintilla of evidence to support Flanagans claims, which were made with a degree of recklessness amounting to irresponsibility. But despite the judges findings that he had lied to the tribunal, the result had no effect on his electoral popularity, his vote increasing by 50 percent in the ensuing general election. Oliver J Flanagan eventually joined Fine Gael in 1952, and later became Minister for Defence in 1976. On his retirement, his son Charlie succeeded him and went on to become Minister for Justice, retiring from the Dail last year. Human Resources and Administration Manager Long Term Technical Assignment Democratic Republic of Congo Company Profile: SoCha (a portmanteau of Social and Change) is an independent Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) firm that provides bespoke solutions to social challenges. We are a US-registered, veteran-owned small business and staff support offices in Nairobi, Bangkok and Mauritius. SoCha currently supports assistance interventions across Asia and Africa. Background: SoCha, LLC is contracted to provide technical and advisory services to the United States Agency for International Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (USAID/DRC) on the 5-year Mission Strategic Support Program (MSSP). The purpose of MSSP is to provide services assisting the mission with strategy and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation and learning, including conducting data gathering and verification, data visualization, data quality assessments, impact and performance evaluations, assessments, organizational learning, and MEL capacity building. SoCha is looking for qualified individuals to fill the role of Human Resources and Administration Manager. Responsibilities: The HR & Administration Manager reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and acts as the Human Resources and Administration Manager for the project. Main areas include Strategic HR management, recruitment and talent management, policy development and compliance, performance management, compensation and benefits, administration support, stakeholder relations (local authorities, etc.). Human Resources: Lead all human resource management requirements including CCN recruitment, on-boarding of new staff and upkeep of HR Manuals and Personnel files in line with USG, local law and SoCha policies. Ensure that all LTTA and STTA documentation are completed and saved in appropriate system folders. Prepare independent consultant and employee agreements for CCNs, collect complete accurate supporting documentation, monitor level of effort and distribute monthly STTA tracker. Work with home office HR Manager to provide all requirements, documents and other information required in the recruitment and onboarding of USN and TCN STTA and LTTA employees. Ensure timely completion of probation, mid-term and annual reviews for all employees. Manage staff on boarding to ensure the set-up of necessary equipment, systems and other needs are in place upon LTTA and STTA start date and oversee the orientation of newly hired LTTA staff. Review all time sheets for accuracy and completeness, ensure that all staff adhere to SoCha timekeeping and leave policies and monitor staff leave balances. Ensure consultants and employees are paid in a timely manner and manage any necessary consultant amendments and employment agreement modifications. Draft and update the MSSP Personnel Manual and Local Employee Compensation Plan, ensuring they are in accordance with SoCha and USAID policies and regulations and DRC Labor Law. Oversee all aspects of national and regional personnel performance and professional development tasks - goal setting, regular evaluation, and probation/end-of-year assessment. Contribute to procurement of health insurance, ensure all staff are enrolled in Project insurance policies and serve as a point of contact for ongoing communication with providers. Manage all immigration needs of expat LTTA and STTA staff. Administration In consultation with the Director of Finance and Administration and COP, establish procedures for the operations and maintenance of the office. Oversee day-to-day office operations and requirements. Supports operational staff in the Kinshasa office Assist with file administration functions related to the management of files involving administrative authorities via the organization's consulting firm, etc. Serve as the focal point for security-related aspects in the Kinshasa office. Coordinate and chair staff meetings Other duties as appropriate. Requirements: Educational Qualifications: Bachelors degree in human resource management, Business Administration, or related field. A masters degree is preferred. Certification in HR (e.g., CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent) is desirable. Experience: Up to 10 years of professional experience in HR management, with at least 5 years in a HR and Administration managerial role. Proven track record working with international NGOs (preferably on donor funded projects) or in senior HR roles within the private sector. Experience working on USAID projects desired. Good understanding of DRC Labor Laws, strong knowledge of HR best practices. Proficient in English and French, both written and spoken Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated expertise in talent acquisition, performance management, and organizational development. Excellent problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution abilities. Proficiency in relevant HR technology platforms. Other Attributes: High integrity and ethical standards. Ability to work effectively in multicultural and diverse environments. Flexibility and adaptability to changing organizational needs. Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Open to: Congolese nationals How to apply: To apply, please lodge your CV and your introduction letter using the form below. Three recent references are required. Applications for the position will remain open until it is filled. https://jobs.socha.net/jobs/socha_llc/human-resources-and-administration-manager---drc by Fern Siegel , January 10, 2025 AC&M Group, a Charlotte, N.C. marketing agency, opened a new office in Monterrey, Mexico. It is located in the Punto Valle in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, and marks a key moment in the agency's growth. This is AC&M Groups second international location, following the addition of a digital team in La Plata, Argentina, in 2023. The agency's decision is due to its strong client base in Mexico, including Club de Futbol Monterrey, Bachoco and Charly. Opening an office in Monterrey is a natural progression for AC&M Group, as we are already helping several Mexican companies with their U.S. market expansion strategies. And we continue to expand our footprint, said Jaime Cardenas, co-founder-CEO of AC&M Group. Monterreys dynamic business landscape and exceptional talent make it an ideal location for us to better serve our clients and drive innovative marketing solutions. For over two decades, AC&M Group has been a proponent of multicultural marketing for clients such as National Gypsum, Sherwin-Williams and Rayados de Monterrey. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 9, 2025 The Department of Justice is urging a federal judge to reject Apple's bid to intervene in a battle over the proposal that Google end its long-standing search and revenue-sharing partnership with Apple. With its lucrative exclusionary agreement in peril, Apple now files an eleventh-hour effort to intervene in this litigation, the Justice Department writes in papers filed Wednesday. Apple -- one of the largest and most sophisticated companies in the world, represented by equally sophisticated counsel -- knew the entire time that a major focus of this case was the companies agreement, the government added. The dispute comes in a lawsuit dating to 2020, when the federal government and a coalition of states alleged that Google monopolized search. In August, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C. found that Google violated antitrust law by arranging to serve as the default search engine on browsers operated by Apple and Mozilla, as well as on Android devices. advertisement advertisement Mehta is expected to soon hold a trial over potential remedies. The federal government has proposed numerous terms -- including that Google end its revenue-sharing partnership with Apple. That deal involves Google serving as the default search engine for Safari, for which Google pays Apple around 36% of search revenue for queries originating on Safari. The agreement resulted in an estimated $20 billion payment from Google to Apple in 2022. Late last year, Apple sought to intervene in the case, arguing that it has a stake in the outcome. Apple wrote that the Justice Department's proposal threatens to undercut Apples property interest in its existing contract with Google and in its ability to enter into future contracts with Google across a host of domains, including general search, AI, and other related areas. But the Justice Department says Apple waited too long to make the request. Apples counsel attended every deposition of its employees and every day of the trial. At no time throughout this years-long litigation and prior to filing its motion to intervene on December 23, 2024, did Apple ever suggest that Google ... did not adequately represent Apples interests, the government argues. The Justice Department adds that Google's interests in the revenue-sharing agreement are aligned with Apple's. Apple and Google clearly share the ultimate objective of continuing the [agreement] that has been so profitable for both companies, the government argues. Apple is expected to respond by January 15. by Tanya Gazdik , January 9, 2025 Graphic courtesy of In Good Co. Airbnb and Toyota are among the companies that have stepped up to help those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, which have burned through thousands of acres, displacing thousands of area residents. Airbnb.org, in collaboration with 211 LA, is offering free temporary housing for residents displaced or forced to evacuate due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. A limited number of credits are available for Airbnb stays and those seeking help must first complete an online form to receive notifications on availability. Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Financial Services also announced efforts to assist. advertisement advertisement Toyota is helping via its donations to The American Red Cross and SBP, which both support recovery efforts when disasters strike around the nation. SBP rebuilds damaged homes for disaster survivors in select communities and provide one-on-one assistance with FEMA applications and appeals. Other companies that fund SBP include Lowes, Reliant, Target, Travelers, UPS, Farmers Insurance, Citgo, AT&T, Amazon and Walmart. Toyota also is matching contributions for donations made by U.S.-based employees to support The American Red Cross, SBP and other eligible nonprofits. Additionally, Toyota Financial Services announced it is offering payment relief options to affected customers. This broad outreach includes any Toyota Financial Services or Lexus Financial Services customer in the designated disaster areas. Impacted lease and finance customers residing in the affected area may be eligible to take advantage of several payment relief options. Planet Fitness is opening its door to residents, first responders and others affected by the wildfires. The fitness chain is providing free access to locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi. The offer is valid until Jan. 15 at Planet Fitness locations across Los Angeles County that havent been impacted by the wildfires. Even in the midst of the chaos, several LA-based brands also offered what they could to help their community. Healthcare apparel company Figs has launched a support initiative for the local healthcare community impacted by the wildfires. The supprt includes providing PPE and essential supplies to hospitals, providing meals for healthcare professionals and their families, sending scrubs to healthcare workers in need and helping with the cost of childcare. Everytable, which offers fresh meals at different prices based on the neighborhood, is providing food to shelters and to first responders. Mud\Wtr, a coffee alternative, is opening up it Santa Monica offices and parking lot to anyone who needs it. Kirsten Ludwig, co-founder of of the LA-agency In Good Co., posted about both companys efforts on her LinkedIn page. This is how you build a brand in 2025 by showing up authentically when your community needs you most, Ludwig wrote. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 9, 2025 Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can't proceed with claims that Google misled state residents about its privacy practices because the company lacks sufficient ties to the state, an appeals court ruled Thursday. It is undisputed that appellant is not incorporated in Texas and does not maintain a principal place of business there, Justice Jaime Tijerina of the 13th District Court of Appeals wrote in an opinion joined by Justices Clarissa Silva and Lionel Aron Pena, Jr. They added that the claims against Google stemmed from its statements regarding privacy -- which were not made by any of Google's approximately 5,500 Texas-based employees. The evidence shows that [Google's] employees directed the alleged misleading statements from afar, which is insufficient to confer specific jurisdiction, Tijerina wrote. advertisement advertisement The decision comes in a battle dating to January 2022, when Paxton sued Google for allegedly duping consumers about its collection and use of location data. Google has become one of the richest companies in the world, in part, by deceiving Texans and profiting off their confusion, Paxton alleged, adding that Google has systematically misled, deceived, and withheld material facts from users in Texas about how their location is tracked and used and how to stop Google from monetizing their movements. Those allegations appear to stem from a 2018 Associated Press report that Google stores location data gleaned from some services, including search and maps, even when users attempt to prevent their data from being collected. The AP reported that even when the "Location History" setting is turned off, Google still gathers some location data unless people turn off a separate setting -- "Web and App Activity." After that report came out, Google revised a help page by adding language informing people that turning off Location History doesn't affect other location services, and that some location data may still be saved. Paxton later amended his complaint to also allege that Google deceptively collected data from users who browsed in incognito mode. Paxton wasn't the only attorney general to sue Google over the location-privacy claims. The company also faced suit by law enforcement officials throughout the country, and a related class-action by consumers. In November 2022, Google agreed to pay $392 million to settle location-privacy related claims brought by 40 state attorneys general, and in 2023 Googleagreed to pay $93 million to settle a suit brought by California's attorney general, and $62 million to resolve a related consumer class-action. Separately, Google was also sued by consumers over alleged data collection from people who browsed in incognito mode. In April, the company agreed to destroy or remediate data it collected from incognito users, in order to settle a class-action privacy lawsuit. by Colin Kirkland , January 10, 2025 Grok, a conversational chatbot integrated into X and powered by xAI's large language model (LLM) called Grok-1, now has its own iOS app, furthering X owner and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's desire to transform Grok into a leading force in generative AI while also providing non-X users with the ability to access the technology. Upon its original launch last year, Grok was only accessible to X's Premium subscribers, which make up fewer than 1% of the platform's total user base. This includes Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini, two newer LLMs that feature an in-app image generator and upgraded performance. Eventually, the social-media company wanted to bring more users to Grok, testing a freemium version of the chatbot, which rolled out early last month, offering users the ability to ask Grok questions, generate images via an enhanced image-generator called Aurora, analyze posts, and generate humorous responses through an Unhinged Fun mode. advertisement advertisement By allowing non-Premium users the option to send up to 10 messages to Grok every two hours for free, Grok is in direct competition with other free-to-use chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. Now, xAI has made Grok's stand-alone app available to users in the U.S., Australia, and India for free on the Apple App Store. Once downloaded, users can use the chatbot with or without signing in to their X account, Google account, Apple account, or email. The company says it is also prepping a dedicated site, Grok.com, to bring the chatbot to the web. xAI raised $6 billion over the summer, and has reported another $6 billion funding round, naming Nvidia and AMD as investors, among others. Ultimately, by allowing access to Grok on the App Store -- and soon the open web -- xAI is inviting non-X users to access the chatbot, which could prove beneficial considering the divisive nature of the social platform, especially since the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. X owner Elon Musk's actions, including his endorsement of Trump and his history of offensive and harmful in-app posts, have pushed users away from the platform. However, it is likely that Grok will embody the same free speech ethos Musk has infused into X, formerly known as Twitter. When Musk first introduced Grok to the market, he described the chatbot as edgy and anti-woke, as Grok would answer the controversial questions its competing free chatbots were purposefully avoiding. According to TechCrunch, Grok may soon integrate an Unhinged Mode, which xAI says is intended to be objectionable, inappropriate, and offensive, much like an amateur stand-up comic who is still learning the craft. Only 4% of India's population has insurance, far below the global average of 7%. With 18% GST, insurance is becoming a luxury rather than a necessity. 18% #GST on health & term #insurance premiums remains a concern! Experts argue it makes insurance less affordable & harder to access in India, where insurance penetration is only 4%. #medindia Advertisement Advertisement GST on Health Insurance: Applicability, HSN Code and GST Rate - (https:cleartax.in/s/gst-on-health-insurance) Thecontinues to be a concern, with many experts and citizens arguing that theIn India, only about. The cost of premiums is already high, and adding an 18% tax only makes it worse. This has led to complaints that, especially in a country with no comprehensive social security system and poor government-run healthcare.While the tax has been criticized by many, including members of the government and opposition, the GST Council has not yet decided to lower the tax rate.Tax expert Sandeep Agrawal argued that reducing the GST would. This could encourage more people to buy insurance and increase coverage across the country.Other countries like. In, life insurance premiums are, and in the. These countries haveUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari has also expressed concern and wrote to the Finance Minister that taxing life insurance premiums is like. He believes that people who pay for insurance to protect their families should not be taxed for securing that protection.Experts like RC Sankhla, former Chief Commissioner of Customs and GST, believe thatfor all, especially for senior citizens facing higher premiums.GST on insurance premiums is classified as a. They argue that reducing the tax would make insurance more affordable, increase insurance uptake, and improve financial security for many people.With discussions about lowering the GST rate on insurance expected to continue in upcoming meetings, many hope that the government will take action soon to make insurance more affordable for everyone.Source-Medindia Inclement Weather Notice Due to the forecasted severe winter weather conditions, the University will shift to modified campus operations, including remote work for faculty and staff who are able to do so, on Friday, Jan. 10. Crucial services, including campus police, limited physical plant operations and other services for residence hall students, will be available onsite. Employees are encouraged to visit the Emergency Closing Information & FAQs webpage for more information on University modified operations and/or closures. Additionally, campus activities and events at all University of Memphis Shelby County locations and the Lambuth Campus in Jackson are canceled or postponed from Friday, Jan. 10, through Sunday, Jan. 12. For the latest information, please check your email, local media sources, the University website or call 901.678.0888. Should there be a need for further cancellation, it will be communicated through those outlets. Please take appropriate precautions and stay safe. Last year marked the first time in several years that the Army achieved its ambitious recruiting goals -- primarily due to an increase in female recruits, according to internal service data reviewed by Military.com. Nearly 10,000 women signed up for active duty in 2024, an 18% jump from the previous year, while male recruitment increased by just 8%, the data shows. The hike comes as the service continues to struggle with recruiting men, who have traditionally filled the bulk of its ranks but have become more of a challenge to enlist in recent years. The numbers mark the continuation of a trend reported in a Military.com investigation that found a yearslong Army recruiting slump was centered around men, while female recruiting numbers have remained relatively strong. They also point to young women as an increasingly vital recruiting pool, especially as young men are struggling to meet the Army's eligibility requirements. Read Next: Pentagon, California National Guard Deploying Aircraft and Personnel to Fight Raging LA Wildfires Female applicants may have an advantage over their male counterparts for a variety of reasons. They are less likely to have criminal records, accounting for just 30% of juvenile arrests, according to data from the Justice Department. They're also outpacing men in higher education, with nearly half of women aged 25 to 34 holding bachelor's degrees compared to 37% of men, according to Pew Research data from late 2024. Since 2013, male enlistments have dropped about 22%, from 58,000 men recruited that year to 45,000 last year. The increase in female recruits comes despite the Army not changing much about its recruiting strategy. The service's public-facing social media and ad campaigns still predominantly feature men -- by as much as two to three times more, especially when it comes to speaking roles, according to a review of marketing materials from the past four years. "It's not about pandering to women; it's about creating a professional environment accessing the best talent, where we've been undervaluing pursuing women," Katherine Kuzminski, an expert on the military and veterans at the Center for a New American Security, told Military.com in an interview. Applicants with a college background are increasingly important: Nearly 5,000 new recruits who enlisted in the service last year had higher education, a 14% increase from 2023. College-level degrees are becoming more expected among enlisted troops, particularly as they advance through leadership ranks. On the ground, Army recruiters broadly do not consider demographics when it comes to outreach, and efforts are generally not employed strategically, something the service is aiming to remedy in the coming years. That move is not to satisfy any vague diversity goals, officials have explained, but to become more surgical with courting potential applicants who are more likely to be eligible for service. Meanwhile, the Army's biggest recruiting challenge isn't just convincing men to sign up -- it's finding eligible ones. Academic standards have become a major barrier for recruits, with a significant portion failing to meet the minimum requirements for enlistment. The Army requires a high school diploma, and many roles demand strong scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, a standardized test that assesses math, science and language skills and with which applicants often struggle. That trend coincides with falling test scores that schools have been seeing for decades but which were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Army started the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, a pre-basic training camp that takes otherwise ineligible applicants and gets them up to snuff for service -- either to meet academic or body fat standards. The lion's share are recruits who came up short on the entrance test, and roughly 70% are men, according to internal Army data. Studies have shown a troubling trend in U.S. education: Boys are falling behind girls in nearly every academic category, including reading and writing. That achievement gap starts in elementary school and often widens over time. By high school, boys are less likely to graduate on time compared to their female peers, and the differences are even more pronounced among male minorities. As more women enlist into the Army and the percentage of eligible male candidates shrinks, women are increasingly rising through the ranks and taking on senior leadership roles. Related: The Army's Recruiting Problem Is Male The U.S. military has waged a series of large strikes on the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria and Iraq over the past month in what appears to be an uptick in the decade-long campaign against the group -- operations punctuated by an Islamic State-inspired attack in New Orleans by an Army veteran on New Year's Day. However, Pentagon officials and outside experts said the seemingly increased tempo in the campaign to snuff out the group, which began in 2014 with airstrikes in the two countries, is not an indication that the Islamic State is gaining strength but largely a downstream effect of the Russian departure from Syria after the ousting of former ruler Bashar Assad in December. "When you saw the fall of Assad, you saw Russian assets further consolidate, which allowed U.S. Central Command to take actions in the Badiya desert and elsewhere where we hadn't previously done a significant amount of strikes," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday. Read Next: Pentagon, California National Guard Deploying Aircraft and Personnel to Fight Raging LA Wildfires The Islamic State seized Mosul, one of Iraq's largest cities, in 2014 with plans to create a global caliphate across the border in Syria, and waged a series of deadly terror attacks that included mass killings, beheadings of aid workers and journalists, and sex slavery. U.S. and Iraqi forces waged a brutal, nine-month battle against the group to retake the city in 2017. The U.S. has continued its operations against the Islamic State since, although on a much smaller scale that has largely stayed out of the public spotlight. The group, also known as ISIS, proved that its extremist Islamic ideology is still capable of inspiring terrorism inside the U.S. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas who served in the Army for more than a decade, drove a rented truck with an Islamic State flag down a crowded Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Jan. 1, killing 14 people. The FBI said Jabbar acted alone, and investigators have released no evidence showing he was in contact with the group in Syria. FBI officials later said that Jabbar posted five videos to his Facebook account on the morning of Jan. 1 in which he said that "he had joined ISIS before this summer." Just weeks earlier on Dec. 8, Central Command said it conducted a series of massive strikes against more than 75 Islamic State targets in Syria. The strikes occurred on the same day Assad's regime collapsed after decades in power. Those strikes were followed up by more U.S. airstrikes on Dec. 16, an airstrike against an Islamic State leader on Dec. 20, an attack on a weapons convoy on Dec. 23, and another pair of strikes against Islamic State locations in late December and early January in Iraq and Syria. Defense officials said the operations were just the latest in a multitude of other strikes and actions against the terror group by Central Command this year. But the size and scope of the latest strikes are much larger and have involved not just jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 but also B-52 Stratofortress bombers and, more recently, ground support aircraft like the A-10 Thunderbolt II. Jason Campbell, a senior policy researcher at Rand Corp., told Military.com in an interview Friday that the change has been driven in part by "an opportunity to strike ISIS targets with fewer impediments, but also wanting to ensure that they're not able to, once again, take advantage of a tenuous political situation." Campbell said the use of ground support aircraft was notable because it suggested that U.S. officials have "been able to convince the Iraqis and others that there is kind of an opportunity here to deal another significant blow to ISIS if they're so willing to ... take on the risk of the ground incursion." In its statement on the most recent pair of strikes, Central Command said the U.S. A-10s were "tasked to support ground forces in the area, [and they] were successful in eliminating the ISIS fighters within a cave." The statement also said that one coalition member was killed and two from two different nations were wounded, though Pentagon officials have so far remained silent on which countries the members belonged to. Both Singh and Campbell said that they don't see the change in the tenor of the strikes as a sign the Islamic State is reconstituting or growing in power. The terrorist group is "not remotely where it was 10 years ago," Dan Byman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a Georgetown University professor, told Military.com on Friday. At its height, Islamic State territory included about one-third of Syria and 40% of Iraq, and it controlled Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqa. Byman said that the aim now is "to make sure the Islamic State isn't able to expand," and the strikes keep the group from being effective in planning new operations and attacks. "By forcing a group to hide from strikes ... you don't gather in large groups, you don't talk on the phone, you don't use email," Byman said. "You try to use lots of security precautions, you know, on and on and on -- but when you do that, you can't really run an organization." While Central Command has waged broader strikes, the Islamic State's power to inspire attacks remains potent, even beyond Jabbar's rampage on New Year's Day. Byman said the U.S. saw more Islamic State plots in 2024 than the prior year. Like Jabbar, it's not clear those others arrested on U.S. soil for plotting Islamic State attacks ever actually engaged with the group or its leaders. Both Campbell and Byman were skeptical about just how devoted Jabbar was to the ideology of the Islamic terror organization. But Byman said that the New Orleans attack does show that ISIS, even as a shell of its former self, "still has the power to inspire." "You have a network whose message remains fairly constant, [with the] ability to remain a concerning force throughout the rest of the world, even if they're not ... threatening whole swaths of territory," Campbell noted. The Department of Homeland Security also warned that "foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al-Qaida maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the homeland." In October, the Department of Justice announced it had arrested an Afghan man who was living in Oklahoma for plotting to "conduct a violent attack on U.S. soil in the name of ISIS" on Election Day. U.S. intelligence officials in August helped foil an ISIS-inspired plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Austria. According to Singh, the group's ability to inspire attacks is not only a concern for the Pentagon but a reason why the mission in Syria and Iraq is crucial. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he worries about the fate of the thousands of Islamic State fighters who are being held in jails and camps across Syria. Byman, however, argues that it may take more than just the defeat of the Islamic State to end its ability to drive sympathizers to violence. "What you want is its legitimacy to be discredited -- you want people broadly to reject it -- and then over time it's not inspiring because it's kind of laughable," he said. "I think military force has a big impact on the appeal of the brand, but it doesn't end it completely." Related: New Orleans Attacker Served in Army for More than a Decade, Deployed to Afghanistan Contradicting what U.S. spy agencies have publicly said, senior National Security Council officials told a group of Havana Syndrome victims in a meeting at the White House that they have seen information that undercuts the intelligence communitys assessment that no foreign adversary was behind the incidents. In a meeting in the Situation Room on Nov. 18, NSC Senior Director for Intelligence Programs Mahar Bitar and other NSC members told the group that some of the conclusions in the March 2023 intelligence assessment in particular that there was no evidence that a foreign adversary had the ability or involvement were no longer valid, two people present in the room told the Miami Herald. They said they believe us, said one of the meeting participants, who asked to be identified only as Patient Zero because he was the first to report an incident in Havana in late 2016. The participants who spoke to the Herald said they pressed the NSC officials during the meeting to make their views public. We look forward to the NSC publicly acknowledging it and greatly appreciate their courage to speak truth over politics and start to rebuild the shattered trust the American people and other agencies have in our institutions, Patient Zero said. Patient Zero said he believed the NSC likely saw the same information that prompted a House intelligence subcommittee overseeing the CIA to conclude in an interim report in December that it appears increasingly likelythat a foreign adversary is behind some of these incidents. But on Friday, U.S. intelligence agencies are set to release an updated version of their assessment that still concludes no foreign adversary is behind the Havana Syndrome with one caveat: one of the several intelligence agencies involved would dissent from the conclusions, sources said. The sources believe that organization is the National Security Agency. Reached for comment, an NSC official said the intelligence assessment is one in a range of different work and expertise that informs the policy steps that we have taken, which also includes medical and scientific research. The official cited an earlier intelligence communitys expert panel, which he said has important recommendations for ongoing clinical work, but also ongoing research work to understand better the effects that different sorts of directed energy can have on the human body. That panel, convened by the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the agencies leading the investigation, concluded that energy weapons built with readily available technology were likely the culprit. We have approached this with humility, the official said. Just like with other health challenges that have affected government personnel, it can take years to get to the bottom of things. The group invited to the White House included six active and former intelligence officers who were injured in what the government has called anomalous health incidents that have happened in several countries around the world, including Cuba, Russia, and China. Some, like Patient Zero, had been medically retired because of the injuries suffered. Victims have described experiencing pressure or hearing a noise coming from a particular direction, after which they developed symptoms like migraine, tinnitus, balance issues and cognitive problems associated with brain injuries. The Herald sources said that NSC officials apologized at the White House meeting for the treatment the harmed officials received in their quest to obtain medical care and recognition within their agencies. We do not question the symptoms and the experiences of our colleagues, and we do believe that its important that there be ongoing investigation, ongoing medical work, ongoing research to better understand what has happened, the NSC official told the Herald. The official said the Biden administration prioritized the investigation and ensuring victims get treatment and compensation. Havana Syndrome victims have told the Herald the Biden White House has been supportive and involved in efforts to ensure agencies other than the CIA continue pursuing the investigation. Early on in the investigation, American and Canadian spies first injured while stationed in Havana and their injured spouses and children were told their symptoms were caused by mass hysteria. Some victims were denied medical treatment and faced retaliation. Publicly, the 2023 intelligence assessment blames the victims ailments on pre-existing conditions or environmental factors. But after Congress passed legislation, the CIA and other agencies have been paying compensation and providing medical care to those with illnesses that a doctor certifies has no known cause, undermining the intelligence agencies public stance. An investigation by CBSs 60 Minutes, the Insider and Der Spiegel uncovered new information linking a Russian military intelligence unit with some incidents. The former leading investigator into Havana Syndrome at the Pentagon told 60 Minutes he believed Russia was behind the attacks. The House intelligence subcommittee report questioned how the 2023 assessment was written and accused the intelligence community of stonewalling the congressional investigation into how the spy agencies handled the issue. In a press conference, subcommittee chairman Rick Crawford, whose office published the report, said he was not speculating. This is me telling you we have collected evidence that I can confidently say we can attribute many of these attacks to foreign adversaries, he told reporters. The CIA and the Office of the National Director of Intelligence rebuked the congressional report and told the Herald at the time that they left no stone unturned in the investigation. But accusations of a cover-up by the intelligence agencies have been floating around, including in congressional hearings, and some of the victims hope the incoming administration continues looking for answers. We look forward to the incoming administration taking a fresh look at the issue and holding those that have betrayed the American people accountable, Patient Zero said. _____ 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Editor's note: This is the fifth installment of New Year, New You, a weeklong look at your financial health headed into 2025. Growing up, your family may have been among the millions of American households that simply didn't talk about finances. Now that you're part of the military or a military household, you can start making up for that fact with the benefits and tools tailored to military life, many of which are exclusively available to service members. Because so much of the U.S. military is young -- with 40% under age 25 -- the Defense Department has in recent years prioritized "financial readiness" to help mitigate some of the challenging aspects of managing personal finances as a military member, such as unpredictable deployments or frequent household moves. To help jump-start your 2025 financial transformation, we've put together this list of some of the most extensive and frequently cited resources of financial information and advice for members of the military: Free Personal Financial Counseling U.S. service members can consult dedicated personal financial counselors for free help navigating money issues through the Military OneSource program. The counselors can meet online, over the phone or in person to help evaluate financial accounts and plans or for pointers on how to negotiate with creditors. Troops can access unlimited counseling sessions throughout their careers. They can request a session by calling Military OneSource at 800-342-9647, through the live chat on the Military OneSource website, or by contacting their installation's Financial Readiness Program or their service or reserve component's Military and Family Support Center. Military OneSource Content The Military OneSource program's 14 MilLife Guides provide introductions and links to tools to help with topics including the Blended Retirement System, Borrowing, Budgeting and Saving, Controlling Debt, Financial Management (two guides), Food Security, Getting Settled in the Military, Higher Education for Your Children, Housing and Living, Military Flexible Spending Accounts, Taxes, Benefits and Protecting Your Finances. Military OneSource provides information in a range of formats, including courses and podcasts. Office of Financial Readiness Website At the website of DoD's Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED), service members and families can start with a Financial Well-Being Assessment and enter scenarios into the office's calculator tools for savings, loans, taxes, debt and retirement, figuring out how much they need to save long term with the Retirement Nest Egg Calculator and Retirement Planner for Two Working Spouses Calculator. In addition to articles and videos explaining financial topics and military benefits, FINRED hosts the military services' service-specific curriculum materials for financial literacy education in its Learning Resource Library. Military-Oriented Organizations and Nonprofits A number of organizations outside the military provide information online for military households, particularly on financial topics, such as: The Learning Hub of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA), the self-described "longest-standing nonprofit association exclusively serving the U.S. military community." The Finance page of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and MOAA's Military State Report Card and Tax Guide. The military-specific resources of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's Investor Education Foundation. Military.com's Financial Columnists Kate Horrell and JJ Montanaro draw from their careers in the financial sector and their backgrounds as a military spouse and a veteran, respectively, in their articles for Military.com. Horrell, an accredited financial counselor and personal financial educator, wrote two of the installments in this series: "Investing for Junior Troops: A Guide to Making Your Money Multiply" and "What to Look for on Your January Leave and Earnings Statement." Meanwhile, it's actually never too late to consult Montanaro's year-end financial action plan. Previous parts in this series: Part 1: 2025 Guide to Pay and Allowances for Military Service Members, Veterans and Retirees Part 2: What to Look for on Your January Leave and Earnings Statement Part 3: Investing for Junior Troops: A Guide to Making Your Money Multiply Part 4: What to Do with Your 2025 Military Pay Raise Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. Title: From Wired to Wireless: The Ultimate Guide to Upgrading Your Sony Blu-ray Player (How to Change Your Sony Blu-Ray Player from Wired to Wireless) In todays digital age, we are constantly upgrading our technology, and one of the most exciting purchases that comes along is a new Blu-ray player. However, once you get your hands on the sleek and stylish Sony Blu-ray player, you may find yourself wondering how you can upgrade it from wired connections to wireless ones. Thats where this guide comes in! In this article, we will take you through the steps to easily change your Sony Blu-ray player from wired to wireless connections, making your viewing experience seamless and enjoyable. Step 1: Check if Your Player Supports Wireless Connectivity Before proceeding with the upgrade, make sure your Sony Blu-ray player supports wireless connectivity. Most modern Blu-ray players support Wi-Fi connectivity, but some older models may not. You can check your players documentation or visit its website for more information. Step 2: Purchase the Right accessories To connect your Sony Blu-ray player to your network, youll need some accessories such as a USB-C cable, Ethernet cable, and a router or modem. Make sure you purchase the right accessories for your player, as different models may require different cables. Step 3: Connect Your Device to the Network Once you have all the necessary accessories, plug them into your router or modem and wait for your player to detect them. Depending on the type of Wi-Fi network youre connecting to, your player may automatically establish a connection. Step 4: Install the Software Update If your player is still showing the old version of software, youll need to install an update to fix any bugs or enhance your viewing experience. Visit your players website or retailers website to download the latest software update. Step 5: Enjoy Wireless playback! With the new wireless connectivity, you can now enjoy wireless playback without the hassle of wires. Simply select the wireless option from the menu, enter the password, and enjoy your movie. (How to Change Your Sony Blu-Ray Player from Wired to Wireless) In conclusion, changing your Sony Blu-ray player from wired to wireless is a simple process that only requires a few steps. By following these steps, you can upgrade your player and enjoy a seamless and enjoyable viewing experience. So go ahead and give it a try, and let us know what you think! Inquiry us if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected]) The Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have agreed to a $28.5MM salary to avoid an arbitration hearing, reports Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. This does not prevent the sides from discussing a long-term deal in advance of Guerreros final year of club control. Guerrero and the Jays went to a hearing last offseason. The star first baseman proved triumphant and secured a $19.9MM salary rather than the teams filing figure of $18.05MM. They wont go through that process this time around. Guerrero agrees to an $8.6MM raise for whatll be his last trip through the process. Thats a hair below the $29.6MM projection from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. Hell nevertheless be the highest-paid player in this years arbitration group. Guerrero wasnt far off joining Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto as the only players to eclipse the $30MM mark in arbitration. The far more intriguing question is whether this will be Guerreros final contract with the Blue Jays. The four-time All-Star said last month that the Jays had offered him an extension in the $340MM range. Guerrero indicated that was well below his asking price, which USA Todays Bob Nightengale has suggested is at or above $450MM. The first baseman said he was willing to continue negotiations until the start of Spring Training. He indicated he would test free agency next offseason if no deal is in place once exhibition play begins. Guerrero finished sixth in MVP balloting last season. He raked at a .323/.396/.544 clip with 30 homers and 44 doubles. His numbers werent too far off what hed produced when he was runner-up behind Ohtani in MVP voting in 2021. Hes on track to get to free agency at age 27, where he and Kyle Tucker would headline the class. With the deadline for players and teams to exchange figures to file for arbitration now behind us, here are three things well be keeping an eye on this weekend: 1. Orioles 40-man roster move incoming: The Orioles made a move on the relief market last night, agreeing to terms with right-hander Andrew Kittredge on a one-year, $10MM deal that includes a club option for 2026. The move adds a veteran reliever with late-inning experience who can help set up for Felix Bautista alongside Yennier Cano, Seranthony Dominguez, and Gregory Soto. In order for the signing to be made official, however, the Orioles will have to first clear a 40-man roster spot that can then be given to Kittredge. Typically, that will involve a club designating a player for assignment, though occasionally clubs will work out a trade to create the necessary vacancy. Speaking of Orioles 40-man moves, theyll get clarity on their recent DFA of catcher Rene Pinto at some point today. Baltimore signed right-hander Charlie Morton to a one-year deal seven days ago and designated the 28-year-old Pinto for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Pinto appeared in each of the last three seasons with the Rays but was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in early November. Now that a full week has passed hell either be claimed by another club or outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, where the Orioles would be able to stash him as non-roster depth for the 2025 campaign. 2. Multi-year talks for players who exchanged figures? Seventeen players exchanged salary arbitration figures with their teams yesterday after failing to come to terms on a deal prior to yesterdays filing deadline. Those teams and players can continue to negotiate, as the figures exchanged merely set the potential price outcomes to be determined in an arbitration hearing. A deal can still be hammered out for any and all of those 17 players before hearings begin next month. Most clubs, however, employ a file-and-trial approach, meaning they no longer discuss straight one-year agreements once figures are exchanged. That leaves open the possibility of negotiating a multi-year deal (or a one-year deal with an option, as the option year effectively renders it a multi-year deal and makes that agreement irrelevant as a data point/comp for arbitration negotiations in future offseasons). In all likelihood, at least a few of the players who exchanged figures will come to terms either on a true multi-year deal or on a one-year deal with an option eliminating the need for a hearing. The Cardinals at least discussed multi-year deals with Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar this week, for instance. Just logically speaking, a two-year deal for someone like Washingtons Nathaniel Lowe locking in his final two arbitration seasons could make sense for both the team and player. High-profile impending free agents like Kyle Tucker and Michael King seem quite unlikely to sign extensions (Tucker in particular) and seem destined for a hearing. However, talks for the majority of the players in this group of 17 figure to continue as clubs and players look to avoid a hearing. 3. Red Sox to host Fenway Fest this weekend: The Red Sox are hosting Fenway Fest, the clubs winter fan event, tomorrow from 9am to 5pm local time at Fenway Park. Tomorrow will mark the first installment of Fenway Fest, which was announced last month as a replacement for the clubs previous two-day Winter Weekend event that began in 2015. Notably, chief baseball office Craig Breslow, team president Sam Kennedy, and team owner John Henry are not scheduled to appear at tomorrows event after appearing at previous Winter Weekend events (perhaps unsurprisingly so; Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic notes that ownership was roundly booed at each of the past two winter fan fest events). This years event includes appearances by manager Alex Cora and a number of coaches as well as a long list of players and prospects that includes recently-acquired starter Garrett Crochet. Aside from player and personnel appearances, the event also includes a preview of the upcoming Netflix documentary covering the 2024 Red Sox. More details regarding the event, including ticket pricing, can be found here via MLB.com. Hackers might have accessed student information nationwide in a cybersecurity breach targeting one of the largest education technology companies in the country. PowerSchool - a provider of cloud-based education software for K-12 education - discovered a potential security breach Dec. 28, PowerSchool officials said in a letter sent to customer districts Tuesday and published by the Local 3 News in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The letter describes the cybersecurity breach as a unauthorized access to school information that occurred through the PowerSource customer support portal using compromised login credentials. Through the breached portal, hackers gained further access to PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS) data. Jackson Public Schools and Napoleon Community Schools in Jackson County were among the districts that had information compromised, both districts announced in social media statements. PowerSchool discovered unauthorized access to certain customer data, including some information related to our school district, Jackson Superintendent Jeff Beal wrote. PowerSchool has informed us that they have taken all appropriate steps to prevent the data involved from further unauthorized access or misuse. PowerSchool is investigating and has committed to providing details regarding the impacted data. Representatives from PowerSchool could not be reached for comment. PowerSchool officials said in the letter no other services besides the student information system database were affected by the breach. We have taken all appropriate steps to prevent the data involved from further unauthorized access or misuse, PowerSchool officials said. We do not anticipate the data being shared or made public, and we believe it has been deleted without any further replication or dissemination. The Ottawa County-based Jenison Public Schools reported no signs of breaches after thoroughly reviewing system logs and activity. Jenison Superintendent Brandon Graham said his district will take measures to further strengthen security, including enhancing firewall protections, restricting vendor access and enacting ongoing monitoring and safeguards. With over 30 major concert tours coming to Michigan this year, weve compiled a list of top artists like AC/DC, Zach Bryan, and Kendrick Lamar at Pine Knob Music Theatre, Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, and more. Less than three months into 2025, Michigan venues are already booked through the fall, featuring shows ranging from boy band reunions to alternative and metal. The coming months are packed with just-announced and already-underway tours from artists like AC/DC, Kendrick Lamar and SZA who just performed their song, luther (with sza) at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show Post Malone, Pierce the Veil, Tate McRae, Shakira, Wu-Tang Clan a highly anticipated reunion and the groups final trek together The Doobie Brothers with the Coral Reefer Band, and more. Also coming to Michigan this fall is Something in the Orange country singer Zach Bryan, set to make history alongside seven-time Grammy-winner John Mayer at the University of Michigans first-ever concert at The Big House. The first round of North American routes have already begun, with Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks, Kelsea Ballerini, Mary J. Blige, Tyler, the Creator, and Deftones kicking off during January and February. Next in line to begin is legendary songwriter Bob Dylan (March 25), whose new Oscar-nominated biopic, A Complete Unknown starring Timothee Chalamet, is now available for streaming on Apple TV. Tickets to each upcoming show are available online via SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, StubHub, and Ticketmaster. See below for the top 33 tours coming to Michigan venues in 2025. Billy Joel stadium tour with Stevie Nicks and Sting Already underway, the tour runs from January 17 to August 8, including a Ford Field Detroit show with Stevie Nicks Tickets: Sat, Mar 29 with Stevie Nicks in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Kelsea Ballerini Live on Tour Already underway, the tour runs from January 21 to March 30 and includes shows in both Grand Rapids and Detroit Tickets: Tues, Jan 21 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Tues, Feb 4 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All cities SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Mary J. Blige's "For My Fans Tour" coming to Detroit, Michigan's Little Caesars Arena in March 2025Courtesy of Vivid Seats Mary J. Blige The For My Fans Tour with Ne-Yo and Mario Already underway, the tour runs from January 30 to April 17 and includes a show at Detroit, Michigans Little Caesars Arena Tickets: Wed, Mar 19 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Tyler, The Creator Chromakopia: The World Tour with Lil Yachty and Paris Texas Already underway, the tour runs from February 4 to July 27 and includes a Michigan date at Little Caesars Arena Tickets: Thu, Jul 3 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Deftones 2025 North American Tour with The Mars Volta and Fleshwater Already underway, the tour runs from February 25 to October 3, including festival performances and a Detroit, Michigan concert set for April 1 Tickets: Tue, Apr 1 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour Tour runs from March 25 to September 19, including the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson (coming to Pine Knob June 20) Tickets: Wed, Apr 16 in Kalamazoo SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Fri, Jun 20 in Clarkston SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All cities Vivid Seats | SeatGeek | StubHub | Ticketmaster Barry Manilow The Last Concerts Tour Tour runs from March 27 to December 13 and includes two Michigan shows Tickets: Tue, Jun 3 Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Wed, Jun 4 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster AC/DC Power Up Tour with The Pretty Reckless Tour runs from April 10 to May 28, including late-April concert at Ford Field Tickets: Wed, Apr 30 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All cities SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Japanese Breakfast The Melancholy Tour Tour runs from April 23 to September 9, including a show at The Fillmore Detroit Tickets: Sat, May 3 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Zach Bryan to play Michigan Stadium on September 27 with John Mayer, Ryan Bingham, The Texas Gentlemen, and Joshua Slone / Courtesy of Vivid SeatsCourtesy of Vivid Seats Zach Bryan Stadium Tour Tour runs April 25 to September 27, including first-ever concert at the University of Michigan football stadium featuring co-headliner John Mayer Tickets: Sat, Sep 27 at U-M SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Linkin Park From Zero World Tour with Queens of the Stone Age, Spiritbox, PVRIS, & more Tour runs from April 26 to September 24, including two Michigan concert dates: Van Andel followed by Little Caesars Arena Tickets: Thu, May 1 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Thu, Aug 14 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Counting Crows The Complete Sweets! Tour Tour runs from April 27 to August 23, including a stop at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre Tickets: Tue, Jun 17 in Sterling Heights SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Kendrick Lamar and SZA Grand National Tour Tour runs from April 29 to June 18, including a Ford Field Detroit show on June 10 Tickets: Tue, Jun 10 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Kendrick Lamar & SZA's "Grand National Tour" coming to Detroit June 10Courtesy of Vivid Seats Post Malone The Big Ass Stadium Tour with Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell Tour runs from April 29 to July 1, including a stop at Ford Field Detroit Tickets: Sun, May 18 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Ice Nine Kills The Silver Scream-A-Thon Tour runs from April 29 to October 18, including When We Were Young Fest and two back-to-back nights at GLC Live at 20 Monroe Tickets: Tue, May 20 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Wed, May 21 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster 2-day pass SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Alice Cooper Too Close for Comfort Tour Tour runs from May 2 to August 30, including May 10 concert in Saginaw, Michigan Tickets: Sat, May 10 in Saginaw SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster The Weeknd After Hours Til Dawn Tour with Playboi Carti and Mike Dean Tour runs from May 9 to September 3 and includes two back-to-back Detroit, Michigan concerts Tickets: Sat, May 24 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Sun, May 25 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All cities SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Shakira Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour Tour runs from May 13 to June 30, including a show at Little Caesars Arena Tickets: Thu, May 22 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Pierce the Veil I Cant Hear You Tour with Sleeping with Sirens Tour runs from May 13 to July 1, including a June 1 concert at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill Tickets: Sun, Jun 1 in Sterling Heights SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Pierce the Veil "I Can't Hear You Tour" coming to Michigan June 1Courtesy of Vivid Seats Def Leppard Summer 2025 Tour Tour runs May 15 from to August 29, including multiple festival appearances and a stop at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Tickets: Fri, Jul 18 in Mount Pleasant SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Dierks Bentley Broken Branches Tour Tour runs from May 29 to August 30, including the 99.5 WYCD Hoedown at Pine Knob Tickets: Sat, Aug 30 at Pine Knob SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Chris Stapleton All American Road Show Tour runs from June 4 to October 10, including a June 12 concert date at Van Andel Arena Tickets: Thu, Jun 12 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber Tour runs from June 6 to July 18, including a Detroit date set for July 8, 2025 Tickets: Tue, Jul 8 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Wu-Tang Clan to bring final tour to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit this summer 2025 / Courtesy of Vivid SeatsCourtesy of Vivid Seats Pixies 2025 North American Tour Tour runs from June 13 to September 19 and includes two consecutive concerts at The Fillmore Detroit Tickets: Mon, Jul 28 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Tue, Jul 29 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster The Lumineers Automatic World Tour Tour runs from July 3 to October 14, including two shows in Detroit, Michigan Tickets: Sat, Sep 13 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Wed, Oct 1 in Detroit SeatGeek |Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Ghost 2025 Skeletour Tour runs from July 9 to August 26, including both Little Caesars and Van Andel Arena dates Tickets: Thu, Jul 24 in Detroit Vivid Seats | SeatGeek | StubHub | Ticketmaster Mon, Jul 28 in Grand Rapids Vivid Seats | SeatGeek | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Big Time Rush In Real Life Worldwide Tour Tour runs from July 9 to August 30, including Pine Knob show set for August 6 Tickets: Wed, Aug 6 at Pine Knob SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster The Offspring SUPERCHARGED Worldwide in 25 Tour Tour runs from July 11 to October 18, including a Michigan date set for July 27 at Pine Knob Tickets: Sun, Jul 27 at Pine Knob SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour Tour runs from July 15 to August 30, including Clarkston, Michigan show at Pine Knob Tickets: Fri, Aug 1 at Pine Knob SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Cyndi Lauper to play Pine Knob as part of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell TourCourtesy of StubHub Toto with Christopher Cross and Men At Work Tour runs from July 18 to August 30, including a Michigan concert date at Pine Knob Music Theatre Tickets: Mon, Aug 11 in Clarkston SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster The Doobie Brothers Walk This Road Tour with the Coral Reefer Band Tour runs from August 4 to September 18 and opens at Pine Knob Music Theatre Tickets: Mon, Aug 4 at Pine Knob SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Tate McRae Miss Possessive Tour Tour runs from August 4 to November 8 and includes three separate Michigan visits Tickets: Sat, Aug 16 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Mon, Oct 13 in Detroit SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Wed, Oct 22 in Grand Rapids SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All cities SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts Love Earth Tour Tour runs from August 8 to September 15, including a late-summer stop at Pine Knob Tickets: Wed, Aug 13 at Pine Knob SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster All dates SeatGeek | Vivid Seats | StubHub | Ticketmaster MICHIGAN More than $34 million in federal funding is coming to Michigan to support infrastructure projects across the state, the Michigan Infrastructure Office announced today. Funding will be used to replace the East Beltline Bridge in Grand Rapids, the Eastside Jackson Commerce Connection in Jackson, a highway planning study in Lansing, a US-131 planning study in Grand Rapids and two road projects in Detroit. By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) A Wisconsin woman who at age 12 stabbed her sixth grade classmate nearly to death to please online horror character Slender Man will be released from a psychiatric hospital, a judge ordered Thursday after a trio of experts testified that she has made considerable progress battling mental illness. Morgan Geyser has spent nearly seven years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. She has petitioned Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren, who committed her, for release four times since June 2022. She withdrew her first two petitions. Bohren denied her third request this past April, finding she still presented a threat to the public. Geyser, now 22 years old, filed her latest petition in October. Bohren decided to grant her release after a day-long hearing Thursday, finding that she had maximized her treatment options at the facility and is no longer a safety risk. He ordered the state Department of Health Services to set up a plan to house her in a group home and supervise her for his consideration at a hearing within 60 days. The judge said that her crime was a brutal, terrible offense but Geyser has since grown up and to be truly rehabilitated she must exist as part of society. Shes done what shes supposed to do, Bohren said. She appears to have a good attitude. Geyser and Anissa Weier were 12 years old in 2014 when they lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, to a Waukesha park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged her on. Leutner barely survived. The girls later told investigators that they attacked Leutner to earn the right to be Slender Mans servants and they feared he would harm their families if they didnt follow through. Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was sent to the psychiatric institute due to mental illness in 2018. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide. She was also sent to the psychiatric center but was granted release in 2021 to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor. Three psychologists who have been working with Geyser since she was committed to the institute testified at Thursdays hearing that shes made impressive progress in just the last six months and should be released. Dr. Brooke Lundbohm testified that Winnebago staff weaned Geyser off her anti-psychotic medications by early 2023 and shes suffered no symptoms since then. Dr. Deborah Collins said Geyser is always at risk of reoffending simply because she almost killed someone but she has worked on her coping skills, improved her emotional control and retreats into fantasy less frequently. Collins added that Geyser told her that she hates what she did to Leutner and cant forgive herself. Dr. Ken Robbins told the judge that she could become dangerous if she remained confined at Winnebago and lost hope. The longer shes there, at this point, the harder its going to be to re-integrate, Robbins said. Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Ted Szczupakiewicz argued that Geyser couldnt be trusted, noting that she claimed during evaluations last year that she faked her delusions about Slender Man and actually attacked Leutner as a way of escaping her abusive father. He hinted that was a ploy to make the release more likely. The judge shrugged that off, saying its not unusual for mental illness diagnoses to evolve. KENT COUNTY, MI Jim Gadziemski felt a sense of relief when he saw his son, Desi, at the hospital after a serious crash. His son, 15, brought in by ambulance, was able to talk. There were no outward signs of injury. Maybe he suffered a concussion, his dad thought. They talked for a few minutes in Helen DeVos Childrens Hospitals emergency department. Jim Gadziemski didnt know it would be the last time. Desi Gadziemski, an Eagle Scout, died in a New Year's Eve crash. (Photo provided by Gadziemski family)Gadziemski family Desi, an Eagle Scout, just like his dad and brothers, suffered serious internal injuries in the crash. Medical staff 30 to 40 people, in and out of the room, working on him did everything they could, his father said. The injuries were just so severe. Now, the family of Desmond Gadziemski who went by Desi - remembers a kind, respectful and hardworking teen who touched many lives. He loved camping, cooking, singing loudly in the car, riding his e-bike, his part-time job and gaming. Mostly, he loved to spend time with family and friends. He was very loved, his mother, Allie Gadziemski, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. It helps. But the loss is too much. The house is quieter because he always made noise - music or gaming or talking to his friends on FaceTime. His room remains the same, the cats still both sleep on his bed, without him, she wrote on Facebook. Desi was a sophomore at East Kentwood High School. Desi Gadziemski, far right, is shown with his father, Jim Gadziemski, and brothers, from left, Calvin, Louis and Jarrett. Desi was awarded Eagle Scout that day. (Provided by Laura Gadziemski)Laura Gadziemski The crash happened around 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 31 on Lincoln Lake Avenue NE and 17 Mile Road in Kent Countys Spencer Township. Desi was with two best friends, a 16-year-old Gowen boy and 17-year-old Greenville boy. The 16-year-old was driving north on Lincoln Lake Avenue when he made a U-turn at 17 Mile Road and collided with a trailing vehicle, sheriffs deputies said. He had missed his turn and tried to turn around. Desi was the only one injured in the crash. His friends were distraught. They told Desi that they loved him, his mother said. For his family, it was a tragic accident, no one to blame. Alcohol and drugs were not involved, a sheriffs sergeant said. His parents and stepmother Laura Gadziemski said Desi had friends everywhere. Many attended his funeral this week. Allie Gadziemski's son, Desi, once wrote in a journal, "I am generally quite happy." She had the handwritten phrase tattooed on her inner forearm. She used "Love desi" from a Mother's Day card and other writings for "2009-2024." (Image provided by Jason Pittman)Jason Pittman One wrote on an online obituary that they met on the first day of school as she sat alone in the cafeteria. He joined her which is how we got so close and I took advantage of the time we had, he was one of my first genuine friends in high school. Im missing him more and more everyday. A teacher wrote that Desi was a joy to have as a student . Desi had three brothers, Jarrett, 21, Calvin, 19, and Louis, 12. The youngest is going to go back to school soon. Its been a struggle. Theyre devastated, their mother said. She said friends and neighbors have brought meals and gift cards and had groceries delivered. It meant so much, she said. Her son worked at Brass Ring Brewery, a job he loved. She said bosses wanted to help him attend culinary school. He dreamed of having a food truck. Brass Ring closed for his funeral this week and held a luncheon. He was part of their family, his mother said. Workers knew if they saw his e-bike bought with Brass Ring earnings that it would be a great day, his father said. He was always happy with a smile on his face, workers told the father. Teachers told his family that he was so genuine. He would ask about them, how theyre doing and their family, his dad said. He was loved by so many people. He had touched so many lives. During a recent vacation to the Dominican Republic, pool staff sought out his son to lead the dancing, singing and games at night. He just had the best time. Desi had looked forward to getting his drivers license in April. He and his dad were talking about getting a car. When he was 14, Desi became the third brother to earn Eagle Scout. The youngest is also on track for Eagle Scout. Boy Scout Troop 290 attended services. A scout played Taps at the burial. At close, the scouts, in a circle with a hand on anothers shoulder, slightly altered the benediction: May the Great Scoutmaster of all Scouts be with Desi until we meet again. BERRIEN COUNTY, MI Sheriffs detectives have arrested two Stevensville residents in a Dec. 21 armed robbery at JDs Truck Stop near Niles. The robbery happened just after 4 a.m. at the truck stop at 1655 Mayflower Road in Berrien Countys Buchanan Township. A masked man was armed with a pistol, visible in his coat pocket, when he demanded money from a worker. The robber then fled the scene. During the course of the investigation, police determined that a second person was involved. Earlier this week, police used a search warrant at a residence in Lincoln Township, which led to the arrest of a 30-year-old man and 50-year-old woman. Both were charged with armed robbery. The FBIs Violent Crimes Task Force and Lincoln Township Police Department assisted Berrien County sheriffs deputies on the investigation. MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI - After days of uncertainty, the city of Muskegon Heights has a new budget and can pay bills and employees. The Muskegon Heights City Council unanimously approved the 2025 operating budget in a special meeting Jan. 9. I want to thank this council for making sure we did not go any further without our budget because it was imperative, and we were headed toward trouble, said Mayor Bonnie McGlothin during the Thursday night meeting. The city council was originally scheduled to approve the citys 2025 budget during a meeting on Dec. 23, 2024, but a 3-3 vote on the agenda brought the meeting to a swift close. A special meeting was held Dec. 30, but only four council members were present. For a normal meeting, that would have been enough, but the budget vote requires a supermajority, which would be five of the seven council members. The city of Muskegon Heights started the year working without an approved budget, meaning no bills or expenses could be paid, like payroll for employees. With Mondays payroll deadline looming, employees and resident were concerned about what would happen next. Residents and city staff fill the Muskegon Heights City Council chambers Monday night for a special meeting. The city is currently in a spending freeze because they have not passed their budget for 2025.Kayla Tucker The city council again failed to pass the citys 2025 budget during a special meeting Monday, Jan. 6. The citys finance committee met the following day with the city manager and came up with a 90-day spending plan. A meeting Thursday with the state of Michigan treasury department confirmed that a 90-day interim budget would not be allowed under state law, City Manager Melvin Burns said. Instead, council voted on the entire 2025 budget, with a spending freeze in place that means only essential expenses will be made. Those in attendance clapped in appreciation after the five council members approved the budget. For now, there will be no new hires or raises or promotions for non-union employees, Burns said. Only essential travel and training will be permitted. The city council can still make amendments to the budget if they decide to. City staff include the police and fire department employees. There are 76 full-time employees and 11 part-time employees. Several city employees were in attendance for Thursdays special meeting. I want to thank all of our employees for their patience, said councilman Andre Williams. This was a very tumultuous time Im sorry we had to endure. Andre Williams, chair of the finance committee and councilman for the city of Muskegon Heights, speaks during a Jan. 7 finance committee meeting. City Manager Melvin Burns is on the right.Kayla Tucker Councilwoman Kim Sims reiterated the goals of the finance committee, which met on Tuesday and talked about future financial planning for the city. There are still some things in place I think we need to continue to address, Sims said. I would like to ask that our community holds us accountable. The finance committee will meet next on Jan. 14 to review the full 2025 budget. Want more Muskegon-area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter. SAGINAW, MI At five months pregnant, everything was going fine for Annetta R. Brown. Until it wasnt. In 2004 she was attending a Women, Infants & Children (WIC) appointment when medical personnel became concerned about her blood pressure. It was alarmingly high. I was feeling fine, but she was concerned, Brown said. Staff offered to call an ambulance to transport Brown to the hospital, but she opted to drive herself since it was directly across the street. At the hospital, she was having a medical check-up when she took a restroom break. Brown said she came back and was hooked back up to the monitors and realized something was wrong My baby had passed, she said. Brown was confused and had questions, but she was all alone. She recalled when she left the hospital in 2004, a young mother was speaking with doctors and nurses who told her there was not a lot they could do about her miscarriage before sending her home. I couldnt believe they told her that, and she was there by herself, Brown said. It was something that hit me in the pit of my stomach. I couldnt stop thinking about it. After that experience, she set out on a mission to make sure other mothers would not be alone when facing what she did. Years later, Brown learned about local infant mortality rates and other troubling statistics as well as a doula program and was inspired to make a change. Saginaw County ranks third Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported in 2023 607 infant deaths within the first year of life out of 99,178 live births, for a rate of 6.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Of the states 83 counties, Saginaw ranked third highest in infant mortality rates with 12.2 in 2023. Berrien had the highest with 14.4 and Tuscola was second with 12.6. Clinton (12.1), Wayne (8.9) and Genesee (8.5) followed. Birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, unintentional injuries and maternal pregnancy complications are the leading causes of infant death, according to state officials. Barriers to infant care include an inability to pay for services, lack of prenatal care awareness, stress of poverty, lack of health care providers, and inadequate health systems, according to the National Healthy Start Association. As of Nov. 30, 11 children had died from unsafe sleep practices in Saginaw County last year. Thats an increase from 2023s total of 10 and 2022s five. Related: Infant deaths rise in Saginaw County despite efforts to educate caregivers on safe sleep In 2024, Brown became a doula a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to mothers before, during and shortly after childbirth. The program she trained with started last year through Great Lakes Bay Health Centers. Laneise Haulcy-Collier, doula perinatal services manager, said it is important that mothers have support before and during pregnancy, but after birth its crucial. Laneise Haulcy-Collier, Doula and Perinatal Service Manager, poses for a photograph outside Great Lakes Bay Health Centers Old Town, 700 Court St. in Saginaw, Mich., on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com Haulcy-Collier pointed out that aside from infant mortality rates, Black and brown women die from childbirth complications at a higher rate than white women. They can have complications for up to a year after a pregnancy and that can result in death, Haulcy-Collier said. For example, a family member can recommend they take some medicine for a headache, where as a doula will ask deeper questions that may be life-saving. Doula Warriors The program under Haulcy-Colliers leadership graduated 14 doulas in January 2024 who took on their first clients in April. Dubbed the Doula Warriors, the team can be recognized by their teal- and heather rose-colored uniforms. These colors help them stand out in hospitals and the community, Haulcy-Collier said. Shaunice Wesley, a doula, said she has had a love of obstetrics since the age of 12. Ive been involved in over a dozen births since my certification, Wesley said. Wesley, who was born in California and lived in Washington, New York, Louisiana and Florida before settling in Michigan, said she wanted to be in the room when her daughter-in-law delivered her grandchild. She applied to be a doula and went through the eight-week training and participated in three births before receiving her certification. I was able to help out with her prenatal services like doctor appointments, Wesley said. Brown and Haulcy-Collier believe mothers need more support from trained professionals who know what signs to look for and what questions to ask. Brown said she has always been somewhat of a doula since she was present for the birth of five of her sisters eight children. Ive always been supportive and an advocate, Brown said. Sometimes you need that extra voice. Brown, a mother of one, has 20 to 30 clients and has participated in 15 deliveries. When I heard the statistics on infant mortality rates, (I thought) if my presence could bring those numbers down or eliminate them, then I knew what my purpose was, Brown said. Haulcy-Collier has been a doula for three years and wants to make sure marginalized women have a voice during the child-birth process in the health care system. As Doula Warriors, we feel like we are on a mission here, she said. To become a Medicaid-enrolled doula, visit the state of Michigans website www.michigan.gov and search Doula Initiative. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. BRIDGEPORT, MI Two women have filed lawsuits against the Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District, alleging they endured lengthy sexual harassment from a contracted employee. The district, they allege, turned a blind eye to their ordeal and likened one of the women to an adult film actress with whom she shares a first name. And though the alleged harasser has also been criminally charged and the districts own internal investigation found he engaged in sexual harassment, he remains working within the district. Hes still working there, said a baffled Kevin J. Kelly, attorney with The Mastromarco Firm who filed the suits in Saginaw County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 7. I dont know if anythings ever happened to him. The suits name the district, contractor Compass Group USA Inc., and David Lynch as defendants. Lynch is employed by Compass Group and has worked within the district as its foodservice director since the summer of 2023. The suits allege Lynch routinely sexually harassed female employees, referred to women by misogynistic and vile terms, brushed up against them to force physical contact, undressed in front of them, and stalked them outside the workplace. A female employee in October 2023 met with Compass area director to voice concerns about Lynch publicly disrobing in the office and his daily use of profanity, the suits state. Compass did not address Lynchs behavior, the suits state. In November 2023, Stormy Booth applied to be a food service employee with the district and spoke with Lynch about the job via telephone. On hearing her first name, Lynch started laughing and made the comment, I was talking to my buddies and told them you were a stripper from last night calling me back, the suits state. The district hired Booth, who started on Nov. 30, 2023. The next day, Lynch encountered Booth within Bridgeport-Spaulding High School and greeted her by calling her baby, the suits allege. Lynch then tickled Booth on her sides, the suits state. Booth told him to stop but his harassment continued, her suit alleges. Lynch also continued undressing in front of his female colleagues, despite them asking he change his clothes in a restroom. Booth requested she be moved to another building due to the ongoing harassment, the suits state. She was moved to the middle school but Lynch would find reasons to go there and continue harassing her, the suits state. With each visit, Lynch would touch Booths back despite her telling him not to. When Booth was out sick for a week in February, Lynch repeatedly called her phone, saying he was checking on her, the suits state. He also sought to visit her house to bring her a COVID test. Feeling badgered, Booth allowed him to drop the test off but told him to leave it on her porch, the suit states. In April, Booths sister called her to report seeing Lynch parked in a vehicle across from her home. Booth went outside and was horrified to see Lynch watching her home, the suits state. Booths boyfriend came outside and Lynch drove away. Booth reported Lynchs escalating behavior with her superiors, the districts human resources department, and her union representatives. On May 6, Lynch allegedly shoved a female subordinate while she conversed with a coworker. The woman filed a police report and asked her superiors to no longer have her work around Lynch. Prosecutors charged Lynch with misdemeanor assault and battery. Over subsequent days, the shoved womans superiors informed her Lynch would continue working within the district even though their internal investigation found he had violated its sexual harassment policy, the suits state. The district notified Compass Group of the findings and told Booth they would issue Lynch a reprimand and give him additional training. Yet Lynch continued stalking the women, the suits allege. The shoved woman resigned as a result, the lawsuits describing this as the district constructively discharging her. Booth likewise told the district she would not return to work until a plan to keep her safe from Lynch had been implemented. She later informed them she had video footage of Lynch throwing garbage on her lawn. The district instructed Booth to return to work without having taken any meaningful action to remedy the hostile work environment, the suit states. Booth did not return to work and the district constructively discharged her as well, the suits state. Booth in October went to the district office to retrieve a copy of her personnel file. Written atop the files manila folder was Stormy Daniels, the name of an adult film actress whom President-elect Donald J. Trump paid $130,000 in hush money to buy her silence regarding their 2006 sexual encounter. Trump denies the encounter occurred, but a New York jury convicted him of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Attorney Kelly said this highlights the issue. The very people there to stop the harassment are there harassing her, he said. The suits allege sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, negligence, and battery. Both suits seek damages exceeding $25,000. Kelly said he cant understand why Lynch remains working at the district. Its inexplicable as to why they would allow someone who theyve determined has done this to keep working there, he said. This isnt a he-said, she-said thing. Their own Title IX investigation found he did this, that he got physical with these women, and showed up at their houses. District Superintendent Mark A. Whelton said the district is taking the matter seriously. The School District has already accomplished a prompt and comprehensive investigation into an initial complaint last school year by the school district employee and assigned appropriate consequences, Whelton said. We are reviewing the documents provided by the media; however, given the facts that have been alleged, we will be initiating an additional internal investigation under our policies and procedures. Upon the conclusion of that investigation, we will act accordingly. Future court dates for the lawsuit are pending. Lynchs criminal trial is also awaiting a date. GRAYLING TOWNSHIP, MI -- Months after Saab announced a plan to build a $75 million munitions plant in Grayling Township, months after the state of Michigan approved millions of dollars in incentives and tax breaks, Colin Hunter said he still had too many questions. I ask myself the question ... has the environmental review thats been provided convinced me that theres no risk? And with those things I am unconvinced, Hunter, an Otsego County judge who sits on the board of the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership, said at a meeting of the group Thursday night. Some of the pieces of a meaningful snowstorm are present over the United States. What are these puzzle pieces and when could they come together for a Michigan snowstorm? Id say three things go into a widespread snowstorm for Michigan and the Great Lakes region. We definitely need storm systems spewing off the Pacific Ocean, traveling across the central or southern Plains and then turning northeast toward Michigan. We definitely have that active storm track in existence now. The storm last week and the current storm are taking the southern route and missing Michigan with the main heavy snow swath. My point is the track of storms is there and can bring us a snowstorm. Active storm track showing over the Pacific Ocean on January 10, 2025NOAA A second piece of the puzzle for a Michigan snowstorm is a large blob of Arctic air that moves south into the states just to our west. The track of the cold air is important for a snowstorm. If the cold barrels into Michigan, the snowstorms are shoved south of Michigan. If the cold air first invades into Iowa and the Dakotas, the storm moves northeast toward Michigan. Eventually, once the storm moves east of Michigan, the Arctic air slams Michigan. Thats also a time when Michigan gets the unique lake-effect snow. Other states to our west would have the snowstorm end. In Michigan, we just shift the widespread snow back to the Lake Michigan shoreline where heavy lake-effect snow kicks in. The cold blobs are there in Canada just waiting to take the track for a Michigan snowstorm. Do we see all of this coming together right now for a snowstorm? There isnt anything that looks like a widespread Michigan snowstorm through Jan. 17. The overall pattern expected for the last 10 days of January does look conducive to a big shoveling snow. The cold is going to back off a couple of times in the last part of January, allowing a storm to take the track that puts Michigan in the heavy snow. Heres what I look at. Its the better long-term model showing the idea of a large winter storm crossing the U.S. every five days. This type of pattern should continue into at least the first or second week of February. This gives Michigan about four storms with the chance of a large snowfall. Surface weather model through January 25, 2025NOAA You might love this idea or you might not love it. The ingredients are there for a large snowstorm. Inheritor carries forward Tai Chi through online platforms People's Daily Online) 13:49, January 10, 2025 Li Linghui is a 13th-generation inheritor of the Chen-style Tai Chi, or Taijiquan in Chinese. Born in the 1990s in Chenjiagou village, Wenxian county, central China's Henan Province, which is known as the "hometown of Tai Chi," Li said that even some children in the village are skillful Tai Chi practitioners. Growing up in a family where Tai Chi has been practiced, Li has been practicing the routines since she was a child. However, as a young girl, she couldn't quite grasp why this slow and gentle martial art didn't seem to have much bite. It wasn't until one day when her mother, Chen Chun'ai, a top Tai Chi master, challenged her to a few moves. Li, confident and prepared, was taken by surprise when her mother's expert technique effortlessly threw her off balance. Li Linghui practices Tai Chi. (Photo/Dahebao) "Who says Tai Chi can't hold its own in a fight? It was getting 'schooled' by my mom that made me truly appreciate Tai Chi," Li said. As she grew older, Li started to grasp the wisdom of Tai Chi - the art of channeling energy, the balance between gentleness and power, and the latent strength within calmness. In 2020, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed China's Taijiquan on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Two years later, Li left her job as a university teacher to start a social media account dedicated to promoting Tai Chi culture. Nowadays, Tai Chi is less about fighting and more about helping people grow personally. Li takes her camera gear to stunning natural settings mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas to practice Tai Chi. As the lens capture her, it's like her body and soul are in harmony with the surroundings, merging tranquil landscapes with graceful movements. Additionally, Li innovatively infuses Tai Chi into unexpected realms like street dance and rap, leaving online users in awe of the newfound coolness of this ancient practice. "In today's fast-paced society, the demand for relaxation and self-healing is increasing," Li said. She believes that by leveraging online platforms and understanding public emotions, she can utilize the wisdom of Tai Chi culture to help people ease confusion and establish a closer link between intangible cultural heritage and daily life. Li now has over 600,000 followers across online platforms, 10 percent of which were born after 2000. She often finds foreign tourists excitedly mimicking her Tai Chi moves while she is out shooting. In the future, Li hopes that she can help more elderly martial arts masters pass down intangible cultural heritage through the internet. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Nokia and Saudi Arabian telco STC Group say that theyve successfully wrapped up what they claim is the first trial in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region of a long haul terabit optical solution for data centre interconnectivity. The field trial which tested the latest generation of Nokias Photonic Service Engine (PSE-6s) technology on STCs live DWDM network transported 6 x 100GE and 1 x 400GE services over a single 1-Tbps wavelength across 850 km. Nokia said on Wednesday that the trial demonstrated the ability of its data center interconnect (DCI) DWDM solution to provide high-capacity, efficient, and scalable connectivity for data centres over long distances. Nokia also said the solution will enable STC to seamlessly integrate it into its data centre environments to addresses the dynamic needs of AI/cloud services transport while also delivering improved network efficiency and performance. Abdullateef Alsenan, GM of infrastructure design at STC Group, said the DCI solution would help the telco support growing demand for bandwidth-intensive applications such as AI, cloud services, and other digital innovations. This milestone reflects our ability to securely support massive traffic volumes, addressing the demands of cloud services and AI applications, ultimately supporting the Kingdoms Vision 2030 objectives, he said in a statement. A commune chairman in Vietnam's central Nghe An Province has been accused of masterminding a drug operation that trafficked drugs from Laos into Vietnam for distribution across multiple localities. Mua Ba Vu, 41, the chairman of Na Ngoi Commune in Ky Son District, is currently in detention under investigation for "illegal drug transportation." Police hold Mua Ba Vu as the drugs seized from him is displayed at a police station in Nghe An Province, Jan. 9, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hoa Vang His accomplice, Le Hoang Cuong, 35, a resident of Hanoi, is also facing the same charge. Vu, who has served as the chairman of Na Ngoi for two years, previously worked for decades as a Party Inspection Committee official and deputy chairman of the commune. Na Ngoi, a remote commune located in Ky Son District and bordering Laos, is predominantly inhabited by the Hmong ethnic group and is known for its mountainous terrain and challenging road conditions. According to investigators, over the past few months, Vu exploited his position and local knowledge to collaborate with foreign individuals in smuggling drugs through unofficial border routes into Vietnam. Cuong played a crucial role in the operation, assisting Vu with transporting the drugs for further distribution. Le Hoang Cuong was restrained by police. Photo by VnExpress/Hoa Vang Police uncovered Vu's operation in early January. On Jan. 9, around 1 a.m., Vu was seen driving a pickup truck from Ky Son District to Vinh City (also in Nghe An) with packages of drugs. Surveillance teams tracked him closely. By 7 a.m., a task force intercepted his vehicle in Vinh. Despite orders to stop, Vu attempted to flee but was surrounded by police, who fired warning shots and subdued him. Upon searching the vehicle, authorities seized 35 kg of synthetic drugs and four packs of heroin, each weighing about 350 grams. The drugs had been concealed in tea packaging and plastic bags. Another team of police arrested Cuong in Vinh, where he was engaged in drug transportation and sales. The confiscated drugs would have been worth billions of dong had they been successfully distributed. (VND1 billion = US$40,000). Vietnam official leads drug trafficking ring across Laos border Chu tich xa cam au uong day buon ma tuy xuyen quoc gia A task force approaches Mua Ba Vu, fires warning shots and subdues him in Vinh City of Nghe An Province, Jan. 9, 2025. Video by local people Local authorities in Na Ngoi Commune expressed shock at Vu's arrest, describing him as a capable and responsible official who showed no signs of wrongdoing. Plans are underway to appoint a replacement for his position. This arrest follows the December 2024 capture of Mua Dua Thai, 55, the former Party Secretary and Chairman of Na Ngoi Commune, who, along with three accomplices, was caught trafficking over 28,000 synthetic drug pills across borders. The investigation is ongoing. During his recent visit to India, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan extolled the progress in partnership India and the United States have forged over the past four years. [W]eve joined hands to help halt a pandemic and bring vaccines to the world; weve launched initiatives on jet engines, semiconductors, and clean energy; and in a few months time, we will come together to put an Indian astronaut into space. These are remarkable achievements, and we made them by harnessing the remarkable innovation of the American and Indian people. Additionally, in what he called the next major step in cementing this partnership, Mr. Sullivan announced the United States will remove longstanding regulations that have prevented civil and nuclear cooperation between Indias leading nuclear entities and U.S. companies. This, he declared, is a statement of confidence in the progress we have made and will continue to make as strategic partners, and as countries who share a commitment to peaceful nuclear cooperation. National Security Advisor Sullivan acknowledged that achieving their strong partnership has not been easy. Weve had to navigate our fair share of turbulence. Legacy relationships. Tensions over trade, as well as over human rights and rule of law, at home and abroad. But weve navigated these issues together, with our eye on the long game. For the future, it will not be enough for the United States and India to simply collaborate in building critical technologies, Mr. Sullivan emphasized: We will also need to work together to shape the diffusion, protections, and rules that govern those technologies. That includes establishing a common set of principles around civilian space exploration and artificial intelligence; ensuring that valuable dual-use technologies dont fall into the hands of bad actors; better securing our supply chains; and leveraging American and Indian innovation to help the world especially emerging economies. Finally, said National Security Advisor Sullivan, our partnership can be most effectively sustained and thrive if we each live up to the values that lie at the core of our democracies: Respect for the rule of law that creates the conditions for dynamic growth. Respect for pluralism and tolerance that powers innovation. And the protection of basic freedoms that unleash the human spirit. These, said Mr. Sullivan, are basic truths about how our democracies will grow and flourish. Of the five classifications of levels of food insecurity, Phase 5, Famine, is the most serious. It is described by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system, or IPC, as an extreme lack of food or other basic needs even after full employment of coping strategies, wherein starvation, death, destitution, and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels are evident. If 20 percent of the population is suffering from famine, and if two of every 10,000 people within an area die due to hunger every day, then the entire region is considered to be experiencing famine. That is today the case in Sudan, according to a new United Nations report. Sudan is experiencing one of the greatest human crises not only of the day, but our lifetime, said U.S. Representative to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield. At least five areas are currently experiencing famine. In five more, we see projected famine over the coming months. And at least 17 additional areas are at risk of famine in the same period. Over half a million people, including children, are struggling to survive. This catastrophe is the direct result of 20 months of brutal civil war, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Whats more, Sudanese authorities have suspended their collaboration with the IPC system, and impede international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and prevent starvation. Each and every member sitting here today has seen the evidence that the SAF and RSF have committed war crimes. Each and every member sitting here today has seen evidence the RSF has committed crimes against humanity and engaged in ethnic cleansing, she said. And yet, Russia chose obstruction: standing alone as it voted to imperil civilians, while funding both sides of the conflict. And yes, thats what I said: both sides. Nevertheless, we will continue to work tirelessly to prevent abuses and hold perpetrators to account, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. The United States has imposed sanctions in response to atrocities and arms procurements, and we are prepared to take further action soon. Now, we renew our call for collective action, asking partners to join us in imposing sanctions on individuals and organizations whose actions have worsened this conflict. We call on all actors to stop these ongoing atrocities, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, to end the fighting, and allow immediate unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access so that tens of millions of people can get the food and water, shelter and medicine they so desperately need. The United States is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the terrorists that attacked a military base in Kenya three years ago. On January 5, 2020, thirty to forty insurgents belonging to the Jaysh Ayman unit of the al-Shabaab terrorist group, launched an attack on the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya. The lengthy firefight that followed resulted in the deaths one U.S. soldier and two U.S. civilian contractors. On January 5, three years to the day after the attack, the U.S. Department of States Rewards for Justice, or RFJ program, administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, offered a reward of up to 10 million dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of Maalim Ayman, the leader of al-Shabaabs Jaysh Ayman unit, or for any individual who was involved in the attack, helped to plan or support it, or otherwise aided or abetted the commission of the attack. Maalim Ayman was previously named by the Department of State as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, as amended. He was also designated by the United Nations Security Councils Somalia Sanctions Committee, pursuant to paragraph 8(a) of resolution 1844. If you or anyone you know has information on Maalim Aymans activities and whereabouts, or of others who are responsible for the 2020 attack on the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya, please contact Rewards for Justice via Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at +1-202-702-7843 worldwide, or at +254 71 87 12 366 in Kenya and +252 68 43 43 308 in Somalia. All information will be kept strictly confidential. More information about this reward offer is located on the Rewards for Justice website. All credible reports will be investigated and the identity of all informants will be kept confidential. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered a speech at a welcoming dinner hosted by the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. Macao has written a new chapter in the successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems with Macao characteristics, Xi noted. These remarkable achievements of Macao over the past five years are attributable to the full and faithful implementation of the One Country, Two Systems policy, to the vigorous support of the Central Government and the mainland, and to the active involvement of the international community, Xi said. They are the result of the hard work and all-out efforts of people of all sectors in Macao united under the leadership of the Macao SAR Government, Xi pointed out. Here are the highlights of the speech. -- Macao has made new progress in appropriate economic diversification. With the gaming industry developing in a healthy and orderly manner in accordance with the law, Macao, as a world-class tourism and leisure center, continues to offer new services, and major emerging industries are booming. Macao has taken an active part in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Hengqin-Macao integration is deepening, as the In-Depth Cooperation Zone goes into closed customs operation, and the levels of physical connectivity of infrastructure and institutional connectivity of rules increase. Macao's cooperation with the mainland in science and technology is also deepening and expanding. The successful launch and smooth operation of "Macao Science 1" satellites is just one example. Today's Macao enjoys a stronger foundation and broader space for economic development. It is on an ever-widening path of shared development and common prosperity along with the mainland. -- Macao has reached a new level in improving people's well-being. To meet the practical needs of its residents, Macao has increased spending on improving the people's well-being and taken solid steps on the ground to deliver tangible benefits to residents in areas that directly impact their lives, including housing, health care, education, and elderly care. The apartments for senior citizens and the Macao New Neighborhood project are completed. The Macao Bridge is open to traffic. The quality of basic education continues to improve, and the sector of higher education is making steady progress. The region-wide application of e-government is on a fast track and the efforts to build Macao into a more livable city are intensifying. Local residents enjoy remarkably greater comfort and convenience. With public well-being better secured and social undertakings making all-round progress, Macao today has become a pleasant and favorable place to live and work in. -- Macao's political and social foundation, rooted in love for the Chinese nation and love for Macao, is more solid and strong. The laws and institutional mechanisms of the Macao SAR for safeguarding national security are improved. Elections of the seventh Legislative Assembly and the sixth-term Chief Executive have been held smoothly. Macao residents' rights, including democracy, human rights and freedoms, remain fully guaranteed. The Macao SAR has strengthened its public education of the Constitution, the Basic Law, the national conditions and history, and the national security. As a result, people of all sectors now have a stronger sense of national identity and cherish deep feelings for our nation as much as they love their family. People of all ethnic communities live in amity, and cultural events are colorful and numerous. In Macao today, more than ever, the love for the Chinese nation and the love for Macao have become a stronger theme in a multicultural symphony that features coexistence and co-prosperity. -- Macao's international influence and visibility have risen significantly. Solid progress has been made in establishing Macao as "One Center, One Platform, One Base." The Center for Science and Technology Exchange and Cooperation Between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries has been inaugurated, and Macao's exchange and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries are closer. Macao has deepened cooperation with countries and regions participating in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and established friendly ties or twinning relationships with more cities. It has also maintained stable economic and trade ties with more countries and regions. Macao has been awarded the Culture City of East Asia and the Best Convention City (Asia). Its international competitiveness and influence has been enhanced. Editor: WXY Tourists feed black-headed gulls at the Haigeng Dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist feeds black-headed gulls at the Haigeng Dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist takes photos of a black-headed gull at the Haigeng Dam in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist poses for photos with black-headed gulls at Haihong Wetland Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) A tourist feeds black-headed gulls at Haihong Wetland Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) Tourists pose for photos with black-headed gulls at Haihong Wetland Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 8, 2025. Kunming has entered the best season of the year to observe the black-headed gulls. (Xinhua/Wang Jingyi) Editor: WXY People visit the 2025 Beijing Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2025. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. Jointly hosted by the Publishers Association of China and the Books and Periodicals Distribution Association of China, the event boasts an exhibition hall of 50,000 square meters, which includes specialized sections for social sciences, technology, children's literature and educational publications. For the first time, this year's event is introducing a cultural and creative products zone, presenting a diverse range of products such as book-related merchandise, stationery and art collections. During the book fair, a series of interviews and reading promotion campaigns, as well as over 400 themed activities, will be held. The latest report of the publishing industry and the annual book retail market report will also be released during the event. First launched in 1987, the Beijing Book Fair has grown into an important platform for the publication industry. This year's event will run till Saturday. A live interview is held during the 2025 Beijing Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2025. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) Readers attend a dialogue event about a new book during the 2025 Beijing Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2025. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) Staff members promote books via live streaming during the 2025 Beijing Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2025. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) Staff members promote books via live streaming during the 2025 Beijing Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2025. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) A representative of a publisher introduces a new book during the 2025 Beijing Book Fair in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2025. The 2025 Beijing Book Fair opened on Thursday at the China International Exhibition Center, with over 400,000 titles on display, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Pan Xu) Editor: WXY SHANGHAI, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 annual conference of the International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM) has commenced in Shanghai, with the announcement that the ICCM will now be permanently held in the city, China Science Daily reported on Monday. The conference, themed "New Frontiers: Mathematics for Transforming Science and Humanity," celebrates the achievements of outstanding Chinese mathematicians and aims to inspire young scientists to pursue innovation in their respective research fields. The ICCM brings together Chinese and international mathematicians to discuss significant advancements and explore future directions in both pure and applied mathematics. This year's conference, running from Jan. 3 to 6, features nearly 200 lectures. Shing-Tung Yau, president of the ICCM and chairman of the Board of Governors of the Shanghai Institute for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, noted that the ICCM has played a significant role in inspiring numerous outstanding scholars to achieve remarkable academic accomplishments. Editor: ZAD Rescuers unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) A rescuer helps local people set up a tent in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) People unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) The first after-quake newborn sleeps in an incubator at the Xigaze People's Hospital in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. The baby was given birth to on Thursday by a woman transferred from the earthquake's epicenter in Dingri County. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A nurse communicates with the mother of the first after-quake newborn at the Xigaze People's Hospital in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. The baby was given birth to on Thursday by a woman transferred from the earthquake's epicenter in Dingri County. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Rescuers assemble beds for quake-affected residents at a resettlement site in a village in Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Children raise hands to answer questions during a psychology class given by a social work service center at a resettlement site of quake-affected residents in a village in Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A fire rescuer interacts with a child at a relocation site in a village of Dingri County in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. Rescue and relief efforts were made after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Jan. 7. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A rescuer holds hands with a child at a relocation site in a village of Dingri County, in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. Rescue and relief efforts were made after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Jan. 7. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Soldiers of the armed police transfer relief supplies at a warehouse in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. As the search and rescue efforts went on, 170,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A truck of China Post loaded with relief supplies drives towards the epicenter of the earthquake on a section of National Highway 318vin Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. As the search and rescue efforts went on, 170,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A staff member fixes relief supplies on a truck on the National Highway 318 in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. As the search and rescue efforts went on, 170,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A doctor inquires a resident injured in the earthquake at the Xigaze People's Hospital in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. All-out rescue efforts are being underway after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in Xigaze City on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Rescuers conduct rescue work at a village in Chamco Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Rescuers work at a village in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Rescuers prepare dinner at a village in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Rescuers conduct rescue work at a village in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Hu Zikui/Xinhua) Rescuers search for survivors in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Liu Yousheng/Xinhua) Editor: JYZ Tourists visit the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A drone light show is staged at the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, on Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A tourist takes photos at the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Tourists watch a performance at the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A vendor prepares food at the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Tourists visit the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Artists perform at the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) A tourist takes photos at the Muscat Nights in Muscat, Oman, Jan. 8, 2025. The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Oman and is known as a unique event in the Gulf region and the Arab world. The festival also showcases colorful art performances and special products for tourists, helping to prosper Oman's night economy and winter tourism. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Editor: JYZ BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged young artists to keep traditional Peking Opera shining with the times. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expressed the view in a reply letter to young artists of China's National Peking Opera Company. Xi called on the artists to uphold virtue and artistic excellence, and remain true to tradition while embracing innovation. Editor: Zhang Zhou Sonora, CA Two popular Mother Lode Fairs are being impacted by Avian Influenza H5N1, also referred to as bird flu, after the state veterinarian issued a ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at California fairs and shows. The ban is effective immediately and until further notice. Due to this highly contagious virus, the state is taking this action to minimize the danger of exposing people and non-infected birds and cows and in turn the states agricultural sector. As we reported earlier, the significant rise in the virus detected among poultry flocks and dairy herds caused Governor Newsom to declare a state of emergency in California last month. Mother Lode Fair officials relay that due to this, poultry will not be shown at the 2025 Fair. Exhibitors are being asked to reach out to 4-H leaders, FFA Advisors, or the fairs Junior Livestock Department to explore other projects. The Mother Lode Fairs concern is for public safety as well as the health of our local commercial poultry flocks. This decision has been made early enough to hopefully allow our poultry exhibitors to join another project of interest, advised Mother Lode Fair officials. Calaveras County Fair officials also received the same notice and have canceled its fair poultry show. To help safeguard home flocks, they offer the following tips: Increase Biosecurity: Implement measures to prevent the spread of the virus within your flock. Avoid Moving Flocks: Do not relocate your birds to different locations, as this can increase the risk of spreading the virus. Practice Good Hygiene: Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling poultry to reduce the risk of transmission. This is not the first time poultry shows have been canceled at these fairs. As we reported here in 2020, Virulent Newcastle Disease, a contagious and fatal viral disease of birds and poultry, also forced cancellations in the past. While this news is disappointing for our exhibitors, it is a necessary measure to protect the poultry industry from further devastation. Stay informed and take proactive steps to protect your flocks during this challenging time, stated Calaveras fair officials. Tuolumne County Fire crews heading to the Los Angeles fires -- TCFD photo View Photos Sonora, CA Firefighters from Tuolumne and Calaveras counties are assisting Los Angeles communities devastated by the catastrophic blazes. Fire crews from both counties left Wednesday for L.A. to work the front lines or wherever else they may be needed. Tuolumne County crews included four fire engines, one each from Tuolumne County Fire, Twain Harte Fire, Tuolumne Rancheria Fire, and Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire departments, along with a task force leader from Nevada County. Calaveras fire crews include four firefighters from Calaveras Consolidated Fire Department (CCFD) on OES engine 4308 with a strike team of five OES fire engines and a strike team leader. Also sent was E-123, part of the Calaveras task force, including West Point, San Andreas, Murphys, and Mokelumne Hills Central Calaveras Fire District. Tuolumne County fire officials advise the county remains fully covered and that all the departments are ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise. They added, Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this devastating series of fires. We stand united, not only with our own first responders but with all those fighting to protect lives and property across Southern California. For more details on the L.A. fires, scroll down to the state section on the mymotherlode.com homepage. To view a CAL Fire statewide fire summary of the L.A. fires released today, click here. Tuolumne County District Attorney's Office Logo View Photo Sonora, CA Tammi Lee Ann Truschke has received her sentencing following a fatal crash in May of 2023 that killed James Kenyon Jr. on Highway 108 west of Draper Mine Road. Truschke, of Jamestown, ran into the back of Kenyons vehicle, sending him into the opposing traffic lane and into an oncoming vehicle. After a five-day jury trial, Truschke was found guilty of Second Degree Murder, Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated, and Driving Under the Influence Causing Great Bodily Injury. The Tuolumne County District Attorneys Office reports that Truschkes blood alcohol level (more than an hour after the collision) was 0.13%. Truschke was already on probation for a DUI that she was convicted of from July 15, 2020. As a part of that conviction, she was advised about the dangerousness of driving while under the influence and that if she killed someone, she could be charged with murder. She had previous DUI convictions in North Dakota and Oregon, and a strike against her due to a conviction of attempted robbery in Oregon. At the trial, Truschke claimed an unidentified FedEx truck driver caused the accident, and that while she was sober when the accident occurred, she was so shaken that she consumed a large amount of alcohol while on scene, before law enforcement arrived. Judge Kevin Seibert sentenced Truschke to the maximum sentence of 5 years plus 30 years to life in prison. After the sentencing, District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke emphasized, James Kenyon Jr. will be forever missed by those who knew and loved him. His death was preventable. We hope that Truschkes sentence brings some peace to his family and friends, and also serves as a warning to all those who continue to drink and drive in Tuolumne County despite knowing and understanding the danger. No one ever thinks it will be them, but it can be anyone. Do not be the person who takes themselves or another away from their families through the inherently dangerous act of drinking and driving. This case was prosecuted by DA Jenecke and had been investigated by the California Highway Patrol. James family was served by Victim Witness Services Supervisor Kelsey Stone. Coal reserves in Ukraine are approximately 3 million tonnes, which is a historic figure, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. "We have approximately 3 million tonnes of coal in our warehouses. This is a historic figure, if not for the entire history, then for the last 20 years for sure," Shmyhal said during the hour of questions to the government on Friday, which was broadcast live on YouTube by MP Oleksiy Honcharenko (the European Solidarity faction). According to the Prime Minister, such volumes are explained by the fact that the Russians have destroyed a significant amount of coal generation. Fears of rogue rewilding in Scottish Highlands after further lynx sightings Guardian (Kevin W) News DNA Study Rules Out Possible Identity for Burial at Jamestown Archaeology Magazine (Anthony L) The scientist who believes hes found the answer to permanent weight loss Telegraph. While I absolutely agree with the general premise, he ignores (or at least this article does) the trick of keto, which is that if you dont eat enough carbs, your body goes into a ketogenic state to make blood sugar from fats and/or proteins, which is inefficient and results in needing more caloric intake to produce the needed blood sugar than if one ate enough carbs. The issue with keto is that you restrict the types of foods you eat, particularly fruits and veg. Those foods have a lot of micronutrients. So IMHO keto is a good device if you go on a keto diet for one month or maybe a bit more (or similarly, do keto intermittently to hit a target weight) But hes right about long term sustainability. Climate/Environment China? China to keep tapping coal to meet its energy security needs Mining Weekly India Indias Payments Push is Cutting Out Visa and Mastercard Techcrunch Africa South of the Border European Disunion Israel v. The Resistance New Not-So-Cold War Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Imperial Collapse Watch Trump 2.0 Biden Key Republican claims Bob Woodward told him Biden was financially corrupt Guardian (Paul R) Democrats kick off fight to protect ObamaCare subsidies in new Congress The Hill California Burning Heres Everything You Still Cant Say on Free Speech Meta Platforms Reclaim the Net (Micael T) Zuckerberg says Biden officials would scream, curse at Meta team over COVID takedown requests The Hill (Kevin W) What happens when someone subpoenas Cloudflare to unmask a blogger? This The Register Billionaires should not own media Julian Macfarlane (Micael T) AI The Bezzle Guillotine Watch Praising Pozzo Persuasion (Micael T) Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): And a bonus: A parrot plays peekaboo with a neighbor's cat. pic.twitter.com/FNlMC1QVx1 Nature is Amazing (@AMAZlNGNATURE) January 9, 2025 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. The ruling Polish leadership is apparently worried that Musk will soon turn his attention to Polands upcoming May elections after he roughs up and perhaps even routs the already weak UK prime minister Kier Starmer. I know the spectacle of billionaires openly trying to influence nominally democratic processes is not a pretty picture. But after the US has engaged in decades of typically successful regime change operations, it is entertaining to see the howling when officials in colonialist regions of the world (as in Masters of the Universe wannabes or hangers-on) get a taste of the medicine they promoted, or at best ignored, in other parts of the world because it promoted their neoliberal agenda. And of course none of these neoliberal governments had any problem with the huge rise in income and wealth inequality that really got traction after Reagans and Thatchers economic policies were embraced (or pushed) all over the world. And that system has produced a man so wealthy that he can try to and may succeed in toppling governments. Whos have thunk it? Readers who follow European affairs no doubt recall the current Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski for his response to the destruction of three of the four Nordstream 2 pipelines (he deleted the tweet but it still lives on Twitter): So former foreign minister and now EU lawmaker Radosaw Sikorskis tweet thanking USA for blowing up NordStream was right? Good to know. pic.twitter.com/LcVWBCK1mk Mats Nilsson (@mazzenilsson) September 7, 2023 His wife is the rabidly anti-Russian commentator Anne Applebaum, so there are no doubts about where he stands on Russia. Below Andrew Korybko discusses the possibility of Musk turning his attention to Poland, where in the last election, a liberal (as in firmly pro-EU and NATO) coalition replaced leadership by the nationalist and conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which among other things, campaigned in 2023 elections on taking a softer line on Russia. PiS Russia-hostile party garnered the most votes but the #2 winner, the Civic Coalition (PO), led by Donald Tusk, formed a government with other parties. For more detail on Romanias constitutional coup, see Conors post, Democracy Dies in the EU: Romania Edition. By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website If Musk tries to stop Polish Liberals from capturing the presidency, they can either try to block this through scandalous legal moves that risk a national crisis, which could even ruin Polands relations with the US, or they can let everything unfold however it will. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski echoed French President Emmanuel Macrons concerns that Elon Musks social media campaigns in support of the AfD opposition in Germany and against incumbent British Prime Minister Keir Starmer amount to meddling. He also called for Poland to pass new laws so that it is the Polish people who choose our president, not foreigners, which is ironic considering his friendshipwith George Soros son and heir Alex, whose father has meddled in Europe for decades. It was assessed late last month that Orban Hopes That Trump Will Help Polish Conservatives Return To Power, ergo why he granted asylum to an opposition figure who alleged that he was being politically persecuted. In connection with that, readers were reminded shortly after Trumps historic electoral victory that Top Polish Politicians Irresponsible Past Statements About Trump Imperil Bilateral Ties after Sikorski and his boss Donald Tusks rude remarks about the returning American leader resurfaced. Trump is close friends with outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda, whos a fellow conservative-nationalist thats stayed in touch with him over the years, so it follows that hed prefer for his partys candidate Karol Nawrocki to succeed him as opposed to the liberal-globalist Rafal Trzaskowski. To that end, its predictable that Musk might try to stop the ruling liberals from capturing the presidency during Mays election, which could take the form of replicating his existing campaigns but with a Polish touch. This might lead to him passionately advocating for the Law & Justice (PiS) opposition in parallel with haranguing against Tusk, Sikorski, and Trzaskowski. PiS role as one of the most pro-American parties in European history could be emphasized as could the ruling Civic Platforms (PO) wokeness with regard to LGBT. Likewise, Musk might ignore PiS visas-for-bribes scandal that brought a quarter-million Africans and Asians to Europe the same as he might ignore POs robust border security policy. The precedent created by Romania annulling the first round of its presidential election last month on the pretext that foreign social media support for the frontrunner discredited the results, which was later revealed to have actually been a botched campaign by his own opponents, could be applied to Poland too. The difference between Romania and Poland, however, is that the firsts constitutional coup had the Biden Administrations backing while Trump definitely wont back that same scenario in the second. About that possibility, it was reported last month that Tusks government will propose that, for next years Polish presidential election in May, the certification of the result should be handled by the labour law chamber of the Supreme Court and not, as ordained by existing electoral law, the supervisory chamber of the same court. The larger context behind this proposal concerns Tusk and the EUs long-running claims that PiS politicized the Supreme Court during its near-decade in power. The aforementioned report elaborated that The Polish Government, along with the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, have argued that the supervisory chamber was improperly constituted as its members were appointed by PiS ally President Andrzej Duda on recommendation of the National Judicial Council (KRS). Its beyond the scope of the present analysis to dive deeper into the details of this dispute but its enough for casual observers to simply be aware of it. The significance is that Tusks government might unilaterally implement this proposal, subsequently annul the results of the first round if Nawrocki wins, reject any ruling against this by the Supreme Court or the allegedly PiS-dominated Constitutional Tribunal, and rely instead on the European Commission and the European Court of Justice to legitimize their constitutional coup. Any pushback from the Trump Administration could thus provoke a very serious political crisis with both Poland but also the EU. If Trump decides to cross the Rubicon in this respect, then he could either threaten punishing tariffs against the EU as a whole, hint at targeted sanctions against Polands ruling liberal-globalists, and/or flirt with drastically curtailing the US military presence in Poland and possibly freezing major arms deals. The last-mentioned option is the most radical since it risks ruining the anti-Russian basis upon which the Polish-US Strategic Partnership is built but could still be employed to provoke nationalist protests. Therein lies the other trick up Trumps sleeve since he could task Musk with pulling a page from Soros playbook by using X to incite large-scale protests for maximally pressuring the ruling liberal-globalists at what would by then be another pivotal moment in Polands history. Moreover, the footage of any violent crackdown against these peaceful protesters could then virally circulate on X to incite even more protests, which could be paired with sanctions against those officials who are responsible for this. Tusk would therefore do well to read the writing on the wall and let Mays vote play out however it will, accepting that its impossible to completely eliminate foreign influence in contemporary elections due to social media and not daring to exploit that as the pretext for annulling the vote if Nawrocki wins. Its better to maintain the status quo of a conservative-nationalist in the presidency and liberal-globalists running parliament than to risk a national crisis that could also ruin relations with the US. The only reason why Tusk wants Trzaskowski to capture the presidency is so that PiS no longer opposes POs plans to radically change Polish society. The worst that would thus happen if Nawrocki wins is that Tusk isnt able to fully implement his legislative agenda, thus perpetuating the political stalemate of the past year till the next parliamentary elections in 2027, unless theyre called earlier. Trump will still be in office by then, however, so Musk might also meddle in that vote too with a wink and a nod from him. In any case, as was just written, social media enables foreign figures and governments to influence elections in other countries. Theres no way to completely eliminate this factor either since the proliferation of VPNs neutralizes potential bans, ergo the importance of prioritizing Pre-Bunking, Media Literacy, & Democratic Security instead as argued in the preceding hyperlinked analysis from 2022. These are much more effective means since they aim to inoculate citizens from foreign influences. Wrapping everything up, Sikorskis comments about Musks social media campaigns in Germany and the UK suggest that Polands ruling liberal-globalists are panicking since they fear that hell soon turn his attention to their country in order to stop them from capturing the presidency during Mays election. They can accordingly either try to stop this through scandalous legal moves that risk a national crisis, which could even ruin Polands relations with the US, or they can let everything unfold however it will. Boebert takes aim at the ATF: A bold move to protect Second Amendment rights Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) introduced a bill on January 3 to dismantle the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), citing federal overreach and threats to Second Amendment rights. Boebert and other Republicans argue the ATF has a history of incompetence (e.g., Operation Fast and Furious) and overreach, particularly under the Biden administration, with policies like the stabilizing brace rule deemed unconstitutional. The legislation is co-sponsored by several Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who view the ATF as a symbol of bureaucratic overreach and a threat to constitutional liberties. While the bill has a slim chance of advancing, its introduction highlights efforts to hold federal agencies accountable and protect individual freedoms. Boebert and her allies frame the bill as a fight for limited government, Second Amendment rights and constitutional principles, challenging the ATFs role and advocating for a government that respects individual liberties. In a bold and decisive move to defend the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has introduced legislation to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The bill, introduced on Jan. 3 as Congress reconvened for its 119th term, represents a significant step in the ongoing battle against federal overreach and the erosion of Second Amendment protections. Boebert, a staunch advocate for gun rights and co-chair of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, has long been a vocal critic of the ATF. In February 2023, she questioned the agencys very existence, stating, Im still here waiting to hear a good reason why the ATF should remain an agency at all. Her concerns are not unfounded. The ATF has repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of incompetence and overreach, most notably through the disastrous Operation Fast and Furious, which saw hundreds of firearms lost to Mexican drug cartels some of which were later linked to the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The ATFs track record under the Biden administration has only reinforced Boeberts resolve. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) aptly summarized the situation in May 2023, stating, Under the Biden administration, the ATF has been weaponized against gun owners and Americans who wish to acquire firearms in numerous ways in recent years. From its controversial stabilizing brace rule which was ruled likely unconstitutional by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to its relentless targeting of law-abiding citizens, the ATF has proven itself to be an agency more interested in expanding its bureaucratic power than upholding the Constitution. Boeberts bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) and several other Republican lawmakers, seeks to dismantle this rogue agency once and for all. In a press release, Burlison described the ATF as emblematic of the deep-state bureaucracy that believes it can infringe on constitutional liberties without consequence. He added, If this agency cannot uphold its duty to serve the people within the framework of the Constitution, it has no place in our government. The legislation has garnered significant support from gun rights advocates and conservative lawmakers who view the ATF as a threat to individual freedoms. Co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Mike Collins (R-GA) and Mary Miller (R-IL), among others. Together, they are sending a clear message: the ATFs days of unchecked authority and regulatory overreach must come to an end. Pushing back on government overreach While the bill faces an uphill battle in Congress, its introduction marks a critical moment in the fight to protect the Second Amendment. According to Govtrack.us, the legislation has a 4 percent chance of advancing past the House Judiciary Committee and a 2 percent chance of being enacted. However, even if the bill does not become law, its introduction serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of holding federal agencies accountable to the American people. The ATFs defenders, including Director Steven Dettelbach, argue that the agency plays a vital role in reducing violent crime. But as Boebert and her allies have pointed out, the ATFs actions often undermine public safety rather than enhance it. From its botched operations to its unconstitutional regulations, the agency has consistently failed to justify its existence. As the debate over the ATFs future unfolds, one thing is clear: Boebert and her colleagues are fighting not just for gun rights, but for the principles of limited government and individual liberty. In a time when federal agencies increasingly wield power without accountability, their efforts to abolish the ATF are a refreshing reminder of what it means to stand up for the Constitution. The American people deserve a government that respects their rights, not one that seeks to undermine them. With this bill, Boebert and her allies are taking a stand for freedomand sending a powerful message to the Biden administration and the ATF: the Second Amendment is not negotiable. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NewsWeek.com TheHill.com Alberta doctors near-death experience raises questions about corruption and silence in COVID data task force Dr. Daniel Nagase, a Canadian emergency room physician, alleges that Dr. Gary Davidson, a former head of the Red Deer Emergency Department, was the victim of an attempted murder through the deliberate injection of feces, resulting in a life-threatening sepsis infection. The incident, which occurred at Red Deer Hospital in 2023, involved Davidson's sudden deterioration from pneumonia to a sepsis infection caused by five different bacteria, a condition that Nagase believes could only be caused by the deliberate introduction of bacteria into the bloodstream. Davidson, who had lost his medical license for prescribing ivermectin and expressing dissenting views on COVID-19, was also the chairman of Alberta's COVID data task force, a $2 million initiative launched by Premier Danielle Smith to review the province's pandemic response. Nagase criticized the lack of transparency and the withholding of critical COVID-19 data, suggesting that financial incentives and non-disclosure agreements may be preventing the release of important information. The article highlights the broader moral dilemma faced by medical professionals who must balance their professional obligations with personal fears, and urges doctors to prioritize human life over institutional loyalty. In a chilling account that blurs the line between medical malpractice and potential criminality, Dr. Daniel Nagase, a Canadian emergency room physician, has revealed what he believes was an attempted murder of Dr. Gary Davidson, former head of the Red Deer Emergency Department and chairman of Albertas COVID data task force. The alleged incident, which occurred in 2023 at Red Deer Hospital, involved Davidsons sudden deterioration from pneumonia to a life-threatening sepsis infection caused by five different bacteriaa condition Nagase suggests could only result from the deliberate injection of feces into Davidsons bloodstream. The story, shared by Nagase in a recent Substack article, raises troubling questions about the motivations behind the withholding of critical COVID-19 data and the potential dangers faced by medical professionals who challenge the status quo. A suspicious medical emergency Dr. Gary Davidson, a physician who had previously lost his medical license for prescribing Ivermectin and expressing dissenting views on COVID-19, recounted his ordeal to Nagase during a private meeting. Davidson explained that his pneumonia, initially caused by a combination of cold exposure, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and exposure to chicken feces while processing poultry, worsened despite treatment with oral antibiotics. Admitted to Red Deer Hospital, where he had once served as chief of the emergency room, Davidsons condition took a dramatic turn when he developed sepsisa blood infection involving five distinct bacteria. Nagase, an experienced emergency physician, noted the rarity of such a multi-bacterial infection in a patient already receiving intravenous antibiotics. The most feasible means of delivering multiple live bacteria into the blood is through an actual injection of feces, Nagase wrote. He outlined three possible explanations: self-harm (Munchausens), harm by another person (Munchausens by proxy), or attempted murder. Nagase leaned toward the latter, suggesting that someone with knowledge of Davidsons controversial stance on COVID-19 treatments may have sought to silence him. When asked if he recalled any conversations or spiritual experiences during his time in the ICU, Davidson reportedly responded with a look of horror and declined to elaborate. The COVID data task force and unanswered questions The incident takes on added significance given Davidsons role as chairman of Albertas COVID data task force, a $2 million initiative launched in 2022 by Premier Danielle Smith to review the provinces pandemic response. Tasked with assessing the integrity, validity, reliability, and quality of COVID-19 data, Davidsons committee was expected to provide transparency on critical issues such as vaccine safety, treatment protocols, and mortality rates. Yet, more than two years later, no preliminary report or raw data has been released to the public. Nagase criticized Davidsons inaction, suggesting that financial incentives and non-disclosure agreements may have taken precedence over public health. Raw Alberta Health Services data remains under wraps, Nagase wrote. I can only speculate as to why life-saving information is still held back under Dr. Gary Davidsons chairmanship. The lack of transparency has had real-world consequences. Nagase cited cases like Sheila Annette Lewis, who died in 2023 after refusing an mRNA vaccine required for a lung transplant, and the ongoing inclusion of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in childhood immunization schedules despite safety concerns. He also noted a surge in unusual cancers and cardiovascular events following widespread mRNA vaccinationa trend he observed firsthand in his emergency room practice. Silence, fear, and the moral dilemma Nagases revelations come at a time when he himself has faced escalating threats, including a suspicious incident at his home on New Years Day. In his article, he announced his decision to discontinue publishing on Substack, citing both personal safety concerns and a sense that he has nothing left to say. Yet his critique of Davidson and the broader medical establishment underscores a deeper moral dilemma: the tension between professional obligations and personal fears. Crimes flourish when greed, cowardice, and individual decisions putting money, convenience, and ones own anxieties above the life of another are the norm, Nagase wrote. He challenged his colleagues to take a stand, arguing that continued silence in the face of injustice is tantamount to complicity. The difference between evil and good lies in how the principle is used, he added, urging doctors to prioritize human life over institutional loyalty. Sources include: Expose-News.com DanielNagase.substack.com WebArchive.org Ukraine reduces export of titanium ores by over a third in 2024 In 2024, Ukraine's exports of titanium ores and concentrates dropped by 37.5% year-over-year to 7,284 tonnes. According to statistics from the State Customs Service, the value of these exports decreased by 40%, totaling $11.654 million. The primary export destinations were Turkiye (62.82% of monetary volume), Egypt (7.38%), and Poland (6.93%). Experts have noted discrepancies in titanium ore export statistics. In response to a query from Interfax-Ukraine, Production and Commercial Firm (PCF) Velta LLC, which operates titanium ore extraction assets in Novomyrhorod (Kirovohrad region), reported exporting over 15,000 tonnes of ilmenite (titanium concentrate) to the Czech Republic and Mexico in just January-February 2024. Experts suspect that the State Customs Service data only covers rutile exports, another type of titanium ore. Meanwhile, Ukraine imported 314 tonnes of titanium ores valued at $492,000, primarily from China (87.78%), Vietnam (6.11%), and Senegal (6.11%). Currently, titanium-containing ores are primarily mined by the United Mining Chemical Company (UMCC), which manages the Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant in Dnipropetrovsk region and the Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant in Zhytomyr region, as well as by Mezhdurichensk Mining and Processing Plant and Valki-Ilmenit (both in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). Additionally, Velta (Dnipro) has constructed a mining and processing plant at the Birzulovsky deposit with an annual capacity of 240,000 tonnes of ilmenite concentrate. John Roy and Mike Adams unveil the Escape from LA tactical knife designed for URBAN SURVIVAL The Escape from LA tactical knife is a cutting-edge product developed by survival expert Mike Adams and second-generation knife maker John Roy of Dawson Knives, designed to address the challenges of urban and natural disasters. Crafted from American-made Magnacut steel, the knife combines the sharpness of high-carbon steel with the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, offering durability and ease of sharpening even after prolonged exposure to harsh conditions like saltwater. The knife features a reverse bottle opener, pry bar and a blade capable of cutting through steel cables and zip ties. It can also serve as a makeshift screwdriver, making it a versatile tool for emergencies such as breaking through barriers or escaping confined spaces. The knife has proven its utility in demanding environments, such as border operations in Texas, where it has been used to save lives by cutting restraints, aiding in rescues and performing critical tasks in life-threatening situations. As part of a limited production run, the Escape from LA knife is both a functional survival tool and a potential collector's item, with only a few units remaining, emphasizing its exclusivity and value for preparedness enthusiasts. In a world where urban chaos and natural disasters are becoming increasingly common, the need for reliable, multi-functional survival tools has never been greater. Enter the Escape from LA tactical knife, a groundbreaking collaboration between the Health Ranger Mike Adams and second-generation knife maker John Roy of Dawson Knives. The knife is interestingly named after the 1996 film of the same name, directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. But this isn't just a knife it's a lifeline, designed to handle the unpredictable challenges of a collapsing urban environment. Adams and Roy discussed this survival tool during a recent "Health Ranger Report" episode. The Escape from LA knife is a marvel of modern engineering, crafted from American-made Magnacut steel, a revolutionary material that combines the sharpness of high carbon steel with the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. (Related: Health Ranger Report: High-grade corrosion-resistant knives co-designed with Dawson Knives a popular choice among backpackers and preppers.) "This steel is a chemical composition that allows it to be as easy to sharpen as a high carbon tool steel, but holds an edge like a stainless steel and can still resist about 30 days of salt water," said Roy, whose family has been crafting knives for over 50 years. But what truly sets this knife apart is its design. Inspired by real-world scenarios, the Escape from LA features a reverse bottle opener for gripping lines, a pry bar for breaking through barriers, and a blade that can cut through steel cables, zip ties, and even serve as a makeshift screwdriver. Escape from LA: The multi-functional knife for emergencies and survival Adams mentioned that the knife is built for emergencies, and a person can use it to pry open doors or windows when trapped in a building during a power outage. The knife has already been put to the test in some of the most demanding environments. The Health Ranger recounted giving one to a contact working on the Texas border, where it has become an essential part of his kit. "He won't go out without it, and he finds 100 uses for it, also out in the field. And this kind of tool is the very thing that you need at that last moment, to cut the lines, or to cut the cables, to cut the zip ties or whatever is like holding, keeping these people prisoner," Adams said. "And part of the job actually of the Texas-based guys that work the border, they save lives. They're not just there to arrest people. They save people. They save children. They save women who have been assaulted. They save people who are dying from dehydration. And these kinds of tools are a life-saving part of that whole operation." Roy, whose family business is rooted in faith and craftsmanship, emphasizes the knife's durability and versatility. The second-generation Dawson Knives designer of custom knives mentioned that they made their blade to outlive its user and pass it down to the next generation. The Escape from LA knife is part of a limited production run, making it a potential collector's item. With only a few units remaining, Roy and Adams urged those interested to act quickly. As urban environments grow more unpredictable, the Escape from LA knife stands as a testament to innovation, craftsmanship and preparedness. Whether you're a survivalist, a prepper, or simply someone who values quality tools, this knife is a must-have. Will you be ready when disaster strikes? Follow Gear.news for more news about survival knives. Watch the full interview between John Roy of Dawson Knives and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Dawson Knives, Health Ranger announce collaboration on new machete design and improvements to existing line of survival knives. SHTF essentials: Top 10 tools every survivalist should have in their kit. Essential gear for SHTF situations: Choosing the right equipment for survival. Sources include: Brighteon.com IMDB.com DawsonKnives.com Steven and Jana Ben-Nun: How Greater Israel could be the key to a One World Government The collapse of Syria under President Assad has led to a regime change, allegedly linked to Mossad, marking a significant shift in the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape. Experts Steven and Jana Ben-Nun argue that the recent events align with the Oded Yinon Plan, which seeks to establish a "Greater Israel" by dismantling Arab states and establishing Israeli dominance in the Middle East and beyond. The Greater Israel Project is seen as part of a broader vision to establish a global entity centered in Jerusalem, potentially superseding existing international governance. The Noahide Laws, if globally implemented, could fundamentally alter the religious and cultural landscape, marginalizing non-Jewish beliefs. The Ben-Nuns suggest that the U.S. government, heavily influenced by Zionist interests, could be undermining its sovereignty through continued support for Israeli expansion and the re-signing of the Noahide Laws by U.S. presidents. In light of these developments, the Ben-Nuns emphasize the urgent need for protecting free speech, religious liberty and political autonomy to prevent the erosion of democratic principles and fundamental human rights. Israel's aggressive expansion and geopolitical ambitions have taken a dramatic turn with the recent collapse of Syria under the reign of President Bashar al-Assad. As the dust settles on this regional transformation, a new regime purportedly connected to Mossad, has taken hold. This development represents a significant shift in the Middle Eastern landscape, with far-reaching consequences that could extend well beyond the immediate region. Steven and Jana Ben-Nun, experts on Israeli affairs and writers for Israeli News Live, said during a recent "Health Ranger Report" interview with Mike Adams that the current progression aligns with the Oded Yinon Plan and the Noahide Laws, ancient blueprints that demand attention in today's complex global arena. The Ben-Nuns, particularly Jana, have dedicated themselves to understanding the intricate web of ideologies and their implications for the future of Israel, the Middle East and potentially the entire world. The Oded Yinon Plan, first introduced in 1982, outlines a detailed strategy for Israel's expansion and the dismantling of Arab states in the region. This plan, according to Jana, is part of a broader vision that seeks to establish a "Greater Israel Project," a biblical-based rule that aims to dominate the Middle East and beyond. The fall of Syria and the subsequent rise of a regime linked to Mossad serve as crucial milestones in this plan's execution, setting the stage for a series of strategic maneuvers that could unfold in the near future. "It's going to go on years and years until they have conquered the entire land. They have a certain map and they're following that scenario because they believe it," Jana warned. "They believe according to their religion, which is Talmudic Judaism, they believe that this land belongs to them by divine right, and they will do everything possible." As the geopolitical landscape shifts, the fallout from these events extends far beyond the borders of the Middle East. The collapse of Syria has left Lebanon in a precarious position, with analysts concerned about the Israel Defense Force's potential access to new attack routes. This concern is heightened by the prevailing sentiment that Israel's expansionist goals could ultimately target Lebanon, further destabilizing the region. (Related: The fall of Syria: A dangerous prelude to war with Iran?) Greater Israel project threatens democracy and religious freedom However, the implications of Israel's expansionist agenda extend even further, according to Jana. She argued that the ultimate goal of the Greater Israel Project is not just regional dominance, but the establishment of a global entity centered in Jerusalem. This entity, she suggests, could serve as a single, powerful authority that would replace the current system of international governance, effectively paving the way for a form of one-world government. Central to this vision is the concept of the Noahide Laws, a set of rules that, if implemented, could fundamentally alter the religious and cultural landscape of the world. Jana continued that these laws, if adopted on a global scale, would not only marginalize non-Jewish religions but also restrict freedom of speech and expression as parts of the New Testament would be deemed "idolatrous" under the Noahide framework. The implications for America and other western democracies are alarming, with Jana and Steven arguing that the United States is already under an occupation by Zionist elements. They claimed that the U.S. government, including its Congressional leadership, is increasingly beholden to these interests, as evidenced by their continued support for Israeli expansion and the re-signing of the Noahide laws by every U.S. president since their inception. In this context, the rhetoric of politicians like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) who openly supports both abortion restrictions and the arming of Israel, stands out as a clear example of the hypocrisy and subversion of democratic principles at play. According to the Ben-Nuns, the U.S. is being actively complicit in the erosion of its own sovereignty and the establishment of a new world order centered in Jerusalem. With the current geopolitical climate advancing toward an ever-more centralized authority, the importance of critical thinking and informed debate becomes paramount. The Ben-Nuns' research and insights offer a stark warning, urging individuals to educate themselves and resist the homogenization of belief systems and political control that could ultimately lead to a grave distortion of human rights and freedom. In the face of this emerging global threat, the fight for free speech, religious liberty and political autonomy is more critical than ever. As the Greater Israel Project unfolds, the struggle to protect these fundamental rights will likely define the contours of global politics for years to come. Watch the full interview between Steven and Jana Ben-Nun and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Former IDF minister admits Israel is ethnically cleansing Gaza to create Greater Israel. Israels FINAL SOLUTION for Gaza is genocide followed by annexation into Greater Israel. Israeli government under Netanyahu rejects all ceasefire talks, pushes to ANNEX GAZA into Greater Israel. Sources include: Brighteon.com Archive.org Chabad.org Nippon Steel sues government after Biden admin blocks $15B deal to acquire U.S. Steel Nippon Steel filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government after President Joe Biden blocked its $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, citing national security concerns. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel accused the Biden administration of manipulating the acquisition review process for political purposes, claiming that his decision lacked sufficient evidence and violated due process. The dispute has raised concerns about U.S.-Japan relations, with Japanese officials warning of potential long-term impacts on the strategic alliance. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel filed a separate lawsuit accusing Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers union of colluding to derail the deal, further complicating the legal and political landscape. In an unprecedented move, Japan's Nippon Steel has filed a lawsuit against the United States government after outgoing President Joe Biden blocked its $14.9 billion acquisition deal to take over the United States Steel Corporation, citing national security concerns. The lawsuit, filed Monday, Jan. 6, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, marks the first time a Japanese company has challenged a U.S. presidents decision to halt a foreign acquisition under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review process. (Related: Nippon Steel acquires industrialization key player U.S. Steel in all-cash $14.9 billion deal.) The legal battle underscores the growing tensions between economic interests and national security priorities, while raising questions about the politicization of foreign investments in the United States. The controversy began in 2023 when Nippon Steel, the worlds fourth-largest steelmaker, announced its intention to acquire U.S. Steel, a storied American industrial giant. The deal, which was approved by U.S. Steel shareholders, quickly became a flashpoint in U.S. politics, drawing opposition from both Biden and the at-the-time former President Donald Trump, as well as fierce resistance from the powerful United Steelworkers union. On Jan. 3, Biden invoked his authority under CFIUS to block the transaction, stating that the acquisition posed a risk to Americas steel supply and national security. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel responded with a joint statement, accusing the Biden administration of manipulating the CFIUS review process to advance a political agenda. "The U.S. authorities' review of our deal was manipulated to advance President Bidens political agenda," the companies said. "We will take all appropriate action to protect our legal rights." The lawsuit argues that Biden's decision violated due process under the U.S. Constitution and the law governing CFIUS. The companies claim that the administration failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the national security concerns and that the decision was politically motivated. We firmly believe that the various facts that will come to light through the litigation will demonstrate that this decision clearly violated the Constitution and laws, Nippon Steel CEO Eiji Hashimoto said during a news conference. The legal challenge is significant because CFIUS determinations and presidential decisions based on them are typically not subject to judicial review. However, the companies are banking on procedural arguments, including claims of due process violations, to overturn the decision. The lawsuit seeks to have the CFIUS review set aside and a new review conducted. The dispute has also spilled over into broader geopolitical and economic concerns. Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, have expressed unease about the decisions implications for U.S.-Japan relations. "No matter how strong our alliance, this matter is critically important for the future of our relationship," Ishiba said. Cleveland-based steelmaker accused of conspiring to derail Nippon-U.S. Steel acquisition deal Meanwhile, Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel have filed a separate lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, accusing Ohio steel manufacturer Cleveland-Cliffs, its CEO Lourenco Goncalves and the United Steelworkers President David McCall of engaging in illegal and coordinated actions to derail the deal. The suit alleges that Cleveland-Cliffs, which had previously sought to acquire U.S. Steel, colluded with the union to block the transaction. Cleveland-Cliffs has dismissed the allegations as baseless. In a statement released Monday, the company accused Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel of engaging in legal theatrics. The case has drawn attention to the CFIUS process, which was established in 1975 to review foreign investments for national security risks. While the committee has blocked deals involving Chinese firms in the past, this is the first time a Japanese company has been targeted. The decision has sparked debate about whether the U.S. is sending mixed signals to its allies, particularly Japan, a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Watch this clip from Fox Business discussing the growing calls for President-elect Donald Trump to intervene and rule on the proposed deal to sell U.S. Steel. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: U.S. Steel sold to Japanese firm for nearly $15 billion, raising concerns about national security. The SHUTDOWNS continue: Aluminum, copper, iron, steel production being shuttered at alarming rate. FORCE MAJEURE: Massive global shutdowns are now under way for METALS SMELTING operations covering iron, copper, nickel, aluminum, zinc and STEEL. Another major U.S. steel plant to close after more than a century in operation, further depleting country's manufacturing capacity. Sources include: JapanToday.com JapanTimes.co.jp Brighteon.com NVIDIA unveils Project DIGITS: a personal AI supercomputer for the masses At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NVIDIA has taken a bold step toward democratizing artificial intelligence (AI) with the launch of Project DIGITS, a personal AI supercomputer designed to bring cutting-edge AI capabilities to researchers, data scientists, and students worldwide. Powered by the groundbreaking NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, Project DIGITS delivers a staggering petaflop of AI computing performance, enabling users to prototype, fine-tune, and run large AI models directly from their desktops. This innovation marks a pivotal moment in AI development, as it places the power of a supercomputer within reach of millions of developers, potentially accelerating the pace of AI innovation across industries. A petaflop on your desk The centerpiece of Project DIGITS is the NVIDIA GB10 Superchip, a system-on-a-chip (SoC) built on the Grace Blackwell architecture. The GB10 combines an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU with fifth-generation Tensor Cores and a high-performance NVIDIA Grace CPU, connected via NVLink-C2C chip-to-chip interconnect. This integration delivers up to 1 petaflop of AI performance at FP4 precision, all while operating on standard electrical power. AI will be mainstream in every application for every industry. With Project DIGITS, the Grace Blackwell Superchip comes to millions of developers, said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Placing an AI supercomputer on the desks of every data scientist, AI researcher, and student empowers them to engage and shape the age of AI. The GB10 Superchips power efficiency and performance are further enhanced by its collaboration with MediaTek, a leader in Arm-based SoC designs. Each Project DIGITS unit features 128GB of unified memory and up to 4TB of NVMe storage, enabling developers to run AI models with up to 200 billion parameters. For even larger models, two Project DIGITS systems can be linked via NVIDIA ConnectX networking to handle models with up to 405 billion parameters. Seamless scaling from desktop to cloud One of the most compelling features of Project DIGITS is its ability to bridge the gap between local development and large-scale deployment. Developers can prototype and fine-tune models on their desktop systems using the Linux-based NVIDIA DGX OS, then seamlessly deploy them on NVIDIA DGX Cloud, accelerated cloud instances, or data center infrastructure. This flexibility ensures that AI projects can scale efficiently without requiring significant changes to the underlying architecture. The system also provides access to NVIDIAs extensive AI software ecosystem, including the NVIDIA NeMo framework for fine-tuning models, RAPIDS libraries for data science acceleration, and popular frameworks like PyTorch and Jupyter notebooks. Additionally, developers can leverage NVIDIA Blueprints and NIM microservices to build agentic AI applications, with enterprise-grade support available through the NVIDIA AI Enterprise license. AI innovation for the masses The launch of Project DIGITS is part of NVIDIAs broader strategy to address the growing demands of generative AI and large language models (LLMs). The Grace Blackwell architecture, named in honor of mathematician David H. Blackwell, represents a significant leap forward in AI computing. With 208 billion transistorsmore than 2.5 times the number in NVIDIAs previous Hopper GPUsthe Blackwell architecture is the largest GPU ever built, capable of delivering 20 petaFLOPS of compute power. The architectures second-generation Transformer Engine and advanced NVLink interconnects enable unprecedented performance for training and inference, supporting models with trillions of parameters. These innovations are critical as industries ranging from healthcare to automotive increasingly rely on generative AI for real-time applications. Project DIGITS will be available starting in May 2024, with prices beginning at $3,000. This affordability, combined with its groundbreaking performance, positions Project DIGITS as a game-changer for AI development. By bringing super computing power to individual developers, NVIDIA is not only democratizing access to AI but also fostering a new wave of innovation that could reshape industries and redefine whats possible in the age of AI. Sources include: NVIDIANews.nvidia.com Resources.nvidia.com NVIDIA.com California regulators sound alarm: Herbicide paraquat linked to birth defects, thyroid disease and wildlife risks Californias pesticide regulators have linked the herbicide paraquat to severe human health risks, including thyroid disease, birth defects and reproductive harm, as well as significant threats to wildlife, such as endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox and Swainsons hawk. Paraquat is highly toxic, with even small amounts causing severe health complications like cancer, organ failure and lung scarring. The EPA warns that ingestion can be fatal, and its persistence in the environment exacerbates its impact. Despite its well-documented risks, California used over 350,000 pounds of paraquat in 2023, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley, where farmworkers and nearby communities face heightened exposure through volatilization and dust drift. Environmental and public health advocates are urging California to ban paraquat, citing its dangers and the availability of safer alternatives. A 2023 study showed that farmers in other countries successfully transitioned away from paraquat without reducing agricultural productivity. A 2021 lawsuit challenges the EPAs reapproval of paraquat, while Californias 2024 passage of A.B. 1963 requires a reevaluation of its use, potentially paving the way for a statewide ban. Mounting evidence, including links to Parkinsons disease, underscores the urgency for decisive action. Californias pesticide regulators have released preliminary findings that underscore the grave risks posed by the herbicide paraquat, linking it to serious human health harms, including thyroid disease and birth defects, as well as significant threats to wildlife. The findings have reignited calls for a statewide ban on the toxic chemical, which is already prohibited in more than 70 countries. Paraquat, one of the most lethal herbicides still approved for use in the United States, has long been associated with a range of devastating health effects. Ingesting or inhaling even small amounts of the chemicalor exposing it to the skincan lead to severe health complications, including cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure and lung scarring. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that one sip can kill, highlighting the herbicides extreme toxicity. The preliminary assessment by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) found that paraquat poses significant risks to birds and mammals, including some of Californias most endangered species, such as the San Joaquin kit fox and Swainsons hawk. The herbicides persistence in the environment makes it particularly difficult to mitigate its impact on wildlife, even with restrictions on its use. For humans, the risks are equally alarming. The DPRs findings confirm a strong association between paraquat exposure and thyroid disease, as well as reproductive harms and birth defects. Farmworkers and agricultural communities in the San Joaquin Valley, where paraquat use is heavily concentrated, are at heightened risk due to the herbicides ability to volatilize and spread through dust, which can drift into nearby neighborhoods. The evidence continues to mount that paraquat is just too dangerous, said Jonathan Evans, environmental health legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. The most effective way to avoid paraquats risks is for California to join nations throughout the world and ban its use. The state cant keep letting Big Ag use hundreds of thousands of pounds a year of this incredibly harmful herbicide. Despite its well-documented dangers, California used more than 350,000 pounds of paraquat in 2023 alone. This widespread use has drawn sharp criticism from conservation and public health groups, which have long called for a reevaluation of the herbicides approval. In 2024, California took a step toward addressing these concerns with the passage of A.B. 1963, a bill authored by former state legislator Laura Friedman, now a member of Congress. The legislation requires the DPR to reevaluate paraquats use, potentially paving the way for a ban. It's just too dangerous The push to phase out paraquat is not without precedent. Research shows that banning the herbicide does not negatively impact agricultural productivity, as a wide range of safer alternatives are available. A 2023 study published in PMC highlighted the success of over 1.25 million farmers in low- and middle-income countries who have transitioned away from paraquat without sacrificing yields. These farmers have adopted alternative weed management practices, many of which do not rely on herbicides at all. The studys authors emphasized that eliminating paraquat would save lives without reducing agricultural output. Less hazardous and more sustainable alternatives exist, they wrote. To enhance successful adoption and uptake of these methods on a wide scale, farmers require training and support within an enabling policy environment. Paraquats dangers extend beyond acute poisoning. The herbicide has also been linked to Parkinsons disease, a devastating neurological condition with no known cure. Researchers have found that paraquat exposure in Californias agricultural communities increases the risk of Parkinsons and thyroid cancer, further underscoring the urgent need for action. In 2021, a coalition of farmworker groups, environmentalists and health organizations represented by Earthjustice filed a lawsuit challenging the EPAs reapproval of paraquat. The legal challenge is ongoing as the agency continues to review the herbicides risks. As California grapples with the findings, the question remains: Will the state take decisive action to protect its residents and wildlife from this toxic chemical? With mounting evidence of paraquats dangers and viable alternatives readily available, the case for a ban has never been stronger. For now, the preliminary findings serve as a stark reminder of the human and environmental costs of relying on hazardous chemicals in agriculture. As Evans aptly put it, The state cant keep letting Big Ag use hundreds of thousands of pounds a year of this incredibly harmful herbicide. The time for change is now. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org PubMed.gov BiologicalDiversity.org Pfizer faces legal battle over misrepresentation of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and censorship efforts Texas AG Ken Paxton appeals a dismissed lawsuit accusing Pfizer of misleading the public about COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and conspiring to silence critics. Kansas joins Texas with a similar lawsuit, alleging Pfizer concealed safety risks and earned $75 billion while misrepresenting the vaccine. The lawsuits claim Pfizer misrepresented the vaccines 95% effectiveness rate and suppressed adverse event data, including risks like myocarditis and failed pregnancies. Pfizer denies allegations, stating its vaccine claims were accurate and science-based. The cases could set precedents for corporate accountability and transparency in public health. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is doubling down on his fight to hold Pfizer accountable for deceptive practices surrounding its COVID-19 vaccine. In a high-stakes legal battle, Paxton has filed an appeal after a federal district judge dismissed his lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant in December 2024. The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer misled the public about the vaccines effectiveness, suppressed criticism, and conspired with social media platforms to silence dissent. Kansas has also joined the fray with a similar lawsuit, accusing Pfizer of concealing critical safety and efficacy data. The case underscores growing scrutiny of Pfizers role during the pandemic, particularly its claims about the vaccines ability to prevent transmission and its efforts to suppress public discourse. As the legal battles unfold, questions about transparency, corporate accountability, and the balance between public health and free speech remain at the forefront. Pfizers alleged misrepresentation of vaccine efficacy At the heart of Paxtons lawsuit is the claim that Pfizer misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine, particularly its widely cited 95% effectiveness rate. According to the lawsuit, this figure was based on relative risk reduction from Pfizers initial two-month clinical trial, a metric that the FDA has criticized as misleading. The lawsuit argues that Pfizer knew the vaccines protection waned over time and failed to prevent transmission but continued to market it as a durable solution. Pfizer repeatedly and knowingly misrepresented the effectiveness and safety of their COVID-19 vaccine and pressured Americans to take the shot without full knowledge of the risks, Paxton said in a statement. When consumers questioned the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, Pfizer sought to silence themprioritizing profits over the truth. The lawsuit also highlights how Pfizer allegedly conspired with social media platforms to label criticism of the vaccine as misinformation, effectively censoring dissenting voices. This, Paxton argues, was part of a broader effort to protect the companys financial interests rather than uphold public health. Kansas joins the fight against Pfizer Texas is not alone in its legal battle. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a similar lawsuit, accusing Pfizer of violating the states consumer protection laws. The 69-page complaint alleges that Pfizer concealed critical safety information, including risks of myocarditis, pericarditis, and failed pregnancies, while earning record revenues of $75 billion over two years. Pfizer must be held accountable for falsely representing the benefits of its COVID-19 vaccine while concealing and suppressing the truth about its vaccines safety risks, waning effectiveness, and inability to prevent transmission, the Kansas lawsuit states. Both lawsuits raise concerns about Pfizers transparency, particularly its handling of adverse event data. Kansas alleges that Pfizer maintained a separate database of adverse events that was not publicly disclosed, raising questions about what the company knew and when. Pfizer has denied the allegations, stating that its representations about the vaccine were accurate and science-based. Despite the dismissal of Paxtons initial lawsuit, the Texas Attorney General remains undeterred. I will not stop until Pfizer is held accountable for deceptively pushing its COVID-19 vaccine on consumers, he vowed. As the legal battles continue, the cases could set important precedents for corporate accountability and public health transparency. For millions of Americans who trusted Pfizers vaccine, the outcomes of these lawsuits may offer long-awaited answersand, potentially, justice. Sources for this article include: TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov FoxBusiness.com SAS accused of golden pass to kill unarmed Afghans, inquiry reveals A UK government inquiry alleges SAS operatives in Afghanistan were given a "golden pass" to commit war crimes, including executing unarmed civilians, between 2010 and 2013. Witnesses claim weapons were planted on victims to justify killings, with some victims as young as 16. A whistleblower revealed a culture of impunity, with concerns about discrepancies in reports ignored by higher-ups. Senior military officials may have withheld evidence, fueling suspicions of a systemic cover-up. The inquiry, investigating at least 80 deaths, raises serious questions about accountability. A shocking government inquiry has revealed that British Special Air Service (SAS) operatives were allegedly given a golden pass allowing them to get away with murder during operations in Afghanistan, according to testimony from a former senior military officer. The Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan, which began in 2022, is investigating allegations that SAS units executed unarmed civilians, including teenagers, during night raids between 2010 and 2013. Witnesses have described a culture of impunity, with higher-ups allegedly turning a blind eye to war crimes. The inquiry, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, has heard harrowing accounts of extrajudicial killings, including the execution of detainees as young as 16. One witness described how a pillow was placed over a captives head before they were shot with a pistol. Another testified that weapons were routinely planted beside bodies to make victims appear as combatants. These revelations have sparked outrage and raised serious questions about accountability within the UKs elite Special Forces. The whistleblower, identified only as N2107, told the inquiry that SAS operatives seemed beyond reproach and were effectively handed a golden pass to commit atrocities without fear of consequences. He recounted how he raised concerns in 2011 after noticing discrepancies in reports of enemy combatants killed versus weapons recovered. Another witness, N1799, expressed fears for his personal safety after testifying, highlighting the toxic culture of silence within the military. Basically, there appears to be a culture there of shut up, dont question, he told the inquiry. The inquiry has also uncovered evidence suggesting that senior military officials may have withheld crucial information. Last year, the BBC reported that a top UK general failed to disclose evidence of soldiers executing handcuffed detainees. This has fueled suspicions of a systemic cover-up within the Ministry of Defence. These allegations are deeply troubling. The idea that British soldiersespecially elite units like the SAScould operate with such disregard for human life undermines the moral authority of the armed forces and tarnishes the nations reputation. Historically, the UK has positioned itself as a global leader in promoting human rights and justice. These revelations, however, echo darker chapters of military history, such as the abuses uncovered during the Iraq War. They also raise questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms within the military, particularly in high-stakes environments like Afghanistan, where the fog of war can obscure accountability. The human cost The inquiry is investigating the deaths of at least 80 Afghans, many of whom were allegedly unarmed civilians. Witnesses have described how SAS units adopted a shoot to kill policy, targeting all fighting age males regardless of whether they posed a threat. In some cases, victims were reportedly executed after being restrained. One soldier recalled being told that weapons were sometimes placed beside bodies to justify the killings. These weapons, referred to as Mr Wolf in military slang, were used to create the illusion that the victims had been armed. I suppose what shocked me most wasnt the execution of potential members of the Taliban, which was of course wrong and illegal, but it was more the age and the methods, the soldier said, noting that some victims were 100% aged 16 or younger. The allegations against the SAS are a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, even within the most respected institutions. If proven true, they represent a grave betrayal of the values that the UK claims to uphold. The inquirys findings, expected later this year or early next year, will be a critical test of the militarys commitment to transparency and justice. Sources for this article include: RT.com DailyMail.co.uk MiddleEastEye.net The authoritarian legacy of Justin Trudeau After nearly a decade in office, after attempts at photogenic diplomacy and tearful apologies, Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Canadas Prime Minister, leaving behind a legacy as divisive as it is dramatic. To some, he was the poster child for progressive leadership, a leader who championed climate action and diversity while bringing Canada into the global spotlight. To others, he was an over-polished politician whose tenure was defined by censorship, economic mismanagement, and the weaponization of state power against his own citizens. His resignation marks the end of an eraone defined as much by lofty rhetoric as by policies that left a deep mark on civil liberties and public trust. (Article republished from ReclaimTheNet.org) So, whats Trudeaus Canada after nearly ten years? A land of progressive aspirations or a dystopian Pinterest board? Censorship: The Friendly Autocrat Edition Few things capture Trudeaus tenure better than his governments legislative war on free speech. Lets start with the dynamic duo of digital overreach: Bill C-10: Regulating the Unregulatable The saga of Bill C-10 began innocently enough. Trudeaus government framed the bill as a noble effort to modernize the Broadcasting Act. After all, the law hadnt been updated since 1991, back when Blockbuster was thriving and the internet was just a nerds dream. The goal, they said, was to level the playing field between traditional broadcasters and streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube. Sounds fair, right? Not so fast. The devil was in the detailsor the lack thereof. The bill gave Canadas broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), sweeping authority to police online content. Originally, user-generated content like vlogs, TikTok dances, or indie films were supposed to be exempt. However, midway through the legislative process, Trudeaus government quietly removed those exemptions. Suddenly, your cat video could be classified as broadcast content, giving bureaucrats the power to decide whether it met Canadian cultural standards. Critics, including legal scholars and digital rights groups, raised the alarm. They argued that the bills language was so vague it could allow the government to dictate what Canadians saw, shared, or created online. The specter of state-controlled algorithms choosing what gets promoted on platforms was too close to censorship for comfort. But the government dismissed the concerns, painting critics as alarmists. In Trudeaus Canada, wanting clear limits on government power apparently made you a conspiracy theorist. Bill C-36: Hate Speech or Debate Killer? Not content to merely oversee what Canadians could create, Trudeaus administration went a step further with Bill C-36, a supposed weapon against online hate speech. If Bill C-10 was about controlling the medium, this bill was about controlling the message. What Did It Do? Reintroduced a controversial section of Canadas Human Rights Act, allowing people to file complaints over online hate speech. Allowed courts to impose hefty fines and even jail time for offenders. Gave the government the power to preemptively penalize individuals suspected of potentially committing hate speecha sort of Minority Report approach to thought crime. The problem? The bills definition of hate was so expansive that it could potentially criminalize unpopular or offensive opinions. The bill didnt just target clear-cut incitements to violence; it targeted anything deemed likely to expose individuals to hatred or contempt. Critics feared that hatred or contempt could mean anything from political dissent to sharp critiques of government policies. Even more alarming was the prospect of a snitch culture. The bill encouraged private citizens to report each other for suspected hate speech, potentially turning disagreements into legal battles. David Lametti, Trudeaus Justice Minister, defended the bill, claiming it struck the right balance between free expression and protection from harm. But when legal experts and civil liberties groups united in opposition, it became clear that balance was not the governments strong suit. The Financial Freeze Heard Round the World The Freedom Convoy protest of 2022. The Freedom Convoythe moment when Canada went from polite protests and Tim Hortons to frozen bank accounts and police crackdowns. In 2022, when truckers and their supporters descended on Ottawa to protest COVID-19 mandates, Trudeau didnt meet them with dialogue or even his trademark smile-and-wave. Instead, he dusted off the Emergencies Act, something no prime minister had dared touch before. Overnight, financial institutions became Trudeaus personal enforcers, freezing accounts of protesters and anyone who dared to support them. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Trudeaus second-in-command at the time and a walking, talking LinkedIn connection to global elites, eagerly played bad cop. Under her direction, the financial clampdown turned Canadas banking system into a political weapon. It wasnt lost on critics that Freelands cozy ties to global financiers made the whole thing look like an international crackdown on dissent. Then-Finance Minister and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland. And what of the precedent? Trudeaus message was clear: disagree with the government, and you might lose access to your life savings. It was a masterclass in how to turn financial systems into handcuffs, leaving civil liberties in tatters. The Media Muzzle: Subsidizing Obedience Also on the chopping block was journalistic independence. Trudeaus government rolled out legislation forcing media outlets to register with a government body to qualify for funding. On the surface, this was marketed as a lifeline for struggling journalism. Because nothing says press freedom like reporters dependent on government handouts, right? Its a classic move: offer financial aid with one hand and hold the leash with the other. Critics were quick to point out the slippery slope. When the same entity paying the bills also sets the rules, the line between journalism and government PR gets blurry fast. Trudeau, of course, framed this as support for democracy, but the result was a media landscape nervously eyeing its next paycheck while tiptoeing around criticism of its benefactor. Big Brother Gets a Twitter Account Then came the surveillance. Under Trudeaus watch, Canadian intelligence agencies dramatically expanded their social media monitoring. Initially, this was framed as a necessary tool against extremism. But extremism, much like disinformation, is a flexible term in the hands of those in power. Activists and protest groupsvoices traditionally central to democratic discoursesuddenly found themselves under the microscope. Imagine logging onto X to vent about a new housing policy, only to realize your tweet has been flagged by a government algorithm. The message was clear: dissent might not be illegal, but it was certainly inconvenient. Disinformation: The Governments New Buzzword Trudeaus piece de resistance was his crusade against disinformation. This word became the Swiss Army knife of excuses, used to delegitimize critics and corral public opinion. Do you have a bone to pick with government policies? Disinformation. Questioning pandemic mandates? Disinformation. Unimpressed with Trudeaus latest photo op? You guessed itdisinformation. To hammer the point home, his administration launched a series of public awareness campaigns, ostensibly to educate Canadians about the perils of online misinformation. These campaigns, dripping with paternalistic condescension, often blurred the line between fact-checking and outright propaganda. The subtext was unmistakable: dissent, even if rooted in genuine concerns, was a threat to national cohesion. Canadas New Normal: The Fear of Speaking Freely The cumulative effect of these policies wasnt subtle. Everyday Canadians began censoring themselves, not out of respect for others but out of fear of stepping on the wrong bureaucratic toes. Content creators hesitated to tackle divisive topics. Activists wondered whether their next rally would land them on a government watchlist. What was once a robust marketplace of ideas began to resemble a sparsely stocked shelf. And yet, Trudeaus defenders remain loyal, arguing that his policies were noble attempts to safeguard society. However, as history has repeatedly shown, the road to censorship is paved with the promise of safety, but its destination is a society too scared to speak. The Legacy of Controlled Speech So whats the verdict? Is Trudeau a misunderstood guardian of democracy, or is he the wolf who prowled under the guise of a shepherd? Its hard to champion inclusivity and diversity when fewer voices are allowed to join the conversation. Canada may someday reckon with the full implications of these policies, but the damage is already visible. And as Canadians tiptoe around their digital platforms, one question remains: how free is a democracy where everyone whispers? Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org Author TJ Smith challenges modern Israels claim to biblical promises TJ Smith argues that most Ashkenazi Jews, the majority of Israel's population, descend from the Khazarian Empire, not biblical Semites, challenging their claim to biblical land promises tied to Shem's lineage. Smith asserts that the biblical covenant with Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, rendering modern Zionism a political, not spiritual, movement, and criticizes Zionist interpretations of scripture as deceptive. Smith and Mike Adams discuss the term "anti-Semite" is used to silence critics of Israel's actions, arguing that Zionism exploits religion to justify military aggression and land acquisition. Smith cites DNA and historical records, including Wikipedia, to claim that 97 percent of Jews are Khazarian converts, with the remaining three percent being Sephardic converts, undermining claims of Semitic ancestry. Smith urges Christians and the public to reject Zionist ideology, emphasizing the need to understand true biblical teachings and oppose injustices committed in the name of religion. In a recent interview on Brighteon.com, author and researcher TJ Smith delved into the controversial topic of Zionism and its ties to modern Israel. Smith argued that the majority of today's Israeli population, particularly Ashkenazi Jews, cannot trace their lineage back to the biblical Semites, descendants of Shem. He highlighted that DNA and historical records suggest many modern Jews are descendants of the Khazarian Empire, which converted to Judaism in the 8th century. Smith criticized the Zionist ideology, which he claims weaponizes the term "anti-Semite" to silence critics of Israel's actions in Gaza and beyond. He also questioned the theological basis for Israel's claim to land, emphasizing that the biblical covenant was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, rendering modern Zionism a political rather than a spiritual movement. Historical and genetic argument Smith began by tracing the origins of the term "Semite" back to Noah's son Shem, whose descendants include biblical figures like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He pointed out that modern Ashkenazi Jews, who make up the majority of Israel's population, trace their lineage to Ashkenaz, the grandson of Japheth, not Shem. "There were no land grab promises to Japheth or Ham," Smith explained. "The only one that eventually got the land promises were those that descended from Shem." He further elaborated that historical records and DNA evidence suggest that many Ashkenazi Jews are descendants of the Khazarian Empire, a medieval kingdom in Eastern Europe that converted to Judaism in the 8th century. "Wikipedia even admits that 97 percent of all Jews come from Khazaria," Smith noted. "The other three percent are Sephardic, who are also converts. So, 100 percent of all people claiming to be Judaic adherents are converts." Theological implications Smith argued that the biblical covenant with Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, making modern Zionism a political movement rather than a spiritual one. "Paul laid it out in the New Testament: the promise of the inheritance, the heir, would be to Abraham and his seed. And Paul says the seed is Jesus," Smith explained. He criticized the Zionist interpretation of the Bible, which he claims has been manipulated to justify land grabs and military actions. "The Scofield Reference Bible, funded by the Rothschilds, changed the meaning of scripture to support Zionist ideology," Smith said. "Its a deception that has led generations of Christians astray." Weaponization of anti-Semitism Smith and Mike Adams discussed how the term "anti-Semite" has been weaponized to silence critics of Israel. "If you oppose Israel's actions in Gaza, you're labeled an anti-Semite," Smith said. "But the truth is, modern Zionism has nothing to do with biblical Judaism. It's a political movement that uses religion as a cover for land grabs and military aggression." Adams added, "We're living in a world where Israel claims God gave them the right to bomb and kill other people. But if you oppose that, you're called an anti-Semite. It's a way to shut down criticism." (Related: New Anti-SEMITISM: If you oppose genocide, you are now labeled an anti-Semite.) Future of Zionism Smith expressed hope that the world would eventually see through the deception of Zionism. "If we can stop supporting Israel simply because weve been duped into thinking theyre the apple of Gods eye, the world will benefit," he said. "Zionism needs to be left in the footnotes of history." He also emphasized the importance of Christians understanding the true narrative of the Bible. "Were supposed to be a light to the world," Smith said. "But Zionism has made us passive and ignorant. We need to wake up and realize that supporting Israels actions is not in line with the teachings of Christ." The interview concluded with a call for greater awareness and critical thinking among Christians and the broader public. "We need to understand the true history and theology behind Zionism," Smith said. "Only then can we begin to address the injustices being committed in the name of religion." Read more stories like this at IsraelCollapse.com. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and TJ Smith as they talk about biblical history, Noah, Israel and the true Semite ancestry. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Judge dismisses anti-Israel groups discrimination lawsuit against Haverford College, criticizing "disingenuous" complaint. INVESTIGATION: American "news" is mostly written by Israeli lobbyists pushing Zionist agenda. There is one weapon the Zionists possess that is more powerful than the media blackmail data. Sources include: Brighteon.com TJSmithMinistries.com Trumps Greenland and Canada ambitions: A strategic move in the new Cold War? President-elect Donald Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland and integrating Canada as the 51st state is driven by the need to counter Russia's advances in the Arctic region and its development of next-generation hyepersonic ballistic missiles. Both Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, and Canada have firmly rejected Trump's proposals, asserting their sovereignty and independence. The Arctic region is a critical theater in the new Cold War, with Russia increasing its military presence and resource exploration. Control over Greenland and Canada would strengthen the U.S.'s position in this contested area. The Arctic holds vast reserves of oil, gas, and rare earth minerals, making it a key area for economic competition. Additionally, melting Arctic ice is opening new opportunities for resource extraction and shipping, intensifying global rivalry. Trump's ambitions reflect the U.S.'s efforts to maintain dominance in a multipolar world, where rising powers like China and Russia challenge its influence. The Arctic has become a focal point in this struggle for resources, technological superiority, and strategic control. In a world increasingly defined by geopolitical tensions and technological advancements, President-elect Donald Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland and making Canada the 51st state has sparked widespread speculation regarding his motives. While the idea may seem far-fetched at first glance, Mike Adams. the Health Ranger, suggests that this move is rooted in a desire to strategically defend the United Stats against Russia's advanced missiles systems, particularly the Oreshnik hypersonic missiles. By controlling Greenland and Canada, the U.S. could establish early warning systems and radar installations to counter potential threats from the north. Adams highlights the geopolitical significance of the Arctic region, emphasizing its role in global power dynamics. The Arctic is not just a frozen wasteland; it is a critical theater in the new Cold War between East and West. With Russia's increasing military presence in the region, including the deployment of hypersonic missiles, the U.S. is under pressure to bolster its defenses. Greenland, with its strategic location, offers a vantage point for monitoring and intercepting any potential threats from the north. The Oreshnik hypersonic missiles, which Russia has developed and deployed, are a game-changer in modern warfare. These missiles can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (3,826 miles per hour), making them nearly impossible to intercept with current defense systems. By establishing radar installations and early warning systems in Greenland and Canada, the U.S. could potentially detect and respond to these threats more effectively. This would not only enhance national security but also serve as a deterrent against Russian aggression. However, the idea of acquiring Greenland and making Canada the 51st state has been met with resistance from both Greenland and Canada. Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has made it clear that it is not for sale. Similarly, Canada, a sovereign nation with its own government and military, has rejected the notion of becoming a U.S. state. (Related: Trump celebrates Trudeau's resignation, calls for U.S.-Canada merger.) Despite these rejections, the discussion underscores the escalating tensions between East and West, with the U.S. seeking to maintain its dominance in an increasingly multipolar world. Control over the Arctic a defining factor in the new Cold War The Arctic region is not just a strategic military asset; it is also rich in natural resources, including oil, gas and rare earth minerals. As global demand for these resources continues to rise, control over the Arctic could provide a significant economic advantage. Russia has already staked its claim in the region, with extensive exploration and development projects. The U.S., by contrast, has been slower to act, but Trump's interest in Greenland suggests a renewed focus on the Arctic's potential. In addition to its strategic and economic importance, the Arctic is also a key area for scientific research and environmental monitoring. Arctic ice is rapidly melting, opening up new shipping routes and access to previously inaccessible resources. This has led to increased competition among Arctic nations, including Russia, the U.S., Canada and others, for control over these emerging opportunities. The U.S. has long been a dominant player in global affairs, but the rise of China and the resurgence of Russia have challenged this dominance. The new Cold War is not just a military confrontation; it is a multifaceted struggle for influence, resources and technological superiority. In this context, Trump's interest in Greenland and Canada can be seen as part of a broader strategy to secure the U.S.'s position in the world. While the idea of acquiring Greenland and making Canada the 51st state may seem like a relic of 19th-century imperialism, it is a reflection of the complex and rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. As the world becomes more interconnected and competitive, nations are increasingly looking to secure their interests through both traditional and unconventional means. Whether or not Trump's ambitions are realized, the discussion surrounding Greenland and Canada highlights the importance of the Arctic in the new Cold War and the lengths to which nations will go to maintain their dominance. Watch this Jan. 8 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses in detail the real reason why Trump is interested in the United States annexing Greenland. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Greenland reignites push for INDEPENDENCE amid Trump's renewed interest in purchasing the territory from Denmark. Trump warns U.S. could take over Panama Canal if Panama continues to impose "rip-off" passage fees on American ships. Trump hilariously suggests that Canada become the 51st STATE with Trudeau as governor. Sources include: Brighteon.com APNews.com Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles took part in the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) in Germany, where she confirmed Kyiv's firm support and informed her colleagues about the most important details of new aid deliveries. As reported on the website of the Spanish Defense Ministry, Robles noted the upcoming delivery of 10 electric generators, as well as the proposal for new training courses for the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a new humanitarian aid program for Ukrainian families, which will begin on Sunday, January 12. She also expressed gratitude to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who attended the Contact Group meeting in this format for the last time, noting his leadership, dedication and success in effectively coordinating military support to Ukraine from more than 50 countries. The meeting participants were briefed on the most urgent short-term needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and reviewed support initiatives being implemented within various coalitions of forces and means in support of Ukraine. Robles also held bilateral meetings with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and with her Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. The 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is taking place in Germany at the Ramstein Air Base on Thursday, December 9, after a long break. The last 24th meeting of the Contact Group was held on September 6 at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. U.S. diverts $95M in military aid from Egypt to Lebanon amid human rights concerns and regional security needs The administration of outgoing President Joe Biden is shifting $95 million originally allocated to Egypt to Lebanon, as stated in a State Department document. This decision reflects the administration's effort to address Egypt's human rights concerns while maintaining regional stability. The funds will be used to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces' role in enforcing a ceasefire with Israel and countering threats from Hezbollah and other non-state actors. Lawmakers are likely to support the reallocation, given the opportunity to redirect funds to a more pressing strategic need. The move aims to create a more stable environment in Lebanon and reduce the risk of broader regional conflict, aligning with U.S. interests in the Levant region. The administration of outgoing President Joe Biden is reallocating $95 million in military aid originally earmarked for Egypt to Lebanon, according to a State Department document seen by Reuters on Monday, Jan. 6. The move comes amid growing concerns over Egypt's human rights record and the need to bolster Lebanon's armed forces as they enforce a fragile ceasefire with Israel and counter threats from Hezbollah and other non-state actors. The decision underscores the administration's balancing act between addressing human rights issues and maintaining strategic partnerships in a volatile region. The $95 million in military aid was initially part of a $1.3 billion package allocated to Egypt, with the smaller portion tied to Cairo's progress on human rights, particularly the release of political prisoners. In September, the Biden administration waived human rights conditions to grant Egypt the full $1.3 billion, a decision that drew sharp criticism from some Democrats in Congress. Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Coons, both senior members of the Foreign Relations Committee, released a joint statement at the time, calling the move "deeply disappointing." (Related: Biden State Department approves informal, last-minute $8 BILLION ARMS DEAL with Israel.) The reallocation of funds to Lebanon reflects a strategic pivot. The State Department's notification to Congress describes the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as "a key partner" in upholding the Nov. 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The LAF is also seen as a critical counterweight to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that has historically threatened Israel and played a significant role in propping up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's civil war. The $95 million will be used to professionalize the LAF, strengthen border security, combat terrorism and address security challenges stemming from the power shift in Syria. "The United States remains Lebanon's security partner of choice, and U.S. support to the LAF directly helps secure Lebanon and the wider Levant region," the State Department notification stated. By strengthening the LAF, the U.S. aims to create a more stable environment in Lebanon, which could, the government claims, support a smoother transition in Syria and reduce the risk of broader regional conflict. Congressional reaction and broader implications Under U.S. law, Congress has 15 days to object to the reallocation of military assistance. However, a congressional aide familiar with the process told Reuters that lawmakers are likely to support the shift. "This is a way to say, 'This funding that Egypt didn't really deserve and doesn't really need, let's reprogram that and put this in a better place,'" the aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The decision to divert funds from Egypt to Lebanon highlights the Biden administration's nuanced approach to foreign policy. While Egypt remains a vital partner in mediating conflicts in Gaza and facilitating aid deliveries, its human rights record has made it a contentious recipient of U.S. military aid. This move is not without precedent. The U.S. has long used military aid as a tool to influence regional dynamics, often balancing strategic interests with human rights considerations. The decision to redirect funds from Egypt to Lebanon echoes similar shifts in past administrations, where aid was reallocated to address emerging threats or reward allies for progress on specific issues. The reallocation also comes at a critical juncture for Lebanon, which is grappling with economic collapse, political instability and the lingering effects of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Head over to JoeBiden.news to read similar stories. Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams' new song titled "Where the Money Go Joe?" below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Jerusalem Post publishes, then removes, article claiming Israel has biblical mandate to "conquer" Lebanon. REPORT: Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon kill six medics, frustrating potential ceasefire talks. Many Arab countries are still funding Israel's genocide in Gaza. Israel OKs plans for ALL-OUT WAR in Lebanon to wipe out Hezbollah. Hezbollah urges Lebanon to "OPEN THE SEA" to migrant boats to further destabilize Europe. Sources include: JPost.com AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com Hollywood Hills ABLAZE: Wildfires devastate Los Angeles, forcing mass evacuations and claiming lives Los Angeles is facing catastrophic wildfires, with over 100,000 residents evacuated and iconic areas like Hollywood Boulevard, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades severely impacted. Six separate blazes, fueled by extreme winds and dry conditions, have caused significant destruction, including celebrity homes and landmarks. The death toll has risen to five, with fears of more fatalities. Over 2,000 structures have been destroyed, including homes of celebrities like Mandy Moore and Billy Crystal. The Palisades Fire alone has burned 17,200 acres, while the Eaton Fire has consumed 10,600 acres and killed five people. Firefighters are overwhelmed, facing water shortages, dry hydrants, and stretched resources. The National Guard has been deployed, and military assistance may be needed. Fire officials describe the situation as unprecedented, with crews forced to prioritize which homes to save. The disaster has sparked political disputes, with President-elect Donald Trump blaming California Governor Gavin Newsom for mismanagement. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism for being abroad during the crisis, while Newsom defended his administrations response. Critical fire conditions persist, with red flag warnings in effect and winds expected to worsen. President Joe Biden declared the fires a major disaster, canceling a trip to Italy to oversee federal aid. Initial damage estimates exceed $50 billion, with the citys future hanging in the balance. Los Angeles is engulfed in chaos as wildfires tear through the city, forcing the evacuation of Hollywood Boulevard and surrounding neighborhoods. Over 100,000 residents have been ordered to flee, with iconic landmarks and celebrity homes reduced to ashes. The death toll has risen to five, and officials warn the number could climb as firefighters battle six separate blazes across the region. The fires, fueled by hurricane-force winds and bone-dry conditions, have ravaged areas from Malibu to Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon. Two new fires erupted overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, stretching already depleted firefighting resources to their limits. The National Guard has been deployed, and military personnel may soon join the effort to contain the unprecedented disaster. The LA Fire Department issued mandatory evacuation orders for an area bounded by Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west. This iconic stretch of Los Angeles, home to the Dolby Theatre and the Walk of Fame, is now under threat. The Sunset Fire, which began Wednesday evening, scorched 50 acres in the Hollywood Hills, sending embers raining down on the city below. Celebrities have not been spared. Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, and Paris Hilton are among the stars who have lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice saw their home of 45 years in Pacific Palisades destroyed. Harrison Ford was visibly distressed as he evacuated, while Ben Affleck returned to find his $20 million mansion miraculously intact. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes, has consumed over 17,200 acres and hundreds of structures. Aerial footage shows block after block of smoldering homes in Pacific Palisades, with flames still licking at the ruins. To the east, the Eaton Fire has claimed 10,600 acres, destroyed 1,000 structures, and killed at least five people. Firefighters are facing unprecedented challenges. Water shortages have left some hydrants dry, forcing crews to triage neighborhoods and prioritize which homes to save. "We pushed the system to the extreme. We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems," said Janisse Quinones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Mismanagement of resources, lack of leadership only making things worse The disaster has sparked political tensions. President-elect Donald Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of mismanaging water resources. Newsom, visibly emotional, dismissed the claims as "pure fiction" and vowed to focus on protecting residents. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced backlash for being in Ghana during the initial outbreak of the fires. Upon her return, she was confronted by journalists demanding answers. "Do you owe your citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?" asked Sky News reporter David Blevins. The scale of the devastation is staggering. Over 2,000 structures have been destroyed, and more than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimates initial damage and economic losses at over $50 billion. President Joe Biden declared the fires a major disaster and canceled a trip to Italy to oversee the federal response. "This firestorm is the big one," Mayor Bass said during a press conference. Forecasters warn that critical fire conditions will persist, with red flag warnings in effect until Friday evening. Winds are expected to strengthen, potentially reigniting contained areas and spreading the flames further. As Los Angeles grapples with this historic disaster, the focus remains on saving lives and protecting what remains of the city. For now, the Hollywood Hills burn, and the future of one of the world's most iconic cities hangs in the balance. Sources include: DailyMail.com Newsweek.com TheGuardian.com Arson suspected as wildfires ravage Los Angeles; Santa Monica caught in chaos A viral video shared by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman shows individuals allegedly setting fires in non-burning urban areas of Los Angeles, sparking outrage and speculation about arson exacerbating the wildfire crisis. The Palisades Fire, the largest of five active blazes, has consumed nearly 15,000 acres, destroyed over 2,000 structures, displaced 100,000 residents, and claimed at least five lives, with evacuation orders extending to iconic areas like Hollywood Boulevard. The video has drawn widespread attention, including a reaction from Elon Musk, and fueled debates about arson, resource mismanagement, and environmental policies, though authorities have not confirmed intentional acts. Firefighters are battling hurricane-force winds and multiple blazes, while the Los Angeles Fire Department urges vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity amid reports of looting and gridlock during evacuations. The crisis has reignited criticism of Californias leadership, with calls for Governor Gavin Newsoms resignation and concerns about budget cuts and staffing shortages hindering firefighting efforts, as the region faces a long and difficult recovery. As wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles County, a shocking video has emerged, raising concerns about possible arson in Santa Monica. The footage, shared by celebrity podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, shows individuals allegedly setting fires in urban areas not yet affected by the blazes. The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), has sparked widespread outrage and speculation, with many questioning whether human activity is exacerbating the crisis. Huberman, a Los Angeles local, captured the incident at 302 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, just meters from where the Palisades Fire is raging out of control. In his post, Huberman wrote, People are lighting fires in otherwise non-burning areas of LA. We dont need more flames out here. The video, which has since gone viral, shows flames igniting trees and palm fronds, with Huberman urging viewers to report such activity to authorities immediately. The Palisades Fire, the largest of five active blazes in the region, has already consumed nearly 15,000 acres and shows no signs of slowing. Combined with the Eaton, Hurst, and Lidia Fires, the infernos have left a trail of destruction, claiming at least five lives, destroying over 2,000 structures, and displacing more than 100,000 residents. Evacuation orders have been issued across Los Angeles County, including iconic areas like Hollywood Boulevard, home to the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl. The video has drawn reactions from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, who commented, Wow, amplifying the posts reach. Social media users have flooded the comments section with theories, with some blaming resource mismanagement and environmental policies for the crisis. Others have pointed to the possibility of arson as a contributing factor, though authorities have yet to confirm any intentional acts. The Los Angeles Fire Department, already stretched thin by the scale of the disaster, has not officially responded to the video. However, officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Meanwhile, the fires have overwhelmed emergency services, with firefighters battling not only the flames but also hurricane-force winds that have fueled the blazes rapid spread. Disaster, tragedy, chaos The crisis has also reignited debates about Californias leadership and policies. Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have blamed Governor Gavin Newsom for what they describe as mismanagement and misplaced priorities. Trump recently called for Newsoms resignation, stating, This is all his fault! Others have pointed to budget cuts and staffing shortages within the Los Angeles Fire Department, which have hampered its ability to respond effectively. Adding to the chaos, reports of looting have emerged, with at least 20 arrests made in connection with thefts amid the evacuations. Dramatic images from the scene show a Bank of America branch engulfed in flames, while cars stack up in crucial chokepoints across Hollywood, creating gridlock as residents flee. As the fires rage on, the human toll continues to mount. Families have lost homes, businesses have been reduced to ash, and the regions iconic landmarks are under threat. The situation has drawn comparisons to a Biblical catastrophe, with some questioning whether California can recover from what feels like an unrelenting series of disasters. For now, the focus remains on containing the fires and protecting lives. Authorities are urging residents to heed evacuation orders and avoid spreading unverified claims on social media. As the crisis unfolds, one thing is clear: the people of Los Angeles are facing a nightmare unlike any theyve seen before, and the road to recovery will be long and arduous. Sources include: Revolver.news NYPost.com Tribune.com The elusive brokers fueling Americas fentanyl crisis: How Mexican cartels smuggle chemicals from China The U.S. fentanyl crisis is driven by a global supply chain originating in Chinese chemical factories, where precursors are produced and smuggled into Mexico. Brokers play a central role in this illicit trade, exploiting legal loopholes and corruption to transport precursors to Mexican cartels, which manufacture the drug and distribute it in the U.S. Brokers use sophisticated methods to evade detection, including bribing officials, disguising shipments as everyday items and exploiting the dual-use nature of fentanyl precursors (chemicals with legitimate industrial applications). Fentanyl, 50 times more potent than heroin, has become the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S., claiming over 400,000 lives in the past decade. The fentanyl trade is a global issue requiring international cooperation, but progress has been slow. U.S. officials face difficulties in seizing unregulated chemicals at borders, highlighting the complexity of the supply chain. The crisis has devastated families across the U.S., with many overdose victims unknowingly consuming fentanyl. While public health efforts, such as naloxone distribution and addiction treatment, have shown some success, experts warn against complacency. The fentanyl crisis ravaging the United States is fueled by a deadly supply chain that begins in Chinese chemical factories and ends on American streets. At the heart of this illicit trade are the brokers shadowy figures who operate in the gray areas of the global chemical industry, smuggling the precursors needed to manufacture fentanyl into Mexico. These intermediaries, known as intermediarios (intermediaries), are the linchpins of a multi-billion-dollar industry that has claimed more than 400,000 American lives over the past decade. While cartel kingpins like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman dominate headlines, it is the brokers who keep the fentanyl pipeline flowing. They exploit legal loopholes, bribe officials and disguise their activities behind legitimate businesses, making it nearly impossible for law enforcement to dismantle the supply chain. Their work has turned Mexico into the worlds leading producer of illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Corruption, deception and smuggling Brokers like Javier, a Sinaloa Cartel operative, are the unsung architects of the fentanyl trade. Javier, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity, described a sophisticated operation that relies on a mix of corruption, ingenuity and brute force. One of the most common tactics is exploiting the dual-use nature of fentanyl precursors chemicals that have legitimate industrial applications but can also be used to manufacture drugs. These chemicals are often unregulated or lightly controlled, allowing brokers to operate in plain sight. For example, Javiers team imports tons of precursors through Mexicos busiest port, Manzanillo, by bribing customs agents and naval officers. He added that his team is able to transport the chemicals out "without problems." Meanwhile, smaller shipments are disguised as everyday items like coffee or protein powder and shipped via air cargo to Mexico Citys international airport. From there, the packages are flown to Sinaloa, where cartel "cooks" transform them into fentanyl powder. For larger shipments, brokers have devised even more audacious methods. Some pay off crew members on cargo ships leaving China to dump barrels of precursors into the ocean near Mexicos coast. Fishermen, bribed with cash, retrieve the barrels and deliver them to cartel operatives. Other brokers collude with legitimate chemical companies, using their facilities and logos to move precursors undetected. Douglas Miller, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent who tracks illicit chemical flows, explained that there is "willful blindness by certain companies all the way up the chain of command." Crisis on American streets The brokers' success has had devastating consequences. Fentanyl, often pressed into counterfeit pills or mixed with other drugs, has become the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. Its potency makes it both deadly and profitable: A single kilogram of fentanyl can produce up to 500,000 counterfeit pills, each capable of killing an unsuspecting user. Despite recent efforts to curb the crisis, including increased seizures of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border, the supply chain remains robust. Brokers like Javier and his counterparts have adapted to tighter regulations by sourcing alternative precursors and leveraging their networks of corruption. He added the number of people doing this has "mushroomed," describing the explosion of fentanyl production in Sinaloa. Global challenge with local consequences The fentanyl trade is a global problem that requires international cooperation, but progress has been slow. China, the worlds leading producer of fentanyl precursors, has been reluctant to crack down on its chemical industry. While U.S. and Chinese officials have held talks on the issue, the results have been modest at best. In Mexico, corruption remains a significant obstacle. Despite efforts to place the navy in charge of port security, brokers continue to bribe their way through customs. The recent seizure of 1,100 kilograms of fentanyl in Sinaloa the largest in Mexico's history highlights both the scale of the problem and the challenges of addressing it. U.S. officials have pressured Mexico to better monitor its chemical industry and strengthen enforcement, but the sheer complexity of the global supply chain makes it difficult to stem the flow of precursors. Arthur Wyatt, a top anti-narcotics prosecutor with the Department of Justice (DOJ) has explained that if an item isn't considered a regulated chemical, it can be hard to "seize it at the border." (Related: Amount of fentanyl seized across the U.S. this year enough to kill the combined population of Americas 5 largest states.) Human cost of the fentanyl crisis Behind the statistics and seizures are countless stories of loss and devastation. Families across the U.S. have been torn apart by fentanyl overdoses, often involving young people who unknowingly consumed the drug. Public health officials have worked tirelessly to combat the crisis, distributing naloxone a life-saving overdose reversal medication and expanding access to addiction treatment. While preliminary data suggests a decline in overdose deaths, experts warn against complacency. Dr. Brian Hurley, head of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, has said that one of the fears is that, "as overdoses decline, there will be complacency." For brokers like Javier, the human toll is irrelevant. He coldly said that no one is putting "a gun to their head to take drugs," adding that users choose their own path. Daunting road ahead The fight against fentanyl is far from over. As long as brokers can exploit gaps in regulation and corruption, the supply chain will persist. Addressing the crisis requires not only stronger enforcement but also a deeper understanding of the networks that sustain it. For now, the brokers remain in the shadows, their work fueling a crisis that shows no signs of abating. Until the world takes meaningful action to dismantle their operations, the fentanyl pipeline will continue to flow and the death toll will continue to rise. Visit Addiction.news for more stories about the worsening fentanyl crisis in America. Watch the video below to learn about South American drug rings and fentanyl dealers that are operating in major U.S. cities like San Francisco. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: California drug dealer used a drone to deliver fentanyl and other illegal drugs to customers. China is worsening Americas fentanyl crisis, and Trump is threatening to slap more tariffs until Beijing ends it. Unveiling the Chinese money-laundering network driving Americas fentanyl crisis. In just one month, U.S. authorities confiscate enough fentanyl to kill combined populations of California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Nearly 10 million lethal doses of fentanyl seized in San Francisco. Sources include: Reuters.com SFChronicle.com NPR.org Brighteon.com Culture of ABUSE and MISCONDUCT exposed in British elite submarine service The Royal Navy's Submarine Service is embroiled in a crisis following allegations of systemic misconduct, including drug use, sexual abuse, misogyny and bullying, particularly on the HMS Vanguard and other vessels. Whistleblowers revealed practices such as "rape lists" and degrading initiation ceremonies. Former naval officer Sophie Brook, one of the first women to serve on submarines, exposed the toxic culture, describing widespread sexual harassment and misogyny. Other whistleblowers corroborated her claims, detailing disturbing practices like ranking crewmates for sexual targeting and abusive initiation rituals. The Royal Navy's internal investigation confirmed 71 cases of misconduct between 2014 and 2020, leading to dismissals, demotions and reprimands. Admiral Sir Ben Key apologized for the "intolerable" behavior, acknowledging systemic failures and the normalization of abuse. The scandal is part of a broader pattern of misconduct within the Submarine Service, with previous apologies issued for similar issues. Despite implementing a "zero tolerance" policy and a victim support unit, critics argue more must be done to address the root causes of the toxic culture. The revelations have damaged the Royal Navy's reputation, particularly its nuclear-armed Submarine Service. The Navy has pledged to take "robust steps" to ensure discipline and a healthy working culture. The Royal Navy's elite Submarine Service, a cornerstone of the United Kingdom's national security, is facing a crisis of confidence following explosive allegations of widespread misconduct, including drug use, sexual abuse and a toxic culture of misogyny and bullying. The claims, brought to light by whistleblowers and corroborated by a recent internal investigation, have shocked the public and raised serious questions about leadership and discipline within one of the world's most advanced military forces. (Related: Nightmare in Gaza: Israeli military accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian women, executing civilians in hospital raid.) The revelations center on the HMS Vanguard, a nuclear-armed submarine, and other vessels within the service, where sailors allegedly engaged in "gang bangs," created "rape lists" and participated in degrading initiation ceremonies. The allegations first surfaced in October 2022, when former naval officer Sophie Brook, one of the first women to serve on submarines after the ban on female submariners was lifted in 2011, went public with her experiences. Brook, who could have become the first female submarine captain, described a culture of systemic misogyny and abuse. "There is sexual assault, sexual harassment, and misogyny is widespread within the Submarine Service," she told Sky News. Her claims were echoed by other whistleblowers, including a former crew member of the HMS Vanguard, who detailed disturbing practices such as the creation of a "crush depth rape list," which ranked crewmates to be targeted in the event of a catastrophic event at sea. "We had a rape list on my submarine," the whistleblower told the Daily Mail. "There was a 19-year-old kid [on it]. When he realized he was on it, he was sh***ing his pants. Everyone wanted to rape him. He was petrified." The whistleblower also described initiation ceremonies where young sailors were forced to perform sex acts on senior crew members. The allegations paint a picture of a service in crisis where misconduct has been normalized and leadership has failed to intervene. Former nuclear submarine captain Commander Ryan Ramsey expressed his dismay, stating, "I really don't understand how we have got to these levels of depravity and failures in leadership." He added that the behavior described, including the creation of Top Trumps-style cards ranking sailors based on their involvement in "unacceptable sexual behavior," was "fundamentally wrong." The Royal Navy's internal investigation, launched in response to Brook's allegations, examined 71 cases of misconduct between 2014 and 2020. The findings confirmed "misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviors," leading to the dismissal of 18 personnel, the demotion of four and reprimands for six others. The scandal has prompted an unprecedented apology from the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Ben Key, who described the findings as "intolerable." He apologized unreservedly to Brook and other victims, acknowledging that "behaviors in the past that may have been normalized have no place today." Royal Navy facing a legacy of SYSTEMIC ISSUES The scandal is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of misconduct within the Submarine Service. In October 2022, the Royal Navy was forced to apologize for sexual attacks and bullying of women on submarines, following revelations by the Mail. Brook, who was subjected to lewd and humiliating behavior including being placed on a "rape list" said she spent her "entire career terrified of the press. But as it turns out, they were the only people who heard what I had to say." Her bravery in coming forward prompted a wave of similar claims, leading to the current investigation. The Royal Navy has since implemented a "zero tolerance" policy toward unacceptable behavior and established a victim witness care unit to support those affected. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the toxic culture. Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord Alan West expressed concern, stating, "In my time, if anyone did something wrong, we came down on them like a ton of bricks to sort them out. It all sounds very unpleasant and extraordinary." The revelations have cast a shadow over the Royal Navy's reputation, particularly its Submarine Service, which operates the U.K.'s nuclear deterrent. The HMS Vanguard and its sister vessels are critical to national security, and any lapse in discipline on board is a matter of grave concern. The Royal Navy has pledged to take "robust steps" to stamp out misconduct, including interviewing crews before and after deployments to ensure a "healthy working culture." For Brook and other victims, the fight for accountability is far from over. "No one should have to endure the harassment, abuse and mental toll that I and countless others have faced," she said. Her courage in speaking out has forced the Royal Navy to confront its failures, but the road to reform will be long and arduous. Head over to OutrageDepot.com for more stories like this. Watch this video about the horrific human rights abuses of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Pope Francis excommunicates conservative archbishop for exposing sexual abuse and other corruption in the Catholic Church. Abuses against Palestinian women in Israeli prisons have increased over the past few months, warns human rights monitoring group. Royal Navy nuclear sub sank into danger zone following gauge malfunction, nearly killing 140 crew members. Sources include: RT.com DailyMail.co.uk News.Sky.com Brighteon.com Does Trump want to acquire Greenland for its resources or to gain strategic military position in the arctic? Soon-to-be U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited interest in acquiring Greenland, while Denmark and Greenlands autonomous government resist. Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, sits at the crossroads of the Arctic and North Atlantic. Trumps recent comments and his sons visit to Greenland have brought the issue back into the spotlight. Greenlands strategic location and resources make it a focal point for U.S., Russian, and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic. Under Trump, the U.S. may seek to bolster its military and economic presence in Greenland amid growing competition with Russia and China in the Arctic. A new Cold War brewing in the arctic? Greenland, the worlds largest island, has long been a strategic prize for global powers. Its icy expanse, once a Cold War battleground, is now at the center of a new geopolitical struggle. As Arctic shipping routes give way to untapped natural resources, the United States, Russia, and China are vying for dominance in the region. Former U.S. President Donald Trumps recent remarks about acquiring Greenlandand his refusal to rule out military or economic coercionhave reignited debates about the islands significance. I cant assure you on either of those two, Trump told reporters, referring to Greenland and the Panama Canal. But I can say this, we need them for economic security. His comments, coupled with his son Donald Trump Jr.s visit to Greenlandwhere he reportedly distributed hats reading Make Greenland Great Againhave drawn sharp criticism from Denmark, Greenlands sovereign authority. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was unequivocal in resisting any advances from the U.S.: Greenland is not for sale. Greenland holds a legacy of military importance for the U.S. Greenlands strategic value is not new. During World War II, the U.S. established a military presence on the island to defend against Nazi Germany. This presence expanded during the Cold War, when Greenland became a critical outpost for monitoring Soviet activity. Thule Air Base, established in 1951, housed nuclear-tipped missiles, early warning radars, and interceptor fighters. It was a linchpin of U.S. defense strategy, offering a vantage point just 947 miles from the North Pole. The Cold War also saw bizarre and ambitious projects, such as Camp Century, a secretive research facility that experimented with nuclear-powered military operations beneath the ice. While Camp Century was abandoned, its toxic legacy remains, with pollutants and radioactive materials buried under Greenlands melting ice sheet. Today, Thule Air Baserenamed Pituffik Space Base in 2023remains a key U.S. military installation. Operated by the U.S. Space Force, it hosts early warning radars, satellite tracking systems, and fighter detachments. Pituffik enables force projection, space superiority, and scientific research in the Arctic region, according to the Space Force. Approximately 200 U.S. service members are present at the base. The Arctics strategic importance has only grown since the Cold War. Greenland and the seas surrounding it are home to vast natural resources, including oil, rare earth metals, and fisheries. Russia has been particularly aggressive in asserting its dominance, reactivating Cold War-era bases and building a fleet of icebreakers to project power in the arctic circle. China, too, has entered the fray, eyeing Arctic shipping lanes and resources. The Pentagon has warned of Beijings growing interest in Greenland, where it has sought to invest in infrastructure projects. The Arctic is an increasingly competitive domain, the Pentagon stated, highlighting the potential for China and Russia to collaborate in the region. However, the Pentagon is distancing itself from taking part in any military threats to the region. For the U.S., Greenland offers a strategic foothold to counter Russia and Chinas ambitions. Its location provides unparalleled access to the Arctic and North Atlantic, making it a vital logistics hub and a potential base for air and naval operations. Despite its strategic value, Greenlands future remains uncertain. The islands autonomous government has emphasized that any decisions about its sovereignty must involve its people. As the Arctic becomes a new theater for great power competition, Greenlands role will only grow. Whether as a U.S. ally or a contested territory, the islands icy expanse is poised to shape the geopolitical landscape for decades to come. Sources include: TWZ.com TWZ.com AOL.com Facebooks free speech overhaul opened season on just about every topic except one It turns out that Mark Zuckerberg and Joel Kaplan aren't so committed to embracing "free speech" after all. (Article republished from Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) "Facebook's guidelines overhaul opened season on just about every topic exception one," Gab CEO Andrew Torba commented Wednesday on X. "Every time." He included a quote from Wired Mag detailing the exceptions to Facebook's "free speech" rules: The updates similarly preserve a number of older restrictions that Meta has had in place for years. The current version of the policy maintains prohibitions on Holocaust denials, blackface, insinuations about Jewish people controlling the media. "I think this is broadly what the shift to 'free speech' is about from all of these guys," Torba said in a follow-up post. "Look now you can say whatever you want (except that!) so free speech is restored! People are noticing way too much, especially after Israel bombing kids for the past year. So they open the floodgates of 'free speech' to allow everyone to focus on anyone else but them." "Conservative" media outlets were celebrating Zuckerberg promoting Joel Kaplan to Chief Global Affairs Officer for Meta as some sort of win for "free speech" -- all while ignoring the fact he was "the senior Facebook official who worked directly with the Israeli Government to ensure that Israel's demands for censorship were honored." The newly promoted Chief Global Affairs Officer for Meta is Joel Kaplan. Kaplan was the senior FB official who worked directly with the Israeli Government to ensure that Israel's demands for censorship were honored. You can read about his work here:https://t.co/MAjUBu8ZRh Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 3, 2025 In 2020, under lobbying from the World Jewish Congress, Zuckerberg banned all Holocaust denial as well as all content which depicts "Jewish people running the world or controlling major institutions such as media networks, the economy or the government." "The idea of banning content that promotes stereotypes of Jewish global control came up a year ago, in a meeting with several Jewish groups convened by Facebook, and was pushed primarily by the World Jewish Congress," The Jewish Daily Forward reported at the time. WATCH: World Jewish Congress president Ron Lauder demands every nation adopt "severe laws" to jail their citizens for speech he deems antisemitic. "Laws must be passed, severe, tough, real laws that will put these hatemongers away in prison for a long time!" pic.twitter.com/3nVyNQUQjL Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) July 9, 2024 The World Jewish Congress also pushed Zuckerberg in 2024 to ban claims of "Zionists" "running the world or controlling the media" as "hate speech." Facebook's "Jewish Diaspora" chief Jordana Cutler explains how she uses her position to censor "hate speech" that "makes Jewish people feel unsafe." She says Meta banned "harmful stereotypes like 'Jews run the world'" as "hate speech" after consulting w/ World Jewish Congress. pic.twitter.com/d6bD8vMa3o Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) October 22, 2024 Zuckerberg's newfound commitment to "free speech" is nothing more than a marketing ploy. Read more at: InformationLiberation.com When governments, corporations, and elitists PROFIT from an ongoing crisis, thats what reality becomes a series of never-ending crises of global proportions Energy companies profit from energy crises, while the military industrial complex benefits from wars, and pharmaceutical companies gain from pandemics, turning ongoing crises into profitable ventures for elites at the expense of the general public. Governments, corporations, and elitists perpetuate crises to maintain their power and profit, as evident in the manipulation of issues such as healthcare, food, and climate change to control public opinion and behavior. The "Covid plandemic" is cited as a prime example of how fearmongering and misinformation can be used to create a crisis that enriches certain industries while harming the public, stripping away rights and causing widespread suffering. Many crises are alleged to be manufactured or exaggerated, with climate change being a notable example, where sensationalized journalism and perceived manipulation of weather patterns are used to perpetuate the narrative, often convincing the younger generation to accept it as fact. Energy companies profit from an energy crisis. The military industrial complex profits from war. Pharmaceutical companies that profit from a pandemic. When governments, corporations, and elitists PROFIT from an ongoing crisis, thats what reality becomes, a series of never-ending crises of global proportions Theyre creating a necessity for ongoing crisis. If the elites in society benefit from a situation that is detrimental to everybody else, thats what reality is going to become. Thats what reality has become. Russell Brand said on the Joe Rogan Experience. Anyone who assumes the governments of the world value human life and welfare over profits needs to have their head examined. Evil profiteers who have no morals, ethics, or regard for human life use the military, healthcare, and food crises to get richer and more powerful Most of the cash cow rackets in this world wouldnt work if naive people did not support them with their money and emotions. Through fake news, advertising, corrupt medicine and adulterated food, most of the populace is dumbed down and brainwashed into supported and funding their own demise, while the richest people in the world gain more power from it and make lots more money. The ultimate example of this is the Covid plandemic. Also known as the scamdemic, the Wuhan virus was one huge fear-mongering campaign that convinced billions of people to surrender their rights, succumb to toxic mandates, and line up for the dirtiest vaccines ever created on the face of the planet. Through disease and death, the pharma industrial complex made a fortune, killed millions of people, maimed millions of others, and removed many human rights all at the same time. It was also a great awakening for millions of people who finally realized that there ARE governments, corporations, and elitists whose main method of operation is to use crises to gain power and get richer off everyone elses poor judgement and naivety. Most of these crises are manufactured or simply fictional, but most of the populace is conned into believing them and supporting them anyway. For example, there is no global warming taking place, and there is no scientific proof of climate change that is threatening humankind, the weather, or the food supply. Still, corrupt politicians and globalists have taken advantage of this hoax, while perpetuating it and propagating it with sensationalized journalism and the assistance of weather-altering technology, also known as weather-weapons. Many of our youth today and young adults believe 100 percent that humans and livestock are responsible for climate change, and that if we dont give all our money to the richest people on earth, then we will all die by the weather very soon. Its a sad state of affairs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Unwokeism (@unwokeism) Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving ongoing government-planned and perpetuated crises. Sources for this article include: Censored.news NaturalNews.com Macrons ingratitude comment on Africa sparks backlash as Frances influence in the region wanes French President Emmanuel Macron faced backlash from African leaders for suggesting that Sahelian nations had not expressed gratitude for France's military interventions in the region. Macron defended France's military presence, stating that it was essential for the sovereignty of Sahelian countries. However, this claim was met with skepticism and criticism. Several West African countries, including Chad and Senegal, have expelled French troops and sought to redefine their relationships with France, viewing French military presence as a relic of colonialism. African leaders highlighted the contributions of African soldiers in World War II and criticized France for past actions that had "disastrous consequences" for regional security. As France's influence wanes, African nations are turning to alternative partners like Russia for security alliances, marking a significant shift in the region's geopolitical landscape. French President Emmanuel Macron faced sharp criticism from African leaders this week after suggesting that Sahel nations had failed to express gratitude for France's military interventions in the region. Speaking at an annual ambassadors' conference in Paris on Monday, Jan. 6, Macron defended France's role in combating Islamist insurgencies in West Africa, claiming that no Sahelian country would remain sovereign without French support. His remarks, however, were met with swift rebukes from Chad, Senegal and other African nations, further straining France's already deteriorating relationships with its former colonies. The controversy comes amid a broader shift in West Africa, where several countries have expelled French troops and sought to redefine their ties with former colonial powers. France's military presence in the region, once seen as a stabilizing force, is now widely viewed as a relic of colonialism, with many nations turning to alternative partners like Russia. At the heart of the dispute are Macron's comments about France's military interventions in the Sahel, a region plagued by jihadist violence and political instability. France launched Operation Barkhane in 2014, deploying thousands of troops to Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to combat Islamist militants. The mission followed an earlier intervention in Mali in 2013 when French forces helped prevent the fall of Bamako to insurgents. Macron argued that these efforts were essential to preserving the sovereignty of Sahelian nations. "We were right [to deploy]. I think someone forgot to say thank you. It's okay, it will come with time," he said, adding that no African country in the region would be sovereign today "if the French army hadn't deployed in the region." African leaders push back Macron's comments drew immediate backlash from African leaders, who accused him of displaying contempt for their nations. Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah condemned the remarks as "reflecting a contemptuous attitude toward Africa and Africans." In a televised address, Koulamallah stated that France's presence in Chad had often served its own strategic interests "without any real lasting impact on the development of the Chadian people." Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko also rejected Macron's claims, calling them "totally wrong." He emphasized that Senegal's decision to close French military bases by the end of 2025 was a sovereign choice, not a result of negotiations with France. "France has neither the capacity nor the legitimacy to ensure Africa's security and sovereignty," Sonko said, adding that France's past actions, such as its role in destabilizing Libya, had "disastrous consequences" for regional security. Both Sonko and Koulamallah highlighted the historical contributions of African soldiers to France's own liberation during the World Wars. "Had African soldiers, sometimes forcibly mobilized, mistreated, and ultimately betrayed, not been deployed during the Second World War to defend France, it would, perhaps still be German today," Sonko said. The backlash against Macron's remarks underscores a broader trend of declining French influence in West Africa. In recent years, military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have led to the expulsion of French troops, while Chad and Senegal have terminated defense agreements with Paris. Ivory Coast, another former French colony, recently demanded the withdrawal of French military personnel by Jan. 1. N'Djamena's decision to end its defense pact with Paris in November marked a significant shift. The country's government stated that it was "time for Chad to assert its full sovereignty and redefine its strategic partnerships according to national priorities." France's military interventions in Africa date back to the colonial era, but its post-independence role has often been controversial. While Operation Barkhane was initially welcomed as a counterterrorism effort, it became increasingly unpopular as civilian casualties mounted and jihadist violence persisted. Critics argue that France's presence failed to address the root causes of instability, such as poverty, corruption and weak governance. As France's influence wanes, the region is witnessing a realignment of geopolitical alliances, with Russia and other global powers vying for influence. Many African nations have turned to Russia for security partnerships, with junta-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signing agreements with Moscow. (Related: France declares WAR on Russia: There are "no red lines" so just do whatever you want, French official tells Zelensky.) Watch the video below that talks about Macron pushing for World War III against Russia. This video is from Rick Langley's channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: France turns on Israel: "It's time to stop sending arms to Israel," says Macron. EU could DIE in 3 years due to overspending, overregulation and underinvestment, warns Macron. French prime minister ousted following vote of no confidence. Sources include: RT.com BBC.com Brighteon.com Nvidia unveils Cosmos, a platform for accelerating the development of AI models in the physical world Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced Cosmos, a World Foundational model platform at CES 2025, designed to help AI models understand and simulate the physical world, enabling synthetic data generation for robotics, autonomous vehicles and industrial systems. Trained on 20 million hours of video footage, Cosmos focuses on physical AI, integrating with Nvidias Omniverse to create photorealistic, geospatially accurate environments for synthetic data generation, reinforcement learning and scenario testing. Cosmos, now open-licensed on GitHub, aims to make advanced AI tools accessible to all developers, addressing the high cost and complexity of real-world data capture and labeling. Huang compared Cosmos impact to ChatGPT, predicting it will revolutionize robotics and autonomous systems, with applications in autonomous driving, industrial automation, and humanoid robotics. Leading tech startups and giants like Agility, Figure AI, Uber, Waabi and Wayve have already adopted Cosmos, signaling its potential to drive innovation and growth in the multi-trillion-dollar robotics industry. In his Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 keynote address, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled Cosmos, a World Foundational model platform designed to help artificial intelligence models understand and simulate the physical world. Cosmos represents a leap forward in physical AI, enabling developers to generate synthetic data for training robots, autonomous vehicles and industrial systems. The platform, now open-licensed and available on GitHub, aims to democratize access to advanced AI tools, potentially transforming industries from manufacturing to transportation. (Related: Nvidia unleashes super computer AI robots that will "learn" how to navigate and control the physical world.) Cosmos is trained on an unprecedented 20 million hours of video footage, capturing dynamic physical phenomena such as human movement, natural environments and fast-paced camera actions. Unlike generative AI models focused on creative content, Cosmos is designed to teach AI systems to comprehend the physical world. "It's not about generating creative content, but teaching the AI to understand the physical world," Huang said during the keynote. "From this, we can do synthetic data generation, train robotics models, and even simulate multiple physically plausible scenarios of the future." The platform integrates with Nvidias Omniverse, a physics-based simulation system, to create photorealistic, geospatially accurate environments. This combination allows developers to generate synthetic data for reinforcement learning, model validation and edge-case scenario testing. "The magic happens when you connect Cosmos to Omniverse," said Huang. "It provides the grounding, the ground truth, that can control and condition the generation. What comes out is grounded on truth." The development of physical AI models has historically been hindered by the high cost and complexity of capturing, curating and labeling real-world data. Cosmos addresses this challenge by providing a scalable, cost-effective solution for generating synthetic data. This breakthrough could accelerate the adoption of robotics and autonomous systems across industries, from logistics to healthcare. Nvidia believes Cosmos will be as transformative to the AI industry as ChatGPT Huang likened the potential impact of Cosmos to the transformative effect of large language models like ChatGPT. "The ChatGPT moment for robotics is coming," he said. "World Foundation Models are fundamental to advancing robot and AV development, yet not all developers have the expertise and resources to train their own. We created Cosmos to democratize physical AI and put general robotics in reach of every developer." Cosmos employs autoregressive and diffusion-based models to generate virtual world states from text, image or video prompts. Its advanced tokenizer converts visual data into tokens, enabling real-time processing and foresight capabilities. The platform also features an AI-accelerated data pipeline, powered by Nvidias CUDA technology, which reduces the time required to process and label 20 million hours of video from 3.4 years to just 14 days. Developers can use Cosmos to create custom models tailored to specific applications, such as autonomous driving or industrial automation. For instance, self-driving car companies can fine-tune the model using video recordings of road trips, while robotics firms can simulate complex factory environments. Similarly, Cosmos can simulate warehouse accidents, such as boxes falling from shelves, to train robots to recognize and respond to real-world incidents. Several leading companies have already adopted Cosmos, including humanoid robot startups Agility and Figure AI, as well as autonomous vehicle developers like Uber, Waabi and Wayve. During the CES keynote, Huang showcased life-sized images of 14 humanoid robots developed by companies such as Tesla, Boston Dynamics and Figure, underscoring the growing interest in humanoid robotics. He predicted that robotics would become a multi-trillion-dollar industry, with Cosmos playing a pivotal role in its evolution. With Cosmos now open-licensed, Nvidia is inviting developers worldwide to explore its potential, signaling a new era of innovation in physical AI. As industries increasingly rely on AI to navigate real-world challenges, Cosmos could become the foundation for a smarter, more autonomous future. Watch this clip from Yahoo Finance discussing the tech trends to watch out for in 2025, and why Nvidia is at the center of it all. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Why China will win the race for AI supremacy as U.S. efforts collapse under woke, irrational demands for AI censorship. Futurist John Petersen: The future of knowledge lies in DECENTRALIZATION through AI and open-source innovation. AI data centers are straining the grid and your home appliances are paying the price. Apple to compete with NVIDIA, develop AI server chip named "Baltra." U.S. government now in control of AI models any AI that doesn't parrot disinformation propaganda and lies will be BANNED. Sources include: Wired.com VentureBeat.com Brighteon.com Minister of National Defense of Canada Bill Blair announced CAD440 million in military aid to Ukraine at the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (the Ramstein format). "Ammunition remains one of Ukraines highest priorities and todays announcement includes the contribution of $200 million to the Czech initiative to procure and deliver large-caliber ammunition for Ukraine. This contribution comes in addition to over $53 million announced last year for the Czech initiative, which has already provided approximately 11,500 rounds of large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine. An additional $50 million will also be made available for procurement of various calibers of ammunition from Canadian industry," reads the report. "Minister Blair also committed $100 million to the Danish Model to support the production of military drones by Ukraines domestic defense industry. In addition, Minister Blair announced the donation of $30 million for winter gear, including sleeping bags, winter boots and thermal layers (several tranches of this donation were delivered to Ukraine in December 2024), $64 million worth of high-resolution drone cameras, that were delivered to Ukraine in November and December 2024," it states. "The donations announced are part of the additional $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine announced at the 2024 NATO Summit, and the $1.6 billion announced in Budget 2024. This brings the total value of Canadian military assistance to $4.5 billion since Russias full-scale invasion began," it says. "Minister Blair also provided an update on the ongoing military assistance to Ukraine: a batch of approximately 1,300 CRV-7 rocket warheads was delivered in December 2024, following a delivery of over 2,000 CRV-7 rocket motors in September 2024; the first deliveries of Armored Combat Support Vehicles arrived in the fall of 2024 and all training has been completed. Forty additional vehicles will be delivered between May and December 2025," according to the document. The 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group took place at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday, December 9, after a long break. The last 24th meeting was held at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on September 6. The leaders of the capability coalition groups within the Ramstein format approved eight roadmaps that define the key goals of the Defense Forces of Ukraine until 2027. The coalition roadmaps define the strategic goals of Ukraine until 2027 and become the basis for medium-term and long-term support. We are also working to ensure that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fully interoperable with the alliance forces, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said. The first meeting at the Ramstein Air Base took place on April 26, 2022. BOMBSHELL: Internal Pfizer documents exposed and reveal at least 16 PERCENT of their mRNA vaccine adverse events are REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS At least 62% of adverse events following Pfizer's COVID mRNA vaccine are reported in women, with 16% specifically related to reproductive disorders. Internal Pfizer documents reveal a significant focus on the negative effects of the vaccine on women's reproductive health, including menstrual issues, hemorrhaging, and increased miscarriage rates. Over 15,000 women experienced excessive bleeding daily after vaccination, and thousands more lost their menstrual cycles. Questions arise about the true purpose of the mRNA shot, suggesting possible depopulation motives rather than preventing COVID-19. The FDA and CDC were aware of the high miscarriage rates in pregnant women (over 40%) from Pfizer's vaccine trials but still recommended the jab for expectant mothers, raising concerns about potential misinformation and public health policy. It has come to light, thanks to an expose of internal Pfizer documents, that 62 percent of the adverse events that occur after humans get injected with their Covid mRNA stab happen to women, and 16 percent of those horrible health outcomes are reproductive disorders. Imagine that. Talk about depopulation using vaccines. Its just like Bill Gates main goal of reducing the worlds population by 10 to 15 percent by doing a really great job with vaccines, as he described at his TED talk. Thats right, the centerpiece of the Pfizer papers that document adverse events and side effects of their Covid mRNA nanoparticle jabs reveals that most of their documentation of this horror story deals directly with women experiencing nightmarish problems with their hormones, periods, hemorrhaging, baby delivery complications, abortions, and miscarriages. In other words, their focus of research has to do with human reproduction, and more specifically, the destruction of human reproduction due directly to their vaccinations for Covid-19. Pfizer charts reveal over 15,000 women bleeding every day after getting injecting with the genocidal gene therapy jabs, and thousands more who no longer have their periods after getting the spike protein stabs. Does the mRNA shot have NOTHING to do with preventing Covid or its spread and EVERYTHING to do with infertility of the women who get it? How could this many injected women be hemorrhaging, passing tissue, ten-year-old girls bleeding upon being inoculated, 85-year-old women bleeding upon being stabbed with the protein prion vaccine? What other rationale is there? Could the Pfizer mRNA Covid stab really about depopulation and nothing about Covid-19 infection prevention? Internal documents point to that as the shocking answer Is it mere coincidence that more of the adverse events from the Pfizer mRNA stab are among women, and that their internal documents show 16 percent of those are reproductive disorders compared to just 2 percent for men? According to those records, 85 percent of pregnant women from their clinical trials lost their babies, but Pfizer failed to disclose this to the public. This may be the greatest crime against humanity in the history of the world. They are using medicine as a form of depopulation and terror tactics to convince everyone, including pregnant women, to get the jabs in order to save lives. One would think that the Pfizer papers would be centered on breathing and respiratory issues, since Covid-19 is primarily a virus that affects those health realms, but no, thats not the case. Another shocker about all of this is that the FDA and CDC KNEW about this and recommended the mRNA stabs for expectant mothers anyway. More than 40 percent of pregnant women who participated in Pfizers mRNA vaccine trial suffered miscarriages, according to over 12,000 internal Pfizer documents. Nobody would have known this if it wasnt released under court order in the Northern District of Texas. The Biden Regime lied about it also. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Lindsay (@canadian_source) Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections that cause reproductive disorders, spontaneous abortion, miscarriages, and serve Big Pharmas main goal of population reduction by dirty jabs. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news NaturalNews.com AMgreatness.com SURVEILLANCE? U.S. expands biometric technology in airports The TSA is rapidly deploying facial recognition technology at U.S. airports, aiming to improve efficiency and security. However, this expansion has sparked significant debate over privacy, transparency, and potential government overreach. Critics argue that the risks of biometric systems, particularly facial recognition, outweigh the benefits. Despite TSA assurances that photos are deleted after use, the scale of data collection raises fears of mass surveillance and erosion of individual privacy. While the TSA claims facial recognition is optional, reports indicate that opting out is often unclear or poorly enforced, leading to confusion and mistrust among travelers. Unlike systems like Indias Digi Yatra, which stores biometric data on users devices, the U.S. is moving toward centralized databases. Additionally, the TSAs biometric technology has a three percent error rate, raising questions about its reliability and necessity. The bipartisan Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2023 seeks to limit the TSA's use of facial recognition and mandate data deletion, reflecting growing congressional concern over unchecked technological expansion and its implications for privacy. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is rapidly rolling out biometric technology, including facial recognition, at airports across the United States. While the agency touts improved efficiency and enhanced security, the expansion has ignited a firestorm of debate over privacy, transparency, and the potential for government overreach. As biometric systems become more pervasive, Americans are left wondering: at what cost does convenience come? Biometric technology, in simple terms, uses unique physical characteristicslike fingerprints, iris patterns or facial features to verify identity. The TSAs latest push involves facial recognition scanners, which capture an image of a travelers face and compare it to a photo on their ID or passport. The agency claims this process speeds up security checks and reduces human error. But critics argue that the risks far outweigh the benefits, particularly when it comes to safeguarding personal freedoms. Currently, the TSA has deployed its next-generation Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) scanners, equipped with facial recognition, at nearly 84 airports. Plans are underway to expand this system to over 400 airports nationwide. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has already implemented its Biometric Facial Comparison system at 238 airports, including international hubs. CBP reports positive feedback from passengers, but privacy advocates remain unconvinced. The central concern is privacy. While the TSA insists that facial recognition photos are deleted shortly after use, the sheer scale of data collection raises red flags. A bipartisan group of 12 senators recently called for an investigation into the TSA's biometric data practices, warning that the agency could amass one of the largest federal surveillance databases without congressional approval. This, they argue, sets a dangerous precedent for government surveillance and erodes individual privacy. Adding to the unease is the TSA's inconsistent messaging. While the agency claims facial recognition is optional, reports suggest that opting out is neither straightforward nor consistently enforced. Travelers have recounted instances where Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) were unaware of opt-out rights or even became confrontational when passengers requested to bypass the facial scan. This lack of clarity undermines trust and raises questions about the TSAs commitment to transparency. The debate also intersects with the federal REAL ID Act, which aims to standardize identification requirements for air travel. Despite being introduced two decades ago, many states have yet to fully implement REAL ID standards. As of now, only a fraction of Americans hold compliant IDs, with some states reporting compliance rates as low as 32 percent. This raises the question: if the government struggles to enforce existing ID standards, how can it responsibly manage a nationwide biometric system? Biometric technology gaining traction globally Globally, biometric technology is gaining traction. India's Digi Yatra program, for example, boasts nine million active users and processes millions of flights annually. Unlike the U.S. system, Digi Yatra stores biometric data on users' mobile devices rather than centralized databases, offering a potential model for balancing convenience and privacy. However, the U.S. appears to be heading in a different direction, with plans to expand biometric systems beyond security checkpoints and potentially make them mandatory in the future. Proponents argue that biometrics enhance security by catching fraudulent documents and reducing wait times. Yet, critics point to a glaring flaw: the technologys error rate. A TSA spokesperson admitted to a three percent false negative rate, which could result in discrepancies for approximately 68,000 travelers. Moreover, facial recognition fails to address the hundreds of individuals who reportedly bypass security checkpoints each year. These shortcomings call into question the necessity of such an invasive system. The bipartisan Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2023 seeks to rein in the TSA's biometric ambitions by stripping the agency of its authority to use facial recognition for passenger screening and requiring the deletion of collected data. While the bill has yet to pass, it reflects growing congressional unease over unchecked technological expansion. As the TSA forges ahead with its biometric agenda, Americans must weigh the trade-offs. Is the promise of faster boarding and enhanced security worth the erosion of privacy and the normalization of surveillance? The answer lies in striking a delicate balance one that prioritizes both safety and individual freedoms. Until then, the expansion of biometric technology in airports remains a contentious issue, with far-reaching implications for the future of privacy in America. Visit Surveillance.news for more stories like this. Facial recognition is creepy. Watch this video. This video is from the Marjory Wildcraft channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Britain's new Online Safety Act is forcing small websites to shut down. The Deep State's triumph: 2024 and the erosion of liberty. U.S. officials warned to switch to encrypted communications amid cyber espionage threats. The surveillance states assault on privacy: A dangerous precedent. U.S. officials warned to switch to encrypted communications amid cyber espionage threats. Sources include: Reclaimthenet.com Meritalk.com AutomationSelfeservice.com Bighteon.com Trump not ruling out MILITARY TAKEOVER of Greenland U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out military or economic measures to acquire Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal, signaling a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities. Trump's comments sparked international concern, particularly from Denmark and Panama, who have rejected his proposals, while supporters, such as Elon Musk, have expressed support for his ideas. Greenland, home to a significant U.S. military base, is strategically positioned on the shortest route between North America and Europe, with Trump describing it as an "absolute necessity" for U.S. national security. Trump's push for the Panama Canal highlights the ongoing debate over sovereignty and has been met with strong resistance from the Panamanian government. The broader implications of Trump's expansionist agenda raise concerns about potential diplomatic fallout and the strain on U.S. relations with key allies, as the world watches the future of U.S. foreign policy under his leadership. In a bold and unconventional move, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out military or economic measures to acquire Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal, signaling a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump framed these ambitions as critical to U.S. economic and national security. His comments have sparked international concern, particularly from Denmark and Panama, who have firmly rejected his proposals. Greenland, the world's largest island, is between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is home to a significant U.S. military base and is strategically positioned on the shortest route between North America and Europe. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, calling it an "absolute necessity" for U.S. national security. "People really don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it," Trump said during the press conference. His comments were met with a swift rebuke from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who reiterated that Greenland is "not for sale" and "belongs to the Greenlanders." Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark since 1979, has been moving toward greater autonomy. Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede recently called for independence from Denmark in a New Year's speech, citing historical grievances and a desire for full equality. "It is now time for our country to take the next step," Egede said, suggesting a potential independence referendum coinciding with parliamentary elections in April. Trump's push to acquire Greenland has also drawn support from influential allies, including tech mogul Elon Musk, who posted on social media platform X that Greenlanders "want to be part of America" and would be "most welcome." However, such assertions have been met with skepticism, as Greenland's population of 57,000 has shown little interest in becoming part of the United States. Trump vows to regain control of Panama Canal Trump also vowed to regain control of the Panama Canal, a vital waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The canal, which was handed over to Panama by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1977, remains a symbol of Panama's sovereignty. (Related: Trump vows to reclaim Panama Canal, saying it belongs to America.) In December, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino firmly rejected Trump's claims, stating that "every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belongs to Panama, and it will continue to be so." Trump's refusal to rule out military or economic coercion to achieve his goals has raised alarms in Panama and beyond, with critics warning of potential diplomatic fallout. Trump's comments on Tuesday also included a proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," a move he described as having a "beautiful ring" and being "appropriate." While the proposal appears symbolic, it reflects Trump's broader tendency to redefine geopolitical boundaries and assert U.S. dominance. Additionally, Trump suggested turning Canada into a U.S. state, criticizing American spending on Canadian goods and military support. He called the U.S.-Canada border an "artificially drawn line" and signaled a willingness to impose tariffs on Denmark if it resisted his offer to purchase Greenland. Trump's expansionist rhetoric echoes historical U.S. efforts to acquire strategic territories, such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Alaska Purchase. However, critics point out that the potential implications of his proposals are far-reaching. Acquiring Greenland or the Panama Canal would require unprecedented diplomatic and economic maneuvers, likely straining U.S. relations with key allies. As Trump prepares to take office, his comments on Greenland, the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Mexico have ignited a global debate about the future of U.S. foreign policy. While his supporters may view these proposals as bold steps to secure America's economic and national security, critics warn of the risks of alienating allies and undermining international norms. As the world watches, one thing is clear: Trump's presidency is poised to challenge the status quo in ways that could reshape the global geopolitical landscape. Watch this Fox News report about Trump saying buying Greenland is a "necessity." This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump warns U.S. could take over Panama Canal if Panama continues to impose "rip-off" passage fees on American ships. Trump threatens to retake control of Panama Canal, combat Chinese influence and unfair treatment to American companies. Migrant crossings through deadly Darien Gap down 40% amid crackdown by Panama government. Sources include: RT.com Reuters.com EuroNews.com Brighteon.com Washington Post to lay off nearly 100 employees in latest round of cuts The Washington Post announced layoffs affecting fewer than 100 employees in sales, marketing and IT teams due to financial losses and declining digital readership. The newspaper reported a $77 million loss in 2023, with a 14 percent decline in digital revenue and a 12 percent drop in total revenue since 2021. Its digital subscriber base has decreased from 3 million in 2020 to 2.5 million, and monthly unique visitors to its website have dropped from 101 million in 2020 to 50 million in 2023. The newsroom, which previously underwent significant cuts in 2021, will not be directly impacted by the latest round of layoffs, highlighting the paper's ongoing transformation to meet industry needs. Controversy surrounding the newspaper's endorsement policies, specifically owner Jeff Bezos' decision to block the editorial board from endorsing outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, has led to a mass exodus of subscribers and staff members, with up to 250,000 subscribers canceling memberships in protest. Prominent journalists, including columnists and political reporters, have left the paper in recent months, further exacerbating the situation and raising concerns about the newspaper's ability to maintain editorial independence. The Washington Post has announced that it would lay off approximately four percent of its workforce due to significant financial losses and declining digital readership. The layoffs, which will affect fewer than 100 employees, will affect sales, marketing and information technology teams. The newsroom, which underwent significant cuts in 2021 with the elimination of 240 jobs, will not be directly impacted by this round of layoffs. (Related: Mass layoffs incoming: 50% of employers plan to cut jobs in the next 12 months.) The newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, reported a $77 million loss in 2023, with a substantial decline in its digital subscriber base since 2020. The Poynter also revealed that the news outlet has seen a 14 percent decline in digital revenue and a 12 percent drop in total revenue since 2021. The publication's digital subscriber base, which peaked at three million in 2020, now stands at 2.5 million. Monthly unique visitors to the newspaper's website have also plummeted, from 101 million in 2020 to 50 million in 2023. "The Washington Post is continuing its transformation to meet the needs of the industry, build a more sustainable future and reach audiences where they are," the statement read. "Changes across our business functions are all in service of our greater goal to best position the Post for the future." The latest round of layoffs is part of a larger trend affecting the news industry, which has struggled to adapt to the shift toward digital consumption and the decline in print advertising revenue. As newspapers and other media outlets continue to grapple with these challenges, the Post's cuts serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing transformation of the industry. Mass exodus of subscribers and staff members These financial challenges come against a backdrop of increasing alienation between the newsroom and Bezos and publisher Will Lewis. Moreover, Bezos sparked a firestorm of controversy and outrage by blocking the editorial board from endorsing Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election. In the aftermath of Bezos' decision, it is estimated that as many as 250,000 subscribers canceled their memberships in protest. Additionally, two prominent columnists, Michele Norris and Robert Kagan, have resigned from the newspaper in protest, while two other editorial board members, Molly Roberts and David Hoffman, have stepped down from their positions. Adding to the turmoil, two of the Post's top political reporters, Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer, have been lured away by The Atlantic, which is owned by a group funded by billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs. Another highly valued investigative reporter, Josh Dawsey, is set to join the Wall Street Journal, while White House correspondent Tyler Pager is reportedly considering his options or has already decided to leave. The departure of these journalists has been accompanied by a broader restructuring of the newsroom under the leadership of the head of newsroom operations, James Lewis. In a further blow to the newspaper's credibility, Ann Telnaes, a longtime cartoonist, announced her resignation in protest over the decision to spike an illustration that mocked Bezos as subservient to President-elect Donald Trump. This move has only added to the perception that the newspaper is no longer able to maintain its editorial independence. Learn more about the unraveling of the American economy at Collapse.news. Watch this video that talks about how the mass layoffs of 2008 and 2009 are happening again as companies try to avoid getting caught with bloated payrolls. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: AND SO IT BEGINS: Swedish fintech company Klarna becomes first to conduct MASS LAYOFF directly linked to AI advancements. Google faces backlash over MASS LAYOFFS in January despite company's financial success. Manufacturing giant 3M announces mass layoffs in preparation for a recession. Disney to begin mass layoff of 7,000 employees this week. Many companies are already on their second round of mass layoffs. Sources include: Reuters.com NYPost.com Brighteon.com Texas vs. California: Los Angeles wildfires expose stark difference in disaster response and governance between the two states The Palisades Fire has burned 15,000 acres, displaced 50,000 residents, and caused billions in damage, exposing issues like dry hydrants, overwhelmed services, and looting. Texas' handling of the 2011 Lost Pines Fire, with swift helicopter deployments and community collaboration, contrasts sharply with California's criticized lack of preparedness. Critics argue the state prioritizes progressive policies over practical disaster readiness, citing missteps like unfilled reservoirs, unreliable power grids, and inexperienced crisis leadership. Major insurers like State Farm are exiting the state, leaving the "Fair Plan" exposed to $458 billion in liabilities, threatening financial stability. The crisis sparks discussions on balancing progressive agendas with practical governance, emphasizing the need for preparedness, resource allocation, and public safety. As wildfires rage across California, leaving devastation in their wake, the effectiveness of the Golden State's emergency response system, especially when compared with that of Texas, has ignited a heated debate about governance, resource allocation and how much elected politicians truly prioritize public safety. While California struggles with what critics call a "cluster---- of bad planning," Texas is being lauded for its efficient, hands-on approach to disaster management, exemplified by its handling of the Lost Pines Fire in 2011. (Related: Hollywood Hills ABLAZE: Wildfires devastate Los Angeles, forcing mass evacuations and claiming lives.) The Palisades Fire, currently ravaging parts of Los Angeles, has already burned over 15,000 acres, forced 50,000 residents to evacuate, and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage. Amid the chaos, reports of dry fire hydrants, overwhelmed emergency services and widespread looting have painted a grim picture of California's preparedness or lack thereof. Critics argue that the state's leadership, often focused on progressive social policies, has neglected the practical necessities of disaster readiness. In contrast, Texas, with its "can-do" attitude and robust emergency response infrastructure, has been held up as a model of efficiency. The Health Ranger Mike Adams, a resident of Texas, commenting on the situation on his program "Brighteon Broadcast News," recounted his experience during the Lost Pines Fire, where helicopters swiftly mobilized to scoop water from local ponds to combat the flames. "Texas does an amazing job in dealing with emergencies," Adams said. "It's one of the things I really appreciate about living here." Adams' account highlights a key difference: Texas' culture of immediate action and resourcefulness. During the Lost Pines Fire, local authorities and residents worked in tandem, with power line workers braving harsh conditions to restore electricity and law enforcement stepping up to assist affected communities. This collaborative, no-nonsense approach stands in sharp contrast to the criticism leveled at California's leadership, which has been accused of prioritizing ideological agendas over practical solutions. Terrible governance, misplaced priorities worsened California's wildfire disaster California's woes are compounded by a series of missteps. Reports indicate that Los Angeles County failed to refill reservoirs despite advanced warnings of high winds and fire risk. Additionally, the state's power grid has been unreliable, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity during critical moments. Critics have also pointed to the appointment of an openly LGBTQ+ fire chief in Los Angeles, arguing that the need for diversity has overshadowed the requirement that officials have experience, especially in crisis situations. The fallout from California's wildfires extends beyond the immediate destruction. Insurance companies, wary of the state's recurring disasters, have been pulling out in droves. State Farm, one of the largest insurers in the U.S., announced its exit from California last year, leaving many homeowners without coverage. This exodus has left the state's "Fair Plan," an insurer of last resort, exposed to nearly $458 billion in potential liabilities a financial burden that could push California to the brink of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Texas has managed to maintain a more stable insurance market, thanks in part to its proactive disaster management strategies. The state's emphasis on preparedness and resilience has not only saved lives but also protected its economy from the kind of catastrophic losses California is now facing. The contrast between the two states has sparked a broader conversation about the role of governance in disaster response. Critics argue that California's focus on progressive policies has come at the expense of practical governance, leaving residents vulnerable to natural disasters. "Being woke doesn't put out fires," Adams quipped, encapsulating the frustration many feel toward California's leadership. Watch this Jan. 9 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the Pacific Palisades fire in southern California is burning down entire neighborhoods. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Palisades Fire becomes L.A.s most destructive wildfire amid water shortages and power outages. Wildfires ravage Pacific Palisades, forcing 30,000 to flee as Santa Ana winds fuel uncontained blaze. Los Angeles engulfed in flames as DEI policies and budget cuts cripple fire response. Sources include: Brighteon.com SkyNews.com.au Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua During the day, the losses of the occupiers amounted to 1,830 military personnel and 158 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report as of 07:00 on Friday. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed 10 tanks, 32 armored combat vehicles, 24 artillery systems, three air defense systems, 86 units of vehicles and tankers, and three units of special equipment. The air strikes cost the enemy three cruise missiles and 71 destroyed operational-tactical UAVs. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ During the night, the invaders fired 72 attack UAVs, 33 drones were shot down, 34 did not reach their target, the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. "On the night of January 10, 2025 (from 08:30 on January 9), the enemy attacked 72 Shahed-type attack UAVs and various types of simulator drones from the directions of Millerovo, Orel, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk of the Russian Federation," the Air Force said on the Telegram channel on Friday. As of 09:00, the downing of 33 Shahed-type attack UAVs and other types of drones was confirmed in Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia and Kherson regions. In addition, 34 enemy simulator drones were lost locationally (without negative consequences), one of them left for the direction of the Russian Federation. In total, five UAV hits (enterprises and utility buildings) were recorded in the frontline area in the north of Chernihiv region, and a civilian was injured. In Kyiv region, a stricken UAV crashed into a high-rise building, damaging a building and two dozen cars. According to preliminary estimates, there are no casualties. The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and a Neptune missile struck an ammunition storage depot and reconnaissance drones near the village of Chaltyr on the western outskirts of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on the night of January 10, an informed source in the SBU told Interfax-Ukraine. "The SBU, together with the Ukrainian Navy, hit an extremely important target a storage with reconnaissance drones correcting enemy strikes on Ukrainian cities and the front line. Now there will be fewer of these Russian birds in the sky. Work on military facilities in the enemy's rear will continue," the agency's source said. According to it, at first the drones put the burden on the Russian air defense, and then the Neptune get into the facility. Subsequently, local residents on social networks discussed multiple explosions near Chaltyr, which indicated a secondary detonation of ammunition. Which medicine is best when you are affected by cancer? This can vary from person to person. A new method can help people with a specific type of blood cancer get the best medicine for them. "The new method can help those affected by chronic myelogenous leukemia," says Jennifer Sheehan, a PhD research fellow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Production at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Sheehan was first author of a new publication in PLOS Computational Biology that describes the method. The research is a collaboration between NTNU, Linnaeus University in Sweden and the Universidade de Sao Paulo. Blood cancer can develop insidiously Chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, is a relatively rare variant of blood cancer. In Norway, around 70 people are affected per year. The disease seems to be caused by a piece of one chromosome breaking off and attaching to another. This creates an abnormal gene that causes immature white blood cells to spread rapidly and fill the blood vessels. In other words, the patient gets cancer. CML is a form of cancer that many people live with for a long time without knowing it. Symptoms can be absent for several years before the patient becomes visibly ill." Astrid S. de Wijn, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Production, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Finding the right medicine for CML Today, the most effective form of treatment is stem cell transplantation. Many can avoid transplantation if they receive effective help with medication instead. The vast majority of people can manage without it, as long as they receive effective medications called thyrokinase inhibitors. But there are five different medications for CML, and it is important to find the one that is most effective. The medications attack an enzyme. Enzymes are substances that are needed to start or keep various processes in the body going. The goal of the medications is to slow down the problematic overproduction of cells in the blood. However, mutations, which are spontaneous changes in the cells, can cause the medications to lose all or part of their effect against blood cancer. "We have developed a computer model that can help us say which drugs work best, and thus are best suited for each individual patient," says Professor Ran Friedman at Linnaeus University. Researchers uncover how aging disrupts autophagy, driving neurodegeneration, and explore therapeutic pathways to restore brain health. Review: Autophagy, aging, and age-related neurodegeneration. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Neuron, researchers at the University of Cambridge and Newcastle University, UK, examined the relationship between autophagy, aging, and neurodegeneration. The research explored how these processes influence the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Huntingtons disease, and other conditions, providing insights for potential therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy-related pathways. Background Aging involves gradual functional decline across various biological systems, including impaired cellular mechanisms such as autophagy. Autophagy is responsible for degrading and clearing damaged proteins and organelles from cells. It ensures cellular homeostasis and prevents the accumulation of toxic components, which is vital for neuronal health, given neurons' inability to divide. With age, autophagy efficiency diminishes due to molecular changes such as altered signaling pathways, reduced protein expression, and impaired lysosomal function. These changes interact with other proteostasis systems, like the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, amplifying vulnerabilities to neurodegenerative diseases. These changes are characterized by protein aggregation and mitochondrial dysfunction, increasing vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases. However, although aging is known to be a major risk factor, the molecular underpinnings linking autophagy impairment to neurodegeneration remain unclear. Studies have shown that restoring autophagy may alleviate age-related neurodegenerative symptoms, but therapeutic applications require a deeper understanding of how autophagy alterations contribute to disease onset and progression. The Current Study Feedback loops exacerbate damage: Impaired autophagy creates a feedback loop where protein aggregation further inhibits autophagy, accelerating neurodegeneration in diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. In the present study, the researchers comprehensively reviewed the autophagy process and its regulation in the context of aging and neurodegeneration. Using advanced molecular biology and genetic tools, they analyzed the major autophagy-related pathways in neuronal and glial cells. The study also investigated the key signaling networks, including the mechanistic targets of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which regulate autophagy initiation and progression, and examined lysosomal activity, which is the final stage of autophagy. Age-associated changes in these pathways were also assessed through cellular and animal models. Additionally, the interplay between autophagy and other proteostasis systems was analyzed, revealing how disruptions in autophagy exacerbate protein aggregation through feedback loops. Selective processes related to autophagy, such as mitophagy, were studied to evaluate the impact of damaged mitochondrial clearance on aging neurons. The roles of key proteins such as the microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), beclin 1, and p62 in autophagy initiation and substrate recognition were also explored. Further, genetic mutations in neurodegenerative disease-related proteins, such as tau, alpha-synuclein, and huntingtin, were examined to understand their impacts on autophagy. The researchers also conducted cellular experiments to investigate autophagy flux using fluorescence-based assays, autophagosome formation markers, and lysosomal activity measurements. Additionally, animal models of neurodegenerative diseases were used to understand the pathological consequences of impaired autophagy in vivo. The study highlighted the role of glial autophagy, particularly in microglia, showing how its impairment amplifies neuroinflammation and neuronal stress. Potential therapeutic approaches were also explored by analyzing the effects of genetic or pharmacological modulation of autophagy. Results Glial cells pivotal role: Dysfunction in glial autophagy, particularly in microglia, amplifies neuroinflammation and contributes significantly to neuronal stress and degeneration. The study found that the various changes associated with aging significantly impair autophagy and contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. An important finding was that autophagy dysfunction leads to the accumulation of toxic proteins and damaged organelles, which exacerbate cellular stress and inflammation. These findings were linked to impaired mitochondrial clearance (mitophagy), which further increases cellular dysfunction. The researchers also identified a decline in autophagy-regulating pathways, such as mTORC1 hyperactivation and reduced AMPK activity, with age. In Alzheimer's disease, autophagy impairment was linked to the accumulation of beta-amyloid and tau proteins, further disrupting autophagic processes and creating a feedback loop. Similarly, the study found that in Parkinson's disease, mutations in autophagy-associated genes such as synuclein alpha (SNCA) and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) impaired the clearance of alpha-synuclein, leading to its toxic aggregation. Huntington's disease models showed that the mutant huntingtin protein hindered autophagosome formation and cargo recognition, exacerbating protein aggregation and neuronal damage. The study also highlighted the role of glial autophagy in neurodegeneration, showing that microglial autophagy defects amplify neuroinflammation and neuronal stress. Impaired mitophagy was also observed across models, which indicated that defective mitochondrial clearance contributes to age-related cellular dysfunction. These findings emphasize the interconnectedness of autophagy with other cellular clearance mechanisms and its broad impact on proteostasis. However, the study also demonstrated that pharmacological and genetic enhancement of autophagy successfully alleviated disease symptoms in experimental models. These interventions reduced protein aggregates, restored mitochondrial function, and improved neuronal survival, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits. Challenges remain, such as avoiding traffic jams caused by upstream autophagy enhancement in diseases with downstream defects. Furthermore, by uncovering the intricate links between aging, autophagy, and neurodegeneration, the research highlighted the importance of targeting autophagy pathways to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease progression. Conclusions To summarize, the study confirmed that autophagy plays a pivotal role in maintaining neuronal health, and its impairment is a significant factor in driving age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The findings also highlighted the potential of autophagy enhancement as a therapeutic strategy to combat protein aggregation and mitochondrial dysfunction. The research underscored the importance of glial cell contributions to neurodegeneration and called for therapies tailored to specific genetic and molecular contexts. The researchers believe that future studies should focus on understanding the precise mechanisms of autophagy regulation and its therapeutic application in diverse disease contexts with the goal of developing effective interventions against neurodegeneration and age-related cognitive decline. The host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition. The new, GOP-led, 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump have big legislative plans for the year which mostly don't include health policy. But health is likely to play an important supporting role in efforts to renew tax cuts, revise immigration policies, and alter trade if only to help pay for some Republican initiatives. Meanwhile, the outgoing Biden administration is racing to finish its health policy to-do list, including finalizing a policy that bars credit bureaus from including medical debt on individuals' credit reports. This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post. Panelists Shefali Luthra The 19th @shefalil Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein Lauren Weber The Washington Post @LaurenWeberHP Among the takeaways from this week's episode: The 119th Congress is now in session. Health care doesn't make the list of priorities as lawmakers lay the table for the incoming Trump administration though Republicans have floated Medicaid work requirements to cut federal spending. A lot of health legislation hit the cutting-room floor in December, including a bipartisan proposal targeting pharmacy benefit managers which would have saved the federal government and patients billions of dollars. And speaking of bipartisan efforts, a congressional report from the Senate Budget Committee adds to evidence that private equity involvement in care is associated with worse outcomes for patients notably, lawmakers' constituents. As the nation bids a final farewell to former President Jimmy Carter, his global health work, in particular, is being celebrated especially his efforts to eradicate such devastating diseases as Guinea worm disease and river blindness. Meanwhile, the Biden administration finalized the rule barring medical debt from appearing on credit reports. The surgeon general cautions that alcohol should come with warning labels noting cancer risk. And the new Senate Republican leader is raising abortion-related legislation to require lifesaving care for all babies born alive yet those protections already exist. Plus, for "extra credit," the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Wall Street Journal's "UnitedHealth's Army of Doctors Helped It Collect Billions More From Medicare," by Christopher Weaver, Anna Wilde Mathews, and Tom McGinty. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times' "Ozempic, Lego Bricks and Hearing Aids: What Trump's Greenland Plan Could Hit," by Ana Swanson and Jenny Gross. Shefali Luthra: Vox.com's "Gigantic SUVs Are a Public Health Threat. Why Don't We Treat Them Like One?" by David Zipper. Lauren Weber: The Washington Post's "Laws Restrict U.S. Shipping of Vape Products. Many Companies Do It Anyway," by David Ovalle and Rachel Roubein. Also mentioned in this week's podcast: The Senate Budget Committee's "Profits Over Patients: The Harmful Effects of Private Equity on the U.S. Health Care System." Credits Taylor Cook Audio producer Lonnie Ro Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor Even though lung and related cancer deaths decreased in the world's 10 most populous countries from 1990 to 2019, these positive statistics do not address trends in mortality linked to tobacco use, air pollution and asbestos exposure. Those areas need ongoing policy measures and research to further reduce deaths, according to a new study from researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and collaborating organizations. Their study, published in eClinicalMedicine, part of The Lancet, analyzed tracheal, bronchial and lung (TBL) cancer data from the open-source Global Burden of Disease database. The results indicated an 8% overall decrease in TBL cancer deaths over the three-decade period. While tobacco-related deaths declined, they continue to represent the majority of cases. Meanwhile, mortality linked to particulate matter air pollution has risen globally, and asbestos exposure remains a critical concern, especially in the United States. This research allows us to better assess global trends and highlight areas where public health policies and further research are needed to tackle TBL cancers." Gilberto Lopes, M.D., senior author of the study, chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at Sylvester and its associate director Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer-related death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The study's first author, Chinmay Jani, M.D., a clinical fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester and the Miller School, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about all TBL cancer risk factors on a global scale. Tobacco risk persists The study found that the percentage of TBL cancer deaths linked to tobacco use declined from 72% in 1990 to 66% in 2019, although certain countries, such as China and Indonesia, are still experiencing rising tobacco-related cancer mortality. Moreover, the global mortality rate among women increased by 2%, though men still account for about three-quarters of tobacco-linked deaths. These trends indicate the need to continue public health measures to reduce tobacco use, Jani said. Even though we are making headway in reducing tobacco-related lung cancer deaths, the burden remains significant, he said. "We are going on the right path, but I feel that the final end of the tunnel is far away," Jani added. Air pollution linked to cancer deaths Air pollution now accounts for almost 20% of global TBL cancer mortality. Overall deaths linked to air pollution decreased from 1990-2019, but deaths associated directly with ambient particulate matter (PM 2.5) increased by 11%. In China, the rate was twice the global average. Research colleague Estelamari Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., co-lead of the Thoracic Site Disease Group at Sylvester, called for stronger global policies to address this rising threat. "The association between lung cancer mortality and air pollution is still controversial, but there is an increasing body of evidence that there is a connection here that needs to be paid attention to," she said. "This paper provides further evidence that this is not an issue limited to one country; it is a global phenomenon." Jani also stressed the need to increase awareness in regions like India, where burning solid waste is common and public awareness of air pollution's risk remains low. "The government is trying to provide the resources and facilities so that solid waste is disposed of in other ways, but the public awareness is not as strong among the general population," he said. Asbestos remains a concern Jani presented an earlier phase of the study in April 2024 with MDRCollab, a clinician research group, shortly after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a ban on asbestos - one of the top occupational risk factors for TBL cancer. This latest analysis included a comprehensive evaluation of asbestos exposure, making it the first study to focus on granular data related to these three critical risk factors. Despite significant progress in banning asbestos, asbestos-related TBL cancer deaths in the U.S. remain nearly double the global average. "Even though we have banned asbestos, we need to look more into the causes of exposure," Jani said. Further research and enhanced screening A key takeaway from the study is the need for continued research to better understand the mechanisms driving TBL cancer, including how various risk factors contribute to molecular changes in cancer cells. "Understanding all these risk factors and how they are impacting the molecular alterations of lung cancer is important, because then we can have targeted, precision medicine for lung cancer patients based on the risk factors that they had," he said. The findings also highlighted the need for revising current screening guidelines, which are primarily focused on tobacco exposure. Rodriguez noted an alarming increase in lung cancer diagnoses in younger people, especially women with low tobacco exposure, raising concerns about the adequacy of current screening practices. "How can we change screening approaches to be able to diagnose younger patients when they can be cured?" she asked. "Currently, young patients with a cough are rarely considered at risk for lung cancer. Their symptoms are often overlooked, even though proper screening could have detected the condition earlier." An international research team led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered a new type of skeletal tissue that offers great potential for advancing regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Most cartilage relies on an external extracellular matrix for strength, but "lipocartilage," which is found in the ears, nose and throat of mammals, is uniquely packed with fat-filled cells called "lipochondrocytes" that provide super-stable internal support, enabling the tissue to remain soft and springy similar to bubbled packaging material. The study, published online today in the journal Science, describes how lipocartilage cells create and maintain their own lipid reservoirs, remaining constant in size. Unlike ordinary adipocyte fat cells, lipochondrocytes never shrink or expand in response to food availability. Lipocartilage's resilience and stability provide a compliant, elastic quality that's perfect for flexible body parts such as earlobes or the tip of the nose, opening exciting possibilities in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, particularly for facial defects or injuries. Currently, cartilage reconstruction often requires harvesting tissue from the patient's rib a painful and invasive procedure. In the future, patient-specific lipochondrocytes could be derived from stem cells, purified and used to manufacture living cartilage tailored to individual needs. With the help of 3D printing, these engineered tissues could be shaped to fit precisely, offering new solutions for treating birth defects, trauma and various cartilage diseases." Maksim Plikus, corresponding author, UC Irvine professor of developmental and cell biology Dr. Franz Leydig first recognized lipochondrocytes in 1854, when he noted the presence of fat droplets in the cartilage of rat ears, a finding that was largely forgotten until now. With modern biochemical tools and advanced imaging methods, UC Irvine researchers comprehensively characterized lipocartilage's molecular biology, metabolism and structural role in skeletal tissues. They also uncovered the genetic process that suppresses the activity of enzymes that break down fats and reduce the absorption of new fat molecules, effectively locking lipochondrocytes's lipid reserves in place. When stripped of its lipids, the lipocartilage becomes stiff and brittle, highlighting the importance of its fat-filled cells in maintaining the tissue's combination of durability and flexibility. In addition, the team noted that in some mammals, such as bats, lipochondrocytes assemble into intricate shapes, like parallel ridges in their oversized ears, which may enhance hearing acuity by modulating sound waves. "The discovery of the unique lipid biology of lipocartilage challenges long-standing assumptions in biomechanics and opens doors to countless research opportunities," said the study's lead author, Raul Ramos, a postdoctoral researcher in the Plikus laboratory for developmental and regenerative biology. "Future directions include gaining an understanding of how lipochondrocytes maintain their stability over time and the molecular programs that govern their form and function, as well as insights into the mechanisms of cellular aging. Our findings underscore the versatility of lipids beyond metabolism and suggest new ways to harness their properties in tissue engineering and medicine." The team included healthcare professionals and academics from the U.S., Australia, Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, as well as staff from the Serrano Animal & Bird Hospital in Lake Forest and the Santa Ana Zoo. See the full list here. This work was supported in part by the W.M. Keck Foundation under grant WMKF-5634988; UCI Beall Applied Innovation under Proof of Product grant IR-PR57179; LEO Foundation grants LF-AW-RAM-19-400008 and LF-OC-20-000611; Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant AN-0000000062; Horizon Europe grant 101137006; National Institutes of Health grants U01-AR073159, R01- AR079470, R01-AR079150, R21-AR078939, P30-AR075047, R01-AR078389-01, R01-DE015038, R01-AR071457, R01-AR067821, R01GM152494, R01DE030565, TL1-TR001415, R01-DE013828, R01- DE30565, R01-HD073182, R01-AR067797, R01-DE017914 and MBRS-IMSD training grant GM055246; National Science Foundation grants DMS1951144, IOS-2421118, DMS1763272, CBET2134916, NSF-GRFP DGE-1321846 and MCB 2028424. Additional backing came from Simons Foundation grant 594598, the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation, a Howard A. Scheiderman Fellowship Award, the Ben F. Love Chair in Cancer Research at Baylor College of Medicine, the UC Riverside School of Medicine Dean's Postdoc to Faculty Program and the Danish Cancer Society. Russell W. Jenkins, MD, PhD, a physician investigator in the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research at the Mass General Cancer Center and an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is senior author of a new study in Cancer Immunology Research, "TBK1 is Identified as a Therapeutic Strategy to Enhance CAR T-Cell Efficacy Using Patient-Derived Organotypic Tumor Spheroids". The study was a collaboration with the late Soldano Ferrone, MD, PhD, and was carried across the finish line by his daughter Cristina Ferrone, MD, Moshe Sade-Feldman, PhD, and several other collaborators at Massachusetts General Hospital. What question were you investigating with this study? What factors contribute to treatment resistance in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy treatments for solid tumors? While CAR-T therapy treatments have proven effective in patients with blood tumors, their effectiveness in solid tumors has been limited due to a variety of factors, including the tumor microenvironment. We used a unique 3D microfluidic model of tumors to investigate the mechanisms of treatment resistance to CAR-T cells that were designed to target B7-H3, a common antigen in solid tumor cancers. What was unique about your approach? While there are several different 3D models of tumors are available, they are limited in their ability to faithfully reproduce key elements of the tumor microenvironment. We used patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids (PDOTS), microphysiologic 3D models that replicate key features of the tumor microenvironment, enabling the study of interactions between tumors and immune cells. What did you find? We found an increase in the expression of inhibitory receptors in the CAR T cells after their initial encounter with the target cells, which caused dysfunction and limited their efficacy. By inhibiting the function of TBK1, a gene previously associated with immune evasion, we were able to restore CAR-T cell activity, prevent dysfunction and increase T cell proliferation. We also found that inhibition or deletion of TBK1 made cancer cells more susceptible to immune cell targeting and destruction. What are the clinical implications and next steps? The findings suggest that targeting TBK1 could reduce treatment resistance and enhance CAR T efficacy in solid tumor cells that are expressing B7-H3. The findings also demonstrate the feasibility and utility of using PDOTS to study interactions between tumors and immune cells. How did you come to work with the ferrones? Soldano Ferrone's lab was on the same floor as ours and his office was a few doors done from mine. We'd frequently bump into each other and chat while preparing a morning or afternoon coffee. Upon hearing about our PDOTS models, he said, "We should collaborate and test our CAR-T cells in your PDOTS models." As a newly minted PI, I was excited that such a senior investigator was interested in partnering but wasn't sure exactly where the science might lead us. Initially, Soldano's group simply provided the CAR-T cells, and we tested them in a handful of PDOTS specimens. But when we started observing diminished sensitivity to CAR-T cells in our PDOTS models that otherwise "should" have been responsive, we knew we had something big. We iterated from that point on, and this project was co-led by Yi Sun, PhD, from my lab and Luke Maggs, PhD from the Ferrone Lab. After Soldano's passing, we wanted to complete the project but needed continued support and supply of CAR-T cells. With the continued support of Cristina Ferrone, MD, (now at Cedars Sinai) and Xinhui Wang, MD, PhD, (MGH) to generate and supply the CAR-T cells, we were able to wrap up the project. What other resources or collaborations made this study possible? All our studies using PDOTS require a robust tissue banking infrastructure to supply high quality patient tumor specimens. Without great partnerships and collaborations with Genevieve M. Boland, MD, PhD, and Sonia Cohen, MD, PhD, this work would not be possible. In addition to the leadership and vision provided by Drs. Boland and Cohen, the day-to-day operations of collecting, banking, and distributing patient tumor specimens relies on a well-trained, skilled, and dedicated team, which is led by Tatyana Sharova and Aleigha Lawless. Our team operates on the MGH Main Campus to take advantage of proximity to the clinics and operating rooms, and Izabela Panova (our floor lab manager on Jackson 9) makes sure everything continues to run smoothly. Moshe Sade-Feldman, PhD (also a KF-CCR PI and Asst. Prof. of Medicine) and his team were instrumental in performing the needed single-cell RNA sequencing studies to determine how the tumor microenvironment was changing both the tumor cells and the CAR T-cells in our PDOTS models. Lastly, funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Research Infrastructure Grant to create the MGH Tumor Cartography Center enabled us to purchase a large portion of the instrumentation used in this study. Pittcon 2024 in San Diego was a landmark event for scientific innovation and collaboration. At the laboratory science conference, scientists highlighted the public health threat of synthetic psychedelics found in commercially available products like edible gummies. Pittcon 2025 in Boston promises to update attendees on the progress of collaborations fostered in 2024, as well as continue to connect leaders in the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Pittsburgh, PA Pittcon, the leading international conference in laboratory science, is proud to announce the continued collaboration of three organizations brought together during 2024s Psychedelics 101 symposium. Pittcon is committed to cultivating scientific partnerships to address drug-related public health threats at Pittcon 2025 in Boston. Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, a Shimadzu Group company in the United States; Rose City Labs, Oregon's premier environmental testing laboratory; and Oregon State University have collaborated on a scientific manuscript to be submitted prior to Pittcon 2025 in Boston. The manuscript summarizes their findings on psychedelic adulterantsnamely, syndelics, synthetic psychedelics hidden in products marketed as natural, such as commercially available edibles. These findings were first revealed during the Psychedelics 101: Emerging Trends, Applications, and Advances in Psychedelics Quality Testing symposium held at Pittcon 2024. In his presentation, Bjorn Fritzsche, an R&D chemist at Rose City laboratories, detailed his discovery that products marketed as natural, mushroom-based psychedelics contain none of the expected active ingredients. Close-up of Psilocybe cubensis gillsthe intricate structure where this mushroom produces its natural psychedelic compound, psilocybin. Image Credit: YARphotographer/Shutterstock.com Instead, these edibles sourced from convenience stores and head shops were found to contain synthetic psychedelics and other compounds, including synthetic opioids and a horse tranquilizer. Fritzsches research shows there is an urgent need for standardized testing and regulation of psychedelic products to ensure consumer safety. These synthetic compounds are far more potent and potentially harmful than natural psychedelics, Dan Huson, owner of Rose City Laboratories, emphasized. Dr. Scott Kuzdzal, co-host of the symposium and Vice President of the New Strategy Department at Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, added, We need a concerted effort from QC testing labs, forensics toxicology labs, healthcare providers, and regulatory agencies to address this growing public health threat. In response to these discoveries, a working group was formed to improve analytical methods and raise awareness on the issue of synthetic psychedelics. By connecting quality control laboratories, academic institutions, and industry leaders, Pittcon has created a collaborative platform where scientists can not only share their findings but also collectively drive the development of new analytical standards to safeguard public health. Richard B. van Breeman, Principal Investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, went on to explain the importance of Pittcon in the progress of this field of study: Engaging with researchers at Pittcon 2025 will significantly enhance the scientific communitys ability to address syndelic adulteration. As researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute, in collaboration with Rose City Labs, we are exploring new analytical techniques to detect these complex substances. Pittcon 2025 will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC); for the first time in its 75-year history, the event will take place in the city. Attendees can expect more opportunities to connect and collaborate with industry experts through networking sessions and their renowned technical program. Pittcons comprehensive technical program is designed to showcase the latest developments in laboratory science and highlight emerging challenges in the field, such as the syndelic crisis. The Cannabis & Psychedelics track for 2025 continues many of the important themes established previously, such as developing robust, standardized testing protocols and the importance of regulatory needs. Heather Juzwa, President of Pittcon 2025, expressed her excitement for attendees to experience what this years event has to offer: Pittcon has always been at the forefront of analytical innovation, and the syndelic crisis is no exception. In 2025, were providing a collaborative space where the brightest minds in chemistry, toxicology, and quality control can unite to protect public health. With the U.S. psychedelic mushroom market set to grow significantly in the coming years, now is the time to join Pittcon in Boston to participate in conversations shaping the future of science. For more information about attending Pittcon 2025, please visit https://pittcon.org. 'No Stare At Wife For Long': How Narayana Murthy Sparked Work-Life Balance Debate In India Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:45 IST Started by Infosys' N R Narayana Murthy's 70-hour work week remark, the discussion around optimal work hours has consistently ignited fervent debates with the latest being L&T chief S N Subrahmanyan who suggests 90-hour work week, including Sundays. Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy initially proposed a 70-hour workweek, suggesting that such commitment was necessary to elevate India on the global stage. (PTI/ file photo) In the world of Indian enterprise, the discussion around optimal work hours has consistently ignited fervent debates, spearheaded by some of the nations most prominent business leaders. Notably, Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy, who has long been a fixture in discussions about corporate diligence, initially proposed a 70-hour workweek, suggesting that such commitment was necessary to elevate India on the global stage. Joining him latest is Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S N Subrahmanyan who has gone further and advocated for 90 hours work week. In October 2023, Murthy first advocated for the 70-hour work week. He said that for India to compete with the fastest-growing countries like China and Japan, the youth must commit to working 70 hours a week. related stories Indias work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading I dont know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress," the Infosys founder had said. He further added, This is my country. I would like to work 70 hours a week." Narayana Murthy faced backlash following his remarks. However, he stood firm, reinforcing his belief in hard work, particularly for those who are well-educated and capable of contributing significantly to society. A year later, in November 2024, he repeated his stance and said, I am sorry. I havent changed my view. I will take this with me to my grave. I am very proud of having worked very hard I worked fourteen hours a day and 6.5 days a week till I retired." I dont believe in work-life balance," Muthy said. The debate took on new dimensions when L&Ts Subrahmanyan echoed this ethos, but pushed the envelope further with a 90-hour workweek proposal, including Sundays. The L&T chairmans comments, first circulated in a video on Reddit, suggested that employees should prioritise work over home life, questioning, How long can you stare at your wife?" Subrahmanyan expressed regret over the inability to mandate Sunday work, stating, If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays." This suggestion sparked significant public outcry, highlighting a growing concern among the workforce about the sustainability of such demands and the impact on personal life. However, L&T has defended its chairmans comment stating that nation-building is at the core of the companys mandate. The companys spokesperson stated, The Chairmans remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort." Many other entrepreneurs have also voiced their desire to raise working hours for employees and reject work-life balance. Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal has also said in the past that he does not believe in work-life balance. In July 2024, Bhavish Aggarwal said, I dont agree with the work-life balance concept because if you are enjoying your work, you will find happiness in life also and work also, and both of them will be in harmony." Work-Life Balance: Healthcare Experts Take However, healthcare experts have insisted that there is a fair amount of scientific evidence to suggest that a 70-hour work week as compared to a 40-hour work week, leads to an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, like strokes, heart attacks and high blood pressure. Researchers have shown that working 55 or more hours per week is associated with a 35 per cent higher risk of a stroke and a 17 per cent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week. Following Bhavish Aggrawals comment, Hyderabad-based Neurologist from Apollo Hospitals last year posted the findings of studies on his X account. His post said, More than 800,000 people die every year due to working for more than 55 hours a week Long working hours are associated with a higher risk of being overweight and having prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. People working 69 or more hours a week are more likely to have moderate to severe depressive symptoms than those working 40 hours a week." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Similarly, Dr Sumit Ray, medical director at Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi, asserted that the purpose of life extends beyond work. He criticised the mindset behind a 70-hour workweek, labelling it as exploitative and profit-driven. The purpose of living is not just to work, but, to have leisure, and have pleasurable human interactions with friends, family, and acquaintances. Have time for greater intellectual stimulation and healthy physical activity." First Published: January 10, 2025, 10:24 IST BPSC 70th CCE Row: Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party Moves Patna HC Seeking Cancellation Of Exam Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 17:17 IST Prashant Kishor's party has moved the Patna High Court, seeking the cancellation of the BPSC 70th CCE Exam. BPSC Protest: Prashant Kishor began a fast unto death on January 2. (Image: PTI) Amid Prashant Kishors fast-unto-death protest over alleged irregularities in the BPSC 70th CCE Exam, his Jan Suraaj Party has approached the Patna High Court, seeking the cancellation of the competitive exams, his lawyer said on Friday. Advocate Pranav Kumar said that the petition, which highlights irregularities in the Combined Competitive Exams held on December 13," is scheduled for hearing on January 15. related stories The case was mentioned today before the single-judge bench of Justice Arvind Singh Chandel, and the hearing will take place on January 15," he told PTI-Bhasha. Kumar pointed out that the petition focuses on large-scale irregularities in exams held across the state, including instances where candidates carried mobile phones into examination halls that had no jammers. He also mentioned that in several locations, examinees were seen solving their question papers together. He claimed such irregularities were reported from many exam centers, not just the Bapu Pariksha Parisar, where many candidates had boycotted the exams, alleging that the question paper had been leaked. We have requested the cancellation of the entire examination and action against officials responsible for the irregularities," the lawyer added. ALSO READ: JEE Advanced: SC Grants 3 Attempts To Students Who Dropped Out Of College Between Nov 5-18 Kishors Fast Continues; BPSC Denies Irregularities In Exams Around five lakh candidates appeared at over 900 centres across the state for the exams. A re-examination was held for 1,200 candidates at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar Centre. The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has denied the allegations of irregularities, claiming there was a conspiracy" to get the exams cancelled. The commissions decision to order a re-exam for a select group of candidates has upset others, who have protested, saying it has deprived them of a fair chance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kishor, who is supporting the protest, began his fast-unto-death on January 2 and has refused to end it, despite doctors advising him to resume eating normally. His party has stated that he may end his fast if Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar agrees to meet a delegation of civil service aspirants to resolve the issue. First Published: January 10, 2025, 17:09 IST JEE Advanced 2025: Supreme Court To Hear Pleas Challenging Reduction In Number Of Attempts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:27 IST IIT Kanpur revised JEE Advanced 2025 eligibility, initially allowing 3 attempts, but later reduced it back to 2, disappointing many students. The Supreme Court will hear pleas challenging the IIT Kanpur's decision to revert JEE Advanced 2025 attempts from three back to two. (File Image/PTI) JEE Advanced 2025: The Supreme Court will hear pleas today challenging the reduction in the number of attempts for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced from three to two. A fresh petition was filed by advocate Sanjeet Kumar Trivedi, and the bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih directed that it be tagged with a similar plea scheduled for hearing on January 10, 2025. The plea said the Joint Admission Board (JAB), entrusted to conduct the JEE-Advanced exam, changed the eligibility criteria for students in an arbitrary" manner. related stories The JAB, vide its press release dated November 5, 2024, first fixed the permissible number of attempts for JEE-Advanced at three, only to change it abruptly vide another press release dated November 18, 2024, and thereby reducing the number of attempts to two," the plea stated. The abrupt changes in the eligibility criteria," it said, has affected the petitioner as well as thousands of similarly situated persons denying them a valuable opportunity to enter the IITs." The plea said the change in eligibility criteria was against the principles of natural justice and added, The impugned notification is also in violation of principles of legitimate expectation and promissory estoppel." Seeking setting aside of the November 18, 2024 press release, it said the change disentitled and disqualified many students from taking the JEE-Advanced 2025 exam. JEE Advanced 2025: Number Of Attempts Controversy top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kanpur at the beginning of November 2024 revised the eligibility criteria for the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) 2025. According to the update, the number of attempts to appear in the JEE Advanced were increased from 2 to 3 in three consecutive years. However, on November 18, 2024, IIT Kanpur reversed its decision to allow candidates three attempts, bringing the number of permissible attempts back to two. The decision has left thousands of students, especially those who were hoping for a third chance, deeply disappointed. First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:27 IST Photo: president.gov.ua President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes the decision of Japan to impose new sanctions on Russia, emphasizing that it is a significant blow to Russia's military-industrial complex. "I welcome Japan's decision to impose new sanctions on Russia for its war in Ukraine, including asset freezes on 33 entities and 12 individuals, export bans on 53 entities, and 335 restricted goodsa powerful step in standing up to aggression. It is a significant blow to Russias military-industrial complex, limiting access to critical microelectronics and creating additional obstacles for the production of missiles and drones," he said on the X social network on Friday. The head of state noted that by restricting Russia's ability to manufacture tools of terror, these measures help protect Ukrainian lives and strengthen Ukraine's defense against aggression. "We are deeply grateful for Japan's decisive action in supporting Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. As reported on Friday, Japan expanded its list of assets frozen under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to 33 organizations and twelve individuals, including a North Korean national, while 53 organizations from countries including Russia and China have recently been targeted by export bans and other measures. JEE Advanced: SC Grants 3 Attempts To Students Who Dropped Out Of College Between Nov 5-18 Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 13:01 IST JEE Advanced Attempt Limit Case: Students who dropped out of colleges between November 5 and November 18 will be permitted to attempt the JEE Advanced three times. Supreme Court grants relief to students who withdrew from colleges between November 5-18, allowing them 3 attempts. The Supreme Court has ordered that students who dropped out of college between November 5 and November 18 will be permitted to attempt the JEE Advanced three times, in accordance with the Joint Admission Boards initial notification. This decision comes after the abrupt withdrawal of the extended eligibility period, which had initially allowed students from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 batches to appear for the exam. related stories The case was heard by a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih. Senior advocate K. Parameshwar, representing the petitioners, argued that the JABs decision to change the eligibility rules midway was unfair and put many students at a disadvantage. During the hearing, Advocate Parameshwar informed the court about the eligibility criteria changes for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced, administered by the Joint Admission Board (JAB). On November 5, JAB announced that students graduating in 2023, 2024, and 2025 would be eligible to take the exam. However, just 13 days later, the eligibility was reduced to students from the 2024 and 2025 batches only. Terming the withdrawal of the extended eligibility as arbitrary, Advocate Parameshwar stated, I can give a list of people who actually dropped out from colleges and engineering colleges thinking they would give exams. Having promised that students in 2023, 2024 and 2025 would take exams, let them." Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, representing the JAB, defended the decision to limit the number of attempts to two. He argued that allowing three attempts could distract students who enrol in general engineering colleges but continue preparing for IITs. He explained that the revised policy aimed to reduce academic disruption by encouraging students to focus on their current courses after two unsuccessful attempts at JEE Advanced. The Court noted the submissions, highlighting that the original notification by JAB on November 5, 2024, allowed students who appeared in Class 12th in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to take the exam. However, this eligibility was abruptly reduced to two batches. The court recognised that based on this promise, some students had withdrawn from colleges to pursue the IIT exams, and the sudden change was detrimental to their plans. The court ordered: In the press release dated November 5, 2024, a clear promise was made to the students that those who had appeared for the Class 12 exam in 2023, 2024 and 2025 would be eligible to appear for JEE(Advanced). If the students acting on the said representation have dropped from their course with the understanding that they would be entitled to appear for JEE, the withdrawal of promise on November 18, 2024, cannot act to their detriment. In the peculiar facts and circumstances, without observing anything on the merits of the decision taken by JAB, such of the students who have withdrawn from their courses and dropped out between November 5, 2024 and November 18, 2024 would be permitted to register for JEE(Advanced). With the aforesaid direction, the petition was disposed of." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ: AIAPGET 2024 Cut-Off Reduced By 5% For SC, ST Candidates, PG admission Deadline Extended To Jan 13 Notably, three attempts will be granted only to those students who approached the Supreme Court. In November last year, the Board increased the limit for JEE Advanced attempts to three. However, within a few weeks, the decision was reversed, and the two-attempt policy was reinstated. First Published: January 10, 2025, 12:07 IST Winter Holidays Extended Across Schools In Delhi, Parts Of North India Amid Cold Wave Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 10:05 IST Chandigarh, Bihar and Jharkhand have extend winter breaks for schools due to severe cold weather conditions. Due to a severe cold wave, schools are closed in Delhi-NCR until Jan. 15. (Representative Image/PTI) Several districts and states have announced the closure of schools or extended the winter vacation amid sharp dip in temperature and severe cold waves. In Delhi, the minimum temperature sharply declined to 7 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am as the fog engulfed the national capital. Check the list of the places where authorities have shut the schools due to bone-chilling weather. Schools Shut As Fog Engulfs Delhi-NCR related stories The Delhi government has declared winter vacation for all government schools from January 1 to 15, 2025. According to the official order, the classes will resume on January 16, 2025 All the schools in Noida are closed for up to class 8th until further notice while Ghaziabad schools will remain shut until January 11. Winter Break In Haryana Schools Lucknow has closed schools until January 11, 2025, and directed the schools to conduct online sessions for classes 9 to 12. Winter vacation is announced in Haryana schools until January 15 and classes are scheduled to be resumed on January 16, 2025. Schools Closed In Bihar, Jharkhand Amid Severe Cold Wave The Bihar government has declared winter vacations for all government and private schools until January 11, 2025. Due to severe cold wave conditions, classes up to the 8th standard in Bihars Araria district have been suspended until January 12. However, classes for students in grades 9 to 12 will continue from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Its important to note that special classes and exams for pre-board and board students will proceed as scheduled. The state government has announced a holiday for both government and private schools in Jharkhand from January 7 to 11, 202 amid the severe weather conditions. Chandigarh Extends Winter Break For Schools Chandigarh has extended the winter break for the school in the Union Territory until January 11, 2025. Government and private schools will remain closed till January 11 and will reopen on January 13, 2025. School Holidays In Tamil Nadu, Telangana For Pongal And Sankranti The Tamil Nadu government has declared school holidays from January 11 to January 19, 2025, to celebrate Pongal. Similarly, the Telangana government has announced Sankranti holidays, with classes suspended from January 11 to January 17. Intermediate colleges in Telangana will remain closed until January 16 for the festival. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Classes Resume In Punjab Winter vacation has ended in Punjab and the school reopened on January 8, 2025. Further extension of the holiday or the closure of the school has not been announced by the government. First Published: January 10, 2025, 09:15 IST Who Will Be BJP's CM Face For Delhi Polls? AAP Predicts Big Citing 'Credible Sources' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:12 IST "Today, the entire Delhi is asking from the 'Galli-Galoch' party who is its CM face. The people of Delhi know that by voting for AAP, Arvind Kejriwal will become the CM. But they are asking who will be BJP's CM face," Atishi said. Ramesh Bidhuri and Atishi Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party and claimed that the saffron camp has decided to project its leader Ramesh Bidhuri as the partys chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly polls. Atishi, who became the chief minister of Delhi after Arvind Kejriwal resigned due to his incarceration last year, said her Kalkaji rival Ramesh Bidhuri will be the BJPs CM pick. She said that this was Bidhuris reward" for being the most abusive" leader of his party. related stories Read More: Delhi CM Atishi Alleges Centre Cancelled Allotment Of Her Official Residence; BJP Rebuts Charge Reliable sources have revealed that it has been decided in the CEC meeting of the Gaali Galouch Party this morning that the most abusive leader Ramesh Bidhuri ji will be made the CM face. The Parliamentary Committee meeting this evening will seal this decision. Now, Delhiites have two options on one side is the educated, hardworking leader Arvind Kejriwal, and on the other side is the abusive Ramesh Bidhuri" she said in a post on X. CEC https://t.co/q65O2KgYBb Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 10, 2025 Earlier today, the she addressed the media and attacked the saffron party for not declaring its CM candidate. While addressing the media, she said, Today, the entire Delhi is asking from the Galli-Galoch party who is its CM face. The people of Delhi know that by voting for AAP, Arvind Kejriwal will become the CM. But they are asking who will be BJPs CM face." AAP leaders, including party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, have dubbed the BJP as Gali Galauj" (abusive) Party due to its sustained attacks on them by the saffron party leaders, ahead of the assembly elections. #WATCH | Delhi CM & AAP leader Atishi says, " Today, the entire Delhi is asking from the Galli-Galoch party who is its CM face. The people of Delhi know that by voting for AAP, Arvind Kejriwal will become the CM. But they are asking who will be BJPs CM face. BJPs Core pic.twitter.com/yLED9g2So5 ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025 Atishi is seeking re-election from the Kalkaji seat in the Delhi assembly polls and is pitted against BJPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Congresss Alka Lamba. Ramesh Bidhuri Sparks Row With Remarks On Atishi, Priyanka Gandhi The BJP MP was recently embroiled in controversy over his remarks against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the Delhi CM Atishi. While addressing a gathering during the campaigning, he said that Atishi changed her father" by changing her surname from Marlena" to Singh". This Marlena (Atishi) became Singh. She changed her name. Arvind Kejriwal swore on his children not to align with the corrupt Congress. Marlena changed her father. This reflects the character of the Aam Aadmi Party," Bidhuri said. Earlier, he courted another controversy claiming that if the BJP is voted to power in Delhi assembly, it will build smooth roads like Priyanka Gandhis cheeks" in the constituency. Bidhuri made a reference to Lalu Yadavs remark on Hema Malini and roads in Bihar and said that the RJD could not make roads in the state like Hema Malinis cheeks", but the BJP would definitely build roads in Kalkaji like Priyanka Gandhis cheeks". We will build all roads in Kalkaji like the cheeks of Priyanka Gandhi. Lalu had said that he would build roads in Bihar like the cheeks of Hema Malini, he had lied. He could not. But I assure you that we will make all roads in Kalkaji like the cheeks of Priyanka Gandhi," he said. After his remark triggered a row, he took back his words. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Delhi Elections 2025 Voting for the Delhi polls will take place on February 5 in a single phase while the counting of votes will take place on February 8. As per the final electoral roll of Delhi, the national capital has 1,55,24,858 voters. The number increased by 1.09 per cent since the publication of the October 29, 2024, draft of electors. Delhi has 70 constituencies (58 General and 12 SC seats). Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 15:59 IST Arvind Kejriwal Scared, Will Blame EVMs For Defeat: BJP Slams AAP Chief's Voter Fraud Charge Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:50 IST BJP's Parvesh Verma has slammed Arvind Kejriwal for his "voter list discrepancies" charge on the Election Commission, and said that the AAP chief will "blame EVMs" for his "loss" in the polls. BJP's Parvesh Verma To Contest Against Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi Seat (File Image/PTI) BJP candidate from New Delhi Assembly constituency Parvesh Verma has hit back at opponent Arvind Kejriwal after the AAP chief alleged irregularities in the voter list. Verma said that Kejriwal, sensing defeat, has resorted to baseless accusations and diversionary tactics. related stories BJP Hits Back At Kejriwal Over the past five years, the number of voters in the New Delhi constituency has dropped from 1,46,000 to 1,04,000. This means 40,000 voters have been removed from the list. A total of 61,000 votes were deleted, while only 22,000 new voters were added. On average, 1,000 votes were removed from the list every month," Verma said. He took a dig at Kejriwal and said that the former Delhi Chief Minister will soon start blaming EVMs for his defeat in the polls. Kejriwal is scared. The fear of losing has gripped him. Thats why he is now using the voter list issue as an excuse. Soon, he will start blaming EVMs for his defeat," he said. It is clear that Kejriwal is aware of his declining popularity. His hold over the voters in this area has weakened, and to divert attention, he is making baseless accusations. The people of New Delhi are smart and will not be misled by such claims," he added. What Had Kejriwal Said? Kejriwal and Atishi met the Election Commissioners on Thursday and alleged that there is some wrongdoing" in the voter lists. Our main issues were that 5,500 votes are ready to be removed in New Delhi Assembly constituency between December 15 and January 7. The total votes are 1 lakh, and 5.5 per cent have been listed to be removed in 22 days. Obviously, there is some wrongdoing," he told the reporters. All those, on whose names applications were filed to remove their votes, denied that they never filed any such application. This means there is a big fraud going on," he added. Kejriwal alleged that the people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are being brought in to create fake votes". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We also told them that between Dec 15 and Jan 8, applications for 13,000 new votes have been filed in New Delhi Obviously, they are bringing people from UP and Bihar to create fake votes," Kejriwal alleged. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:50 IST BJP Holds Protests Near Kejriwal's Residence Over 'Fake' Voter Registrations Published By : PTI Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 18:06 IST Ahead of the Delhi elections on February 5, Kejriwal sparked another row when he accused the BJP of "manipulating" electoral rolls by registering "fake voters" from UP and Bihar. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal (PTI Image) The Delhi BJP held a protest on Friday against the AAP for allegedly making fake" claims about registration of voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the electoral rolls ahead of assembly polls. Hundreds of protesters holding placards like Purvanchal Virodhi Kejriwal" raised slogans against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, with some attempting to breach the security barricades near his residence. related stories Slogans such as Litti chokha khayenge, Kejriwal bhagayenge", Chhathi Maiya ki jai", and Purvanchal Virodhi Kejriwal murdabad" echoed during the protest. A protester, speaking to PTI, said, Purvanchalis have been called fake voters. This anger will not subside until we remove Kejriwal from here." Another protester added, He has humiliated us. During Anna Hazares movement, he used us and made us endure police lathis. And now, he is calling us fake voters." During the protest, the demonstrators attempted to breach security barricades and move closer to Kejriwals residence. However, the police used water cannons to disperse the crowd and prevented them from advancing further. According to police officials, more than 20 protesters were detained for protesting without valid permission. They were bundled into police buses and taken to different police stations," a senior police officer said. ALSO READ: Arvind Kejriwal Scared, Will Blame EVMs For Defeat: BJP Slams AAP Chiefs Voter Fraud Charge BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, Arvind Kejriwal has always insulted the Purvanchali community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made several objectionable statements, and now he has referred to them as fake voters. We will not forget this insult, and neither will the people of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. This betrayal will remain etched in the memory of Delhiites as well." Kejriwal on Thursday accused BJP of manipulating the electoral rolls by registering fake" voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in his constituency, New Delhi, ahead of assembly polls. In a formal complaint to the Election Commission, Kejriwal raised concerns over applications for the addition of 13,000 new voters between December 15 and January 8. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Addressing the media after lodging the complaint, Kejriwal said, Apparently many of these voters have been brought in from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other neighbouring states to create fake voter registrations. This manipulation undermines the election process." Kejriwals remarks sparked an immediate backlash from BJP with party leaders condemning his comments. Elections for the 70-member Delhi assembly are scheduled on February 5. Votes will be counted on February 8. First Published: January 10, 2025, 18:06 IST Delhi Elections: BJP Has What It Takes, But Is It Enough To Win? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 12:40 IST The BJP has an explosive CAG report that demolishes Arvind Kejriwals aam aadmi image over alleged splurging over his residence, which they have dubbed as Sheesh Mahal Delhi elections: A young supporter holds a caricature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Rohini area on January 5. (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) manifesto committee is brainstorming over what promises to make to the people of Delhi. The party has an explosive CAG report that demolishes Arvind Kejriwals aam aadmi" image over alleged splurging over his residence, which they have dubbed as Sheesh Mahal". The BJPs biggest vote-catcher, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also launched a scathing attack on the ruling AAP calling it AAP-da" or calamity. related stories The BJP has all it takes to win the Delhi elections on February 5, along with the fact the AAP has been in power for a really long time, which should go against it. Yet, questions remain. Theres a reason behind it. PM MODI, AAP-DA, SHEESH MAHAL: THE PERFECT MIX The manifesto committee has been flirting with the idea of announcing a womans scheme giving them Rs 2,500 each month an amount the Congress has promised. However, sources in the BJP say many want the leadership to cross the Rs 2,500-mark and have an edge over both the Congress and AAP. However, the decision is pending, they say. News18 has learnt that the BJP may announce free electricity of up to 300 units and free piped water to Delhi residents in its Sankalp Patra which will be released soon. Taking a leaf out of AAPs book, the BJP is learnt to be planning to provide free electricity of up to 500 units to religious places such as temples and gurdwaras. The BJP has meticulously used the leaked CAG report to hit where it hurts the most Kejriwals brand image which took years to build. An image of a commoner, who is from the working class, joined politics to change the polity of the country has been ruthlessly demolished by the BJP through consecutive press conferences and posting of videos, so much so that Sheesh Mahal started to trend on X. PM Modi led the attack, You will be pained to know that when people were fighting Covid, running around to get medicines and oxygen, their (AAPs) entire focus was on making Sheesh Mahal." The alleged corruption of the AAP leaders is now an election issue with the PM calling the party top brass kattar beiman". The AAP has been in power in Delhi since 2013, with a break. The anti-incumbency and unrealised promises such as tap water and clean Yamuna should be easy for the BJP to exploit. Also, what should help the BJP more is campaigning by PM Narendra Modi a vote-catcher, a man who India listens to. He recently said, Jabse maine aapda ka kaccha chittha khola hai, tabse ye aapda wale tilmila gaye hain ye log (since I started exposing these people, they have been in a panic)." All in all, come February 8, the BJP has enough reason to be confident. But its easier said than done. WHY BJP CANT BE FULLY CONFIDENT The last time the BJP had a CM face in Delhi was 2015, when they brought Kiran Bedi. The BJP faced defeat, and Bedi, too, lost from Krishna Nagar. Ever since the party stopped experimenting with the CM face and has resorted to Narendra Modis face a trend emulated in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh elections not so long ago. But Arvind Kejriwal, regardless of what the BJP might think, has nearly served a decade as the Chief Minister and that registers well with the voters. In the 2020 polls, the BJPs vote share was 38.51 per cent, while that of the AAP was 53.57 per cent. The massive gap of 15 per cent meant the BJP won just eight seats out of 70, ensuring an AAP sweep with 62 seats. Bridging this gap will not just be a tough call for the BJP, but for any political opponent. Despite the BJPs mega outreach programme to AAPs two core voter bases auto drivers and slum dwellers insiders say they continue to prefer the AAP. Initially, the idea was to swing 30-40 per cent of Delhis 93,000 auto drivers towards the BJP to help increase its vote share. But now, insiders say, that doesnt seem to be happening. Similarly, PM Modi may have tried to reach out by handing out 1,645 flats to poor slum dwellers, but that mood does not seem to reflect in other slums where there have been no beneficiaries. What makes our job tough is the cosmopolitan nature of Delhi and the unique way they vote. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, these very voters en masse voted for the BJP, giving us seven out of seven MPs. Then came the 2020 assembly elections and they voted for the AAP. Its not about slums or posh areas Delhi voters are transactional. So we have to sell a different BJP for the Lok Sabha polls and another for assembly, both customised to their needs," a BJP leader involved in the day-to-day matter of Delhi elections told News18, requesting anonymity. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amid the frenzy is the X factor Purvanchalis. The AAP alleged that the BJP registered fake voters from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighbouring states", handing over a political opportunity to its rival BJP, who has hit back accusing the AAP of insulting voters". Meanwhile, the dance of democracy continues. First Published: January 10, 2025, 12:38 IST Uddhav Thackeray Begins Preparations For Mumbai Civic Body Polls, Cadre Wants Sena UBT To Go Solo Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 14:57 IST Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections: A growing sentiment among party leaders and grassroots workers is that the Shiv Sena UBT should contest the BMC elections independently, breaking away from the MVA, particularly the Congress, to preserve its identity and assert its strength Uddhav Thackeray is set to conclude reviews of six south Mumbai constituencies on Friday. (PTI) In the aftermath of the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction has shifted its focus to the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. While the assembly results saw the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Sena UBT, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) and Congress, suffer a major defeat, Thackeray is determined to leave the past behind and reclaim the Senas stronghold in Mumbai. related stories A growing sentiment among party leaders and grassroots workers is that the Shiv Sena UBT should contest the BMC elections independently, breaking away from the MVA, particularly the Congress, to preserve its identity and assert its strength. Over the past month, Thackeray has been conducting detailed reviews of the partys organisational structure across Mumbai. He has held multiple meetings with branch heads, sub-divisional leaders, and assembly organisers to assess the partys readiness. Feedback collected by party observers, who were deployed to monitor the citys constituencies, highlights a clear demand for contesting the elections on the partys own terms. Many believe the friction between the Congress and Sena UBT during the assembly polls over seat-sharing left a sour taste, prompting workers to advocate for a standalone approach. Thackerays rigorous reviews include a ward-wise analysis of voter sentiments and the partys strength. Meetings held at Matoshree have revealed a strong push from local leaders to fight independently. They argue that an alliance risks diluting the Senas core identity, which has been synonymous with Mumbais political landscape for decades. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite this growing consensus, the final decision lies with Thackeray, who is carefully weighing all options. He is set to conclude reviews of six south Mumbai constituencies, a critical step towards finalising the partys strategy, on Friday. As the battle for Mumbais civic body intensifies, all major parties are gearing up for what promises to be a high-stakes election. For the Shiv Sena (UBT), the BMC elections are not just about political power, but also about reasserting the partys dominance in the city. Whether the decision is to go solo or remain part of the alliance, the Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray is preparing to fight with full force, determined to make its mark in what is being seen as a defining moment for the partys future. First Published: January 10, 2025, 14:56 IST Is Meta Pivoting To The Right With Its New Content Policy, Whats Changed For Facebook, Instagram? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 13:07 IST Meta is removing independent fact checkers for Facebook and Instagram and replacing them with user-generated community notes where commenting on the accuracy of posts is left to users. The sweeping changes come just ahead of Donald Trumps inauguration Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged that Meta's new policy could create new problems for content moderation. (Photo: AP file) In a sweeping change that could alter the way content is moderated online, Meta is removing the third-party fact checkers for Facebook and Instagram and will replace them with user-generated community notes" where commenting on the accuracy of posts is left to users similar to Elon Musks X. In a video post, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said third-party moderators were too politically biased" and it was time to get back to our roots around free expression". related stories The changes come just before Donald Trump takes charges as President next week. And Zuckerberg seeks to improve relations with Trump and other Republicans who had lambasted him in the past for the alleged censorship of right-wing voices. What Are The Changes In Content You Will See According to the current fact-checking programme, which was introduced in 2016, posts that appear to be false or misleading are referred to independent organisations to verify their authenticity and credibility. The programme was lauded as a step towards restoring trust, and to curb the influence of viral hoaxes and disinformation campaigns. As per the new content moderation policy, posts flagged as inaccurate can have labels attached to them offering viewers more information, and be moved lower in users feeds. That will now be replaced in the US first" by community notes. Meta says it has no immediate plans" to remove third-party fact checkers in the United Kingdom or the European Union. The new community notes system has been copied from X, which introduced it after being bought and renamed by Elon Musk. Metas blog post said it would also undo the mission creep" of rules and policies. Its not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms," it added. It also plans to adjust its automated systems that scan for policy violations, which it says have resulted in too much content being censored that shouldnt have been." The systems will now be focused on checking only for illegal and high-severity" violations such as terrorism, child sexual exploitation, drugs, fraud and scams. Other concerns will have to be reported by users before the company evaluates them. Meta also published sweeping changes to its Hateful Conduct" Community Standard. The policy, formerly known as the Hate Speech Community Standard, is now written to specifically allow more hateful content targeting transgender people, immigrants, and womenincluding cisgender women. On self-harm and depressive content, Meta clarified that there would be no change to how we treat content that encourages suicide, self-injury, and eating disorders". How Is The New Policy Being Viewed? Metas Chief of Global Affairs Joel Kaplan told Fox that Metas partnerships with third-party fact checkers were well intentioned at the outset but theres just been too much political bias in what they choose to fact check and how." Too much harmless content gets censored, too many people find themselves wrongly locked up in Facebook jail," and we are often too slow to respond when they do," wrote Kaplan on Tuesday. Zuckerberg has, however, acknowledged that the new policy could create new problems for content moderation. The reality is this is a tradeoff," he said in the video. It means that were going to catch less bad stuff, but well also reduce the number of innocent peoples posts and accounts that we accidentally take down." Meanwhile, fact-checking organisation Full Fact which participates in Facebooks programme for verifying posts in Europe said it refutes allegations of bias" made against its profession. The bodys chief executive, Chris Morris, described the change as a disappointing and a backwards step that risks a chilling effect around the world," as quoted by the BBC. This type of wisdom-of-the-crowd approach can be really valuable," said Valerie Wirtschafter, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, as quoted by TIME. But doing so without proper testing and viewing its viability around scale is really, really irresponsible. Metas already having a hard time dealing with bad content as it is, and its going to get even worse." According to a report by 404 media, leaked internal discussions reveal widespread dissatisfaction among employees, who describe the new rules to associate LGBTQ+ identities with mental illness" as unacceptable" and appalling." Reports also suggest that Google Searches on how to delete Facebook and Instagram are surging. There has reportedly been reduced engagement on Facebook and Instagram ever since the change in policy. How Meta Is Shifting To The Right Meta announced on Tuesday the appointment Republican Joel Kaplan as its Chief of Global Affairs, replacing Sir Nick Clegg. Just one day earlier, Meta announced Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White would join its board, along with two other new directors. Kaplan acknowledged on Tuesday that the announcement is directly related to the changing administration. No question that there has been a change over the last four years. We saw a lot of societal and political pressure, all in the direction of more content moderation, more censorship, and weve got a real opportunity. Now, weve got a new administration, and a new president coming in who are big defenders of free expression, and that makes a difference," he told CNN. Meta has also said it will donate $1 million to Trumps inaugural fund, and that Zuckerberg wants to take an active role" in tech policy discussions. The Real Facebook Oversight Board an outside accountability organisation, whose name is a play on the companys official group, comprised of academics, lawyers and civil rights advocates including early Facebook investor Roger McNamee said the policy changes represent Meta going full MAGA." Zuckerberg was among several CEOs who have travelled to Trumps Florida estate Mar-Lago to meet with the incoming president, in November. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Not just after the elections, Zuckerberg has been attacking the Joe Biden government over censorship. In August, he criticised the Biden administrations response to Covid-19 misinformation, alleging that the government had pressured the company to censor" content. In late August, Zuckerberg allowed a personal threat from Trump to pass by with no response. After Trump released a book of photographs in which he said Zuckerberg will spend the rest of his life in prison" if he does anything illegal" to influence the presidential election, Meta declined to comment, as mentioned by NBC News. First Published: January 10, 2025, 12:58 IST Where Is Iran Planning To Relocate Its Capital From Tehran, Whats The Strategy? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:36 IST Iran is planning to relocate its capital to the Makran region in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province, as it offers strategic advantages due to its proximity to the Gulf of Oman. The area is an untapped treasure for Iran, and could become a commercial and... Read More Opponents say the relocation plan pose logistical difficulties and could cause Tehrans economy to collapse. (Photo: AP File) Due to overpopulation, water scarcity and electricity shortages, Iran is considering a plan to relocate its capital city Tehran to the southern coastal region of Makran, a government spokeswoman has recently said. The new capital will certainly be in the south, specifically in the Makran region," Fatemeh Mohajerani stated, as mentioned by Tehran Times. related stories She stressed that relocating the capital was not an urgent issue but an in-dept analysis is crucial due to Tehrans growing population and environmental challenges. Mohajerani highlighted Tehrans growing ecological pressures, including water scarcity, and announced the formation of two councils to examine the feasibility of the move and develop a sea-based economy in the Makran region. Where Does Makran Stand From Irans Strategic Point Of View? The Makran region, located in Irans Sistan and Baluchestan Province, offers strategic advantages due to its proximity to the Gulf of Oman. This area is an untapped treasure for Iran, with the potential to transform into a significant commercial and maritime hub, enhancing Irans trade capabilities and reducing the economic burden on Tehran. Alongside sea-oriented development, the development of Makran is a priority for the current government," announced Irans Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. The Makran coast, historically significant since the Achaemenid Empire, presents an opportunity for economic diversification. The region boasts over 1,000 km of coastline, with the Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone being developed since 2003, aiming to become an international trade corridor connecting Central Asia to the Indian Ocean. How Much Will It Cost? President Masoud Pezeshkian has advocated for the relocation of capital citing imbalance between Tehrans financial resources and expenditures as unsustainable. Transporting raw materials from the south to the center, processing them, and returning them south for export drains our competitive capacity," he said last week, as quoted by Iran International. However, conservative journalist and critic Ali Gholhaki has criticised the proposal. Rebuilding Azadi Stadium takes 18 months and costs 19 trillion rials ($23.75 million); how much time and money does relocating the capital require? Think over a century and hundreds of billions of dollars!" Gholhaki wrote on X, calling the idea unrealistic" and risky". Major Challenges In Tehran Tehrans population could grow by 20 million in the next 30 years, potentially making city management nearly impossible, according to a report from the Iranian presidency. Air pollution remains one of Tehrans biggest challenges, with experts warning it has reached critical levels. The Health Ministry reported in 2022 that air pollution caused 20,800 deaths nationwide annually, with 6,400 in Tehran alone. Tehran is also located in a high-risk earthquake zone, surrounded by active fault lines. Experts warn that a major quake could threaten millions of lives. About 60% of the citys buildings do not comply with earthquake safety standards, according to Tehran municipalitys statement in 2021. Moreover, scientists from Irans Construction and Housing Research Center found that Tehran sinks by an average of 25 cm (10 inches) each year. The Centers 2018 study, based on satellite images from 2003 to 2017, showed the city center and northwest rural areas are affected. And Tehran faces significant water shortages due to climate change and mismanagement. Experts said the citys reservoirs are nearly empty, with Tehran consuming 25% of the countrys drinking water. Talks Of Relocation Not New According to Iranian media, discussions about the relocation of the capital have been ongoing since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 but were derailed due to economic constraints. The idea gained momentum during Mahmoud Ahmadinejads presidency, primarily due to concerns over Tehrans vulnerability to earthquakes. In the mid-2010s, President Hassan Rouhani revived the discussion, stressing the citys unsustainable growth and mounting environmental challenges. But opponents of the relocation plan are concerned about the high costs and logistical difficulties, and have warned that it could cause Tehrans economy to collapse, with the damage potentially taking decades to repair. History Of Tehran Tehran was chosen the capital of Iran by Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar dynasty in 1796, in order to remain within close reach of Irans territories in the Caucasus, before being separated from Iran as a result of the Russo-Persian Wars. The capital has been moved several times throughout the history, and Tehran is the 32nd national capital of Iran. It was a seat of the Qajars and Pahlavis, the two last imperial dynasties of Iran. It is home to many historical places such as royal complexes of Golestan, Sadabad, and Niavaran. The most famous landmarks of the city include the Azadi Tower, a memorial built during the Pahlavi period, and the Milad Tower, the worlds 17th tallest freestanding structure, which was built in 2007. Tabiat Bridge, which was completed in 2014, is considered the third contemporary symbol of the city. Large scale demolition and rebuilding began in the 1920s, and Tehran became a destination for the mass migrations from all over Iran since the 20th century. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The majority of the people of Tehran are Persian-speaking people, and roughly 99% of the population understand and speak Persian; but there are also large populations of other Iranian ethnicities in the city such as Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Lurs, and Kurds who speak Persian as their second language. In terms of economy, Iran is dominated by the oil industry controlled from Tehran by the national government. At the beginning of the 21st century, oil accounted for four-fifths of Irans foreign exchange income. The country owned about one-tenth of the world reserves of crude oil, and its natural gas reserves were exceeded only by those of the former USSR. First Published: January 10, 2025, 10:37 IST Why Donald Trump Will Decide How Mars Soil Samples Reach Earth | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 18:52 IST In late 2026, then-President Donald Trump, not NASA, will decide the approach, with key differences in technology impacting cost and time considerations NASA has unveiled a new strategy for the Mars Sample Return Program. (AP File) NASAs Perseverance Rover has collected numerous soil samples on Mars. While its work continues, details regarding the samples return to Earth remain limited. The program will likely involve a two-phase approach. First, a lander will touch down on Mars to retrieve the samples from Perseverance and transfer them to an orbiting spacecraft. Second, a European Space Agency vehicle will transport these samples to Earth. However, the execution of NASAs role depends on a decision to be made not by NASA itself, but by the then US President, Donald Trump. NASAs new strategy revealed related stories NASA has unveiled a new strategy for the Mars Sample Return Program. In the planning phase, the agency is exploring two distinct methods to encourage competition, innovation, and cost and time efficiency. Cost and time will be big factors Eventually, NASA must commit to a single method. The final decision will rest with then US President Donald Trump in the latter half of 2026, not NASA itself. The key difference between the two methods lies in their technology, making cost and time critical factors. Why has NASA chosen two options NASA Administrator Bill Nelson explained the rationale behind this approach. By developing two potential routes, NASA aims to significantly reduce the programs cost and duration. Analysing these samples could unlock secrets not only about Mars but also the universe and, ultimately, life on Earth. Choose from 11 studies In September 2024, the agency received 11 studies from the NASA community and industry, each outlining potential methods for transporting samples from Mars to Earth. The Mars Sample Return Strategic Review Team was tasked with evaluating these studies and providing recommendations for the campaign. The first option has already been used NASA will analyse and evaluate two methods for sample collection on Mars. The first option leverages existing methods, including Martian entry, surface landing, and the sky crane landing system design techniques previously employed for Curiosity and Perseverance Rover deployment. This will be the change in the second option top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The second option explores new commercial capabilities. Both options involve the Mars Ascent Vehicle, but with a crucial modification: the spacecrafts solar panels will be replaced with a radioisotope power system to provide energy during Martian dust storms. The Orbiter Sample Container will hold only 30 sample tubes containing samples collected by the Perseverance Rover. NASA had initially considered a single-mission approach for sample retrieval. However, after careful consideration, a multi-part mission emerged as the more effective strategy. A significant challenge lies in landing the Mars Ascent Vehicle safely on Mars and ensuring a precise launch from the Martian surface. Ultimately, the Trump administration, responsible for approving the programs budget, will determine the chosen option. While the samples are expected to return to Earth within the next decade, the exact timeline remains undetermined. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 18:52 IST Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved an agreement between Ukraine and Germany for cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and higher education. Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, announced the decision on Telegram after Friday's cabinet meeting. The agreement, signed on October 22, 2024, in Kyiv, outlines collaboration in these fields, including expert exchanges for scientific and technical programs, coordinated research or development initiatives, joint participation in international projects, creation and shared use of research and innovation infrastructure, organization of joint scientific events, and support for higher education programs and institutional partnerships between both countries. Why Taiwan Wants To Recruit Foreigners Into Army, How China Is Preparing For Invasion | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:57 IST The dearth of soldiers has raised concerns about Taiwans failure to effectively defend itself, especially in the light of Chinas growing claims over the island. In 2024, there were more than 3,000 Chinese military planes that flew into Taiwan The main reason behind Taiwan's military shortage is its low birth rate, which is the slowest in Asia except for South Korea. (Illustration/Reuters) Taiwan is considering recruiting foreigners into its armed forces due to the shortage of manpower and increasing threats from China. The proposal is still being discussed and is not yet at an advanced stage. The proposal has sparked debate among lawmakers, security experts, and citizens at large, raising questions about Taiwans strategic defense priorities. related stories What Is Taiwans Military Strength? At present, Taiwans armed forces operate at 80% capacity, which represents a drastic fall from the 89% strength level that existed in 2020, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). The dearth of soldiers has raised concerns about the islands failure to effectively defend itself, especially in the light of Chinas growing military and its historical claim over Taiwan. Alexander Huang, a security expert and professor at Tamkang University, said, According to the Legislative Yuan Budget Center, the volunteer forces manpower was 12,000 fewer from January 2022 to June 2024," as per RFA. Data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Military Balance 2022 report revealed that Taiwans active military personnel stands at 169,000, supported by about 1.66 million reservists. Meanwhile, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army has over 2 million active soldiers and 500,000 reservists. Thus, the concept of hiring foreign fighters to join the ranks of the military is viewed as one way of addressing this problem. Some lawmakers and security experts have suggested that a foreign legion" could be formed to fill the manpower gap, in which foreigners could join the ranks of Taiwan in exchange for citizenship or other benefits. Why Taiwan Is Facing Military Shortage The main reasons behind the military shortage is Taiwans low birth rate, which is the slowest in Asia except for South Korea. Thus, only fewer young males are available for enlistment in the military to fill the manpower deficit. Other reason is lucrative salaries and benefits that companies offer to civilians, making military a less popular career option for youngsters. It should be noted that Taiwans military was on a voluntary basis, and at the beginning of the 2000s, the Taiwanese army transformed into an all-volunteer force by making the duration of mandatory service reduce from two years to only four months by 2013. Due to the rising military pressure from China and the growing dearth of eligible recruits, Taiwan reintroduced the one-year mandatory conscription in 2024. However, experts say the measure does very little to fill the gap in critical combat units, which require special training and skills. How Many Foreign Workers In Taiwan? According to official statistics, Taiwan has around 750,000 foreign workers among its 950,000 foreign residents. Most of them are from Southeast Asian nations: Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. David Spencer, chief executive of the Taiwan Policy Centre, an independent think tank, told RFA, There will doubtless be many foreigners who have settled down in Taiwan and made a life for themselves here and who, in the event of an invasion, would be willing to take up arms to defend their adopted homeland." Vietnam, which last fought a war in the 1980s, has about 300,000 citizens residing in Taiwan. Taiwans population is expected to rapidly age over the next five years; currently, more than 20% of the population is over the age of 65. By 2060, the elderly population will encompass more than 41.4% of the population, as per the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). However, there have been reports of human rights violations with foreign workers in Taiwan, which has damaged its image. The US States has been Taiwans staunchest supporter, but this could prove to be a sore point in Washingtons approach to regional capitals if relations deteriorate between Taiwan and Southeast Asian nations over human rights violations. Escalating Threats From China Chinas military launched a record number of warplanes around Taiwan in 2024 as it prepares to launch full-scale invasion. Political experts believe Chinas harassment has taken a toll on Taiwans resources. China launched a one-day blockade-style military exercise around the island just days after Taiwan President Lai Ching-tes National Day speech on October 10, 2024. China also held live-fire air and sea drills near Niushan island off the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian the same month. Since August 2022, China has held at least four blockade-style military exercises around Taiwan and each exercise has served as a response to high-level political exchanges between Taiwan and the US or important speeches delivered by Taiwans president. Xi Jinpings determination to annex Taiwan under the garb of reunification" is no secret. He has publicly promised to bring it under Communist party (CCP) control, subsumed into the Chinese motherland, by force, if necessary, on multiple occasions including as recently as his 2025 New Year address to the nation. In order to achieve that, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has launched a series of harassment and intimidation from weather balloons to aircraft carriers, legal and cyber warfare, disinformation campaigns and weaponization of diplomatic and trade relationships. A former head of Taiwanese armed forces, Admiral Lee Hsi-min, has categorised PLAs tactics into four types: Intimidatory" tactics included grey zone warfare such as daily incursions into Taiwans air defence identification zone (ADIZ), coercive" tactics could be a blockade, punitive" attacks included missile bombardments, and conquest" was a full-scale invasion, as mentioned in a Guardian report. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last week, the undersea communications cables to Taiwan were cut or damaged, allegedly by Chinese ships. Breaking down communications is one key element experts expect would be part of an attack. About grey-zone warfare, 1,727 Chinese military planes flew into Taiwans de facto ADIZ in 2022, double the previous years total. In 2023, it was a similar number, heavily concentrated during military drills launched in April and September in purported retaliation to what it called Taiwans separatist activities" including a meeting between then president Tsai Ing-wen and senior US officials. In 2024, there were more than 3,000. First Published: January 10, 2025, 16:55 IST Out For A Jog, 14-Year-Old Hit By Speeding Jaguar In Greater Noida, Critical Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 19:42 IST As per the complaint lodged by the police, the victim, identified as Neeraj (14), was on his way for a morning jog when the speeding car hit him from behind at around 6 am. The impact left Neeraj with severe head and chest injuries. (Image: X) In a tragic incident, a teenager boy was severely injured after he was rammed by a speeding luxury Jaguar car in Uttar Pradeshs Greater Noida. The accident took place on Thursday near the Stellar Jeevan Society. As per the complaint lodged by the police, the victim, identified as Neeraj (14), was on his way for a morning jog when the speeding car hit him from behind at around 6 am. related stories As per the complaint, Neeraj was jogging on the service lane near the Jeevan Stellar society when the speeding Jaguar (Reg number- UP16CH9861) hit him. However, the driver of the car fled the spot immediately after the accident. : Jaguar XE (UP16CH9861) 14 , pic.twitter.com/KbIGRAPpo2 Greater Noida West (@GreaterNoidaW) January 9, 2025 The impact left Neeraj with severe head and chest injuries. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he remains in critical condition. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The victims father filed a complaint at the Bisrakh police station, saying that the car was being driven recklessly and at high speed, leading to the accident. As per the police, they have traced the driver and taken the vehicle into custody. A case has been registered, and further legal proceedings are underway. Location : Greater Noida, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 18:04 IST Class 12 Student Detained For Bomb Threats To 23 Delhi Schools, Wanted To Skip Exams Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:20 IST Delhi schools have received a spate of bomb threats in the recent past. All of them have turned out to be hoax after investigation. Delhi Police have detained a student. Delhi school hoax bomb threats (PTI Image) Days after a series of bomb threats put the Delhi Police on alert, a Class 12 student was detained for his alleged involvement in the threat emails, which later turned hoax, to schools in the national capital, sources said on Friday. Around 10 educational institutes received bomb threats on Thursday, the latest in the series. related stories It was found during the investigation that the detained student sent out the threat emails to schools to avoid sitting for school exams. According to the officials, he sent bomb threats at least six times and marked different schools each time except his own. He always tagged multiple schools on the email to avoid suspicion falling on him. In this process, he sent the email to 23 schools at once, officials said. Officials said that he did not want to take the exam and therefore plotted a plan to issue hoax bomb threats to schools, which he thought would get the exams cancelled. Several political leaders, including the Delhi Ministers, had questioned the Delhi Police for the inability to contain the bomb threats to schools and the deteriorating law and order situation in the city. Chief Minister Atishi, former CM Arvind Kejriwal, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had slammed the Delhi Police and Centre over the repeated bomb threats that disrupted education, compelling students to be rushed back to their homes. At least 40 Delhi schools, including DPS RK Puram and GD Goenka School in Paschim Vihar, had received bomb threat emails on December 9 last year, in which the sender demanded $30,000 as ransom. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Similar emails targeted more than 30 schools on December 13 and 14. Since May 2024, over 50 bomb threat emails have also been sent to hospitals and airports across Delhi. Last month, Delhi Police revealed that the bomb threat sent to Venkateshwar Global School in November was orchestrated by its own students. Two siblings were found responsible for the email, as they wanted to postpone their exams. First Published: January 10, 2025, 10:41 IST How Narendra Modi Took Risks To Reach Godhra in 2002: Have To Be Above Emotions Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:19 IST I reached Godhra and I saw the painful scenes thereso many dead bodies. I am also a human...But I was on such a post (Chief Minister), that I must be above my emotions," said PM Narendra Modi, adding, "After serial blasts in 2008, I visited... Read More PM Narendra Modi described the 2002 Gujarat elections in December that year as his biggest test. (YouTube) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said seeing the scenes in Godhra in 2002 caused him pain, but he chose to be above his emotions as he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. In a podcast with Nikhil Kamath, Modi also narrated how he had taken risks to reach Godhra, as well as visit hospitals when serial bomb blasts had rocked Gujarat in 2008. I am not a VIP, I am a common manI said I will give in writing that I will be responsible for whatever happens," Modi said about the events of February 27, 2002 when only a single-engine helicopter was available to fly him to Godhra and security agencies advised against it. I reached Godhra and I saw the painful scenes thereso many dead bodies. I am also a human, whatever had to happen to me did happen. But I was on such a post (Chief Minister), that I must be above my emotions and natural tendencies," Modi said in the podcast, which was aired on Friday. related stories The Sabarmati Express carrying karsewaks and pilgrims from Ayodhya to Gujarat was put on fire at the Godhra railway station, killing 59 people. On February 24, 2002, I became MLA for first time and on February 27, 2002, I entered the state assembly for the first time. Same day, the news from GodhraI was in the assembly, I became worried. I said I want to go to Godhra," PM Modi said. #PMModiPodcast | I took a single-engine chopper of ONGC despite the risk and reached Godhra. I saw those painful scenes, I controlled my emotions as i was the CM: PM Modi speaks on GodhraCourtesy: Narendra Modi Youtube#PMModi #NikhilKamath pic.twitter.com/LEyWui0Ihl News18 (@CNNnews18) January 10, 2025 Modi said that on the posts he has been, CM earlier and now PM, he has to remain above his emotions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There were serial blasts at five places in Gujarat in 2008 when I was the CM. I went to Police Control Room although my security people had said dont go there. I came and sat in the car and said I will go to hospitals too though my security said hospitals were vulnerable too as bombs had exploded at hospitals too. I said jo hoga woh hoga, mein jaunga (whatever may happen, I will go). I see it as a responsibility," Modi said. He also described the 2002 Gujarat elections in December that year as his biggest test. In those elections, I did not see television when results were comingaround noon outside the CM house, I heard sounds of dhol. I had told people not to give me any information till noon. Then my operator told me I was ahead by two-thirds majority," Modi said. First Published: January 10, 2025, 16:15 IST In Times Of Crisis, We Are Not Neutral But In Favour Of Peace: PM Modi On Nikhil Kamaths Podcast Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 18:36 IST He said the world trusts India because every Indian, even outside the country, aspires to see the country become a developed nation by 2047 PM speaks on the podcast People With The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath | By WTF. (Image: Screengrab) Appearing on his first podcast which aired on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is not neutral and is in favour of peace when it comes to conflict situations across the world. He was speaking on People With The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath | By WTF. The PM made the remark when he was asked about the ongoing war situations in different parts of the world. related stories In the podcast, when Nikhil Kamath asked if Indians should be worried about what is happening, Prime Minister Modi said, In times of crisis, we have continuously said that we are not neutral, and we are in favour of peace." He said the world trusts India because every Indian, even outside the country, aspires to see the country become a developed nation by 2047. The world trusts us because there is no duplicity in us. Whatever we say, we say clearly," the PM said. I am in favour of peace, and I will support whatever efforts are made towards it. I tell this to Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Palestine, and Israel. They have faith in me, that what I am saying is right." PM Modi also shared a personal anecdote about being denied a visa by the United States, reflecting on how it impacted him and the nations pride. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I was an MLA when the American government refused to give me a visa. As an individual, going to America was not a big thing; I had visited before also. But I felt the disrespect of an elected government and the country, and there was a dilemma in my mind as to what was happening," he said. The Prime Minister recalled making the visa rejection public during a press conference. That day, I held a press conference, where I said that the American government had rejected my visa. I also said that I see an India, where the world will stand in a queue for visas. This is my statement in 2005, and today we are standing in 2025. So, I can see that now, the time is of India," PM Modi added. First Published: January 10, 2025, 18:36 IST J&K Woman Steals Gold And Cash From Husband To Run Away With Lover She Met On Facebook Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:07 IST The husband, who lodged a police complaint, accusing the wife of stealing valuables worth over Rs 5 lakh, said that her lover had misled his wife Woman marrying her first husband (L), then ran away to marry another man from Rae Bareli (R) | Image/X A married woman from Jammu and Kashmir allegedly stole gold and cash from her husband before leaving him to run away with her lover from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, whom she met on Facebook. The husband, who lodged a police complaint, accusing the wife of stealing valuables worth over Rs 5 lakh, said that her lover had misled his wife through social media and took her away under false promises. related stories An initial probe into the matter revealed that Abiral, from J&Ks Srinagar, married Vinod Kumar from Mohali, Punjab, in 2017. Later, she came into a relationship with Faizan Ahmed from Rae Bareli. She left her husband in December 2024 to run away with her lover and marry him, according to the complaint. The police have launched an investigation into the incident. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When the husband came to know about their marriage, he visited the Rae Bareli police station on Tuesday and filed a complaint, accusing Ahmed of misleading his wife into leaving and stealing valuables worth lakhs, reported India Today. The police officials said that the woman wished to stay with her lover. The case is currently under investigation, they added. Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:06 IST Kerala Lottery Results Today: Nirmal NR-414 WINNERS For January 10, 2025; Full List Here! Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 15, 2025, 09:06 IST Kerala Lottery Results: Here's FULL LIST of winning numbers for Nirmal NR-414 lucky draw for Friday, January 10, 2025. Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-414 Results: The first prize winner of Nirmal NR-414 will get Rs 70 Lakh. (Image: Shutterstock) KERALA LOTTERY NIRMAL NR-414 RESULT ON FRIDAY, 10.1.2025, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Nirmal NR-414 lucky draw for Friday, January 3. The first prize winner will receive Rs 70 lakh, while the second and third prize winners will be awarded Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively. Check the Full List of Winning Numbers below. ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Results: Fifty Fifty FF-125 WINNERS For January 15, 2025; First Prize Rs 1 Crore! related stories NIRMAL NR-414 LOTTERY: WINNING NUMBERS WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE NA 525727 NB 525727 NC 525727 ND 525727 NF 525727 NG 525727 NH 525727 NJ 525727 NK 525727 NL 525727 NM 525727 WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKH IS NE 525727 (VAIKKOM) Agent Name: KRISHNA KUMAR M Agency No.: K 7683 WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS NL 832973 (CHITTUR) Agent Name: KANNAPPAN V Agency No.: P 4507 WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKH ARE NA 628675 (IDUKKI) NB 748027 (PAYYANUR) NC 109598 (ADOOR) ND 419309 (MALAPPURAM) NE 516445 (MANANTHAVADY) NF 150867 (ERNAKULAM) NG 835648 (CHERTHALA) NH 851330 (KATTAPPANA) NJ 752440 (GURUVAYOOR) NK 264590 (KANNUR) NL 220422 (PALAKKAD) NM 826407 (THRISSUR) WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE 0288 0500 0535 0946 1343 1665 2490 3076 3537 3698 5452 6121 6728 6782 8337 8563 8784 8868 WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE 0469 0489 1184 1526 2334 2811 3075 3116 3455 3469 3520 4150 4456 4896 4965 4984 5268 5276 5304 5753 5807 6399 6520 7029 7129 7362 7845 7933 8185 8259 8432 8997 9362 9526 9536 9646 WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE 0060 0122 0181 0420 0573 0620 0846 1217 1298 1323 1553 1815 1829 1932 1964 2147 2225 2527 2709 2766 2895 2967 3073 3230 3501 3593 3596 3633 3694 4053 4068 4091 4257 4329 4362 4387 4604 4614 4645 4749 4974 5007 5224 5292 5424 5473 5581 5649 5760 5876 6001 6504 6986 7020 7052 7083 7194 7411 7484 7572 7634 7694 7715 7775 7802 7923 7976 7995 8030 8250 8285 8531 8619 9224 9240 9484 9809 9825 9848 WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE 0066 0147 0186 0188 0305 0597 0613 0742 0784 1152 1182 1198 1639 1691 1753 1762 1804 1872 2043 2326 2329 2500 2505 2636 2637 2712 2756 2776 3065 3140 3196 3228 3379 3425 3600 3657 3778 3816 3894 3955 3976 4015 4069 4135 4210 4272 4345 4462 4464 4548 4611 4666 4680 4682 4790 4793 4849 4858 4873 4908 5074 5077 5209 5383 5416 5544 5575 5591 5810 6043 6161 6199 6242 6280 6308 6323 6335 6348 6418 6567 6606 6651 6673 6722 6727 6813 6848 6849 6851 7041 7284 7428 7478 7536 7640 7876 7883 7885 8014 8148 8228 8236 8313 8417 8472 8716 8925 8947 8948 8959 8999 9042 9109 9114 9117 9138 9178 9228 9287 9620 9696 9877 NIRMAL NR-414 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakh 2nd Prize: Rs 10 Lakh 3rd Prize: Rs 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs 5,000 5th Prize: Rs 1,000 6th Prize: Rs 500 7th Prize: Rs 100 Consolation Prize: Rs 8,000 HOW TO CHECK NIRMAL NR-413 RESULTS? To get the NIRMAL NR-413 results, go to the official Kerala Lottery website. Visit the Kerala Government Gazette office to verify the winning numbers. Contact the Kerala Lottery Department directly for reliable and accurate information. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY? Compare your ticket number with the results that were published in the Kerala Government Gazette. You can be eligible for a prize if your ticket number corresponds with the results that were declared. The Kerala Lottery Office in Thiruvananthapuram is where winners can pick up their rewards within 30 days of the announcement. Winners must provide their tickets and legitimate identity for verification to claim their prize. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY? It is necessary to have a self-certification and a copy of the winning ticket with both sides displayed. A Gazette officials signature is required on passport-sized photos. It is necessary to supply a photocopy of the participants signed PAN card. Before submitting, complete the online prize money receiving form and affix a revenue stamp. It is necessary to produce identification documents like a voter ID, ration card, Aadhaar card and PAN card. HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS? Visit keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net, the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department. To view the Nirmal Lottery NR-414 results, click the link. The results section will show the winning numbers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On the webpage, look for the download link. To view the lottery results in PDF format, click the link. Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India First Published: January 10, 2025, 09:00 IST Maha Kumbh 2025: Yogi Adityanath Inaugurates 'Maa Ki Rasoi' In Prayagraj, To Offer Full Meal For Rs 9 Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 23:59 IST The community kitchen is operated by the Nandi Sewa Sansthan at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital and for people from the economically weaker section According to the Nandi Sewa Sansthan, 'Maa Ki Rasoi' will prove useful for those who come to SRN Hospital for the treatment of their loved ones. (X/@Yogiadityanath) Ahead of the beginning of the Maha Kumbh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday inaugurated Maa Ki Rasoi, a community kitchen initiative, offering a full meal for just Rs 9. The community kitchen is operated by the Nandi Sewa Sansthan at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital and for people from the economically weaker section, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement. related stories On his second day in Prayagraj, Adityanath visited the hospital, where he inaugurated Maa Ki Rasoi and reviewed the arrangements made and personally served food to the attendees, it said. "The Nandi Sewa Sansthan has launched this initiative to support economically weaker sections of society. Under this program, people can enjoy a full meal for just Rs 9. The meal includes dal, four rotis, vegetables, rice, salad, and a dessert," the government said. After the inauguration, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta guided the CM to the kitchen, where meals are prepared. There, the CM was briefed about the quality of the food, hygiene standards and other arrangements. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to the Nandi Sewa Sansthan, Maa Ki Rasoi will prove useful for those who come to SRN Hospital for the treatment of their loved ones and are worried about food. Maa Ki Rasoi, a fully AC, hygienic and modern restaurant, has been prepared by Nandi Seva Sansthan in an area of about 2000 square feet in the SRN campus. About 150 people will be able to sit together and eat at a time, it added. Location : Prayagraj, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 23:59 IST Mumbai BEST Bus Crash: Court Denies Bail To Accused Driver Sanjay More Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 17:26 IST A Mumbai court on Friday denied bail to the driver of the BEST bus involved in the December 9 accident in Kurla West which resulted in the deaths of seven persons and injured more than 40. Mumbai: Security personnel and other people gather at the site after a BEST undertaking's bus rammed into pedestrians as well as vehicles on a road at Kurla, in Mumbai (Photo: PTI) A Mumbai court on Friday denied bail to the driver of the BEST bus involved in the December 9 accident in Kurla West rpt West, which resulted in the deaths of seven persons and injured more than 40. An electric bus of the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking had hit several vehicles late night that day on the arterial SG Barve Road, following which driver Sanjay More was arrested under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. related stories Mores bail plea was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge VM Pathade, though a detailed order has not been made available as yet. In his plea filed through advocate Samadhan Sulane, More had claimed the accident was the result of a mechanical fault in the bus and that he had been unjustly arrested. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The prosecution, however, contended no technical fault was found in the ill-fated bus. After hearing arguments from both sides, judge Pathade rejected Mores bail plea. First Published: January 10, 2025, 17:26 IST 'Process Of Filing, Listing Of Cases Collapsed': SC Raises Concerns On Allahabad High Court Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 14:27 IST The observation fell from a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh as it dealt with an application filed by Abbas Ansari, son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Supreme Court of India. (File Photo) The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed worry regarding listing of cases in some High Courts, particularly, the Allahabad High Court, where it said that the process of filing and listing of cases has collapsed. In some of the High Courts, we dont know what will happen. Allahabad High Court is one of the High Courts which really one should be worried about. Unfortunately, filing has collapsed, listing has collapsed, nobody knows which matter will be listed," the Supreme Court remarked. related stories The observation fell from a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh as it dealt with an application filed by Abbas Ansari, son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on Abbas Ansaris behalf, submitted that despite an apex court order for expeditious hearing, no effective hearing took place before the Allahabad High Court on his prayer for interim protection in a writ petition against an ex-parte government order declaring a piece of land an evacuee property (government property). Advocate Sibal added that while other co-owners secured interim relief from the Allahabad High Court, Abbas Ansaris plea for interim protection was not taken up for hearing at all. After hearing the contentions raised, the Justice Kant-led Bench ordered that the matter be listed earliest before the Allahabad High Court and in the meantime, directed parties to maintain status quo in respect of the disputed site. In an earlier round of litigation, Advocate Sibal had contended that the Uttar Pradesh authorities, after taking physical possession of Abbas Ansaris plot, have started construction of some dwelling units at the site under the Awas Yojana. Thereafter, the top court had requested the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court to take up the application for interim stay moved by Abbas Ansari as early as possible" and in any case on November 4, 2024. In its October 21 order, it said, We request the Allahabad High Court to take up the application out of turn, if so required, so that the prayer of the petitioner for interim protection can be appropriately adjudicated." As per Abbas Ansaris petition, his grandfather purchased a share in Plot No. 93 located at village Jiainau of Lucknow through a registered sale deed in 2004. The said property was allegedly gifted by him to his wife Rabia Begum, who then bequeathed the same through a registered will to Abbas Ansari and his brother Umar Ansari. In 2020, a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Lucknow passed an order declaring the plot an evacuee property and dispossessing the Ansari brothers. Challenging this, Abbas and Umar Ansari moved a writ petition before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. In the Supreme Court, Abbas Ansari stated that though their writ petition was listed repeatedly, no interim stay was passed in their favour, as was done in the case of other affected persons. Recently, a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan expressed shock" after it was told that the bail application of a murder accused has been pending before the Allahabad High Court for the past four years. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Justice Pardiwala-led Bench asked the top court registry to forward its order to the Chief Justice of Allahabad HC for his consideration. It said: We are shocked to learn from the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the bail application filed by the petitioner in the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad bearing Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 40542 of 2020 is still pending as on date." First Published: January 10, 2025, 14:27 IST The new package of sanctions against more than 400 entities associated with the Russian energy sector significantly undermines the financial foundation of the Russian military machine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "I am grateful to U.S. President Biden, his administration and the entire American people for the new package of sanctions announced today against more than 400 entities associated with the Russian energy sector. The bipartisan support of the United States is really crucial, and we feel it very well," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Friday evening. He said the sanctions imposed disrupt the supply chain in Russian energy trade. "These measures significantly undermine the financial foundation of the Russian military machine, because they disrupt the supply chain: key Russian manufacturers, insurance companies, oil and gas service providers, 184 tankers of the shadow fleet, logistics facilities and third-country companies," Zelenskyy said. The head of state also noted the importance of introducing restrictions for Russian mining companies. "It is especially worth noting the pressure on companies such as Surgutneftegas, a key financial wallet for Putin himself. Such actions send a clear signal: criminals must pay for their crimes. The less income Russia receives from oil and other energy resources, the faster peace will be restored," Zelenskyy said. The President of Ukraine said energy resources should not be used as a weapon, "as Russia does." At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that countries that "respect international law" can and should ensure stable and reliable energy supplies for the entire world. "We are truly grateful for America's leadership in holding Russia accountable. I am confident that these steps will significantly reduce Russia's petrodollar revenues, and with them its ability to continue aggression," he said. Pune Court Grants Bail To Rahul Gandhi In Defamation Case Over Remarks On Savarkar Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 19:13 IST The court approved the bail on a surety bond of Rs 25,000 after Gandhi appeared virtually before the court Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File Image/PTI) A special court in Pune on Friday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with a defamation case concerning his alleged objectionable remarks on Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. The court approved the bail on a surety bond of Rs 25,000 after Gandhi appeared virtually before the court. Senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi stood as surety for Gandhi during the proceedings. related stories The defamation case stemmed from a speech that Gandhi delivered in London in March 2023, where he reportedly made remarks on Savarkar, citing a book written by the ideologue. These remarks led to the filing of a complaint by Savarkars grandnephew, triggering the legal action. Advocate Milind Pawar, representing Gandhi, confirmed that the court had granted the Congress leader permanent exemption from appearing before it in future hearings. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The matter will now be heard again on February 18, 2025. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: January 10, 2025, 18:48 IST Vo Toh Chalta Rehta Hai: PM Modi Opens Up On Memes With Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 17:18 IST The "Melodi" (acronym for Modi+Meloni) meme had gained viral traction after a video from the G7 Summit in Italy in June last year showed the two leaders laughing together. PM Modi opens up on viral Melodi memes in podcast. (File) In a light-hearted moment during his interaction with Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath in his podcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened up on the viral Melodi memes" featuring him and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. During the interaction in People series podcast, Kamath hinted at PM Modis Italy connection. related stories Read More: I Am Human, Not God: PM Modi Makes Podcast Debut On Nikhil Kamaths Show My favourite food is pizza. And pizza is from Italy. And people say you know a lot about Italy," said Kamath, smiling. Would you like to say something about that?" he asked PM Modi. When Kamath asked if the Prime Minister had seen the memes on the social media, PM Modi responded with a smile, saying, Vo toh chalta rehta hai" (Thats just how things go). He further said that he doesnt waste time" thinking about memes, saying, Main usmein apna time kharab nahi karta (I dont waste my time in that)." Melodi Memes The Melodi" (acronym for Modi+Meloni) meme had gained viral traction after a video from the G7 Summit in Italy in June last year showed the two leaders laughing together. After the summit, Meloni had shared a selfie video with PM Modi which she captioned, Hello from the Melodi team." The Prime Minister also responded to the X post saying, Long live India-Italy friendship!" The Melodi memes have been flooding the social media from time to time, highlighting PM Modis rapport with Meloni. PM Modi Is A Non-Foodie The duo later discussed about the food where the Prime Minister vented about him being a non-foodie." Im not a foodie, whatever is served in any country I eat happily. It is my bad fortune that if you take me to a restaurant, hand me the menu and ask me to choose, I wont be able to do it," PM Modi said. Read More: How Narendra Modi Took Risks To Reach Godhra in 2002: Have To Be Above Emotions He also shared an incident during his early days working for the Sangh, saying that he used to take BJP stalwart late Arun Jaitleys help to order food at restaurants. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I dont know if the dish that is mentioned in the menu and the food in front of me are the same thing, I do not have knowledge, I am ignorant because I have not developed that tendency. So I dont understand much about it, so I always used to ask Arun ji to order food for me, it just needed to be vegetarian," he added. PM Modi made his highly anticipated debut on podcasts with People By WTF hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, where he shared valuable insights on a host of topics, including global conflicts, student life, youth participation in politics, the impact of social media and more. First Published: January 10, 2025, 17:15 IST 'Waqf Board Or Land Mafias': Yogi Adityanath Slams 'Maha Kumbh Being Held On Waqf Land' Claim Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 22:24 IST On the controversy surrounding participation of Muslims in the Maha Kumbh, the chief minister said that those who respect India, its ethos, and its eternal traditions are welcome to attend. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (PTI/File) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday likened the Waqf Board to land mafias after claims that the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj is being held on a waqf property. Adityanath, while speaking at an event of a private news channel, also said that anyone from any religion "who respect India and its eternal traditions" are welcome to attend the Maha Kumbh, according to an official statement. related stories "The Mahakumbh is being organized in a sprawling area of over 10,000 acres, with designated pandals and separate parking facilities covering more than 5,000 acres," he said. Asserting that Kumbh has been held on this land in Prayagraj for thousands of years, he said, If someone now calls this land Waqf Board property, we must ask whether it belongs to the Waqf Board or land mafiaswe will put an end to this." Adityanath said his government has amended the Waqf Act and is actively investigating all "occupied" land. "This is the land where Kumbh has been celebrated for generations. It is unacceptable for anyone to undermine the faith of millions by claiming it is Waqf land," he said. On the controversy surrounding participation of Muslims in the Maha Kumbh, the chief minister said that "those who respect India, its ethos, and its eternal traditions are welcome to attend". However, he warned individuals coming here with malicious intent, saying, "Such sentiments will not be appreciated and may warrant a different response. Such people should stay away. But anyone who arrives with reverence and faith is wholeheartedly welcome in Prayagraj." He said that many individuals whose ancestors embraced Islam under specific historical circumstances still take pride in Indias traditions, the statement said. "They identify their gotras with the names of Indian sages, participate in festivals, and cherish their cultural roots. If such people come to take a holy dip in the Sangam out of tradition and devotion, they are most welcome," he said. However, he warned against anyone arriving to assert ownership over the land, stating, "Those who claim this land as theirs and seek to occupy it may face consequences, including corrective action." Discussing inclusivity, Adityanath noted that in previous years, saints from some northeastern and southern states could not participate in the Maha Kumbh. "This time, the Maha Kumbh will truly reflect the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, with saints and devotees from across the nation in attendance." Slamming opposition parties, the chief minister said that the BJP had never associated itself with the organization of the Maha Kumbh 2025. He said, "Before 2017, this event was synonymous with dirt and chaos. What was the situation in the Maha Kumbh-2013?" Adityanath said the then prime minister of Mauritius had come to take a bath in 2013, and, seeing the disorder and filth, "he had said with a sad heart, is this the Ganga? And went back", according to the statement. Referring to the visit of Mauritius prime minister to Varanasi, he said that we had requested him to take a dip in the Sangam. Accepting the invitation, the prime minister, accompanied by 450 others, visited Prayagraj and participated in the holy dip, expressing great happiness afterward. On allegations of pollution in river water at Sangam, the CM said that he came here several times but never fell ill after taking a dip. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said, "I have come to the banks of Sangam. I bathed in the water and sipped it. My health has not deteriorated. Some people have taken the contract of spreading false propaganda." "Currently, over 10,300 cusecs of water flows in the Ganga and Yamuna, making it so pure that one can bathe and even sip it without hesitation. I have done it myself, and this reflects my faith," he added. Location : Prayagraj, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 22:24 IST What's Making Villagers Bald In Maharashtra's Buldhana? Nitrate-Contaminated Water, Says Probe Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:16 IST Preliminary findings suggest that the crisis is linked to the use of tube well water, which residents depend on for bathing and washing. Experts believe the chemicals in tube well water are adversely affecting the skin and hair follicles, leading to the alarming rate of hair loss. (Image: News18) In a worrying development, three villages in Maharashtras Buldhana district Bondgaon, Kalwad, and Hingna are grappling with a strange and serious health crisis. Residents have reported severe hair loss, with men losing not only scalp hair but also their beards and body hair. The rapid spread of this unusual condition has sent shockwaves across the region, prompting the state health department to initiate an investigation into the cause. Preliminary findings suggest that the crisis is linked to the use of tube well water, which residents depend on for bathing and washing. The water samples tested revealed alarmingly high levels of nitrates and total dissolved solids (TDS). Experts believe these chemicals are adversely affecting the skin and hair follicles, leading to the alarming rate of hair loss. The health department has since warned residents to cease using tube well water immediately, labelling it severe health hazard. related stories The affected villages are situated in the salt land belt, where government-provided drinking water is available. However, for daily chores like washing and bathing, residents have no option but to rely on tube well water. This reliance has now turned into a nightmare as the contaminated water appears to be causing both physical and psychological distress. Many residents have reported losing confidence and feeling mentally burdened due to the sudden and unexplained changes in their appearance. Initially, the health department suspected the use of hair products like shampoos or soaps to be the cause. But as the issue worsened, a deeper probe was conducted, leading to the discovery of toxic chemicals in the water. Following this, dermatologists have been deployed to examine affected individuals and offer medical assistance. Doctors have confirmed that prolonged exposure to nitrate-laden water can not only weaken hair roots but may also pose risks of more severe health issues in the future if not addressed promptly. The villagers are now demanding a permanent solution to this crisis. While the health department has issued temporary advisories, including avoiding tube well water, the affected communities are urging the government to provide them with a sustainable supply of clean water. They fear that continued reliance on the current water sources could exacerbate their health issues. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Experts recommend the installation of water purification systems in these areas as an immediate step to mitigate the damage. Additionally, long-term measures, such as regular monitoring of water quality and educating residents on the dangers of contaminated water, are essential. The situation in Buldhana is a stark reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and the need for stringent checks on water quality. This crisis serves as a wake-up call for authorities and society alike to prioritise water safety. Ignoring the issue could lead to broader health repercussions for the region and beyond. Addressing the water contamination problem promptly and effectively is the only way to restore normalcy to the lives of Buldhanas affected residents and prevent such incidents in the future. First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:14 IST Goa Features On Eaters List 2025: 5 Restaurants That You Cannot Miss On Your Next Trip Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 15:23 IST Goa has featured on Eater's Where To Eat Around the World in 2025 list. From traditional dishes to experimental cuisines, the state has a lot to offer. Goa has a diverse food culture. With its rich cultural history, Goa has a bustling food scene. The state has a lot to offer considering how it has Maharashtrian, Konkan, and even Portuguese influences. From delicious seafood to decadent desserts, Goa has it all. Recently, Goa grabbed the sixth spot on Eaters Where To Eat Around The World in 2025 list. Take a look at the list. related stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eater (@eater) The Eaters Where To Eat Around the World in 2025 list featured 18 destinations from across the world where people can indulge in some of the finest fares. Apart from Goa, the list also featured Abidjan, Berlin, Cape Verde, Chic Layo, Dominica, Houston, Jeolla-Do, Johannesburg, Luang Prabang, Merida, Messenia, Panama City, Paso Robles, Providence, St-Jean-De-Luz, Trinidad, and Whistler. Goa has a lot to experiment with if you are planning to visit the state just for its food. From the traditional kidney bean xacuti curry to more experimental dishes, there is something for everyone. In case you are planning to visit Goa, here are five restaurants that you must visit. 1. Cavatina View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cavatina by Avinash Martins (@cavatinagoa) Cavatina is a celebrated dining destination helmed by Chef Avinash Martins, known for its distinctive and expertly crafted dishes. The menu offers a variety of culinary creations, carefully curated by the chef to provide an unforgettable dining experience. Highlights include dishes like the tajine-inspired Sukham Cowboys Grill and Patra de Goa, among many others, designed to cater to all tastes. Located at Taj Hotel Road, near Joecons Beach Resort in Benaulim, Goa, the restaurant promises a memorable meal with a cost for two at approximately 2500. 2. Praca Prazeres For a relaxed dining experience with a warm and inviting atmosphere, Praca Prazeres offers a delightful selection of dishes that promise to enhance your visit. Under the expertise of Chef Ralph Prazeres, the restaurant serves signature items such as chicken liver with toast, smoked duck and cheddar croquettes, and pork belly with apple sauce, among other mouthwatering options. Located off Rua de Ourem, behind Hotel Sona Building in Altinho, Panaji, Goa, Praca Prazeres ensures a cozy yet flavorful dining experience. The cost for two is approximately 2400. 3. Tanjore Tiffin Room View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Tanjore Tiffin Room (@thetanjoretiffinroom) If youre craving authentic South Indian flavours during your Goa visit, Tanjore Tiffin Room offers a variety of Tamilian specialties that will remind you of home. From delectable appams to rich chicken dishes, this bistro is perfect for those looking for a taste of Southern India. Located at 1111, Road near Orchard Stores and Corporation Bank in Anjuna, Goa, its the ideal place for a comforting meal. Cost for two: 2400. 4. Isabellas Tapas With a cozy interior and lively atmosphere, Isabellas Tapas is a charming bar in Goa that combines the best of Spanish and Portuguese cuisines. For those who enjoy live music paired with delicious food and drinks, Isabellas offers an unforgettable experience. Located at Edcon Corner, MG Road, Panaji, Goa, this spot is perfect for those seeking great vibes and flavourful dishes. Cost for two: 2000. 5. Grumps top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all View this post on Instagram A post shared by GRUMPS (@grumpsgoa) A hidden gem in Goa, Grumps is an excellent spot for savouring Asian small plates in a relaxed ambiance. Recommended by the Eaters List 2025, this delightful bar offers a refined yet casual experience with luxurious cocktails and tasty dishes like crispy corn cakes and char-grilled broccoli. Grumps is located at House No. 58 B, Grumps St, behind Chogm Road, Sangolda, Bardez, Goa. Cost for two: 200. Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 15:23 IST World Hindi Day 2025: Theme, History, Significance, Quotes, And Celebration Ideas Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 10:39 IST World Hindi Day was officially established on January 10, 2006, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. World Hindi Day 2025 theme is Hindi: A Global Voice of Unity and Cultural Pride. (Image: Shutterstock) World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on January 10 to highlight the significance of the Hindi language on a global stage. Recognised as one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, Hindi holds a special place in Indian culture. The day is an opportunity to encourage the use of Hindi worldwide and to showcase its impact across different spheres of life through various events and initiatives. World Hindi Day 2025: Theme related stories The theme for World Hindi Day 2025, Hindi: A Global Voice of Unity and Cultural Pride," focuses on strengthening cultural and linguistic connections worldwide. It also highlights the growing influence of Hindi in the digital era with technology and the internet helping it reach a global audience. World Hindi Day 2025: History World Hindi Day was officially established on January 10, 2006, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The date holds historical significance as it commemorates the first use of Hindi in the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. Since 1975, the Ministry of External Affairs has organised World Hindi Conferences in various countries, including the UK, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, the US and Fiji where Hindi-speaking communities have a strong presence. World Hindi Day 2025: Significance World Hindi Day celebrates the global presence and cultural significance of the Hindi language. It focuses on strengthening connections among Hindi-speaking communities worldwide and promoting its use across digital platforms and technology. World Hindi Day 2025: Celebrations On World Hindi Day 2025, a variety of events are organised to celebrate the languages global reach. Poetry competitions and storytelling sessions offer a chance to enjoy Hindi literature, while cultural programs with Hindi songs, plays, and dances showcase its artistic diversity. Happy World Hindi Day!Today, lets celebrate the beauty of Hindi, the 3rd most spoken language globally. Did you know we have UN News in Hindi? Its a language that connects us all. https://t.co/Z8jotxFigc#WorldHindiDay #UnitedNations #UNESCO #UNGA #Hindi @ShombiSharp pic.twitter.com/3lQrAj7Ayt United Nations in India (@UNinIndia) January 10, 2024 Social media campaigns using the hashtag #WorldHindiDay help spread awareness about the significance of the language. Many fun activities like creative poster-making competitions are held which encourage people to express their appreciation for Hindi in unique ways. Schools host writing and speaking-focused competitions fostering a love for the language in younger generations. The day also honours the contributions of Hindi authors, poets and lyricists, celebrating their role in preserving and promoting the language. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all World Hindi Day 2025: Quotes A nations culture resides in the hearts and the soul of its people." Mahatma Gandhi Hindi is the voice of India, echoing its traditions and heritage." Atal Bihari Vajpayee Our language is a reflection of our culture and values; Hindi embodies our diversity." Dr Rajendra Prasad Hindi has the power to connect hearts and build bridges across communities." Harivansh Rai Bachchan The richness of Hindi lies in its ability to express the deepest emotions with ease." Munshi Premchand Hindi is not just a language; its an emotion that binds Indians together." Munshi Premchand Let us not forget that Hindi is the soul of our country." Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hindi is the script of our dreams and the voice of our aspirations." Kavi Pradeep Through Hindi, we express our joys, sorrows, and the essence of life." Jaishankar Prasad The magic of Hindi is in its ability to resonate with every soul." Kabir Das. First Published: January 10, 2025, 06:00 IST Allu Arjun Gives A Peek Into Dad Allu Aravinds Birthday Celebration, Pushpa Ka Baap Cake Leaves Fans Amused Curated By : Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:13 IST Renowned film producer Allu Aravind is celebrating his 76th birthday today, and Pushpa 2 star Allu Arjun has given fans a sneak-peek into the celebration! Inside Allu Arjun's father Allu Aravind's birthday celebration. Allu Arjun returned to Hyderabad, just in time to celebrate his father Allu Aravinds 76th birthday. The Pushpa 2 star penned a heartfelt note for his dad on his birthday, and also shared two pictures from the celebration. One particular picture, which shows a two-tiered cake with Pushpa Ka Baap written over it has garnered a lot of attention, and has left fans amused. Allu Arjun took to X (previously Twitter) to share a lovely wish for his father Allu Aravind. He wrote, Happy Birthday Dad . Thank you for making our lives soo special with your gracious presence." Along with the wish, he shared two pictures from Allu Aravinds birthday celebration. The first picture shows Allu Aravind cutting the birthday cake, while surrounded by his loved ones including his wife Nirmala, son Allu Arjun, Allu Bobby, Sneha Reddy, and others. Allu Arjuns kids Arha and Ayaan also feature in a picture from the celebration shared by Sneha Reddy on Instagram. related stories Happy Birthday Dad . Thank you for making our lives soo special with your gracious presence . pic.twitter.com/CgWYsbk2eF Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) January 10, 2025 Another picture shared by Allu Arjun shows a two-tiered cake, and the text on it reads, Pushpa Ka Baap." The picture is going viral on social media, and has left fans amused. Allu Sirish also shared the photo on social media, and called it the best ever cake! Happy birthday Dad! Have a great year ahead. Best ever cake made by his friends for him! (laughing emojis) #AlluArvind," he wrote. Happy birthday Dad! Have a great year ahead. Best ever cake made by his friends for him! #AlluArvind pic.twitter.com/1h4xrPPmPS Allu Sirish (@AlluSirish) January 10, 2025 In other news, last evening, Allu Arjun was spotted in Mumbai by the paparazzi. A video of Allu Arjun meeting Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali took the internet by storm, and left fans buzzing with excitement and speculating about a potential collaboration. As soon as the video was shared, one fan wrote, SLB + Allu = wild fire," while another one commented, The best actor right now in india." Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar and featuring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. The film is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar writings with music on T Series. Amid its success, Pushpa 2 has also been embroiled in controversy. On December 4, a tragic stampede at the films premiere resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her eight-year-old son injured. Lead actor Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in connection with the incident and released on interim bail the following day. The Nampally court in Hyderabad granted regular bail to Allu Arjun on January 3 in the stampede case. First Published: January 10, 2025, 16:13 IST Bethenny Frankel Reveals Why She Left It Ends With Us Premiere Early: Something Was Definitely Awry Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 19:04 IST Bethenny Frankel revealed that she didnt share her It Ends With Us premiere story before as she feared it might get her cancelled. Bethenny Frankel attended It Ends With Us premiere with her colleague. (Photo Credits; Instagram) Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars from It Ends With Us, are currently entangled in a major legal dispute. Lively has filed a $250 million lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and allegedly running a campaign to ruin her reputation. In response, Baldoni countersued The New York Times for $250 million after the outlet reported on Livelys claims. Amidst this ongoing legal drama, Bethenny Frankel spilled the tea on how uncomfortable the It Ends With Us premiere left her feeling. In a TikTok video, Frankel began by revealing that she hadnt shared her premiere story before because she feared it might get her cancelled." related stories I have the craziest It Ends With Us premiere story that I totally forgot about and Im putting the pieces together now," she said. The 54-year-old entrepreneur mentioned that she attended the premiere with her colleague Danielle. However, things took an unexpected turn when they were told there would be an hour-long gap between the red carpet and the start of the movie. Now maybe that happens. Ive never seen that happen," Frankel added. The gap was too short to go to dinner" but too long to stand there in stilettos," so Frankel and Danielle decided to leave and grab margaritas instead. While heading out for drinks, Frankel ran into one of Livelys team members who she said seemed distant and a little icy." Just, theres something that Im like, Wow, OK, and in other circumstances, this person is not this way and it just, it was slightly off-putting to Danielle and I. We both noted it," The Real Housewives of New York City alum recalled. After their margaritas, they returned to the theatre. Frankel was still excited to see the film especially because shes a fan of Lively. So, we walk upstairs and we see Anna Wintour. She passes us, Im like, Oh my God." she said. While making their way into the theatre, Frankel briefly spoke to someone who mentioned Baldoni. This guy says to me, Oh Bethenny, you know Justin [Baldoni], he was on your podcast. And hes in this one line and we say hello to each other." Frankel admitted that she didnt remember Baldoni at first but she described him as very nice." Despite this interaction, the seating arrangements at the premiere felt odd. Usually, not usually, always, unless its a weird different screening, the premiere is in one giant theater. But here, hes in one theater, somethings going on somewhere else. I saw Anna walk this way," Frankel said. The seating situation added to the strange vibe and Frankel said she and Danielle felt like everybody" was separated. The vibe was off I didnt tell anybody because I thought I would be cancelled if we left," she said. Because the vibes were not vibing. Like, wasted hair, makeup, outfit, to go to the city, drink a margarita in a mason jar, take a bucket of popcorn, take two bites, see Anna Wintour, see Justin Baldoni and left to go back to Connecticut. Like, talk about blue balls," the BStrong founder continued. Frankel explained that she had never left a premiere early, no matter how bad the movie was but in this case, she just couldnt stay. Something was definitely awry from the jump and it was palpable. It felt like I was doing something wrong, but it felt like I was also doing something right," she said about leaving early. Something was f*****." First Published: January 10, 2025, 18:58 IST Fans, BTS Star J-Hope Announces His First Ever Solo World Tour Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 17:18 IST To make the announcement even more exciting for ARMYs, J-Hope revealed plans for new music, set to be released in March. The world tour will kick off in Seoul. (Photo Credits: Instagram) After his discharge from the military in October, BTS J-Hope has officially announced his first-ever solo tour, Hope on the Stage. The world tour will kick off in Seoul, South Korea, at the KSPO Dome from February 28 to March 2. J-Hope will then visit 14 cities across Asia and North America, including Osaka, Brooklyn, Chicago, Mexico City and Singapore, performing two-night shows at each venue. To make the announcement even more exciting for ARMYs, J-Hope revealed plans for new music, set to be released in March. After performing in Seoul, J-Hope will continue his concert in Brooklyn on March 13-14, followed by shows in Chicago on March 17-18. Mexico City fans can see him on March 22-23, while San Antonio will host him on March 26-27. In Oakland, concerts are scheduled for March 31-April 1, followed by Los Angeles on April 4-6. related stories In Asia, J-Hope will perform in Manila on April 12-13, Saitama on April 19-20, and Singapore on April 26-27. The tour will then make stops in Jakarta on May 3-4, Bangkok on May 10-11, Macau on May 17-18, and Taipei on May 24-25. J-Hope will conclude the tour with a grand finale in Osaka, Japan, on May 31-June 1. View this post on Instagram A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope) In addition to his Hope on the Stage tour, J-Hope has thrilled fans with a teaser for his upcoming solo music. The brief clip shows the rapper travelling to Los Angeles, where he collaborates with producers on the project. This will be his first solo release since completing his military service in October 2024. In the caption, J-Hope shared, New music on the way. 2025.03." View this post on Instagram A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope) J-Hopes upcoming music will arrive a year after he released Hope on the Street Vol. 1 in March 2024. This six-track album featured collaborations with artists such as Jungkook, LE SSERAFIMs Huh Yunjin, and renowned producer Nile Rodgers, among others. In addition to J-Hope, Jin is the only other BTS member who has been discharged from military service. The remaining members, including Jungkook, Suga, RM, Jimin, and V, are all expected to be discharged by July this year. First Published: January 10, 2025, 17:18 IST Manoj Bajpayee Refutes Reports Of Teaming Up With Kay Kay Menon For Neeraj Pandeys Next: Kab Hua Ye? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 13:56 IST Pinkvilla has reported that both actors are reuniting for the project and the shoot will start from May this year. Manoj Bajpayee reacts to reports of collaborating with Kay Kay Menon Manoj Bajpayee has finally reacted to the news of him and Kay Kay Menon collaborating for Neeraj Pandeys next untitled thriller. He has dismissed the reports and also responded funnily. Pinkvilla has reported that both actors are reuniting for the project. Taking to his X handle, Manoj Bajpayee wrote, Kab hua yeh." Pinkvilla has quoted sources saying, Neeraj Pandeys next is an edge of the seat thriller set against the backdrop of Indian Intelligence Agencies. He has pulled off a casting coup by bringing two of the most talented actors of Indian Cinema on board." The source further added that Neeraj has signed on a lucrative deal with Netflix and this one will be a feature film taking direct to digital route. related stories Neeraj is working on multiple other scripts, and is yet to lock his next for the big screen. He is excited to embark on a journey with Manoj and Kay Kay starting this summer, and plans to invest next 6 months of his career on this espionage. The film will premiere on Netflix in 2026," the source shared. The actor has recently completed the third season of The Family Man. He has shared wrap up photo from the set. Taking to his Instagram stories, Manoj shared a clapperboard photo on his Instagram Stories. Shooting wrapped!! For Family Man 3! Aur thoda intezar," he captioned the photo. The Family Man is created by Raj & DK for Prime Video and features Manoj as Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class man secretly working as an intelligence officer for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a fictitious branch of the National Investigation Agency. It also stars Priyamani, Sharad Kelkar, Neeraj Madhav, and Sunny Hinduja. The series is produced and directed by Raj & D.K, who also co-wrote the story and screenplay with Suman Kumar, with dialogue penned by Sumit Arora and Kumar. South Indian star Samantha Ruth Prabhu featured in the second season of the series as the main antagonist. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, Jaideep Ahlawat is expected to be seen in a crucial role in the upcoming season of The Family Man. A source while talking to the portal said, Jaideep Ahlawat has joined the star cast of The Family Man 3 and also joined the schedule in the North-Eastern state of Nagaland. The makers have kept his character strictly under wraps. Hence, theres no information available on what role he plays in the series." First Published: January 10, 2025, 13:56 IST Zelenskyy on peace with Russia: It is critical there are serious security guarantees for Ukraine, for all of Europe Before any peace talks with Russia, it is important for Ukraine to have security guarantees to avoid a repeat of Russian aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes. "It is critical for us that peace comes. We want peace more than anyone else. And this is understandable, because we are losing more than anyone else, especially people. But before agreeing on anything, it is very important that these be serious security guarantees for Ukraine and for all of Europe. This is the protection of Ukraine and security guarantees that Russia will not return again with aggression, as it did after the occupation of Crimea in 2014, and then in 2015," Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Italian television channel RaiNews24, the office of the head of state reported on Friday evening. In the interview, Zelenskyy also spoke about Italy's role in supporting Ukraine and the importance of EU and the U.S. unity in the fight against Russian aggression. "Today, we need America, of course, it has a strong position in terms of weapons and the economy, it is a nuclear power, and so on. And it is important that it puts pressure on Russia and gives Ukraine, together with Europe, such security guarantees so that Putin or anyone after him never comes with a war against Ukraine," the head of the Ukrainian state said. Watch: Mahesh Bhatt, Neetu Kapoor Set The Bar High For Samdhan Goals Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:55 IST Alia Bhatts father, Mahesh Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoors mother, Neetu Kapoor were spotted entering a venue together and their camaraderie won hearts. Mahesh Bhatt and Neetu Kapoor bumped into one another at a film screening. (Photo credits: Instagram) Neetu Kapoor and Mahesh Bhatt are veteran personalities of the Hindi film industry. Both have been part of several movies over the years. And after Alia Bhatts marriage with Ranbir Kapoor, the veteran stars have become a family. They are often spotted together celebrating various occasions to appear in public events. Recently, Neetu and Mahesh were spotted gracing a film screening event in Mumbai and shed pure samdhan goals. In a video on Instagram, Neetu Kapoor and Mahesh Bhatt were papped entering an event venue together. They bumped into each other upon arrival at the venue and were seen greeting each other affectionately. The ace filmmaker even held Neetus hand gracefully. Not only this, while posing for the shutterbugs present over there, Mahesh protected the veteran actress from a sliding door. He put forward his foot and stopped the door from getting closed in order to protect Raha Kapoors dadi from getting hurt. Afterwards, they happily walked inside while chatting with one another. related stories For the day, Neetu looked stunning in a white shirt top teamed with a black jacket and a pair of grey trousers. She completed her look with pointed pump heels, minimal jewellery and her signature makeup of keeping it subtle yet glam. The JugJugg Jeeyo actress also carried a mini black-hued leather arm candy to add an alluring factor to her look. On the other hand, Raha Kapoors nana sported a black full-sleeved sweater to grace the event. Mahesh paired it with a pair of blue pants and brown slippers. Soon after the video was posted, many social media users heaped praises on the samdhans duo for their warm meet-and-greet session. They dropped heart and love-filled emojis in the comment section. For the unversed, Neetu Kapoor shares a lovely bond with Alia Bhatts parents, Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan. Earlier, on the couples anniversary, the Do Dooni Chaar actress had even extended her heartfelt wishes towards them. Recently, Neetu Kapoor also returned from a grand vacation in Thailand alongside her family. Besides Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, their princess, Raha Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, her husband, Bharat Sahni and their daughter, Samara Sahni, many others accompanied the Kapoor clan. Among them, we spotted Alia Bhatts mother, Soni Razdan and sister, Shaheen Bhatt, and director Ayan Mukerji. The family went to the surreal destination to mark New Year together, and dropped lovely glimpses from their trip to update their fans. First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:55 IST Global Watch | Pakistani Grooming Gangs In UK And Misrepresentation Of Ethnic Identity Written By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 19:05 IST Amid renewed demands for a national inquiry, including calls for the deportation of convicted individuals, the Pakistani heritage of the grooming gangs is once again being downplayed by mainstream media narratives Elon Musk said UK PM Keir Starmer didnt do anything about the grooming gangs scandal while being the head of the Crown Prosecution Service between 2008 and 2013. (Photo: Reuters) In 2012, a British court handed down varying prison sentences to nine men, eight of whom were of Pakistani origin, for the systematic sexual exploitation of underage girls as young as 13. This brought the spotlight on an intricate phenomenon of sexploitation in the United Kingdom, subsequently referred to as grooming gangs" of Rotterdam, wherein a syndicate, predominantly led by Pakistani-origin men, targeted vulnerable young girls for sex trafficking. Despite persistent calls for a comprehensive national investigation to uncover the systemic failures and sociocultural dynamics underpinning these crimes, successive British governments have ostensibly evaded such scrutiny. related stories This reluctance was attributed, in part, to the racial identity of perpetrators as Pakistanis, a factor that appeared to have introduced a politically sensitive dimension to the issue. However, what baffled many was the outright mischaracterisation of the Pakistani heritage of the grooming gangs, being downplayed by mainstream media narratives, which framed the offenders as generic representatives of the Asian community. This obfuscation failed to adequately address the internal diversity of this heterogeneous group and perpetuating its collective mischaracterisation. It may be recalled that the systematic sexual exploitation of underage girls in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and Northern England, first emerged in 2001 through the Weir Report. Authored by Adele Weir, a Yorkshire solicitor, for the Rotherham Council, it was originally commissioned to investigate concerns surrounding prostitution in the region. Nevertheless, the report alleged the existence of a local abuse network" targeting young girls across towns. However, the findings were dismissed by South Yorkshire Police as anecdotal, with the authorities accusing the inquiry team of exceeding its mandate. Additionally, further evidence of abuse surfaced in a 2002 internal Home Office inquiry, which highlighted the recurrent exploitation of underage girls by three Pakistani-origin brothersArshad, Basharat, and Banaras. According to the report, these men groomed young girls in locations such as houses, lock-up garages, churchyards, and public spaces, including Clifton Park." The victims were coerced into performing sexual acts, often involving multiple perpetrators simultaneously. Despite these alarming findings, law enforcement and government authorities sat over the findings of the inquiry and allowed the abuse to persist through its continued inaction. Despite such compelling evidence, the authorities largely ignored the findings, at least until a wider network of abuse was exposed in 2014, shaking the British national conscience. This widespread sex abuse was exposed by the Jay Report of 2014, authored by Alexis Jay OBE and commissioned by Rotherham Council in 2013. The report made astonishing revelations, documenting how approximately 1,400 children were sexually exploited over the full inquiry period, from 1997 to 2013," by grooming gangs predominantly composed of men of Pakistani heritage, including the five men convicted in 2010." Whereas, in response, the UK government initiated limited actions, such as prosecuting individuals like the Hussain brothers and several other predominantly Pakistani-origin perpetrators. However, no administration has ever conducted a comprehensive national inquiry into the issue, despite persistent public demands. What compounded the controversy further was the explosive revelations by Parveen Qureshi of the United Multicultural Centre, in Rotherham in 2014, wherein she asserted that the local Pakistani community leaders had long been aware of the issue. Qureshi noted, It was always discussed in the community what was happening", highlighting a troubling undercurrent of inaction on the part of the Pakistani community as well. Interestingly, in 2022, a prominent Pakistani Labour leader, Peer Nazir Ahmad, who has served the House of Lords representing Rotherham over multiple terms between 1998 and 2020, was convicted by Sheffield Crown Court in 2022 of trying to rape a young girl and sexually assaulting a teenage boy in South Yorkshire." His appeals for review have been dismissed by the British Court of Appeal, which concluded that Nazir Ahmed did not have arguable grounds for staging a full appeal." This convicted House member was often seen pushing agendas of Pakistani state in the UK, and has been exposed in multiple reports about his collusion with the Pakistani intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, both media outlets and government institutions persisted in framing the perpetrators as Asian men," thereby glossing over the ethnic and cultural specificities of the offenders. This broad and reductive labelling ignored the diversity of subgroups within the Asian community, perpetuating misrepresentation and stigmatisation of a larger demographic, something that has continued to define both media representations of the Asian community as well as the attitude of the governments. Now, nearly a decade-and-a-half after its initial expose, the grooming gangs scandal is back in the political spotlight of the UK. This was triggered by American billionaire Elon Musks criticism of UK Prime Minister Kier Starmers role as then head of the countrys Crown Prosecution Service in tackling the issue. While leading the calls for Starmers resignation, Elon Musk, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump who is set to take office on January 20, even accused the UK PM of being complicit in the rape of Britain." However, what is common in the conversation about grooming gangs between now and then is the continued mischaracterisation of the identity of the perpetrators of sexual exploitation. Amid renewed demands for a national inquiry, including calls for the deportation of convicted individuals, the Pakistani heritage of the grooming gangs is once again being downplayed by mainstream media narratives. These outlets continue to frame the offenders as generic representatives of the Asian community, thereby failing to adequately address the internal diversity of this heterogeneous group and perpetuating its collective mischaracterisation. This is despite various reports highlighting that over 80 per cent of the perpetrators were of Pakistani origin. The UK government and the countrys legacy media have persisted in their apparent obfuscation of the issue by repeatedly characterising the offenders as Asian" rather than explicitly identifying their Pakistani origin. This broad categorisation has engendered significant discomfort within the wider Asian community, which perceives itself as unfairly stigmatised and marginalised by the actions of a specific subgroup. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Given that media representations strongly influence peoples perceptions about the world around and beyond, including other people, this reductive homogenisation of diverse demographic communities exacerbates misrepresentations, thereby contributing to the stereotyping of the majority of Asian community and the erosion of social cohesion. This makes it incumbent on the British legacy media to adhere to the journalistic remit of objectivity and fairness, and hence represent the true reality of the issue without obfuscating the facts that impact the lives of dozens of subgroups within the broader Asian community. Both the British media and the government need to get their acts and facts right. The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: January 10, 2025, 19:05 IST Opinion | India Desperately Needs Swachh Bharat 2.0, Strongly Focused On Cities Written By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 10:52 IST Indias cities, the first showcase to the world and spaces where its brightest professionals live, still wallow in filth and garbage India is still miles behind the developed world in terms of cleanliness and hygiene (AP Photo) It helps to listen closely to even your haters. When America exploded with anger against meritorious Indians going to work in the US with H-1B visas, there was one strong, common underlying theme in the flood of insults. Stinky Indians". Filthy, dirty India". One can dismiss it as naked racism. Or one can take an important message buried in the bile, introspect, and act. Or one can do both. An overwhelming part of the outrage was undoubtedly racist and bigoted. But the hard grain of truth in it cannot be washed away: India is still miles behind the developed world in terms of cleanliness and hygiene, and thereby, appeal and aesthetics. related stories This is despite 10 years of PM Narendra Modis inspiring idea of the Swachh Bharat Mission and the actions that followed. The first phase of the massive cleanliness project focused on building toilets and making the nation defecation-free. There has been significant success, especially in the villages. More than 120 million toilets have been built so far, 115 million in rural areas. That is nearly equal to the number of households in Germany, Italy, France, and the UK combined. Nearly 1,900 faecal sludge treatment plants and 3 million compost pits have been made. The mission added toilets to 37.5 per cent of Indian households. However, the success of Swachh Bharat has mainly been in the rural and semi-rural areas. Indias cities, the first showcase to the world and spaces where its brightest professionals live, still wallow in filth and garbage. The nations rivers, cradles of a great civilisation, bear flowing poison in the bosoms. The alarmingly polluted and unbreathable air in cities has almost been normalised. Which brings us to the point: India needs Swachh Bharat 2.0. A renewed and stronger push involving central, state and civic governments, corporations, nonprofits, and citizens. Sweeping behavioural and systemic changes involving a nation of 1.4 billion people dont happen in just 10 years, but a fresh push, keeping certain factors in mind, may help. First, introduce incentives. Reward industrial units which recycle waste and do not pollute air, rivers or soil. Make it worth ones while to clean up after production. Also, reward residents associations, marketplaces, arcades, and shopping zones which segregate garbage and keep surroundings clean. Second, introduce and strictly implement punishment. Heavily penalise municipalities, market committees, housing bodies, and citizens for litter, open garbage, public urination or defecation. Create flying squads in every city for random checks. Third, set up quick response units for litter and garbage. Citizens should be able to call or click photos of filth and send it to a helpline, just like one reports crime to the police. Most Indian municipalities are highly corrupt, weak in governance, and filled with clerks instead of engineers. They deserve to be pulled up. Fourth, the Swachh Bharat Mission currently does not address the need to rebuild the underground sewage system to tackle urban growth. That is one huge area of investment in infrastructure. Fifth, even after bringing the Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, it remains one of the ugliest practices. The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in a reply to a question by NCPs Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, revealed that 282 sanitation workers have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the country between 2016 and November 2019," according to the Observer Research Foundation. The highest number of deaths, 40 was recorded in Tamil Nadu followed by Haryana, which recorded 31 deaths in manholes. Delhi and Gujarat recorded 30 deaths each followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, each recording 27 deaths. While the year 2016 accounted for 50 deaths, 83 sanitation workers died due to suffocation in septic tanks and sewers in 2017 and 66 deaths were recorded in 2018. Till November 2019, the death count reported from across the country stood at 83. These figures, the ministry maintained, were based on the number of FIRs filed by the police in the respective states." Sixth, connect the cleanliness campaign strongly with data which shows how garbage and pollution affect public health. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, India currently does not have any mechanism to track water-borne diseases to link it to the sanitation programme. Seventh, there is an argument that Indias entrenched caste system often comes in the way of cleanliness. In most places, society depends on a certain community to clean toilets and faeces. Decent pay and modern gear and equipment can break the caste barrier and stigma attached to cleaning jobs, which are still viewed as lowly work. Eighth, India needs cleanliness evangelists and icons, just as there was Sundarlal Bahuguna for the environment, Verghese Kurien for dairy, and Maneka Gandhi for animal rights. Ninth and last, the Indian education system has to be given a very heavy emphasis on cleanliness. From school to college to university, textbooks and assignments must focus on it as if we are at war. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As Singapores transformative former PM Lee Kuan Yew once said: I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldnt be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldnt be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think." Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: January 10, 2025, 10:52 IST How Congress And Its Dinner Politics In Karnataka Continue To Set Rumour Mills Running Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:34 IST Those in the Siddaramaiah camp say that these dinner meetings, including the one called on January 3 by Satish Jarkiholi, were ones to strategise and work towards strengthening the party. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar with CM Siddaramaiah. (Image: PTI) In Karnataka, for the Congress, dinner politics seems to be the way out of contentious decisions be it about leadership changes in the state unit, talks of a potential Chief Ministerial switch, muscle-flexing by dominant communities for Deputy CM representation, or simply signalling to the high command which faction holds sway. Everything is hashed out, figuratively and literally, served hot or cold. While rumours have been rife about a change in guard, efforts are being made by the Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC chief DK Shivakumar camp to convince the party high command to align with the post-poll agreement of giving both leaders Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar an equal share of time as CM. However, Siddaramaiah is confident that he will continue and complete the full term of five years as CM. related stories The people are very happy with the Congress, the grassroots are working on the ground, and we are confident not only will the people of Karnataka give us another chance, but at that time, DK Shivakumar can lead the party from the front. Siddaramaiah ji has announced this is his last election; this is the time that leaders can use to put in place solid popular schemes that will convince people to vote for the Congress again with a bigger majority. Being the CM comes with responsibility, and deserving candidates will get it at the right time," said a senior Congress leader under the condition of anonymity. Belagavi to Bengaluru: A Series of Strategic Dinners Those in the Siddaramaiah camp say that these dinner meetings, including the one called on January 3 by Satish Jarkiholi, were ones to strategise and work towards strengthening the party. The party high command had sought a full campaign across the country based on Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhaan, which was to begin on December 27 but was postponed after the demise of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. Thats all that it is," said a senior minister from the government. Shivakumar was known to have met with senior Congress leader KC Venugopal in Delhi upon hearing about the dinner meetings and also asked him to send a stern message to the state unit to stop such moves immediately, as it would give scope to political rumours and further spark friction in an already sensitive political balance in the state. Expressing unhappiness over the CMs dinner meeting and several leaders loyal to Siddaramaiah giving statements about appointing a new state president and creating more deputy chief minister posts, Shivakumar has also pointed out that this meeting was the latest among meetings that have been sending the wrong signals within the party and across the media as well. These meetings have been sending mixed signals to the party members. While it could be to discuss important issues, the timing of the meeting is also important. One dinner meeting was called when DK Shivakumar was out of the country. It could have been scheduled properly too," said a senior leader from the Shivakumar camp. The rumours about an impending leadership change in the government are an offshoot of a suspected high command-brokered power-sharing agreement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, ahead of forming the government in May 2023. Dinner and SC/ST vote Dynamics Another dinner that was to be hosted at a private hotel by Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on January 8 got hurriedly cancelled, allegedly due to the intervention of AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, overseeing the state. This sparked widespread speculation of a possible leadership change after March 2025 and was seen as Parameshwara trying to consolidate the support of SC/ST communities. Parameshwara himself had thrown his hat in the ring when the issue of whether Karnataka would see a change of guard between the two powerful leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar was discussed. Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, has maintained that he is the strongest candidate if a Dalit CM face is to be made the CM in the state, if the Congress high command falls into a predicament between the strongest Ahinda leader, two-time CM Siddaramaiah, and loyalist, troubleshooter, and Dy CM DK Shivakumar. Shivakumar reportedly alerted the high command about Parameshwaras plans, prompting the latter to defer the gathering. Parameshwara brushed off any suggestion of secrecy, stating, There was a discussion on inviting Shivakumar to the meeting. There is nothing to hide. If we have to do politics, we will do it openly." The postponed dinner was intended as a follow-up to the SC/ST convention held in Chitradurga ahead of the Assembly polls, Parameshwara said. He added that the issues from the Chitradurga resolution needed addressing now that the Congress is in power and that was the main purpose of the meeting, not to be misconstrued by the media. No Political Agenda? Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna, a staunch Siddaramaiah loyalist, reignited the push for additional Deputy CMs, a proposal he believes will boost Congress prospects in the Lok Sabha polls. Shivakumar is said to have reportedly vetoed the appointment of additional Deputy CMs. Rajanna accused the high command of displaying an anti-SC/ST bias by blocking Parameshwaras meeting. He claimed the agenda revolved around SC/ST students scholarships and hostel admissions, not politics. Giving a political colour to this meeting is doing injustice to these communities," Rajanna remarked. This was also on the agenda of the dinner meetings, said the Shivakumar faction. Sources close to the Deputy CM claim these dinners aim to keep him in check as he asserts his influence. The high command, wary of factional clashes, has sought to ensure such meetings dont spiral into full-blown crises. Another Congress leader remarked that the partys central leadership does not want to intervene apart from sending a few messages to ensure unity, as they feel it would give the opposition a handle to target the party time and again. The government has been asked to concentrate on delivering the guarantees and run a healthy government," said the leader. Deputy CM Posts Dinner Diplomacy The January 3, 2024, dinner meeting of senior Congress ministers, hosted by Minister Satish Jarkiholi, has sparked speculation about a section within the party strategising to keep Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in check and push for the appointment of additional Deputy Chief Ministers. He also mentioned upcoming conventions focused on Dalit and ST communities. We did not speak about the issue of a Dalit CM. There is a convention for Dalits on January 28 in Chitradurga, and after that, there is an SC/ST meeting in Davanagere in February," Jarkiholi added. The dinner, attended largely by leaders from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, comes amid fresh developments in a 2019 corruption case against Shivakumar. The CBI recently appealed against the Siddaramaiah-led governments decision to withdraw its consent for the agency to investigate corruption charges against him. In this background, on October 10 last year, three Dalit ministers in the Siddaramaiah-led government gathered for dinner at the residence of Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa in Mysuru, amid ongoing speculation about a possible leadership change in Karnataka. Parameshwara had then downplayed the political significance of the meeting, stating that he had simply accepted an invitation for dinner from Minister Mahadevappa, who is also the district in-charge minister for Mysuru. Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Kollegal MLA AR Krishnamurthy were also present at this dinner meeting. The gathering of Dalit ministers gained significance against the backdrop of the long-standing demand for a Dalit Chief Minister in Karnataka. Following the meeting, the ministers stated that discussions revolved around preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and organisational matters, including the possibility of appointing more Deputy Chief Ministers. Dishing out Lok Sabha strategy over Dinner If calling dinner meetings was meant to strategise, there was also a dinner hosted by Shivakumar in February 2024, just before the Lok Sabha polls, which saw a few Congress ministers giving it a miss. While Shivakumars supporters maintained that a majority of the ministers attended the programme, those who skipped had informed him in advance due to pre-scheduled engagements. Shivakumar had reportedly insisted that a few ministers should contest the Lok Sabha polls. While many of them skipped the dinner meeting, some others expressed that they could not switch to national politics and instead wished for Congress tickets to be given to their children. Satish Jarkiholi, whose name had been making the rounds as a probable candidate for the Belagavi seat, also missed the dinner. Ministers KN Rajanna, Byrati Suresh, Santhosh Lad, and Sharanabasappa Darshanapur were among the absentees, according to sources. But Shivakumars supporters maintained that a majority of the ministers attended the programme, and those who had skipped had informed him in advance due to pre-scheduled engagements. Former Union Minister Digvijaya Singh and Congress RS candidate Ajay Maken also attended this dinner meeting. BJP leaders in Congress dinner, another controversy Another dinner gathering that sparked a controversy, though not directly linked to the Congress working, but sparked political speculation, was on December 14, 2023, when former BJP ministers ST Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar, along with MLC AH Vishwanath, were seen attending a dinner organised after the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting. The ministers reportedly came to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to discuss seeking grants for development projects in their constituencies. Somashekar represents the Yeshwanthpura assembly constituency in Bengaluru, while Hebbar represents Yellapura in Uttara Kannada district. Vishwanath is a nominated MLC. Both Somashekar and Hebbar had previously been part of the Congress before joining the BJP, while Vishwanath, a former Congress leader, had shifted to JD(S) before eventually moving to the BJP. The trio were part of the 17 Congress and JD(S) legislators who resigned in 2019, leading to the collapse of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government under HD Kumaraswamy. Vishwanath, in particular, is now rumoured to be considering a return to the Congress. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Their attendance at the dinner, following the CLP meeting on the outskirts of Belagavi, fuelled further speculation about their political intentions. They were later pulled up by the BJP state chief for their participation. Shivakumar later clarified that 10 legislators from other parties had been invited to the dinner, but they did not attend the CLP meeting. First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:34 IST Mohan Bhagwat To Visit West Bengal For 10 Days In February, RSS Pracharaks Upbeat Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 10:00 IST RSS insiders say that this time, he will have various meetings with people from every part of the organisation. RSS leaders have told News18 that Mohan Bhagwat's 10-day visit will have huge ramifications. (Image: PTI/File) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat will visit West Bengal for ten days in February. He is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on February 7. Sources told News18 that he will stay in Kolkata for the first five days and in Burdwan for the following five days. Mohan Bhagwat visiting Kolkata is not new, but the fact that he will be spending ten days is significant, many believe. RSS insiders say that this time, he will have various meetings with people from every part of the organisation. related stories From female pracharaks to male pracharaks, Bhagwat will have elaborate meetings with all functionaries of the RSS. Different shakhas will meet him both in the Kolkata region and in the Burdwan region, sources said. One senior RSS pracharak told News18, This is obviously a great opportunity that he will be staying five days in Kolkata and five days in Burdwan; it means a lot for all of us. In Bengal, there is constant unrest in society and also in politics. There has been a huge demographic change. Through his visit, we will know how and where we have to work hard and how we can stand up for people." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all West Bengal Assembly polls are scheduled for next year. Its common knowledge in Bengal that the RSS backed various seats in 2019, which led to good results for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sources told News18 that on February 16, the RSS chief might hold a rally. What he says from that rally is going to be important, experts said, as in the last few months, their comments have been very interesting. In Jangalmahal and in South Bengal, the RSS has a really strong base now. All eyes will be on what will come out of this grand visit. Senior RSS leaders told News18 that Bhagwats 10-day stay is going to have huge ramifications. First Published: January 10, 2025, 10:00 IST Microsoft Played A Google Prank With Bing Search And People Were Not Happy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 08:30 IST Microsoft is trying every trick in the book to get people to use its Edge browser which is far behind Chrome in the market. Edge browser faces flak for this weird move. Microsoft has tried every trick in the book to get people to use its products like Edge and Bing instead of running over to Google Search and Chrome. And now the company seems to have taken a weird route to get peoples attention. Reports this week suggest Microsoft actually played a prank on users by showing them Bing with Google-like search interface. Yes, the exact white page, with Google doodle above the search bar. related stories We werent able to find this version of Bing, which is understandable as Microsoft must have taken it down after seeing the backlash around this move. But multiple media reports have been quoted talking about this Bing-Google link which even had the logo of the former but was strategically placed so that you dont see it on the page. The company has used tactics like constant pop-ups when you try to search or download Chrome on its browser that comes pre-installed on Windows PCs. This trick from Microsoft understandably did not go down well with people at Google, and its Chrome chief even said, New year, new low Microsoft," in a post on X. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Microsoft spoofing the Google homepage is another tactic in its long history of tricks to confuse users & limit choice. New year; new low @Microsoft https://t.co/LKSNNKB7Hy Parisa Tabriz (@laparisa) January 6, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chrome has the biggest share in the browser market, while Edge remains a distant third in single digits, with Safari coming second on the chart. You can understand the desperation to eat into its rivals market but the latest attempt is surely a low point for a company that gets valued at over 1 trillion in the market. Edge is a capable browser, built on the same Chromium engine as Chrome but Google clearly has a big lead over its rivals and thats because of how long it has been around in the market. For a company like Microsoft, tricks like these are not ideal and surely the person behind this move must be facing questions from the higher management. First Published: January 10, 2025, 08:30 IST 5 Things That Will Happen If Canada Really Becomes 51st US State Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:42 IST Global discussions arose after US President-elect Donald Trump claimed on social media that Canada expressed interest in becoming the 51st state of United States Discussions about Canadas potential statehood started on November 5, 2024, following Donald Trump 's meeting with Justin Trudeau in Florida. (AP File) Discussions about Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal have surfaced globally, with speculation regarding Canada becoming the 51st US state being particularly prevalent. These discussions began on November 5, 2024, with the meeting of newly elected US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida. related stories During the meeting, tariffs were a point of contention, with Donald Trump threatening to impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada. Subsequently, on December 16, 2024, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from her post. This event heightened pressure on Justin Trudeau, leading to his resignation on January 6, 2025. On the same day, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, Many people in Canada would like to become the 51st state of America. America can no longer bear the huge trade deficit and subsidies that are necessary for Canadas existence. Justin Trudeau understood this, and that is why he resigned." As soon as Trump shared this, a flood of memes appeared on social media worldwide, and discussions about Canada becoming the 51st state of America intensified. What if Canada actually becomes the 51st state Area: America would become the largest country in the world, surpassing Russia, with an area of approximately 19,811,345 square kilometres. This would constitute 80% of the North American continent and 13% of the Earths total land area. Economy: As the largest state in America by area, Canadas GDP, exceeding 2 trillion US dollars, would position it as the third largest state economically, after California and Texas. This integration would significantly bolster the US economy. Consequently, Americas total economy would reach approximately 30 trillion US dollars, dwarfing Chinas economy of 17.79 trillion dollars. Military: The US anticipates heightened influence in the Arctic due to Canadas northern border regions and states, potentially leading to control over the strategic Northwest Passage. This projection assumes the integration of Canadas 100,000-strong army into the US military. Additionally, it presumes the absorption of 65 Canadian Air Force fighter jets, 143 helicopters, and the Canadian Navys 14 frigates and four submarines into US control. Resources: Should Canada become the 51st state, the US would gain access to a vast reservoir of resources. The move would unlock Arctic resources and give the US control over Canadas abundant natural wealth. This includes the worlds largest freshwater reserves and 13% of global oil reserves. Such an acquisition would bring the USs oil reserves to 215 billion barrels, on par with Saudi Arabias 267 billion barrels. It would also see the US surpass the oil reserves of Russia (100 billion barrels), Iraq (145 billion barrels), and Iran (208 billion barrels). Population: After the hypothetical merger of Canada and the United States, the US population of 340 million would increase by approximately 40 million, bringing the total population to 380 million. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Is the merger possible? The merger of Canada as the 51st state of America is highly improbable. While superficially alluring, the immense political, cultural, and social disparities present insurmountable obstacles. The long-standing bilateral partnership and the intricate web of international relations render such a merger practically impossible. Nevertheless, the notion sparks intriguing discourse on global politics and economic dynamics. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 16:42 IST Falling Sick Is Now Banned In This Italian Town, Mayor Explains Logic Behind Absurd Order Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 11:53 IST The mayor of Belcastro in Calabria, southern Italy, has urged citizens to avoid activities that could lead to injuries or illnesses, such as travelling, playing sports, or engaging in risky behaviour Belcastro is home to approximately 1,300 residents, majority of whom are elderly. (PTI) You may have heard of some strange rules or unique bans in various countries, but in the picturesque city of Belcastro in Calabria, southern Italy, falling ill has been officially prohibited. This unusual decree, issued by Mayor Antonio Torchia, has drawn significant attention. According to the mayors announcement, residents are forbidden from getting sick, particularly with illnesses that require medical attention. related stories According to CNN, the mayors intention behind this seemingly absurd order is to highlight the dire state of healthcare services in the town. Belcastro, home to around 1,300 residents, most of whom are elderly, faces severe healthcare challenges. The towns sole health centre frequently remains closed, and accessing medical care during holidays, emergencies, or night-time is nearly impossible. The nearest emergency facility is located 45 km away in Catanzaro. Mayor Torchia remarked, We take this order as a joke, but it aims to shed light on a serious issue." The mayor has urged citizens to avoid activities that could lead to injuries or illnesses, such as travelling, playing sports, or engaging in risky behaviour. However, it remains unclear how this order will be enforced. The order will remain in place until the local health centre begins operating consistently. When questioned about the logic behind the order, the mayor invited people to stay in the village for a week. By staying here, you will realise for yourself that if there is a medical emergency, reaching Catanzaro on time is the only hope. Try this and then tell me if you think this situation is acceptable," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Belcastro is one of the poorest areas in Italy, with a declining population as younger generations migrate to urban centres. This trend has left the region predominantly inhabited by elderly residents. In 2021, over 75% of Calabrias 320 towns had populations under 5,000. Some towns have even resorted to offering monetary incentives to attract new residents, hoping to prevent these areas from becoming completely deserted. Location : Italy First Published: January 10, 2025, 11:53 IST Grim Reality Of LA Wildfires As Luxury Mansion Listed For Rs 300 Crore Engulfed In Flames Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:01 IST As Los Angeles continues to battle wildfires, a shocking video has emerged online showing a luxury mansion engulfed in flames. The mansion is listed on Zillow, a popular US-based real estate platform. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Los Angeles is still battling several massive wildfires, many of which remain out of control. Officials have confirmed at least 10 fatalities though they cautioned that the actual toll may only be known once investigators can safely access affected neighbourhoods. The fires have destroyed thousands of buildings. Many heartbreaking videos have surfaced online showing blazing buildings, burnt-out cars and firefighters risking their lives to control the situation. One video that has gained attention on Instagram shows a luxury mansion being engulfed by the flames. The mansion is reportedly listed on Zillow, a popular US-based real estate platform, for $35 million (approximately Rs 300 crore). The dramatic footage, recorded from a distance, shows the luxury house being consumed by flames with fire spreading across the area. In the background, the person filming can be heard saying, Oh my God, look at that house," as the flames continue to engulf the property. The video paints a grim picture of the devastating reality of the Los Angeles wildfires. related stories The fire began in the Pacific Palisades and spread quickly towards the Malibu stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. Many celebrities, including Mandy Moore, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Hamill, Jamie Lee Curtis, Paris Hilton and others, have reportedly lost their homes to the fire. The wildfires have been fueled by very dry conditions, a lack of rain and strong winds that reached up to 99 miles per hour. Experts say climate change has made such fires worse in recent years, causing them to grow larger and more destructive. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Southern California has had less than 1% of its usual rainfall since October, leaving the area extremely dry and prone to fires. Strong winds have made things even worse which has led the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for around 19 million people. Wind speeds of over 70 miles per hour were recorded in some places across the region, according to NBC News. The fires have severely impacted the regions water supply, with firefighters facing low water pressure and some fire hydrants running out of water completely. Firefighters described the devastation as something they had never witnessed in their decades of work. Officials referred to the situation as apocalyptic," while LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said some areas look like a bomb was dropped on them." Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 15:30 IST 'Handbags' Used By Firefighters To Battle LA Wildfires Are Not What You Think Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 12:38 IST Emergency teams are working tirelessly around the clock to contain the blazes and mitigate the damage. Visuals show firefighters using ''canvas bags''. (Photo Credits: X) The raging wildfires across California have wreaked havoc, claiming at least six lives and causing widespread destruction to property and land. The Palisades fire has become the most devastating in Los Angeles, displacing nearly 2,00,000 residents. Dry conditions and strong winds continue to fuel the flames, showing no signs of subsiding. Emergency teams are working tirelessly around the clock to contain the blazes and mitigate the damage. Amid the widespread circulation of gripping videos showcasing the deadly wildfires and intense firefighting efforts, one unusual clip has caught the Internets attention. In it, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials are seen using what appear to be small handbags to battle the active flames, leaving many puzzled by the unconventional method. related stories Circulated widely on the internet, the video has raised questions among social media users. Many have expressed concerns about the efficiency of LAFD at a time when the massive wildfires have been raging for days in Los Angeles and surrounding areas of California. The visual of the fire department using handbags to carry water is unreal. This is the best we can do? California burning like the 7th layer of hell and were slinging 10 ounce purse buckets?pic.twitter.com/2TXuJYa2Id Megs (@Rad_Megss) January 9, 2025 In the video, a group of firefighting officials could be seen filling small bags with water from the vehicles and rushing to put off the fire in a neighbourhood. One can also spot a number of fire engines lined up in the area with another team pulling the hose to put off the fire-engulfed buildings while others rushed with water-filled bags on the other side. While some social media users have criticised the LAPDs access to professional firefighting equipment, others have clarified that the handbags" seen in the video are not womens bags but rather specialized equipment owned by the department itself for handling fire incidents. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amid the online scrutinisation, the LAFD officials spoke to TMZ, clarifying that the bags seen in the videos were actually canvas bags" that firefighters bring on engines for various jobs when tackling a small trash fire like the one shown in the videos. It is easier to quickly fill in water and extinguish the flames than to pull out the entire hose. Hooking up fire hoses and hydrants takes time and with fires spreading so quickly, they have to act fast. Timing is everything," the department said. It has been nearly a week since wildfires have been ravaging the Pacific Palisades, further wreaking havoc in the Eaton, Sunset, Hurst, Lidia, Hollywood Hills and other regions. Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 12:38 IST Italian President Sergio Mattarella may visit Ukraine and take part in a conference on the country's reconstruction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "I just had a meeting with President Mattarella, he is very positive. I told him that it is time for him to come to Ukraine. Since the last time the Italian president was in Ukraine... 25 years ago... Especially now, we are talking about preparing a conference on reconstruction, I think that this is an important aspect, on the basis of which we could meet and discuss our next steps in Ukraine. Thus, we will see, let's hope that this visit of President Mattarella will take place," Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Italian TV channel RaiNews24. In the interview, Zelenskyy also reportedly spoke about Italy's role in supporting Ukraine and the importance of EU and the U.S. unity in the fight against Russian aggression, as well as the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine and the EU. If Your Home Is On Fire, You Must Save Kim Jong-Un's Photo First, Reveals North Korean Defector Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 15:48 IST The woman explains that in North Korea, everyone must have a photograph of Kim Jong-un in their home and keep it spotless at all times. Inspectors often enter homes overnight to check for dust The video has gone viral, garnering 51 lakh views, with many people expressing their surprise in the comments. (News18 Hindi) North Korea is known for its closed borders, the Kim family dictatorship and unusual rules that citizens must follow. One such rule requires residents to keep portraits of their leader, currently Kim Jong-un, in their homes. A recent video posted on the Instagram account @themillionairemagnets shows a North Korean woman speaking nervously on a podcast. The video features Joe Rogan, where he is conversing with a woman, who is likely a defector from North Korea. In the video, she shares the difficult conditions of her country. related stories The woman explains that in North Korea, everyone must have a photograph of Kim Jong-un in their home and keep it spotless at all times. Inspectors often enter homes overnight to check for dust. If any dust is found on the photograph, it is seen as a sign of disloyalty, and the occupants can be arrested. The punishment could either be a death sentence or the imprisonment of three generations of the family. She further revealed that if a house catches fire, saving Kim Jong-uns picture takes precedence over saving ones own life. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Business | Entrepreneurship (@themillionairemagnets) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The video has gone viral, garnering 51 lakh views, with many people expressing surprise in the comments. Some viewers suggested that the woman had escaped from North Korea, and there is a lot more information about her story. Apart from this, another surprising rule has emerged from North Korea. According to reports, North Korea has also banned the sale and consumption of hot dogs. This new decree has shocked many people, adding to the long list of restrictions in the country. Location : North Korea First Published: January 10, 2025, 15:48 IST It Is Raining Memes After L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan Endorses 90-hour Work Week Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 16:22 IST In a message to employees, SN Subrahmanyan advocated for a 90-hour week, further wishing to make them work on Sundays. The L&T chairman's remarks met with massive backlash. (Photo Credits: Instagram) It has not been very long since Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy sparked controversy after advocating for a 70-hour workweek for young professionals. Following in the same suit, L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan has now ignited a similar debate online after his suggestions for working 90 hours a week, extending shifts to Sundays. During an employee interaction, Subrahmanyan, upon being asked about enforcing working days on Saturday left everyone stunned with his explanation. I regret that I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I could have done that, I would be more happy because I work on Sunday," he said. In the video, the L&T chairman even enquired about what they plan to do sitting at home all day, further asking, How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands?" Subrahmanyans remarks went quickly viral on the internet, drawing sharp criticism from many who called out his views on work-life balance. related stories Social media users even compared Subrahmanyans comments to Narayana Murthys previous suggestions about professionals adopting a 70-hour work week. A meme page on Instagram, comparing the business leaders, hilariously remarked, This guy is Narayana Murthy on steroids." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sagar (@sagarcasm) A user took inspiration from a viral bus video capturing two senior citizens fighting over a seat and wrote, S. N. Subrahmanyan and Narayana Murthy going to the office on Sunday to complete 90 hrs of the week." Another comment read, Infosys Chairman Narayana Murthy: Work 70 hours a week!! L&T Chairman S N Subrahmanyan: Work 90 hours a week. Both are perfect jodi for each other." Mr Subrahmanyan of Larsen & Toubro recently recommended 90hrs work-week and has now overtaken Mr Narayana Murthy of Infosys who was advocating for only 70hrs," another comment read. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The internet had a field day with meme-makers going into a frenzy, transforming the controversy into a viral fest. From Narayana Murthy 2.0" to corporate slavery," the backlash has been sharp and unstoppable. In the meantime, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has issued a statement, defending its chairmans vision of driving progress for a developed nation. Earlier in 2023, Narayana Murthy during a conversation with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai explained that Indian companies need to fix a culture of extended working hours and dedication to bridge the gap between other developed countries like China. Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 16:21 IST Should Have Postponed: Khloe Kardashian Under Fire For Launching Podcast Amid LA Wildfires Tragedy Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 13:05 IST Reacting to the podcast launch, a social media user said, Sorry, our houses are on fire we don't have time to care. Khloe's focus on promoting her podcast invited criticism. (Photo Credits: X) Khloe Kardashian is facing backlash after launching the first episode of her podcast, Khloe in Wonder Land, amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Inviting Scott Disick as her first guest, the timing has sparked criticism, with many fans finding it insensitive. As the fires continue to devastate homes, including those of celebrities, some feel Khloes focus on promoting her podcast over addressing the crisis is profit-driven and tone-deaf. Although its possible that Khloe recorded the podcast before the fires began, fans are still upset due to her social media posts hyping up the show and the launch. She had promised exciting conversations with well-known Hollywood figures. Some believe she should have postponed the release, while others accused her of prioritising self-promotion over sympathy for those affected by the disaster. related stories Khloe in Wonder Land is officially LIVE on X! Catch my first-ever podcast episode with @ScottDisick!! Tune in now! pic.twitter.com/2HLEWiTTTC Khloe (@khloekardashian) January 8, 2025 Reacting to the post, a user wrote, Sorry, our houses are on fire we dont have time to care." Another shared, Ok I get you are launching, however, should have postponed, I mean IF THIS HERE DOESNT JUST PUT THE PERIOD, on Celebrity Daftness & its all about me me me." An individual shared, Peoples houses are destroyed in CA, and thousands may be homeless/jobless. And they are showing me Ads for Khloe in Wonderland? The Kardashians belong in HELL." One more added, Khloe in Wonder Land is the number 1 trending topic on X while a lot of her neighbours lose their homes in the worst wildfire I can ever remember in residential LA." While Khloe Kardashian is getting criticised online, shes also actively sharing her concerns. In a previous X (formerly known as Twitter) post, she wrote, I cant even comprehend what I am seeing. This doesnt seem real. Sending my deepest most sincere gratitude to the brave firefighters, volunteers, neighbours, good Samaritans and first responders working tirelessly to protect lives and communities across California. Your dedication, courage, and selflessness in the face of such challenging conditions are truly inspiring. We are all so grateful for your hard work and sacrifices. Stay safe, and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. I am so so sorry for everyone who is affected in ANY way." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I cant even comprehend what I am seeing. This doesnt seem real. Sending my deepest most sincere gratitude to the brave firefighters, volunteers, neighbors, good Samaritans and first responders working tirelessly to protect lives and communities across California. Your Khloe (@khloekardashian) January 9, 2025 The wildfire has not only displaced countless citizens but also claimed the homes of several Hollywood stars. Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 13:05 IST The Moment When Joe Rogan Raised An Alarm About Los Angeles Wildfires In His Podcast Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 14:34 IST California and its neighbouring regions including Los Angeles have been battling massive wildfires over the past few days. Rogan cautioned about the California wildfires on his podcast. (Photo Credits: YouTube) Major wildfires continue to burn across California and Los Angeles County, leaving behind a trail of destruction and affecting tens of thousands of people due to the evacuation since the blaze began. Amid reports of growing fatalities and firefighting efforts still underway across the affected regions, an old video has resurfaced from Joe Rogans podcast showing him predicting a deadly fire. Unusually dressed in a Los Angeles Fire Department t-shirt, Joe Rogan made mysterious predictions in a July 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. During a conversation with Sam Morril, Rogan warned about the right wind" that he believed would catch one of Californias many wildfires and burn through Los Angeles. The 57-year-old also explained why he left Los Angeles as he he always waiting for the next fires. related stories I was evacuated three times from my house from fires. Last one, two houses in front of my house burned to the ground. It was a scary experience," the UFC commentator said, further adding that he managed to leave with his family before an evacuation was put into effect. the California fires were perfectly predicted with insane accuracy by a firefighter that spoke to Joe Rogan pic.twitter.com/zuM8gmvJRX ryan (@scubaryan_) January 9, 2025 During the podcast, Rogan recalled his conversation with one of the firefighters, who then said, One day, its just going to be the right wind and fires gonna start in the right place and its going to burn through LA all the way to the ocean and theres not a fking thing we can do about it." Rogan also shared how the fireman believed that people in Los Angeles get lucky with the wind." Having admitted to being freaked out" by the firefighters warning, Rogan has been echoing his concerns about Los Angeles wildfires on various episodes of his show since then. Reacting to the resurfaced video, social media users couldnt help but call out the worsening conditions. One wrote, Its gonna keep happening. The planet is getting drier. The wind is getting stronger. Climate change is real," while another added, I wonder how many Firefighters tried to get higher-ups and policymakers to prepare for this scenario and were met with silence. Has to be a lot I would think." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A user reshared Rogans old video and stated, The California fires were perfectly predicted with insane accuracy by a firefighter that spoke to Joe Rogan." Fast forward to 2025, firefighters have been fighting an endless battle to douse off the out-of-control fires that have claimed 10 lives, ravaging communities and sending thousands away from their homes. Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 14:34 IST What Is Deinfluencing? The Trend Challenging Influencer Culture And Fast Fashion Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 14:40 IST Deinfluencing is a trend that encourages people to refrain from buying products that are promoted online or via influencers. The trend gained momentum on TikTok and other platforms. (Representative Image) Remember the deinfluencing trend that swept across the Internet in 2023? Diana Wiebe, a TikTok influencer from Ohio, is bringing it back into the spotlight, urging people to reconsider their online shopping habits. Once an active promoter of various products and services, Wiebe found that experience didnt live up to the hype, thus pushing her to the other side of the spectrum. Wiebe, like many other de-influencers, has become a part of the rising movement that discourages influencer culture and fast fashion. Through her videos, Wiebe asks her followers to rethink before purchasing anything and explains how practices like weekly clothing hauls are not normal consumption habits. related stories So what is this deinfluencing trend that has taken over the Internet in the past few years? With several self-claimed de-influencers taking part in a movement to discourage audiences from buying overhyped stuff, it has started representing a departure from the usual swipe up and buy now" thing. What Is Deinfluencing? Deinfluencing is an emerging social media trend that encourages people to refrain from buying products that are promoted online or via influencers. A section of people who refer to themselves as deinfluencers describe such purchases to be indulgent, ineffective, and not worth the money. At a time when social media has become a crucial platform for marketing products and services, especially for younger customers, it has created a path for brands and companies to collaborate with influencers to market their good services and experiences to followers. In simple terms, while influencing includes making efforts to persuade social media users into buying things, deinfluencing is just the opposite of that. Mikayla Mains, a St. Louis-based content creator, shared her thoughts on the deinfluencer trend in a conversation with CNN. While acknowledging the movements refreshing approach, she admitted feeling disconnected from it. The trend feels refreshing at a time in social media marketing can feel like pressure by suggesting you buy expensive luxuries just to feel good about yourself. As someone who has struggled in the influencer realm with the morals of influencing, I love to see us taking a turn in a different direction, she said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To encourage her followers, Michelle Skidelsky, a Canadian influencer used one of her TikTok posts to explain why they dont need a new set of clothes at the start of every season. First of all, new clothing thats not like fast fashion is expensive these days. If you are going on a trip, you dont need a new wardrobe for either of these things. Make do with whatever you have and live within your means," she said further explaining why people also dont need multiple new pairs of sunglasses or other accessories to match their outfits every time. It is worth mentioning that the deinfluencing trend has inspired many on social media, providing a refreshing perspective at a time when impulsive shopping trends have taken the lead. Location : Delhi, India First Published: January 10, 2025, 13:39 IST Donald Trump, Elon Musk Blame Diversity For Los Angeles Wildfires, Not Climate Change Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 09:58 IST Elon Musk responded True to a post from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones about the fires being part of a larger globalist plot to wage economic warfare and deindustrialize the United States." Donald Trump and Elon Musk (AP Image) Deadly wildfires in Los Angeles have now been ravaging the city for days. Although the reason for the wildfires has not been confirmed by officials yet as it is under investigation, experts have linked climate change and the severity of recent wildfires. But not everyone agrees that climate change is to be blamed. Elon Musk responded True" to a post from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones about the fires being part of a larger globalist plot to wage economic warfare and deindustrialize the United States before triggering total collapse" but deleted his response later. related stories Elon Musk has also promoted posts which blame the destruction on diversity initiatives. He liked a post by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh which read, Los Angeles deliberately set out to exclude white men from becoming firefighters, and now they dont have enough firefighters to prevent their city from burning to the ground. DEI is a cancer that destroys everything it touches." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly also criticised Los Angles fire management capabilities, writing, In recent years, L.A.s fire chief has made not filling the fire hydrants top priority, but diversity. Who gives a shit if the fire chief is gay. Im sorry, but who gives a flying fig about who she likes to sleep with, can you fight the fucking fires, madam? Thats the relevant question." Donald Trump blamed California Governor Gavin Newsoms water policies and said that this prevented the citys ability to fight the fires. The US President-elect said, One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. Its ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!" Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 09:58 IST 'Canadians Like It': Trump Reveals Why He Called Trudeau Governor And Canada 51st State Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 09:12 IST Donald Trump has termed Canada as the US' 51st state on numerous occasions, drawing reactions from PM Justin Trudeau. Trump has now revealed the reason behind calling Trudeau a Governor. Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau (Reuters Image) US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) reiterated his Canada should be 51st state" remark and said that the people of the North American country like it. Trump said that he called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a Governor" as he thinks Canada should be a US state. related stories Trump On Why He Called Justin Trudeau Governor I called him Governor Trudeau because they should be the 51st state. It really would make a great state. And the people of Canada like it. Theyd pay lower taxes," Trump said in response to a media query. Theyve virtually no military. They pay less than 1%. Theyre about the lowest payer in NATO, theyre supposed to pay much more. They havent been paying. They have a lot of problems," he added. TRUMP: I CALLED HIM GOVERNOR TRUDEAU CANADA SHOULD BE THE 51ST STATE!I called him Governor Trudeau because they should be the 51st state. It really would make a great state. And the people of Canada like it. Theyd pay lower taxes." Source: Fox https://t.co/EKgs3g2lob pic.twitter.com/ygiK4Pwm5L Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 10, 2025 Trump, who is all set to take over as the next US President on January 20, has been threatening Canada since November last year. He even made his intentions clear to Justin Trudeau in a dinner meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Recently, Trump said that he would not use the military to annex Canada into the US but economic force" to do so. He also shared on social media a unified map of the US and Canada painted completely in the US flag. Trudeau Calls Trumps Threats A Distraction Trudeau, who was in the US to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, said in an interview with CNN that Trumps threat to Canada was a distraction" from the consequences of his 25% tariff threat to Mexico, Canada and China. President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that, by that conversation, to take away from the conversation around 25% tariffs on oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete," Trudeau said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump had threatened to levy a 25% tariff on Canada if the country did not stop the illegal immigration and transportation of drugs from the US-Canada borders into the country. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on all products coming into the United States and its ridiculous Open Borders," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 09:09 IST Germany Really Needs You: Elon Musk Hosts Far-Right AfD Leader Alice Weidel on X Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 07:32 IST Elon Musk hosted a conversation with Alice Weidel, AfDs chancellor candidate. In the chat, he introduced her as the leading candidate to run Germany. Elon Musk hosted a conversation with Alice Weidel on X. Elon Musk urged German voters to vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the upcoming national election during a broadcast on his social media platform, X. As the Tesla boss hosted a conversation with Alice Weidel, AfDs chancellor candidate, he introduced her as the leading candidate to run Germany." He said, Welcome to the conversation with Alice Weidel, who is currently the leading candidate to run Germany, I think." During the conversation, the two talked about energy policy and Germanys business regulation as well as they both agreed that the countrys decision to phase out nuclear power plants was wrong. related stories What Elon Musk and Alice Weidel said on German policies Elon Musk said, When I saw that Germany was turning off the power plants after being cut off from gas supplies from Russia, I thought this is one of the craziest things Ive ever seen." Meanwhile, Alice Weidel criticised Germanys education system, saying, We have this insane, wokeish, socialist, leftist agenda in our educational system. So, the young people, they dont learn anything in school, university. They just learn about gender studies." Elon Musk backs far-right AfD top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To this, Elon Musk said, It sounds like the woke mind virus has infected Germany quite badly." Expressing his support for the AfD, Elon Musk said, People really need to get behind AfD, otherwise things are going to get very, very much worse in Germany. I think Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person. Nothing outrageous is being proposed." The AfD is polling second ahead of Germanys national election on February 23, news agency Reuters reported. Location : Germany First Published: January 10, 2025, 07:32 IST Trudeau Dubs Trump's Threat To Make Canada 51st US State Distraction From Tariff Fallout Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 08:07 IST Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st State of the US. Justin Trudeau has termed the threats as "distraction" from the fallout of his tariff threats. Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau (AP File Image) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday (local time) dubbed President-elect Donald Trumps repeated remarks to annex Canada into the United States as a distraction" from the consequences of the latters 25% tariff threats. Trudeau, who announced earlier this week that he would step down as the leader of his party and as Prime Minister once his successor was chosen, said that Canada becoming the 51st State of the US, as per Donald Trumps threat, was not going to happen". related stories Trudeau Responds To Trumps Threat President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that, by that conversation, to take away from the conversation around 25% tariffs on oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete," Trudeau said in an interview with CNN. Trump in November last year vowed to impose heavy taxes on all goods coming from Mexico, Canada, and China from the first day of his administration. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on all products coming into the United States and its ridiculous Open Borders," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" We Are Not American: Trudeau The tariffs, if levied, could sharply shoot up the costs for American businesses and consumers, Trudeau pointed out as Canada, Mexico and China are the biggest trade partners of the United States. Everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs," Trudeau told CNN. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On the induction of Canada into the US, Trudeau said that the Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian". One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, were not American," he said. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 07:58 IST Like A Bomb Was Dropped: Horrifying Drone Shots Show Wildfire-Ravaged Los Angeles Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 15:26 IST Los Angeles Wildfires: In drone footage, bare frames of homes and yards littered with debris were seen over a destroyed neighbourhood where small patches of fires remained. Los Angeles Wildfires: Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive natural disasters the city has seen, burned at least 19,059 acres, while the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire has scorched some 13,690 acres. Los Angeles resembled a war zone as drone footage showed crumbled homes and structures due to wildfires which have left at least five dead and nearly 180,000 under evacuation orders. The fires- which erupted in the Pacific Palisades- damaged thousands of buildings as entire blocks were shown burned to ash. In drone footage, bare frames of homes and yards littered with debris were seen over a destroyed neighbourhood where small patches of fires remained as thick plumes of gray smoke filled the air. related stories NOW: Los Angeles like Gaza Drone footage of total destruction in Los Angeles. Entire neighborhoods turned to ash. pic.twitter.com/y0KIudZLbU Megatron (@Megatron_ron) January 9, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This comes as officials said that worsening winds could impact their response as out of five fires, three were completely uncontained and had already burned nearly 30,000 acres in Los Angeles. Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive natural disasters the city has seen, burned at least 19,059 acres, while the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire has scorched some 13,690 acres. Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said fire-ravaged neighborhoods look like a bomb was dropped in them." Numerous residents in California remained without power with roughly 863,000 outages in Los Angeles County and another 857,000 or so in neighboring San Bernadino County, as per tracker PowerOutage.us. Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 08:51 IST Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha discussed with his Angolan counterpart Tete Antonio the development of cooperation between the countries, as well as a number of regional and international issues. "I spoke with Tete Antonio about developing our cooperation, including joint projects to strengthen Angola's agricultural capabilities. We intend to develop bilateral dialogue to foster political and trade cooperation. We also discussed a number of regional and international issues," Sybiha said on the X social network. Not Willing To Take Any Nonsense: Prince William Seizing Power From King Charles Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 09:27 IST Prince William has asserted that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew are not welcome in the royal family anymore, the report claimed. Prince William is seen. (Photo Credits: X) Prince William is seizing" more power from King Charles as he nears his ascension to the throne, it was reported. The Prince of Wales has been putting his foot down on several key decisions about the royal familys future, InTouch reported. Prince William done with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle? related stories He has also asserted that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew are not welcome in the royal family anymore, the report claimed citing a palace insider who said, Its no secret that anyone who pushes back against him will be swiftly shown the door. Hes not willing to take any nonsense and the word is hes already on his way to being the toughest ruler the family has ever seen." Prince William has never been more influential" than ever and isnt shying away from making decisions that he feels will benefit the Crown in the long run", the source told the outlet. King Charles is bestowing more responsibility on [William] and by all accounts is acknowledging that his time to rule will be sooner, rather than later," the report added. What is Prince William focussing on? Prince William is concentrating on improving the royal familys public image and is looking to cut unnecessary spending, the report claimed. [William] wants expenses to be monitored closely, and any fat trimmed straightaway. He doesnt want there to be any sense that special perks are being handed out to the royals," the source was quoted as saying by the outlet. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It added, Hes all about the environment, so hes pushing hard to be front and center in that respect and has put out this edict that the rest of the family needs to get on board with being as green as possible. Private flights and that sort of thing are being frowned on. The days of wasteful spending and overconsumption are ending now that William is at the helm." This comes after a tough year for Prince William as his wife Kate Middleton was diagnosed with cancer following a planned abdominal surgery last January. The couple have returned to public duties after Kate Middleton announced that she was cancer-free in September 2024. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: January 10, 2025, 09:27 IST Pakistans Balochistan Caught In US Vs China? Exclusive From Local Sources On Zehri Attack Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 17:52 IST "Americans also have an interest in this area due to strategic reasons and possibly they want China to go outChina is upset due to ongoing attacks in the area and Pakistan armys non-compliance about the safety of the Chinese workers, said sources close to Pak... Read More Both US and China are interested in the region, say sources. (File) Armed gunmen from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched an attack on the main bazaar in Zehri tehsil of Khuzdar district on Wednesday morning. The BLA attacked multiple government buildings, including Force station, Nadra and municipal committee offices. According to officials, around 80 militants entered the area around 11 pm from nearby mountains. They deployed armed men around the bazaar and other locations in the tehsil headquarters of Zehri. They set up checkpoints around the Zehri bazaar and pickets on the mountains to resist any action from security forces. related stories The militants stormed the Levies Thana, took the personnel hostage, ransacked the records, and set the building on fire, damaging part of the structure, furniture and other items. The armed men later attacked a private bank branch, took the staff hostage and looted over Rs 90 million from the strong room. The banned BLA claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLA launched the first phase of Operation Herof in August last year. Two units of the BLA, the Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) and the Fateh Squad, participated in this operation. WHAT SOURCES SAY Sources close to Pakistan establishment said, It is not possible that these two massive operations can be done without the help and support of external forces and without the revolt of Pakistan army." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Pakistan army has been quiet. Americans also have an interest in this area due to strategic reasons and possibly they want China to go outChina is upset due to ongoing attacks in the area and Pakistan armys non-compliance about the safety of the Chinese workers who are killed on daily basis by the BLA," said sources. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and economic investments for mining is another interest of China. They want control on the region through this area, especially Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. On the other hand, American interests want this area for counter terrorism, regional stability and balancing China. The strategic interests of China and the US in Quetta are shaped by their economic, security and geopolitical interests," they said. First Published: January 10, 2025, 17:46 IST Trudeau's Liberal Party To Announce Canada's New PM On March 9; Who Are In Fray Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 21:47 IST Trudeau's Liberal Party leader said it would conclude the leadership race on March 9 and a new leader would be announced on the same day, following Trudeau's decision to step down as PM. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday. (Reuters) Canadas outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party on Thursday (local time) said he would announce the new leader on March 9 ahead of the general elections which his party is widely expected to lose to the Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre. Trudeau had announced on Monday that he would step down as PM and party leader after a successor was chosen amid pressure from lawmakers and widespread unpopularity as the country reels from a financial and housing crisis. related stories After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election," the party said in a statement. The partys National Board of Directors also met on Thursday evening to discuss and outline the initial rules of the upcoming leadership race. The party said the leadership vote would conclude on March 9 and a new leader would be announced on the same data. The deadline to become a registered Liberal and become eligible to vote in the leadership is January 27. The entrance fee for a candidate to join the leadership race will be C$350,000 ($242,920.60). The transition comes amid challenging times for Canada, as US President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian imports and also refers to the country as the 51st state of the United States. ALSO READ: Canadians Like It: Trump Reveals Why He Called Trudeau Governor And Canada 51st State Who Is In The Fray In Canadas Leadership Race Chrystia Freeland: Serving as Trudeaus deputy PM and Finance Minister, all eyes would be on Freeland as she is billed as the most high-profile contender to replace Trudeau with her strong international credentials and economic expertise. It was her shock resignation last month that plunged the Trudeau government in its latest crisis. Freeland is currently leading in polls, although her long association with Trudeaus government may pose as a liability. Mark Carney: A former Bank of Canada and Bank of England Governor, Carney has emerged as a strong contender for the leadership position. Having served as Trudeaus special economic advisor, his financial acumen and economic credentials may aid his grand political achievements, but he lacks political experience which may hinder his chances. Anita Anand: A former Defence Minister and current Transport and Internal Trade Minister in Trudeaus Cabinet, Anand holds significant experience in politics, since leading contract negotiations to secure medical equipment at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as Minister of Public Services and Procurement. She also served as the Defence Minister and implemented military reforms. Chandra Arya: An India-born MP who has been very vocal against pro-Khalistan extremism in Canada, Arya has officially declared his candidacy for the PM, vowing to transform the country into a sovereign republic". His parliamentary career began in 2015 and his vocal stance on Khalistan has sometimes put him at odds with fellow lawmakers. Francois-Philippe Champagne: A businessman, trade and international specialist with decades of experience at large international companies, Champagne is also a top contender to replace Trudeau as the party leader. Liberal leaders from Quebec favour him as a suitable choice for party leader due to his progressive policies, although he faces challenges in attracting centrist votes. Christy Clark: Former British Columbia premier Clark has also expressed her interest in leading the party after Trudeau. The 58-year-old politician is a prominent figure in Canadian politics and is one of the dissenting Liberal politicians calling for Trudeaus exit. Dominic LeBlanc: He is a senior Liberal Cabinet minister and a close confidante of Trudeau. LeBlanc has significant political experience and was billed as a candidate for the leadership post. However, he announced later that he would not participate in the leadership race. LeBlanc currently serves as the Finance Minister after Freelands exit. Melanie Joly: She serves as the current foreign minister and is considered close to the beleaguered Prime Minister. Jolys handling of Canadas conflicts with India, China and Russia have attracted criticism, but she still remains a strong competitor. Joly announced she would not run in the race to replace Trudeau, saying she wanted to focus on the threat posed by potential US tariffs. Sources told The Globe and Mail that Freeland and Carney were poised to seek the Liberal Party leadership, while Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne remained uncertain over whether to join the race. Trudeau announced on Monday that parliament would be prorogued, or suspended, until March 24. That meant an election was unlikely before May at the earliest, so Trudeau was expected to remain in charge when Trump takes office on January 20. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The next Canadian election must be held by October 20 and polls show that voters angry over high prices and a shortage of affordable housing are set to elect the opposition Conservatives and hand the Liberals a resounding defeat, no matter who leads the party. (with agency inputs) Location : Ottawa, Canada First Published: January 10, 2025, 21:12 IST Trump Looking For 'Quiet Place' With Obama, Lip Reader Decodes Duo's Chat At Carter's Funeral Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 09:29 IST What caught everyone's attention was the conversation between the Republican and Democratic leaders, who had shared a tense relationship for over a decade. Obama and Trump spoke during Jimmy Carter's state funeral in Washington | AP Image US President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama engaged in a seemingly unexpected and warm conversation during the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter in Washington on January 9. Their conversation and bonding carried more serious undertones beyond mere laughter, as a professional lip reader claimed that Trump, possibly mindful of the cameras focused on the pair, suggested to Obama that they should find a quiet place" later in the day to discuss a matter of importance." related stories It remains unclear what the duo discussed at length, but forensic lip reader Jeremy Freemans analysis suggested that Obama and Trump might have been talking about international agreements, according to the New York Post. I cant talk, we have to find a quiet place sometime. This is a matter of importance and we need to do this outside so that we can deal with it, certainly, today," the translated version of the chat was shared with the Post. At one point during the conversation, Trump leaned toward Obama and said, Ive pulled out of that. Its the conditions. Can you imagine that?" During his first term, Trump withdrew from Obamas 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement, although it is unclear if those agreements were the subject of their discussion. Obama burst into laughter as Trump remarked, And after, I will," just before the pooled TV camera feed shifted away from the two men, who were seated between former First Lady Laura Bush and Trumps wife, Melania. Call me at the foy after, yep," Trump replied to Obama during their exchange, possibly referring to the National Cathedrals foyer. Obama then said, Can you just it should be good." NEW: Trump told Obama he had to find a quiet place to speak with him regarding an urgent matter of importance," according to the New York Post.The revelation was made by forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman. Trump: Ive pulled out of that. Its the conditions. Can you imagine pic.twitter.com/BxSrm8XLBH Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 9, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What caught everyones attention was the conversation between the Republican and Democratic leaders, who had shared a tense relationship for over a decade. Freeman, who is based in London, was born deaf and for 16 years has served as a University College London-certified expert witness for litigants, the police and journalists. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 08:44 IST 'US Is Our Only Interlocuter': Turkey Rules Out French Troops In Syria Citing Security Threats Published By : AFP Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 19:41 IST Turkish FM Hakan Fidan accused Paris of turning a blind eye to Turkey's own security concerns and called on the country to repatriate its own "jihadist nationals" from Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier said it is working to make sure Syria's transformation does not lead to any more security threats. (Reuters) Turkeys top diplomat ruled out any role for French troops in Syria Friday, saying Washington was its only interlocutor as US officials sought to head off Turkish military action against Kurdish fighters. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Paris of turning a blind eye to Turkeys own security concerns, and called on France to take back its jihadist nationals jailed in Syria. related stories Paris and Washington have been hoping to dissuade their NATO ally from escalating an offensive against the Kurdish-led SDF, which helped them defeat the Islamic State group in 2019. The SDF is seen by many in the West as crucial to keeping the jihadists at bay. Turkey however sees it as a major security threat over its ties to the PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency on Turkish soil. Asked about the possible deployment of US and French troops in northern Syria to ease tensions with the Kurds, Fidan dismissed any role for France. The US is our only interlocutor," he told journalists in Istanbul. Frankly we dont take into account countries that try to advance their own interests in Syria by hiding behind the US. We have said it many times: there is no chance we can live with such a threat. Either someone else will take the step or we will," he added. Turkey, he said, had the strength, the capacity and above all the determination to eliminate all threats to its survival at the source" echoing threats earlier this week by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkeys Offensive Against Kurdish-Led SDF SDF forces control dozens of prisons and camps in northeastern Syria where thousands of jihadists and their families are being held. Among them are several dozen French nationals alongside other foreign extremists whose home nations are deeply concerned about having to take them back. Despite Western insistence on the crucial role played by the SDF in holding back a jihadist resurgence, Turkey has dismissed it as little more than a glorified jihadist jailer. What France should do is take back its own citizens, bring them to its own prisons and judge them," Fidan said. It is wrong to ask the YPG, another terrorist organisation, to keep these prisoners in exchange for support," he said of the Kurdish group that makes up the bulk of the SDF. France was ignoring Turkeys own security concerns by not repatriating its jihadists. They have a policy, they do not bring ISIS prisoners back to their own countries. But they do not care about our security," he said. Turkeys only aim was to ensure stability" in Syria, he insisted. They always put forward their own demands and dont take any steps about our concerns," he added, pledging that Turkey would deal with the problem in its own way. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last month, Fidan said Western support for the SDF was little more than payback for ensuring their own jihadist nationals did not return home. Unfortunately, our American friends and some European friends are using a terrorist organisation to keep the other terrorists in prison," he said in an interview with France24. Location : Ankara, Turkey First Published: January 10, 2025, 19:41 IST Trump Sentenced To 'Unconditional Release' In Hush Money Case Days Before His White House Return Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 22:42 IST Trump was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election US President-elect Donald Trump (File) United States President-elect Donald Trump has been sentenced to an unconditional discharge" for his conviction on 34 charges of business fraud related to hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Read More: US Supreme Court Rejects Donald Trumps Bid To Delay New York Hush Money Sentencing related stories Trumps sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. What Is Unconditional Discharge? Unconditional discharge means Trump will not be imprisoned, fined or face probation, but his conviction still stands, and he will enter office as a convicted felon. With Trump 10 days from inauguration, Judge Merchan has indicated he plans a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge, and prosecutors arent opposing it. That would mean no jail time, no probation and no fines would be imposed, but nothing is final until Fridays proceeding is done. Extraordinary Case Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan said that like when facing any other defendant, he must consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence, but the legal protection that Trump will have as president is a factor that overrides all others". Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict," Merchan said. The judge further noted that this has been an extraordinary case. Read More: Hush Money Case: US Judge Rejects Trumps Request To Delay Sentencing Scheduled This Week Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstance. This has been a truly extraordinary case," he added. Prosecutors said Friday that they supported a no-penalty sentence, but they chided Trumps attacks on the legal system throughout and after the case. The verdict came a day after the Supreme Court rejected the President-elects request to drop the proceeding. Trump said he thought it was a fair decision" and referred to possible further appeals, such as of the verdict. Trump addressed the court as he appeared virtually from his Florida home, and said that his criminal trial and conviction has been a very terrible experience" and insisted he committed no crime. He again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. Its been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didnt work," Trump said. Whats The Hush Money Case? Trump was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Trumps attorneys had sought to have the case dismissed on multiple grounds, including the Supreme Courts landmark ruling last year that former US presidents have sweeping immunity from prosecution for a range of official acts committed while in office. Trump also faced two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith but both were dropped under a long-standing Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Read More: Donald Trump To Be Sentenced In Hush Money Case 10 Days Before Taking Office. Will He Go To Jail? In those cases, Trump was accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden and removing large quantities of top secret documents after leaving the White House. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump also faces racketeering charges in Georgia over his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in the White House. (With inputs from agencies) Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 21:01 IST US Sanctions 8 Senior Venezuelan Officials As Nicolas Maduro Sworn In For Third Term Curated By : AFP Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 22:43 IST The US, Canada, the UK and the EU have supported the Venezuelan opposition's claims of widespread fraud and repression in the elections that saw Maduro winning a third term. Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as the Venezuela President for the third straight term following the elections that were marred by allegations of fraud. (Reuters) The United States slapped fresh sanctions against eight senior Venezuelan officials Friday as President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in to a third term following elections Washington says were won by his opponent. The US Treasury Department announced it had designated eight Venezuelan officials who lead key economic and security agencies enabling (President) Nicolas Maduros repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela." related stories Those designated include high-level officials from the military and police, and the presidents of the countrys state-owned oil company and airline. Since last years election, Maduro and his associates have continued their repressive actions in Venezuela," acting Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Bradley Smith said in a statement. The United States, together with our likeminded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan peoples vote for new leadership and rejects Maduros fraudulent claim of victory," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Treasurys sanctions came on the same day Nicolas Maduro was sworn in to a third six-year presidential term after elections marred by widespread claims of fraud and repression, and which Washington and many countries claim were won by the opposition. The United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union were taking similar actions" on Friday, demonstrating a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people," the Treasury Department said. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: January 10, 2025, 22:43 IST Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro Sworn In After Months Of Protests Alleging Voter Fraud Published By : Associated Press Last Updated: January 10, 2025, 23:46 IST Several foreign governments, including the US, have rejected Maduro's victory citing credible evidence validated by election observers that his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez had won the election. President Nicolas Maduro gestures on the day of his inauguration for a third six-year term in Caracas. (Reuters) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday for a new term, extending his increasingly repressive rule in the face of renewed protests and rebukes from the United States and others who believe he stole last years vote. Venezuelas legislative palace, where he was sworn in and delivered a fiery speech, was heavily guarded by security forces who have become Maduros main hold on power since last summers disputed election. Crowds of people, many sporting pro-Maduro T-shirts, gathered in adjacent streets and a nearby plaza. related stories Maduro, likening himself to a biblical David fighting Goliath, accused his opponents and their supporters in the US of trying to turn his inauguration into a world war." He said his enemies failure to block his inauguration to a third, six-year term was a great victory" for Venezuelas peace and national sovereignty. Today more than ever I feel the weight of commitment, the power that I represent, the power that the constitution grants me," he said, after being draped with a sash in the red, yellow and blue of Venezuelas flag. I have not been made president by the government of the United States, nor by the pro-imperialist governments of Latin America." State TV said 10 heads of state attended. But far more governments around the world have rejected his victory claims, pointing to credible evidence validated by election observers that his previously unknown opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, won by a more than two-to-one margin. To underscore Maduros growing isolation, the Biden administration, Canada, the UK and European Union announced a coordinated round of new sanctions Friday on more than 20 officials, accusing them of gutting Venezuelas democracy. They include the loyalist Supreme Court justices, electoral authorities, the head of Venezuelas state oil company and cabinet ministers. The backslapping among government insiders in downtown Caracas on Friday contrasted sharply with the hundreds of Venezuelans who took to the streets Thursday to protest Maduros power grab. The protest took place in relative calm but after it ended, the popular former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado the driving force of whats left of Venezuelas beleaguered opposition was briefly detained when her motorcycle convoy was intercepted by security forces. An hour later, as international condemnation poured in, she appeared in a 20-second video published by the government saying she had dropped her purse. Im safe," she said in the video, which the opposition said was coerced. Venezuela will be free." Machado, whom the government has barred from running for office, had emerged from months of hiding to join the rally and demand Gonzalez be sworn in instead of Maduro. Maduros supporters denied she was arrested, accusing his opponents of spreading fake news to generate an international crisis. Maduros 2018 election was widely rejected as a sham after authorities banned key opponents from running. And Venezuelas opposition faction accuse him of outright ballot fraud last year. Their proof: tally sheets collected from 85% of electronic voting machines that show Gonzalez won by a landslide. Experts from the United Nations and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, whom Maduro invited to observe the election, said the voting records posted online by the opposition look legitimate. Nevertheless, electoral authorities loyal to the ruling party declared Maduro the winner hours after polls closed on July 28 but, unlike in previous presidential elections, they did not provide detailed vote counts. Global condemnation over the lack of transparency prompted Maduro to ask the countrys high court which like every other institution in Venezuela is packed with loyalists to audit the results. As expected, the court reaffirmed Maduros victory. The dispute over the results sparked nationwide protests. The government responded with full force, arresting more than 2,000 demonstrators and encouraging Venezuelans to report anyone they suspect to be a ruling-party adversary. More than 20 people were killed during the unrest. Dozens of foreigners including as many as 10 Americans were also rounded up. Outside Fridays inauguration ceremony, Maduros supporters were overjoyed. One of them was Maricarmen Ruiz, 18, who couldnt hold back her tears. I dont have words to express my emotion, Im happy," she said, expressing relief that Gonzalez wasnt imposed" instead as president. Among those seen attending Maduros inauguration were Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega and Cubas Miguel Diaz-Canel. But several Maduro allies stayed home, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who cited the recent arrest of another longtime Venezuelan opposition member and a human rights defender as his reason for missing the event. Gonzalez, who left for exile in Spain in September, had pledged to return to Venezuela by Friday to take oath himself. He faces arrest should he follow through on the promise. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Tuesday, Gonzalez said his son-in-law had been kidnapped in Caracas by masked gunmen while taking his young children to school. Gonzalezs daughter, Mariana Gonzalez de Tudares, in a statement accused the government of ordering her husbands disappearance. At what point did being related to Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia become a crime?" she said. Location : Caracas, Venezuela First Published: January 10, 2025, 23:46 IST "By joining BRICS, Indonesia can voice the aspirations of the Global South," said an Indonesian expert. JAKARTA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has reached a new milestone in its diplomatic history as the largest economy and most populous nation in Southeast Asia has officially been admitted as a full member of BRICS, becoming the first country from the region to join the economic grouping. The announcement was made on Monday by the Brazilian government, which holds the bloc's presidency this year. Initially established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, BRICS now boasts a total of 10 full members. ECONOMIC BOOST Indonesian experts have widely praised the government's decision to join BRICS, highlighting the potential benefits for Indonesia, such as boosting its economy, attracting investments, expanding market access, and strengthening its international status. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council, emphasized that the BRICS membership will expand Indonesia's market access, ensuring resilience amid global economic uncertainty. Nailul Huda, economy director of the Jakarta-based think tank the Center of Economic and Law Studies, echoed this sentiment, noting that Indonesia's exports have traditionally depended on markets in Western countries. "Joining BRICS will free Indonesia from over-reliance on traditional markets. With Middle Eastern countries joining BRICS, this aligns with the government's goal to tap into the Middle Eastern market. The benefits of BRICS membership are significant," said Nailul. Telisa Aulia Falianty, professor of monetary economics at the University of Indonesia, said that BRICS has a positive impact on the Indonesian economy. Indonesia can take a stronger role in the organization if it creates a better environment for business competition. "Some predict that with Indonesia's involvement in BRICS, economic growth can increase by 0.3 percent," she noted. GLOBAL INFLUENCE Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that the country views its membership in BRICS as a strategic step to enhance collaboration with other developing nations, rooted in the principles of equality, mutual respect, and sustainable development. "This achievement reflects Indonesia's increasing active role in global issues, as well as its commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to create a more inclusive and just global order," the ministry said in a statement. "BRICS is an important platform for Indonesia to strengthen South-South cooperation, ensuring that the voices and aspirations of Global South countries are heard and represented in the global decision-making process," it said. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, the BRICS agenda aligns with Indonesia's national priorities under President Prabowo Subianto, particularly in food and energy security, poverty eradication, and human capital development. Rolliansyah Soemirat, spokesperson for Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized BRICS as an essential platform for Indonesia to strengthen South-South cooperation. "As a growing and diverse economy, Indonesia is committed to contributing to BRICS agendas, including economic resilience, public health, and technology cooperation," he said. "Becoming a member of BRICS means Indonesia's role and sphere of influence will expand," said Ahmad Heryawan, deputy chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives. He added that BRICS membership enables Indonesia to play a greater role in maintaining global balance and addressing critical issues like climate change, sustainable development, and humanitarian challenges. Paramadina University economist Wijayanto Samirin described Indonesia's BRICS membership as a strategic move to increase its bargaining position in the global arena. "It also offers Indonesia an opportunity to shape the future direction and framework of the organization," he said. Muhammad Syaroni Rofii, an international relations expert at the University of Indonesia, said membership in BRICS can be used to expand Indonesia's network of partnerships for global agendas. "By joining BRICS, Indonesia can voice the aspirations of the Global South," she said. Ukraine closely followed the session of the Parliament of the Republic of Lebanon held on January 9, 2025, during which General Joseph Aoun was elected as the new president of the country and congratulates the country "on this important step," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "We congratulate Lebanon on this long-awaited important step towards overcoming the political and institutional crisis, as well as restoring internal and regional stability," the ministry said in a commentary. The MFA hopes that the political process initiated by this step will contribute to the realization of the aspirations of the friendly Lebanese people to develop a democratic, stable, peaceful and prosperous state. "We call on all Lebanese political forces to continue the dialogue and further constructive work to this end. We reaffirm our full interest in having a stable and prosperous Lebanon among our reliable partners and are committed to working together to deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between Ukraine and the Lebanese Republic both at the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations," the ministry said. Earlier, the Lebanese parliament elected a new head of state by a majority vote. Aoun enjoys the support of the United States and Saudi Arabia. Due to the efforts of government agencies, volunteers and international partners, Ukraine managed to return another 17 citizens from the temporarily occupied territories. These are families from, in particular Kherson region and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said. "Thanks to the efforts of government agencies, employees of our Office, volunteers and international partners, we managed to return another 17 citizens of Ukraine from occupation... Among those who were helped: a man who lost a limb due to shelling... Three families from Kherson region, who were under occupation for a long time... A married couple from Crimea who left the peninsula because of their love for Ukraine," Lubinets said in Telegram channel on Friday. In addition, the following were able to leave the occupied territory: an elderly woman with her daughter, "who independently made a difficult journey through the territory of the aggressor country to return home;" an elderly man with a disability; a 77-year-old woman who was evacuated from the active combat zone; a man who spent almost three years in the occupied territory; two women who "waited for a long time for the opportunity to return to the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government," the ombudsman said. "We continue to work so that every Ukrainian can return to their native land," Lubinets added. The New Mexico Supreme Court has struck down abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties at the request of the state attorney general. The unanimous opinion Thursday reinforces the state's position as having some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country, the AP reports. The ruling preserves access to abortion procedures across a state that has become a major destination for people from other states with bans, including neighboring Texas. Attorneys representing the cities of Hobbs and Clovis and Lea and Roosevelt counties had argued that provisions of a federal "anti-vice" law known as the Comstock Act block courts from striking down local abortion ordinances. A man who fired a gun inside a restaurant in the nation's capital after a fake online conspiracy theory called "Pizzagate" motivated him to do so nearly a decade ago was shot and killed by North Carolina police during a weekend traffic stop. Edgar Welch was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers in Kannapolis on Saturday night, according to a city police news release, per the AP . One of the officers recognized the car as the vehicle of someone he had arrested, the release said, and who had an outstanding warrant for a felony probation violationWelch. When the officers approached the vehicle, police said, the man pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one of the officers. After he was instructed to drop the weapon but didn't, two officers shot Welch, authorities said. He died at a hospital of his injuries two days later, according to the release. None of the officers, nor the driver and another passenger, was injured. In 2016, authorities said, Welch drove from North Carolina with an assault rifle to Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington after believing an unfounded conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the pizzeria. The fake theory, dubbed "Pizzagate," began circulating online during the 2016 presidential campaign. He entered the restaurant armed and, as customers fled, shot at a locked closet. After realizing there were no children held captive in the pizzeria, Welch peacefully surrendered. No one was injured. At the time, Comet Ping Pong's owner, James Alefantis, said the conspiracy theory and subsequent violence from it traumatized him and his staff. Welch pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon in 2017. Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson, now a Supreme Court justice, subsequently sentenced him to four years in prison. The City of Kannapolis confirmed the man who died was the same one involved in the Pizzagate incident. The shooting of Welch, a resident of Salisbury, is under review by the State Bureau of Investigation, and the officers who fired at him are on administrative leave, per the department's protocol. (More PizzaGate stories.) On a 5-4 vote on Thursday, the Supreme Court rebuffed President-elect Trump's attempt to block sentencingscheduled for Fridayon 34 counts in his criminal hush-money trial. The decision leaves no apparent obstacles to a sentence being imposed in New York, which would formally classify Trump as a felon before he takes the oath for a second term. The majority said in a brief unsigned order denying the emergency request that Trump does not face the possibility of jail time and can still challenge the conviction "in the ordinary course on appeal," the New York Times reports. New York state's top appeals court also declined to put off the sentencing earlier in the day, per CNBC. The Supreme Court's order said Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh were the four who would have granted Trump's request. No reason for their votes were provided. Trump was found guilty by a jury in May, and sentencing for almost any other defendant would be long over by now, the Times points out. But Trump's lawyers responded to the conviction with a series of filings challenging the verdict and trying to prevent sentencing. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30am Friday in the same courtroom where the trial was held. Trump's team has indicated the president-elect plans to attend it virtually. (More Trump hush-money trial stories.) New York election officials have been asked to investigate potential voter fraud by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He allegedly voted using a questionable address in the November election while seeking Senate confirmation for a health position in the Trump administration. Accountable.US, a watchdog group, has petitioned the Division of Election Law Enforcement to probe Kennedy's use of an upscale New York suburb address for mail-in voting, suggesting he might have committed a felony. A state judge previously removed Kennedy from the presidential ballot in New York, declaring his claimed address in Katonah to be a "sham." Evidence indicated that Kennedy primarily resides in California with his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. He appealed the ruling but was unsuccessful. The complaint says Kennedy was aware of the legal determination that invalidated his residence claim but proceeded to vote from the disputed address in November anyway. Kennedy is the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services under President-elect Donald Trump. Queries sent to New York's election enforcement, Trump's team, and Kennedy's former spokesperson remain unanswered. In court, Kennedy claimed he relocated to California a decade ago to live with his wife but planned to return to New York. He rented a room in Katonah, 40 miles outside Manhattan, but stayed there only once due to campaign commitments. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) An assault on Chad's presidential palace in N'Djamena has led to the deaths of 18 attackers, with six captured, according to state media reports on Thursday. One soldier was killed and three were injured during the confrontation, which took place while President Mahamat Deby Itno was inside. Authorities swiftly managed the situation. "The situation is completely under control. There is no fear," affirmed Foreign Affairs Minister Abderaman Koulamallah during a live broadcast from within the palace on Wednesday night. This violent incident occurred as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was visiting, and he congratulated President Deby Itno on returning to constitutional governance. The attack also follows recent parliamentary elections in the nation, intended to foster democratic restoration. However, the elections faced a boycott by the main opposition party, and results are still pending. Observers suggest the polls are likely to bolster Deby Itno's hold on power. Deby Itno ascended to leadership in 2021 following the death of his father, who led Chad for 30 years and was killed by rebels. Last year, Deby Itno secured victory in a presidential election criticized internationally for lacking credibility. The latest turmoil underscores ongoing challenges in Chad's political landscape, casting a shadow on efforts to stabilize and democratize the nation amid persistent power struggles and unrest. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) A Wisconsin man accused of a triple homicide in New Lisbon has been apprehended, authorities announced Thursday. Virgil Thew was arrested within 30 minutes after someone reported a suspicious individual in Elroy, situated about 12 miles from the crime scene. The Juneau County Sheriff's Office and New Lisbon police confirmed the arrest but have not disclosed further details. On December 30, Elizabeth Kolba, 33, along with two girls, aged 12 and 13, were discovered fatally shot in a New Lisbon residence. Thew, 47, reportedly had a connection to the victims according to the criminal complaint. He faces three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with online court records showing no lawyer listed for him currently. Local police have chosen not to discuss additional aspects of the case at this time. Thew's capture concludes a manhunt aided by the FBI and federal marshals. The law enforcement agencies had employed social media to distribute his name and image. "We appreciate the public's assistance in providing tips that contributed to the successful resolution of this matter," police stated. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) Los Angeles may be burning, but law enforcement officers are still doing their jobs, arresting at least 20 people on suspicion of looting in the last few days. "Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis," LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a Thursday news conference. Speaking directly to looters, she said, "I promise you, you will be held accountable," per the Los Angeles Times . LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said any lawbreaking amid the ongoing crisis is "absolutely unacceptable," but particularly condemned looters, who he said were depriving "poor people, who have been through so much, of their property," per NBC News . Arcadia Police Lt. John Bonomo said high-end purses and other items were stolen early Wednesday from an evacuated home whose security alarms and cameras were useless without power. Meanwhile, Sierra Madre Police Detective Sgt. Charles Kamchamnan said a "whole house was ransacked" the same day the owners evacuated. "But it's something we see throughout the whole county, with criminals taking advantage of the situation," he added, per NBC. Private security company American Protection Security said it was inundated with calls about looting concerns, per NBC. Luna said the department had stepped up neighborhood patrols and would arrest anyone found in areas under mandatory evacuation orders who "do not belong there." He also suggested putting in place a curfew in areas around the Palisades and Eaton fires. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said there would be no leniency for looters amid the devastation. It's "despicable" and "if you do commit these crimes, do not expect anything else than maximal punishment," he said, per the New York Post. (More Los Angeles stories.) Ten days before his second inauguration, Donald Trump earned an unwanted distinction on Fridayhe became the first president criminally sentenced. As expected, Trump received no jail time or any punishment in his conviction over a hush money payment to a former adult film star, reports the AP. Instead, Judge Juan M. Merchan granted what's known as an unconditional discharge, which the New York Times describes as a "rare and lenient alternative." Trump is appealing his conviction, per the Washington Post. "This has been a very terrible experience," Trump told the court before the sentence was announced, per the Times. He characterized the case as a political vendetta, said his payments to Stormy Daniels were above-board, and called witness Michael Cohen a "totally discredited person." He added that voters vindicated him by electing him after the conviction. "I got indicted over calling a legal expense a legal expense," he said. "I just want to say I think it's an embarrassment to New York." "I assume I'm still under a gag order," Trump told the judge. "But the fact is, I'm totally innocent." He concluded: "I was treated very, very unfairly, and I thank you very much." The judge in explaining his sentence reiterated that Trump is still a citizen subject to prosecution, even if he has been elected president. "Sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office. Thank you," Merchan said. The charges against Alec Baldwin stemming from the 2021 shooting on the set of Rust have been permanently dismissed and he's now suing the prosecutors. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Baldwin accuses numerous prosecutors and sheriff's office employees of using their power to "pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent" instead of seeking justice, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. The lawsuit says the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was clearly an accident, but prosecutors "sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law." The lawsuit, which also names the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners, accuses the defendants of "malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act," per People. State District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin midtrial in July after finding that police and prosecutors had withheld key evidence from the defense. She said there were "signs of scorching prejudice" against Baldwin. The lawsuit, which can be read here, includes a detailed account of the "panic and confusion" that unfolded after a live round was discharged from a gun Baldwin was holding, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, the New Mexican reports. Last month, Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew an appeal of the decision to dismiss the case. "In October 2023 the prosecution team became aware that Mr. Baldwin intended to file a retaliatory civil lawsuit," she told the AP on Thursday. "We look forward to our day in court." (More Alec Baldwin stories.) USA forces AFU to allow 30,000-strong Russian group to quietly retreat from Kherson in 2022 US author The United States forced the Ukrainian Armed Forces to allow a 30,000-strong Russian group to quietly retreat from Kherson, Bob Woodward claims after talking to U.S. officials in the book "War" (Woodward Bob: War), ZN.UA said in Telegram channel. The author of the book writes that when the Ukrainian army liberated Kherson in the autumn of 2022, the U.S. intelligence warned that the risk of a nuclear strike would increase if the Russians lost their main forces while retreating from the city. According to the plan of the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were supposed to pursue the retreating Russians and launch massive strikes, but this did not happen, the Russians retreated without significant losses. It turned out that before the Russian enemy retreated, the Americans warned President Joe Biden that shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces at Russia could lead to a 50% probability of a nuclear strike by Putin, ZN.UA said. The Americans called the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, who promised Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces Mark Milley that nuclear weapons would be used in the event of heavy losses during the retreat from Kherson. After that, the Russians received a kind of security guarantee and reached the left bank, having transported all their equipment and personnel. The Americans' fear of nuclear weapons forced the Ukrainian Armed Forces to refrain from attacks, as a result of which the Russians calmly retreated, preserving 30,000 soldiers and equipment. The author of the book claims that the Americans' fear of nuclear weapons forced the Ukrainian Armed Forces to simply wait, which allowed Russia to conserve its forces, regroup and seize large territories of Ukraine. Donald Trump has pledged to end the Russia-Ukraine war soon after he takes office later this month, and while it's not clear how he plans to do so, the president-elect is hinting about the first possible move toward that goal. Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump told the media at a Mar-a-Lago presser Thursday evening in Palm Beach, Florida, per USA Today . He added: "We have to get that war over with," calling the conflict a "bloody mess." The AP reports that the Kremlin has given an apparent thumbs-up to such a meeting taking place, with no conditions for Trump and Putinwho met at least five times during Trump's first go-round as presidentto get together, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "We need a mutual desire and political willingness to engage in a dialogue," Peskov said Friday, per the New York Times. "We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to solve issues via dialogue. We welcome that." However, Peskov didn't confirm that an invite to Trump had been extended or that plans for a meeting were officially in the works, suggesting that would only happen after Trump's inauguration. Despite some hope that a new US administration could make inroads toward peace in the region, Ukraine and its supporters are nervous that that "peace" could involve Ukraine handing over large portions of land to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hasn't spoken publicly about this possible meeting. As for Trump's initial goal of ending the war in Ukraine within "24 hours" of returning to the Oval Office, that timeline has since shifted. "I hope to have six months," the president-elect told reporters on Tuesday. "I hope long before six months." (More Vladimir Putin stories.) As a climate scientist, Peter Kalmus is monitoring the wildfire catastrophe in the Los Angeles area with concern. But in a New York Times essay, Kalmus explains that his concern has a personal twist: He uprooted his family from Altadena two years ago because the warning signs kept stacking up, and "I feared that our neighborhood would burn." And now it hasthe home where he and his wife raised their children for 14 years is gone, along with others on their former cul-de-sac. Kalmus got it right, but "even I didn't think fires of this scale and severity would raze it and other large areas of the city this soon." One thing climate change keeps teaching us, he writes, is that its worst effects keep happening earlier than predicted. Manama, Bahrain His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received a telephone call from Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America, during which both leaders discussed the robust and historic relations between Bahrain and the United States and explored ways to further enhance cooperation across various domains. During the call, Vice President Harris commended Bahrains pivotal role in fostering ties with the United States, emphasizing its position as a key strategic partner contributing significantly to regional security, stability, and peace. She highlighted Bahrains unwavering commitment to strengthening relations and collaboration at international levels. His Majesty the King underscored the longstanding partnership between the two nations, rooted in mutual respect, shared objectives, and collaborative efforts to address global challenges. His Majesty expressed gratitude to Vice President Harris for her dedication to advancing the Bahrain-US partnership. Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also received a telephone call from Vice President Harris. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and strategies to further deepen cooperation between the two countries. Vice President Harris reiterated her appreciation for Bahrains leadership under His Majesty King Hamad in promoting regional security and peace. She acknowledged Bahrain's importance as a strategic ally and praised the strength of the relationship across various sectors. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince expressed his gratitude for the United States' continued efforts to bolster the partnership with Bahrain. He commended the enduring and dynamic ties between the two nations, which have consistently contributed to regional and global stability. The exchange of calls reflects the shared commitment of Bahrain and the United States to fostering a strong and enduring partnership that supports peace, security, and prosperity in the region and beyond. Yermak on new US sanctions: By collapsing Russian economy, it to be possible to break Russia's ability to wage war Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to all the American people, for the large-scale package of sanctions against Russia: "by collapsing the Russian economy, it will be possible to break Russia's ability to wage war," Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak said. "The United States has taken a strong step by announcing a large-scale package of sanctions against Russia. A number of proposals from the McFaul-Yermak group to counter the shadow tanker fleet and Rosatom have been taken into account," Yermak said in a Telegram channel on Friday evening. The sanctions cover more than 400 individuals and organizations in the Russian energy sector that directly or indirectly provide funding for the military machine. "The sanctions target the largest players in the Russian oil and gas industry, in particular Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, their subsidiaries, as well as two active terminals for the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The activities of Russian insurance companies such as Ingosstrakh and AlfaStrakhovanie, which insure vessels transporting oil, helping Russia to circumvent the restrictions, have been blocked. "The entire energy sector of the Russian economy has been identified as harmful activities, which will allow sanctions to be imposed on any person or company operating in this area," Yermak said. Particular emphasis is placed on restrictions that prevent Russia from avoiding the "price ceilings" on oil introduced by the G7 countries. The sanctions list includes 184 tankers. This decision is supplemented by the closure of access for the remaining vessels of Sovcomflot, which eliminates gaps in the international sanctions system. In addition, the sanctions affect Rosatom, namely 14 members of the board of directors of the state-owned nuclear corporation. This organization not only supports the Russian military-industrial complex, but is also directly involved in the illegal control of Zaporizhiaa Nuclear Power Plant. Important aspects of the new sanctions package are as follows: a ban on the provision of services in the field of oil production and transportation, including American and international companies; the introduction of restrictions on LNG terminals in Russia, including Portovaya and Cryogas Vysotsk, which will significantly reduce Russia's export capabilities; recognition of risks for international financial institutions cooperating with Russia or its military structures. Such institutions may be subject to secondary sanctions. TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Yesterday, Kory McDonald, Head of External Affairs, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH) appeared before the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to outline RBH's recommendations for the 2025 Budget, focusing on a key recommendation to ban the promotion of illegal tobacco products online. This change would mirror recent changes the province made to the Cannabis Control Act. According to a recent report by Ernst and Young and commissioned by the Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC), a growing number of online websites sell and deliver contraband cigarettes anywhere in Canada in violation of Canadian laws. The products often include age and health warnings that mirror past Health Canada requirements on labelling to give an air of legitimacy. Some websites even offer volume discounts for more than one carton purchased. The CICC report cites www.nativecigarettes.ca and www.selectsmokes.se as examples of these sites. Contraband tobacco represents between 39 and 50 per cent of the total tobacco market in Ontario meaning that potentially 1 out of every 2 cigarettes sold in our province are illegal. As a direct result of the contraband tobacco market, Ontario lost between $990 million and $1.7 billion in potential tobacco tax revenues between 2019 and 2022. Ontario's illicit tobacco market is controlled by, and funds organized crime. Criminal groups involved in contraband tobacco use profits generated from the contraband tobacco trade to fund other illegal activities, including guns and drug trafficking, mostly across the USA / Canada border. Additional Budget 2025 recommendations made by RBH include measures to make smoke-free alternatives more widely available to smokers and an education campaign targeted towards smokers on the impact of contraband tobacco sales on community safety. QUOTE "Banning the advertisement of illegal tobacco online is a common-sense step that can have a big impact in terms of slowing the continued growth of the contraband tobacco market and keeping Ontarians safe. As well, there's a need for government to acknowledge harm-reduced product categories within the Tobacco Tax Act to encourage adult consumers to switch to potentially less harmful alternatives to cigarettes. - Kory McDonald, Head, External Affairs, RBH To learn more about RBH, visit: https://www.rbhinc.ca/ About Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH), an affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc., is one of Canada's leading tobacco and nicotine companies and is working to deliver a smoke-free future. RBH is committed to sustainability and creating a positive impact on communities, the economy, and the environment. Currently, RBH employs nearly 800 people across the country with its headquarters in Toronto and a factory in Quebec City. Discover more about the company at https://www.rbhinc.ca/ and stay updated on RBH's transformation by following Twitter and LinkedIn. SOURCE Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. Media Inquiries: Media Relations, Brayden Akers, Media Relations Lead, [email protected] TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2025 /CNW/ - The Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO) welcomes the release of the latest Canada Health Act interpretation letter and the clarification of the inclusion of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in provincial health plans. The letter underscores the importance of the provincial government's immediate implementation of robust, sustainable funding mechanisms to support NPs as key members of the healthcare workforce. "The lack of easily accessible funding models has historically limited the number of public positions and practice settings for NPs in Ontario, where nearly half of NPs in Canada practice," says Dr. NP Michelle Acorn, Chief Executive Officer of NPAO. "The inclusion of NPs in provincial health plans represents the culmination of years of advocacy from NPAO and NPs across the country and is an exciting step forward for primary health care delivery." NPs are clinician leaders with the experience and expertise necessary to provide creative solutions to healthcare complexities, lead integrated health teams, and ensure patients have their needs met. Empowering NPs to practice to the fullest extent of their scope and providing the necessary funding to do so optimizes Ontario's healthcare workforce to more efficiently and effectively provide care. "Improved integration of NPs is how we close the gaps in our healthcare system," emphasizes NP Barbara Bailey, President of NPAO. "Including the medically necessary care services provided by NPs in provincial health plans supports our work in delivering the timely, high-quality, and accessible care that Ontarians deserve." NPAO remains committed to continuing its work with the Government of Ontario and the Ministry of Health to support expedited negotiations and the swift implementation of NPs in provincial health plans. NPs and NP-led organizations must be active participants in this process, leveraging their leadership and extensive expertise to ensure patients across the province can access care as quickly and as close to home as possible. About NPAO: The Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO) is the professional voice for over 5,400 Nurse Practitioners (NP) across diverse healthcare settings in Ontario, including primary, secondary, and tertiary care. Established in 1973, NPAO advocates for the advancement of NP roles, supports their professional growth, and champions their leadership in transforming healthcare to improve patient outcomes. NPs are leaders, essential to enhancing and transforming the healthcare system. NPAO proudly supports their expertise and the critical roles they play in driving innovation and exceptional care. SOURCE Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario MEDIA CONTACT: Brett Hartley, [email protected], (416) 903-7797 On Tuesday, January 14, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference of the Ground Forces of Ukraine entitled "Mobilization" on the rights and duties of citizens during mobilization with the participation of Deputy Chief of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center in the city of Kyiv, Major Larysa Kozak (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event format is offline. The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Accreditation of journalists is mandatory until 1800 on January 13, it is necessary to inform by e-mail [email protected]: full name, name of the publication, press card number, e-mail address, contact phone number. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on military cooperation in the field of defense signed on October 30, 2024 in the city of Rabat has been approved, Trend reports. The corresponding law was signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The Cape May County Park & Zoos adorable red panda named David Bowie has died after its intestines twisted, the zoo said Thursday. The findings of his necropsy indicated mesenteric torsion, the Cape May Court House zoo said in a statement. This is a condition that occurs when the intestines twist. Most cases are nearly 100% fatal, and animals pass away very quickly. David Bowie also known as Deebs or DB was born in 2018 and arrived at the zoo in 2021. Zoo officials said David Bowie loved craisins and was a whiz at his puzzle feeders, noting he loved to cheat by flipping them. (He) enjoyed climbing upside down on the exhibit fencing, and was so incredibly sweet and patient during training sessions, the zoo said. He also loved attention and spending time with his keepers. He will be deeply missed by our entire zoo family. The zoo has another red panda Aurora who arrived in September from a zoo in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A different red panda that lived at the zoo named Luna died in March at age 22. Red pandas can live as long as 23 years and show signs of aging at 12 to 14 years, the zoo said. The zoo has been closed due to the recent storm that dropped several inches of snow in Cape May County and will re-open on Monday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Authorities in Cumberland County have charged a Vineland man with sexually assaulting two people at a residential treatment facility in Bridgeton, officials with the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said Friday. Brian K. Taylor, 30, of Vineland was charged with two counts each of second-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault by force or coercion and two counts of third-degree aggravated sexual contact. Officials with the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office were first notified about an alleged sexual assault of a male resident at the Kintock Group residential treatment facility in Bridgeton in August 2024, authorities said. Through an investigation, authorities identified a second alleged victim, officials said. Taylor served as a house manager at the Kintock Group, and is accused of using his supervisory authority to force or coerce both victims to allow him to perform sexual acts on them, authorities said. Taylor was arrested and charged on Thursday and is being held at the Cumberland County Jail awaiting a a pre-trial court appearance, authorities said. The Kintock Group residential facility was built in 1999 and contracts with the New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey State Parole Board and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide treatment and reintegration services for people recently released from prison, according to its website. The company operates several other locations in the region, including facilities in Paterson, Newark, Philadelphia and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. A representative from the Kintock Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taylor did not have a defense attorney listed in online court records Friday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amending the June 14, 2019 decree "On Approving the Regulations for the Use of Funds of the Innovation Agency under the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and High Technologies," Trend reports. Under the new decree, the title and the first part of the agency's name were changed from "Innovation under the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and High Technologies" to "Innovation and Digital Development under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport." The new regulations for the use of funds by the Innovation and Digital Development Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan have been approved. The funds will be used in the form of investments, concessional loans, and grants. The full regulations for the use of funds by the Innovation and Digital Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan can be accessed via the provided link. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Water on many New Jersey lakes froze over quickly as temperatures plummeted this week, providing the perfect opportunity for first responders to do ice rescue training. In Cumberland County, volunteer firefighters from Upper Deerfield Township took to Silver Lake on Thursday evening in below freezing temperatures to get into the icy waters. Firefighters along with Upper Deerfield Fire Co. #3, Upper Deerfield Fire #1, Upper Deerfield EMS #34 and the Downe Township Dive Team #39 took turns going into the water and being pulled out. Many volunteers had just finished work for the day when they headed out after 5 p.m. to Love Lane. The National Weather Service in Mount Holly reported temperatures be in the teens Thursday night. Firefighters wore special First Watch Cold Water Rescue Suits which insulated them from the cold and kept them afloat in the water. This time of the year ice rescue has become common, said Upper Deerfield Township Fire Chief John Schaffer. The reason for ice training is to be ready, he said. Some people walk out on lakes or try to skate when the ice forms but they sometimes fall into the water when the ice cracks beneath them and they need to be rescued. Ice Rescue TrainingJohn Schaffer The issue we have is people go onto ice not knowing how thick the ice is. A warmer day (above freezing) can dramatically change the ice thickness, Schaffer said. Temperatures remaining below freezing for most of the week, making it the optimum time for ice rescue training, the chief said. We train on ice to dial in our techniques and the cold weather and complications of being on ice cannot be replicated, Schaffer said. The training lasted more than an hour. Ice Rescue Training on Silver Lake in Upper Deerfield Township.John Schaffer Firefighters brought back ice rescue lessons they would not be able to learn any other time of year. We encourage anyone who goes on ice to please check it thoroughly. If it cracks while walking do not proceed on the ice, Schaffer said. He said it also is important to let family or friends know if you are going on the ice and when you plan to return. Firefighters also are prepared to rescue pets or animals stuck on the ice or who fall into icy waters. We have the equipment and training to be I those environments, Schaffer said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com. Director Kevin Smith says fire came dangerously close to his Hollywood Hills home before firefighters were able to put out the flames. Just gonna take this moment to give a big thank you a huge, hearty thank you to the LA Fire Department and all the other local ledgers and otherwise, Smith, 54, said in a video on Instagram Thursday. I heard people came from Oregon and Vegas, whole fire department squads, to put out these LA fires. The director from New Jersey explained how at 6 a.m., there was a wall of flame at Runyon Canyon, where he walks with his dogs every day. The filmmaker traced his finger over the top of the canyon just behind where he was standing in the video. It was coming over the top of the hill, and as goes Runyon Canyon, so goes Hollywood, cause Hollywood is right below us, Smith said. But those angelic firefighters from heaven, literally, kids, they were in planes. Planes that scooped up water, I guess, from the reservoir and then dumped it on Runyon, just put out that fire unbelievably fast, and I cannot thank you enough. The Clerks director, who had evacuated his home, said that before the firefighters intervened, he thought the worst. I was like well there goes everything we ever had. As long as we got our lives, our dogs, our kid is safe, you know, whatever. But I expected to come home and see a pile of ash. KCAL News reported that evacuation orders were lifted for the Hollywood Hills Sunset Fire Thursday after the early-morning work of firefighters to extinguish the flames from the ground and from above, with water dropped from helicopters. The fire started late Wednesday afternoon and quickly consumed 60 acres, according to the report. Somebody said angels must be looking over you, Smith continued. They were. They were wearing funny hats and boots and fighting flames. Smith shared video of the smoky horizon ablaze from before the fire was contained. Those firefighters saved our home, saved our neighborhood, I cannot thank those cats enough, he said. My heart goes out to everybody whos been adversely affected by this. Hang in there, kids. When hes in New Jersey, as he frequently is, the director, actor and writer, who grew up in Highlands, resides above the SModcastle Cinemas movie theater he co-owns with friends in Atlantic Highlands. He filmed his most recent movie, The 4:30 Movie, at the theater, where he hosted its premiere in August. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Slayer guitarist Kerry King recently reflected on seeing early Metallica in the early 1980s. As a guest on Lipps Service With Scott Lipps podcast (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), the guitarist discussed seeing the prolific band live from the start and Megadeths guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaines brief stint. When I first saw em with Mustaine, I was sitting kind of between (Metallica frontman) James (Hetfield) And (then-Metallica bassist Ron) Mcgovney in where the audience is, and I was just blown away watching Mustaine just ripping on guitar and not even looking at his fingers. Im, like, I cant do that. And to this day, hes a badass guitar player. King was complimentary about his relationship with other Metallica members, but noted that he and Mustaine have somewhat limited interactions. Mustaines cool, but Mustaines one of those guys that he cant help but stick his foot in his mouth, says King. So, Ill take my 20 minutes, and Ill bolt just before anything gets uncomfortable. Mustaine joined Metallica in 1981, co-wrote four songs that appeared on Metallicas first album, Kill Em All, and co-wrote two songs on 1984s Ride the Lightning. Due to a clash of personalities and fights, Mustaine would be fired from the band in 1983. From there, Mustaine would form Megadeth. In 2010, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax would get together and play the Big Four concert at the Sonisphere Festival in Bulgaria. Related coverage: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg just happened to decide that this was the week to announce that it was time to get back to our roots around free expression and giving people voice on our platforms as he got rid of the fact-checking programs that have been key to rooting out misinformation. The timing now two weeks away from president-elect Donald Trump retaking office couldnt have been more telling. The drastic change is seen by many as caving and currying favor to Trump, who has long railed against social media companies (and traditional media) for censoring free speech and not allowing for what he described as alternative facts. The change has irked many people, including a former MLB pitcher, Trevor May, who played for the New York Mets from 2021-22. Haha man, grow up already, May wrote to Threads in response to Zuckerbergs announcement. Your company will not grow forever. Meta will not have this power forever. Nothing lasts. This little 180 is a weak attempt to not get In trouble with your fellows and it simply will not matter. So save the explanation of all the changes like they are coherent. Meta is replacing its fact-checking with a community notes system reminiscent of X, which is owned by Trumps friend and Department of Government Efficiency co-head Elon Musk. On X, users correct misinformation on its platforms. In a way, that hearkens back to he said-she said journalism, or the view of some political debate moderators that it should be the role of opponents, not journalists, to point out falsehoods. It also hints at something else: the notion that the loudest voices and the best-told stories can win the day. To Zuckermans point that Meta would 1/ Replace fact-checkers with Community Notes, starting in the US, May said, Instead of paid professionals, its now our users job to moderate my platform! And to Zuckermans post that Meta would 5/ Move our trust and safety and content moderation teams out of California, and our US content review to Texas. This will help remove the concern that biased employees are overly censoring content, May responded, The will help the concern, not the problem itself? Whos concerned again? I hope its the most objective and unbiased people. Im sure it is." The moment is a crossroads for the fact-checking industry, which will see its influence sharply curtailed when Trump takes office for his second term. In the short term, this is bad news for people who want to go on social media to find trustworthy and accurate information, said Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network. Her organization started in 2015 with about 50 members and now has 170, some of whom face staff cuts and potential closure because of Metas move. In the long term, she said, I think its very uncertain what this will all mean. The Associated Press contributed to this story Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. A Middlesex County man is accused of murder in the death of a Monmouth County woman in South Brunswick, officials with the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office announced Friday. Roman Romanovskiy, 41, of South Brunswick was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment Friday after a Freehold woman was found unresponsive in South Brunswick Thursday, according to officials. Police responded to a residence on Route 27 around 3:15 p.m. Thursday for a report of an unresponsive woman and found Lauren Saldana, 38, of Freehold unconscious before she was later declared deceased at the scene, authorities said. Investigators determined that Romanovskiy was the alleged perpetrator of the acts causing the death of Saldana, officials said in a press release announcing the charges. Authorities said Romanovskiy and Saldana knew each other and that the incident was not a random act of violence. Romanovskiy was charged with child endangerment because the incident allegedly happened in the presence of minors, officials said. Officials are investigating the incident as a homicide and no additional details on the incident or investigation were shared Friday. Romanovskiy was arrested Thursday and is being held at the Middlesex County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday afternoon. Authorities are asking anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area to contact Detectives at the South Brunswick Police Department at 732-329-4646 or the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-8843. Romanovskiy did not have a defense attorney listed in online court records Friday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X. Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso admitted Friday to criminal charges and agreed to forfeit his office under a plea bargain just days after he was sworn in for another term. Bonaccorso pleaded guilty to using township resources to benefit his private landscaping business and to forging signatures on permit applications for work his company performed. He did so under an agreement calling for him to receive three years of probation when state Superior Court Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh sentences him Feb. 7 for conspiracy to commit official misconduct and forgery. Bonaccorso, a Republican, has been the face of Clark for a quarter century, the longest-serving mayor in the GOP strongholds history. In November, he easily won a seventh term despite the public corruption charges and a racism scandal in which he was caught using the n-word and crassly disparaging women in law enforcement. His guilty plea requires him to forfeit that office, a provision that took effect immediately. He is also barred from holding public office or employment in the future and agreed to pay a $15,000 fine. Anyone who betrays the publics trust by placing their own interests ahead of their duty as a public servant to New Jersey residents will be held accountable, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. Let me be clear: I will never stop rooting out corruption in New Jersey, no matter how powerful the offenders may be. Bonaccorsos attorney, Robert Stahl, said his clients decision came after Bonaccorso was recently diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm that will require surgery. Stahl called the charges de minimus and two minor matters, while noting they followed a years-long investigation by prosecutors into the township. After a long and difficult period of reflection and discussion with his family and friends, Mayor Bonaccorso decided that the best course forward for his health, his family and the town he so dearly loves and has devoted more than two decades to, was to resolve this matter by way of a plea, Stahl said in a statement released immediately following the hearing at the Union County Courthouse. The township services that Bonaccorso illegally utilized amounted to less than $200, Stahl said, adding that staff would occasionally fax or email documents on behalf of his company. Mayor Bonaccorso has devoted decades to public service, Stahl said. He was a consummate mayor, relentlessly advocating for his community and its residents. Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso pleaded guilty to using township resources to benefit his private landscaping business and to forging signatures on applications for permits for work his company performed.Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media Bonaccorso has faced a torrent of criticism since 2022 when NJ Advance Media revealed the township had paid a $400,000 hush-money settlement to a whistleblower who secretly recorded Bonaccorso, police Chief Pedro Matos and internal affairs Sgt. Joseph Teston crudely denigrating Black people. Bonaccorso also called female police officers f------ disasters. In November 2023, Platkin said his office seriously considered bringing criminal charges against township officials in the cover-up, but concluded they werent warranted. He did so as he attacked the 2020 settlement as a misuse of public resources to hide wrongdoing. At the same time, Platkin announced the unrelated corruption charges against Bonaccorso. They accused him of using his township office to further his private landscaping business and falsifying permitting applications for his companys work. In a statement Friday, Platkin said the guilty plea ends a long and sad betrayal of the community by someone who had been in a position of power and trust for a long time. Official misconduct, the most serious offense Bonaccorso faced, carried a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison. It was dropped as part of the plea agreement. The charges alleged Bonaccorso stored records for his company at his mayoral office and used government resources including computers, fax machines and even township employees solely for the purpose of running his private business. Authorities also accused Bonaccorso of improperly removing hundreds of underground oil tanks across nearly two dozen communities, saying he and his company lacked licenses to perform the environmentally sensitive work. Prosecutors said Bonaccorso, to get around that, forged an engineers signature on removal applications and falsely represented that person would be present. But in reality, authorities said, the engineer was neither supervising nor in any way involved in those projects. The fraudulent jobs amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2017, prosecutors estimated. The plea agreement also bars Bonaccorso or his company, Bonaccorso & Son, from holding public contracts for five years. They are prohibited from working in the storage tank removal business for three years. With the vacancy in the mayors office, Council President Angel Albanese becomes acting mayor until a successor is named. Clarks all-Republican Township Council will select that replacement. Under state law, the board will do so from a list of three names that the local Republican party must draw up within 15 days of Bonaccorsos ouster. The appointment will last only through 2025. In November, voters will again have their say, when a special election is held for the three years that remain on his term. Bonaccorso, 64, had criticized the criminal case, dismissing the allegations as garbage and another weaponization against a MAGA Republican. Despite the uncertainty, he sought reelection and won 59% of the vote. On Jan. 1, Bonaccorso was sworn into his new term. At the township hall ceremony, he made no direct reference to the charges or the prospect they would force him from office. But his remarks nonetheless struck valedictory tones. Bonaccorso fought tears that day as he spoke of his familys support. He ticked through a list of accomplishments during his long tenure. He praised his allies on the township council who steadfastly backed him through the controversies. I took a lot of rocks in the last couple of years, and they were right with me and stood behind me because we know each other, Bonaccorso said. We know the integrity, the effort and the love for this community we have. Council members reciprocated his sentiments during the reorganization meeting. The first 25 years of this communitys 21st century is Bonaccorso, said longtime Councilman Brian Toal, adding the mayors legacy will live on. Sal, you did a good job, is what Im trying to say. During the campaign, Bonaccorsos Democratic opponent, Michael Shulman, questioned whether he planned to accept a plea agreement after the election. Shulman said voters had a right to know whether Bonaccorso would be required to resign just after being granted another four years in office. But Shulman said he will not run to fill Bonaccorsos vacant term, citing the time commitment of another campaign and family and professional obligations. Shulman declined comment after the hearing. Meanwhile, the racism scandal continues to reverberate in the township five years after the settlement with whistleblower Antonio Manata. Manata, a former police lieutenant, has sued Clark, charging officials retaliated against him afterward, forcing him to sell his house and move out of town. Clark has filed counterclaims seeking to recoup the money Manata received, claiming he violated confidentiality provisions of the agreement. Matos and Teston are also suing Clark, trying to block the township from firing them. They and a third Clark officer have been on paid leave since July 2020 amid the long-delayed probe by prosecutors, at a cost to local taxpayers of more than $2 million in salary as of late-September. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com. President-elect Donald Trumps talk of making Canada the 51st state is to serve as a distraction from his proposed tariffs on the country, says the outgoing prime minister. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to Trumps pitch of merging with its northern neighbor on CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper. Trump has repeatedly trolled Trudeau in recent weeks and keeps pushing the idea of making Canada the 51st state of the U.S. Trudeau told Tapper on Thursday that Canada does not want to be a part of the U.S. "But thats not going to happen. Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, were not American. There is such a depth of pride that thats not actually an issue," Trudeau said. He also said that Trumps constant discussion of merging with Canada is to distract from his proposed tariffs on the country. What I think is happening in this is President Trump, whos a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation to take away from the conversation around 25% tariffs on oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete and everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs, Trudeau said. And thats something that I think we need to be focusing on a little bit more, he added. Thats not going to happen: Trudeau responds to Trump needling about annexing Canada Watch the full video here: https://t.co/yfiNz3VDR6 pic.twitter.com/Ta1hSzJYAQ The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) January 10, 2025 Trump announced last year that he plans to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China as part of an effort to curtail illegal immigration and drugs. He said there would be a 25% tariff on goods entering the country from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on goods coming in from China. Many business leaders and economists have warned Trump against these tariffs, saying that they will only drive up the cost for the American consumer. Trudeau echoed similar concerns on the tariffs to Tapper on Thursday. We dont want them either. We do not want to see tariffs on our side. We do not want to see tariffs on your side. Its bad for people who have for generations made things together and been successful together to actually start creating barriers between economies like ours, he said. Like we have so many resources in Canada, more than our market can support. So we export them to our closest friend who can rely on them, he said, noting that its a win-win for Canada. He also suggested that Canada would respond like it did years ago after Trump put tariffs on steel and aluminum, like by implementing tariffs on Heinz ketchup, on playing cards, on bourbon, on Harley-Davidsons, on things that that would hurt American workers." But we dont want to do that because it drives up prices for Canadians and it harms our closest trading partner, he added. The leader of the state commission that investigates waste, fraud, and abuse in New Jersey government resigned under fire Friday morning, a day after a published report revealed she claimed residency in two states and had a second, full-time job out of state. State Commission of Investigation CEO Tiffany Williams Brewer handed in her resignation just four days after she was formally appointed to lead the watchdog agency. She had led the SCI as an interim executive director for the last six months. The Asbury Park Press, citing public records, reported Thursday that Williams Brewer had listed a Maryland home as her principal residence, had voted in Tinton Falls, and was scheduled to teach three days a week at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where she is a full-time assistant professor. The newspaper reported Friday that her new SCI salary was set at $210,000. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. King of the Belgians Philippe has sent a letter of condolences to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev following the tragic loss of lives in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near the city of Aktau on December 25, which was en route from Baku to Grozny, Trend reports. "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Queen Mathilde joins me in presenting to Your Excellency and to the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan our heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of lives due to the plane crash near Aktau. We wish the relatives of the deceased strength and courage in these moments of profound grief, and we share with them our deepest sympathy," the letter reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. The information system "Digital Ecology" has been set up in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. In this regard, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree. According to the decree, the regulations on the "Digital Ecology" information system were approved. The decree determines that the "Digital Ecology" information system (REIS) ensures operational efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of activities of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan (hereinafter referred to as the ministry) in various areas through the use of digital technologies, including information and communication technologies, as well as contacts with other individuals and legal entities and the accessibility of the services provided. The ministry performs the functions of the REIS, while the functions of the operator are carried out by the "Agency of Geodesy and Cartography" public legal entity, which is under the ministry's jurisdiction. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the Ministry, should take measures for the organization, conduct, and improvement of the transition of REIS to the "Government Cloud" in accordance with the "Government Cloud" (G-cloud) concept. Together with the Ministry, they should ensure the placement of open data generated in REIS on the "Open Data" portal. The ministry should take the necessary measures for the formation, maintenance, and operation of REIS, as well as for its functioning, servicing, ensuring efficient use, and development. In the course of REIS's activities, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan must ensure the use of "Earth Observation Services" provided via satellite for environmental protection, obtaining images and data about the environment, and address other issues arising from this decree. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of Azerbaijan, in accordance with this decree, must ensure the implementation of measures derived from the provisions of the decree of the President of Azerbaijan No. 263 dated September 12, 2018, "On the approval of the rules for the formation, maintenance, integration, and archiving of state information resources and systems" and certain measures related to "e-Government". The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan must take the necessary measures concerning the financing of expenses for the formation, maintenance, and upkeep of REIS through targeted budget funds available to the ministry. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan must address the issues arising from this decree. The full text of the Regulation on the REIS can be accessed by following the link. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. The information system "Digital Ecology" has been set up in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. In this regard, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree. According to the decree, the Regulations on the "Digital Ecology" information system were approved. The decree determines that the "Digital Ecology" information system (REIS) ensures operational efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of activities of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan (hereinafter referred to as the ministry) in various areas through the use of digital technologies, including information and communication technologies, as well as contacts with other individuals and legal entities and the accessibility of the services provided. The ministry performs the functions of the REIS, while the functions of the operator are carried out by the "Agency of Geodesy and Cartography" public legal entity, which is under the ministry's jurisdiction. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the Ministry, should take measures for the organization, conduct, and improvement of the transition of REIS to the "Government Cloud" in accordance with the "Government Cloud" (G-cloud) concept. Together with the Ministry, they should ensure the placement of open data generated in REIS on the "Open Data" portal. The ministry should take the necessary measures for the formation, maintenance, and operation of REIS, as well as for its functioning, servicing, ensuring efficient use, and development. In the course of REIS's activities, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan must ensure the use of "Earth Observation Services" provided via satellite for environmental protection, obtaining images and data about the environment, and address other issues arising from this decree. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of Azerbaijan, in accordance with this decree, must ensure the implementation of measures derived from the provisions of the decree of the President of Azerbaijan No. 263 dated September 12, 2018, "On the approval of the rules for the formation, maintenance, integration, and archiving of state information resources and systems" and certain measures related to "e-Government". The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan must take the necessary measures concerning the financing of expenses for the formation, maintenance, and upkeep of REIS through targeted budget funds available to the ministry. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan must address the issues arising from this decree. The full text of the Regulation on the REIS can be accessed by following the link. BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- China is ramping up efforts to improve its elderly care system to address the challenges of a rapidly aging population, with over 21 percent of Chinese citizens now aged 60 or older. The country has released a set of high-profile guidelines aimed at deepening the country's elderly care services reforms, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. Tang emphasized the urgency of implementing comprehensive measures before 2035 to ensure the country is prepared for the challenges posed by its aging population. The guiding policy document proposes strengthened basic elderly care services with a focus on providing care for seniors with disabilities, as well as improved policies and measures to ensure accessible, tangible elderly care services. The document also advocates the active development of the silver economy and a further boost to the development of the elderly care sector. Following these guidelines, the country plans to establish a three-tier elderly care network at the county, township and village levels, and to coordinate home-based and community-based care with the professional, supporting role of institutional care. The latest data reveals that China's average life expectancy has reached 78.6 years. Projections suggest that by about 2035, the number of people aged 60 or above in China will exceed 400 million, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total population. To tackle this demographic shift, the government has significantly boosted funding for elderly care, investing more than 560 billion yuan (77.9 billion U.S. dollars) in pension services and welfare between 2019 and 2024, with an annual growth rate of 11 percent, Ge Zhihao, a senior official of the Ministry of Finance, said at the same press conference. In addition to financial support, the government has introduced tax incentives for senior care institutions, offering exemptions and reductions on corporate income tax, value-added tax and other levies, Ge said. In the future, the government will continue expanding investment in elderly care and streamline the management of relevant funds, he said. According to the guidelines, measures will include those that improve access to institutional care, modify homes for accessibility, and expand in-home services. Technological innovation is a cornerstone of these reforms. The government will support the development of technologies such as humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence to enhance elderly care services. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Asad Majeed Khan, sent a letter of condolences to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, regarding the tragic loss of lives in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on December 25, 2024, en route from Baku to Grozny, Trend reports. Will be updated BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Negotiations took place at the headquarters of Trend News Agency in Baku between Ilgar Huseynov, Director of Trend News Agency, and and Cemal Coskun, Director-General of Turkiye's leading news agency Demiroren Haber Ajans (DHA) on January 6-7, 2025. During the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects for the development of the DHApress.com project and the creation of new joint initiatives. In an interview with Trend, Ilgar Huseynov emphasized that the cooperation between Trend and DHA has been successfully ongoing for several years. "The DHApress.com project is being implemented within the framework of the joint Azerbaijani-Turkish media platform initiative proposed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Our main goal today is to turn DHApress.com into the largest innovative publication in Turkiye. In its creation, the IT department of Trend News Agency used cutting-edge technologies. For the first time in the Turkish market, a project will bring together multimedia and news content from top Azerbaijani and Turkish publications. There is also interest from respected Italian and Chinese publications to participate in the project. Furthermore, as part of our cooperation with the Azerbaijan State Committee for Diaspora Affairs, we plan to use the Azerbaijani version of DHApress.com to create a communication center for representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Turkiye," added Ilgar Huseynov. DHA Director-General Cemal Coskun emphasized the importance of the agencys partnership with Trend, stating, "We believe that our agencies complement and strengthen each other, and we are committed to a mutual exchange of experience. Trend has established itself as a trusted source of information both in Azerbaijan and internationally, and our collaboration is essential for advancing together in the media landscape". The parties also agreed to host telebridges, conduct joint live broadcasts between their studios, and share multimedia content. The DHApress.com project was presented in 2023 at the 2nd Global Media Forum in Shusha and later in November in Istanbul, with the participation of government officials and prominent representatives of the Turkish media. A key highlight of the project is that, for the first time ever, news in the Azerbaijani language is being broadcast in the Turkish media market. A New York State appeals court on Thursday rejected a request by Rupert Murdochs Fox Corporation to dismiss part of a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit stemming from the broadcasting of misinformation around the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit, filed by Smartmatic, a voting technology company, is on track to proceed to trial in state court in Manhattan, although the parties could settle the case out of court. Smartmatic sued Fox in February 2021, accusing the media conglomerate of defaming it by mentioning its name among false claims of vote-rigging in the 2020 election that were repeatedly aired on Fox News. Fox News agreed in 2023 to pay $787.5 million to settle a similar lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems, a different voting technology company. Alec Baldwin filed a lawsuit on Thursday accusing New Mexico prosecutors and law enforcement officials of waging a malicious prosecution against him after the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the Rust film set. Their involuntary manslaughter case against Mr. Baldwin in the shooting death of the cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, came to a dramatic end in July during his trial in Santa Fe, N.M. The judge found that the state had withheld evidence from the defense, and dismissed the case without the potential for it to be retried. There is no way for the court to right this wrong, the judge, Mary Marlowe Sommer, said in dismissing the case, as Mr. Baldwin wept in the courtroom. Mr. Baldwins lawsuit, filed in the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico, accuses prosecutors of violating his constitutional rights through improper use of the criminal process. His lawyers accused the prosecutors of a series of violations, claiming that they had failed to disclose evidence to the defense on several occasions, had pursued the case to promote their personal agendas or professional ambitions and had failed to pursue all lines of the inquiry as they tried to manufacture a case against Mr. Baldwin. The globe-trotting caper Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, a sequel to the schlocky 2018 action film, is a convoluted movie bolstered by entertaining set pieces. In Pantera, Los Angeles sheriff Big Nick (Gerard Butler) travels to Nice, France, to find the expert thief Donnie Wilson (OShea Jackson Jr.), whom he suspects was the mastermind behind the Federal Reserve Bank robbery that unfolded in the original movie. This time, Nick tracks Donnie down not to arrest him but to join his criminal enterprise, the Panthers, and stage a heist of the impenetrable World Diamond Center. More than two dozen people had been reported dead in the fires raging around in Los Angeles as of Monday. Most of them lived in the hillside community of Altadena, near the eastern edge of the city, where the Eaton fire destroyed thousands of structures. Several lived within just a few blocks of one another, near the edge of the Angeles National Forest. Two of the dead, a man and his son, who had cerebral palsy, had called for help evacuating, but none came. One of the victims was found near a garden hose he had been using to spray his house as the fire bore down. In the Palisades fire, near the coast, the dead included a hang-glider, a surfer and a former child star from Australia. Here is what we know about some of the victims: Deaths in the Eaton Fire Evelyn McClendon Image Evelyn McClendon Credit... Zaire Calvin Evelyn McClendon, 59, lived surrounded by three generations of her family in the Altadena neighborhood: her mother lived in a separate house on the same property; her brother, Zaire Calvin, lived next door. Mr. Calvin recalled racing to help his wife, his 1-year-old daughter, and his 84-year-old mother evacuate, while yelling to his sister to get in her car. Im still trying to understand why she didnt leave, he said. Ms. McClendon held several corporate jobs before withdrawing to lead a quieter life, Mr. Calvin, 47, said. She was a passionate participant in her online church, and worked as a bus driver for the Pasadena public schools, he said. She once told him that in her years of corporate work, striving for advancement, she wished she had taken the time to enjoy life. And that stuck with me, always, he said. Oswald Altmetz Oswald Altmetz, 75, was known as Ozzie, and on Pine Street in Altadena, he was a familiar part of the landscape, like the mountains and old oak trees, his niece Bianka Altmetz said. He loved baseball, old cars and jazz music, which he played nonstop. And he loved his dog, Harley, who died with Mr. Altmetz when fire consumed the home he had lived in since he came to Altadena as a young immigrant from Germany. His neighbor Elizabeth Richey said she had urged him to leave. He kept saying, Ive seen this before; nothing is going to happen, she said. In her childhood, Bianka Altmetz said, Mr. Altmetz took his young relatives hiking to waterfalls and swimming in mountain pools. He was the fun uncle, the one who always had the treats and cookies you werent supposed to have, she said. Dalyce Curry Image Dalyce Curry Credit... Dalyce Kelley Dalyce Curry, 95, died inside her home in Altadena. Ms. Curry had been an actress and an extra in several films, including The Ten Commandments, Lady Sings the Blues, and The Blues Brothers. Into her 90s, she dressed up and kept fit, her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, said. But Ms. Curry had spent the day in the hospital for a cardiac issue, and her granddaughter dropped her off that evening, thinking she was safe. Ms. Kelley said she now felt guilty about leaving her. No one saw this coming, Ms. Kelley said. Ive never seen this type of devastation in my lifetime living in this city, and she loved Altadena so much. It was her safe place, Ms. Kelley said, adding its unfortunate that her safe place became a nightmare. Anthony and Justin Mitchell Image Anthony Mitchell with his great-grandchildren. Credit... Anthony Mitchell Jr. Anthony Mitchell, 68, died with his son Justin, who had cerebral palsy and was in his 30s. His other children heard from Mr. Mitchell, who used a wheelchair, as the fire was bearing down on Altadena. He said he expected someone to come help the two evacuate. By 8 that night, he and Justin had both been found dead. I felt the system let them down, his son Anthony Mitchell Jr. said. Justin Mitchell was known for his sunny personality and love of reading. Mr. Mitchell was known for his barbecuing skills and his care for his family and for his neighbors. My dad was just one of those people, Anthony Mitchell Jr. said. You would meet him and he would make friends with you real quick. Victor Shaw Image Victor Shaw Victor Shaw, 66, died trying to save his tile-roof house on Monterosa Drive, a cul-de-sac near the edge of the forest. The house had a whole lot of significance for him, a neighbor, Willie Jackson, 81, said. His parents had always had it. Mr. Shaw drove a bloodmobile and made deliveries. He was hard-working, Mr. Jackson said. After the fire passed, neighbors and family members came to search for him. They found him lying in his front yard clutching a garden hose. He was out here trying to fight the fire by himself, Mr. Jackson's son, William, said. Rodney Nickerson Rodney Nickerson, 82, died in his home just a short walk from Mr. Shaws. Mr. Nickerson was a retired aerospace engineer for Lockheed Martin and an active deacon at his church, according to his son Eric Nickerson. Mr. Nickerson loved to fish, play the horses and watch the San Francisco 49ers, his daughter-in-law, Elsa Nickerson, said in an interview. And he was deeply attached to his house, where he had raised his two children, and the neighborhood, where he had seen the cycle of generations. His family urged him to evacuate, but he told them he believed the fire would not reach him. Erliene Kelley Erliene Kelley was a retired Rite Aid pharmacy technician and a longtime resident of the same section of Altadena, according to Rita and Terry Pyburn, a couple who lived on her block. She was so, so, so sweet, Terry Pyburn said. It was panic. Everyone took off and no one thought to check on anybody, Mr. Pyburn said, adding, I think the notice came too late. Kim Winiecki Image Kim Winiecki Credit... Jeannette McMahon Kim Winiecki, 77, moved to her house in Altadena about 35 years ago. Her home was her security, her everything, Jeannette McMahon, a close friend, said in a phone interview. Ms. Winiecki was a deeply private person and never let anyone on or near her property. We respected that, Ms. McMahon said, even though I was her closest friend. When the Eaton fire broke out near Ms. Winieckis house on Tuesday, Ms. McMahon said she offered her a ride out, but Ms. Winiecki said she would stay put and wait out the fire. Deaths in the Palisades Fire Mark Shterenberg Image Mark Shterenberg, with his grandchildren Ryan and Tatiana Bedi in 2016. Credit... Tatiana Bedi Mark Shterenberg, 80, was likely one of the first to die in the Palisades fire, based on Los Angeles County fire dispatch transmissions. His granddaughter, Tatiana Bedi, said he was deeply devoted to his family. My heart just feels like he was protecting everything that he worked so hard for his whole life to build for his family, Ms. Bedi said. Mr. Shterenberg was born in the Soviet Union and emigrated to the United States in 1980. He earned a masters degree from Pepperdine University and was the top of his class, his granddaughter said. Ever an inspiration to his grandchildren, Mr. Shterenberg ran three miles every morning, including on the day he died. His motto, Ms. Bedi said, was: Study math, keep money in the bank, and do three good things, every day. Charles Mortimer Image Charles Mortimer Credit... Robin Kessler Charles Mortimer, 84, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, was a Chicago Cubs fan with a quick wit and an infectious smile, his family said in a statement shared by his niece, Meredith Mortimer. Charlie Mortimer truly lived life to its fullest, the statement said. He was a world traveler, a sun worshiper, and an avid sports fan. Mr. Mortimer died in the hospital on Jan. 8, having suffered a heart attack, smoke inhalation and burns, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Arthur Simoneau Image Arthur Simoneau Credit... Steve Murillo Arthur Simoneau, a beloved figure in the hang gliding community, died in the Palisades fire while trying to save his home in Topanga, his family said. Mr. Simoneau was a member of the Sylmar Hang Gliding Association, where he served as a mentor to many, according to Steve Murillo, the associations president. A GoFundMe page set up by his son, Andre Simoneau, described Mr. Simoneau as a man who showed others how to live with a rare childlike eagerness. It was always in the back of our heads that he would die in spectacular Arthur fashion, the post read. He died protecting his home, the post said, something only he was brave enough (or crazy enough) to do. Randall Miod Image Randall Miod Credit... Carol A. Smith Randall Miod, 55, was a legend in Malibu who lived and died in the place he loved most, his mother, Carol A. Smith, wrote in a statement. Surfing had been his passion from youth. Since his 20s, he had lived in the same house on the Pacific Coast Highway, which became a gathering place for friends. Kristin Miod Ennabe, his cousin, likened him to Peter Pan and said he had a gentle spirit like his father, Lawrence Miod. Ms. Smith said the last time she spoke with her son was the day the Palisades fire began. He called her, nearly in tears, and she urged him to take himself and his cat to a shelter. Instead, Mr. Miod stayed. His final words to her were: Pray for the Palisades and pray for Malibu. I love you, she wrote. Rory Sykes Image Rory Sykes with his mother, Shelley Sykes. Credit... Beautiful Unlimited Australia Productions LTD Rory Sykes, 32, a former child star from Australia who was born with cerebral palsy, died in the Palisades fire, according to his mother, Shelley Sykes. Mr. Sykes appeared in the 1990s British television show Kiddy Kapers. On his website, he described himself as a gamer, investor and philanthropist. He was just a beautiful soul, Ms. Sykes said. The two moved to the United State in 2010 and had lived on a 17-acre estate in the Malibu area for the last decade. Mr. Sykes had his own cottage, which burned after he told Ms. Sykes he wasnt leaving and locked himself inside, she said. Troy Closson , Anemona Hartocollis , Shaila Dewan and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting. Susan C. Beachy , Alain Delaqueriere , Sheelagh McNeill and Kitty Bennett contributed research. An evacuation warning that was sent to cellphones across Los Angeles County on Thursday afternoon was sent in error, the county said. The message, which informed untold residents including those nowhere near the fires that a new evacuation warning has been issued in your area caused confusion about whether a new fire, or fires, had broken out in a region already on edge after days of raging fires, choking smoke and widespread destruction. The alert blared on cellphones across Los Angeles County, including in Culver City, Long Beach and Santa Monica, which all have their own city governments. In a statement, Los Angeles County said that the alert had been meant just for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills, near the Kenneth fire. That blaze, the latest to erupt in the Los Angeles area, began burning in West Hills on Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear how many people received the alert. About 9.6 million people live in the county. A second alert, issued about 20 minutes later, told residents to disregard the last evacuation warning. Janice Hahn, a Los Angeles County supervisor, said on social media that the alert was sent out mistakenly because of a technical error. As devastated Angelenos search for answers to the raging fires that have leveled entire neighborhoods, one oft-repeated explanation has been the slashing of the fire departments budget. Even Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of The Los Angeles Times, took to X to blast Mayor Karen Bass for the cuts. Fires in LA are sadly no surprise, he wrote, yet the Mayor cut LA Fire Departments budget by $23M. But as with much of the news swirling around the fires, the real picture is complicated. Facing lower tax revenues and higher operating costs, Ms. Bass did indeed approve a budget for the fire departments current fiscal year that was $23 million less than the previous year. That included eliminating 73 vacant civilian positions and reducing money available to pay firefighters overtime by $7.9 million. The total allocated $819 million was enough to include three new firefighting academy classes and some new gear. But when the budget was approved last June, the city and firefighters union were still negotiating a new contract, and the fire departments budget did not yet include expected raises. A spokesman for Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield explained that it is common budgeting practice that while negotiations are in progress, money for anticipated pay raises is not allocated to the department but approved separately in unappropriated funds. When the two sides did reach an agreement in November, that money was moved over to the fire departments pot, according to Mr. Blumenfields office, meaning this years fire budget is actually $53 million more than last year. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. A meeting was held with the participants who completed the Training of Trainers (TOT) program organized by the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) for the employees of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR). Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov, highlighted that, at the initiative of MENR, UNEC successfully conducted the Leadership Mini MBA and Training of Trainers certification programs to enhance the leadership skills and soft skills of the ministrys employees. He emphasized that the organization of these training programs at UNEC reflects the high regard in which MENR holds the universitys training services. Professor Adalat Muradov underscored the significance of certification programs in enabling universities to swiftly adapt to the rapidly changing world. He stated, We acknowledge that the modern university model faces serious challenges. The world is changing rapidly, but universities encounter difficulties in adapting to these changes at the same pace. People must continuously enhance their qualifications and acquire new skills. One of the solutions to this issue is the organization of lifelong learning, which has gained significant momentum worldwide. The acceptance of certificates by employers can positively contribute to the development of lifelong learning and the formation of an education services market. In this regard, the accreditation of certifying institutions remains a pressing issue. As UNEC, we are prepared to establish such an accreditation center and ensure its international accreditation. Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Vugar Karimov, emphasized that certification programs are an indispensable means of swiftly acquiring new knowledge and skills and praised the high-quality organization of these programs at UNEC. He further stated that UNEC is MENRs closest partner in the ministrys Training Development Strategy. Following the speeches, Rector Adalat Muradov and Deputy Minister Vugar Karimov congratulated the employees who successfully completed the training and presented them with their certificates. Capt. Kevin Easton and his firefighting team had already spent hours battling an out-of-control fire sweeping through Los Angeless Pacific Palisades area, leaving gutted homes in its wake. Then, around midnight, their water lines started to sputter. Before long, the hydrants had run dry. Completely dry couldnt get any water out of it, said Captain Easton, who was part of a small, roaming patrol of firefighters who were trying to protect the communitys Palisades Highlands neighborhood. Even on Wednesday afternoon hours after the hydrants had gone dry there was still no water. Houses in the Highlands burned, becoming part of the more than 5,000 structures destroyed by the Palisades fire so far. Officials now say the storage tanks that hold water for high-elevation areas like the Highlands, and the pumping systems that feed them, could not keep pace with the demand as the fire raced from one neighborhood to another. That was in part because those who designed the system did not account for the stunning speeds at which multiple fires would race through the Los Angeles area this week. We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design, said Marty Adams, a former general manager and chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which is responsible for delivering water to nearly four million residents of Los Angeles. A man in North Carolina who fired a rifle inside a Washington restaurant in 2016 because he wrongly believed an internet conspiracy known as Pizzagate was fatally shot by the police in North Carolina over the weekend when he pulled out a gun during a traffic stop, the authorities said. The man, Edgar Maddison Welch, 36, of Salisbury, N.C., was a passenger in a car on Saturday night when an officer with the Kannapolis Police Department recognized him from a prior arrest and believed there was an outstanding warrant over a felony probation violation, Chief Terry L. Spry of the Kannapolis Police Department said in a statement on Thursday. When the officer confirmed his suspicion and went to arrest him, Mr. Welch pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the officer, the police said. The police officer and a second officer ordered Mr. Welch to put his gun down. When he did not comply, they shot at him, the department said. Mr. Welch died on Monday at a hospital in Charlotte as a result of his injuries. Neither of the officers or any of the other passengers in the car were injured, Chief Spry said. Annette Privette Keller, director of communications for the city of Kannapolis, about 30 miles northeast of Charlotte, said that the city believed the man who was killed was the same person who was sentenced to four years in prison for the Pizzagate episode. He shared the same name, place of residence and age. A federal appeals court on Thursday temporarily halted a guilty plea hearing for the man accused of masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks while it considers whether the deal he reached to avoid a death-penalty trial remains valid. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued the order on the eve of a hearing at the U.S. military court at Guantanamo Bay in which a military judge was to question the accused plotter, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, about the settlement he reached this summer with military prosecutors. The court will decide, during the next administration, whether Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III successfully withdrew from the settlement on Aug. 2, two days after the retired Army general he put in charge of the case signed it. Two lower, military courts ruled that he had acted too late. The court also halted plea hearings, scheduled for later this month, that Mr. Austin had wanted stopped for Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, two men who were accused of conspiring with Mr. Mohammed in the attacks. A federal appeals court said on Thursday that it would not block the Justice Department from releasing a report by the special counsel Jack Smith about the two now-closed investigations he conducted into President-elect Donald J. Trump. In a brief and unsigned order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, in Atlanta, rejected an emergency request from Mr. Trumps legal team to stop the report from coming out. The move is part of a complicated back-and-forth fight in the final days before Mr. Trump is set to become president again over whether at least some of Mr. Smiths report will ever be released. The order does not necessarily mean the report will become public immediately. Both sections of Mr. Smiths two-volume report remain for the moment under an injunction put in place this week by a lower-court judge in Florida that is temporarily blocking their release. A woman who stabbed her friend 19 times a decade ago to impress a shadowy fictional character named Slender Man when she was 12 will be released from a psychiatric center, a Wisconsin judge ruled on Thursday. The woman, Morgan Geyser, 22, requested early release from her 40-year commitment to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in October. Judge Michael O. Bohren of Waukesha County Circuit Court granted the release on Thursday, concluding after a hearing that she no longer posed a threat to herself or others. Ms. Geyser, who has been held at the institute since she was 15, will be released on conditions drafted by the states Department of Health Services, according to court records. Ms. Geyser had petitioned to leave the psychiatric center several times since 2022, but then abandoned some of those petitions. A request she filed a year ago was denied by Judge Bohren in April, who said there was a significant risk that Ms. Geyser would harm herself or others. Venezuelas popular opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, was briefly detained by adversaries during an antigovernment protest in Caracas on Thursday, according to a statement on X by a political aide. But she was soon released. Ms. Machado was violently intercepted as she left the gathering, her party said on X. Regime troops shot at the motorcycles that were transporting her. The countrys autocrat, Nicolas Maduro, is set to be sworn in for a third term as president on Friday. Ms. Machado had been living in hiding in Venezuela amid threats of arrest from government officials, and this was her first public appearance since August. She had called for gatherings around the country, and in cities around the world, to protest Mr. Maduros inauguration. Laura Kate Jones, a real estate agent in Los Angeles, is trying to find a house for a client whose Pacific Palisades home turned to rubble this week. The woman and her two children were left with no belongings but the clothes on their backs. Ms. Jones has been scouring the West Los Angeles rental market to find a house that the family could rent for the next eight months, or longer. On Friday morning, she noticed something disturbing on the rents of at least three of the properties she had been tracking: 15 to 20 percent increases overnight. The sudden surge in rental costs took Ms. Jones by surprise, but aligned with what she has noticed since wildfires started to tear through the Los Angeles area on Tuesday. Ms. Jones was touring a rental house in Beverly Hills with her client on Thursday when the listing agent raised the monthly cost by $3,000 on the spot. Agents and landlords are aware that some displaced Angelenos might be willing to pay given the circumstance. People are so panicked and desperate to get into a house right now that theyre just throwing money into the wind, Ms. Jones said. People taking advantage of this. Its horrendous. The United States ambassador to China, R. Nicholas Burns, said the Biden administration is making a last push to try to persuade China to stop transferring equipment to Russia for the war in Ukraine. Mr. Burns, in an interview at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, asserted that nearly 400 Chinese companies have supplied Russia with so-called dual use products, those with both military and commercial applications. He also said China has supplied 90 percent of the microelectronics used in the Russian war effort. With less than two weeks remaining before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office, Mr. Burns is raising the administrations concerns about Russia, as well as Chinas alignment with Iran and North Korea, with Chinese ministers in a series of meetings this week and early next week. He leaves the country this coming Tuesday. More broadly, Mr. Burns said that Chinas policies toward Russia, Iran and North Korea were inconsistent with Beijings desire to play a leading role in international initiatives of global order, like the World Trade Organization and the Paris agreement on climate change. Financial markets have been choppy since the November election, and for good reason. With the next presidential administration promising sharp policy changes on a broad range of economic issues, there is plenty to be nervous about. The new proposals are dizzying. The president-elect says he wants to deport millions of immigrants; impose tariffs on all countries, especially China; slash taxes; expand the use of cryptocurrency; eliminate wind-powered electric generation; and increase production of fossil fuels. Its impossible to know which policies are fanciful, which will be carried out or what all the economic and market consequences might be. No wonder the markets are confused. Still, if you need solace, most investors need only check their portfolios. If you have held stocks since the end of 2022, when the market picture improved radically, theres a good chance that your portfolio has had a spectacular performance. All you really needed to do was hold a piece of the broad U.S. stock market in a cheap, diversified index fund. Bond returns have been mediocre, as the final annual numbers on the portfolio performance of ordinary investors reveal, but U.S. equities have paid off handsomely, with annual returns for the S&P 500 of roughly 25 percent, including dividends, for each of the last two calendar years. Like other authoritarian regimes, Chinas communist government is anxious about potential challenges to its power. Since becoming president in 2013, Xi Jinping has emphasized the need for China to take lessons from the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Chinese scholars have attributed in part to ideological decay brought on by Western influence. An internal directive of the Chinese Communist Party released that year warned its workers to remain vigilant against Western constitutional democracy and other corrupting ideas. The document also claimed that the West was trying to engineer color revolutions in China a term for popular uprisings in several former Soviet republics during the 2000s that came to be known by colorful names like the Rose Revolution in Georgia and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. How intensely China has sought to monitor and counter such perceived threats can be gauged by a series of cases of Chinese spying and influence-peddling in the United States that have come to light in recent years. In November, a man named John Chen was sentenced to 20 months in prison for acting as an unregistered agent for China and bribing an undercover officer posing as an I.R.S. official in a plot directed against U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a movement that the Chinese government regards as a threat. In September, the Justice Department unsealed an indictment against Linda Sun a former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York charging her with, among other allegations, failing to register as an agent of the Chinese government, from which she received financial benefits amounting to millions of dollars. Sun is accused of using her position to further Chinas interests. At the bidding of Chinese officials, for example, she is said to have removed any mention of the plight of Chinas Uyghurs from a 2021 speech by Hochul, who was New Yorks lieutenant governor at the time. She is also accused of blocking Taiwanese government officials from communicating with Hochul and other senior New York State officers. Just shy of two weeks earlier, in August, the F.B.I. arrested Tang Yuanjun a 67-year-old Chinese American living in Flushing and charged him with spying on Chinese dissident groups in the United States. Like Shujun Wang, Tang had been a part of the Chinese pro-democracy movement for years. He had been imprisoned in China for opposing the Communist Party before defecting to Taiwan in the early 2000s and subsequently being granted asylum in the United States. But in 2019, after seeking permission from Chinese authorities to visit his recently incapacitated parents in China, Tang began at the direction of M.S.S. officers, according to the Justice Department to collect information about dissidents. In return, Tang was granted a visa in early 2022 and visited China later that year, by which time his mother had died. In a letter written to pro-democracy activists shortly after his arrest, Tang described the reunion with his father and brother back home as unforgettable. These recent cases follow the unsealing of a federal complaint in April 2023 in which two Chinese Americans were charged with operating a clandestine police station in New York out of a building in Chinatown. Last month, one of these men pleaded guilty in a federal court in Brooklyn. The Manhattan police station closed down in October 2022 as the F.B.I. was preparing to search its premises. According to one human rights N.G.O., it was one of 102 such outposts that Chinese security agencies established in 53 countries between 2016 and 2022. The Chinese government denies these were police stations; at a news conference in Ottawa in May 2023, a Chinese spokesman described them as service centers to help overseas Chinese nationals renew their drivers licenses in the wake of pandemic travel restrictions. Officials at the Justice Department have described these Chinese intelligence operations as attempts to export to the U.S. the repressive tactics that the government employs inside its own borders. In a statement issued after Wangs indictment in May 2022, Matthew G. Olsen, assistant attorney general of the departments national-security division, called the charges brought against Wang a reflection of the Justice Departments unwavering commitment to hold accountable all those who violate our laws in seeking to suppress dissenting voices within the United States and to prevent our residents from exercising their lawful rights. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Medical interventions are ongoing for five patients (one male and four females) who sustained injuries in the aviation incident proximate to the urban center of Aktau in Kazakhstan, currently receiving care at Azerbaijans Yeni Klinika, the Administration of the Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB) told Trend. In alignment with the agency's request for information, TABIB has communicated that an additional individual has been released today, exhibiting a satisfactory status conducive to outpatient management. The Administration observed that subsequent to the stabilization of the clinical and hemodynamic parameters of a patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit in a critical state post-evacuation, the inpatient therapeutic regimen was effectively advanced. At present, the clinical status of two patients receiving inpatient care is assessed as within normal parameters, one exhibiting satisfactory metrics, while two individuals in the intensive care unit are classified as stable yet critically compromised. The post-discharge health status of individuals transitioning to outpatient care is being systematically tracked by the designated healthcare institutions within their geographical jurisdictions, with ancillary psychological support rendered as deemed appropriate. To note, on December 25, an Embraer 190 passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed about 3 kilometers from Aktau airport. There were 67 people on board (62 passengers and 5 crew members). Two crew members survived. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel When a former member of an elite tactical unit swoops in on the enemy in this Netflix film, the effect is more ridiculous than climactic our heros on a dorky paraglider, and the move lands as inadvertent comedy rather than pulse-pounding thriller. Ad Vitam was already on the ropes, and that scene is the coup de grace. Lost Bullet, Sentinelle, Earth and Blood: France has become a reliable source of lean and quick-footed action fare for Netflix, powered by directors (like Julien Leclercq, Guillaume Pierret, Romain Gavras) and actors (Alban Lenoir, Franck Gastambide) who are as effective as they are relatively low profile, even in their home country. Any Day Now Stream it on Film Movement Plus. Inspired by the director Hamy Ramezans own life as an Iranian refugee in Europe, Any Day Now is as delicate and luminous as a patch of sunlit grass though clouds lurk at its edges. In many ways, 13-year-old Ramin Mehdipours life seems like an idyll. His parents and little sister make for a loving and tender family unit; they enjoy an active social life with neighbors; and high school is off to a promising start for Ramin (Aran-Sina Keshvari), who has his close friend Jigi by his side and a crush already in view. But heres the catch: The Mehdipours live in a shelter for asylum-seekers in Finland, and, early in the film, they receive a rejection letter from the authorities. As valiantly as the parents strive to maintain a normal life for their children, uncertainty now looms over them, as they contemplate the difficult process of an appeal. Much like the Mehdipours, Any Day Now lets this reality linger in the background, focusing instead on the joys of Ramins everyday life. Shot with a beautiful tactility, the film follows the boy closely as he stoops to smell flowers, explores the mossy woods with his friends, and dances tentatively at a school event with the girl he fancies. Yet these familiar coming-of-age scenes are charged with tragedy and suspense as the family awaits their fate, reminding us how the violence of displacement can deny its victims even the most banal of lifes pleasures. What followed was an upbeat take on a city with problems from a mayor with problems. It was the first State of the City address in modern history by a mayor who is running for re-election while under federal indictment. Adamss trial is scheduled to begin in April, nine weeks before the Democratic primary. The field is already crowded, with eight candidates and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo considering joining them. Adams did not mention the campaign. He appeared to allude to his legal headaches when he referred to what he said had been a challenging and difficult year. There were some who said, Step down, he said. I said, No, Im going to step up. Thats what life presents you. He had earlier thanked advisers and aides who leaned into it when things got difficult and others would have fled. Adams has increasingly focused on public safety and the citys affordability crisis, and on Thursday his vision for 2025 was detailed on video screens behind him that said, Making N.Y.C. the best place to raise a family. My colleague Emma G. Fitzsimmons says the word families appeared 99 times in an advance copy of his prepared remarks. How can we make sure that the greatest city in the world is also the greatest place to raise a family? he said. About 10 years earlier, Vickrey had been asked by the office of Mayor Vincent Impellitteri to look into the structure of transit fares as a means of slowing the drain on New York Citys finances. Vickrey proposed tiered pricing for riding the subway, with higher costs for rush-hour travel and certain longer distances. One idea considered far too convoluted but essentially predicting the MetroCard was to have each passenger deposit a quarter in a turnstile that would issue a metal card that, Vickrey wrote, would bear notches or perhaps magnetic patterns coded to represent the station or zone of entry. The passenger would then submit the card to the exit turnstile and expect to get whatever refund was owed. At the time, it cost 10 cents to ride the subway. City officials did not go for Vickreys suggestion. They were intent on raising the fare to 15 cents across the board. Vickrey considered this a mistake. In a letter to The New York Times in April of 1953, he argued that his plan would avoid an increase in fares for nearly half of all riders and might mean a return of a five-cent fare for many others all the while sufficiently helping balance the citys budget. By the end of the 1960s, City Hall, now in the hands of Mayor John Lindsay, came to Vickrey for guidance around transit funding again. Lindsay had made fighting air pollution an important part of his platform, and he believed that cars were strangling our cities and that starving mass transit imposed costs that were difficult to measure but real. Lindsay enthusiastically backed the recommendations made by Vickrey and Theodore Kheel, a labor mediator and fixer also brought in to think about these problems. The solutions included higher tolls and car-registration fees and a parking-garage tax, among other measures. By 1973, Lindsay was proposing tolls on the East River bridges. He was thwarted on all these initiatives. The advancement of electronic tolling technology and the subsequent arrival of the E-ZPass would make adjusting toll rates easier. Here as well, Vickrey seems like a futurist. As early as 1959, he came up with the idea of outfitting cars with transponders, monitoring them to see when they entered and exited congested parts of a particular city and billing drivers accordingly. His interest in setting costs to particular contexts extended to public utilities. A spokeswoman for the Police Department said earlier that some people had suffered smoke inhalation injuries. Robert S. Tucker, the fire commissioner, said during a news conference that it was a miracle that there had been no serious injuries or fatalities. Officials said that all of the apartments on the buildings top floor were destroyed. Firefighters blasted water at the smoke and flames pouring out of the upper floors and roof, according to videos posted online by the Fire Department and television news outlets. Heavy winds had fueled the blaze, the department said. The cause of the fire was under investigation, officials said. Juan Cabrera and his family were among those seeking help at the Bennington School. Mr. Cabrera said that he and his family had not heard a fire alarm but had instead heard glass breaking as residents climbed out of windows. He said he had also heard people race across the hall one flight above him while others screamed Get out! Mr. Cabrera, 47, said he had smelled smoke and woke up his daughter, Rose, 13. He and his wife, Aurora Tavera, grabbed their IDs, passports and cellphones, and the family left the building. Arms crossed, scowl set, President-elect Donald J. Trump avoided jail, but became a felon. Mr. Trump appeared virtually at his criminal sentencing on Friday from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, more than 1,000 miles away from the chilly Manhattan courtroom where his case was called for a final time. Projected on a 60-inch screen, his image loomed over the gallery as a prosecutor recounted his crimes and a judge imposed his sentence. Mr. Trump once faced up to four years in prison for falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal, but on Friday, he received only a so-called unconditional discharge. The sentence, a rare and lenient alternative to jail or probation, reflected the practical and constitutional impossibility of jailing a president-elect. It nonetheless carried symbolic significance, capping a yearslong ordeal that consumed Mr. Trump as a weary nation reckoned with the prospect of a criminal president. Once the sentencing concluded, it cemented his status as the first felon to occupy the Oval Office. Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances, said the trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, who has felt the brunt of Mr. Trumps rage over the case the past two years. This has been a truly extraordinary case. In May, Donald J. Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of a crime when a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 felonies. On Friday, another unprecedented event took place: Mr. Trump became the first former, and future, president to be sentenced for a crime. Justice Juan M. Merchan of Manhattan Supreme Court gave Mr. Trump an unconditional discharge, a lenient sentence that is rare for defendants convicted in Manhattan on the same charges as Mr. Trump. Here are some answers to key questions about his sentencing: What crimes was he convicted of? Mr. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges stem from a $130,000 hush-money payment that Mr. Trumps fixer, Michael D. Cohen, made to the porn star Stormy Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 election, suppressing a story of a sexual liaison that she said she had with Mr. Trump. During President-elect Donald J. Trumps criminal trial last year, the court released written transcripts of the proceedings, but did not allow them to be recorded or broadcast. But on Friday, Mr. Trumps sentencing in a Lower Manhattan courthouse was recorded. The court released the audio soon after the hearing, during which Mr. Trump was given an unconditional discharge of his sentence. The outcome cemented his status as a felon while ensuring he would serve no jail time. Mr. Trump appeared virtually at the hearing, which lasted just over 30 minutes, from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He sat beside his lead defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, with two large American flags visible behind them. In brief remarks, Mr. Trump denounced his conviction and described the trial as a very terrible experience. The hearing began with Joshua Steinglass, a lead prosecutor, who said the case had overwhelming evidence to support Mr. Trumps conviction. He criticized Mr. Trumps conduct, saying he has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harms way. This week Metas Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would eliminate outside fact checking and allow for more racist, anti-L.G.B.T.Q. and anti-immigrant rhetoric on the platform, arguing that the 2024 election feels like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech. Thats an odd thing to say about the elevation of a man who is constantly trying to sue his critics into oblivion, but one that makes sense if you understand free speech primarily as freedom from liberal scolding. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency industry, having used its unfathomable resources to help knock out of Congress economic populists like Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, is poised to enjoy a deregulatory bonanza under Trump, setting the stage for an orgy of dangerous financial speculation. Artificial intelligence is being employed to deny health insurance claims, smother the internet with slop and eliminate jobs. Most Silicon Valley voters still seem to lean left Khanna won re-election in November by more than 35 points but the tech industry is increasingly a force for unaccountable oligarchy. So I was curious to speak to Khanna about how hes navigating the ideological transformation of a milieu that was once an important part of his base. In some ways, hes struggled. Last month, Khanna expressed eagerness to work with the Department of Government Efficiency, the advisory panel being run by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. As he saw it, he was trying to propose an alternative to slash-and-burn austerity, while starting a conversation about wasteful Pentagon spending. But he infuriated many left-leaning voters by seeming to treat Musk and Ramaswamy as if they were acting in good faith. And he certainly didnt win any good will from Musk, who posted that it was game over for Khanna after he voted in early January against the Laken Riley Act, a bill to expand migrant detention. Still, Khanna is particularly thoughtful about the relationship between progressive politics and technological innovation. And while he thinks some of the reasons for the right-wing turn among tech bigwigs are self-evident billionaires want lower taxes and less regulation he also thinks it should provoke Democratic introspection. Praise the lord for Tammy Faye, Matt Wolf cheered in The New York Times when the Elton John musical opened in London in 2022. The show, Wolf added, has a heart as big as the title characters bouffant hairdo. Two years later, reviewing the Broadway transfer, Elisabeth Vincentelli begged to differ. Disjointed, strangely bland, she wrote, also in The Times. Trying to go behind the mask of this complicated, outsize woman, she argued, had made her smaller than life. Critics, even those who are colleagues, disagree, sometimes diametrically. Thats part of the pleasure of criticism and of theatergoing. But pans of English transfers have been too pervasive of late to be random. The new musicals Tammy Faye and Back to the Future, as well as recent revivals of Cabaret and Sunset Boulevard, are just a few of the shows warmly reviewed in London to be greeted on Broadway by a cold New York slap. Im often one of the slappers. Take Back to the Future. The Telegraph gave the London production five stars and called it a feelgood triumph. I gave the Broadway version a hard time: Less a full-scale new work than a semi-operable souvenir. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 10. Kyrgyzstan has established a new state-owned financial institution, "Kyl Bnk," as part of its efforts to strengthen the country's banking sector, Trend reports. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev signed the decree for its creation. According to the official document, "Kyl Bnk" will operate as an open joint-stock company with 100% state ownership. The bank's primary mission is to contribute to the development of Kyrgyzstan's banking industry and financial system. The initial authorized capital of the bank is set at 1 billion Kyrgyz soms (approximately $11.4 million), with each share valued at 1,000 soms (around $11.4). By 2027, the bank's capital is expected to grow to 5 billion soms (roughly $57 million). To facilitate its operations, the Presidential Administration has been tasked with allocating a building for the bank's headquarters. Additionally, the bank will be equipped with the necessary technology and communication tools to ensure seamless operations. "Kyl Bnk" joins the ranks of Kyrgyzstan's existing state-owned banks, which include Ayil Bank, RSK Bank, the Development Bank of Kyrgyzstan, and Keremet Bank. This latest addition underscores the governments commitment to bolstering the countrys financial infrastructure. Egan, the artist who lost the works for his upcoming exhibition, lived and worked out of the house he grew up in on Bienveneda Avenue in the Pacific Palisades. He described watching the fire spread from his window while his wife was in the shower. There was a little tiny plume of smoke and by the time she got out of the shower the plume was 30 football fields big, he said. Within the hour the sky was black. Sending his wife and children out ahead of him, Egan initially stayed behind to try to arrange for trucks to rescue his paintings. But his effort quickly proved fruitless and ill-advised: the entire neighborhood was rushing to evacuate around him. When he returned days later, Egan said, his house had burned to the ground. Many Pacific Palisades residents have lost treasured artworks and family heirlooms. Some of the wealthiest collectors in Los Angeles are concentrated on the West Side of the city, which includes Pacific Palisades. On Tuesday night as the wildfire swept across the lawns, a man hopped onto his bicycle and handed two paintings to a nearby NBC Los Angeles reporter, Robert Kovacik, for safekeeping. Backyards on fire, the bicyclist said in a video that has gone viral on social media. Im out of here. Among the celebrated artists in Altadena whose homes or studios known to have been damaged or destroyed by the fire was Paul McCarthy, who lived in Altadena near his daughter, Mara, a gallerist, and his son, Damon, also an artist. Its the home I grew up in, Mara said in a telephone interview from a friends house in Silver Lake. Our whole family, our whole community, is devastated. As a result of the fire, she added, her father had postponed his upcoming show at Hauser & Wirth in London. The artist Ross Simonini said he lived right down the street from Paul McCarthy. We lost our home, my studio, all my art from ever, Simonini said by telephone from a rest stop off Interstate 5. He was on his way with his wife, infant and dog to stay with his father in Northern California. Its so horrific, seeing it now. I have an aerial shot from our neighborhood and six blocks in every direction, theres nothing. The devastating Southern California wildfires have raised worries about the safety of the water supply in several communities, prompting advisories not to drink tap water. Because chemical contaminants may have entered the water supply, utilities also urged customers to limit their use of hot water and to use water only in ventilated areas. Here are some of the water advisories and instructions for residents: Heath Clay, a city councilman in Summerfield, N.C., left the voting booth last fall feeling that this was the most secure election he had ever voted in, partly because of a North Carolina law that requires both in-person and mail-in voters to show proof of identity. Mr. Clay, a registered Republican, had done just that. But then someone told him troubling news: Jefferson Griffin, a Republican candidate for the State Supreme Court, was trying to nullify more than 60,000 votes in his closely contested race, which three vote counts had already shown him to have lost. And Mr. Clays name was on the list. Anyone who is trying to invalidate my personal vote as fraudulent thats a direct attack on the voters, said Mr. Clay, who voted for Judge Griffin, who now sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Its inexcusable to contest these legal ballots. Hes a sore loser. It is what it is, whether it be by one vote, 100 votes or 1,000 votes. We have spoken. The State Board of Electionss final count showsJustice Allison Riggs, the Democratic incumbent in the race, to be the winner, by a margin of 734 votes out of the more than 5.5 million ballots that were cast. But Judge Griffin, the North Carolina Republican Party and conservative election deniers have embarked on an extraordinary effort to wipe away that result, and throw out tens of thousands of ballots that were submitted by mail or in early voting. The Biden administration on Friday issued sweeping extensions of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan, Ukraine, El Salvador and Venezuela in a move that makes it almost impossible for President-elect Donald J. Trump to swiftly strip the benefit when he takes office. The extension of Temporary Protected Status, as the program is called, allows the immigrants to remain in the country with work permits and a shield from deportation for another 18 months from the expiration of their current protection in the spring. Late last year, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recommended the protections be extended in a series of letters. For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations have designated the protection for citizens of countries that are in upheaval and deemed unsafe to return to. President Biden has expanded who could receive the status, as war erupted in Ukraine and instability gripped countries like Venezuela and Haiti. These designations are rooted in careful review and interagency collaboration to ensure those affected by environmental disasters and instability are given the protections they need while continuing to contribute meaningfully to our communities, said Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York, the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. White House officials said on Friday that the truth behind the mysterious ailments known as Havana Syndrome was still unknown, contradicting a new intelligence assessment about what had befallen spies and diplomats for the last nine years. On Friday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an updated assessment about the ailments, one that largely reinforced its earlier conclusion that no foreign government was responsible for them. But the document, an update of the intelligence communitys conclusions in 2023, noted that two spy agencies had, at least subtly, shifted their positions. The White House noted that shift in a briefing with reporters, while the Office of the Director of National Intelligence gave a separate briefing that differed sharply in emphasis and tone. It was a profoundly odd note for the end of President Bidens term. While President-elect Donald J. Trump regularly questioned spy agency findings during his first term, Mr. Bidens White House has embraced the analytic work of its intelligence community. But on Friday, administration officials took a tack far different from that of their intelligence agencies. All of the same speech thats happening on TikTok could happen post-divestiture, she said. The act doesnt regulate that at all. So its not saying you cant have pro-China speech, you cant have anti-American speech. Its not regulating the algorithm. She added: TikTok, if it were able to do so, could use precisely the same algorithm to display the same content by the same users. All the act is doing is trying to surgically remove the ability of a foreign adversary nation to get our data and to be able to exercise control over the platform. The court appears unlikely to wait for Trump. President-elect Donald J. Trump has asked the Supreme Court to issue an injunction delaying the law from taking effect until after he assumes office on Jan. 20. Mr. Trump once shared the view that Chinese control of TikTok was an intolerable national security risk, but reversed course around the time he met with a billionaire Republican donor with a stake in its parent company. If the court does uphold the law, TikTok would effectively be banned in the United States on Jan. 19, Mr. Francisco said. He reiterated a request that the court temporarily pause the law from taking effect to push back that deadline, saying it would simply buy everybody a little breathing space. It might be a different world for TikTok after Jan. 20, he added. But there was scant focus by the justices on that idea, suggesting that they did not take it seriously. Mr. Trumps brief requesting that the court punt the issue past the end of President Bidens term so he could handle it signed by his pick to be the next solicitor general, D. John Sauer was long on rhetoric extolling Mr. Trump, but short on substance. If TikToks parent company, the Chinese firm ByteDance, is forced to sell the app, who would buy it? ByteDance has said a sale is not feasible. The Chinese government has indicated that it would block a sale if it includes the algorithm that makes TikTok extremely valuable. Even if Beijing were to allow a sale, any deal for TikTok that includes its algorithm would be expensive: The research firm CB Insights recently estimated that ByteDance was worth $225 billion, though it is less clear how much the U.S. version of TikTok would cost on its own. The price would most likely limit the pool of potential buyers to a coalition of private equity firms; a corporate behemoth, like Microsoft; or a combination of the two. Such a large acquisition by a big tech company would be likely to raise antitrust concerns, though a buyer could try to appeal to President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has vowed to protect the app. Still, at least one suitor has tossed his hat in the ring to buy TikTok without its algorithm: the billionaire Frank McCourt, who sent ByteDance a letter on Thursday proposing a deal. Mr. McCourts interest in acquiring TikTok stems from his prior efforts to rethink the internet. He has said that he hopes to run TikTok with a focus on privacy and safer use of data. TikTok isnt the only party asking the Supreme Court to overturn the federal law that could see the app sold or effectively banned in the United States later this month. A group of eight TikTok creators also sued the government over the law, saying it violated their First Amendment rights. The creators have argued that they have not found the same success on platforms like Instagram or YouTube. They include Brian Firebaugh, a first-generation rancher in Texas, and Paul Tran, who runs a skin care brand with his wife. Other plaintiffs include Christopher Townsend, a hip-hop artist who shares biblical quizzes with his followers, and Kiera Spann, an advocate for sexual-assault survivors. Mr. Firebaugh, who has more than 400,000 TikTok followers, would need to get a different job and pay for day care instead of raising his son at home without income from TikToks fund for popular creators and sales of ranch products offered through the app, lawyers for creators wrote in a filing last year. Mr. Townsend, who has 2.6 million followers, faces losing the platform on which he is able to express his beliefs and share his spirituality and music with the world, the complaint said. TikTok is paying the legal fees for the creators lawsuit. TikTok has pursued a similar legal strategy at least twice: once, in 2020, when a group of creators successfully challenged a federal ban, and again in Montana in 2023, when creators sued the state after it tried to ban the app. The Biden administration said on Friday that it was offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuelas recent election. The announcement was a retaliatory measure by Washington, which does not recognize Mr. Maduro as the rightful president of Venezuela. Mr. Maduro has presented no evidence that he won a July election, while his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez has presented thousands of publicly available vote tallies that he says indicate he easily won the most votes. The United States has said that Mr. Gonzalez is the president-elect of Venezuela and has urged Mr. Maduro to step aside. The Biden administration also announced that it was extending protections for roughly 600,000 Venezuelan migrants living in the United States with temporary protected status. The measure allows those who apply to stay for an extra 18 months. Shiu Ka-chun, a former social worker and pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong who devoted his last years to helping protesters imprisoned after a crackdown on dissent, died on Friday in Hong Kong. He was 55. His wife, Kelly Hui, said his death, in a hospital, was from stomach cancer. As a social worker, civil rights activist and for a time as a legislator, Mr. Shiu pushed for the rights of the marginalized, but his participation in a protest movement landed him in prison. He later emerged as a crucial supporter of those incarcerated in the aftermath of a national security crackdown that began in late 2019. Mr. Shiu was born in June 3, 1969, to a working-class family in Hong Kong. He studied social work at Hong Kong Baptist University, and after graduating started his career as a social worker supporting young people. In 2007, he started teaching social work at the university, where he became known for his engaging lectures. He also honed his voice as a commentator, writing newspaper columns that analyzed social issues through the lens of philosophy and sociology. Mr. Shiu got involved early on in the 2014 civil disobedience movement, Occupy Central with Love and Peace, which demanded democratic elections for Hong Kong, a semiautonomous Chinese territory. He mobilized other social workers to take part in the protests that blocked traffic in the heart of Hong Kongs business district. He reached out to people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, or who were homeless, helping to organize dialogues where they discussed what democracy meant for them. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Mauro Morandi, whose 32-year sojourn on an uninhabited Mediterranean island led to his being known as Italys Robinson Crusoe, died on Jan. 3 in Modena, Italy. He was 85. The cause was a brain hemorrhage, said Antonio Rinaldis, who wrote a 2023 book with Mr. Morandi about his life on the island. Unlike Daniel Defoes hero, who was shipwrecked and fervently hoped to be rescued, Mr. Morandi chose his life of solitude. He said he had fallen in love at first sight with Budelli, a pristine, undeveloped island off the northern tip of Sardinia. He arrived in 1989, somewhat by chance, he said in interviews. He left against his will in 2021, writing on social media that he was tired of fighting against those who want to send me away. Bishops in other countries where homosexuality is regularly condemned are not likely to consider guidelines similar to those of the Italian bishops. The guidelines adopted by the Italian Bishops Conference in November and approved by the Vaticans clergy office went into effect on Thursday for a three-year trial period. They cover various aspects of a candidates years in seminaries, the schools that prepare men for priesthood. This is the first time Ive seen in a Vatican-approved document the suggestion that discernment about whether a gay man may enter the seminary cannot be determined simply by his sexual orientation, said the Rev. James Martin, a high-profile supporter of making the church more welcoming to gay Catholics. My reading of this and it is only my reading, added Father Martin, who is based in New York, is that if a gay man is able to lead an emotionally healthy chaste and celibate life, he may be considered for admission to the seminary. The thorniness of the issue became clear last year, when reports emerged that Pope Francis had used an anti-gay slur when responding to Italian bishops at a conference in May about admitting gay men into seminaries. The truck driven by Mr. Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas, carried an ISIS flag. Mr. Jabbar, who was killed in a shootout with New Orleans police, also left a chilling recorded message for his family, telling them he had joined the terrorist group. The authorities have denied that Mr. Jabbar had active connections to the terrorist group, but the F.B.I. said he was 100 percent inspired by ISIS. It is unclear what online content Mr. Jabbar may have consumed before the attack, but ISIS produces weekly newsletters as part of a sophisticated media operation that keeps its far-flung factions connected. Experts say this latest claim is unusual for the group. Unlike other attacks in the past, where ISIS has released a claim of responsibility for the attack, in this case, the group has stated that the attacker was inspired by ISIS propaganda messaging but does not claim they had a direct relationship, said Joshua Fisher-Birch, a researcher at the Counter Extremism Project. The ISIS statements emphasis on the importance of people who translate and share ISIS content, Mr. Fisher-Birch said, speaks to the efforts to continue the spread of the groups official messaging and unofficial propaganda efforts made by supporters. Israeli warplanes bombed ports and a power plant in Yemeni territory controlled by the Houthis on Friday, the Israeli military said, in the latest attempt to force the Iranian-backed militant group to stop firing at Israel and commercial ships in the Red Sea. Israel has escalated its strikes on the Houthis in recent weeks in response to repeated attacks by the Yemeni militia, which has been launching missiles and drones against Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. The United States and Britain have also struck Yemen repeatedly in an effort to secure international waterways from Houthi attacks, including new American strikes on Wednesday. But it was far from clear whether Israel and its allies could successfully compel the Houthis to end their attacks on Israel and on ships through a bombing campaign. Months of Israeli and American airstrikes have failed to deter the well-equipped militia from conducting attacks. The Israeli military said it had bombed the Hezyaz power station near Sana, the Houthi-controlled capital, and the Red Sea ports of Hudaydah and Ras Isa. The power station is not far from where thousands of Yemenis had gathered in a weekly rally in solidarity with Palestinians, and Ras Isa is Yemens main oil export terminal. 2024 Brought the World to a Dangerous Warming Threshold. Now What? Global temperatures last year crept past a key goal, raising questions about how much nations can stop the planet from heating up further. Source: Copernicus/ECMWF Note: Temperature anomalies relative to 1850-1900 averages. At the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31, Earth finished up its hottest year in recorded history, scientists said on Friday. The previous hottest year was 2023. And the next one will be upon us before long: By continuing to burn huge amounts of coal, oil and gas, humankind has all but guaranteed it. The planets record-high average temperature last year reflected the weekslong, 104-degree-Fahrenheit spring heat waves that shuttered schools in Bangladesh and India. It reflected the effects of the bathtub-warm ocean waters that supercharged hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and cyclones in the Philippines. And it reflected the roasting summer and fall conditions that primed Los Angeles this week for the most destructive wildfires in its history. We are facing a very new climate and new challenges, challenges that our society is not prepared for, said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European Union monitoring agency. But even within this progression of warmer years and ever-intensifying risks to homes, communities and the environment, 2024 stood out in another unwelcome way. According to the World Meteorological Organization, it was the first year in which global temperatures averaged more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above those the planet experienced at the start of the industrial age. For the past decade, the world has sought to avoid crossing this dangerous threshold. Nations enshrined the goal in the 2015 Paris agreement to fight climate change. Keep 1.5 alive was the mantra at United Nations summits. Yet here we are. Global temperatures will fluctuate somewhat, as they always do, which is why scientists often look at warming averaged over longer periods, not just a single year. But even by that standard, staying below 1.5 degrees looks increasingly unattainable, according to researchers who have run the numbers. Globally, despite hundreds of billions of dollars invested in clean-energy technologies, carbon dioxide emissions hit a record in 2024 and show no signs of dropping. One recent study published in the journal Nature concluded that the absolute best humanity can now hope for is around 1.6 degrees of warming. To achieve it, nations would need to start slashing emissions at a pace that would strain political, social and economic feasibility. But what if wed started earlier? Source: Analysis of Global Carbon Project and IPCC data by Robbie Andrew, senior researcher at CICERO Center for International Climate Research. By spewing heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, humankind has lifted global temperatures to record highs. If nations had started reducing emissions in 2005, they could have made gradual cuts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. Starting in 2015, when the Paris agreement was adopted, would have required steeper cuts. Starting today would require cuts so drastic as to appear essentially impossible. It was guaranteed wed get to this point where the gap between reality and the trajectory we needed for 1.5 degrees was so big it was ridiculous, said David Victor, a professor of public policy at the University of California, San Diego. The question now is what, if anything, should replace 1.5 as a lodestar for nations climate aspirations. These top-level goals are at best a compass, Dr. Victor said. Theyre a reminder that if we dont do more, were in for significant climate impacts. (Because of variations in data sources and calculation methods, different scientific agencies independently arrived at slightly different estimates of last years warming. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it was just under 1.5 degrees Celsius; Copernicus and the U.K. Met Office said it was just above. By combining these and other estimates, the World Meteorological Organization concluded that warming was 1.55 degrees. All of the agencies are in firm agreement about the long-term rise in temperature, and the fact that no year on record has been warmer than 2024.) The 1.5-degree threshold was never the difference between safety and ruin, between hope and despair. It was a number negotiated by governments trying to answer a big question: Whats the highest global temperature increase and the associated level of dangers, whether heat waves or wildfires or melting glaciers that our societies should strive to avoid? The result, as codified in the Paris agreement, was that nations would aspire to hold warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. Even at the time, some experts called the latter goal unrealistic, because it required such deep and rapid emissions cuts. Still, the United States, the European Union and other governments adopted it as a guidepost for climate policy. Christoph Bertram, an associate research professor at the University of Marylands Center for Global Sustainability, said the urgency of the 1.5 target spurred companies of all kinds automakers, cement manufacturers, electric utilities to start thinking hard about what it would mean to zero out their emissions by midcentury. I do think that has led to some serious action, Dr. Bertram said. But the high aspiration of the 1.5 target also exposed deep fault lines among nations. China and India never backed the goal, since it required them to curb their use of coal, gas and oil at a pace they said would hamstring their development. Rich countries that were struggling to cut their own emissions began choking off funding in the developing world for fossil-fuel projects that were economically beneficial. Some low-income countries felt it was deeply unfair to ask them to sacrifice for the climate given that it was wealthy nations and not them that had produced most of the greenhouse gases now warming the world. The 1.5-degree target has created a lot of tension between rich and poor countries, said Vijaya Ramachandran, director for energy and development at the Breakthrough Institute, an environmental research organization. Costa Samaras, an environmental-engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, compared the warming goals to health officials guidelines on, say, cholesterol. We dont set health targets on whats realistic or whats possible, Dr. Samaras said. We say, This is whats good for you. This is how youre going to not get sick. If we were going to say, Well, 1.5 is likely out of the question, lets put it to 1.75, it gives people a false sense of assurance that 1.5 was not that important, said Dr. Samaras, who helped shape U.S. climate policy from 2021 to 2024 in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Its hugely important. Scientists convened by the United Nations have concluded that restricting warming to 1.5 degrees instead of 2 would spare tens of millions of people from being exposed to life-threatening heat waves, water shortages and coastal flooding. It might mean the difference between a world that has coral reefs and Arctic sea ice in the summer, and one that doesnt. Each tiny increment of additional warming, whether its 1.6 degrees versus 1.5, or 1.7 versus 1.6, increases the risks. Even if the world overshoots 1.5 degrees, and the chances of this happening are increasing every day, we must keep striving to bring emissions to zero as soon as possible, said Inger Andersen, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program. Officially, the sun has not yet set on the 1.5 target. The Paris agreement remains in force, even as President-elect Donald J. Trump vows to withdraw the United States from it for a second time. At U.N. climate negotiations, talk of 1.5 has become more muted compared with years past. But it has hardly gone away. With appropriate measures, 1.5 Celsius is still achievable, Cedric Schuster, the minister of natural resources and environment for the Pacific island nation of Samoa, said at last years summit in Azerbaijan. Countries should rise to the occasion with new, highly ambitious policies, he said. To Dr. Victor of U.C. San Diego, it is strange but all too predictable that governments keep speaking this way about what appears to be an unachievable aim. No major political leader who wants to be taken seriously on climate wants to stick their neck out and say, 1.5 degrees isnt feasible. Lets talk about more realistic goals, he said. Still, the world will eventually need to have that discussion, Dr. Victor said. And its unclear how it will go. It could be constructive, where we start asking, How much warming are we really in for? And how do we deal with that? he said. Or it could look very toxic, with a bunch of political finger pointing. Crosby Marketing Communications is named a prime contractor on the National Institutes of Healths five-year, $1 billion Public Information and Communication Services contract. The contract will help NIH procure comprehensive communications and social marketing services such as research, media support, audience outreach and promotion, materials development, digital engagement and program evaluation. Crosbys client roster also includes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Kaiser Permanente, OrganDonor.gov, Shriners Childrens, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Were honored to be selected for this prestigious contract and look forward to using our expertise to help NIH engage diverse stakeholders and consumer groups and promote advancements that positively impact the health of our nation, said Crosby president Raymond Crosby. Champion signs on as agency of record for craft spirits brand Western Son Vodka. The agency will lead strategic initiatives to amplify the brands visibility, enhance consumer engagement and drive incremental sales. Its efforts will focus on integrated omnichannel marketing campaigns across digital, social media, influencer and media relations to elevate the brand within key markets such as Texas and Oklahoma, while also expanding its national presence. Champions deep experience in building brand recognition in competitive markets makes them the perfect fit for us, said Western Son Vodka VP of brand marketing & on premise Erin King. Were looking forward to leveraging their expertise to increase visibility, attract new customers and strengthen our presence locally, regionally and nationally. The Uptown Agency, a Dallas-based brand development, digital marketing and strategic communications firm, is partnering with TEZ Technology, which provides mobility, parking and payment solutions. The agency will leverage its brand strategy expertise to elevate TEZ Technology's visibility and strengthen its position as a market leader. "When we sought a partner to help us grow the TEZ brand, The Uptown Agency's track record of success and deep expertise made them the clear choice," said TEZ Technology VP of marketing Don Abell. Julia Giannini Brunswick Group has added Julia Giannini as a partner in its sustainable business practice to advise clients on societal and environmental matters. She joins the critical issues advisory from global healthcare firm Bupa Group, where Giannini was group head of environmental and climate action. Previously, Giannini worked as senior sustainability manager-social purpose at ITV, helping it devise its Net Zero 2030 plan, and chairing the 25-member Green Team Steering Group. She also was client director at Given, a purpose-driven consultancy handling Virgin Media, Procter and Gamble, Canon Europe, Nespresso, and Twinings Ovaltine. Brunswick CEO Henry Timms said Gianninis expertise and deep experience in helping businesses tackle their biggest issues will be a huge asset to our clients. Ashling Murphy was just 23 when she was murdered at Cappincur, Tullamore in January 2022 when she went for a walk on the bank of the Grand Canal after finishing a day's work as a teacher at Durrow National School. ASHLING Murphy will be remembered on the third anniversary of her death this Sunday, January 12 with a Mass in Mountbolus and a walk on bank of the Grand Canal between Tullamore and Cappincur. A post on the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund Facebook page said: We wish to invite you to join us in remembering and celebrating Ashlings life at her 3rd anniversary mass which will take place on Sunday, 12th January, at 10am in St. Brigids Church, Mountbolus. A commemorative walk will take place on Sunday afternoon to Ashlings Memorial Shrine on the Grand Canal, Tullamore. Meeting at Digby Bridge Carpark, [Cappincur] at 3pm. Anyone walking along the canal from the Tullamore side may meet at the memorial shrine at 3.15pm. People planning to participate in the walk are advised that it is about 25-20 minutes if one begins at the Fiona Pender memorial. Please join us as we remember our beloved Ashling on her 3rd anniversary, the post added. It is two years since the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund was founded to support the development of traditional Irish arts, culture and heritage for young people. The fund establishment date of January 6 fittingly lands on Nollaig na mBan, a post on its page said. Since the launch of the charity, on the 6th of January 2023, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and the desire of so many to remember Ashling, regardless of whether they personally knew Ashling or not, the post said. We thank the many individuals and groups who have undertaken fundraisers in Ashlings memory and in aid of the memorial fund established to continue her strong, exemplary legacy. No matter how big or small the fundraiser, we are forever grateful for the generous support of those continuing to hold Ashling and her memory close to them. With your kind support, the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund can utilise donations and proceeds from fundraisers to achieve the objectives of the memorial fund. These objectives, compiled along with the Murphy family, are deemed close to Ashlings heart and represent the many interests she had in her 23 years. Last month the fund revealed it had been selected as an AIB Community Partner for 2024 and it received a 3,500 from the AIB Community Fund. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to AIB for this wonderful annual initiative, which supports local community charities across the country. We are especially grateful to the management and staff of AIB Tullamore for selecting us as their Employee-Nominated Charity of the Year. This support plays a crucial role in helping us continue Ashlings legacy. Ashling Murphy was a graduate (see picture below) of Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick and the college established an entrance scholarship in her memory. Also last month MIC and the INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) announced the scholarship recipient for 2024, talented concertina player and aspiring teacher, Rachel Mahony, Ennis, Co Clare. Congratulating the recipient, INTO president Carmel Browne said: By awarding this scholarship, we not only keep Ashlings memory alive, but we also inspire future educators who share her passion for music and community. Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, said: It is fitting that we honour Ashlings memory by awarding a scholarship, in partnership with the INTO, to a fellow talented musician who is embarking on their B Ed (primary teaching) programme here with us at MIC. Rachel is such a musician and a worthy recipient, and I wish her all the very best with her studies over the next four years. Further information about the memorial fund objectives are available on the iDonate page Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund. Alternatively, an email can be sent to ashlingmurphymemorialfund@gmail.com for anyone requiring information. Ashling Murphy, a native of Blueball, was aged 23 when she was murdered while walking along the bank of the Grand Canal by Jozef Puska on the afternoon of January 12, 2022. She had gone for a walk there after finishing a day's work at Durrow National School. Puska, now aged 34, is a native of Slovakia who was living in Mucklagh at the time of the killing. He was sentenced to life in prison in November 2023 for the murder following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Sr Bosco's teaching career took her to Missouri, United States where one of her pupils was a boy who went on to become Cardinal of New York, Timothy Dolan. After 22 years she returned to Ireland and she was then based in Drogheda for 32 years. OFFALY-based nun Sr Bosco Daly celebrated her 100th birthday last weekend with family, friends and Sisters of Mercy colleagues in Tullamore. Most Rev Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin said the native of Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath has become Ireland's 457th centenarian and the 11th Mercy Sister to reach the milestone. In his homily at a Mass before a celebration dinner in the Convent of Mercy, Bishop Nulty, revealed that the oldest Mercy nun in Ireland, Sr Patricia O'Neill, is 107 and the country's fifth oldest person. So Bosco, you've a few more years to catch up, he remarked. The year 1925 also saw the birth of Maureen Potter, Barbara Bush, Margaret Thatcher and the bishop's own mother. All strong women in their own right, though Bosco, you've outlived all of them. Bishop Nulty, who knew Sr Bosco from her time with the Sisters of Mercy in Drogheda, outlined that she had entered the convent in Drogheda in 1944, was finally professed in 1950, trained as a teacher in Carysfort, Dublin, before becoming one of four nuns selected to go on mission to Ballwin, Missouri in 1957. One of her pupils at the Holy Infant school in Ballwin was a boy, Timothy Dolan, who went on to become a priest and is now Cardinal of New York. He was among your pupils in first and second grade and you prepared him for First Holy Communion and he never forgets to reference and acknowledge your teaching role in the journey of faith, said the bishop. He's a very frequent visitor here to Tullamore as he was to Drogheda before. He likened Sr Bosco to St John the Baptist, a man who taught others to follow Jesus, and said she had been a teacher all her life, working in Drogheda for 32 years after her 22 years in the United States. He also thanked Sr Bosco and the other sisters in Drogheda for providing a home from home for the priests of the town. I think of the little and big parties we enjoyed, the hot whiskies you insisted we imbibe after Easter vigil. The year of Bosco's birth was, like 2025, a jubilee year for the church, and 100 years ago the nun had responded to a call from Pope Pius XI for missionary activity around the world. You and so many others responded to that call in being part of the mission from Drogheda to Ballwin, from the Meath Mercies to Missouri. The bishop also mentioned the cheque from President Michael D Higgins, saying: It is said that there's a store in 34th Street, New York, Macy's, well worth a visit next time you think about it. When Sr Bosco was presented with the cheque and a letter from President Higgins by Sr Cecilia, Sisters of Mercy, Tullamore, she laughed and asked: How much is it? In his letter of congratulations, the president wrote of the many remarkable changes to all aspects of our lives in the last century but added: In so many other ways however the human condition remains the same and we continue with similar preoccupations, ambitions, worries, challenges and joys as those shared by countless generations before us. Yet, it is the gift of our lives to try and make it better, nios fearr. You have played your own important part in shaping and crafting the world we inhabit today, bringing your own energy, experience and wisdom to your work, family and community life. As President of Ireland I congratulate and thank you for that important contribution. The chief celebrant at the Mass, Fr John Garry, said that during her century-long journey Sr Bosco had been a beacon of faith, love and service. Fr Garry also referred to her good humour and as she mixed with guests and well wishers afterwards, Sr Bosco confirmed that quality still exists to those who asked how she was, saying: I'm alright, I'm not too bad any day. All I'm afraid of is that I'm going to live to be 100 and something. How would you get out of that? Prior to her birthday Sr Cecilia said Bosco's long life was due to her natural gift of good health as a child and an adult and long walks to school with plenty of fresh air. Speaking today, Sr Bosco smiled and attributed her longevity to the tablets she'd been taking for about 20 years. She also recalled hearing a very young Timothy Dolan tell her he was thinking of become a priest and said she had coaxed him along. She said she loved her time in America. I'd go back again. Sr Bosco was christened Julianna Daly but when she went to primary school in Kilbeggan her name was changed to Sheila, the Irish for Julianna. Her parents were Thomas Daly and Mary Casey, Ballymacmorris, Kilbeggan, and she was the second oldest of five children. Her brothers were Hubey and Edward (Ned), and Peter Paul, who died when he was 17. Her sister was Maureen. Sr Bosco has said she decided to enter the convent because her neighbour Kathleen Fox was a nun in Longford and Mother Philomena, Mercy Sisters, Kilbeggan suggested she go to Drogheda instead of Longford. Her first profession was on August 20, 1947 and her final profession was on August 20, 1950. She was in Carysfort from 1950 to 1952 and in Ballwin, Missouri from 1957 to 1979. Sr Bosco returned to Drogheda in 1979 and came to Tullamore in 2011. Sr Bosco is pictured above on her 100th birthday with her first cousin Nanny Scully, Croghan (left), Sr Cecilia and Mary Keegan, Kilbeggan, a native of Mountbolus whose late husband Sean was also a first cousin of the nun BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. The container traffic along the Middle Corridor from China exceeded 27,000 containers in 2024, which is more than 25 times higher than in 2023, a source in the Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) CJSC told Trend. According to the source, the volume and share of transit traffic along the Middle Corridor are growing annually due to ongoing and active negotiations between ADY and international partners to improve the efficiency of this traffic, with the most recent year showing notable progress in this area. The source reminded that the first container block train from the Chinese city of Xi'an reached Baku via the Middle Corridor in March 2024, taking just 11 days. Last year, 358 container block trains were sent from China to Azerbaijan, which shows an increase in cargo transportation volumes along the Middle Corridor and highlights Azerbaijan's growing role in the international transport system. In November 2024, the first export cargo to China was sent by rail from Baku with the aim of supporting the development of the Middle Corridor not only as an East-West route but also as a transport artery for West-East. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. TotalEnergies, along with its partners Basra Oil Company and QatarEnergy, has officially launched construction of the ArtawiGas25 processing facility in the Basra region, Trend reports. This facility will process 50 million cubic feet of associated gas per day, previously flared at the Ratawi field. The gas will be used to supply local power plants, benefiting approximately 200,000 households. Part of the broader Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), the ArtawiGas25 facility represents a $250 million investment. The GGIP, a $10 billion initiative signed in 2021, aims to enhance Iraqs energy infrastructure by recovering flared gas from oil fields and supplying it for power generation. The first phase of GGIP includes a large-scale gas processing plant designed to supply up to 1.5 GW of power. The ArtawiGas25 facility is expected to significantly reduce gas flaring at the Ratawi field by the end of 2025. The projects modular design may also serve as a model for similar initiatives across other Iraqi oil fields. During the construction phase, the project is set to create up to 160 jobs, with 30 jobs available during its operation. Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President for Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, emphasized the projects importance in providing more energy with fewer emissions, while supporting Iraqs energy needs. He also noted the upcoming construction of a 1 GW solar project as another key milestone for the GGIP. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Azerbaijan has begun work on the design of two rural settlements in its Lachin district, Trend reports. Reportedly, the aforementioned localities are Erikli and Kurdhaji. The initial stage of the design process will be executed for these settlements. The pertinent operations are currently under the purview of the Lachin District Restoration, Construction, and Management Service in this context. The design of the Erikli village has been entrusted to Inteqris LLC, and the Kurdhaji village to the State Design Institute Azerdovletlayihe. Contracts have been signed with these companies for amounts of 910,370 manat ($535,521) and 907,789 manat ($534,002), respectively. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A lecture series hosted by the Chinese Archaeological Museum has offered a unique window into major archaeological discoveries and the latest research on the origins and early development of Chinese civilization. "Today is the Winter Solstice. A warm welcome to everyone visiting the Chinese Archaeological Museum," museum director Liu Guoxiang told the attendees of a lecture on Liangzhu Culture on Dec. 21, 2024. The museum's "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization" lecture series began in June 2024, with nationally renowned experts invited every Saturday at 10 a.m. to the third floor of the Chinese Archaeological Museum. The lecture on Dec. 21 was delivered by Wang Ningyuan, a senior research fellow at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and a leading expert on Liangzhu Culture. At the Liangzhu ruins, time seemed to have stood still for 5,000 years until its discovery in 1936. Located in east China's Zhejiang Province, it gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2019, a testament to the continued existence of Chinese civilization. More than 350 sites of the Liangzhu civilization have been discovered in the lower reaches of China's longest river, the Yangtze, shedding light on one of the earliest urban societies in East Asia. Among the most significant findings are the ancient Liangzhu city, large expanses of prehistorical rice paddies -- the oldest dating back over 6,000 years, a trove of jade artifacts and agricultural tools such as plows. In particular, Yucong, or Jade Cong, is a jade tube with a quadrilateral exterior and a circular interior. This ritual article is a hallmark of Liangzhu Culture, which, according to archaeological discoveries, also spread to other parts of China from Liangzhu. During the middle period of Liangzhu Culture, the ritual center, city walls, and water management system were all planned in a unified manner. The social structure transitioned from female-dominated power to male authority, while the belief system shifted from dragon-shaped patterns to a unified divine emblem, Wang said. "Within Liangzhu city, the population comprised nobles and high-level artisans, revealing the emergence and evolution of early state-level social organization. Liangzhu provides a prime example for research on the origins of Chinese civilization," the expert added. Wang revealed significant progress in Liangzhu archaeological research. DNA analysis of charred rice samples revealed at least six sources of origin. Stable isotope and DNA studies found individuals within the city came from as far as the Central Plains and the Haidai region, centered in today's Shandong Province. "Liangzhu city was an urban center where resources of all kinds were brought in from external regions, and populations gathered across vast areas. Its influence and level of development are beyond imagination," said Wang. Wang took questions from the audience, including an elementary school student, a middle school teacher, and a pharmaceutical researcher. Concerning how Liangzhu Culture came to an end and how its iconic Jade Cong spread across China, Wang explained that environmental research suggests frequent flooding in the late Liangzhu period may have disrupted rice cultivation, leading to population migration to surrounding areas. The Jade Cong and the ideas it represented subsequently influenced other parts of China. "This is a vivid example of the formation of China's multi-regional and unified civilization," Wang added. Liu, also secretary-general with the Society for Chinese Archaeology, spent over 30 years working on neolithic archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Archaeology. He began the lecture series after taking up the position at the Chinese Archaeological Museum. The speakers are mostly directors of archaeological institutes from various provinces or leaders of prominent archaeological projects across China, representing the country's highest level of contemporary archaeological research. However, they strive to present their findings in simple and accessible language, in a bid to make archaeology interesting and approachable for the public. Before each Saturday lecture begins, Liu increasingly sees familiar faces among the audience. After the lectures, many attendees tell him they have gained a deeper understanding of what makes China and felt closer to archaeology than ever before. Some have expressed their desire to volunteer for the lecture series. "I hope every lecture becomes a bridge, allowing the public to feel the depth and pride of Chinese civilization through dialogues tracing its origins," Liu said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Leonardo, a global leader in aerospace, defense, and security, sees Central Asia as a strategically vital region, said Angelo Cecchini, the companys Vice President of International Business Development for North East Asia, Oceania, Central Asia, and the India region, in an interview with Trend. He emphasized Leonardos commitment to forging lasting partnerships in the region rather than pursuing short-term opportunities. "Central Asia is widely recognized for its strategic role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, its energy resources, and its importance for regional and international security". Leonardo is focused on providing modular and scalable solutions tailored to meet the regions needs in security, infrastructure, and disaster relief. The companys offerings include technologies for protecting against terrorism and cyber threats, enabling secure transport and resource management, and supporting natural disaster prevention and response. During COP29 in Baku, Leonardo highlighted its contribution to climate adaptation and decarbonization efforts, showcasing space-based technologies for resource management, environmental monitoring, and disaster resilience. "Our expertise supports sustainable energy and technologies, including clean energy deployment and risk mitigation," the VP noted. Leonardo is also exploring alternative propulsion systems, such as hybrid-electric and hydrogen-based technologies, to support Central Asias modernization of aviation in a sustainable way. "We aim to promote long-term growth and stability by offering tailored solutions and respecting the sovereignty of our partners," Cecchini added, positioning Leonardo as a trusted ally in the regions future development. Kohls said Thursday it would close 27 stores nationwide, including one in Northeast Portland. The department store chain said it would shut its Gateway location at 10010 N.E. Halsey St. The store is an anchor at the Gateway Shopping Center, where it backs up to the Gateway Fred Meyer. Kohls described the stores slated to close as underperforming. It said each would close by April but didnt list closing dates for individual locations. The retailer has 10 other Oregon locations, as well as two in Vancouver, Washington. Kohls has 1,150 locations in all. The company said its employees would be offered severance pay and could apply for openings at other stores. Kohls sales are broadly in decline, down 8.8% in the fall compared to a year earlier. Its also replacing its retiring CEO, Tom Kingsbury. It named as a replacement Ashley Buchanan, a former Walmart executive whos now CEO of the craft chain Michaels. Elliot Njus edits business and economy news for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at enjus@oregonian.com. A 52-year-old woman who hid nearly 140 strips of the drug Suboxone in her bra on visits to the federal prison in Sheridan was sentenced Friday to two and a half years in prison. Robynn Regina Cunningham was arrested last January following an investigation that began when prison staff received anonymous handwritten notes that alleged a prisoner was distributing drugs in custody. Afuri, the Japanese ramen chain that chose Portland for its first international expansion in 2016, announced the permanent closure of its Old Town location Thursday, blaming the lingering negative perception of downtown safety for the closure. The company, which has since opened outposts in California, Texas and New York, continues to operate three Oregon locations, including the original American izakaya at 923 S.E. 7th Ave. The Old Town location, 50 S.W. 3rd Ave., which opened in 2017, was the companys second outside of Japan. While there have been improvements in public safety, the return of local residents and foot traffic to the area remains limited, Afuri USA CEO Taichi Ishizuki wrote in a press release. Before opening its first United States location in 2016, Ishizuki said the company chose to expand to the Rose City first thanks to its the quality of the local Bull Run water. That full-service Southeast Portland restaurant was quickly followed by a dumpling-focused Old Town spin-off near Voodoo Doughnut in 2017. In August, the company changed the name of that second location to Afuri Kara Kurenai, with a new focus on a yakuzen-style spicy, sour and umami ramen that incorporates elements of Chinese herbal medicine. The rebrand wasnt enough. According to Ishizuki, the decision to close in Old Town was not made lightly. (It) follows a thorough evaluation of the challenges we have faced in recent years including the lingering negative perception of downtown safety following the pandemic, a significant decline in tourism, and one of the highest office vacancy rates in the nation, Ishizuki said. Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter Each week, restaurant critic Michael Russell takes Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers along on his culinary explorations. Not a subscriber? You can receive a few weeks of The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter as a free trial. Sign up here. The largest health care strike in Oregon history began early Friday at Providence facilities across the state, as roughly 5,000 frontline health professionals walked off the job. The strike which includes thousands of nurses along with 150 doctors and advanced practitioners spans Providences eight hospitals in the state and six womens clinics. A Portland-area woman who claims the anesthesiologist in her 2021 hand surgery infected her with the potentially life-threatening Hepatitis C virus filed a $4 million lawsuit against Providence Health & Services and the Oregon Anesthesiology Group on Wednesday. The woman, listed in her lawsuit only by the letters K.S., is one of more than 2,400 patients who were sent letters by Providence and Legacy Health last summer notifying them that they might have been exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or other infections due to violations in safety protocols from 2017 to June 2024. The suit claims the woman was infected due to lapses in following infection control procedures. Providence, Legacy and the Oregon Anesthesiology Group didnt respond to queries Thursday or declined to comment about whether more patients with confirmed infections had been identified. Because the woman underwent surgery at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, only Providence and Oregon Anesthesiology Group are listed as defendants in the lawsuit. Providence declined to comment on the lawsuit, and the anesthesiology group didnt respond. The woman told The Oregonian/OregonLive that upon receiving a letter from Providence sent last July, she was in disbelief that she might have been exposed. I was kind of shocked, she said. I thought it was a fake letter. But then she saw that shed also received a second letter. So she decided to get tested, and she learned shed contracted Hepatitis C. She said that other than the surgery, shed engaged in no behaviors that might have exposed her to the virus that is primarily spread through contact with infected blood. An infectious disease expert hired by her lawyer said that in all probability, she acquired the virus through her 2021 surgery. I go in there and lay on a gurney, and someone comes and knocks you out, the woman said. I mean, I never thought anything would happen. She said she started an eight-week course of antiviral pills several days ago that will aim to cure her. She said Providence told her it would pay for the medication, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. She said she has been on the hook for a few $5 co-pays. She also is frustrated with months-long delays she said she has experienced in getting the treatment that Providence promised her, and she worries about permanent damage to her liver. The treatment, which has a 95% success rate, is considered a major innovation in modern-day medicine and wasnt available as recently as 15 years ago. Hepatitis C, however, is still the leading cause of liver cancer in the U.S. because many people dont know they have it or cant afford the treatment. The woman said she has been left in the dark about what hospital officials believe happened and how it is that multiple other medical staff could be working around the anesthesiologist suspected of being responsible and not notice his alleged lapses over a years-long span. The womans attorney, Michael Fuller, said he hasnt learned any answers from Providence. Theyre being very vague, Fuller said. Weeks after the two hospital systems announced they would send out thousands of letters notifying patients, six patients filed a federal lawsuit last summer seeking class action status for the stress and anguish of waiting to learn their test results. None were identified in the lawsuit as having acquired an infection. The suit was dismissed in December. Court records dont explain why, such as if the case reached a settlement, and the plaintiffs attorneys couldnt be reached for comment Thursday. Neither last summers lawsuit nor this weeks lawsuit names the anesthesiologist suspected to be responsible. Fuller said medical records state that the anesthesiologist who sedated his client was Stephen Carl Swank. Oregon Medical Board records show Swank had up to a decade of experience in anesthesiology by June 25, 2024, which is when he signed an agreement to voluntarily withdraw from practice pending the outcome of a medical board investigation into his ability to safely and competently practice medicine. The medical board lists the investigation as still open. The agreement gives no other information about why Swank is under investigation. Swank didnt respond to requests for comment from The Oregonian/OregonLive last year or Thursday. According to announcements made by Providence and Legacy last year, patients were potentially exposed to infections at three Portland area hospitals. The hospital systems say that included about 2,200 patients at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, two patients at Providence Portland Medical Center in Northeast Portland and 221 patients at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham. Aimee Green covers breaking news and the justice system. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or @o_aimee. One person died Saturday and another Tuesday in separate crashes, as Oregons traffic deaths so far in 2025 match the number of deaths in the same short period of time last year. Victor Joseph Cianci, 74, of Florence was killed when his Ferrari GTB crossed the center line of Oregon 126 in Lane County around 3:05 p.m. at a high rate of speed and struck a guard rail, causing the car to flip and land in a pond, the Oregon State Police said in a statement. Cianci was declared dead at the scene, police said. Eduardo Flores Alvarez, 34, of Pendleton, died on Saturday at about 8:49 a.m. when he rolled his Ford F-250 on Interstate 84 near milepost 179 in Umatilla County, police said. The crash ejected Alvarez from his truck, and first responders found his body on the median; Alvarez was declared dead at the scene, police said. Oregon Department of Transportation records show that Alvarez was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. So far this year there have been nine traffic deaths in Oregon, according to ODOT data; three of them have been pedestrian deaths. By this time last year, Oregon also had nine traffic deaths. Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313. Three hundred Oregon firefighters have arrived in Southern California, and many of them have started fighting the fires that have devastated Los Angeles and killed at least 10 people. We are in contact with our teams, and they are in good spirits, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a statement on Friday. I am honored to work alongside the Oregon fire service who raised their hands to say they will go without question. The Oregon firefighters have been assigned to protect homes and patrol for hotspots in and around the Palisades fire, the state fire marshal department said. The department announced on Wednesday it was mobilizing 12 teams totaling 240 firefighters after receiving a request for aid. It later said the state would send an additional three teams totaling 60 firefighters. The firefighters in the strike teams were drawn from all over Oregon, including Clackamas and Multnomah counties. The state fire marshal said the number of firefighters sent to California makes the out-of-state deployment one of Oregons largest ever. As of Friday, the Palisades fire in Los Angeles County has burned 20,438 acres, destroyed 85 structures and killed two people, California Fire Department data shows; the nearby 13,690-acre Eaton fire has destroyed 972 structures and killed five people. There are five total active fires in the Los Angeles area. Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313. The Metro Council will decide within the next month whether to refer an updated version of the regional governments homeless services tax to the May ballot. Metro Council President Lynn Peterson announced her priorities for the potential measure Friday. Peterson said she would like to extend the tax to 2050, create stronger oversight of county spending, raise the income threshold at which the tax would kick in to account for inflation and lower the tax rate to 0.75% starting in 2031. Peterson also wants to start using some of the tax revenue, above what would be promised to the three counties for homeless services, to build more affordable housing. That would help fill the gap as Metros affordable housing bond runs out next year. But that proposal has drawn ire from the chairs of all three counties, who warned last year that diverting dollars could negatively impact the counties work to reduce homelessness. Voters first approved the 1% tax on high income earners and businesses in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties in 2020. Individuals who earn over $125,000 and couples who earn over $200,000 are currently subject to the tax. In tax year 2022, the most recent for which Metro has state income tax return data, about 10% of tri-county area tax filers paid the homeless services tax, according to Metro spokesperson Emily Green. Individuals account for 55% of annual tax revenue and businesses for 45%, Green wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Revenues from the tax have exceeded $330 million for each of the last two years and resulted in vastly expanded services for homeless people in the tri-county area. At the same time, reports show more people become homeless each month than become housed in all three counties. Despite the ongoing need, the current tax is set to sunset in 2030. The Dr. Darrell Millner building in North Portland, seen here in September, provides affordable rental units for previously displaced families and was built, in part, with money form the soon-to-expire Metro housing bond.Dave Killen / The Oregonian Expiration of the program would end funding for services for thousands of Oregonians who have been able to keep or find stable housing, thanks to voters, according to the Friday statement from Peterson. But county and city leaders in the region have expressed concerns that the proposed changes could lower the amount they have to spend on services they have just finished setting up. At a work session Tuesday, Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards said it was important to her that any ballot measure referred by Metro provide the counties some guarantee of how much funding they will get each year. If were going to make long-term plans and long-term commitments to providers we (should) have something that gives us the assurance that if we make plans and invest in it, theyre not going to pull the rug out from underneath us, she said. County officials who spoke at the Tuesday work session also expressed concerns that Metros forecast for the tax revenue available for the 2024-25 fiscal year was incorrect. Based on the new forecast, released in December, the three counties will get a collective $51 million less this fiscal year than was forecast in fall 2023. The proposed changes are meant to limit that type of uncertainty by committing a set amount annually to each county in advance, according to Green. Its unclear whether a majority of voters would support the changes. A survey of Metro voters conducted just before Thanksgiving showed that a slim majority - just 51% - supported the measure based on a title and caption alone. Homelessness remains a top concern for voters, with polling showing a vast majority support village-style shelters like Kenton Women's Village. Seen here in October 2023, Lunette Wimberly stands on the porch of her residence at the women's village, which is partially funded with money raised by the Metro homeless services tax. Dave Killen / The Oregonian However, because most voters are skeptical of progress on homelessness in the region so far, success is contingent on the inclusion of reforms to program administration and oversight, according to the summary of the poll results by FM3 Research, the California based political research firm that conducted the poll. More than a quarter 28% of voters surveyed in November said they dont believe the homeless services programs funded by the tax are happening as described. Still, when accountability measures were added like requiring detailed public disclosures of all spending from the measure and subjecting all spending from the measure to annual audits, support among polled voters rose to 54%. The original homeless services tax measure passed in 2020 with 57% of the vote. The exact language for the proposed ballot measure has not yet been released. Metro will hold a work session on the measure on Jan. 16. The first reading and public hearing on the potential measure is set for Jan. 23. A vote on whether or not to refer the language to the May ballot is expected on Jan. 30, according to Green. Correction: Polling figures have been updated to reflect the total percentage who were at least somewhat in favor of the idea for the measure. Lillian Mongeau Hughes covers homelessness and mental health for The Oregonian. Email her with tips or questions at lmhughes@oregonian.com. Or follow her on Bluesky @lmonghughes.bsky.social or X at @lrmongeau. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) is fully operational, the ICGB AD, the pipeline operator, told Trend, as Azerbaijani gas supplies to Bulgaria have been temporarily suspended. The company said it was also recently notified about a temporary unplanned pause in Azerbaijani gas deliveries. Meanwhile, ICGBs infrastructure is fully operational and fulfilling other client nominations as usual. Were not aware of the technical details that caused this as the issue does not lay with the interconnectors facilities, said the company. Bulgargaz Energy Company of Bulgaria announced the suspension of gas supplies on January 9, noting that deliveries are expected to resume by January 11, 2025. The notice of this temporary halt was received from the Azerbaijani supplier on January 6, 2025, the company stated. Azerbaijan supplies natural gas to Bulgaria via the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector, with an existing pipeline capacity of 3 billion cubic meters per year, which has the potential to be expanded to 5 billion cubic meters. Trend reached out to the Azerbaijani side for clarification, but by the time this article was published, there had been no response. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn A vast Oregon ranch bigger than Bend and owned for a century by the prominent Steiwer family of cattlemen, bankers and politicians in remote Wheeler County is for sale. The asking price for the Steiwer Ranch, now called the Stanley Ranch, which spans more than 37 square miles, is $34,950,000. This is only the second time in more than 120 years that one of the most diverse ranches in the Western United States has been available, said listing agent Ryland Moore of Live Water Properties. The ranch is for someone who wants everything, Moore said, from a cattle operation to a huge party saloon and helicopter hangar. Horseback riders exploring equestrian trails throughout the property can ride for days without touching the same ground twice, he said. Moore has already received interest from niche buyers: Ultra affluent families committed to restoring ranches to their historical boundaries as a labor of love and a legacy project that involves conservation measures, said Moore, who mentioned entrepreneurs like Ted Turner and others listed on the Top 100 Landowners report. Any time you can find this large of landscape scale piece of ground in one transaction and at this inexpensive price per acre is pretty unique, Moore told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Moore said the new owner of the Stanley Ranch controls almost an entire watershed, from the headwaters and springs to the John Day River, and different biomes that support a variety of plant and animal species. When you talk about wide open, uninterrupted landscape-scale properties, this is it, he said, a well stewarded, entire block of land, not a checkerboard of multiple locations. Since the 34,000-acre ranch last traded hands in 1999, the current owner sold off about 10,000 acres and has participated in soil and water restoration and conservation projects among other improvements on the 24,020 contiguous acres now for sale. The Stanley Ranch is an authentic Western treasure, offering an extraordinary blend of history, natural beauty, incredible recreation and diverse geological land features, Moore wrote in his real estate description. Most important: The private land has preserved ancient rock art and pictographs etched along basalt cliffs and in hidden cave walls. Archeologist James Keyser, who documented the art, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that while such sites are not uncommon from The Dalles to the Tri Cities and south to Bend, the two art rock sites on the Steiwer Ranch are absolutely pristine without damage and a couple of the largest known. The property, which can support up to 600 mother cows a year, also includes potential income using a 3,800-acre cattle grazing lease on federally owned Bureau of Land Management land along the John Day River and about 250 acres of irrigation with water rights dating back to the 1880s, said Moore. Moore calls the richly diverse property landscape scale, which means wildlife habitats thrive among the varied terrains, with elevations from 1,100 to 3,900 feet, and 26 miles of rivers and streams. The property is also being marketed as a sportsmans paradise, for fishing and hunting. The ranch, a two-hour drive from downtown Bend, has a main house with 2,800 square feet of living space plus an 800-square-foot bunkhouse and a scattering of spike camp cabins. Entertaining highlights are a 3,600-square-foot saloon, theater and an oxygenated pond next to a gazebo that allows for fishing, swimming or relaxing by the fire pit, said Moore. The sale comes with furnishings and ranch equipment. Outbuildings include an indoor horse riding arena and meticulously maintained shops and barns for equipment, toys, hay, a ranch museum, said Moore. Two adjacent properties for sale, the 5,430-acre R&C Ranch ($4,950,000) and 3,246-acre Seven Springs Ranch on Butte Creek ($2.4 million) owned by others than the Stanley Ranch seller, can also be acquired to make the holdings 32,710 contiguous acres, and add more miles along the John Day River, a riverfront home and other dwellings. Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastman. A Virginia pastor has gone viral after he allegedly compelled a teenage girl to apologize to the congregation for being pregnant out of wedlock. The incident happened Sunday at the True Vine Apostolic Church in Hampton, VA, during a mass being led by Pastor Terry Jackson and First Lady Sister Paulette Jackson. In a clip posted on Instagram by media personality and journalist Jemele Hill, a young girl was seen standing in front of full pews and emotionally apologizing for her pregnancy. "I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant," she said. "I'm sorry y'all. I just hope that y'all all forgive me." Members of the church stood up after the teen girl's remarks and applauded as she requested prayers before stepping away. "We Don't Condone Sin" Following the teenager's apology, Pastor Jackson addressed the congregation and emphasized that no church member would attend a baby shower held for a child born out of wedlock. "We don't condone sin. Ain't no baby showers. You have a baby out of wedlock ain't nobody in this church bout to attend one," the pastor said. Comments in Hill's Instagram post expressed support for the teen girl and condemned the church for publicly shaming her for her pregnancy. However, a woman claiming she was the teen's mother said the pastor did not force or manipulate the girl to make the apology and that she "willingly" approached the congregation. Pregnancy Shaming It is not the first time a teen girl has been asked to apologize in front of a congregation for her pregnancy. In 1997, a 15-year-old girl was forced by Former Trinity Baptist Church Pastor Charles Phelps to apologize to the church for bearing a child out of wedlock. The apology came even after it was found that she became pregnant after being raped twice by a 39-year-old fellow church member. Phelps, however, said he had reported the rape incident to the police and blamed them for failing to act. Authorities responded, saying they tried to investigate the report but could not find the girl until 2010 when internet posts revealed she had already moved to Arizona and was living under her married name. De Fide Dogma on Communion in One Species Only; Theological Discord; Sola Scriptura Wherefore it is most true, that as much is contained under either species as under both; for Christ whole and entire is under the species of bread, and under any part whatsoever of that species; likewise the whole (Christ) is under the species of wine, and under the parts thereof. (Chapter 3; Denzinger 1641, p. 394) * If any one denieth, that, in the venerable sacrament of the Eucharist, the whole Christ is contained under each species, and under every part of each species, when separated; let him be anathema. (Canon 3; Denzinger 1653, p. 397) The Council of Florence had stated the same doctrine in November 1439, in the Bull of Union with the Armenians: Exsultate Deo: The whole Christ is contained under the species of bread and the whole Christ under the species of wine. Further, the whole Christ is present under any part of the consecrated host or the consecrated wine when separated from the rest. (Denzinger 1321, p. 341) So had the Council of Constance in its session 13 on 15 June 1415: Decree on Communion Only under the Species of Bread: The whole Body and Blood of Christ are truly contained under both the species of bread and the species of wine. . . . It should be held as a law . . . (Denzinger 199, p. 326) * Moreover, Ludwig Otts widely used reference work, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma ( 2018 revision ), asserts (p. 409) that these doctrines are classified as de fide; that is, the very highest level of dogmatic certainty. Lastly, the Lutheran belief in some sort of divided Christ in Holy Communion (if one form is received, as I always do, myself) is theologically, philosophically, and logically inadequate, as well as unbiblical: * Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck that is in your brothers eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [4] Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers eye. The beginning of the truly Catholic religion is this, that the word of God, contained in the prophetic and apostolic writings, should perfectly inform us of all things necessary for faith, and consequently be the only norm and rule of all controversies of faith which are discussed in the Church. Therefore, the first principle is that Scripture is perfect. For example, 1. By the praise of perfection attributed to Scripture, we understand this, that it fully and perfectly informs us of all things which are necessary for faith and morals. 2. We do not call Scripture perfect because all things which are necessary for faith and morals are contained in the Scriptures in a large number of letters and in as many words, but we say that some are contained explicitly, some implicitly in them, so that they can be deduced from them by legitimate and immutable confluence. He offers a fairly standard definition of sola Scriptura: the historically novel and unbiblical Protestant rule of faith. Rev. 22. v. 18. & 19. wherefore the Apostle warns, that no one should do more than what is written 1. Cor. 4. v. 6. Revelation 22:18-19 I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. This has nothing do do with the question of whether legitimate unwritten traditions exist. It simply warns about adding to or taking anything away from the one book of Revelation. Once we enter into Protestant defenses of sola Scriptura, non sequiturs are ubiquitous. They never cease to amaze me, in their wrongheadedness and argumentative bankruptcy. Ive already dealt with the failure of 1 Corinthians 4:6 as an alleged prooftext, so it need not detain us any further. From a perfect voluntary cause, willing and not hindered to produce a perfect effect, a perfect effect proceeds. Such is the cause of Scripture, since He willed that the Scriptures should be written and come forth for that end, that from His own power and will they should fully lead us to faith, and no impediment to the production of this effect intervenes or could intervene. This is clearly untrue (and equally as clearly, silly), and it is because human free will can and does interfere with Gods will for His inspired Scripture. Hence St. Peter wrote about St. Pauls writings: There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures (2 Pet 3:16). And Paul refers to those who will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths (2 Tim 4:3-4). Thus, the perfect effect of the truth of Scripture is and always can be prevented by willful human obstinacy and pride. A perfect Scripture doesnt guarantee that all will accept and understand and follow this perfect Scripture and come to total agreement because God wills that. Any three-second pondering of Protestant division proves this. Rom. 1:1-2, explains all the parts of Christianity, so that from it we may have faith in Christ and the doctrine of good works. It does no such thing: Romans 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God [2] which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, This refers only to the gospel. St. Paul defines the gospel in Acts 13:30-33 as the resurrection of Jesus and as His death, burial, and resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. Therefore, Romans 1:1-2 does not explain all the parts of Christianity. nothing should be added or taken away, Deuteronomy. 4. v. 2. chap. 12. v.32. (which is to be understood of the word written is evident from Deuteronomy. 28. v. 58. & Jol. i. v. 8.) Prov. 3o. v.5. Galatians .i .v. 8. This is the same repeated fallacy dealt with in regard to Revelation 22:18-19 above. Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 teach that Scripture (at that time, the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament) shouldnt be added to or subtracted from. Its very simple. This is not the same thing as saying that no oral tradition can also exist. In the same book, after all (8:20-22) its stated that prophets speak the word of the Lord, in the name of the Lord. Such prophecies go beyond Scripture itself. Thus, Deuteronomy doesnt prove sola Scriptura; it disproves it. Proverbs 30:5-6 states that Every word of God proves true . . . Do not add to his words. Its the same concept again. Protestants assume that word of God is the equivalent of Bible. But its not. It (like word of the Lord) also refers to Gods personal revelation to prophets: the word of God came to Shemaiah (1 Kgs 12:22); the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness (Lk 3:2). 1 Corinthians 14:30 even refers to extra-biblical continuing new covenant prophecy as revelation. Galatians 1:18 is about false gospels, not about whether Scripture is the only infallible rule of faith. It gets very wearisome having to point out these obvious things. But it happens in every discussion about sola Scriptura because Protestants have no genuine biblical proof of it at all, let alone compelling ones. So instead we get irrelevant nonsense such as the above, even (the most amazing thing) from brilliant minds and scholars like Gerhard. * The annual Consumer Electronics Show is always a massive event that sees dozens of laptops announced, but CES 2025 was especially notable. Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm all made significant hardware announcements, and those announcements meant every laptop maker had a hoard of refreshed, upgraded laptops to show. But the show wasnt just about the hardware. CES 2025 also saw Lenovo debut the worlds first rollable OLED laptop, a serious new MacBook Air competitor from Asus, and a flagship gaming laptop that seems a bit too obsessed with Skyrim. Much like we did with our roundup of the best monitors at the show, these are the best laptops of CES 2025. Further reading: The best PC and home tech of CES 2025 Acer Aspire Vero 16 Acer Acer found an unusual way to generate headlines at CES 2025: it made a laptop out of oyster shells. Well, partially, at least. The Aspire Vero uses up to 70% PCR and bio-based materials in its chassis. Basically, its made of recyclables and gunk. Its a bit odd, then, that the Aspire Vero 16 is among the more appealing entry-level laptops at the show. The chassis isnt fancy, but the PCR materials provide the laptop with a unique look and texture. Its not flashy, but it stands out. Materials aside, the Aspire Vero 16 is a simple, versatile machine. It has Intel Core Ultra 200H processors, up to 32GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage. Its affordable, too, at $799.99 to start. Look to see it hit stores in Q2 2025. Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16-inch Samsung Samsung brought its latest flagship Galaxy Book, the Galaxy Book5 Pro, to CES 2025. It packs an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor with an NPU capable of up to 47 TOPS. RAM starts at 16GB and runs up to 32GB, while storage starts at 256GB and runs up to 1TB. Expect lengthy battery life, as well, as Samsung is quoting up to 25 hours (for the 16-inch model). As with prior Galaxy Book laptops, the display is a highlight. The Galaxy Book5 Pro has a 3K 120Hz touchscreen. Its perhaps not as unique as it once was, since many competitors are adopting OLED, but still looks great. Connectivity is solid, too, with a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and even a MicroSD card slot. Pricing is to be announced, but the wait wont be long, as Samsung says the laptop will ship in February. Lenovo ThinkBook Plus 6 Rollable Matt Smith/Foundry The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus 6 Rollable is the first consumer laptop (or tablet, or smartphone) to ship with a rollable OLED display. The display is 14 inches when retracted but, with the touch of a button, a motorized roller on the hinge expands the display vertically to 16.7 inches diagonally (thats a 50 percent increase). While the rollable feature is innovative, the laptop otherwise looks and feels refreshingly normal. An unsuspecting observer might not notice anything different about the laptop until the display unfurls. The Rollable is as powerful as other 14-inch business laptops, too, as it has Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processors and can equip up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of solid state storage. Theres just one catch: the price. Lenovo says the Rollable will retail at $3,499 in June of 2025. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Matt Smith/Foundry Lenovos new flagship gaming laptop, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, received an extensive refresh with a new look for CES 2025. The highlight, I think, is the new RGB-LED lighting that lines the Legion logo and the exhaust vents. Flashy lighting is nothing new for gaming laptops, but the Legion Pro 7is RGB-LED lights are bright, vibrant, and well-integrated into the chassis. I think they look awesome. Lighting aside, the Legion Pro 7i relies on Lenovos typical strategy in the gaming space: it delivers good bang for the buck. The laptop has up to Intel Core Ultra 9 275H processors and up to Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics. Lenovo also boasts about the Coldfront Hyper cooling system, which is promised to support a total system TDP of 250 watts. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i will retail at $2,399 in March 2025. Asus Zenbook A14 Matt Smith/Foundry The Asus Zenbook A14 is the companys first laptop to use its unique ceraluminum finish, which bonds a ceramic exterior to an aluminum interior, across a laptops entire chassis (instead of just the display lid). Its also built from magnesium-aluminum alloy, a common and lightweight material. The result is a slim, portable laptop with a look and feel unlike anything else on the market. Picking up the machine reminded me of handling a premium notebook or a slim hardcover book. The Zenbook A14 weighs about 2.1 pounds and measures about six-tenths of an inch thick. Inside, the laptop relies on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X or X Elite processor, depending on the model, and is equipped with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of solid state storage. Asus says the 70 watt-hour battery can provide up to 32 hours of battery life (though that, Im sure, is a best-case scenario). The Zenbook A14 is my overall pick of the show. Its attractive, portable and, perhaps best of all, affordable at a starting price of $899. However, the entry-level model wont ship till March. A higher-end model will be sold through Best Buy for $1099 starting January 13. Asus ROG Flow Z13 Asus The 2025 Asus ROG Flow Z13, like its predecessors, is a unique gaming-focused PC tablet that tries to mesh portability with high-end gaming performance. This time around, however, it packs AMDs radical new Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, which combines 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 40 powerful RDNA 3.5 graphics CUs on a single chip, then tosses in a 50 TOPS NPU for good measure. The chips unified design can dynamically share the tablets memory (up to 128GB of RAM) between processing and graphics tasks as needed. We werent to test the chip on the CES 2025 show floor, but its specifications are intriguing, and it seems better suited for a Windows tablet device than the Nvidia RTX 40-series discrete GPUs found in prior models. The ROG Flow Z13 starts at $1999.99, but youll need to spend $2,199.99 to snag the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. Availability is expected in Q1 2025. Asus Chromebook CX14 Matt Smith/Foundry CES 2025 felt like a light year for Chromebooks, with most laptop makers having few or no ChromeOS devices to show, but the Asus Chromebook CX14 caught my attention. Thats mostly thanks to its design. Prior iterations already looked good and, this year, Asus showed off several new colors (Quiet Blue, Misty Grey, and Fabric Blue), each with its own textured finish. These options are a fun touch to an already solid ChromeOS line-up. Its also easy to pack with a thickness under eight-tenth of an inch, and it tips the scales a hair over three pounds. The hardware is less exciting. The Chromebook CX14 will ship with an Intel Celeron N4500 processor. RAM starts at 4GB (up to 16GB) and storage starts at 32GB (up to 128GB). Thankfully, though, it ships with a 1080p display and a good mix of connectivity which includes a USB-C port for charging the laptop. The Asus Chromebook CX14 starts at $199.99. Availability wasnt announced. Razer Blade 16 Razer Razer came to CES 2025 with a new, slimmer Blade 16 that the company boasts is the thinnest Razer laptop ever designed at just 0.59 inches thick. This is said to be achieved through innovations in the vapor chamber cooling system. Despite its slim profile, the Razer Blade 16 will continue to boast powerful hardware. It supports AMD Ryzen AI processors up to the Ryzen AI 9 370 HX and can handle Nvidias most powerful new mobile GPU, the GeForce RTX 5090. It will also ship with a QHD OLED display that can hit a refresh rate of up to 240Hz. I think that, as with prior models, the Blade 16 will be a popular choice among gamers and professionals who want a lot of performance in a slim machine. Upgrades aside, the Razer Blade 16 looks a lot like prior modelswhich is probably how Razer fans would prefer it. Pricing remains to be announced, and availability is expected in Q1 2025. MSI Stealth A16 AI+ Matt Smith/Foundry The MSI Stealth line-up is secretly among the best options for people who want a powerful do-it-all laptop for work and play, and the new MSI Stealth A16 AI+ reinforces that. The revised model receives several upgrades, the most important of which is new Nvidia RTX 50-series hardware up to the RTX 5090. MSI also equips the laptop with a new QHD OLED display, which is nice, as the prior model had an IPS display when I reviewed it (and it was the laptops biggest weakness). True to its name, the Stealth A16 AI+ looks subtle despite its powerful hardware. The laptop measures less than eight-tenths of an inch thick and weighs under 4.5 pounds. It also lacks the flair found on MSIs gaming laptop, instead opting for a classy but understated look. The laptop is even equipped with a massive 99 watt-hour battery. MSI didnt quote battery life when I asked, but if the prior model is any indication, it should last about eight to 10 hours in lighter workloads. Price and availability are not announced but expect to hear more in Q1 2025. MSI Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Norse Myth Matt Smith/Foundry MSI isnt one to shy away from extreme laptop design, but it went all-out at CES 2025 with the Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Norse Myth. This gigantic, thick beast of an 18-inch laptop has a gorgeous, textured display lid that feels like an ode to Skyrim (or, perhaps, the latest God of War titles). I guarantee it looks even more wild in person than in pictures, but its not a concept. This laptop is going to retail. Beneath the new exterior, however, its still a Titan 18 HX. Which is good, because the Titan 18 HX is an excellent laptop. As expected, this model has hardware upgrades that include up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics, four M.2 SSD slots (one of which is PCIe 5), and an 18-inch 4K Mini-LED screen with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. MSI said RAM goes up to 96GB. Pricing and availability werent announced but I expect that, as with prior models, it will soar north of $5,000. And if youre not really into dragons, dont worry. MSI will still offer a new Titan 18 HX with a less lavish design. TP-Links Tapo smart home ecosystem gained a host of new products at CES 2025, including new home security cameras, smart lighting productsincluding a bona fide NVR system. But if the recent stories about security flaws in TP-Link routers gives you pause, TP-Link assures us that theres no longer any connection between itTP-Link Systemsand Chinas TP-Link Technologies. A TP-Link Systems spokesperson told us the company manufactures its products in Brazil and Vietnam, not China, and that it owns its own factories, designs and manufactures its products, and controls its full supply chain. With that out of the way, lets talk about the new Tapo products, starting with home security. Tapo PalmKey Smart Door Lock TP-Link The Tapo PalmKey Smart Door Lock features palm-vein recognition technology that scans the intricate, unique patterns of veins in your hand. The company said this delivers unparalleled accuracy and security, surpassing traditional fingerprint or facial-recognition systems. Its scanner is designed to work flawlessly even with wet, dirty, or dry hands, ensuring reliable access for all family members, regardless of age or physical condition. The lock includes seven other lock/unlock methods as well: Fingerprint, PIN codes, Wi-Fi remote control, a physical key, and third-party integration. It employs multi-layer encryption to safeguard user data and features a 10,000 mAh rechargeable battery with USB Type-C port for charging. Designed to withstand extreme conditions, the lock is IP65 weatherproof. New Tapo security cameras TP-Link promises compact Tapo C675D Kit, 4K dual-lens security camera can eliminate blind spots thanks to a wide-angle camera that sits on top of an independently controlled pan/tilt camera. Both cameras boast 4K resolution, and they both connect to an included solar panel to keep their batteries topped off. Unless other dual-lens cameras weve seen, the Tapo C675D is remarkably compact and non-industrial looking. Tapos NVR (network video recorder) supports both Wi-Fi and PoE security cameras and can record 24/7, not just when triggered by motion or something else. Michael Brown/Foundry If you have a large property and need to deploy a camera at the perimeter, far from your Wi-Fi rounter, a 4G camera was your best solution. But that entails adding a monthly fee for the service. Todays Wi-Fi HaLow now offers a subscription-free alternative, and you can get it with TP-Links Tapo C6165D security camera, which also comes with a solar panel to keep its battery topped off. The Tapo C6165D can also be paired with TP-Links all-new Tapo NVR Security Camera System, which is capable of capturing video 24/7, instead of only in response to motion or some other trigger. Its an 8-channel NVR (network video recorder) that can accommodate up to a 20TB hard drive for recording from 8 cameras simultaneously. You can either buy it with a hard drive preinstalled or provide your own. The NVR system can accommodate wireless cameras that support the ONVIF video format, or you can connect PoE (Power over Ethernet) cameras if you dont want to worry about recharging batteries. AI processing performed locallynot in the cloudcan describe what the cameras have recorded, making it much easier to find the footage youre looking for. Tapo Atom Link smart lighting TP-Links Atom Link lighting system communicates over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mesh. Michael Brown/Foundry Few things are more annoying than having your smart lighting fail because your internet connection is down. The Tapo Atom Link lighting system promises to make that problem a thing of the past by connecting to both your Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth mesh. Should your broadband connection or router fail, or if one of the lights has a weak Wi-Fi signal, they can automatically switch over to Bluetooth mesh to retain control. The Atom Link product family includes smart bulbs, smart downlights, and smart switches to cover all the bases. The Tapo app, meanwhile, lets you create dynamic lighting environments, set schedules, and adjust brightness and color temperature. Alexa and Google Home are also supported for voice commands, and TP-Links AI can even create lighting scenes based on the Tapo products you have in your home. TP-Link Tapo expects to ship each of these product by Spring 2025, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. After just shy of a year in operation, the Lehigh Valleys first drive-thru Wawa has already closed The 2,200-square-foot store closed Thursday at Jaindl Land Co.s Trexler Business Center, 6216 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie, a Wawa spokeswoman confirmed. The store closed due to a business decision, she said. Wawa is constantly testing new concepts to meet the needs of our customers, spokeswoman Lori Bruce said in an email. Bruce said a Largo, Florida, store continues to operate with a drive-thru for testing purposes. All employees from the Lower Macungie site were offered jobs at other stores, she said. The Wawa store drive-thru opened in February with major fanfare a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition and T-shirt giveaways for the stores first 100 attendees. At the time, there was just one other standalone Wawa drive-thru of its type open in Morrisville, Bucks County. That store also closed in November. The idea behind the smaller Wawa drive-thrus was to allow guests to stay in cars as they placed orders versus entering a larger convenience-type store. There were no gas pumps or entry doors. The building had a limited menu, focusing on quick-service food and drinks. Delaware County-based Wawa Inc. has more than 1,000 convenience stores across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. Three recently opened in central Pa.: one in Dauphin County in September and in York and Cumberland counties in December. Its unclear if anything is on tap to replace the Wawa at Trexler Business Center. Township Manager Bruce Beitel didnt immediately return a request for more information Thursday afternoon. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Macys Inc. announced on Thursday that its closing 66 store locations, including one in Pennsylvania. One is the Center City Philadelphia location in the historic Wanamaker Building. Macys workers were told that the iconic location, which provided a home for John Wanamakers flagship department store for much of the past 115 years, would close in March. The closure is the latest reverberation on a stretch of East Market Street thats been the focus of an ongoing civic debate over a proposed arena for the Sixers. That plan to build a $1.3 billion complex was recently approved by city council. Its also a further sign of the continued decline of brick-and-mortar retail nationwide. Macys opened the 13th and Market store in 2006 and has continued to present the popular Christmas light show in the Grand Court, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ will be continuing its daily concerts until closing, a posting on the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ website said Thursday. The closings are part of Macys Bold New Chapter strategy, describing the soon-to-be-closed locations as non-go-forward locations. Announced in February 2024, the strategy is designed to return the company to sustainable, profitable sales growth. In a Thursday press release, Macys said it plans to close about 150 underproductive stores over a period of three years. Macys is closing its iconic Center City location, which it opened in 2006.TNS Other Macys closings in Pennsylvania are located at the Logan Valley Mall, Exton Square Mall and Wyoming Valley Mall. The Macys at the Capitol City Mall in Cumberland County will not be affected. The list of stores closing, state by state, can be found at this link. As in recent years, 2024 was a year consisting of major bankruptcies and store closings, one after another. From Big Lots and Rite Aid to Sam Ash and Rue21 retailers closed thousands of stores in 2024. Here are some of the most notable store closures in 2024: Carters closed 30 stores, according to CBS News. Pictured is a Burlington store at 215 N. Maple Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Makayla Coffee, MLive) Burlington Stores - 39 Burlington closed 39 stores, according to CBS News. The Sam Ash Music store on Route 27 in Edison, New Jersey.Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Sam Ash Music - 42 The music retail company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed all of its 42 stores. Demolition on the Macys store at the Harrisburg Mall in Swatara Township. March 1, 2024. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comDan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Macys will close 65 stores by the end of this month, according to CBS News. Conns HomePlus filed for bankruptcy and closed 73 of 170 Conns HomePlus stores, according to CNN. An Express retail clothing store in Valley West Mall, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Andrew Harnick, AP)AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Express - 95 The clothing retailer announced in April that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to close 95 Express stores. Two of those stores were in Philadelphia. Another store in Bucks County also closed last year. LL Flooring in Leominster announces the store at 110 Watertower Plaza is closing Sept. 8, 2024.Nicole Simmons/MassLive LL Flooring - Around 181 First LL Flooring, formerly Lumber Liquidators, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August and closed 94 stores. Then it said it couldnt find a buyer, so it would be selling all of its over 400 stores. Then it reversed course and said it found a buyer and 219 stores would remain open. The company signed an agreement with F9 Investments to acquire the 219 stores, inventory in those stores and in the companys Sandston, Virginia, distribution center, LL Floorings intellectual property and other company assets. FILE - A Walgreens store in Bradenton, Fla., is shown on Feb. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)AP Walgreens - 259 Walgreens closed 259 stores in 2024, according to Newsweek. American Freight - 328 Franchise Group Inc. closed all 328 American Freight stores after filing for bankruptcy, according to the New York Post. 99 Cents Only Stores - 371 The retailer began closing sales in April in all of its 371 stores. A 7-Eleven sign is seen in Pembroke Pines, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Getty Images The CEO of 7-Eleven, Joseph DePinto said in October the company will close 444 underperforming stores. The announcement was made during an earnings call for 7-Elevens parent company, Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. rue21, a fashion retailer with more than 500 stores announced it will be closing all its locations. This file photo from Nov. 18, 2021, shows a rue21 store at Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township, P.A. (PennLive.com/Dan Gleiter)(PennLive.com/Dan Gleiter) Rue21 - 540 In May, rue21 announced it would close all of its 540 stores including 21 in Pennsylvania. In August, under new ownership, rue21 said it would open dozens of stores. A CVS Pharmacy is shown in Mount Lebanon, Pa., on Monday May 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP CVS Health - 586 CVS closed 586 stores, according to Newsweek. A large billboard sign beckons customers to this Family Dollar store in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP Family Dollar - 600 Dollar Tree closed approximately 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of the year. Party City - 695 (2025) Going-out-of-business sales began at Party City stores across the country in December. The company filed for bankruptcy in December as well. The company is closing 25 Party City stores in Pennsylvania. The Rite aid store at 501 S. 29th St. in Paxtang has closed.Daniel Urie, PennLive Rite Aid - 813 (Since Oct. 2023) Pharmaceutical chain Rite Aid emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a private company in September. The Philadelphia-based company, which was based in East Pennsboro Township near Camp Hill for decades, said it has exited bankruptcy with a right-sized store footprint, more efficient operating model, significantly less debt and additional financial resources. The company said it has eliminated approximately $2 billion of total debt. Additionally, it has received approximately $2.5 billion in exit financing to support the business going forward. In October 2023, when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Rite Aid had more than 2,100 stores. While Rite Aid was in bankruptcy proceedings it announced the closings of around 813 stores, including 80 in Pennsylvania. Big Lots is closing its store on Union Deposit Road in Susquehanna Township, near Harrisburg, Pa.Daniel Urie | durie@pennlive.com Big Lots - 989 to 1,189 (including 2025) The retailer had 1,389 stores earlier in the year and it had closed 380 stores by December. Going-out-of-business sales are underway at hundreds of Big Lots stores across the country. The retailer is known for its discount prices and its large central furniture area. Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to sell the business to Nexus Capital Management. The company closed hundreds of stores, including one in York County. On Dec. 19, Big Lots announced the deal with Nexus was unable to be completed and that going-out-of-business sales would begin at all of its 909 remaining stores, including 64 locations in Pennsylvania. Then on Dec. 27, Big Lots announced that it had agreed to a transaction with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners that enables the transfer of Big Lots assets, including stores, distribution centers, and intellectual property, to other retailers and companies, including Variety Wholesalers, which intends to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores. A facility in Luzerne County is closing. The beverage production company, Joriki USA Inc. filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification on the last day of the year with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & industry informing the state it would close the facility at 575 Research Drive in Pittston Township, and 229 people would be laid off. The layoffs were to take place on December 31 or within 14 days of that date. Two 19-year-old men from Lancaster County were charged with making terroristic threats Thursday after police said they posted pictures on social media threatening a school shooting, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Investigators were notified of the social media post on Wednesday through a Safe2Say tip. It reported an Instagram post that showed a male loading a rifle with the caption close the schools while playing a song titled Mask Murder, police said. A repost of the picture on a second Instagram account added the caption time to play as well. State police eventually identified the individual in the picture as Garrett Swayne, 19, of Quarryville. Troopers then responded to Swaynes address and seized the rifle seen in the Instagram post. During a police interview, Swayne confirmed he was the individual in the Instagram post and said he and his friend Francy Brisma, 19, of Willow Street, went to a shooting range in Lancaster County on Wednesday, where Swayne purchased an AR-15 style rifle. After purchasing the firearm, the pair went to Brismas home so Swayne could learn to safely handle the rifle, Swayne told police. After leaving Brismas home, Swayne reposted the picture on his Instagram story, adding the caption time to play, the affidavit said. Both men had their unsecured bails set at $500,000 and preliminary hearings scheduled for Jan. 17. A Westmoreland County mother and daughter were arrested Thursday after police said they stole $4.4 million in inheritance money from a relative. Angela Lynne Valesky, 26, of Murrysville, and Lisa Anne Skatell-Valesky, 51, of Jeannette, are charged with theft and dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts regarding the estate of Skatell-Valeskys mother, Bette Iannuzzo, according to reports from TribLive, WPXI and KDKA. Police said they were contacted by an attorney handling Iannuzzos estate. Iannuzzo was the CEO of the Greensburg Beverage Distributor from 2013 to 2017, when she died. The lawyer told police that one of Iannuzzos heirs, Jennifer Skatell-Knopp of Florida, believed that the estate had not been settled. While investigating, authorities learned that during a disbursement hearing in 2022, someone claiming to be Skatell-Klopp in a telephone conversation authorized a $4.4 million check to be released to her sister, Skatell-Valesky. Police met with Skatell-Klopp, who said she did not know about the hearing and never authorized the check. Investigators also found an email in Skatell-Klopps name that claimed she would be unable to make the hearing because she would be out of the country and that Skatell-Valesky should be given power of attorney. Skatell-Klopp denied ever giving her sister that power. Financial records showed the check was deposited into a newly created joint bank account shared by mother and daughter. More than $3.1 million was moved to other accounts. Police said the pair used the money to buy homes in Murrysville and Jeannette and also bought a Lincoln Navigator SUV. Neither of them were employed at the time of those purchases. After executing a search warrant at both of those homes, Valesky and Skatell-Valesky were arrested. They are being held at the Westmoreland County jail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Jan. 23. The Hershey Company wants permission to buy an unusually large amount of cocoa beans as global supplies tighten and prices rise, according to reports. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported the Derry Township company is seeking permission through the New York exchange to buy 90,000 metric tons on ICE Futures US. The request equates to about about 5,000 20-foot containers or about nine times the amount the exchange currently allows, according to Bloomberg. Because global cocoa shortages are so large, Bloomberg said its cheaper for companies to take delivery through the New York exchange than buying in the physical market. It appears Hershey is attempting to stockpile cocoa to avoid shortages. Marc Donaldson, former managing director of Asia Pacific at Barry Callebaut AGas told the news site that Hersheys request signals a nervousness among cocoa buyers about tightening supplies in the physical market. The amount of cocoa Hershey wants to buy is equivalent to roughly all of the beans currently in exchange warehouses that are certified or could be certified for delivery against futures contracts in New York, Bloomberg said. The request by the maker of Hersheys Kisses and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, according to Bloomberg, comes as the market is predicted to face a fourth year of supply shortages related to the spread of disease and weather impacts on crops in Ivory Coast and Ghana. The news site added that cocoa beans from those regions account for more than 60% of global supplies. In November, Hersheys Chief Financial Officer Steve Voskuil warned that the company would face higher cocoa costs in 2025. A Hershey spokesperson told Bloomberg Hershey has a rigorous procurement process and its cocoa needs are well covered for 2025. Hershey shares slipped as much as 3.6% on Friday and were expected to end the week down almost 5%. Longtime go-to fabric retailer Joann Fabrics is closing down a number of its stores nationwide. These closures include two stores located in Pennsylvania. According to Retail Dive, Joann Fabrics which has long been a favorite of seamstresses, tailors, and other crafty folks out there has been shuttering these locations as part of a routine store location evaluation and optimization. The same Retail Dive article notes that the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2024. Then-CFO Scott Sekella left the company not too long after, with a slew of new executives coming on board. WFMJ-TV reports how the closures include a location in Hermitage as well as according to USA Today one in Williamsport. Both are expected to close around Jan. 19. Amanda Hayes director of corporate communications, diversity and inclusion at the company noted in an email to Retail Dive that the brand also opened new and remodeled locations in recent months, too, as located in Montana and Minnesota. Looking for some remote work in the truest sense of the word? Well, boy, is there a job opening for you. The Scotsman reports how the Scottish Wildlife Trust is looking for a ranger to work on the island of Handa. According to the trusts website, the island has no permanent human residents but is home to such species as guillemots, razorbills and great skuas. Whales, dolphins and seals have also been spotted hanging around its dramatic cliffs. The job listing for the ranger shows a salary of 25,600, or roughly $31,000. The position is only for six months and lasts from March through September. However, before you introverts begin fantasizing about getting this job and being completely alone for half a year, just know youll still have some human companions. An outstanding opportunity for a passionate, highly motivated and skilled job-share couple or individual person to effectively manage this remote and beautiful island, its wildlife and 8,000-plus visitors, the listing reads.This exciting role requires excellent organization skills, coupled with a high degree of flexibility. You will be responsible for organizing work programs for yourself and a team of volunteers, with the ability to constantly adapt your plan according to changing conditions. Living and working with your team, and other occasional guests, will play to your excellent people skills, and you will be comfortable in a highly social environment. Adds the job description: Weekly trips to Scourie (the nearest, but remote, village) are necessary to do laundry, banking, shopping, and exchange gas bottles, therefore a current driving license and access to a vehicle are both essential for the role. So, yes, you will have to interact with other bipeds in this role. But hey a few people are better than too many. A favorite pair of restaurants among Penn State students, alumnus and State College residents has changed ownership. John and Lisa Dimakopoulos sold the Original Waffle Shops at 1229 N. Atherton St. and 1610 W. College Ave. to Chris Paret effective today, Jan. 10, according to Keystone Real Estate Group, LP. The Dimakopouloses have operated the restaurants for 52 years. The Original Waffle Shops are mainstays in State College and popular breakfast and lunch stops. The couples plan to eventually retire and sell the restaurants started several years ago. Our focus was to find a new owner who would continue in a manner we believed served the customers, the community and the employees well, and maybe even better, they said in the press release. The Dimakopouloses said they selected Chris and his wife, Michelle Paret, due to their close ties to State College and experience owning and operating restaurants, noting they are people who expressed humility in the opportunity they would have as curators of the institution known as The Original Waffle Shops. The Parets are both Penn State alumni and have lived in State College for more than 20 years where they are raising two children. Chris Paret has operated seven quick-service restaurants in downtown State College, as well as in DuBois and Brookville. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to John and Lisa for trusting me with the Waffle Shop tradition they have lovingly built over the past 52 years, Chris Paret said. We are excited to carry on this treasured legacy and look forward to ensuring that The Original Waffle Shops remain a cherished gathering place for the Happy Valley community and its visitors. John Dimakopoulos arrived in the United States from Greece in 1960 to pursue the American Dream and opened the first Original Waffle Shop in 1972, according to the website. After 52 years, it is simply time to reflect on our lives. We hope to enjoy time with our family, our friends, and our community from the other side of the service counter, he said. The second half of Alan Jacksons farewell tour resumes next week. The country music legend will perform on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in his Last Call: One For The Road tour. Fans can buy tickets here (prices are as of the time of this publication): Jackson, 66, announced in May that he would be retiring after the tour. He has sold more than 75 million records, 50 Top 10 songs, 35 No. 1 songs, 16 Country Music Association awards, two Grammy Awards and 17 Academy of Country Music awards. In 2021, he revealed that he has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Jacksons many hits have included Chasin That Neon Rainbow, Dont Rock the Jukebox, Little Bitty, Remember When, Here in The Real World, Midnight in Montgomery and Chattahoochee. And who can forget, Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning). The last four concerts on the tour are: He also will headline at the Two Step Inn festival on April 5 in Georgetown, Texas. Sturgill Simpson will headline the festival on April 6. By MAKIYA SEMINERA, The Associated Press A man who fired a gun inside a restaurant in the nations capital after a fake online conspiracy theory called Pizzagate motivated him to do so nearly a decade ago was shot and killed by North Carolina police during a weekend traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers in Kannapolis on Saturday night, according to a Kannapolis Police Department news release. One of the officers recognized the SUV as one hed seen Welch drive before, police said. The officer had arrested Welch before and knew he had an outstanding warrant for a felony probation violation at the time, according to authorities. When the officers approached the vehicle to arrest Welch, police said, the man pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one of the officers. After he was instructed to drop the weapon but didnt, two officers shot Welch, authorities said. Emergency responders took Welch to the hospital, and he died from his injuries two days later, according to the release. None of the officers, nor the driver and another passenger, were injured. Edgar Welch surrenders to police in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2016, after he opened fire in a pizza restaurant because of the "Pizzagate" conspiracy. Welch was killed by police on Jan. 4, 2025, in North Carolina. (Sathi Soma, Associated Press file photo)(Sathi Soma, Associated Press file photo) In 2016, authorities said, Welch drove from North Carolina with an assault rifle to Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington after believing an unfounded conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the pizzeria. The fake theory, dubbed Pizzagate, began circulating online during the 2016 presidential election. He entered the restaurant armed, and as customers fled the scene, Welch shot at a locked closet inside. After realizing there were no children held captive in the pizzeria, Welch peacefully surrendered. No one was injured. At the time, Comet Ping Pongs owner, James Alefantis, said the conspiracy theory and subsequent violence from it traumatized him and his staff. Welch later pled guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon in 2017. His judge, now Supreme Court Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson, subsequently sentenced him to four years in prison. City of Kannapolis communications director Annette Privette Keller confirmed the man who died was the same one involved in the Pizzagate incident. The shooting death of Welch, a resident of Salisbury, is under review by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the officers who fired at him are on administrative leave, per the departments protocol. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 10. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has signed a decree to legalize vehicles with foreign license plates, Trend reports. The Cabinet of Ministers has been tasked with developing a procedure for registering foreign-registered vehicles within two months, and a full legalization process will be completed within six months. The process will be divided into three stages: the first will address vehicles with proper documentation, the second will allow legalization of vehicles without documents, provided they meet technical standards, and the third will give owners of undocumented vehicles the option to sell for parts, export, or dispose of them. The decree also introduces regulations for the primary registration of imported vehicles, as well as establishing a fee structure. There will be stricter controls on the entry and stay of vehicles managed by foreigners in the country, with a requirement for their subsequent export. The border service and the State Tax Service have been tasked with strengthening efforts to combat illegal vehicle imports, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs will assist in identifying vehicles owned by Kyrgyz citizens. Additionally, the Ministry of Economy will develop a proposal for a temporary ban on importing vehicle bodies, except those covered by international agreements. Parks and recreation employee Gary Frampton was performing his routine rounds on Dauphin County property last month when a driver suddenly crashed into him. Frampton, 55, of Duncannon, was a part-time maintenance worker who was at Fort Hunter Park in Middle Paxton Township when he was killed in a Dec. 27 crash, according to Dauphin County officials. The coroner this week released autopsy results that showed his death was ruled accidental from multiple traumatic injuries. Pennsylvania State Police said the driver, a 64-year-old Dauphin man, was driving north on North Front Street around 8 a.m. when he went off the right side of the road and hit a bridge near 5415 River Road. The driver then hit Frampton, who was walking on the shoulder on the right side of River Road. On Monday, Ellen Kramer had to do the unthinkable as the California wildfires raged near her Los Angeles County home. The former Harrisburg resident evacuated with her husband, Shalom Staub, and their rescue dog, Rupert, not knowing if they would ever return to their Sierra Madre rental. They grabbed medications, computers, clothing, photo albums and several heirlooms. We both sort of wandered around the house and started to collect things and put as much in the Prius as we could, said Kramer, an attorney. We walked back in and we just looked back at our great room and looked around thinking we may never come back to this place we loved so much. Across Los Angeles, stories like Kramers are playing out as wildfires engulf neighborhoods. As of Thursday morning, officials estimated at least five people were killed and nearly 2,000 structures were destroyed as the fires raged in the Los Angeles area. Fast-moving flames ripped through homes, schools and businesses as more than 130,000 residents faced mandatory evacuations. Kramer, a former Dauphin County public defender, said the couple are staying with her son and his family in San Diego and dont know if their house is safe. They hope to learn more information by the weekend. Were so grateful we are safe and its also a lifetime of memories. Its stuff and its not stuff. Its the story of our lives, she said. While living in Harrisburg Kramer had held several positions including with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and as executive director of the Council on Aging at the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. 56 1 / 56 Deadly California wildfires, January 2025 The couple moved from Harrisburg to Los Angeles in 2018 when Staub accepted a position at UCLA. After briefly living in Westwood, they moved to the home north of Pasadena near the Eaton Canyon in 2022. The 3-square-mile Sierra Madre incorporated city sits near the Angeles National Forest with a population of about 11,000 people. Its the most spectacular, beautiful and idyllic place you could ever imagine, Kramer said. Early on Monday, Kramer said they monitored wind reports as the Santa Ana winds picked up to near-gale force strength. Her staff at Young & Healthy, a nonprofit where Kramer is executive director, left work early due to the winds. Working from home, Kramer said she could see the Eaton fire spreading as it entered parts of the city. The Los Angeles region has been extremely dry and Kramer said very flammable brown, crunchy brush is everywhere. By the evening, Kramer and Staub learned of the mandatory evacuations as police sounded messages over bullhorns. The couple is waiting to hear about their home or get a green light to return. Kramer said helicopters are dropping fire retardant and she heard several fire trucks are parked on their street. She said the winds have been so strong and the embers travel such long distances. We were just watching because nobody can get back in, she said. While they wait, Kramer said she is in close contact with friends, neighbors and her staff. Its the general horror that Los Angeles is burning, and the devastation is just beyond anything. Its an inferno, Kramer said. By Maddie Hanna, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) The Lower Merion School District is among schools nationally affected by a data breach involving PowerSchool software, district officials said Wednesday. While the district isnt yet sure what data was accessed, it might have included personally identifiable information for staff and students, including names, addresses, and student health and grade information, Lower Merions acting superintendent, Larry Mussoline, said in a message to the community. He said the district was working to confirm that staff Social Security numbers were not accessed; Lower Merion does not collect student Social Security numbers. Amy Buckman, a spokesperson for Lower Merion schools, said Thursday that PowerSchool briefed the district Wednesday but didnt share specifics, telling school officials it still needed to analyze what was accessed from each district. However, PowerSchool did reiterate that they are reasonably confident that the bad actor destroyed all copies of all the data they accessed and that it wont be shared or appear on the dark web, Buckman said. PowerSchool did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Schools nationally have been hit by the data breach, with news outlets from Kansas to Maine reporting this week on local districts affected. Lower Merion was informed Tuesday by PowerSchool that its data might have been accessed; the company learned of the incident on Dec. 28, Mussoline said. The districts IT team researched the issue and found that unauthorized access to our system occurred on Dec. 21, Mussoline said. He said PowerSchool told the district that someone used a compromised credential to access data stored in their Student Information System (SIS). Upon learning of the incident, the company notified law enforcement, locked down the system and engaged the services of CyberSteward, a professional advisor with experience in negotiating with threat actors. Lower Merion officials said they had notified their cybersecurity contractor, CrowdStrike, which will work with PowerSchool to investigate. The district said CrowdStrike expects a full report by Jan. 17. PowerSchool plans to provide credit monitoring to affected adults and identity protection services to affected minors in accordance with regulatory and contractual obligations, according to Mussoline. The district said it would share resources with anyone affected by the breach when it learned more. Were committed to sharing additional information with our community once we have it to share, but we are dependent on PowerSchool, since it was their system that was breached, Buckman said. (c)2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit! Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | January 10, 2025 Schools in Pennsylvania were among those hit by a nationwide data breach. A cargo ship got stuck on land. A new program helped to over turn about half of health insurance denials. Plus, experts are hoping that the Hays eagles will rebuild their nest. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too. The Pittsburgh Steelers ruled out wide receiver Roman Wilson, defensive lineman Logan Lee, and linebacker Cole Holcomb for their Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson, Lee, and Holcomb all appear to be rather healthy, but they still have to find an open roster spot for all the players. If the Steelers win against the Ravens, they will have to make some decisions with the windows on these players closing shortly. Yet, this week was not the week where those decisions had to be made. Wilson is coming back from a hamstring injury. He has played just five snaps in his rookie season against the Las Vegas Raiders but was placed on injured reserve after suffering that injury. Lee has not played at all in his rookie season. He suffered a preseason calf injury and has been rehabbing since. At the very least, these last few weeks have given Lee a chance to get valuable practice reps. Holcomb is returning from a devastating knee injury that forced him to miss an entire year of activity. He even thought about retiring at one point, but the more practice he gets, the closer he will be to returning to the field. Firefighters are hoping for a break Friday from the fierce winds that have fueled massive blazes in the Los Angeles area, killing 10 people, obliterating whole neighborhoods and setting the nations second-largest city on edge. The dead include four men who were unable to leave or had stayed behind to defend their homes in Altadena, a community near Pasadena that is home to working and middle-class families, including many Black residents who have lived there for generations. On Thursday afternoon, the Kenneth Fire started in the San Fernando Valley. It moved into neighboring Ventura County, but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. The fires have burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures since Tuesday, when they first began popping up around a densely populated, 25-mile expanse north of downtown Los Angeles. No cause has been identified yet for the largest fires. Heres the latest: Incarcerated people help fight fires Nearly 800 people in prison have been temporarily freed to assist firefighters in controlling the deadly Southern California wildfires. Those inmates are part of a minimum-security Conservation Camp Program consisting of 35 fire camps spread throughout California. The camps are staffed by more than 1,800 incarcerated crew members, who provide crucial support during emergencies including floods and fires. Drone crash grounds firefighting plane A firefighting plane had to be grounded Thursday after it was struck by a drone flown by a civilian, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Nobody was injured. Its a federal crime to fly a drone during firefighting. Some journalists covering the fires have lost their homes NBC News reporter Jacob Soboroff didnt know what to expect when he turned his SUV onto the Pacific Palisades street where he grew up. What he found on Wednesday were smoldering ruins where his childhood home had stood. Only the remnants of a chimney and brick wall remained. It was among the countless number of buildings destroyed by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, where Soboroff is one of many journalists covering the story and living it. His tale, told across several NBC News platforms Wednesday and Thursday, broke the so-called fourth wall and gave viewers an intimate experience of what the tragedy felt like. Homes are seen burned while a few still stand, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)AP National Guard troops on the ground National Guard troops were patrolling the streets of Altadena before dawn on Friday after being called in to help protect property in the fire evacuation zone. Troops in camouflage were posted at intersections in the city hard-hit by the Eaton Fire near Jeeps, Humvees and other military vehicles. At least 20 arrests have been made for looting and other thefts in areas where the fire raged. Los Angeles County officials say they plan to put an overnight curfew in place that would make it easier to make arrests. Related: Former Harrisburg resident flees California wildfires: Its an inferno How to help those affected by the California wildfires Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, Eugene Levy, other celebrities lose homes in California fires Critics Choice Awards 2025 rescheduled because of catastrophic California fires BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 10. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubayev will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on January 10-11 this year, Trend reports via Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit will take place at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu. The visit will feature talks between the heads of foreign ministries of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on topical issues of the Kyrgyz-Kazakh strategic partnership and alliance. To note, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zhaparov, paid a working visit to Astana on November 27-28, 2024, to participate in the regular session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Sixteen Shots At A WSOP Circuit Ring At Thunder Valley This January Jon Pill Contributor Copy link The World Series of Poker Circuit's second festival of the year will be hosted by the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. As the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant gets underway in Oklahoma, across the country in Lincoln, California, the Thunder Valley casino is prepping for the next festival. The team there is getting ready to kick-off the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley with a $400 Seniors Event on January 16. The festival will include 16 numbered ring events, with additional satellites starting as early as Monday, January 13. Festival Highlights From The WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley The Poker Room at the Thunder Valley Casino. WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley has 16 events on the docket. Most players will be looking to play either the $1,700 Main Event with its $500,000 guarantee or the $400 Monster Stack and $1,125 Last Call which each has a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. If Texas hold'em isn't really your bag, you might prefer one of the pair of Omaha eight-or-better tournaments or Event #9 which is an unusual T.O.R.S.E. mix (H.O.R.S.E. with hold'em replaced with lowball triple draw). Players can satellite into the main event online or in one of the daily satellites running on-site at the Thunder Valley Casino. The Defending Champion: Travis Egbert Travis Egbert won the October 2024 WSOPC Thunder Valley Main Event. The last time the WSOPC was in town, Travis Egbert walked away with the Main Event ring and a cheque for $214,565 minus taxes. This was ring number three for Egbert's and it was hard won. Egbert had to battle it out for ten hours at the final table, half of which was spent heads up against Xiong Thao. The pair were the final two players of a 812-entry field that put $1,230,180 in the prize pool. Thao took home $142,540 for second place. 2024 WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Travis Egbert $214,565 2 Xiong Thao $142,540 3 Gregory Pincombe $100,065 4 Brock Wilson $71,070 5 Thomas Morris $51,905 6 Kirk Acevedo $38,380 7 Jared Smith $28,640 8 Colton Blomberg $21,800 9 Michael Rossitto $16,875 More WSOP Circuit Action To Come WSOP Circuit ring. There are 12 more WSOP Circuit events coming up between now and mid-May. As the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley goes into its final week, the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica will kick off. The first event in Tunica starts on January 23. After that is the festival at Harrah's in Pompano Beach, starting at the very end of January. Then at Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina starting mid-February. After that, there are events all across the country including in Mississippi, Maryland, Indiana, New York, Nevada, and Illinois. You can keep up on all the WSOPC action here on PokerNews. You can also see the full schedule for the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant below. WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Schedule Date Time Event Buyin Guarantee Jan 16 9:00 AM WSOPC Event #1: Seniors Event $400 - Jan 16 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #2: No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout $400 - Jan 16 3:00 PM WSOPC Event #3: No-Limit Hold'em - The Opener - Flight A $400 $250,000 Jan 19 11:00 PM WSOPC Event #4: Pot-Limit Omaha 8 $600 - Jan 19 3:00 PM WSOPC Event #5: No-Limit Hold'em $600 $75,000 Jan 20 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #6: No-Limit Hold'em $400 $50,000 Jan 20 3:00 PM WSOPC Event #7: Omaha 8 $600 - Jan 21 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #8: No-Limit Hold'em Knockout $400 - Jan 21 3:00 PM WSOPC Event #9: T.O.R.S.E. $600 - Jan 22 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #10: Monster Stack $400 $100,000 Jan 23 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #11: No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max $600 - Jan 23 3:00 PM WSOPC Event #12: High Roller $3,250 - Jan 24 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #13: Main Event $1,700 $500,000 Jan 26 10:00 AM WSOPC Event #14: No-Limit Hold'em - ''Thirty'' $400 $30,000 Jan 26 1:00 PM WSOPC Event #15: No-Limit Hold'em - Last Call $1,125 $100,000 Jan 27 11:00 AM WSOPC Event #16: No-Limit Hold'em - Series Finale $400 - *Photos courtesy WSOPC Share this article Which Hollywood Actor Is Secretly A Good Poker Player? | PokerNews Podcast #873 Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link In the 873rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is the second episode of Season 16, Chad Holloway, Kyna England and Mike Holtz talk about the surprise PokerStars shoutout by actress Elle Fanning on the red carpet of the Golden Globes, where she also revealed that one of the hottest actors in Hollywood is a good poker player. Kyna then shares her story about recently meeting a celebrity of her own in rapper Nelly and Mike offers up a Jose Canseco tale, plus an opportunity to win your way to Las Vegas as part of the "Vegas Vacation Sweepstakes" being held by the WSOP Free-to-Play App. You'll also hear about various Player of the Year race results including GPI POY trophies for David Coleman, Cherish Andrews, and Han Feng. Likewise, Yunkyu Song claimed the WPT Season 22 POY while Umut Ozturk won the MSPT POY in back-to-back years. Oh, and did we mention Nick Schulman won another poker tournament, this time at the PokerGo Tour (PGT) Last Chance Series, as did Shannon Shorr and Brandon Wilson. Two other stories they touch upon are Liv Boeree donating $560K from her record score at the WSOP Paradise to fight against pig factory farming and a look at wild back-to-back hands played by Peter on Hustler Casino Live (HCL). Finally, get a sneak peek at a new, high-end luxury coffee-table book that will blow your socks off The Las Vegas Book by Joris Dekker. The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app. Remember to use bonus code "POKERNEWS" if you download and play for an extra 1,000,000 in chips! A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Friday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway on X. Time Stamps Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! You can also find us on Spotify as well as our new page on SoundCloud! Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here! Share this article DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, January 10. Representatives from the Iranian company Behran Lift, a leading manufacturer of lifts and escalators, have expressed interest in establishing a joint production facility in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Trend reports via the citys executive body. The statement came during a meeting between the delegation from the Iranian company and Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, the Deputy Mayor of Dushanbe. The sides discussed the potential for expanding cooperation and the development of a long-term partnership between Behran Lift and Tajikistan. Abdurahmonzoda highlighted the attractive investment climate in Dushanbe, emphasizing the citys growing role as a business hub in Central Asia. The discussions also focused on opportunities for collaboration and increasing trade relations between the two countries. The parties acknowledged the promising prospects for the project and agreed to continue negotiations in the coming months. In a related development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to make his first official state visit to Tajikistan later this month. During his visit, a large delegation of Iranian business leaders, led by the Chairman of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, along with representatives from the industrial, mining, and agricultural sectors, will also arrive in Dushanbe. Senior Reporter and Saturday editor Worked for Associated Press in Mississippi, Frontline at PBS in Washington, D.C., ABA Journal (American Bar Association's monthly magazine), Hearst in New York, Gannett in Louisiana and freelanced for The New York Times and Rolling Stone. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Uzbekistan's Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC) plans to increase copper production up to 500,000 tons by 2030, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMMC Abdulla Khursanov told Trend in an exclusive interview. In the medium term, AMMC plans to implement a number of projects to expand the raw material base by developing new deposits of non-ferrous and precious metals in the Tashkent region. These are sites at the Almalyk and Angren ore fields. Prospects of processing of technogenic wastes generated during the whole period of the plant's activity are also being studied. These wastes also contain non-ferrous and precious metals, which can be extracted on the basis of modern technologies. In general, all these promising projects are aimed at achieving the target parameters for copper, gold, and silver production, he said. The Chairman of the Board also noted that the AMMC is working on the development of a new copper smelting complex. It is expected that the completion of the complex, which will significantly increase the production capacity of the company, will take place in 2027. The new complex aims to expand the existing copper cathode production capacity from 148,000 tons to 300,000 tons per year. The project is being implemented on the territory of the existing complex and is divided into several main facilities: metallurgical and sulfuric acid shop, oxygen block, slag-enrichment plant, concentrate storage and charge preparation, copper electrolysis shop, power supply system of the new plant, and infrastructure, Khursanov noted. According to him, today contractors for metallurgical and sulfuric acid shops, oxygen blocks, and internal power supply facilities have already been determined. Contracts have been signed in these areas, and financing has been opened. The project is being realized with the active financial support of KfW IPEX Bank and AKA Bank. KfW has assumed the role of organizer of financing, including the creation of a syndicate of banks, which allows effective coordination of international cooperation, he said. The chairman of the plant said that within the first stage of the development of the deposit Yoshlik I investment project, Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine is completing the construction of copper processing plant No. 3, with an ore processing capacity of 60 million tons per year, as well as its infrastructure facilities. Abdulla Khursanov also highlighted that one of the most important steps for AMMC is the start of construction of the fourth copper concentrator, which will allow processing another 60 million tons of ore per year and increase the total volume of processing up to 160 million tons. The introduction of new technologies, such as the use of 18.4 MW grinding mills and a tailings thickening system, will significantly reduce operating costs and increase production efficiency. Project solutions also include feeding ore for medium crushing by separate independent lines, eliminating the need to build large feed hoppers; increasing the gravity concentrator cycle feed to 50 percent of the hydrocyclone feed flow, which will increase metal recovery at the initial stages of beneficiation and reduce operating costs at subsequent operations; and building the plant halls in a cascade layout without retaining walls, which will allow gravity to be used to transport pulp through the process. To date, the technological regulations have been developed, layouts of the general plan of the plant with the location of the main process shops have been prepared, the development of working documentation for earthwork has begun, and a report on research and development work on ore beneficiation has been developed. The raw material base of MOF-3 and MOF-4 is the Yoshlik I deposit, he said. Digital transformation is one of the priority areas of our work. It is not just the introduction of new technologies, but a global rethinking of the approach to business in order to increase efficiency through optimization and automation of business processes. In 2022-2024, we signed more than 20 cooperation agreements with international companies such as Siemens, SAP (Germany), AVEVA and Datamine (UK), Schneider Electric (France), and many others. As a result, we have realized more than 60 projects, the Chairman of the Board noted. He emphasized that AMMC is also actively automating production processes. For example, the installation and launch of 27 strain gauge conveyor scales was completed at the copper processing plant, which increased the accuracy of ore measurement to 99.8 percent. The installation of instrumentation and assembly of control cabinets was carried out at 7 monosections, improving efficiency by 2 percent and reducing reagent consumption by 5 percent. Work was also organized at the smelter to ensure uninterrupted management of systems and instrumentation. The implementation of an automation system at the sulfuric acid warehouse reduced the time of tanker loading by 20 percent. Abdulla Khursanov emphasized that to further improve efficiency, the combine is also introducing new control systems for transportation activities. For example, using GPS and fuel monitoring for more than 2,000 vehicles, transport operations have been significantly improved, and an automated fuel and lubricant accounting system has been introduced, saving 23,600 tons of diesel fuel between 2022 and 2023. We continue to improve our processes. In recent years, the main focus has been on improving our accounting processes and data consolidation. The AMMC is actively developing analytical tools using Big Data technologies and BI systems such as Power BI, which allows us to make management decisions promptly. The company is not going to stop at what has been achieved and sets ambitious goals to bring the coverage of business processes by IT solutions to 98 percent by the end of 2027, he added. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 and intended to be achieved by 2030. They are part of the UN General Assembly resolution 2030 Agenda, calling for common action in achieving peace and well-being for humanity and the planet. The SDGs cover 17 interrelated global goals and a wide range of social, economic, and environmental challenges. Uzbekistan is pursuing large-scale reforms and achieving tangible results on important issues included in the UN Global Agenda 2030, namely improving the way of life and well-being of all mankind and building a just and stable society by comprehensively improving the economic, social, and environmental situation in the world. Over the past period, a completely new mechanism for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has been introduced, and legal and institutional reforms have been carried out. In particular, based on national characteristics, it was determined that Uzbekistan has an opportunity to carry out relevant works on 16 of the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals. Given that the countrys territory is not adjacent to the oceans and seas, it was recognized that goal No. 14, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development" and its 10 targets cannot be achieved in our country. By the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated October 20, 2018, "On measures to implement national goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development for the period up to 2030," and consequently the Government resolution dated February 21, 2022, "On additional measures to accelerate the implementation of national goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development for the period up to 2030," 16 national goals, 126 objectives, and 190 indicators were approved, which are considered relevant for the Republic of Uzbekistan. Over the past period, large-scale and comprehensive organizational and legal measures have been implemented in the country, and the experience in this area has been recognized by the international community. Particularly, the Sustainable Development Goals and related targets are reflected in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the new edition, more than 360 laws, and other regulatory legal acts. In terms of the institutional framework, a Coordination Council for the implementation of the National Goals and Objectives of Sustainable Development of Uzbekistan until 2030 was established, headed by the deputy Prime Minister. The main objective of the Coordination Council is to organize the activities of ministries, departments, and other organizations in implementing the SDGs at the national level, develop and implement national strategies to achieve the SDGs, and mobilize financial, technical, and other resources for this work. Certainly, it should be especially noted that an effective mechanism for balancing interests in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has been created and parliamentary control in this area has been established. In order to support, control, and facilitate the activities of the Coordination Council in fulfilling its tasks, implementing regular monitoring of the implementation of legislative and regulatory acts aimed at ensuring the fulfillment of national goals and objectives, a Parliamentary Commission chaired by the heads of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis has been established. It is safe to say that the Strategy "New Uzbekistan - 2030" is harmonized with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and serves as an action program for their implementation at the national level. The main elements of the synergy of these two documents are reflected in several areas. First, it is the unity of common goals in the documents. The main goals of the Strategy of New Uzbekistan are defined in accordance with the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals. The Strategy defines specific objectives aimed at achieving the SDGs in such areas as economic growth, social development, environmental stability, protecting human rights, gender equality, improving the quality of education, health care systems, and others. Second, the social orientation of these documents. Both documents pay considerable attention to the development of human capital, improving the well-being of the population, reducing poverty, and ensuring social justice. The Strategy of New Uzbekistan identifies measures aimed at improving the quality of life of people by increasing investment in education, health care, social protection, and other social spheres. Third, focus on ensuring economic stability. The Strategy of New Uzbekistan is aimed at ensuring economic growth, creating new jobs, building a competitive economy, and stimulating innovation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasizes the importance of environmental compliance and rational use of natural resources to achieve sustainable economic growth. Fourth, both documents are aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability. The Strategy of New Uzbekistan aims to protect the environment, combat climate change, rationally utilize natural resources, and introduce eco-friendly technologies in compliance with the environmental goals of the SDGs. The Strategy defines specific objectives to develop a green economy, expand the use of renewable energy sources, and address environmental challenges. Fifth, these documents emphasize partnership and cooperation. Hence, the Strategy of New Uzbekistan is aimed at strengthening international cooperation, attracting foreign investments, and introducing advanced technologies and experience in line with the SDG goal of Partnerships for the Goals. It emphasizes the importance of cooperation with the UN, other international organizations, foreign states, and civil society institutions. In general, the Strategy of the New Uzbekistan is an expression of the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level and serves their implementation. The close harmony of these two documents ensures the progressive advancement of Uzbekistan along the path of sustainable development. Indeed, by determining budget policy, parliament contributes to meeting the citizens needs and ensuring the countrys development. Successful implementation of the SDGs largely depends on their funding. It is no secret that today the achievement of the SDGs around the world requires the mobilization of large financial resources. According to the World Bank, the volume of investments required to achieve the SDGs ranges from 2 trillion to 4 trillion dollars per year, that is, about 14 percent of global GDP. According to the results of the assessment analysis of public development financing in Uzbekistan, in order to achieve the national SDGs, it is necessary to attract additional investments in the amount of at least 6 billion dollars annually. In this regard, the government is developing a Comprehensive National Financing Strategy aimed at creating favorable conditions for introducing new forms of public and private financing and simultaneously increasing the effectiveness of available financial resources to address priority development tasks. In this regard, the parliament also occupies a special place, as it is the legislative body that creates the basis for sustainable economic development and investment attraction. Today, Uzbekistan is actively reforming the legal and regulatory framework to support private entrepreneurship and create favorable conditions for the inflow of investments aimed at SDGs. In order to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and develop new markets such as ecotourism and eco-construction, systems of tax, non-tax benefits, and preferences are being revised. Particular attention is paid to creating legal conditions to stimulate targeted investments, including support for introducing innovative financial instruments such as green finance, diaspora bonds, SDG bonds, and sukuk. For this purpose, a practice of reviewing the State Budget submitted to the Parliament every year from the point of view of financing projects and programs implemented within the framework of national development goals has been established. For example, if in 2024 69 percent of the State Budget expenditures were directed to the implementation of the SDGs, then in 2025 this figure will be 72 percent. All these measures are based on the principle of "Uzbekistan is a social state," enshrined in our Constitution in the new edition. This principle provides for a further improvement of the peoples well-being, a radical change in the economy, accelerated development of entrepreneurship, and ensuring human rights and interests. Voluntary national reviews on the Sustainable Development Goals are an important tool for assessing and sharing countries' experiences in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They perform a number of important functions. Primarily, such reports are associated with demonstrating the progress of countries, and Voluntary national reviews provide countries with an opportunity to demonstrate the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned along the way to achieving the SDGs. They show the degree of governments commitment to their obligations. Voluntary national reviews are also of great importance in ensuring accountability. These reports hold governments accountable for their policies and practices. They contribute to strengthening public control and transparency of decision-making processes. National reports provide an essential platform for countries to share experiences, learn from best practices, and strengthen cooperation to achieve the SDGs. Additionally, information and analysis provided in Voluntary national reviews help governments to develop and improve national policies and strategies to achieve the SDGs. Parliament plays an important role in the preparation and implementation of such reports. For four years now, the Parliamentary Commission has been actively involved in the preparation of the Voluntary National Reviews. In particular, with the participation of members of the Parliamentary Commission, the first and second Voluntary National Reviews of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals were prepared and presented at high-level political forums under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2020 and 2023. Today, many international organizations and parliaments of foreign countries highly appreciate Uzbekistan's efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Of course, it was challenging to achieve this progress. The main foundation for these achievements was laid by the President of Uzbekistan. At the 75th session of the UN General Assembly held in 2020, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward an initiative to adopt a draft resolution on Strengthening the role of parliaments in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of the implementation of this initiative, Sustainable Development Goals Week was organized for the first time in 2021. At the end of the week, the first global forum of inter-parliamentary cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals was held in Bukhara for the first time in world history. Undoubtedly, forums dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals are held in almost all countries of the world. The importance of the forum organized by Uzbekistan was that for the first time in world history, a country took the initiative to draw the attention of parliaments to this issue, strengthen parliamentary control in the area, and establish inter-parliamentary cooperation. The forum was attended by more than 500 participants from more than 100 countries, the leaders of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States. Following the forum, the Bukhara Declaration was adopted. An important aspect of the forum was the discussion of the draft resolution On strengthening the role of parliaments in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, proposed by the leader of Uzbekistan at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. The parliaments of more than 80 countries made their proposals and recommendations to the draft resolution. As a result, on December 14, 2022, at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, the resolution was unanimously approved by all UN member states. In terms of what led to the adoption of this resolution, firstly, it has become a distinctive program document for the parliaments of the world; the image of Uzbekistan in the international arena has been further enhanced, and secondly, the role of parliaments in achieving sustainable development goals has been further strengthened, and the effectiveness of parliamentary control over the government's activities in this direction has increased. The efforts in this area have not stopped there. In order to widely promote Uzbekistan's experience, exchange views with other parliamentarians, learn about national and international best practices in the participation of governmental organizations, agencies, and civil society institutions, and educational and research and analytical centers, as well as to discuss relevant issues for the future, a Sustainable Development Month was held in October-November 2023. On November 30, 2023, the second Global Forum on Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals was organized in Tashkent. The event was attended by the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), heads and deputies of foreign parliaments, international experts, representatives of ministries and departments, non-governmental non-profit organizations, and the media (more than 300 participants from more than 50 countries and foreign organizations). Following the event, the participants adopted the Tashkent Communique, covering current aspects of inter-parliamentary cooperation in achieving the SDGs. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is a long-term and complex process that requires continuous efforts and updates. The country is also actively working in this area, and several important areas that should be implemented in the future are identified. First, work on a deeper integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into national policy will be consistently continued. Work will be organized to fully incorporate SDG principles into national strategies and programs in all areas, including state, industry, and regional programs and plans, and ensure their interrelation. Second, parliamentary control will be strengthened, and measures will be taken to improve legislation and raise the work on regular review of government reports to a new level. Third, the system for monitoring national goals and objectives will be strengthened. Together with the Government, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) indicators for each SDG are under development, and their implementation is regularly monitored. This includes digitalization and the widespread use of modern technologies. Fourth, work is underway to further expand and improve the efficiency of financing mechanisms for the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to provide the financial resources necessary to achieve the SDGs, measures will be taken to gradually increase funds allocated from the State Budget. Mechanisms for further expanding private sector participation in SDG financing will be developed through corporate social responsibility, social investment, and other mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the development of public-private partnership projects. Efforts will also be expanded to introduce "green" bonds, "green" loans, and other innovative financial instruments to finance sustainable projects. Fifth, measures will be taken to further strengthen social partnership. Non-governmental non-profit organizations, public associations, the media, and other civil society institutions will be more actively involved in the SDG implementation process. Work will be strengthened to inform the general public about the SDGs, encourage their participation, and take their opinions into account. Sixth, scientific research aimed at solving urgent problems in the field of sustainable development is supported, and practical measures are taken to widely use digitalization, artificial intelligence, "green" technologies, and other innovations in the process of achieving the SDGs. Of course, the implementation of the above measures requires the active participation of all stakeholders, in particular, parliament, government, civil society, business representatives, and academia. Ultimately, all these measures will contribute to the sustainable development of Uzbekistan, the creation of a sustainable and inclusive economy, the development of the social sphere, and environmental protection. K.B. Tursunov Deputy chairman of the Committee of the Oliy Majlis Senate for budget and economic matters FLORENCE COUNTY County leaders want to revive a local landmark that provides a window into what life was like early in South Carolina's history. Browntown, a set of 19th and 20th century buildings in southern Florence County that once served as a museum, offers visitors a look at the technology and traditions European settlers used to survive in the New World. But since 2017, the museum has been shuttered. Now, Florence County Council members have agreed to buy Browntown for $300,000. While a purchase agreement is being finalized, county leaders said they hope to reopen Browntown as a place where the community can learn about its heritage. This is a site that is a true hidden gem here in Florence County, said County Council member Jason Springs, who represents the area. Browntown, which dates to the mid-1700s, is where generations of the Brown family made a home in the South Carolina backcountry. It includes examples of how the family innovated their way through a demanding lifestyle, such as a cotton ginhouse, a smokehouse and residential buildings. Since the museums owner died in 2017, the property has remained closed because of safety concerns and lack of resources, said Lawrence Eaddy, an advocate for preserving Browntown. Eaddys mother, Elaine Eaddy, researched the property and was one of the driving forces behind its preservation in the 1980s. He said it's time the museum returned as a resource for the community. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 10. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan chewed the fat about the big wins of 2024 and laid their cards on the table for the ambitious plans of 2025, Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov wrote on his Telegram channel, Trend reports. "In collaboration with my esteemed counterpart, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, we engaged in a constructive dialogue that encapsulated the advancements in the execution of bilateral agreements between our two allied nations. Our telephonic discourse centered on the pivotal milestones attained in 2024 and the aspirational strategies delineated for 2025," he wrote. Both sides also underscored their commitment to tightening the ties of friendship and cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan through collaborative efforts. Earlier, a trilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, and the Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Kokhir Rasulzoda. The meeting highlighted the completion of the delimitation process of the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and the exchange of ratification letters for the Kyrgyz-Uzbek State Border agreement. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel After learning farming under his father, Alpha Shonvo, 29, started his farm in Kakulu village, Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State, when he was 12 years old. He dreamt of cultivating a much larger yam farm, but there was a hurdle: he had no capital. To overcome the problem, he settled for gigs, such as carrying loads for people in markets and working as a sales assistant in shops in the nearby Adamawa State to earn more money to fund his dream of becoming one of the biggest commercial farmers in the Northeast region. However, this aspiration took a big hit in May last year when a severe heatwave resulting in drought destroyed his planted yam seedlings. That morning, I joined other farmers in the village to check the status of my farm only to see it in a bad condition the yams were rotten, he told PREMIUM TIMES in August. The climate crisis hits hard In the early months of 2024, Nigeria experienced prolonged, severe heat waves, especially in the northern parts of the country, with temperatures rising to a record 41C. As the situation worsened, it resulted in a severe drought, culminating in the reduction of agricultural productivity. This sector contributes about 22 per cent to the nations gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for more than a third of its total employment. A report by EOS Data Analytics draws the link between extreme heat and farm productivity. When plants are subjected to high temperatures for a long time, they might experience stress. If farmers dont take precautions against high temperatures, heat stress has negative effects on plants and reduces harvests, the report reads, adding, Heat stress triggers dehydration in plants, which stunts their development. It leads plants to lose water and wilt. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Climate change amplifies heat waves and high temperatures by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions trap more heat in the atmosphere, disrupting natural weather systems and intensifying extreme heat events. Tolulope Gbenro, an Abuja-based climate activist, explained that an extreme heat event like drought can eliminate or drastically reduce crop productivity, as Taraba State farmers experienced. She said it also affects livestock. When there is no food for animals to eat, they will die, which is why food is a necessity that humans, animals and plants require for survival. Saving interventions But is there a way out of this? Ms Gbenro said that the state government can help the yam farmers in many ways, including providing infrastructure, adequate capacity building, and other forms of support. Such infrastructural support includes providing an irrigation system to optimise water use and improve crop yields. Experts say the government should provide farmers with drought-resistant crops that have a high tendency to resist heat during extreme weather conditions. Many farmers that PREMIUM TIMES spoke to in hard-to-reach communities of Taraba State were poor and could not afford the necessary facilities or have access to the right kind of seeds without government support. Teaching farmers about climate change adaptation and mitigation while incorporating indigenous knowledge will go a long way towards supporting them. But I am afraid there is a low reaction from relevant stakeholders in addressing this recurring issue, the climate researcher said. The shared ordeal A devastated Mr Shonvo shared his ordeal in an August interview with PREMIUM TIMES, attributing his losses to the unusual weather patterns. The first rain of the year fell in April, and there was no rain for a long time. By June, most farmers in this area had concluded that it was a bad year for us, he said. Mr Shonvos ordeal was not isolated. Hundreds of yam farmers in the region suffered a similar fate. When Husseini Manzo visited his farm one Thursday morning in May, his harvested yams showed signs of rottenness. I felt sad that day because all my hope for the year was lost. But since I couldnt kill myself, I had to be patient and embrace the situation as it was, Mr Manzo said. Standing amidst the ruins of his farm, Mr Manzo reflected on the past. He had assumed the headship of the family after his fathers demise years ago. This meant he would lead the familys farming as the only male among his 11 siblings. Since then, 41-year-old Mr Manzo has tirelessly shouldered the responsibilities that come with it. To make ends meet after marriage, he banked on farming as his primary source of livelihood. I have relatives, friends and others that I support whenever I make a good harvest from the yam farm. Yam is something that you can give out even to strangers passing by. All these years, cultivating yams has taught us that giving and sharing is good and will not reduce us in any way, he remarked. The process of cultivating yams begins every September with the farmers ploughing the soil using hoes or a tractorfor those who can afford to buy or rent one. They make soil ridges by October before planting the yam seedlings in November and December. Yam is something that takes a longer period to harvest. It could take almost a year. In a good season, we will start harvesting it from May, Mr Manzo added. Counting losses During the harvest period 2023, Mr Manzo had a disappointing yield, losing about 480 tubers. He did not allow this to discourage him. He planted over 800 yam seedlings for the planting season that began in September 2023, an investment of around N180,000. He also hired a tractor at a cost of N70,000. There was also money for other things. I think I spent more than N300,000 on the farm. But you see, it is all gone, he said. Similarly, Mr Shonvo said over the past two years, he has faced poor harvests from his farm. He planted 1,000 yam seedlings this season, all of which were ruined. The heat and drought contributed to that. I lost over N400,000, he told this newspaper, his face showing frustration. Jesangwa Bulus, 35, said that the issue of zero yields attributable to the drought complicated his life. I cant even take it to the market. I lack the funds to buy many seedlings and fertilisers like other farmers. So, I cant compete with them. In this spoiled yam farm youre seeing, I spent about N270,000, and its now a huge loss for me. If I had enough money, I would go to another distant location to try another farm, Mr Bulus said in August last year. Blows from all sides PREMIUM TIMES interviewed more than a dozen farmers in the area who expressed apathy about the next planting season. The effects of the drought are not going away anytime soon, as their efforts to plant other crops, such as maize and cassava, are hampered by the same arid conditions that ruined their yams. The maize he replanted died due to the drought. With many dependents, he feared what might befall his home. Like Mr Bulus, Mr Manzo took a deep breath as he stood on his farmland, which had turned into a landscape of dried maize and sorghum leaves. He had planted these crops in June to compensate for the losses from the yam, yet they had also failed due to the lack of rain. It was challenging having to switch to the other crops [referring to maize and sorghum] because I struggled to raise money for the seedlings. I had to borrow the money elsewhere, and you see this maze; its difficult to get good seedlings here, he narrated. When PREMIUM TIMES visited his farm in August, he lamented that his community had not seen rain for more than a month. He was unsure if his maize crops would survive the drought but hoped for the best. By December, their fate had been sealed. Mr Manzo and other farmers in Kakulu said the maize did not survive the heat onslaught. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the suspension of requests for the extension of export proceeds repatriation on behalf of exporters, in a move aimed at ensuring stricter compliance with foreign exchange regulations. In a circular dated 8 January, signed by the acting Director of the CBNs Trade & Exchange Department, W.J. Kanya, the apex bank stated that it would no longer approve any such requests from authorised dealers acting on behalf of their customers. The directive applies to both oil and non-oil export proceeds, according to the CBNs Trade and Exchange Department. The circular, released on Thursday, referenced provisions in the Foreign Exchange Manual Revised Edition (March 2018) to explain the policy shift. Pursuant to the provision of Memorandum 10A (23a) and Memorandum 10E (20a) of the Foreign Exchange Manual Revised Edition (March 2018) in respect of the repatriation of export proceeds. for Oil and Non-Oil Exports, all authorized Dealers are to note the following With effect from the/date of this circular, the Central Bank of Nigeria will no longer approve requests for-extension of repatriation of export proceeds by Authorized Dealers on behalf-of their customers For the avoidance of-doubt, proceeds-of oil and non-oil exports are to be repatriated and credited _into the exporters export proceeds domiciliary accounts within 180 days and 90 days from the bill of lading date for Non-Oil and-Oil & Gas exports respectively, it read. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later It directed all authorised dealer banks to draw the attention of their customers to the provision of extant regulation and ensure compliance. This development comes as Nigeria grapples with foreign exchange scarcity, with the naira struggling to maintain stability. Delayed repatriation of export proceeds has long been a point of contention, with regulators arguing that it undermines the countrys foreign exchange reserves. The bank last year limited international oil companies (IOCs) to repatriating only 50 per cent of their forex earnings immediately, with the balance deferred for 90 days. Subsequently, the CBN clarified that IOCs could pool the initial 50 per cent, use the remaining funds locally within 90 days, or sell them to authorised forex dealers. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On Thursday, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State signed Executive Order No. 1, 2025, designating some areas in the state as urban areas and establishing Land Use Regulation 2025. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Mbah is exercising his powers under the Land Use Act 1978. According to the provisions of the Executive Order entitled Enugu State Designation of Land as Urban Areas, all of the Enugu East, Enugu North, and Enugu South Local Government Areas have been designated urban areas. Likewise, the entire Udi, Nkanu West, Nkanu East, and Nsukka Council Areas have been designated as urban areas. Others created as urban areas are Ndeabor, Oduma Urban Area, Awgu Town, Ihe, Agbogugu, Mgbowo, Isu-Awa, Mmaku, Ituku, and Owelli-Court urban areas, as well as Aguobuowa and Oghe in Ezeagu Council Area. Ogbede, Ukehe, and Aku in Igbo-Etiti; Enugu Ezike in Igbo Eze North Council Area; Ibagwa-Aka in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area. Ikem and Eha-Amufu in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area have also been designated. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The executive order also designated Oji-River, Ugwuoba, and Inyi in the Oji-River Council Area, Obollo-Afor and Orba in the Udenu Council Area, and Umulokpa and Adani in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area as urban areas. Signing the order, Mr Mbah said, I have just a few minutes ago signed a Land Use Regulation of 2025, and also an Executive Order designating certain locations of the state as urban areas. This is a major milestone and quite historic that we have just witnessed. It is in line with what we witnessed a few weeks ago when we formally launched the Enugu State Geographic Information System. It is a system that is designed to fast-track applications for land titles and indeed other administrative functions relating to land. So, what we have here today is going to bring clarity. As we all know, a lack of transparency feeds corruption. This is really a major milestone towards our drive not just to enhance the revenue of Enugu State, but to ensure ease of doing business. No more hidden charges Mr Mbah explained that the order would enable prospective applicants to quickly know their fees and the timelines for processing the application. With what we have done here today, there are no more hidden charges when you apply for whatever land transaction, whether for search, titles or indeed for whatever transactions you want to carry out relating to land in Enugu State. It is also going to end the era of double allocations, land grabbing, and all sorts of confusion that may have existed before now in our land management system. We have also expanded areas that before now we have designated as rural areas. That means effectively that those living in those locations are now able to come forward and apply for their title document, and they will be able to obtain their Certificate of Occupancy for the property and assets they have there, Mr Mbah said. While commending his team for the good job done, the governor promised that there would be adequate public enlightenment on the processes of land transactions under the new order, Land Use Regulation, and the Enugu Geographic Information Service. This regulation clearly spells out the number of days it will require for any application, whether you are conducting your search or indeed applying to obtain your title document. The number, the timelines, your fees are spelt out. So, there is no confusion. So, I thank you all for all your efforts, he stressed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Following the Federal High Court in Abujas order on Monday to release embattled Nigerian rapper Darlington Achakpo, popularly known as Speed Darlington, his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has accused the police of wilfully defying the directive. Speed Darlington, a Nigerian rapper, was arrested in November 2024 over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking fellow artiste Burna Boy. Despite these allegations, the rapper has since remained in police detention, a situation that many find unjust and concerning. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Mr Adeyanju stated, After fulfilling everything in the letter, we did everything that was ordered. Every detail was made. Verification was done. And then, only at 4 p.m. today (Friday), the police informed us they were not releasing him (Speed Darlington). Mr Adeyanju alleged that the delay is linked to the Deputy Inspector General of Police. He added that his legal team would return to court on Monday to escalate the matter and seek enforcement of the courts orders. This is yet another act of contempt of court. No single criterion was unmet, yet this is still happening. The delay stems from the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi. My legal team and I will return to court on Monday to report this development, Mr Adeyanju said. When this newspaper contacted the Police PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he assured us a reaction would be provided and asked our correspondent to send him a text message. However, as of press time, no response has been received. On Monday, the Federal High Court, in a ruling delivered, directed the immediate release of Speed Darlington pending the hearing of the substantive matter. Justice M.S. Liman also permitted Darlingtons counsel, Marshal Abubakar, to stand as surety for his client. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Alternatively, the court ordered the police to arraign the rapper immediately. The Federal High Court has directed the Nigerian Police to comply with the order to release Speed Darlington immediately pending the hearing of the substantive matter. The court further directs Abubakar Marshal, Esq. to stand as surety to Akpi (Speed Darlington). Alternatively, he should be arraigned immediately, Mr Adeyanju told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday. N300 million lawsuit However, the police have reportedly failed to act on the ruling despite assurances from Darlingtons legal team that all conditions were met. In response to his continued detention, Darlington filed a N300 million lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing the police of unlawful detention and rights violations. According to his legal representatives, the rapper was detained for five days in October 2024 without being formally charged and subjected to mistreatment. After securing bail, he was re-arrested in November for allegedly violating bail conditions despite notifying authorities of a medical emergency and obtaining permission to travel for a performance. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that his arrest and detention violated constitutional rights, immediate release, N300 million in damages, and compensation for mistreatment during detention. A Federal High Court order issued on 23 December 2024 had already instructed the police to charge him within 48 hours or release him unconditionally. However, the police cited administrative delays during the Christmas holiday as a reason for non-compliance. Despite repeated efforts to fulfil bail conditions on 7 January, the police reportedly ignored all communications from Darlingtons legal team, adding to the frustration and helplessness of the situation. The case has now been adjourned to 13 January 2025, while Darlingtons arraignment on criminal charges is scheduled for 15 January. Meanwhile, Speed Darlington remains in detention, awaiting justice amid mounting and serious allegations of police misconduct and disregard for the rule of law, a situation that demands urgent attention. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United States President-elect, Donald Trump, is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday for his criminal conviction, stemming from hush money paid to a porn star. This case earlier overshadowed his bid to retake the White House. The US Supreme Court paved the way on Thursday for the 9:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT) sentencing in New York state court in Manhattan, rejecting a last-minute request by Mr Trump to halt it 10 days before his 20 January inauguration. Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the six-week trial in 2024, had signaled that he does not plan to send Mr Trump to jail or to fine him. However, by granting an unconditional discharge, he would place a judgment of guilt on Mr Trumps permanent record. Mr Trump, 78, who pleaded not guilty, was expected to appear virtually at the hearing. He fought tooth and nail to avoid the spectacle of being compelled to appear before a state-level judge, days before returning to the public office. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Cheryl Bader, a law professor at Fordham University in New York, said he doesnt want to be sentenced because that is the official judgment of him being a convicted felon. The trial played out against the extraordinary backdrop of Mr Trumps successful campaign to retake the White House. The sentencing marks the culmination of the first-ever criminal case brought against a US president, past or present. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Mr Trump in March 2023 with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohens $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she said she had with Mr Trump, who denied it. Mr Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in that election. The Manhattan jury found Mr Trump guilty of all 34 counts on May 30. Prosecutors argued that despite the tawdry nature of the allegations, the case was an attempt to corrupt the 2016 election. Critics of the businessman-turned-politician cited the charges and other legal entanglements he faced to bolster their contention that he was unfit for public office. Mr Trump argued that the case, along with three other criminal indictments and civil lawsuits accusing him of fraud, defamation and sexual abuse, was an effort by opponents to weaponise the justice system against him and harm his reelection campaign. He frequently lashed out at prosecutors and witnesses, and Judge Merchan ultimately fined Mr Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order. In a decision that day, Mr Merchan said that setting aside the verdict would undermine the Rule of Law in immeasurable ways and wrote that Mr Trumps behaviour during the trial showed disrespect for the judiciary. Defendant has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries and the justice system as a whole, Mr Merchan said. On Thursday, hours before the sentence was to be imposed, Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform that he would be appealing the case and was confident that he would prevail. The hush money case was widely viewed as less serious than the three other criminal cases Mr Trump faced, in which he was accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and retaining classified documents after leaving the White House. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty in all the cases. However, the Braggs case was the only criminal case to reach trial in the face of an onslaught of challenges from Mr Trumps lawyers. After Mr Trumps 5 November election victory, federal prosecutors backed off their two cases due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. The remaining state case, brought in Georgia over efforts to reverse the 2020 election results in that state, is in limbo after a court in December disqualified the lead prosecutor on the case. The hush money case was a mixed bag politically. Contributions to Mr Trumps campaign surged after his indictment in March 2023, likely helping him defeat his rivals for the Republican nomination. During the trial, polling showed a majority of voters took the charges seriously, and his standing among Republicans slipped after the guilty verdict. (Reuters/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The US president-elect, Donald Trump, has been sentenced to an unconditional discharge by a New York state court for his criminal conviction over hush money payments made to a porn film actress. This makes Mr Trump the first American president to be sentenced for a crime. This ruling, however, implies that Mr Trump, although found guilty, will not serve jail time or pay a fine. Unconditional discharge is a legal term for cases in which a person is found guilty of an offence but is not punished further. There are no conditions attached, such as probation or community service. Its essentially a formal reprimand without consequences. As such, Mr Trumps conviction will remain on his permanent record, but he will not face imprisonment, fines, or probation. The judge, Juan Merchan, delivered the sentence against Mr Trump on Friday, a day after the US Supreme Court dismissed an attempt by Mr Trumps legal team to postpone his sentencing ahead of the inauguration on 20 January. He stated that it is the office of the presidency that is extraordinary, not the person holding the office. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later However, the considerable, indeed extraordinary, legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others. They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way, CNN quoted Mr Merchan to have said. Trump found guilty in 2024 Mr Trump was found guilty in late May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to the adult actress Stormy Daniels and other related matters. The hush money payment was made in October 2016, just weeks before the US presidential election in which he defeated Hillary Clinton and emerged as president, serving from 2017 to 2021. Mr Trumps lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, had facilitated the payment of $130,000 to Ms Daniels. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the crime and has denied that any sexual relationship took place. The lawyers had asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to postpone the sentence to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government. They argued that a Supreme Court ruling last year provides presidents with extensive immunity from criminal prosecution, implying that certain evidence should not have been introduced in the case. Trumps response Speaking at the hearing, the president-elect, who attended virtually, said he is the victim of a political witch hunt. He said the payments for which he was convicted were logged appropriately. This has been a very terrible experience. Im totally innocent. I did nothing wrong. They called a legal expense a legal expenseand for this, I got indicted. Its incredible, actually. I think its an embarrassment to New York. I was treated very very unfairly, he said. Mr Trumps defence team has also vowed to appeal the sentencing, stating that the case should never have been filed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On January 9, the 48th Chairpersons Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th Anhui Provincial People's Congress approved the decision regarding the date of the Third Session of the 14th Anhui Provincial People's Congress. According to the decision made at the 13th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th Anhui Provincial Peoples Congress, the 48th Chairpersons Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th Anhui Provincial People's Congress decided that the Third Session of the 14th Anhui Provincial People's Congress will be held in Hefei on January 20, 2025. Source: Anhuinews.com TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 10. Uzbekistan and Iran discussed intensifying negotiations on the use of Iranian seaports and Chabahar port, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed at a meeting between Uzbekistans Ambassador Fariddin Nasriyev and Irans Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Ali Akbar Safaei. During the meeting, the sides discussed the prospects of cooperation in the field of transportation and logistics. The Iranian side expressed its firm commitment to enhancing trade and economic ties with Central Asian countries. The deputy minister emphasized the potential for Uzbekistan to establish storage facilities and terminals within Chabahar Port, further solidifying its role as a gateway for regional and international trade. Meanwhile, Iran reduces fees for Uzbek drivers transporting goods through its territory by $400. The reduction aims to facilitate more efficient and affordable logistics for Uzbekistan's export and import activities. Uzbekistan continues negotiations with Iranian authorities to achieve further reductions in fees charged to Uzbek transporters. The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for support in facilitating clinical trials on herbal medicines. Mrs Adeyeye, a professor, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos State. She said the call for the agencys financial stability is part of NAFDACs strategic plan to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of herbal products. She told NAN that by conducting clinical trials on herbal medicines, NAFDAC aims to provide scientific evidence on their safety and efficacy, ultimately protecting public health and promoting the development of herbal medicine in Nigeria. She said although herbal medicines are effective, the agency cannot approve their usage without clinical trials. The NAFDAC boss said the cost of conducting clinical trials is enormous, hence the need for support to enable the agency to carry out clinical trials that could help address some of the nations health challenges. She noted that NAFDAC is among the few regulatory bodies globally that have a well-structured means of approving herbal medicines. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In Nigeria, the reality is that clinical trials are very costly without the support of the government or private institutions, it will be difficult to do clinical trials of herbal medicines, she said. We have thousands of herbal products in our database that are yet to go through clinical trials. I was brought up with Agbo (herbs), and I didnt die; I know that herbal medicine is very effective, but others might have had one issue or complications from taking herbs. We dont know the toxic component and the exact quantity that should be taken, and that is why clinical trials and a lot of research have to be done before approving any herbal medicine for usage. The director-general, however, assured that the agency would begin clinical trials on herbal drugs as soon as grants or funds are made available. Part of what we are trying to do now is to look for grants. I have already discussed it with the National Assembly, and they promise to support us. READ ALSO: CBN suspends extension of export proceed requests Mrs Adeyeye emphasised the importance of initiating clinical trials for herbal medicines, stating that conducting trials on a few herbal medicines would be a significant achievement. If we can get five herbal medicines in our national formulary, we will have achieved a lot, she said. NAN reports that this approach acknowledges the challenges and limitations in conducting clinical trials while recognising the potential benefits of validating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print For Russia, as for Iran, last months fall of the 54-year-old Assad dynasty in Syria was a major geo-strategic setback. Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assads sudden defeat threatened Russias important military presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Now Moscow is believed to be trying to negotiate a continued presence with the new Syrian authorities. But it is also transferring military equipment from Syria to nearby Libya, apparently to establish or strengthen Russias presence in that country as a new hub for its African operations. This could seriously damage efforts to resolve Libyas protracted conflict. The end of al-Assads regime also has repercussions for Russias growing presence across Africa. Moscows naval and air bases in Syria have been the hubs for supplying Russias continental operations mainly in Libya and also in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic and Sudan. Mr al-Assad hosted a major Russian military presence in Syria with a warm-water naval base in the port of Tartus, an air base at Khmeimim to the north near the port of Latakia, and a helicopter base at Qamishli in the far northeast. The rapid collapse of the Assad regime in Syria a regime that the Kremlin helped prop up since 2015 is a strategic political defeat for Moscow and has thrown the Kremlin into a crisis as it seeks to retain its strategic military basing in Syria, the Institute for the Study of War said on 9 December. Putin intervened on behalf of Assad in 2015 to secure Russian military bases in Syria, support Russias wider efforts to project power in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, increase its global footprint in the Middle East and Africa, and threaten [the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations] southern flank. Russia is attempting to secure its bases in Syria as opposition forces come to power, but Russias continued military presence in the country is not guaranteed. [This] especially as Russias actions in support of Assad over the past nine years have likely undermined Moscows ability to form a lasting, positive relationship with ruling Syrian opposition groups, the institute said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Uncertainty about who might constitute the new government also probably complicates these negotiations. And so perhaps as a precaution, Moscow has begun shifting military resources to Libya, where it had already started reinforcing its military presence in 2023/24. Four weeks ago, Russia experienced a clear setback in Syria an outcome it had not planned for, since losing Assad undermines a key logistical hub that, for nine years, supported its operations in Libya and beyond into Sub-Saharan Africa, an analyst at The Sentry, a US-based investigative and policy organisation, told ISS Today. In a bid to preserve its African operations, Moscow has been bolstering its footprint in Libya to compensate for its deteriorating circumstances in Syria in recent weeks. And so far, it has done so without introducing a naval element at least not yet. Over the last four weeks, Russia has been moving substantial amounts of military resources by air to Libya, from Syria, from Russia and from Belarus. Several other reports in mainstream media as well as intelligence sites confirm several flights of large Russian Air Force cargo aircraft from Khmeimim Air Base in Syria to Russias al-Khadim near Benghazi in eastern Libya in the last week of December. They speculate the planes were carrying military equipment. This week, Ukrainian intelligence sources who asked to remain anonymous and other analysts said several Russian ships were scheduled to dock in Tartus. They said that the roll on-roll off Sparta and Sparta II would be used to transport military equipment to Libya, though some would be transported back to Russia. The bolstering of Russias military presence in Libya threatens to perpetuate, if not aggravate, the conflict in that country. Russia has for years backed the eastern strongman General Khalifa Haftar of the Benghazi-based government in its protracted struggle with the United Nations-backed government in Tripoli. In December, Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, Prime Minister of the government of national unity in Tripoli, strongly objected to Russia reinforcing its Libyan bases. He said this was turning Libya into a base for major-power rivalries and would complicate the countrys internal crisis. It should also be noted that in terms of the peace agreements among rival Libyan parties, all foreign militaries should have left Libya long ago. The sudden collapse of the Assad regime also raises questions about Russias ability to continue providing military and security support to its allies, says Denys Reva, an Institute for Security Studies Researcher. It seems that Russia might currently be overstretched and unable to spare additional resources. He says that if Russia were also to lose its access to Libya, that would undermine Moscows ability to appropriately support and supply its troops in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The Russians have definitely seen their circumstances degrade in Syria, says The Sentrys analyst. Even if one assumes that they stay in Latakia and Tartus, the environment has become more uncertain, less convenient and riskier. By strengthening its footprint in Libya, Russia may be attempting to compensate for that deterioration in Syria or at least part of it. If it didnt do so, Moscow would be risking a fragilisation of its missions in Sub-Saharan Africa. For Africa, the net effect of Mr al-Assads exit remains uncertain. A weakening of Russias military presence on the continent would arguably be positive, given its performance in the Sahel especially. In Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, Russia is propping up military regimes that took power via coups, and is accused of gross abuses against civilians, without any visible improvement in curbing terrorism. For Libya, the likely consequences seem to be more unambiguously negative. By switching the focus of its military operations to Libya, Russia has acquired an even stronger incentive to entrench itself in that country and perpetuate the internal conflict, as Dabaiba warned. Peter Fabricius, Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two Nigerians allegedly linked to Moroccan terrorists have been arrested in Osun State. Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan were arrested and detained by the State Security Service (SSS). On Friday, the SSS secured a court order to detain the man and the woman for 60 days. The Federal High Court in Abuja granted the SSS the order pending the conclusion of the agencys investigation into their alleged ties to Moroccan terrorists. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the counsel to the SSS, Y.I. Umar. An ex-parte motion is one filed and decided upon in the absence of counsel for the other party, in this case, counsel for the two suspects. In its application, the SSS argued that releasing the suspects would impede its investigation and possibly endanger the Nigerian public. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The agency, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the suspects are cooperating and providing crucial information that could lead to the apprehension of other members of their network. The matter was adjourned until 3 March for mention. Links to Moroccan terrorist NAN reports that the Service Tactical Team of the SSS arrested Ms Akintunde and Mr Adesiyan on 19 December 2024, at Ajape Lane 3, Modakeke, Ife East LGA in Osun State. A Moroccan terrorist in Spanish custody was in communication with the suspects, according to initial findings by the security agency. Preliminary investigation and intelligence report revealed that a Moroccan terrorist currently in custody of the Spanish National Police Service communicated with Ayomide AKINTUNDE (F) and Nurudeen ADESIYAN on GSM numbers: 08168359934 and 08168542908, respectively. That the Moroccan terrorist is being investigated for making jihadist publications and for acquisition of firearms with the intent of conducting terrorist attacks against identified targets in Nigeria, it said. The agency said the suspects admitted to owning the phone numbers which they had used for over 10 months. Terrorism in Nigeria Before this latest revelation by the SSS, Osun and other states in Nigerias south-west were not known to harbour terrorist groups, although various armed criminals operate there. Terrorism in Nigeria is more common in the northern part of Nigeria where Boko Haram and its splinter groups have operated for over a decade causing over a hundred thousand deaths. Some of the Boko Haram factions are known to have links to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. Apart from Boko Haram and its splinter groups, other terror groups, locally called bandits, also operate in north-west and north-central Nigeria. However, various armed gangs carry out kidnappings and armed robbery in many other parts of Nigeria, including Osun. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the appointment of Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. This announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade. According to the statement, Mr Owoade was chosen after extensive consultations and traditional divinations conducted by the Oyo kingmakers, the Oyomesi. Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by Governor Seyi Makinde as the new Alaafin of Oyo, the statement read. The process of selecting a new Alaafin has been marred by controversy and litigation. The former Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi, passed away in April 2022. However, there have been disputes between the state government and the Oyo kingmakers, known as the Oyomesi. The kingmakers had earlier selected Lukman Gbadegesin as the Alaafin-elect. However, the state government appeared not to support the choice of the Oyomesi. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The kingmakers approached the court in 2023 over the selection process. It remains unclear whether this announcement resolves all existing controversies surrounding the stool. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An aide of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has died a day after his appointment. Mr Yusuf announced Ahmad Ishaqs appointment as special adviser on works on Monday, but the new aide died on Tuesday in Egypt. The governors spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, announced the shocking transition in a statement. Mr Buture said Governor Yusuf described the death of Mr Ishaq as a tragic and an irreparable loss to Kano State, his family, and the wider political community. He prayed for Allahs mercy on the deceased and strength for his family to bear the painful loss. This is a heartbreaking moment for us as a government. Engr. Ahmad Ishaq Bunkure was a dedicated professional whose expertise and contributions were expected to drive our administrations vision for development. His loss is deeply felt, the statement stated. The appointment of Mr Ishaq was announced while he was on treatment in an Egyptian hospital. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The governor on Monday said the appointment signalled his administrations renewed focus on infrastructure development. He added that the appointment underscored his commitment to assembling a competent team to drive the states development agenda. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Bauchi Central senator, Abdul Ningi, on Thursday queried the economic team of the federal government over failure to explain how proceeds from the removal of fuel subsidy was expended last year. Mr Ningi, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenged the government officials when they appeared before the Senate Committee on Appropriations to defend budgetary allocations of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government. President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy on 29 May, 2023 during his inauguration. The removal of subsidy and the floating of naira policy have led to hardship in the country following rising costs of goods and services. Many have protested against the policies and demanded immediate reversal, but the government insisted they would eventually benefit Nigerians. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the federal government pays an average of N501.47 as subsidy on each litre of petrol, in at least eight cities But the government repeatedly denied it. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later During Thursdays budget defence, the Bauchi senator asked the economic team led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to disclose the status of the fuel subsidy. He also demanded an explanation on the actual status of Nigerias foreign debt servicing. We havent heard from the minister how much has been saved from the removal of fuel subsidy and how much has been expended, We also havent heard from the minister about the debt servicing. How much have we actually used to service our debt in 2024? How much are we expecting to service the debt in 2025, he said. Mr Ningi also complained about the poor performance of the 2024 budget, especially the implementation of capital projects across the country. He specifically asked whether the federal government would achieve all proposed capital projects in the 2024 budget before its expiration in June. Finally, will the minister of finance guarantee that the extension of the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025 will give the desired results in terms of implementation that has a very low percentage now, the senator asked. Responding, Mr Edun requested that the senators should discuss the questions privately. Are we in a closed door session? If we are not in a closed door session , I will humbly seek for that for detailed explanations on the questions asked, the minister pleaded. Thereafter, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola Olamilekan, directed the committee members to go into closed-door session to discuss the issues. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, was also present during the budget defence. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, has alleged that there is a plot by President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Mr Anyanwu made the accusation in an interview with Nigeria Right Now, a political programme produced and anchored by Dickson Iroegbu. In the interview, the PDP national secretary said the opposition party has made several efforts to challenge the policies of the federal government, but it appears that Mr Tinubus administration is moving towards a one-party system. If you remember, even during the EndSARS and EndBadGovernance protests, our party spoke. We have been talking, but you see, this present administration, the ruling party, the way they are going, is trying to drift into one party system he said. The presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, recently accused President Tinubu of interfering with the courts to tilt judicial rulings in the direction of the APC and that the president has a plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party country. Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, denied the allegations, noting that Atiku only raised a false alarm. Poor opposition Mr Anyanwu also identified internal crises within opposition parties as factors that could promote the one-party system. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He specifically said that the PDP, Labour Party, and other opposition parties are battling internal divisions, which prevents the parties from being strong oppositions. Most of us who are the operators of the party, and because even within the party, there are rancours, there are divisions within our own party and other political parties. If you see what is happening in the Labour Party, there are issues among themselves. So they need to, first of all, put themselves together. Look at what we are talking about. We are on holidays, and people are going about trying to throw a confusion in the party, confusing our party faithfuls. When they hear, oh, their national chairman has been removed, their secretary has been removed, they say they hear. So it gives us no question to give a strong opposition, a strong voice. Even within our party, among the leaders of the party, some of them are divided, he added. Analysts have said there are arguably two factions in the PDP. One is loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, while the other is loyal to Atiku. The two factions have been at loggerheads over the party structure. The latest crisis that escalated was the suspension and counter-suspension of party leaders in October last year. However, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order that no person other than Umar Damagum should be recognised as PDP national chairperson until the partys national convention scheduled for December. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, 11 January, to participate in the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025). His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, invited President Tinubu to attend the Summit, which will take place in the emirate from January 12 to 18. The summit will bring together global leaders to accelerate sustainable development and advance socioeconomic progress. The event, The Nexus of Next; Supercharging Sustainable Progress, will enable policymakers, business, and civil society leaders to explore pathways to fast-track the transformation to a sustainable economy and evolve a new era of prosperity for all. ADSW, a testament to the power of collaboration, has been held annually for over 15 years. It provides a global platform to foster multi-stakeholder cooperation in addressing global challenges and accelerating growth. It has birthed high-value agreements and strategic partnerships between governments, industry leaders, and clean energy pioneers worldwide, driving impactful alliances and advancing the sustainability agenda worldwide. At the event, President Tinubu will stress his administrations reforms, including those related to energy sufficiency, transportation, public health, and economic development. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Nigerian leader and his entourage will also meet with the emirates leadership to discuss issues of interest affecting the two nations. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and other senior government officials will accompany the President. He will return to Nigeria on Thursday, January 16. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The South-east governors have pledged to support and strengthen the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the development and growth of the region. The Chairperson of South-East Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, made the pledge during the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly meeting held at the Old Government Lodge Enugu on Friday to elect Ohanaezes new executives. Mr Uzodinma said, I speak for myself and on behalf of other governors in Ohanaeze states. We congratulate Ndi Igbo for the new dawn, the harmonious manner, quality of organisation and the conduct we witnessed in this convention since we arrived in Enugu. While lauding Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for hosting the convention on behalf of Ndigbo, Mr Uzodinma said, The governors of South-east states came together and resolved to strengthen Ohanaeze Ndigbo and to give strong support to it. We also agreed to make it worthy of the dreams of the original founders and to discourage all forms of rascality, bad behaviour and conduct among the elected members and members of Ohanaeze. We will encourage those things that bring us together and shun those things that divide us as a people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later According to him, the governors of the Ohanaeze states have agreed to work in unity to move Igboland forward. This, he said, was because of past experiences in which they had elected officials to defend and represent them but who ended up creating confusion, bringing litigation upon litigation, and causing disunity among brothers and sisters. We have also decided that those to be elected into the new executives of Ohanaeze must have a second address and be supported by their home state so that we have somebody to hold responsible in case of bad behaviour. The governors want Ohanaeze to unite as a family to look for homegrown solutions to our problems, the governor added. What Gov Mbah said at the meeting Governor Mbah, who hosted the meeting, also stressed the need for a strong and united front by Ndigbo, urging all to put the Igbo interest above narrow interests and partisan politics. Mr Mbah noted that the socio-political circumstances that gave birth to the pan-Igbo body remained relevant in present-day Nigeria as they were in the 1970s. He extolled the leadership of Igbo leaders such as Michael Okpara, who, he said, demonstrated that so much could be achieved when patriotism, altruism, and a sense of brotherhood were at the core of leadership. We may be gathered here for the crucial task of electing members into the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, but this epic event yet offers a room for introspection regarding the noble vision that inspired our forebears towards its founding. The ties that bind us run deep and transcend geographical boundaries, for we are bound by a common history and cultural heritage. Our forebears clearly understood this. They understood, as well, that unity is a formidable force. From the Igbo Federal Union to the Igbo State Union and the Igbo Forum that later became Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1979, the motivation had always been the desire to forge unity and deep brotherhood amongst the Igbo, Mr Mbah said. Also speaking, the outgoing Ohanaeze President-General, Ozichukwu Chukwu, explained that the Imo four-year tenure had come to an end, stressing that the memories, lessons, and experiences would stay with them forever. He said a better, unified, vibrant, proactive, and resilient Ohanaeze would commence with a credible leadership recruitment process. Based on this, I join in the clarion call to the Igbo extraction of the Rivers State in particular and other Igbo states, in general, to ensure that only men and women of integrity and proven records of accomplishments are put forward to fill the offices zoned to the states in accordance with the rotation principles of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. We also ensured that the Screening, Appeal and Electoral Committees for the purpose of todays Ohanaeze election comprise men and women whose public records and private lives are beyond reproach, he said. A former senator, John Azuta-Mbata from Ikwere, Rivers State, emerged as the new president-general of the Igbo group in an election held in Enugu on Friday. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu on Friday congratulated a former senator, John Azuta-Mbata on his election as the president-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Bayo Onanuga, the presidents spokesperson, said in a statement that Mr Azuta-Mbata represented Rivers East in the Senate from 1999 to 2007. Mr Azuta-Mbata was elected as president-general of the Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group at its meeting in Enugu on Friday. President Tinubu also congratulated the group on the successful leadership transition and enjoined the new leaders to uphold the principles of their predecessors. The President recognises the critical role of socio-cultural organisations in nation-building; hence, his commitment to promoting dialogue among our ethnic nationalities. President Tinubu wishes the newly elected Ohanaeze Ndigbo president success as he takes on this onerous yet noble and lofty task, the statement stated. Meanwhile, the South-east governors have pledged to support and strengthen the Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the development and growth of the region. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Chairperson of South-East Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, made the pledge during the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly meeting held at the Old Government Lodge Enugu on Friday to elect Ohanaezes new executives. Mr Uzodinma said, I speak for myself and on behalf of other governors in Ohanaeze states. We congratulate Ndi Igbo on the new dawn, the harmonious manner, quality of organisation, and the conduct we have witnessed in this convention since we arrived in Enugu. While lauding Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for hosting the convention on behalf of Ndigbo, Mr Uzodinma said, The governors of South-east states came together and resolved to strengthen Ohanaeze Ndigbo and to give strong support to it. We also agreed to make it worthy of the dreams of the original founders and to discourage all forms of rascality, bad behaviour and conduct among the elected members and members of Ohanaeze. We will encourage those things that bring us together and shun those things that divide us as a people. According to him, the governors of the Ohanaeze states have agreed to work in unity to move Igboland forward. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 10. Interstate relations are like a delicate and fragile vessel that requires careful handling, sincerity, and mutual respect. Any crack, an unspoken gesture, or a biting word can destroy even the strongest bridges, turning years of diplomacy into icy silence. Today, before our eyes, we see a dramatic example unfolding: instead of friendly handshakes between two ancient civilizations, Iran and Azerbaijan, a worrying web of distrust has stretched. Each knot in this web represents an incident, a provocation, a careless statement, or the ignoring of an important signal. This network accumulates tension, clinging to old grievances and new contradictions, growing with assumptions, accusations, and misunderstandings. Where words of brotherhood and historical closeness were once spoken, today, a harsh dissonance of mutual claims is heard. Azerbaijan, facing both historical and contemporary challenges, continually reminds the world of its sovereignty and national pride. In opposition to numerous threats, the country focuses on its rights and independence. Iran, on the other hand, masks its actions under the rhetoric of good neighborliness. However, behind this facade, double standards, hidden hostile steps, and contradictory statements are increasingly visible, further intensifying the tension. Diplomacy is an art where there is no room for trivialities. Today's mutual accusations, heard from the podiums and in the pages of newspapers, are like sharp daggers that inflict deep wounds, deepening historical cracks. But where is the truth? Why has the former harmony turned into bitter confrontation? Time has ripened to carefully untangle each knot in this web: each provocation, each accusation, each hidden intention. Truth, like diplomacy, requires clarity, firmness, and respect. Particular attention should be paid to an article published by the Iranian Mehr News agency. Its content, filled with accusations and attempts to shift the blame, became another knot of distrust. These loud statements cannot go unanswered. Silence in such cases is not a manifestation of diplomacy but a concession to falsehood. Each accusation requires verification; each claim requires justification. Step by step, we will dissect the key grievances of the Iranian side, responding not with emotions but with facts. Only by relying on reality and international law can justice be restored. During a memorial ceremony for the "martyrs of the Battle of Chaldiran and the martyrs of the Resistance Front" held in Ardabil, one participant made offensive statements against Azerbaijan and Turkiye. Despite claims that this person "did not have an official status," the situation gained serious resonance. Later, the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in Ardabil province, Seyyid Hasan Amili, and the imam of Friday prayers made a statement calling the words of this individual "unacceptable" and emphasizing that they "did not reflect the official position of the Islamic Republic". According to Amili, "the enemies of the Iranian nation are trying to undermine relations between Iran and its neighbors," and personal statements by individuals cannot be considered the official position of the government. On January 1, the acting Iranian charge d'affaires in Azerbaijan, Seyyed Jafar Aghayi Marian, was summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. A strong protest was expressed regarding the offensive statements made at the event on December 29. Baku also expressed dissatisfaction with the growing anti-Azerbaijani sentiment in Iran and demanded an end to provocations undermining bilateral relations. Despite the statements from Amili and the Council of Trustees of the Great Mosque of Ardabil, which claimed that the incident was the opinion of a "simple and irresponsible person," the reality says otherwise. The person who made the offensive statements is Gholamreza Golizadeh, head of the "Ansar al-Mahdi Committee of Ardabil". According to video materials from his social media, he is closely associated with Amili and is part of his inner circle. Moreover, Golizadeh is an official working in a state structure. After Azerbaijan's official protest, Amili issued an apology, which turned out to be worse than the offense itself. His rhetoric only confirmed the connection between the organizers of the event and the statements made. The Mehr News, ignoring such concepts as objectivity and responsibility, published an article titled "Why is Aliyev raising insignificant issues against Iran?" The article claims that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev "exaggerated a marginal issue, elevating it to an official level to justify his actions and present Baku as the innocent side in the ongoing conflict." The agency also attempted to link the incident in Ardabil with the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran, which clearly appears to be an attempt to downplay the seriousness of what happened. Baku has every right to protest sharply. The provocative statements from the Iranian side are not random or the result of actions by "individuals". They fit into a broader strategy of escalating tension and creating artificial conflicts. Azerbaijan continues to defend its rights and sovereignty, demanding not only apologies from Iran but also the cessation of provocative actions that threaten regional stability and good neighborly relations. First, President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with local TV channels, stated: "If any training or military exercises were conducted near our border, we carried out similar actions on our side of the Azerbaijan-Iran border. In other words, we showed that we are not intimidated by anyone and that we are on the right side. At the same time, this was accompanied by a campaign of insults in the press because this, apparently, is the style of work of some ruling circles. In fact, insults are a symbol of weakness. If you cannot achieve something I mean people who are rude they resort to insults. The one using insults actually insults himself. Then came the news about the resolution issue from Iran and other reports. Following that, an act of terror was committed against our embassyan organized terrorist attack. Several factors provided grounds to label it as such. First, for about 40 minutes, not a single police car arrived at the scene, despite the fact that this was happening in the center of the capital. Additionally, the person responsible for the attack was quickly declared mentally ill the very next day. However, any medical examination takes several days. This person appeared in the press on the very day he committed the terror and gave interviews. Two years have passed since that incident. To this day, the individual responsible has not faced the sentence that was handed down to him. All of this points to the fact that it was an organized act. It was a display of weakness, and the Azerbaijani side responded with appropriate measures. You know that we recalled all our embassy personnel, and only when we were officially promised the late Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdollahian, who died in a helicopter crash, came here and promised me that the person would be sentenced to death did we return the embassy employees. But they deceived us again. Because this death sentence was not executed, the case was sent back to court for investigation. In other words, this was an incomprehensible act at the state level, and we insist on our demands. We know that death sentences in Iran are pronounced for less serious crimes and are immediately executed. But here, two years later, not only has it not been carried out, the case has actually been sent back for further investigation". ... Azerbaijan has never considered the attack on its diplomatic mission as an "insignificant issue". Such an attack is a gross violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which obligates the receiving state to ensure the security of foreign diplomatic missions. The armed attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran, which resulted in the death of the head of security, cannot be regarded as a "private case." Iran's response to this incident was limited to formal statements, and the investigation, despite international pressure, has been delayed, with its conclusions still not fully presented. The statements made at the Ardabil event threatened not only good-neighborly relations but also Azerbaijan's sovereignty. Any offensive remarks against heads of state and their peoples, especially in the context of already tense relations, are unacceptable. If Iran genuinely seeks normalization of relations, it must not only express regret but also take concrete steps to prevent such incidents. The Mehr News, in its article, tried to shift the blame for the deterioration of relations onto Azerbaijan, claiming that Baku allegedly "exaggerates marginal issues". This statement is misleading. The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly emphasized that the deterioration of relations is due precisely to Iran's provocative actions. Mehr News also claimed that Azerbaijan allegedly allows "Zionist bases" to operate on its territory. This claim is not only absurd but entirely unsubstantiated. Azerbaijan, as an independent state, conducts its foreign policy based on national interests. Cooperation with Israel is aimed solely at developing economic and strategic ties. In contrast to Azerbaijan, Iran has supported terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah for decades and actively interferes in the internal affairs of neighboring countries. Such accusations from Iran appear to be an attempt to divert attention from its own problems. Claims that "Azerbaijani media undermines Iran's territorial integrity" are also absurd. Azerbaijani media, unlike Iranian media, does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. However, Azerbaijan cannot ignore the discrimination against Azerbaijanis in Iran, especially in provinces with a predominantly Azerbaijani population. ... The Iranian rhetoric voiced in the Mehr News article is aimed at justifying its actions and shifting the responsibility for the deterioration of relations onto Azerbaijan. However, the facts speak otherwise. Azerbaijan is always open to dialogue, but this dialogue is possible only on the basis of mutual respect, adherence to international law, and a rejection of provocations. Some Iranian forces, whether media or political groups, need to stop using accusations against Azerbaijan as an internal propaganda tool. Instead, they should focus on real steps to restore trust and normalize relations. Lawmakers on Friday queried the addition of N9 million to the cost of a capital project of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment that was supposed to be executed for N50 million last year. The lawmakers queried the additional spending during the 2025 budget defence session organised by the joint committees on trade and investment of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The fund was spent on implementing NIRP engagement in the cotton, textile, and garment (CTG)policy. The project is listed on item 34 of the ministrys budget for 2024 with code ERGP 30140059. Abubakar Kasuda, a member of the House of Representatives who represents Kankiya/Kusda/Ingawa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, said a total of N50 million was budgeted for the project. Still, the ministry awarded the contract for N59 million, contrary to the provisions of the Appropriations Act. In Nigeria, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government cannot spend more than the amount approved for a project by the National Assembly except when such agencies seek approval. Mr Kasuda, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said according to the document presented to him and other lawmakers on the financial appraisal of the ministry for 2024, the ministry spent beyond what was approved for the project. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He, therefore, demanded explanations on why the ministry spent more than what was approved by the National Assembly and how the money was sourced. The money appropriated for this item was N50 million, but you awarded the contract for N59,976,513. I would like to have an explanation on this, because the appropriated money is N50 million, he said. Another member of the House of Representatives, Mark Esset, also queried the unapproved spending by the trade ministry. Mr Esset, who represents Uyo/Urhab/Nsit, the federal constituency of Akwa-Ibom State, demanded clarification on the issue. Responding, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, through the ministrys Director of Finance, said the figure was a typographical error. The finance director noted that the amount expended on the project was N49 million, not N59 million, as indicated in the ministrys financial breakdown. It is a typographical error. My working document is N49 million, not N59. So we are sorry about that, he said. The chairperson of the Joint Committees, Sadiq Sulaiman, then directed the ministry officials to rework their financial documents and represent them to the lawmakers for proper scrutiny. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A group of 109 professors and members of the senate of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), have written to President Bola Tinubu, defending the process that led to the appointment of Aisha Maikudi, a law professor, as the universitys vice-chancellor. The letter to Mr Tinubu was routed through the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdullahi Ribadu. The group of university staff, comprising professors, deans of faculties and of students affairs, heads of departments and programmes, directors of academic centres and units, as well as elected representatives of faculties, disclaimed the allegations that the appointment process was fraught with irregularities. The letter reads in part: We hereby strongly reaffirm our position: that the selection process leading to the appointment of Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi as vice-chancellor University of Abuja, followed all the extant laws and statutes, was conducted transparently, fairly, impartially and in accordance with laid down procedures and due process. Accordingly, Your Excellency the visitor, should ignore all information and reports to the contrary as the antics of mischief makers, mindless naysayers, and selfish and self-seeking individuals and groups who do not mean well for the university, the education system and your government. Appointment and Controversy Their letter came a day after another group of university professors led by Kasim Waziri, a professor of law, protested at the education ministry, calling for a review of the process that led to the appointment of Ms Maikudi. Ms Maikudis appointment out of over 80 applicants was announced by the university council on 31 December. But the selection process leading to her appointment was contested by some members of the university, including some members of the university senate who allege irregularities in the selection process. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The council has defended the process, stating that all laws and procedures outlined in the University of Abuja Act and the Universities Miscellaneous Act were duly followed. The council, in a statement signed by the Acting Registrar and Secretary to the council, Islamiyat Adulrahim, said Contrary to the insinuations in some quarters, the Council in making the appointment announced on 31 December 2024, strictly complied with the relevant provisions of the two main acts guiding the appointment of vice-chancellors of the University, namely, the University of Abuja Act and the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003, NO 1 of 2007. defends process In their letter to Mr Tinubu, the university staff described as baseless the allegations that laws were circumvented in the selection process and that Ms Maikudi was imposed by the council. They explained that after inviting applicants to apply through an advertisement, a search team was also empaneled to bring more applicants in keeping with the university tradition and the extant laws. According to them, the council made a shortlist of 40 candidates out of 87 total applicants, set the criteria for screening the applicants, and handed it over to the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board (JCSSB). The board reviewed the candidates applications, rated them and invited 10 for interview. At the end of its assignment, the JCSSB submitted a shortlist of the best three candidates to the council, which had no difficulty in appointing the candidate who emerged tops, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, as the new vice chancellor, they wrote in the letter. In all this, there was no aspect of the law, procedures or requirements that was neglected, bent or violated. We further make bold to state that the vice chancellor selection process was done transparently and fairly, hence its outcome is completely credible, in spite of spirited attempts by vested interests, at every stage, to subvert, truncate or impeach it. Accusations The group accused Ralph Akinfeleye, a professor and a federal government representative in the council, along with professors Sani Mashi, Kasim Waziri and Rosemary Udeozor, of campaigning to ensure Ms Maikudis disqualification and pushed narratives that the selection process was flawed after she wasnt disqualified. Her position as acting vice chancellor, her gender and even her relatively young age (which ordinarily should be her strong points) were all cited as handicapsThere was even an attempt to use a non-existent rule against her, that a candidate for the position of vice chancellor must have been a professor for 10 years. This requirement, which is neither stipulated in the Acts nor supported by any law, is inconsistent with precedent and prevailing practices in many universities. It is a deliberate attempt to disqualify her on technical grounds, the letter stated. They said Mr Mashi was among the 10 candidates invited for interview but declined to honour the invitation based on some tendentious reasons. They added that Mr Waziri and Ms Udeozor, both professors, who were elected to represent the Senate on JCSSB staged a walk-out at the very first meeting of the board, claiming that council had taken over the role of the board. The letter added: Prior to then they had forwarded a complaint to the council. Basically, their grouse was that JCSSB, not council, is the body vested with the powers to shortlist applicants and set criteria for screening them. Council sought legal advice, which was to the effect that council, not the JCSSB, actually has such powers. They explained that the senate replaced Mr Waziri with Stephen Garba, another professor, when reconciliation failed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian police have refuted reports that a cyber criminal allegedly hacked into the account of the Enugu State Government and stole N1.09 billion. A report surfaced recently suggesting that a suspected cyber criminal, Osita Onuma, allegedly infiltrated the financial system of the Enugu State Government and stole about N1,097,700,300 from the government account. But the police national spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Thursday night described the report as false and unfounded. There has been no hacking of the Enugu State Governments account, and the allegations of a theft amounting to N1.09 billion are entirely baseless, Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, said. What actually happened Mr Adejobi said the National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC) of the police only investigated a case of procurement fraud in Enugu, not a cyber-breach. The suspect has been arrested in connection with this fraud, and the funds have already been recovered, he said of the procurement fraud. The Enugu State Government and other ministries, departments, and agencies of government and corporate firms are in partnership with the NCCC and have established comprehensive and fortified security protocols to safeguard their financial systems, Mr Adejobi stated. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The police spokesperson urged Nigerians to refrain from engaging in misinformation and always verify sources of their reports. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lawyers to the editor-in-chief of THISDAY Media Group and chairman of Arise TV channel, Nduka Obaigbena, have described the freezing order obtained by First Bank of Nigeria Limited against his bank accounts as an abuse of court processes. Abiodun Layonu & Co, the solicitors to General Hydrocarbons, a company owned by Mr Obaigbena, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday titled To Whom It May Concern. First Bank had on 30 December 2024 obtained an order from the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos restraining all commercial banks in Nigeria from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to $225.8 million due to Mr Obaigbena from any account maintained by him. The court also blocked all commercial banks from releasing or dealing in all monies and assets up to the said amount belonging to Efe Damilola Obaigbena, Olabisi Eka Obaigbena and General Hydrocarbons Limited, an oil and gas firm in which all the three are directors and shareholders. Another order barring the banks from dealing in or releasing such monies and assets due to the company, its agents, privies, subsidiaries and sister companies with the banks up to the same sum was issued, according to court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES. But in their reaction Thursday, the solicitors alleged there are legal defects in the orders granted by the court to the bank. They also noted the importance of stating the grave legal implications of acceding to the lenders attempt to enforce the orders against their clients interests in First Bank. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Kindly note that the Federal High Court, per Allagoa, J had in a final judgment delivered on 12th December 2024 in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1953/2024 General Hydrocarbons Limited v. First Bank of Nigeria Limited, unequivocally and emphatically restrained FBN from taking any steps whatsoever to enforce any security, receivables, instrument, finance documents or assets of our client pending the hearing and determination of the ongoing arbitration proceeding between our client and FBN, the lawyers said. We consider it imperative to draw your attention to the fact that the restraining order of the Federal High Court against FBN in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1953/2024 emanated from a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction which has not been set aside on appeal, and which was delivered prior to the subject of interim order of the Federal High Court which FBN seeks to enforce against our client. General Hydrocarbons solicitors asserted that the extant orders of the Federal High Court per. Allagoa, J, made on 12 December 2024, after hearing both parties, is at variance with the orders of the Federal High Court per Dipeoplu, J which was obtained ex parte by First Bank on 30 December 2024. The plausible explanation for this is that FBN deliberately omitted to bring the orders of the court made on 12th December 2024 to the attention of the court in subsequent suit coram Dipeolu, J. This is a most blatant case of abuse of court process by FBN which has sought to overreach our client by approaching another judge of the same court to obtain favourable orders that directly contravene an extant order of the court which has not been set aside on appeal or otherwise, the document said. The Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos had on 30 October 2024 granted an order among others restraining First Bank from obstructing or preventing General Hydrocarbons from obtaining or securing loan facilities or funding necessary for the exploration or operation of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 120. The orders were granted by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa. An order of injunction is granted restraining the respondent either by itself, or acting through its servants, agents, assigns, privies, affiliates howsoever described, including any person claiming under its authority from making any official or unofficial publication of its financial statement, annual reports or any statement of its financial position, howsoever described, to any public or private institution/person including banks and other financial institutions and regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Federal Inland Revenue Service in a manner to reflect or suggest that the applicant is indebted to or has assumed the respondents liability for the debt of $718,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Eighteen Million United States Dollars) or any other amount whatsoever, arising from the respondents transactions with Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited, pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion filed in this suit, a court paper says. The court also granted an order barring First Bank from making any calls or demands or taking any steps to enforce any security, receivables, instruments, finance documents or assets of General Hydrocarbons, which have been charged as security for the facility agreements in respect of the companys operation of OML 120 pending the hearing and the determination of the arbitration proceeding between the two parties. General Hydrocarbons also obtained an order forbidding First Bank from appointing an operator, asset manager or any other person/institution in respect of OML 120 pending the hearing and determination of the arbitration proceeding between the two parties. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former Nigerias Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, has announced his withdrawal from the race for the position of the president-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Mr Okiro announced this during a press briefing in Enugu on Thursday night. The election of a new president-general of the socio-cultural organisation is billed to take place on Friday in Enugu. The Ohanaeze leadership had zoned the position to Rivers State in compliance with an arrangement which supports rotation of the position across the seven Igbo-speaking states of South-east and South-south. The former IGP was born in Oguta in Imo State but hails from Egbema in Rivers State. Egbema Communities are spread across the Imo and Rivers States. Why I withdrew from the race - Okiro The Enugu State High Court recently barred Ohanaeze Ndigbo from fielding the former IGP as a contestant in the election of its president-general. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The court issued the order in response to a motion filed by Chimenu Amadi on behalf of the Indigenous Igbos of Rivers State. Mr Amadi had asked the court to restrain Mr Okiro from contesting the position on the ground that he is an indigene of Imo state, while the position has been zoned to Rivers State. At the press briefing, Mr Okiro said that his withdrawal was in compliance with the court order, which restrained him from contesting the position based on controversy regarding his state of origin. As an Igbo man and elder statesman of Rivers State extraction, whose position has been zoned to by the electoral committee, I believe in the rule of law and shall respect the courts order, he said. The former police chief stressed that he remains an indigene of Rivers State, and he decided to obey the court order to show his belief in and commitment to the rule of law and democracy. I will not participate in any election pending the final determination of the matter pending before Hon Justice N.R. Oji of Enugu State High Court which court gave the restraining order, he said. Mr Okiro argued that the reliefs granted in the court order against him undermine his fundamental human rights guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution as amended. I have instructed the Chambers of Eze Okafor & Co, my lawyers, to pursue the case to its logical conclusion to ensure that the purveyors of hate and lawlessness are brought to book in line with our enabling laws, he stated. As provided by our constitution, I demand to be heard, and I am sure that the court will ensure that the twin pillars of natural justice will be observed to the latter in handling the case. We have not lost hope in our judicial system. He urged the indigenes of his Egbema Community, the entire Igbo-speaking people of Rivers State and South-eastern states supporting his candidacy, to stand by the rule of law throughout the contest. Zoning principle in Ohanaeze PREMIUM TIMES reports that the position of president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo rotates among seven Igbo-speaking states in South-east and South-south Nigeria. The South-east has five states, namely, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo, while the South-south region has two states which are Rivers and Delta States. Each state is to produce the president-general of Ohanaeze, who will serve for a single tenure of four years, according to an existing zoning arrangement of the Igbo group. A state that does not complete its tenure due to the death or resignation of the incumbent president-general is permitted to nominate another person to complete such tenure, subject to ratification by the Imeobi Ohanaeze. A former National Vice-Chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party in South-east, Fidelis Chukwu, emerged president-general of the Igbo group in December to complete the tenure of Imo State. His emergence as the Ohanaeze leader followed the deaths of former President-Generals of the group, George Obiozor and Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, between 2022 and 2024. Mr Iwuanyanwu took over after the death of his predecessor, Mr Obiozor. Messrs Obiozor and Iwuanyanwu were all serving the tenure of the state, which will now elapse on 10 January under Mr Chukwu. Rivers State is expected to produce the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on 10 January, which is in line with the existing zoning arrangement of the Igbo group. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Kano State High Court injunction preventing Aminu Ado-Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, from parading himself as such. In its judgment on Friday, a three-member panel of justices led by Mohammed Mustapha ruled that the lower courts decision, delivered on 15 July 2024, was flawed and violated the principles of fair hearing. The Court of Appeal found that the hearing notice for the proceedings leading to the judgement of the Kano State High Court was not served on Mr Ado-Bayero, preventing him from presenting his defence. The disputed judgement of the Kano State High Court arose from a case initiated by the state government to implement the newly enacted Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. This legislation consolidated the Kano Emirate Council into a single entity, repealing the 2019 law that had divided the council into the Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye emirate councils. Implementing the new law, Governor Yusuf dethroned the emirs of the four emirates and Mr Ado-Bayero, who had ascended the throne as the 15th Emir of Kano following the dethronement of Lamido Sanusi in March 2020 by the then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. In its ruling delivered on the case the case filed by the Kano State Government for the enforcement of the new law, the state High Court issued an interim injunction barring Mr Ado-Bayero and other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The lower courts judge, Amina Aliyu, also ordered the dethroned emirs to return all movable and immovable properties belonging to the Kano State Government. Appeal courts decision However, the Court of Appeal ruled on Friday that the failure to properly notify Mr Ado-Bayero of the hearing of the Kano State High Court amounted to a breach of his fundamental rights and rendered the entire proceedings null and void. The judgement observed that Mr Ado-Bayeros lawyer withdrew during the proceedings of the lower court on 4 July 2024. It noted that the lower court failed to notify Mr Ado-Bayero or allow adequate time for him to secure new representation before continuing the hearing. It described the ruling of the lower court as a travesty of justice, adding that the breach of fair hearing fundamentally tainted the judicial process. The appellate court also held that the lower courts decision undermined the credibility of the judiciary, necessitating the intervention of higher judicial authorities. The court upheld Mr Ado-Bayeros appeal against the low courts decision, holding that fair hearing supersedes all other considerations. Therefore, it directed the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to reassign the case to a different judge for fresh adjudication. Meanwhile, another judgement of the same panel of the Court of Appeal on Friday, overturned the decision of the Federal High Court in Kano which had nullified the reinstatement of Mr Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano. The Court of Appeals decisions did little to resolve the case, which has been marked by a flurry of conflicting court decisions supporting opposing claims to the Kano emirate throne. One judgement solidifies Mr Sanusis reinstatement as the 16th Emir of Kano. But the other, which orders a rehearing of the state governments case filed for the enforcement of the new emirate council law, sustains Mr Ado-Bayeros hopes for a favourable resolution that could ultimately affirm him as the legitimate Emir of Kano. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Federal High Court in Abuja has given the State Security Service (SSS) the go-ahead to detain ten suspected terrorists, who had planned to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun, for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by SSS lawyer, Y.I. Umar, held that the application was meritorious and accordingly granted. An order is hereby made enabling the State Security Service (aka DSS)/applicant to detain the respondents for sixty (60) days pending the conclusion of investigation, he ruled. Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until 3 March for mention. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SSS had, in the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1942/V/2024, listed Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, and Katuru Muhammed as the 1st to 5th respondents. The security agency also listed Babakura Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru and Muhammed Bundi as 6th to 10 respondents respectively. The SSS, in the motion dated 18 December 2024, but filed 20 December 2024, sought one prayer. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The SSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Yamuje Benye, an official of the agency attached to the Legal Service Department at the national headquarters, averred that the suspects were arrested in the llesa East LGA in Osun. It said they were arrested on 16 December 2024, upon reasonable suspicion of their involvement in terrorism. The security outfit said preliminary investigation revealed that the respondents were members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group. Intelligence at the disposal of the applicant revealed that the respondents were planning to launch a Boko Haram /ISWAP cell in Osun State; That the respondents were arrested while undergoing training on how to manufacture and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs), it said. The agency alleged that the suspects were members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group, who escaped from Sambisa Forest to Osun because of the series of onslaught being carried out by the Nigerian Army against them. It said the respondents are aiding the SS to unravel other members of the terrorist group who are still at large. According to the SSS, releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation will be detrimental to the applicants efforts to arrest other members of the terrorist group. It said the activities of the respondents constitute a potent threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria. It is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this application, it prayed. In a related development, Justice Nwite equally granted an order enabling the SS to detain Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation. The judge made the order after Mr Umar, who also appeared for the SSS, moved the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1933/V/2024 to the effect. The matter was subsequently adjourned until 3 March for mention. The SSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Mercy Ebo, averred that the suspects were arrested on 19 December 2024 by the Service Tactical Team at Ajape Lane 3, Modakeke, Ife East LGA of Osun. The agency said they were, thereafter, transferred to its headquarters due to an intelligence report from a foreign Intelligence Service, linking them with Moroccan terrorists. Preliminary investigation and intelligence report revealed that a Moroccan terrorist currently in custody of the Spanish National Police Service, communicated with Ayomide AKINTUNDE (F) and Nurudeen ADESIYAN on GSM numbers: 08168359934 and 08168542908, respectively. That the Moroccan terrorist is being investigated for making jihadist publications and for acquisition of firearms with the intent of conducting terrorist attacks against identified targets in Nigeria, it said. It said that a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects admitted ownership of the identified GSM numbers which they had been using for more than 10 months. According to the agency, the release of the respondents at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as the investigation has assumed a wider dimension. The SSS said the suspects needed to be thoroughly investigated to ensure that they did not pose any security threat to Nigeria or the world at large. It said the suspects are helping with vital Information that would lead to the arrest of other members of the gang who are at large, hence the need to grant the application. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidency has advised Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed to focus on governance and stop playing irresponsible politics. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the governor was diverting public attention from challenges in his state and shifting the blame on the president, despite having more funds at his disposal to address the challenges. Mr Muhammed had been criticising President Tinubus tax reform bills, which are now under consideration at the National Assembly, alleging that they are against the interests of the northern Nigerian people. On Wednesday, while receiving a delegation of Islamic clerics led by Sani Jingir on a courtesy visit, Mr Mohammed said federal government policies are not yielding the desired results. Take, for instance, the Tax reform policy. Of course, no government can survive without revenue; if, for instance, the sources of its revenue can be blocked, no one can run it, Mohammed said. I am sure you have heard that we are quarrelling with the president. Yes, it is true; we are quarrelling because our people are suffering, and the president has refused to listen to us. You are among the few personalities that can approach the president on this issue. You are one of the people that the president listens to, Mr Mohammed said. Reacting to the remarks, Mr Dare said President Tinubu is focused on revamping the economy. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Read below the full response from the presidency The President Bola Tinubus administration is one that is laser-focused on issues of development and how to improve on the overall well-being of Nigerians. The focus of this government is on how to build stronger collaborations with sub-nationals and other critical stakeholders on matters that affect the lives of Nigerians. President Tinubu won an election and secured a national mandate from Nigerians and he will not surrender that to satisfy the palate of some psuedo activists and later day crusaders. President Tinubu is a listening leader and also a leader that strongly believes in the institutions of state. On the Tax Reform Bills, the President was clear that anyone and groups that feel strongly about this matter now before the National Assembly should take advantage of the legislative process. Attempts to stampede or abort this process must be regarded as undemocratic and self serving. The question to Governor Bala Mohammed by journalists is to know what he is doing to make life better for the people of Bauchi State. How well are the people of his state who still rank as most impoverished among Nigerians fairing under his leadership? How well has he as Governor used the increased resources at his disposal to improve the quality of life of his people. Just like President Tinubu has a duty to all Nigerians, Governor Bala has greater duty and responsibility to the people of his state. Constant blustering and playing irresponsible politics will not relieve him of his duty to the people of Bauchi State his leadership has impoverished. Governor Bala should face governance and stop using President Tinubu to burnish his vanishing image. President Tinubu is focused on revamping the economy and his is working to turn the economic fortunes of the country around. He has a four-year mandate to deliver on his promises. Nigerians have started to see the real impact of reforms of the Tinubu administration and better outcomes will continue to manifest in the lives of the citizens in the weeks and months ahead. Governor Bala is playing Irresponsible Politics. Rather, he should occupy himself with dealing with the many problems of his state. Ambition is made of sterner stuff. Sunday Dare Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication January 10, 2025 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Former Secretary to the Kano State Government, Abdullahi Baffa, has vowed to expose alleged wrongdoings by Governor Abba Yusuf and his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The governor removed Mr Baffa from his position last week in a cabinet reshuffle. On Thursday, Mr Baffa said he had incriminating documents, voice recordings, and videos and would release them at the right time. Speaking to his supporters after returning from Saudi Arabia, Mr Baffa described the governor and Mr Kwankwaso as deceivers. Im happy that I have finished my assignment in peace. As you know, this is not the best time to talk, but at the appropriate time, we will expose them so that people will understand the kind of people they are. God crossed our path with people that are not trustworthy; the time will come that we will bring things out for people to hear and understand who they are. They are not to be trusted; they dont know anything but deceit and betrayal. They dont know anything except treachery and betrayal. They are not people to be trusted. I thank the people of Bichi, you will hear from us in a short while because what we want is to help people. Mr Bichi said he had compiled all the evidence in various forms, including written documents, audio, and video recordings. We have documented everything from written to audio and video evidence. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Governors spokesperson, Ibrahim Waiya, and Kwankwasos spokesperson, Saifullahi Hassan, did not respond to phone calls to comment on the development when contacted by this newspaper. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United States of America (USA) government has returned to Nigeria $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and her associates. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., signed an Asset Return Agreement between the two countries in Abuja on Friday. Mr Fagbemi said the execution of the agreement concretises the repatriation of approximately USD 52.88 million, which, according to him, arose from the forfeiture of the Galactica assets linked to Mrs Alison-Madueke. Projects committed to developmental projects The Nigerian government said the agreement is being executed to ensure that the returned assets are applied directly to developmental projects rural electrification and counter-terrorism. As agreed, USD 50 million of the repatriated funds will be utilised through the World Bank, to partly fund the Rural Electrification Project to increase the reliability and availability of renewable energy in Nigeria. While the balance of USD 2.88 million will be disbursed as a grant by Nigeria to the International Institute for Justice (IIJ) to support the Rule of Law and Counter-Terrorism Project through counter-terrorism capacity building for Criminal Justice Sector Practitioners in East, West, and North Africa, Mr Fagbemi explained. He said that the projects will greatly enhance socio-economic growth and development, adding efforts have been put in place to ensure that the funds will be used judiciously. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Measures have also been put in place to ensure that the repatriated funds are not only disbursed but also utilised transparently and accountably by the World Bank and IIJ, with periodic reports to be forwarded to Nigeria and the US on the implementation of the projects, he said. This robust framework will guarantee that the funds are effectively used for the full benefit of the Nigerian people in line with UNCAC and the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles. Recovery battle Attributing the recovery achievement to the unwavering commitment of both nations to fight corruption, Mr Fagbemi thanked the US government for their steadfast support and cooperation in this endeavour. Your commitment to justice and the rule of law has been instrumental in making this agreement a reality, he told the Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, MrMills, imploring the US to demonstrate the same gesture in other pending cases of repatriation so that the Agreements in relation thereto can be concluded as soon as possible, as Nigeria is in dire need of these refunds. The minister also attributed the signing of the agreement to President Bola Tinubus mission to build a Nigeria that is free from the shackles of corruption, and to ensure available resources are devoted to the socio-economic development of our nation. The multi-million dollar offshore corruption Mrs Alison-Madueke and businessmen Olajide Omokore and Kolawole Akanni were named in two civil cases seeking the forfeiture of various luxury assets that were proceeds of corruption offences and were laundered in and through the States. With the conclusion of the cases, the department has recovered roughly $53.1 million in cash constituting the net liquidated value of the defendants assets plus a promissory note with a principal value of $16 million, the US Department of Justice said in 2023. According to investigations by the US authorities, from 2011 to 2015, Nigerian businessmen Kolawole Aluko and Olajide Omokore conspired with others to pay bribes to Nigerias former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs Alison-Madueke, who oversaw Nigerias state-owned oil company. In return, Mrs Alison-Madueke used her influence to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Messrs Aluko and Omokore. The proceeds of those illicitly awarded contracts totalling more than $100 million were then laundered in and through the United States and used to purchase various assets through shell companies, including luxury real estate in California and New York as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht. The real estate was also used as collateral for loans to Mr Aluko and shell companies he controlled. As part of the forfeiture process, those lien holders were paid. Ex-Minister Alison-Madueke, Mr Omokore and Mr Aluko have also been subjects of criminal trials in Nigeria over related oil industry alleged corruption. Mrs Alison-Madueke, who left Nigeria at the end of her ministerial tenure on 29 May 2015, is believed to be in exile in the United Kingdom.. The American cases involving Mrs Alison-Madueke, Mr Omokore and Mr Aluko were brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. In 2015, the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption.. Mrs Alison-Madueke has been a subject of forfeiture proceedings and pending criminal charges in Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The election of AUCs chairperson, deputy-chairperson and commissioners is designed to adhere to an agreed formula of regional rotation that ensures a balance of representation for all the five geographical regions of Africa. Gender balance is a major consideration too. In a few weeks, the political leaders of African nations will gather in Addis Ababa to elect the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The individual elected to this position will lead the secretariat of the African Union (AU) and serve for four years, with the possibility for a mandate renewal of another four years. The AU was founded in 2002, succeeding the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established in 1963 by 38 African countries to promote common objectives. The current AUC Chairperson, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, formerly prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Chad, is the first to serve two mandates, having been elected in 2017 and re-elected unopposed in 2021. Although a lot of attention is focused on the election of the chairperson of the AUC, and rightly too, there are several other positions that will be subject to elections. They include the posts of deputy chairperson, and commissioners, who head the key pillars or departments on which the AUC stands. According to the AU, the majority of the current commissioners must give up their posts, as their mandates have expired, except the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mr Bankole Adeoye, a Nigerian senior diplomat who served previously as Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU. Mr Adeoye has completed his initial term and is eligible for a second one. The position is generally regarded as instrumental in formulating the major agenda of peace-building, avoiding and managing conflicts and wars, all of which are crucial to the development of the continent. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As a leading economy in Africa, among other reasons, Nigerias political standing has always been significant, hence having a proven and experienced person in the role should be beneficial to the continents progress and influence globally. President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, who hosted the first AU summit of heads of state, became the first chairperson of the AU. Since then, the AU has seen 22 heads of state and government serve as chairpersons, each for one term of one year, except for Nigerias then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who held the office for two years (2004-2006). The election of AUCs chairperson, deputy-chairperson and commissioners is designed to adhere to an agreed formula of regional rotation that ensures a balance of representation for all the five geographical regions of Africa. Gender balance is a major consideration too. It is important to clarify that the same term chairperson is used to refer both to the head of the AUC and to the head of state or government, who is elected by fellow leaders to preside over the AU, usually for a one-year term, in rotation among the countries. President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, who hosted the first AU summit of heads of state, became the first chairperson of the AU. Since then, the AU has seen 22 heads of state and government serve as chairpersons, each for one term of one year, except for Nigerias then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who held the office for two years (2004-2006). At the establishment of AUC in 2002, Mr Amara Essy, formerly foreign affairs minister of Cote dIvoire, and serving as OAUs secretary-general since 2001, was asked to oversee the transition to the new AU. He served as AUC interim chairperson for one year. The AU leaders sought to appoint one of their own and turned to a new candidate, and elected a former head of state, former President Alpha Konare of Mali, to replace Essy as AUC chairperson in 2003. Though popular initially, Konare served only one term. His exit was primarily attributed to the tension between him and several presidents, who felt that Konare had overstepped the boundaries of his position, which was solely that of a secretariat head. In 2008, a new chairperson, Mr Jean Ping, formerly foreign minister of Gabon, was elected into office. Ping as AUC chairperson demonstrated a willingness to assume the role of an effective chief executive officer who yielded decision-making authority to the presidents, especially on policies, whilst AUC implemented them. Three contestants who have been shortlisted for the election are: 1. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Foreign Minister of Djibouti since 2005; 2. Raila Odinga former Prime Minister of Kenya and presidential candidate; 3. Richard Randriamandrato former Foreign Minister of Madagascar. The change from Konare to Ping highlighted the delicate equilibrium inherent in the role of AUC chairperson in the restructured African Union on policy-making and executive initiatives, especially regarding sensitive subjects such as sovereignty, security, governance and peace-building. Following the first term in office, Ping encountered an unforeseen challenge from the South African government of President Jacob Zuma for the post. With no holds-barred campaigns, South Africa successfully secured the election of its former Foreign Minister Nkozasana Dlamini-Zuma as chairperson of AUC in 2012, despite causing notable frictions with several key African nations, including Nigeria. Dr Dlamini-Zuma, the ex-wife of former President Zuma, took some bold decisions at the AUC while adeptly maintaining a harmonious relationship with the presidents in their respective roles. She was most notably recognised for initiating and establishing the Agenda 2063, a plan for development of the continent that garnered unanimous support from all member states. Additionally, Dlamini-Zuma was acknowledged for championing a gender-conscious approach for the organisation. During a fairly long period, speculations were rife on whether Zuma would return home to pursue a political position or opt to serve a second term as chairperson of AUC. Finally, she chose not to seek a second term, and it opened a flood gate of interested candidates. It took a lot of negotiations and several rounds of elections before Mr Faki emerged as the new AUC chairperson. Faki, having served his two terms in office, will yield the office to a new chairperson who will be elected in February, the major highlight of the coming summit in the Ethiopian capital. Three contestants who have been shortlisted for the election are: Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Foreign Minister of Djibouti since 2005. Raila Odinga former Prime Minister of Kenya and presidential candidate. Richard Randriamandrato former Foreign Minister of Madagascar. The next article will re-examine the three contenders for the position. It will evaluate their strengths and chances to secure the job in February taking into account key factors that will shape the election by the heads of state of 55 countries that constitute the African Union. Bunmi Makinwa is the CEO of AUNIQUEI Communication for Leadership. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT) and the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV) have entered into an inter-agency partnership aimed at enhancing youths employment and economic development through digital and vocational skills acquisition. The Director-General of the KATDICT, Naufal Ahmed and the Coordinator of KYCV Kabir Abdullahi Kofar Soro announced the partnership during a working visit of the former to KYCV. During the visit to KYCV, Mr Ahmed emphasised KATDICTs strong inter-agency collaboration and user-centred design to achieve digital transformation. According to the KATDICT director-general, This partnership aligns with Governor Raddas directive to transform the Youth Craft Village into a skills acquisition hub, focusing on digital literacy and technology-driven vocational training. Briefing the ICT Director on its operations, the KYCV Coordinator, Mr Abdullahi, an engineer, noted that Governor Dikko Umaru Raddas vision of transforming the village into a leading skills acquisition centre for youth and women was fast becoming a reality. Mr Abdullahi also made it known that the governor has transferred four additional skills acquisition centres in Daura and Malumfashi to KYCVs management. He praised the visionary leadership of Governor Radda for propelling the centre to lead the charge in skills, vocational and economic development. Expressing his satisfaction with the partnership, Mr Ahmed noted, I am particularly excited about our ongoing collaboration to fully digitize KYCVs processes, including admission, record keeping and attendance. He stressed that the partnership would aid the administrations goal of empowering youth through digital skills and creating sustainable employment opportunities. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Through these partnerships, we are building a foundation for sustainable digital growth that will benefit all residents of Katsina State, Mr Ahmed assured. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has assured the Ministry of Livestock Development that the state has available spaces and is ready for ranching. On Thursday, the governor visited the headquarters of the Livestock Ministry on a courtesy visit to the Minister, Idi Mukhtar Maiha. A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that Zamfara, being an agrarian state, plays a significant role in the mandate of the Ministry of Livestock Development. The statement added that the ministry was created in July 2024 to reform Nigerias livestock industry, create a safe environment, encourage local and foreign investment, and enhance food security. During the visit, Governor Lawal expressed his administrations willingness to collaborate with the ministry in exploring Zamfara States full potential. Honourable Minister, as you know, Zamfara is an agrarian society. That is why our motto is, Farming is our pride. We are here today to congratulate you on the establishment of this new ministry, which I believe is timely. Additionally, we aim to foster a strong collaboration between our state and the ministry. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In Zamfara, several earth dams across the state need rehabilitation to provide for animals, and there may also be opportunities to accommodate any expanded initiatives. We invite the Honorable Minister and his team to visit Zamfara to assess the situation on the ground. While responding, the honorable minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, thanked Governor Lawal for visiting the ministry. Since the ministry was established, we have not received a visit from an executive governor who feels the need to hear what we have to offer. I want to assure you that we are prepared to collaborate with you to transform and address your concerns in the livestock sector in Zamfara. The livestock sector has long operated informally. We will modernise this sector through various strategic programs. Your Excellency, Zamfara State will be the pilot state to showcase the agenda of the new ministry. With this collaboration, we will turn the Gidan jaji in Zamfara into a mini agricultural hub, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Terrorists suspected to be members of a Boko Haram breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP), have bombed a police station in Borno State, killing two officers. Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said the terrorists detonated the bomb at Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters at midnight on Thursday, 9 January. He identified the officers killed in the attack as Bartholomew Kalawa, a police inspector and Mustapha Huzaifat, a corporal. IGP orders clampdown The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has condemned the attack and ordered a clampdown on the assailants. The police boss also sent his condolences to the families of the deceased officers, adding that their sacrifice in the line of duty will not be forgotten as their benefits and entitlements will be immediately paid to their families. ALSO READ: Tinubu demands investigation into killing of six soldiers in Borno The police spokesperson explained that Mr Egbetokun has also directed Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), to mobilise resources and personnel that will collaborate with sister security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this nefarious act are found and caused to face the full wrath of the law. ISWAP intensifies terror attacks Since the beginning of the year, fighters of ISWAP have highlighted their attacks against security forces and civilians in the North-east region. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later On 4 January, the terrorists killed six soldiers in what the Nigerian military authority described as a failed attack on its troops in Sabon Gari, Borno State. The military said it also killed 34 of the terrorists. Three days after the failed attack, the terrorists, in their propaganda message, claimed an IED attack on government-backed militia, possibly, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). According to the message, the IED attack targeted the government-backed militia on a routine patrol around Warjiroko and Damboa in Borno State, killing a leader. In the same period, ISWAP also claimed two more violent attacks. The terrorists, in their propaganda message, said they killed a man believed to be spying for the Nigerian Army. The terrorists explained that they killed the man with a machine gun in his house in Kanama, Yobe State. Also, ISWAP claimed it attacked a joint security force around Yamtaji and Gwoza in Borno State, killing one and injuring others. The terrorists added that they took a vehicle and five motorcycles. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the soldiers who lost their lives repelling the terrorist attack in Damboa, Borno State, as eternal heroes whose sacrifices will never be in vain. The vice president also reaffirmed his deep sorrow and firm solidarity with the families of the slain soldiers. On Thursday in Abuja, Vice President Shettima noted that the military recorded a decisive victory in Nigerias ongoing counter-terrorism efforts but regretted that the price of freedom is eternally steep. It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I received news of our brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation in Damboa. These six valiant soldiers demonstrated exceptional courage in the face of danger by protecting their fellow citizens, he said. The attack, which took place in Sabon Gari, involved terrorists attempting to ambush troops at a Forward Operating Base, the soldiers decisive response, bolstered by reinforcements and air support from Operation HADIN KAI, not only neutralised 34 terrorists but also led to the troops recovering weapons and ammunition and largely weakening the attackers capabilities. Vice President Shettima lauded the soldiers heroism: Their sacrifices remind us of the extraordinary price of peace and security. These heroes died ensuring that their fellow Nigerians can live in safety, free from the scourge of insecurity that has impacted our country. He reassured the grieving families that their beloved children did not die in vain, noting that their sacrifices will be forever remembered in our nations history, and their memory will continue to inspire future generations of Nigerians. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later To our armed forces, your unwavering commitment to protecting our citizens, even at the cost of your own lives, fills us with profound gratitude and respect. We will continue to support you and provide all necessary resources to ensure you can carry out your duties effectively, the vice president added. He further urged Nigerians to honour the fallen heroes by standing firm in the collective pursuit of peace and security. May Allah grant our fallen heroes Aljannah Firdaus, comfort their families, and give us all the strength to bear this irreparable loss, VP Shettima prayed. Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) 10th January, 2025 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested four Chinese nationals, and 101 Nigerians allegedly involved in cybercrimes. According to a statement posted on the agencys X account on Friday, the suspects comprised 67 men, including the Chinese nationals, and 38 women. They were arrested at a business apartment located in the Gudu area of Abuja on Thursday, the statement said. It added that the suspects were allegedly involved in hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world, The anti-graft agency also noted that this arrest was part of its ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of internet fraud and corruption. The commission also said the suspects will be charged in court once investigations are completed. Series of arrests of internet fraudsters The arrest marks the latest development in a series of crackdowns on cybercrime syndicates in Nigeria, with a notable number of foreign nationals implicated among the suspects. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In December 2024, the EFCC arrested 792 suspects in Lagos for alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams, marking the largest single operation against cybercrime suspects to date. The suspects comprised Nigerians, Chinese, Arabs and Filipino nationals accused of running a syndicate using a facility which could be mistaken for a corporate headquarters of a financial establishment. The suspects allegedly used the facility to train their Nigerian accomplices in cybercrime operations. Earlier in November, the Nigerian police arrested 130 individuals, including foreigners, over their alleged involvement in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities threatening national security. The suspects included 113 foreigners (87 males and 26 females) who were nationals of Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Brazilian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Thailan origins. The rest of the suspects were 17 Nigerians (four males and 13 females). According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, the arrests were made in a coordinated operation by the Police Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone 7. The suspects were arrested on Saturday, 3 November, in a building in the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja, where the alleged criminal activities were reportedly carried out. The police have arraigned the suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Cybercrime activities remains alarming in Nigerians The arrests may indicate how much Nigeria has become conducive for, not just Nigerians, but also foreigners to perpetrate cybercrimes targeting victims around the world. Examples of cybercrime activities in Nigeria include phishing, identity theft, data breaches, cyber extortion, online harassment, social engineering, software piracy, social media fraud, business email compromise, and banking fraud. READ ALSO: NAFDAC seeks financial backing to conduct clinical trials on herbal medicines Despite the EFCCs extensive efforts over the years to combat cybercrimes, commonly known as Yahoo Yahoo in Nigeria, curbing the activities of perpetrators remains a significant challenge. Routine raids by the anti-corruption agency on suspected hideouts often lead to the arrest of a substantial number of suspects. These recurring arrests highlight the alarming rise of financial crimes in the country, posing significant threats to individuals, businesses, and Nigerias economic reputation on the global stage. Consistent with the findings of the West Africas GIABA, the body that monitors and promotes compliance with anti-money laundering, critics argue that the prevalence of cybercrimes in Nigeria has compelled the EFCC to prioritize cybercrime activities, often at the expense of addressing more serious offenses such as money laundering. This imbalance is evident in the EFCCs conviction records, where cybercrime prosecutions constitute the overwhelming majority, in stark contrast to the relatively few successfully prosecuted money laundering cases. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least ten people have been confirmed killed and several others injured in a fight between crop farmers and cattle herders in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The latest attack occurred at Gidan Nagari, about two kilometres from the scene of an earlier attack, Gululu, where the peasant farmers accused the herders of looting a provision store in the Miga LGA. PREMIUM TIMES reported how nine people were killed in that violent confrontation that extended to the neighbouring Jahun LGA. The head of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Haruna Mairiga, who visited the area Friday morning, confirmed that 10 people were killed in the latest attack. The dead consisted of nine males and an eight-year-old girl, all from the peasant farmers community. The attackers reportedly torched houses in Gidan Nagari in the midnight attack and shot at residents as they fled their homes. The police spokesperson in the state, Lawan Adam, couldnt be reached immediately to speak on the incident.. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Twenty-one members of a joint team of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes have been confirmed killed during an attack by terrorists. The police spokesperson in the state, Sadiq Abubakar, said in a statement on Friday that the attack occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Baure, a village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. He said the victims were returning from a condolence visit when suspected armed bandits ambushed them. The police did not provide details of the incident. According to Mr Sadiq, the police have since moved to the area and restored normalcy. He said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the attackers. Witness Accounts However, witness accounts suggested about 25 persons died in the massacre while many villagers were still missing. A witness who asked not to be identified described where the incident occurred as a stronghold of bandits. Yesterday, they laid an ambush on the way and opened fire on the vehicle conveying the vigilantes, killing some of them. Aside from the ambush, the bandits took advantage of our market day and trailed people to their homes, killing scores. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later From the headcount done so far, over 15 persons have been confirmed killed, and many others are still missing, he said. According to another witness, We rescued more than 20 people during the attack. Some victims are said to be from Charanci, Burji, Jibiya, and Kaita LGA. So far, a total of 25 people have been confirmed dead, while many others remain unaccounted for. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Cross River State have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly killing his mother for ritual purposes. Irene Ugbo, the police spokesperson in Cross River, confirmed the suspects arrest and detention to reporters on Friday in Calabar. Mrs Ugbo, a superintendent of police, did not, however, provide details. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred on 25 December 2024 in Batriko, Eastern Boki Local Government Area of the state. A source told NAN that the suspect was arrested on Friday by a combined police and security team from the Obudu council area. The suspect allegedly shaved his dead mother and packed up the hair before dumping the corpse in a well in Obudu Local Government Area, while security operatives had been tracking him since the incident occurred. The source said that the suspect, arrested alongside a native doctor, would be brought to the police headquarters, Calabar, for further investigation. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The source told NAN that he was arrested at the shrine of the native doctor with a bag containing his late mothers shaved hair. As I speak with you, the suspect and the native doctor are presently cooling off at the Obudu Divisional Police Headquarters, said the source. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Cross River State Government has said that the death of its Commissioner for Tourism, Abubakar Ewa, is a setback to ongoing reforms in the states tourism sector. Erasmus Ekpang, the information commissioner, said this while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Friday. NAN reports that Mr Ewa, 61, who died on Wednesday at a private hospital in Calabar, was attending the state executive council meeting before being rushed to the hospital Mr Ekpang said that the government and people of Cross River were deeply shocked and traumatised by Mr Ewas sudden death. He said that the late commissioner brought a lot of innovations and positive transformations to the states tourism sector. We are deeply saddened, he will be remembered for his significant contribution to tourism sector development. The tourism ministry witnessed significant growth and positive changes under his watch. His death will significantly affect the sector, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Ekpang described the late Ewa as a team player, trailblazer, mobiliser and grassroots politician who positively impacted many peoples lives in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Edo State have detained three men for allegedly gang-raping a 12-year-old girl in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, disclosed this on Friday in Benin when the Administrator, Office of Edo First Lady Edesili Anani, visited him. Mr Ozigi did not disclose the suspects identities and assured the administrator that the victim would get justice. Mrs Anani commended the police for responding promptly and demanded justice for the minor. She said the minor was allegedly gang-raped by five men on 24 December 2024 at Igiafodo Awuyemi in Okpella. The administrator said she visited the victim at the Daisy Ehanire Danjuma Women Centre, Benin. She vowed that the perpetrators must face the full wrath of the law by the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law of the state. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Edo State Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure these perpetrators are brought to book. Section 4 of the VAPP Law defines rape, while Section 5 outlines the punishment. Edo State has zero tolerance for any form of violence, and we are standing firmly with the victim, she stated. She condemned the perpetrators for reportedly filming and circulating the act on social media, adding that the evidence strengthened the case against them. The video footage makes it impossible for anyone to cover up this crime. The law will take its course, and these individuals will be dealt with decisively, she said. She also commended the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Lukeman Akemokue, and his wife, Blessing, for swiftly bringing the case to light. Mrs Anani lauded the decision that ensured the victim and her mother were relocated to Benin for safety and medical care due to threats against their lives. I really want to commend Your Highness. He did a fantastic job with his wife. It happened in his community, Okpella Kingdom. They didnt hide it. He took it up immediately after he saw the videos. I want to say when things like this happen, speak out; speak out for somebody else because tomorrow it could be your own child, she said. On his part, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for responding proactively. He assured the governor of the communitys continued support for his administration. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On Friday, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State dissolved the state executive council. The Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Eno Uwah, disclosed this in a press release issued shortly after a valedictory session. All Honourable Commissioners and Special Adviser are hereby advised to hand over to their Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior Director where there is no permanent secretary, Mr Uwa said in the release. Mr Eno, several weeks ago, had told reporters in Uyo that he would dissolve his cabinet to bring on board some new hands. The governor inherited most cabinet members from the administration of his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel. Local media in Uyo are speculating that about 10 of the commissioners are likely to be reappointed. Meanwhile, Governor Eno presented SUVs to permanent secretaries in the state as their official vehicles on Friday. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Akwa Ibom State have confirmed the release of an abducted oil worker in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Samuel Ekerenam. Mr Ekerenam is a Chevron Nigeria Ltd staff member and the Hephzibah Shopping Mall chief executive officer in Eket. Timfon John, the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, disclosed Mr Ekerenams release to the News Agency of Nigeria in Eket on Friday. The oil worker was abducted on 23 November 2024 at about 10 p.m. at his business premises along Afaha Uqua Obok-Idim in Eket, after the kidnappers shot dead his personal driver and injured the police operative attached to him. Ms John, a deputy superintendent of police, said the abducted man was freed on Wednesday, 8 January, in the evening to his family at Eket. It is unclear if a ransom had been paid before his release. He is currently on medical checkup in an unknown hospital, Ms John said. Investigation is on to arrest the suspects. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later NAN previously reported that the victims wife, Glory, was kidnapped in Eket on 17 October 2019 and kept at the kidnappers den at Ikot Ubo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the state. There have been some abductions lately in Eket, a town which hosts some critical facilities belonging to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. In June last year, an entrepreneur, Benjamin Unwuka, was abducted by gunmen in Eket. According to the police, the victim is from Anambra State and owns Obico Shoppers Mall at Uqua Road, Eket. NAN quoted an unnamed family source as saying that the victim was abducted at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, 30 June, on his way back from his shop. The report said the gunmen, driving a black, unregistered Toyota Corolla car, trailed the victim from Uqua Road, accosted him on Afaha Eket Road and whisked him away at gunpoint to an unknown destination. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge medicine experts Specialdocs Consultants broadened its footprint considerably in 2024, welcoming a record 26 new physician clients to its rapidly growing national network of outstanding doctors. "There is no longer a narrowly defined path to this model or singular profile of a thriving concierge physician." Post this The mainstream embrace of concierge medicine is helping elevate personalized care in virtually every part of the country, said Terry Bauer, CEO, Specialdocs Consultants. "Intense dissatisfaction and fatigue with our dysfunctional healthcare system is leading more physicians each year to seek a better way of providing care to their similarly frustrated patients," said Specialdocs CEO Terry Bauer. "Our concierge, or membership medicine model has consistently delivered on its promise to significantly enhance the patient experience while transforming physicians' careers with smaller, financially sustainable practices and a genuine work-life balance." He noted the model's widespread appeal across an increasingly diverse demographic of physicians and patients. "There is no longer a narrowly defined path to this model or singular profile of a thriving concierge physician," explained Bauer. "Doctors who want to continue practicing independently have long found success with concierge medicine. Now we're able to effectively change the professional lives of a much broader cohort of physicians, including: primary care doctors searching for a viable option outside of hospital employment, sub-specialists needing extended visits to treat complex conditions, highly experienced practitioners on the verge of burning out and retiring early, doctors focused on integrative, holistic medicine, physician moms and dads striving for time with their growing familiesthe list goes on." One of the company's top success stories of 2024 was Dr. John Moultrie, who made the change to concierge medicine at age 37. Employed by a large Atlanta hospital system since finishing residency, he soon realized the impossibility of providing personalized care and attention for a panel of more than 6,000 patients. "I poured my heart and soul into trying to provide concierge-type care," he related, "and still I left every appointment wishing I had more time to delve into patients' issues. I had to come to terms with my personal bandwidth and recognize there were limits on how many people I can meaningfully help." Countering the doubters who believed it was too early in his career to succeed with a concierge model, Dr. Moultrie turned to Specialdocs for an objective analysis of his risk and opportunity. With all signs pointing to success, he launched his practice last January, filled to capacity quickly, and is thriving both professionally and personally. "I never felt I was too young to do this," he revealed. "The short-term risk is well worth the long-term reward of spending most of your career practicing medicine the way you always envisioned while enjoying life with your family." For OB/GYN Manisha Patel, converting to concierge medicine in 2024 was an ideal fit for her and practice partner Dr. Kathleen Rausch. "Everything about OBGYN care is extremely personal, from contraception, pregnancy and childbirth through menopause," she stated. "But the level of care needed to guide patients through their most important life stages was not possible to provide, or sustain in a traditional practice." With a change to the Specialdocs concierge medicine model in July, Dr. Patel described the difference as unmistakable. "We offer the highest level of support to our patients at every step of their healthcare journey. For our obstetric patients, nothing brings us more joy than knowing we are able to attend their delivery and personally shepherd them through the entire experience of creating a family." After 30 years in a traditional Waco, Texas medical practice, and amidst an enormously challenging landscape of hospital cutbacks and clinic closures, the 2024 launch of his concierge medicine model was "the right solution at the right time" for physician-client Gerard Marroquin, MD. "Patients were having a hard time getting timely appointments with their doctors, visits were shorter and everyone felt rushed. Concierge medicine has allowed me to give patients the time and attention they deserve. I don't need to check my watch or worry that a nurse will be knocking on the door because someone's been waiting for an hour. I'm so thankful to continue developing relationships with patients, many of whom I've treated for generations, and walk alongside them on their journey to optimal health," said Dr. Marroquin. "It's crystal clear why our model has experienced such incredible growth over the years," shared Bauer. "I had the privilege of visiting a great number of our affiliated physician offices in 2024, and heard the real gratitude expressed by patient after patient for being treated as a whole person with a history, not a number to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Many of them said 'it's like having a doctor in the family' and considered membership in a concierge practice the best investment they could make in themselves. Our 'Special Docs' are equally appreciative, deeply gratified by the autonomy of our model and the opportunity to practice according to their personal vision." As physician client Michael Ford, MD explained in a recent interview: "Specialdocs' approach is completely different. Everybody else wants to employ you, or control you, or brand you, or tell you how to practice medicine. Specialdocs works for you and with you, and their only goal is to make you a success in the practice of your dreams." "In 2025 we look forward to bringing the rewards of this fulfilling practice model to many more dedicated physicians and their patients across the country," said Bauer. The network of outstanding healthcare providers affiliated with Specialdocs grew in 2024 to include: Obstetrics & Gynecology 3-physician practice, Torrance, CA Rheumatology 2-physician practice, San Francisco, CA Internal Medicine physician, Miami, FL Internal Medicine physician, Tampa, FL Internal Medicine physician, Atlanta, GA Family Medicine physician, Atlanta, GA Endocrinologist, Johns Creek, GA Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease physician, Boston, MA Internal Medicine physician, Boston, MA Cardiologist, Miami, FL Internal Medicine physician & Pediatrician, 2-physician practice, Rockville MD Internal Medicine physician, Manasquan, NJ Endocrinologist, Bronxville, NY Internal Medicine physician, Seaford, NY Internal Medicine physician, Waco, TX Internal Medicine physician, Park City, UT Obstetrics & Gynecology 2-doctor practice, Reston, VA Family Medicine physician, Fairfax, VA Family Medicine physician, Bellevue, WA Internal Medicine & Pediatrics 2-physician practice, Vancouver, WA Additionally, these practices were launched in January, 2025 Family Medicine 2-physician practice, Lafayette, IN Internal Medicine physician, Glenview, IL About Specialdocs Since 2002 Specialdocs has worked to transform physicians' professional lives with a change to its industry-leading, sustainable concierge medicine model, empowering them to deliver exceptionally personalized patient care. Contact: Mindy Kolof, [email protected] SOURCE Specialdocs Consultants NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ace Group International today announces the appointment of new executive positions within the company, designed to strengthen the leadership team and foster accelerated growth as the company continues to expand internationally. L-R: Ace Group International Executives Meriem Soliman, Chris Penn, and Mostafa Abdella Former Ace Hotel London Managing Director, Chris Penn, rejoins Ace in the role of CEO. Throughout his 25-year hospitality career, Penn has operated independent hotels across a broad spectrum of markets, most notably the lifestyle sector. Penn opened Ace Hotel London in 2013, driving financial success for the asset while helping usher in a wave of business and cultural transformation in the Shoreditch neighborhood. He founded the UK-based lifestyle brand Birch in 2020 (The Times and Sunday Times' Hotel of The Year 2020) and has consulted on a diverse range of hospitality experiences, including longer-stay accommodations, eco-tourism and urban lifestyle hotels. Chris will oversee all facets of the business and be responsible for driving growth and commercial success across the portfolio. Mostafa Abdella has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. Abdella's 25 years of experience in the hotel industry has seen him hold positions of increasing seniority in finance before moving into managing director roles. Abdella was the Managing Director of Ace Hotel London following Penn's tenure, and rejoins Ace following consulting projects in The United Kingdom, Egypt, the UAE, Canada and Greece. Abdella will oversee finance, revenue, operations, food and beverage, IT and HR, with a focus on delivering consistently high guest experience and increasing profitability. Managing Partner of Ace Group International / Atelier Ace Brad Wilson says, "Chris and Mostafa are both seasoned, highly regarded operators with global experience and an intimate understanding of the Ace brand. Their long history of successful partnership will be a major advantage as we continue to seek development opportunities both domestically and internationally. I look forward to combining our expertise and working hand-in-hand to deliver growth and commercial success to our development partners." Ace is also pleased to announce the appointment of Meriem Soliman to the position of Chief Brand Officer. Soliman first joined Ace in 2012 in the role of General Counsel, through which she developed an understanding of every element of the business, from design and marketing to finance and operations. In 2021, Meriem took on the role of President in addition to the General Counsel role. Wilson says, "Meriem knows the Ace brand inside and out, and has been a key part of its evolution over the last decade. Her relationships across art and design, food and beverage, and cultural and non-profit institutions are unmatched and there's no one that makes a more natural steward of the brand at this moment in time. This role shift will allow Meriem to apply her enormous amount of knowledge about the commercial side of the business to the brand side, developing strategies that will drive audience acquisition and market share." While Wilson will remain at the helm of Ace Group International, this bolstered leadership structure ensures the brand can continue to deliver superior hospitality experiences at existing hotels while strategically growing its footprint across the globe. About Ace Hotel Ace Hotel invents communal spaces for people who make places interesting. Our approach to all our projects is simple we seek to genuinely embrace the nuanced energies of the areas we inhabit. We bring together artists, materials and stories that speak to the building, to the neighborhood and to the city. From there, we welcome in the alchemy that's created. Ace was founded in Belltown, Seattle in 1999, with current locations in Seattle, New York, Palm Springs, Kyoto, Brooklyn, Sydney, Toronto and Athens. Ace Hotel Fukuoka will open in 2027. SOURCE Ace Group International Highlights for the Three Months Ended November 30, 2024 Total revenues of $194 million and net income of $18 million and net income of Adjusted EBITDA (1) of $182 million of Acquired 8 aircraft for $259 million , including 2 A320neo family aircraft and 2 E2 aircraft , including 2 A320neo family aircraft and 2 E2 aircraft Sold 8 aircraft and other flight equipment for proceeds of $145 million and gains on sale of $20 million and gains on sale of Fleet utilization over 99% Year-to-date cash flows from operations increased 19% compared to prior year Liquidity Moody's changes Outlook to Positive "to reflect the company's improved fleet characteristics and continued strong liquidity and capital management" Adjusted net debt-to-equity of 1.8 times at November 30, 2024 Total liquidity as of January 1, 2025 , of $2.8 billion includes $2.1 billion of undrawn facilities, $0.5 billion of projected adjusted operating cash flows and sales through October 1, 2025 , and $0.2 billion of unrestricted cash , of includes of undrawn facilities, of projected adjusted operating cash flows and sales through , and of unrestricted cash 213 unencumbered aircraft and other flight equipment with a net book value of $6.1 billion ________________________________________ (1) Refer to the selected financial information accompanying this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP numbers. STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Inglese, Aircastle's CEO, stated, "Demand for aircraft remains strong and the constrained supply of new aircraft coming from OEMs is expected to continue for the remainder of this decade. We're meeting our customers' high demand for extensions while also making disciplined trades in a competitive market. This quarter we invested approximately $260 million in additional acquisitions, 69% of which was new technology aircraft." Mr. Inglese concluded, "During our third quarter, Aircastle celebrated the 20th Anniversary of our founding. For two decades we've demonstrated our competitive strength in the mid-life aircraft space. As we now expand our new technology fleet, we're optimistic about the future because of our outstanding team, ample liquidity, investment grade rating, strong balance sheet as well as the outstanding support of our shareholders, Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Leasing." Aviation Assets As of November 30, 2024, Aircastle owned 244 aircraft and other flight equipment having a net book value of $7.1 billion. We also manage 9 aircraft with a net book value of $262 million on behalf of our joint venture with Mizuho Leasing. Owned Aircraft As of November 30, 2024 As of November 30, 2023 Net Book Value of Flight Equipment (in millions) $ 7,117 $ 6,837 Net Book Value of Unencumbered Flight Equipment (in millions) $ 6,064 $ 5,438 Number of Aircraft 244 236 Number of Unencumbered Aircraft 213 198 Number of Lessees 75 72 Number of Countries 47 42 Weighted Average Age (Years)(1) 9.7 9.4 Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Years)(1) 5.2 5.3 Weighted Average Fleet Utilization during the three months ended November 30, 2024 and 2023(2) 99.2 % 99.1 % Managed Aircraft on behalf of Joint Ventures Net Book Value of Flight Equipment $ 262 $ 275 Number of Aircraft 9 9 _______________ 1. Weighted by Net Book Value. 2. Aircraft on-lease days as a percentage of total days in period weighted by Net Book Value. Conference Call Following this press release, management will host a conference call on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time. All interested parties are welcome to participate in the live call. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1 (800) 836-8184 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or +1 (646) 357-8785 (outside the U.S. and Canada) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start. Please reference our company name "Aircastle" when prompted by the operator. A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.aircastle.com . Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast. For those who are not available to listen to the live call, a replay will be available on Aircastle's website shortly after the live call. About Aircastle Limited Aircastle Limited acquires, leases and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of November 30, 2024, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 253 aircraft leased to 76 airline customers located in 47 countries. Safe Harbor All statements in this press release, other than characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements relating to our proposed public offering of notes and our ability to acquire, sell, lease or finance aircraft, raise capital, pay dividends, and increase revenues, earnings, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and the global aviation industry and aircraft leasing sector. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our historical performance and that of our subsidiaries and on our current plans, estimates and expectations and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results being materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements; Aircastle can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this press release. These risks or uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described from time to time in Aircastle's filings with the SEC and previously disclosed under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Aircastle's most recent Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Aircastle to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Aircastle expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances. Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in thousands, except share data) November 30, 2024 February 29, 2024 (Unaudited) ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 523,753 $ 129,977 Accounts receivable 16,411 12,518 Flight equipment held for lease, net 6,858,065 6,940,502 Net investment in leases, net 258,639 282,439 Unconsolidated equity method investment 44,447 42,710 Other assets 240,453 271,807 Total assets $ 7,941,768 $ 7,679,953 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES Borrowings from secured financings, net $ 650,739 $ 875,397 Borrowings from unsecured financings, net 3,827,359 3,823,099 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 260,456 219,588 Lease rentals received in advance 62,006 52,654 Security deposits 71,879 69,544 Maintenance payments 583,220 505,897 Total liabilities 5,455,659 5,546,179 Commitments and Contingencies SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Preference shares, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 400 (aggregate liquidation preference of $400,000) shares issued and outstanding at November 30, 2024 and February 29, 2024 Common shares, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 17,840 and 15,564 shares issued and outstanding at November 30, 2024 and February 29, 2024, respectively Additional paid-in capital 2,378,774 2,078,774 Retained earnings 107,335 55,000 Total shareholders' equity 2,486,109 2,133,774 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 7,941,768 $ 7,679,953 Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended November 30, Nine Months Ended November 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenues: Lease rental revenue $ 158,440 $ 156,820 $ 483,389 $ 453,906 Direct financing and sales-type lease revenue 5,294 4,835 16,177 10,993 Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives (5,288) (2,641) (18,005) (16,972) Maintenance revenue 14,517 58,657 76,044 108,223 Total lease revenue 172,963 217,671 557,605 556,150 Gain on sale or disposition of flight equipment 20,483 20,193 56,909 67,240 Other revenue 130 882 903 1,803 Total revenues 193,576 238,746 615,417 625,193 Operating expenses: Depreciation 87,604 86,647 264,637 261,764 Interest, net 58,752 57,037 185,989 170,963 Selling, general and administrative 18,426 18,500 60,571 58,217 Provision for credit losses 5,280 281 11,405 Impairment of flight equipment 8,419 34,959 19,391 37,156 Maintenance and other costs 4,872 7,107 13,411 24,494 Total operating expenses 178,073 209,530 544,280 563,999 Other income: Gain on extinguishment of debt 285 Other 6,135 1,529 6,557 6,238 Total other income 6,135 1,529 6,842 6,238 Income from continuing operations before income taxes and earnings of unconsolidated equity method investment 21,638 30,745 77,979 67,432 Income tax provision 4,281 6,025 16,881 15,286 Earnings of unconsolidated equity method investment, net of tax 738 925 1,737 1,787 Net income $ 18,095 $ 25,645 $ 62,835 $ 53,933 Preference share dividends (10,500) (10,500) Net income available to common shareholders $ 18,095 $ 25,645 $ 52,335 $ 43,433 Total comprehensive income available to common shareholders $ 18,095 $ 25,645 $ 52,335 $ 43,433 Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended November 30, 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities : Net income $ 62,835 $ 53,933 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities: Depreciation 264,637 261,764 Amortization of deferred financing costs 12,722 12,611 Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives 18,005 16,972 Deferred income taxes 10,480 11,082 Collections on net investment in leases 5,285 1,565 Security deposits and maintenance payments included in earnings (9,543) (37,654) Gain on sale or disposition of flight equipment (56,909) (67,240) Gain on extinguishment of debt (285) Impairment of flight equipment 19,391 37,156 Provision for credit losses 281 11,405 Other (1,746) (1,769) Changes in certain assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (4,132) 504 Other assets (3,661) (16,164) Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 35,993 8,351 Lease rentals received in advance 13,709 16,551 Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities 367,062 309,067 Cash flows from investing activities : Acquisition and improvement of flight equipment (583,541) (669,597) Proceeds from sale or disposition of flight equipment 474,053 198,816 Aircraft purchase deposits and progress payments, net of returned deposits and aircraft sales deposits (2,269) 3,126 Other (4,796) (5,548) Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities (116,553) (473,203) Cash flows from financing activities : Proceeds from issuance of common shares 300,000 200,000 Proceeds from secured and unsecured debt financings 1,076,193 1,383,709 Repayments of secured and unsecured debt financings (1,304,352) (1,632,983) Debt extinguishment costs 285 Deferred financing costs (5,361) (7,673) Security deposits and maintenance payments received 109,668 130,068 Security deposits and maintenance payments returned (12,166) (14,014) Dividends paid (21,000) (21,000) Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities 143,267 38,107 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 393,776 (126,029) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 129,977 231,861 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 523,753 $ 105,832 Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended November 30, Nine Months Ended November 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income $ 18,095 $ 25,645 $ 62,835 $ 53,933 Depreciation 87,604 86,647 264,637 261,764 Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives 5,288 2,641 18,005 16,972 Interest, net 58,752 57,037 185,989 170,963 Income tax provision 4,281 6,025 16,881 15,286 EBITDA $ 174,020 $ 177,995 $ 548,347 $ 518,918 Adjustments: Impairment of flight equipment 8,419 34,959 19,391 37,156 Gain on extinguishment of debt (285) Adjusted EBITDA $ 182,439 $ 212,954 $ 567,453 $ 556,074 We define EBITDA as income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation and amortization. We use EBITDA to assess our consolidated financial and operating performance, and we believe this non-U.S. GAAP measure is helpful in identifying trends in our performance. This measure provides an assessment of controllable expenses and affords management the ability to make decisions which are expected to facilitate meeting current financial goals, as well as achieving optimal financial performance. It provides an indicator for management to determine if adjustments to current spending decisions are needed. EBITDA provides us with a measure of operating performance because it assists us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis as it removes the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges on our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results. Accordingly, this metric measures our financial performance based on operational factors that management can impact in the short-term, namely the cost structure, or expenses, of the organization. EBITDA is one of the metrics used by senior management and the Board of Directors to review the consolidated financial performance of our business. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA (as defined above) further adjusted to give effect to adjustments required in calculating covenant ratios and compliance as that term is defined in the indenture governing our senior unsecured notes. Adjusted EBITDA is a material component of these covenants. Contact: Aircastle Advisor LLC Jim Connelly, SVP ESG & Corporate Communications Tel: +1-203-504-1871 [email protected] SOURCE Aircastle Advisor LLC BOSTON, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aktis Oncology, an oncology company focused on unlocking the breakthrough potential of targeted radiopharmaceuticals for large patient populations not addressed by existing platform technologies, today announced that Matthew Roden, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aktis Oncology, will present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Calif. Dr. Roden's presentation will take place on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. PT. About Aktis Oncology Aktis Oncology, Inc. is an oncology company focused on unlocking the breakthrough potential of targeted radiopharmaceuticals for large patient populations not addressed by existing platform technologies. The company's first of several pipeline programs targets Nectin-4, a tumor-associated antigen found in urothelial and other solid cancers. Founded and incubated by MPM BioImpact, the company has developed its proprietary miniprotein radioconjugate platform to generate tumor targeting agents with properties ideal for alpha radiopharmaceuticals. Designed to maximize tumor killing through high penetration followed by internalization and retention in cancer cells, Aktis' miniprotein radioconjugates are designed to quickly clear from normal organs and tissues, thereby maximizing anticancer activity while minimizing side effects of treatment. The Aktis platform is isotope-agnostic and further enables clinicians to visualize and verify target engagement with imaging isotopes prior to exposure to therapeutic radioisotopes. Aktis also has a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to leverage its miniprotein platform to develop novel radioconjugates outside of Aktis' proprietary pipeline. To learn more about Aktis Oncology, visit www.aktisoncology.com . MEDIA CONTACT Sean Leous ICR Healthcare 646-866-4012 [email protected] INVESTOR CONTACT Peter Vozzo ICR Healthcare 443-213-0505 [email protected] SOURCE Aktis Oncology Access to the care you need is just a phone call away OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California is working hard to ensure the safety and care of Blue Shield of California members affected by the recent wildfires in Southern California. Evacuations have been ordered for areas of Los Angeles County due to several major fires, including the Palisades, Hurst, Eaton and Sunset fires. "As a California company, we are focused today on our members, employees, and health systems in Southern California," said Lois Quam, president and chief executive officer, Blue Shield of California. "Our priority is to ensure that members have access to the essential health services and resources they need during this difficult time. This developing situation underscores the importance of our work together to secure healthcare access in the face of crises." Blue Shield of California Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ravi Kavasery, M.D., said, "People, first and foremost, need to heed all evacuation orders and leave immediately if asked to do so. If you are able to stay in your homes, there are ways to avoid being affected by the dangerous, smoky air , including keeping windows and doors closed, running an air purifier if you have one, and wearing an N95 mask if venturing outdoors." RESOURCES For information on California Office of Emergency Services resources, please visit Cal OES . For information on fire updates, please visit CalFire . Click here to find out how Blue Shield of California and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan members impacted by fire can access care. About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with nearly 6 million members, over 7,100 employees and more than $25 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $60 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com . Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook . CONTACT: Mark Seelig Blue Shield of California 510-607-2359 [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California SHANGHAI, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boqii Holding Limited ("Boqii" or the "Company") (NYSE American: BQ) today announced that it will change its ratio of its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") to Class A ordinary shares from one (1) ADS representing fifteen (15) Class A ordinary shares to one ADS representing one hundred and fifty (150) Class A ordinary shares (the "ADS Ratio Change"). The ADS Ratio Change is expected to become effective on or about January 21, 2025 (U.S. Eastern Time) (the "ADS Ratio Change Effective Date"). For Boqii's ADS holders, the ADS Ratio Change will have the same effect as a 1-for-10 reverse split on the existing ADSs. Each ADS holder on the ADS Ratio Change Effective Date will be required on mandatory basis to surrender to The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, (the "Depositary") for Boqii's ADS program, every 10 old ADSs held in exchange for one new ADSs. No action is required by holders of uncertificated ADSs to effect the ADS Ratio Change as the change will be effected on the books of the Depositary. No fractional new ADSs will be issued in connection with the ADS Ratio Change. Instead, the Depositary will attempt to sell any fractional entitlements to new ADSs and the net cash proceeds from the sale of the fractional ADS entitlements (after deduction of fees, taxes and expenses) will be distributed to the applicable ADS holders by the Depositary. Boqii's ADSs will continue to be traded on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol "BQ". As a result of the ADS Ratio Change, the ADS price is expected to increase proportionally, although the Company can give no assurance that the ADS price after the ADS Ratio Change will be equal to or greater than ten (10) times the ADS price before the change. About Boqii Holding Limited Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE American: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China. It is the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with a broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and its own private label, Yoken, Mocare and D-cat, offered at competitive prices. Boqii's online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and our flagship stores on third-party e- commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Its Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Further information regarding such risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For investor inquiries, please contact: Boqii Holding Limited Investor Relations Tel: +86-21-6882-6051 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited NEW YORK and BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Branford Castle Partners, a North American-focused private equity firm, today announced that it has acquired Eastern Dental Management (the "Company"), a leading dental services organization, from an affiliate managed by Staple Street Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Eastern Dental marks the eighth and likely final platform investment and fourteenth acquisition overall for Branford Castle's Fund II, which closed in 2021. In the second half of 2024, Branford Castle also acquired Hoffman Engineering, Testek Solutions and Alzet Osmotic Pumps (a bolt-on to Lafayette Instrument). Further, it announced the successful exits of its investments in Clean Solutions Group and Earthlite Massage Tables. With 20 locations throughout New Jersey, Eastern Dental is a long-standing and established leader in the state. Since its inception in 1978, the Company has developed a strong brand reputation with customers and numerous payors. Eastern Dental's CEO, Ray Iannaccone, MD, along with the rest of the existing management team, will remain with the Company going forward. Eric Korsten, Senior Managing Director at Branford Castle, said, "We are excited to partner with Ray and the entire Eastern Dental team. For over a decade, we have seen attractive opportunities for growth in the dental services market. We believe that the Company's leading and highly established position in New Jersey, along with its diverse mix of general and specialized dentistry services, make it a terrific platform for growth." Mr. Iannaccone added, "Today's milestone is a validation of our customer-focused culture as well as our great team of dentists, specialists, hygienists and support staff. We want to thank the team at Staple Street Capital for their partnership and support, which have been instrumental in helping us achieve operational excellence and best-in-class standards for patient satisfaction. We are excited to build on this strong foundation and look forward to our new partnership with Branford Castle as we pursue future growth opportunities together." The partners at Staple Street Capital said, "We are proud of the Eastern Dental team's accomplishments and deeply appreciate their contributions to the business's success. As a result of our partnership together, we were able to foster a patient-and provider-centric culture, and invest in the Company's people, processes and systems to drive a self-sustaining cycle of continuous improvement which positions the Company for long-term success. We are confident that the Company will continue to thrive as part of the Branford Castle family of companies." Ceon Francis, Managing Director at Branford Castle, said, "This important transaction would not have been possible without our long-time financing partner, Siguler Guff & Company, whose continued support of our growing portfolio is greatly valued." Branford Castle was advised by its legal counsel, Akerman LLP, and RSM served as its accounting/tax advisor. Staple Street Capital and Eastern Dental were advised by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Polsinelli as legal counsel. Lincoln International LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Staple Street Capital in connection with the sale of Eastern Dental, its portfolio company. Siguler Guff & Company is providing unitranche debt capital and equity for the transaction. ABOUT BRANFORD CASTLE PARTNERS Branford Castle is a private market investor focused on lower middle-market investments, with more than 35 years of helping to grow businesses. The Firm typically makes control investments in companies with up to $15 million of EBITDA and a leadership position in a niche industry. Branford Castle prides itself on the strong relationships it develops with its portfolio company managers. Branford Castle has particular expertise in industrials/specialty manufacturing, healthcare, consumer products, business services and logistics. For more information, please see branfordcastle.com. ABOUT STAPLE STREET CAPITAL Staple Street Capital is a leading private equity firm with approximately $900 million of capital under management and invests in marketleading businesses where there are transformational opportunities to create value. SSC helps companies capitalize on opportunities to build stronger, more valuable businesses. For more information see www.staplestreetcapital.com. Media Contacts: For Branford Castle: Lambert by LLYC Caroline Luz [email protected] 203-570-6462 or Jennifer Hurson [email protected] 845-507-0571 For Staple Street Capital: Kevin Siedenburg Managing Director & Head of Business Development [email protected] SOURCE Branford Castle Partners However, a record low number of sellers listed their home in December Across the Bright MLS service area, there were 17,593 closed sales in December. Sales were 14.4% higher than they were in December 2023 . For the year, the region posted 2.5% more sales than the year prior. . For the year, the region posted 2.5% more sales than the year prior. Inventory is still relatively tight across the Bright MLS service area. There were just 11,531 new listings coming onto the market in December, which was 2.1% lower than a year earlier, and is the slowest pace of listing activity in 20 years. Home prices continue to rise. The median sold price in December was $405,000 , a 6.6% gain from the previous December. , a 6.6% gain from the previous December. As we begin 2025, buyers still face a competitive housing market. Over the coming months, however, buyers will find more choices and slightly lower mortgage rates. NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Home sales activity surged across most of the Bright MLS service area in December. While transactions are still low by historic standards, the number of closed sales was much higher than in December 2023. Closed sales also increased by 4.2% from November. In December, the number of new pending contracts was also higher, with 2.1% more pending sales in December compared to 2023. The uptick in buyer interest at the end of 2024 comes even as mortgage rates remained high. In November and December, rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.75%. But at the end of 2024, rates were up to three-quarters of a percentage point lower than they were a year earlier. "Buyers have re-anchored their expectations and have come to terms with the new normal for rates," said Dr. Lisa Sturtevant, Bright MLS Chief Economist. "Over the past year, rates have been above 7%, and even close to 8%, so buyers now think a rate in the mid-6's is pretty good." Sellers are still few and far between. December is typically a slow month for new listings, but 2024 was a record-breaker. There were just 11,531 new listings coming onto the market in December, which was 2.1% lower than a year earlier, and is the slowest pace of listing activity in 20 years. At the end of 2024, there was a total of 30,823 active listings available for sale. While this is an 11.7% increase over 2023, inventory is still far below pre-pandemic levels. One factor is "rate lock"that is, the fact that current homeowners have a much lower mortgage rate than they could get on a new loan. As a result, homeowners are staying put longer. Some of the inventory logjam will be loosened in 2025. Changing family and financial circumstances will prompt more homeowners to sell their home, despite having to give up their super-low mortgage rate. In a recent nationwide survey of homeowners conducted by Bright MLS, the group most likely to sell in 2025 is younger homeowners in their 30s and 40s, and the most common reasons for selling are family or job changes. In addition to more inventory in 2025, mortgage rates will also come down, though not by much. Current projections are for mortgage rates to remain well into the mid-6's in the first part of the year. But because people have started adjusting to the new normal, even a slight decline may be all that is needed to draw buyers into the market in the first quarter of 2025. December 2024 Mid-Atlantic Housing Market by Region Philadelphia: The Philadelphia metro area housing market ends the year with strong sales activity There was a total of 5,110 sales in December, a 9.0% increase over the year prior. Overall, 2024 sales in the Philadelphia metro tracked 0.8% higher than 2023. metro tracked 0.8% higher than 2023. The median sold price in the Philadelphia metro area was up 5.7% year-over-year in December. This is the slowest pace of home price appreciation since August 2023 . metro area was up 5.7% year-over-year in December. This is the slowest pace of home price appreciation since . There were just 3,485 new listings across the region in December. This is the fewest monthly new listings in more than 20 years. Prospective buyers in the Philadelphia area market have faced rising prices, elevated mortgage rates, and low inventory. In 2025, conditions should ease somewhat with more listings and slower price appreciation. Baltimore: A December surge pushes annual sales totals above 2023 in the Baltimore metro area In December, there were 2,518 closed sales, a 12.3% increase over December 2023 sales. Overall, 2024 sales in the Baltimore region were 1.2% higher than 2023. sales. Overall, 2024 sales in the region were 1.2% higher than 2023. The median sold price in December was $385,000 , an 8.5% year-over-year gain and the biggest increase since March 2024 . , an 8.5% year-over-year gain and the biggest increase since . There were just 1,617 new listings in December, a 5.0% drop from a year prior, and the lowest level in more than 20 years. The Baltimore area housing market has been resilient in the face of elevated mortgage rates and low inventory. In 2025, inventory should increase, and mortgage rates will come down. Washington, D.C.: Washington D.C. area buyers rush to close on home purchases at the end of 2024 There was a total of 3,858 home sales in the Washington D.C. metro area in December, which is a 25.9% surge over December 2023 sales. In 2024, total home sales in the region tracked 2.0% higher than 2023. metro area in December, which is a 25.9% surge over sales. In 2024, total home sales in the region tracked 2.0% higher than 2023. In December, the median sold price was $590,000 , a 6.1% year-over-year gain. Prices of single-family detached homes continue to rise faster than either townhome or condo prices. , a 6.1% year-over-year gain. Prices of single-family detached homes continue to rise faster than either townhome or condo prices. In December, there were just 2,126 new listings, which is 4.1% lower than the prior December and is the lowest level of monthly new listings in more than 20 years. As we move into 2025, there is significant pent-up demand in the Washington D.C. metro area housing market, but there are also headwinds, including uncertainty around Federal government employment in the region, which will be important to watch in the month ahead. The full Mid-Atlantic and market metro area reports are available at BrightMLS.com/MarketInsights . About Bright MLS Bright MLS was founded in 2016 as a collaboration between 43 visionary associations and two of the nation's most prominent MLSs to transform what an MLS is and what it does, so real estate pros and the people they serve can thrive today and into our data-driven future through an open, clear, and competitive housing market for all. Bright is proud to be the source of truth for comprehensive real estate data in the Mid-Atlantic, with market intelligence currently covering six states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) and the District of Columbia. Bright MLS's innovative tool libraryboth created and curatedprovides services and award-winning support to well over 100K real estate professionals, enabling their delivery on the promise of home to over half a million homebuyers and sellers monthly. Learn more at BrightMLS.com. SOURCE Bright MLS ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As fast-moving wildfires, fueled by high winds, continue to engulf neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S., has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign. All funds raised will assist those displaced or suffering because of the fires. To make a gift today in support of families and individuals whose lives have been upended, please visit the CCUSA Los Angeles Wildfires relief donation page. One hundred percent of all donations will be allocated to Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, which will provide critical humanitarian relief to those most in need. Gifts can also be made by texting "FIRES" to 20406. The wildfires have destroyed residential neighborhoods and driven more than 100,000 from their homes this week. Tragically, at least 10 people have died. CCUSA and its member agencies around the country have a long history of rapidly mobilizing following disasters not only to meet the immediate needs but also to provide long-term support to communities as they rebuild. "The level of destruction wrought by these wildfires is utterly heartbreaking," CCUSA President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson said. "Thanks to your generosity, the staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles will provide critical, long-term support to those most affected by this terrible tragedy." To support survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires, make a gift today. A member of Caritas Internationalis, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the membership office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. CCUSA's members provide help and create hope for more than 15 million people a year regardless of religious, social or economic backgrounds. Every year, thanks to the generosity of thousands of concerned donors, the Catholic Charities network responds to roughly 60 disasters, from hurricanes and tornadoes to fires and floods. To learn more about CCUSA, please visit our website at CatholicCharitiesUSA.org. SOURCE Catholic Charities USA LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Celanese Corporation ("Celanese" or "the Company") (NYSE: CE) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Celanese reported its third quarter earnings on November 4, 2024. The Company reported net sales "down slightly from the previous quarter." Commenting on the Company's results, its now-former CEO stated, "we faced a severely constrained demand environment that, in some cases like auto, degraded swiftly. I want to thank our teams for executing our value enhancing initiatives that are delivering improvements today while also laying the foundation for future growth. Still, these actions have been increasingly offset in the current environment and the earnings generated fell short of our expectations. In response we are taking additional measures to navigate current challenges while positioning Celanese for long-term success. We are confident these actions will accelerate our growth and enhance long-term value." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 [email protected] www.schallfirm.com SOURCE The Schall Law Firm Newest concept in Arizona Showcases Global Influences SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiki Taka , the latest restaurant from acclaimed chef and restaurateur Richard Blais, opens in Scottsdale [Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, 7500 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ]. This is the James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author and beloved TV personality's newest restaurant in Arizona, where he showcases shared plates highlighting flavors from Japanese and Spanish cultures, while incorporating local ingredients from the Southwest, alongside playful takes on classic cocktails. Tiki Taka Chef Blais began his culinary career training under some of the world's most illustrious chefs, including Chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry, Chef Daniel Boulud at his flagship restaurant Daniel, and Chef Ferran Adria at El Bulli. His wildly creative approach to cooking led to the establishment of Trail Blais, a culinary consulting group that has designed and launched popular restaurants across the country, including Ember & Rye in Carlsbad, CA, and Four Flamingos in Orlando, FL. Richard is also widely recognized from Bravo's Top Chef Series as the winner of the inaugural Top Chef All-Stars. He is the author of three cookbooks, Try This At Home, So Good, and Plant Forward, and currently co-stars alongside Gordon Ramsay on FOX's Next Level Chef. Chef Blais has partnered with Grand Hyatt Scottsdale resort on all of their food and beverage concepts at the property, including La Zozzona, the Italizona Kitchen, Mesa Centrale, a Southwestern grill, Grand Vista Lounge, H2Oasis, and Sandbar. Tiki Taka features a menu with small plates meant for sharing, celebrating the techniques and flavors of Spain and Japan, while utilizing Southwestern ingredients. There are both Cold Dishes which include Hamachi Pizza with pickled daikon, bonito flakes, and pepperoni yolk, Crispy Soft Shell Crab Escabeche with black garlic yuzu and bulldog sauce, and Tartina with Korean cucumber, iberico ham, uni, and garlic, as well as Hot Dishes such as Spot Prawns A La Plancha, Okonomiyaki with kewpie, bonito flakes, bacon, and a fried egg, and pan fried Chorizo Gyoza with sherry dip. The menu also highlights a selection of Pintxos & Yakitori ranging from Beef Bacon-Wrapped Dates with valdeon cheese, Octopus with crispy potato, parsley aioli, and paprika oil, and Pork Belly with fish sauce and apple caramel. Each of these skewers are served with a range of sauces including Bizkaina, Xato, Mojo Picon, and Mojo Verde. There is also a full sushi bar at Tiki Taka, with a range of specialty rolls such as Tiki Taka Roll with red crab, blue fin yellow tail, piquillo pepper, avocado, cucumber, and parsley, Second Try with yellowtail, picholine olive, shiso, lemon, yuzu kosho, dill, and cucumber, and Crujiente Doble with spicy tuna, eel sauce, spicy mayo, and fried shallots. Sweet Tapas such as Basque Cheesecake with passionfruit curd, lychee pearls, coconut streusel, and strawberry gel, and Kakigori in flavors such as Strawberries & Cream, Sweet Coconut Matcha, and Mango Ube round out the menu. Tiki Taka's cocktail program complements the menu by featuring playful takes on classics highlighting Spanish and Japanese ingredients, such as the Osaka Sour with Akashi Japanese whisky, Charbay green tea vodka, lemon, and honey, clarified with almond milk and topped with a tempranillo red wine float, Kumo Matcha with rice whisky, strawberry, agave, yuzu, ginger bitters, and matcha green tea foam, Ube Espresso Martini with vodka, ube infused condensed milk, and Mr. Black espresso, and Yuzu Delicious with Haku Japanese vodka, pistachio orgeat, yuzu, vanilla, lemon, and topped with pistachios. Several cocktails contain exclusive spirits made for Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, including the Nagomi with El Tesoro reposado GHS private barrel, mezcal, green tea syrup, lemon, sesame oil, and piment d'espelette. The menu also features a Tableside Sangria, which is frozen with liquid nitrogen, available in both Tinto with red wine, brandy, blackberry, orange, lemon, triple sec, and club soda; and Blanco with white wine, brandy, lychee, pineapple, orange, lemon, raspberry, triple sec, and club soda. Wines and sake are also available by the glass and bottle, as well as a range of sake flights. There is also a robust selection of Japanese whisky, including Shibui Rare Cask, Teitessa Purple Edition, Yamazki, and Komagatake x Chichibu Malt Duo. Designed by Wimberly Interiors , Tiki Taka features a vibrant, artful interior inspired by the lively character of Spanish landmarks such as Las Ramblas in Barcelona and the charm of small izakayas found across Japan. A long communal table serves as an anchoring focal point, accompanied by a sushi and tapas display counter and intimate booths offering relaxed, lounge-style seating. Neon accents and digital art displays add expressive touches throughout the 30-seat interior space. The outdoor areas provide 108 additional seats where guests can take in the natural vistas and enjoy the open air. Tiki Taka is open daily from 5pm-10pm. Reservations are available on Opentable. For more details, visit Tiki Taka's website and follow along on Instagram @ tikitakascottsdale . CONTACT: [email protected] SOURCE Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Report with the AI impact on market trends - The global children day care services market size is estimated to grow by USD 182.5 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period. Increase in number of single-parent households is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising trend toward high-value services. However, increased cost of raising children poses a challenge. Key market players include Bright Horizons, Busy Bees Daycare, Cadence Education, Founding Years Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd., G8 Education Ltd., Global Childrens Center, Goddard Franchisor LLC, Growing Room, JP Holdings Inc., Kids R Kids, KinderCare Learning Centers LLC, KU Childrens Services, Learning Care Group Inc., Penny and Peggy Nairn 24 Hour Childcare Inc., Primrose School Franchising SPE LLC, Spring Education Group, St. Timothy Catholic Church, Sunshine House Early Learning Academy, The Learning Experience, and Tiny Hoppers Corp.. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Children Day Care Services Market 2025-2029 Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Children Day Care Services Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2024 Historic period 2019 - 2023 Forecast period 2025-2029 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.2% Market growth 2025-2029 USD 182.5 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 7.8 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 40% Key countries US, India, China, UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, Canada, and Italy Key companies profiled Bright Horizons, Busy Bees Daycare, Cadence Education, Founding Years Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd., G8 Education Ltd., Global Childrens Center, Goddard Franchisor LLC, Growing Room, JP Holdings Inc., Kids R Kids, KinderCare Learning Centers LLC, KU Childrens Services, Learning Care Group Inc., Penny and Peggy Nairn 24 Hour Childcare Inc., Primrose School Franchising SPE LLC, Spring Education Group, St. Timothy Catholic Church, Sunshine House Early Learning Academy, The Learning Experience, and Tiny Hoppers Corp. Market Driver The Children Day Care Services Market is witnessing significant trends as businesses invest in modern solutions to enhance child care services. Attendance tracking systems ensure accountability and communication platforms facilitate seamless parent-teacher interaction. Digitalization includes digital learning platforms, online registration, and training programs for childcare providers. Demographics, including millennial children and single working parents, drive demand for early learning opportunities and economic empowerment. The Infrastructure gap is being addressed through organized care facilities, nursery schools, and home-based settings. Government initiatives like the Childcare Incentive Fund and Direct Benefit Transfers support families, particularly single parents and nuclear families. Medical advancements and remote monitoring tools prioritize child safety and health. The market prioritizes the needs of parents, with a focus on preschoolers and school kids. Females, including working mothers and women, are key stakeholders. The market caters to various family structures, including single-parent households. Digitalization, early learning opportunities, and economic empowerment are essential for human capital development. The market is evolving to meet the needs of the millennial generation and their children, with a focus on neonatal and infant mortality rates. The World Bank and other organizations continue to support the growth of the Children Day Care Services Market. Children's day care services have become a substantial expense for working families due to the increasing number of parents joining the workforce. The rise in household disposable income has fueled the demand for these services. Major vendors, such as Bright Horizons and Learning Care Group, provide high-value offerings like personalized education and tuition program management to attract parents. Bright Horizons also offers student loan repayment assistance. Learning Care Group focuses on a personalized learning experience to help children develop academic and life skills. These vendors cater to the growing need for quality child care services. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The Children Day Care Services Market faces several challenges. Attendance tracking systems are essential for businesses to ensure effective operations, but implementing them can be costly. Child care expenses continue to rise, making it difficult for families, particularly single and working parents, to afford quality care. Demographics, such as the increasing number of millennial children and nuclear families, require more child care facilities. Digitalization offers solutions through enrollment systems, online registration, and digital learning platforms. However, the infrastructure gap persists, especially in home-based settings and remote areas. Communication platforms and remote monitoring tools are necessary for transparency and safety. Economic empowerment and early learning opportunities are crucial for females and children, especially neonates and infants with high mortality rates. The Childcare Incentive Fund and Direct Benefit Transfers can help bridge the gap. Child caregivers need online training programs and medical advancements for improved care. Organized care facilities, including nursery schools and preschools, require investment and support. The rising costs of child-rearing, including education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities, are driving the global demand for children day care services. Many families find it difficult to manage these expenses on a single income, leading more parents, especially mothers, to join the workforce. Urban areas with high living costs further necessitate dual-income households, increasing the demand. Governments recognize this trend and offer policies like day care subsidies and tax incentives to support working parents. These factors collectively boost the children day care services market. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This children day care services market report extensively covers market segmentation by Type 1.1 Center-based 1.2 Home-based End-user 2.1 Toddler and infant 2.2 Preschool children 2.3 Older children Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 Europe 3.3 North America 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Center-based- Center-based day care services provide a structured learning environment for children, with age-appropriate educational activities contributing to their cognitive and social development. Trained and qualified staff ensure appropriate care and supervision, while socialization fosters essential social skills and emotional growth. Activities align with developmental stages, promoting motor skills, creativity, and learning. Educational elements prepare children for school, with programs like Inspire Curious Minds from KinderCare. Consistent routines provide security and comfort, and day care centers offer flexible scheduling options. Access to resources and facilities enriches the learning environment. These factors will drive the growth of center-based day care services, boosting the global market during the forecast period. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis Children day care services cater to the growing number of single and working mothers who require reliable and safe care for their young ones. These services offer organized care facilities in both center-based settings and home-based environments. Home-based settings provide a more personalized experience, while organized care facilities offer structured learning programs, including preschool instruction and prekindergarten instruction. Newborns, millennial children, preschoolers, and school kids all benefit from these services. Businesses also play a role in supporting working parents by offering on-site child care facilities. Child caregivers provide essential care and nurturing for children, ensuring they receive a safe and stimulating environment. Parents trust these services to provide quality care for their precious little ones, giving them peace of mind and the ability to focus on their careers. Market Research Overview The Children Day Care Services Market caters to the growing demand for quality child care solutions for businesses and families. With the increasing number of working parents, particularly single and working mothers, the need for reliable and affordable child care services has become essential. The market includes various child care facilities such as nursery schools, home-based settings, and organized care facilities. Digitalization is transforming the child care industry with attendance tracking systems, communication platforms, and digital learning platforms. The Childcare Incentive Fund and Direct Benefit Transfers provide economic empowerment for families, particularly low-income and single-parent households. Demographics, including millennial children and nuclear families, are driving the demand for early learning opportunities and medical advancements in child care. The infrastructure gap in some regions presents challenges, but remote monitoring tools and online registration systems are helping to bridge the gap. The market also includes enrollment systems, online training programs for child caregivers, and digitalization of preschool curricula. The focus on human capital development and economic empowerment is leading to increased investment in child care services. Despite progress, child mortality and neonatal mortality rates remain concerns, highlighting the need for continued investment in the sector and improvements in medical care for newborns. Overall, the Children Day Care Services Market is a critical component of a healthy and productive workforce, ensuring that children receive the care and education they need to thrive. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type Center-based Home-based End-user Toddler And Infant Preschool Children Older Children Geography APAC Europe North America South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Christie's International Real Estate Sereno is proud to announce that its Co-Founder and CEO, Chris Trapani, has been named to the 2025 Swanepoel Power 200 (SP 200), an honor recognizing the most powerful and influential leaders in the North American residential real estate industry. Chris Trapani named to the 2025 Swanepoel Power 200 Compiled annually by T3 Sixty, the SP 200 is widely regarded as the industry's gold standard for leadership rankings. This year's list is the result of nearly 500 hours of rigorous analysis by a team of 10 executives at T3 Sixty, who evaluated leaders based on criteria such as their power within their own organizations, reputation among peers, influence within their industry subgroup, and anticipated future impact. "Being recognized on the Swanepoel Power 200 is a tremendous honor," shared Trapani. "This acknowledgment reflects the dedication and excellence of the entire team at Christie's International Real Estate Sereno. I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved together from our firm's exceptional production and professionalism to the profound impact of our Sereno 1% For Good Charitable Foundation, which has contributed $6.5 million to our communities since its inception." Trapani's inclusion on this year's SP 200, where he ranked 184, underscores his remarkable contributions to the real estate industry. Under his direction, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno has built a strong reputation for high professional expectations, standards, and client-centric service. His vision emphasizes adapting to industry shifts while maintaining a strong focus on community and collaboration. Trapani's passion for creating meaningful change within the industry and elevating professional standards has not gone unnoticed, making this recognition a fitting testament to his ongoing efforts. Since its inception in 2014, the SP 200 has served as a definitive benchmark for leadership excellence in real estate. Leaders are evaluated based on their ability to access or leverage capital, their organizational influence, their company's performance and trajectory, and their industry-wide reputation. T3 Sixty's methodology ensures that the rankings are free of sponsorships or preferential treatment, offering an unbiased reflection of the industry's most influential players. About Christie's International Real Estate Sereno Founded in 2006, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno is the largest locally owned and operated independent real estate company in Northern California, with 20 offices and over 650 agents in San Francisco, the Peninsula, East Bay, Santa Cruz, Marin, Wine Country, Tahoe, Sierra Foothills, and Central Coast, producing over $5.5B in annual sales volume in 2024. In 2023, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno launched a major expansion with the addition of Christie's International Real Estate San Francisco | Marin | Wine Country. The venture serves San Francisco, Marin County, and the Wine Country region of Napa and Sonoma counties. Christie's International Real Estate Sereno is ranked among the top five brokerages in the nation for both per-agent productivity and the highest average sales price. The company offers highly curated support resources, and provides agents with concierge services to strengthen client relationships. Its agent-driven Sereno 1% For Good Charitable Foundation is changing lives in local communities, and to date, has generated $6.5M in charitable donations given to over 550 local organizations. SOURCE Christie's International Real Estate Sereno TORONTO and CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - CIBC today announced it is donating US$100,000 to the American Red Cross to support wildfire relief efforts in Southern California. "Our thoughts are with the California communities that have been affected by the recent wildfires, which have devastated many communities in the area," said Shawn Beber, President and CEO, CIBC Bank USA. "We join our clients and team members across North America in supporting the relief efforts to provide immediate help to those affected, and in recognizing the courage of the many first responders who are fighting these fires." Individuals and companies that wish to help with the ongoing wildfire relief efforts are invited to donate to the American Red Cross. Money raised will enable the Red Cross to provide immediate and ongoing relief activities in response to the disaster. About CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 14 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre SOURCE CIBC American actor Alec Baldwin has filed a lawsuit against prosecutors in the case of the murder of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust" in 2021. He complained of malicious prosecution. ADVERTISIMENT The celebrity accused Special Prosecutor Kari Morrisey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, and the county sheriff's office of abuse of process, defamation, intentional misrepresentation of evidence, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act. For this, Baldwin demanded damages in an amount to be determined by the court, as well as his attorneys' fees, reports Reople magazine. According to the actor, the defendants were blinded by a desire to convict him "at any cost" because of the tragic death of a Ukrainian woman on the set. Baldwin believes that they were trying to make him a scapegoat. He also accused Morrissey of "contradictory" testimony regarding evidence that she allegedly concealed. Regarding Carmack-Altwis, he claimed that she defamed him in an interview with CNN in 2023 when she said that Baldwin had a duty to make sure that security measures were followed. ADVERTISIMENT "Criminal investigations should be about finding truth and justice, not about personal or political gain or prosecuting the innocent," said his attorneys Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas. "Kari Morrissey and the other defendants violated this basic principle and disregarded Alec Baldwin's rights. We are filing this lawsuit to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing the same to anyone else." As a reminder, Ukrainian cameraman Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of "Rust" on October 21, 2021. It happened while Baldwin was preparing for a scene where the hero was supposed to pull the trigger, pointing his revolver at the camera. The weapon was loaded with a live round. As a result, Hutchins died, suffering a perforating wound to the chest. ADVERTISIMENT During the trial in April 2023, the actor was acquitted of manslaughter charges. The investigation was later reopened on the grounds of reckless use of a firearm and disregard for the safety of others. Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was punished on charges that she did not do her job properly. This woman was responsible for the gun that was given to the actor. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison. In 2024, Baldwin was finally cleared of all charges. According to the court's decision, prosecutors did not hand over important evidence during the trial. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! $20 million in renovations, upgrades, and new equipment planned FREEHOLD, N.J., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fitness Holdings North America, a leading franchisee of Crunch Fitness, is significantly expanding its New Jersey footprint by acquiring five locations from Jersey Strong Gym in Tinton Falls, Ocean Township, Wall Township, Freehold, and Marlboro. This acquisition increases Crunch Fitness' presence in New Jersey by 190,000 square feet, bringing the total number of facilities operated by Fitness Holdings North America to 14 in the state and 51 in the Northeast. These new locations will undergo over $20 million in renovations and upgrades to enhance member experiences with modern amenities and cutting-edge equipment. "Strengthening the Crunch Fitness presence in New Jersey demonstrates our commitment to bring seriously fun fitness to even more gymgoers in the Northeast," said Fitness Holdings North America CEO Mark Federico. "This expansion marks a significant step in our New Jersey growth and beyond. We look forward to welcoming these gyms into our fitness family while transforming these locations into vibrant, welcoming, and engaging spaces." Crunch Fitness delivers a dynamic and affordable experience with a focus on making serious fitness fun. Every gym features a comprehensive range of amenities, including cardio machines, Olympic lifting platforms, dumbbells up to 120 pounds, hydromassage beds, and the exclusive HIITZone for high-intensity interval training. Members can participate in innovative classes such as dance, yoga, and Pilates, offered at convenient times throughout the week. With state-of-the-art facilities and a variety of resources, Crunch gyms are designed to help patrons achieve their fitness goals in a supportive and energetic environment. For more information about Crunch Fitness or to sign up for a membership, visit www.crunch.com . About Crunch Fitness: Crunch Fitness started modestly as a small gym in a basement studio in New York City's Greenwich Village in 1989 as a welcoming place for a diverse group of people to get fit. While Crunch believes in the power of fitness to improve lives, it also knows exercise is hard work and everyone can use a little more motivation. So, Crunch has fused fitness and entertainment to make serious exercise fun. Fitness Holdings North America is a nearly 50-club and growing franchise of the Crunch Fitness brand, with its newest location in Norristown, Pennsylvania opening in January 2025. SOURCE Fitness Holdings North America Independent survey shows owners are highly satisfied with Card My Yard and Five Star Bath Solutions' support and overall performance SPRINGVILLE, Utah, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Card My Yard and Five Star Bath Solutions, two brands in the Five Star Franchising portfolio, an innovative and steadily growing franchise platform, were recently named Top Franchises for 2025 by Franchise Business Review (FBR). This year marks the third year running that Card My Yard, the premier yard greeting franchise for all occasions, has made this esteemed list, highlighting the company's consistent support for its franchise owners. Card My Yard and Five Star Bath Solutions, two brands in the Five Star Franchising portfolio, were recently named Top Franchises for 2025 by Franchise Business Review. Five Star Bath Solutions, a leader in the bath transformation and home remodeling industry, was also previously recognized by FBR after being named a Top Franchise for Veterans in 2024 and a Top Low-Cost Franchise in 2023. "Being named a top franchise by Franchise Business Review is a direct reflection of how the Card My Yard and Five Star Bath Solutions teams have adapted and evolved to meet the needs of their franchise owners each year," said Scott Abbott, CEO and co-founder of Five Star Franchising. "This distinction solidifies Five Star's position as one of the best franchising platforms in the world. Our team works hard building straightforward operational systems and training programs to equip franchise owners for success, and with two brands being mentioned as top franchises, it shows that our hard work is paying off." Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises. Card My Yard and Five Star Bath Solutions were among more than 350 franchise brands, representing over 34,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review's research. Card My Yard and Five Star Bath Solutions' franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity. "Franchisee satisfaction continues to be the leading indicator of franchise performance and system health, and we are pleased to report that owner satisfaction among the 2025 Franchisee Satisfaction Award winners averages 30% higher than other franchise brands," said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. "As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to providing unbiased data to prospective franchise buyers to help them identify the best franchise opportunities based on actual feedback and experiences from current owners. Each of the award winners on this year's list of the Top 200 Franchises received stellar ratings from their franchisees in the areas crucial to success in operating a franchise, including training & support, leadership, innovation, culture, and financial opportunity." The complete list of Franchise Business Review's 200 Top Franchises is available here: https://franchisebusinessreview.com/lists/top-200-franchises/. For more information on Five Star Franchising and its portfolio of brands, visit fivestarfranchising.com. About Five Star Franchising Five Star Franchising is an innovative, growing platform of home service brands with more than 1,500 total locations throughout North America. Franchise owners across Five Star's brands, including Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Bio-One, Mosquito Shield, 1-800-Packouts, and Card My Yard enjoy a robust support network and access to industry-leading tools such as ProNexis, the 24/7 sales support solution tailored for home service businesses, and Five Star Marketing Services, Five Star Franchising's elite marketing engine. Five Star Franchising's commitment to core values Driven, Real, Innovative, Vital, and Enthusiastic (DRIVE) ensures its brands are category leaders and empowers franchise owners to maximize profitable growth and secure their financial destiny. Five Star Franchising is consistently recognized as one of the most successful companies in the industry. The company has appeared on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America four times, ranking #157 in 2024. Five Star Franchising also ranks among the fastest-growing businesses in on home state, with positions on the MountainWest Capital Network Utah 100, the Utah Valley BusinessQ UV50 and the Utah Business Fast 50 lists. For more information, visit fivestarfranchising.com. About Card My Yard Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Card My Yard is the leader in the rapidly growing celebratory yard greetings industry, boasting over 500 locations across 46 states. Committed to spreading joy within communities and collaborating with local organizations to commemorate special occasions, Card My Yard is dedicated to making every moment memorable. Leveraging a purpose-built, proprietary technology platform, the company ensures a seamless customer ordering experience while empowering franchisees to efficiently manage their businesses. Card My Yard has been consistently recognized as a top franchise by Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur, including a No. 4 ranking on Entrepreneur's list of Top New & Emerging Franchises in 2022. For further details, visit www.cardmyyard.com. About Five Star Bath Solutions Five Star Bath Solutions is the premier bath transformation franchise in the home remodeling industry. The company, named to the highly competitive Entrepreneur Franchise 500 in 2024, designs and builds dream bathrooms through expertise and trust providing affordable transformations and beautiful solutions. Part of the Five Star Franchising portfolio of home service brands since 2014, Five Star Bath Solutions is one of the fastest-growing bath remodeling franchises in the world with more than 200 franchise locations. Five Star Bath Solutions was also recognized as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the U.S. and Canada by Entrepreneur in 2024 and named a Top Low-Cost Franchise for 2023 by Franchise Business Review. For more information, visit fivestarbathsolutions.com. To learn about franchising with Five Star Bath Solutions, visit bathsolutionsfranchising.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE Five Star Franchising WASHINGTON and HOUSTON, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Why did Venus, Earth's so-called "sister planet," follow such a drastically different evolutionary path? Unlike Earth, Venus currently does not operate with plate tectonics and is shrouded in a dense atmosphere that has led to extreme greenhouse conditions, rendering liquid water and life as we know it impossible. What led to this dramatic difference between the sibling planets? Dr. Matt Weller's latest research, completed as a Urey Fellow at the Universities Space Research Association's (USRA) Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), provides compelling new answers to this enduring mystery. The study, published in Science Advances, examines a critical transition in Venus's tectonic activity, revealing how this shift fundamentally reshaped its atmosphere. Using sophisticated computational models, Dr. Weller demonstrates that periodic lithosphere disruptions --combined with massive volcanic outgassing over millions of years --may have transformed Venus from a planet with Earth-like characteristics into the extreme greenhouse world we observe today. On Venus in the distant past, massive volcanic outgassing and surface resurfacing eventstriggered by shifts in mantle convection contributed to the majority of its current dense atmosphere, some 90 times that of the Earth's, in relatively short time scales. Over billions of years, these processes created the runaway greenhouse conditions we see today. "Our results suggest that Venus was not always the harsh world we see now," said Dr. Weller. "At one time, it may have had conditions more akin to that of the Earth's." Dr. Weller further explained that Venus' history offers a cautionary tale about how dynamic geological processes can alter a planet's fate. "This research not only answers long-standing questions about Venus' past," Dr. Weller added, "but also underscores how planetary tectonic transitions can drive profound atmospheric changes." This research deepens our understanding of Venus and also highlights the potential for dramatic climate and tectonic changes on other rocky planets. For more information, visit https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn9861. About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology, and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and conducts other major research and educational programs. An association of 121 university members, it engages the broader university community, employs in-house scientific talent, and offers innovative research, development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu. About The Lunar and Planetary Institute The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), an institute of Universities Space Research Association, was established during the Apollo program in 1968 to foster international collaboration and to serve as a repository for information gathered during the early years of the space program. Today, the LPI is an intellectual leader in lunar and planetary science. The Institute serves as a scientific forum attracting world-class visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows, students, and resident experts; supports and serves the research community through newsletters, meetings, and other activities; collects and disseminates planetary data while facilitating the community's access to NASA astromaterials samples and facilities; engages and excites the public about space science and invests in the development of future generations of scientists. The research carried out at the LPI supports NASA's efforts to explore the solar system. More information about LPI is available at www.lpi.usra.edu . PR Contact: Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D. [email protected] 443-812-6945 (cell) Technical Contact: Dr. Matt Weller [email protected] 518-276-6474 SOURCE Universities Space Research Association Hyundai and Genesis Donate $200,000 for Southern California Relief Efforts FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the devastating wildfires affecting Southern California, Hyundai and Genesis Motor America have launched a comprehensive wildfire relief program to provide immediate humanitarian aid and financial assistance to those impacted. This initiative includes targeted support for current Hyundai and Genesis owners, prospective customers, and community relief efforts. "Hyundai and Genesis are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the wildfires across Los Angeles and everyone impacted," said Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the heroic first responders and fire departments working tirelessly to protect residents, their homes and loved ones. Southern California is more than just our homeit's the heart of our North American operations, including our headquarters, design studios, and many Group partners. During this challenging time, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our team members, retailers, and community partners in the affected areas." As part of its commitment, Hyundai and Genesis Motor America are donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross and $100,000 to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation for immediate disaster relief and recovery efforts supporting evacuees and first responders. This donation underscores Hyundai's long-standing Assurance program, which is dedicated to safeguarding the safety, health, and well-being of its customers, employees, dealers, and the communities it serves. Hyundai Capital America, which includes Hyundai Motor Finance and Genesis Finance, will also offer financial hardship support to eligible customers, providing payment relief solutions for those directly affected by the fires. Through this multifaceted relief effort, Hyundai aims to support recovery and provide meaningful assistance to those in need. Southern California Wildfire Relief Buyer and Owner Assurance $1,000 toward the purchase of a new 2025 Hyundai* toward the purchase of a new 2025 Hyundai* $2,000 toward the purchase of a new 2025 Genesis** toward the purchase of a new 2025 Genesis** Hyundai Motor Finance and Genesis Finance will provide financial hardship support options for affected customers living and working in designated evacuated areas. If you are affected, please contact: HMF: (800) 523-4030 or GF: (844) 363-7477 Extended availability of towing/roadside assistance*** *The $1,000 SoCal Wildfire Relief Buyer and Owner Assurance must be applied towards the purchase or lease of a new 2025 model year Hyundai vehicle from a participating Hyundai dealer. Customer must be the current registered owner or lessee of a vehicle that sustained damage as a result of the Southern California Fires that began January 7, 2025, and must provide a letter from their insurance company clearly identifying the vehicle make and model, the amount of damage the vehicle incurred and proof that the damage was a result of a Southern California wildfire. The new Hyundai vehicle must be purchased or leased between 1/7/2025 and 3/1/25. $1,000 SoCal Wildfire Relief Buyer and Owner Assurance must be applied to the amount due at signing. Limit of one per damaged vehicle and applied once to new vehicle purchase or lease. Customer must take delivery of new vehicle from dealer stock by March 31, 2025. See your participating Hyundai dealer for full details. Offer ends 3/31/25. **The $2,000 SoCal Wildfire Relief Buyer and Owner Assurance must be applied towards the purchase or lease of a new 2025 model year Genesis vehicle from a participating Genesis retailer. Customer must be the current registered owner or lessee of a vehicle that sustained damage as a result of the Southern California Fires that began January 7, 2025, and must provide a letter from their insurance company clearly identifying the vehicle make and model, the amount of damage the vehicle incurred and proof that the damage was a result of a Southern California wildfire. The new Genesis vehicle must be purchased or leased between 1/7/2025 and 3/1/25. $2,000 SoCal Wildfire Relief Buyer and Owner Assurance must be applied to the amount due at signing. Limit of one per damaged vehicle and applied once to new vehicle purchase or lease. Customer must take delivery of new vehicle from retailer stock by March 31, 2025. See your participating Genesis retailer for full details. Offer ends 3/31/25. ***Hyundai Roadside Assistance services are provided through the American Automobile Association, Inc., Heathrow, FL, and its affiliated motor clubs, which are independent contractors of Hyundai Motor America. Hyundai Motor America makes no guarantee or warranty regarding the services provided by the American Automobile Association, Inc. and its clubs, and is not liable for the actions of their employees or subcontractors. The Hyundai Roadside Assistance program does not include reimbursement for any costs/charges for repairs, parts, labor, property loss, or any other expenses incurred as a result of accident/collision, vehicle abuse, racing, vandalism, or other items not covered by the Hyundai New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Also excluded are services for snow tires, repairs to studs, mounting or demounting of snow chains, any fines, fees, or taxes associated with impound towing as a result of any actual or alleged violation of any law or regulation. Hyundai Motor America reserves the right to limit services or reimbursement to any owner or driver when, in Hyundai Motor America's judgment, the claims are excessive in nature, frequency or type of occurrence. See www.HyundaiUSA.com/assurance for full Hyundai Roadside Assistance program details. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a published economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok SOURCE Hyundai Motor America Senolytic Immunotherapy and Cellular Rejuvenation platforms are progressing toward clinical development MIAMI, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Immorta Bio Inc., a leader in longevity-focused biotechnologies, announced today that it will present its latest developments at the upcoming Biotech Showcase in San Francisco, CA. The company's presentation will provide insights into its groundbreaking research and technological advancements aimed at Treating Diseases of Aging and Treating Aging as Disease. Details of the presentation are as follows: Dr. Thomas Ichim, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Immorta Bio Event: Biotech Showcase 2025 Date: January 14, 2025 Time: 4 PM Pacific Location: Franciscan C, Ballroom Level Immorta Bio's innovative platform SenoVax, a dendritic cell-based vaccine designed to target and eliminate senescent cells. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its potential to transform the tumor microenvironment by clearing these cells, which are associated with aging and disease progression. Furthermore, in animal models of multiple solid tumor cancers (lung, breast, glioma, pancreatic), SenoVax induced significant tumor regression by enhancing immune responses, underscoring its promise as a therapeutic solution for both cancer treatment and longevity research. The company's StemCell Revivify, a set of personalized young and immortal progenitor and mesenchymal stem cells have shown an ability to achieve dramatic recovery of failing organs in multiple animal models. Proprietary iPSC-based stem cell therapies have been developed to provide scalable, practical, and economical solutions. "We are thrilled to showcase our recent progress and share our vision for tackling the diseases of aging as well as the aging itself," said Dr. Thomas Ichim, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Immorta Bio. "At Immorta Bio, we believe that combining cutting-edge science with a deep understanding of the biology of aging can transform how we address major medical challenges. The Biotech Showcase offers an invaluable platform to engage with innovators, collaborators, and investors while we highlight how our breakthroughs in longevity science are paving the way for healthier, longer lives." To learn more about the event, please visit https://informaconnect.com/biotech-showcase/. To schedule a one-on-one with Dr. Thomas Ichim, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Immorta Bio, during the event, please email [email protected] About Immorta Bio Immorta Bio Inc. is a scientific longevity company developing personalized cellular therapeutics focused on Treating Diseases of Aging and Treating Aging as a Disease. We are advancing longevity medicine by harnessing patient-derived rejuvenated stem cells and enhanced immune cells, restoring the body's natural ability to combat cancers and age-related diseases. Our mission is to address the root causes of aging and bring resilience and vitality back to you. To learn more about Immorta Bio's research initiatives, visit immortabio.com, LinkedIn and X. Media Contact David Schull Russo Partners 858-717-2310 [email protected] Kate Bash Chief Commercial Officer Immorta Bio [email protected] SOURCE Immorta Bio Inc. Leveraging AI technology and a supplier-centric philosophy, the solution simplifies the data collection process, helping to promote accuracy and compliance NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor Nexus , the single-instance supply chain network platform providing unparalleled visibility and collaboration, today announced NexTrace. This innovative solution is designed to improve customer transparency and provide a competitive advantage. With the EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) set to take effect in 2027, companies need to start preparing now by implementing traceability solutions. NexTrace can give customers a head start to meet regulatory requirements like the EU DPP and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Infor Nexus logo NexTrace provides end-to-end transparency by seamlessly tracking raw material through to finished products and beyond, ensuring full traceability throughout the entire supply chain journey. It integrates supplier ESG data and certificates for a holistic view of sustainability and compliance information. Leveraging AI technology and a supplier-centric philosophy, NexTrace simplifies the data collection process, ensuring accuracy and compliance. "Last June, we launched Map and Trace, which empowers our customers to map their supply chains and collect documentation from multiple supplier tiers. Map and Trace provides evidence of chain of custody compliance with regulations such as the US UFLPA and the French AGEC law. With NexTrace, we're taking this to the next level by proactively gathering full-scale item-level traceability from each tier of the supply chain. This will help our customers to not only meet upcoming regulations like the EU Digital Product Passport but also gain a competitive edge by providing comprehensive data on their products' journey, composition, and sustainability," said Brian Carelli, Infor VP, Sustainability and Partnerships. Meeting regulatory and consumer demands for product traceability requires collaboration across supply chain tiers. By connecting to Infor Nexus, companies gain a head start, leveraging an established ecosystem of over 94,000 brands, retailers, and suppliers already on the platform. Managing traceability and chain-of-custody data alongside existing supply chain processes on a unified platform accelerates progress, boosts efficiency, and reduces reliance on multiple systems. NexTrace Capability Highlights: Enables seamless lot and item-level tracing by tracking the movement of raw material lots and batches through their conversion into finished products Leverages AI to collect data from the multiple tiers of suppliers, while automatically associating transactions from one tier to the next, helping to reduce the burden on suppliers and increase data accuracy and tracing efficiency Allows suppliers to upload data from existing reports in one easy step, rather than necessitating manual data entry RFID scanning of serialized barcodes at source automatically links the multi-tier chain of custody data Integrates supplier ESG data and certificates with traceability information, providing a comprehensive view of sustainability and compliance throughout the supply chain Creates a digital link and visualization to share traceability and product information with consumers, enhancing transparency and trust throughout the supply chain Tracing data automatically updates the network graph creating linkages between products and materials providing a higher fidelity map of your supply chain network "Vendors will be eager to tout their Digital Product Passport solutions at NRF, but their focus is often on flashy features, rather than the minutiae of how to feed such data-hungry systems. At NRF, we look forward to demonstrating how trace data is built and how to scale a system of this magnitude," said Carelli. To learn more about building a more responsible supply chain, visit https://www.infor.com/solutions/scm/infor-nexus/sustainability About Infor Nexus Infor Nexus is the leading global supply chain platform. Infor Nexus connects a network of over 94,000 brands, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, logistics providers and banks on single-instance network platform to seamlessly orchestrate global supply chain processes from source through to delivery and payment. Companies streamline their operations to eliminate inefficiencies and waste while gaining data-driven insights and optimizing the flow of capital for improved agility, resilience, and sustainability. Visit www.infor.com/solutions/scm/infor-nexus. Media Contact: Alexandria Truby Senior Public Relations Specialist, Infor [email protected] SOURCE Infor COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Justice, the leading fashion and lifestyle brand for tween girls, is excited to announce their new partnership with Ring Pop and Bazooka bubble gum. This iconic collaboration combines Justice's vibrant, trend-setting style and the nostalgic sweetness of these beloved candies into an exclusive fashion collection consisting of sportswear, accessories, swimsuits and more that is bursting with personality. Justice and Ring Pop and Bazooka were brought together by Bazooka Companies Licensing Agency, Lisa Marks Associates (LMA). Launching just after the holiday season, this limited-edition line captures the joy and playfulness that Justice is known for, through bright colors, sequins, and the iconic look of Ring Pop and Bazooka. Available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com, the collection includes some of Justice's fan favorites, like stationery sets, hair clips, graphic tees, cargo pants, and pajamas in spring colors. This brand-new collection encourages girls to embrace the fun and flare of their fashion sense. The collab boasts over 40 SKUs, ranging in price from $7 - $24. Brand fans and candy lovers can pick up sequined Bazooka-shaped bags, Ring Pop studded hoodies, fuzzy bucket hats, and jewel-toned pajama sets: perfect for birthday gifts, spring outings, field trips, and everyday adventures. "At Justice, we're all about empowering girls through fashion and fun, and our newest collaboration with Ring Pop and Bazooka captures that spirit perfectly," said Elizabeth McCusker, VP of Marketing. "This collection is vibrant, playful, and full of surprisesjust like our amazing customers. Collaborations like this are the highlight of what we do, allowing us to deliver fresh, exciting products that resonate with our audience. Seeing how thrilled our customers get each season when we launch a new collaboration is truly the most rewarding part of the job." The love for Ring Pop and Bazooka spans across generations, making this collaboration a perfect connection point for tweens and their guardians alike. In line with Justice's mission to make fashion a safe and exploratory experience for tweens everywhere, the new collaboration helps them confidently explore their personal style with pieces that are age-appropriate, accessible, and easy to mix-and-match. "The new Bazooka and Ring Pop apparel collection at Walmart isn't just about clothing-it embodies a cool newstalgia, blending today's trends with a timeless playfulness that connects generations," says Becky Silberfarb, VP of Marketing at Bazooka Companies LLC. "With designs inspired by the classic charm of Bazooka and the bold, vibrant aesthetic of Ring Pop, this collection offers tweens a stylish and fun way to express their sweet side." The Justice x Ring Pop and Bazooka Collection will launch on January 7 at Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Sarah Lundgren, Director | Michele Marie PR [email protected] ABOUT JUSTICE Justice is the leading tween clothing brand, empowering young girls to express their individuality through fashion. With a commitment to inclusivity, creativity, and confidence, the collaboration with Minecraft continues Justice's mission of encouraging and supporting tween girls and redefining fashion. Justice is managed by Bluestar Alliance. Additional information about Bluestar Alliance can be found by visiting the corporate website, bluestaralliance.com. ABOUT THE BAZOOKA CANDY BRANDS Bazooka Candy Brands is a division of The Bazooka Companies, LLC and produces iconic, high-quality candy products including Ring Pop, Push Pop, Baby Bottle Pop, Juicy Drop Pop, and of course, Bazooka bubble gum. ABOUT RING POP Ring Pop is the ultimate iconic wearable candy and has been a party favorite since launching in 1977. For over 45 years, Ring Pop has been adored and enjoyed by kids and adults around the world and is known for adding a level of over-the-top fun to any moment, gift or occasion. Being in the Bazooka Candy Brands portfolio that continuously offers innovation to the edible entertainment category, the brand has expanded to produce even more delicious Ring Pop flavors and treats including Jumbo Ring Pop, Ring Pop Gummy Rings, and Ring Pop Gummy Gems. Ring Pop is available in the fan-favorite fruity flavors of Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Berry Blast, and many more tasty flavors. SOURCE Justice NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global less-than-truckload (ltl) market size is estimated to grow by USD 110.7 billion from 2025 to 2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive forecast of key segments below- Segmentation Overview Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Market 2025-2029 Type 1.1 Long-haul carriers 1.2 Superregional carriers 1.3 Regional carriers Capacity 2.1 Light LTL volume 2.2 Heavy LTL volume Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 North America 3.3 Europe 3.4 Middle East and Africa and 3.5 South America Geography 4.1 Mexico 4.2 Australia 4.3 Brazil 4.4 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (KSA) 4.5 UAE 4.6 South Africa Destination Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: The global less-than-truckload (LTL) market's largest revenue contributor is the long-haul carrier segment. Long-haul LTL carriers, also known as national LTL carriers, transport shipments within 3 to 5 business days, covering an average distance of approximately 1,200 miles per haul. These carriers operate through a hub-and-spoke network and often have labor unions. The long-haul LTL carriers segment is projected to grow steadily due to economic conditions in the country. Long-haul LTL carriers offer value-added services, such as packing, unpacking, and door-to-door freight collection. Despite competition from other transportation modes, long-haul LTL carriers remain popular due to their efficiency and timely delivery. Businesses benefit from outsourcing their freight and transportation needs, as managing in-house transportation requires significant investment and expertise. The long-haul LTL carriers segment provides additional services, including project logistics, network planning, cargo insurance, value-chain optimization, and customs brokerage. The increase in industrial activities worldwide is expected to fuel the growth of the long-haul LTL carriers segment in the LTL market. Analyst Review The Less-than-truckload (LTL) market plays a crucial role in transporting goods for various industries such as Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, and Retail. Freight volumes in the LTL market are driven by the demand for transporting smaller consignments, making it an essential mode of transport for MSMEs. E-commerce and the logistics sector have significantly contributed to the growth of the LTL market in recent years. Freight pricing trends in the LTL market are influenced by factors like fuel prices, trailer capacity utilization, and cargo density. Scalability and affordability are key benefits of LTL services, making them a popular choice for shippers with smaller freight volumes. Road freight services are the primary mode of transport in the LTL market, offering flexibility and efficient delivery solutions. The LTL market caters to various industries, including Crude oil, where it is used for transporting drilling equipment and other supplies. Freight carriers offer customized solutions to meet the unique needs of different industries, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of cargo. The market is expected to continue growing due to increasing demand for affordable and flexible freight transportation solutions. Market Overview The Less-than-truckload (LTL) market caters to the shipping needs of various industries such as Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, and others. Freight transport volume in the LTL market is driven by the demand for retail products, e-commerce, and MSME sector growth. Freight pricing trends are influenced by factors like fuel prices, operational efficiency, and economic conditions. LTL services offer scalability and affordability for small to medium shipments, making them popular among businesses. Road freight services dominate the LTL market due to their flexibility and wide reach. Logistics sector players provide LTL services for various industries, including retail and industrial shipping. Fuel prices, particularly for diesel and petrol, significantly impact LTL freight costs. Truckers and oil marketing companies play crucial roles in the LTL market, as they manage the supply of crude oil and the distribution of fuel to LTL carriers. Freight carriers offer LTL services for various industries, with full truckload carriers and specialized carriers catering to specific needs. Shippers look for trailer capacity and cargo density-based pricing to optimize their logistics costs. The LTL market is seeing innovation with the entry of startups offering volume LTL services and new pricing models like density-based pricing. Overall, the LTL market is essential for businesses seeking efficient and cost-effective freight transportation solutions. To understand more about this market- Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio This year, more than 30 works 14 outdoors, 11 indoors, 7 video projections plus some surprise works will be unveiled in phases over the next four months. The works, created by 15 studios and 20 artists both local and international, will offer visitors a refreshed experience throughout the winter with contemplative and participatory installations. MARQUEE WORKS TO DISCOVER The public will enjoy an impressive set of outdoor installations all winter. On Esplanade PVM at Place Ville Marie, Eloge de l'air by Chevalvert invites members of the public to make an enormous 5-metre banner float in the air; Les Fabuloscopes by La Camaraderie with Eruoma Awashish, set up in front of the Grande Bibliotheque, invites passers-by to create stroboscopic animations; Lustres by TILT, on the parvis of St. James United Church, is a unique open-air ballroom experience; 1000 Visages by Alejandro Figuerroa of +Amor, facing the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink, is a colossal 12-metre archway with 1779 moving mirrors; Biolumen by Rahda Chaddah and RAW Design, at the Palais des congres, is a unique contemplative experience inspired by bioluminescent oceanic organisms. Cercle Polaire by Jason Carter and M.A.D. Collectif, on Esplanade PVM at Place Ville Marie, invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of majestic Far North fauna; and Orb by Spy transforms the Place des Arts Esplanade with 90 convex discs made of polished steel. NEW WORKS OPENING THIS JANUARY Chaleur Humaine is a piece by Anne Lagace that resembles a suspended sun. It brings colour and warmth to Place Pasteur. Posted on Sainte-Catherine and St-Urbain Streets, Talking Heads by Limelight Art (Hungary), is already the talk of the town, with its two heads made up of 4,000 light-emitting diodes that interact with each other to produce facial expressions in different colors and conduct real conversations through light. Featuring 16 four-metre-tall arrays of LED lights, arranged to form a 30-metre light tunnel, Le TUNNEL by Big Art can be experienced in Place Emilie-Gamelin. UNPRECEDENTED INDOOR EXPERIENCES This year, LUMINO's programming is also enhanced with indoor installations, open to the public. The works include Equilibre : Tensio by Guillaume Bourassa and Francis Theberge. Located at the entrance to Le Central gastronomic food court, this dynamic immersive installation plays with perception. Apparently chaotic, it becomes a harmonious structure when viewed from a certain position. With VORTEX, artist Nicolas Paolozzi stages an encounter between light, water and geometry. Positioned above the Complexe Desjardins fountain, this immersive work provides a poetic sensory experience. Meanwhile, an interactive work called Cinetique, by Ottomata, is located inside The Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Its dozens of luminous stems, arranged in a circle, invite the public to explore the invisible kinetic forces that surround us and shape our everyday lives. Inside Place des Arts, starting January 30, the public is invited to discover Kaleidoscope: A Social Media Trinity by Alejandro Figueroa of AMOR+. The installation explores the impact of social media through a reflection on the creation, dissemination and consumption of content. LUMINO will also occupy the Balmoral block with six experimental works curated by three local galleries: perte de signal, Elektra Galerie and Eastern Bloc. The public will have an exclusive opportunity to discover Microstars by Charline Dally and Gabrielle HB, Porteur de Lumiere by students from NAD-UQAC, Afflux by Jade Delobre, Mechanicolor by Steban SanFacon, Chasing Waterfalls by Hidden Edges and Matiere Premiere by Yan Breuleux. VIDEO PROJECTIONS TO ENLIVEN WINTER NIGHTS Every night, the public can enjoy video projections that transport them to immersive visual worlds. Etrangement satisfaisant by COLEGRAM illuminates the facades of Edifice WILDER | Espace Danse, UQAM's Pavillon President-Kennedy and the wall adjacent to Saint-Laurent metro station, with a series of three video projections riffing on online culture and videos. On the facade of the Grande Bibliotheque, Hyperobjects, by artist Aude Guivarc'h, invites viewers to ponder the ephemerality of seemingly permanent and unchanging things. Lastly, the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink once again presents the interactive video projection Au bord du lac Tranquille by Mirari and Normal studio, taking Montrealers and visitors on a dreamy journey through Quebec's Far North. 15 YEARS OF CREATIVITY, DIGITAL INNOVATION AND INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS Since LUMINO's inception, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership has produced 25 works for the event, and presented more than 50, showcasing installations and video projections by dozens of creators. Since 2016, LUMINO's success has echoed far beyond Montreal. Numerous cultural districts around the world have hosted the installations, which have been presented 252 times in 100 cities in 13 countries on five continents. Quartier des Spectacles international, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, was founded in 2022 to manage touring operations for the installations. Quartier des Spectacles international, helps position LUMINO and Montreal as global leaders in digital art and design for public space. LUMINO is made possible by the financial support of the Ville de Montreal and Tourisme Montreal and by the participation of several co-exhibitors: Place des Arts, Complexe Desjardins, Montreal centre-ville, Place Ville Marie (PVM), Palais des congres de Montreal, SDC Quartier latin, BAnQ, Le Central, The Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth and UQAM. LUMINO 15th EDITION November 28, 2024 to March 9, 2025 Free and open daily from sunset to 11 p.m. LUMINO interactive map: luminomtl.com quartierdesspectacles.com PHOTOS Download link. Please include full captions and credits. SOURCE PARTENARIAT DU QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Our thoughts and sympathy go out to all those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, including our employees and dealer partners. We also offer our sincere gratitude to the brave firefighters and first responders working tirelessly to contain the fires and protect our communities. In support of the recovery efforts, Mazda will be donating $100,000, split between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation. Mazda Financial Services (MFS) is also offering payment relief options to our customers in designated disaster areas. For more information, click here. Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at news.mazdausa.com. Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Threads. SOURCE Mazda North American Operations Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that was invented by a Wellington hotel chef. New Zealand and Australia are still fighting for the right to be called its homeland. ADVERTISIMENT And while this is happening, skillful housewives from all over the world simply cook it in their kitchens, which makes their relatives incredibly happy. A food blogger with the nickname annasimiachko shared how to make this exquisite and delicious dessert on TikTok. Ingredients for the meringue whites - 150 g sugar - 300 g lemon juice - 20 ml corn starch - 1 tbsp Ingredients for the cream mascarpone - 250 g cream (30% or higher) - 150 ml powdered sugar - 30 g lemon zest - 1 pc Method of preparation 1. Preheat the oven to 110 degrees in the top/bottom mode without convection. 2. Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt in a clean, dry bowl until soft and frothy. ADVERTISIMENT 3. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat at medium speed, until the mass becomes thick, shiny and the sugar is completely dissolved. Check by rubbing the mixture between your fingers - you shouldn't feel any crystals. 4. Add starch and lemon juice and beat again on low speed for 30 seconds. 5. Draw a circle with a diameter of 20 cm on the parchment, turn the paper over and put the meringue on it, forming a slide-like cake with raised edges. 6. Bake for 2-3 hours. Turn off the oven and leave the meringue inside for a few more hours, or preferably overnight. 7. Mix mascarpone, cream with powdered sugar and lemon zest in a separate bowl until smooth. 8. Put the cooled meringue base on a plate and spread the cream on top, smoothing it out. 9. Garnish with tangerines and serve immediately to keep the meringue crisp. EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MT Sobek, a trailblazer in adventure travel, proudly announces its role as the new outfitter for the popular trips previously offered by REI Adventures. With REI Adventures exiting the adventure travel space, travelers can now rebook their favorite itineraries with MT Sobek and enjoy many of the same expert guides, unique accommodations, and unforgettable experiences. With REI Adventures exiting the adventure travel space, travelers can now rebook their favorite itineraries with MT Sobek. Post this Hiking in Maine. Photo by John Stout, courtesy of Mountain Travel Sobek. "We're thrilled to offer these extraordinary journeys that embody Mountain Travel Sobek's heritage," says Massimo Prioreschi, President & CEO of MT Sobek. "Our focus on creating unique active travel experiences perfectly aligns with the spirit of these iconic REI trips, ensuring adventurers have unparalleled access to North America's most breathtaking wild spacesled by expert guides who know them best." The move highlights MT Sobek's dedication to delivering awe-inspiring adventures with world-class service. Travelers can now explore the breathtaking landscapes of the U.S. and Canada with curated itineraries that combine MT Sobek's deep-rooted adventure expertise with a commitment to stewardship and sustainability. Top Trips to Inspire Wanderlust: Alaska Hiking: Kenai to Denali Lodge Based Discover the rugged grandeur of Alaska , from the coastal wonders of the Kenai Peninsula to the towering peaks of Denali. Expertly guided hikes paired with serene lodge stays offer unparalleled access to Alaska's pristine wilderness. Canadian Rockies Hiking Lodge Based Experience the majesty of the Canadian Rockies, where turquoise lakes and jagged peaks create a hiker's paradise. Each day brings new trails and warm, welcoming lodges. Grand Canyon Hiking Lodge Based Delve into the depths of one of the world's most iconic natural wonders. Explore hidden trails, savor sweeping vistas, and retreat to comfortable accommodations. Great Smoky Mountains Adventure Immerse yourself in the misty beauty of the Smokies, with ancient forests, cascading waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. Expert guides lead the way through this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maine Hiking: Acadia National Park Lodge Based Revel in the coastal charm of Maine's Acadia National Park . Traverse granite peaks, stroll along dramatic shorelines, and enjoy quintessential New England hospitality. As the trusted outfitter for these classic trips, MT Sobek offers adventurers the chance to embark on unforgettable journeys rooted in discovery, inspiration, and a deep connection to nature. Book your next adventure today and experience the enduring magic of MT Sobek. Visit www.mtsobek.com. SOURCE Mountain Travel Sobek ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NATSO, representing truck stops and travel plazas, SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), American Trucking Associations (ATA) the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) today expressed strong concern with the Department of Treasury's preliminary proposed rule implementing the Clean Fuel Production tax credit, also known as the "Section 45Z" credit. Today's preliminary proposal falls short in addressing issues critical to stabilizing the biofuels market. The associations, which represent fuel retailers and consumers of biofuels, urge Congress to extend the $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders' tax credit as quickly as possible. "Today's piecemeal, preliminary proposal is a classic case of 'too little, too late' for a supply chain that needed clear, unambiguous direction months ago," said David Fialkov, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs for NATSO and SIGMA. "It fails to provide the market with the certainty needed to mobilize new capital, and as a result we expect that potential investments in clean fuel will be sidelined." "This credit represents a decidedly anti-consumer shift in biofuel tax incentive schemes. Very few ethanol producers will be able to access the 45Z credit, eliminating any potential for this policy to lower retail gasoline prices," Fialkov continued. "Even worse, the new 45Z credit will result in a materially diminished incentive for renewable diesel fuels and biodiesel. It appears that the preliminary proposal would allow imported used cooking oil from China to claim the credit if it is making renewable jet fuel, but not renewable diesel. This is environmentally and economically unjustifiable. Diesel prices will go up and fuel emissions will go up. This policy needs to be fixed as soon as possible." "It is time for Congress to extend the longstanding $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders' tax credit to help ensure market stability until the incoming Administration and Congress have the opportunity to address longer-term tax policy in 2025," said LeeAnn Goheen, Senior Director of Government Affairs for NATSO and SIGMA. "For well over a year, the clean fuel supply chain repeatedly has implored the Administration to clearly define how the credit will function with ample time for scrutiny and feedback. By allowing this to languish until days before the next Administration takes office, Treasury has set a course for higher fuel prices, increased emissions, and lost agricultural jobs as the biodiesel industry effectively shuts down." "ATA supports federal policies that ensure the trucking industry has access to reliable supplies of affordably priced fuels. Trucking companies that use biodiesel and renewable diesel require certainty that these lower-carbon fuel options are cost-competitive and readily available at the pump. We are concerned that this new 45Z guidance fails to meet that needed guarantee," said Henry Hanscom, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs at ATA. "The biodiesel blenders' tax credit directly lowers the cost of diesel fuel for truck drivers, which in turn reduces shipping costs and helps lower the prices consumers pay for goods transported by truck. This 45Z credit will do none of those things," said David Heller, Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs with the Truckload Carriers Association. "This preliminary proposal offers little reassurance to the biofuels supply chain, which is already wary of this untested new credit," said Doug Kantor, General Counsel at the National Association of Convenience Stores. "Extending the Biodiesel Tax Credit is the most effective path Congress can take to keep fuel prices low in the coming year." Despite a statutory requirement that Treasury issue final guidance no later than January 1, 2025, the biofuels supply chain will continue to navigate a climate of uncertainty left in the wake of today's preliminary proposal. The Department of Energy's updated Argonne Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model was not released in conjunction with the rule, and the industry is also awaiting a rulemaking on "climate smart agriculture" practices from the Agriculture Department. Biodiesel and renewable diesel continue to be the most widely used low-carbon fuels in commercial trucking and remain the most viable option for reducing carbon emissions from the nation's trucking, home heating oil, and rail industries in the near term. The biodiesel blenders' tax credit has been instrumental in developing a strong renewable diesel industry in the United States, driving significant growth in production. The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel market expanded from approximately 100 million gallons in 2005 to around 4 billion gallons in 2023, all while contributing to lower transportation-related carbon emissions. About NATSO, SIGMA, NACS, ATA and TCA NATSO is the trade association representing America's travel plaza and truck stop industry. Founded in 1960, NATSO represents the industry on legislative and regulatory matters; serves as the official source of information on the diverse travel plaza and truck stop industry; provides education to its members; conducts an annual convention and trade show; and supports efforts to generally improve the business climate in which its members operate. Contact: Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman, Vice President, Public Affairs. 202-365-9459 SIGMA is the national trade association representing the most successful, progressive, and innovative fuel marketers and chain retailers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1958 as the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA), SIGMA has become a fixture in the motor fuel marketing industry. Representing a diverse membership of approximately 250 independent chain retailers and marketers of motor fuel, the association serves to further the interests of both the branded and unbranded segments of the industry while providing information and services to members. For more information visit SIGMA.org. NACS advances the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 153,000 stores nationwide selling fuel, food and merchandise, serves 165 million customers dailyhalf of the U.S. populationand has sales that are 10.8% of total U.S. retail and foodservice sales. NACS has 1,300 retailer and 1,600 supplier members from more than 50 countries. ATA is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. TCA is the only trade association whose sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry. The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal container carriers operating throughout North America. Founded in 1938, the TCA represents operators of nearly 210,000 trucks, which collectively produce revenue of more than $38 billion in annual truckload revenue. SOURCE NATSO Two-day symposium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia brings together leading oncology professionals from across the MENA region to review updated treatment recommendations. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)a global not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centersis taking part in a two-day meeting at the Middle East North Africa (MENA)-NCCN Regional Coordinating Center, beginning today. The MENA-NCCN Regional Coordinating Center is supported by the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That officedirected by Dr. Kanan Al Shammarihas been working closely with NCCN to ensure quality guideline adaptation and knowledge exchange since 2014. Learn more about Allied Against Cancers efforts to improve cancer outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa at alliedagainstcancer.org During the international meeting, experts from across the region will present new and updated NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): MENA Editions, and selected topics highlighting cancer advances, challenges, and opportunities in the MENA region. The NCCN Guidelines provide evidence-based expert consensus-driven recommendations for cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and supportive care. NCCN Guidelines: MENA Editions tailor those best practices for unique local/regional circumstances. NCCN Guidelines: MENA Editions are available for free at NCCN.org/global or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines App. "This gathering represents an important opportunity to continue integrating global cancer care standards with regional expertise, ensuring more equitable and effective treatment outcomes for people in the MENA region," said Dr. Al Shammari. "NCCN has a distinguished legacy of improving cancer care globally. We are pleased to work together to further the impact of medical advances so people with cancer and their loved ones can live better lives throughout our area." Specific NCCN Guidelines: MENA Editions that will be reviewed include those covering: Blood Cancers Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Liver Cancer Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prostate Cancer Genetics and Hereditary Risk for Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic and Prostate Cancers Palliative Care "We are so proud of this ongoing relationship with cancer care experts across the MENA Region," stated Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN, who spoke during a session on the History of NCCN and its Global Impact. "Over the years, we have published more than a dozen NCCN Guidelines specifically for the MENA region, which are applicable to approximately 65% of all adult cancer incidence here. That represents over 2,000 pages of clinical content being updated every two years. We are honored to be able to work together to empower the MENA oncology community to deliver high-quality cancer care, enhance scientific communication, and improve access for patients." The NCCN Guidelines: MENA Editions offer color-coded guidance for health care providers on how best to care for people with cancer. Text in black represents current global recommendations, while italicized blue text indicates appropriate and feasible regional modificationsas determined by in-country experts. Approaches that are not currently feasible are marked with grey strikethrough text. The NCCN Global Program also features NCCN Guidelines that have been translated more than 270 times across 50+ different languages. NCCN Harmonized Guidelines and NCCN Framework for Resource Stratification (NCCN Framework) supply additional recommendations for defining appropriate treatment for differing resource levels. NCCN also publishes NCCN Guidelines for Patients; to provide clinical recommendations in non-medical terms for patients and caregivers. They are available for free at NCCN.org/patientsthanks to funding from the NCCN Foundationand have been translated into multiple languages, including Arabic. Learn more about NCCN's ongoing work to define and advance cancer care around the world at NCCN.org/global. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is marking 30 years as a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to defining and advancing quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care and prevention so all people can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus-driven recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information. Media Contact: Rachel Darwin 267-622-6624 [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2593027/NCCN_MENA_NCCN_Flyer.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/441768/5104478/NCCN_Logo.jpg Governor Gavin Newsom to Be Formally Served Recall Papers in Next Two Weeks Following Los Angeles Wildfire Catastrophe LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Saving California, a newly formed non-partisan coalition of working families, professionals, and community advocates, announced today the launch of a recall campaign targeting Governor Gavin Newsom. Founded in late 2024 by Randy Economy, a senior advisor and media spokesperson of the 2021 Recall California Governor Gavin Newsomotherwise known as "The People's Recall!", the coalition unites Californians who are increasingly disillusioned with the state's direction under Newsom's leadership. "Under the reign of Governor Newsom, living in California has become impossible for average people through years of poor policies which have increased the costs of living, increased crime, increased drug use and homelessness, increased the cost of burden on small businesses and communities, while decreasing our professional standards, education standards, the disappearance of billions of taxpayers' dollars to failed pet programs, and our public services," said Economy. "This was most recently demonstrated by the woefully unprepared and incompetent response to the fires currently ravaging the Los Angeles area. Just today, Governor Newsom was asked 'What is your plan to deal with the lack of water to deal with the fires?' and he responded by saying 'local folks are gonna figure it out.' That's not leadership! Leadership is solving problems, not passing the buck and the blame, and Californians can no longer afford to have an empty suit occupying the governorship. It's time for Californians to take back control of our mismanaged government, and using the recall tool is our last hope." The coalition plans to serve recall papers to Governor Newsom within two weeks, citing growing concerns over California's rising taxes, cost of living, and ineffective emergency responses - issues that have contributed to the state's first population decline in history. "Governor Gavin Newsom's governance has been marked by a series of catastrophic failures, particularly his mismanagement of the recent wildfires, which have led to unprecedented displacement and destruction. Wildfires are a common and well-known issue in California. The fact that Governor Newsom has not been able to come up with any plan or prep after six years as governor and eight years as lieutenant governor shows that he is completely unprepared and lacks the compassion and will to lead California any longer," said Dr. Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD, and Executive Board Member of Saving California. "His administration has also imposed burdensome taxes on Californians, exacerbating the state's affordability crisis. Crime rates have soared under his watch, showing a clear lack of effective policy to ensure public safety. Moreover, his energy policies have not only failed to provide relief at the pump but have contributed to economic strain on families and businesses across the state. It's time for a change, as these issues demonstrate that Californians can no longer afford Newsom's inept governance needs during these critical times." Additional board members include James Bradley, former US Senate Candidate; Susan "Daya" Hamwi, a mediator, family lawyer, and health freedom advocate; Neil C. Flyer, a Southern California business owner and long-time Cable Television executive; Art Olivier, former Mayor of Bellflower and vice presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party in 2000; Susan Walsh, a State Delegate of the CAGOP, Derrick Whitney, an entrepreneur and strategic advisor specializing in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies, and many others. For more information about Saving California and its initiatives, visit SavingCalifornia.vote. Media Inquiries: Lindsay Stevens [email protected] 2132009638 SOURCE SavingCalifornia.Vote Report measures the brand's progress against sustainability commitments and underscores an ongoing focus on decarbonization BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Homecare company and green products leader Seventh Generation today launched its 2023 Impact Report, outlining progress against its commitment to decrease the climate impacts of its products and business operations. The report not only shows where the brand stands in relation to its Science Based Climate Target, but also offers a look at how the Seventh Generation vision to consider its impact on the next seven generations comes through across its products portfolio, the business decisions it makes, and its work in advocacy and philanthropy. "Seventh Generation has a longstanding commitment to transparency from our first impact report in 2004 to the launch of our industry-first reporting framework and methodology, Climate Fingerprints," said Ashley Orgain, Chief Impact Officer, Seventh Generation. "We are certainly proud of the progress we've made, as evidenced in the report, but we remain even more dedicated to naming and tackling the challenges that are still ahead of us in meeting our 2030 goals, including plastic reduction." Key report highlights include Seventh Generation's progress in: Shrinking its Carbon Footprint: Seventh Generation made early progress on its 2030 Science Based Climate Target (2012 baseline), reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 100% through partnership with its electric and gas utilities and procurement of clean energy. While Seventh Generation's footprint is almost entirely Scope 3 emissions, and consumer use represents 93% of those emissions, in 2023 the brand's efforts yielded important progress. Absolute emissions shrank by 18% from 2022, and for the first time since Seventh Generation set its Science Based Climate Target, they were lower than the 2012 baseline by 4%. Seventh Generation made early progress on its 2030 Science Based Climate Target (2012 baseline), reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 100% through partnership with its electric and gas utilities and procurement of clean energy. While Seventh Generation's footprint is almost entirely Scope 3 emissions, and consumer use represents 93% of those emissions, in 2023 the brand's efforts yielded important progress. Absolute emissions shrank by 18% from 2022, and for the first time since Seventh Generation set its Science Based Climate Target, they were lower than the 2012 baseline by 4%. Decarbonizing its Finances: In 2022, Seventh Generation became the first company to publicly disclose its financed emissions. While its banking relationships are under the purview of its parent company, in the past year Seventh Generation has engaged Unilever in undergoing an audit of its own financed emissions, including commissioning a report and joint review. In 2022, Seventh Generation became the first company to publicly disclose its financed emissions. While its banking relationships are under the purview of its parent company, in the past year Seventh Generation has engaged Unilever in undergoing an audit of its own financed emissions, including commissioning a report and joint review. Leveraging Advocacy to Make Polluters Pay: Through partnership with advocacy coalitions in both its home state of Vermont , and across Lake Champlain in New York State , Seventh Generation supported the passage of policy designed to hold the biggest greenhouse gas polluters in each state accountable for funding needed climate resilience and mitigation. Seventh Generation supported the passage of the Climate Change Superfund Act Vermont, with New York State following suit. "Looking at our 2023 progress, we are proud of the recent the strides made across not only our footprint, but through the work we've done as advocates, as well, driving critical policy change," said Kate Ogden, Head of Advocacy and Movement Building, Seventh Generation. "That said, we know our work and that of the industry at large is far from over to meet the urgency of the climate crisis we face. We will continue to hold ourselves and our peers accountable." From these findings, Seventh Generation continues its mission to lead by example in sustainable, equitable business. The organization will continue activating its other Climate Fingerprints, such as financed emissions and investments that have the potential to make industry-level impact, including regenerative palm. In addition, Seventh Generation is thinking critically about its targets and will use the five-year mandatory review of its Science Based Climate Target to ensure the organization continues to meet its full climate action potential. For the full report, please visit: https://www.seventhgeneration.com/impact-report?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=press&utm_campaign=report-release&utm_id=update-release About Seventh Generation For more than 30 years, it's been Seventh Generation's mission to help you protect your world with our environmentally conscious and effective household products. Our products are solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home -- and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation offers a full line of laundry, dish and household cleaners, plus recycled paper products and recycled plastic trash bags. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." For information on Seventh Generation products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. SOURCE Seventh Generation ATLANTA, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety ("Pye-Barker" or the "Company"), the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety, and security alarm services provider in the United States, announced that a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA") and GIC, a global institutional investor, have completed the acquisition of minority stakes in Pye-Barker, joining existing equity holders Altas Partners ("Altas") and Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. ("LGP"), as investors in the Company. As part of the transaction, LGP invested significant new capital into the Company while Altas retained the majority of its ownership interest. Financial terms were not disclosed. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Pye-Barker is the leading privately-owned commercial fire protection services provider in the U.S. The Company's service offerings include inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, and installation of fire detection systems, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire suppression and sprinkler systems, and security alarm monitoring services for businesses nationwide. "We appreciate the strong existing partnership with Altas and LGP and look forward to the support of ADIA and GIC." Post this "We are excited about entering our next phase of growth with our longstanding and exceptional partners in Altas and LGP, as well as with our new investors ADIA and GIC who share our common vision," said Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker. "Pye-Barker is fortunate to have experienced rapid growth due to the hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of our people. On behalf of Pye-Barker's leadership team, we appreciate the strong existing partnership with Altas and LGP and look forward to the support of ADIA and GIC as we continue our focus on growth by delivering exceptional care for our team members and customers." "We extend our sincere gratitude to the entire Pye-Barker team for their outstanding work in building a world-class organization," said John Danhakl, Managing Partner at LGP. Evan Hershberg, Partner at LGP, added, "We look forward to the next stage of Pye-Barker's growth and continued success. Since we partnered with the Pye-Barker team over five years ago, the Company has been a consistently strong performer and has delivered exceptional growth and value to all stakeholders. We are excited about the many growth opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to continuing our support of the Company." "We are pleased to welcome ADIA and GIC as new financial partners in Pye-Barker. This transaction underscores the strength of the Company, its talented management team, and its significant growth opportunities," said Scott Werry, Managing Partner of Altas. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Pye-Barker and have strong confidence in the Company's future success under the leadership of Bart and his accomplished team." The transaction closed in January 2025. Harris Williams served as lead financial advisor to Pye-Barker. Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs & Co., Jefferies, and Piper Sandler also provided financial advice to parties in the transaction. Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor to LGP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to Pye-Barker and Altas. Dechert LLP acted as legal advisor to GIC and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acted as legal advisor to ADIA. ABOUT PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY Pye-Barker Fire & Safety is the largest fully integrated fire protection, life safety and security alarm services provider to commercial end markets in the United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and servicing facilities in industrial, hospitality, retail, healthcare and other commercial markets, Pye-Barker's comprehensive offerings focus on inspection, testing, maintenance, service and repair of life safety and fire protection products and systems to help save lives, protect businesses, and ensure state and local building code compliance. With over 250 locations and nearly 8,000 team members across 45 states, Pye-Barker ranks No. 849 on the Inc. 5000 and No. 8 on the SDM 100. For more information about Pye-Barker, visit www.PyeBarkerFS.com. ABOUT ALTAS Altas Partners is a North American private equity firm focused on selectively acquiring significant interests in high-quality businesses with meaningful growth potential. Altas focuses on services sub-sectors where it has deep expertise, seeking one or two compelling investment opportunities each year. The firm's patient investment philosophy and engaged approach to ownership distinguish Altas as a buyer of choice for many management teams and founders. The firm was founded in 2012 and operates from offices in Toronto and New York. Altas manages more than $10 billion in AUM on behalf of leading institutional and family office investors from around the world. For more, visit www.altas.com. ABOUT LGP LGP is a leading private equity investment firm founded in 1989 and based in Los Angeles with over $70 billion of assets under management. The firm partners with experienced management teams and often with founders to invest in market-leading companies. Since inception, LGP has completed over 150 investments in the form of traditional buyouts, going-private transactions, recapitalizations, growth equity, and selective public equity and debt positions. The firm primarily focuses on companies providing services, including consumer, healthcare, and business services, as well as distribution and industrials. For more information, please visit www.leonardgreen.com. ABOUT ADIA Established in 1976, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is a globally-diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi through a strategy focused on long-term value creation. For more information, please visit www.adia.ae. ABOUT GIC GIC is a leading global investment firm established in 1981 to secure Singapore's financial future. As the manager of Singapore's foreign reserves, GIC takes a long-term, disciplined approach to investing and is uniquely positioned across a wide range of asset classes and active strategies globally. These include equities, fixed income, real estate, private equity, venture capital, and infrastructure. Its long-term approach, multi-asset capabilities, and global connectivity enable it to be an investor of choice. GIC seeks to add meaningful value to its investments. Headquartered in Singapore, GIC has a global talent force of over 2,300 people in 11 key financial cities and has investments in over 40 countries. For more information, please visit www.gic.com.sg or follow on LinkedIn. Contact: Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Alycia Volpe [email protected] ALTAS Julie Rudnick FGS Global [email protected] LGP [email protected] SOURCE Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Company reports 300% revenue growth in 2024 and advances partnerships with nation's leading health systems LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RAAPID, the industry-leading healthcare AI company, announced today a significant Series A investment from M12, Microsoft's venture fund. This strategic funding positions RAAPID to expand its groundbreaking Neuro-symbolic AI platform that is reshaping healthcare risk adjustment. RAAPID's explosive growth - marked by a 300% revenue increase in 2024 - demonstrates the market's strong validation of its advanced technology platform. The company has quickly established itself as a trusted partner for major health plans and provider., At the core of RAAPID's success is its pioneering VisionAI technology, which tackles one of healthcare's most pressing challenges: making sense of unstructured medical data. While over 70% of medical records exist as unstructured data when shared outside EHRs, RAAPID's AI engine transforms this complex information into actionable insights, enabling unprecedented accuracy in risk capture and care gap identification. "Our vision extends beyond traditional risk adjustment," states Chetan Parikh, Founder and CEO of RAAPID. "We're creating a future where AI augments healthcare professionals' capabilities, leading to better patient outcomes and more accurate appropriate reimbursements. This investment from M12 accelerates our mission to transform healthcare through advanced AI." RAAPID's purpose-built Risk Adjustment platform has achieved remarkable results: Slashing chart review time by 60-80% Surpassing industry standards with 95%+ coding accuracy Generating additional appropriate and compliant revenue per member Improving risk capture accuracy by 25% The HITRUST-certified platform stands out for its unique Neuro-symbolic AI approach, combining neural networks with an extensive medical knowledge graph containing over 4 million clinical entities and 50 million relationships. This sophisticated technology enables both retrospective analysis and prospective risk adjustment, helping organizations identify and address care gaps to positively impact patient health. "Healthcare organizations are increasingly seeking innovative solutions to manage risk and improve care delivery in value-based arrangements," said Todd Graham, Managing Partner at M12. "RAAPID's AI-driven risk adjustment platform aligns perfectly with our investment strategy. Through M12, we are committed to providing our portfolio companies with access to Microsoft's resources and expertise to drive significant impact in the healthcare sector. Led by a team with over 25 years of healthcare technology expertise, RAAPID has collaborated with experts from the top 4 tech giants in developing its clinical AI solutions. RAAPID continues to push the safe boundaries of what's possible in healthcare AI. The company's selection as an M12 portfolio company validates its position as a leader in healthcare technology innovation. As value-based care becomes increasingly important, RAAPID's AI-powered solutions are becoming essential tools for healthcare organizations striving to improve timeliness and quality of care all patients expect. With this new funding, RAAPID is poised to further advance its technology and expand its positive impact on patients, providers and payers. About RAAPID RAAPID develops AI-powered solutions for healthcare payers, providers, and supporting organizations. The company's cloud-based risk adjustment platform uses neuro-symbolic AI to identify chronic conditions, determine HCC codes, calculate risk scores, and analyze population health trends. RAAPID serves organizations that participate in Medicare Advantage, ACA, Medicare ACO, and Medicaid programs. For more information about RAAPID's AI-powered risk adjustment solutions, visit www.raapidinc.com CONTACT: Mayur Vyas (502) 699-3044 [email protected] SOURCE RAAPID A new camera-based system adapts to traffic flow, improving road safety and reducing energy use INCHEON, South Korea, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Incheon National University have developed a smart traffic monitoring system using adaptive cameras. The system dynamically activates more cameras during busy times and fewer during quiet periods, optimizing resource use and improving road safety. Tested in diverse scenarios, it shows the potential to reduce accidents, ease congestion, and conserve energy, making it a promising solution for smarter urban traffic management. An adaptive camera network dynamically adjusts to urban traffic, ensuring safety, efficiency, and energy savings-pioneering the future of intelligent transportation in smart cities. Effective urban traffic management remains a cornerstone of smart city development. With the rise of autonomous vehicles and connected transportation systems, dynamic surveillance solutions are critical to ensuring smooth traffic flow, minimizing accidents, and optimizing efficiency. However, traditional static camera setups often fail to adapt to rapid changes in traffic conditions, resulting in inefficient monitoring and resource use. To address this issue, researchers from Incheon National University, led by Associate Professor Hyunbum Kim, have introduced a groundbreaking solution: an augmented fluid surveillance system-designed to adapt in real-time to varying traffic scenarios. This paper was made available online on June 25, 2024 and published in Volume 11, Issue 22 of IEEE INTERNET OF THINGS JOURNAL (pg2,3) on November 15, 2024. The innovative system employs a network of single-lens cameras arranged in a dynamic grid. This model intelligently adjusts its surveillance coverage by activating or deactivating cameras based on real-time traffic conditions, ensuring efficient and flexible monitoring. Dr. Kim, the lead researcher, explains, "Our motivation stems from the growing need for adaptive traffic monitoring systems that can handle diverse and unpredictable scenarios. By creating an augmented fluid surveillance system, we aim to revolutionize traffic management and provide seamless intelligent transportation services." To achieve this, the study formalized the "Augmented Fluid Surveillance Efficiency Maximization Problem" (MaxAugmentFluSurv). This problem focuses on finding the best way to place and use cameras for maximum efficiency while still covering all necessary areas. The researchers came up with two smart solutions to address this challenge. The first approach, called the Random-Value-Camera-Level Algorithm, organizes cameras in a 3x3 grid. Some cameras are always on to ensure basic coverage, while others switch on or off depending on traffic levels. This way, during busy times, more cameras turn on to monitor the situation, and during quiet times, fewer cameras are active, saving energy. The second approach, called the ALL-Random-With-Weight Algorithm, works similarly but is even more flexible. It assigns a unique role to each camera based on its position in the grid. Cameras in key positions stay active all the time, while others adjust their activity to match traffic conditions. This method ensures a balance between thorough monitoring and efficient energy use. Extensive simulations showed these methods worked effectively under different conditions, such as varying traffic levels, slopes, and angles. The system reduced energy use during low traffic and provided strong coverage during peak hours by predicting and adjusting to traffic patterns. "Our approach optimizes camera usage and saves energy while ensuring reliable surveillance. It's a step toward smarter and more eco-friendly traffic management," highlights Dr. Kim. Beyond traffic control, this adaptive system could also be used for crowd monitoring, disaster response, and industrial safety. Future efforts will focus on real-world tests and integrating technologies like deep learning for even better performance. This innovation represents a major step in building smarter and more sustainable cities. Reference Title of original paper: Augmented Fluid Surveillance Using Grid Sensing for Intelligent Transportation Service Journal: IEEE INTERNET OF THINGS DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2024.3419017 About Incheon National University Website: https://www.inu.ac.kr/sites/inuengl/index.do?epTicket=LOG Contact: Hanna Kim 82-32 - 835 9325 [email protected] SOURCE Incheon National University NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On October 22, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with "making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions." Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. On this news, Unisys stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. SEATTLE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectral Capital (OTCQB: FCCN), a pioneer in providing its deep quantum technology platform, is excited to announce the appointment of Aaron Christensen as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Aaron will oversee the global commercialization and revenue strategies for the company, with an immediate focus on scaling sales of the Vogon Decentralized and Hybrid Clouda sustainable cloud infrastructure spanning 16 Global Regions. A Visionary Leader with a Proven Track Record Aaron Christensen brings over two decades of experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, and business development to Spectral Capital. Most recently, as Vice President of Business Development for 10X Buy/Sell at Cardone Ventures, Aaron played a pivotal role in helping companies maximize value through strategic acquisitions and scalable growth initiatives. Prior to that, Aaron served as CEO of Christensen Automotive, where he grew the company into Northern Nevada's leading automotive repair brand before orchestrating a successful exit. His entrepreneurial success, combined with his expertise in operations, strategic planning, and revenue generation, positions him as a transformative leader for Spectral Capital's ambitious growth trajectory. Driving Adoption of Vogon Decentralized and Hybrid Cloud Solutions In his role as CRO, Aaron's primary focus will be the commercialization of Vogon Cloud, a decentralized and hybrid cloud solution designed to deliver unparalleled performance, security, and sustainability. Powered by renewable energy sourcesincluding solar, wind, and graphene- and hydrogen enhanced batteriesVogon Cloud's micro data centers, will offer high-efficiency operations while minimizing environmental impact. With operations spanning 16 global regions, Aaron will lead efforts to position Vogon Cloud as the premier choice for organizations seeking scalable, secure, and sustainable cloud infrastructure. This initiative aligns with Spectral Capital's broader strategy to enable a quantum-resilient future powered by cutting-edge technologies like the Vogon Distributed Quantum Ledger Database (DQLDB) and QuanTomo analytic tomography. A Transformative Vision for Global Growth "I am thrilled to join Spectral Capital as Chief Revenue Officer," said Aaron Christensen. "The Spectral Deep Quantum Technology Platform is a game-changer and its decentralized and sustainable computing component is the first step in our platform strategy. I'm eager to drive the adoption across global markets. Spectral's vision for a quantum-powered future aligns perfectly with my passion for driving innovation and value creation." About Spectral Capital Spectral Capital (OTCQB: FCCN) is a quantum technology platform company at the forefront of innovation. Focusing on sustainable green cloud computing, quantum databases, and advanced quantum chip technology, Spectral Capital is revolutionizing industries such as telecommunications, AI, and green technology. With flagship offerings like the Vogon Cloud and Vogon DQLDB, the company is pioneering a future of decentralized, secure, and scalable computing. For more information about Spectral Capital and its initiatives, please visit www.spectralcapital.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and FCCN's growth and business strategy. Words such as "expects," "will," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations on such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although FCCN believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of FCCN. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in FCCN's business; competitive factors in the market(s) in which FCCN operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in FCCN's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. FCCN expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in FCCN's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. SOURCE Spectral Capital Corporation The United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the oil sector of the Russian Federation. More than 30 major oil producers and refiners were blacklisted. This is one of the largest "oil" packages of restrictions in recent years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already responded to the sanctions, and global oil prices have risen to their highest since October. ADVERTISIMENT According to the US Treasury Department, the restrictions will take effect on February 27. The sanctions list includes the following companies: "OFS Technologies" (owner of former Baker Hughes assets in Russia); "Energy Oil and Gas Service" (former Russian division of Eriell Oilfield Services); "TNG-Group" (the mineral exploration division of the "Tagras" oilfield services holding); "LeninogorskRemService" ("Tagras-RS" division for well drilling and hydraulic fracturing); Oilfield service divisions of the Russian Vertically Integrated Oil Company (VINC); "RN Drilling" (a drilling subsidiary of "Rosneft"); "RN-GRP" (responsible for increasing the productivity of Rosneft's wells); "RN Service" (workover of Rosneft's wells); "Welltech" (51% owned by Yusuf Alekperov, son of Lukoil's founder); "Gazprom Shelfproekt" (implementation of offshore oil and gas projects); "Naftogaz-Drilling" (the main production structure of "Naftogaz" Group); "Petro Welt Technologies" (PeWeTe); "KATKonafta" (part of the PeWeTe group); "Investgeoservice" (a major drilling contractor of "NOVATEK"); "TSS" (a manufacturer of well completion equipment); "Center for Research and Production Works" (part of "Bashneftegeofizyka"); service contractors of "FrakJet Volga" LLC; "Packer Service"; "Atlas NNB"; "Gulfstream"; "Argos"; "Samotlorneftepromkhim"; "Newtech Well Service"; "Service Prom Komplektatsiya"; "Management for enhanced oil recovery and workover of wells"; "Veteran"; "TechnRise"; "Dencars"; "SPE Drilling"; "Oil Service Guarantor." The administration of President Joe Biden has banned US companies from providing oil production services in Russia, including exporting or re-exporting oil production services, including their indirect sale, from the US to any person located in Russia. The medium-tonnage natural gas liquefaction plant on the Baltic coast, "Gazprom LNG "Portovaya," was also subject to the restrictions. The plant at the "Portovaya" compressor station produced 1.385 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2023 and 0.403 million tons in 2022. The sanctions were also imposed on the Baltic medium-tonnage production facility "Cryogas-Vysotsk" LLC (a joint venture between "NOVATEK" and "Gazprombank"). Sanctions were also imposed on the following oil and gas company executives: ADVERTISIMENT Vadim Vorobyov (head of "Lukoil"); Alexander Dyukov (Head of "Gazprom Neft"); Nail Maganov ("Tatneft"); Sergey Kudryashov ("Zarubezhneft"); Vladimir Chernov ("Bashneft"); Yusuf Alekperov (son of Lukoil's largest shareholder Vagit Alekperov). The United Kingdom joined the US sanctions. The press service of the UK government announced sanctions against Russian companies "Gazprom Neft" and "Surgutneftegaz." "These energy companies produce more than 1 million barrels of oil per day worth about $23 billion a year at current prices, which is more than Jamaica's GDP. According to Reuters, oil prices rose by more than 4% on the eve of the sanctions. Due to possible supply disruptions, benchmark crude futures have reached their highest level since October: Brent rose by $3.50 (+4.6%) to $80.42; WTI rose by $3.57 (+4.8%) to $77.49. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its decisive actions against the aggressor country. "These measures significantly undermine the financial basis of the Russian military machine, as they disrupt the supply chain: key Russian manufacturers, insurance companies, oil and gas service providers, 184 shadow fleet tankers, logistics facilities, and third-country companies," Zelenskyy said. He clarified that sanctions against "Surgutneftegaz" are of particular importance. The President called the company"a key financial purse for Putin himself." "Energy resources should not be a weapon, as Russia does. Instead, countries that respect international law can and should ensure stable and reliable energy supplies for the whole world," the president summarized. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StockGro, India's leading platform for experiential financial education, has joined hands with the Global Indian International School (GIIS) Dubai to equip students in grades 9 to 12 with essential financial skills. This partnership marks StockGro's second major collaboration in the UAE, reinforcing its expansion into the GCC region. StockGro Partners with GIIS Dubai to Transform Youth Financial Literacy in the UAE As GIIS's financial literacy partner, StockGro has integrated its innovative curriculum into the school's academic framework. Through expert-led sessions conducted every alternate month, students gain insights into financial concepts, stock market basics, and strategic investment approaches, fostering critical thinking and real-world application. A standout feature of the partnership is the stock market learning programs which consist of model portfolio exercises for grades 9 to 12. These stock market portfolio management activities allow students to apply their knowledge in a risk-free, real-world environment, building confidence and practical understanding of trading and investments. Ajay Lakhotia, Founder & CEO of StockGro, said, "This collaboration bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, preparing students to make informed financial decisions. It reflects StockGro's dedication to empowering the next generation with tools to navigate real-world financial challenges." Ms. Rajani Manikonda , Supervisor of Senior Secondary School, GIIS Dubai, remarked, "Empowering students with financial literacy is essential in today's interconnected world. This partnership with StockGro introduces our learners to the intricacies of financial management in an engaging, practical manner, ensuring they develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in the global economy." By partnering with one of Dubai's top Indian international schools, StockGro strengthens its foundation for future collaborations in the UAE and GCC region, advancing its mission to revolutionize financial education on a global scale. About StockGro StockGro is a leading experiential social learning platform for trading and investments, trusted by more than 35 million users worldwide. It has successfully empowered students across 1100+ prestigious educational institutions with immersive financial learning experiences. Through this collaboration, StockGro continues its mission of fostering financial literacy and practical education for the next generation. StockGro invites educational institutions across the GCC region to join hands in fostering a financially literate world. Write to us at [email protected] so we can empower the next generation with essential life skills together. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2595456/StockGro_GIIS_Dubai.jpg SOURCE StockGro A Gripping Account of Survival, Trauma, and Resilience in Rural Appalachia GERTON, N.C., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene by Emma M. Churchman, MDiv, is a powerful new release that offers trade audiences an essential and timely addition to their disaster recovery and trauma literature shelves. This title delivers a unique, boots-on-the-ground perspective on survival, recovery, and transformation in the aftermath of a catastrophic hurricane. The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene Emma Churchman is not just an author-she's a beacon of resilience and transformation. With over 25 years of experience as a spiritual and business leader, Emma has guided thousands through the labyrinth of trauma to reclaim hope and strength. Her powerful work as a trauma chaplain and mentor is rooted in her own journey of overcoming acute childhood adversity. Emma M. Churchman, a trauma chaplain and Quaker minister, shares a vivid and deeply personal account of life in Gerton, North Carolina (pop. 301), during and after Hurricane Helene. Combining on-the-ground observations, reflections on trauma recovery, and a compassionate narrative, the book captures the human spirit's resilience in unprecedented adversity. "Churchman's work is a must-read for disaster relief organizations, policymakers, and anyone invested in understanding the personal impact of large-scale catastrophes," says Kevin King, Executive Director of Mennonite Disaster Service. "Her insights will inspire action and awareness across industries." Trade Appeal This title is ideal for libraries, retailers, disaster response professionals, and policymakers seeking a compelling narrative to complement academic or practical disaster recovery resources. It also resonates with readers drawn to memoirs, environmental crises, and stories of human perseverance. Key Features: Firsthand narrative of disaster survival and resilience in a small rural community. Insights into trauma recovery through the lens of a seasoned chaplain. Critical reflections on disaster response, climate change, and community rebuilding efforts. A portion of proceeds supports Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), one of the first organizations to assist in Hurricane Helene's aftermath. Book Launch Event The Deep End of Hope will launch with a special signing event in Gerton, NC, at the Gerton Fire Station, 4975 Gerton Hwy, Gerton, NC 28735 on February 1st at 2 pm. This event provides an opportunity to honor the community's story and engage with the author's reflections on trauma, hope, and recovery. Availability The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene is available now through Independent Publishers Group (IPG) for bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions. Bulk orders and trade inquiries are encouraged. About the Author Emma M. Churchman, MDiv, is a trauma chaplain, Quaker minister, and national speaker with decades of experience supporting communities through crisis and recovery. Her work brings a unique blend of storytelling, spirituality, and practical guidance to readers. For trade inquiries, interviews, or bulk orders, please contact: GracePoint Publishing Email: [email protected] Phone: 719-527-1404 Website: GracePointPublishing.com SOURCE GracePoint Publishing SEATTLE, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Ray Hendrickson, JD, Ph.D. is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions in Forensic Psychology. Ray Hendrickson JD Ph D Dr. Ray Hendrickson, JD, Ph.D., brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the field of forensic psychology in Seattle, marking a distinguished career transition from law to mental health. Renowned for his comprehensive understanding of forensic psychology, ethics, intelligence, treatment, and assessment, Dr. Hendrickson currently practices prominently in Seattle, focusing on evaluating and treating felons incarcerated at Monroe Prison. Educationally, Dr. Hendrickson holds a diverse academic background. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from North Dakota State University, pursued doctoral studies in chemical thermodynamics at the University of Washington, and attained his JD (Juris Doctorate) from Western States University, College of Law. His pursuit of clinical psychology led to an MS from Pepperdine University and a Ph.D. from Alliant International University in Irvine, California. Professionally, Dr. Hendrickson has made significant contributions to both the legal and psychological fields. With over 31 years practicing law in California, including roles as a contract psychologist with the California Department of Corrections and a forensic evaluator at Western State Hospital and Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, he has established himself as a leader in forensic psychology and evaluation. Dr. Hendrickson's career is characterized by extensive teaching experience, serving as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and as an instructor of law courses at the University of California, Irvine. He also chaired the WSH Postdoctoral Fellowship Committee from 2010 to 2018, underscoring his commitment to education and professional development. Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Hendrickson is actively involved in humanitarian efforts, having participated in numerous mission trips to Mexico with the Blind Samaritans organization. In his leisure time, he enjoys aviation as a licensed pilot and instructor. Dr. Hendrickson's affiliations include membership in the California Psychological Association, Washington State Psychological Association, Diplomat of the American College of Forensic Examiners International, and the American Psychological Association. His dedication to the field of forensic psychology and commitment to ethical practice continue to shape his impactful contributions to mental health and legal communities alike. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle DRAPER, Utah, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Simon Cheung, CFO is acknowledged as an Inner Circle Lifetime for his contributions to E-Commerce Finance and Strategic Leadership. Simon Cheung, a seasoned Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has made a remarkable impact in the e-commerce industry, particularly in the realm of home decor. With expertise in finance, accounting, and strategic planning, Mr. Cheung brings a visionary approach to leadership and problem-solving, driving the success of international organizations across the United States and Canada. Simon Cheung Mr. Cheung's career is marked by his ability to execute on strategic plans that deliver tangible benefits to organizations. His approach has proven pivotal in turning around three businesses, earning him the trust and respect of shareholders by helping them understand and align with critical financial strategies. With an MBA and Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland, both completed in 2012, Mr. Cheung has combined academic excellence with a practical understanding of corporate finance. His philosophy"Cash is King; surround yourself with good people; under-promise and over-deliver"has guided him to consistent success in the ever-evolving e-commerce space. Outside of his professional endeavors, Mr. Cheung finds solace in reading non-fiction books, listening to music, and playing the violin. These interests reflect his commitment to continuous learning and personal growth, which complement his professional achievements. Looking ahead, Mr. Cheung aims to expand his high-level network, leveraging his strategic acumen and leadership experience to foster greater innovation and collaboration within the e-commerce industry. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle QUEEN CREEK, Ariz., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Trevor S. Nichols, DMD, MS is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to Dentistry. Trevor S Nichols Dr. Trevor S. Nichols, DMD, MS, World-Renowned Orthodontic Expert, Announces Launch of Nichols Orthodontics and Aesthetics Dr. Trevor S. Nichols, DMD, MS, a board-certified orthodontist and globally recognized icon for excellence in orthodontics, is proud to announce the launch of Nichols Orthodontics and Aesthetics. This premier private practice specializes in early intervention orthodontics and aesthetic procedures, offering transformative care for patients with malocclusion or dentofacial deformities. As a pioneer in the field, Dr. Nichols combines cutting-edge technology with personalized treatments to improve both oral health and confidence, ensuring exceptional results for every patient. Dr. Nichols's reputation extends far beyond Arizona; he is celebrated worldwide as a key opinion leader and educator for ORMCO, the Damon Bracket System, SPARK Aligners, DEXIS Imaging, and Crest Oral-B. In addition, he teaches orthodontic residents at programs across the United States, sharing his innovative techniques and inspiring the next generation of orthodontic professionals. His expertise in these leading technologies underscores his commitment to advancing the field of orthodontics and delivering unparalleled patient care. An Exceptional Academic Foundation Dr. Nichols's expertise in orthodontics is backed by a robust academic foundation. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science as Valedictorian from Arizona State University and later completed his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Master of Science in Orthodontics, and certifications in orthodontics and dental public health at A.T. Still University in Arizona. His dedication to excellence led to board certification in orthodontics by the American Board of Orthodontics. A Leader in Education and Innovation Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Nichols is a highly sought-after educator and thought leader in orthodontics. He has shared his innovative techniques with orthodontists across the globe and has been featured in professional publications, such as Orthotown, where he discussed the art of hard- and soft-tissue sculpting after orthodontic treatment. As a faculty member at DSO University, Dr. Nichols contributes to the advancement of orthodontic education. His teaching extends to orthodontic residency programs nationwide, where he equips young orthodontists with the knowledge and skills to excel in their careers. Dr. Nichols's contributions to orthodontics include the creation of the Nichols Smile Score, a groundbreaking approach to assessing and enhancing facial aesthetics through personalized orthodontic care. A Commitment to Community and Care An active member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Nichols also dedicates his time to serving underserved populations through Community of Smiles Outreach, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive dental services. Rooted in Family and Community Dr. Nichols and his wife of 15 years, Alyssa, reside in Queen Creek, Arizona, with their four sons. Their family values and strong sense of community inspire his patient-focused approach to orthodontic care, blending genuine compassion with cutting-edge expertise. Looking Ahead Dr. Nichols is committed to expanding Nichols Orthodontics and Aesthetics, providing innovative treatments while maintaining the highest standards of care. With his unique combination of expertise, vision, and passion for excellence, Dr. Nichols continues to shape the future of orthodontics and aesthetics. For more information about Dr. Nichols and the services offered at Nichols Orthodontics and Aesthetics, visit www.nicholsortho.com. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle CINCINNATI, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Family of Companies (NYSE:KR), including southern California's Ralphs and Food4Less stores, today announced a commitment to raise $1 million for families impacted by the devastating wildfires impacting the Los Angeles region. "We strive to fulfill our purpose, to Feed the Human Spirit, every day, and especially when disaster strikes," said Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger. "Our associates are always among the first to support our communities during natural disasters, and the situation in southern California is no different. I'm so proud of how quickly our teams have worked to reopen stores that were temporarily closed during the unfolding wildfire situation to ensure we're a resource for customers who need fresh food, pantry staples and necessities like water and ice. Our hearts are with everyone who is impacted by this tragedy especially our team of associates and their extended families and we are grateful to the first responders working so hard to protect our communities." The Kroger Family of Companies is raising $1 million to support disaster relief and recovery, including $500,000 in company matching funds for donations from customers to benefit the American Red Cross and local Feeding America-affiliated food banks. Kroger is making it easy for customers in several divisions to support relief efforts by providing an option to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar at checkout to benefit the Red Cross. Customers are also invited to donate online if their stores do not provide an option at checkout. In addition to funds, Kroger is delivering food, water and supplies to local fire departments and evacuation centers. With the fires still raging, Ralphs and Food4Less will continue to work with law enforcement, emergency responders and our community partners to provide additional aid without disrupting their fire containment efforts. To support the California National Guard being deployed to aid in disaster relief, the United Service Organizations (USO) is sending a Kroger + USO Mobile Canteen to Los Alamitos, CA, to feed and support military first responders. Kroger is providing gift cards to the USO to help provide needed food, water and supplies for the Mobile Canteen. Every year, The Kroger Co. Foundation directs $500,000 in funding to the American Red Cross through its Annual Disaster Giving Program to help the organization prepare for and respond to disasters across the U.S. About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. We are, across our family of companies nearly 420,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. SOURCE The Kroger Co. TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. (TASE: TASE) (The Company) hereby announces that, on January 9, 2025, it entered into a transaction with Manikay Global Opportunities Holdings 1, LLC (hereafter: "Manikay Fund") for the buyback of 4,622,028 ordinary shares of the Company (hereafter: "the Purchased Shares"), representing 4.82% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding dormant shares held by the Company), at a price of 43.79 NIS per Purchased Share and for a total consideration of 202.4 million NIS (hereafter: "the Buyback Transaction" or "the Transaction"). The Transaction was executed as an OTC transaction. Presented below are data and details in relation to the Buyback Transaction, its financing, the manner of its approval and data and considerations taken into account as part of its execution: General Background 1. Manikay Fund is the largest shareholder in the Company, which has held shares of the Company since August 2018, in accordance with the Israel Securities Authority's permit for holding shares of the Company at a rate of up to 19.99% of the issued share capital of the Company. To the best of the Company's knowledge, prior to the execution of the Transaction, Manikay Fund held approximately 19.29% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding dormant shares held by the Company). 2. Taking into consideration the date of establishment of Manikay Fund and the customary duration of operation of investment funds of its type, the Company has initiated an offer to Manikay Fund for the buyback of part of its holdings in the shares of the Company. Effect of the Transaction on the Holdings of Equity and Voting Rights of the Company's Equity Holders 3. Shares purchased under a buyback transaction become dormant shares, within the meaning of this term in the Companies Law, 1999 ("the Companies Law"), which while held by the Company confer no rights on the Company (whether in equity or voting rights). 4. On the one hand, following the execution of the Transaction, Manikay Fund's percentage holding decreased to approximately 15.2% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding dormant shares held by the Company, including the Purchased Shares). 5. On the other hand, due to the Purchased Shares becoming dormant shares, the percentage holdings of the other equity holders in the Company are expected to increase by a uniform rate of approximately 5.07% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding dormant shares held by the Company, including the Purchased Shares). 6. It is hereby clarified that if any of the equity holders in the Company holds close to 5% of the Company's issued share capital (or a rate that is close to the maximum rate stipulated in the holding permit that it had received, hereafter: "the Stipulated Rate"), then it is possible that as a result of the execution of the Transaction its percentage holding has increased to 5% or more (or over the Stipulated Rate, as appropriate) of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding the dormant shares). The rate of such increase in excess of the rate that mandates the receipt of a holding permit or the Stipulated Rate shall be hereafter referred to as "the Excess Holding". Where an Excess Holding arises to an equity holder, as above, the equity holder is required to apply to the Israel Securities Authority for a holding permit (or for the amendment thereof, as appropriate), in accordance with the provisions of Section 45G of the Securities Law, 1968 (provided that the equity holder qualifies for the receipt of such permit) or to sell the Excess Holding. Pending the receipt of such holding permit, the Excess Holding will not confer any rights upon the equity holder (whether equity or voting rights). Financing of the Transaction 7. Since the TASE Group holds substantial available cash balances, the Company is able to finance the Buyback Transaction from the own resources of the TASE Group. Nevertheless, in order to maintain the Company's financial flexibility and avoid a substantial realization of marketable investment portfolios, the Company entered into an agreement with a bank (hereafter: "the Bank") for the receipt of a loan in an amount of NIS 130 million (hereafter: "the New Loan"). The New Loan will be used by the Company to fully repay an existing loan to a bank, with a balance (principal of interest) of approximately NIS 100 million as of the date of the report (hereafter: "the Repaid Loan"). In addition, in order to maintain a positive cash balance at the level of the Company (stand-alone), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company distributed to it a dividend of NIS 30 million out of its liquid balances. The New Loan bears annual interest at the rate of Prime plus a margin of 0.2%, which is lower than the margin of the Repaid Loan (0.5%), and shall be repayable commencing on 9.2.2025 in 36 equal monthly principal payments, with the addition of the interest. The New Loan contains undertakings with similar characteristics (and even more favorable characteristics, as described below) to those prescribed for the Repaid Loan, including an undertaking to refrain from pledging the TASE building and an undertaking to comply with covenants that are calculated in relation to the Company's (stand-alone) data, as described below, which will examined commencing on 31.3.2025. In the assessment of the Company, it is likely to comply with all covenants on 31.3.2025. Presented below are details of the covenants included in the New Loan, as well as a pro forma calculation of the degree of compliance therewith, based on the data of the Company's (stand-alone) financial statements as of 30.9.2024, assuming the obtaining of the New Loan, the settlement of the Repaid Loan, the receipt of the dividend from the subsidiary and the execution of the Buyback Transaction: Covenant Description of covenant Required ratio Pro forma ratio calculation based on data for 30.9.2024 Ratio of equity to total assets The Company has undertaken to maintain a minimum ratio of equity to total assets 45 % 59 % Debt coverage ratio The Company has undertaken to maintain a maximum ratio of the balance of its non-subordinated liabilities to banks, financial institutions and other lenders, including equity holders/related parties in the operating profit to debt servicing 2.5 1.1 Debt servicing ratio(*) The Company has undertaken to maintain a minimum ratio of operating profit to debt servicing with the addition of the balance of cash and cash equivalents and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (T-bills and government bonds), in the debt servicing (current maturities of the loan including financing expenses payable according to the loan's repayment schedule). 1.25 3.8 * In accordance with the terms of the Repaid Loan, the debt servicing ratio was calculated net of the receipts received in recent years from the sale by TASE members of Company shares that they had received as part of the arrangement for the restructuring of TASE from 2018 (hereafter: "the Arrangement Shares"). In accordance with the terms of the New Loan, such receipts will be taken into account in determining the compliance with said covenant, making compliance with said covenant significantly more easy to attain. 8. In addition, since the balance of the receipts from the sale of the Arrangement Shares, which is designed to finance the investments in the TASE Group's IT systems cannot be included in the liquid means of the TASE Group for purposes of the compliance with the Capital and liquidity Requirements, the Company has also entered into an agreement with the bank for the receipt of a credit facility of NIS 120 million (hereafter: "the Credit Facility"). In respect of the Credit Facility, the Company will pay a setting-up ("non-utilization") fee in an amount equal to 0.33% of the amount of unutilized credit therein. In the event of utilization of the Credit Facility, the credit amounts will bear interest at an identical rate to that of the New Loan. The Company's undertakings to the Bank in respect of the New Loan shall also apply in relation to the Credit Facility. 9. To complete the picture, it should be noted that the terms of the New Loan and the Credit Facility (including its legal and financial terms) were finalized following the receipt of quotes from two additional banks (one of which is the provider of the Repaid Loan). It is further noted that the terms of the New Loan and the Credit Facility were the most favorable to the Company, and therefore can be assumed to reflect market terms. Accordingly, the obtaining of the New Loan and the Credit Facility (while settling the Repaid Loan), would have been carried out independent of the Buyback Transaction. The manner of approval of the Buyback Transaction 10. A buyback of the company's shares constitutes a distribution, as defined in the Companies Law, and is therefore subject to the fulfillment of the profit criterion and the solvency criterion, similarly to a decision on a dividend distribution. 11. In addition, since Mr. Salah Saabneh, who serves as a director in the Company, is an officer in Manikay Group and holds interest in Manikay Fund, he may be considered as having personal interest in the Buyback Transaction. Accordingly, the Buyback Transaction was approved as an extraordinary transaction in which a director in the Company has personal interest, both by the Audit Committee and by the Company's Board of Directors (following its examination in relation to Capital and Liquidity Requirements' aspects by the Board of Directors' Risk Management Committee). 12. During the discussions of the Transaction, the opinion of an Israeli investment house, which is highly experienced in the execution of distribution transactions or coordination of purchases of parcels of shares that are traded on TASE, was presented, pursuant to which this type of transaction is customarily executed based on the average price of the shares over a specified period close to the date of the transaction, with the addition of or net of a specified rate of up to 5% (hereafter: "the Professional Opinion"). This approach is designed to ensure that the price of the Transaction reflects the recent market terms of the Company's share, while moderating the effect of non-recurring fluctuations. Information on the Examination of the Company's Compliance with the Distribution Criteria 13. Following the presentation to the members of the Committees (the Risk Management Committee and the Audit Committee) and the Board of Directors of relevant data from the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of 30.9.2024 and its (stand-alone) financial data as of 30.9.2024, following the presentation of a report on the projected cash flow of the Company for the period from 30.9.2024 to 31.12.2028, including consideration of the Capital and Liquidity Requirements, both in light of regulatory requirements that apply to companies in the TASE Group and based on models established by the Company (above and below, collectively: "the Capital and Liquidity Requirements"), and the review of the additional aspects of the Buyback Transaction, the Board of Directors has determined, inter alia, as follows: 13.1. As regarding the "profit criterion", it should be noted that, as of 30.9.2024, the Company's profits available for distribution (pre-distribution) total approximately NIS 324.5 million. The amount of the Buyback Transaction totals approximately NIS 205 million. 13.2. As regarding the compliance with the "solvency criterion", it should be noted that the members of the Committees and the Board of Directors have examined, inter alia, the reviewed financial statements of the Company as of 30.9.2024 (consolidated and stand-alone) and the related explanations provided by management of the Company, including examination of the retained earnings available for distribution, the cash flow projection for the Company for the period ending at the end of 2028, the equity attributable to the equity holders, the Capital and Liquidity Requirements and the total working capital in the Company's stand-alone financial data as of 30.9.2024. In this context it has been noted that, in general, the activity of the Company is not characterized by material consumption of credit and that, as of the date of the resolution, the Company has no financial obligations that extend beyond the examination period and therefore there are no reasonable grounds to assume that the Company would not be able to meet its anticipated obligations even after the examination period. 13.3. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors examined the ability of the Company to meet its existing and anticipated cash needs (even under stringent scenarios, and the application of sensitivity tests concerning critical working assumptions) and without taking into account the ability of the Company to obtain additional credit. 13.4. Furthermore, the members of the Board of Directors believe that the Buyback Transaction is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, including its capital structure, its leveraging ratio, its liquidity and its ability to continue operating in the existing format. 13.5. Pursuant to the stated above, the members of the Board of Directors have determined that the execution of the Buyback Transaction meets both the profit criterion and the solvency criterion as required under the provisions of Section 302 of the Companies Law. Summary of the reasonings for the Buyback Transaction 14. The price of the Buyback Transaction, of 43.79 NIS per share, was determined in negotiations with Manikay Fund. This price reflects the weighted average price over the last 30 trading days (excluding the transaction date) and taking into consideration that it is within the range prescribed in the Professional Opinion, and that the latest closing price of the Company's share on January 9, 2025, the transaction's date was 43.01 NIS, it reflects the recent market terms of the Company's share. 15. Taking into consideration the plans of the Company, the cash surpluses and the capital in excess of the Capital and Liquidity Requirements, the venues that are available to the Company for the investment of the surpluses, the yields that they will generate, and the Company's budget and work plans for 2025, as well as the five-year strategic plan for 2023-2027, and in light of the recent state of the Israeli capital market, in general, and the recent prices of the Company's share, in particular, the Company also deems the share buyback as a business opportunity for the benefit of the equity holders that could create value while also improving the financial indicators that are used by investors and analysts to examine the Company, such as the return on equity and effective leveraging ratio (equity-assets ratio). 16. As explained above, the Buyback Transaction enhances Manikay's ability to manage its long-term shareholding in the Company, and reduces the risks to the Company and its shareholders involved in a potential disposal of a large holding. Contact: Orna Goren Head of Communication and Public Relations Unit Tel: +972 76 8160405 [email protected] SOURCE The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. Along with Rockefeller Center Campus, Tishman Speyer Has Successfully Refinanced Nearly $6.4 Billion in Manhattan Office Properties in Less Than Three Months NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tishman Speyer today announced that the firm has refinanced The Spiral, its celebrated new Manhattan office tower, with a $2.85 billion CMBS loan. The Spiral is 94 percent leased two years after its opening. The five-year, fixed-rate loan is led by JPMorgan Chase with Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo serving as co-lenders. The Spiral, Courtesy of Tishman Speyer Tishman Speyer has now successfully secured nearly $6.4 billion in refinancings on two marquee New York City office properties in less than three months. On October 18, 2024, Tishman Speyer closed on a $3.5 billion CMBS loan for its legendary Rockefeller Center campus, the largest issuance ever for a single office asset. "We are exceptionally proud of The Spiral and pleased to deliver value for our investors," said Tishman Speyer CEO Rob Speyer. "Together, The Spiral and Rockefeller Center demonstrate that premier properties with the right amenities, strong occupancy and established sponsors continue to outperform the market." Tishman Speyer commenced construction on the 2.8 million-square-foot Spiral in June 2018, shortly after announcing that Pfizer, the world's pre-eminent biopharmaceutical company, would anchor the project. Tishman Speyer has subsequently filled the tower with leading companies from a wide array of industries. The Spiral serves as the U.S. headquarters of HSBC, one of the world's largest banking and financing services organizations. Other prominent companies that have relocated to the tower include TPG Global, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, AllianceBernstein, Turner Construction and Marshall Wace. Designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, The Spiral rises 1,031 feet and features a cascading series of landscaped terraces as its signature element. The terraces ascend one per floor in a spiraling motion to create a unique, continuous green pathway that wraps around the facade of the tower, supplying its occupants with readily accessible fresh air and outdoor space. All customers at The Spiral enjoy access to the ZO Clubhouse, a premier amenity center and lounge perched on the top floor of the 66-story tower. The Clubhouse features an open-air terrace, panoramic views of New York City, food and beverage service by the critically acclaimed team behind Llama San and Llama Inn, and multiple spaces for meetings, conferences and events. Tishman Speyer has devoted the entire 23rd and 24th floors to its Studio co-working platform, which was fully leased at the end of 2024, along with its Studio Gather conference center and Studio Private flexible office product. Tishman Speyer also recently introduced Spiral Suites, with high-end prebuilt offerings ranging from 7,000 square feet to a full floor of 48,000 square feet. The suites feature custom layouts and furnishings, sleek reception areas, and large windows for light-filled workspaces. Customers have full access to outdoor space and all tower amenities. Located at 66 Hudson Boulevard, The Spiral will be animated at street level by Papa San, a restaurant showcasing Peruvian-Japanese cuisine, as well as two new dining concepts from two-Michelin-starred chef Gabriel Kreuther. In addition, NewYork-Presbyterian's Och Spine outpatient center and HSBC's flagship wealth center are located at the base of the tower. About Tishman Speyer (tishmanspeyer.com) Tishman Speyer is a leading owner, developer, operator and investment manager of first-class real estate in 36 key markets across the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Our portfolio spans market rate and affordable residential communities, premier office properties and retail spaces, industrial and data center facilities, and mixed-use campuses. We create state-of-the-art life science centers through our Breakthrough Properties joint venture, and foster innovation through our strategic proptech investments. With global vision, on-the-ground expertise and a personalized approach, we foster innovation, quickly adapt to global and local trends and proactively anticipate our customers' evolving needs. By focusing on health and wellness, enlightened placemaking and customer-focused initiatives such as our tenant amenities platform, ZO, and our flexible space and co-working brand, Studio, we tend not just to our physical buildings, but to the people who inhabit them on a daily basis. Since our inception in 1978, Tishman Speyer has acquired, developed, and operated 560 properties, totaling 227 million square feet, with a combined value of nearly $128 billion (U.S.). Our current portfolio includes such iconic assets as Rockefeller Center in New York City, The Springs in Shanghai, TaunusTurm in Frankfurt and the Mission Rock neighborhood currently being realized in San Francisco. SOURCE Tishman Speyer LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UGREEN, a leading innovator in consumer electronics, made waves at CES 2025 with the unveiling of pioneering AI NAS solutions and other cutting-edge products. Under the launch event theme of "Activate the Possibility of AI NAS" on January 8th. UGREEN showcased the world's first AI NAS with a built-in Large Language Model (LLM), as well as the ultra-powerful Nexode 500W GaN charger and an industry-leading Thunderbolt 5 docking station. "Activate the Possibility of AI NAS"- UGREEN Launch Event UGREEN inked a strategic partnership deal with Intel in 2023, paving the way for the launch of the UGREEN NASync DXP series of NAS products in 2024. This series proved to be a resounding success, and UGREEN is now well-established as a top competitor in the NAS space. In 2025, UGREEN's strategic partnership with Intel has now shifted its focus to the exciting new frontier of AI NAS. Following close collaboration, this has now led to the unveiling of the next generation of AI-powered smart storage. The stars of the show at CES were the groundbreaking UGREEN NASync iDX 6011 and 6011 Pro models, introduced by UGREEN North America NAS Manager, Hernan Lopez. A world-first, the iDX series is the inaugural AI NAS solution with a built-in Large Language Model (LLM), delivers exceptional performance, revolutionizing intelligent network-attached storage. The NASync iDX6011 is equipped with the new generation Intel Core Ultra 5 Processor 125H, featuring 14 cores, 18 threads, and a turbo frequency of 4.5GHz. Its AI capabilities are exceptional, with three major AI engines: CPU, GPU, and NPU. This makes it highly efficient across a variety of AI application scenarios. "Alongside the momentum of AIPC, NAS has the unique opportunity to bring AI to every home," states Sam Gao, Vice President & General Manager of Intel Client Computing Group China. "Intel Core Ultra 200 Series Processors fit the AI workloads very well which can significantly benefit new AI NAS solutions. Intel is collaborating closely with Ugreen to drive consumer friendly use cases and unleash the future of NAS." UGREEN showcased the impressive AI capabilities of the iDX series, including an AI Photo Album that intelligently recognizes text and objects, supports semantic search, and allows custom learning to create user-defined categories. Notably, UGREEN's integrated AI LLM, the world's first local-based LLM for NAS, powers features such as natural and intuitive AI chat, file tag generation, and automated meeting minutes creation. Other innovative offerings include the UGREEN Revodok 1231 Thunderbolt 5 docking station which offers 80 Gbps bidirectional bandwidth and an enhanced mode supporting up to 120 Gbps. The Nexode 500W GaN 6-port desktop charger is the world's first 500W gallium nitride model, featuring 240W single-port charging up to 48V for high-performance laptops and e-bikes, with intelligent multi-port power allocation. Following the unveiling, a media roundtable was held featuring Intel's NAS and Thunderbolt Marketing Director Larry Blackburn, Western Digital's HDD Marketing Director Brian Mallari, NAS expert Robert Andrews of NASCompares, and UGREEN NAS Product Manager Markus Xie. The group discussed the practical applications of AI-powered NAS, UGREEN's collaboration with Intel, and concerns regarding security and privacy in the AI landscape. More than 30 media and industry experts attended the event, praising it for offering valuable insights into AI advancements in the NAS sector and fostering innovation within the industry. With its groundbreaking AI NAS solutions and other innovations, UGREEN is shaping the future of smart storage and redefining the role of AI in consumer electronics. By pushing the boundaries of what network-attached storage can achieve, UGREEN is driving progress and setting new standards across the industry. Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. About UGREEN Since 2012, UGREEN has been dedicated to creating innovative electronic devices and accessories that are both technologically advanced and affordable for consumers. Its user-focused approach lies at the core of the brand, which has earned the trust of over 200 million users globally. Lately, the brand has expanded into innovative new fields, including AI-powered NAS solutions, further enhancing its commitment to meet evolving consumer needs. For more information, please contact: [email protected] SOURCE UGREEN GROUP LIMITED World's Most Comprehensive Protein Study Highlights Ultima's Commitment to Unlocking the Power of Genomics at Scale FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultima Genomics, Inc., a developer of an ultra-high throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform, today announced that its UG 100 was selected as the sequencing platform to enable UK Biobank's unprecedented protein study, which will be the world's largest and most comprehensive proteomics study to date. The UG 100 was selected by a consortium of 14 leading biopharma companies funding the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project and will be used in conjunction with Thermo Fisher Scientific's Olink Explore HT proteomics platform to play a central role in this first-of-its-kind effort in understanding disease progression and advancing personalized medicine. This unparalleled project aspires to quantify more than 5,400 protein markers across 600,000 samples, including those from half a million UK Biobank participants and 100,000 second samples taken from a subset of these participants across different time points (spanning up to 15 years). This will allow researchers to explore a unique and unprecedented database. The UK Biobank project, announced today, aims to investigate how fluctuations in protein levels during mid- to late-life may influence disease progression and overall health. This comprehensive dataset will offer researchers invaluable insights into the biological mechanisms behind diseases and will help drive the development of diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. Being chosen for this project underscores the high-throughput, cost-effective capabilities of Ultima's technology... Post this "Being chosen for this ambitious project underscores the high-throughput, cost-effective capabilities of Ultima's NGS technology and its pivotal role in enabling large-scale research projects and its complementarity with the Olink technology," said Gilad Almogy, CEO of Ultima Genomics. "This initiative represents a cornerstone effort in the second era of the Human Genome Project and sets a new benchmark for population-scale health studies. With access to high-quality and low-cost sequencing technology, UK Biobank, its consortia members, and other researchers can confidently pursue larger and more comprehensive studies, including those adding additional layers of omics information like protein to nucleic acid sequencing. Our platform was designed to unlock biology at a scale previously thought impossible, and we are proud to support UK Biobank in advancing human health discoveries." Dr Chris Whelan, Pharma Proteomics Project Lead, said: "UK Biobank's proteomic dataset has the potential to enable more powerful biomarker discovery, more accurate disease prediction, and more successful drug development. Analysing samples from two time points in the same volunteer will allow us to examine how protein levels change across hundreds of health and disease states over time, at an unprecedentedly large scale." "This will represent one of the world's largest ever biopharmaceutical research collaborations, underlining the growing importance of proteomics as a drug discovery tool. I can't wait to see how the scientific community will explore these data to pinpoint molecular drivers of disease progression, disease subtypes, and aging." Carl Raimond, President Proteomic Sciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific, commented: "This project represents an important step forward in proteomics research, with the potential to redefine how we understand and treat disease," said Carl Raimond, president Proteomic Sciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer and, to that end, we are proud to collaborate with organizations that share our goals and provide complementary technologies. We look forward to seeing the advancements achieved from the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project powered by our combined platforms." The protein abundance analysis via sequencing by counting for UK Biobank's project will be conducted using the Olink Explore HT proteomics platform and Ultima's UG 100 sequencing platform, with the actual sequencing performed at the Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC), one of the world's largest human genetics sequencing and research facilities. The collaboration further highlights UG 100's exceptional capacity to meet the demanding requirements of large-scale high-throughput genomic research. About Ultima Genomics Ultima Genomics is unleashing the power of genomics at scale. The Company's mission is to continuously drive the scale of genomic information to enable unprecedented advances in biology and improvements in human health. With humanity on the cusp of a biological revolution, there is a virtually endless need for more genomic information to address biology's complexity and dynamic changeand a further need to challenge conventional next-generation sequencing technologies. Ultima's revolutionary new sequencing architecture drives down the costs of sequencing to help overcome the tradeoffs that scientists and clinicians are forced to make between the breadth, depth and frequency with which they use genomic information. The new sequencing architecture was designed to scale far beyond conventional sequencing technologies, lower the cost of genomic information and catalyze the next phase of genomics in the 21st century. To learn more, visit www.ultimagenomics.com/ Ultima Media Contact Vikki Herrera 408-206-7009 [email protected] SOURCE Ultima Genomics The BYD Atto 2 budget crossover is a small car the size of a Dacia Duster. The model has already surprised buyers with its low price in China, and it is currently being prepared for the European market. ADVERTISIMENT The new BYD Atto 2 is a copy of the BYD Yuan UP (the electric car is sold in China under this name). According to Motor1, the cars will be sold in Europe after they are assembled at a plant in Hungary. The price of the BYD Atto 2 in China starts at $11,000, but the European version of the model will be more expensive. The body length is 4,310 mm with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, width - 1,830 mm, and height - 1.675 mm. The design looks modern, but the car's budget origin could not be hidden. In addition, the BYD electric crossover looks almost exactly like any other Chinese car. The manufacturer has prepared several electric powertrains to choose from. The basic one is the 95 hp version. In the top version, the car produces 177 hp. The range of the lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack is approximately 300 km. The car is equipped with a modern multimedia system, a panoramic roof, and 17-inch wheels. PORT VILA, Vanuatu, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Markets, a leading multi-asset trading platform, is set to make a significant impact at the upcoming iFX EXPO Dubai 2025, scheduled for January 14-16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As an Elite Sponsor, Vantage is poised to showcase its latest innovations and commitment to empowering traders worldwide. In a recent exclusive interview, Souhail Fadlallah, Business Development Manager at Vantage, shared insights into the company's objectives for the expo and the value it aims to deliver to attendees. Vantage to Showcase Innovation at iFX EXPO Dubai 2025 Fadlallah emphasized Vantage's dedication to providing traders with tools and resources designed to enhance their trading experience. Attendees visiting Vantage's booth can expect to discover the latest advancements in trading platforms, including features aimed at streamlining user experiences and optimizing performance. Beyond technology, Vantage is committed to offering advanced educational resources. Fadlallah highlighted the company's suite of learning tools that provide traders with valuable insights and training materials to sharpen their skills and achieve success in the financial markets. Additionally, Vantage's robust affiliate and partner programs are designed to drive mutual growth and success, reflecting the company's dedication to creating value for its partners. For Vantage, participation in iFX EXPO Dubai 2025 is about more than showcasing its offerings; it's about building trust and fostering meaningful connections. Fadlallah stated, "We want attendees to leave iFX EXPO Dubai with the clear message that Vantage is more than just a trading platform. We're a partner deeply committed to innovation, transparency, and the success of all our clients." Vantage invites all attendees to visit their booth at the iFX EXPO Dubai 2025 to explore their offerings and engage with their team of experts. The event promises to be a hub of innovation, insights, and empowerment in trading. For more information about Vantage and their participation in iFX EXPO Dubai 2025, visit Vantage Markets. About Vantage Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset CFD broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds. With over 15 years of market experience, Vantage transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that empowers clients to seize trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play. trade smarter @vantage RISK WARNING: CFD trading carries significant risks. You could lose more than your initial investment. SOURCE Vantage NYSE: VZLA TSX: VZLA VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (NYSE: VZLA) (TSX: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla Silver" or the "Company") regretfully announces that on January 9, 2025, a landslide impacted one of the exploration drill pads and claimed the life of an employee of Bylsa Drilling S.A. de C.V. ("Bylsa"), one of Vizsla Silver's contractors at the Panuco silver-gold project (the "Project" or "Panuco") located in Sinaloa, Mexico. A second employee of Bylsa was also injured in the same incident and is currently in hospital in critical condition. Michael Konnert, President and CEO of Vizsla Silver, commented, "We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and extend our deepest condolences and support to the families. We are providing all necessary assistance to the families, communities, Bylsa, and our employees during this difficult time." Mr. Konnert continued, "Vizsla Silver has initiated a detailed investigation and will work closely with Bylsa and the local authorities." The appropriate authorities have been notified and will receive the Company's full cooperation. Activities at the Project have been suspended until the cause of the incident is determined. SOURCE Vizsla Silver Corp. MILFORD, Mass., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) announced that it will host an Investor Day on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, in New York City, starting at 8:30 AM ET. The event will feature presentations by members of the senior management team, who will discuss business initiative achievements, new strategic priorities, and our vision for future shareholder value creation. A Q&A session will follow. In-Person Attendance To request in-person attendance at this event, please click here or visit the Waters Investor Relations website at https://ir.waters.com, under 'Events'. Webcast A live webcast will be available the day of the event. To register for the webcast, please click here or visit the Waters Investor Relations website at https://ir.waters.com, under 'Events'. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the event concludes. About Waters Corporation Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT), a global leader in analytical instruments and software, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials, food, and environmental sciences for more than 65 years. With approximately 7,500 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries. Caspar Tudor, Head of Investor Relations [email protected] SOURCE Waters Corporation The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ, a budget SUV the size of the RAV4 crossover, is expected to become a popular novelty. The premiere has not yet taken place, but the possible cool design of the model has already been shown online. ADVERTISIMENT The new Toyota Land Cruiser 250, also known as the Toyota Prado, has a bold retro style. Another model with a similar appearance is being prepared - AutoproMax shows the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. The new Toyota FJ SUV will be the most affordable model of the Land Cruiser line. The Japanese company is expected to present the car in 2025. The car will be the successor to the Toyota FJ Cruiser model, which was discontinued about 10 years ago. Insiders reported that the new car will have a 2.7-liter engine with a capacity of 163 hp. The estimated price of Toyota Land Cruiser FJ is about $23,000, but this is still a preliminary figure. It is obvious that Toyota wants to turn the Land Cruiser line into an image sub-brand, as Land Rover did with the Range Rover models - it all started with one car, and now there are four. If Ukraine stops the transit of Russian oil through the "Druzhba" pipeline, it will be a violation of the Energy Charter Treaty and the Association Agreement with the European Union. This could lead to its punishment. Therefore, the country cannot stop pumping oil to Russia. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He noted that, in particular, stopping transit could be grounds for: Bringing the country to justice for stopping uninterrupted oil supplies to several European countries. In particular, to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Imposing financial conditions after international arbitration. "Oil transit through the territory of Ukraine is carried out following the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty and the Association Agreement with the EU on freedom of transit. It also meets the conditions of the sixth package of EU sanctions," the Prime Minister said. Earlier, Ukraine stopped the transit of Russian gas through its territory. This was done because the contract between Russian "Gazprom" and "Naftogaz," signed before the start of the great war, had expired. According to Reuters, for Ukraine, the termination of transit means the loss of about $800 million in annual income from transit fees. Russia, for its part, will lose about $5 billion from gas sales to European consumers. At the same time, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto threatened to block Ukraine's accession to the European Union because of the transit shutdown. The Slovak political party Hlas made the same threats. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Turkey may replace Russia as a gas supplier to Europe. They believe that they can handle it, because they already supply natural gas to several European countries, and they also have a fairly developed infrastructure. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Jaipur, Jan 10 : Congress General Secretary and former Union Minister Sachin Pilot, on Thursday, while targeting the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government in Rajasthan, demanded clarity on the state's stance regarding recruitment examinations. Pilot also accused the state government of creating confusion and uncertainty. "While Ministers hint at cancelling exams, the government tells the court it cannot proceed with cancellation. This indecisiveness is causing immense distress to the public. The government must stop delaying and communicate its decisions to the people," he said. He demanded that there must be a clear and decisive policy. The Rajasthan government on Thursday responded in the High Court and said that it cannot cancel the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination. Speaking to the media at his residence on Thursday, Pilot criticised the state government's performance over the past year, saying that its decisions have sparked widespread public outrage. He highlighted the recent cancellation of districts formed in the state, which has further fuelled discontent among the people. "We will demand answers from the state government in the House on all these issues and will strongly voice the concerns of the public," he said. "Referring to the plight of students, Pilot said, "The future of young candidates who have appeared for the exams is at risk. The government's lack of clarity has endangered their aspirations." He further asserted that the state government must address these grievances during the upcoming Assembly session. Pilot also pointed to delays in decisions related to SI recruitment and other examinations, emphasising that the prolonged uncertainty and indecision are causing confusion and frustration among the people. "Many power centres have emerged within the government. Ministers say one thing, the government says another, and the public is caught in the middle," he added. He called on the state government to clarify its stance and provide a coherent policy to address these pressing issues. Jaipur, Jan 10 : The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday imposed a ban on any training or posting related to the Sub-Inspector Recruitment Examination-2021 and announced the next hearing on February 10. The matter was heard in the court of Justice Sameer Jain. Soon after the Rajasthan government announced that it will not cancel the Sub Inspector Recruitment Examination-2021, as confirmed in its reply submitted to the Rajasthan High Court (Jaipur bench) on Thursday, the court announced a ban on any training or posting related to Sub-Inspector Recruitment Examination. The government, represented by Additional Advocate General Vigyan Shah, said in court that individuals involved in the paper leak case have been apprehended, and around 40 trainee Sub-Inspectors (SIs) who were found to have cheated in the examination have been suspended. Shah also said, "At present, the recruitment cannot be cancelled." However, the court questioned the government's reluctance to cancel the recruitment despite widespread allegations of corruption. Justice Sameer Jain appointed the Additional Solicitor General as amicus curiae to assist in the case. The High Court reiterated its earlier order, issued on November 18, 2024, banning the posting of selected SIs, while also barring any further training or field posting under this recruitment. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena directed questions regarding the matter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and said, "Since the matter is sub-judice, I cannot comment further." However, Meena commented that the Chief Minister has the authority to overturn the decision of the Cabinet sub-committee. The petitioner's lawyer, Harendra Neel, argued that public trust has been compromised, and the government must take decisive action. "The court has asked the government why it has not taken steps to cancel the recruitment. Corruption on such a scale cannot be ignored," Neel remarked. The SI recruitment came under controversy after a paper leak was reported during the Sub-Inspector Recruitment Examination 2021. An investigation by the Special Operations Group (SOG) uncovered the use of dummy candidates and other fraudulent practices. As of now, around 50 trainee SIs have been arrested, with 25 of them granted bail by the High Court. Despite the High Court's earlier ban, the government had briefly posted some trainee SIs. These postings were revoked after certain trainees, held in SOG custody for more than 48 hours, were suspended. Bengaluru, Jan 10 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar, has visited the Pratyangira Devi temple in Tamil Nadu to strengthen himself against political opponents within the party ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, sources confirmed on Thursday. Shivakumar visited the Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi temple in Kumbakonam with his wife on Thursday and offered special prayers. The goddess, revered as 'Shakti Swarupini' (Embodiment of Power) and 'Ugra Swarupini' (Embodiment of Ferocity), is believed, according to mythology, to incarnate on earth to finish off her enemies. The goddess is also regarded as an embodiment of Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Adishakti. Shivakumar's temple visit has sparked discussions across Karnataka's political circles. Sources suggest that Shivakumar is positioning himself to secure the Chief Minister's seat, as per the power-sharing agreement with incumbent CM Siddaramaiah. However, he is reportedly facing stiff resistance. Sources further revealed that CM Siddaramaiah had recently hosted a dinner meeting with 34 MLAs and seven Ministers in Bengaluru, citing New Year celebrations. Deputy CM Shivakumar was notably absent. During the meeting, a decision was made to hike RTC bus fares by 15 per cent, signalling to the Congress high command and Shivakumar that Siddaramaiah remains firmly in control as the CM of Karnataka. Shivakumar, upon his return to India, camped in New Delhi and persuaded the party high command to stall a meeting organised by Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara for Congress MLAs, Ministers, and MPs belonging to SC and ST communities. The meeting reportedly sought to advocate for a Dalit Chief Minister if there would be a change in leadership. Parameshwara had earlier said publicly that he is not in politics to relinquish power, fuelling speculation about his ambitions. Following this, CM Siddaramaiah called for a CLP meeting on January 13, using his prerogative. Sources indicate this move aims to show Shivakumar that he does not wield absolute control in the state. The Siddaramaiah camp is reportedly preparing to assert its power and demonstrate its solidarity with the CM during the meeting, effectively countering any attempts to change the leadership. Ministers K.N. Rajanna and Satish Jarkiholi expressed bitterness following the postponement of the SC/ST leaders' meeting. Rajanna remarked that the meeting was not about acquiring Shivakumar's property and questioned why he should be upset. Jarkiholi noted that while one faction might currently have an upper hand, his team would also find an advantageous position eventually. Home Minister Parameshwara clarified that the meeting had only been postponed but not cancelled, and added that if the party does not allow such meetings in the future, they are capable of handling the situation. All eyes are now on the agenda of the upcoming CLP meeting. Karnataka Congress unit in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala is expected to visit Bengaluru for the meeting, given the current political scenario. Meanwhile, Shivakumar dismissed rumours of infighting within the Congress, maintaining that there is no crisis in the party. Political experts, however, note that his composure at this juncture is unusual. Former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai remarked that since the Congress came to power in Karnataka, there has been instability and internal discord, raising questions about when Deputy CM Shivakumar's patience might finally run out. Patna, Jan 10 : In the latest development surrounding the controversy over alleged irregularities in the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Preliminary Examination, the Jan Suraaj Party filed a writ petition in the Patna High Court on Thursday seeking fresh examination. The party is demanding the cancellation of the examination and conducting a fresh, fair, and transparent re-examination. Senior advocate Pranav Kumar on behalf of the Jan Suraaj Party, filed the writ petition under Article 226 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This legal move follows a similar petition filed earlier by a student group also seeking cancellation of the BPSC examination and demanding a re-examination. Prashant Kishor, the Jan Suraaj Party President, has been holding a hunger strike since January 2, supporting the demands of the BPSC candidates. On January 6, Kishor was arrested from the protest site at Patna's Gandhi Maidan but was later granted bail the same evening. Despite his hospitalisation due to deteriorating health, Kishor continues his hunger strike, intensifying the demand for justice for the BPSC candidates. The protesting students have levelled allegations of widespread irregularities and rigging in the 70th BPSC preliminary examination, held on December 13, which have sparked protests across Bihar. A large number of candidates are still protesting against the BPSC in Patna's Gardanibagh for the cancellation of the examination. Student groups and political leaders, including the Jan Suraaj Party, are demanding action to ensure transparency in the examination process. This issue has already reached the Supreme Court, which directed petitioners to approach the Patna High Court for further deliberation. The matter now rests with the Patna High Court, which will decide on the petition filed by both the student group and the Jan Suraaj Party. The legal and political stakes continue to rise as the demands for accountability in the examination process gain momentum. Patna, Jan 10 : Independent MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, along with his wife and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ranjit Ranjan, have been acquitted by the MP/MLA court in a 15-year-old case of violating the Model Code of Conduct during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. On Thursday, the court concluded its hearing and acquitted Pappu Yadav, Ranjit Ranjan, and their associate Santosh Yadav, citing a lack of evidence. The legal representatives of Pappu Yadav, Murari Choubey and Braj Kishore Singh, said that the prosecution failed to present sufficient proof to support the charges, leading to the dismissal of the case. The case originated on March 8, 2009, when Sanjay Upadhyay, the then Sub-Divisional Officer and Deputy Collector Land Reforms of Purnea, lodged an FIR at the Kehat police station in the district. The allegations stemmed from the events, including banners and posters, that were displayed at Rangbhumi Ground to welcome Pappu Yadav as he travelled from Katihar to Purnea. A large procession was organised in his honour, which the district administration deemed a violation of the Model Code of Conduct enforced during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The court found that only one witness had been presented by the prosecution, and their testimony failed to substantiate the charges against the accused. As a result, the court acquitted all three individuals, effectively closing the case after 15 years. Pappu Yadav was elected as an Independent MP from Purnea in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and his wife Ranjit Ranjan is serving as a Rajya Sabha MP from Chhattisgarh, representing the Congress. Pappu Yadav is a prominent political figure in Bihar. He was recently in the news during the Bihar Public Service Commission protest. This acquittal marks a legal victory for the couple, allowing them to focus on their ongoing political careers without the shadow of this long-pending case. Patna, Jan 10 : The controversy surrounding the detention and subsequent attempted imprisonment of Jan Suraaj Party President Prashant Kishor by the Patna police has drawn sharp criticism from his advocate, Amit Kumar. He alleged that the Patna police attempted to transfer Kishor to Beur Jail on January 6 without proper custody documentation. He said that the Jail Superintendent refused to admit Kishor without the necessary custody papers. "It was surprising that when Prashant Kishor was taken out of the court premises and taken to Beur Jail, the hearing was still ongoing inside the court. They wanted to take Prashant Kishor to Beur Jail without custody papers. The Jail Superintendent refused to keep him inside without custody papers," Kumar said. Kumar also raised concerns about the sections under which the case was filed. He said that Sections 190, 191(2), 191(3), and 223 -- under which Kishor has been charged -- are all bailable offences. He particularly criticised the application of Section 191(3), which pertains to rioting or possessing a weapon. "There was not even a stick in the hands of any child. If Bihar Police considers blankets and mufflers as weapons, then Bihar Police is amazing. This was a Satyagraha; how did it become a riot?" Kumar asked. The advocate highlighted the points included in Prashant Kishor's bailable personal recognisance bond. The first point was Kishor was an accused in the case, the second point was being released on bail by the court. The third point was Kishor must cooperate with the police and appear in court if the trial proceeds and the fourth point was a penalty of Rs 25,000 would be imposed if he failed to appear or cooperate. Kumar also questioned why Kishor, despite the FIR being lodged at the Gandhi Maidan police station, was taken directly to Beur Jail. He claimed that during a peaceful gathering, when the mob became unmanageable, Kishor was handed a microphone to address them -- an action for which another FIR was subsequently filed. "Why does the police not tell us by which authority they took him to Beur Jail? We were not given any papers by the police. The police have just made us a scapegoat of lies," Kumar asserted. The detention and handling of Prashant Kishor by Patna police have sparked significant controversy, with allegations of procedural violations and high-handedness. Retired IPS officer and Jan Suraaj Party leader Anand Mishra, along with party spokesperson Kishore Kumar Munna, have raised serious concerns about the conduct of the Bihar Police. Anand Mishra criticised the unprofessional behaviour of the police, claiming that the officers involved did not wear proper uniforms or display identification. He expressed concerns over the lack of transparency, stating: "No one knew where they were taking Prashant Kishor. Then I went behind and saw that no police officer had a nameplate on his uniform, no rank, and no one was even wearing a cap. Who knows, there might be impostors in the name of Bihar Police? No one even revealed his identity. Such behaviour does not happen even with a terrorist." Mishra further urged Bihar's Director General of Police (DGP) to adhere to the DK Basu guidelines, issued by the Supreme Court, which mandate that police officers must disclose their identity during detentions. He added: "When I reminded them (police) of the guidelines, they only then disclosed their rank. This was completely illegal detention." Party spokesperson Kishore Kumar Munna alleged that Kishor was forcibly picked up by the police at 4 a.m. without proper documentation. He said that Kishor was taken to AIIMS, where the administration and doctors were pressured to admit him. However, the AIIMS administration refused, citing the lack of requisite paperwork. The incident further escalated as Prashant Kishor, who has been on a hunger strike since January 2, was later admitted to the ICU ward at Medanta Hospital in Patna due to deteriorating health. Thursday marks the eighth day of Kishor's hunger strike. Patna, Jan 10 : The allegations of irregularities in the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission Preliminary examination have escalated, with a group of examinees on Thursday, filing a petition in the Patna High Court seeking the cancellation and re-conducting the examination held on December 13. The controversy follows ongoing protests by candidates and earlier unsuccessful attempts to bring the matter before the Supreme Court. Led by Pappu Kumar and other examinees, the petition alleges large-scale rigging and demands the annulment of the exam. The petitioners argue that the examination process was compromised, affecting the fairness and credibility of the results. The matter has gained momentum as candidates, discontent with the lack of government response, have turned to the judiciary for redressal. On January 7, the Supreme Court heard a related petition filed by a law firm that demanded cancellation of the exam due to alleged rigging. It had put forth the point to take action against officials, including the Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate, for cane-charging protesting students, a CBI investigation under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge. However, a bench comprising CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice KV Vishwanathan declined to hear the petition, directing the petitioners to approach the Patna High Court first. The court emphasised that due process should be followed, with the High Court being the appropriate forum for initiating such matters. For several days, candidates have been protesting against the alleged irregularities, staging protests and hunger strikes in Patna's Gardanibagh. Their primary demand remains the cancellation of the preliminary examination and the re-conducting of the test with transparency. They have also sought accountability from the authorities for any lapses in conducting the exam. The case in the Patna High Court could become pivotal in addressing the grievances of the candidates and determining whether the alleged irregularities warrant the cancellation and re-conduct of the examination. Gurugram, Jan 10 : The family members of a woman, who died last week, allege that she breathed last at the Saksham Health Care hospital here due to negligence of the hospital administration, police said. The deceased's family has also filed a complaint against the hospital administration at the Kherki Daula police Station for further investigation. According to the police, the husband of the 30-year-old victim, a resident of Manesar, has alleged that his wife died due to medical negligence. The police said on Thursday that they received a complaint against Saksham Health Care Hospital located in Sector-83 Manesar but they will forward the case for a preliminary inquiry to the Gurugram health department to get approval for going ahead with their investigation (as is the norm for cases against doctors). According to the complaint, the deceased's woman husband Manoj Yadav admitted his wife Monika Yadav for delivery around 9 a.m. on January 5. Doctor Shikha Parashar at Saksham Health Care Hospital performed normal delivery around 2:20 p.m. She delivered a male child on January 5. "After delivery, she was responding well. The doctors suggested we go home as the medical staff would take care of the patient. At around 6:40 p.m., her condition deteriorated due to bleeding and the doctor failed to control her bleeding and later she died at the hospital," the deceased's husband Manoj told IANS. He alleged that the hospital administration did not arrange an ambulance on time. They even did not use a blood unit despite being arranged by the family. "My wife was in immense pain and was begging me to save her. I told doctors that she was in pain, but they said this was normal and she will recover soon. Soon after, she lost consciousness. Doctors then put her in an ambulance and asked me to rush to another hospital as the case was beyond their control," the complaint said. "She died at the hospital but despite this and to misguide us they shifted my wife to another private hospital, where the hospital management informed us that she died several hours ago," Manoj alleged. The doctors had initially said the treatment would cost around Rs 80,000 and had charged Rs 50,000 after the delivery, he said. "We have lodged a complaint with the Kherki Daula police station for Monika's death due to medical negligence and also filed a complaint with the Gurgaon civil surgeon," he added. When contacted, the hospital administration said that it was a rare case of death. Despite all possible care and efforts, Monika succumbed on January 5. "The patient had previously delivered a girl through an operation but the family insisted on normal delivery. We also informed the family about the seriousness of the normal delivery but despite this, they were adamant about normal delivery. After the delivery, she suffered Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) which is severe bleeding after giving birth. The family was briefed on her criticality before delivery," Doctor Shikha Parashar said. "We have received a complaint against the hospital management and the matter is currently under investigation. We are also waiting for the autopsy report of the deceased. We are also in touch with the health department. Necessary action will be taken based on reports," Virender Khatri, Station House Officer of Kherki Daula Police Station, said. Gurugram, Jan 10 : A 22-year-old man succumbed to injuries after he was stabbed by another man over a fight on the intervening night of January 4 and 5 here, police said. The deceased was identified as Ashish, a resident of Alwar in Rajasthan, who died on Thursday during treatment. According to the police, on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, they received information regarding two persons, Ashish, Deepak and Sachin, being admitted to the hospital after being injured over a minor scuffle. On receiving the information, the police team reached the hospital, where the doctor declared the injured Ashish unfit to give a statement, and Sachin was discharged. Sachin told the police that he works in a company in Manesar and he, along with Ashish and other friends, had taken two rooms on rent in the Prem Nagar area of Gurugram on December 31. When they returned to the room on the night of January 4 at around 8:15 p.m., Deepak, a resident of Uttarakhand, was abusing and fighting with Ashish. Sachin intervened in the matter and separated Ashish and Deepak preventing them from further fighting. Later, while Ashish and Sachin were talking at the gate when Deepak came abusing and stabbed Ashish in the face with a knife. "When Sachin took injured Ashish inside the room, Deepak stabbed him on his back, due to which he also got injured. After this Deepak ran away from the spot. Based on Sachin's complaint, a case was filed at the Sector-14 police station," Sandeep Kumar, Gurugram police spokesperson, said. On Thursday, Ashish died during treatment upon which the section related to murder was added to the case, police said. During preliminary investigation, it was found that the complainant Sachin, Ashish and their other companions had been living in rented accommodation in Gurugram's Prem Nagar area since December 31. The accused was also living there in a separate room. In the investigation so far, it has been found that the accused committed the crime in an altercation over telling the landlord about drinking alcohol. "Accused Deepak is still undergoing treatment in the hospital. After being discharged from the hospital, he will be arrested in the case as per the rules," the police official added. New Delhi, Jan 10 : BJP President J P Nadda has reviewed preparations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls, asking party leaders to reach out to new groups of people from various social segments and areas for better electoral impact, adding that "this election offers an opportunity to choose between Arvind Kejriwal's "falsehoods and corruption" and the BJP's "truth and development". New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) BJP President J P Nadda has reviewed preparations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls, asking party leaders to reach out to new groups of people from various social segments and areas for better electoral impact, adding that "this election offers an opportunity to choose between Arvind Kejriwalas "falsehoods and corruption" and the BJP's "truth and development". Nadda on Thursday visited the BJP's Delhi unit office and spent more than four hours meeting the in-charges and members of various poll panels, state functionaries and frontal organisations. He reviewed the preparations for the elections to 70-member Delhi Assembly scheduled on February 5. Nadda said the BJP will form the government in Delhi with a full majority, according to a BJP statement. "The BJP President said the party unit's outreach programmes and campaigns should focus on meeting new people and convincing them to support the BJP for better electoral results. He said interacting with the same set of people who support the party does not bear fruit," said a senior Delhi BJP functionary. Nadda was informed during the course of the review meetings that more than one lakh women have been contacted through various campaigns and programmes so far. The BJP Chief asked the party's Mahila Morcha (women's wing) to reach out to more women ahead of the polls. He sought to boost the morale of the BJP leaders, saying the entire party needs to jump into the elections as a unified force to ensure the party's victory, the functionary said. Some functionaries present in the meeting said Nadda told the leaders that there are a limited number of tickets in elections and everyone cannot get one. He said a real leader does not get disheartened if he fails to get a chance to contest the elections. "A leader will remain a leader even if she or he does not get a ticket," he said. In two separate meetings, Nadda interacted with members of the Election Coordination Committee and the Election Management Committee to gather updates on poll arrangements and provided guidance for improvement, according to the party statement. The meetings, chaired by Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, were attended by Delhi election in-charge Baijayant Panda, co-in-charge Atul Garg, State General Secretary (Organisation) Pawan Rana, poll coordination committee head and Union Minister Harsh Malhotra and co-head Manoj Tiwari, among others. Responding to Nadda's allegation against party convener Arvind Kejriwal, AAP, in a press statement, said, "The people of Delhi know that all corrupt leaders of the country have joined the BJP, while Arvind Kejriwal is a staunchly honest leader who has worked tirelessly for them." "Kejriwal has provided free electricity, world-class health and education model among others, achievements the BJP has failed to replicate in any of its 20 states," said AAP. The BJP has so far announced candidates on 29 of the 70 seats. The remaining candidates are likely to be announced soon as the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the party is meeting on Friday. The BJP is making all-out efforts to return to power after over 26 years. The party won the first Assembly polls in Delhi in 1993. It has remained out of power since 1998, losing to the Congress in three consecutive elections till 2013 and since then by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In the last two polls in 2015 and 2020, the party was completely routed by AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats respectively. Various poll committees, including those for campaign, manifesto and narrative, among others as well as frontal organisations submitted reports to the BJP Chief. A new trend among European tourists to visit small but picturesque towns and villages in the resort regions of Europe is growing. And recently, one such village in Spain saw itself in the spotlight. ADVERTISIMENT According to the Express, the village of Casares was named the most beautiful in Andalusia, according to a survey by the Noradoa travel portal. About 8,000 people live here, and this incredible place is located on the border with the province of Cadiz, about 40 minutes from Marbella. Often referred to as the cradle of Andalusia, Casares is located on a hillside with narrow, winding streets that run between its whitewashed buildings. It is the leader of the survey featuring 99 villages. National Geographic also included it in the list of the 100 most beautiful towns in Spain, praising the charm of its "narrow and winding century-old slopes." ADVERTISIMENT The village's centerpiece is the Casares Castle, a Moorish fortress built in the 1200s. Back then, it was used to protect the Nasrid kingdom that stood on these lands. Throughout the village, you can find observation decks that offer stunning views of the snow-white houses. And Casares itself seems like a box of sugar cubes because of these houses. The church called Iglesia de la Encarnacion is also of historical significance, dating back to the 17th century and featuring a magnificent Mudejar bell tower. For those looking for relaxation, you can visit the Banos de la Hedionda spa resort in Casares, known for its sulfurous waters since ancient times. They are believed to have healing properties. At the very least, you can relax here. The high season here lasts from June to September. Visiting the village of Casares is free, but during these months, a reservation is required. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Dehradun, Jan 10 : The Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a comprehensive verification of madrasas operating across the state to ensure that all educational institutions are in compliance with legal requirements and regulations. To ensure that all institutions adhere to the legal framework, Chief Minister Dhami emphasised that strict action will be taken against those found running madrassas without proper authorisation. Speaking to the media on Thursday, CM Dhami said, "We have given clear instructions for the verification of madrasas in the state. We will take strict action against those found running madrassas illegally." The verification process will likely involve assessing the credentials of madrassas, their infrastructure, and their adherence to educational norms and government regulations. Additionally, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister also responded to Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav's statement on the Maha Kumbh. "Those who have fired on karsevaks, those who are against the Ram Mandir, will not understand the importance of Kumbh. One should not talk like this, whoever goes to Kumbh will be great. This will be a grand event under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," he said. As preparations for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj gain momentum, Indian Railways has announced robust arrangements to ensure the safe and efficient travel of millions of devotees to and from the holy city. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity, Railway Board, shared details of the comprehensive plan to handle the unprecedented rush. The official said that the Indian Railways will operate more than 10,000 trains, including 3,300 special trains, to cater to the large number of passengers travelling for the Sangam Snan, one of the most significant events of the Mahakumbh. Kumar said that special measures have been put in place to manage crowds, including colour-coded waiting and holding areas at stations for unreserved passengers. Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj is all decked up to host Mahakumbh 2025 which begins on January 13 and will continue till February 26. As part of the security arrangement, Uttar Pradesh Police will implement a seven-layer security scheme to avert any untoward incident in the mass religious gathering. Additionally, the Police have also launched an intensive checking campaign to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of Mahakumbh 2025. More than 2,700 AI-enabled cameras have also been installed to enhance the security. The Uttar Pradesh government has also deployed 125 road ambulances and seven river ambulances exclusively for the Mahakumbh. The Mahakumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. During the Mahakumbh, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation). The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). New Delhi, Jan 10 : President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards during the valedictory session of the PBD Convention in Odisha. The President will present her closing remarks at the convention which began on January 8. She arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday and was welcomed by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other BJP party leaders at Bhubaneswar Airport. A highlight of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention is the presentation of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA). As many as 27 individuals and organisations will be honoured this year, from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the names of the awardees for this year on January 3. The awardees include among others Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar from the UK (in the field of politics), Dr Sharmila Ford from the US for community service, and Dr Syed Anwar Khursheed from Saudi Arabia (in the field of Medical Science). This prestigious honour is conferred upon Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or organisations established and run by them. The PBSA recognizes outstanding achievements in various fields and celebrates the accomplishments and commitments of NRIs and PIOs in sectors such as education, science and innovation, trade and industry, arts and culture, social work, public service, and philanthropy. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 to mark Mahatma Gandhias return from South Africa to India in 1915. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention commenced at Bhubaneswar on Wednesday with the inauguration of Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar here. The delegates have been participating in various plenary sessions on various issues during the three-day convention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday formally inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at the Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. Around 5,000 delegates from different corners of the world have been attending the grand convention. PM Modi also inaugurated four exhibitions at the venue, 'Vishwaroop Ram', highlighting the legacy of the Ramayana across the globe, aDiaspora's Contribution to Technologya, aBharat Bharatiya: Swadesh Pardesa showcasing the archival collections on migration of people from Gujarat to Oman and an aExhibition on Heritage and Culture of Odishaa highlighting the timeless glory of Odishaas history and culture. The Prime Minister remotely flagged off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora. The train will visit various destinations of cultural, historical, and religious importance throughout India over three weeks. PM Modi, during his address at the inaugural session, sought the participation of the diaspora in making India a developed nation by 2047. In a message to the global community, PM Modi said the future is not in ayuddhaa (war) but in Buddha (Lord Buddha, who symbolises peace). Sao Tome, Jan 10 : Sao Tome and Principe's ruling Independent Democratic Action Party (ADI) proposed three new candidates for the position of Prime Minister, following President Carlos Vila Nova's rejection of the earlier nominee, Helio de Almeida. According to updates on ADI's official Facebook page and national news agency STP-Press, all three nominees are women, namely President of the National Assembly Celmira Sacramento, Minister of Justice Ilza Amado Vaz, and Minister of Health Angela Costa. Earlier in the day, Vila Nova rejected the nomination of Helio de Almeida as prime minister proposed by ADI, calling on ADI to come up with alternative candidates to replace Patrice Trovoada, who was dismissed earlier this week, Xinhua news agency reported. According to STP-Press, the rejection was announced during a press conference where the president explained that Helio de Almeida's candidacy did not align with his "sensibility." "After consultations and within the scope of my responsibilities, the candidate proposed by ADI, Helio de Almeida, does not meet my sensibility. Therefore, I request that ADI propose other names for the leadership of the next government in the coming hours, as the party has other qualified cadres," said Vila Nova. "The requirements are mainly those that align with a specific profile. Of course, I cannot go into details here because the party is well aware of them." The Sao Tomean president on Monday dissolved Trovoada's government and requested his party to propose a new candidate for the position of Prime Minister and head of government within 72 hours. Trovoada held a press conference Tuesday at his office, describing the president's decision as unconstitutional. ADI, with which both Vila Nova and Trovoada are members, has appealed to the Constitutional Court to overturn the decision. Trovoada signed a letter as ADI chairman Wednesday, nominating Helio de Almeida as the new Prime Minister. Brussels, Jan 10 : Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that his government might consider halting humanitarian aid to Ukraine as part of measures in response to the ongoing Russian gas transit dispute. Speaking to reporters in Brussels after meeting with European Union (EU) Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, Fico said on Thursday that Slovakia is evaluating potential actions, including vetoing EU decisions related to Ukraine. Other measures include cutting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine and reducing support for Ukrainian war refugees, Xinhua news agency reported. Fico emphasised that Slovakia does not aim to escalate tensions but will implement these measures if no resolution is reached. He also announced the establishment of a working group with the European Commission to address the issue. The dispute arose after the gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia expired on Decemebr 31. Gas flows to Slovakia ceased the following day as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opted not to renew the agreement. Regarding the stop of gas flows from Russia, Fico warned of significant economic repercussions, estimating potential losses of nearly 1.5 billion euros ($1.55 billion) for Slovakia and around 70 billion euros for the EU (1 euro = $1.03). Earlier, the halt in Russian gas transit through Ukraine sparked fears of supply shortages and soaring energy costs, particularly in landlocked European nations like Slovakia. Both Ukraine and Russia announced the stoppage, pushing some EU countries to resort to costlier energy alternatives. Slovak PM Robert Fico earlier said that stopping gas transit through Ukraine to Europe would have "severe consequences for all of us in the European Union (EU), but will not harm Russia." The stoppage follows Ukraine's decision not to renew a 2019 gas transit agreement between its state-run Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom, which expired on December 31, 2024. New York, Jan 10 : Thousands have fled as wildfires spread across the US Los Angeles region -- what ignited the Palisades and Eaton fires, the two main blazes, is still under investigation but weather conditions have helped fuel their spread. Experts call the areas "the wildland-urban interface" (WUI). "An increasing number of people around the United States now live in that transition zone where open lands meet human development, and it's becoming more dangerous as climate change fuels more intense fires," Xinhua news agency reported quoting Bloomberg News. What makes WUI zones susceptible to wildfires is the combination of open space, parks and houses, says Crystal Kolden, the director of the Fire Resilience Center at the University of California, Merced. "Many of those houses and subdivisions are laid out in ways that have lots of highly flammable shrubs and trees growing on and in-between lots." "Yet despite the risks, more people are living in the WUI. Research shows that between 1990 and 2010, 25 million people moved there and 12.7 million homes were built," said the report. In part that's a response to high housing costs elsewhere and a desire to live in "proximity to nature," says Rebecca Paterson, a spokesperson for the National Interagency Fire Center, the US wildfire logistics and coordination body. At the same time, studies indicated that access to green space commands higher housing prices. That growth "definitely creates a lot of challenges, especially with managing wildfires," Paterson added. Earlier, multiple major wildfires raging across Los Angeles County, the most populous US county, has killed at least five people and damaged at least 1,100 buildings, authorities said. The Palisades fire, a devastating wind-driven brush fire in Pacific Palisades starting Tuesday, spread to 15,800 acres (63.9 square km) as of Wednesday afternoon with zero containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on Wednesday. The blaze destroyed about 1,000 structures, including many expensive homes built between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and forced thousands to flee with new evacuation warnings issued for Malibu. Meerut : , Jan 10 (IANS) In a horrific incident, a couple and their three children were found dead at their residence in the Lisadi Gate Police Station area. While the bodies of the couple were found on the floor, the bodies of the three children, all minor girls, were hidden in a bed box, indicating foul play and a bid to hide the crime. According to Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada, the police got a call about a locked house in the Lisadi Gate Police Station area late on Thursday night. Upon reaching the location, the police team found out that the house had been locked from the outside, said SSP Vipin Tada, addressing reporters at the site of the crime. "After gaining access to the house through the roof, the police team found the bodies of Moin, his wife Asma and their three minor daughters -- Afsa (8), Aziza (4) and Adiba (1)," SSP Tada told reporters. "The manner in which the house was locked from the outside suggests that the individual involved in the crime may have been someone known to the family," he said. aA preliminary probe point towards an old enmity as the possible motive behind the incident. A detailed investigation is underway," the SSP said. Giving further details of the crime he said that the legs of one of the deceased were found tied with a bedsheet and the children were found stuffed in a bed box. A forensic team and senior officers are collecting evidence from the site, police said. People in the area were shocked by the crime in their neighbourhood as the family had recently moved to the area. The SSP said that they were investigating the background of the deceased couple to ascertain the motive behind the murders. Moin, who was a mechanic by profession, and his wife Asma had been out of touch with their family since Wednesday and it was Moin's brother Salim and his wife who came to check in on the couple after several unsuccessful attempts to contact them. After several unsuccessful bids to open the door, they called the police for help. Upon entering the house, they found the bodies of Moin and Asma lying on the ground, while the bodies of the children were hidden in a bed box. Sao Paulo, Jan 10 : A small aircraft crashed and exploded next to a beach in the tourist city of Ubatuba, in the Brazilian southeastern state of Sao Paulo, with preliminary one death and seven other injuries, said the local fire department. The deceased was the pilot who tried to land at the Ubatuba regional airport on Thursday, but could not stop the speed and crossed the security fence of the air terminal, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the fire department report, all four passengers on the aircraft, including two adults and two children, were rescued alive. Three other persons were also injured on the promenade of Cruzeiro Beach due to the accident. The company Rede Voa, the concessionaire of Ubatuba Airport, said that weather conditions were not adequate at the time of the accident due to rain and wet runway. The Brazilian Air Force announced that technicians and experts from the Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents were sent to the scene to begin the procedure of determining the causes. Earlier on December 24, 2024, Five people, including a minor, died Saturday when a plane crashed in a residential area in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, local media reported. The firefighters did not reveal whether all the victims were traveling on the plane, which was "small in size," said the report. The plane was a single-engine RV-10 with seating for a pilot and three passengers. In a separate incident earlier in September at least 14 people were killed when a small plane crashed in Barcelos, an inland city of Amazonas state in northern Brazil, local authorities have said. "They were all tourists who were going on a fishing trip," Amazonas governor Wilson Lima told a press conference on Saturday, adding that initial information showed all the tourists were Brazilian. It was reported that the pilot had trouble finding the runway for landing in Barcelos, a sport fishing destination. The Manaus Aerotaxi airline, owner of the crashed Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante, a Brazilian twin-turboprop light transport aircraft, confirmed the accident in a social media statement. Cairo, Jan 10 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and a visiting delegation of the Palestinian Fatah movement discussed the recent developments in Gaza and the efforts needed for an immediate ceasefire, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. During the meeting on Thursday, Abdelatty and the Fatah delegation, headed by Azzam al-Ahmad and Ahmad Majdalani, members of the executive committees of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Fatah central committee, addressed the security and humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. The two sides also reviewed the Egyptian efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into the war-torn enclave, Xinhua news agency reported. Abdelatty highlighted Egypt's unwavering support for the Palestinian Authority, reiterated the country's rejection of any plans to displace the Palestinians from their land, and reaffirmed the significance of uniting the Palestinians and promoting the role of the national authority to ensure the people's aspirations are met. For its part, the Fatah delegation introduced the developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. It also expressed appreciation for the Egyptian efforts to boost the Palestinian cause and resolve the crisis in Gaza. Egypt has been hosting delegations from Palestinian factions and Israel in attempts to end the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has surpassed 46,000, with injuries up to 109,378, the health authorities in Gaza announced Thursday. Gqeberha : , Jan 10 (IANS) MI Cape Town got their SA20 Season 3 off to a perfect start with a commanding 97-run victory over defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the competition opener at a sold-out St George's Park. Gqeberha (South Africa), Jan 10 (IANS) MI Cape Town got their SA20 Season 3 off to a perfect start with a commanding 97-run victory over defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the competition opener at a sold-out St Georgeas Park. The Orange Army had come out in their thousands to welcome home the back-to-back champions, but went back home disappointed as MICT delivered an inspired performance. It was the first time that MICT had beaten the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in five attempts since the inception of SA20. Robin Petersonas MICT outfit dominated all facets on the night with Dewald Brevis smashing 57 off just 29 balls to lift the visitors to 174/7 before Delano Potgieter and Trent Boult combined to dismiss the Sunrisers for just 77. Potgieter claimed the dreamlike career-best figures of 5-10, but it was the New Zealand international Boult (2/16) that set the tone with a superb new-ball spell that yielded a double-wicket maiden third over. The 35-year-old showed his world class ability to swing the new ball back into the right-hander, which accounted for Sunrisersa England Test opener Zak Crawley. And it was only fitting that Brevis played a major role in the victory with the Rising Star delivering on his potential that was first seen in the competition opener at Newlands two seasons ago. The 21-year-old was in rousing form striking the ball cleanly from the outset. His first task was to take on the dual spin of Simon Harmer and Liam Dawson before launching successive straight sixes off seamer Beyers Swanepoel. Although MICT lost Brevis heading into the final five overs, the momentum was maintained by Potgieter (25 not out, 12 balls) and George Linde (23 not out, 17 balls) with an unbroken 41-run partnership. The pair took 24 runs off Sunrisersa Marco Jansenas final over which swung the momentum in MICTas favour which they never relinquished for the remainder of the evening. MICT will hope to maintain their winning momentum when they face Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Saturday, while Sunrisers will look to bounce back against Paarl Royals at Boland Park. Doha, Jan 10 : A Qatari Air Force plane carrying 31 tonnes of food aid landed in the Syrian capital of Damascus, as part of the country's ongoing air bridge initiative to support the Syrian people, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced. The aid is provided by the Qatar Fund for Development, a government entity focused on improving global livelihoods, Xinhua news agency reported. It marks the fourth aid plane to land at Damascus International Airport and the eighth dispatched under the Qatari air bridge initiative. On January 7, Damascus International Airport received its first civilian flight from Doha in 13 years, according to airport officials. On January 5, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, held here discussions with a high-level Syrian delegation led by interim Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, focusing on bilateral ties and developments in Syria. Earlier, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, met with a high-level Syrian delegation led by interim Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, to discuss bilateral ties and the latest developments in Syria. The delegation included Syria's Minister of Defence, Marhaf Abu Qasra, and the Head of the Intelligence Service, Anas Khattab, according to a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it, the latest developments in Syria, Qatar's humanitarian assistance, among other issues concerning mutual interests. The Qatari Prime Minister reaffirmed his country's unwavering stance in supporting Syria's unity, sovereignty, and independence, highlighting the importance of fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people. For his part, Al-Shaibani praised Qatar's prominent role in supporting the Syrian people, noting that Qatar would be a key partner in the peace phase. On December 21, 2024, Qatar reopened its embassy in Damascus, Syria, becoming the second country to do so after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government. This marked the first time in 13 years that Qatar's national flag was raised over the embassy building. In the coming weeks, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will pay his first visit to Ukraine since taking office. One of the goals of the trip will be to discuss the possibility of deploying peacekeepers on Ukrainian territory after the war ends. ADVERTISIMENT Bloomberg reports, citing a source, that the British prime minister plans to visit Kyiv "as Europe ramps up preparations" for Donald Trump's return to the White House in the United States. Starmer's office declined to comment. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Kier Starmer's visit the day before following the 25th meeting in the Ramstein format, without specifying a date. He recalled that the idea was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and that "the British are positive about it." Before that, on Thursday, Macron and Starmer met for dinner at the British Prime Minister's country residence in Chequers. Both politicians "reaffirmed their unwavering support" for Ukraine and discussed the importance of ensuring that Ukraine is in the "strongest possible position" in 2025, Starmer's office said. According to a Bloomberg source, Starmer and Macron also discussed the possibility of creating a joint peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Such a proposal will depend on a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which Vladimir Putin has not yet shown willingness to discuss, the article says. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the day before, Zelenskyy said that sending a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine could be part of security guarantees to prevent Russia from repeating full-scale aggression in the future. According to the president, the UK has a positive attitude toward its participation in such a mission. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New Delhi, Jan 10 : The total export value of organic farming has the potential to reach Rs 20,000 crore in the next three years, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech on 78th Independence Day last year, noted the growing importance of organic farming across the world and its far reaching benefits on individual health and restoring soil nutrients. Speaking at the launch of 8th edition of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) in the national capital, Minister Goyal unveiled a dedicated NPOP portal as well as 'Organic Promotion Portal' which will provide more visibility and ease of operations for organic stakeholders. "Organic farming as a form of sustainable farming practice will help combat water scarcity and over-application of fertilisers and pesticides harming soil quality and crop yields in the country," the minister noted. Highlighting the farmers' efforts in ensuring food security, Goyal said that there is a significant push from the government to promote organic farming. "Organic farming has become a priority for the nation and will be regarded as a valuable way of farming across the world. Farmers adopting organic farming have seen an increase in yields and income," he noted. TraceNet 2.0, the upgraded online traceability system for seamless operations and enhanced tools for regulatory oversight, was also unveiled at the event. The redesigned APEDA portal was also showcased with enhanced user experience and information for the benefit of Agri and Processed food products' stakeholders. The redesigned AgriXchange portal was also launched, which will enable more user-friendly data analysis and generation of reports and data of agricultural exports making it accessible for the general public. The minister further stated there is a need to put emphasis on packaging and marketing of the organic products for the farmers to receive the right price for their produce. He also pointed out that this value chain will also help generate employment and the nation will gain popularity across the world. IANS na/ Mumbai, Jan 10 : After Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone expressed her concern over Larsen & Toubro chairman's statement, Harsh Goenka, Chairperson of the RPG Group has condemned SN Subrahmanyan's remarks. Subrahmanyan had made a shocking statement as he urged his employees to work for 90 hours a week, and even report to work on Sundays. Goenka took to his X, formerly called Twitter, to share his thoughts and said "work smart not slave." "90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to 'Sun-duty' and make 'day off' a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That's a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn't optional, it's essential. Well, that's my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave," Goenka tweeted. On January 9, Deepika, a mental health advocate, called out Subrahmanyan over his blatant disregard for labour laws in the country, and mental health. She re-shared journalist Faye D'Souza's post about the same and wrote, "Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters". This is not the first instance of a businessman making such vague statements, and having unrealistic demands from India's workforce. Earlier, Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy had sparked a controversy when he asked the young Indians to work for 70 hours in a week to put the nation on the path of progress. D'Souza then shared a statement issued by Larsen & Toubro, which read: "At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India's infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. We believe this is India's decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation." "The Chairman's remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward." Deepika re-shared the post and captioned it: "And they just made it worse" Mumbai, Jan 10 : Amidst their getaway, actress Bipasha Basu along with her daughter Devi and husband Karan Singh Grover planted "joy and hope" for all. Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS) Amidst their getaway, actress Bipasha Basu along with her daughter Devi and husband Karan Singh Grover planted "joy and hope" for all. Bipasha took to her Instagram, where she shared a video of the family planting a tree together. They also put up a placard, which read: "Thank you for filling all existence with gratitude, compassion, love, joy and healing. The message was signed off by "Devi, mamma and papa" along with the January 9, 2025. "Planting Joy & Hope for us all #monkeylove #choosingjoy #choosinghappiness," she wrote as the caption. On January 8, actress Alia Bhatt thanked Bipasha for making daughter Devi wear a dress from her brand Edamamma. Bipasha Basu is presently in the Maldives with her husband Karan Singh Grover and their little munchkin Devi. She had taken to the stories section of her official Instagram handle and dropped a clip where little Devi can be seen playing on the beach and guess what she is wearing? Reacting to this, Alia Bhatt also reshared the clip on her Instagram stories, along with the caption, "this is soo adorable!!! thank you for choosing @edamamma for your little angle". Talking about Bipasha, she was last seen on the screens in the web series "Dangerous". Directed by Bhushan Patel, the show featured the storyline provided by Vikram Bhatt. The cast of "Dangerous" also included Karan Singh Grover, Sonali Raut, Natasha Suri, and Suyyash Rai in significant roles. The series premiered on MX Player in 2020 and Bipasha Basu has stayed away from acting since then. Bipasha's husband Karan Singh Grover last appeared on the big screen in the aerial action thriller film "Fighter". Made under the direction of Siddharth Anand, the action entertainer saw Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor in the primary roles. Patna, Jan 10 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Friday, raided 16 locations in four states linked to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA and former Minister Alok Mehta. The raids are related to an alleged banking scam tied to the Vaishali Urban Cooperative Bank, which Mehta and his family have been associated with for over three decades. The ED conducted simultaneous raids in Bihar, Kolkata (West Bengal), Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, targeting 16 locations linked to Alok Mehta and associates. Large police deployment and a detailed probe are underway, particularly at Alok Mehta's official Patna residence. Sources have said that Alok Mehta is suspected of being involved in an alleged withdrawal of approximately Rs 85 crore through fraudulent practices, including loans issued on fake documents and misuse of bank authority. The alleged fraud spans 10-20 years, involving repeated violations of banking norms. Loans were issued in the names of farmers using fake documents, ignoring standard procedures. Alok Mehta and his relatives are connected with two companies -- Lichchhavi Cold Storage Pvt Ltd and Mahua Cooperative Cold Storage -- and are facing allegations of embezzling Rs 60 crore. Loans worth over Rs 30 crore were granted using fake LIC bonds and identity documents. Alok Mehta's father, Tulsidas Mehta, established the Vaishali Urban Cooperative Bank 35 years ago. Alok Mehta chaired the bank from 1995 to 2012, during which the alleged irregularities began. In 2012, Alok Mehta handed over control to his father, seemingly to distance himself from the unfolding controversies. The current chairman of the bank is Sanjeev Mehta, nephew of Alok Mehta. Alok Mehta, a prominent RJD leader and former Revenue and Land Reforms Minister during the Grand Alliance government, reportedly used political influence to control the bank. In 2015, similar irregularities prompted the RBI to shut down the bank's financial operations, with allegations against Tulsidas Mehta. The bank received its RBI license in 1996, but political involvement is said to have influenced its operations negatively. This case raises questions about the misuse of cooperative banks by political families, the lapses in regulatory oversight, and the exploitation of rural banking institutions for personal gain. If the allegations hold true, it may lead to significant legal consequences for Alok Mehta and his family. Kolkata, Jan 10 : Leader of Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari claimed on Friday that the security provided by the police to the slain Trinamool Congress councillor from Malda, Dulal Sarkar a.k.a. Babla, was withdrawn following telephonic instructions to Malda Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Kumar Yadav, by an influential member of the state Cabinet. "Now it is clear that the assassination was the fallout of an internal rivalry in Trinamool Congress. I am saying with full responsibility that the security allotted earlier to Sarkar was withdrawn following the instructions of an influential and heavyweight member of the state Cabinet. "The situation is very alarming in West Bengal, Anyone can be a victim anytime," the LoP told media persons. According to political observers the allegations made by Adhikari sound like an extension of the Chief Minister's statements holding the district police responsible for not being able to prevent the murder of Sarkar. Soon after the information of Sarkar's murder surfaced on January 2 afternoon she said that the tragedy took place due to the lackadaisical approach of the district SP. "Previously Babla used to get security cover which was later withdrawn. So there are surely lapses on the part of the police. Babla was with me from the beginning," the Chief Minister said on the day of the murder. Already the theory of infighting in Trinamool Congress being the reason behind Sarkar's assassination has been established with the arrest of heavyweight party leader from the district Narendra Nath Tiwari. Tiwari was the Malda town president of Trinamool Congress and also the district president of the Hindi cell of the ruling party in the district. Sarkar was attacked on January 2 morning while standing at a busy crossing in the area. Three helmet-clad assailants arrived on a motorcycle, and one of them opened fire. The first two bullets missed, but the third struck Sarkar in the head. He was immediately rushed to Malda Medical College and Hospital where he died. Islamabad, Jan 10 : In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly abducted 16 employees of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). Local police launched an immediate search operation, successfully rescuing eight of the hostages. The incident occurred in Lakki Marwat district, a region often plagued by militant activity. The workers, commuting to the Qabul Khel Atomic Energy mining project, were ambushed by heavily-armed militants. After seizing the hostages at gunpoint, the attackers set their vehicle ablaze and fled the scene. Local police rescued eight of the hostages. However, three of those freed sustained injuries during the operation, with one in critical condition. Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining captives. The TTP has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and released a video featuring the abducted workers. In the footage, some hostages appealed to authorities to secure their release by complying with the group's demands, which reportedly include freeing TTP prisoners held in Pakistani jails. Independent verification of the video or the militants' claims remains pending. The abducted workers were engaged in mining projects under the PAEC, an organisation focussed on advancing peaceful nuclear applications in sectors like energy, agriculture, and medicine. The incident underscores the persistent threat faced by government personnel and civilian workers in areas frequently targeted by insurgent groups. This abduction comes amid a broader wave of militant activity in Pakistan. Just a day earlier, separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) staged an assault in Balochistan, targeting government offices and a bank in a remote district. While no casualties were reported, the attack reflects the rising intensity of insurgent operations across the country. Pakistani authorities allege that both the TTP and Baloch insurgents operate from sanctuaries in Afghanistan, a claim denied by Kabul. The TTP, designated a global terrorist organisation by the United Nations, has been described in recent assessments as Afghanistan's largest militant group, with thousands of fighters active in the region. Mangaluru, Jan 10 : A Bangladeshi national, who was living illegally in India, was arrested from a village in Karnataka's Mangaluru district, said officials on Friday. The accused is identified as 25-year-old Anurul Sheik. According to police, Sheik was arrested from the Mukka village on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The Internal Security Division (ISD) and the Mangaluru police jointly carried out the operation and nabbed the accused following a tip-off. The preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused had sneaked into India from the Lalgol border (eastern West Bengal) area three years ago. The accused had come to Mangaluru and settled as a construction labourer. Initially, he came to Murshidabad in West Bengal and later moved to Mangaluru. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara recently stated in the Legislative Council in Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha that the state police have detained 159 Bangladesh nationals and 24 Pakistani nationals staying illegally in the state. In addition to this, it has been found in the investigations that 115 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were living in Karnataka. Parameshwara, answering a question stated, "A special unit has been formed to look into the matter of illegal immigrants and tracking them down. Illegal immigration into Indian territory is not a new phenomenon. Illegal immigrants are coming into the country in lakhs." Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Bengaluru, on December 30, 2024, had sentenced a Bangladeshi terrorist Jahidul Islam aka Kausar, who was settled in Bengaluru. The accused was also involved in the cases connected with offences of dacoity, conspiracy and raising funds, as well as procurement of ammunition. As per NIA investigations, Jahidul Islam, the JMB Amir of India, along with absconding JMB head Salauddin Salehin had illegally crossed into India in 2014 after escaping the custody of Bangladesh Police in connection with the 2005 serial blasts in Bangladesh. During the hiding, he and his associates were involved in the October 2014 Burdwan blast case. After the blast, Jahidul and his aides fled to Bengaluru, where he radicalised and recruited gullible Muslim youths from West Bengal and Assam to further anti-India activities of JMB. The accused and his associates had also committed the blast in Bodh Gaya in January 2018. New Delhi, Jan 10 : A Class 12 student, who sent bomb threat emails to 23 schools, has been detained from Delhi. The minor's detention comes after a police probe into bomb threats found his role in the crime. Preliminary investigations revealed that he did not want to appear for examinations. The boy sent bomb threat emails to many schools, barring his educational institution. The string of bomb threats in the past few weeks, which later turned out to be hoaxes, had sent police into a tizzy. After the schools received bomb threats, students were sent back and bomb squads and sniffer dogs were pressed into service. In the wake of threats, the police and Education Department held a seminar for the school teachers and also trained them to deal with any eventualities. Several airlines also received bomb hoaxes during this period, triggering panic and leading to emergency landings, disrupting flight timings and resulting in excessive fuel usage. On December 20, last year, a bomb threat was reported at Delhi Public School (DPS) in Dwarka. On December 11, over 40 schools in Delhi received similar threats demanding ransom, though no explosives were found in any case. In the same month, Indian Public School in South Delhi and Crescent Public School in North West Delhi also received bomb threats, causing panic. Six schools, including Bhatnagar Public School (Paschim Vihar), Cambridge School (Sriniwaspuri), DPS (East of Kailash), South Delhi Public School (Defence Colony), Delhi Police Public School (Safdarjung Enclave), and Venkatesh Public School (Rohini), were targeted via email. The emails claimed involvement by a "dark web group" and included chilling details about how the bombs were allegedly placed to maximise harm while sparing structural damage. The Delhi High Court has taken note of the recurring hoaxes and directed the Delhi government and Delhi Police to prepare a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to handle such emergencies. Authorities have been instructed to submit a comprehensive action plan by January 2024 to ensure swift and effective responses to future threats. Chandigarh, Jan 10 : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday said it has recovered a pistol and heroin dropped by Pakistani drones along the border fence in Punjab. The BSF said that in two operations, the troops achieved significant success in thwarting cross-border smuggling attempts involving Pakistani drones. In the first operation, a packet of heroin weighing 520 grams, dropped by a Pakistani drone, was recovered from Khanwal village in Amritsar District. In the second operation, a PX5 Storm pistol 30 bore along with an empty magazine was recovered from a farming field ahead of the border fence near Rajatal village, also in Amritsar district. These recoveries highlight the BSFas prompt action and the alertness of its troops in foiling such smuggling attempts, ensuring the security of the nation, the paramilitary force added. In 2024, the BSF Punjab Frontier, as a border guarding force, recovered 294 drones, a substantial increase from 107 drones in 2023. Additionally, approximately 283 kg of heroin was seized, four Pakistani intruders were neutralized, and 161 Indian smugglers along with 30 Pakistani nationals were apprehended from the border. Beyond operational successes, the BSF Punjab also undertook numerous civic action programmes, including medical camps, blood donation camps, pre-recruitment training for defence forces and public outreach initiatives, all of which received widespread acknowledgement and support from the local population. The year 2024 has been exceptional for the BSF Punjab Frontier, showcasing remarkable achievements in securing the nationas borders. With strengthened surveillance and determined efforts against smuggling and drone threats, the BSF Punjab remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the nation against all the threats and challenges, said the officials. Punjab shares a 553-km barbed-wire fenced international border with Pakistan which is under the vigil of the BSF Punjab. The drug network operates along the Afghanistan-Pakistan-India route. Chandigarh, Jan 10 : India-born Canadian MP Chandra Arya, who is slamming Khalistan supporters for celebrating the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and condemning the defacing of Hindu temples in Canada, has announced that he will run for the Liberal leadership with a campaign promising to make the country "a sovereign republic" with bold political decisions, not optional but a necessity now. "I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations," Arya, who was described by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as a genuine advocate of India, wrote on social media platform X. "We are facing significant structural problems that haven't been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices. I have always worked hard for what is best for Canadians, and for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary. If elected as the next Leader of the Liberal Party I offer my knowledge and expertise to do so," his post read. Admitting that the nation is facing a "perfect storm", Arya, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in August last year, said, "Many Canadians, especially younger generations, face significant affordability issues. The working middle class is struggling today, and many working families are retiring directly into poverty." Arya believes India is a significant and growing market for Canada's exports and investments, and it serves as a key source for fulfilling "our critical talent needs". "Canada deserves leadership that isn't afraid to make the big decisions. Decisions that rebuild our economy, restore hope, create equal opportunities for all Canadians, and secure prosperity for our children and grandchildren. Bold political decisions are not optional -- they are necessary. "With prudence and pragmatism as my guiding principles, I'm stepping forward to take on this responsibility and lead Canada as its next Prime Minister," he said. Among Arya's key policy proposals is a plan to increase the retirement age by two years by 2040, aimed at ensuring economic sustainability. He also intends to introduce a citizenship-based tax system, a controversial measure that could reshape Canadaas fiscal landscape. Also, Arya's advocacy for global justice is evident in his call for Canada to officially recognise Palestine as a state, a policy that would align with his broader approach to international diplomacy. He said defence investment will prioritise securing Canada's specific needs from protecting maritime interests to trade routes. Asking people to join him, he said, "Let's rebuild, revitalise, and secure the future. For all Canadians, for generations to come." Russian elites and senior security officials are allegedly disappointed with dictator Vladimir Putin's attempts to wage a full-scale war against Ukraine with "half-measures." They have expressed "concern" about the deadlines he has set for ending it and demanded that he intensify his aggression rather than seek a negotiated solution. ADVERTISIMENT This means that the Kremlin environment, like its leader, is not interested in a peaceful settlement of the war through dialogue in the near future, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted. However, the diagnosis of the "main problem" of the fighting, as stated by the Russians, is incorrect, as it is the inability of the Russian Federation to restore maneuver on the battlefield, not the lack of any resources, that is the main factor in the failures of Putin's army, which still believes in the "Kyiv in three days" strategy. ISW's January 9th report describes a recent publication by the opposition media outlet Meduza, which cites sources in the so-called Putin administration, the State Duma, and the broader Russian federal government, as well as regional authorities in the aggressor country. The report says that this elite is "increasingly frustrated and tired" of waiting for the war to end and is increasingly "worried" about the long-term impact of Western sanctions on the Russian economy. ADVERTISIMENT According to some sources, the Russian government does not currently have a clear vision of "post-war Russia," and the end of the war could be "critical" for the Russian dictator's administration if it fails to define a "clear narrative and political framework for Russian society." At the same time, Russia's top security officials are very "disappointed" with the lack of "sufficient" forces and means to wage war. They believe that Putin should conduct an open mobilization and completely put the Russian society and economy on a military footing. They seem to assess that Russia needs to intensify the war against Ukraine rather than seek a negotiated solution. The Meduza report suggests that they may eventually openly admit that the Russian military is not making significant territorial "gains" proportional to its losses in manpower and equipment. ADVERTISIMENT Analysts have reminded us that so far, the Russian Armed Forces command has put up with exorbitant losses of personnel in exchange for at least tactically significant successes, and Putin's theory of "victory" is precisely based on the approval of such losses as long as his army continues to advance on the front. However, average daily Russian advances slowed by about nine square kilometers in December 2024 after three consecutive months of increased territory seizures and manpower losses in September, October, and November 2024. Therefore, the Russian military command may be less prepared than Putin to suffer such high casualties if the pace of their troop advances continues to slow. ADVERTISIMENT "At the same time, Russia's military and security forces do not seem ready to give up on the war because of these losses, but instead advocate that Putin intensify Russia's war effort by calling for an additional partial conscription of reservists and an official decision to declare martial law, likely hoping that this will 'flood' the battlefield with their manpower and equipment," ISW writes. They continue to estimate that Putin is resisting partial open mobilization, as such decisions would be extremely unpopular among Russians and would further exacerbate labor shortages and the Russian economy. "It remains to be seen whether this group of Russian military and security officials will succeed in convincing Putin to take more radical measures to meet the needs of soldiers in the war against Ukraine. However, the growing losses of personnel and problems with meeting the goals of voluntary recruitment may force Russia to conduct an involuntary partial conscription of reservists in the near future," ISW believes. ADVERTISIMENT According to the analysts, the diagnosis of the "main" problem with Russia's warfare reported by the Russian elite is inaccurate, as its inability to restore maneuver on the battlefield, rather than a lack of manpower, is the main factor that determines the slow pace of the occupiers' advance. Russia's top security officials are allegedly concerned about Putin's ability to achieve his territorial demands formal recognition of control over the entire Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, including those parts not currently occupied by the Russian Armed Forces in possible future negotiations, and they are focused on creating an "image of victory" in postwar Russia. This emphasis, coupled with the stated desire to intensify aggression, further indicates that Russian elites support the dictator's desire to negotiate only on terms dictated by the Kremlin and to win a significant victory to justify the war to Russian society. ADVERTISIMENT "Putin and other senior Kremlin officials have repeatedly indicated that Russia is unwilling to negotiate in good faith or engage in meaningful peace talks except on terms that amount to Ukraine's complete surrender. The Russian elite would rather continue to support these demands than engage in meaningful negotiations," ISW warned against believing in the current and future "good" intentions of the Russian elite. As OBOZ.UA reported, Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, also emphasized that Russia is not seeking any serious negotiations to end the war. On the contrary, the Kremlin is trying to accumulate resources to wage war until 2027, as evidenced by the statements of dictator Putin and the work of the military-industrial complex of the aggressor country. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Mumbai, Jan 10 : Well-known South actor Nagarjuna is also the proud owner of the iconic Annapurna Studios. Adding another feather to its cap, the studio has launched India's first Dolby-certified postproduction facility for cinema & home. The latest facility by Annapurna Studios was unveiled by the 'Baahubali' fame director SS Rajamouli. The Vice Chairman of Annapurna Studios, Nagarjuna also graced the ceremony. Dolby, the state-of-the-art facility aims to redefine the Indian cinematic experience. SS Rajamouli spilled his excitment saying, "During the time of RRR, when we wanted to grade the film in Dolby Vision, we had to travel all the way to Germany. It was a bit disheartening that I couldn't experience my film in Dolby Vision within my own country. But today, I'm thrilled to see a Dolby Vision grading facility right here at Annapurna Studios." The filmmaker further added, "Even more exciting is the fact that, by the time my next film releases, there will be multiple Dolby Cinema across India. Watching a film in Dolby Vision is an entirely different experiencethe crystal-clear clarity and the way it enhances the nuances of every frame take storytelling to a whole new level. I can't wait for audiences to experience it!" Vice Chairman of Annapurna Studios, Nagarjuna talked about how the studio acts as the forefront of innovation in Indian cinema. He was quoted saying, "From being a pioneer in virtual production to now housing the country's first Dolby Certified Postproduction Facility for Cinema & Home, the attempt has always been to put Indian films on the map. As Annapurna Studios celebrates its 50th year, this collaboration with Dolby is a testament to that vision. At Annapurna, our legacy has been to embrace change and innovation, and this is another step forward in that journey." Additionally, ED of Annapurna Studios, Supriya Yarlagadda said, "With Dolby Certified Postproduction Facility for Cinema & Home, we are introducing a game-changing technology that will redefine how films are created and experienced in India. We aim to empower filmmakers to tell their stories with unparalleled precision and impact." Meanwhile, an exclusive screening of a few scenes from SS Rajamouli's "RRR" in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos also took place during the event. The Ram Charan and Jr NTR starrer has now become the first-ever Indian film to be released in Dolby Cinema. Wayanad, Jan 10 : Sulthan Bathery Congress MLA I.C. Balakrishnan and former legislator and Wayanad district Congress president N.D. Appachan got temporary relief on Friday as a local city court directed the police not to arrest them until January 15. The directive came in response to an anticipatory bail plea filed by Balakrishnan and Appachan after police registered an FIR against them following the December 27 suicide of Wayanad District Congress Committee treasurer N.M. Vijayan and his son. N.M. Vijayan and his son were found dead at their home, with a suicide note alleging that funds collected from various candidates for appointments in cooperative banks had been misappropriated. The note named Congress leaders, including Balakrishnan, Appachan, and K.K. Gopinathan, as recipients of these funds and mentioned loans taken to repay the misused amounts. The suicide note, addressed to Congress leaders, instructed N.M. Vijayanas son, Vijesh, to deliver it to the Wayanad district police chief after ten days. The surfacing of the letter prompted demands from CPI-M leaders for the immediate arrest of the Congress leaders. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also the Home Minister, directed swift police action, leading to the registration of an FIR against the Congress leaders. Observers viewed this as a retaliatory move after the Congress had earlier demanded accountability from CPI-M leader and Kannur District Panchayat president P.P. Divya for the suicide of Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu in October. Under pressure, Divya had resigned, was denied anticipatory bail, and spent some time in jail before being released on bail. The CPI-M and CM Vijayan argue that the same "abetment of suicide" charge applies to Balakrishnan and Appachan. However, Balakrishnan and Appachan gained a reprieve when Vijayanas wife and surviving son, following a meeting with Congress leaders led by veteran legislator and former Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, expressed their continued trust in the party. On Friday, while granting verbal orders to delay the Congress leaders' arrests, the court instructed the police to submit the case diary for review. Attention now shifts to Wayanad Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, who has yet to comment on the developments. Speculation also surrounds factions within the Congress party opposed to Balakrishnan and Appachan. New Delhi, Jan 10 : The diagnosed prevalent cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are projected to increase globally at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 0.90 per cent from 2.00 million in 2023 to 2.18 million in 2033, according to a report on Friday. The report by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, showed that this rise in HIV cases will majorly be seen in the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan. It estimates that in 2033, the US will have the highest number of diagnosed prevalent cases of HIV in these seven countries, with approximately 1.46 million cases. On the other hand, Japan will have the fewest diagnosed prevalent cases with approximately 34,400 cases. "Diagnosed prevalent cases of HIV are expected to increase due to a combination of the increased diagnosis rate of HIV, the increased life expectancy of HIV-positive people due to anti-retroviral treatment (ART), and population dynamics in these countries," said Casey Freimuth, Senior Epidemiologist at GlobalData. There are tools available to reduce future HIV prevalence, such as viral suppression through ART, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PrEP is only recently approved in the US and the five European nations such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. It is not yet accepted in Japan. "Future efforts to reduce the burden of HIV should involve increased attention on reducing transmission, either through PrEP or through the use of ART, in combination with education and increased access to testing," Freimuth said. Meanwhile, the recent approval of lenacapavir by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has come as a significant breakthrough in treating HIV. The new prototype medication, developed by Gilead Sciences, uses a unique mechanism of twice-yearly injections to treat individuals with multidrug-resistant HIV. New Delhi, Jan 10 : The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) show-cause notices, issued to several online gaming companies to the tune of Rs 1.12 lakh crore, providing temporary relief to the sector. The apex court stayed all further proceedings with respect to all show-cause notices, issued by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), until the final disposal of the case. The final hearing on the case has been set for March 18. After the ruling, shares of gaming companies like Delta Corp and Nazara Tech increased up to 7 per cent during the intra-day trade on stock exchanges. Anuraag Saxena, CEO of E-Gaming Federation (EGF), welcomed the relief granted by the Supreme Court. "This is a win-win, both for gaming operators who were facing coercive action, and the government whose timelines may now be extended. We are confident about a fair and progressive resolution to this issue, after which we will see investments, employment, and valuations in the gaming sector grow to its full potential," said Saxena. In 2023, the DGGI sent 71 notices to gaming companies, accusing them of evading GST worth Rs 1.12 lakh crore during 2022-23 and the first seven months of 2023-24, excluding interest and penalties. The notices were issued under Section 74 of the GST Act, which allows the department to impose a penalty of up to 100 per cent of the tax demand, the total liability could exceed Rs 2.3 lakh crore, including interest. In August 2023, the GST Council amended the law which stated that all online games involving bets, irrespective of skill or chance, would attract a GST rate of 28 per cent on the full value of the bets placed, and not on the gross gaming revenue, from October 1 the same year. Amaravati, Jan 10 : In a setback to senior YSRCP leader Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday dismissed his petition to quash the case booked against him under POCSO Act. In November last year, the Tirupati Police had booked a case against former Chandragiri MLA under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader was booked for reportedly resorting to the character assassination of a minor girl. Bhaskar Reddy and some social media activists of YSRCP had allegedly circulated fake news that a minor girl was raped in Yerravaripalem mandal of Tirupati district in the first week of November. The former MLA alleged that the 14-year-old girl was raped while she was returning home from school. He had urged former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to visit Chandragiri constituency to console the girl and her family. The girl's father has filed a complaint against those who had spread malicious information about his daughter through such fake posts. The girl was also made to undergo the required tests at the Government Maternity Hospital, which also confirmed that the rape charge was false. Police had found circulation of fake news by YSRCP's social media handles and accounts on various platforms. Taking a serious note of the "wild allegation", the police had warned those posting fake news and sharing unverified reports on social media platforms of "dire consequences". Armed with the medical report, the police filed a case against the former MLA. Bhaskar Reddy alleged that he was framed in a false case and termed it vindictive politics by the TDP-led ruling coalition. He said to tarnish his reputation, cases were foisted against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and 11 Sections of SC, ST and IT Acts. The YSRCP leader filed a petition in the High Court, seeking orders to quash the First Information Report registered against him by Tirupati Police. After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court dismissed the petition. New Delhi, Jan 10 : In an interim direction passed on Friday, the Supreme Court told the Sambhal's Municipal Council to not give effect to its notice concerning a well situated near the Shahi Jama Masjid. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar asked the Uttar Pradesh authorities to file a status report within two weeks, and, in the meantime, ordered that the authorities will not give effect to any notice in relation to the well. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the mosque committee, said that the impugned notice referred to the site as 'Hari Mandir' and now, the other side will likely start using the well for 'puja (worship)', bathing, etc. Ahmadi said the well, which is "half inside and half outside" the mosque premises, has been used to draw water by the mosque administration since time immemorial. On the other hand, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu plaintiffs, contended that well situated outside the purview of the mosque cannot be a subject matter of the proceedings challenging the district court-ordered survey of the disputed site. At this, the apex court observed that it was keeping a close watch so that peace and harmony were maintained. "Issue notice returnable on Feb 21. In the meantime, a status report will be filed by respondents in two weeks. The respondents (authorities) shall not give effect to any notice in relation to the well," the SC ordered. The matter will be heard next on February 21. On November 29, the CJI Khanna-led Bench told the Uttar Pradesh government that "peace and harmony must be maintained" as it dealt with a plea filed by the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee seeking a stay on a district court-ordered survey of the mosque. However, it had asked the mosque committee to approach an appropriate forum against the district court-ordered survey and in the meantime, asked the trial court to not proceed with the matter. The apex court had said that in case any appeal is preferred before the Allahabad High Court or any other forum, the appeal will be listed within three working days after it is filed. Clarifying that the Supreme Court has not expressed any opinion on merits, it had ordered to re-list the matter in the week commencing January 6. In its Special Leave Petition, the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid Committee had sought an ad-interim and ex-parte stay on the operation of the impugned decision passed by Chandausi's Civil Judge on November 19, where a survey was ordered in a plea filed by the Hindu petitioners, claiming that the mosque was built by Mughal invader Babur in 1526 after demolishing Shri Harihar Mandir. Further, it demanded that the report of the survey commissioner be kept in a sealed cover and the status quo be maintained until the issue is determined by the Supreme Court. The petition had also sought directions to the effect that surveys should not be ordered and executed as a matter of course in cases involving disputes over places of worship without hearing all parties and allowing sufficient time for the aggrieved persons to seek judicial remedies against the order of survey. The survey of Shahi Jama Masjid was undertaken on November 19 and November 24. As the second round of survey began at the mosque, violence broke out in the area resulting in the death of four individuals. In a related development, the CJI Khanna-led Special Bench, in an interim order passed on December 12, had ordered that no fresh suits would be registered under the Places of Worship Act, 1991 in the country, and in the pending cases, no final or effective orders would be passed till further orders. The Special Bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, had asked the Union government to file within four weeks its reply to the batch of petitions challenging the validity of the Places of Worship Act, which prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947. As per pds/dpb Kolkata, Jan 10 : The role of the five "verification and granting" officers attached to Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) in the state capital and the other five "verification officers" attached to different police stations in various divisions of Kolkata Police are under the scanner of the sleuths investigating the fake passport rackets in West Bengal. Kolkata, Jan 10 (IANS) The role of the five "verification and granting" officers attached to Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) in the state capital and the other five "verification officers" attached to different police stations in various divisions of Kolkata Police are under the scanner of the sleuths investigating the fake passport rackets in West Bengal. The ten officers were arranging fake Indian passports for illegal infiltrators from neighbouring Bangladesh. Since December 15 last year, the investigating officers have so far arrested nine people in this connection, the latest being Abdul Hai, a retired sub-inspector of Kolkata Police. Hai during the last few years of his service was mainly engaged in the task of police verification for the new passport applicants. Sources aware of the development said that during the interrogation of Hai, the investigating officers came to know of the involvement of these five 'PSK-level verification & granting' officers and five 'PS-level verification' officers. The investigating officers in the matter, sources said, have secured the details of the 52 new passports whose verifications were conducted by Hai. A probe is on now to check how many of those 52 are genuine and how many are fake. The officials believe that Hai also acted as one of the principal intermediaries between these fake passport rackets and the police stations. Recently, both West Bengal and Kolkata Police have started the process of investigation against their colleagues of lackadaisical "police verification" processes resulting in the issuance of fake Indian passports to Bangladeshi infiltrators. The investigation started after a city court recently directed investigating officials to probe their colleagues in relevant police stations. The main charges against a section of cops engaged in the task of "police verification" for new passport applicants are that they did not physically make spot visits to the residences of certain applicants before submitting the clearance report on this count. The investigating officials have identified a pattern in the operations of such rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian passports for the illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. Any infiltrator illegally crossing over to the Indian territory, contacting the local agents and showing willingness to pay out hefty amounts for getting fake Indian identity documents are first provided with safe shelters at the different villages adjacent to the borders with Bangladesh in the state, both land and coastal. Thereafter, the agents arrange for fake ration cards for them which are the first step for making other identity documents. Under the fake ration cards, other identification documents like EPIC, PAN, and Aadhaar cards are acquired. The last step is getting the fake passports based on these other fake identity documents. Ranchi, Jan 10 : In a joint operation, the Delhi Police's Special Cell and Jharkhand Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested Shahbaz Ansari, an alleged operative of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) in a raid in the Chanho police station area of Ranchi on Friday, officials said. Ansari is now being prepared to be taken to Delhi for further investigation. This arrest follows an operation in August 2023, during which eight AQIS-linked individuals were apprehended in Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Among those arrested were Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, a radiologist from Jamshedpur, Mohammad Faizan from Hazaribagh, and three Rajasthan residents -- Inamul Ansari, Motiur Rahman, and Altaf Ansari. Ansari had been evading capture since that operation and was listed as a wanted suspect. The raid in August last year uncovered AQIS's plans to expand its influence across multiple Indian states, including Jharkhand. Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed was identified as a key figure in these efforts. He allegedly spearheaded the formation of the "Ranchi Radical Group" (RRG), which aimed to radicalise and recruit individuals for suicide attacks. Ansari was reportedly an active participant in this module but managed to evade authorities during the earlier crackdown. The group had established a training camp in a remote hilly forested area near Ranchi, where recruits were prepared for extremist activities. Authorities recovered significant evidence during these operations, including documents and electronic devices. Preliminary analysis revealed the group's objectives, which included expanding AQISas network across India. They were also engaged in radicalising and recruiting youth; promoting the establishment of Sharia law in India, planning terrorist activities in major cities including Delhi, and preparing for actions against neighbouring Bangladesh. The AQIS is a regional branch of Al Qaeda, active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The group has been involved in various terrorist activities and plots, posing a major threat to regional stability and security. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to dismantle AQIS networks and prevent further attempts to radicalise vulnerable individuals. Investigations into Ansarias role and connections are ongoing. New Delhi, Jan 10 : In the run-up to February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP National Convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday promised to provide funds for the hiring of private security guards by Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs). Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the private security guard proposal would enhance public security which has been a priority for the ruling party that had earlier installed CCTV cameras and colony gates. "The security guard proposal is based on feedback received from people. It is timely as people are feeling insecure due to a spurt in crime in the city," he said, accusing the BJP's Central government of not doing enough to check crime in the city. "The BJP may not be worried about the residents of Delhi but for us citizens are like family, and we want to give them a sense of security," he said. He said now the Delhi government will fund RWAs for hiring private security guards and the number of security guards in each colony will be based on the number of families in the RWA. Kejriwal said hiring private security guards by RWAs is just a measure to instill a feeling of safety among residents and in no manner an attempt to "replace police who are responsible for providing security". The AAP National Convener hoped the posting of private security guards would help regulate the movement of unauthorised persons in colonies and prevent petty crimes. The former Chief Minister also slammed the BJP for holding protests against him over the "Purvanchali insult" issue. "I had gone to the Election Commission of India on Thursday to highlight that under the garb of Rohingya and Bangladeshis, they are deleting names of Purvanchali voters. But, in turn, they are leveling baseless charges against me. If there is a party that has respected and given a life of dignity to people from Purvanchal in Delhi, it is the AAP," said Kejriwal. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Kejriwal's remarks on Thursday, where he called people from Purvanchal "fake voters," have once again revealed the dark truth of his mindset. About 42 per cent Delhi's 1.55 crore voters are Purvanchalis or migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and their votes influence the result in almost half of the city's 70 Assembly constituencies. Key seats with Purvanchali voters include Burari, Laxmi Nagar, Dwarka, etc. Bengaluru, Jan 10 : Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated on Friday that based on the current information about the Maoist activities in the state, the six individuals, who surrendered recently, are believed to be the last surviving in the state. Speaking to reporters, he responded to questions on one of the Maoists, Ravindra, remaining elusive even though the government claimed that Karnataka is now a "Maoist-free state". Further, addressing the disappearance of Ravindra, the state Home Minister said there is information that the group of surrendered Maoists had expelled him. However, the reason for his expulsion is unknown, and an investigation is underway. "If anyone else emerges, they will be monitored," he added. Regarding the demand for compensation for the family of Vikram Gowda, a Maoist killed in an encounter, he said the request would be reviewed. The surrendered Maoists are believed to have discarded their weapons in the forest, and the police are working to locate them, Parameshwara. About the allegations by the BJP, which claimed that the government is not showing the same commitment to finding the weapons as it did to providing rehabilitation for the Maoists, he said, "We are doing our job." "iThe police will take the necessary help to find where the weapons have been hidden in the forest. There is a process for this, and the police will work accordingly. Doesnat the BJP know this? They too have governed the state. Wasn't it the same police department then?" the Minister said. He also clarified that the cases of surrendered Maoists and that of encountered Maoist Vikram Gowda were separate issues. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday welcomed the surrendered Maoists into the mainstream by offering them roses and copies of the Indian Constitution at his home office, aKrishnaa, in Bengaluru. With the surrender of the six Maoists, the Congress-led government has declared Karnataka a Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-free state. Special NIA Court here on Thursday remanded the six surrendered Maoists to judicial custody till January 30. Mundagaru Latha from Mundagaru in Sringeri; Vanajakshi from Balehole in Kalasa; Sundari from Kutluru near Mangaluru; Marappa Jayanna Aroli from Raichur; Vasantha T. aka Ramesh from Tamil Nadu; and T.N. Jeesha from Kerala surrendered in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Karnataka BJP has questioned the Congress government in the state for offering royal treatment to Maoists and facilitating their surrender. The Office of the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chikkamagaluru has ordered the release of a Rs 3 lakh subsidy for each of the surrendered Maoists under the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation scheme for Left-Wing Extremists. Among the identified eight Maoists in Karnataka, Vikram Gowda was killed in an encounter, six have surrendered, and one, Ravindra is still at large. Ravindra, hailing from Sringeri in Chikkamagaluru district, faces 14 cases and has not come in touch with the groups working towards bringing Maoists to the mainstream. Police sources said that Ravindra has remained untraceable for 18 years. The scandalous press conference of the new US President Donald Trump has already produced its first "results." Bulgarian Putinist politician and leader of the pro-Russian party "V'zrazhdane" ("Revival") Kostadin Kostadinov followed the example of the American leader and announced his country's alleged "claims" to part of the Odesa region. He called for the annexation of Southern Bessarabia to Bulgaria, which provoked a harsh reaction from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. ADVERTISIMENT Kostadinov posted his claims to Ukraine on Facebook. The Ukrainian Embassy in Bulgaria responded to the Putinist's statements. The pro-Russian politician's statements were provoked by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's statements about Canada and the Panama Canal. In his post, Kostadin Kostadinov said that he believes that Trump's claims to the territory of sovereign states are fully justified and that he and his party fully support them. Therefore, in his opinion, Bulgaria also has every right to claim Macedonia and Southern Bessarabia (the southern part of the Odesa region). In his post, Kostadinov stated that "Bulgarians make up the majority of the population of Southern Bessarabia," so "there is nothing more logical than returning the region to Bulgaria." ADVERTISIMENT "Ukraine is disintegrating, and at the upcoming peace congress, which will decide the fate of the so-called Ukrainian statehood that has not taken place, Bulgaria should declare its claims to Bulgarian Bessarabia," the pro-Russian politician said. The Ukrainian Embassy responded to Kostadinov's calls to annex Southern Bessarabia to Bulgaria. The diplomatic mission called on the Bulgarian leadership to condemn the statements of the pro-Russian politician, "who incites the destruction of international law, distorts historical facts and encourages the redistribution of borders in Europe." The Ukrainian embassy emphasized that "the statements of the leader of the "Revival" party regarding territorial encroachments on Ukraine are unacceptable for a politician of an EU member state and confirm his systematic promotion of the Kremlin's narratives." As reported by OBOZ.UA: At a press conference in Florida, US President-elect Donald Trump said that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, Denmark should cede Greenland to the United States, and threatened to regain control of the Panama Canal. Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States and France Oleh Shamshur emphasized that such statements by Trump play into Putin's hands. After the inauguration of the newly elected US president on January 20, 2025, America in particular, and the world in general may face a series of events that could change the political landscape of the planet. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Bengaluru, Jan 10 : Amid infighting claims in the state unit of the Congress, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said on Friday that he conducted "homa" for his protection. Bengaluru, Jan 10 (IANS) Amid infighting claims in the state unit of the Congress, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said on Friday that he conducted "homa" for his protection. Shivakumar said this while speaking to the media on Friday after visiting the Venkateshwara Temple in Malleswaram in Bengaluru on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi. "I perform rituals for peace of mind, and tranquility. I am a person who worships, performs rituals, and visit temples daily," Shivakumar said, when asked about the rituals he performed in Tamil Nadu temples on Thursday. When asked about Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy's comments alleging that Shivakumar performed rituals to "destroy" his enemies, he replied, "I perform prayers every day, wishing for good things to happen to me. I pray for protection from those who trouble me. There is nothing hidden in this." He also remarked, "Even you (the media) trouble me a lot. You create new, baseless stories. I pray for protection from you as well." "I prayed to Venkateshwara, along with Lakshmi, on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, wishing prosperity for all households in the state. This is our belief and tradition. 'Dharma protects those who protect it.' People across the state are visiting Venkateshwara temples to seek blessings. May everyone receive divine grace," he added. Sources said Shivakumar visited the Pratyangira Devi temple in Tamil Nadu seeking strength against political opponents within the party ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. Shivakumar's temple visit has sparked discussions in Karnataka's political circles. Sources suggest that Shivakumar is positioning himself to secure the Chief Minister's seat, as per the power-sharing agreement with incumbent CM Siddaramaiah. However, he is reportedly facing stiff resistance. The sources said that Siddaramaiah had recently hosted a dinner meeting with 34 MLAs and seven Ministers in Bengaluru, citing New Year celebrations. However, Deputy CM Shivakumar was notably absent. During the meeting, a decision was made to hike RTC bus fares by 15 per cent, signalling to the Congress high command and Shivakumar that Siddaramaiah remains firmly in control as the CM of Karnataka. Shivakumar, upon his return to India, camped in New Delhi and persuaded the party high command to stall a meeting organised by Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara for Congress MLAs, Ministers, and MPs belonging to SC and ST communities. The meeting reportedly sought to advocate for a Dalit Chief Minister if there would be a change in leadership. Parameshwara had earlier said he is not in politics to relinquish power, fuelling speculation about his ambitions. Following this, CM Siddaramaiah called for a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on January 13, using his prerogative. Sources indicate this move aims to show Shivakumar that he does not wield absolute control in the state. The Siddaramaiah camp is reportedly preparing to assert its power and demonstrate its solidarity with the CM during the meeting, effectively countering any attempts to change the leadership. Ministers K. N. Rajanna and Satish Jarkiholi expressed bitterness following the postponement of the SC/ST leaders' meeting. Rajanna remarked that the meeting was not about acquiring Shivakumar's property and questioned why he should be upset. Jarkiholi noted that while one faction might currently have an upper hand, his team would also find an advantageous position eventually. Parameshwara clarified that the meeting had only been postponed but not cancelled, and added that if the party does not allow such meetings in the future, they are capable of handling the situation. All eyes are now on the agenda of the upcoming CLP meeting. Karnataka Congress unit in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala is expected to visit Bengaluru for the meeting. Chennai, Jan 10 : Director Arvindh Srinivasan, whose upcoming romantic thriller 'Tharunam' is to release on January 14 for the festival of Pongal, has now disclosed that the team's initial plans to shoot some portions of the film in Kashmir had to be dropped because of a health concern actress Smruthi Venkat had. The film, a romantic thriller, features actors Kishen Das and Smruthi Venkat in the lead with actor Raj Ayappa playing a pivotal role. Talking exclusively to IANS, Aravindh said, "The entire film including two fight sequences was shot in 37 days. We had originally planned to shoot in Kashmir but Smruthi Venkat has a sinus problem. In fact, on the second day of shooting, she had blood coming out of her nose and that startled all of us. She had to rush to a private hospital for treatment. However, she took it very sportingly and resumed shooting the very next day." Arvind says that the plan to shoot in Kashmir had almost been firmed up when he decided to change the plan. "I am that kind of a director who believes in keeping his artistes comfortable. We went on a recce to Kashmir and had zeroed in on locations with even Smruthi mentally being prepared to travel to Kashmir for the shoot. However, when when her nose bled profusely, despite her best efforts to check the bleeding, we decided against shooting in Kashmir." Ask Smruthi about the health issue and she says, "I've had this problem from childhood. It is a hereditary problem. My dad also has sinus. It was on the second day of shooting that the bleeding incident happened. I struggled for almost a couple of hours to prevent my nose from bleeding. It is not a serious problem but it happens when I overstrain myself. In fact, I had prepared myself to go to Kashmir to shoot when the team chose not to proceed with that plan." Giving out more details about his film in which Kishen Das plays an officer with the CRPF's Cobra unit, Arvind says, "It is a thriller film with a love story packaged inside it. The film is a complete entertainer with no social message. However, it will feature a relevant social issue. "This genre is not new. but the way I have attempted to narrate this story in this genre will be totally new. Imagine you are setting off from home with an intention to resolve a problem. Enroute, if you happen to have an accident and it becomes a problem, which will you focus on? You will have to handle both problems. That is how this story will proceed." --IANS Mkr/ Karachi, Jan10 : In yet another major embarrassment for Pakistan, as many as 258 of its citizens were deported from seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and also 'all-weather friend' China in the last 24 hours, local media reported on Friday. According to Pakistani immigration officials, out of the 258 individuals who arrived at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, 244 were deported on emergency travel documents and only 14 had valid Pakistani passports. While only 16 deportees were arrested for having a 'suspicious identity', the rest were released after mere questioning. Pakistan's leading news channel Geo News reported that Saudi Arabia deported 232 people, that included seven beggars, individuals caught performing Hajj without permits and sent back after they had completed their sentences besides several Pakistanis who had overstayed in the country or found to be working without sponsorship or beyond the validity of their visas. The report stated that 112 people were deported by the Saudi agencies due to complaints from their sponsors and 63 faced other charges. Among the 21 people deported from the UAE, four were found to be involved in drug trafficking. Citing information received from the Federal Investigation Agencyas (FIA) Immigration Cell, it was reported that 35 passengers were also offloaded at the Karachi airport in the past 24 hours for travelling to various countries due to lack of advance hotel bookings, insufficient funds for expenses, proper work and travel documents. While the UAE deported 21, including four involved in drug trafficking, one individual each was deported from China, Qatar, Indonesia, Cyprus, and Nigeria. Over the years, Pakistan has maintained unrelenting consistency in sending questionable travellers abroad - those who end up staying illegally in foreign countries by becoming asylum seekers, illegal drug traffickers, beggars and human traffickers. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia's civilian aviation authority announced that a polio vaccination certificate has now been made mandatory for Pakistani citizens travelling to the kingdom and anyone found violating the latest directives would face severe penalties and legal action. The Saudi government's decision comes at a time when several Gulf countries have imposed a visa ban on Pakistanis over their involvement in crime, fraud and begging. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had made it mandatory for visa applicants from Pakistan to submit a police character certificate. In the past, over 4000 Pakistani beggars have been arrested in Saudi Arabia, especially from Mecca and Medina, where they were caught begging during Umrah and Haj processions. Many Pakistanis have also been arrested and jailed by the law-enforcement agencies of these countries for carrying illegal drugs and involvement in illegal activities. This has ultimately resulted in severe restrictions and bans being imposed by many countries on Pakistani passports and the country's citizens, leading to rejections of visas for thousands of travellers every month. Patna, Jan 10 : Amid Bihar Public Service Commission protests in the state, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chief Chirag Paswan met with Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Friday and assured justice to examination aspirants. Talking to media persons after the meeting, Union Minister Paswan assured that the NDA government in Bihar, led by Nitish Kumar, is committed to ensuring justice for candidates and incorporating suggestions to resolve the issue. The BPSC examination held on December 13, last year, at 912 centres state-wide faced allegations of malpractice following "irregularities" at the Bapu Centre in Kumhrar, Patna. In response, the BPSC cancelled the examination for the said centre and conducted a re-exam on January 4. However, agitating candidates are calling for the cancellation of the examination across all 912 centres, alleging systemic flaws. A group of candidates filed a petition in Patna High Court on Thursday and its next hearing is scheduled for January 15. Earlier, Patna Police resorted to lathi-charges three times against protesting candidates, escalating tensions and public outcry. Political leaders from various parties, including RJD, Jan Suraaj Party, CPI-ML, and independent MLA Rajesh Ranjan (Pappu Yadav), have extended support for the agitating candidates. Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, has been on a hunger strike since January 2. He was recently hospitalised at Medanta due to deteriorating health. Kishor's party has also filed a petition in the High Court demanding the cancellation of the examination. The issue has become a hot potato, with ruling and opposition parties clashing over the government's handling of the situation. The outcome of the January 15 High Court hearing and subsequent government actions will be pivotal in addressing the grievances and restoring confidence in the examination process. Gurugram, Jan 10 : A cybercrime team of the Gurugram Police in Haryana have arrested two employees of a leading telecom company who had allegedly provided virtual numbers to Indonesian and Chinese fraudsters to cheat people through WhatsApp/Telegram in the name of part-time job/investment. Priyanshu Diwan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Cyber aaCrime Unit, said the police team of Cyber aaEast, Gurugram and the joint team of Indian Cyber aaCoordination Centre (I4C), Union Ministry of Home Affairs took action based on technical analysis and nabbed the suspects on Thursday. The accused have been identified as Neeraj Walia, a resident of District Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh), and Hemant Sharma. The accused were arrested under sections 318(4), 319, 61(2) BNS at Police Station Cyber aaCrime East, Gurugram. According to the police, the complainant filed a complaint that he received a call from a landline number in Gurugram in which he was offered a part-time job. The complainant/victim had to post reviews of different hotels. On completing the task, Rs 200 was transferred to the victim's bank account. After that, the victim was added to the Telegram group by the accused. Small amounts were transferred to his account 2-3 times for some tasks. Later, he was coaxed to transfer money to invest in these tasks and generate big profits. More money was demanded from him when he sought to withdraw his money. During police interrogation, it was found that Neeraj worked as a site verifier in the telecom company and Hemant was his team leader. "The accused had issued the landline number/DID number used in the crime in the name of Ekamdarsh aaServices Pvt Ltd. Despite the above company not being present on the mentioned site, the accused violated TRAI rules and issued a landline number in the name of the above company," Diwan said. Using the above number, the companions of the accused cheated people in the name of task-based investment. The accused also disclosed that, in connivance with the operational manager of Ekamdarsh aaServices Pvt Ltd, a company registered at a fake address, had provided many more numbers to an Indonesian person apart from the above landline number/DID number. "In connection with the matter further investigation is underway. The accused have been taken on police remand for intensive interrogation," ACP Diwan added. Two mobile phones used in committing the fraud have been recovered from the possession of the accused, police said. Wellington, Jan 10 : Higher population density is associated with worse air quality and related health outcomes in New Zealand's largest city Auckland, according to a study published on Friday. Housing intensification in Auckland will likely increase ill health from air pollution unless steps are taken to reduce exposure to emissions from motor vehicles, according to a study by the University of Auckland. Respiratory hospitalizations and asthma in children were higher for more densely populated areas, and air pollution, especially nitrogen dioxide (NO2), was linked with population density, the study showed based on data from 2015-2017. Among pollution sources such as traffic, domestic fires and industry, motor vehicle traffic is the most important source and is the highest in the most densely populated parts of the city, the study said, adding transport reforms to reduce such traffic should be considered when planning for denser cities. Published at the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the research explored associations between population density, air pollution concentrations, and related health outcomes in New Zealand's Auckland, Xinhua news agency reported. Higher population density was associated with higher concentrations of NO2 and PM2.5. Adverse health outcomes related to NO2 and respiratory hospitalizations attributed to PM2.5 exposure increased incrementally with the density of urban areas, the research article said. Last November, the country's health ministry had initiated a nationally coordinated response after declaring early stages of a highly contagious whooping cough epidemic. Cases had consistently increased for several weeks across New Zealand, meeting the threshold for a national epidemic to be declared, a Ministry of Health statement said, citing the country's last major outbreak of pertussis in 2017, which lasted for months and potentially for a year or more. Whooping cough cases have been steadily increasing following spikes in May, June and July, according to the Institute of Environmental Science and Research. The ministry warned that New Zealand should also be ready to see similarly high levels of cases over the next 12 months or more, as a number of countries are experiencing record levels of pertussis, possibly due to lower infection rates during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Nicholas Jones, Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health. Jones warned of the risk of severe illness among babies either too young to be immunised or whose immunisations are delayed, as well as Maori and Pacific people living in New Zealand who will be most affected. "Even in countries with very high levels of immunisation, epidemics still occur every few years, but the number of babies who get very sick is much lower when mothers have been vaccinated during pregnancy, and when people are vaccinated on time," she said. New Delhi, Jan 10 : The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ernakulam, Kerala, has convicted four job agents and sentenced them to five years rigorous imprisonment in a case of cheating, at least, 21 people on the pretext of getting them employed in Italy, Spain and the UK, the CBI said on Friday. The court accepted the federal agency's charges against the convicts that they dishonestly induced emigrants to pay a total amount of Rs 28.27 lakh and obtained wrongful gain to themselves as part of a criminal conspiracy to cheat. Those sentenced to imprisonment were identified as Sebastian P. John, then Managing Director, and Biju alias Mathew, then Manager, (both of Amer Speak, American Accent Academy; Kalathipady), Kottayam,(Kerala) and Johncy Joseph. The fourth convict Steffi Mary George, wife of Sebastian P. John, did not turn up for a hearing on the question of sentence, therefore, the case against her was split up. The court also imposed a fine on the three convicts of Rs 30.06 lakh in a bank fraud case. On recovery of the fine amount from convicts Sebastian P. John; Biju, and Johncy Joseph, Rs 1,40,000 each is to be paid as compensation to 21 victims cheated by the accused, the court said. The CBI re-registered the case on August 9, 2011, in compliance with the Kerala High Court's order of September 7, 2010, against the accused. It was alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to cheat intending emigrants on the false pretext of a job abroad - in Italy, Spain and the UK. In furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused dishonestly induced emigrants to pay Rs 28,27,000 and cause a wrongful loss to victims, the CBI said. Ranchi, Jan 10 : Former Odisha Governor and Jharkhand Chief Minister, Raghubar Das, officially re-entered active politics on Friday at a grand ceremony in Ranchi where he took membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of thousands of supporters and senior state party leaders. The event was marked by celebrations, including bursting of firecrackers by his supporters. In his speech on the occasion, Das expressed his emotions about the new chapter in his political journey. "Starting afresh as a worker of the BJP feels like returning to the comforting shade of my mother's care. Being a Governor was an honour, but serving as a 'servant' of an organisation like the BJP is a matter of pride. I have returned to the party to serve it with unwavering commitment until my last breath," he said. Reflecting on his journey, Das added: "Today is a historic day for me. I am taking party membership for the second time since 1980. When I submitted my resignation before I became Governor to the National President of the party, JP Nadda ji, on October 26, 2023, it was an emotional moment. The respect and honour a person from a humble background like me received is only possible in the BJP." Addressing the party's recent challenges, Das remarked, "The results of the recent Assembly elections were not in our favour, but setbacks are part of politics. We must not lose heart but continue working with dedication to our party's ideals. I firmly believe we will make a strong comeback soon." Das also extended goodwill to the newly-formed Hemant Soren-led coalition government in the state, saying: "We respect the mandate given to the government and hope it delivers on its promises. However, if they fail to fulfil their commitments or betray the people, we will take the fight from the streets to the Assembly." He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, party President Nadda, and state President Babulal Marandi for supporting his return to the BJP fold. The membership ceremony, held at the BJP's state headquarters, saw the presence of prominent leaders, including state BJP chief Marandi, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, state Executive President Ravindra Ray, Regional Organisation Minister Nagendra, MPs Manish Jaiswal, Kalicharan Singh, Aditya Sahu, former Leader of the Opposition Amar Bauri, and numerous MLAs and state leaders. Raghubar Das's return to active politics comes at a crucial juncture for the BJP, which is strategizing to strengthen its leadership in Jharkhand. Speculation is rife that Das may once again take on a leadership role in the state, as the party is set to finalise the name of the state president in February. Having previously served twice as Jharkhand BJP President and as the party's National Vice President, Das is recognised as one of the most prominent OBC leaders in the state. Discussions are also underway about entrusting him with a significant organisational role at the national level. New Delhi, Jan 10 : In a candid and insightful conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath in his first-ever podcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics and said that they should take the political plunge but with a spirit of dedication and sacrifice. The podcast trailer was shared by PM Modi himself on his X handle. "I hope you all enjoy this as much as we enjoyed creating it for you!" PM Modi wrote. In an extensive two-hour discussion in his first podcast, PM Modi spoke on issues ranging from his early years, education, setbacks and risk management abilities. He also reflected on life principles that define successful political careers, urging young individuals to approach politics with a spirit of "sacrifice and dedication, rather than ambition alone." PM Modi underscored that being a politician is different from succeeding in politics, explaining that true success requires commitment, empathy, and the ability to work as a team. "Winning peopleas hearts and living their lives with them is what makes a good leader," he said. Prime Minister further said that it is "crucial for good people to join politics with a mission, not for personal ambitions". When asked about young people joining politics, he said, "India requires one lakh dedicated young politicians, driven by a selfless desire to serve the nation". He also recalled his statement from the Red Fort, reiterating that India needs one lakh young leaders who prioritise the countryas well-being over personal ambition. "I said from the Red Fort that the nation needs one lakh such youth to come into politics. I think if the aim is just to take, achieve, and become, then that ambition wonat last long. In politics, the aim is sacrifice," said PM Modi. PM Modi also highlighted the qualities that define great leaders which include empathy, hard work, and communication skills. Drawing a parallel with Mahatma Gandhi, he explained how the leaderas principles inspired others, despite Gandhi himself not wearing a cap while many of his followers did. PM Modi stressed the importance of unity and selflessness. "During the independence revolution, every section of society united for the love of the nation. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi were not defined by appearances or age but by principles and dedication to the country," he remarked. Citing an example of Ashok Bhatt, a party worker and minister, PM Modi praised his dedication, recalling how Bhatt would answer calls in half ring at any hour and personally address issues, for accident-prone roads in Vadodara. This selfless commitment, he noted, exemplifies the tough yet fulfilling nature of political life. PM Modi also shared personal anecdotes, recalling how he left home at a young age and lost contact with childhood friends. "After becoming Chief Minister of Gujarat, I invited about 35 of his former classmates, teachers, relatives, (in separate meetings) after leaving home in young age at the official residence to reconnect and catch up with them," he told Kamath, underlining that such gathering kept him grounded and humble. Nikhil Kamath also lauded PM Modias vision and expressed hope that the podcast would motivate young people to view politics as a 'meaningful' career path. New Delhi, Jan 10 : Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, who has featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his latest podcast, is an Indian entrepreneur with a net worth of $3.1 billion on 2024 Forbes World Billionaires List. From beginning his career with a call centre job, while also engaging in equity trading on the side, Kamath in 2006, became a sub-broker. In 2010, Kamath co-founded Zerodha, a brokerage firm, along with his brother Nithin Kamath. With Zerodha, he disrupted the brokerage market in India by introducing a discount brokerage model. The model reduces the commission charged for transactions, enabling the masses to invest. The Bangalore-based Zerodha, reportedly has more than 10 million clients, making it one of the largest brokerage firms in the country. In March 2023, Kamath started hosting podcasts titled 'WTF is with Nikhil Kamath' and later 'People by WTF'. Together, he made 26 videos featuring bigwig guests from startup, retail, e-commerce, and fintech communities. Prominent personalities on his shows include Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Ritesh Agarwal, Ronnie Screwvala, and Suniel Shetty, among others. For his latest episode, he is featuring PM Modi. "I am sitting here in front of you and talking, I feel nervous. It's a tough conversation for me," Kamath is seen saying in the two-minute trailer for the episode. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi said: "I hope you all enjoy this as much as we enjoyed creating it for you!" Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier Kamath said he started making podcasts because it gives him insight into industries that he is keen to invest in. In June 2023, he also committed to donating 50 per cent of his wealth to charitable causes like climate change, education, and health care by signing The Giving Pledge. Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripcion a la modalidad Premium, asi podras anadir otro usuario. Cada uno accedera con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitira personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAIS. Tienes una suscripcion de empresa? Accede aqui para contratar mas cuentas. En el caso de no saber quien esta usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contrasena aqui. Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrara en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que esta usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aqui los terminos y condiciones de la suscripcion digital. Islamabad, Jan 10 : Over 900 people, including women and children, were abducted and 152 sexually assaulted or molested in Pakistan's Islamabad in 2024, the capital city's police authorities have revealed. The shocking statistics have raised a serious doubt about Islamabad's reputation as being one of the safest zones for the country's citizens. A record number of 891 cases of kidnapping were also registered in Pakistan's capital last year, including those of teenage girls (483), men (306), boys, and over 150 women during 2024, making the city severely unsafe. "267 kidnapping cases were reported from Soan, 214 in Saddar, 204 in Rural, 127 in City and 79 cases in the industrial zones of Islamabad," said a police officer. Details revealed that the cases included kidnapping or abductions for extorting property, ransom, compelling women for marriage, and abductions with the intent of secretly and wrongfully confining persons. At least 60 cases of teenagers being kidnapped were also registered. "Islamabad, being the capital of Pakistan, has always been considered to be the safest, most organised and best-managed city of the country. But it now seems that no one is safe here either. From abductions to murders to robberies, rape and sexual assaults, the city has become a nightmare for young girls, women, elderlies and teenage boys. It is very disturbing and alarming to see the rise of such crimes here," said Syeda Reshum Masood, a local resident. "Females, who would earlier go out freely, are now extremely careful about getting out of home or sending their children outside. The feeling of insecurity and fear is for real," she added. What is even more worrisome is the involvement of police officials in raping minors under their custody and then tampering records. In one of the rape cases, three investigation officers and a medico-legal officer at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) destroyed evidence and changed the blood samples of a rape-accused person. In another case, a police officer abducted two minors and sexually assaulted them. The rising number of cases have shocked locals who are living in fear right in the middle of the country's capital. Istanbul, Jan 10 : Turkish police seized nearly 1.8 million illicit drug pills and detained three suspects in a major operation in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, the interior ministry said Friday. On social media X, the ministry said the police launched the operation in the Kucukcekmece and Esenyurt districts on the European side of the city. A video released by the ministry shows armed teams breaking down the door of a manufacturing facility and revealing large quantities of pills packed in boxes, ready for distribution. During the raids, three suspected manufacturers were detained, and several pieces of equipment, including pill press machines, vacuum machines, and a precision scale used in the production process, were seized. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya highlighted on his X account the importance of the fight against drug trafficking and production, saying it is not just a security issue but also crucial for safeguarding the future. "We are on every street, every avenue, every corner! We do not tolerate poison dealers. We do not and will not allow them to darken the future of our children," said the minister, Xinhua news agency reported. Since 2023, Turkey had ramped up its crackdown on drug smuggling. Last year, the Turkish police had detained hundreds of suspects for drug trafficking and seized a huge number of narcotics. In September, the police had seized 479 kg of narcotics and 160,967 pills in simultaneous operations across 42 provinces with the help of seven police teams, 1,418 personnel, 12 aerial vehicles, and 37 narcotic detector dogs. The entire operation was dubbed 'Narkocelik-37'. A senior Turkish minister had also shared a video of the seized narcotics and footage of the operations, in which police teams were seen apprehending the suspects. Seoul, Jan 10 : South Korea's parliamentary judiciary subcommittee on Friday passed a new opposition-led bill mandating a special counsel probe into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. Opposition parties unilaterally passed the bill during a subcommittee meeting of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee. Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote in protest of the bill. The new version proposes that the Supreme Court's chief justice recommend a special counsel to look into Yoon's insurrection charges in an apparent effort to secure more defection votes from the PPP. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) also excluded a clause that allows opposition parties to request a new recommendation in the event the proposed candidate is deemed unfit. The previous bill, which proposed special counsel recommendations from the DP and the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, was scrapped Wednesday after being voted down by just two votes, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier in the day, South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok accepted the resignation of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) chief, according to Choi's office, amid growing conflicts over the arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who remained inside his fortified residence. Park Chong-jun, head of the PSS, submitted his resignation shortly before appearing for police questioning earlier in the day over allegations that he obstructed the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) from executing a court-issued warrant to arrest Yoon last week. "Park has submitted his resignation, and it has been accepted," the finance ministry said in a statement. Park, who has been booked on allegations of obstructing official duties, complied with the police's third request for questioning after defying two previous requests. The CIO and police are reportedly preparing for a second attempt to execute the arrest warrant to bring in Yoon, who is facing allegations of insurrection over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. Yoon has refused to cooperate with the CIO's summons or warrant execution, arguing that the agency is not authorized to investigate charges of insurrection. Meanwhile, the CIO and police are considering whether to detain PSS staff members if they attempt to obstruct the second arrest attempt. ---IANS int/jk/as New Delhi, Jan 10 : The Supreme Court on Friday said that there was "nothing so serious in the medical reports" of Erappungal Abubacker, the former Chairman of banned Popular Front of India's (PFI), who is seeking bail on humanitarian and medical grounds. After Abubacker's counsel stated that the medical reports were not made available to the petitioner side, a bench headed by Justice M. M. Sundresh directed that a copy of medical records may be given to the petitioner's counsel and posted the matter for further hearing on January 17. "There is nothing so serious in the medical report," remarked the bench, also comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal. Earlier in November 2024, the Justice Sundresh-led bench decided to fix the matter for hearing post-December vacations. It had clarified that the pendency of Abubacker's instant proceedings before the Apex Court would not bar the High Court from determining his bail plea on medical grounds in the money laundering case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Supreme Court had directed a panel of doctors in AIIMS Delhi to examine Abubacker. It had ordered that the former PFI chief be taken to AIIMS Delhi, where a panel of doctors would conduct his detailed examination as an in-patient and it would consider the question of grant of bail based on the medical report. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had said that Abubacker was not an ordinary criminal and there was evidence to indicate that he was tutoring several individuals for terrorist activities. SG Mehta added that he refused to give consent for treatment when he was taken to hospital in the past. In May last year, the Delhi High Court did not find any "compelling reason" to release him based on his medical condition. "As per the report received from Medical Officer Incharge, Central Jail Dispensary, he was, though, referred to AIIMS Hospital for admission, but he did not choose to go there," said a Division Bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain. It added that allegations and averments appearing in the charge sheet coupled with the statements made by the witnesses, including the protected witnesses, leave no element of uncertainty about the fact that the case of the prosecution, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), is prima facie true. In May 2024, dismissing Abubacker's plea, the Delhi HC said: "There is nothing before us which may suggest infringement of his fundamental rights. As regards, his medical complications, learned trial court has already given the requisite directions, which we also feel to be very appropriate." Abubacker was arrested by the NIA on September 22, 2022, and charged under the provisions of the UAPA. He has been in judicial custody since October 6, 2022. He was active in organisations like the Ideal Students League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). According to Abubacker, he is suffering from multiple ailments, including a rare type of oesophagus cancer, Parkinson's Disease, hypertension, diabetes, and loss of vision. The PFI, described as an extremist Islamic organisation spreading its ideologies, was banned by the Union government in September 2022 under the UAPA. Beijing, Jan 10 : At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will pay a state visit to China from January 14 to 17, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced here on Friday. The visit, the first one to China by President Dissanayake since taking office, is of great significance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations, Guo Jiakun, also a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, told a news briefing on the same day. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Dissanayake. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji will also meet with him respectively, Xinhua news agency reported. Dissanayake had last month visited India, his first official foreign visit since assuming office in September. After returning home, the Lankan President had labelled his three-day India visit as quite "successful", emphasising that he had "productive discussions" with the Indian leadership and business community during the trip. The delegation that accompanied Dissanayake also included Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, as well as Labour Minister and Economic Development Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando. The Lankan President asserted that his visit has paved the way for further development of cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. "We faced an unprecedented economic crisis two years ago and India supported us immensely to come out of that quagmire. It has also helped us immensely after that, especially in the debt-free structuring process. I know that Sri Lanka secures a very significant place in the foreign policy of India. PM Modi assured us full support and he also assured us that he will always protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka," said Dissanayake. He had also reiterated Sri Lanka's stated position of not permitting its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability. "I have given an assurance to the Prime Minister of India that we will not allow our land to be used in any way in a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India. The cooperation with India will certainly flourish and I want to reassure our continued support to India," the visiting Lankan President stated during the joint press conference. While speaking at the State Banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, he spotlighted that the bonds between Sri Lanka and India transcend diplomacy and geographical proximity as the bilateral relationship is civilisationally linked and defined by mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared destiny. "The strength of our partnership lies in collective action. It is through collaborative efforts that we can address the new and evolving challenges that transcend borders, whether they be in addressing environmental concerns, combating terrorism, or ensuring economic growth that benefits all citizens globally. Sri Lanka remains committed to fostering deeper cooperation with India, as a leader of the global South, to harness the opportunities of the 21st century for future generations to thrive in an interconnected and interdependent world," said Dissanayake. Bhubaneswar, Jan 10 : President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that the Indian diaspora can make significant contributions towards the realisation of India's mission of Viksit Bharat - a developed India by 2047, when the country will celebrate 100 years of its Independence. Bhubaneswar, Jan 10 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that the Indian diaspora can make significant contributions towards the realisation of India's mission of Viksit Bharat a" a developed India by 2047, when the country will celebrate 100 years of its Independence. Speaking at the valedictory session of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Convention here on Friday, President Murmu said: "Our nation today is marching towards Viksit Bharat a" a developed India a" by the year 2047. It is a National Mission that requires proactive and enthusiastic participation of every Indian, including those living abroad. The Indian Diaspora is an integral part of this vision. Their global presence gives them a unique perspective, and their achievements place them in a position to significantly contribute to the realization of a developed India." She also said that the Indian diaspora represents the best of our country. The President also noted that the Indian diaspora have carried with them not just the knowledge and skills acquired in this sacred land but also the values and ethos that have been the foundation of Indian civilisation for millennia. President Murmu said that the Indian diaspora has made a mark in the fields of technology, medicine, arts, or entrepreneurship, which the world acknowledges and respects. She expressed happiness over the fact that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention has turned into a platform where ideas converge, collaborations are forged, and the bonds between India and its diaspora are strengthened. Referring to India's timeless philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the President said that this vision is about creating an ecosystem that not only meets our needs, but also contributes to global well-being. President Murmu said that India seeks to be a nation that balances economic progress with social justice and environmental stewardship, ensuring a bright future for generations to come. She stated that the Indian Diaspora would play an essential role in achieving this vision. "We celebrate the achievements of our Pravasi Bharatiya family. We should also look forward to the future with hope and determination. Together, we can build a Viksit Bharat, a nation that stands tall on the global stage and continues to be a beacon of light for the world," said President Murmu. Congratulating the recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman-2025, the President on Friday said this award is a token of recognition by India for the extraordinary contributions of its diaspora. She said that their success stories are not just a matter of pride for India, but they also inspire millions across the world to strive for excellence. She also congratulated Christine Kangaloo, President of Trinidad and Tobago, for being conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award this year and said that her outstanding contributions in leading her nation, with a special focus on women and the Indian diaspora, has set a high benchmark on the world stage. Notably, Murmu conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards to as many as 27 overseas Indians and organisations from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia. New Delhi, Jan 10 : The NaMo App stall at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue venue at the Bharat Mandapam here has turned out to be a big draw for the young achievers as well as hundreds of visitors, piquing their interest with AI enabled applications and features, revolving around Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 'Viksit Bharat' pledge. The stall is providing the visitors with an opportunity to connect with the Prime Minister using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and also share their ideas and contributions to the Viksit Bharat mission. There are multiple QR codes, which users can scan to 'connect and converse' with the Prime Minister. Jignesh, the stall in-charge, told IANS that it has been equipped with AI technology where people have the privilege to even connect with the Prime Minister in his 'AI avatar' by scanning the QR code. The stall titled 'Hamara App Namo App' has been themed around Viksit Bharat, as envisioned by the Prime Minister and is promoting the idea of how technology can be leveraged for improving governance. "After scanning the QR code, you can directly connect with the Prime Minister. There are some books kept here which are written on the Prime Minister. You can see them here. There is also an option of e-books which you can see by scanning QR code," he said. "People can also ask questions and watch the Prime Minister answering them in AI-enabled App," he added. A selfie point has also been created, where people can get their photo clicked with the Prime Minister. A dedicated corner has been made to acknowledge and appreciate the role and contribution of every individual as a contributor in Viksit Bharat. The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue kicked off at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Friday, providing youngsters with a platform to present innovative solutions and their vision for Viksit Bharat. About 3,000 dynamic and motivated youths are participating in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue program, where they will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas and vision for Viksit Bharat, directly to the Prime Minister. Chandigarh, Jan 10 : The state government on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the French Development Agency (AFD) to implement the Himachal Pradesh-Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness Project (HP-DRRRP). The agreement was signed here in the presence of Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena. It was signed by the Additional Secretary and Project Director, PMU Nishant Thakur on behalf of the state government and AFD Deputy Director (India) Camille Severac. The Chief Secretary said the HP-DRRRP was a flagship initiative of the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the state to natural disasters. He said that with external bilateral funding of 100 million Euros from AFD, the project would focus on strengthening disaster risk management and climate change adaptation capacities of the government and communities through a multi-sector and integrated approach. The hills of Himachal Pradesh, especially in Kullu, Shimla and Kinnaur districts, are more prone to natural disasters like flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides. Experts say besides the construction of mega hydropower projects, roads and large-scale unregulated mining are generating mountains of debris, responsible for increasing the magnitude of the natural calamity. Often the debris is haphazardly dumped on hill slopes and eventually finds its way into rivers and streams, raising the bed level. The carrying capacity of rivers and streams is reduced, and during heavy rain, they often change their course, causing widespread destruction downstream. A devastating earthquake in 1905 severely damaged property in the Kangra region, including St. John's Church, where many British officials were buried and claimed over 20,000 lives. The frightening reality of a performance audit in 2017 on disaster management, with a specific focus on earthquake and fire, conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said 90 per cent of buildings, mainly houses, in rural areas of the state, do not follow safe construction rules. In Shimla town, 83 per cent out of a sample of 300 selected buildings were highly vulnerable if a major earthquake occurred. However, the construction of buildings and houses in rural areas (89 per cent of total houses) is not regulated by any law. Construction of seismic-resistant buildings in rural areas has, thus, not been ensured, the CAG had observed. Seven out of 12 districts have over 25 per cent of their area falling in seismic zone V (very high damage risk). Patna, Jan 10 : The Bihar cabinet on Friday approved 55 proposals, including 22 projects related to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Pragati Yatra, for the overall development of the state. The government continues to honour commitments made during Chief Minister Nitish's Pragati Yatra, ensuring infrastructure improvements and economic support for various districts, the officials said. S Siddhartha, the Additional Chief Secretary of Cabinet Secretariat, said, funds have been allocated for the construction of new buildings across 308 block-zones, 246 dilapidated block-cum-zonal office buildings will be rebuilt with a Budget of Rs 16.62 crore, and 62 blocks will get new complexes with an allocation of Rs 30.74 crore. He also said that the cabinet sanctioned Rs 17.5 crore for a bridge over the Budhi Gandak River at Ibrahimpur Ghat (East Champaran), Rs 73 crore for road widening and strengthening between Pathri Ghat and Barwat Sena Path (West Champaran), and Rs 172.76 crore for the widening of Shivhar-Meenapur Path in Shivhar district. To improve electricity infrastructure, the cabinet, led by CM Nitish, sanctioned Rs 157 crore for a new grid substation in the Mahua subdivision (Vaishali) and the construction of 132 KV transmission lines in Tajpur. The Cabinet also approved the proposal to transfer 21 acres of land in Sadar Zone for a parallel taxi track at Patna Airport. It also gave its nod for a regional passport office in Patna. The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 34 crore for new court buildings and lock-up facilities at the Piro sub-divisional civil court in Bhojpur. It approved an increase in sugarcane prices by Rs 10 per quintal, with the state incurring an annual expenditure of Rs 70 crore. It also gave a nod for pay scale benefits to Fire Service employees retroactive from January 21, 2010, aligning with police personnel and approved Rs 246.23 crore for 60 officer residences along Bailey Road, Patna. The Cabinet also approved Siwan's Mouniya Baba Mahavir Jhanda Mela and brought it under the Bihar State Mela Authority's management. Seoul, Jan 10 : A shaman allegedly involved in the presidential campaign of now-impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted on charges of taking illegal political funds from a politician who ran for the 2018 local elections, officials said on Friday. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office said it indicted Jeon Seong-bae without physical detention on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Jeon, better known as Geonjin, is suspected of receiving about 100 million won (US$69,027) in illegal political funds from a candidate during the ruling People Power Party's nomination race for the elections. He is also believed to have played a role in Yoon's presidential campaign prior to the election in March 2022 and has been accused of leveraging his personal connections with the first family to influence business interests. The indictment follows the prosecution's two unsuccessful attempts to secure a court-issued warrant for Jeon's detention. However, prosecutors ultimately decided to indict him without physical detention and will not seek another arrest warrant, as the seven-year statute of limitations for violations of the Political Funds Act was nearing expiration, according to sources familiar with the investigation, Yonhap news agency reported. Meanwhile, South Korea's parliamentary judiciary subcommittee on Friday passed a new opposition-led bill mandating a special counsel probe into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. Opposition parties unilaterally passed the bill during a subcommittee meeting of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee. Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote in protest of the bill. The new version proposes that the Supreme Court's chief justice recommend a special counsel to look into Yoon's insurrection charges in an apparent effort to secure more defection votes from the PPP. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) also excluded a clause that allows opposition parties to request a new recommendation in the event the proposed candidate is deemed unfit. The previous bill, which proposed special counsel recommendations from the DP and the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, was scrapped Wednesday after being voted down by just two votes. Latin America refuses to recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. With the exception of Cuba and Nicaragua, the only allies of Chavismo in the region, the presidents of the entire continent turned their backs on Maduro this Friday over the presidents refusal to produce the voter tallies proving his victory at the July elections, considered fraudulent by a large part of the international community. The presence of Cubas Miguel Diaz-Canel and Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega in Caracas for the inauguration was in pointed contrast with the absence of all the other regional leaders. Governments with differing political tendencies, such as the left-wing administration of Gabriel Boric in Chile and the far-right one headed by Javier Milei in Argentina, unanimously called Venezuelas system of government a dictatorship. Leaders previously close to Maduro, such as Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombias Gustavo Petro, have also withdrawn their support. For Milei, Maduro has transformed Venezuela into a hell on earth. In a statement, he urged all governments on Thursday to demand the end of the socialist regime that has left millions of Venezuelans in poverty, exiled or dependent on the handouts of the dictatorship. On Friday, his Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, defined Maduro as a cartoonish character and said that he has held on to his position by imposing himself through fear, aggression, murder and prison. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte rejected Maduros return to office for a new six-year term. The Government of Peru regrets and rejects that Nicolas Maduro has fraudulently assumed the presidency of Venezuela. The Peruvian Government does not recognize him as president, Boluarte said in a statement, adding that the popular will is the only legitimate source of government and, therefore, that position falls to Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, whom Peru recognizes as the elected president of Venezuela. Criticism of Chavismo intensified following the arrest and subsequent release of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado after she abandoned the protest against Maduro in which she had participated after spending months in hiding. Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba greets Nicolas Maduro at Miraflores Palace. PALACIO DE MIRAFLORES (EFE) Colombia is home to more than a third of the eight million Venezuelans who have emigrated in the last decade and has been denouncing for days the latest wave of repression by Chavismo against the opposition. The Government of Colombia expresses its deep concern and strong rejection of the increase and seriousness of the reports of human rights violations that are taking place in Venezuela, said Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo on Thursday. The foreign minister reiterated that Petros government does not recognize the election results of July 28 and, therefore, does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Chiles Gabriel Boric has played a prominent role in the regional isolation of Maduro and in recent hours has hardened his stance even further. From the political left, I tell you that the government of Nicolas Maduro is a dictatorship, he said on Thursday. Chile expresses its strongest condemnation of the repression and continued violations of human rights that are taking place in Venezuela, the Foreign Ministry added later in a statement. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, Jan 10 : Raising the problems of contractual teachers in the Delhi government and MCD schools, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on Friday wrote to Chief Minister Atishi and demanded the release of Rs 8 crore to the civic agency so that the pending salaries of a section of teachers could be paid. Kapoor slammed her government and former CM Arvind Kejriwal's regime for the alleged injustice meted out to educators. The BJP spokesperson said that the AAP government, which claims to have introduced significant education reforms, has only indulged in propaganda without much to showcase as an achievement. The Kejriwal government came to power with promises of regularising guest teachers, but even after 10 years, their issues remain unresolved, he said. Contract teachers of various categories, including Special Training Centres (STC) teachers working under the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, have been struggling for months without salaries, he said. In his letter to the CM, the Delhi BJP spokesperson highlighted the unfortunate fact that due to the Delhi Government's failure to release funds to the Municipal Corporation, STC teachers associated with municipal schools have not received their salaries for the past five months. The BJP spokesperson demanded that the Chief Minister instruct the Education Department of the Delhi Government to immediately release Rs 8 crore to the Municipal Corporation so that the pending salaries of STC teachers can be paid. Earlier in the day, the BJP held a massive protest outside Kejriwal's residence against the "insult" of people from Purvanchal. Santosh Ojha, president of the BJP Purvanchal Morcha, said that Kejriwal sees Purvanchalis as just a vote bank and has been deceiving them for a decade. He also accused Kejriwal of settling Rohingyas and Bangladeshis while sidelining Purvanchalis. Ojha emphasised that this time the community would play a key role in overthrowing the AAP government. Another leader Abhay Verma also called out Kejriwal for ridiculing the community. He stressed the importance of Purvanchalis in running Delhi and noted the stark irony that while others are recognised as Delhiites, people from Bihar and UP are discriminated against. Richa Pandey Mishra, President, Delhi BJP Women's Wing, remarked on the stark difference between Kejriwal's intentions and actions, slamming him for anti-Puvanchali statements. Mumbai, Jan 10 : Mayank Gandhi, a former leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has accused former Delhi Chief Minister and party convener Arvind Kejriwal of deviating from the principles on which the party was founded. Speaking to IANS here on Friday, Gandhi said, "We entered politics to change the narrative, and this vision was upheld until 2015. However, Arvind Kejriwal shifted focus towards gaining power, abandoning the core principles we stood for." Gandhi explained his decision to part ways with the party, stating, "I was not interested in power but in transforming the country. When I realised that Kejriwal had changed course, I decided to leave." Referring to incidents such as the controversial construction of the "Sheesh Mahal", Gandhi remarked, "I was convinced Kejriwal had chosen the path of power at any cost. The country has been deceived by him. We had united to bring change, but he himself changed." Sharing his personal anguish, Gandhi added: "I left my job and devoted myself entirely to our mission. It felt like nurturing a child, only to see them go astray. This betrayal deeply pains me." Mayank Gandhi criticised AAP for alleged corruption, particularly related to the excise policy controversy. He questioned, "When the excise scam surfaced, Kejriwal promptly changed the policy. If he was not at fault, why would he do that? There is hundred per cent corruption there." He also expressed concerns about AAP's populist measures, such as free water and electricity citing the example of Venezuela, claiming they could harm the economy. Gandhi remarked on the division of votes between the Congress and the AAP, suggesting that their failure to unite could benefit the BJP in upcoming elections in Delhi. Having distanced himself from active politics, Gandhi talked about his ongoing work in rural Maharashtra. He detailed his efforts to address farmers' issues, including suicide prevention, income generation, and water management in the Parli area of Beed district. "For the last seven years, I have been working on increasing farmers' incomes and solving water problems. We've planted 5.5 crore trees and are currently active in 4,600 villages. According to a Tata Institute of Social Sciences report, farmers who used to earn Rs 38,000 annually now earn Rs 4 lakh, a tenfold increase," Gandhi told IANS. He also mentioned meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss these achievements and explore ways to expand the impact of his initiatives. Reaffirming his commitment to social work and not joining politics, Mayank Gandhi said, "Politics is behind me now. My focus is on creating a sustainable future for farmers and their families and this is the reason I met CM Fadnavis to scale up the operations in Beed." Vienna, Jan 10 : Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in on Friday as the country's interim Chancellor, following the recent resignation of Karl Nehammer. Schallenberg will lead the caretaker government while continuing his role as foreign minister until a new government is formed. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who expressed gratitude for Schallenberg's willingness to take on the dual responsibility during this challenging period. According to Austrian news agency APA, Schallenberg plans to visit the European Union in Brussels early next week. The 55-year-old diplomat has served as Austria's foreign minister since 2019 and briefly held the Chancellorship for about two months in 2021 after the resignation of former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Austria fell into political uncertainty after Nehammer announced his resignation over the weekend as both Chancellor and chairman of the People's Party. His departure came after the collapse of coalition talks between his party, the Social Democratic Party, and the NEOS party. President Van der Bellen on Monday tasked Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, with forming a new government. The Freedom Party came first in Austria's parliamentary election in September but had been shunned by the other parties in the previous coalition talks. The coalition negotiations between the Freedom Party and the People's Party began on Thursday, however, Nehammer, a vehement critic of Kickl, stepped down from the People's Party's leadership in response. While the Freedom Party has previously served as a junior coalition partner, it has never led an Austrian government. Schallenberg has publicly stated that he would not be part of a government led by the Freedom Party. In the September parliamentary election, the Freedom Party secured around 29 per cent of the vote, ahead of the People's Party with 26.3 per cent and the Social Democratic Party with 21.1 per cent. Despite winning the parliamentary presidency, the Freedom Party had been unable to secure coalition partners to form a government. In October, Van der Bellen tasked the People's Party with forming a government. However, coalition talks led by the party dragged on from mid-November until their sudden collapse, Xinhua news agency reported. Karl Nehammer resigned as Chancellor and chairman of the People's Party after the negotiations failed. Nehammer had consistently opposed forming a coalition with the Freedom Party under Kickl. The People's Party then appointed Secretary-General Christian Stocker as interim leader. Though Stocker has been a sharp critic of Kickl, he said that his party was open to coalition negotiations with the Freedom Party. Stocker defended the shift, citing the need to get a stable government and avoid wasting time with election campaigns. Kolkata, Jan 10 : The West Bengal police investigating the murder of Trinamool Congress councilor Dulal Sarkar, also known as Babla, have recovered the firearms used in the crime. Sarkar, who represented Ward 22 of the English Bazar Municipality in Malda district, was killed on January 2. State police sources revealed that a 9 mm pistol and two country-made single-shot pistols were recovered on Friday afternoon. "In addition, seven live cartridges and the clothes worn by the assassins during the murder were also seized. The recovery of these items is crucial for building a strong case," a senior police official stated. The Malda district police have been under immense pressure since Sarkar's murder to solve the case. Shortly after the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had criticised the district police, particularly District Superintendent Pradeep Kumar Yadav, for their failure to prevent the attack. "Babla had security cover earlier, which was later withdrawn. There are clear lapses on the part of the district police. Babla was with me from the beginning," Mamata Banerjee had said on the day of the murder. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that Sarkar's security was withdrawn following telephonic instructions from a senior state cabinet member to the district superintendent. Sarkar, a long-time aide of the Chief Minister, was shot on January 2 while standing at a busy intersection in English Bazar. Three helmet-clad assailants arrived on a motorcycle, and one of them opened fire. While the first two shots missed, the third struck Sarkar in the head. He was rushed to Malda Medical College and Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The attackers had been following him for a few days. Seven individuals, including Narendra Nath Tiwari, the Malda town president of the Trinamool Congress and the district president of the party's Hindi cell, have been arrested in connection with the murder. New Delhi, Jan 10 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached seven immovable properties worth Rs 5.8 crore located in Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh in connection with the fake degree scam case involving Manav Bharti University, Solan (HP), an official said on Friday. The seven properties attached on Friday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) belong to accused Ashoni Kanwar. With this, the total attachment in the case stands at Rs 200 crore, said an official statement. Last year, the ED filed a Prosecution Complaint before Special Court Shimla against Raj Kumar Rana, Manav Bharti University and others under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the case related to selling of fake degrees in the name of Manav Bharti University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The Prosecution Complaint was filed against 14 people and 2 entities. The Special Court, Shimla, had taken cognisance of the complaint filed on January 4, 2023. The ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of three FIRs registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 at Dharampur Police Station, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh in the matter of fake degree scam of Manav Bharti University, Solan. In another case, the ED's Nagpur zone office carried out search operations from January 8 and January 9 under the provisions of PMLA in an online safari booking fraud committed by Abhishek Vinodkumar Thakur and Rohit Vinodkumar Thakur, partners of M/s Wild Connectivity Solutions (WCS). The alleged fraud has caused a wrongful loss to the tune of Rs 12.15 crore to the forest department of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. During the search operations, ED has seized gold, diamond and platinum jewellery/bullion amounting to Rs 1.42 crore along with various property documents, said an official statement. In a separate case, ED's Kozhikode zone office provisionally attached assets valued at Rs 1.25 crore on Friday in the form of immovable properties and fixed deposits in the name of family members in the disproportionate assets case against A.P. Pramod, retired Superintending Engineer, PWD, Kozhikode under the PMLA, 2002. Hyderabad, Jan 10 : Hyderabad police have arrested 23 cybercrime offenders in an operation conducted in different parts of the country. The extensive operations were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and the arrested accused were found to be involved in 30 cases in Telangana and 359 cases across India. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crimes, Dara Kavitha said that in view of the alarming rise in cyber fraud cases, the Cyber Crime Police Station, Hyderabad, took significant measures to combat cybercrime. These efforts, carried out by five teams, targeted various modus operandi and resulted in the apprehension of several key players with sophisticated networks. They were exploiting systems and loopholes to perpetrate large-scale financial frauds. The detected cases include five relating to investment fraud, two digital arrest scams, three trading frauds, two job frauds, and one APK file fraud. The victims in these cases had lost nearly Rs 5.30 crore. Police have seized Rs 40,000 cash, 25 mobile phones, 45 SIM cards, 29 bank passbooks/chequebooks, 23 debit cards and credit cards, a laptop, three QR code scanners, and five shell company stamps. The DCP said the teams coordinated with police units across different states to track and apprehend the accused. The operations were conducted based on detailed intelligence and advanced investigative methods to uncover the networks behind these fraud schemes. "Special attention was given to identifying and arresting critical players, including bank officials, Mule Bank Account Suppliers, and kingpins, who were instrumental in facilitating fraudulent activities," she said. The police have refunded Rs 39 lakh to victims in three cases. The DCP said that these operations not only led to the recovery of significant assets and financial instruments but also dismantled organised fraud syndicates, ensuring justice for victims across the country. The Cyber Crime Police has urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid engaging with individuals on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram who offer lucrative investment opportunities and websites or groups promising high returns on small investments. The police also urged citizens to remain vigilant and cautious of unknown calls or messages. Always verify claims by visiting your nearest police station, as law enforcement agencies never issue digital arrests or demand money to prove innocence, they said. Addis Ababa, Jan 10 : The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council has announced that more than 58,000 citizens have been relocated from Afar and Oromia regions to temporary shelters due to the threat of earthquakes in the areas. The announcement followed an emergency meeting to address the looming seismic risks that have been impacting various districts, two in Afar and another in Oromia. A scientific analysis presented by experts during the meeting attributed the seismic activity to the formation of the Rift Valley. While no volcanic eruptions have occurred, experts noted instances of underground smoke and hot water emissions, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) on Thursday. "Since September 2024, the potential risks associated with earthquakes and tremors in regions of the Rift Valley have necessitated the government to give attention and take appropriate measures," the ENA quoted Temesgen Tiruneh, chairman of the council and deputy prime minister of Ethiopia, as saying. "In the course of these measures, it is important to prevent the loss of lives, destruction of property, and damage to infrastructures," Tiruneh said, stressing the need to provide necessary shelter and care to those fleeing from danger areas. Although there have been no reported casualties among humans or animals, Tiruneh confirmed that the frequent earthquakes have caused significant damage to social service facilities, roads, and other infrastructure. Earlier this week, the Ethiopian government said that it had coordinated evacuations in response to successive and recurring earthquakes that had wreaked havoc in the eastern parts of the country. Recent tremors had shaken areas around Awash Fentale, Metahara, and Abomsa towns, with magnitudes frequently exceeding five, according to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS). The strongest quake, a magnitude 5.8, had occurred on January 5, striking 56 km south-southeast of Abomsa. Its epicentre was at a depth of 10 km, at 9.505 degrees north latitude and 40.169 degrees east longitude, according to the USGS. The USGS data indicated that at least seven earthquakes had hit eastern Ethiopia in the past two days, marking a significant increase in intensity compared to previous weeks' moderate tremors. Tremors from the earthquakes had been felt as far as Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, about 190 km west of Abomsa. The government had deployed emergency teams, including experts from various sectors, to assess damages across 12 localities in the Afar, Oromia, and Amhara regions. The Ethiopian Government Communication Service had noted a rise in both the intensity and frequency of recent earthquakes, stating that the government was organising evacuations and prioritising the relocation of the most vulnerable populations in the affected areas. Adding to the crisis, a volcanic eruption had been reported on Friday at Mount Dofan in the Dulecha district of Afar. Local officials were working to protect residents, as reported by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate. Online videos had shown cracked asphalt roads and widening fissures, further underscoring the impact of the seismic activity. Experts had attributed the quakes to ongoing tectonic movements within the region's basaltic rock formations, warning that the frequency of such events might persist. While major urban centres had not suffered significant damage, officials had urged the public to follow safety guidelines. Authorities were closely monitoring the situation's impact on social services, infrastructure, and the economy, promising regular updates through official channels. The Ethiopian Government Communication Service had noted a rise in both the intensity and frequency of recent earthquakes, stating that the government was organising evacuations and prioritising the relocation of the most vulnerable populations in the affected areas. New Delhi, Jan 10 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called for enhanced cohesiveness of the global community in view of the current security environment which, he said, is in a state of flux with multiple conflicts and challenges. Addressing Ambassadors' Round-Table, organised as a prelude to Aero India 2025, the Defence Minister stressed on the need to overcome the present geopolitical tensions for ensuring mutual prosperity and global peace. "It is of paramount importance that like-minded countries should strive together for collective actions for peace and prosperity. Without these, our future generations will not be able to take advantage of economic growth or technological innovations that we are experiencing in today's era," he told the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of various countries attending the event. This 15th edition of Aero India is scheduled to be held at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka from February 10 to 14, 2025. The five-day event comprises a curtain-raiser event, inaugural event, Defence Ministers' Conclave, CEOs' Round-Table, iDEX start-up event, breath-taking air shows, a large exhibition area comprising India Pavilion and a trade fair of aerospace companies. The broad theme is 'The Runway to a Billion Opportunities'. In his address, the Defence Minister pointed out that India is emerging as a leading voice for the Global South, and it advocates for a multi-aligned policy approach, which ensures that diverse views are considered in the collective pursuit of prosperity. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has articulated India's commitment to addressing global challenges through five guiding principles: Respect, Dialogue, Cooperation, Peace & Prosperity. In today's geopolitical landscape, fostering unity among like-minded nations is essential for ensuring mutual prosperity and peace, while addressing contemporary challenges," he said. "India has always championed shared prosperity and shared responsibility based on the fundamental principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, aOne Earth, One Familya, which was also the theme for G-20 Summit in 2023," he added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Aero India, Asia's largest aero show, as one such event, where nations come together and form bonds beyond boundaries. Elaborating on the vision behind the biennial event, he stated that it has proven itself to be the meeting ground for the aerospace and defence sectors to showcase their products/technologies. He defined it as a forum to forge strategic partnerships towards increasing opportunities for business, transfer of technology, joint development and co-production between various industries. The first three days of Aero India (February 10, 11 and 12) will be business days, while February 13 and 14 have been set as public days to allow people to witness the show. The event will provide a platform for forging partnerships between foreign and Indian firms, and the discovery of newer avenues in the global value chain to accelerate the indigenisation process. Aero India attracts many exhibitors from the world's leading industries in the field of aerospace and defence. It provides a unique opportunity for the industry to showcase their capabilities, products and services to the targeted audience. The biennial event serves as a platform for industry leaders to connect and shape the future of the aerospace and defence industries. New Delhi, Jan 10 : As Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut called for a formal announcement if the INDIA bloc is no longer needed, Congress MP Tariq Anwar on Friday said that each party in it has its own existence and can make decisions independently. Speaking to IANS, Anwar emphasised that while the Congress remains committed to the alliance for the national-level Lok Sabha elections, the possibility of extending the alliance for state-level Assembly elections is unlikely. "It has already been clarified from Congress's side that we are part of an alliance at the national level for the Lok Sabha elections. However, for the Assembly elections, it doesnat seem feasible as every party has its own existence and can take decisions independently," he said. On the future of the INDIA bloc, Anwar added: "Yes, of course, whenever there will be any Lok Sabha elections, the INDIA bloc should remain intact." Responding to Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) accusations of the BJP being anti-Purvanchal, he dismissed the claims, saying, "I don't think there is any reality in this." Meanwhile, with the AAP and the Congress both vying for influence in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, the cracks within the INDIA alliance have become more apparent. Raut, in his statement, blamed Congress for the lack of coordination, claiming that no meeting of the INDIA bloc had been held since the Lok Sabha elections. He noted that leaders from key parties within the alliance, including Tejashwi Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Omar Abdullah, had expressed doubts about the blocas existence. "If this feeling spreads among the people, the largest party in the alliance, Congress, is responsible for it," he contended. Raut further criticised the lack of communication within the alliance and called for clarity. "There is no communication, no dialogue, no discussion. The situation is not well in the INDIA bloc, and people have doubts about it. If Congress believes the alliance was formed solely for the Lok Sabha elections and it is no longer needed, they should make a formal announcement," he added. The INDIA bloc was initially formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a coalition of opposition parties aiming to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Moscow, Jan 10 : Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to potential negotiations with US President-elect Donald Trump without any preconditions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday. Peskov said no specific conditions are required for future negotiations, adding that both leaders must show a mutual desire and political will to resolve existing problems via dialogue. He also confirmed that Putin is open to future talks with Trump, and planning for a meeting will begin once Trump takes office. "We are seeing that Trump has also expressed his readiness to solve problems through dialogue, and we welcome this," Peskov said. He noted that Russia's position on Ukraine, as outlined by Putin in July, remains clear and consistent. Moscow's stance will remain unchanged in any potential talks between Putin and Trump, he added, Xinhua news agency reported. On Thursday, Peskov had said that Putin would welcome contact with Trump if Trump's political will remains after his inauguration. The Kremlin spokesperson mentioned that there are currently no requests for contact from the US side, however, it would be reasonable to wait until Trump takes office. At a recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President-elect Trump said he was aware that the Russian leader would like to meet, adding that such a meeting would only be appropriate after his inauguration. Trump said that he can "understand the Russians' feelings" about President Joe Biden allegedly breaking a "deal" to deny Ukraine NATO membership. Discussing the causes of the war, Trump said that the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO had been "a major issue for Russia for many, many years". "You know, a big part of the problem was Russia for many, many years, long before (Russian President, Vladimir) Putin said, you could never have NATO involved with Ukraine. Now they've said a that's been like written in stone. Somewhere along the line (US President Joe) Biden said no, they should be able to join NATO. Well, then Russia has somebody right on their doorstep and I could understand their feeling about that," Trump told reporters on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "There were a lot of mistakes made in that negotiation. When I heard the way that Biden was negotiating, I said you're going to end up in a war and it turned out to be a very bad war. That war could escalate to be much worse than it is right now," he said in response to a question. Last month, Trump had said that he would speak to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and that of Russia Vladimir Putin to end the "carnage" of nearly three years of war. Trump has been highly critical of billions of dollars of aid that the Biden administration provided to Kyiv to battle Moscow's invasion. "We'll be talking to President Putin, and we'll be talking to the representatives, Zelensky and representatives from Ukraine," Trump had said. "We gotta stop it, it's carnage," he added, referring to the war. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could swiftly end the conflict but has not provided concrete details on how. Nicolas Maduro was proclaimed president of Venezuela on Friday. He was sworn in before the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, who imposed the presidential sash on him. The Chavista leader returned to office without having shown the electoral records proving his victory, despite the fact that almost the entire international community has demanded it. They tried to turn the swearing-in (...) into a world war, they said that they would be coming into the country, going out... Say what you will, do what you want, but this Venezuelan constitutional inauguration could not be prevented and it is a great Venezuelan victory, said Maduro in his speech, which lasted a little less than two hours. Following the proclamation, the United States raised to $25 million, the maximum available amount, the reward for information leading to Maduros arrest. The European Union, for its part, condemned him for lacking democratic legitimacy and redoubled its sanctions. The focus also remains on Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition candidate who, according to the verification of the tallies by international organizations, was the winner of the July presidential elections. Edmundo Gonzalez is in the Dominican Republic, where yesterday he participated in several acts to denounce Maduros fraud. The opposition had reiterated on several occasions that he would be in Venezuela on January 10. Paranoia over a potential invasion had intensified within the governments top leadership, which had militarized of the country. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado resurfaced on Friday with a message published on Instagram where she underlines the historical importance of the mobilizations against the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro, whom she accuses of carrying out a coup detat, and announces that Edmundo Gonzalez will return to Venezuela when the conditions are right. It is time to do whatever is necessary to restore the Constitution, said the veteran opponent, arrested by the regime on Thursday and later released. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters at a protest on Thursday. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria (TB) The 72 hours leading up to the inauguration were terrifying. Maduros police arrested activists, opposition figures, and journalists. Plainclothes officers detained Edmundo Gonzalezs son-in-law on Tuesday as he was taking his children to school, who were shocked by the scene. The following day, they arrested Carlos Correa, a defender of freedom of expression, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Nearly simultaneously, they arrested Enrique Marquez, an opposition presidential candidate with a more conciliatory approach, who ran on a separate ticket to the Machado and Edmundo movement. However, after the elections, he relentlessly demanded the electoral records and refused to recognize Maduros victory. There has been speculation within the opposition about Edmundo Gonzalezs next moves. When he went into exile in Spain at the beginning of September, many believed he had distanced himself from the political struggle after signing a document presented to him by Maduros two main political operatives, Delcy and Jorge Rodriguez. The document indirectly acknowledged the Chavista victory. Machados team viewed this signature as a major blow to their cause. However, Edmundo quickly retracted his statement, claiming he had been coerced. Shortly thereafter, he declared that he would be in Caracas on January 10. Those around him say they could see the determination in his eyes. A supporter of Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, on August 3, 2024. Marcelo Perez del Carpio (Bloomberg) Edmundo Gonzalez remained in the Dominican Republic on Thursday night, exhausted from a week-long tour throughout the Americas. The intelligence services in the Dominican Republic have established a tight surveillance network around him and his wife, Mercedes Lopez. There was speculation within the opposition that he might symbolically claim Venezuelan territory, either in its waters or within a consular space. However, those close to him maintain that he is determined to enter Venezuela by any means necessary. Once there, he could attempt to seek refuge in an embassy, though this would not be easy. Alternatively, they say he is more inclined to allow himself to be arrested by Chavista authorities. At 75 years old, and with the law on his side, he should be placed under house arrest rather than imprisoned. The international delegates who came for Fridays inauguration were greeted by a dramatic display of Nicolas Maduros face in the sky, created by drones flown from the La Carlota base. The spectacle was visible from every corner of Caracas. Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, the countries that unsuccessfully attempted to mediate in the post-election conflict, are expected to send their ambassadors, barring any last-minute changes, despite not officially recognizing the Chavista victory. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a representative, while Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the President of the State Duma, Vacheslav Volodin, will represent Russia. Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa is also expected to attend. The event was preceded by a day of clashes in the streets between Chavistas and the opposition. The former had the full weight of the state apparatus at their disposal to obstruct the latter in Caracas. Machado had called on her supporters to gather in an effort to prevent Maduros investiture and secure Edmundo Gonzalezs. After four months in hiding due to government persecution, she reappeared in the financial district of Chacao, where she was met by a crowd. Following a speech in which she urged her followers not to be afraid, she left the event on a motorcycle. According to witnesses and members of her team, she was stopped by the police on the way. For half an hour, her whereabouts were unknown. Corina Machado in Caracas, January 9, 2025. Gaby Oraa (REUTERS) The news of her arrest quickly spread around the world. At one point, her team announced her release. High-ranking Chavistas denied she had been detained, with one of them telling EL PAIS: Shes the one who dreamed wed catch her and turn her into Joan of Arc. Were not going to give her that pleasure. Prosecutor Tarek William Saab then released a statement full of insults against her. Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, came to her and Edmundos defense on social media: These freedom fighters should not be harmed and must stay safe and alive. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, Jan 10 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted a ninth accused in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) linked Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. In the supplementary chargesheet filed before the NIA Special Court, Bengaluru, Vikram Kumar alias Chota Usman, a resident of Begusarai in Bihar, has been charged under section 120B of IPC, sections 17, 18, 20, 23, and 39 of UA(P) Act, and section 120B read with section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act. The NIA, which took over the case from the Bengaluru City Police in October 2023, relates to the seizure of arms, ammunition and digital devices, including two walkie-talkies, from the accused persons who had conspired to commit terror activities in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The conspiracy was aimed at promoting the proscribed terrorist organisation LeT's goal to disrupt Indiaas unity, integrity, security and sovereignty, the NIA said. Accused Vikram Kumar had come in contact with T. Naseer, a life convict in a terror case, at the Bengaluru Central Prison. Along with others, Vikram, who was then in jail in a 2017-18 murder case, was radicalised by Naseer. Following his release, Vikram remained in touch with Naseer and absconding accused Junaid Ahmed. In May 2023, acting on Junaidas instructions, Vikram collected a parcel containing hand grenades and walkie-talkies from Ambala, Haryana, and delivered it to other accused persons in Bengaluru. The arms were intended to facilitate Naseeras escape during a court transfer. Junaid Ahmed also funded Vikram as part of the conspiracy to further the LeT activities. The NIA had earlier, in January 2024, chargesheeted eight accused, including absconder Junaid Ahmed, in the case. Investigations in the case RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI, which originated in July 2023, and efforts to trace the absconding accused are continuing. Bengaluru, Jan 10 : Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday said that the surrender of six Maoists before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his home office Krishna on Thursday was a "sheer act of drama". Bengaluru, Jan 10 (IANS) Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday said that the surrender of six Maoists before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his home office Krishna on Thursday was a "sheer act of drama". Speaking to media in Bengaluru, while answering questions regarding the development, Vijayendra stated, that the BJP won't oppose the surrender of Naxals. But what was the necessity for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to invite all Naxals to his home office? "Where are the weapons? Even today the police are not able to confiscate the surrendered Naxals' weapons. I really do not understand what is happening. I feel it is only a sheer drama what happened regarding the surrender of Naxalites," Vijayendra maintained. Meanwhile, BJP State General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar said, "There are questions regarding the Naxal surrender issue. Those responsible are obligated to give answers, and I believe they should respond." He posed a series of questions to the Congress-led government in the state. First of all, how did this Naxal surrender drama come to an end so swiftly? If the Naxals responded so quickly to Siddaramaiah's spontaneous appeal, doesn't this seem like a pre-planned stage show? Secondly, while the Naxals may have surrendered, what happened to the firearms they possessed? Isn't surrender supposed to include handing over weapons to the police? Why hasn't this rule been followed in this case? Sunil Kumar questioned. Thirdly, if the weapons were not handed over, who has been given custody of them? It's unlikely that they were simply discarded in the forest. In that case, have these weapons been stashed in some urban Naxal hideout for future use? Fourthly, doubts surrounding the encounter of Naxal Vikram Gowda have now increased. He had reportedly opposed the surrender package. Could the orchestrators of this surrender drama have themselves tipped off the police about Vikram Gowda's whereabouts? This raises the need for an investigation into the matter, Sunil Kumar suspected. Fifth, on what criteria is the government declaring that Karnataka is free from Naxal activity? Can the ANF (Anti-Naxal Force) Commander or the Director General of Police make an official statement regarding this claim? Lastly, the government must also clarify how much money has been spent so far on the rehabilitation of residents from areas bordering forests, Sunil Kumar demanded answers. Earlier, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Friday morning that based on the current information about the Maoist activities in the state, the six individuals, who surrendered recently, are believed to be the last surviving in the state. Speaking to reporters, he responded to questions on one of the Maoists, Ravindra, remaining elusive even though the government claimed that Karnataka is now a "Maoist-free state". Further, addressing the disappearance of Ravindra, the state Home Minister said there is information that the group of surrendered Maoists had expelled him. However, the reason for his expulsion is unknown, and an investigation is underway. "If anyone else emerges, they will be monitored," he added. Regarding the demand for compensation for the family of Vikram Gowda, a Maoist killed in an encounter, he said the request would be reviewed. The surrendered Maoists are believed to have discarded their weapons in the forest, and the police are working to locate them, Parameshwara stated. About the allegations by the BJP, which claimed that the government is not showing the same commitment to finding the weapons as it did to providing rehabilitation for the Maoists, he said, "We are doing our job." "The police will take the necessary help to find where the weapons have been hidden in the forest. There is a process for this, and the police will work accordingly. Doesn't the BJP know this? They too have governed the state. Wasn't it the same police department then?" the Minister said. He also clarified that the cases of surrendered Maoists and that of encountered Maoist Vikram Gowda were separate issues. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday welcomed the surrendered Maoists into the mainstream by offering them roses and copies of the Indian Constitution at his home office, 'Krishna', in Bengaluru. With the surrender of the six Maoists, the Congress-led government declared Karnataka free from the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). Seoul, Jan 10 : South Korea reported two additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), bringing the country's total number of outbreaks this season to 23, authorities said on Friday. The new cases were detected on Monday at a broiler breeder farm in Dangjin, 79 km south of Seoul, and a meat duck farm in Buan, 204 km south of Seoul, according to the central disaster management headquarters for AI outbreaks, Yonhap news agency reported. Authorities are monitoring 69 poultry farms located within the quarantine zones of the two infected farms to prevent further spread, the anti-disaster office said. In the recent past, the highly pathogenic bird flu virus has caused mass mortality in chickens and wild birds worldwide. The infections also spread to seals, cats, cattle, and even from cattle to humans -- increasing the threat of a potential next pandemic virus. Early this week, the US reported the first human death in the country due to bird flu or H5N1. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed in a news release that the patient had been hospitalised with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, Xinhua news agency reported. The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions, said the department, adding that the patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. The department noted that the patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in the southeastern US state and the department's extensive public health investigation has identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission. While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk, state officials warned, adding that the best way to protect people from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. As of Monday, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the US since 2024 and 67 since 2022. Outside the US, more than 950 cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organisation; about half of those have resulted in death, according to the CDC. CDC pointed out that no person-to-person transmission spread has been identified. The agency said it has carefully studied the available information about the person who died in Louisiana and continues to assess that the risk to the general public remains low. Chandigarh, Jan 10 : The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar in Punjab on Friday announced the launch of its ground-breaking NanoAqua Nanobubble Generator, India's first-of-its-kind, chemical-free approach to water treatment, pond and lake restoration, aquaculture and agriculture. Chandigarh, Jan 10 (IANS) The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar in Punjab on Friday announced the launch of its ground-breaking NanoAqua Nanobubble Generator, Indiaas first-of-its-kind, chemical-free approach to water treatment, pond and lake restoration, aquaculture and agriculture. The cost-effective technology, which marks a revolutionary step in sustainable water management, has been developed by iHub -- AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub), a premier innovation hub of IIT Ropar, established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the government of India. Developed by Dr. Neelkanth Nirmalkar, one of AWaDH's domain coordinators and a faculty member at IIT Ropar, the NanoAqua Nanobubble Generator leverages advanced nanotechnology to address critical challenges in water treatment, aquaculture, agriculture, and industrial applications. Designed and developed entirely in India, this patented solution is poised to redefine eco-friendly water management practices with its high efficiency, energy-saving capabilities, and affordability, an official statement said. NanoAqua's nanobubble technology has treated over one million cubic metres of water, delivering significant environmental, social, economic, and health benefits. Environmentally, it has improved water quality, increased biodiversity, and stabilised ecosystems. Economically, the technology has boosted tourism, recreation, and property values while providing long-term, cost-effective water treatment solutions. Socially, it has enhanced community spaces for recreation, fostering a sense of well-being and community pride. The chemical-free treatment improves public health, supports agriculture and aquaculture, and strengthens food security, fostering community well-being and economic growth. In pilot installations, such as the Phool Kalan community pond restoration in Ropar and Rang Sagar Lake in Udaipur, the NanoAqua Nanobubble Generator has been implemented in government projects across Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, as well as in seven self-financed projects. These installations have demonstrated significant improvements within the first month of operation, in water clarity, reduced algae growth, and enhanced water quality. These outcomes underline its potential to revolutionise water management while promoting environmental sustainability. New Delhi, Jan 10 : BJP leader Gourav Vallabh on Friday said INDIA bloc is an unnatural alliance, without any common ideology and agenda, and its disbanding is on expected lines. Reacting to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's suggestion to wind up the INDIA bloc, Vallabh told IANS: "It is an alliance of people who are out on bail and which has been rejected by people. Therefore, winding up of the alliance is on expected lines." The regional parties in the alliance have push out a national party and this talks volumes about the state of affairs in the alliance, he said. "The INDIA bloc never had a mandate, common philosophy or like-mindedness, they had come together due to their common hatred towards PM Narendra Modi," he said, claiming that the decay in the Congress is one reason why regional parties are turning against it. "He said the ill-treatment of Congress by regional parties is linked to the fact that statements are issued on its behalf by people who have never themselves fought a single election," said Vallabh, junking Congress leader Pawan Khera's statement that INDIA bloc was only meant to serve in Lok Sabha elections. Slamming Arvind Kejriwal for accusing the BJP of manipulating voters' list in the New Delhi Assembly constituency, Vallabh said the AAP leader's allegations are baseless. "I can give you in writing that Kejriwal is losing the Assembly election from New Delhi seat. This is the reason why he is making such wild allegations." As per my information, Kejriwal is also looking from a safe seat with a high population of a particular community as he is himself sure of losing from New Delhi seat, he said. He also hit out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for calling GST as "Grihasti Satyanash Tax." "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the country the Good and Simple Tax. The Congress, earlier, had unsuccessfully tried to introduce this tax. The GST Council is regularly refining the tax provisions," he said. Vallabh said finance ministers of Congress-ruled states are also members of the GST Council and they are in agreement with the provisions and refinement of the tax. The Congress president is saying something, and the party's finance ministers are saying something else in the GST Council, I think the party needs to first introspect and take a uniform stand on the tax that has been accepted by the people as 'good and simple tax', he said. Visakhapatnam, Jan 10 : A special POCSO court in Visakhapatnam sentenced Telugu YouTuber and TikTok fame Chippada Bhargav to imprisonment for 20 years for the rape of a minor girl. The court also directed the accused to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to the 14-year-old victim, who had become pregnant. Bhargav, also known as Funbucket Bhargav, was arrested in April 2021 on the allegations of sexually assaulting a girl. He was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with other sections of the Indian Penal Code. The victimas family member lodged a complaint with the Pendurthi police station in the port city on April 16, 2021, after they came to know that the survivor was four months pregnant. The accused was arrested in Hyderabad and brought to Visakhapatnam. Police had booked Bhargav under various sections of the POCSO Act and sections 376 (Punishment for sexual assault), and 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman) of the Indian Penal Code. Since it was a POCSO case, it was transferred to the Disha Police Station, which deals with cases relating to crime against women and children. The case was investigated by a team headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Prem Kajal. The police filed a charge sheet and produced all evidence in the special court. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to imprisonment for 20 years. He was also ordered to pay compensation to the victim. Bhargav, who shot to popularity with comic TikTok videos, had promised the minor girl offers in media channels after seeing her in TikTok videos. According to police, when the girl had rejected his advances, he blackmailed her, saying he had her explicit videos and sexually assaulted her. The police had seized a vehicle and the mobile phone of the accused. Agartala, Jan 10 : An Amendment Bill has been moved in the Tripura Assembly on Friday proposing the increase of salaries, allowances of Ministers, MLAs and former legislators by 45 to 50 per cent. According to the ninth amendment bill of Salaries, Allowances, Pensions and other benefits of the Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Whip, the salaries and allowances of Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs and former legislators have been proposed to increase by 45 to 50 per cent. According to the Bill moved in the House by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath, the salary of the Chief Minister will increase to Rs 97,000, while the salaries of deputy Chief Minister, Ministers, Assembly Speaker, Leader of Opposition, govt chief whip proposed Rs 94,000 to Rs 96,000. The Bill proposed increasing the salaries of MLA to Rs 93,000. Besides the salaries, the Chief Minister, Ministers, Assembly Speaker, Leader of Opposition, MLAs are getting many other allowances, including sumptuary allowance, hospitality allowance, telephone allowance and house rent allowance. The pensions and family pensions of former MLAs have been proposed to increase to Rs 66,000 and Rs 48,000 from Rs 34,500 and Rs 25,000, respectively. The ninth Amendment Bill proposed to provide all retirement benefits, including pensions to all MLAs who have served even for just a day. As per the last amendment in 2022 to the Salaries, Allowances, Pensions and Other Benefits of the Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Whip, MLA Act, an MLA would get retirement benefits including a pension if he or she served as a member of the House for at least four-and-a-half years. The Winter Session of the Tripura Assembly began on Friday, and it would continue till January 15. State Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu gave his customary address to the House as it is the first session of new-year (2025). The Governor in his address highlighted the performance and vision of the state government and mentioned the road map of the state government. Damascus, Jan 10 : Three women died and five children suffered severe fractures and bruises on Friday in a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus while attempting to get free meals in a charitable activity, according to the Syrian Civil Defence. The incident occurred during a banquet promoted by a well-known chef, Abu Omari al-Dimashqi, who had invited the public to a free meal in the yard of the historic mosque in the Old City of Damascus. Local sources and eyewitnesses said large crowds flocked into the mosque's courtyard and nearby areas amid an apparent shortage of crowd control measures, leading to chaotic scenes. Security personnel arrived at the scene, closing off roads to manage the influx of attendees, Xinhua news agency reported. The Umayyad Mosque, one of the most iconic landmarks of Damascus, typically hosts religious and cultural events. Large-scale public gatherings are rarely held there and usually require prior coordination with local officials. The city's security and public service structures are still adjusting after the recent political upheaval, following the abrupt end of the previous Syrian government in December of last year. New Delhi, Jan 10 : India will highlight its achievements in advancing AI, frontier technologies and expanding its renewable energy capacities to seek global partnerships for driving sustainable innovation at the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, set to take place from January 20-24 at Davos in Switzerland, according to a Commerce and Industry statement issued on Friday. India's progress resonates with WEF 2025's theme: "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age" as the country is at the forefront of exploring solutions across the five key workstreams -Reimagining growth, Investing in People, Rebuilding trust, Industries in the intelligent Age, and Safeguarding the Planet, the statement said. With an emphasis on fostering international partnerships and driving sustainable innovation, Indiaas participation at this prestigious gathering underscores its commitment to shaping a brighter, more interconnected future, the statement explained. The Indian delegation will be led by a high-level team of ministers including Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan, and Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary. The delegation will also include high-level representatives from six Indian states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala - who will showcase the regionas industrial advancements, investment opportunities, and success stories as part of Indiaas ongoing economic transformation. The team will be participating in a series of panel discussions, roundtables, and Government-to-Business (G2B) and Government-to-Government (G2G) engagements at the prestigious Davos Congress Centre. The delegations will also contribute to sessions at Indiaas Pavilion, alongside other global political and business leaders covering the topics of Sustainability and Trust, Food Security, Economic Partnership Driving Investments, Infrastructure as Enabler, Supply Chain Diversification, Chemicals Investment Opportunity, Innovation and Technology Leadership, and AI for Process Transformation. India will also be participating in the "AI and FDI: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Investment" session, which will be co-organised by Invest India & WAIPA and supported by World Investment for Development Alliance (WIDA), a global platform of 13 organisations that create synergies and maximise impact through joint advocacy and actions, focusing on promoting sustainable and inclusive investment. More than 65 Indian business representatives will attend the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, with several Indian companies setting up Lounges to showcase their offerings. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, will play a pivotal role by organising sessions and media panels to highlight various aspects of Indiaas growth story. Indiaas impressive economic growth continues to capture global attention with foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows surpassing $1 trillion since April 2000. This accomplishment is further highlighted by a nearly 26 per cent increase in FDI, which reached $42.1 billion in the fiscal year's first half. This upward trajectory underscores Indiaas growing appeal as a prime destination for global investment, driven by strategic policy initiatives, a thriving business ecosystem, and enhanced international competitiveness, the official statement added. Bonn, Jan 10 : The EU climate watchdog confirmed Friday that 2024 was the warmest year globally since records began in 1850, underscoring the intensifying impacts of climate change and the urgent need for decisive global action. According to the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year shattered multiple climate records, driven largely by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and amplified by a strong El Nino event. C3S reported that the global average temperature for 2024 reached 15.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12 degrees Celsius and exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.6 degrees Celsius. For the first time, global temperatures crossed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold - a key marker in the Paris Agreement aimed at limiting global warming. Throughout 2024, 11 out of 12 months recorded average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. On July 22, the global average temperature peaked at 17.16 degrees Celsius. Sea surface temperatures also hit record highs, with extra-polar ocean water averaging 20.87 degrees Celsius, while atmospheric water vapor increased by about 5 percent over the 1991-2020 average. The melting of sea ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic added to the alarming trends, with Antarctic sea ice extent remaining near record lows for much of the year, and Arctic sea ice levels significantly reduced, particularly after July. Friederike Otto, senior lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: "The climate is heating to levels we've spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal." In his New Year's address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described 2024 as "deadly heat," warning of a "climate breakdown" in real-time and urging immediate action to dramatically reduce emissions and support the transition to renewable energy. The extreme temperatures in 2024 fueled widespread heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, particularly in Southern Europe. Countries like Italy, France, and Spain endured prolonged heatwaves, while Greece battled nearly 9,500 wildfires. These extreme conditions significantly strained public health systems and prompted large-scale evacuations. Flooding in Spain and Germany caused extensive economic damage and displaced thousands, while severe drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, Lake Jablanicko in December. According to the World Weather Attribution's (WWA's) annual report, the record global temperatures of 2024 directly intensified rainfall events, with 15 out of 16 floods studied linked to climate change. The WWA report revealed that climate-related disasters in 2024 claimed at least 3,700 lives, displaced millions, and caused catastrophic damage to ecosystems. Coral reefs experienced unprecedented bleaching, threatening marine biodiversity and the industries reliant on these ecosystems. "The Valencia floods, U.S. hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more," Otto told Xinhua news agency. Looking ahead, climate experts warn that the extreme weather patterns witnessed in 2024 are likely to persist. Julien Nicolas, climate scientist at C3S, explained that while global temperatures may slightly decline in 2025 due to a transition from El Nino to La Nina conditions, the long-term warming trend remains intact. "There are ups and downs in global temperatures due to natural processes, like El Nino," said Joeri Rogelj, research director at the Grantham Institute of Imperial College London. "But a small dip doesn't change the clear upward trajectory we're on." Recognising the urgency, Carlo Buontempo, C3S director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stressed the importance of taking action now: "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate." The World Meteorological Organization's forecast in December 2024 indicated a greater than 50 percent chance of La Nina conditions developing in the next three months. "We are loading the dice ... toward these extreme climate events," Nicolas said, warning that heat waves and extreme rainfall events are likely to hit almost all continental regions. A study published in The Lancet estimates that 64,260 people in Gaza died from traumatic injuries during the first nine months of the conflict with Israel from October 7, 2023, to June 30. This figure, calculated using a system that cross-references three separate lists, is 69.65% higher than the 37,877 deaths reported for the same period by Gazas health authorities, a body under Hamas control. The article suggests that, based on Gazas Ministry of Healths reported death toll through October now surpassing 46,000 the total number of fatalities, according to this methodology, could be more than 70,000. The war began on October 7, 2023, when the Islamist militia Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 hostages. Since that day, Gazas Ministry of Health has issued daily reports on fatalities. These figures have sparked controversy, with some critics arguing they are inflated and others claiming they are underestimated. The study ultimately concludes that the official death toll has been underestimated. The researchers used a system known as capture-recapture, which compares overlapping records from three sources: deaths documented in hospitals and morgues by the Ministry of Health, an online survey also managed by the ministry, and obituaries shared on various social media platforms. This technique is widely used to estimate populations when conducting complete counts is impractical or the available data is unreliable. Study does not include the missing Epidemiologist Zeina Jamaluddine, a member of the four-person team behind the study, explains that the capture-recapture system was initially popularized by conservationists. They would capture, mark, and release animals or insects in a particular area, then recapture them later and use the overlaps to estimate population sizes. This method has since been adapted for epidemiological research, including the study of disease prevalence and mortality rates in diverse contexts, including conflict zones. The capture-recapture technique, Jamaluddine explains, has been applied to estimate mortality in a number of conflict-affected areas, such as Kosovo, Sudan, Guatemala, and Colombia. It allows researchers to estimate the total number of deaths, including those not recorded in any single data source, by analyzing the overlaps among different lists of individuals killed. Jamaluddine says that the Ministry of Health in Gaza had statistical systems that were among the most robust in the region prior to the war. You wouldnt find anything like that in Syria, even before the civil war. But war inevitably degrades health information systems, she explains. The study notes that escalation of Israeli military ground operations and attacks on health-care facilities severely disrupted local authorities ability to maintain electronic death records. This is what prompted the researchers to undertake a three-month study, which revealed that the Ministry of Health had underestimated deaths by 41% during the first nine months of the invasion. Two of the datasets the team used originated from the Ministry of Health. When asked if this reliance suggested an over-dependence on Hamas-controlled health authorities, Jamaluddine acknowledged the challenge. It does. Im not denying that we used the ministrys data, she says. We relied on records with clearly identified names, and we meticulously cleaned the data by removing duplicates and correcting errors. But to do this correctly, we would have needed to enter Gaza with protection and that wasnt possible. International agencies like the United Nations or UNICEF are working in the Gaza Strip, but their focus is on delivering food and medicine. They cannot call people and ask them how many people died in their home, when what they want is food or medicine. The studys conclusions underscore the urgent need for an immediate and sustained cessation of hostilities and a lasting deal that includes the release of Israeli hostages and thousands of Palestinian civilians imprisoned by Israel. Consistent data Eduardo Satue, president of the Spanish Society of Public Health and Health Administration (SESPAS), emphasizes that The Lancets approach involves examining multiple data sources to assess their consistency. From the data I have seen, I think they are consistent, he tells EL PAIS by phone. Satue explains that the capture-recapture method used in the study is the most reliable option given the circumstances. It is what we have, there are no more precise alternatives at the moment, he explains. Ideally, such studies would be conducted during peacetime, as was done in the 2006 Iraq war, where figures before and after the invasion were compared. Even in peacetime, we saw during the pandemic how challenging it is to fine-tune statistics, for instance, distinguishing between dying from Covid or with Covid. But under the current conditions in Gaza, this method is the best way to do this. Satue, a pharmacist by profession, is not surprised that the death toll is higher than that provided directly by the health authorities. Traditional methods of counting casualties during conflict are based on military reports of those killed in combat, data from hospitals and morgues, and provided by direct observations. However, the latter only enter the official statistics if the identity of the deceased, along with where and how they died, are known. As a result, they tend to underestimate the number of deaths. The president of SESPAS highlights that while The Lancet study focuses on direct deaths caused by the conflict, it is crucial to remember that the number of people who die as a result of indirect consequences of the war is far higher than those who die violently. These indirect causes include malnutrition, water contamination, lack of health care, he says. In Gaza, this can have a greater impact than in other conflicts due to the high population density and because it is essentially a kind of prison, which makes providing adequate care much more difficult. The Lancet study acknowledges that accurately measuring indirect mortality during an ongoing war poses numerous challenges and limitations. Limited access and highly unsafe conditions for humanitarian and health workers inside Gaza make such measurements unfeasible. Satue also notes that his association recently published the third monograph in its series War Conflicts and Their Impact on Health, which examines how these conflicts affect vulnerable groups, including minorities, pregnant women, and children. According to The Lancet, 59% of the deaths in Gaza for which age and sex data were available occurred among women, children, and the elderly groups that are particularly vulnerable and less likely to be combatants. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Mumbai, Jan 10 : Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday visited the first phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial situated at the Mayor's Bungalow at Dadar saying that he does not want to get into the credit war on its development. "All those who have not abandoned the thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray can come here," he said. The oblique reference was to former chief minister Eknath Shinde and others who, after staging rebellion in June 2022, joined the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra. Thackeray, who was accompanied by former minister Subhash Desai, said: "Balasaheb gave many things to many. For those whom Balasaheb could not give anything, they should at least take something from the memorial." He said that the memorial is a national level one, "so whoever is the Prime Minister at the time of completion can come for inauguration". "The first phase of the memorial of Balasaheb Thackeray has been completed. The work of the second phase has also started and discussions have been going on about it for the last few years. I thank the architect Abha Lamba and Tata Project. Because this work looks great now but it was difficult to do. An important coincidence is that the memorial of Veer Savarkar is also located next to this memorial. We have become emotionally attached to the building of the Mayor's Bungalow," said Thackeray. He further stated that the Mayor's Bungalow is a heritage building, and it was difficult to work without damaging the building, preserving its splendour. "There was also a CRZ law. Abha Lamba proposed the idea of building an underground memorial. The sea level is higher than the ground level. This work was completed by accepting that challenge. It was an important task to build a building with precautions, so I thank Abha Lamba," he added. Thackeray, who is quite emotionally engaged in the development of the memorial, claimed that four walls and a mere statue do not make a memorial. "I am a little curious about what will happen in phase two. It should continue. Our idea is to convey his thoughts through the memorial. The biography of the Shiv Sena chief is in the memorial. Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray never wrote an autobiography. When asked, he used to say that he was a man on the field and life was like an open book. The memorial of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray should be such that the thoughts he gave to his country and state should also be given by his memorial," he remarked. Uddhav hoped the memorial will be opened before the commencement of Balasaheb Thackeray's birth centenary on January 23, 2026. "The Shiv Sena chief transformed Maharashtra during his lifetime. If you have old photos, speeches, some old news, articles, please bring them to us, as it will be a guiding material for the next generation," he said in his appeal to the people. Kolkata, Jan 10 : A special court in Kolkata, on Friday, has given permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to collect the voice samples of a prime accused in the case, Sujay Krishna Bhadra. As per the directive of the special court, the CBI will have to first present Bhadra in court on January 21 and after that their officials will be able to collect his voice samples. However, the special court has maintained that the collection of the voice sample can be done subject to the consent of Bhadra. To recall, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe in the school job case, had already collected the voice sample of Bhadra, who is currently admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata. At the same time, the same special court permitted Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya, one of the accused named in the chargesheet of ED, to go back for the time being to his workplace in the US subject to certain conditions. Bhattacharya is the son-in-law of the former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, whose name appears first in the list of the accused named by ED in the school jobs case. Chatterjee is currently in judicial custody. He was arrested by the ED officials in July 2022 by the ED officials after the latter recovered huge cash and gold from the twin residences of his close aide Arpita Mukherjee, which is also named as an accused by the central agency in the case. In its subsequent chargesheet, ED had named 29 individuals and 24 corporate entities and trusts as accused. One such trust is Babli Chatterjee Memorial Trust, named after the deceased wife of Partha Chatterjee. Already the charge framing process in the ED- registered case in the alleged school job scam has been completed and the trial process in the matter is slated to begin this month only. Kolkata, Jan 10 : The Calcutta High Court on Friday rejected the plea by a leading human rights group for allotment of a stall for the Kolkata International Book Fair 2025, scheduled to begin by the end of this month. The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) had earlier week approached the single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha after the Publishers & Booksellers Guild, the organiser of the book fair, denied it space within the fairground for setting up a stall. In its petition, the APDR has accused the guild authorities of not maintaining the minimum transparency in the allotment of stalls. The matter came up for hearing at Justice Sinhaas bench on Friday. During the hearing, the Guild counsel argued that the APDR was unable to provide the necessary documents like licenses, registration certificates and catalogues, among others, which are mandatory conditions to get stall allotment. The APDR counsel did not contest the objections raised by the Guild Counsel. Its contention was that since they criticised the absence of any stall from Bangladeshi publishers in the book fair this year, unlike in previous years, their application for stall allotment was rejected by the Guild authorities. Thereafter, Justice Sinha observed that since the book fair is a private affair and not a state-run affair, the validity of the petition by APDR does not stand and hence the petition was dismissed. The Kolkata International Book Fair this year has been scheduled from January 28 to February 9. With Germany being the theme country for the event this time, the Guild has got confirmation from countries like the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Italy, Spain, Spain, Peru, Argentina and Colombia among others, but not from any publisher from Bangladesh. New Delhi, Jan 10 : Rajya Sabha MP and Bihar PCC chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh here on Friday announced that honouring the faith of the people of Purvanchal towards the Chhath festival, the Congress has resolved to celebrate the Chhath Mahaparv on the scale of the Maha Kumbh, making it the largest Chhath celebration in the world. A large area will be identified on the banks of the Yamuna River and declared a district, which will be named Sharda Sinha Ghat. If the party comes to power after the Assembly polls in Delhi, we will do this, he announced. Singh said that while Purvanchal's contribution to Delhi's development is immense, it has been largely overlooked by the parties such as BJP and AAP, who only view them through the lens of votes. Singh expressed strong discontent with how the Purvanchali community had been exploited during the Covid-19 pandemic. "When the hunger for power arises, Purvanchal is remembered," he said, pointing out that despite the community's hardships during the pandemic, they were abandoned. Singh further highlighted that during the Chhath festival, while people immersed themselves in the sacred waters of the Yamuna, both BJP and AAP had hurt their sentiments by imposing restrictions. He also raised serious concerns about the pollution in the Yamuna River during the festival. "During the sacred festival, when we were dipping in the Yamuna, it had the highest level of waste and pollutants," he remarked. Singh said the government's failure to address the pollution, which he believed directly affected the health of those who observe the festival. A ban on the Chhath Puja had been imposed, and despite being challenged in court, the ban was upheld by the High Court due to concerns over water pollution, he said. Shifting focus to the living conditions of Purvanchali migrants in Delhi, Singh pointed out the deplorable state of affairs in the city's 1,797 unauthorised colonies, where many Purvanchalis reside. These communities, he explained, endure miserable living conditions, including the influx of rainwater into their homes, lack of clean drinking water during summers, and limited employment opportunities. Singh also condemned the apathy of the authorities toward their plight. The Congress MP slammed BJP and AAP leaders for their "derogatory" remarks about the Purvanchali community. He mentioned that BJP President J.P. Nadda had compared Purvanchalis to Rohingyas and infiltrators, while former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal had accused them of casting fake votes. "Are the people of Purvanchal fake?" Singh questioned. He called for a greater focus on improving the lives of Purvanchalis and ensuring their voices are heard in the political discourse. Mumbai, Jan 10 : Before Kangana Ranaut's highly-anticipated drama "Emergency" releases in the cinema halls on 17th January this year, the makers will be hosting a special screening of the film on 11 January 2025, which will be graced by the esteemed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Apart from Nitin Gadkari, the special screening of the forthcoming period political drama will also be attended by Kangana Ranaut and Anupam Kher. Recently, Anupam Kher took to his official Instagram handle and posted a clip with his "Emergency" co-star Kangana Ranaut. The video featured the 'Queen' actress seeking blessings from Anupam Kher's mother Dulari for their upcoming venture. Along with the video, the veteran actor wrote, ''Kangana and Dulari: Two strong women of the mountains. A few days ago Kangana suddenly decided she would like to take blessings from my mother! Mom didn't get a chance to dress up. I teased them a lot for this! Dulari showered Kangana with a lot of love and blessings. My beauty was also mentioned during the conversation. My mother's favorite dialogue- clothes do not matter when the heart is good.'' He further added, "dearest #KanganaRanaut for meeting Mom. She was so so happy to meet you. You both are the biggest example of #WomenEmpowerment! I pray to God that our film #Emergency becomes a big success. Jai Ho!" "Emergency" enjoys an ensemble cast with Shreyas Talpade, Ashok Chhabra, Mahima Chaudhary, Vishak Nair, Satish Kaushik, Milind Soman, Larry Newyorker, and Richard Klein, among others. While Zee Studios, Manikarnika Films, and Renu Pitti have jointly financed the film, Sanchit Balhara, and G.V. Prakash Kumar have provided the soundtracks for "Emergency". The screenplay, and dialogues for the drama have been penned by Ritesh Shah. While Rameshwar S. Bhagat is responsible for the editing of the movie, Tetsuo Nagata has looked after the camera work. Directed by Kangana Ranaut, the film is a cinematic adaptation of the infamous Indian Emergency. The movie will see the 'Panga' actress as the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. New York, Jan 10 : A local judge sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in connection with his conviction in the hush money case, on Friday, 10 days before he is to enter the White House, but did not give him a prison term or other penalty. Judge Juan Merchan gave Trump, who was appearing in the local court through a video link, an "unconditional discharge" which confirms his conviction without consequences after the Supreme Court refused to intervene. Trump will be the first President who enters office with a criminal record. It was a pyrrhic victory for the local prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, who was elected as a Democratic Party candidate, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who used the conviction as a propaganda point, because 1.77 million American voters repudiated them and elected Trump as President. Trump, who spoke at the sentencing from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida through a video link, said, "This is a great embarrassment to the state of New York". The voters saw firsthand what transpired and elected him, he said. Merchan said that he was deferring to Trump becoming the President but would have penalised him if he were a private citizen. Trump maintained his innocence. The case arose out of allegations made by a porn star that she had a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before his 2016 election to buy her silence. Trump reimbursed the lawyer, and the payments were shown as legal expenses, which the prosecutor said was a criminal fraud and the jury accepted it. Bragg made each of the checks he wrote and ledger entries into separate criminal offences to pump up the convictions to 34. Trump denied her claim of a tryst and said he made the payment to avoid embarrassment to his family. A jury convicted him of the 34 offences before the November election and the sentencing was postponed because of the election and his appeals. Panaji, Jan 10 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh told a Goa court that he would refrain from making defamatory statements against BJP leader Sulakshana Sawant, the wife of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, until January 24 or till he files a reply to the defamation plea against him, whichever is later. The submission was made in response to a defamation suit filed by Sulakshana Sawant, who accused Singh of making defamatory comments during a press conference, where he alleged that she was involved in a "cash-for-jobs scam." In her plea, Sulakshana Sawant requested an injunction to prevent Singh from making further public statements about her and sought Rs 100 crore in damages. She also asked the court to stop Singh from sharing or republishing the video and transcripts of the press conference in which the allegedly defamatory remarks were made. Sanjay Singh's counsel, Advocate S. Bodke, told the court that no further defamatory statements would be made by Singh against Sawant until the next hearing or the filing of his reply to the temporary injunction application. Singh also requested time to submit a written statement and respond to the injunction plea. The case is scheduled for the next hearing on January 24. The "cash-for-jobs" scam, which has led to at least 32 FIRs and 44 arrests, involved hundreds of people allegedly being lured into paying large sums of money with promises of jobs in various government departments, facilitated by the accused's supposed "connections". Meanwhile, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on social media platform X said, "Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh, has found himself embroiled in a case involving false allegations against Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his wife, Sulakshana." "Sanjay Singh's lawyer has filed an appeal in the Bicholim Court in Goa, stating that his client will not make any offensive statements against the Chief Minister in the future. The Chief Minister's wife, Sulakshana Sawant, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Singh, seeking Rs 100 crore in damages, with the next hearing scheduled for January 24," Malviya added. "Sanjay Singh had made allegations of a job scam during a press conference in Delhi, but he failed to present any evidence to support his claims. It is not new for Aam Aadmi Party leaders to make false accusations and later apologize in court. Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders had issued apologies to Nitin Gadkari and the late Arun Jaitley," Malviya said in the post. Chennai, Jan 10 : Union Minister of Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said on Friday that he is very happy to be part of the big vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a hub of electronics manufacturing. Inaugurating a laptop assembly line of Syrma SGS Technology Ltd and MSI here, the minister said the plant gave him immense joy, especially seeing the young women working on the assembly line. "The satisfaction they derive from working on these high-tech machines, the training they've received, and the focus with which they work is inspiring. Many of them are from nearby villages and it was heartening to see their talent," the minister told reporters here. Syrma SGS, a leading electronics systems design and manufacturing company, has collaborated with MSI, a global leader in AI PCs and gaming, as its manufacturing partner in India to produce laptops for the domestic market. Through this strategic collaboration, Syrma SGS will assemble laptops for MSI at its state-of-the-art Chennai facility. According to John Hung, India NB General Manager from MSI, India has always been a key market for MSI and "as we continue to expand our presence here, it's important for our products to remain globally competitive while being locally produced". "This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, quality, and strengthening India's manufacturing ecosystem. We are excited to deliver hi-tech products to our customers and contribute to the growth of the Indian economy," Hung mentioned. Satendra Singh, CEO, Syrma SGS, said that this collaboration "not only bolsters our IT hardware manufacturing portfolio but also underscores our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the needs of global leaders like MSI". Syrma SGS is an IT hardware PLI-approved manufacturer and is a key player contributing to the 'Make in India' initiative. IANS na/vd New Delhi, Jan 10 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed preparations for the Maha Kumbh Mela. CM Yogi extended an invitation to PM Modi for the spiritual event. The Prime Ministeras Office shared the information on social media platform X, stating, "Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has met with PM Narendra Modi." Meanwhile, CM Yogi shared pictures of the meeting on X, writing, "Had a courtesy meeting with the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Under your guidance and inspiration, the Maha Kumbh-2025 in Prayagraj is now showcasing the divine, grand, and digital form of Sanatan pride to the world, representing the 'New India.' Heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister for sparing his valuable time." Apart from this meeting, on Friday, CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the 'Maa Ki Rasoi' (Mother's Kitchen) at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj, operated by the Nandi Seva Sansthan. He expressed his pleasure at the initiative, which provides food to economically weaker individuals. CM Yogi appreciated the quality, cleanliness, and facilities of the service, and also served food to people himself. He also inspected the kitchen of 'Maa Ki Rasoi.' On this occasion, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, former Mayor Abhilasha Gupta, Principal Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad, and Jagatguru Mahamandaleshwar Santosh Das (Satua Baba) were present. The Maha Kumbh 2025 is scheduled to be held in Prayagraj, UP from January 13 to February 26. The upcoming religious event, held every 12 years, is considered the most sacred gathering in Hinduism and begins with the Paush Purnima Snan at the Triveni Sangam. Imphal, Jan 10 : Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday visited Moreh town, along the India-Myanmar border, and took stock of the overall functioning of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) and ongoing border fencing work. Officials of the Land Ports Authority of India briefed the Governor about the functioning of the ICP and trade between India and Myanmar. A Raj Bhavan official said that the Governor interacted with leaders from civil society organisations (CSOs) to understand their grievances. Bhalla, also former Union Home Secretary, also met with different business and community leaders of Moreh town including the Border Trade Chamber of Commerce, the Tamil Sangam, the Manipur Muslim Council, and the Gurkha Samaj and heard their issues and concerns, the official said. The various community leaders emphasised the hardships they have faced due to the suspension of all cross-border business activities since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Governor also visited the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gates and then went to Govajang village where he was briefed by the Commanding Officer of the 25 Battalion of the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) about the ongoing fencing works along the India-Myanmar border. The Governor distributed gifts to Border Road Organisation officials and the local workforce and encouraged them. After taking over the charge as Governor on January 3, Bhalla, on his maiden tour, visited Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts on January 7 and during his interaction with various civil society organisations appealed to the leaders to work collaboratively with the administration in peace-building efforts. He also visited various relief camps in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts and interacted with displaced people, who have been staying in the relief camps since the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has stepped up the work of India-Myanmar border fencing near Moreh town in Tengnoupal district. Four northeastern states share a 1,643 km border with Myanmar of which 398 km is in Manipur. The entire 1,643 km porous India-Myanmar border, known for the smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics, would be fenced at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore. Humans owe a great deal to mice. Despite their seemingly vast differences, these small creatures share 85% of their genes with us, many of which perform essential functions inherited from a common ancestor that lived 125 million years ago. This genetic connection has enabled drugs for conditions like cancer and diabetes to be tested on rodents before going on to cure millions of people. However, their use as models for understanding neurological disorders such as Alzheimers or autism has been more controversial, as these conditions manifest quite differently in mice compared to humans. Similarly, using rodents to investigate the genetic foundations of human behavior has also been questioned. On Thursday, the prestigious journal Science published a study on this type of research, which explored the social preferences of mice depending on the situation. Led by Changhe Wang from Jiaotong University in Xian, China, the study observed mice in normal conditions before putting them on alert by spraying their cages with trimethylthiazoline, a compound found in the feces and urine of predators such as foxes. Under normal circumstances, mice both male and female typically seek out the company of female mice. However, when they sensed danger, both sexes gravitated toward the males. In addition to observing the change in social preferences, the researchers identified the neural circuits that underlie these shifts and found that they function differently in males and females. In both sexes, dopaminergic neurons which regulate learning, pleasure, and emotions activate in distinct ways depending on the priorities of the moment. In males, when the situation is calm, these neurons release dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, and the mice to seek out females to copulate and fulfill a primary goal such as reproducing. However, when a predator is sensed nearby, an increased release of dopamine towards the medial preoptic area shifts their priorities towards survival. As a result, males seek out other males in the hopes of gaining protection. In females, it is the activation of dopaminergic neurons that changes their responses. When no danger is perceived, the neurons fire in rapid bursts towards the nucleus accumbens, and they seek out the company of other females. However, in the presence of fear, the activation becomes more continuous, and their preference changes to males. The researchers suggest that females preference for same-sex company in non-threatening situations may stem from their more passive role in partner selection. This preference for female company could offer protection and social support, improving health and chances of survival, as well as a less confrontational environment than interacting with males. The scientists also demonstrated that they could manipulate the animals social preferences using drugs or light to alter neuron activation. While acknowledging the differences between humans and mice, the studys authors argue that the analogies are valid. I think humans have similar preferences, says Wang. This is why its much easier for girls to make close friends, while boys tend to form deeper friendships by fighting or working together towards shared goals. Wang argues that the study sheds light on the central role of the dopamine system the brains nerve center for reward, emotion, and motivation in shaping sex preferences. According to the researcher, the findings also define the distinct mechanisms in males and females that explain sociosexual preference. This work provides a new conceptual framework that explains how social decisions can be refined in a convergent manner by innate needs and the external environmental context to achieve the maximum benefits of social activity, says Wang. Felix Leroy, a researcher at the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante in Spain, finds the studys exploration of how dopamine regulates shifts in social preferences intriguing. He highlights how fundamental drives, such as the desire to reproduce, can be put on hold when more immediate threats arise. However, Leroy, who was not involved in the research, warns: We must be careful with anthropomorphization, with interpreting what mice do as if they were humans. In mice, females are more passive in their search for sex, but we are not going to assume that men only interact with women with the intention of reproducing, he says. Leroy has conducted research with mice to understand the neural circuits that govern social preferences for unfamiliar individuals versus familiar ones. In the early days of life, hormonal regulation drives offspring to prefer interacting with familiar mice, a behavior that enhances their chances of survival. However, as adults, mice must overcome this phase to expand their social networks. Leroy suggests that by uncovering the circuits controlling social preferences and identifying the molecular changes that encourage interaction with strangers or avoidance, it may become possible to develop drugs for individuals struggling with social anxiety or disorders like autism. Wang also highlights the therapeutic potential of the findings. Given the critical role of dopamine transmission in reward and emotion, this work also sheds new light on the development of gender-specific treatments or therapies for psychiatric disorders that show sex differences in their susceptibility [such as schizophrenia or depression], he explains. The distance between humans and mice those 125 million years that separate us from a common ancestor is both vast and narrow. It may seem trivial to believe that these small, seemingly insignificant rodents could offer insights into the nature of beings capable of sending rockets to the Moon. However, the persistent presence of certain deeply ingrained and seemingly irrational behaviors suggests that we may not have risen as far as we like to think. It was once believed that changing the environment or education could eliminate racism, but that hasnt happened, reflects Leroy. In their biological simplicity, mice offer a humbling lesson: despite our towering technological and cultural achievements, we remain profoundly shaped by the same biological mechanisms that have ensured the survival of our genes for hundreds of millions of years. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 10 : Urban planning and development needs to make a paradigm shift to the integrated mode by factoring in the entire gamut of issues including climate change amid fast-paced urbanisation across the world, Kerala Local Self Government Minister M.B. Rajesh on Friday. Inaugurating the three-day National Town and Country Planners Conference, organised here by the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), New Delhi, with the support of the state Local Self Government Department, he said that planners need to redefine the way they are going about their job since sustainable and inclusive development of human spaces is faced with big challenges. "The urban planners should now look beyond the traditional approach. This includes evolving strategies to cope with climate change, by preparing plans both to cope with the larger issue and mitigate the immediate consequences, and other key issues like housing, waste management and resilient practices," Rajesh said. Noting that the conference's focal theme 'Intelligent, Digital Spatial Planning and Governance' is of increased relevance for the whole world, the Minister said Kerala has made upfront initiatives in this direction. Kerala, he added, is making serious efforts through its policy initiatives to see how the challenges could be converted into opportunities. "The issues relating to urban development are of particular importance for Kerala since the whole state is an extended city where the urban-rural divide hardly exists. Kerala's annual growth of urban population is almost double that of the county and global average," he said. The state has made pioneering efforts to address the climate change issue, where 268 LSGIs have already prepared a Climate Change Local Action Plan with the help of UNDP, and this initiative has been rolled out to the entire state. In a message read out to the conference, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it is vital to leverage innovative solutions in addressing the issues of local development, especially in the face of serious challenges like extreme weather events. In his message, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said it is vital to integrate new technology in urban planning and development. ITPI President N.P. Patel emphasised the importance of strengthening collaborations among various regions and agencies to promote sustainable and inclusive developmental practices. Dr Bimal Patel, Chairman of HCP Design, and former President of CEPT University Ahmadabad, said there was a need to make a complete shift in the way of urban planning, considering the challenges and unpredictability on the way. Bengaluru, Jan 10 : Reacting to the alleged infighting in the state's ruling Congress camp, the Karnataka BJP has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar is desperately vying for the Chief Minister's post, while CM Siddaramaiah, unwilling to relinquish his position, has started making strategic moves. Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Bengaluru, state unit President B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday said: "During the winter session, on the floor of the house, Shivakumar mentioned that former CM late S.M. Krishna, his political mentor, had advised him that if power is not handed over, it must be seized. After 15 years, Shivakumar remembered those words in the assembly. I believe the underlying meaning of his statement is clear to you (the media). "We have been hearing that CM Siddaramaiah's term is nearing its end as per the power-sharing formula. Against this backdrop, Shivakumar has been making statements. CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy Shivakumar need to clarify the power-sharing agreement. From what we know, Siddaramaiah's tenure is almost over." The BJP leader claimed that CM Siddaramaiah had started making his moves. "He has initiated 'dinner politics' through various ministers in his Cabinet. Earlier, I had pointed out that Siddaramaiah began his strategy by gathering MLAs and ministers for a meeting at a minister's residence," Vijayendra claimed. "Despite resistance from the high command, dinner politics will persist in Karnataka. Shivakumar, too, will intensify his efforts to forcibly claim power, as per his mentor's advice. We are aware of this. The Congress' internal rift has come to the forefront, and the people of the state are likely to witness more drama," Vijayendra added. The Karnataka unit BJP chief also claimed that one of the seers also reportedly advised Shivakumar that if he doesn't get power, he should grab it. "Day by day, dinner politics is taking centre-stage in the Congress party. Minister for PWD Satish Jarkiholi hosted a dinner party for select MLAs, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara planned another dinner party for legislators," he noted. According to Vijayendra, this power struggle has negatively impacted the state. "In the past two years, there has been no development. Since Siddaramaiah became CM, no substantial work has been done. MLAs are struggling to secure funds for development projects. Siddaramaiah is stuck between allocating resources for development and fulfilling guarantees," he stated. Guwahati, Jan 10 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that to achieve India's target of reducing carbon emissions, transportation through waterways needs to be promoted. Sarma, along with Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the 2nd meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council at Kaziranga, which saw the inauguration, launch and announcement of projects worth Rs 1,405.26 crore. Chief Minister Sarma during his speech also said that the waterways sector should be treated with the same importance as roads, aviation and railways. Stating that waterways is affordable and environmentally friendly, Sarma said that traveling by waterways provides an opportunity to experience the true beauty of nature. He stated that corresponding to the commitment of India towards climate change initiatives and cutting down carbon emissions to zero, waterway transportation needs to be encouraged and promoted. Sarma also said that if 30 per cent of the total volume of transport, can be shifted to waterways, India can perform very significantly to mitigate the impact of climate change. The CM mentioned that the meeting and its outcome along with the new projects would help in revitalising Assam's waterways to drive economic growth in the northeast and beyond. Sarma on the occasion also requested Union Minister Sonowal to use his Ministry in taking up scheme for Assam to be funded by both the Central and state government for procuring at least 30 dredgers for the state. The dredgers, the Chief Minister said that would help in enhancing transportation and flood management and mitigation. Civilisations have intrinsic relations with rivers as the Chief Minister said that the use of waterways is very ancient and closely. However, with time, the efficacy of other modes of transport has become very vital. He however, said that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the use of waterways has become intense as a series of steps have been taken to revamp the sector which redefined the role of waterways in building Viksit Bharat. Bengaluru, Jan 10 : The sleuths of the Criminal Investigating Department (CID), the special wing under the Karnataka Police Department, investigating the suicide case of contractor Sachin Panchal, arrested five persons including the aide of Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday. The BJP has alleged the role of Priyank Kharge, the son of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, in the case. The deceased Sachin has named Raju Kapanur, the aide of Minister Kharge and eight others in his death note. The BJP and JD (S) have demanded the resignation of Minister Kharge and the handing over of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The BJP had organised a massive protest at Kalabaragi, the native of Minister Kharge, in this connection and attempted to lay siege to his residence. Those arrested have been identified as Raju Kapanur, Goraknath, Nandakumar Nagabujangi, Rama Nagouda Patil and Satish. The CID had earlier issued notice to all the nine persons named in the suicide note. Following the notice, five of the accused appeared before the CID officers on Friday. They were summoned to the Bidar Railway Police station in Bidar city and arrested after questioning. The accused were produced before the local judge. Sachin Panchal, a 26-year-old contractor in Kalaburagi, allegedly committed suicide after facing threats and extortion from Raju Kapanuru. Sachin's seven-page suicide note blamed Kapanuru for atrocities. The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka had accused Raju Kapanur, a prime accused in Sachin's suicide, of being a goon protected by Congress. "They got his name removed from the Goonda Act but are now disowning him. Among the accused are three Congress leaders," Ashoka slammed, vowing that the BJP would not rest until justice is delivered in this case. Amid the controversy surrounding the suicide case of the contractor in Karnataka, allegedly involving the role of state Minister Priyank Kharge, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sent the suicide note of contractor Sachin Panchal to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Reacting to the development, Priyank Kharge lashed out at the BJP leaders in Bengaluru. "I have spoken to the family of deceased contractor Sachin Panchal. It is the responsibility of the government to conduct a transparent investigation and provide justice to that family." "Let the preliminary investigation take place in Sachin's case. The CBI has clearly told the BJP government that as it is facing a shortage of resources, miscellaneous cases should not be handed over to it. We can't take orders from the BJP on what should be done," he stated. Kolkata, Jan 10 : The Trinamool Congress, on Friday, announced the suspension of the doctor-leader of the party who had been one of the most vocal on the issue of the horrific rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises in August last year. The suspended leader is the former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen, a medical professional in personal life and also an alumnus of RG Kar hospital. Confirming the decision to suspend Santanu Sen from the party, Trinamool Congress's State Vice-President Jayprakash Majumdar said that the former has been suspended because of his involvement in anti-party activities. However, Majumdar did not specify the "anti-party activities". Santanu Sen, on his part, said that he was informed about his suspension from the party by the media persons only and he is yet to receive any official letter from Trinamool Congress in this regard. "I am not really aware of what sort of anti-party activities have promoted my suspension. I am not hounded either by the Enforcement Directorate or by the Central Bureau of Investigation," Sen claimed. Since the RG Kar tragedy surfaced Sen has been extremely vocal within the party on this issue, especially against the former and controversial principal of RG Kar Hospital Sandip Ghosh. Differences and distance between Sen and the Trinamool Congress leadership started since then. In December last year, Sen was removed as a state-government-nominated member of the West Bengal Medical Council. Earlier, he was also removed from the list of spokesmen of the party. A cold war had surfaced between Sen and Trinamool Congress legislator and the president of the council, Sudipto Roy, also a medical practitioner in private life, whose office and nursing home was raided by the ED officials in connection with financial irregularities at RG Kar hospital. Roy was also summoned and questioned at ED's office in Salt Lake on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. --IANS src/khz Jammu, Jan 10 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal, marking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in governance, an official statement said. The launch event at the Civil Secretariat was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries and senior officers. In his remarks on the occasion, Omar Abdullah congratulated the officers involved in developing the portal, emphasising its transformative potential in simplifying the RTI application process for citizens. "This initiative will provide easy access to government information under the RTI Act, empowering citizens with a faster, more transparent, and cost-efficient mechanism," he stated. The Chief Minister also urged the authorities to ensure widespread publicity of the initiative so that citizens across Jammu & Kashmir become aware of its benefits. Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Jammu and Kashmir, the portal introduces a shift from manual to online RTI applications. This transition enables citizens to submit RTI requests, track their status, and receive responses electronically, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices. Earlier, Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), M. Raju, delivered a presentation on the portal's features, highlighting its accessibility, convenience, speed of processing, cost efficiency and role in promoting accountability. He outlined the portal's key functionalities, including its user-friendly interface, streamlined RTI workflow, and robust documentation features. A unique feature of the portal is the issuance of a registration number to applicants via SMS and email for future reference, enabling easy tracking of RTI applications. The portal integrates 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers/public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and making the citizens informed about the activities of the government. Toronto, Jan 10 : The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed that the United States automatically loses its seat on the organisation's executive committee for refusing to pay its annual funding. The anti-doping watchdog said the U.S. failed to pay its contribution of 3.62 million U.S. dollars for 2024, which accounted for 14% of WADA's budget. "The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that it did not receive the agreed contribution to WADA's 2024 budget from the Government of the United States by the deadline of December 31, 2024," WADA told Chinese news agency Xinhua in an email. According to Article 6.6 of the WADA Statutes, "Public Authority representatives from a country which has not paid its dues are ineligible to sit on the Foundation Board or the Executive Committee." Therefore, the U.S. will lose its seat in the executive committee. WADA's overall budget for 2025 has been approved at 57.5 million U.S. dollars. The U.S. government has withheld the funding to WADA as per its long-running threat which it had raised again while expressing its unhappiness with the handling of many important cases including that of the Chinese swimmers. "WADA must take concrete actions to restore trust in the world anti-doping system and provide athletes the full confidence they deserve," said Rahul Gupta, who is listed as a member of the WADA executive committee. "When U.S. taxpayer dollars are allocated, we must ensure full accountability and it is our responsibility to ensure those funds are used appropriately," he added. While the United States officials stuck to their stand, WADA president Witold Banka and Director General Olivier Niggli in their New Year message supported their handling of the alleged contamination case of Chinese swimmers. "While we are proud of all that we accomplished together in 2024, as many of you would know, this past year was also significantly disrupted by the China Anti-Doping Agency no-fault contamination cases involving 23 swimmers from China that emerged in April and that WADA responded to quickly and thoroughly. "By July, a review had been carried out by an Independent Prosecutor, Mr. Eric Cottier, which determined that WADA showed no bias towards China and that the Agencyas decision not to appeal the cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was reasonable based on the evidence," they said in their message. Bhopal, Jan 10 : A newly moved-in tenant was left in shock when he discovered the body of a woman in a refrigerator while cleaning the rented accommodation in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Friday. The episode was reported from a flat in Vrindavan Dham Colony in Dewas. The flat has been vacant since June 2024. The body was recovered on Friday morning when new tenant Balveer Singh was cleaning the flat. Upon receiving information, the police rushed to the spot where they discovered the body of a woman inside the fridge with her hands tied. Police took the body for postmortem, which revealed that the woman was killed around nine months ago. According to police, while Balveer Singh was cleaning his newly rented house, he noticed a strong foul smell from a locked room in the building. Later, when he opened the door a freezer in that room, he found the body in it. As the fridge was switched off, a foul smell started to emanate from the house. The foul smell alerted a tenant living in the other part of the house. The hand of the deceased woman was tied back, and the body was decomposed, emanating a foul smell in the house. Police said the postmortem of the body revealed that the woman was strangulated to death. During investigation, police found that the owner of the house, Dhirendra Srivastava, who lives in Indore, had given his house to a couple in July 2023. Srivastava informed police that Sanjay Patidar (tenant) had vacated the house in June 2024, and since then, the house was locked. Patidar, who was a resident of Ujjain, lived with his wife Pratibha Prajapati. However, Patidar later vacated flat giving some reasons. After getting details from homeowner, a police team reached Ujjain and arrested Patidar from his home, Dewas Superintendent of Police (SP) Puneet Gehlot said. Gehlot said during the investigation, the police found that Pratibha and Sanjay Patidar weren't a married couple, but live-in partners. "The accused person, Sanjay Patidar, has been arrested in Ujjain and further investigation is underway," Gehlot said. Jaipur, Jan 11 : In a proud moment for Rajasthan, Dr Ramnivas, an NRI from the state based in Myanmar, has been bestowed with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2025 by President Droupadi Murmu in Bhubaneswar. Dr Ramnivas, who earned his education in Rajasthan and is currently teaching India's ancient language Sanskrit to monks in Myanmar, was awarded the honour at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Bhubaneswar. The Rajasthan Government delegation led by Dr Manisha Arora, Commissioner, Rajasthan Foundation, that is participating in the convention, met Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism and Art & Culture, on Friday and apprised him of the steps taken by the State Government to strengthen ties with the Pravasi Rajasthanis all around the world. The delegation also met Andhra Pradesh's Minister for NRI Empowerment & Relations Kondapalli Srinivas and informed him of key practices and initiatives taken by Rajasthan Foundation to connect with the Pravasi Rajasthani community. Speaking on the occasion, Arora said, "Our delegation had a very warm and productive discussion with the Union Minister of Tourism & Art and Culture who is himself from Rajasthan during which he was briefed about key steps being taken by the government under the leadership of CM to strengthen the connect with the Pravasi Rajasthanis. The Minister was also briefed about the measures being taken by the Rajasthan Foundation to functionalise and revive the new and existing chapters of Pravasi Rajasthanis." Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma recently took key measures and decisions to functionalise the 14 newly established chapters and revive the 12 existing chapters of the Pravasi Rajasthanis under Rajasthan Foundation, a government department, working towards strengthening ties between Rajasthan and the Pravasi Rajasthani community. On the concluding day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the delegation of the Rajasthan Government also interacted with the delegations of Pravasi Rajasthanis that had come to participate in the event from Dubai, the UK, Oman, Mauritius, Qatar and Uganda among others. The delegation informed the delegates about key measures being taken to strengthen the ties of the community with Rajasthan and invited them to invest and collaborate on new business opportunities in Rajasthan. Earlier on Wednesday, the delegation led by Dr Arora held a meeting with several Pravasi Rajasthanis at the Utkal Chamber of Commerce in Bhubaneswar. The delegation met the community in view of the directions of the Chief Minister to functionalise the newly established Bhubaneshwar chapter of the Rajasthan Foundation. The other members of the delegation from Rajasthan Foundation participating in the event include Amit Singhal, Manager and Rohit Sharma, Dy. Director and other officials of the Government of Rajasthan. The recently concluded 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024 held in Jaipur from December 9-11 last year also witnessed substantial participation from the Pravasi Rajasthani community. Jaipur, Jan 11 : The Rajasthan Police has issued an advisory for devotees going to the upcoming Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, urging them to stay cautious when using social media platforms and avoid falling prey to cyber criminals. The devotees are advised to book accommodations only through official channels such as contact numbers and websites provided by the state authorities as cyber criminals have set up traps to deceive them. These criminals exploit hotels, dharamshalas, and guest house bookings using fake links and websites. Hemant Priyadarshi, Director General of Police (Cyber Crime), said that the Mahakumbh 2025 will begin in Sangam city, Prayagraj, on January 13. With millions of devotees expected over the 45-day event, online bookings for hotels, Dharamshala, and guest houses have already begun, making it a target for cyber criminals. "Cyber criminals are using fake websites and links to trick devotees into paying for accommodations such as hotels, Dharamshala, guest houses, and tent cities at lower-than-usual rates. These fraudsters collect advance payments without providing any actual booking. The online booking of hotels, Dharamshala and cottages of hotels, guest houses and tent cities built in Kumbh area for the stay of devotees coming to Mahakumbh has started due to this cyber criminals have also become active regarding online booking," said Priyadarshi. Cyber aaaafraudsters are committing cyber fraud by making devotees going to Mahakumbh the victims of fraud through fake links and websites in the name of booking hotels, Dharamshala, tent cities and cottages at cheap rates and taking money from people in the name of advance, he added. For public safety, DGP Priyadarshi emphasised that online bookings should only be made through the official links provided by Uttar Pradesh Police. The official list, which includes the names, addresses and contact details of verified accommodations, is available on the official website https://kumbh.gov.in/en/Wheretostaylist. In case of falling victim to such cyber fraud, individuals can file a complaint through the national helpline number '1930' or the official cybercrime website www.cybercrime.gov.in. The purchase of Twitter by Elon Musk, the close ally of future U.S. president Donald Trump, transformed the platform, which Musk rebranded as X, into a lawless jungle in the name of supposed freedom of expression. A study conducted by the City St. Georges School of Science and Technology at the University of London, covering nine countries, found that in just two years, X has become the hub of political abuse and misuse, where adversaries, dissenters, and moderates are increasingly treated as enemies. Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Threads) are following suit by ending its third-party fact-checking program and easing content moderation. The consequences of these decisions will be an increase in harassment, hate speech, and other harmful behaviors across platforms with billions of users, warns Alexios Mantzarlis, director of Security, Trust, and Protection in the tech sector at Cornell University. Few organizations defend Metas decision. Mantzarlis, who was involved in the international fact-checking network, emphasizes that shift taken by Mark Zuckerbergs company is twofold: not only has Meta stopped verifying data to identify falsehoods and shifted control to users, but it has also opened the door to content that is more likely to fuel hate speech. This was confirmed by Joel Kaplan, Metas new director of global affairs: Were getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate. Its not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms. Mantzarlis is highly critical of the move: In addition to ending the fact-checking program, Zuckerberg has also announced a more lax approach to content moderation, so Meta will no longer proactively seek out potentially harmful content across a broad range of domains. Meta has argued that its content moderation and fact-checking program has led to censorship, bias, and limitations on freedom of expression claims strongly denied by the international network of fact-checkers. The Cornell researcher also rejects these arguments, pointing out that Zuckerberg has eight years of data supporting the anti-misinformation program and the benefits of controlling harmful messages. However, he laments, instead of sharing compelling evidence, he has chosen to imitate Musk and promise freedom of expression for all. The [moderation] program was by no means perfect, and fact-checkers have undoubtedly gotten some percentage of their labels wrong [3.5%, according to Metas audits]. But we should be clear that Zuckerbergs move to get rid of fact-checkers is a political decision, not a policy one, Mantzarlis says. This statement refers to Metas radical shift after Trumps election and Musks appointment as the next presidents right-hand man. In fact, the X network has been one of the first to welcome its competitors into a social media ecosystem where populism has flourished worldwide. Angie Drobnic Holan, a journalist, writer and member of the International Fact-Checking Network, agrees with Mantzarlis: It is regrettable that this decision comes as a result of extreme political pressure from a new administration and its supporters. For Drobnic Holand, fact-checkers have been impartial and transparent, so questioning this objectivity, in her view, comes from those who feel they should be able to exaggerate and lie without refutation or contradiction. This decision [to end the fact-checking program] will hurt social media users who seek accurate and reliable information to make decisions about their daily lives and interactions with friends and family. Fact-checking journalism has never censored or removed posts; it has provided additional information and context to controversial claims and debunked false content and conspiracy theories, concludes Drobnic Holand. Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder and director of CyberWell, an organization dedicated to combating hate online and specializing in the fight against antisemitism, is also against the measure. In her view, Metas decision represents the intentional deterioration of best practices for trust and security in an environment where there is growing evidence of how hate speech, inflammatory content, and harassment cause harm in the real world. The change [at Meta] signals one thing, very much in line with the trends weve seen on X since Musk acquired Twitter in both the quantity and quality of content: more hate speech, more politicized content, more niche content, and less effective responses from the platforms, Cohen added. Cohen also rejects Metas argument about facilitating the right to express opinions and eliminating alleged censorship. This is not a victory for freedom of expression. The only way to avoid censorship and data manipulation by any government or corporation is to introduce legal requirements and reforms for big tech companies to modify social media and comply with transparency standards, she says. The answer cannot be less responsibility and less investment on the part of the platforms. Support for Metas decision Although most social media experts have opposed the new measure, Metas decision has garnered some support, particularly from X, its competitor in the social media market, which sees it as aligned with Elon Musks ideological stance. In this regard, the organization Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has praised Zuckerbergs move. Meta is giving its users what they want: a social media platform that does not suppress political content or rely on top-down fact-checkers. Hopefully, these changes will lead to less arbitrary moderation and greater freedom of expression on Metas platforms, the foundation says. FIRE advisor Ari Cohn argues that the decision is in line with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. For Cohn, Metas measure protects the editorial choices of social media companies over the content on their platforms. Its good that they are voluntarily trying to reduce bias and arbitrariness when deciding what content to host, especially when they promise users a culture of free speech, argues Cohn. Cycle of hate and indignation However, various studies suggest that this concept of freedom of expression without moderation creates a vicious cycle that amplifies the most outrageous content while sidelining the most reliable information. This supports the predictions of many network experts, who foresee an increase in hate speech and disinformation. One such study, published in Science, warns that social media posts containing misinformation provoke more moral outrage than posts with reliable information. This outrage, according to the study, facilitates the spread of fake news because users are more likely to share them without reading them, reinforcing their moral positions or loyalty to political groups, explains Killian L. McLoughlin, a researcher at the Department of Psychology at Princeton University. This is where the automatic content selection process by social networks comes into play. Because outrage is associated with increased engagement online, outrage-evoking misinformation may be likely to spread farther in part because of the algorithmic amplification of engaging content, the researchers write. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Mysuru, Jan 11 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that eradicating the Maoist movement is the objective of the Congress-led state government, adding that all protests must be peaceful and should not adopt violent means which is also his government's stance. Siddaramaiah on Wednesday welcomed the surrendered Maoists into the mainstream by offering them roses and copies of the Indian Constitution at his home office, 'Krishnaa, in Bengaluru. With the surrender of six Maoists, the Congress-led government has declared Karnataka a Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-free state. Speaking to the media at Mysuru Airport on Friday, the Chief Minister addressed the concerns and debates surrounding the surrender of Maoists and the seizure of their weapons. Siddaramaiah also assured that measures are being taken to confiscate the surrendered Maoists' firearms. He emphasised that protests should adhere to constitutional methods as even B.R. Ambedkar advocated and no one is permitted to take the law into their own hands. Regarding reports of another Maoists' presence in Karnataka's Sringeri, the Chief Minister clarified that there is no concrete information. However, he urged any such individuals must surrender before the law and integrate into the mainstream. CM Siddaramaiah said that the Congress government does not need to prove its commitment to B.R. Ambedkar. The government is dedicated to safeguarding the Constitution and upholding its principles, he added. Reacting to senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement advising against chanting Ambedkar's name while simultaneously visiting Dalit homes as part of a campaign, CM Siddaramaiah said this shows BJP's lack of respect for Ambedkar. He reminded that the Constitution was drafted during the Congress' rule, with Ambedkar at the helm of affairs. He further alleged that during former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, the BJP had considered amending the Constitution and that many of its party leaders as well as RSS members have historically opposed it. Addressing the ongoing farmers' protests in Delhi, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price, CM Siddaramaiah criticised the Central government for being insensitive to farmers' demands. Despite hundreds of farmers losing their lives during the protests, the BJP-led Central government has shown no inclination to meet their legitimate demands, the Chief Minister said. Siddaramaiah called the Central government "anti-farmer" and "inhumane". Speaking on the ASHA workers' strike, the Chief Minister said that meetings were held with their representatives. Previously, ASHA workers received a monthly honorarium of Rs 8,000, but the state government has now decided to raise it to Rs 10,000, including incentives. This has led to the strike being called off, he said, adding that the state's financial position is stable enough to support this decision. A Cabinet meeting will be held at the Hindu pilgrimage centre, Male Mahadeshwara Hill in Chamarajanagar on February 15, focusing on resolving local issues in the region, Siddaramaiah said. He dismissed any concerns or confusion regarding this meeting. Reacting to discussions about naming a road in Mysuru as "Siddaramaiah Aarogya Marg", the Chief Minister clarified that he has never requested anything to be named after him in his 45-year political career. He also recalled rejecting an honorary doctorate offered by the Mysore University in the past. Jaipur, Jan 11 : The Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP), Utkal Ranjan Sahu, issued orders on Friday to halt the field training of trainee Sub-Inspectors (SIs) in the state, following the High Court's order issued on Thursday, which completely banned the training and posting of trainee SIs. Jaipur, Jan 11 (IANS) The Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP), Utkal Ranjan Sahu, issued orders on Friday to halt the field training of trainee Sub-Inspectors (SIs) in the state, following the High Court's order issued on Thursday, which completely banned the training and posting of trainee SIs. The High Court is currently hearing a case related to the SI Recruitment Exam 2021. In light of this, the court instructed the Police headquarters to halt all training and postings for SIs and Police Constables (PCs) selected in the recruitment process. According to the DGP's order, all trainee SIs and PCs must remain at their respective district or battalion headquarters without performing any duties or undergoing training until further notice. Measures will be put in place to ensure their attendance at the headquarters. On November 18, the Rajasthan High Court prohibited the posting of selected candidates from the SI Recruitment Exam 2021. Despite this, the state government proceeded with postings for trainee SIs. However, one trainee SI was suspended after being held in Special Operations Group (SOG) custody for more than 48 hours. After the state government's response on January 9, the High Court imposed a complete ban on training and postings related to recruitment. The SI recruitment examination faced allegations of malpractice, including a leaked question paper and the use of dummy candidates during the test. Investigations by the SOG uncovered that several candidates secured jobs through fraudulent means. Around 50 trainee SIs have been arrested till now, with 25 of them granted bail by the High Court. The High Court banned the posting and training of trainee SIs on Thursday as the state government said that it cannot cancel the SI Recruitment Examination-2021 while submitting its reply in the Rajasthan High Court (Jaipur bench) on Thursday (January 9). The matter was heard in the court of Justice Sameer Jain. The court has now banned any training and posting in this recruitment. The next date of court hearing on the matter will take place on February 10. Earlier, the Additional Advocate General of the Rajasthan government, Vigyan Shah, submitted a reply in the court. "We have caught the people involved in the paper leak and have also suspended about 40 trainee SIs who were dummy candidates and copied the examination. At present, the recruitment cannot be cancelled." On the reply of the state government, Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena said that the head of the state government must be asked in this matter as only the Chief Minister has the right to reject the decision of the committee. Bengaluru, Jan 11 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, has said that the Congress government in Karnataka has fixed rate cards for recruitment in all government posts. He also directly accused the State Revenue Department of setting rate cards for all government posts. Speaking to the media on Friday, the Union Minister reiterated that the Congress-led Karnataka government is a "60 per cent commission" dispensation. "I never sold my signature daily to keep power intact. But this government is running on daily sales of signatures. Every moment, this government is engaged in selling," he said while targeting the Congress government in the state. "I have also served as CM twice. I've never claimed to be Harishchandra (a mythological figure known as a symbol of absolute truth). Even in the Assembly, I've admitted that elections require financial support. But during my tenure, I never put my signature up for sale. This government has put every signature in the market. Everything in this government comes with a fixed rate card. I had already highlighted this issue earlier," Kumaraswamy claimed. "Congress leaders and contractors themselves have made the allegations of 60 per cent commission. Why would contractors make such claims unless asked for a percentage? The government should ask them and gather evidence," he said. He also criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying: "Siddaramaiah, a so-called great leader, went on to post 'Pay CM' posters during the previous BJP government. Till now, has he provided any evidence to the public? He only mentions what former President of State Contractors' Association late D. Kempanna said, but shouldn't Siddaramaiah have gathered evidence from Kempanna himself? Now, contractors are accusing the (Congress) government of 60 per cent commission. What more proof does the government need? This looting must stop," he asserted. In response to State Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda's remark that Kumaraswamy was making these allegations out of frustration over his son's electoral defeat, the Union Minister retorted: "Let it be whether I am frustrated or not. Leave that aside and first answer the allegations about the 60 per cent commission." "Is the Revenue Department operating truthfully? How much money is being taken for Bangalore AC posts? What is the fixed rate? Where does this money go? Don't we know about the corruption happening there?" Kumaraswamy alleged, pointing out irregularities in the department. When asked about Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's visit to Tamil Nadu for a "Shatru Samhara Puja" (enemy destruction ritual), the Union Minister declined to comment, saying: "May God save everyone. Praying to God for power is normal, but I don't know about performing rituals for enemy destruction." He also added, "Today is Vaikuntha Ekadashi. People believe the gates of Vaikuntha open today. I prayed to God to bless everyone with goodness." Commenting on the dinner meeting of SC/ST legislators in the Congress, Kumaraswamy said, "Some of them stated they were discussing scholarships for SC and ST students. If student scholarships are to be discussed, should it happen in the Cabinet or at a dinner party? Why is there a Cabinet if such discussions are held at dinner parties?" he said criticising the Congress-led state government. When asked about the ongoing tussle within Congress over the CM position, Kumaraswamy refused to comment, saying: "That is their party's matter. Let them discuss it among themselves." Leading cruise retailer Harding+ and next-generation planning platform Dataviva celebrate the successful implementation of AI-driven demand forecasting and inventory management. ATLANTA, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In mid-2023, Harding+, a global leader in cruise retail, embarked on a transformative partnership with Dataviva to enhance forecasting and replenishment capabilities through advanced AI-driven solutions. This collaboration aimed to significantly improve product availability, optimize sales, and redefine the cruise industry's approach to supply chain management. A Unique Retail Challenge Unlike conventional retail supply chain transformations, the Harding+ and Dataviva project tackled unparalleled complexity. Each cruise ship operates with bespoke product assortments, traversing diverse global destinations with varying passenger demographics and logistical challenges. Together, Harding+ and Dataviva addressed one of the most intricate operational models in global retail. Fast-forward 14 months, and the results are evident: Harding+ has gone live with Dataviva's innovative system, marking a first for the cruise industry. Leveraging machine learning and automated replenishment, the solution has codified the intricacies of forecasting and inventory management for dynamic, ever-changing conditions. To date, approximately 70% of Harding+'s portfolio is managed through Dataviva's platform, with key metrics already demonstrating success: out-of-stock rates on key lines have dropped by 60%, while inventory value has reduced or remains steady, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Dataviva team will be at NRF 2025, Booth 2304 (12-14 January 2025, NY), showcasing and sharing the Harding+ partnership as part of a live case study. Driving Efficiency and Sustainability Dataviva AI forecasting capabilities have enabled Harding+ to make data-driven decisions, optimizing stock-keeping units (SKUs) to balance customer satisfaction with streamlined operations. Live sales data analysis ensures that the right products are available at the right time, reducing inefficiencies and enhancing the guest experience. The automation provided by the Dataviva system has also empowered the Harding+ merchandising team to focus on strategic initiatives, including long-term planning, vendor relationship development, and innovative range management strategies. Sustainability has been a critical consideration in the project. By integrating Dataviva distribution and control systems, Harding+ can minimize their environmental impact. The platform recommends the most efficient shipping routes, reducing reliance on sea freight and minimizing the need for emergency airfreight. This not only benefits the environment but also enhances overall supply chain reliability. Leadership Perspective Harding + CEO Chris Matthews commented: 'This has been a pioneering partnership. Great theory supported by strong results. Long term strategy of improvement matched with everyday tangibility for our teams. Sustainable wins from smarter planning, consistently stocked shelves, and an ability to confidently make the best decisions knowing they are backed up by live and actionable data. Data is the long-term key to all we do - we already lead the way in delivering the highest levels of guest understanding - and to have this extra dimension for our business planning is a win for everyone in the Harding+ partnership space." Dataviva CEO Costas Malamas added : 'Our mission is to deliver ROI to our customers. We help businesses tick more smoothly and make smarter predictions across their Supply Chain. The Harding+ project has been uniquely challenging but satisfying, working with an end-to-end Supply Chain that is one of the most complex I've seen delivering across the globe to stores that are always on the move.' About Harding+ Harding+ is the number 1 global cruise retailer by size, working as partners with 17 different cruise line operators across the globe, and with 90+ cruise ships in operation or under contract. We create memorable shopping experiences with a 'Quaternity' Partnership approach between our business, our cruise line partners, brand partners, and customers. The business has central hubs in Bristol, Miami, and Sydney, employing over 1100 team members on board ships, and 250 landside. The 300+ shops Harding+ operates cover 17000 m2, and deliver over 4.4m transactions per year About Dataviva Dataviva provides a next-generation retail planning platform that combines an advanced workflow with real-time recommendations and cutting-edge retail AI. Dataviva solutions can be overlayed on top of existing IT infrastructure, adding predictive and optimization capabilities with minimum disruption and quick, agile deployments. Media Contact Eri Avramidou, Dataviva, 1 4705713940, [email protected], www.dataviva.com SOURCE Dataviva "This expansion marks the culmination of years of dedicated effort. It allows us to deliver comprehensive and continuous cardiac care like never before." - Dr. Frank Scholl, Chief of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Heart Institute and Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgery. Post this "This growth is transformative for our Heart Institute and for the care of children in Florida," said Caitlin Stella, MPH, CEO of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. "Our team and facility are unparalleled. As a team of experts utilizing cutting-edge technology, we are proud to continue to raise the bar treating every heart condition, no matter how complex, at any age or stage." Families throughout the region will receive expert heart care in the compassionate, family-centered environment that has long defined Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital's reputation. The program remains committed to taking on complex cases that other programs cannot, now offering life-saving care even closer to the children and families who need it most. "This expansion marks the culmination of years of dedicated effort," said Dr. Frank Scholl, Chief of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Heart Institute and Pediatric & Congenital Cardiac Surgery. "It allows us to deliver comprehensive and continuous care like never before. We are excited about the opportunity to offer long-term care with measurable outcomes, ensuring the highest standards of heart care for our young patients." The pediatric cardiologists recently received the Adult Congenital & Pediatric Cardiology Quality Network Award from the American College of Cardiology (ACPC). This award is given to clinics participating in the ACPC Quality Network that have demonstrated dedication to ensuring the overall quality of care provided to patients. The team includes: Todd Roth, M.D., Chief, Adult Congenital Heart Disease, and Chief, Ambulatory Pediatric Cardiology Services Debbie Friedman, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Medical Director, North Region David M. Drossner, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Medical Director, Fetal Cardiology North Region Maximo Raul Aguirre, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Orlando Arce, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Maria del Pilar Brinez Giraldo , M.D., Pediatric Cardiology , M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Jay Chandar, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Sundar Chandrasekhar, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Renato Dubois, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Leslie Flores, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Medical Director, General Cardiology South Region Jocelyn Garcia De Viera, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Associate Medical Director, General Cardiology South Region Jeffrey Skimming, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Katelyn Snyder, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology Medical Director, Fetal Cardiology South Region Rowena Gomez Uy, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology "For over 30 years, our dedicated and experienced pediatric and fetal cardiologists have served the communities of South Florida with exceptional care and compassion," said Dr. Todd Roth, Chief, Adult Congenital Heart Disease, and Chief, Ambulatory Pediatric Cardiology Services. "Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital has always stood by us, supporting our mission, and providing unparalleled care to our patients. The opportunity to join forces will undoubtedly give our patients and their families a level of care that they truly deserve." Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital continues to earn national acclaim for its excellence in pediatric care. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the top-ranked Orthopedic Center in Florida and among the top 50 nationwide for neonatology and pediatric behavioral health, the hospital has also achieved the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). These accolades highlight its commitment to clinical excellence across specialized programs. With the recent expansion of its Heart Institute, the hospital further solidifies its position as a leader in comprehensive pediatric care. For more information on the expanded pediatric cardiology program and the services offered, please visit http://www.jdch.com/heart or contact 954-276-2000. About Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital: Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital is one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a caring, compassionate setting designed specifically for children. A level one trauma center, the hospital, part of Memorial Healthcare System, combines advanced technology, the expertise of one of the largest and most diverse groups of board-certified pediatric specialists in the region, and a focus on patient and family-centered care to heal the body, mind, and spirit. To learn more, visit jdch.com and connect with @jdchospital on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram. Media Contact Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, Memorial Healthcare System, 954-265-1136, [email protected], https://www.mhs.net/ SOURCE Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital "Swinerton is honored for this opportunity to strengthen the community and public safety fabric of the North Bay and partner with the City of Santa Rosa to bring the Hearn Community Hub to life," says Jeff Good, vice president and division manager for Swinerton's Sacramento division. Post this Future phases envision adding recreation and aquatic centers, supporting a comprehensive vision for southwest Santa Rosa's growth. Swinerton's design, developed in collaboration with aforementioned architects and local stakeholders, embraces flexibility to meet present and future needs while remaining true to the city's community-centered goals. Kitchell and Group 4 Architecture developed the early concept plans and Swinerton's design-build team is bringing Santa Rosa's investment to life, ensuring a modern, adaptable space for residents for generations to come. On December 12, 2024, the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Library hosted a Vision Unveiling event for the community to view the designs for the new 10,315-square-foot library and 9,915-square-foot fire station. Speakers also provided a project update announcing that work is expected to start in the fall of 2025. "We're just really excited that it's finally coming to fruition," shared Erika Thibault, Sonoma County library director with The Press Democrat. "It's been a long time coming. It's been a long process and it's wonderful to see that we're all working togetherthe library, fire department and the City of Santa Rosato make this happen for the community." Swinerton has been building in the region for 137 years, specifically completing 32 projects in Santa Rosa. Most recently, the company completed projects for a confidential technology company based in Santa Rosa. The firm is also pursuing several more opportunities in the area, including Santa Rosa City Schools' new district office. "Swinerton is honored for this opportunity to strengthen the community and public safety fabric of the North Bay and partner with the City of Santa Rosa to bring the Hearn Community Hub to life," says Jeff Good, vice president and division manager for Swinerton's Sacramento division. "The passion that the citizens of Santa Rosa have for the vision of this project is inspiring, and we're looking forward to leveraging collaborative design-build delivery to expand on the years of work already put into this project." Learn more about Swinerton at http://www.swinerton.com About Swinerton Swinerton provides commercial construction, construction management, design-build and self-perform services throughout the United States. Founded in 1888, Swinerton is 100% employee-owned and is the preferred builder and trusted partner in every market it servesproudly leading with ownership, integrity, leadership, passion and excellence. Swinerton has 23 nationwide offices in Spokane and Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Boise, ID; Sacramento, Fairfield, Fresno, Concord, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Santa Ana and San Diego, CA; Honolulu and Maui, HI; Denver, CO; Dallas and Austin, TX; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte and Raleigh, NC; and New York, NY. For more information, please visit swinerton.com. Media Contact Danielle Ridgeway, Swinerton, 5034792030, [email protected], www.swinerton.com SOURCE Swinerton Here we round up new and forthcoming childrens titles, including a speculative YA novel following a teen who has died but can still interact with her family, a picture book about a fox in the yard, a YA thriller about a teen assassin on the run with her babysitting pupil, and more. January 7 After Life by Gayle Forman. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-334614-7. High school senior Amber learns that shes been dead for seven years, but for some reason her family can still see, hear, and touch her, even if they arent as she remembers them. The YA book received a starred review from PW. And, Too, the Fox by Ada Limon, illus. by Gaby DAlessandro. Carolrhoda, $18.99; ISBN 979-8-7657-3925-2. Limon considers a fox seen in a fenced backyard in this refreshing picture book encounter. The Assassins Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker. Candlewick, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-536230-09-3; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-5362-4791-6. Tru Stallard comes into her own as a superpowered teen when she goes on the run. But when the arrival of unknown killers turns a babysitting job upside down, Tru escapes with infant Thea, who appears to have the same abilities as Tru. Cinderella and the Beast (Or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) by Kim Bussing. Random House, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-70803-3. Tweens Ella and Belle find themselves swapping fairy tale lore in this series launch. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW. Drive by Cynthia L. Copeland, colors by Ronda Pattison. Algonquin, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-64375-194-8; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-5235-2725-0. In this time-jumping graphic novel, Copeland weaves together the true story of race car driver Janet Guthrie with fictional 12-year-old Alexandra as she restores a 56 Jaguar XK 140 formerly owned by Guthrie. Fresh Start by Gale Galligan. Graphix, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-338-04586-4; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-3380-4584-0. Globetrotter Ollie learns after moving and staying in Virginia means having to resolve conflict rather than fleeing for a fresh start. The House on the Canal: The Story of the House That Hid Anne Frank by Thomas Harding, illus. by Britta Teckentrup. Candlewick Studio, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-4070-2. Collaborators Harding and Teckentrup convey that the famed house in Amsterdam, known for sheltering Anna Frank, is also part of a remarkable history that spans four centuries and myriad reasons for seeking shelter. The picture book received a starred review from PW. A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-335384-8. Vivien Featherswallow, a teen linguist who specializes in dragon and human languages, is presented the opportunity to earn her familys freedom by joining a secret government project to crack certain draconic secrets. The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold. Delacorte, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-89948-9. Braun-Arnolds poignant sapphic dystopian debut turns a suburban New Jersey bookstore into a haven for survival and romance in a world of death, and rot, and memories. The YA book received a starred review from PW. Mama Hug by Emma Straub, illus. by Stevie Lewis. Rocky Pond, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5936-1859-2. The arc of a mother and childs day unfolds in concise rockabye rhymes and warm-hued, colorblock-like art in this cozy work for youngest readers. Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins by Traci N. Todd, illus. by Eleanor Davis. Chronicle, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4521-7064-0. Todd and Daviss melodic paean to performer Ella Jenkins follows a figure who wants/ to make/ a pretty sound. The picture book received a starred review from PW. Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia. Disney Hyperion, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-368-09908-0. Mullory Prudence accepts an invitation to take part in the Mystery Royale, an illusion-infused game in which participants must deduce the culprit of billionaire recluse Xavier Stoutmires death by unraveling the details of his murder to inherit his magic and wealth. The YA book received a starred review from PW. No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally. Sourcebooks Fire, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-7282-7014-2. Class president Brooke, the daughter of a powerful family, is almost guaranteed acceptance into Yaleshe is a legacy, after all. The only potential snag is her involvement in an incident involving former friend Claire. One Day: A True Story of Survival in the Holocaust by Michael Rosen, illus. by Benjamin Phillips. Candlewick Studio, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3894-5. After two Hungarian Jewish resistance fighters are arrested in 1942 Nazi-occupied Paris, they survive with a singular focus: Get through one day and then on to the next. One day at a time. One day after another. The picture book received a starred review from PW. On Our Way! What a Day! by JaNay Brown-Wood, illus. by Tamisha Anthony. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-11075-1. Six children set out with energy and excitement, crossing a city on foot and by bus to celebrate their grandmothers birthday, in this musical telling. Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Dutton, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-85578-2. Cooper grapples with the pressures of entering a new grade with a tough teacher while life-changing historical eventsincluding the JFK assassination, the church bombing in Birmingham, and the increased presence of the KKKhappen around her. Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-316-57869-1; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-0-316-57866-0. Teens Emmeline, Titus, and Alaric discover they are heirs to the King of Ashland and are admitted to Almus Terra Academy, a school for the international global elite. Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher by Ruby Bridges, illus. by Trudy Tran. Orchard, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-338-75394-3. A year after becoming the first Black child to integrate William Frantz Elementary School, a young Ruby Bridges approaches second grade with anticipation. Sharing the Dream by Shelia P. Moses, illus. by Keith Mallett. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-61729-8. Young narrator Agnes, plus Mama and Daddy, travel by bus from Birmingham, Ala., to Washington, D.C., in this dream-centered picture book tracing one familys experience of the March on Washington. This Is the Year by Gloria Munoz. Holiday House, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5836-3. Julieta enrolls in an aerospace company program which seeks to send immigrants to establish new colonies in space. To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell. Random House Studio, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-64989-3. Young narrator Janie has long been fascinated by owls and determines to see a one in real life. The picture book received a starred review from PW. When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illus. by London Ladd. Holiday House, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5380-1. Willis Hudson movingly exalts the power of African American spirituals in a showcase that pairs existing verses with feelings they can evoke. The picture book received a starred review from PW. January 14 Bianca and the Butterfly by Sergio Ruzzier. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-0632-9588-9. Polar bear cub Bianca discovers an extravagantly patterned butterfly perched on an ice floe and follows the butterfly to investigate. Biology Lessons by Melissa Kantor. Feiwel and Friends, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-33404-6. Kantor reflects on the ramifications of abortion bans in this timely Texas-set novel. Brewed with Love by Shelly Page. Joy Revolution, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-89762-1. When Black plant witch Sage has her tonic stolen from her family shop and when it is used to wipe the memory of a council members child, she and her new coworker Ximena launch an investigation while falling for each other. Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz. Simon & Schuster, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-665-94251-5. Amelia Hernandez determines to break her familys curse of relationships ending in heartbreak by tracking down her exes to figure out what went wrong and use the information to make herself the perfect girlfriend. Chickenpox by Remy Lai. Holt, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-250-86330-0; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-86329-4. Set in Indonesia, this semi-autobiographical narrative by Lai follows the creators eldest sister Abby, whos forced into quarantine with her four younger siblings after they all contract chickenpox. Dream a Dress, Dream a Poem: Dressmaker and Poet, Myra Viola Wilds by Nancy Johnson James, illus. by Diana Ejaita. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-951836-53-5. Mellifluous verse from Johnson James chronicles the life of dressmaker and poet Myra Viola Wilds from her Kentucky hometown through her blossoming career. The picture book received a starred review from PW. Dreamover by Dani Diaz. Top Shelf, $19.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-60309-546-4. New couples Amber and Nico enter a jointly created dreamscape and must confront how their new relationship has led to self-isolating behavior. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW. Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough. Dutton, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-5938-5587-4. Sixteen-year-old Carmela dreams of becoming an apprentice in her mothers apothecary but must reconcile her own desires with her mothers personal decisions and how they affect the women who rely on the shop as a last refuge. The YA book received a starred review from PW. Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-90137-8; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-90136-1. Nine-year-old Gabby Torres seeks to impress her fellow Sea Musketeers by running a zine that garners a lot of online success but causes tension for Gabby. How Sweet the Sound by Kwame Alexander, illus. by Charly Palmer. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-44249-7. Black musical greats populate Alexander and Palmers entrancing history of Black music. The picture book received a starred review from PW. I Love You, Little Horse by Gianna Marino. Philomel, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5935-2880-8. Marino takes readers to a sunny, rolling meadow ringed by mountains and shady trees, where horses run free, in this affectionate picture book. Interabled: True Stories About Love and Relationships from Squirmy and Grubs and Other Interabled Couples by Shane and Hannah Burcaw. Roaring Brook, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-62071-2. Married collaborators and disability advocates Shane Burcaw and Hannah Burcaw present a collection of 22 interviews interspersed with the couples own personal narratives to showcase interabled romantic relationships across a spectrum of cultures, sexualities, ethnicities, and disability experiences. Night: A Children's Fable by Katherine Jumbe, illus. by Shana Dixon. Levine Querido, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64614-463-1. In Jumbes thought-provoking debut, animals enjoy a gorgeous savanna day while young Alekachawo sets her baby sister, Mwana Wamkazi, in the sun to play. No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam. HarperCollins, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-063-36092-1. Marianayagam meditates on powerful messages surrounding family, identity, and finding friends in unlikely places in this bittersweet debut. Old School by Gordon Korman. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-323814-5. In classic Korman fashion, an otherwise ordinary school is thrown into upheaval by the arrival of an unexpectedly chaotic element in this endearing story. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW. The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-334438-9. A Yoruba princess targets her British saviors in this searing 1862-set duology opener. Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between by L.M. Elliott. Algonquin, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64375-282-2. Elliott spotlights the tumultuous political and social conflicts in Washington, D.C., during Nixons presidency. Wills Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Little, Brown, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-316-29933-6. Black 12-year-old Will sets out with his mule Belle and his sharecropper father to claim land in this riveting historical saga. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW. For more childrens and YA titles on sale throughout the month of January, check out PWs full On-Sale Calendar. New year, same characters we love to read about. Kick off the year with additions to series including a picture book about a raccoons discovery of a doppleganger, a tale of boys with invisibility powers, a YA fantasy sequel that finds two lovers separated, and more. Picture Books and Graphic Novels Coolest Club Ever! by Stephen Shaskan (Random House Graphic, Jan. 7 $10.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81451-2). In the ninth installment of the Pizza and Taco graphic novel series, the titular best friends find their sign-ups for their comic book club usurped by another club. Fox, Fox, and More Fox: Three Stories by Corey R. Tabor (Greenwillow, Jan. 7 $21.99; ISBN 978-0-06-341634-5). In this companion book featuring the star of Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, and Fox the Tiger, the titular animal grapples with envy over another species, lateness, and helping his friends navigate trouble. Hazel Has Her Hands Full by Nathan Fairbairn, illus. by Michele Assarasakorn (Putnam, Jan. 14 paper $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-69580-7). Hazel takes on a pet babysitting gig all on her own in the fourth installment of the PAWS graphic novel series. If Animals Celebrated Easter by Ann Whitford Paul, illus. by David Walker (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Jan. 7 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39058-7). A variety of animals dream about how they would celebrate a special holiday in the latest picture book in the If Animals Kissed Good Night series. Lila Greer and the Shrieking Shadow by Andrea Beaty, illus. by David Roberts (Amulet, Jan. 14 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7572-7). A mysterious shadow and the disappearance of artwork piques the interest of Lila and her crew in the seventh Questioneers installment. A Magical Birthday by Ana Punset, illus. by Diana Vicedo (Candlewick, Jan. 7 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-4098-6; $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5362-4099-3). Pippas friends do their best to turn around a sad birthday for their friend in the second book of the Unicornia series. Party Animal by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook, Jan. 14 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-250-88479-4) The latest in the Bad Kitty series follows Kittys struggles to let Puppy have the spotlight on his birthday. Prince and the Pawper by Stephanie Cooke, illus. by Whitney Gardner (S&S, Jan. 28 $13.99; ISBN 978-1-665-91495-6). Dusty discovers he has a doppelganger and switches with him to live on the wild side in the second title in The Racc Pack series. Secrets of the Dead by Matt Ralphs, illus. by Gordy Wright (Nosy Crow, Jan. 14 $19.99; ISBN 979-8-88777-081-9). Readers learn more about the long history of mummies in the third British Museum book. Spring ABC by Nosy Crow, illus. by Jannie Ho (Candlewick, Jan. 14 $7.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-3768-9). In the fourth installment of this ABCs board book series, readers prepare for spring with this guide to the alphabet. Zeroes to Heroes by Doogie Horner (Putnam, Jan. 28 paper $13.99; ISBN 978-0-593-53270-6). When Stanleys familys business is robbed, Stanley and Gene must utilize their powers of invisibility to uncover who is behind the crime in the second installment of the Invisible Boy series. Novels Among Serpents by Marc J. Gregson (Peachtree Teen, Jan. 7 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-68263-706-7). Conrad heads off on a secret expedition to prevent his uncles tyranny from destroying the nation in the second installment of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy. Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer (Bloomsbury, Jan. 28 $20.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-1010-5). Jax navigates small-town life while Callyn joins forces with the Queen in the second book of the Forging Silver into Stars series. A Copycat Conundrum by Lisa Yee, illus. by Dan Santat (Random House, Jan. 7 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-56422-6). The second installment of the Misfits series follows the serial group of undercover agents as they investigate sudden earthquakes and threats to a seemingly friendly face. The Dryad Storm by Laurie Forest (HarperCollins, Jan. 7 $22.99; ISBN 978-1-33-545805-6). Elloren has accepted her role as a Black Witch and the emblem of the Dryad legacy and prepares for a final battle in the series finale of The Black Witch Chronicles. Lies on the Serpents Tongue by Kate Pearsall (Putnam, Jan. 7 $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-53105-1.) Rowan must find the culprit behind sudden disappearances with her ability to smell lies in the companion to Bittersweet in the Hollow. Togetha by Keith F. Miller Jr. (HarperCollins, Jan. 7 $21.99; ISBN 978-0-06-326497-7). Jay and Leroy work together to stop a prominent family from changing their neighborhood forever in the duology closer to Pritty. Too Uncool for School by James Patterson and Martin Chatterton (Little, Brown/ Patterson, Jan. 21 $14.99; ISBN 978-0-316-410823). Rafe Khatchadorian finds himself moving up to the social hierarchy at his school after joining a band and getting a new job, but he questions if maintaining his newfound status requires too much work in this new addition to the Middle School series. Young authors and artists from all over the world now have a permanent space in which to showcase their work. A joint publishing venture between McSweeneys and 826 Valencias charitable arm, the Hawkins Project, has donated funds to establish the International Library of Youth Writing. The exhibit space in San Francisco, which is located directly across the street at 849 Valencia, will house myriad collections of books from youth writing centers, in addition to hosting writing workshops and other events for the public. By the Writers, for the Writers Since 2002, 826 Valencia and its sister centers have produced books from writers ages 18 and under, while individual writing facilities have archived these works and local libraries have stocked them on shelves. Author Dave Eggers, 826 Valencia co-founder (and Newbery Medalist), said, By our best guess, all the 60-odd centers worldwide have together published about 5,000 anthologies, quarterlies, novels, chapbooks, and zines, so we figured it was high time there was a place to see them allor as many as we could find. Offering a welcoming space for visitors, the library is outfitted with cherry wood-stained bookshelves, mahogany tables, Persian rugs, satin-covered chairs, and more than 100 pillows for lounging and reading. The tech-free zone will also feature doors that lead to secret roomsone of which accesses McSweeneysa teen-only mezzanine lounge area and other amenities designed to be what Eggers described as appropriately weird. In an era where too many libraries are made to look like airports, were trying to go in a different direction. McSweeneys has culled book collections from approximately 50 youth writing centers from the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Of note is the wide array of books that mark historic moments in young readers lives: from letters to Presidents Obama and Trump, to books by Dreamers and essays written by incarcerated youth. I really do think, more than any other form of expression, this library is a document of young minds. Its the full spectrum of young voices, Eggers said. Funding for the library has been provided by the Hawkins Project, along with proceeds from silkscreen prints handmade by Eggers (his studio is located in 849 Valencias basement). At the moment, we are seeking additional support for the library initiative to complete construction on the expanded space and to staff the library [who will] help create and oversee its programming, McSweeneys publisher and Hawkins Project CEO Amanda Uhle told PW. Its a thrilling time to be putting this together, especially because of the tremendous community response so far. Natural Synergy While McSweeneys and 826 Valencia have a shared history, the library at 849 Valencia will soon establish its own connection with the latter. 826 Valencia currently hosts field trips where students write and illustrate stories, which are then bound into books. Copies of those books, hundreds each year, will be kept in our new library, so it will be a fun cap to the field trip, Eggers explained. Classes will walk across the street to immortalize their work by making their creation part of our permanent collection. Although the library is still in its infancy, it has already welcomed numerous young authors who brought their families and former teachers to see their work. Author events will be added to the calendar beginning in February, featuring Mac Barnett, Shawn Harris, Lisa Brown and Lemony Snicket, to name a few. The library will also collaborate with 826 Valencia to host publishing classes and workshops, all of which will be promoted on a forthcoming website. Eggers and Uhle are excited about the opportunity and exposure that the library affords young writers. Its another way we try to tell young people that what they say mattersand that it matters that they say it now, Eggers said. They might forget what they thought at a certain age, in a certain moment in history, but these books will not forget. Next month, Picador will reissue a trio of books by the late radical feminist writer Andrea Dworkin. Outfitted with new covers designed by Scheffe Shields, the publishing program will reintroduce three of Dworkin's best-known worksWoman Hating (1974), Pornography: Men Possessing Women (1981), and Right-Wing Women (1983)to readers on February 25. "There's no wrong place to start with Dworkinbut we think these three books constitute an essential collection of Dworkin's works," Rohan Kamicheril, senior editor at Picador, told PW. Kamicheril noted that all three titles have been out of print since Dworkin's death in 2005 "if not earlier," admitting that "the paper trail is elusive on this count." In total, Dworkin penned nine works of nonfiction, two novels, and a collection of short stories over three decades, beginning with Woman Hating. The aim of the spotlight on Dworkin, Kamicheril said, is "to reintroduce her as one of our preeminent public thinkers and prose stylists to a whole new generation of readers. But why now? For Hank Cochrane, VP and associate publisher at Picador, Dworkin has proven to be a "prescient and visionary writer" whose work is ripe for rediscovery amid what is, to put it mildly, a fraught political landscape. "Over the past several yearsespecially since 2016Dworkins name and work have been popping up in places like the Guardian, the New Yorker, and Vogue as someone who predicted the political moment we're now living in, with the rise of Trump and #MeToo," Cochrane told PW. "Dworkins work appeals to readers of all agesin fact, last year, a colleague mentioned that Right-Wing Women was trending on TikTok! Its clear a new generation is discovering her, and we want to make sure her work is easy for them to find. Kamicheril agrees that Dworkin was "ahead of her time and unapologetically radical in her examinations of a woman's world," and that Right-Wing Women is "particularly apt for our time" for its investigation into "the roots and complications of conservatism among American women." (In the most recent presidential election, 45% of women voted for Donald Trump.) Accordingly, Picador has announced a first print run of 30,000 copies for Right-Wing Women, which features a new introduction by feminist writer Moira Donegan, and 25,000 copies for Woman Hating and Pornography. Rights were acquired from John Stoltenberg, the executor of Dworkin's literary estate. Kamicheril described Stoltenbergan activist, philosopher, and Dworkins life partner for 31 yearsas "a partner in this enterprise." To this day, I miss Andrea dearly, but I know her words still liveespecially in the hearts of the women to whom she devoted her lifes work," Stoltenberg told PW. "The breathtaking relevance of her voice is evident in the reissue of these three books: Woman-hating has not gone away, violent pornography has become pervasive, and women make ever more antifeminist alliances with right-wing men. Andrea told the unpopular truth about all of this, and her prescient vision inspires a better world. Carlos, a 27-year-old from Spain, like most of his generation, often resorts to scrolling through various social networks when he gets bored. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X... Before long, a post he has already seen appears. Its a screenshot from an app with the message: Respond to more fans with your own AI. Create an AI to answer questions, share links, and connect with your fans without having to accept message requests. In the background, there is an image of a bearded, scruffy, and stern-looking man. Carlos shares the post with several ideologically opposed acquaintances, who laugh or comment that he is right. That man is Theodore Ted J. Kaczynski, the American terrorist widely known as the Unabomber. Of all the corners of social media and its various fads, few are more extravagant than the posts about Kaczynski. Photos and videos with catchy, pounding music show his ramshackle shelter, his homemade bombs, passages from his manifesto, his police record, and his identikit. There are profiles that encourage people to take the Ted-pill, a reference to The Matrix, in which the protagonist Neo escapes from his mental-dream prison after ingesting a red pill. In this case, the pill symbolizes rejecting the industrial world and its consequences. As Baudelaire wrote, man advances through forest-groves of symbols, strange and solemn, who follow him with their familiar glances. A Harvard graduate at a young age, Kaczynski completed his PhD in mathematics at the University of Michigan. His thesis was so complex that only 10 or 12 people in the United States are said to understand it. Later, he became an adjunct professor at Berkeley but resigned after just two years to isolate himself in a cabin with no running water, gas, or electricity just 13 square meters in the woods of Montana, in the style of Henry David Thoreau or Ralph Waldo Emerson. From there, he targeted academics and businessmen, and indiscriminately attacked civilians with homemade explosives between 1978 and 1995. He killed three people and wounded 23 others in an effort to hasten the collapse of industrial society. His mail bombs made opening the mail a source of nervousness for many Americans. In 1995, he proposed to abandon violence if a national newspaper would publish a manifesto more than 25,000 words long outlining how the social and industrial foundations of the economic system had led to an era of suffering and environmental destruction. The Attorney General pushed for it, and The New York Times and The Washington Post published it. Teds big mistake was flying too close to the sun. His brother, David, recognized his ideas and literary style and alerted the authorities, who, after a linguistic analysis, confirmed his identity. Throughout its campaign to find the Unabomber, the FBI spent over $50 million (its total budget that year was $2.24 billion) and was only able to arrest him thanks to letters provided by his brother. The devil is in the details. Kaczynski faced a trial in which he was denied the right to represent himself, despite facing the death penalty. He pleaded guilty to the charges, and his sentence was commuted to four life terms. David received a million dollars as a reward his thirty pieces of silver. In 1998, Kaczynski was imprisoned in the maximum-security ADX Florence in Colorado, trading his 13-square-meter cabin for a seven-square-meter cell. He shared the prison with founding members of Al-Qaeda, the masterminds of 9/11, Soviet spies, and Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, among others the best of each house of villains. In 2021, he was transferred to a prison medical facility, where on June 10, 2023, he killed himself. Since his death, his reputation has been on the rise, bolstered by several series and films about his life aired by giants like Netflix and Discovery Channel. His manifesto Industrial Society and Its Future freely available and in the public domain remains one of the best-selling books on Amazon in the radical thought category. The FBI even moved his cabin to its headquarters in the summer of 2020 after it became a pilgrimage site. In June of this past year, Maxim Loskutoffs book Old King, about Kaczynski, was selected as one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly. If the German philosopher Max Muller was right when he argued that, both in modern times and in Homers era, we live in the shadow of myths we just dont recognize them Ted Kaczynski can be considered one of these myths. Initially influential among many in radical environmental movements for his technophobic views, Kaczynskis vehement criticism of leftism has recently gained traction within far-right circles. The Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people and injured over 300, plagiarized large portions of Kaczynskis manifesto. In 2018, the Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn translated his work. A now-deleted audiobook was created by Augustus Invictus, a notorious American white supremacist. Elon Musk tweeted that Kaczynski might not be wrong, and the controversial U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson remarked, bad person, but a smart analysis. Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, posted a review on Goodreads of Kaczynskis manifesto which stated: Violence never solved anything is a phrase uttered by cowards and predators. The figure of the extremist has been mythologized by a disturbingly diverse range of political profiles: anarcho-primitivists, eco-fascists, orthodox Marxists, conservatives Each, with their own inconsistencies, selectively embraces and idealizes the figure and ideas of Kaczynski. Like the profiles on social media networks, they romanticize a return to a pre-industrial way of life, driven by a dystopian diagnosis of the present and its future. Paradoxically, they use digital media with millions of followers to spread an anti-technological political philosophy. Carlos, the young Spaniard, will continue to wander through social networks and will come across another post about Kaczynski, this time about advertising in the sky. And this time, he will be the one to claim that Kaczynski was right. In Baudelaires forest, symbols both welcome and shelter, but they also entangle. One must stay alert, even if its a forest in Montana. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The owners of the independent publisher Ulysses Press and the book packing and publishing company Spot Gloss Media have banded together to form Bluestone Books. The new company will specialize in popular culture, practical nonfiction, and concept-driven childrens titles," per an announcement. Its first list of nine titles is planned for this summer, and the founders hope to release 25-30 books annually. Bluestone is the brainchild of Keith Riegert, CEO of Ulysses and one of the cofounders of Perfect Bound, an online marketplace that connects publishers and printers while also providing title management services. Spot Gloss was formed late last year through the merger of Hollan Publishing, owned by Holly Schmidt, and Castle Point Publishing, run by Bruce Lubin. The company develops books in a range of adult categories as well as titles for the childrens and Christian markets, and Schmidt and Lubin have worked on dozens of titles that have been published by Ulysses over the last 20 years. The Spot Gloss team will be responsible for the development of all Bluestone titles. In addition to utilizing the services of Perfect Bound, Bluestone will also use Ulysses' distributor, Simon & Schuster, for distribution and depend on Ulysses for marketing and publicity. The companys launch list includes Chicka Chicka Dorm Room, a college-centric parody of the 1989 children's book; You Cant Take It With You, a guide to decluttering before you die; and The Creative Game Masters Trivia & Activity Book, designed for fans of Dungeons & Dragons. When Keith approached us with the idea to join forces on a new business, I was excited by the opportunity to operate as an entrepreneurial independent publisher, but with the distribution might of S&S, Lubin said in a statement. Were attempting to unravel the tangled web of literary influence by talking with the great writers of today about the writers of yesterday who influenced them. This month, we spoke with 1991 Booker Prize recipient Ben Okri (The Famished Road, The Age of Magic) about the groundbreaking Nigerian poet-soldier Christopher Okigbo and 2021 National Book Award nominee Katie Kitamura (Intimacies, Audition) about Italian essayist and novelist Natalia Ginzburgs powerful fusion of the personal and the political. Ben Okri on Christopher Okigbo What drew you to discussing Okigbo? Hes one of the most powerful African poets of the 20th century, and there's something mysterious about him. He only published one book of poemsLabyrinthswhich, fascinatingly, shares a title with Jorge Luis Borges. I don't know if Okigbo was aware of that, but there's lovely kinship in that for me. It's just the one volume of poems, and it's a mysterious volume ranging from childhood and ritual African rites of passage to poems about the Nigerian Civil War. We never really knew him well. He was gone by the time many of us grew up. He died in the '60s, so he is an enigmatic figure. There is a long tradition of the "poet-soldier." Do you think he fell into that category? Yeah, he's very much in that class. Hes very much a Byronic figure, because Byron is another one who was a poet and a soldier and died in a war. It's a very rare class of poets. Theres not that many. And Okigbo went to war willingly. He wasnt like the Great War poets of England and the Second World War poets, where their poetry was an expression of the horror of war, and in some cases the unwillingness and involuntary quality of war. He knew what he was doing. He went to this war almost as an act of sacrifice, which is what puts him in the Byronic class in a waydying for a cause that you believe in. I read that he was particularly enamored with Virgil, and you can really see that influence, but set within his own context. He had this great breadth of knowledge of poetry and culture. He was the one who introduced me in a very intimate way to the Epic of Gilgamesh. And as you said to Virgil, to Picassobut the reference is always very coded and quiet and subtly done. Hes never noisy. What do you think writers can learn from him? First of all, you have to understand that he was a poet's poet, and in the early part of his career, the most famous part of his career, as one of the most celebrated poets in Africa, there was something about him that was majestic and mysterious and enigmatic, and there was something slightly disdainful about him. He was the kind of poet who would say, I do not write poems for non-poets. Non-poets, don't bother to read me. You're not gonna get this. He very famously said,"There's no such thing as an African writer, theres only good and bad writers." He made many of these universalist statements early on in his career, aloof and elevated in his idea of the poet's calling as one of the most noble and untouchable things. And then this aloof poet takes to the gun. Wow! What a turnaround. What a change. What a transformation. So what can one learn from Okibo? What can other poets learn? I think you learn a tremendous sense of commitment and deep sacrifice to your vocation as a poet. For him, the word transfigures the world. For him the word is invested with the quality of myth. For him, culture, creativity, and utterance are all hewn of the same spiritual cloth. He was a ritualist. He tells us to drink from our traditions, but never forget to be of the world. And he manages, always, a great beauty, a great lyricism, and great clarity and great mystery at the same time. Half the time people can't make out what he's saying in his poems, and yet they're so clear. For me, thats one of the highest kinds of poetry. Poetry that's clear, but at the same time mysterious. Katie Kitamura on Natalia Ginzburg What drew you to Natalia Ginzburgs work? I think for me, it's her interest in language as a system of power, and her recording of family and national history. You see that very clearly in a book like Family Lexiconone of her most important bookswhich tells the story of her family and at the same time a larger story of the experience of the Second World War through the vocabulary of the family. And I think the way she positions that individual experience against this very large-scale backdrop of history is really powerful, and I think it is what we're all trying to do but only a few really manage. Theres a lot of debate about whether we should separate an artists biography from their work, but Ginzburgs writing is intertwined with her life, politics, and her work as an activist. What do you think about that? I think that's one of the most important and vital things about her. Another writer who pairs with her is Anna Seghers, who wrote the great novel Transit. Her novels were written during the war, as it is taking place. For me, I'm such a slow writer. I metabolize things so slowly, and when I look at writers like Seghers or Ginzburg, and I think about the speed and the authority with which they wrote about what was taking place around them in the moment, it's very humbling. Ginsburg is always writing for context, and it's impossible to read her work outside the context of her politics and activism and the historical events that she was a part of. But I suppose the thing that I admire is that she's never didactic. There is nothing polemical about her writing, really. I think she understands that there are a lot of different ways to write about politics, and there are a lot of different ways to write about history, but I think what the novel does really well is look at history and politics through the lens of individual experience. And I think she does that through her very careful observation of very ordinary thingslike sitting in a cafe or reading the newspaper or writing a letter or doing your grocery shopping. And I think one of the things that that does is it contextualizes everything we do in every life within a great political context. Which of her books do you think is a good place to enter into her work? I think the essays are excellent. In terms of the fiction, the novel that I've returned to the most is The Dry Heart. Its a very short book. It comes in at around 80 pages. Its one of the most vertiginous, absorbing pieces of fiction I've ever read. It has this extraordinary opening with a woman killing her husband, and then it drops back into the past, and it kind of moves very slowly back to the present to show how the protagonist arrived at the point of killing her husband. And it's absolutely caustic in its observations of love and marriage as an institution and as a form of coercion and entrapment. I think the book that it reminds me of the most is Tove Ditlevsons Copenhagen Trilogy, the third volume, Dependency. It kind of eats you alive, as a book. What do you think writers should learn from Ginzburg? I think I would return to that question you asked earlier, about political context. One of my favorite pieces of information about Natalia Ginzburg is that she has a small part in Pasolinis The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, and I find that somehow completely mind-blowing. But of course, it absolutely makes sense, because she was deeply engaged in a literary and artistic and political community in Italy at the time. She worked for a very long time as an editor at [the publisher] Einaudi, and she also worked on an anti-fascist newspaper, and she wrote from a context that she observed meticulously and critically and never didactically. And I think we're all writing from a place. You could be writing historical fiction, you could be writing climate fiction set in the future, but you're still really writing from the place of now, and it shows up in your work. And I think being faithful and being conscious and being attentive to that fact is something that I always hope student writers will gain from reading her work. So often, especially now, with writers it can feel like, if only I could get rid of the mess of my everyday life and find time to write my fiction, then I would write a better book. And I think something about looking at Ginzburg she had a family, she hadeven apart from her very deep political and artistic and literary commitmentsshe had a lot happening in her life, and she wrote from inside of that. And that's something that is very moving to me, and it is a very good reminder. Read More Writers Talking Writers Chuck Palahniuk on Ira Levin and Claire Dederer on Laurie Colwin Karl Ove Knausgard on Jorge Luis Borges and Olga Ravn on Doris Lessing Valeria Luiselli on Juan Rulfo and Mauro Javier Cardenas on Leonora Carrington Roxane Gay on Marguerite Duras and Kaveh Akbar on Amos Tutuola Emily St. John Mandel on Irene Nemirovsky and Sarah Rose Etter on Tove Ditlevson Jennifer Egan on Edith Wharton and Jinwoo Chong on John Okada China Mieville on Jane Gaskell and Keanu Reeves on Cormac McCarthy Lois Lowry on Flannery OConnor and Helen Phillips on Italo Calvino Paul Theroux on George Orwell and Ferdia Lennon on James Joyce Mosab Abu Toha on Mahmoud Darwish and Thuan on Tran Dan Rumaan Alam on Anita Brookner and Tommy Orange on Felisberto Hernandez HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray will join hundreds of publishing professionals as a featured speaker at the 12th annual Jaipur BookMark (JBM) publishing conference, running January 30 through February 3, at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur, India. Murray will participate in a session titled "Scanning the Horizon." The five-day event, held concurrently with the Jaipur Literature Festival, focuses on translations and rights sales. Nobel Prizewinning economics Esther Duflo, author of Poor Economics for Kids, illustrated by Cheyenne Olivier, will open the conference with "Green Shoots of Big Ideas," a session exploring how to address the topic of economics with children. This year's program highlights Tamil publishing, featuring a keynote by scholar A.R. Venkatachalapathy, and sessions marking the 30th anniversary of Kalachuvadu Publications. Programming also includes sessions on artificial intelligence, gaming narratives, and inclusive children's publishing. Jaipur BookMark director Namita Gokhale said that this year's event "engages with both local and global themes within the publishing ecosystem." The conference will release also its annual Rights Catalogue, showcasing 58 titles from 31 Indian publishers across 10 languages. The Royal Norwegian Embassy continues as the Country Partner. "Norway has been the Country Partner at Jaipur BookMark since its inception more than a decade ago," said Ambassador May-Elin Stener. "JBM's focus on the publishing industry and on translations is an important aspect of literature." As for this year's Jaipur Literature Festival, the event will feature more than 300 speakers, including such U.S.-based writers as Andre Aciman and Benjamin Moser. The five-day event will also include music performances and a festival bookshop featuring works by participating authors. It is both a very lenient and a very serious sentence. A New York judge on Friday sentenced Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying invoices, checks and accounting records in order to conceal payments of $130,000 to the porn actress Stormy Daniels so that she would remain silent and not harm his chances in the 2016 presidential election. As expected, the sentence was an unconditional discharge: there is no prison, no probation, not even a fine. At the same time, it certifies his crimes. In a way, the judge condemns Trump to be the first criminal president of the USA. The president-elect appeared by video conference at the hearing, where the prosecutors in the case agreed to grant him unconditional discharge. This has been a very terrible experience, said the president-elect in his turn to speak. He insisted that his conviction was unfair and that the legal experts consider it so. I am totally innocent, he said in a long tirade in which he attacked his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, a prosecution witness in the case. I think its been a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system, he added in his five-minute speech, claiming that it was done to damage his reputation so that he would lose the election and obviously that did not work, he said defiantly. He repeated the arguments he had made the day before on his network, Truth Social. This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent. Its called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again, he wrote. After hearing the parties, Judge Juan Merchan, in charge of the case, gave his reasons for his ruling. He acknowledged that it was an exceptional case, but he assured that he had treated it just like any other case. He then issued his historic sentence. It is an appealable decision and the president-elect hopes to erase that stigma in the higher courts, including the Supreme Court. A jury found him guilty of those 34 felonies in May of last year during a trial that lasted several weeks before the same Manhattan court where the hearing was held this Friday. Trump was the first former president to sit in the dock. He went to court reluctantly, although he took advantage of that case, and the other three in which he was accused of crimes, to present himself as a martyr of an unjust persecution (a witch hunt, in his words). He declined to testify, despite having assured that he would do so, and thus avoided exposing himself to the prosecutors questions. Following the jurys decision, Trump successfully got the judge to postpone sentencing until after the November 5 election. And, after beating Kamala Harris at the polls, he tried at all costs to avoid the embarrassing stigma of arriving at the White House with a criminal record. His last desperate maneuver was an appeal to the Supreme Court in which he asked that sentencing be postponed until the judges examined whether the case had violated the presidential immunity that those same judges had granted to presidents for acts carried out in the exercise of their office. The maneuver failed. In a brief resolution, the judges refused to suspend the hearing on Thursday night. Among other reasons, they based their refusal on the fact that the judge had already anticipated that an unconditional discharge was the most likely sentence and that Trump could attend the hearing by videoconference. In addition, they indicated that his arguments could be studied when analyzing the merits of the case. The Supreme Court was divided: two conservative judges joined the three progressive judges in rejecting Trumps request, while the other four (conservatives) were in favor of granting the suspension. Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison, although the sentences for each of the crimes can be served simultaneously. In cases like Trumps, the likely outcome would be for the convicted person to have to go to prison. In this case, his status as president-elect also weighed in, although in theory nothing in the U.S. Constitution prevents a president from performing his duties from prison. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Two months after surviving an assassination attempt, Komil Allamjonov, the former press secretary to Uzbekistans president, finds himself embroiled in dangerous international intrigue. Last October, gunmen attempted to assassinate Allamjonov, riddling his vehicle with bullets as he drove to his home in Tashkent. The ongoing Uzbek investigation has revealed a tangled web involving alleged Chechen hitmen, high-ranking Uzbek officials, and a manhunt stretching as far as South Korea. On December 26, the situation escalated dramatically. Ramzan Kadyrov, the U.S.-sanctioned strongman leader of Chechnya and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, issued a public threat directed at Allamjonov and a senior Uzbek official. Uzbek authorities had earlier identified two Russian nationals with Chechen ties, Bislan Rasaev and Shamil Temirhanov, as suspects in the attempt on Allamjonovs life. In a Telegram post the day after Christmas, Kadyrov accused Allamjonov and his associates of attempting to undermine Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs administration. Whatever you are planning, it is better to stop in time, otherwise you will have to answer for all the intrigues, slander, and speculation, Kadyrov warned. And now I am talking about the answer according to our traditions. In his Telegram post, Kadyrov also boasted of his efficiency in such matters: If I had prepared it, I would have completed the matter that very day. Kadyrovs comments were met with swift condemnation from prominent Uzbeks. Odiljon Tojiyev, a deputy in Uzbekistans Legislative Chamber, denounced the threats and urged Russias Prosecutor General to investigate. Kadyrov should issue a public apology to the people of Uzbekistan, Tojiyev demanded, adding that if Kadyrov truly considered himself a friend of Uzbekistan, he would assist in locating and extraditing Rasaev and Temirhanov. Rasul Kusherbayev, a former deputy and advisor to Uzbekistans Minister of Ecology, described Kadyrovs statements as an act of terrorism. He has since called for upgraded entry checks on Chechens entering Uzbekistan and suspending flights from the country to Grozny, capital of Chechnya. The assassination attempt and subsequent fallout have shaken Uzbekistans government to its core. Allamjonov, now under heavy security in Tashkent, was formerly a trusted ally of President Mirziyoyev and remains a prominent figure in Uzbek politics. The investigation has exposed unexpected links between the suspects and individuals with connections to the Uzbek elite. After the attack, two suspects fled to a nightclub called Seoul, located near Uzbekistans border with Kyrgyzstan and owned by the daughters of the late Vitaly Fen, who served as Uzbekistans ambassador to South Korea from 1995 to 2013. They were apprehended shortly thereafter, but another suspect, Javlon Yunusov, the common-law husband of one of the club owners, managed to flee to South Korea before being extradited back to Uzbekistan. The incident has also led to significant political fallout. Under mounting public pressure, President Mirziyoyev dismissed the head of the state security service and several other high-ranking officials. Among those implicated in the intrigue is Otabek Umarov, the husband of the presidents youngest daughter and a known political rival of Allamjonov. The situation threatens to evolve into a broader regional crisis involving Uzbekistan, Chechnya, and Russia. Kadyrovs direct interventioncombined with the connections between the suspects and Uzbek elitesraises serious questions about the nature of alliances and power struggles within the region. As Uzbekistan moves forward with its investigation, the international community will be watching closely. Whether justice will prevail in this increasingly complex saga remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Komil Allamjonovs survival may be just the beginning of a much larger fight. Gregory Tosi, a former congressional aide, is an attorney practicing international trade law in developing countries. Netflix is previewing a new anime series about a hitman who decides to start a family and stop killing. ADVERTISEMENT Sakamoto Days, inspired by Yuto Suzuki's popular manga, follows Taro Sakamoto (Matthew Mercer), an assassin who marries Aoi (Rosie Okumura) and starts "a mom-and-pop store in a quiet town." "But he's still armed with superhuman skill and strength, and during extreme situations he loses his extra weight and gains twice the power he had before," an official synopsis says. His skillset proves useful, as he finds himself outrunning killers. "When I first had the chance to read Sakamoto Days, I remember how electrifying the powerful action scenes were," director Masaki Watanabe told Netflix's Tudum. "Keeping that feeling at the heart of production, I want to take all the components unique to the screen -- movement, color, and sound -- to make Sakamoto Days a dynamic and fast-paced anime, while keeping in mind the humor sprinkled throughout the original." The trailer opens with a woman's voice. "Everyone has someone that cherishes them the way you cherish me," she says. "From now on, promise me. Promise me you won't kill anyone. This is our number one rule." The preview then goes on to show Sakamoto attempting to uphold his promise. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Dallas Liu, Rosalie Chiang, Lexi Cabrera, Xolo Maridueia, SungWon Cho, Dushaunt "Fik-Shun" Stegall, Toru Uchikado and Aleks Le also lend their voices to characters. Season 1, Part 1 lands Jan. 11 on Netflix, with Part 2 to follow in July. Photos by Kenda Lenseigne The numbers dont lie. 2,760 feet per second. About what you could expect from a 6.5 Creedmoor, lobbing a 140-grain bullet, with a .310 G7 ballistic coefficient. The MRAD ELRs projectiles exit its barrel right about the same speed, but the other numbers are different. Those digits are why the gun was designed. While the Barretts muzzle velocity is nothing remarkable, the mass, length, and aerodynamics of its 500-grain A-tip bullet means it can, and has, hit targets out to two miles. In terms of sheer weight, the rifle is probably the biggest weve ever featured in RECOIL, and its presence is imposing theres no mistaking it for anything other than a means to deliver enormous energy at will on distant targets, but despite its intimidating demeanor, its actually a bit of a pussycat to shoot so long as youre directly behind it. Stand next to that gigantic muzzle brake, and youll wish youd chosen someplace else to be when the shooter presses the trigger. SPECS BARRETT MRAD ELR Caliber: .416 Barrett Capacity: 5 rounds Barrel Length: 36 inches Overall Length: 62 inches Weight (as pictured): 39 pounds MSRP: $11,400 AMMO: .416 Barrett 500gr Hornady A-TIP Manufacturer: Barrett Cartridge: .416 Barrett Bullet Type: Hornady A-Tip Bullet Weight: 500 grain Muzzle Velocity: 2850 ft/s G7 Ballistic Coefficient: 0.492 UNDER THE HOOD Lets start with that brake. Measuring 4 inches at its widest part, there are three baffles to redirect gases escaping from the muzzle, which get progressively wider in order to give the greatest amount of surface area to push against. It stands 2 inches tall, and despite its gargantuan dimensions, actually looks perfectly proportioned to the rest of the gun. Its threaded and clamped to the barrel,and removable, should you want to mount up a suppressor, and theres an option of a shorter barrel to mitigate the added length of a can. The MRAD ELRs barrel is 36 inches long and 1.1 inches in diameter at the far end. While it may look like it came off an M2 HB, this is no bullet hose, rather its stainless steel and hand-lapped after being painstakingly rifled with a single point tool, like some of the very finest benchrest barrels. At the breech end, the barrel threads into a barrel extension, which sets headspace, much like Americas favorite semi-auto, but this one is in proportion with the .416 round and is as enormous as youd think. If youre familiar at all with the MRADs architecture, youll see it echoed in its big brother, where the long barrel tenon is clamped by the upper receiver by crossbolts two in the case of the MRAD, three in the MRAD ELR. So long as you have an IP30 Torx-Plus wrench and an elbow calibrated to 140 in-lb, you can swap barrels in the field at end user level. And if you feel the need to change calibers also, well thats covered, too. Unlike most bolt-action designs, the MRAD family use a bolt, which would be more at home on an artillery piece, with an interrupted Acme-style thread, giving ample strength to handle the biggest cartridges. Left to right: .50 BMG, .416 Barrett, and .308 Win. It has the added benefit of providing primary extraction independent of a bolt handle cam path, as its built into the locking lugs wed expect the extractor to pull through the rim before declaring a case to be stuck, and would have no concerns about hammering on the bolt handle to free up a problem shell. The extractor itself is Sako-pattern and set into the largest of the lugs, while the ejector is an M16-style plunger. Swapping bolt heads is as easy as lifting up a lever in the 1.25-inch diameter bolt body and pulling the existing one forward, while replacement is just as simple. In order to reduce friction and wear on the upper receiver, the ELRs bolt rides in a polymer sleeve, which has its own little cutout in the Pelican case in which the gun ships. Because this is one of those items thats inevitably prone to being misplaced at the worst possible time, especially when the user is cold, wet, and tired, we wanted to see if the gun would run without it. It did, though feeding wasnt as smooth as when it was present. While the ELRs upper receiver may look like its a product of modern manufacturing techniques (and it is), theres a very old-school methodology to its production, namely start with a massive chunk of 7000 series aluminum and hog out anything that doesnt look like a gun. The Spartan Precision tripod might look weird, but theres no arguing with results. At a guess, wed say roughly 75 percent of the billet that enters the CNC machines winds up as chips, but the upside to this is a receiver thats very strong, very concentric, and accurate. It also allows for the integration of the continuous, 10 MOA Picatinny top rail into the receiver, with no screws or pins to fail, and plenty of space to add clip-on night vision devices, without resorting to a bridge. In a further departure from typical bolt-action designs, the MRAD family features lower receivers, much like an AR-15. This offers a few advantages and one notable drawback. Like an AR, theres a lot of modularity to be found, and end users can swap out the pistol grip and trigger pack by undoing a couple of fasteners, as well as swapping over the safety from left to right side. The lower incorporates the buttstock, which as youd expect is fully adjustable for length of pull, buttplate and comb height, and has a bag rider attached by means of a Pic rail, so the addition of a monopod is a simple affair. Note the perfect 90-degree angle in the bolt handle channel. Primary extraction is performed by the bolt head, so theres no place for the usual cam path. The lower attaches to the upper by means of a pair of captive push pins (sound familiar?), and its this system that causes the drawback mentioned earlier. Due to manufacturing tolerances, while the upper to lower fit can be made pretty tight, in order to maintain parts interchangeability theres still going to be a slight amount of slop between them. The AR-style safety lever can be swapped from left to right. We preferred it on the right side, where it acts as a shelf for the master hand thumb. The bolt head is massive, and locks up like a 155. Its easily removable if you want to swap to a different caliber; its extractor is set into the deepest lug. As the sear is in the lower and the firing pin in the upper, for safety this necessitates a little more sear engagement than might be the case with a conventional design, and as a result, the trigger pull has a tiny bit of creep to it. Its not bad by any means, and if you prefer a rollover break, rather than the proverbial glass rod, then it should be your cup of Earl Grey, but if youre used to a clean, 6-ounce pull, itll take some getting used to. The buttstock is fully adjustable for LOP, comb height, and pad position. The bag rider comes off to reveal Pic rail section. Feeding the beast is courtesy of five-round, single-column, single-feed magazines, which are tailored to the .416 Barrett cartridge. Like the rest of the gun, theyre suitably massive, with reinforcing ribs molded into their surfaces to increase strength. And yes, we did drop them in the course of our time with the gun. They held up just fine. Although the ELR ships with an Accu-Tac bipod in the case, we wanted to try out a new support device from our friends at Spartan Precision. The HE-01 is an evolution of the Hoplite mini tripod, and while it looks strange at first to an audience used to just two legs hanging below a rifle, its actually a big improvement in terms of stability. Made of 7075 aluminum and carbon fiber, it offers adjustability in both leg length and angle from the fully extended to fully collapsed positions, offers a 10-inch spread, more than double that of a conventional bipod, and can be quickly attached and detached via either Pic or Arca rail. Cant and swivel functions are taken care of via a ball head with adjustable tension, so adjustability is almost limitless. Yes, its expensive, but we like nice things. ROUNDS DOWNRANGE Full disclosure: We didnt wind up with a pile of brass at the end of this review, mainly because the MRAD ELR is chambered in 10-dollar bills. On its debut range day, we did a one-round zero (0.75 mils right, 1.0 mils down on the top-of-the-line Vortex Razor HD ) and then no messing around went straight to a mile. Dialing in a swagged 16 mils, and with a slight crosswind canceling out any spin drift, we held dead on the target. Vortex is currently on its third generation of the Razor HD line, and they keep getting better. Due to foggy conditions, it took a couple of shots before we could see splash, but once observed, we quickly ran the bolt, held the spot on the reticle where the impact occurred, and sent it. Five shots from pulling the gun out of the case to rounds on target at a mile is a pretty good indication of the weapon systems capabilities, and how easy it is to shoot. After shooting at our CANCON event at Clinton House Plantation in South Carolina, the gun made its way to Arizona, where it was shot in the desert in balmy winter temperatures. Bullet precession is very much a thing when it comes to big bores, so we passed up the 100-yard zero range and shot for groups at 1,000 instead. Fortunately, the local range had just painted its long-range steel collection, so in calm conditions, we printed first one 4-inch group, then a 5-inch group, and then a 4.5-inch group. The MRAD ELRs size is intimidating we tried shooting it offhand for grins and it just about broke us but recoil is surprisingly soft. The MRAD ELR made it ridiculously easy, due mainly to the 0.976 G1 BC of the 500-grain A-Tip, not because it arrived at 1,970 fps and carrying 4,300 ft-lb of energy, but because it was barely pushed around by any stray air movements. Forty rounds disappear very quickly when someone else is paying for it, and realizing there was only two left in the last magazine, we invited a couple of guys from the next bay over to finish off the day. Theyd been working on dinging steel at medium distances with their ARs, so being well-adjusted American males, leaped at the chance to shoot the Barrett. Hold point 5 mils left, we advised. Boom, smack, smiles, and high-fives. Would we buy one? If the better half wouldnt murder us in our sleep for dropping 11 grand on a bolt gun, sure. The level of engineering prowess and attention to detail is amply evident, and who wouldnt want a rifle capable of hitting a pickup truck, two miles away? Besides, this is still America. And well buy whatever we damn well want. The Delhi Police has detained a Class 12 student for allegedly sending bomb threats to schools in the national capital, sources said on Friday. IMAGE: Mediapersons seen outside DPS School RK Puram after it received bomb threat call via email, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo Around 10 educational institutes received bomb threats on Thursday, the latest in a series of such incidents in the city. The sources said the south district police apprehended the Class 12 student, a minor. Officials said police will address a press conference at its headquarters later in the day and share further details. A video showing a woman Deputy Inspector General of Police in Madhya Pradesh offering advice to teenage school students on dos and don'ts for bearing 'ojaswi' (bright) babies, including 'not to conceive on full-moon night', has gone viral. IMAGE: A screengrab taken from the video going viral on social media. Photograph: X Shahdol DIG Savita Sohane delivered the lecture to students from Classes 10 to 12 at a private school in Shahdol on October 4 as part of the state government's awareness program for the safety of the girl child. The video began circulating over the last couple of days. "You will bring forth new childhood (new generation) on Earth. How are you going to go about it," the DIG, who is unmarried, is heard saying. "For that you need to plan. Note this first point -- not to conceive on Purnima. Bow down before the Sun and do salutation by offering water to bring forth 'ojaswi' offsprings," she said. When contacted for comment, the DIG told PTI that she likes to read scriptures, listen to sermons of Hindu spiritual leaders, and give lectures. She was speaking at the 'Mai Hoon Abhimanyu' program aimed at creating a safe environment and promoting respect for the girl child, she said. "Every month I deliver a lecture at a school. Before joining the police service 31 years ago, I was a lecturer at a government inter-college school in Sagar district for four years," Sohane added. "What I spoke was based on the information I have come across in my pursuit for spiritual bliss," she said. As to her advice about avoiding conception on a full-moon night, she said it is considered a holy period in Hinduism. The object of her lecture, that went on for more than one hour, was to inculcate respect for the girl child in the midst of horrendous crimes against women and girls, but only a part of it was circulated and the context was missing, the DIG said. Canada's Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya has announced that he is running to be the next prime minister, hours before his Liberal Party announced that their next leader will be chosen on March 9. IMAGE: Chandra Arya. Photograph: @AryaCanada/X The development comes days after Justin Trudeau announced to step down but said he will continue to be the prime minister till the next leader is chosen. Arya, the MP from Nepean, Ottawa, who was born in Karnataka, made the announcement on X Thursday morning ahead of the Liberal Party's meeting later in the evening. 'I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations,' he said in the post on X and added a long statement with it. Stating that Canada is 'facing significant structural problems' that haven't been seen for generations, Arya said, adding that solving them will require tough choices. 'For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary.' The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) highlighted that Arya wants to lead a small, more efficient government 'with a cabinet selected on merit and not on (diversity, equity and inclusion) quotas'. Arya was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015. His multi-page announcement includes a list of policy proposals, including increasing the retirement age by two years in 2040, introducing a citizenship-based tax system and recognising Palestine as a state, it added. 'It's time for Canada to take full control of its destiny,' he wrote in the statement and promised to make the country 'a sovereign republic'. It would require replacing the monarchy as the head of state. After the meeting of the National Board of Directors, Sachit Mehra, president of the Liberal Party of Canada, said in a statement: 'After a robust and secure nation-wide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election.' The National Board of Directors formally met on Thursday evening to discuss and outline the initial rules of the up-coming leadership race, the party statement added. After the party's announcement, another CBC report said that former central banker Mark Carney has also said he's interested and added that former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. premier Christy Clark and House Leader Karina Gould are said to be gathering supporters, too. Prior to Thursday's meeting, along with Arya, former Montreal MP Frank Baylis both said they will be running, it said. The CBC report also pointed out how the new leader chosen on March 9 will have a tight timeline as the Gov Gen Mary Simon has prorogued Parliament until March 24. The main three opposition parties have vowed a 'No Confidence' vote after Parliament resumes, other media reports said. Meanwhile, The Toronto Star newspaper said, Arya is a vocal advocate for Hindu Canadians and has clashed with other parliamentarians, including his own Liberal caucus colleagues, over his views on relations between Ottawa and New Delhi and the actions of Sikh separatists in Canada. A few months ago, Arya sparred with New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh and Liberal caucus colleague Sukh Dhaliwal after separatist Sikh protesters clashed with Hindu worshippers at a temple in the Greater Toronto Area during a visit from Indian consular officials amid heightened tensions between Canada and India. Last year, Arya travelled to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A statement from Global Affairs Canada at the time said Arya 'travelled to India on his own initiative and was not representing the Government of Canada'. The two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites that the Indian Space Research Organisation is hoping to unite are at a distance of 1.5 km and will be brought much closer on January 11, the space agency said on Friday. IMAGE: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches Polar Satellite Launch vehicle (PSLV-C60) with two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) satellites and 24 other innovative payloads into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), in Sriharikota. Photograph: ANI Photo The SpaDeX space docking experiment has so far missed two publicly announced schedules, on January 7 and January 9. 'Spacecrafts are at a distance of 1.5 km and on hold mode. Further drift to 500 m is planned to be achieved by tomorrow morning,' ISRO said in a post on 'X'. This announcement came a day after the space agency shared that the drift between satellites that had caused the postponement of the docking experiment for the second time had been arrested and they were put in a slow drift course to move closer to each other. ISRO successfully launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30, 2024. The PSLV C60 rocket carrying two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), along with 24 payloads, had lifted off from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and about 15 minutes after liftoff, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kg each were launched into a 475-km circular orbit as intended. After the launch, ISRO has been preparing for the docking, which requires multiple steps/stages. Docking in space is a complex process, which so far has been mastered by only three other countries -- the United States, Russia and China. On January 6, a day before the first docking attempt was scheduled, ISRO announced its postponement to January 9, stating that the docking process requires further validation through ground simulations based on an abort scenario identified. A day ahead of the docking planned on January 9, the space agency had initiated the drift on Spacecraft A (chaser) to move closer from 500 m to 225 m. But shortly after that it announced another postponement of docking, saying that -- while making a maneuver to reach 225 m between satellites, the drift was found to be more than expected, post non-visibility period. According to ISRO, SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft that were launched by PSLV. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc. In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology. The indecision of the then Maharashtra governor on the state government's recommendation to appoint 12 persons as MLCs is 'quite disturbing', the Bombay high court has said. IMAGE: A view of the Bombay high court. Photograph: ANI Photo The HC, however, held as valid and legal the decision taken by the then Eknath Shinde-led government to withdraw the list of nominations sent by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar had on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by former corporator and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray functionary Sunil Modi against the withdrawal of a list of 12 MLC nominees sent to the governor in 2020 by the then MVA government. In its detailed judgment made available on Friday, the HC said it was 'quite disturbing' that despite an order passed in 2021 on the issue, the Governor did not take any decision on the recommendations made by the state government on November 6, 2020. "However, the fact remains that on the said recommendations or the advice tendered by the Council of Ministers, the decision was not taken and accordingly, no order based on any such decision could be issued in terms of the provisions as contained in Article 166 of the Constitution of India," the HC said. Since no decision was taken by the governor in respect of the nomination of the 12 candidates, it was open to the Council of Ministers to withdraw the recommendations, the court added. "The process initiated with the recommendations made and advice tendered by the Council of Ministers on 6th November 2020 could not reach its final destination and accordingly, in the mid of such decision making process, in our opinion, it was well within the authority of the Council of Ministers to withdraw the earlier recommendations," the HC said. Modi's plea sought directions for the Governor to either nominate the 12 candidates as recommended by the Council of Ministers on November 6, 2020, or return the recommendations with reasons. After Eknath Shinde came to power in mid-2022, the new cabinet wrote to the Governor informing him that the list of 12 names submitted by the earlier government was being withdrawn. Following this, on September 5, 2022, the Governor returned the list to the chief minister's office (CMO). In October 2024, the Governor appointed seven Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) under the governor's quota. These comprise three from the BJP, and two each from the Shiv Sena and NCP. The newly appointed MLCs from the BJP are its state women's wing chief Chitra Wagh, state general secretary Vikrant Patil, and spiritual leader of Banjara community Dharmaguru Babusingh Maharaj Rathod. The Nationalist Congress Party nominated former MLA Pankaj Bhujbal and Idris Naikwadi, while the Shiv Sena's nominees are former MLC Manisha Kayande and former Lok Sabha MP Hemant Patil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday cited a number of incidents including the Godhra train fire and terror attacks in Gujarat to describe how he tries to detach himself from his emotions to overcome anxiety. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the BJP CEC meeting, at party headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo In a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Modi was asked if he ever faced anxiety. "A lot of youngsters these days say they face anxiety... Have you faced it in your life," Kamath asked the prime minister. "Definitely such situations arise... But everyone has different style and capacity to face such situations," Modi replied. "I am in a position in which I have to detach myself from emotions, and the natural tendencies human beings have... I have to rise above it," he said. "Like in 2002, there were elections in Gujarat. It was the biggest test of my life... I was not watching TV, at noon I heard sounds of drums outside my house. I had told people not to tell me about the results till noon... then I was sent a letter that we are ahead. "I don't think it had any effect on me, whether you call it restlessness or anxiety... but there was a thought to overpower it," Modi said. "Once there were blasts at five places... Imagine my situation as the chief minister. I said I wanted to go to the police control room, but my security denied saying it is risky. I insisted that I will go. I went and sat in the car, and said I will go to the hospital first. They said there were blasts in hospitals too, but I insisted that I will go. You can say there was anxiety, restlessness in me. But my way was to be totally involved in my mission, a sense of responsibility takes over," he said. Modi also recalled the Godhra train fire incident of 2002 in which many kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya were killed. "On February 24 2002, I became an MLA for the first time. On February 27, I went to the assembly for the first time. I was three-days old as an MLA and the Godhra incident happened. I was restless, I was worried, I was in the House... I said I want to go to Godhra. I suggested that we will go to Vadodara, and take a helicopter from there. They said there is no helicopter and I asked them to find one..." Modi recalled. "There was one chopper of ONGC, but it was a single engine one. They said they can't take a VIP in that... I said I am not a VIP but a common man, I will go by a single engine helicopter... and I reached Godhra," he said. "It was a painful sight. There were dead bodies everywhere, but I knew I am at a post where I have to rise above my emotions. I tried to keep myself together," he said. Asked if he thinks about the worst-case scenario, Modi said, "I have never thought about life or death, those who lead calculated lives may feel so. When I became the chief minister, I was surprised how I became the CM..." "My background is such that if I had become a teacher in a primary school, my mother would have distributed jaggery in the neighbourhood," he added. The Supreme Court on Friday directed the tree authority of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation not to allow any further tree felling in Mumbai's Aarey colony without its permission. IMAGE: On November 29, 2022, the apex court permitted Mumbai Metro to raise its plea to fell 84 trees at Mumbai's Aarey Colony with the authority concerned. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Aravind Kumar said the authority could process the applications and then seek orders from the court. The order came after the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) informed the bench there was no pending proposal to cut of more trees in the area. The top court posted the hearing on March 5. The apex court had directed the Maharashtra government to inform if there was any proposal to fell more trees in Aarey forest. The court in 2023 permitted some forest-dwelling communities to move the Bombay High Court with their grievances over felling of trees in the forest for the metro rail project. On April 17, 2023, the apex court came down heavily on Mumbai Metro for trying to "overreach" its order permitting the felling of only 84 trees in the forest for a car shed project and directed it to pay Rs 10 lakh as penalty. The court said it was improper on the part of the MMRCL to move the tree authority for felling of any trees in excess of 84. The top court, however, permitted the company to remove 177 trees from Aarey forest, saying a stay on tree felling would bring the public project to a standstill which was not desirable. The apex court in 2019 took suo motu cognisance of a letter petition addressed to the chief justice of India by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the felling of trees in the colony. On November 29, 2022, the apex court permitted Mumbai Metro to raise its plea to fell 84 trees at Mumbai's Aarey Colony with the authority concerned. The top court had directed MMRCL to strictly abide by its undertaking on no tree felling and warned of strict action in case of violation. The apex court had restrained the authorities from felling any more trees after the solicitor general submitted on behalf of Maharashtra government no more trees would be cut. The felling of trees in the colony was opposed by green activists and Aarey residents. "How do you shake up a legacy brand for a new generation and a new market?" This was the point of discussion between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the "young founders" of 100-year-old Keventers at one of its outlets in Delhi where he also made cold coffee for a few customers. IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi visits a Keventers store, at Patel Nagar in New Delhi and tires his hand making cold coffee. Photographs: / ANI Photo On Thursday, he shared on X a video of this conversation during his recent visit to the store at Patel Nagar area. "How do you shake up a legacy brand for a new generation and a new market? The young founders of Keventers shared some valuable insights with me recently," he wrote. "Play-fair businesses like Keventers have driven our economic growth for generations. We must do more to support them," he also said. Gandhi also said that the banking system in India did not promote such entrepreneurs and people with skills, but was controlled by the big guys who got money and funding easily. During the conversation with the owners, Gandhi delved into the fascinating journey of the iconic start-up that seamlessly blends legacy with modern ambition. "Visiting the Keventers store was like stepping into a fascinating mix of legacy and modern ambition. I sat down with the co-founders of this 100-year-old start-up to understand their journey-from its pre-independence beginnings as a manufacturing-focused brand to becoming a consumer-facing powerhouse with over 200 stores across 65 cities," Gandhi said on his YouTube channel. "We discussed everything: how they've preserved old recipes while experimenting with new ones, their expansion plans into Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 cities, and even their foray into FMCG products like flavoured milk and ghee. They shared insights on navigating challenges like thin FMCG margins and rising competition in Tier-1 cities, all while maintaining their vision to blend tradition with innovation," he said. Gandhi said what stood out to him was their determination to build a genuine business in an increasingly difficult business environment. "Their focus on creating opportunities for others and expanding access to their products speaks to their commitment to growth despite the odds. "For me, this conversation wasn't just about their story-it was a window into how play-fair businesses like Keventers are reshaping India's entrepreneurial spirit. Watch the full episode to hear their story, their strategies, and their dreams for the future," he said on his channel. Speaking with the co-founders - Aman Arora and Agastya Dalmia, he uncovered how the brand evolved from its pre-independence roots to a consumer powerhouse with over 200 stores across 65 cities serving its popular milkshakes and desserts. The company, which also sells ice cream and milk powder, now plans to expand to 500 stores and also has opened some abroad, which are competing well with some international brands. The conversation covered the commitment of the owners to preserving old recipes while innovating, expansion into Tier-2 to Tier-4 cities, and their FMCG foray into products like flavoured milk and ghee. They also discussed tackling thin margins, rising competition, and their focus on creating opportunities and expanding access to quality products. Gandhi told the founders during the conversation that there are basically two types of businesses in India - "One is monopoly political sort of businesses and then there are these guys who are sort of genuine businesses that are trying to build stuff in an environment which is difficult, where you have sort of red-tape. So we wanted to get a sense as to what sort of businesses and innovations that they are doing. How they are thinking about sort of navigating about this environment and what their vision is." The former Congress chief, who underwent a Kanyakumari to Kashmir yatra to interact with people and hear out their problems, said when he talked with a host of youth during the march, nobody talked of becoming an entrepreneur. "Our system does not push you in that direction...It does not tell kids about the options. "Our banking system is completely controlled by the large guys. Thousands and thousands of crores, they get like that. If you an entrepreneur, young people like you, it is very difficult to get funding. They just don't have the money. People with skills don't get money," he said. Noting that the geopolitical situation is very unstable, Gandhi also said that people with businesses like this would do good. Asked whether he himself wanted to be an investor, Gandhi said "I have been an investment strategist for five years. I understand this well." Gandhi has been meeting people with skills and has been speaking in favour of local entrepreneurs, while stressing on even competition for all and promoting local talent and enterprise. A special court in Pune on Friday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case related to his alleged objectionable remarks on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: ANI Photo The MP/MLA court granted bail to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on a surety bond of Rs 25,000 after he appeared before it through video conferencing, his lawyer said. Senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi stood as surety for Gandhi (54) before the court presided over by Amol Shinde, judicial magistrate (first class) and special judge for MP/MLA cases. Advocate Milind Pawar, representing Gandhi, said soon after his client appeared before the court, they moved a bail application. The judge allowed the plea and granted bail to the former Congress president on a surety bond of Rs 25000, he informed. The advocate said the court also granted permanent exemption to the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli from appearing before it. The case was filed on a complaint by V D Savarkar's grandnephew Satyaki, who alleged Gandhi had made defamatory remarks against the Hindutva icon at a programme he attended in London in March 2023. Earlier, advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, objected to Gandhi's application seeking virtual appearance. There was no provision that allows an accused to appear in court through video conferencing before securing bail, Kolhatkar argued. The court, however, permitted Gandhi to attend the proceedings online. Wearing a bottle green sweater, the Congress MP appeared before the court and stated his name when the judge asked for it. The matter will be next heard on February 18. As per the complaint, Gandhi, while speaking at the London event, stated that Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy. According to the complaint, the freedom fighter had not written this anywhere and the Congress leader's remarks were aimed at defaming him. At the time, the court had asked the Pune police to investigate the allegations and file a report. The Vishrambaug police, after an inquiry, submitted that there was prima facie truth in the complaint. Gandhi had skipped the previous court appearance on December 2 citing the winter session of Parliament which he was attending. His lawyer Pawar had then assured that the opposition parliamentarian will appear in the court on January 10. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will come to know 'in a few days' if his Nationalist Congress Party and cabinet colleague Dhananjay Munde has any link to the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, claimed Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Suresh Dhas on Friday. IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo Massajog sarpanch Deshmukh was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9 for trying to stop an extortion bid on an energy firm helming a windmill project in the region. A murder case and an extortion case linked to the killing are being probed by a special investigation team of the state CID. Munde, MLA from Parli in Beed, is under attack from opposition parties and even some leaders of the ruling Mahayuti as Walmik Karad, the key accused in the extortion case linked to the sarpanch's murder, is his close aide. Speaking to a regional news channel, Dhas said, "Ajit Pawar will come to know after a few days if there is a connection (of Munde with the murder case) or not. I have never claimed there is a connection. I don't say anything firmly (with firm conviction) on it and they (Munde's backers) must also not say anything firmly as of now." Dhas was answering a query on Pawar backing Munde on the issue. Speaking to reporters in Pune on Thursday, Pawar had said, "He (Munde) has asserted he is not even remotely linked to the case. He also said that any agency can probe the case. People levelling allegations must hand over evidence they have to probe agencies." Some leaders from the ruling alliance and the opposition are making allegations in connection with the case, but they must take precaution to ensure injustice is not done to anyone, the deputy CM had added. Dhas further alleged 109 "unidentified" dead bodies were found in Parli in a year, of which only four could be identified, while the remaining 105 were cremated. The BJP MLA from Ashti also claimed Walmik Karad's name will soon be added in the sarpanch murder case. The Maratha and Vanjari communities must not fight over this incident as it would 'not bring Santosh Deshmukh back', the MLA added. The murder has also got embroiled in a caste tussle since Deshmukh was a Maratha and several of the accused are from the Vanjari community. KYODO NEWS - Jan 10, 2025 - 17:28 | Arts, All, World Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. said Friday that its Hong Kong-based joint venture has acquired exclusive licensing rights for the popular Finnish Moomin characters in South Korea, citing a significant potential for expanding the brand in the country. Itochu aims to leverage its distribution capabilities to increase the number of licensees in South Korea from approximately 20 companies to around 60 to 80 companies over the next three to five years. Its joint venture, Rights & Brands Asia Ltd., established in 2021 to license popular characters for the Asian market, has already secured exclusive rights for Moomin in regions like China, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore. The total global distribution value of Moomin-related products exceeds 100 billion yen ($631 million) annually, according to Itochu. Licensing agreements grant manufacturers the right to produce and sell merchandise featuring characters that are protected as intellectual property. In addition to Moomin, the joint venture oversees licensing for various animation and comic characters, including The Smurfs. Related coverage: Japan's animation industry keeps momentum after record sales in 2023 New Tokyo nightlife spot blends crane games with DJs, club fun FEATURE:Chinese K-pop fans turn to Hong Kong to evade S. Korean content ban An eight-year-old girl studying in Class 3 died of a suspected cardiac arrest in her school in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat on Friday, officials said. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons The incident occurred in Zebar School for Children located in Thaltej area in the morning, following which the police launched a probe to know the exact reason behind her death, they said. "The girl, Gargi Ranpara, fell unconscious soon after she sat on a chair in the lobby while going towards her classroom in the morning," principal of the school, Sharmishtha Sinha, said. In the CCTV video shared by the school management, the girl can be seen walking in the lobby and going towards her classroom. But on her way, she sits on a chair in the lobby due to uneasiness. She can later be seen sliding from the chair after getting unconscious in the presence of teachers and other students there. "Gargi was normal when she arrived at the school in the morning. When she was going towards her classroom on the first floor, she sat on a chair in the corridor but suddenly fell unconscious. Since she was experiencing difficulty in breathing, our teachers gave her CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and called an ambulance," Sinha said. But considering the girl's serious health condition, the staff decided to take her to a nearby private hospital in their own vehicle, she said. "Doctors there told us that Gargi had suffered a cardiac arrest. They tried to revive her and also kept her on a ventilator support, but she could not survive," she added. After coming to know about the girl's death, the local police rushed to the spot and launched a probe. "We received a call from the hospital that a school student has died after being admitted. We have launched an investigation from our side and sent her body for postmortem to know the exact cause of her death," Joint Commissioner of Police, Sector-1, Neeraj Badgujar, said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. KYODO NEWS - Jan 10, 2025 - 20:21 | All, Japan Eight students were injured Friday in a hammer attack at a university campus in the suburbs of Tokyo, according to police. An emergency call was made around 3:45 p.m., reporting an attack by a student at Hosei University's Tama Campus in Machida. The assailant, a 22-year-old South Korean woman, was subdued and arrested, according to the Metropolitan Police Department and fire department officials. Investigative sources quoted the suspect as saying she was "frustrated" after being ignored by a group of students and used a hammer she found on campus. The eight students sustained only minor injuries. The suspect was swinging the hammer around inside a building on the campus before being subdued by those around her, the police said. Related coverage: Arrested man faces murder charge over Japan McDonald's stabbings U.S. Marine suspected of sexual assault in Okinawa in November At least 15 killed, dozens injured in New Orleans truck attack KYODO NEWS - Jan 10, 2025 - 14:59 | Japan, World, All Japan and Malaysia agreed at their summit on Friday to strengthen ties to ensure regional security based on the rule of law and build robust supply chains, seeking to cement their "strategic" partnership as China expands its influence in Asia and beyond. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed in Malaysia their coordination toward achieving peace and security in the East and South China seas and the Middle East. "It is one of the utmost priorities for Japan's diplomacy to deepen ties" with Malaysia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Ishiba said during a joint press appearance with his Malaysian counterpart. Ishiba, who chose Malaysia as the destination of his first overseas trip for a bilateral summit, said Tokyo will expand security cooperation with Malaysia in such fields as cybersecurity. Sharing basic values such as the rule of law and democracy, Japan and Malaysia upgraded the status of their ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in 2023. Tokyo sees ASEAN members as critical partners in realizing a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, as China's growing clout has raised concerns. Malaysia is this year's ASEAN chair. Malaysia exports liquefied natural gas to Japan and most of the crude oil bound for Japan travels through the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia. During their meeting, the two leaders agreed to closely communicate over issues related to the East and South China seas, Myanmar, where the military has been in power since a 2021 coup, and the conflict in the Middle East. Some of the ASEAN members are at loggerheads with China over islands in the South China Sea. Japan, for its part, has also seen Chinese ships entering waters around the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by Beijing. Calling Malaysia, which has a large Muslim population, a "bridge" between Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Ishiba said he and Anwar discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and they "agreed to work together toward peace and stability." Anwar, who described the meeting as "one of the most extensive," expressed hope that Japan can collaborate on Malaysia's energy transition, digitalization and education. "Malaysia has benefited immensely from the collaboration with Japan," he told Ishiba at the outset of the meeting. Related coverage: Japan PM travels to Malaysia, Indonesia for summit talks Japan PM noncommittal over nuke pact in meeting with Nobel-winning Hidankyo Japan PM urges party unity, upper house majority at stake in election A pretrial detention hearing was held for 11 protesters in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on January 10. The protesters, who include the Georgian actor Andro Chichinadze, were detained on charges of participating in group violence during pro-European protests. The demonstrations came after disputed parliamentary elections on October 26, which saw the ruling Georgian Dream party returned to power. Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. I'm RFE/RL's China Global Affairs Correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now. Minding The Transatlantic Gap China is looking to capitalize on a transatlantic rift between the United States and Europe that is widening as U.S. President Donald Trump looks to quickly end the war in Ukraine. But how much of an opening is there actually for Beijing? Finding Perspective: The threat of tariffs, a war of words at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, U.S.-Russia talks that excluded Europe and Kyiv, and a standoff at the United Nations over how to commemorate the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine have all been recent fissures between Washington and European governments. That brought new questions about relying on the United States to European capitals and left an opening for Beijing, which has been trying to woo back Europe over the past four years. On the sidelines in Munich, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with several top European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Spain's foreign minister seems to be at least more open to the idea of keeping China closer amid tensions with the United States. Jose Manuel Albares told the Financial Times that the European Union should craft its own China policy and not follow the more confrontational line with Beijing advocated by those in the Trump administration. "Europe must take its own decisions, on its own. And we have to decide when China can be a partner and when China is a competitor," Albares told the newspaper. How We Got Here: During Trump's first term in office, Washington pushed European governments to take a harder line on China. That led to the bloc labeling China a "systemic rival" in 2019. The Chinese government's untransparent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, human rights, and supply chain concerns, and Beijing's backing of Russia throughout the war in Ukraine all saw that harder line solidify in Europe under former U.S. President Joe Biden's tenure. Now amid growing transatlantic tensions, some European governments see following Trump's tough stance on China as a way to win over Washington. Others, like the Spanish government, are arguing to preserve vital economic ties with Beijing, especially amid growing uncertainty about the United States. This has even led to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, one of Brussels's more hawkish voices on China, calling in January for a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing. A True Rift? Tensions on each side of the Atlantic are real. Following his party's victory in elections on February 23, Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor-in-waiting for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the Trump administration "does not care much about the fate of Europe" and that the Continent needs to act accordingly. "My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the U.S.A.," he said. Talk of a seismic shift in the geopolitical order is also under way in Brussels. One EU official recently back from discussions with U.S. officials told RFE/RL that the White House's focus is on ending the war in Ukraine and that there is a "take it or leave it" attitude from Washington. The Trump administration wants to "remove the Ukraine issue from the table and move on to other issues. It is becoming clear that Trump's goal is to rule the world together with Russia and China" and work toward "strategically separating them from each other," said the official, who was granted anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. Why It Matters: Europe may be grappling with a realignment, but that doesn't mean China is its only option to hedge. As European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington, von der Leyen is set to arrive in India on February 27. James Crabtree, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told me that "it's hard to imagine a better time to re-energize Europe's and India's historically lackluster ties" and that a focus of the trip will be technology cooperation. "A meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council -- only the second since its foundation in 2023 -- offers opportunities to deepen collaboration in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to clean technologies," he said. China may also be short on opportunities, with most EU members unable to look past its support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine. The bloc's most recent sanctions package passed on February 24 once again included Chinese companies and individuals. What is likely to emerge is a more fragmented Europe when it comes to China. While some governments look to countries like India, South Korea, and Japan to balance out their foreign policy, others -- such as the current Spanish government and Hungary -- will keep courting Chinese investment and create new openings for Beijing. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. A Reverse Nixon? China publicly backed the Trump administration's recent talks with the Kremlin, but analysts and former U.S. officials I spoke with mostly said the prospect of a U.S.-Russia reset is also making Beijing "nervous" about having less leverage over its partner. The Details: "While a complete rapprochement might not be in the cards, they're nervous because if Trump lifts sanctions on Russia, then Moscow's dependency on China decreases," Dennis Wilder, who was a top White House China adviser to former U.S. President George W. Bush, told me. One of the hallmarks of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's foreign policy has been a burgeoning strategic partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin that's grown closer since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Beijing has propped up the Russian economy through enhanced trade and energy purchases while fueling the Kremlin's war effort with the supply of key goods as both Xi and Putin have found common ground in wanting to challenge the West and unseat the United States. The fear of all that being derailed by a new type of U.S.-Russia relationship born out of a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine is real for Beijing. Wilder says he's had conversations with "very senior Chinese officials" since Trump's election in November who have expressed concern about a potential U.S.-Russia reset. He says they've used the phrase "Only Trump goes to Moscow," a play on the historical reference to former U.S. President Richard Nixon's landmark visit to Beijing in 1972, when he defied precedent and courted China to exploit its split with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. 2. But Can It Work? A grand bargain would be a major diplomatic feat, but it's something Trump administration officials have hinted at in public comments of late. What You Need To Know: The Trump administration has made clear it sees managing a long-term rivalry with China as its top foreign policy objective and may look to deprioritize regions like Europe and the Middle East in order to raise pressure on Beijing in Asia. Following the talks in Riyadh, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the possibility for future "geopolitical and economic cooperation" between Washington and Moscow was among the key points discussed. And in an interview this month with The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington was prepared to reset the relationship with the Kremlin following an agreement over Ukraine as a move to end Russia's isolation and its growing dependence on China since the war began. "It's not in Putin's interest to be the little brother in a coalition with China," Vance said. The thinking is that even new cracks between the two powers may loosen Moscow's alignment with Beijing and could have a deterrent effect on China, especially if it decides to use military force to take Taiwan. Still, both Beijing and Moscow are aware of what the White House is trying to do, and Beijing has made a point to show it and Moscow are still a tandem, including a recent phone call between Putin and Xi on the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Steve Tsang, director of SOAS University London's China Institute, told me he believes Washington's efforts to reset its Russia ties are also not all bad news for Beijing. "Xi does not want Putin to fail in the war, and so Trump delivering a peace that mostly meets Russian conditions is a positive," he said. "Who knows who will be the next U.S. president and if there will be a reversal of U.S. posture post-Trump." 3. Taiwan Watches A New U.S. Line On Ukraine Ukrainians living in Taiwan and local supporters protested outside the de-facto Russian Embassy in Taipei on the eve of the third anniversary of Moscow's invasion. What It Means: The self-governing island has been a vocal supporter of Kyiv, which the Taiwanese government sees as a foil for its own tenuous geopolitical position where China has long threatened to invade and annex Taiwan if it refused to peacefully accept unification. Those parallels have grown since Trump's election. The United States is Taiwan's largest military backer and its support is considered vital for its survival, but Trump's global shakeup, including launching negotiations with Russia without Ukraine and threatening to cut off future aid to Kyiv, has brought anxiety to Taiwan about a similar withdrawal of American assistance. When I was in Taiwan in December, I spoke with several senior officials who said they were closely watching what happened to Kyiv on the battlefield and with the new U.S. administration. So far, the White House has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan, but Washington has also threatened tariffs on the island's semiconductor industry, which is responsible for around 60 percent of world production for microchips and 90 percent of the most-advanced ones needed for the global AI boom. Across The Supercontinent Choking Off Iranian Oil: Earlier this month, the United States brought in a new tranche of sanctions on Iranian oil, my colleague Kian Sharifi and I reported . The move is seen as an opening shot against Tehran and Beijing -- Iran's top oil customer. New Bridge Deal: The Transport Ministry of Tajikistan and the Tajik branch of the Chinese company Zhejiang Communications Construction Group (ZCCC) signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of what will be the longest road bridge in Central Asia. New Tools For Tashkent: Uzbekistan showcased on February 25 newly purchased Chinese-made air-defense systems, including the FM-90 short-range surface-to-air missile system and the KS-1C medium-to-long-range air-defense system. One Thing To Watch A Chinese-crewed cargo ship is detained in Taiwan's southern port of Tainan after a key Taiwan-Penghu Internet cable was mysteriously severed. Taiwanese prosecutors are investigating whether this was an accident or part of a broader pattern of disruptions to vital communication lines, but the country's Coast Guard released footage of them apprehending the vessel. The move comes amid growing tensions from a rise of so-called gray zone tactics, the term often used by Taiwanese officials to refer to the hybrid tactics used to intimidate the island but which remain below the threshold for war. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish Russian forces have carried out more than 2,100 aerial strikes on Ukraine over the past week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 9, as Russia has stepped up attacks on its neighbor and reported battlefield gains ahead of Kyiv's high-stakes talks with US representatives in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. It comes as US President Donald Trump questioned the long-term viability of Ukraine itself. When asked in a Fox Business TV interview whether he was worried that decreased US support for Ukraine could endanger that country's survival, he responded: "Well, it may not survive anyway." "But, you know, we have some weaknesses with Russia -- you know, it takes two," Trump added. Zelenskyy said in a social media post that Russian forces this week deployed 1,200 guided aerial bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and more than 80 missiles of various types. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, announced the recapture of several villages and towns on March 9 in its Kursk region -- as well as new settlements in eastern Ukraine -- with unconfirmed reports that thousands of Ukrainian troops risk being encircled by Russian forces. It comes a day after Russian air strikes killed at least 50 people in the eastern Donetsk region, according to local officials, with at least 11 deaths reported in the city of Dobropillya. "Such strikes show that Russia's goals are unchanged," Zelenskyy wrote on social media late on March 8. "Therefore, it is very important to continue to do everything to protect life, strengthen our air defense, and increase sanctions against Russia. The series of strikes and battlefield pressure represent another setback for Kyiv ahead of crucial talks with the United States next week in Saudi Arabia, where Ukrainian officials will meet with their US counterparts for negotiations around how to end the three-year war. The Institute For The Study of War, a Washington-based think tank that tracks battlefield developments, said Russian forces have "intensified their multidirectional campaign to eliminate the remaining Ukrainian salient in Kursk" in the last two days. According to DeepState, an open-source military tracker linked to the Ukrainian Army, the Russian moves followed a "breach" in Ukrainian defense lines near the town of Sudzha, which remains under Kyiv's control but is facing growing pressure from Russian units. Pro-Russian war bloggers who closely track frontline developments in the war also reported that Russian special forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in Kursk late on March 8 to gain a foothold outside of Sudzha. According to the reports, the pipeline was used to surprise Ukrainian units and cut off their supply lines as the Kremlin pours more manpower into kicking Kyiv out of Russian territory. RFE/RL was not able to independently verify the accounts, but Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russian "sabotage and assault groups" used the pipeline to get access to Sudzha. "At present, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked, and destroyed. The enemy's losses in Sudzha are very high," Ukraine's General Staff said in a Telegram post on March 8. Ukraine aimed to hit back by launching a drone overnight at an industrial facility in the Russian region of Chuvashia, some 1,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The strike is one of the deepest yet into Russian territory by a Ukrainian drone, and it hit its target but caused no casualties, according to Russian authorities. Ousting Ukrainian forces from Kursk with the talks in Saudi Arabia approaching looks to be part of Moscow's strategy. In August 2024, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers seized roughly 1,300 square kilometers of Russia's western Kursk region, a move which Kyiv later characterized as an attempt to gain a bargaining chip for future negotiations and draw Russian troops away from the front line in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces have managed to claw back large chunks of territory in Kursk, but Ukraine has retained a foothold that now risks being shrunk down further leading into the key talks. Ukraine 'Fully Committed' To US Talks With his attention fixed on the upcoming talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is "fully committed" to having a constructive dialogue with US representatives in Saudi Arabia next week over a potential peace settlement. "Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively," he posted on X. The Ukrainian president said he will travel to Saudi Arabia and meet with Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Salman on March 10. Afterward, a delegation of Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives will stay for a March 11 meeting with a US negotiating team. "On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps," Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy will not be part of the US-Ukraine talks, which will instead be done by a delegation including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. They will meet with a US delegation that will reportedly include Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and national-security adviser Mike Waltz. Rubio departed for Saudi Arabia late on March 9, the State Department said. In remarks late on March 9, Trump told reporters he expects results from the Saudi talks. "We're going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week," Trump said. The upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia are the culmination of weeks of tough diplomacy and negotiations spearheaded by Washington since it met with a Russian delegation in Riyadh in February. US-Ukraine ties have since frayed, with tensions culminating in an Oval Office argument in late February between Zelenskyy, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance that saw the Ukrainian president leave the White House without signing a crucial minerals deal with Washington. Since then, the Trump administration has paused military shipments and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The full extent of the intelligence cutoff is unclear, but it has sparked fears that it could lead to Ukrainian setbacks on the front lines as Russia looks to press for the advantage. In his March 9 remarks to reporters, Trump said he believed Ukraine would eventually sign a minerals deal with the United States. But -- amid reports he would want even more actions out of Kyiv -- Trump added that "I want them to want peace. They haven't shown it to the extent they should." European countries like Britain and France have stepped up to provide more intelligence sharing with Ukraine but are reportedly still not able to replace the full scope of US capabilities. Waltz suggested on March 5 that Trump may lift the pause on military aid once peace negotiations are arranged and confidence-building measures take place. When asked on March 9 whether he would end the suspension of intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, Trump said, without elaborating, that "we just about have. We just about have." In the days leading up to the talks, Trump offered criticism of Moscow's increased attacks on Ukraine in the lead up to talks and mentioned potential sanctions against the Kremlin. But he also said Russian President Vladimir Putin was doing what anybody would do" and he told reporters in the Oval Office on March 7 that he finds it "easier" to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Putin "wants to end the war." KYODO NEWS - Jan 10, 2025 - 23:13 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan, Malaysia deepen ties over security, energy amid China concern KUALA LUMPUR - Japan and Malaysia agreed at their summit on Friday to strengthen ties to ensure regional security based on the rule of law and build robust supply chains, seeking to cement their "strategic" partnership as China expands its influence in Asia and beyond. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed in Malaysia their coordination toward achieving peace and security in the East and South China seas and the Middle East. ---------- Japan gov't mulls disclosing malicious AI developers' names to public TOKYO - The Japanese government is considering disclosing the names of developers of malicious artificial intelligence systems to the public, as it aims to set up legally binding regulations to address disinformation, cyberattacks and other risks, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. But any punitive measure will not be included in a bill that the government plans to submit to the ordinary parliamentary session, as such a move could discourage new AI development, the sources said. ---------- Japan expands sanctions target list over Russian invasion of Ukraine TOKYO - Japan on Friday added 11 people and 32 organizations in Russia, as well as a North Korean individual and a Georgian bank, to its list of asset freeze sanctions over the Russian war in Ukraine. The government also said it has decided to ban exports to an additional 53 organizations, of which 22 are Russian and 18 are Chinese, effective later this month, with the aim of preventing exported products from being used to strengthen Russia's industrial foundation. ---------- Heavy snow hits north, west Japan, 100 vehicles temporarily stranded TOKYO - Heavy snow fell in areas of northern and western Japan facing the Sea of Japan on Friday, disrupting bullet train services and temporarily stranding about 100 vehicles following the closure of part of an expressway. A section of the Yamagata Shinkansen Line was suspended temporarily to allow snow to be removed, while trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line ran at reduced speeds between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka stations and delays were experienced also on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line, the train operators said. ---------- 8 students injured in hammer attack at univ. campus in Tokyo suburbs TOKYO - Eight students were injured Friday in a hammer attack at a university campus in the suburbs of Tokyo, according to police. An emergency call was made around 3:45 p.m., reporting an attack by a student at Hosei University's Tama Campus in Machida. The assailant, a 22-year-old South Korean woman, was subdued and arrested, according to the Metropolitan Police Department and fire department officials. ---------- Japan's top diplomat to tour S. Korea, Philippines, Palau from Mon. TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Friday that he will visit South Korea, the Philippines and Palau next week in a bid to reaffirm bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The four-day trip from Monday comes ahead of the inauguration on Jan. 20 of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, known for his aversion to multilateralism. ---------- Itochu joint venture acquires exclusive rights for Moomin in South Korea TOKYO - Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. said Friday that its Hong Kong-based joint venture has acquired exclusive licensing rights for the popular Finnish Moomin characters in South Korea, citing a significant potential for expanding the brand in the country. Itochu aims to leverage its distribution capabilities to increase the number of licensees in South Korea from approximately 20 companies to around 60 to 80 companies over the next three to five years. ---------- Japan taps Vice Foreign Minister Okano as new nat'l security adviser TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday appointed Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano as the new national security adviser, while naming Takehiro Funakoshi, a senior deputy foreign minister, as his successor. Okano, 60, will take over the post tasked with coordinating the country's diplomatic and security policies on Jan. 20 from Takeo Akiba, who has headed the National Security Secretariat since July 2021. Video: Heavy snow in Japan KYIV -- As Russian forces have intensified their advances in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, they're being helped by a new tool on the battlefield: drones that fly with the use of fiber-optic cables. "The use of fiber-optic FPV drones definitely creates new challenges on the battlefield," said a border guard with the Pomsta Brigade who goes by the call sign "Phoenix." RFE/RL agreed to identify him and other soldiers by their call signs or first names for this story, according to rules set by the Ukrainian military. Unlike standard FPV (first-person view) drones -- the term used for drones piloted through a video feed wirelessly transmitted to a pilot's headset, mobile device, or other displays -- the use of fiber-optic cables allows drones to operate without radio signals. This makes them less vulnerable to electronic jamming as they stay directly connected to their operators through up to 15 kilometers of thin coils of fiber-optic cable that resembles a fishing line. While Ukrainian forces are grappling with declining Western arms support and Russia's manpower advantage, the modified drones represent a shift in battlefield tactics in Ukraine. Both Kyiv and Moscow are ramping up fighting as they enter a pivotal stage of the war ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump -- who has vowed to quickly end the war -- returning to office on January 20. The new drones have reportedly been in use since the summer, but Ukrainian soldiers stationed across the country tell RFE/RL they are becoming a staple of Moscow's battlefield strategy as it pushes for more territory in Ukraine's east. 'A Very Dangerous Weapon' Many said that, in addition to being used for reconnaissance, they are being increasingly used by Russian troops as self-destructing drones with a small payload attached to target Ukrainian positions and vehicles. "This is a very dangerous weapon. It's like a brick with a propeller flying at you, and there is little you can do about it," said "Varan," an officer in the 148th Artillery Brigade. Faced with changing tactics, soldiers say they've been forced to adapt quickly -- with mixed results. Kostyantyn, a commander of the battalion of the National Guard's Bureviy Brigade, says the ineffectiveness of electronic jamming against the new drones allows them to push farther into Ukrainian lines and fly or reach targets with more accuracy compared to traditional FPV drones. "This allows them to see our positions better, strike more accurately, and fly longer distances. This makes the situation a little more complicated," he said. These complications led Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Agency of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, to call the new drones "a huge problem for us" during a December 31 broadcast by Ukrainian media. On January 8, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Russia is increasingly deploying fiber-optic drones as part of its current offensive and said the drones have carried out a series of new strikes along the front lines. "Shvayka," a drone pilot and platoon commander stationed near Soledar in eastern Ukraine, says the long fiber-optic cables can make the drones more difficult to detect. While soldiers can often spot antennas used to allow standard FPV drones to be piloted from a distance and disable them, the Russian drones have only a long, thin line with an easy-to-hide coil that feeds it. "There is only a small box where the fiber-optic cable from the drone itself is placed, and it's very easy to miss this because it's the size of a pack of cigarettes," he said. Another advantage is that they are less likely to lose their signal than standard FPV drones and can pursue targets more easily. "If the pilot is professionally trained, using a fiber-optic drone allows them to fly very low, even skimming the ground in vegetation, without losing the video signal," said "Lyutiy," the commander of an FPV unit in Ukraine's Third Separate Assault Brigade. "[This allows] them to conduct reconnaissance and reach otherwise inaccessible targets [better] than a regular drone." Not Without Drawbacks "Medoid," a Ukrainian border guard, says the biggest lesson he's learned from dealing with the drones is the need to take extra precautions and better camouflage potential targets and personnel. The fiber-optic drones are not without their drawbacks, he adds, saying they struggle in terrain and spaces that aren't open and that he's seen several caught up in tree branches. The drones are also limited in the distances they can cover and where they can strike based on the cable's range. Given these obstacles, soldiers say the easiest way to take out the tethered drones is with small arms fire. Others say they've deployed large nets -- even fishing nets to take them out. The cables can be manually severed, but doing so risks exposing soldiers to incoming fire. But in a war where every advance could prove crucial, the new drones are having an impact on the battlefield. Russia is reportedly ramping up production of the fiber-optic drones and Ukraine is also looking to develop its own versions, including a model showcased by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry earlier this month. "For now, we are still in the testing phase," Lyutiy said. "We all see these flashy ads with promises, but in practice, we are only beginning to develop in this direction." A self-confessed veteran of Russia's Wagner paramilitary group arrested for crossing into the United States from Mexico was honored as a combat veteran weeks earlier by an organization established by Russian President Vladimir Putin, RFE/RL has found. Timur Praliev, 31, was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents on January 4 near the border town of Roma, Texas, after crossing the Rio Grande River into the United States and told the agents he was a citizen of Kazakhstan, U.S. federal court records show. At a January 7 court appearance before a federal judge in McAllen, Texas, a federal prosecutor said Praliev was in possession of both Russian and Kazakh passports, cash, and a drone he carried in his backpack, a local television channel reported. Praliev also admitted to being a member of Wagner, the channels website, Valley Central, cited Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan as saying. Wagner has fought among Russian ranks in the Kremlins all-out war on Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. The paramilitary group has been designated a "transnational criminal organization" by the U.S. Treasury Department. After pleading guilty to unlawful entry into the United States, Praliev was convicted and sentenced to time served. His current whereabouts are unclear. Online records reviewed by RFE/RL show that less than a month before his detention, a man of the same name had been honored at an event held by an official government veterans organization in Russias Bashkortostan region. An account of the December 12, 2024, event was published on Russian social media by the Bashkortostan branch of Defenders Of The Fatherland Foundation. The group was established by Putin in April 2023 to support combat veterans of Russias war against Ukraine. Attempts to reach the foundation for comment were unsuccessful. Photographs from the event show a man identified as Timur Praliev receiving his certification as a combat veteran. The post identified the Timur Praliev shown in the photograph as a former employee of Wagner who has ties to Iglinsky, a municipality east of the regional capital, Ufa. Interviewed outside his home in Almaty, Pralievs father, Galymzhan Nakybekov, told RFE/RLs Kazakh Service that he had poor relations with his son and lost contact with him after Praliev's mother died a decade ago. Nakybekov said Praliev took the last name of his mother, who had relatives in one of the villages in Bashkortostan. Shown a photograph of Praliev being honored at the December 12 event in the Russian region, Nakybekov said the man resembled his son. Nakybekov also confirmed the month and year of his sons birth November 1993. U.S. court records list Pralievs birth year as 1993. RFE/RL also located a profile for a user named Timur Praliev on the Russian social-networking site VKontakte with the birth month and year listed as November 1993. A Kazakhstan-based acquaintance of Praliev's confirmed to RFE/RL that the VKontakte account was that of the man shown being honored at the event. An RFE/RL inquiry sent via direct message to the account went unanswered. Nakybekov told RFE/RLs Kazakh Service that he was unaware of his son's detention in the United States but that he hopes he remains there. "I would like him to stay in the United States. Because if he came here, he would be arrested. If he were there, I would go, too. And what is here? Poverty?" he said, pointing to the dilapidated dormitory on Almatys western outskirts where his apartment is located. During Pralievs court appearance, McColgan said the U.S. government is concerned about [the] safety of the community when this defendant is released because of his affiliation with Wagner, a group associated with political violence, Valley Central quoted the prosecutor as saying. A U.S. magistrate judge ordered Praliev to remain in federal custody, Valley Central said. Neither the U.S. attorney office for southern Texas nor the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol regional office overseeing that section of the U.S.-Mexican border immediately responded to e-mails or voicemails from RFE/RL seeking further details. Founded by St. Petersburg chef Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Kremlin confidant, Wagner grew to be one of Russias most notorious private military companies. Its soldiers were deployed in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, and more recently Ukraine, where Wagner fighters played a key role in the capture of the city of Bakhmut. In August 2023, two months after staging a brief, but serious coup attempt, Prigozhin died in a mysterious plane crash north of Moscow. U.S. intelligence officials have said they believe Prigozhin was assassinated. With reporting by RFE/RLs Tatar-Bashkir and Kazakh services Military and civilian leaders of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group met at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on January 9, with the United States pledging an additional $500 million in military aid to Kyiv. It was the last meeting of the allies before Donald Trump is inaugurated as U.S. president, marking an expected shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine. By Callum Cafferty, KYODO NEWS - Jan 10, 2025 - 06:05 | Japan, World, All The leader of the Welsh government sang the Japanese national anthem in Japanese at an event in Cardiff on Thursday, marking the start of a year of cultural and business exchange. First Minister Eluned Morgan's performance of "Kimigayo" was a response to the Japanese ambassador to Britain, Hiroshi Suzuki, singing the Welsh anthem in Welsh in a video that has gone viral on British social media since earlier this week. Suzuki said that learning the anthem in Welsh was "challenging," on the sidelines of the launch event for the "Wales and Japan 2025" initiative. He pledged to "practice Welsh some more," after local schoolchildren who were shown the video said his Welsh pronunciation was strange. Morgan said, "You did a wonderful job and thank you for giving such respect to our country and our language." Attendees at the event were also treated to a performance by a Wales-based Japanese drumming group and music played on a koto -- a traditional Japanese string instrument. The year 2025 was chosen to mark 50 years since Japanese tech giant Panasonic Corp. first started manufacturing in Wales, as well as to coincide with the upcoming World Exposition in Osaka, in which Wales is set to participate. Speaking to Kyodo News, Morgan said that she hoped the yearlong campaign could show the strength of her country's relationship with Japanese business and "give confidence to other Japanese companies to consider investing here in Wales." Morgan also spoke about her interest in Japan's response to the issue of its aging population, saying the country is "ahead of the rest" in its efforts to cope with the long-term effects of a declining birth rate. "I think there's some serious lessons we can learn from that in terms of how you live, and also, obviously, the impact on health," she added. Government statistics predict that by 2038, 1 in 4 people in Wales will be over 65. Additionally, while the country's Japanese population now numbers under a thousand, the organizers said they hope the campaign might lead to more Japanese people considering living in Wales as more of Japan's businesses relocate. Eiko Meredith, 47, the host of an annual Japanese animation festival in Wales, moved to the country in 2008. "I think Welsh people are very friendly and it's very nice to have the city and also have nature," she said. Meredith has been running the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival, which showcases Japanese animated movies all over the country, since 2010. Gardai have arrested a man in the Dublin region as part of an investigation into romance fraud complaints in Ireland. Victims were allegedly targeted through a variety of popular dating apps. Gardai searched a house in the Dublin area on Friday and sezied a number of electronic items. A man in his 30s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The man has since been released from detention. Investigations are ongoing, gardai said. Gardai have arrested three men and seized two firearms as well as quantities of cocaine and cannabis following a search at a residential property on the outskirts of Athlone, County Roscommon, on Wednesday, January 8th. As part of investigations into an aggravated burglary at Garbally Demesne, Ballinasloe, County Galway on December 27th, 2024, Gardai from the crime office in Ballinasloe supported by the Athlone Crime Office and Eastern Region Armed Support Unit searched a residential property in Monksland, Athlone, on Wednesday. Two firearms a sawn-off shotgun and a handgun cannabis with an estimated street value of 20,000 and a quantity of cocaine were found in undergrowth during the search. The firearms were made safe and will now be sent on to the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau to undergo analysis. The drugs seized will be sent to FSI (Forensic Science Ireland) for analysis. Three men two aged in their 40s and one in his 30s were arrested and detained at a Garda Station in County Galway under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They were subsequently released without charge, pending further investigations. Three sisters from Co Kerry have won the overall prize at the 2025 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for their development of a smartphone app that improves the response by health services in emergencies. Sisters Ciara (17), Saoirse (15) and Laoise (12) Murphy from Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, were presented with their prize by Minister for Education Norma Foley at an awards ceremony on Friday evening at the RDS. ACT is a medical assistance app designed to support emergency healthcare responses. It integrates crucial features to provide swift and effective aid during critical situations. This is the second year this project has been recognised at the exhibition having previously been awarded Runner-Up Group in 2024. Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise have spent the last 12 months working on their project along with public and private sector stakeholders. The transformative app is designed to tackle challenges in transferring medical data effectively and efficiently to the emergency services. The app also has the capability to share precise geolocation co-ordinates. Once the data reaches the emergency services, there is the possibility for onward transmission to the dispatch control centres, the attending mobile units, and the hospitals in a matter of seconds. During the project Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise built a working relationship with the Department of Health, the HSE and the National Ambulance Service, together with gardai, to maximise the potential of the app. Professor Joe Barry, chair of the health and wellbeing group judges, said: I would like to congratulate Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise on bringing this project so far. The use of this technology has the potential to save lives and reduce recovery times. This project with the support of the emergency services has the potential to make a real difference in helping citizens in an emergency situation. In addition to receiving the top prize of 7,500, Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise will represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) this year in Riga, Latvia. Also, this year for the first time, Ciara, Saoirse and Laoise as the overall BTYSTE winners, together with the Best Individual winner, will be awarded a trip to the World Expo, in Osaka, Japan. Class 12 Student Detained for Bomb Threat Hoaxes to Skip Exams Officials revealed that the student's plan was to create a disruption that would lead to exam cancellations. Delhi School Bomb Hoax Latest News Today: Delhi Police have detained a Class 12 student responsible for a series of bomb threats sent to multiple schools in the city over the past few weeks. The student reportedly orchestrated the hoaxes to avoid appearing for exams at his own school, according to officials. The minor, who sent at least six bomb threat emails, targeted multiple schools at a time while intentionally excluding his own institution. In one instance, he sent emails to 23 schools simultaneously, spreading panic across the city. Advertisement Officials revealed that the student's plan was to create a disruption that would lead to exam cancellations. However, the hoaxes triggered widespread alarm, with school campuses evacuated and bomb squads conducting thorough searches, which ultimately revealed no threats. Last month, over 40 schools, including prominent institutions like DPS RK Puram and GD Goenka School in Paschim Vihar, received bomb threats via email. One such email claimed small bombs were planted on campuses and demanded $30,000 to defuse them. The frequent hoaxes drew sharp criticism, with Chief Minister Atishi blaming the BJP-led central government for the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi. The Delhi Police, under the Union Home Ministry, faced mounting pressure to resolve the issue. Advertisement In response, authorities began training teachers and school staff to handle such crises. A seminar jointly organized by the police and the Education Department focused on enhancing preparedness against bomb threat scenarios. The bomb threat trend has not been limited to schools. Several airlines also received hoax emails recently, causing emergency landings and operational disruptions. In one incident last year, Delhi Police detained a 25-year-old man for a similar hoax, while Mumbai Police apprehended a 17-year-old for framing a friend with a bomb threat email. Alarming Decline in Punjabs Sex Ratio; Pathankot Records Lowest Figures Experts in the border regions attribute the dismal numbers to factors like female foeticide and low literacy rates. Punjabs Sex Ratio Latest News: The latest sex ratio statistics from Punjabs civil registration system have revealed an alarming decline, particularly in the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur. In Pathankot, the sex ratio dropped from 902 in 2023 to 864 in 2024, meaning only 864 girls were born per 1,000 boys in the district last year. Gurdaspur followed closely with a ratio of 888, slightly improving from 2023s figure of 885. Punjab's overall sex ratio for 2024 stood at 918, marking a modest improvement of two points from the previous year. Advertisement Among the top-performing districts, Kapurthala once again secured the highest gender ratio in the state at 987, though it recorded a slight decline from 992 in 2023. Malerkotla, known for its progressive efforts, showed a significant improvement, rising by 39 points to 961, maintaining its second position. Experts in the border regions attribute the dismal numbers to factors like female foeticide and low literacy rates. Civil Surgeon Dr. Bharat Bhushan noted, Despite the introduction of the PNDT Act, the situation has not improved much in these areas. Families below the poverty line often resort to illegal practices, including traveling to neighboring states like J&K and Himachal Pradesh for sex-selective abortions. Eminent sociologist Prof. Rajesh Gill has urged immediate government intervention, stating, Districts with a sex ratio below 900 need to implement a tracking system for pregnant women to prevent such practices. Advertisement On a more positive note, Kapurthalas Additional Deputy Commissioner, Navneet Bal, expressed pride in the district's consistent performance. Topping the state in gender ratio for the second year in a row reflects our sustained efforts. We are now working on a documentary for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, set to release on National Girl Child Day, January 24, she said. Hoshiarpur also showed encouraging numbers, with Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal highlighting a district-wide ratio of 923 and several blocks recording figures above 1,000. Despite some bright spots, the declining sex ratio in parts of Punjab remains a grave concern, calling for stricter enforcement of laws and increased public awareness to address the issue. Los Angeles Wildfires: Historic Wildfires Ravage Hollywood Hills, Forcing Mass Evacuations Six separate wildfires are raging across Los Angeles County, with three listed as 0% controlled. Los Angeles California Wildfires Latest News Today: Los Angeles is grappling with its worst wildfires in history, as flames engulf the iconic Hollywood Hills and spread across the city. By Thursday morning, the infernos tore through the heartland of the American film industry, leaving devastation in their wake. A massive crescent of fire, visible from space, has forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate as dry, hurricane-force winds propel the flames over parched terrain that has endured months without rain. Since the fires began on Tuesday, at least five lives have been lost. Advertisement This firestorm is the big one, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared during a press conference, cutting short an official trip to Ghana to return to her city. Six separate wildfires are raging across Los Angeles County, with three listed as 0% controlled. Among them are two massive fires on the citys eastern and western edges, along with the smaller but destructive Sunset Fire, which has ignited the Hollywood Hills, dangerously close to Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. The fires have devastated some of the regions most exclusive neighborhoods. Paris Hiltons Malibu beach mansion was reduced to ashes as she watched on live TV. Celebrities including Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Hamill, Maria Shriver, Mandy Moore, and James Woods have been forced to evacuate their homes. Advertisement The largest blaze, burning in Pacific Palisades, has consumed nearly 12,000 acres (5,000 hectares) of land, leaving a trail of destruction in one of Los Angeles most affluent areas. Firefighters are battling the flames under extreme conditions, with strong winds and dry vegetation fueling the inferno. Officials warn that containment will take time as the fires continue to wreak havoc across the region. (For more news apart from Los Angeles California Wildfires Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Exercising energy resistance Photo: geralt / pixabay.com Corina Cristea, 10.01.2025, 14:00 The start of the year brings the future of Europes energy supply back in the spotlight, with the cessation of the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. For Kyiv, the reason why it decided not to extend the transit agreement beyond December 31, 2024, is simple: it wants to leave Moscow without one of the main sources of money, with which it finances its invasion of Ukraine. Heavily dependent on this gas, Slovakia and Hungary, whose prime ministers have good relations with Moscow, have criticized Kyiv for this position, emphasizing that the decision to stop the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine is not a simple political gesture, but an extremely costly measure for the entire EU. On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Slovak prime minister of opening a second energy front against Ukraine, at Russias order. The picture is completed by the decision of the Russian company Gazprom to halt, as of January 1, the delivery of natural gas to the Dniester region of the Republic of Moldova. Under these circumstances, the power plant in Cuciurgan, located on the left bank of the Dniester, under the control of Russophile separatists, no longer supplies electricity to the districts in the rest of the Republic of Moldova. The little electricity that is now produced is obtained using the coal once brought from Donbas, occupied by Russia. It is the only type of compatible coal, stocks last only for a month or two and cannot be replenished. Although severely affected by the situation, Dniester, refuses Chisinaus help. The Moldovan authorities, who have established a state of emergency in the energy sector, have managed, on the other hand, to ensure the smooth supply of electricity and natural gas to consumers on the right bank of Dniester. Data published by the government shows that half of the electricity needs were covered by imports from Romania, which, fortunately, is the fourth most independent country in terms of imports from Russia, after Sweden, Estonia and Iceland. At EU level, the war in Ukraine has clearly shown the level of dependence on energy imports, and forced Brussels to find solutions to change the situation. In 2021, European imports from Russia represented 62%, a Eurostat report shows, and currently this share has decreased significantly, also due to the communitys plans for green energy. Faced with the greatest energy challenge, Europe continues to learn to break away from dependence on Russia. Will it manage to ensure its energy security affected by the war in Ukraine? Journalist Radu Tudor, military analyst, explains: Yes, without a doubt. And last winter we had some threats from Moscow. Even the people at Gazprom made a video about how Europe will freeze, how Europeans will freeze to death without Russian gas, and here we are, we have come out well and, more than that, we have 30%-40% of our gas reserves left in European storages. And I want to give the example of Romania. At the moment, we can get through the winter without any problems. We will occasionally resort to some imports, but that does not mean dependence, that means interconnection. If Europe learns to break away from the toxic dependence on Russia, this will be the best exercise in resistance for us and, last but not least, an example for other areas. We have the bad habit of depending on the Chinese market, because labor is cheaper and profits are higher, we have the habit to depend on India, on Russia, and so on. This, from my point of view, is a great vulnerability for us and we must learn to capitalize on our own resources and, at least in the strategic field, not to leave ourselves in the hands of others, who are also opposed to us in terms of ideology. Europes energy resilience has been a priority in all European projects for a number of years, but the war in Ukraine has prompted new approaches and has imposed adaptation to the current geopolitical context. From the perspective of resilience in terms of electricity, first of all, in a war situation, mega-projects can turn into mega-vulnerabilities and even into weapons that can be used against the country and the civilian population, specialists have warned. Can small modular reactors be useful in this context? Radu Tudor: It is, from my point of view, a life-saving idea. And the fact that Romania is one of the few NATO member states, the few states in Europe that implement this technology, is a very, very good example. Romania, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, started a nuclear energy project. Even though we were a communist state, even though we were a Warsaw Treaty state, we launched a nuclear energy project with Canada, a NATO member state, with the involvement of engineers from Italy, a NATO member state, and we developed the Cernavoda power plant. What would come as a natural and logical continuation of the decision at that time and of the Romanian nuclear project would be the SMR technology, which, in my opinion, could prove to be a lifesaver for the resilience of the Romanian state, for helping states like the Republic of Moldova, which are going through extremely difficult times and need Romanias help. Speeding up this project would bring total energy independence to Romania and, more than that, says Radu Tudor, it would make us a net exporter of energy to Europe. KYODO NEWS - Jan 9, 2025 - 22:43 | All, Japan At least 46 entities in Japan, including banks and government agencies, have been targeted by cyberattacks likely utilizing the same malware since the end of last year, a major internet security firm said Thursday. According to Trend Micro Inc., Japan Airlines Co., NTT Docomo Inc. and major banks were among the victims of distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, attacks in which networks are overwhelmed by data from multiple sources over a short period, causing temporary service suspensions. The Japan Weather Association said on Thursday it was hit by a cyberattack that rendered its information website inaccessible for over nine hours from around 7 a.m. A similar cyberattack on Sunday that affected both the web and app versions of the weather site took over 7 hours to resolve. According to Trend Micro, the hackers are believed to have used a botnet, or a network of computers and other internet-connected devices infected by malware used to carry out the attacks. Upon investigating the incident against JAL, Trend Micro uncovered instructions to attack the IP addresses of the affected entities through a specific botnet. There were also signs of similar assaults in the United States and Europe. "We can't rule out the possibility that multiple groups conducted attacks at the same time," a Trend Micro official said. The hackers were able to simultaneously control devices including cameras and home appliances connected to the internet to carry out the attacks, the security firm said. Related coverage: 210 hacks made on JAXA, other Japan targets by China group since 2019 Japan's NTT Docomo reports system glitch after cyberattack Mizuho Bank says connection disruption hit online transactions Budget deficit must be reduced The 2025 draft budget will be built on a 7% deficit, without additional tax increases, says Finance Minister Tanczos Barna. Finance Minister Tanczos Barna (Photo: gov.ro) Mihai Pelin, 10.01.2025, 14:04 The 2025 draft budget will be built on a 7% deficit, without additional tax increases, says Finance Minister Tanczos Barna. Romania ends 2024 with a budget deficit of 8.6%, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. Experts point out that this is a huge deficit level and is among the highest in the EU. Economic growth is not robust, as it is based on large internal and external imbalances, and the Government must try to keep spending under strict control, experts also say. The deficit must decrease this year, which is a real challenge, says Finance Minister Tanczos Barna. He specified that the objective for 2025 is the wise management of public money, given that 2024 was a difficult year for Romania, from all points of view. Tanczos Barna: It was a year with many elections, it was a year in which pensions were recalculated, salaries were increased in several areas and investments were supported with unprecedented amounts. I believe this is the most important element of the 2024 budget, even if the year ended with a deficit of 8.6%. The year 2025 will mean a 7% deficit and, indeed, this is a challenge given that we want to keep the amounts allocated for investments and pay salaries at the level of November and pensions at the level of November 2024. We have to support the education system, the health system, all public institutions, to fit into this deficit. At the same time this must also be the year in which we begin to create that flexible state, which does not collect taxes to become obese and to hire even more and provide the same services with a larger number of employees, with high, high costs. Tanczos Barna recalled that, in 2024, Romania made a 7-year commitment to the European Commission, and at the end of this timeframe it must reach a 3% deficit. He also said that, in drafting the state budget for 2025, the authorities are not considering an increase in VAT or any changes to the payroll tax. The minister mentioned that the draft budget will be presented to the governing coalition by January 27, to be adopted by Parliament in the first week of February. We recall that the Government led by the Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu recently approved an emergency ordinance regarding some fiscal-budgetary measures in the field of public spending, to substantiate the general budget for 2025. The measures have sparked dissatisfaction among the private sector, which complains about legislative unpredictability and the change of tax laws from one day to the next. In turn, the unions signal the fact that protests will be held in the upcoming period and have asked the Ombudsman to challenge the article that provides for the freezing of pension indexation at the Constitutional Court. Having taken effect on January 1, the ordinance also provides for a salary freeze, the elimination of some tax incentives and the restriction of certain benefits. Romania and the strategic industries The European Union supports Romania in becoming a key player in new industries. Stephane Sejourne and Bogdan Ivan (photo: Ministrerul Economiei, Digitalizarii, Antreprenoriatului si Turismului Daniela Budu, 10.01.2025, 13:50 The European Union supports Romania in becoming a key player in new industries. Visiting Romania, as part of a European tour, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Stephane Sejourne, responsible for industrial prosperity and strategy, promised to support important sectors of the local industry, from battery production to the steel sector. He announced that, next month, the European Commission will publish a strategic plan that will simplify the regulatory framework in the field of reindustrialization and will include all the issues of the battery sector, including decarbonization and the competitiveness of companies. He visited, together with the Minister of Economy, Bogdan Ivan, the Romanian factory Prime Batteries Technology, which produces state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries and customized energy storage systems. The European official had meetings with the authorities in Bucharest and also visited the National Institute for Aerospace Research and Development, the main research center in the field of aerospace sciences in the country. In this context, he stated that Romania is one of the most industrialized states in Europe and that he will support the continuation of this process. We need Romania in these moments of economic uncertainty and reindustrialization, he said. In turn, Minister Bogdan Ivan emphasized the importance of this visit, as a clear message that the Union supports Romania in becoming a key player in new industries. Bogdan Ivan: When we talk about the industrial development of Europe and reducing dependence on other continents, we talk about making the most of the resources that we have here, and Romania has huge resources of critical materials. It has, on the other hand, an extremely important geo-strategic position. The minister added that the focus will be on complementary projects between the EU member states, avoiding internal competition and aligning national objectives with the European vision. The value of the global battery market is estimated to double in the coming years, due to the increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries, considered the most efficient energy storage solutions for the automotive and energy industries. Currently, Europe depends significantly on imports of rare metals and, in terms of batteries, it produces much less than the market needs. To reduce this dependence, the European Union aims to become the second largest battery producer in the world, after China. As for the steel industry in Romania, the European official said that this is an essential sector for batteries, automobiles and wind energy, which is why it will be a priority topic of his upcoming visit to Bucharest. The Malaysia stock market has moved lower in two straight sessions, sinking almost 30 points or 1.9 percent in that span. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now rests just above the 1,600-point plateau although it's tipped to bounce higher on Friday. The global forecast for the Asian is murky as the U.S. markets were shuttered on Thursday - while the European markets were roughly flat with an upside bias, and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead. The KLCI finished modestly lower on Thursday following heavy losses from the industrials and mixed performances from the financials, plantations and telecoms. For the day, the index dropped 14.02 points or 0.87 percent to finish at 1,600.81 after trading between 1,600.75 and 1,618.17. Among the actives, 99 Speed Mart Retail dropped 0.85 percent, while Axiata lost 0.43 percent, Celcomdigi rallied 1.39 percent, CIMB Group rose 0.25 percent, Gamuda tanked 3.85 percent, IHH Healthcare tumbled 2.22 percent, IOI Corporation fell 0.26 percent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong eased 0.19 percent, Maxis jumped 1.40 percent, Maybank collected 0.20 percent, MISC skidded 1.11 percent, MRDIY shed 0.55 percent, Petronas Chemicals sank 0.84 percent, PPB Group advanced 0.49 percent, Press Metal stumbled 2.30 percent, QL Resources, Public Bank and Hong Leong Financial all slipped 0.22 percent, RHB Bank slumped 1.24 percent, Sime Darby surrendered 2.18 percent, SD Guthrie added 0.41 percent, Sunway retreated 1.49 percent, Telekom Malaysia and Petronas Dagangan both gained 0.31 percent, Tenaga Nasional declined 1.40 percent, YTL Corporation plummeted 8.21 percent, YTL Power plunged 6.87 percent and Nestle Malaysia was unchanged. There is no lead from Wall Street as the U.S. financial markets were closed on Thursday in honor of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died in late December at age 100. Investors are looking ahead to the release of the Labor Department's closely watched monthly jobs report later today, which will potentially provide additional clarity about the strength of the labor market. Oil prices moved higher Thursday amid optimism about the outlook for global oil demand, and potential supply shortage due to the sanctions on Iranian and Russian crude exports. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for February settled higher by $0.60 or 0.82 percent at $73.92 a barrel. Closer to home, Malaysia will release November numbers for industrial production and unemployment later today; in October, production was up 2.1 percent on year and the jobless rate was 3.2 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Industrial production and consumer spending from France and retail sales from Italy are due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 1.45 am ET, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs releases Swiss unemployment data for December. The jobless rate is forecast to rise to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent in the previous month. At 2.45 am ET, France's statistical office INSEE publishes industrial output and consumer spending for November. Economists expect industrial output to fall 0.1 percent on month, the same pace of decline as seen in October. Consumer spending is forecast to climb 0.1 percent month-on-month, in contrast to the 0.4 percent decrease in the previous month. At 3.00 am ET, Spain's INE is scheduled to release industrial production for November. At 4.00 am ET, Italy's statistical office ISTAT releases retail sales data. Economists expect retail sales to grow 0.2 percent on a monthly basis in November, in contrast to the 0.5 percent decrease in October. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The United States and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on principles concerning nuclear exports and cooperation for peaceful purposes. This MOU, signed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of State with South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, finalizes the provisional understanding they reached in November. The United States and South Korea have worked together on civil nuclear power for more than 70 years. The cornerstone of this cooperation reflects the two allied countries' mutual dedication to maximizing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. This MOU provides a framework for the parties to cooperate in expanding civil nuclear power in third countries while strengthening their respective administration of export controls on civil nuclear . It will also provide a pathway to help both countries keep up with the emergence of new technologies in this sector, the U.S. Department of Energy said in a press release. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News China to ease investment restrictions further for foreign firms Xinhua) 08:10, January 10, 2025 BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to abolish the terms in a previous circular in 2011 and lift its restrictions on foreign investment companies using domestic loans to carry out equity investment, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Thursday. The move aims to implement the Foreign Investment Law and encourage multinational companies to establish headquarters-type institutions in China, MOC spokesperson He Yadong told a press conference. He said that the scale of reinvestment by foreign-funded enterprises in China has continued to grow in recent years, and some foreign companies have expressed hope for the removal of restrictions on addressing their capital needs of reinvestment through domestic loans. Foreign-funded enterprises are welcome to report any difficulties or problems they encounter in their investment and operations to Chinese authorities, the spokesperson said. The MOC will work to coordinate and promote solutions for the reasonable demands of foreign enterprises, and provide a good business environment for foreign enterprises to invest and operate in China, He added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BOGOTA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two soldiers were killed and three others injured in an explosion carried out by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in Saravena, a town in eastern Colombia's Arauca Department, the national army said Thursday. "Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, we send our condolences to the family and friends of these brave soldiers who offered their lives for the country," the army said in a post on X. "We denounce this action that violates human rights and infringes on international humanitarian law and puts the civilian population of the sector at risk," the army added. According to the army, a multidisciplinary support team was sent to "deal with this difficult time," and the three injured soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense said security in the area has been heightened and an investigation has been launched to locate the perpetrators of the attack. The ELN is Colombia's oldest remaining guerrilla group and one of the armed groups currently engaged in peace talks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro's government. Park Jong-joon (C), chief of South Korea's presidential security service, receives media interview before being questioned at the request of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 10, 2025. South Korea's acting president on Friday accepted resignation from presidential security chief who appeared before police for questioning over the obstruction of execution to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) SEOUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's acting president on Friday accepted resignation from presidential security chief who appeared before police for questioning over the obstruction of execution to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, who became the acting president after the impeachment of Yoon and the prime minister, accepted the resignation of Park Jong-joon, chief of the presidential security service, earlier in the day, according to Choi's office. Before appearing at the National Office of Investigation (NOI) for questioning, Park submitted resignation through his secretary. Police sent its third summons to Park earlier this week after his refusal to appear on Jan. 4 and 7. Park was booked on charges of obstructing the execution of special public affairs. Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan. 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant. A Seoul court granted the extension of the warrant to apprehend Yoon Tuesday by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president. An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended. Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later. BEIRUT, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and two others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting Tayr Debba, a municipality in southern Lebanon's Tyre district, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. According to the official National News Agency, an Israeli drone targeted a car in Tayr Debba, killing two and wounding two more, all of whom have been transferred to hospitals in Tyre. Despite a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, which took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, Israel has conducted intermittent strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, some of which have caused casualties. KABUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The construction of 32 development projects, costing over 5 million U.S. dollars, has started in east Afghanistan's Khost province, Qari Bismillah Bilal, mayor of Khost City, said on Friday. The projects, which included protective walls, roads and water canals, will be completed within 12 months, local media quoted Bilal as saying. With the completion of the projects, living conditions of thousands of people in Khost province will be improved, the official said. The Afghan caretaker government plans to launch more development and infrastructure projects across the war-ravaged country to tackle economic challenges and create job opportunities. Baltimore-based Constellation Energy said on Friday that it has agreed to buy Calpine for $16.4bn in cash and shares. The deal will create the largest clean energy provider in the US, said Alpine, which is already the nations largest producer of 24/7 emissions-free electricity. Constellation noted that Calpine is the largest US producer of energy from low-emission natural gas generation and an expanded renewable energy portfolio, including the largest geothermal generation operation in the US. Joe Dominguez, president and chief executive of Constellation, said: "This acquisition will help us better serve our customers across America, from families to businesses and utilities. "By combining Constellations unmatched expertise in zero-emission nuclear energy with Calpines industry-leading, best-in-class, low-carbon natural gas and geothermal generation fleets, we will be able to offer the broadest array of energy products and services available in the industry. "Both companies have been at the forefront of Americas transition to cleaner, more reliable and secure energy, and those shared values will guide us as we pursue investments in new and existing clean technologies to meet rising demand. "What makes this combination even more special is it brings together two world-class teams, with the most talented women and men in the industry, who share a noble passion for safety, sustainability, operational excellence and helping Americas families, businesses and communities thrive and grow." VIENNA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in on Friday as the country's interim chancellor, following the recent resignation of Karl Nehammer. Schallenberg will lead the caretaker government while continuing his role as foreign minister until a new government is formed. The sworn-in ceremony was conducted by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who expressed gratitude for Schallenberg's willingness to take on the dual responsibility during this challenging period. According to Austrian news agency APA, Schallenberg plans to visit the European Union in Brussels early next week. The 55-year-old diplomat has served as Austria's foreign minister since 2019 and briefly held the chancellorship for about two months in 2021 after the resignation of former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Austria fell into political uncertainty after Nehammer announced his resignation over the weekend as both chancellor and chairman of the People's Party. His departure came after the collapse of coalition talks between his party, the Social Democratic Party, and the NEOS party. President Van der Bellen on Monday tasked Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, with forming a new government. The Freedom Party came first in Austria's parliamentary election in September but had been shunned by the other parties in the previous coalition talks. The coalition negotiations between the Freedom Party and the People's Party began on Thursday, however, Nehammer, a vehement critic of Kickl, stepped down from the People's Party's leadership in response. While the Freedom Party has previously served as a junior coalition partner, it has never led an Austrian government. Schallenberg has publicly stated that he would not be part of a government led by the Freedom Party. Adam Haslett (photo: Beowulf Sheehan) Adam Haslett is the author of Imagine Me Gone, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Award; You Are Not a Stranger Here, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award; and Union Atlantic, winner of the Lambda Literary Award and shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. His fourth work of fiction is Mothers and Sons (Little, Brown, $29; reviewed in this issue). Where did the idea for Mothers and Sons come from? I had a sense of needing to write about social isolation, which so many people contend with now--more than ever in our history--and how that relates to people being overworked. The causality runs in both directions: some people avoid their isolation by overworking, some people become isolated because they're required to work too much. So I began as I almost always do, with a character looking out a window, and started asking myself questions: Who is this person? What does he do for a living? Who is his family? Despite having gone to law school, I'd never written about a lawyer before, so Peter being an attorney fell into place early. Also early on I had an intuition of his being estranged from his mother, so I started asking myself why that might be. The window he was looking out of turned out to be that of an apartment I once lived in in Lower Manhattan with a view of Trinity Church. From there, I just inched forward. Why did you decide that Peter's perspective would be relayed in first person and his mother's perspective would be in third person? I'm usually suspicious of first person, present tense because it's a straitjacket for the writer in terms of moving the narrative forward, but in this case it was the only tense and point of view that made sense for Peter. Precisely because he is so buried in his work, and in many ways doesn't even realize that he is. He can't see into the future, or much into the past either, at least at the beginning of the book. He spends his days assembling other people's narratives--his clients'--but disattends his own. His mother, Ann, is in many ways the opposite. She prizes intimacy, fellowship, spiritual discernment, and so has the kind of settled quality that lends itself to the more knowing voice of the third person and the past tense. Assuming you weren't well-versed in immigration law to begin with, how did you go about researching this book, especially when it came to dramatizing the court cases? A number of my friends from law school went on to do immigration work, so I'd had a view into that world going back to the early aughts, and I had done some volunteer intake work at immigration detention facilities around that same time. I didn't write anything about it then, but once I'd decided Peter would be an asylum lawyer, I started sitting in on immigration hearings at Federal Plaza in Manhattan. They're open to the public, though there was never anyone there except judges, lawyers, and immigrants. So it was basically observational research. Likewise, did you research intentional communities in order to create Viriditas, the book's feminist spiritual retreat, or is Viriditas entirely homespun? The mother of one of my oldest friends from high school actually did something similar to what Ann does in the book. She started a women's retreat center in Maine, which I visited on several occasions. She was someone I knew quite well. Ann's interior life and certainly her family past is entirely my invention, but I did borrow the external facts from the life of my good friend's mother. Did you have the novel's ending, which is quite perfect, in mind the whole time, or was it hard-won? I wrote that ending in the last two days before I had to turn in the final manuscript, so it was hard-won! I'd seen it coming, but hadn't been able to reach it, and then once I did, it was only a sketch. I hadn't filled it in to my or my editor Ben George's satisfaction, so on those last days I had one of those very rare, blessed experiences of arriving just in time at what I believed the book needed. What was the most difficult creative decision you had to make while writing Mothers and Sons? It was very hard to figure out how to get at Peter's somewhat numb affect. Usually you're trying to make a character vivid, but Peter isn't vivid to himself. Eventually, largely out of frustration, I began writing what turned out to be the opening sections of the book in the courtroom in more or less the same tone as those hearings are in fact conducted. And I discovered that in that very rhythm--an inadvertently callous and somewhat hectic monotony--I'd found a way to enact rather than simply describe his internal state. If the Internet is to be believed, the shortest period between your books was the six years between the novels Union Atlantic, from 2010, and Imagine Me Gone, from 2016. Do your ideas simply take a while to gestate, or do you give yourself a breather between writing projects? Or do you write a draft right away and then spend years massaging its sentences? I am indeed slow. Oddly enough, I usually do have some seed of the next book at least soon after I finish the previous one, but then it just takes years of writing, and going down a lot of blind alleys, to even arrive at what, in retrospect, comes to seem like the real beginning, when the thing has quickened, you know you've got something, and then the work gets both more intense but also more gratifying as you push on toward something that will satisfy you by the end. I never write a complete draft. I inch forward, chapter by chapter, editing as I go, and only write the ending at the very end (see above). What question do you wish an interviewer would ask you, either about this book or about yourself as a writer, and how would you answer? I wouldn't have said this as a younger writer, but now I like the idea of answering the question, What role does pleasure and/or satisfaction play in the process of writing a book? And I'd answer by saying, early on, it didn't play a large enough role. The self-critical and judgmental voices in my head crowded out the experience of simply writing a sentence the rhythm of which was pleasing to my ear. That's what I love when I read--hearing well-struck sentences, experiencing their satisfactions--so if my job is to write sentences (and that is how I think of it), then why not at least allow oneself the play and the pleasure when you manage that feat well? On the good days, I do that more now than I used to. --Nell Beram Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear (Medusa's Sisters) is an inventive reimagining of the origins of Romulus and Remus, central figures in myths about the founding of Rome. This engaging historical fantasy highlights the power of women who seize control of their own destinies. Rhea Silvia's life as a princess hasn't been perfect. Her mother and brothers have died, so as her father's sole heir, her future betrothal is of vital importance. But a sudden coup makes Rhea's situation even worse: her uncle seizes the throne and declares that she must become a vestal virgin. Determined not to let her uncle decide her fate, Rhea plots with her cousin, Antho, for one night alone in the woods, which she spends with the god Mars. When Rhea becomes pregnant and is sentenced to death, it takes all her wits and bargains with the gods to ensure that her twins are born and survive to found the city that will become an empire. Stories of classical Rome contain few details about Rhea Silvia. By adding a new twist to the original myth, Bear constructs a vivid tale of a fierce woman driven by maternal love. The rest of Rhea Silvia's family--some inventions by Bear--flesh out a novel of palace intrigue that illuminates how oppression can repeat itself in families and cycles can be broken. Antho, a princess who seems to live a more conventional life, serves as a particularly moving example of survival amid abuse. Fans of Madeline Miller and Claire Heywood should snatch this up. --Kristen Allen-Vogel, information services librarian at Dayton Metro Library It's hard to conjure a novel that more skillfully addresses the idea of moral ambiguity than Adam Haslett's Mothers and Sons. The fact that the book's two main characters have dedicated their lives to honorable pursuits makes the story's central ethical conundrum all the more shattering. It's March 2011 when New York immigration lawyer Peter Fischer, an out gay man, meets 21-year-old Vasel Marku, who is seeking asylum; an Albanian citizen, Vasel was the victim of gay bashing in Tirana. Threaded through Peter's narration are chapters from the perspective of his mother, Ann, a former Episcopal priest who runs a women's retreat in Vermont with her partner, Clare. Peter hasn't visited his mother in years, but working on Vasel's case, which requires extracting from the young man a harrowing account of violence and frayed family ties, will compel Peter to turn to Ann and revisit something that happened when he was a teenager. With formidable restraint and characteristic grace, Haslett (Union Atlantic; Imagine Me Gone) probes a question that's best summed up by one of Peter's old clients: "Why do you--who has comfort and a job and a place to live--why do you do this work? What am I to you?" From the novel's beginning, which finds Peter holding forth in a courtroom, through its gutting, perfect ending, which finds him far from his professional orbit, Mothers and Sons considers what it means when people in need are meeting the invisible needs of those who serve them. --Nell Beram, author and freelance writer The unassuming title of Hisham Matar's third novel conceals a sophisticated work that skillfully explores themes of human connection, exile, and return. A finalist for the National Book Award, My Friends focuses on the relationship among three Libyan men whose lives intersect over more than three decades, from the mid-1980s through the aftermath of the 2011 revolution that deposed Muammar Qaddafi after 42 years. Most of the novel is narrated by Khaled Abd al Hady, looking back on that time span as a middle-aged man in London, where he's lived since 1984, after leaving his native Benghazi to study English literature at the University of Edinburgh. He's inspired to pursue those studies by an enigmatic short story authored by Libyan writer Hosam Zowa. Khaled travels to London with his friend and fellow Libyan Mustafa al Touny to attend a demonstration sparked by the arrest of several students in their homeland. Matar (The Return) places his fictional pair at the scene of an actual protest that occurred on April 17, 1984, that resulted in the wounding of 11 demonstrators and the killing of an English police officer. That shattering event thrusts the two men into an enforced exile from their country of birth. Khaled builds a respectable life as a teacher in his adopted city. During a visit to Paris he meets his literary idol Hosam, and they form a strong friendship. When the revolt that eventually topples Qaddafi erupts in February 2011, Khaled, Mustafa, and Hosam must decide what they will risk to liberate their native land. Readers who appreciate the fiction of writers with roots in the Arab world like Mohsin Hamid and Ayad Akhtar will find a similar affecting sensibility in Matar's work. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer What in Me Is Dark: The Revolutionary Afterlife of Paradise Lost by Orlando Reade is a revelatory examination of the political significance of John Milton's epic poem, reaching back to its origins in the 17th-century English Civil War and pursuing it into 21st-century prison classrooms. Reade, an assistant professor of English at Northeastern University London, included Paradise Lost in a class he taught in a New Jersey prison while completing his doctorate. His students' "respectful but not reverential" reaction gave him a fresh perspective on how to read Milton not only in the context of modern life but also in the context of Milton's, whose understanding of charity required advocating for self-determination in the face of "state religion, censorship, [and] monarchy." After providing an overview of Paradise Lost's genesis, Reade delivers an accessible, engaging accounting of what it has meant to 12 readers ("or groups of readers," in one case), including Malcolm X, Thomas Jefferson, and Hannah Arendt. In the 18th century, revolutions in the American colonies, France, and Haiti produced writings that echoed the arguments of Milton's devils against tyranny, while others used the imagery of Satan's forces to represent their colonizers. These contradictions continue through the centuries as Reade offers examples of how radicals, reactionaries, liberals, and conservatives have made Milton's epic their own. While some general knowledge of Paradise Lost may increase the likelihood of readers picking up this book, Reade explains and quotes from enough of the poem that previous expertise is not necessary to enjoy his work. With Reade's patient guidance, readers will come to appreciate its relevance for their lives as well. --Kristen Allen-Vogel, information services librarian at Dayton Metro Library Walmart-owned e-Commerce behemoth Flipkart has appointed Kabeer Biswas, the Co-founder of hyperlocal delivery platform Dunzo, to lead its quick commerce business, Minutes. Biswas is set to join Flipkart on January 13 and will closely work with Hemant Badri, Senior Vice-President, in a move that puts the company in a sweet spot to up its ante in the fast-emerging quick commerce (qcom) sector. Sources close to the development have confirmed that Biswas had communicated his intention to leave Dunzo to its investors, as the company was facing financial troubles. Biswas co-founded Dunzo in 2015, and Flipkart's decision to appoint him is a strategic move to further its interests against competition in the fast-growing qcom market. These companies, including Zomato-owned Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, are aggressively scaling up their services to deliver everything, from food and beverages to smartphones and electronics in under 10 to 15 minutes. In this scenario, Flipkart now sees an opportunity to capitalize on the increasing demand for on-demand, ultra-fast deliveries, which have become extremely popular during the pandemic and are here to stay. According to sources, work is underway on the backburner as Biswas moves into Flipkart; there has been considerable effort behind the scenes in making sure there is no conflict of interest given Biswas' presence as a public face for Dunzo. Both Flipkart and Biswas have refused to comment publicly on the issue. Flipkart has been aggressively scaling the quick commerce service, Minutes. It targets delivery of grocery items, home care products, and high-value things like electronics-products, like smartphone and laptop-buying and returns-in short durations. It reportedly is ramping up the same and would add 150 dark stores in the current quarter. The addition of Biswas to the leadership team is expected to accelerate this growth as the company strives to compete with more established qcom platforms. Dunzo, for which Biswas was instrumental in its early development, has recently faced significant financial issues. Initially, it started as a task management platform using WhatsApp, then gradually evolved into a full-fledged hyperlocal delivery service for grocery, food, and other essentials on-demand delivery. But despite raising enormous funding from the most prominent investors, Dunzo could not succeed in achieving profitability in the long run. Total funding was raised to the tune of $449 million by investors, such as Reliance Retail, Alphabet's Google, Alteria Capital, Blume Ventures, and Greyhound Capital. In 2022, Reliance Retail led a funding round of $240 million in Dunzo. With that, the company acquired 25.8% of Bengaluru-based startup, marking the company's entry into the ultra-fast commerce market. Dunzo, however, has seen growing financial problems. The company has been struggling to meet the financial obligations it has, which includes not paying staff salaries for over 18 months. It has also led to the departure of several senior executives, such as co-founders Mukund Jha, Dalvir Suri, and Ankur Aggarwal. Dunzo also had to experience massive layoffs and issues in settling statutory and vendor dues. In August 2023, Biswas wrote to the employees, conceding that the company had not received promised funding that was meant to pay back outstanding salaries and clear vendor dues. Financially, Dunzo's case deteriorated in FY23 as it posted Rs 1,801 crore losses compared to Rs 464 crore in FY22. Expenditure at dark stores, advertisements, and employee costs escalated for the company. Revenues have increased four times that is, to Rs 226 crores in FY23; however, Dunzo's EBITDA margin has stayed at dismal -677%. Operational costs could not be tamed by the firm even though the revenue has increased manifold times. Dunzo has drastically reduced its operations, and creditors have taken the company to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for not settling the dues. Though the company is still running, its future remains uncertain unless it manages to raise fresh funding and stabilizes its financial situation. Biswas' exit from Dunzo happens when quick commerce is getting considerable attention from investors and companies. Analysts believe that Amazon and Flipkart will have to invest at least $1 billion in the next two to three years to compete effectively in the quick commerce space and catch up with established players like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto. These companies are already dominating the space, focusing on 15-20 minute deliveries of essential items. The market for fast commerce is forecasted to be $40 billion by 2030, and it is growing from $6.1 billion in 2024, according to a report from Datum Intelligence. This explosive growth reflects a clear consumer demand for the convenience of instant deliveries, particularly for groceries and household goods. As the market is changing at such a rapid pace, Flipkart is aggressively adopting a competitive strategy for its qcom platform, Minutes. It wants to deliver high-demand items such as smartphones, laptops, and even medicines within 10 to 15 minutes from selected areas of Bengaluru. The aggressive pricing strategy by Flipkart has already gained huge attention in the industry as it positions it as a strong competitor to Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto. It finally ended on an upbeat note. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention concluded amidst much fanfare in Bhubaneswar today, with representatives from all the nooks of the world reiterating how the Indian diaspora presents a united entity and exudes influence. Day three, the final day - Friday - ended with much frenzy, as everybody appeared to be rejoicing over something. For delegates like Maitri Joshi from Addis Ababa, the event goes a long way in uniting the Indian diaspora. It would be a great honor for the entire Indian diaspora to attend this event that brings people from all corners of the world under one roof. PBD, above all, becomes a platform wherein we can discuss our experiences and cultures. Here, through the event, we will guide the world towards an integrated direction. This is not just strengthening India's unity, but also India's influence on the global front", she added. Joshi further said the gathering is a celebration of heritage and aspirations shared together. Fourth-generation Indian settled in Malaysia, Thashidaran Tharmar, also shares pride in the initiative. "This event brings Indians from all over the world to one platform, with this time the venue being the culturally rich state of Odisha. I am highly proud to be here and call myself an Indian", he said. Tharmar praised the Government of India for organizing the event in Odisha, offering delegates an opportunity to explore the state's culture and heritage, besides the business opportunities available there. He added that for the Indian diaspora, the convention instilled a deep sense of belonging, reconnecting them with their roots regardless of how many generations had passed since their ancestors settled abroad. economic cooperation, technology, and cultural preservation. This annual event to commemorate the Indian diaspora's contribution was a perfect platform for cultural exchange and deliberations on global challenges. It also offered an opportunity to further consolidate India's relations with its overseas communities. Around 5,000 delegates attended the sessions that took place over the last three days, which discussed The convention was concluded on Thursday with a formal inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Janata Maidan. In his speech, the Prime Minister underlined that the Indian diaspora is instrumental in shaping India's future and promoting global harmony. PBD is celebrated annually on January 9 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhis return to India from South Africa in 1915. This years convention in Bhubaneswar saw inspiring participation from the Indian diaspora, strengthening its role as a bridge between India and the world. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday congratulated Joseph Aoun on his election as Lebanon's president, and expressed the readiness to promote the development of bilateral ties. Aoun, Lebanon's army chief, was elected president in the second round of the presidential vote held on Thursday. His victory marks the end of more than two years of presidential vacancy in the country. "China welcomes the election of a new president in Lebanon and congratulates President Joseph Aoun on his election," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing here on Friday. Guo said China and Lebanon enjoy a traditional friendship and China attaches great importance to developing bilateral ties. China will continue to support Lebanon in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, develop friendly relations and advance mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, he added. Bodega workers throughout the city are frightened and fed up with whats become a months-long rash of thefts in which a trio of individuals have managed to elude police while making off with ATM machines and thousands of dollars from their stores, according to the NYPD. It was reported to the police that between Sept. 19 and Dec. 26 there have been at least 49 incidents involving the three unidentified individuals whove allegedly used stolen vehicles to travel to commercial establishments in upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, where theyve forcibly entered and removed ATMs and other property. The United Bodegas of America (UBA), which represents the citys bodegas workers, is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the quick and cunning crooks whove been dubbed The Midnight Smashers. We go home, and we think everything is fine; We wake up the next morning to see that they tore our gate down. They broke the doors down. And guess what our ATM machine is gone with thousands of dollars in it, said Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the UBA, during a press conference held Thursday. We have the most amazing police department in the world and for them not being able to dismantle this gang is just unbelievable,' Mateo said. These robberies are not just thefts, theyre a direct assault on the livelihoods and safety of New Yorks hardworking families. We need immediate action to prevent more victims. The NYPD released surveillance video of the sought individuals. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Staten Island man has been arrested in connection to a December crash on the grounds of Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze that resulted in the death of 64-year-old Kathleen Murphy of Westerleigh, an environmental service worker for the hospital, police said. Surija Bajro, 67, of the 400 block of Clifton Avenue in Rosebank, is facing charges of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care, according to a statement issued by the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Thursday. The investigation by the NYPDs Highway District Collision Investigation Squad determined that Bajro was driving a Volkswagen SUV, traveling southwest on the parking lot access road, when he struck Murphy, who was walking northbound towards 242 Mason St. from the hospitals parking lot at around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, police said. Murphy was just two weeks away from retiring from her job of 25 years and her 65th birthday, sources said at the time of accident. We are deeply saddened by the devastating event that occurred today at Staten Island University Hospital, said a spokeswoman for the facility at the time of the incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family and our team members during this difficult time. We remain committed to supporting everyone affected as they navigate through this tragedy. In addition, we are fully cooperating with authorities in their ongoing investigation. Murphy was remembered by co-workers and patients for her infectious kindness and caring nature. There are many of us that did not know your name but knew who you are because of your kindness and how you would say hello and care about how others are feeling, a hand-written letter included in a tribute at the hospitals campus read. Others took to social media to share stories of Murphy impacting their lives while they or a loved one were hospitalized. I met her while my husband was in the hospital, one Facebook user recalled. She came to see him on the days she was working. She spent time talking to him and me . . . always asked if we needed anything. I remember thinking, what a sincere and kind woman! According to an obituary posted on the Dignity Memorial website, Murphy is survived by her wife and several brothers and sisters. Attorney information for Bajro was not immediately available. A Staten Island man has been charged in a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on the 200 block of Mason Avenue in the vicinity of Staten Island University Hospital on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As wildfires continue to rage in Southern California, Gregory Leone is taking things day by day. Leone, a former Staten Islander, is co-owner of Deninos Pizzeria and Cafe in Thousand Oaks, a franchise of the original restaurant on Staten Island. Hes lived in California for several years, and opened the eatery in 2023. And while he has experienced the terrors of wildfires in years past including the 2017 Thomas Fire, which displaced his family for over a week nothing compares to these fires. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Robert DeFalco and Connie Profaci two of Staten Islands longstanding real estate brokers have announced that their companies have merged. Throughout the years Connie and I and our agents have maintained a strong friendship and have worked very well together to serve the Staten Island community in a respectful way, DeFalco noted in a blog post announcing the change, which went into effect on Dec. 1. Connie and I are proud of our No. 1 reputation and successful careers. Real estate is a reputation business [and] our commitment to our customers is paramount. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Blood Center (NYBC) is urging all eligible donors to give blood during a critical blood shortage. New York is currently experiencing a post-holiday critical decline in donations, NYBC leadership said, pleading with residents to make a life-saving donation during the month of January, National Blood Donor Month. During January, NYBC aims to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and recognize the lifesaving impact of voluntary blood donors. January is always a difficult time for the blood supply as the post-holiday rush, seasonal illnesses like COVID, the flu, and RSV, school breaks, and inclement weather all contribute to making blood donations less of a priority for New Yorkers, said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. National Blood Donor Month is an important reminder that the need for blood never takes a break. This year is no different we are facing a critical shortage of O- and B- blood types in the region. We encourage all Staten Islanders to make an appointment to donate near you, bring a friend and start the new year off by giving the gift of life. Proclaimed by President Richard Nixon in January 1970, this annual observance remains vital to raising awareness and strengthening the blood supply during a critical time of year. To commemorate the grand opening of a new blood center at 253 W 35th St. in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, NYBC leadership hosted a press conference at the new location, joined by city leaders and blood donation advocates. The new donor center is located just blocks from Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, making it an accessible and convenient option for blood donors who commute to Manhattan, as well as Manhattan residents. NYBC urges all eligible donors to make an appointment or walk in to a local center or drive to help replenish the blood supply and ensure patients receive the care they need. Staten Island Blood Center The Staten Island Blood Center, at 2791 Richmond Ave., New Springville, accepts donations on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. To schedule an appointment, visit https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/center/38, or call 800-933-2566. Donating blood is safe and convenient for those who: Are in good health Are 17 years or older (16 with a parent or guardians written consent and 76+ with physician consent) Weigh at least 110 pounds (Donors aged 16-18 have additional height and weight restrictions Are symptom-free for at least 72 hours following cold or flu Some medical conditions/medications, recent tattoos, piercings, or travel may impact eligibility. Learn more about common reasons people cant donate. To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Upcoming Staten Island blood drives Sunday, Jan. 12 Our Lady of Pity Church gym, 1616 Richmond Ave., Bulls Head, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 Staten Island Greenbelt Nature Center Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 123 Police Precinct, 116 Main St., Tottenville, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Schedule and appointment To schedule an appointment at any upcoming NYBC drive, visit https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/center/38, or call 800-933-2566. Cant donate blood? You can still make a lifesaving impact by supporting NYBCs mission through financial contributions or volunteering your time. Click here to learn more. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Veronica Tatyana Bailey, 31, a former resident of Mariners Harbor, was among the six lives lost in a fiery crash in Newark on the night of Dec. 6. Bailey, who lived in Jersey City at the time of her death, lived on Staten Island for around eight years with her mother, Aila Benitez. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Bailey and Benitez moved to Jersey City following the death of Baileys father, Andrew J. Bailey. The father was among the 2,977 victims of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. After spending some time in Jersey City, Bailey and her mother bought a home on Staten Island in 2011. Benitez reflected on the years in which the pair lived on Staten Island. The mother noted how the Richmond Terrace home was purchased using the money in a trust fund established by Baileys father. The home kept the women in close proximity to Benitezs sisters, two former residents of Staten Island, and allowed Bailey the opportunity to attend the College of Staten Island with a focus in the liberal arts as well as a beauty school. Veronica Bailey, 31, was one of six individuals killed in a fiery crash in Newark, N.J., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Courtesy of Aila Benitez)(Courtesy of Aila Benitez) In addition to her mother, Bailey had a 24-year-old sister, Jocelyn Inverdale, who Benitez says shared an affectionate bond with her older sibling. After a number of years, in 2019, the family sold the Mariners Harbor home and Bailey decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia. Meanwhile, Benitez moved back to her parents home in Jersey City. Bailey furthered her education beyond the schooling received on Staten Island. She was also a graduate student at the Abundant Life Academy in Kanab, Utah, and while in Atlanta, earned her license as an esthetician. A real go-getter, Bailey served in a number of roles, including bartender, concierge receptionist and flight attendant; the latter of which was a job she held at LaGuardia Airport while living on Staten Island. After spending some time in Georgia, Bailey returned home to her family in Jersey City in February of 2024. Her aspirations led her to plan on launching her own beauty product business. Tragically, prior to her death, Bailey had developed her business plan and even conducted a promotional photo shoot. When she wasnt busy working, Benitez says her daughter loved to spend time with her friends and travel. She was very outgoing. She was like the center of the attention, it could be a crowded room and everybody looks up to her, Benitez said. Veronica Bailey, 31, was one of six individuals killed in a fiery crash in Newark, N.J., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Courtesy of Aila Benitez)(Courtesy of Aila Benitez) The mother remembers her daughter for her caring nature and for having a great sense of humor. Benitez also recalled how anyone who knew Bailey always had something beautiful to say about her. She always encouraged people, if ever theres something that they believe, always believe in yourself and always make it happen, added Benitez. Make your dream come true. Baileys funeral took place on Sunday at Martin Hughes Funeral Home in Concord. Benitez shared that a GoFundMe has been established online to cover the funeral and burial expenses. Those who wish to contribute to the fund can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-veronicas-bright-spirit. As of Friday afternoon, $15,331 has been raised from 177 donations. Veronica Bailey is survived by her mother, sister, grandmothers, grandfather, and extended family and friends. The fatal collision The deadly crash took place around 10:45 p.m. on the night of Dec. 6, as reported by NJ.com. At the time, the vehicle was traveling south on Raymond Boulevard toward the on-ramp to southbound Routes 1 & 9 in Newark. Veering off the road, the vehicle plunged in the air and struck a support column for the Pulaski Skyway, the Essex County Prosecutors Office said, according to the report. The car subsequently burst into flames and all six occupants were killed. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker announced progress in the struggle against lithium-ion battery-related fires on Wednesday and released data on 2024 fatalities and emergency response figures. In 2023, New York City lost 18 lives to fires related to lithium-ion batteries; In 2024, there were six, a 67% decrease, Tucker announced The FDNY credits the drop in such fatalities to safety messaging, inspections, community outreach and a $1 million ad campaign. Over the course of 2024, the FDNY Lithium-ion Battery Task Force inspected 585 e-bike shops, a 25% increase from 2023. Over the course of these 12 months, the task force issued 426 FDNY summonses, 138 violation orders, 32 criminal summonses, and issued seven vacate orders with the Department of Buildings. In tracing the origin of fires, FDNY investigators found that 277 fires were triggered by lithium-ion batteries in 2024. Back in 2023, there were 268 blazes traced back to these batteries. Of these battery-related fires, 133 were non-structural, having taken place outside. In 2023, there were 90 non-structural, lithium-ion battery-related fires. Back in December, FDNY fire marshals determined that a lithium-ion battery was the cause of a fire which broke out at Staten Island Technical High School in New Dorp. The batteries have been a safety concern among residents and elected officials alike, given that Staten Island is home to numerous lithium-ion battery storage facilities. Civilian fatalities and FDNY operations data In addition to sharing insight on lithium-ion battery data, Tucker shed light on FDNY and EMS operations, as well as the number of civilian fatalities resulting from fires. In 2023, there were 104 fire fatalities and in 2024 there were 78 fire fatalities in New York City a 25% decrease. The leading cause of these fire fatalities has been identified by the FDNY as electrical. There were 2.3 million emergency calls in which FDNY Fire and EMS operations responded in 2024. FDNY EMS set a new record for medical emergency responses - 1,630,446. Of these calls, EMS responded to 627,599 Segment 1-3 calls in 2024. Segment 1-3 calls are identified as life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, unconscious and choking calls. In 2024, there were fewer serious fires and emergencies than there were in 2023. These serious calls are identified as calls in which an emergency warrants at least one-alarm and prompts the response of at least a dozen fire units. While the FDNY faced increases in both fire and emergency medical service calls in 2024, our departments dedication to fire prevention, education, and outreach has saved lives, said Tucker. Fire-related fatalities are down by 25% compared to last year, with a significant 67% reduction in deaths related to lithium-ion batteries. One death is too many, but this progress is the result of enhanced public education, inspection efforts and greater community engagement. Despite the higher volume of calls, our EMS personnel and firefighters have worked tirelessly to save lives, and their efforts have helped make 2024 a safer year for New Yorkers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Mayor Eric Adams delivered what could be his last State of the City address Thursday in Harlem. In the address, the mayor touted a series of initiatives from his administration and announced some plans it has for the new year. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here. David Ross Averack, 69, passed away on Jan. 3, 2025 surrounded by his loving family in Tampa, Florida. Born on Dec. 8, 1955 in Brooklyn, he moved to Staten Island in 1978 before relocating to Florida in 2022. David retired from the New York City Department of Sanitation in 2011 after over 30 years of service. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Patricia, their four children, and twelve grandchildren. A private celebration of Davids life will take place at a later date. Rean the full obituary on SILive. YESTERDAYS OBITUARIES Julie El Saieh-Wolfe, 77, died Monday in Eger Lutheran Home, Egbertville after a long illness. A resident of Lighthouse Hill, she was a dedicated educator and talented linguist who spent over 30 years as a teacher at IS 24 Myra S. Barnes School, school principal at IS 75 Frank Paulo School, and mentor to new principals. Born in Brooklyn, she grew up in Haiti and was fluent in four languages. Mrs. El-Saieh-Wolfe was a 1968 graduate of Wagner College and loved to travel, especially to Paris. She was married for 49 years to William Bill Wolfe. Read the full obituary on SILive. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from Legacy.com. It was reviewed and edited by Staten Island Live staff. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A young Staten Island man facing kidney failure is in desperate need of a lifesaving donor. Rocco Murdocca Jr., 23, of Tottenville, has been battling focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, also known as FSGS, since he was 14 years old. The rare disease attacks the kidneys filtering units, damaging them and eventually leading to kidney failure. Murdocca was forced to have both kidneys removed, and the 2019 Monsignor Farrell High School graduate then accepted his fathers donated kidney that year. Yet, his kidney continues to decline, according to his family. Murdoccas kidney function is down to 11%, said his mother, Julia Murdocca. His three older sisters are not good candidates, doctors have told the family, because they wouldnt be compatible after the fathers donation, she said. Cysts on Moms kidney take her out of consideration, doctors have told her, she explained. His kidney function has declined drastically, she said, noting that without a transplant, hell need to be on dialysis for the rest of his life. Her sons blood type is A+, meaning he can accept a donation from anyone with the same blood type or type 0-, the universal blood type. The young man, a passionate animal lover, according to his family, is currently on a wait list for a donor at Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, and Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, she said. There is currently no cure for FSGS, which is the leading cause of kidney failure in children, and 5,400 patients are diagnosed with it every year. While 1,000 patients receive kidney transplants annually, the disease returns in 30% to 50% of patients within hours to a week after the surgery. People can live perfectly normal lives with just one kidney, Julia Murdocca said, meaning we all have a spare. You can live with one kidney, she said. Yet, theres more people on the kidney transplant list than every other organ, and everybody has a spare. Share your spare. Thats what we say in the kidney world. With a donation, her son would have a third chance at life, she said. I gave him life the first time; My husband gave him life the second time, she said. And hes got his whole future ahead of him." Mom, herself, has had her own serious health issues. Having put aside her own eye exams partly due to her time-consuming care for her son, a rare form of glaucoma nearly took her vision permanently. Yet, she was saved from a lifetime of blindness by a nick-of-time eye exam and an emergency laser procedure that quickly dispelled her doom. Last year, she organized Staten Islands first Pig Jig fundraiser, to bring attention to the need to find a cure for FSGS. Life on dialysis Life on dialysis is very difficult, she said, explaining that the treatments last four hours, and her son would be required to do it three times a week. A catheter is inserted into a patients chest or a fistula is inserted into the arm. Patients are then connected to a machine which removes blood, filters fluid and waste from it and returns it to the body. Extreme fatigue is one side effect. It sucks the life out of you, Julia Murdocca said. She said shes aware that the surgery is harder for the donor, whos remaining kidney must work twice as hard, but they would know theyve saved the life of a young man. Until then, he remains on the wait lists for a terminally ill patient or someone considered brain dead. Anyone interested in donating should visit the living donor website at hmh.donorscreen.org and note that they are interested in becoming a living donor for Murdocca. TAIPEI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's population declined in 2024, failing to sustain its 2023 rebound, the island's internal affairs department said on Friday. As of the end of 2024, Taiwan's population was approximately 23.4 million, a decrease of 20,222 people compared to the end of 2023, the department said. The number of newborns in 2024 fell to 134,856, the lowest figure since records began. This represented a crude birth rate of 5.76 per 1,000 people, a drop of 715 births from 2023 and marking the ninth consecutive annual decline since 2016. A total of 202,107 deaths were recorded on the island in 2024 -- equivalent to a crude death rate of 8.63 per 1,000 people -- which was 3,261 fewer deaths than in 2023. The number of marriages also declined, with 123,061 couples tying the knot in Taiwan last year, 2,131 fewer than the previous year. The proportion of the population aged 65 and above accounted for 19.18 percent of the region's total. This means that Taiwan is now on the brink of becoming a super-aged society -- a society in which seniors aged 65 and above account for 20 percent of the total population. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Who says theres no such thing as a free lunch? On Friday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the fifth proposal of her 2025 State of the State affordability agenda, which would provide free breakfast and lunch to all New York students, regardless of their family income, for the first time in the states history. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One of the first migrant shelters to open on Staten Island will cease operations in the coming months following repeated calls from elected officials over the past two years. On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced the upcoming closure of 13 migrant shelters across the five boroughs, including the one located at the Holiday Inn Express off Wild Avenue in Travis. President-elect Donald Trump has given his take on his viral moment with former President Barack Obama at the funeral for former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday. Trump said he and Obama probably do like each other, NBC News reported. The two presidents were seen sitting next to each other and jovially speaking during the funeral service for Carter in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. I didnt realize how friendly it looked, Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. I said, Boy, they look like two people that like each other. And we probably do, Trump said. We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably do. I dont know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody. Trump did not reveal what he and Obama spoke about at the funeral. Trump succeeded Obama in the White House in 2017 and the two have been political opponents. Trump spread false rumors that Obama was not born in the United States and he called former First Lady Michelle Obama nasty. Obama on the campaign trail this year called Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. An Obama advisor did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the New York Post that Trump and Obama were likely wary of cameras pointed at them as they spoke at the funeral and that the two could have been discussing international agreements. At one point, Trump leaned toward Obama and said, Ive pulled out of that. Its the conditions. Can you imagine that? Trump apparently also said, I cant talk, we have to find a quiet place sometime. This is a matter of importance, and we need to do this outside so that we can deal with it, certainly, today. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The start of 2025 has certainly been a cold one in New York City. Although one can expect freezing temperatures this time of year, the chill has surpassed usual expectations. Unfortunately, those wishing for mild temperatures will be disappointed. Recently, the National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center issued outlooks for the latter half of January, and judging from the forecast, below-average temperatures will persist through the end of the month. As of Thursday afternoon, New York City found itself amid an Arctic blast of frigid air seeping south from the North Pole thanks to a disruption in the polar vortex. Over the course of the last few days, bitterly cold temperatures have occupied the five boroughs. On Staten Island, daily highs have typically hovered around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the freezing point of water, while lows have generally been in the low 20s, as recorded by the Advance/SILive.com weather station. For reference, the Central Park area usually records average highs around 39 degrees and lows around 28 degrees during this same time period, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data from 1991-2020. Looking ahead, temperatures will resemble more seasonable conditions, with the forecast highs and lows expected to measure in around the average going into the weekend, as revealed by the weather service. However, residents of New York City are not out of the woods just yet. According to the temperature outlook for Jan. 18 through Jan. 31, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley have a 50-55% probability of experiencing below normal temperatures. Meanwhile, much of northern New York has anywhere from a 50-60% likelihood of experiencing above normal temperatures for the month. Those areas that do not fall into either category (much of Central New York) are given equal chances of seeing either above-average or below-average temperatures. The precipitation outlook In addition to the temperature forecast, the Climate Prediction Center also issued a precipitation outlook. An outlook from the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center reveals that New York City is forecast with a probability of "above normal" precipitation amounts from Jan. 18 through Jan. 31, 2025. (Courtesy of the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center)(Courtesy of the National Weathe For the time period of Jan. 18 through Jan. 31, the entire state of New York has favorable odds of experiencing above normal precipitation amounts. The majority of downstate New York, including New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, has a 55-60% probability of receiving above normal precipitation amounts during this time period. Those to the north and west have a 50-55% chance of such conditions, as revealed by the Climate Prediction Center outlook. NOAA data from 1991-2020 shows that the Central Park area usually records around 3.64 inches of precipitation over the course of the month. Should some of that precipitation sweep through New York City during the forecast period of below-average temperatures, its possible that the five boroughs could see some snowfall. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! Rescuers unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) A rescuer helps local people set up a tent in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) People unload disaster relief materials in Cuobu Village of Lnaze County, Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) The first after-quake newborn sleeps in an incubator at the Xigaze People's Hospital in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. The baby was given birth to on Thursday by a woman transferred from the earthquake's epicenter in Dingri County. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A nurse communicates with the mother of the first after-quake newborn at the Xigaze People's Hospital in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 9, 2025. The baby was given birth to on Thursday by a woman transferred from the earthquake's epicenter in Dingri County. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Rescuers assemble beds for quake-affected residents at a resettlement site in a village in Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Children raise hands to answer questions during a psychology class given by a social work service center at a resettlement site of quake-affected residents in a village in Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A fire rescuer interacts with a child at a relocation site in a village of Dingri County in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. Rescue and relief efforts were made after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Jan. 7. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) A rescuer holds hands with a child at a relocation site in a village of Dingri County, in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. Rescue and relief efforts were made after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Jan. 7. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Soldiers of the armed police transfer relief supplies at a warehouse in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. As the search and rescue efforts went on, 170,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A truck of China Post loaded with relief supplies drives towards the epicenter of the earthquake on a section of National Highway 318vin Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. As the search and rescue efforts went on, 170,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A staff member fixes relief supplies on a truck on the National Highway 318 in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. As the search and rescue efforts went on, 170,000 urgently needed items such as quilts, blankets, cotton coats, stoves and instant noodles were shipped to the disaster area. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) A doctor inquires a resident injured in the earthquake at the Xigaze People's Hospital in Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. All-out rescue efforts are being underway after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in Xigaze City on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Rescuers conduct rescue work at a village in Chamco Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Rescuers work at a village in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Rescuers prepare dinner at a village in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Rescuers conduct rescue work at a village in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Hu Zikui/Xinhua) Rescuers search for survivors in Changsuo Township of Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Liu Yousheng/Xinhua) Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Next week, Karla Sofia Gascon is very likely to be nominated for an Oscar in the best-actress category, which would guarantee her a spot in the Hollywood history books as the first openly trans actress to come anywhere close to that list. Gascon transitioned in 2018. In Jacques Audiards mad, magnificent musical Emilia Perez, which this week took out the Golden Globes for best foreign language film and best comedy or musical, she plays both the imposingly glamorous title character and the man she used to be: a Mexican drug cartel supremo called Manitas del Monte. Who would have guessed? Lounging on a broken couch out in the desert with his fellow thugs, Manitas seems as macho as a bull. Gascon, on the other hand, is every inch a diva. Born in Madrid, she spent 10 years starring in daytime soap operas in Mexico, where she started off playing men. I want to be very clear, says Audiard, whose gold-plated French arthouse career has included The Beat My Heart Skipped (2005), A Prophet (2009) and Rust and Bone (2012). If I had not found Karla Sofia, I would have had a hard time making this movie. Karla Sofia Gascon plays a Mexican drug lord undergoing gender affirming surgery. He was initially reluctant, he says, to ask her to pretend to be a man again. It was Gascon who insisted on playing Emilia as a dual role. As an actress, it wouldve been so ugly for me to say, Give that character to someone else, no? I dont think I wouldve forgiven myself, she told Harpers Bazaar. Also, I think the film wouldnt have made sense. For her, it was crucial to see that Emilia was already in Manitas and, later, that the shadow of monstrous Manitas remained within Emilia. The difficulty wasnt playing male and female, but creating one single character that has two sides, an A side and a B side, then working from each side to incorporate them into a single one, she says now. That included finding two distinct voices. And singing in two different ranges that are unlike my own. As Audiard puts it, she did great. When Emilia Perez was unveiled at last years Cannes Film Festival, the reviews were rapturous. Gascon and her co-stars Zoe Saldana (who went on to win the Golden Globe for best supporting actress), Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, as an ensemble, won the festivals best actress award. Advertisement Saldana, best known as a graceful blue alien in James Camerons Avatar films, plays an underpaid, underappreciated lawyer, Rita. Gomez plays Manitas abandoned wife Jessi Shes very fierce and not at all likable, says Gomez, with relish while Paz plays Epifania, a younger woman who falls for the resurgent Emilia. The story moves at a cracking pace. When Manitas decides to offer Rita a job as his fixer, organising his disappearance and surgery, he has her kidnapped and brought to him with a bag over her head: thats how he rolls. After the operation, the newly minted Emilia becomes a philanthropist, helping the families of people killed by the trade that made her rich; her transition is not only between genders, but between worlds. Loading The roots of the project, which everyone acknowledges sounds completely crazy, go back 30 years, when Audiard now 72 had made his second feature, A Self-Made Hero. He and renowned film composer Alexandre Desplat then started nutting out an idea for an opera. I had the idea of making something in the genre of Brecht and Weill, but we ended up being too lazy to actually finish it or go further with it, he says. But it is something that has been on my mind for a long time. Music is always central to his films, he says. And my last three or four films were not written in the French language. Dheepan, which won the Palme dOr at Cannes in 2015, was mostly in Tamil; The Sisters Brothers (2018) was an American western. He doesnt speak Tamil, English or Spanish. What attracts me there is the musicality I hear in the dialogue, when I hear it in a foreign language. And that led me to the musical. The plot of Emilia Perez began to crystallise when he read Ecoute (Listen), a novel by Boris Razon, in 2018. In that case the cartel boss was trying to escape from his life, not his gender, Audiard has said. But Im fascinated by the paradox of this idea of the hyper-violent and hypermasculine world, and the idea of wanting to transition. The characters were not psychologically developed, however, while his own first script, written as an opera libretto, was just a series of stylised set-pieces with characters who were archetypal and one-dimensional. Advertisement That changed when he met the women who would embody those characters. He had imagined them as much younger: Manitas as 30, Rita as 25. But when I met Karla and then Zoe, I saw I had it all wrong, he says. What I needed were characters who had a past, who had things they needed to work through. So what was special, that came out of that, was that the actresses dictated what the characters would be. Zoe Saldana, as frustrated lawyer Rita, won this weeks Golden Globe award for best supporting actress. Gascon is 52, Saldana 46. Gascon also became Audiards adviser on matters trans. She helped me to a great extent in terms of the psychological component, but also with practical elements, such as, What is an operation like? and What is the recovery period like? What kind of pain is it? and What kind of joy is it as well? Gascons transition followed a period of desperation. I had to choose to live my own life, she says. And in order to do that, I had to get out of the darkness. After a role of Emilias intensity, she says she would happily play a Ninja Turtle; she doesnt like to take herself too seriously. Not that Emilia Perez is short on fun; after several visits to Mexico, Audiard decided to shoot in Paris on sound stages where he could play with crazy lighting and decorative worlds that dissolve into one another, giving it the look of a carnival with songs woven through it. Selena Gomez in Emilia Perez: I dont know if anything would have prepared me for this. Credit: AP The songs themselves, by Clement Ducol and Camille, are eccentricities: in one particularly spectacular scene, the doctors and nurses in a Thai plastic surgery clinic abandon their scalpels to sing a paean to rhinoplasty. Gomez, mistress of dance pop, says she grew up on musicals. But I dont know if anything would have prepared me for this. Even the choreography was stuff Id never done before, she says. Audiard says he could not have made this film 10 years ago. Because its a movie that tackles contemporary issues. And because, along with Emilia, the movie transitions. It switches forms. It goes from a narco movie to a telenovela to a musical. Within that surreal cinematic journey, all the characters are undergoing some kind of transformation. Rita gives up being an office doormat to join the criminal underworld; Jessi has to come to terms with losing her mob wife status. Advertisement Your partner may not reciprocate your curiosity at first, but try not to keep score (which is another good relationship resolution), Garcia says. 2. Make bids for connection A bid for connection a term coined by marriage researchers Jon and Julie Gottman is basically anything a person does to try and engage with their partner, explains Elizabeth Earnshaw, a licensed marriage and family therapist who has trained in the Gottman method. Bids tend to fall into a few different categories, she says: the obvious play with me, spend time with me-type bids (like when a partner asks to cuddle). There are also information-sharing bids (maybe your partner mentions an interesting article or warns you there is traffic before you commute to work). And then there are requests for help or comfort. Crying is even a bid if you do it in front of somebody, Earnshaw says. In the healthiest relationships, partners make and acknowledge each others bids often, Earnshaw explains. Your goal for the new year? Reach out to your partner more often than you did in 2024 or respond to your partners bids for connection more positively than you did last year, she recommends. And what if your bids are constantly ignored or rejected? You take this information from your partner, and decide what to do with it, Earnshaw says. 3. Be selfish in the bedroom Yes, really. Whats in it for you? Lori Brotto often asks clients with sex and intimacy issues at her counselling practice. Brotto, a psychologist and professor at the University of British Columbia, likes to dig in: what do you get out of being intimate, or what would you like to get? Do you want sex to feel fun? Relaxing? What emotions or physical sensations might you enjoy? she asks. In Brottos experience, people can get too caught up in what they think they should (or should not) want in bed, based on societal messages or because they are overly focused on their partner. That makes it challenging to show up in an authentic way during intimacy. You cant communicate your desires and needs if you havent spent any time understanding what they are, Brotto says. So go ahead: Be a little bit more selfish. Making time for moments of intimacy and connection is key, according to experts. Credit: iStock 4. Let go of the idea that there is a right or wrong way to have sex There is no normal sex, says Lexx Brown-James, president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counsellors and Therapists. Brown-James likes to compare sex to pizza: you get to decide the toppings. You get to decide how many slices you want. For instance, foreplay can be sex, she adds. Candice Nicole Hargons, an associate professor in behavioral, social and health education sciences at Emory University, recommended an even more specific resolution: in 2025, prioritise sex that isnt penetrative, she says. Why? For one, most women require some form of clitoral stimulation in order to orgasm, Hargons says. (She notes that non-penetrative sex is the norm in many queer relationships). Also, mixing things up brings a sense of novelty, she says. You dont say it as, Lets not have this type of sex, she explains. Its: Lets add this. Of course, talking about sex can be difficult. Hargons recommends a good conversation starter: Id love to have more variety in our sex life. 5. Commit to joy In long-term relationships, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of finding moments for connection and fun, says Howard Markman, co-director of the Centre for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver. Loading Stumped about where to start? Once a month or so, sit down with your partner and jot down three things each of you would like to do together, he recommends. Attend a sporting event? Institute a movie night? Tackle a creative project? Then swap lists. Take one item from your partners list (and vice versa) and commit to helping make it happen. Youre taking coequal responsibility for planning this activity that is going to enhance the fun, the friendship, the sensuality all the positive connections, Markman says. 6. Dont let resentments fester One of the paradoxes of vibrant relationships is that you have to be willing to rock the boat, says Terrence Real, a family therapist. So, bringing up resentments or gripes, even if it starts a fight, can be healthy. Another way to put it, he says: Dare to take each other on. When partners stop fighting for their deepest needs, passion is the first casualty, Real warns. Resentment grows. Sexuality and generosity decrease. He acknowledges that this resolution requires strong communication skills. It is generally more effective to request a change, rather than to complain about what you dont like, Real says. The daughter of late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos and her husband have faced court over an allegedly drunken incident on a Jetstar flight, handing over $40,000 to get their passports back and committing to a booze ban in airports and on planes. Analisa Josefa Corr, 53, and James Alexander Corr, 45, were escorted by federal police off flight JQ720 from Hobart to Sydney on December 28 for allegedly causing a disturbance with disorderly behaviour. The pair were allegedly intoxicated and drinking alcohol they had brought with them onto the flight, the Australian Federal Police said in a statement. The woman was also accused of allegedly grabbing and shaking another passenger while exiting the aircraft toilet. A prominent gangland figure and former outlaw motorcycle gang member has been murdered in a brutal ambush in Melbournes western suburbs. Hawre Sherwani died in hospital after he was shot in Caroline Springs about 10.30pm on Thursday. Closed-circuit video footage obtained by this masthead reveals Sherwani frantically knocking on the door of a house in Heysen Park Way, before slumping to the ground and appearing to lose consciousness. Homicide Squad detectives have launched a major manhunt for his killers; however, the list of suspects will be extensive given the former Comancheros members previous involvement in drug trafficking, extortion and weapons offences. A man was killed in a ruthless attack after he and his friends were set upon by a group armed with knives at a park in Melbournes outer west. In a tragic twist, his death comes two years after his older brother was shot to death outside the family home. Lino Atem, 24, was found dead with stab wounds in a reserve on Haines Drive in Wyndham Vale late on Friday night. Two 27-year-old men were taken to separate hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will pay a state visit to China from Jan. 14 to 17, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced here on Friday. The visit, the first one to China by President Dissanayake since taking office, is of great significance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations, Guo Jiakun, also a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, told a news briefing on the same day. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Dissanayake. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji will meet with him respectively. Noting that China and Sri Lanka are traditional friendly neighbors, Guo said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957, China-Sri Lanka relations have stood the test of the changing international landscape and maintained sound and steady development, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries with different sizes. China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to take President Dissanayake's visit as an opportunity to continue the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields, strive for new progress in bilateral strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship, and deliver more benefits to the two peoples, Guo said. 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 The head chef and owner of top Victorian restaurant Moonah has defended his business after several former staff accused him of racism, bullying and providing alcohol to underage staff. An investigation by The Age has uncovered allegations that award-winning chef Tobin Kent bullied staff so severely they required psychological treatment, mimicked an Asian colleagues appearance, and used degrading language towards employees. In response to questions from The Age, Kent engaged lawyers, threatened legal action and issued a statement claiming he was committed to ensuring a safe, inclusive and supportive workplace, and would introduce tailored policies to manage bullying, harassment and staff alcohol consumption. A dozen former employees of award-winning Moonah Restaurant have described a culture of bullying and racism. Credit: Jason South I reject the contention that Moonah has cultural issues and to the extent that there have been issues in the past, I have worked hard to ensure they are not repeated and that staff feel safe, included and supported, he said. The 12-seat Geelong restaurant was awarded Victorias Restaurant of The Year at the Good Food awards in November, where Kent was recognised for using locally grown or foraged produce in a new way of Australian cooking. However, as Kent delivered his acceptance speech, some guests began to heckle from the back of the Plaza Ballroom in Melbournes CBD. Advertisement Over interviews with 14 current and former employees and colleagues, some described Kent as naturally talented, hard-working and interested and passionate whereas others recounted experiences of bullying so severe they were diagnosed with work-related stress or medicated for anxiety. Amy Tsai worked as a sommelier and front-of-house manager in 2021 and said racist behaviour was common, describing experiences where Kent mimicked Asian accents and treated staff differently based on their race. Tsai has worked in the hospitality industry for 15 years, at top restaurants including Brae and Igni Restaurant, and said she understood fine-dining involved long hours and high demands. However, Tsai said her experience at Moonah was unacceptable. Former Moonah sommelier Amy Tsai was diagnosed with workplace stress after working with Tobin Kent. Credit: Jason South The treatment at Moonah was unlike anything Ive ever experienced unethical and appalling, far beyond what anyone should endure in the workplace, she said. He just does whatever he wants and has absolutely no concern for other people. During her time working at Moonah, Tsai developed anxiety, and saw a psychologist for the first time in her life. She obtained a letter to share with Kent in an effort to find a solution. Advertisement The letter, obtained by this investigation, shows the psychologist described Tsai as a delightful, intelligent and loyal person who is currently experiencing very high levels of workplace stress. In the best interests of Amys health, it may be necessary for Amy to change her workplace in order to progress with positive mental health, the letter states. When Tsai presented the letter to Kent, she said he dismissed her concerns and nothing changed. That same month, she resigned. Tobin Kent fishing at a beach near his Moonah restaurant. Kent said he had never received any formal or informal complaints about racism. I am proudly of direct Asian descent, born in Thailand and migrated to Australia with my family. I abhor racism and reject any suggestion I have acted in a racist way towards either staff or guests, Kent said in a statement. Adam Bowditch, who worked at Moonah for about four months in 2021-22, supported Tsais account. Bowditch said he had witnessed Kent being racist about Tsai regularly disparaging and mimicking her. Advertisement He would do a walk like her, do Asian squinty eyes, he said. Bowditch said he had been bullied by Kent, which included daily yelling. He described one incident where he was taken into the coolroom by Kent after leaving a mark on a plate. Kent had then screamed at him for at least 10 minutes. On another occasion, Bowditch said he had been screamed at over his bathroom cleaning technique. Adam Bowditch said Tobin Kent would scream at him daily. Credit: Jason South I went to pick up my bucket to start cleaning, then he stopped me, and started screaming about how terrible a listener I am, he said. You could never pick when he was going to yell at you. Bowditch said this behaviour was directed towards other staff as well. There was never one time that was worse than all the others, he said. Everyone was a punching bag [on] a different day. Advertisement Bowditch said he was typically a happy person but the experience had impacted his mental health, to the point he took six months off after leaving Moonah and considered quitting the profession. Another former employee, Shaynesha Page, also developed anxiety while working at Moonah for five months until February 2023. Page said Kent had repeatedly made disparaging comments about other staff members, such as calling them f---ing useless and she saw another chef reduced to tears after he read the whole list of things she wasnt doing right to her. Shaynesha Page also struggled with bullying at Moonah. Credit: Jason South It was every day he was laying into people, she said. Making degrading comments to staff members. Eventually, Page informed Kent she had started taking anti-anxiety medication, supported by medical records provided to this masthead, and claims this was used against her. I would be working then he would say stop being anxious or stop doing that or wake up, Page said. He was making me feel worse about it. Advertisement Is Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo that went viral last year, really worth enduring the enshittification of social media? When I first joined social media, my feed was filled with what my friends were up to now X is dominated by the ravings of Elon Musk, Facebook has been taken over by unhinged suggested posts from groups I have no interest in, and my Instagram feed has been hijacked by AI videos of capybaras taking baths. Baby hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Credit: AP Why is the highly mysterious and supposedly well-tuned algorithm serving me video after video of depictions of South American rodents in the tub? My closest guess is because a woman I went to high school with wrote a childrens book where the main character is, you guessed it, a capybara, and I liked her post. Macquarie Dictionary picked up this trend when it named its 2024 word of the year enshittification, defined as the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking. In sixth place was Maribyrnong Council with $61,432 declared, followed by Mornington Peninsula ($60,493), Boroondara ($57,133), Ballarat ($55,099) and Wyndham ($54,283). Which candidates received the most money? City of Melbourne lord mayoral tickets attracted large donations, as reported extensively by The Age. These candidate alliances account for the biggest donation numbers in the state: Team Nick declared $952,984 , Team Wood declared $582,568, Team Kouta declared $469,106 and the Liberal ticket declared $200,000. Khan was the running mate for lord mayoral candidate Anthony Koutoufides a former Carlton AFL great and tipped in the lions share of half-a-million dollars in donations received by the four-person Team Kouta ticket. Outside the City of Melbourne, the candidates who received the most donations were now-Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly, who declared $35,966 in donations, and Sheppartons Steven Threlfall, with $33,739.20. Jollys ward MacKillop in Yarra had more donations than any other ward in the state (outside the City of Melbourne) with $42,850 declared including $20,000 from a single donor, Peter Kurg. Stephen Jolly, now Yarra mayor, was the candidate who received the most donations outside the City of Melbourne. Credit: Justin McManus Successful Port Phillip candidate Serge Thomann and unsuccessful candidate Brendan Perera were next on the list, receiving $23,902 and $19,051 respectively. New Mornington Peninsula Mayor Anthony Marsh disclosed $18,273 in donations from his own company, Natant Group Pty Ltd, followed by new Ballarat councillor Samantha McIntosh with $18,000. The Greens The Victorian Greens were by far the biggest official party donors, spending $536,830 in total across 38 councils. The party tipped the most into Port Phillip Council ($55,198), where it ran seven candidates none of whom were elected. In Yarra, the party spent $50,833 and just two of nine candidates were elected. In Merri-bek it spent $47,064 and got three of nine councillors elected. In Maribyrnong, $41,965 was spent supporting seven candidates three of whom were elected and in Darebin the party spent $33,294 across seven candidates, but only three were elected. Former Prahran Greens state MP Sam Hibbins gave $1354 across four Greens candidates in Stonnington, and Greens senator Janet Rice donated $845 across five candidates. Hibbins resigned from the Greens after the council election when an affair with a party staffer came to light. State MP Tim Read gave $860 across 15 Greens candidates, and state MP Gabrielle de Vietri gave $100 to Boroondara Greens candidate Jackie Carter. Labor The Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party officially endorsed 52 candidates across the state, declaring a total spend of $54,396. The party spent the most on the City of Melbourne race ($6250), where one of its candidates, Davydd Griffiths, was elected. Lord Mayor Nick Reece is also a Labor Party member but didnt run under the Labor name. The ALP spent $11,250 in Whittlesea in Melbournes north, where four of its 10 candidates were elected, and $11,570 in Darebin, where five of its nine candidates were elected. It also spent $8750 in Port Phillip (two of seven Labor candidates elected), $7500 in Merri-bek (three of 11 elected), $6576 in Moonee Valley (four of seven elected) and $2500 in Yarra (one of three elected). Victorian Labor MP Natalie Hutchins donated to Brimbank Labor candidate Katharine Nikolic. Credit: Penny Stephens Labor state and federal MPs also kicked into their local counterparts campaigns. State member for Sydenham and cabinet minister Natalie Hutchins gave $1915 to successful Brimbank councillor Katharine Nikolic, while Mill Park MP and Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio gave $500 to unsuccessful Whittlesea candidate Monique Lobosco. Loading Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch gave $500 to successful Wyndham candidate Robert Szatkowski, while federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, the MP for Ballarat, gave $500 to successful Ballarat council candidate Jay Morrison. Both Szatkowski and Morrison were not officially endorsed Labor candidates. Former federal MP Kim Carr gave $500 to successful Merri-bek Labor candidate Helen Politis. Politis also received $2000 from former Labor state MP Carlo Carli, and $1300 from Victorian MP Sheena Watt. Unions Unions were among the biggest donors to Labor candidates, with the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employee Union donating $40,000 to the Reece ticket in the City of Melbourne and a further $22,617.75 to three unsuccessful candidates in the outer-suburban Maroondah Council: Aaron Martini, Brendan Woods and Susan Burgess. It also kicked in $500 to unsuccessful Merri-bek candidate Lambros Tapinos campaign. There were $7611 in declared donations from the Australian Workers Union, about half of which went to Brimbank Labor candidates: Katharine Nikolic (elected), Ranka Rasic (elected) and Tayla Vorgiatzidis (unelected). A further $2104 was declared to unsuccessful Merri-bek candidates Lambros Tapinos and Praveen Kumar and $1603.30 to the elected Katerine Theodosis. In Melton, the union gave $1784 to newly elected Phillip Zada. The Health and Community Services Union donated $500 each to elected Geelong candidate Sarah Hathway, successful Whittlesea councillor Debra Gunn and unsuccessful Darebin candidate Kate Polglaze. The Electrical Trades Union donated $60,000 to the Reece campaign and $500 to successful Shepparton candidate Steven Threlfall. Liberal Party Although 30 known Liberal Party members were elected in metropolitan councils, the Liberals only officially donated $200,000 into the City of Melbourne, where it ran four candidates, with one elected Owen Guest. Victorian Socialists The Victorian Socialists paid between $300 and $600 each to 19 candidates at a total of $6200; all candidates bar one (Owen Cosgriff in Bendigo) were unsuccessful. The Socialist Alliance a different party funded two Merri-bek candidates (Sue Bolton and Felix Dance) at a total of $7057.58. Bolton was elected, Dance was not. Community groups Outside the City of Melbourne, notable large donors were incorporated associations and informal groups used as funding vehicles for candidates, including the Residents of Port Phillip group which funnelled $67,426.85 into five candidates and Yarra For All, which gave nearly $32,000 to ten candidates. Both entities are incorporated associations registered with the Consumer Affairs Victoria. RoPP formerly known as the Ratepayers of Port Phillip Incorporated had three of its candidates elected: Rod Hardy, Bryan Mears and Beti Jay. In Yarra, now-Mayor Stephen Jolly is listed as the secretary of Yarra For All Inc, which paid out a total of $29,554.18 to nine candidates of whom three were elected: Jolly, Evangeline Aston and Sharon Harrison. After the December 19 statutory deadline for election campaign donation disclosures, Yarra City Council added details of two more donations, including from Councillor Kenneth Gomez who also received $2342.58 from Yarra for All Inc, bringing the total from the association to almost $32,000. Yarra For All independent candidates (from left) Victoria Chipperfield, Michael Glynatsis, Stephen Jolly, Bridgid OBrien, Peter Sprott, Eva Aston, Theresa Saldanha, Brielle Pope, Ken Gomez, Sharon Harrison and campaign chief of staff Catherine Mililli. Credit: Jason South Another entity Caring East Gippsland, run by former councillor Jane Greacen donated $13,238.28 to nine candidates, but only one (Tom Crook) was elected. The group is not an incorporated association and fundraised via a GoFundMe page. Another unofficial group, People Empowering Port Phillip (PEPP), organised by now-councillor Serge Thomann paid out $7000 in total to five candidates in Port Phillip, with only Thomann elected. These groups have been referred to as quasi-parties of independent candidates, with candidates using similar branding, funding source and often policy platforms. Companies There were at least 45 companies that donated to candidates, including property developers and real estate agents, the vast majority in the City of Melbourne campaign. Outside the City of Melbourne large corporate donations were $10,395 from Master Advocates Real Estate service Pty Ltd to unsuccessful Moonee Valley candidate Mark Errichiello, and $5000 from Derinean Pty Ltd to successful Shepparton candidate Anthony Brophy. Property developer giant MAB, run by Andrew and Michael Buxton, gave $3000 to successful Liberal councillor Tom Humphries at Stonnington Council under the trading name Kettlestone Pty Ltd, while developer Bill McNee gave him $4600 under the trading name AP Management Pty Ltd. Local government activist Dean Hurlston. Credit: Simon Schluter There are currently no caps on donations to local councils in Victoria, and no limitations on any industries or foreign organisations from donating as long as they are declared if above $500. Loading Experts have previously warned that Victoria is behind other states on election integrity, with South Australia proposing to ban political donations altogether, Queensland having had real-time disclosures since the 2017 state election and NSW banning donations from property developers. Dean Hurlston, from ratepayer activist group Council Watch, said his organisation wanted all donations from developers, gambling businesses and politicians banned outright, as well as a $4000 cap on all donations including by political parties. We also want disclosures to be in real time as donated up to election day and donations should be banned post-election day, so that voters know who candidates are funded by, he said. We also want a donor register set up statewide so that all donations can be tracked by name, just like the lobbyist register at a state level. Transparency is the most important thing in Victoria and is seriously lacking. Contact the journalist securely: rachaeldexter@protonmail.com Home buyers with a Melbourne budget can get a lot more bang for their buck if they look further afield and move to regional Victoria. The capital citys median house price is $1,024,243, based on Domain data. But with that money, buyers willing to consider a tree change could find a different lifestyle, with scenery, land and perhaps near the water. Take your Melbourne budget outside of the city, and your money can buy you a lot more real estate in some cases. Coomoora The township of Coomoora is less than 90 minutes from Melbourne and only a short drive from Daylesford, the heart of Victorias spa country. Recalled Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann faced a dilemma at the end of the last Sheffield Shield season stay in Queensland and fight for his place, or seek greener pastures out of his comfort zone. He chose the latter. The move to Tasmania not only saved his Test career, but gave him the chance to prove he is the long-term successor to Australian great Nathan Lyon. Matt Kuhnemann is in line to play his first Test since early 2023. Credit: Getty Images Kuhnemanns journey was one of sacrifice and risk, leaving his family behind with his prized Baggy Green remaining in his parents safe and calling a traditionally seamers-friendly wicket his new hunting ground. Its special to have Tommy on, and hopefully we can replicate what happened 11 years ago, Baker said. Unencumbered jumped from gate three as well, and I think a good gate is crucial in a two-year-old race. Berry said the rise to 1200m was a concern for O Ole, but he was expecting a better run. She looked to have a bit of pudding on her last start and I know the team said shes had plenty of improvement coming out of that, he said. She had to do a bit of work out of the gate as well, so drawing three for her is very important. She should get a good run from there, and shell be hopefully figuring in the finish. Shes had soft-track trials and one run there as well, so she can definitely handle the wet. Loading Berry also has a chance in the $3 million MM Guineas (1400m), but without the luxury of an inside draw. He partners Bauhinia, which drew gate 20, for Rosehill trainers Lee and Cherie Curtis. Shes a lovely filly, Berry said. She was a big winner first up at Wyong over the 1200, and she will obviously enjoy a bit bigger track, and 1400 is going to be to her liking. Barrier 20 is a bit awkward, but its got a very good camber the new Gold Coast track, so if she can get cover somewhere, shell be out wide swooping home late. His best rides, Peter Snowdens Volatile and the Tony Gollan-trained Hidden Wealth, bookend the meeting. Volatile shouldnt be a maidener, but hes been placed very well, Berry said. Hes drawn well, but he doesnt like the rain, so hell probably need a dry track to be at his best. Hidden Wealth got taken on a lot the other day. Barrier 14 is not a massive query, especially over 1300. Hes got natural speed, so well be able to use that, and hes rock-hard fit now. Consistent Collett looks to build on city winner at Wyong metro card Alysha Colletts aim is to ride consistently well, no matter where she goes. And over the past four and half seasons, her numbers prove she is hitting the mark. The Kiwi expat, the younger sister of prominent Sydney jockey Jason Collett, has become one of the best provincial hoops in NSW, racking up season totals of 89, 72, 89, 81 and, so far this campaign, 44 winners. City success, though, has been harder to come by in recent times. Collett ended a frustrating run of close calls in town last week when guiding the John Thompson-trained With Your Blessing to victory at Randwick, and she hopes to build on that at Wyongs inaugural standalone program on Saturday. Alysha Collett rides With Your Blessing, right, to victory at Randwick last Saturday. Credit: Getty Images Before last Saturdays win, Collett had 13 placegetters in 46 metropolitan rides this season. It was her biggest victory since the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes with Mnementh seven months ago. Its always nice to get winners, no matter where they are, but Ive had a lot of placings, so its nice to just get that one finally, Collett said. Loading Things are going really well. I aim for consistency all the way through, wherever I ride, and Im ticking that box. Im still learning and improving, so Im enjoying it. I love Sydney, its a great place. The 30-year-old, a group 1 winner in New Zealand, has the Chris Waller-trained Waterford in the feature $500,000 The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong. It will be Colletts first time aboard the six-year-old, which was third in the Alan Brown Stakes to start this campaign but has since been unplaced across four runs in features. Its had a bit of a freshen and is very suited coming back in distance, Collett said of the $12 Sportsbet chance. I know he goes well on soft tracks, so theres plenty of positives there. Colletts best hopes look to be the Joe Pride-prepared Excelladus (race four) and Bullets High (seven). Bullets High, a $3.20 favourite, has placed at his past two starts, while Excelladus was a $6 hope after a third last week at Randwick. Novak Djokovic has refused to back down from claims he made in a magazine interview that he was poisoned by the food he ingested in Melbourne detention during his infamous visa saga three years ago. Returning to Melbourne in pursuit of a record-extending 25th grand slam title, the former world No.1 has reignited the controversy that overshadowed the 2022 Australian Open when he was deported on the eve of the tournament. Novak Djokovic stands by his hotel quarantine claims. Credit: AP In a dramatic and emotionally charged lead-up to the event, the then Morrison federal government sent him packing from the country due to his stance on vaccination a decision that was validated by a full bench of the Federal Court. Djokovic had his visa cancelled following days of drama over Australias COVID-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status. He was detained in a Melbourne hotel shared with asylum-seekers. Deep underground at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, its easy to be impressed with Elon Musks vision for the future. Here, the worlds richest man has constructed a fully operational underground transportation system, dubbed the Vegas Loop, that relies on Tesla Model 3 cars to ferry thousands of conference attendees from one end of the complex to the other. It reduces what would be a half-hour walk to just two minutes, and the system transports about 1300 passengers an hour at its peak. If Musk gets his way, the project will span 68 miles (110 kilometres) of tunnels across 104 stations. And even at this early stage, its a visceral, real symbol of how Musk is reshaping the city in his own image. The worlds largest technology summit, CES, offers a glimpse of what we can expect from 2025. Credit: Bloomberg Above ground, the worlds largest technology summit, CES, offers a glimpse of what we can expect from 2025. And US President-elect Donald Trump and Musk hang over all of it: literally Trump Tower, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded just a week ago, is visible from most points of the Las Vegas strip and figuratively, dominating hallway and dinner conversations. Since then, Takamatsu has blazed a trajectory from wine-curious barista working in Sydneys coffee scene to master sommelier within four years, a feat practically unheard of in elite wine circles, where even those with a decade or more experience struggle to pass the exam. He parlayed his interest in palate and flavours something hed picked up from his dad, a Japanese chef who arrived in Sydney from Tokyo on a working holiday visa in the 1990s from coffee into wine, and by 21 he was set on becoming a sommelier. He began working entry-level restaurant shifts at top venues such as Rockpool, growing his exposure to high-end wine lists, and soon had his sights set on the invite-only master sommelier exam. Takamatsu has traded the world of elite restaurants for the vineyards of Hokkaido as he sets out to make his own wine. Credit: Christopher Jue For an industry that can seem infused with pretension and sophistry, master sommeliers are the bona fide experts whose knowledge of grape varietals, nose and mouth feel for an infinite number of wines can seem savant-like. But Takamatsu says this comes down to training hours and hours of it more than natural talent. There are very few people who are naturally talented and can say, This is this wine. But I have not yet met anyone who can pick it 100 per cent, he says. A lot of it is theory. If it comes from a certain region, you can basically see what it tastes like. You dont have to know exactly, but you know what to expect. This process of being able to identify wine from a blind tasting is a crucial part, and the most-feared part, of the masters exam and a key contributor to the tests 90+ per cent fail rate. Loading The exam is the fourth and highest certification offered by the Court of Master Sommeliers and contains three parts: an oral test, a service exam and the blind tasting exam. The blind tasting requires candidates to correctly identify six wines (three reds, three whites), down to the grape variety, country of origin and vintage, before a panel of judges, all within 25 minutes. While the exams reputation was well-established in wine communities, the 2012 documentary Somm put a public spotlight on the extreme levels of dedication, bordering on unhinged, of those invited to take the test. It followed candidates as they put their lives on hold, strained their relationships and frayed their nerves to breaking point as they swilled, swished, sucked and spat out countless wine varieties while poring over textbooks and flashcards trying to commit characteristics, vintages and wine regions to memory. Loading Takamatsu says the torment of the MS student lives up to the reputation, but his own path was less torturous. Nonetheless, he estimates he spent about $50,000 on wine over three or four years as he prepared for the test. Im not that person who can study for six hours straight. Im a bit more laid back. But you are always thinking about wine. Before you sleep youre thinking: whats this sub-region of wine? Thats the life of the MS student. When he failed his first blind tasting attempt in 2018, he levelled up. Together with a friend who was also prepping for the exam, they began holding weekly tasting sessions, pooling their wine collections. I just felt that I hadnt tasted enough. I could feel that when I was doing the exam, that I was not ready, he says. Loading We had about 60 bottles, and then wed blind each other. Wed do a full set every week. Wed spend one hour three whites, three reds. By the time he retook the test the following year, he had been working at Londons Hide restaurant for more than a year and was sharpening his palate on a 7000-strong wine list. After conquering the exam, Takamatsu returned to Sydney and worked for a stint at the Justin Hemmes-owned Merivale venues Fred and Mimis, just as the hospitality industry was being rocked by COVID. It prompted him to reassess his career path. Beirut: Lebanons parliament has elected General Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the countrys new president, ending a years-long leadership vacuum that hobbled the government, delayed key reforms and ushered in numerous crises. Aoun, 60, was widely seen as the preferred candidate of the United States, which funds, trains and arms the Lebanese military and helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in November. He received 99 out of 128 votes from across the political spectrum, including Hezbollah MPs and their rivals in parliament. Newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is sworn in. Credit: AP As soon as it was clear he had enough votes, the chamber erupted into applause. In a statement, US President Joe Biden congratulated Aoun and said he would provide critical leadership as Lebanon recovers and rebuilds. JAKARTA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Mount Merapi, located near the densely populated city of Yogyakarta, the capital of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province in Indonesia, emitted hot lava on Friday. The volcano erupted five times, with lava flows reaching up to 1,900 meters. This prompted the country's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center to issue a warning for the safety of nearby residents. The potential dangers include hot clouds and lava flows, according to the center. For areas south and southwest of the crater, these threats could extend up to 7 km, while for regions southeast of the volcano, the danger zone reaches 3 km. Monitoring data indicates that Mount Merapi continues to produce magma, posing a risk of hot cloud emissions in the affected zones. Residents have been advised to avoid activities within the hazardous areas and remain vigilant for possible lava floods and hot clouds during heavy rains. Standing at 2,968 meters, Mount Merapi is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes. Major blazes keep growing in Los Angeles, despite better weather, and a new fire is threatening homes to the north-west of the city, with officials warning the death toll would climb above 10 and estimating 10,000 homes, vehicles and other structures have been destroyed by the two biggest infernos. As partisan combat embroiled one of the worst natural disasters in US history, President Joe Biden vowed the federal government would cover 100 per cent of firefighting costs for the next six months, and condemned what he saw as politicisation of the disaster just days from President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration. Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth fire in the West Hills of Los Angeles. Credit: AP Biden pointed out the role of climate change in exacerbating extreme weather, and played down accusations of poor preparation by local Democratic officials. Such claims came from residents exasperated that, for instance, fire hydrants had run dry in their moment of need, but the complaints were also fanned by partisan critics such as Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who blamed Californias woke politicians. In case you havent noticed, there is global warming. It does change weather patterns, Biden said. The more we can explain to the American people what exactly is happening, the more likely we are to get the kind of support [we need], and not make a political deal out of this. 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 A rare example of unity in a divided America. A gathering of historical figures. Or a strangely familiar moment between political foes. When former president Barack Obama sat next to former and now President-elect Donald Trump at the funeral for president Jimmy Carter, they appeared at ease, chatty even. Obama and Trumps seeming friendliness obscured the negative things theyve said about each other only months ago, as rancour and disunity plays out in Americas politics. Some spouses, including Michelle Obama, didnt attend. Others were less guarded about their feelings in public. As more of the elite ex-presidents club gathered, signs of division just below the surface of pleasantries became evident. Here are some of the revealing gestures and interactions among the past presidents, their vice presidents, and spouses. Mike Pence and Donald Trump Advertisement US President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with his former vice president Mike Pence. Trump had bitterly criticised Pence for certifying US President Joe Bidens 2020 election win. Karen Pence ghosts Trump, Melania Former second lady Karen Pence apparently refuses to shake Trump or former first lady Melania Trumps hands. Trump supporters chanted hang Mike Pence on January 6, 2021, after in keeping with the US Constitution Pence certified Bidens electoral win. Al Gore and Barack Obama Advertisement Al Gore, vice president from 1993 to 2001, lost the campaign to become president to George W. Bush in 2000. Bush narrowly lost the popular vote but defeated Democrat Gore in the electoral college, with the help of the Republican-dominated Supreme Court, which ruled to stop a crucial recount in Florida. Obama and Trump chat and laugh They were seen chatting amicably side by side, despite former president Barack Obama famously mocking Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents Association Dinner a humiliation some say goaded Trump to run for president. Trump then claimed Obama wasnt born in the US, so he was ineligible to be president. Trump pushed these conspiracy theories about Obama and Democrats right up until 2016 when Trump, to Obamas dismay, won the presidency the first time. As recently as August, Obama compared Trump to the neighbour who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day and said he had a weird obsession with crowd sizes. Bushs belly tap of Barack George W. Bush belly-taps Obama, who succeeded him as president in 2009 after a campaign in which he criticised Bushs catastrophic failure of leadership. Advertisement Australia remains relatively well insured. Swiss Re estimates the local protection gap for natural catastrophe losses over the decade 2014-23 is $US12 billion, or one-third of the total cost. Loading For now, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 remains the United States most expensive natural disaster, costing more than $US60 billion in insured losses and more than $US125 billion when uninsured losses are included. The 2018 Butte County Camp fires in 2018, which cost $US10 billion in insurance claims, was Californias costliest fire event until now. This is vastly more than any Australian disasters. Figures from the Insurance Council show the 2022 floods in south-east Queensland and northern NSW were the costliest insurance event this century, with payouts totalling $6.3 billion. The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 cost $2.4 billion. Over the last 30 years the average insured losses of bushfires in Australia were $220 million per year, the Insurance Council said, but in the last five years the average annual incurred cost has been more than $560 million. The average annual cost of flood alone jumped from $620 million over the 30-year average to $2.2 billion in the past five years. Insurance industry consultant John Trowbridge said the insurance costs were tied to the value of the properties as well as the number of claims. The LA fires would be more costly for an insurer than a fire that destroyed the same number of less expensive homes. The devastation from the fire is seen from the air in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Credit: AP Quite often you get bushfires where theres not much property damage, but with growing population and growing community wealth and economic development, it can lead to much more exposure to some of these risks, he said. Insurance companies typically buy reinsurance or insurance for themselves to mitigate their own risk. Trowbridge said reinsurers would not directly cross-subsidise one region with another, but high losses could have an impact on prices globally. An Insurance Council spokesperson said the global reinsurance industry was stressed, with reinsurers failing to earn their cost of capital in five of the last six years. This had pushed global reinsurance costs to 20-year highs last year, and Australian insurers faced cost increases of up to 30 per cent. There are two reasons behind the growing crisis in Californias home insurance market, one shared with Australia and the other not. The 2022 floods in south-east Queensland and northern NSW were Australias costliest insurance event this century. Credit: Elise Derwin The first is that climate change has made fires, floods and windstorms more common and damaging. Of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in Californias history, at least 15 occurred since 2015, not including the LA fires this week. The second is regulation. Unlike Australia, California previously did not let insurance companies factor in current or future risks when deciding how much to charge. This kept premiums artificially low, and many companies said this was the reason for their retreat from the market. In 2023, seven of the 12 largest insurance companies by market share in California either paused or restricted issuing new policies in the state. Loading One of the most affected areas was Pacific Palisades, a wealthy ocean enclave that had already been identified as a major fire risk by state officials before last week. Major insurer State Farm reportedly dropped up to 70 per cent of its policies in the area last year. Californian legislators have been trying to reform the sector, giving insurers more latitude to raise premiums in exchange for issuing policies in high-risk areas. From this month, insurers can consider climate change when setting their prices. The state is also in the final stage of approving a rule that would let insurance companies pass on the costs of reinsurance to California consumers. California is the only US state that did not already allow the cost of reinsurance to be borne by policyholders. In response, Farmers, the second-largest insurer in the state, resumed writing new policies for home owners last month. Many home owners have flocked to Californias FAIR Plan, the government-backed last-resort insurer. The number of FAIR residential policies issued in the state more than doubled between 2020 and 2024, reaching nearly 452,000 policies. However, the policies only cover basic property damage and carry a $US3 million limit, below the $US3.3 million median price of a home in Pacific Palisades. WILLEMSTAD:--- Curacao will become the homeport for cruises in the Caribbean region, thanks to a collaboration between the British shipping company Ambassador Cruise Line and Corendon. Today, Corendon CEO Atilay Uslu announced this in Willemstad, the capital of Curacao. Corendon's cruises will be 10 in total and begin in November 2025, with departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Willemstad and continuing along the itinerary to destinations including Guadeloupe, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Aruba, and Bonaire. The first departure is on November 19th, 2025. The last departure during this cruise season is on February 21st, 2026. The cruises will be executed with the Renaissance from the British Ambassador Cruise Line, which will operate cruises in the Caribbean region together with Corendon. The Renaissance is no stranger to Curacao and the Caribbean region. It previously served as the Maasdam of Holland America Line (HAL). With these cruises, it will be possible for residents of Curacao and countries such as the United States, Canada, South America, and nearby regions like Aruba, Bonaire, and Suriname to board in Curacao. Corendon primarily targets European visitors, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Travelers board Curacao for a journey of 10 to 11 nights, optionally extended with a beach holiday, staying in a three-, four-, or five-star hotel on the island. The expectation is that a cruise from Curacao will start at 999 euros for an inside cabin on the ship. Rooms with a terrace, balcony, or ocean view will cost more. The cruise duration will vary from 10 to 11 nights (11 or 12 days), as announced by Uslu during a press conference in The Rif Resort Curacao. The Renaissance is a Statendam-class cruise ship with a total of 629 cabins. In October 2022, the ship was completely refurbished and renovated by Damen Shipyards in the French port city of Brest. The ship is exceptionally well-maintained and offers top-notch service on board. Cruises are particularly popular in the Caribbean, and in this context, Curacao is seen by the cruise industry as an ideal starting point for visiting islands in the region. Cruise passengers aboard Corendon Cruises can enjoy idyllic destinations and rich cultural offerings on various islands during the 10 or 11-day voyage. The Caribbean region offers a wide range of activities, from relaxing on board to exploring historic sites and nature reserves. Booking for a trip aboard the Renaissance can be made thru the website www.corendon.nl/cruise or personally at the Corendon Travel Agency counter on Scharlooweg 27 in Curacao. The Travel Agency can be reached by mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Whastsapp +59996668612 or telephone +59994650515. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), is calling on the community to be vigilant for respiratory illnesses during this time of year, as many countries in the Caribbean experience this during the peak months of the high tourism season. Throughout the countries in the Northern Hemisphere (United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, China, India, Japan), there is always a surge in respiratory infections during the winter period. The Caribbean region including Sint Maarten is currently experiencing peak travel and tourism season, marked by increased air and cruise ship travel. The increase in visitors to the region is typically associated with a rise in respiratory illnesses among both travellers and local destination populations, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) reported. CARPHA adds that respiratory illness activity in the Caribbean showed a mixed pattern at the end of December 2024. Based on the latest regional reports, influenza activity is rising, driven primarily by Influenza A(H1N1), while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, although elevated, has declined over the past four epidemiological weeks. COVID-19 activity continues at low levels. CARPHA assesses that while the current risk is low there is potential for an increased risk to the Caribbean and strongly recommends enhanced surveillance across Member States. As is customary, CPS continues to monitor reports and numbers of respiratory illnesses from health care providers, including the laboratories, for any sudden increases in order to promptly detect and respond. The end-of-year festive season is traditionally associated with activities such as social gatherings, shopping and travelling, which pose additional risks for intensified respiratory virus transmission. The following preventive measures should always be applied at home, workplace, community, as well as healthcare settings: practicing proper cough and sneeze etiquette, frequent hand washing and applying sanitizer. Persons with flu-like symptoms should consult with their house doctor for medical advice. If your house doctor refers you to the laboratory, you should follow these instructions as any respiratory illness is reported to CPS for follow-up and case management. Getting vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 is available, stay at home if you are sick, and wear a mask. Having data available will ensure that CPS disseminates timely awareness and communication to the community. Should the community have additional questions or concerns, CPS can be contacted at 914. CPS encourages the population to remain healthy during this time of the year. Thousands of spectators attend the Space Shuttle orbiter Endeavour rolling out of the Rockwell International facility, Palmdale, California, on April 25, 1991. Endeavour, the fifth and final space shuttle was created after the space shuttle program's greatest tragedy. Congress authorized NASA to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger, which was lost shortly after liftoff in 1986. NASA used spare parts from its shuttle fleet to create the new orbiter. Endeavour flew into space 25 times. Among other career highlights, its crew members performed the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. Endeavour also reached the Mir space station once and the International Space Station multiple times. Construction and naming Perhaps sensing an opportunity to get some positive press, NASA ran a competition for U.S. schools to name the next shuttle. About 6,000 schools participated in the contest, which set out several requirements for the name. Among other stipulations, the shuttle had to be named after an "exploratory or research sea vessel" and the name also needed to be easily understood in space. Almost one-third of the participating schools chose the same name: Endeavour. It was a British ship that was best known for its first voyage (1769-71) with James Cook as captain. On that voyage, Cook brought Endeavour to Tahiti to watch the transit of Venus across the sun. Workers painting the NASA logo and shuttle name on a wing of NASA's newest space shuttle orbiter, named Endeavour (OV-105), at the Space Transportation Systems Division of Rockwell International in Palmdale, California, circa November 1987. (Image credit: Space Frontiers/Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Other finalist names were Horizon and North Star; according to NASA, it was President George H.W. Bush who selected the winning name on advice from the NASA administrator. Two schools Senatobia Middle School in Mississippi and Tallulah Falls School in Georgia were chosen as the winners based on their essays. Construction on Endeavour commenced in 1987, using spare parts from Discovery and Atlantis. Final assembly finished in July 1990, and the shuttle was shipped to the Kennedy Space Center in May 1991 from its assembly location in Palmdale, Calif. Endeavour at a glance First flight: STS-49 (May 7-16, 1992) STS-49 (May 7-16, 1992) Last flight: STS-133 (Feb. 24 - March 9, 2011) STS-133 (Feb. 24 - March 9, 2011) Number of missions: 25 25 Time in space: 296 days, 3 hours, 34 minutes, 2 seconds 296 days, 3 hours, 34 minutes, 2 seconds Current location: California Science Center in Los Angeles, Calif. California Science Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Notable: Built after the Challenger tragedy of 1986. Flew into space 25 times, with notable missions including the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission and the first three-person spacewalk of the space shuttle program. First flight and daring repairs Endeavour's first flight was a challenging one. The crew members of STS-49, when they rocketed to space on May 7, 1992, were supposed to capture a satellite that was stuck in the wrong orbit, rescue it and loft it again into space. Crew members reached the Intelsat VI satellite successfully, but ran into a snag when they needed to attach a "capture bar" onto the satellite to bring it into the shuttle. Dangling on the end of the Canadarm, Pierre Thuot tried to attach the bar to the satellite. But as he touched it, Intelsat drifted away. More attempts the next day were also unsuccessful. NASA then came up with a new, riskier procedure to bring the satellite into the payload bay. For the first time, three astronauts did a spacewalk at the same time. Thuot rode the Canadarm again as Richard Hieb and Thomas Akers attached themselves to the payload bay. Then, the crew members inside the shuttle maneuvered Endeavour to just below where Intelsat spun. Carefully, with Thuot giving hand gestures as instructions to the astronauts inside the shuttle, the Canadarm was maneuvered to a spot where Thuot, Hieb and Akers could all grasp the satellite and successfully install the capture bar. It was a remarkable maneuver considering how little room there was for error in moving the Canadarm and Thuot near the shuttle's payload bay. The astronauts equipped Intelsat VI with a new "kick motor" and sent it on its way. The communications satellite successfully entered geosynchronous orbit and started service in time for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Endeavour was also the shuttle that ferried the first Hubble Space Telescope repair crew. Astronauts on STS-61 fitted Hubble with adaptive optics to correct a faulty mirror, installed new solar arrays and swapped out other telescope components. The December 1993 mission had five spacewalks in five days, with more than 35 hours outside. NASA says it was one of the most challenging spacewalks in the history of the space program. The space shuttle Endeavour glides back to Earth on Jan. 20, 1996, after nine days in space on the STS-72 mission. The orbiter is about to touch down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Image credit: NASA) Shuttle science The shuttle program is best remembered for launching satellites, visiting Mir and building the International Space Station. However, there were thousands upon thousands of hours of science performed during the program. Endeavour's crews took part in a lot of that. In 1994, Endeavour flew a pair of Space Radar Laboratory missions. NASA wanted to take high-quality radar images of the Earth to learn how the environment was changing, particularly focusing on those areas affected by climate change. The images also produced some unique applications. For example, researchers used pictures of Cambodia to track down ancient settlements near Angkor, whose temples date back to the ninth century. The space radar was able to peer past trees and other obstacles to see what lay underneath. In March 1995, Endeavour flew the Astro Observatory on STS-67 to look at more than 100 objects in ultraviolet light. Six months later, STS-69 crew members on Endeavour released Spartan, a payload that watched over the sun's outer atmosphere for two days in space before being retrieved. Endeavour also visited the Mir space station for a few days in 1998. STS-89's crew members were the first to reach Mir in a shuttle other than Atlantis. Building the International Space Station Endeavour had the honor of being the first shuttle to assemble the International Space Station. In December 1998, STS-88 rocketed to orbit in search of the Russian Zarya control module. On Dec. 6, just two days after launch, the astronauts mated Zarya with Unity, a connecting module built in the United States. Astronauts Jerry Ross and James Newman did three spacewalks to hook the two modules together, at which point the modules were turned on. Except for a shuttle radar topography mission done on STS-99, the rest of Endeavour's flights focused on building the station. Prior to the Columbia breakup that halted the program for two years, Endeavour's astronauts took on missions such as installing the Canadarm2 and adding more solar arrays to the station. Endeavour stayed on the sidelines for several years after the shuttle program returned to flight. Upgrades, which began in December 2003, included putting in a "glass cockpit" with more advanced electronics, and installing a new global positioning system. Endeavour next flew into space in August 2007, for STS-118. NASA was hitting the homestretch of space station construction at that point, but there was plenty of work available for all the shuttles. Notably, Endeavour's ISS missions included ferrying the Dextre robotics system, Japanese Kibo Logistics Module and Tranquility node into space, as well as equipment, connectors and parts. Space shuttle Endeavour is seen behind Randy's Donuts, an L.A. landmark on Manchester Blvd., Oct. 12, 2012. (Image credit: collectSPACE.com /Robert Z. Pearlman) Last mission and retirement Endeavour's last space mission reached orbit on May 16, 2011. STS-134 was commanded by Mark Kelly. His wife Congress member Gabrielle Giffords had been shot and seriously wounded in January during a reported assassination attempt. Giffords, who was still in the early stages of recovery, attended the launch. Crew members delivered some spare parts for Dextre and two S-band communication antennas, as well as the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. Endeavour's mission was the second-last of the shuttle program. Following a call for proposals to house Endeavour permanently, the California Science Center was selected as the shuttle's permanent home. Sending the shuttle to the museum was a logistics challenge, as Endeavour would need to make a 12-mile (19-kilometer) journey along Los Angeles streets to get there. Workers cut down hundreds of trees ahead of Endeavour's journey in October 2012. Still, the shuttle was a day late in arriving at the museum on Oct. 14 as it took far longer than expected to maneuver the shuttle past poles, trees and other obstacles lining the streets. Endeavour will remain on display in the museum, only an hour's drive from Palmdale, where its journey to space began. AI comes down from the cloud as chips get smarter Las Vegas, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Artificial intelligence is moving from data centers to "the edge" as computer makers build the technology into laptops, robots, cars and more devices closer to home. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) gadget extravaganza closing Friday was rife with PCs and other devices touting AI chips, making them more capable than ever and untethering them from the cloud. Attention-grabbing stars included "AI PCs," personal computers boasting chips that promised a level of performance once limited to muscular data centers. "Whatever was running in the cloud last year is running on the edge this year," Kamesh Medapalli, senior vice president of innovation and technology at Infineon Technologies, told AFP. "The pattern is already there and will only accelerate; the opportunity is huge on the edge." Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang got a celebrity reception at CES, where he announced a ramped-up line of graphics processing units (GPUs) that imbue PCs with AI capabilities. Huang told a packed arena that nearly all computer makers are working with Nvidia to get ready "so AI PCs are coming to a home near you." - Home supercomputer - Huang unveiled "Project DIGITS," described as a personal AI supercomputer. It features a new Nvidia "superchip" for prototyping, fine-tuning and running large AI models on desktop computing systems, according to the chip maker. "AI will be mainstream in every application for every industry," Huang said. "Placing an AI supercomputer on the desks of every data scientist, AI researcher and student empowers them to engage and shape the age of AI." Project DIGITS signals that Nvidia's strategy for AI data centers is extending to consumers who want the technology on their own machines, according to University of Pennsylvania computer science professor Benjamin Lee. - Offline smarts - Infineon's Medapalli said a shift to the edge means that functions like engaging with generative AI chatbots that once involved sending requests to be processed in data centers could be handled on a PC or smartphone. "You don't have to have any internet connection; you don't have to talk to anybody in the cloud," Medapalli said. "All your data is private and local -- that is what I mean by edge AI, and that is rapidly coming." The AI edge could be anywhere processors can be embedded, including robots, cameras and cars. "That's why the opportunity is huge in edge AI," Medapalli said. Market tracker Canalys has projected that AI-capable PCs will account for some 40 percent of overall PC shipments this year, with that number more than doubling by 2028. "The wider availability of AI-accelerating silicon in personal computing will be transformative," Canalys principal analyst Ishan Dutt said in a post. "PCs with dedicated on-device AI capabilities will enable new and improved user experiences, driving productivity gains and personalizing devices at scale while offering better power efficiency, stronger security and reduced costs associated with running AI workloads." CES goers flocked to a Gigabyte Technology booth at CES to check out PCs enhanced with Nvidia high-performance processors. "We've had a lot of interest in the graphics card as well as the gaming laptop, because they are the top from Nvidia right now," Mia Qu of Gigabyte told AFP. "Especially for gamers or people who plan to us it for large storage or high performance on a daily basis, they're eyeing these specific products." Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart said chip and laptop vendors at CES are seeing AI capabilities resonate with people who want to speed up workflow, extend battery life and enhance video calls. "We are actually seeing AI making a difference in real things people actually do," Greengart said. by Xinhua writers Zhang Zhaoqing, Ding Yinghua and Chu Yi BONN, Germany, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The EU climate watchdog confirmed Friday that 2024 was the warmest year globally since records began in 1850, underscoring the intensifying impacts of climate change and the urgent need for decisive global action. According to the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year shattered multiple climate records, driven largely by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and amplified by a strong El Nino event. SHATTERED CLIMATE RECORDS C3S reported that the global average temperature for 2024 reached 15.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12 degrees Celsius and exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.6 degrees Celsius. For the first time, global temperatures crossed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold - a key marker in the Paris Agreement aimed at limiting global warming. Throughout 2024, 11 out of 12 months recorded average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. On July 22, the global average temperature peaked at 17.16 degrees Celsius. Sea surface temperatures also hit record highs, with extra-polar ocean water averaging 20.87 degrees Celsius, while atmospheric water vapor increased by about 5 percent over the 1991-2020 average. The melting of sea ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic added to the alarming trends, with Antarctic sea ice extent remaining near record lows for much of the year, and Arctic sea ice levels significantly reduced, particularly after July. Friederike Otto, senior lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: "The climate is heating to levels we've spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal." In his New Year's address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described 2024 as "deadly heat," warning of a "climate breakdown" in real-time and urging immediate action to dramatically reduce emissions and support the transition to renewable energy. EXTREME WEATHER, WIDESPREAD DAMAGE The extreme temperatures in 2024 fueled widespread heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, particularly in Southern Europe. Countries like Italy, France, and Spain endured prolonged heatwaves, while Greece battled nearly 9,500 wildfires. These extreme conditions significantly strained public health systems and prompted large-scale evacuations. Flooding in Spain and Germany caused extensive economic damage and displaced thousands, while severe drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, Lake Jablanicko in December. According to the World Weather Attribution's (WWA's) annual report, the record global temperatures of 2024 directly intensified rainfall events, with 15 out of 16 floods studied linked to climate change. The WWA report revealed that climate-related disasters in 2024 claimed at least 3,700 lives, displaced millions, and caused catastrophic damage to ecosystems. Coral reefs experienced unprecedented bleaching, threatening marine biodiversity and the industries reliant on these ecosystems. "The Valencia floods, U.S. hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more," Otto said. 2025 UNLIKELY TO BE HOTTER Looking ahead, climate experts warn that the extreme weather patterns witnessed in 2024 are likely to persist. Julien Nicolas, climate scientist at C3S, explained that while global temperatures may slightly decline in 2025 due to a transition from El Nino to La Nina conditions, the long-term warming trend remains intact. "There are ups and downs in global temperatures due to natural processes, like El Nino," said Joeri Rogelj, research director at the Grantham Institute of Imperial College London. "But a small dip doesn't change the clear upward trajectory we're on." Recognizing the urgency, Carlo Buontempo, C3S director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stressed the importance of taking action now: "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate." The World Meteorological Organization's forecast in December 2024 indicated a greater than 50 percent chance of La Nina conditions developing in the next three months. "We are loading the dice ... toward these extreme climate events," Nicolas said, warning that heat waves and extreme rainfall events are likely to hit almost all continental regions. Meta policy reversal puts question mark on furure of fact-checking Paris, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Media outlets around the world have been left scratching their heads over the future of their fact-checking operations after Meta's shock announcement that it will halt its US programme. Here are the key facts about how the practice has developed and what could lie ahead for the sector. - Years of growth - Fact-checking emerged in the United States in the early 2000s to become a genre of journalism all its own. The practice rode the rising wave of internet usage and was the lifeblood of new media operations pitting politicians' statements against reality. PolitiFact, a landmark of the sector, was launched in 2007 and won a Pulitzer prize in 2009. Methods like live corrections to figures provided on TV or online articles marked up as true or false spread around the world, providing the foundation for the next stage. Social media giants were already labouring under allegations that their platforms were being used to spread disinformation and conspiracy theories when scrutiny increased following 2016's shock Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency. Meta and other web firms stoked the spread of fact-checking beyond politics, enlisting media organisations that saw the activity as a welcome new revenue opportunity in a sector struggling to stay afloat. - Vital revenue stream - Ten organisations are affected by Meta's announcement that it will end fact-checking in the US. Some, such as Check Your Fact, are totally dependent on income from the tech firm, US outlet Business Insider reported. Others including PolitiFact are less exposed, with the outlet receiving a little over five percent of its revenue from the Meta partnership, according to the New York Times. AFP currently works in 26 languages with Facebook's fact checking programme, in which Facebook pays to use fact checks from around 80 organisations globally on its platform, WhatsApp and on Instagram. The news agency's management has said it is "evaluating the situation". African media appear particularly exposed should Meta's worldwide fact-checking programme be stopped. "There are business models that are more or less dependent on Facebook" such as the Johannesburg-based Africa Check, said Laurent Bigot, a journalism professor who also vets applications to join the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). Several media were founded purely to join Facebook's scheme, including Data Check in Cameroon, Balobaki Check in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or TogoCheck, Bigot pointed out. He warned that "this verification work will never be done anywhere else, while disinformation kills people every day in these countries". - Pushback - Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg said in announcing the pullback that "the fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the US". His company would be "restoring free expression on our platforms," he added. Elon Musk, who owns X and has Trump's ear, and many Republican politicians have for years accused fact-checkers of "censoring" conservative voices. Such criticism misunderstands fact-checkers' role in regulating social media content, said Angie Holan, head of the IFCN network that now includes 137 organisations. Fact-check journalism "has never censored or removed posts" from platforms, Holan said in a statement. Rather, it has "added information and context to controversial claims" under a "Code of Principles requiring nonpartisanship and transparency", she added. Digital investigation journalists have often experienced increased pressure and even threats during election campaigns -- as seen last year in India, South Korea or Croatia. Meta's new policy is "part of a global strategy of marginalizing journalism and its actors in the name of a freedom of expression perverted to serve ideological interests," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. - Fact-checking isn't dead - Philippine Nobel peace laureate Maria Ressa said Meta's decision would "allow lies, anger, fear and hate to infect every single person on the platform". Zuckerberg had chosen a "world without facts," warned Ressa, founder of the Rappler news site that spent years fighting online disinformation while battling court cases filed under former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte after critical reporting of his deadly drug war. Bigot was less categorical, saying that Meta had simply "put an end to an abnormal situation". "The platforms spread vast amounts of disinformation and buy themselves a clear conscience with this type of programme," added Bigot, who teaches at the University of Tours in France. French left-wing daily Liberation ended its own partnership with Meta in 2021. Cedric Mathiot, who heads its CheckNews arm, believes such contracts can be both "a financial crutch that helps out" but also "perhaps prevent" further development of fact-checking. Mathiot said that without Meta "paradoxically, fact-checking could be pushed to be more ambitious" with more in-depth investigations and varied topics. ac-pgr-reb/tgb/ach Meta THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY Brazil gives Meta 72 hours to explain new fact-check policies Brasilia, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Brazil on Friday gave social media giant Meta 72 hours to explain its fact-checking policy for the country, and how it plans to protect fundamental rights on its platforms. Attorney General Jorge Messias told journalists his office could take "legal and judicial" measures against Meta if it does not respond in time to an extrajudicial notice filed Friday. Citing "the lack of transparency of this company," Messias said it "will have 72 hours to inform the Brazilian government of its actual policy for Brazil." Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg stunned many with his announcement Tuesday that he was pulling the plug on fact-checking at Facebook and Instagram in the United States, citing concerns about political bias and censorship. The move has raised concerns in multiple countries, including Brazil, that are vulnerable to misinformation. Meta, which runs the social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Threads, on Thursday published in Portuguese its new, looser restrictions around topics such as gender and sexual identity. According to the extrajudicial notice, this allows users to associate sexual identity to "a mental illness or abnormality" and allows "the defense of professional limitations based on gender." "It is important to remember that Brazil has very strict legislation on the protection of children and adolescents, on the protection of vulnerable populations ... and that we will not allow, under any circumstances, these networks to transform the environment into a digital massacre or barbarity," said Messias. "Our intention is, in fact, to seek all legal mechanisms within due process and the rule of law so that this company begins to comply with Brazilian legislation." The extrajudicial notice asks for clarity on how social media algorithms will be designed "in order to unwaveringly promote and protect fundamental rights." Brazil also wants to know what measures will be adopted to prevent gender-based violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, suicide, hate speech and other fundamental rights issues. The country also wants details on how complaints can be filed, and how contradictions and disinformation in the new user-generated "community notes" system will be dealt with. "The government will not stand idly by, as you can see," said Messias. AFP currently works in 26 languages with Facebook's fact-checking program, including in the United States and the European Union. On Wednesday, Brazil's public prosecutor's office sent a letter to local Meta representatives giving the company 30 days to clarify whether it intends to implement the fact-check changes in the country. Brazil's Supreme Court has taken a strong stance on regulating social media platforms. Last year, judge Alexandre de Moraes blocked Elon Musk's X platform for 40 days for failing to comply with a series of court orders against online disinformation. Supreme Court looks poised to uphold TikTok ban Washington, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The US Supreme Court appeared likely on Friday to uphold a law that would force TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the wildly popular online video-sharing platform or shut it down. A majority of the conservative and liberal justices on the nine-member bench appeared skeptical of arguments by a lawyer for TikTok that forcing a sale was a violation of First Amendment free speech rights. Signed by President Joe Biden in April, the law passed by Congress would block TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, from US app stores and web hosting services unless ByteDance divests from the social media platform by January 19. The US government alleges TikTok allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users and is a conduit to spread propaganda. China and ByteDance strongly deny the claims. "This case ultimately boils down to speech," TikTok counsel Noel Francisco said during two-and-a-half hours of oral arguments. "What we're talking about is ideas. If the First Amendment means anything, it means that the government cannot restrict speech." Several of the justices pushed back, pointing to TikTok's Chinese ownership. "There's a good reason for saying that a foreign government, particularly an adversary, does not have free speech rights in the United States," said Justice Samuel Alito. "Why would it all change if it was simply hidden under some kind of contrived corporate structure?" Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts raised the national security concerns behind the law -- the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. "I think Congress and the president were concerned that China was accessing information about millions of Americans, tens of millions of Americans, including teenagers, people in their 20s," Kavanaugh said. Their concern, he added, was "that they would use that information over time to develop spies to turn people, to blackmail people, people who a generation from now will be working in the FBI or the CIA or in the State Department." Roberts asked the lawyer for TikTok whether the court is "supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is, in fact, subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government?" Francisco said Congress could have chosen other means to address its concerns such as requiring data from TikTok's US users not be allowed to be shared with anybody. "They never even considered that most obvious alternative" of saying "you can't give it to ByteDance, you can't give it to China, you can't give it to Google, you can't give it to Amazon," he said. - 'We go dark' - Francisco was asked what happens after January 19 if ByteDance declines to sell TikTok. "We go dark," he said. "Essentially the platform shuts down." Justice Amy Coney Barrett took issue with Francisco's characterization. "You keep saying shut down," Barrett said. "The law doesn't say TikTok has to shut down. It says ByteDance has to divest. If ByteDance divested TikTok, we wouldn't be here, right?" Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Biden administration, also raised national security concerns, calling Chinese government control of TikTok a "grave threat." "The Chinese government could weaponize TikTok at any time to harm the United States," Prelogar said. "There is no protected First Amendment right for a foreign adversary to exploit its control over a speech platform." The potential ban could strain US-China relations just as Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in as president on January 20. Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTok, has emerged as an unlikely ally of the platform -- in a reversal from his first term, when the Republican leader tried to ban the app. Trump's lawyer, John Sauer, filed a brief with the Supreme Court last month asking it to pause the law, "thus permitting President Trump's incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case." In an 11th hour development on Thursday, US billionaire Frank McCourt announced that he had put together a consortium to acquire TikTok's US assets from ByteDance. "We look forward to working with ByteDance, President-elect Trump, and the incoming administration to get this deal done," McCourt said. AFP, among more than a dozen other fact-checking organizations, is paid by TikTok in several countries to verify videos that potentially contain false information. Meta abandons racial diversity programs in further right-wing shift San Francisco, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Social media giant Meta announced Friday it is dismantling its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across the company, marking another major shift in strategy as it aligns with politically conservative priorities. In an internal memo to employees, the company outlined sweeping changes including the elimination of its diverse slate hiring approach and the disbanding of its DEI team. The move comes amid what Meta describes as "a changing legal and policy landscape" following recent Supreme Court decisions against programs that allowed for increased diversity priorities at US universities. The memo, first reported by Axios, landed days after Meta abruptly overhauled its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram, in a major shift that conforms with the priorities of incoming president Donald Trump. That announcement echoed long-standing complaints made by Trump's Republican Party and X owner Elon Musk about fact-checking and moderating hate speech on social media. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has been moving aggressively to reconcile with Trump since his election in November, including donating $1 million to his inauguration fund and hiring a Republican as his public affairs chief. On Friday he sat down for an interview with popular podcaster Joe Rogan in which he bitterly criticized the Biden administration for asking that content be censored on Meta platforms during the coronavirus pandemic. - Threats from Trump - Trump has been a harsh critic of Meta and Zuckerberg for years, accusing the company of bias against him and threatening to retaliate against the tech billionaire once back in office. Republicans are also fiercely against DEI programs in corporate America, many of which were established in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement and the nation's attempt to reckon with longstanding racial disparities. In the immediate aftermath of Trump's election victory in November, Walmart and a string of prestige brands -- from Ford, John Deere and Lowe's to Harley-Davidson and Jack Daniel's -- also scaled back programs aimed at bolstering minority groups. In its memo, Meta said its Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams will transition to a new role focused on accessibility and engagement, as the company phases out its dedicated DEI initiatives. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram will also terminate its supplier diversity program, which previously prioritized sourcing from diverse-owned businesses. Instead, Meta says it will focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses more broadly. "We serve everyone," the memo stated, emphasizing that the company will continue to source candidates from different backgrounds while eliminating specific representation goals for women and ethnic minorities that were previously in place. White House says 'not going to comment' on Meta ending US fact-checking Washington, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The White House on Friday refused to comment on tech giant Meta's shock announcement earlier this week that it was ending its third-party fact-checking program in the United States. "When any corporation or company makes a decision... we just are not going to comment," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. "So I'm not going to comment on this," she said, adding that social media companies "make their own rules" about content moderation. She said, however, that social media companies have an "important role to play in enforcing their own rules to prevent to spread of misinformation." Meta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg triggered alarm on Tuesday when he announced his tech company was ditching fact-checking on its platforms in the United States. The tech tycoon said that fact-checkers were "too politically biased" and the program had led to "too much censorship." As an alternative, Zuckerberg said Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram, would use "Community Notes," similar to the Elon Musk-owned platform X. Community Notes is a crowd-sourced moderation tool that X has promoted as the way for users to add context to posts, but researchers have repeatedly questioned its effectiveness in combating falsehoods. Meta's decision comes after years of criticism from supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, among others, that conservative voices were being censored or stifled under the guise of fighting misinformation, a claim professional fact-checkers vehemently reject. TOKYO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were injured following a hammer attack at a university in Tokyo on Friday, local media reported. At around 4 p.m. local time, multiple injuries had been reported at Hosei University Tama Campus in Machida, Tokyo, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing police and other sources. At least eight people are believed to have been injured, but all are conscious, the report said. The suspect who wielded the hammer was arrested at the scene, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the details of the incident. Italian FM tours landmark mosque in first Syria visit Damascus, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani began his first official visit to post-Assad Syria on Friday with a tour of the landmark Umayyad mosque in Damascus. "It's a great pleasure... to be here this morning to visit and pay homage to all Syrian believers," he told AFP from the mosque, which is about 1,300 years old and he described as "one of the most beautiful" in the world. He is expected to meet Syria's de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa and his counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani at the presidential palace later in the morning. Sharaa heads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Islamist group that spearheaded the rebel offensive that ousted president Bashar al-Assad last month, ending more than five decades of his family's repressive rule. Tajani arrived after hosting talks with European counterparts and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome, where Tajani said they are seeking a "stable and united Syria". The Italian minister has said he plans to announce an initial development aid package for impoverished, sanctions-hit and war-battered Syria. Italian FM meets Syria's new leader in Damascus Damascus, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. State news agency SANA did not give further details about Tajani and Sharaa's discussions, just over a month after Islamist-led rebels seized Damascus and Assad fled to Moscow. Tajani earlier met his new counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani, after which the Syrian official said he would soon make his first official tour of Europe. "I am pleased to announce my intention to head a high-level delegation on a foreign tour that includes a number of European countries," he said. Shaibani has already visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan since the start of the month. In Damascus, Tajani spoke of easing the sanctions imposed on the war-torn country under its former leader. "The sanctions absolutely must not hit the Syrian population," he said. "They were imposed because there was a different regime. It's important to open discussions on the changed situation." Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions against Assad's government for his brutal crackdown after anti-government protests in 2011 that triggered civil war. More than 13 years of conflict have killed in excess of half a million people, ravaged the economy, and pushed millions of people to flee their homes, including to Europe. Tajani arrived after hosting talks with European counterparts and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome on Thursday, where Tajani said they are seeking a "stable and united Syria". The European Union's top diplomat earlier Friday said the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria's new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protects minorities. "The EU could gradually ease sanctions provided there is tangible progress," foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X. Shaibani said he welcomed what he described as Tajani's focus on sanctions. "We share his opinion that the reasons for imposing them no longer exist, and could be an obstacle to encouraging the return of refugees from outside Syria", Shaibani said. Tajani earlier toured the landmark Umayyad mosque in Damascus. "It's a great pleasure... to be here this morning to visit and pay homage to all Syrian believers," he told AFP at the mosque, which is about 1,300 years old. He described the mosque as "one of the most beautiful" in the world. The Italian minister earlier said he planned to announce an initial development aid package for Syria. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus last week. NATO to send two ships to Baltic Sea after cable cuts: Finnish FM Helsinki, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 NATO is sending two vessels to monitor critical undersea infrastructure and Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea following recent undersea cable cuts, Finland's foreign minister said Friday. On December 25, the Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia were damaged, just weeks after other Baltic Sea cables were severed in similar incidents that experts and politicians say are part of hybrid war actions orchestrated by Russia. NATO announced late last month that it would strengthen its military presence in the Baltic Sea in response to the cable cuts. Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Friday that the US-led military alliance was sending two vessels to surveil the Russian "shadow fleet" and critical undersea infrastructure. "NATO is sending two vessels and we are also increasing other activities and presence in the area," Valtonen told a press conference. On Monday, the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which comprises Nordic and Baltic states, as well as the Netherlands, announced it would also increase its surveillance of undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea in response. Suspicion over the Christmas Day incident has fallen on the Eagle S, a Cook Island-flagged oil tanker believed to be part of the "shadow fleet". Russia's "shadow fleet" consists of ships that carry crude oil and petroleum products embargoed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The often ageing vessels operate under opaque ownership or without proper insurance. Finnish police seized the vessel on December 28 as part of a criminal investigation into the suspected sabotage. The ship is anchored in Porvoo, east of Helsinki. Finnish authorities have banned eight crew members from leaving the country while the police probe is carried out. Investigators suspect the cables were damaged by the tanker's anchor being dragged over them. On Tuesday, police said the Eagle S anchor had been recovered from the seabed. "Finland has long been concerned about the risks to environmental and maritime safety posed by the shadow fleet used by Russia," Valtonen said. "It is clear that the shadow fleet is also a threat to critical underwater infrastructure." Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal will co-host a summit of NATO countries bordering the Baltic Sea in Helsinki next week to discuss security in the region. Valtonen said she was expecting concrete proposals from the upcoming meeting that will be attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the leaders of Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden, and the executive vice-president of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen. US energy firm Constellation to buy Calpine in $27 bn deal New York, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 Constellation Energy, a major US nuclear power plant operator, has agreed to buy another electricity producer, Calpine, for nearly $27 billion, the two firms announced Friday. The deal will create the largest low-emission energy supplier in the United States, the companies said, amid rising energy needs fueled by the artificial intelligence boom. Baltimore-based Constellation will pay approximately $16.4 billion in cash and shares and assume Calpine's debt, the companies said in a joint statement. Calpine, a leader in low-emission natural gas production in the United States, owns 79 facilities, including the largest US geothermal energy site in northern California. "By combining Constellation's unmatched expertise in zero-emission nuclear energy with Calpine's industry-leading, best-in-class, low-carbon natural gas and geothermal generation fleets, we will be able to offer the broadest array of energy products and services available in the industry," Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez said in the statement. Constellation and Calpine will have a combined capacity of 60 gigawatts from zero- or low-emission sources, including nuclear, natural gas, geothermal, hydroelectricity, wind, solar, cogeneration and battery storage, according to the statement. The deal will expand Constellation's footprint in the United States, particularly in Texas, a market with rapidly growing electricity demand, as well as in other strategic states, such as California, Delaware and Virginia. The deal comes as companies seek energy sources to fuel their rapidly expanding AI operations while seeking to uphold low-carbon emission commitments. Globally, data centers account for only one percent of global electricity consumption, according to the International Energy Agency. But in some places, demand is booming. In 2023, data centers were responsible for a quarter of energy consumption in the southeastern US state of Virginia, the agency said. In September, Constellation announced it would restart operations at Three Mile Island power plant to supply electricity to Microsoft. Constellation Energy was previously a subsidiary of Chicago-based Exelon, but spun off in 2022. Israel army says 'highly likely' killed kibbutz resident during 2023 attack Jerusalem, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The Israeli army said Friday that an internal inquiry found it "highly likely" it killed a kibbutz resident as it fought Hamas militants during their October 7, 2023 attack. The inquiry, which heard testimonies from soldiers and civilians, sought to establish cause of death for Tomer Eliaz-Arava and his mother Dikla Arava, two residents of kibbutz Nahal Oz, one of the communities worst hit by the attack. The army said that according to the inquiry team's assessment, Eliaz-Arava had first been abducted by Hamas militants and forced to go door to door to persuade residents to come outside. The inquiry found that after an hour and a half, Eliaz-Arava managed to escape and hide. Soldiers from a unit that had come to the kibbutz's aid saw "a suspicious figure", whom they shot at. "The inquiry concluded that it is highly likely the figure was Tomer Eliaz-Arava, who was mistakenly killed by (Israeli army) fire due to a misidentification." The statement said that in the meantime Hamas fighters abducted Eliza-Arava's mother taking her in a vehicle towards Gaza. "During the drive towards Gaza, the vehicle was fired upon from the rear," resulting in her death. "The inquiry suggests a reasonable possibility that Dikla Arava was killed by (Israeli army) fire after being in a vehicle identified by the forces as belonging to fleeing terrorists," the army said. It added that "in both cases, it is not possible to determine with absolute certainty what caused the deaths". In the aftermath of the attack, concerns that several Israelis may have been killed by friendly fire led the army to launch inquiries. In kibbutz Beeri, another hard-hit community near the Gaza border, witnesses told Israeli media a tank fired at a house in which 14 people were being held by Hamas. The 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to Israeli official figures. A further 251 people were abducted. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 46,006 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable. Israel army says likely killed two kibbutz residents during 2023 attack Jerusalem, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The Israeli military said Friday that an internal inquiry found it likely that it killed two kibbutz residents as it fought Hamas militants during their October 7, 2023 attack. The inquiry, which heard testimonies from soldiers and civilians, sought to establish the cause of death for Tomer Eliaz-Arava and his mother Dikla Arava, two residents of kibbutz Nahal Oz, one of the communities worst hit by the attack. The army said that according to the inquiry team's assessment, 17-year-old Eliaz-Arava had first been abducted by Hamas militants and forced to go door to door to persuade residents to come outside. The inquiry found that after an hour and a half, Eliaz-Arava managed to escape and hide. Soldiers from a unit that had come to the kibbutz's aid saw "a suspicious figure", whom they shot at. "The inquiry concluded that it is highly likely the figure was Tomer Eliaz-Arava, who was mistakenly killed by (Israeli army) fire due to a misidentification." The statement said that in the meantime Hamas fighters abducted Eliaz-Arava's mother, taking her in a vehicle towards Gaza. "During the drive towards Gaza, the vehicle was fired upon from the rear," resulting in her death. "The inquiry suggests a reasonable possibility that Dikla Arava was killed by (Israeli army) fire after being in a vehicle identified by the forces as belonging to fleeing terrorists," the army said. It added that "in both cases, it is not possible to determine with absolute certainty what caused the deaths". Hamas militants entered the Arava family home on the morning of October 7 and kidnapped Ela and Dafna Elyakim, the daughters of Dikla's partner, who were released during a truce in November 2023. In the aftermath of the attack, concerns that several Israelis may have been killed by friendly fire led the army to launch inquiries. In kibbutz Beeri, another hard-hit community near the Gaza border, witnesses told Israeli media a tank fired at a house in which 14 people were being held by Hamas. The 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to Israeli official figures. A further 251 people were abducted. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 46,006 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable. WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- With his second term yet to begin, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has made a series of expansionist remarks, including plans to make Canada a U.S. state, rename the Gulf of Mexico, and gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. In response, leaders from the countries he has targeted have spoken out, firmly rejecting his claims. HOW ABOUT "MEXICAN AMERICA"? At a press conference on Tuesday, Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a name he said has a "beautiful ring to it." "We're going to change because we do most of the work there, and it's ours," Trump said. "It's appropriate, and Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country." Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard rejected Trump's suggestion to rename the shared water body later on Tuesday. "Today, I'd tell you if we saw each other in 30 years, the Gulf of Mexico will still be called the Gulf of Mexico," said Ebrard. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump's proposal with sarcasm. During her daily press briefing on Wednesday, with a world map behind her, Sheinbaum jokingly proposed that North America be renamed "America Mexicana," or "Mexican America," citing an 1814 document predating Mexico's constitution that used this name for the region. "That sounds nice, doesn't it?" she said. Sheinbaum also pointed out that the Gulf of Mexico has been known as such since 1607, with the United Nations officially recognizing the name. GREENLAND "NOT FOR SALE" Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of roughly 60,000, is a self-governing territory of Denmark. Its vast natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth elements, along with its location in the Arctic Circle, make it a key player in the region with great strategic value. Trump's interest in Greenland dates back to his first presidential term. In 2019, he proposed purchasing the territory, a move Denmark swiftly rejected and dismissed as "absurd" by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. On Tuesday, Trump said he would not rule out using military or economic measures to acquire the island. "We need Greenland for national security purposes," he declared, threatening to impose high tariffs on Denmark. Greenland has made it clear that the island is "not for sale and will not be in the future either," said Frederiksen on Tuesday. "I don't think it's a good way forward to fight each other with financial means when we are close allies and partners." At a press conference late Thursday, the prime minister mentioned that the Danish government had requested a phone call with Trump following his controversial remarks on Greenland, but no official response had been received. Frederiksen added that Denmark currently had no reason to believe Trump would act on his statements, while Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said: "We should take him seriously, but not literally." Some European leaders have also warned against Trump's recent remarks regarding Greenland. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law, which applies to every country, regardless of its size or power. He said that in discussions with European partners, there was a lack of understanding regarding recent statements from the United States. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot warned of the resurgence of "might makes right" policies, calling on Europe to bolster its strength. Speaking to France Inter radio, Barrot noted that Greenland is a "territory of the European Union and of Europe." "It is undoubtedly no way that the European Union would let other nations of the world, whoever they are, attack its sovereign borders," he said. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Thursday warned of the potential threat to NATO unity and European stability. "It is unacceptable to suggest the use of military force against an ally or to imply intentions to claim territories under another nation's sovereignty," Store told national broadcaster NRK. PANAMA CANAL'S OWNERSHIP "NOT NEGOTIABLE" In mid-December, Trump floated the idea of retaking control of the Panama Canal if Panama does not decrease toll rates for U.S. ships crossing the artificial waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The canal remained under control of the United States until the Torrijos-Carter Treaties expired on Dec. 31, 1999, when the United States returned the complete administration of the canal to Panama. Panama has repeatedly rebuked Trump's threats. "I want to express precisely that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama, and will continue belonging to Panama," Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino posted on social media platform X last month. On Tuesday, in response to Trump's renewed comments about the canal, Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha told reporters, "The only hands that control the canal are Panamanian, and that's how it will continue." Former foreign ministers from various Latin American countries have expressed their support for Panama's sovereignty over the canal. In a joint statement, over 20 former foreign ministers from more than 10 Latin American countries noted that Panama's sovereignty and independence over the Panama Canal are "not negotiable." "It is indisputable that the Republic of Panama and its people have managed the Canal responsibly, guaranteeing its contribution to international maritime trade and global economic development, which constitutes a symbol of Latin American autonomy and pride," they noted. CANADA "NEVER BACK DOWN" Since winning the November election, Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of making Canada "the 51st state." He brought up the issue again on Tuesday, suggesting that he might consider using economic pressure to acquire Canada. On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Trump's proposal was a tactic to distract attention from the potential impact of his proposed tariffs. Trump, who has long complained about Canada's trade surplus with the United States, has threatened to impose a 25-percent tariff on Canadian imports. "What I think is happening in this is President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation," Trudeau told CNN when asked about Trump's comments. The outgoing prime minister had previously said there isn't "a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States." "Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other's biggest trading and security partner," he added. On Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on X that Trump's comments "show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country," adding, "We will never back down in the face of threats." I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed and an excuse for poor behaviour I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed 'I take 82-minute lunch breaks': Gen Zs on the ways theyve stolen time (and money) from employers Gen Zs on the ways theyve stolen time (and money) from employers However, the size of the moves are nowhere near the scale of what happened in 2022, when the 10 year gilt yield moved up by more than 100 basis points in the three sessions after the mini-budget took place. Tourists watch stage performance at a scenic spot noted for its splendid building in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, on Jan. 9, 2025. The stilted structure standing more than 100 meters tall has been a cultural landmark and attraction for night visit of Zhangjiajie, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Tourists visit a scenic spot noted for its splendid building in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, on Jan. 9, 2025. The stilted structure standing more than 100 meters tall has been a cultural landmark and attraction for night visit of Zhangjiajie, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Tourists watch stage performance at a scenic spot noted for its splendid building in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, on Jan. 9, 2025. The stilted structure standing more than 100 meters tall has been a cultural landmark and attraction for night visit of Zhangjiajie, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Tourists watch stage performance at a scenic spot noted for its splendid building in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, on Jan. 9, 2025. The stilted structure standing more than 100 meters tall has been a cultural landmark and attraction for night visit of Zhangjiajie, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Tourists watch stage performance at a scenic spot noted for a splendid building in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, on Jan. 9, 2025. The stilted structure standing more than 100 meters tall has been a cultural landmark and attraction for night visit of Zhangjiajie, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) This photo taken on Jan. 9, 2025 shows the night view of a scenic spot noted for its splendid building in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province. The stilted structure standing more than 100 meters tall has been a cultural landmark and attraction for night visit of Zhangjiajie, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) A Government spokeswoman said: Every family in the country has paid the price of Britains dependence on global fossil fuel markets. That is why we are sprinting to clean, homegrown energy, so the UK can take back control of its energy with cleaner, affordable power. ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Africa to promote global climate governance, uphold the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, and urge developed countries to acknowledge their historical responsibilities, fulfill their obligations and provide financial, technological, and capacity-building support to developing nations, particularly those in Africa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an interview with Chinese media following his visits to Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad and Nigeria. Africa is one of the regions most severely affected by climate change, facing frequent challenges such as droughts, floods and food shortages, Wang said, noting that addressing climate change and deepening agricultural cooperation are key priorities in China-Africa cooperation to promote modernization. Both sides have agreed to fully implement initiatives, such as jointly advancing eco-friendly modernization, the Partnership Action for Green Development and the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods that were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing last year, Wang said. These initiatives reflect China's commitment as a responsible major country and embody the shared commitment to building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he noted. China has prioritized eco-environmental conservation and green development, supplying more than 70 percent of the world's wind power equipment and 80 percent of global photovoltaic components, Wang said, adding that China's successful practices provide valuable insights for Africa's green energy transition. For instance, the installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants jointly built by China and Africa totaled over 1.5 gigawatts, he said. China is committed to working hand in hand with African partners to advance the Partnership Action for Green Development, implement clean energy projects proposed at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and promote the "Africa Solar Belt" program, helping Africa embark on a path of green and low-carbon development, Wang said. In agricultural cooperation, the Chinese foreign minister highlighted five key areas that China will focus on, including food security, poverty reduction, capacity building, trade facilitation and partner networks, to accelerate the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit outcomes in agriculture. With less than nine percent of the world's arable land, China successfully feeds about 20 percent of the global population, Wang said, adding that he believes Africa can also achieve food security and ensure the continent's food supply remains firmly in the hands of its own people. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has established a three-tiered innovative system for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) covering national, industrial and local levels, showing new progress in the inheritance and innovation of the ancient Chinese treasure. Yu Yanhong, director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told a national conference on TCM technology that the administration is responsible for the TCM modernization national key R&D program with more than 1,200 provincial-level TCM research platforms established nationwide, People's Daily reported on Friday. China has strengthened its efforts on TCM research as seven national key laboratories, five national engineering research centers, and four national medical research, production and education integration innovation platforms are under construction, with 46 TCM inheritance and innovation centers in development, said Yu. In parallel with technological innovations, research on original TCM theories have deepened, yielding important outcomes, particularly in the areas of cardiovascular, metabolic and digestive diseases. Since 2023, China has defined 50 disease categories where TCM treatment has advantages, 52 integrated Chinese-Western medical treatment plans and 100 unique medicinal herb varieties. Researchers also made new discoveries from previous achievements with a total of 324 ancient classic TCM prescriptions released. Since 2021, 43 TCM products have been approved for marketing, including 19 compound formulations based on ancient classic prescriptions, thereby, accelerating the research and development process for new TCM drugs, according to the report. In addition, China has also made significant advances in the protection and innovative research and development of TCM resources. It has set up 28 seed and seedling breeding bases for medicinal herbs, standardized the cultivation of over 120 commonly used or authentic medicinal materials, and initiated ecological planting for more than 100 types of herbal medicine. ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and Nigeria should continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core concerns and always be good brothers of mutual trust to inject impetus and confidence into the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation and Africa's modernization, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar in Abuja. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announces that for 2025 the inauguration of over 200 kilometers of highways and express roads is targeted, informs Agerpres. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of the Focsani-Braila Expressway, a project worth over one billion euros, for which several bids were submitted during the auction. "In the road sector, we are starting the year at the same pace as in 2024, with the first bids already submitted for the Focsani-Braila Expressway execution project. It is a vital project that the Moldavian Motorway to the Suspension Bridge over the Danube and then ensures the connection to Tulcea and Constan?a It is a project of over one billion euros and we want to complete all the major highway construction sites in execution and to surpass, for the first time in 2025, more than 200 kilometers inaugurated in a single year", said Marcel Ciolacu, at the beginning of the government meeting. Associations and builders from Romania, Bulgaria and Italy have submitted five bids to the auction for the awarding of the contract for the design and execution of the Focsani - Braila, the National Road Investment Company (CNIR) announced on Wednesday on its Facebook page. The contract for this investment financed by European funds has a value of 5.3 billion RON, and the completion period is 42 months, of which 6 months for the design and 36 months for the execution stage. The Focsani - Braila expressway, with a length of 73 kilometers, will ensure the connection between the Ploiesti - Pascani highway (A7), the bridge over the Danube from Braila, the Braila - Galati expressway (DEx 6), Tulcea and Constanta. The contract was auctioned in a single lot, thus becoming the longest high-speed road section to be built under a single contract. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announces that it is a priority to identify the optimal formula for supporting the population through capped prices for energy and gas even after April 1, informs Agerpres. He stated on Friday, at the beginning of the government meeting, that the support of the population is a certainty. "The third big priority is to find the optimal formula to continue supporting the population through capped energy and gas prices even after April 1. It is a certainty that we will continue to help Romanians! And an additional proof is that Romgaz is already taking steps decisive to start the supply of gas for domestic consumers. I am sure that, like Hidroelectrica in the energy market, Romgaz will come with the best offer gas price for all Romanians," said Marcel Ciolacu. The documentary 'Eminescu's Trunk' directed by Cristian Radu Nema will be shown on January 15 at a gala screening at the Moldovan Academy of Sciences after the festive meeting dedicated to the National Culture Day and the celebration of the 175th anniversary of poet Mihai Eminescu's birth in a twin event organized by the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and the Romanian Academy, taking place simultaneously in Bucharest and Chisinau. The film follows the imaginary trajectory of Mihai Eminescu's travel trunk. Attending an auction where the item that belonged to the great Romanian poet was put up for sale, a fervent admirer of Eminescu buys it and takes it home. The young man then becomes engrossed with discovering the history of the trunk and the manuscripts the poet kept inside. The film's national premiere was at the Bucharest Cesianu Palace in 2019, on National Culture Day, and had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May of the same year. The Romanian Academy will present the photo-documentary exhibition "Romanian Identity/European Identity", dedicated to the 175th anniversary of Eminescu's birth, organized by the Bucharest City Hall through the National Museum of Romanian Literature. The Madrigal - Marin Constantin National Chamber Choir will provide a musical moment. In the Azure Hall of the Moldovan Academy of Sciences, the "Moldova" Choral Chapel of the Teleradio-Moldova Public Radio Broadcaster will perform the "Ode to Eminescu" by Professor Constantin Rusnac, under the baton of conductor Gabriela Tocari. The 'Eminesciana 2025' exhibition showcasing books and photos is also part of the program. On the 175th anniversary of the birth of Mihai Eminescu, an icon of national and universal literature, the Romanian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova proposed the declaration of 2025 as the Year of Mihai Eminescu, an action supported by the government of the Republic of Moldova. Subsequently, the Parliament in Chisinau decreed 2025 as the Mihai Eminescu Year. The risk of facing serious adverse effects from the oil spill in the Kerch Strait is low, but we continue to monitor satellite images and follow oceanographic forecasts to be prepared in case the currents move from this area or from the Crimean area to the Romanian coast, Romania's Environmental Minister Mircea Fechet wrote on Friday in a social media post, informs Agerpres. "We are keeping an eye on the Black Sea, where, for almost a month, we have been seeing the effects of the biggest environmental disaster in recent years, following the sinking of two Russian oil tankers in the Kerch Strait. We had a working meeting with specialists from the Ministry of the Environment, Waterways and Forestry, INHGA, the Romanian Police, the Coast Guard, ABA Dobrogea-Litoral, the National Institute for Marine Research and Development, with whom we decided to continue to closely monitor things. I am following the news that has appeared, including in the Russian press, and I have found that the majority of them report a worsening of the situation regarding the fuel slicks that have reached the Krasnodar and Crimea regions. Due to the pollution of the Black Sea water, there are hundreds of dead birds, probably over 1,000, dozens of dead dolphins, many kilometres of beach affected by pollution of about 9,000 tonnes of M100, a product specific to the former Soviet Union," Fechet said. According to him, the spilled substance is not oil, but a heavy petroleum product, called mazut. "I am also worried about the nature of this spilled substance, which seems to be not oil, but mazut, a heavy petroleum product, of low quality. It is constantly released from sunken ships and brought ashore, changing its behavior depending on the outside temperature, and probably depending on the temperature of the Black Sea. Although the risk is low to face serious adverse effects following the accident in the Kerch Strait, we continue to monitor satellite images and follow oceanographic forecasts in order to be prepared in case the currents move from the Kerch Strait area or from the Crimean area to the Romanian coast." On December 15, 2024, two oil tankers ran aground during a storm in the Kerch Strait, between Russia and Crimea, causing massive pollution that, for now, has mainly affected the coasts of the Russian region of Krasnodar, but has also reached Crimea, especially in the large port city of Sevastopol, located about 250 km from the site of the disaster. The two tankers contained 9,200 tonnes of "heavy fuel oil", of which at least a quarter (26%) would have ended up in the sea, according to the latest estimate of the Russian Ministry of Transport, provided last week. Russian authorities and volunteers are carrying out a vast clean-up campaign, in which thousands of people participate, but the situation continues to cause concern, according to the AFP news agency. Slovakia has criticised Ukraine's decision to end Russian gas transit to Europe, calling it a costly blow not only to Slovakia but the entire EU. While some member states downplay the impact, others face mounting pressure over energy security amid winter demands. The Slovak leader, who critics accuse of taking a pro-Russian stance, said Slovakia might stop all humanitarian aid as well as halt the supply of electricity in emergency situations to Ukraine, or cut benefits for Ukrainian war refugees in Slovakia - but only if it has no other option, the prime minister said. Flows of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine stopped on January 1 after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to continue decades of cooperation with Russia that had earned billions of dollars for both Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine has accused countries that still buy Russian energy of helping fuel Moscow's war machine, but the decision has caused mixed reactions in Europe. The move was welcomed by Ukraine's close ally Poland, who called it a 'new victory' for the West. A Polish official speaking anonymously was cited by Bloomberg as saying that Poland was ready to increase domestic electricity production to compensate for potential shortages in Ukraine's energy system in the event of action by the Slovak authorities. According to Fico, the decision to stop the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine is not just an empty political gesture, but an extremely costly move that will come at the expense of the entire EU, including Slovakia. The Slovak prime minister earlier claimed that Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, would lose nearly half a billion Euro in fees for transporting the raw material. The solution, he said, is to resume gas supplies from Ukraine or compensate for that financial shortfall. The country also relies on Russian gas itself. Ukraine also long collected billions in transit fees. But Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that the gas transmission network, with EU assistance, had been prepared for a decision to halt deliveries. EU reassures stable supplies Brussels has downplayed the impact that the loss of Russian gas supply will have on the 27-member bloc overall. 'The situation is stable with all member States using a mix of regular winter storage and imports from third countries, which provide stable supplies to their consumers,' said a spokesperson for the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU. Poland currently holds the rotating EU presidency until June. The European Commission said the transit cut-off was expected and reiterated the bloc's preparedness to replace the gas supplies via four alternative routes. 'The Commission has been working for more than a year specifically on preparing for a scenario without Russian gas transiting via Ukraine,' it said. The alternative routes include imports via Germany, Poland and Italy with volumes mostly originating from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals as well as the so-called Trans-Balkan route from Greece, Turkiye and Romania. According to a Commission document, the EU received about 14 billion cubic meters of gas via Ukraine per year in 2023 and 2024. Compared to 40 billion cubic meters of gas before the war, which began in 2022, volumes from Russia to the EU have been drastically reduced. Despite the end of transit through Ukraine, Russian gas continues to reach the EU via other routes, including the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines laid in the Black Sea. Energy independence and adequate gas storage Several individual EU countries have also signalled that the cut-off of Russian gas via Ukraine is unlikely to affect their gas supplies. 'The transit stoppage will not affect the Czech Republic,' said Marek Vosahlik, a spokesman for the country's Industry and Trade Ministry, citing alternative gas supplies and previous investments, adding that the gas prices on wholesale markets are being closely monitored. Romania is not affected as it does not have direct natural gas supply contracts with Russia's state-owned energy company Gazprom. The country's Energy Minister Sebastian Burdija told the Romanian national news agency Agerpres: 'In 2024 Romania became the largest gas producer in the European Union. Currently, Romania has almost two billion normal cubic metres stored, with a daily consumption of less than 40 million normal cubic metres'. Bulgaria's natural gas transmission and storage operator Bulgartransgaz told the Bulgarian news agency BTA there were no significant changes in natural gas flows through Bulgaria in the first few days of 2025 compared to the second half of December 2024. Asked about the progress of the Vertical Gas Corridor on the territory of Bulgaria, Bulgartransgaz released a statement stating that the projects of the company, part of the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative to increase the transmission capacities, are key to ensure the security of natural gas supply for the region. Hungary is set to be largely unaffected as it receives Russian gas via the Black Sea pipeline, an alternative route that bypasses Ukraine by running through Turkiye and up through the Balkans. Italy's Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto, also said gas supplies are currently still at an adequate level, adding that further measures are being evaluated to maximize the stock in storage in order to face the current winter season. He noted however that electricity bills - linked to the price of gas - of the most vulnerable consumers risk an increase as a result of the interruption of supplies of Russian gas. Unease in eastern Europe Some eastern European states are still heavily reliant on Russian imports, sparking unease over gas supplies for the current winter. The situation is at its most critical in EU candidate country Moldova, which borders Ukraine and has to contend with Russian-backed separatists at home. The breakaway region of Transnistria will run out of gas used for basic cooking and heating in less than a month, authorities warned, as the shutdown in Russian supplies plunged the separatist state into crisis. Internationally recognised as part of Moldova, Transnistria declared independence at the end of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since relied on Moscow's support. Gazprom had already reduced its deliveries to Moldova since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, with the Russian company solely supplying the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria. The pro-European politician is staunchly defiant of Russia and was reelected in November last year after a vote marred by accusations of Russian interference. The rest of Moldova has been spared for now, able to secure power imports from neighbouring Romania. The content is based on news by agencies participating in the European Newsroom (enr, a cooperation project between news agencies from all over Europe) - in this case AFP, Agerpres, ANSA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, PAP, TASR. IMM Romania requests the creation of support programs for SMEs in 2025, in the context of the downward trend of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which will intensify in the coming period due to trade imbalances such as the reduction in the number of companies, the number of employees and weak exports. "The year 2025 must be the year of economic relaunch by creating support programs for SMEs. These support programs must come in a stable, economic and legislative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Not changing the Fiscal Code is a necessary condition to ensure the predictability of business plans and the decrease in the number of normative acts such as the austerity ordinance and the reduction of austerity measures that affect the economic milieu", reads a press release from the employers' confederation sent to AGERPRES on Friday. Thus, IMM Romania encourages investments by creating incentives for investors and proposes supporting areas with growth potential such as IT, green technology, agriculture and tourism by offering subsidies to SMEs that also stimulate innovation and competitiveness on the international markets. According to the latest data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the Gross Domestic Product - seasonally adjusted data - did not change in the third quarter of 2024, compared to the first quarter of 2024, but registered a decrease of 0.1% compared to the third quarter of 2023. Romanian SME representatives say that the value of the Gross Domestic Product can be influenced by the value of exports and imports. According to the information published by the INS, the value of exports in November 2024 was 8.389 billion euros and the value of imports was 11.227 billion euros, with a deficit of 2.837 billion euros. If we refer to the same month of 2023, imports in November 2024 increased by 6.2%, there being a greater increase compared to the increase in exports of 1.6%. Also, in the January-November 2024 period, there was a 1% decrease in exports and a 3.3% increase in imports, compared to the same period in 2023. IMM Romania, respectively the former National Council of Small and Medium-sized Private Enterprises in Romania, is a representative employers' confederation, established in 1992, to represent the interests of SMEs and the employers' movement at national and international level in a unified and efficient manner, to promote and supports the development and growth of the competitiveness and performance of the Romanian business milieu Romania's inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program will be celebrated on Friday in Washington D.C and Bucharest, informs Agerpres. The event in Washington D.C will take place at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the presence of the US Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and Romania's Ambassador to the US, Andrei Muraru. During the ceremony, the representative of the US government will officially inform the representative of the Romanian state about the decision of the US authorities to admit Romania to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), communicating at the same time the technical details and the effective activation date of the new travel regime for Romanian citizens. An official event will also take place in Bucharest to mark the decision of the US authorities regarding Romania's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. It will take place at the Victoria Palace of Government, starting at 15.00, and will be attended by the President of the Senate, Ilie Bolojan, and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Following the decision of the US Federal Government, Romania becomes the 43rd participant in the US Visa Waiver Program. The US Department of State confirmed on November 27, 2024 that Romania recorded a visa refusal rate of 2.61% in the fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024), thus fulfilling one of the main requirements to be included in the Visa Waiver Program. In addition to the refusal rate criterion, Romania's access to the Visa Waiver Program required the fulfillment of essential requirements related to the security of travel documents, the exchange of information, the implementation of concrete measures to combat terrorism and illegal migration. The "George Enescu" Philharmonic will celebrate National Culture Day on Wednesday with a series of activities dedicated to audiences of all ages, informs Agerpres. "On Wednesday, January 15, the 'George Enescu' Philharmonic invites you to celebrate National Culture Day through a series of activities aimed at audiences of all ages, with a special focus on young people," reads a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday. At the same time, the Romanian Athenaeum will be open for free visits within the available schedule, and in the evening, at 6:00 PM, there will be an extraordinary recital featuring works from Romanian musical creation. Thus, on January 15, the public is invited to the following events: * 4:00 PM - The "George Enescu" Philharmonic organises a guided tour of the Romanian Athenaeum, presented by musicologist Octavia Dinulescu, during which the public will discover the building's history and its role in Romania's cultural and scientific progress. Entrance is free. * 6:00 PM - As part of the educational season, an extraordinary recital will be performed by Corina Mitroi (violin), Eugen Bogdan Popa (cello), and Anamaria Biaciu-Popa (piano). The programme includes works by George Enescu, Iacob Muresianu, Constantin Dimitrescu, Myriam Marbe, Ludovic Feldman, Constantin C. Nottara, and Tudor Ciortea. The commentary will be provided by musicologist Cleopatra David. Entrance is free. "This event, where music, history, and art converge to honor Romania's artistic and intellectual heritage, is part of this year's National Culture Day, as well as the series of commemorative moments in the George Enescu 70 season. Celebrating not only the national heritage but also its integration into the European value landscape, this day reminds us of the unifying power of culture, which transcends the boundaries of time and space, keeping our traditions alive and relevant in the present day. The Romanian Athenaeum remains a symbol of our cultural identity, all the more cherished after receiving the European Heritage Label in 2024," the press release also reads. The American authorities have requested the evacuation of the building of the General Consulate of Romania in Los Angeles, in the context of the strong fires that mainly affected Los Angeles County in the State of California, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). Thus, the consular office temporarily suspends its activity at the headquarters in Wilshire Boulevard No. 11766 Suite 200, Los Angeles CA 90025. Emergency consular services continue to be provided for Romanian citizens through a mobile consular team, which can be called on the emergency phone number of the Consulate General of Romania in Los Angeles: +13107210474. The MAE advises Romanian citizens who are in Los Angeles County to follow the instructions of the local authorities and call the emergency number 911 in case of imminent danger. Until now, there are no reports of deceased Romanian citizens, and no requests for consular assistance have been received at the level of the consular office. The MAE, through the consular office of Romania in Los Angeles, continues to follow the evolution of the fires and maintains contact both with the local authorities and with the Romanian citizens in the community. Romanian citizens can request consular assistance at the Consulate General of Romania in Los Angeles at the telephone numbers: +1 (202) 332-2392, +1 (202) 332-2935 and +1 (202) 332-4858, calls being redirected to Contact and Support Center of Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken over by Call Center operators on a permanent basis. Romanian citizens who face a difficult, special, emergency situation also have the emergency phone number of the Consulate General of Romania in Los Angeles at their disposal: +13107210474. Thousands of people gathered on Thursday in front of the Parliament Palace, where the Constitutional Court of Romania operates, to demand a reexamination of the decision that annulled the first round of the presidential election, informs Agerpres. The protesters followed an appeal posted by former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu on the social networks under the name "MareaUnireJuridica" [TheGreatJuridicalUnion]. The lawyers of the presidential candidate will also file a challenge with the Constitutional Court. Some of the people present are dressed in traditional costumes and wave the tricolor flag. The opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum is held in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) In May 2024, China proposed five cooperation frameworks to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future with the vision of establishing a model relationship based on mutual benefits, shared success, reciprocal learning and common progress, an Egyptian scholar has said. by Rania Aboelkheir The year 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. In May 2024, the forum convened its 10th ministerial meeting in Beijing, where China proposed "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. These frameworks outline a roadmap for developing China-Arab relations with the following objectives: a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, and a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges. The five frameworks serve as the cornerstones for future China-Arab collaboration, building upon the past successes of the partnership in traditional fields such as energy, infrastructure and trade, as well as emerging areas like information technology, digital economy and renewable energy. The five frameworks reaffirm both sides' commitment to intensifying joint efforts to accelerate the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future, with the vision of establishing a model relationship based on mutual benefits, shared success, reciprocal learning and common progress. In light of the above-mentioned ambitious blueprint, the past years have seen China and Arab states score success across various fields, most notably in the following sectors. In energy and infrastructure, significant strides were made toward greater integration. In November 2024, the Fujian Gulei Phase II Integrated Refining and Petrochemical Project broke ground in east China's Fujian Province. This project exemplifies Chinese-Arab energy cooperation, with a total investment of 71.1 billion yuan (about 9.7 billion U.S. dollars) and an annual output value estimated to reach around 80.8 billion yuan (about 11 billion dollars). The project, expected to reach its full capacity in 2030, will supply 5 million tons of raw materials annually for downstream companies at the Gulei complex, enhancing its industrial chain while promoting smart and green development. A staff member works on the fiberglass production line at a factory of Chinese fiberglass giant Jushi at the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) The two sides have also strengthened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). For example, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has created nearly 9,000 direct and over 80,000 indirect job opportunities in Egypt. In Algeria, the eastern section of the East-West Highway, constructed with China's participation, has become a vital economic artery. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China's Harbin Electric International Engineering has partnered with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power in a joint venture to build the Hassyan clean coal project in Dubai, the first of its kind in the Middle East. Statistics show that China and Arab countries have initiated more than 200 major projects in infrastructure, energy and other fields under the BRI, benefiting nearly 2 billion people in the two regions. Tourism has flourished thanks to visa-free policies for Chinese citizens implemented by several Arab states, including Morocco, the UAE, Qatar and Tunisia, as well as the launch of direct flights between Chinese cities and destinations like Riyadh, Doha and Cairo. Remarkable achievements were also made in satellite development, manufacturing and launching, as well as in data sharing, technical exchange and specialist training. China has also signed space cooperation agreements with countries like Algeria, Sudan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, successfully launching Algeria's first communication satellite, Alcomsat-1, the Saudi Sat 5A and Sat 5B, Sudan's scientific experimental satellite, and MISRSAT-2 for Egypt. Li Wenbiao (1st R), a teacher from the Confucius Institute in Djibouti, teaches students Chinese at the Luban Workshop, a teaching site of the Confucius Institute, in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) China has established several Luban Workshops in the Arab world, including Djibouti, Egypt and Morocco, providing training in various disciplines such as mechatronics integration, railway operations and traditional Chinese medicine, aligning with the economic and social development strategies of host countries to nurture talents in key sectors. The Arab youth has shown a growing interest in learning Chinese. Countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have incorporated Chinese language instruction into their national education programs. These accomplishments represent just a small fraction of the extensive cooperation between China and Arab nations, which share a commitment to building stronger ties under the BRI. Over the past decade, China regarded Arab countries as natural partners in advancing the BRI, while Arab nations viewed the initiative as a vital developmental vision. To date, all 22 Arab countries have become partners in the BRI, aligning its goals with their developmental needs, such as economic diversification and industrialization. The BRI also complements the long-term strategies of Arab nations, including Egypt Vision 2030, Saudi Vision 2030, Qatar National Vision 2030, the UAE's Principles of the 50 and Kuwait's 2035 Vision. Additionally, the League of Arab States was the first regional organization to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the BRI. In conclusion, the strength of international friendships depends on the closeness of their people. In 2025, both sides aspire to continue practical cooperation, enhance exchanges in economy, technology and culture, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between their people. I expect more cultural, educational and tourism exchanges to foster friendship and deepen intergovernmental cooperation. Editor's note: Rania Aboelkheir is the secretary-general of the Global Forum for Future Studies, an Egyptian think tank. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency. The Union of Professional Journalists of Romania (UZPR) is protesting assault of fellow journalists who were subjected to some acts of violence. "UZPR reminds the public opinion that, in the last period, the attacks on the media intensified, which came from several directions, including from some extremist politicians, who brought unqualifiable insults and uttered threats to our colleagues, thus positioning in a direction that is not only antisocial and under the scope of criminal legislation from Romania, but defying, through reprehensible acts, the public's right to be informed. As a supporter of freedom of expression, UZPR is, at the same time, a militant for full freedom of the press and cannot accept violent demonstrations against media representatives who exercises his profession, firmly speaking out against any manifestations of violence, abuse, harassment or threats to which calls people who defy the law against journalists", reads a press release of the organization, sent to AGERPRES on Friday and signed by the president of the Union, Sorin Stanciu. According to the quoted source, "UZPR is fully in solidarity with colleagues from the press who have been assaulted by public or private persons, supports the actions of the authorities against these manifestations of violence and reiterates its belief that Romanian society cannot function in the most democratic way without a strong press, free and without journalists to work in complete safety, in the interest informing public opinion". On Friday, Bucharest gendarmes identified two people involved in assaulting some journalists who were transmitting information from the protest organized in front of the Constitutional Court of Romania. "During the public protest meeting, around 12:00, a group of people went to the area where the live broadcast teams of some television stations were stationed, with the aim of expressing their dissatisfaction with the way they present certain information to public opinion", informed the press office of the General Directorate of Gendarmerie of the Municipality of Bucharest (DGJMB). The gendarmes noticed these acts of aggression and intimidation, which is why they intervened to stop them and apply the necessary legal measures. U.S. ambassador in Bucharest Kathleen Kavalec declared on Friday for AGERPRES that it was time for Romania to join the Visa Waiver Program, expressing her confidence that this facility will bring the Romanian and American peoples even closer together. "Our strategic partnership, which is now in its 28th year, and which is based on our shared democratic values, our cultural ties, our security cooperation, our business ties, is just getting stronger and stronger. I think it was time to bring Romania into the program. I want to thank the Romanian government for all the cooperation, the Romanian business sector that was part of the process to help qualify Romania for this program. I think that it will boost our people-to-people ties, our business ties, tourism. I think it will bring us even closer together," the American ambassador said. Kathleen Kavalec stressed that it takes time to implement the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) that will be used to notify travel to the United States of America, in the context where a visa is not required. "We expect it to be ready by the end of March, and at that point, rather than needing to get a visa, Romanians traveling to the U.S. for either business or tourism can simply register for the trip online. We recommend that they do this at least three days before the trip, but they will get an approval, either right away, or within 72 hours, that will allow them to proceed with their trip. And this will make it a lot easier for people who want a 'last minute' travel, to take advantage of, say, a sporting event, or a concert, a wedding or something that comes up unexpectedly. It will be a lot quicker, easier and cheaper, by the way. The fee will be only 21 dollars to apply for visa waiver online, as opposed to about 185 dollars right now for an actual visa," the diplomat said. The American ambassador mentioned that the visa waiver only applies for Romanian citizens traveling for tourism or business purposes, and whose stay is for a maximum of 90 days, whereas if the trip to the U.S has other purposes, such as work or studies, or for longer stays, they still need to apply for a special visa. "If you want to stay longer than 90 days, if you want to study, or work, or be an investor in a company, you would need a different kind of visa, and you would still need to come to the embassy to get that," she pointed out. Romania's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, the diplomat emphasized, means "improved security for Americans in terms of who is coming to the U.S. as travelers." "It's a more secure system that involves sharing information between our two countries to screen out for terrorism or other types of possible dangers. We expect it will increase tourism to the U.S. because rather than having to plan so far ahead, if you see a great airline deal to fly to the U.S. for $500 for the weekend, you can jump on it. So we expect it will bring us more visitors, which will help our economy, and we think that it will improve exchanges, including in the business sector; we expect that it will also give a boost to the economy through new business opportunities," said the U.S. ambassador. Regarding the U.S. tourist attractions, besides the popular New York and Washington D.C., Kathleen Kavalec advocated for the region she knows best, her home state, but stressed that the United States cannot be known after a single trip. "There are so many places worth visiting in the U.S. I'm from California, so I always recommend my home state, but we have a great national park system for people who are interested in being outdoors. There's of course Hawaii, there's Florida, there's the Midwest, Texas. There are so many places to go. I think the difficulty is that it is such a big country, you have to go back multiple times. You can't see it all in one trip," explained Kavalec. The United States ambassador also had a message for the Romanians who have previously applied for U.S. visas, stating that they were part of the process that led to Romania's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. "A U.S. visa is still an advantage, because with a visa you can stay up to six months (a visa-waiver is only for up to 90 days) and is valid for ten years. So I thank all the people who applied for U.S. visas, because through applying they helped qualify Romania for the Visa Waiver Program. Do not give up on these visas, because you can still use them, and thank you for your support," Kavalec said. According to representatives of the U.S. Embassy, around 70,000 Romanians submitted applications for B1/B2 visas to the United States in the fiscal year of 2024 ending in October. Approximately 13,000 were granted entry without an interview at the Consulate, as they were only seeking a visa renewal. American authorities on Friday formally designated Romania as the 43rd country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The 10 bani banknote issued in 1917 by King Ferdinand I, and which entered the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest in the world, will be put on display at the Sighisoara History Museum as part of an exhibition marking the 160th anniversary of the king's birth. "As we celebrate this year the 160th anniversary of King Ferdinand I's birth, we want to evoke this important moment in Romanian history by organizing a small exhibition where to present these banknotes issued in 1917. The Sighisoara History Museum also holds a numismatic collection that includes coins and banknotes from various historical periods, banknotes issued in what is today's Romania, as well as coins and paper money issued throughout the world. A large part of this collection comes from the old collection of the city's Evangelical Gymnasium, the current 'Joseph Haltrich' Theoretical High School. In this collection, our colleague Mircea Radu Iacob identified the world's smallest banknotes, minted during WWI. These are Romanian banknotes issued by the National Bank of Romania in 1917," the director of the Sighisoara History Museum, Nicolae Tescula, told the press on Friday. Mircea Radu Iacob, the museographer who discovered the banknote in the Sighisoara school's collection, explains that the law authorizing the minting, by the Finance Ministry, of 10, 25 and 50 bani banknotes was promulgated by King Ferdinand on June 9, 1917. "The 10 bani banknote issued in 1917 replaced the 10 bani coin, which had been in use in Romania since 1867 and which was minted in England. This is the lowest value banknote issued in Romania, having been designed by Horatiu Sava Dimitriu. I looked it up in the World Records Book and found that the 10 bani banknote is the tiniest in the world," Mircea Radu Iacob said. The banknote was printed on white paper and on the obverse, represented on a brown-green-yellow background, are a floral design and circles, the face value "10", the frontal inscription "ROMANIA" and below "MINISTERUL FINANTELOR/THE FINANCE MINISTRY", and on the sides the year of issue - "1917". In the banknote body, a round medallion features the effigy of King Ferdinand, flanked by the royal cipher; displayed below is the face value "10 BANI", and on the left and right are the official positions and signatures. Outside the border at the left bottom is the inscription "H. SAVA DUMITRU INV", and the reverse has the face value "10 BANI" inscribed on it, below Romania's coat of arms and the text of the counterfeit penalty arranged in 8 lines. Outside the border is the inscription "Serviciul Geografic al Armatei (Army Geographical Service)". The Romanian 10 bani banknote from 1917 carries no series, number or watermark. Ferdinand I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was born on August 24, 1865 in Sigmaringen (Germany), and died on July 20, 1927 in Sinaia. ST. LOUIS Advocates for the citys homeless renewed their criticism of City Hall on Thursday for what they described as a failure to prepare for this past weekends snowstorm and the next one, which was expected to begin overnight. At a meeting of service providers Thursday morning, Audra Youmans, of the volunteer group St. Louis Winter Outreach, said the city wasnt ready Sunday, and didnt know how it would be ready Thursday night. I dont know where everyones going tonight, and I need to know, she said. What is the plan? But at a press conference a few hours later, city officials brushed off the concerns, cast their critics as unreasonable and misinformed, and said the city was once again prepared to shelter the homeless from the cold. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said her administration has significantly increased the number of shelter beds available since 2020, disputing claims that there are fewer now. She said officials had been in contact with libraries, which are key daytime warming centers. She said the city had reached out to United Way, which runs the hotline for people looking for shelter, to ensure it has up-to-date information. And she said those criticizing her administrations winter plans were nowhere to be found in the fall, when the city sought organizations to expand shelter capacity. They wait until the night before, or the night of, Jones said, and then call us asking for a blank check. Thats not how this works. The war of words marked the latest clash between Jones and advocates for the homeless frustrated with the way City Hall deals with some of its most vulnerable residents. During Jones first campaign for mayor four years ago, and in the early days of her administration, it seemed like they were on the same page. Jones said she would support a Homeless Bill of Rights decriminalizing homelessness and plans to build more shelters. She cheered an effort to stop the clearing of a homeless camp across the street from City Hall. And her administration talked about setting up an intentional encampment overseen by the city for those unwilling to go to shelters. But the intentional encampment plan fizzled almost immediately amid aldermanic opposition. In fall 2023, when an ally proposed a bill of rights that would have made it harder to clear encampments, Jones opposed it. Then that October, she infuriated activists when she ordered a camp set up outside her City Hall window cleared with just a few hours notice. A few of those advocates were encouraged late last year when the mayor signed a bill repealing some zoning rules that effectively outlawed new shelters. But others noted that shelter operators would still have to gather signatures from a majority of their neighbors before starting up a requirement advocates for the homeless say is the main barrier to opening more facilities. And the tension once again reared its head Sunday, when an Arctic blast dumped more than six inches of snow on the city and sent temperatures plummeting. Advocates like Youmans described a desperate, last-minute push to line up overnight shelter beds, a task they said fell largely to nonprofits with uncertain or tenuous funding. And they grew frustrated when they learned a warming shelter in Soulard was preparing to close midday Sunday as scheduled, and there was nowhere for occupants to go. Libraries that would ordinarily pick up the slack had closed because of the ongoing storm. The city had to scramble staff to Soulard to keep the shelter open. Eventually the residents were taken by bus to two other shelters, including one Peter & Paul Community Services set up on short notice when it learned of the need. On Thursday, service providers worried that more trouble was on the way. Youmans said shelters are full headed into the coming storm. Shanna Niewig, one of the leaders of the service provider coalition, wondered why the city hadnt built out more beds for the winter. We wouldnt be having these conversations now, she said. Even the lack of blankets was a sore spot. An advocate talked about giving out pencil thin lap blankets. Some didnt get the full supply of what they needed. But at the press conference hours later, officials projected confidence and brushed off the criticism. We cant just write a blank check, Jones said. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's commercial space industry entered a fast development track in 2024, as its market volume is expected to exceed 2.3 trillion yuan (about 314 billion U.S. dollars). Innovations in the commercial space industry chain, such as reusable rockets in different technical routes, construction of launch sites, and the latest satellite transmission technologies, have boosted the industry's vigorous development in the years to come. REUSABLE ROCKETS Reusable rockets are a key technology for the commercial space industry. Several Chinese rocket companies are conducting intensive test flights to iterate and improve reusable technologies. Among them, new rockets developed by companies like Space Pioneer, CAS Space, Galactic Energy and LandSpace are scheduled for their maiden flights in 2025, with subsequent plans to achieve first-stage recovery and reuse. Among these rockets, LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket could become the country's first rocket with a stainless steel body that can enter the orbit around Earth. Zhuque-3 completed a 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing recovery test in September 2024 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. This mission used a single-stage rocket with liquid oxygen and methane engines, marking the first time a Chinese rocket finished vertical takeoff and landing. The mission also tested technologies such as in-flight relight after re-entry, joint guidance and control under transonic and high dynamic pressure conditions, and the engineering application of real-time wind correction technology at high altitudes, marking a breakthrough for China's commercial reusable launch vehicle technology. Another reusable rocket prototype, Tianlong-3, developed by Space Pioneer, uses a 110-tonne thrust liquid oxygen and kerosene engine to achieve a performance similar to that of SpaceX's Falcon 9. It is designed to launch more than 30 satellites in a single mission. SMART LAUNCH SITES China has opened several commercial launch facilities in the past year, all of which have adopted innovative designs for launching rockets made by different companies. For example, the Hainan Commercial Aerospace Launch Site completed its first launch mission on Nov. 30, 2024. Its intelligent launch site system integrates multiple subsystems through digital information and intelligent applications, achieving centralized resource management and unified scheduling to accommodate different launch missions. The No.2 launch pad, which carried out the first launch mission, features a universal interface design. Its equipment modules can be replaced according to different launch missions and provide launch services to rockets of different propellant types, takeoff weights, diameters and lengths. Another example is the Dongfeng commercial space pilot zone, which was built near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. It can meet the launch requirements for large, medium and small rockets using different propellants, such as liquid oxygen-kerosene, liquid oxygen-methane, and solid propellants. NEW SATELLITE TECHS Chinese commercial space companies are also accelerating innovations in satellite applications and exploring new market scenarios. In mid-2024, GalaxySpace tested a broadband communication network in Thailand based on a low-Earth-orbit satellite internet constellation named "Little Spider Web," which consists of eight low-Earth-orbit communication satellites. It plans to deploy more such satellites to promote a low-Earth-orbit broadband satellite internet in the global market. The company is currently developing a type of satellite featuring integrated solar wings and antennas. This design allows a large antenna surface combined with solar wings to enhance the satellite's signal transmission. It is expected to realize direct broadband communication between consumer-grade mobile phones and satellite communication networks. Another satellite application company, Chang Guang Satellite Technology, has achieved a breakthrough in satellite data transmission. In December 2024, it experimented with high-resolution remote-sensing image transmission using 100-Gbps (gigabits per second) ground-satellite laser transmission technology. The company has mastered 100-Gbps laser communication technology for ground-satellite and inter-satellite communications. It has established a high-speed laser data transmission network, which will enhance the capabilities of remote-sensing satellites in disaster monitoring, environmental protection, and emergency response. Moreover, this technology can be applied to the integrated ground-satellite mobile communication systems for satellite internet by offering a broader spectrum and higher data transmission rates to facilitate the development of 5G non-terrestrial networks and 6G satellite internet. Privacy and Consent Concerns for CTV Ad-Targeting Leveraging viewer data to identify and target users is the sine qua non of CTV advertising, and the closer channels can bring advertisers to the viewers, the more revenue they can bring to their platform. But its always a balancing act when it comes to protecting the privacy of their audience, as Revry CEO/Co-Founder Damian Pelliccione and Warner Bros. Discovery Product Manager Dan Trotta explain in this candid conversation from Streaming Media Connect with Advertiser Perceptions Erin Firneno. However, the privacy and consent issues and strategies for addressing them differ dramatically between indie networks like Revry and behemoths like WBD. The importance of protecting data for minority groups, particularly the LGBTQ community Pelliccione emphasizes the importance of protecting data for minority groups, particularly the LGBTQ community, especially in light of the new incoming and highly regressive US administration. Because Revry is a smaller platform, they cannot always avoid working with major DSPs such as Magnite and The Trade Desk, in particular, who are giving away minority group data that should be protected. So this now becomes a major philosophical question that we're having to answer both from a tech perspective, but also just whether or not we want to work with those folks [who] give away that data specifically because it is so protected and so inherent to who we are, they say. We don't want to give away too much on the privacy side. And so this becomes the challenge. [Its] our biggest pain point that we're actually trying to currently solve. I think that's beautiful, Firneno says. To protect your consumers should be a no-brainer. Everyone should be doing that. To put the consumer first in the equation, I think, is fabulous. And I'm sure that certain advertisers recognize that and value that, I hope. WBDs prioritization of consumer opt-outs and data protection, even at the cost of limiting advertising opportunities Trotta says that at a massive conglomerate such as Warner Bros. Discovery, they have the luxury of more leverage to ensure better consumer data privacy protection. We take an overly conservative approach with something like the California Consumer Privacy Act, he says. We want to be as adherent to that as possible to the extent where we might constrict other opportunities. And we, fortunately, have the scale where we can make that sacrifice, and these opt-outs [can] occur, where we can no longer track our users and make [it] as easy for them as possible to opt-out. Because that is now the law of the land, and we want to make sure we are protecting [consumers] appropriately. He further outlines the challenges of dedicating close adherence to these laws. [A] request comes from the advertiser, hits ad sales, goes to the ad strategy team, then goes to ad product. Once we start looking into it and we run into highly restrictive rules in California or highly restrictive rules in Europe, we have to say, Guys, we can't get you this quickly, if at all. And then it goes back to ad strategy and ad sales, and then finally back to the advertiser, in what must be to the advertiser like a long, slow, frustrating game. But because of all of the complexity involved in these layers, it is unfortunately the only way we get to move the ball forward. Join us in February 2025 for more thought leadership, actionable insights, and lively debate at Streaming Media Connect. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles G&L CEO Alexander Leschinsky Talks C2PA and Today's Digital Content Landscape Provenance and authenticity of content have become critical issues as Generative AI-derived content and disinformation flood the digital world. The Coalition from Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) has formed to authenticate content in today's digital landscape, with an eye to combatting fake content and restoring trust in media. In this interview, G&L Systemhaus CEO Alexander Leschinsky discusses the challenges and limitations of C2PA--particularly with live content--and G&L's role in helping broadcasters and media companies implement C2PA standards. What Is C2PA? Leschinsky explains that C2PA emerged in response to "a growing demand by the market to be able to cryptographically prove that certain content is coming from a certain content owner or from a certain device." Today, he says, it's "easier than ever before to fake content, to claim authorship of content, or to take foreign content that has been produced by somebody else and claim it was yours. And in the digital market, there is a lot [of concern] about trust in brands, especially in the news sector. Fake news and claims of authenticity can cause difficulties for democracy," he contends, and it can even "cause violence." Created as a project of the Joint Development Foundation, a Washington, DC-based 501c6 non-profit, C2PA was initiated to address media provenance issues "at scale for publishers, creators and consumers" by "developing technical specifications for establishing content provenance and authenticity." The coalition grew out of Project Origin, a coordinated digital "disinformation defence" effort initiated in 2020 by BBC, CBC/Radio, and the New York Times. C2PA was founded shortly thereafter in February 2021, and it released a draft technical spec in September of that year. The version 1.0 specification followed in January 2022. Two years later, Leschinsky says, we still see "a huge demand on the content side from companies that want to invest in the trust that their audience has with their brands. They need a means to somehow prove that content comes from them, and that nobody else can claim that they are the author of a certain piece of content." Prior to Project Origin and C2PA, "there were some organisations that took care of content authenticity," but the need remained for "an industry organisation that covers both content site and device manufacturers and also streaming services so that they can focus on defining a standard that can be used globally and helps to improve trust of all the audience into content of brands they like to consume. That's where C2PA comes in." G&L's Role in the Content Integrity Ecosystem So, where does G&L fit in? As a system integrator and managed service provider for the streaming media industry, Leschinsky says, "we work with 150 products from different partners. We integrate them into solutions, and create a management user interface and APIs. Customers come to us if they have workflows that need to be very customised to their individual, historically grown infrastructure, with a high degree of automation and reliability. So we integrate video transcoding, video streaming, playback, analytics, content delivery, you name it." Assessing what G&L could do to support C2PA, Leschinsky concluded that "C2PA, in the end, is a resource-intensive process because it involves taking media content, which can be small compressed content for distribution, or uncompressed content in production and contribution, and it needs to compute a hash out of that content. And hash computation is not very complex, but it's compute-intensive. So it's a service that customers do not necessarily want to do on their own." One of the services G&L routinely provides to its customers is storing and processing media content--including those massive contribution and production files that require substantial compute resources. As a result, G&L manages exabytes of storage and operates live and on-demand transcoding farms "and many customers would like us to help them do the heavy lifting of the C2PA signing. And that involves calculating the hashes of media content and then doing the signing process. That's where we usually help." With the processing load that G&L is already carrying, handling C2PA signing is "just one more step in the signal chain. So we do not stop with transcoding. We do not stop with content aggregation. In between, we also sign the content. Customers like that it's part of a signal chain that we cover anyway. It's just one more step where we can support them without the need for them to create something completely new from scratch or create a new workflow on their site. They can just chain it into something that already exists." Legislating Authenticity Standards In February 2024, the California state Assembly began committee review on AB 3211, the California Digital Content Provenance Standards, a bill created to set forth a comprehensive framework for authenticating both synthetic and real content. While the bill has yet to pass the California legislature, its attempt to establish a coordinated plan to develop standards and technologies for determining digital provenance represents a step in the right direction, particularly the amended Senate version that "would require a generative artificial intelligence (AI) provider [to] apply provenance data to synthetic content produced or significantly modified by a generative AI system that the provider makes available, as those terms are defined, and to conduct adversarial testing exercises, as prescribed." It would also "prohibit, among other things, providers and distributors of software and online services from making available a system, application, tool, or service that is designed for the primary purpose of removing provenance data from synthetic content, as provided." Leschinsky says in both the EU and in member countries such as Germany (where G&L is headquartered) legal means currently exist to enforce proof of authenticity for digital content. "The main driver behind that," he says, "is identification of artificial intelligence that is taking part in the creation of content or has modified that content." He goes on to note that the intent behind C2PA is not to identify or inhibit the public proliferation of "AI-supported content creation. It has metadata markers that can identify AI," he explains, but flagging AI content is not its raison d'etre. "But in many ways, C2PA is being used to fulfill a legal need or a mandatory requirement to identify AI, because it has the necessary metadata flags to do so." Social media networks and platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube, he says, display C2PA metadata in content on their platform only if the content is AI-generated or modified to identify it as such. "This isn't necessarily the way that the C2PA would like to see it, because if users get trained to that, they'll see the C2PA logo more like a warning label, which is not the intention. " The C2PA's purpose, he says, is not to flag AI content, but rather to say, "Hey, this is content where there is cryptographic proof that the author or the publisher is actually the entity that created that content, or it takes responsibility for it." But it's mostly being used as an "Created by AI" warning label, and existing legislation in the EU trends in that direction as well. How G&L Assists with C2PA Compliance Echoing his insistence that C2PA's mission is broader than flagging AI-derived content, Leschinsky likens C2PA certification of content authenticity to having an SSL/TLS certificate on a website's origin server to verify the site's identity and ownership. "If you go to streaming media.com," he says, "it's streaming media.com because you have at some point acquired a certificate for that and nobody can claim to be streaming media.com because you have that domain and that certificate there. The same is true with C2PA. Entities can get these certificates. That's the first part. The second part is they take digital content--images, PDF files, video on-demand--and these assets can be hash-computed, and the hash together with metadata can be signed with the certificate. That's the main workflow that you have in C2PA." G&L's role, he continues, is to "help customers to look at their workflow and see where that workflow best opens up for adding C2PA information. And then we help them to implement a workflow that is automated and transparent and reliable. That's our main task here." C2PA certification, then, can take two forms, in terms of the entity being identified. One would be the device used to create the content, like a Sony or Panasonic camera. "Whenever you make a recording with that camera, the output contains two C2PA signatures with that certificate." This also applies to software used to edit or modify that content, like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro or OpenAI DALL-E. By including C2PA metadata, the vendor who provides the tool signals, "This is from an authentic company and we sign these pieces of content." The other certified source, of course, would be the publisher. "These entities do not necessarily want to advertise that they're using Sony cameras or Adobe Photoshop. They want to prove, 'Hey, I'm BBC, I'm CNN, I'm Fox.' Whoever wants to prove that wants to show that this content has been authored by them. So this is the separate part where the publisher or the editorial teams want to add their signature so they also can apply for certificates. And these broadcasters are the ones we are helping to go beyond what the device manufacturers integrate so that they can add proof for their own editorial provenance." C2PA and Live Content It's still early days for the C2PA, and as with other nascent standards, opportunities remain to improve on the standards themselves and how they're applied and implemented. C2PA's initial focus has been on images because, as Leschinsky says, "they're the easiest to fake and the easiest to protect." The coalition has made significant inroads with publishers of on-demand video as well. "But the huge gap we have with C2PA as a standard," according to Leschinsky, "is with live and just-in-time packaging, which are not yet supported." What's more, he says, "the way they chose to implement the hashing and cryptographical encryption makes it difficult to move that to live because" live video lacks a fixed "start or end time. It's just a continuum in which you have to somehow try to get your hashes. That's difficult, and it's currently something that is lacking in the market." For that reason, when G&L joined C2PA, they initially focused on working with the coalition's live workflow task force. Although G&L is considerably smaller than C2PA members like Microsoft, Google, Sony, and Meta, he says, "we have a lot of experience with very difficult and very different live streaming setups, because we have seen hundreds of customer projects over the last two decades and everything is slightly different and everybody comes with a different set of requirements. With that experience, we can ask some important questions in these task forces and we can also channel demands that we get from our customers into these working groups." G&L also brings expertise in integrating available tools into reliable streaming workflows. "Of course, customers can use the available open-source tools for C2PA signing themselves, or they can use FGmpeg for transcoding," Leschinsky concedes. "This is fun for as long as you try to work with that in the lab. But on day two, on day three, when it's Saturday evening and something goes wrong, you need a company that really takes care of that 24/7 workload and that knows what to do to make this a reliable and repeatable workflow that also works on Christmas Eve. That's where we come into play." Next Steps for C2PA Compliance For online video publishers looking to achieve C2PA compliance, Leschinsky says, there are a few basic steps to follow. The first is to find a vendor that creates the appropriate certificate (G&L is one such company). "Then you need to get these certificates on some kind of trust list. There are different trust lists, and it's a bit like the trust system that is built into the browsers and devices that can work with websites. There is at least one trust list that is [for those] coming from the editorial side where the broadcasters and news agencies are. If you're a device manufacturer, you want to get in the official C2PA trust list." The next step for publishers, he says, is to figure out what kind of media content they want to support and bring into compliance with the C2PA standard. For most companies, it makes sense to start with images and photos, since those types are the most common and the easiest and quickest to implement. "It's also the part," he says, "where C2PA is most mature." Once you get your feet wet with photos, he says, it's easier to move on to VOD, "add that to your workflow, and make a decision if you just want to use it as a signal toward your audience. Do you want to sign content that you deliver to your audience so that they can trust you, or do you do it the other way around and request from your partners that deliver content to you?" Given that most broadcasters don't create all of their content in-house, but work with contractors that, for example, deliver news content to them from the field, proper compliance means building in an additional step so you're verifying content at its original source. "Do you, as a broadcaster, require the subcontractors to sign content themselves so that you can trust that it's coming from the source it's claiming to be coming from? Those are decisions that you have to make your mind up about. We can help you have these discussions and then make an implementation plan that creates an economical, feasible, reliable infrastructure for actually doing the assigning and the delivery of that content." Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles Companies and Suppliers Mentioned A soldier buys Zyn nicotine pouches at an Army and Air Force Exchange Service store in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Jan. 10, 2025. A recently released survey of almost 2,000 soldiers at Fort Liberty, N.C., showed a higher use of the pouches among military personnel at the base than among the general public. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Soldiers at the largest military base in the U.S. were found to be eight times likelier to use nicotine pouches than the average American adult, according to a new survey. University of Virginia researchers polled roughly 2,000 soldiers at Fort Liberty, N.C., and released a statement on the findings this week. Nearly 24% of the Fort Liberty soldiers surveyed said they had used nicotine pouches in the previous 30 days, compared with about 3% of all American adults who reported ever using the pouches in a 2022 University of Nebraska survey. We are currently working on addressing these high rates of nicotine pouches by developing tailored interventions for military personnel, Melissa Little, director of the Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Research at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said in the statement. Given everything that military personnel sacrifice to serve our country, providing them with the tools to lead the healthiest lives possible is the best way we can give back. The addictive microfiber sachets filled with flavored nicotine powder are billed by manufacturers as a safer alternative to cigarettes and vaping, as they arent inhaled into the lungs. However, they have been linked by medical experts at the University of Virginia and other institutions to a range of ailments, including cardiovascular risks, lung and stomach problems and narrowing arteries, which can lead to heart attacks. The study analyzed anonymous responses from 1,957 soldiers surveyed in 2022 and 2023. Nicotine pouch use grew in popularity during the survey period, with 24.7% of soldiers queried in 2023 reported having used them, compared with 20.2% in 2022. Soldiers at Fort Liberty, N.C., the largest military base in the U.S., showed a much greater propensity to use nicotine pouches than the American public at large, according to a survey released Jan. 8, 2025. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Zyn, the most popular brand of nicotine pouches in the U.S., was introduced in 2014 but experienced a sales boom in 2023. Some 350 million tubs of the product were sold that year, an increase of 62% from the previous year, CNN reported. The increasing popularity of nicotine pouch use also has drawn it into politicization. On his podcast in early 2023, right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson spoke of his love for Zyn. He then distanced himself from it last year and launched his own brand. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., early last year called for Zyn to be regulated, which received pushback from some lawmakers across the aisle. Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican, posted a picture of himself in camouflage holding a Zyn packet with the text: Come and take it! In the Fort Liberty survey, 27% of those between the ages of 17 to 24 used the pouches, according to researchers. About 15% of soldiers age 30 and above used them. Military personnel historically use tobacco and nicotine products at much higher rates than their civilian counterparts, Little said. Our results show that these same disparities are continuing with new and emerging products, like nicotine pouches. With approximately 200,000 American service members leaving the military each year, more research is needed to develop ways to reduce nicotine and tobacco consumption as they return to civilian life, the study authors said. U.S. Marines patrol American Village bars in Chatan, Okinawa, Aug. 2, 2024. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa Government officials representing Japan and Okinawa repeated pleas to the U.S. military to discipline its population following a fourth sexual assault allegation against a service member on Okinawa in just over a year. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi urged U.S. Forces Japan to tighten discipline and thoroughly prevent reoccurrences of criminal incidents involving service members, according to video of a Thursday news conference posted on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas website. Generally speaking, crimes and accidents caused by U.S. service members cause strong anxiety to the local community and shouldnt happen, Hayashi said. The important thing is that the series of preventive measures announced by the U.S. side do actually prevent accidents and crimes. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki on Wednesday expressed strong anger on social media platform X about the latest case, in which Okinawa police allege a Marine in his 30s injured a woman during a sexual assault in November. That day, Okinawa Prefectural Police forwarded the case to prosecutors for possible charges, according to a police spokesman. Tamaki and the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly filed multiple protests last year to the Japanese government and U.S. military after two sexual assault cases roiled Okinawa over the summer. They called for changes to the status of forces agreement governing the U.S. military population in Japan. Tamaki on Wednesday called for more protests to the U.S. and Japanese governments. We strongly ask [U.S. Forces Japan] to review the content of education and to thoroughly educate the service members, tighten the liberty policy, and apply more effective measures, he wrote in the statement posted on X. Tamaki and the prefectural government plan to send a fresh complaint to the U.S. military and government and the Japanese government, but no specific date is set, a spokesman with Okinawas Military Base Affairs Division said by phone Friday. Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity. The allegations revealed Wednesday against a Marine were the latest in a string of similar accusations that caused friction between U.S. and Japanese authorities. In December, a Japanese court convicted Senior Airman Brennon Washington of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl a year earlier and sentenced him to five years in prison with hard labor. He has appealed the verdict. A Marine lance corporal was indicted in June of attempted sexual assault. In September, another Marine lance corporal was charged with injuring a woman during a sexual assault. The allegations prompted USFJ to amend liberty rules for all service branches across Japan in September. Those rules aim to reduce the opportunities for off-duty service members to consume alcohol. In July, the Marine Corps imposed enhanced gate checks at its installations in Japan. The checks have been effective in ensuring individuals are better prepared to operate safely when off-post by checking for liberty buddies, sobriety, drivers licenses, vehicle insurance, etc., III Marine Expeditionary Force spokeswoman 1st Lt. Isabel Izquierdo told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. Tamaki on X expressed doubt that the preventive measures applied by the U.S. military have been effective. We are in a serious situation that questions the discipline of the U.S. military in Japan, he wrote. Outgoing U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel speaks to reporters at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan in Tokyo, Jan. 10, 2025. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) TOKYO U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel in his outgoing remarks Friday defended U.S. forces abroad as the thin blue line and hinted at his further involvement in public life when he returns to the United States. Emanuel was questioned at his final press conference by a reporter for Swiss TV about the illusion of U.S. alliances with Japan and NATO. The ambassador pushed back, pointing a finger for emphasis. In the last century, when Europe was fighting Europe, the United States was called upon, and young men, principally, lost their lives defending both not only the ideas of freedom and liberty but against violence and aggression, Emanuel said. And number two, many people go to sleep at night around the world knowing that the United States is there, that it is on the front line, he said. Americas word and deed count. The U.S. is the thin blue line standing up to Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, an axis of autocrats, he added. Emanuel took questions for about an hour at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan as he prepares to step down from the post hes held since March 2022. George Glass, an investment banker and former ambassador to Portugal, is President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to succeed him. The often-outspoken Emanuel, previously an Illinois congressman, President Barack Obamas chief of staff and mayor of Chicago, said he likely will continue in public service. Im not planning on leaving the field of public discourse and public debate, he said. First of all, it would not come naturally to an Emanuel to be silent. In an Dec. 17 op-ed piece in the Washington Post, he wrote that the Democratic Party was blind to the rising sea of disillusionment that Trump, a Republican, rode to electoral victory. Days earlier, Emanuel told the ABC-TV affiliate in Chicago that hes not interested in leading his party, contrary to reports he was a possible candidate for that and other offices. Emanuel said his goal in Tokyo had been to reimagine, reinvigorate and reenergize the U.S.-Japan alliance to meet future challenges and opportunities. Time will evaluate whether we have done that adequately, he told reporters Friday. You run a race, and you hand off the baton. I can say with some confidence that the U.S.-Japan alliance is better prepared than it was before. Military cooperation between the U.S., Japan and South Korea did not exist three years ago, Emanuel said. But when North Korea launched a missile recently, in real time, the three nations shared intelligence about it. But South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols attempt in December to impose martial law, which lead to his impeachment, came as a surprise, Emanuel said. He predicted the three nations will continue their agreement. The real question is, will the trilateral thrive? he said. Meanwhile, Japan will join the U.S. and the Philippines in their annual Balikatan exercise this spring for the first time as a full partner, Emanuel added. Part of the entire strategy of China is to isolate a country in this region and use their full force and power to isolate that country and limit and restrict their sovereignty and independence, he said. When Americas allies are confident in the strength, power and commitment of the United States, the multitude of our numbers, the strength in numbers becomes apparent and then the isolated party is China. Emanuel said he would return to Japan in March to watch the Chicago Cubs play the Los Angeles Dodgers and two Japanese teams at the Tokyo Dome. ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Africa for the Global Security Initiative to take root on the continent and jointly build a peaceful and secure modernization, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday. China stands ready to work hand in hand with Africa to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, he added. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar. Airmen with the Nevada Air National Guard load a modular airborne firefighting system onto an aircraft at the Nevada Air National Guard Base on Jan. 10, 2025 to support wildland firefighting in Los Angeles. (Paula Macomber/Air Force) WASHINGTON More than 600 California National Guard troops have been activated and eight modular airborne firefighting systems are gearing up to assist with the fires devastating the Los Angeles area, the Pentagon said Friday. Two modular airborne firefighting systems, or MAFFS, are expected to begin operations Friday and the remaining six are expected to be ready for Sunday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. The firefighting equipment, loaded into the cargo compartment of a C-130 aircraft, can drop up to 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in six seconds through a nozzle on the rear left side of the plane. The White House in a statement earlier this week that the California and Nevada National Guards were each contributing two MAFFS, with U.S. Northern Command adding four more. We are standing by to support as needed with California, Singh said. The fires, which began Tuesday, have killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and other structures. Officials expressed optimism that an easing of the punishing winds that had been stoking the flames will allow firefighters to make headway on the fires, The Associated Press reported. These fires are not out, though today were going to make a lot of progress, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday. Other military assets include 14 hand crews for fuel mitigation, 200 military police for security operations and 10 helicopters for firefighting and search-and-rescue operations, Singh added. President Joe Biden earlier this week ordered 500 active-duty personnel stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to prepare to support requests from federal and state authorities with route clearance, search and rescue, rotary-wing airlift and general support. The personnel from Pendleton are all Marines, Singh said. The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it is sending 10 Navy helicopters with water-delivery buckets to provide support. The department on Friday still could not say when they would arrive in the area. These helicopters are standing by. Theyre preparing and ready to go when California is ready to receive them, Singh said. But we absolutely cannot just surge assets into an area without a plan. Navy Region Southwest is providing aircraft and aircrews from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., she added. PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia will cooperate with Japan on several economic and technology development projects, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday. At a joint press briefing with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was in Malaysia for an official visit on Jan. 9-10, Anwar said that the two leaders discussed ways to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, covering issues of trade and investment. For his part, Ishiba expressed Japan's commitment to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia in disaster risk management. Aslan Hasanov, from Azerbaijan, but with an address at Lake Drive, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, was charged with an offence of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation Judge Kelly noted that the DPP directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers. Photo: Getty A 45-year-old man accused of possessing 900,000 in crime proceeds and working for an organised criminal group has been remanded in custody by Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court. Aslan Hasanov, from Azerbaijan, but with an address at Lake Drive, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, was charged with an offence of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation between September 23 to October 4 last year on top of two counts of money laundering by possessing sums at locations in Dublin and Co Laois, which were allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct on October 4. It follows an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which received authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge the accused. Detective Garda Milena Tkacz Doyle told Judge Kelly that in response to the charge, the accused replied: I did not take part in any criminal group, or I have not supported them. He was handed a copy of the charges. Judge Kelly noted that the DPP directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers. A bail application must be made in the High Court. Judge Kelly remanded him in custody pending the preparation of a book of evidence, which the prosecution must serve before a trial order is granted. Mr Hasanov briefly addressed the court through an interpreter, insisting he had something important to say. Im not connected to a criminal organisation, he stated. However, his solicitor, Evan Moore, advised him that having his lawyer speak to the court was better. Judge Kelly said it was a serious matter and he should consult with his solicitor. Legal aid was granted. He will appear again via video link on January 17. Man alleges he was bullied by his colleagues over a prolonged period Dublin Bus is facing claims in a lawsuit that one of its drivers was racially abused and bullied by colleagues over a prolonged period. The High Court case is being taken by Ion Lazarenco, originally from Moldova but living in Ireland for decades. He alleges he was subjected to a number of incidents of racial abuse, racial discrimination and unfavourable treatment, generally amounting to harassment and bullying, between August 2005 and August 2009. Around 10 incidents are described in his personal-injury summons. The allegations involve 10 different personnel, only three of whom remain working for Dublin Bus. Many of the allegations relate to a now-retired manager. The bus company yesterday failed in a bid to have the proceedings, which were initially filed in 2010, thrown out due to delays in the case coming to trial. In a ruling, Mr Justice Barry ODonnell said he was not persuaded the company had demonstrated there was a real risk of an unfair trial. He also said Dublin Bus had contributed to the delays. In addition to the racism and bullying allegations, Mr Lazarenco claims he suffered personal injuries in two incidents. The first, on May 28, 2008, arose from an attempt to carry out repairs to a panel on the back of a bus, when he slipped and injured himself. The second, on November 26, 2008, involves a claim he was assaulted while attempting to deal with aggressive and unruly passengers. In an application heard last October, Dublin Bus sought orders striking out part of Mr Lazarencos claim because it was previously before an Equality Tribunal in 2012 and was withdrawn during the hearing. It also sought to have the case dismissed for want of prosecution. The company argued the balance of justice was in favour of striking out the case, as the former manager at the centre of many of the allegations was elderly and suffering from a number of medical issues that would make it difficult for him to participate in court proceedings. Dublin's High Court An affidavit sworn last year by Hugh Hannon, a solicitor for Dublin Bus, said many of the alleged perpetrators were no longer with the company, some were in poor health and it had not yet been ascertained if they were all still alive. The solicitor argued the entire proceedings should be struck out for inordinate and inexcusable delay in prosecuting the case, which he said had resulted in severe disadvantage to Dublin Bus in calling witnesses to defend its position and refute the allegations. However, Brian Robinson, a solicitor for Mr Lazarenco, countered that there had been a long sequence of incidents in the proceedings where Dublin Bus had chosen to ignore correspondence, including letters seeking mediation, and had been guilty of repeated and unexplained delays in discharging its obligations under court rules. Mr Justice ODonnell said Dublin Bus had not put enough material before the court to succeed in its argument that claims previously before the Equality Tribunal should be excluded. The judge also said the company had not reached the threshold for demonstrating it would be unfair for the trial to proceed. While there were frankly unsatisfactory delays in the case, both sides bore responsibility for this, he said. The Slovakian national, who has since been convicted and sentenced to prison in the UK for the same offence, is now back online. A CONVICTED fraudster who fleeced customers by acting as a ghost broker is still online offering advice on car and property insurance. Marek Complak had been the focus of a garda investigation when using an address in Naas, Co Kildare after people were found to have been sold bogus car insurance policies. The Slovakian national, who has since been convicted and sentenced to prison in the UK for the same offence, is now back online. His social media page links to a brokers page and he suggests potential customers contact him by phone or email. Ten years ago he was identified by gardai after reports that fake insurance certificates had been sold to members of the Polish community in Ireland. Five bank accounts were frozen and he was found to be living in Slovakia, although he was registered as a company director in Ireland with an address in Naas. Last month the High Court appointed the Criminal Assets Bureau legal officer Kevin McMeel as receiver over the 33,600. During a brief hearing Marek was described as essentially a fugitive whose last known address was in Slovakia. The background to the bank accounts and the investigation into Complaks insurance scam was outlined in evidence from CABs chief officer Michael Gubbins. The same modus-operandi was used when a series of people were swindled in the UK, it was heard during a trial in 2021. Complak was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment for money laundering in October 2021 at Cambridge Crown Court following a four-week trial. Members of the Polish community had bought insurance policies in good faith only to discover they had been the victim of fraud when police confiscated their vehicles. He used his knowledge of the Polish language to target UK-based Polish communities, taking advantage of the fact that English was a second language for many of his targets. Complak also employed other agents to find more customers by falsely portraying his business as legitimate and providing referral fees, according to City of London police. The UK investigation began after a series of reports to Action Fraud which is hosted by the City of London Police. Analysis revealed links in the form of common telephone numbers, email addresses and bank account details. Comparison of the reports also found that the alias David Brooker had been used by Complak when communicating with both customers and agents. A number of the reports were made by agents that Complak had employed to find further customers in other parts of the country. One agent stated that she had first come across Complak when he set up her car insurance, and that he then went on to offer her to earn money by referring people from her local area. The woman revealed that she was paid over st600 for 14 referrals, but shortly after, he was contacted by people who were facing issues with their policies. This included two people who had been stopped by the police and had their cars seized. Complak also advertised his fraudulent services through online adverts on Polish websites, social media, online forums and websites he had set up. He employed the same method to set up the fraudulent policies and nearly always communicated via email or text message. When approached by a customer, he would ask for details of their driving record and then provide a quote for the policy. If the quote was accepted, Complak would send over his bank account details and would provide the customer with what they believed to be a genuine insurance certificate. Complak had actually insured the vehicles in some cases, but then quickly cancelled the policy without informing the customers. When interviewed by investigators he produced a written statement denying all offences, claiming that he was working as an agent for an insurance company. He answered no comment to all the questions asked by officers. Claire Redmond, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm to two women A woman used her fingernails to launch an attack on her sister-in-law at a post office in Dublin, after previously punching, kicking and pulling the hair of a mother on a school run, a court has heard. Claire Redmond, 25, of Forestwood Avenue, Santry, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm to two women: one at the Post Office on Ballymun Road on November 10, 2022, and the other, her neighbour, on February 10 of the same year. At Dublin District Court, Judge Treasa Kelly ruled out sparing Redmond a conviction and adjourned sentencing for a compensation proposal and a probation report to be prepared. Court presenter Garda Sergeant Derek Spain detailed the evidence, telling the judge the first incident happened after a 35-year-old mother was going to collect a child from school. Redmond passed her on an electric scooter and "called her a tramp". She repeatedly used the slur before launching the attacked. The woman fell to the ground where Redmond kicked her in the stomach and head. The accused then grabbed the woman by her hair and punched her, resulting in cuts, bleeding and bruising. The court was informed that they had got on well growing up, but at the time, Redmond had suffered a mental breakdown. Judge Kelly noted how the incident left the victim, who has since passed away, in a distressed state and suffering from anxiety. The second attack occured nine months later at the post office. Redmond's sister-in-law was waiting when she was tapped on the shoulder, and the accused told her she would be "waiting outside". The court heard she crossed to the other side of the post office before saying, "Fuck it, I'll do it here." She grabbed the woman's face with her fingernails, punched her, and kneed her in the face while holding her by the hair. Bystanders yelled, Get off her, get off her, and the assault only stopped when two post office staff members intervened and dragged Redmond away. Gardai obtained CCTV evidence, but victim impact statements were not forthcoming, with Judge Kelly noting that the neighbour has since passed away, and the defence said Redmond had reconciled with her sister-in-law. Redmond had no prior convictions but had been given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act in court last year for threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour in public. Her solicitor, Andrew Broderick, stated that Redmond was extremely remorseful. In pleading for leniency, he explained that when his client was younger, she had been put out of her family home and stayed in hostels. She developed drug and alcohol problems, including cocaine and tablet abuse. Around the time of the assaults, Redmond returned to Ballymun to try and get back into her family home, but "things escalated". Mr Broderick submitted that the attacks were not premeditated, and Redmond could not control her emotions after a relapse. The solicitor emphasised that she was ambitious and, now that she has recovered, wished to train to become an addiction counsellor, rebuild her life and move to Australia. He provided letters showing Redmond had completed a 20-week residential treatment course, which also addressed anger management. She has not touched alcohol or drugs in 17 months, the judge was told. Redmond, who did not address the court, was told her case resumes in April and remanded on continuing bail. You're putting a lot of work into a case and then the person that is the main suspect is shot themselves Former Garda Chief Supt Christy Mangan has revealed how gardai were disappointed when they heard hitman Robbie Lawlor had himself been gunned down. The evil killer, who murdered 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods in one of the most gruesome crimes ever committed here, was shot dead in Belfast in April 2020. Recalling how he heard the news, Mangan told Crime Worlds brand new podcast series Double Cross The Murder of Robbie Lawlor that like every organisation, the gardai have a rumour mill. I actually heard it on the news, Mangan says. I heard the usual, I heard a number of names of people who had been killed. You're getting phone calls from people and then eventually it calms down to a certain degree. And then the information starts coming out that he had been shot. Robbie Lawlor It was confirmed then that it actually was him. That flies about fairly quickly, the guards are no different than any other organisation. The rumour mill starts (but) obviously for me personally, as an investigator, I'm disappointed because we will not get him into court. And that's very unfortunate for the victims, obviously for Robbie Lawler's family, but it's also very sad for the family of Keane Mulready-Woods, knowing that he will never be brought to justice, you know, and that can be very difficult. And it's difficult for investigators too, because there's a certain level of disappointment, Mangan added. You're putting a lot of work into a case and then the person that is the main suspect is shot themselves. But it does happen, unfortunately, in a lot of cases. Based on Nicola Tallants best-selling book Web of Betrayal, the show brings listeners into the black heart of organised crime as hitman Robbie Lawlor is shot dead in Belfast. In the latest episode, Mangan further reveals how Lawlors death was celebrated by the criminal underworld. There was huge relief within the criminal community, certainly people were celebrating on social media, which is extremely sad for the deceased persons family because they don't need to see that and shouldn't see it. But he (Lawlor) had inflicted a lot of fear within communities so that's the way certain people will react to the demise of another person They're delighted because he's gone, he's not going to maybe carry out revenge for something that they may have done. Hes a serious criminal who's out of the way, out of their hair, and they can get on with their business, that's the way they would view it. In Nicolas new book Web of Betrayal, Mangan says that gardai knew within hours that Lawlor and local criminal Paul Crosby were behind the youngsters abduction and horrific murder in January 2020. Crosby who facilitated the murder is serving a ten-year sentence in Mountjoy Prison for luring the youngster to the death house. Lawlor deliberately wanted the chopped up body parts dumped in Dublin and Drogheda to terrify his arch rivals, Mr Big in Coolock and the Cornelius Price/Owen Maguire gang in Drogheda. Keane Mulready-Woods Lawlor was spotted in the Rathmullen Park area on the evening of the murder while Crosby had been in contact with Keane by telephone. Lawlor was seen again in Drogheda on Monday night after body parts had been dumped. Chief Supt Mangan revealed in the book: Robbies modus operandi was completely different to anyone else. It was almost impossible to predict what he was going to do next. He didnt align himself to very many people. "He wouldnt impart too much information to potential informants who would let us know what was going to happen or be about to happen. He was very much a maverick. He would decide that he was going to kill somebody and then he would go and do it himself. He wouldnt be looking for a gunman to come in from the UK or Northern Ireland or anywhere else. He would simply do it himself. He said: He was in the Drogheda area the night of the murder and the next day. He didnt go running. He is out and about, the man about town. He doesnt go into hiding at all. Locally people were keeping their heads down but not the main protagonists. The book tells how Lawlor picked on Keane in response to the murder of his sisters husband Richie Carberry at their home in Bettystown on November 5, 2019 while he was in prison. He believed Mulready-Woods was playing both sides in the war between the rival drug gangs. But Mangan said the gruesome killing shocked even the most hardened of gardai. He recalled: When we confirmed that the remains that had been found in Dublin were Keane, it was for me unfathomable. Everyone was shocked and it takes a lot to shock someone around as long as I had been. Id worked in An Garda Siochana for 40 years and unfortunately Id seen a lot of bad things happen. "To try and comprehend that someone would inveigle a child into a house and then proceed to kill them, dismember their body and simply discard it in several locations was absolutely shocking. Officials signalled after releasing him investigators suspected at least one other person was involved in the crime although no new arrests have yet taken place The man arrested on suspicion of Belfast man John Georges murder was hauled to court in handcuffs this morning. (www.solarpix.com) The man hauled to court this morning following his homicide arrest after the discovery of John Georges body has been released on bail by an investigating judge pending an ongoing criminal probe. Officials signalled after releasing him investigators suspected at least one other person was involved in the crime although no new arrests have yet taken place. A spokesman for the Valencian Communitys High Court of Justice, which covers the town of Torrevieja where the suspect appeared before a judge, said this afternoon: The head of Torreviejas Court of Instruction Number Two, acting as a duty court, has decided to release with precautionary measures the man arrested in relationship to the homicide of a northern Irish citizen whose body was discovered in Rojales on Tuesday. The decision was taken in accordance with the criteria of public prosecutors. The judge is currently attributing to him a crime of homicide as an accomplice or by aiding and abetting the crime. The remote spot where John George's body was dumped His bail conditions include the obligations to sign on at court every fortnight and hand in his passport and he is also banned from leaving Spain. The court will continue with investigations with the intention of fully solving this case. John George The man hauled to court today, who has not been named, has now been placed under official investigation by the courts as part of a continuing homicide probe. In other words he is now an investigado under Spanish law. Any formal charges would not be laid until shortly before trial. The man arrested on suspicion of Belfast man John Georges murder was hauled to court in handcuffs this morning. (www.solarpix.com) Homecoming for family of Belfast man John George found dead in Spain HAIKOU, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- In China's southernmost island province of Hainan, local fishing families still keep their cherished heirlooms: worn sea route manuals known as Geng Lu Bu. For centuries, far before the invention of GPS and modern mapping technologies, local fishing families relied on these handwritten books for directions and navigation guidance in the South China Sea. The Chinese characters "Geng Lu Bu" mean "seaway manuals." "Geng" in Chinese is a unit of length equal to 10 nautical miles, while "Lu" means "routes" and "Bu" translates to "books" or "manuals." Some fishing families still own their unique Geng Lu Bu, yellowed with age, despite having long since switched to modern fishing methods. In Tanmen Township, a famous fishing port in Hainan's Qionghai City, stands a Geng Lu Bu museum. The museum offers an insightful glimpse into the local history of discovering and sailing to the islands in the South China Sea. Numerous Geng Lu Bu are exhibited in the museum, along with compasses, fishing spears and other fishing tools. Wang Zhenzhong, founder of the museum and owner of a local handicraft factory, was born to a fishing family in 1977. Both his grandfather and father were skilled fishing boat captains, and he has also sailed to Nansha Qundao. On a wrinkled, broken page of his family manual, his ancestors wrote a note: "Da Tan to Chuan Yan Wei goes in the direction of Qian Xun for 15 Gengs." Da Tan is a deep pool outside the Tanmen port, and Chuan Yan Wei is now known as Xishazhou, an island of Xisha Qundao. Qian Xun is a direction marked on the ancient Chinese compass, and 15 Gengs is about 150 nautical miles. The manual covers sea routes, weather conditions, wind directions and ocean currents for different times of the year. For example, it warns against setting sail on certain days, including the third day of the third lunar month and the 19th day of the sixth lunar month. Wang remembers that in the late 1980s, his father set out to sea on one of these dates only to find the ocean was truly treacherous. "He barely made it back to shore," Wang said. These manuals were exclusive to fishing boat captains, and were edited and rewritten every generation, according to Wang. With a Geng Lu Bu, a compass and an incense burner, fishermen could set sail across the South China Sea. At the bow of each fishing boat, a stick of incense would be lit inside a wind-protected burner. The incense would take about two hours to burn out, allowing seafarers to track the time. They also had a unique method to measure sailing speeds: they would throw a jar attached to a rope into the water, and the captain would hold on to the rope to gauge the speed by feeling the force exerted on it. Wang learned the art of fishing in coral reefs from his father and other seasoned professionals. Wearing masks and breathing tubes, they dive 20 to 30 meters below the surface of the water. Experienced fishing divers can hold their breath for up to five minutes. With fishing spears or just their bare hands, they catch sea cucumbers, lobsters and abalone hiding in the reef. Valuable fish like groupers cannot be speared, as any injury reduces their market value. Divers therefore use a natural anesthetic extracted from the stems and leaves of a plant to stun the fish, which then float to the surface and are collected by people on the boats above. "In Tanmen, unless you're very timid or in poor health, everyone heads out to sea," said Fu Minglin, a fisherman-turned-B&B-owner in his forties. Fu has more experience in sailing and fishing than Wang, having regularly sailed to Meiji Jiao and Zhubi Jiao, two major reefs of China's Nansha Qundao. He has also sailed to Huangyan Dao and Zengmu Ansha, China's southernmost territory. Fu's uncle, a skilled captain who could navigate the seas using only his Geng Lu Bu and a compass, taught him a great deal, including how to observe the color of the clouds to locate islands and reefs. Shallow and deep waters reflect light on the clouds differently, creating subtle color variations that reveal what lies below. Long ago, fishing journeys usually lasted several months, depending on the monsoons. Fu said that according to the Geng Lu Bu, fishing boats would ride the northeast wind to the south during the 12th month of the lunar calendar each year, and they would return during the fourth month of the lunar calendar the following year. During their voyages, fishing crews would either remain aboard their boats or settle temporarily on islands, leaving behind traces of development and habitation that are still preserved today. "The South China Sea is where our great-grandparents journeyed, so we journey there too," Fu said. In recent years, Geng Lu Bu have been increasingly recognized as important historical documents. In 2008, Geng Lu Bu were included in China's national intangible cultural heritage. Later that year, Wang's father, Wang Shubao, was honored as an official inheritor of this heritage. For Wang, the manuals document how his ancestors and other fishermen and women mapped the routes across the vast, unmarked South China Sea, where they discovered, named, stationed at and developed many islands and reefs. Yan Genqi, a professor at Hainan University and a Geng Lu Bu expert, says the paper-based manuals were created no later than the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while orally relayed sailing directions had already begun to take shape in the Hainan fishing community as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Since 1974, researchers have discovered 52 Geng Lu Bu, in which more than 100 islands are named in the Hainan dialect, according to Yan. On some of the islands mentioned in these Geng Lu Bu, people have found wells, houses and temples built by Hainan fishermen. "The systematic and regular use of monsoons for continuous navigation and fishing activities in the Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao and Nansha Qundao areas over hundreds of years is unparalleled by any other country," Yan noted. Geng Lu Bu is among the historical evidence that the Chinese were the first to discover, name, develop and administer the islands of the South China Sea, Yan said. Ziva Cussen shares her sadness at that fact that she once had a future that she is not going to have any more and believes many young women like her are getting a diagnosis too late A young woman who was left waiting months for an ultrasound was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer, which is incurable, at the age of 21. Ziva Cussen, now aged 23, from Drogheda, Co Louth, has shared her sadness at that fact that she once had a future that she is not going to have any more. Ms Cussen had just finished her degree in social sciences and cultural studies at DCU when she was told she had cancer and it had spread to her bones. I was diagnosed in October 2023. I was 21, a week later I turned 22. I just graduated from DCU and had a lot going on at that time. But I first found the lump back in April 2023, Ms Cussen said. As soon as I found it, I booked in with the GP. They had a little check of it and didnt seem too worried about it. When she mentioned fibroadenoma, she didnt seem too concerned, but she said shell refer me to the breast clinic in Beaumont anyway. Ms Cussen had just graduated from DCU when she was diagnosed with breast cancer I was waiting about six weeks to get into Beaumont for an appointment. I remember it was just so busy and I felt so young being there. I went in for the assessment. The doctor said the lump was quite small at the time. He also said he thought it was a fibroadenoma. He reassured me and made me think that it wasnt anything to be worried about. He said at the end of the appointment, just to be safe, well book you in for an ultrasound. I was left waiting six months before the ultrasound. I continued to live my life as though I didnt have any symptoms, it was just a lump. I went travelling for six weeks. I went to Thailand, to Bali, so that was amazing. I came home and got back into the swing of things. The pain I was getting was because the cancer was in my bones at that point I got back into the gym, just doing my usual routine. However, I noticed the lump was getting bigger at that point. Then suddenly there was a pain in my breast, and it started hurting. I rang Beaumont to see if I could get in earlier. I said I was in a lot of pain, but was told it was probably a fibroadenoma or cyst that needs to be drained. I wasnt convinced. Ms Cussen believes it is becoming a lot more common to see younger women with breast cancer getting a late diagnosis because theyve been dismissed at an earlier stage. I managed to get a cancellation appointment for the ultrasound. She knew something wasnt right when looking at the scans, she said. The ultrasound took less than five minutes, which is frustrating because if it had been done back in April, it could have been cured. Unfortunately, it was left too late. The pain I was getting was because the cancer was in my bones at that point. The results said I had invasive ductal carcinoma which is unusual for someone my age. The doctors were all shocked. Ms Cussen believes her prognosis would have been much better if an ultrasound had been available earlier Initially, the doctor was getting me ready to do chemo, radiation and surgery, which would be what you do if it was a stage one or stage two. But I did a bone scan and an MRI. It ended up being stage four, where they couldnt cure it. My friends and family were very shocked. I was put on hormone treatment but, unfortunately in my case, it wasnt working quick enough to stop progression. My cancer is obviously very aggressive and it wasnt responding to the hormone treatments. Then the cancer spread to my brain. So, its in my brain, its in my bones, its in a small spot in my liver. Ive done 10 sessions of brain radiation back in October, that completely wiped me out in terms of fatigue. I lost my hair to the radiation. Thats the hard part of it, but for me, Ive just tried to stay as positive as I can Currently Im on an oral chemotherapy drug. Its a tablet I take every day for two weeks and then take a one-week break. Its the first oral chemo drug Ive tried. In January, I will be doing more scans to find out how Ive responded to that. The hope is that its working better. Ms Cussen said she is determined to stay optimistic, even though shes not doing the same things as other women her age. It is sad and its easy to get angry at the world, be jealous and wish your life was like what it was before. Thats the hard part of it, but for me, Ive just tried to stay as positive as I can. For a good year, I was able to live and not have everyone know I was sick because I had my hair. I was able to live and not have to tell everyone about it. I wasnt in pain for a long time. I was delighted about that; I just look at the positives, but its very hard to sometimes do it. It is easy to look at your friends, be jealous, be sad about the future you once wanted and that youre not going to have any more kids, a family, married, travelling. I dont want to be pessimistic, but I also want to be realistic, she added. A spokesperson for Beaumont Hospital said the current average wait times for breast ultrasound examinations in cases vetted as urgent is three weeks. The average wait for cases vetted as semi-urgent is 10 weeks, while non-urgent or routine cases would be 16 weeks. The HSE has been contacted for comment. The fundraiser was set up on behalf of Paul's Quigleys family A GoFundMe page created to help raise funds to repatriate the remains of a former GAA player after he passed away suddenly in Tampa, Florida last week has raised almost 40,000. Paul Quigley, who was 47-years-old, had represented St Finians GAA club in Swords in the 1990s before emigrating to Tampa in Florida. His family also helped design the club crest when the club was founded in 1983. The fundraiser was set up on behalf of Paul's Quigleys family, the money from which will be managed by Paul's parents Jim and Jacinta Quigley and raised 30K in just one day. According to the GoFundMe page organiser John Flynn "Paul's loss has left a deep void in the hearts of his friends and family both in Ireland and America. "He was full of kindness, humour, and love, and his infectious positivity touched everyone who knew him. We were all fortunate to have had him in our lives." In an amazing outpouring of support, the fundraiser reached its goal of 30K in just one night. The aim of the fundraiser is to raise money to cover the expenses related to Paul's death, including medical expenses, repatriation costs, funeral costs, travel arrangements and other family needs. The fundraiser's page states that any surplus money received upon passing the target figure would be donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, who the family says "have been a tremendous help to us during this difficult time." Paying tribute St Finians GAA club in Swords said All at St Finians were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of our former players Paul Quigley. "Paul played for many years before moving to the US. His Dad Jim Quigley was one of our founding members and played on our first Adult mens team. "They were both involved in designing our very own club crest. Pauls niece Keira currently plays with our Ladies team. Commenting on the huge amount of support the fundraiser has so far received, Paul's family said: "This achievement is a true reflection of the love and respect we all have for Paul, and it means so much to us. "The speed at which we've reached this milestone is incredible. Paul's memory continues to inspire us, and in his honour, we're raising our goal. "By increasing our target, we can extend even more support to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, helping other families in their time of need just as it has helped us." To date the fundraiser has raised almost 38,000 with 557 donations. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet. The US Supreme Court paved the way on Thursday for the 9:30 am ET (14:30 Irish) sentencing in New York state court in Manhattan. US President-elect Donald Trump speaks after a meeting with Republicans in Congress at the US Capitol building in Washington. Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon US President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday for his criminal conviction stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, a case that for a time overshadowed his bid to retake the White House. The US Supreme Court paved the way on Thursday for the 9:30 am ET (14:30 Irish) sentencing in New York state court in Manhattan, rejecting a last-minute request by Trump to halt it 10 days before his January 20 inauguration. Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the six-week trial last year, has signalled he does not plan to send Trump to jail or to fine him. But by granting an unconditional discharge, he would place a judgment of guilt on Trump's permanent record. Trump, 78, who pleaded not guilty, was expected to appear virtually at the hearing. He fought tooth and nail to avoid the spectacle of being compelled to appear before a state-level judge days before returning to the public office he lost four years ago. "He doesn't want to be sentenced because that is the official judgment of him being a convicted felon," said Cheryl Bader, a law professor at Fordham University in New York. The trial played out against the extraordinary backdrop of Trump's successful campaign to retake the White House. The sentencing marks the culmination of the first-ever criminal case brought against a US president, past or present. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, charged Trump, a Republican, in March 2023 with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump, who denied it. Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in that election. The Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of all 34 counts on May 30. Prosecutors argued that despite the tawdry nature of the allegations, the case was an attempt to corrupt the 2016 election. Critics of the businessman-turned politician cited the charges and other legal entanglements he faced to bolster their contention that he was unfit for public office. Trump flipped the script. He argued the case - along with three other criminal indictments and civil lawsuits accusing him of fraud, defamation and sexual abuse - was an effort by opponents to weaponize the justice system against him and harm his re-election campaign. He frequently lashed out at prosecutors and witnesses, and Merchan ultimately fined Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order. As recently as Jan. 3, Trump called the judge a "radical partisan" in a post on his Truth Social platform. In a decision that day, Merchan said that setting aside the verdict would "undermine the Rule of Law in immeasurable ways" and wrote that Trump's behaviour during the trial showed disrespect for the judiciary. "Defendant has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries and the justice system as a whole," Merchan said. Late on Thursday, hours before sentence was to be imposed, Trump wrote on his social media platform that he would be appealing the case and was confident that he would prevail. The hush money case was widely viewed as less serious than the three other criminal cases Trump faced, in which he was accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and retaining classified documents after leaving the White House. Trump pleaded not guilty in all the cases. But Bragg's case was the only criminal case to reach trial in the face of an onslaught of challenges from Trump's lawyers. After Trump's November 5 election victory, federal prosecutors backed off their two cases due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. The remaining state case, brought in Georgia over efforts to reverse the 2020 election results in that state, is in limbo after a court in December disqualified the lead prosecutor on the case. The hush money case was a mixed bag politically. Contributions to Trump's campaign surged after he was indicted in March 2023, likely helping him vanquish his rivals for the Republican nomination. During the trial, polling showed a majority of voters took the charges seriously, and his standing among Republicans slipped after the guilty verdict. But the case quickly faded from the headlines, especially after President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance led him to drop out with Vice President Kamala Harris replacing him on the Democratic ticket, and after a gunman's bullet came inches from killing Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Merchan initially scheduled the sentencing for July 11, but pushed it back multiple times at Trump's request. In agreeing in September to defer the sentencing until after the election, the judge wrote that he was wary of being perceived as placing his thumb on the scales. Falsification of business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. While Trump would have been unlikely to get jail time due to his advanced age and lack of a criminal history, legal experts said it was not impossible, especially given his gag order violations. Trump's victory and looming inauguration made a sentence of jail or probation even less practical. Laura Cullen also faces repayment of $103,000 in legal costs after the NSW court of appeal handed down the decision shortly before Christmas An Irishwoman who had been injured during a protest in Sydney, Australia has had a $800,000 (480,000) compensation claim against the New South Wales police overturned. Laura Cullen also faces repayment of $103,000 in legal costs after the NSW court of appeal handed down the decision shortly before Christmas. She was among an estimated 5,000 people who attended an Invasion Day rally in Sydney on January 26, 2017. According to the judgment of the appeal court, the rally had stopped on Buckland Street in Alexandria where a speaker tried to set fire to an Australian flag using lighter fluid. A police officer filming the effort to extinguish the fire was struck by a protester and the camera she was holding fell to the ground. Another officer, SLC Damian Livermore, tried to arrest the protester by moving through the crowd but during the arrest, Cullen who was not involved in these incidents was knocked to the ground and injured. The judgment said she experienced retrograde amnesia, which meant she had no memory of attending the rally. A supreme court judge found in 2023 that the officer had acted recklessly or unreasonably when carrying out the arrest. Cullen was awarded $800,000 in damages, plus legal costs after it was found the officer had ignored the strong potential of harm to persons close by. The decision was considered significant as it set out the duty of care New South Wales police owe people attending protests. However, it has now been overturned on appeal, as the court found in a two-one decision that Cullen had not established that the actions of the officer had caused her injury. Justices Fabian Gleeson and Jeremy Kirk held that it was the distinct, significant criminal action of another protestor that led to the arrest. And it was the difficulty of effecting that lawful arrest which led to the responding being injured. No doubt the respondent would not have been injured as she was if the officers had not acted as they did, the judgment said. But for legal purposes, the chain of causation from their actions to her injuries was broken. The court also found Cullen could not claim compensation for battery. It is apparent that Livermore was not conscious of the presence of the respondent and that he did not intend to make any contact with her. However, the third judge, Justice Richard White found that the police foresaw the risk of harm alleged by Ms Cullen. Their planning for the event, the judge felt, recognised sudden and unexpected movements of participants in the rally arising from police intervention could result in officers being assaulted or hindered. And that the same risk applied to protesters. All judges, however, rejected a suggestion by lawyers for the state that argued officers owed no duty of care to anyone who attended the protest march. The judges said officers were still required to take reasonable care to avoid the risk of harm to those in the immediate vicinity of an operational response. The decision means Cullen is no longer eligible for $800,000 in compensation. The court also ordered her to repay $103,000 she had been paid to cover legal costs and to cover the states legal fees. The annual Te Puna Speed Shear will take place this Saturday at the Point Ale House in Whakamarama, marking the events 24th year. It cements its status as New Zealands longest-running speed shearing competition. Co-organiser Maree Morton expressed her delight at the events continued success. John Dalziel is an original who started it at the Te Puna Rugby Club in 1999, and hes still part of the committee today. We only missed one year - 2022 - due to Covid. The Te Puna Speed Shear in 2024. Photo / Supplied. The event, which is always held on the second Saturday in January, draws shearers from across the country, including several from Taranaki, and occasionally from overseas. We never know how many shearers will be showing up, as many finish work and then drive a long distance to compete. Sometimes, shearers from the South Island turn up if theyre in the area. Weve even had Welsh and Scottish shearers in the past, and this year, we have a competitor coming from the United Kingdom. Among the regulars is Digger Balme, a 60-year-old shearer who has participated in every Te Puna Speed Shear since its inception. Digger and his crew will be travelling up from King Country. He sent me a message saying hes looking forward to Saturday. Hes won a couple of years here and there but now, with younger shearers coming through, hes often finishing second or third. But theyre less than half his age. The crowd at the 2024 Te Puna Speed Shear. Photo/Supplied. The event has a reputation for drawing a large crowd to the Point Ale House carpark, where a curtain-sider truck is set up for the shearing. Its a chance for people to see shearers in action up close - many of our visitors from town have never witnessed shearing first-hand. Around 400 people usually turn up, and it starts with the veterans at 5.30pm, followed by the seniors and then the open competition. The prizegiving takes place around 10pm. In addition to the action-packed shearing, attendees can enjoy food and drinks, with a food truck offering burgers, chips, and hotdogs. The pub also serves drinks to those attending. Entry is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds going towards local community causes. We aim to raise around $10,000. All our volunteers donate their time. Last year, we supported the rescue helicopter service, and weve helped local causes like the kindergarten, children with cancer, and an assistance dog. Digger Balme sorting sheep ready for shearing. Photo/Supplied. Top prize for the open shear competition is $2000 and the fastest time on record is an impressive 15.97 seconds. On average they are 17-21 seconds. It depends on how the lamb behaves that day - sometimes even the best shearer gets a wriggler. Morton said despite the speed shear event being held on the same day as the Katikati Avocado Festival, the festival is finishing just as the Whakamarama event is starting. So, rock on up. Its just a gold coin in the bucket. Te Puna Speed Shear, the Point Ale House, 17 Plummers Point Road, Whakamarama, starts 5.30pm, Saturday, January 11. Entry gold coin. Tauranga City Council will soon be asking residents how they want water services delivered for the next 30 years as part of aligning with the Governments Local Water Done Well policy direction. Engagement on water proposals, allowing the community to give feedback, will happen alongside the draft Annual Plan consultation from late March 2025. In line with the Governments Local Water Done Well policy direction, local councils are required to decide and consult on a proposed future model for delivering water services. The model is required to be included in a Water Services Delivery Plan, to set out how the council plans to deliver services in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible, while allocating enough money for future upgrades to keep pace with the citys growing needs. At a December 9 meeting, a business case was presented to Taurangas mayor and councillors outlining the options for consideration. Three options At the meeting the council confirmed it will seek community feedback on three options: The councils current delivery model (the status quo), and its preferred options of establishing a jointly-owned, two-water or three-water council-controlled organisation involving another council or councils that would achieve mutual benefits; or a standalone Tauranga City Council CCO, which would also cover stormwater. The community will be asked for feedback on the waters options from late-March. File Photo. A CCO is an entity controlled by a local authority, or multiple local authorities. CCOs are governed by their own boards but are still accountable to the council or councils that control them. A CCO was identified as the preferred option, based on several criteria including financial sustainability and the opportunity to increase efficiency and effectiveness. In addition to looking at potential partners in the wider Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions, Tauranga City Council will continue working with Western Bay of Plenty District Council to progress the option of establishing a jointly-owned CCO. Big decision Mayor Mahe Drysdale said this is a big decision for the community. Council has heard loud and clear from the community in the past that water assets must stay in council ownership and under local government control. We want to assure people that this wont change, he said. Mayor Mahe Drysdale. Photo / Alisha Evans. Like other councils, our challenge is that an up-to-date waters network is going to be expensive. Drysdale said over time the cost of delivering water services across New Zealand will increase, regardless of any changes to service delivery models and the ongoing challenge for Tauranga will be to meet the requirements for water regulation while providing financially sustainable future water services in a growth city. Whatever we do, we want to manage those costs for our community as best we can. I understand there will be concern about the loss of control in creating a CCO and working with partners, which we will be looking to provide greater clarity around, but there are also some real advantages. Everyone will continue to receive the same great quality drinking water and theyll still be able to do everything they do now. Drysdale said a CCO would provide improvements around efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and would enable council to increase its other debt capacity which would mean we could borrow more to invest in infrastructure upgrades where they are needed. Access Engagement on the waters options will continue with iwi partners and stakeholders and the community will be asked for feedback alongside the draft annual plan consultation from late March. If a decision is made to change the current water service delivery model, based on community feedback, any change to councils delivery services structure would take effect from July 2026. Whatever delivery model we adopt, this plan is intended to ensure our community will always have access to clean, safe and reliable council-controlled water services, Drysdale said. For more information, visit: letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/localwaterdonewell This month New Zealand Blood Service is hosting mobile donation drives across the Bay of Plenty to continue to meet demand throughout the busy holiday season. NZBS national marketing and communications manager Shane Paramore said summer was an extremely challenging time to meet demand for blood and blood products. Last month NZBS needed more than 2500 appointments for blood and plasma donations in the Bay of Plenty before Christmas to ensure demand could be met throughout the holidays. Paramore said people were understandably busy before Christmas, then most took a well-earned break. But the reality is the need for blood and plasma never stops and as New Zealanders stock up for Christmas, we need to do the same, Paramore said. Your donation of blood or plasma will help ensure that patients at their most vulnerable will get the lifesaving transfusion they need. Paramore said someone in New Zealand needed a transfusion every 18 minutes. A donation took about an hour and can genuinely make the difference between life and death. As a result, the NZBS is hosting mobile donation drives across Bay of Plenty this month, including stops in Papamoa, Mount Maunganui and Omokoroa. The mobile donation drive stops in Bay of Plenty are at Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club, 561 Papamoa Rd, on January 20-21; Club Mount Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St, on January 22; and the Omokoroa Pavilion, 28 Western Ave on January 23. This summer, well be actively targeting popular holiday destinations with our mobile drives in the hopes of making it as easy as possible for people to donate without disrupting their holiday, Paramore said. Interested donors can download the NZBS donor app or visit: www.nzblood.co.nz It was the day I broke into the Bank of Wells. Took a jemmy, a screwdriver, to the jagged teeth of an almost impenetrable 1960s Post Office Savings Box. The teeth through which you poked coins for safe keeping. Those teeth only opened one way, and, usually, could only be opened by the all-powerful post master and his master key. That guy held sway in his day probably more than the mayor. This novice safe-cracker prised those teeth open and nicked half-a-crown, two shillings and six pence. Nicked? It was my Post Office Savings Box, so I think I was making a withdrawal rather than committing grand larceny. Half a crown, or 25 cents, had buying power in the 1960s it would get you the biggest block of Cadbury or maybe a pack of 20 Dunhills. Whichever was your poison. Different generations will recognise different phones on display in the museum exhibition. Photo: Merle Cave Ask a millennial what they make of a Post Office Savings Box? Ask a Gen Zer about half a crown and watch the puzzlement. Ask if theyve ever been into a Post Office to buy a stamp, write an aerogram, or if they have ever dialled a telephone number, or uttered: Trunk please to the operator, or cheekily eavesdropped on the neighbours as they chatted on the party line. A focal point Even Western Bay Museums debut collection curator was astonished to learn about party lines that you could be having a phone call and a neighbour could be listening in on the shared line. Imagine if that happened today? asked Carly Vevers, who has an Master of Arts in Museum Studies. The old Post Bank memorabilia. Photo: Merle Cave Thats why the Western Bay Museum is saluting the role of the Post Office and Telephone Exchange in keeping communities connected in pre-digital times with an exhibition called Echoes of Exchange. Its reconnecting with a lost connection, a conglomeration of old communications gear, some still working and related relics. Post Office exhibitions have been done in many museums around the world, said Vevers. They have the potential to tell so many stories and social histories because people lived their whole lives through the Post Office. The old Post Bank memorabilia. Photo: Merle Cave A life force The Post Office was a focal point, people met there when they went to town, people posted their mail there, the private post boxes were there, it was where people deposited their savings, where people got mortgages, registered their births, death, marriages, and cars. The old Post Bank memorabilia. Photo: Merle Cave It accepted television and fishing licence fees, enrolled people to vote and paid pensions. It provided weather and temperatures for the weather office and performed marriage ceremonies. Through the 20th Century, the Post Office was New Zealands biggest employer. It was a life force. And now the Western Bay Museum gives us a feel for that force. Its an eye-opener for younger people. Theyre shocked. And for the older people, a sense of what has been lost, said Western Bay Museum manager Paula Gaelic. Piece de resistance Nothing tells the story with more clarity than the collection piece de resistance the Katikati manual telephone exchange, which was decommissioned only 43 years ago, is now all hooked up and serving five telephones operating in Western Bay Museums main exhibition hall. Isla Cave receives a phone call from her sister via the old Katikati Telephone Exchange. Photo: Merle Cave Give the young people a dial phone and they press, not dial. And theyre not sure which end of the receiver to hold to the ear. Its totally foreign to young people. But they love the discovery. Once upon a time, the exchange and the women who operated it could tell some stories. They knew everyone and everything that was happening in town. Gossip central maybe? They would deny it, but it was true, said Gaelic. If the doctor went out for dinner, hed let the telephone operators know where in case of an emergency. If there was a fire, the fire truck would drop by the exchange to find out where to go. Isla Cave has a turn at being the operator of the old Katikati Telephone Exchange. Photo: Merle Cave Gaelic suggests the operators were the Google of their time. Subscribers would ring the operators just to ask the time. Or how long to cook a turkey. Or how to lamb a ewe. The exhibition, said Gaelic, also highlights some lost social traditions. Like the pleasure of writing a letter, buying a stamp and posting that letter. Many kids havent written or received a letter. So, we give them the chance to write a postcard to themselves. Open all summer Vevers said we know so much about the history of this country through letters and postcards in museums. I would love for young people to consider what they will leave behind for future generations to learn about their lives. Then I spot my orange, circa 1960 Post Office Savings Book in a display case Id take it to school on Fridays with two bob, or whatever Mum could afford, and teacher Mrs Hudson would make the entry date, amount, total. Teacher played banker. There was a lot of trust those days, said Gaelic. Museum curator Carly Vevers watches on as Eden Cave talks to her sister via the old Katikati Telephone Exchange. Photo: Merle Cave Theres an old stamp vending machine put in a thruppence, or sixpence, and it would spit out a stamp. Theres the tellers cash box a mini wooden Fort Knox. Mint condition. And the old metal Post Office Savings Box the one with the sharks teeth that almost made a felon of me. And Post Office ashtrays you could smoke in the Post Office. They were probably branded to stop people stealing them, said Gaelic. Echoes of Exchange a rich slice of life as it used to be, before digital communication is a free exhibition open until June 29, 2025, at Western Bay Museum. The museum is open 10am-4pm Monday-Friday, and 11am-3pm on weekends and public holidays, during the summer holidays. Enjoy the free experience! - SunLive The Waihi Beach community is in shock after a series of vandalism incidents over the summer, culminating in the trampling of a dotterel breeding ground. Camera footage has reportedly captured two individuals removing New Zealand dotterel eggs from a nest at Brighton Reserve just before midnight on January 1, 2025, sparking fears that human interference was the cause of the devastation. Brighton Reserve, which is a large, grassed greenbelt area off the beach, borders the sand dunes, and has fenced cordons in place to protect the dotterel nesting area. Volunteers have since reported that all dotterel nesting sites along Waihi Beach have been raided, with no signs of typical predator activity, such as broken eggshells and fragments. Surveillance footage is currently being reviewed as part of an ongoing investigation to track down the individuals, who may have information critical to the inquiry, said Waihi Beach environmental co-ordinator Pippa Coombes. Coombes expressed her heartbreak over the incident, noting that this isnt the first time the community has faced vandalism during the festive season. Over the last three years, Dot Watch has experienced vandalism during this same period - over Christmas and New Year, when baches are full of visitors, Coombes said. Dot Watch Waihi Beach is a community group of like-minded individuals, spearheaded by former prime minister Helen Clark, and is dedicated to finding ways to ensure people become more aware of the dotterels and more respectful of them. Redacted faces of two people who allegedly removed eggs from a dotterel nest at Brighton Reserve, Waihi Beach.Photo/Supplied. NZ dotterels are nesting on five sites between Brighton Reserve and Bowentown Reserve and havent been very successful the last few seasons with the loss of eggs and chicks, even with fencing in place. Coombes said three years ago, a 24-hour-old dotterel chick was deliberately trampled at Brighton Reserve and found dead by a retired volunteer and their grandkids. Last year, in the early hours of Christmas morning, the entire nesting site was vandalised - cordons ripped out, eggs destroyed, and a newly hatched chick disappeared. And now this. Its an alarming pattern, and the offenders need to be stopped. The New Zealand dotterel is an endangered species, with fewer than 2500 individuals remaining in the wild, making them even more vulnerable than the brown kiwi, which is classified as nationally vulnerable. The birds rely on critical areas like Waihi Beach to breed, and volunteers have dedicated countless hours working tirelessly to protect them from predators such as rats, stoats, and hedgehogs. Dotterel and chicks on a nest at Waihi Beach. Photo/Supplied. The realisation that human interference may be the primary threat has deeply shaken the community, said Coombes. Lyla Hudson, a 16-year-old Dot Watch volunteer who helps maintain predator traplines at Brighton Reserve, also expressed her anguish at the incident. Weve spent the last six months ensuring predators dont eat the eggs or chicks, only to find that the real predators may be humans - they could be my age, Hudson said. Its unthinkable. Hundreds of volunteer hours go into protecting these highly endangered birds, and now this - the eggs were due to hatch the following week. Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, a staunch conservation advocate, also condemned the destruction. The threats to New Zealand dotterels have been overwhelming, not only from introduced mammal predators, dogs, cats, and avian species, but human interference, said Clark. Protecting these birds has been a constant battle, and to see what appears to be repeated human vandalism added to these challenges is shocking. Helen Clarks father, George Clark, a lifelong conservation enthusiast, 102, also voiced his dismay. I have been visiting Waihi Beach since I was a child. Our native species here are fighting a tough battle against predators, and its only thanks to the dedicated efforts of local people that the New Zealand Dotterel has any chance of surviving, George Clark said. This looks to be an atrocious act of disregard toward our precious species. To lose eggs that were so close to hatching is soul destroying. Former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark with her father George Clark at Brighton Reserve. Photo/Supplied. During the breeding season, Brighton Reserve and other key nesting areas are cordoned off to give the dotterels the best chance of survival. However, incidents like this undermine the tireless efforts of volunteers and jeopardise the survival of these endangered natives, Coombes said. Disturbing or destroying protected wildlife and their nests is a criminal offence under the Wildlife Act 1953, with penalties including hefty fines of up to $100,000, and possible prison sentences. The Waihi Beach community is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward, emphasising that the protection of New Zealands native species is a shared responsibility. Despite the tragic events, the community remains resolute in its commitment to protect the dotterels. Every effort counts in ensuring their survival. A spokesperson for the Department of Conservations National Compliance Team said theyre actively investigating the case and have appealed for public assistance. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact 0800 DOC HOT and reference case CLE-8301. BAGHDAD, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Six Islamic State (IS) militants, including a senior leader, were killed in an airstrike in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said on Friday. Iraqi security forces found the bodies of six IS militants, including the group's deputy leader in the Kirkuk area, in an IS hideout that was destroyed in a recent airstrike by Iraqi forces in the Hamrin mountain range, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerrilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Tony Bryant Seville Friday, 10 January 2025, 12:14 Compartir Not many foreigners have left their mark on traditional Spanish customs, with the exception of a few, mainly Americans, who became well established in their chosen fields. One of these was John Fulton, a Philadelphia-born artist who became one of only two Americans (the other was Sidney Franklin) to receive the 'alternativa' in Spain, the ceremony in which a novice becomes a full matador. Fulton performed as a 'novillero' (novice) with several of Spain's leading bullfighters, before receiving the title of matador in Seville in 1963. He had previously spent weekends fighting bulls in Mexican border towns during a two-year army stint in San Antonio, before attempting to break in to the tight-knit bullfighting sector in Spain. First and foremost, Fulton was an artist who painted many of his instinctive bullfight scenes in bull's blood. However, at an early age, he set his sights on becoming a bullfighter and headed to Seville. However, his journey into Seville's Maestranza bullring was not easy, because, in his words, "this was one of the most critical audiences around". Zoom Born the son of a Hungarian mother and an Italian father in 1932, Fulton, was a professional bullfighter for more than 40 years, and he became a cult hero, especially among visiting Americans. He is said to have greatly impressed Ernest Hemingway, who reportedly slipped him a 100-dollar banknote after one particular fight. Fulton performed his last fight at the age of 61 in 1994, after which, he concentrated on painting in his studio, located in the Santa Cruz district of Seville, which today bears a plaque to mark the spot. Fulton also worked as a guide to the American author James A. Michener during his research for the book Iberia. At the time of his death, in 1998, he was working on his biography, which he intended to call The Memoirs of John Quixote. The cranes can be seen and very much heard around the lake in winter. Javier Almellones Malaga Friday, 10 January 2025, 13:52 Compartir The cold weather is making its presence felt in the great wetland of Malaga province. The Laguna de Fuente de Piedra nature reserve is facing its coldest weeks of the winter season, but it is doing so with an exceptional soundtrack. For many weeks now cranes have been seen over the thin sheet of saline water, with their peculiar trumpeting call. It is the soundtrack to winter in this part of Malaga province, the heart of Andalucia. The curious noise emitted by these migratory birds adds natural music to these winter days. The cranes, which arrived more than a month ago from Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe where temperatures are much more extreme, do not go unnoticed as they fly in large flocks, perfectly aligned. The shallow lake at Fuente de Piedra and even other important wetlands in the area such as La Ratosa or those around Campillos, serve as roosting sites for them. Then they feed on the surrounding farmland. They are particularly fond of the first tender shoots of cereals and leguminous plants (especially broad beans). Zoom This causes many setbacks for farmers in the area, although they are eligible for certain subsidies to compensate for the losses caused by this feeding habit of one of the most unique birds in Europe. The birds do not only feed on the farmlands surrounding Fuente de Piedra, they also head out during the day to feed in the fields of nearby municipalities such as Sierra de Yeguas, Humilladero, Mollina, Alameda and even close to the historic town of Antequera. In the evening, when they return to the lake, only their silhouettes can be glimpsed. However, this bird makes its presence felt with the curious sound it can make with its long windpipe. Thanks to this, its sonorous song can be heard even at a distance of two kilometres, a real natural wonder. Among other characteristics they are particularly notable for their wingspan, which can exceed two metres. Grey, almost ashen in colour - darker on the wings - and with long legs, it is relatively easy to identify them both when they are foraging in the fields around the lake and when they fly over it. To see and hear them it is necessary to visit this part of Malaga province. In particular, it is advisable to book a guided tour of the area. This can be done from the Jose Antonio Valverde visitor centre near the lake where you can also learn more about this and other birds that temporarily or permanently inhabit the most important lake for birdlife in particular in this province, including the pink flamingo, some of which are still around in winter and can be easily distinguished these days when relatively close to the shore. Next to the aforementioned visitor centre there are several viewpoints that allow for discreet and relaxed observation of these and other birds. You can also choose to walk along one of the trails that have been laid out. Some of them are short and flat and run along part of the lake's perimeter. Others involve a longer hike, such as the Cagarzo trail, a circular itinerary that links the lake with the large village through several interesting landmarks, such as the stone fountain that may be the historical origin of this town or some sundry remains of prehistoric times. Zoom There are also other trails that link this village and its 'laguna' (not actually a lagoon) with others of ornithological and natural interest, such as the section of the Gran Senda de Malaga (the major series of trails running right across Malaga) between Fuente de Piedra and Campillos, which may be one of the most suitable these days for spotting the magnificent cranes in full 'song'. Another good option is the trail section that goes from this municipality to Alameda, either passing through the Santillan farmhouse or via another variant to the south, which passes through the villages of Humilladero and Mollina. As well as walking and observing nature, Fuente de Piedra has gastronomic attractions that cannot be ignored. Among them is its extra virgin olive oil of the 'viduena envero' variety, which can be bought directly at one of the olive-growers' homes in the centre of the village. What to visit FuentedePiedralake . This site, which has been declared a nature reserve, is an authentic ornithological sanctuary. From its shores you can see and hear the many birds that have their habitat in winter, from the crane, all the waders and then to the pink flamingo. There are several viewpoints and trails around the lagoon that can also be reached by car if not walking much. Where: Very close to the town of Fuente de Piedra. Visitor centre . Before or after visiting the natural surroundings to the lake or walking along its paths, it is essential to call into this visitor centre, named after Jose Antonio Valverde. There you can get a much better understanding of the biological importance of this great wetland of inland Malaga. Where: On the Cerro del Palo hill (next to the lake), with car parking. Fuente de Piedra . In the centre of Fuente de Piedra you can see the fountain that could be the origin of the town. It is believed that centuries ago its waters were used to cure kidney stones and related diseases. Where: In Plaza de la Constitucion. Church of Las Virtudes . This is one of the youngest parishes in inland Malaga as it had to be rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1884. It was rebuilt in the historicist and neo-Mudejar styles. Where: On the corner of these two streets: Calle Iglesia and Calle Juan Carlos I. Where to eat La Taberna de Joaquin . This restaurant, located in the main square next to the stone fountain, is one of the most recommendable places to have lunch on any weekend. Weather permitting, its terrace is a good place to savour the best-known dishes prepared there, such as grilled octopus, steamed cod with garlic and prawns, barbecued ribs, sirloin steak with whisky or knuckle of pork with rosemary. There is a wide variety of meats, including beef cutlets and suckling lamb, among other options. The uniqueness of this establishment also lies in the humour of its owner, Joaquin, as he takes everyone's order. Where: Plaza de la Constitucion, 2. 29520 Fuente de Piedra. Telephone: 653 855 862. Casa Chaquetas . Whether for breakfast or lunch, this restaurant is a good choice for any day of the week (it is open every day). In its spacious dining room you can choose from a very good value set menu on weekdays, while on the weekends you can order anything from pork tenderloin with almond sauce to rice with lobster. Their boozy soup ('Vina AB'), the thick, chilled tomato soup from the area ('porra antequerana'), scrambled eggs with cod or salmon stuffed with spinach and prawns are other good options on the menu. Where: Poligono industrial (the industrial estate), no number, but look for their sign. 29520 Fuente de Piedra. Telephone: 952 736 291. Where to stay La Laguna . In the very centre of the village you will find this block of tourist apartments. Each of them is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. Inside the complex there is even a swimming pool. Where: Calle Ancha, 14, 29520 Fuente de Piedra. Telephone: 699 898 138. Irene Quirante Velez-Malaga Friday, 10 January 2025, 14:38 Compartir Police have opened an investigation into the whereabouts of Pistacho, a two-month-old puppy stolen on 4 December in Velez-Malaga on the eastern Costa del Sol. The dog, a golden retriever, was allegedly taken from a vehicle when its owner was on business in an establishment on the town's Panoleta industrial estate. On his return a few minutes later, he saw that the car window had been smashed and his pet was missing. The incident, which happened in broad daylight at midday, was reported early that afternoon to the National Police in Velez-Malaga. Since then, Julio and Mireia have not stopped looking for their missing pet. "We are desperate to find him", the woman explained to SUR. In fact, both have flooded social media with posts asking for the public's help to locate the puppy. Zoom The damage to the window of the vehicle where Pistacho was taken from. SUR In their search for help, they left their contact details in case anyone had any clues about Pistacho's whereabouts. However, Mireia says, they have come across people trying to take advantage of the situation or inflict more suffering on the couple. "Yesterday we extended the police complaint because we have received very unpleasant phone calls," she said. First, she said, someone tried to convince them that they had seen the dog in Cordoba. A different caller assured them that he had the animal, but without providing any proof of this. Then, according to the complaint, they threatened that they were going to slit the puppy's throat. That same night the callers contacted her again and all she could hear was a dog wimpering. "We are having a terrible time, my only concern, apart from finding him again, is how he will be, if he is being well cared for, and if he is being fed," she said. Distraught, Mireia has pleaded whoever has the puppy to hand him over to the police or a vet. "You can say that you found him, or whatever; I don't want to take any action, I just want Pistacho to come home". Mireia also appealed to anyone who recognises her dog to immediately notify the National Police or Guardia Civil, who will be able to identify Pistacho with an identity chip reader. Alberto Gomez Malaga Friday, 10 January 2025, 11:05 | Updated 11:27h. Compartir Gypsy, the fourth musical directed by Antonio Banderas at his Malaga theatre, had a big-name star in the audeince yesterday. Actor Richard Gere attended one of the performances of the play starring Marta Ribera, whom he expressly congratulated for her performance. The American actor, winner of a Golden Globe, extended his congratulations to the rest of the cast despite the fact that his Spanish does not allow him to understand all the dialogues. He also congratulated Banderas' commitment to the CaixaBank Soho theatre, which he described as "beautiful", according to sources consulted. Gere, who has been living in Madrid since last year, came to Malaga with his Spanish wife, Alejandra Silva, and they checked in to the Hotel Miramar. On the decision to move to Madrid, Gere admitted a few months ago: "For me, coming to Spain is a great adventure because I've never lived full-time outside the United States. And I think it's also very interesting for my children. For Alejandra, it's wonderful to be closer to her family, her lifelong friends and her culture. She was very generous to give me six years living in my world, so I think it's only fair that I give her at least another six years living in hers." Banderas and Gere have maintained a close bond for years. At an event organised by Elle in November, the star of hits like Pretty Woman and An Officer and a Gentleman revealed the origin of their friendship: the actor from Malaga recently confessed to him that he sold a photograph of the two of them to the paparazzi to buy a plane ticket to Los Angeles. "It was the first time he came to Los Angeles, so the credit for his international career is entirely mine," he joked about the fame the star of The Skin I Live In has achieved on the other side of the Atlantic. In 2022, Gere was one of the guests at the charity gala organised by the Starlite Foundation, hosted by Banderas and Sandra Garcia-San Juan. On that occasion the protagonist was Alejandra Silva, awarded for her participation in the NGO Open Arms. "I am very excited for the recognition, after the pandemic and after having had such a hard time, for a work that is not only mine," she said at the time. Gere began his film career in the mid-1970s, but it was with the arrival of the 1980s that he began to stand out as an actor thanks to his participation in the film American Gigolo, directed by Paul Schrader, and Officer and Gentleman, directed by Taylord Hackford; in both cases these were roles previously rejected by John Travolta. In 2002, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented him with an Honorary Oscar in recognition of his career. Tony Bryant Torremolinos Friday, 10 January 2025, 14:07 Compartir The Mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, announced today (Friday 10 Januray) that she is going to file a complaint with the National Police against a private club for a hate crime for trying to hold an opening party in the Costa del Sol town in which it has said it will not allow access to people from the LGBT community. "The good news is that this is not going to happen in Torremolinos, under any circumstances. The bad news for them is that we are going to denounce them for a hate crime and we are going to go as far as it takes to banish these homophobic attitudes," she said. The controversy was sparked on social media networks, where the Casa Fatima club announced an event in which, among other rules of conduct, it prohibits the entry of maricones, a derogatory word used to describe homosexuals. The mayor reiterated her comments through her social media: "We are not going to consent to these attitudes. Hatred and homophobia have no place here and we are going to do everything in our power to ban this event and any club activity that encourages this regrettable attitude." The mayor also sent a message of support for the LGBT community: "Torremolinos is a prism of colour and diversity. It is a town where everyone can be whatever they want to be, and this unpleasant episode reminds us that we must not stop defending freedom and human rights." The mayor herself will present the complaint at the Torremolinos and Benalmadena National Police station, both on behalf of the town hall, and in a personal capacity, for the crimes of defamation and hate speech, as she has been a victim of insults from this private club's social media account directed at her. Syracuse, N.Y. The killing of 11-year-old Brexialee Torres Ortiz is linked to the Uptown gang now at the center of a rare racketeering trial in Syracuse, prosecutors said. The new detail came out in court Thursday when prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred over testimony by Syracuse Police Gang Task Force Detective Anthony Fiorini. Brexialees murder is listed on a timeline created by Fiorini of crimes that investigators believe are connected to the Uptown gang. Prosecutors said Brexis killers Deckyse Bridges, Rasean Patterson and Dahviere Griswold are believed to be younger members of Uptown. The group was targeting another person when Brexialee was accidentally shot while walking home after buying a gallon of milk at a nearby store in January 2023. Brexialee Torres-Ortiz, 11, was killed after getting a gallon of milk from the store for her family on Jan. 16, 2023. (Courtesy family) Prosecutor Alphonse Williams said that the group would have carried out the shooting on the order of, or to seek approval from, the highest-ranking members of the Uptown gang. One of the defendants in the racketeering trial, Carl Newton Jr., is accused of being one of the highest-ranking members of the gang. Newtons attorney, Graeme Spicer, pointed out that Newton was in jail on Jan. 16, 2023 when Brexialee was fatally shot. He stressed that there is no evidence connecting Newton or his codefendant Synike White to the crime. Williams conceded that while the crime is not directly connected to the two men on trial, in order to prove the racketeering charge, prosecutors must prove that Uptown is still an operating organization. Spicer argued that including testimony about the death of an 11-year-old girl would be inflammatory and extremely prejudicial to Newton and White. Ultimately, the judge agreed that any direct reference to the specifics of Brexialees murder would be overly inflammatory. He also agreed that it was pertinent evidence for the ongoing nature of Uptowns crimes. He ruled that any reference to Brexialees name would not be allowed in testimony, but prosecutors could include a reference to a homicide on Jan. 16, 2023. In the trial against Griswold, prosecutors had danced around the possibility that Brexialees death was connected to gang violence. Investigators said people who lived in Brexis neighborhood and people who live in and around Parkside Commons have lasting disagreements. Parkside Commons is the alleged epicenter of the Uptown gang. Griswold lived at Parkside Commons. Video evidence from his trial showed him and his codefendants leaving the apartment complex shortly before Brexis murder and returning just after she was shot. Typically, testimony or references to gang affiliation are not permitted in trials because it is overly prejudicial. In the trial underway this week, the prosecution has been granted freedom to discuss gang evidence because the charge alleges the two men committed a series of crimes to further the Uptown gang. The racketeering case stems from a murder and attempted murder case that was headed for trial in December 2023 but ended in a mistrial after allegations of jury tampering. Instead of retrying the murder case, prosecutors upped the charges to include aggravated enterprise corruption. Newton is accused of acting as a high-ranking member of the Uptown organization, while White is accused of acting as a lesser follower, according to the indictment. The gang is alleged to have a history of narcotics trafficking, possession of illegal firearms and elimination of rival gang members or those who offended the Uptown hierarchy, prosecutors said. Prosecutors will have to prove Newton and White each committed three separate pattern acts within a span of 10 years to advance the goals of the Uptown gang. Brexialees murder is not referenced in the indictment. Newton and White both face a maximum 25 to life if convicted of the aggravated enterprise corruption charge. Both men are being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center jail. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Richland, N.Y. A town court judge in Oswego County has been reprimanded by a state judicial oversight committee for making political contributions. From 2006 to 2023, Richland Town Court Judge James Ridgeway donated over $6,000 to causes that support the Democratic Party. Some of the donations were made through his union, the United Steelworkers, and others were made by his wife using his bank account. The state Commission on Judicial Conduct ruled that Ridgeway should be admonished for the donations. Ridgeway agreed with the decision, according to a news release from the commission on Friday. Judges are prohibited from engaging in certain political activities, including making donations, in order to maintain impartiality. During the commissions review, Ridgeway made it clear that he was ignorant of the rules prohibiting judges from making such contributions. He also said that he was unaware of some of the donations made in his name. He agreed that he should have educated himself and believed that an admonition was appropriate. Ridgway, who is not an attorney, has been a town court justice since 2000. He also served as an acting justice in Pulaski Village Court from 2001 to 2012. From 2006 to 2017, he made 138 contributions in automatic payroll deductions to the United Steelworkers union political action fund, which works to elect union-friendly candidates. Those contributions totaled to $3,311. From 2006 to 2016, he made 33 contributions through ActBlue, a nonprofit platform that allows people to donate to Democratic candidates, progressive organizations and other nonprofits, according to the commission. Those donations were worth $824. From 2015 to 2016, he donated $265 to Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. From 2019 to 2023, his wife made 109 contributions through ActBlue and seven contributions to the Stop Republicans fund using his credit card. Those donations totaled $1,306 to ActBlue and $322 to Stop Republicans. Since 1978, the commission has issued 288 determinations of admonitions, 185 determinations of removal and 352 determinations of censure. Ridgways current term is set to expire in 2027. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has allocated 30 million yuan (about 4.17 million U.S. dollars) to fix quake-damaged roads in the Xizang Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. The funds, jointly allocated by the ministry and the Ministry of Transport, will also help find hidden dangers on roads and bridges, prevent secondary disasters, and guarantee the smooth transportation of emergency relief and livelihood materials, according to the ministry. A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in Xizang on Tuesday morning. The earthquake has left 126 dead. Telecommunications, roads and power have been restored in the quake-hit areas. By Muri Assuncao | New York Daily News An Upstate New York man was arrested three times for three separate incidents that allegedly occurred between Monday afternoon and early Wednesday morning this week, authorities said. Michael Sprague, of New Hartford, faces over a dozen charges after incidents that took place over a span of approximately 37 hours in Oneida County, according to the New Hartford Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriffs Office. The 56-year-old suspect is accused of pointing a fake handgun at a person and fleeing from law enforcement in New Hartford, and being found with stolen property in the neighboring City of Rome. According to the New Hartford Police Department, Spragues alleged crime spree began Monday around 4 p.m. A person driving a vehicle told police a white male in a white pickup truck pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at the victim and his passenger. That person, later identified as Sprague, was taken into custody and charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. He was processed and released on appearance tickets to answer the charges at a later date. On Wednesday around 1 a.m., police encountered Sprague again in New Hartford and attempted to pull him over for traffic violations, but he sped away and the pursuit was called off for safety reasons. About four hours later, when Sprague crashed his 2024 Chevy Colorado into a snowbank in Rome, police learned he was towing a camper that had been stolen in Utica. After deputies charged Sprague with one possession of stolen property and issued him six traffic tickets, he was turned over to the New Hartford Town Police Department, when he was hit with 16 other charges stemming from the earlier incident. Sprague is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 23, officials said. 2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Durhamville, N.Y. An elementary school in the Oneida City School District has been closed after a boiler malfunction caused a carbon monoxide leak. The Oneida City School District was notified at 10 p.m. on Wednesday by their alarm monitoring system of a carbon monoxide alarm at Durhamville Elementary School, school officials said on the schools website. The Durhamville Fire Department and Oneida City Maintenance Department responded to clear the building of hazardous gas and found that the leak was due to a boiler malfunction. The Superintendent of schools for the Oneida City School District, Matthew Carpenter, said they have two boilers at the school. That boiler was taken out and is no longer in use, he said. The secondary boiler is running and maintaining temperature in the building. The fire department came back to the school on Thursday to retest the building, he said. The building was clear of any carbon monoxide during the test on Thursday, school officials said. On Friday, the maintenance team and local fire department did additional testing to ensure the safety of students and staff. The test results came back clear of any carbon monoxide, school officials said. All Oneida City schools have safety features including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, medical emergency buttons and lock down buttons, said Carpenter. The schools in the district are all monitored by Syracuse Time and Alarm, he added. The school remained closed on Friday to allow a residual odor from the boiler malfunction to clear, they said. Carpenter said school officials will make a decision on reopening school late Sunday evening or early Monday morning. Albany, N.Y. A Central New York judge who recently resigned after making racially charged remarks at a private party has been banned from ever serving again as a judge. The states highest court, the Court of Appeals, on Thursday formally ordered Erin P. Gall removed from the bench. She was a judge based in Oneida County for the states Fifth Judicial District, which covers a large swath of Central New York. Under state law, she cannot be a judge again in New York state. Gall resigned Dec. 15 from her judgeship. She had been suspended with pay since the state Commission on Judicial Conduct ruled this summer that she should be removed from the bench after making inappropriate comments at a graduation party in 2022. At the party, the former judge repeatedly invoked her office, threatened to shoot a group of Black teens and insulted their intelligence during a racially offensive, profane, prolonged public diatribe outside a high school graduation party in July 2022 in New Hartford in Oneida County, the commission has said. Read more: Watch videos that break down a Central NY judges racially offensive rants: Ill shoot them Gall requested in August that the Court of Appeals review the commissions decision. She had hoped for a lesser sanction than removal. While she appealed, she was on paid leave and made about $96,000. She has attempted to push back on the commission finding that her actions were racially offensive. Galls attorney moved on Dec. 17 to withdraw the appeal, saying she had resigned her spot on the bench. In an affidavit attached to the motion, Gall wrote that her decision to abandon hope of remaining on the bench was one of the hardest decisions she has made. Gall now works as an assistant county attorney in Herkimer County, the commission has said. Gall was elected to the bench as a Republican in 2011. Her 14-year term was set to expire next December. Her salary was $232,600. Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7. Syracuse, N.Y. A charter school in Syracuse was cited for eight code violations Wednesday, a day after a carbon monoxide leak sent several people to the hospital. The Syracuse Academy of Science High School at 1001 Park Ave. was cited as a structure unfit for human occupancy and an unsafe structure, city records show. The school also was issued violations related to carbon monoxide alarms and detectors as wells as removal or tampering with equipment, according to city records. Under state fire code, it is unlawful to remove, tamper with or otherwise disturb any fire hydrant, fire detection and alarm system, fire suppression system or other fire appliance. The building failed a re-inspection Thursday, city records show. City officials refused to talk Thursday about the code violations or why the school was cited. Kieran Coffey, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department, didnt answer any questions, saying there is an ongoing investigation. The building has been closed since Tuesday after a malfunctioning food warmer in the schools kitchen created high carbon monoxide levels. Twelve people were evaluated at the scene and five were taken to the hospital. A man cleaning the school overnight was found dead Tuesday morning in the cafeteria by school employees. When firefighters responded to a call about the man, their equipment detected high levels of carbon monoxide. School officials maintained Wednesday his death is unrelated to the carbon monoxide. An official cause of death has not been released. Academy of Science spokesperson Sarah Ferguson said the school was working with its contractors and would promptly implement any recommendations from city officials. School officials initially said there was a carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen. They later said the device was only a smoke detector. School and fire officials thought the smoke detector was a 2-in-1 device that also signaled for carbon monoxide, school officials said. The school passed an annual fire inspection on Nov. 26. Related article: How a fire inspection failed to catch Syracuse schools missing carbon monoxide detector City officials ordered the school closed Tuesday until additional carbon monoxide alarms were installed and approved. Kitchen equipment must also be inspected and certified safe to use by a licensed professional. School officials said classes would move online until the building can be reopened. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless and results from incomplete combustion. In 2022, more than 600 people in the United States died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7. On November 30, 2024, three hunters from Vermont went on an ill-fated big game safari in upstate NY. While cruising through the town of Salem in search of a deer to shoot, they spotted a buck. The driver stuck his rifle out the window to shoot the buck from behind the wheel. But when a truck pulled up behind him, he yanked the firearm back inside the car. The rifle went off, and a bullet passed clean through both the drivers hand and the car door. The group drove home empty handed and reported the incident, claiming it occurred in Vermont. But after an investigation, the shooter admitted the incident happened in New York. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police officers (ECOs) interviewed the three men and arrested the shooter, a convicted felon, for criminal possession of a weapon, hunting without a license, possession of a loaded gun in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm over a highway, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a farm structure. The shooter spent five days at Albany Medical Center recovering from his injuries. The other two would-be poachers received a total of seven tickets for charges related to the shooting. On Dec. 5, ECOs ticketed a poacher for shooting a big buck from Old Johnstown Road in the village of Fonda while the deer was feeding in a pumpkin patch.NYS DEC The following reports are excerpted from DEC On Dec. 5, ECOs responded to multiple reports that a buck, well known to hunters in Fulton and Montgomery counties over the years due to its large size and unmistakable set of palmated antlers, had been taken illegally from a roadway. A suspect admitted to shooting the buck from Old Johnstown Road in the village of Fonda while the deer was feeding in a pumpkin patch around midnight. ECOs charged the poacher with the illegal take of deer, shooting on/from a roadway, hunting outside of legal hours, and Environmental Conservation Law trespass. Turkey shoot On Dec. 15, 2024, a resident of Arcade witnessed someone shoot a turkey in their field and later took a picture of a boot print left in the snow. An ECO traced the shooters license plate to a residence and noticed a boot print in the snow matching the one in the picture, along with two turkey feathers leading to the garage. The poacher admitted he shot the turkey from the road and gave it to his friend as a birthday present. He was issued five tickets for taking wildlife from a public roadway, illegal use of a rifle to hunt turkey, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, taking game out of season, and discharging a firearm on a public highway. Not a crossbow On Nov. 10, an ECO stopped a known deer poacher transporting an untagged deer on an ATV in the town of Throop. The man claimed hed taken the deer with a crossbow despite evidence it had been shot with a shotgun. The ECO found a loaded 16-gauge shotgun nearby and issued four tickets to the poacher, including two misdemeanors for unlawfully killing a deer and taking deer by means not specified. Road check leads to illegal deer On Nov. 17, ECOs stopped a truck carrying a deer carcass and a cooler full of meat in the town of Cicero. The driver said hed butchered the deer for a friend and was given half the meat. But neither the carcass nor the meat contained a tag or note from the taker as required by law. The drivers so-called friend also failed to provide ECOs information, and did not have a hunting license. The driver was ticketed for transporting a deer without a note from the taker, and the friend was ticketed for hunting big game without a license and illegally taking a deer. Songbird slayers A group of men who claimed to be pheasant hunting instead killed four immature red-winged blackbirds at Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area in November. An ECO found the birds in a plastic bag and issued members of the group three tickets for unlawfully killing protected songbirds, and two tickets for hunting without a license. Illegal dumping in wildlife refuge On Dec. 3, a black SUV backed into a wooded area known for illegal dumping in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. A man got out and dumped trash into the woods. An ECO blocked him from leaving the scene. The man admitted to illegal dumping, saying, Its not too much. He was ticketed for unlawful disposal of solid waste and faces additional federal charges. Buck taken over bait While investigating a case of illegal deer feeding at a Prattsville hunting camp in early December, an ECO noticed drops of blood in the snow. The property owner admitted to placing corn in the area and shooting a buck. The man also admitted that it was his second buck of the year, and that hed put his daughters tag on it. ECOs seized the buck as evidence and ticketed the man for using the tags of another, taking over the limit of white-tailed deer, hunting with the aid of pre-established bait, and the illegal take of white-tailed deer. On Dec. 5, ECOs gave eight tickets to four anglers in Richmond County who stuffed 35 striped bass into bags and coolers.NYS DEC Fishing Compliance Checks Queens/Richmond/Nassau Counties On Nov. 21, ECOs ticketed a store in Queens for having 19 untagged tautog (blackfish), a highly regulated species. On Dec. 3, ECOs encountered an angler at Breezy Point in Queens County wearing a backpack that smelled of fish. They also found a bag hidden in the woods that contained six undersized striped bass. When the angler came back for the bag, ECOs ticketed him for possession of over-the-limit and undersized striped bass. On Dec. 5, ECOs gave eight tickets to four anglers in Richmond County who stuffed 35 striped bass into bags and coolers. On Dec. 7, five people on board a boat in Nassau County were caught with five striped bass. They were ticketed for keeping over-the-limit striped bass and for failure to wear life jackets between Nov. 1 and May 1. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors. Pamela Hunter, a state Assembly member from Syracuse, won a leadership post Thursday that will make her one of the most powerful state lawmakers in the 2025 session that began this week. Assembly Speaker Carle Heastie appointed Hunter, 54, to serve as speaker pro tempore, officially the sixth-ranking position in the 150-member Assembly. In practice, Hunter will be one of the most visible members of the Assembly leadership. She will preside over the Assembly for most of its daily business. Hunter, a Democrat first elected in November 2015, told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that she will be included in weekly leadership meetings with Heastie. I would hope that its going to be helpful for Central New York, Hunter said. I know our area, I know our needs, and being in that position will help me elevate issues important to Central New York. Hunter will become the highest-ranking member of the state Assembly from Central New York since Michael Bragman. Bragman, a Cicero Democrat, served 21 years in the Assembly including seven years as Democratic majority leader. He resigned in 2001 after failing in an attempt to unseat longtime Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Hunter said she did not ask for the promotion. She had served as a majority conference leader and chaired the Assembly Banking Committee. I think the speaker saw I had strength in leadership skills, Hunter said, adding that shes the only woman in the Assembly who is a military veteran. She will continue to chair the subcommittee for women veterans and serve on the Assembly Insurance Committee. Heastie also reappointed two other Assembly members from Central New York to chair key committees this year. Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, will chair the Transportation Committee and Al Stirpe, D-Cicero, will chair the Economic Development Committee. In the state Senate, Sen. Rachel May, D-Syracuse, will chair the Consumer Protection Committee. First-term Sen. Chris Ryan, D-Geddes, will chair the Senate Cities 2 committee, a panel that focuses on issues affecting cities in Upstate New York. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 NEW DELHI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Five members of a family, including husband, wife and their three children, were found dead inside their house in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, a senior police official said on Friday. The incident was reported from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut town, nearly 46 miles from New Delhi. Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada said the house was locked from outside. The bodies of the three children, all girls aged 1, 4 and 8, were found stuffed inside a bed-box, while those of the couple were found on the floor. All the deceased had head injuries, he said. "Preliminary investigations have hinted at a motive of personal enmity for the murder. The house was locked from the outside. This hints that the perpetrator was known to the family," he added. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Vasanth BHPian Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Kannur Posts: 146 Thanked: 749 Times Re: Our trip to Japan: Stunning Sakura Off to Osaka by Shinkansen and stop by at Shin-Fuji station. (Remember the station where Shinkansen stops will be called Shin - and the place name. There is even Fuji station, Osaka and Shin-Osaka and so on). We got the new Honda Jazz as rental car for about 5-6 hours. The car was booked prior from India. Everything went without a hitch. They asked for IDP, we cruised around Fuji from noon till sunset. The speed limit is 120kmph on the expressway, but everyone zooms past at 140kmph. Even multi axle trucks keep up good pace. Japan has one of the strictest driving tests. The road manners, lane discipline, is clearly noticeable. Our Jazz was just as good as any other Honda. The NVH level was almost same as the Indian version I suppose. But could have been better. Returned the car and hopped on Shinkansen and left to Osaka The pace at which Shinkansen munches distance is just impeccable. The distance by road from Tokyo to Osaka is 500km and according to maps it takes 6 hours. But The Shinkansen takes just 3 hours And Osaka to Hiroshima is 330km. Which takes only 1 hour and 30 min by Shinkansen. This level of connectivity, public transport system will never be possible in India I am doing masters in Bangalore now. My home is 330km away in Mlore. It takes 7 hours by road, 12 hours by train & 2 hours to get to airport. And I need to plan and start my journey every time. The velocity at which the Shinkansen picks up, the whoooooooshhhhh sound when it flies past at 300kmph is something our brains cannot comprehend. Our colonial era Indian trains could be punctual at the least and free from malodour. Just look at the floor of the train even at the corners and edges! How are they even able to maintain it that clean! Our Honda Jazz for the drive. In a town called Fujioshida Unfortunately Mt. Fuji was covered with clouds and it was so stubborn to move away along the whole drive. Day 4: Explore Kyoto and Osaka Kyoto is just half an hour local train ride from Osaka. This is the traditional side of Japan. It is also a tourist trap. The public transport system gets overcrowded. Its still a must see place. There are few attractions like the deer park but we skipped and chose to take a stroll in the medieval Japanese town. Explore Osaka, loiter around Dotonburi, in the night. Its vibrant and colourful. Dotonburi Osaka. You can even take a boat ride on the river. There were octopus restaurants and long queue people waiting for it Day 5: Visit Hiroshima Youre guilty until proven innocent. The perception I had in mind and the reality is completely opposite I thought Hiroshima would be covered in debris, dirty contaminated radioactive atmosphere, environment etc. Let the pictures speak for themselves. Came back to Osaka by evening. Visited Dotonburi again and called it a day. Osaka too had a very good subway system, with excellent connectivity. They have maintained Kyoto just as it is. From the pictures you can see those electricity wires hanging around. There are no subways. In the whole trip there was just one time we hired a taxi. And it was in Kyoto. Day 3:Off to Osaka by Shinkansen and stop by at Shin-Fuji station. (Remember the station where Shinkansen stops will be called Shin - and the place name. There is even Fuji station, Osaka and Shin-Osaka and so on).We got the new Honda Jazz as rental car for about 5-6 hours. The car was booked prior from India.Everything went without a hitch. They asked for IDP, we cruised around Fuji from noon till sunset. The speed limit is 120kmph on the expressway, but everyone zooms past at 140kmph. Even multi axle trucks keep up good pace.Japan has one of the strictest driving tests. The road manners, lane discipline, is clearly noticeable.Our Jazz was just as good as any other Honda. The NVH level was almost same as the Indian version I suppose. But could have been better.Returned the car and hopped on Shinkansen and left to OsakaThe pace at which Shinkansen munches distance is just impeccable.The distance by road from Tokyo to Osaka is 500km and according to maps it takes 6 hours.But The Shinkansen takes just 3 hoursAnd Osaka to Hiroshima is 330km.Which takes only 1 hour and 30 min by Shinkansen.This level of connectivity, public transport system will never be possible in IndiaI am doing masters in Bangalore now. My home is 330km away in Mlore. It takes 7 hours by road, 12 hours by train & 2 hours to get to airport. And I need to plan and start my journey every time.The velocity at which the Shinkansen picks up, the whoooooooshhhhh sound when it flies past at 300kmph is something our brains cannot comprehend.Our colonial era Indian trains could be punctual at the least and free from malodour.Just look at the floor of the train even at the corners and edges! How are they even able to maintain it that clean!Our Honda Jazz for the drive.In a town called FujioshidaUnfortunately Mt. Fuji was covered with clouds and it was so stubborn to move away along the whole drive.Day 4: Explore Kyoto and OsakaKyoto is just half an hour local train ride from Osaka.This is the traditional side of Japan. It is also a tourist trap. The public transport system gets overcrowded.Its still a must see place. There are few attractions like the deer park but we skipped and chose to take a stroll in the medieval Japanese town.Explore Osaka, loiter around Dotonburi, in the night. Its vibrant and colourful.Dotonburi Osaka. You can even take a boat ride on the river. There were octopus restaurants and long queue people waiting for itDay 5: Visit HiroshimaYoure guilty until proven innocent.The perception I had in mind and the reality is completely oppositeI thought Hiroshima would be covered in debris, dirty contaminated radioactive atmosphere, environment etc.Let the pictures speak for themselves.Came back to Osaka by evening. Visited Dotonburi again and called it a day.Osaka too had a very good subway system, with excellent connectivity.They have maintained Kyoto just as it is. From the pictures you can see those electricity wires hanging around. There are no subways. In the whole trip there was just one time we hired a taxi. And it was in Kyoto. In brief: Arm is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of Ampere Computing, a semiconductor startup specializing in high-performance processors for data centers. However, the discussions remain private and preliminary, with no guarantee of a finalized deal. Details, attributed to anonymous sources who spoke with Bloomberg, are scarce it is uncertain whether Arm will proceed with a full acquisition or pursue another form of collaboration with Ampere. Both companies are weighing their options as they navigate a complex and competitive landscape. It is possible, for example, that Ampere could attract other suitors. Ampere, based in Santa Clara, California, designs semiconductors using Arm's architecture and has garnered attention for its energy-efficient chips tailored to cloud-native workloads. Backed by Oracle, which owns a 29% stake in the company, Ampere was valued at $8 billion during a proposed minority investment by SoftBank in 2021, but the current valuation under discussion between SoftBank, Arm, and Ampere remains unclear. Representatives for Arm and Ampere declined to comment on the matter, while spokespeople for SoftBank and Oracle did not immediately respond to inquiries. The potential acquisition comes at a pivotal time for the semiconductor industry, which is experiencing a surge in demand fueled by AI applications. Ampere has been working with financial advisers to explore takeover interest as it faces challenges in pursuing an initial public offering. In April 2022, the company announced that it had confidentially filed for a US IPO amid strong demand for chips, but growing competition and shifting market dynamics prompted Ampere to consider alternative strategies. Ampere's flagship products, including the Altra and Altra Max processors, have gained traction among cloud service providers for their performance-per-watt efficiency and scalability. These CPUs offer an alternative to traditional x86 chips from Intel and AMD. As the data center industry adapts to the AI era, interest in controlling key components like processors is growing. Ampere faces stiff competition from larger players and must contend with a market shift toward AI accelerator chips produced by companies like Nvidia. For Arm, acquiring Ampere could represent a significant step in its strategy to expand beyond its traditional role as a licensor of chip designs into becoming a more comprehensive chipmaker. Under CEO Rene Haas, Arm has been pushing into the data center market a segment historically dominated by x86 architecture and Ampere's expertise could bolster this effort. Many of Ampere's engineers previously worked at Intel's server chip division, bringing valuable experience to the table. While the potential deal offers strategic advantages for both companies, it also raises questions about regulatory scrutiny and competitive pressures. Arm's neutral position as a licensor of its technology to various companies could be complicated by an acquisition of Ampere, potentially creating conflicts of interest with other firms in its ecosystem that compete in the server space. Additionally, given Arm's recent IPO and its ambitions for growth under SoftBank's ownership, any acquisition would likely face heightened regulatory oversight. Oracle's involvement further complicates the picture. The tech giant has options to increase its stake in Ampere and potentially gain control of the company. This dynamic could influence negotiations between Ampere and any potential acquirers. The semiconductor industry has seen a wave of consolidation in recent years as companies seek to capitalize on booming demand for AI-related technologies. Global deals involving chipmakers more than doubled last year to exceed $31 billion, according to Bloomberg data. What just happened? Lenovo Group has announced plans to establish a major PC and server assembly factory in Saudi Arabia. This decision marks a notable expansion of the company's production capacity outside of China and into the Middle East, a region experiencing rapid technological growth. The project, backed by a $2 billion investment from Alat, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is expected to go into operation by 2026. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ thousands of workers and produce millions of PCs annually, positioning it as one of the largest high-tech manufacturing plants in the region and a significant player in the global computer production landscape. "Through this powerful strategic collaboration and investment, Lenovo will have significant resources and financial flexibility to further accelerate our transformation and grow our business by capitalizing on the incredible growth momentum in KSA and the wider MEA region," said Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo. This factory is an opportunity for Lenovo to strengthen its foothold in the rapidly expanding Middle East and African markets. The firm plans to set up a regional headquarters in Riyadh, further cementing its commitment to the area. Additionally, by manufacturing servers in Saudi Arabia, Lenovo can potentially circumvent US restrictions on supplying high-performance hardware for AI and HPC applications to China, as well as diversify its production capabilities beyond Asia. From Saudi Arabia's perspective, a world-class manufacturing facility specializing in cutting-edge technology dovetails perfectly with its Vision 2030 initiative, aimed at diversifying the country's economy beyond oil while fostering modernization. Lenovo's plans extend beyond mere assembly. The company intends to establish local research and development operations, potentially tailoring products to meet regional market needs. The scale of this venture is noteworthy. A $2 billion investment in a computer assembly factory suggests a facility of considerable size and capacity. Industry experts anticipate that this will be one of the most extensive high-tech facilities in the region and a major player in global computer manufacturing. Lenovo's move is part of a broader trend among leading PC makers to reduce their reliance on manufacturing in China. By adding Saudi Arabia to its list of production locations, which already includes Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, and the US, Lenovo further diversifies its global manufacturing footprint. Other tech firms are increasingly looking to Saudi Arabia for similar reasons. Huawei, for example, received a 100% investment license in Saudi Arabia for developing telecommunications infrastructure supporting the country's 5G rollout. In partnership with local entities, Alibaba Cloud created a presence in Riyadh to deliver high-capacity cloud services. SoftBank Group has formed a strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia to develop next-generation industrial robots, and in 2023, Human Horizons, a Chinese EV maker, signed a $5.6 billion deal to establish a research, development, and manufacturing joint venture in the Middle-Eastern nation. Similarly, Enovate, another Chinese EV start-up, entered into a joint venture with Saudi Sumou Holding to set up a $500 million manufacturing plant in the Kingdom. Park Jong-joon, chief of South Korea's presidential security service, receives media interview before being questioned at the request of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 10, 2025. Park appeared before police for questioning on Friday on charges of obstructing the execution of the warrant to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol, TV footage showed. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) SEOUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chief of South Korea's presidential security service appeared before police for questioning on Friday on charges of obstructing the execution of the warrant to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol, TV footage showed. Park Jong-joon, the presidential security head, appeared at around 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) at the request of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) for questioning. Park told reporters that there should be neither physical conflict nor bloodshed in any case as people were worried about confrontations between government agencies. He noted that investigations should be carried out considering Yoon's current status as president, saying the arrest warrant execution was not proper. Park was booked on charges of obstructing the execution of special public affairs. The police sent its third summons to Park earlier this week after he refused to appear on Jan. 4 and 7. Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan. 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution. A Seoul court granted the extension of the warrant to arrest Yoon Tuesday by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president. The validity term of the second warrant could reportedly be longer than the first one which was valid for a week. The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended. Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec. 3, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later. TL;DR: The Linux Foundation has announced the formation of a new group, the "Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers," aimed at funding and advancing the development of browsers built on the open-source Chromium codebase. Founding members of the alliance include Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera. The Linux Foundation said the new group will provide a "neutral space" for developers, software vendors, and the broader open-source community to better contribute to the Chromium ecosystem and collaborate on Chromium-based projects. The foundation emphasized that existing Chromium projects will remain under their respective developers' control and will not be absorbed by the new alliance. Instead, the new group will operate under the Linux Foundation to "remove barriers to innovation, expand adoption, and ensure that projects within the Chromium ecosystem receive the resources they need to thrive." Google explained that the Linux Foundation was selected to manage the alliance and its funding due to its proven track record of "open governance, prioritizing transparency, inclusivity, and community-driven development." The company also expressed its enthusiasm for the initiative, noting that it was "thrilled" to have garnered support from Meta, Microsoft, and Opera. Google claimed to have contributed more than 100,000 commits to the Chromium codebase in 2024, representing approximately 94 percent of total contributions. The company assured the community that it has no plans to scale back its efforts and intends to continue investing in the Chromium project to drive further development. Additionally, Google called on its partners to "step up" and increase their own contributions to the project. Microsoft and Opera also released statements praising the new initiative and reaffirming their commitment to the Chromium ecosystem. Microsoft stated that it would continue contributing to the Chromium codebase "to improve Edge and other Chromium-based browsers." Opera expressed optimism that the alliance would allow it "to take an even more active role in Chromium's development and future direction." Many popular modern browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, and Vivaldi, are built on the open-source Chromium codebase. In contrast, the two most widely-used non-Chromium browsers are Mozilla Firefox and Apple's Safari. Firefox relies on Mozilla's proprietary Quantum/Gecko engine, while Safari is powered by Apple's WebKit. The implications of the new alliance for non-Chromium browsers remain unclear. For browsers such as Firefox, which lack the backing of tech giants like Apple, the alliance could pose significant challenges. If the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers initiative enables Chromium-based browsers to capture even more market share, Mozilla may face increasing pressure. This is particularly concerning given Mozilla's heavy reliance on funding from Google to sustain the development of its open-source browser. Only one day after cutting less than 1% of its 228,000-strong workforce, Microsoft announced it would contribute $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund. This will put the software giant in league with some of its biggest tech industry competitorsGoogle, Meta, and Amazon, which also made similar donations. Microsoft Follows Google's Lead in Supporting Trump's Inauguration Microsoft is donating $1 million just a few days after Google said it was donating the same amount to Trump's inauguration fund. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, also pledged $1 million in December, marking one of the largest gestures of support from the technology sector. Among the major players, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Apple CEO Tim Cook are each personally donating $1 million to the cause. These contributions have underlined the deepening relationships between Silicon Valley tech executives and the political world, especially with Trump's return to the White House. Tech Giants Align with Trump's Administration This is not the first contribution that Microsoft has made towards a Trump inauguration, according to CNBC. The firm donated to Trump's first inaugural fund back in 2017 to the tune of $500,000, an amount matched in 2021 after President Joe Biden came into office. The alignment of the company with both Republican and Democratic administrations seems evidence of a calculated strategy meant to maintain a strong relationship with both parties. The most notable recent direct engagement is when Trump directly reached out to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella over several years for possible discussions regarding a buyout of TikTok back in 2020. Furthermore, in 2017, he attended a roundtable with Trump as some of the tech leaders present aimed at discussing issues concerning their companies. Microsoft's Plans Show How it Deeply Cares About AI Perhaps the most compelling reason for Microsoft's financial support for Trump's re-election is that the company expects positive AI policies to be advanced by the government. In recent years, Microsoft has invested greatly in AI and, as a leader in AI research, wants to influence U.S. policy. With the current administration led by Trump, the company will benefit from less regulation of AI efforts and technology as a whole. This is most probably part of a larger effort by the tech sector: the government promoting innovation without any overly restrictive regulation that would possibly hold back growth. For a company such as Microsoftthe world's top tech companythis means playing an important role in determining the direction that AI takes and how it becomes part of mainstream society. The Bigger Picture Behind Tech Leader's Political Donations The continuous support from tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon has led to the question of whether Big Tech is influencing politics. Donations into the inauguration funds of both Trump and Biden show that tech companies are positioning themselves to work closely with the federal government, regardless of the party in power. The money contributions remind everyone of the increasing closeness between Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. because tech leaders increasingly recognize that they have to reach out to political leaders to safeguard and promote their business interests. Whether by direct donations or strategic partnerships, these companies are making their presence felt in the halls of power. CANBERRA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australia stands ready to help authorities in the United States contain wildfires, Sky News Australia Friday quoted Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister as saying. McAllister said the federal government has reached out to authorities in the United States through diplomatic channels to make it clear that Australia is ready to assist with containing the fires if needed. "We are yet to receive any response for assistance, but of course, as always, we stand ready to assist," she said. Australia currently has one Large Air Tanker (LAT) aircraft -- a Boeing 737 Fireliner -- in its permanent aerial firefighting fleet and leases up to six more each year from North America. At least seven people have died and thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed in the out-of-control wildfires that are burning across Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California. Last 2 years crossed 1.5C global warming limit: EU monitor Paris, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The last two years exceeded on average a critical warming limit for the first time as global temperatures soar "beyond what modern humans have ever experienced", Europe's climate monitor said Friday. This does not mean the internationally-agreed 1.5C warming threshold has been permanently breached, but the Copernicus Climate Change Service said it was drawing dangerously near. Copernicus confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023 and extending a streak of extraordinary heat that fuelled climate extremes on all continents. Another record-breaking year is not anticipated in 2025, as climate sceptic Donald Trump takes office, and a deadline looms for nations to commit to curbing rising levels of greenhouse gases. But scientists predict that 2025 will likely still rank among the top three warmest years in the history books. This excess heat supercharges extreme weather, and 2024 saw countries from Spain to Kenya, the United States and Nepal hit by disasters that cost more than $300 billion by some estimates. Los Angeles is battling deadly wildfires that have destroyed thousands of buildings and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. US President Joe Biden said the fires were the most "devastating" to hit California and were proof that "climate change is real". Copernicus said sustained, unprecedented warming made average temperatures over 2023 and 2024 more than 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times. This "should alarm us all", Britain's Energy Security Minister Ed Miliband said on Friday. "The climate crisis is here and now and getting worse. Sticking our head in the sand would be a betrayal of future generations." - On the edge - Nearly 200 nations agreed in Paris in 2015 that meeting 1.5C offered the best chance of preventing the most catastrophic repercussions of climate change. But the world is nowhere on track to meeting that target. "We are now teetering on the edge of passing the 1.5C level," said Copernicus climate deputy director Samantha Burgess. Copernicus records go back to 1940 but other sources of climate data, such as ice cores and tree rings, allow scientists to say the Earth today is likely the warmest its been in tens of thousands of years. The 1.5C threshold is measured in decades, not individual years, but Copernicus said reaching this limit even briefly illustrated the unprecedented changes being brought about by humanity. Scientists say every fraction of a degree above 1.5C is consequential, and that beyond a certain point the climate could shift in ways that are difficult to anticipate. At present levels, human-driven climate change is already making droughts, storms, floods and heatwaves more frequent and intense. The death of 1,300 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia from extreme heat, a barrage of powerful tropical storms in Asia and North America, and historic flooding in Europe and Africa marked grim milestones in 2024. - 'Stark warning' - The oceans, a crucial climate regulator which absorb 90 percent of excess heat from greenhouse gases, warmed to record levels in 2024, straining coral reefs and marine life and stirring violent weather. Warmer seas mean higher evaporation and greater moisture in the atmosphere, causing heavier rainfall, feeding energy into cyclones and bringing sometimes unbearable humidity. Water vapour in the atmosphere hit fresh highs in 2024 and combined with elevated temperatures caused floods, heatwaves and "misery for millions of people", Burgess said. Johan Rockstrom of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said hitting 1.5C was a "stark warning sign". "We have now experienced the first taste of a 1.5C world, which has cost people and the global economy unprecedented suffering and economic costs," he told AFP. Scientists say the onset of a warming El Nino phenomenon in 2023 contributed to the record heat that followed. But El Nino ended in early 2024, and scientists have puzzled over why global temperatures have remained at record or near-record levels ever since. In December, the World Meteorological Organization said if an opposite La Nina event took over in coming months it would be too "weak and short-lived" to have much of a cooling effect. "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate," said Copernicus climate director Carlo Buontempo. Nations agreed to transition away from fossil fuels at a UN summit in 2023 but the latest meeting in November struggled to make any progress around how to make deeper reductions to heat-trapping emissions. 2024 hottest year ever, crossed 1.5 global warming limit Geneva, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The last two years saw average temperatures exceed a critical warming limit for the first time, Europe's climate monitor said Friday, as the UN demanded "trail-blazing" climate action. While this does not mean the internationally-agreed 1.5C warming threshold has been permanently breached, the United Nations warned it was in "grave danger". "Blazing temperatures in 2024 require trail-blazing climate action in 2025," UN chief Antonio Guterres said in a statement. "There's still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act -- now." The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said six international datasets all confirmed that 2024 was the hottest on record, extending a decade-long "extraordinary streak of record-breaking temperatures". Last year was also the highest on record across the mainland United States, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provided one of the datasets. Another record-breaking year is not anticipated in 2025, as climate sceptic Donald Trump takes office, and a deadline looms for nations to commit to curbing rising levels of greenhouse gases. But scientists predict that 2025 will likely still rank among the top three warmest years in the history books. This excess heat supercharges extreme weather, and 2024 saw countries from Spain to Kenya, the United States and Nepal hit by disasters that cost more than $300 billion by some estimates. Los Angeles is battling deadly wildfires that have destroyed thousands of buildings and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. US President Joe Biden said the fires were the most "devastating" to hit California and were proof that "climate change is real". - 'Stark warning' - WMO said its consolidated analysis of the six datasets showed that global average surface temperatures were 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. "This means that we have likely just experienced the first calendar year with a global mean temperature of more than 1.5C above the 1850-1900 average," it said. Europe's climate monitor Copernicus, which provided one of the datasets examined, for its part found that both of the past two years had exceeded the warming limit set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement, as global temperatures soar "beyond what modern humans have ever experienced". "It is important to emphasise that a single year of more than 1.5C for a year does NOT mean that we have failed to meet Paris Agreement long-term temperature goals, which are measured over decades rather than an individual year" said WMO chief Celeste Saulo. Johan Rockstrom of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said hitting 1.5C was a "stark warning sign". "We have now experienced the first taste of a 1.5C world, which has cost people and the global economy unprecedented suffering and economic costs," he told AFP. - On the edge - Nearly 200 nations agreed in Paris in 2015 that meeting 1.5C offered the best chance of preventing the most catastrophic repercussions of climate change. But the world is nowhere on track to meeting that target. "We are now teetering on the edge of passing the 1.5C level," said Copernicus climate deputy director Samantha Burgess. Copernicus records go back to 1940 but other sources of climate data, such as ice cores and tree rings, allow scientists to say the Earth today is likely the warmest its been in tens of thousands of years. Scientists say every fraction of a degree above 1.5C is consequential, and that beyond a certain point the climate could shift in ways that are difficult to anticipate. At present levels, human-driven climate change is already making droughts, storms, floods and heatwaves more frequent and intense. The death of 1,300 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during extreme heat, a barrage of powerful tropical storms in Asia and North America, and historic flooding in Europe and Africa marked grim milestones in 2024. - 'Stark warning' - The oceans, a crucial climate regulator which absorb 90 percent of excess heat from greenhouse gases, warmed to record levels in 2024, straining coral reefs and marine life and stirring violent weather. Warmer seas mean higher evaporation and greater moisture in the atmosphere, causing heavier rainfall, feeding energy into cyclones and bringing sometimes unbearable humidity. Water vapour in the atmosphere hit fresh highs in 2024 and combined with elevated temperatures caused floods, heatwaves and "misery for millions of people", Burgess said. Scientists say the onset of a warming El Nino phenomenon in 2023 contributed to the record heat that followed. But El Nino ended in early 2024, and scientists have puzzled over why global temperatures have remained at record or near-record levels ever since. In December, WMO said if an opposite La Nina event took over in coming months it would be too "weak and short-lived" to have much of a cooling effect. "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate," said Copernicus climate director Carlo Buontempo. Nations agreed to transition away from fossil fuels at a UN summit in 2023 but the latest meeting in November struggled to make any progress around how to make deeper reductions to heat-trapping emissions. Kazakhstan fines oil giants over $6 mn for pollution Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 A Kazakh court on Friday fined a consortium of oil companies over $6 million for excessive gas flaring from a giant oilfield under the Caspian Sea. The Central Asian country has stepped up fines on environmental violators in recent years, as it seeks to placate concerns about pollution while also exploiting its immense natural resources. The North Caspian Operating Company -- a group that includes Shell, Exxon Mobil, China's CNPC and TotalEnergies -- was fined 3.5 billion tenge ($6.6 million) in damages "for excessive unauthorised flaring" at the vast Kashagan oilfield, Astana's court service said. Flaring is the burning off of excess gas that comes from the ground during oil drilling. It is carried out for safety reasons but the process often releases harmful environmental pollutants into the air. The Kashagan oil reservoir is one of the largest oil discoveries in recent decades, containing the equivalent of about nine to 13 billion barrels of recoverable oil, according to the North Caspian Operating Company. The Caspian Sea is particularly sensitive to pollution, with shrinking water levels, waste from oil extraction and agricultural run-off all contributing to habitat loss. WTO favours EU over Indonesia on palm oil restrictions Geneva, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 World Trade Organization experts on Friday largely upheld European Union restrictions on use of palm oil in biofuels following a complaint by Indonesia. Indonesia, the world's leading producer of palm oil, in 2019 requested an expert panel review of the EU restrictions. The dispute panel has "found largely in favour of the European Union", a Geneva-based trade official told AFP. "However, the panel found certain deficiencies in how the challenged measures had been prepared, published and administered," the official added. The dispute concerns the EU Renewable Energy Directive of 2018 (RED II) which limited the eligibility of crop-based biofuels to count towards member states' renewable energy targets, and phased out the eligibility of palm oil-based biofuels altogether by 2030. The EU has deemed that palm oil production is not sustainable. A WTO dispute panel issued a similar ruling on the EU restrictions last year, in a complaint lodged by Malaysia. Indonesia and Malaysia together account for most of the world's production of palm oil and palm oil-based biofuel. Palm oil is a key ingredient in a wide range of products from food to cosmetics. Environmentalists say it drives deforestation and species loss, with huge swathes of rainforest logged in recent decades to make way for plantations. 2024 hottest recorded year, crossed global warming limit Geneva, Jan 10 (AFP) Jan 10, 2025 The last two years saw average global temperatures exceed a critical warming limit for the first time, Europe's climate monitor said Friday, as the UN demanded "trail-blazing" climate action. While this does not mean the internationally-agreed 1.5C warming threshold has been permanently breached, the United Nations warned it was in "grave danger". "Today's assessment from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is clear," UN chief Antonio Guterres said. "Global heating is a cold, hard fact." He added: "Blazing temperatures in 2024 require trail-blazing climate action in 2025. There's still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act -- now." The WMO said six international datasets all confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, extending a decade-long "extraordinary streak of record-breaking temperatures". The United States became the latest country to report its heat record had been shattered, capping a year marked by devastating tornadoes and hurricanes. The announcement came just days before President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to double down on fossil fuel production, was set to take office. Excess heat is supercharging extreme weather, and 2024 saw countries from Spain to Kenya, the United States and Nepal suffer disasters that cost more than $300 billion by some estimates. Los Angeles is currently battling deadly wildfires that have destroyed thousands of buildings and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. - 'Stark warning' - Another record-breaking year is not anticipated in 2025, as a UN deadline looms for nations to commit to curbing greenhouse gas emissions. "My prediction is it will be the third-warmest year," said NASA's top climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, citing the US determination that the year has begun with a weak La Nina, a global weather pattern that is expected to bring slight cooling. The WMO's analysis of the six datasets showed global average surface temperatures were 1.55C above pre-industrial levels. "This means that we have likely just experienced the first calendar year with a global mean temperature of more than 1.5C above the 1850-1900 average," it said. Europe's climate monitor Copernicus, which provided one of the datasets, found that both of the past two years had exceeded the warming limit set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Global temperatures had soared "beyond what modern humans have ever experienced", it said. Scientists stressed that the 1.5C threshold in the Paris Agreement refers to a sustained rise over decades, offering a glimmer of hope. Still, Johan Rockstrom of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research called the milestone a "stark warning sign." "We have now experienced the first taste of a 1.5C world, which has cost people and the global economy unprecedented suffering and economic costs," he told AFP. - On the edge - Nearly 200 nations agreed in Paris in 2015 that meeting 1.5C offered the best chance of preventing the most catastrophic repercussions of climate change. But the world remains far off track. While Copernicus records date back to 1940, other climate data from ice cores and tree rings suggest Earth is now likely the warmest it has been in tens of thousands of years. Scientists say every fraction of a degree above 1.5C matters -- and that beyond a certain point the climate could shift in unpredictable ways. Human-driven climate change is already making droughts, storms, floods and heat waves more frequent and intense. The death of 1,300 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during extreme heat, a barrage of powerful tropical storms in Asia and North America, and historic flooding in Europe and Africa marked grim milestones in 2024. - 'Stark warning' - The oceans, which absorb 90 percent of excess heat from greenhouse gases, warmed to record levels in 2024, straining coral reefs and marine life and stirring violent weather. Warmer seas drive higher evaporation and atmospheric moisture, leading to heavier rainfall and energizing cyclones. Water vapour in the atmosphere hit fresh highs in 2024, combining with elevated temperatures to trigger floods, heatwaves and "misery for millions of people", Copernicus climate deputy director Samantha Burgess said. Scientists attribute some of the record heat to the onset of a warming El Nino in 2023. But El Nino ended in early 2024, leaving them puzzled by persistently high global temperatures. "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate," said Copernicus climate director Carlo Buontempo. burs-ia/nro SANAA/JERUSALEM, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said in a statement on Friday that it has launched a missile attack on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea and has fired three bomb-laden drones at Israel's Tel Aviv. "We carried out several military operations during the past 48 hours, the most prominent of which was targeting the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and a number of its escorts in the northern Red Sea, using cruise missiles and drones," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in the statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The operation succeeded in thwarting a new air attack from that carrier, which was forced to leave the area," he noted. The U.S. military has yet to comment on the Houthi claim. This is the second time in nearly a week that the group claimed to have targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. Sarea added his group also carried out an attack on several targets in Israel's Tel Aviv with three drones on Thursday, claiming those drones hit the targets "successfully." He reiterated that his group's attacks against Israel would not stop until "aggression ends on the Gaza Strip and the siege is lifted." Also on Friday, al-Masirah TV reported that the U.S., Britain, and Israel launched a joint air attack targeting several parts of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen's capital Sanaa, the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, and the northern province of Amran. Meanwhile, Israel's military announced in a statement that its warplanes targeted the Hezyaz power station in Sanaa and the Yemeni ports of Hodeidah and Ras Isa, claiming it targeted infrastructures used by Houthi forces for military operations. Local residents reported on social media that the air attacks targeted Houthi military outposts, weapons storage facilities, a launch pad, and a power station. There were no immediate reports of casualties from either the Houthis or Israel. Since November 2023, the Houthis have been carrying out rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupting "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians amid their ongoing conflict with Israelis. In response, Israel has launched rounds of airstrikes on Houthi targets. In addition, the U.S.-led naval coalition stationed in the area has been conducting regular air raids and strikes on Houthi sites since January 2024 in a joint bid to deter the armed group, prompting the Houthis to expand attacks to include U.S. warships. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China witnessed a 25.7-percent decline in criminal cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday, which marks China's fifth national police day. Cases of public security remained largely unchanged, and the overall public safety situation remained stable, the ministry told a press conference. Road traffic safety across the country was stable, with no major traffic accidents reported for 63 consecutive months, the ministry noted. In 2024, a total of 11,700 criminal cases of various types were solved, the ministry noted. Additionally, it said that 22,000 cases related to firearms and explosives were cracked, resulting in a 37.5 percent year-on-year decline. Public security authorities solved over 17,000 cases related to food and drug safety crimes across the country, according to the ministry, adding that police solved more than 78,000 economic crimes, recovering 30.67 billion yuan (about 4.27 billion U.S. dollars) in financial losses. Additionally, 38,000 drug-related cases were cracked by Chinese police, with 24.4 tonnes of various drugs seized, the ministry added. On the frontlines of fighting crime and safeguarding public safety, 208 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024, according to the ministry. It noted that 174 auxiliary police officers died at their posts during the year. In addition, 4,743 police officers and 3,710 auxiliary police officers suffered injuries while performing their duties. I recently returned from Liverpool, in the UK, where I visited John Lennons childhood home. I stood in his bedroom and gazed out of the window the very view he would have contemplated countless times. A replica of his original acoustic guitar lies on the bed. The walls are adorned with posters of Elvis and Brigitte Bardot. The entire house is a late 1950s time capsule. Paul McCartneys house offers a similar experience. Both are heritage-listed and protected by the National Trust. The National Trust leaves the light on in John Lennons childhood bedroom to mark his birthday. Credit: Tom Compagnoni All of Liverpool feels like a living museum Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, the Eleanor Rigby gravestone. Its all there, lovingly maintained, preserved for future generations. Respected. Cherished. Shortly after that Beatles pilgrimage, I returned to Sydney to learn that the childhood home of Angus and Malcolm Young, founders of Australias greatest cultural export, AC/DC, had suddenly been demolished to make way for a high-rise block of flats, office spaces and a five-star hotel. 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 If youre born a Xylouris, theres really only two ways you can go. You either embrace your destiny and pick up a musical instrument, or you reject it out of hand, and do anything but. For siblings Apollonia, Nikos and Adonis children of Cretan musical legend George Xylouris and his similarly musical Irish-Australian wife Shelagh Hannan music won out. Albeit on their own terms. Since 2016, Nikos, 32, and Adonis, 30, have been playing in Xylourides, performing traditional Cretan music in all-night sessions, in the same vein as their parents Xylouris Ensemble (father George also plays with the Dirty Threes Jim White in the more rock-oriented Xylouris-White). Apollonia, 27, dabbles in the traditional space too, playing a Persian drum called the tombak and singing. But it is as Frenzee, a high-powered punk-leaning trio that is rapidly developing a following in both Greece (where they played before 20,000 people at an anti-fascist rally in Athens) and Australia (opening at Meredith in December), that the three have found a space to call their own. George Xylouris and his children Nikos, Apollonia and Adonis in Crete, from the 2015 documentary A Family Affair. Credit: Anemon Productions I reckon they definitely inform each other, energy wise, says Apollonia, who sings and writes most of the lyrics for their blistering rock songs. It might be a different setting, and a different kind of atmosphere, but the energy is just as raw, I reckon. In a packed front bar at the Tote in Collingwood on a ridiculously hot Sunday afternoon, Frenzee are pumping out a steady stream of that energy. Theres no stage, just a small space left by the audience. Apollonia struts around inside, and sometimes outside, this circle, jaw out, head back, as if to say, I f---ing dare ya. Nikos pounds the drums and Adonis reels off the riffs on electric guitar, the bands influences Rage Against the Machine, AC/DC, Nirvana immediately apparent. Advertisement In 40 minutes, its all over. Dripping in sweat after the set, Apollonia tells me she loves getting in the faces of the crowd. Its the best thing, she says, beaming. Frenzee is definitely their own thing, free of the considerable shackles of the family legacy (their grandfather is still performing, aged 84; their uncles and cousins are musicians too). With the Cretan stuff, if youre named after a certain person, people tend to compare, and we dont like that, Nikos says. We just want to be authentic, no matter what lineage were in. But theyre not rejecting that heritage at all. Sometimes theyll play a couple of sets of the traditional music over a few hours, take a break, then come back and blow the roof off as Frenzee. These musical idioms arent antithetical, Apollonia says. Theyre aspects of the same thing. Jim White and George Xylouris: Two potent musical personalities. Credit: Lara Bohdanowicz We grew up with all these gigs, we saw our dad do 10-hour gigs, the boys are now doing these gigs that last all night no drugs, just making that very clear; people cant believe that, right? Maybe a little bit of araki or gin and tonic, thats about it. I feel that has been pretty hardcore training for them to go and do a punk gig for 40 minutes. Its sick. The Xylouris kids were all born in Melbourne but moved back to their fathers native Crete when they were little (Apollonia was just one). They each came back to Australia separately for the final years of high school and university, and the boys started gigging professionally around 2016. Advertisement Frenzee was born during the pandemic when Apollonia moved back to Crete. It was quarantine, you couldnt do anything, and my brothers were living together at the top of the village, looking out over the little mountains, she recalls. Youd go up there, and its all olive trees, you can see the sea in the distance, the cicadas thats the soundtrack in summer there. Theres five dogs running around the place. We set up the basement as a rehearsal space, and the house they were renting had a pool so we were just playing music all day and having a swim, hanging out with the dogs. It was very wholesome. It doesnt sound much like what people might imagine the punk lifestyle to be. The Xylouris family (plus Jim White) in 2013. Grandfather Psarantonis is at the rear. Credit: Jason South Its very non-punk, to be honest, the setup, she says. Out in nature, nothing dirty or grimy about it at all. The energy, though, is another matter. The bands album Whats Wrong with Me, which came out last October, clocks in at just 21 minutes for nine songs. Theyve got about 24 tracks in the catalogue now, and the sound is evolving, Adonis says. Its heavier, he says. So, not exactly mellowing with age. Advertisement The case of a man who went travelling across Australia after detectives released images of him in relation to the murder of his ex-partner in 1997, has had his case mentioned in a Brisbane court for the first time. Keith Lees, 72, was arrested on the outskirts of Sydney last week over the death of 25-year-old Meaghan Louise Rose, whose body was found at the base of cliffs on Queenslands Sunshine Coast nearly three decades ago. Queensland police say they acted on information provided by a member of the public who had heard mention of the case in a podcast. Keith Lees, the former partner of Meaghan Louise Rose, was extradited from Sydney to Brisbane to appear in court charged with her murder. Credit: AAPIMAGE Lees case was mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday morning, where he was remanded in custody, with the matter moved to the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 24. 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 For Amelia Grozdanovski, the happiest times of life have often been the hardest since her mother disappeared without a trace almost 12 years ago. Every December, she would dance with her mum Lorrin Whitehead to Michael Buble Christmas songs in the kitchen as they made fresh raspberry jam that they would pour into jars and give to friends and family. When Grozdanovski got engaged, and when she gave birth to her own child, the first person she wanted to call was her mum. Lorrin Whitehead disappeared in 2013. Credit: Victoria Police There are not really words to describe it, the 33-year-old says. The unknown is the hardest part. Not knowing makes all the happy moments the saddest. All while trying to hold out hope that one day she will come home. This week, investigators revealed they had reopened the perplexing cold case. Advertisement Police and SES volunteers dressed in bright orange scoured dry bushland and long grass in the town of Shelford, west of Geelong, in the hope of finding the mother-of-five sparked by fresh intelligence suggesting her remains could be buried there. Whitehead, who was 41 at the time, was last seen visiting a supermarket in the Victorian town of Bannockburn, about 90 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, in the afternoon of Friday, February 8, 2013. Grainy CCTV footage captured from the towns Woolworths supermarket at the time shows Whitehead, dressed in dark clothing, purchasing a bottle of water, a pen and a card. A witness told police that minutes later she was spotted getting into a red 4WD. She has not been seen since. The Monday after she vanished, Whiteheads boss rang Grozdanovski when her mother did not arrive at work. Whitehead, a debit and credit agent in Geelong, was a dedicated worker. Advertisement Alarmed, Grozdanovski went to her mothers house and found the front door and garage unlocked. In the kitchen, there was a smashed fruit bowl with rotten peaches on the floor. I knew in my gut something was not right, she says. It was odd, it was all off. Mum was such a stickler for security and all the doors were open. Lorrin Whitehead holds her daughter Amelia. Grozdanovski felt a wave of panic and fear when she noticed paint drop sheets on the ground inside the house. Her mothers work phone, purse and life-saving diabetes medication were strewn on her bed. Whiteheads personal phone and laptop were missing. Her bank account has remained untouched ever since. The mystery intensified days later, when a greeting card addressed to Whiteheads children arrived in an envelope inside Grozdanovskis step-fathers mailbox on February 13. Investigations by experts have been unable to determine if the handwriting on the envelope was her mothers. There was nothing written inside except a pre-printed message in the blank card, which read, Dont cry because its over, smile because it happened. Advertisement The new police investigation has stirred hope for Grozdanovski, who has never stopping searching for her mum. Loading I still look out every window for her, she says. When it rains outside, I am always wondering where she is. Grozdanovskis four younger siblings were between the ages of nine and 13 when their mum disappeared. She loved us all so much, she says. She was so kind and patient. The most devoted mum. I didnt have much growing up, but Mum always made me feel like I had everything. Advertisement Grozdanovskis favourite memory is of going to a nearby raspberry farm with her mum and siblings, picking berries in the sunshine. They would bring the fruit home to make jam and slather it on fresh bread. She says other missing person cases, including that of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy whose disappearance and suspected murder sparked a massive police response, have brought up complex emotions for her. Police and SES members search for missing Bannockburn woman Lorrin Whitehead near Shelford on Tuesday. Credit: Nine News Grozdanovski wonders if enough was done in the weeks after her mothers disappearance or if the police investigation could have been reopened sooner. It is emotionally challenging for us, she says. We feel a lot of grief for [Murphys] family and I guess it provokes questions for us around whether we have done enough to find her. Guilt is something that can mix into sadness so easily. Detective Sergeant Steve Murphy, from the Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit, said this week that police had spoken to hundreds of people during their investigation into Whiteheads disappearance before an anticipated coronial inquest next year. Advertisement For generations, brightly coloured bathing boxes have been an iconic image of Melbourne summers. In Brighton, a bathing box could easily cost you $450,000 more than the price of some one-bedroom apartments in the city. In the ritzy beachside suburb of Portsea a pretty blue boatshed looking out over Port Phillip Bay has just a few square metres of space, but will set you back $910,000 to $1 million not an unusual price for the area. But across the bay in Werribee, you can scoop up a beachside hut for a fraction of that price. For sale in Werribee South is a quirky blue-and-yellow boatshed that has been converted into a seaside retreat. It is listed with a price guide of $200,000 to $220,000. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Finance will introduce policies to promote job creation and increase employment opportunities, an official said on Friday. The ministry will further support key sectors such as the cultural and tourism industry, other modern service industries, and foreign trade, said Lin Zechang, head of the comprehensive department of the ministry, promising more investment in stabilizing employment and ensuring people's livelihoods. Efforts will be made to further promote the employment in small and micro businesses, Lin added. Chinese authorities have strengthened employment support for businesses and employees, including reduced premium rates for unemployment insurance, insurance refunds and subsidies for vocational skills training, among other measures. The job market remained generally stable in the first 11 months of 2024, as the surveyed urban unemployment rate on average edged down on a year-on-year basis. The surveyed urban unemployment rate on average in China stood at 5.1 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, down 0.1 percentage points year on year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Under the law, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, app store giants such as Google and Apple and internet-hosting services could face massive fines if they continue carrying TikTok on their products beyond January 19. Infractions could cost companies $US5000 for each user who continues to access TikTok, which could add up to billions of dollars in penalties. Tech companies have often recoiled when faced with potential legal exposure from new regulations, and at times have threatened to pull their services out of regions entirely rather than complying with specific restrictions. Apple and Google, the two biggest app store providers in the United States, have remained mum on how they plan to handle a potential ban. The justices of the US Supreme Court will hear oral argument on Friday (local time). Credit: AP How quickly will the Supreme Court issue a ruling? The court moved with extraordinary speed to schedule a special session for at least two hours of oral argument on Friday (Saturday AEDT). The justices put off a decision about whether to temporarily block the ban-or-sell law while the litigation continues. The truncated timeline suggests the justices could decide quickly after oral argument whether to temporarily put the measure on hold or allow it to take effect as planned. The court could then issue a more extensive written opinion at a later date. The justices are reviewing a unanimous decision to allow the TikTok ban, which was issued in December by the influential US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. A three-judge panel sided with the Biden administration and said the law does not violate the First Amendment. The panel, comprising judges nominated by presidents from both parties, said the law does not take aim at a particular viewpoint and is a reasonable response to Congresss national security concerns. Has Trump taken a position on the sell-or-ban law? The deadline for the company to divest is one day before President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration. In an unusual court filing, he asked the Supreme Court to delay implementation of the law to give him an opportunity to act. Donald Trump promised during last years presidential election to protect TikTok. Credit: Bloomberg Trump promised during the election campaign to protect TikTok, but his filing did not take a position on the constitutionality of the law. Instead, Trumps attorneys told the court that Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the government. That request was criticised by court watchers, including the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which said Trump wants the Supreme Court to treat him like a second president before President Joe Biden has left the White House. What are the key legal arguments for and against TikTok? TikToks lawyers say the sell-or-ban law, signed by Biden, is a massive, unprecedented restriction of protected speech that infringes on the rights of millions of Americans to engage with the content of their choice. Congress could have chosen a narrower path, it argues, to address what the company says are unfounded concerns about China accessing data of American users or trying to manipulate public opinion. A rally in support of TikTok outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, in March. Credit: Bloomberg In scores of legal briefs, civil liberties advocates also urged the court not to allow the US government to limit free speech based on what they characterised as speculative harm. Solicitor-General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, who is defending the law, told the court that the ban is not a restriction on speech, but on control of the app by a nation Congress has deemed a foreign adversary. Lawmakers in both parties have expressed concerns about Chinas potential influence on the app based on briefings from senior intelligence officials. Loading TikTok may continue operating in the United States and presenting the same content from the same users in the same manner, Prelogar wrote, if its current owner executes a divestiture that frees the platform from control by the Peoples Republic of China. What do the courts earlier rulings tell us about the case? The court has recently reviewed other cases with implications for free speech online, but without issuing decisive opinions on the merits. Both sides in the TikTok case quote from the courts ruling involving Texas and Florida social media laws that restrict how online platforms moderate users posts. A majority of justices in the case known as NetChoice LLC v Paxton said a social media sites content moderation and curation decisions are protected by the First Amendment. TikToks owners compare the platform to a traditional media outlet exercising editorial discretion over content and say the First Amendment prevents Congress from interfering with those decisions. The Biden administration acknowledges that TikToks signature video-recommendation algorithm and its content-moderation policies are a form of speech. But the government says the company has no First Amendment right to be controlled by a foreign adversary or to use an algorithm that the government says is developed, maintained and controlled by a foreign adversary. They are assertions the company vigorously disputes. President Joe Biden on TikTok last year. His administration has introduced the law that could effectively shut down the platform in the US. There are indications from past rulings that national security concerns and the involvement of foreign companies or organisations could have implications for the courts constitutional analysis. In a 2010 decision written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr, the court rejected a First Amendment challenge to a law prohibiting material support to foreign organisations the State Department says engage in terrorism. In the NetChoice case last term, Justice Amy Coney Barrett seemed to foreshadow the TikTok debate when she wrote that a social media platforms foreign ownership and control over its content moderation decisions might affect whether laws overriding those decisions trigger First Amendment scrutiny. Can Trump ignore the courts ruling once hes president? As president, Trump would not have the authority to overturn the ban outright. But he could push Congress to repeal the law or encourage his attorney-general to refrain from enforcing it. Even then, however, app store owners or web-hosting companies might be concerned about continuing to include TikTok in violation of the law. In 2022, ByteDance offered the Biden administration an extensive proposal, known as Project Texas, that would grant the US government enormous sway over the companys workforce and technical underpinnings in exchange for continued operation in the United States. What does the case mean for TikToks future? TikTok has cast the dispute in existential terms, arguing that if the Supreme Court upholds the law, it will shutter the app across the United States. The company has also said that even a temporary pause in operations would cause irreparable damage to its business. TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew appears before Congress in March. Credit: AP TikTok could fade in relevance among the many users who might shift to another short-video platform, such as Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. ByteDance could still offer TikTok in other countries, but the company has said the platform benefits from the participation of Americans because they can make interesting content and they end up watching everyone else. Some Republicans are advocating for Trump to facilitate TikToks transfer to an American company, so it could continue to operate. After Trump sought to ban the app during his first administration, ByteDance engaged with suitors including Microsoft and Oracle on potential deals to spin off TikToks US operations. Negotiations languished and ultimately unravelled. Last year, Trump, whose presidential campaign relied on TikTok content, reversed his support for a ban. He said a TikTok prohibition could benefit US tech giant Meta. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged law societies to play a better role as bridges in a letter sent to the ninth congress of the China Law Society, which opened on Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for breaking new ground in the cause of law societies. Acknowledging the role of law societies in comprehensively advancing law-based governance, Xi said they must uphold the Party's overall leadership and continue to serve the broader goals of both the Party and the country. He urged law societies at all levels to make concrete efforts in advancing legal research, supporting the practice of the rule of law, raising public awareness and training legal professionals. Legal scholars and practitioners should consolidate confidence in the rule of law and devote themselves to the crucial task of advancing law-based governance, said Xi. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, spoke at the opening of the congress. It is hoped that legal professionals will do a solid work in ensuring sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice and society-wide adherence to the law, and make contributions to advancing Chinese modernization, said Chen. Wang Chen, director of the China Law Society, chaired the meeting and delivered a work report. The meeting also awarded exemplary groups and individuals in the law society system nationwide. The ninth congress of the China Law Society opens in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent a letter to the congress. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, delivers a speech at the opening of the congress. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been introduced in various sectors in China from manufacturing to healthcare services. So how about applying AI to the combating of telecommunications and network fraud? In a telecom fraud case filed at a police station in Kunshan, an affluent city neighboring Shanghai in the east of China, police officers took just 10 minutes to trace the flow of funds and successfully intercept the delivery of 500,000 yuan (about 69,600 U.S. dollars). Eight hours later, the location of the suspected hideout abroad was identified, while an online arrest warrant was issued 24 hours after that. With the assistance of AI technologies, nine suspects were arrested, with more than 70 percent of the frauded funds recovered for the victim within three days. The highly efficient settlement of this telecom fraud case was to a great extent attributed to an "AI police" team that was established in May 2024 -- a group of 35 police officers empowered by AI technologies, big data and smart models to provide support for crackdowns on criminal activities. "Since the 'AI police' were deployed, they have assisted in solving 609 cases of telecommunications and online fraud, recovering 32.47 million yuan in losses," said He Yongliang, deputy captain of the criminal investigation brigade of the Kunshan public security bureau. In general, work efficiency has seen a more than five-fold improvement, He added. This is an epitome of how a modern technology-powered police system of China, a country with the lowest homicide rate and the fewest gun and explosive-related criminal cases, tackles new types of criminal activities in the digital era. Friday marks the fifth Chinese People's Police Day. Thanks to the unremitting efforts made by China's public security organs in safeguarding people's safety and maintaining social stability, China has won the recognition as one of the safest countries in the world. In recent years, however, telecom and network fraud crimes have continuously risen in numbers, with some cross-border cases targeting Chinese citizens. These criminal activities posed a significant threat to the safety and property of Chinese citizens. As telecom and network fraud remain rampant, while new forms of crime have also emerged, Chinese police have intensified their anti-fraud fight by adopting tech-empowered approaches. In response to the new situation concerning fraud crime, the municipal public security bureau of the city of Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, has developed an intelligent crackdown mechanism which leverages information technologies such as big data and semantic analysis to collect case elements -- including the bank card and social media account involved, as well as information regarding suspects. This smart mechanism also helps to incorporate cases via data computing. "The incorporated handling of cases makes it easier for us to discover and integrate common evidence among different cases. This is not only helpful in building a more complete and powerful chain of evidence but is also conducive to saving judicial resources and improving judicial efficiency," said Fu Rui, deputy head of the investigation center at the Hefei municipal public security bureau. This upgraded crackdown on telecom and internet fraud has produced tangible results. In 2024, the bureau prevented nearly 3 million people from falling victim to such crimes, according to Fu. Effective early warning is crucial in guarding against telecom fraud. The anti-fraud center of the bureau developed an AI system which dials precaution calls -- automatically warning people about the risks of falling into traps set by swindlers. Since the launch of the system, nearly 6 million warning calls have been made, anti-fraud police officer Fei Bingqing revealed. "It has relieved our pressure and increased the success rate of our dissuasion efforts," Fei said. Compared with traditional artificial warning calls, this system is available to the public around the clock, providing anti-fraud consultations and sending precautionary messages to targeted groups, thereby making it easier for ordinary people to gain and raise awareness of the threats posed by telecom fraud. China has maintained a tough stance against telecom and network fraud. In July 2023, Chinese police launched a special campaign to combat telecom and internet fraud originating from northern Myanmar -- successfully busting several crime dens. Since this campaign began, a total of 53,000 Chinese nationals suspected of crimes have been captured. On Dec. 30, 2024, 39 members of major criminal groups based in northern Myanmar were prosecuted in China for telecom fraud and other crimes targeting Chinese civilians. China's prosecutors have worked together with police in repatriating funds and recovering losses for victims. The first 10 months of 2024 saw the urgent prevention from transfer of some 236 billion yuan of funds from defrauded victims. "Applying big data and AI technology to the crackdown on and management of telecom and network fraud is helpful for curbing the rise in such crimes," said Liu Tiankun, a senior officer from the Anhui provincial public security department. Liu added that faced with changes in the forms and means of telecom and network fraud crimes, security departments would continue taking advantage of high-tech options in fighting telecom and network fraud from the root, while also strengthening anti-fraud awareness among the public. 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Future does not lie in yudh but in Budh: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertakes a walkthrough of the exhibition following its inauguration as part of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations, in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. (ANI) BHUBANESWAR : We are not just the mother of democracy, but democracy is part of our lives, our lifestyle. We dont have to be taught diversity, rather, our life runs on diversity. Thats why wherever Indians go, they become part of the society of that particular place, said the Prime Minister ASSERTING that the world today listens to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that due to the countrys heritage, it is able to tell the international community that the future does not lie in yudh (war) but in Budh (Buddha). Addressing the diaspora at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar, Modi said India is not only the mother of democracy, but democracy is a part of peoples lives here. He said the world today listens to India, which not only presents its own views strongly but also those of the Global South. Noting that at the time when the world was witnessing the expansion of empires by the power of the sword, Emperor Ashoka chose the path of peace, he said this was the strength of Indias heritage. Due to this heritage, India is able to tell the world -- bhavishya yudh mein nahi hai, Budh mein hai (the future does not lie in war but in Buddha), he said. Modi said he has always considered the diaspora as Indias ambassador to the countries they live in. We are not just the mother of democracy, but democracy is part of our lives, our lifestyle. We dont have to be taught diversity, rather, our life runs on diversity. Thats why wherever Indians go, they become part of the society of that particular place. We respect the rules and traditions of that country and also honestly serve that country and its society, contributing to its growth and prosperity. At the same time, our hearts continue to beat for India, he said. The PM said it was because of the diaspora, that he keeps his head high wherever he goes. I do not forget the love, affection and prestige I receive across the world. I would like to say thank you. This is because of you, I keep my head high across the world. During the last 10 years, I have met several leaders across the world. The world leaders praise the Indian diaspora. Its because of the social values you add to their society, he said. Your safety and welfare are our top priority. We consider it our responsibility to help our diaspora during crisis situations no matter where they are. This is one of the guiding principles of Indias foreign policy today. Over the last decade, our embassies and offices have been sensitive and proactive, he said. Modi said that earlier in many countries, people had to travel long distances to access consular facilities and wait for days for help. Now, these problems are being solved. In the last two years, 14 embassies and consulates have been opened. The scope of the OCI card is also being expanded, he said. The PM said the diaspora played a major role in Independence in 1947, and sought their help to make India a developed country by 2047. Modi urged the diaspora to propagate the true history of India in the places where they live and encourage people to visit the country. India is now recognised as a Vishwa Bandhu, exclaimed the PM, urging the diaspora to strengthen this global connection. Modi also suggested the diaspora for organising award functions in their respective countries, specifically for the local residents. These awards could be given to prominent individuals in various fields such as literature, art and craft, film, and theatre, he said, maintaining that the Indian embassies and consulates would support them. This, he noted, would enhance personal connections and emotional bonding with the local people. The three-day convention is witnessing the participation of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from 50 different countries. 40 killed as Mynamar Army airstrikes village under control of armed ethinic minority group BANGKOK : AN AIRSTRIKE by Myanmars army on a village under the control of an armed ethnic minority group killed about 40 people and injured at least 20 others, officials of the group and a local charity said Thursday. They said hundreds of houses burned in a fire triggered by the bombing. The attack occurred Wednesday in Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree island, an area controlled by the ethnic Arakan Army in western Rakhine State, they said. The military has not announced any attack in the area. The situation in the village could not be independently confirmed, with access to the internet and cellphone service in the area mostly cut off. Myanmar is wracked by violence that began when the army ousted the elected Government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. After the army used lethal force to suppress peaceful demonstrations, many opponents of military rule took up arms and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press that a jet fighter bombed the village on Wednesday afternoon, killing 40 civilians and injuring more than 20 others. All the dead were civilians. Among the dead and injured are women and children, Khaing Thukha said. A fire started by the airstrike spread through the village, destroying more than 500 houses, Khaing Thukha added. It was unclear why the village was targeted. The leader of a local charity group and independent media also reported the airstrike and casualties. The military Government has stepped up airstrikes over the past three years on armed pro-democracy groups collectively known as the Peoples Defence Force and on armed ethnic minority groups that have been fighting for decades for greater autonomy. The two groups sometimes carry out joint operations against the army. Ramree, 340 km northwest of Yangon, the countrys largest city, was captured by the Arakan Army in March last year. The Arakan Army is the well-trained and well-armed military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement which seeks autonomy from Myanmars central Government. It is also a member of an alliance of armed ethnic groups that gained strategic territory . in the countrys northeast on the border with China. It began its offensive in Rakhine in November 2023 and has now gained control of a strategically important regional army headquarters and 14 of Rakhines 17 townships, leaving only the States capital, Sittwe, and two important townships near Ramree still in military Government hands. A leader of the charity group, which has been assisting residents of the village, told AP on Thursday that at least 41 people were killed and 50 others were injured in the airstrike, which targeted the villages market. The leader, who was away from the town at the time of the airstrike, spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. He said he received the information from members of his group who were in the village and were facing a shortage of medicine to treat the injured people. Rakhine-based news outlets including Arakan Princess Media also reported the attack and posted photos online showing people putting out fires at their homes. Rakhine, formerly known as Arakan, was the site of a brutal army counterinsurgency operation in 2017 that drove about 740,000 minority Rohingya Muslims to seek safety across the border in Bangladesh. BIS celebrates Foundation Day Business Reporter : The Manak Carnival 2025, held at the Raman Science Centre & Planetarium, Nagpur, celebrated the 78th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The event brought together over 500 students, industry professionals, BIS officials, and 100 visitors, highlighting the importance of BIS standards in daily life. Manoj Kumar Panda, Project Coordinator at the Raman Science Centre, and Hemant B Ade, Director & Head of BIS Nagpur Branch, gave the welcome address. The event featured 29 stalls - 14 from industry licensees and 15 showcasing industrial products and student science projects respectively - offering a hands-on look at how BIS standards are applied across sectors. Visitors from the Science Centre also engaged with the displays, gaining insights into product safety and quality. The event concluded with keynote speeches encouraging students to pursue careers in quality assurance. Crunching numbers to crafting clues City native Mangesh Ghogre is King of both worlds By Aasawari Shenolikar : I want to design crosswords that neither a single American nor the all-knowing AI will be able to crack, says Mangesh Ghogre, an investment banker, who juggles numbers and reaps profit for his company by navigating financial landscapes. Gifted with a unique creative streak, this 44-year old, in his spare time, delves deep into the fascinating world of clues, crafting mini crosswords for his own website as well as for the Forbes Magazine, testing the wit of readers across the globe. It is this passion of his -- designing novel crosswords -- that brought him into the limelight, for which he was conferred with the coveted EB-1 visa, also known as the Einstein Visa, an employment-based immigrant visa given to professionals with extraordinary skills, a rare honour indeed. Mangesh finds himself listed with the likes of Monica Seles, Melania Trump - to name a few. He, who has deep roots in Nagpur, got hooked to solving the crossword on a daily basis when he was in college in Mumbai, to improve my GMAT score, says Mangesh, while talking exclusively to The Hitavada. After years of taking the pen to the paper filling up the tiny blank squares, he one day realised that all crosswords, even on Indian soil, were syndicated from America. Being methodical in his approach, he had filled up diaries upon diary with reference clues, his very own Wikipedia that would help him remember rivers and days and geography and political map of USA. Barring a city where Taj Mahal is located I never saw any Indian context in the puzzles. And it is then that he decided that he will construct crosswords with Indian theme. Designing a crossword for a newspaper is a very tough task. But I wasnt fazed by the innumerable rejections from The New York Times, the LA Times and a few other international dailies. In fact, they egged me to think out-of-the-box, states the eloquent and extremely talented Mangesh. And so he set upon designing a crossword with Mahatma Gandhi as the theme. In 2019, we were celebrating 150 years of the Mahatma, an icon whos left his footprint in every corner of the world. I knew there was no way that NYT could deny printing a thematic crossword of such a big icon, he confessed. Mangeshs confidence in his novel idea paid off. He had finally stepped onto a platform, from where the path climbed only upwards. Reminiscing about the work, of which till date, only four have been published in the NYT, six in the LA Times and two in The Wall Street Journal, Mangesh feels that the best year of his life was 2023 when a crossword with Taj Mahal as the theme was published in the NYT! The creation of the Taj Mahal-themed crossword is as big a feat as the Taj Mahal itself, described the NYT in one of its pieces, praising Mangeshs efforts at such a novel concept, where the grid was designed as the iconic Taj Mahal. It took him over 9 months to put all this together, but the effort was worth every little challenge that he had to overcome and all the sleepless nights he must have spent, thinking up clues and answers and how hed fit them in the mesh. However, what got him the EB-1 visa was a crossword designed for July 4, with American Independence as the theme. When it was published, the US Consulate in Mumbai reached out to me. Amidst the felicitation ceremony that they held for an Indian, who arguably knew much more about the American Independence than the average American, to encapsulate the important events in a crossword, they told me about the EB-1 visa, he apprises. He read it up, and applied, knowing fully well that he will not be rejected on any ground as he fulfilled all the criterion laid down for it. USA invited, he accepted. But the minute I stepped on American soil, I started thinking about designing crosswords solely with Indian context, he laughs. And so he forayed into the world of mini crosswords. Wanting to reach out to a larger audience, he created his own website mangeshghogre.com, home to the largest Mini Crossword community. The website is free and has a dedicated subscriber base of a few thousands, who are addicted to solving the mini crosswords that he uploads daily. He is passionate about crosswords, but this is still not a full-time job for him. New York is the Mecca of Finance, and in my active hustle mode, I want to enjoy Wall Street for the next 5 to 7 years, says he, and confidently envisions that, his subscriber base will grow, and then monetisation can come into play, fulfilling my dream of being a full-time crossword constructor. One of the highs of his life, besides the one when his first crossword was published in the NYT, besides the one when he was listed in the Fortune Magazines annual list of 40 under-40 sharpest minds in business, is when he was featured on the cover of The New Yorker Magazine, which traced his journey, praising him effusively for his crossword designing and judging the puzzle contests. Visit his site and you will be surprised to see how interactive, vibrant and fun the whole experience is. A lot of thought process goes into creating mini crosswords that are totally Indian in context; the latest one has A city where mahoul describes its vibe, - Westerners and AI will be at sea trying to decipher the clue. For those who still love the pen and paper experience, Mangesh has Mangesh Ghogres Indian Mini Crosswords, available online. Mangeshs website is very novel and engaging, says Dr Sampada Peshwe, Associate Professor and Dean Academics of SMMCA, Nagpur, who is a hard-core crossword fan and a dedicated community member of his site. Ashish Deshmukh, retired Telecom professional is very happy with the personalised approach of Mangesh. Crossword solving is pure unadulterated fun, and it gives the audience a big high, is Deshmukhs opinion. Everyday I lose, and my subscribers win, says Mangesh. Without any shadow of a doubt, that is ultimately Mangesh Ghogres win - a fulfilling , intellectual pursuit that allows him to connect with a global community, who uninhibitedly celebrate everyday his ability to blend logic, language and creativity. Hair loss in Shegaon villages 100 people in 11 villages now found to be affected Our Correspondent SHEGAON, Villagers advised not to use unfit water MORE people from more villages have been found suffering from the hair loss problem in Shegaon taluka of Buldhana district. As on Thursday, the total number of cases reached 100 and the number of affected villages also went up to 11. The District Health administration is conducting surveys and has sent samples for investigations into the cause of the problem. People from three villages of Shegaon taluka had suffered sudden hair loss resulting in baldness. The first case was found in Bhongaon Primary Health Centre (PHC). The PHC team conducted a survey the very next day found more patients. A report was sent to Taluka Health Officer and the District Health Officer. On Wednesday, District Health Officer Dr Amol Geete along with District Survey Officer, Dermatologist, IDSP team, Taluka Health Officer and Medical Officer visited the villages concerned, surveyed the villages and took samples. They found number of cases in Bhongaon PHC. They included 19 from Bhondgaon village, 15 from Kalwad, 8 from Kathora, 4 from Bhongaon, and 5 from Machhindrakhed. Under Primary Health Centre, Jawala (Bu), 6 cases were found to be from Hingana Vaijinath and 8 from Ghui village. On Thursday, Epidemiological Officer conducted a survey and found more cases in Jawala (Bu). Ten cases were now reported from Taroda Kasba while under Jalamb PHC, 8 cases were found in Matargaon, 12 in Pahurjira and 5 in Nimbi. Thus a total of 100 patients have been found in 11 such villages till date. Reports of the water samples sent for biological/chemical testing shows Nitrates 54.08 ppm, Nitrates - 48.75 ppm and TDS 2110 ppm. Total 5 patients have been sent to the Government College in Akola for Skin Biopsy Testing. The dermatologist who examined the patients concluded that it could be fungal infection and accordingly, treatment has been started at the primary health centre after observing the symptoms. Meanwhile, Health Department team is conducting a house-to-house survey in the nearby villages where complaint was received. Meanwhile, Director, Health Services, Mumbai, called Deputy Director Akola on telephone and instructed to send team including microbiologist, physician, pediatrician, dermatologist, MDPSM, specialists from Akola Medical College to conduct survey and present a detailed report. Testing of the water collected from different villages for its contents including heavy metals, arsenic and lead, as suggested by the dermatalogist can take 5-6 days. The District and taluka-level officers and employees will continue to work in the area until the situation is brought under control, it was informed. Meanwhile, drinking water is supplied to the in the above villages from a dam at Wari Hanuman and its water is portable, says a report. However, most villages use water from borewell or well is not fit for use due to high levels of nitrate and TDS. The water samples of the affected villages have been sent to Nagpur for testing. It will take 8-10 days for the reports to come. Till that time, citizens of the above village have been told by Dr Amol Gite, District Health Officer, Zilla Parishad, Buldhana, not to drink or use unfit waters. Jkhand MLA Purnima Sahu gets warm welcome at Mahant College Staff Reporter RAIPUR, Newly-elected Jamshedpur East (Jharkhand) MLA Purnima Sahu received a warm welcome on her return to her alma mater, Mahant College, Raipur on Thursday. During a felicitation programme organised by the college, MLA Purnima Sahu expressed her gratitude and shared her experiences acknowledging Raipur as her birthplace and Jamshedpur East as her Karmabhoomi. Mla Purnima Sahu highlighted the contrasting challenges faced in both regions and emphasised how her student life at Mahant College prepared her for the path to success. She urged students to exercise patience, learn from their experiences, both good and bad, and persevere in lifes journey. She celebrated the strength of women, referring to mothers, daughters and wives as warriors who navigate lifes challenges with grace and resilience. College Principal Dr Debashish Mukherjee described the occasion as a moment of immense pride for the institution. He acknowledged Purnima Sahus achievement as a reflection of the colleges commitment to nurturing leaders. Dr Mukherjee also highlighted the ongoing efforts of the alumni organisation in contributing to the colleges development. Dr Anupam Jain, a faculty member encouraged students to draw inspiration from Purnima Sahus journey. She applauded the alumni network for its continuous support and underscored the pride felt when former students achieve remarkable milestones. Alumni Organisation Secretary Pradeep Sahu reminisced about his student days and the role of the college in shaping lives. He also shared a heartfelt reflection on the strength and sacrifices of mothers, emphasising their vital role in nurturing future generations. The event was also attended by alumni members Ankit Shukla, Deepak and other supporters. The programme concluded with Dr Kiran Agarwal conducting the programme, making it a memorable day celebrating leadership, resilience and the enduring bond between the institution and its alumni. Probe will reveal if Beed sarpanchs killers had political backing: Kin CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR : The deceased sarpanchs brother and daughter met CM Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday and sought justice in the case. SLAIN sarpanch Santosh Deshmukhs brother Dhananjay Deshmukh on Thursday said the accused could not have committed the crime without someones protection and a probe will make it clear whether they had political support. He also demanded that authorities expeditiously nab an accused still at large after one month the incident and strict punishment for all those involved in the murder of his brother. Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9, allegedly in retaliation for his efforts to prevent extortion attempts against an energy firm linked to a windmill project. As part of the investigation, police have so far arrested seven persons connected to the case. One of the accused is still absconding. Walmik Karad, an associate of Maharashtra NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, has been arrested in a related extortion case. A protest march was organised at Paithan in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Thursday by locals demanding arrest all those involved in the murder and strict punishment for them. Speaking to reporters in Paithan, Dhananjay Deshmukh claimed, An organised crime is going on and the criminals have no fear or regret. Those who are giving them protection would have told them not to worry and that we are there, the system is there. The accused cannot commit such an act without protection. But whether they have got political support or not, it will be clear once the investigation concludes. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised us that the last person in the gang (of those involved in the case) will be caught, he said. Dhananjay Deshmukh said they have been demanding from day one that all the accused be arrested and given strict punishment. One month is over, yet one accused is still at large. There are many more who helped these people (accused). They have protection so they committed such an act (of killing the sarpanch), he said. The deceased sarpanchs brother and daughter met CM Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday and sought justice in the case. They also told the Chief Minister that the accused in the case had past criminal records, and demanded action against them. SIBM holds panel discussion on Vids focus areas to achieve inclusive development Business Reporter : Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Nagpur, recently organised a panel discussion on What should be Vidarbhas key focus areas to achieve holistic and inclusive development. The distinguished panel comprised Vidhan Bhartia, Director, ERP Plastic Pvt. Ltd., Vijay Phanshikar, Editor, The Hitavada, Shweta Chopra, MD, Indulgence, Pranav Joshi, Director, Finance and Business Strategy, Tsecond Inc., and Prof. Dr Shailesh Rastogi, Director, SIBM Nagpur. On the occasion, Phanshikar underscored the immense potential of the Nagpur region, drawing attention to its abundant natural resources, strategic geographical location, and skilled talent pool. He emphasized the importance of redefining the true meaning of development by shifting perceptions and leveraging the regions inherent strengths, he highlighted the need to foster entrepreneurship and enhance skill development as pivotal drivers of sustainable economic growth. Vidhan Bhartia emphasized the importance of sustainable development and individual responsibility in driving societal change. He advocated for a collective approach toward environmental sustainability, highlighting the need to reduce single-use plastics and promote eco-friendly alternatives through education and collaboration among stakeholders. Pranav Joshi shared insights on the role of innovation and scalability in driving progress, urging entrepreneurs to embrace new ideas and stay adaptable in the evolving business landscape. Shweta Chopra spoke about the importance of fostering a supportive ecosystem for startups and promoting employability. In his closing remark, Dr Shailesh Rastogi, Director of SIBM Nagpur, urged all stakeholders to critically assess development gaps and redefine growth to include social equity, environmental sustainability, and the well-being of all citizens. The panel discussion served as an insightful platform for thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and students to deliberate on the regions developmental priorities, leaving attendees inspired to contribute towards Vidarbhas holistic progress. SIBM Nagpur continues its commitment to organising such impactful events that encourage dialogue and collaboration for the greater good. BRUSSELS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The year 2024 is confirmed to be the warmest year globally since record began in 1850, the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Friday. 2024 also marks the first calendar year in which the average global temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level, a critical threshold set by the Paris Agreement, according to the European climate body. SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION: Six captive vultures survive in wild By Kaushik Bhattacharya : Out of six, three vultures are nesting in Pench Tiger Reserve with other wild scavengers Out of 20 captive vultures released last year in the wild by the Forest Department, six have survived whereas six are untraceable and remaining have died. Forest Department and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) are considering it as a success story as they had expected only 50% survival rate. Forest Department, with the help of BNHS, had brought 20 vultures from Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC), Pinjore, Haryana last year. Among these, 10 were White-backed and 10 were Long-billed vultures. The 10 White-backed vultures were kept in captivity in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and 10 Long-billed vultures were brought to Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). After a few months, from conservation and breeding point of view, the Forest Department released all 20 scavengers in the wild to experiment how many of them survive in their natural habitat. Already, four Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres in West Bengal, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam have achieved success in conservation and breeding 750 vultures of three species -- White-backed, Long-billed and Slender-billed -- from looming extinction. Government of India started releasing these vultures in the wild since 2020. Eight critically endangered Oriental White-backed vultures were released into the wild for the first time in Haryana in 2021 and then, another batch of 31 vultures were released in West Bengal. Now, 20 scavengers were released in Maharashtra to check their survival rate. We are happy that almost 50 per cent of vultures that we released last year survived in their natural habitat. With support of Government of India and VCBC, BNHS did this experiment in Maharashtra for the first time. It is a new thing as captive vultures have grown up in cages, and were released in the wild. If they have survived, then it is a success for us, Kishor Rithe, Director, BNHS told The Hitavada. Forest Department, with the help of BNHS, did GPS tagging of all 20 vultures to monitor their movement. Eight vultures failed to survive, while six remain untraceable as the department is not getting any GPS data. Out of remaining six, three scavengers have flown away and three are nesting in Pench Tiger Reserve. We were monitoring these vultures from the beginning. Their survival in the wild was a challenging task as they never took flight in the wild, then they never took flight for long period and for long distance, also their acceptance among wild vultures was also a matter of concern for us, said Rithe. Mentioning about TATR, Rithe said, There was no vulture population nesting in TATR for a long time. In this situation, if any captive vulture is nesting in TATR or surviving in other parts of the country, then it is a win win situation for us. We released White-backed vultures in TATR and out of them, one vulture is now in Tamil Nadu. Hopefully, out of 20, three Long-billed vultures are successfully nesting in Pench itself with other wild Red-headed and White-backed vultures. These three captive vultures are feeding with the wild scavengers, which is a great thing, explained the BNHS Director. Recently, 25 captive vultures were released from Pinjore in presence of Haryana Chief Minister. Within 15 days, two vultures died due to electrocution by solar-based transmission lines. Similarly, 31 vultures were released in West Bengal couple of years ago and among them, four scavengers also died due to electrocution. Vultures fly high in sky due to which they come in contact with high-tension lines. Electrocution has now become a big threat for larger birds, said Rithe. However, no death of vulture took place in Maharashtra due to electrocution after last years release, claimed Rithe. We have collected the carcass of these scavengers and are conducting study to know the cause of their death, he added. Tank collapses 4 labourers feared killed, over six seriously wounded Our Correspondent BILASPUR, About four labourers are feared killed and more than six seriously wounded when a heavy cello (storage tank) crashed on the ground in Kusum Power Plant at village Ramboad near Sargaon in Mungeli district on Thursday. Although the death toll has not been confirmed officially so far, factory sources alleged that after the crash about 7-8 labourers were buried under the chimney out of which four were reported killed. Instantly after the incident the plant officials stopped production and closed the main gate restricting people from going inside. A rescue team have been engaged to remove the debris and rescue the trapped labourers in the presence of administrative and Police officials. Additional force has also been deployed in the area to handle the tense situation. According to information, the accident took place in the afternoon at Kusum Power Plant at village Ramboad, situated adjacent on the Bilaspur-Raipur National Highway near river Maniyari. Initial information revealed that the labourers after shift-change were busy in their works when suddenly the heavy cello (storage tank) of the plant crashed on the ground taking into grip workers. Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mungeli Parvati Patel told that immediately after information a posse of administrative and Police officials rushed to the spot and roped in the area to prevent public trespassing in the plant. After the accident Sargaon Police engaged the rescue teams and initiated massive relief and rescue operation. However, the reason of the accident is yet to be ascertained. Few employees of the plant said that serious negligence of the management was responsible for the accident. The machines and structures inside the factory are not checked and repaired on time due to which this accident occurred. The haste in plant expansion without paying details to safety could also be a reason, stated the workers. Even before this, people of the area were troubled due to pollution caused by the plant. A large number of locals and relatives of the labourers have gathered near the site of the incident demanding a high-level inquiry and firm action against the culprits. The affected families have also demanded compensation from the plant management. YANGON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar welcomed over 1.06 million foreign tourists in 2024, an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism told Xinhua on Friday. The number of foreign tourists was lower compared to over 1.28 million foreign tourists who visited the country in 2023, the official said. Primary sources of foreign visitors to Myanmar are China, Thailand and South Korea, the official added. A China-Europe freight train arrives at the Xi'an Chanba International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 10, 2025. A China-Europe freight train loaded with 1,300 tonnes of flour products from Kazakhstan arrived here on Friday, marking the first inbound China-Europe freight train carrying goods for the Spring Festival to Xi'an. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) Customers view wheat flour products from Kazakhstan at a store in the Xi'an Chanba International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 10, 2025. A China-Europe freight train loaded with 1,300 tonnes of flour products from Kazakhstan arrived here on Friday, marking the first inbound China-Europe freight train carrying goods for the Spring Festival to Xi'an. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) A China-Europe freight train arrives at the Xi'an Chanba International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 10, 2025. A China-Europe freight train loaded with 1,300 tonnes of flour products from Kazakhstan arrived here on Friday, marking the first inbound China-Europe freight train carrying goods for the Spring Festival to Xi'an. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) Customers view agricultural products from Kazakhstan at a store in the Xi'an Chanba International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 10, 2025. A China-Europe freight train loaded with 1,300 tonnes of flour products from Kazakhstan arrived here on Friday, marking the first inbound China-Europe freight train carrying goods for the Spring Festival to Xi'an. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) A drone photo shows a China-Europe freight train at the Xi'an Chanba International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 10, 2025. A China-Europe freight train loaded with 1,300 tonnes of flour products from Kazakhstan arrived here on Friday, marking the first inbound China-Europe freight train carrying goods for the Spring Festival to Xi'an. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) A drone photo shows a China-Europe freight train at the Xi'an Chanba International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 10, 2025. A China-Europe freight train loaded with 1,300 tonnes of flour products from Kazakhstan arrived here on Friday, marking the first inbound China-Europe freight train carrying goods for the Spring Festival to Xi'an. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) by Xinhua writer Chen Junqing JERUSALEM, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Since I arrived in Jerusalem as a photojournalist in February 2023, capturing the sunsets has become one of my interests. Evenings often found me on the rooftop, watching the sun melt into golden, casting the city in a moment of tranquility and serenity. But such tranquil routine lasted only a few months. It was the morning of Oct. 7, 2023. I was jolted awake by the sharp, piercing wail of air raid sirens. "Take shelter immediately," my phone blared a dire alert. I jumped out of bed, grabbed my camera, and rushed toward the rooftop. "Reckless! Foolish!" shouted my neighbors as they evacuated to the shelters, warning me as I dashed up. I knew the danger was real, but as a journalist, I felt compelled to document it for myself and to bear witness. The rooftop, my usual vantage point for those picturesque sunsets, now echoed with thunderous booms as rocket plumes sliced through the sky. My hands trembled as I pressed the shutter, capturing the moment when Hamas initiated its shocking attack on Israel. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed in that rampage, and about 250 were taken captive by Hamas to Gaza as hostages. Israel then initiated intensive military operations in Gaza, and soon neighboring countries like Yemen, Lebanon, Iran and Syria became embroiled in the conflict, unfolding before me as one of the largest Middle East crises in history. As the clashes escalated, the city where I live increasingly became a target for attacks. Gradually, the subjects of my photos shifted from scenery, festivals and celebrations to rockets, explosion sites, and military tanks. Gradually, I became accustomed to the pace of life and work during the war. Before going to bed, I would check my camera batteries, adjust the shutter speeds, and test the air raid alert. Only after that could I relax, while feeling prepared for the unexpected. I consistently awakened at 4 in the morning to check for alerts. The sound of electric cars would jolt me, reminiscent of air raid sirens. Instinctively, I would look for walls to take cover behind while taking pictures, anxious about potential explosions. However, deep down, I know that the most profound transformation the war has wrought within me is not in my daily habits, but in the way I perceive this land. At times, the relentless bloodshed and escalating strife between Palestinians and Israelis compelled me to believe that perhaps there is no remedy for this deeply entrenched hatred and division. It was a Sabbath evening, after a day filled with the usual bustle, I realized that it had been long since I last paused to take in the sunset over the city. Ascending to the rooftop, I was welcomed by a sight I knew well: the twilight sky, painted in golden hues, enveloped the city in a radiant glow, turning Jerusalem into a shimmering canvas of warmth and light. I captured the sunset and posted it on my social media. "The sunsets in Jerusalem are the most beautiful," remarked a Jewish friend of mine from Israel, whose family had once been taken hostage in Gaza. Beneath his comment, a Palestinian I had previously interviewed liked it. This was a rare moment of goodwill interaction between Palestinians and Israelis that I've rarely seen since the war in Gaza began. I printed the sunset photo afterward and placed it on my desk, for through this image, I glimpsed a thread of hope for peace in the Middle East: despite all the conflicts and divisions, there is still a shared bond between Palestinians and Israelis: their love for this land. KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, saw its palm oil stocks falling 6.91 percent from the previous month to 1.71 million tons in December, official data from the country's industry regulator showed Friday. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board said in a statement that crude palm oil production for the country also dropped 8.3 percent month-on-month to 1.49 million tons. Meanwhile, Malaysia's palm oil exports declined by 9.97 percent month on month to 1.34 million tons. The country's palm oil imports, on the other hand, surged to 37,917 tons. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar meet the press in Abuja, Nigeria, Jan. 9, 2025 (Xinhua/Yang Zhe) ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Africa for the Global Security Initiative to take root on the continent and jointly build a peaceful and secure modernization, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday. China stands ready to work hand in hand with Africa to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, he added. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar. In response to a question about how China will assist Africa in maintaining peace and stability, Wang emphasized that mutual cooperation is essential to addressing various security challenges in today's world. Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, highlighted peace and security as key components of the six major proposals and 10 partnership actions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, said Wang. China will firmly support Africans in seeking African solutions to African problems. The African people are the true masters of the African continent, and have the wisdom, ability and right to solve their own problems, he added. China opposes any form of external interference in the internal affairs of African countries, supports the African Union and sub-regional organizations in playing a constructive role, and encourages major African nations to take more leading actions to resolve conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation and address hotspot issues through political means, said Wang. China will firmly support Africa in strengthening its peace and security capacity, establish and implement with African countries a Global Security Initiative partnership, create demonstration zones for the initiative, and advance security-building partnership actions, said Wang. China will also provide 1 billion yuan (about 136 million U.S. dollars) in non-reimbursable military assistance to African countries. Additionally, China will help train 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 law enforcement officers for African nations, said Wang. China will also continue to support the building of the African standing army and rapid-response forces, as well as support African countries in conducting peacekeeping and counterterrorism operations, said the foreign minister. Voicing China's firm support for Africa in safeguarding its legitimate interests, Wang called for practicing genuine multilateralism and warned against hegemonism and power politics making waves in Africa. China's vote in the UN Security Council always belongs to Africa, he said, pledging that China will, as always, speak up for the legitimate demands of African countries on multilateral occasions. As the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, China will continue to support UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, he added. China will firmly support Africa in promoting security through development, Wang said, adding that China is ready to work with Africa to carry out 10 partnership actions, make good use of the 360 billion yuan (about 51 billion dollars) of financial support announced at FOCAC Beijing Summit, deepen cooperation in various fields, help African countries eliminate the breeding ground for insecurity, so as to achieve long-term stability through development and revitalization. As a major African country and the rotating chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria plays an important role in maintaining peace in West Africa and the Sahel region, Wang said. He voiced China's support for Nigeria in uniting regional countries, seeking strength through unity, building synergy through reconciliation, promoting security through development, as well as safeguarding regional peace and stability. China is also ready to make contribution within its capacity to this end, he added. DAMASCUS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Three women died and five children suffered severe fractures and bruises on Friday in a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus while attempting to get free meals in a charitable activity, according to the Syrian Civil Defense. The incident occurred during a banquet promoted by a well-known chef, Abu Omari al-Dimashqi, who had invited the public to a free meal in the yard of the historic mosque in the Old City of Damascus. Local sources and eyewitnesses said large crowds flocked into the mosque's courtyard and nearby areas amid an apparent shortage of crowd control measures, leading to chaotic scenes. Security personnel arrived at the scene, closing off roads to manage the influx of attendees. The Umayyad Mosque, one of the most iconic landmarks of Damascus, typically hosts religious and cultural events. Large-scale public gatherings are rarely held there and usually require prior coordination with local officials. The city's security and public service structures are still adjusting after the recent political upheaval, following the abrupt end of the previous Syrian government in December of last year. ANKARA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye is working on expanding electricity exports to Syria, including the Aleppo city and other regions, said a cabinet minister. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told local CnnTurk broadcaster late Thursday that Turkiye currently supplies 210 megawatts of electricity daily to Syria through seven transmission points. "We aim to increase this to 300 megawatts by February to better support areas such as Idlib and Afrin," he said, predicting that electricity exports to Aleppo could reach 500 megawatts within six months to ease energy challenges. Bayraktar noted the existing infrastructure linking Turkiye to Aleppo, and its potential for revitalization to address future energy needs. Turkiye also plans to supply natural gas from the Turkish province of Kilis to the Syrian city of Aleppo via a new pipeline, which is expected to be operational within a year, to boost electricity production and distribution, said the minister. With these efforts, Turkiye moves to support short-term recovery in Syria while building a foundation for longer-term energy cooperation, he said, adding that a Turkish delegation has visited Syria to assess the country's energy infrastructure. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China witnessed a 25.7-percent decline in criminal cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday. Cases of public security remained largely unchanged, and the overall public safety situation remained stable, the ministry told a press conference. "China is one of the countries with the lowest homicide rate, the fewest gun and explosive-related cases and the lowest rate of criminal crimes," said spokesperson Li Guozhong. Li said that national public security organs had made consistent efforts in maintaining social stability and safeguarding people's safety and wellbeing. As Friday marks China's fifth national police day, another spokesperson Zhang Ming sent specific greetings to police officers in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, who are supporting disaster relief efforts after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the plateau region on Tuesday. Following the earthquake, more than 460 police officers from the city of Xigaze, the epicenter of Dingri County and surrounding areas rushed to the scene to carry out rescue operations, emergency response and security patrols and control. Padma Wangdu, a police officer at Xigaze public security bureau, is working on the frontline. He told Xinhua that the communications and traffic in Dingri are currently smooth, and the insufficiency of some relief goods has been settled. DEFEND PUBLIC SECURITY Li told a press conference that new progress has been made in addressing various crimes. In 2024, a total of 11,700 criminal cases of various types were solved. Additionally, 22,000 cases related to firearms and explosives were cracked, resulting in a 37.5 percent year-on-year decline. Public security authorities solved over 17,000 cases related to food and drug safety crimes across the country, according to the ministry, adding that police solved more than 78,000 economic crimes, recovering 30.67 billion yuan (about 4.27 billion U.S. dollars) in financial losses. Additionally, 38,000 drug-related cases were cracked by Chinese police, with 24.4 tonnes of various drugs seized, the ministry added. Road traffic safety across the country was stable, with no major traffic accidents reported for 63 consecutive months, the ministry added. On the frontlines of fighting crime and safeguarding public safety, 208 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024, according to the ministry. It noted that 174 auxiliary police officers died at their posts during the year. In addition, 4,743 police officers and 3,710 auxiliary police officers suffered injuries while performing their duties. COMBAT TELECOM, INTERNET FRAUD Telecommunication and internet fraud crimes posed a significant threat to people's property and safety in recent years. Facing challenges such as the emergence of new forms of crime, Chinese police have intensified counter-fraud efforts. Over the past five years, nearly 1.95 million telecom and network fraud cases were uncovered. Notably, since a special campaign was launched in July 2023 to combat telecom and internet fraud originating from northern Myanmar, more than 49,000 suspects had been handed over to China. "The upturn in the number of telecom and network fraud crimes has been effectively curbed," said Li. In this process, modern technologies have been leveraged to strengthen warning systems. Since 2021, public security organs have worked with related departments and successfully intercepted nearly 7 billion fraud calls and 6.84 billion messages, with the delivery of 1.1 trillion yuan of funds blocked. Chinese police have also enhanced international law enforcement cooperation in this field, dispatching multiple work teams to Southeast Asian countries, leading to the dismantling of 37 fraud syndicates abroad. Focus on pre-May 3, 2023 period What are the steps to be taken ? | Our focus should be on returning to the pre-May 3rd, 2023 situation. These are the words shared by a young gentleman during a group discussion on a Whatsapp forum and one wonders how high this is on the agenda of Imphal and Delhi. Governor Abhay Kumar Bhalla has however rung out the message that he is intent on taking Manipur back to the pre-May 3, 2023 days by reaching out to the civil society organisations of Churachandpur and maintaining a tight line and length in asserting that peace should precede any solution. How Raj Bhavan take things further remains to be seen but already a point has been delivered and given that AK Bhalla is a man handpicked by the Centre to oversee Manipur during this tumultuous period, one can safely assume that the initiative taken so far has the blessings of New Delhi. This is a point that should be noted and while it remains to be seen how Manipur responds to the fresh gestures adopted by the Governor, it should be admitted that the act of reaching out is something which Manipur has not seen in a long, long time. What is possibly the way forward ? For one, the Governor has demonstrated that his first priority is ushering in peace and one hopes this has a cascading effect with people on either side of the clash divide falling in line with the call for normalcy to come first. Meaningful dialogue or talks can become a reality only when there is an atmosphere of peace and normalcy. One also wonders when the next Delhi summit would come about, for the October 15, 2024 Delhi meet was the first time that such a meeting was convened. The significance of the October 15, 2024 summit lies in the fact that MLAs drawn from the Kuki, Naga and Meitei communities were present and it was arranged under the initiative of the Union Home Ministry. What exactly transpired during the meeting was never spelt out to the media, but it was a beginning and one wonders whether the Governor has any plan to take things forward from the October 15, 2024 meeting. It would help if the Governor can look at ways to form a Peace Committee in the line of such a body which was formed in the early stage of the conflict but which has completely been rendered inconsequential. Getting back to the pre-May 3, 2023 days will be a tough task, no doubt, but this cannot be the reason why efforts should not be taken up. And in Governor AK Bhalla, Manipur may perhaps have the best man to take things forward. This is a point which should not blow over the heads of anyone, especially those who would want to see Manipur back to the pre-May 3, 2023 period. It should however be kept in mind that violence broke out on May 3, 2023 not because the call for a Separate Administration (SA) was raised. The SA call came about only when Imphal and the valley areas retaliated after Meitei settlements at Torbung and Churachandpur were razed to the ground. This line of argument should be simple enough to understand. This much should be kept in mind in any effort to reach out to people on either side of the clash divide. And this is where it becomes important for Manipur to present the true and undiluted story to the Governor who has just assumed office and effectively at that. So while the need to study how Manipur can be taken to the pre-May 3, 2023 period should be explored by the people who matter, it is disturbing to note the mindless personal allegations raised while discussing the burning issue in the State. Punching below the belt is the line that comes to mind when allegations and verbal assaults are launched against anyone perceived to be questioning the people who matter while it is only facts that have been raised. Manipur needs to come to her senses and recognise the threats staring her in the face instead of targeting each other which ultimately makes no sense at all. The tragedy is, nothing seems to have been learnt from the past 20 months. Tamenglong DC informs | TAMENGLONG, Jan 10: The Deputy Commissioner, Tamenglong has informed to all concerned that a consultative meeting will be held on January 13, 2025 (Monday) at the Conference Hall of Mini Secretariat, Tamenglong at 2 pm, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner Tamenglong along with Forest Department officials regarding the issues pertaining to Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary. The DC Tamenglong in a notice requested all the land owners and villagers falling within the Sanctuary (both Core zone and Eco-Sensitive zone) to attend the meeting without fail. KIEV, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Friday detailed the results of the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group held at the U.S. airbase in Ramstein, Germany. Among the summit's key achievements, Umerov highlighted the approval of roadmaps for developing Ukraine's Armed Forces until 2027. The roadmaps cover such areas as the air force, air defense, maritime capabilities, artillery, armored vehicles, IT, drones, and demining, Umerov wrote in a post on Facebook. The summit also yielded agreements on new aid packages from Ukraine's international partners, including a 500-million U.S. dollar assistance package from the United States. That encompasses air defense missiles, air-to-air missiles, and equipment for F-16 aircraft, the minister said. Other aid would include more than 30,000 drones from Britain and four other NATO countries, and six IRIS-T air defense systems from Germany. Tigress Zeenats pugmarks were yet to get desiccated on the Bengal, Jharkhand terrains but those suddenly emerged sinistrous among the panicked residents as those have lured another big cat far away from Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand and currently breathing closer to Bengal. A fugitive tiger shuttling between Chandil and Dalma in Jharkhand has radiated adequate trepidation in Jharkhand bordering Bengal stretches in Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram since five days as its left paw impressions barely 16 km away from Barabazar, Balarampur in Purulia on Tuesday. The fresh pugmarks on Thursday showed its moving towards the Dalma Range forests from its recent hideouts in Chandil, Saba Alam Ansari, Divisional Forest Officer, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand told The Statesman today. DFO, Ansari added: Earlier it was near Balidih in Chandil but we are getting fresh pugmarks reflecting its movements from time to time, but its not spotted as yet. Dalma is 21 km away from Chandil. Advertisement Dalma in Jamshedpur incidentally is the elephant reserve in Jharkhand and 62 Dalma Range elephants in Bankura and their 30 counterparts in Purulia are currently ravaging in the farmlands during the harvest season. The intrusion of the feline tiger into the elephant corridor has pressed the panic button in the Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia districts as the big cat would have easy access to the Bengal patches like what Zeenat recently followed. Advertisement The tigers presence was felt soon after the New Year night at Gangudih near Chandil on 2 January and it fuelled panic in 18 villages under Chowka PS area there especially after itd preyed on a full grown bull and a calf. Even pugmarks were visible on the wetlands beside the Subarnarekha river suggesting that itd retreated back to jungle after drinking water from the river. Based on the footprints, the Jamshedpur Forest Division have consistently been relocating the trap cameras since 5 January. Bengal Forest officials too have woke up considering the development in the bordering wild. Tigress Zeenat escaped from the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odhisa was tranquilised by the Bengal Forest officials in Bankura on last 5 January. Weve already placed trap cameras and deployed substantial man powers in the jungle corridor to keep track on the movement of the tiger, said Dr S Kulandaivel, Chief Conservator of Forests (Central) in Durgapur. The Jharkhand officials havent sent any high alert to Bengal officials about the tigers tangential movement towards Bengal. The Jamshedpur DFO said: Currently, its just heading towards Dalma, I could say. Unlike Zeenat, this tiger is not equipped with a radio collar, which has infused fresh fear of the animals sudden soft-pad intrusion close to the Bengal hamlets. Anjan Guha, DFO, Purulia said: Its nearly 16 to 20 km away from border weve gathered. On Tuesday, a car driver Ramprasad Mahato claimed that hed seen the tiger near Kangratand jungle away from Chandil. On a newly built concrete road near Basunia jungle fresh pugmarks were visible the other day, the officials said. Jharkhand meanwhile is perturbed with another tiger thats also moved out of the Palamau Tiger Reserve and currently is roaming in Garhwa in the North West region of PTR. The tiger had killed a buffalo on the New Years day and a cattle further on 3 January. The DFO, Garhwa (South) Division, Ebin Benny Abraham told The Statesman today: A few villagers have seen the tiger, but we havent got any camera grab of it as yet. Weve already preserved some plaster of Paris impression of the tigers pugmarks. The last recorded kill by the tiger was on last Monday. DFO Abraham said: Two days ago there was a sighting of the tiger, besides, weve gathered scat samples of the tiger and sent those to laboratories in Dehradun and Hyderabad for further analysis and testing to understand the characteristics of the animal. The DFO, Garhwa (South) and the Deputy Director, PTR held a joint field inspection and interacted with the locals whod seen the tiger. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said reaching the Gangasagar Mela is tougher than getting to the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj as one has to cross a river to reach the venue. She inaugurated the Gangasagar Mela at Babughat in the city this evening. Miss Banerjee reiterated that the Centre should declare the Gangasagar mela a national fair. She further announced that the state government is constructing a 5 km long, four-lane bridge on the river at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore. Once the bridge is completed, reaching Gangasagar will no longer be a problem. It is unfortunate that the Centre, despite our requests, did not take any steps to provide money. But we are going ahead with the project, and after three years, reaching the Gangasagar Mela ground will not be a problem at all, she said. Miss Banerjee said the state government has provided Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for the pilgrims visiting Gangasagar, along with the officials of the state administration, police, fire brigade personnel, and journalists covering the event. We have left no stone unturned to ensure safety and security for the people visiting the Gangasagar Mela. Advertisement I have visited the place and held a meeting with the senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, and oversaw the arrangements. More than one crore people had visited the mela in 2024, she said. Miss Banerjee said around 4,000 buses will be deployed, which includes 2,300 state-run buses, 250 private buses, and those coming from other states, to ferry pilgrims to and from Gangasagar. The state government has withdrawn pilgrim tax. Miss Banerjee said: Before 2011, visiting the mela was not a pleasant experience. There was no place to stay for the pilgrims. The place was untidy. Now things have improved. The pilgrims can stay at the venue, and the whole area has been brightly illuminated. There are bio-toilets and drinking water facilities for the pilgrims. She said there are 3,000 volunteers, and in every bus carrying outstation pilgrims there will be a guide called Sagarbandhu who will guide the pilgrims who do not understand Bengali. She said arrangements for air ambulance and water ambulance have been made to bring pilgrims to the hospitals. Advertisement Elaborate police arrangements have been made to maintain peace and security. She asked the police not to allow overcrowded vessels to ply. The vessels will run for 20 hours, and powerful fog lights have been attached to every launch and vessel. She urged the pilgrims not to be in a rush, and follow the instructions of the administration. Announcing an election promise on Friday, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal said if his party returns to power in Delhi, financial assistance will be provided to the Resident Welfare Associations across the national capital to hire private security guards. Kejriwal made this promise while alleging that the law and order situation in Delhi has deteriorated, and this announcement is made keeping in mind the security of the citys streets, neighbourhoods and colonies. Advertisement The AAP chief also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the central government, alleging that they have turned Delhi into a crime capital. Advertisement Kejriwal claimed that the number of crimes have increased in Delhi, with chain snatchings, thefts, gang-wars openly taking place, while women are feeling unsafe to step out of their homes. Former Delhi CM further claimed that the people of the city are living amid fear and feeling insecure. Sharpening his attack on the BJP-led central government, the AAP chief further alleged that it is not concerned about the residents of the national capital, and rather has towards them. He claimed that the saffron party has failed to come to power in Delhi for over two decades because of its attitude towards the people. Kejriwal further said that people were approaching him from across the city and he himself keeps going around the city, and stated that people have been telling him about the sad state of law and order situation. He further said proper planning will be done in this regard and criteria will be made as to how much money will have to be allotted to the RWA concerned, based on the size of the colony, area and other factors. He said deployment of security guards will help provide basic security in the colonies, monitor the entry so that unauthorised people do not enter the respective colonies, while in case of any uncertain incident like theft etc, the culprit is caught. Actor Anil Kapoor, who was recently seen in Fighter is celebrating the 44th anniversary of Hum Paanch, a significant film in the history of the Indian film industry. The film was directed by Bapu and produced by Surinder Kapoor under the familys SK Films banner. Anil worked as a casting director on the film. Reflecting on the journey, the actor shared a rare photo from the films production and paid tribute to the team behind the classic. Advertisement Meanwhile, the actors fans are eagerly waiting for the release of his film Subedaar, marking his first collaboration with director Suresh Triveni. The first teaser of Prime Videos highly anticipated action-drama Subedaar was released last month showcasing Kapoor in an intense and riveting avatar. Advertisement Earlier, Anil remembered the Indian cinema legend Raj Kapoor on his centenary. The actor took to his Instagram, and shared an array of pictures of the late filmmaker-actor as he recollected how Raj Kapoor inspired him. He also penned a note in the caption. He wrote, 14th December, Raj Uncles birthday, has always been special. Always looked forward to this day. This day the 14th of Dec was marked not only for me and our family but for the entire Indian film fraternity as a very special day, as a day of celebration. He further mentioned, Raj uncles work inspired me deeply, his aura, artistry, and vision were unmatched then and remain unmatched now. On his 100th birthday, I fondly remember his timeless films, RK Studios moments, the moments spent at Deonar his residence and the incredible legacy he built. Happy 100th birthday to the Greatest Showman, Raj Kapoor. Your magic will forever awe me (sic). Anil Kapoor shares his bloodline with the Kapoor family as his father, Surinder Kapoor was the cousin of the Kapoor family patriarch, Prithviraj Kapoor, the father of Raj Kapoor. As the grand finale of Bigg Boss 18 draws near, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has shown his support for one of the standout contestants, Chum Darang. The actress, hailing from Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, has made it to the top 9 of the popular reality show, and the Chief Minister is rallying behind her in the final stretch. Advertisement Taking to social media, Pema Khandu encouraged his followers to vote for Chum Darang, expressing his pride in her achievements. Advertisement I am happy to learn that Chum Darang, daughter of Arunachal Pradesh, has reached among the top 9 of the reality show Bigg Boss 18, Khandu wrote. Show your solidarity with her, and dont forget to vote for Chum. I am hopeful that she will be a winner and achieve many milestones in the years to come. My best wishes to Chum Darang. Chums team shared a screenshot of the post on her Instagram, expressing their gratitude for the Chief Ministers kind words and support. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chum Darang (@chum_darang) The actress has gained a massive following throughout her journey on Bigg Boss 18, not only in Arunachal Pradesh but across the nation, thanks to her charm and resilience. In a recent Ticket to Finale task, Chum went head-to-head with fellow contestant Vivian Dsena. Despite suffering injuries during the task, Chums sportsmanship shone through as she continued to compete with determination. Though Dsena ultimately won the task, he was moved by her spirit and offered her the ticket to the finale. However, Chum graciously declined the offer, earning admiration from fans and fellow contestants alike. The finale, hosted by Salman Khan, will air on January 19, and fans are eagerly anticipating whether the Arunachal Pradesh star will claim victory. Bollywoods heartthrob Hrithik Roshan is ringing in his 51st birthday today, January 10, and the celebrations are as grand as his cinematic journey, and his girlfriend, actor Saba Azad, took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute, accompanied by a series of candid pictures. Happy whirl around the sun, my love. You are the light may joy envelop you forever and then some, she wrote, expressing her admiration and love for the superstar. Advertisement Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saba Azad (@sabazad) This special day is even more significant as it marks Hrithiks 25th anniversary in Bollywood. Reflecting on this milestone, the actor attended a media event celebrating the re-release of his iconic debut film, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. Grateful for the journey, Hrithik shared, These 25 years have been a journey of growth. Every interaction, every question, and every moment of discomfort has shaped me as an actor and as a person. I owe this to all of you. The celebrations extended to an intimate gathering with family and friends. Hrithiks ex-wife Sussanne Khan and her partner Arslan Goni joined the festivities. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZAYED KHAN (@itszayedkhan) Adding to the joy, actor Zayed Khan penned a heartfelt birthday note for his brother Duggs. He praised Hrithiks resilience and sincerity, writing, To a guy I greatly admire! Your willpower is stunning, and your advice has always been my guiding light. Shine on, my brother, into this year and many more. On the professional front, Hrithik continues to dominate the industry. After his last action-packed role in Fighter, fans eagerly await his upcoming project, War 2. Vijay Varma is undoubtedly one of Bollywoods most stylish actors, and his all-black outfits have become a signature look that fans and fashion enthusiasts cant get enough of. Whether its a formal event or a laid-back day out, the actors mastery of monochrome dressing is unparalleled. As we step into 2025, heres how you can take inspiration from Vijay Varmas wardrobe and rock the timeless all-black look this year. Sleek and dapper in a black suit Vijay knows the art of turning heads with a perfectly tailored black suit. Of course, his big differentiator is attention to detail, especially given standout accessories like the satin bow tie and a diamond dragonfly brooch. This sophisticated look proves that in the simplest of black suits, one can create bold, unforgettable statements. Advertisement Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Varma (@itsvijayvarma) Playing around with texture With black, Vijay takes it to the next level with a metallic striped weave jacket that screams of fashion-forward cool. Wide-legged trousers and a sheer round-neck T-shirt under this is what effortless cool is all about. Adding sunglasses is just the mystery touch this look needs for the perfect stylish night out. Monochrome perfection Sometimes, simplicity is the key, and Vijays classic all-black ensemble is the perfect example. The woven details on his jacket add texture and depth to the outfit, so the monochrome look is far from boring. Its the perfect balance of sharp and sleek for those who like a clean, polished look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Varma (@itsvijayvarma) Street style with an edge Vijay beautifully merges street wear with elegance donning a full-sleeve cropped jacket above a black tee, with his high-waist black pant. This gets him looking perfect for a stroll around the city or a casual friend hangout session. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Varma (@itsvijayvarma) Mesh shirt magic One of Vijays most dashing looks is this black mesh shirt with wide-legged trousers. The see-through shirt gives an edgy look to the outfit, proving that hes not afraid to experiment with fashion while still being sleek and stylish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Varma (@itsvijayvarma) Unique layers for a bold statement Vijay isnt afraid to layer up, and his three-layered black ensemble proves that. With an asymmetric long top, a bow-tied shirt, and a blazer jacket, this outfit is as bold as it is stylish, showing that sometimes, more really is more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Varma (@itsvijayvarma) Classy and sharp in sheer black For those with a penchant for sharp, clean looks, pure black blazers by Vijay are the very definition of sophistication. Paired with black trousers and shoes, the look can easily be carried off as fashionably chic in any formal function. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vijay Varma (@itsvijayvarma) As the clock ticks closer to 2025, these all-black avatars of Vijay Varma must have been inspirational enough for everyone to make style statements in such bold ways. BTS J-hope completed his mandatory military service in October and since then fans have been eagerly waiting for the artist to drop new music. Now, the BTS boy has sent fans into a frenzy. J-hope has announced his first-ever solo world tour titled Hope on the Stage, and a new album. On Friday, J-Hope took to Instagram to tease the ARMYs with his debut solo tour. The K-pop idol is going to kickstart the awaited tour at the end of February. The Hope on the Stage tour will cover major cities in Asia and North America. The first show will take place in Seoul, South Korea. J-hope is ready to set the stage ablaze on February 28, March 1, and 2, 2025, at the KSPO Dome in Seoul. Moving ahead, the artist will perform in Brooklyn, Chicago, Mexico City, San Antonio, Oakland, and Los Angeles. The Asian segment of the tour will kickstart in Manila, Philippines, on April 12 and 13. Subsequent venues include Saitama, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Macau and Taipei. The artist will wrap up the tour in Osaka, on June 1. Advertisement Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope) The treat doesnt end here, the ARMY also has another thing to look forward to. J-Hope has also surprised fans with the release date of his upcoming music album. The K-pop sensation took to Instagram to drop a video which offers a glimpse into the making of his new music video. He titled it- Beginning of a New Dream and captioned it: New music on the way. 2025.03. Since then, excited fans have flooded the comments section. One wrote, New album, Hobi! Lets go! Another commented, We know it will be great! Its always great! Also Read: BIGBANGs G-Dragon set to drop full-length album in February Meanwhile, previously, in a live Weverse interaction, BTS J-hope teased the ARYM with his upcoming project. He said, Im doing well! I cant tell you what Im preparing for, but Im preparing a lot of things for you guys. Its been so long since a live session. Hopefully, Ill prepare hard and also be able to give you guys good news soon. Jin hyungs album is coming out soon, he prepared really hard for it. Im really looking forward to it. Ektaa Kapoor is currently spending some downtime with her family in Jaipur. The producer is accompanied by his son Ravie, and nephew Laksshya during the holiday. Ektaa Kapoor recently treated the netizens a sneak peek into her trip on social media. She took to the stories section of the photo-sharing app and posted a short clip where Laksshya can be seen holding Ravies hand while Ektaa Kapoor asks the two to smile for the camera. Advertisement Previously, Ektaa Kapoor dropped another fun video on social media where she was seen enjoying a car ride with Ravie, and Laksshya. Advertisement Meanwhile, Ektaa Kapoor recently made headlines for slamming prominent television actor Ram Kapoor. She used the stories section of her Instagram account for sharing a cryptic note that went, Unprofessional actors giving interviews about my shows shud shut up! False information N skewed stories. Can only last till. I talk but there is dignity in silence. While she did not take any names, it was clear who she was pointing towards. Ektaa Kapoors latest remark was in reaction to Ram Kapoors comment on the kissing scene on the show Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. Ram Kapoor stated that he had asked Ektaa Kapoor if she was sure about the scene between him and Sakshi Tanwar, however, the producer did not back down. During a recent media interaction, Ram Kapoor was quoted saying, Ektaa is the one who wrote the scene, wanted us to do the scene I told Ektaa, Are you sure? Ye television mein pehle kabhi hua nahi hai (This has not happened on television before); it was the first kiss of television, which is a big thing. And three generations watch (the show) together but Ekta was very confident that we should do it. I said, okay, Ill first get a go-ahead from my wife. Then I told Sakshi that, look, I will handle Ekta. If you have a problem, tell me. Parineeti Chopra is presently occupied with the shoot of her upcoming project with Netflix. The stunner has been keeping the netizens hooked with sneak peeks into the shoot of the film. Recently, the Kesari star took to her Instagram stories and dropped another insight into the location of her untitled drama Parineeti Chopras latest Insta story featured a still from what looked like the Bandra-Worli sea link. If the sources are to be believed, Parineeti Chopra is filming the second schedule of her next at the moment. As the project is still in the filming stage, further details about the movie have been kept tightly under wraps for now. Advertisement Formerly, Parineeti Chopra dropped another glimpse of her shoot location on the photo-sharing app. The diva was seen filming near the Bandra Worli Sea Link in the post captioned, Second schedule starts. Cute location today. Advertisement After ringing in the New Year with her politician husband Raghav Chadha in Delhi, the stunner left for Mumbai due to her work commitments. She took to the stories section of her official Instagram handle and dropped a post claiming that she is going to miss the Delhi winters. Posing in a cream coat, high-neck sweater, and a woolen cap, the actress penned, Not emotionally ready for Bombay Heat yet. Additionally, Parineeti Chopra has also been roped in for Anurag Singhs much-anticipated thriller Sanki. The actress will be seen sharing screen space with Varun Dhawan for the first time in the drama. Parineeti Chopras lineup also includes Karan Sharmas Shiddat 2. The cast of the movie will also see Sunny Kaushal, Amyra Dastur, Mohit Raina, Diana Penty, Arjun Singh, and Radhikka Madan in prominent roles. In the meantime, Parineeti Chopra last appeared on the big screen in Imtiaz Alis Chamkila. With Diljit Dosanjh as the lead, the film got a direct OTT released on Netflix. SAO TOME, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ilza Amado Vaz has been appointed as the new prime minister of Sao Tome and Principe, following a presidential decree issued on Thursday. According to the official STP-Press news agency, Amado Vaz will become the third woman to hold this position in the nation's history. She previously served as the minister of justice. On Monday, President Carlos Vila Nova dissolved the government of Patrice Trovoada and requested his party to propose a new candidate for the position of prime minister and head of government within 72 hours. The ruling Independent Democratic Action Party (ADI) on Thursday proposed three new candidates for the position, following the president's rejection of the earlier nominee, Helio de Almeida. The Army Air Defence (AAD) Corps marked its 32nd Corps Day on Friday, commemorating its vital role in protecting Indian skies. Evolving from the Artillery unit and established as an independent arm of the Indian Army, the Corps has been a cornerstone of the nations air defence. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the National War Memorial, India Gate, New Delhi, to honour the occasion. Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan DCunha, SM, Director General & Colonel Commandant of the Corps, led the tributes, joined by senior veterans, serving officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and other dignitaries. Together, they paid homage to the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Advertisement As one of the youngest arms of the Indian Army, the AAD Corps has consistently demonstrated unparalleled courage and professionalism. Its distinguished legacy includes four Battle Honour Titles and numerous gallantry awards, underscoring its exceptional operational achievements in all wars fought against adversaries. Advertisement The Corps plans to induct a new Surface-to-Air Missile Regiment equipped with the state-of-the-art Akash Missile system, while proposals for raising two additional regiments are in advanced stages. Modernisation remains at the core of the Corps strategy, with continuous upgrades to its inventory, including Integrated Drone Detection and Destruction Systems. The recent induction of the Akashteer System has further strengthened the integration between Army Air Defence and Air Force sensors, ensuring a seamless and effective air defence network. Aligned with the vision of a self-reliant India, the Corps has embraced Make in India initiatives, adopting cutting-edge indigenous equipment to bolster national security. With its relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation, the Army Air Defence Corps remains a symbol of strength and resilience, dedicated to safeguarding the nations sovereignty with unmatched valour. Public sector undertaking Coal India has deployed a high-capacity pump with a 500 GPM (gallons per minute) capacity to dewater the mine at Assams Dima Hasao district where efforts are on to search the trapped labourers. We brought the pump from Nagpur, along with two generators to power it. Installation work is being carried out round the clock in three shifts, said K Mere, General Manager of Northeastern Coal Field. Advertisement The pump is expected to significantly aid in reducing water levels to allow rescue teams access to the trapped workers. Advertisement The Indian Army has mobilised a specialised task force comprising divers, engineers, medical personnel, and support staff, equipped with advanced tools to support the mission. Navy teams have also been called in to assist with underwater search operations. However, progress remains slow. Inspector Roshan Kumar Singh of the NDRF reported that despite deploying pumps, the water level in the mine has not decreased significantly. The scale of the tragedy remains uncertain, with conflicting reports about the number of individuals trapped. Assam Mines and Minerals Minister Kaushik Rai stated, We have recovered one body so far. Rescue efforts are underway, and the exact number of trapped workers will become clearer once the water level recedes. Initial reports indicated that 27 workers were inside the mine when the incident occurred but 17 managed to escape. The rescue teams are contending with hazardous underground conditions, including unstable structures, limited visibility, and rising concerns over oxygen depletion. With only one body recovered so far, the families of the trapped miners await anxiously for news. A tragic accident at a coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, Assams Dima Hasao district, has left several workers trapped in hazardous conditions since January 6. The incident occurred when water gushed into the 300-foot-deep quarry, commonly referred to as a rat hole coal mine, trapping ten workers underground. The mine, reportedly operating without proper safety protocols, highlights ongoing concerns about unregulated mining activities in the region. Notorious underworld gangster, Chhota Rajan, who is currently lodged in Tihar Prison, has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Friday following health concerns, jail officials said. As his condition started deteriorating, doctors at the AIIMS were constantly monitoring the health of the gangster who was suffering from sinus, officials added. Advertisement As per the Delhi Jail Manual, medical care shall be the same for dreaded criminals as other inmates but within the enclosures of the inbuilt Medical Inspection Room. However, in case of an emergency, with the permission of the superintendent, they can be shifted to a local hospital for treatment but under police escorts and guards. Advertisement Chhota Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje, was once a prominent name in the Mumbai underworld. Presently, he is lodged in Tihar Jail after being convicted in several serious criminal cases. Rajan was arrested in 2015 from Bali, Indonesia, in a high-profile operation and has been in custody ever since. Maharashtras Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane of the BJP stated on Friday that EVM means Every Vote Against Mullah while speaking at a Hindu Garjana Sabha rally in the Sangli district of the state. I have been elected as an MLA on the votes of Hindus. The opposition is making noise in the name of EVM. They cannot digest how the entire Hindu community came together as Hindus and voted for me. They are blaming EVM. These people do not understand the full form of EVM. They do not understand the thought behind how the Hindu community voted. EVM means Every Vote Against Mullah. So it is true that I got elected because of EVM. As Hindus, our position and thoughts must be clear. We do not kick anyone in the stomach, and so no one should kick us in the stomach. I became an MLA based on the votes of Hindus. I did not go to Muslim areas to seek votes. Our Hindu society woke up and so I became an MLA and a minister, Nitesh Rane said. Advertisement It is a nation of Hindus, so the interests of Hindus will be looked after first here. It is our job to protect those Hindus who salute the tricolour and sing the national anthem. Hindus must have a place in this nation. If we have to think twice before performing aarti (puja), do we live in a Hindu nation? We will have to think about this, Nitesh Rane said. Advertisement However, Ranes statement was criticised by Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Jitendra Awhad who said, Nitesh Rane had taken his oath on the Constitution. Some people are kept only to create a Hindu-Muslim divide. It may be recalled that Rane faced a backlash after he made a statement about Kerala recently. On 29 December 2024, Rane had described Kerala as mini Pakistan, referring to Muslims who voted for Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi and her brother Rahul Gandhi in the Wayanad parliamentary constituency. After facing backlash for his remarks on Kerala, Rane clarified that Kerala was indeed a part of India and that he had only compared the situation in Kerala to that in Pakistan. Kerala is very much a part of India. However, the decreasing population of Hindus is something everyone should worry about. The religious conversion of Hindus into Muslims and Christians (Islam and Christianity) has become an everyday affair there. Love jihad cases, where Hindu women are targeted, are also increasing there. I was comparing the situation (in Kerala) with Pakistan. The way Hindus are treated in Pakistan, if such situations happen in our very own country, we must take action against that. That is what I was trying to say in my speech, Rane clarified after the backlash. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has announced an initiative to convert 1,000 shipping vessels to solar-battery-powered systems over the next five years. This move, declared during the second Inland Waterways Development Council meet in Kaziranga, aligns with Indias broader commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. Advertisement To support this green shift, the government plans to invest Rs 50,000 crore in eco-friendly infrastructure, focusing on inland waterway systems that include 106 national waterways such as the iconic Ganga and Brahmaputra. Advertisement Additionally, Sonowal unveiled Rs 1,400 crore worth of projects spanning 21 states to bolster these waterways, underscoring their potential to revolutionise cargo transportation in India. This shift to river-based cargo movement ensures seamless connectivity, reduces road congestion, and lowers costs. Our cargo promotional scheme offers up to 35 per cent incentives for using river routes, Sonowal said, emphasising the economic and environmental advantages of this transition. Recognising the potential of inland waterways as an eco-friendly alternative, the country has significantly scaled up cargo movement through rivers, increasing volumes from 19.1 million tonnes to 133 million tonnes in 2024. India, which largely relies on foreign-made ships, is also ramping up domestic shipbuilding capabilities. New shipbuilding facilities are being established in multiple states, including Assam, to reduce dependency on imports and enhance self-reliance. A significant milestone in this journey was the launch of Indias first indigenous hydrogen-powered ferry in 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, the 24-metre catamaran marked a turning point in the countrys commitment to sustainable shipping. The Supreme Court on Friday expressed disinclination to interfere with the Allahabad High Courts order to consolidate or club all suits relating to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Masjid Idgah dispute and hear them together. Not passing any order and posting the matter for the first week of April, a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said that clubbing all suits/ applications related to the case and hearing them together will benefit both the sides in the case since it will avoid multiple proceedings. Advertisement Why should we interfere in the issue of consolidation? What difference does it make if it is consolidated? It is in your benefit and their benefit also that multiple proceedings are avoided. We will adjourn this. I do not know why everything needs to be contested. Re-list in the first week of April 2025, Chief Justice Khanna told the senior lawyer appearing for the Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah. Advertisement The top court is seized of several petitions relating to Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Masjid Idgah dispute. The controversy is related to Shahi Masjid Idgah at Mathura which is alleged to have been built after demolishing the temple at the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The civil suit was filed on behalf of a Hindu deity Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman and certain Hindu devotees claiming the mosque was built over Krishna Janmabhoomi land and sought its removal from its current site. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards during the valedictory session of the PBD Convention in Odisha. The President will present her closing remarks at the convention which began on January 8. Advertisement She arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday and was welcomed by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other BJP party leaders at Bhubaneswar Airport. Advertisement A highlight of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention is the presentation of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA). As many as 27 individuals and organisations will be honoured this year, from countries like the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Moldova, Myanmar, Russia and Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the names of the awardees for this year on January 3. The awardees include among others Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar from the UK (in the field of politics), Dr Sharmila Ford from the US for community service, and Dr Syed Anwar Khursheed from Saudi Arabia (in the field of Medical Science). This prestigious honour is conferred upon Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, or organisations established and run by them. The PBSA recognizes outstanding achievements in various fields and celebrates the accomplishments and commitments of NRIs and PIOs in sectors such as education, science and innovation, trade and industry, arts and culture, social work, public service, and philanthropy. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 to mark Mahatma Gandhis return from South Africa to India in 1915. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention commenced at Bhubaneswar on Wednesday with the inauguration of Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar here. The delegates have been participating in various plenary sessions on various issues during the three-day convention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday formally inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at the Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. Around 5,000 delegates from different corners of the world have been attending the grand convention. PM Modi also inaugurated four exhibitions at the venue, Vishwaroop Ram, highlighting the legacy of the Ramayana across the globe, Diasporas Contribution to Technology, Bharat Bharatiya: Swadesh Pardes showcasing the archival collections on migration of people from Gujarat to Oman and an Exhibition on Heritage and Culture of Odisha highlighting the timeless glory of Odishas history and culture. The Prime Minister remotely flagged off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train designed for the Indian diaspora. The train will visit various destinations of cultural, historical, and religious importance throughout India over three weeks. PM Modi, during his address at the inaugural session, sought the participation of the diaspora in making India a developed nation by 2047. In a message to the global community, PM Modi said the future is not in yuddha (war) but in Buddha (Lord Buddha, who symbolises peace). The Wayanad Principal Sessions Court in Kalpetta on Friday instructed the police not to arrest Congress leader and Sulthan Bathery MLA IC Balakrishnan and . Wayanad District Congress Committee( DCC) president ND Appachan till January 15 when the court will consider the case again The court gave the oral instruction considering the anticipatory bail plea of the duo. The police have been asked to withhold the arrest till January 15 and to produce the case diary in the court Advertisement The Kerala Police on Thursday booked Sulthan Bathery Congress MLA IC Balakrishnan, Wayanad District Congress Committee (DCC) president ND Appachan and two other party leaders in the suicide case of former Wayanad Congress Committee treasurer, NM Vijayan. Advertisement Charges of abetment of suicide have been filed against Congress leaders- Sultan Bathery MLA IC Balakrishnan, DCC President ND Appachan, and KK Gopinathan. The list also names late PV Balachandran, who had previously left Congress to join the CPI-M A special investigation team led by Sultan Bathery DySP K K Abdul Shareef is investigating the case. Recently, Vijayans family handed over the letters written by Vijayan to the KPCC leadership and the suicide notes to the police. The letters and suicide notes allegedly written by NM Vijayan before he died by suicide has put the Congress leadership in Kerala in a difficult situation The letters, which have been released by the family, purportedly mentioned names of Sulthan Bathery Congress MLA IC Balakrishnan, DCC president ND Appachan and other local leaders of Congress and accused them of corruption. Vijayan alleged that the MLA took bribes for offering jobs at the Congress-controlled cooperative bank in his constituency. Vijayan also alleged he had a huge debt due to the financial transactions with the Congress leaders Vijayan and his son Jijesh (38), a former employee of the Sulthan Bathery Urban Cooperative Bank, were found in a critical condition at their residence on December 24 and were shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode, where they succumbed. In his suicide note, Vijayan addressed his elder son Vijesh that he wanted this note to be handed over to the Congress leaders, and then to the Wayanad district police chief after 10 days if the party fails to act. It is based on this letter that the Wayanad police have now registered an FIR against the top Congress leaders. As the world enters 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump, now preparing for his second term, has reignited the flames of territorial ambition with rhetoric that harks back to Americas imperial past. Proclamations about annexing Canada, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and purchasing Greenland have sent ripples through the global political landscape. Trumps statements signal a bold, and perhaps dangerous, revival of expansionist policies reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine, this time rebranded for the 21st century. Trump recently unveiled a revised map of North America on Truth Social, merging Canada into the United States under the caption Oh Canada. At a press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump elaborated on his plan, claiming that Canada would benefit more as Americas 51st state than as an independent nation. Though dismissed as outlandish by many, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trumps remarks underline a calculated strategy to project American dominance. The rhetoric surrounding Mexico follows a similar pattern. Trumps insistence that Mexico must bear the costs of its perceived failures to control immigration and drug trafficking comes with veiled threats of military intervention. Advertisement If they cant solve their problems, well solve them for them, Trump declared, reinforcing a narrative steeped in the history of U.S. intervention in Latin America. Perhaps most provocative is Trumps stance on the Panama Canal. Calling it a global treasure mismanaged by Panama, Trump accused Chinese interests of exerting undue influence over the vital waterway. His rhetoric and the suggestion of reclaiming the canal by force evokes the United States century-long control of the canal, which ended in 1999. Its time to restore American authority over what rightfully belongs to us, he said, signaling potential friction with Panama and its regional allies. Trumps 2025 plans extend to the icy north, with renewed proposals to purchase Greenland from Denmark. Dismissed as absurd during his first tenure, Trumps proposition is underpinned by the islands strategic location and vast untapped resources. Advertisement Melting ice caps have made Greenland a focal point in the emerging Arctic geopolitical race, with its reserves of minerals and hydrocarbons attracting global attention. Trumps transactional framing of the deal-Denmark gains nothing, America gains everything aligns with his characteristic approach to foreign policy. While Denmark has categorically rejected the notion, the U.S.s strategic interests in Greenland remain a point of concern for European and Arctic nations. At the heart of Trumps declarations lies a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, articulated in 1823 to establish the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. sphere of influence. Trumps modern reinterpretation prioritizes economic and strategic dominance, reflecting a departure from diplomacy in favour of unilateralism. The doctrines historical echoes can be heard in Trumps call for a consolidated North America and his ambitions in Latin America. While critics argue that Trumps rhetoric borders on neo-imperialism, his policies during his first term revealed a similar ethos. The assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the arming of Ukraine, and economic sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba demonstrated an interventionist streak cloaked in nationalist rhetoric. Trumps vision, as evidenced by his comments on Canada, Mexico, Greenland, and Panama, signals a continuation of this approach. Trumps rhetoric is not limited to grandiose proclamations but is backed by a strategy of economic coercion. During his press conference, he suggested imposing sanctions on Canada if it resists annexation. Theyll come around, he quipped, emphasizing Americas leverage as Canadas largest trading partner. Similarly, he hinted at tariffs and aid freezes for Mexico, reiterating his belief that economic pressure can achieve what diplomacy cannot. The Panama Canals significance to global commerce and American interests cannot be overstated. Handling 5 per cent of global maritime trade, with a large portion benefitting U.S. markets, the canals control has symbolic and strategic value. Trumps accusations of Chinese influence provide a convenient pretext for intervention, though experts argue that his claims lack substance. Another striking aspect of Trumps rhetoric involves the Gulf of Mexico. Rebranding it as the Gulf of America, he proclaimed that the renaming would symbolize Americas dominance over its maritime borders. While seemingly superficial, the gesture underscores his vision of a reinvigorated American identity, projecting control over geographical and economic spheres. Trumps ambitions are not without historical precedent. The Louisiana Purchase, the annexation of Texas, and the acquisition of Alaska were all met with skepticism in their time but later became cornerstones of American territorial expansion. Trumps framing of Greenland as a business deal reflects this legacy, albeit in a contemporary context. However, the global order has evolved since the days of Manifest Destiny. Nations like China and Russia present formidable challenges to American supremacy, and unilateral land grabs risk alienating allies and sparking international conflicts. Critics caution that Trumps vision, while appealing to a segment of his base, could destabilize the geopolitical balance. Domestically, Trumps rhetoric galvanizes his supporters, who view territorial expansion as a pathway to restoring Americas greatness. His calls for reclaiming the canal, annexing Canada, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, and purchasing Greenland resonate with voters nostalgic for an era of unquestioned American dominance. However, such ambitions risk deepening divisions at home and straining international relations. Globally, Trumps statements have drawn sharp criticism. Canadian leaders have dismissed his remarks as absurd posturing, while Denmarks officials reaffirmed Greenlands autonomy. Latin American nations, wary of U.S. interventionism, have expressed concerns over the implications of Trumps rhetoric. Even traditional allies in Europe and Asia have questioned Americas commitment to multilateralism under Trumps leadership. As Trump prepares for his second term, his vision of an expanded America remains a focal point of his political narrative. Whether through economic pressure, military intervention, or rhetorical theatrics, his statements reflect a broader ideological shift toward asserting American primacy in an increasingly multipolar world. The question is not merely whether Trumps ambitions are feasible but what they reveal about Americas evolving identity and its role in the global arena. Trumps rhetoric encapsulates a vision of American imperialism reimagined for the modern era. While these ambitions may never materialize, their implications for global geopolitics and Americas international standing are profound. As 20 January approaches, the world watches with bated breath to see how Trumps vision unfolds, and what it means for the future of American power. (The writer is Associate Professor, Centre For South Asian Studies, Pondicherry Central University.) The wealth of a nation lies in its people, and in India, 1.4 billion aspirations drive the countrys progress. Over the past decade, the Government of India has made job creation a central focus of its governance, yielding transformational results. However, as with any significant endeavour, there is much to celebrate, but there are challenges that require greater attention in the years to come. India is at a remarkable crossroads. With the largest population in the world and one of the youngest workforces globally, the nation enjoys a unique advantage. Approximately 68 per cent of its population is of working age. Indias median age is 29.5 years, which starkly contrasts with Chinas 39.8 years and the United Kingdoms 40.6 years. This emphasizes the tremendous potential of a dynamic, innovative, and youthful workforce. This demographic dividend presents a fleeting opportunity that, if effectively harnessed, could propel the country into unprecedented economic growth. Job creation has been a central focus of the government over the past decade, driven by an explicit acknowledgement of its importance for economic development and social stability. The statistics highlight this progress: between 2014 and 2024, India created 17.19 crore more jobs, compared to the previous decades creation of just 2.9 crore jobs (2004-14). Advertisement Notably, 4.6 crore jobs were added in the year 2023-24 alone, demonstrating the scale and ambition of the governments policies. These initiatives have been transformative in terms of numbers and their impact on reducing unemployment and increasing workforce participation. The unemployment rate fell from 6 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24, while the labour force participation rate rose from 49.8 per cent to 60.1 per cent during the same period. Notably, progress has been significant at the sectoral level. A 19 per cent increase in agricultural employment between 2014 and 2023, reversing a 16 per cent decline in the previous ten years (2004- 14). Advertisement In manufacturing, employment rose by 15 per cent (2014-23), more than double the growth in the prior decade. These outcomes are indicative of the effectiveness of targeted policies. But these are not both sides of the same coin. Ma nufacturing, for instance, is a sector with enormous job creation potential. But its share of GDP has persisted at around 15 per cent ~ a far cry from the target of 25 per cent that the National Manufacturing Policy had set. In contrast, manufacturing accounts for 28 per cent of Chinas GDP and 25 per cent of South Koreas. Though the Rs 1.97 lakh crore-outlay under the Production Linked Incentive scheme has ensured sizeable investments in electronics manufacturing and $15.6 billion in exports of mobile phones in FY 2022-23 ~ employment generated remains well below expectation. The PLI scheme needs recasting to align the incentives more directly with job generation. Fiscal stresses are another inhibiting factor. The tax-toGDP ratio in India stands at 11.7 per cent, limiting its investment in job-generating sectors. Although GST collections have consistently crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crore every month, structural reforms are needed to widen the tax base and reach the 20 per cent tax-to-GDP ratio of peer economies. Improvement in tax compliance, modernisation of property taxes, and use of AI in GST analytics can bring in much-needed fiscal space. The MSME Sector represents the most significant opportunity for achieving inclusive growth in this decade. To put this in perspective, with 63.4 million enterprises contributing 30 per cent to GDP and employing over 100 million people, the MSME sectors economic footprint is much larger than the entire economy of countries like Thailand or Sweden. MSMEs have a Rs 20-25 lakh crore credit gap. Access to credit for this sector should be ensured as it has immense employment generation potential. At the same time we should also focus more on high-skill, high-pay employment opportunities. India has one of the worlds most significant numbers of graduates in STEM ~ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ~ fields. Closer connections between Indias technical colleges, employers, and investors can help support better job-matching, continued skills development, and start-up growth ~ which can turn job seekers into job creators. What the government needs to do now is future-proof the Indian workforce through recalibration of the PLI scheme, scaling up investments in green energy, and fostering innovation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, automation, and electric mobility. For instance, Indias ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030 is good for the environment and will become one of the biggest job generators. Likewise, the Indian space economy, valued today at $8.4 billion, is supposed to reach $44 billion by 2033 and would create thousands of specialised roles in that field. In the long term, India needs to invest in better education and support women in entering the formal workforce to shift more of its population away from precarious work. That will support income growth and, in turn, drive further job creation. Partnerships will be necessary to achieve this. Public-private collaborations, community engagement, and citizen feedback may help refine their strategies and bring inclusive growth in their wake. Global disruptions ~ the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and economic slowdowns ~ have tested Indias resilience. But more importantly, they brought home the message that the strategic policy to create employment has to be strong and responsive. And this is why we, reflecting over the past ten years, must realize that this journey for a prosperous India has just about begun. The government has laid the foundation, and it laid the right direction. Sustained effort, strategic reforms, and collective will can ensure that India converts the demographic dividend into a demographic boon and an opportunity for every citizen, fulfilling the promise of a truly Viksit Bharat by 2047. (The writer is Professor of Finance XLRI Xavier School of Management and a BJP leader) JERUSALEM, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Friday the death of 22-year-old Hamza Ziyadne, an Israeli-Bedouin hostage kidnapped by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack. In a joint statement, the IDF and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) said the body of Hamza was found alongside that of his father, 53-year-old Yussef Ziyadne, in an underground tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday during their joint operation. The father's body was identified shortly after being brought to Israel, and his funeral was held on Thursday in the southern Bedouin city of Rahat. In an announcement on Wednesday about the recovery of the father's body, the IDF noted evidence found during the recovery operation raised "serious concerns" about the fate of his son Hamza, who was also taken hostage. Hamza's body was later identified following the conclusion of forensic tests and police examination. Ziyadne and his three children -- Hamza, Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17 -- were kidnapped while working at Kibbutz Holit during the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Bilal and Aisha were freed during a hostage exchange in November 2023. Of the 251 people abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, nearly 100 remain in Gaza, with at least 36 believed dead, according to Israeli officials. Major global credit rating agencies agreed on Thursday that the political uncertainty in South Korea has had a limited impact on the economy so far, yet warned of potential challenges if the situation is prolonged, the finance ministry said. Moodys Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poors Global Ratings shared the assessment during separate virtual meetings with acting President Choi Sang-mok, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Advertisement The agencies evaluated the immediate economic impact of the current political situation, stemming from President Yoon Suk Yeols brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 and his subsequent impeachment, is minimal, reports Yonhap news agency. Advertisement However, they warned prolonged instability could deter foreign investment and influence corporate decision-making if the situation continues. Choi assured the agencies that uncertainties will soon be resolved through the countrys constitutional and legal systems. He also emphasized the governments commitment to ensuring that major economic policies and legislative agendas are smoothly handled through a consultative body with the National Assembly. Choi, who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, held similar meetings in early December before assuming interim leadership. Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeols lawyers said they have filed for an injunction against a second warrant to detain him over his brief imposition of martial law. Yun Gap-geun and other members of the impeached presidents legal defense team made the remark during a meeting with foreign news outlets, saying the request was filed with the Constitutional Court, along with a request for adjudication on a competence dispute. The Seoul Western District Court issued the warrant on Tuesday after investigators filed for an extension of their initial warrant that expired the previous day. An attempt to execute the warrant last Friday failed after Yoons bodyguards blocked investigators from entering the official presidential residence. A second attempt is expected to be made in the coming days. Russian President Vladimir Putin would welcome contact with Donald Trump if Trumps political will remains after his inauguration as US president on January 20, said the Kremlin on Thursday. There are currently no requests for contact from the US side, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. However, it would be reasonable to wait until Trump takes office, he added. Advertisement At a recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President-elect Trump said he was aware that the Russian leader would like to meet, adding that such a meeting would only be appropriate after his inauguration. Advertisement Trump said that he can understand the Russians feelings about President Joe Biden allegedly breaking a deal to deny Ukraine NATO membership. Discussing the causes of the war, Trump said that the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO had been a major issue for Russia for many, many years. You know, a big part of the problem was Russia for many, many years, long before (Russian President, Vladimir) Putin said, you could never have NATO involved with Ukraine. Now theyve said thats been like written in stone. Somewhere along the line (US President Joe) Biden said no, they should be able to join NATO. Well, then Russia has somebody right on their doorstep and I could understand their feeling about that, Trump told reporters on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. There were a lot of mistakes made in that negotiation. When I heard the way that Biden was negotiating, I said youre going to end up in a war and it turned out to be a very bad war. That war could escalate to be much worse than it is right now, he said in response to a question. Last month, Trump had said that he would speak to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and that of Russia Vladimir Putin to end the carnage of nearly three years of war. Trump has been highly critical of billions of dollars of aid that the Biden administration provided to Kyiv to battle Moscows invasion. Well be talking to President Putin, and well be talking to the representatives, Zelensky and representatives from Ukraine, Trump had said. We gotta stop it, its carnage, he added, referring to the war. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could swiftly end the conflict but has not provided concrete details on how. Rama is born in countless ways, And there are ten millions of Ramayanas. Tulsidas, Ramcharithamanas (1; 33; 6) The summer of 1988 witnessed a unique strike by the sanitation workers in north India, who refused to work until the state agreed to bankroll more episodes of the televised version of the Ramayan. More than eight million Indians would flock in piety before their television sets on Sunday mornings; some bathed and garlanded their devices, not for the ham acting and tinselly sets. But, as Pankaj Mishra argues, for Ram, the embodiment of righteousness, triumph over adversity. Since then, Ram has lived many popular lives on television and continues to wield profound emotional and psychological resonance for Indians. As Romila Thapar puts it, the Ramayan is not shackled to any one moment in history. Over time, we see the tranquil, benevolent godhead evolve into the ugra, angry, and exercised macho man pulling his bowstring, the arrow poised to annihilate. The many lives of Ramayan on screen The epic's popularity, too, remains undiminished. For instance, Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama is slated for re-release in theatres on January 24, 2025, more than three decades after it hit the screen. A collaborative project between India and Japan that skilfully blends three animation styles, it is an easy winner against 700 crore adaptations (cough, cough, Adipurush). Stills from Adipurush and Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama There were attacks on the skin tones of the characters and the Samurai-like movements when the film fist released in 1993. If you think this way, its your problem, as the many Ramayans of southeast Asia make it clear that it was never envisioned for a monolith. Directed by Koichi Sasaki, Ram Mohan and Yogo Sako, the anime embodies the true spirit of the Ramayan, in A.K. Ramanujans words, an endemic pool of signifiers, malleable in a million ways. If you are a true lover of the epic, you might want to take that aspirin before watching Adipurush, the most popular adaptation for all the wrong reasons. You also have Singham Again, which uses the Ramayan plot as a ventilator to sustain the cop universe that is better off dead. You can absolutely trust Akshay Kumar to disappoint, for no amount of allusion or namesake can save Ram Setu from sinking. Raavanan, the 2010 Tamil retelling, is without peer and without question in Ramayan adaptations. The Tamil film (ignore the Hindi version like Mani Ratnam ignores the few redeeming qualities of Ram) is, as someone called it, the Aishwarya Rai of films. The beauty of this retelling is such that you ignore the exceptional making. To put it simply, this is the only near-perfect Ramayan on screen. RRR also carries vestiges of the epic, but I doubt anyone would care about the subtle storytelling against its extravagant making. Hanuman, the 2005 animated feature, also won in terms of fanfare and was the countrys first fully animated, full-length feature to be released theatrically. Sri Rama Rajyam explores the epic after the battle, starting with the exile of Sita. Another unapologetically brilliant and subversive retelling is Nina Paly's Sita Sings the Blues, which rubbed a lot of right-wingers the wrong way. The film, available on YouTube, weaves a parallel between Ninas divorce and the greatest break-up story ever told. Much like Raavanan, Sita Sings the Blues is a must-watch. The Ramayan is not a static text; it is a living, evolving system that continuously grows in response to the community and cultural traditions with which it engages. While films like Adipurush and Singham Again make it to popular culture, any act of retelling the Ramayan is the rejection of a canon. Touting one version as authentic tends to create a dangerous trendthe homegenisation of culture, and as Thapar puts it, a national culture that is easy to control and manipulate. There are no grand narratives, nor are there any grand narrators with autocracy over the narration. Ramayan belongs to all. Let there be more Ramayans. SANAA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military and U.S.-British naval coalition on Friday jointly launched dozens of airstrikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa, northern Amran province, and the port city of Hodeidah, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The television said some strikes targeted the area surrounding the Al Sabeen Square in central Sanaa, where Houthi supporters used to hold weekly rallies on Friday to show support for Houthi attacks on Israel and "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes also hit the Hezyaz power station south of Sanaa, said al-Masirah TV, adding that 12 more airstrikes have targeted the Harf Sufyan district in Amran province. Residents said on social media that the strikes targeted weapons storage facilities located near Al Sabeen Square, as well as military sites in Harf Sufyan, including weapons depots and a launch pad. The Houthi television also reported more than six airstrikes on Hodeidah and Ras Issa ports. The U.S.-British coalition has not commented on the Houthi claim, while the Israeli military announced in a statement on Friday that its warplanes have targeted Houthi sites on the western Yemeni coast and inland Yemen. Since November 2023, the Houthis have been carrying out rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupting "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians amid their ongoing conflict with Israelis. In response, Israel has launched rounds of airstrikes on Houthi targets. In addition, the U.S.-led naval coalition stationed in the area has been conducting regular air raids and strikes on Houthi sites since January 2024 in a joint bid to deter the armed group, prompting the Houthis to expand attacks to include U.S. warships. Speculations are rife on the future of Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma's marriage as the duo unfollowed each other on Instagram. The Indian spin bowler also reportedly removed some of their couple photos from his social media, further strengthening theories suggesting cracks had developed in his relationship with Dhanashree Verma, a social media sensation and dance choreographer. Meanwhile, Chahal was linked with RJ Mahvash by some rumour mongers who claimed the duo to be dating. During Christmas, RJ Mahvash posted a photo on Instagram that showed Chahal enjoying lunch in her company. Christmas lunch con familiar, Mahvash titled the album. However, Mahvash on Friday decided enough was enough and hit out at the baseless reports on the internet. If two people of the opposite gender are seen together, they need not be essentially dating, she pointed out while asking "what year is this?". She won't let PR teams drag use her to cover up other people's image, she added. For the unversed, RJ Mahvash is a talented Delhi-based radio jockey who has over 1.4 million Instagram followers. A Mass Communication graduate, she is a known prankster who often finds time to create content targeting women empowerment and gender equality. FULL TRANSCRIPT OF RJ Mahvash's Instagram story: Some articles and speculations have been circulating around the internet. It's literally funny to see how baseless are these rumours. If you get SEEN with an opposite gender, so you are dating that person? I am sorry what year is this? And how many people are you all dating then? I have been patient since 2-3 days now but I won't let any PR teams drag my name into this to cover up other people's image. Let people live in peace with their friends and family in tough times. Dhanashree Verma-Yuzvendra Chahal divorce rumours Earlier, Dhanashree Verma and Yuzvendra Chahal had made cryptic social media posts requesting privacy. "The past few days have been incredibly tough for my family and me. What's truly upsetting is the baseless writing, devoid of fact checking, and the character assassination of my reputation by faceless trolls spreading hate... I've worked hard for years to build my name and integrity. My silence is not a sign of weakness; but of strength. While negativity spreads easily online, it takes courage and compassion to uplift others. I choose to focus on my truth and move forward, holding onto my values. The truth stands tall without the need for justification," Verma had said on social media. In 2022, Dhanashree dropped the surname Chahal from her Instagram handle giving birth to similar speculations. New Life Loading, Chahal had said on Instagram around the same time. The duo had tied the knot in a private ceremony held in Gurgaon on December 22, 2020. The call to return to Kumband came one day, heavy with unspoken command. It echoed in my father KP Georges voice, carrying the weight of a history I could not ignore. My mother, Kunjamma George, had been denied her inheritancean expansive estate of fertile land and the ancestral house in Kumband, central Kerala. The land, now transformed into cash crops and memories stolen, had been taken by close relatives. As a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, my father entrusted me with the duty to reclaim her rightful legacy. Do not disappoint me. Do not disappoint your mother, he said. This injustice had deep roots. My mother, orphaned at the tender age of five, had lost both parents within a year. Relatives, entrusted to safeguard her future, instead seised her inheritance, claiming it as their own. When she turned 16, an uncle brought her to Malaya, far from the home she was destined to inherit. There, she built a life of quiet strength, raising a family and harbouring the pain of her stolen heritage. Her silence, however, never meant acceptance. I arrived in Kumband with the resolve of a lawyer who knew the intricacies of inheritance law and inequities in the justice system. But this was not merely a legal battleit was a reckoning with culture, history, and identity. My reception in the village was icy. Those who had once been family now eyed me as an intruder, an English-educated outsider stirring long-settled waters. Youve done well in England, one cousin sneered, Why come scratching for a few rupees here? I was dismissed as a brown colonial master, accused of betraying my roots by embracing western ideals of justice. My presence was a threatnot just to the property they had built their wealth upon but to the social order they controlled. The relatives soon weaponised the village against me. Local thugs, political cronies, and archaic panchayat meetings were all leveraged to intimidate me into retreat. Rumours circulated of my intentionspainted as greed-driven and disconnected from the ground realities of Kumband. Even the few allies I found warned me of the perils of challenging entrenched powers in rural Kerala. The cultural chasm was stark. Here I was, an anglicised professional, confronting an India where tradition clashed violently with modernity. Kumband itself felt like a battlefield of values: the older spiritual India, steeped in familial bonds and communal ties, colliding with the commercial, opportunistic world that had since encroached upon its serenity. As I delved deeper, the scale of betrayal became more apparent. Decades of manipulated documents and complicit officials had erased my mother's rightful claim. But I was not deterred. With the evidence I gathereddocuments, witness statements and the law on my sideI was prepared to expose the deception and land grab. My relatives, however, would not go down without a big fight. They had plenty to lose. They held secretive local meetings, riling up villagers with tales of an Englishman trying to destroy their livelihoods. Local police, corrupted by years of patronage, proved ineffectual or outright hostile. Even lawyers I consulted in Kerala advised caution, warning me of the drawn-out nature of Indian litigation. Cases like this, they said, could stretch decades and still face parochial biases in court. The hostility reached a boiling point when they hired local gangsters to intimidate me. Threats loomed everywherefrom veiled warnings to outright confrontations. I became an outcast, my every move scrutinised, every argument twisted into an attack on the community itself. Yet, I could not abandon the fight so easily. This was more than a dispute over property. It was about justice denied to a young girl, my mother, who had been robbed of her future. It was about standing up to a system that allowed the powerful to exploit the powerless. It was also about mean individual caught between two worlds, trying to reconcile the easts emotional entanglements with the wests logic-driven ideals. Despite the overwhelming odds, I held my ground. But, as months turned into years, the enormity of the struggle began to take its toll. The litigation process, I realised, would be a labyrinth of corruption, incompetence, and delays. The judiciary in India, though theoretically impartial, was plagued by systemic flawsbiased trial judges, bribes, and an inherent distrust of claimants from abroad. In 2015, a year after my mothers death, I faced a difficult choice. My lawyers advised me to abandon the claim, warning that even with a strong case, the fight could consume the better part of two decades. The financial and emotional toll, combined with the logistical challenges of pursuing justice from England, became insurmountable. And so, I made the decision to let it gonot out of defeat but pragmatism. The land remained in the hands of those who had stolen it, but I found solace in a deeper sense of justice. Karma, I believed, would take its course. Indeed, over time, I heard of the misfortunes that befell the occupants of my mothers land. The wealth they had amassed brought them no peace, their lives shadowed by guilt and discord. This chapter of my life left an indelible mark. It mirrored the internal conflict that defines much of my storythe push and pull between two identities, two worlds. I found myself navigating the complexities of belonging, the weight of ancestral ties, and the inevitability of change. The battle for my mothers inheritance was not just about reclaiming land but about confronting the larger questions of legacy and identity. Was I an outsider in the land of my ancestors, or a guardian of its truths? Did my English upbringing make me less Indian, or more equipped to challenge the injustices of a system steeped in tradition? In the end, I carried my mothers story forward, weaving it into my own narrative. The house and land in Kumband remain beyond my grasp, but their significance endures. They stand as an evidence to the resilience of a woman who lost everything and the son who fought, even briefly, to restore her rightful place. The echoes of that struggle ripple through the work I do nowthe stories I write, the journeys I undertake. They remind me of the fragile balance between justice and compromise, and the enduring pull of home, however distant it may feel. Perhaps it is true that some battles are not meant to be won in the traditional sense. Sometimes, victory lies in the fight itselfin refusing to accept the injustices of the past, in ensuring that those who come after us know the truth. Kumband remains a symbol of all these things: the burdens of heritage, the clash of worlds, and the quiet persistence of justice, even in the face of overwhelming odds. It is not just a place on a map; it is a legacy I carry forward, a reminder of who I am and where I come from. IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) saw the markets rewarding it for posting an 11.95 per cent jump in quarterly net profit of Rs 12,380 crore. Both NSE and BSE saw the TCS stock soar by almost 5 per cent in Friday morning trade on the positive sentiment following the financial results for the three months ended December 2024. The impressive rally pushed the companys mcap above Rs 15.3 lakh crore, making it the biggest gainer in the market for the day so far. The demand for TCS also overflowed onto the sector, with Infosys, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro trading higher in morning trade. TCS, part of the Tata group, posted a quarterly revenue of Rs 63,973 crore, up 5.6 per cent from the same period a year ago, spurred by new order bookings jumping to USD 10.2 billion from last year quarters USD 7.9 billion. TCS chief executive K Krithivasan said that the company expects higher discretionary spending in 2025 than that in 2024. Friday morning saw benchmark market indices Sensex and Nifty climb, with the former gaining at least 270 points and the latter adding more than 69 points. Despite the positive market, the Indian currency continues to trade at a low of 85.87 against the US dollar on the continued outflow of foreign funds. On Thursday, FIIs offloaded equities worth Rs 7,170.87 crore, according to the data released by the exchanges. The United Nations also announced that the world economy is projected to grow at a dismal 2.8 per cent in 2025. However, it expects healthier growth for both India and Indonesia, according to the UN economists in the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025 report. The UN study pegged Indias growth at 6.6 per cent for 2025 on climbing private consumption and a rise in investment. Pakistan's aerial power is likely to have a major boost as the country is in the advanced stage of discussions with Turkey on setting up a production facility for a fifth-generation stealth aircraft, TAI Kaan, in the country. The facility is expected to focus on producing the local variant of the cutting-edge, next-generation stealth jet. The report comes even as there have been talks of Pakistan procuring 40 fifth-generation stealth Shenyang J-35 fighter jets from China. These fighter jets are expected to replace the ageing fourth-generation F-16s and French Mirage fighters of Pakistan. READ MORE: Pakistan to have 40 fifth-generation stealth J-35 fighter jets soon? Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and featuring automatic target recognition, multi-target tracking, ground mapping, AI-assisted target limiting, electronic warfare capacities, and enhanced missile guidance, Kaanofficially known as the TAI Kaan or TF-Xboasts of superior situational awareness and formidable deterrent capabilities. "Discussions on the export of the Kaan fighter jet and plans for joint development of helicopters highlight shared ambitions to advance defense technology collaboration and industrial partnerships, according to a Turkish media report. According to media reports, the discussions may be focused on the technical and logistical aspects of setting up the unit in Pakistan. Pakistan might have officially joined the Kaan stealth aircraft project. Multiple subsystems would be manufactured in Pakistan. A joint production line is likely being established. This will reduce the financial burden considerably and provide jobs for Pakistanis, EurAsian Times quoted a source as saying. Nonetheless, according to Indian Air Force veteran Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), Kaan is not going to be ready for induction before 2030. READ MORE: Amid Tejas delivery delay, Indian Air Force worried about China's sixth-generation fighter jets? He noted that a cash-strapped Pakistan may not be able to purchase two different stealth fighters, and the talks with Turkey are on because Pakistan realizes its military cannot depend on Chinese equipment alone and needs to diversify. "Through Kaan, they strengthen their defense cooperation with a trusted and reliable partner, Turkey, EurAsian Times quoted him as saying. The reports of Pakistan's fifth-generation fighter jets ambitions come even as Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh recently expressed concerns over the northern as well as the western adversaries increasing their air forces at a "very rapid pace" while IAF is awaiting the delivery of Tejas aircraft. Meanwhile, India's fifth-generation fighter program, primarily focused on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is expected to be ready only by 2028. The Indian Army will organise a 'Know Your Army Mela' at Manekshaw Parade Ground on Cubbon Road in Bengaluru on Saturday. The event will offer people an opportunity to view Army equipment up close. The Army is inviting Bengalureans to join them for a day of adventure, cultural activities, and equipment displays, a statement from the Defence Public Relations Office read. The fair, which has free entry for all, will take place from 8 am to 4 pm. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will be the chief guest of the event. The event offers a platform to interact with and understand the lives of soldiers who protect our borders," the statement read. ALSO READ: What makes Vaghsheer, recently delivered to Indian Navy by MDL, one of the deadliest submarines in the world 'Know Your Army Mela' will feature para-motor gliding, tank displays, a daredevil motorcycle show, drone demonstrations, combat bridge-laying, the experience of driving Army vehicles through simulators, and cultural programmes by Army soldiers. There will also be performances by Army dogs and horses. Informative and interactive stalls, including medical assistance, recruitment opportunities, army placement cell, a veterans' help desk, and food stalls, will also be organised as part of the event. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) delivered the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine, Vaghsheer, part of the Kalvari-class Project P-75 initiative, to the Indian Navy. The diesel-electric attack submarine, designed to perform a wide variety of tasks, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and area surveillance, is indigenously built, and incorporates cutting-edge technology. #MDL created history today with the delivery of Vaghsheer, Sixth Scorpene class Submarine of Project 75 to #Indian Navy. The acceptance documents (D448) was signed by Shri Sanjeev Singhal, CMD, MDL and RAdm R. Adhisrinivasan, CSO (Tech) in the presence of senior officials from pic.twitter.com/XtKw0wtLig Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (@MazagonDockLtd) January 9, 2025 The acceptance documents were signed by Chairman and Managing Director of MDL Sanjeev Singhal and Rear Admiral R Adhisrinivasan, CSO (Tech), in the presence of senior officials from MDL and the Indian Navy. ALSO READ: Indian Navy set for historic milestone as three combat platforms will join fleet on January 15 "The delivery of this Submarine is a testament of MDL's professionalism, expertise and experience in constructing complex war platforms, significantly enhancing the might of the Indian navy," the company said in a tweet. The Navy is set to commission the submarine on January 15, along with Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class and Surat, the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class. What makes Vaghsheer submarine lethal? Vaghsheer is one of the most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines in the world. It is armed with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems. The submarine also features modular construction, allowing for future upgrades such as the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. Dive into the future of naval supremacy ! Get ready for the glimpse of Vaghsheer #Indias formidable new submarine. Built to safeguard India's maritime interests and deliver the decisive edge, this underwater powerhouse is set to be commissioned on 15th January pic.twitter.com/VLkQzntiC1 Western Naval Command (@IN_WNC) January 10, 2025 Vaghsheer is named after a shark with distinctive long tails used for manoeuvring and to stun their prey, and this characteristic that truly depicts the lethality of the submarine, the Indian Navy said. Vaghsheer, the sixth & last submarine of Project 75 was delivered to the #IndianNavy on #09Jan 25. Named after a shark with distinctive long tails used for manoeuvring & to stun their prey a characteristic that truly depicts the lethality of the submarine, Vaghsheer has been pic.twitter.com/nOHzgoMetW SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 9, 2025 The submarine can carry up to 18 torpedoes and is capable of launching anti-ship missiles. Billed as a step forward in strengthening Indias maritime security, Vaghsheer not only enhances the operational capabilities of the Navy but also strengthens India's maritime defense posture. Denn die Todten reiten schnell. - Bram Stoker, Dracula. Stoker is no more, and the gothic scene has long since parted with Dracula and moved on to its descendants, too many at that. However, there is no negating Draculas popularity, especially the novels long-standing tryst with the screen. From Francis Ford Coppolas 1992 adaptation of the novel to Robert Eggerss Nosferatu, a remake of the 1922 film of the same name, it does seem that this love never dies. Draculaesque and the many iterations of the Count Nosferatu, starring Bill Skarsgard, Lili-Rose Depp, and Nicholas Hoult in the lead roles, is the latest addition to the list of Dracula adaptations on screen. The gothic horror which treads the grim route is a remake of Murnaus 1922 film, which failed to secure rights to Bram Stokers novel and tried to evade copyright violation by altering details and names, including changing Count Dracula to Count Orlok. Murnaus silent-era classic has also been praised as the prototype of the genre itself. Going by the yardsticks of popularity, Francis Ford Coppolas 1992 film Bram Stokers Dracula comes out on top, with Gary Oldmans face lending itself to one of the most popular renditions of the Count. See me, See me now has a cult status in popular culture, much like the movie itself. Both Nosferatu and Dracula also frequent discussions on cinema that adopts the German expressionist style. The 1979 film, Nosferatu: Phantom Der Nacht, is evidently different from the other versions of the film despite being a retelling of the 1922 film. Isabelle Adjani and Klaus Kinski star in this foreboding and moody remake, with Kinski emerging as the most unsettling Dracula of all. Risking this article turning into a list of all films named Nosferatu, there is one final addition. Shadow of the Vampire takes you through a fictionalised setting, the making of F. W. Murnaus Nosferatu with an actual vampire hired for the role, unbeknown to the crew. Even though Murnau helmed the first unofficial adaptation (which landed him in major trouble with Stokers widow), the first official adaptation came in 1931. In 1930, Universal Studios bagged the rights to both the play and the novel, and Bela Lugosi became the face of this cult classic. Thanks to this film, "Swan Lake" rose to be synonymous with Dracula. It is also interesting to note that even though the court ruled in favour of Florence Balcombe (Stokers wife) and ordered all copies of the 1922 Nosferatu to be destroyed, the film survived and rose to unforeseen popularity. How could one not mention Christopher Lees Dracula from Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968)? One among the many popular productions from the Gothic horror and fantasy roll of Hammer Productions (or Hammer Horror as it is popularly known), it also emerged as their highest-grossing film. Hammer also had a series of films centered on the Count and Doctor Van Helsing. Count Dracula (1977), a television adaptation produced by the BBC, is also one of the more faithful adaptations of the original text. However, with all being said there are only so many ways in which one can re-imagine and remake until the process becomes ad nauseum. Works like Billy the Kid vs Dracula bear the name, but very little essence of Stokers classic. Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) also ruffled a few feathers despite being popular. But Hotel Transylvania emerged unscathed by this criticism by viewing the Count through an interesting lens. Guy Maddins Dracula: Pages from a Virgins Diary (2002) re-imagines Bram Stokers vampire in the ballet way. Maddins movie, starring Zhang Wei-Qiang as the titular character, also explores the xenophobic reactions of other characters to Dracula. Dracula also made appearances on television with the Netflix series of the same name being his most recent outing. The mini-series conceived by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat was received well by lovers of the vampire. Dracula: The Series was yet another television show that ran for almost a year, with two children and the vampire-hunting uncle attempting to take down the modern reincarnation of Dracula. Statistics from 2015 pits two men against each other for the most number of on-screen adaptations. Arthur Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes stands second with 299 appearances and the vampire, Count Dracula towers over him with 538. With Nosferatu having a good theatrical run, it is time for all the lovers of Stokers fiction to revisit their favourite Dracula and say, I dont drinkwine. India will soon host acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders recognised globally for his work in such films as Perfect Days, Paris, Texas, and Wings of Desire for a career retrospective, which will run from February 5 to 23. The 'Wim Wenders - King Of The Road - The India Tour' was announced by the not-for-profit organisation Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) in association with the Wim Wenders Stiftung (Wim Wenders Foundation) and Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai on Thursday. To celebrate Wenders' illustrious career, eighteen films from his filmography will be chosen for screening. Also known for his extraordinary photography skills, Wenders will be in the country till March 1 and is expected to personally attend screenings in each city and interact with audiences. Wenders will travel to Mumbai (February 5 to 9), Pune (February 21 to 23), Thiruvananthapuram (February 10 to 11), Kolkata (February 16 to 19) and New Delhi (February 20 to 22). Legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders comes to India for the first time! "Wim Wenders - King of the Road - The India Tour" Feb 5 - March 1, 2025 in association with the Wim Wenders Stiftung (Wim Wenders Foundation) and in collaboration with @goethemumbai pic.twitter.com/G1wTnn628j Film Heritage Foundation (@FHF_Official) January 10, 2025 "In all my travels around the world over the years, it seems astonishing that somehow, India fell off the map, not just because it is a country with an abundance of landscapes and images to explore, but also because it is a country where cinema is like a religion," said the 79-year-old filmmaker in a statement. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, filmmaker and director of Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), said it was a "dream come true" opportunity to bring "one of the greatest masters of world cinema to come to India and support the foundation." "Wim Wenders is not just a filmmaker, but a poet and a thinker of cinema who has influenced generations of filmmakers, including myself. He is truly the King of the Road, but he has never been to India - and it would be the adventure of a lifetime to travel across the country with him and show his films," he added. Chinese health care officials has reported the discovery of a new mutated variant of mpox, named Clade Ib, in a foreigner who had previously travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Reportedly, the infection was reported among four other people, who came in close contact with the individual. Those with the infection reported symptoms of skin rashes, blisters and mild fever. In August 2024, the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern due to its widespread outbreaks in the DRC and other nearby African countries. It is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives, stated Dr Tedros. The previous outbreak in Congo was caused by Clade I, but the Clade Ib is said to spread more easily, even through sexual contact. This variant has already spread to many countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Measures taken by China The National Health Commission of the PRC has taken immediate measures to prevent the further spread. As per the reports, mpox will be treated as a Category B infectious disease, which will give the officials the authorisation to take immediate preventive measures against the disease, such as quarantine, suspension of schools and so on. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively monitoring the situation, and health officials have urged the public to remain careful. What is Mpox? Mpox, is a viral disease caused by an orthopoxvirus. Infected people usually experiences rashes or mucosal lesions that can last upto 2 to 3 weeks. Fever, headache, back pain, lethargy, and muscle aches are among the other symptoms. The disease is very similar to smallpox as it can cause severe sickness and long time scarring. How Mpox spreads 1. The Mpox virus can be transmitted through touching or close contact with the affected person. 2. It can spread through mouth-to-mouth contact, or mouth to skin contact like kissing and even sexual contact. 3. It also spreads through infected objects, such as needles, cloths, or tattoo needles that have been used before. People with several sexual partners or HIV disease are more vulnerable, they may experience more severe health complications and even death. Pregnant women infected with mpox can transmit the virus to the baby. 4. The infected person might experience blisters and rashes on their face, palms, soles of the feet, groin areas, etc. Mpox still remains a significant global health threat, with outbreaks in regions like the DRC. Continued vigilance and international cooperation are crucial in controlling the spread of this disease. Son of slain Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique and NCP leader, Zeeshan Siddique, has raised doubts about the Mumbai polices probe in connection with his fathers murder and said he would meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over police inaction in the case. Zeeshan charged those suspected by the family in the murder have not been questioned by investigators yet. Zeeshan has approached the trial court to get a copy of the charge-sheet filed by the police in the case as investigators have refused to provide him with one. The Nationalist Congress Party (AP) leader has met Gautam Lakhmi, Joint Commissioner of Mumbai police to know the status of the probe. Zeeshan raised doubts about the probe after police reportedly told him that builders named as suspects by him were not questioned by the police in connection with the murder yet. "The Mumbai police asked me for names of suspects and I had given the names of some builders. However, none of these builders have been questioned. This is ridiculous. The law and order situation in Maharashtra has become a joke. I want to know why these suspects are not being questioned," Zeeshan asked. Zeeshan asked why are builders being protected. Reportedly, the son of the veteran politician has suspected the role of a few builders involved in slum redevelopment in Baba Siddiques murder. Why have builders involved in slum redevelopment business not been questioned so far? The police have failed to arrest prime accused Anmol Bishnoi, Shubham Lonkar and others. Why are certain builders being protected? I do not know who is protecting whom, but we will get to the bottom of this matter," he said. Zeeshan said he would raise the issue with Chief Minister Fadnavis. Zeeshan added he would also meet Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over the issue. Veteran politician Baba Siddique was shot dead outside Zeeshans office in Bandra's Nirmal Nagar area on October 12. Mumbai police have so far arrested 29 persons in connection with the case and it filed its charge-sheet in court recently. According to police, gangster Anmol Bishnoi allegedly ordered the killing of Siddique to "create an atmosphere of terror". Police suspect Siddique was murdered due to his close relationship with actor Salman Khan, another celebrity on the gangs hit list. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its flights to Europe on Friday after a period of four and a half years, said a statement. A statement from PIA said that the national flag carrier proudly resumed its journey to Europe with the inaugural flight PK-749 from the country's capital Islamabad to Paris on Friday. PIA's flight operations were banned to the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States in June 2020 after its plane crashed in a residential area in the country's southern port city of Karachi. PIA flights to Europe resumed after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted the ban in November last year. Congratulating the countrymen on the resumption, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the closure of flights caused huge losses to the national airline and also brought uneasiness for Pakistanis living in Europe. "The resumption of PIA flights to Europe will facilitate overseas Pakistanis," said the prime minister, adding that the resumption of flights to Europe hinted that PIA is moving towards progress. The prime minister hailed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Aviation and Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif and concerned institutions for playing their role in achieving the restoration. Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, who is facing opposition from within the party, on Friday, chaired a meeting of former MLAs and MLCs to mobilise support ahead of the February election that will decide his fate as the party chief. Even as Vijayendra wades through troubled waters, his father and BJP veteran B.S. Yediyurappa surprised everyone by attending the luncheon meeting held at a hostel in Bengaluru. The former chief minister and Lingayat strongman has sounded the bugle to take on the ruling Congress in the upcoming zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections, but also to safeguard his sons position within the party by strengthening the party and its prospects. Also read | Rift wide open in Karnataka BJP over anti-Waqf protests; Yatnal-led rebels hold parallel rallies The 81-year-old leader who holds sway over the dominant Lingayat community which has a sizeable population in more than 100 Assembly constituencies chose to shield his son even as the rebel factions have been mooting for a change of guard in the state and to replace Vijayendra with an OBC leader (Kumar Bangarappa). The factional war in Karnataka BJP has reached a crescendo with the Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Yatnal-led rebel faction openly revolting against Vijayendra. The infighting has resulted in not two but three factions with senior leaders choosing to stay neutral. Despite several reminders, warnings and a show-cause notice, the rebel leaders continue their tirade against the party chief and have been organising meetings, separate anti-wakf protests and frequenting Delhi to meet the central leaders. Earlier efforts by central leaders BJP national president J.P. Nadda and Karnataka in-charge Radha Mohandas Agarwal, who visited the state to hear both factions, failed to quell the dissent. The rebel camp leaders Yatnal, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Kumar Bangarappa, Anna Saheb Jolle, B.P. Harish, G.M. Siddeshwar, Pratap Simha Arvind Limbavali and N.R. Santhosh have refused to make peace with the Vijayendra faction. The infighting has cost the party its image and is denting the organisational strength too as cadres and local leaders are confused and the party not initiating disciplinary action against dissidence is being seen as a weakness too. According to sources, Yediyurappa appealed to the former legislators to hold meetings in their constituencies and promised to tour the state to strengthen the party ahead of the local bodies polls. He also asked the cadres and leaders not to heed a few leaders who spoke ill of him and the party president. He also stated that the central leadership was aware of all developments and would act at an appropriate time. Vijayendra denied the meeting was a show of strength and said the meeting was long overdue. I wanted to hold a meeting of the defeated candidates but the work pressure did not permit it. This is not a show of strength or meant to expel anyone. As the ZP and TP polls are around the corner, we discussed strategies to strengthen the party, said Vijayendra, after the meeting that was also attended by former chief minister D.V. Sadanand Gowda and leaders of the opposition R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. Amid statewide protests against Union Home Minister Amit Shahs Ambedkar remarks in the Parliament, the Karnataka BJP on Friday launched the Bhima Sangama campaign, where each BJP MLA and MP invites at least 50 Dalit families to their homes to dine together. Announcing the dine-together event at the Samvidhana Sanmana Dina programme held at the party office, BJP national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh asked the elected representatives to conclude the campaign by January 25, as the BJPs two-month campaign Namma Samvidhana Namma Hemme (Our Constitution, Our Pride) that started on the Constitution Day (November 26) would conclude on the Republic Day. During the campaign, the BJP leaders and cadres would educate the people on the Constitution, the several amendments made to the Constitution by both the Congress and the BJP and the purpose behind these amendments substantiating it with documents. On January 25, the BJP plans to have a small gathering of 40-50 people in each polling booth to garland Dr Ambedkars portrait and to read out the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Interestingly, the saffron party is trying to change the Congress partys narrative of Constitution under threat in BJP rule by launching a counter-campaign Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan across districts with significant SC population from January 11 to 26. The ruling Congress in Karnataka will launch the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan rally in Belagavi on January 21, when a Gandhi statue will be unveiled at Suvarna Soudha. The event had been postponed due to the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Our leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi amongst others have decided to hold the event on Jan 21. The booklet on 1924 Congress (Belagavi) convention and other books will be released on the occasion, said KPCC chief DK Shivakumar. With the taluk and zilla panchayat elections just round the corner in Karnataka, both the national parties are trying to woo the SC/ST voters. The SC/ST population, being 27%, is significant to the political landscape of the state. Even as the protests against Amit Shahs remarks continue in the state, the BJP mocked the Congress saying it was anti-Dalit. Congress was never a friend of the Scheduled Castes. Dr. Ambedkar himself warned that Congress only wanted power, not progress for the marginalised. Today, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has diverted Rs 30,000 crores meant for the Dalit community. The funds meant for ST community has been siphoned off from Valmiki corporation and financial assistance for SC/ST students has been shamelessly cancelled, posted the state BJP. The Delhi BJP on Friday held a protest against the AAP for allegedly making "fake" claims about registration of voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the electoral rolls ahead of assembly polls. Protesters holding placards saying "Purvanchal Virodhi Kejriwal" raised slogans against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal with several attempting to breach the barricades installed near his residence. Slogans including "Purvanchal Virodhi Kejriwal murdabad", "Litti chokha khayenge, Kejriwal bhagayenge" were raised by the protesters. #WATCH | Delhi: On AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's alleged statement on Delhi voters from UP and Bihar, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale says, "Arvind Kejriwal indulged in liquor scam, defamed Delhi through wrong statements, he misled the poor voters. Union Minister Giriraj pic.twitter.com/oDyx1zqFyg ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025 The police had to use water cannons to disperse the crowd from further advancing. More than 20 protesters were detained for protesting without valid permission. Kejriwal on Thursday accused the BJP of manipulating the electoral rolls by registering "fake" voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in his constituency, New Delhi, ahead of polls. #WATCH | Delhi | BJP workers and supporters take part in the 'Purvanchal Samman March' from Ashoka Road to Arvind Kejriwal's residence, to protest against the latter's remarks against the people of Purvanchal. pic.twitter.com/ycoJWt15f7 ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025 #WATCH | Delhi | Police use water cannon to disperse BJP workers who are protesting outside AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence at Feroze Shah Road over his statement on Purvanchal voters pic.twitter.com/00fDUrPKdu ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2025 He lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission raising concerns over applications for the addition of 13,000 new voters between December 15 and January 8. "Apparently many of these voters have been brought in from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other neighbouring states to create fake voter registrations. This manipulation undermines the election process," said Kejriwal. Kejriwal's faced an immediate backlash from BJP with party leaders condemning his comments. "Arvind Kejriwal has always insulted the Purvanchali community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made several objectionable statements, and now he has referred to them as 'fake voters'. We will not forget this insult, and neither will the people of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. This betrayal will remain etched in the memory of Delhiites as well, said BJP MP Manoj Tiwari. Meanwhile, Kejriwal said that AAP has given Purvanchali voters a life of dignity. While talking to the reporters, Kejriwal said that he had gone to the Election Commission to highlight that under the garb of Rohingya and Bangladeshis, they are deleting names of Purvanchali voters. But, in turn, they are levelling baseless charges against me. If there is a party that has respected and given a life of dignity to people from Purvanchal in Delhi, it is the AAP, he said. Kejriwal accused the BJP of not doing enough for the Purvanchalis living in Delhi. "People from Purvanchal who come here live in Kachhi Colonies. Before 2014, it was difficult to live in these colonies. There was no development. More than 90% of the people in these colonies are from Purvanchal. I want to ask the BJP what you have done for slums in the last 10 years?" asked Kejriwal. The Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP is set to begin Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan', a campaign designed as a direct response to the Samajwadi Party and the Congress positioning themselves as guardians of the Constitution in the recent Lok Sabha elections, from January 11. The campaign, which will go on till January 25, will include discussions with the broader public at various levels and direct interactions with the young through school and college visits. The focus of the campaign is the Dalit population, and the message the party wants to deliver is that the BJP is the party that gives maximum respect to B. R. Ambedkars principles and to the ideals of the Constitution. The rallying cry for the campaign is: Humara Samvidhan Humara Swabhiman(Our Constitution, our pride). Dalits count for more than one-fifth of the voters in Uttar Pradesh. The outreach has been divided into two phases. The first phase will cover districts including Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Agra and Ghaziabad, while the remaining districts will be covered in phase two. To engage with the young, debates, quizzes and essay writing competitions will be organised. The partys Yuva Morcha activists will go to hostels at academic institutions to engage with students. The campaign will go down right to the booth level, where party workers are to gather people for discussions on the Constitution, and also on how the BJP has upheld its values. The party also hopes to drive home the message that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have merely used the Constitution for electoral gains. Party workers will also stress their belief that the opposition has disrespected both Ambedkar and the Constitution. The BJP will highlight how a conspiracy by Jawaharlal Nehru made Ambedkar lose the elections, and also how the party did not give him a Bharat Ratna. The Samajwadi Party will be targeted for usurping the benefits of reservation and also renaming a medical college in Kannuaj. Last year, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had brought up the issue and said the college shall be renamed after Ambedkar. Besides the youth wing, the partys SC/ST morcha, the womens wing, MPs, MLAs and all-party level functionaries will be involved in the campaign. Ram Chandra Kannaujia, who heads the partys SC/ST wing said his party would expose the opposition through this intensive campaign. National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said instead of fighting, his party wants to collaborate with the Centre to resolve the issues facing Jammu and Kashmir. "We dont want to engage in battles. Those who want to fight can do so," he said. He said there is a need for dialogue and cooperation. He called on the Centre to prioritise the needs of the people rather than engaging in bickering. He urged the authorities to hire teachers, doctors, and paramedics to improve public services in schools and hospitals. Responding to allegations about his son, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, being labelled a "New Delhi man", Abdullah said Omar acts independently as an elected chief minister. Those who are under this misunderstanding should come out of it," he said. He said the NC has no connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party, stressing the importance of restoring Jammu and Kashmirs statehood for a stable governance. Meanwhile, Omar expressed frustration over the INDIA blocs lack of direction and clarity. Speaking at an event, he said no meetings are being held to decide the future of the alliance. He said if the alliance was created only for the Lok Sabha elections, it should be dissolved. If the alliance intends to work together for assembly elections as well, its leaders must sit together and form a collective strategy, he said. Omar has faced criticism from party MP Syed Agha Ruhullah Mehdi for not being vocal in his demands about Jammu and Kashmir with the Centre. Mehdi has warned that Omar risked being seen as Delhis representative in Kashmir if he doesn't fight for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference (PC) have lent support to Mehdi. After taking over Omar has regularly met the BJP leaders in New Delhi for support, especially financial, for smooth governance. He has also asked his MLAs and ministers to avoid confrontation with the BJP and wait for the restoration of the statehood. With just over two weeks left for Republic Day celebrations, reports claim Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest this year. The reports come just two days after Indonesia joined BRICS as a full member with the backing of India and others. However, Delhi is yet to formally announce Subianto's visit, contrary to the precedence where the name of the chief guest is declared months ahead of the ceremony. Reason: Prabowo's reported plan to club India visit with Pakistan. New Delhi, apparently, isn't thrilled about this. The Centre had earlier too encouraged foreign leaders to not include Pakistan in their itinerary while travelling to India in a bid to de-hyphenate their ties with the two countries. However, things are moving fast in Pakistan with Islamabad announcing the impending visit of Prabowo on January 26. So much so that a high-level committee was formed ahead of the visit to formulate concrete proposals to enhance relations with Indonesia in different sectors. "This landmark visit will open new avenues for trade and cooperation, further strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Indonesia," Pakistan federal minister Ahsan Iqbal told reporters. India, on its part, has already raised this before Indonesia so as to persuade Prabowo to fly directly to Islamabad from Delhi. The Centre views this direct flight as bad optics, considering India's almost non-existent relationship with Pakistan over multiple issues, including terrorism. Interestingly, the last time an Indonesian President visited India for an R-Day function was in 2018 when then-President Joko Widodo was a chief guest. He also flew directly to Pakistan from New Delhi. However, on that occasion, Widodo was just one of 10 Southeast Asian leaders invited as joint chief guests as part of India's joint invite to all ASEAN heads to commemorate 25 years of engagement with the bloc. If Prabowo agrees to India's demand, which is likely considering the rapport both countries enjoy, an announcement is likely soon. However, Deccan Chronicle quoted unnamed sources in New Delhi which said officials of India and Indonesia were in discussion about the itinerary of the president. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest and the announcement about his visit in December. Before that, it was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the announcement of which came as early as November. Canada's outgoing President Justin Trudeau has responded to US President-Elect Donald Trump's remarks about merging the US with Canada, stating "that is not going to happen." He said the President-Elect's statements were an attempt to distract the Americans from the costs they would face as a result of steep tariffs on Canadian goods. "What I think is happening in this is President Trump, whos a very skilful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation, to take away from the conversation around 25 per cent tariffs on oil and gas, and electricity and steel and aluminium and lumber and concrete and everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs. Thats something that I think we need to be focusing on a little bit more," Trudeau said. This was the Canadian Prime Minister's first interview after stepping down as the leader of the Liberal Party. To Trump's taunts about Canada becoming the 51 state of the US, Trudeau had earlier reacted that there was not a "snowballs chance in hell" that Canada would become part of the US. He also warned that Ottawa would impose countermeasures if Trump made good on this threat. Recalling the 2018 trade dispute, Trudeau said Canada put tariffs on Heinz ketchup, playing cards, bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, "things that would hurt American workers". "But we dont want to do that because it drives up prices for Canadians and it harms our closest trading partner," he said. Though Trudeau shared the venue with Trump, the Canadian Prime Minister said he did not interact with Trump. However, Trudeau agreed with Trump's stance about border security and that his governments recently-announced $1.3-billion border plan was "a clear win for President Trump." Interestingly, Trudeau also sent firefighting resources to California to fight the wildfire in Los Angeles. Shared a video of a Canadian waterbomber dousing flames in Los Angeles County, Trudeau wrote: "Neighbours helping neighbors", referring to the British and American spellings for "neighbours". Federal prosecutors have alleged new criminal conduct involving Mayor Eric Adams and his associates, adding to the historic bribery and corruption case against the New York City mayor. The stunning revelation was made in a court filing this week, in which Manhattan federal prosecutors said their ongoing investigation has uncovered further alleged crimes beyond those detailed in the indictment filed against Adams in September. Although the Indictment and discovery provide Adams with more than sufficient information as to his alleged co-conspirators and aiders and abettors, law enforcement has continued to identify additional individuals involved in Adamss conduct, and to uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams, prosecutors wrote. The indictment accuses Adams of accepting free or heavily discounted travel from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors. These allegations, filed in the Southern District of New York, form the backbone of a case that has drawn national attention. Adams has denied all wrongdoing and is scheduled to stand trial in April. The new claims come amid a heated legal battle between the SDNY and Adams defense team, led by high-profile attorney Alex Spiro. The defense has accused prosecutors of attempting to sway public opinion through strategic court filings, while prosecutors argue they have provided ample evidence to support their case. Last month, Spiro accused the government of lacking sufficient evidence to bring an expanded indictment, calling their case overblown. He also pressed the judge to force prosecutors to disclose trial exhibits and details about alleged crimes not included in the initial indictment. Prosecutors countered in Mondays filing, asserting that they had provided Adams legal team with extensive discovery materials and prior court filings that adequately outline the case. They claimed that providing a full list of alleged co-conspirators at this stage could jeopardize the ongoing investigation and raise concerns about witness tampering. Adams dismissed the latest claims during a brief exchange with reporters on Tuesday. You know, even Ray Charles can see whats going on, he said, flatly denying any wrongdoing. Spiro also lashed out at the prosecutors, calling their approach amateur hour. They are just looking for a headline instead of doing the right thing, he said, adding, I assume we are at the point where New Yorkers are not falling for it. The case against Adams has been politically and legally contentious from the start. Prosecutors first revealed the charges in September, alleging Adams engaged in a scheme to benefit Turkish officials through political favors, including influence over city contracts. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) by Rania Aboelkheir The year 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. In May 2024, the forum convened its 10th ministerial meeting in Beijing, where China proposed "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. These frameworks outline a roadmap for developing China-Arab relations with the following objectives: a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, and a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges. The five frameworks serve as the cornerstones for future China-Arab collaboration, building upon the past successes of the partnership in traditional fields such as energy, infrastructure and trade, as well as emerging areas like information technology, digital economy and renewable energy. The five frameworks reaffirm both sides' commitment to intensifying joint efforts to accelerate the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future, with the vision of establishing a model relationship based on mutual benefits, shared success, reciprocal learning and common progress. In light of the above-mentioned ambitious blueprint, the past years have seen China and Arab states score success across various fields, most notably in the following sectors. In energy and infrastructure, significant strides were made toward greater integration. In November 2024, the Fujian Gulei Phase II Integrated Refining and Petrochemical Project broke ground in east China's Fujian Province. This project exemplifies Chinese-Arab energy cooperation, with a total investment of 71.1 billion yuan (about 9.7 billion U.S. dollars) and an annual output value estimated to reach around 80.8 billion yuan (about 11 billion dollars). The project, expected to reach its full capacity in 2030, will supply 5 million tons of raw materials annually for downstream companies at the Gulei complex, enhancing its industrial chain while promoting smart and green development. The two sides have also strengthened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). For example, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has created nearly 9,000 direct and over 80,000 indirect job opportunities in Egypt. In Algeria, the eastern section of the East-West Highway, constructed with China's participation, has become a vital economic artery. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China's Harbin Electric International Engineering has partnered with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power in a joint venture to build the Hassyan clean coal project in Dubai, the first of its kind in the Middle East. Statistics show that China and Arab countries have initiated more than 200 major projects in infrastructure, energy and other fields under the BRI, benefiting nearly 2 billion people in the two regions. Tourism has flourished thanks to visa-free policies for Chinese citizens implemented by several Arab states, including Morocco, the UAE, Qatar and Tunisia, as well as the launch of direct flights between Chinese cities and destinations like Riyadh, Doha and Cairo. Remarkable achievements were also made in satellite development, manufacturing and launching, as well as in data sharing, technical exchange and specialist training. China has also signed space cooperation agreements with countries like Algeria, Sudan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, successfully launching Algeria's first communication satellite, Alcomsat-1, the Saudi Sat 5A and Sat 5B, Sudan's scientific experimental satellite, and MISRSAT-2 for Egypt. China has established several Luban Workshops in the Arab world, including Djibouti, Egypt and Morocco, providing training in various disciplines such as mechatronics integration, railway operations and traditional Chinese medicine, aligning with the economic and social development strategies of host countries to nurture talents in key sectors. The Arab youth has shown a growing interest in learning Chinese. Countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have incorporated Chinese language instruction into their national education programs. These accomplishments represent just a small fraction of the extensive cooperation between China and Arab nations, which share a commitment to building stronger ties under the BRI. Over the past decade, China regarded Arab countries as natural partners in advancing the BRI, while Arab nations viewed the initiative as a vital developmental vision. To date, all 22 Arab countries have become partners in the BRI, aligning its goals with their developmental needs, such as economic diversification and industrialization. The BRI also complements the long-term strategies of Arab nations, including Egypt Vision 2030, Saudi Vision 2030, Qatar National Vision 2030, the UAE's Principles of the 50 and Kuwait's 2035 Vision. Additionally, the League of Arab States was the first regional organization to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the BRI. In conclusion, the strength of international friendships depends on the closeness of their people. In 2025, both sides aspire to continue practical cooperation, enhance exchanges in economy, technology and culture, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between their people. I expect more cultural, educational and tourism exchanges to foster friendship and deepen intergovernmental cooperation. Editor's note: Rania Aboelkheir is the secretary-general of the Global Forum for Future Studies, an Egyptian think tank. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency. An imprisoned opposition activist in Belarus resurfaced Wednesday in a video shot by a pro-government blogger after over 700 days of no contact with his family, weeks before an election that is all but certain keep the countrys strongman leader in power. Viktar Babaryka, 61, has been denied meetings with his family and lawyers while serving a 14-year sentence in a penal colony after failing to get on the ballot against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in a 2020 election. Babaryka was last heard from in February 2023, and other prisoners said later that year he was hospitalized with signs of beatings. Since then, authorities havent released any information about his condition and barred his lawyer from visits. The European Parliament has urged authorities to release him and other political prisoners. Raman Pratasevich, a former opposition journalist who later became a government supporter after being arrested himself, posted photos and a brief video in which Babaryka greeted his family. It wasnt clear when or under what conditions the images were taken, and The Associated Press could not independently verify them. Babaryka, who looked visibly thinner than in his last appearance, was pictured wearing a prison uniform bearing a yellow tag designating him as a political prisoner and thus subjecting him to particularly harsh prison conditions. Pavel Sapelka, a representative of the Viasna Human Rights Center, noted that the images were released ahead of the Jan. 26 presidential election, in which Lukashenko is seeking a seventh, five-year term to add to his more than three decades in power. The authorities decided to show Babaryka in the run-up to the election to avoid accusations of forced disappearance of opposition activists behind bars, Sapelka said. The terribly emaciated Babaryka epitomizes the nightmare of repressions in Belarus, a sad reminder for others who dare to challenge Lukashenko. In November, Pratasevich posted photos of Maria Kolesnikova, another prominent opposition activist who had been held for more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends. Babaryka is one of 1,258 political prisoners in Belarus, according to Viasna, the countrys leading human rights group. Top opposition figures were imprisoned or fled the country amid the sweeping crackdown that followed the 2020 election. Authorities responded to massive demonstrations protesting vote-rigging with brutal repressions in which about 65,000 people were arrested and thousands were brutally beaten by police. At least seven political prisoners have died in custody, according to Viasna. Like Babaryka, many other opposition activists have been held incommunicado. Lukashenko pardoned some political prisoners last year but authorities launched a new wave of arrests before the election, seeking to uproot any sign of dissent. Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to leave the country after challenging Lukashenko in the 2020 vote, said she was happy to see Babaryka alive and demanded that authorities release information about others who have been held incommunicado, including her husband, activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski. We must now demand to see all others who have been held in complete isolation, and the cruel and inhumane incommunicado practice must stop, she said. Pratasevich ran a Telegram messaging app channel widely used by participants in the 2020 protests. He was living in exile when he was arrested in 2021 after being pulled off a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania that was diverted to Minsk by a bomb threat. Once in custody, he made several confessional appearances on state television that critics claimed were made under duress. He was later released and pardoned. We consider Pratasevich a hostage. Hes doing all what is ordered by the Belarusian authorities, Sapelka said. (AP) Tech billionaire Elon Musk livestreamed his chat with a leader of Germanys far-right party on Thursday, using the power of his social media platform, X, to amplify the partys message ahead of an upcoming national election and raising concerns across Europe about the worlds richest man trying to influence foreign politics. Musk, who worked last year to help reelect Donald Trump in the United States, told Alice Weidel, a co-leader of the Alternative for Germany party and its candidate for chancellor, that he was strongly recommending that people vote for AfD, using the partys acronym. The audience for the livestream peaked at more than 200,000 X accounts. Musk and Weidel agreed that Germanys taxes are too high, that there is too much immigration, and that it was a mistake for the country to shut down nuclear power plants. Musk said he hoped the conversation showed people that Weidel is reasonable. Nothing outrageous has been proposed, just common sense, Musk said. People really need to get behind the AfD, otherwise things are going to get very, very much worse in Germany. The AfD has been put under observation by Germanys domestic intelligence agency for suspected extremism, and mainstream parties have shunned working with it. The AfD has strongly rejected the designation, portraying it as a political attempt to discredit the party. Musk and Weidel emphasized the importance of free speech, and Weidel used the topic as an opportunity to refute the idea that the AfD shares any affinity with the countrys Nazi past. She said one of Adolf Hitlers first acts after seizing power was to restrict speech. She then emphasized that the AfD holds libertarian views, and contrasted that with Hitler, who she noted had nationalized Germanys economy. The biggest success after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right and conservative. He was exactly the opposite. He wasnt a conservative. He wasnt a libertarian. He was a communist socialist guy, Weidel claimed. The conversation later took a turn away from politics, with Weidel asking Musk when he thought humans could live on Mars and whether he believed in God questions he gave long and inconclusive replies to. I am open to the idea of God, he said at one point. In her concluding remarks, Weidel told Musk that his views are visionary. Musk has previously used X to endorse AfD, and he authored an opinion article for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, claiming Germany under center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz is teetering on the edge of economic and cultural collapse. Germanys election is scheduled for Feb. 23. The foray into politics by the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive is raising alarm across Europe. In addition to endorsing the AfD, Musk has demanded the release of jailed U.K. anti-Islam extremist Tommy Robinson and called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer an evil tyrant who should be in prison. The chat between Musk and Weidel was being monitored by watchdogs from the European Commission, which has accused X of violating the 27-nation blocs sweeping digital rulebook for cleaning up social media platforms and protecting internet users from online harm. Commission officials say Musk has the right to express his views but that the rulebook known as the Digital Services Act is designed to rein in risks that platforms will be misused to amplify illegal content, including hate speech or election-related misinformation. The commission has been investigating whether X complies. In preliminary findings issued last year, Brussels said the platform was in breach because its blue checkmarks originally intended as verification badges are deceptive, and because it falls short on transparency and accountability requirements. Regulators are still investigating other possible offenses. Musk presented Weidel as the leading candidate to run Germany but that isnt true. Polls show that AfD has grown to be the second-most popular party in the country. The mainstream conservative Christian Democrats are favored to win the election, with the latest polling showing them at 31% support, compared with 20% for the AfD. Still, the AfD has risen in popularity, as have parties with similar views across Europe, where a former taboo against far-right viewpoints is in decline. AfD was formed in 2013 and has moved steadily to the right. Its platform initially centered on opposition to bailouts for struggling eurozone members, but its vehement opposition to then-Chancellor Angela Merkels decision to allow in large numbers of refugees and other migrants in 2015 established the party as a significant political force. AfDs support has grown as a result of discontent with Scholzs three-party coalition government. Its rising popularity also reflects a growing frustration among some with Germanys involvement with the European Union and NATO which some view as eroding national sovereignty. (AP) New Yorks highest court on Thursday declined to block Donald Trumps upcoming sentencing in his hush money case, leaving the U.S. Supreme Court as the president-elects likely last option to prevent the hearing from taking place Friday. One judge of the New York Court of Appeals issued a brief order declining to grant a hearing to Trumps legal team. Trump has asked the Supreme Court to call off Fridays sentencing. His lawyers turned to the nations highest court Wednesday after New York courts refused to postpone the sentencing by Judge Juan M. Merchan. Merchan presided over Trumps trial and conviction last May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in what prosecutors called an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment. Trump has denied wrongdoing. In a filing to the top New York court, Trumps attorneys had said Merchan and the states mid-level appellate court both erroneously failed to stop the sentencing, arguing that the Constitution requires an automatic pause as they appeal and that the sentencing would disrupt the Republicans presidential transition as he prepares to return to the White House on Jan. 20. Prosecutors pushed back, saying theres no reason for the high court to take the extraordinary step of entering a state case to halt a sentencing thats been delayed at Trumps request. There is a compelling public interest in proceeding to sentencing, Manhattan prosecutors wrote. Defendant has provided no record support for his claim that his duties as President-elect foreclose him from virtually attending a sentencing that will likely take no more than an hour. While Merchan has indicated he will not impose jail time, fines or probation, Trumps lawyers argued a felony conviction would still have intolerable side effects, including distracting him as he prepares to take office. Trumps attorney D. John Sauer called the case politically motivated and said sentencing now would be a grave injustice. Sauer is also Trumps pick to be solicitor general, who represents the government before the high court. The emergency motion to the U.S. Supreme Court was submitted to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who hears emergency appeals from New York. Trumps attorneys also argue that evidence used in the Manhattan trial violated last summers Supreme Court ruling giving Trump broad immunity from prosecution over acts he took as president. At the least, they have said, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals play out on the immunity issue. Judges in New York have found that Trumps convictions related to personal matters rather than the official presidential acts at the core of the Supreme Courts ruling. Prosecutors argue Trumps claims arent strong enough to overturn his conviction and his appeal shouldnt freeze the case because its about evidence rather than the core charges. Any pause now would likely push the schedule out past Trumps inauguration, creating a yearslong or indefinite delay, prosecutors wrote. (AP) The Southern Sydney Synagogue, a Modern Orthodox shul, has become the latest target of vile antisemitic vandalism, as swastikas, hate-filled phrases, and pro-Palestine slogans defaced the sacred space in the early hours of Friday morning. The chilling graffiti, which included phrases like Hitler on top, free Palestine, and unpublishable slurs, was discovered on the walls of the shul. Police launched an investigation after two masked individuals were seen spraying grafitti on the shuls between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., CCTV footage shows. This is not the first time the shul has been targeted. In 2002, it was similarly defaced with graffiti, and in 1991, it suffered a devastating firebomb attack. The latest attack, described by community leaders and public officials as abhorrent, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stronger action against antisemitic hate crimes. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was quick to denounce the attack, calling it a grotesque act that must be met with swift justice. These repulsive incidents are a precursor to greater evils, and its no wonder our Jewish community in Australia is living in fear, Dutton told Sky News. Enough is enough. If there are no repercussions for such disgraceful crimes, there will be no deterrence. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that such actions have no place in Australias multicultural society. These hateful acts are criminal, and they must be met with the full force of the law, Mr. Albanese stated. We are a multicultural nation committed to inclusivity and cohesion. This vile attack undermines those values. The incident has deeply shaken Sydneys Jewish community. Southern Sydney Synagogue President George Foster described the attack as deeply distressing and reminiscent of dark chapters in Jewish history. My parents were Holocaust survivors, and this has echoes of Germany in 1933, when Jewish shops, homes, and institutions were defaced with antisemitic signs, Foster told The Daily Telegraph. Its unbelievable this is happening in Australia. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDF has recruited dozens of Yemeni Jews who speak the Yemeni Arabic dialect to aid army intelligence officials in the battle against the Houthis in Yemen, Kan News reported on Wednesday. The report said that some of the Yemeni Jews now working for the IDF were born in Yemen and immigrated to Israel and others were born and raised in Israel in Yemeni-speaking homes. Kan reported last week that senior Biden administration officials informed Israel that the US intends to increase its strikes against Houthi targets in the time remaining until President-elect Donald Trump enters office. The US is targeting missile-related sites to combat the Houthis increasing missile attacks on Israel. Typically, Biden administration officials also requested that Israeli defense officials ensure that the IDF only carries out strikes against military targets in Yemen and not civilian ones. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In a decision that highlights Amnesty Internationals growing disconnect from impartiality, the organizations international board has suspended its Israel branch for two years not for misconduct or human rights violations, but for refusing to mislabel Israels actions as genocide. The Tel Aviv-based chapter, founded in 1964 and one of Amnestys oldest, is being punished for the apparent crime of honesty. According to Amnesty, the Israeli branchs failure to align with Amnesty International research and positions specifically its refusal to endorse accusations of genocide against Israel was grounds for suspension. A spokesperson for Amnesty claimed the decision also stemmed from evidence of endemic anti-Palestinian racism within the Israeli office, though no substantial proof was offered beyond vague references to former board members resignations. In a statement reeking of irony, the spokesperson said, Anti-Palestinian racism within Amnesty Israel has been denounced by a number of board members of Amnesty Israel since 2021, resulting in their resignations. This accusation comes despite Amnesty Israels diverse staff of Arab and Jewish members, whose input consistently shapes the chapters reports and public statements. The crux of the conflict lies in Amnesty Israels refusal to toe the ideological line on inflammatory and legally complex accusations. When Amnesty International released its 296-page report last month, dramatically titled You Feel Like You Are Subhuman, the global body accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza language Amnesty Israel refused to endorse. Rather than blindly sign off on such incendiary claims, Amnesty Israel issued a measured response: Our careful analysis does not find that the findings meet the definition of genocide, as carefully formulated in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This stance rooted in legal precision rather than political pandering is now labeled as a betrayal. The Israeli branchs defiance isnt new. In 2022, Amnesty International labeled Israels policies towards Palestinians as apartheid, a term Amnesty Israel called problematic, flawed, and warned could have adverse effects. It seems that objecting to inflammatory rhetoric, even when justified by facts, has no place within Amnesty Internationals current playbook. In its pursuit of ideological purity, the organization appears more willing to alienate one of its own branches than to tolerate dissent rooted in reason. Israels government, which has long accused Amnesty International of bias, responded with little surprise. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich previously instructed the Israeli Tax Authority to investigate the local Amnesty branch, questioning the legality of tax benefits the organization enjoys, especially as 80% of Amnesty Israels funding comes from the global headquarters. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Fifteen months into its war with Israel, Hamas continues to pay its operatives regular salaries, despite Israeli efforts to dismantle its governing infrastructure, Israeli security sources revealed this week to Yisrael Hayom. Hamas has reportedly established a systematic operation to intercept humanitarian aid shipments intended for Gaza residents. Armed operatives seize internationally funded supplies transported by the IDF and resell them at inflated prices to the local population. The resale of international aid has become their dominant revenue stream, a senior Israeli security official said. These profits, in turn, fund salaries and recruitment campaigns targeting Gazas youth. While Israels closure of major funding channels, such as the Philadelphi Corridor and private commerce, has disrupted other financial sources, Hamas relies heavily on aid-derived income to maintain its operations. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz criticized the Biden administrations stance on the Gaza blockade, saying, Well maintain pressure until the Hamas threat is eliminated. The Israeli government is preparing for potential policy shifts under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The enforcement department of Israels Population and Immigration Authority recently detained a non-Jewish citizen of Colombia who was dressed like a Chareidi Jew in Petach Tikvah. The man entered Israel in 2019 on a three-month tourist visa and has been illegally residing in Israel ever since. He submitted an asylum application in 2020 which was rejected but he continued to stay in Israel illegally. He later also submitted a request for humanitarian status, which was also denied. An investigation revealed that the man dresses in Chareidi garb, attends shul and has even been called to the Torah. The Authority is taking steps to deport him from Israel as soon as possible. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A dramatic confrontation erupted Thursday night in the heart of Bnei Brak as Major General David Zini, a high-ranking IDF, found himself ensnared in a volatile encounter with members of Peleg Yerushalmi incensed over the IDFs conscription of yeshiva bochurim. Major General Zini, who has served with distinction in various capacities within the IDF, including as head of the Training Command and General Staff Corps , was visiting Bnei Brak to meet with local figures and bond over Thursday night cholent. His presence did not go unnoticed. A member of Peleg Yerushalmi recognized the general and quickly mobilized fellow protesters. Within minutes, over a hundred demonstrators converged on the location, their voices rising in angry chants against the IDF and its efforts to draft Charedi men. The situation escalated as protesters attempted to storm the restaurant where Zini was eating. Police were forced to intervene to extricate the general and rescue him from the near lynching. This incident is part of a broader pattern of confrontations between Peleg Yerushalmi and IDF officials. In July 2024, Major General Zini and Brigadier General Shay Taib were attacked in Bnei Brak by Charedi protesters following a meeting with Rabbi David Leibel, who was working to establish a Charedi brigade within the IDF. The protesters, reportedly members of the Peleg Yerushalmi, surrounded the officers vehicle, hurled bottles, and shouted derogatory terms, including murderer. The officers were eventually escorted from the area by police. Peleg was founded in 2012 by HaRav Shmuel Auerbach ztl. The faction emerged as a reaction to perceived moderate approaches within the Charedi community regarding conscription policies. They are known for their civil disobedience against Charedi conscription, often organizing street demonstrations that lead to arrests. Their protests have included blocking major highways and clashing with police, as seen in multiple incidents throughout 2024. The core of the Peleg Yerushalmis opposition lies in their belief that limud ha-Torah should remain unimpeded by state mandates, viewing conscription efforts as a direct threat to the sanctity of the yeshiva world. This perspective has led to frequent and sometimes violent demonstrations, particularly in areas with significant Charedi populations like Bnei Brak. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An IDF investigation has determined that Dikla Arava, 51, and her son, Tomer Arava Eliaz, 17, were likely killed by Israeli fire during Hamass brutal attack on Kibbutz Nachal Oz on October 7, 2023. The findings, presented to their families last night, were part of a broader probe led by Col. (res.) Yaron Sitbon into the events at Nahal Oz that day. According to the investigation, terrorists stormed the Arava-Elyakim home on the morning of October 7, firing on the door to their bomb-safe room. The gunfire wounded Noam Elyakim, 46, Diklas partner. The terrorists then seized Diklas phone and live-streamed footage on Facebook, showing Tomer moving through the kibbutz, calling for neighbors to come out of hiding under threat from the attackers. For over an hour, Tomer managed to evade the terrorists and eventually found a hiding spot within the kibbutz. However, IDF troops, engaged in intense combat with numerous terrorists in the area, spotted a figure they deemed suspicious and opened fire. The investigation concluded that the figure was likely Tomer, misidentified as an attacker. From the conclusions of the investigation, it appears that the figure was most likely the late Tomer Arava Eliaz, who was killed by fire from our forces in this incident due to a misidentification, the IDF said. The military also praised Tomer for his bravery, noting that he acted courageously until the moment he was shot. Meanwhile, the terrorists took Noam, his two daughters Dafna and Ela, and Dikla as hostages. As they attempted to flee toward Gaza with the captives, IDF troops, mistaking their vehicle for one being used by escaping terrorists, opened fire. The investigation concluded that Dikla was killed in this exchange of fire, while the terrorists abandoned the vehicle, leaving her body behind. Noam was also killed during the attack, but the circumstances of his death remain unclear. His body was discovered only on October 17. Dafna and Ela were taken to Gaza and held captive for 51 days before being released as part of a truce deal on November 26. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) JERUSALEM, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Friday that "Yemen's Houthis are paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression (on Israel)," describing them as a proxy of Iran and "a threat to Israel and the entire region." Netanyahu's remarks came after Israel's military announced that its warplanes targeted the Hezyaz power station in Yemen's capital Sanaa, as well as the Yemeni ports of Hodeidah and Ras Issa. The military claimed it targeted infrastructures used by Houthi forces for military operations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who observed the airstrikes from the Air Force command center in Tel Aviv, said, "The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed, and the Ras Issa port is ablaze," adding the strikes sent a message to the Houthi group that "no one will be immune." Katz vowed to "hunt down" Houthi leaders, saying, "Israel's long arm reaches and will continue to reach anywhere that threatens us -- even in Yemen." This marks the fifth massive attack on Yemen by Israeli forces, according to Israel's Army Radio. Figures released by the military on Thursday indicated that Houthi forces have launched about 40 surface-to-surface missiles and 320 drones toward Israel since October 2023. Most of them were intercepted, the figures showed. The Houthis began sporadic attacks on Israel following the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, citing solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. SYDNEY, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two men, including a police officer, were shot during an altercation in Brisbane on Friday. Police in the state of Queensland said that officers were called to a disturbance at a property in the southern Brisbane suburb of Annerley at 9:13 a.m. local time. "Upon arrival, a physical altercation has occurred between a male constable and a man. As a result of the altercation, both the officer and the man sustained gunshot wounds each," the Queensland Police Service said in a statement. Both men were transported to the hospital. The Queensland Ambulance Service said that one man sustained life-threatening injuries while the other had a potentially life-threatening leg injury. A crime scene has been established, and the service said its internal Ethical Standards Command would investigate the incident. SANAA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and nine others were wounded in the U.S.-British-Israeli joint airstrikes on northern Yemen on Friday afternoon, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The strikes targeted the Red Sea port of Ras Issa, where a person was killed and six others wounded. Another three people were injured in attacks on a power station in the Hizyaz area, south of the capital Sanaa. The airstrikes also hit the Hodeidah port and northern Amran province, al-Masirah TV reported. The U.S.-British coalition has not commented on the strike, but the Israeli military announced in a statement on Friday that its warplanes have targeted Houthi sites on the western Yemeni coast and inland Yemen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Friday that "Yemen's Houthis are paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression (on Israel)." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who observed the airstrikes from the Air Force command center in Tel Aviv, said, "The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed, and the Ras Issa port is ablaze," adding the strikes sent a message to the Houthi group that "no one will be immune." Following the airstrikes, large parts of the capital Sanaa witnessed power outages. Since November 2023, the Houthis have been carrying out rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupting "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians amid their ongoing conflict with Israelis. In response, Israel has launched rounds of airstrikes on Houthi targets. In addition, the U.S.-led naval coalition stationed in the area has been conducting regular air raids and strikes on Houthi sites since January 2024 to deter the armed group, prompting the Houthis to expand attacks to include U.S. warships. A firefighting helicopter drops water on a wildfire in Dione near Athens, Greece, Aug. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Xinhua writers Zhang Zhaoqing, Ding Yinghua and Chu Yi "The future is in our hands..." Looking ahead, climate experts warn that the extreme weather patterns witnessed in 2024 are likely to persist. BONN, Germany, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The EU climate watchdog confirmed Friday that 2024 was the warmest year globally since records began in 1850, underscoring the intensifying impacts of climate change and the urgent need for decisive global action. According to the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year shattered multiple climate records, driven largely by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and amplified by a strong El Nino event. SHATTERED CLIMATE RECORDS C3S reported that the global average temperature for 2024 reached 15.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12 degrees Celsius and exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.6 degrees Celsius. For the first time, global temperatures crossed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold - a key marker in the Paris Agreement aimed at limiting global warming. Photo taken on Feb. 1, 2020 shows an iceberg seen from China's polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, which is heading to China's Zhongshan Station during China's 36th Antarctic expedition, on the Weddell Sea. (Xinhua/Liu Shiping) Throughout 2024, 11 out of 12 months recorded average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. On July 22, the global average temperature peaked at 17.16 degrees Celsius. Sea surface temperatures also hit record highs, with extra-polar ocean water averaging 20.87 degrees Celsius, while atmospheric water vapor increased by about 5 percent over the 1991-2020 average. The melting of sea ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic added to the alarming trends, with Antarctic sea ice extent remaining near record lows for much of the year, and Arctic sea ice levels significantly reduced, particularly after July. Friederike Otto, senior lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: "The climate is heating to levels we've spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal." In his New Year's address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described 2024 as "deadly heat," warning of a "climate breakdown" in real-time and urging immediate action to dramatically reduce emissions and support the transition to renewable energy. This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the view of a flood-hit street in Aldaya, Valencia province of Spain. At least 62 people have died in the eastern Spanish province of Valencia after torrential rains triggered flash floods across the region late Tuesday, regional authorities said Wednesday. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) EXTREME WEATHER, WIDESPREAD DAMAGE The extreme temperatures in 2024 fueled widespread heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, particularly in Southern Europe. Countries like Italy, France, and Spain endured prolonged heatwaves, while Greece battled nearly 9,500 wildfires. These extreme conditions significantly strained public health systems and prompted large-scale evacuations. Flooding in Spain and Germany caused extensive economic damage and displaced thousands, while severe drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, Lake Jablanicko in December. According to the World Weather Attribution's (WWA's) annual report, the record global temperatures of 2024 directly intensified rainfall events, with 15 out of 16 floods studied linked to climate change. The WWA report revealed that climate-related disasters in 2024 claimed at least 3,700 lives, displaced millions, and caused catastrophic damage to ecosystems. Coral reefs experienced unprecedented bleaching, threatening marine biodiversity and the industries reliant on these ecosystems. "The Valencia floods, U.S. hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more," Otto said. Flames of a wildfire are seen in the mountains 165 kilometers southeast of Belgrade, Serbia, Aug. 25, 2024. (Mayor's Office of Zagubica/Handout via Xinhua) 2025 UNLIKELY TO BE HOTTER Looking ahead, climate experts warn that the extreme weather patterns witnessed in 2024 are likely to persist. Julien Nicolas, climate scientist at C3S, explained that while global temperatures may slightly decline in 2025 due to a transition from El Nino to La Nina conditions, the long-term warming trend remains intact. "There are ups and downs in global temperatures due to natural processes, like El Nino," said Joeri Rogelj, research director at the Grantham Institute of Imperial College London. "But a small dip doesn't change the clear upward trajectory we're on." Recognizing the urgency, Carlo Buontempo, C3S director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stressed the importance of taking action now: "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate." The World Meteorological Organization's forecast in December 2024 indicated a greater than 50 percent chance of La Nina conditions developing in the next three months. "We are loading the dice ... toward these extreme climate events," Nicolas said, warning that heat waves and extreme rainfall events are likely to hit almost all continental regions. NEW YORK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Juan Merchan, a New York judge overseeing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case, on Friday granted Trump unconditional discharge in delivering a sentence for the case. Trump would face no fine or probation supervision, according to the sentencing. Still, the sentencing formally made Trump a convicted felon depending on the result of his appeals in the future. The "considerable, indeed extraordinary" legal protections afforded the office of the presidency is a factor that overrides all others, said Merchan. However, "They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way," Merchan said. "The imposition of sentence is one of the most difficult and significant decisions that any criminal court judge is called upon to make," added Merchan. New York prosecutor Joshua Steinglass recommended a sentence of unconditional discharge given the defendant's status as president-elect. Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated as the 47th U.S. president on Jan. 20. A sentence of unconditional discharge preserves Trump's status as a convicted felon while he pursues his appeals, Steinglass added. Trump contended his innocence at his sentencing hearing, saying that "the fact is I'm totally innocent. I did nothing wrong." "Today's event was a despicable charade" and we will appeal the "hoax", said Trump on social media shortly after the sentencing hearing. Trump's attempt to halt the sentencing was denied at the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. Earlier, Trump's motions to halt the sentencing at the New York State Supreme Court in New York County, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department as well as New York State Court of Appeals, were all refused. In May 2024, a jury in New York found Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a bid to hide hush money payments to a porn star in 2016 and the initial date of sentencing was July 11, 2024. Earlier today we talked about this on www.TonysKansasCity.com and now we've got an update on how the courthouse will handle the situation moving forward. In fairness, we simply want to share the latest word given to media moments ago . . . Jackson County announces second independent investigation following tragic incident KANSAS CITY, Mo. The tragic loss of Everett Carter, a long-serving member of Jackson Countys Public Works team, has deeply impacted our community. Our thoughts remain with his family, friends and colleagues as we navigate this difficult time together. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has completed its investigation and determined that the incident was a tragic accident. While we accept their findings, Jackson County has requested an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor to further examine all aspects of the incident. This step reflects our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and the safety of every county associate. Everett Carter was more than an employeehe was part of the Jackson County family, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. For 40 years, Everett dedicated himself to serving this community with quiet strength and steadfast commitment. We owe it to him, his family and all of our associates to learn from this tragedy and ensure we are doing everything possible to keep our team safe. Anytime an accident occursespecially one as devastating as thisit is essential to take a comprehensive look at every aspect of our operations. We owe it to our team and community to ensure that we are doing everything possible to prevent such tragedies in the future. Unfortunately, there have been some misstatements and misunderstandings surrounding this tragedy in recent days. While its natural for such an event to prompt questions and reflection, Jackson County remains focused on supporting Mr. Carters family, friends and colleagues in Public Works. Our priority is honoring his memory and ensuring a thoughtful and thorough review of our operations to prevent future tragedies. Everett was an extraordinary part of our Public Works team, said Public Works Director Brian Gaddie. His decades of experience and dedication were invaluable to our operations and his loss leaves a void that cannot be filled. As we grieve, we remain committed to doing everything we can to honor Everett and protect our team moving forward. Jackson County encourages anyone with information that may assist in this review to contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Department of Labor or Jackson County directly. Your input is invaluable in ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation. The County would also like to share details regarding the services planned to honor Mr. Carter. A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Newcomer's Noland Road Chapel located at 509 S. Noland Road in Independence, MO. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with a committal service immediately after at Appleton City Cemetery, 13500 NW 1000 Road in Appleton City, MO. We invite his colleagues and the community to join in honoring his legacy and dedication to public service. The results of the Department of Labors independent investigation will be shared publicly and any recommendations for improvements will be implemented promptly. To his family, friends, and colleagues, we extend our deepest condolences. His decades of service to Jackson County and his unwavering dedication to public safety will never be forgotten. Jackson County remains steadfast in our commitment to transparency, learning from this tragedy and ensuring a safe and supportive work environment for all. ### Developing . . . For late night readers and early morning denizens we catch up with local crime reporting, notes on police action and just a bit of good news about community outreach following a violent start to 2025. Check TKC news gathering . . . Police investigate shooting that left 1 injured in Downtown Kansas City Police were called to investigate after one person was injured during a shooting in Downtown Kansas City. School breaks pose greatest threat for campus violence, KC Crime Stoppers encourages students to report Kansas City Crime Stoppers is encouraging students across the Kansas City area to report on and off campus incidents anonymously through its various reporting platforms. Multiple charges filed against Independence man accused of child sex crimes Multiple charges have been filed against an Independence man who has been accused of child sex crimes. UPDATE: Drunk, wrong-way, deadly crash suspect arrested Grandview PD tells FOX4 they found Kenneth B Paul Jr. roughly 14 hours after FOX4 aired this story detailing the initial crash, investigation, charges, and search for Paul. 18-year-old taken into custody in connection to December double homicide One of three suspects has been taken into custody in connection to a December double homicide that took the lives of two teenagers. Charges filed after box cutter pulled on Kansas City paramedics One man has been charged after a box cutter was pulled on Kansas City paramedics attempting to transport a patient. 1 charged after car-jacking victim run over with his own vehicle in Kansas City One man has been charged after he allegedly ran over the victim of a car-jacking with his own vehicle in the parking lot of a Kansas City store. Pair charged with dumping dead woman's body in Kansas City ditch A man and woman are facing charges for allegedly putting a dead woman in a box and dumping her body in a ditch in May 2022 along a south Kansas City road. Woman set to face charges in connection to fatal 2023 collision One woman is set to face charges connected to a 2023 collision that took the life of a woman walking along a Kansas City street. Kansas resentencing bill to focus on long terms for young inmates The Second Look Act would resentence inmates who broke the law before they turned 25. Resentencing could happen after a decade in prison. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's clemency legacy is marred by favoritism, injustice * Missouri Independent Mike Parson wants to be remembered as the clemency governor. And he will be, but not with the admiration that he seems to expect. Kansas' death penalty under scrutiny in pretrial hearings in 2019 homicide case A long-shot challenge to Kansas' death penalty unfolding in court proceedings for a man charged in the deaths of 4 people at a Wyandotte County bar centers on claims the state's process of jury selection is racially biased in favor of executions. Volunteers, Shawnee police help 99-year-old veteran get to church A 99-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, resident just wanted to make it to church Wednesday, but her driveway was covered in snow. That's when a few Good Samaritans stepped in to help. KCK recording lowest homicide numbers ever is testament of years-long effort of community engagement Kansas City, Kansas saw a record low number of homicides in 2024, but the police department and a Wyandotte County community advocate say the trust it took to achieve this is immeasurable. A local nonprofit formed to help support Kansas City's police dogs A local nonprofit called KCPD K9 Friends was formed to help support Kansas City's police dogs when they retire. Developing . . . Tonight we remember the glory daze of model, mum & hottie Heidi as we take another peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Local Legacy Tribute Habitat for Humanity, Kansas Citians honor President Jimmy Carter's legacy The late President Jimmy Carter was known for his work with Habitat for Humanity, so people across the metro are honoring him by signing building materials that will be used to build homes. Frosty Cowtown Double Take Kansas City gears up for the possibility of more snow Kansas City is gearing up for the possibility of more snow, while still clearing snow-packed streets from last weekend's blizzard. Unemployment Isn't Our Jam Kansas City Canning Company to 'cease operations' The owner of Kansas City Canning Company took to social media earlier this week to announce the company was "ceasing regular operations effective immediately." Paywall People Watching These 20 people in restaurants will add flavor to your network - Kansas City Business Journal Our "20 to Know" series continues with these KC-area restaurant leaders. They're important enough by themselves to belong in your network, but when you layer in their food and drink creations? Chef's kiss. Cowtown Connected Inferno Reports Former KC locals now in the path of LA fires "We're about a mile outside of the evacuation zone." Super Hotness As World Burns Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz put on raunchy display in St. Barts Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz put on a raunchy display on the beach in St. Barts on Wednesday, hours before his brother Bill was evacuated amid the LA fires. Supremes Allow Prez Felon?!? Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in hush money case, Supreme Court says in 5-4 ruling | CNN Politics President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court said in a 5-4 ruling Thursday evening. 10K Structures Lost In City Of Angels California wildfires: What we know about L.A. fire evacuations, maps, what caused it, who is affected and more Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted Tuesday and roared across the Los Angeles area, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least six people. Tesla King Rigs Gameplay Gamers are accusing Elon Musk of cheating at popular video games by allegedly turning to loopholes and hiring better users to play for him "I don't see the reason to do this," one Diablo IV gamer said, "because he's already famous-very famous." Congress Against World Court US House votes to sanction International Criminal Court over Israel The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court to protest its issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel's campaign in Gaza. Europe Fighting Cont'd NATO takes control from US of air defenses in Poland crucial to supporting Ukraine days before Trump takes office | CNN Politics NATO has taken over air defenses in Poland from the US just days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a NATO spokesman, with questions looming about the incoming administration's approach to the alliance and to Ukraine. Cougars Untamed The dangers of dating a MILF: Age-gap romance gone wrong Unless you've been living under a rock, I think we can all agree that MILFs are having a moment right now - but before you embark on an age-gap romance, read Jana Hocking's cautionary tale. For Sake Of Kansas City Hipsters Owners Of The Antler Room Are Opening Anjin: A Japanese-Inspired "Cool Neighborhood Restaurant" Owners of The Antler Room are opening a new spot: - Anjin, a casual "cool neighborhood restaurant" inspired by their travels to Japan. Weather Outlook For Now . . . Kansas City weather: Warmer temperatures this weekend The weekend will also be partly sunny with highs in the low 30s and flurries expected Sunday morning. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Canadians eligible to receive certain benefits should check their bank accounts today. The Canada Workers Benefit comes out in three payments this year with the first coming out today, Friday, Jan. 10. The Ontario Trillium Benefit payment also comes out on Friday. The amount you can expect to receive for the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) depends on your income and your province or territory of residence. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW What is the CWB and do I need to apply? The CWB is a refundable tax credit aimed at helping individuals and families who are working and earning a low income. The initiative puts more money in the workers pockets to help cope with the rising cost of living, according to the federal government. The benefit comes in two parts: a basic amount and a disability supplement. You can claim the CWB when you file your income tax return. For those who are entitled to the CWB on their income tax return, advance payments of up to 50 per cent of the CWB will be issued under the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB). These advanced payments are issued across three payments. There is no need to apply. Advanced payment dates for 2025 The advanced payments are issued in three payments on: Jan. 10 July 12 Oct. 11 When the payment date falls on a Saturday, a Sunday or a federal statutory holiday, the payment will be made on the last business day prior to the posted payment date. What if I didnt get my payment? If you did not get your payment on the expected date, its advised you wait 10 working days before contacting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). How much money could I receive? The maximum basic amount for the CWB is $1,518 for single individuals. The amount is gradually reduced if your adjusted net income is more than $24,975. No basic amount is paid if your adjusted net income is more than $35,095. For families, the maximum basic amount is $2,616. The amount is gradually reduced if your adjusted family net income is more than $28,494. No basic amount is paid if your adjusted family net income is more than $45,934. The maximum basic CWB amount will vary for residents of Quebec, Nunavut and Alberta. Disability supplement maximum amount The maximum amount for the disability supplement is $784 for single individuals. The CWB disability supplement is gradually reduced if your adjusted net income is more than $35,098. No disability supplement is paid if your adjusted net income is more than $40,325. For families, the maximum disability supplement is $784. The CWB disability supplement is gradually reduced if your adjusted family net income is more than $45,932. No disability supplement is paid if one spouse is eligible for the disability tax credit and your adjusted family net income is more than $51,159, or if both spouses are eligible for the disability tax credit and your adjusted family net income is more than $56,386. The maximum amount for the disability supplement will vary for residents of Quebec and Nunavut. How is the CWB refundable tax credit calculated? The CRA uses your martial status, province or territory of residence, earned working incomes, adjusted family net income, eligible dependant information and your eligibility for the disability tax credit to calculate the benefit. You must be a resident of Canada on the first day of the quarter to be eligible for the advanced payments. You can estimate your advanced payments by using the child and family benefit calculator. For more information about the benefit, visit the full explainer online. Go to My Account to see your next payment or sign up to receive benefit and credit payment reminders about one week before the payment is issued. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (3rd R) shakes hands with Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (2nd R) during their meeting in Damascus, Syria, on Jan. 10, 2025. Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani on Friday reaffirmed his government's commitment to guaranteeing freedom for all Syrians, stressing the rule of law and equal citizenship are cornerstones of the nation's future. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Damascus with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. (Syria's interim Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani on Friday reaffirmed his government's commitment to guaranteeing freedom for all Syrians, stressing the rule of law and equal citizenship are cornerstones of the nation's future. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Damascus with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. "We remain dedicated to principles and values that ensure freedom for every Syrian, regardless of sectarian, ethnic, or religious background, within the framework of law and citizenship," al-Shibani said, adding these principles and values form the foundation of Syria's unity and stability. Al-Shibani also highlighted an upcoming national conference, which intends to bring together all segments of Syrian society. "We aim to shape the next phase comprehensively, ensuring a smooth political transition that includes everyone and holds accountable those responsible for crimes against the Syrian people," he explained, without giving a timeframe for the much-awaited conference. At the press conference, al-Shibani further announced that he would lead a high-level delegation on a tour of several European countries to boost cooperation in various sectors. "I invite global delegations and companies to launch more initiatives and partnerships on Syrian soil," he added, stressing the new government's pursuit of international engagement. For his part, Tajani stressed the need to lift the sanctions on Syria, saying those sanctions imposed on the former Syrian government should not persist. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (3rd R) meets with Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (2nd R) in Damascus, Syria, on Jan. 10, 2025. Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani on Friday reaffirmed his government's commitment to guaranteeing freedom for all Syrians, stressing the rule of law and equal citizenship are cornerstones of the nation's future. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Damascus with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. (Syria's interim Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua) An Old World Labs robot is displayed during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2025. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) LAS VEGAS, the United States, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in the U.S. city of Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing the latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. The annual event, running from Tuesday to Friday, drew over 4,500 exhibitors from more than 160 countries and regions, including about 1,400 startups. Top trends of this year's show included artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, energy transition, mobility, quantum, and sustainability. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. Exhibitors worldwide revealed how AI is improving productivity, enhancing customer experiences, and driving medical breakthroughs. The annual show also presented technologies like wearables, telemedicine, and AI-driven health solutions that aim to improve patient outcomes, enhance wellness, and lower healthcare costs. Chinese companies have been important forces at CES in recent years, impressing global exhibitors with innovative products and solutions. Over 1,000 Chinese companies participated in CES 2025, including global leading brands as well as startups. Many Chinese exhibitors were awarded CES Innovation Awards, an annual program honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. "Chinese brands are playing an increasingly important role in the development and technological advancement of the global consumer electronics industry," said the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) in a written interview with Xinhua. In the first 11 months of 2024, the exports of Chinese electronic products topped 644.6 billion U.S. dollars, a 7.6 percent increase over the same period of the previous year, according to CCCME. Since 2009, China's exports of machinery and electronic products have always ranked the first in the world, far exceeding Germany, the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea and other countries, said CCCME. The exports are expected to exceed 2.1 trillion dollars in 2024, marking a record high, and the surplus is expected to exceed 1 trillion dollars for the second consecutive year and set a new record, according to CCCME. An IntBot robot is displayed during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2025. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) An Enchanted Tools robot called the Mirokai is displayed during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2025. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Visitors view a robot at the exhibition area of Chinese company Unitree Robotics during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2025. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) An Ai Me robot from Chinese company TCL is displayed during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2025. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) A robot is displayed at the exhibition area of Chinese company Unitree Robotics during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2025. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, showcasing latest advancement, new products and solutions in consumer technology. AI continues to be top theme at CES 2025, with new applications of AI across the show floor, driving everything from AI-powered chips to AI-enabled drug discovery to smart factory solutions. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Chaos, panic as new fire wave grips more Los Angeles areas A new wave of fire Thursday January 09, 2025 engulfed the West Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, rapidly consuming over 900 acres within hours Friday January 10, 2025 11:30 AM , ummid.com News Network Los Angeles: A new wave of fire Thursday January 09, 2025 engulfed the West Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, rapidly consuming over 900 acres within hours. Firefighters have been stretched thin across Southern California as they battle multiple wildfires that have destroyed thousands of structures and forced mass evacuations. Among the hardest-hit areas are Pacific Palisades and Altadena, where multi-million-dollar homes have been reduced to ashes. The two fires have displaced tens of thousands of residents, reports said. According to reports, the Pacific Palisades fire has scorched over 19,000 acres, while the Altadena fire has consumed 13,000 acres. According to news agency Associated Press (AP), the two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures, officials said Thursday. The fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley just 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from a school serving as a shelter for fire evacuees and then moved into neighboring Ventura County by the evening. Heavenly Father, we lift up the families impacted by the fires in Los Angeles. Comfort those who have lost homes and loved ones, bring healing to the injured, and strengthen first responders. Provide peace, protection, and provision for every need. May Your presence bring hope pic.twitter.com/ivXiN8wr5O American Citizen (@realtalkstruth) January 8, 2025 The officials meanwhile urged more people to heed evacuation orders after the new blaze ignited and quickly grew. The latest fire in the richest city of the United States started Tuesday January 07, 2025 were fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph (112 kph) in some spots. The winds dropped Thursday, but the National Weather Service warned that even the reduced gusts could still spread fire rapidly and the wind is expected to strengthen again Thursday evening, according to AP. As many as 10 people have been killed and thousands of homes have been destroyed in the fire. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Released from Israeli prison, Palestinian Doctor returns to hospital In a show of unmatched grit, Palestinian Doctor Mahmoud Abu Shehada returned to hospital the same day he was released from the Israeli Jail following a court order Saturday January 11, 2025 0:20 AM , ummid.com News Network Khan Younis (Gaza Strip): In a show of unmatched grit, Palestinian Doctor Mahmoud Abu Shehada returned to hospital the same day he was released from the Israeli Jail following a court order. Dr Mahmoud Abu Shehada, Head of the Orthopaedics Department at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, was abducted by the Israeli Occupation Forces from the hospital on February 17, 2024. Dr Abu Shahada endured torture and brutal treatment during his detention by Israeli forces. The marks of torture are visible on his arms as he hugged colleagues upon reaching the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. Dr Abu Shahada has been released following an appeal to Israel's Supreme Court, his lawyer Khaled Zabarqa told Al Jazeera Arabic. Upon his return to the hospital in Khan Younis from where he was abducted about 11 months ago, medical staff members gave him a warm welcome. Watch Video Medical staff members at the European Hospital in Khan Younis gave a warm welcome to Dr. Mahmoud Abu Shehada, the Head of Orthopedic Surgery Department at Nasser Hospital, after he was released this morning by the Israeli occupation. He had been arrested for 11 months in pic.twitter.com/mo2YEoFs9w Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 10, 2025 Meanwhile, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said Dr. Abu Safiyas health has deteriorated due to the torture he endured during his detention, particularly while being held at the Sde Teyman military base in southern Israel. Euro-Med Monitor warns of the grave risk to his life, following patterns of deliberate killings and deaths under torture previously suffered by other doctors and medical staff arrested from Gaza since October 2023. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, was abducted by the Israeli forces on December 28 during the raids on the hospital . Hazem Alwan, the Palestinian prisoner who has also been released from Israeli jail Friday, shared the harrowing conditions the prisoners are facing in Israeli jails. Alwan, who was abducted by Israeli occupation forces from Jabalia in northern Gaza, also confirmed that he was used as a human shield. Alwan further said that Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya is enduring severe torture in the Israeli Zikim prison. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 'Undivided India' to mark IMD 150th anniversary The India Meteorological Department (IMD) turns 150 on January 15, 2025, and to celebrate the occasion it is organising an event or seminar titled 'Undivided India' Friday January 10, 2025 5:53 PM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) turns 150 on January 15, 2025, and to celebrate the occasion it is organising an event or seminar titled Undivided India in New Delhi. Established on January 15, 1875, the IMD is one of the earliest government departments created for systematic observation, regular reporting, and scientific forecasting of weather in the Indian subcontinent. Countries invited for Undivided India event The invitation for the Undivided India seminar has been extended to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and also Afghanistan. Delegates from Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan have confirmed their attendance for the event. Bangladesh however is yet to make a call. "We wanted officials from all countries which were part of undivided India at the time of IMD's establishment to be part of the celebrations," a top official from the weather department told PTI. Commemorative Coin, R-Day Tableau The Finance Ministry has decided to release a special and limited-edition Rs 150 commemorative coin to mark the event. Also, the Home Ministry has given clearance for a special tableau on Republic Day marking the weather department's 150 years. The IMD came into existence in 1875 after a cyclone ravaged Calcutta in 1864, followed by two deadly monsoon failures in 1866 and 1871 which led to famines across Bengal. Since establishment in 1875, IMD was headquartered in Calcutta. It was moved to Shimla in 1905, and then to Pune in 1928, and finally to New Delhi in 1944, where it has remained since. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home U.S. House passes bill to sanction ICC, Poland announces protection for Netanyahu In another move confirming the complicity of the U.S. and its allies in the Israeli war crimes, the U.S. Congress passed a Bill seeking sanctions against the International Criminal Court while Poland says there is no bar for Netanyahu from visiting the country despite ICC warrant Saturday January 11, 2025 1:03 AM , ummid.com News Network [Pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests were held in a number of countries including Tunisia and Morocco Friday January 10, 2025.] Washington/Warsaw: In another move confirming the complicity of the U.S. and its allies in the Israeli war crimes, the U.S. Congress passed a Bill seeking sanctions against the International Criminal Court while Poland says there is no bar for Netanyahu from visiting the country despite ICC warrant. Poland had earlier said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he visited the country to attend the ceremonies on January 27 marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland. The Polish government however Thursday adopted a resolution promising that senior Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, can freely travel to Poland for the ceremonies. The Polish government treats the safe participation of the leaders of Israel in the commemorations on January 27, 2025, as part of paying tribute to the Jewish nation, millions of whose daughters and sons became victims of the Holocaust carried out by the Third Reich, read the resolution, published by the office of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The UN court had issued arrest warrant against Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant accusing them of committing war crimes in Gaza. The EU countrys Deputy Foreign Minister, Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, told newspaper Rzeczpospolita that Poland, as a signatory of the Rome Statute, is obligated to comply with the directives of the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, following the Polish government resolution Netanyahu is now free to visit Poland. U.S. Congress seeks sanctions against ICC The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed a resolution seeking sanctions against the UN Court for issuing warrants against the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The legislation called the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act", passed 243 to 140, seeks to penalise anyone aiding the ICC in investigating, arresting, or prosecuting US citizens or citizens of allied nations that reject the courts jurisdiction. Sanctions include freezing assets and denying visas to those involved. Representative Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also mocked the ICC describing it a kangaroo court. Brain also accused the World Court of "unfairly targeting" Israel, a key US ally, according to Al Jazeera. In a related development, New York University suspended nearly a dozen students for a year for participating in non-violent, anti-war protests for Gaza last month, the university's chapter of Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (NYU FSJP) stated. Senate must reject the Bill: UN The United Nations meanwhile urged the U.S. Senate to reject the Bill called "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act" passed by the Congress. Three experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council - Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, said they were dismayed by the passage of an Act in the US House of Representatives. It is shocking to see a country that considers itself a champion of the rule of law trying to stymie the actions of an independent and impartial tribunal set up by the international community, to thwart accountability, the UN experts said. Threats against the ICC promote a culture of impunity. They make a mockery of the decades-long quest to place law above force and atrocity, they warned. The experts have also written to the US authorities about their concerns. The ICC was established under a 1998 treaty known as the Rome Statute. The US is not a party to the statute, along with dozens of other nations, but 125 countries are members of the Court. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 3.2 million children under 5 are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year in war-torn and famine-afflicted Sudan, a UN spokesman said on Friday. "Of these children, over 700,000 will likely suffer from severe acute malnutrition," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at a regular briefing, adding that the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is sounding the alarm. Dujarric said Sudan is the site of the world's largest child displacement crisis, with 5 million children homeless because of the hostilities. Most children leave their homes with only the clothes on their backs, and their mothers often walk for days, sometimes up to 20 days, to reach a camp, looking for safety, food and basic shelter. "And as the conflict rages on, families and communities trapped in the middle of it and in hard-to-reach areas are continuing to bear the brunt of the violence and the suffering," he said. "The lack of access to sufficient food and basic services in these hard-to-reach areas inside Sudan is likely to swell and the risk of destitution and death increases." Dujarric said that UNICEF, working with humanitarian partners, continues to do its utmost to deliver safe and clean water and integrated health and nutrition services, including immunization, treatment of childhood illnesses and whatever possible to manage acute childhood malnutrition. The spokesman reminded reporters that famine conditions are present in Zamzam, Al Salam, and Abu Shouk camps for internally displaced people and the western Nuba Mountains. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Committee has projected that famine could spread to five additional regions of Sudan, including El Fasher, by the middle of this year, with 17 other areas at risk unless urgent intervention is managed. "Immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access is essential in order for us and our partners to deliver humanitarian assistance," Dujarric said. "And we continue to urge governments to prioritize funding, ensure safe relief routes, and press all parties involved to just stop fighting." SARAJEVO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sarajevo has set a new record for foreign tourist numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures released Friday by the Sarajevo Canton Tourism Board. The country recorded significant growth in arrivals, overnight stays, and average length of stay in 2024, with the capital, also the political, economic and cultural center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the main tourist destination for foreign visitors. From January to December 2024, Sarajevo welcomed over 698,000 foreign tourists. Total overnight stays of foreign tourists reached over 1,562,000. In October 2024, Sarajevo was selected as the top destination for 2025 by the readers of National Geographic Travel magazine. Year-on-yearly, the number of tourists to the historic city increased by 22.3 percent in 2024, while overnight stays rose by 18.3 percent. Foreign tourists stayed an average of 2.3 days in 2024, up from 2.2 days in 2023. According to the board, foreign tourists primarily came from Croatia, Turkey, Serbia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, China, and the United States. The spokesperson from the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese tourists represented the largest number of visitors to Sarajevo Canton. In 2019, there were over 46,600 arrivals and over 60,600 overnight stays. After the COVID-19 pandemic, a gradual return of Chinese tourists was observed. In the first 11 months of 2024, the region welcomed over 66,390 arrivals and over 99,000 overnight stays by Chinese tourists. Sarajevo, called the "European Jerusalem," is a city where four religions and cultures are intertwined and is home to mosques, Catholic churches, Orthodox churches, and synagogues. Main attractions there include the Old Town of Bascarsija, the Latin Bridge, the City Hall, the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Maldives on Jan. 10, 2025. The meeting was held during Wang's stopover in the Maldives on his way back from Africa. (Xinhua/Che Hongliang) MALE, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, with both sides vowing to deepen bilateral cooperation in various areas. The meeting was held during Wang's stopover in the Maldives on his way back from Africa. Wang is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Muizzu recalled his successful state visit to China last year and said the two countries have always treated each other with understanding and sincerity. The two sides have maintained close high-level exchanges and achieved fruitful cooperation, said the president, adding that he was glad to see that China has become the largest source of tourists for the Maldives. The Maldives is willing to always be China's closest partner, continuously consolidate their traditional friendship, strengthen cooperation in various fields, and push for greater development of bilateral relations, said the president. The Maldives appreciates China's leadership in safeguarding world peace and stability and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in international and regional affairs to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, Muizzu said. For his part, Wang said that Muizzu's successful state visit to China was a highlight moment in China-Maldives relations. During the visit last year, the two heads of state agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and jointly commit to building a China-Maldives community with a shared future, which has laid out broad prospects for bilateral relations. China-Maldives cooperation has set a good example of mutual respect, equal treatment and common development between big and small countries. China appreciates the Maldivian president and government for firmly pursuing a friendly policy towards China and firmly abiding by the one-China principle, said Wang. China will, as always, support the Maldives in safeguarding national independence and sovereignty and actively explore a development path suited to its national conditions, Wang said. In the US, an unprecedented decline in college enrollment has started. From 2010 to 2021, a 15% drop had been reported, which could worsen as the country faces its "demographic cliff." This means birth rates persistently declined since the Great Recession of 2007. By 2025, or this year, US colleges and universities will be feeling the effect as fewer students apply fresh out of their high school graduation. However, experts stated that this is more than a crisis in higher education; it's an economic issue. After all, fewer college graduates translate to fewer skilled workers available to fill the most critical jobs. According to NPR, the number of student population declining is already causing colleges to close. For instance, Iowa Wesleyan University closed its doors in 2023 after years of financial struggles due to reporting fewer and fewer enrollments. The decrease will affect certain regions more than others. States like California, and New York, are expected to report the same case, but in high school graduates, by as much as 30% in 2041. Only Hispanic students are considered the bright spot as they are expected to increase their number among high school graduates. If this trend worsens, more closures will lead to more job losses and shrinking local economies. This is already a problem as the overall US economy already suffers from a lack of educated workers, especially in teaching, healthcare, and other specialized fields. It is expected that in 2032, or earlier, the US could be short 6 million workers to meet the demands of the job market. What Happens if College Enrollment Rates Decline Further? Worsening this problem is growing skepticism about a college degree's value. The proportion of those completing high school enrolling in college immediately declined from 70% in 2016 to 62% in 2022. Too many students are opting out; the reasons cited are costs and benefits that are unclear, among others. The experts believe that faith in the value of higher education needs to be regained for the trend to be reversed. Colleges, in the face of declining numbers, must transform or die. Some schools are now embracing non-traditional students and foreign applicants in 2025 to 2026, per Erudera's report last year, but this could prove insufficient. If not highly transformed, more colleges may end up like Iowa Wesleyan College, leaving economic and cultural vacancies in communities. A college in Belfast will make sure students will focus and interact socially in the campus. To make this happen, Victoria College provided magnetic phone pouches for its 900 pupils. The pouches will safely store mobile phones, among other "distracting" gadgets, such as smartwatches, and earbuds in school. School Principal, Karen Quinn, shared that this would encourage responsible use of phones so that the students become "good communicators." According to BBC, students will carry their devices into school and store them in a pouch. This pouch is locked magnetically so when phones are needed for activities during the school day, the teacher unlocks it. By the end of the school day, the student may unlock their pouch with magnets stationed around the school. In this manner, students are allowed to carry their phones to school, yet minimize its usage time during school hours. Why Should Cellphones Be Banned in School? Principal Quinn emphasized that unsupervised and unlimited access to phones during school time brings negative effects to students' engagement in learning, social interactions, and mental health. Limiting phone access is a response to these challenges, showing them the responsible use of technology, rather than provide a blanket ban on it. Students were introduced to the plan at an assembly. Though some feel nervous about the policy, others are interested and even share suggestions with staff. The school has invited pupils to be open-minded and take part in how the policy will be implemented. Last year, The Guardian reported that a Parliament member urged schools to place a statutory ban on smartphones in campuses, but Victoria College decided to adopt the pouch system even before the government recommended the same. The school has funded the initiative from its budget, with each pouch costing less than a typical textbook. Principal Quinn admitted that the choice is a financial strain on school budgets but this is a priority investment. With this policy, the Belfast-based college hopes its approach will create better learning environments, improve the well-being of students, and promote positive social engagement among its pupils. The 87th meeting of the syndicate of Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) was held at Abbasia Campus under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran BAHAWALPUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) The 87th meeting of the syndicate of Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) was held at Abbasia Campus under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran. The meeting approved the budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the light of the recommendations of the last three meetings of the Finance and Planning Committee. Important academic, human resources and legal matters were discussed and decisions were taken in the meeting. In view of the financial difficulties faced by the university, significant decisions were also taken in the meeting to reduce expenses. Registrar Muhammad Shajiur Rehman presented a report on the implementation of the decisions taken in the previous meeting. The members of the meeting included MPA Mian Muhammad Shoaib Owaisi, Former Vice Chancellor Sargodha University Professor Dr. Akram Chaudhry, Former Vice Chancellor Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University Multan Dr. Asif Khan, representative to the Higher education Commission, Additional Secretary Higher Education Department Zahida Azhar, Additional Secretary Finance Department Umar Javed, Dean Faculty of Engineering Professor Dr. Muhammad Amjad, Dean Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science Professor Dr. Khalid Mansoor, Associate Professor Dr. Alia Nazir, Dr. Mughees Amin, Assistant Professor Dr. Qaiser Ijaz, Lecturer Zaman Ali and Treasurer Dr. Abdul Sattar Zahoory. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Jan, 2025) TRENDS Research and Advisory held its First Annual Forum for 2025 under the theme "Youth Empowerment" to enhance the institutional work environment through quality, sustainability and excellence. The forum, held at TRENDS headquarters in Abu Dhabi, featured discussions on the centres plans for the new year and a review of the key achievements from the previous year. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, said, The year 2024 was filled with achievements and leadership milestones. The centre successfully empowered youth in both research and professional fields, solidifying its position as a global leader through its diverse activities, 17 international offices, effective partnerships, and prominent presence in international forums. Dr. Al-Ali highlighted TRENDS success in winning several prestigious awards in leadership and sustainability, emphasising that this recognition motivates the centre to continue its journey of readiness and excellence to achieve future goals with global efficiency and impact. The forum also unveiled TRENDS strategic plan for 2025, which includes a series of innovative research, training, advisory and media initiatives. Dr. Al-Ali explained that the plan aims to enhance the centres global intellectual role and expand its influence through new projects that support objective and purposeful scientific research. Discussions during the forum emphasised the importance of innovation in research work and the need to empower young professionals in line with the years theme of Youth Empowerment. As part of its commitment to promoting a culture of excellence and creativity, TRENDS recognised several employees for their outstanding efforts and contributions toward achieving the centres strategic goals. RENDS wrapped up 2024 with remarkable accomplishments, including winning the UAE Labor Market Award, recognition as the Best Research Centre at the British Parliament, opening 17 international offices, and forging 46 new research partnerships. The centre published 277 studies in strategic, economic and Islamic fields; organised 226 global events, including six international conferences; and participated in 15 book fairs. Additionally, TRENDS published 12 books as part of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, which were translated into 15 languages. The centre also launched 49 podcast episodes and achieved a 58% youth empowerment rate for Emirati researchers. Furthermore, TRENDS organised 44 training programs to develop UAE talents and shared 7,950 knowledge reports on its TRENDS Knowledge Community platform. NOWSHERA VIRKAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) Assistant Commissioner (AC), Jawad Hussain Pirzada here on Friday supervised an operation against encroachments on Karial road. The team used heavy machinery to remove encroachments from the Tehsil office to Chowk Haider. The Suthra Punjab program's staff and Municipal Superintendent, Rizwan Ali were also present on the occasion. The operation is underway in the town on the instruction of the deputy commissioner, Gujranwala. APP/mud/378 Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has paid tribute to the security forces for their successful operation against khawarji terrorists in Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the elimination of five terrorists ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has paid tribute to the security forces for their successful operation against khawarji terrorists in Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the elimination of five terrorists. The Interior Minister praised the security forces, saying that Pakistan's brave security forces have thwarted the nefarious plans of khawarji terrorists by conducting a timely operation. He added that the nation is proud of their security forces, who have achieved significant successes against khawarji terrorists. Interior Minister emphasised that the people of Pakistan stand with the security forces, and the nation looks at their successes with admiration and appreciation. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Exiled Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has told AFP the forthcoming presidential election there will be a "sham" and urged dissidents to prepare for an opportunity to change their country Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) Exiled Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has told AFP the forthcoming presidential election there will be a "sham" and urged dissidents to prepare for an opportunity to change their country. Belarus will hold the ballot on January 26, four and a half years after the last presidential election, when suspicions of vote rigging led to nationwide mass protests that were brutally repressed. The Russia ally has been ruled since 1994 by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, who has eliminated all forms of opposition and jailed hundreds of critics and protesters. Tikhanovskaya, a former English teacher, claimed victory against Lukashenko in the election but was forced to leave and now lives in Lithuania. In an interview with AFP in Warsaw this week, she called the upcoming vote -- in which Lukashenko will run unchallenged -- a "sham" and a "farce". Political opponents "are in prison or in exile. All the parties are liquidated. No free media... People are really frightened by four years of repression," Tikhanovskaya said. "What Lukashenko is doing is reappointing himself by himself... This ritual will not change anything," she said. But she added that it was not time to take to the streets again. "It's not the moment," she said. "I really don't want people to sacrifice their freedom at the moment for nothing, you know, in vain. I ask people to save themselves for a really proper moment," she added. "It will come for sure, and people have to be ready." Tikhanovskaya offered several scenarios for such a "window of opportunity", including a victory for neighbouring Ukraine, which has been battling a Russian invasion since 2022. "It can be economic turbulence in Belarus. It can be like simply a coup d'etat in political structures, because many people around Lukashenko are not happy with him," she said. "It might be health problems... My task is to be prepared for this moment, not to lose the opportunity." This month will also see Donald Trump take office as US president. Tikhanovskaya said her team already had some connections with the new administration, for whom they want to highlight the geopolitical importance of Belarus. "Without a free and democratic and independent Belarus, there will be no security in Europe. There will be a constant threat," she said. "There is uncertainty in the political world... but I can't actually draw in my imagination a scenario where the US will betray their democratic principles." - 'Intensify' pressure on Minsk - Tikhanovskaya in 2020 took over the presidential campaign of her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky, who had planned to challenge Lukashenko but was arrested and detained before the vote. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2021 for organising riots and inciting social hatred, according to state media. Tikhanovskaya said she had not heard from her husband -- who is being held incommunicado like many other political prisoners -- since March 2023. "Of course it's very difficult, you know. The regime wants to exhaust relatives, first of all, but also to once again punish (the prisoners)," she told AFP. "It's so easy to persuade people behind bars that, 'Look, the world has forgotten about you. They don't care.'... This is like psychological torture," she added. In the run-up to the election, Minsk has pardoned some political prisoners, while photos and videos of others have been published for the first time in months. Tikhanovskaya said she was "so glad" to see the images and would love to see her husband "to make sure that he's alive". But she did not know what to expect from the regime. "Repressions are even intensifying before the so-called elections," she added. Tikhanovskaya called on institutions like the United Nations, the Red Cross and the Vatican "to be proactive, demanding access to political prisoners" in Belarus. "All these appearances of our heroes in prisons or this releasing of people is a result of attention, of political, economic pressure," Tikhanovskaya said. "That's why we have to intensify this pressure." amj/gil Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) US President Joe Biden said Thursday the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles were the worst in California's history, as he pledged extra Federal funds and resources to help the state. "This is the most widespread, devastating fire in California's history," Biden said as he convened a special meeting of senior administration officials at the White House. He said people in Los Angeles were "living through a nightmare" and hailed as "heroes" the firefighters whom he said had been running into the flames to battle the blazes. The outgoing president canceled a trip to Rome scheduled for Thursday to stay in Washington and coordinate the US government response to the fires, which have killed at least five people. He said the federal government would cover 100 percent of costs of dealing with the disaster for the first 180 days, at the request of California's Democratic governor Gavin Newsom. Biden said he was surging 400 federal firefighters and 30 firefighting planes and helicopters to Los Angeles, while the Pentagon will send eight large planes and 500 wildfire clearance personnel. Vice President and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who hails from California, described the fires as "apocalyptic." She also highlighted what she said were cases of insurance companies canceling coverage for families who lost property in the fire. Biden meanwhile sought to debunk claims pushed by incoming president Donald Trump that there was a water shortage which had left firefighters struggling to put out the inferno. Biden said the problem lay with power outages -- after utility companies cut electricity amid fears that faulty power lines could spark more fires -- that took water pumps offline. Trump, who will be inaugurated for his second term on January 20, has used the fires to launch political attacks on Biden and Newsom. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on Friday killed two people in the country's south, where a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war has largely held since late November Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on Friday killed two people in the country's south, where a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war has largely held since late November. The state-run National news Agency said "an Israeli drone targeted a car in Tayr Dibba", a village near the coastal city of Tyre and around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Israeli border. The health ministry said in a statement that two people were killed in the strike, which Israeli officials did not immediately comment on. A Lebanese security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that a rocket launcher was hit and several munitions had exploded. The strike came with a little over a fortnight to go before a 60-day deadline to implement the terms of a ceasefire that ended a war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on November 27. Under the deal, Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces from areas near the Israeli border and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the country's south. The Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers are to deploy in the strip of land south of the Litani River, some 30 kilometres from the border, as Israeli troops withdraw. Both warring sides have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire. The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon accused Israel on Saturday of a "flagrant violation" of a UN Security Council resolution from 2006 which the terms of the ceasefire were based on. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that the group's patience with Israeli violations could run out before the deadline on January 26. RAMALLAH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had a phone conversation with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday to discuss the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported that Abbas congratulated Aoun on his victory in the Lebanese presidential elections. During the call, Abbas reaffirmed Palestine's support for Aoun's speech at the Lebanese parliament after election, particularly regarding Palestinian issues and the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Abbas emphasized the need to "provide a dignified life for refugees under Lebanese law until they can return to their homeland, following the establishment of our independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also said he looked forward to building "relations of brotherhood and fruitful cooperation" with Lebanon. According to a report issued by UNRWA, the number of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon reached 493,201 by 2023. Palestinian factions and organizations are responsible for maintaining security in the refugee camps, while the Lebanese army and security forces enforce strict measures around them. Abbas also expressed hope that Aoun's election as Lebanese president would bring hope to the Lebanese people in facing current challenges and lead the country toward progress and prosperity. Aoun took the oath of office on Thursday before the Lebanese parliament. In his inauguration speech, Aoun rejected the settlement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, underscoring their right of return. He also pledged to ensure the security of refugee camps, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. (@FahadShabbir) Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2025) Months of dry weather and recent strong winds created optimal conditions for the deadly wildfires engulfing Los Angeles, but narratives on social media falsely single out "liberal" policies -- including those to increase diversity in the city's fire force -- as the culprit. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who was appointed in 2022 after two decades of service, was singled out in a series of X posts blaming her department's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy. "She boasts about being the first female and LGBTQ fire chief in the LA Fire Department. Promoting a culture of DEI is her priority. Does this make you feel safer?" the anti-LGBTQ account Libs of TikTok posted on January 8 on X. "They prioritized DEI over saving lives and homes," X's billionaire owner Elon Musk, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, chimed in. But experts say such scapegoating is hardly unexpected. From the Maui fires in 2023 and hurricanes Milton and Helene in 2024, every recent major natural disaster in the United States has systematically triggered social media narratives questioning the effort and legitimacy of first responders. "This rhetoric is expected -- and has become increasingly mainstreamed -- following extreme weather phenomena and disasters," added Sara Aniano, a disinformation analyst at the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism. - Trump effect - Social media users also attacked California Governor Gavin Newsom, echoing misleading complaints from Trump about how the state handles its water supply. "Governor Gavin Newscum should immediately go to Northern California and open up the water main, and let the water flow into his dry, starving, burning State," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, using his preferred nickname for the leader. But most Los Angeles water comes from the city's aqueduct, not Northern California. At a White House briefing, US President Joe Biden pushed back against Trump's accusations that California authorities have wasted water and said there was no room for politics in the situation. He called for officials to be "honest" and "straightforward" with the public about the available capacity. Trump also tried to blame a lack of water on environmentalists' efforts to protect the smelt -- a small fish that lives hundreds of miles away from the fires. Such comments are a distraction from known impacts on the fires, such as the Santa Ana winds, and the fact that fire events in the state have been enhanced by a changing climate. Scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather patterns and changing how wildfires impact the US West. Southern California had two decades of drought that were followed by two exceptionally wet years that sparked furious vegetative growth. Then the region had no significant rain for eight months. Altogether, the weather left the area packed with fuel and primed to burn. Nearly 180,000 people across Los Angeles remain under evacuation orders, and at least five people have died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the two main fires -- Palisades and Eaton -- with no evidence to support social media claims pinning blame on the homeless population or "ecoterrorists." Such false narratives "undercut the people and organizations trying to help" and "sow division within the community," said Sarah Labowitz, a climate and geopolitics expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "It's the exact opposite of what keeps people safe and ready to recover." Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jan, 2025) The United States and Britain on Friday announced sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including oil giant Gazprom Neft, just days before outgoing President Joe Biden leaves office. The US Treasury Department said it was designating more than 180 ships as well as Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, fulfilling "the G7 commitment to reduce Russian revenues from energy." At the same time, the UK government announced sanctions against the two companies, saying their profits were "lining (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's war chest and facilitating the war" in Ukraine. "Taking on Russian oil companies will drain Russia's war chest -- and every ruble we take from Putin's hands helps save Ukrainian lives," UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement. Gazprom Neft slammed the sanctions as "baseless" and "illegitimate," Russian state news agencies reported. "Gazprom Neft considers the decision to include its assets on the sanctions list as baseless, illegitimate and contrary to the principles of free competition," Russian state news agencies quoted a company representative as saying. Oil prices rose on the news, with a barrel of Brent North Sea crude oil for delivery in March up 3.5 percent at $79.58 at around 2:00 pm in Washington (1900 GMT). - 'Sweeping action' - Even before the sanctions were officially announced, rumors of fresh designations sparked condemnation from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who told reporters that the Biden administration was trying to leave incoming US President Donald Trump "as heavy a legacy as possible. " In total, the United States announced sanctions against almost 400 people and entities. These include 183 oil-carrying vessels, along with Russian oil traders and oilfield providers, the two Russian oil majors, and more than two dozen of their subsidiaries, according to the Treasury Department. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also weighed in, announcing plans to speak with Putin about the sanctions, which also affect Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), majority-owned by Russia's Gazprom Neft and its parent company, Gazprom. NIS is the only supplier of gas to Serbia and the majority owner of both gas pipelines that transport gas from Russia to households and industries in Serbia. "Today, the United States imposed the most significant sanctions yet on Russia's energy sector, by far the largest source of revenue for Putin's war," Daleep Singh, the Biden administration's deputy national security advisor for international economics, said in a statement. Senior administration officials told reporters that the measures were designed to give the United States additional leverage to help broker a "just peace" between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday praised the United States for introducing the sanctions. "These measures deliver a significant blow to the financial foundation of Russia's war machine by disrupting its entire supply chain," he wrote in a post on the social media platform X. (@FahadShabbir) Caracas, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jan, 2025) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday for a third six-year term rejected by the opposition as a "coup d'etat" achieved through election fraud and a campaign of repression. Maduro took the oath before parliament, vowing his next term would be a "period of peace," a day after thousands took to the streets to protest his alleged power grab. "With the usurpation of power by Nicolas Maduro... supported by brute force and ignoring the popular sovereignty expressed... on July 28, a coup d'etat has been accomplished," the Democratic Unitary Platform coalition said in a statement. Critics have denounced a fresh wave of repression in the lead-up to Friday's ceremony, with several activists and opposition figures arrested in recent days -- prompting the UN to express alarm. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who had come out of hiding to lead Thursday's anti-Maduro rallies, was briefly held by security forces, according to her team. At least 17 protesters were also detained, according to a post on X by Gonzalo Himiob of the NGO Foro Penal. Shunned by much of the international community but bolstered by a loyal military and state institutions, Maduro had ordered the deployment of thousands of police and soldiers in recent days. Security forces cast a menacing pall over Thursday's demonstrations and kept a watchful eye over the capital Caracas, closing off streets and setting up roadblocks. The opposition accuses Maduro, 62, of stealing the election of July 28 last year, and the United States, European Union and several Latin American countries have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's legitimate president-elect. Caracas confirmed the presence of President Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba -- one of Maduro's few allies -- at Friday's ceremony. - 'We are not afraid' - Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, had vowed to return to Venezuela to take power Friday, but those plans appear to have floundered with Caracas gripped by a wave of fear. "Wanted" posters offering a $100,000 government reward for his capture have been plastered all over the capital. More than 2,400 people were arrested, 28 killed and about 200 injured in protests that met Maduro's claim of election victory last year. He has since maintained a fragile peace with the help of the security forces and paramilitary "colectivos" -- armed civilian volunteers accused of quelling protest through a reign of neighborhood terror. Venezuela's CNE electoral council, loyal to the regime, had announced victory for Maduro within hours of polls closing last July. It has yet to provide a detailed vote breakdown. The opposition, for its part, released a tally of polling station results showing Gonzalez Urrutia winning at least two-thirds of the vote. Gonzalez Urrutia had replaced the wildly popular Machado, 57, on the ballot after she was barred from running by authorities. On Thursday, Machado defiantly addressed protesters in Caracas, vowing that: "We are not afraid." Her team reported that Machado was "violently intercepted" as she left the rally and knocked off the motorcycle she was on as shots were fired in the vicinity. She was then detained and forced to record a number of videos before being let go, it said. - 'International conspiracy' - news of Machado's detention sparked a flurry of condemnation, including from neighbor Colombia, which hosts most of the estimated seven million Venezuelans to have fled their country's economic collapse under Maduro's rule 12-year rule. Citing "an international conspiracy to disturb Venezuelans' peace", Freddy Bernal, governor of the frontier state of Tachira, subsequently announced Friday that the border with Colombia was closed for the weekend. US President-elect Donald Trump insisted Thursday that Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia "should not be harmed." During his first term in office, Trump had tightened punitive measures against the Maduro government for anti-democratic actions. The sanctions were partly lifted, then reimposed, by his successor Joe Biden and may well be hardened in Trump's next term. Gonzalez Urrutia this week finalized an international tour seeking to pile pressure on Maduro to relinquish power. It included a stop in Washington to meet Biden, who called for a "peaceful transfer back to democratic rule." Maduro's previous re-election, in 2018, was also widely rejected as fraudulent but he managed to cling to power through a mix of populism and repression, even as the economy imploded. jt/erc/mlr/bgs X Africa's agriculture ministers are meeting in Uganda this week to discuss the best way to transform the continent's food production systems. The ministers hope to agree on a 10-year action plan to reduce Africa's reliance on food from outside the continent and adapt its farming practices to climate change and modern technology. The ministers and more than 2,000 delegates are meeting in Kampala to discuss sustainable agriculture and food production systems. Speaking at the opening of the summit, Uganda's prime minister, Robinah Nabbanja, urged ministers to provide policies and solutions that can make the continent food self-reliant. "As the continent's agriculture sector ministers, I urge you to deliberately work to reduce Africa's over-reliance on food imports from outside of the continent, Nabbanja said. We must position the continent in such a manner that our agriculture sector is resilient to climate change as well as other shocks and is adaptive to advances in technology." In recent years, Africa has witnessed a sharp increase in food prices due to droughts, floods, conflict and climate change. According to the U.N. trade and development agency UNCTAD, the number of people experiencing food insecurity worldwide increased from 512 million in 2014 to more than 790 million in 2021. The African ministers are meeting in Uganda again to review strategies for food security in the next 10 years, given the changing weather, people's food preferences, increased conflicts and shrinking agricultural farmlands. Despite the challenges ahead, David Nabarro, former coordinator of the U.N.-backed Scaling Up Nutrition movement and co-founder of the 4SD Foundation, an organization that works on the transformation of food systems, said that with cooperation between countries and organizations, Africa has the capacity to be food self-sufficient. "This could lead Africa as a region becoming less of a region that needs to import nutritious food for its people and move to a situation perhaps in 10 years where it can be self-sufficient or even in some cases more exporting, Nabarro said. So individual African country's examples would be brought together and shared because the whole cadre approach is where you monitor progress and share that progress between countries and use that as a way to bring everybody's standards up higher." The director of the International Livestock Research Institute, Appolinaire Djikeng, said strong collaboration and greater investments in agriculture by African governments could bring lasting change in Africa's food production. "The food systems transformations and food systems challenges demonstrated that one organization cannot do it alone, Djikeng said. It is about a coalition, and I want to see that part strengthened. But more importantly, I would like to see governments really investing, committing to invest in the national budget to develop agriculture and building capacities so that we have people who are trained, we have institutions, but also linking that to policy, we need to see the right policy." According to analysts who track the progress of the goals and targets of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), several countries, such as Benin, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Malawi, have spent more than 10% of their budgets to improve their agriculture sectors. The summit ends Saturday, and heads of state are expected to attend and endorse a CAADP strategy and action plan that could shape the continent's food systems for 10 years beginning in 2026. America says a final goodbye to Jimmy Carter at his state funeral. Lebanon has a president for the first time in years, and the U.S. sends more aid to Ukraine. The devastation in Los Angeles is growing. A Venezuelan opposition leader is arrested and later released. The TikTok case heads to the Supreme Court, a foiled coup in Chad, and a look at violence against journalists. In Myanmar, a relatively new ethnic armed group known as the Arakan Army has recently taken control of 15 out of 17 townships in the war-torn country's western Rakhine state. This includes the Myanmar military's western regional command headquarters located in Ann Township, in central Rakhine state. This marks the second major regional command center to fall since the beginning of a surge in resistance victories by allied ethnic armed groups the "Three Brotherhood Alliance" known as Operation 1027 in late 2023. The significant territorial gains by the AA are reshaping power dynamics in Myanmar's civil war, observers say. The ethnic army's growing control over Rakhine state is also drawing attention to the plight of the country's Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority. In a recent phone interview with VOA's Burmese service, AA spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha said the group continued to hold its ground. "As of December 29, 2024, our AA has completely occupied all the military bases of the fascist military council in Gwa Township. We are pursuing and attacking retreating forces," Khaing Thu Kha said. In response, Myanmar's military has launched heavy artillery strikes from air and sea but was unsuccessful in its attempts to retake Gwa, the spokesperson added. The junta did not respond to VOA on the issue. The Arakan Army's gains continued this week, as it seized a key oil and gas pipeline station and closed in on a major weapons factory of the Myanmar military. The fall of Gwa follows the army's seizing of Ann township earlier in December, when it captured the military's western regional command headquarters after intense fighting, marking another major loss for Myanmar's military. In July, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, another ethnic armed group, popularly known as the Kokang army seized the military's regional command headquarters in Lashio, in the northern part of Shan state. "In the history of Myanmar's military, losing two regional commands in such a short period is unprecedented," former Myanmar army Major Naung Yoe told VOA. "These regional commands oversee vast operational areas and are critical to military control." Naung Yoe, who is now part of the anti-junta civil disobedience movement group People's Goal, is based along the Thai-Myanmar border. He attributes the Arakan Army's success to strategy and strong local support. "The courage of the AA soldiers, their disciplined command structure, and the overwhelming support of the Rakhine people have played key roles in their victories," he said. The military has not responded in the media on recent fighting in Rakhine state. Strategic battleground Rakhine state, with its abundant natural resources and access to the Bay of Bengal, is strategically significant. It is home to major China-backed infrastructure projects and holds geopolitical importance as a gateway to Southeast Asia. The state is predominantly inhabited by Rakhine Buddhists, with Rohingya Muslims making up the second-largest population. The Rohingya have faced systemic persecution, culminating in the 2017 military crackdown that forced over 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh. Myanmar's military is now facing international legal proceedings on charges of genocide and other war crimes. This latest round of fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, which began in late 2023 following Operation1027 has been fierce. Dozens of Rohingya civilians were killed during junta attacks, some with heavy artillery fired at AA troops based in Rohingya villages, according to local human rights organizations. The Arakan Army, formed in 2009 by Rakhine youth leaders, is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance that is fighting the junta alongside the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta'Ang National Liberation Army. With an estimated 45,000 troops, the AA says it seeks autonomy for Rakhine state, aiming to "restore the sovereignty of the Arakan people." However, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has condemned abuses by both the military and the AA, citing forced recruitment, extrajudicial killings and indiscriminate attacks that violate international law. AA offensives have reportedly displaced tens of thousands of civilians, including many Rohingya. On Aug. 5, dozens of Rohingya were killed near the Naf River, which divides Myanmar from Bangladesh, underscoring their plight as they remain trapped between escalating violence and closed borders with little safe refuge. Rohingya calls for justice In late December, 28 Rohingya organizations issued a joint statement calling on the AA, which now controls Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships in northern Rakhine, to "uphold and respect the rights of Rohingya and other ethnic and religious minorities" in the region bordering Bangladesh. Cox's Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh hosts over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled Myanmar following the military crackdown in August 2017. Meanwhile, approximately 500,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar, living in areas now under AA control, including territories along the Bangladesh border. "The AA has reached a position where it can control up to 14 cities," Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organization U.K., or BROUK, told VOA Burmese by phone. BROUK is among the 28 organizations behind the joint statement. "However, human rights violations against the Rohingya continue, especially in places like Buthidaung and Maungdaw," Tun Khin said. "As a result, the Rohingya have not been able to return to their homes. It is critical to stop the daily abuses inflicted on the Rohingya by AA forces." After the AA captured Buthidaung and Maungdaw, nearly 60,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, Tun Khin said. "AA, much like the Burmese military, is driving the Rohingya from their homes, perpetuating a cycle of displacement," he said. The Rohingya and other Rakhine minorities must find a way to live peacefully together, he said. "The Rohingya have supported the Burmese revolution and stood alongside revolutionary forces like the AA," Tun Khin said, "yet, they have been forcibly driven from their homes during clashes between the AA and the Burmese army. This is unacceptable. The AA is committing similar crimes to those perpetrated by the Burmese military." A path toward dialogue? For its part, the Arakan Army reiterated its commitment to dialogue late last month. "We remain steadfast in our belief that current internal issues can and should be resolved through political means rather than military solutions," the group said in a statement. In his New Year's speech, however, Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accused ethnic armed groups of pursuing selfish interests and inciting conflict while claiming to support democracy. He also reiterated the junta's commitment to holding elections, citing the completion of a national census and other administrative milestones, and pledged that elections would take place this year. During the 50th anniversary of Rakhine State Day on Dec. 15, Min Aung Hlaing called on ethnic armed groups, including the Arakan Army, to "abandon the armed path and choose the right course." Myanmar's military rulers have not directly responded to the AA's offer for dialogue, according to Naung Yoe, the former Myanmar army major. "The prospects for a resolution remain bleak. I still don't see a dialogue emerging that could resolve the differences between the two sides," he told VOA. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing recently reiterated his support for the 2008 constitution, framing it as essential for Myanmars future. That constitution allowed the formation of a partially civilian government but guaranteed the militarys continued role in politics. The military overthrew the elected government in a coup in 2021. Ethnic leaders, however, reject any political framework that involves the military. "With the junta clinging to the 2008 constitution and ethnic leaders envisioning a political future without military involvement, the chances of reconciliation are slim," Naung Yoe said. He also pointed to the Arakan Army's intention to control all of Rakhine state as a potential stumbling block as well. "If political reconciliation remains unattainable, the conflict will likely escalate further in early 2025," he said. FRANKFURT, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 231,000 owners of small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in Germany are considering closing their businesses by the end of 2025 mainly because retiring owners face challenges in finding successors, said the state development bank KfW on Friday. This represents an increase of more than 41 percent from last year, and it is also the highest number since KfW began its succession monitoring research in 2015. Within three to five years, the number of entrepreneurs facing this uncertainty is expected to increase to 310,000, according to an analysis report of KfW. The study attributes this problem to the fact that the population of SME owners is aging at a faster rate than the overall population in Germany, with 39 percent of entrepreneurs aged 60 or older, compared to just 30 percent of the overall population. The study found that 215,000 business owners who have short-term succession plans in place until the end of 2025 have an average age of 65.4 years. However, many have yet to begin the search for a successor who can take over their business or are still in the very early stages of the process. "The business succession problem is expected to get worse in the SME sector," said Michael Schwartz, SME expert at KfW Research. Schwartz stressed the importance of a stronger entrepreneurial drive in Germany, saying that "entrepreneurship or a career in SME management should be a clear alternative to salaried employment." As President Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated for a third term Friday, exiled Venezuelan journalists and opposition parties condemned the arrests of a prominent press freedom activist and a well-known opposition figure. Venezuelas neighbor, Colombia, cited the arrests when it announced that the countrys leader would be skipping Fridays ceremonies. The Venezuelan government said this week that it had detained seven mercenaries, including two Americans. However, the political party, Popular Will, said authorities have detained up to 19 people. Among those is Carlos Correa, a lawyer, journalist and director of Espacio Publico, a civil association that defends freedom of expression. Witnesses saw hooded figures take the 60-year-old journalist away, his nonprofit said on social media platform X. The government said it has also arrested Enrique Marquez, 61, a politician who ran in the 2024 presidential elections and later backed Edmundo Gonzalez as the victor. Marquez is accused of trying to stage a coup against Maduro, the government said Wednesday. It made no comment about the arrest of Correa. Gonzalez said that masked men had also taken his son-in-law on Tuesday while he was taking his children to school. Journalist arrest condemned The arrest of Correa rocked Venezuelas media community, many of whom are in exile because of a repressive media environment. The journalistic community is shocked that the regime would cross the line of detaining such a prominent human rights advocate, said documentary maker Juan Ravell. Most journalists that have been harassed and persecuted in Venezuela know of Carlos work because he is usually the first you go to when something happens, Ravell told VOA. Ravell, who left Venezuela for the U.S., directed the film A Dangerous Assignment, about a large-scale corruption case in Venezuela which aired on Frontline on PBS. Attacks on press freedom in Venezuela have escalated post July 28 [the date of presidential elections] and Carlos detention goes a step further in this worrying path. We hope that international pressure persuades the government to release Carlos, said Ravell. Clavel Rangel, who went into exile in 2020 amid legal threats, said that Correa and Espacio Publico are an ally of journalists and press workers who have been subjected to judicial proceedings or who, like him, have been subjected to forced disappearances. Rangel had been accused of libel after she and a colleague reported on Venezuelas metal sector. As a Venezuelan journalist, I demand his immediate release. Carlos team has [helped] journalists with a text message, with the assistance of lawyers, legal advice and hundreds of reports that leave a record of what happens to press workers, she said. Rangel added, Personally, I have much to thank Carlos for: my training as a journalist and as a journalist who has needed legal assistance several times. The Venezuelan Communications Ministry did not reply to an email from VOA asking for a comment about the arrests. Political turmoil The countrys interior minister confirmed the arrest of Marquez, whom it said had attempted to stage a coup against Maduro, the AFP agency reported. "Enrique Marquez is part of the coup they wanted to carry out in Venezuela," Diosdado Cabello said on television, adding that Marquez was "linked to the FBI gringo" an unnamed American whom authorities say they have also arrested. The Venezuelan government has repeatedly accused the opposition of plotting with foreign governments to commit acts of sabotage and terrorism. Caracas is investigating major opposition leaders for alleged conspiracy, among other charges, and has repeatedly accused the opposition of inciting violence with its claims of victory in the July election. The opposition published ballot box-level tallies which, it says, show a resounding victory for its candidate Gonzalez. Gonzalez is recognized by several countries, including the U.S., as president-elect. He is currently on a tour to promote the oppositions cause. The Venezuelan government is offering a $100,000 reward for his capture. Venezuelas electoral authority and the countrys top court say Maduro won but have not published detailed tallies to verify this claim. In a speech after being sworn in Friday, Maduro claimed to have complied with the constitution and accused external powers of attacking Venezuela. But the contested election and arrests of media freedom campaigners and opposition politicians prompted some foreign leaders to boycott Maduros inauguration. President Gustavo Petro of Colombia said on social media that the detentions of Marquez and Correa meant he could not attend Maduro's inauguration. Petro added that he would not break relations with Venezuela, with whom he has sought to increase trade. Panama's Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha described Maduro as a "tyrant." The Spanish government said neither Spain nor the EU would send a representative to Caracas for Fridays ceremony. Jose Manuel Albares, the Spanish foreign minister, told reporters that the EU was coordinating a common position against the Maduro government to guarantee the "physical integrity, freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration." Spain too has granted asylum to Gonzalez. The U.S. on Friday also announced new sanctions on Venezuelans, including the president of the state-owned oil company and military and police officials who the Treasury Department said played roles in carrying [out] Maduros repression and human rights abuses. President Joe Biden said wildfires ravaging Los Angeles show climate change is real, days before President-elect Donald Trump is to take office. Trump has threatened to pull back on U.S. efforts to combat global warming. "Climate change is real. ... There is global warming, it's real," Biden told a crisis meeting at the White House on the fires. "This is the most widespread, devastating fire in California's history," Biden said as he convened the meeting. Trump has used the wildfires to attack Biden and California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on social media. The outgoing president canceled a trip to Rome to stay in Washington and coordinate the U.S. government response to the fires, which have killed at least five people. He said the federal government would cover 100% of the costs of dealing with the disaster for the first 180 days, at Newsom's request. Biden said he was surging 400 federal firefighters and 30 firefighting planes and helicopters to Los Angeles, while the Pentagon will send eight large planes and 500 wildfire clearance personnel. Meanwhile, Biden sought to debunk claims pushed by Trump that there was a water shortage that left firefighters struggling to put out the inferno. Biden said the problem lay not with a shortage of water but with power cuts that took water pumps offline. During wildfires, utility companies can cut electricity amid fears that faulty power lines could spark more fires. Trump's remarks on Wednesday and Thursday came as firefighters were trying to contain the blazes that have killed five people and destroyed more than 2,000 structures. "One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground," Trump said on his Truth Social network late Wednesday, blaming the fires on Newsom and calling on him to resign. Trump returned to the subject Thursday morning as the blazes continued to rage. Without providing evidence, he variously accused Newsom of "incompetence" in managing the fires and of wasting water in drought-hit California. The California governor strongly rejected Trump's claims in an interview with CNN. "People are literally fleeing. ... This guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of thoughts, and I know what I want to say. I won't," Newsom said. Trump accused Biden on Thursday of diverting money to "Green New Scam" climate policies instead of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Biden has repeatedly denied steering funds away from FEMA, including in October when Trump made similar accusations after hurricanes devastated the U.S. Southeast a month before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. California has long been a target of Trump's ire, with the most populous U.S. state long having voted for Democrats. He made some modest gains in the 2024 election. Denmark acknowledged Thursday that it had long neglected the defense of Greenland, a vast and strategically important Arctic island - and one that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has called vital for U.S. security. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, said this week that U.S. control of Greenland - a sovereign Danish territory - was an "absolute necessity," and he did not rule out using military or economic action against Denmark to make it happen. "We have neglected for many years to make the necessary investments in ships and in aircraft that will help monitor our kingdom, and that is what we are now trying to do something about," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told journalists. The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen said earlier Thursday that the United States had no plans to increase its military presence in Greenland. "There are no plans to increase the United States' current military footprint in Greenland," the spokesperson told Reuters. "We will continue to work closely with Copenhagen and Nuuk [Greenland's capital] to ensure any proposals meet our common security needs." Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said late Thursday that she had asked for a meeting with Trump but did not expect one to happen ahead of his inauguration. US military presence Greenland has been controlled by Denmark for centuries, though its 57,000 people now govern their own domestic affairs. Its security and foreign affairs, however, are still handled by Copenhagen. The U.S. military maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland's northwest. Greenland is crucial for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island. "I think that the Americans are quite concerned that Russia could actually launch or initiate a major attack against the United States, and that could be done from the Russian side," Jens Wenzel at Nordic Defense Analysis told Reuters. "There is no real monitoring of the airspace in Greenland. It is largely a free-for-all," he said. Greenland is already covered by U.S. security guarantees via Denmark's membership in NATO. Frederiksen said this week that she could not imagine the United States would use military intervention in Greenland and said it was up to the people of Greenland to decide what they want. 'Tightrope' Frederiksen summoned leaders of Denmark's political parties to a meeting Thursday for a briefing about Trump's renewed interest. She rebuffed an offer from him in 2019 to buy Greenland. On Wednesday, Frederiksen hosted Greenland's leader, Mute Egede, for talks in Copenhagen. Egede favors independence for his homeland and has said it is not for sale. Egede discussed trade and other issues with the outgoing U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen on Wednesday, the embassy said. Last month, Trump said he had picked Ken Howery as the new U.S. envoy to Denmark. As a co-founder of PayPal, Howery is considered a member of the group of former workers and executives at the digital finance firm that includes prominent Trump supporters Peter Thiel and Elon Musk. "They're walking a tightrope," said Lin Alexandra Mortensgaard, a Greenland expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, referring to the Danish and Greenland prime ministers. "It's a balance between representing an autonomous territory and representing a sovereign state while still taking the requirements of Denmark's closest ally seriously," she said. Denmark's European allies France and Germany have responded to Trump's comments by stressing the inviolability of borders. British Foreign Minister David Lammy said Thursday that he believed Trump recognized Greenland was part of Denmark and that concerns about Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic lay behind the U.S. president-elect's remarks. The Kremlin said Thursday that Moscow was following closely the "dramatic development" on Greenland and that the Arctic fell within Russia's zone of strategic national interests. In Greenland, opinions on the island's future appear divided, with some warmly welcoming Trump's remarks and others responding skeptically. Danish lawmakers across the political spectrum have urged Frederiksen, a Social Democrat, to firmly reject any attempt by foreign powers to undermine Greenland's status. "The U.S. wants to take over Denmark's role in Greenland, and the Danish government must say a clear and unequivocal no to that," former conservative minister Rasmus Jarlov said on X. Meanwhile, the screenwriter of the hit Danish TV drama series "Borgen," Adam Price, joked on Instagram that it was becoming "increasingly difficult to write political fiction when real-life politics are becoming more and more extreme." "All that's left is to get some popcorn," he added. A 29-year-old day laborer in Shashemene, a city in Ethiopias Oromia region, was walking home from dinner with two friends one night in November when he heard a commotion. On the side of the road, perhaps 400 meters away, four men dressed in the uniforms of a local militia were shoving two young people into a police car. The militiamen called out to the man and his friends. They didnt wait to hear what came next. They turned and ran in the opposite direction. Two militiamen chased them on foot for a short distance before giving up. The laborer, who asked to remain anonymous for reasons of personal safety, said news of Oromia government security forces and allied militias grabbing young people off the street for enlistment was all over town. He didnt want to cross the so-called recruiters or get pressed into military service himself. We were aware that some people were taken, the man recently told VOAs Horn of Africa Service. So, when the militias called us, we didnt stop. We ran, and I stayed overnight [with] my friends. As young as 11 years old The incident reflects a worrisome reality in Oromia, where boys in their early teenage years are being forcibly recruited into military service to fight alongside Ethiopian federal government forces against rebel groups in the Amhara and Oromia regions, according to a recent report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, or EHRC. In one alarming case, the commission said it saw an 11-year-old boy who was detained for possible recruitment and being held at a Shashemen city detention center. The state-affiliated body released a statement on Dec. 4, 2024, denouncing the arbitrary detention of children by Oromia security forces allied with the federal government. The EHRC, which is mandated to monitor human rights conditions in the country, found that teenagers are being illegally detained and pressured to join the National Defense Force. The commission said that during its monitoring and investigation in Shashemene, it saw numerous children under 18 sent to detention halls under the pretense of military training. Of 32 youths being held at a detention center in the Halelu district to whom the commission talked, nearly half were either 15 or 16 years old. Thats where investigators also found the 11-year-old, the commission said. Rebellions in two regions Following a two-year rebellion in the Tigray region that ended in 2021, Ethiopias federal government army is now battling rebellions in the Amhara and Oromia regions. The fighting in Amhara has been going on since 2023 when ethnic Amhara militias known as Fano refused a proposed government plan to disarm. The conflict in the Oromia region started in 2019 after rebels who returned from Eritrea took up arms, alleging marginalization of the ethnic Oromo. Acting EHRC chief Rakeb Messele told VOAs Horn of Africa Service that security forces are listening to the commissions objections about the forced recruitment program although the so-called recruitment has yet to stop. The Oromia regions security forces told us they are visiting the detention centers and releasing those who are unwilling to join and those children under the age of 18, she said. Similarly, the Ethiopian National Defense Force is getting them released from the centers. Messele said the EHRC chose to label the situation as arbitrary detention rather than forced military recruitment. She told VOA it chose to refer to the practice that way because the government is taking necessary correction measures. Nearly $200 to join the army The EHRC report reveals the plight of families caught in the crossfire. The Oromia region's administration and members of the security forces forcibly arrested many people, including children, to join the defense army outside of the recruitment criteria specified by the Ministry of Defense, the report states in Amharic. One farmer from Kelem Wolega city, who requested anonymity for his safety, told VOA that two of his younger brothers are among those forcibly recruited. We are residents of Kelem Wolega Zone, Gidame District. Two of my brothers have been arrested, he said. More than 130 people have been taken from our kebele [administrative unit]." A 15-year-old boy told the commission: When we came back from school, an individual took us into a Bajaj [auto rickshaw], saying that he will give 25,000 Birr [equivalent to $198] to those who join the defense force. [They] then took us to an auditorium. ... But after we entered, we could not leave. Some parents say they were forced to pay for the return of their sons. In some areas of the region, they forced their families to pay large sums of money to release those arrested, said the EHRC report. In some areas where EHRC conducted surveillance and investigation, in cooperation with the regional leaders, it has succeeded in freeing many people, including children and the mentally ill, who were arrested, the report said. 'Recruiting children ... is prohibited' Kumlachew Dagne, board director of InterAfrica Group, an independent nonprofit organization working on promoting peace and security in the Horn of Africa, told VOA that although Ethiopia is not a signatory of the international war crime law, the recruitment activities are unlawful. Kumlachew said United Nations protocols clearly state that during civil war, recruiting children for military purpose is prohibited. This violation, Kumlachew said, represents a blatant disregard for the rights of children and undermines efforts to protect vulnerable populations in conflict zones. He called on the Ethiopian government to take immediate action to address the issue and uphold international conventions on arbitrary detention and child rights violations. Ethiopias Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Defense have not responded to VOA requests for comment. This story originated in VOA's Horn of Africa Service. In late 2021, the wife of then-presidential candidate Yoon Suk Yeol appeared exasperated by several journalists she insisted were treating her husband unfairly. In a leaked phone call with a left-leaning reporter, Kim Keon-hee vowed to have all of them jailed if her husband won the presidency. The comment drew little attention, overshadowed by the scandals and mudslinging typical of South Koreas elections. In hindsight, analysts say it hinted at how Yoon, now impeached and under investigation over his short-lived declaration of martial law, would later approach his critics as president. After taking office in May 2022, Yoon pursued criminal defamation charges against journalists at an unprecedented pace, according to a VOA investigation. As his political fortunes declined, Yoon adopted increasingly adversarial rhetoric, often framing his opponents as existential threats in a zero-sum battle against communists and anti-state forces. In declaring martial law early last month, Yoon used similar language, citing the need to eradicate pro-North Korean forces. He later defended the move as a temporary measure to warn his opposition rivals, whom he accused of obstructing governance. Critics, however, viewed the declaration as an authoritarian overreach. The martial law decree, South Koreas first since it emerged from military rule in the 1980s, put the Biden administration in an awkward position, having touted Yoons South Korea as a democratic model. In 2024, Yoon hosted the U.S.-led Summit for Democracy, an event aimed at countering global authoritarianism. Weeks later, he made headlines by singing American Pie at a White House state dinner alongside President Joe Biden a moment highlighting the administrations embrace of Yoon as a key ally. Part of that support stemmed from Yoons efforts to reconcile with Japan, which reinvigorated trilateral cooperation with the United States. The partnership became so central to Bidens Asia policy that Washington seemed unwilling to confront mounting concerns about Yoons leadership, according to some analysts. The senior Biden team was so over-invested in Yoon as the key to its signature trilateral initiative with Tokyo and Seoul that it seemingly ignored all the many warning signs over the last year-plus of Yoons authoritarian bent, said Rob Rapson, a recently retired U.S. diplomat who held several senior positions in South Korea, including acting ambassador. During a visit to Seoul this week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sidestepped questions about Yoon, instead praising South Koreas democratic resilience. Blinken acknowledged serious concerns about Yoons actions, saying they were conveyed directly to Seoul. Alliance frictions After Yoons martial law decree, the United States temporarily paused key diplomatic and security talks with South Korea. Even though those engagements resumed by late December, some analysts say it may be premature to declare business as usual. One sensitive issue is the U.S. claim that it was not notified in advance about the martial law declaration a move that could have impacted the approximately 28,000 U.S. troops in Korea and heightened risks for both countries. If no requirement exists for such notification, that may need to change, said Sheena Chestnut Greitens, an East Asia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The U.S. has reasonable grounds to say that having that information in advance is necessary for effective deterrence and defense on the Korean Peninsula, she said. Chestnut Greitens also warned that Yoons unilateral actions could weaken South Koreas position with the incoming Trump administration, whose first-term policies raised fears of abandonment in Seoul. Donald Trump frequently questioned the value of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, once asking why the U.S. needs all those troops in South Korea. His direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un further alarmed some South Korean officials, who feared being sidelined in any Trump-Kim deal. The incoming Trump team could now cite this lack of consultation as precedent if it chooses to justify either a unilateral deal with Pyongyang or a reduction in U.S. commitment, said Chestnut Greitens. Trump silent Trump, whose America First policy often prioritized perceived interests over the promotion of human rights, has not commented on Yoons martial law declaration. His approach toward South Korea is unlikely to change, suggested Alex Gray, a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and former chief of staff at the National Security Council under Trump. I think [President Trump] will prioritize his conception of core American security and economic interests as he did in term one, said Gray. It is unclear how Trump will respond to Yoons conservative supporters, some of whom have appealed to him by waving Stop the Steal protest signs reminiscent of Trumps post-2020 election fraud claims. If Trump were to back Yoon or endorse baseless South Korean election fraud allegations, it could seriously damage the image of the U.S. among a majority of the Korean population, said Ben Engel, who teaches at Dankook University outside Seoul. The idea that the ROK [Republic of Korea]-U.S. alliance was undergirded by the shared values of democracy and human rights would be significantly undermined and possibly lead to the alliance becoming a partisan issue in South Korea, where the alliance has had broad support since the early 2000s, said Engel. Still, Trump may see little reason to support Yoon, who faces possible removal from office and insurrection charges. Why hitch yourself to a sinking ship? Engel asked. South Koreas reaction There has been little backlash to the U.S. response, even from liberal South Koreans who have at times been more critical of Washington. Moon Chung-in, a foreign policy adviser to several left-leaning Korean administrations, noted that Biden officials have quietly opposed Yoons martial law declaration. If Washington maintains its current approach, it can demonstrate that for the U.S., democracy matters, Moon told VOA, though he acknowledged the United States had a bad track record of backing authoritarian regimes before South Koreas democratization. While Trump is unlikely to prioritize human rights in South Korea, Moon said he believes the incoming president would not overrule figures in his administration, such as Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, who take a more values-driven approach to international relations. Regardless, some experts argue that such U.S. messaging no longer resonates in South Korea. Lee Sang-sin, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, suggested this may reflect declining perceptions of U.S. democracy. It may be that people have moved past the old anxiety that South Koreas democracy cannot survive without U.S. support, he said. The lingering shock of domestic turmoil, Lee added, has also left people too preoccupied to focus on U.S. messaging. James Earl Carter Jr. served a single term as the 39th president of the United States, but despite his short tenure, he had the most extensive post-presidential career in U.S. history, lasting from 1981 until his death in 2024. Carter was a peanut farmer before his presidency and placed the family farm in a blind trust when he took office. But it was heavily in debt when he returned, so Carter generated income through writing. He published more than 30 books from memoirs and nonfiction to childrens books and historical novels. The first major achievement of Carters post-presidential career was the 1982 founding of The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting human rights. The center would go on to operate a broad range of initiatives worldwide, often working with the United Nations. One of its most prominent roles has been election monitoring, having observed and produced reports on elections in 40 countries as a neutral organization unaffiliated with the U.S. government. The Carter Center would also become known for its public health and agricultural assistance programs. Among these are ongoing efforts to combat river blindness and trachoma in developing nations by distributing medication and building toilet facilities. A major accomplishment has been the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease in Africa the first such eradication achieved without any pharmaceuticals. Carter himself continued to travel extensively to promote diplomatic efforts, both as a private citizen and as an unofficial negotiator for the United States. During the Ronald Reagan administration, he traveled to the Middle East to support the continuation of the Camp David Accords that his administration had brokered between Egypt and Israel, and he met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to advance the peace process. Carter helped to secure a temporary ceasefire during the Yugoslav Wars, and in 1994, went to North Korea at the request of President Bill Clinton to negotiate a treaty governing nuclear non-proliferation. He would later return to North Korea in 2010 to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes, an American citizen who had illegally crossed into the country. Along with his wife, Rosalynn, Carter was also known for his work with Habitat for Humanity, an international charity dedicated to building affordable housing for low-income families around the world. After first volunteering for the organization in 1984, the Carters launched an annual work project where they would personally participate alongside volunteers on a particular building site. Carter served on the organizations board from 1984 to 1987. Carters work in human rights and social justice has been widely praised and earned him the 1998 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, as well the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, making him the third U.S. president to receive the honor. However, Carter has also been criticized for alleged anti-Israel bias in his statements and writings on the Middle East, and for labeling Israels treatment of Palestinians as apartheid in his bestselling yet controversial 2006 book on the subject. Carter was the longest-lived U.S. president, remaining active well into his 90s until his eventual death at 100. While his four-year presidency has often been considered a mediocre one by historians, his post-presidency set a standard that will be difficult to surpass. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a probe into last week's terrorist attacks on a military base in Damboa, Northeast Borno State, that killed six troops. In a statement Thursday, Tinubu said the investigation will help identify security lapses to avoid future occurrences. The president's statement released Thursday by his information adviser Bayo Onanuga called for a comprehensive investigation into the attack on the military base at Sabon Gida, Damboa. According to the Nigerian military, Islamic State of West Africa Province militants masterminded the ambush, killing six soldiers on Jan. 4. Authorities say the investigation will focus on identifying possible intelligence gaps and operational inefficiencies that may have contributed to the incident. But Beacon Security analyst Kabir Adamu said the president must be clear about the probe's objective. "It depends on who's going to conduct the probe," said Adamu. "If it's the military themselves, my honest opinion is that it's because of their lapses that led to the attack, so I don't expect them to do an effective probe. I would expect an external body or even the national assembly to set up a parliamentary committee. Ordering a probe without really the details of what, who, when, and how the probe will be conducted is a bit vague." The president also praised the swift intervention of security forces, particularly their air units, during the attack. He sent condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and ordered the military to intensify its operations against bandits and terrorists. The attack occurred amid ongoing progress in Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts. According to Adamu, that may have been a factor in the terrorists' mission. "This particular forward operating base is the only one in that location, sandwiched between Alagano and Sambisa Forest. They wanted to cripple the activity of the military which would give them access to about five local governments in southern Borno," said Adamu. "I don't see it as a resurgence because it is just one incident. That forward operating base has always been vulnerable." Nigeria faces significant security challenges from terrorist groups and criminal gangs, particularly in the northwest and central regions. In November, national defense authorities reported military successes, including the deaths of about 115 terrorists and the arrest of hundreds more. However, security analyst Ebenezer Oyetakin said continued vigilance is needed. "Since President Bola Tinubu took over, there have been drastic moves to contain them, and we are seeing it in the successes that are being recorded by our military, [but] we are at war, and we should be alert at all times," said Oyetakin. "There have been many other probes in the past, and we are still where we are." As Nigerian authorities work to secure the nation, many will be watching to see whether this latest investigation leads to tangible improvements. Pakistan is struggling to attract commercial activity to a Chinese-funded deep-sea port in the southwest that experts say is hampered by local insecurity, a lack of basic services and the absence of plans to make the port prosper. A press release issued Wednesday after a meeting chaired by Pakistani Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal indicated that authorities do not have a plan to attract trade to the port, nearly a decade after the first container ships traveled through it in 2016. The minister noted the lack of commercial analysis and a comprehensive operational plan for Gwadar Port, calling for immediate efforts to unlock its potential, the statement said. Iqbal has ordered a plan to be drawn up within six months to generate trade traffic, according to the statement. Constructed in 2007 at a cost of nearly $250 million and operated by the China Overseas Ports Holding Company since 2013, Gwadar port is situated in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea in Pakistans Balochistan province. Although built before the 2015 launch of the roughly $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the port is billed as the crown jewel of the energy, infrastructure and investment project launched as part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. Despite nearly a billion dollars of additional infrastructure development in and around Gwadar city, a report by Pakistans Ministry of Maritime Affairs has noted that during the fiscal year 2022-23, Gwadar, the smallest of the countrys three ports, handled less than 1% of Pakistans seaborne trade at its three berths. All this is symptomatic of absence of long-term planning in Pakistan's governance system, said Muhammad Faisal, an expert in Pakistans foreign policy at the Sydney-based University of Technology. From the beginning, Gwadar was more of a geopolitical venture than a pure commercial case, Faisal said in a written statement. In a bid to ramp up shipping activity in Gwadar, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif told a cabinet meeting Tuesday that 60% of public sector imports and exports should pass through the port. This came after Sharif ordered at least 50% of public cargo to go through the port in a Cabinet meeting last August. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told VOA that the port lacks the infrastructure and manpower to handle massive cargo. Unless you spend another 3 billion to 4 billion dollars there and make a world-class port, you really cant call it a port, Abbasi said, criticizing what he called the Sharif governments unrealistic approach. According to reports, the Chinese firm operating the Gwadar port plans to build a total of 100 berths by 2045. Pakistans largest airport by area, which was built near Gwardar port, also remains largely unused. Aviation website Skyscanner shows three weekly domestic flights to Karachi and one international flight to Oman from the massive new facility. Constructed with a $230 million Chinese grant, the opening of New Gwadar International Airport suffered several delays prior to its soft launch last month. Wednesdays statement from the planning ministry said Iqbal directed the preparation of marketing templates and packages showcasing Gwadars cost-effective trade routes and potential incentives for international businesses. Insecurity, lack of services a hurdle Abbasi, who is also an aviation expert, told VOA that while the new Gwadar airport is a necessary accompaniment to the deep-sea port in the long term, the lack of basic facilities such as water, electricity and security in the city make it an unattractive destination for airlines. Airlines have a basic requirement that there must be passengers. No passenger wants to come to Gwadar or leave from Gwadar, Abbasi said. Balochistan province, home to Gwadar, has been in the throes of a separatist insurgency for two decades, and violence has escalated in recent months. At least six people, mostly security personnel, and eight militants were killed recently as Pakistani forces thwarted an attack on the Gwadar Port Authority complex near the port. The port gives China a shorter route for trade with the Middle East and Central Asia. Despite Pakistans failure to market Gwadar port and airport to international businesses, Sydney-based expert Faisal said the project may not become a liability like Sri Lankas Hambantota port, which Beijing took control of in 2017 after Colombo failed to pay off debt linked with it. Since Pakistan fundamentally viewed Gwadar port in geostrategic terms and contrasts it with India's cooperation with Iran in neighboring Chahbahar port, Gwadar will remain useful for Pakistan, Faisal told VOA. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan-China Institute, said the slow pace of business in Gwadar is not a problem for bilateral ties. State-to-state relations are deep-rooted in long-term strategic interests and not any [one] event; not any project or single instance can harm any state-to-state relations, Sayed told VOA. The World Meteorlogical Organization says that preventive action cannot avert natural disasters such as the wildfires raging across Los Angeles, but that it can help save lives and mitigate loss of property. Land management and prevention, regular clearing of underbrush play a key role in fire management, and evacuation plans are important in saving lives, the WMO said Friday. These are all part of effective early warning systems. In a briefing to journalists in Geneva, Claire Nullis, a WMO spokesperson, stressed the importance of preparing adequate evacuation plans and early warning systems to prevent some of the worst impacts from a natural disaster. While acknowledging the staggering losses from the devastating wildfires sweeping across parts of Los Angeles in the United States this week, she said The early warnings have, in this instance, been very, very good. You know, people have been evacuated. It has been impossible to save houses, and the loss of life is still too high, but it has been kept to a relative minimum, she said. Media reports say at least 10 people have been killed in this week's Southern California wildfires, although more bodies are expected to be found once the fires have been contained and searchers can go through the debris. More than 10,000 structures reportedly have burned, and 180,000 people are under evacuation orders. While California is no stranger to wildfires, the WMO calls this catastrophic event extraordinary in that it is affecting one of the largest cities in the United States. The WMO said that last years rainy season for the Los Angeles area as a whole was slightly above normal, but so far, this year it has been dry. The big compounding factor in this context is the winds. They cause temperatures to rise, and they cause very low humidity, drying out the ground and vegetation, Nullis said. The WMO said destructive wildfires have been made worse by climate change. Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last decades, it said, citing data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The WMO said wildfires require the alignment of a number of factors, including temperature, humidity and the lack of moisture in fuels such as trees, shrubs, grasses and forest debris. All these factors have strong direct or indirect ties to climate variability and climate change, it said. Obviously, not every single weather-related disaster is due to climate change, WMO spokesperson Nullis said. Nobody would say that. But we get quite clear signals that climate change is exacerbating some of these disasters. In addition to the loss of life and destruction of homes and other infrastructure that could total billions of dollars in insured losses, the World Health Organization warns that wildfires can have a significant impact on human morbidity and mortality. Wildfire smoke, which is a mixture of air pollutants, of which particulate matter is of major concern as it can be full of PM 2.5. This is a very small particulate matter that gets right down into the lungs, and there certainly is a lot of it. said Dr. Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson. A lot of it is associated with premature death in the general population, she said. It can cause and exacerbate diseases of lung, heart, brain, the nervous system and other illnesses. It has been shown to lead to cognitive impairment and actually damage your intellectual capacity and lead to memory loss, she said, adding that firefighters and emergency response workers are most at risk from exposure to smoke. The WHO estimates 4.2 million deaths globally are linked to ambient or outdoor air pollution, with 99% of the global population exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the WHO guideline level for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). Harris said more research is needed to understand the long-term health effects of wildfire exposure on vulnerable populations, particularly children, older people, pregnant women and the chronically ill. We expect that we will see this over and over again if we do not get what we are doing to the planet under control, she said. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization has officially confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with a global mean temperature of more than 1.5 degrees above the 1850-1900 average. We have just endured the hottest decade on record, with 2024 topping the list, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, noting that blazing temperatures in 2024 require trailblazing climate action in 2025. There is still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act now, he said. Ukraine's air force said on Friday on Russia attacked it with 72 drones overnight though it downed 33 of them while 34 others disappeared from radar without reaching their targets. Five drones struck various buildings in the northern region of Chernihiv, wounding one person, the air force said. One downed drone fell on a building in the capital Kyiv but did not cause casualties. Video footage filmed by Reuters carried the sound of an explosion and showed a fire burning in the distance in Kyiv during the overnight attack. More footage after daybreak showed the charred corner of a high-rise apartment block in Kyiv with windows blown out and a line of cars parked below suffering damage. Massed Russian aerial attacks using long-range drones have been a near-daily occurrence over Ukraine in the past several months, as Moscow looks to exhaust Kyiv's air defenses almost three years into its full-scale war against its neighbor. Meanwhile, Ukraine's army struck a supermarket on Friday in the Russian-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in an attack that used U.S.-supplied missiles and wounded two people, a senior Russian-backed official said. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine and Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Unverified photos posted on social media showed a burnt out car in front of a shattered two-story circular building surrounded by debris. Dashcam footage posted by a driver nearby appeared to show the moment the supermarket -- called Moloko (Milk) -- was struck, with an ensuing large explosion and flames soaring into the sky. Reuters was able to confirm the location from a nearby building's facades, signages and road layout that matched satellite imagery and street view imagery. The date was verified by a timestamp on the footage. Denis Pushilin, a senior Russian-backed official, accused the Ukrainian army of firing U.S.-supplied HIMARS missiles into the area during the morning rush hour. Russia's TASS state news agency said other buildings and around 15 cars had been damaged in the same attack. Pushilin said in a statement on his official Telegram account that an apartment building in the city of Svitlodarsk in the Donetsk region had also been struck by Ukrainian forces, killing one woman and wounding four others. LUSAKA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided Zambia with about 13.2 million U.S. dollars to support a project aimed at enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene in selected districts, according to a statement released on Friday. The funding, part of the "Improving Access and Strengthening Innovations for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene" initiative, will focus on developing climate-resilient water supply infrastructure, upgrading sanitation and hygiene services, and strengthening institutional capacity. The project will target Kabwe in central Zambia and Bauleni township, a densely populated area in Lusaka, the country's capital. Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Collins Nzovu said the project, expected to create 465 jobs during its four-year construction period, will also improve the technical and financial sustainability of water utilities in Lusaka and Kabwe. "This amount of investment demonstrates the confidence that cooperating partners have in the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and the government's prudent utilization of public resources, since it took office in 2021," he said in a statement. The project is expected to benefit 160,000 people in Lusaka by improving access to water through the construction of new infrastructure. Additionally, gender-sensitive and disability-friendly sanitation and hygiene facilities will be built in select schools and health centers in both Lusaka and Kabwe, benefiting over 460,000 people. Russia's efforts to obtain China's help in enhancing artificial intelligence is seen as a bid to challenge America's lead in the field even as the outgoing Biden administration is expected to impose new export control measures to further curb Beijing's access to AI chips. As the new year began, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country's state-owned Sberbank, to work with China in researching and developing AI technology, according to the Kremlin. "The Russian president sees his country in global competition for AI with the United States and has positioned the state resources to try and compete with the U.S. in information and cyberspace two areas where artificial intelligence is supposed to aid Russia in what they see as Western narratives and influence," said Samuel Bendett, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Moscow views Beijing's success in AI as an example to follow, and its "cooperation with China is viewed as a necessary step towards acquiring artificial intelligence-related skill sets, knowledge and technology," Bendett told VOA in written comments. The U.S. currently leads in AI innovation, followed by China, which is falling behind by wide margins, according to a November report by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. Russia ranks 31st out of 83 countries in AI implementation, innovation and investment, according to U.K.-based Tortoise Media's Global AI Index. Response to sanctions Western sanctions imposed on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have limited the country's AI development, and Moscow has turned to Beijing to offset the restriction, according to Bendett in his report "The Role of AI in Russia's Confrontation with the West." Sberbank, which Putin instructed to collaborate with China, is under Western sanctions. It is Russia's largest bank and leads the country's AI development efforts. The outgoing Biden administration is expected to impose a new set of export control measures aimed at further limiting China's ability to access chips that support AI technology. The new measures could come as early as Friday, according to Bloomberg. Sberbank CEO German Gref said in 2023 that Russia cannot obtain graphics processing units, microchips needed to support AI development, according to Reuters. But the bank's first deputy CEO, Alexander Vedyakhin, said in December that despite Western sanctions, Russia can improve its AI ranking by 2030 through its own development. Another key area where Russia has sought to further apply AI help from China is in the military. "There already have been top level meetings between Russia and Chinese militaries in 2024," and "ongoing dialogue" between the defense ministries of the two countries is likely so they can understand "how AI could aid in a large-scale conventional conflict, like the one unfolding in Ukraine," Bendett said. Russian and Chinese officials met in Beijing early last year to discuss military application of AI, especially in developing autonomous weapons, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry. AI-powered weapons In December, Ukraine said Russia began using AI-powered strike drones with improved capabilities that can evade air defenses, identify key targets and operate offline. James Lewis, director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Russia is likely to use AI technology on enhancing drones as well as in making weapons with improved target detection and attack speed. The China-Russia AI partnership "creates new risk for the U.S.," but military application of "AI won't compensate for bad strategy" in the battlefield, he said. Attending an AI conference in Moscow last month, Song Haitao, president of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, said China plans to sign an agreement with Russia's Sberbank to promote bilateral cooperation on AI development. Speaking at the conference, Putin applauded China for "making great strides" in advancing AI technology and its application, including in building "smart cities" and conducting "modern governance." Sam Bresnick, research fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said although it is not entirely clear how Beijing might benefit from helping Moscow in developing AI, China might want some military technologies and wartime data from Russia in return. "Russia is very good at making submarines, and there's been a speculation in the past that China could benefit from acquiring that kind of technology. Another one is helicopter technology," Bresnick said. "The war in Ukraine has generated an astonishing amount of data," Bresnick continued. "China would probably be interested in getting its hands on them because having more militarily relevant data from Russia would help China develop its own AI systems for military." Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told VOA on Thursday that "in terms of the application of artificial intelligence, China actively advocates the principles of 'people-oriented' and 'intelligent for good,' ensuring that artificial intelligence is safe, reliable and controllable, better enabling global sustainable development, and enhancing the common well-being of all mankind." Jimmy Carter, who considered himself an outsider even as he sat in the Oval Office as the 39th U.S. president, was honored Thursday with the pageantry of a funeral at Washington National Cathedral. President Joe Biden eulogized Carter in a ceremony attended by all the living U.S. presidents. Carters legacy will be remembered for his lifelong commitment to humanitarian work after leaving the White House. We speak with one person who says Carters work changed the course of her life. Faith Cooper a former Liberian refugee is a regional director at the International Rescue Committee. President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction but frees him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine. Trumps sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. Yet, the legal detour and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations didnt hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Merchan said that, like when facing any other defendant, he must consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence, but the legal protection that Trump will have as president is a factor that overrides all others. Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict," Merchan said. WATCH: Donald Trump sentenced without penalties in New York court Trump, briefly addressing the court as he appeared virtually from his Florida home, said his criminal trial and conviction has been a very terrible experience and insisted he committed no crime. The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. Its been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didnt work," Trump said. Trump called the case a weaponization of government and an embarrassment to New York. With Trump 10 days from inauguration, Merchan had indicated he planned a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge, and prosecutors didn't oppose it. Prosecutors said Friday that they supported a no-penalty sentence, but they chided Trump's attacks on the legal system throughout and after the case. The once and future president of the United States has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said. Rather than show remorse, Trump has bred disdain for the jury verdict and the criminal justice system, Steinglass said, and his calls for retaliation against those involved in the case, including calling for the judge to be disbarred, "has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has put officers of the court in harms way. As he appeared from his Florida home, the former president was seated with his lawyer Todd Blanche, whom hes tapped to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official in his incoming administration. Legally, this case should not have been brought, Blanche said, reiterating Trumps intention to appeal the verdict. That technically cant happen until hes sentenced. Trump, a Republican, becomes the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. The judge had indicated that he planned the unconditional discharge a rarity in felony convictions partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would have arisen if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trumps presidency. The hush money case accused Trump of fudging his business' records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in Trumps 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge, the Republican president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform last week. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the charges, is a Democrat. Bragg's office said in a court filing Monday that Trump committed serious offenses that caused extensive harm to the sanctity of the electoral process and to the integrity of New Yorks financial marketplace. While the specific charges were about checks and ledgers, the underlying accusations were seamy and deeply entangled with Trumps political rise. Prosecutors said Daniels was paid off through Trump's personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trump's alleged extramarital escapades. Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. And while prosecutors said Cohen's reimbursements for paying Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Trump says that's simply what they were. There was nothing else it could have been called, he wrote on Truth Social last week, adding, I was hiding nothing. Trump's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled virtually every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed. The Trump attorneys have leaned heavily into assertions of presidential immunity from prosecution, and they got a boost in July from a Supreme Court decision that affords former commanders-in-chief considerable immunity. Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Cohen were made and recorded the following year. On one hand, Trump's defense argued that immunity should have kept jurors from hearing some evidence, such as testimony about some of his conversations with then-White House communications director Hope Hicks. And after Trump won this past November's election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office. Merchan, a Democrat, repeatedly postponed the sentencing, initially set for July. But last week, he set Friday's date, citing a need for finality. He wrote that he strove to balance Trump's need to govern, the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, the respect due a jury verdict and the publics expectation that "no one is above the law. Trump's lawyers then launched a flurry of last-minute efforts to block the sentencing. Their last hope vanished Thursday night with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to delay the sentencing. Meanwhile, the other criminal cases that once loomed over Trump have ended or stalled ahead of trial. Britain's Treasury chief is travelling to China this weekend to discuss economic and financial cooperation between the countries, as the U.K.'s Labour government seeks to reset strained ties with Beijing. The Treasury said Friday that Rachel Reeves will travel to Beijing and Shanghai and will meet with her Chinese government counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng. Reeves' trip is expected to revive the China-U.K. Economic and Financial Dialogue annual bilateral talks that have been suspended since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and deteriorating relations in recent years. A series of spying allegations from both sides, China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war and a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony, have soured ties. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority's chief executive, Nikhil Rathi, are also in the delegation, according to the Treasury. Representatives from some of Britain's biggest financial services firms will join the trip. Officials did not provide details, but media reports have said senior executives from HSBC Holdings and Standard Chartered were included. Reeves' visit comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy travelled to China in October and Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil in November. The meetings form part of a bid by Starmer, who was elected as leader in July, to strengthen political and economic ties with China, the U.K.'s fifth-largest trading partner. Officials said Starmer wanted a "pragmatic" approach to working with Beijing on global stability, climate change and the transition to clean energy. But some in the opposition Conservative Party have criticized his stance and said trade ties should not come at the expense of national security and human rights concerns. British political leaders and intelligence chiefs have warned repeatedly of the security threats that China poses. Calls to tackle the challenge grew louder last month when it emerged that an alleged Chinese spy had cultivated close ties with Prince Andrew and carried out "covert and deceptive activity" for China's ruling Communist Party, according to officials. Nevertheless, Lammy told reporters in London on Thursday that "there are many areas of trade that don't impact on national security." He said Reeves "will repeat many of the messages that I took to China." "What we've said is in this complex relationship with a global superpower, we are guided by three Cs": challenge, compete and cooperate, for example in areas including health and climate challenges, Lammy added. U.S. intelligence agencies charged with investigating the spate of brain injuries and other serious health ailments that have struck hundreds of officials remain unconvinced that the illnesses are tied to the work of a foreign adversary. An updated intelligence assessment of what the U.S. government calls anomalous health incidents, or AHIs, released Friday calls the possibility that the health symptoms were caused by a foreign actor or weapon very unlikely. The conclusion, endorsed by five of the seven U.S. intelligence agencies tasked with investigating the ailments, commonly known as Havana Syndrome, match the results of a 2023 assessment that found symptoms were probably the result of factors that did not involve a foreign adversary, such as preexisting conditions, conventional illnesses and environmental factors." New information, described by officials as being sensitive in nature, only served to further support the 2023 findings, they said. "The intelligence does not link a foreign actor to these events. Indeed, it points away from their involvement," according to a U.S. intelligence official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity to discuss the latest findings. All IC [intelligence community] components agree that years of history collection, targeting and analytic efforts have not surfaced compelling intelligence reporting that ties a foreign actor to any specific event reported as a possible AHI, the official said. The new assessment contrasts, however, with a December House Intelligence subcommittee report, which accused U.S. intelligence agencies of sloppy work and attempting to "create a politically palatable conclusion." There is reliable evidence to suggest that some anomalous health incidents are the work of foreign adversaries," CIA Subcommittee Chairman Rick Crawford, a Republican, said at the time. On Friday, the House Intelligence Committee chairman, Republican Mike Turner, accused the new U.S. intelligence report of again falling short. This new intelligence, I believe, should completely change the assessment of our adversaries capabilities and the risks to our personnel, he said. Despite the disagreement, some of the evidence pointing to foreign involvement in Havana Syndrome injuries appears to be finding more credibility with some elements of U.S. intelligence. Two of the seven agencies contributing to the latest assessment, which looked at intelligence gathered as recently as last month, now assess with low confidence that a foreign hand could be involved in a limited number of cases. One of the agencies now judges there is roughly even chance a foreign actor has used a novel weapon or prototype device to harm a small, undetermined subset of the USG [U.S. government] personnel or dependents, according to the declassified assessment. The other agency concluded there is a roughly even chance that a U.S. adversary has developed such a weapon, although the report states even if that is the case, it is unlikely a foreign actor has deployed such a weapon in any events reported as possible AHIs. The U.S. intelligence official who spoke with reporters described the change as subtle, arguing, they shift from unlikely with low confidence to roughly even chance with low confidence. But White House officials Friday seemed to see the change as something more significant. Todays updated Intelligence Community Assessment, which is the product of ongoing analytic efforts and includes a shift in key judgments by some intelligence components, said National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett. [It] only reinforces why it is vital that the U.S. government continue critical research, investigate credible incidents and strengthen efforts to provide timely care and long-term clinical follow-up, he said. That includes ongoing research into the potential to weaponize pulsed electromatic energy. A February 2022 report by a panel of experts warned that the core symptoms in a small number of Havana Syndrome cases were "distinctly unusual" and suggested some sort of device must be responsible. "Pulsed electromagnetic energy, particularly in the radiofrequency range, plausibly explains the core characteristics," the 2022 report said. U.S. officials have, until now, mostly dismissed such claims, arguing that nothing in the available intelligence agencies or in medical studies supports that radiofrequency waves could be weaponized. Medical research has historically shown no harmful bioeffects, according to the latest U.S. assessment. But the new assessment noted, more recent, limited studies have produced mixed preliminary results. We have made it a priority to continue research in this area, to understand the effects of directed energy, which is an area that requires much more ongoing work, a senior administration official told reporters, briefing on the condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. response. There's a lot that we do not understand, the official said. "We are gaining greater insight over time. The admission is not enough for some suffering from Havana Syndrome. The new assessment disgracefully continues to hide the truth behind a cloak of secrecy, said Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer who represents dozens of victims. Zaid said he has filed a request to declassify the full report and called on President-elect Donald Trump to require full disclosure of what the government knows. Evidence of the use of directed energy, particularly by Russia, of some form spans decades, Zaid said in a statement shared with VOA. The CIA has sought to cover up its knowledge through both Democrat and Republican administrations, and classified information exists that we have knowledge of that fundamentally contradicts todays report. Others have challenged the U.S. intelligence findings on Havana Syndrome. An investigation in April by CBS's 60 Minutes show, Germany's Der Spiegel and The Insider said a review of travel documents and mobile phone records, along with eyewitness testimony and interviews with multiple U.S. officials and victims, shows that Russia is likely to blame. Specifically, the investigation tied numerous reports of Havana Syndrome with the presence of members of Unit 29155 of Russia's military intelligence service, known for its role in sabotage and assassinations. It found that members of GRU Unit 29155 had received awards and promotions for their work on sound or radio frequency-based directed energy weapons. The U.S. intelligence official Friday, however, pushed back against the findings. The claims do not hold up to scrutiny, the official said. Cases of Havana Syndrome were first publicly reported among diplomats and other employees at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, in 2016. Symptoms range from nausea and dizziness to debilitating headaches and memory problems, with cases having been reported in Russia, China, Poland, Austria and the United States. These are our colleagues and friends, said the U.S. intelligence official, stressing that the assessments failure to link to a foreign adversary is not meant to question the suffering of those afflicted. These personnel and their dependents experienced genuine, sometimes painful and traumatic, physical symptoms and sensory phenomena, and they honestly and sincerely reported those events as possible, the official said. The United States imposed sanctions Friday on eight Venezuelan officials and increased to $25 million the reward it is offering for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. The actions came on the day of Maduros inauguration to a third term following a disputed election last year. It was the latest in a series of punitive steps by the outgoing Biden administration against Maduro's government in the aftermath of the July vote, which both his ruling Socialist party and the OPEC nation's opposition claim to have won. The new officials sanctioned include the recently appointed head of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, Hector Obregon, and Venezuela's transportation minister, Ramon Velasquez. The U.S. move coincided with sanctions announced by Britain and the European Union. Maduro and his aides have always rejected sanctions by the U.S. and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela. He and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, although they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. The country's electoral authority and top court claim Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, won last year's presidential vote, although they have not published detailed tallies. The government, which has accused the opposition of fomenting fascist plots against it, said it will arrest opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez should he return to the country from exile and has detained prominent opposition members and activists in the lead-up to the inauguration. The opposition says Gonzalez, 75, won in a landslide. It has published its own vote tallies as evidence, winning support from governments around the world, including the United States, who consider Gonzalez the president-elect. International election observers have said the vote was unfair. Maduro, 62, has been in power since 2013, and the new sanctions come little more than a week before U.S. President Joe Biden will end his term and be succeeded by Donald Trump on Jan. 20. In addition to the sanctions, the U.S. government increased to $25 million the reward it is offering for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro, who has long faced U.S. drug trafficking charges. The reward was $15 million. Maduro has held onto power despite heavy pressure from successive U.S. administrations, retaining the support of Venezuela's military as well as China, Russia and Iran. The new measures had been in the works before the brief detention Thursday of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado following an anti-government march in Caracas, her first public appearance after months out of the public eye. Republican Vice President-elect JD Vance said Thursday that he would resign from his U.S. Senate seat from Ohio at midnight ahead of his inauguration later this month. President-elect Donald Trump and Vance defeated the Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. Vance's Senate seat will be filled by a person appointed by Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine. The replacement will serve until a special election is held in November 2026. The winner of that election will finish the remainder of Vance's Senate term, which ends in January 2029. In his resignation letter to the Ohio governor, Vance wrote that "it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the people of Ohio in the Senate over the past two years." Republicans won a narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the November elections. Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday morning as Venezuela's leader for a new six-year term. As Maduro was sworn in, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom announced a new round of sanctions against officials of his government and others. Later Friday, the opposition called it a coup and indicated a "new phase" of struggle. Click here to read the full story in Spanish. NEW YORK President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction but frees him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine. Trumps sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. Yet, the legal detour and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations didnt hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Merchan said that, like when facing any other defendant, he must consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence, but the legal protection that Trump will have as president is a factor that overrides all others. Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict," Merchan said. Trump, briefly addressing the court as he appeared virtually from his Florida home, said his criminal trial and conviction has been a very terrible experience and insisted he committed no crime. The Republican former president, appearing on a video feed 10 days before he is inaugurated, again pilloried the case, the only one of his four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. Its been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didnt work," Trump said. Trump called the case a weaponization of government and an embarrassment to New York. With Trump 10 days from inauguration, Merchan had indicated he planned a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge, and prosecutors didn't oppose it. Prosecutors said Friday that they supported a no-penalty sentence, but they chided Trump's attacks on the legal system throughout and after the case. The once and future president of the United States has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said. Rather than show remorse, Trump has bred disdain for the jury verdict and the criminal justice system, Steinglass said, and his calls for retaliation against those involved in the case, including calling for the judge to be disbarred, "has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has put officers of the court in harms way. As he appeared from his Florida home, the former president was seated with his lawyer Todd Blanche, whom hes tapped to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official in his incoming administration. Legally, this case should not have been brought, Blanche said, reiterating Trumps intention to appeal the verdict. That technically cant happen until hes sentenced. Trump, a Republican, becomes the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. The judge had indicated that he planned the unconditional discharge a rarity in felony convictions partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would have arisen if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trumps presidency. The hush money case accused Trump of fudging his business' records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in Trumps 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge, the Republican president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform last week. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the charges, is a Democrat. Bragg's office said in a court filing Monday that Trump committed serious offenses that caused extensive harm to the sanctity of the electoral process and to the integrity of New Yorks financial marketplace. While the specific charges were about checks and ledgers, the underlying accusations were seamy and deeply entangled with Trumps political rise. Prosecutors said Daniels was paid off through Trump's personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trump's alleged extramarital escapades. Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. And while prosecutors said Cohen's reimbursements for paying Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Trump says that's simply what they were. There was nothing else it could have been called, he wrote on Truth Social last week, adding, I was hiding nothing. Trump's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled virtually every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed. The Trump attorneys have leaned heavily into assertions of presidential immunity from prosecution, and they got a boost in July from a Supreme Court decision that affords former commanders-in-chief considerable immunity. Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Cohen were made and recorded the following year. On one hand, Trump's defense argued that immunity should have kept jurors from hearing some evidence, such as testimony about some of his conversations with then-White House communications director Hope Hicks. And after Trump won this past November's election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office. Merchan, a Democrat, repeatedly postponed the sentencing, initially set for July. But last week, he set Friday's date, citing a need for finality. He wrote that he strove to balance Trump's need to govern, the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, the respect due a jury verdict and the publics expectation that "no one is above the law. Trump's lawyers then launched a flurry of last-minute efforts to block the sentencing. Their last hope vanished Thursday night with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to delay the sentencing. Meanwhile, the other criminal cases that once loomed over Trump have ended or stalled ahead of trial. by Wen Tsui LAS VEGAS, United States, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- "We woke up at 3 a.m. every day to check Amazon rankings and communicate with American customers," said Li Yifan, co-founder of Heybike, recalling the early days of his entrepreneurial journey. At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, Li is one of the trailblazing founders from Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city now recognized as a global launchpad for innovation. Li told Xinhua that he and his partner's persistence during the challenging early days paid off when the electric bike market experienced a significant surge in early 2022. "Luckily, we had inventory ready, so we took off quickly. Looking back, there was a bit of luck involved, but that's how it goes," Li said. Their company has rapidly expanded from a handful of employees to a team of over 100. "Now that we've reached this stage, we feel more confident in our R&D, product, and sales capabilities. We can really bring Chinese innovation and manufacturing to the world, showing overseas customers we can produce even better brands," Li said. The founder of Heybike is not the only CES participant from China having an international vision. Founders like Eric Miao, CEO of Elehear, also embody the global perspective of China's new generation of entrepreneurs. After graduating from the University of British Columbia and working in the United States, Miao returned to China to develop AI-featured hearing aids. His company is currently pursuing the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval to enter the U.S. medical device market. The presence of Chinese products in international markets is particularly evident in companies like InMotion, which, according to the company's Deputy General Manager Liu Xiaqing, has captured about 50 percent of the global electric unicycle market. Their products, typically priced above 1,000 U.S. dollars, represent the evolution from basic manufacturing to sophisticated innovation. InMotion's success is built on a foundation of over 400 patents and in-house development of critical components, including battery management systems, motors and control systems, Liu said. The transformation of these entrepreneurs' dreams into reality is supported by Shenzhen's comprehensive ecosystem. The city offers a robust supply chain, supportive government initiatives and a concentration of technical talent. Companies like InMotion have benefited from supportive programs while others leverage the city's manufacturing expertise to scale quickly. Meanwhile, the presence of major technology firms like Huawei and Tencent has created a talent pool that feeds into the startup ecosystem. Government support, including streamlined procedures and transparent policies, has further accelerated the growth of these companies. For these young entrepreneurs, Shenzhen represents more than just a city -- it's a springboard for their global ambitions. Their stories reflect a broader transformation in Chinese innovation, where determination, technical expertise and the right ecosystem combined to create companies capable of competing on the world stage. As these founders continue to push boundaries and break new ground, they are not just building successful businesses; they are reshaping global perceptions of Chinese innovation and manufacturing excellence. Ukraine has not renewed its gas contract with Russia. It therefore expired on 1 January. Kyiv served as a gateway for Russian gas to Moldova, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, then Austria and Italy. However, illegitimate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not want to renew the agreement until the conflict with Russia was resolved. Gazprom, which estimates its unpaid bills at $709 million, had announced that it would cut off gas supplies to Moldova. The latter, which disputes the bill, estimates its debt at only $8.6 million and blames the Transnistrian company Tiraspoltransgaz. On the contrary, Transnistria argues that Tiraspoltransgaz never dealt directly with Gazprom. In practice, the Ukrainian decision mainly affects two EU states that are allied with Russia: Slovakia and Hungary. Whereas the Moldovan decision hits Moldova hard and especially Transnistria. Russia also exports gas to Europe by sea, in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as through the TurkStream pipeline. The route connects Russia to Turkey via the Black Sea and then continues to the border with EU member Greece. It has two lines, one for the Turkish domestic market and the other to supply customers in Central Europe, including Hungary and Serbia. After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the EU made reducing its dependence on Russian energy a top priority. It has increased its pipeline imports from Norway and has found alternative sources of LNG from Qatar and the United States. However, LNG imports are much more expensive than the Russian pipeline. In addition, LNG supplies to the EU are currently at risk due to concerns over Donald Trumps recent threat to impose tariffs on LNG exports and Qatars threat to suspend deliveries due to new EU carbon legislation. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that even if gas deliveries via Ukraine account for only 3.5% of EU consumption, any shutdown will disrupt the entire market. He noted that this could increase gas prices across the bloc by around 30%, which would translate into an additional annual cost of 40-50 billion. He visited Moscow on 22 December and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in violation of the European Unions position (as Viktor Orban had also done). Finally, he asked the European Commission in advance for compensation of 500 million for the damage suffered by Slovakia in the event of a Ukrainian cut in Russian gas supplies. The EU is studying the possibility of entrusting a private operator with the purchase and transfer of Russian gas, in its name, to the EU via Ukraine. The gas issue of the war in Ukraine explains the involvement of many players alongside the Straussians. The Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, which crosses Belarus and Poland, was closed a few months after the start of the special operation. Poland expropriated the 48% of the shares held by Gazprom, which were frozen by sanctions. Nord Stream 1 was phased out of operation due to maintenance requirements compounded by Canadas delay in returning repaired gas turbines to Russia. Nord Stream 1 and the still inactive Nord Stream 2 were later blown up in a terrorist attack (September 26, 2022). Only one was severely damaged, but for political reasons neither was reactivated. Voltaire, International Newsletter is a weekly newsletter on international politics. It features 10 to 15 pages of contextualized, sourced news items. Its aim is to enable you to follow the decline of the unipolar world and the emergence of a multipolar system. The newsletter is published in several languages. Several foreign ministries from different countries have already subscribed. Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world. Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense. Whats more, 10 times a year, subscribers are invited to Zoom virtual meetings with publications director Thierry Meyssan. Contents of issue N113 EDITORIAL 2673 End of Russian gas transit via Ukraine to the EU AMERICAS 2674 Justin Trudeau resigns as Liberal Party president 2675 - 20,000 rabbis against Israel 2676 Washington cancels its bounty on Emir Abu Mohammad el-Jolani 2677 Washington suspends its "sanctions" against Syria 2678 Biden administration ready to execute Islamists to prevent 9/11 case from being reopened 2679 Democrats can still prevent Donald Trumps inauguration 2680 The Fake News of the January 6 Coup dEtat 2681 Mauricio Claver-Carone, head of Latin America in the Trump administration 2682 Donald Trump threatens Panama 2683 According to Donald Trump, NATO member states should spend 5% of their GDP on defense 2684 Latin American Military Police in Haiti EUROPE 2685 A woman appointed minister at the Vatican 2686 Keir Starmer has long protected a pedophile ring 2687 Bertrand Chamoulaud denounces the role of drug dealers and the Muslim Brotherhood against the French Republic 2688 Nicolas Sarkozy is the only one prosecuted for acts for which his rival is absolved 2689 Elon Musk takes a stand for AfD 2690 Towards Greenlands independence 2691 Conversation between Robert Fico and Donald Trump 2692 Polish EU Presidency program 2693 The European Commission confiscates 1 billion from Hungary 2694 Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen area 2695 Preparation of a "Color Revolution" in Serbia 2696 Presidential election in Croatia 2697 New Laws in Georgia 2698 Collapse of Western support for Ukraine "until victory" 2699 Ukraine deserted by its inhabitants 2700 Desertion of 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers who came to France for training 2701 Ukraine strengthens ties with jihadist Syria 2702 Security services of Ukraine investigate Dnepropetrovsk Brotherhood 2703 The sinking of Russian Ursa Major was sabotage by the West 2704 Conviction in Russia of a member of the Pentagons phantom Special Forces AFRICA 2705 Egypt could join a war against Ansar Allah 2706 Egypt bans uncontrolled Syrian immigration 2707 Syrian officers with Field Marshal Haftar 2708 Senegal to close all its foreign military bases 2709 Niger accuses France of terrorism 2710 Ivory Coast also dismisses French troops 2711 Spectacular Escape in Mozambique ASIA 2712 Israel organizes the legal defense of its war criminals 2713 Israel and HTS 2714 Joseph Aoun should be elected president of the Lebanese Republic 2715 Assessment of Israels war against Lebanon 2716 Creation of new networks of resistance to Israel in Lebanon 2717 Arrest of Brother Abdel-Rahman al-Qaradawi 2718 The "Fifth Corps" Enigma 2719 HTS and Israel 2720 Ahmed el-Shareh confiscates weapons 2721 Russia offers to help organize elections in Syria 2722 The new Syrian leaders 2723 Ahmed el-Sharehs Agenda 2724 Economic assessment of thirteen years of war against Syria 2725 Revision of the Syrian School Curriculum 2726 Iraqi Shiites prepare for the worst 2727 After Gaza and Lebanon, Israel attacks Yemen 2728 Pentagon vs. Yemen 2729 Abdullah Ocalan is ready to dissolve the PKK 2730 Turkiye threatens the Talabani clan 2731 Turkiye hopes to extend its sovereignty in the Mediterranean 2732 Russian-Iranian "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" Agreement Is Ready 2733 Iran allows social media again 2734 Revelations on the conflict between Bashar al-Assad and Iran 2735 The Biden Administration and Bharat 2736 Russia mistakenly shoots down a civilian plane during a battle in Grozny 2738 North Korea claims to have mastered hypersonic missiles 2739 South Korea fails to arrest and try its deposed president 2740 Japanese militarists guarantee loan to Ukraine on frozen Russian assets 2741 Beijing takes action against companies exporting arms to its Taiwan region INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 2742 United Nations General Assembly condemns Nazism 2743 UN Security Council Considers Situation in Yemen 2744 Francesca Albanese calls on health workers to break with the Jewish state 2745 BRICS Enlargement 2746 Brazils BRICS 2025 Program 2747 Jens Stoltenberg to head the Munich Security Conference and the Bilderberg Group If the first Den of Thieves was a meathead remake of Heat, the sequel feels like a meathead remake of Miami Vice. Photo: Rico Torres/Lionsgate If 2018s Den of Thieves played like a meathead remake of Michael Manns Heat (1995), then the new Den of Thieves 2: Pantera plays like a meathead remake of Michael Manns Miami Vice (2006). Neither of these are bad things. Gone is the attention to process and scuzzy detail that made the first film notable, replaced here by a wild, drunken emotional energy that dispenses with story logic and clarity. That also makes it a fine showcase for star Gerard Butler, who has been for some years our most begrimed star a man whose persona is manliness and brokenness in equal measure, a man who makes you wonder if manliness and brokenness might not in fact be the same thing. Butler reprises his role as Big Nick OBrien, a Los Angeles Major Crimes Unit detective who found himself outwitted at the end of Den of Thieves by bartender and getaway driver Donnie Wilson (OShea Jackson Jr.), who was revealed to have masterminded that films Federal Reserve robbery. The crooks scheme there was particularly clever: It involved a plan to steal the enormous piles of money the Fed shreds every day. As a result, there is no record of anyone having lost any money all that cash had been pulled out of circulation, so on paper, nothing is missing and nobody has been robbed, and the Fed doesnt want it out there that its been successfully hit by thieves. But Big Nick, who has just gone through a messy divorce (hes incapable of doing anything unmessy), cant let it go. He travels to Europe and finds Donnie, who is now working with the Panthers, a gang of Eastern European criminals scoping out a major diamond heist along the Cote dAzur. Nicks life has fallen apart, and it seems hes interested in something other than catching Donnie: He wants to join him. Im not quite sure what happened after that. My notes say, Gerard Butler eating a steak, Gerard Butler drinking, Gerard Butler falls off small scooter, giant dudes eating tiny ice creams, cool cars, and Italians? Much like Den of Thieves, Pantera gets some mileage out of not quite letting us onto what the criminals are planning: We see bits and pieces of their preparation, but part of the charm of these pictures lies in revealing the big heists as they happen onscreen. And Pantera has less exposition than most heist flicks, which gives it an extra frisson of pleasant incoherence. Director Christian Gudegast lends the European locales elegance and anticipation, as his images play out against beds of shimmering electronica. Between all the shifting loyalties and the not-unconfusing shots of criminals watching other criminals, we feel distinctly unmoored, like weve landed on a strange, wonderful planet where everybodys a crook. Thats the real story here. In Pantera, the cops-and-robbers story matters a lot less than Nicks intoxication with the wild, hedonistic life of a criminal and his growing bond with Donnie. Butlers eyes go delightfully wide as he steps into open air discos, smokes hash, and downs shot after shot of slivovitz. Gulping late-night shawarmas, he and Donnie trade stories about how they fell into their respective careers as cop and robber. On paper, this might read as standard-issue character development, but the two actors beautifully sell their growing ease around one another. We want to luxuriate in this world, the same way Nick does. Pantera belongs in that long line of sequels that seem to lose patience with simply replicating an earlier films dynamics and opt instead to just let us bask in freewheeling character interactions. These pictures sometimes get dinged by initial audiences think Oceans 12, or 2 Fast 2 Furious, or even Mission: Impossible 2, which made loads of money but forever earned fans ire but eventually find some sort of acceptance. The first Den of Thieves was itself not that big a hit; its become retrospectively beloved in the ensuing years as viewers have embraced its old-school crime-thriller charms. And Butler has admirably made a career out of keeping this type of movie alive, playing ordinary, often relatable men thrown into extraordinary circumstances. In that light, the new films change of locale and tone make perfect sense. Watching Big Nick get a little lost in a boozy dream of abandon, an ocean away from his troubles, we understand him better than we understand most of todays movie heroes. RABAT, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan King Mohammed VI has granted amnesty to 1,304 prisoners on the eve of Independence Manifesto Day, a major national holiday in Morocco, the Moroccan Ministry of Justice announced in a statement on Friday. The pardon applies to 948 inmates, whose prison sentences have been reduced, while 356 others have had their sentences or fines annulled. Independence Manifesto Day, celebrated annually on Jan. 11, marks the anniversary of the publication of the 1944 Independence Manifesto, a landmark political document in which Moroccan nationalists called for the country's independence. In Morocco, royal pardons are traditionally granted during major national commemorations or religious festivals. Photo: Neon This interview was published on January 10, 2025. The Seed of the Sacred Fig was nominated for the Best International Feature Film Oscar. Every aspect of The Seed of the Sacred Fig, onscreen and off, evokes the rhythms of a political thriller. In the movie, Iman (Missagh Zareh), an investigating judge for Irans Revolutionary Court who is responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of people charged with crimes against the state, begins to suspect that his wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and his daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki), are keeping secrets from him. During the films secret production, director and writer Mohammad Rasoulof who had already served time in prison for his regime-criticizing work stayed away from the set, aware that if anyone spotted him on the street surrounded by a cast and crew, theyd know what he was up to. The films plot and the process by which it was created share a fraught tension, one thats only been exacerbated by everything thats happened after the existence of the film was revealed in an April 2024 Cannes announcement. In May, Rasoulof fled Iran by foot and sought asylum in Germany, which has selected the film as its Best International Feature Film submission for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards; three of the films young actresses relocated to Europe, too. Cast and crew members who stayed in Iran were harassed, and theyre all facing charges for participating in the film. Rasoulof, who recurrently held up photographs of Zareh and Golestani at the films Cannes premiere, speaks about his collaborators often, and when he does, he slips into a tone of pride and awe. The same goes for when he discusses the bravery of the women and girls involved in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. He heard their chanting while serving time in Evin Prison in 2022 and their actions provide the background drama of The Seed of the Sacred Fig. You saw this extraordinary amount of exceptional young women who were so courageous, and so clearly were demanding to be able to show their identity, from the state and to the state, Rasoulof says through interpreter Iante Roach. I just listened very intently to what they had to say. The film was made in secret, and within the film, Iman is keeping secrets from his daughters, and his wife and daughters are keeping secrets from him. Do you think secrecy has become a component of Iranian identity under this regime? With Iman and his family, it goes back to what happens to people in that position in the regime in Iran. Ive had so many dealings with censors, interrogators, prosecutors, judges, and what I found that they all have is this need to always keep a certain guard, even when theyre dealing with their closest people. They can never really reveal who they are. More generally, I think thats what totalitarianism does to everyone in a totalitarian society. It forces everyone to wear a mask, and to fit within a certain framework that the government has established for you. The interference of the state within every aspect of life of its citizens is pretty clear. With Iman, what interested me was the drama that the secret could engender, in terms of not only his story but his relationship with his family. You were watching the Woman, Life, Freedom protests from inside Evin Prison with other prisoners. After you were released, were you able to meet with any of the protesters? When I came out of prison, I was immediately very curious to understand and to see what had been happening on the street. I went straight away and looked up all these videos, many of which made their way into the film. In these videos, you saw this extraordinary amount of exceptional young women who were so courageous, and so clearly were demanding to be able to show their identity, from the state and to the state. I interviewed a great number of very young female protesters. I had accrued all this direct experience from people working within the system the kind of characters I mentioned earlier and I now had this direct confrontation with this young generation that had taken us all by such surprise. These two formed the raw materials for the story. The film is interspersed with actual footage from the protests, which show these women being beaten, harassed, crowded into vans and disappeared, and even some laying dead on the street. How did you collect that footage to use in the film? Its important to note that during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran, journalists were barred from attending and documenting the protests from doing their natural work, really. It was the protesters themselves who recorded what was happening on their phones, and uploaded and circulated anonymously all these videos, in order to share with the world in a pretty tangible way that they were protesting but also the really savage repression that the state undertook. I tasked a number of my collaborators with collecting all these videos and filing them according to certain topics they represented. We watched them in great detail. Once I had ascertained the absolute need to use this footage in the film, I chose to primarily use the more well-known videos that would elicit a very strong emotional reaction, and in a way, remind you of the reaction you had the first time you watched them. The choice of the actual videos was in collaboration with the films editor, Andrew Bird. Some material was on social media, so we simply downloaded it. It was about four hours of footage altogether. Director Mohammad Rasoulof. Photo: Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images The actresses who played Rezvan, Sana, and Sadaf said when they were approached about the movie, they initially didnt know who the director was. How did you handle casting? Did you have specific actors in mind for each part? I was actually writing the role of Iman for Missagh, whom I had already worked with, and I knew how keen he was to play this role. But I had no idea who should play the other characters. The casting process was very difficult, because you couldnt just go to the actors you had in mind and talk to them. At the same time, it was easier than in the past, to some extent, because one of the things that the Woman, Life, Freedom movement did in Iran was it enabled many people, across all straits of society, to rip off the mask that theyd worn up to that point and state clearly who they were and what they wanted. I was confronted by many colleagues who had expressed very clearly, or who had made the decision, that they were no longer willing to work on films that complied with the compulsory hijab or with censorship more generally that got in the way of showing and being who you are. I knew that there was a group of people it was possible to start talking to. Constructing a family onscreen is always difficult. I actually tasked four collaborators with that casting. Drawing on their knowledge of both the cinema and theater worlds, they compiled a very long list of potential candidates. From this long list, we compiled a shortlist based on basically who we thought had the guts to undertake such a project, the courage. We collected the photographs of all these actors, and put them beside one another to try to work out, can they absolutely look like a believable family or not? I was getting the advice of my makeup artist, Mahmoud Dehghani, who is a close friend, and they were able to guide me like, yes, we can actually make these people look like a family, or we cannot. We got to a shorter shortlist because quite a few people fell off the grid. We did makeup tests with lots of different actors, and many of the actors still didnt know that I was the director. They thought that they were being cast for a short film. We finalized the casting decision as to who would play the father, the mother, and the youngest daughter, Sana. But we had to find the eldest daughter, Rezvan. By now we had limited options, and we needed a very special face in order to make the family believable. Quite a few people were almost chosen, then they got afraid and they abandoned the project. In the end, Mahsa Rostami, who joined us at the very last minute, was an amazing choice. The first time she read the script, she still didnt know who the director was. She later told me that as she was reading the script, she was deeply touched by it, but that she was also really afraid. She felt, This is a character I know very well and Ive wanted to play for so long, but Im so afraid. But when she had to choose between following her fear or her desire to take part in the film, she chose the latter. Setareh, Mahsa, and Niousha have left Iran. At Cannes, you held up pictures of Missagh and Soheila. Are they both still in Iran? When the news that the film would be presented at Cannes came out, the regime placed a huge amount of pressure on everyone from the cast and crew who were still inside Iran. Everyone was interrogated multiple times, the office of the DOP was raided, the sound recordists passport was confiscated. They did everything in their power to place the utmost pressure on the cast and crew. And of course, this is all orchestrated to push them to a point where they would feel compelled to ask me to withdraw the film from the competition. But they never did. They simply let me know what was happening to them. After Cannes, so many bizarre things happened in Iran. The president died in a helicopter crash. Theres been this building escalation between Iran and Israel, with missiles launching back and forth. Its a bit as if the regime was too busy with more important matters. When things calmed down a little bit, Missagh was able to leave the country and go to Australia, where hes currently acting onstage. The sound recordist was also able to leave the country. But the DOP is still in Iran. Soheila is still in Iran. So are various designers; actually, the great majority of the crew are still inside Iran. Soheila is free on bail. There are currently court proceedings against every single person involved in the making of the film, but especially the principal cast and principal crew, on three main charges: spreading corruption and prostitution on Earth, because of the hair of the actresses being shown, and two other charges that basically amount to attempts against national security and propaganda against the regime. Were awaiting the outcome. And throughout all of this period, whoever was in Iran is banned from working and banned from leaving the country. Youve said that although youre now not in Iran, you want to continue making Iranian stories. What does an Iranian story mean to you? For me, an Iranian story is a story that talks about the country I know, the society I know, which I was born into, and which Ive been able to touch, to hear, to tangibly interact with. I think the place youre born in gives you a specific window onto life, onto the world. Thats why language is so important, because that informs your outlook on the world, your way of thinking. Because of the restrictions placed on you, you were not able to be on set. I understand that you sent your assistant directors out with a shot list every day. How else did that process work? Were you reviewing footage after filming each day? No, I didnt work that way. I was watching from a certain distance and directing in real time. Thanks to livestreaming, I had a monitor in front of me, through which I guided the whole cast and crew. We realized that the only way we could get the filming completed was to be very careful, and so we established three protocols. First was to have a tiny cast and crew, without bringing down the production value; to have very light equipment, really akin to what most student films are made on; and that I should not physically be present on set, because if Im recognized, then it would give away whatevers being filmed. For instance, for exteriors, we had all these fake filming permits. But if I were to be associated with it, then it would become immediately apparent that they were fake. Thanks to the advancement of technology, it was possible to direct remotely. Of course, it was much more difficult. Its almost like being on set but with ones entire concentration focused on whats happening on the monitor. I did have two assistants on set through which I communicated with the various departments. One was in charge of the image, so they worked with the DP, sound, and the more technical side. The other one was in charge of the actors, and it was through that person that I guided their performance. Can you talk to me about Imans office and the cardboard cutouts decorating the hallways of the building, like of Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani? [Slaps hands over his face.] I know, its very strange. Once were filming, we have to do everything really quickly. We always get that feeling of I wish I had more time. I dont think its strange. I think its very recognizable for an Iranian person to see those cutouts. If you were to ask me who created the aesthetics of those spaces if it was me as the director, if it was my set designer, or something or someone else Id have to indicate something or someone else. This is not our aesthetics. Its not our choice. Its the aesthetics of totalitarianism. Anyone who has been to the judiciary building next to Evin Prison will recognize this. The wall of my prosecutor looked like this, with those posters and pictures. Whoever has been in that building and in that room will recognize it straight away. The reason why its in the film was not only to re-create reality because we simply re-created the room Id been in but also to document it at this moment in time, that such a place exists. As for the cardboard cutouts, we didnt create them. We simply bought them. They are visual propaganda of the regime that is created and placed in all official spaces, so that people see them and they somehow enter into peoples subconscious. They are real. Id like to say one more thing. I was always blindfolded while I was being interrogated, so I actually never saw what that space looked like. However, when you are interrogated by the prosecutor, you get asked exactly the same questions that you were asked by your interrogator, and it might be six months later. You might have been kept in solitary confinement all that time; there might be a quite large time span between the two. Youre asked exactly the same questions. They have access to all of your file. They see the answers. You have to answer them again, then sign each one of them. Its a very lengthy and extremely harassing, disturbing process. You and your collaborator over the years, fellow filmmaker Jafar Panahi, were in prison at the same time while the protests were breaking out. Youve said when you told him about your idea to make this movie, he said, Just get started. Go in, and you will forget about your fears. Was his advice correct did you lose your fears as the production went on? Yes. The fear didnt disappear quite as soon as Mr. Panahi had predicted, but eventually it did. [Laughs.] Have you shared the film with him? He was able to watch the film on the big screen in Paris, then he rang me up, and of course, he had some constructive feedback. [Laughs.] You know, what really upsets me is that because of the circumstances we have to operate under, we do not have the opportunity to talk very much. Once were filming, we have to do everything really quickly. We always get that feeling of I wish I had more time, and I wish Id been able to reach out and get the opinions of and advice from others. In an interview about There Is No Evil, you said, To be honest, neither I nor my crew are completely satisfied with the finished film. When we make a film, we have to exert so much energy to work in secret and escape the eyes of censorship. Was there anything about this film that you wish could have been done differently? Do you feel the same way as you did then? Its even worse than with There Is No Evil. Its not that I watch it and say, I wish Id done that. Rather, I watch it and say, Oh, I wish Id had the time and the opportunity to do this differently, that differently, and so on. There Is No Evil was much easier. It was shorter. It was divided into four episodes. We filmed one episode at a time, and when it was over, we immediately sent everything wed filmed abroad. Wed take some time before moving on to the next one, and we knew that at least wed got that episode done correctly. This one was much longer; even the script is much longer. And we had this terrible feeling. It was really like always being on the edge of the abyss. From the first to the last day of the shoot, if any day we were not able to film what wed plan to film that day, if we had to interrupt the filming or the shoot didnt go well for any reason, it felt as if all our efforts, all our work up to that point, had been completely useless. There was no difference between filming 0 percent or 99 percent of the film. It was only when we reached 100 percent that we felt it was not useless. The films primary tension comes from Imans certainty that one of his daughters has stolen a gun, and their continued denial of his accusations, until Sana casually reveals that she had it all along. Can you tell me about deciding that it would be Sana who took her fathers gun? Its such a surprise. Thats exactly what happened in prison, in the sense that we were all absolutely stunned by this young generation, and I wanted to bring this into the story of the film the sense of absolute surprise and almost disbelief. This had to be in the film for me, even if it might not work, even if it might break all rules of story or filmmaking. And of course you need a reason, in the sense of the storys development, that explains why she would undertake such an action. And thats where the story of Sadaf, the friend of the girls, acquires major significance. On one hand, it shows the savage repression that the state undertook, but on the other hand, it also shows us how a teenager such as Sana can make such a huge, huge decision based simply on a very strong emotional reaction vis-a-vis, seeing what the state can do to her friends. What came first, writing the chase through the ruins, or finding the ruins in Kharanaq? When I saw the shot of Iman falling through the ruins and being buried in the dust, with only his hand and his aqeeq ring sticking out, I thought of the Persian saying khak be sareht. Did you want Persian speakers to think of that phrase with what happens to Iman? I scripted it first, then I needed to find the appropriate location. But I scripted it because, in the final act of the film, the cinematic language changes. It moves to a metaphorical level, and so its important to find the visual means to explore that. Its almost as if Im projecting the story of this family on a historical dimension. A relationship must be established between Iranian history and the vicissitudes and the events of this family. And khak be sareht, not really. That is warm, soft. [Laughs.] [Laughs.] In my family, its not as soft of an expression, so its interesting to know there are differences in how its used. What I wanted to indicate through that finale is how tradition and antiquated thoughts will be buried because of the requests, the wants, the needs of the young generation. Patriarchy is falling down, is plummeting, is drowning. That doesnt mean its disappeared. That shot of the hand emerging from the dust indicates that things may still happen, that its not gone, necessarily. The final act is like a horror movie in how its paced and shot, and the hand sticking out made me think of a zombie film, and the possibility that Iman and all he represents could come back. [Nods and gives a thumbs-up.] Completely right. Related The Pitt 7:00 A.M. Season 1 Episode 1 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Previous Episode Next Episode Photo: Warrick Page/Max Not even ten minutes into our first hour spent in the middle of the busiest Pittsburgh emergency department youve ever seen, our skilled, kindhearted, definitely-suffering-from-PTSD-that-he-is-in-total-denial-about leader Dr. Michael Robinavitch (Dr. Robby, or Robby for short) does in fact utter the phrase, Welcome to the Pitt. While dropping the series title in dialogue is typically an occasion to roll ones eyes, reader, I must admit I did not roll my eyes one little bit. Actually, I may have done a tiny, baby fist pump. Argh, please dont stop reading, I know that is terribly uncool, and yet it could not be helped. It could not be helped because nine minutes into this medical dramameets24 season, I had already bought into the entire thing, fully, completely, and, I fear, irrevocably? I am in, baby. Sure, this pilot episode could use, like, 10 percent more exposition (a sentence I never thought Id write in one million years), but on the whole, simply dropping us into the chaos and asking us to keep up because lives are on the line works to The Pitts advantage. The unrelenting pace as we weave in and out of patient rooms mimics what The Pitt is trying to show us our characters go through during a shift in an overcrowded, underfunded city trauma center. Its quite effective! The sheer amount of multitasking Dr. Robby has to do both hurts my brain and immediately makes me root for the guy. And while theres a lot for us to keep track of as we meet a gaggle of doctors and nurses as well as a bunch of patients, it never feels unwieldy. With people like R. Scott Gemmill and John Wells and Noah Wyle at the helm, we are in good, experienced hands after all, hands forged in the fires of ER. The two series are obviously going to be compared to each other and there is that Crichton Estate lawsuit out there but the every episode is one hour in one 15-hour shift framework does immediately make The Pitt feel like a different beast. Dr. Robby isnt John Carter. And I say that as a person who grew up on ER and was in love with John Carter for a period of time in her youth and so would love to see a continuation of his story. This is not that. Sure, the two men would get along, commiserating over the woes of running a busy emergency department, but theres enough of a distinction. For one, John Carter would never wear those slutty little glasses Robby whips out, okay? He couldnt pull them off, and you and I both know it. So what is Robbys deal? We meet the chief of the emergency department walking into his 15-hour shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital on the morning of what we learn is the fourth anniversary of the death of his mentor, Dr. Adamson, at the height of the COVID pandemic. Hes never worked on this anniversary before, and several people are concerned about whether he should. He insists that hes fine, that its just another day, but by the end of hour one, he clearly suffers a PTSD-induced episode hes sweating, ears are ringing, and he hallucinates that hes back in that nightmarish pandemic just as Adamsons vitals are crashing so maybe those concerns are warranted. Keep your eyes on our guy, okay? Up until that point, however, Robby does seem pretty in control as he gathers his troops for the day. We meet Robbys two senior residents: Theres Dr. Heather Collins, who is newly, secretly pregnant, and based on her quick convo with charge nurse Dana who rules, by the way it sounds like shes struggled with infertility and miscarriages in the past. Collinss counterpart is Dr. Frank Langdon, who gives off some real asshole vibes, but hes good at his job and seems to have a friendship with Robby that goes beyond work. We also meet Dr. Cassie McKay, who is mostly working triage today; shes a 42-year-old second-year resident who got a late start in her career. Theres also third-year resident Dr. Samira Mohan, who has earned the nickname Slo-Mo because she spends so much time with her patients it takes her forever to move on to the next. You might be thinking, Hey, that kind of sounds nice because patients are human beings, but you are dead wrong. On top of a wild patient load, Robby has blazers from upstairs all over his ass about cutting down insane wait times and increasing patient satisfaction scores. Of course, the blazers dont want to hear Robbys rants about needing more nurses and paying those nurses a living wage, so they stay and provide enough support to get more patients out of the ER and admitted to the hospital, but what does he know, hes only been in the thick of it for decades. Regardless, Robby is already on Dr. Mohan to speed things up, and its only 7 a.m.! There are newbies who arrive for their very first shift, too. Meet Dr. Melissa King, a second-year resident who just got off a rotation at the VA. She is awkward but in an endearing way. Theres intern Trinity Santos, who is so cocky you just know she is masking some deep emotional wounds. Im sorry, but anyone who is coming up with mean nicknames for her colleagues in hour one of meeting them has hidden pain. Fourth-year medical student Dennis Whitaker is well meaning but timid and hails from a farm in Nebraska, and thus earns the moniker Huckleberry from Trinity. Hes not to be outdone by Crash, or Victoria Javadi, a third-year medical student and 20-year-old prodigy whose mother is a hotshot surgeon at this very hospital she faints while working on her first patient. Its not, like, a great moment for her. The new guys will definitely have to lean on some of the nurses we meet, including the aforementioned charge nurse Dana, who rules all; Princess, who knows six languages; her best bud Perla; and a very cute Mateo, whom Victoria has an instant crush on. Oh, and dont forget social worker Kiara, who has to carry so much emotional baggage around it is unreal, and it isnt just from the patients, if you know what Im saying. And what Im saying is this: Doctors have problems, too, just you wait! Now that youve met the gang, should we head to rounds and get to know some patients? Because of the shows format, its clear that some patients will be in and out in an episode and some will stick around much longer, so you need to pay attention to everybody. And thats a tall order, because holy hell, this place is so crowded there are just patients hanging out in the hallways. But emergencies could crop up at any second, and we have to be vigilant. We are doctors, after all er, we are people who watch doctors on television, after all!! The first major emergency that rolls in is an accident on the subway: Sam Wallace jumped onto the tracks to save a woman who we learn was pushed onto the tracks; he slipped while getting out and suffered a major head wound. They patch him up but have to wait and see if he wakes up. The woman he saved doesnt speak English, and it takes a while for Collins to figure out shes Nepali so that they can get an interpreter. Her ankle has not only been dislocated but degloved, which means every layer of skin has been ripped off, just leaving the muscles and tendons and whatever other gross shit makes up our disgusting bodies just hanging out there for all to see. You want to know how you know this medical drama isnt on broadcast TV? We watch them push this womans degloved ankle back into place in all its gory glory. Its no wonder Javadi drops. Triathlete Otis Williams comes to see Dr. McKay after suffering shortness of breath while running, and he goes into cardiac arrest. He continues going into cardiac arrest again and again until Robby realizes the guys potassium levels must be sky-high from all the exercise, which in turn is sending him into renal failure and short-circuiting his heart. He does not wait for labs to confirm this and instead proceeds with treatment, and while dangerous, it ends up being the correct thing to do, saving Otiss life. This tells us several things: (1) Robby is a confident, skilled doctor who isnt afraid to buck protocol in order to treat his patients; (2) Dr. Collins, who chides him repeatedly, is a stickler for protocol; and (3) the way these two look at each other during this whole tense moment means they definitely fucked. Finally, an uncontrollably puking Theresa is brought in by her 18-year-old son, David. McKay calls Robby in for backup because there is something unnerving going on between the two and she cant quite get a handle on it. Once Robby has Theresa alone, she confesses that she induced vomiting in order to get David to bring her to the hospital she found one of his notebooks with a kill list of female classmates. She swears hes a good boy, just troubled, and hes grieving his father, who died from COVID. She doesnt want to get the police involved, but she does want to get her son some help. Unfortunately, David is legally an adult, so she cant just have him committed based on that list. Its a delicate situation; Robby knows that if they push David too hard, he could bolt, and who knows what he is really capable of. That is exactly what happens when Robby grabs Kiara to try and have a chat with the kid. David gets suspicious and angry, and he takes off. Robby tries to chase him down the street, but the kid is gone, and he has another trauma coming in. Discharge Papers Robby starts his day by checking in with fellow attending Dr. Jack Abbott, just getting off his shift and passing the reins over. If the shift were about to start goes anything like the one that seems to have just put Jack through the wringer the guy looks haunted! then we are in for it. Doug Driscoll, a man who previously had chest pain and is impatiently skulking around the waiting room, is on my watch list. He is a dick, but also, Robby made a point to remind his staff to make sure no one dies while sitting in the waiting room, so you just know someone is going to die sitting in the waiting room. Im also worried about Whitakers patient, Mr. Milton, who seemingly has gallstones and should be fine, but its almost too easy of a case for the med student. Theyre ordering an EKG just to be sure its not a heart attack masked as gallstone pain, and something tells me that test might come into play in a big way. The morning arrival of the living dead the time in the morning when a bunch of assisted-living facilities and nursing homes send in elderly patients after finding them dead or almost dead during morning bed check is bleak, baby. Mel and Langdon pair up to work on a case with a lethargic 4-year-old named Tyler, who they discover has accidentally eaten his dads stash of weed gummies. The two doctors couldnt be more opposite, which means they make for a great team. If the Kraken wakes up, God help you all. That sounds ominous!! VULTURE NEWSLETTER Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows! Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. They are both red, white, and blue Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images TikTok is destined to be un-alived in the United States. Last April, President Joe Biden signed a bill banning the first globally successful Chinese social-media app if its parent company, ByteDance, doesnt sell its shares by January 19. TikTok challenged the bill and presented its case to the Supreme Court on January 10, before a January 17 verdict made it official: The government is allowed to ban the app. Below, what you need to know about how we got here and whats going to happen to your emotional-support app. What did the Supreme Court rule? A January 17 decision officially determined that the government has the right to ban the app, despite the president-elects meddling. There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community, the court said in its unsigned opinion, per NPR. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikToks data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. We conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners First Amendment rights. However, the court also acknowledged the January 19 time constraint: Our analysis must be understood to be narrowly focused in light of these circumstances, the justices wrote, emphasizing that this ruling should not be considered a precedent. Is TikTok shutting down? Well, yes! Biden signed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act into law on April 24, which would officially ban TikTok on January 19, 2025, if ByteDance doesnt sell the app in the U.S. But ByteDance says it has no intention of selling, despite fielding an offer from Shark Tanks Kevin OLeary, of all businesspeople. Why is TikTok getting banned? The government argues that the information collected from the app could be used by the Chinese government for espionage or blackmail, per CBS News, or to advance its geopolitical interests by sowing discord and disinformation during a crisis. In response to those grave national-security threats, Congress did not impose any restriction on speech, much less one based on viewpoint or content, the Justice Department states. Instead, Congress restricted only foreign adversary control: TikTok may continue operating in the United States and presenting the same content from the same users in the same manner if its current owner executes a divestiture that frees the platform from the [Peoples Republic of Chinas] control. TikToks lawyers presented arguments that the bill violates the First Amendments right to free speech against what the government claims are threats posed by the app. The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue, Michael Hughes, a spokesman for ByteDance, previously stated. Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed, and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people. Can you still use TikTok if its banned? If the law goes into effect, TikTok cannot be updated or downloaded from the App Store, but the app wont suddenly disappear from all phones. Lawmakers wrote a letter on December 13 to Apple and Google, telling them to be ready to remove the app from their stores, per Reuters. When will the ban begin? If the Supreme Court upholds the ban, then it will begin on January 19. But Gen Z may have already found an alternative and, sorry Zuckerberg, its not Instagram Reels. Want more TV and movie picks? Subscribe to our weekly Streamliner newsletter here. Clockwise from top: Hard Truths, The Pitt, The Last Showgirl, and The Traitors. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Everett Collection (Bleecker Street Media, Zoey Grossman/Roadside Attractions), Euan Cherry/Peacock, Warrick Page/Max Its around the time of year where some notable art-house Oscar contenders are slowly being rolled out to the normies, a.k.a audiences outside of New York and L.A. The schedules for some of these movies are complicated, but this week sees a larger opening for Hard Truths and The Last Showgirl, waking up a previous sleepy in-theater release week. Meanwhile, some of you are still going to have to wait for The Brutalist and Nickel Boys. If youre on line, stay on line! Now, heres the best in-theater and at-home picks for the week. Sign up for Streamliner A weekly newsletter with the latest TV and movie recommendations, curated by Vulture writers. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Featured Presentations . There was no greater performance last year than the one Marianne Jean-Baptiste gave as Pansy Deacon, the vitriolic, unhappy Londoner at the center of Mike Leighs latest. Alison Wilmore In theaters now . One of Peacocks hottest reality shows is returning, with Alan Cumming hosting a whole new cast of reality stars competing to win a cash prize of up to $250,000. Set in a Scottish castle, everyone is divided into two groups, with the Faithful trying to find the Traitors. Contestants this season include notables from Survivor, Big Brother, the Real Housewives franchise, and Bob the Drag Queen from RuPauls Drag Race. Streaming on Peacock . A sequel to the 2018 action film, Pantera brings Gerard Butler back as the asshole sheriff hunting down OShea Jackson Jr.s criminal robber. Its a junk-food action movie that will do the job if thats what youre craving. In theaters now . It may be a Coppola feature (directed by Gia, who made Palo Alto), but The Last Showgirl is a full-on Pamela Anderson vehicle as the actress stars as a showgirl facing the end of her 30-year-long show. Anderson has already received Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her performance, so you might as well see what the fuss is about it. Additionally, this drama features a fun cast with Jason Schwartzman, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Billie Lourd, Kiernan Shipka, and Jamie Lee Curtis, who also just received a SAG nom. In theaters now The One-Sentence Review The Pitt Even as my brain kept pointing out all the ways its format works against it and all the little bits that could be improved a few underwhelming performances, some overly obvious dialogue I found myself powering through The Pitt with so much delight that I became actively annoyed when I had to pause to watch something ostensibly better and more innovative. (Streaming on Max; read Kathryns review here.) . Peter Berg directs this period piece set in the early days of western expansion starring Taylor Kitsch. The duo (who last teamed up for 2023s Painkiller) is joined by Mark L. Smith, who wrote the screenplay for The Revenant. American Primevals vibe is described as raw, violent, and lawless and untamed. Roxana Hadadi Streaming on Netflix Reality Bites Deal or No Deal Island NBCs Deal or No Deal Island, which Vulture critic Nicholas Quah calls kind of ingenious, is back for its second season. Its the Deal or No Deal game you know, but with people competing with a Survivor flair. Everyone needs a gimmick these days. Streaming on Peacock Grand Finale Landman Is Monty dead? Is Tommy screwed? Is it weird to watch a drama about keeping oil patches alive while Los Angeles suffers the worst wildfires it has ever seen absolutely because of climate change? Tune in to Landmans finale to find out. Nicholas Quah Streaming on Paramount+ on Sunday Finally Streaming Flow This tender animated film from Latvia just won a Golden Globe for Best Animated feature, beating out heavyweights Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, and Moana 2. Directed and co-written by Gints Zilbalodis, Flow follows a lonely black cat who after a personal devastation has to band together with a group of animals. Its now out on digital and will arrive on the Criterion Channel sometime soon, but if you prefer to see it in theaters, thats still an option too. Pick your preferred venue, but dont skip. Want more? Read our recommendations from the week of January 3. TEHRAN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday vowed to improve conditions in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, the official news agency IRNA reported. In a speech delivered at Zabol, a city in the province, Pezeshkian highlighted the worsening conditions of the region compared to 50 years ago, when he first visited. He called the situation "unacceptable" and pledged to improve it, emphasizing that he would not make empty promises but would do everything in his power to bring about change. He also called for collective action with local leaders, religious figures, and the community to drive change, expressing his commitment to making tangible improvements despite the challenges. Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for armed groups and drug trafficking networks. On Oct. 26, 2024, militants attacked a border patrol in the region, killing 10 Iranian security personnel. Jaish al-Zulm, designated a terrorist organization by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack. High fashion takes centre stage in Rome in 2025. Rome is to act as the backdrop for catwalks showcasing new haute couture collections by renowned fashion houses including Dior, Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana. The city's embrace of high fashion will begin with a show on 27 May by French maison Dior, now part of the largest luxury and fashion group in the world, LVMH. Dior will present its new Cruise 2025 collection at its first ever show in Rome, whose details are still top secret, La Repubblica newspaper reports. In July it will be the turn of Dolce & Gabbana when the Italian design duo showcase their work in Rome for the first time in their 40-year career. The locations of the catwalks for the four-day event, which will include shows of the women's and men's haute couture as well as jewellery, have yet to be revealed. Fendi, which was founded in Rome in 1925 and is now owned by LVMH, will kick off its cetenerary celebrations with a show during Milan Fashion Week in February before staging a series of exclusive fashion events in the Italian capital. Details of the locations have not been made public. The choice of Rome by the major international fashion houses is part of a growing trend and comes as Valentino and luxury jeweller Bulgari forge increasingly strong links with the Eternal City. "It is proof of how attractive our city has become again" - said Rome's councillor for fashion, tourism, major events and sports, Alessandro Onorato - "It is not the result of chance, but of a long and intense work that we have done to create a climate of trust and collaboration with the major brands. We have proven to be reliable, guaranteeing certain times and procedures." Last month Rome inaugurated the new headquarters of the Accademia Costume & Moda, a prestigious fashion academy, at a former landmark department store in the Esquilino area. Zelensky travels to Rome after Ramstein. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni for talks at Palazzo Chigi in Rome on Thursday evening, after meeting other allies in Germany. In a statement issued by her office, Meloni "reaffirmed the comprehensive support that Italy guarantees and will continue to guarantee for Ukraines legitimate defence and for the Ukrainian people, in order to put Kyiv in the best possible position to build a just and lasting peace." The prime minister also "expressed solidarity for the victims of the recent Russian bombings" as the war in Ukraine nears its three-year anniversary. In a post on X, Zelensky said that key topics discussed with Meloni included "strengthening security, addressing global developments, and preparing for this years Ukraine Recovery Conference", scheduled to be take place in Rome on 10-11 July. "I am deeply grateful to Italy and the Italian people for their unwavering support" - Zelensky wrote on X - "Together, we can bring a just peace closer and strengthen our collective positions." During my meeting with @GiorgiaMeloni here in Italy, we discussed crucial support to protect our people, cities, and villages from Russian strikes, like the recent horrific attack on Zaporizhzhia. I am sincerely grateful to Italy for its steadfast support of Ukraines air pic.twitter.com/NxZcmMvtQr Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) January 9, 2025 Zelensky, who is set to meet Italy's president Sergio Mattarella on Friday morning, had been due to meet Joe Biden in Rome however the outgoing US president's trip to Italy was cancelled due to the wildfire emergency in California. Earlier on Thursday Zelensky joined around 50 allies at the US air base Ramstein in Germany in the last such meeting before the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump on 20 January. Speaking in Germany, Zelensky said the return of Trump - who has pledged a swift end to the conflict in Ukraine - would open "a new chapter". Zelensky reiterated a call for Western allies to send troops to help "force Russia to peace", warning: Weve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions weve created". During a press conference in Rome on Thursday Meloni said she did not believe Trump would "disengage" with Ukraine, saying that "it would be a mistake" if he did. Photo Volodymyr Zelenskyy - X Are you an American living in Rome feeling apprehensive about the upcoming US tax season or unsure about how to plan for your financial future? It's a common stress point for many expats, particularly if youve just moved or been living abroad for some time. But, you don't have to navigate these waters alone! Register now for a complimentary 30-minute conversation to get your questions about US taxes and financial planning answered at the Aleph Rome Hotel on Monday, January 27, 2025. For this event, we are partnering with US expat tax expert, Nicolas Castillo, CPA, who specializes in serving the US expat community and tax planning for US businesses. If you are a US business owner currently living in Rome or planning to move to Rome, Nicolas can discuss the optimal way for you to do so from a US tax vantage. All Americans in Rome or those wishing to travel to the city for the event are welcome to come and ask any questions related to US tax filing and financial planning as Americans living in Italy. Alex Ingrim, Chartered MCSI, and Nicolas Castillo, CPA, the meeting facilitators, are expats themselves, enabling them to provide even more nuanced professional insight. Cant make it in person? Visit Liberty Atlantic Advisors to register for our newsletter and be the first to know about future in-person events. Additionally, virtual consultations are always possible please email info@libertyatlantic.com to request one. Who should register for an in-person consultation? Whether you're dealing with: individual taxes, starting or managing a US business abroad, or navigating retirement, estate planning, and wealth management strategies Alex and Nicolas can provide tailored, US-compliant advice to meet your needs. Understanding US tax obligations Taxation without representation might be a thing of the past, but taxation without comprehension is a challenge expats face today (thanks a lot, US citizenship-based taxation regime!). Nicolas Castillo, CPA specializes in US expat taxes. He can clarify your tax responsibilities and outline concrete next steps for each circumstance. For over seven years he has provided global tax services to ensure his clients filings are compliant with the IRS and optimized for cross-border situations. As a fellow American who has navigated the complexities of living overseas, Nicolas offers technical guidance complemented by genuine understanding and compassion. Start a conversation about long-term planning with Alex Ingrim Developing a comprehensive cross-border financial plan is more than just talking numbers and asset allocationit's building a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. Alex Ingrim believes that the initial consultation is akin to a first handshake, acknowledging the importance of each individual's unique situation without imposing any expectations on the meeting. Having lived abroad for over a decade, moved internationally over half a dozen times, and worked as a senior investment analyst for major companies, Alex understands the nuances of expat life and brings an unmatched commitment to supporting fellow Americans in making informed decisions that secure his their and their familys financial futures. Secure your spot today Registrations for consultations are now open! All conversations are confidential, ensuring a private and respectful environment to discuss your financial concerns, priorities, and aspirations. Ardscoil na mBraithre student Oran Sheehan is well on his way to his dreams of working in agriculture or engineering with his revelatory research project into maximising biodiversity for grassland farmers at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin. "My farm was entered into the scheme for the past three years," Oran said, whose family farm is based in the Comeragh mountains near Ballymacarbry. "So when it came to doing an Ag Science project in school the scheme came to mind and I have carried over that work into this competition," he added. "ACRES is a biodiversity positivity scheme introduced in 2020 to farming. It's a result-based scoring measurement system whereby you are financially compensated for the levels of biodiversity that are visible on your farms." Farms, he explained: "are inspected once per year by ACRES and Teagasc representatives and scorecards are filled out and analysed. You receive a score accordingly and receive payment based on your score." Oran explained that his project worked to find the "sweet spot" for farmers to maximise their land, by designating areas away from sheep grazing "in order to significantly increase your ACRE score". "Sheep will eat everything they see," said Oran, while recommending that farmers control the area their sheep are grazing in order to improve the biodiversity on their farms. "Allowing your grazing land to recover will improve your ACRE score and allow your land to recover and flourish again," he said. Oran said he started to collect the data for the project in March until September 2024, at which point Oran began to "compile the data, working and research all of the aspects of the project as well as creating the project report book". He said that he was "delighted" when he found out that his project was going to be included in the exhibition which he described as a "great experience". A good way to detect food gone bad Another Waterford student, seeking to revolutionise food packaging, is Dungarvan CBS student, James Hickey, who was doubtful of the efficacy of expiry dates and decided to come up with his own evolution. Explaining his project at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin, James proposed using pH-responsive packaging to indicate when food has gone bad. Dungarvan CBS Student James Hickey at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin. Photo by Hugh Dooley. Imagine going to the shop and seeing the packing on your groceries change colour when the food has gone bad; James said it's just a matter of using a "biodegradable film which has pH-sensitive properties which mean it will change colour based on the chemicals produced when foods expire". "This would reduce food waste, we throw out a lot of food that is completely safe to eat, but it would also alert consumers if there are issues in the packaging before the expiration date," he said. James decided to approach the project as he believes that "expiration dates are not fully reliable". "I thought that if we used pH as an indicator we could tell if the food had expired in a smart way," he said."I dairy products, there is an increase in lactic acid which is more acidic, and meat becomes more alkaline which would display it." James thanked his teacher Ms Maria McSweeney, who he said had helped him to get the project into the BT Young Scientist Exhibition. The dangers of online media disinformation Cathal Barry, a Transition Year student at Blackwater Community School in Lismore, ran a revealing investigation into propaganda on young people. Cathal said his project, Where is the truth: The effects of media propaganda on young people is the culmination of more than two years of work having been inspired to investigate the issue through his interest in politics. Waterford students shone at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition at the RDS in Dublin. Photo by Hugh Dooley. My project is an investigation into the effects of media propaganda on young people, Cathal explained. Ive been working on this for about two-and-a-half years now." It came from a big interest in politics and history, the 16-year-old said, explaining that he was interested in how small groups of people were able to control millions and in how we know so much about propaganda and yet its still such an effective phenomenon today". The Blackwater Community School student said that he is concerned about the effectiveness of propaganda today, and said the key to its effectiveness today is its evolution, the propaganda we see today is not what is in the history books on a poster or in a newspaper its on social media now. We dont know how to deal with that now or how to differentiate it, which is causing a lot of problems now. I decided to investigate the impact that it has on young people to see how it could affect the political landscape in the future as those young people get interested and involved in politics, he said. Cathals research included a test where respondents were shown a number of examples of propaganda in media and controls and had to identify which they were, the results of the test stunned the Waterford student. Amgen, based in Waterford, at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin. Photo by Hugh Dooley. The mean score was about 38 per cent, and on a standard school test that is a fail, he said; a result the student described as slightly worrying. The vast majority of the sources of propaganda he identified came from social media, a statistic which becomes more concerning when accounting for his finding that 72 per cent of his respondents get their news from social media. Cathal has been working with two academics from UCC, Drs Theresa Reidy from Department of Government and Politics, and Maria Thieler in the UCC School of Mathematics who he thanked for their help with the project. The results of the BT Young Scientist competition will be announced later today. Road safety was the dominating topic at the first meeting of 2025 for Piltown Municipal District in Ferrybank, outside Waterford. Councillors discussed a raft of issues relating to road safety in the wake of a recent terrible tragedy. The Council took a moment to pay tribute to Mary Grennan (nee: Kirwan), a 75-year-old woman who died tragically on January 3, after a two car collision on the N25 at Luffany. Each councillor extended their deepest sympathies and condolences to Mary's family. Cathaoirleach, Cllr Ger Frisby said: "It brings into light what we have been shouting and roaring about here for the last 10 years in relation to the upgrades on that road and the preferred route that has been selected and unfortunately didn't get funding to go to Phase 3." He continued: "We're all frustrated to bring it to the next stage and to ensure that the N25 is put on the funding stream for the coming year and that we can go to the Phase 3 of the preferred route and to get detailed design route on it because this is going to, unfortunately, keep happening unless something major is done about it." Cllr Frisby asked for the Council to go to TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) about making the junction at the Rhu Glenn safer, commenting: "We don't want another family be going through what the Grennans and the Kirwans are suffering through today." N24 Scheme In late 2024, it was revealed that the Waterford to Cahir scheme would not be receiving any additional funding for the following year. Council Officer John Tennyson told the meeting: "The next pathway there is to progress into Phase 3 but that will be subject to funding. "The Carrick Road Safety Scheme also, is under judicial review and is likely to be well into 2025 before that issue is resolved." He went on: "The North-South link road, Part 8 was adopted by Council at the December Plenary meeting." Mr Tennyson stated that consultants had been appointed to the Abbey Road and Belmont Road link and are now procuring surveys. Speed Camera Mr Tennyson said of the N25 speed camera: "I wrote to Chief Superintendent Dorothy Humphries of the National Roads Bureau regarding the criteria of the static speed camera in favour of the average speed cameras at Ballenclare junction." Cllr Frisby said: "It's good to see [correspondence] back from Superintendent Humphries on the speed. Just in relation to what they're proposing in the static camera, personally I think in light of what we mentioned earlier on about the accident in Rhu Glenn, I think an average camera would definitely be needed on that section of road between Luffany and Glenmore Roundabout. "That's where all the accidents are happening." Winterval 2024 brought a staggering 1.8 million visitors to the Deise. The 12th year of the festival was a roaring success that consolidated Waterford's status as the European City of Christmas. The festival began on November 15 and ran for the following five weeks. The visitor data was collected through Smart City Data Collection which is operated by Three Data Analytics on behalf of Waterford City and County Council. According to the data, 3 per cent of the visitors to Winterval were from outside of the country with the UK, Netherlands and the US featuring highly as the visitor's country of origin followed by France and Spain. Ninety-seven per cent of visitors came from Ireland, with a large proportion of these visitors from the Southeast region and also from Dublin. Five per cent of attendees to Winterval were overnight visitors to the festival (accounting for 53,000 people) with the remainder being daytrippers. Major ambitions Organisers Trevor Darmody and John Grubb were delighted with the news and are excited to come back again later this year. They said: "We set out with some major ambitions to deliver a magical and fun-filled festival that would attract visitors to enjoy Christmas in Waterford plus we also added some night time economy events, like the Winterval Big Top Live gigs to bring in a new audience segment to the festival, and all of this has paid off greatly." Putting on the festival was no easy task, especially with a few severe weather warnings and storms. Winterval ran for nearly 6 weeks. Photo: Patrick Browne. They said: "We are delighted with the visitor numbers even with weather two storms during the festival. We would like to thank everyone who came along to enjoy Winterval and all of those businesses and sponsors who support Winterval, too. "Waterford now holds the title of European City of Christmas for life, so we look forward to building upon that even further for 2025. Tourism The festival was a great shot in the arm for the city during the dark winter months, especially for local retail, hospitality an tourism. Hotelier Tina Darrer, of Dooleys Hotel said: "Winterval and the European City of Christmas title has certainly shone a spotlight on our wonderful City for the festive season, and we have been delighted to welcome repeat visitors to Dooleys Hotel and also welcome new, first time visitors to the city and the festival this year - both from across Ireland and from Europe and the US. The festival ensures that Waterford has a strong winter visitor season, and feedback from guests is that they were greatly impressed with the festive events and indeed, the tourism offering in the City during their stay - which ensures repeat visitors into the future." "Winter in Waterford is certainly proving as the best place to be," she added. Maeve Ryan Cooke, MD at The Book Centre in Waterford said: "The Book Centre and The Book Bar see Winterval as an integral part of the Christmas shopping experience in Waterford. She continued: "It is hugely valuable to our business and it is another reason for Waterford people and visitors alike to visit our beautiful city. Being a family-run business in Waterford for the last 53 years, we see the hard work that has gone into the creation and continuance of Winterval and its importance to the success of our city. As such, we see it as a vital attraction for all retail and hospitality in the city." Broken Chanter Live, January 30, Phil Grimes Pub Due to popular demand, Glasgwegian indie rockers Broken Chanter return to Phil Grimes pub, this time with his full four piece band.. Broken Chanter is the stage name of Glaswegian songwriter David MacGregor. Broken Chanter can be MacGregor on his own or, more often than not, with an array of extremely talented musicians joining him. His latest album, Chorus Of Doubt, was released by Chemikal Underground in April 2024 and was on the Longlist of 20 for the 2024 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award. Tickets available at Eventbrite.ie Robert Mizzell Live, February 7, The Seanti. "Country King" Robert Mizzell makes his third appearance at The Seanti. Robert has made Ireland his home for over 20 years. He has released 12 solo studio albums and 2 full length DVDs to date, and is constantly touring Born in Louisiana, Roberts early musical influences came from his parents, who both performed in a Church Gospel group. At the age of 17, Robert moved to Connecticut, before joining the US Army. After his military service, he moved to Ireland with dreams of a career in country music. Kick Ass Country was Roberts first major hit, but it was Say You Love Me that made him a household name in Ireland. Tickets available at Eventbrite.ie Killian Sundermann, February 8, Bank Lane Join one of Ireland's most exciting new comedians, for a night of stand up, sketch and song as he brings his sold-out Dublin Fringe show, around the country on his first national tour. Tickets available at banklane.ie 3 on the Bund and Music Generation Waterford Live, February 9, St. Patricks Gateway Centre An exciting collaboration between 3 on the Bund and Music Generation Waterford is coming to the St. Patrick's Gateway Centre Inspired by their individual diverse musical backgrounds. 3 on the Bund are a five piece group who blend tradition with innovation. Their complex layered arrangements consist of both traditional and newly composed tunes which are played with an energy and passion that is completely authentic. MGW is a music education programme for young musicians across Waterford City and County. To date they worked and performed with guest musicians such as Benny McCarthy, Ryan Molloy, Fergal Scahill, Aine McGineey, Martin Tourish, Sharon Shannon, Fourth Moon, Imar and GOITSE. Tickets available at Eventbrite.ie 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 Underwhelem is not an obvious place to find happiness. Voul village in a hag-ridden hollow. All ways to it winding, all roads to it narrow. Auverlooked bog, veiled in vog, thirtover, undercreepen, rank with seepings: Jeyes Fluid, slurry, zweat and pus, anus greaze, squitters, jizz and blood The Dorset dialect takes some getting used to, but thats far enough without trigger warnings. The world of Orlam, Polly Jean Harveys second book of poetry, is one of nature and innocence defiled by every horror imaginable, miraculously redeemed by the richness of its language and the sheer joy of its creation. Id always wanted to go and investigate the folklore of the area that I had grown up in, she explains of the book that also yielded her latest album, I Inside the Old Year Dying. PJ Harvey took a year off after she started questioning whether music still made her happy. Credit: Steve Gullick I was interested in going back into nature and going back into the childhood imagination. You learn to value that childlike inquiry into things, she says. As an artist, I always just follow where I feel Im being led. This was always on my list of things to do. And it felt like the right time. Its difficult to reconcile Polly Harveys breezy conversation with the unsettling intensity of her work. The first time we spoke, around the time of her mid-90s breakthrough with To Bring You My Love, she shared her amusement about the axe-wielding bitch character from hell that interviewers tended to expect: one of many voices shes since explored. Now, 10 albums into one of the most original and lavishly acclaimed careers in British rock and beyond, her timbre has shifted again: high and fey to channel imagined nine-year-old Ira-Abel of the village of Underwhelem, abused and haunted chronicler of Gore Woods under the all-seeing dead lambs eye god, Orlam. Advertisement The authors mother, Eva Jean Harvey, is thanked for her close reading in the books acknowledgments, but the obvious suggestion that little Iras story is some kind of homecoming to her own sheep farm childhood near the Dorset village of Corscombe is met with a dubious pause. I do have a hard work ethic. I go to my desk and I work nine-to-five most days, but going to my desk was no longer a joy. It felt rich, she says guardedly. I mean, there was so much information to access because it had been the place where Id grown up and was of extra interest to me because of that. The dialect is dying out, though you still hear a lot of it being spoken in the West Country. It was extremely easy to learn the language, [so] it obviously was encoded in me somewhere. A lot of the words are so memorable anyway, and sound often equals sense. You know, the way the words sound is what they are. PJ Harvey at the Sydney Opera House, February 2008. Credit: Domino Postiglione This is true in the case of yollerheads (daffodils), tree-tears (leaves), vorehearing (premonition), winker (eyeball) and any number of less elegant body parts. But the books glossary is invaluable when it comes to the likes of heissen (a prediction of evil), biver (to shake with cold or fear) and ether-hunger (the hunger for earth, sometimes felt by persons approaching death). Some of what I wanted to explore in my examination of the country idyll is that, you know, its not idyllic, she says with a laugh. People that have grown up in the countryside know that its not just beauty and light and everyones happily engaged with nature. Advertisement Theres a lot of bad stuff that goes on there, just as much as there is in cities. I wanted to give a little bit of a window into that. You know, humans are humans. We do bad things wherever we are. Its a darkness evoked by her one-time partner Nick Cave in West Country Girl, the song he wrote about Harvey in 1997, including the evocative line: Comes from the West country where the birds sing bass. Before their painful and very public break-up, the pairs vocal pairing on Henry Lee was one of the highlights of the Bad Seeds acclaimed 1996 Murder Ballads album. Today, Harvey is more keenly aware than ever of the toll that art can take. Orlam took eight years, Harvey says, researching all of the mythology, researching the language and the ways of living in different eras in the West Country ... My biggest driving force is wanting to learn. To completely submerge myself in a subject and educate myself in it, then put all of that study down and let my creative brain write, thats such a joyous thing for me. PJ Harvey later set her poems to music. Credit: Getty Images But no, it didnt really feel like a homecoming, she says firmly. As an artist, youre always on the outside looking in. I felt like an outsider, observing, working my way towards it. That feeling of observing keeps me separate from feeling at home anywhere, really. Its not an unpleasant feeling, she adds, but the process of observation has taken its toll over previous projects. Harveys last two albums have been steeped in war, from its poisoned roots in money and power to the macabre reality of limbs in trees to the endless aftermath that haunts the world. The grim historical perspective of 2011s Mercury Prize-winning Let England Shake was followed by Hope Six Demolition Project and The Hollow of the Hand, its accompanying book of poems with photographer Seamus Murphy, documenting travels in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington. Advertisement Asked how she managed to protect herself, steeped for years in live geopolitical horrors for the sake of art that is anything but easy listening, shes momentarily taken aback. Thats really lovely that youve asked that question ... I didnt know how to protect myself, she says. Prior to writing Let England Shake, I spent four or five years studying war: past wars and current wars and art that had been made around wars and everything from first-hand accounts of torture to you know, everything. And it did affect me. Soon after demoing those songs, she fell ill. She remembers calling her friend Ian Rickson, the British theatre director who stages her live shows, and telling him, I dont know whats wrong with me. I just have no energy. I cant do anything. I literally wake up after eight hours sleep and I have to lie down again. I thought there was something seriously wrong. I went for blood tests and all sorts of tests, and no one could find anything. And it was Ian who said, Its the work, dont you see? This is your body and emotions responding. PJ Harvey and former partner Nick Cave in the film clip for Henry Lee. Credit: Dave Tonge/Getty Images Since then, I have been more aware of trying to practise resting my brain and therefore my body and emotions from the work because it did affect me in a big way. And it still affects me. The Hope Six project brought more internal challenges. The field trips had been astonishing and quite life changing, but when she came to work on the poems and the songs themselves two entirely different disciplines, shes learnt, over a decade-long mentorship with Scottish poet Don Paterson the writing felt like hard graft. Advertisement When I was first beginning to craft songs at 19, 20 years old, there was a sense of absolute joy in finding a way to express things through a medium I was in love with: music and song and singing and I began to realise how far away from that I had come. I do have a hard work ethic. I go to my desk and I work nine-to-five most days, but going to my desk was no longer a joy. I think also being at that stage in my life moving towards 50 it felt like a serious question to ask myself, OK, should I still be doing this? If this is not making me very happy, I dont feel I can be doing good work. After another rigorous world tour in 2016-17, Harvey imposed a kind of gap year to ponder the question. It involved going back to music theory shed neglected as a girl and composing for stage and screen: the tense psychodrama The Virtues, the black Irish comedy Bad Sisters, Ivo van Hoves London stage adaptation of All About Eve. PJ Harvey performing in Sydney in 2017. Credit: Jamie Williams That was a really wonderful place to be because I wasnt serving my own artistic journey or voice, she says. I was serving the director; I was serving the screenwriter, and thats quite a different discipline. That was quite a restful place to still be studying music. Loading It was through this process that I re-found my joy because part of the exercise in trying to be a better pianist or a better guitar player was to play other peoples songs. Id try and play Nina Simone songs on the piano, or Leonard Cohen songs on the guitar, or Sandy Denny Advertisement VALLETTA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Italy's environment ministry has given its final approval to Malta to develop the second interconnector, linking the island with mainland Europe's energy grid, the Maltese government announced on Friday. The official permission was given by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, allowing Malta to connect the second interconnector through the Italian territory. Addressing a media briefing, Malta's Energy Minister Miriam Dalli welcomed this important step, which keeps the project on track for final commissioning in 2026. "We are working hard to deliver the projects we have planned as part of our energy vision. We are strengthening our distribution infrastructure, we are supporting the expansion of renewable energy and we are on track to delivering the second interconnector. This will not only strengthen our security of supply but will also enhance our connection with mainland Europe to enable more renewable energy," Dalli said. This permit was the last remaining step in the Italian development permit process and follows the green light given by the authorities in the Sicilian Region. The second interconnector involves a 122-km high-voltage alternating current electrical cable interconnection, including a 99-km submarine cable. The project will strengthen Malta's current electricity interconnection with the European network. Aside from this project, Malta is also working on a number of projects including the battery energy storage systems and issued a public call for an offshore floating wind farm project. A Perth man alleged to have hired the hit man that killed Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin has been granted a judge alone trial. David Pye a rival bikie is accused of ordering and allegedly paying more than $150,000 for the hit on Martin, who was fatally shot in front of horrified onlookers, including his family, at Kwinana Motorplex in 2020. Murder accused man David Pye walking out of court in 2013 in front of his former ally and alleged victim, Nick Martin. Credit: 9 News Perth In the Supreme Court of WA on Friday, Justice Bruno Fiannaca said he was granting the application to have the trial heard in the absence of a jury, but did not elaborate on his decision. However, it has been speculated that Martins high-profile assassination and the arrest and conviction that followed would make an impartial jury almost impossible to find. Since the flames erupted in and around Los Angeles, scores of residents have returned to their still smouldering neighbourhoods even as the threat of new fires persisted. For some, it was a first look at the staggering reality of what was lost as the region of 13 million people grapples with the gargantuan challenge of overcoming the disaster and rebuilding. Luke Dexter kneels as he sifts through the remains of his fathers fire-ravaged beachfront property in Malibu, California. Credit: AP Calmer winds enabled firefighters to start gaining some control of the biggest blazes in metropolitan Los Angeles today before gusty weather returns over the weekend to an area that hasnt seen rain in more than eight months. But by Friday night US time, new evacuations were ordered in an area that includes part of Interstate 405 after a flare up on the eastern side of the Palisades Fire. Bridget Berg, who was at work when she saw on TV her house in Altadena erupt in flames, came back for the first time with her family two days later just to make it real. Their feet crunched across the broken bits of what had been their home for 16 years. Signage for Benjamin Franklin Elementary School on a wall in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Credit: Bloomberg Her children sifted through debris on the sidewalk, finding a clay pot and a few keepsakes as they searched for Japanese wood prints they hoped to recover. Her husband pulled his hand out of rubble near the still-standing fireplace, holding up a piece of petrified wood handed down by his grandmother. Its OK. Its OK, Berg said as much to herself as others as she took stock of the destruction, remembering the deck and pool from which her family watched fireworks. Its not like we just lost our house everybody lost their house. Since the fires first began popping up around a densely populated, 40-kilometere expanse north of downtown Los Angeles, they have burned more than 12,000 structures, which includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. No cause has been identified yet for the largest fires. AP The Career Development Programme is an initiative launched in 2009 by the WCO, in cooperation with Japan Customs. It provides an opportunity for selected candidates, known as Professional Associates (PA), to undertake work at the WCO Secretariat for 10 months. Aims of the Programme: To enable participants to obtain knowledge, skills and international work experience; To enhance networks among WCO Members and the Secretariat; To strengthen the Secretariat in the delivery of its mission and tasks; To develop a pool of highly competent officials with Customs expertise. Since its launch, over 115 Customs officials from different developing countries across the WCOs six regions have benefited from the Programme. It has served to promote the involvement of WCO Members, especially those in which neither of the WCOs two official languages is widely spoken, in various WCO activities. According to feedback, former Professional Associates have been contributing positively to their administrations and regions on their return home, including acting as a liaison point between their administration and the Secretariat. The nomination process is set out below: BEIRUT, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hosted Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides here on Friday, discussing bilateral relations and Lebanon's pressing needs. During their talks at the presidential palace, Aoun said Lebanon insisted on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territories and the deployment of the Lebanese army along the southern border, according to a statement released by Lebanon's Presidency. Aoun expressed his gratitude for the Cypriot president's visit on the second day of his presidency, considering the visit a message of hope for all Lebanese. Aoun outlined Lebanon's priorities, including support for the economy and the Lebanese Armed Forces. He also stressed the necessity of European Union backing for Lebanon's new government once it is formed. Christodoulides affirmed Cyprus' support for Lebanon, pledging to advocate for greater European Union involvement in aiding the country. He invited Aoun to attend the European Council meeting in Brussels in March to present Lebanon's vision and needs to European leaders. This combo photo provided by Xing Lida, an associate professor at the China University of Geosciences Beijing, shows a fossilized dinosaur footprint found in Qamdo, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region (L) and its 3D image. Chinese scientists on Friday announced their discovery of two dinosaur track sites in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, including one containing the world's smallest fossilized sauropod footprint, which dates back over 166 million years. (Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists on Friday announced their discovery of two dinosaur track sites in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, including one containing the world's smallest fossilized sauropod footprint, which dates back over 166 million years. The track sites are located in a village in Qamdo City. In July 2023, a team of geologists discovered a series of reptile-like tracks on both sides of a village road. They collaborated with paleontologists on in-depth analysis and identified tracks left by sauropod and theropod dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic period. Their findings were published online in the Historical Biology journal in late December. According to the study, one site contains a trail of three consecutive large theropod tracks, each approximately 42 centimeters in length. These tracks can be classified as belonging to the Eubrontes and are not common in Xizang's Jurassic dinosaur track records. The presence of these tracks indicates that medium-sized carnivorous dinosaurs, which could have reached lengths of up to 6 meters, once roamed the region. The second site consists mainly of small, isolated sauropod tracks ranging from 8.8 to 15.5 centimeters, which were likely left by more than six dinosaurs with body lengths of up to 2 meters. "Such tiny sauropod tracks are quite rare," said lead author Xing Lida, an associate professor at the China University of Geosciences Beijing. He noted that in previous research, sauropod tracks measuring 12.2 centimeters were recorded in the Republic of Korea, and tracks ranging from 11.5 to 13 centimeters were found in north China's Inner Mongolia. "This discovery in Xizang has expanded our understanding of sauropod track sizes in the Qamdo area," Xing said. "It suggests that there may have been smaller sauropods in this region, or that these magnificent creatures practiced age separation and were well-developed at birth." There was a remarkable size difference between adult and young sauropods. While fully grown sauropods could reach lengths of 20 to 30 meters, hatchlings would have been less than half a meter long when they first emerged from their eggs. Such a difference led to distinct movement patterns and food sources for different age groups, resulting in many sauropod species forming separate communities based on age, Xing explained. Although the region is remote and situated at a high altitude, scientists have visited the area regularly since the 1970s. They have documented a significant number of Early Jurassic and Middle Jurassic dinosaur fossils. In 2011, Xing's team found Jurassic sauropod tracks near the No. 214 state highway in Qamdo. Scientists say that in regions such as Qamdo, marine sedimentation gradually diminished during the Early Jurassic period, eventually transforming into an inland basin by the Middle Jurassic period. The deepest Jurassic stratum exceeds 4,800 meters, facilitating numerous fossil discoveries. These discoveries highlight the vast potential of dinosaur research in Xizang, Xing said, adding that further dinosaur studies will continue making contributions to scientific research and public education in the region. This image provided by Xing Lida, an associate professor at the China University of Geosciences Beijing, shows a depiction of sauropod dinosaurs based on the fossilized tracks they had left in Qamdo, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Chinese scientists on Friday announced their discovery of two dinosaur track sites in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, including one containing the world's smallest fossilized sauropod footprint, which dates back over 166 million years. (Xinhua) ABUJA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China will firmly support Africans in seeking African solutions to African problems, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday. The African people are the true masters of the African continent, and have the wisdom, ability and right to solve their own problems, he added. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Tuggar. A company based in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim has been appointed by Mayo County Council to draw up the Ballyhaunis Town Centre First Plan. The contract was secured by TBLA through a procurement process. Ballyhaunis is only the second town in Mayo selected for the initiative by the council, which will draw down 30,000 from the state for a Ballyhaunis development plan to be drafted by TBLA after consultation with the local community. Tom Bradford, a landscape architect with TBLA, will lead the Ballyhaunis project while other members of his team have expertise in urban design and regeneration, masterplanning and restoration of historic sites. The Leitrim company also has a track record in public consultation and community engagement. TBLA describes itself as a landscape design, urban planning and horticultural consultancy team, providing services for public and private organisations across Ireland and the UK. TBLA representatives will meet the Town Centre First team a collection of individuals drawn from various organisations in the town - in Ballyhaunis later this month. The team from TBLA is currently studying a database of documents collected by the local community and Mayo County Council. Town Centre First is a state initiative delivered by local authorities that, according to the Government, aims to regenerate towns across Ireland, creating town centres that are viable, vibrant, and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit". May perpetual light shine upon The faces of all who rest here. May the lives they lived Unfold further in spirit. May all their past travails Find ease in the kindness of clay. - John O'Donohue, 'On Passing A Graveyard' In the shadow of Hollywood's perpetual glamour machine, where even the morning fog seems to come with its own Instagram filter, two sociologists, Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans, have spent eight years peering into the darkest corners of Los Angeles County's morgues. Their findings, published in The Unclaimed read less like an academic treatise and more like a love letter to the forgotten, penned in the ink of hard truths and unexpected grace. The numbers alone should stop us cold: 150,000 Americans go unclaimed each year, their bodies relegated to the modern equivalent of potter's fields. But statistics have always been poor storytellers. What the authors give us instead are the intimate portraits of four souls who slipped through society's increasingly fragile safety net - Bobby, the Vietnam vet who found his voice in a choir; Lena, clutching a hammer in her unlocked house; David, finding peculiar peace in solitude; and Midge, whose van became both home and prison. These stories are told with a granular detail that makes you forget you're reading well-researched sociology as Bobby's journey from the streets to singing on America's Got Talent isn't just a redemption narrative - it's a reminder that talent and tragedy often share the same address. Lena's paranoid fortress of solitude, complete with that bedside hammer, speaks volumes about the fear that frequently underlies isolation. David's embrace of Scientology and solitude challenges our assumptions about what constitutes a life well-lived. And Midge, whose church community refused to give up on her even when she tried to give up on herself. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Dublin's city mortuary tells a parallel tale. Twenty-one bodies lie in state, identified but uncollected, one having waited more than a year for someone to remember they once existed. We Irish have always understood death better than most - our wakes are legendary, their keening an art form. Yet, in the land of a thousand welcomes, bodies go unclaimed here too. The challenge of burying the destitute poor has long haunted Irish communities. Our Irish approach to death has always been distinct, shaped by centuries of tradition and ritual. The wake, that uniquely Irish celebration of life in the face of death, represents a communal refusal to let anyone go unmourned. Yet even here, in the land of a thousand welcomes, bodies go unclaimed, stories go untold. The similarities between the American and Irish experiences are striking. Both countries grapple with the same fundamental question: how do we honour the dead when the living have turned away? In Los Angeles, Church worker Albert Gaskin holds onto ashes longer than protocol demands, hoping against hope that someone might come looking. In Dublin, the database of 44 unidentified bodies maintained by Irish authorities speaks to a modern tragedy playing out against the backdrop of ancient customs. Each entry in that database - from the abandoned newborn to the man who spent 35 years in a Cork psychiatric hospital - tells a story of connection lost and dignity denied - modern technology's attempt to close wounds that have festered for decades. But this isn't just another misery memoir for our disconnected age, as what emerges from these pages is far more nuanced - a testament to humanity's stubborn insistence on finding connection in the most unlikely places. The hundreds who gathered in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, to mourn strangers, their presence a quiet rebellion against the notion that some lives matter less than others. The church secretary who gives Midge a key to her apartment, the couple who converts their garage into a home for her, and the choir members who stand vigil at Bobby's bedside are the true heroes of this tale. The Mexican American community in Boyle Heights who gather to mourn strangers finds its parallel in the Irish tradition of attending funerals of people barely known - a cultural imperative to ensure no one goes to their grave unmourned. The similarities run deeper than mere coincidence. Both nations have experienced profound social upheaval and population displacement. America's epidemic of loneliness claims its victims, just as Ireland's history of emigration and social change has left its own legacy of fractured families and lost connections. The rural villages that once ensured everyone belonged somewhere have given way to urban anonymity, where neighbours might not know each other's names, let alone their stories. The American authors' most devastating critique isn't of government bureaucracy (though there's plenty to criticise in the Kafkaesque definition of "family" that prevents chosen families from claiming their loved ones) but of our collective willing blindness to the fraying of social bonds. Yet even here, hope sneaks in through the morgue's back door. What Prickett and Timmermans have achieved is remarkable - they've written a book about death that pulses with life, about abandonment that celebrates connection, and about institutional failure that somehow leaves you believing in institutions, or at least in the people who staff them. It's a mirror held up to our fractured society but also reflects the persistent, stubborn light of human decency. The parallel narrative unfolds with its own peculiar grace here in Ireland. The decision to publish details of unidentified remains online speaks to a modern approach to an ancient problem - the need to name our dead, to give them back their stories. It's a digital-age solution to a timeless human need for closure, for connection, for the simple dignity of being remembered. The book's most powerful moments come not in its grand observations about social isolation or institutional failings but in the small acts of grace that pepper its pages. The veteran who sits quietly with his friend as he packs to leave rehab, asking nothing, offering everything. The church member who stands "on the front step" waiting for the prodigal to return. The county worker who treats each box of ashes as if it contained the remains of his own family. These moments remind us that community isn't something we're born intoit's something we actively create, day by day, with small decisions. Nothing is merely accidental; the unclaimed bodies in Los Angeles and Dublin aren't just statistics or cautionary tales; they're mirrors reflecting our own choices about how we live, connect, and care for one another. Ultimately, The Unclaimed isn't about death at all. It's about life - how we live it, how we share it, and how we might do better at both. It's about the choices we make while we still can and the legacies we leave when we no longer can. It's about the fundamental truth that unless everybody counts, nobody counts. Bobby's choir mates, Midge's church family, Lena's concerned neighbours, and David's peaceful solitude aren't just supporting characters in tales of lonely deaths. They're reminders that community exists wherever we choose to create it, that family is more verb than noun. As I write this, somewhere in Los Angeles, strangers may be gathering to mourn people they never knew. In Dublin, forensic scientists are extracting DNA from long-buried bones. And in countless towns across both continents, the unclaimed wait in cold storage while the machinery of bureaucracy grinds on. But they're not really unclaimed, are they? Not anymore. Not after this book. In both nations, the story of the unclaimed dead is ultimately a story about the living - how we choose to honour our shared humanity, the communities we build, and their continually reforged connections. We are reminded that dignity in death, like love in life, is something we give each other. And perhaps most importantly, it's a call to action - to strengthen our bonds, widen our circles of care, and ensure that no one goes unclaimed, unmourned, or forgotten. My final Western People article of 2024 was not in keeping with the spirit of Happy Christmas or indeed a Happy New Year, but one I felt compelled to write as a social historian, but also a proud native of this part of Ireland. Your response to my effective eulogy on the local decline of rural communities has been both affirming and gratifying. However, a common feedback thread suggested I had failed to offer any constructive solutions to the social decay witnessed in the rural west of Ireland. That was not my original purpose, but on reflection, I now offer some ideas gleaned from both my conversations with community activists and social justice advocates, as well as a few of my own. I am not alone in believing that to radically reimagine our shared future in the face of local and global threats, we must adopt blue sky thinking or brainstorming outside of the box in a way that isn't constrained by the limits of practicality. We must not focus on whether our idea is realistic or not, or if the proposer has notions above his station (as I have been castigated in the past), but allow ourselves to dream. Ireland West Airport was one such dream of a parish priest, Mgr James Horan, to build an airport on a foggy, boggy hillside as derided by his opponents. Through his leadership, and the support of a brilliant committee, the dream became a reality and the airport was opened in May 1986 by the indefatigable Mgr Horan just a few months before his death. Ballyhaunis native, John Prenty, a former secretary of Mayo GAA Board, became the first full-time secretary/CEO of Connacht GAA Council in 1995. Under his leadership, the 3 million air dome was the worlds largest such structure when it was completed in 2020 at rural Bekan in East Mayo. It contains a full-size GAA pitch along with a running track, a fully equipped gym and a portable stand and can hold 2,000 spectators. With indoor facilities becoming more and more essential due to extreme weather, even Barcelona FC officials visited in 2023 to examine how they could benefit from a similar facility for their players. The Connacht Air Dome has been a massive success and is hailed as the future for allowing teams to train and play matches away from the harsh west of Ireland weather. In the 21st century, North Mayos location is not a barrier to being at the core of the digital revolution. Lionbridge Technologies has established a thriving Ballina operation since 1998, creating over 150 full and part-time jobs in a town that had nothing beforehand from a technology perspective. Users across the globe now rely on Ballina for an accurately translated and culturally appropriate internet experience for their country and region. The team behind Lionbridge along with such inspirational social advocates as the late Killala industrialist and champion of the West, Sean Hannick - a tireless advocate of local development have laid the foundation of a digital infrastructure with the potential to encourage cutting-edge tech entrepreneurs to make North Mayo their base. I have long believed that Ballina town (or at least the central area) should have a roof. It actually seems quite daft that old photographs show more protective awnings over shopfronts in the nineteenth century than on present-day Pearse St, even as there are now far more rainy days than ever. Ask any Ukrainian what is the biggest challenge to living in the town and they will tell you about the sideways wet as our soft rain is called. Imagine instead a dry urban area of small shops, cafes and restaurants, art spaces with intermingled, sustainable accommodation under guaranteed climate control (or at least the worst of it mitigated). Such a world-class project would also inspire new imaginative thinking, as we need to come up with solutions to the increasing effects of climate change. As a Mayo Green, I am proud of the work that my party achieved in the last government, especially in developing the rural bus services, linking towns, villages and rural homes. Our Community Empowerment policy emphasises decentralisation and community participation, aiming to empower local communities and strengthen grassroots democracy. Essentially, it places community councils on a statutory footing with official recognition and rights of consultation, especially regarding planning applications. I would go even further by having these community councils replace existing county councillors and actively participate in decisions and processes aimed at improving outcomes for communities while overseeing the decisions of local government officials. Directly-elected mayors in towns should have significant powers over local services and budgets while ensuring urban centres have the ability to set by-laws and chart their own development. If the people of Ballina wish to have free parking in their town on Saturdays to encourage shoppers, then they should be able to make that happen and deal with the consequential loss of parking fees in a grown-up fashion. I am an advocate of grass-roots democracy where we can leverage the benefits of online voting to make local government decision-making accessible to everyone. Each self-identifying community should have a renewable five-year-development plan, laying out how their own corner of the world can best meet the challenges in the years ahead, for the inclusive betterment of their members, new arrivals and visitors. As a historian, I believe we can cherish our heritage for the good of local communities and the diaspora alike, not simply use it to shake down tourists. Each community can have its own learning and interpretive centre (which can be accommodated in several of the deserted schoolhouses) where family history, school rolls, GAA records and old farm implements, etc, can be showcased by volunteers, while interlinked with similar centres in other communities. Landowners need to be paid to protect archaeological monuments and historic buildings while allowing access to those who want to see them. Using the power of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, we can recreate our past while using this understanding to make plans for an uncertain future. Cross-community greenways and cycle paths should be easier to develop and interconnect on a regional basis not just for visitors but to take pedestrians and walkers off dangerous roads. Schoolchildren should hear the stories of their local areas and learn their own native history and heritage before it's placed within the wider Irish context. Finally, we must bring in stronger deterrents against malicious public vandalism and environmental destruction. Planning officials should work with developers and house builders to create sustainable, affordable homes in keeping with the environment, landscape, local heritage and community ethos. We are only custodians of this part of the world and we should ensure we pass it on in a better condition than we received it. On my own, none of my dreams can save the West, but if together we decide to dream then it may be less of Mayo God Help Us and more of Mayo Abu! TOKYO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo police on Friday arrested a female student on suspicion of injuring eight people in an apparent hammer attack on a university campus in the suburbs of Tokyo, according to local authorities. A staff member at Hosei University's Tama Campus, which is located in the city of Machida, made an emergency call at around 3:45 p.m. local time, reporting that a student wielding a hammer had injured some people. The Metropolitan Police Department said eight students who were in a classroom received blows to the head or body, adding that their injuries are not life-threatening. The assailant, a 22-year-old South Korean female, who has already been subdued and arrested, is believed to be a student of the university, according to police and fire department officials. The suspect reportedly told the police that she became "frustrated" after being ignored by a group of students and that she carried out the attack with a hammer she found on campus. The police are investigating the incident. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Partly to variably cloudy skies overnight; more clouds (low clouds and fog off the ocean) points south and east from the I-95 corridor to the shore especially. A total lunar eclipse after midnight peaks around 2:30-3:30am. . Tonight Partly to variably cloudy skies overnight; more clouds (low clouds and fog off the ocean) points south and east from the I-95 corridor to the shore especially. A total lunar eclipse after midnight peaks around 2:30-3:30am. SYDNEY, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state government on Friday urged swimmers to avoid the water at over 30 Sydney beaches due to likely pollution following prolonged rainfall. Beachwater New South Wales, the state government's beach water quality monitoring agency, warned that water is unsuitable for swimming at these beaches as the rain increased the likelihood of contaminants being flushed into Sydney's waterways. All but three beaches in the Sydney Harbor were identified as having likely or possible pollution. Pollution was likely at beaches as far as 65 km north and 25 km south of Sydney, Beachwater NSW said. "Before you swim, check for signs of pollution such as flowing drains, open lagoons, murky water, unpleasant odors, litter and debris in the water," the agency said. However, it said that pollution was unlikely at some beaches, including the iconic Bondi in the city's eastern suburbs, and at Manly in northern Sydney. As a general precaution, Beachwater NSW advises avoiding swimming at open ocean beaches for one day after rainfall and for three days at beaches where a river meets the ocean. COLOMBO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka plans to establish an international gem and jewelry center to enhance the global recognition of the country's gem and jewelry industry, state media reported on Friday. Naveen Sooriyarachchi, chairman of the National Gem and Jewelry Authority, was quoted as saying that the center will feature comprehensive facilities, including gem and jewelry showrooms, gem museums, laboratory services for quality testing, freight transport services, and a hub for export-related activities. Official data shows that Sri Lanka's gem and jewelry sector currently generates approximately 400 million U.S. dollars annually. Earlier this month, the President's Media Division (PMD) announced the government's goal to develop the sector further, aiming to exceed 1 billion dollars in gem and jewelry exports. SYDNEY, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Police in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) have launched a major investigation after a man was stabbed to death. The man in his 30s was found with multiple stab wounds at a home in Gateshead, a lakeside suburb about 100 km north of Sydney, by NSW Police officers shortly before midnight local time on Thursday. He was treated by ambulance paramedics, but died at the scene. NSW Police said that a major investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances of the stabbing and that officers are interviewing a number of people. Detectives urged anyone who might have information about the incident to contact police. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's national flag carrier Cambodia Angkor Air has been rebranded as Air Cambodia. The official launch of the airline's new name was held in the capital Phnom Penh on Friday, with hundreds of attendees, including representatives from civil aviation and tourism industries, experts and scholars, among others. Speaking at the event, Zhan David, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Air Cambodia, said in 2024, Air Cambodia significantly improved aircraft utilization and expanded its route network. "Air Cambodia has played an increasingly important role in promoting people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between Cambodia, China, ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and other countries," he said. Last year, Air Cambodia also successfully purchased three new aircraft, steadily moving towards a fleet size of 32, he added. He said Air Cambodia is the only Cambodian airline to have obtained a 3-star rating from the global aviation ranking agency, Skytrax. At the event, Air Cambodia also announced the launch of its "Happy Cambodian Traveler 2025" New Year gift package. This package, tailored for Cambodian citizens, comprises three main components, said a news release. Firstly, 2,025 free air tickets will be given away to Cambodian university students through social media, encouraging the younger generation to bravely pursue studies abroad and explore the unknown world, the news release said. Secondly, all Cambodian passengers will enjoy an exclusive privilege of free checked baggage allowance for two pieces (each not exceeding 23 kg) on all Air Cambodia routes, it added. Thirdly, Cambodian passengers will be entitled to free first-time date changes for their booked flights, adding flexibility to their itineraries and avoiding additional burdens due to plan adjustments, the news release said. JAKARTA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Days after being announced as a full member of BRICS, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said here on Friday that joining the group will bring a positive impact to Indonesia, the region and the world. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday the official entry of Indonesia as a full member into BRICS, marking the first expansion of the group after Brazil assumed the rotating presidency for 2025. "This decision is not the result of overnight work but rather the outcome of Indonesia's diplomatic efforts, consistency, and determination," Sugiono said in its annual press statement, adding the decision aligned with the country's long-standing foreign policy of free and active engagement in the global order. The foreign minister said that as a member of BRICS, Indonesia aims to bridge the interests of developing countries, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, and contribute to easing geo-economic and geopolitical tensions. Initially established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, BRICS now boasts a total of 10 full members. BONN, Germany, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Time is running out to tackle the escalating climate crisis, and immediate, decisive global action is required to mitigate its worst impacts, warned Julien Nicolas, a senior climate scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. "We have to draw the consequences and continue to do everything we can to cut global greenhouse gas emission as quickly as we can," he said. "Every fraction of a degree matters. Each additional increment of warming brings more severe and widespread consequences." The EU-funded C3S confirmed on Friday that 2024 was the warmest year globally since record began in 1850. Nicolas attributed the record warmth to a combination of human-driven greenhouse gas emissions and natural climate variability, including a strong El Nino event. However, he stressed that "the long-term warming trend is primarily driven by human activities." According to the European climate body, 2024 also marks the first calendar year in which the average global temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level - a key threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an aspiration to cap it at 1.5 degrees by the end of this century. "While the Paris Agreement refers to long-term averages, exceeding this limit in a single year is an alarming milestone," Nicolas said, adding that it signifies that humanity is inching dangerously close to sustained levels of warming that will bring more catastrophic climate consequences. In 2024, extreme climate events were observed worldwide, with Europe being one of the hardest-hit regions. "Because of its population density and the fact that it is one of the regions warming more rapidly than many other regions, Europe is affected by a range of climate changes that makes it more exposed to some impact of climate change," Nicolas said. Heatwaves, a hallmark of a warming planet, have become more frequent and severe. "Heat stress not only threatens lives but also disrupts food supply chains and damages ecosystems," Nicolas noted. He highlighted the catastrophic flooding in Spain's Valencia, noting that "in some areas, more than a year's worth of precipitation fell within just a few hours," overwhelming even the best infrastructure. "The flooding in Valencia shows the vulnerability of urban areas, particularly in dry Mediterranean climates, to extreme rainfall. Adapting cities and agricultural systems is essential to cope with these events," he said. The scientist called for accelerated efforts to implement early warning systems, adapt infrastructure, and build resilience in urban and agricultural systems. Looking ahead, Nicolas noted that global temperatures in 2025 may not surpass 2024 due to the diminishing influence of El Nino. However, he warned that extreme climate events will persist, as greenhouse gas emissions remain at record levels, and the long-term warming trend unabated. Highlighting humanity's role in more frequent and severe climate extremes, he said that heat waves and extreme rainfall events will be likely in all continental regions. "The climate is warming rapidly, and the window for action is narrowing," Nicolas stressed. "The time to act is now." ISTANBUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police seized nearly 1.8 million illicit drug pills and detained three suspects in a major operation in Istanbul, Turkiye's largest city, the interior ministry said Friday. On social media X, the ministry said the police launched the operation in the Kucukcekmece and Esenyurt districts on the European side of the city. A video released by the ministry shows armed teams breaking down the door of a manufacturing facility and revealing large quantities of pills packed in boxes, ready for distribution. During the raids, three suspected manufacturers were detained, and several pieces of equipment, including pill press machines, vacuum machines, and a precision scale used in the production process, were seized. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya highlighted on his X account the importance of the fight against drug trafficking and production, saying it is not just a security issue but also crucial for safeguarding the future. "We are on every street, every avenue, every corner! We do not tolerate poison dealers. We do not and will not allow them to darken the future of our children," said the minister. Xac minh 'than y' chua ung thu bang phuong phap 'truyen nang luong' "Than y" Nguyen Van Kien (trai) lam viec voi co quan chuc nang - Anh: Cong an cung cap Ngay 28-2, ong Nguyen Tuong Duy - chu tich UBND xa Hai Yang (huyen ak oa, Gia Lai) - cho hay ang phoi hop cac co quan chuc nang xac minh truong hop nguoi xung... An Giang lien tiep xuat hien mua trai mua Mua bat chot giua cao iem ma kh khien nguoi dn bat ngo. Theo ng Luu Van Ninh, Gim oc i Kh tuong Thuy van tinh An Giang, nguyn nhn cua hien tuong ny l do nhieu ong nhiet oi trn cao trong ieu kien La Nina ket hop cua ra pha Nam khoi khng kh lanh... BRUSSELS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 101st edition of the Brussels Motor Show kicked off on Friday, offering car enthusiasts an opportunity to explore the latest automotive innovations and trends. This year's show, held from Jan. 10 to 19 at the Brussels Expo and focusing on engine diversity and the growing accessibility of electric vehicles, features a record number of 63 car brands, representing 90 percent of the Belgian market. Visitors can explore a multitude of new products, including seven world premieres, 14 European premieres, and 63 Belgian premieres. Among the highlights are Chinese brands including Leapmotor, Maxus, BAIC, BYD, Hongqi, Xpeng, and Omoda, among others. With cutting-edge models and technologies, Chinese automakers provide European consumers with a broader selection of electric and hybrid vehicles. Debuting its Omoda-5 and Jaecoo-7 models, Chinese automaker Chery Automobile underscores its commitment to the European market. Belgian distributor Hedin Automotive introduced Hongqi and Xpeng to the show for the first time. Xpeng captivates visitors with its G6, G9, and P7+ models, as well as the Voyager X2 -- a concept vehicle that combines electric propulsion with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, popularly referred to as a "flying car." "It is a very conservative market in Belgium ... but we want to be persistent and we think that an amount of Chinese brands have a future within the European markets," said Philip Eeckels, implementation manager new brands at Hedin Automotive. BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged law societies to play a better role as bridges in a letter sent to the ninth congress of the China Law Society, which opened on Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for breaking new ground in the cause of law societies. Acknowledging the role of law societies in comprehensively advancing law-based governance, Xi said they must uphold the Party's overall leadership and continue to serve the broader goals of both the Party and the country. He urged law societies at all levels to make concrete efforts in advancing legal research, supporting the practice of the rule of law, raising public awareness and training legal professionals. Legal scholars and practitioners should consolidate confidence in the rule of law and devote themselves to the crucial task of advancing law-based governance, said Xi. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, spoke at the opening of the congress. It is hoped that legal professionals will do a solid work in ensuring sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice and society-wide adherence to the law, and make contributions to advancing Chinese modernization, said Chen. Wang Chen, director of the China Law Society, chaired the meeting and delivered a work report. The meeting also awarded exemplary groups and individuals in the law society system nationwide. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Lei Yang Hui Minli is an inheritor of Qinqiang Opera, one of the items of China's national intangible cultural heritage, and widely considered the most popular form of traditional opera in northwestern China, particularly in Shaanxi Province. Hui in 2009 became the first woman head of Yisushe, one of the oldest art troupes in China. During the past four decades, she has devoted herself to performing, promoting and developing innovatively Qinqiang Opera. Budding Performer Hui was born in Huangling, a county in Yan'an, a city in Shaanxi Province, in 1971. Influenced by her father, she began developing an interest in Qinqiang Opera when she was 5. She was captivated by the performers' exquisite costumes, pretty makeup and vivid performances. Hui enrolled in Huangling Opera School, in Huangling County, in 1982. Three years later, she was admitted to Yan'an branch of Shaanxi Art School, in Yan'an. She went all out, day and night, to practice the basic skills, even though the work load was challenging. Given her hard work, she made continuous progress, especially in her performing skills, and she was able to perform various kinds of dan roles (women's characters). In 1989, Hui was recruited by Yisushe, a prestigious Qinqiang troupe, in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, because of her vivid performances and good command of the basic skills. At that time, the 18-year-old Hui vowed to be an artist, one who would make great contributions to society. Every day, before dawn, she practiced her singing and acting skills. "I am grateful I was able to learn from several renowned Qinqiang Opera masters. They taught me about the singing skills, as well as the gestures and eye expressions. Their instructions benefited me a lot, and I will enjoy the great benefit for the rest of my life," says Hui. In 1994, Hui performed Bai Suzhen, the lead role in the highlights of the classical Qinqiang show, Legend of the White Snake. Her acting skills, good-looking costume and makeup, and eye-catching performance wowed audiences. She made a name for herself within the Qinqiang Opera community. In 2009, Hui became head of Yisushe. She became the first woman to head the troupe, which has a history in excess of 100 years. Also in 2009, she won the xiqu performers award, during the Plum Performance Awards, which is the highest accolade for traditional Chinese theatrical art. In 2018, she received the Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Award. She has distinguished herself with her unique performing style. In addition to performing classical pieces, she has created several modern Qinqiang shows that reflect real life, and that extol the Party (Communist Party of China), the country and the people. These shows, including Party's Daughter, Model Worker Liu Xiyou, and Dream Weaver, have become popular. Promotion In recent years, Hui has been committed to promoting Qinqiang Opera art. During past years, she has given lectures in universities, vocational and art schools, and primary and middle schools, across the country, to promote Qinqiang Opera art. She has also participated in cultural exchanges in other countries, including Japan, Malaysia and Australia, to promote the charm of Qinqiang Opera. On May 19, 2023, Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, invited the first ladies of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to visit Yisushe Theater, in Xi'an. The guests, Aigul Japarova, wife of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, wife of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, were in Xi'an for the China-Central Asia Summit. At the theater, Peng and her guests watched a classical Qinqiang performance, given by Hui and other performers. Peng and her guests applauded for that performance. In May 2024, Hui, with the China Theatre Association, was invited to visit Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, to participate in the Fourth Tbilisi Children Youth International Theatre Festival. During the festival, Hui gave a lecture on Chinese opera to local teenagers, during which the teenagers experienced Chinese opera with performers. The two-hour lecture highlighted the charm of Chinese opera, and it was praised by attendants. Innovation As a deputy to the 13th and 14th Shaanxi Provincial People's Congresses, Hui has made several proposals, involving proposed legislation on the protection of Qinqiang Opera, since 2018. A regulation regarding the protection, inheritance and development of Qinqiang Opera art in Shaanxi Province was implemented on January 1, 2022. The regulation became the first provincial-level regulation on the protection of Chinese opera in China. Hui participated in the drafting and revision of the regulation. "Qinqiang is one of the oldest operas in China. The legislation played, and it will continue to play, a great role in protecting, inheriting, promoting and studying Qinqiang Opera art," Hui says. As an inheritor of Qinqiang Opera, Hui has done her best to pass the art form on to subsequent generations. She believes cultivation of talents is vital for traditional art. She has spared no effort in teaching performing skills to young performers, and in creating opportunities for those performers to perform on stage. "Under the instruction of Hui, I have mastered solid basic skills, and, more importantly, I have learned how to conduct myself well," says Wang Fengyun, one of Yisushe's young performers. Hui for many years has pondered ways to ensure Yisushe continues to thrive, and ways to ensure future generations continue to inherit and help Qinqiang Opera art flourish, especially in the new era. In 2016, Yisushe, a modern Qinqiang opera, which tells the history of Yisushe and the spirit of its performers, was put on stage for the first time. In September 2021, given Hui's efforts, Yisushe Cultural Block, the first Qinqiang-oriented cultural block in China, opened in Xi'an. The block, including Yisushe Theater, Yisushe Museum and Chinese Qinqiang Opera Art Museum, has since shared the history and charm of Qinqiang opera, in a comprehensive way. Throughout the years, Hui has dedicated herself to producing high-quality Qinqiang operas. Staging good shows is a principle she has always adhered to. Hui has led the troupe in producing several high-quality Qinqiang operas, based on both modern and traditional stories. The troupe has also staged performances in many venues, in more than 100 cities, across the country. More than 10 million viewers have watched the performances. To attract young viewers, Hui has led the troupe in producing a Qinqiang-themed immersive show. She has also supported the production of animated series, with Qinqiang Opera themes, and those shows have appealed to children and teenagers. Yisushe Museum has also conducted hundreds of activities, attended by thousands of students, of different ages, both from home and abroad. "In the future, we will make all-out efforts to protect, inherit and develop Qinqiang Opera art, and we will produce more high-quality works, worthy of the times, to help Qinqiang Opera thrive in the new era," says Hui. Photos from Interviewee (Women of China English Monthly December 2024) Editor: Wang Shasha Weather Alert ...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 4 AM CDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 45 to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 1 PM Friday to 4 AM CDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strong winds may combine with loose soils and result in reduced visibilities at times. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && Last week, Australian health workers joined global demonstrations opposing Israels destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning medical facility in northern Gaza. Brisbane health workers protest Israels genocidal attacks against hospitals, January 3, 2025 In a brutal raid, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) evicted 350 patients from the facility, depriving an estimated 75,000 in northern Gaza of their last possible source of healthcare. Some 240 hospital staff were arrested by the IDF, including hospital director Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, a paediatrician widely respected for his dedication to the health of children in Gaza. Demonstrations were held in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. They called for an end to attacks on health workers, the release of Dr Safiya and his colleagues, and denounced Israels efforts to destroy Gazas civil infrastructure and prevent essential aid from entering. In Brisbane, despite short notice, nearly 200 attended a protest vigil in King George Square in the citys CBD on 3 January. The vigils speakers were introduced by Dr Yassmin Khadra, a Palestinian doctor, who denounced the complicity of Australian governments in the genocide, and the silence of official health bodies. Dr Zewlan Moor, one of a group of Australia doctors who have been targeted by local Zionists, gave a speech which raised critical political issues. Dr Zewlan Moor speaks at Brisbane anti-genocide protest vigil on January 3, 2025 Speaking as a doctor, a mother, and a socialist, Moor condemned the genocide, and drew attention to Israels atrocities in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. These were part of a broader imperialist war drive globally, including US-led threats escalating against Iran, the launching of long-range missiles into Russia and a continual propaganda campaign against China. Moor said all sides of the official political spectrum, because they are working in the capitalist framework, support war and genocide. No matter who the individual leaders involved are, it will not make one iota of difference. This is why we can see that the imperialist war project intensifies and will do so further under Trump. To applause from the audience, Moor declared, The medical representative bodies, such as the AMA [Australian Medical Association], are useless. They wont even defend their own members let alone call for the safety of humanitarian doctors volunteering in Gaza, against the deliberate targeting of Palestinian and Lebanese doctors and the collective punishment of innocent civilians of Gaza. She continued, What of the more powerful nurses and midwives unions around the country? What have they done to educate their members about their health care worker brothers and sisters in Gaza? From the recent strikes in NSW, it appears they are too busy suppressing their own members struggles for improved working conditions. Moor called on those in attendance to draw conclusions from the experiences of the past year. Weve been out protesting, weekly to fortnightly, all around Australia and the world, appealing to the existing political order. Every time we come, we ask for Albanese to change policies. But nothing happens. The entire political establishment, including the UN and international courts will not do a thing. There may be a warrant out for Netanyahus arrest, but that will never be executed. And Biden, Sunak, Starmer, Albanese and Wong will not be brought to justice. How do we know that? Because Obama and Cheney are not behind bars. The genocide was systemic, Moor said. Theres a growing radicalisation in the community and I hear people saying that capitalism is the problem. But people seem to be stuck on seeking social-democratic reforms to capitalism, while still working within the capitalist system. Well Im sorry, but that is how we got here today. A unified movement of the working class had to be developed on a new basis. We believe in the unity of the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and secular workers in Israel. Like everywhere else around the world, there are class divisions in Israeli society, and the working class are cannon fodder for US imperialism. Similarly in Ukraine, where the people are being used as cannon fodder for the US/NATO proxy war against Russia. We cant separate the horror of Gaza from Ukraine. Gaza is a warning of what Imperialism is willing to do to maintain its hegemony. Others addressing the vigil, including two medical doctors and a health worker, spoke movingly of Dr Safiyas work in caring for the children of Gaza, having been born himself in Gazas Jabalia refugee camp in 1973. They raised criticisms of the health unions, and medical specialist bodies for failing to defend doctors, nurses, and others from being attacked and killed, describing it as a betrayal of all health workers. The health worker opposed the false conflation of antisemitism with opposition to the Israeli war crimes. As a Jewish health worker, she condemned the war crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza and denounced any effort to present them as part of a defence of Jewish people. After the vigil, WSWS reporters spoke with attendees. Carl, an IT worker said that he had attended the vigil because I felt I must do something this is the least that I can do [to oppose the genocide]. He said that the genocide was, about colonialist control of the Middle East to expand the footprint of the US and rule over the Middle East by fear. He said that change had to come from the bottom up against war. Sarah came to the vigil because, as a nurse and a healthcare worker I am horrified and revolted at what I see happening. She appreciated Moor calling out the nurses and midwives union for not doing anything to stop the genocide, and said that despite intimidation at work, more health workers are seeing whats happening in Gaza and speaking out against it. In Melbourne, a crowd of hundreds gathered at the Victoria State Library. In Sydney, about 60 health workers and their supporters demonstrated outside the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Health workers protest Israels Gaza genocide outside Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on January 2, 2025. The demonstrations, all arranged on short notice, took place under conditions where all the major capitalist parties and the corporate media in Australia are fully behind Israel in supporting the genocide. Nearly a week after the protests, they have barely been mentioned in major Australian newspapers. The protests underscore the ongoing opposition of working people to the war crimes. This must be transformed into a socialist movement of the working class, directed against the entire eruption of imperialist militarism and its source, the capitalist system itself. Dockworkers: Speak out against the sellout deal by filling out the form below! All submissions will be kept anonymous. Shipping containers are stacked in the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Thursday, May 20, 2021. [AP Photo/Seth Wenig] On Wednesday night, the International Longshoremens Association (ILA) and the US Maritime Association (USMX) announced a tentative agreement for more than 40,000 dockworkers on the US East and Gulf Coast ports. The agreement is a highly political decision. In October, a three-day strike was shut down via a 90-day extension of the old deal. The tentative agreement averts the resumption of a strike when that extension expires on January 15, only five days before the inauguration of Trump. By blocking a strike, ILA officials are trying to prevent an open conflict between dockworkers and the incoming fascist administration, which would puncture Trumps right-wing populist rhetoric about being pro-worker. By reining in opposition from the working class, the ILA bureaucrats are also giving Trump a free hand to carry out mass deportations from day one, as part of his drive to rip up democratic rights and establish a dictatorship. The ILA issued an extraordinary statement Wednesday night calling Trump one of the best friends of working men and women in the United States. Citing a two-hour meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida estate last month, ILA President Harold Daggett declared that President Trump gets full credit for our successful tentative Master Contract agreement. Daggett also pointed to Trumps social media post last month attacking foreign companies for cutting dockworkers jobs through automation. The purpose of this post was to present Trumps trade war measures as a boon to American workers. In reality, they are designed to benefit US capitalists at the expense of workers, both in the US and worldwide. Only a few days prior, Elon Musk, who is playing a key role in the new government and who is carrying out mass layoffs at Tesla, had attacked dockworkers for being lazy and entitled. During the October strike, Florida Governor and Trump ally Ron DeSantis threatened to deploy the National Guard to forcibly reopen the ports in his state. If dockworkers struck when their contract extension expired on January 15 and closed some of Americas most critical ports, this would have created a significant political crisis for the newly inaugurated Trump administration and rapidly forced it to take similar anti-strike measures. The ILA bureaucrats are working diligently to prevent that and promote the fascist president as a champion of the working class to boot. Reflecting the US oligarchys support for the would-be dictator, USMX Chairman and CEO David Adam said the deal was [t]hanks in large part to President Trumps leadership, and that the USMX looks forward to working with President Trump and his Administration. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, the Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site call for workers to vote the deal down by the widest possible margin. As the WSWS wrote on Tuesday, Workers can win their demands, but it requires building rank-and-file committees to transfer power from the ILA apparatus to workers themselves. This must be connected with a global strategy of uniting with other sections of the working class, including dockworkers in every country as well as railroaders and other workers in key supply chains. In particular, ILA members must demand adequate time to study the entire contract, not just self-serving highlights handed out at informational sessions controlled by union officials. Workers must also organize rank-and-file oversight of the voting process. Given the corruption of the ILA bureaucracy and the extreme political sensitivity of the vote, it is entirely likely that the union is prepared to deal with opposition to the contract through fraud, intimidation and other underhanded tactics. Sellout contract There can be no doubt that the contract is a betrayal which gives into port operators main demands to automate away thousands of jobs. This issue was supposedly so acrimonious that talks broke down again almost immediately after they restarted in November following the strike. Yet a new tentative agreement was supposedly reached little more than 24 hours after talks restarted on Tuesday. In fact, secret discussions were already ongoing: CNBC reported an eight-hour meeting last Sunday where the parties agreed on language including: there is a commitment by the parties to research and utilize all technology that would assist an operator in being more efficient and productive. This exposes the supposed bitterness of talks as theatrics designed to sell the pro-management deal to the rank and file as the product of hard bargaining. In Wednesdays joint statement, the ILA and USMX said they would not be providing details on the contract in order to allow ILA rank-and-file members and USMX members to review and approve the final document. What this really means is that the contract would have no chance of passing if workers knew what was really in it. The use of such information blackouts is the typical method used to prevent workers from examining and discussing the details in the deal so contracts with secret concessions can be rammed through. In contrast, the ILA had shouted from the rooftops that it had won a 62 percent wage increase as part of its deal to shut down the October strike. In a Freudian slip, the Washington Post said, The wage gains and the new protections preventing automation from replacing jobs come after similar gains in recent years were won by unions representing autoworkers, Hollywood actors and screenwriters, and UPS delivery drivers. In reality, every one of these contracts was passed under false pretenses, using wage increases as a cover for tens of thousands of job cuts, which began almost before the ink had dried. Union bureaucrats back fascism More than a week before he even takes office, the deal shows that an essential part of the fight against Trump is a fight against the union bureaucracy. The working class will be thrust into struggle against his policies, which include ripping up core democratic rights and massive austerity and war on a scale not seen before in American history. Those workers who sought to register their anger at the status quo by voting for Trump will soon be afflicted with buyers remorse. From left to right: International Longshoremen's Association Executive VP Dennis Daggett, President-elect Donald Trump and ILA President Harold Daggett. [Photo: Trump/Truth Social] The bureaucracy, on the other hand, is openly aligning itself with fascism and the oligarchy which Trump represents. They are promoting his America First protectionism and anti-immigrant policies, falsely equating the interests of American capitalism with those of native workers. A fundamental turning point is underway in American history. But the union bureaucrats support for Trump was preceded by their role under Biden, who relied on them heavily to limit strikes and impose sellouts. This was seen as key to preparing the home front for war, such that Biden called the AFL-CIO his domestic NATO last summer. Decades of anticommunism, support for imperialist war and regime-change, nationalism and its deep dependence on ties with management and the government have made the union bureaucracy a natural base of support for fascism. The ILA bureaucracy vented this outlook in an anti-communist statement over the weekend, defending in particular its decision to move military equipment during the October strike. The unions are lining up with plans to convert the entire western hemisphere into a US-dominated fortress as a first step for US imperialism to conquer the rest of the world, especially China. While Trump was involved in talks between the ILA and USMX, he publicly threatened invasions of Greenland, Panama and Mexico, and has taken to calling Canada the 51st state. In particular, Trump has attacked growing Chinese business interests in Latin American shipping, where China has invested billions of dollars. Teamsters General President Sean OBrien, an early union backer of Trump, has given several interviews endorsing Trumps extreme right policies, especially his attacks on immigrants. While he is himself descended from Irish immigrants, his ancestors supposedly came here the right way, OBrien has declared. I have a problem, he said, when people come into this country with the agenda to commit crimes and do things that are not popular in America. Thats a problem. Global working class In addition to the racist attack on immigrants as criminals, this separation between foreign and American workers is false to the core. The shipping industry expresses in the most direct form the international character of the working class. US ports, handling cargo from every continent, from ships crewed by workers from all over the world, are critical nodes in world supply chains. The ports themselves include many foreign-born workers who are full participants in the class struggle alongside their native brothers and sisters. Two-and-a-half years ago, Nicaraguan immigrant Uriel Popeye Matamoros was crushed to death at the Port of New York and New Jersey. Port truckers on the West Coast are overwhelmingly immigrant, mainly from Africa, Latin America and South Asia. In 2022, these workers conducted blockades and appealed to dockworkers, who themselves were being kept on the job by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union without a contract, for support against a law which would force them to give up their status as independent contractors. Uriel Matamoros (from wife Rose Marie Ortiz Facebook page) In the transportation sector generally, there are over 2.5 million foreign-born workers, according to official government statistics, equal to 22 percent of the total workforce. Immigrant labor also plays a key role in US shipbuilding, which has been affected by a severe labor shortage. In addition to artificially dividing workers in the US between immigrant and native-born, the ILA sellout will weaken the global working class by arbitrarily dividing US workers from their allies in the rest of the world. How will the ILAs support for Trump be interpreted, for example, in Latin America? Or in Europe? Or in Canada, where the federal government recently banned a nationwide dock strike? How will the population of Gaza, where the trade unions called for global strike action to halt the flow of weapons to the Israeli war machine, interpret the ILAs support for US imperialism? Independent truckers protesting AB5 outside of the Port of Oakland, July 25, 2022 [WSWS Media] The only viable strategy on the docks or anywhere else is one based on the global unity of the working class. In fighting against the ILA sellouts, and to prepare for a confrontation with the new Trump government, dockworkers must appeal to their brothers and sisters around the world for support. The watchword must be: not America First, but Workers of the World, Unite! The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) has received statements from students, workers, academics and others across Sri Lanka and internationally protesting Peradeniya Universitys anti-democratic ban of a lecture that had been scheduled for January 3, entitled How to fight against the IMF austerity program. IYSSE campaigners speak with students at Peradeniya University, January 2, 2025. The lecture had been sponsored by the universitys Political Science Students Association (PSSA) and permission had been given by the Head of the Political Science Department. The ban was undoubtedly instigated at the request of the new Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP) government, which is fully committed to imposing the IMFs austerity measures. The IYSSE has received credible information that the lecture was cancelled after the prime ministers office contacted university management about the event. The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) today is publishing international protest letters to the University of Peradeniyas acting vice chancellor. Harvey Lichtman, a history teacher in New York City, described the lecture ban as a political and anti-democratic act. I am concerned because an attack in any place on the fundamental rights of free speech and inquiry necessary to education becomes a nail in the coffin of human rights everywhere, especially in this age of immense international connections for society, he stated. Highlighting the significance of the lectures title, Lichtman said that putting the IMF debt onto the people of Sri Lanka is of international concern, including in my country of the United States, because the financial and corporate elite internationally are imposing the cost of their immense speculative profits on the backs of workers and their families all people have the right to learn and discuss these exploitive policies. I am aware that maintaining such undemocratic practices of censorship for present discussion reinforces censorship for all subjects, so that even opposing views that existed in the past become subject to control and suppression, making history a narrative serving only the needs of those in power. Robert B. Livingston, an International Studies and International Relations academic from San Francisco, said that banning the lecture is a disservice against academic inquiry, free speech, and democratic rights [and] a disagreeable stain on the duties of any authority in service of such. Livingston explained how the impact of US foreign policies was kept from him when he was doing his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of South Carolina. He was shielded from learning truths about US machinations that resulted in millions of innocents killed. He called on the University of Peradeniyas acting vice chancellor to defend your students rights to meet and study without hindrance, by lifting the ban on the lecture immediately. IYSSE (Sri Lanka) member speaks to students at Peradeniya University, January 2, 2025. A letter from Dr. Marc James Leger from Montreal, Canada noted that university students are engaged in struggles against attacks on education and the dire consequences of IMF austerity all around the world. The acting vice-chancellor must respect the initiative of the IYSSE to hold meetings at Peradeniya University, with the goal of helping students understand, and oppose if they chose to do so, the misguided political economy of the government. How can peoples lives be improved when the people with the best ideas and solutions are repressed by institutions? Leger asked. Students can determine for themselves what they think. They do not need a repressive state apparatus denying what they possibly already understand better than most. The IYSSE in the United States has issued a statement, which condemns in the strongest possible terms the ban on our comrades lecture at Peradeniya University in Sri Lanka. Students and youth in Sri Lanka have the right to free speech and to hear a socialist perspective on the crisis facing their country. The Sri Lankan government, university administrators and the International Monetary Fund do not get to dictate which political views are permissible Workers, students and youth throughout the entire world have every right to discuss current events, government policies and political action. The IYSSE in Australia, pledging that its university clubs will discuss the ban on the Peradeniya IYSSE event and fight to develop the opposition to it among students and youth as part of the fight to defend free speech. The reason that the lecture was banned is that the IYSSEs socialist perspective articulates the interests and sentiments of broad layers of young people and the working class. We demand to know what involvement the JVP/NPP government has had in discussions around the banning of the IYSSEs event. The vice chancellors actions are a blatant violation of the democratic rights of university students as a whole, and the IYSSE. If not overturned, the ban will set a dangerous precedent for the suppression of free speech on and off Sri Lankas universities. At universities across the globe, similar attempts to stifle political opposition have emerged. Yesterday, the IYSSE (Sri Lanka) held a successful public meeting at the Kandyan Arts Residency Hall near the university. We will report on the event in coming days. SEP and IYSSE members campaign outside Peradeniya University against the meeting ban, January 8 2025. SEP and IYSSE members and supporters campaigned among the university students, youth and workers in Kandy and at the university, distributing Sinhala and Tamil versions of an IYSSE statement opposing the university meeting ban. Many condemned the anti-democratic measures while voicing their disgust with the JVP/NPP, which prior to its election pledged to defend freedom of expression. Numbers expressed disappointment at having voted for the JVP/NPP. We urge students, youth, workers and all those who defend democratic rights to continue sending protest letters to the Peradeniya University authorities, with copies to the IYSSE. To: Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya Email: vc@pdn.ac.lk Cc: IYSSE Email: iysseslb@gmail.com The Altadena Community Church is pictured the day after it was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif [AP Photo/Chris Pizzello] Fires continue to rage through communities in and around Los Angeles imperiling entire neighborhoods and choking millions of people with toxic smoke. At least six people have been confirmed dead and large swathes of previously idyllic neighborhoods in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena resemble a war zone. On Thursday, local fire officials estimated that at least 9,300 but as many as 10,300 structures, mostly homes, had already been damaged or destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires. Early estimates of the damage are over $50 billion, more than double the initial estimates from Wednesday, making it by far the costliest fire in the history of the United States. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said on Thursday that the Palisades fire alone is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles. Aerial photos show hundreds of homes in the area completely obliterated by the inferno. On Thursday night, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna revealed that approximately 400 National Guard members would be deploying to Los Angeles. As of Thursday morning, one fire was fully contained: the Sunset Fire which began in the Hollywood Hills was extinguished late Wednesday night. However, as of this writing, there are at least five fires that continue to burn an area covering 45 square miles. The largest of these fires, the Palisades Fire, has consumed nearly 20,000 acres and is so far just six percent contained. The first reported fatality from that fire was reported on Thursday. The five deaths previously reported were all victims of the Eaton Fire which has been burning in and around Altadena. That fire has forced the evacuation of the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory and threatened the transmitter towers that many local television stations and emergency services rely on to broadcast their signal. Many have raised the question on social media of why dead vegetation and brush were not cleared from the vicinity of all the communication equipment prior to the eruption of the fire. The fires have forced the evacuation of over 130,000 residents while also leaving more than 350,000 without power, 200,000 of which were in Los Angeles County which is the largest county by population in the country. Reports of damages of $50 billion exceed that of Californias previous costliest fire, the Camp Fire of 2018, by a factor of four. That fire saw the complete destruction of the Concow, Magalia, Butte Creek Canyon and Paradise communities, leaving 85 people dead and over 50,000 people without a home. The fire destroyed upwards of 18,000 structures, while burning 153,336 acres, resulting in $12.5 billion in insured losses, an amount a fraction of the total of the still raging Los Angeles fires. Thursday provided some respite as the Santa Ana winds which have helped stoke the fires have slowed, allowing firefighters to deploy from the air. However, winds were still clocked at over 40 miles per hour, actively helping to fan the flames. Current weather estimates are for 25-45 miles per hour gusts to continue throughout the weekend. On Thursday, the WSWS spoke to John, a resident of Altadena, who was forced to evacuate after the power went out at his house at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. He said that they gathered up the animals and clothes to stay overnight, hoping to come back the next day, but the area was blocked off by police on Wednesday. When attempting to return home, he said, We were lucky, our house has survived, so far, because it was behind the fire, but its amazing that its still standing because the rest of Altadena, our community, its just like a bomb went offSupermarkets burned, banks burned, our veterinarian hospital burned to the ground. And people were very frustrated because even the next day, houses were burning and there werent enough firefighters. But even for the ones that showed up, there was no water pressure on the hydrants. There are various explanations for that, but there were some real problems with people getting angry because water was not being sprayed to save their houses. At the time of the interview, John was shopping for necessities since he was unable to return to his home. He noted that there is already a run on bottled water. He stated that he was aware of the risk of wildfires, given that Altadena is on the edge of a National Forest, however, What has blown me away is the devastation that its caused in the flatland neighborhood, in these square miles that are at the base of the mountain that are blocks or miles from the foothills themselves. And I just, you know, feel so terrible for people who had to leave in a panic and that its just burned to the ground. The area John was in was under an evacuation order. He said that the Sheriffs department was letting people know by driving up and down the streets, telling people to leave with a megaphone. Many now face the prospect of trying to recover and rebuild without any insurance or very limited support, with many companies cancelling policies or raising rates to unaffordable levels in recent years due to the rising risk of fire due to climate change. According to the most recent data from the California Department of Insurance, between 2020 and 2022, insurance companies declined to renew 2.8 million homeowner policies in the state. This has forced many to use the FAIR Plan, the insurer of last resort in the state. The program is not funded by the state, but it allows insurance companies to provide a bare bones plan to homeowners at twice the normal rate. However, even this is now being called into question, with Victoria Roach president of the FAIR Plan stating in March that, Its a gamble, we dont have the money on hand, and we have a lot of exposure out there. And the exposure of the FAIR Plan, according to a report from KTLA channel 5 amounts to around $500 billion. Responding to president-elect Donald Trumps social media posts on the fire, John remarked, I was just infuriated by Trump making those comments, calling Newsom, Newscum like an eighth grader. Here are all these people. I mean, the degree of human suffering! You can imagine being 50, 60 years old in a community, having everything gone, raising your family there, then having to leave at three in the morning and coming back the next day and having it burned to the ground. Biden was here to dedicate these monuments, so he was here coincidentally, and he appeared to do something, you know, they said all the right things like we feel terrible for people, blah, blah, blah. Were here to help. And then you have Trump trying to score political points from this degree of suffering, without showing the slightest sympathy for those suffering. I mean, my community, its destroyed. Its gutted. Its like a bomb went off in the middle of it. I mean just blocks of, just nothing. Blocks. Nothing. You just walk, go down these blocks. Theres nothing but chimneys standing and rubble. Smoldering trees. Stuff still smoldering as were speaking. I still dont know if we will have a house to go back to. In comments to the Murdoch-owned Australian newspaper yesterday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared that a Labor government would collaborate as closely as possible with President Donald Trumps incoming US administration. Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump [AP Photo/Hamish Blair, Alex Brandon] The interview was published less than a fortnight before Trumps inauguration on January 20. At the same time, the major parties have begun campaigning for an Australian federal election, which must be held by May, under conditions of a deep-going crisis of Albaneses incumbent Labor administration. In that context, Albanese pitched Labor and himself as in a better position to work with Trump than the right-wing Liberal-National Coalition. As per the Australian: Mr Albanese said it was he who was better placed to forge close ties with the incoming administration, arguing the relationships he had forged with regional leaders would carry weight with Mr Trump. Albanese touted his positive first phone call with Mr Trump a day after the November 5 election, stating that this had left him optimistic on the relationship. At the time, Albanese effusively congratulated the fascistic conman. Those comments and Albaneses latest intervention are highly revealing. As with the Democratic Party in the US, and imperialist leaders internationally, Albanese is participating in the normalisation of fascism, represented by the incoming administration. Trump has pledged to launch a military-police campaign of terror against undocumented immigrants, to round up Marxists and political opponents and to implement the most sweeping cuts to government spending in history. That Albanese, a Labor prime minister from the partys left faction, is solidarising himself with an administration committed to this agenda demonstrates that Trumps program of reaction aligns with the demands of the ruling elite internationally amid a breakdown of capitalism and massive social tensions. Albanese is not a fascist, but his government is implementing policies indistinguishable from those of the right-wing Coalition, including full support for the Israeli genocide of Palestinians, the militarisation of Australia for conflict with China and an onslaught on social and democratic rights. That includes Labors passage late last year of mass deportation legislation, which echoes Trumps attacks on immigrants, as well as racist scapegoating of refugees and foreigners. Asked about Trumps extraordinary statements that he will consider acquiring Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal, Albanese refused to comment on, much less condemn these declarations of naked imperial intent. He would not respond to comments from the incoming leader unless they impacted Australia, the Australian noted. That is a carte blanche for the Trump regime, as it engages in global imperialist criminality, including the threats to acquire territory and pledges to accelerate the genocide in Gaza. Indeed, Albaneses entire pitch was premised on aligning with a war drive by the incoming administration. The Labor prime minister highlighted his record in forging relationships throughout the region. He specifically noted greater ties with Japan and India, as well as with the US under the outgoing Biden administration. Together, those four powers, including Australia, are part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a de facto military alliance directed against China. The Quad is just one component of a web of war alliances and pacts, all explicitly aimed at preparing for war against Beijing. Since Labor was elected in May, 2022, its centrepiece policy has been completing Australias transformation into a frontline state for such a catastrophic war. That has included deepening the AUKUS alliance with the US and the UK, a cockpit for war preparations throughout the region which includes Australias acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. Labor is also overseeing the largest expansion of the Australian military since World War II. Every branch is being equipped with missiles and strike capabilities as part of a new defence doctrine centred on the ability of the military to engage in impactful projection in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. This has been accompanied by a vast expansion of US basing arrangements. US B-52 bombers will be rotated through the Northern Territory, and US nuclear-powered submarines will be semi-permanently stationed at the Stirling naval base in Western Australia. These are among American imperialisms most potent strike capabilities, with the B-52s able to carry US nuclear weapons. In strategic circles, it is openly discussed that Australia is primed to be a launching pad for a US-led onslaught against China. Albanese favourably compared his governments militarist agenda with its Coalition predecessors. We have improved our relationship with the Pacific, he said. It has been repaired. It was in disarray when we came into office. This is invariably couched in terms of a Pacific family, as well as combatting climate change, which is absurd given that emissions have increased under Labor and Albanese is pledging to work with a climate-change-denying Trump administration. The truth is that Labor has conducted an unrelenting diplomatic and political campaign to bully and force the impoverished Pacific states to join the US confrontation against China. On the eve of Labors assumption of power, Albanese and other senior party leaders participated in a hysterical campaign over the signing of an agreement between the Solomon Islands and China. The frenzy included threats of an outright Australian military invasion. After more than two years of continuous Labor interventions in the Pacific, Albaneses government has taken decisive steps towards regaining neo-colonial control over its oppressed nations. Recent pacts with Tuvalu and Nauru give Australia veto powers over both states foreign and security policies. An agreement for Papua New Guinea to participate in the Australian National Rugby League competition contains similar clauses. Under conditions where Trumps foreign policy includes escalating the protracted US campaign against China, which is viewed as the chief threat to American imperialist dominance, Albanese is pledging that a new Labor government would deepen the diplomatic and military operations targeting Beijing and the corresponding military build-up. Albanese expressed confidence that AUKUS would continue under Trump. Today, the Australian featured the comments of Democratic co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, Joe Courtney, and the Republican chairman emeritus of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul. Both declared their belief that the AUKUS alliance would be extended by the incoming administration, presenting it as a key component of Trumps anti-China agenda. McCaul favourably claimed that AUKUS keeps Chinese leader Chairman Xi [Jinping] up at night. AUKUS was critical as we work to deter CCP aggression in the Indo-Pacific, he said. The claims that China is the aggressor in the Indo-Pacific, after more than a decade of a massive US military build-up on Beijings doorstep, has always been a fraud. The phony declarations against Chinese aggression are even more glaring, coming from supporters of a Trump administration threatening to brazenly steal the territory of friends and foes alike. Albaneses remarks held obvious contradictions. While proclaiming that a Labor government would collaborate as closely as possible with Trump, he hailed the ongoing expansion of Australian and Chinese trade. China accounted for almost a third of Australian exports last financial year. But Trump has threatened to escalate the US economic war against Beijing, including 60 percent imposts on its products. That threatens massive trade destabilisation and a further slowdown of the Chinese and Australian economies. Albaneses comments again show that despite these dangers, the dominant sections of the ruling elite calculate that their interests will be best pursued in alliance with an American imperialism on a global rampage. This is in line with Australias character as a middle-order imperialist power, which has always prosecuted its own predatory interests, particularly in the Pacific, under the umbrella of the dominant power of the day, first Britain and then the US. Whatever develops, the Trump administration will inevitably provoke political, economic and geostrategic shocks in this region and internationally. Albaneses latest comments again demonstrate that Labor is a party of imperialist reaction and that the fight against war can only proceed in a direct political struggle against it. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican-Georgia) wears a Laken Riley shirt as she arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in Washington D.C. [AP Photo/Andrew Harnik] In a highly significant vote on Thursday, the majority of Senate Democrats joined with their Republican colleagues to advance the Laken Riley Act. The bill is part of Trumps fascistic plans to launch the largest deportation operation in history. The legislation is a direct assault on the democratic rights of the entire working class. The act would require federal immigration police to detain immigrantswithout access to bailif they are convicted or simply accused of burglary, theft, larceny or any shoplifting-related offenses. Under the act, an undocumented child falsely arrested for shoplifting by a vindictive police officer would be subject to mandatory detention, likely at a remote for-profit prison facility that could be located hundreds of miles away from his family. The police state measure would also greatly expand the power of state attorneys general to usurp federal immigration policy. The bill would allow state attorneys general to file suit against the US attorney general and/or the secretary of homeland security if they felt the federal government was not enforcing federal immigration law to their liking. Fascistic state attorneys general, such as Ken Paxton of Texas, could file suit in right-wing state courts which could then strike down elements of federal immigration policy, allowing the arrest and deportation of immigrants. Furthermore, state attorneys general could bring lawsuits that would seek to impose bans on visas from entire countries, including those currently suffering under US-backed military operations or sanctions. Every Republican senator present and 32 Democrats voted for the bill, including Democratic Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Democratic Whip Richard Durbin and former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar. Only 8 Democrats, along with independent Senator Bernie Sanders, voted against the legislation. The 84-9 tally was well above the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. This past Tuesday, the US House also passed a version of the bill in a bipartisan 264-159 vote, with support from 48 Democrats, 11 more than when the bill was first brought to a vote last year. It is expected that the legislation will be among the first items Trump signs into law upon assuming the presidency in 10 days. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student who was tragically murdered while going for a morning jog at the University of Georgia last year. Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented man from Venezuela, was found guilty in a bench trial last year of multiple felony charges, include malice murder, in connection with Rileys death. Almost immediately after it was revealed last year that Ibarra was a prime suspect in Rileys death, Trump seized on her death to further his anti-immigrant agenda, recounting lurid details of the murder throughout his presidential campaign. Weeks after her murder, Trump campaigned in Georgia and blamed President Joe Biden for intentionally releasing an illegal alien criminal. Trump accused Biden of having a formal policy that left this monster ... free to kill. In scapegoating all immigrants for the crimes of a single person, Trump and the Republicans, with the support of the Democrats, are seeking to blame all of the problems of capitalist societycrime, income inequality, lack of affordable housing, low-paying jobson immigrants and asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing countries ravaged militarily or economically by US imperialism. New Republican Majority Leader John Thune of North Dakota has not indicated when, or if, he will allow amendments to the legislation. Several Democratic senators, including newly elected Arizona progressive Ruben Gallego and Pennsylvanias John Fetterman, Democratic co-sponsors of the Republican legislation, have already indicated they would support the bill in its current form. Speaking on Fox News on January 7, Fetterman said the bill was really common sense. Adopting Trumps rhetoric, the Democrat added, Id like to remind everybody that we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of migrants here illegally that have [been] convicted of crimes. Hey, I dont know why, who wants to defend, to allow them to remain in our nation? In addition to co-sponsoring the measure, Fetterman, an outspoken supporter of Israels genocide in Gaza, revealed on Thursday that he will become the first Democratic senator to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Among the topics of discussion, Fetterman said that in addition to the border, Israel, China is a significant issue... Id like to find more where we can work together. Senator John Fetterman (Democrat-Pennsylvania) holds a small Israeli flag as he heads to the chamber for a vote at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on Thursday, January 25, 2024. [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite] The Pennsylvania Democrat also reiterated his support for Trumps nominee for secretary of state, Florida Senator Marco Rubio. I decided to vote for him the day it was announced, Fetterman said. He is a solid choice100 percent. Fetterman is a pacesetter for the entire Democratic Party, which is racing to the far right to seek an accommodation with Trump, in order to advance their shared agenda, which, as Fetterman laid out, is centered on continuing the genocide in Gaza and preparing for war on China. While the World Socialist Web Site warned before Fetterman was elected that he was rapidly repudiating his previously held progressive positions as part of his class role of conning workers and youth into supporting the Democratic Party, Jacobin and other pseudo-left elements were sowing illusions in his candidacy, and with it, reforming the capitalist system. John Fetterman Is the Kind of Political Communicator the Left Needs, Ben Burgis of Jacobin wrote on July 15, 2022. As a communicator, John Fetterman has the highly effective Bernie Sanders formula down pat Burgis gushed. Following Fettermans election, Branko Marcetic of Jacobin penned an article headlined, Centrists Were Wrong: Left-Wing Candidates Won. Just look at Pennsylvania, wrote Marcetic. While victorious Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman moved to the center on some issues, he ran on a broadly progressive platform In a November 11, 2022 article posted on Jacobin and written by Krystal Ball, co-host of Breaking Points, Ball claimed, Fetterman was the furthest left of any of the competitive Senate candidates. Democratic support for the bill was not unexpected. During his presidency, Joe Biden has deported more immigrants than Trump, and the Democratic presidential candidate last year, Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigned on a claim to be more effective in prosecuting the war on immigrants than Trump. The Democrats embrace of Trumps anti-immigrant agenda underscores that the defense of democratic rights will not come from any section of the pro-corporate political elite but only from an independent movement of the working class that unites all workers and their families, regardless of immigration status, against both parties and the capitalist system they defend. WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to meet him and that such a meeting was being set up. "He wants to meet. And we're setting it up," Trump said of the Russian leader before a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He did not offer a timeline for the meeting. "President Putin wants to meet. He's said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess," said the president-elect, referring to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to postpone President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing in his hush money case, which means he will have to face sentencing in a New York courtroom on Friday. Citing the court's own ruling in July that granted him "presidential immunity," Trump's legal team said in a document filed on Tuesday that the trial court -- Supreme Court of New York County, New York -- "wrongly refused to recognize the immunity from prosecution of the president-elect during the period of the presidential transition." Trump's lawyers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to immediately pause the ongoing criminal case in New York while appealing a legal issue concerning whether Trump is immune from prosecution because of his former role as president. The Supreme Court, despite its 6-to-3 conservative majority, denied Trump's last-ditch effort to avoid criminal sentencing before the Jan. 20 inauguration. In May 2024, a jury in New York found Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a bid to hide hush money payments to a porn star during Trump's first presidential campaign in 2016. On Monday, Trump's lawyers filed a lawsuit at an appeals court in New York against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan over the judge's denial of Trump's presidential immunity motions. A hearing for Trump's sentencing is scheduled for Friday morning in Lower Manhattan. The president-elect indicated that he plans to appear virtually. "After months of delay, the sentencing will now formalize Mr. Trump's conviction, cementing his status as the first felon to occupy the Oval Office," said The New York Times. OTTAWA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Liberal Party of Canada announced Thursday that the nationwide race to choose the next leader of the party will conclude on March 9. "After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9," said Sachit Mehra, president of the Liberal Party of Canada. According to a statement issued by the party, the new leader will be announced on the same day. The cut-off date to become a registered Liberal and be eligible to vote in the leadership race will be Jan. 27, and the party must publicly post the registration procedures for a leadership vote 27 days before the date of the vote, said the statement. A leadership contestant must declare his/her participation in the race by Jan. 23, it added. The National Board updated the requirements for becoming and maintaining status as a registered Liberal, including a minimum age requirement of 14 years old. A registered Liberal must be a Canadian citizen, have status under the Indian Act, or be a permanent resident of Canada, the statement said. Several cabinet insiders, including Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, have said they are considering the chance. Former central banker Mark Carney, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, former B.C. Premier Christy Clark and House Leader Karina Gould are said to take part in the contests, too. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Wednesday that he will not be a candidate in the upcoming race, and that with Canada at a crucial juncture in its relationship with the United States, he wants to focus on his job in the cabinet. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he was stepping down and would stay on as prime minister until his successor is chosen. Governor General Mary Simon has prorogued the parliament until March 24, giving the new prime minister 15 days to make the transition. OTTAWA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that his government would hit back if incoming U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his tariff threat. "We would definitely respond, as we did years ago when President Trump put tariffs on steel and aluminum. We responded by putting tariffs on Heinz ketchup, on playing cards, on bourbon, on Harley Davidsons, on things that would hurt American workers," Trudeau said in an interview on CNN. The prime minister said Trump, a very skillful negotiator, is using talk of Canada becoming the 51st state to detract from tariff impact. "Everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive and that's something we need to be focusing on a little bit more," Trudeau said. Local media reported that Canadian officials are preparing a list of American-made products to target with counter-tariffs in the event the Canadian government must respond to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump has threatened to impose a 25-percent tariff on all Canadian goods imported into the United States. WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A White House spokesperson said on Friday a deal that would secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is "possible" to be reached before Jan. 20, the day when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated to succeed incumbent President Joe Biden. John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, told reporters during a press gaggle that he was unable to give "a percentage" indicating the precise possibility of such a deal being ultimately struck, hence paving the way for the release of 100 hostages -- among whom seven are Americans. "The question is, do I think it's possible?" Kirby said. "Yes, we think it's possible, but not without a lot of hard work still ahead of us. " Biden's Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, is currently leading a U.S. delegation in Doha, Qatar, in what is the administration's last-minute effort to try to get the hostage deal over the finish line, according to Kirby. Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, is in the delegation for the negotiations. "I'm really hopeful that by the inaugural, we'll have some good things to announce on behalf of the president," Witkoff said of Trump during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday. Look, up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's ... Snow White, multiple Robert Pattinsons, karate kids, dinosaurs and Harrison Ford as a Hulk. Oh, yeah. Superman, too. While awards-season lovers are still wondering which of last year's crop of movies will conquer the Oscars, we're looking ahead to the biggest and best stuff arriving in 2025. And so far so good, with a trio of Marvel superhero movies (including a new Fantastic Four), the return of the Man of Steel, the second part of "Wicked," plus next chapters of the "Karate Kid," "Jurassic World" and "John Wick" franchises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are exclusive peeks at 15 movies heading to theaters in 2025 that you absolutely, positively must see: Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox. Heart Eyes (Feb. 7) The Heart Eyes Killer hunts and murders couples every Valentine's Day in the rom-com slasher movie "Heart Eyes." What screams love and romance more than blood and death? The rom-com slasher flick stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding as a pair of Seattle co-workers who are mistaken as a couple and targeted by an infamous masked psycho labeled the Heart Eyes Killer, who wreaks gory havoc every Valentine's Day. Captain America: Brave New World (Feb. 14) Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) now brandishes the star-spangled shield but gets embroiled in a global conspiracy in Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World." Anthony Mackie inherited Cap's shield from Chris Evans and now gets his own solo Marvel movie. After a meeting with newly elected President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), high-flying Sam Wilson (Mackie) finds himself at the center of a dangerous global conspiracy in the superhero political thriller. Paddington in Peru (Feb. 14) Lovable bear Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) returns to his South American homeland in the family adventure "Paddington in Peru." In the live-action comedy threequel, beloved raincoat-clad bear Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) discovers that his aunt has vanished back home in Peru. With his adopted human family, Paddington travels from London to South America for an adventure through the Amazon filled with mystery, high jinks and some treasure. Mickey 17 (March 7) Mickey 18 (Robert Pattinson, far right), the latest copy of an expendable space worker, isn't happy to see Mickey 17 (also Pattinson) in the sci-fi dark comedy "Mickey 17." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Directed by Bong Joon-ho, the sci-fi dark comedy stars Robert Pattinson as an extremely disposable space worker named Mickey: Every time he dies, a new "copy" of himself is printed with memories intact. That is, until the 17th Mickey actually survives a deadly expedition to another world and trouble arises when he meets Mickey No. 18. 'Novocaine' (March 14) Nate (Jack Quaid) uses his special skill being unable to feel pain in an effort to save his dream girl in the action comedy "Novocaine." Affable everyman Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) has found his dream girl (Amber Midthunder) and when she is taken hostage in a bank robbery, he goes on a one-man mission to rescue her. But Nate is able to utilize one very weird special skill on his quest: He doesn't feel any physical pain. Opus (March 14) Ayo Edebiri (left) plays a writer invited to the remote compound of an iconic pop star (John Malkovich) who disappeared for 30 years in the horror film "Opus." The horror film centers on an ambitious young writer (Ayo Edebiri) invited to the isolated compound of an iconic pop star (John Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared and hasn't been seen in three decades. There she discovers, surrounded by the musician's cult of followers, the twisted machinations behind his grand return. Snow White (March 21) The Evil Queen (Gal Gadot, left) isn't a big fan of "fairest of them all" Snow White (Rachel Zegler) in Disney's live-action musical retelling of "Snow White." Disney's live-action musical retelling of the 1937 animated classic casts "West Side Story" breakout Rachel Zegler as Snow White. The "fairest of them all" is forced to flee her kingdom by the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot), and in a nearby forest she befriends seven very different but color-coordinated helpers. Sinners (April 18) Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers who return to their Southern hometown and find it infected with evil in the period horror film "Sinners." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan reteam for a Western-tinged horror film about Southern twin brothers (played by Jordan) who return to their hometown hoping to move on from their troubled pasts and find some serious evil has infected the place. Thunderbolts* (May 2) John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) are part of the title group of misfit antiheroes in Marvel's Thunderbolts*." Misfit Marvel antiheroes including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) are recruited for special-ops missions by an enigmatic woman (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the irreverent superteam adventure. (We're also dying to know what that asterisk means.) Karate Kid: Legends (May 30) Mr. Han (Jackie Chan, left) helps to train kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) in "Karate Kid: Legends." A crossover guaranteed to sweep the leg. OG karate kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Miyagi-esque sensei Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) team up to train a kung fu prodigy (Ben Wang), forced to relocate from China to New York City due to a family tragdy, when he enters a martial arts competition. Ballerina (June 6) Ana de Armas plays a deadly dancer-turned-assassin in the "John Wick" spinoff "Ballerina." The "John Wick" spinoff might feature a cameo from Keanu Reeves' hard-luck hit man, but it's mainly an action-packed star vehicle for Ana de Armas. She plays Eve, a ballerina-turned-assassin who's on a bloody quest to avenge her dead father in a thriller that also features the final screen role of "Wick" regular Lance Reddick. 'Elio' (June 13) Space fan Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab, left) finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he bonds with eccentric aliens like Glordon (voice of Remy Edgerly), a tender-hearted princeling, in Pixar's animated "Elio." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Pixar animated sci-fi adventure, 11-year-old Elio is a huge fan of space who yearns to be abducted by aliens someday. He gets his wish: Colorful extraterrestrials take him on board their ship, thinking he's leader of Earth, and the kid embarks on an eye-opening journey of seeing incredible sights and figuring out his place in the universe. How to Train Your Dragon (June 13) Viking youngster Hiccup (Mason Thames) and his friend Astrid (Nico Parker) have a soft spot for dragons in the live-action remake "How to Train Your Dragon." Dean DeBlois directs the live-action redo of his 2010 animated adventure about a Viking teenager named Hiccup (Mason Thames) who refuses the orders of his father (Gerard Butler) and won't kill the dragons that attack their village. The kind Hiccup winds up becoming best friends with one, a rare beast he names Toothless. Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2) Jonathan Bailey plays paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis, who's seeking dino DNA for a miracle drug, in the action adventure "Jurassic World Rebirth." In the latest "Jurassic" installment, a covert operations expert (Scarlett Johansson) and a paleontologist (Jonathan Bailey) are tasked with securing DNA samples from three massive dinosaur species in an effort to create a lifesaving miracle drug. And along the way, they run across a sinister discovery kept secret for decades. Superman (July 11) David Corenswet is the latest actor to wear the signature cape of the Man of Steel in James Gunn's "Superman." Director James Gunn brings the Man of Steel back to the big screen for his rebooted DC movie universe. David Corenswet is the new guy in the red cape, Rachel Brosnahan plays ace journalist/love interest Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult co-stars as villainous Lex Luthor in an adventure that introduces Superman's best friend: Krypto the dog. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What 2025 movies are coming to theaters? Our picks for best to watch Sedona remains one of Tripadvisor users' most loved destinations. In past years, they lavished praise on landmark restaurants like the Golden Goose American Grill and Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano and boutique hotels like Adobe Grand Villas. And now they have honored Sedona as one of the best destinations in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Destination Awards for 2025, its rank improving from the last two years. Advertisement Advertisement TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards are based on the millions of reviews that travelers share on the website. Sedona and several of its points of interest have been honored in past years' awards, and its higher rank in the 2025 survey adds to recent accolades. U.S. News & World Report named Sedona one of the nation's best vacation spots, and Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel was one of the first Arizona places to receive recognition from the Michelin Guide. Why Tripadvisor users love Sedona Sedona is not only an easy day trip from Phoenix but also a world-class hub for outdoor and wellness tourism. It ranked as Tripadvisor users' No. 12 most popular destination in the U.S. to visit in 2025, up four spots from its place on the 2024 survey. Sedona is described in a summary on Tripadvisor as "a true oasis, a vacationers paradise in the middle of the Arizona desert." Visitors enjoy the Verde Valley city for its red rock buttes and canyons such as Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte, hiking opportunities near Bell Rock and in Oak Creek Canyon and the architecture of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Advertisement Advertisement Sedona's abundant resorts and spas were cited as a highlight. While Adobe Grand Villas is the favorite of Tripadvisor users, it's far from the only area resort to receive high accolades. Enchantment Resort, home to the wellness spa resort Mii amo, was named the No. 1 Arizona hotel by U.S. News & World Report. Recognized as an International Dark Sky Community in 214 for its commitment to protect and preserve the night sky, Sedona's stargazing opportunities also impressed Tripadvisor users, who described the night sky as "the best show in Sedona." Save money: Top 10 free things to do in Sedona, from hikes to the Chapel of the Holy Cross How to get a Travelers Choice award Destinations, attractions, hotels and restaurants are selected based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement To be eligible, the place must: Be listed on Tripadvisor for at least 12 months. Receive a certain number of reviews within the evaluation period. Must maintain or exceed a minimum bubble rating on Tripadvisor. Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tripadvisor Travelers Choice 2025: Arizona city named best in US This week, Alaska Airlines announced two summer seasonal routes from Anchorage, flying to Detroit and Sacramento. In addition, the airline will resume flights between Fairbanks and Portland. With the updated schedule, Alaska will offer more direct routes from Anchorage than ever before, with 15 flights to the lower 48 and Hawaii. Alaska Airlines nonstop network keeps growing The Anchorage to Detroit route takes flight on June 14 and runs through August 16, occurring on Saturdays aboard a Boeing 737. The Anchorage to Sacramento route is available during the same period, also on Saturdays and on a Boeing 737. Those traveling between Fairbanks and Portland can do so from May 15 to August 19, with daily trips on an Embraer E175. Kirsten Amrine, Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Alaska Airlines, said: Our new routes provide guests with more options than ever to vacation this summer in the great state of Alaska. The nonstop flights from Detroit and Sacramento will put travelers right in the heart of Alaska by skipping a layover, and Portlanders can enjoy nonstop service to Fairbanks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marilyn Romano, Regional Vice President of Alaska at Alaska Airlines, commented: Summer is a tremendous time to visit The Great Land of Alaska with our long, warm days, tremendous culture and adventure, and amazing wild Alaska seafood. Theres so much to do around Anchorage, and the city is a perfect jumping-off point to venture out to communities across the state, as well as hopping on a cruise. For Alaskans, we now have even more nonstop destinations to visit family and friends this summer. The post Alaska Airlines announces new summer routes from Anchorage appeared first on The Manual. A heartwarming moment of reunion as a dedicated service member embraces her children in front of their home. The image captures the love and resilience of military families, with the American flag patch on her uniform symbolizing her dedication and sacrifice. The backdrop of a welcoming doorway and a smiling family member in the distance highlights the joy of being together again. This image beautifully represents strength, family bonds, and the pride of service. (Von Monkey Business - Adobe Stock) New year, new me. Weve all heard the phrase, and yes, its a little cliche. Everyone has something they would like to get better at. For some reason, the beginning of a new year is the best time to start from zero: We set a few resolutions during the new year. Personally, I have set goals in the past that were not easy for me to accomplish, and I ended up frustrated. The problem with New Years resolutions is that theyre often based on guilt and shame. Theres something you dont like about yourself, and you decide that on January 1, youll change it. While wanting to improve is not essentially bad, basing these changes on societal standards or guilt can lead to feelings of failure, anxiety, sadness and stress when goals arent met. For military families stationed in Europe, this rhythm can feel even more daunting. Living overseas brings unique challenges, such as maneuvering acculturation, physical isolation from extended family, financial instability and adapting to military life demands, which already bring plenty of stress. Adding lofty resolutions to the mix can feel overwhelming. Mental health benefits of small, attainable goals From a mental health perspective, setting smaller, manageable goals can significantly reduce overwhelming feelings and anxiety and improve overall well-being. Unrealistic expectations often trigger a stress response, leading to cycles of guilt and shame when progress doesnt meet expectations. When this happens, instead of looking at ways to improve, most people stop working altogether on their goals. Instead, creating goals that are s pecific, m easurable, a chievable, r elevant, and t ime-bound (SMART goals) can boost your confidence as you achieve small successes. For instance, instead of saying, Ill lose 20 pounds this year, shift the focus to, Ill take a family walk twice a week. This not only makes the goal more attainable but also provides an opportunity for family connection, which is vital for mental health, especially in the isolating circumstances military families sometimes face. Rather than creating an all-or-nothing goal, focus on small, attainable changes that fit within your current lifestyle. For example, if youre hoping to prioritize fitness, consider joining a local workout group, a group class at the gym, or exploring one of Europes countless scenic trails. When my clients and I talk about creating goals, I ask follow-up questions to help create these attainable results. If we go back to the fitness goal, some of the things I would ask are: Realistically, how many times a week can you work out? How long, and what type of workouts are you considering? If your goal is to improve family bonding, schedule monthly day trips to nearby towns, parks, or cultural sites. These outings can create cherished memories and help everyone feel more connected to your host country. The important thing when you create goals is to have a plan. When you have something concrete, you are more likely to follow through. Family routines Despite the ever-changing dynamics in your military life, establishing family routines can provide stability and comfort. Although I understand how difficult it is to adhere to a routine when your life is constantly changing with TDYs, deployments, trainings and all the fun things, creating simple traditions, like a weekly family movie night, Friday pizza night or walks to a local bakery, can create a sense of normalcy. Living overseas offers a unique opportunity to integrate cultural experiences into your routine. If youre struggling to find a rhythm after a PCS, start small. Set aside time for regular family check-ins where everyone can share highlights of the week or discuss upcoming plans. These moments encourage open communication and strengthen family bonds, even during stressful times. Integrating routines that involve mindfulness can be particularly beneficial. For example, a gratitude moment during dinner, where each family member shares something theyre thankful for, can foster a positive outlook. Research shows that gratitude practices can improve mood, reduce symptoms of depression, and increase resilience. Turning goals into adventures One of the greatest advantages of being stationed in Europe is the ease of travel. Use this to your advantage by incorporating family trips into your New Years goals. Instead of focusing on individual resolutions, think of shared goals that could ultimately strengthen family ties. Want to be more active? Plan a family hike on one of the numerous trails or through the Alps. Hoping to save money? Create a family challenge to budget for a weekend trip to Budapest or Barcelona. And dont think that it must be expensive to be memorable: Short, affordable getaways can be just as meaningful as grand vacations. Research nearby destinations for day trips or overnight stays. The MWR or Outdoor Recreation offices on post offer many discounted tours or resources to help with planning. Visiting castles, strolling through historic villages or even trying a cooking class can bring the family closer while creating a sense of adventure. It is about progress, not perfection You dont need to wait until achieving the goal to celebrate your accomplishments. Instead, focus on small milestones and celebrate small victories because every step adds up. Military life teaches you to adapt and be resilient; use your skills when working toward your goals. My favorite recommendation is to keep a journal to reflect on achievements. Sometimes, it is important to look at what you have achieved to see how much you have done. Journaling can also help to refocus if, for some reason, you have not been able to achieve your goals. We all know how unpredictable military life is, and whatever complexity has been added to our lives that has prevented us from completing achievements can be an opportunity for improvement. A detour is not a failure. As a mental health professional, I encourage you to view setbacks as a learning opportunity. What can you learn from it, and how can you do it differently in the future? Mindfulness as a coping skill I know you have heard it before. Mindfulness is a great coping tool. Slow down and take advantage of the opportunities that Europe offers to practice mindfulness. Enjoy a new pastry in one of the cafes, a stroll on a quiet Sunday, or visit a historic site; mindfulness helps reduce stress, lower levels of anxiety and depression, improve focus and provide a greater sense of well-being. Consider incorporating mindfulness exercises into your day, such as deep breathing during stressful moments or journaling about your favorite experiences in Europe. The New Year will be a good year New year, new me? That sounds like a lot of pressure. Expecting to reinvent yourself in a year to fit societys expectations should not be the goal. Instead, prioritize something that really matters to you and your family. Living abroad could be a dream but is also difficult, and I get it. Military life comes with difficulties, but if you set SMART goals, 2025 can be the year of learning, growth, connection, and significant experiences. A groundbreaking study has revealed that a single iron infusion during the third trimester can significantly reduce anemia in pregnant women, outperforming oral iron tablets. This innovation can potentially revolutionize maternal care and enhance birth outcomes worldwide. Understanding the role of iron in pregnancy Iron plays a critical role in ensuring the health of both mother and baby. Low iron levels during pregnancy are linked to serious complications, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and postpartum depression. Yet, anemia remains a global challenge, with nearly 37% of pregnant womenapproximately 32 million worldwideaffected. In countries like Australia, anemia occurs in 25% of pregnancies, while the risks are even greater in resource-poor nations. Pregnant women with anemia are more likely to experience chronic fatigue, postpartum hemorrhage, and stillbirth. For babies, the consequences of maternal anemia include impaired brain development and poor red blood cell formation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: New study: Cutting sugar in the first 1,000 days could shape your babys health for life Study highlights: The case for iron infusions The study, led by WEHI (Australia) and the Training Research Unit of Excellence (Malawi), compared the effectiveness of third-trimester iron infusions to oral iron tablets. The large-scale trial involved 590 pregnant women in Malawi and demonstrated the following key outcomes: Lower anemia rates: Women who received iron infusions had an anemia prevalence of 46.7% at delivery compared to 62.7% among those taking iron tablets. Sustained benefits: A single iron infusion reduced anemia at delivery and protected mothers iron stores postpartum. This is the first concrete evidence proving infusions in late pregnancy are the superior treatment for combating anemia, said Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha, co-corresponding author of the study. Boosting iron levels at a critical time ensures both mother and baby are better protected during birth. Global implications and the path forward The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends oral iron tablets as the standard prevention strategy for maternal anemia. However, researchers hope this new data will prompt revisions to global antenatal care guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If intravenous iron can be safely delivered in basic health centers in remote Malawi, theres no health setting where IV iron couldnt be effectively and safely given, Prof. Pasricha explained. The study findings underscore the potential for iron infusions to be integrated into maternal care protocols, especially in resource-limited settings, where they could save lives and improve maternal health outcomes. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is a preventable condition that poses significant risks to both mothers and babies. With evidence now supporting the use of iron infusions as a superior treatment, the global maternal care landscape could see transformative changes in the coming years. Related: Debunking 4 myths about egg health as you age Sources: LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Thinking your pet might have bird flu? A Las Vegas pet expert explained how to spot whether your pet has it. Jessica Dowling is the Medical Director for the Veterinary Emergency Group in Summerlin and Henderson. She said while Southern Nevada has seen no evidence of local cat-to-cat, cat-to-human, or human-to-human spread of h5 bird flu, and the risk to the general public continues to be low, we all should still be educated and vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states and vet offices to monitor people with animal exposures, It is getting more common. A month ago a mountain lion in Carson City tested positive for bird flu, and in California during the same month, a handful of domestic cats tested positive. What they are seeing is cats that are coming up positive have been exposed to raw animal products, raw meats, raw milk, raw eggs and have a tight affinity to being on a farm, being exposed to dairy cows, Dowling added. While many of us here in Southern Nevada dont live on a farm, there is one thing that people here have in common: rescue animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of us rescue, so knowing whether or not you have a rescue cat that may have come from one of those areas, is important, Dowling said. While bird flu is extremely rare in dogs, she adds there are the symptoms to look for in both. Youre looking for respiratory signs in dogs. Youre looking for respiratory signs in cats, redness in eyes, or being lethargic, or neurologic signs, walking in a circle, not being balanced, signs more severe in cats versus dogs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition will hold its annual Soil Health Conference Jan. 15-16, 2025, at the Ramkota Hotel and Event Center in Watertown. The conference will feature presentations by national and international sustainable agriculture experts and producers as well as breakout sessions, discussion panels and social events. The Coalition will also announce the winners of the annual Legacy Award and Friend of Soil Health Award as well as the results of student essay and video contests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the conference, visit www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/soil-health-conference. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: South Dakota soil health conference heading to Watertown in January BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington announces they will award a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior. Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office (BPSO) says the program is to support and encourage local students as they continue their educational journey at a higher institution. According to the news release, to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be a permanent resident of Louisiana, Be a graduating student from a Bossier Parish High School, Be eligible for admission to the school listen on the application, and Plan to be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in a accredited higher education institution within the state of Louisiana. Five tips to achieve your resolutions, goals (Evidence-based methods) Education is a powerful tool that opens doors for the opportunity to brighter futures, said Sheriff Whittington, We are excited to offer this scholarship to a deserving student who will continue their studies in Louisiana. This one small way we can invest in our communitys future. Scholarship applications must be submitted by April 1, 2025. All scholarship winners will be announced by May 1, 2025. Additional information on the application process can be found on the Louisiana Sheriffs Association website. The news release details that the scholarship is available through the Louisiana Sheriffs Honorary Membership Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, please contact the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office at (318) 965-3409. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) Greensboro police are investigating after a fatal shooting on Thursday, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release. Just after 1 a.m., Greensboro police responded to the 3900 block of Hahns Lane when they were told about a shooting. While officers were on the scene, they learned two people arrived at a hospital with apparent gunshot wounds. Conrado Jalyn Guillermo, 22, was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another victim is a man and is in stable condition. Guillermos death is being investigated as the citys fifth homicide of the year. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. We had no alternative but to seek private schooling, says Matthew* from St Albans. Our daughter was repeatedly let down by the schools that should have supported her. The breaking point came during a meeting at the local outstanding state secondary school, where the deputy headteacher bluntly told us, We cannot support her dyslexia. It would be best if you did not send her here. Matthew and his family are not alone. For the past decade the system providing support for children with special educational needs (SEN, or SEND, which includes those with disabilities) has been crumbling. Today, you will find it almost impossible to find anyone involved distressed parents, struggling schools, underfunded local authorities and, ultimately, suffering children who does not think it is wholly broken. On Wednesday, the Public Accounts Committee warned that the cost of supporting schoolchildren with special needs risks pushing almost half of all English councils into bankruptcy by 2026. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the committees chairman, said the system was inconsistent, inequitable and not delivering in line with expectations. The spiralling costs, he said, amount to an emergency that has been allowed to run and run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In part this crisis is down to the ever-growing number of children assessed to have special education needs. Since 2016, that figure has risen relentlessly every year, with notable jumps after the pandemic. According to Department of Education figures, almost 1.7 million schoolchildren in England, some 18.4 per cent of the pupil population, now have SEN, with the latest increase of 101,000 coming in the last 12 months. A new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests that spiralling SEN costs will account for 1 billion of the 2.3 billion extra funding schools were awarded in last years Budget. With costs estimated to increase by 3.6 per cent, many schools could actually end up feeling worse off. Indeed, notes the report, since 2019 half of all the increased spending on education has been absorbed by SEN. Behind the statistics lie children with a range of conditions from the various forms of dyslexia, ADHD and autism, to speech or social difficulties. Then there are those requiring help but without a clear diagnosis a category known on one parent forum as SEN (no idea what type). In a field beset with unknowns, one certainty is that in every category there are more boys than girls. Yet whether this is because there really are more boys with SEN, or simply because they are easier to spot than girls, remains a matter for debate. What is not, however, a point of discussion is the poor outcomes of those with SEN. By the time they are 10, SEN pupils are on average two years behind in writing, 1.7 years behind in maths, and 1.5 years behind in reading compared with their peers. For those making it to A-level, the attainment gap is around five grades far greater than the 3.5 grades of those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many leave without any qualifications at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economic cost to society of all these children leaving school without qualifications will only get worse, says Michelle Catterson, executive head teacher at Moon Hall School, in Reigate, Surrey, a specialist school for children with dyslexia. The number of children who just stop going to school is going to rise because they dont feel supported and they are not going to achieve. That raises further problems around their employability and their ability to make an effective contribution to society. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State need to listen. Forced to go private Inevitably, when families like Matthews are told to look elsewhere by the state system, that means going private a point borne out by the latest figures, which show that 22 per cent of private school students require SEN support, compared to 16 per cent in state secondary schools. In November the exams regulator Ofqual revealed that 42 per cent of students in independent schools were entitled to extra exam time, compared to 26 per cent of pupils in non-selective state schools, leading to concern that private schools with sharp-elbowed parents were gaming the system to secure an advantage for their children. Experts dispute this idea. I think the proportions are actually the same and there shouldnt be this 16 percentage point difference, says Stephen Spriggs, Managing Director of William Clarence Education Group. In state schools how many children need SEN provision but havent got it? Thats where the gap is. The private school stat is almost certainly the accurate one that reflects the [actual] need. Samantha Hale, an educational law specialist at HCB Solicitors, agrees: Ive never seen any parents whove exploited the SEN process to give their child an unfair advantage, she says. Parents can be well-informed and determined, but thats not asking for support they are not entitled to. Parents are usually spot on about what their child needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explanations for this private-state SEN disparity are more likely to lie in the dysfunction of the state system rather than an army of pushy middle-class mums and dads. A lot of parents with SEN children would not normally contemplate private education because of the cost but feel like they have no choice, says Malgosia Rigoli, of the senschoolsguide.com blog in London. People draw from their pensions, they remortgage, they take on extra jobs. We are rarely talking about a stereotypical private school parent here. These are people who may have seen their child self-harming or being bullied or just not coping. Parents are driven to desperation, confirms Claire Walley, the founder of the London-based The SEN Expert consultancy. I am helping a mum who has three part-time jobs to pay for the provision. The advantages of going private are clear. Children with SEN could have any number of concurrent needs. These are often related to their environment, such as problems with noise, crowds or even the fabric of uniforms. Some will have behavioural or neurological challenges which affect their ability to concentrate or work in the standard way, inhibiting their chances of learning and developing unless they get the help they need. Others can have issues with hearing and speaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you compare an independent school classroom to a state school the obvious difference is size, says Catterson. For children who have SEN they are often overloaded with sensory issues too many children in the classroom and in the school in general, with loud and busy corridors. Just that makes a huge difference. Its not a lifestyle choice. Thats often misinterpreted when we talk about independent schools, that all the parents are affluent. Often its just that the alternative is not good enough for their child. The EHCP nightmare The teachers of my son said to me: The grammar school isnt right for him but you could try to get him into a private school, says Sophie* from Buckinghamshire. When I asked them what about the comprehensive, they said He will get lost. He will not come out with any exams. You cannot send him to a comprehensive school with a thousand pupils. His teacher and the school SEN co-ordinator said that to me. So weve either got to find the money for fees or try to get into a grammar school we know wont suit him. There are a lot of people in that situation. To secure funds for extra support, parents face up to five-year waits for NHS psychological assessments. To speed the process, many pay for their own at a cost of up to 6,000, depending on the range of conditions. Then they must apply for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) from a local authority, which takes an average of two years if successful. An EHCP entitles a child to extra support at a mainstream school or a place in a specialist school. If the support is denied or if parents are not offered the school they want they can appeal, which usually takes another year and up to 20,000 in legal fees they cannot claim back. Authorities habitually drop their opposition days before the appeal hearings and those that dont lose 98 per cent of the tribunal cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were advised by the school to apply for an EHCP for our son, says Jake* from Surrey. On the NHS its a five-year wait just to confirm that he has ADHD. So we went for a private psychiatry report on ADHD that cost 2,000. We also had to get a new educational psychologist report for 2,000. We cant afford it and have had to borrow money. Yet for many parents, winning tribunal appeals is a pyrrhic victory. The process is so drawn out that getting help can take as long as a childs entire school life, by which time it comes too late. Through years of bureaucratic delay and obfuscation, their children can lose term after term in schools without specialist staff, in environments completely unsuitable for them. Well try to get an EHCP but were realistic, says Jake. It will probably go to a tribunal. We are looking at a two-year wait, so my son will be in Year Nine before we know anything. Weve sacrificed everything to send him to the specialist dyslexia school. Even if the government trained thousands of specialist teachers, it will take years and he will be too old to benefit. Matthew has a similar tale. We decided to seek a private assessment, which confirmed our daughter had dyslexia and dyscalculia. Without an EHCP there was no funding available and the school was not willing to apply for one because the county we live in has such a long process and the school did not have resources to apply for all the children that needed one. EHCPs are requested by parents of SEN children, but educational providers are often unable to put them into action - Tatsiana Volkava/Moment RF When the deputy headteacher candidly admitted our daughter would be lost in the system without the support she required we turned with heavy hearts to a private girls school. We sacrificed our financial stability to give her the opportunity she deserved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even in the private sector EHCPs or the lack of them cast a long shadow. Thats because SEN children with EHCPs who are sent to private schools are exempt from Labours new VAT imposition on fees. But those without an EHCP will incur the VAT levy. So some SEN children will now inevitably be forced back to the postcode lottery of ill-equipped and overcrowded state schools. The VAT laws will have an effect because they wont apply to the extra costs when there is an EHCP but they will apply when parents are paying for the extra provision themselves, says Hale. We may find those on this borderline struggling to cope with the extra costs and an exodus back to state schools. The state sector is in a mess, she continues. There are huge pressures and children are suffering, including high levels of anxiety that can lead to them refusing to attend school. Some children are out of school for years while their parents are fighting the system. Some children are not getting the help they need to learn life skills. Paved with good intentions Even with the delays, the number of children with EHCPs in England is currently 576,000, more than double the figure in 2015. Funding for them comes via local authorities, most of which face huge financial shortfalls and in some cases are close to bankruptcy. The National Audit Office (NAO) projected that authorities will have cumulative deficits of almost 5bn by 2026, so that the provision for children with SEN is not achieving value for money and is unsustainable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014 the SEN Code of Practice was launched and its a really aspirational bit of legislation [as part of the Children and Families Act 2014], explains Walley. But central government did not supply enough funding to make it happen. Children have legal rights to support, with authorities instructed to provide that support, but they dont have enough money to do it, so then parents have to go through the appeals process because authorities have put in their own thresholds to try to manage their budgets. And authorities are demonised because they arent funded appropriately. Transcriptions of public hearings among Surrey council staff reveal case workers get 50-60 emails a day from parents and constant queries from school SEN co-ordinators - dealing with 200 cases at a time involving traumatised and expectant families simply desperate for feedback, let alone signs of progress. A statement from Cllr Arooj Shah, the Chair of the Local Government Associations Children and Young People Board, said: Councils want every child with SEND to get the very best support. However, the current SEND system is failing to meet childrens needs and requires urgent reform. The rising number of EHCPs means councils are under ever increasing financial pressure. While the funding announced in the Budget [1 billion] was helpful, we are calling for government to write off councils high needs deficits, otherwise many councils will face a financial cliff-edge and be faced with having to cut other services to balance budgets through no fault of their own, or their residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NAO report says local authorities spent more than 2 billion in 2022-23 providing places in independent schools for children with EHCPs. The average annual cost of a space at the private special schools was 61,500 and 23,900 in state schools. The total centralised budget for SEN provision is 10.7bn for 2024-25.The NAO reported that not one of the 60 stakeholders it consulted felt that DfEs improvement plan would sufficiently address the systemic problems they saw. The solution In Westminster, the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has stressed a greater focus on mainstream provision and early intervention. In other words, trying to help SEN pupils as early as possible, so that they can remain in standard schools, rather than being dispatched to specialist (and expensive) classrooms. This sentiment is shared by most experts, especially as numbers continue to rise. Children are born autistic they dont become autistic at 11 and whether they need a clinical diagnosis and specialist support will often rely on the level of support they are getting in their school, says Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism. But experts also say that keeping more SEN children in mainstream schools only has merit if specialist teacher training improves and increases, and institutions have the resources to adapt their environment and curriculum for their neurodivergent students, who could constitute half of all pupils in just a matter of years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system we inherited has let far too many children with SEND down, failing to meet their needs early enough, says a Department of Education spokesperson. The far-reaching reform families are crying out for and this government is driving will take time but work is already underway. The wider cost Whether parents are affluent or impoverished, the education of their children has a profound effect on our society on its workforce, benefits system and even law and order. Thats what is so terrible about this, says Walley. Whats going to happen to our primary school children in 20 years time when we have a generation who have not had their educational needs supported and we expect them to cope and function in society? We are always kicking the problem down the road. In November new data showed there had been more than 37,000 suspensions in primary schools in the autumn term of 2023 while exclusion rates of primaries have also gone up by almost 70 per cent in 10 years nearly 90 per cent of those excluded over the past five years had SEN. Children with SEN [especially autism] are at higher risk of suicide and of facing a range of mental health issues, says Catterson. When you look at the prison population you see over 50 per cent have literacy and numeracy difficulties. The Joint Inspectorate Evidence Review in 2021 estimated up to half of the adult prison population is neurodivergent. Catterson fiercely rejects the accusation that the growth of SEN diagnosis and care is a result of a drop in standards of behaviour or some kind of phoney HR for children scam. We have a higher proportion of children with SEN because we have more awareness and more identification, she says. Children in previous decades were just written off. But thats still happening today. I dont know how most people cope with this, says Jake. The damage done to the children while they are waiting is terrible. The kids are put on the scrap heap. *Names have been changed Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Two people are sick and in isolation in Oakland County and nine others are being monitored after they had direct contact with H5N1 bird flu from an infected backyard flock, a spokesperson for Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter told the Free Press on Thursday. The two people who are ill have flu-like symptoms and are undergoing testing, said Bill Mullan, Coulter's spokesperson. Because H5N1 is a form of influenza A, the samples collected from the sick people will first be tested for influenza A. If those tests are positive, Mullan said more detailed subtype testing will be done to identify whether they have the H5N1 form of the virus, which has infected 67 people nationally since 2022, and killed a person earlier this week in Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One person's test has been collected," Mullan said. "The other person's test will be collected tomorrow (Friday). They will be sent to the state lab. It is unknown when the results will be available." The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Thursday that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus had been confirmed in birds in the Oakland County backyard flock, but it would not disclose specifically where that flock is situated in the 907-square-mile county, how many birds are involved, or whether they include chickens, turkeys or some other type of domestic poultry, citing Public Act 466, which limits what information the agency can release publicly about animals involved in health investigations. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, cautioned Michiganders to understand that while the risk of contracting H5N1 is low to the average person, certain activities increase the risk like drinking raw milk, interacting with wild birds, domestic backyard flocks, working on a commercial dairy or poultry farm or in a meat-processing facility, or coming into contact with sick animals, even family pets. "We know that H5N1 has spilled over into multiple mammalian species," Bagdasarian said. "It's been seen in coyotes and mice and all kinds of animals. There was a polar bear with H5N1. There have been seals with H5N1. So it's more than just pets. I think anyone who is coming into contact with an ill animal has to know that there is a risk of H5N1 at this point in time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That risk is, of course, much higher if you're working in a dairy where you know the cows have been impacted by H5N1. The risk is, of course, higher if you're working in a poultry factory where you know that the poultry has been impacted ... and if you are coming in contact with an ill animal. "If you're out in nature and you find a dead bird, don't pick up that dead bird. Keep your dog away from that dead bird. ... We know that H5N1 is extremely pathogenic in chickens, for example. So if you own a backyard flock and your chickens are sick, most definitely keep your household pets away from those chickens. Please reach out to either your local health department or MDARD and let them know that you have ill chickens." In the last two months, H5N1 infections in Michigan have been identified in commercial poultry operations and backyard flocks in Oakland, Jackson and Ottawa counties, according to MDARD, but in the spring and summer of 2024, dairy cattle also were infected by the virus, and two dairy farm workers also contracted H5N1. They had eye infections, the state health department reported, and fully recovered. In the case of the Oakland County flock, MDARD director Tim Boring said it's likely that wild birds infected the backyard poultry, though epidemiological work is underway to pinpoint it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In any sort of premises whether it's commercial or backyard we work to do some epidemiological work to better understand the potential transmission pathways," he said. "Frequently, we're able to do whole genome sequencing on the virus, and that gives us some indication of whether ... the strains were associated with ... dairy cattle or strains that we know continue to circulate in wild birds. "We'll know more about this specific incident in the weeks to come." It's important, Boring said, for both commercial poultry operators and people who have backyard chicken coops to take biosecurity precautions to prevent spread of H5N1. More: Bird flu in Michigan: H5N1 Symptoms, what outbreak means for pets, why wastewater matters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: CDC reveals new data on bird flu in Michigan farmworkers as US case count ticks up "We want to make sure we're isolating domestic poultry from wild birds, either direct exposure or exposure that would come with common feed or common water that you might have in a backyard setting," he said. "We want to make sure that folks are washing their hands before and after handling livestock, disinfecting equipment as appropriate, keeping an eye on birds and making sure that folks are on the lookout for any abnormal behavior, and if any of that is seen, make sure you contact a veterinarian. There's a lot of resources on our web page that can get folks in touch with resources and better understand what to be on the lookout for." What's happening in Michigan with H5N1 in animals mirrors what's happening nationally, Boring said. "Since the first of November, we've seen 90-some operations across the country impacted, commercial operations with upwards of 17 million birds," he said. "So, while we have been in an outbreak of this disease since 2022, there are seasonality impacts of this associated with wild migratory birds in the late fall and winter and in the spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The response here in Michigan continues to be aggressive, and we are working hard to learn more all the time about what the transmission pathways within the animal side of this might be." Although H5N1 killed a person in Louisiana earlier this month, most of the 67 U.S. human cases have been relatively mild. The Louisiana Department of Health said the person who died was older than 65 and had underlying medical conditions. The person was hospitalized with severe illness before succumbing to the virus, and was believed to have been infected after exposure to both a backyard flock and wild birds, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. A 13-year-old girl in British Columbia also was hospitalized in November with bird flu, and needed life support. She had mild asthma before her bird flu infection, which first appeared as pink eye, or conjunctivitis, before rapidly progressing to respiratory failure and kidney damage, according to details published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Teena Chopra, professor of infectious diseases at Wayne State University and co-director of the university's Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases, said there has been no known human-to-human transmission of the virus. "That is good news," she said, "but it can happen because it only takes few mutations for the virus to be able to transmit from human-to-human. At this point, what we can do as a community is that if we have symptoms, if somebody has contact with wild birds, they could report it. They should get tested. Avoid direct contact with any wild birds. Observe them from a distance. We can wash our hands regularly with soap and water, especially when we are handling poultry products. "Do not consume raw milk or any raw milk products. Protect yourself against other viruses that are circulating, like seasonal flu and SARS-CoV-2 and RSV (by getting vaccinated) because you want to decrease the burden of disease in the community to help with the public health response." Matthew Seeger, Ph.D., an expert in crisis and emergency risk communication who is a co-director of the Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases at Wayne State, said better surveillance and preparation is needed when it comes to the U.S. response to H5N1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This virus is going to mutate. The question is: Is it going to mutate in a way that allows for easy human-to-human transmission?" Seeger asked. "That's one reason why people need to get their seasonal influenza vaccinations, so that there is not these dual infections where people have the regular seasonal influenza, and they also maybe contracted H5N1, which increases the likelihood, or the possibility, for these viruses to mutate more and more efficiently. "The primary location for H5N1 right now is in agricultural communities. We do have the backyard poultry. We do have the wild bird populations, but it's primarily in the ... commercial production of poultry and dairy cattle. There are some cases where the virus has also been reported in swine, in hog production, and that is of a concern because that's a very easy vector for the virus to mutate into the human and to be easily transmitted to humans. "We need to be doing more surveillance, at least in my judgment, within the agricultural community. We need to be more aggressive and making sure that we're working with poultry producers and with dairy producers to make sure that there is good monitoring in place and that appropriate precautions are being taken to limit the exposure that occurs in those contexts." Chopra said she and other researchers at Wayne State are close to finishing work on an H5N1 test that can be used to easily determine whether a person has the virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Having learned from the COVID pandemic, we want to be prepared," Chopra said. "We are developing our own ... in-house test. ... If we have evidence of human-to-human transmission, we should have a test that can quickly test thousands of people."Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 people sick, 9 monitored after H5N1 bird flu hits Oakland Co. flock QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) At least three miners have died after a methane gas explosion caused a coal mine to collapse in a remote area of southwest Pakistan, officials said Friday, as authorities launched an operation to rescue nine other missing workers. Abdul Ghani, a mines inspector, said the blast happened on Thursday night in Singidi, a town in Balochistan province. He said rescuers had retrieved the bodies of three peoples and were carefully removing debris from the mine as part of a rescue effort. Shahid Rind, a Balochistan government spokesman, said all available resources are being used in the rescue operation. An investigation has also been ordered to determine the cause of the collapse, he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety standards can be poor in the coal mining industry, leading to accidents and fatalities in recent years. On Thursday, Pakistani security forces rescued at least eight of 16 mine workers who had been kidnapped by local militants. Authorities said an operation was still underway to rescue the remaining miners who were in the custody of militants. In neighboring India's northeastern Assam state, hopes are fading as the search resumed for a fifth day on Friday for several people trapped in a flooded coal mine. At least nine miners became trapped on Monday morning after water gushed in from a nearby unused mine in the Umrangso area, in Dima Hasao district, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of the state capital, Guwahati. On Wednesday, army divers retrieved the body of a miner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has been no success after army divers found the victim as the ill-fated mine is flooded, with water level not receding despite efforts to pump out the water, said Kaushik Rai, a local government minister. __ Associated Press writer Wasbir Hussain contributed to this story from Guwahati, India VALDOSTA, Ga. (WSAV) A homicide investigation has resulted in a teen arrested for stabbing his father, the Valdosta Police Department (VPD) says. VPD reports that on January 9, 2025, at approximately 1:40 in the morning, Valdosta Police Officers responded to a residence in the 1200 block of Leone Avenue, after a citizen called E911 to report that someone had been cut. Officers found Farmer Williams, 61, with multiple stab wounds to his body upon arrival. They attempted to render first aid to the victim until Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) Health arrived on the scene and transported him to the hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives and Crime Scene personnel responded to the residence and immediately launched an investigation, through which detectives determined that the victims 14-year-old son, JaMaury Williams, had stabbed his father multiple times. JaMaury was still in the home and was taken into custody without incident. He was detained at a Regional Youth Detention Center, where he faces four charges: Malice murder felony Felony murder felony Aggravated assault felony Possession of a knife during the commission of a felony felony Detectives confirmed with the prosecutors office that JaMaury will be tried as an adult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our condolences and prayers go out to this family, said Chief Leslie Manahan. In just a short moment their lives changed forever. Our staff did a great job collecting evidence to ensure a thorough investigation was completed. Those with further information on this case are urged to contact the VPD Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been the first big usage of AI. However, the next major wave may be agentic AI. Generative AI uses generative software models to create text, image, video, or audio content in response to a user prompt. An example would be asking ChatGPT a question and getting a text response. With agentic AI, meanwhile, automated AI agents will go out and complete assigned tasks autonomously without constant human supervision. Let's look at two stocks looking to benefit from agentic AI. UiPath UiPath (NYSE: PATH) started out as a robotic automation company that helped customers build out tools whereby software robot agents could complete mundane tasks, such as data entry. Its platform also provided low-code development tools and tools to process documents, and its platform performed quality assurance testing. Notably, robotic automation is done with structured data across rules-based tasks where the robot agents can automate repetitive work. This is different from agentic AI where the AI agents can work with unstructured data and make autonomous decisions on how best to complete a task. At its user conference in October, the company laid out its roadmap for agentic automation. Among the tools it plans to launch are Agent Builder, which will allow customers to build agents that work in tandem with its software robots. The AI agents can be created from scratch, with help from its low-code platform or from pre-built templates that it will have available. Customers will be able to use third-party robots in their workflow as well. In addition, the company will launch Agentic Orchestration, which will let humans, robots, and AI agents work together with Agentic Orchestration as the conductor. UiPath said this solution will allow customers to design, implement, monitor, operate, and optimize complex business processes. In the end, it is looking for this solution to be able to make AI actionable and applicable to the real world. UiPath said its big advantage will be serving as the Switzerland of agentic AI, allowing organizations to use AI agents from any vendor, while its Agentic Orchestration platform will help them all work together. UiPath has gone through a rough patch as it looks to move from a robotic automation company to an agentic AI company, but its founder has returned as CEO to lead it down its new path. The company is also still growing, with revenue growth of 9% last quarter and annual recurring revenue (ARR) rising 17%. Existing customers, meanwhile, continue to spend more with the company, with its net dollar retention of 113%. UiPath needs to add more new customers, and along those lines, it has partnered with SAP, Microsoft, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young to help accomplish this. The unprecedented spread of multiple wildfires across the Southern California area has created massive emergency situation in the Golden State, destroying homes and lives and displacing thousands of California residents, many of whom are fleeing from the fires with just their vehicles and the clothes on their backs, possibly with little money to get by on. Learn More: Resources for Financial Emergencies You Can Use Right Now Find Out: 4 Low-Risk Accounts Financially Savvy People Trust for Reliable Returns As a result, many companies are rallying behind the state and its residents, offering a multitude of goods and services to help those impacted by this devastating ecological disaster. If you or someone you know has been impacted by the California wildfires, consider contacting or visiting one of these businesses for help. Communication AT&T The telecommunications giant is offering anyone living in the wildfire areas unlimited data, calls and texting from now until Feb. 6. Read Next: 6 Bank Accounts That Will Give You Free Money Verizon Like AT&T, Verizon has dismissed all call, text and data charges for customers living in the wildfire zones. They have also provided free Wi-Fi and phone charging stations at wildfire shelters. Food Abbey West Hollywood This West Hollywood bar is offering free meals to anyone displaced by the wildfires, as well as first responders. Everytable This LA-based nutritious meals service is offering free meals to first responders until Jan. 12. Mountain Mikes Pizza Located in Pasadena, the site of one of the major fires, Mountain Mikes Pizza is offering free meals and resting places for first responders. Shake Shack The popular fast food chain is offering free Shackburgers to first responders at any location in L.A. County until Jan. 12. Sizzler At certain SoCal locations Fox Hills, Los Feliz, Palmdale and Van Nuys Sizzler is offering free meals to wildfire evacuees and first responders. Personal Care/Services/Shelters Airbnb Working with 211 LA, Airbnb is offering free temporary housing for any SoCal resident who has had to evacuate their home. Babyletto This Los Angeles nursery brand is offering free replacement cribs to any displaced families in need. GoodRx This medical website is offering free Telehealth services to all Los Angeles residents. Planet Fitness The gym chain is offering free access to locker rooms, showers, power outlets and Wi-Fi to members and nonmembers alike until Jan. 15. UFC Gym Much like Planet Fitness, the UFC Gym chain is offering SoCal residents, first responders and anyone else impacted by the fires free access to showers, locker rooms, power outlets and Wi-Fi until the end of January. U-Haul The travel and storage business is allowing victims of the wildfires to use U-Haul facilities as storage spaces for free for 30 days. Travel Lyft The rideshare company is currently offering free rides up to $25 with the code CAFIRERELIEF25. The code can be used twice per account. Uber Uber is also offering a code for free rides, this one up to $40. Just enter WILDFIRE25 in the Wallet section of the Uber app. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Companies With Free Items and Services for LA Fire Survivors CHICAGO A 15-year-old boy was accidentally shot while handling a handgun on the citys Southwest Side, police said. The incident happened around 1:45 a.m. Friday on the 7100 block of South Kedzie Avenue in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. Police said the teen was shot in the left forearm and transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in fair condition There is no one in custody and Area One detectives are investigating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for the communitys assistance in finding a missing at-risk 15-year-old girl. Police say Frida Rodriguez, 15, was last seen in the 2200 block of Quincy Street on Wednesday. She is considered at-risk due to no reported prior history of running away. Rodriguez is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on Rodriguezs whereabouts is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Eric Krassman Jr. is back behind bars tonight after appearing in court for a preliminary hearing today. Throughout the proceedings, Krassman remained largely silent, with his defense attorneys offering few statements. He did not provide any indication of his side in the case. >> 16-year-old apprehended after shooting of another teen in Beaver Falls During the hearing, 16-year-old Darell Loves mother became emotional on the witness stand. She testified that she heard a gunshot before seeing Krassman run down the stairs, dropping a gun as he passed her. Behind him was her son, Love, holding his face and bleeding from a gunshot wound. That was the last time she saw him alive after medics took him to the hospital, where he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My heart goes out to them Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible told Channel 11. Everybody is somebodys child, but this was a 16-year-old. Krassman faces criminal homicide charges, including first-degree murder, third-degree murder, and involuntary manslaughter. He is also charged with two counts of firearm possession. >> 16-year-old charged with homicide in shooting death of another teen in Beaver Falls The shooting occurred in Loves bedroom while he was on FaceTime with his girlfriend. She testified that she saw Krassman enter the room but heard no argument before the gunshot rang out. She then witnessed Love bleeding and saw Krassman run from the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 11 asked Bible if there was any indication the shooting could have been accidental. Thats something my detectives immediately looked into, Bible said. The firearm used in this case had two safetiesone near the chamber and another on the trigger. The first safety was off, and the trigger safety requires pressure. Anytime a loaded firearm with the safety off is pointed at someones head and fired, my initial reaction is that this was not an accident. Police said that both firearms Krassman possessed were stolen. The judge held all charges and the next step is for a decertification hearing, where the state will argue Krassman should be tried as an adult while the defense will push for the case to be handled in the juvenile system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outcome makes a big difference based on the penalties he could face, said Bible. This incident is just one of several violent crimes reported in Beaver County in recent weeks. However, the District Attorneys Office stated there is no evidence linking these cases, which are being treated as isolated incidents. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: J. Colleen Guiles. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember J. Colleen Guiles, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Hawaii Lions are calling on residents to help clear out their drawers and closets for a good cause. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You On Saturday, January 18, the organization will host its 16th Annual Lions in Sight statewide Eyeglass & Hearing Aid Collection event, encouraging people to donate used eyewear and hearing aids to their Recycle For Sight program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 18, Lions members will be stationed at various locations throughout Hawaii, including all Walmart stores, collecting donated items. While some Lions will be outside gathering eyewear, others will be inside Walmart stores supporting Walmarts Wellness Day events. Donations can also be dropped off in special Lions Recycle For Sight collection boxes located at Walmart Vision Centers. These donated glasses and hearing aids will be cleaned, tested, and prepared for distribution. Eyeglasses will be sorted by prescription and sent to developing countries where access to eye care is limited and expensive. What to watch for in 2025: Stan Fichtman Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the World Health Organization, about 25% of the global population could benefit from corrective lenses. Lions will also accept hearing aids, which will be cleaned and tested for local use. One of the events highlights will be a free vision screening at Kahala Mall (next to the Sunglass Hut in Macys Wing), where Lions will be offering free eye tests from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This service is available for children ages 4 and older, including those in grades Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Parents will need to fill out a permission slip for children to participate. The Lions Recycle For Sight program is a vital part of their ongoing efforts to support those in need of eye care, especially in countries where an eye exam can be the equivalent of a months wages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lions are committed to Helen Kellers 1925 challenge to become Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For more details and a full list of collection sites, visit hawaiilions.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. A 17-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after he was struck by a car while crossing the street in a crosswalk Thursday evening in Oak Creek, police said. Police said the incident happened at 7:09 p.m. in the 300 block of East Puetz Road. That's near Oak Creek High School, which was hosting a career expo Thursday evening. Officers located a 17-year-old male who was struck by an eastbound vehicle while crossing the street in the crosswalk, a news release from the Oak Creek Police Department early Friday morning said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The driver, a 20-year-old man, was issued a citation for passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, according to the release. Witnesses told law enforcement the vehicle which struck the 17-year-old passed other vehicles which had stopped for the teen crossing the street. Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Teen hospitalized after being struck by car near Oak Creek High School An 18-year-old is Milwaukee's first fatal shooting victim of 2025. Milwaukee police said the fatal shooting took place Thursday at about 5:11 p.m. on the 6000 block of West Sheridan Avenue. The 18-year-old, gender not provided by police, was transported to a hospital where the victim died. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still under investigation and police have not announced an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or by using the P3 Tips app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwaukee going almost the first nine days of the new year without a homicide is the longest streak to open the year since 2014, when the first homicide didn't occur until Jan. 15. There were 138 homicides in the area in 2024, according to data from the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. That's a hefty drop from the COVID-19 pandemic era, when there were about 215 in 2022 and about 172 in 2023, but still lags behind the years prior to that period. More: Milwaukee sees declines in violent and property crimes in 2024: 'Should motivate all of us' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: An 18-year-old is Milwaukee's first fatal shooting victim in 2025 An 18-year-old woman stuck in a car with accused kidnappers told them she was ordering pizza as she called 911 in Washington, police said. The woman was with her 17-year-old cousin when they met up with two men to get marijuana before 1 a.m. Jan. 6, the Seattle Police Department said in a probable cause statement. Timothy Armstrong, 39, and Jamir Mayfield, 23, picked the two up, police said. Police said the 18-year-old then took a hit of a joint, which she said made her feel differently than weed usually does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armstrong and Mayfield then asked the cousins to hand them both of their phones to play music, but the 18-year-old kept her younger cousins phone, police said. She said she was using it to order pizza, but instead called 911 at 1:32 a.m. and told the operator she couldnt speak freely, police said. She then told the two men she wanted to get out of the vehicle to pee, but they told her to shut up, police said. Armstrong and Mayfield flashed their guns and said you see this? You wanna get popped? the teen told police. Once they parked, the men grabbed her to come with them, but she said her dad was on the phone, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told police she watched Armstrong, Mayfield and her cousin go into a building. The 18-year-old got her cousins location and shared it with police who arrested Armstrong and Mayfield, authorities said. Armstrong was found with a gun, police said. The 17-year-old told her cousin they had tried to take her clothes off in the apartment and told her the marijuana had been laced with acid, police said. Both men were arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping. Their bails were set at $200,000. Sister calls 911 after seeing brother get shot near fishing pier, Washington cops say 2-year-old among family of 5 killed in unimaginable fire, Georgia officials say 8-year-old shot in the head during road rage, Texas cops say. Now, man pleads guilty DES MOINES, Iowa A 19-year-old pled guilty on Thursday to shooting and killing his cousin following an argument over marijuana on Des Moines southside in September. According to Des Moines police, at around 1:40 p.m. on September 1 officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 3400 block of South Union Street. When first responders arrived on scene they discovered 21-year-old Tariq Reynolds suffering from gunshot wounds. Reynolds was transported to local hospital where he later died. DMFD calls break record in 2024, EMS calls stayed flat Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day after the shooting Des Moines police announced that an arrest had been made in the shooting. Martavius Green, 19, from Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder. Green and Reynolds were cousins. According to the Polk County Attorneys office, Green was staying at his aunts home when the shooting took place. The attorneys office said an argument broke out between Green and a guest at his aunts home over sharing marijuana. The argument escalated and Reynolds sibling asked Green to leave. Shortly after leaving, Green returned to the home. The attorneys office said tensions escalated again and Green punched Reynolds sibling in the face. Reynolds then put Green in a bear hug and they both fell to the ground. The attorneys office said thats when Green shot Reynolds twice. Green claimed that Reynolds was choking him and that the shooting was self defense. Greens First Degree Murder trial began on Monday, but on Thursday he accepted a plea deal. He pled guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter and First-Degree Burglary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February 18. Green faces a maximum of 35 years in prison. He must serve at least 10 years before he would be eligible for parole. Metro News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. AI is the new cloud everybody's doing it but nobody knows how much of it they're doing, Litkey said. If you asked executives how much they were spending on cloud eight years ago, they couldnt tell you. The same thing is happening with AI right now. As enterprises feel the pain of rising AI costs in the absence of clear returns, executives are beginning to worry. Theres a gazillion dollars being overspent right now on software in the cloud that people don't need to be buying, if they just apply their entitlements, he said. Those providers have terms that say on-prem licenses can be used in the cloud. Enterprise software procurements remain ripe for optimization, according to Litkey. Many organizations are overpaying major providers like Microsoft, Oracle and SAP by neglecting licensing portability provisions. Last year, IT and software asset managers forged alliances with cloud-focused FinOps teams to rationalize SaaS procurements and avoid the sting of costly vendor audits. The FinOps Foundation added data center costs, another escalating category of spend, to its scopes in November . When FinOps originated, it had the word cloud in front of it, Litkey said. Cloud doesnt preface FinOps so much anymore, even when its used by the FinOps Foundation. AI is also on the FinOps radar, according to Jay Litkey, SVP of cloud and FinOps at Flexera and FinOps Foundation governing board member. FinOps was born in the cloud, as IT teamed up with finance to put a lid on rising enterprise cloud bills. The approach worked so well that FinOps is spreading organically across the IT ecosystem to help rein in software spending, bringing cost optimization practices to the data center. Here are 5 trends that will shape CIO roles this year: As 2025 rolls in, executives remain mired in the same challenges. However, their approach will differ this year as new strategies come into the fold. Leaders will apply FinOps practices beyond the cloud, turning to their vendors to leverage agentic AI and build digital literacy to solve staffing shortages. CIOs spent 2024 figuring out how to respond to fast-moving technology demands, grappling with a dizzying spread of solutions from vendors and shifts in global regulations. This story was originally published on CIO Dive . To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter . Story Continues 2. Vendors will lead an AI agent proliferation AI providers have not been shy about where they believe enterprise adoption is headed: toward agentic capabilities and services. Rather than responding to prompts and offering advice, AI agents can decide what to do next without needing step-by-step human guidance. Last year, Meta, Microsoft, Google, SAP and Salesforce were among a batch of vendors that began shifting messaging toward AI agents and related use cases. In 2025, the list of options for enterprises to choose from is expected to grow. Agents range from simple prompts to fully autonomous, Hadley Griffin, a product manager in Office AI at Microsoft, said during an annual shareholder meeting in December. They assist with everything from prioritizing leads, scheduling meetings, fulfilling orders and many others. Agent-focused predictions peppered vendor-published trends for 2025. Salesforce says this year will be characterized by multi-agent systems taking center stage, and Google predicts agentic capabilities will simplify complex tasks for employees as the technology becomes more popular in businesses. The shift for vendors from copilot to agent also aligns with increasing pressure from enterprise customers to reach ROI on AI initiatives at a faster pace. Many organizations grappled with roadblocks for the past two years, and agents can offer more direct business value compared to the legwork required with general-purpose models. Even so, there are additional hurdles on the horizon. While CIOs are interested in agents, nearly 9 in 10 admit their existing tech stack needs upgrades before deploying the technology, according to a survey of more than 1,000 tech leaders commissioned by Tray.ai and published in December. 3. CIOs pursue the CEO seat as tech becomes more critical The CIO role spent much of the previous decade gaining strategic importance. Organizations expect their technology strategies to drive financial outcomes, prompting more CIOs to align their careers toward the chief executive seat. Nearly one-quarter of CIOs chose CEO as the top C-suite position they were likely to pursue in the future, according to Info-Tech Research Group. "Technology has built a foundational layer under leadership and business," said Brittany Lutes, research director in the firm's CIO practice. "Those skill sets that the senior-most individual in the organization needed have shifted to be technology focused." The CIO's growing scope of influence is already shifting reporting structures, according to Gartner VP Analyst Daniel Sanchez Reina. The firm has tracked an increase in the number of CIOs reporting into COOs, reflecting a closer tie between technology and how businesses operate. When executives report to CFOs, their remit tends to focus on productivity or profitability. But roles reporting into COOs can have a broader impact on how businesses operate. "This is what CEOs want," Sanchez Reina said. "CEOs want CIOs to have a much wider perspective of the enterprise." 4. AI governance headaches will persist CIOs found it challenging to manage the different aspects of AI initiatives in 2024, and analysts expect AI plans to become more complex this year as the technology and regulatory landscape evolves. Governance is reappearing as a No. 1 priority because organizations realize that theyre never going to be able to do AI at scale if they dont have a good and strong governance foundation, Collibra CEO Felix Van de Maele told CIO Dive. Governance has almost become sexy. Enterprises are up against a fast-evolving landscape. While governance can provide enterprises with the proper bumper-like guardrails to ensure adoption is responsible and compliant, most leaders have yet to crack the code. Less than half of enterprises are compliant with existing AI laws or actively working toward compliance, according to an Omdia survey. The lack of expertise in how to govern AI is setting enterprises up to start the year on shaky ground, especially for those looking to pursue agentic AI integration. The risks become a lot higher, Van de Maele said. The control and the confidence that you need to do these things become a lot higher, and I think thats just not where organizations today are. 5. Executives will focus on building digital literacy around AI Fatigued by vendor promises and looking to quick wins, CIOs will spend more resources and time in 2025 building up in-house skills to harness the potential of technology tools. Part of the solution will come from training. Digital literacy, particularly around AI tools, will emerge as a key executive priority in 2025, said Seth Robinson, VP of industry research at CompTIA. "We've seen in a lot of our studies [in 2024], surveying HR professionals and hiring managers, that these skills are needed across the entire workforce," said Robinson. "Digital literacy and skills include some working knowledge of what AI is and how it works." The IT trade group forecasts two-thirds of organizations intend to train current employees to close IT skills gaps in cybersecurity, software, data, and other areas of IT, up from 59% in 2024. To help enterprises surmount skills barriers, vendors have deployed free and low-cost AI training programs.. One joint effort last year set the goal of upskilling 100 million tech workers in the next decade, in a consortium led by Cisco and backed by Microsoft, Google, IBM, Intel and SAP. Building internal AI knowledge will require leaders to embed the technology throughout processes, according to Owl Labs CEO Frank Weishaupt. "You really need to have [AI] at the forefront so you're not just training by putting in an article in a knowledge base for your employees, but you're changing the language of how you communicate," said Weishaupt. "There's so many positives to it that it really needs to be on the top of everybody's mind." Recommended Reading ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. Taxpayers are on the hook for a growing tab of legal fees piling up after a court battle over which politician picks the St. Louis County prosecutor. The St. Louis County executive picked Cort VanOstran to replace outgoing Wesley Bell as top prosecutor. Missouris governor chose Melissa Price Smith. The courts ultimately decided the governor had the authority, and Smith was sworn in as the St. Louis County Prosecutor on Jan. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the private attorney fees are coming in the countys failed fight. Invoices so far add up to $19,135.00just for services through Nov. 30. Theyre expenses St. Louis County Councilman Dennis Hancock said were initiated without County Council input. Hancock said, Would it make more sense to do that again, or would it make more sense to pick up the phone and call the governor and say whos your choice on this? Maybe we can work something out. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Plus, he says the $19,000 billed so far is not the end of it. I think most of the work was done in December, Hancock said. So, I think its going to turn out to be a pretty significant amount of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also caught up with Councilman Mark Harder, who was riding with a snowplow driver to learn how to improve service. Harder commented, Its a lot of money when were short and we need salt truck drivers, and we need equipment that works, and were wasting it on these lawsuits. County Executive Sam Page responded, saying the legal fight was important to try to protect county voters. Page told us, We have 750,000 registered voters in St. Louis County. They should be, whenever possible, electing our leaders, and if its ever necessary, they should be in charge of removing them. FOX 2s Chris Hayes asked, Why not rely on internal counsel? Why hire big money attorneys? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, we have limited bandwidth. Our budget has been cut for our attorneys. Our attorneys are overwhelmed with their normal routine work, and I need to make sure the normal routine work in St. Louis County continues to get done that we continue to be able to buy things under contract that we have salt and snowplows and police cars, Page answered. FOX 2 will make another request for the final tab when the remaining invoices arrive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. AUSTIN (KXAN) Two suspects were arrested in connection with a series of robberies that happened near the Hyde Park neighborhood just before Christmas. The Austin Police Departments Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Andre Center, 47, and a juvenile and charged them both with Credit Card Abuse, according to APD. APD said additional charges may be pending. According to police, multiple robberies happened on the nights of Dec. 22 and Dec. 24 in the 600 block of Maiden Lane then fled on foot. In early January, APD released images of a suspect fleeing through the neighborhood on foot and asked the public to help identify him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous coverage: Police looking for suspect in series of December robberies near Hyde Park Anyone with any video/information should contact APDs Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. MIDDLEBURY Two men were arrested after a toll road chase on Christmas Eve that ended in a crash at a Middlebury church. Jwan Jones and Charles Jenkins, both 32, are charged with dealing cocaine as a Level 2 felony and possession of methamphetamine as a Level 4 felony following the chase on Dec. 24. Jones is additionally charged with resisting law enforcement as a Level 6 felony and Jenkins with resisting as a misdemeanor. Both men were booked in the Elkhart County Correctional Facility on $250,000 bond. They received a preliminary jury trial date of March 31 during their initial court hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents: An Indiana State Police trooper attempted to pull over a black Volkswagen Tiguan with Virginia license plates on Dec. 24 at around 9:10 a.m. after allegedly recording a speed of 88 mph in a 70 mph zone. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on the Indiana Toll Road near mile marker 95.4. The Volkswagens speeds ranged from 100 mph to 124 mph during the chase, according to police. It exited at mile marker 107, crashing through a toll gate before heading south on Ind. 13 at speeds of around 90 mph. The vehicle crossed the center line into oncoming traffic several times before taking a turn west onto Lawrence Street at high speed, according to police. The driver lost control and the vehicle crashed into Faith Baptist Church in Middlebury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver and passenger fled on foot in opposite directions. Middlebury Police officers were able to detain the passenger, who was identified as Jenkins, while the driver, identified as Jones, was later found hiding in a shed several blocks south down Main Street. Jones received medical attention for an injury to his leg. He claimed he didnt know what was going on or why he was being arrested and denied ever being to Virginia, according to police. Police say a search of the car uncovered two firearm magazines and bags of suspected marijuana, methamphetamine and psilocybin mushrooms, and that two loaded guns were found in the shed. Jones and Jenkins denied owning the guns and drugs. The pastor of the church provided security footage of the crash which showed the two suspects fleeing from the vehicle, according to police. MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WDTN) Two people are facing several charges after an alleged home invasion Thursday afternoon. Officers from the Middletown Division of Police were called shortly before 2 p.m. on Jan. 9 to the 1900 block of Brookside Street in Middletown. According to police, officers were sent in reference to a reported home invasion. The resident reportedly told authorities that two individuals allegedly entered the residence with firearms. The two people are also accused of demanding money and assaulting the resident, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both individuals were reportedly located and arrested after an extensive search. The two suspects were charged with aggravated burglary, felonious assault and kidnapping. Residents in the following areas are asked to check their security camera footage: Brookside Street Eldora Drive North Verity Parkway Wilbraham Road Winona Drive If you have information on the alleged incident, call Detective Ken Mynhier at 1-513-425-7720 or Middletown Police Dispatch at 1-513-425-7700. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) As wildfires continue to ravage southern California, two local organizations are stepping up to lend a helping hand. Matthew 25 Ministries and the Ohio Southern Baptist Disaster Relief are currently gearing up to provide relief and support for those impacted by the fires. They will be sending not only key resources but people as well to assist those who may have lost everything in the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, which has an office right here in Dayton, said it is currently on standby but is ready to deploy to California at a moments notice. Right now, members are following updates and gathering information on what areas need the most help. They plan to provide food and trauma and spiritual care, as well as help with property recovery. Donate to Matthew 25 Ministries Donate to OSB Disaster Relief Donate to the American Red Cross Matthew 25 Ministries, located in Blue Ash, Ohio, said it will be sending large shipments of essential items, including hygiene care, blankets and water to assist those whose lives were turned upside down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These supplies are vital now as they begin their recovery, because some of them will be starting over from scratch, said Ben Williams, Matthew 25 Ministries chief disaster relief officer. Some of them will be staying in and shelters and hotels and things like that. And so these supplies will aid them in those recovery efforts and allow them to focus more of their efforts on instead of having to purchase some of these goods from the store. They can now focus their finances and their efforts on the recovery process. Both Matthew 25 Ministries and Ohio Southern Baptist Disaster Relief are accepting public donations to help out relief efforts for the wildfires. King Bass, 6, left, sits and watches the Holy Fire burn from on top of his parents car as his sister Princess, 5, rests her head on his shoulder Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Two 18-year-old teens are facing charges after police raided two Grafton homes on Thursday, police said. Investigators seized nearly $38,000 in cash and a significant amount of drugs including Class C and Class D controlled substances, police said in a statement on Friday. Police on Friday did not release the names of the teens who were arrested or the addresses of the homes that were seized. The two 18-year-old men are charged with possession with intent to distribute Class C substance, possession with intent to distribute Class D substance, distribution of Class C substance and distribution of Class D substance, and conspiracy to violate drug laws, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a great example of strong investigative and police work as well as collaboration between multiple agencies, Grafton Police Chief Neil Minardi said in a statement. We appreciate the dedication, coordination and professionalism of all the officers involved in bringing this investigation to a safe conclusion. On Thursday, members of the Blackstone Valley Drug Task Force, led by Grafton Sergeant Liam ORourke and Officer Coryn Dias, executed search warrants at two separate homes in Grafton, Minardi said. Members of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, a group consisting of more than 60 municipal law enforcement agencies, assisted Grafton Police in executing the warrants. Grafton is a town southeast of Worcester. The towns population was 19,664 at the 2020 census. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 After years of advocacy, planning and frustrating delays, a hotly anticipated multicultural outdoor plaza in Oklahoma Citys Historic Capitol Hill District is finally expected to break ground in mid-January. Plaza Calle Dos Cinco, set to be built between SW 24 and SW 25 on Harvey Avenue, will feature vibrant designs reflecting the neighborhoods Hispanic community. A celebratory ceremony kicking off official construction of the plaza is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 15 inside We the People Consulting, a Native female-owned firm located in the repurposed former bank building at 228 SW 25 in Oklahoma City. Inspired by traditional gathering spaces throughout Latin American countries, the plaza will be surrounded by the historic church, Templo De Alabanza, and local businesses that have given SW 25 its distinctly Hispanic culture in recent decades. Design plans for the plaza include colorful art, Talavera tiles, an arched entry, gazebo stage, decorative lighting and trees, seating and other amenities honoring the history of the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaza is our family, friends and neighbors gathering spot, Gloria Torres, executive director of Calle Dos Cinco in Historic Capitol Hill, said in a statement. Whether from a Latin country or just the other side of town, the plaza will make you feel welcomed and at home. More: Festival plaza to provide Capitol Hill a gathering spot reflecting growing Hispanic community This rendering shows what planners envision the Calle Dos Cinco Plaza in the Historic Capitol Hill District to look like. Who will be at the groundbreaking ceremony? What is the schedule? Groundbreaking schedule Along with Torres, the groundbreaking Thursday is set to feature a 30-minute lineup of speakers, including: Shannon Entz, the program manager for the citys Strong Neighborhoods Initiative. Kendra Wilson-Clements, founder and CEO of We the People Consulting. Oklahoma City Council members JoBeth Hamon (representing Ward 6) and Todd Stone (representing Ward 4). Miriam Campos, vice president and head of community impact for BancFirst. Randy Quiroga-King, publisher of El Nacional, a Spanish-language media company operating in OKC since 1988. Melinda McMillan-Miller, the citys Parks and Recreation director. Wilson-Clements, a community advocate and citizen of the Choctaw Nation, said she jumped at the opportunity when asked to host the groundbreaking ceremony and to provide the events ancestral honoring. Kendra Wilson-Clements, owner and CEO of We the People Consulting, is pictured inside the consulting firm's building at 228 SW 25 in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. The moment will function similar to a land acknowledgement, a statement recognizing the Indigenous people who originally inhabited the land where the event is taking place. In this case, however, the ancestral honoring is specific for an Indigenous person to deliver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This building that we sit on is the original homelands of the Wichita and Caddo people, and so Ill be providing some history about those tribes, Wilson-Clements said. And we know that this area, this district, this river and these waterways were ancient trade zones, as well, and so were always wanting to honor those people who were here before nomadic tribes that may have not called this home but were passing through, going to South America. We refer to our South American friends as our relatives from the South, which also makes this district so special. More: Historic Capitol Hill in southwest OKC could soon see a renaissance. What turned the tide? How long has the plaza been in the works? The $3 million construction of the plaza is being funded through combined federal allocations to the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative. Entz, expected to emcee the ceremony, said the new plaza also represents the community's longstanding work with the city's Commercial District Revitalization Program to improve the neighborhood. I have a lot of deep love for this community because of the people that Ive met and gotten to know, and they have such passion for their own Hispanic community but also for Oklahoma City, and for it to be better for all of their neighbors and friends and families, Entz said. It really resonates with me, and it is an absolute honor of my career to help bring this to fruition with them. A rendering of Plaza Calle Dos Cinco is pictured July 14, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Entz emphasized that the project would not have been possible without the determined, behind-the-scenes collaboration of many community organizers, neighborhood leaders and local property owners and businesspeople over the past two decades. They were all united, she said, in their shared understanding of "the greater value of a public space like this" to the southside community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have been working with city staff all along the way, and they have created this and manifested this, because this is at least 20 years in the making, Entz said. They have tried in several different ways and with very little money over the years to make this happen, and they just couldnt find the right funds and the right location. But I think this now is the right time and the right location. When will the plaza be completed and open? The plaza, expected to be completed by August, also would open in time for the 20th annual Fiestas de las Americas, the largest Latino festival in Oklahoma City. The Capitol Hill Business Improvement District will manage the new plaza. Construction of a short trail spur connecting the new plaza to Wiley Post Park also will begin at the same time. The $400,000 trail is meant to better link the park with neighborhoods, improving access to the park's amenities. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's Historic Capitol Hill plaza groundbreaking set for Jan. 15 Over 35 years ago now, as the Soviet Union teetered on the brink of collapse and President George H.W. Bush worked to secure a peaceful conclusion to the Cold War, the political scientist Francis Fukuyama infamously declared the end of history. What we may be witnessing is not just the end of the Cold War, Fukuyama writes in the pages of The National Interest, but the end of history as such: That is, the end point of mankinds ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government. Yet, as one student in my large survey course remarked during our discussion on Fukuyamas essay this fall, History is still gonna go on. Indeed, historians such as Kathleen Belew have shown that the ostensible triumph of Western liberal democracy over Soviet-style socialism brought little comfort to Americans, many of whom had been conditioned to expect a nuclear apocalypse at the hands of what Ronald Reagan called the Evil Empire. Some, especially those who ran in white-power and far-right circles, worried that an increasingly powerful federal government would supplant the USSR as the principal threat facing ordinary Americans. The domestic disorder and dysfunction of the early 1990s lent at least some credence to these fears. Ruby Ridge and Waco seemed to reveal the incompetence and callousness of federal law enforcement agencies, while the Rodney King beating, the Latasha Harlins murder, and the Los Angeles uprising suggested that the United States still had a long way to go to fulfill its promise as a multiracial democracy. In these years, the HIV/AIDS crisis raged, as did the culture wars, kindled by the incendiary rhetoric of Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh, and Jesse Helms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past several years, some scholars and public intellectuals have discovered the roots of our tumultuous present in this end of history moment. Nicole Hemmer, for one, has argued that American right-wingers increasingly jettisoned Reagans sunny optimism in favor of a pessimistic, angrier, and even more revolutionary conservatism in the late 1980s and early 90s. More recently, John Ganz has spotlighted the many con men and conspiracists of the period who, he claims, prefigured the full-fledged debut of Trumpism a decade ago. In her compact, yet powerful new book, Colette Shade examines a later period within the broader end of history moment, which she terms the Y2K era. Beginning in 1997 with the introduction of Netscape Navigatora pivotal moment in the career of the internetand ending with the onset of the Great Recession in 2008, the Y2K era seemed to bear out Fukuyamas end of history thesis, Shade notes. Its rampant techno-optimism, evidenced by the dot-com bubble of the late 90s and early 2000s, joined with hyper-consumerism and a steadfast belief that the West had transcended politics to forge an ecstatic, frenetic, and wildly hopeful decade. Yet as Shade persuasively demonstrates, this hopeful energy masked not only the failures of global capitalismwhich would be exposed by the activists at the 1999 Battle of Seattle and later by the economic collapse of 20072008but also the political vacuity and cultural rot of the period. Far from a savvy and innovative political mode, the conscious centrism charted by Bill Clinton simply intensified the punitive, deregulatory, and market-centric policies that had reigned for much of the 1970s and 80s. And the futuristic bubblegum glam of Y2K pop culturenostalgia fuel for the likes of Charli XCX and Troye Sivanreflected and advanced the profound misogyny and fatphobia of the period. We are still living with the consequences. At the dawn of the Y2K era, the possibilities seemed endless. The fall of the Soviet Union had consecrated a global economic and political order that paired capitalism and liberal democracy. Free markets and free societies went hand in hand, the thinking went, and accordingly globalization became the watchword of the period. The free flow of capital, goods, and ideas across borders and continents would open up closed societies and create a more peaceful, more stable, and more prosperous world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nafta, the controversial free trade agreement negotiated and signed into law by the outgoing President Bush in December 1992, would facilitate this process through the abolition of certain restrictions inhibiting trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Across the Atlantic, the Treaty of Maastricht, signed earlier in 1992, established the European Union, which would operate on free market principles. At the dawn of the Y2K era, the possibilities seemed endless. The internet would break down economic, political, and cultural barriers, and the so-called New Economy promised unlimited, unfettered growth. Thomas Friedman, a columnist at The New York Times, captured the prevailing political and economic mood with his infamous Golden Arches theory. First publicly articulated in a 1996 column in the Times, the theory went something like this: No two nations with McDonalds restaurants have ever gone or will ever go to war with one another. People in McDonalds countries dont like to fight wars, Friedman argued. They like to wait in line for burgers. Many observers also believed that the growing popularity of home computing and the internet would break down economic, political, and cultural barriers between populations across the globe, thereby enriching all parties involved (in multiple senses of the word). Undergirded by information and tech, boosters of the so-called New Economy promised unlimited, unfettered growth. The introduction of the internet into American households during this period facilitated the development of the dot-com bubble, which rested on flawed valuations of dubious start-up websites such as Pets and eToys. It seemed like the stock market would keep going up forever and ever, Shade reminds us, and everyone would be rich if they could just get in on the action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dot-com crash of 2000 put a damper on some of this wild-eyed optimism, but for many observers in the United States, the dream of peace and prosperity at the end of history endured until 2008. With the onset of the Great Recession, the hope that so many felt during the Y2K era turned to despair. That despair only deepened as a dynamic and wildly successful presidential candidate vowing to foment hope and change filled his Cabinet with some of the same Clintonites who had actually engendered the economic crisis then enveloping the world. Ultimately, Barack Obamas failure to deliver the peace, prosperity, and stability he had promised further disillusioned so many Americansespecially millennial lefties such as Shade and me. To tell the story of the Y2K era is to tell the story of the millennial left during the decade that followed, Shade provocatively writes near the end of her book. Out of the dejection and disillusionment of the Clinton, Bush, and Obama years erupted Occupy Wall Street, Jacobin, the Bernie campaign, Chapo Trap House, the Democratic Socialists of America, Black Lives Matter, the #MeToo movement, the increasingly visible trans rights and disability rights and immigrant rights movements, Standing Rock, Starbucks unions and the movement for climate justice. In other words, the Y2K era and its Obama coda radicalized Shade and millions of others. As historian Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor explained in 2016, it was no accident that Black Lives Matter, for one, emerged during the second term of the nations first and only African American president. How did we get from the optimism of the Obama presidential run to the eruption of a protest movement calling itself Black Lives Matter? asked Taylor. Perhaps the optimism itself is to blame, or rather the contrast between Obamas promise and the reality of his tenure. As Shade puts it, A generation raised to believe that historys biggest questions were settled felt that they had been lied to. Those lies took many different forms, Shade illustrates in her wide-ranging and tremendously compelling book: from the belief in the emancipatory power of consumption to the conviction that thinness was next to godliness, to Americans seemingly unwavering faith in U.S. hard and soft power. Its impossible to contemplate the Y2K era and all its boosterism without also weighing the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the war on terror that followed. In what might be her most controversial argument, Shade dismisses the cliche that 9/11 marked a new phase in American history, policy, and culture. The U.S. did enter a new chapter, she contends, though it was part of the same book, as President George W. Bush encouraged Americans to double down on the same habits that had defined the late 90s. Get down to Disney World in Florida, Bush implored the public. Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed. A good American was a good consumeror, in Shades words, Shopping was the most important part of citizenship. In that vein, the post-9/11 compulsion to purchase and display American flagsmany made in the same Chinese, Bangladeshi, and Indonesian sweatshops as other American goods, Shade recallsseamlessly blended the well-worn American pastimes of materialism and jingoism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to shift the focus away from September 11 as a rupture point puts Y2K at odds with recent (and excellent) books by Richard Beck and Spencer Ackerman. Beck and Ackerman both argue that the 9/11 attacks set the country on a fundamentally new course, which would ultimately foster the political malaise and uncertainty on which Trumpism depended and continues to depend. The subtitle of Ackermans book is How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump, while in his account, Beck hypothesizes that if September 11 had not occurred, Donald Trump could never have become president. While the destabilizing effects of 9/11 cannot be overstated, theres also something to be said for Shades examination of the preceding years, which encourages readers to look at the forms of capitalism, consumerism, and chauvinism that were already in play. 9/11 never challenged the assumptions on which the Y2K era rested, Shade insists. What defined the Y2K Era, she writes, was the unquestioned rule of American-led global capitalism, which began after the Cold War ended in the early 90s and the dot-com bubble inflated in the late 90s. Only with the arrival of the Great Recession in 2008 would these assumptions break apart, Shade argues. The American-led global capitalism at the heart of the Y2K era relied on both U.S. hard poweron full display during the decades-long war on terrorand the soft imperialism of American pop culture, which enticed people around the world to embrace an American-led economic system. But as Shade details, Y2K pop cultureand particularly its more judgmental and sinister elementsalso had a profound impact on the lives of young people stateside. In the books most heart-wrenching chapter, Shade recalls how the thin-obsessed fashion magazines of the early 2000s caused her to develop an eating disorder. (She productively ties the eras fatphobia to a neoliberal and meritocratic obsession with risk and metrics: weight, money, grades, statistics.) From 1997 through 2008, we lived dishonestly, Shade explains in her conclusion. We dreamt we were ascending into the future, leaving history and all its complications behind on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this moment, vultures like blogger and provocateur Perez Hilton simultaneously preyed on and propped up Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen twins, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton, among other overexposed celebrity teens and young adults. Subject to constant scrutiny, harassment, and judgment, these young women understandably struggled to contain all the contradictions of fame and wealth and femininity, Shade observes, which led to very public outbursts and breakdowns, the lifeblood of the Y2K-era fame ecosystem. This ecosystem collapsed along with the housing bubble and the global economy more generally, Shade argues. The party was over, although a new partythis one hosted on social mediawas already underway. Today, Shade notes, we have all been conscripted into influencer-dom, which is to say fame. We are all micro celebrities. Just as the Y2K-era thin ideal helped cause millions of eating disorders, and just as the fame ecosystem chewed up and spit out so many young stars in the early 2000s, the post-Recession rise of influencer-dom has exacerbated body image issues among American youth and fundamentally reshaped the social landscapefor better or worse. From 1997 through 2008, we lived dishonestly, Shade explains in her conclusion. We dreamt we were ascending into the future, leaving history and all its complications behind on the ground. Up and up we went into the sky. Now everyone could get rich in the stock market, drive a Hummer, own a McMansion. But, in 2008, we awoke in our beds, drenched in sweat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the years since, weve tried desperately to keep the dream alive. Obama bailed out and sought to rehabilitate the very financial institutions that had immiserated millions of Americans (much to the chagrin of those who occupied Zuccotti Park during his first term). Donald Trump, whose electoral base is the American gentry, has often promised to deliver prosperity to those left behind by globalization and neoliberalization. But its unclear who truly believes in the viability of the American dream or the American project, more broadly. In a Gallup survey taken last month, only 19 percent of Americans indicated that they were satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. The last time a majority of Americans expressed satisfaction with the direction of the country was December 2003right in the middle of the Y2K Era. By Kate Abnett and Alison Withers BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded 1.5 Celsius above the pre-industrial era for the first time, bringing the world closer to breaching the pledge governments made under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, scientists said on Friday. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed the 1.5C breach, after reviewing data from U.S., U.K., Japan and EU scientists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Global heating is a cold, hard fact," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. "There's still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act now." The bleak assessment came as wildfires charged by fierce winds swept through Los Angeles, with 10 people dead and nearly 10,000 structures destroyed so far. Wildfires are among the many disasters that climate change is making more frequent and severe. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said climate change was pushing the planet's temperature to levels never before experienced by modern humans. Scientists have linked climate change to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels. The planet's average temperature in 2024 was 1.6 degrees Celsius higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, C3S said. The last 10 years are the 10 hottest years on record, the WMO said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Climate change is worsening storms and torrential rainfall, because a hotter atmosphere can hold more water, leading to intense downpours. Atmospheric water vapour reached a record high in 2024, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it was the third-wettest year on record. In 2024, Bolivia and Venezuela suffered disastrous fires, while torrential floods hit Nepal, Sudan and Spain, and heat waves in Mexico and Saudi Arabia killed thousands. While climate change now affects people from the richest to the poorest on Earth, political will to address it has waned in some countries. Governments promised under the 2015 Paris Agreement to try to prevent the average global temperature rise from exceeding 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has called climate change a hoax, dismissing the global scientific consensus. During his first term in office he withdrew Washington from the Paris Agreement, and he has vowed to push greater fossil fuel production and roll back President Joe Biden's push toward alternative energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent European elections have shifted political priorities towards industrial competitiveness, with some European Union governments seeking to weaken climate policies they say hurt business. Matthew Jones, a climate scientist at the University of East Anglia in Britain, said climate-linked disasters will grow more common "so long as progress on tackling the root causes of climate change remains sluggish". EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said the 1.5C breach last year showed climate action must be prioritised. "It is extremely complicated, in a very difficult geopolitical setting, but we don't have an alternative," he told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 1.5C milestone should serve as "a rude awakening to key political actors to get their act together," said Chukwumerije Okereke, a professor of climate governance at Britain's University of Bristol. Britain's Met Office confirmed 2024's likely breach of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, while estimating a slightly lower average temperature of 1.53C for the year. Buontempo noted that 2024 did not breach that target since it measures the longer-term average temperature, but added that rising greenhouse gas emissions put the world on track to blow past the Paris goal soon. Countries could still rapidly cut emissions to avoid temperatures from rising further to disastrous levels, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's not a done deal. We have the power to change the trajectory," Buontempo said. Concentrations in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, reached a fresh high of 422 parts per million in 2024, C3S said. Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at U.S. non-profit Berkeley Earth, said he expected 2025 to be among the hottest years on record, but likely not top the rankings. He noted that temperatures in early 2024 got an extra boost from El Nino, a warming weather pattern now trending toward its cooler La Nina counterpart. "It's still going to be in the top three warmest years," he said. (Reporting by Kate Abnett and Ali Withers; additional reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; Editing by Nia Williams, Louise Heavens and David Gregorio) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss NEW YORK (Reuters) - Activist investor Barington Capital Group wants TriMas to launch a strategic review of options, including the possible sale of the entire company, arguing in a letter that hiring a financial adviser is a higher priority than finding a new CEO. The New York-based hedge fund, which owns roughly 1.5% of the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-headquartered manufacturer of industrial, aerospace, and consumer products, is dialing up the pressure days after TriMas said CEO Thomas Amato will step down. "Now is the optimal time for the Board to explore strategic alternatives for the Company and (we) do not believe that hiring a new CEO, who will embark on another 5 to 10 year strategic plan, is in the best interests of shareholders," Barington founder James Mitarotonda told TriMas Chairman Herbert Parker in a letter seen by Reuters. A TriMas representative did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Barington, a long-time TriMas investor, has argued for years that the packaging, aerospace and specialty products segments do not fit together and that its mini-conglomerate structure has contributed to a lagging stock price. The hedge fund has been urging TriMas to divest its aerospace and Arrow Engine units. TriMas, which has a market value of just under $1 billion, saw its stock price sink 25.5% over the last five years and closed trading at $23.12 on Wednesday. Barington said during Amato's eight years as CEO, the company made missteps and failed to clean up its portfolio. Barington said it wants the board to think more boldly and to consider the sale of each business separately as well as thinking about selling the company as a whole. Amato plans to leave at the end of June or earlier once a replacement is found, but Barington said hiring a new CEO now would delay the review and sales process. Activist investors like Barington are expected to step up demands for target companies to make deals this year as a new president moves into the White House and after mergers and acquisitions already picked up pace last year. Last year, for example, aerospace parts maker Barnes Group was taken private by Apollo Funds. Barington made headlines in the last weeks for pushing retailer Macy's to make changes to boost its share price and by running a board challenge at casket-maker Matthews International. Barington plans to press on with its proxy fight at Matthews even after the company this week announced plans to sell one of its units that the hedge fund had pushed for. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Jamie Freed) Its official: 2024 was the hottest year on record, breaking the previous record set in 2023 and pushing the world over a critical climate threshold, according to new data from Europes climate monitoring agency Copernicus. Last year was 1.6 degrees hotter than the period before humans began burning large amounts of fossil fuels, Copernicus found. It makes 2024 the first calendar year to breach the 1.5-degree limit countries agreed to avoid under the Paris climate agreement in 2015. Scientists are much more concerned about breaches over decades, rather than single years as above that threshold humans and ecosystems may struggle to adapt but 2024s record does mean were getting dangerously close, said Joeri Rogelj, a climate professor at Imperial College London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Copernicus analysis points to a slew of climate records falling last year: The planet endured its hottest day on record in July; each month from January to June was the warmest such month on record; and levels of planet-heating pollution reached unprecedented highs. Last year is part of a pattern of off-the-charts heat. Every single one of the worlds 10 hottest years happened in the last decade, according to Copernicus data. Behind these statistics lies a huge toll. Every fraction of a degree brings more harm to people and ecosystems, Rogelj said. The extreme weather that swept the globe last year shows just how dangerous life in a warmer world already is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back-to-back hurricanes in the US, fueled by ultra-warm ocean temperatures, killed hundreds of people. In Spain, more than 200 people died in catastrophic floods. Amazon rivers fell to unprecedented lows during the regions worst drought on record and the Philippines experienced an extraordinary typhoon season, with six in just 30 days. The climate crisis played a role in all of these extreme events, according to scientific analyses. A local police car engulfed in mud in a flooded area of Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. - Allison Joyce/AFP/Getty Images Low water levels in the Amazon River in the Macedonia community of Colombia on October 2, 2024. - Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images Scientists are still trying to fully understand why global heat has been so extreme for the past two years. The main driver is clear: the human-caused climate crisis, boosted by El Nino, a natural climate pattern that tends to have a warming influence, which began in 2023 and ended earlier this year. But it doesnt explain all of the heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists have also pointed to a recent drop in shipping pollution following regulations a win for human health, but, in a cruel twist, this type of pollution also helps cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back into space. The eruption of a huge underwater volcano in the South Pacific in 2022, which sent plumes of water vapor a potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere may have also contributed. Then there are the clouds. A December study found a dearth of sun-reflecting clouds over the ocean may be another factor. Scientists believe its unlikely 2025 will be another record-breaking year. La Nina, a natural climate pattern that tends to have a global cooling influence, was declared Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But people shouldnt think thats climate change hitting pause or plateauing, said Paulo Ceppi, a climate scientist at Imperial College London. A small dip doesnt change the clear upward trajectory were on, he added. Scientists say the decades to come are likely to be hotter still as humans continue to burn planet-heating coal, oil and gas. The world doesnt need to come up with a magical solution to stop things from getting worse in 2025, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London. We know exactly what we need to do to transition away from fossil fuels. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HONOLULU (KHON2) A new proposal aims to move the state Fire Marshal position from the state to the Department of Defense. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You In 1979, the State Legislature abolished the Fire Marshal position and created the State Fire Council instead, composed of county fire chiefs and more. Shortly after the devastating Lahaina wildfires, the House created six working groups to make suggestions on the states fire resiliency. Bringing back a Fire Marshal was one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaiian Electric to close Shift and Save program to new enrollments The same year, the State Legislature approved bringing it back. In a Thursday, Jan. 9 meeting, the DOD requested $3.3 million from the state to help run the re-established position. The state, however, only budgeted $170,000 to cover two staff members who would fall under the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Discussions to move it over have only just begun. Looking at the Maui wildland fires, which we participated in a lot, looking at the most recent event that occurred on New Years Day and then of course, the tragic loss of that firefighter and the hospitalization of the other injured firefighters, we see a real need to operationalize that concept as quickly as possible, said Maj. General Stephen Logan, Hawaii Adjutant General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maj. General Logan later added, If it does move to us, this is an attempt to try to secure funding so we can hit the ground running as quickly as possible. Check out more news from around Hawaii Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a current Fire Marshal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. DENVER (KDVR) Three people were arrested and are facing charges in connection to the shooting death of a 16-year-old girl that happened in Aurora earlier this week. Tuesday morning, officers with the Aurora Police Department responded to a reported home invasion at an apartment complex in the Village East neighborhood and found a 16-year-old girl with a gunshot wound. Teen killed during reported home invasion in Aurora Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police attempted life-saving measures until she was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The Arapahoe County Coroners Office identified the victim on Wednesday as Audrina Fedelina Arrington. A preliminary investigation found that multiple residents were inside when two armed men entered the apartment. According to police, a physical struggle ensued and shots were fired, striking and killing the teen. FOX31s Kasia Kerridge spoke to law enforcement procedural expert James Allbee, who said these types of situations dont typically happen by chance. Theres usually something that draws these suspects into these types of residences, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APDs Major Crime Homicide Unit announced Friday that three suspects from Aurora have been arrested this week in connection to the deadly shooting with help from APDs fugitive unit and SWAT Team as well as the Denver Police Departments narcotics unit. April Chevon Collingwood, 44 Cooper Miller, 35 David Gunion, 51 April Chevon Collingwood, 44, of Aurora, was one of three people arrested on charges of complicity to second-degree murder after a 16-year-old girl was killed during an alleged home invasion in Aurora. Cooper Miller, 35, of Aurora, was one of three people arrested on charges of second-degree murder after a 16-year-old girl was killed during an alleged home invasion in Aurora. David Gunion, 51, of Aurora, was one of three people arrested on charges of second-degree murder after a 16-year-old girl was killed during an alleged home invasion in Aurora. The suspects are all charged with first-degree burglary and attempted aggravated robbery. Miller and Gunion are both additionally charged with second-degree murder, while Collingwood is charged with complicity to commit second-degree murder. According to an arrest affidavit for Collingwood, the incident may have started because someone in the apartment was reported to have stolen motorcycles and tools from the suspects storage unit. The affidavit said Collingwood said she had no intention of anyone getting killed and expressed some remorse for the outcome. The documents also noted that Collingwood possibly paid the other suspects in drugs to confront the person in the apartment, while she stayed in the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Police said detectives learned that Miller and Gunion were the armed men who entered the apartment. According to APD, police have evidence of Collingwoods involvement, which included planning and recruiting Miller and Gunion to carry out the crime. The police department said there are no outstanding suspects in the case but said the investigation is ongoing. Police ask anyone with information to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Collingwood is being held on a $100,000 bond and appeared in the Arapahoe District Court for a hearing Thursday. The Arapahoe District Attorneys Office will file formal charges against Miller and Gunion, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) 20 small businesses in Iowa, including three in Siouxland, have been awarded over $275,000 in grants from the state. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced the awards on Thursday. The money comes through the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, with 20 different rural businesses being given Rural Innovation Grants. Sioux City awarded nearly $4M to develop rental homes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Entrepreneurship in rural areas builds sustainable, resilient communities, Debi Durham, director of the IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority, said in a statement. These grants help businesses continue to turn a profit and grow, while providing good-paying jobs and keeping wealth right at home. In Siouxland, Food Land in Woodbine was awarded $25,000 for electronic shelf tags; Woods Super Market in Pocahontas also got $25,000 for electronic shelf tags; and SuperHiTech in Sheldon received $5,000 to expand its IT services to other areas. New Iowa law means more expensive vehicle titles and registration Applications for this round of awards opened back in September. Businesses were only eligible if they resided in a community with less than 20,000 people that is not next to a city with over 40,000 people. 40 different businesses sent in applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IEDA says that this years grants focused on rural grocers and food producers needing new technology or looking to expand to other markets. To see the full list of recipients, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. (WFRV) A 30-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested on Thursday morning as the result of an investigation into a June 2024 drug overdose death in Hartford, Wisconsin. According to the Washington County Sheriffs Office, investigators made multiple arrests in connection with the fatal overdose. The investigation started back in June 2024 in Hartford. Man who fired gun inside Oshkosh retail store arrested for endangering safety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington County Sheriffs Office Multi-Jurisdictional Drug unit opened its investigation into the source of the drugs, identifying the suspect as a 30-year-old from Milwaukee. Investigators worked together with the Washington County District Attorneys Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation Overdose Death Initiative and the Wisconsin Counterdrug Program over several months. Three search warrants were executed on Thursday morning as the culmination of the investigation, with tactical teams in Milwaukee and another in Grafton, Wisconsin. The 30-year-old man is the main target of the investigation and is in custody in Ozaukee County for unrelated charges. The man faces formal charges for the overdose death in Washington County later on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges are as follows: Felony reckless homicide Conspiracy to deliver fentanyl Bail jumping (multiple counts) In 2021, the suspect was released from state prison on extended supervision on first-degree reckless homicide charges, he pled guilty to distributing narcotics regarding a 2019 arrest. On his parole, he was arrested and charged in Waupaca County on the case for multiple overdoses, including one that was fatal. The man was out on bond with extended supervision when he allegedly sold fentanyl relating to the Hartford death. Construction worker falls off roof of Wisconsin building, pronounced dead at scene Two other Milwaukee men were arrested for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Officials recovered a stolen handgun that had been altered to become fully automatic, as well as illegal drugs. Those charges are being reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No more details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Google ratings are a popular way to vet new restaurants, but Denver residents are using the review platform to warn others about their experience with a certain parking lot. The lot, located at 15th and Boulder and managed by PRRS and Parkwell, has a one-star rating on Google from customers who claim they were charged to park and then fined for supposedly not paying. Denver Attorney Mark Chapleau contacted 9NEWSs Steve On Your Side after parking in the lot while he visited nearby restaurants. The first time he used the lot, in August, he paid but still received an $87 ticket for failure to pay. He was able to appeal the ticket, which the company voided. Don't miss In September, Chapleau told reporters used the lot again and said he received another $87 ticket for failing to pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My credit card statement showed that the charge went through on Saturday the 28th, so when I provided them with the evidence that I had paid for it, including my credit card charge to that parking lot, they said, Well, that's not the 27th. You must not have paid on the 27th, he told 9NEWS. Chapleau says he then provided a screenshot of a text message from the payment processor, sent on the 27th. But even with that proof, the company wouldnt void the fine. The management company has been called out before 9NEWS spoke with several other consumers who were also charged and then fined for parking in the 15th and Boulder parking lot. Some customers, like McKenzie Gunderson, a Colorado native who relocated to Kentucky, say the company doesnt provide a receipt, which makes disputing the fine more difficult. After using the lot, her rental car company notified her that the lot had fined her, and they tacked on an additional $50 fee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I sent a screenshot of my Apple Card statement showing my purchase with the address of the purchase reflecting that parking lot and the same day, so it all lines up, she told reporters. But they basically said because I didnt have a receipt from them, that they werent going to honor it. Dale Fenton says he also received a fine after using the lot. He says he scanned a QR code and had a $12 charge on his credit card, which was aligned with the day he used the lot. Fenton says he didnt bother to dispute the charge because he assumed the fine wasnt legitimate. Thats because in 2023, the attorney general had already gone after PRRS and Parkwell management company for predatory parking citations. In August 2023, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced a settlement with PRRS over allegations that the company illegally collected or tried to collect fines for parking that was either already paid for or incurred by another vehicle. The agreement required the company to dismiss parking violations for many consumers, refund customers $31,000, and pay $75,000 in restitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears the fines imposed by the state were not enough to teach this company a lesson, as they still appear to be sending out predatory parking citations, Fenton wrote in an email to 9NEWS. Daron Atkin parked at the lot in early October on his way to a nearby restaurant with his wife. Atkin told reporters he used the kiosk because he worried he wouldnt have time to install an app and make his restaurant reservation. He also received a ticket. Read more: Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among Americas wealthiest plus 2 ways to build that first-class portfolio Atkin, Fenton and Gunderson all told reporters they did not get a receipt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Phil Weiser says his office is keeping an eye on the company. The story you just told me of a company charging a consumer, not giving a receipt and then going after the consumer for not paying, thats not fair behavior, Weiser told 9NEWS. PRRS and Parkwell denied the allegations of improper fines and blamed the payment processor for the mistakes. We are aware of a recent software integration issue at one of our parking lots that has impacted parking operations and our customers, Ryan Whitehurst, executive vice president and managing partner for Parkwell, told 9NEWS in an emailed statement. Protect yourself from predatory parking practices The best defense against an unfair parking fine is proof of purchase. If the parking lot youre using offers a receipt, either printed or by email, accept it. That proof of purchase could potentially save you hundreds of dollars in fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you get a paper receipt, take a photo of it, ideally in front of the meter or in front of your car in the lot. It's easy to lose small paper receipts, but a photo will work as proof. Metadata, information stored about when and where a photograph was taken, can help confirm you paid on the right day. This is especially important if you pay for parking with a credit card, which might not process the payment until the following day. If you use the kiosk to pay, consider taking several photos as you pay. Sequential photos showing the date, time, car license plate you enter, and payment can help you prove when and where you paid for parking. As a final measure of protection, consumers should consider avoiding parking lots with low Google ratings. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Four Milwaukee teenagers are celebrating after getting into the college of their dreams despite the prestigious school only having a 25% acceptance rate. Rufus King High School seniors Anavi Alston, Taelor Banks, Wy'yana Adams and Jordyn Henderson will be attending Spelman College a private, historically Black, women's liberal arts college in Atlanta, Ga. in the fall. Rufus King revealed the news in a Facebook post on Dec. 19, 2024, sharing a photo of the teens wearing Spelman College merch while standing in front of some yellow lockers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams described getting into the college as like a dream come true in an interview with NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV published on Thursday, Jan. 10. Ive wanted to go to this school since the fourth grade, Henderson said of attending the establishment. Banks told the outlet, I have been dreaming about this since freshman year, while Alston added, "I was shocked." Raymond Boyd/Getty A photo outside Spelman College A photo outside Spelman College Related: Where Celebrity Kids Are Going to College in Fall 2024 In terms of their hopes for the future, Alston said she wants to "become an anesthesiologist," while Henderson wants to be a "medical lab technician," Adams hopes to get enrolled in medical school, and Banks' "dream is to be a lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams explained to the outlet, We all toured Spelman, and we just knew this was the place to be. It felt like home, while reflecting on them visiting the campus together as part of a Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) program. She added that the college's "model of a choice to change the world was really embedded" in her. She told the outlet, "Giving back and doing service has sparked my interest for a long time. Banks said her "mouth dropped" when she learned she'd gotten into the school, while Alston's family "started spraying whipped cream" on her. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spelman is comprised of "more than 2,100 students from 43 states and 10 foreign countries," according to the college's website. The institute noted, "Spelman empowers women to engage the many cultures of the world and inspires a commitment to positive social change through service. We are dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and the intellectual, creative, ethical and leadership development of our students." Rufus King High School Principal Doreen Badillo had nothing but praise for the teens, telling WTMJ, These four African American young ladies have worked individually hard for what they have earned, and no one has given it to them. It takes all of us, but it took them to make the first move to get there. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Badillo and a spokesperson for Spelman College did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angelina Jolie's daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 20, is among the students currently attending the school. She even joined a sorority in November 2023. In August 2024, Zahara was filmed dancing at Spelman College's Welcome Back Jam with her Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sisters. A source then told PEOPLE, "Angelina is proud of her, her AKA sisters, and all of the extraordinary young women at Spelman." Read the original article on People Christian Hanley, chairman of the state Board of Education's Instructional Material Review Committee, and attorney John Tyler during a committee meeting Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Screenshot/Instructional Materials Review Committee livestream) COLUMBIA Four more books should be removed from South Carolina public schools for including graphic descriptions of masturbation and sex, a State Board of Education panel decided Thursday. The five-person committee voted to keep two books Bronx Masquerade and The House on Mango Street on shelves and in the classrooms where teachers use them for assignments. Those two were held over from a prior meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four books the committee voted to remove arent used in classroom lessons, though they are available in some school libraries. They will join seven others barred from school library shelves since a state regulation forbid public schools from using or allowing students access to books containing sexual conduct. Since October, the board has decided three books and a textbook can remain. It made one novel, Crank by Ellen Hopkins, available only to high school students with parental permission. The full, 15-member Board of Education will take up the recommendations at its Feb. 4 meeting. If a majority agrees, the books would have to be removed. The four books newly reviewed Thursday came from a challenge by parent Ivie Szalai, who says her children attend Beaufort County public schools. According to her appeal form, she again asked the school district to consider removing the books after the regulation took effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A district committee had already reviewed the books between 2022 and 2023 as part of a list of 97 titles, almost all of which Szalai brought before the school board. The committee voted to remove five of the books, leaving the four Szalai challenged Thursday available to high school students, according to the district website. The district board had 90 days to take up her appeal before it went to the state education board, based on deadlines set in the regulation. This is the first time a book has gone through the appeals process laid out in the regulation. The first 11 titles were curated by agency staff, and the next three bypassed the process because they were being taught in classrooms instead of just available in the library. Three of the books reviewed Thursday were among the 10 most commonly challenged titles nationally in 2023, according to the American Library Association. The memoir All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson, epistolary novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and graphic novel Flamer by Mike Curato are coming-of-age stories about teenagers learning to accept themselves despite challenges caused by their race, sexual orientation or past trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fourth novel, PUSH by Sapphire, is about an illiterate 16-year-old girls journey learning how to heal after being raped by her father and abused by her mother, according to the authors website. All four include descriptions of masturbation and sex that are inappropriate for children and clearly violate the state regulation, Szalai said. Supporters of keeping the books on the shelves argued that children need access to stories about situations they might experience, including sexual abuse, domestic violence and bullying. Stories about those issues from the perspective of LGBTQ characters and characters of color, as the four novels considered Thursday are written, are especially important for children who might be struggling with their own identity, said Mark Bayer, a Pawleys Island nurse who leads a group for LGBTQ youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my work with queer youth, Ive seen how representation can change lives, Bayer told the committee in requesting it keep Flamer on shelves. It can mean the difference between despair and hope, between life and death. But the books clearly violate the state regulation, Szalai said. Removing them from schools doesnt cut children off from them completely, since children can still check out the books from their county public libraries or buy them at a bookstore, she said. I want to see every person, race, color, sexual persuasion represented in books, Szalai said. All of our children deserve that, but I hope that our highly educated librarians and educators will now see to possibly looking for books that provide that without the sexual conduct. Bronx Masquerade and The House on Mango Street did not cross the line into sexual conduct, committee members decided. The two books came before the committee again after the Fort Mill parent challenging them failed to provide enough information for board members to make a decision in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bronx Masquerade, which is structured through a series of poems designed to be read aloud, had no objectionable passages, department staff said. And while The House on Mango Street includes a scene in which the main character experiences sexual assault, the attack is not described in detail, keeping it appropriate for students, board members said. During previous reviews, board members decided that a sexual encounter that happens off the page does not violate the regulation. For a book to be removed from shelves, it must describe sexual conduct in a graphic enough way that a reader who didnt know about sex would be able to envision it, the board has previously decided. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Four suspects are in custody following a police chase that began in Massachusetts in connection with an armed robbery, according to officials. Traffic cameras on I-95 South near Elmwood Avenue showed the chase resulting in a crash, and at least one person was transported by ambulance. One suspect was injured in the crash and stayed with the vehicle, while three others fled and were caught a short time later, according to Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhode Island State Police is handling the investigation. Cranston Police Col. Michael Winquist said the suspects were driving a white Acura with Connecticut plates. The incident ended on Narragansett Avenue on the Providence-Cranston line. K9 units were called in to search for firearms that may have been discarded during the pursuit. Officials also requested the Amtrak line be shut down during the search. It has since reopened. A 12 News crew is at the scene gathering more information. The chase reportedly stemmed from an armed robbery involving a FedEx driver in Harvard, Mass., on Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Harvard Police, the victim was delivering a package when a white Acura with dark-tinted windows pulled up next to his van. Two masked men allegedly exited the vehicle, approached the victim, and forcibly took the package. Watch surveillance footage from the moment it happened, provided by Harvard Police below. Although police said a gun was not seen, the suspects made threats implying they were armed. Fortunately, the driver was not injured. Investigators believe the crime was premeditated, citing surveillance footage from nearby homes and reports from a neighbor who noticed the suspect vehicle had been parked near the crime scene several hours before the robbery. (Courtesy: Harvard Police Department) (Courtesy: Harvard Police Department) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. (Reuters) - Apple clarified on Wednesday that it has never sold the data collected by its Siri voice assistant or used it to create marketing profiles, just days after settling a case in which it faced such accusations. The iPhone maker last week paid $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged it routinely recorded their private conversations after they activated Siri unintentionally, and disclosed these conversations to third parties such as advertisers. Voice assistants typically react when people use "hot words" such as "Hey, Siri." The company denied those claims and did not admit to them in its settlement last week, in which tens of millions of Apple customers may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches. "Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose," Apple said on Wednesday. Apple issued the statement after social media users and commentators interpreted the settlement as confirmation that the allegations were true. In its statement, the Cupertino, California-based company said that certain features require real-time input from Apple servers and it is only in such cases that Siri uses as little data as possible to deliver an accurate result. "Apple does not retain audio recordings of Siri interactions unless users explicitly opt in to help improve Siri, and even then, the recordings are used solely for that purpose," Apple said, adding that it will continue developing technologies to make Siri even more private. A similar lawsuit on behalf of users of Google's Voice Assistant is pending in the San Jose, California federal court. The plaintiffs are represented by the same law firms as in the Apple case. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis and Kanjyik Ghosh; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG Doctors are the gatekeepers for obtaining a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. But a series of Spotlight PA investigations has revealed weak oversight by the state Department of Health and raised questions from experts about the quality of care many patients receive. Some doctors issued more than 5,000 patient certifications in a single year with a few exceeding 10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings have prompted lawmakers to propose changes to the states medical marijuana law. Heres what you need to know about the investigations, what they revealed about Pennsylvanias medical marijuana program, and what comes next as lawmakers in the Capitol consider legalizing recreational cannabis for adults. 1. A small number of doctors approve an outsize share of medical marijuana cards. There are tens of thousands of doctors with an active Pennsylvania medical license. But a relatively small percentage are registered in the states medical marijuana program. And an even smaller number approve a disproportionately large share of certifications, as revealed by a Spotlight PA investigation examining the volume of patients approved by some top certifying doctors. There were about 1,900 approved practitioners in the program as of November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Spotlight PA analysis of physician records released by the health department found that in 2022, 17 doctors were responsible for nearly one-third of all certifications issued statewide. These physicians represented 1% of all doctors who issued at least one certification in Pennsylvanias program that year. Some of the top certifiers in the program previously faced discipline on their medical license, Spotlight PA reported in August. For now, doctors remain the gatekeepers. In November, Pennsylvanias health secretary, Debra Bogen, rejected recommendations to add podiatrists and nurse practitioners to the list of medical professionals who can approve patients for the program. Bogen cited limitations in the law, but she also said in each decision that the recommendation didnt indicate that the expansion would be necessary to meet patient needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike most neighboring states, Pennsylvania hasnt legalized recreational cannabis use. An adult-use legalization proposal from Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to pass last year. The recreational issue could see more action in Pennsylvanias Democratic-controlled House in the new legislative session. 2. Pennsylvania regulators say they have limited power. Some medical marijuana doctors support random audits of physicians in the program as a way to assess the quality of patient care. But a health department spokesperson told Spotlight PA that the Bureau of Medical Marijuana has no legal authority to conduct such an audit. During an administrative case that Spotlight PA reported on last year, a health department attorney wrote that the states medical marijuana law and regulations dont give the Bureau of Medical Marijuana the same investigation resources or authority to require extra requirements to prove compliance that other agencies, including a licensing board, hold. In response to oversight concerns raised in late 2022, the Department of Health said it does not have the authority to inspect licensed health care practitioners or their offices but does investigate all complaints received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Reps. Tim Twardzik and JoAnne Stehr, both Republicans from Schuylkill County, cited limitations on the departments authority in memos to colleagues as they sought support for legislation to increase the agencys oversight powers. 3. There are risks for patients. Patients, researchers, and doctors hold a range of views on the impact of easily granted certifications. Some noted the drugs relative safety there are no reported deaths from an overdose of marijuana, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. But there are both benefits and harms to cannabis use, according to a report last year from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report said that products with a high concentration of the cannabis compound THC are associated with a higher risk of psychosis and cannabis use disorder. The report described other harms of cannabis use, including increased risk of motor vehicle collisions, respiratory symptoms, and lower birth weight for children exposed during pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some patients and medical marijuana supporters have criticized the cost burden of having to pay for a new certification at least once a year. And in a recent Spotlight PA story, one medical marijuana doctor described potential problems for patients if they make an appointment through a third-party company and cant reach their certifying doctor afterward. 4. The oversight issue is getting greater attention in Harrisburg. In late 2022, some members of Pennsylvanias Medical Marijuana Advisory Board publicly questioned the health departments oversight of doctors. The states health secretary faced scrutiny from a state senator in April 2023 on the issue. Twardzik and Stehr cited Spotlight PAs investigations as they proposed increasing the health departments oversight powers. Similarly, the executive director of a group focused on preventing substance misuse recently cited Spotlight PAs reporting in his call for changes to the medical program, including eliminating third-party companies that charge fees to connect patients to doctors. Certification issues also appear to be drawing greater scrutiny from state regulators. A spokesperson for the Department of Health told Spotlight PA in November that discussions with the Department of State which enforces licensing standards for medical professionals about certification data and patient consultations escalated over the last year. That period follows a series of Spotlight PA investigations into the states medical marijuana program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Pennsylvania Department of Health has also said there are limits to looking at certification numbers alone. The agency spokesperson said the number of certifications for each doctor can vary widely due to factors such as the practitioners specialty, practice setting, patient population, and geographic location. 5. Spotlight PA legal victories led to greater transparency. The Pennsylvania Department of Health provided certification data for individual doctors after a legal fight with Spotlight PA. This type of data is also available in some other states. Reports in Colorado give information about the number of medical marijuana recommendations written by providers without identifying them. And a 2023 report from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General raised concerns about the number of certifications approved by a relatively small number of unnamed physicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida publishes annual reports that list the total number of certifications issued by individual doctors and identifies them by name. These reports also provide additional information compared to what the Pennsylvania Department of Health provided to Spotlight PA. A previous Spotlight PA court victory led the health department to release data on why patients qualify for the program and the department now posts that type of information online. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. TikTok will be arguing for its survival before the Supreme Court Friday morning. The U.S. operation of the popular app has until Jan. 19 to split off from its Chinese-based parent company under a law passed by Congress last year or it will essentially be banned. The company has appealed all the way to the highest court with a claim that the law violates the First Amendment right to free speech. It has a powerful ally on its side: incoming president Donald Trump, who has asked the justices to ignore Congress and his predecessor President Joe Biden and give him the opportunity to take charge of managing TikToks fate. Meanwhile, an entire generation of users and political operatives is watching closely to see what happens to their main vehicle for digital connection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the court isnt expected to issue a ruling immediately, the justices lines of questioning for TikTok and the Justice Department could send strong signals of how theyll decide. The court could separately suspend the laws deadline in the coming days, pushing the final word on TikTok into Trumps term while justices consider the cases core issues. Here are five big things for Washington to watch for as the hearing unfolds. Tune into the hearing here. 1. Does the law get placed on hold? The law is set to take effect in nine days, and ByteDance has indicated it has no intention to let TikTok be sold. But the Supreme Court could step in, and both TikTok and the president-elect have asked it to delay the law. Legal experts say Trumps unusual request to stay or pause the law is overreach. The DOJ encouraged the Supreme Court to ignore it. But even critics expect the court to seriously consider any request from an incoming president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices are human beings at the end of the day, and they understand that they exist in politics and that they have to take that into account, said Alan Rozenshtein, a former DOJ official who teaches at the University of Minnesota Law School, told the POLITICO Tech podcast. At the same time, I just dont think there are enough votes to give Trump what he wants. TikTok has also formally requested an injunction to halt the ban. The court has said it will decide on that after Fridays arguments. And with the justices putting the case on an unusually expedited schedule, they could make a call on an injunction swiftly possibly as soon as the same afternoon or early next week. The TikTok application is legitimate and procedurally sound. Whether it should succeed on the merits is another question, Albany Law School professor Ray Brescia told POLITICO. What would surprise me is if there is a serious discussion about the request received by the president-elect because its so out of the ordinary. 2. What would a pause mean for TikToks odds? One criteria for pausing the law is that TikTok must show it has a substantial shot at winning the case in the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It actually tips the courts hand about which way the eventual merits decision is going to go, said Cardozo Law professor Saurabh Vishnubhakat. Pushing back the laws deadline by just a day opens new avenues for Trump and his campaign pledge to save TikTok. Once in the presidency, Trump can put off enforcing the law and buy himself time to convince Congress to reverse it, negotiate a deal to sell off the app or figure out some other resolution. Thats the hope of billionaires Frank McCourt and Kevin OLeary, who formally made their offer to purchase TikTok on Thursday. OLeary, who has visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago, said hell need the incoming presidents help to get the bid across the finish line. 3. How will Republicans react? GOP China hawks revived a push against TikTok last year, and rapidly gathered Democratic support to pass the bill with an overwhelming majority. When Trump who himself tried to ban TikTok in 2020 started to defend the app ahead of the election, it threw everyone for a loop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a few exceptions like Trumps pick for secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) most Republican backers of the law maintain that divesting is the only way theyll allow TikTok to remain in the U.S. But where does this leave the party after Jan. 19? If the law is paused, then Republicans and Trump have months to hash out a face-saving deal. Otherwise, the ban takes effect before Trump is in office, and he could put GOP hawks in a tough spot by trying to work around it. When the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the law in December, many Republican lawmakers immediately fired off statements of approval without waiting to see if Trump would weigh in. Their responses will be important to watch again this time. Trump has posted numerous times ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, even questioning, Why would I want to get rid of TikTok? while boasting of his accounts reach on the app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House China Chair John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) has said selling off TikTok would be the deal of the century for Trump. Hes already sent letters pressing Google and Apple to prepare to remove the app from their stores. Ahead of the arguments, young MAGA Republicans defended TikTok as a true conservative platform that Trump used to sway voters. By contrast, they noted that Republicans sidelined by MAGA, like Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and former Vice President Mike Pence, support banning TikTok evidence, they say, of why Trump will intervene. 4. What level of review is the Supreme Court applying to the law? For legal experts watching closely for signs of how the Court will actually rule, this question is key. The court is, technically, revisiting the D.C. Circuits rejection of TikToks claim that the law violates the First Amendment. One of the biggest indicators of the direction the justices will take is what level of scrutiny they apply to a law that affects fundamental rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the thing that Ill be looking for and listening for on Fridays argument right out of the gates because without answering that question, the Supreme Court cant really do much else with the case, said Vishnubhakat. Under the highest level of judicial review, strict scrutiny, laws are far less likely to survive. The court would require the government to prove its solution has been narrowly tailored. If the DOJ can do that, the justices could uphold the law, even if they agree it infringes on free speech. However, TikTok argues that the least restrictive way to address concerns would be disclosure warnings, not a full ban setting up a potential clash between Congress and the judiciary. A more lenient standard boosts the chances of the law being preserved. If the speech interests at stake are less significant in the view of the Supreme Court based on what they hear in arguments, then intermediate scrutiny might apply, and the government actually has it easier at that point, Vishnubhakat predicted. 5. What have we heard from TikToks users? A group of the apps creators is opposing the law alongside TikTok at the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For months, many of the apps 170 million users in the U.S. have used TikTok to accuse the government of stifling their speech and harming their livelihoods. But creators and marketers are making contingency plans. Video platform Lemon8 (also owned by ByteDance) is gaining traction. Marketing agencies are moving some of their ad campaigns to Instagram and amending their contracts with influencers. Steven Overly contributed to this report. The scourge of wildfires in Los Angeles and the surrounding area are the most destructive in the citys history, and the citys fire chief said the region was still in the midst of an extreme weather event as a new blaze quickly grew to 1,000 acres in mere hours Thursday. Here are five things to know as firefighters work to battle the flames. By the numbers, how big are these fires? By itself, the Palisades Fire is already the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. The blaze has destroyed more than 5,300 structures homes, businesses, RVs and other buildings and flattened entire neighborhoods and stretches of oceanfront homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are many other blazes scorching neighborhoods and hillsides across the region. Firefighters are battling four other major blazes, including the mammoth Eaton Fire near Pasadena. That blaze has destroyed as many as 5,000 structures, too. A mobile home community sits destroyed Thursday by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong/Associated Press Strong winds and dire conditions have sparked other fires. The Kenneth Fire broke out in the Woodland Hills neighborhood on Thursday afternoon but quickly grew to nearly 1,000 acres in mere hours. In terms of human tragedy, at least 10 deaths have been linked to the fires, although officials have warned the death toll could rise. When will they stop? Firefighters have made progress battling some of the blazes. The Palisades Fire is 6% contained after scorching nearly 20,000 acres, and firefighters have made progress tackling two others, the Hurst Fire (37% contained) and the Lidia Fire (75%) contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But heavy winds make battling the blazes difficult. Wind speeds fell on Thursday, giving firefighters a much-needed respite, but the latest forecasts show they could pick up again later this weekend into next week. A view of destroyed houses during the Eaton wildfire in Altadena, California. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images How costly will the fires be? Will Californians still be able to access insurance? With the blazes still burning, analysts say the fires are on track to be among the costliest in American history with economic losses between $50 billion to $150 billion. Californias insurance market is almost certain to face a reckoning as the full scope of losses comes into focus. Just last month the state allowed insurers to charge homeowners higher premiums to protect themselves after many began to limit the policies they offered amid the growing threat of environmental disasters. The decision came after State Farm ended coverage for about 72,000 homes there, including 70% of its policies in the Pacific Palisades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeowners are able to buy into a state-created plan, called FAIR, as a last resort, but those policies only cover basic property damage and have a $3 million limit, The Associated Press notes, which could pose issues due to the high value of California real estate. FAIR told the AP it expects to be able to cover the full claims from the fires. But the disaster could make traditional insurance options come with much higher premiums. President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in November. It's unclear how the transition between the two will affect the federal government's response to the California wildfires. Evan Vucci/Associated Press file How will the Biden-Trump transition impact recovery efforts? President Joe Biden has promised the federal government will pay 100% of disaster response costs for the wildfires for the next six months, a period that extends beyond the end of his administration. But the president said he wasnt certain his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, would continue to be so generous. Im not in a position to answer that question, Biden said Thursday when asked if Trump would continue to support California, per Politico. I pray to God they will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has leveraged the fires to attack some of his political opponents. The president-elect has called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to resign and broadly blasted Democrats for the response to the blazes. Is climate change involved? Experts have long said that climate change is a key driver in the risk and size of wildfires. A 2021 study found climate change was the main cause in an increase in fire weather. And while its difficult to link specific events to climate change, scientists say Californias whiplash weather in recent years heavy rains that grew plants and then record temperatures that dried them into tinder set the stage for a terrible disaster. Related... The LA wildfires have displaced thousands and have inflicted billions of dollars in damage. Some celebrities have been stepping up to help by providing money, clothing, and assistance. Jamie Lee Curtis pledged $1 million to wildfire relief. Wildfires have been raging in Los Angeles and Southern California since Tuesday, burning tens of thousands of acres and leaving thousands of people without homes. The Pacific Palisades, a popular neighborhood for celebrities, has been almost entirely leveled. Many famous figures have been using their platforms to share information posting infographics and links to resources and donation pages and to highlight the work of firefighters and aid organizations. Some celebrities have also donated their own money, clothing, or time to help people impacted by the devastation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are some celebrities who are taking action amidst the fires. Jamie Lee Curtis has pledged $1 million to relief efforts. Jamie Lee Curtis. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Curtis, who lives in Pacific Palisades, posted on Instagram on January 9 about her intentions to donate $1 million to help with wildfire relief. "My husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there," she wrote on Instagram. She also shared footage of her smoldering neighborhood, writing, "Our beloved neighborhood is gone. Our home is safe. So many others have lost everything. Help where you can." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Guttenberg walked up and down his block trying to clear a path for people to evacuate. Steve Guttenberg. Gilbert Flores/Penske Media/Getty Images Guttenberg, best known for his roles in "Three Men and a Baby" and "Police Academy," was spotted by KTLA on Palisades Drive on January 7 moving abandoned cars to clear a pathway for those trapped higher in the hills. Speaking to the reporter, he explained the need for people to leave their keys in their cars if they're fleeing. "What's happening is people take their keys with them as if they're in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars," he told the outlet. "If you leave your car behind, leave the key in there so a guy like me can move your car so that these fire trucks can get up there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, "There are people stuck up there. So we're trying to clear Palisades Drive, and I'm walking up there as far as I can moving cars." James Woods said he helped his 94-year-old neighbor evacuate. James Woods. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for WGAw During a January 8 appearance on CNN, Woods shared his harrowing story about evacuating from his Pacific Palisades home while everything was going up in flames. He shared that he helped his 94-year-old neighbor with dementia escape from his home shortly before it collapsed. "He'd been left alone. There was so much chaos, it was like an inferno. Every house was on fire around us," he said. Woods said his neighbor eventually made it to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharon Stone is helping coordinate clothing donations from multiple celebrities. Sharon Stone. Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stone has been sharing on social media about +COOP, a boutique turned fire-relief pop-up owned by real-estate agent Jenna Cooper, The Hollywood Reporter reported. In Stone's Instagram posts about +COOP, other celebrities have detailed their donations. "Harry [Hamlin] and I just dropped off lots of coats jeans, sweaters, etc thank you for setting this up," wrote former "Real Housewives" star Lisa Rinna. Stone's "Catwoman" costar Halle Berry also posted about the store. "I'm packing up my entire closet and heading over to the COOP! If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same," she wrote. "Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michelle Pfeiffer shared her intentions to donate clothes, as well. "Love Island USA" star Leah Kateb is fostering animals. Leah Kateb. Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images Kateb, a Calabasas native, shared on Instagram that she had taken in a "fire foster," a dog displaced from its shelter by the wildfires. Pets frequently go missing during wildfires 3,000 animals went missing after the Maui wildfire in 2023, according to the Maui Humane Society so many celebrities, such as Jennifer Aniston, have been posting about how to help animals in LA. Jason Oppenheim of "Selling Sunset" is offering free representation to help people find homes. Jason Oppenheim. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Contributor/Getty Images Jason Oppenheim, whose real-estate brokerage is featured on "Selling Sunset," shared on social media that many clients were contacting him to help find a place to live after losing their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As real estate agents, we obviously have an obligation to help them find a place, even when it's going to be difficult with thousands of people looking for places and not nearly as many houses available," he said. Oppenheim said the Oppenheim Group is "offering to represent anybody for free, or we will credit you back any commission paid if you've lost your house and you're now displaced." "We will help you find a place, or do our best to help you find a place to rent," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider A Milwaukee man faces multiple felonies accusing him of training dogs at a north side home to fight for sport. Six dogs, some of them injured and emaciated, were removed from a home on the 3300 block of North Sixth Street. That's where officials say Jeffrey Legend Thompson, 22, of Milwaukee, trafficked "switches" for handguns and also trained animals for dog fighting, according to a Jan. 8 criminal complaint. Switches are devices that can be attached to semi-automatic handguns to convert them into fully automatic machine guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the police department's Special Investigations Division had been monitoring Thompson since October. More: Wisconsin man gets prison time for video of tortured monkey Prosecutors believe the dogs were subjected to rigorous training to become fighters The team executed a search warrant at the home on Jan. 3 and found animals in what Assistant Milwaukee County District Attorney Amy Spanczak described in the complaint as various stages of neglect. One dog was in a cage near multiple piles of fecal matter and an empty plastic bucket that is believed to be used for water. Another dog, found in a separate cage, "appeared emaciated with skull bones, hip and rib bones to be prominently protruding due to lack of nourishment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A third dog "appeared to have scarring on his face and forearms and was visibly shaking from the cold weather," Spanczak wrote in the complaint. More: 'Silence of the Lambs' dog house: Milwaukee man charged with animal cruelty In another cage was a dog that was older and underweight. A different dog had scarring on its face and forearms, and was "visibly shaking from the cold weather," the complaint reads. A small, black pit bull puppy was found in yet another cage, with empty food and water bowls. The complaint also described a set of wooden beams on the property attached to a tree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tied to the end of the wooden beam was a black and blue rope that was hanging about a foot off the ground. This rope was observed on Thompsons Instagram page with a brown dog biting the end and hanging. This technique is used to train dogs to strengthen their jaw muscles and bite for fighting," the complaint reads. The suspect was caught after a high-speed chase Investigators spotted Thompson in a Nissan Rogue near 34th and Villard streets that same day and pulled it over. The complaint said the vehicle fled from the traffic stop and led police on a 3-mile chase through residential streets at speeds of 98 mph. The vehicle ran a stop sign near Silver Spring Drive and slammed into another vehicle, the complaint said. Thompson was apprehended after a short foot pursuit, the document says. More: Babysitter sentenced to nine months for killing a Sussex family's 8-year-old pet Chihuahua What is the law in Wisconsin regarding dog fighting? Wisconsin Statute 951.08 makes it illegal to "intentionally instigate, promote, aid or abet" anyone from who profits from or a fight between animals or operating a place for that purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes cockfighting, dog fighting and even bullfighting. The law also outlaws owning or keeping any animal with the intent of training them to become fighters. More: MADACC has received more than 100 dogs in the past week. They need help, shelter says What is next for Jeffrey Legend Thompson? Thompson is charged with second-degree reckless endangering safety, fleeing/eluding an officer with bodily harm or property damage and instigation of animal fighting, all felonies. He also is charged with misdemeanor counts of mistreating animals and carrying a concealed weapon. Thompson was booked into Milwaukee County Jail on Jan. 4, and remained in custody late Friday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 6 dogs seized from Milwaukee home; man faces animal fighting charges CASEY, Ill. (WCIA) An 80-year-old man was killed on Thursday when fire broke out in a Cumberland County home. The fire happened on County Road 2350E in Casey. Michael Carlen, Chief of the Greenup Fire Protection District, said he and his firefighters were dispatched at 1 p.m. and they arrived to find heavy fire on the west side of the home, notably where the kitchen was located. Due to the intense heat and flames, firefighters were unable to enter the home and had to fight the fire from the outside. Carlen said there was a partial collapse and the home was declared a total loss. As firefighters were digging through the rubble hours later, they found a mans body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montrose local serving as Honor Guard member for Jimmy Carters funeral Jennifer Phipps, a Deputy Coroner for Cumberland County, said the man was identified as James Mullen. The cause of his death has not been determined yet. The cause of the fire is also unknown at this time. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is investigating. The Greenup Fire Protection District was assisted on the scene by the fire departments of both Casey and Toledo. The Neoga Fire Department assisted by covering Greenups fire station while they were at the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. KENTUCKY (FOX 56) The U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is looking to help Kentucky reduce train-vehicle collisions. According to a news release, the FRA announced Kentucky is receiving more than $9.5 million as part of a $1.1 billion total investment to improve highway rail crossings nationwide. The proposed project with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will include efforts to support grade-crossing related improvements on CSX railways in Hardin, Larue, and Hart counties, the FRA announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky is one of 41 states receiving rail grants to help fund safety upgrades that the FRA asserts will help save lives. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: This Administration is tackling the issues that Americans face every day, and over the years, we have engaged with residents, community leaders, and stakeholders across the country on the issue of grade crossing safety and blocked crossings, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding were announcing today is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens. Accidents at grade crossings are the second-leading cause of rail-related deaths in the U.S., according to government data, with more than 2,000 reported accidents and 200 deaths each year. The federal government also reported that railway blockages from slow-moving or stalled trains have led to access road cutoffs. These blockages have delayed first responders from quickly reaching reported emergencies, according to the FRAs Public Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From day one of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have committed ourselves to making rail safer for all Americas, and since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have made unprecedented investments to modernize and improve Americas rail networks, said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. Todays grants are another example of the Biden-Harris Administration reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in Americas rail network and delivering for the American people, helping people in communities big and small get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, and workplaces safely and without delays. Rail Safety Week ends and Kentucky officials warn of the dangers around railroads The full list of 2023-2024 railroad grant program selections can be found here. More information about the grant program is also available here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. (NewsNation) A tattoo parlor in Arizona is at the center of a viral controversy after an artist shared a video of himself tattooing an American flag on a 9-year-old girl. According to the artist, the flag wasnt the original design her family requested. The girls parents initially wanted a portrait of President-elect Donald Trump tattooed on her neck, according to Sosa, co-owner of Black Onyx Empire Tattoo in Yuma. The video, posted by Sosa in May, shows him tattooing the flag on the girls arm a design he suggested instead of the Trump portrait. Sosa told NewsNation he tried to deter the family by quoting a price more than $400 higher than usual. However, he said the family, who is from Turkey, expressed gratitude for living in the U.S. and view Trump as a hero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. citizen denied entry into Poland after security staff object to handwritten notes in passport They were just very happy about the opportunities that America gave to them and their family, the freedom that they were given. You could tell in the video that shes not a normal 9-year-old girl, he said. You could tell shes seen things that other normal little kids have not experienced. The 9-year-old girl has an 18-year-old sister who also had a tattoo of a flag, which she got at 9 years old as well. Where are underage tattoos legal? When it comes to tattooing minors, there is no universal federal law; regulations vary by state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minors typically cant enter a binding contract for medical procedures without consent, but some states allow tattoos with a guardians permission. In Arizona, for example, minors can get a tattoo as long as a consenting adult is present. Elk on a shelf: Colorado wildlife officials rescue elk tangled in rope on ice climbing route In Idaho, the minimum age is 14 with an adult present, while states like Colorado, New Jersey and Florida require a minimum age of 16 with parental consent. Hawaii allows minors to be tattooed with parental consent. In Georgia, tattoos for minors must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even in states where underage tattoos are legal, parlors have the right to turn away customers who dont meet their standards or age restrictions, even with parental consent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. A number of wildfires burning across tens of thousands of acres have continued to devastate the Los Angeles area since January 7, and firefighters are still actively trying to put out the blazes. As of the morning of January 9, some 130,000 people are under evacuation orders, per CBS. CNN reports that about 2,000 homes, businesses, schools, and other structures have been destroyed in the blaze. Entire communities schools, small businesses, and more are completely burned down or devastated. President Biden approved a major disaster declaration, opening up federal funds and resources for devastated communities. As the fires continue and evolve, more people will be asked to evacuate and pack up what they can, including paperwork, precious family heirlooms, clothing, medication and more. Many of the evacuees are already unhoused, dont have access to transportation, arent sure where to go, or dont know what they will come back to. If you dont live in the Los Angeles area, though, there are ways to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the situation continues to evolve, this article will be updated with more resources on how to help first responders, victims, evacuees, pets, and more on the ground right now. Here are a few places you can donate to to help evacuees and communities. The American Red Cross The American Red Cross is accepting donations on its website to help support staff on the ground. The organization is providing meals, snacks, water, first aid, mental health services, charging stations for cell phones and devices, emergency supplies, and shelter. The Los Angeles regional director, Joanna Nowlin, told ABC News that the Red Cross is operating at least four different shelters and plans to open more as needed. Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network Fire & Wind Storm Resources Mega-List Mutual Aid LA, a volunteer network that compiles mutual aid resources, has put together a massive mutual aid and informational spreadsheet for victims of the fires and people who would like to help or who need to know where they can go. The mega-list shares where Los Angeles locals can board their pets, what shelters or direct aid organizations are accepting donations like water, clothing, food, or medical supplies, where you can volunteer to temporarily foster displaced animals, where meals are being given out, and more. The list also includes what each business, nonprofit, or direct aid organization is in need of, be it KN95 masks, blankets, pet supplies, hand warmers, sanitary products, financial donations, and more, if you want to provide boots-on-the-ground help. It is also being updated regularly with which shelters for animals or humans are full. The Canine Rescue Club In an emergency, you may flee with your pets, but not all shelters have space for your furry loved ones if they have nowhere else to go. The Canine Rescue Club, per LA Times, is looking for volunteers to temporarily foster dogs during the fires. Right now, all donations made to the Canine Rescue Club, which can be made online, are going to support the Palisades Fire Canine Relief Fund. CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation Firefighters on the front lines will need financial support to recover from the disaster. CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation, per ABC, gives funds to firefighters and their families in the case of loss of life or to recover from injuries incurred during the firefighting. The foundation also helps provide financial assistance to burn centers and victims. California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund The California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund is accepting donations on its website or via check in the mail. The CCFs Wildfire Recovery Fund supports communities through the critical period of the disaster, but also in the intermediate recovery and long-term resilience of those communities. The organization donates funds to local organizations that directly serve affected communities, and Forbes notes that it provides immediate and tailored aid, including shelter, food, medical care, and transportation assistance. Direct Relief California Wildfire Relief Direct Relief provides emergency medical supplies and aid for first responders and displaced people to help people survive the deleterious effects of smoke exposure. It focuses on serving underserved populations and supports community health centers and clinics. The organization also supports longer-term recovery efforts after the fires are extinguished. Direct Relief is accepting donations online, and as you donate, you can specifically choose to donate to California Wildlife Response. World Central Kitchen World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit organization founded and run by chef Jose Andres, is providing meals on the ground to displaced wildfire victims. It is accepting donations online to provide nutritious, fresh meals to Californian communities in need. YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, in particular the YMCA Koreatown and the Westchester YMCA, are accepting donations of much-needed goods like unopened food, clothing, dog and cat food, blankets, and more, per LA Times and the YMCA website. The YMCA website is regularly being updated with what shelters are closed due to fire threat or are at capacity as of January 9, five YMCA locations were either closed or evacuated and threatened, while two were under observation for potential evacuation. You can also donate financially online to Los Angelenos through the YMCA. Ktown for All KTown for All is an all-volunteer organization for the unhoused in the Koreatown neighborhood in Los Angeles. KTown for All is accepting direct donations of KN95 masks and tarps for tents for the unhoused. It also accepts donations via Venmo or PayPal. Further Reading I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need Sign up for Apartment Therapy's Daily email newsletter to receive our favorite posts, tours, products, and shopping guides in your inbox. Beverage manufacturer Joriki Beverages announced that it closed its packaging facility in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Local station Newswatch 16 reported that the company notified its 229 affected workers of the immediate shutdown on New Years Eve through email. Joriki stated in the WARN notice that it could not provide the traditional 60-day warning. The company explained that it had been working for several months on a going-concern transaction it thought would sustain operations at the Pittston plant and avoid job losses. Most Read on IEN: The company added that it received financial support from a major customer and primary lenders as it pursued a transaction and believed issuing a WARN notice 60 days prior to the termination date would have compromised its plans to find a buyer or retain funding. Joriki revealed that a deal with a potential buyer fell through days before Christmas. The company described the failed deal as sudden, dramatic and unexpected and led to a financial crisis that it could not address without closing the Pittston facility. Federal law requires employers who are planning mass layoffs or a plant closure to notify affected employees at least 60 days before the action. However, Action 16 cited the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, which stated that employers can claim an exemption to the law if specific conditions apply, including unforeseen business circumstances or a faltering company. The faltering company exception applies to companies that were seeking capital or business when a 60-day notice would have been required and to those that felt that providing the required notice would have precluded it from securing the necessary capital or business. Still, Joriki must demonstrate to the U.S. Department of Labor that it qualifies for the exception. Industrial Media has not received a response to its request for comment from Joriki. Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news. AUSTIN (KXAN) Governor Greg Abbott is getting in on the debate surrounding the potential renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, per reporting from the Associated Press. This has sparked a lot of conversation and debate online over what the Gulf should be renamed to, if at all. One person shared a photo on X showing the Gulf with a graphic referring to it as the Gulf of Buc-ees, complete with a Nugget Bay, in place of the Bay of Campeche. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott jumped in on the conversation, saying that the Gulf of Texas is the way to go. The governor of Texas, a state known for its pride in itself, re-shared a post from The Salty Dog Galveston that had a map depicting the gulf as the Gulf of Texas. Abbott said in the post, If we are going to rename things . this is the move. Can Trump rename the Gulf of Mexico? It remains unclear whether or not Trump can actually go through with the name change. It would be a complex process, and the AP reported that even if it were to go through, other countries wouldnt have to go along with it. Trump would have to submit a proposal to the U.S. Board on Geographical Names, which is part of the U.S. Geological Survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to the USGS, there must be a compelling reason to change the name of a natural feature. A proposed name change for the Gulf of Mexico would also require international acceptance from Mexico and potentially input from international organizations, like the International Hydrographic Organization. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Its a rare genetic disorder that impacts a small population, and due to limited research, much remains unknown about treating adrenoleukodystrophy. Now, theres a new multi-million-dollar fund looking to advance what could be life-saving research. He was six days old when it first initially happened, said Taylor Hall, the mother of 10-month-old William, who was diagnosed with the disease. [Its] not something weve ever encountered before, it was unexpected, of course, said Albuquerque City Councilor Renee Grout, Williams grandmother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams parents, Taylor and Tyler Hall, received the heartbreaking news just days after he was born. It was devastation, honestly, and just confusion, Taylor Hall explained. Doctors diagnosed William with adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD for short. ALD is a rare genetic disease that the United States Library of Medicine says affects about 1 in 20,000 people. It can impact cognitive ability, mobility, and can be fatal if left untreated. However, an early screening when William was born gave the Halls the heads-up they needed to prepare for the road ahead. Our doctor in Boston, his advice was live life like hes a perfectly normal baby as he is today, and well monitor him and find out as time goes on, explained Tyler Hall. William has more doctor visits than most children, but his parents said hes able to live life like any other child. Some of those visits consist of doctors taking MRIs of him to monitor any changes in his brain. If changes are found, the parents say, that may result in their child needing a bone marrow transplant. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to its rarity, research and funding are limited. However, the Hall family is helping others impacted by the disease by starting a multi-million-dollar fund called Will to Cure ALD to advance research and possible treatments. The end goal is to have treatment options for, not just William, but all the other families out there, Tyler Hall said. They hope to raise $3 million and have donated $1 million in hopes of increasing treatment options, conducting clinical trials, and providing grants for further research. Theyve raised nearly $2 million as of Thursday, according to the website. Really, Im just trying to soak this up, were just trying to soak it up this time we have with him because the baby years go by so fast, Taylor Hall added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Actor Alec Baldwin sues for malicious prosecution after judge dismissed case of fatal 'Rust' set shooting in New Mexico. Actor Sebastian Harrison barely escaped with his life as the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires approached his $2.4 million Malibu beachfront estate on Tuesday night (January 7). The 59-year-old former Spaghetti Western movie star filmed the whole ordeal from a formation of boulders he was hiding behind as he watched his entire property go up in flames. Speaking to The Telegraph, Harrison, known for his roles in Italian movies Bianco Apache and Fratelli dItalia, described the treacherous scenes, saying: It was hell. It was inferno... Sometimes there was no wind and all of a sudden you got a huge gust with so many orange sparks that it was a wall, you couldnt see anything... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really couldnt see because of all the orange, breathing smoke and everything... I fell on my rib, and then I just took cover behind the rocks, and there were sheets of embers just going over me. Follow live updates on the California fires here Houses on each side were on fire, they were swerving in and out of debris, there were trash cans flying, there were big pieces of tree flying in the middle of the road, he added. In one clip, Harrison could be seen cowering behind the rocks as he narrates the scene: Im still hiding behind the boulders. Yeah, all the firemen got the hell out of here. They evacuated quickly, and I shouldve followed suit. But quite honestly, my car wouldnt start. Sebastian Harrison captures the moment his Malibu beachfront home is engulfed in flames (Sebastian Harrison / The Telegraph) While he had evacuated his 89-year-old father, Richard, who lived next door, Harrison explained to The Telegraph that he stayed behind despite receiving evacuation notices to try and protect the home that he shared with his wife, Livia Pillmann. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was the only one there, he said, sharing that he used a hose to water the roof and removed outdoor furniture to try and keep the fire from spreading across the three-acre property. His efforts, however, were in vain as he was forced to eventually flee. Sebastian Harrisons home after being destroyed by the Palisades fire (Sebastian Harrison/The Telegraph) I thought, Oh, I think I really need to get out of here, but theres no one here to help me, Harrison said. I mean, I have, you know, nerves of steel, but there was a point when I, you know, I thought I could catch on fire. Harrison filmed another series of clips, which showed his entire home overtaken by flames. The house is on fire. Thats the guest house on fire. Thats the main house, he said. Sebastian Harrison and his wife, Livia Pillmann, reunite after Harrisons rescue (Sebastian Harrison/The Telegraph) Pillmann, a Hungarian-born actor, has since shared a slideshow of images on Instagram showing the charred remains of their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its with a heavy heart that I share the news of the recent fire that destroyed our property. Its hard to find the words when youre faced with something like this. The flames took so much, but were holding on to the memories that live on in our hearts, she wrote in the caption. Swipe through these pictures to see the aftermath. Its heartbreaking, but its also a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength we find in the most difficult moments. Harrison and Pillmann arent the only celebrities to have tragically lost their home in the fire. Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, Milo Ventimiglia and James Woods are among the numerous Hollywood stars to have seen their homes reduced to ashes. LOS ANGELES (AP) Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable. With homes smoldered, streets emptied and friends scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the fortunate. His property was miraculously spared. But the actor-producer still struggled to reconcile his relief with the haunting sight of his ravaged, once lavish community. Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy, said Guttenberg, pacing through the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his home has electricity but no running water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guttenberg thanked God that his block was safe, but he said about 20 homes were burned pretty bad in his 80-home community after wind-whipped fires tore across Los Angeles, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He said the fires are the worst he's ever seen in his 66-years. The wildfires have burned the homes of several celebrities including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton. Guttenberg said he never expected all of this to happen. Its like when someone dies suddenly, he said. Its like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. Thats how shocking it was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Guttenbergs stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm trees, homes reduced to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation. I've seen people scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their kids, people having anxiety and panic attacks, said Guttenberg, who returned to his neighborhood to help others who stayed behind with relief efforts. He has helped move cars to clear the street, handed out food and assisted neighbors from out their homes. "All these houses behind me burned to the ground where their families enjoyed wonderful times together with their friends and family," said Guttenberg while pointing at one charred home before dropping his head in sadness. There's really a lot of pain going on right now. I'm doing whatever I can to help alleviate it. For those looking to help, Guttenberg suggested starting with a simple call or text to ask displaced neighbors what they might need like food, supplies or emotional support. He also encouraged those who can return to their homes, if safe, to check on their property and assist others in assessing the damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guttenberg, the star of films like Short Circuit, Police Academy and Three Men and a Baby," is unsure how the film and TV industry will able to help during the beginning of awards season. Everybodys gonna do what regular people do: Help each other, give each other food and water, help each other in their backyards, in their front yards, he said. Even though somebodys an actor, producer, writer, director, were all just people. .. Maybe people can donate at one point to some sort of fund. But I just think, be a good neighbor right now. When asked about the timeline for his neighborhood's recovery, Guttenberg thinks it could take anywhere from five to 10 years to rebuild and fully heal. Its going to be a lot of work, he said. Its going to be unbelievable to try to rebuild this. Rebuild all the beautiful trees, homes and retail shops and lifestyle. The psychology of it all, its going to take a long time. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) After the Grand Junction Police Department carried out a homeless sweep Monday, residents, like business owner Mark Berkley, are calling for more spaces for the unhoused. There are closed-up schoolhouses all over town, said Berkley. Clifton, here (Grand Junction), they could convert one of those. Right now, the Homewardbound of the Grand Valley shelter provides help to those in need but is only able to serve just under 100 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Eric Niederkruger, an advocate for the unhoused, there is a 2,000-person unhoused population in the city. Niderkruger says sweeps like the one carried out Monday remove vital gear that keeps them warm. We talk about it being the banana belt of Colorado, but this time of year were looking at a high of 35 (degrees) and a low of 15 (degrees). Plenty of error (like forgetting a jacket) could get you hypothermia and die. Hypothermia is a medical condition that sets in when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Once the body temperature drops below 95 degrees organs cant work as well. If left untreated it can cause the failure of the heart and respiratory system and can lead to death. Niederkruger is calling on the city to declare a humanitarian crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would like the city to declare homelessness a humanitarian crisis, an emergency, a state of emergency. And give people a sense of urgency you have when you have hypothermia, and you have no place to go. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. Update 7 p.m.: The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition announced after this original report was published that it had worked with Councilwoman Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney to open a warming shelter Sunday. The Sunday Daytime Warming Shelter will be at Christ Church Cathedral from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Executive Director Josh Spring said. One of our staff people will run it along with some volunteers. There will be free bus service from the overnight winter shelter to the warming shelter and from the library, starting at 5:30 p.m. back to the winter shelter. Original report: People who have been using shelters and a city warming center through the frigid, snowy week will not have that option Sunday morning, say their advocates, who are raising the alarm. People take their belongings and leave the city's Over-the-Rhine warming center Tuesday night to head for Shelterhouse, which offers overnight accommodations. Hundreds of people have been using the city-run warming center at the Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center and the overnight facilities at Shelterhouse on Gest Street this week. The city saw nearly a foot of snow over the course of two days and temperatures that stayed below freezing and dipped down to 11 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It won't be quite as cold on Sunday, but the Over-the-Rhine warming center will be closed. At 6 a.m. that morning, Shelterhouse's overnight winter shelter will also close. It will be seven hours until the Downtown public library opens at 1 p.m.. The library is scheduled to close at 5 p.m. and the Shelterhouse does not reopen until 7 p.m. Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, said the city has been doing a great job running the warming shelter in Over-the-Rhine, but the closure on Sunday puts people's safety at risk. "It's decisions like these that steal the years people have left on this earth," Spring said. He said he's offered to help rally volunteers to keep the warming center open and has explained to city leaders that they don't need to offer a full slate of food and other services to cut down on staffing needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just let people come in and keep warm," Spring said. City will keep warming center open Saturday The city manager's office announced Friday that the Over-the-Rhine warming center will be open from 6:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Saturday. LaRosa's and the Cincinnati Reds Community Foundation will provide food that day. The city's current plan states that the Over-the-Rhine warming center will be activated when daytime temperatures fall below 15 degrees for two consecutive days. The temperature on Saturday night is expected dip to 17 degrees and then reach a high of 35 on Sunday. 'A safe haven': Homeless Cincinnatians seek shelter from cold at converted rec center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Manager Sheryl Long said Friday that the city has worked tirelessly and employees have "gone above and beyond" at the warming center where people have received three meals a day, mental health services, medical care and even care for pets. "Decisions about extending services involve careful consideration of safety, sustainability, and the capacity of our team," Long said. "While we understand the concerns expressed by our partners, we are proud of the extraordinary work our team has done and will remain steadfast in our efforts to provide support all winter long." The Enquirer has asked what the costs of operating the center were, but city officials have not provided costs, saying Friday that it is unclear what the final cost of running the emergency warming shelter will be. The shelter has been staffed with the recreation center's usual staff. A man warms his hands at a fire set for warmth Tuesday night on Republic Street. The most people in 20 years seeking shelter, director says At Our Daily Bread on Friday, there were 509 meals served Friday before noon when they closed for the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgine Getty, the executive director, said her organization has been "slammed this week." "I've been working in this field for 20 years and I've never seen this many people utilizing the warming shelter," Getty said. "I don't know what people are going to do Sunday." A year ago a report on Cincinnati's homeless people said the city experienced the largest jump in those sleeping outside in years. Here, Fatima Phelps prepares to eat lunch at Our Daily Bread on Jan. 31, 2024. This week the soup kitchen has seen more people than ever, said Georgine Getty, executive director. She said they've seen instances of frostbite this week and have seen many guests who were not dressed properly for the frigid temperatures. "Thirty degrees and wet is so much more dangerous than 15 degrees," Getty said. "I think we're going to be seeing a lot of cold-related injuries if people don't have a place to warm up." Cold-related deaths At least two deaths this week in Greater Cincinnati could have been related to the cold weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, 94-year-old Susie Couch was found dead near her home in Warren County, and an 83-year-old man died Tuesday on the front porch of his Lincoln Heights home. Both deaths are under investigation as being related to hypothermia. On Thursday, 56-year-old Carl Hall died at a homeless encampment in Cincinnati. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office is doing an autopsy and has not determined if his death is weather-related, but did confirm Hall was sleeping outside. The Homeless Coalition's Josh Spring said 150 people in the Cincinnati region died last year due to problems related to being unsheltered and unhoused. Shelterhouse is running over capacity Thursday night, there were 410 people sleeping in Shelterhouse's winter shelter and one of their other shelters, according to Arlene Nolan, the nonprofit's executive director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even when Shelterhouse locations are running overcapacity, they still try to find places for people to stay out of the cold, but Nolan said it's too much to ask her organization to be the only option for people. "We should not be the only emergency solution for the city of Cincinnati," she said. "There are millions of dollars coming into the city or the county for homeless services." People board a Metro bus after the Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center cold weather shelter closes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelterhouse operates a total of six shelters with 68 full-time equivalent employees, Nolan said. She runs three shifts, 365 days a year with many of her winter shelter employees working 12-hour shifts. She said the city and county need to coordinate to establish a better plan for shelters in extreme weather, adding that even without a storm or a heat wave, Shelterhouse is housing 2,500 people each year. When the city asked Shelterhouse to extend its hours last week, Nolan said she put some of her staff up in nearby hotels and for others paid for their transportation to and from work. She's not sure how much more they can do. "I have to take care of my staff," Nolan said. "I need them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati, advocates for homeless solve Sunday warming center need Jan. 9Environmental advocates are urging New Mexico lawmakers to green-light a constitutional amendment giving state residents the right to a clean environment. It will be the fifth attempt to put a "green amendment" in front of New Mexico voters. A resolution calling for a constitutional amendment wouldn't need the governor's signature if it passes both chambers of the Legislature; instead, it would appear on voters' ballots statewide in the next general election. Lawmakers who favor the measure, which previously has stalled, hope it gets a fair shake in the session that starts Jan. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have some changes in the Legislature, and I think that that could make a big difference," said Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, during a virtual news conference Tuesday. "I also think that we now have more concerns about what the Trump administration might mean for our beautiful state," she added, "so I think that might raise more interest in the amendment. And then we have sustained advocacy, and we have more and more advocates all the time." The legislation is expected to be filed later this week, said Sen. Harold Pope, D-Albuquerque. Among a handful of new members of the House and Senate is Rep.-elect Joseph Hernandez, D-Shiprock, who said the amendment could help diversify the state's energy economy, currently dominated by oil and gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Republicans made small gains in the Legislature in the November election which also put women in the majority both chambers remain heavily Democratic. "This is a lot about ensuring that we're protecting ... everything that we've been moving forward with, but also bringing in a lot of opportunity," Hernandez said. "It's really sunny over here in San Juan County, and through the green amendment, we could help grow an industry." Three other states Montana, New York and Pennsylvania have codified green amendments. Youth climate activists won a court case in Montana in 2023 accusing that state of violating their right to a clean environment. The ruling in state District Court was recently upheld by the Montana Supreme Court. The decision gave hope to proponents of New Mexico's green amendment and pause to critics over how a constitutional right to clean air and water could be applied in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents of the measure said it could increase the state's litigation costs and negatively impact some industries. A fiscal analysis for the 2024 version said officials at several state agencies were concerned they would face higher numbers of lawsuits and increased costs. But the analysis also noted "information received from the Pace University School of Law indicates there are no specific costs as to increased litigation" from green amendments in New York and Pennsylvania. Some New Mexico legislators Tuesday said fears about increased litigation are overblown. Sedillo Lopez said lawsuits brought under the green amendment would allow for claims to be brought against government entities, not private parties. "There are a lot of lawsuits out there against some of the industries already, and I feel like that's being left out of the conversation," added Rep. Tara Lujan, D-Santa Fe. "I mean, that has to be very costly." SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian airline Azul is expected to sign in the next few weeks a memorandum of understandings with rival carrier Gol's parent Abra for a potential merger between Azul and Gol, newspaper Valor Economico reported on Wednesday. The memorandum would stress the intention to merge while establishing details pertaining to governance, capital structure and different options to structure the deal, according to the report, which cited sources involved in the talks. Gol did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Azul declined to comment. Azul has been in talks with Abra Group to "explore opportunities," amid speculation about a potential tie-up with Gol. The two carriers announced a codeshare deal last May. A key variable for the potential merger is the conclusion of Gol's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, Valor added, noting this is expected in April. (Reporting by Andre Romani; Edtiting by David Alire Garcia) Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery) testifies Thursday on his bill that would stop the practice of charging people in prison for phone calls. Sen. William G. Folden (R-Frederick), left, listens. Photo by William J. Ford. Three cents a minute may not sound like much, but it adds up to millions of dollars every year for those incarcerated in Maryland prisons, and Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery) doesnt think thats right. Waldstreicher is the sponsor of a bill that would force the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to pick up the cost of phone calls for people in state prisons, who are now charged for their calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill got a hearing Thursday on the second day of the legislative session, when committees rarely hold bill hearings. When someone goes to one of our state prisons, we dont charge them rent. We dont charge them for the food they eat. We dont charge for the linens that they sleep on. We dont charge them for the water they use in the bathroom or the shower, said Waldstreicher in testimony to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee where he serves as vice chair. So, its never made any sense to me that we charge them for the phone calls that they make, he said. Connections with the outside world help rehabilitate those in our state prisons. Under the current system, inmates pay 3 cents a minute for phone calls still just a fraction of the 19 cents a minute the Federal Communications Commission allows for prison calls to a private telephone service provider. Any profit from the calls is deposited into a prisons incarcerated individual welfare fund, that is used to buy goods or services that benefit the general incarcerated individual population, including education and vocational training and support of the grievance process, according to a fiscal note attached to Waldstreichers bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 56 would shift the cost from incarcerated individuals, and their families, and require the state to pay for the service. As of October 2023, there were more than 16,000 people in the states prison system. But the fiscal note said that if the bill passes, it would cost the state at least $8 million a year after the change takes effect in fiscal 2027. That raised eyebrows on the committee, coming in a year when the state is looking at a potentially huge budget deficit. How is transitioning that to the taxpayer a benefit at all when were facing a $3 billion deficit this year and its only scheduled to increase from here? asked Sen. William G. Folden (R-Frederick). Antonya Jeffrey, who testified in support of the bill, said there is a larger benefit from not charging inmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shifting the burden to the state is actually more reliable than families who are already marginalized, said Jeffrey, the director of policy campaigns and government affairs for Worth Rises of New York, a criminal justice advocacy organization. I understand that, Folden said, but that same mentality is whats gotten us in part of this predicament. Jeffrey said she had not read the fiscal note, but claimed Maryland could spend less than $8 million by negotiating a new contract with its current telephone provider, GTL, to lower the cost for calls to about 1 cent per minute. Her organization estimates Maryland could end up paying about $2.7 million. Jeffrey pointed to five states California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Minnesota that have passed similar legislation. The 2023 Colorado legislation phased in implementation of the law, with the state covering 25% of costs through June 30, 2024, then 35% of the cost from July 1, 2024, to June 30 of this year. Beginning on July 1 of this year, the department will have to cover 100% of costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state does what its in its best interest in all other areas, except for when it comes to caring about low-income residents, marginalized populations, Jeffrey said in an interview after Thursdays hearing. Why not fight for the families who are paying the taxes? Waldstreichers bill would also create a Costs of Telephone Communications Advisory Committee. Some of the work would include to analyzing prison telephone programs in other states, assessing the departments data on use of telephone equipment and telephone services and making recommendations to lower the project cost of providing no-charge prison phone calls in the State. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The committee would submit its report with its findings to the governor and General Assembly by Dec. 31. No-charge calls for people incarcerated in Maryland prisons would not start until July 1, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is at least the third attempt to pass the bill, which was sponsored in the past by former Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City). No one testified against the bill at Thursdays hearing. Almost everybodys coming out of prison, and when they come out, theyre either going to be productive members of society, taxpayers, have a job, said Mark Woodard, policy advocate with Job Opportunities Task Force in Baltimore, who testified in support of the measure. This facilitates them being successful when they come out. The whole point of this is to say, you spend pennies to save dollars, Woodard said after the hearing WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Biden administration says a record number of people are signed up for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, but the future of the program is in doubt. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to make changes to it and the Republican majority Congress is positioned to help him do it. This week the Biden administration announced 24 million Americans have enrolled in the ACA. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra says overall more Americans than ever before now have health insurance. In fact, today were breaking records in the number of Americans who have coverage, Becerra said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House largely attributes the increase in enrollment to the enhanced tax credits, which lower the cost of monthly premiums and expand who qualifies for coverage. The Affordable Care Acts health insurance plans are the best deal in town, Becerra said. Quality healthcare coverage for an entire month, about $10 a month in your premiums, in some cases less. However, whats next for the ACA is uncertain. President-elect Trump tried to dismantle the program in his first term and with his second term just days away, Democrats are concerned. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) says theyre gearing up for a fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were expecting the same level of vigorous attack on the Affordable Care Act by the incoming Trump administration, Kaine said. While the Trump administration hasnt offered a concrete plan to replace the ACA, his party has expressed criticisms and a desire for reform. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) says hes ready to consider changes. I think the promises of the Affordable Care Act have proven to be false, Schmitt said. Healthcare is way more expensive than it was when the ACA went into effect. So Im always open to new ideas. Plus, the enhanced tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year unless the Republican-controlled Congress renews them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the lowest rates of uninsured Americans that weve seen in the history of the country. I dont think we want to go backwards, Becerra said. Democratic lawmakers say theyll work to keep the Affordable Care Act intact and extend the expanded tax credits. Im going to do all I can to make sure we maintain and improve it, Kaine said. Enrollment for the ACA is still open until January 15th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Attorney General Michelle Henry is warning that Big Lots could close the remainder of its Pennsylvania stores following the companys Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Nearly 300 Big Lots stores to be sold nationwide; six Pennsylvania locations included According to AG Henry, one of the nations largest closeout retailers, Big Lots, could be closing all remaining 64 store locations after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in September of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AG Henry says that a federal bankruptcy course previously authorized Big Lots to conduct a going-out-of-business sale at its remaining locations, which began on Dec. 20, 2024. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Moving forward, AG Henry is offering some guidance for Pennsylvanian consumers: Make purchases by credit card, so consumers can dispute a purchase if needed Check the stores return and refund policies Check the stores gift card and rewards policies Prior to purchase, confirm inventory if making a buy-online-pickup-in-store AG Henry notes that the bankruptcy court established an amended deadline for consumers who may have claims against Big Lots, to file a proof of claim. That filing deadline is not Friday, January 31. Consumers can file a Proof of Claim online by going to the Delaware Bankruptcy Court website, or by going to the bankruptcy administrators website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumers are being urged to consult with a private attorney to ensure their rights are preserved during the bankruptcy proceeded, or if they have additional questions about their rights. Big Lots to lay off 505 at Pennsylvania distribution center in early 2025 Moving forward, Consumers who have been impacted by the closure of Big Lots should submit a complaint to the Bureau of Consumer Protection online or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Scene Republicans are preparing for at least two years of total control in Washington. Democrats are at the very beginning of a wilderness journey with no clear ending. This years elections wont change that. But across the country, from New England to Northern California, they will test the strength of the urban progressive movement that thrived in Donald Trumps first term and provide hints to how the 2026 midterms might play out. In two states, Republicans will try to defy history and elect governors who belong to the presidents party; in Virginia, that would mean electing the first Black female governor in America. This is a rundown of the major races looming as the year begins, barring any new surprises. At this point eight years ago, no one was predicting a Democratic upset in Alabamas US Senate race, but they got one. The Races Jan. 14: Minnesota will hold primaries in two districts that can shift control of the state legislature, both of them reliably blue giving Republicans a fleeting chance to shape the agenda in St. Paul. Last month, a Democrat who won a seat in the capitals suburbs resigned after a successful challenge to his residency, granting Republicans a one-seat House majority; the very next day, a Democratic state senator from Minneapolis died, leaving that chamber tied. Gov. Tim Walz scheduled quick replacement primaries, with elections following two weeks later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan. 28: In eastern Iowa, voters will fill the state Senate vacancy created when Republican Chris Cournoyer left her seat to become lieutenant governor. Democrats used to be competitive in this part of the state party chair Rita Hart represented part of it in the legislature but Cournoyer won her last term by 22 points, and the national party is not yet contesting the seat. Apr. 1: Control of Wisconsins state Supreme Court is up for grabs again, with Democrats defending the 4-3 majority they secured two years ago. Republicans are taking this race more seriously: Brad Schimel, the states last GOP attorney general, raised $2.2 million after he announced his candidacy, not far behind Democrat Susan Crawford, and the GOP majority in Madison is working to put a voter ID measure on the ballot to boost conservative turnout. State education superintendent Jill Underly will also seek reelection that day; four years ago, Republicans tried but failed to make her race a referendum on trans rights and COVID restrictions in schools. (Shell also face challengers in a Feb. 18 primary.) In Florida, two House seats vacated by Republicans who wanted to join the Trump administration will hold replacement elections Matt Gaetzs 1st District in the panhandle, and Michael Waltzs 6th District along the Space Coast. Trump won both seats by 2-1 margins in November, and neither looks like a pickup opportunity for Democrats. Apr. 15: Oakland, California will elect a new mayor, six months after a recall that removed a scandal-plagued progressive who voters blamed for rising crime. Former Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee entered the race this month, instantly becoming the frontrunner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 20: Pennsylvanias major cities will hold party primaries, with two more tests of the progressive movement. In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner is seeking a third term, after fending off a 2021 challenger who blamed him and de-carceral reform policies for a post-COVID rise in crime. It helped Krasner that the Fraternal Order of Police, which had endorsed Trump in 2020, endorsed his opponent; this year, he might face PAC spending from Elon Musk after briefly suing the tech billionaire over his daily $1 million giveaways to voters who signed up with his America PAC. In Pittsburgh, Mayor Ed Gainey faces his first reelection test after becoming the citys first Black leader four years ago. Jun. 10: Republicans are more bullish on New Jersey than theyve been in years: Trump got 46% of the vote against Kamala Harris, and Gov. Phil Murphy nearly lost reelection in 2021. The Republican who almost beat him, Jack Ciattarelli, never really stopped running, and is raising far more money than he did four years ago over lesser-known competitors. The Democratic field is far more crowded, with no clear successor to Murphy. Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Mikie Sherrill both jumped into the race last year, joining Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, New Jersey Education Association president Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney. (Sweeneys the one candidate from south Jersey, but lost his own seat in a 2023 upset to a truck driver who spent almost no money.) Jun. 17: In Virginia, both parties will pick their nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and the House of Delegates. GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is running to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Attorney Gen. Jason Miyares is seeking a second term, a deal thats prevented any rough competition at the top of the ballot; the only contested GOP primary is for Earle-Searss job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger has no real competition for the Democrats gubernatorial nomination, and wont unless Rep. Bobby Scott decides to run by the April deadline. Four years ago, primary voters picked a Democratic ticket entirely from northern Virginia, with no Black candidates. That helped Republicans in 2021, and that experience has shaped this years races for lieutenant governor and attorney general both with credible Black candidates from outside the D.C. suburbs. Jun. 24: New York Mayor Eric Adams will face Democratic voters in a ranked-choice primary, which has pulled in seven challengers so far none as well-known as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has until April 28 to file. Adams was unpopular before his indictments last year. But his numbers have sunk further since then, and since he started campaigning for a pardon from Trump. Still, in public polling, most Black voters still support Adams and dont want him to resign. Thats where ranked-choice voting comes in. Four years ago, Adams won 31% of the Democratic primary vote, but nearly lost the instant runoff when second-choice voters for other candidates were counted. He was ready to go to court if he lost that way, but Adams is far less popular now, and the other non-Cuomo candidates, most of them with more progressive records than the mayor, see a path to victory through those second-choice votes. Aug. 5: Primaries will take place in a number of major cities, including Detroit, where Mayor Mike Duggan is retiring to run for governor, and Seattle, where incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell has no serious challengers yet. Republicans arent competitive in either city, but in 2021, the top two finishers in the race for city attorney were a left-wing police abolitionist and a Democrat-turned-Republican, Ann Davison, who picked up major Democratic endorsements amid a backlash to post-COVID crime and rioting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nov. 4: New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City will hold their general elections, alongside a number of major cities, including Boston, Miami, San Antonio, and St. Louis. Pennsylvanians will vote in local races and state Supreme Court elections that could, if Republicans do well, end liberal control of a body that was under glaring lights during 2020 election challenges. In Trumps first term, strong Democratic performances in the suburbs previewed what would happen in the midterms; this year, Democrats head into these races with their weakest registration advantage in decades. And in Manchester, N.H., Republican Mayor Jay Ruais is seeking a second term, after narrowly winning in 2023 and tapping into voter anger at crime and homelessness. Notable Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a pointed endorsement Friday of embattled CTA President Dorval Carter ahead of a potential showdown with state leaders over the future of the transit agency, at a news conference heralding the official approval of the last chunk of federal money for the Red Line extension. The Tribune reported this week that the CTA was set to formally lock in the money before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, paving the way for the advent of the long-planned rail addition to Chicagos Far South Side. The signing of the agreement before the Trump White House and a Republican-controlled Congress assume office on Jan. 20 safeguards the future of the project, officials said at a news conference at a church in the West Pullman neighborhood. The announcement also doubled as an endorsement of Carters job performance, with the mayor sending a blunt message to members of the Illinois General Assembly who are mulling tying a bailout of the CTAs finances to changes in leadership and other ways to hold the heads of regional transit agencies accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any attempt to hold hostage the people of Chicago for anyones political gain, were certainly not going to acquiesce to those levels of constraints, Johnson said when asked about those demands. Heres what were committed to, is making sure that the Chicago Transit Authority is fully funded so that we can have affordable, reliable and safe transportation. A fiscal cliff for the transit agency once pandemic aid dries up in 2026 and a pending bill to wrest CTA control from Johnson and consolidate it with the regions other three transit agencies looms in the upcoming spring session. Gov. JB Pritzker last year also suggested a shakeup in CTA leadership was necessary. On Friday, the mayor recalled a conversation a few months ago in which Carter recounted to him that Chicagos first Black mayor, Harold Washington, also faced efforts to undermine his authority over the local transit and public school systems. Carter followed up by saying: This isnt about leadership. This isnt about accountability. This is really about funding. Johnson has dodged questions about Carters future in the wake of protracted CTA service complaints by repeating as recently as this week that he does not discuss personnel issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the mayors Friday appearance with Carter demonstrated their steadfast alliance, including when Johnson teased the CTA president who had thanked an audience member shouting, To God be the glory with: I didnt know that he was the (CTA) president and the voice of God. You should have asked for a raise a long time ago. Carter, for his part, took multiple chances to flex his leadership bona fides. I want to take a moment to take out a handkerchief here, because I tend to get a little emotional when Im talking about this project, the CTA president, appointed under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, said in his remarks. We and specifically me have assured the people of Roseland, Rosemoor, Pullman and other Far South Side neighborhoods that we were making real progress towards making this project become a reality. Fridays announcement concerned the formal signing of a nearly $2 billion federal grant that is key to moving the $5.3 billion project to extend the Red Line from 95th to 130th Street. Congress must still regularly approve the money, but officials have said the agreement is considered a done deal at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal money will go toward extending the Red Line south by 5.6 miles to 130th Street and adding four stations. A subject of discussion for more than 50 years, the CTA touts the extension as a major investment in the citys Far South Side, even as costs of the project have ballooned by more than $1 billion in recent years as expenses for materials, labor and financing rose. With the federal funding secured, construction on the extension could start in late 2025, with service on the new tracks slated to begin in 2030. Meanwhile, the fallout from this weeks flareup between Johnson and the governor over a failed hemp bill could have implications for the future of Chicagos public transit system, too. At a Thursday evening event, the mayor scoffed at Pritzker dinging his administration Monday for poor relationships with Springfield. During a panel at the University of Chicagos Institute of Politics, the mayor pointed to what he said were strong ties to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, in whose office Johnson got his start in politics as a staffer, and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, along with state Reps. Lakesia Collins and Will Guzzardi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was an opportune moment to indirectly capitalize on the governor also making a rare dig at Welch and House Democrats this week for siding with Johnson to kill the hemp regulation bill. This notion that somehow I dont have relationships in Springfield, well, they should actually go look at the true record, Johnson said. I did not show up as mayor of Chicago, then had to build relationships. I built relationships to make it possible for me to become mayor of Chicago. Johnson also told the room, I dont believe thats the best pathway forward, when asked about the Springfield bill to consolidate Chicago-area transit systems and wrest control from him. And he implored students to help him pressure the state for a host of long-shot revenue ideas, such as a real estate transfer tax hike, a millionaires tax and a graduated income tax. All the naysayers out here who want to pop off about how popular I am and how popular Im not, I do not care, the mayor said. The only thing I care about is serving people, showing up for the people whove been marginalized in this city for generations. Help me fight the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, with President Joe Bidens term drawing to a close, his administration also awarded millions of dollars more in federal grants for other transportation-related projects in the Chicago area and other parts of Illinois. The state secured $114 million in federal funds for new electric vehicle charging stations across the state, including in the Chicago area, Springfield and the Metro East area of Illinois near St. Louis, Gov. JB Pritzkers office announced Friday. His office also said the state will receive $43 million in federal money for a rail project that includes the creation of an overpass to improve travel for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians on Chicagos Southwest Side and its neighboring suburbs of Bedford Park and Summit. Tribune reporter Jeremy Gorner contributed. ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Alleghany Highlands Public Schools are working to improve student absentees as a continued nationwide effort. Virginia has improved student absences since the COVID-19 pandemic and AHPS has worked to improve the numbers as a part of providing opportunities for students to recover with opportunities with extra sessions and programs. A significant amount of absences from school is detrimental to student achievement. I am happy to report that our absenteeism rate is trending in the right direction. We continue to partner with our parents to understand the barriers that are keeping their child from attending school and come up with solutions to get their child back in school regularly. Each school in our division has come up with creative incentives to get students excited to come to school daily. We also have attendance competitions among schools, said Cindy Fox, AHPS supervisor of customized learning programs and division attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students who do not participate in the average school day regularly can suffer academically. Good attendance habits are just that habits. Students need to come to school whenever they are well enough to do so, said Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson, leaders of AHPS. We understand that life is busy and complex, sometimes resulting in student absences. We also understand that our students will be better prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood if they practice fulfilling their day-to-day responsibilities with schoolwork. Its a balancing act. UPDATE: Lynchburg Police investigating shooting on Hillcrest Ave with possible injury Following extended breaks, it is normal for students to need a little extra encouragement to head to school, Halterman and Snead-Johnson said. After both the recent holidays and the recent weather, this may be especially important this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joowon Chung and Elijah Halterman, two AHPS students, are serving on the Virginia Department of Health to learn the consequences of chronic absenteeism. Serving on the VDH Youth Advisory Council has taught me a lot about how school absences often affect students grades and emotional well-being. Students who miss school can fall behind academically, feel more stressed, and struggle socially. By discussing the reasons behind chronic absenteeism, like mental health challenges or lack of support, we can help schools find better ways to support students. These discussions with our council members can create changes that improve attendance and student success across schools statewide, which benefits everyone, Chung said. It is incredibly difficult to entice secondary students into coming into school but it is something that needs to be done. Having students in seats for the school day is one of, if not the most important, aspects of their learning and education. It is an uphill battle but I think it can be done, Elijah Halterman said. The AHPS Board is working to build and recognize perfect school attendance along with building relationships with the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, January 21, the school board will recognize those students with perfect attendance in the first semester. Those students will be recognized before the board meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Good morning. As the deadly wildfires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area, Airbnb, the short-term rental company, is mobilizing its hosts to house those in need. I had a conversation with Airbnb CFO Ellie Mertz yesterday, who explained that Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb that provides free emergency housing, is partnering with 211 LA, a group that is identifying Los Angeles County residents in need of temporary housing. They are specifically focused on residents who have either lost their homes or been forced to evacuate in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Sylmar areas. Airbnb encourages those in need of assistance for free temporary housing to fill out this form or contact 211 LA. Existing Airbnb hosts, and those who arent registered hosts, who want to open up their homes during this time of need are encouraged to volunteer, Mertz said. Hosts who sign up to share their homes through Airbnb.org receive damage protection and liability insurance with AirCover for each booking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In these moments of real stress for community members, we can mobilize our hosts, partner with nonprofits and open up those homes, Mertz said. It's the right thing to do. Airbnb.org is a nonprofit with its own board and its independent of Airbnb, Inc. But we work very closely with them, and the company has been extremely generous through the years in terms of supporting the organization, she said. For more than a decade, Airbnb.org has provided more than 1.6 million nights of emergency stays for more than 250,000 people, according to the organization. Some examples of other recent crises where assistance was provided include the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, the earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria, and the Maui wildfires, Mertz said. I asked Mertz how Airbnb, the company, prepares for events like natural disasters. The firm has encountered these types of disruptive events, repeatedly every year, she said. And Airbnb has policies in place to activate when a particular region is impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We make cancellations much easier for both hosts and guests to respond to whatever the circumstances are on the ground and to ensure that they have the flexibility to remain safe given the circumstances, she said. Airbnb, a Fortune 500 company, is headquartered in San Francisco. However, it has a Live and Work Anywhere policy. I asked Mertz if any of the companys employees were impacted by the wildfires. Part of our efforts over the last 48-plus hours has been to communicate and support our hosts and activate Airbnb.org, she said. We've also been checking in on employees. To date, we believe all of our employees are accounted for and safe. Take care. See you on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheryl Estrada sheryl.estrada@fortune.com *An upcoming event: The Fortune CFO Collaborative (sponsored by Deloitte) is an invitation-only group of CFOs from leading companies, which meets virtually and in person for deep-dive discussions on what is top of mind for finance leaders. This month, we will gather in Atlanta on Jan. 29 to discuss, Preparing for the Next Administration: The CFOs Role in Planning. Its an invitation-only event. However, if youd like more information, please send an email to: CFOCollaborative@Fortune.com This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The European Aviation Safety Agency has warned against flying over western Russia. It said there was a risk of airliners being misidentified and shot down. Many airlines have been avoiding Russia since it invaded Ukraine, but others still fly there. The European Aviation Safety Agency has warned airlines against flying over western Russia due to the risk of being shot down. It comes after Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was severely damaged while coming to land at Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechnya, on Christmas Day. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died. Azerbaijan's president and a White House official have said the Embraer E190 appeared to have been shot by Russian air defense systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The ongoing conflict following the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses the risk of civil aircraft being unintentionally targeted in the airspace of the Russian Federation," EASA said in Thursday's bulletin. The warning applies to Russian airspace west of the 60th meridian east, which includes the cities of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. EASA said Russia "has not demonstrated full proficiency to address existing airspace risks by implementing an efficient and proactive approach to the airspace deconfliction." No European Union airlines have flown to or over Russia since the war in Ukraine began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has caused complications on flights to eastern Asia, forcing airlines to find longer routes and increasing ticket prices. British Airways stopped flying directly to Beijing last October. EASA's bulletin also applies to any airline that flies to or from the European Union. For example, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways fly to Moscow and several European countries. The agency also noted that its EU Conflict Zone Alerting System was established following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. In 2014, the Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile while passing over eastern Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All 298 people on board the plane were killed. Read the original article on Business Insider MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said students mental health, and cell phone use are at the top of his priorities this year. We certainly have a mental health crisis in families, he said. And particularly in youth in this country, and we want to make sure were addressing that. That crisis, Dr. Mackey said, is fueled by cell phone use and social media. He said this is a concern that he will be very vocal about in the upcoming legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really limiting social media. But, the only way we can get social media away from students during the school day is to limit the access to cell phones or smartphones, Dr. Mackey said. Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham) said its not just about cell phone use in schools. She wants to see a better pay frequency for educators, and recruiting in this session. Some of the problems that we have is recruiting the type of; not only educators, but child nutrition workers, custodians, bus drivers, and people that can be committed to the system, she remarked. If the system was committed to them. Gov. Kay Ivey heading to Mar-a-Lago ahead of winter storm in Alabama Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) said cell phones should be put away from bell to bell. She said she wants to put more money towards the school choice program. We probably, with our current budget of $100 million allocated to school choice, only have room for up to 16,000 students, said DuBose. She said over 11,000 students have applied to the program so far. So, in less than a week, weve almost already utilized our full budget allocation. Besides cell phone use, Dr. Mackey said the board wants to see reading and math scores continue to go up. And, he said extended learning programs like after school and summer school will be key in 2025. Those times that we have children outside of the regular school day, how are we using that time to make sure that we are promoting learning? said Dr. Mackey. But also, promoting high quality childhood, keeping those children off the streets, out of trouble, and in very good, engaging programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Mackey said he doesnt know what the solution will be to cell phone use in the classroom. Some bills have already been pre-filed for the upcoming session that address the topic. The 2025 legislative session starts on February 4th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. A high school classroom in Florida. Alabama State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey Thursday announced Alabamas top and most improved schools under a state recognition program. (Getty) Alabama State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey on Wednesday announced the states top-performing schools and the most improved institutions Thursday. The initiative, established by state law as the Legislative School Performance Recognition Program, rewards schools for excellence or significant improvement in annual rankings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are written in the law, Mackey said during the Alabama State Board of Education meeting. They demonstrate high performance by being ranked in the top 25% of public schools as ranked on the school grading system, or they demonstrate exemplary progress by improving the overall ranking annual ranking of the school by at least one letter grade. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The top 25 performing schools were selected based on academic success based on the states grading system for schools and school districts. The top 25 most improved schools were highlighted for their significant grade improvement. Mackey pointed to the importance of rewarding improvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are some schools that are never going to be in the top 25%we know that, one is because we all know math well enough to know that 75% of schools will always be in the bottom 75%, he said. But even those schools that have challenges can see remarkable growth. A total of $250,000 in awards will be distributed to the recognized schools, with larger sums going to the most improved institutions. The schools will be officially recognized at the Boards February meeting, where representatives will receive their checks and take photos with legislators and board members. It will be chaotic; it will be challenging, but we would like to have all of them here to get their checks in person and take a picture with you, Mackey said. The Top 25 Performing Schools Barkley Bridge Elementary School, Hartselle Bear Exploration Center, Montgomery Brocks Gap Intermediate School, Hoover Brookwood Forest Elementary School, Mountain Brook Cherokee Bend Elementary School, Mountain Brook Crestline Elementary School, Mountain Brook Deer Valley Elementary School, Hoover Edgewood Elementary School, Homewood Eichold-Mertz School of Math and Science, Mobile Eura Brown Elementary School, Gadsden Forest Avenue Elementary School, Montgomery Greystone Elementary School, Hoover Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, Montgomery Monte Sano Elementary School, Huntsville Mountain Brook Elementary School, Mountain Brook Oak Mountain Elementary School, Shelby County Old Shell Road Magnet School, Mobile Pizitz Middle School, Vestavia Hills Rock Quarry Elementary School, Tuscaloosa Shades Cahaba Elementary School, Homewood South Shades Crest Elementary School, Hoover Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge, Vestavia Hills Vestavia Hills Elementary East, Vestavia Hills Vestavia Hills Elementary West, Vestavia Hills W.H. Council Traditional School, Mobile Top 25 Improved Schools Acceleration Day and Evening Academy, MAEF Public Charter Schools Alexander City Middle School, Alexander Chalkville Elementary School, Jefferson County Clark Elementary School, Selma Dannelly Elementary School, Montgomery County Danville-Neel Elementary School, Morgan County Dixie Elementary School, Russell County Donehoo Elementary School, Gadsden Fayette Elementary School, Fayette County Hokes Bluff Elementary School, Etowah County Holt High School, Tuscaloosa County I3 Academy Phase I, I3 Academy Inglenook School, Birmingham King Elementary School, Montgomery County Legacy Prep, Legacy Prep Lynn Fanning Elementary School, Madison County Marengo High School, Marengo County Mobile County Training Middle School, Mobile County Monroe County High School, Monroe County Notasulga High School, Macon County Oliver K5 School, Birmingham Richard Arrington Elementary, Birmingham Southview Elementary School, Tuscaloosa Winston County High School, Winston County Woodland Forrest Elementary School, Tuscaloosa Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Updated at 8:12 a.m. to correct spellings of Deer Valley Elementary School in Hoover; Oak Mountain Elementary School in Shelby County and Shades Cahaba Elementary School in Homewood. Updated at 8:32 a.m. correct name of Brocks Gap Intermediate School. LONDON (Reuters) - Broker McGill and Partners has launched a commercial property war risk reinsurance programme for Ukraine, which it said on Thursday was the first of its kind since Russia's invasion of the country in Feb 2022. Companies in Ukraine have found it difficult to get insurance since the start of the war because Western reinsurers, who insure the insurers, have placed exclusions on the country. McGill said it had collaborated with local Ukrainian insurer ARX to provide up to $50 million in cover for each commercial property policy, with reinsurance from firms in London including Lloyd's of London syndicates. FortuneGuard, an insurance technology company, will use official data on projectiles fired into Ukraine to assess the likelihood of war damage. Cover will be available for properties which are more than 100 km (62 miles) from the front line, McGill said in a statement. Hamish Greenwood, head of crisis management at McGill, said the broker had been working for some months to set up the programme. "We never felt a blanket exclusion across all of Ukraine was fair, because the risk in the west is not the same as the risk in the east", Greenwood said. Seven London firms have already agreed to offer cover under the programme, Greenwood added. Multilateral organisations the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation have already stepped in to back war insurance in Ukraine for goods and vehicles in transit, and healthcare and agriculture respectively. Broker Marsh offers an insurance programme for cargo transportation through the Black Sea corridor, with the support of Ukrainian state banks. (Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Christina Fincher) HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Alabama Supreme Court has rejected the latest effort by Amy Bishop Anderson to overturn her 2012 capital murder conviction. She was found guilty of killing three faculty member colleagues at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in February 2010. Investigators said the shooting rampage was tied to the universitys decision to deny her a tenured faculty position. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Former Decatur officer charged with murder of Stephen Perkins asks for self-defense hearing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She killed three people Dr. Adriel Johnson, Dr. Gopi Podila and Dr. Maria Ragland Davis. Three other people were wounded but survived: Stephanie Monticciolo, Dr. Joseph Leahy, who was seriously injured, and Dr. Luis Cruz-Vera. Her direct appeals were exhausted in 2013, but under Alabama law, so-called Rule 32 appeals can be filed citing newly discovered evidence or constitutional violations. In the appeal rejected Friday Bishop Anderson argued her conviction should be overturned based on claims citing a British medical journals findings that prescribed steroids she was taking for allergies can alter brain chemistry. She also argued that another case in Alabama led to a defendant being found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect related to psychosis brought on by prescribed medication. In her court petition, she wrote, that she had lifelong allergies and mental health problems. And that during the stressful tenure period, her allergies flared, causing blackouts and hallucinations. After one such blackout, I was informed of my crime of February 2010 and charged with capital murder/attempted murder Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Bishop Anderson, but family members of some of the victims in the case opposed a death sentence. She then agreed to plead guilty to the charges. Under Alabama law a mini-trial essentially a formality was held where the jury saw the evidence against her and was told shed pleaded guilty. The jury returned a guilty verdict in less than 30 minutes. Bishop Anderson said in her court filings that this was her second Rule 32 appeal. There have been multiple TV documentaries on the UAH shooting. Bishop Anderson was a Harvard-trained biologist. She shot her brother at her familys home in Massachusetts in 1986, at the time, that case was ruled an accident. Following the UAH shooting prosecutors in Braintree, Mass. said they would reopen that case. But, once Bishop Anderson received her life term in Alabama that prosecution ended. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Most of north Alabama and parts of central Alabama resembled a winter wonderland Jan. 10 as a wave of cold weather brought snow and sleet to the Deep South. Here's a look at how the wintry weather affected folks in Alabama: Tuscaloosa weather Tuscaloosa area residents woke up Friday morning with a couple of inches of snow blanketing the ground. By 4 a.m., students at the University of Alabama were making snowmen and frolicking in the snow on the Quad and around Bryant-Denny Stadium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Classes at UA were canceled Friday in anticipation of the wintry weather and public and private schools in Tuscaloosa County followed suit. Several businesses either delayed opening or decided to close for the day. No significant weather or road conditions were reported Friday morning in Tuscaloosa County, according to troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. By noon Friday, temperatures hovered in the upper 30s under cloudy skies. Some of the snow began to melt, leaving plenty of slush on the ground. Conditions in Tuscaloosa were expected to improve as the wintry precipitation ended Friday. Sunny skies were in the forecast for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with highs near 50 degrees and lows still around the freezing mark. A rare snow event blanketed Tuscaloosa in white before dawn on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. The Denny Chimes on the Quad at the University of Alabama stand sentinel of students enjoying the snow. Gadsden weather No official totals were immediately available but anecdotal reports indicated the area received 2 to 3 inches of snow Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gadsden-Etowah County Emergency Management Agency focused on keeping people off the roads, declaring all of them in the county impassable and urging people to stay off them until conditions eased after temperatures climbed above the freezing mark Friday afternoon. Poor road conditions were expected to continue through Saturday morning, but were expected to fully dissipate when high temperatures climbed into the 40s on Sunday and Monday. Multiple businesses reported closures on social media. The Etowah County Courthouse was closed; Gadsdens City Hall remained open but with limited staff. Rainbow City officials had to assist drivers, some in tractor-trailers, who stalled on Alabama Highway 77 on the hill coming up from the bridge from Southside over the Coosa River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Gadsden got to use its new snow plow and salt spreader attachments on one of the Public Works Departments spreaders in an effort to clear roads throughout the city. The Gadsden City, Etowah County and Attalla City school systems canceled Fridays classes a day in advance, given the forecast for winter weather. Gadsden's Broad Street is covered in snow in the early-morning hours of Jan. 10, 2025. Montgomery weather Schools across the River Region went virtual Friday, and Maxwell Air Force Base delayed its reporting time for personnel to 10 a.m. out of an abundance of caution, but the area largely avoided the icy conditions that affected northern areas of the state. No snow was reported in the Montgomery area, and ALEA reported no significant weather or road conditions for Autauga, Elmore or Montgomery counties. A light, cold rain continued across the area throughout most of the day with temperatures near 40. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lows were expected to plunge until the 20s early over the weekend, but with little chance of precipitation. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama weather: Some parts of state see snow, others limited to rain The former editor of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, has vowed to remain on Metas supreme court even as Facebook rewrites its moderation rules to allow claims that Jewish people are greedy or gay people are freaks. Mr Rusbridger, who is a member of Metas Oversight Board, which reviews the technology giants moderation decisions, argued in an article in Prospect magazine that he would remain to challenge its attempt to appease Donald Trump, the US president-elect. Meta hasnt gifted control of its platform to Donald Trump, Mr Rusbridger and Khaled Mansour, another Oversight Board member, wrote. But its behaviour this week suggests a company which is extremely keen not to displease him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the more important, then, that there is an independent, empowered body that can push Meta publicly with binding decisions and advisory opinions over many contentious issues. We welcome the challenge. Launched in 2020, the Oversight Board can make binding rulings to overturn Facebooks moderation decisions. It can also make non-binding recommendations for Facebook to change its policies. But the future of the board has been called into question by a sweeping overhaul of Metas moderation policies by Mark Zuckerberg, including scrapping its fact-checking programme in the US and rewriting its rules on hateful conduct. Among the changes to Metas public rules include an exception that will allow Facebook and Instagram users to describe homosexual or transgender people as mentally ill and describe women as a mans property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Internal moderation guidelines, first reported by The Intercept, reveal these changes will further allow Facebook users to insist Jews are flat out greedier than Christians and enable a slew of other generalisations and insults against groups based on their religion, gender or sexuality. Users will be allowed to claim ethnic or religious supremacy, such as Black people are more violent than Whites or Mexicans are lazier than Asians. While Metas public policies state that direct attacks against individuals based on protected characteristics are broadly banned, a list of examples in training materials for moderators now laid out a variety of other permitted phrases, such as immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of s---. Metas examples state that users are allowed to say phrases such as migrants are no better than vomit, although writing Muslims make me want to throw up, is banned, as claiming a group causes sickness is not allowed. Other statements, such as comparing groups to rodents or pathogens are banned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came as Meta scrapped its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes in a further sign Mr Zuckerberg is looking to align the social media platform with the incoming president. In an internal memo, first reported by Axios, Meta said it would end diversity policies in areas including hiring, training and picking suppliers. It added that it would no longer have a team focused on DEI. A slew of other racial generalisations are, however, now permitted, such as that the Japanese are all Yakuza or immigrants are all thieves. Claiming Black people are all drug dealers, however, is banned. On Tuesday Joel Kaplan, Metas new head of global affairs, said: Were getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate. Its not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Prospect, Mr Rusbridger wrote: No one is pretending that Metas decision to think again about its approach to content moderation and fact-checking was other than political. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Jan. 9A day after President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland, Alaska's Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III made comments that appeared to support Trump's vision for annexing the Arctic territory that is part of Denmark. "Today, we know that Arctic routes in the waters off Greenland are more crucial than ever and that a strengthened U.S. presence in the region enhances global security," Begich said in a social media post Wednesday. "Further, an inclusion of Greenland as a U.S. territory would substantially expand the national portfolio of critical minerals and other important resources while enhancing the way of life for local Greenlanders." Trump previously said that U.S. control of Greenland was needed for national security purposes, and that making Greenland a U.S. territory "must happen." Denmark's leaders have said the territory is not for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Begich said William Seward, the U.S. secretary of state who orchestrated the Alaska purchase from Russia, also showed interest in purchasing Greenland. "Concepts like these are history defining, and despite being ridiculed at the time, Alaskans are thankful for the vision of William Seward in architecting the Alaska Purchase," Begich wrote. But Alaska's two Republican U.S. senators rejected the idea that Greenland should become a U.S. territory. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a longstanding Trump critic, called the suggestion "offensive." Sen. Dan Sullivan said Trump should instead focus on developing resources and military presence in Alaska, which he said offers "everything" Trump seeks in Greenland. Begich assumed office as Alaska's lone U.S. House member last week. His positions so far and the bombastic way he conveys them are closely aligned with Trump's. In a post two days after he was sworn in, Begich called President Joe Biden a "son of a bitch," after Biden took executive action closing off waters in and near the Bering Sea and other areas to oil exploration. Trump has vowed to reverse the action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan has largely aligned himself with Trump and embraced his positions since Trump first took office in 2016, but on Greenland, Sullivan appeared skeptical of Trump's vision. "It's important to remember that Alaska offers everything that appears to be motivating President Trump to want to acquire Greenland in the first place: An important strategic presence in the Arctic, incredible deposits of critical minerals and other natural resources, the cornerstone for missile defense protecting all of America and a strategic place in the world to push back against Russia and China. These are exactly the strategic assets Alaska brings to America," Sullivan said in a statement. "The previous Trump administration was a great partner for Alaska. My focus will be to once again work with the incoming Trump administration to take advantage of our state's strategic assets and location, particularly given how the Biden administration spent the last four years trying to turn our state into a national park," Sullivan said. Murkowski, who has visited Greenland numerous times, said that Greenlanders' disinterest in becoming a U.S. territory makes Trump's idea untenable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To have the president-elect of another country basically make an announcement that we should buy Greenland, or we should take over Greenland, in my view is a little offensive to the autonomy of the Greenlandic people," said Murkowski. Murkowski acknowledged that Greenland has mineral wealth that could be advantageous to the U.S., but said the U.S. should work with Greenland in partnership on mineral extraction projects, "instead of saying we're going to come in and take over Greenland." "If it's interest in the Arctic itself, I would suggest to President Trump that we need to do investment in our own U.S. Arctic. That would be the state of Alaska. So let's invest in our resources here, in our access to our resources, in our opportunities as an Arctic state," said Murkowski. This is not the first time that Trump has suggested that the U.S. should buy Greenland. Murkowski said last time Trump made the suggestion, during his first term in office, she happened to be visiting Iceland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At the time, it was kind of shrugged off as a joke 'he can't really mean it' but the fact that he is bringing it up a second time, I think has certainly gotten the notice of others," said Murkowski. Correction: The story has been updated to reflect that Sen. Lisa Murkowski acknowledged Greenland's mineral wealth. The story previously incorrectly referred to Greenland's minimal wealth. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) A New Albany woman is in jail after she allegedly participated in assisting the suspect wanted in the shooting of an Orange County deputy last Friday. Indiana State Police states 35-year-old Victoria Howard knew that the suspect, Austin Schepers, had shot a law enforcement officer and was wanted. Howard allegedly used a ride share app to provide Schepers a ride from her apartment to Louisville. Howard was reportedly arrested without incident on January 9 in Clarksville and booked into the Floyd County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howard is facing charges of Assisting a Criminal and False Informing. Schepers was originally wanted for allegedly shooting Deputy Zac Andry on January 3 after Andry had stopped to check on a disabled vehicle at US Highway 150 and State Road 56. Schepers allegedly shot Andry multiple times and fled the scene to a residence in the 1800 block of Market Street in New Albany. Schepers was killed in a confrontation with police on January 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Jan. 10An Albert Lea woman was injured Thursday evening in a crash on Interstate 35 in Rice County. Emma Adrianna Loch, 24, was taken by ambulance to the Faribault Hospital for injuries deemed not life-threatening, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The report stated Loch was driving a 2007 Honda Accord northbound near milepost 63 when the vehicle left the roadway at 6:15 p.m. The highway was snowy and icy at the time of the crash. Loch was wearing her seat belt, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Alec Baldwin has filed a civil rights complaint against officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico, claiming he was wrongfully prosecuted in the Rust case, a representative for Baldwin told CNN. Baldwin filed the complaint on Thursday against special prosecutor Kari .T Morrissey, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, among other officials, accusing them of violating his rights, malicious abuse of process and defamation. In July, the involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin who authorities said held the prop gun that fired the shot that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in October 2021 was dismissed after the judge overseeing the case ruled prosecutors did not properly turn over evidence to the defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a copy of the complaint, Baldwin claims that for the better part of the last three years prosecutors were blinded by their desire to convict him for all the wrong reasons, and at any cost. In October 2023 the prosecution team became aware that Mr. Baldwin intended to file a retaliatory civil lawsuit. We look forward to our day in court, Morrissey told CNN in a statement on Thursday. Carmack-Altwies were not immediately available for comment. The complaint states the defendants attempted to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law, and that evidence was manipulated or concealed to further their case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although no verdict in this civil case can undo the trauma the States threat of conviction and incarceration has inflicted, the complaint reads, Baldwin seeks to hold the defendants responsible for their appalling violations of the laws that governed their work. Criminal prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent, Baldwins attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro told CNN in a statement Thursday. We bring this action to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing this to anyone else. Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was responsible for firearm safety and storage during production of the movie, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins death last March. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison and her case is under appeal. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Lawyers for Alec Baldwin declared him a scapegoat in a new lawsuit filed against prosecutors and law enforcement officials in New Mexico Thursday. In the massive document, Baldwin alleges malicious prosecution, suppression of evidence, and defamation almost six months after his criminal charges for accidentally shooting and killing a cinematographer on a film set in 2021 were dismissed. The filing, first lodged in New Mexicos First Judicial District on Thursday, accuses the prosecutors of being blinded by their desire to convict Alec Baldwin for all the wrong reasons, and at any cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwin was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 incident on the set of the western film Rust, when a gun he believed contained dummy rounds fired, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of Rust who loaded the revolver, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison last April. Baldwin consistently denied any wrongdoing in the shooting, and a New Mexico judge dismissed the charges against him in July 2024. She found prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense. The suit alleges wrongdoing by a number of plaintiffs, including special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, and the first appointed special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, who was elected to the New Mexico state house in 2022. Alec Baldwin embraces his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, at his criminal trial in New Mexico. / RAMSAY DE GIVE / POOL/AFP via Getty Images The 73-page suit rehashes details from the 2021 shooting, the criminal investigation following Hutchins death, and the two attempts to prosecute Baldwin. Much of the filing focuses on the issue of evidence accusing the prosecutors of intentional concealment of exculpatory evidence and then lying from the witness stand during trial about their coverup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although no verdict in this civil case can undo the trauma the states threat of conviction and incarceration has inflicted, Alec Baldwin has filed this action to hold defendants responsible for their appalling violations of the laws that governed their work, Baldwins attorneys wrote in the suit. It also accuses Carmack-Altweis and Reeb of pursuing the case over a political agenda. Reeb was running for her seat in the New Mexico legislature at the time, and the suit alleges she used the trial to advance her political career. Id at least like to get out there that I am assisting you as it might help in my campaign lol, Reeb said in an email to the district attorney, The New York Times reported in 2023. She later clarified to the paper that she was joking in the message. The suit also alleges defamation from Carmack-Altweis and Reeb, pointing to statements they made on cable news during the prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwins lawyers also argue that the prosecutors should not be granted immunity from liability for their actions taken as government officials. A New Mexico law typically grants public employees legal leeway for acting within the scope of duty. Carmack-Altweis and Reeb did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Beast. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie Rust. The lawsuit was filed Thursday at state district court in Santa Fe, where a judge in July dismissed a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin also alleges defamation in the suit, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence as they pursued the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants named in the lawsuit include special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, along with three investigators from the Santa Fe County sheriff's office and the county board of commissioners. Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law, the lawsuit states. It also says prosecutors and investigators targeted Baldwin for professional or political gain. Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during a rehearsal for the movie Rust in October 2021 at a film-set ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer, was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer but not the trigger and the revolver fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwins trial was upended by revelations that ammunition was brought into the Santa Fe County sheriffs office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammo unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwins lawyers say investigators buried the evidence in a separate case folder and filed a successful motion to dismiss. Morrissey said she learned more than a year ago that Baldwin was considering a lawsuit. In October 2023 the prosecution team became aware that Mr. Baldwin intended to file a retaliatory civil lawsuit," she told The Associated Press in a text message Thursday. "We look forward to our day in court. Carmack-Altwies and the Santa Fe sheriffs office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Baldwin's lawsuit argues that prosecutors should not be afforded immunity in their official roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state attorney general declined to pursue and appeal the dismissal on behalf of prosecutors, closing out the case in December. Separately, the shooting led to an involuntary manslaughter conviction at trial last year against movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. She is serving out a maximum sentence of 1 1/2 years at a state penitentiary. The tort claim by Baldwin also takes aim at a special prosecutor who initially oversaw the investigation, while seeking unspecified punitive damages, compensatory damages, attorneys' fees and interest. It adds to a thicket of post-trial litigation, even as Baldwin has returned to comic appearances on "Saturday Night Live" with plans in the works for a family reality TV show with wife Hilaria and seven children. The parents and younger sister of Hutchins have sued Baldwin and other producers of Rust" in New Mexico state court. A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit by Hutchins widower and son. By Andrew Hay (Reuters) -Actor Alec Baldwin sued New Mexico prosecutors and sheriff's office officials on Thursday alleging a "malicious" prosecution against him for the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie "Rust." The action against special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and others is among at least a dozen civil lawsuits filed over Hutchins' death, which shocked Hollywood and sparked calls for an overhaul of firearms safety on movie sets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, filed in a Santa Fe court, followed the dramatic dismissal of Baldwin's case during his July manslaughter trial in the New Mexico capital. A judge ruled the special prosecutor and sheriff's office deliberately withheld evidence from Baldwin on the source of a live round that killed Hutchins. For the best part of three years, New Mexico officials pursued Baldwin for "political" and "personal" goals in a "conspiracy" to bring him to trial, Baldwin's attorneys say in the complaint, which seeks financial damages via a jury trial. "Defendants must now be held accountable for their malicious and unlawful pursuit of Baldwin," they wrote in the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actions ranged from special prosecutor Andrea Reeb's comment that the case could benefit her political career as a Republican state representative to Morrissey presenting "false and incomplete" testimony to win a grand jury indictment, they said. Morrissey said prosecutors had long known the actor would file a retaliatory civil lawsuit. "We look forward to our day in court," she said in a text message. Reeb and the Santa Fe sheriffs office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Ukrainian-born cinematographer died when Baldwin pointed his pistol at her, cocked it and possibly pulled the trigger as they set up a camera shot on a movie set near Santa Fe, his lawyers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gun, a reproduction 1873 single-action army revolver, fired a live round inadvertently loaded by Hannah Gutierrez, the movie's weapons handler. Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in jail. Baldwin, also a "Rust" producer, has always said live rounds should not have been allowed on set and he was not responsible for weapons safety. His lawsuit focuses on the decision by Morrissey and sheriffs office officials to file evidence on the source of live rounds under a case number different from that of the Rust case. New Mexico First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer tossed the case on grounds that "willful withholding of this information" came "so near to bad faith as to show signs of scorching prejudice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrissey denied wrongdoing. Baldwin must now prove the defendants are not protected by state law providing immunity to officials sued for conduct within the scope of their duties. (Reporting by Andrew Hay; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Clarence Fernandez) By Summer Zhen and Jiaxing Li HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese investors are buying up large amounts of Hong Kong mutual fund products that invest overseas, particularly in bonds, after authorities expanded a cross-border trading channel this month and opened an avenue to get better yields. Several mutual funds that are registered in Hong Kong and allowed to market products to mainland investors were sold out within 24 hours of opening for subscription at the beginning of the year, fund statements show. The funds had reopened for subscription in the past week after China relaxed limits for Hong Kong funds that are approved to sell on the mainland under the Mutual Recognition of Funds (MRF) scheme. It lifted the sales quota to a maximum of 80% of the funds' total assets from Jan. 1 from the previous 50% limit. The investment frenzy points to pent-up demand in China for overseas investments at a time when bond yields are hitting record lows at home, the yuan is at 16-month lows, and the stock market is struggling. "We've seen robust demand for overseas fund allocations, given the outperformance of overseas markets in the past two years," said Niki Wu, senior research analyst at Morningstar, based in Shenzhen. Funds that focus on U.S. Treasuries and other bonds seemed most popular with investors. Two bond funds run by JPMorgan - JPMorgan Global Bond Fund and JPMorgan Asian Total Return Bond Fund - had to suspend subscriptions by mainland investors this week after nearing their limits. Last week, ChinaAMC's Select Fixed Income Allocation Fund and E Fund (HK)'s Select Bond Fund found their new quotas were used up on the first day of resuming subscriptions. Wu said the recent rapid decline in bond yields has led to the clamour for assets. The yields on China's 10-year government bonds have dropped more than 100 basis points in a year, and are below 1.6%, with the gap between them and U.S. Treasuries the widest in 24 years. "It's really hard to find assets with relatively high yield and low risks," she said. First introduced in 2015, the MRF has long been a relatively niche scheme due to restrictions on fundraising. By the end of November, there were a total of 41 Hong Kong funds participating in it, official data shows, with aggregated sales amounting to 41.5 billion yuan ($5.66 billion), a 138% jump compared to that at the end of 2023. Ivan Shi, head of research at fund consultancy Z-Ben Advisors, described the MRF as a "release valve", given the scarcity of quotas in the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) program. Six months after being cleared of criminal charges in the "Rust" shooting death, actor Alec Baldwin has filed a suit alleging malicious prosecution and defamation by New Mexico prosecutors and law enforcement. The 73-page civil complaint, filed Thursday in Santa Fe, N.M., names special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey, 1st Judicial Dist. Atty. Mary Carmack-Altwies, Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies and the Santa Fe County Commission. It contends that county officials went out of their way to defame Baldwin and that their pursuit of criminal charges deprived the actor-producer of his civil rights. The defendants were "blinded by their desire to convict Alec Baldwin for all the wrong reasons, and at any cost," the lawsuit alleges. "Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwin is seeking an undetermined amount of damages, including punitive damages, according to the suit. "As a direct and proximate result of the defendants' unreasonable and unlawful actions, Baldwin has suffered and continues to suffer substantial past and future damages ... including ... legal expenses, loss of income, severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and embarrassment," the lawsuit said. Read more: Behind the spectacular collapse of the Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting prosecution The involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin was dismissed by a judge in July on what was supposed to be the third day of the actors trial. Instead, defense attorneys raised new questions over how New Mexico law enforcement officers and prosecutors handled evidence and grilled those seeking to prosecute Baldwin for the October 2021 death of Halyna Hutchins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision ended a nearly three-year ordeal for the 30 Rock and Hunt for Red October star after the on-set tragedy, when Baldwin accidentally shot Hutchins, the cinematographer on the low-budget western, during a preliminary run-through of a scene. Baldwins attorneys accused the state of misconduct, pointing to a batch of unexamined bullets that a potential witness turned over to sheriffs investigators last March. New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer appeared furious over the handling of the evidence, which was not given to the defense, and dismissed the single charge against Baldwin. Criminal prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent," Baldwin attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement. "Kari Morrissey and the other defendants violated that basic principle, over and over, and trampled on Alec Baldwins rights." Read more: 'Rust' criminal case against Alec Baldwin officially ends as prosecutor withdraws appeal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said despite Sommer's dismissal of the case and her harsh criticism of the conduct of the local prosecutor and sheriff's deputies, "this action is necessary to vindicate Baldwin's rights and deter Defendants from attempt to do this to anyone else." "In October 2023 the prosecution team became aware that Mr. Baldwin intended to file a retaliatory civil lawsuit," Morrissey said in a statement. "We look forward to our day in court." The original armorer in the film, Hannah Gutierrez, was convicted by a jury in March for involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Actor Alec Baldwin is suing Santa Fe officials after facing legal action against him for the accidental shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. The 30 Rock actor had been filming a scene inside a church when the gun he was holding went off. A live bullet exited the gun, hospitalizing director Joel Souza and killing the beloved cinematographer. Although armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months behind bars after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, Baldwins trial ended after only three days after a judge agreed that the prosecution had withheld evidence from his defense team and dismissed the charges against him with prejudice. Alec Baldwin Sues Santa Fe Officials For Malicious Prosecution MEGA On Thursday, Alec Baldwin filed a lawsuit in the federal court of New Mexico against Santa Fe officials, alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. He accused Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey of manipulating evidence and eliciting false testimony, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claims that the duo sought at every turn to scapegoat him while conspiring to maliciously bring about or advance Baldwins trial and conviction. In addition to claiming that they violated his civil rights, Baldwin is also seeking unspecific damages for defamation, malicious abuse of the judicial process, and intentional spoilation of evidence. Kari Morrissey Dropped Her Appeal Ahead Of Christmas MEGA Even though Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the trial against the Beetlejuice actor in July, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey filed an appeal and tried several times to get the case back into court. If convicted, Alec Baldwin would have faced up to 18 months behind bars for his role in Hutchins death. However, on December 23, a press release revealed that Morrissey had withdrawn the States notice of appeal. It stated: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Special Prosecutor intended to pursue an appeal of the dismissal, however, the Office of the Attorney General notified the Special Prosecutor that the Attorney General did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution. The press release also noted that the State strongly disagrees with the courts decision to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges against the actor and denied concealing evidence. Kari Morrissey Claimed The Trial Was About Justice For Halyna Hutchins MEGA In the press release, Kari Morrissey released a statement insisting that the goal of the criminal charges was to get justice for Halyna Hutchins, who left behind a husband and a son. She also left behind a mother, father, and sister, who are all suing Rust producers and Alec Baldwin in a civil case. This has always been about seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins," Morrisey expressed. "We regret that Mr. Baldwin will not be held accountable for the role he played in the death of Halyna Hutchins and as we withdraw the appeal, we do so with the hope that the outstanding lawsuits bring some measure of justice to the family of Halyna Hutchins. Baldwins Lawyers Claim Prosecutors Trampled On Alec Baldwins Rights MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their own statement, the Supercell actors attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said that the "decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning." "This was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico," they added at the time of the press release. Following his own lawsuit on January 9, Baldwins lawyers said in a statement that prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent. They emphasized that Santa Fe officials violated that basic principle, over and over, and trampled on Alec Baldwins rights. Alec Baldwin Hinted There Was More To Come In Rust Case MEGA During an appearance on David Duchovnys Fail Better podcast in December 2024, Baldwin revealed that there was another phase to his Rust drama but stopped shy of admitting that he was planning on suing Santa Fe officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, he said that he wanted to expose what really happened on the set of the Western film. Theres more to come, but the more to come is now my effort, and its going to be undeniably a successful effort, to raise and to expose what really happened, he said. I was counterpunching. I was on the defensive. I was being accused. I was being indicted. We have more sh-t thats going to come out in ensuing legal filings and so forth, Baldwin continued. Theres so much of this case that is not known because we didnt have a full trial. He said that now that things are coming back my way, he feels more confident in bringing out another phase of the Rust case in the next couple of months. Jan. 9Actor Alec Baldwin filed a lawsuit Thursday against prosecutors and law enforcement officers alleging he was maliciously prosecuted for a 2021 shooting death on the "Rust" movie set. The 73-page lawsuit alleges that prosecutors and investigators "sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin" for the 2021 death of "Rust" cinematographer, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins. The suit was filed in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, where a judge last summer threw out the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin after finding that prosecutors withheld evidence from his defense team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwin alleges that prosecutors and investigators "were motivated by evil motive or intent and involved a reckless or callous indifference to Baldwin's constitutionally protected rights." Among those named as defendants are Kari Morrissey, an Albuquerque attorney who served as special prosecutor in the case, and 1st Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. Morrissey and Carmack-Altwies did not immediately return phone messages left at their offices late Thursday afternoon. The lawsuit also names as defendants Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office investigators and the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "From the moment defendants and their agents set foot on the scene of the incident, it should have been apparent that Baldwin had no culpability," the suit contends. "Defendants must now be held accountable for their malicious and unlawful pursuit of Baldwin," it said. "Alec Baldwin has filed this action to hold defendants responsible for their appalling violations of the laws that governed their work." The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury at trial. The suit alleges that Morrissey "wanted to teach Baldwin 'a lesson'" because she considered him "arrogant" and manipulated the evidence she presented and withheld at his trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Most notably, it included certain defendants' intentional concealment of exculpatory evidence and then lying from the witness stand during trial about their cover-up," the suit alleges. The criminal case against Baldwin collapsed on July 12 when defense attorneys demanded that prosecutors produce ammunition that an Arizona man turned over in March to the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office. Baldwin's attorneys alleged that prosecutors and investigators "hid" evidence that could have helped prove Baldwin's innocence. First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer found that prosecutors withheld evidence from Baldwin's attorneys and threw out the criminal charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the movie, was rehearsing a scene on the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, when the gun he was holding discharged, fatally shooting Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who loaded the bullets into the gun Baldwin was holding, was convicted on March 6 of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death. She was sentenced in April to 18 months in prison. Alec Baldwin has sued the New Mexico prosecutors that charged him with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021 on the set of the western film Rust. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and investigators in the Rust case are named as defendants and are accused of malicious prosecution, defamation and civil rights violations in the lawsuit filed in Santa Fe on Thursday and reported by the Associated Press. Defendants, while acting under the color of law, conspired to procure a groundless indictment against Baldwin and to maliciously bring about or advance Baldwins trial and conviction, thus violating Baldwins constitutional rights by their improper use of the criminal process, the lawsuit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law, it continues. This past October, New Mexico judge upheld the decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge made against Baldwin based on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from Baldwins attorneys. The evidence in question was a cache of bullets that had been handed over to investigators and which Baldwins attorneys argued could have provided information as to how live rounds had been present on set and had made it into the gun that Baldwin was holding. Criminal prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent, Baldwins attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement. Kari Morrissey and the other defendants violated that basic principle, over and over, and trampled on Alec Baldwins rights. We bring this action to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing this to anyone else. The post Alec Baldwin Sues Rust Prosecutors for Defamation, Says They Pursued Him as Scapegoat appeared first on TheWrap. Alice Foster Paradise, a medical technologist and church ministry leader, died of cancer Jan. 5 at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. The Fallston resident was 78. Born in Baltimore and raised in Govans and Northwood, she was the daughter of Marion William Bill Foster, a machinist, and his wife, Hope, a Peterson Howell and Heather auto leasing clerical worker. She was a 1963 graduate of Eastern High School. She met her future husband, James Paradise when she was 14 years old and he was 16 at a youth fellowship event at Govans United Methodist Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alice was the kind of person who made friends easily, said her husband. She was caring and personable. She earned a chemistry degree at the University of Maryland College Park and joined the Baltimore City Health Department as a medical technologist. She later analyzed blood samples at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. She retired in 2012. Related Articles She and her husband moved to Fallston nearly 53 years ago. She joined the Bel Air United Methodist Church and became active in its social concerns ministry. She never hesitated to respond when there was someone in need, said a family friend, Laura Coleman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs. Paradise also took yoga classes at the Fallston Recreation Center and played bocce where she competed with neighbors. One thing that would get her heart racing was watching her sons and grandkids competing in sports, said Coleman. She was their biggest fan. Mrs. Paradise was a traveler and owned a timeshare for visits to Hawaii and throughout the U.S. She also liked cruising in the Caribbean and did ziplining. I wouldnt do it. I was a chicken. She was adventurous, her husband said. Heights did not bother her. She also attended outdoor concerts and dancing at the old Hunt Valley Mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs. Paradise enjoyed her time in the family kitchen. Her favorite meals were spaghetti, steaks and on special occasions, filet mignon. Her favorite restaurants included Boston Seafood, Pappas Restaurant and Vinces Crab House and Seafood. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Bel Air United Methodist Church, 21 Linwood Ave. in Bel Air. Survivors include her husband of 56 years, James Paradise, a Northrop Grumman aerospace engineer; two sons, Andrew Paradise of Perry Hall and Todd Paradise of Towson; and three grandchildren. Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jacques.kelly@baltsun.com and 410-332-6570. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Almost 1 million residents from 632 neighborhoods throughout Tijuana and Rosarito will be without water service through the weekend starting Friday. Jesus Garcia Castro, director of the State Commission of Public Services in Tijuana, says crews need to repair a large leak on one of the main lines that delivers water to the entire region. He says the only way to do it is to shut off the water to almost half of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Garcia Castro told reporters the work, including the restoration of service, will take approximately 62 hours to complete. By the end of Sunday everyone should have their water back, he said. The last seven days weve been doing preliminary work, gathering all the materials, heavy equipment and tools necessary to make the repairs, were trying to minimize the disruption in service. Mexico to open 25 shelters for deported migrants The city will deploy and position water trucks throughout Tijuana where people can supply themselves with water for cooking, cleaning and sanitation needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The water will be free of charge, Garcia Castro said. Were also going to do some maintenance work and repair smaller leaks in other areas while the water is shut off this is an emerging situation we werent expecting, but were ready to make all the necessary repairs. Garcia Castro said the line being worked on is called the Florido Aqueduct, which delivers water to half of the city of Tijuana and Rosarito. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border He says it was constructed 90 years and thats why it breaks down sporadically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ideal solution is to get funding to construct an entire new line, but right now it just cant be done, in the meantime were asking people to be patient. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Warner Bros. As the wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, many celebrities are using their platforms to provide updates about their homes , neighborhoods and lives as well as resources. In Jason Momoas case, hes using his Instagram to share footage from Fernwood, California of the fire and firefighters working to put it out. Hes also using those posts to give big thanks to the first responders who are working to keep everyone safe. Posting updates from Fernwood, California, Jason Momoa, uploaded this scary video of fires burning at 5:45 a.m. yesterday. The sight is terrifying, and its an example of the kind of flames that are damaging all sorts of homes around LA: At the time of this writing, the Palisades Fire has threatened 13,306 structures and is almost 20,000 acres in size, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . A more positive update is its at 6% containment at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On that note, Momoa also used his IG to post photos of the fire trucks driving in to hold the line. Writing, Stay safe. All my aloha, the Fast X actor uploaded the following images: The actors Instagram Story has also been utilized to show the work being done to put out the fires near him. For example, he posted two videos of helicopters dumping water on the flames around Fernwood. You can see a screenshot of that as well as the hearts he left for those fighting the fires below: Credit: Jason Momoa's Instagram Story Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with Momoa, Chris Pratt, Mark Hamill and many more have spoken up about the fires that have led to major devastation and evacuation. The damage these fires have caused is insurmountable, and many have lost their homes because of them. Over the last few days, weve seen many celebrities share news about the state of their homes. Mandy Moores partially burned down, Billy Crystal lost his entire house, Kevin Smiths was saved, and the examples go on and on. As the fires continue to burn and updates continue to come out about the state of their containment, so do the personal stories about how peoples lives have been impacted by them. Obviously, these fires will also impact the 2025 TV schedule and 2025 movie releases in some ways. Production has already been delayed on shows like NCIS , Greys Anatomy and more. Seeing as shows like those are in the middle of seasons, this could mean there are slight delays on episodes as we move into the second half of their current runs. The fires have also stopped productions like Fallout Season 2 from starting. However, at the moment, the primary focus is on making sure everyone stays safe and the fires get put out. Then, work can start back up again. As we get updates on all of this, well be sure to keep you posted. It reads like a home seller's worst nightmare: While moving into your newly purchased house and preparing your beloved current abode for market, fire sweeps through and destroys both claiming your past, present and future in a single night. That's exactly what happened to Laura Begley and her fiance, Evan Dresman. The couple had just moved from their modest fixer-upper in Altadena's Janes Village to their dream home in architect Gregory Ain's Park Planned homes, when the Eaton fire roared to life. The homes were a few blocks from each other near Fair Oaks Avenue, and by morning, both were gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple evacuated their new home at around 8 p.m. Tuesday after seeing flames through the trees, and at 9 a.m. Wednesday a neighbor sent a video showing firefighters driving down their street. "Everything was rubble," Begley said. "Things were actively still on fire. You couldn't even tell whose house was whose. It was surreal." Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, bordering the Pasadena Waldorf School campus (also destroyed), the couple's new house was built in 1948 as part of a 28-home neighborhood designed by modernist Ain with the help of the era's premier modernist landscape architect, Garrett Eckbo. Ain was known for his devotion to cost-effective, prefabricated design meant to be accessible to everyday people, not just the wealthy. "We were seeing footage from the news of our street specifically, and it was just so awful thinking about everyone who lived there," Begley said. "There are people who've been there forever. There's somebody on the street who grew up in that house and still lives there with their family." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another neighbor, an architect, had a collection of blueprints, research and ephemera related to the construction of Ain's Park Planned homes. Begley, who works at an insurance broker, and Dresman, a special collections librarian at the Getty Research Institute, were still unpacking when the fire erupted and their power went out. A plumber was scheduled this week to hook up the stove, washer and dryer, so they left with only the clothes on their backs, work computers and passports, just to be safe. Read more: Inside the dash to save the Getty Villa from the Palisades fire: A timeline "We were just going to drive into town with our dogs and grab a few essentials," Dresman recalled. "But it wasn't until we drove a few blocks away and got reception that Laura's sister called and told us that there was a fire. We never got an evacuation notice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They decided to leave for the night and headed to Silver Lake to stay with friends. They could not have imagined their home would burn to the ground. Or that their other home the one they were poised to put on the market also would be leveled. That home was the first residence that the couple had bought together after renting in Eagle Rock. They spent a year and a half renovating it and replacing the roof. It was located in northwest Altadena in another historic complex of homes called Janes Village, which was mostly designed and built by Elisha (E.P.) Janes between 1924 and 1926. In 2002, the neighborhood was designated an Altadena Heritage Area by the nonprofit advocacy organization Altadena Heritage. "It looks like almost all of Janes Village is gone," said Dresman, adding that they had seen a photo taken from a neighbor's destroyed yard that showed their house gone. The couple is mourning the loss of personal effects family photos and mementos that have no monetary value but are irreplaceable. They gain some comfort, they said, from keeping others in their hearts and knowing that their story is one of many a litany of loss across this parched community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One item that did have value was a Joe Goode print that Begley looked at before they left briefly wondering whether she should take it before deciding that it probably wasn't necessary. Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California "We hadn't fully unpacked yet, we had stuff everywhere," she said. The Goode print was just part of the scenery she thought she'd soon return to. The same holds true for the couple's wedding invitations, which were destroyed in the fire. They had planned to marry in May. Will they follow through with that plan when the smoke clears? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think these are things that we'll have to try to figure out as we go," Begley said. "We're not really sure what the state of all of that will be after this, but I think as of now, we're going to try and find a place to live, and then hopefully everything else will fall into place somehow." Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. is halting some of its diversity and inclusion programs, a move that coincides with activist pressure on US companies to abandon efforts to build a more diverse workforce. Most Read from Bloomberg In a memo to employees, Candi Castleberry, a senior human resources executive, said last month that Amazon was winding down outdated programs and materials as part of a review of hundreds of initiatives, including ones that had completed their work. The team expected to complete the consolidation by the end of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture, wrote Castleberry, Amazons vice president of Inclusive eXperiences and Technology. Her prior title, vice president of global diversity, equity and inclusion, changed with the name of the organization in 2023. An Amazon spokesperson declined to detail the changes Castleberrys organization has made. The company continues to operate affinity groups employee-led organizations formed to hear worker concerns and advocate for women, Black workers and military veterans, among other groups. Amazon is the second largest private US employer, behind Walmart Inc. The overhaul comes as anti-DEI crusader Robby Starbuck racks up victories in a push to get corporate America to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs entirely. Companies including Walmart and Boeing Co. have announced that theyre scrapping or stepping back from their initiatives. Meta Platforms Inc. confirmed on Friday that it was disbanding many of its diversity and inclusion efforts. Harley-Davidson Inc., Ford Motor Co. and Deere & Co., meanwhile, are among companies that have said they will more tightly focus their employee resource groups on business purposes and ensure they are open to all employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incoming US presidential administration is expected to be hostile to such initiatives, with some allies of President-Elect Donald Trump charging that they amount to discrimination against White workers. Amazons Our Positions web page a clearinghouse of the companys stances on social and political issues recently eliminated specific sections titled Equity for Black people and LGBTQ+ rights. The Information reported those changes earlier Friday. The updated page collapses these topics into a single paragraph on diversity, equity and inclusion, saying Amazon is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive company that helps us build the best range of products and services for our broad customer base. The statement says inequitable treatment of anyone is unacceptable. Specific references to Amazons support for legislation to combat racial bias in policing, efforts to expand voting rights, and codify protections for transgender people were eliminated from the web page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We update this page from time to time to ensure that it reflects updates weve made to various programs and positions, spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in an emailed statement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sarah Melotte The Daily Yonder On January 9th, the United States Department of the Interior will hold the second of two scheduled auctions for oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), a 19-million-acre expanse in Alaskas North Slope Borough, an equivalent to a county in Alaskas jurisdictions, that has been a focal point of drilling controversy for over six decades. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump included a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that would make ANWR available for oil and gas drilling, mandating that two lease sales be underway by the end of 2024. With the support of a Republican majority in the Senate, this historic legislation opened ANWR to drilling for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area in the coastal plain that is up for lease is estimated to contain 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil. In 1960, the Eisenhower Administration established ANWR, affectionately dubbed Americas Serengeti, as an area of biological significance. That was a major victory for those who wanted to keep it out of development, said Dr. Scott L. Montgomery, lecturer at the School of International Studies at the University of Washington. ANWR is known worldwide for its unique biodiversity as a home to charismatic species like polar bears, wolves, and the caribou that are sacred to the Gwichin, a Northwestern Alaska tribe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a migration pathway and a habitation for many large and also a migratory species, said Montgomery. Oil and gas operations elicit mixed responses from Alaskan Natives, however. While some worry that drilling activity will hurt vulnerable wildlife and subsistence living, others say the oil and gas industry funds important infrastructure for their communities. Oil and Gas Operations Fund Infrastructure in Rural Alaska Our budget every single year is absolutely tied to the kinds of revenue that we get from the price of oil, said Dr. A.L. Lovecraft, professor of Political Science and director of the Center for Arctic Policy Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Ninety-five percent of the North Slope Boroughs budget comes from taxation on development infrastructure on the oil and gas industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a 2024 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) report, oil and gas operations contributed to almost $1.4 billion in economic output on Alaskas BLM-managed lands, accounting for 81% of total economic output generated on federal land. Meanwhile, recreation on BLM land accounted for about 3% of total economic output, or $48.1 million. In the North Slope Borough, oil and gas extraction made up 48% of all employment in 2023, compared to about 1.4% of employment in the rest of non-metro counties in the United States, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit research organization. But most of those jobs are filled by transient workers, not natives of the North Slope. The majority of full-time North Slope residents work for the local government. However, Alaskas oil and gas industry provides opportunities beyond direct employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lovecraft mentioned hiring a student research assistant through an internship funded by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), one of twelve regional corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Unlike reservations in the lower 48, Alaskan Natives have regional corporations like the ASRC. These corporations operate like traditional businesses, benefiting their shareholderswho are Alaskan Native peoplesby generating revenue from industries such as oil and gas. Currently, the ASRC has over 13,000 shareholders who receive dividends. Since its establishment in 1972, the ASRC has distributed more than $1 billion in dividends. Many leaders of the Inupiat, an indigenous people native to Alaskas North Slope Borough, say that oil and gas operations can be good for native communities if conducted responsibly. Before oil and gas, you couldn't graduate high school and stay in the North Slope, said Nagruk Harcharek, president of the Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, a nonprofit organization that advocates for Alaskas Inupiat people. Now there's K-12 schools in every North Slope village." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harcharek credited revenue from the oil and gas industry with funding the establishment of search and rescue teams and improving home heating in the region. But regardless of the oil and gas industrys potential benefits to his community, he emphasized the importance of having a seat at the table where decisions about their land are made, rather than being sidelined by oil executives and presidential administrations. We dont want to hear about things through the news media, said Harcharek. He said they want to be included before decisions are announced publicly. Harcharek said that the controversial Willow Project, a ConocoPhillips drilling project in the North Slope, west of ANWR, was a good example of what it looks like to engage Alaskan Natives. He said they were consulted early and often in the decision-making process. The Risks of Drilling in the Arctic Drilling in the Arctic raises significant environmental concerns, including the acceleration of climate change and potential disruption to vulnerable wildlife. It can also be costly due to short work seasons and limited existing infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And according to climate data from NOAA, temperature has increased more in Alaskas North Slope Borough compared to any other region in the state since 1970. That, in turn, has destabilized ice, making snowmobile travel more hazardous. In a state twice the size of Texas with only 700,000 residents spread across approximately 200 communities, snowmobiles are often one of the few viable modes of transportation in remote areas. Parts of the North Slope Borough are also important breeding and hunting grounds for caribou. And some Alaskan Natives worry about how devastating oil spills will disrupt migration patterns and harm traditional ways of life. Other Alaskans are concerned that climate change will melt ice and the permafrost, leading to hazardous hunting conditions as individuals risk falling through the ice and face challenges storing food in traditional underground ice cellars. The indigenous population in these villages rely on subsistence practices, said Lovecraft. Both to be physically healthy, and of course to ensure that language and culture continue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunting is more than just a hobby in many native villages with high poverty rates. Hunting is a method of survival, said Lovecraft. [Drilling] also comes with all of this other baggage... Problems related to health, indoor health, indoor air quality, outdoor air quality. The air toxins released during oil and gas activity include chemicals like benzene and n-hexane, which are thought to cause cancer and cause other health conditions, according to the EPA. Arctic Drilling is Costly But the costs of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic are not solely environmental; they also include significant economic challenges. Despite Trumps Drill Baby, Drill attitude, the success of Arctic drilling depends less on Republican policies and more on the global price of oila complex and fluctuating factor beyond the president-elects direct control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many arctic oil exploration sites dont have existing infrastructure like permanent roads or nearby oil and gas pipelines. Building out the necessary infrastructure can be cost prohibitive if the global price of oil isnt high enough to make it worth the investment, according to Montgomery. Much of this infrastructure can only be established in the winter, as ice roads are required to transport materials. A 2024 brief from the Alaska Wilderness League estimated that oil prices need to be between $63 and $84 per barrel to be worth the costly investment. But the latest data from the Energy Information Administration predicted that the price of oil per barrel will hover around $61 to $63 per barrel in 2025. The Trump Administrations first lease sale in 2021 didnt attract much interest. Only 11 of the 22 tracts available received any bids. That sale took place during the pandemic, a period marked by historically low oil pricesapproximately $56 per barrel, according to the Energy Information Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2024, the price was $61, still modest compared to the $172 per barrel at the twenty-year high in 2008. Montgomery said he thinks there will be small, if any, interest in the upcoming January 9th lease auction. But I think there might be a few companies that would take the bait, he said. According to Montgomery, some companies might sit on the lease until oil prices improve before they start drilling procedures. With any bids that do take place on January 9th, Harcharek hopes that the Inupiat will be heard and included. "We get characterized as oil and gas advocates but that's not the truth, he said. Harcharek said they want a slice of the pie when profits are being made on their land. It just so happens that right now, those profits are coming from the oil and gas industry. Brazil and Chile are high-potential markets in the Americas for spirits brands, with annual sales in both countries forecast to rise at double-digit rates, new research shows. Brazils spirits industry is due to see its value grow at a CAGR of 18.2%, from $17.4bn in 2023 to $40.1bn in 2028, according to a new report from GlobalData, Just Drinks parent. Chiles spirits sector was valued at $3.7bn in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR rate of 13.1% by 2028, reaching sales of $6.9bn. In Brazil, Companhia Muller De Bebidas, Diageo and Engarrafamento Pitu were the leading companies by in their share of sales volumes in 2023, the research showed. Companhia Muller De Bebidas held a 10.8% volume share, while Diageo and Engarrafamento Pitu held 10.6% and 8.2%. The dominant spirits category for Brazil was speciality spirits, which held 40.1% of the category value share, followed by vodka at 15.6% and liqueurs at 13.8%. Speciality spirits also held the largest volume share in volume terms, hovering around 60% across nine top spirits-consuming cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. Speciality spirits under GlobalData's definition include distilled liquors like cachaca, soju, pisco, aguardiente or pastis. In Chile, Diageo, Compania Cervecerias Unidas and Cooperative Agricola Pisquera Elqui were the leading companies in terms of volume share for Chile in 2023, holding 16%, 12.5% and 9% respectively. Brandy was the dominating spirits category for Chile in value terms in 2023, taking 28.4% of category value share. Whiskey and speciality spirits followed at 24.4% and 21.7% respectively. Speciality spirits, however, was the leading category by volume in 2023 across the top consumption cities in Chile Santiago, Valparaiso and Concepcion. Its highest volume share was recorded in Santiago at 35.9%. One trend defining spirits consumption habits in both countries is consumer interest in unique or novel ingredients, GlobalData suggested. In a GlobalData consumer survey, 64% of Chilean consumers said they are either always or often influenced by new experiences associated with product purchases. A separate survey from the data analytics group showed 70% of Brazilian respondents said they see novel or unique characteristics while purchasing food and drinks essential or nice to have. GlobalData also forecast an increase in demand for RTD cocktails in the Americas overall as more consumers look to high-quality drinking experiences. Environmentally friendly packaging is also expected to become more important in the spirits sector in the region as consumers look to packaging made with sustainable materials, while social media and celebrity-backed brands could also prove more important in the future for engaging with consumers in the Americas. Recently, an American Airlines plane and a United Airlines aircraft collided at the Chicago airport, which has stirred discussions on social media. Following the incident, both the airlines and official authorities released multiple statements explaining the details. Here is all the information that weve gathered so far regarding the Chicago airport collision. What happened to the American Airlines and United Airlines planes? Recently, a passenger plane belonging to American Airlines clipped the tail of an aircraft from United Airlines at the OHare International Airport in Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC Chicago further notes that both flights were undergoing the taxiing process. American Airlines flight 1979 was getting ready for departure to the International Airport in LA. Meanwhile, United Airlines flight 219 was embarking toward the Honolulu International Airport. The timing of this minor crash was confirmed in a statement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its official website. They conveyed that the American Airlines Flight 1979 struck the tail of United Airlines Flight 219 during the taxiing and this occurred at Chicago OHare International Airport around 9:50 AM local time on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Additionally, the FAA announced that an investigation would take place. It stated, The American Airlines Boeing 737-800 was heading to Los Angeles and the United Boeing 787 was heading to Honolulu. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airlines for further information. Following the collision, both planes were replaced with substitutes. Moreover, the 293 passengers and 10 crew members who were boarding the United Airlines flight were moved to another plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC Chicago also reported that no one faced any injury due to the impact of the collision. American Airlines also released a statement apologizing for the incident. They said, We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused. Furthermore, the airline revealed that the passengers were deplaned immediately. The post American Airlines Plane Hits United Jet at Chicago Airport appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. (WFRV) The American Red Cross of Wisconsin provided an update on their efforts to respond to devastating wildfires throughout southern California. According to a release, the American Red Cross of Wisconsin is sending at least four volunteers and one employee to help with relief efforts, and more are expected to head out in the coming days. Door County candlemakers raising money for Los Angeles fire victims through Golden State candle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Red Cross of Wisconsin also added that theyre planning to share more updates next week, with firsthand thoughts from volunteers on the ground in and around Los Angeles. Numerous supplies and other support services will be provided to those who are in need. For more information and ways to help, please visit this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. AMES, Iowa An investigation is underway after an individual who was shot in Ames showed up at a Des Moines hospital overnight. According to the Ames Police Department, at around 11:13 p.m. Thursday officers responded to a report of gunshots in the area of the 4600 block of Mortensen Road. Officers arrived in the area, but were unable to locate a victim or a shooting scene. Des Moines Police release names of victim, officers involved in fatal shooting last week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly an hour later, around 12:04 a.m., MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines alerted police of a gunshot victim who had shown up at the hospital. According to police, the victim said he was shot by an unknown person in Ames. The victims injuries are non-life threatening. Police said theres no ongoing danger to the public. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Ames Police Department at (515)239-5133 or anonymously at (515)239-5533. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at (515)223-1400 or online. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Chantal and Harold Hinds are deciding when to have a second baby with child care costs playing a big roll. Chantal, 39, gave birth under a year and a half ago to her son, raising him in East Flatbush about a mile from where she grew up. She joined local parent groups on WhatsApp, the instant messaging service, and noticed a trend: Many families were waiting until their kids turned 3 to avoid doubling up on child care fees. Currently, New York City offers pre-K programs for most, if not all families with children ages 3 and 4 who want it. Over the last week alone, both Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul have laid out sweeping plans to make New York more family-friendly. On Thursday, Adams gave his 2025 State of the City address: Make New York City Best Place to Raise a Family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But affordable child care may be out of reach for the Hinds, whose son will be 2 over the summer. The citys average cost for full-time child care at that age is $23,400 each year, according to New Yorkers United for Child Care, an advocacy group. Having access to free care for him when he turns 2 really impacts our family planning, Chantal said. Were pretty sure we want to have another kid. I dont want to have another kid at 45. So were trying to figure out when is the time that we want to do it, and a lot of that is dependent on if we can avoid a daycare overlap. Facing an affordability crisis across the five boroughs, the Hinds and more than 100 other parents are banding together to push for Universal 2-Care, a public program modeled after universal pre-K and 3-K for the families of 2-year-olds. I did not envision that there could be a possibility that I couldnt raise my family here, said Chantal. But the older Ive gotten, the more I realized that its hard. This is not the same Brooklyn it was when my family was on a single family income, and my mom was home with me until I was 3. That doesnt exist anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the group will kick off their campaign with a stroller brigade at City Hall, where parents led by New Yorkers United for Child Care and United Neighborhood Houses will call on Adams to help make daycare more affordable and accessible open for all work hours and within 15 minutes of home. I hear all the time from parents in NYC that if we can just hang on to 3-K, then we can stay in New York. We can stay in our apartment, said Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care. That hanging on can be quite difficult for many people, many families. Thats why were launching our campaign to say: Its time for 2s.' At full scale, Universal 2-Care would serve 60,000 toddlers for $1.3 billion each year from the city budget, though Bailin predicted it would pay for itself over time by keeping families in New York to grow the tax base, parents in the workforce, and young children on track to build a strong future economy. Bailins ultimate goal is for universal child care to expand statewide. Advocates have reason to believe that may be a possibility, though not imminently. On Tuesday, Hochul, who is up for re-election next year and likely to face a competitive primary, announced a task force of business interests, service providers and tax experts to move toward, ultimately, universal child care at a daycare center in Bushwick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams during his annual speech on Thursday did not mention universal child care but touted his record from offering all on-time applicants a 3-K seat by the fall, to slashing child care copays for the citys lowest-income families from $55 to $5 per week. New York City is already a great place to raise a family, but as every parent knows, its not always easy, Adams said at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. These are big savings for hardworking families. Asked by the Daily News where Mayor Adams stands on universal child care, City Hall did not return a request for comment. A rep for the citys public schools, controlled by Adams, stressed the urgent need to invest in our youngest learners, supporting their development and easing financial burdens on families, as well as state funding streams to accomplish scale. That doesnt help Stephanie Park, 38, who is still paying $29,700 annually on her 1-year-old daughters daycare, run out of the ground floor of a brownstone in Park Slope. The program shutters for the month of August, when Park needs to open her wallet again to keep her daughter busy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was kind of a crazy, rude awakening once I started looking at daycare options, Park said. And, you know, like, Im not going for fancy programs. I love how New York City is an incredibly diverse city. I dont want to raise my kids in the city thats been hollowed out because most people cant afford to live here. That to me is not an interesting place to live and raise my kids. By Daren Butler, Ece Toksabay and Umit Ozdal ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) - Talks aimed at ending a 40-year-old militant conflict have fostered peace hopes in Turkey but the precarious situation of Kurdish forces in Syria and uncertainty about Ankara's intentions have left many Kurds anxious about the path ahead. Abdullah Ocalan, jailed head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, has been cited as indicating a willingness to call on the PKK to lay down arms in a peace process to end the insurgency he launched against NATO-member Turkey in 1984. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people, stunted development in the mainly Kurdish southeast and caused deep political divisions. Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party met Ocalan in late December and has since held talks with other parties including President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party (AKP), to discuss Ocalan's proposal, with both sides describing the talks as "positive". Two DEM sources told Reuters the party is now set to visit Ocalan again as soon as Jan. 15 in his prison on northwest Turkey's Imrali island, where the 75-year-old has been held since 1999. They expect that meeting to yield a concrete plan for peace talks. "We expect the process to take shape and a clear roadmap to be determined to establish the legal framework in the second meeting with Ocalan," DEM Party parliamentary group deputy chair Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit told Reuters. DEM is the third-largest party in parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear what Ocalan would seek in any deal but DEM quoted him as referring to efforts for a "democratic transformation" in Turkey. Kurds have long sought more political and cultural rights, and economic support. DEM also demands Ocalan's release. The dynamics of any peace process have been transformed by the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, leaving Syrian Kurdish forces on the back foot with Turkey-backed forces ranged against them and the new rulers in Damascus friendly with Ankara. Turkey has warned it could mount a cross-border military offensive into northern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia unless they disband. It says they are terrorists and part of the PKK but they are also allied with the United States in the fight against Islamic State, complicating the issue further. For now it is unclear how the fall of Assad could affect the prospects of the PKK laying down arms. A leading PKK figure indicated in an interview this week that the group supported Ocalan's efforts but did not comment on the disarmament issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leader of the Syrian Kurdish forces has proposed that foreign fighters, including from the PKK, would leave Syria as part of a deal with Turkey to avoid further conflict in the country. "POINTING GUNS AND TALKING PEACE" Kocyigit said that managing a peace process in Turkey against this background was the biggest test for Ankara. "You cannot point guns at the Kurds in (Syria's) Kobani and talk about peace in Turkey," she said. "The Kurdish issue is a complex issue. It should be addressed not only with Turkey's internal dynamics but also with its international dimensions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey should accept that Kurds have a say in the future of Syria, she added. Ankara has said little about the talks with Ocalan, launched after a proposal by Erdogan's main ally in October, but a major AKP figure spoke optimistically after meeting a DEM delegation. "We see everyone's good-willed effort to contribute to the process," AKP's Abdullah Guler said on Tuesday, adding the goal was to resolve the issue this year. "The process ahead will lead to completely different developments that we never expected." He did not specify what these developments were, but another AKP MP said a climate for the PKK to lay down arms may be in place by February. Asked if there could be an amnesty for PKK members, Guler said a general amnesty was not on the agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, Ozgur Ozel, said a parliamentary commission should be set up with all parties to address the problems faced by Kurds. In the southeast, Kurds are sceptical about peace prospects after past failures. That uncertainty is reflected in opinion surveys. A recent SAMER poll of some 1,400 people, conducted in the southeast and major Turkish cities, showed that only 27% of respondents expected the original call for Ocalan to end the conflict to evolve into a peace process. The last peace talks collapsed in 2015, triggering a surge in violence and a crackdown on pro-Kurdish party members. Guler said the current process would in no way resemble those talks a decade ago, saying the situation had changed. ERDOGAN'S STANCE IS CRUCIAL Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key to boosting confidence in the peace process would be an expression of support from Erdogan, according to DEM's Kocyigit. "His direct confirmation that he is involved in the process would make a world of difference. If he openly expresses this support, social support would increase rapidly," she said. Erdogan has so far kept up his hardline rhetoric against the PKK, saying after a cabinet meeting this week that "those who choose violence will be buried with their weapons" and repeating his oft-used warning of military action against Syrian Kurdish forces: "We may come suddenly one night". Erdogan said he believed that "ultimately brotherhood, unity, togetherness and peace will win" while warning that if this path is blocked, "we will not hesitate to use the iron fist of our state wrapped in a velvet glove." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The importance of Erdogan's comments was also stressed by Yuksel Genc, coordinator of the Diyarbakir-based pollster SAMER. "The harsh rhetoric of Erdogan and his circle is preventing a revival of feelings of trust in the new process (among Kurds) on the street," she said, noting concerns among many Kurds about what would happen to Kurds in Syria. Domestically, Ankara has signalled a will to deal with the Kurdish issue, unveiling last month a $14 billion development plan aimed at reducing the economic gap between the southeast and the rest of Turkey. An end to conflict would be widely welcomed across Turkey, but the government faces a balancing act given the widespread enmity among most Turks towards Ocalan and the PKK after four decades of bloodshed, with many opposing peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I definitely do not support it. I am not in favour of such bargaining or talks. I consider this as a disrespect to our martyrs [soldiers] and their families," Mehmet Naci Armagan, who works in the tourism sector, said in Istanbul. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay and Huseyin Hayatsever in Ankara, Umit Ozdal in Diyarbakir, Daren Butler, Ali Kucukgocmen, Emin Caliskan in Istanbul; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) By Andrew Gray and Lili Bayer BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO won't heed Donald Trumps proposal for a massive hike in defence spending but will likely agree to go beyond its current target, according to officials and analysts. The U.S. president-elect declared on Tuesday members of the military alliance should spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence a huge increase from the current 2% goal and a level that no NATO country, including the United States, currently reaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps comments at a press conference that also generated a blizzard of headlines on Greenland, Canada and Panama were a reminder of his focus on NATO spending during his first term and his threats not to protect allies that fail to meet the target. Officials from NATO countries said they agreed defence spending needs to rise further but did not endorse the 5% figure, which analysts said would be politically and economically impossible for almost all members. It would require hundreds of billions of dollars in extra funding. However, a new target is likely to be agreed at a NATO summit in The Hague in June, spurred by fears that Russia may attack a NATO country after Ukraine and by Trumps exhortations, officials said. The key open questions are what that new target will be and whether it will be enough to satisfy Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some expect NATO's 32 members to agree, after much wrangling, to a target of around 3% of GDP. But even that would be a stretch for many, who barely meet or fall short of the 2% goal now a decade after it was set. "It seems there will be a shift," Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told Reuters. "I don't think it will be 5%, which would be impossible for almost every nation in the world right now but... it will not be two (percent), which we are already struggling to reach, but it will be more than two." Italy, with defence spending at around 1.5% of GDP, is among eight NATO members that do not meet the current target. Poland, which borders Ukraine, is the NATO member that spends the highest share of GDP on defence 4.12% last year, alliance estimates show. It is followed by Estonia with 3.43% and the United States with 3.38%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO estimated the combined defence spending of its members at $1.474 trillion in 2024 - around $968 billion from the United States and $507 billion from European nations and Canada. The overall average is about 2.71% of NATO GDP. Some officials and analysts see Trump's 5% suggestion as a deliberately high opening bid to kick off months of negotiations and expect he may settle for something closer to 3%. During last year's U.S. presidential election campaign, Trump proposed a 3% target, adding this would mean a defence budget increase of about 30% for most NATO countries. SPENDING SURGE Shocked by Russia's war in Ukraine, many European countries have ramped up defence spending in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with public finances tight, and defence spending not politically popular in some countries, it would not be easy for governments to find the extra billions that even a move to spend 3% of GDP on defence would entail. While Trump has likened NATO defence spending to alliance membership fees, they reflect budgets set by national governments. Fenella McGerty, a defence economics expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, said recent increases had been "remarkable" but it takes years for countries to start reaching new targets. "Even if Europe were to continue that rate of quite extraordinary growth - in excess of 10% in real terms in 2024 - it would still take another 10 years to even get to 3% of GDP," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, many European governments say the continent should do more to defend itself and rely less on the United States. France and the Baltic states are pushing for joint European Union borrowing to fund defence spending. The outcome of that debate may depend on next month's national election in Germany, which has so far opposed the idea. To become more self-reliant, the European allies need to spend more to develop capabilities that the U.S. currently provides such as air-to-air refuelling, heavy-duty military air transport and electronic warfare, said Camille Grand, who previously served as NATO's top official for defence investment. "All of these things cost a lot of money. Some of them are big-ticket items," said Grand, now with the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current security environment suggests European countries should be spending about 3% of GDP on defence, she said. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the European Parliament's defence subcommittee, said Europe must ramp up spending but not fixate on an arbitrary figure. "We need to mobilise a lot more money, but we shouldn't let Trump drive us crazy," she said. (Additional reporting by Angelo Amante in Rome, Isabelle Yr Carlsson in Copenhagen and John Irish in Paris; Editing by Gareth Jones) By Hyunjoo Jin and Dan Catchpole SEOUL/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Before it suffered the deadliest crash in South Korea's history, budget airline Jeju Air was moving fast: racking up record passenger numbers and flying its aircraft more than domestic rivals and many of its global peers, data show. The high "utilisation rate" of Jeju Air's planes - the number of hours they fly in a day - is not problematic in itself, experts say, but means scheduling enough time for required maintenance is crucial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have suggested a bird strike contributed to the accident, but as part of their probe into the incident aboard Boeing 737-800, police have raided the airlines' Seoul office to seize documents related to the operation and maintenance of the plane. "You're literally looking at everything," said aviation safety and crash investigation expert Anthony Brickhouse. "You're going to start off with their accident history and safety history. What kind of events have they had in the past, what happened, what was done to correct the issues?" Jeju Air told Reuters that it did not neglect maintenance procedures and that it would step up its safety efforts. The Dec. 29 crash, which killed 179 people, was the airline's first fatal accident since its 2005 founding and the first for any Korean airline in more than a decade. The company's CEO, Kim E-bae - who has been barred from travelling overseas during the investigation - told a news conference last week that Jeju's maintenance is in line with regulatory standards and that there were no maintenance issues with the doomed jet during pre-flight inspection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He acknowledged the airline's safety measures had not been sufficient in the past, but said improvements had been made. The authorities have not said poor maintenance contributed to the crash and the exact circumstances behind the disaster remain unclear. Besides the reported bird strike, authorities are looking into why the pilot may have rushed a second landing attempt after declaring an emergency, and why the landing gear was not deployed. Investigators have recovered the cockpit and flight data recorders but have not released any details. The country's transport regulator is inspecting all 101 737-800s in South Korea - more than a third of which are operated by Jeju Air - focusing on how often and how well the planes were maintained, among other considerations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although it had recorded no violations in the last two years, it was hit with more fines and suspensions for aviation law breaches than any of its domestic rivals in 2020-2022, just during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, records show. According to transport ministry data on major airlines from 2020 to August 2024, Jeju Air was hit by about 2.3 billion won ($1.57 million) in fines and the affected aircraft were kept out of operation for a total of 41 days, according to Reuters calculations based on the data. The next-most penalized airline, T'way Air, had 2.1 billion won in fines and four days of suspended operation during that period. Jeju Air flies its planes more than any other major airline in the country, data show, and also outpaces most global peers such as Ireland's Ryanair and Malaysia's AirAsia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeju Air 7C2216 was flying from the Thai capital of Bangkok to Muan in southwestern South Korea at night when it belly-landed, overshot the runway and burst into flames after hitting an embankment. The aircraft flew every day in 2024, according to flight data reviewed by Reuters. UTILISATION RATES High utilisation rates are prized in the industry as an indicator of economic efficiency, especially at low-cost carriers, experts say. Jeju Air, which ranks behind only Korean Air and Asiana Air in terms of passenger volumes in the country, saw record numbers from January to December 2024, according to transport ministry data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its monthly utilisation hours for passenger jets nearly doubled to 412 in 2023 from 2022, higher than Korean Air at 332 hours and Asiana Airlines at 304 hours, according to stock exchange filings. T'way averaged 366 hours per month in passenger and cargo jets combined, Jin Air averaged 349 hours, and Air Busan 319 hours, according to their filings. In 2024, Jeju Air flew its airplanes more each day - 11.6 hours - than almost any other airline offering cheap tickets and flying only narrowbody aircraft, according to data from aviation analytics company Cirium, which calculates utilisation rates differently from the earnings filings. Only Saudi Arabia's Air Arabia flew its planes more - 12.5 hours a day. Vietnam's VietJet flew its planes 10 hours a day. Ryanair's average use was 9.3 hours, while Malaysia's AirAsia was 9 hours. China's Spring Airlines flew 8 hours a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The utilisation itself is not a problem," said Sim Jai-dong, a professor of aircraft maintenance at Sehan University in South Korea. "But there could be higher fatigue for pilots, crew members and mechanics given the higher utilisation rates." ($1 = 1,453.9500 won) (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul, Dan Catchpole in Seattle, Sophie Yu in Beijing and Joanna Plucinska in London; Editing by John Geddie and Gerry Doyle) Jan. 9ANDERSON The Anderson City Council has received seven proposed maps as a result of the federal lawsuit filed over redistricting. The seven maps presented to the council and the public Thursday propose changes in the six district maps to comply with federal election laws. The council will meet next Tuesday at 6 p.m. to vote on a map that will be presented to the federal court on Jan. 17. "Look at the maps over the weekend," Council President Lance Stephenson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Common Cause of Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana and the local chapter of the NAACP filed a complaint in 2023 in the U.S. District Court alleging the six single-member council districts violated federal law based on the one person, one vote requirement of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. "We have seven different options," Stephenson said of the maps provided by CensusChannel. Councilman Ollie H. Dixon, who represents the 4th District, said he can't support any maps that don't guarantee a council district for the city's minority population. Dixon said the lawsuit should have been considered null and void after the Indiana General Assembly extended the deadline for drawing district maps to July 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We did our job and voted to retain the districts," he said of council action in 2023 to preserve the previous district maps. "We're attempting to leave one part of the community without representation," Dixon said. "It's not fair representation." Councilwoman Tiffany Harless said all the presented maps comply with federal regulations to keep the voting numbers within a margin of no more than a 10% difference. "We're doing the best with what we have," Harless said of the population demographics. She said the consultant indicated three of the proposed maps best fit the demographics, but that two of the maps were the ultimate compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It would not adversely affect the minority community," Harless said the consultant indicated. Councilman Jeff Freeman, 2nd District, said all of the council members have to be willing to give a little bit. According to information provided by CensusChannel, the minority population in District 4 would range from 38.5% to 39.7%. The consultant noted that District 4, the minority district, would have to shift to the east to maintain a similar socioeconomic demographic. Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863. Anderson Cooper is among the many journalists risking their lives to report the LA fires in real time. In a recent video posted by CNN on their social media pages, the anchor was seen braving the raging wildfires and dangerously close flying embers to discuss the devastation. The clip saw him talk about the houses, coffee shops, and other structures on fire. The reporting left many netizens concerned for his health and safety. However, Cooper continues to do his duty to cover the incident extensively. Viral video shows Anderson Cooper covering Altadena fire for CNN Among the innumerable viral videos that document the LA fires, one saw CNN journalist Anderson Cooper bravely reporting on the devastation in an Altadena, California, neighborhood. He revealed that the fire was spreading closer to where regular life is continuing. The anchor could be seen wearing a yellow safety jacket and a face mask that he had opted out of wearing while reporting. Meanwhile, the Califonia neighborhood block saw blazing fires spreading from one house to another as Cooper was reporting live. Walking carefully around the cable lines, the journalist gave a closer look at a house that was on fire. The CNN video, which has garnered over 2.1 million views, documented flying embers that lit large palm trees on fire. Cooper and the cameraman panned the clip close to show the thick black smoke that was dark enough to block any ray of sunlight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the embers were seen flying extremely close to Cooper and his team, which left netizens worried. The CNN anchor compared the embers to snowflakes flying around them. Instagram users flooded the comments section praising Cooper for braving the fires to update citizens. One called him a true American hero. Meanwhile, a few others advised him to put his mask back on and protect himself. Besides the wildfire coverage in Altadena, Anderson Cooper has been reporting about the catastrophic situations in other regions of California. CNN further reported that the LA fires have cost the lives of at least 10 people, with the death toll expected to rise. As many as 10,000 structures have been destroyed by the brutal Palisades wildfires. The post Anderson Cooper Braves Raging LA Fire & Flying Embers in CNN Video appeared first on Mandatory. MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) A Middle Tennessee animal shelter is turning to the community for help amid a massive rescue operation involving dozens of felines. Earlier this week, True Rescue a shelter in Mt. Juliet driven by donations and volunteers said it was called out to a home in Hendersonville, where more than 50 cats and kittens were living with a woman in a rough environment. According to the organization, many of the felines needed medical care, but there was one newborn kitten who died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5 tips to keep your pets safe in winter weather Most of these kitties on this case were unaltered males and females, so we knew we had to end this cycle, plus several births had already happened within the house in just the last week. There were 6 week old kittens that were extremely sick with upper respiratory infections, and of course large cat cases always involve parasites, fleas and other diseases for which we will test, True Rescue posted on Facebook on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The shelter learned of this case from a neighbor of the resident, who was reportedly cooperative and didnt intend for this to happen. She got a bunch of cats that started breeding and it just got out of control, so her heart was in the right place starting out, explained Amy Simcik, executive director for True Rescue. When we saw some of the kitties that will lose their eyes, we knew it had just gone too far. And for some of them, had we been a day or two late, wed be too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True Rescue already has more than 300 cats, according to Simcik. This case is extreme, but its not rare. We probably have dozens and dozens of cases on the back burner like this that are large scale cases, waiting for us to help, so we try and do one a month, said Simcik. I think, in this case, it was just pure sadness walking in. Most of the time its anger. 3 dogs killed in Murfreesboro house fire It just broke our hearts; it really did. Theres just no other words, she added. Financially, cases like these create a heavy burden, especially for a shelter that is already at maximum capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One cat could cost us thousands of dollars in medical bills. To go through the spay and neuteron average, every cat that we intake costs us around $125 to $150 per cat, said Simcik. Our rescue, because we do not say no to severe medical cases that are out in the field, we spend about $20,000 a month on medical bills alone. So far, shelter officials said they have taken in 22 of the cats and kittens from the home, but they plan to retrieve the remaining felines within the next week. I cant see an end to this anytime soon. We are literally in one of the biggest cat crises I have ever been a part of, said Simcik. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The Sumner County Sheriffs Office told News 2 that, as of Thursday, Jan. 9, criminal charges are not expected in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youd like to donate to True Rescue, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Illinois-based managing general underwriter Evolution Risk Partners has incorporated insurtech company Gradient AI's underwriting solution, SAIL, to enhance decision-making accuracy for its self-funded clients. Through the move, Evolution Risk aims to refine risk evaluation, resulting in more precise pricing and better financial outcomes. Evolution Risk specialises in offering medical stop-loss solutions for self-funded medical programmes by collaborating with employers and brokers. Powered by machine learning algorithms, SAIL utilises datasets including medical, prescription and lab data. The adoption of SAIL provides Evolution Risk with enhanced insights into risk, which is beneficial for fully insured clients or those involved in M&A, where data can be scarce. Evolution Risk founder and CEO George Lemmon said: SAIL allows us to expedite underwriting decisions and provide guidance on the most challenging cases, which makes us more valuable to our brokers. We are able to partner on a much bigger piece of their world and provide a stronger, more consultative approach to our brokers and our customers, which is priceless. Gradient AI founder and CEO Stan Smith stated: We are excited to be working with Evolution Risk Partners and support its efforts to enhance risk assessment and underwriting in the alternative risk space. By leveraging Gradient AIs advanced capabilities, Evolution Risk Partners now has the tools necessary to enhance its risk assessment and underwriting process. This allows the company to make more informed, data-driven decisions and support its continued growth and success. Last year, Gradient AI raised $56.1m in a Series C funding round led by Centana Growth Partners, with contributions from existing investors such as MassMutual Ventures, Sandbox Insurtech Ventures and Forte Ventures. "Evolution Risk Partners adopts Gradient AIs underwriting tool " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Santa Ana winds are expected to pick back up before the week is over. However, this round is not expected to be as powerful as Tuesdays. Southern California got a slight break from the devastatingly powerful north to northeast winds Thursday morning, but they will redevelop across the area Thursday afternoon through the overnight hours. Critically dry fuel levels in conjunction with strong winds and low relative humidity will keep fire danger elevated through Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winds are expected to increase as we head into the 7 p.m. hour of Thursday and stay gusty overnight into Friday morning. Red Flag Warnings have been extended across Southern California, including San Diego County valleys and mountains, until Friday at 6 p.m. By Friday evening, winds will have relaxed and will shift back onshore but dry, dry conditions will stick with us through the weekend. Daytime highs for Friday at the coast will top out in the upper 60s, with low 70s for inland valleys. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. 36,706 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 36,706 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? Jan. 3 - 9, 2025 Countries across the region celebrated the Epiphany with performance and gift giveaways. Also known as Three Kings Day, it is one of the oldest festivals of the Catholic Church commemorating the Biblical journey of the three Magi to visit baby Jesus that faithful view as evidence that Jesus was the son of God. In Venezuela, the opposition held protests a day ahead of Inauguration Day, seeking to block President Nicolas Maduros attempt to cling to power despite credible evidence that he lost last summers election by a landslide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An effigy of President-elect Donald Trump was set on fire during a demonstration in Panama City marking Martyrs Day, a national day of mourning to honor the 21 Panamanians who were killed during the January 1964 anti-American riots over sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone. Brazilians marked the second anniversary of the alleged coup attempt when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro invaded government buildings and called for military intervention. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean. The selection was curated by AP photo editor Anita Baca, based in Mexico City. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images ATLANTA (AP) After four people were shot and killed at Apalachee High School in Georgia in September, many people believe officials failed to see warning signs that the 14-year-old accused of the shooting was displaying. That conclusion could drive Georgia lawmakers, who will convene for their annual legislative session Monday under intense pressure to show they are acting to prevent future shootings, to order agencies to broadly share education, child welfare and juvenile court records. The hope would be that such data will help officials better assess threats that students will hurt themselves or others. State House Speaker Jon Burns of Newington and state schools Superintendent Richard Woods, both elected Republicans, are among those backing more information sharing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do we share that with our sister agencies so we can have a red flag system, that for kids or situations that we need to know about, that needs to be looked at? Woods asked at a forum on school safety on Wednesday. But privacy advocates warn that such a data repository could be invasive, and point to findings by federal law enforcement agencies that it's impossible to use such records to profile students likely to commit violence. Amelia Vance, president of the Public Interest Privacy Center, says prevention has to be based on what students are actually doing, like making threats or taking action to acquire a weapon. You will overwhelmingly get false flags if you seek to profile students, Vance said. "And those false flags will often be based on discriminatory information -- students with disabilities. students who have disproportionate or any interactions with social services. In addition to information sharing, there are calls in Georgia for more money for police officers in schools, more money for school counselors, social workers and mental health counseling, and for mobile panic buttons and technology to detect guns. Georgia Democrats are pushing efforts to limit childrens access to guns, but Republicans refuse to limit gun rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colt Gray, who was 14 when officials said he brought his semiautomatic rifle to Apalachee High School, had an earlier encounter with sheriffs deputies in a neighboring county after the FBI got a tip about a threat of violence in a video gaming forum. He skipped the entirety of his eight-grade year, officials have said, and had a panic attack in a counselors office days before the shooting. School officials and relatives made a halting attempt to admit Gray to inpatient psychiatric treatment, investigators have said. But it may have been sabotaged by the poor relationship between his mother and father. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith is among those who want police and schools to do more to share information I hope in the future there are things put in place that we make sure to check off some boxes or a report gets filed with the state that this person is a person of interest, Smith told WDUN-AM in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Georgia plan could mirror efforts in Florida, Texas and elsewhere. Georgia could also join at least 14 other states that require school-based teams to meet and formally assess threats. The Florida database, though, didn't immediately live up to its promises, because most people couldn't see all the information it held. That's in part because federal laws limit outsider access to school and health records without a parent's permission. There could be some lower-hanging fruit in Georgia. Right now, when a student changes school districts, the old school is mandated to send student records to the new school within 30 days. Most officials agree that in an electronic age that is far too long, and that officials at the new school need prompt information to meet a student's needs. The other half of the equation could be threat assessment. Georgia homeland security officials are already teaching school districts how to create threat assessment teams. Linda Criblez, the deputy director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, said Wednesday that the program is equipping schools with understanding of what a true threat looks like so that they know when to escalate the situation and get additional help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she also said it's teaching schools that sometimes a student is not a threat to others and just needs help. That's where spending more on school counselors, school social workers and mental health workers could become a factor. Education advocates have long pushed Georgia to hire more counselors. The American School Counselor Association recommends one counselor for every 250 students, while the ratio in Georgia was 378 students per counselor last year. Georgia's mental health agency also funds a program called Apex that pays for mental health services for students. That program is currently voluntary and only serves about a third of Georgia's schools. I would love to have a licensed counselor in every single school," said Kasey Ross, regional youth services director for Highland Rivers Behavioral Health. "I think that would make a huge impact. But even with more money, a workforce shortage could make it hard to quickly staff up school counselors or mental health clinicians. And that demand for more funding could compete with the desire of others to spend more on school security. The state budget that began July 1 includes more than $100 million in ongoing funding for school security, enough to provide $47,000 a year to each public school for safety. But many officials say that's not enough to pay the full cost of one security officer for each school. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The California wildfires continue to wreak havoc on neighborhoods and communities. Nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes and get to a safe location. Among those who had to get to safety are some Grand Rapids natives. Ajdin Sefer moved to Los Angeles in 2014 from Grand Rapids. He told News 8 he lives a block away from the fires at Runyon Canyon and had to evacuate Wednesday. It was definitely a sight to see, it was nothing like I have seen before. These fires just spread so fast, it just started multiplying, it was exponentially growing at a rapid pace, Sefer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was making dinner when he looked out the window and saw the flames. He immediately evacuated and went to a friends house. People started running around, everybodys screaming, it was like the apocalypse. Everyone was running around, carrying their luggages, because we have a lot of tourists in Los Angeles. Everyones running around and screaming, he said. It was sad to see because you were hearing so many people say, We are supposed to leave but we do not know where to go. He added that leaving L.A. was very difficult because everyone was trying to leave at the same time to get to safety. Biden pledges support for California wildfires Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaving Hollywood, it took about two hours to go one mile away. Everyone was cutting each other off, running red lights, you know everyone is trying to survive, it was a crazy thing to see ambulances all over, fire trucks everywhere, police. It was crazy to see, Sefer said. Over near Marina Del Ray, about eight miles south from one of the fires, it was the same story. Josh Sikkema is also from Grand Rapids and lives in Marina Del Ray. He told News 8 he was on his usual bike ride towards Malibu when he saw the flames. It looks like the minute you step outside my place its a black wall, just completely covering all of the valley into Malibu, he said. Its apocalyptic. Sikkema said he did not have to evacuate, but said it still felt too close for comfort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is something I have never seen in the ten years I have been here, its overwhelming seeing all the smoke completely cover, I mean completely cover the valley, he said. Sikkema said because his home is outside of the evacuation zone, he has offered it to all his friends whose situations were much worse than his. New LA-area fire prompts more evacuations as officials say over 10,000 structures have burned I have been a haven for my friends that are staying with me that have had to evacuate, some of which had flames in their backyard yesterday into last night, he said. Very troubling and disheartening to know that its not just homes, its entire neighborhoods that have been completely diminished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sefer said its events like these that make you cherish life a little more than normal. Never take anything for granted, you never know when the last time you are going to see somebody, let alone the last time you are going to hear from somebody, so never take anything for granted, he said. Now as all Californians continue to experience so much damage and loss, Sikkema said he is confident the state will repair and be stronger than before. We are just trying to survive out here and be a great community just like anybody else strives to be and L.A. has proven to be very resilient, he said. They will be better coming out of this and just support in any way you can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Jan. 10BUFFALO Appeal 2025 has launched in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the Fund for the Faith, with a goal of raising $8.5 million by June 30. "While some sectors of our economy are doing well, there are too many on the margins who are struggling, and Catholic Charities continues to see an increasing need for the services that offer them hope for a better tomorrow," said Daniel Mecca, Appeal 2025 vice chair. "Funds raised during the annual Appeal help to provide hope through a variety of crucial programs and services." Catholic Charities assisted more than 147,000 individuals, families, and children across all faiths and throughout all eight counties of Western New York last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While the Appeal 2025 goal considers the challenges and economic realities faced by our community, the need for Catholic Charities' services continues to grow throughout the region and we are working as efficiently as possible to provide the needed help and hope," said Deacon Steve Schumer, president and CEO, Catholic Charities of Buffalo. "Despite these efforts, even by reaching our $8.5 million goal, our capacity to care for the most vulnerable will be greatly tested. We are not just a Catholic institution, we're a Western New York institution a resource for all who are in need. Over the last century, our Catholic community has come through with tremendous support, but as we go forward, we need the help of all our neighbors to reach and surpass this year's goal." The annual Appeal helps fund more than 50 programs and services administered by Catholic Charities along with several ministries through the Fund for the Faith. As Western New York's most comprehensive human services provider, Catholic Charities' programs and services include behavioral health services, basic emergency assistance, food pantries, education and workforce training, family safety and stabilization programs, and immigration and refugee assistance. The Fund for the Faith provides needed funding for programs that support the faith experience across all parish communities, including hospital chaplaincy, and training for ordained and lay ministers, among others. "For more than 100 years, Catholic Charities has provided support to the most vulnerable in our community," said Bishop Michael W. Fisher. "Its mission is to serve all, and we need the support of all of us to continue Catholic Charities and Fund for the Faith's vitally important work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Added Mecca, "Our community has a great sense of what's important we've saved and restored many things. We have embodied what it means to be from the 'City of Good Neighbors. By supporting Catholic Charities, we have a chance to save each other from poverty, loneliness, broken families, troubled minds, lack of job skills, destructive relationships, hunger, and despair." This year's Appeal patron is St. Vincent de Paul. To donate to Appeal 2025, visit https://ccwny.org/donate/ or call 716-218-1400. In addition, donors can give by texting HOPE4WNY to 44321 or scanning the QR code found on Appeal materials. For more information, visit www.ccwny.org or call 716-218-1400 to find help through Catholic Charities. Americans may soon see Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on President-elect Donald Trumps alleged actions on Jan. 6. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the release of the DOJ report written by Smith which lays out Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The court denied a motion to block the report's release in a Thursday night ruling. Smith was mandated to prepare and share a report on investigations into Trump's alleged election interference and mishandling of classified documents. Attorney General Merrick Garland could then choose whether or not to share them. Trump employees Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, still facing charges in Trump's classified documents case, asked on Monday that Judge Aileen Cannon toss the reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nauta and de Oliveira attached a letter from Trumps attorneys arguing that releasing the reports unlawfully encroaches on the Executive authority of the incoming Administration of President Trump to resolve the issues surrounding Smiths Office. Cannon granted that ask, before Nauta, de Oliveira asked the 11th Circuit Court on Tuesday to stop the reports release again. In the brief ruling, the court declined to do so. The Department of Justice had already agreed to release only the Jan. 6 report, to avoid prejudicing a jury in any future classified documents cases against the Trump employees. The ruling doesnt immediately allow for the reports release, however. Cannon ruled that her block on the release wouldnt end until three days after the 11th Circuits response. The Thursday ruling leaves that portion of her order in place. Further appeals will likely attempt to block the report in that time. The ruling also left the DOJ the option to separately appeal Cannons three-day delay rather than wait it out. Trumps team is expected to file an appeal in the interim to block the release until he takes office, one which could end up before the Supreme Court. Trump has been vocal about his plans to can the report once he takes office on January 20 should it not be released before then. Andrew Warrens legal fight against Gov. Ron DeSantis is over. The ex-Hillsborough state attorney can no longer challenge his 2022 suspension from office because his elected term has ended, an appeals court ruled Friday. The ruling came from the same three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal, which a year ago sided largely with Warren in his bid to get his job back. The panel had criticized the governors action and opened the door to Warrens possible reinstatement, but the case remained stalled as the judges considered whether it should go before the full appeals court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the interim, Warren lost his bid for reelection. Because Warrens term of office has concluded, we cannot grant him any meaningful relief on appeal in this case in which he effectively seeks his reinstatement to office, the courts opinion stated. Warren had argued that the case should continue because the same thing could happen again. The judges dismissed that argument. For that to happen, they reasoned, Warren would have to run again for public office, be elected, then be suspended again. Warren has established no reasonable expectation of these events occurring, the judge wrote. Warren also argued that if he ultimately won his case, he would be entitled to back pay for all the time he was out of office. Again, though, the judges were unpersuaded, finding that he could only receive back pay if he were to resume office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkles court, instructing him to dismiss it. As everyone knows, justice delayed is justice denied, Warren said Friday in a statement. Im embarrassed for our justice system by this decision, as should be anyone who believes in the rule of law and the American values we teach our children. DeSantis suspended Warren from his elected position as Hillsborough Countys top prosecutor in August 2022. The governor cited statements Warren signed with other prosecutors throughout the nation pledging not to prosecute cases involving abortion or gender-affirming care. DeSantis also took issue with Warrens policies that discouraged prosecutions of certain low-level, nonviolent crimes. The governor appointed Suzy Lopez, a longtime Hillsborough prosecutor, to replace Warren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren, a progressive Democrat, argued that the suspension was political retaliation from the conservative Republican governor. He sued DeSantis in federal court. In early 2023, Hinkle issued an opinion that was largely favorable to Warren, finding that the governor violated his First Amendment rights and the state constitution. But the judge concluded he was legally unable to restore Warren to office. Then came the appeal. After months of litigation, Judges Jill Pryor, Kevin Newsom and Anne Conway issued a complex legal critique of Hinkles reasoning, ordering that he reconsider. Until Friday, though, the case remained in limbo. Warren repeatedly urged the court to hurry up, to no avail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the interim, Warren sought the blessing of voters. He and Lopez ran against each other in the 2024 election, a contest seen by some as a referendum on the suspension. DeSantis and his political allies helped boost Lopezs candidacy, infusing her campaign with financial contributions that soared into the millions, dwarfing Warrens. Lopez won with about 52% of the vote to Warrens 47%. Lopez was sworn in earlier this week to a four-year term. The decision today that his case is now moot because the Court itself allowed the clock to run out is a sledgehammer not only to the First Amendment, but also to the rule of law, at a time when our nation urgently needs unfractured confidence in both, Warrens attorney, J. Cabou, said in a statement. By Milana Vinn and Anirban Sen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private equity firm Warburg Pincus is weighing options, including a sale, for Modernizing Medicine (ModMed) that could value the medical software provider at more than $5 billion, including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Boca Raton, Florida-based ModMed is working with a financial adviser to solicit interest in the coming weeks from potential buyers, which include other private equity firms, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential. The deliberations are at an early stage, the sources said, cautioning that a deal is not guaranteed and Warburg Pincus could choose to retain its ownership of the company. ModMed could also opt to pursue other options, including the sale of a stake, one of the sources added. Warburg Pincus, which first invested in ModMed in 2017, previously explored options for the company in 2022, before the talks fizzled out. Warburg Pincus declined to comment. ModMed did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Daniel Cane and physician Michael Sherling, ModMed is a healthcare technology provider that primarily helps develop software and systems for the maintenance of electronic health records of patients. It also makes software that helps clinics replace outdated technology and automate routine tasks, such as payment processing. Since its founding, ModMed has raised more than $332 million from investors and currently has over 1,200 employees, according to its website. Its solutions are used by more than 40,000 healthcare providers. Warburg Pincus manages more than $86 billion of assets and has active investments in over 230 companies across several industries in its portfolio. The firm traces its roots to an investment banking firm called E.M. Warburg, which was founded in New York in 1939 by German American businessman Eric Warburg. (Reporting by Milana Vinn and Anirban Sen in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit brought against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by Andrew Warren, a former state attorney he suspended from his position. Warren was suspended from his post as State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit in 2022 for alleged neglect of duty. Since then, he has sought legal action to get his job back, arguing that the suspension was unconstitutional. Suzy Lopez sworn in as state attorney for 13th Judicial Circuit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals determined Friday that since Warrens term ended after he lost his reelection bid last year, the case seeking to reinstate him is moot. Because Warrens term of office has concluded, we cannot grant him any meaningful relief on appeal in this case in which he effectively seeks, either by injunctive or declaratory relief, his reinstatement to office, the court opinion read. Warren argued that the case is not moot, citing an exception to mootness that allows a case to continue if the complainant is subject to the same action again. As everyone knows, justice delayed is justice denied, Warren said. Im embarrassed for our justice system by this decision, as should be anyone who believes in the rule of law and the American values we teach our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court, this means that Warren would have to run for another office under DeSantis purview, win the election and get suspended by DeSantis again. Warren has established no reasonable expectation of these events occurring, the opinion read. Warren was also seeking back pay, which he argued was a live controversy in the case. Florida law permits a suspended officer to recover back pay only if they became entitled to resume the duties of their office, but the court stated that since Warrens term expired and he was not reinstated, he is not entitled to back pay. At every turn, Mr. Warren asked the federal courts to act with utmost urgency in his case, said J. Cabou, Warrens attorney. He filed his suit in August 2022, less than a month after being illegally suspended. Before the Court of Appeals, he filed numerous motions seeking to expedite not only the Courts consideration of the case, but also its issuance of the mandate once that Court concluded the trial court had erred. The decision today that his case is now moot because the Court itself allowed the clock to run out is a sledgehammer not only to the First Amendment, but also to the rule of law, at a time when our nation urgently needs unfractured confidence in both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Andrew Warren announced on Jan. 8, 2024, that he will not seek reelection as state attorney for Hillsborough County: Source: Screenshot/Warren video Former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warrens legal fight over his suspension by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has come to an end. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Court ruled Friday that Warrens challenge was now moot, since his four-year term after being elected in 2020 had ended earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Warrens term of office has concluded, we cannot grant him any meaningful relief on appeal in this case in which he effectively seeks, either by injunctive or declaratory relief, his reinstatement to office, said Judges Jill Pryor, Kevin Newsom and Anne Conway in their five-page opinion. DeSantis suspended Warren in August of 2022 for alleged neglect of duty and incompetence after he signed a pledge not to prosecute alleged crimes arising from abortion or transgender care. Warren challenged his suspension in federal court. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that DeSantis had violated the First Amendment in removing Warren because of political differences and anticipated political benefit to the governor. Hinkle said, however, that he lacked power to reinstate Warren. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled in January that Hinkle should reconsider that decision. The DeSantis administration immediately appealed that decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the appeals court opted not to immediately rule on the case, even after Warren announced this April that he would run again for the seat, challenging Republican Suzy Lopez, who DeSantis appointed to replace him in 2022. That delay was noted today in a statement released on Friday by Warrens Phoenix-based attorney, J. Cabou, with the Perkins Cole an law firm. At every turn, Mr. Warren asked the federal courts to act with utmost urgency in his case. He filed his suit in August 2022, less than a month after being illegally suspended, said Cabou. Before the Court of Appeals, he filed numerous motions seeking to expedite not only the Courts consideration of the case, but also its issuance of the mandate once that Court concluded the trial court had erred. The decision today that his case is now moot because the Court itself allowed the clock to run out is a sledgehammer not only to the First Amendment, but also to the rule of law, at a time when our nation urgently needs unfractured confidence in both. Lopez defeated Warren by more than five percentage points last November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Warren knew it was likely that the courts would not reinstate him, he continued his legal fight, arguing that a controversy remained because a declaration that his suspension was unconstitutional would allow him to recover back pay under Florida law. In their opinion however, the three-judge panel ruled that state law permits an officer who was suspended to recover back pay only when he later became entitled to resume the duties of his office. Because Warrens term of office has now expired, any declaration that his suspension was unconstitutional would not entitle him to resume the duties of state attorney. As a result, even if he received a declaration that his suspension was unconstitutional, he would not be entitled to back pay. As everyone knows, justice delayed is justice denied, Warren said in a statement.Im embarrassed for our justice system by this decision, as should be anyone who believes in the rule of law and the American values we teach our children. DeSantis was actively involved in ensuring that Lopez defeated Warren last fall, and appeared this past week at the official investiture ceremony for Lopez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governors office cheered the decision. Game over for Mr. Warren, said DeSantis communications director Bryan Griffin. And, if youre a state attorney who doesnt want to enforce the law in Florida, you can go ahead and start packing. John McMillan (right), executive president of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, takes a vote on resciding all awarded licenses and denials at a meeting in Montgomery on Oct. 26, 2023. Litigation continues over licenses issued by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission even as mediation proceeds to end the impasse. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector) A state appeals court will hear oral arguments over a temporary restraining order issued against medical cannabis production licenses in the state. Judges from the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals will hear arguments Monday over Montgomery Circuit Court Judge James Andersons temporary restraining order against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), said Mark Wilkerson, an attorney representing the AMCC, during a commission meeting Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there are any further developments regarding that oral argument, we will also notify board members, Wilkerson said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The court on Friday pushed the hearing back to Feb. 11. No reason was given. The Alabama Legislature in 2021 approved the creation of a state medical cannabis program to allow people with 15 different medical conditions, including cancer, depression, Parkinsons Disease, PTSD, sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain, and terminal illness to apply for medical cannabis. The law limits medical cannabis to tablets, capsules, gelatins, oils, gels, creams, suppositories, transdermal patches, and inhalable oils or liquids. Smoking marijuana or consuming it in edibles is forbidden. Gummies are allowed but are restricted to peach flavor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the program has been in limbo amid questions about the licensing process. An initial grant of licenses in 2023 was overturned amid concerns about scoring inconsistencies on applications. The commission voided a second round of applications later that year after a lawsuit alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act by the AMCC. Anderson blocked a third round of licenses last January, citing ongoing litigation from the first two rounds of awards. Anderson last July that directed the AMCC and companies denied a license to provide a jointly proposed order allowing investigative hearings for the licenses that were awarded without allowing the licenses to be issued. Wilkerson told the commission that mediation between the parties over licenses for integrated facilities which grow, process and distribute medical cannabis in the same location is ongoing. The overall goal being a process that would allow this commission to get to a final order and the actual issuance of licenses of course, that would be our goal certainly, Wilkerson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been three meetings with everyone involved and additional meetings that included different groups involved in the litigation, according to Wilkerson. It is a pretty fast-moving process, he said. Updated at 1:07 p.m. after the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Friday moved the hearing from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE UPDATE (Jan. 10, 2025, 5:36 a.m.): The Justice Department on Thursday night notified U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that it's appealing to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals her order blocking the release of special counsel Jack Smith's final report for three days after that federal appeals court weighs in on a defense motion seeking to block the report. The 11th Circuit denied that defense motion earlier Thursday. The federal appeals court covering Florida rejected a defense request to block the release of special counsel Jack Smiths final report on his office's investigations into Donald Trump. But an order temporarily blocking its release from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is still in place for now, which would keep the report blocked for three more days absent further appeal. Trumps former co-defendants in the classified documents case had sought to block the reports release, filing motions with both the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Cannon, the Trump appointee who dismissed the classified documents case against Trump and his two co-defendants last year. The governments appeal of her dismissal has been pending in the 11th Circuit, though the Justice Department dropped the appeal as to Trump because he will become president again soon and the DOJ has a policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Cannon issued an order temporarily blocking the reports release pending further word from the 11th Circuit, and she said the order remains in effect until three days after the circuit decides the defense motion. The DOJ subsequently told the circuit court that, while litigation was still pending against Trump co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, it didnt intend to release the volume of the report related to the classified documents case, but that it did intend to release the volume related to the federal election interference case, where Trump was the only person charged. The DOJ said the circuit should reject the defense motion, set aside Cannons order, and make clear that the attorney general can allow limited congressional review of the classified documents-related volume of the report as well as the public release of the election interference-related volume. Thursdays order from the circuit denied the defense motion but said, To the extent that Appellant [the DOJ] seeks relief from the district courts [Cannons] January 7, 2025, order temporarily enjoining Appellant, Appellant may file a notice of appeal from that order. The circuit court order suggests the Justice Department could immediately challenge Cannons order directly at the circuit court, which just sided with the government and might do so again if given the opportunity. The defense could also seek relief from the Supreme Court, so the matter may not be settled either way. The order came just as Trump lost his Supreme Court bid to block his criminal sentencing in the New York state hush money case thats set for Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) A stabbing in Harrisburg Thursday left a man hospitalized and another man in prison on attempted homicide charges, court documents show. Geoffrey Reynolds, 64, of Harrisburg, is accused of stabbing the victim with a pocket knife over a vehicle issue around 10 a.m. at a residence along the 500 block of S 17th Street, Harrisburg police said in charging documents. The man suffered a collapsed lung, a laceration on his right side, and had multiple puncture wounds, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest According to the charges, police found the victim on the front porch of the home with stab wounds. He was treated by EMS, and then taken to the hospital. A witness on scene reported to police Reynolds and the man got into a fight, and that Reynolds left the scene. Police said they were able to find Reynolds and took him into custody. Reynolds claimed that he was the one who was attacked, but he was able to defend himself, and that the victim must have stabbed himself because Reynolds never used the knife, according to the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One dead, another hospitalized after Harrisburg shooting; Police investigating However, police said the victim told them Reynolds punched them when they started arguing about the vehicle and that Reynolds was the one who drew the knife. Reynolds faces felony charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of weapon. Reynolds is locked up in Dauphin County Prison with his bail denied. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A counselor at Lewis Prison in Buckeye was arrested on Jan. 3 after an investigation into drug and contraband cellphone smuggling, according to records filed in Maricopa Superior Court. Berman Comon, hired in 2013, had an office that three inmates used to package drugs for sale in the prison, according to court documents. Comon was paid $5,000 per trip to smuggle drugs hidden in gas station cups and in an ice machine, bypassing security measures, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the court record, Comon approached a body scanner with a QuikTrip cup, placed it away from the scanner, walked through, and retrieved it on the other side without other correctional officers noticing. The Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis in Buckeye. In another instance, according to court records, surveillance footage showed Comon using a large Loves cup to repeat the procedure. Once inside, he discarded the cup in a trash can outside a cell block. Investigators later discovered four cellphones and three packages of black tar substances in the cup, the records said. The substances tested positive for fentanyl, carfentanyl and heroin. The prison value of the drugs was estimated at $83,000, the records said. Detectives believed that Comon transported contraband through an ice machine that he moved between different prison units, according to court records. Three inmates collaborated with Comon to package and distribute the drugs, while Joy Cuevas, the wife of one of the inmates, facilitated cash transfers from drug sales and met with known drug contacts, the records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators were tipped off by a letter from an inmate, which alleged that a corrections officer and an inmates wife were bringing drugs into the prison, according to court records. A search of Cuevas residence uncovered a package of heroin, prison-style cellphones small devices designed for easier concealment and a handgun, according to court records. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry stated that Comons alleged actions violated the departments core values of integrity and accountability. After 11 years of service, Comon was dismissed following a five-month investigation that included video evidence of his alleged misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department said no other staff members were implicated in the investigation. The Arizona Attorney Generals Office has charged Comon with six felonies: conspiracy, illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering, two counts of taking contraband into a correctional facility, and one count of transporting narcotics for sale. Cuevas faces five felony charges, including conspiracy, illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering, possession of a narcotic drug for sale and possession of a weapon in a felony drug offense. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Official accused of smuggling heroin, cell phones into Arizona prison PHOENIX (AP) Prosecutors in Arizona are seeking to execute a prisoner in what would mark the states first use of the death penalty after a two-year pause. The Arizona Attorney Generals Office asked the state Supreme Court on Friday to issue a warrant for the execution of Aaron Brian Gunches, who pleaded guilty to murder in 2007. The court had issued a death warrant for Gunches nearly two years ago, but the sentence wasnt carried out because the state's Democratic attorney general agreed not to pursue executions during a review of the states death penalty protocol. The review ended in November when Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs dismissed the retired federal magistrate she had appointed to examine execution procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Fridays filing, prosecutors said the state is prepared to carry out the execution and that Gunches has waived a state post-conviction review of his case and failed to start a federal constitutional review. Gunches, who isnt a lawyer but is representing himself, had asked the court last week to skip legal formalities and schedule his execution earlier than authorities had planned, saying his death sentence was long overdue. The state Supreme Court later rejected his request. The Associated Press left a phone message on Friday with Emily Skinner, a death penalty lawyer who is serving as Gunches advisory counsel. Gunches pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the 2002 shooting death of Ted Price, his girlfriends ex-husband, near the Phoenix suburb of Mesa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizona, which has 111 prisoners on death row, last carried out three executions in 2022 following a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched and because of difficulties obtaining drugs for execution. Since then, the state has been criticized for taking too long to insert an IV for lethal injection into a condemned prisoner in 2022. Arkansas Supreme Court (Courtesy Photo) The Arkansas Judicial Council, which represents the states court system, issued a resolution Friday morning recognizing the service and dedication of 10 judiciary employees that the state Supreme Courts chief justice attempted to fire last week. The 10 employees: Marty Sullivan, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts Pete Hollingsworth, director of Emergency Preparedness and Chief of the Supreme Court Police Brooke Steen, Juvenile Justice Division director Jennifer Taylor, director of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs and director of Judicial Education Sam Kauffman, director of Finance and Administration Kristin Clark, Legal Services Division director Tim Holthoff, Court Information Systems Division director Cecil Davis, Court Information Systems Division Deputy director Ben Barham, District Court staff attorney Ashley Figueroa, administrator of the Commission of Children, Youth, and Families We are confident that these experienced and talented public servants will continue to serve our state well and we look forward to working with them in the future, the Judicial Council wrote in a mass email to judiciary employees, obtained by the Advocate via a Freedom of Information Act request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Judicial Council is composed of all of the states circuit court judges, appellate court judges, Supreme Court justices, retired judges who have held those positions and the AOC director, according to its website. The council conducts business twice a year during spring and fall meetings. Fridays resolution came from a special-call meeting. Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker (Courtesy Photo) Chief Justice Karen Baker drafted termination letters for the 10 employees and attempted to make their firings official Jan. 3, according to an administrative order issued that day by five other justices who declared the dismissals null and void. The justices wrote that Baker did not consult with her colleagues in advance and did not state specific reasons for the attempted firings when asked. When asked about those employees families and the fact that they were scared and fearful, the Chief Justice responded by saying that it was good for those employees to be scared, wrote Associate Justices Rhonda Wood, Barbara Webb, Shawn Womack, Cody Hiland and Nicholas Bronni. The chief justice cannot fire some judiciary employees without the courts approval, the majority said, citing the portion of state law that says the AOC director serves at the pleasure of the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same five justices issued a second order Monday saying Baker could not unilaterally appoint three judges to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, which she attempted to do within half an hour of being sworn in Jan. 1 as the states first elected female chief justice. Baker fired back Wednesday in an opinion declaring the majoritys two orders invalid and asserting that state law and the Arkansas Constitution both give her the authority to act as she did. She also declared invalid an employment agreement that five justices including her predecessor John Dan Kemp made with the AOC Director in December, guaranteeing Sullivan job security until the end of 2032. State law gives the chief justice the authority to nominate the AOC director, Baker said, adding that she will nominate her own choice for the position. The same five associate justices said in a statement Wednesday that Bakers order has no legal effect beyond that of a dissenting opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Associate Justice Courtney Hudson did not participate in Sullivans employment contract, in either of the courts orders rebuking Baker or in the response to Bakers Wednesday opinion. On Dec. 4, Chief Justice-elect Baker entered Sullivans office while he was not present. Hudson was present outside the office, but it was not clear whether she entered. Arkansas Business reported on the matter Dec. 11, citing video footage of Baker and Hudson, received via the Freedom of Information Act. Talk Business & Politics reported Dec. 17 that Baker told Hollingsworth, the courts police chief, she did not want the video footage of her entering Sullivans office going around. The courts majority claimed last week that Bakers attempt to fire AOC employees, including Sullivan and Hollingsworth, was retaliatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan defended his employees in a Jan. 3 letter to Baker criticizing her effort to fire them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) A man was arrested Tuesday for assaulting a firefighter and then peeing in public while on his way to the hospital, police announced. The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) was dispatched to the 3700 block of Columbia Pike on Jan. 7 after receiving a report about public intoxication. There, they found 27-year-old Yeison Orellana Perez, who had been hurt while he was believed to be under the influence. ACPD said that while firefighters were taking Perez to the hospital, he hit one of them, causing minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Huger missing from Real Housewives of Potomac reunion seating chart following DUI conviction The firefighter hurt was treated at the hospital once they arrived. Once at the hospital, Perez reportedly kicked an officers body-worn camera, exposed himself and urinated in public. Police arrested him after his release and charged him with Assault on a Firefighter, Public Intoxication, Obstruction of Justice, Indecent Exposure, Urinating in Public and Attempted Destruction of Property. He was held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. The financial software company Finastra has appointed Chris Walters its new CEO as current chief Simon Paris steps down from the role, the company announced Monday. Walters, who has about two decades of industry experience, recently served as the CEO of Pluralsight and, before that, Avantax, a tax-focused wealth management platform. Avantax was acquired by Cetera Solutions in a $1.2 billion deal in 2023. Walters' experience over the years includes serving as chief operating officer of The Weather Company and Bloomberg Industry verticals group, and the founder of BGOV, information tracking all U.S. federal legislation, regulation and government spending and a partner at McKinsey & Company. Walters received more than $21 million through a golden parachute compensation package as part of Avantaxs sale to Cetera Solutions, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. I'm excited to join Finastra at this pivotal moment in its journey and am impressed by the significant progress that has been made during Simon's leadership, Walters said in a statement. I look forward to working with the talented team to drive sustainable growth and continue to deliver more value to our customers, team members, and investors. Finastra offers a range of software and data to around 8,100 financial institutions, including 45 of the world's top 50 banks, according to the company. Paris and Walters will work together during a transition period to ensure a smooth handover, the company said. Paris, who will exit after almost a decade at the company, joined Finastra predecessor, Misys as president in 2015. He was appointed deputy CEO in 2017 and promoted to CEO in 2018. Finastra was formed in 2017 by merging Misys and D+H. In November, Finastra disclosed a security breach incident in which a hacker broke into its systems and stole data possibly exposing sensitive information from some of the worlds largest financial institutions, The Wall Street Journal reported. Finastra faced a cyberattack in 2020 as well. Chris is a seasoned professional, and I am honored to 'pass the baton' to him, Paris said in a statement. I leave incredibly proud of what Finastra has achieved so far and excited for the company's future under Chris's leadership. JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) Two individuals were arrested and charged after a Thursday afternoon robbery at the Buckle store in Belden Village Mall, which led to a brief police pursuit. According to a press release from Jackson Township police, officers responded to a report of an aggravated robbery at the Buckle Store, located in the mall, around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. 29 new laws are on their way in Ohio, here are 10 of them Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A male and female suspect had stolen items from the store and threatened employees by indicating they had a weapon, police said. The suspects then fled the scene in a vehicle. Police officers located the suspect vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop at the intersection of Everhard Road and Dressler Road, NW, the release states. The vehicle continued to the intersection of Everhard and I-77, where it came to a stop due to traffic. During the pursuit, a Jackson Township police cruiser made contact with the rear bumper of the suspect vehicle, causing minor damage to the taillight. No injuries were reported from the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macys, Kohls announce nationwide store closures, including in Ohio Officers discovered a black and silver knife believed to have been used during the robbery at the scene. Miriam Lorenzi, 52, of Cleveland, and Jose Sianez Ortiz, 33, of Olmsted Township, were arrested and charged with complicity to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. After five Palm Beach Central High employees were arrested in 2023 and charged with failing to report allegations of sexual assault between two students, Palm Beach County's school board plans to change its policies to require school employees to report teen dating violence, in addition to child abuse and neglect, to the state abuse hotline. That change may resolve blind spots in the state-mandated training for school employees, which never mentions sexual assault between two minors as a topic of concern. The Palm Beach Post reviewed the training created by Florida's Department of Children and Families and found no mentions of teen dating violence. Charges were ultimately dropped against all five Palm Beach Central employees: former principal Darren Edgecomb, assistant principals Daniel Snider and Nareyda Cayado de Garcia, guidance counselor Priscilla Carter and chorus teacher Scott Houchins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School district investigations, separate from the criminal cases, found that only one of the five employees violated the district's mandated reporter policy, which requires school employees to report known or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment and neglect. Carter was reprimanded. Palm Beach Central High School in Wellington. Experts say the proposed change in school board policy recognizes a type of abuse that can be forgotten and provides a clearer instruction to staff members who will know they need to report dating violence and assault. "There's an attitude of not taking teen dating violence or peer-on-peer abuse seriously because theyre younger people," said Shawali Patel, senior director of safe and inclusive schools at the National Women's Law Center. "The same types of behaviors that we would consider inappropriate in the workplace, people minimize when it comes to students." But the school board's potential policy change doesn't address confusion about whether to report allegations after a Palm Beach County circuit judge ruled in 2023 that employees should act as preliminary "fact-finders" before reporting allegations of sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge wrote that staff should "filter out" accusations that fall below the threshold of believability a ruling that directly contradicts training required by the state, which tells school employees not to investigate claims they receive. Investigation found that Palm Beach Central principal did indeed report sexual assault allegations to the state The five Palm Beach Central High employees were arrested on July 24, 2023, and charged with failing to report an accusation of sexual assault that the victim said occurred off-campus in April 2021. The charge is a third-degree felony that can carry a punishment of up to five years in prison. The victim's friend wrote a letter about the assault in June 2021 and gave the letter to Houchins, her chorus teacher, according to police reports. The letter also contained concerns the student had for her friend, who she said had been experiencing suicidal thoughts since the assault at the beachfront park in Lake Worth Beach that spring. Houchins did not read the whole letter and instead routed it to the school's guidance office without reporting the matter to the Department of Children and Families' abuse hotline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter, the school's guidance counselor, met with the student in June 2021 but did not ask her about the assault detailed in the letter, the reports say. Instead, Carter asked the teen only about her suicidal thoughts and whether she felt safe in her relationship, the report said. More: Prosecutors drop case against Palm Beach Central staff charged with failing to report abuse The student told Carter she felt safe because she was not dating the boy who she said assaulted her. Carter also did not report the contents of the letter to DCF. Both Houchins and Carter ran afoul of guidance in the DCF training required for school employees. Their training states that if a school employee becomes aware of actual or suspected assault, abuse or neglect, they're required to report it to DCF's central abuse hotline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A friend of the survivor again reported the sexual assault two months later in August to assistant principal Snider, the arrest report says. Snider asked her to write it down, which she did. The boy accused of the sexual assault was related to Snider, district reports show. Snider shared the report with principal Edgecomb, but again none of the schools leaders reported the suspected assault to DCF, the arrest report says. The survivor's friend tried again with assistant principal Cayado de Garcia on Aug. 17, and Cayado de Garcia shared that report with Edgecomb. Edgecomb then met with Cayado de Garcia and other unnamed administrators on Aug. 18 and told them he had conducted his own investigation, deciding that a sexual assault did not happen. Edgecomb said at the time that as a result of his investigation, the school did not need to report the allegations to law enforcement or DCF. His decision and the fact that he had made any determination about the validity of the girl's claims contradicted the training from DCF and school board policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everybody that works for us is obligated under law to report to DCF when they suspect the abuse. They can't make a judgment call. They have to report it," school board Chair Karen Brill said at a Dec. 18 school board meeting regarding the proposed changes to the policy. From March 2024: Palm Beach County principal, staff cleared of criminal charges, but are not back at school "As a teacher or school staff person, it is your duty and your legal responsibility, according to Chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes, to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect. You don't have to prove anything. That is the investigator's job," the training says. But records from the school district investigation show that Edgecomb changed his mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About eight hours after Edgecomb told school leadership that he'd conducted his own investigation and found the allegations not to be credible and therefore unnecessary to report, the principal did report the matter to DCF, district investigative documents show. The records do not include an explanation of why Edgecomb changed his mind. A DCF investigator arrived on campus the next day to speak with the survivor. State Attorney's Office decided not to prosecute because of concern for the victim Despite their very public arrests just two weeks before the start of the 2023 school year, criminal charges against all five employees were dropped in March 2024. Prosecutors said they had concerns about the victim's well-being. The state attorney's office also said that while prosecutors had a "good-faith basis to file the charges in July (2023), recent developments and discoveries" significantly impacted their ability to prosecute the remaining cases successfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Attorney's Office spokesperson Marc Freeman pointed to the teen victim's recent difficulty recalling material aspects of the assault, which he said not only reduced the likelihood of a successful conviction but also led prosecutors to believe that subjecting her to cross-examination during five separate trials wouldn't be in her best interest. Instructions to school staff who are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect explicitly tell employees not to investigate claims before reporting them to the state's central abuse hotline. As mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, school employees are required to take training provided by DCF that repeatedly encourages them to report issues without trying to investigate it themselves. Principal Edgecomb, assistant principals Snider and Cayado de Garcia, school counselor Carter and teacher Houchins all took the required training within the three years preceding their August 2023 arrests, school district records show. But the training mainly focuses on sexual and physical abuse and neglect of young children by adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The training does not address teen dating violence or abuse that occurs between two minors. While an update to Palm Beach County's policy wouldn't change the state training, adding a mention to "teen dating violence" to local policy would mean district investigators could discipline Palm Beach County employees who do not report incidents such as the one alleged by the Palm Beach Central student. The school board will vote on the change in February. Law expert warns against allowing school employees to dismiss complaints without reporting Also at issue is whether school board policy and the training provided to school district employees fall in line with how state law is interpreted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mandated reporter training developed by DCF says at least five times that a school employee has no duty to investigate claims of sexual assault or attempt to prove the claims are true something Edgecomb explicitly told Cayado De Garcia he did after receiving news of the allegations against the male student in 2021. Employees who take the training are tested on whether they should investigate further before calling the state's child abuse line. The correct answer is "no." Instructions to school staff who are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect explicitly tell employees not to investigate claims before reporting them to the state's central abuse hotline. But last year, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer contradicted that guidance when he decided Snider did not need to report the accusation of sexual assault. During a hearing in Snider's case in October 2023, Suskauer pressed Assistant State Attorney Joseph Kadis repeatedly over whether mandatory reporters must call in every accusation, "no matter how bogus they think it may be." After reviewing the law himself, Suskauer decided the answer was no. Snider's case was ultimately dismissed. Read more: Judge dismisses case against Palm Beach Central official who didn't report sexual assault Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer in 2021 Suskauer's ruling said Florida law requires the recipient of a sex abuse report to act as a preliminary fact-finder, filtering out accusations that fall below the threshold of believability. That interpretation is deeply concerning to Patel. "That takes away the whole purpose of having a report to the central abuse hotline because theyre the ones who are supposed to investigate it. You cant just dismiss a complaint because you dont think its credible," she said. "It brings up issues of someone choosing to ignore a complaint based on their own biases." All 5 Palm Beach Central employees are still working for the school district Carter, the former guidance counselor and the only employee to be disciplined by the school district, received a written reprimand after she told district investigators that she didn't report the abuse allegations because she assumed a colleague would make the report. Investigators found that Houchins did not read the whole note from the student detailing the allegations in June 2021, so he "had no cause to believe a juvenile sexual abuse was being alleged." They also determined that Garcia, Snider and Edgecomb did not know about the allegations when they first surfaced. Principal Darren Edgecomb spoke during Palm Beach Central High School's graduation ceremonies at the South Florida Fairgrounds in 2021. The district found Cayado de Garcia did not violate district policy because she was aware of Edgecomb's "investigation" into the letter about the sexual assault in August. She also avoided discipline because the allegations of sexual assault were eventually reported to DCF by Edgecomb. Investigators said that Snider reported the sexual assault allegation to his supervisor in August 2021 and was told not to become involved because he was related to the male student. Snider felt this "precluded" him from being a mandatory reporter, and district investigators agreed that Snider should not have been involved with the matter. The school district cleared Edgecomb of wrongdoing because he reported the incident to DCF two days after being notified about the allegations in August. All five people who were arrested remain in the district's employ: Cayado de Garcia is now the principal of adult education at Palm Beach Central, and Houchins remains the chorus teacher at the school. The school board approved the rehiring of Snider as assistant principal at Royal Palm Beach High and the assignment of Edgecomb to the department of charter schools in June 2024. Carter now works in the behavioral health department at Atlantic High. Want more education news? Sign up for ourExtra Credit weekly newsletter, delivered every Friday! Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today! This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: After Palm Beach Central arrests, should teachers report teen assault? Editors Note: This article has been updated and a video removed to clarify there were no arson charges. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) A man who was detained by citizens shortly after a wildfire exploded near Calabasas and West Hills is not accused of starting the fire, authorities announced Friday morning. Los Angeles police responded to Woodland Hills at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday when a 911 caller said a man was attempting to light a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents who spotted the suspect held him down until officers arrived. Photos shared on the Citizen app show officers surrounding a home where the man was handcuffed. Fire crews race to protect homes from new wildfire in Calabasas area We were sitting in the backyard, and suddenly, we hear a car come to a screeching halt, and the guy is running out saying, Stop! Drop what youre holding! Neighbors, hes trying to start a fire! Call 911! recalled Renata Grinshpun, who witnessed the incident. At the same time, several miles to the west, firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties were racing to contain the Kenneth Fire, which threatened homes north of the 101 Freeway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was ultimately halted at 1,000 acres, and no structures were lost. At a news conference Friday morning, LAPD Divisional Chief Dominic Choi said police investigated the case, interviewed the suspect, and ultimately decided he would not face arson charges. After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson, Choi said. Instead, the man was arrested on a felony probation violation. The investigation is ongoing, Choi said. I would like to thank those community members that were involved in bringing this person to our attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the Kenneth Fire remains under investigation. Crews across Southern California continued to battle two of the most destructive wildfires in California history: the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and Malibu and the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena. As of Friday, the causes of both fires were still undetermined. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. An arson suspect allegedly spotted with a flamethrower-like device was taken into custody near one of the fires that has erupted in Los Angeles, KTLA reported Thursday. Police officers arrived as he was being held down by neighbors in the Woodland Hills area, according to the outlet. An observer, Renata Grinshpun, told the station the man carried a propane tank or a flamethrower and that a neighbor witnessed him trying to ignite something behind a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person driving by the incident rallied residents to call 911, rousing some to join him in a citizens arrest of sorts. A few men zip-tied him while waiting for police, she said. Video obtained by Fox shows one man calling out the suspect on the street and then being joined by another in wrestling the man to the ground. The nearby Kenneth Fire is one of several consuming the Los Angeles area. The blazes have killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 10,000 buildings, The Associated Press reported. We did detain a person of interest for the Kenneth Fire, the LAPDs Topanga Division, which services Woodland Hills, told HuffPost on Friday. It is still under investigation by arson investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS-owned KCAL said an official with the Ventura County Sheriffs Office was to join the LAPD in questioning the man. Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. via Associated Press Related... DENVER (KDVR) The Arvada Police Department is reminding motorists to stop puffing after two vehicles were stolen in the same manner last week, in the same morning. The Arvada agency said that its averaging about four to seven stolen cars in town a week, a number that they say goes up when temperatures drop because of puffing: When people try to warm up their cars before getting inside. These were the most stolen cars in Colorado in 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the morning of New Years Eve, Alyssa Andrew started her car but realized she left something inside her house. She said she ran back in with her keys still in the ignition. Grabbed my coffee, turned around, looked outside the window as somebody was jumping in my car, said Andrew. She ran back out to try and stop them, but the person took off, hitting her husbands car on the way. Inside the car was a necklace belonging to her mother who passed away. Nothing in there was of value to anybody else but it was to me, said Andrew. Andrews car was one of two stolen within 30 minutes of each other that morning. Both were in the same neighborhood as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I live a block from the police station and the other car that was stolen was a block from the police station in the other direction, said Andrew. Why puffing your car is illegal and could lead to stolen vehicles Arvada Police say both cars were left running unattended. In Colorado, theres a law against having your car running unattended if it doesnt already have an auto-start system to where you can remote-start your car, said Arvada Police PIO Dave Snelling. Snelling said that outside of puffing being against the law, its just a bad idea in general, with criminals looking for that exact kind of behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are criminals rolling around neighborhoods on really bad days looking for your car to be running, said Snelling. Theyll stop, your car will be gone because you just stepped in for a minute to get your lunchbox, your purse or whatever. One of the two stolen cars from New Years Eve was recovered abandoned in Denver, but police are still looking for the other. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. GONZALES, La. (BRPROUD) Louisiana communities continue to show support after the New Orleans terror attack. In Ascension Parish, people are using their grief and blood to help victims. It hit so close to home, its shocking, said Prairieville resident Jenny Bruno. When we look at it as terrorism, it changes the whole perspective of how you take every step of every day. Bruno was at the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office to give blood to people in New Orleans. Im B-negative, so I know that Im a rare blood type, but, with the tragedy that happened in New Orleans, I cant see why I would not donate, she said. The reason is to support victims of the Bourbon Street attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Orleans is special to everyone in Louisiana, said Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre. Were only an hour from it, so I remember years and years of my wife and I going down there, to visit the French Quarter. Theres so much history down there. Webre said this Gonzales blood drive day is the second day of Battle of the Badges. The first day was in Donaldsonville, where 14 pints of blood were collected. We want to play our small part in helping New Orleans and helping the hospitals there, that may need the blood so desperately, he said. Several agencies in Ascension Parish including the fire department, the Gonzales Police Department and Fire Departments and the Prairieville Fire Department are all taking part in the drive. Rebecca Villenurve said giving blood is an outlet for her grief over the attack. When things happen in the world, I feel helpless, and this is the least I can do, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donovan Jackson with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office said 36 pints of blood were collected in total. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. WASHINGTON The mother of a Jan. 6 rioter killed during the attack on the U.S. Capitol said she received a call from President-elect Donald Trump this week in which he sent a message to Jan. 6 defendants, saying he loved them and to "keep their chins up." Micki Witthoeft, Ashli Babbits mother, said at a nightly vigil outside of the D.C. jail in support of Jan. 6 defendants on Wednesday that Trump had called her when she was in the back of an Uber with two other supporters of Jan. 6 defendants, coming back from laying down flowers in honor of her daughter. Tell them I love them, to keep their chins up, Trump said when asked if he had a message for Jan. 6 defendants, according to Witthoeft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know that he is still thinking about these guys, and I have a feeling it is going to be a happy day for us," when Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, Witthoeft said. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. But Trump has called Witthoeft and into the vigil before, given financial support to Jan. 6 defendants and promised to pardon an untold number of them upon taking office. "We have a lot to look forward to on Jan. 20, and God Bless America," Witthoeft said. "Trump town, baby!" Trump has vowed to pardon a number of the more than 1,270 defendants who have been convicted on Jan. 6 charges ranging from unlawful parading to seditious conspiracy. There are more than 700 defendants who have either already completed their sentences or were never given any jail or prison time to begin with, which would give Trump an opportunity to pardon potentially hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants without having much of a practical impact, beyond the message that such an action would send. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, an attorney for the Jan. 6 defendant serving the longest sentence former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, who is serving 22 years after being convicted of seditious conspiracy asked Trump for a full pardon. While more than 1,580 defendants have already been arrested, that's only roughly half of the total number of defendants who could have been charged for either entering the Capitol or assaulting law enforcement officers outside the building. In addition to those already charged, more than 200 people suspected of assaulting law enforcement officers have been identified, according to online sedition hunters who have aided the FBI in hundreds of cases against Jan. 6 rioters. While the statute of limitations on crimes committed on Jan. 6, 2021, doesn't expire until early 2026, it's unclear if the Trump administration will allow investigations into individuals accused of assaulting law enforcement officers that day to continue. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Franklin Tao, an Asian American scientist who was wrongfully accused of spying for China, is suing the University of Kansas, his former employer, accusing it of vicious, unabated discrimination. Tao, a chemistry professor, said in a lawsuit filed last week that he was unfairly and unlawfully terminated from his tenured position and is seeking to be reinstated. Feng "Franklin" Tao, a professor at the University of Kansas, poses in this undated photo. Tao was falsely accused in 2019 of economic espionage, making him the first professor arrested and jailed under the contentious Trump-era China Initiative. The since-shuttered national security initiative was widely criticized for racial profiling and targeting Asian American scholars. It was amid his yearslong case that Tao, who was acquitted last year, alleges in the complaint that the school collaborated with the Justice Department to persecute him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Professor Taos life, career, reputation and finances are in shambles as a result of KUs egregious conduct, the complaint says. Rather than embracing academic rigor and enlightened, critical judgment, the university allowed itself to join in fear mongering and racist witch hunting. Neither the University of Kansas nor the Department of Justice responded to NBC News requests for comment. In the lawsuit, Tao alleges that a visiting scholar at the university had demanded $300,000 from him in 2019, claiming she had failed to receive proper credit for a paper and threatened to report him to the FBI for economic espionage. After Tao refused to be extorted, the scholar falsely and anonymously reported him to the university, saying he was not only involved in spying, but also held another full-time position in China, the complaint said. The university reported the allegations to the FBI without speaking to Tao or assessing the credibility of the information, the complaint says. The school later worked closely with the bureau on its investigation into the professor, the suit says, adding that it engaged in unlawful surveillance of Tao and, in one instance, worked with the agency to arrange a surprise search of his lab and home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Text messages between the universitys then-deputy general counsel and FBI agents, printed in the complaint, show improper collaboration between the two parties, the suit says. In one such text exchange, the deputy general counsel called the agents my Wonder Twins and the agents bantered with comments like, Ok mom. And after Tao was arrested, the counsel texted the FBI agents, Job well done, gentlemen. Congrats, and thanks, the complaint said. Rather than protecting its own faculty, KU acted as an arm of the government in prosecuting Professor Tao, the suit said. The complaint also says that the university terminated Tao in 2023 before his criminal proceedings had concluded, violating a signed agreement, seen by NBC News, that stipulated it would wait until the end of the proceedings before taking action on his employment status. Tao was convicted in 2022. However, his lawyer argued that year that the criminal actions against the professor, who immediately moved for acquittal, was not considered final until the judgment of conviction was rendered, appeal exhausted and the time for a petition elapsed or denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After he was acquitted of all charges in July, the university continued to refuse to reinstate him, the complaint said. Tao was found guilty on three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement. But a judge threw out the wire fraud convictions a few months later. It wasnt until July that the final count was cleared by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The China Initiative, under which Tao was arrested, was suspended by the Biden administration in 2022 after it drew backlash for casting a cloud of suspicion over scholars and scientists in the Asian American community. Last September, however, House lawmakers attempted to revive the measure in a 237-180 vote. Since then, several Asian American and civil rights groups have been railing against the move. The Biden White House has condemned the initiatives potential revival. The bill also could give rise to incorrect and harmful public perceptions that DOJ applies a different standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to the Chinese people or to American citizens of Chinese descent, the Biden administration said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to reinstatement, Tao is seeking damages for lost wages, reputation injury and emotional distress, as well as an award for attorneys fees and other relief. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Atlanta Police Department has issued a BOLO for a man they say is seen on camera stealing. Between Dec. 7 and Dec. 10, the suspect is seen entering Grady stealing items belonging to the hospital. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On one of the instances, the suspect is seen wearing all black with his face uncovered and in the second instance, he is wearing all red with a hoodie and bookbag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes been charged with larceny and theft. TRENDING STORIES: Anyone with information on the suspect or his identity, is asked to please contact Crime Stoppers. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] HONOLULU (KHON2) An attempted murder investigation is underway in Kalihi. A 45-year-old woman has been arrested according to Honolulu police and charges are pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Bakery major Flowers Foods is adding to its presence in snacks with the acquisition of US biscuit and snack-bar maker Simple Mills for $795m. Flowers Foods, home to bread brands including Wonder and snacks like TastyKake, has struck a deal with founder Katlin Smith, Simple Mills management and Vestar Capital Partners, the company's largest shareholder. Simple Mills is a producer of what Flowers Foods called "premium, better-for-you" snacks, including crackers, biscuits, and baking mixes. The products are sold available in more than 30,000 stores across the US, with Simple Mills generating annual sales of approximately $240m in 2024, up 14% on the prior year, Flowers Foods said. After the completion of the deal, Simple Foods will continue to be led by Smith and her leadership team and maintain its operations in Chicago, Illinois and Mill Valley, California, the company added. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions but is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2025. Flowers Foods said the move expands the business exposure to the better-for-you category and to attractive snacking segments. "With leading market positions and abundant white space for future growth, Simple Mills perfectly fits our strategy of adding compelling brands in better-for-you segments that complement and diversify our existing portfolio," Flowers Foods chairman and CEO Ryals McMullian said. The deal is also set to strengthen the group's financial profile, Flowers Foods suggested. The Canyon Bakehouse brand owner said it expects the move to cause immediate growth in its net sales and its adjusted EBITDA margins. Flowers Foods said it will support its new asset by looking to expand its distribution and accelerate innovation. Smith believes the transaction marks the beginning of a new phase of growth for Simple Mills. With Flowers' resources, we will be well positioned to broaden distribution, accelerate innovation, and amplify brand awareness, while advancing our mission, Smith said. "Flowers has a strong track record of fostering growth in its acquired companies while stewarding and protecting their brand promise." "Flowers Foods adds to snacks presence with Simple Mills purchase" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. State Auditor Josh Gallion speaks about the findings of a performance audit of his agency at a Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee meeting on Jan. 9, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor) A long-anticipated performance audit of the North Dakota State Auditors Office found no significant issues, consultants told a panel of lawmakers Thursday afternoon. Based on the work that we performed, there werent any red flags, Chris Ricchiuto, representing consulting firm Forvis Mazars, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The review was commissioned by the 2023 Legislature following complaints from local governments about the cost of the agencys services. The firm found that the State Auditors Office is following industry standards and laws, and is completing audits in a reasonable amount of time, said Charles Johnson, a director with the firms risk advisory services. The answer about the audit up front is that we identified four areas where things are working exactly as you expect the state auditor to do, Johnson told the committee. Charles Johnson of consulting firm Forvis Mazars shares the result of a performance audit of the North Dakota State Auditors Office during a Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee meeting on Jan. 9, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor) The report also found that the agency has implemented some policies to address concerns raised during the 2023 session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the Auditors Office now provides cost estimates to clients before they hire the office for services, Johnson said. The proposals include not-to-exceed clauses, so clients have to agree to any proposed changes. The State Auditors Office also now includes more details on its invoices, so clients have more comprehensive information about what theyre being charged for. The audit originally was intended to focus on fiscal years 2020 through 2023. However, the firm extended the scope of its analysis to reflect policy changes that the Auditors Office implemented after the 2023 fiscal year ended. State Auditor Josh Gallion told lawmakers the period the audit covers was an unusual time for his agency. The coronavirus pandemic made timely work more difficult for his staff. Moreover, because of the influx of pandemic-related assistance to local governments from the federal government, the State Auditors Offices workload increased significantly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallion said that, other than confirming that the changes the agency has made were worthwhile, he didnt glean anything significant from the audit. The changes had already been implemented, he said. Gallion has previously called the audit redundant and unnecessary. When asked Thursday if he thought the audit was a worthwhile use of taxpayer money, Gallion said, Every audit has value, at the end of the day. The report has not been finalized, though the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee voted to accept it. There was no shenanigans, there were no red flags, Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, said at the close of the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forvis representatives told lawmakers they plan to finish the report sometime this month. The contract for the audit is for $285,000. Johnson said as far as he is aware Forvis has sent bills for a little over $150,000 so far. That doesnt include the last two months of the companys work, he said. The consulting firm sent out surveys to local governments that use the agencys services. The top five suggestions for improvements were: Communication with clients Timeliness Helping clients complete forms Asking for same information more than once Providing more detailed invoices The top five things respondents thought the agency does well were: Understanding of the audit process Professionalism Willingness to improve Attention to detail Helpfulness Johnson said that some of the survey findings should be taken with a grain of salt. In our work as auditors, we dont always make people happy doing what were supposed to do, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The headline on this article was updated to more accurately describe the audit. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Lt. Gov. David Toland, who also serves as secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, defended the agency's administration of a $4 million community service tax credit program. The Kansas Legislature's auditors reported the department's selection of tax-credit recipients lacked transparency because justification for selections wasn't documented. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA State auditors say a Kansas Department of Commerce program distributing $4 million annually in income tax credits to incentivize donations for community service projects lacks transparency because the agency doesnt fully document its rationale when selecting recipients. The Kansas Legislatures auditing arm published a report indicating it was impossible to determine how projects were chosen and whether those decisions were fair. Documentation couldnt be produced by the commerce department on the initial eligibility screening of applicants and on factors influencing recommendations by the agencys review committee and final decisions by the commerce secretary. However, information about the departments scoring of applicants for tax credits was available to auditors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we didnt see was documentation of the steps that happened before or after that (scoring), said Andy Brienzo, a supervising auditor with the state. This is really the meat of the audit. The goal of the program has been to amplify fundraising efforts of nonprofit and governmental organizations across the state. Applicants for the incentive have been granted $130 million in state tax credits tied to 811 community projects during the past three decades, auditors said. Since 1994, the commerce department provided an average of $160,000 in tax credits to projects involving social services, crime prevention, health care, and youth apprenticeships or technical training. Over the past 15 years, the program delivered an average of $4,600 in income tax breaks to more than 10,000 donor individuals, corporations, banks and insurance companies. Auditors recommended the Department of Commerce do a better job documenting each step of deliberations regarding tax-credit applicants and awards. Specifically, auditors proposed the agency clearly and completely document how it determined basic eligibility of proposed projects as well as why it chose each project to receive community service tax credits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lt. Gov. David Toland, who also serves as commerce secretary, submitted a written reply to a draft of the audit that said the agency followed protocol when evaluating requests under the Community Service Program Tax Credits or CSP program. While we appreciate the time and effort that went into the review, commerce has concern over the audits determination that the review process lacks documentation. The standard for documentation was arbitrarily defined by the auditors, he said. In terms of initial eligibility reviews, Toland said, the commerce departments CSP program manager was responsible for verifying applicants met basic requirements. Each eligible proposal was assigned to two independent reviewers for scoring, and those individuals took into account objective and subjective factors. Toland said there was no documentation requirement applicable to the agencys committee responsible for reviewing the list of scored projects and the amount of credit proposed. There was no mandate for preservation of documents tied to the commerce secretarys review of projects endorsed by the selection committee, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the commerce department kept track of accepted and rejected applicants by maintaining a spreadsheet that served the administration of a transparent, thorough and effective process. It is unclear what further documentation is needed in these situations and seems to be based on the personal preference and biases of the auditors, Toland said. Toland said the CSP remained wildly popular as interest in the program exceeded available state funding by more than $6 million in 2023 and $5.6 million in 2024. The CSP tax credit is worth 50% of a donation in communities with populations of 15,000 or more and 70% in areas with populations below 15,000. The credit is refundable if the donor owed less in Kansas taxes than they had in credits. The credit could be transferred, which means a donor could sell the credit to someone who owed Kansas taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commerce department possesses authority to award up to $4.1 million annually through the CSP. The maximum credit for each project has been set at $200,000. During the life of the program, the Legislature permitted issuance of $134 million in community tax credits. The commerce department responded by awarding $130 million in community tax credits during that period. In 27 of the 31 years of operation, 95% to 100% of the authorized total was awarded by the agency. Awards dipped to 61% to 88% of the total allowed from 2016 to 2019 after the state budget director informally asked commerce to award less due to the states financial challenges, the audit said. The audit report said 12 other states had tax credit programs comparable to the program in Kansas, including Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. AURORA, Ill. An Aurora man who sexually assaulted a victim after providing them drugs in 2022 will spend more than a decade in prison. 42-year-old Ricardo Lemos, an Aurora resident who was found guilty of criminal sexual assault in October of 2024, has been handed a 13-year prison sentence, Kane Countys States Attorney Jamie Mosser announced Thursday. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said in July of 2022, Lemos provided cocaine to a victim, who was someone he knew at the time, before sexually assaulting them. Because of the drugs, the victim was not able to consent to sexual activity. Alongside his sentence, in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act, Lemos will also have to register for life as a sexual offender. Ajury found 42-year-old Ricardo Lemos, an Aurora resident, guilty of criminal sexual assault, according to Kane County's State's Attorney Jamie Mosser. Lemos is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence and will receive credit for 535 days served in the Kane County jail. This sentence represents justice for the victim and holds Mr. Lemos accountable for his reprehensible actions, Assistant States Attorney Matthew Rodgers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland In addition to the sentence on the sexual assault conviction, Lemos was also sentenced to 18 months in prison for an unrelated felony offense of criminal trespass to a residence. The sentence will be served consecutively to his 13-year sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. This story has been updated with new information. Austin police determined there was no explosive device at a Northwest Austin H-E-B after a bomb threat was reported Friday morning. Police arrested Gerard Hayes, 43, on a felony terroristic threat charge after alleging he called 911 to report a bomb in his vehicle at the H-E-B, an Austin police officer said at a news conference Friday. Hayes was not arrested at the H-E-B. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday's bomb threat was "a direct result" of an incident involving Hayes two days earlier, the officer said, but did not specify the nature of the incident. Police had asked the public earlier Friday to avoid the area around the H-E-B at 7301 North FM 620 as they investigated a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. Police said there is no longer a threat to the public. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: APD investigating bomb threat at Northwest Austin H-E-B AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) As the 250th anniversary of America gets closer, another local town has been called to be a part of the celebration. Austintown Trustee Robert Santos said that the township has been designated as an official America 250 Community. As part of the initiative, the town will be organizing a series of events to bring together residents and celebrate shared heritage. Being recognized as an America 250 Community is a tremendous honor for Austintown Township, Santos said in a news release. We look forward to engaging our residents in meaningful ways and creating lasting memories as we celebrate our history and look toward the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngstown has also been named a designated community. Local theaters participating in highlighting Ohios part in motion pictures include the Regals in Niles and Boardman, Warrens Skyway Twin Drive-In, Salem Twin Cinema and Salem Community Theatre. Youngstowns Stambaugh Auditorium is also planning a silent movie with its organ and a movie at the DeYor will be accompanied by the symphony. For more information about how you can be a part of Austintowns celebration, contact Santos at 330-531-1007. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. SYDNEY (AP) An Australian woman who says she is the half-sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appeared in a Sydney court on Friday on charges of causing a drunken disturbance on an airliner and pledged not to drink alcohol at airports or on planes while she is on bail. Analisa Josefa Corr is accused of assaulting a fellow passenger outside a plane's toilet after she and her husband, James Alexander Corr, allegedly consumed alcohol they had brought onto the flight and became intoxicated. After the plane landed in Sydney, they were taken to a nearby police station and charged. Analisa Corr, 53, says she is the daughter of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. a dictator who was ousted in a 1986 pro-democracy uprising. He died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 at age 72. She also says she is the half-sister of the current president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcos Jr. has previously dismissed reports of Corrs relationship with his father as rumors. Corr's mother is Australian model Evelin Hegyesi, who reportedly began an affair with Marcos Sr. in the 1970s when she was 19 years old. He was married to Imelda Marcos, with whom he had three children. Corr and her husband appeared Friday in Downing Center Local Court, where Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Antrum agreed to return their passports on conditions including that they do not drink on aircraft or in Australian international or domestic airport departure halls. They also agreed to deposit 20,000 Australian dollars ($12,400) each with the court, which will be forfeited if they breach the conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her lawyer, Jasmina Ceic, told the court her client needed her passport to travel overseas. Shes currently undertaking a project in Indonesia and intends to stay there ... until the end of March, Ceic said. They are charged with failing to comply with cabin crew safety directions and with consuming alcohol not provided by flight attendants on a Jetstar domestic flight on Dec. 28 between Hobart and Sydney. They pleaded not guilty to all charges during a court appearance on Monday. Their case will return to court on Feb. 24. An online biography describes Analisa Corr as an interior designer, photographer and owner of a photography business based on the Gold Coast in Queensland state. Her middle name, Josefa, is the first name of Marcos Sr.s mother. The Supreme Court is weighing whether a law that could ban TikTok in the United States is constitutional. Away from the court, legal and technology experts are pondering a different head-scratcher: What if TikTok is banned and people keep using it anyway? Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The law that could force a ban on TikTok as soon as Jan. 19 is vague on how it would be enforced. Some experts say that even if TikTok is actually banned this month or soon, there may be so many legal and technical loopholes that millions of Americans could find ways to keep TikToking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law is Swiss cheese with lots of holes in it, said Glenn Gerstell, a former top lawyer at the National Security Agency and a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a policy research organization. There are obviously ways around it. Thats not how TikToks attorney described it to the Supreme Court justices. We shut down if the ban goes into effect, Noel Francisco said Friday. Just over a week from a possible blacklisting, its wild that there is so much uncertainty about how a TikTok ban would work. The confusion shows how unusual a nationwide product ban is in the United States, particularly for something that exists within the internets slippery borders. Heres how a TikTok ban might be enforced, if it happens at all, and the legal ways that people could work around it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - - - What the TikTok ban law says - and doesnt say When other countries ban apps, the government typically orders internet providers and mobile carriers to block web traffic to and from the blocked website or app. Thats probably not how a ban on TikTok in the United States would work. Two lawyers who reviewed the law said the text as written doesnt appear to order internet and mobile carriers to stop people from using TikTok. There may not be unanimity on this point. Some lawyers who spoke to Bloomberg News said internet providers would be in legal hot water if they let their customers continue to use a banned TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota associate law professor, said he suspected internet providers arent obligated to stop TikTok use because Congress wanted to allow the most dedicated TikTok users to be able to access the app, so as to limit the First Amendment infringement. The law also doesnt order Americans to stop using TikTok if its banned or to delete the app from our phones. The law does say that if TikTok is banned, mobile app stores - thats Apple and Google, mostly - will be obligated to stop making TikTok available from their stores in the United States. Otherwise theyd rack up mammoth fines. The law also says internet hosting providers must stop supporting TikTok if it is banned. Most lawyers say that probably refers to the companies that provide back-end computer horsepower or equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive contacted large internet providers and cellphone carriers, and most of them didnt comment on the topic. - - - The potential ways to keep using TikTok if its banned Odds are that if the Supreme Court declares the TikTok law constitutional and if a ban goes into effect, blacklisting the app from the Apple and Google app stores will be enough to stop most people from using TikTok. But for people dedicated to TikTok, the law and technology would allow for ways to keep using it, including options like those listed below. (TikTok didnt respond to a request for comment.) --Keep using the app thats already on your phone. If a ban goes into effect and Apple and Google block TikTok from pushing updates to the app on your phone, it may become buggy or broken over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But no one is quite sure how long it would take for the TikTok app to become unusable or compromised in this situation. --Use a VPN. A virtual private network, or VPN, is software that can make it appear as though youre surfing The Washington Post website from Stockholm when youre really in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. When the social media site X was (briefly) banned by Brazils government last year, sign-ups to Proton VPN surged 1,200 percent in the country in a single day, the Swiss email and VPN company said at the time. Antonio Cesarano, product lead for Proton VPN, said this week that he believed - though he wasnt positive - that Americans could use VPNs to access TikTok if its banned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --Download the TikTok app outside the app stores. Its not easy, but it is possible in some cases to download smartphone apps from places other than the Apple and Google app stores. Those methods could become a model for TikTok if a ban goes into effect. The Fortnite mobile video games have been blacklisted since 2020 from the Apple and Google app stores because of a business dispute. But this past summer, Fortnite owner Epic Games made its games available from an app that you can download from the Epic Games website to Android phones globally and to iPhones in the European Union. About six weeks later, Epic Games said there were more than 10 million downloads of the app outside the Apple and Google app stores. Epic Games declined to give an updated figure for its app downloads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --Use TikToks website instead of its app: TikTok was designed to be used as an app, but you can still watch videos from TikTok.com on your mobile browser or from a computer. Assuming internet providers and mobile carriers dont block TikToks website in the United States, TikTok could make its website more of a full-featured alternative to its app. Related Content Actually, Sarah McBride does have an agenda There was nothing you could do: The two days when fire swallowed Los Angeles MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) In this weeks Basin Bites, we visited Tall City Bistro, a restaurant in Midland thats hidden next to the West Texas State Bank. Now this place may be a tough place to find but once you walk in and try their food, it will become a favorite. Now before Tall City Bistro came out, under previous ownership it was called Taco Divino. What they served customers was as its name says, tacos. However, for current owner and executive chef Manny Garcia, he knew that only selling tacos werent going to cut it. This building, they got a lot of important people, says Garcia. We got lawyers, we got realtors, we got doctors, we got judges. So, theyre not going to eat tacos every day. I told the owner of Taco Divino, I said, listen, lets make different menu. They want salads, they want breads, they want some kind of meat. They want real food, not just tacos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once Garcia took over and became owner thats when he switched up the menu and began serving items such as enchiladas, tortas, breakfast food, etc. To him the most important thing is making sure that the customers feel welcomed and a part of the family. I dont want them to say, oh, its another restaurant, and its going to be, oh, says Garcia. No, I want them to have an experience, treat people like a family. Its because I want them to be part of the family, the bistro family. I just dont want to be clients. I want them to be part of the family. Dishes that Garcia had me try were the French toast platter, a couple tacos, and the torta Cubano. Now each dish that I tried were all delicious. The two tacos were made with handmade tortillas, which is always the best way to go, filled with two different meats. One had al pastor, and the other was called the Midlander which is a shredded beef. Both stood out to me as some of the best tacos that Ive had in West Texas and would highly recommend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next up was the torta Cuban, which had beans, avocado, pork, ham, pickles and Swiss cheese. Ive had my fair share of Cuban sandwiches, and this was top tier in my opinion. The flavor that came with the ham and pork together mixed in with the beans and avocado brought everything together perfectly. To wrap things up was the French toast platter which came with eggs, bacon, and breakfast potatoes. Personally, Im a French toast type of person and these here were really good. The warm and soft touch of the French toast plus the warm syrup was perfect to me. Tall City Bistro is located 400 W Illinois Ave Ste 195, Midland, TX 79701. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. With no end in sight to conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and many more places, 2025 promises to be at least as tumultuous as last year. So what is the biggest threat to security for Britain, and its Western allies? From complacency and our underfunded army to China and Russia, we get the views of Alicia Kearns MP, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and now Shadow Minister for National Security; General Lord Richard Dannatt, former head of the British army; and John Bolton, former foreign security advisor to Donald Trump and ambassador to the UN. Battle Lines, a podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. NEW YORK Brad Lander isnt just running for mayor to unseat Eric Adams but also to keep former Gov. Andrew Cuomo out of office. Make no mistake, Andrew Cuomo would not be any better, than Adams, the city comptroller said at a campaign fundraiser Wednesday night, in remarks his campaign shared with POLITICO. And now hes actually suing to eliminate the state ethics agency. That is not the leadership we need for New York City. As Lander spoke onstage in Brooklyn rumors flew among the political class that Cuomo was poised to announce a mayoral run. Longtime Cuomo ally Charlie King is working to set up his campaign, POLITICO first reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ex-governor getting in the race could even move Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to reconsider his decision not to run in the Democratic primary. I would consider doing whatever is needed to do to prevent a Cuomo mayoralty, Williams said in an interview with POLITICO. Asked if that included running for office himself, he brushed it off, saying I dont know about that but kept the door open. There would have to be a real sit down with a lot of folks to see what people think is the best way to prevent him from becoming mayor. Williams has previously said he is not running in the primary. But he would consider running for the office if he were already serving as acting mayor in the event Adams is pushed out of office in the next few months an increasingly unlikely scenario. For now, Williams is supporting Lander, his longtime ally who he introduced on stage at the fundraiser Wednesday night as my partner in safety. With six months to go until the June primary, Williams has pledged to rank his fellow citywide elected official first or second, POLITICO first reported. Other co-hosts including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and state Sens. Liz Krueger and Andrew Gournades committed to doing the same, in the campaigns nod to ranked-choice voting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre among the first endorsements by elected officials in the entire mayoral race, though everyone is studiously avoiding the word endorsement. That is, in part, a reflection of a race that has been slow to take shape given the pending questions of whether Adams remains in office and whether Cuomo runs. But now, Adams is running for reelection, and Cuomo is inching closer to getting in too. Landers campaign manager Alison Hirsh made it clear that Cuomo is a serious threat and would stay in their crosshairs. Were looking forward to contrasting Brads strong management, outstanding public integrity and big ideas to move our city forward, with Andrew Cuomos never-ending corruption, scandal and inept mismanagement, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A disdain for Cuomo would seem in keeping with Landers left-leaning voter base, and Lander fired up his crowd at his fundraiser by enumerating Cuomos weaknesses. This is somebody whose inner circle was indicted for corruption, who resigned before he was impeached for sexual harassment, he said. And did you know that hes now spent $28 million of taxpayer money not just trying to defend himself against sexual harassment charges, but subpoenaing the gynecological records of his accuser? Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi noted Cuomo aide Joe Percocos conviction was reversed by the Supreme Court, and said much of the money was spent defending the governor from a Trump administration nursing home probe that a federal watchdog just reported was politically motivated. He also said Cuomos legal team made a blanket request for all medical records as part of routine discovery not just gynecological records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is all premature, but everyone knows Landers DSA-approved defund the police, anti-Israel positions are out of touch with New Yorkers and its sad he spends all his time obsessed with a guy who isnt currently in the race while ignoring the actual job taxpayers are paying him for, Azzopardi added. The socialist-aligned Lander is far apart politically from Cuomo, who worked well with Republicans in the Legislature. But Lander and Cuomo could also be competing in the same lane in a mayoral run, positioning themselves as a serious alternative to Adams who is known and trusted by the citys power brokers. Also, in this city of racial voting blocs, theyre both white men who could be competing for some of the same voters who preferred former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia in 2021. Lander is hardly the only mayoral candidate to be going after Cuomo. Former Comptroller Scott Stringers campaign called Cuomos comeback a fantasy and laid out the arguments against him in a memo. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani said Cuomo was defending a genocide by joining Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus legal team. And in a sign of Cuomo inching closer to running, Adams teased attack lines against him in an interview with POLITICO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who are running theyre going to have to take claim for the stuff that they did when they were holding office, he said. Who was there for the original bail reform? A version of this story first appeared in Friday's New York Playbook. Google searches for how to cancel and delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts have seen explosive rises in the U.S. since Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will end its third-party fact-checking system, loosen content moderation policies, and roll back previous limits to the amount of political content in user feeds. Critics see the move as an attempt to cater to the incoming Trump administration and avoid political retaliation, suggesting the consequences of Meta's new policies could have serious implications for the types of posts, hateful and violent speech, and misinformation that can spread even faster than they already do across Metas platforms. The backlash has been swift. Interest in searches related to getting off Meta platforms rose this week, particularly in the last two days. Google searches for terms like how to permanently delete facebook hit a maximum score of 100 -- the highest level of interest possible on Google Trends. According to Google Trends, related searches like how to delete all photos facebook, "alternative to facebook, how to quit facebook, how to delete threads account, and how to delete instagram account without logging in have become breakout searches, with popularity suddenly increasing by over 5,000% compared to previous periods. To be clear, searches over the past three months for deleting Facebook have hovered around a 75 score on Trends, peaking to 100 around specific events, like Meta's latest policy changes and the presidential election in November 2024. The recent growth underscores a recoil against Metas decision to roll back protections against hateful speech and inflammatory political content. Meta had put fact-checking and content moderation policies into place after years of misinformation and violent speech proliferating on its platforms, which have caused real-world harm. Case in point, the attempted insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, which was fueled by coordinated calls for violence on Facebook and Instagram. Internal documents revealed that Facebook did not act forcefully against the Stop the Steal movement pushed by Trumps allies, even though the company had identified ways to diminish the spread of political polarization, conspiracy theories, and incitements to violence. A Breakout means that the search term grew by more than 5000%. Image Credits:Google Trends Meta has also admitted that its platforms were used to incite violence in Myanmar, where members of the Burmese military committed genocide against the Rohingya people. In 2021, Zuckerberg said that the Meta community doesnt want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our services, leading to the companys push to scale back political discourse. Last year, the company also stopped proactively recommending political content to users on Instagram and Threads, a move that was controversial among creators and users. Now Meta will phase back in political content to feeds. BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) Belen Consolidated Schools warned students, families, and staff about a possible data breach Thursday. Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez said the PowerSchool student information system, which works with schools across the country, was subject to an attack that may have possibly resulted in the theft of student and employee personal information. New Mexico Attorney General suing WNMU leaders after outgoing president gets $1.9M payout PowerSchool became aware of unusual activity within its system in December and has launched an investigation to determine if there was unauthorized access to student or staff information, according to Sanchez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BCS said the types of data potentially involved may include the following: Student names Grades Addresses Other details typically stored within the system At this time, BCS said it cannot confirm if sensitive data was accessed or compromised.The school district said it is reviewing and enhancing its existing security protocols out of an abundance of caution. Sanchez said BCS will provide more updates as information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A beloved attendant who was fatally struck down in the parking lot of the Staten Island hospital where she worked was just weeks away from retirement, her grieving partner said on Friday. Kathleen Murphy, 64, who cleaned rooms at Staten Island University Hospital, was struck and killed by a car on Dec. 11 just 500 feet from the hospital entrance near Mason and Seaview Aves. in Dongan Hills just moments before her morning shift was about to start. Cops on Thursday arrested the driver, Surija Bajro, 67, charging him with failure to yield, police said. Bajro, 67, had just dropped his wife off at the hospital for a procedure and was making a left turn out of the roundabout when he struck Murphy in the crosswalk, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphys longtime partner and wife, Kathleen Penachio, 69, said the arrest was a small comfort, but doesnt ease the pain of losing someone as loving and caring as Murphy was. I was happy about the arrest because you have to make an example out of somebody, Penachio said. She was 500 feet away from the front door to get into work, 500 feet. Penachio said Murphy loved her job and the patients. Still, she was counting the days to her retirement at the end of the year, and to her 65th birthday, which would have fallen on Christmas Day. We were moving to Jersey, Penachio said. We werent in a hurry, but we were going to start looking in the summer. That was both of our dreams, for me to go back to Jersey. Shes very close to my sisters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penachio said Murphy had bought a bicycle that she was looking forward to riding in her retirement. The bike was in the kitchen, and Murphy never got to use it. Murphy also never got to use her new Medicare card. It was a couple days after she passed away, Penachio said. I got her Medicare card in the mail. I was, like, Oh, my God, youll never get to see this.' Penachio said they met 33 years ago after she answered Murphys personal ad in The Jersey Journal. The ad read, If you like romance, dancing, walks, and have an ear for country music All the possibilities are there. Looking for someone to share the fun things in life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penachio said she didnt like walking much, but she checked all the other boxes. They had been together ever since, and got married 13 years ago. Penachio still carries the newspaper clipping of the ad in her wallet. I couldnt have found a better person, a better partner, a better anything really, she said. I couldnt. I couldnt ask for a better person. We were both spoiled. We gave everything to each other. Did everything together. Went everywhere together. Murphy had a wedding ring, but she didnt wear it to work because she was constantly washing her hands at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She always left it in her little dish, Penachio said. That call when I got that call, I put that ring right on. Havent taken it off since. That call, she said, came later that morning from Murphys sister, Mary Rose, who delivered the awful news. She said, Are you sitting? I said, I am sitting. She said to me, Kathleen was hit by a car,' Penachio said. But I could tell in her voice, it was more than just getting hit by a car. So I said, Mary Rose, tell me please whats going on. She said, Kathy was hit by the car, and she didnt make it. Thats what she said to me. And thats when I kind of lost it. And I was like, What are you talking about? She had too much trauma to the body, so they couldnt revive her. So I broke down It got worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I had to identify her body, it was, like, I have to get out. I have to get out of the room, she said. This is not her. It broke my heart at the funeral. That wasnt my wife in the casket. I know my wife, the way my wife was. I wanted to actually close the casket, but then I decided not to because her family has the right to see her. She said Murphys wake was packed with people. All her coworkers, and people I never met before, she said. Oh, my God everybody she touched. A memorial, which included a sketch of Murphy, was left next to the passenger-pickup roundabout outside the hospital door where she was hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were fortunate to have you! We love you! the sketch artist wrote. Penachio, meanwhile, is holding on to the last time she saw Murphy. They had been eagerly looking forward to decorating the house together for Christmas. I saw my wife 6 oclock that morning when she left for work, Penachio said. Thats the last time I saw my wife. Last time. She left me a note because she leaves me a note every single morning. That morning she wrote me, I cant wait til the weekend so we can get the whole house decorated. She never got the chance. So I honored that, and I did it all myself. She put the tree up, though. We decorated it before the weekend. It looked really pretty. Penachio said she had some health problems, and that Murphy was taking care of her and the Shih Tzu named Muffin they shared. She said she laid a blanket Murphy slept with across the top of the couch, for Muffin to smell her scent. She said shes not going to wash it for now. BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) A Belvidere Police Officer has been arrested on charges of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. According to the Illinois State Police, the agency was contacted by the Belvidere Police Department to investigate a reported rape involving an off-duty police officer, Robert Kozlowski, 52, and an adult female victim. Authorities said the investigation began on March 20th, 2024. Kozlowski was placed on administrative leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Kozlowski served with the department for 18 years and was assigned to the patrol division. On January 9th, a Boone County Grand Jury indicted Kozlowski. He turned himself in on January 10th, police said. Kozlowski was booked into the Boone County Jail pending the outcome of a pretrial detention hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A recreational multi-use trail in the Berkshires has been awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation. On Friday, Congressman Richard Neal announced the $17.3-million federal grant award that will be used to fund the planning, design, and permitting for the Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail, or A2A Trail Project. The trail is a 9.3-mile stretch of shared-use pathway connecting the existing Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to the Williamstown Mohican Path by way of downtown North Adams and the rotary of the MASS MoCA campus. DCR to plow Norwottuck Rail Trail as part of pilot program Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trails expansion is part of an economic development plan to attract visitors to the historic region. The pathway connects northern Berkshire cultural tourism destinations, including the Clark Art Institute, Williams College Museum of Art, MASS MoCA, Adams Theater, galleries, historic properties, restaurants, retail shops, and hospitality properties. As we begin the new year, we are starting right where we left off in 2024 announcing millions of dollars to improve our infrastructure throughout western Massachusetts. This is the direct result of our efforts at the federal level to pass a once-in-a-generation investment in our nations roads, bridges, airports, clean water, and public transportation. Funding for the U.S. Department of Transportations RAISE program came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law legislation that was drafted in the Ways and Means Committee under my chairmanship, said Congressman Richard Neal. This $17.3 million grant is part of more than $27 million awarded to the First District in this latest allotment, supporting projects from Berkshire County to Worcester County. The Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail Project will highlight the natural resources in North County a true asset that attracts thousands of visitors every year. This project will play a key role in stimulating significant economic activity throughout the region, while promoting the health and well-being of local residents. BRPC is very proud to partner with local governments, private businesses, and non-profit entities who are eager to move this project forward and believe so strongly in the promise of Berkshire collaboration, states Executive Director Tom Matuszko. The major benefit afforded by the RAISE grant is that it will provide for the design of the entire segment, which will then open doors for future construction funding in a fully shovel-ready state. The funding was made possible through the USDOTs Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. The project is part of a planned larger regional 75-mile trail system from the Vermont state line north of Williamstown to Connecticut south of Sheffield. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WOOD) A man and a woman from Stevensville have been charged in an armed robbery that happened last month at a truck stop near Niles, deputies say. Todd Forker, 30, and Gina Stevens, 50, were arraigned Thursday, according to the Berrien County Sheriffs Office. The armed robbery happened Dec. 21 at JDs Truck Stop on Mayflower Road near US-31, deputies said. They said a masked man who was armed with a pistol that could be seen in his coat pocket demanded money from an employee, then fled the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies: 2 arrested for Berrien County armed robbery Detectives on Tuesday carried out a search warrant in Lincoln Township and arrested Forker and Stevens, according to the sheriffs office. The two remain in jail, with Forkers bond set at $75,000 cash/surety and Stevens bond set at $50,000, deputies said Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Biden administration succeeded Thursday in temporarily blocking accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed from entering a guilty plea in a deal that would spare him the risk of execution for al-Qaidas Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It is the latest development in a long struggle by the U.S. military and successive administrations to bring to justice the man charged with planning one of the deadliest attacks ever on the United States. It stalls an attempt to wrap up more than two decades of military prosecution beset by legal and logistical troubles. Pentagon chief loses bid to reject 9/11 plea deals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A three-judge appeals panel agreed to put on hold Mohammeds guilty plea scheduled for Friday in a military commission courtroom at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In an unusual move, the Biden administration is pushing to throw out a plea agreement that its own Defense Department had negotiated with Mohammed and two 9/11 co-defendants. Mohammed is accused of developing and directing the plot to crash hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Another of the hijacked planes flew into a field in Pennsylvania. A small number of relatives of some of the nearly 3,000 victims already had gathered in Guantanamo to hear Mohammed take responsibility in one of the most painful chapters in American history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very upsetting, said Elizabeth Miller, who lost her firefighter father, Douglas Miller, in the attacks and leads a group of 9/11 families supporting the plea agreements and opposing execution for the defendants. She sees the deals as the best way for families to receive finality. Its unfortunate that the larger government isnt recognizing it, she said by phone Thursday from Guantanamo. But Gordon Haberman, whose daughter, Andrea, was killed at the World Trade Center while on a business trip, took heart. If this leads to a full trial for these guys, then Im in favor of that, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeals panel stressed that its order would hold only as long as it took to more fully consider arguments and that it should not be considered a final ruling. The court scheduled some of the next steps for Jan. 22, meaning the fight would extend into the Trump administration. Defense lawyers had worked to wrap up the pleas by President-elect Donald Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration. Its not clear whether Trump would seek to intervene in the military commissions work. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has led the fight to overturn the politically divisive plea deals, saying a decision on the death penalty in an attack as grave as Sept. 11 should only be made by the defense secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense lawyers said in filings that attempts to throw out the agreement is the latest in the governments two decades of fitful and negligent mishandling of the case. They say the deal is already in effect and that Austin has no legal authority to throw it out after the fact. The fight has put the Biden administration at odds with the U.S. military officials it appointed to oversee justice in the attacks. The deal, negotiated over two years and approved by military prosecutors and the Pentagons senior official for Guantanamo in late July, stipulated life sentences without parole for Mohammed and two co-defendants. It also obligates them to answer any lingering questions that families of the victims have about the attacks. Legal and logistical challenges have bogged down the 9/11 case in the 17 years since charges were filed against Mohammed. The case remains in pretrial hearings, with no trial date set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The torture of Mohammed and other 9/11 defendants in CIA custody has posed one of the biggest obstacles, potentially rendering their later statements unusable in court. With that in mind, military prosecutors notified families this summer that the senior Pentagon official overseeing Guantanamo had approved a plea deal. They called it the best path to finality and justice. Austin unexpectedly announced Aug. 2 that he was scrapping the agreement. After the Guantanamo judge and a military review panel rejected Austins intervention, the Biden administration went to the District of Columbia federal appeals court this week. Mohammeds attorneys argued that Austins extraordinary intervention in this case is solely a product of his lack of oversight over his own duly appointed delegate, meaning the senior Pentagon official overseeing Guantanamo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department said that if the guilty pleas were accepted, the government would be denied a chance for a public trial and the opportunity to seek capital punishment against three men charged with a heinous act of mass murder that caused the death of thousands of people and shocked the nation and the world. Peltz reported from New York. AP reporter Tara Copp contributed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductor was awarded up to $325 million in direct funding yesterday from the U.S. Department of Commerce's CHIPS Incentives Program. Hemlock is the only U.S.-owned manufacturer of hyper-pure polysilicon and is one of five companies in the world producing polysilicon to the purity level required by the semiconductor market. According to the Biden-Harris Administration, the investment will support the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Hemlock, Michigan and is expected to create some 180 manufacturing jobs as well as more than 1,000 construction jobs over time. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028 and the project is expected to cost some $825 million. The award follows a previously signed preliminary memorandum of terms, announced on October 21, 2024, and the completion of the Commerce Departments due diligence. The funds will be distributed as Hemlock completes project milestones. Most Read on IEN: "CHIPS for America's investment in [Hemlock] will help advance supply chain security by ensuring the U.S. has a reliable, domestic supply of polysilicon the bedrock of semiconductors, said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "Establishing a domestic source of these materials is important for development of leading-edge chip applications, which helps bolster our economic and national security." Polysilicon is a foundational material for microprocessors, artificial intelligence chips, memory, and power devices, and is the physical substance that gives chips their semiconductor properties. The award includes up to $5 million dedicated to workforce initiatives. For example, Hemlock is developing local talent by partnering with Delta College and Saginaw Career Complex to support and create programs that connect the local community to training and employment opportunities, including a skilled trades youth apprenticeship public high school co-op program. The company will also invest a minimum of $1.3 million annually for four years into a variety of initiatives, such as wraparound services, local internship programs, and local K-12 STEM programming. Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news. The Biden administration announced Friday it would extend temporary deportation relief to nearly 1 million people from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela, just days before Donald Trump enters the White House with a vow to restrict the program. The move allows people from these countries who currently have Temporary Protected Status to renew work permits and deportation protections extending the program for El Salvador until March 2026 and Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela until October 2026. The TPS designation, created by Congress in 1990, has been used by presidents from Republican and Democratic administrations to offer legal reprieve to people from countries struck by natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. The Trump administration is expected to scale back the policy as the incoming president looks to enact tougher immigration rules and forge ahead with mass deportations. While TPS designations can be revoked by the DHS secretary as long as the government provides a 60-day notice President Joe Bidens move to extend protections could delay Trumps attempts to end them. During his first term, Trump tried to end TPS protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, only to be stymied by court challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For weeks, Biden administration officials have been privately weighing whether to take a swath of final actions to protect immigrants before Trumps return to Washington. Since his November victory, Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates have been pressuring the White House, holding press conferences and sending letters to the administration. Chaos at the southern border haunted Biden for a large part of his administration, becoming one of the top issues in the 2024 election aiding Trumps triumph. The president-elect has long signaled his opposition to TPS, arguing that the Biden administration has abused the authority. President Trump will enlist every federal power and coordinate with state authorities to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The American people reelected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, like deporting migrant criminals and restoring our economic greatness. He will deliver. Bidens moves on Friday still fell short of the demands from advocates and some Democratic allies. The president did not increase the number of immigrants eligible for TPS, ignoring advocates pleas for another layer of protection against Trumps deportation plans. The Biden administration also didnt expand the pool of Nicaraguans eligible for TPS, nor did it extend existing TPS protections for people from this country that run through July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), who pushed Biden on these extensions, said in a statement that she was glad to see TPS for El Salvador and Venezuela, but that it was unfortunate that President Biden didnt also redesignate TPS for Nicaragua and Ecuador. Advocates have warned the White House that Nicaraguans who came in through Bidens temporary CHNV humanitarian parole program are particularly vulnerable. Once their parole grants expire, they are not categorically eligible to apply for another legal status forcing them to decide whether to remain in the U.S. illegally and face deportation or return to Nicaragua, where Biden declared a national emergency in November due to the violence of Ortega-Murillos regime. As the administration nears the end of its term, we strongly urge President Biden to fulfill his foreign policy commitments and redesignate TPS for countries like Nicaragua, where conditions clearly meet the programs statutory requirements. This is especially urgent for individuals who entered under the Biden administrations own CHNV parole program and face losing deportation protections in the coming weeks, said Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group, in a statement. But administration officials have been wary of issuing an early redesignation for Nicaragua and appearing as if they were making a political move to handcuff Trumps team, according to two people familiar with the discussions granted anonymity to describe the considerations. President Joe Biden on Friday trumpeted yet another positive jobs report and the economy he helped shape in remarks at the White House just days ahead of his farewell address to America. Bidens administration is the only one in American history to see new jobs created every single month of his four-year term. His comments on the economy will likely be part of his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How and why did we make such progress? Biden asked regarding the economy in remarks in the Roosevelt Room of the West Wing. We did it by fundamentally changing the economic policy of this country after decades of trickle down economics that primarily benefited those at the very top. He added: Kamala and I and our administration have written a new playbook thats growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, that benefits everyone. Biden warned that in 10 days when Trump returns to the White House the country will face another inflection point at which his successor and other leaders will have to choose whether to backslide to economic theories that only benefit a select few. Weve created jobs every single month I was in office during my presidency, we saw the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in the last 50 years, and battling through the worldwide effects of the pandemic, Putins war in Ukraine and supply chain disruption, the inflation rate is down nearly 2 percent, Biden continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe the economy Im leaving is the best in the world, and stronger than ever for all Americans, he said. Bidens final address to the nation as president Wednesday, televised at 8 p.m. ET, will be just five days before hell travel to the U.S. Capitol with his predecessor-turned-successor, President-elect Donald Trump, to witness Trumps swearing-in. The address will be a reflection on the 46th presidents 50-plus years in national politics, beginning with his improbable victory in the 1972 Delaware Senate race as a 29-year-old unknown, leading to three decades in the upper chamber, then the vice presidency under Barack Obama, and ultimately the presidency. Biden will address his foreign policy legacy at the State Department Monday at the start of his final week in office. It will highlight what he considers his administrations critical work on restoring American alliances and leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior administration official who provided information on Bidens plans described what he viewed as the bleak situation the United States faced on the world stage as Biden grabbed the reins of government from the outgoing Trump administration, during which U.S. alliances had been badly damaged by the then former president, now president-elects decision to walk away from agreements that made America safer. Our adversaries were gaining strength. And the nation and the world were in the midst of a global pandemic, the official added. Biden aims to describe how we reclaimed Americas global leadership as a force of stability, put our adversaries in a position of weakness, effectively navigated turbulence around the world and made America stronger, the official said. He added that Biden will underscore how he helped reinvigorate the NATO alliance, which expanded to 32 members in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and that he stood with Israel after the 2023 terror attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remarks will be just one of several events the administration has planned to mark Bidens final week in office, after which hell close out more than a half-century in public service by attending Trumps second inauguration to mark the peaceful transfer of power he was denied four years ago when Trump attempted to overturn his 2020 election loss. The presidents final foreign policy speech was initially set to be delivered as a bookend to Bidens final trip aboard as president, a visit to Rome that was scuttled to allow him to oversee the federal response to the wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Its unclear to what extent hell discuss Americas withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he ordered in August 2021. That move, which ended Americas longest war, was largely viewed as a disaster that sent Bidens approval ratings plummeting, from which he never recovered, particularly after 13 U.S. Marines lost their lives in a bombing at Kabul International Airport. President Biden will deliver an address on his foreign policy legacy Monday, a senior administration official previewed. The speech will focus on his administrations work to strengthen Americas standing around the world, the official said, and will be delivered at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Biden is expected to discuss Americas standing on the global stage when he first took office in 2021 and argue the U.S. is in a stronger position in the four years since. He is also set to argue that international alliances and partnerships are the strongest theyve ever been under his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official also said Biden will argue that America, as opposed to its adversaries, is in the drivers seat globally and that he is handing the incoming Trump administration a stronger hand than what he inherited after President-elect Trumps first term. The president will talk about NATO alliances, support for Ukraine, Indo-Pacific partnerships to challenge China, support for Israel and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, according to the official. He will also discuss bringing together Japan and South Korea, defeating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, restoring the Paris Accords, strengthening supply chains and driving the development of artificial intelligence globally, the official added. Biden gave some of his first remarks as president on foreign policy at the State Department on Feb. 4, 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president campaigned in 2020 on his vast experience on foreign policy issues from his time in the Senate and as a former vice president. His presidency has been marked by the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, followed by Russias ongoing war in Ukraine and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that launched the war in Gaza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden's administration announced Friday that it's expanding sanctions against Russia's critically important energy sector, unveiling a new effort to inflict pain on Moscow for its grinding war in Ukraine as President-elect Donald Trump gets set to return to office vowing to quickly end the conflict. The outgoing Democratic administration billed the new sanctions as the most significant to date against Moscow's oil and liquefied natural gas sectors, the driver of Russia's economy. Officials said the sanctions, which punish entities that do business with the Russians, have the potential to cost the Russian economy upward of billions of dollars per month. More than 180 oil-carrying vessels that are suspected to be part of a shadow fleet utilized by the Kremlin to evade oil sanctions as well as traders, oil field service firms and Russian energy officials are also targeted by the new sanctions. Several of the vessels targeted are also suspected of shipping sanctioned Iranian oil, according to the Treasury Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin is in tough shape right now, and I think its really important that he not have any breathing room to continue to do the god-awful things he continued to do, Biden told reporters. In the move coordinated with Washington, the U.K. also slapped sanctions on Russian energy firms. The U.S. and Britain are both targeting two of Russias major oil producers, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, and dozens of the companies subsidiaries. The Foreign Office said that between them the two companies produce more than 1 million barrels of oil a day, worth $23 billion a year. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said oil revenues are the lifeblood of Putins war economy. Taking on Russian oil companies will drain Russias war chest and every ruble we take from Putins hands helps save Ukrainian lives, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.K. has already sanctioned almost 100 vessels in Russias oil-transporting shadow fleet as Ukraines Western allies seeking to increase economic pressure on Moscow ahead of any negotiations on ending the war. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration chose this momentjust 10 days before Biden leaves officefor tougher oil measures because worries about world oil markets have subsided. Biden told reporters that he anticipated the move could cost drivers three, four cents a gallon" at the pump. This was really based on market conditions, Kirby added. And so the time was propitious for this decision, and that's why the president made it. The State Department also announced it was hitting 14 senior Rosatom officials and executives with travel bans that also affect their immediate family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden administration officials said that it will ultimately be up to Trump's administration whether to keep or scrap the new sanctions. Trumps transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the sanctions. Asked if the Biden administration consulted with the incoming Trump team, Kirby responded, We have at every step and on every major issue been keeping the transition team informed of our decisions, what were doing and why were doing it. Trump's incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, wrote in an opinion piece for the Economist published shortly before Election Day that the U.S. should use economic leverage for cracking down on Russias illicit oil sales to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Trump told reporters on Thursday that Putin "wants to meet, and we are setting it up. Trump's warm relationship with Putin over the years has come under heavy scrutiny. The Republican president-elect has also balked at the cost of aid to Kyiv, pledging to move quickly to end the conflict upon his return to office on Jan. 20. Trump added a new layer of doubt about future American support earlier this week when he appeared to sympathize with Putin's position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO. The president-elect has criticized the Biden administration for expressing support for Kyivs eventual membership in the transatlantic military alliance. Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday as the sanctions were announced, discussing his administration's ongoing support for the effort to hold Russia at bay and underscored the need for that support to continue. The White House said Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know that there are a significant number of Democrats and Republicans on the Hill who think we should continue to support Ukraine, Biden told reporters after the call. It is my hope and expectation they will speak up...if Trump decides to cut off funding for Ukraine. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday warned that a pullback in support for Ukraine would have reverberations far beyond Kyiv. He noted that the U.S. has relied on European allies cooperation over the last four years as it devised a strategy to deal with growing economic competition posed by China. I think its evident that if the U.S. pulls the rug out from under Ukraine, that will have an impact on the health of our European alliances and it will have reverberations in the Indo-Pacific, Sullivan said in a conversation with a small group of reporters at the White House. The Kremlin on Friday dismissed the new sanctions ahead of the anticipated announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are aware that the administration will try to leave as difficult legacy in bilateral relations as possible for Trump and his team, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The designation comes under a sanctions authority approved during Russias 2014 invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, according to administration officials who briefed reporters on the the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. Should the Trump administration move to roll back the sanctions, it would have to first notify Congress, which would have the ability to take a vote of disapproval of such a move, the officials added. The shadow fleet is made up of aging tankers bought used, often by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries such as the United Arab Emirates or the Marshall Islands, and flagged in places like Gabon or the Cook Islands. Some of the vessels are owned by Russias state-owned Sovcomflot shipping company. Their role is to help Russias oil exporters elude the $60 per barrel price cap imposed by Ukraines allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finnish authorities suspect a Russia-linked shadow fleet vessel was i nvolved in possible sabotage, cutting critical power and communications cables under the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia on Dec. 25. David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany and Jill Lawless in London and Matthew Lee contributed reporting President Biden on Thursday announced the federal government will support Californias efforts to fight the raging wildfires for 180 days. Were doing literally everything we can at a federal level, Biden said in a briefing with administration officials about the situation, adding that he called the meeting to decide what more we could do. The president, who leaves office in 11 days, said he spoke Thursday morning with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who asked for an increase in the federal funding support from 75 percent to 90 percent to help the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden announced coverage would increase to 100 percent for 180 days, which means means the federal government will fully fund priorities like fire responders salaries well into the Trump administration. Inauguration Day is Jan. 20. Im leaving this office very shortly, but its not about the politics. Its about giving people some sense of security that were going to be able to get this under control, but its going to take time, Biden said. He added, in the next little bit he will ask Congress for to provide more help to California to fight the wildfires. Trump and Newsom have been engaged in political debate over the devastating fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect has blamed Newsom for the fires, calling for him to resign and to open up the water main. Newsom has hit back, saying Trump wants to politicize the fires. The death toll in the Los Angeles area rose to five on Thursday as the flames continued to engulf the area and threaten the Hollywood Hills. Biden was in Los Angeles on Wednesday and viewed the damage from wildfires, met with firefighters and Newsom and pledged his administrations support for state and local officials and first responders battling the blazes. In the Thursday briefing, Biden called the devastation catastrophic and noted that lives have been lost and families forever changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the federal government is focused on containing the fires, announcing the blazes in the Hollywood Hills have been contained while those in Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Sylmar are still raging. Biden said the Defense Department is sending personnel and will work with Newsom to identify additional resources for public safety and security. And, he added that FEMA has been working with California residents to help get shelter and other goods. He thanked the heroic firefights for risking their lives while their own homes are in danger. Youre heroes, youre genuinely heroes, Biden said. To the families who have been impacted by the disaster, youre living through a nightmare, I know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President Harris, in the briefing, called the situation urgent and apocalyptic. We are literally waiting to see which way the wind blows, and I cannot praise enough the local leaders, most of whom I have talked with, and in particular our firefighters, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday about the wildfires ravaging southern California. So far, at least five people have died, and thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed. We are with you. Were not going anywhere, said Biden. President Biden said the government will spare no expense to respond to the southern California wildfires. Today Im announcing that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost for 180 days, said Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president says that will pay for debris removal, temporary shelter and first responder pay. The federal government is also sending firefighters and aircraft to put out the flames. While President Biden pledges federal support, lawmakers in Congress are debating why these fires are so severe. Democrats, like Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern and New York Senator Chuck Schumer, point to climate change. The fact that the worst wildfire in Los Angeles history should happen in the dead of winter is another warning of the dangers of climate change, said Schumer. California Republicans, like Kevin Kiley, blame years of forest mismanagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our political leaders in California have allowed millions of acres to become overgrown, said Kiley. Kiley also criticized the states handling of its water supply, saying thats made it harder to put out the flames. It has been decades since California has built significant new water storage, Kiley said. More than 180,000 people have been evacuated so far. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. President Joe Biden boosted disaster assistance to California on Thursday, announcing the federal government will cover 100 percent of all the costs to fight the fires ravaging the Los Angeles area. But he was less certain that President-elect Trump would be similarly generous with assistance for the series of fires, which are poised to be the most expensive in U.S. history. Im not in a position to answer that question, Biden said when asked if he was confident that the incoming administration would make California whole. I pray to God they will, Biden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president held a White House briefing on the disaster response effort alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, whose Los Angeles home is in the evacuation zone of the destructive Palisades Fire, and administration officials. Biden previously approved federal Fire Management Assistance Grants when the first fires broke out earlier this week. The grants were to cover 75 percent of firefighting costs, including equipment, salaries and aircraft. The president also approved an expedited Major Disaster Declaration on Wednesday to help affected individuals get immediate cash assistance. After California Gov. Gavin Newsom made an additional request for funds, Biden said the grants and elements of the disaster declaration will now cover all of those costs for 180 days. Those dollars will pay for efforts including debris and hazardous material removal, temporary shelters and first-responder salaries. I told the governor and local officials to spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires in their communities that have really been devastated, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the largest fires are still at 0 percent containment, according to Cal Fire. Harris' office announced Thursday that the vice president had canceled her upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany and "will remain in the United States to support the federal response in California." Biden said he is also dispatching additional federal resources, including 400 firefighters, aircraft and wildfire ground clearing personnel. The president recognized that even more aid will likely be necessary after a full accounting of the damage has been done and called on Congress to answer the call for assistance. I hope theyre ready to step up, because we can afford it, he said. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said earlier Thursday Congress was unlikely to take up new support for the state until mid-March during the next government funding deadline. The Biden administration today announced its last Presidential Drawdown Authority aid to Ukraine before Donald Trump becomes president. It is a $500 million package that includes AIM-7 Sparrows and RIM-7 Sea Sparrows, missiles for so-called FrankenSam air defense systems, and AIM-9M Sidewinders, as well as air-to-ground munitions, support equipment for the dozens of donated F-16s, the vast majority of which have still not arrived, and armored bridging systems among other items. The Pentagon declined to provide us with details about what variant of air-to-ground munitions or what kind of support equipment for F-16s, which the U.S. has not supplied but allowed several nations to provide their own Vipers to Ukraine. One of the first official images of an F-16 in Ukraine, configured for an air defense mission. (Ukrainian MoD screencap) This PDA, which provides Ukraine with equipment from U.S. stocks, also included armored bridging systems, secure communications equipment, small arms and ammunition, spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation. It leaves a little more than $4 billion in PDA authorizations for the incoming Trump administration to decide what to do with, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters, including from The War Zone, on Wednesday. She blamed the 2023 budget impasse for the Biden administrations inability to provide the full mandate of PDA donations to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about whether the Pentagon is concerned that funding for Ukraine could dry up under the Trump administration, Singh noted bipartisan Congressional support for Kyiv. Since taking office, the Biden administration has committed more than $66.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, according to the latest Pentagon statistics. In addition to the aforementioned air defense capabilities, that funding has provided Ukraine with a wide array of arms including shoulder-launched Javelin anti-tank weapons, Abrams tanks, drones like the Phoenix Ghost family of loitering munitions and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) now being used against targets in Russia. US Army There were other donations announced today. The U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD) announced Ukraine will receive 30,000 drones worth $55 million as part of the drone capability coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Drone Capability Coalition supports Ukraine with uncrewed surveillance and attack capabilities, the MoD announced. Funding for the new 30,000 drones comes from the U.K., Denmark, Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden. "The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with 30,000 FPV drones worth $55 million as part of the drone coalition." the UK Ministry of Defense. pic.twitter.com/nzA3d5ENBX WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) January 9, 2025 Meanwhile, Canada announced $305 million (440 million Canadian) in military assistance to Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian MoD. The announcement includes the contribution of $200 million to the Czech ammunition initiative and a $100 million donation to the Danish Model to support the production of military drones by Ukraines defense industry, the MoD explained. Today, Canada announced $440 million in military assistance to Ukraine. The announcement includes the contribution of $200 million to the Czech ammunition initiative and a $100 million donation to the Danish Model to support the production of military drones by Ukraines defense pic.twitter.com/mT6ovOuW4V Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) January 9, 2025 As Ukraine continues to lose territory, troops, and equipment, the future of its international military support was laid out Thursday during the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG). It was held in Ramstein, Germany, against the backdrop of a looming change in the White House, something top of mind among many of the roughly 50 UDCG member nations. While it is the last one for the Biden administration, Zelensky suggested a new meeting could take place in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky: Ukraine will have additional air defense systems. "We dont yet have all 19 systems, but partners have guaranteed a significant number." He also confirmed the next Ramstein meeting is set for February: "The location isnt criticalwhat matters are the key decisions pic.twitter.com/TeNFBzL7nt NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) January 9, 2025 In a joint statement issued earlier this morning, the U.S. and 14 other nations pledged to continue seeking ways to provide Ukraine with air force, armor, artillery, de-mining, drone, integrated air and missile defense, information technology, and maritime security capabilities for at least two more years. Over the course of its existence, the UDCG organized separate teams to support each of those functions. All told the U.S. and its allies have provided more than $126 billion in security assistance to Kyiv since Russias all-out invasion. U.S. Defense Department These documents, jointly developed and agreed upon by Ukraine and its partners, will serve as a foundation for sustaining support and allocating aid in these areas, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated on Facebook Thursday. Began my work in another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Held an important discussion with @SecDef Lloyd Austin to prepare for the session and address key areas of cooperation. Today, coalition leaders are approving roadmaps for each of the eight areas of pic.twitter.com/Zk9ps9Mon1 Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) January 9, 2025 Shortly after Russia launched its February 2022 invasion, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin created the UDCG. Today, during a press briefing, he noted that Russia has seen a tremendous number of its troops killed and wounded fighting Ukraine in no small measure due to allied support. Russia has suffered more than 700,000 casualties in Ukraine. Now thats more than Moscow has endured in all of its conflicts since World War Two, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In what is likely one of his last press conferences, Austin also called for continuing support for Ukraine with a veiled nod to Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a world where empire tramples sovereignty, a world where conquest trumps human rights, a world where tyranny bulldozes democracy, he told reporters. Every autocrat on Earth is watching to see whether Putin gets away with it, and so this coalition must continue to stand four-square with Ukraine and to strengthen Ukraines hand for the negotiations that will someday bring Putins monstrous war to a close. Now that road is challenging, but all the alternatives are far worse. No responsible leader would let Putin have his way. LIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III Holds Briefing on UDCG https://t.co/GmSKCCTPe1 Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) January 9, 2025 Even before taking office, Trump has cast his shadow over future U.S. relations with Ukraine. While it is still unknown what his approach will be, his choice as peace envoy to Kyiv offered yet another hint about what that could look like. Trump wants to broker a peace deal within 100 days of being inaugurated, retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg told Fox News on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People need to understand, hes not trying to give something to Putin or to the Russians, Kellogg posited. Hes actually trying to save Ukraine and save their sovereignty. Trump is "not trying to give anything to Putin or the Russians" but is "trying to save Ukraine and preserve its sovereignty," the president-elect's special envoy Keith Kellogg said on Fox News. "And he's going to make sure that it's fair and that it's honest. And he's said that https://t.co/YROuemooEg pic.twitter.com/H5hMZbPMPb Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 9, 2025 Until a peace deal is brokered however, Ukraine will have to fight on with or without U.S. aid. The Latest Before the UDGC meeting, Zelensky told reporters he is working to end the war on acceptable terms, but did not say what those were. He has previously floated a 10-point plan that includes, among other things, the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory and cessation of hostilities, restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, punishing Russia for war crimes, and release of all prisoners and deportees. I do everything I can to end this war with dignity for Ukraine and all of Europe this year, and I know I can count on your support, he said. Putin, on the other hand, does not want peace, Zelensky argued, pointing to the introduction of some 12,000 North Korean troops to the battlefield as a prime example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin is not just holding on to his investments in aggression. He is doubling down. Hes even started basically hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going, Zelensky argued. North Korea studies modern warfare. They do not value their people, and we know it. They lose them 4,000 as [of] today, but Pyongyang gets experience, cheap, to re-export the war, maybe there in the Pacific. At the same time, this collusion with North Korea shows Putins weakness, because no ruler in Moscow would ever allow themselves to beg in Pyongyang unless facing critical problems. 1/ 4,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded fighting against Ukraine, Zelensky claims. North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine have suffered 4,000 casualties, including both wounded and killed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Lew Anno Suport#Israel #Ukraine 24/2-22 (@anno1540) January 9, 2025 Defeating Putin is not just in the interest of Ukraine, Zelensky avowed, hinting without proof that last falls drone incursions over U.S. bases in Europe might have a Russian connection. Now we see all the reports with [suspected Russian severing of] underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, and we all see drone incidents in some countries that are raising serious concerns. We see debilitation in Africa, which threatens Europe with new migration waves, and we are also learning more about how Russian intelligence paid militants in Afghanistan to target coalition soldiersMoscow cashed in to kill your soldiers, American soldiers, NATO country soldiers. How can this be forgiven or forgotten? Russias hybrid aggression and sabotage in the entire Western world is ongoing, and only by keeping and strengthening our cooperation, by boosting our agreements and coalitions can truly protect the normal lives of people in all our countries. It will strengthen security programs. We see reports about underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, drone incidents in some countries raising serious concerns, and destabilization in Africa threatening Europe with new migration waves. Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) January 9, 2025 Earlier on Thursday, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) issued a report suggesting that failure to support Ukraine in the future would cost the U.S. nearly a trillion dollars over the next five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We conclude that maintaining security in a strategic environment in which Russia is victorious over Ukraine could cost the United States an additional $808 billion in defense spending over five years, AEI suggested. These resources would be required on top of the currently planned defense budget over that same period and would be used to build the defense capacity, capability, and posture to provide for American security and meet current commitments to NATO in the new, more dangerous strategic environment. The assessment, however, is based on the assumption that the U.S. ends support for Ukraine and NATO allies fail to close the gap. It is questionable at this point whether either of those developments come to pass, especially given the joint statement of support issued today. JUST RELEASED: A detailed budgetary projection and analysis from AEI's Elaine McCusker and Fred Kagan finds that the aid the US currently provides to Ukraine would be dwarfed by the costs of a victorious Russia. It would cost the US $808 billion over 5 years if Ukraine loses. pic.twitter.com/AW9M3IsamQ American Enterprise Institute (@AEI) January 9, 2025 Zelensky also justified his August invasion of Russias Kursk region. Its one of our wins, I think, one of the biggest wins, not just last year, but throughout the war, he told reporters ahead of Thursdays UDCG meeting. Russia had to pull almost 60,000 troops of the Ukrainian Front to deal with it. And as of this Monday, its been five months since our troops have maintained a buffer zone on Russian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recently launched new Ukrainian offensive there has so far achieved little. Russian forces recently advanced in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast amid continued offensive operations in the area on January 8, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its latest assessment. Geolocated footage published on January 8 indicates that Russian forces advanced into western Nikolaevka (northwest of Sudzha) and marginally advanced in Makhnovka (southeast of Sudzha). Ukraines Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on January 8 that Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian roughly reinforced platoon-sized mechanized assault in an unspecified area in Kursk Oblast. The fighting there is fierce, as you can see in the following videos. More footage of forces counterattacking in Nikolaevka, Kursk Oblast, incl. the tank from 17th Brigade seen below plus troops from 22nd Mech Brigade's 1st Battalion clearing positions reportedly occupied by N. Korean troops.https://t.co/fxfR2X0tldhttps://t.co/p6PsedXJ45pic.twitter.com/8TKmM3lHN5 John Hardie (@JohnH105) January 9, 2025 Fierce battles rage in #Kursk. Ukrainian forces repel a massive Russian assault, destroying 50 units of Russia's equipment, including tanks, IFVs, APCs, and buggies. pic.twitter.com/PbLTm8YAn5 Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) January 9, 2025 Russian BM-21 Grad MLRS destroyed by FPV drone strike on the Kursk front. https://t.co/JfUthqE666 pic.twitter.com/rI1Fr8o2va Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) January 9, 2025 North Korea reportedly lost about 400 troops in one assault there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forbes: Up to 400 Russo-North Korean troops lost in single attack on Ukrainian positions in Kursk Oblast A combined force of Russian paratroopers and North Korean infantry sustained devastating losses assaulting the contested Makhnovka village.https://t.co/VBzmsQlmL2 via pic.twitter.com/2DnAlPx70G Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 9, 2025 The reported recovery of a Russian Azart radio, a drone detector, and a smartphone from a North Korean soldier killed in Kursk by Ukraines 8th SSO Regiment suggests they were more prepared than initially thought. The Azart radio is interesting given that many Russian soldiers still dont even have these, relying instead on commercially available radios, noted John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (@FDD). Whereas Ukrainian troops and video footage initially suggested the DPRK troops were unprepared for the drone threat, the drone detector suggests sensitivity to that threat. A Russian Azart radio, a drone detector, and a smartphone reportedly recovered from a killed North Korean soldier (possibly an officer) in Kursk Oblast by personnel from Ukraine's 8th SSO Regiment (first photo). Some thoughts: The Azart radio is interesting given that many pic.twitter.com/kse3dXE9Py John Hardie (@JohnH105) January 8, 2025 Even a major chicken processing plant in Kursk wasnt spared. The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the Cherkizovo Chicken Kingdom production facility with drones, and one person was injured, the independent Russian Astra news outlet reported on Telegram. The air defense shot down all targets, but the drones debris fell on the territory, causing a fire. AFU attacked "Cherkizovo Chicken Kingdom" in the Kursk region with drones a large poultry production facility. According to Russians, air defense shot down all the targets, but the debris fell on the territory and a strong fire started. pic.twitter.com/uiCcLK7RVB MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) January 9, 2025 Elsewhere on the battlefield, Russia made some small advances in the Donetsk region, but the frontlines remained largely stagnant in most other places. Here are some key takeaways from the latest ISW assessment: Kharkiv: Russian forces continued limited ground attacks northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk and Tykhe on Jan. 7 and 8 but did not make any confirmed advances. Luhansk: Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kupyansk, Borova and Lyman directions on Jan. 8 but did not make any confirmed advances. Donetsk: Russian forces recently marginally advanced in northern and northwestern Toretsk, toward Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, but did not make any confirmed advances toward Bilohorivka (northeast of Siversk) or Chasiv Yar. Zaporizhzhia: Russian forces continued offensive operations in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Jan. 8 but did not make any confirmed advances. Kherson: Russian forces continued assaults in the Dnipro River direction, including near Kozatskyi Island (northeast of Kherson City near Nova Kakhovka) and Velykyi Potomkin Island (south of Kherson City) on Jan. 7 and 8 but did not make any confirmed advances in the area. NEW: Ukrainian forces struck Russia's state-owned Kombinat Kristal oil storage facility near Engels, Saratov Oblast on the night of January 7 to 8. Russian forces advanced in Kursk Oblast, in Toretsk, and near Kurakhove. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/Cg1HjJ9DAD Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 8, 2025 On a positive note for Ukraine, despite the continuing Russian assaults, the loss of territory slowed down in December. As of the end of December 2024, Russia occupied 18.14% (+0.07%) of Ukraine, including Crimea and the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk occupied before 2022, the @War_Mapper open source intelligence group claimed on Twitter. This represents a net gain by Russia of approximately 408 square kilometers (nearly 253 square miles) over the month. This months update from @War_Mapper on control of territory in the #Ukraine war. The month-on-month increase in Russian territorial gains in the 2nd half of 2024 was halted in December. https://t.co/BcLwlXdDSy Mick Ryan, AM (@WarintheFuture) January 8, 2025 A Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia using two FAB-500 glide bombs equipped with unified gliding and correction modules killed at least 13 and wounded at least 120, according to Ukrainian officials. There is nothing more cruel than launching aerial bombs on a city, knowing that ordinary civilians will suffer, Zelensky said on Twitter. Russia must be put under pressure for its terror. The protection of lives in Ukraine must be supported. Russians struck Zaporizhzhia with aerial bombs. It was a deliberate strike on the city. As of now, dozens of people are reported wounded. All are receiving the necessary assistance. Tragically, we know of 13 people killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/9FiuaqqsZ3 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) January 8, 2025 A fuel depot supporting Engels Air Base in Russia continues to burn more than a day after it was struck by Ukrainian drones. Rospotrebnadzor did not find air pollution in Engels during a fire at an oil depot after a drone attack, the Russian 77 Telegram channel reported. Residents complain of smog. The oil depot itself has not been extinguished for more than a day. While Ukraine took credit for the attack with domestically produced drones, it didnt say what kind. On Thursday, the Russian SHOT media outlet claimed they were Beaver drones, or Bober as they are called in Ukrainian. The fuel depot supports Engels Air Base, located about 300 miles east of the border. Its home of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division and its Tu-22M3 Backfire-C, Tu-95MS Bear-H, and Tu-160M Blackjack bombers that are among those launching frequent attacks on Ukraine. In Engels, Russia, at the oil depot hit by Ukrainian drones the situation is deteriorating. The fire continues and has reportedly spread to other tanks. pic.twitter.com/4EIDy3jbaP NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) January 9, 2025 Showing another example of drone-on-drone warfare, a Ukrainian drone was seen on video destroying Russian SuperCam and Zala drones. -1 SuperCam and -1 ZaLa pic.twitter.com/ofVsP7pyqx (@TheDeadDistrict) January 8, 2025 With both sides possessing robust air defenses, pilots of all types of airframes resort to flying low to avoid being picked up on enemy radar. Such is the case of these Mi-24 Hind gunships. The nose camera of one of those Hinds captured the two-flight zipping just above a highway toward the frontlines, which you can see in the following intense video clip. Remarkable mission footage from a nose-mounted 360 camera on a Ukrainian Army Aviation Mi-24 Hind gunship. The two-ship flight of Hinds can be seen tearing over eastern Ukraine at low level, following a motorway to the frontline. pic.twitter.com/vNwAYnmBNR OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 9, 2025 And finally, the Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) offered a rare glimpse into how it fashions homemade armored vehicles for its troops fighting toward Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The troops in the following video are seen welding additional armor to trucks and buggies in another Mad Maxian battlefield adaptation. The Russian MoD releases footage of a Russian 'construction and repair site' of homemade armored trucks and buggies for assault units by repairmen of the Center group in the Pokrovsk direction. You read it right. Homemade armored trucks and buggies for assault units. pic.twitter.com/8fEL6RBOie NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) January 6, 2025 Thats it for now. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com A mother teaches a math lesson to her daughter and another alternative instruction student at St. Joseph Academy in central Sioux Falls on May 13, 2024. The school was taught by parents during the 2023-2024 school year, but switched to a hybrid classical school for the 2024-2025 school year. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Pennington County truancy officer Kim Morsching doesnt know what kind of education alternative instruction students are receiving in her county. South Dakota requires school-age kids to receive public, private or alternative instruction, and Morschings office handles truancy reports for five districts across the county to ensure compliance. The office handled more than 1,200 reports last school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has never had a truancy case come across her desk for a student in alternative instruction which includes homeschooling, hybrid schools, microschools and private schools that are either unaccredited or accredited by an entity other than the state. But Morsching has seen alternative instruction students come through the juvenile justice system who arent getting educated. Rising Alternatives This is the second story in a five-part series about the growth of alternative instruction in South Dakota. Further stories examine the reasons families choose alternative options, growing alternatives for Indigenous education, motivations for teachers who start alternative schools, and the ways some public schools are working with alternative-instruction families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes asked some of those kids what a typical day looks like for them, what theyre working on, how many hours a day they spend on education, and if they have a job how they fit education around their work schedule. They dont all have good answers. Recent truancy data has led critics to suspect some families who say theyre enrolled in alternative instruction are not educating their kids. The number of truancy diversions in South Dakota, which is a program to improve school attendance for absent children, nosedived from 513 during fiscal year 2022 to 195 in 2024. The drop followed changes to state law in 2021 that made it easier to remove kids from public schools and enroll them in alternative instruction. If parents enroll their children in alternative instruction, follow-ups on truancy reports from school districts and the court system stop for the most part. Because of the 2021 law changes, the state Department of Education says truancy officers are only responsible for alternative instruction students when they take a class at a public school. When alternative instruction students are not enrolled in any public school classes, the district is not responsible for making truancy reports, the department wrote in a guide updated in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the South Dakota Legislature and Gov. Kristi Noem deregulated alternative instruction in 2021, parents now only notify their district once about their intent to alternatively educate their students, instead of every year, and the students no longer take state tests to prove their educational growth. While some families may truly invest in educating their child once removed from a public school, theres no way to ensure that, said First Circuit Judge David Knoff during the state Juvenile Oversight Councils November meeting. Its not that homeschooling itself is the problem, Knoff said. Its certain parents who maybe dont have the ability or resources to effectively homeschool, and they just pull their kid out of school, which has a lot of long-term effects. The state Department of Education did not answer South Dakota Searchlight questions about whether the department is studying or collecting data on no-schooling concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rapid City School District has 1,775 alternatively instructed students, the most in the state. The Douglas School District, which includes Ellsworth Air Force Base, has the third highest alternatively instructed student population at 616. Both are in Pennington County, where Morsching works. Since 2021, alternative instruction in South Dakota has grown by 4,075 students. Nearly 11,500 students are enrolled in alternative instruction statewide this school year. Kim Morsching, director of the Pennington County Juvenile Diversion Program, in her office on June 20, 2024, in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) Public school officials interviewed for this story said that since the laws became more lax, they can only check their districts alternative instruction roster and report any suspicions of educational neglect which is legally defined as a form of child abuse to the states Division of Child Protection Services. Some officials are seeking increased oversight for school districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rob Monson, executive director of the School Administrators of South Dakota, said deregulation hinders efforts to educate all school-aged kids. He said its similar to posting speed limit signs and not having law enforcement in the area to patrol and enforce the laws. As far as compulsory education, it really doesnt exist anymore, said Monson, who testified against the changes in 2021. Morsching said there are families in the Rapid City area who do a great job and dont want state oversight, but to assume every family is fully invested in their childs alternative instruction isnt realistic. While Im grateful weve allowed alternative instruction, and I validate the parents doing a great job, I think weve created a really big gray area for oversight, Morsching said. What about child abuse and neglect? If Child Protection Services receives a report of potential educational neglect in an alternative instruction setting, the office coordinates with the state Department of Education to ensure the students family or guardian has enrolled in alternative instruction, said a spokesperson for the state Department of Social Services in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a report meets criteria for intervention, the spokesperson said, investigators gather information to determine if a present danger exists, if any additional abuse or neglect occurred, or if any further safety interventions are required. Samantha Field, government relations director for the national nonprofit Coalition for Responsible Home Education, questioned the effectiveness of such a system, since the parents or guardians of abused and neglected children may remove their children from the public eye to avoid being reported and investigated. Schools have professionals teachers, principals and guidance counselors who are trained to recognize unexplained bruises or erratic behaviors in children that may point to an abusive caregiver. Educational mandatory reporters in South Dakota reported 3,072 instances of suspected child abuse and neglect between July 2022 and June 2023. Mandatory reporters in medical professions made the most reports at 4,028 and public safety workers made 3,877. Non-mandatory reporters made 3,238 reports in the same timeframe. The state does not collect data specifically tracking educational neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its more difficult and burdensome to report suspected abuse and neglect for an alternative instruction child than a student in public school, said Harrisburg Superintendent Tim Graf. Tim Graf is superintendent of the Harrisburg School District in southeastern South Dakota. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graf said hes heard from other superintendents that reports made for alternative instruction students are handled differently, as though the reporter is being interrogated and has to prove the case before investigators follow through. School professionals often dont have firsthand knowledge of the child to back up their concerns after issuing a report on nonpublic school students, since those children arent in the classroom every day. The protocols in place to report and investigate abuse and neglect for alternative instruction students are woefully inadequate, Graf said, adding that he doesnt feel such reports are investigated thoroughly. He doesnt blame Child Protection Services workers for that though, adding that he believes the department is short-staffed and underfunded. Monson hears from superintendents that some children are removed from public school and placed in alternative instruction without a teaching plan. One recent example was that a family removed a middle school-aged child from a public school system and planned to have a grandparent watch the child at home, Monson said. Not going to educate them or teach them: Shes going to watch them, Monson told South Dakota Searchlight. That scenario is what scares us. No one is going to instruct this child. Theyre taken out of the school system because theyre a problem, and theyre going to sit at home with grandma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monson shared the anecdote again during a recent press conference ahead of Tuesdays start of the 2025 legislative session. At the press conference, public education leaders explained their opposition to Gov. Kristi Noems proposed $4 million education savings account program, saying the states current lack of accountability for alternative instruction could be exacerbated by Noems plan if there isnt proper oversight. The program would provide up to $3,000 of public funds per student for private school, homeschooling or alternative instruction. I do not understand what the homeschool people and the private school people, to a certain degree, are afraid of with accountability, said Dianna Miller, a lobbyist for large public school districts in the state. If theyre truly going to do what they say theyre going to do, then they should be willing to meet certain standards and they should be willing to be held accountable. Regulation discussions face pushback Julie Christian, with homeschooling advocacy group FAIRSD, and Jen Beving, a homeschooling organizer and deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota, said current laws should be enough. Julie Christian is a committee member for FAIRSD, a homeschooling advocacy group in South Dakota. (Courtesy of Julie Christian) Homeschool parents are already subjected to informal scrutiny because of their choice to alternatively educate their child, according to Beving. Protections such as concerned people reporting to the school district or the Department of Social Services are in place, she said. Alternative instruction leaders like Beving and Christian are concerned that public school officials and others are using concern for no-school children as an opportunity to encroach on everybodys freedoms. Specifically, they oppose standardized testing and forced home visits of homeschool families. What do we believe the states role is in the home and with parents? Are we going to become a surveillance state where we have to see a child every day? Beving said. Monson said he would be in favor of some guardrails being placed on alternative instruction, such as annual alternative instruction notification to school districts, mandatory reporting of assessment scores or required assessments at the local school. Its the people who are using alternative instruction as a legal dropout and arent educating their children that worry us, Monson said. Those children wont be part of the workforce because of it. There are years and years of problems ahead for those students who arent being educated in some way, shape or form. Ideas for regulation The Coalition for Responsible Home Education advocates for noninvasive, unburdensome policies, Field said. She spoke against South Dakotas deregulation in 2021. A basic level of regulation, Field said, would be requiring families to visit a professional trained to recognize abuse and neglect at least once a year such as a required wellness checkup. Physicians are mandatory reporters like school professionals. Field added that such wellness checks could be through public health departments or with school nurses to make it more accessible and affordable for low-income families. Samantha Field is the government relations director for the national nonprofit Coalition for Responsible Home Education. (Photo courtesy of Coalition for Responsible Home Education) Stories about homeschooled children being isolated and murdered by their parents have made headlines across the country in recent years, Field said. West Virginia has had multiple high-profile child abuse and neglect cases involving homeschool students in the last year, which critics said were partially due to holes in the states homeschooling laws. Studies conducted in recent years havent shown that homeschooled children are at a greater risk of abuse than those who attend traditional schools. But some research suggests that when abuse does occur in homeschool families, it can escalate into especially severe forms, and that some parents exploit lax home education regulation to avoid contact with social service agencies. A minimal wellness check could deter bad actors, Field said. When we can say homeschool students arent being murdered, then we can move onto broader conversations about academic achievement, she added. The gold standard for academic achievement regulations, Field said, would require alternative instruction students to complete annual assessments, such as portfolio reviews to demonstrate developmentally appropriate progress, rather than standardized testing. The review wouldnt be used to penalize families, but to recommend resources to improve a childs learning. The Legislature could mandate that the assessment be conducted by a trained professional within the state Department of Education who could recommend community resources or guidance to families if any deficiencies are identified, Field said. Jen Beving is the deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota. (Courtesy of Jen Beving) Homeschooling advocates said they were motivated to push for deregulation because of what they heard from homeschooling families interested in moving to South Dakota. Theyd rather see schools and lawmakers focus on children falling through the cracks in public schools before focusing on a smaller number of alternative instruction families. I really want the conversation to start being how to increase test scores in South Dakota, have less kids committing suicide, or how to get more kids reading, graduating and job-ready, Beving said. We graduate almost every single kid from public school in this state, which isnt the reality of where these kids are academically or workforce-ready. Field said there are problems in public schools, but the state is aware of them. You can only address problems if you know they exist, Field said, and the fact of the matter is we dont know what problems are in the homeschool population or how to address them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Originally appeared on E! Online Bill Hader briefly took on a different kind of TV role. Amid the wildfires impacting the Los Angeles area, the Saturday Night Live alum surprised a local news crew covering the aftermath of the natural disaster. Resident trying to gain access came up to news van as if he was part of our team, wanted to help cover, ride with us, ABC7 reporter Josh Haskell wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Jan. 10. Then, he pulled down his mask, smiled and it was Bill Hader! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The journalist also shared a photo of the Emmy winnerwho is dating Beef star Ali Wongflashing a peace sign while donning a protective face mask, adding that Bill couldnt have been nicer and describing the encounter as an only in LA moment. Amid the ongoing crisis, more stars are finding ways to offer support. In a statement on their website, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave a list of resources to help those affected by the fires and encouraged others to lend a hand in any way they can. If a friend, loved one or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do, the statement read. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating. To see what other stars have said about the Los Angeles fires, keep reading. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, other celebrities are sharing how theyve been impacted by the blazes. Britney Spears told her social media followers she was among the many residents evacuated from their homes as firefighters work to contain the flames.

An only in LA moment on Thursday at road block for #PalisadesFire Resident trying to gain access came up to news van as if he was part of our team, wanted to help cover, ride with us. Then, he pulled down his mask, smiled and it was Bill Hader! Couldnt have been nicer! @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/0yobKGuHjp

Josh Haskell (@abc7JoshHaskell) January 10, 2025
I hope you are all doing OK!!! the pop star wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. I had to evacuate my home and Im driving 4 hours to a hotel !!! I pray youre all doing well and I send my love. Sadly, many stars have returned to their homes to find them reduced to ash, including Britneys friend Paris Hilton, who described the loss was devastating beyond words. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I first saw the news, I was in complete shockI couldnt process it, she said in her own Instagram post Jan. 9. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces. To see what other stars have said about the Los Angeles fires, keep reading. Gwyneth Paltrow The Iron Man actress took to social media to express her sadness about the tragedy that has fallen over her beloved city. We are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything, she wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Thank you to those inquiring, we are currently safe. When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kind, she continued. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant. Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg The Once Upon a Time actress and the One Tree Hill actor are sharing resources after tragically losing their home in the Los Angeles fire. It was all a dream, Bryan wrote on a Jan. 9 Instagram story, showing the rubble that was once their family home. Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there. And in between posting helpful resources, Jamie shared a tragic video of their entire neighborhood. Damn. Our entire neighborhood is gone, she wrote Jan. 9. We are grateful to our brave firefighters and first responders and pray we dont lose any more lives to these catastrophic fires. Stay safe and stay vigilant. Diane Warren The Grammy winner shared one last view from her Los Angeles beachfront home before it was lost in the fire. This is the last pic I took of Leah's rock from my beach house, the songwriter, who confirmed her animals and rescue ranch were safe, wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post of the ocean view. I've had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. Cary Elwes The Princess Bride actor shared his and his wife Lisa Marie Kurbikoffs Malibu home did not survive the fire in a heartfelt message to fans. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God, he wrote in his Jan. 9 Instagram post. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it, he continued. We want to thank everyone for their incredible outpouring of support. It really means a great deal to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricki Lake Sharing a video of the raging fires in the near distance, the former talk show host detailed her and husband Ross Burninghams final efforts to save her Los Angeles home in a Jan. 9 Instagram post. Were going down my street praying for these homes and these people and my house, she said in a video, showing the fire in the near distance. I dont even know what I grabbed, I think I might have just said goodbye to my house. Grateful to have made it out alive and uninjured, she added in the caption. Forever grateful to @kirbykotler_ our absolute angel. He did everything to try to save our precious property. No doubt had we stayed, we would not have survived. Leanne Ford The HGTV host's home, which she recently moved into, was lost in the wildfires. "Three weeks ago we got keys to our new LA place in Rustic Canyon. We were excited (though me a bit hesitant) to start spending some time again in our favorite part of LA," the interior designer wrote on Instagram Jan. 10 alongside photos of what remains of her house. "A beautiful historical and quirky artists home. We brought over so many of our favorite things to fill it with. It was to be a place to write, to create." "Three days ago we lost it," she continued. "We are the lucky ones. We had a beautiful safe home in PA to escape back to. Im in awe of the firemen and women choosing to run into the flames while we get to run out. I can only say thank you." Mel Gibson During an appearance on Elizabeth Vargas Reports January. 9, the Braveheart actor shared that his Malibu home was destroyed while he was away recording Joe Rogans podcast in Texas. "Obviously, its kind of devastating. Its emotional," the 69-year-old said. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I had my stuff there, and its all like, Ive been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because its all in cinders. But when he returned home to discover that his home had been destroyed, he was relieved to find that, at least, his chickens survived, adding, It was amazing. Miles Teller The Top Gun Maverick stars wife Keleigh Teller shared one last photo of what was their Los Angeles home before it was lost in the fire. To everyone reaching out I cant thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, Ill never forget them, the 32-year-old wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Community has come out stronger than I could imagine, pacific palisades I love you beyond measure you are a little slice of heaven, we will come back stronger than ever. If youre in the LA area PLEASE get out if you can, she continued. I wish I grabbed my wedding dress .. wish I did a lot different but it doesnt matter, stay safe, get out. there are no words. THANK YOU to the first responders fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bella Hadid On Jan. 9, the supermodel shared the childhood home she shared with sister Gigi Hadid and mom Yolanda Hadid had burned down in the Palisades Fire. Mandy Moore The This Is Us alumwho is mom to three kids with husband Taylor Goldsmithshared an update on her family after having to evacuate their home. "We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact." However, she noted that the home studio, garage and back house were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. "Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends," she added. "Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support." Milo Ventimiglia Like his This Is Us costar, the actor's Los Angeles home was destroyed by the fires. While visiting what remained of his property, he told CBS Evening News his heart felt "heavy." "You start thinking about all the memories," he continued. "My heart just breaks." Jessica Simpson Amid the outbreak of the Kenneth Fire on Jan. 9, the "Irresistible" singer shared an image of smoke rising from beyond her backyard. She wrote in the caption, "We stayed as long as we could." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bozoma Saint John The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed her dream home in Malibu, where she lived with her teenage daughter Laela, was totaled in the fires. "This is an unimaginable loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. Olivia Wilde "My block was on fire tonight and the only reason we still have a home is thanks to the brave members of the @losngelesfiredepartment who worked on the ground and from the air to save us," the Don't Worry Darling director wrote on Instagram Story Jan. 8. "Thank you." Chrissy Teigen The Cravings cookbook author started preparing in case of an evacuation, writing on Instagram Story Jan. 8, "This is surreal. I'm very scared. Packing." Jen Atkin The hairstylist and her husband Mike Rosenthal safely evacuated along with their kids and pets, though she said their home was "gone." "Our whole area demolished," she added on Instagram Stories Jan. 8, alongside a tearful selfie. "So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olivia Culpo One day after the Sunset Fire set the Hollywood Hills ablaze, the Culpo Sisters starwho is married to San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffreywrote on Instagram Story Jan. 9, "Im praying so hard for our community. My heart aches for everyone who has lost so much so fast. Its just unimaginable." Tina Knowles Beyonce's mom shared on Jan. 9 that "my favorite place, my sanctuary , my sacred Happy Place" was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. "This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu," she captioned a video of the Pacific Ocean. "Now it is gone!!" The entrepreneur added, "God Bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions . We Thankyou for your dedication and bravery and for saving so many lives." Gwyneth Paltrow "Our beloved Los Angeles," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram Jan. 9, amid the wildfires, "we are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything." Noting that she was safe from the blazes, Gwyneth added, "When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kinds. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant." Melissa Rivers The daughter of late Joan Rivers said her home burned down, though she was able to evacuate with necessities and a few treasured heirlooms. "I grabbed my mom's Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son," she told CNN. "I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I can't replace." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jhene Aiko The "Bad Peace" singer shared on Jan. 8 that "me and my children's home is gone." "Burned to the ground with all things inside," she wrote on Instagram Story. "Thankful we still have eachother. Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy," Alabama Barker & Landon Barker Travis Barker's kids Landon and Alabama shared they were forced to leave their residences amid the devastation. "Just evacuated from my home due to wild fires in Los Angeles, please be safe!!, Alabama posted on Instagram Story Jan. 7. They are saying the fires are spreading foodball field amounts in seconds." Jennifer Tilly The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and her husband Phil Laak evacuated to Commercea neighborhood southeast of Downtown Los Angelesto escape the Palisades Fire. She wrote on InstagramJan. 8, "Phil and I had to evacuate to the Commerce Casino." Ricki Lake The former talk show host shared on Jan. 8 that her house had been destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Sharing throwback photos of the property, she wrote on Instagram, "Its all gone." "I lost our dream home," she continued. "It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second." She added, "This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires? Find out how you can get involved in relief efforts here. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Kansas lawmakers are trying to right a wrong that was caused by a law that they passed. The Kansas Attorney Generals Office blocked school bond funding for Greely County after it broke state law by not posting an election notification on a county-owned website. Greely County doesnt have a website. If passed, Senate Bill 2 would get the school district its money so it can make improvements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its pretty sad were having these small school districts dwindle away, and I dont want to see that happen out there, and so I want to help them. The voters have spoken. They want to invest in their community and in their school, so we need to do what we can on our level, said Sen.-elect Tory Marie Blew, bill sponsor. It was not a hidden election. It was not that it was not well known. It was very well put out there with dates and times. We made numerous trips to the senior center and around town talking to people. We held forums, we did three or four articles in the newspaper, USD 200 Superintendent John Niehues, said. Kansas attorney general blocks school bond funds in states smallest county Blews hopes to pass the bill in the first 30 days of the session, which starts on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislature could change the requirement with new or amended legislation, giving the district access to the money. The district could hold another election, but there is no guarantee voters would approve the bond. The district could also take the State of Kansas to court. The bond is intended to go towards a new gym, handicap-accessible locker room and fully accessible playground. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, center, hosts a news conference on his legislation for a one-time extension to an income-tax based property tax relief program. Behind him are, from left: State Sens. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Tom Brandt of Plymouth, Jana Hughes of Seward and Glen Meyer of Pender. Jan. 9, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Lawmakers have formally introduced a fix to Nebraskas summer special session changes to a key property tax relief program, which closed off some tax relief for Nebraskans. State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering introduced Legislative Bill 81 on Thursday, a promise he and five other lawmakers made in October. The legislation would allow all Nebraskans to claim a credit on any property taxes paid in 2024 when they file their tax returns this spring, in the middle of the 90-day legislative session. The aim is to make whole the people who missed out on claiming an income tax credit for property taxes assessed in December 2023. State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering. Jan. 9, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LB 81 would offer a one-time extension for the income tax credit program established in 2020 and designed to offset K-12 school taxes, which make up the majority of local property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The credits will now be immediately applied against school taxes on property tax statements, beginning in December 2024. For some Nebraskans who didnt know about the program previously or werent able to request the relief, it will be the first time they benefit from the program. About 50% of such eligible credits were left unclaimed. [The] challenge is that, in so doing, we did not realize that, inadvertently, we caused a problem as we set about the solution, Hardin said at an afternoon news conference in the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda. Its lovely to get that shot in the arm right now because most of us got lowered rates for this year, Hardin added. Were looking at that saying, Hey, thats good. The problem is when you look across those years, 2023 is missing. Tax credit timing changes Before, in LB 1107 (2020) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement December 2019 assessed taxes. Most paid in 2020. Income tax credits in 2021. December 2020 assessed taxes. Most paid in 2021. Income tax credits in 2022. December 2021 assessed taxes. Most paid in 2022. Income tax credits in 2023. December 2022 assessed taxes. Most paid in 2023. Income tax credits in 2024. December 2023 assessed taxes. Most paid in 2024. Income tax credits in 2025. After, in LB 34 (2024) December 2023 assessed taxes. No income tax credits available (unless paid by Dec. 31, 2023). December 2024 assessed taxes. Discount automatically applied upon payment, typically in 2025. December 2025 assessed taxes. Discount automatically applied upon payment, typically in 2026. Proposed, in LB 81 (2025) December 2023 assessed taxes. Most paid in 2024. Income tax credits in 2025. December 2024 assessed taxes. Discount automatically applied upon payment, typically in 2025. Making life more miserable Hardin and State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Tom Brandt of Plymouth, who cosponsored LB 81, were among 40 lawmakers to vote to pass legislation during the special session to front-load the existing relief program so more people received it. But the change closed the door for relief on 2024 tax returns for anyone who decided to pay property taxes assessed in December 2023 in arrears, or throughout 2024. We didnt realize it at the time but what ended up effectively happening is we ended up making life more miserable, Hardin said, saying about 85% of Nebraskans didnt pay their 2023 assessed taxes by December 31, 2023. One person who did pay early: Gov. Jim Pillen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation, as written, would not be limited to taxes assessed in December 2023 taxes. It would include anyone who paid their 2024 property taxes assessed just last month, if they paid by Dec. 31, 2024. Implementing LB 81 would cost up to $750 million, plus the allowable growth rate of all real Nebraska property, as determined by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The actual cost of the fix would likely be less because not all Nebraskans would request the additional years credit. Meanwhile, the state is facing a more than $432 million projected budget shortfall by summer 2027 that lawmakers must tackle. Hardin said lawmakers might draft an amendment to limit the additional relief to the desired fix: to target only the taxpayers who lost out on the credit for property taxes paid in 2023 if they didnt pay those taxes by Dec. 31, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no sleight of hand going on by the Revenue Committee or anyone involved in that process, Hardin said. We truly didnt realize that what we made was an expensive error, but were saying: Heres an opportunity for us to talk about it and fix it. Nobody had a crystal ball Former State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, as chair of the Revenue Committee, led LB 34 through the special session for the tax credit changes she championed four years prior. Linehan, a former six-year chair of the Revenue Committee, and her successor as committee chair, State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha, have said the cash flow to taxpayers is improved by the special sessions changes. Nobody had a crystal ball that that was going to happen, that LB 34 was going to happen the way that it happened, von Gillern told reporters. To say that anybody prepaid their taxes knowing that they were going to get a double dip on this is not reasonable. Linehan and von Gillern have noted that if the relief program is funded twice in the same year, the double $750 million credit has a total $1.5 billion price tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hardin envisions paying for the one-time extension of tax credits using billions of dollars sitting in Nebraska agency cash funds, sweeping the accounts and recouping money that he said departments were hoarding. The peoples money The effort to plug the missing year of relief that led to LB 81 was in part drafted by another former lawmaker before he was term-limited this week: Steve Erdman of Bayard. Erdman was among the first to identify what he saw as a retroactive property tax increase, to the tune of 20-22% for some Nebraskans he said, shortly after the special session ended in August, as first reported by the Nebraska Examiner. He and two other term-limited senators were the sole opponents of LB 34, largely for wanting more relief, not, as Erdman described the changes, a decrease in the increase of property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can go on forever and never make up that loss, Erdman said in October of the skipped relief. The question I have is, Whose money is it? Its the peoples money. The EPIC Option Erdman drafted the legislation for his western Nebraska partner, Hardin, who also is taking the mantle from Erdman on seeking to more broadly rewrite Nebraskas tax code by eliminating property, income and corporate taxes (the EPIC Option) and creating a wholesale consumption tax, but not on groceries. EPIC is alive and well, Erdman told the Examiner last week. The next effort that we put forward will be a far more involved and specific plan on how to get this on the ballot. State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard. May 21, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Erdman says it takes time to make big, bold changes, but supporters arent deterred because of decades of inadequate policies and have learned how to improve their efforts. They are more focused today than they were before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going forward, we will have a whole new look, he continued. I think itll be an opportunity for the Nebraska people that are being taxed out of their homes and farms and businesses to understand that theres only one option, and thats to change the whole system. Tax relief priority in rural Nebraska Brandt said property tax relief is top of mind for his constituents. They want to know what happened, Brandt said, adding that the 85% of Nebraskans who didnt pay their 2023 taxes by the end of that calendar year are in rural districts. I would like to tell the people of the state: Were here, he continued. Were trying to make a difference. State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth. Jan. 9, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward said farmers in her district also preplan how theyll pay their taxes and are good about claiming the income tax credit when available. The Nebraska Farm Bureau has been pushing for an LB 81-style fix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didnt know the rules were changing, Hughes said, adding the quick fix left taxpayers in the hole without time to choose their next steps, who might have paid early if they had known. Finding the money The special session was the longest and most expensive in state history, costing $173,134 over 17 days, based on a deficit budget request made after the special session. Thats a daily cost of $10,184.35, the highest of any special session in Nebraska. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. Jan. 9, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LB 81 would require an early hearing and would need to be passed, and signed into law, by the time Nebraskans start turning in their tax returns this spring. Hardin would also need at least 33 lawmakers, regardless if the bill is filibustered, for his bill to take effect for this tax season. And he would need Pillens blessing. Conrad said that in a state budget of more than $12 billion, lawmakers can find the money while also closing the projected budget shortfall. It is easily ascertainable to find resources to make it right for Nebraska taxpayers, Conrad said. If indeed there is a political will, if indeed there is consensus, we have to come together to make things right for Nebraskans who were negatively impacted by the special session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A controversial bill in the Indiana legislature could force the dissolution of public school districts across the state, including Gary and Indianapolis, raising alarms among educators, legislators, and Hoosiers. For Gary, the stakes are especially high just six months after regaining local control of its schools following a seven-year state takeover, the districts future hangs in the balance. House Bill 1136, authored by Republican state Rep. Jake Teshka, would dissolve school districts where more than half of the students attend charter or private schools by fall 2024, converting remaining public schools into charter schools. Gary, where over 5,000 students attend charter and private schools compared to 4,383 in district-run schools, more students attend charter and private schools than the public school district. Critics argue the measure unfairly targets struggling districts like Gary, undermining local recovery efforts while prioritizing charter expansion over traditional public education. The bills provisions are estimated to dissolve five school corporations statewide, including Indianapolis Public Schools, Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation in LaPorte County, Union School Corporation southeast of Muncie, and Cannelton City Schools near the Kentucky border in Perry County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill states that if more than 50% of students residing in a school corporation are enrolled in schools not operated by the corporation as of the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the corporation will meet the threshold for dissolution. Once dissolved, all public schools within the corporation will be transitioned to operate as charter schools. I stand against House Bill 36 because its an orchestrated takeover of this district. Gary resident Robert Buggs State Rep. Vernon Smith, a former educator and long-serving member of the Education Committee, condemned the bill. I think its one of the most toxic bills that Ive come across. Its an attack on traditional public education, and its a bill that ignores real facts, Smith said. Smith took particular issue with the bills intention to convert public schools into charter institutions, which he views as substandard in some cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we were really concerned about academic achievement in Gary, our traditional public school outscores the charter schools, Smith said. So why would you want to turn us into a charter school? We have a situation in charter schools where the faculty are not certified. Many times, there are people who just have a high school education that are trying to educate these children, and were not putting our brightest and our best in the classrooms. At Tuesdays school board meeting, Gary Superintendent Yvonne Stokes addressed the bill. It has only been six months since the Gary Community School Corporation was released from a seven-year state takeover, she said. During this seven-year time period, there was an exodus of thousands of students from the district. Since local control was reinstated, we have been laser-focused on increasing enrollment and maintaining financial solvency, while enhancing curriculum and improving the overall educational experience for children. Gary Superintendent Yvonne Stokes said her leadership team will work with the community and then take necessary actions on whats best for children. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B) She also noted that the district had already seen a 200-student increase in enrollment since the start of the school year, and she pledged to rally the community against the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our leadership team will work with staff, parents, families, scholars, and stakeholders to educate the school community about this proposed legislation and then take necessary actions on whats best for children, she said. Community members were also vocal about their concerns at Tuesdays meeting, rekindling the public energy that invigorated residents during the state-mandated takeover. We already have more charter schools than anybody, said Gary resident Carolyn McCrady from the podium. She was followed by fellow resident Robert Buggs, who believed the bill targeted Gary specifically. I stand against House Bill 36 because its an orchestrated takeover of this district, Buggs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other districts also stand to lose under the proposed law. State Sen. Andrea Hunley, whose district includes the greater downtown Indianapolis area, expressed concern about the bills potential impact on Indianapolis Public Schools. My children have been attending IPS schools for 11 years. And I am so concerned about the fact that in this place where the majority likes to say that they want choice for families, that they would be threatening to take away choice from a family like mine right here in the middle of our city. Hunley, a former IPS teacher and principal, said she and Indiana Black Legislative Caucus members had spoken directly with House Speaker Todd Huston to voice their opposition. Ive expressed my concern to leadership on this side as well, and weve got to make sure that we stop this before it goes any further. State Sen. Andrea Hunley said she and members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, seen during a panel discussion in Gary last year, have spoken directly with House Speaker Todd Huston to voice their opposition to the proposed legislation. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B) She encouraged constituents to reach out to the bills authors, co-authors, and the chair of the Education Committee to express their concerns and the personal impact of the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Ragen Hatcher also committed to organizing opposition to the bill, including mobilizing Northwest Indiana residents to speak out in the statehouse. We anticipate bussing some people down from Northwest Indiana to speak against it and why its not a bill thats necessary in our area, or why we dont need that bill at all, Hatcher told Capital B Gary. There is currently no date set for the bills hearing, but Hunley said it will take place sometime before the last week of February, which marks the break of the session. The education committee where the bill is assigned meets every Wednesday but could be called anytime at the pleasure of the committee chair. The post New Bill Threatens to Dissolve Public School Districts Across Indiana, Including Gary appeared first on Capital B Gary. (Photo by Angela Breck for Maryland Matters) After failing to gain traction in previous years, legislation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is back in the spotlight, and once again with bipartisan support. Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, announced Thursday she will reintroduce the bill, joined by Del. Ellen Campbell, R-Rockbridge, who pledged her backing during a virtual news conference. Big Pharma has gotten away with charging hardworking Virginians outrageous prices just so they can stay alive, Delaney said, emphasizing the need for action to address rising prescription drug costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campbell, who has constituents struggling to afford both groceries and essential medications, said its time for new solutions. I think its time for us to try something new, and Ive been really happy to support this, she said. Although Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed similar legislation last year, support from Campbell and past co-patron Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, signals a potential turning point for the measure in the General Assembly. Advocates are hopeful that bipartisan backing could lead to the bills success this session. While Delaney and Campbell champion the measure in the House, Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, D-Loudoun, has vowed to endorse it in the Senate. If enacted, the legislation would create an independent, nonpartisan board of medical and health experts tasked with analyzing data to set payment limits on drug prices within state-sponsored health plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngkin previously described the proposal as noble in its intent but warned it could limit access to treatments and hinder medical innovation. Delaney countered that pharmaceutical companies could fund innovation without raising drug prices by trimming costs in areas like advertising or executive salaries. I think all one needs to do is look at the budget for these companies, she said. If a big pharma company needed to cut its budget, I think they could find other sources to do that. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a prominent trade group, and the organization Commitment To Seniors, have both lobbied against the proposed board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaney dismissed some of the opposition as fear-mongering and emphasized her commitment to educating the public about the bills potential benefits. Advocacy groups Freedom Virginia and Virginia AARP, which have actively supported the legislation, pointed out that at least 10 other states have already implemented similar boards. Virginia AARP also highlighted findings from a 2023 survey showing that three-quarters of respondents, regardless of political affiliation, supported the creation of a PDAB. With Virginias 2025 legislative session running through February, the PDAB proposal is one of several healthcare-related bills lawmakers will deliberate before potentially sending them to Youngkins desk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) Pennsylvania courts have shed light on the alarming prevalence of human trafficking across the state, with Blair County ranking among the Top 10 counties for reported offenses. Over the past five years, Pennsylvania recorded 1,235 human trafficking offenses tied to 366 cases, according to data released during Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Blair County accounted for 5% of these offenses, placing it sixth in the state. Human trafficking, a severe human rights abuse, often involves force, fraud, or coercion to exploit victims for sex acts or labor in exchange for something of value. Pennsylvania courts are working to address these crimes, highlighting the demographics of convicted defendants and the types of offenses in the latest report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The top counties for human trafficking include Franklin, Dauphin, and Berks, with Blair County following closely behind. Franklin County led the list, responsible for 17% of statewide cases. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. The full report, including detailed demographics and statistics, is available on the Pennsylvania Courts website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Jan. 10ARREST A Falls woman was arrested after a shoplifting incident at a store in the 1500 block of Military Road at 8:56 p.m. Jan. 1. The 47-year-old woman was charged with petit larceny and resisting arrest. She is accused of taking more than $168 worth of merchandise without paying for the items and fighting with a Niagara Falls police officer while being taken into custody. ARREST A Falls man was arrested on multiple charges after he was accused of breaking windows in a bar in the 2600 block of Pine Avenue at 11:35 p.m. Friday. The 32-year-old man was charged with second-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARREST A Buffalo woman was arrested after a shoplifting incident at a store in the 1500 block of Military Road at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday. The 52-year-old was charged with petit larceny. She is accused of taking seven pairs of earbuds, valued at more than $224, without paying for them. On Tuesday afternoon, Bob Clearmountain was driving back from Apogee Studios in Santa Monica to his home in Pacific Palisades. The revered producer and mixer has helmed records by such rock legends as Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Roxy Music and David Bowie, often out of his home studio, Mix This!, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He could feel the Santa Ana winds ripping up the coast and through the canyons. From Sunset Boulevard, I could see flames up on the hill and smoke. I thought, Well, I'm sure the fire department's gonna be there pretty soon. The news said the wind was blowing in the other direction, so I kind of assumed they're going to contain it pretty soon. But a few hours later, my daughter called me and said, Youve got to get out of there.' As Clearmountain, his wife and his assistant packed up three cars with gear and valuables, they still hoped it was just a precaution. Much of the equipment in the studio hed custom-built over decades was immobile the Bosendorfer grand piano or the SSL recording console couldnt get out on short notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California We grabbed everything we could think of. I had some some things that Bruce Springsteen had given us; he had done a little one of his little stick-figure doodles for my wife's 50th birthday, which I thought, Well, that's something pretty special.' But we just figured wed be back in a few days, Clearmountain continued. That once the evacuation order was lifted, wed just be loading everything back into the house. It really didn't occur to us that this could be the end of our world. They decamped back to Apogee Studios in Santa Monica, where Clearmountain and his wife, Apogee founder Betty Bennett, stayed in a guest apartment usually reserved for bands passing through. Helpless, they watched the scene through their doorbell camera as the Palisades fire advanced down the hillside toward their community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Sunset Boulevard in ruins: Fires massive scale comes into focus in Pacific Palisades We could see our neighbor's fence was catching fire, and our trash cans were on fire. The cameras went out at about quarter to 8, and we figured, Well, I don't know, maybe somehow it's just gonna skip our house because our walls are all stucco.' We didn't know anything until Wednesday, and then we heard that that all but one house on our street were gone completely. Finally, this morning, one of our new neighbors somehow got in and took a picture of our driveway with nothing behind it, he said. Just a driveway and some ashes. The scale of the destruction from this weeks fires is overwhelming, with at least 10 lives lost and more than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other neighborhoods. Among that devastation are irreplaceable cultural sites, which include beloved recording studios where artists made some of their cherished albums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Will Rogers' ranch house and motel owned by William Randolph Hearst consumed by Palisades fire The rustic recording studio retreat is a visual icon of Los Angeles music history. In the L.A. recording community, Clearmountains home is a nearly sacred site. Many other studios are also believed to be damaged or lost in the area and in Altadena, which has become a home for L.A.s indie music community. Clearmountain is only beginning to take in the reality of losing his home and a generationally important recording studio, one built over decades to his exact designs and full of instruments and gear that yielded some of the most popular rock music of our time. He said hell continue to work one way or another in the wake of this. Read more: 'This is our house': Mom and son fought off Palisades fire with pump, hose and pool water Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I look at it as a challenge, the next chapter, he said. I can't really look back. I cant spend too much time being bummed out about it. Ive got to say, 'OK, what can I do?' Im going to change the style of what I do. I'm gonna do what I do, but do it differently, and hopefully it'll be good, maybe better than what I was doing. That's all I can think right now. He worries about other studios and home recording sites that dont have his resources to rebuild elsewhere. The lives and homes lost are innumerable and devastating, but the cultural loss and inability of musicians to work is part of the tragedy as well. Maybe there should be a fund. Not for me, because I'm doing fine, but for other studios, Clearmountain said. There's a lot of people that aren't as well-off. I can survive, but there are people that that are going to have a really rough time, and they need help. I'd be willing to chip in and help them. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Former US Senator Bob Menendez, the once-powerful New Jersey Democrat convicted of corruption charges, should spend 15 years in prison, US prosecutors said. Most Read from Bloomberg Menendez was convicted in July of bribery, extortion and acting as a foreign agent of Egypt after a jury trial that was focused on 13 gold bars, nearly $500,000 in cash and a Mercedes-Benz seized at his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendezs conduct is perhaps more serious than that for which any other senator has been convicted in United States history, prosecutors wrote Thursday in a recommendation ahead of his Jan. 29 sentencing in New York federal court. The Jury convicted Menendez on all 16 counts after a two-month trial in which prosecutors said he sold his influence to protect businessmen and promote Egypts interests. Menendez, who is appealing his conviction, blames his wife, Nadine, for accepting gifts without his knowledge. She faces a separate trial. The jurors also convicted businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of nine years for Daibes and 10 years for Hana. A First Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Menendez, the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is the only public official convicted of serving as a foreign agent while in office, prosecutors said. They said he corruptly helped Egypt secure US military aid and sensitive information, urged a US agriculture undersecretary to stop questioning Hanas halal monopoly and weighed appointing a US attorney in New Jersey who would influence a 2018 fraud indictment of Daibes. They also said he contacted the New Jersey attorney general to disrupt criminal probes of two people close to businessman Jose Uribe and helped Daibes arrange financing from a Qatari investment fund for a real estate project. His actions amount to an extraordinary attempt, at the highest levels of the legislative branch, to corrupt the nations core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement, prosecutors wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reputation in Tatters In an earlier filing, Menendezs lawyers urged US District Judge Sidney Stein to extend mercy. They argued that their clients long-built reputation is in tatters after 18 years in the Senate, a life of public service and a wife with serious health and legal problems. Senator Menendezs conviction has rendered him a national punchline and stripped him of every conceivable personal, professional, and financial benefit, his lawyers wrote. He has suffered financial and professional ruin. And he now is helping his wife battle a life-threatening cancer diagnosis in the midst of her upcoming trial in this case. They urged Stein to sentence Menendez, 71, to a term substantially below the recommended range under federal sentencing guidelines and consider nonprison alternatives like home detention and rigorous community service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is US v. Menendez, 23-cr-490, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). (Updates with details of filing starting in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NEW YORK CITY (PIX 11) The United Bodegas of America is calling for enhanced safety measures to protect bodegas across the city after police say a slew of bodegas were hit in a robbery spree. According to investigators, 49 bodegas have been targeted over a span of three months, from September to December with a group of burglars stealing ATMs. The United Bodegas of America is now offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent incidents have left bodega owners demanding better protection and more resources. Fernando Mateo, spokesperson of United Bodegas of America, spoke out Thursday as police search for three individuals wanted in connection to the burglaries. Hes dubbed the robbery crew Midnight Smashers and said theyve made off with tens of thousands of dollars. How could we have not made an arrest? How could we have not identified who these guys are? They drive cars. They drive in the streets. Theres gotta be cameras that can track these vehicles, Mateo said. The individuals are using stolen vehicles and license plates to commit the crimes, according to police. Surveillance video from an East Elmhurst, Queens bodega showed two of the suspects removing an ATM machine overnight just days before Christmas before making their getaway. Harjeet Singh owns the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They broke the door, entered, they cut the lock first, and took the ATM within 5-10 minutes, Singh said. Police searching for group stealing ATMs from businesses across NYC Alicia Fernandez knows all too well the toll of brazen robberies, recounting how her bodega was targeted last year. She said since then, it feels like little has been done to combat the issue. We dont see no progress, she said. We dont see any improvement. Like, in doing a little bit better. No. Its still like, the same. She and other bodega owners are calling for the NYPD and elected officials to take action to help combat these crimes hoping for increased police patrols and funding for safety measures like panic buttons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Governors office says Hochul allocated $40 million to local district attorneys to combat retail theft. She also allocated a $5 million tax credit to help Business owners invest in added security measures. Last year, Congressman Ritchie Torres introduced a bill called the Bodega Act in response to a series of attacks on bodegas. As of now, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - Two groups representing the credit reporting and credit union industries have filed a lawsuit challenging a new rule adopted by U.S. President Joe Biden's outgoing administration banning the inclusion of medical debt in American consumers' credit reports. The Consumer Data Industry Association and Cornerstone Credit Union League filed the lawsuit in federal court in Sherman, Texas, on Tuesday, shortly after the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized the regulation. The agency said the rule would remove $49 billion in medical debts from the credit reports of about 15 million Americans. It was adopted despite demands from Republicans in Congress that Biden's financial regulators stop issuing new rules as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on Jan. 20. The trade groups say the rule violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which expressly permits consumer reporting agencies to report information about medical debt and authorizes creditors to consider that information. "It is black letter law that an agency cannot prohibit through regulations what Congress has expressly permitted by statute," the lawsuit said. "Because the final rule contravenes the statute, it should be vacated." The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, a Trump appointee. The CFPB declined to comment. According to the CFPB, medical debt provides little indication of whether a borrower is likely to repay a loan and the change should result in rising credit scores and could lead to an additional 22,000 low-cost mortgages per year being issued. The new rule will also prohibit lenders from considering certain medical information in making lending decisions and help prevent debt collectors from seeking to coerce consumers into paying erroneous medical debts they do not actually owe, the agency said. Banking and credit bureau industry groups argued that the ban could leave them blind to important information about the risk financial institutions face from borrowers, resulting in banks offering fewer loans. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Matthew Lewis) RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A boil-water advisory in Virginia's capital will remain in place at least until Saturday morning, officials said, leaving residents without drinkable tap water for a fourth day following an outage at the city's treatment facility. Richmond Mayor Danny Avula said during a news conference Friday morning that officials conducted a first test of the facility's water after pressure was fully restored on Thursday. Avula has said that the advisory can only be lifted following two negative bacteria tests of the water each taken 16 hours apart. Were making headway on the testing process to confirm our water supply is safe for drinking, Avula said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avula said the results of the first test were expected on Friday afternoon, making Saturday morning the earliest time officials could lift the advisory. The announcement comes after Richmond's approximately 230,000 residents have been without drinkable tap water since Monday afternoon, when a malfunction at the water treatment facility was caused by a power failure during a snowstorm. Neighboring Hanover and Henrico counties are also under advisories. Hanover County has about 114,000 people, while Henrico County has about 335,000. After the outage, the restoration process was delayed after a piece of equipment that manages water filters failed Tuesday. Full pressure was restored on Thursday to all areas served by the water system. During the week, public schools were closed and residents were tasked with finding drinkable water for their households. Tanker trucks delivered water to area hospitals, while distribution centers have opened throughout Richmond. Officials worked to make sure people had access to baby formula and other water-based essential needs. Community centers in the area, including several branches of the YMCA and a local JCC, also offered facilities such as showers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia legislature, based in the capital city, also delayed its first full working day of session. Lawmakers quickly met on Wednesday to conduct procedural matters before recessing until the following Monday. In front of the statehouse, a row of portable toilets lined the lawn of the building, which did not have water pressure. ___ Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Vigo County Superior Court confirms that the suspect in the Richland Manor shooting will appear in court on January 14, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Twenty-eight-year-old, Andre U. Obua of Miami, FL is charged in the shooting of Dr. Manish Gera of Terre Haute. According to court records, Obua faces charges of attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness, burglary, and strangulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bond for Obua was set at $750,000, with no percent allowed. This is a developing story, WTWO will provide more information as it becomes available. Read WTWOs previous coverage related to the Richland Manor Shooting linked below: Report: Terre Haute doctor confronts attempted murder suspect after being shot in the arm Suspect arrested in Vigo County shooting Details in the Vigo County shooting arrest Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. BRANSON, Mo. The ride operator in charge of checking seat belts may have been under the influence of marijuana at the time two women sustained life-threatening injuries on the Shepherd of the Hills Copperhead Mountain Coaster in Branson, according to new findings obtained by KOLR 10 Investigates. Two injured after falling off mountain coaster at Shepherd of the Hills Records from the Missouri Division of Fire Safetys Amusement Ride Safety Unit show there was a last-minute staff switch the night that two women from Texas fell off, broke their necks, and underwent life-saving surgeries. Federal lawsuit filed Kinda Renfro and Debra Rhodes are suing Shepherd of the Hills for $50 million claiming the company put their lives at risk the night of Nov. 1, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two women injured on Shepherd of the Hills ride file federal lawsuit Photos from the states incident report indicate the two 54-year-old women fell out of the Copperhead Mountain Coaster in Branson shortly after taking off. A federal lawsuit claims they each suffered head injuries, brain bleeds, spinal injuries, and broken bones. Investigation findings KOLR 10 Investigates obtained the complete investigation revealing brand new information about the employees responsible for the riders safety that night: The 26-year-old operator typically worked the ropes course but had switched spots with a coworker to cover the mountain coaster on the night of the accident. Training records show he was unfamiliar with the ride and had a lack of training on its safety systems. The employee told state investigators he visually checked the seatbelts but did not pull on the seatbelts before sending the cart out. The operator took a drug test at Cox Health Lab the day after on Nov. 2, 2024. Results show he may have been under the influence of THC at the time of the incident. Marijuana in the workplace Being under the influence at work in a way that impairs your job duties, that can be a terminable offense, said Sarah Mullen, a member at Lewis Rice law firm in St. Louis. However, the problem presents that the marijuana testing tech has not caught up with what employers need to show whether or not the employee is under the influence at work. The positive test itself does not indicate immediate impairment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullen and her colleagues have researched the impact of Missouris marijuana legalization on employers. As the lawsuit plays out in federal court, Mullen suspects the positive drug test will be a topic of discussion. Im certainly not a representative or a party to the litigation but I would imagine that the plaintiffs counsel will point to it as evidence of impairment and then the counsel for the employer is probably going to say well no the positive test isnt that precise, said Mullen. Ultimately the investigation found the cause of the womens injuries cant be determined because there was no video surveillance. It also stated Renfro and Rhodes may have violated the rides rules by using their phones while on board. Changes mandated for the Copperhead Mountain Coaster According to the state, in order for the ride to be approved to resume operations, DFSs Amusement Ride Safety Unit on Nov. 12, 2024, required the following actions to take place: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameras are to be installed as required by the ride manufacture All ride operators are to be trained per the ride manufacture sections 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9 The E-stop at the bottom of the track observation station is to be located within reach of the operator Passenger/Rider Responsibility Rules of conduct must be posted Conduct and document monthly, yearly, and half-yearly inspections A spokesperson told KOLR 10 Investigates the Amusement Ride Safety Unit conducted a spot inspection of the Copperhead Mountain Coaster on Nov. 25, 2024 and approved it to resume operating. If you have a story youd like KOLR 10 Investigates to look into, email Investigates@OzarksFirst.com or call 417-295-TIPS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Policing has changed drastically over the last century, but one thing has stayed the same: Boston Police always remember the men and women who have died while serving the city. Police on Friday remembered Patrolman Thomas Edmond Young, who died on Jan. 10, 1912 from complications from an injury he suffered while responding to an emergency call. He was 32. A few months later, in April of that year, the world would mourn the loss of hundreds of passengers who died when the Titanic sank southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young served with the Boston Police Department for 12 years, assigned to the Roxbury Station, police said. He was appointed to the force in 1900. Police noted Youngs bravery as a patrolman at another time in his career, when he nabbed the rape suspect who shot and killed Boston Police Sgt. Frederick Schlehuber while the sergeant questioned the man in the District Attorneys Office in what is now the John Adams Courthouse. On Jan. 3, 1912, the 32-year-old Young responded to a fire at a horse stable on Dudley Street in the Mount Pleasant Historic District of Roxbury. While trying to rescue horses from the blaze, he inhaled a significant amount of smoke, leading to pleurisy that developed into pneumonia, police said. Young died at his home days later, on Jan. 10, 1912. In addition to his dedication during the fire, Patrolman Young was known for his bravery in apprehending the individual responsible for the murder of Sergeant Frederick Schlehuber on November 10, 1910, police said. Following the shooting in the District Attorneys Office in Pemberton Square, Young intervened, disarmed the suspect, and placed him under arrest, risking his own life in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young left behind his wife and was laid to rest at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan. His service and sacrifice are remembered by the Boston Police Department and the broader community, police said. Youngs name has been added to the Hero Wall at Boston Police Headquarters to honor his commitment and bravery, police said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A decision has been made to exhume the first victims of the Volyn tragedy, a contentious chapter in Polish-Ukrainian relations, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Jan. 10. "Finally, a breakthrough. A decision has been made on the first exhumations of Polish victims of the UPA. I would like to thank the ministers of culture of Poland and Ukraine for their good cooperation. We are waiting for further decisions," Tusk wrote in a post on X. The Volyn massacre, which took place during World War II, involved widespread violence that claimed tens of thousands of Polish and Ukrainian lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland characterizes the events as genocide perpetrated by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), while Ukraine has called for shared acknowledgment of responsibility for the atrocities. The decision followed a Jan. 9 meeting in Poland between Ukrainian National Unity Minister Oleksii Chernyshov and Polish Culture Minister Anna Wroblewska. The discussions emphasized the role of culture in preserving national identity and fostering socio-economic development, the Polish Culture Ministry noted. President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Tusk previously met in Lviv on Dec. 17 to address historical reconciliation, including the legacy of the Volyn massacre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tusk emphasized the importance of unity despite historical challenges. "History certainly cannot divide us," he said on Dec. 17. The exhumations represent a significant step forward in resolving longstanding historical tensions and strengthening Polish-Ukrainian relations amid challenges posed by Russia's aggression. Read also: Ukrainian forces defending Kurakhove thermal power plant amid intense fighting in Donetsk Oblast, military says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ryan Stranz When Brian Sims proposed to his (now husband) Alex Drakos in 2023, the plan initially had been to wed in September 2025. But that plan began to unravel in June 2024 following President Bidens shaky debate with Donald Trump, which left the Democratic Party and the nation grappling with an uncertain vision for the future. The day after the debate that went so disastrously for Biden, the two of us sat down and had a really serious discussion around what we were gonna do if Trump won and what it would look like, says Drakos, a Pfizer employee and U.C.Berkeley graduate. We had said, Would we be worried that our marriage would no longer be possible on the timeline that we thought it would be? Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drakos is referring to the fear that, under a second Trump administration, many hard-won LGBTQ+ rights like marriage equality could become undone. While they experienced a lot of hope riding into the election after Biden made way for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate, Trumps victory in November forced them to revisit their timeline. Drakos recalls thinking after Election Day, We know we want to get married, and it's very doable to get it done before Trump takes office and any expected changes start to occur. So why not do it? That both of their parents called to express the same sentiment reinforced their conviction. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz So do it they did. Officiated by Julian Cyr, an out Massachusetts state senator and friend, the pair wed December 21 in a small ceremony in the Massachusetts State House alongside their parents as witnesses. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sims a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the current CEO of Agenda PAC, which advocates for LGBTQ+ representation in politics says they chose the location of the golden-domed state capitol for its historic role in the fight for nationwide marriage equality. Massachusetts was the first state in the United States to recognize same-sex marriages in 2004. Thus, it pre-dated the 2015 Obergefell SCOTUS ruling recognizing nationwide marriage equality, and it was where the couple felt their marriage would be most protected in the case of this decisions repeal. There were romantic reasons for the Bay State wedding as well. In 2021 and just a ferry ride away, Sims and Drakos first met during Bear Week at the Provincetown Tea Dance. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Stranz Held just days before Christmas, the ceremony itself was pretty incredible, shares Drakos. It had snowed in Boston the day before, causing a delay for the flight of Simss parents, who arrived two hours before the ceremony. State House employees opened up the balcony for the pair to snap photos with the Boston skyline as a backdrop. They conducted the ceremony there too. It was around 10 degrees, so everyone was pretty resilient in coming out there and kind to spend the time, Drakos says. Julian pretty quickly [went] through what were beautifully prepared remarks. And then he surprised us by bringing us into sort of an antechamber for the governor's office and there's a beautiful fireplace, an incredible Christmas tree, there's pictures of women of color who are civil rights icons plastered all throughout the walls there. It was just a wonderful time with our parents, who were there to actually do the witness portion of it. And we're lucky that they were there to do that. And then, we had some champagne all together and went off for a wonderful dinner as well. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a laugh, Drakos admits it was the most champagne I've had in a single day in maybe ever. Sims adds, It was obviously something we felt like we had to do because of the times and things that could change, and we wanted to make sure we had the opportunity. But I will tell you that as soon as it was done, we both recognized that having the intimate moment with our parents was a lot more special than we had maybe even considered that it would be. It's impossible to sort of think about the arc of history with respect to LGBTQ+ marriage equality and not think about how deeply special it was to have our moms and dads there. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sims and Drakos still plan to have a large celebration this September in Connecticut, where Drakoss parents hail from. We didn't exchange the vows that we want to give to one another in front of all of our friends and family, and so we'll save it for that [event], Sims promises. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Stranz But the pair also have a message for other unmarried queer couples fearful for the future: Seriously consider taking the plunge now. What I recommend for all queer couples is the same [advice] we took ourselves. Currently, while it is not the absolute 100 percent best legal environment for LGBTQ+ people to solidify their relationships and their partnerships, it is significantly better than it is going to be in the future, maybe the near future, Sims says. And so right now while we still have the fruits of what so many advocates fought years for, we should avail ourselves of them while we continue to fight to defend them and expand them. But [these] are very treacherous times we're going into, and having the protections of the law[is] an assurance that I think everyone deserves. And if you're considering that, you should too. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to marriage, the couple recommends that rainbow families take a serious look at financial matters, including insurance and living wills, as preparation for the future. They should also seriously consider changing careers and moving to states where LGBTQ+ and womens rights are codified, particularly for families with transgender children, they advise. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz And for allies, its not enough to send a congratulatory message on social media when queer friends wed, they say. Be cognizant of why they married and whats at stake for their future. Our marriage is worth fighting for, and we hope all of the people that are excited for us and glad for us and congratulate us are also echoing that in their actions and not just their ethics and their morals and their values but in their actual actions, Sims says. Our marriage is under attack and who we are is under attack. And so to support, to congratulate us, and to be grateful that we were able to do this comes with the attendant responsibility of respecting it, protecting it, and fighting for it. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz See more moments of the happy union from photographer Ryan Stranz ahead. Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz Brian Sims PA small gay wedding married to Alex Drakos Ryan Stranz After a brief respite on Saturday, gusty winds from the north and northeast are expected to return to the Los Angeles area as early as Sunday. That could be the start to as many as three Santa Ana wind events next week, officials said. Firefighters continue to battle multiple major wildfires across the region and much of Los Angeles County remains under a red flag warning through Friday night. The dangerous combination of low humidity, bone-dry fuels and shifting winds has complicated efforts to get the wildfires under control. Fanned by gusts of up to 40 mph overnight, the 20,000-acre Palisades fire remained only 8% contained Friday, while the Eaton fire that has burned nearly 14,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena is only 3% contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters were hopeful the lull in the winds on Saturday would help them lay down fire lines and boost containment of the two massive fires, as well as several other smaller blazes burning across the region, before they starting kicking up again. At least 10 people have died in the fires and officials say its likely the death count will rise. Its more favorable for us and for crews to get into some of those areas with steep, rugged terrain that may be a little dangerous when that wind is up, and with the warmer, drier temperatures, said Will Powers, a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman. Read more: A week after L.A. firestorms began, winds still pose danger as scale of loss becomes clearer A firefighter who was injured in a fall working on the Eaton fire on Thursday is hospitalized and is stable, officials said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, called the upcoming winds a moderate to strong event, likely to peak Tuesday and prompt new red flag warnings. But she noted the worst of it is expected to be focused over Ventura County. That could give L.A. County firefighters a bit of a break, but it also could create additional concerns farther west in a region already strapped for resources. Read more: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires 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. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain announced new sanctions on Friday against 15 people associated with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government, saying they were responsible for human rights violations and undermining democracy and the rule of law. The sanctions target 15 individuals, including the head of Venezuela's top court, members of the security forces and military officials, Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement. The sanctions were announced on the day of Maduro's inauguration for a third term and coincided with sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union member states. He has remained in power despite a dispute over an election and international calls for him to stand aside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro and his government have always rejected sanctions by the United States and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an economic war designed to cripple Venezuela. Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. Venezuela's electoral authority and top court say Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, won last year's presidential vote, though they have not published detailed tallies. Those targeted by Britain's sanctions will face travel bans and asset freezes, preventing them from entering Britain and from holding funds or economic resources in Britain. China hails trade, investment achievements of RCEP at three-year mark Xinhua) 08:12, January 10, 2025 This photo taken on May 5, 2023 shows the venue for the First Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Expo in Huaihua City, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Yu Chunsheng) BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has deepened trade and investment cooperation among its members since it came into force three years ago, and has effectively consolidated the fundamentals of China's foreign trade, China's Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said on Thursday. He made the comments at a regular press conference several days after the third anniversary of the implementation of the RCEP, which fell on Jan. 1 this year. As the non-ASEAN rotating chair of RCEP in 2024, China worked to facilitate new members in joining the pact, He said, adding that China's Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Chile have submitted formal applications to join RCEP, while other economies have shown strong interest. Since it came into force in 2022, the RCEP has helped deepen regional economic integration, He said. In 2023, the trade volume within the RCEP region totaled 5.6 trillion U.S. dollars, and the amount of green-field investment attracted by the region was 2.2 times that of 2021. From January to November in 2024, China's trade in goods with RCEP members reached 12 trillion yuan (about 1.67 trillion U.S. dollars), an increase of 4.4 percent year on year. The RCEP is the free-trade agreement with the largest participating population in the world, as well as the largest economic and trade scale, and the greatest development potential, He said. He added that China, the largest economy in RCEP, will continue to implement the RCEP comprehensively and with high quality, and make greater contributions to promoting Asia-Pacific economic integration and achieving regional common development and prosperity. The RCEP comprises 15 countries, including 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand. According to a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank, the RCEP is expected to increase the incomes of member economies by 0.6 percent by 2030, adding 245 billion U.S. dollars annually to regional income and 2.8 million jobs to regional employment. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Institutional Cryptocurrency Trading Ban in South Korea May Be Lifted, Says Report South Koreas Financial Services Commission (FSC) is reportedly planning to lift its effective ban on institutional trading of crypto. This decision, as reported by Yonhap news agency, aims to gradually enable institutional investors to open trading accounts on local cryptocurrency exchanges. Currently, South Korean regulations permit only retail traders, verified with their government names, to engage in crypto trading. While there has not been an explicit ban on institutional investors, the FSC has advised banks to restrict such entities from opening accounts on exchanges. The proposed policy shift aligns with President Yoon Suk-yeols election commitments to enhance the local cryptocurrency sector. The ruling People Power Party has also advocated for the introduction of spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the country, a financial product that is not available at present. The FSC plans to initiate this process by first allowing non-profit organizations to participate in cryptocurrency trading. Furthermore, the commission is expected to collaborate with the Digital Asset Committee, a policy advisory group under its jurisdiction, to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework. As part of this regulatory evolution, the FSC is also looking to amend the Financial Information Act. This amendment will introduce a screening system for major shareholders of virtual asset service providers, aiming to bolster investor protection. In addition, the FSC is working on follow-up regulations to the Virtual Asset Investor Protection Act, which came into effect in July of last year. This second phase of regulation will focus on establishing rules for stablecoins, token listings, and the operational requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges. Britains reputation is a concept much invoked, but rarely examined. To certain people in Westminster, it is built upon a slavish adherence to international law, and a willingness to give away strategically vital assets. In recent days, however, this image has taken a dent. Thanks in part to Elon Musk, our country is increasingly seen on the other side of the Atlantic as an archipelago where grooming gangs are left to roam free while police forces focus their efforts on investigating thoughtcrime. This may be a little unfair, but it is not entirely false. Britain is a country with a free speech problem. Listen to politicians, and you could be forgiven for thinking the issue is that we have too much of it, with calls for state action on disinformation coming thick and fast in response to every blow-up on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anything, however, the problem is quite the opposite. Lacking the protections of a US-style First Amendment, Britain is a country where our national conversation is bound by vague and arbitrary laws, often with a chilling effect on our ability to discuss important issues. In the United States, the pendulum is swinging firmly in the direction of opening up discussion once again. In a trend led by Mr Musks purchase and reforming of X (formerly Twitter) into a global town square for free and frank debate, the restrictions on political speech on social media are falling away. The latest step in this direction came with Mark Zuckerbergs announcement that Facebook is scrapping its fact-checking programme. Mr Zuckerberg noted that fact-checkers had been too politically biased and had destroyed more trust than they have created. It is hard to disagree with his assessment. Facebooks approach was shown to have erred in several prominent cases, labelling claims that Covid-19 may have leaked from a Wuhan lab as false information, and initially halting the spread of reporting about Hunter Bidens laptop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This move has naturally resulted in disapproval from those who benefited from the old system the fact-checkers and the wider political Left prominent among them but it is hard to deny that it will be for the greater good of society as a whole. Free speech can be ugly, but it should be permitted. If ideas are good, then they will survive being tested by their opponents. If they prove to be bad, then it is better to expose them sooner rather than later. These benefits cannot be achieved if we only permit one officially recognised truth, and suppress as misinformation anything that seeks to question it. Time and time again, we have seen that efforts to curtail uncomfortable discourse for the good of society result in worse outcomes. Claims that discussing the grooming gangs in towns like Rotherham was racist meant that abuse continued for far longer, and the eventual reaction was more explosive, than if open debate had been permitted from the off. In a similar vein, the disastrous economic and social consequences of the Covid lockdowns might have been averted had critics been able to express their views freely without being hounded into silence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the United States, the floodgates have now opened. Left-wing orthodoxies which slipped unquestioned into the everyday functioning of institutions are being examined, and now found wanting. On topic after topic, from energy security to fire management to immigration policy, a reinvigorated national conversation is building pressure for substantial political change. It would be greatly to this countrys benefit if we were to follow. At present, we are embarking on a rush to net zero that is pushing up energy prices while also arguably increasing the risk of energy shortages. An honest conversation about the costs and benefits might result in the Government being pushed down a different pathway. These thoughts are likely to prove uncomfortable for Sir Keir Starmer, who, as director of public prosecutions and now as Prime Minister, has shown a surprising enthusiasm for punishing social media comments out of all proportion with their real-world impact. That some speech can be uncomfortable, however, does not mean that it is incorrect. An effort to alleviate the restrictions on our national discourse is surely overdue. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. NEW YORK (AP) A Brooklyn real estate magnate pleaded guilty Friday to working with a Turkish government official to funnel illegal campaign contributions to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Erden Arkan, 76, entered the plea to a conspiracy charge in Manhattan federal court, telling a judge that he knowingly violated the law by reimbursing employees of his construction firm for their donations to the Democrats campaign. When I wrote the checks, I knew the Eric Adams campaign would use the checks to apply for public matching funds, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkan is one of several individuals implicated in a sprawling bribery and illegal campaign finance indictment brought against Adams in September. He is the first to plead guilty during a public proceeding. At Fridays hearing, prosecutors told Judge Dale E. Ho that they had a raft of evidence, including recordings and email, proving that Arkan conspired with a Turkish consular official to deliver the illegal straw donations. They allege that Adams personally solicited the donations from Arkan and the Turkish official at a April 2021 dinner. The following month, Arkan held a fundraiser at the headquarters of his construction company, KSK, in which 10 employees donated between $1,200 and $1,500 to the campaign. They were later reimbursed by Arkan, making them illegal straw donations. Adams then used those funds to fraudulently obtain public money under the citys matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small-dollar donations, prosecutors allege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkan and his attorney, Jonathan Rosen, declined to comment as they exited the courtroom Friday. An attorney for Adams, Alex Spiro, has said the guilty plea would have no bearing on the mayors case whatsoever. A well-known member of New Yorks Turkish community, Arkans ties to Adams first emerged in November 2023 after federal investigators searched the businessman's home, along with the home of Adams chief fundraiser and his liaison to the Turkish community. Adams was subsequently charged with accepting bribes in the form of luxury travel benefits and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals hoping to buy his influence for their benefit. He has pleaded not guilty and vowed to remain in office as he fights the charge with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. Adams is set to stand trial April 21st. Arkan will be sentenced in August. Video: Prior coverage of Brookville. BROOKVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) Before developing a comprehensive land use plan for future growth, the City of Brookville is seeking feedback from the public. Three meetings are scheduled to solicit feedback regarding the project. The first meeting will be on Jan. 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Brookville High School. Residents of the school district are encouraged to attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting will feature an overview of the project before seeking public feedback on topics including economic development, utility infrastructure and housing. Feedback will be gathered at interactive comment stations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Ukraine's defence forces have repelled 42 Russian attacks on the Pokrovsk front over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Russian troops are attempting to destroy as many houses as possible on the Kurakhove front to clear the way for their advance. Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing Major Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, on the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "Our defenders have repelled 42 Russian attacks on the Pokrovsk front over the past 24 hours. [These attacks targeted] the settlements of Baranivka, Miroliubivka, Lysivka and other areas south of the city [of Pokrovsk]. Active fighting has been raging there for quite some time. The Russians are trying to move west, attempting to infiltrate in small groups. Ukrainian troops are stopping them. Russian attempts to achieve some kind of break in the Ukrainian logistics chains have not been successful so far." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The major noted that the Russian forces had launched 12 attacks on the Toretsk front, with active fighting continuing, including in Toretsk's built-up area. On the Kurakhove front, as the Russians destroy residential buildings to facilitate their combat operations, the Ukrainian military is working to inflict maximum damage on their personnel and equipment. Trehubov says that the Russians no longer have as much artillery or ammunition as they used to, partly due to the active use of drones by Ukrainian forces against artillery, counter-battery operations and the acquisition of more precise weapons by the Ukrainian defence forces. Support UP or become our patron! Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has issued an executive order requiring the Burlington Police Department to seek her approval before issuing press releases and other communications to the public. Meanwhile, Mulvaney-Stanak says her office and the department will collaborate on an official press release policy. This is an interim order to ensure City communications do not in anyway impact a persons Constitutional right to a fair trial, the mayors office says. The mayors order says urgent situations that require rapid communication to the public, such as missing person alerts and evacuation orders, will require releases to be sent to her office with a stated deadline for approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Police Department does not receive approval of the emergency press release from the Mayors Office prior to the stated deadline, the Police Department may issue the press release without approval from the Mayors Office, the order says. In a statement, the Burlington Police Officers Association said the mayors office has advised us that they do not plan on stopping any flow of information from the police department. The organization, which represents the departments rank and file, added, We do hope when the policy is finished that it does not require all press releases to go through the office considering many are time sensitive and that will be a detriment to public safety. The executive order comes as Police Chief Jon Murad has begun issuing press releases that detail suspects criminal history. In at least one case, Murad urged prosecutors to consider seeking a prison sentence for a repeat offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a December 30 press release, Murad noted the man, Michael Reynolds, has had more than 1,850 encounters with officers and has been convicted of six felonies. Murad said Reynolds has displayed violent, incorrigible, antisocial behavior that may demand imprisonment under Vermonts habitual criminal statute. The statute 13 V.S.A. 11 allows for anyone convicted of three felonies or felony attempts to be sentenced up to and including life if convicted of a fourth felony other than murder. If Mr. Reynolds is convicted of this most recent felony, 13 V.S.A. 11 should be strongly considered, Murad said in a press release. Mulvaney-Stanak has planned a press conference for Friday afternoon to discuss the executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The California Supreme Court has overturned the murder conviction of a Tehachapi woman who prosecutors said failed to report the repeated abuse of her baby boy by his father. The child, Abel, died at 2 months. In the case of Brittney Collins, the court found insufficient evidence supported Collins second-degree murder conviction for the death of her son under either a direct aiding and abetting theory or a direct perpetrator theory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices ordered an appeals court to send the case back to Kern County with instructions to vacate Collins murder conviction and resentence her on the remaining assault conviction. Shes currently serving 15 years to life. Abel died in October 2018. He had injuries that were in different stages of healing, prosecutors said, indicating ongoing abuse. A pathologist testified Abels injuries indicated someone swung him by his leg and threw him against the wall or ground. Prosecutors said Collins saw Abels father, Matthew Norwood, abuse the boy and fail to get help. In a video played at trial, Collins told investigators she had previously seen Norwood squeeze, choke and slap Abel on the head and never intervened or contacted authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She later retracted that statement, and a panel of the state Supreme Court in an opinion published last week determined the evidence showed she took steps to try to protect the baby. She brought him to doctors appointments, removed him from Norwood when she thought he was being too rough and told Norwood he needed to move out on the morning the fatal injuries were inflicted, according to the opinion. The justices noted Collins was in a difficult situation. She described to investigators how Norwood abused her both during and after the pregnancy and she feared hed kill her. Nobodys here: Business dips at Mercado Latino amid Border Patrol operation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she was pregnant, Collins said, Norwood choked her and kneed her in the stomach. She said he pushed her down and jumped on her late in the third trimester. The abuse continued after she gave birth, Collins said. Norwood once hit her so hard she was sore for a week, she said. She attributed Norwoods violent outbursts to his methamphetamine and heroin use. At trial, she testified to lying about witnessing Norwood abuse the baby. She said she told detectives what they wanted to hear in the hope shed be released from custody. In reviewing the case, the justices found no evidence Collins knew with substantial certainty that Norwood would critically injure the baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here, prior to the fatal act, Collins did not observe any physical injuries, Collins made various efforts to secure appropriate medical attention for Abel, there was no evidence Norwood had brutalized other children, and Collins obtained medical care immediately upon observing Abel was in a state of medical emergency, the opinion says. Norwood, 35, was convicted of murder and assault charges. He is serving 25 years to life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Some Democrats in California are concerned that President-elect Donald Trump will again politicize disaster aid amid the wildfires torching the Golden State. Even if we nominally secure some of these things, the money wont flow until Trump is president. And hes just such a wild card, theres reason for worry, California Rep. Jared Huffman told Politico. Trump has placed the blame squarely on California Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming that the fault lies with his water policies in an area that has has received a scant half-inch of rain since July in the second-driest period in 150 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fires have destroyed large areas of Los Angeles County, and Trump has previously issued threats to withhold disaster relief funds from blue states, including California. Congress passed disaster relief during the government funding battle last month, but some members believe they will have to do so again when the next funding deadline comes up in March. The Democrats are yet to make any bold proclamations that Trump and Republicans will block disaster aid. Some California members told Politico that they hope the Republicans will be willing to help them out. Republican California Reps. Young Kim and Doug LaMalfa have stated that the issue should stay bipartisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Democrat Jimmy Panetta told the outlet: If you kind of look at the last four years, though, under the previous Trump administration, you saw Gov. Newsom know how to handle President Trump. In the sense that, fight him where they need to fight him, but also work with them when we need things out of them. Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on Thursday. (AP) Trump has claimed that Newsom is responsible for the meager water supply in Los Angeles, claiming in a social media post on Wednesday that Newsom "refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water" to be used to put out the fires. There is no such document as the water restoration declaration that is pure fiction, the office of the governor said in a statement in response. California Institute for Water Resources climate scientist Daniel Swain told the BBC that California is not experiencing water supply shortages at the moment, not in southern California or elsewhere. There is plenty of water in the reservoirs for firefighting or whatever you want to do with it, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also claimed that there was no water for fire hydrants amid reports that some fire hydrants have run out of water. But local officials say this is due to a heavy pressure on the system. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said the area saw low pressure on a small amount of hydrants for a limited period of time, but he said all problems had been resolved. There are very localized incidents of this unfolding where the fire hydrants have had insufficient water pressure for firefighters to use them, but thats not because LA is running out of water, Swain told the BBC. Nearly a dozen people are believed to be dead -- with the Los Angeles County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as devastating fires spread across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions, leaving officials scrambling to contain the historic destruction. Thousands of firefighters are battling at least five sprawling wildfires spread around the LA area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, in Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 21,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and is 8% contained. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, now stands at more than 13,000 acres and is 3% contained. More than 100,000 people are under evacuation orders. David Muir anchors a special edition of "20/20" with continuing coverage of the deadly California fires. American Catastrophe: LA Burning - A Special Edition of 20/20 starts tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Latest Developments Jan 11, 11:58 AM 13 missing, 11 dead in LA County At least 13 people are missing and 11 are dead in Los Angeles County as the fires continue to burn. It remains unknown if any of the missing persons are included in the death count. The sheriff's department has committed 40 members of its specialized search and rescue teams to work jointly with our partners at Los Angeles County Fire urban search and rescue team with the corners office for LA County, FEMA, the Office of Emergency Services and the use of cadaver dogs to search for remains and reunite families. Jan 11, 11:33 AM 22 arrests in Palisades, Eaton Fires Twenty-two people were arrested amid the Palisades and Eaton Fire areas, most of them people who were not where they were supposed to be, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. "They had no business being there," Luna told reporters on Saturday about the people arrested. Those arrested include two people who were arrested and booked for curfew violations. Most of the arrests were for burglary, looting and possession of narcotics. Jan 11, 10:10 AM Palisades Fire reaches 11% containment, currently covering nearly 22,000 acres The Palisades Fire has reached 21,596 acres with 11% containment, currently the biggest fire in California. Winds are expected to gradually increase going into the evening on Saturday. The Eaton Fire has also reached 14,117 acres and is currently at 15% containment. The Kenneth Fire currently stands at 1,052 acres with 80% containment. Jan 10, 11:22 PM New evacuation order issued for Palisades Fire A new evacuation order has been issued for the Palisades Fire. The new order extends from the Encino Reservoir in the north to Sunset Boulevard in the south and from the Mandeville Canyon in the west to the busy 405 freeway to the east. PHOTO: Firefighters are seen by massive flames from the Palisades Fire in California, Jan. 10, 2025. (KABC) Previously, those areas were under an evacuation warning, which means residents are urged to be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Jan 10, 11:07 PM LA Clippers game postponed due to wildfires The LA Clippers game Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets at Intuit Dome has been postponed due to the wildfires in Los Angeles. Next week's Clippers' games at Intuit Dome against the Miami Heat on Jan. 13 and against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 15 will continue as scheduled, the venue said. Jan 10, 10:29 PM LA County investigating why millions of residents got erroneous evacuation order LA County officials said they are getting to the bottom of why an evacuation order erroneously went to millions of people on Thursday during the outbreak of a new, rapidly spreading fire. The evacuation alert Thursday was meant for residents of the West Hills area near the Kenneth Fire -- but instead, the alert went to nearly 10 million residents across the county. The county said its Emergency Operations Center sent an accurate, targeted alert about 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, but that it was erroneously distributed "far outside the intended geographic area" once it left the county's center. The company that operates the software for the county's emergency alert messages is now conducting testing and has also added software safeguards, the county said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission -- along with the county -- are also investigating why "echoes" of the original faulty alert "continued to land on phones across LA County, alarming residents already facing the horrifying effects of destructive wildfires that are still burning." The county called the error a "serious breach of public trust" and said, for now, the state's Office of Emergency Services would be handling alerts to the public. Jan 10, 9:50 PM LA mayor's office denies report fire chief was dismissed The Los Angeles mayor's office said reports that LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has been fired or quit her post are false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Mayor and Chief met," a statement from the office of Mayor Karen Bass said. "The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos." The statement came after a published report that Crowley had been fired. Crowley has appeared with the mayor at news conferences this week but gave multiple media interviews Friday criticizing city leadership over fire department funding. Jan 10, 9:08 PM Flare-up of Palisades Fire in Santa Monica mountains brings intense flames A flare-up of the Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica mountains sent firefighters retreating as the flames approached some of their equipment. The scene was captured by KABC's news helicopter. The flames approached and then appeared to overtake fire department vehicles near two helispots, which are designated areas where helicopters can safely land, take off and refuel. PHOTO: Large flames are seen during the Palisades Fire in California, Jan. 10, 2025. (KABC) No homes were immediately threatened by the flare-up and there were no new evacuation orders, according to KABC. --ABC News' Jennifer Watts and Jeffrey Cook Jan 10, 7:22 PM Firefighter finds woman's wedding ring in rubble Victoria DeSantis has seconds to evacuate her Altadena home this week from the Eaton Fire. She left so quickly, she left behind her wedding and engagement rings. PHOTO: Victoria DeSantis poses with her wedding ring that had been lost in the rubble of her home in Altadena, Calif. (Courtesy Victoria DeSantis ) She returned to find her home of 20 years had turned into rubble. She sifted through the debris to find her melted engagement ring. She thought the wedding band had melted in with it as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A firefighter was on the ground with her and found the ring, seemingly untouched by the fire's wrath. She says it was one bright light during a very dark week. PHOTO: Victoria DeSantis poses with her wedding ring that had been lost in the rubble of her home in Altadena, Calif. (Courtesy Victoria DeSantis ) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement -ABC News' Zohreen Shah Jan 10, 7:06 PM 11 fire-related deaths reported to medical examiner The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Friday it is investigating 11 fire-related deaths reported to the department. Five cases are from the Palisades Fire and six from the Eaton Fire, the department said. So far, three of the cases have been confirmed to be human remains, the medical examiner said. PHOTO: In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, burned homes are seen from above during the Palisades fire near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images) Click here to read the rest of the blog. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) California Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced Senate Bill 59, also known as the Transgender Privacy Act, on Thursday. SB 59 would protect the privacy of transgender and nonbinary people by automatically making all court records related to their gender transition sealed and confidential to reduce risks that they will be outed, the senators office said. The senator said his bill is partially in response to Donald Trumps return to the White House. According to Wiener, the incoming presidents administration will be openly hostile to the transgender community, and states like California must step up to defend them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some transgender and nonbinary people are surprised to discover that their records, including deadnames and other personal information, are discoverable online, Wiener said. When I learned I was unable to change my name in California without being forcibly outed online and exposed to harassment I was appalled, said Hazel Williams, San Francisco resident and community organizer. There are 220,000 transgender and non-binary adults in California. All of us deserve privacy and safety. Senator Wiener said, Unfortunately, right-wing groups and individuals have used publicly available personal information to harass trans people in California and across the nation. The incoming Trump administration will only embolden abusive right-wing extremists. Supreme Court refuses Trumps request to block Fridays criminal sentencing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, a transgender woman in Stanislaus County sued for the right to seal her court records after she was allegedly subjected to harassment after being forcibly outed on social media and at work. If the bill is approved, all court records relating to a persons previous name, gender, and sex change would be sealed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. ATHENS (Reuters) - Wall Street bank JP Morgan has filed two lawsuits over its investment in fintech Viva Wallet, the latest twist in a legal dispute between the two sides over how to value the Greek business. A source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that JP Morgan filed a lawsuit in Greece on Jan. 2 seeking 916 million euros ($944 million) over allegations that Viva's CEO, Haris Karonis, and three other executives "deprived JPMorgan of the value of its 2022 investment in Viva through unlawful actions from March 2022 onwards". In an emailed statement, Karonis confirmed the two lawsuits and denounced them as an act of intimidation. He did not give details of either suit. "These proceedings are simply the latest step in JPM's concerted effort to depreciate Viva's value, to preclude it from expanding in the United States and elsewhere, and intimidate its directors," the statement said. The U.S. bank bought a 48.5% stake in Viva Wallet, which is used by businesses in southern Europe, for about $800 million in 2022. Werealize (WRL) owns 51.49%. Under the terms of the deal, WRL loses its right to reject any JP Morgan offer to take control of Viva if the business is valued at below 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) by July 30, 2025. Both sides claimed success in June when a London judge issued a decision on how the business should be valued, after they sued each other on the valuation of the joint business. JP Morgan also filed a case in UK this week against Werealize.com, which claims it breached shareholder agreements by causing Viva not to respect the obligation to obtain JPMorgan's consent before taking certain specified significant business actions, the source said. WRL did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Mark Potter) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) As California deals with devastating wildfires, a new study shows how their impacts can be seen right here in Illinois. The fires are burning thousands of acres on the West Coastsomething that happens all too often. Experts said much of that smoke tends to make its way to the Midwest. How to donate to LA wildfire relief Sometimes we think wildfires are just a policy issue or a problem facing people on the West Coast, said University of Illinois Professor David Molitor. Its actually an issue that all of us face as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent study highlights how the air pollution from these fires is impacting peoples health in Illinois. Most fires that are burning out here are burning up in Canada, Molitor said. But its just that wind patterns mean the Midwest gets a lot of beautiful sunsets. The University of Illinois is explaining the health implications of the smoke byproduct of wildfires through a new study. A lot of times we think of wildfires as being a problem that the Pacific Northwest has, or California has, or the Southeast of the U.S., Molitor said. But the smoke that these fires produce certainly doesnt stay local. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says Newsom should resign as Los Angeles wildfires rage Although Californias wildfires are thousands of miles away, the consequences still find Americans in the Midwest thanks to wind patterns. Two professors on campus published their findings from this movement in a journal in November. Molitor was one of the co-authors. The smoke plumes can blow hundreds or even thousands of miles from their source, which can reach all parts of the United States, Molitor said. The study correlates data of hospitalizations and deaths with major smoke events across the country, including the Midwest. We took the data on the smoke plumes: which days different parts of the United States were covered in smoke, Molitor said. And then we matched that up with comprehensive health data that comes from the Medicare program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LIVE: Biden, officials gives update on devastating Los Angeles wildfires They found wildfire smoke leads to roughly 200,000 extra ER visits among those 65 and older. In the days before the smoke event, health outcomes are pretty typical, Molitor said. But then when the smoke arrives, you see a very sharp increase in visits to the emergency room. It also has an impact on more than 10,000 premature deaths in the same age group. And then whats interesting is if you look at mortality, mortality doesnt spike immediately, but it spikes in the day or two after the smoke, Molitor said. The study also found a relatively small difference in the dangers posed by thick and light smoke events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Champaign Police Deputy Chief announces retirement Its still true that the largest, most intense smoke events are worse for your health than the light ones, Molitor said. But per unit of pollution that they carry, the smallest smoke shocks actually have the greatest damages to health. Molitor hopes the study can help bring awareness and consideration to wildfire smoke as it pertains to health. I think whats kind of an important takeaway from our study is that the wildfire smoke exposure is not just an issue thats happening on the coasts or in certain parts of the country, Molitor said. It really is happening throughout the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said the study estimates one out of every 250 deaths for those 65 and older in the U.S. is attributed to wildfire smoke exposure. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) When lawmakers return to Pierre for South Dakotas upcoming legislative session, theyll consider a bill which would increase the consequences for human trafficking in the state. I think it has the potential to be a monumental win for victims of human trafficking by making South Dakota law consistent with federal law, including on mandatory minimums, said Rachel Schartz, director of grants management with Call to Freedom, which supports people impacted by human trafficking. I think and I hope that well see a lot more victims see justice at the state level. Black-owned business targeted with racist graffiti Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposed legislation would require mandatory minimum sentences without the possibility of suspending the sentence; its one of South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackleys priorities this session. We dont want human traffickers here in South Dakota, so it sends that message, Jackley said. It has a deterrent value, and if they are going to do it here, it has significant penalties. HUMAN-TRAFFICKING-REVISIONSDownload Nevertheless, the bill is just legislation. Schartz says it would by no means resolve the issue on its own. Its going to take comprehensive education for states attorneys, law enforcement, judges and all other criminal justice stakeholders at the local and state level to really deeply understand what human trafficking is and how to build, prosecute and sentence a case effectively, Schartz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such sentencing could mean everything to someone trapped in a reality of forced labor or sexual exploitation. I think when you look at, historically, we have never at the state level had a successful conviction of human trafficking, Schartz said. They have all pled down to lesser crimes or lesser degrees or theyve gone federal because up until this point, federal law bore a greater burden on sentencing. So I think its huge. We have seen far too many victims and survivors of human trafficking never see justice. South Dakotas upcoming legislative session starts Jan. 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Canada has pledged $305 million (CAD $440 million) in additional military assistance to Ukraine, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Jan. 9. The announcement includes $138 million (CAD $200 million) allocated to Czechias initiative for procuring and delivering large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine, adding to over $36 million (CAD $53 million) pledged last year. This funding has already resulted in the delivery of approximately 11,500 rounds of large-calibre ammunition. Another $35 million (CAD $50 million) will be dedicated to procuring various calibres of ammunition from Canadian manufacturers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The military assistance announced today provides Ukrainians with resources needed to resist Russian aggression," Blair said. "The (contact group), through the leadership of Secretary Austin, has been vital in ensuring that the military aid were collectively providing Ukraine is comprehensive, well-coordinated, and meets the countrys most pressing needs. Canada remains strongly committed to working with our Allies and partners to support Ukraine until victory." Blair also committed $70 million (CAD $100 million) to the Danish Model, which supports Ukraines domestic production of military drones. Drones have played a crucial role in the war, with Ukraines defense industry advancing rapidly in this area. This funding builds on Canadas earlier contributions, including $2 million (CAD $3 million) provided in April 2024 and the donation of 900 Canadian-built SkyRanger drones, of which 560 have already reached Ukraine. Since February 2022, Canada has provided $3.1 billion (CAD $4.5 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine. This support has included advanced weaponry, drones, and vehicles. Blair added that deliveries of approximately 1,300 CRV-7 rocket warheads were completed in December 2024, following the shipment of over 2,000 rocket motors earlier in the year. The first batch of Armoured Combat Support Vehicles arrived in the fall, with training completed, and an additional 40 vehicles are set for delivery by the end of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Canada to strengthen Arctic cooperation with US amid rising Russian threats Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Friday imposed sanctions on 14 current and former senior officials of the Venezuelan government, alleging that they had engaged in activities that have supported human rights violations in Venezuela. The sanctions coincide with measures taken by Canada's allies including the United States and United Kingdom, and "demonstrate a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people," the Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement. The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday's new and expanded sanctions from countries including the United States and Britain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in for a third term on Friday, and his government have always rejected sanctions by the United States and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela. Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. TORONTO (AP) Canada's governing Liberal Party will announce the country's next prime minister on March 9 after a leadership vote that follows the resignation of Justin Trudeau this week, party leaders said late Thursday. Trudeau remains prime minister until a new leader is chosen. The frontrunners for the Liberal leadership are former central banker Mark Carney and ex-Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland, whose abrupt resignation last month forced Trudeau's exit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, meanwhile, has decided to not enter the race. Joly said that while shes ready to become the first female leader of the Liberal party, shes not willing to leave her cabinet posting at a crucial time for Canada-U. S. relations. The reality is, I cant do both, she told reporters on Parliament Hill on Friday. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc dashed the hopes of many of his fellow lawmakers Wednesday by becoming the first Cabinet minister to rule out a leadership bid. The Liberal Partys National Board of Directors announced the rules of the race late Thursday. After a robust and secure nation-wide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election, party president Sachit Mehra said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump keeps calling Canada the 51st state and has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods. The next Liberal leader could be the shortest-tenured prime minister in the country's history. All three opposition parties have vowed to bring down the Liberals' minority government in a no-confidence vote after parliament resumes on March 24. Recent polls suggest the Liberals chances of winning the next election look slim. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the opposition Conservatives 45% to 23%. Trudeau announced his resignation Monday after facing an increasing loss of support both within his party and in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 53-year-old scion of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canadas most famous prime ministers, became deeply unpopular with voters over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing as well as surging immigration. Trudeau told Freeland last month he no longer wanted her to serve as finance minister, but that she could remain deputy prime minister and the point person for U.S.-Canada relations. Freeland resigned shortly after and released a scathing letter about the government that proved to be the last straw for the embattled leader. She has been talking to her colleagues this week to discuss next steps. After she resigned, Trump called Freeland totally toxic and not at all conducive to making deals. Freeland was Canada's point person when the U.S, Canada and Mexico redid its free trade deal during the first Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeland is a combination of many things that seem to irritate Trump: a liberal, a Canadian, and a former journalist. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian heritage, has also been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia Carney is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience who is widely credited with helping Canada dodge the worst of the 2008 crisis and helping the U.K. manage Brexit. In 2012, he was named the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. His appointment won bipartisan praise in Britain after he served as the head of Canada's central bank and after Canada recovered faster than many other countries from the 2008 financial crisis. He has long been interested in entering politics and becoming prime minister but lacks political experience. He said this week in a statement that he is encouraged by the support he has had, and that he will consider his decision with family over the next few days. The Liberal party said the fee to join the leadership race will be $350,000 Canadian ($243,000) and candidates must declare by Jan. 23. The party said voters for the party leadership must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian cabinet ministers will discuss on Friday how they could retaliate if the new U.S. administration imposes tariffs on imports from Canada, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said. Canada's Liberal government has repeatedly made clear it will strike back if President-elect Donald Trump goes ahead with a threat to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada unless Ottawa does more to boost border security. "We will be talking about retaliatory measures against potential tariffs from President-elect Trump, and we will be ready," Joly told reporters ahead of a cabinet committee to discuss the matter. "I think that when President Trump talks, we listen, and we need to take him very seriously, and we need to show the American people and folks and people around Trump that there will be real consequences." The Globe and Mail newspaper on Thursday, citing sources, said Canada was considering tariffs on a slew of U.S. products including orange juice, ceramic goods, some steel products, glassware, and a slew of plastic articles. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday recalled that during a bilateral trade dispute in 2018, Canada put tariffs on Heinz ketchup, playing cards, bourbon, and Harley Davidson motorcycles - "on things that would hurt American workers." Joly said she would be flying to Washington next week for talks with U.S. officials. Trudeau on Thursday met American business leaders and told them tariffs would raise prices, discourage growth and investment, and hit markets. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Alison Williams) Los Angeles authorities have vowed to prosecute illegal drone flights after a civilian drone collided with a Canadian Super Scooper aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire Thursday, forcing it to be grounded. The specifically designed CL-415 firefighting planes are used to scoop up more than 1,500 gallons of ocean water to drop on active fires. The plane in question, Quebec 1, sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said, adding that there were no reported injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The damaged plane is expected to begin flying again Tuesday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a news conference Tuesday morning. The collision caused the temporary grounding of all aircraft responding to the Palisades Fire, The War Zone reported, citing Cal Fire. It was one of the two such planes deployed to the site, The War Zone said. These fire suppression efforts using aircraft is probably the most effective tool that our firefighters have against fighting these fires to help contain them, Akil Davis, FBI assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles field office, told CNN on Saturday. When you take one plane out of commission like that, its going to impact the speed in which the fire grows, its going to cause loss of property, potentially loss of life, and its a danger to everybody all around, Davis continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI is seeking the publics help in identifying the operator of the drone flight, which the agency said is personally owned, Davis said. The plane sustained a three-by-six-inch hole in its wing from a privately-owned drone, some pieces of which authorities were able to recover, said Davis. CNN has contacted California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for comment. Anyone flying a drone in the restricted airspace over the fires without permission may face legal consequences, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a Friday morning news conference. Super Scooper grounded after drone strike. - LA County Fire Department/X You will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law, said the district attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marrone added: Our federal partners behind the scenes are going to be implementing procedures to be able to follow drones in our two large fire areas, and they will be able to identify who the operator of that drone is. The most important thing to know is that if you fly a drone at one of these brush fires, all aerial operations will be shut down, and we certainly dont want to have that happen, the fire chief said. It is a violation of federal law to fly drones in areas where the Federal Aviation Administration instituted a temporary flight restriction in Southern California due to the wildfires, Davis said. Potential penalties for the offense can range from significant fines to prison time, or a combination of both, he said. Highlighting the dangers in flying drone flights around wildfires, Davis said a hole such as the one sustained by Quebec 1 could spread across the wing and take the entire aircraft down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And now were dealing with a plane crash in the middle of a historic wildfire for Southern California, Davis continued. These drones are nothing to be played with. The FBI field office in Los Angeles is working with local and state partners to identify private citizens that are violating the temporary flight restriction by operating drones in these areas, according to Davis. The LAFD released photos of the plane bearing the tail number C-GQBE showing a hole in the front of one its wings. C-GQBE is listed on multiple flight tracking websites as a Canadair CL-415. Two CL-415 planes are sent annually to California from the Canadian province of Quebec, under a 31-year-old agreement between their respective governments, CNN newsgathering partner CBC reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Bensadoun, a spokesperson for Quebecs Transport Ministry, told CBC the province sends a firefighting team of 25 pilots and 20 technicians. On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X a video of one of the planes in action in California, saying it was an example of Neighbours helping neighbors, using both American-English spelling and the British-English spelling more common in Canada. The midair collision is now under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, which said the firefighting aircraft landed safely. The FAA underscored late Thursday that it has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in restricted airspace put in place over the wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses, the agency said. It said that drones near aerial firefighting can ground air tankers, slow fire response, and cost lives. The FAA did not specify which agency was operating the aerial firefighting aircraft. Flight tracking data showed Cal Fire air tankers and helicopters as well as those from county fire departments and government contractors operating over the LA wildfires Thursday. CNNs Chris Boyette, Emma Tucker, Holly Yan, Rebekah Riess, and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Is he or isnt he joking? President-elect Donald Trump is posting more frequently about Canada becoming the 51st state on social media in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus resignation on Monday. After Trudeaus resignation, the president-elect took to Truth Social, writing, Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat, his post continued. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later Monday, Trump spoke at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and expanded on his thoughts about Canada. Heres the problem with Canada, Trump said. Were spending hundreds of billions a year to protect it. We lose in trade deficits. We dont need their cars, you know they make 20% of our cars; we dont need that. Id rather make them in Detroit. We dont need their cars, we dont need their lumber we dont need anything, so why are we losing $200 billion a year or more to protect Canada? Trump then brought up a conversation hed had with Trudeau. He asked what would happen if the U.S. pulled its fiscal support, and Trump claimed that Trudeau said Canada would dissolve. Canadian leaders across the political spectrum pushed back on Trump following his remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre responded on X, saying, Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country. Poilievre went on, discussing the ways in which his party plans on putting Canada First. However, Trump has continued to post a series of North American maps with Canada and the U.S. both labeled, United States. What are Canadians saying? Don Tapscott, a Canadian businessman and author, claimed that 94% of Canadians would rather remain Canadian than become American. However, he entertained the idea hypothetically and slightly satirically, listing principles and institutions that Canadians hold dear for any deal to be acceptable, per Fortune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This list included the U.S. adopting a nationalized health care system, no limits on abortion and more restrictive gun control laws. Another survey by Leger found that 82% of Canadians would rather stay separate from the U.S. than join. In mid-December last year, a BBC reporter asked Canadians on the street what their reaction would be to Canada joining the U.S. as a 51st state. Lisa, a British Columbia native, said, I just think that hes mocking Canada because he knows we have a weak leader. Similarly, an Alberta native, Suzanne, said, My immediate reaction to that is fear. Being seen as an extension of America isnt really part of my personal narrative or my understanding of my country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shahin, an Ontario native, added, Like most Canadians, I am offended by these kinds of comments, and I think this shows a lack of understanding about international alliances. However, Canadian Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary said he supports the idea of Canada joining the United States, per Fox Business. I think in this kernel of an idea and yes, maybe it was a joke to start, OLeary said. There is something great here to be done, because if you figured out a way to put these two countries together, it would be the most powerful country on Earth, the most powerful military on Earth, the most powerful resources, and no adversary anywhere would mess with it. Thats the prize. What would hypothetically happen to Capitol Hill with Canadas addition Politico entertained the thought and highlighted the changes Canada would bring to American politics if they were added as the 51st state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news organization drew on a poll conducted by Leger360 in October 2024, which showed 64% of Canadians favor Kamala Harris, compared to 21% who support Trump and 15% who are unsure. As one state, Canada would get two senators and 45 representatives, which would cause the rest of the states to be reapportioned to keep the chamber at 435. In an opinion piece to the New York Post, National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry predicted that Canada would be a blue-state behemoth, matching California in population and, presumably, in reliably Democratic politics. He continued, We might think wed annex Canada and make it more like us, but with two Democratic senators and a huge tranche of electoral votes for Democratic presidential candidates Canada would surely make us more like it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Politico believes that if somehow Canada had been added to the U.S. before the 2024 presidential election, Trump still would have won, since (Harris) lost every battleground. Has the U.S. ever tried to take Canada before? The Dominion of Canada was formed in 1867, after a confederation of several British colonies was ratified. Canada is still a member of the British commonwealth. In 1844, U.S. President James K. Polk campaigned on the idea of annexing Canada. His slogan was 5440 or Fight, and while he was unsuccessful in his Canadian ventures, he did manage to annex Texas, Oregon and the Mexican Cession. CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) The Cardinal Joint Fire District in Canfield got a new ladder truck this week but this one is a little more special. The aluminum used in the ladder was made at Extrudex Aluminum in North Jackson. Fire Chief Don Hutchison described the truck as a standard pumper but with a 75-foot ladder. On Friday morning, crew members visited the aluminum company to show it off to the employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im super excited. Public safety, the importance of it, just helping anyone out there. You get into a car accident, the fire departments and then our employees get to do this for people theres nothing more exciting, said Amanda Martinez, with Extrudex Aluminum. You may have seen other Extrudex products around the Valley including field goal posts, road signs and truck trailers. Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Lactalis has decided to shut a factory in Zambia, the countrys government has said. The dairy group has cited market dynamics, Chipoka Mulenga, Zambias Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, said. Lactalis decision has been reportedly locally, with the Daily Nation newspaper saying the French giant will export products into Zambia from South Africa. Just Food has asked Lactalis for comment on multiple occasions. In a post on Facebook, Zambias Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry said Mulenga said he met Lactalis management on 6 January to discuss the move. The decision taken has been motivated by business considerations over the past years, which have been informed by market dynamics, influenced by new players in the milk sector, the ministry said. The decision is, therefore, purely based on competitiveness, following new entrants in the sector. The company has elected to make internal re-organisation as part of its changing business model. Should Lactalis reconsider, its decision, the Government is ready to support them, Mulenga said. According to the Daily Nation, Lactalis will switch to an import model from April. In Lactalis 2023 annual report, the privately-owned group said 16% of its 29.5bn revenues were generated from across Africa, Asia and the Pacific region. The majority, some 53%, are derived from Lactalis business in Europe. In September, the group acquired the Cremora creamers business in South Africa from Nestle. The Cremora brand, present in South Africa for more than 77 years, was manufactured at Nestles plants in Babelegi and Potchefstroom. Both of those sites were part of the deal. Cremora is also produced in neighbouring Zimbabwe, at a site in the capital Harare, which will cease to manufacture the brand post the transaction with Lactalis. "Lactalis to close factory in Zambia" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) An experience unlike any that Ive had, said Bakersfield Ward 2 City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales. Thats the consensus on ongoing Border Patrol operations. Community leaders are emphasizing that local law enforcement the Kern County Sheriffs Office and Bakersfield Police Department arent doing anything. In fact, they by law cannot do anything when it comes to federal immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Targeted enforcement arrests: Border Patrol breaks silence, reveals details on Kern County operation People who are very concerned about what might happen to themselves, what might happen to their family or loved ones or neighbors, Gonzales said. Theres also been confusion on social media about local law enforcement involvement in these operations. Sheriff Donny Youngblood told 17 News KCSO is not involved but declined follow up requests for comment. As for Bakersfield Police? The police department is certainly aware of the operations being conducted, BPD Chief Greg Terry said during Wednesdays City Council meeting. We are not involved in any way directly or in a supportive role. In fact, state law prohibits any local resources to be used for immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That law is Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act, which took effect in 2017. They cannot in any way collaborate with or cooperate with the enforcement of federal immigration statues, explained H.A. Sala, co-founder of the Immigration Justice Collaborative and a criminal defense attorney. Salas said for the ongoing CBP operations, that means, The Sheriffs Department, Bakersfield Police Department, CHP cannot assist them in those operations. But there are some exceptions. If [the targets are] engaged in an investigation for narcotics or international narcotics smuggling or some other task force-related situation, then [local law enforcement] can become involved in that, Sala detailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kern County lawmakers express concerns over Border Patrol operations In response to questions about rumors alleging some BPD officers are tipping off agents, a BPD spokesperson said the department is not engaged in giving away such information. Now, community leaders want to emphasize residents regardless of immigration status can reach out to law enforcement for help. Gonzales said, We know that many of our community members are also victims of domestic violence, of violent crimes, of property crime. Gonzales addressed BPD at the Wednesday City Council meeting, asking Chief Terry, They will not be asked from a police officer their immigration status or citizenship status in this country? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To that, the chief answered, No We are focused on local issues and fulfilling our responsibility to the community Call us, irrespective of your immigration status, and we will provide service. Sala also said Terrys affirmation of SB 54 is historic and encourages our neighboring cities and their police chiefs to do the same. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage The attorney said he has no reason to believe the Chiefs comments are not genuine. He said hes confident the Citys top law enforcement officer will comply with the law, as he himself has publicly declared. We hope that the Sheriffs Department will follow suit, as will and should the Board of Supervisors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And as a message to local law enforcement, Councilmember Gonzales said, They must have a clear and distinct boundary [with federal immigration officials]. There are still many questions still left unanswered by Border Patrol, were waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter has tapped police Capt. Adam Ferguson to be the city's next police chief. "I'm just super excited and looking forward to keeping West Lafayette Police Department progressing in the right direction," Ferguson said Friday after Easter's news release was released. Ferguson said he looks forward to working with the department, the city and its partners to make West Lafayette the greatest city in Indiana. West Lafayette Police Department Capt. Adam Ferguson was appointed police chief on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. "Adam Ferguson's vision for the future of the West Lafayette Police Department continues our tradition of excellence in policing," Easter said in the release. "As our next chief, I know that Adam will lead the department the way our city expects and with the integrity West Lafayette demands." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson replaces Troy Harris as chief. Harris retired last month. Ferguson started at the West Lafayette Police Department in 1999 as a dispatcher, then was sworn in as an officer in January 2001. As he rose through the ranks, he served as sergeant and lieutenant in the patrol division. Currently, he is a captain of the patrol division. He also has been a member of the Special Response Team for 22 years. Ferguson was raised in Goshen and moved to West Lafayette in 1995. He lives in the West Lafayette area with his wife and their three children, and he is a member of First United Methodist Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson also is pursuing a master's degree in public administration at Indiana State University. He serves as vice president of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lafayette and as the law enforcement liaison for Special Olympics of Tippecanoe County. A date for Ferguson's swearing-in will be announced soon. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: West Lafayette police Capt. Adam Ferguson appointed police chief SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The Town of Manlius Police Department was called to M&T Bank on Friday, Jan. 10 for a car crash involving a building. This was M&T Banks Manlius Center Road location. According to Manlius Police, an older driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake while trying to stop the car. This caused the vehicle to hit the bank and enter the front of the building. Courtesy of Town of Manlius Police Department via Facebook. Courtesy of Town of Manlius Police Department via Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was seriously injured in the crash. Police say the bank will remain closed for the rest of the day as crews work to clean up the building. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. Why does it matter that Elon Musk has just thrown his wealth and influence behind the AfD, a hitherto obscure German party of the extreme Right? Because Germany is different. Other European countries can flirt with post-fascist parties, such as Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy, or even elect fellow-travellers of Putin like Hungarys Viktor Orban or Slovakias Robert Fico. Austria is on the verge of installing the Freedom Party in office, a party originally created by and for former Nazis. And this weeks death of Jean-Marie Le Pen reminds us of the nostalgia for Marshal Petain and Vichy France that gave rise to the party his daughter Marine now leads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of these developments, disturbing as they may be, means that the Continent is about to revert to its pre-war pattern of authoritarian and totalitarian rule. For all its absurd pretensions and manifold flaws, postwar Europe has remained a bastion of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. This historically unprecedented stability, however, has always been predicated on one nation remaining irrevocably anchored in the West: namely, the Germans. For Europe, the fate of Germany is existential. After two world wars and the Holocaust had devastated Europe both physically and morally, the creation of the Federal Republic marked a turning point. And the fall of the Berlin Wall, followed by reunification, seemed to set the seal on the reinvention of Germany as a model democracy. Yet no nation can escape entirely from its history. The past has a habit of returning with a vengeance, especially when overconfident outsiders meddle in matters they dont understand. This brings us back to Elon Musks interview with Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (or AfD), on his X platform, formerly known as Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of this rambling exchange, lasting well over an hour, consists of monologues by Musk on his current obsessions, including the Joker in Batman, crime in California, expeditions to Mars and the existence of God. But Musk has also, quite deliberately, exposed his hundreds of millions of followers (and no doubt a sizeable portion of the German population) to the unchallenged propaganda of a demagogue who is all the more sinister because she is so plausible. Alice Weidel knows how to flatter Musks outsized ego and gains his trust by assuring him that she is an admirer of Thatcher and Trump. A lesbian whose wife hails from Sri Lanka, she calls herself a libertarian enough to persuade a political ingenu that she is the polar opposite of a Nazi. Indeed, Weidel presents herself not as a politician but as an economist, masquerading as a reassuring figure like the academics who founded the AfD in 2013. It was then seen as a professors party, not unlike the liberal Democratic Party of the Weimar era, and its main policy was a moderate Euroscepticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the professors were quickly ousted by ever more extreme nationalists, who replaced a reasoned critique of the EU with a heady brew of hostility to Muslims, xenophobia and conspiracy theories. The rise of the AfD was accelerated by some of Angela Merkels decisions, including her (short-lived but disastrous) opening of the borders to Syrian migrants in 2015, her reliance on Russian gas and Chinese trade, and her gratuitous shutdown of the German nuclear industry. But Alice Weidels party, like all its predecessors on the fringe of German politics, feeds on resentment against the postwar settlement imposed by the Allies. She wants an end to Natos support for Ukraine, repeating Putins talking points about the war he unleashed. Startlingly, Alice Weidel pretends that Hitler was a communist (even though they were in fact his first victims), while her own party is respectably conservative libertarian. Never mind that her colleague Bjorn Hocke, the AfD boss in Thuringia, has been convicted of using Nazi slogans and the equivalent of MI5 classifies the party as a suspected extremist organisation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even a Californian billionaire entirely innocent of recent European history could easily have discovered that Marine Le Pen herself regards the AfD as dangerously outre and had it kicked out of her EU parliamentary group. If Musk has his way and the AfD emerges from next months federal election as one of the two largest parties, the reverberations will be felt far beyond Germany. Not only would such a result be a blow for Ukraine, Nato and the West, but it could end the taboo against coalitions with the extreme Right. In 1933, the forerunners of todays German conservatives enabled the Nazis to seize power. Within months, they were swept aside. Did Alice Weidel really have no idea until recently that her grandfather, Hans Weidel, had been a Nazi judge? Most of us who know Germany and Austria will have had the uncomfortable experience of hearing an unsavoury and inconvenient past being sanitised. Maybe Elons philosophy of curiosity let him down and he was actually taken in by Alices looking-glass view of German politics and history. Of all Elon Musks many attributes, one thing he is certainly not: a journalist. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter smiles during a book signing event in 2018. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Jimmy Carter would chart a new course for the state at the start of his four-year term serving as Georgias governor when he used his inauguration address in 1971 to assert a public stand against the racial segregation that still maintained its popularity among many white Georgians. Carters iconic speech that explicitly declared the end of racial discrimination against Black people and other minorities would become a symbol of Carters philosophy during and after a political career that saw him rise to the prominence of becoming U.S. president, before his presidency ended four years later when he lost his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carters civil rights legacy as governor includes his famous inauguration speech calling for the end of segregation, his efforts to significantly increase the number of Black people working in state government, and his decision to hang a Martin Luther King Jr. portrait inside the state Capitol. Carter died Dec. 29 at his modest Plains home while surrounded by family. The 100-year-old was the longest-living president in American history and the only Georgian to lead the country. As a candidate, Carter was able to successfully implement a campaign strategy to court votes from pro-segregationists in order to overcome the favored candidate for governor, Carl Sanders, in the 1970 Democratic primary. Sanders was seeking a second term as Georgia governor, after previously winning the 1962 election. Sanders was a moderate who led the transition away from racial segregation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, much to the surprise of many Georgians, Carters inauguration remarks on racial equality stood in stark contrast to Maddox, an outspoken white supremacist who infamously used the threat of violence to keep Blacks from dining at his Atlanta restaurant. On Jan. 12, 1971, Carter delivered this line at his gubernatorial inauguration: The time for racial discrimination is over. Carters inauguration speech would place him under a new national spotlight, earning him a place on the cover of Time magazine and a prominent feature in the New York Times. When he was actually inaugurated in January 1971, he shocked many people, many people that voted for him and in the previous election with his really clear, definitive statements saying that the time for racial separation, racial conflict is over, said Joseph Crespino, the Jimmy Carter professor of History at Emory University. Thats what put him on the national radar. The way he ran his gubernatorial administration, in appointing the most African-Americans of any governor of Georgia up to that point, made clear where he stood on on racial issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter would become governor of the Peach State on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement era as prominent Black Georgians like King fought to overturn the longstanding dominance of white supremacy. Carter would go on to deliver on the promise he made to civil rights leaders that he would take an anti-segregation stance if elected as governor. During his four years as governor, Carter is credited with supporting several progressive policies advancing civil rights, including the appointment of several Black judges, expanded opportunities for women and minorities in state government, and working to eliminate racial discrimination in education and housing. Former Democratic state Rep. Calvin Smyre, who was the states longest-serving legislator until he stepped down in 2023, said he met Carter for the first time during his presidential campaign in 1975 and stumped for him in Mississippi and South Carolina as a 27-year-old freshman representative. Jimmy Carter accepts the presidential nomination of his party at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 14, 1980. (Photo credit: Jimmy Carter Library) In 1984, Smyre would become the first Black Georgia legislator elected to the Democratic National Committee and in 1987 would become the first Black floor leader at the state Capitol since Reconstruction after his appointment by Gov. Joe Frank Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a sad day, said Smyre about Carters death. A giant pine tree has fallen in the Georgia forests, and President Carter, Gov. Carter, did much to lift the lives of so many people around the world. Smyre said Carter will be remembered in Georgia for his role in advancing racial equality. When you think about Jimmy Carters upbringing and how he had a turnaround in terms of race relations, its a remarkable story, and the fact of the matter is he, once he did that, a lot of people shunned him politically, and it was not an easy task during his term as governor in the Georgia General Assembly. When I was elected, there were 90 Black legislators in America, now there are nearly 800, he said. So we stand on the shoulders of courageous people like Jimmy Carter, who at the time, that was not a welcome message in the political terrain that we lived in in those days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia state Rep. Darshun Kendrick, a Lithonia Democrat, praised Carter for making the state government more inclusive. Georgia state Rep. Darshun Kendrick, a Lithonia Democrat. Georgia House of Representatives photo According to the Carter Center, there were only three African Americans serving on state boards and commissions when Carter took office as governor and 53 when he left. Carter appointed more women and minorities to his staff, the judiciary and major state boards and agencies than all of his predecessors combined. One of the things that President Carter was able to do is to bring together people from different backgrounds around the state of Georgia and really put them in positions to be able to represent the state of Georgia, Kendrick said. The state is over 33.5% African American right now, and other nationalities, so you see that because of his efforts, there are a lot of people that are here in the state from different backgrounds. We need to always make sure that whoever our leaders are reflecting that, and he did a great job of starting that. Prior to Carter becoming a state senator, he served as chairman of the Sumter County school board where he took the unpopular stance of supporting the desegregation of public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carters successful gubernatorial election would coincide with a couple other progressive Southern Democratic candidates winning elections in states like Arkansas and South Carolina. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives file past the flag-draped casket of the late President Jimmy Carter in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Ashley Murray/States Newsroom Hanging the portrait of Martin Luther King was very much the opposite of what his predecessor, Gov. Maddox, had done, said University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock. Maddox hunkers down by saying he expects there to be all kinds of riots at the time of the King funeral. Carter countered by saying (King) is a great Georgian, and therefore were gonna put his portrait here in the Capitol. Bullock said while Carters time as governor was hampered because Georgia governors at the time were prohibited from serving consecutive terms, that restriction also made it easier for Carter to advocate for civil rights. Carter being a progressive Southern Democrat also paved the way for running a successful campaign on the national stage, he said. At least in terms of his Georgia political ambitions, it wasnt like he was constrained by gee I better not do this because its going to cost me when I run for re-election, Bullock said. He was free of that kind of consideration. And to the extent he was beginning to think about running for president, from the Civil War on, Southerners were essentially blocked from becoming president because of their stance on issues of race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carters dedication to civil rights and inclusive policies would play out during his four years as U.S. president and his humanitarian efforts that continued afterward for the rest of his life. As a dark-horse presidential candidate Carter narrowly defeated incumbent Gerald Ford in 1976 and served one term as president before his loss to Reagan. During Carters presidency, he made significant civil and human rights achievements. Post-presidency, Carters humanitarian work, including efforts to eradicate guinea worm in Africa and promote democracy globally, was unprecedented for a former president, political experts said. Crespino said Carters gubernatorial campaign strategy in his run for the Georgia governors mansion would be successful enough to get him elected, but was also an example of the political gamesmanship that often occurs. Carter would later express regret about trying to curry support from pro-segregationists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a pragmatic decision that you cant do anything good if youre not in the office to gain, Crespino said. It was a very pragmatic, political decision of how can I best position myself to win this? This is what politicians do. Its not a pretty business a lot of times and having lost the race in (1966) he was determined to position himself the best way he could win. Kendrick said she hopes to emulate Carters honesty as lawmakers gavel back into session Monday. His work around being honest and transparent when he speaks to constituents, I think thats something thats obviously very missing from our politics today, she said. In the past few days, Ive learned a lot about his promises he made to always tell the truth, even if it cost him an election, so I think Ill take that with me as session starts in the next few days. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX New restaurants and food-based businesses that are opening or have recently opened in Mt. Juliet continue to reshape the city's north side, many on Lebanon Road. New restaurants that have opened in north Mt. Juliet in recent years include Barrel House Restaurant & Bar, The Paper Mill, Hibachi Jr., CP Between the Lakes and Whataburger. That momentum is continuing into 2025. Take a look at the new openings and soon-to-open restaurants on Mt. Juliet's northern edge: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casa Mezcal Mexican Grill: The restaurant is going into the former Psychic Readings by Ms. Miller building at 11804 Lebanon Road. It has been renovated inside and out. Martin Frias and his wife, Jessica Naranjo, who live in Mt. Juliet, will own and operate the sit-down restaurant, which will offer made-from-scratch food, will seat 95-99 guests with an outdoor patio that is also planned, Frias said. Estimates were for the new eatery to open in the first quarter of this year. The family also owns Taqueria Sope Express in Nashville. Casa Mezcal on Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet. The Emeraude Bakery: Hunter Briley opened The Emeraude Bakery in November at the former shooting range that closed on Lebanon Road near the Benders Ferry and Golden Bear Gateway intersection and across from Gateway Station North. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renovations have been continuing with plans to expand the traditional sourdough bread and pastries business, which began out of Briley's home. The bakery now sells about 140 loaves per week. Briley also co-owns Leons Famous Deli in Mt. Juliet. Hunter Briley, the owner of The Emeraude Bakery poses for a photo with bread he's about to deliver. Briley is remodeling an old shooting range on Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet to open a storefront this year. Grace and Mercy Kitchen: Owned and operated by husband and wife Ronald and Tanika Glenn, this new eatery opened as a to-go and catering business in August on Lebanon Road, also just east of the Golden Bear Gateway and Benders Ferry intersection. Grace and Mercy Kitchen specializes in soul food, cheesecake and gluten-free soft serve ice cream. Tim Hortons: Business owner Naren Patel plans to open two of the Canadian-based coffee and bakery shops in Mt. Juliet, along with two in Lebanon and one in Donelson. The Tim Hortons coming to Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet will be a free-standing building on the same lot as a refurbished Golden Bear market and gas station near Park Glen Drive. Work is expected to start soon with opening date estimated in the second quarter of this year. The other Tim Hortons location Patel plans to build in Mt. Juliet is on the citys south side at 5120 Beckwith Road near the TriStar Mt. Juliet ER medical building. A gas station is also part of the Beckwith Road development. Salvo's is moving toward opening a Mt. Juliet location at Green Hill Landing on Lebanon Road. Salvos Family Pizza and Sanika's Indian Cuisine: A sign is up at Green Hill Landing for Salvo's, which will open in the commercial building Green Hill Landing on Lebanon Road across from Green Hill High School and just west of Nonaville Road. Hopes are to open early this year. The brand includes locations in Smyrna, Franklin and Hermitage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanikas Indian Cuisine recently opened at the multi-space commercial building. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Kekes Breakfast Cafe are under construction on Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chipotle Mexican Grill and Kekes Breakfast Cafe: The two restaurants are under construction side-by-side on the north side of Lebanon Road where the landmark Stylemasters hair salon was previously located before moving to Nonaville Road. Chipotle plans to open early this year, according to a company spokesperson. Kekes has estimated opening during the first part of this year. Keke's also opened a new restaurant in Donelson at 2278 Lebanon Pike in Davidson County. K-PALDO: The spot for Korean fried chicken and ramen noodles recently opened in the space formerly belonging to Oishii Asian Steak and Sushi in Mt. Juliet Village, which is anchored by Publix on Lebanon Road. Andy's Frozen Custard: Work is underway on the Andys Frozen Custard walk-up and drive-through building approved on the west side of North Mt. Juliet Road, just south of Shiloh Music Center. An opening date wasnt certain. Nicolettos: A site plan has been approved for an 1,185-square-foot walkup restaurant on the east side of North Mt. Juliet Road for Nicolettos Pasta Co. A construction timeline was uncertain with the design being fine-tuned, said Mark Lineberry of Lineberry Properties. Burger King has been renovated in Mt. Juliet. Burger King: The restaurant that has been a staple on Lebanon Road for decades has reopened after temporarily closing in July for an extensive remodel. Work included interior and exterior upgrades to modernize the restaurant and the addition of a double drive-thru. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Casa Mezcal, Salvo's, Chipotle help reshape Mt. Juliet's north side The Eaton Fire has spared the iconic Walsh family house from Beverly Hills, 90210. Nearly half the other homes on its picturesque Altadena block, including the two immediately to the east and the pair directly across the street, are gone. But the classic Spanish Revival property remained intact when The Hollywood Reporter visited on Thursday afternoon except for a covering of ash, as the blaze currently threatens Mount Wilson Observatory in the Angeles National Forest to the north. The Eaton Fire has so far damaged or destroyed an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 structures, including the residence of Mandy Moore and the beloved local Bunny Museum. By Jan. 9, it had topped 13,000 acres. Multiple deaths have been connected to the inferno. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The so-called Casa Walsh, famously home to twins Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Brenda (Shannen Doherty), has long been a pilgrimage site for fans of the 1990s teen drama. Its idyllic neighborhood has long been a draw for its craftsman, hacienda and midcentury modern architecture, along heavily shaded streets. Yet the Eaton Fire has upended the scenic community, which is now cordoned off to the wider public as homeowners in masks sift through belongings while emergency personnel operate heavy equipment to neutralize safety issues, including downed trees and power lines. (The smell of gas hung heavy in the air.) While nearly every home in portions of the Palisades has been lost in the other major fire thats now spreading through Topanga Canyon, the area around Casa Walsh shows how the Eaton Fire preyed on Altadena in a more scattershot pattern that appears to have been the work of a storm of carried embers. A third to half of homes have been lost, the unlucky ones interspersed evenly with those that made it. Among the Altadena properties that didnt make it is, a short stroll away, the 1915 Spanish Colonial Revival mansion that had been utilized by Hacks as Las Vegas-based comedienne Deborah Vance (Jean Smart)s L.A. side mansion. According to Deadline, only its facade still remains. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A cash reward is being offered for anyone who has information surrounding a 2021 cold case homicide in Lebanon County. The $2,000 reward is for anyone who has information that can solve the case of the death of 35-year-old Zachary Lauderman, according to State Police. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Lauderman was found dead with two gunshot wounds to his head in his home, located along Ulsh lane in Bethel Township Sept. 10 just before 3 p.m., according to Troopers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who knows something is asked to contact PSP Tips at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477), or they can go online to submit a tip by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Caught on camera: Hit-and-run driver leaves license plate number imprinted on victims van LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Dashcam video shows Erika Bruce driving home from Barstow on Interstate 15 when a driver slams into the back of her van, sending her into a ditch. She used her remaining strength to call 911. Now, shes on life support at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, and doctors say theyre unsure of her chances of surviving. The chances of her waking up is slim to none. Were just, were waiting. Just giving her some time to see if any possible miracle can happen, Tyana Samuel, Bruces daughter, said. Erika Bruce. (Photo courtesy Tyana Samuel) The hit-and-run occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 5, according to the time stamp on dashcam video. Bruce was about 15 miles from Primm at the Nevada-California state line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samuel and Bruces mother, Verna Scott, are spending their days with Bruce at the hospital. Bruces family filed a report with California Highway Patrol, with the driver leaving behind evidence. This license plate number was imprinted into Bruces van: The van is a company car for the bus charter company Bruce works for. Shes driven there for about 30 years. She was amazing. I never had to go without, Samuel said. She worked hard her whole life. Id never see my mom unemployed. Bus driving is something that she loved doing. She talked the last year. She talked about, you know, stop bus driving because shes tired of driving. This image from dashcam video shows Erika Bruce during her drive home from Barstow to Las Vegas on I-15. (Photo courtesy, Chappell Johnson) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bruces family pleaded for the driver to come forward. Shes a good person and she didnt deserve this, Scott said. And I hope whoever is doing this, I hope they turn themselves in, because I cant live without my baby. California Highway Patrol told 8 News Now they have a person of interest. The investigation is continuing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. (Bloomberg) -- The Joe Lonsdale-backed venture capital firm 8VC is leading an investment in Epirus Inc., a startup developing technology to detect and intercept drones, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The company is in talks to raise between $150 million and $200 million at a valuation of about $1 billion, including the new investment, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Thats a slight decrease from the $1.35 billion value the company achieved as part of Epirus $200 million Series C funding announced in early 2022. Epirus and 8VC declined to comment. Recent years have been difficult for startups venture capital funding has withered in a post-pandemic slump. And the downturn has made investors less willing to match the valuations set during the zero-interest-rate period. Still, enthusiasm for technology designed to improve military operations is growing. Epirus financing follows a strong year of VC investment in defense technology startups, including Anduril Industries Inc., which raised $1.5 billion in August. Southern California-based Epirus named in reference to the Greek mythological weapon the Epirus bow uses high-power microwave technology to counter drone swarms. The companys customers have included the US Army, Navy and Air Force. Prior to its current funding round, Epirus had raised about $300 million from investors including DCVC, 9Yards Capital, Bedrock and military manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems, according to PitchBook data. The company was co-founded in 2018 by Lonsdale, an early PayPal employee and a co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc. Other founders include Nathan Mintz, Bo Marr, Max Mednik, Grant Verstandig and John Tenet. In 2023, the company appointed Andy Lowery, a former chief engineer for electronic warfare systems at Raytheon, as chief executive officer. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The South Dakota Black Chamber of Commerce is coming up on its one year anniversary of helping minority-owned businesses succeed. Windy City Bites has been a part of Sioux Falls for over four years now starting as a food truck in 2020 to now having a brick-and-mortar location along North Indiana Avenue. Now, they are looking ahead to even more growth with the help of the South Dakota Black Chamber of Commerce. Its a good networking opportunity and then they do seminars, webinars, some of those things that help you navigate through some things that you might not know how to do as far as business is involved, DeShawn Lewis, owner of Windy City Bites, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lenn Patterson George, President of the South Dakota Black Chamber of Commerce, says she wanted to be a part of the Commerce in order to fill a gap in the community and lift up minority-owned businesses. When you look at some of the systemic challenges that minority businesses face with market discrimination, access to capital, having network opportunities those are some of the things that we are affectively and fervently targeting, Patterson George said. Creating a place where minority businesses can receive education and tools to help them whether thats in financial literacy or business etiquette. Vikings, Rams playoff game moved to Arizona She says theyve had a busy first year but they are looking forward to an even more exciting 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have some new initiatives, some new programs that were going to be spearheading, Patterson George said. Again, looking at two new target areas with Brookings and Rapid City and then already being very established here in Sioux Falls. So, 2025 is looking like a very bright year for us. The future is great. Were going to help a lot more businesses, minority businesses and we ask the support of the community, Immanuel Bassey, VP of Finance & Economic Development with the SDBCC, said. Were not just a Chamber for Black people. Were a Chamber for minorities but also for people who are interested in the communal relationship of growth. The South Dakota Black Chamber of Commerce supports more than 50 minority-owned businesses. They also host many workshops and trainings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Its just about tax time, and Siouxlanders can get help from a local organization. The Center for Siouxland is ready to help residents file their taxes before the deadline on April 14th. However, you do need to meet some income requirements in order to qualify for the help. 3 rural Siouxland businesses receive part of $275K VITA program coordinator Susan McGuire encourages all eligible residents to book an appointment because the entire process is done for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were saving people, on average, $300 to $500 that they get to keep in their pocket, she said. They dont have to spend to do that. We dont offer advanced loans or rapid refunds because really no one is going to get their refund any faster then theyre going to get if theyre e-filing. If you are interested in booking an appointment, you can call (712) 252-1861 or go to the Center for Siouxlands website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) A few years after former President Jimmy Carters term ended, he made a trip to New Britain. In 1985, about 3,000 people gathered at Central Connecticut State Universitys Welte Hall to hear the former president deliver the annual Robert C. Vance Lecture. This lecture series ran from 1983 to 2015 to honor the editor, publisher and journalist for The Herald in New Britain, Robert C. Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Final farewell to Jimmy Carter In addition to giving a speech, Carter was also awarded the universitys first honorary degree. The universitys archivist, Renata Vickery, said, it was also important for our students to see someone who started from the very humble beginning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. When first running for office as a Democrat in 2022, state Rep. Hillary Cassel said she disagreed with Gov. Ron DeSantis on almost all issues. Just last year, Democratic state Rep. Susan Valdes said she couldnt understand why Latinos would vote for a dictator like Donald Trump. Today, the two lawmakers are Republicans, a stunning party switch that further reveals the weakness of a Florida Democratic Party that felt hopeful in early 2024 that it could end the GOP supermajority in the Legislature but made no headway in the November election. Now its lost two members to defections, which Democrats argue only leads to more voter cynicism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why people dont like politicians, said Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. You say one thing and do something else. But Eskamani and eight other Central Florida Democratic state lawmakers pledged they would remain with their party as long as they serve in Tallahassee. The Democratic Party isnt perfect, but our mission is clear: prioritizing people over corporate interests and personal gain, said state Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee. This betrayal is not only disheartening but a stark contrast to the values we stand for. Matt Isbell, a Democratic elections analyst, warned his party that it may face more defections in the future. Osceola County, for example, has mostly voted for Democrats in local races even as the county swung right and voted for DeSantis and Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will it stay that way? Isbell said. It could trend further, and if it does, we could see locals and state reps start to switch as well. Theres all of these incentives to look for a reason to switch and find one. Valdes, now R-Tampa, had voted with Republicans on some issues, including school vouchers, voting yes on the 2023 law that offers private school scholarships to any student in Florida, regardless of their parents income. But she had also made clear her strong disagreements with the GOP. She told La Politica Online in May the law requiring hospitals to request patients immigration status, passed by Republicans and signed by DeSantis, was aggressive and extreme. The individual who does not appear to be Hispanic is not going to be harassed, she said. She also attacked DeSantis radical policies that she claimed did not respond to real criticism and concerns that people have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After losing a bitter race for chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party last month, however, Valdes announced she was becoming a Republican for her final term. I know that I wont agree with my fellow Republican House members on every issue, Valdes said in a statement. But I know that in their caucus, I will be welcomed and treated with respect. Cassel, now R-Hollywood, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 2022 her most important issues were key ones for Democrats abortion rights, voting rights and environmental issues, including climate change. She also said she would vehemently oppose both open carry and constitutional carry for guns, issues Republicans support, and she looked forward to earning an F from the National Rifle Association. In announcing her switch last month, she wrote on X she could no longer remain in a party that doesnt represent my values. Cassel, who is Jewish, also castigated Democrats for what she said was their failure to unequivocally support Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phrase Proud Democrat, however, remained on her Facebook page for several more days. Valdes and Cassel did not respond to requests for comment. President-elect Trump narrowly won both Valdes and Cassels districts, a result few would have expected in the usually Democratic Hillsborough and Broward counties just a few years ago. Evan Power, the state Republican chair, said his party was not recruiting potential converts. This was organic, Power said. These members no longer could put up with the radical agenda of the far left that runs the Democratic Party. I am not sure we will see others, but we welcome common sense Democrats to join us in our efforts to improve the lives of Floridians and the issues they actually care about, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both lawmakers got influential committee assignments after switching parties. Cassel was made the vice chair of the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee, and Valdes was given a similar position on the powerful House Budget Committee. If you are somebody whos willing to just abandon your principles about things, which definitely is what Cassel and Valdes have done, its better to be in the majority caucus where you actually have some influence, Isbell said. The Orlando Sentinel reached out to the seven Democratic state representatives and three state senators from Central Florida to ask them their opinions on the party switches and whether they would remain Democrats while in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Ocoee, did not respond to requests for comment, but the nine others said they would not switch parties. That included the two Democrats who won the closest races in 2024, state Rep. Leonard Spencer, D-Gotha, who won a district that voted for Trump, and State Sen. Kristin Arrington, D-Kissimmee. The voters elected me as a Democrat, and I intend to continue serving as a Democrat, Spencer said. Rep. Jose Alvarez, D-Kissimmee, Rep. Johanna Lopez, D-Orlando, Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, all also pledged to remain Democrats, along with Eskamani and Bracy Davis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvarez, a political newcomer, said Valdes and Cassel, elected as Democrats, raised funds making promises to their constituents. So at one point theyre going to have to answer to them. Smith agreed things wont turn out well for the newly minted Republicans if they seek another office. Why should any voter, Republican or Democrat, ever trust them again? Smith said. This article will update. Snow began falling rapidly throughout Central Indiana shortly before noon Friday, adding another layer to the already-covered ground. The National Weather Service is predicting 2-4 inches of accumulation. Kids who didn't get their fill of snow days earlier this week just may be in luck. Here is a list of what Indianapolis area schools have announced so far for Jan. 10: Avon Community School Corp. No announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Website: Avon Community School Corp. Beech Grove City Schools No announcement. Website: Beech Grove City Schools Bishop Chatard High School No announcement. Website: Bishop Chatard High School Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Students will be released at 2:55 p.m. Friday. The status of after-school activities will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Website: Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Brownsburg Community School Corp. No announcement. Website: Brownsburg Community School Corp. Cardinal Ritter High School No announcement. Website: Cardinal Ritter High School Carmel Clay Schools No announcement. Website: Carmel Clay Schools Cathedral High School No announcement. Website: Cathedral High School Center Grove Community School Corp. Closing one hour early. Afternoon preschool and events are cancelled. Buildings will reopen Saturday at 10 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Website: Center Grove Community School Corp. MSD Decatur Township Schools No announcement. Website: MSD Decatur Township Schools Franklin Community Schools Closing two hours early. All afterschool activities are cancelled. There will be no onsite Cub Care, mid-day routes or afternoon developmental preschool. Cub Academy Preschool will close at 1 p.m. Central Nine students will be picked up and returned to the high school at the normal time. Franklin Community Virtual students are not affected by early dismissal. Website: Franklin Community Schools Franklin Township Community Schools No announcement. Website: Franklin Township Community Schools Greenwood Community Schools The high school will be released at 2:15 p.m. Friday and all after-school activities are cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Website: Greenwood Community Schools Guerin Catholic High School No announcement. Website: Guerin Catholic High School Hamilton Southeastern Schools No announcement. Website: Hamilton Southeastern Schools Heritage Christian School No announcement. Website: Heritage Christian School Indianapolis Public Schools No announcement. Website: Indianapolis Public Schools MSD Lawrence Township Schools No announcement. Website: MSD Lawrence Township Schools Noblesville Schools No announcement. Website: Noblesville Schools Orchard School Kids Connect and after-school care are cancelled. Website: Orchard School Park Tudor Hilbert Center will dismiss at 12:30 p.m., lower school will dismiss at 1 p.m., and middle and upper schools will dismiss at 1:15 p.m. All after school activities, including aftercare, are cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Website: Park Tudor Perry Township Schools Tier one schools will be dismissed 30 minutes early. Tier three schools will dismiss at the normal time. Website: Perry Township Schools MSD Pike Township Awaiting announcement. Website: MSD Pike Township Plainfield Community School Corp. No announcement. Website: Plainfield Community School Corp. Roncalli High School Dismissing at 1:40 p.m. Website: Roncalli High School Scecina Memorial High School No announcement. Website: Scecina Memorial High School Speedway Schools No announcement. Website: Speedway Schools St. Louis de Montfort Catholic School No announcement. Website: St. Louis de Montfort Catholic School University High School No announcement. Website: University High School MSD Washington Township Schools No announcement. Website: MSD Washington Township Schools MSD Warren Township Schools No announcement. Website: MSD Warren Township Schools MSD Wayne Township Schools No announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Website: MSD Wayne Township Schools Westfield Washington Schools No announcement. Website: Westfield Washington Schools Zionsville Community Schools No announcement. Website: Zionsville Community Schools Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar, and she can be reached at rhmurphy@gannett.com or (317) 800-2956. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis area schools close early, cancel activities due to snow MT. VERNON, Ohio (WCMH) Renewable energy projects are expanding in Ohio, but not everyone is welcoming them. A small airport in central Ohio is worried a solar project may hurt its pilots and it has to do with glare; it can be distracting, especially to new pilots in small airplanes. NBC4 Investigates got a look from above at a solar farm near Bellefontaine. We could see glare off the panels, and thats what the Knox County Airport Board is worried about with the project that is proposed to be built nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last thing you need is more distractions or risk when youre learning to fly, Knox County Airport Board Chairman Joe Ziegman said. Student pilots use the Knox County airport where many learn to fly, and with an expansion on the horizon, the goal is to introduce more kids to aviation. It changed what I wanted to do for a living, Ziegman said. Its busy year-round. Thirty to 40% of our activity are our student pilot activity, Ziegman said. Now the board is worried that could change. There is a solar development, proposed solar development in the area and the proximity to the airport, and the reason it concerns us is really all centered around flight safety, Ziegman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The safety issues: glare and turbulence. Sen. J.D. Vance to resign ahead of vice presidential inauguration Ziegman has seen this issue in other areas, such as when he flew over a solar field in Florida. If you can go up to a certain altitude, you can avoid the direct glare rays, Ziegman said. You cant avoid it here; its essentially an east-west runway and so its going to track the sun morning until night. The airport board passed a resolution against the project and brought these concerns to Open Road Renewables, the company that applied to build the project which will power the equivalent of 14,000 homes and businesses. Those behind the project said the concerns are outdated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FAA has looked very closely at the issue of glare and now going back over ten years and so some of the concerns that the local Knox County airport was raising were based on old data and old studies that the FAA had done, VP Development of Open Road Renewables Craig Adair said. A 2015 FAA study found glare did impact pilots. However, in 2021, it put out new guidance that said airports building solar projects on their own property do not have to carry out a study but instead file a form stating there will not be any visual impact. That guidance is for larger airports, with air traffic control towers, not small airports, like Knox County. You can see glare off the panels we flew over in Bellefontaine. For now, those flying in and out of Knox County will have to wait to see if this will impact them, if the Open Road Renewable project moves forward. Right now, the developers are waiting on a decision from the Ohio Power Siting Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Open Road Renewables has acknowledged the concerns. We worked with the local community and have agreed to make some changes to how the solar panels are operated, essentially changing the tilt of the panels at certain times of day and certain parts of the project area to reduce some of the glare that could potentially come from the panels, Adair said. If there is an impact and student pilots look elsewhere, those at the Knox County airport fear it will cost them. It will have a financial impact to the airport, numbers of take-offs and landings operations drive federal, state and local funding, Ziegman said. We just want to keep the place safe and keep our pilots safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC4 Investigates reached out to other small airports that have solar fields either on or around them. A spokesperson with Wyandot Airport near Upper Sandusky sent a statement saying: Here at Wyandot County Airport, we have had unforeseen issues with the solar field. The first and lesser issue is the glare from the panels. At certain times of the year and dependent of time of day the glare is as bright as a laser shining into your eyes while you are on final approach. I say lesser because the sun must be just right for this. The major and more important issue is the sudden thermals the panels create. Our runway is oriented north south with panels on both sides of the southern end. Prevailing winds are commonly out of the west. This means on sunny days the thermal updrafts created by the panels are moving with the winds across the runway. Pilots whether student or seasoned, can be taken by surprise by these events if they have never been to an airport with solar panels near it. The thermal provides sudden lift pushing the aircraft upward then as the aircraft flies out of it, it has a sudden drop due to the loss of the excess lift. If not accounted for it can cause a crash in the final stages of the flight. As a flight instructor, we teach students about the effects of wake turbulence which is a similar concept to what the solar panels are causing and how that can move with wind and even linger for several minutes. But nothing is taught about the dangers of the solar panels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As to the topic of disruption to the airport, not enough transient pilots know about the effects of the panels to see a disruption in that sense. As a flight instructor, I rarely fly out of our airport with a student if the wind is not down the runway. actually drive to Crawford County Airport to instruct. This is known by several instructors in the area. I would say in conclusion that even though the danger the solar panels pose are not an every day problem, they one day pose a real risk of getting a pilot killed. However, at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport in Lucas County, its the opposite. Theyve had solar panels for 16 years and say there has never been a negative impact. Col. Chad Holesko, commander with the 180th Fighter Wing, sent a statement saying: The 180th Fighter Wing completed construction of a nearly 10 acre, 1.6-megawatt solar array field, in September 2008. In the 16 years since completion, the solar panels have not had any negative impact on the wings flying operations or aircrew. To-date, the 180FW has not received any communication from civilian aviation crews regarding any impact to civilian flying operations. Open Road Renewables said that if the Knox County project is finished and issues come up, they will be addressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) Two Julian residents are facing felony animal cruelty charges after allegedly neglecting to provide medical care for their injured puppy, leading to the amputation of the animals leg, according to a criminal complaint. Damion Dene Confer, 28, and Jeannine M. Ohmit, 31, were charged with aggravated cruelty to animal causing serious bodily injury and neglect of animals after authorities investigated a report of animal mistreatment at the Julian residence. A Humane Society Police Officer stated in the complaint that he responded to a call on Dec. 11, 2024, regarding a pit bull-type puppy with a visible broken leg. Confer and Ohmit, admitted to the officer that the injury occurred about a month prior when the puppy fell off a table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair reportedly sought treatment at Metgers Emergency Veterinary Clinic in State College but did not follow through with surgery due to financial concerns. Instead, they took the puppy home without treatment, despite the veterinarians recommendation for surgery within seven to 10 days. $48k awarded to help buy, train therapy dogs for veterans in Cambria County Medical records obtained from the clinic indicated the puppys injury was a distal humerus fracture, rendering her leg non-weight-bearing and causing significant pain. On Dec. 13, the Officer revisited the residence, where Confer and Ohmit surrendered the dog. A veterinary evaluation at Centre County PAWS revealed the leg injury was severe, requiring immediate amputation to prevent further pain and complications. The procedure was performed on Dec. 17, leaving the puppy with three usable legs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affidavit alleges Confer and Ohmits neglect caused unnecessary suffering and serious bodily injury to the dog. They both were charged on Dec. 30 and are awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 15. According to court documents, Confer and Ohmit are free on unsecured bail set at $10,000 each. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Authorities have reminded the public about the importance of seeking prompt veterinary care for injured animals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. At a packed ceremony Friday afternoon, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich was formally sworn in by her law school classmate, 1st District Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Zayas. The two met in the 1990s at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, as both were pursuing second careers while also raising children. Pillich, who served more than eight years in the Air Force, gave birth to her second child while in law school. Pillich, who is 64, talked about the overwhelming responsibility that comes with now being the most powerful law enforcement official in Ohio's third most populous county. A former state representative and longtime civil attorney, she has never before worked as a prosecutor. She is taking over an office that hasn't been led by a Democrat since 1932. Advertisement Advertisement "My vision," Pillich said, "is to empower my lawyers to do great work and deliver justice with integrity." Among the more than 200 people who packed a room at the Contemporary Arts Center Downtown were many of the assistant prosecutors who now work for her, as well as defense attorneys who will challenge cases brought by her office. Pillich's first official day in office was Monday. Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Gwen McFarlin spoke about how she expects Pillich's office to prioritize justice. Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Gwen McFarlin gives remarks Friday during an investiture ceremony for Prosecutor Connie Pillich. McFarlin also pointed out that only six of the state's 88 counties have Democrats as prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement In her remarks, Pillich outlined goals she talked about on the campaign trail, including modernizing the office's technology, instituting audits of convictions and "doubling down on ethics." During a blessing, Bishop Sonny James asked everyone present to stand. He told Pillich: "May you use your platform to deliver hope, fairness and justice." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich sworn in Jan. 10MATTAWA Staffing, recruitment and innovation were among the subjects discussed by Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and Yakima County Sheriff Robert Udell during a luncheon in Mattawa Thursday recognizing law enforcement contributions. The luncheon was sponsored by the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Andy Harlow, the Chamber's director of public affairs and Wahluke School District superintendent, said an early-morning phone call that he received Thursday demonstrated the demands of the job. In this case early morning meant 5:30 a.m., and a call at that time is never good news, Harlow said. And he was right it was the Mattawa Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You guys, the work that you do, it never ends," Harlow said. Kriete said law enforcement doesn't work alone, especially in a place the size of Grant County. "Grant County has the highest (number of) county road miles in the state of Washington, and we have 65 commissioned deputies from me down. We just can't be everywhere, and that's why we rely on our community so much to help us reach our mission," Kriete said. "We have to work with the communities that we serve. That's why we have you as our voice down here, our ears down here, our eyes down here." The GCSO has 49 corrections deputies in addition to the patrol deputies, three emergency management specialists, a public information officer and 33 support staff, Kriete said. There are some open spots, and, in common with departments nationwide, GCSO is having trouble filling some of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Udall said he was a little envious, since his department is smaller even though unincorporated Yakima County has more people than all of Grant County. A smaller law enforcement presence has an effect on the county's reputation along with many other things. Udall cited a conversation he had with Craig Johnson, the author of the Longmire mystery series. Udall started to explain Yakima County's location, but Johnson said he had heard of it. "That's the reaction I get everywhere I go," Udall said. Both Kriete and Udall said it's difficult to recruit good candidates now. "The days when I tested, when you show up and there's a room full of 200 people for one position those days are over," said Kriete, a 32-year veteran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fewer people are testing, and fewer still are passing all the tests, he said. From his experience, the change became noticeable in about 2021. Many states, including Washington, reacted to events in other areas of the country, he said, and changed the rules for what law enforcement officers could and couldn't do. "It made it very difficult for people to get excited about being in law enforcement," he said. "It's tough to get excited about it when it feels like they're taking the tools away for us to do our job." One of the ways to meet that challenge is to get young people interested, he said, and he cited the criminal justice class at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center in Moses Lake. Most law enforcement agencies in Grant County work with the class and its instructor, former Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Ruffin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When he first started, he had one class with, maybe, 15 students." Kriete said. "It was the kind of class where you'd get, maybe, some troubled kids, and they (thought), 'Hey, it's an easy pass.'" It was never an easy class, he said, and now it's very selective. "The kids that are in there, they want to be there, and they're phenomenal kids," he said. "They're extremely engaged. They ask questions about retirement. Anybody here think about retirement in high school? I did not." Three current GCSO deputies are graduates of the skills center program, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Udall said the YCSO is working on some innovative things to make solving crimes easier, including starting its own crime lab. The YCSO is working with other Yakima County agencies, 13 in all, he said. "We're doing criminal evidence right in our county," Udall said. "That is a really big deal." Typically, evidence is sent to the lab operated by the Washington State Patrol, but because of the volume of work it can take a while to get results, Udall said. The joint Yakima County lab services include analysis of spent shell casings, extracting and analyzing cell phone data and rapid testing of DNA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The equipment allows officers to determine which gun fired a shell casing, he said. "That's really cool, because criminals are not gun collectors. When they use their gun in crime, they very often take their gun (and) give it to their buddy," Udall said. "Then their buddy uses it, and it goes somewhere else." Guns used in Yakima County frequently turn up in Grant County and Everett, he said. A single gun was used in eight crimes in one year, in locations from Prosser to Naches. Cell phone data is a big help in law enforcement, he said. "My big crime tip of the day, if you're going to go out and do any crime later today, leave your cell phone at home because it tracks everything you do," Udall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most important tool, however, is rapid DNA testing, he said. "Instead of taking (evidence) and sending it off to the state and getting a result in months or years, we can (analyze) it now. That is pretty cool stuff, and we're really looking forward to what it can do for us," he said. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Beware of scammers, especially those who pretend to be law enforcement. Its a constant problem for local police and sheriffs departments: people impersonating officers to steal your money and it happened just this week to a Lowcountry woman who was conned out of $3,000. Shannon ODonnell is a third-grade teacher in downtown Charleston. A self-described transplant from the north, now living in a place that she loves. Work two jobs, here and at the Obstinate Daughter, which unfortunately caught on fire yesterday, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She finished up her school day Tuesday and noticed a voicemail message on her phone to call Lt. Light with the Charleston Police Department. It sounded urgent. In the middle of dismissing third graders, I was petrified and called him back from the corner of the room to see if it was an emergency, she recalled. He said that it in fact was an emergency and that I had to stay on the line as part of a gag order because I was being investigated for three bench warrants out for my arrest for failure to appear to a jury case. She knew nothing about the alleged warrant or jury duty, but the man provided her old address and said she was served there. Shannon said she was very scared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a teacher working with children, so I cant be involved in anything legal. It was petrifying. You know, its my reputation on the line and if there was supposed to be a police officer coming to apprehend me at work, that would be the end of my career, she said. So, I just in the moment thought I needed to do everything in my power to finish this immediately to get this squared away. The man on the phone call said that if she mailed cash cards to the United States Treasury in Washington, she would not be arrested. He said okay, you need to immediately go to your place of work and say you need to leave. Please be advised that you were on a gag order, and you cannot tell why. Shannon then went to her bank and several locations downtown to purchase the money cards by following the mans instructions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also pretended to be on the phone with dispatch. So, every place I was going, he would say 10-4 subjects leaving the next location, and he would ask for my ETA. Once she had the money cards, he said she needed to mail them to Washington, but first He tells me to read him the numbers- to scratch off the numbers and read them forward to backward, which is obviously hindsight 20-20 that was the gotcha moment. As soon as you get those numbers off of the card, its done, she said. The man told Shannon to meet at the Charleston Police Departments headquarters downtown. Thats when she was informed that she had been scammed out of the $3,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its huge, especially in this economy. Ive worked two jobs my whole life and that was savings. That was a luxury to have savings. I havent had any savings in almost 10 years. The fact that I had that at my disposal was a luxury for me. And I thank God that Im safe and alive and that it wasnt a person that was scary and abducted me and hurt me. Money is money and itll come back, she said. But now her story serves as a warning to others. Beware of scammers. Sgt. Chris Stinson with the Charleston Police Department said these types of scams are very common. Law enforcement agencies will NEVER ask for money, gift cards, or access to your bank account and they do not collect fines over the phone or at their headquarters. When in doubt hang up the phone and call consolidated dispatch at 843-743-7200 and you can talk to a real-life dispatcher, and they can verify if you were talking to someone legitimate or not, said Sgt. Stinson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, if you receive one of these calls, you should hang up immediately and contact consolidated dispatch at 843-743-7200 to verify whether it is an actual law enforcement officer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Democratic and Republican lawmakers can't agree on much. But there is one practice among members that enjoys bipartisan support: individual stock trading. The portfolios of dozens of members of Congress from both major parties outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 in 2024, according to the annual analysis of the politicians' stock portfolios by Unusual Whales, a financial startup run by an anonymous tracker. Democratic lawmakers were up an average of around 31% last year while Republican saw a 26% increase, compared to the S&P's 24.9% rise, according to the report, which analyzed trades disclosed through Congress's periodic transaction reports, which the politicians must file when they buy or sell stocks, bonds, or other securities worth over $1,000. The report details more of the methodology, and makes clear the figures should be treated as approximations, as Unusual Whales does not have access to Congress's private financial records. It includes "only the trackable active stock positions from December 29, 2023 to December 30, 2024." "Our goal is to shine a spotlight on the financial gains made from stock trades executed while in office," the report reads. "By sharing these findings, we hope to draw attention to potential conflicts of interest and the need for greater accountability." Public polling shows that Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of banning members of Congress, as well as members of the executive and judicial branches, from making trades while in office. This view stems from a perception that politicians and judges have an advantage in the market, given the non-public information they learn in their duties. The report details potential conflicts, such as Republican Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene's purchase of thousands of Tesla shares that ballooned in value as CEO Elon Musk became a key advisor to incoming President Donald Trump. That Congress members disclose their trades at all is the result of the 2012 STOCK Act, which followed reports of lawmakers making out handsomely around the 2008 financial crisis. But given that the fine for failing to file is $200, critics say it's not much of a deterrent. There have been several efforts over the past few years to ban the practice completely, but those have floundered in the House. Outgoing President Joe Biden recently came out in favor of the ban. In the report, Unusual Whales makes the distinction between those who typically buy and hold and still see good gains and those who trade often. It notes that while Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., saw the best portfolio performance of any member in the analysis last yearhe was up an estimated 104.1%he mainly holds ETFs he bought years ago that have hefty exposure to stock darlings like Nvidia. CHICAGO Health officials in Chicago confirmed the citys first pediatric seasonal flu-related deaths of 2025 this week. According to officials from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), two children, both under 2 years old, have died as a result of seasonal influenza since the year began. Health officials did not provide specific details on when the deaths occurred but said they both happened in 2025, adding that the city did not experience any pediatric flu deaths in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DuPage County wildlife officials euthanize bald eagle displaying signs of bird flu Even one pediatric flu death is a tremendous loss. We express sincere condolences to the families of these children, CDPH Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo Ige said. Respiratory virus season is in full swing, and vaccination remains the best way to protect against severe illness, including in children. According to the CDPH, the city has seen a median of one pediatric flu death annually over the last 10 years. The news comes amid a recent uptick in flu cases in the city. An update from CDPH on Jan. 3, indicated that emergency room visits for flu have more than doubled since last week as ICU admissions for flu also rapidly increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CDPH said of the specimens that have tested positive for flu in the city, nearly 99% that were typed were flu A, and about half of those typed have been H1N1. Wisconsin health officials report 1st presumptive positive human case of bird flu Local health officials advise everyone six months and older to seek out seasonal flu shots to avoid falling ill. Dr. Larry Kociolek with Lurie Childrens Hospital said what theyre seeing right now is fairly similar to pre-COVID: a moderate to high level of activity of both RSV and influenza at the same time among young patients. We have these tools, and we need to be using them optimally to protect as many babies and children as we can, he said. Certainly weve seen a lot of patients in our emergency department and in the hospital. We have gotten close to capacity, but weve not exceeded that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weekly data from CDPH shows flu and COVID vaccine levels among Chicagoans remain low. Kociolek emphasized the importance of vaccines to help prevent hospitalizations or even deaths. We wish individuals would understand that even though most peoples experience with these viruses is an illness that theyll get over in a few days with some rest and fluids, that not all children are that lucky, Kociolek said. Visit the CDPH flu dashboard for more information on flu cases in Chicago and how to stay healthy. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGNs Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. CHICAGO As devastating wildfires rage in California, residents in Chicagoland are doing their part to help those impacted. American Red Cross volunteers in Illinois are on standby this week to help people evacuate from the wildfires burning in southern California. The organization anticipates sending volunteers from Illinois in the next day or two and one volunteer is already gearing up to leave on Friday. At Saint Clement Church, in the 600 block of West Deming Place in Lincoln Park, a 6 p.m. mass was dedicated to the victims of the wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This evening, we respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Los Angeles, Father Brett Williams said. Wildfires latest: At least 10,000 structures have burned in a series of fires around Los Angeles Chicagoans came together to pray for all those struggling 2,000 miles away. Many of our people here have ties to family, friends, in Los Angeles and many feel helpless. What do they do? And so the best response for a Christian is to pray. To lift people to the lord, Williams said. Overwhelming flames have forced thousands of people to evacuate from their homes and claimed the lives of at least five, and the death toll is expected to climb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we look at these images on our television screens and we hear the reports coming from that part of this country, we are shocked, we are devastated, their lives, so many peoples lives ruined, Williams said. Father Williams said he wants believers to take their faith one step further through acts of charity. I would encourage people to not only pray for the victims but find ways of supporting them in more concrete terms, Williams said. Others called to take action and help are volunteers with the American Red Cross of Illinois. One of the volunteers already called to deploy is Vicky Brown from Rockford. Other Illinois volunteers are ready and on standby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We definitely help out anytime theres a major disaster like this. Our volunteers in Illinois and Chicago are some of the first to raise their hand, Mara Thompson, Communications Manager for the American Red Cross of Illinois, said. More evacuations ordered after fast-moving Kenneth fire ignites in Los Angeles area Thompson said the priority is to provide shelter, food and emotional support. She said people here at home can also help by making a donation to the American Red Cross. The best way to help at this time, when you are not able to be there physically, is to make a financial donation. That ensures the Red Cross can help people impacted as quick as possible, making sure they have a safe place to go, Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Red Cross said it is always in need of volunteers. Visit the Red Cross website for more information on how to take part. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) The former KFC location in Machesney Park will soon be home to a new chicken restaurant. Churchs Texas Chicken will move into 1586 West Lane Road this spring, village officials said. This is the first Churchs Texas Chicken location in the Rockford area, says Mayor Steve Johnson. Were happy to see new restaurants choose Machesney Park for their location, especially along 173. It gives residents and visitors exciting options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Churchs Texas Chicken was founded in San Antonio, Texas in 1952 and specializes in original and spicy chicken in tenders and sandwich form, with honey-butter biscuits and homestyle sides. All KFC restaurants in the Rockford area abruptly closed without warning in August 2024. The KFC locations are operated by the Texas-based EYM Group. The quick service restaurant management outfit operates KFC, Dennys, Pizza Hut, and Panera Bread locations in Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. According to WMBD, EYM-owned KFC locations in Peoria and Bloomington were also shut down. The company operates 150 KFC locations in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KFC parent YUM Brands issued a statement saying, We can confirm that some KFC locations in the area have closed. The decision to close a restaurant is always difficult for both the franchisee and the brand. We appreciate the patronage of our loyal guests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Tiffany Williams Brewer stepped down as head of the State Commission of Investigation after a media report that she has two full-time jobs and a primary residence in Maryland. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Tiffany Williams Brewer, the CEO of the State Commission of Investigation, announced her resignation Friday just five days after being appointed to the position, after a media report raised questions about her residency. Williams Brewer, named CEO on Monday, had helmed the commission in an acting capacity since July, when its previous CEO, Chadd Lackey, died in a Hamilton car accident. But Williams Brewer said the controversy about her residency first reported Thursday by the Asbury Park Press had become a distraction that threatened to undermine the agencys crime-fighting mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While I remain dedicated to public service, the recent events, including the revelation of employee-driven mischaracterizations of my actions to the media, have created a toxic climate that dissuades me from continuing in this role. I am disappointed that this environment, which undermines the integrity of the SCI, has necessitated my resignation, she said in a statement issued Friday. Asbury Park Press reporters discovered Williams Brewer listed two principal residences, in New Jersey and Maryland, where she bought a home in March. They also found she has two full-time jobs her commission job and a full-time position at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where shes scheduled to teach three days each week, according to the report. New Jersey law, though, requires public employees primary residence to be in the state within a year of their public employment. The report spurred calls for her resignation from some lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her statement, Williams Brewer insisted she had not breached the states residency requirement. My dual residency in Maryland and New Jersey has always been transparent and in full compliance with all relevant regulations. It has never interfered with my duties at the SCI or constituted an ethical lapse, she said. Let me be clear my residency status has never run afoul of the NJ First Act. The commissions three members, Robert J. Burzichelli, Kevin R. Reina, and John P. Lacey, issued a statement Friday praising her compassionate leadership after Lackeys death created one of the most challenging times in SCIs history. While we did not choose or request her resignation, we respect her decision and remain deeply grateful for her extraordinary contributions to the SCI and the public we serve, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams Brewer made $175,000 in the job, with a raise effective Jan. 1 that boosted her annual salary to $210,000, said Sen. Declan OScanlon (R-Monmouth), who was among those calling for Williams Brewer to step down. Lawmakers created the State Commission of Investigation in 1968 to combat mob influence in government, though its investigations in recent decades have covered a range of topics including the flow of illegal firearms, abuses in the used car industry, and public procurement, among numerous others. She testified last month in Trenton to urge lawmakers to tighten oversight of sober-living homes. Before ascending to the commissions top post, Williams Brewer was the commissions chair. She was previously an administrative law judge and a faculty member at Rutgers, Kean, and Seton Hall universities. Some celebrated her departure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I applaud all cooler heads for prevailing. This is an unfortunate situation, but it worked out exactly the way it needed to, OScanlon said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Bloomberg) -- Chile Interior Minister Carolina Toha is the current favorite among potential center-left contenders in this years presidential election, an early poll showed, as tensions mount over which candidates the coalition will put forth in the coming months. Most Read from Bloomberg Roughly 15.3% of voters would back Toha for the nations top job, according to LatAm Pulse, a survey conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News and published Friday. That puts her ahead of government spokeswoman Camila Vallejo, at 12.6%, and Santiago Metropolitan Region Governor Claudio Orrego with 3.4%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toha trails front-runner Evelyn Matthei, a lifelong center-right politician who has previously run for president and had the backing of 20.3% of respondents. She ties with Johannes Kaiser, a hard-right lower house deputy, and beats out Jose Antonio Kast, an ultra-conservative who last ran for president in 2021. The survey is the first to show Toha ranking second in the open race to lead one of Latin Americas richest economies. A former government spokeswoman and lower house deputy, she now oversees Chiles public security strategy as minister. The poll comes as parties in President Gabriel Borics coalition delay formal nominations for a candidate to succeed the onetime student protest leader who is struggling with low popularity and stiff political opposition. Tohas position has made her one of the countrys most visible officials. She makes frequent appearances to showcase new technology and other investments in Chiles fight against crime and clandestine migration, issues that rank among voters top concerns ahead of the November election. Toha also routinely appears in Congress to push the administrations legislation on those matters, and scored a victory last month when lawmakers approved the creation of a Public Security Ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll suggests Toha has weathered a scandal involving one of her former undersecretaries, Manuel Monsalve, who stepped down last year and was charged with rape. Detractors say Toha reacted too slowly to the accusations. Roughly 47% of respondents said insecurity, crime and drug trafficking are among the most important problems facing Chile, the poll showed. Those concerns have many voters eyeing opposition candidates for the presidency, with critics saying government efforts are too little, too late. Theres a greater frequency of violent crimes in Chile than before, a trend that is fueling the publics negative perceptions, Toha said in a June interview with Bloomberg News. She attributed that shift to factors like the strengthening of organized crime since the Covid-19 pandemic, the weakening of Chilean institutions after a period of social unrest in 2019 and efforts from some gangs to take advantage of waves of regional migration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any presidential primaries will take place on June 29, according to the governments electoral body, Servel. The first round vote will be on Nov. 16 and the run-off, if needed, would take place in December. Boric cannot seek reelection because Chilean laws forbid presidents from seeking consecutive terms. AtlasIntel surveyed 1,799 people in Chile between Dec 26-31. The poll has a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING (Reuters) -The Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday that it had maintained close communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) on respiratory diseases, when asked about the rising cases of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. The Chinese government takes the health of its people and that of foreign nationals in China seriously, but the HMPV is not a new virus and has been circulating in humans for more than 60 years, Guo Jiakun, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press conference. In its latest report, China's Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said HMPV cases remained at high levels. That is in line with cases in other parts of the northern hemisphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "HMPV infections manifest itself as a self-limiting disease," Guo said. "It is alarmist to exaggerate common viruses as unknown viruses, which goes against scientific common sense." On Tuesday, the WHO said it had been in contact with Chinese health officials and had not received any reports of unusual outbreak patterns. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's top anti-graft watchdog said on Friday that it had filed more than 4,000 disciplinary cases against officials in 2024, as it attempts to tackle a long-running corruption problem. Corruption is the biggest threat to China's Communist Party and is on the rise, President Xi Jinping said on Monday at the start of a three-day congress of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). China was rocked last year by high-profile corruption probes that included a deputy central bank governor and a former chairman of its biggest oil and gas company, adding to unease in an economy struggling to secure a firm footing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCDI filed cases against 73 provincial and ministerial-level officials and 4,348 department- and bureau-level officials in 2024, it said in a statement. A total of 889,000 people were punished, including 680,000 for not adhering to Communist Party discipline and 270,000 for what it said were "administrative sanctions". (Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Gerry Doyle) A former senior aide to Donald Trump claimed China had tapped the president-elect's phone, stolen "extraordinary" amounts of data and was preparing for a first-strike nuclear capability against the United States. H.R. McMaster, Trump's national security adviser from 2017 to 2018, told a think tank event in New York on Wednesday that the US must impose "very significant costs" on China for its "massive cyber intrusions". "They listen to President Trump's phone and everybody around him for six months, right? They've stolen extraordinary amounts of data which we found on our telecom networks," he told the event organised by the Council on Foreign Relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "I believe that's what China is doing, and you might think I'm kind of crazy for saying this, but I think that China is laying the groundwork for a first-strike nuclear capability against the United States." First-strike capability refers to the ability to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack in the hope of damaging or destroying an enemy's nuclear arsenal to limit its ability to retaliate. McMaster's claims came two weeks before Trump's return to the White House and amid growing concerns over China's expansion of its nuclear stockpile and cyberattacks allegedly linked to Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not clear if the comment about listening to Trump's calls referred to reports in October suggesting that hackers linked to the Chinese government had targeted Trump's communications during this year's election campaign or previous claims that Chinese and Russian spies were listening to his calls during his term in office. China dismissed the most recent allegations as "malicious speculation", saying the US had "spread all kinds of disinformation about the so-called Chinese hacking threats". The former lieutenant-general said he had arrived at the conclusion that China was readying for a first-strike capability against the US judging from what China was doing "from a cyber perspective and really developing at least a latent capability to take down our communications networks as well as a massive build-up in their strategic forces". He said China's surveillance and intelligence collection capabilities had focused "quite heavily" on Washington's strategic forces. "I mean, if that's the case, we should be quite serious about it," he warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China's foreign ministry has yet to respond to a request for comment. The country has a no-first use policy for nuclear weapons. McMaster told the event the US needed to further develop its strategy to counter various forms of "Chinese aggression" and prevent Beijing from "establishing exclusionary areas of primacy across the Indo-Pacific and creating new spheres of influence internationally that allow China to rewrite the rules of international discourse in a way that favours their statist economic model and their authoritarian governance model". In particular, he suggested that the US needed a combination of "active defence" for its critical infrastructure and an "offensive capability" in areas such as cyberspace and economics and finance. "If [China is] gonna play this game, we ought to impose very significant costs and maybe exacerbate some of the very significant difficulties they have associated with their economic growth ... the massive youth unemployment that they have, the housing crisis, the debt crisis and so forth," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that such action would probably prompt a reaction and suggested that the US should war game different types of retaliation - such as diplomatic, economic and military - and "apply the tools that are available to us in a holistic way". Such tools could range from tariffs to other measures already imposed by President Joe Biden such as export controls and the screening of inbound and outbound investments, he said. He said he favoured a joint "planning effort" by the National Economic Council and National Security Council to "make sure we're considering the second and third-order effects". McMaster said that the Chinese had listened to Donald Trump's phone "for six months". Photo: AP alt=McMaster said that the Chinese had listened to Donald Trump's phone "for six months". Photo: AP> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Of course, ultimately, you would want to bring in multinational partners, like-minded partners, because it's really important, I think, for us to not allow China to play us off against each other," he added. McMaster said the Biden administration had done "a pretty good job" in this regard, citing efforts to restrict China's access to advanced chip manufacturing hardware and the Pentagon's recent decision to place more Chinese companies, including tech giant Tencent and battery maker CATL, on a list of firms it believes work with the People's Liberation Army. "I think that this is a competition that will certainly continue under the Trump administration," he said. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Chinese leader Xi Jinping will send a high-ranking envoy to Donald Trumps inauguration, signalling a reduction in tensions between China and the incoming US administration. Source: Financial Times, citing several individuals familiar with the negotiations Quote: "Chinas President Xi Jinping will send a high-level envoy to Donald Trumps inauguration, in an unprecedented move designed to reduce friction between the countries at the start of the new US administration." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Financial Times indicate that Beijings representative will attend Trumps inauguration and later hold talks with him. Earlier reports indicated that Trump had extended an invitation to Xi to attend the inauguration as a gesture of his intent to restore high-level engagement between the two nations, similar to the interactions during his first term in the White House. Sources told Financial Times that Xi might send Han Zheng, a vice-president who sometimes stands in for him in ceremonial roles. Another option is foreign minister Wang Yi. Background: US President-elect Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction that national flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of his inauguration, 20 January, due to the ongoing mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. In mid-December, CBS News reported, citing two sources, that Xi Jinping is unlikely to attend Trumps inauguration in Washington. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Increased collaboration with Nvidia Corp. has pushed investor optimism over the AI growth potential for MediaTek Inc. to a new level, putting its shares on track for their first record high in seven months. Most Read from Bloomberg The stock climbed to within a whisker of its June peak this week after the Taiwanese chip designer announced a tie-up with Nvidia on an AI personal computer chip. On top of the companies existing partnership in automotive tech, the news helped fueled expectations for further gains in the shares after they more than doubled in the past two years. Known more for its key role in handset supply chains, MediaTek is now also very well positioned for the AI tech evolution, said Robert Mumford, an investment manager at Gam Hong Kong Limited. The projects with Nvidia and expectations for more to come show that MediaTek has great opportunities across a diversified business set, he added. MediaTek is also benefiting from an improved outlook for smartphone chips, which still account for more than half of its revenue. This helped drive the consensus estimate for MediaTeks December-quarter sales up about 5% over the past few months, Bloomberg-compiled data show. While the new PC chip is expected to provide little in terms of near-term sales given its niche customer group, overall hopes for the companys AI-related business are high. Mumford said much of the excitement is related to the potential for application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for data centers. MediaTeks expertise in low-power processors, Wi-Fi and multimedia complements Nvidias capabilities well, BofA Securities analysts including Brad Lin wrote in a note. This sets the stage for long-term upside as MediaTek expands into a wider market together with Nvidia. Bears have retreated on the stock, with no sell ratings since May. Analysts have rushed to keep up with the rally, driving the average price target up 47% in the past year. Reflecting the growing positive sentiment, the shares currently trade at 20 times forward estimated earnings, above the five-year average of 16 times. Thats more expensive than the 19 times for key foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., but it pales next to the 30+ multiples for the likes of Nvidia and Broadcom Inc. Compared with the US giants, MediaTek is still in discovery mode for most AI momentum flows, said Xiadong Bao, a fund manager at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese firm appears to be winning the AI race with handset-chip rival Qualcomm Inc., he added. The News China will reportedly send a top-level envoy to US President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration, a move that Beijing hopes will reduce friction between the two countries. Unusually, Trump invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping: He is unlikely to attend, but even another top government officials presence would be significant, since China is usually represented only by its ambassador to Washington. Beijing is desperate to smooth relations with Washington, the Financial Times reported. But it is also looking to exploit US divisions with its allies: China signaled willingness to ease restrictions with Canada, The Globe and Mail wrote, following Trumps threats to impose tariffs on its neighbor. CHIPPEWA FALLS The Chippewa County Board will vote Tuesday on providing an additional $1.1 million grant to help Hope Village acquire a hotel, with the goal of turning it into 27 small apartments. Hope Village, which provides emergency housing and tiny homeless shelters in Chippewa Falls, is seeking to acquire the Indianhead Motel, 501 Summit Avenue. The county had previously approved a $1.5 million grant for Hope Village. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the resolution that will go to the county board on Tuesday, that grant amount will be increased to $2,628,217, with the additional money going toward the purchase of the hotel. Conversion projects are an eligible activity under the CDBG Regional Housing Contract, the resolution reads. The State of Wisconsin, Division of Energy, Housing, and Community (DEHCR) resources has advised Chippewa County, who is the lead county for the West Central Wisconsin CDBG Region, that the county may request additional funds to assist in conversion projects. DEHCR has proposed amending the existing Chippewa County CDBG Regional contract adding these funds to specifically be utilized for one project through Hope Village to convert an existing motel into affordable housing. The State of Wisconsin indicates that amending the existing contract to include the specific funding for Hope Village is the best way to assist with this project. The Chippewa County Executive Committee approved the grant on a 4-1 vote on Dec. 17, with Supervisor Dean Mueller casting the lone vote against it. The Indianhead Motel was constructed in 1958, with additions in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It sits on a 1.4-acre site. Each unit has its own bathroom and shower. There is one larger unit in the motel that was meant for the owner to live on-site, and that has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chippewa Falls City Council will hold a public hearing on Feb. 4 for a special use permit to allow the motel to be used as apartments. Hope Village is slated to close on purchasing the hotel on Jan. 20, and they will seek bids on the project by Jan. 31, with a goal of starting the remodeling project by April, according to documents provided to the city of Chippewa Falls. Mike Cohoon, director of Hope Village, anticipates there would be one full-time employee and one part-time worker on-site. The apartments would house just one or two residents, with the majority of residents being adults. Hope Village has a headquarters on the citys East Hill at 1825 Kennedy Road. That is where the 10 tiny home homeless shelters are located, and new low-income housing is being constructed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same vetting process that they use for the tiny homes will be utilized at the Indianhead location, the Plan Commission minutes read. Cohoon believes that a number of applicants will be elderly (70+) due to most affordable housing in the area (being) on a second story and the elderly cant utilize them, the city Plan Commission minutes read. The Chippewa County Board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in room 302 of the courthouse, 711 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls. FBI Director Christoper Wray gave his agency a final directive in his farewell address before Donald Trumps return to power: Stay independent and stay away from politics. Weve got to maintain our independence and objectivity, staying above partisanship and politics, Wray said. Because thats what the American people expect and, I think, thats what they deserve. Wray didnt refer to President-elect Donald Trump by name, but his presence loomed over the event. The former presidents re-ascension brings peril for the bureau. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to appoint a special prosecutor to go after President Joe Biden and his family, and suggested many of his political foes deserve scrutiny from law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has long blamed Wray for what he sees as the FBIs weaponization against him and announced after winning Novembers election that he would fire him. Wray then resigned. On Friday afternoon, Wray urged FBI personnel to maintain their independence and objectivity, staying above partisanship and politics. No matter whats happening out there, in here weve gotta stay committed to doing our work the right way, every time, with professionalism, with rigor, with integrity, he said from the bureaus headquarters. That means following the facts wherever they lead, no matter who likes it or doesnt. Just trust me, if theres anything Ive learned in this job, theres always somebody who doesnt like it. None of the dozen speakers at the going-away ceremony named Trump directly. But Attorney General Merrick Garland, who spoke first, reminded the audience comprised of the nationwide FBI workforce, tuning in via livestream of the importance of resisting improper influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and protecting the freedoms that we as Americans hold dear, he said. Other speakers praised Wray for his work to strengthen ties with state and local law enforcement, intelligence agencies and foreign partners. CIA Director William Burns said the agency has deepened its integration with the FBI under Wrays leadership, joking that his subordinates had stopped grumbling about the bureau. Joseph Gramaglia, the commissioner of the Buffalo Police Department, lauded the FBIs response to a racist mass shooting at a grocery store that left ten Black people dead. And Kenneth McCallum, the head of Great Britains MI5 domestic spy agency, praised Wrays work to strengthen transatlantic partnership. The mood at the ceremony held in a chilly auditorium in the FBIs hulking downtown Washington headquarters was warm and friendly, with attendees laughing easily at speakers jokes. Wrays family attended and drew sustained applause. The in-person audience also included other people with first-hand experience weathering criticism of federal law enforcement. Rod Rosenstein, who was Deputy Attorney General for part of Trumps first term, was there; he famously faced intense invective from the now-president-elect for overseeing the Russia probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Rob Hur, the special counsel who investigated Biden for improper possession of classified materials, was also in the audience. Hurs report on that investigation drew condemnation from national Democrats by saying Bidens mental faculties appeared to be declining. The White House responded by launching a full-court press against him, but Biden later ended his reelection bid after a miserable debate performance that appeared to confirm Hurs findings. Republican former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of Wrays most famous clients from his days in private practice, also attended. Wray represented him during the Bridgegate investigation, and Christie later recommended to Trump that Wray get the job. Trump has since turned on both men. Chuck D is speaking out against social media misuse of Public Enemys Burn Hollywood Burn song as wildfires rage through Los Angeles. Taking to Instagram on Thursday (Jan 10.) in a joint post with Flavor Flav, the Hip-Hop veteran explained why the politically charged song has no business soundtracking clips highlighting damage and aftermath following the tragic events. Burn Hollywood Burn is a protest song, elaborated the 64-year-old on the tone-deaf usage. Extracted from the Watts rebellion monikered by the Magnificent Montague in 1965 against inequality when he said Burn baby burn across the air. We made mind revolution songs aimed at a one sided exploitation by a[n] industry. Has nothing to do with families, losing everything they have in a natural disaster. Chuck D added PRAY 4 LA in the comments, and continued to urge Please dont use our song on your reels and pictures of this horrifying natural disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burn Hollywood Burn was initially released in 1990 in the groups Fear of a Black Planet. Featuring Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane, the track protested against Black actors in Hollywood being typecasted into stereotypical roles and targeted police violence. Many intelligent Black men seemed to look uncivilized when on the screen/ Like, I guess I figure you to play some jigaboo, on the plantation, what else can a ni**a do, rhymes Big Daddy Kane, with the song ending with F**k Hollywood, man. As of Friday morning, the widespread fires in Los Angeles are responsible for at least 10 fatalities, with a Los Angeles County fire official confirming an untold number of significant injuries were linked to two of the fires. Per CNN, about 153,000 people are still under evacuation orders with Cal Fire verifying it has battled at least 90 fires in the first 10 days of 2025. The largest so far is the Palisades Fire, burning more than 20,000 acres so far. It is now 8% contained. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a public health emergency for California on Friday to address the health impacts of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will do all we can to assist California officials with responding to the health impacts of the devastating wildfires going on in Los Angeles County, detailed Secretary Becerra in a statement. We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide public health and medical support. My thoughts and prayers are with the people impacted in my home state. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Chuck D won't tolerate the insensitive use of Public Enemy's song "Burn Hollywood Burn" amid the wildfires ravaging through Los Angeles. After the wildfires broke out earlier this week, social media users have used the protest song to celebrate the city's destruction. In response, the Public Enemy frontman asked those using the song to stop associating it with natural disaster and to learn the history behind it. On Tuesday, Jan. 9, Chuck D, 64, first shared a photo of the wildfires on Instagram and captioned the post, " PRAYERS UP. BE SAFE. EVACUATE." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, he shared a statement clarifying the song's true meaning and historical context. "Burn Hollywood Burn is a protest song. Extracted from the Watts Rebellion monikered by the Magnificent Montague in 1965 against inequality when he said 'burn baby burn' across the air. We made mind revolution songs aimed at a one sided exploitation by a industry. Has nothing to do with families, losing everything they have in a natural disaster. Learn the history. Godspeed to those in loss," the statement read. Related: Britney Spears Reveals She Has Evacuated Home amid Los Angeles Fires: 'I Send My Love' In the comments section, he added, "Please don't use our song on your reels and pictures of this horrifying natural disaster." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On his Instagram Stories, the rapper shared a series of resources and informational posts about the wildfires. "Burn Hollywood Burn" was featured on Public Enemy's 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet. The track which features Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane became an anthem for Black empowerment, calling for a more authentic representation of Black creatives in media. The fast-growing wildfires first broke out on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and soon sent tens of thousands of residents including celebrities scrambling for safety from the growing flames and plumes of smoke. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Public Enemy Public Enemy Celebrities who've reported they've lost their homes include Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Milo Ventimiglia, Miles Teller and Keleigh Teller, Anna Faris, Paris Hilton, Cameron Mathison, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. Meanwhile, many others, including Mario Lopez, Molly Sims, Kid Cudi and Bebe Rexha, have shared that they have evacuated as the fire continues to spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tina Knowles who is mom to Beyonce and Solange Knowles revealed on Instagram that her oceanfront Malibu bungalow was burned down in the blaze and reflected on the loss of her "sacred happy place." This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu! It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone !! she captioned the post. The business woman also thanked the "brave men and women in our fire department" who have worked tirelessly to put on the flames. Related: Mandy Moore Reveals 'Main Part' of Home 'Still Standing,' Shares Photos of Destruction: 'Every House on Our Street Is Gone' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We Thankyou for your dedication and bravery and for saving so many lives, she wrote. This could have been so much worse with out [sic] the dedication of the disaster workers and first responders. She added, To the people who lost their homes and belongings, I can only imagine how it feels to lose properties and everything you own ! My heart and deep prayers go out to all of you , she wrote. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering and fear that you are enduring.. I am praying diligently for our beautiful City of Los Angeles !! We are resilient though and we will recover! This too shall pass Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People DES MOINES, Iowa Entertainers and animals are returning to Wells Fargo Arena this weekend for Cinchs Worlds Toughest Rodeo. Events from bareback to saddle bronc to barrel racing to bull riding are highlights at the event this year. Around 600 cubic yards of dirt was loaded into the arena floor earlier this week in preparation for the event. Before the show, those who attend the rodeo are able to get down on the dirt and sit on a bull, learn to lasso, and ride a pony among other interactive activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rodeo show itself starts at 7:30PM on Friday, January 10th and Saturday, January 11th. Free preshow activities on the floor take place at 6:00PM. Event organizers say you get more out of the event the earlier you arrive. Tickets can be purchased on the Iowa Events Centers website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Cincinnati Public Schools will be closed Friday due to inclement weather. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the region from 11 a.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. Up to 4 inches of additional snow is expected. Central office will remain open, according to a notice on the district's website. Other school districts in the region have called off for Friday, too, including Boone County Schools and Princeton City Schools. A full list of closures can be found here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district closed its schools all week the first week back from winter break except for Thursday. On Monday and Tuesday, the district cited snowy, unplowed roads. On Wednesday, it closed due to the cold. Cincinnati Public Schools will be closed on Friday. When the district announced students and staff were expected to return on Thursday, when temperatures were predicted to be even colder, several parents started to question the district's reasoning. The Enquirer has asked the district several times this week to explain its cold weather protocol, if it has one, but has not gotten an answer. The district did say that a decision was made to return Thursday because of the weather, the length of time students have been off school and students' family situations but did not elaborate. New school board president Kareem Moffett also declined to answer The Enquirer's questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back-to-school stories ran the gamut on Thursday. While some parents were relieved to send their kids back to school, others remained cautious about unplowed side streets and icy walkways. Some teachers reported significantly low attendance. Mostly, parents say they want a clear-cut policy on when the district will cancel school for cold weather. The district's website says these decisions "are made only after analyzing much data and consulting various authorities." The district has declined to explain this further. "It's supposed to be even colder next week. So, like, what is the policy?" Lisa Zielinksi, a Kilgour School parent, said. "There's just been not any clarity around what the actual policy is." Cincinnati-area school closures Other districts that canceled school for Friday include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boone County Schools. Campbell County Schools. Kenton County Schools. Lakota Local Schools. Mason City Schools. Oak Hills Local Schools. Princeton City Schools. Southwest Local Schools. See a full list of cancellations here. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Public Schools students, staff are off again on Friday The Norwegian government plans to resume construction of bomb shelters, citing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as evidence they are needed in case of a "worst-case scenario," NRK reported on Jan. 10. "There is more uncertainty around us," Norwegian Justice and Public Security Minister Emilie Mehl told the outlet, adding: "We must take care of the civilian population in the event of a 'worst-case scenario' of war or armed attack. Shelters are one of the protective measures we need." Up until 1998, any new large apartment buildings constructed in Norway were required to incorporate a bomb shelter into their design. No new shelters have been built since, NRK reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are now actually setting a requirement that buildings over 1,000 square meters must have shelters," Mehl said. The Norwegian government is proposing two types of shelters new shelters will meet the requirements of modern designs which protect against chemical, radioactive, as well as high explosives. The second type of shelter will be adapted from existing structures to protect against conventional weapons. "These can be garages, subway tunnels, or other underground structures that also have an important and distinctive function in our daily lives," Mehl said. Bomb shelters have become part of the daily routine for most Ukrainiains, who seek refuge in basements, metro stations, and other structures like underground car parks during Russian bombardments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have learned a lot about modern warfare, and we also see that shelters and refuges are essential to protecting civilians. We also must have this in Norway, and it has to be part of the country's preparedness for the future," Mehl said. Norway is ranked 12th in the world regarding the amount of aid provided to Ukraine, having so far provided $2.8 billion in humanitarian, financial, and military support, according to the Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker. Oslo may increase its support for Ukraine to 30 billion kroner ($2.7 billion) in 2025, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announced on Nov. 26. Read also: Its excruciating Ukrainians describe surviving Russian attacks that cost them health, loved ones, and homes Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Honor Martin Luther King Jr. this year by participating in a meaningful day of service. The El Paso Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with the 915 Tree Keepers Program, seeks volunteers to assist with a tree planting project from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., or until all trees are planted, on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Washington Park. Volunteers will meet in the main parking lot of Washington Park, 4201 E. Paisano Dr. Carpooling is encouraged to minimize environmental impact, the City of El Paso said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City said participants will help plant 24 trees as part of the 915 Tree Keepers mission to improve tree equity in underserved areas. Since fall 2024, the program has planted nearly 200 trees in collaboration with the Citys Parks and Recreation and the Streets and Maintenance departments, the City said. The 915 Tree Keepers Program engages the community in environmental stewardship by providing opportunities for residents to plant and care for trees. This helps improve air quality, reduce urban heat, and beautify neighborhoods. To learn more about the program, visit the 915 Tree Keepers website. What to know before going: Dress in layers for cooler morning weather; the event will proceed rain or shine. Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided. How to register: To join this event, register via this link or call (915) 337-2444. Minors under 18 must submit a signed consent form, available via this link. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tree planting event is one of many ways the El Paso community can celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.s legacy. Established as a National Day of Service in 1994, MLK Day encourages Americans to strengthen their communities and serve others in honor of Dr. Kings life and work, read the news release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Phoenix has announced an ambitious initiative to combat the city's rising temperatures. In an effort to boost climate resilience, the city set a goal of planting 27,000 new trees and building 550 shade structures over the next five years, per reports by Environment+Energy Leader. Titled the Shade Phoenix Plan, the new initiative was approved by the mayor and city council. Along with planting trees and building shade structures, the Shade Phoenix Plan includes 36 action items and 11 strategic priorities, all focused on mitigating heat vulnerability. Some of these strategies include utilizing cool corridors and heat-reducing materials. In 2021, Phoenix became the first city in the U.S. to establish a dedicated heat response office, the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation. Over the past few years, the city of Phoenix has been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind While the city is no stranger to high temperatures, the frequency of hot days has significantly increased. Typically, Phoenix experiences 21 days above 110 degrees Fahrenheit on average. However, in 2024, the city recorded 70 days above 110, per reports by Axios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of dirty energy has exacerbated rising global temperatures, resulting in hotter, more intense heat waves in cities like Phoenix. Initiatives such as the Shade Phoenix Plan are an effective way for policymakers to safeguard communities from rising global temperatures. By planting more trees and providing additional shaded areas, Phoenix can better protect vulnerable populations from high temperatures. Trees not only provide shade but also essential carbon absorption, which helps keep the planet cool. As a result, adding more trees to the city will ultimately improve air quality, promoting the health of Phoenix residents. "The Shade Phoenix Plan prioritizes the fair distribution of shade resources, with a strong focus on neighborhoods most vulnerable to extreme heat," writes Kaleigh Harrison from E+E Leader. "City officials stress that shade infrastructure is essential public health infrastructure, not just an aesthetic upgrade." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Oil prices jumped to a three-month high on Friday, with traders digesting new sweeping sanctions against Russia as the Biden administration tries to cut off Moscow from crude revenue amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. West Texas Intermediate crude (CL=F) rose more than 3.5% to settle at $76.57 per barrel while Brent crude futures (BZ=F), the international benchmark price, briefly hit $80 before settling at $79.76, the highest level since October. More than 180 vessels, two oil companies, traders, insurers, and top Russian executives were named in the sanctions. "The United States is taking sweeping action against Russias key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said in a statement. Oil prices were already on an upward trend since late December, with traders uncertain over President-elect Donald Trump's policy toward Iran. Tehran currently produces more than 3 million barrels of crude per day. "News continues to filter in about [the] Trump administration's hard stance on Iran that may come very quickly," Dennis Kissler, senior vice president at BOK Financial, wrote in a note to clients on Friday. "Add in the freezing temps across most of the US, along with shrinking storage numbers, and crude has now become a new 'fund favorite,'" he added. Crude oil prices jumped to a three-month high on Friday. Anton Petrus via Getty Images JPMorgan analysts said global oil demand is expected to remain strong through January due to colder-than-expected weather in the Northern Hemisphere "boosting heating fuel consumption" and early travel activities in China for the country's Lunar New Year holiday. Despite Friday's sharp rise, many analysts expect that oil prices will move lower this year than in 2024. "Despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts, a combination of bearish factors will likely keep oil prices structurally low in 2025, with a likely price range of $60-$80 per barrel for Brent spot crude oil. That would be below the $70-$90 per barrel range that dominated 2024," Eurasia Group wrote in a note on Thursday. Ines Ferre is a senior business reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @ines_ferre. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance A firefighting aircraft that was operating over the Palisades Fire is grounded and out of service after it was struck and damaged by a civilians drone on Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed. The civilian drone which was not assigned to the fire flew into a Super Scooper plane, Quebec 1, and damaged its wing around 1 p.m., according to an X post by Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott. Officials said no one was injured and the aircraft landed safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would like to remind everyone that flying a drone in the midst of firefighting efforts is a federal crime and punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to $75,000, said Scott. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that it will investigate the incident. The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the TFRs, the federal agency stated in a release. The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses. The FAA also noted the dangers of flying a drone near wildfires, warning that it can cost lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When people fly drones near wildfires, fire response agencies often ground their aircraft to avoid the potential for a midair collision, said the FAA. Delaying airborne response poses a threat to firefighters on the ground, residents, and property in nearby communities, and it can allow wildfires to grow larger. In addition, the FAA said it has implemented several Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in the Los Angeles area to protect firefighting aircraft. All other aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from flying in TFRs unless they receive authorization, cautioned the FAA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A couple was arraigned Tuesday after a dog was found with untreated stab wounds and two other animals were found neglected in a Clarence home, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced. On Dec. 26, New York State Police responded to a welfare check call on Northfield Road. There, police allegedly discovered a dog with untreated stab wounds to the neck and abdomen, a puppy with an untreated eye injury, and a dog that did not have access to food or water. Investigators seized six dogs and two cats in total from the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brittany Farley, 28, was arraigned on two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, failure to provide proper sustenance and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. Nicholas Hatswell, 26, was arraigned on two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance. The two were released on their own recognizance and are scheduled to return to court next month. A temporary no animal order was issued. Farley faces a maximum of two years in prison and Hatswell faces one year if they are convicted. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. BOSTON (WWLP) A fresh start for formerly incarcerated people can mean more than just getting a job or renting an apartmentit can also mean having your record automatically sealed. This new Massachusetts law benefits dogs and cats The Clean Start coalition held a briefing with lawmakers and advocates on Wednesday to raise awareness about a bill that legislators are planning to introduce this session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation looks to automatically seal records for eligible people with criminal records who successfully served a set duration of time for a meaningful second chance. A western Massachusetts woman spoke about her personal experience as a formerly incarcerated person and having to lie about previously being convicted of a felony in order to get a job and housing. I had no idea what would become of my life or how I could possibly turn it around. I thought things were bad before I got arrested, but they were far worse now with the F letter hanging over my head, said Jackie Velez, who is now a community program coordinator at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Although Velezs story has a happy ending, she says it is unfair for incarcerated people who have served their time to continue to be punished when they are released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates are optimistic that this bill will pass easily and quickly. It is something that we can take, its low-hanging fruit, and I know the commonwealth can do better this makes sense, said Mimi Ramos, the New England Community Projects Executive Director. Lawmakers are planning briefings and events at the State House in the coming weeks to get other lawmakers involved in their cause and potentially become co-sponsors. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. CLEVELAND (WJW) Leadership at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is breathing a collective sigh of relief after an intense fire was successfully extinguished by the Cleveland Division of Fire, limiting damage to the exterior of a building at the future site of the Primate Forest. The flames were big, but Cleveland Metroparks Police and Cleveland Fire responded rapidly and put the fire out, Executive Director Dr. Chris Kuhar said. At this point, it doesnt appear that theres any major structural damage to the building. Local Giant Eagle sells scratch-off worth $50K Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire started accidentally after workers using a torch ignited vegetation on the exterior of the Rainforest Exhibit, an area thats been closed temporarily since September. Cleveland Fire estimates $10,000 worth of damage. It was a scary moment, Kuhar said. As soon as we were able to get those flames put out, we were able to respond and do what we needed to do. So thats why we have emergency plans. You hope you never have to use them, but really proud of the team for how they responded and thankful for Cleveland Fire for their prompt response as well. While there is visible damage and charring, Kuhar says its mostly superficial and shouldnt be cause for concern. Crews have already returned to work in the construction area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New flashing sign after 3 crashes within 24 hours on I-90 It appears that theres going to be no major impact to the construction timeline at all, Kuhar said. Again, were going to do a full assessment of the building in the days to come. But assuming that theres nothing thats found as part of that, were still on track. So, were still on track to continue the deconstruction over the next month or so. And then as we get into the spring, were going to start the actual rebuild. No staff or animals were hurt during the fire and the Zoo reopened on Thursday with no setbacks for visitors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Editors note: Robert Looney passed away on Dec. 19, 2024, while this article was awaiting publication. With the consent of his family, we are publishing it posthumously. Bob was a longtime and well-liked contributor to WPR who was always kind, gracious and a pleasure to work with. Hell be missed. The Caspian Sea is a geographical marvel and a critical resource for the five countriesRussia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistanthat border it. But the future of the worlds largest enclosed inland body of water is highly uncertain. The Caspian is currently exhibiting many of the same symptoms previously experienced by the Aral Sea, which has lost 90 percent of its original size in the past 60 years. Despite the urgency of the problem, however, it is far from certain that the Caspian-bordering countries will reach the levels of cooperation needed for its survival, given their distinct economic and political agendas. The Caspian Seas water levels have decreased an average of 2.75 inches annually since the early 1990s. The Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences now estimates the loss rate at 9 inches per year. From 1993 to 2023, the water level dropped by 6 feet, 6 inches in total. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. While the Aral Sea shrank primarily because Soviet-era irrigation projects diverted its tributaries, the Caspians decline is more closely tied to climate change-induced evaporation and reduced river inflow caused by dams. But the ecological and socioeconomic consequences could be similarly severe if current trends continue. Researchers have found that hotter surface air temperatures over the Caspian Sea, which have risen by about 1 degree Celsius since 1979, have increased evaporation. One study suggests that if current evaporation rates continue, the northern part of the Caspian Sea could disappear within 75 years. Compounding the effects of climate change are reduced river inflows, especially from the Volga River, which accounts for 80 percent of the Caspians inflow. Eight major dams on the Volga have reduced water flow to about one-tenth of its pre-dam speed. In 2023, water levels in the southern part of Russias Saratov region dropped to a 37-year low. Similar issues arose in the Tatarstan region, where the Kuybyshev Reservoir nearly reached a critical level. Without the dams reducing the amount of water flowing into the Caspian, the current level of the sea would be 3 to 5 feet higher, evidence suggests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expected declines in water levels will have catastrophic effects on the regions biodiversity, while exacerbating desertification and disrupting local communities whose residents depend on the sea for their livelihoods. The shrinking sea will threaten habitats, particularly in shallow areas like the northern Caspian, home to diverse ecosystems. Fisheries, a critical economic sector for countries like Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia, will be at risk as species like sturgeon lose their breeding grounds. The effects are already apparent. Kazakhstan is experiencing some of the most severe impacts because of its shallow coastline. In Aqtau, a city with a population of about 250,000, residents face trade disruptions and difficulties with drinking water supply as the sea recedes. And the Aqtau portKazakhstans only port on the Caspianis struggling to operate at full capacity because of lower water levels, affecting cargo operations. Meanwhile, coastal communities that rely on fishing and maritime industries are seeing their livelihoods disappear, forcing many people to consider relocation. Kazakhstan has been among the most proactive of the littoral states in addressing the issue, with the government declaring a state of emergency in June 2023 because of low water levels. But despite high-level discussions over possible policy measures, concrete plans for managing displaced populations or climate refugees are not yet evident. On the whole, the Caspian littoral states appear to be at best complacent considering the extreme severity of the problem. Russia also faces challenges along its Caspian coast as well as along the Volga River. Towns and settlements along the Volga have been grappling with decreased river volume, which has affected river navigation and trade. Falling water levels may jeopardize the planned expansion of the Lagan port and other port and infrastructure projects on the Caspian itself due to the changing shoreline. While specific counts of displaced persons in Russia are unavailable, the economic impact on fishing and shipping industries is likely forcing migration from coastal areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, Azerbaijans concerns are primarily economic and geopolitical, as changing coastlines and maritime borders may affect the countrys offshore oil and gas operations. As a result, Azerbaijan has focused more on negotiating new maritime borders and resource rights than addressing potential population displacement. Iran is also experiencing significant impacts, particularly in its northern regions. Falling sea levels are damaging the Anzali Lagoon, an important ecological and economic area. Ports and docks in coastal regions are becoming less accessible, disrupting shipping and transit operations. Iranian officials have called for a presidential commission to address the issue, showing a growing awareness of the problem, but as elsewhere concrete planning has lagged. In Turkmenistan, ferry service between some towns has reportedly been disrupted because of low water levels, affecting not only local transportation but also tourism. Plans for developing trans-Caspian gas pipelines may also be affected, with potentially significant economic consequences. However, the countrys opaque governance limits information on Turkmenistans policy responses. On the whole, the Caspian littoral states appear to be at best complacent considering the extreme severity of the problem. Experts recommend fostering regional dialogue, engaging the international community and taking immediate action to mitigate water loss. But while there have been some discussions at regional summits, international cooperation on the issue remains limited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of November 2024, there have been no specific agreements between countries bordering the Caspian Sea to directly address falling water levels. Whats more, the fundamental dispute among littoral states over whether to classify the Caspian as a sea or a lake remains unresolved. This classification has significant implications for resource allocation. If it is classified as a lake, the Caspians bordering states would share resources equally. If it is classified as a sea, international maritime law would dictate dividing resources based on coastline length. There are many stumbling blocks to reaching a joint agreement, not least the littoral states conflicting economic objectives. The Caspian possesses approximately 48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. Russia and Iran advocate for stricter environmental regulations, while Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan prioritize economic development through oil and gas extraction. Also, the littoral states varying levels of acknowledgement and concern about climate change hinder coordinated action. That said, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which was signed in 2018, marks some progress toward establishing a legal framework for cooperation among the littoral states. The convention sidesteps the issue of whether the Caspian is a lake or sea, defining it as a body of water with special legal status. And while it doesnt directly address climate change impacts, the convention provides a foundation for potential future collaboration on the issue. The littoral states have also signed several protocols focusing on environmental protection, including the Aktau Protocol on oil pollution and the Moscow Protocol on land-based pollution sources. There is a potential to expand these protocols to address climate change impacts. However, there are many impediments to progress. For instance, Iran has yet to ratify the convention, due to ongoing disagreement over its share of the seas resources. And as is often the case with climate change diplomacy, economic interests often supersede environmental concerns. Also, each country has different priorities and approaches to environmental management, making it difficult to establish a cohesive strategy for addressing climate change impacts. Further, there is a lack of comprehensive, collaborative scientific studies among all five nations to fully understand and address the complex factors contributing to the seas decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resolving tensions between environmental conservation and economic exploitation of the Caspians resources will be key to any long-term solution. To combat falling water levels in the Caspian, a coordinated, science-based approach involving all five nations will be necessary, along with a willingness to prioritize long-term environmental sustainability over short-term economic gains. Unfortunately, the Caspians five bordering countries are nowhere near the required level of cooperation, nor are there encouraging signs that a joint initiative to directly address the crisis will soon emerge. Robert Looney was a distinguished professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He specialized in issues relating to energy security and economic development in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America. The post Climate Changeand ComplacencyIs Drying Up the Caspian Sea appeared first on World Politics Review. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Despite the still-falling snow on Friday morning, Clinton National Airport in Little Rock remains open. Airport spokesperson Shane Carter said airlines are facing challenges with deicing aircraft. As of 4:15 p.m. Friday, 51 flights for the day had been cancelled. Some departures and arrivals are still scheduled. Clinton National Airport preparing for winter weather amidst thousands of national flight cancellations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter reminds that the airlines, not the airport, determine if flights operate. Travelers are encouraged to check the airlines website or app for the most recent flight information. Carter adds that road conditions may be hazardous and to use extreme caution if driving to the airport. Officials also noted that the airport saw eight inches of snow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. More than 250 residents of a Bronx apartment building including 57 children were burned out of their homes and seven people were injured as a massive five-alarm blaze buffeted by icy winds tore through the top of the six-story structure early Friday, FDNY officials said. The fire broke out on the top floor of the Mayfair Apartments on Wallace Ave. near Arnow Ave. at about 1:40 a.m. and quickly spread to the cockloft the crawlspace between the ceilings of the top floor apartments and the roof, officials said. It was a heavy fire that destroyed apartments on the top floor and burned through the roof, FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said during a Friday morning press conference at the scene with Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker and Mayor Adams. The fire had too much headway. It was an extremely dangerous fire for our firefighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 250 firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics responded to the fire, FDNY officials said. Images shared by the FDNY showed bright pockets of orange flames breaking through the roof of the 200-foot-long building. Firefighters fought the blaze through the night and into the morning. Five firefighters and a resident suffered minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals. One resident was treated at the scene, the FDNY said. Fire marshals were trying to determine what sparked the blaze. The damage to the building was so severe, marshals still hadnt been able to get into the building to find the fires point of origin by Friday afternoon, FDNY sources said. This was very difficult for firefighters to fight, Tucker said. Thank God there were no serious injuries. Thats a miracle. This was a very, very large fire, wind-driven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jarixa Guzman, 31, her husband and four children fled after the lights suddenly went out in their apartment and they heard the fire crackling before flames burst their way into the unit. I heard the crackling in between the walls, said Guzman. I told [my husband], go wake up the kids. Theres a fire. Theres a fire. Hes like, Where, I dont see it? And then it started coming down from the light fixtures. Guzmans terrified children, ages 6, 8, 10 and 12, scrambled to gather their cats and game systems before fleeing but werent able to save all their pets. We grabbed two of the kittens. The mother [cat] just went back in [to the apartment], and then we ended up losing one of [the kittens], Guzman said. My kids are hysterical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ASPCA said while many pets remain missing both the ASPCA and the Animal Care Centers of NYC were on standby to conduct animal search and rescue and provide additional support as needed and providing pet food and supplies as well as emergency boarding and veterinary care. By Friday afternoon nearly 100 households from the Mayfair Apartments, which included nearly 200 adults and 57 children, had come to nearby P.S. 76 seeking help. More than 50 of the households applied for emergency shelter, Red Cross officials said. Well provide emergency assistance, including lodging, connection to the resources that the families need as they plan their next steps in recovering from this disaster, American Red Cross of Greater New York CEO Doreen Thomann-Howe said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julie Scott-Fernandez, 43, her daughter and granddaughter were among the families seeking shelter at P.S. 76 and hoping they could get back into their building to gather their possessions. So the entire sixth floor in the building is done. The fifth floor is also done. The fourth floor is filled with smoke and water, so were flooded, and theyre not letting us back in the building at all, said Scott-Fernandez. Im really praying, hoping and praying that well be able to salvage some things, because I do have all my valuables, and I didnt even grab my purse. They said the marshal has to deem it safe for us before we can get back in. So were just waiting, Scott-Fernandez added. All my stuff is a total loss, said resident Ty Holmes, 36, who works at Madison Square Garden. I just moved into this apartment, maybe three or four months ago All I have is what I have on my back. I just bought a new 65-inch TV, which was an accomplishment. Like, this is my first official apartment of my own. All my identification, everything is in there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents told reporters lack of heat was a chronic problem in the building and some tenants have resorted to using their ovens and space heaters to keep warm, which could have sparked the fire. Adams said Friday morning that city officials were unaware about any heat complaints in the building. We are going to have DOB and other city agencies look into if theres a chronic condition, he said. Were going to look at if there are 311 calls that were made and were going to find out what the cause of this fire is. The city Department of Buildings has a stop work order on the building following a 2019 violation in which debris was found falling from the facade, according to city records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOB has received 61 complaints about the building, mostly about the condition of the elevator, which residents said continually breaks down. The most recent complaints were filed last February, city records show. With Cayla Bamberger SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The smoke has yet to settle in Southern California, where thousands are reeling from the devastating impacts of a series of ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area. As of Friday, the fires have burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures. Roughly 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, with some heading south to San Diego to escape the chaos. This comes amid air quality concerns as a grey plume of smoke, seemingly drifting southwest from Los Angeles into the Pacific Ocean, can be seen from space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A look back: The worst fires in San Diego history how do they compare to LA? How close are the fires? The two major blazes burning in Los Angeles County, as of Friday, are the Palisades Fire, located in the Pacific Palisades community, and the Eaton Fire, located in the area of Altadena and Pasadena. The Palisades Fire, which is over 20,400 acres, is roughly 145 miles from downtown San Diego. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, which has spread over 13,900 acres, is about 129 miles from the city. Driving-wise, both fires are over two hours away. An emergency vehicle drives through a neighborhood devastated by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) The third largest spread blaze is the Kenneth Fire in the west San Fernando Valley near Hidden Hills, Woodland Hills and West Hills. This 1,000-acre fire is about 148 miles from Americas Finest City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also the Hurst Fire in the suburban neighborhood of Sylmar. This fire is over 770 acres and is located around 143 miles from San Diego. Lastly, there is the Lidia Fire, a smaller blaze burning around 400 acres in Acton, an unincorporated area near the Antelope Valley that is roughly 171 miles from San Diego. San Diego Humane Society staff head to fire-stricken Pasadena to evacuate pets This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows homes damaged from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP) Evacuation options For those evacuating Los Angeles by vehicle, the most common route to San Diego is Interstate 5, which runs south along the coast. The cities are separated by approximately 120 miles, or about a two-hour drive under normal traffic conditions. Travel times can vary significantly, especially during rush hour or on weekends when the highways experience congestion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those opting to travel by train, Amtrak offers a route between the cities that takes roughly two and a half to three hours, providing an alternative to driving. Additionally, there are frequent bus services between the two cities, with travel times similar to those of a car, ranging from two to three hours. There are also quick flights available for those who are looking to cut down on travel time. Non-stop air travel from Los Angeles to San Diego takes around 1 hour, not including time spent at baggage check and security gates. Real-time updates regarding the Los Angeles area fires can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Stadler Signalling has secured a contract with Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ), the rail network manager in the Jura region of Switzerland, to overhaul the signalling systems at Tavannes station and Orange depot. The upgrades are part of a modernisation effort to enhance half of the Tavannes-Le Noirmont line by 2027. The CHF4.3m ($4.7m) contract will include the installation of the latest generation of electronic interlockings at Tavannes station and Orange depot to improve the safety and punctuality of rail operations. The contract follows a previous commission by CJ in July 2019 for safety system overhauls at Tramelan station. Stadler's EUROLOCKING safety systems for Tavannes, Orange, and Tramelan stations use "proven" technology, with previous upgrades completed at several other stations on the CJ network. CJ director Jean-Frederic Python said: Several years ago, the CJ took the decision to install this new EUROLOCKING technology. But today, thanks to the experience we have gained, we are lucky to be able to work with Stadler Signalling. This modernisation is also a step towards compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG), stated Stadler. CJ, together with federal and cantonal investments, is channelling millions into modernising its rail network annually. This includes updating tracks, overhead lines, and particularly focusing on electronic signal boxes and train control systems. These upgrades are designed to ensure safe service, setting the foundation for future advancements on the CJ network. Stadler Signalling CEO Marc Trippel said: "I am very pleased that we can build on our collaboration with Chemin de fer du Jura and renew the signalling technology in more stations. This contract demonstrates Stadlers contribution to the modernisation of rail transport in the Bernese Jura and represents the expansion of Stadler Signalling in the Swiss signalling technology market. In December 2024, Stadler was awarded a contract by the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) and Matterhorn Gotthard Railway (MGBahn) to supply 11 new metre-gauge hybrid locomotives. The SFr100m ($112m) order will help modernise and expand the fleets of both railways. "Stadler secures contract for safety system upgrades in Switzerland" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. A man who served years in federal prison for defrauding a Tacoma homeless shelter was sentenced Thursday to 22 months in state prison for a theft scheme at a Lakewood warehouse that involved disconnected security cameras and threats to fire workers who didnt help him. Jeffrey Ryan Goodell pleaded guilty in October in Pierce County Superior Court to six counts of first-degree theft for taking at least $680,000 worth of pallets and construction materials between June and August 2021 from a warehouse he managed, according to court records. The items were marketed on Craigslist as an investment opportunity, and a customer reportedly paid about $203,000 to Goodells codefendant, Paul Vickers Jr., for materials to build pallets and a forklift lease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The customer told investigators with the Lakewood Police Department that Goodell helped him get a contract with Costco and ULine, a shipping supplies company, to sell the pallets he assembled. Vickers Jr. pleaded guilty Oct. 25 and was sentenced for compounding Goodells crime by accepting items and funds from him in exchange for not reporting the thefts. Vickers also worked at the warehouse until a few weeks before the thefts were discovered. Compounding is a gross misdemeanor, and Vickers Jr. received a deferred sentence of one year. He avoids jail time if he maintains law abiding behavior and other conditions. To pull off the thefts, Goodell directed an employee to turn off exterior security cameras at the warehouse that covered the area where items were loaded onto trailers, according to the probable cause document, and he altered record keeping about the pallet inventory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Text messages allegedly showed Goodell directing employees to move skids onto trailers not owned by the company, Birchstone Management, formerly Great Wide Logistics, at a warehouse at 9704 47th Ave. SW. One employee reportedly filed a whistleblower report indicating that Goodell had threatened employees jobs if they didnt comply with his requests. More than three employees reportedly indicated that they had been threatened with termination for not complying. Pallets and materials then were taken to fenced lots in Lakewood and Edgewood. A company investigation located the pallets. Several hundred skids recovered at the lot in Lakewood were valued at $680,766.24, according to court records. In Edgewood, a storage area had six trailers with pallets. The pallets were owned by CHEP, a company that rents out its blue pallets to businesses rather than selling them. When the company conducted an audit of Birchstone Managements Lakewood warehouse in August 2021, it found a trailer with seven skids of their pallets that had been unaccounted for. In court Thursday, Goodells attorney, Shannon Polley of Puget Law Group, asked Judge Bryan Chushcoff to impose the 22-month sentence that she and prosecutors had agreed to recommend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodell was previously convicted of felony bank fraud in U.S. District Court and was sentenced in 2013 to four years in federal prison. The conviction stemmed from Goodell draining the Tacoma Rescue Missions bank accounts of nearly $1.3 million through unauthorized loans he made to friends and associates. The accounts were with Northwest Commercial Bank, which later made the Tacoma Rescue Mission whole after the allegations came to light that one of its loan officers, Goodell, used the accounts to divert money to 14 people and businesses, according to a 2012 story from The News Tribune. In the pallet-theft case, prosecutors originally charged Goodell with leading organized crime, first-degree theft and first-degree trafficking in stolen property. The charges were amended to six counts of theft as part of a plea agreement. Goodell, who has remained out of custody for the duration of the case, declined to address the court when he was given a chance to speak. Asked by Chuscoff what he would do when he is released from prison, Goodell said he would rebuild his life and try to make it up to his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After answering a few more questions, a Sheriffs Department deputy handcuffed Goodell and led him from the room. As he walked out, Goodells father in law, Rick Franz, who was in the gallery, told Goodell to look him in the face. Franz attended the sentencing hearing with three others who had some connection to Goodell, including Gary Vance, who said he was a friend of the defendants first wife. They were dissatisfied with the punishment Goodell received. After court adjourned, Franz called the sentence Goodell received pathetic and said he should have received 10 or 15 years. WALTON COUNTY, Fla (WMBB) Matrix COC will be offering Cold Weather Emergency Sheltering on Thursday, January 9th at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center. Officials said the shelter, located at 361 N 10th Street, will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. While funding is available, the Matrix COC can support transportation costs to the shelter through Uber or Taxi. To receive this service, the public is directed to call Candy at 850-307-8100. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin County deputies rescued two boaters and a dog from flipped boat Matrix COC asks their public safety partners to continue to support the clients with transportation to the shelter, pending staff availability. For those interested in supporting the CWES, whether volunteering in the shelter, providing meals, or donating, click here. To contact the DeFuniak Springs Community Center call 850-865-6349. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. NHS guidelines suggest homes should be heated to at least 18C, but for pensioners in Englands coldest village, thats easier said than done. Temperatures in Shap, Cumbria, plummeted to an arctic -11.2C on Wednesday night the lowest recorded by the Met Office this winter. The villages elderly northern community one in four Shap residents are over 65 is accustomed to deep freezes, and theyve long had financial support from the Government to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, however, is the first they face without winter fuel payments after Chancellor Rachel Reeves axed the benefit for 10 million pensioners to save the Treasury 1.6bn a year. It has left thousands of retirees across Cumbria layering up and rationing energy in a bid to tough out the cold temperatures. Angered locals have urged Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to get out of their ivory towers and head north to witness the damage the winter fuel raid has dealt. Matt Brereton, a Tory councillor at Wesmorland and Furness Council, told The Telegraph: I think they would do well to come and visit some people here to see how difficult it is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But so far, I dont get the impression that they are of a mind to change their policy, which is now coming home to roost. Theres an element of ivory towers in this. They should get out of them they dont seem keen to come out to see with their own eyes. Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said this weeks weather showcases the impact of Labours cruel and dangerous decision. The former Lib Dem leader said: Shap is a wonderful, warm community but is facing arctic temperatures as are many other places in Cumbria. The community has an above average number of older people, many of whom are on low incomes and who are at serious risk from the severe cold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a reminder that the Governments decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance is cruel and dangerous, they must reverse this dreadful decision immediately. Charities have long warned of the devastating effects of Labours winter fuel raid, and campaigners await an upcoming spike in winter deaths. Andy Beeforth, of the Cumbria Community Foundation, said: Its not unusual for between 300 and 500 older people to die in the winter in Cumbria because they cant afford to heat their homes or conditions that are linked to that. Absolutely there could be more this year. We do have a crisis in our hospitals and its not looking good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People live in older traditional properties made of stone and theres not a great deal you can do to insulate them. A host of outlying Cumbrian communities rely on oil or liquid gas or even coal for heating their homes. Keeping warm is a necessity which proves expensive. A Shap resident said: My neighbour is 74 and hes struggling. He lives on his own at his farm, hes got no support and he lost his winter fuel allowance this year. His pension isnt worth the paper its written on, he hasnt got the central heating working and now his only source of heating is some electric heaters. Jean Jackon, of Shap Parish Council, said the winter fuel allowance is sorely missed by villagers: People who look forward to this winter payment every year are now acting very carefully about their energy use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worries over the loss of the allowance are commonplace in villages like Shap, where the percentage of its near 1,000 residents aged over 65 is 28pc well above the national average. Mr Beeforth added: In parts of Cumbria, weve got whats technically described as a super ageing population, a very quickly growing population of people who are over 80 years old. Even heating just one room may be impossible The coldest temperature recorded so far this winter in Britain was -13.3C at Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands on Sunday night. The UK Health Security Agency has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is probable as conditions turn bitterly cold, the agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said: We have been hoping and praying that a mild winter would reduce the risks created by the Governments decision to severely ration the winter fuel payment at short notice, but with arctic air smothering the country, that hope has well and truly gone, leaving millions vulnerable to the severe cold. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, urged households to turn their heating on last weekend despite his governments cuts to the winter fuel allowance. But Adam Scorer, of National Emergency Action, said it is not a simple choice. He said: Even heating just one room may be impossible. We hope people prioritise their health and try to heat at least one room ideally to around 18C. If you are still struggling, its important to reach out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan Shortt, of the National Pensioners Convention, said the loss of the allowance is now seriously being felt across the country due to the cold snap. She said: One member told us she has kidney disease and needs to keep warm and eat well to avoid being hospitalised. She just missed out on the winter fuel payment because she is just over the limit for pension credit. There is no doubt that many like this lady may end up needing hospital treatment. We require urgent government action to avoid more hospitalisations, and as we fear, deaths. Cold, damp homes kill it is a fact. A government spokesman said: We do not want to see anyone suffering this winter, which is why we have continued the warm home discount and extended the household support fund which will help with the cost of food, heating and bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are committed to supporting pensioners with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to 1,900 this Parliament through our commitment to the triple lock. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Midwestern State hosted Western New Mexico for a Thursday night Lone Star Conference doubleheader. The womens teams took the court first, with the Mustangs winning 82-44. Afterwards the mens teams were in action where the Mustangs won 82-53. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. The Colorado Supreme Court building in downtown Denver on July 7, 2021. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Marquez on Friday called on the Legislature to approve a spending increase for new judges in the state. Many of our judges are routinely working nights and weekends, unable to take time off to attend training or to take care of sick family members, let alone tend to their own health, she said during the annual State of the Judiciary address at the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Referring to a bill introduced Wednesday, the first day of the 2025 legislative session, she said, For judges in the jurisdictions targeted in the bill, the current situation is simply unsustainable. We cannot ask our judges, day in and day out, to be making consequential decisions impacting peoples lives when they are running on empty tanks. Monica Marquez is the chief justice on the Colorado Supreme Court. (courts.state.co.us) Senate Bill 25-024 would implement the Judicial Departments request to add district court judges beginning this year in the 8th, 13th, 19th and 23rd judicial districts and add county court judges in Douglas, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Weld, Eagle, Adams and Arapahoe counties. Other districts and the Denver probate court, would get judge increases in 2026. It is sponsored by Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Frisco Democrat, and Sen. Lisa Frizell, a Castle Rock Republican. The bills cost would be about $13.2 million for the upcoming fiscal year, according to a budget briefing for the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recognition of the obvious budget realities of this year, our judge request does not seek to fully staff our courts. It would merely provide some relief to those districts facing the greatest need, Marquez said, acknowledging this years intense budget deficit, which could exceed $700 million. Legislative leaders say that budget reality will make any new programs or spending requests difficult to pass. Amid a tight focus on where to make spending cuts, any bill with a high price tag will be a tough sell. We cant afford any of it, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Brighton Republican, said during a Tuesday Joint Budget Committee hearing with Marquez. From my perspective, being a good partner is you (helping) us find where were going to make cuts. Certainly not make increases. Disruptors in the virtual courtroom In her Friday remarks, Marquez also spoke about a need to adopt new technology to facilitate virtual courtrooms, which have become increasingly common since the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the business meeting platform the courts currently use was never meant to function as a virtual courtroom, and creates vulnerabilities for disruptors to attack proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are individuals who sneak into virtual courtrooms, sometimes posing as actual parties and witnesses, and they hijack the proceedings by screaming racial epithets at litigants and judges and streaming pornographic, racist or violent video, she said. Ive heard directly from several judges around the state about the mental and emotional impact that these nearly daily attacks have had on them and our court staff. She thanked the JBC for authorizing $200,000 in emergency spending for a technology solution proposal request. Marquez also acknowledged the influx of new employees in the judicial system over the last five years. She said that over half of the states judges were appointed in 2020 or later, and 80% of chief judges have been in their leadership roles for only a handful of years. This true transformation of the department has presented a fertile environment for the seeds of our workplace culture initiative to take root, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She began that initiative in 2022 to improve workplace culture and staff well-being. It relies on value statements developed from employees and district leaders, she said. Marquez became chief justice in July 2024 and is the first Latina to hold the states top judicial position. She has served on the Colorado Supreme Court since 2010. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Is anyone surprised that even as the Los Angeles region's fires rage and before funeral arrangements have been made, there's been an outbreak of politics and second-guessing? L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has been ripped by some critics for being out of the country when the killer fires began. President-elect Donald Trump has blamed California Gov. Gavin "Newscum and his Los Angeles crew" for the deadly infernos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And various TV personalities have blasted an L.A. Fire Department budget cut, the size of firefighting crews in California, and diversity hiring. Let me start with Bass, a former U.S. representative who traveled to Ghana late last week as a member of a U.S. presidential delegation. Generally speaking, I don't have a problem with a mayor of Los Angeles a world-class international city traveling the world, particularly when it's about fostering economic and cultural relationships that can benefit L.A. Bass was attending the inauguration of Ghanian President John Dramani Mahama a nice gesture, but not a vital mission. She left on Saturday, leaving City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson in charge. As The Times reported, that was two days after the National Weather Service warned of the coming fierce winds and extreme fire danger after months of drought. A house burns on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Wednesday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) Historic, fierce, wind-driven fire destroyed much of Pacific Palisades before the mayor returned on Wednesday. Bass and multiple other public officials said she was in contact and helping manage the firestorm response while she was away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in his run for mayor two years ago, pounced immediately, saying, "We've got a mayor that's out of the country, and we've got a city that's burning." Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California Bad timing, for sure, although nobody in charge of the Eaton fire in the San Gabriel Valley was out of the country, as far as I know, and it's still devouring parts of Altadena and Pasadena. With Bass, I think the second-guessing is fair (and she, too, may be wishing she hadn't left town), even though this doesn't rise to the level of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz leaving Texas in 2021 to vacation in balmy Cancun while his state was crippled by an ice storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But few of us imagined this level of devastation in Los Angeles or beyond, and had Bass been in L.A. all along, would anything have turned out differently? President Biden, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), from center left, along with other officials at a briefing on the fires. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) If you've watched any of the daily news conferences, it's not as if there's a shortage of people in charge. In fact, it always drives me a little crazy to watch public officials take turns saying virtually the same things over and over at these events. First a city official, then a county official or two, then the police chief and the sheriff. They keep telling us there's a theme here that they're all speaking with one voice. That's actually a concept I could get behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why not have one person deliver the updates, without a dozen other people standing there like statues while the fires rage waiting for their turn at the microphone to tell us "we're in unified command" or to acknowledge the presence of a federal official "who flew out with her team from Washington, D.C." Read more: Column: The California compromise be prepared to evacuate These are news conferences, and people doing their jobs is not news. And can we please stop with the log-rolling in which public officials thank Gov. Newsom or President Biden for taking a call and promising to help out, as if they deserve a pat on the back for responding to a catastrophic, life-altering, developing disaster? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting back to Caruso, he mentioned the low water pressure that hampered firefighting efforts and said of the mayor, "We have terrible leadership resulting in billions of dollars in damage because she wasnt here and didnt know what she was doing. A deep dive on preparedness and disaster response is a must, going forward. That's true for lots of other policy matters, such as how, where and whether to rebuild; how to adequately staff public safety departments; and how to adapt to the mounting evidence that we live with ever-present danger related to topography, extreme weather conditions and climate change. Not to mention the earthquake faults that carve the terrain from mountain to sea. A firefighter works the Eaton fire on Wednesday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) So let's talk about all of it, but can we do so as grown-ups, without using an epic disaster as a political pinata? Former Fox anchor Megyn Kelly claimed that "in recent years, L.A.'s fire chief" Kristin Crowley has made diversity hiring a top priority rather than filling the fire hydrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks, Megyn Kelly, this is a reminder that we should never let a gas bag near a fire. CNN contributor Scott Jennings also weighed in on diversity, equity and inclusion, saying that "as a matter of public policy in California, the main interest in the fire department lately has been in DEI programming and budget cuts." Asked by the CNN host if he was laying blame on the L.A. Fire Department, Jennings responded: Read more: They outran the flames in Altadena, wondering how they lived through the fury "No, I'm blaming the Democrats who run the state." I'd suggest that climate change deserves some of the blame, and that the Republican Party is led by someone who thinks it's a hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the smoke is still rising, and petty partisanship is a distraction and disservice at the moment, given all that's been lost, and all the hard work of moving forward. steve.lopez@latimes.com 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. Jan. 9Palestine's Community Mpact is honoring Anderson County Commissioner Rashad Mims during its second Celebration of Black History Month Gala. Mims has served as county commissioner Pct. 2 for 19 years. "This year we wanted to recognize someone who is relevant, who is doing the job and Rashad has a great track record, almost 20 years of service," Community Mpact founder Ernie Williams said. "He serves the entire community, not just the Black community, not just white community and not just the Hispanic community. I have shadowed him. I have watched him. He works hard for everybody. I'm really proud of what he stands for." Williams went on to say Mims is also a great father to his kids and family man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm really proud of him," Williams said. "To be in that position for almost 20 years, an elected official, it's not just a job with him. He's got the respect of his employees, he gets out there and works hard with them." Keynote speaker for the event will be Rodney Dulin of Dallas. Dulin is leader of the Central Pointe Church of Christ. Williams said Paul Rogers and his band Natural Change will be performing smooth jazz and R& B following the awards ceremony. CHRISTUS Health is the title sponsor for this event. Other sponsors include Waste Connections, Reaping The Harvest Church of God in Christ and Pastor Anthony Taylor, Sanderson Farms Palestine, Commercial Bank of Texas, Oncor, Safeco Insurance and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community Mpact is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. According to Williams, proceeds from this event will support two of Community Mpact's initiatives, the construction of a Boys and Girls Club/ recreation center and the completion of a veterans' home that will house six men. Tickets and tables for this event were limited and have already sold out. ST. LOUIS The community has already raised thousands of dollars for a St. Louis native and his family who lost their home and all of their belongings in a California wildfire. St. Louis native Brian Perry and his young family were forced to leave their home just north of Los Angeles Tuesday once they caught wind of the threat the Eaton Fire could pose. We just packed up and left. We didnt waste any time, Perry told FOX 2 Thursday. Im really grateful for that, because we got to a friends house, we stayed their overnight, and we woke up in the morning to learn that the fire had overtaken our neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry, a Gateway Tech and Mizzou grad, moved to California in 2006. He and his wife, Kwynn, along with their 14-year-old son, Ellison, and their dog, Tendo, have lived in their home north of Los Angeles near Pasadena for the past 12 years. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Their home is in the foothills of Mount Wilson, also in the heart of the Eaton Fire. Perry said when they left, they didnt realize just how devastating the fire would become. We didnt say goodbye to that place. We didnt leave like we were leaving forever. So, each hour that passes, one of us has a realization of something we wish we had gotten, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry, a middle school principal at a local school district, said hes not one to ask for help under any usual circumstances. But right now, his family needs it. Last year, their insurance company stopped offering fire insurance due to the recent history of wildfires in the state. If youd like to help the family, you can donate to their GoFundMe here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A firefighter battles the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) "Completely dry - couldn't get any water out of it," said Captain Kevin Easton, who was part of a firefighting patrol battling flames that were quickly engulfing the Pacific Palisades in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday evening, according to The NY Times. Firefighters in Altadena ran into the same low water pressure as they desperately tried to slow the Eaton fire. "Having dozens of fire engines battling multiple fires resulted in overuse of the water system," Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin told the NY Times. As wildfires ravage residential neighborhoods, firefighters in Los Angeles County and other regions are discovering that the water systems are unable to meet the increased demand. Water experts say the infrastructure limitations are a common feature of many urban water systems. Firefighters extinguish burning embers at a house on Santa Rosa Avenue, also known as Christmas Tree Lane, after the house was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) "Local water systems are usually designed to fight local, small-scale fires over a limited time period," Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at Arizona State University's Kyl Center for Water Policy told The LA Times. "They are not generally designed to fight large, long-lasting wildfires." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design," Marty Adams echoed. Adams is a former general manager and chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which is responsible for delivering water to nearly 4 million residents of Los Angeles. Municipal water systems are designed so firefighters can use multiple hydrants at once, allowing a steady flow of water to fight a large structure fire or several burning homes in a small area. However, this system was not designed for a massive wildfire burning entire neighborhoods. Amid wildfires, like the historic fires ravaging Southern California this week, the system fails. Topography is also a factor. Transporting water to hillside communities like the Pacific Palisades can be difficult. Water must be pumped up to three hilltop storage tanks, each with a capacity of about 1 million gallons. The water can then flow downhill into homes and fire hydrants. According to The Associated Press, The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was pumping from aqueducts and groundwater into the system, but "demand was so high that it wasn't enough to refill three 1-million gallon tanks in hilly Pacific Palisades that help pressurize hydrants for the neighborhood." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP added that Janisse Quinones, head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said 3 million gallons of water were available when the Palisades fire started, but the demand was four times greater than "we've ever seen in the system." Los Angeles Mayor Bass estimated 20% of hydrants went dry. The existing water system in Los Angeles has "severe limits," Gregory Pierce, director of the UCLA Water Resources Group told The LA Times. "At least the way we've always built systems and wanted to pay for systems, you can't really expect systems, even like DWP's (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), to be prepared for this." With city fire hydrants running dry during major, wind-driven fires, firefighters have contingency plans to provide their own water using tanker trucks, said Arthur Lester, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Fire Department. A firefighter communicates in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) By Thursday evening, Kristin M. Crowley, the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, said firefighters had stopped tapping into fire hydrants. Crowley said firefighters had trained for the possibility of running out of water while battling brush fires and would typically resort to utilizing the aircraft that drop retardant and water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with firefighting aircraft grounded because high winds made it unsafe to make their usual aerial drops, the water situation was made exponentially worse. Pierce echoed the concerns over water systems that are designed for urban fires, not fast-moving wildfires. However, redesigning water systems to fight the massive wildfires California is increasingly experiencing would be enormously expensive, he said. Found a solution to fires in California It's called water pic.twitter.com/GS0xo31vA8 Daniel (@growing_daniel) January 8, 2025 When news of the dry fire hydrants spread across the internet, many on social media questioned why the ocean isn't used to fight wildfires. While saltwater can be effective when tackling a fire, it's not good to use regularly. It can be environmentally damaging, sometimes killing off the ecosystems where it's used for years, according to technology.org. Seawater is also corrosive to firefighting equipment like hoses, hydrants and tanks. "We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design," former water engineer Mary Adams said. "If this is going to be a norm, there is going to have to be some new thinking about how systems are designed." Adams said a more fundamental question is whether to rebuild neighborhoods next to wildlands amid climate change that is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires. The Wyoming Capitol building during the Wyoming Legislature's 2024 budget session. (Ashton J. Hacke of WyoFile) Citizens will soon be allowed to carry concealed firearms into the Wyoming Capitol after the states top five elected officials voted Wednesday morning to ease weapons restrictions inside the seat of state government. The timeline for implementing the rules is still uncertain. The State Building Commission composed of the governor, treasurer, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and auditor unanimously agreed to allow concealed guns only in publicly accessible areas of the Capitol building. They are continuing to review gun rules in other state office buildings more broadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acceding to long-standing demands from the growing right-wing faction of the Legislature that citizens be empowered to carry firearms into government buildings, while also trying to deliberate on public safety, the commission created a patchwork of rules that for now would allow guns in some but not all parts of the Capitol. The commission backed the rules despite a majority of the public comment it had solicited opposing the change. Though only 56 people responded to the commissions call for public input, 36 of those respondents opposed the new rule. Allowing concealed carry into state buildings more broadly remains limited by statutes prohibiting firearms in public meetings. The Legislature last year voted to repeal those statutes, but Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed the legislation, promising instead to kick off the rule-making process that led to Wednesdays vote. Ahead of that vote, staff informed the commission that those statutes could still cloud implementation of the new rules in the short term. In a press release after the vote, Secretary of State Chuck Gray said the new rules were undercut by Gordons previous veto, and he called on lawmakers to bring a new bill repealing the gun statutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building commission controls the entire Capitol building only when the Legislature is out of session. With lawmakers convening on Tuesday, it will be up to the Legislatures newly elected leadership, which is dominated by conservatives who support opening state buildings to gun-carrying citizens, to make the next move. Wednesdays rules do not allow concealed carry in the Herschler Building, an office building that abuts the Capitol and is connected to it by a tunnel. Concealed carry will remain against the rules in that building, which houses the Department of Education and the Secretary of States Office, at least until the commission takes its next step. Timeline for change It remains uncertain whether people will be able to carry hidden firearms at the start of the fast-approaching session, which is scheduled to last through March 6. Staff attorneys at the Legislative Service Office the nonpartisan staff that assist lawmakers will now review the rules, and it will then fall to legislative leadership to accept or reject them. If lawmakers dont act within 40 days, staff for the State Building Commission said the rules would go into place. That would open public areas of the Capitol building to concealed carry sometime in February, during the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a committee attorney said there was a window for legislative leadership to accelerate its approval of the rules, if they directed their attorneys to prioritize reviewing the rules over the large amount of bill writing facing them. LSO attorneys usually do not conduct rule reviews during or just ahead of a legislative session. But Gray, who closely aligns with the right-wing Wyoming Freedom Caucus that currently controls leadership in the House, suggested leadership would likely push for an immediate review of this rule. I think (the delay) would be superseded here just because of the importance of it, Gray said. Rule limitations Gray accused his colleagues of slow-walking the effort to allow guns into government buildings and of allowing them only into piecemeal areas of the Capitol, saying the public had been misleadingly sold this bill of goods that this rule applies to the entire Capitol complex. He attempted to amend Wednesdays rules to allow concealed carry throughout the Capitol complex, which includes the Herschler Building as well as the Hathaway Building, which houses more agencies, and most of the state government facilities in the heart of Cheyenne. His motion did not receive a second from his colleagues, several of whom said they believed they were continuing to advance the goal of opening up state buildings to firearm carry, but in a deliberate fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think this ever was sold as a bill of goods, Gordon said. It was always intended to be systematic in its approach, starting with the public areas in the Capitol and then moving into the (state) agency spaces. Members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus are expected to again bring legislation seeking to remove any restrictions on guns in public meetings. Gray also questioned whether state employees themselves would be able to carry a firearm in the parts of the Capitol covered by the new rules. There was some uncertainty about whether the rule covered state employees, though Auditor Kristi Racines said the objective was to allow staffers to carry firearms in the same public parts of the Capitol as the public. Gordons office is working on an executive order that would explicitly allow employees to concealed carry in the areas covered by both Wednesdays rules and future measures, the governor said. That executive order will be fairly broad, Gordon said, and address explosives, knives and efforts at intimidation. This story was originally produced and published by WyoFile, which is a partner organization with States Newsroom, the parent organization of the Daily Montanan. The original post can be found here. Tesla CEO Elon Musk - Photo: Chesnot (Getty Images) Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday officially filed an appeal with Delawares Supreme Court after a state judge rejected his $56 billion compensation package for the second time. The widely expected move came a little less than a month after Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick opened the 30-day window for Tesla to appeal her ruling to the states highest court. Shortly after McCormick shot down Teslas bid to restore Musks package, the electric vehicle company confirmed its plans to appeal. This ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs lawyers run Delaware companies rather than their rightful owners the shareholders, Tesla said last month. Musk also slammed McCormick as an activist posing as a judge and agreed with a post calling the ruling literal corrupt bullst. Shareholders first voted to approve Musks pay package in 2018. It gave him the ability to buy up to 304 million Tesla shares at a pre-set price of $23.34 as long as he met a series of performance goals, which he did. Tesla stock currently trades at $393 per share. McCormick first rejected the deal last January. The vast majority of Tesla shareholders reapproved the deal in June, adding weight to Teslas attempt to change the judges mind. But McCormick ruled that Teslas unprecedented theories go against multiple strains of settled law, citing a series of flaws that cemented her decision. She also awarded the attorneys for the shareholder who sued Musk $345 million in fees, well below the more than $5 billion they requested but more than Tesla wanted. Tesla lobbied hard to convince shareholders to ratify Musks compensation package, often pointing out that he technically hasnt been paid for his work as CEO in about six years. Musk has said that he would prefer to own a quarter of the companys shares before making Tesla a leader in robotics and artificial intelligence. He currently owns about 13% of Teslas stock. The initial rejection of his pay deal bumped Musk out of the top spot on Forbes ranking of the wealthiest people. But by the end of the year, the growing value of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI sent his net worth above $400 billion for the first time. Hes currently worth about $416 billion, according to Forbes. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Congressman Don Davis is one of 48 Democrats to vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act. The bill is named after a Georgia student who was killed in 2024 while out for a run. It requires immigration and customs enforcement to take custody of undocumented migrants charged with theft, burglary, larceny and shoplifting. Davis campaigned last year on a tough border security and immigration reform stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its most important that we take steps that are going to make sure that we can prevent, you know, these situations, Congressman Davis said. And I just think it is so important for us to continue to stand strong in terms of making sure that were moving forward, too, with border security. The bill is now headed to the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticuts attorney general held a press conference on Friday morning to announce a preliminary settlement with Stone Academy and its owners. Stone Academy abruptly closed its three campuses in East Hartford, Waterbury and West Haven in February 2023, leaving more than 800 students in the dark about their future careers. Since then, Attorney General William Tong has vowed to investigate the school. He has demanded detailed information from Stone Academy, including what tuition was paid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Stone Academy employees testify against school In March 2024, the state secured $5 million in a prejudgment remedy a move that Tong is celebrated as a win for an ongoing lawsuit. In December 2023, former Stone Academy students were granted a $5 million prejudgment remedy, addressing concerns about the defendants being able to pay. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to give them a fresh start, to resume their educations, and improve their careers, Tong said. Stone Academy and its owners are going to be subject to strict requirements and do things to make it right. Theres nothing thats going to really make them whole, said attorney David Slossberg, who represents former Stone Aacdemy students whove taken legal action. But I think this is the best we could do under the circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next step will be a hearing for a judge to review and potentially approve the settlement. As part of the settlement, Joseph Bierbaum, the former operator of Stone Academy, would be barred from employment in higher education for five years. Documents filed by Slossberg and his in court show that to make cash payments equitable, its proposed that the largest group of students receive distributions proportionate to the credits conferred by Stone Academy. The documents state that additional class members must meet specific requirements and return the claim form (Exhibit D in the document below) to qualify for payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys representing Bierbaum and Stone Academy said they wont comment. Read the memo in support of the preliminary approval of the settlement below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) Firefighters in Connecticut offered insight into what emergency crews in California face as devastating wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area. Weve had some pretty big incidents in town, and theyve lasted a day or two, but nothing to that magnitude, Berlin Fire Chief Jonn Massirio said. New norm: Official warns brush fires will become commonplace as Hawthorne Fire keeps burning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massirio reflected on the Hawthorne brush fire that started in October, knowing how challenging wildfires can be. When you show up to something of that magnitude, like we did here, youre just overwhelmed and dont have that amount of resources. Resources from across Connecticut and other states poured into Berlin to get the powerful flames under control. Were one neighborhood here, Massirio said. Theyre multiple neighborhoods, dealing with the same problem and losing houses and properties. How to donate to LA wildfire relief Massirio was among those who spoke with News 8 on Thursday to discuss the challenges facing firefighters in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cannot have enough people and resources available to fight a fire like that all the time, DEEPs Fire Control Officer Michael Kronick said. Thats why theyre calling in other states to help. Kronick said fatigue becomes a significant problem. Some of these firefighters are now working three, four days straight, he said. Youre always working against the clock; youre working to protect these homes. Its also critical to prioritize what you can save. In the fire service, we always go for what you can save first, Massirio said. Some things are worth protecting. Our motto is always risk a lot to save a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added teamwork is vitally important. Stars lose homes in Los Angeles area fires and Jamie Lee Curtis pledges $1M to relief effort Theres a lot of effort that goes into planning for a multi-jurisdictional response, a multi-agency response, North Haven Fire Department said. The Hawthorne Fire allowed us to revisit our strategies that we had on paper. That, in collaboration with whats happening now, its definitely time to revisit that and see what we can do better. Januszewski said theyre constantly reviewing those plans, with training happening year-round at every level. Every fire department across the state every day is performing some kind of training to make sure theyre prepared to face any challenge that comes their way, said P.J. Norwood, the director of training with the Connecticut Fire Academy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Connecticut, officials are monitoring fire danger levels and taking proactive steps with the hopes of preventing wildfires from happening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. According to some politicians and influencers, a small fish called the Delta smelt is to blame for the wildfires that have devastated the Los Angeles area this week. Prominent figures, including President-elect Donald Trump, said policies related to the endangered Delta smelt affect how much water can be pumped out of the fishs habitat in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. They added thats the cause of water supply issues faced by firefighters laboring to stop the blazes. Three water tanks and some fire hydrants temporarily lost water because of high demand Tuesday, local officials said. The small fish isnt alone in being the target of blame for the multiple wildfires that had burned across 45 square miles of the city as of Thursday, forcing more than 180,000 people out of their homes. Other people have criticized diversity, equity and inclusion, California Gov. Gavin Newsoms immigration policies or the influence of billionaires on climate change policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not clear what initially sparked the fires, and in the absence of reliable information, some of the allegations being made online are misinformed or wrong, experts say. All of them ignore the complexities that caused the fires to spread and the nuanced solutions that would be required to address similar urban wildfires in the future, they add. Trump was among the most notable leaders to call out the Delta smelt, writing Wednesday on Truth Social that Newsom refused to sign the water restoration declaration that would have allowed millions of gallons of water to flow into parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way. He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didnt work!), but didnt care about the people of California, Trump wrote. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster! In a statement in response, Izzy Gardon, Newsoms director of communications, accused Trump of playing politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no such document as the water restoration declaration that is pure fiction, Gardon said Tuesday. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need. Trump wasnt alone in blaming the Delta smelt. Roger Stone, a Republican operative whom Trump pardoned for multiple felony convictions, shared a photo of the smelt on X on Wednesday, writing, This is the fish Gavin Newscum burned California down in order to save. Delta smelt are an endangered species that live in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. James Woods, the actor, who said his home in Pacific Palisades burned down, criticized Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowleys mention of DEI in her bio on the department website. Refilling the water reservoirs would have been a welcome priority, too, but I guess she had too much on her plate promoting diversity, Woods wrote on X next to a photo of the last paragraph of Crowleys bio. The paragraph says: Creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities are Chief Crowleys priorities, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve the City of Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Targeting DEI initiatives after or during attention-grabbing news incidents has become a predictable political tactic in the last year for Republicans, who have responded to everything from bridge collapses to midair accidents with such attacks. Others have suggested that Newsom also didnt refill Californias reservoirs or that he returned its water to the ocean. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who owns X, agreed with a post from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that said the fires are part of a larger globalist plot to wage economic warfare and deindustrialize the United States before triggering total collapse. Experts say that most of the takes are inaccurate or miss the point and that they dont make room for conversations about real solutions to worsening natural disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the blame game isnt useful, said Faith Kearns, director of research communications at the Arizona Water Initiative at Arizona State University and co-author of a 2021 report published by UCLA on wildfire and water supply in California. This is a really complex, complicated and emergent issue that just hasnt been on the radar for mostly anyone, and so I just dont think that there is individual blame to go around at all, she said. Those were exceptional fire conditions that were seeing in L.A., drought, climate change and then these high winds. Kearns said one of the takeaways of the 2021 report she co-authored was that its unclear who would start to address issues with water management related to wildfires. In California, for example, there are thousands of water providers, she said, and some arent well-resourced. Is it their issue to try to deal with? Is it the fire service? Is it a county, a city? she said. The fact that we dont even know whos totally responsible for all these things makes me feel like we certainly dont know where to put blame, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kearns pointed to a statement from Janisse Quinones, chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, who said Wednesday, We are fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging. Kearns said that statement highlights a serious issue that experts have seen wildland fires move into urban areas only in the last 10 to 15 years and that theyre still figuring out how to address it. The way that firefighting has traditionally been, there are wildland firefighters and agencies, and then there are urban firefighters and agencies, she said. Are we having wildland firefighters fighting fires in urban areas or the reverse? And sometimes the approaches are really different. The blame game ignores the nuances of addressing urban fires, experts said, but it also spreads misinformation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caleb Scoville, an assistant professor of sociology at Tufts University who studies the dynamics of environmental controversies, pointed to the California Department of Water Resources website, which shows that most of the states major reservoirs are at or above their historic levels for this time of year. He added that that is especially true of reservoirs in Southern California, refuting claims that Newsom or Crowley didnt refill them. Scoville added that the Delta smelt, in particular, has repeatedly been blamed by politicians, including Trump, for environmental problems in California. Scoville said the policies that protect the smelt and other species, like salmon, sometimes affect the amount of water that can be pumped at a particular time from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is the heart of Californias water distribution system, but this is not a factor thats relevant at all to the wildfire situation or the ability of Los Angeles to handle the wildfires. It plays to a long-standing trope that liberals or people in cities or people in places like California or environmentalists care more about small, uncharismatic species than they care about their fellow Americans, Scoville said of Trumps allegations against the smelt, which he called a distraction from the climate crisis and the complexities of water policy in California. Its a way of turning a set of concrete environmental challenges into a kind of culture war, he said. Its about dividing people, so it can have sort of short-term political wins, but its corrosive to our ability to respond to really serious environmental problems. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com COLUMBIA, N.C. (WAVY) Work on a replacement to a bridge that serves as a key link to the Outer Banks and is part of a major hurricane evacuation route will begin soon and is expected to open to traffic in fall 2029, now that a $450 million contract is in place. Skanska USA was awarded a $450 million contract to replace the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge also known as the Alligator River Bridge that goes over the Alligator River on U.S. 64 in Tyrrell and Dare counties. The North Carolina Board of Transportation approved the contract. Work is expected to begin soon on a new bridge to replace the 65-year-old Lindsay C. Warren Bridge over the Alligator River between Tyrrell and Dare counties under a $450 million contract awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation. (Photo NCDOT) The project will replace the current 65-year-old swing-span bridge with a modern two-lane fixed-span, high-rise bridge just north of the current bridge. The new bridge will include two, 12-foot travel lanes with 8-foot breakdown lanes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding for the project is helped by a $110 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which passed in 2021. Skanska workers will start driving bridge pilings in the next few weeks, weather permitting, and will start other activities, to include clearing, soon after. The terms of the contract stipulate that the new bridge will open to traffic in fall 2029, with the demolition of the current bridge in spring 2030. The current bridge was completed in 1960 is a critical hurricane evacuation route, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation and is maintained regularly, though its prone to occasional mechanical failures, forcing drivers on a 99-mile detour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bridge is rated as structurally deficient, though the N.C. Department of Transportation stresses that the bridge is safe. NCDOT said the bridge is reaching the end of its lifecycle and must have more frequent maintenance and monitoring. It said the work to keep up maintenance on the current bridge negatively impacts its ability to provide a reliable connection between Columbia, Manns Harbor, Manteo and the Outer Banks. The new bridge is also expected to improve river traffic, as more than 4,000 boats pass through the swing-span every year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A 60-year-old Sioux Falls man was killed Thursday afternoon after a large light pole fell across the northbound lanes of Interstate 229 near Benson Road. SDSU officials: Quick response needed to hire Jackson According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, a contractor was working on the light pole tower when it began to lean and fell, hitting one passing vehicle. The driver died from the injuries of the crash, which happened at 1:05 p.m. Thursday. The name is not being released until the family has been notified, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. The northbound lanes of I-229 near the Benson Road Exit were closed for a period of time Thursday as crews crewed the pole from the interstate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A woman who was convicted more than 20 years ago of a high-profile Central Illinois murder has died. Jeanette Slover died in custody Wednesday, according to her legal team. The Illinois Department of Corrections said she died at a hospital outside of prison. Vermilion Co. dismisses murder charges after new evidence found Slover was convicted in Macon County court of killing her former daughter-in-law Karyn Hearn Slover in 1996. Her husband Michael and son Michael Jr. Karyns ex-husband were also convicted of the crime. Karyn disappeared after leaving work and her body was found dismembered in garbage bags in Lake Shelbyville. She had been shot seven times in the head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois Innocence Project took up her case last year, claiming she was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. In a statement, the IIP said they were proud to know and represent her. We mourn Jeannettes passing while noting the fight to prove her innocence will carry on, they said. The IIP said they have DNA results from many pieces of evidence that exclude Jeannette, her husband and her son from the crime scene. Person arrested for arson after Springfield fire Collectively, Jeannette, her husband and her son spent more than 60 years in prison for a crime they did not commit, the group added in their statement. Jeannette and her family deserve justice. The victim of this murder, Karyn Slover, also deserves justice by having the actual perpetrators held accountable for her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Slover Sr. also died in prison. IDOC records indicate that Michael Slover Jr. was paroled earlier this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. PFAS, or forever chemicals as theyre often called, have persisted their way into water, air, fish, soil, people and animals all over the country. Theyve been linked to several serious health problems including cancer. Its a widespread problem thats led many states to pursue legislation that would block their continued use. Minnesotas Amaras Law, which was passed in 2023 and took effect at the beginning of 2025, is one of the most aggressive examples of pushing back against PFAS. The law bans all non-essential use of PFAS and requires manufacturers to disclose if PFAS are present in any products they plan on selling in Minnesota. Most Read on IEN: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now a group representing the cookware industry, one of the key consumer products targeted by the law, has filed a lawsuit to block it. According to MPR, the Cookware Sustainability Alliance (CSA) this week filed a complaint against Katrina Kessler, the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The CSA alleges that Amaras Law is unconstitutional and unenforceable. Or, as Law Professor Mehmet Konar-Steenberg explained to the publication, the CSA is saying that the hassles this law will create for businesses greatly outweigh the potential health benefits. The CSA has been busy lately fighting off similar PFAS legislation in other states. In New York, the organization managed a carveout for cookware from the states PFAS bill after meeting with several members of the state senate and house of representatives. In California, the CSA teamed up with California Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable, the American Chemistry Council, and the California Manufacturing and Technology Association to fight off multiple attempts to ban cookware using PTFE, a subgroup of PFAS. Its unclear if the CSA will have the same success in Minnesota but the MPCA sounded confident that the law would stand. It is estimated Minnesota taxpayers will have to spend $28 billion in the next 20 years to remove PFAS from wastewater and landfill leachate in the state. We simply cannot clean our way out of this problem, the group told MPR in a statement. Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news. DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A North Carolina couple died Wednesday in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 52 in the Dovesville area of Darlington County, Coroner JT Hardee said. William Tyler Nichols, 31, and his wife, Christie Thomas Nichols, 30, died when their vehicle and another vehicle collided, Hardee said. It happened at about 12:30 p.m. near Horse Branch Trail about a mile north of the Dovesville crossroads. Four other people were hurt in the crash, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Troopers said it happened while a 2013 Nissan Altima and a 2022 Toyota Camry were traveling south on Highway 52 and a 2017 Ford F-350 pickup truck was traveling north. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to troopers, the Nissan collided with the Toyota Camry, which then went left to center and was hit by the Ford. William and Christie Nichols were in the Toyota and died at the scene, Hardee said. Troopers said a passenger in the Altima and three passengers in the Ford were taken to a local hospital, but no information was available about their conditions. The incident remains under investigation by the coroners office, the highway patrols Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, also known as MAIT. The Darlington County Sheriffs Office and the Society Hill City Police Department also assisted. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.s quarterly sales topped estimates, reinforcing investor hopes that the torrid pace of AI hardware spending will extend into 2025. Most Read from Bloomberg The go-to chipmaker for Nvidia Corp. and Apple Inc. reported a 39% rise in October-December revenue to NT$868.5 billion ($26.3 billion), based on calculations off monthly disclosures. That compares with an average estimate of NT$854.7 billion. The strong showing from Taiwans largest company bolsters expectations that big tech companies from Alphabet Inc. to Microsoft Corp. will continue to build and upgrade datacenters at a rapid clip to propel AI development. This month, AI server maker Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. reported better-than-expected sales, while Microsoft outlined plans to spend $80 billion this fiscal year on datacenters. Growth accelerated for TSMC in December, capping 34% revenue growth for 2024. That compares with TSMCs official target of a 30% annual rise, though that outlook was expressed in US dollar terms. The worlds largest maker of advanced chips has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of a global race to develop artificial intelligence. TSMCs market value nearly doubled in 2024, and it now trades in the US at a valuation close to $1.1 trillion. Yet some investors worry about when the AI boom will peter out. While TSMCs revenue beat, it was just 1.6% higher than the average projection and fell short of the most bullish analyst expectations. More bearish market observers point to potential over-building, bottlenecks to development such as power shortages, and the persistent absence of a killer AI app or service that will use up all that server capacity. Investors will want to hear TSMCs outlook for the wider industry when it gives its full earnings report on Jan. 16. US-listed shares of TSMC were down 1.3% on Friday, tracking a broader pullback in markets and folllowing news earlier this week on Nvidia facing new chip-export restrictions by the US government. Beyond Nvidia and the AI arena, the Taiwanese company must grapple with mounting tech market and geopolitical uncertainties in 2025. TSMC remains reliant on Apples business, as the main producer of chips for the iPhone. The US company is struggling to galvanize demand for its marquee product in 2025, though many users hope that the gradual addition of AI features will drive the gadgets next iteration. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Three local fire departments will be sending crews out to Southern California to battle the fires that have taken the lives of ten and left hundreds without homes. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Stratmoor Hills Fire District announced four firefighters had been deployed to assist in the wildfires that have engulfed thousands of acres in California on fire. The fire district said Engine Boss John Ortiz, Engine Boss Trainee Jenniffer Sampson, Firefighter Type 1 Trainee A.J. Patalano, and Firefighter Type 2 Sam Allison were a part of 1600 Engine 418, which was deployed. We pray for a safe journey, and a successful fire fight!, the fire district wrote on Facebook. Godspeed! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stratmoor Hills Fire District said the group of four was assigned to the Eaton Fire, which currently stands at 13,956 acres and 3% containment. The fire is near the Angeles National Forest. California is currently battling several other fires, including the Palisades Fire which has burned 20,438 acres, the Hurst Fire, the Kenneth Fire, and Creek Fire. The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is also sending a four-person crew to help battle the fires near Los Angeles, as well as the Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District. Teller County Fire Protection District sends Captain Dungan, Firefighter Wells, and Firefighter Cole are headed to California in Brush 73 to assist with California wildfires. Courtesy: Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District CSFD said that the group would depart on Friday, Jan. 10 at around noon. Teller County said Captain Dungan, Firefighter Wells, and Firefighter Cole are headed to California in Brush 73 to assist. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump will join Grover Cleveland as one of only two American presidents to serve nonconsecutive terms. Like Cleveland, Trump won his second election due largely to the fact that his predecessor presided over a poor economy. But Trump does not seem to recognize this, treating his victory as a sweeping mandate to impose a wide range of nationalist policies. Unfortunately for opponents of both imperialism and the military-industrial complex, these policies include a spirit of outright acquisitiveness for other sovereign lands. This is why Cleveland's career is especially relevant today. Trump says that America should own Greenland as an "absolute necessity," even though its more than 50,000 residents have given no indication of wanting to be under American sovereignty. He similarly lusts over the Panama Canal, which Panama is no more likely to cede to full American control than Denmark is to peacefully relinquish Greenland. Even closer to home, he's made comments about making Canada America's 51st state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Trump utterly fails in these geopolitical gambits, the fact that he is trying in the first place shows his hand. In his second term, Trump plans on using his executive powers to expand America's global empire. By contrast, Cleveland spent his second term trying to roll back America's then-nascent imperialist ambitionsand did so without flinching when genuine strength in our foreign policy was needed. The standout story from Cleveland's presidency involves Hawaii. When he returned to office in 1893, Cleveland was greeted with a treaty that had been presented to the Senate for the annexation of Hawaii. Newspapers across the land waxed poetic about how the American flag would soon wave in the Hawaiian breeze, but few journalists questioned the official story about how this land had come into our possession. They were told the Hawaiian natives had willingly betrayed their own monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, by replacing her rule with that of white foreigners (mostly Americans). Cleveland suspected there was more to it. He knew that sugar plantation owners and other wealthy business interests were suspicious of Liliuokalani, who wanted to reduce foreign influence in her country. Once those Americans learned she was planning concrete policies toward achieving this goal, American jurist Sanford Dole and U.S. Minister to Hawaii John Stevens led a conspiracy to dethrone her. By the time Cleveland took office, they had succeeded in doing so (with the unwitting aid of American locals who believed they had support from Washington) and were only awaiting the Senate's ratification of an annexation treaty to consummate their plot. Cleveland rebuffed the conspirators. First, he appointed former Rep. James H. Blount (DGa.) to visit the islands and investigate the coup. After Blount confirmed Cleveland's hunchthat the queen had been overthrown through violence and against the will of the Hawaiian nativesthe president sent emissaries to Hawaii saying they would help her regain power as long as she promised to neither execute nor otherwise excessively punish the Americans who had ruled since she was deposed. Cleveland insisted upon these points at the urging of Secretary of State Richard Olney, who pointed out that America still had an obligation to protect the rights of citizens who had acted according to plans they had been led to believe were fully condoned by their own government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Liliuokalani was grateful to Cleveland for his support, she informed his emissaries that she had to follow Hawaiian customs. In cases of treason, the traditional laws were clear: The guilty parties had to be executed, and everyone connected with them would have all of their property confiscated. Because Liliuokalani took this stand, the next four years of Cleveland's presidency turned into a stalemate. Despite eventually relenting in aspects of her hardline position, Liliuokalani nevertheless held firm that she could not be restored to power without inflicting some measure of punishment on the Americans who currently resided in her domain. As a strict constitutionalist, Cleveland referred the entire matter to Congress for resolution. This caused the matter to languish without resolution until 1897, when Cleveland's second term ended. His successor, William McKinley, did not share his qualms about annexing Hawaii, and before the end of the 19th century, the deed was done. This was not the only occasion when Cleveland stood up to American imperialism. When the final Cuban insurrection against the Spanish empire broke out in 1895, millions of Americanswhipped up by newspapersclamored for America to simultaneously liberate its neighbor and flex its military muscles. Cleveland did not yield to these calls, displaying a strength of character that his successor lacked. Just as McKinley relented to the annexationists and acquired Hawaii, he folded to the imperialists and in 1898 launched America into the Spanish-American War despite his reservations. Most foreign policy historians regard McKinley's decision to start the Spanish-American War to be the beginning of America's status as a modern world power. Cleveland never wanted America to become a global power, but that does not mean he was weak. When the British Empire threatened to bully Venezuela into accepting an unfair resolution of a boundary dispute in 1895, Cleveland reminded the British that such actions would violate America's Monroe Doctrine. Declared in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine asserted that the United States would not peacefully submit to any nation in our hemisphere having its territorial integrity violated by outsiders, therefore considering an attack on any Western Hemisphere country to be an attack on all of them. Cleveland was ultimately successful in pressuring Britain to agree to peaceful arbitration with a warningone America should bear in mind, especially in light of rumors that Trump will abandon our alliance with Ukraine to curry favor with Russia's imperialist president, Vladimir Putin. As Cleveland stated in his annual address to Congress: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no calamity which a great nation can invite which equals that which follows a supine submission to wrong and injustice and the consequent loss of national self-respect and honor, beneath which are shielded and defended a people's safety and greatness." This was not the only time when Cleveland defied a powerful empire to protect American values. At the beginning of his first term, the Austro-Hungarian empire refused to accept Cleveland's appointed ambassador, Anthony M. Keiley, because his wife was Jewish and therefore was considered socially unacceptable among the Viennese upper crust. Instead of acceding to Austro-Hungary's request that he appoint two gentiles in Keiley's stead, Cleveland left the post vacant through his entire first term, explaining in his 1885 State of the Union message that he refused to agree to "an application of a religious test as a qualification for office under the United States as would have resulted in the practical disfranchisement of a large class of our citizens and the abandonment of a vital principle in our Government." There is a crucial difference between showing strength over matters of principle and abusing that same strength for self-glorification. Cleveland demonstrated a wise and discerning ability to recognize this difference, being strong when matters of principle were genuinely involved and otherwise deferring to the rights of other countries. He did this both because he believed the laws that govern individual relations should be extrapolated on the international level and because, on a deeper level, he was suspicious of geopolitical greed. This is why, as Americans and the rest of the world prepare for Trump's geopolitical aspirations, we should think of Cleveland's wisdom. He best articulated it when rejecting the Hawaiian annexation treaty: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I suppose that right and justice should determine the path to be followed in treating this subject," Cleveland said. "If national honesty is to be disregarded and a desire for territorial extension or dissatisfaction with a form of government not our own ought to regulate our conduct, I have entirely misapprehended the mission and character of our Government and the behavior which the conscience of our people demands of their public servants." The post We Could Use a Man Like Grover Cleveland Again appeared first on Reason.com. Meta -- the company that operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp --announced on Tuesday it was ending third-party fact-checking. Some social media policy experts and public health experts are worried that the end of fact-checking could lead to the spread of medical and science misinformation and disinformation. This is especially worrisome as the U.S. is in the throes of respiratory virus season and is fighting the spread of bird flu. "There's going to be a rise in all kinds of disinformation, misinformation, from health to hate speech and everything in between," Megan Squire, deputy director for data analytics and open-source intelligence at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told ABC News. "[Health] is supposed to be a nonpartisan issue, and we do see people trying to leverage health [misinformation], in particular, toward a political end, and that's a real shame." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm hopeful, but I'm also concerned that this new structure that all the Meta properties are embarking on, it's just not going to end well," she added. MORE: Facebook, Instagram dump fact-checkers citing election as 'cultural tipping point' The social network giant said it was following the footsteps of X, replacing the program with user-added community notes. In a press release of the announcement, Joel Kaplan, chief global affairs officer for Meta, said that the choices about what was being fact-checked showed "biases and perspectives." How fact-checking, community notes work Meta started fact-checking in December 2016. Meta's fact-checking works by Meta staff identifying hoaxes or by using technology that detects posts likely to contain misinformation. The fact-checkers then conduct their own reporting to review and rate the accuracy of posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a piece of content is identified as false, it receives a warning label and the content's distribution is reduced so fewer people see it. Fact-checkers put in place following Donald Trump's 2016 election win were found to be "too politically biased" and have destroyed "more trust than they've created," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video posted by the company. By comparison, community notes work by a user adding context to a post that may be misleading. It is then upvoted or downvoted by other users. Zeve Sanderson, executive director of NYU Center for Social Media & Policy, said after the 2016 election, there was immense pressure for social medial platforms, including Meta, to commit resources to combatting misinformation. PHOTO:The Meta (formerly Facebook) logo marks the entrance of their corporate headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., Nov. 9, 2022. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) Following the election, most posts being fact-checked were to combat political misinformation, according to Sanderson. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was expanded to combat medical misinformation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanderson said there were a lot of claims going unchecked online because Meta has not had enough fact-checkers to check every post. Additionally, he said some people didn't trust fact-checkers. "There were groups of people online who didn't trust fact checkers, who saw them as biased, often in a liberal direction," he told ABC News. "This crowd-sourced content moderation program it's going to do different things well and different things poorly. We just don't know how this is actually going to work in practice." Meta referred ABC News back to its Tuesday announcement in response to a request for comment on plans for its community notes or potential spread of misinformation. Spread of misinformation during COVID-19 During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions were exposed to a deluge of information including news, research, public health guidance and fact sheets, which the World Health Organization referred to as an "infodemic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People were also exposed to misinformation and disinformation about what treatments work against COVID-19, how much of a risk the virus poses to children and whether COVID-19 vaccines are effective. A 2023 KFF survey found that most Americans were not sure if health information they had encountered was true or false. MORE: Health experts worry as Meta rolls back some COVID misinformation policies A report from the U.S. Surgeon General in 2021 found that misinformation led to people rejecting masking and social distancing, using unproven treatment and rejecting COVID-19 vaccines. Experts told ABC News that members of the general public often do not have enough health literacy to determine if they should trust or not trust information they encounter online or on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Squire said sometimes government agencies do not put out information in an "interesting" format, which may lead people to click on "entertaining" content from misinformation and disinformation peddlers. "Some of these YouTube videos about health misinformation are a lot more entertaining. Their message just travels faster," she said. "When you're presenting scientific information -- I know this firsthand as a former college professor -- that's a struggle. You have to be pretty talented at it and, a lot of times, where the expertise lies is not necessarily where the most expedient, fun videos are and stuff." How to combat health misinformation Meta's change comes as the U.S. faces an increase in bird flu cases and continues treating patients falling ill with respiratory illnesses. As of Jan. 8, there have been 66 human cases of bird flu reported in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PHOTO: Stock photo (NIKCOA/Adobestock) It's also flu season. As of the week ending Dec. 28, 2024, there have been at least 5.3 million illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations and 2,700 deaths from flu so far this season, according to CDC estimates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, health care professionals have been encouraging Americans to get their flu shot and other vaccines -- including COVID and RSV -- to protect themselves against serious disease. Experts are worried that with the change from fact-checking to community notes that misinformation could spread about the effectiveness of vaccines or how serious an illness is. "I am concerned about the sheer amount of inaccurate information that's out there," Dr. Brian Southwell, a distinguished Fellow at nonprofit research institute RTI International and an adjunct faculty member at Duke University, told ABC News. "That's something that you know ought to bother all of us as we're trying to make good decisions. But there's a lot that could be done, even beyond, you know, the realm of social media to try to improve the information environments that are available for people." Southwell said one thing that public health experts and federal health agencies can do is to get an idea of the questions that users are going to have about medical topics -- such as bird flu and seasonal flu -- and be ready with information to answer those questions online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To combat being exposed to information, the experts recommended paying attention to where the information is coming from, whether it's a respected source or someone you are unfamiliar with. "There are various skills that are important, things like lateral reading, where rather than just evaluating the claim, you do research about the source of that claim and what you can find out about them to understand what some of their incentives or track record might be," Sanderson said. "This is obviously something that, sadly, social media platforms are not designed in order to incentivize this sort of behavior, so the responsibility is thrust on users to sort of look out for themselves," he added. Could Meta ending fact-checking lead to rise in health misinformation? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) When Rhode Island legalized marijuana in May 2022, the law said 24 retail stores could open. But now, two and a half years later, there arent any new shops outside of the existing dispensaries allowed to sell recreational cannabis. In the video above, Globe RI reporter Steph Machado joins 12 News at 4 to break down the new rules that could pave the way for new pot shops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: When will RI open new pot shops? With release of new rules, the state is one step closer Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Just 24 hours after Jackson County claimed the Missouri State Highway Patrol had completed a sufficient investigation into the incident where a public works employee was killed on the job, theyre requesting an investigation from the US Department of Labor. Additionally, one day after the Jackson County administrator essentially blamed a public works employee for his own death, his partner, who was with him when died, shares what he says is the real story. The county as a whole is responsible for the death of Everett Carter, Mitchell Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes laying blame at the countys feet as just two days ago, a metro fire chief recounted the last phone call with 61-year-old Everett Carter. Carter told him, The county is too cheap to pay for a tow truck. Jackson County avoiding accountability after public works employee killed While trying to help tow a stuck county vehicle in the winter weather, Carter was hit by his own truck and killed. However, The County Executive and County Administrator had different stories. Johnson is responding because he says he feels like he has to. He says he refuses to let the county paint a narrative that he alleges is not true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its county policy if in doubt tow it out, Schulte told us Wednesday. No, Ive never heard that before, I have never heard that before, Johnson responded. He also addresses Troy Schulte, the county administrator who on Wednesday, told FOX4 there was no order from leadership for Mitchell Johnson and Everett Carter to tow the county truck. When I got to the shop on Sunday Afternoon at noon, that was our orders, to go get unstuck and bring it back, Johnson said. FOX4 asked again to make sure there would be no misinterpretation of what he said. Johnson responded: Yes, if Everett spent 40-something years at the county rouge doing whatever he wanted he wouldnt have lasted there. Everett did what he was told. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson refutes the countys claims as he mourns the loss of a man who meant so much to him. Everett Carter was like my father, he was my best friend, my mentor, he said. Johnson says he was in the truck while sliding on ice as Carter tried to run for his life. Joes Blog: Accumulating snows likely (THU-1/9) The last thing I saw was my friend making sure he was getting away from my truck coming at him, Carter explained. When the truck stopped rolling the first thing I did was scream to try and get Everett to answer. The walkie-talkie inside the truck was still connected, so he was able to page for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, hes in a fight with his employer over what he believes are facts. If the county, if we would have had a tow truck on scene, instead of us trying to go out there and get it, the tow truck would have been farther out and Everett would still be alive, Johnson said. Tonight, the county is responding they say, Were waiting on this. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A self-storage unit business received Frederick County Planning Commission approval on Wednesday for a new facility planned near Adamstown. The project is for 44,000 square feet of indoor storage space on a 6.7-acre site at Stanford Industrial Park on Winchester Street, according to county documents. The plan submitted by 29 Stanford LLC, the applicant, is for four buildings. The main building would be 4,000 square foot and one story. The plan calls for two additional two-story buildings each with 16,000 square feet of storage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There would also be an 8,000-square-foot covered facility for recreational vehicle storage on site. The part of the plan that stood out most to commission members concerned the lack of on-site parking. Craig Terry, a planner for the county, said that because the business would be self-storage and operate remotely, the facility had no obligation to build parking. "Parking is based on the number of employees," Terry said. "If there are no employees, we can't require it." To accommodate customer and maintenance access, county regulations require five large loading spaces on the property, which the plans included, according to the records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the plan calls for a bicycle rack on site. "There is an abundance of unmarked parking and loading spaces throughout the site to serve the self-storage buildings," Terry said. "Customers typically park in front of their storage unit for loading and unloading." Bill Brennan, president of B&R Design Group and an engineer speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the contracted maintenance would take place just like at any other business that relies on physical buildings. "According to the owner, he has several of these operations and basically everything is done over the internet," Brennan said. "Everything is done remotely now, not like the old days when we didn't have the internet." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Commission Member Joel Rensberger asked, "So it's an established business model?" "Yes, this is how he runs his business," Brennan said. Additionally, members questioned elements of the appearance of the facility. Commission Member Barbara Nicklas asked about the tree and screen requirements. Terry said there will be screening along the eastern property line, near the RV storage building, as well as along the frontage street, but no screening was required around parking due to their being no on-site parking. Additionally the project will be required to include 14 trees planted along Winchester Boulevard, according to the records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rensberger asked about the color of the building and roof, noting that the business will be in the shadow of U.S. 15 and cars will look down upon the roofs. Brennan said the external walls will be beige and the roof dark green. He added that any design would be subject to review by Stanford Industrial Park. "Out in Stanford, there's a set of covenants," Brennan said. "The building type has to be approved by the industrial park association also." Rensberger compared that arrangement to a homeowners association and was pleased with that level of scrutiny. The commission approved the plan unanimously. Meta is continuing to roll back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, from changing its own hiring practices to eliminating user themes that celebrated LGBTQ+ rights. Fresh off its CEO meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, appointing Trump ally Joel Kaplan to lead policy and ending a years-long partnership with independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram, the social media company is suspending its diversity, equality and inclusion programs effective immediately, Axios reports. Meta says it's axing the programs because the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing, per a memo obtained by Axios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to letting go of the companys dedicated DEI team, Meta will also end efforts to diversify vendors and end a hiring process that enables more diverse candidates to apply. DEI, a broad term encompassing policies that promote inclusivity and equity in the workplace, has come under far-right fire in recent years, but Trumps election has reignited a corporate frenzy to scrap the woke policies, as critics have labeled them. Meta isnt alone in scrapping DEI policies McDonalds, Ford, and others have pared back equity efforts but the move coincides with several other major changes that suggest CEO Mark Zuckerberg is all-in on Trump. Zuckerberg is making major efforts to win back the online right and draw Trumps attention, all as Metas fiercest competitor, TikTok, faces a ban that the president-elect has promised to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Meta revised content moderation policies to allow a wider array of hateful speech, The Intercept reported. The publication reported that internal documents it obtained instruct moderators to now allow posts containing phrases like trans people are mentally ill or Immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of st. Kaplan, the chief global affairs officer at Meta, explained on Tuesday that Meta was easing the speech restrictions on immigration, gender identity and gender to keep up with shifting political narratives. Its not right that things can be said on TV or the floor of Congress, but not on our platforms, Kaplan wrote in a statement, adding that automated systems would no longer be used to target hateful content, just user reports. The company went further than simply unleashing more hate on immigrants and queer Meta customers. 404 Media reported on Friday that the company even pulled back its trans and nonbinary-themed backgrounds on its Messenger platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Meta CEO is just one of multiple big tech leaders lining up to appease the president-elect. Amazon, OpenAIs Sam Altman, and Apples Tim Cook coughed up $1 million each for Trumps inauguration, while X owner Elon Musk exerts an unprecedented level of influence over his transition. Meta also added former WWE executive Dana White, who introduced Trump at the Republican National Convention this summer, to its board on Monday, and chipped in a $1 million sum to the inauguration. COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) An investigation is underway after a Coventry elementary school staffer was arrested for allegedly assaulting a student. Petrina Lunardelli, 48, has been charged with simple assault and battery. Police confirmed the incident took place at Tiogue Elementary School, and court records indicate it happened on Dec. 12. Lunardelli turned herself on Monday and was released pending her formal arraignment, which is scheduled for Jan. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiogue Elementary School lists Lunardelli as a life skills teaching assistant in its online staff directory. 12 News reached out Lunardelli regarding the allegations, but she declined to comment. In a statement to 12 News, Coventry Superintendent Don Cowart explained that Lunardelli was immediately put on leave at the start of the investigation, but has since resigned from her position. We take all matters seriously, especially when they involve the well-being of our students, Coward said, adding that the district cooperated fully with the investigation. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: United Natural Foods, Inc. announced Wednesday it is restructuring its commercial wholesale business into two product-centered divisions. One division will focus on conventional grocery products while the other will center on natural, organic, specialty and fresh products. Louis Martin, currently UNFIs wholesale president, will become the companys chief commercial officer and president of conventional grocery products. Chief Supply Chain Officer Mark Bushway will also take on the role of president of the wholesale division for natural, organic, specialty and fresh products. UNFI said the realignment of its wholesale business is part of its multi-year strategy to drive profitability. Dive Insight: The two new wholesale divisions will each have dedicated sales teams and will receive support from experts in merchandising, operations, procurement and supplier services, according to the press release. However, a company spokesperson said the wholesale business change will result in an unspecified number of role shifts and eliminations. The company noted that its supply chain, professional and digital services, and private brands capabilities will work across the two divisions to support the sales teams in building customized programs for customers and suppliers growth initiatives. By empowering our commercial teams to provide a more customized product and service-centered experience, we intend to help our customers and suppliers differentiate, compete, and grow profitably through a more responsive, efficient, and effective operating model, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas said in a statement. During its most recent earnings report, UNFI recorded a year-over-year net sales increase of 4% and a net loss of $21 million down from the $39 million loss during the same period a year ago. During the companys first quarter, its wholesale business saw changes in business mix at both the customer and the product level, lower procurement gains, and ongoing strategic commercial investments, UNFI President and CFO Matteo Tarditi, who stepped into the roles in April, told investors in December. The changes to its wholesale business follow UNFIs push to strengthen its business with retail customers and suppliers alongside efforts to streamline its operations as it looks to improve its financial performance. Last year, UNFI launched a retail media network in partnership with Swiftly and expanded the products and services showcased at its selling shows. BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) Dozens of locations across West Virginia participated in the second annual Cover WV Day on Thursday, where more than 20 organizations offered free assistance to those who need health insurance or feel they are underinsured. According to Cover WVs website, more than 100,000 West Virginians lack health coverage, so this event aimed to bridge the gap and answer questions. Community Care Bridgeport Case Manager Zach Morehead said that uninsured people is something that he and his team encounter pretty regularly. Court stops Title IX change in schools, siding with West Virginia and 5 other states Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we all know it can be very confusing so were happy to walk you through it step by step, you know, really, take the gloves off and explain everything to you as much or as little as you need, Morehead said. Even if you were not able to get to the locations on Thursday, places like Community Care will still be able to help you out virtually or in person until Jan. 15. Morehead recommended coming in earlier rather than later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Cast your mind back. The month is January, and there are early warnings about a respiratory virus originating in China. It has already reached India. There are a few cases in Hong Kong. It is even here in the UK. The virus begins to affect international travel. Anyone from China or Malaysia entering Bali, for example, are told they must fill in a health form three days before flying. Balis airport introduces thermal scanners in the arrivals area, and the airport manager Ahmad Syaugi Shahab tells reporters outside the airport: We are coordinating with the Health Quarantine Center [BBKK] to anticipate potential suspect cases. If there are suspect passengers, we will hand them over to BBKK for further processing, including isolation at the BBKK clinic. This should all be fairly fresh in the memory, actually, because its happening right now. The outbreak in question is HMPV, a contagious virus similar to the flu that peaks in winter. And Bali introduced these measures on January 8 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am sure that governments will be much better prepared for the next global pandemic whether its HMPV or not. There will be learnings, stacks of them, based on hard evidence gathered between 2020 and 2022. About protective gear, the effectiveness of lockdowns, the importance of government transparency, the subtle epidemiological complexities around whether people should be allowed to have a pint so long as it is accompanied by a Scotch egg. And one of those learnings, surely, is that governments must not enter the unprecedented territory of banning international travel in the name of disease control. Banning international travel during the pandemic may not have been as effective at slowing the spread as it was hoped - Shutterstock The travel restrictions rolled out during the Covid-19 pandemic were so knotty and varied, spanning more than two years, that to list them all would easily fill a book. But to refresh your memory, here are some highlights: The red list, which meant people arriving from certain countries had to stay in a quarantine hotel for ten days, against their will, for the sum of 2,285 per head. Failure to do so came with a 10,000 fine. The amber list and, later, amber plus. Grant Shapps traffic light Thursdays, where he announced on Twitter which uninhabited islands in the far reaches of outer Micronesia we could visit (updated weekly). And who had to rush home from holiday, immediately, or face quarantine. There was the passenger locator form, a legal obligation for all arrivals in the UK, which allowed a contractor from the UK Health Security Agency to knock on your door to check if you were isolating (its contract was worth 114m). There was the testing. During the final days of the pandemic, there were 369 firms offering PCR tests on a government-approved website, ranging from 15 to (yes) 525 for a swab. The entire travel testing market was worth north of 490m by the summer of 2021. Terrible planning, ad hoc communication and gross profiteering aside, all of this disruption might have been worth it if the international border closures stopped or significantly slowed the spread of Covid-19, and as a result saved lives. But they did not. At best, travel restrictions can slow the arrival of a virus for a few days to allow for last-minute emergency planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group put it quite succinctly in an interview with BBC News in 2023: Trying to ban a virus by adjusting what we do with travel has already been shown not to work very well. Weve seen that with the bans on travel from various countries during the pandemic, that hasnt stopped those viruses travelling around the world eventually. Huge losses Theres been plenty of research into the subject over the past five years. The Covid Border Accountability Project (COBAP) published a study in February 2022 analysing the impact of international border closures. It summarised: We found no evidence that the international border closures recorded in the COBAP database contributed to a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 spread. We found, rather, that domestic lockdowns corresponded with a decrease in new cases. We arent just grumbling about missing out on our annual jolly to the south of France here. It is estimated by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) that in 2020 alone, the Covid pandemic cost the global tourism industry somewhere in the region of $4.5 trillion. By the time the travel restrictions finally ended in 2022, millions had lost their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airlines had gone bankrupt. Tour operators dissolved. Funerals were missed. Families separated. Countless holidaymakers were out of pocket, or psychologically scarred from being quarantined in dire conditions overseas. Balis airport has introduced thermal scanners in the arrivals area - Getty One study published since the pandemic, entitled Explaining Support for Border Closures During the Covid-19 pandemic, proposes the unnerving notion that there may not be a public backlash in the event of a future shutdown of international travel. Despite its unprecedented nature and far-reaching impact on individual lives, blocking almost all human movements not only into but also out of states, popular support for this measure was surprisingly high, the authors found. The report found that attitudes towards international border closures had little to do with health concerns, such as exposure to the virus, but were rather shaped by individuals opinions of the government. It found that border closures in a health crisis are: Primarily political not legal nor scientific decisions, that allow political leaders to show determined action, redirect blame to other jurisdictions, and reinforce nationalism. Glimmers of hope There are glimmers of hope that things will be different during the next pandemic. Paul Charles, CEO of The PC Agency, who led the Quash Quarantine campaign to get borders re-opened during Covid, told The Telegraph: Its never been proven that closing borders or restricting travel benefited any country. Those that closed their borders early on were often worst affected in fact with each Covid variant. Governments I work with consistently say they would never seek to close borders again in a health crisis due to the lack of evidence that any spread is contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think lessons have been learned by ministers that economies need to keep being propped up during any health crisis, and that means trying to keep to business as usual in the majority of cases. Many doctors have suggested that HMPV is just one in a cocktail of winter viruses that has been monitored here in the UK for many years, and which will wane by spring. There have been a few of these wobbles since Covid. There was a monkeypox outbreak last August, you may recall. So no, this doesnt feel like the next big one. Still. Seeing those thermal scanners roll out in Bali, and hearing those words about health forms, processing, quarantine and isolation, brings back uncomfortable memories. And hints of a world that hasnt learnt from its mistakes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) A suspect wanted for an armed robbery out of Ohio was arrested in Chesapeake on Sunday, police said. According to officials, on Jan. 5, officers noticed two vehicles acting suspiciously on Schooner Trail. Both cars abruptly left once the drivers noticed the officers marked vehicle. The officer then decided to circle back, where they noticed a gold Honda Civic with blacked-out windows exiting the Holly Cove neighborhood. The officer then ran the vehicles plates, which was registered to a suspect wanted in Ohio for armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after running the plates, a traffic stop was conducted on I-664 near Dock Landing. Four individuals, including the wanted suspect, were inside of the vehicle. A search of the suspect resulted in the seizure of counterfeit M30 pills and psilocybin mushrooms. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a Mac-10 firearm, a Glock 9mm, several hundred suspected counterfeit M30 pills, suspected crack cocaine, suspected marijuana, packaging materials and scales. Courtesy: CPD Chesapeake Police said they are pursuing all appropriate charges. No additional information was released. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) On Thursday, Jan. 9 during his State of the State address Governor Jared Polis announced enhanced stewardship and opportunities for new public lands on Pikes Peak. After the speech, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a letter of intent from key partners in the area to expand recreation on Americas Mountain potentially. The letter was signed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the City of Manitou Springs, the City of Colorado Springs Parks Recreation and Cultural Services, Pikes Peak Americas Mountain municipal enterprise, Colorado Springs Utilities, El Paso County, Teller County, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, Pike-San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. The first priority according to the Governors office will be to draft a long-term agreement with CPW to allow the states recreation management agency to take over managing and developing the Ring the Peak Trail corridor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an exciting partnership that will result in higher quality outdoor recreation opportunities that will allow for more people to enjoy the thriving Pikes Peak region, while better conserving Americas Peak for future generations, said Governor Polis. This is just the first step in a multi-year plan to improve and expand world-class recreation opportunities like camping, fishing, hiking, and more on the majestic mountain in a way that benefits the landscape, our way of life, and local economy. Anyone who visits our state parks knows exactly what CPW is capable of delivering. The Governors office said CPW does not expect to manage the Pikes Peak Highway or the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. With the partnership, CPW will take the lead in managing and expanding recreation on Pikes Peak. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. (KRON) A crash on the northbound lanes of Highway 101 in Redwood City is blocking four lanes of traffic, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash occurred Thursday afternoon near North Shoreline Boulevard. New SF mayor announces citywide hiring freeze on first full day in office A photo posted by the CHP appeared to show the crash involved an SUV and another vehicle, and possibly, a larger truck. There is no estimated time for the lanes to reopen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers are advised to expect delays. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. BUTLER TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A crash has slowed traffic in the area of Route 309 Thursday night. According to Valley Regional Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the 100 block of West Butler Drive for a crash with heavy entrapment just after 6:00 p.m. Officials did say that a medical helicopter was called, and did take off at the Valley Regional Fire Station. It is unknown at this time the amount of people injured in the crash or the extent of the injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers are urged to use caution near the area of W. Butler Drive and Route 309 because of crews on-scene. Valley Regional Fire Department handled the crash with assistance Hazle Township Fire and Rescue Company. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. The creator of the Timothee Chalamet fan account, Club Chalamet, who goes by Simone, says she has lost her home in the Los Angeles wildfires, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. I lost my home in Altadena, but I am safe with friends, Simone told THR on Thursday. More from The Hollywood Reporter Simone is one of thousands who lost their homes due to the multiple fires raging throughout the Los Angeles area, including the Eaton fire, which is afffecting the Altadena area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fire in the Pacific Palisades broke out on Tuesday and, since then, flames have continued to spread through the Los Angeles area, with one fire in the Hollywood Hills, now under control, breaking out Wednesday night and threatening the iconic Hollywood Bowl. The blazes have left at least five people dead. Club Chalamet is an active fan account on X and Instagram managed by Simone. The account frequently shares news, memes and photos in support of the Complete Unknown stars career. Club Chalamet has garnered attention within the fan community due to Simones vehement loyalty to the actor, including her attendance at the L.A. premiere of Wonka, where Chalamet personally greeted her. Days before the L.A. wildfires broke out, the creator championed the A Complete Unknown actor ahead of his forthcoming attendance at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards which were postponed due to the fires. Simone shared a note to the Club Chalamet X account on Saturday thanking those who had reached out to her in the wake of her losing her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have been in a fog of confusion, I have been scared about what to do next, and I have been exhausted from not sleeping well, all between shedding tears, she wrote. Each passing day I get a bit stronger and Im confident I will move on from this stronger, thanks to friends. She also called out the heavy troll activity she experienced from people who seemed to take delight in her tragedy. These type of people dont matter to me, they never have, and never will, she wrote. It says so much about their character to take joy in learning that someones home burned down, not realizing that I wasnt even the homeowner, and that I risked my life rescuing 5 animals where most people would have left them to die, especially when you have the Altadena sheriffs department yelling at you through a bullhorn to evacuate NOW! To those of you who have sent me private messages laughing at me, wishing I had died in the fire too, or that youre drinking champagne at my misery, or that its my karma, just know that I know what you are and you do not matter to me. I read some of these messages, deleted and blocked them, and it doesnt hurt me because, again, I know what you are. You are heartless and evil, and youre the type of people who would loot the ashes of the homes to find scraps. She shared she wasnt setting up a GoFundMe because she has renters insurance and will get a small grant from her employer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me, I think during this tragedy, the GFM accounts are more for people who not only lost everything, but have no friends, family to support them, or they did not have an active homeowners/renters insurance to help them rebuild, she wrote. She indicated shed continue to support Chalamet and shared her support for others whod been affected by the tragedy. As of Thursday, more than 4,000 structures had been destroyed in the Eaton Fire, with thousands more burned in the Pacific Palisades community. Dutch Merrick, a veteran Hollywood prop master and armorer, attempted to save his home amid the Eaton fire on Tuesday night before he had to flee Wednesday morning. Still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the actors and writers strikes in 2023 and the impact of said strikes, Merrick was devastated by the disaster that likely destroyed his home. I keep reinventing myself. And this just kicked me right in the gut, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Hollywood stars have lost their homes due to the harrowing wildfires, including Mandy Moore, Anna Faris, Paris Hilton, Bozoma Saint John, Billy Crystal and Diane Warren, among others. Jan. 11, 3:43 p.m. This story has been updated to add Simones X post on Saturday reflecting on losing her home. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) City leaders are sharing new details about why they shut down a second motel on the east side of Albuquerque this week. Albuquerque Code Enforcement and police shutdown Loma Verde Motel on Central Wednesday, saying complaints about dysfunctional plumbing and heating and dangerous living conditions forced their hand. With these problematic motels, this is what were seeing. Inspections yesterday also found hazardous living conditions, leaking roofs, damaged electrical fixtures, cockroach infestations, broken doors and windows, and no heating, said Mayor Tim Keller. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of that, the city said there was no plumbing, blocked exits, and no functioning smoke detectors. Code enforcement said the motel was operating as an illegal apartment complex letting people live there long-term while paying between $896 and $1,300 a month in rent. Aside from the dangerous conditions, the city said there was also a lot of crime. We had a hot bed of criminal activity here: 150 calls for service, 40 arrests just in 2024, two homicides, 12 robberies, 4 batteries, 5 assaults, and 10 warrant calls, said Mayor Keller. Albuquerque Community Safety said they met with 19 people living there and 17 of them are now getting help finding new places to live. APD Chief Harold Medina said the shutdown is a warning to other bad motels in Albuquerque. Were gonna move to next problematic hotel. I wish I could sit here and tell the citizens of Albuquerque Hey we got the one motel out of the way. We started with Tewa Lodge; we moved here, said Chief Medina. started with Tewa Lodge; we moved here, said Chief Medina. Its unclear what will happen to the Loma Verde next. It depends on whether that owner is able to rehabilitate the property, make it habitable, operate it properly legally, which means as a motel, not as an illegal apartment or anything else, said Alan Varela, Planning Department director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city said so far, the property owner has been cooperative in the process of closing down the property. For now, no one is allowed to stay there, and the city says theyll have to do a lot of work before any occupancy could be allowed again. Animal Welfare said it took in 18 pets from the residents moving out of the motel. A total of 14 of those animals were staying in one room. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A mid-Michigan man accused of sex crimes has lost two jobs. Mark Silberstein was the administrator at the Shaarey Zedek synagogue in East Lansing and a producer at WLNS-TV. He is no longer employed by either organization. It follows the news that Eaton County prosecutors charged Silberstein with three felonies, including attempted 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct, after authorities accused him of trying to meet an underage teen for sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd said and court records confirm that the 15-year-old Silberstein thought he was meeting was actually an detective with the sheriffs department. The detective told the court that he started chatting with Silberstein in November after setting up a profile on an app. He said in court documents that the two ultimately agreed to meet on Saturday. Silberstein was arrested when he went to pick the teen up. In a subsequent interview, detectives say Silberstein told a detective that he was planning to take the teen to a hotel in Bay City for the night for companionship, and that he knew what he was doing was wrong and illegal. He is free after posting a $2,500 bond and is expected to be back in court next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president of the Congregation Shaarey Zedek said in an e-mail to 6 News on Thursday morning that Silberstein was no longer employed there. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. TOKYO (Reuters) - The operator of the Uniqlo global clothing chain reported first quarter results on Thursday that trailed analyst forecasts as a sharp decline in profit in China overshadowed strong sales in its home market of Japan. Fast Retailing said operating profit rose 7.4% to 157.6 billion yen ($996.84 million) in the three months through November from a year earlier. That was slightly below a LSEG consensus forecast of 160 billion yen drawn from six analysts. Fast Retailing maintained its full-year operating profit forecast of 530 billion yen, on course for a fourth year of record earnings. Known for inexpensive, durable fleeces and cotton shirts, Fast Retailing has long been regarded as a bellwether for consumer spending in Japan and more recently China, where it has more than 900 Uniqlo stores on the mainland. Domestic sales have gotten a boost from a surge in duty-free shopping amid a tourism boom in Japan fuelled by a weak yen. But sales growth has cooled in China, prompting the company to scale back store openings and adopt a scrap-and-build strategy to turn around underperforming locations with redesigned stores. Improved profit margins and international brand awareness helped drive the previous year's record results. But the company remains vulnerable to change in weather and fashion tastes. Japanese sales were boosted by cold weather in December that increased demand for thermals, but in China, unseasonably warm temperatures resulted in flat sales in October and November, the company said. Results were also strong in North America and Europe where Fast Retailing is mounting an aggressive expansion strategy to fulfil its aim to become the world's No. 1 clothing brand. In the southern United States, it opened five Uniqlo stores in Texas in October alone. In its home market, it has also become a pacesetter for wages in the service industry. Keen to retain good workers, Fast Retailing said on Wednesday it will institute an aggressive increase in employee pay in Japan - one that follows on from a hike in 2023 that helped shake up the nation's long moribund wage outlook. Wages for full-time headquarters and sales staff will rise by as much as 11% from March, while annual salaries for new employees will increase by about 10%, the company said. ($1 = 158.1000 yen) (Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Edwina Gibbs, Jamie Freed and Christian Schmollinger) An Ansonia man has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge stemming from a fatal shooting in Derby in 2017 in which a man was chased down and shot at point-blank range. Rhameir Bush, 29, pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit murder during a hearing in Milford Superior Court, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. He remains held on $1 million bond while he awaits sentencing, which has been scheduled for March 7. Under the terms of the plea deal, Bush is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison, suspended after service of 14 years, and five years of probation, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judicial officials said the conspiracy charge stems from the shooting of 21-year-old Jajuan Benavides, who was gunned down by Jacob Jewla Freeman on Anson Street on Aug. 11, 2017. Freeman was sentenced to 48 years in prison and five years of special parole in September after a jury found him guilty of murder. According to criminal justice officials, video surveillance and phone records revealed that on Aug. 10, 2017, around 11:30 p.m., Freeman and Bush were in the area of Anson and 6th Streets where they spoke with Benavides. The pair could be seen leaving the area minutes before midnight. Hours later, just before 1:50 a.m., a dark Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by Bush dropped off Freeman, who was wearing a mask and dressed in all black, officials said. Video surveillance footage showed Bush walking down Sixth Street and looking down Anson Street from the street corner moments before the shooting, according to criminal justice officials. Officials said Freeman chased Benavides down Anson Street and shot him three times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a year and a half after the slaying, a jailhouse witness provided investigators with a number of details about the murder, including the accusation that Freeman had told him that he returned to Anson Street masked up and pulled his gun out on the victim before shooting him. The witness said Freeman had also told him he shot the victim, stood over him and let him have it, and watched as he fell to the ground, according to officials. Freeman reportedly told the witness that the victim was saying chill Jewla chill. Other details the witness was able to provide included what Freeman was wearing, which was described as black pants, a black hoodie and a mask, judicial officials said. He also told authorities Freeman was with someone who went by YB, who was later determined to be Bush. When authorities interviewed Bush, he was shown image stills from the video surveillance on the night of the shooting. According to criminal justice officials, Bush identified himself as the individual at the corner of Anson and Sixth Streets moments before the shooting. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant States Attorney Marc Durso and Senior Assistant States Attorney Tatiana Messina, with the assistance of Inspector Herbert Johnson, Inspector Butch Hyatt and Paralegal Chelsea Meehan. KANSAS CITY, Kan.- Residents are preparing for a second round of snow, and hardware stores were busier than normal for a Thursday afternoon. One of the most popular items people were buying was ice melt, as a few customers FOX4 talked to said the product was hard to find. Phil Gooch came into Strasser Hardware looking for that product. Historic home of famous Kansas City family lands on the market Its kind of like gold right now, he said jokingly in an interview with FOX4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX4 asked Gooch where hed gone looking for ice melt. I went to Home Depot and Menards both, he said. They were completely out. Another customer FOX4 talked to was Kansas City, Missouri, resident Stacy Hamm. Other places you know, Walmarts been sold out, she said in an interview with FOX4. Family Dollars been sold out, so this is my next choice. Strassers Manager Gurjot Singh says customers are either buying shovels, or theyre buying two different kinds of ice melt. Residents usually buy a white colored bag in Strassers that contains both magnesium and sodium chloride. Its also a little cheaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This here will work until negative seven [degrees Fahrenheit], Singh said of that ice melt. Its a 50 pounder. Its like a step below the commercial one. This is the biggest one we have here because its a commercial grade. Kansas City man, woman charged with felonies in connection with missing womans death Singh says the other ice melt, that commercial one he mentioned second, will work until its -23 degrees outside. Its what schools and employers use to clear their parking lots of ice. Singh says their rock salt is sold out. Weve already gone through like eight pallets of that already, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Westport Westlake Ace Hardware said they were out of shovels Thursday, but they should have more in Friday morning. They do have plenty of ice melt though. If you need to go out Thursday evening, a spokesman for the company said there were plenty of other Westlake Ace Hardwares in the metro that have both shovels and ice melt: Lees Summit: 103 S. 291 Highway Prairie Village: 4049 Somerset Lenexa: 15225 W. 87th Parkway Independence: 415 E. 24 Highway Lawrence: 601 Kasold Drive Overland Park: 9301 Santa Fe Drive Bonner Springs: 626 S. 130th Overland Park: 11200 Antioch Road Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. When a Taiwanese telecoms company detected that an international undersea cable was damaged earlier this month, it worked to divert internet traffic from the broken line to keep customers on the island connected. But the company, Chunghwa Telecom, also went to Taiwans Coast Guard to report the incident and a suspicious vessel observed on the same route as the affected cable, according to a statement from the company, a major local internet provider. Taiwan Coast Guard officials in the days since have said they suspect that the Shunxin39 a Chinese-linked cargo vessel could have cut the cable, in an incident that has spotlighted the islands growing concerns about vulnerabilities that could be exploited by Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan officials have not cited direct evidence that the ship damaged the cable, and the Taiwan Coast Guard said in a statement Monday that it could not determine the vessels intentions. It called for South Korea, the ships destination, to help with further investigation. But the situation has raised concerns among Taiwanese authorities of potential gray zone operations, or acts that fall below the threshold of war in particular those that could hamper the islands internet and communications with the outside world. Those concerns come as Taiwan has faced increasing intimidation from Beijing, which claims the self-ruled democracy as its own territory and has vowed to take control of it, by force if necessary. They also follow a string of incidents in recent years of damage to undersea infrastructure worldwide, including communications cables. Two high-profile incidents in the Baltic Sea involved Chinese ships and remain under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwans Coast Guard said in a statement Monday that the ship suspected of damaging the cable off its northeastern coast last Friday was a Cameroon- and Tanzania-flagged vessel, crewed by seven Chinese nationals. The vessel is owned by Hong Kong company Jie Yang Trading Limited, which is directed by a Chinese national, a senior Coast Guard official confirmed separately to CNN. While there was no direct evidence the vessel sabotaged the submarine cable, radar showed the vessel passed by when the cable was cut, the official said. As of now we cannot ascertain its real intentions, but based on what we see so far, we wont rule out the possibility of China destroying the cable through gray zone operations, the senior official told CNN. Such an act could be part of Beijing-backed efforts to use ships with flags of convenience to cut Taiwans international communication as a form of preparation for future blockade and quarantine, according to the official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday that submarine cable damage is a common maritime incident, and balked at Taipeis conjecturing and deliberate framing of gray zone threats. Two independent analysts told CNN that tracking data on the Shunxin39 showed atypical behavior for a cargo vessel, describing a meandering or erratic path. The ship was also found to be using two different positioning system numbers, according to the Taiwan Coast Guard, which is also seen by experts as unusual for standard cargo operations. Chinese national Guo Wenjie, director of the company operating the vessel, denied in a statement to news agency Reuters on Wednesday that the ship was responsible for the damage. Theres no evidence at all, he told Reuters by telephone. I spoke to the ship captain and for us it was a normal trip. CNN was unable to independently reach Guo, but public records list him as the sole shareholder of Jie Yang Trading Limited. A new gray zone tactic? In 2023, Taiwanese authorities blamed two Chinese ships for damaging two submarine internet cables linked to Taiwans outlying island of Matsu in incidents days apart causing an internet blackout, but stopped short of saying they were deliberate acts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at Taiwans Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said more evidence is needed to say whether the latest incident was intentional. But he said Taiwan needs to bolster maritime surveillance and defense of submarine cables. Once submarine cables are sabotaged, Taiwans connectivity to the international community will be severed; we can then only rely on bandwidth provided by satellites, which would then affect our digital economy, international trade and banking, he said, calling such potential sabotage a form of psychological warfare. Other observers have suggested the recent incident could be part of a trial of such tactics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it doesnt look to me like part of an effort to seriously impede Taiwans connectivity with the world it could be consistent with either a campaign to apply low-level harassment, or as a test run for something that could be done at a larger scale at a later date in conjunction with other coercive operations, said Tom Shugart, a retired US Navy captain and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington. Taiwan has seen a surge of Chinese military activities in the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific in recent months, in line with a ramping up of intimidation over the past few years. Chinese naval and coast guard vessels have plied regional waters, and there has been an increase in Chinese aircraft operating around the island. But Taiwan officials and defense experts have increasingly focused on the potential for Beijing to use gray zone tactics and non-military actors like China Coast Guard and various police and maritime safety agencies as well as a so-called maritime militia of civilian ships to quarantine the island or play a role in a blockade if it wanted to move to take control. In a first-of-its kind tabletop exercise simulating military escalations by China late last month, multiple government agencies were tasked with responding to a broader base of threats than an armed invasion, including information warfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One official highlighted then how government agencies struggled to clarify falsehoods during electricity or internet outages, highlighting the need for Taiwan to have a backup mechanism to ensure the flow of information. Taiwans Ministry of Digital Affairs earlier this week said it has been working on initiatives aimed at strengthening Taiwans communications by exploring alternative internet options including low-Earth-orbit satellites and adding new submarine cable stations. Last month, Taiwans tech tzar Wu Cheng-wen told reporters in a briefing that in addition to working with LEO satellite company OneWeb, the island is also in talks with Amazons Project Kuiper for satellite collaborations. A spate of sabotage? Those efforts may only appear more urgent to observers amid a spate of incidents where Chinese and Russian vessels have come under scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swedish police have sought to investigate the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 in relation to its possible role in the breach of two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea in November. The incident had echoes of a 2023 case in which Chinese ship NewNew Polar Bear was suspected of damaging undersea cables as well as a gas pipeline in the Baltic. Finnish investigators late last month seized a tanker carrying Russian oil and said they suspected the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and several internet cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed. Damage to submarine cables in the Red Sea last March disrupted telecoms networks in the region weeks after the official Yemeni government warned of the possibility that Houthi rebels would target the cables, though the group denied involvement. While damage to cables is not rare and is often seen as accidental, analysts warn that the recent cases also underscore vulnerabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shugart of CNAS said that there does seem to be a number of breakages recently that seem to have been deliberate, including those done by or for Russian or Chinese interests. This is going to be a quite challenging issue to police, as most of these cables run through international waters where traditional international law allows enforcement only in very narrow areas, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NICOSIA (Reuters) - Leaders of rival communities in Cyprus will meet on Jan. 20 to discuss opening new crossing points on the ethnically-split island, diplomats and officials said on Friday. Cyprus has nine crossings along the 180-km (116-mile) ceasefire line that separates Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Thousands use them daily with long queues and traffic jams a regular occurrence. "We are going to this meeting with a constructive stance and hope the same sincere will is shown by the other side to facilitate the objective, which is opening new crossing points," Konstantinos Letymbiotis, spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot-led government, told state television. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The talks will be between President Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. A U.N. spokesperson confirmed to Reuters the talks would take place at the home of a U.N. envoy to the island in a 'buffer zone' straddling opposing sides in the capital Nicosia. Last month, 13 Greek and Turkish Cypriot political parties endorsed a call for more crossing points, as an essential step to foster greater confidence-building between the sides. For months, envoys of the two sides have discussed the modalities of opening new checkpoints, which cut through now-military zones and need the agreement of the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. The ceasefire line was completely sealed until April 2003, when Turkish Cypriot authorities opened one crossing, triggering a surge of tens of thousands of Cypriots to areas off-limits to them for decades. (Reporting by Michele Kambas; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Schools across the country use affinity groups to provide a safe space for students from marginalized communities. But thats exactly why conservatives often make them a target of their criticism like a group of parents who are in their feelings about an after-school enrichment program geared towards empowering Black girls that they say is doing more harm than good. Parents rights group Parents Defending Education (PDE) filed a complaint asking the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights to investigate a District of Columbia Public School affinity group that focuses on empowerment, creativity and community for girls in first through fifth grade who identify as Black, African, African-American, biracial, or part of the African diaspora and nonbinary students. PDEs Vice President, Caroline Moore, told D.C.s ABC affiliate WJLA that the club has created an academic community in which students are purposely separated because of their race at a very young age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unconscionable that this is happening in public schools, let alone in a metropolitan area, at such impressionable ages, Moore said. Public schools should foster all students based on their needs and encourage them to befriend all of their classmates, not just the ones who look like them. In their January 9 complaint, PDE suggests the Empowerment Club violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which protects against discrimination on the basis of race in programs that get federal funding, as well as the 14th Amendment which prohibits denying any person equal protection of the laws. However, the school system says that while the program was created based on a community need specific to students of color, it is open to anyone who wants to join. DC Public Schools (DCPS) remains committed to fostering environments where all students and staff feel a sense of belonging, DCPS spokesperson Evan Lambert told WJLA. The mentioned Empowerment Club is not a district-wide program, it was born out of a school-identified need to arrange support for students of color. As noted on the parental permission slip, the club and any others like it are open for all students to participate. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Friday on the Daily 8, were looking at a winter rescue in Van Buren County, your Weekend Planner, the start of Girl Scout Cookie season and more. You can watch the full Daily 8 for Jan. 10, 2025, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below: Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Join us again on Monday for the Daily 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (KCAU) Cats are causing some concern for Dakota City residents. On Thursday night, Dakota City council members held a hearing about an overpopulation of the felines including more than 100 in just one neighborhood, according to a woman voicing concerns. Community members say the problem has become serious in the last year. Yankton Police Department warning of kidnapping scam The council and the community are being asked to support a trap, neuter and release (TNR) program, with the goal of controlling the unrestricted growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The population the last four years has increased immensely, from one little mother cat that had a couple litters, and all of a sudden, somebody started taking care of her, and now its exploded to at least 100 in that area, citizen Kathleen Bakker told the council. The TNR program would be voluntarily run. Four people have already agreed to contribute time, if the city finds a way to help fund the effort. The issue will be addressed again on Feb. 6 beginning at 5 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) A 35-year-old Cleveland man was killed in a hazardous materials incident in Twinsburg Township on Friday morning. It happened at about 9:40 a.m. at Emerald Transformer, 1672 Highland Road, in Twinsburg Township, according to a news release from Twinsburg Fire Department. Ohio police looking for a missing 8-month-old girl Twinsburg firefighters responded to the industrial park for a report of a person who fell into a tank, according to the release. A shift commander found the person unresponsive, lying at the bottom of a railroad tanker car parked on a siderail behind the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man had gone into a tank for an air quality test, according to a news release from Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree. Two other people waiting outside the tank noticed the man had become unresponsive and assisted him, according to the release. An investigation revealed the air in the tank did not have enough breathable oxygen, and the man succumbed to the environment, reads the release. The man was pronounced dead at the scene at about 12:45 p.m. The Summit County Medical Examiners Office later identified the man as 35-year-old Dalion Ambler of Cleveland. Courtesy: Twinsburg Fire Courtesy: Twinsburg Fire Courtesy: Twinsburg Fire Mother allegedly smothered 2 kids with Lilo & Stitch blanket; left notes at the scene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ambler was a contractor from Clean Harbors Environmental, hired by Emerald Transformer to test and clean its rail tanker cars, according to firefighters. Summit Countys hazardous materials and technical rescue teams responded to the scene. They ventilated the tanker car, bringing in more oxygen, and suited up with cleansuits and oxygen tanks to retrieve the mans body, using a tripod and mechanical advantage a term referring to simple machines like levers and ramps. There were no other injuries. Summit County sheriffs detectives are now investigating. Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were also at the scene on Friday, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twinsburg dispatchers previously told FOX 8 News that an evacuation was not ordered in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. ENOUGH CAPITULATION! DEMOCRATS and other MAGA opponents have responded to the election with acquiescence bordering on servility. Time to pull up our socks and remember what is at stake. Its important in a democracy that the losing side grapple with its defeat and learn the right lessons for next time. A certain amount of reflection and self-criticism is healthy, but weve blown past that point and are in danger of over-interpreting the 2024 results. Despite headlines proclaiming the GOP won in a rout or declaring that This is the collapse of the Democratic Party, Novembers election was actually quite close. Donald Trump received 49.9 percent of the popular vote to Kamala Harriss 48.4 percent, a difference of a point and a half. Thats a smaller margin than any winner since John F. Kennedy in 1960. The popular vote margin in 2000 was also razor-thin, but the candidate who received more votes that year was not the Electoral College winner. The margin in the Electoral College looked largeTrump won 312 to 226but it would have gone the other way if just 100,000 voters in the swing states, or 0.06 percent of all voters, had swung the other way. Republicans took control of the Senate but their margin in the House was reduced. This is not to say that the Democrats dont have lessons to learn. It seems pretty obvious that shaking off the outsized influence of the groupsthe immigration rights, LGBTQ rights, anti-development, anti-police agitatorsis a good place to start. By all means, Democrats should convene conclaves and discuss all of that with their pollsters and greybeards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But meanwhile, Trump was not transformed by his victory. He did not suddenly become more normal or less of a threat to democratic norms and institutions than he was on November 3. Yet Democrats are in a haze. Instead of behaving like the loyal oppositionloyal, that is, to the Constitutiontheyre behaving like a junior partner to the Republicans, withholding judgment on some of the wilder Trump cabinet nominees, and focusing on areas in which the two parties can work together rather than the ones on which they differ. The papers are filled with chirpy articles about how Trump can really make a difference on housing policy, or public health, or our energy future. If the Democrats have concluded, with Rep. Jared Moskowitz, that Democrats were to the left of the American people on immigration, fine. And if Democrats want to pay lip service, with Rep. Ro Khanna, to the DOGE initiative (if it even is an initiative), okay, though it would be nice if they noted that other commissions have addressed the matter of government waste and deficit spending to zero effect. These commissions recommended sensible reforms. But in order for anything to happen, Congress and the president must take their duties seriously and, just perhaps, enact laws. Our leaders ignored them. Democrats and others should focus a bit less on last Novembers election and a bit more on wannabe co-president Elon Musk. Not content with threatening to primary any Republican who dares assert independence from Trump, Musk has gone abroad seeking fascist-adjacent leaders to support. The man Trump has entrusted with vast influence has endorsed the German AfD, a Russia-philic, extremist right-wing party that cannot seem to stop using racist and antisemitic slogans; agitated against the British government by spreading lies, promoted the cause of right- wing provocateur Tommy Robinson; and announced, as if ex cathedra, that Nigel Farage is no longer acceptable as the leader of the Reform UK. Where are the calls for Trump to repudiate Musk? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps people are feeling defeated. Whats the point? After all, Trump himself just gave a press conference in which he repeated Kremlin talking points about the origins of the Ukraine war. Its perfectly reasonable for Democrats and others to conclude that Trump is aligned with Putin and with the fascists worldwide who adore him. Remember how he responded to news that Putins tanks had rolled into Ukraine? He thought it was brilliant. Maybe Trump is trolling when he threatens to use force to retake the Panama Canal or Greenland. Or maybe his authoritarian juices are rising as inauguration day beckons. Its impossible to say at this moment, but what is possible to say is that most Americans do not perceive Trump as a would-be Putin. They may be okay with him firing some bureaucrats and deporting some illegal aliens, but they didnt sign up for unabashed authoritarianism. Or perhaps they did. But one thing is certainwell never know unless the opposition shakes off its torpor. If Democrats and tech barons and newspaper owners and columnists keep pretending that Trump is really interested in health reform or housing initiatives and continue to sweep the dangerous and fascistic messages under the rug, there is zero chance that the American people will understand what is happening. The fight for freedom, democracy, decency, and truth is always worth waging with vigorespecially when things dont seem to be going our way. Join us. By Nidhi Verma and Dmitry Zhdannikov NEW DELHI/LONDON (Reuters) -The United States will impose some of the harshest sanctions yet on Russia's oil industry, according to a purported U.S. Treasury document circulating among traders in Europe and Asia that drove global oil prices 3% higher on Friday. Some 180 vessels, dozens of traders, two major oil companies and some senior Russian oil executives, are designated in the sanctions, reports of which pushed global oil prices above $80 per barrel. [O/R]. Reuters could not immediately verify the veracity of the document and the U.S. Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The sanctions, imposed on Russia for its war in Ukraine, would cause severe disruption of Russian oil exports to its major buyers India and China, four sources in Russian oil trade and three Indian refining sources said. Refiners in India and China became the biggest buyers of Russian crude exports after the U.S., the European Union and their allies imposed sanctions on Russia's energy industry after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Russia pumps around 10% of global oil supply. Russian companies have adapted by buying their own fleet of tankers and insuring them inside Russia rather than via Western ship insurance. Washington will impose sanctions on two oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz and ship insurance providers Ingosstrakh and Alfastrakhovanie that cover most of ships supplying Russian oil to India, the document showed. Until now, hundreds of ships and many Russian oil traders have escaped the harshest U.S. sanctions as the Biden administration sought to strike a balance between the case for tighter measures and the risk of a global oil price rally. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office later this month, has promised to stop the war in Ukraine. Harsher sanctions on Russian oil exports could give Trump more leverage in future peace talks as Moscow depends on oil exports to sustain its economy and fund the conflict. Indian refiners will refrain from taking Russian oil in tankers under sanctions or in ships insured by Russian insurers that are under sanctions, the Indian refining sources said, asking not to be named. According to the document, the U.S. Treasury would allow a transition period to March 12, allowing some energy-related transactions to be completed. One of the Indian refining sources said new sanctions could push prices for Russian oil below $60 per barrel, at which point Western shippers and insurers will be able to transport the barrels under a price cap mechanism imposed by the West. HONOLULU (KHON2) A new development released by the Hawaii State Department of Health revealed more Hawaii students are not up to date with their immunizations. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news According to new data, nearly 40,000 students from public, charter and private schools did not have their school-required communications for the 2023-24 school year, a 25% increase from the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOH said the majority of students missing these requirements were in seventh grade (55%) compared to 16% of kindergarteners. From streets to service: West Oahu mans new mission behind bars Officials added 282 out of the 382 schools for the 2023-24 year reported more than 5% of students not up to date with vaccinations. Meanwhile, 36 schools reported more than 50% of their student body is not up to date. Low vaccination rates mean unvaccinated keiki are at increased risk of infection, especially at schools with a high rate of the student population not being up to date. We are already seeing increased cases of pertussis and are at risk for a measles outbreak. Immunizations are necessary to protect infants, children and adults from potentially serious and contagious diseases. Dr. Kenneth Fink, DOH director The number includes the 4% of religiously exempt students and the nearly 2% who have medical exemptions. DOH officials said they are working closely with educational partners and healthcare providers to help address the upward trend of vaccine hesitancy in Hawaii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The work includes educating families, increasing access to pharmacies and physician practices and accessibility to accurate data on student immunizations by modernizing the Hawaii Immunization Registry. Check out more news from around Hawaii Immunization data is accessible on the DOHs website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Jan. 9MITCHELL The following cases were among those heard Monday, Jan. 6, during a circuit court session at the Davison County Public Safety Center, with Judge Chris Giles presiding: * Michone Collins, 64, of Stickney, failed to appear in court on several drug-related charges. These included possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to renew registration during the designated month and smoking or consuming marijuana by operator of vehicle, all of which are Class 2 misdemeanors. Additionally, Collins faces Class 1 misdemeanor charges for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana and first-offense driving under the influence (DUI). Other charges include possession of a Schedule III or IV controlled substance, a Class 6 felony and possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, a Class 5 felony. The court issued a $500 bench warrant. * Edgar Lopez, 19, of Mitchell, had his bond forfeited after failing to appear in court on Monday. Lopez is facing charges of domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, as well as five counts of fourth-degree rape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Askari Goss, 29, of Tacoma, Washington, had his attorney serve as his power of attorney and pleaded guilty to possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed, including Class 2 misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and littering, as well as another Class 1 misdemeanor charge for obstructing police. Additionally, charges for possession of one-half to one pound of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance were dismissed. Goss was fined $350 and granted an imposition of sentence. * Gavin Spradlin, 22, of Tacoma, Washington, had his attorney act as his power of attorney and pleaded guilty to possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, multiple other charges were dismissed, including a Class 2 misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia, along with two Class 6 felonies for possession of between two ounces and one-half pound of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. Spradlin was fined $350 and granted an imposition of sentence. * Timothy Latham, 46, of Portland, Oregon, forfeited his bond after failing to appear in court on Monday. Latham is facing charges of driving with a suspended license, a Class 2 misdemeanor; first-offense DUI and hit and run, both Class 1 misdemeanors; and second-degree eluding, a Class 6 felony. * Kyle Long Crow, 35, of Sioux Falls, was assigned a court-appointed attorney and the case was continued. Long Crow is facing a probation violation charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Derek Schleder, 47, of Mitchell, appeared in court and admitted to a probation violation charge. Schleder had been serving probation for a grand theft conviction. He began the James Valley Drug and DUI court program last October, but was terminated from it in December. Schleder was sentenced to five years in the state penitentiary, with one year suspended, and received credit for 84 days already served. * Jazlyn Anderson, 24, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to multiple drug-related charges, including possession of a controlled substance (Clonazepam), a Class 6 felony, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana wax), a Class 5 felony. Additional charges included possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A jury trial is scheduled for March. * Isaias Lucas Niz, 23, of Plankinton, pleaded guilty to a first-offense DUI, a Class 2 misdemeanor and abuse or cruelty to a minor under the age of seven, a Class 3 felony. As part of a plea agreement, a Class 2 misdemeanor charge for driving without a license was dismissed. According to court documents, Niz was stopped while driving intoxicated with a female passenger holding a 1.5-year-old child who was not properly restrained. Niz was sentenced to 31 days in jail, with 30 days suspended, and received credit for one day already served. Niz was also fined $350. * Sergio Lopez, 18, of Sioux Falls, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by a minor, both Class 2 misdemeanors; intentional damage to property valued between $400 and $1,000 and obstructing police, both Class 1 misdemeanors; and first-degree burglary, a Class 2 felony. His bond was set at $5,000, and a request for a personal recognizance bond was denied. A jury trial is scheduled for March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Ashley Jenson, 41, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; false reporting to authorities, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a Class 5 felony. Jenson was granted a PR bond. A jury trial is scheduled for March. * Majda Korkutovic, 32, of Letcher, had a status hearing regarding charges she is facing which include unauthorized ingestion of a controlled substance, a Class 5 felony and second-degree burglary, a Class 3 felony. Korkutovic is currently undergoing treatment in Yankton. The case was continued to allow her to complete her treatment program. * Cleveland Skunk, 33, of Mitchell, was assigned a new court-appointed attorney, and the case was continued. Skunk is facing charges of domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a third-offense domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 6 felony. * Millie Miller, 47, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia, having an open container and driving with a suspended license, all Class 2 misdemeanors; first-offense DUI, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance (meth), a Class 5 felony. Miller was granted a furlough from the 24/7 program to attend treatment at IRecover. A jury trial is scheduled for March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Matthew Wegner, 42, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including reckless use of a weapon and possession of a loaded firearm while intoxicated, both Class 1 misdemeanors, and two counts of aggravated assault with a dangerous/deadly weapon, Class 3 felonies. The court denied Wegner's request to be removed from the 24/7 sobriety program. According to court documents, Wegner was initially assaulted by the victim in his backyard. In response, Wegner retrieved a pistol from his residence and used it to strike the victim repeatedly. He hit the victim's face with the butt of the pistol, knocking the victim out of his shoes. Wegner grabbed the victim's shirt, lifted his head and struck him multiple times with the grip end of the pistol, causing the victim's head to hit the ground. During the altercation, the pistol discharged. The victim sustained a broken nose and bone injuries to both eye sockets. A jury trial is scheduled for March. * Tyler Fernau, 35, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to charges of domestic abuse simple assault and reckless driving, both Class 1 misdemeanors, as well as second-degree kidnapping, a Class 3 felony. Fernau's bond was reduced from $25,000 to $15,000, but his request for work release was denied. A jury trial is scheduled for March. * Robert Martin, 30, of Mitchell, was assigned a new court-appointed attorney, and his case was continued. Martin faces multiple charges, including two counts of second-degree petty theft for amounts under $400, both Class 2 misdemeanors; third-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance (meth), both Class 5 felonies; and second-degree eluding and identity theft, both Class 6 felonies. According to court documents, Martin stole $140 from the Freedom Valu Center at 504 S. Sanborn Blvd., and also stole a wallet, using the debit card inside to withdraw $100 from an ATM. * Wetu Kiyukan, 29, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to distribution of meth, a Class 4 felony. As part of a plea agreement, two additional charges, distribution of drugs in a drug-free zone, a Class 4 felony, and possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony, were dismissed. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report and denied a bond modification. Kiyukan is also undergoing a treatment needs assessment. She will be sentenced later this month. * Aria Uthe, 27, of Sioux Falls, had her lawyer present to request a furlough for treatment at HSC, which the court granted. Uthe is facing a probation violation. She was serving probation for possession of meth. Jan. 10 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1789, the first nationwide U.S. presidential election was conducted. Electors chosen by the voters unanimously picked George Washington as president and John Adams as vice president. In 1861, Florida seceded from the United States. In 1878, a constitutional amendment that would give women the right to vote was introduced into the U.S. Senate. It wasn't until 42 years later that the amendment was enacted. More than 25,000 women take to New York City's Fifth Avenue on October 23, 1915, advocating for womens voting rights. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI On January 10, 2017, a jury sentenced self-avowed White supremacist Dylann Roof to death for shooting to death nine people at a Black church in Charleston, S.C. File Photo courtesy of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department In 1901, oil was discovered at the Spindletop claim near Beaumont, Texas, launching the Southwest oil boom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1920, the League of Nations came into being as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect. British Prime Minister Clement Attlee addresses the first session of the United Nations General Assembly on January 10, 1946, at Central Hall in London. File Photo courtesy United Nations In 1946, the first meeting of the U.N. General Assembly convened in London. In 1957, Six dynamite blasts heavily damaged four black churches in Montgomery, Ala., and the homes of two ministers. No one was injured. On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations came into being as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect. File Photo courtesy United Nations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1984, the United States established full diplomatic relations with the Vatican for the first time in 116 years. In 2003, North Korea announced it was withdrawing from the 1979 nuclear non-proliferation treaty. On January 10, 2003, North Korea announced it was withdrawing from the 1979 nuclear non-proliferation treaty. File Photo courtesy KCNA/EPA In 2008, Edmund Hillary, who gained international fame as a member of the first climbing party to scale Mount Everest, died in Auckland, New Zealand, at age 88. Edmund Hillary (L) and Tenzing Norgay are pictured May 29, 1953, after becoming the first humans to summit the peak of Mount Everest in Nepal. File Photo by Jamling Tenzing Norgay/Wikimedia A statue of former President George Washington is covered in snow outside of Federal Hall in New York City on January 4. On January 10, 1789, the first nationwide U.S. presidential election was conducted. Electors chosen by the voters unanimously picked Washington as president and John Adams as vice president. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation designating Pinnacles National Monument in California a national park. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif. In 2017, a federal jury sentenced self-avowed White supremacist Dylann Roof to death for shooting to death nine people at a historic Black church in Charleston, S.C. On January 10, 1901, oil was discovered at the Spindletop claim near Beaumont, Texas, launching the Southwest oil boom. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the U.S. Mint announced it began shipping a new quarter featuring poet Maya Angelou, the first U.S. coin to feature a Black woman. In 2024, gunmen besieged the TC Television studio during a live broadcast, taking hostages in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Police freed the hostages and arrested 13 people in the incident. AVON LAKE, Ohio (WJW) For much of Northeast Ohio, winter weather leaves behind unappealing greasy brown slush on roadways and icicles bigger than railroad spikes that can bend your rain gutters. But on Lake Erie, Mother Nature is sculpting. 29 new laws are on their way in Ohio, here are 10 of them Matt Lance of Lance Aerial Media told FOX 8 News hes been regularly photographing the ongoing teardown of the Avon Lake Power Plant, which was imploded last month, from the same spot on the Miller Road Park pier. Snow showers moving in Friday heres when Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the night of Jan. 4, after days of freezing temperatures and gusting winds, he found the pier almost completely encased in ice with milky white icicles jutting sideways, molded by frigid lake wind. The shift in left to right direction corresponds to the wind direction changes. Or at least thats my theory, Lance wrote in a Jan. 4 Facebook post. Miller Road Park, on Avon Lakes west end along Lake Road (U.S. Route 6), is open year-round. In the warmer months, the pier is a popular fishing and boating spot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Police in D.C. are looking for a man who was involved in an attempted robbery on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said that around 12:30 p.m., the man approached victims as they were going into a home in the 1900 block of Calvert St. NW. The suspect tried to get into the home and demanded items. The victims did not hand anything over, and the suspect ran away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DC police seeking suspects in armed robbery at Northwest laundromat MPD released the following images of the suspect as well as surveillance footage of him. Anyone with any information is asked to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Two people are dead after a vehicle driving in the wrong direction collided head-on with another car on Interstate 24 early Friday morning in Cheatham County. The incident occurred in the westbound lanes near mile marker 29 just before 2:30 a.m., hours before a winter storm arrived in the area. TEMA provides update on winter storm According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 38-year-old Joshua Tregoning was driving a Kia Optima eastbound while in the westbound lanes of I-24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Hyundai Elantra driven by a 17-year-old girl with two passengers aged 18 and 16 was traveling westbound in the correct direction of travel. An investigation from the THP found the Kia struck the Hyundai head-on, according to reports. The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead following the crash. THP reported that the 17-year-old was wearing a seatbelt at the time, however, Tregoning was not. The two teen passengers of the Hyundai, who were not wearing seatbelts, were also injured in the crash. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Detours were set up to route traffic around the crash scene. Motorists were able to exit at mile marker 31, which is New Hope Road, and take 41A north to Highway 49W. The roadway reopened before 10 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional information was immediately released 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The confirmed death toll in the Los Angeles wildfires doubled Thursday night from five fatalities to 10. The office of the Los Angeles County medical examiner announced it was investigating 10 fire-related deaths as of 9 p.m. Thursday. No information was available on the identity of the deceased or the location of the deaths. Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The medical examiner warned that it could take weeks in some cases to identify those killed due to the challenges of accessing bodies in dangerous fire conditions and of identifying burned corpses. "Please also keep in mind, traditional means of identification such as fingerprinting and visual identification may not be available and will add more time for naming these decedents," stated the medical examiner. Earlier in the day, officials confirmed five deaths: four in the 13,690-acre Eaton fire in Altadena and one in the 19,978-acre Palisades fire. The Palisades fire victim was reported at the 15300 block of Friends Street, said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. Read more: Identifying unknown fire victims could take weeks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are deeply saddened to learn that we have lost a member of the Malibu community during the Palisades fire, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said in a statement. Although the individual has not yet been identified, this tragic news weighs heavily on our hearts. On behalf of the City of Malibu, I want to express my deepest condolences to the loved ones of this person. Our community grieves with you in this moment of unimaginable loss. L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said it was going to take time to get an accurate and complete death count. "We're still working in a very fluid and active environment, meaning that there are still spot fires going on in areas and there's gas leaks," he said. "So when people are asking us for numbers of fatalities, we want to give them to you, but we have to wait until it's safe for our personnel to be able to go in there and do this right." 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. BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) Binghamton City Councils proposed Good Cause Eviction will be debated during a town hall meeting scheduled for Monday. Good Cause Eviction is meant to increase a tenants protections against landlords from hiking rent, making retaliatory evictions, and not renewing their lease. Willa Payne is the regional managing attorney with Legal Services of Central New York, who often represent tenants who are facing eviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Payne says being forcibly removed from your home and having your possessions dragged to the curb is traumatic for families and their children. She says some low-income renters have seen their rent rise by as much as 50% and that a one-bedroom apartment often costs 1 thousand dollars a month. Payne says shes represented some clients who lost their case and ended up homeless. She says the proposed law wouldnt affect a majority of landlords, it would only impact those who are taking advantage of their tenants. Regional Managing Attorney with Legal Services of Central New York, Willa Payne says, I think we can all agree that we dont want those bad actors investing in our community. And so, if the passage of this law disincentivize those bad actors from purchasing property, so be it. What we want is safe, affordable and quality housing, says Payne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Payne says the Good Cause Law will protect tenants from retaliatory evictions when they report substandard conditions to the code department. Scott Warren is the President Elect of the Southern Tier Chapter of the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors and says, if the law is passed, there will be a wave of landlords selling their properties and moving to other cities without the law. Warren says the system already heavily favors tenants in housing court, and that some landlords are forced to stand by powerless while a renter destroys their property while waiting for eviction. The regulation would put a cap on rent hikes, with a maximum increase of 10 percent, although there are supposed to be exceptions to cover justified increases in expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says by capping rent; landlords cant keep pace with increasing operating costs. President Elect of the NYS Commercial Association of Realtors Southern Tier Chapter, Scott Warren says, So, in a system where youre capping rents at a certain percentage, but youre not capping the expenses, eventually, youre going to see the net operating income of those properties decline. And it could decline to the point where foreclosures will uptick locally, says Warren. Warren says that real estate investors, most of whom come from the New York City area, wont purchase in cities with rent control and that banks are reluctant to lend when income is capped but expenses are not. He says so many apartment buildings will be put up for sale that property values will plummet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Binghamton City Council is hosting a town hall public hearing about the Good Cause Eviction Law this Monday at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. The benefits and drawbacks of having Honolulus next solid waste landfill located in Central Oahu were highlighted at the state Capitol this week. Two joint Legislature committees held an informational meeting over the citys plan to site its dump on Dole Food Co. Hawaii property near Wahiawa. That sitemeant to allow the city to continue to handle the islands estimated 225, 000 tons of solid waste and related materials it puts into its landfill each yearwas first announced by Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Dec. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Capitol, city Managing Director Mike Formby, city Environmental Services Director Roger Babcock and ENV Deputy Director Michael OKeefe offered reasons to have the next dump on Dole lands. In part, the trio said it was due to a state-imposed Dec. 31 deadline to find an alternate site, ahead of the planned closure of the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei, in accordance with a 2019 decision and order by the state Land Use Commission. That West Oahu dump is set to close in 2028, though the landfill will not reach full capacity until 2032, the city said. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Conversely, Board of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau noted a landfill not properly sited on the island posed a significant public health and safety risk, as it could affect the potable water supply of Oahus underground aquifer. BWS must evaluate the proposed landfill site and, based on its proximity to potable water sources, may approve or reject the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, BWS objected to the city siting a landfill within its so-called no-pass zone, an area that covers the interior of the island where Oahus potable water aquifer is located. The citys proposed landfill locationidentified as Area 3, Site 2 in the citys 2022 Landfill Advisory Committees recommendation reportis on agricultural land to the west of Kamehameha Highway, north of Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road, the city said. The city hoped to negotiate purchase of about 150 acresthe amount of land needed for a solid waste landfillout of what it described as an approximately 2, 360-acre parcel now owned by Dole, according to Babcock. Ninety acres of that is the actual landfill, he said at the Tuesday meeting. And the remaining area is for a little bit of a buffer zone as well as storage for equipment, a place for trucks to get off the road, a scale house, etcetera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dole has publicly stated opposition to the city locating a landfill on its actively used agricultural lands. Still, Babcock explained that the new landfillplanned for about 800 feet above the islands aquiferalso offered protections against leakage. He noted the dump site will have required monitoring wells in the groundwater to detect any unlikely leak or contamination. And most importantly, the liner system, he said, and the leachate collection system, which together prevent the escape of contaminants from the landfill and prevent contamination of underlying groundwater. He added that U.S. landfills require a dual-liner system that consists of both a thick plastic geo-membrane and it also includes a clay liner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BUT THE city wants the state Legislature to change a state law, too. Babcock explained the citys desire to relax restrictions under Act 73, which governs where a landfill can legally and safely be located in order to achieve a new, permanent landfill location on Oahu. The 2020 law places restrictions on locating waste-disposal facilities, particularly those close to conservation lands or half-mile buffer zones near residential areas, schools or hospitals, as well as near airports or tsunami inundation zones. Babcock said amending Act 73 could do one of two things : reduce buffer zones down to a quarter-mile or eliminate them altogether, thereby opening up more lands for potential city dump sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a legislative change could take time, however. If that is unsuccessful, then it would be necessary to extend the operations at the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, he added. But BWS leader expressed his strong reservations over the safety of a landfill being sited above the islands freshwater resources. Landfills contain contaminants that can enter groundwater if it leaks out of a landfill, Lau said. And that leachate is actually pretty contaminated rainwater. He said landfills, once constructed, are permanently there. But cap rockan area of hard, impervious rockalso rings around Oahus coastline like a protective barrier, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cap rock is a very important geologic feature here because thats the basis of why the Board of Water Supply over 40 years ago decided to create a no-pass area on our island, Lau said. Because that cap rock along the coastal areas helps to protect and keep the freshwater inland, and helps to keep large capacities of freshwater inland in these underground, volcanic aquifers. And the cap rock is where we would recommend that landfills be considered if they had to be put in, he said. Noting a U.S. Geological Survey study conducted in 2003, Lau added that all landfills eventually leakoften dispersing into the environment harmful chemicals like arsenic as well as PFAS, or so-called forever chemicals, linked to illnesses like cancer. He also noted that USGS 1999 Ground Water Atlas of the United States showed that groundwater underneath the proposed Wahiawa dump site flows downward, in directions toward Waialua, Mokuleia and Kawailoa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If leachate were to leak from this area, it might head toward the Waialua-Haleiwa area, and might impact the aquifer down there, Lau said. So the contaminant plumes would potentially move to the north. During the joint meeting of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, legislators questioned the citys overall plans for the new landfill site as well as potential changes to Act 73. Among them, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senates committee, asked, Who has the final say, the Board of Water Supply, City Council, the mayor ? Where does it end ? Formby replied the city has set out a plan to exhaust as many options as we could, respecting the rule of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city, he added, has not formally made a recommendation for this proposed site to (BWS ) yet. Right now the mayor firmly believes that the city and county can site a landfill over the aquifer safely, he said. Whether or not that gets challenged, and (Chief Engineer Lau ) might write us a letter and say, For your specific proposal, I say no, in which case, we would appeal that to the (BWS board of directors ). And the board then has the ability to actually override the chief engineer, which would then give us a green light for this proposed site, said Formby. Were just not there yet. Gabbard also asked, Ive heard that Dole is not real excited about selling that land. Is that true ? Whats the latest ? Our understanding of what Dole has said is that particular, specific location that we have identified would affect their operations, Babcock replied. But at the same time they did say that they have other land that they have for sale so thats a pretty good indication that theyre interested in talking with us and to find a solution. After the meeting, Dole Hawaii General Manager Dan Nellis said his company believes the citys proposed landfill on its Wahiawa property is untenable. Particularly because it is right in the middle of our pineapple fields, he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser by phone, and it would create extreme hardship on us, operating our farm. Nellis confirmed Dole does indeed have other parcels for sale. However, he said the city hasnt approached his company regarding those available lands. I just told them initially, Hey, why are you asking to go into our land that were farming when we have other land that were not farming that is for sale ? he said, adding the for-sale properties are not far from the proposed landfill site. Theyre pretty close, about a mile away. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that a decision has been made to conduct the first exhumations of the victims of the Volyn tragedy, calling it a breakthrough. [The Volyn (Volhynia) tragedy was a series of events that led to the ethnic cleansing of the Polish and Ukrainian populations in 1943 during World War II. It was part of a long-standing rivalry between Ukrainians and Poles in what is now Ukraine's west. Poland considers the Volyn tragedy a genocide of Poles ed.] Source: European Pravda with reference to the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and Tusk's post on X (Twitter) Quote from Tusk: "Finally, a breakthrough. A decision has been made to begin the first exhumations of Polish victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. I want to thank the ministers of culture of Poland and Ukraine for their teamwork. We await further decisions." [The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) was a Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary and partisan formation active in 1942-1960. It was fighting to liberate Ukraine from occupying powers and set up an independent government ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Oleksii Chernyshov, Ukraine's Minister of National Unity, visited Poland and met with Polish Culture Minister Hanna Wroblewska on Thursday, 9 January. "The ministers discussed the key role of culture in preserving national identity and its impact on the socio-economic development of both countries," the Polish Ministry of Culture stated. Tusk announced the decision to initiate the first exhumations of Polish victims of the Volyn tragedy the following day, on 10 January. Background: Warsaw said that resolving historical disputes would be one of the prerequisites for Ukraine's accession to the EU. The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance said that it plans the search and exhumation of Polish remains in Rivne Oblast in 2025, responding to requests from Polish citizens. In late November, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued a joint statement addressing the issue of exhumations of victims of the Volyn tragedy, which had been a contentious point in relations between the two nations. Support UP or become our patron! The emergency evacuation of a Delta flight left passengers shaken in Atlanta. The husband of one of the travelers on board a flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis-St. Paul on Friday, Jan. 10, shared a video on Reddit of the planes evacuation slides being deployed as rare snowfall accumulated at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. They were accelerating to take off and the plane slowed, the poster's wife told him of the harrowing incident. They were told to duck down and then they were told to evacuate, via emergency slide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video captured by Atlanta News First showed passengers making their way down the deployed slides and running away from the plane. Several passengers appeared panicked in the video as they attempted to get as far away from the plane as possible. Related: At Least 179 People Dead, Including a 3-Year-Old Boy, After Plane Crashes During Landing in South Korea Delta Airlines told PEOPLE in a statement that its flight crew had to suspend the takeoff of flight 2668 after an indication of an engine issue," though it did not detail what may have caused the problem or its severity. Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for their experience, the airlines said in its statement. We are working to support our customers and get them to their destinations as safely and quickly as possible." 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. Joe Raedle/Getty Snow blankets the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as a winter storm moves into the area on January 10, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Forecasters call for Atlanta to get less than an inch of snow, with surrounding areas up to 2 inches, while North Georgia could get up to 3 inches. Snow blankets the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as a winter storm moves into the area on January 10, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Forecasters call for Atlanta to get less than an inch of snow, with surrounding areas up to 2 inches, while North Georgia could get up to 3 inches. Delta noted there were 201 passengers and seven crew on board, including two pilots and five flight attendants, when the Boeing 757-300 aircraft encountered the issue. The passengers were evacuated from the plane via slides and were transported back to the terminal through ground transportation, the airline said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shared in its own statement on X that the incident happened at about 9:10 a.m. and that four passengers reported having minor injuries. One person was transported to the hospital for treatment while three others were treated on the scene. Related: Southwest Passengers Rush to Evacuate Plane After Phone Battery Bursts Into Flames: WATCH It also noted that the incident, along with the ongoing severe weather, delayed operations at the airport, but shared in a 10:35 a.m. update that the aircraft and the runway are expected to be cleared shortly. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on its website that it was investigating the incident. It also issued a ground stop for Delta flights into Atlanta, which was extended until 2 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Redditor who shared the initial report also provided an update on his wife and the rest of the passengers on the flight saying that once they returned to the airline terminal, they were moved into a conference room of some sort with snacks and drinks and cots. However, it was unclear if the passengers were immediately able to rebook a new flight. Read the original article on People Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In todays edition, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur examines how a Thursday vote in the Senate may have signaled a Democratic recalibration in immigration. Plus, senior national political reporter Jonathan Allen explains how Donald Trump's annexation agenda can be most directly tied to the Monroe Doctrine. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Democrats recalibrate on immigration after bruising defeat to Trump By Sahil Kapur After the issue served as a political albatross for them in the last election, Democrats are taking steps in the early days of the new Congress to recalibrate on immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scores of Democrats are supporting the first bill to hit the floor of both GOP-led chambers this year: the Laken Riley Act, named for the 22-year-old Georgia nursing school student who was murdered last year by an immigrant in the United States illegally. The legislation would require ICE to take custody of people in the country illegally and detain them over theft-related crimes. It would target people who are charged, arrested or convicted of committing an act of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, according to the bill text. The bill passed the House 264-159 earlier this week, with 48 Democrats voting for it. And on Thursday, it moved forward in the Senate by a vote of 84-9. The openness of some Democrats to supporting a bill that stalled out last year comes as the party looks for an immigration reset heading into the second Trump administration. In the 2024 election, voters trusted Donald Trump over Kamala Harris to handle immigration by a 9-point margin, the NBC News exit poll found. And voters who cited immigration as a top issue backed Trump over Harris 89% to 9%, according to the exit poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Final approval in the Senate is still uncertain if the legislation isnt amended, but Republicans are close to getting enough votes to pass it as written. Some Senate Democrats who represent key battleground states or border communities have endorsed the bill outright, including Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.; Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.; Elissa Slotkin; D-Mich., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. Others say theyre only voting to begin debate, and arent committed to voting for the bill. Several pro-immigration groups have sharply criticized the bill. But some Democrats say they have fallen out of touch with voters on the issue and led the party astray. I think for a long time Democrats have let the advocacy groups push them to the left on immigration and border security issues: pushing them to oppose even popular immigration/border security reforms because it could lead to any deportation, a Senate Democratic aide told NBC News in a text message. This past election showed thats not where a majority of Americans are at, and that Dems need to be clear they are against criminals even if that means deporting an undocumented immigrant who committed a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will likely be just the first of many tests for the party on the issue, as Republicans will look for more opportunities to force Democrats to take tough votes on immigration. Read more on Thursdays vote Related read: Acting ICE Director P.J. Lechleitner told NBC News that President Joe Biden should absolutely have acted sooner to tighten border security to reduce the flow of migrants to the U.S. Read more When MAGA meets the Monroe Doctrine By Jonathan Allen Donald Trumps new Americas First foreign policy is a throwback to the Monroe Doctrine. Trumps plays for power in Greenland and Panama have garnered a lot of attention for reviving the James Polk eras Manifest Destiny, and with good reason. The spirit of American expansionism westward in the 1840s, north and south now is one way of looking at Trumps budding second-term foreign policy philosophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the president-elects Back to the Future DeLorean may be able to travel a little further into the 19th century to the 1820s. In his seventh annual message to Congress in 1823, President James Monroe portrayed the United States as the premier power in the Western Hemisphere and warned Europe to leave its neighbors alone. In the wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy to do so, Monroe wrote. With the movements in this hemisphere we are of necessity more immediately connected, and by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The Manifest Destiny policy of the following generation is rooted in the Monroe Doctrine the words manifestation and destiny appear in the same sentence in Monroes message to Congress and both were used to justify American expansionism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is no longer Europe that poses the greatest threat to the United States and its spheres of influence. China is Americas biggest rival, and the battles for power in Greenland and the Panama Canal carry major economic and national security implications. Greenland is rich with untapped rare earth minerals that are critical components in a wide variety of products that the world currently relies on China for. It is also a key strategic island for U.S. space and missile-defense missions. Trumps claim that China controls the Panama Canal is untrue. But Chinas growing use of the invaluable global shipping route is a boon to Americas economic rival. And China has been building up its presence in the canal zone. Trumps critics have pointed to his rhetoric on Greenland and Panama as a contradiction of his America First mantra. But viewed through the lens of defending U.S. interests in the Americas, it makes more sense as an updated version of 19th century efforts to bolster the United States by dominating the Western Hemisphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annexation agenda: Read more from Allan Smith and Carol E. Lee on whats behind Trumps recent calls to annex Greenland, reclaim the Panama Canal and absorb Canada. Todays top stories In memoriam: Every living former president filed into pews together to honor President Jimmy Carter during his funeral today at the Washington National Cathedral. Read more Wildfire response: Biden canceled a trip to Rome and a meeting with Pope Francis so he can instead focus on the federal response to the rapidly moving wildfires that are tearing through the Los Angeles area. Read more In the courts: New Yorks highest court rejected Trumps bid to halt his sentencing on Friday, and prosecutors are urging the Supreme Court to do the same. Read more Phone a friend: Justice Samuel Alito confirmed that he took a phone call from Trump one day before the president-elect asked the Supreme Court to halt his upcoming sentencing in his hush money case, but insisted that the case was not discussed. Read more Across the aisle: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said he accepted an invitation to meet with Trump. Read more Moving on up: Vice President-elect JD Vance will resign his Ohio Senate seat at midnight Thursday. Read more Cant teach a new DOGE new tricks: Elon Musk said that his budget-cutting effort on behalf of Trump would most likely not find $2 trillion in savings, backtracking on a goal he set earlier as co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Read more Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Faith Wardwell. If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The problems facing Democrats nationally, and here in Michigan, have been much debated in recent months. Democrats won control of the state Legislature in 2022, but lost the state House in 2024, in an election that saw Donald Trump elected to a second presidential term. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will hold the office for another two years, and Democrats kept control of the state Senate, where Im serving my first term. With 2024 in the rear view, dont expect debates about the future of the Democratic Party to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some argue we need to move left. Others say its the center, and still others say we need to go anywhere but where we are now. Ideological distinctions are irrelevant if we fail at what we were elected to do: help fix peoples problems. In the last two years, the Democratic majority did fix many of Michigans problems. But because of dysfunction in the state House of Representatives, we failed to meet the moment on many urgent issues. Because Republicans and one Democrat didnt show up to work in last years lame duck session, big policies like the Michigan Voting Rights Act, which would have made elections easier and fairer for our residents, and the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which would have capped prices on high-cost medicine, failed to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And residents will have to wait, again, on these important reforms. So now that the new year is at our feet, I ask myself: What do my constituents need from me? Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Brownstown Township, speaks during a press conference announcing legislation to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Mich. We can get it done The people I represent expect me to get to work. To determine what went wrong, correct the course and try again. Thats the essence of being a problem-solver: We dont dwell on defeats. We evaluate, adjust and keep pushing forward until the job is done. With Republicans now in control of the state House, this may seem like wishful thinking. But its not its achievable. Weve done it before. Before I was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2016, at age 24, I was a social studies teacher in southwest Detroit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my classroom, I taught kids struggling with poverty, kids who couldnt afford lunch and kids who had difficulty imagining a brighter future. I worked with parents who, despite their best efforts, felt like they could not give their children a better life than they had made for themselves. And I spoke with my fellow teachers, who struggled to afford a decent place to live and raise their own families on a modest salary. That room where I taught, held parent-teacher conferences, and spoke with my colleagues planted the seed for my candidacy. My platform was born from my staunch desire to address the injustices I had seen firsthand. The values I derived from my classroom experience and upbringing in a proud union family with immigrant roots became my compass in Lansing. Our record As Democrats, we have a track record of taking on big challenges and delivering meaningful results. Many of the priorities I carried with me from the classroom I have seen addressed in my time in the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing children go hungry in school led me to champion funding to make breakfast and lunch free in public schools and secure record investments in per-pupil funding, at-risk dollars, special education and bilingual education. Seeing the constant attacks on labor and working families strengthened my resolve to repeal the anti-union right-to-work legislation. And seeing our roads and bridges fall apart and our economy suffer made me prioritize infrastructure investment for Downriver and Wayne County like major investments in the Grosse Ile Bridge, Denton Road Bridge in Belleville, and underpasses to solve our train problems. The stakes are higher than ever. Under a second Trump Administration, well face an onslaught of distractions, divisiveness and deliberate attempts to derail our progress. We cannot afford to be baited into ideological sparring matches over issues that dont rise to the level of real problems. Instead, we need to focus on what we can with discipline achieve. Achieving the possible In short, we need leaders who focus on the real issues. Whether it's the rising cost of prescription drugs, stagnant wages, or crumbling schools, we have no shortage of problems keeping Michiganders up at night. I vow to remain laser-focused on them and, as the Senate Democrats Campaign Chair, to support and recruit candidates who will do the same. As the new year begins, I find myself thinking of my teaching days, the classroom I loved and the reasons I ran for office in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That classroom is what motivates me to dream big and aim high as a legislator I have a duty to those students, to my constituents and to the people of Michigan to fight for their needs and dreams for our state. I urge my colleagues to remember their own classroom and the reasons they first ran for office and to never stray too far from their ambitious goals for the future of Michigan. Darrin Camilleri represents Michigan's 4th Senate District in the state Legislature. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Democrats, push past Michigan's legislative dysfunction | Opinion By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Stine Jacobsen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's government has proposed purchasing two new Arctic inspection vessels and increasing dog sled patrols to boost its military presence in Greenland, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sets his sights on the island, local media reported. The government has also proposed upgrading the airport in Kangerlussuaq, a former U.S. military base in western Greenland, to accommodate F-35 fighter jets, broadcasters DR and TV2 said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denmark has already set aside $400 million to strengthen surveillance and intelligence in the Arctic and North Atlantic with long-range drones. Trump this week reiterated his ambition to gain control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous Arctic territory of Denmark that the incoming U.S. president views as crucial to American security. Denmark, while responsible for Greenland's security and defence, has limited military capabilities on the vast island. At present, these include four ageing inspection vessels, a Challenger surveillance plane and 12 dog sled patrols, all tasked with monitoring an area four times the size of France. The tradition of using sled dogs for patrolling Greenland dates back to World War II, with the patrol being a specialized unit of the Royal Danish Navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEFENCE SPENDING TALKS Following more than a decade of drastic cuts in defence spending, last year Denmark allocated 190 billion Danish crowns ($26 billion) for its military over a ten-year span, some of which will be for the Arctic. Danish lawmakers began long-delayed talks on Friday on how to apportion those funds, which are being progressively allocated via political agreements. The discussions that commenced on Friday focused on what portion of the budget should be go to Greenland's defence requirements. Earlier this week, Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he looked forward to informing Trump about Denmark's "massive" military build-up since his last term as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged on Thursday that necessary military investments had been "neglected for many years." Poulsen last month said more funds should be allocated towards Denmark's military presence in the Arctic, although he did not provide specifics. "The U.S. concerns are real, and there are some very concrete, huge problems in relation to Greenland," defence analyst and retired navy commander Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen told Reuters. "The U.S. needs to feel safe in this area, and if Denmark doesn't do something about this, then they will have to deal with it themselves." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. military maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland's northwest. The strategic location is vital for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island. On Thursday, the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen stated that there were no plans to increase the U.S. military presence in Greenland. ($1 = 7.2425 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Sharon Singleton) DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Soldiers from the Ohio National Guard are returning home after being deployed nearly seven months ago. According to ONG, Engineer Advisor Team 6520, 5th Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Regiment, will return to Columbus. The Team has been stationed in the Indo-Pacific Command region. While deployed, Team 6520 trained newly formed foreign partner military engineer regiments, focusing on basic soldiering skills and squad tactics, techniques and movements, said ONG. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 11 a.m. on Jan. 11, the public is welcome to visit Building 2 (Armed Forces Reserve Center), Defense Supply Center in Columbus, to welcome the soldiers home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. (COLORADO) Newly sworn-in U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO) of Colorados 5th Congressional District is taking a stand on the novel Laken Riley Act, an immigration bill that would expand the federal governments mandate to detain immigrants who are illegally in the country. Crank, who spoke to FOX21 News about the bill, said that the immigration issue is at the top of citizens minds. If there was a message that was sent in the November election by the American people, it was certainly that they want their borders secure, said Crank. They want crime to go down, these sorts of things are top of mind for the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Feb. 2024, nursing student Laken Riley was killed when she was running on the University of Georgia campus by a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. A judge convicted the man of killing Riley and has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The bill would allow the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal immigrants who commit any offenses and mandate that they be removed from the U.S. so they cannot commit any more crimes. Crank, who was sworn in on Jan. 3 said, bad people who are criminals and kill Americans should be deported. If they are here illegally, they should be deported, Crank said. On Thursday, Jan. 9, a day before Laken Rileys 23rd birthday, senators voted to move the bill forward. The House has already passed the act, which will become the very first bill the new Congress will consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final vote in the Senate could happen as soon as next week, Friday, Jan. 17. The bill needs 60 votes to become law, so at least seven democrats would have to vote to pass it too. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Los Angeles County residents impacted by recent wildfires can attend free workshops next week to help them navigate insurance policies, understand the claims process and access recovery resources. The workshops will be hosted by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in Santa Monica and Pasadena. The devastation caused by these wildfires is heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected, Lara said in a news release. Our top priority is to stand with Californians during this challenging time, ensuring you have access to the support and services you need. We are committed to holding insurance companies accountable so they fulfill their obligations to policyholders. Fallon Prockiw-Kline, center, gets emotional in front of her home which was damaged by the Palisades Fire, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Experts from the Department of Insurance will be available for one-on-one consultations to address specific insurance concerns. Attendees are encouraged to bring their insurance policy, declaration page and any related correspondence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS declares public health emergency for California wildfires The schedule for next weeks workshops is below: Santa Monica: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, 10 a.m. 1 p.m. Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center East Wing 1310 11th St. in Santa Monica Pasadena: Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m. 1 p.m. Pasadena City College 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena Appointments can be scheduled by calling the California Department of Insurance Hotline at 1-800-927-4357, with walk-ins served on a first-come, first-served basis. All consultations will remain confidential, officials added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Authorities have released the name of the woman whose body was found in Lake Macatawa last week. The Ottawa County Sheriffs Office identified the body as Janice Marie Graham, 72, of Holland. The autopsy has been completed and toxicology results are pending. The sheriffs office noted that foul play is not suspected. Deputies: Womans body found in Lake Macatawa Grahams body was found in the water close to the shore near Ottawa Beach Road between Pavillion and Black avenues in Park Township on Jan. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ottawa County Sheriffs Office Capt. Jacob Sparks previously said he believed the woman had not been reported missing before her body was discovered in the lake and her body had not been there long. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. As the newly inaugurated Utah attorney general, Derek Brown told members of the press on Thursday that he plans to continue all litigation initiated by his predecessor, former Attorney General Sean Reyes. However, he said, his position is subject to change. Brown also said he would be transparent with the people of Utah, including making his full calendar public. We want people to know what it is were doing. We want to be accessible. We want people to understand what it is that the office does a question Brown said he was asked most while on the campaign trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My role as the attorney general is to defend the law. During the press conference, he commented on a few pressing lawsuits filed by the state. Utah vs. Meta Brown said the states lawsuits against social media companies, including Meta Platforms, are representative of a critical issue with which he is familiar and remains committed to moving forward. Utah is one of 42 states that have taken legal action against Meta. In 2023, Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox and then AG Reyes lawsuit accused the social media giant of designing its multiple platforms to trap children and teens, which negatively impacts their mental health. They also alleged the company has misled the public about the risks of its platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown said his office will continue this really vital and important litigation because this is something that impacts the people of Utah and specifically our kids. Utah vs. the U.S. Last August, the state of Utah filed a bill of complaint with the Supreme Court arguing that nearly half 18.5 million acres of the federally owned land in Utah is unappropriated and should be managed by the state. The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to take up the case by the end of January. The state said the Bureau of Land Management receives significant revenue by leasing those lands to private parties for activities such as oil and gas production, grazing, and commercial filmmaking, and by selling timber and other valuable natural resources that the federal government retains for its own exploitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states case has received national attention, most recently in an op-ed in The New York Times, which described the lawsuit as nothing less than a frontal assault on the long tradition of safeguarding these landscapes in trust for all Americans. Brown responded to the article Thursday, saying that it misrepresented the lawsuit. Brown served in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2014, and he said control of federal lands in Utah was a topic of conversation then and has been since. He said it is a vital issue for counties with a lot of federal land within their boundaries. The case is about whether it is appropriate for the federal government to retain control over the unappropriated lands, he said. I think its an important issue, and there are seminal issues in our states history that I think its important and appropriate for a court to make a decision on, and this is one of them. Prosecuting illegal immigration On whether he would align with Cox on his support for President-elect Donald Trumps plan to deport migrants in the country illegally who have committed crimes, Brown said he would work with the federal government when needed, focusing on violent crimes against Utahns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My focus is going to be on ensuring that the law is followed, and when people break the law, that they are prosecuted, he said. The focus has to be the violent criminals. And really, that is where the focus needs to be as our office. Utahns deserve peace of mind. They need to know that they feel safe and secure when theyre in their homes, when theyre out in the public. Following his inauguration on Wednesday, Brown posted a video on social media saying he and his office would protect the people of Utah and that he would do so faithfully. Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a press conference in Jacksonville on Jan. 10, 2025. (Screenshot from Florida Channel) Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his appointment to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees of a political scientist who claims that encouraging women to prioritize their careers has led to the decline of family life. In speeches, essays, articles, and interviews Scott Yenor details his views against same-sex relationships, including that LGBTQ+ practices bring dreaded diseases, and labeling career-oriented women as medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But DeSantis claimed during a press conference Friday that he wasnt familiar with Yenors views that women should put motherhood first, which he first garnered criticism for after his remarks at the National Conservatism Conference in 2021 and has since repeated in other writings and interviews. Im not familiar with that. I mean, obviously, I think if you look at the state of Florida, we probably have a higher percentage of women enrolled in our state universities than we do men, and thats probably grown under my tenure, DeSantis said during the Jacksonville press conference in which he talked about the results of his education policy. But what I dont do, what I dont like is cherry-picking somebody saying this, and then trying to smear them. Democratic Sen. Lori Berman of Palm Beach County called Yenors opinions troubling and said nominating someone like Yenor to the board was counterproductive. I find the whole thing shocking, she said. I think its a throwback to an age that is in the past and belongs in the past. We have seen that women have been part of the workforce now for many many years, and its been very successful. Weve had women advance in business, in politics, in nonprofits, and education, and all of these careers because they went to college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most notably, Yenor is a political science professor at Boise State University and was a fellow at conservative think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and The Claremont Institutes Center for the American Way of Life. In a 2023 interview with the First Things podcast, published by a journal of religion and public life of the same name, Yenor described how honor and shame were the most effective tools to deal with declining birth and marriage rates. But what the effect of that large number of single, never-married females, and childless females are going to have on our politics, on our regime, on our political culture is something that because its historically unprecedented its something that we dont really have a great grasp on, Yenor said in the interview. Will UWF become the new New College? The governors office announced DeSantis tapped Yenor and four others to the UWF board on Monday. The university in Pensacola has 14,300 students and 2,400 faculty and staff, according to its website. The Board has 13 members and the Florida Senate must confirm all appointments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can have people get appointed who have flagrant left-wing backgrounds, and thats just swept under the rug, DeSantis said. You never hear legacy media trying to highlight any of that. So I dont play those games. The proof is going to be in the pudding about what theyre willing to do. DeSantis also said during the press conference that there would be changes coming to UWF, referring to the institution as highly politicized. The shakeup of the board mirrors the governors overhaul two years ago of the board of New College of Florida in Sarasota. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Friday morning at a Christian school in Jacksonville. Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. is also expected to speak. The news conference will be streamed live in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday said former Democratic Florida prosecutor Andrew Warren cannot pursue a lawsuit claiming he was wrongfully suspended by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. In a brief order, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the case was moot because Warren lost his re-election bid in November and cannot be reinstated. The court threw out a prior decision that revived Warrens lawsuit against DeSantis, which accused the governor of retaliating against him over his support for transgender care and abortion rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling comes one year after an 11th Circuit panel revived Warrens case over his suspension as the Tampa-area state prosecutor. Florida asked the full appeals court to review the order, and then Warren complained in July that the court was dragging its feet in deciding Florida's request as the election fast approached. Warrens lawyers in a statement criticized the timing of the new 11th Circuit ruling, saying the court "allowed the clock to run out." They called the decision "a sledgehammer not only to the First Amendment, but also to the rule of law, at a time when our nation urgently needs unfractured confidence in both. A representative for DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Warren in November lost his election bid to Republican Suzy Lopez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis suspended Warren in 2022 after he pledged he would not bring criminal cases against people seeking or providing abortions despite legal restrictions that Florida has placed on the procedure. DeSantis has maintained he suspended Warren for "neglect of duty" after Warren and other prosecutors signed a statement supporting abortion rights. Warren's lawsuit failed in the trial court, but the 11th Circuit in January 2024 said the case should proceed. "The First Amendment prevents DeSantis from identifying a reform prosecutor and then suspending him to garner political benefit," the appeals panel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is Warren v. DeSantis, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 23-10459. For Warren: David O'Neil of Debevoise & Plimpton; Jean-Jacques Cabou of Perkins Coie For DeSantis: Henry Whitaker of the Florida Attorney General's Office; George Levesque of GrayRobinson Read more: Ousted Fla. prosecutor slams appeals court for dragging out case against DeSantis Florida's DeSantis must face ousted prosecutor's retaliation lawsuit (Reporting by Mike Scarcella) "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Since Tuesday afternoon, uncontrolled wildfires have spread across Southern California. Several different fires, fanned by the furious Santa Anna Winds, have upended communities in Los Angeles from the Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica, to Malibu, Pasadena, and Altadena. These fires now cover over 45 squares miles of land, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate and destroying thousands of homes, businesses, and historical landmarks. Though the evacuation order has, at this time, been lifted for the West Hollywood Hills area, the entire Los Angeles population remains on high alert, including many members of the interior design community. Los Angeles is home to many unique storefronts and talented designers who have been posting to social media throughout these past 72 hours, detailing what they're going through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Devastation. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and have lived through many fires and floods and this is the worst yet in Los Angeles," designer and author Mary McDonald writes in an Instagram post, showing two images of a a housing development she owns, the Tahitian Terrace Park, which was developed by her grandfather, burning to the ground. Designer Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors, posted to Instagram yesterday evening that her shop in the Pacific Palisades was lost after being engulfed by flames from the Palisades Fire. In the caption of the post, the business's account writes, "Were in shock and our hearts go out to everyone affected by these terrible fires. We are so grateful to the first responders risking their lives doing all they can to fight this disaster and are shattered by the loss to our community at large." Lewis also took to her Instagram stories to further express her disbelief. See who can use your support and how other members of the design community are responding to this tragedy below. And if you'd like to support the Los Angeles community, please consider donating to one or multiple of the organizations in our guide. Instagram @mikelwelch Instagram @jdpinteriors Instagram @martynbullard Instagram @kathrynmireland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instagram @jeremiahbrent Instagram @brownstoneboys Instagram @bobby Instagram @lonefoxhome Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instagram @moorehousedesign Instagram @hemaapersad Instagram @eyeswoon Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok. You Might Also Like William Harris left his childhood home in Altadena early Wednesday morning as the Santa Ana winds howled outside and a destructive firestorm headed for his community. Smoke filled his neighborhood, but he was still able to see the road. The 63-year-old left with his wife and son after receiving an alert shortly before 3:30 a.m. "FAST MOVING WILDFIRE IN YOUR AREA," said the text message his son Shaun received. "LEAVE NOW." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When father and son returned Thursday afternoon they were disheartened to find entire streets leveled by the Eaton fire, downed power lines and a scorched path of destruction leading to their street. "Someone on one of the neighborhood apps said that there was one house standing on our street," Shaun Harris said. As they turned the corner onto Poppyfields Drive, they saw the rubble and chimney of their home, but nothing else. Their house was not one of the structures spared by the fire. William Harris let out a long sigh and said, "It's gone." Thursday played out much the same way across Altadena, a hillside community where the fire destroyed entire blocks of homes and businesses. Over 4,000 structures have been charred since the fire sparked and nearly 14,000 acres burned since the fire started on Tuesday around 6 p.m. At least five people have died in the Eaton fire alone, Los Angeles County officials confirmed Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many residents, the return to Altadena meant a heartbreaking discovery of decimated homes and neighborhoods. For a lucky few, it meant the relief of knowing their homes were spared, although their neighborhood now resembles a war zone. Large swaths of Altadena remained under evacuation orders Friday with most utilities shut off. Still, emergency officials allowed residents to trickle back into their neighborhoods starting Thursday but cautioned them to be careful as hissing gas lines continued to spew fires from leveled properties and a thick layer of smoke hung over the area. The California National Guard was called in to assist local police agencies and a 6 p.m. curfew will be in effect starting Friday. Shaun Harris held up his phone and showed family members real-time footage of the damage, narrating from behind a cloth mask, pointing out where the various rooms once stood. Read more: A brother and sister made a fateful choice when fire approached. Only one survived Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're OK, that's all that matters right now," he said. "I'd rather have family than things." William Harris, rummaging through the rubble of the completely destroyed home where he had recently installed solar panels, pointed out picture frames that remained on the fireplace mantle. He reminisced about growing up in Altadena and how his family encountered racism being one of the first Black families to move onto the street in the 1960s. "Some of those families moved out," he said. Harris raised his son in the home, just like his parents had raised him there. His mother died in 2022 at 98. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm just glad she's not here to see this," he said, as he stood among the rubble. "It would have devastated her." William Harris' Altadena home was destroyed by the Eaton fire. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) When Harris' neighbor, Ed Skinner, returned to their street on Wednesday around 10 a.m., he found that both of their homes, his and Harris', were still standing. They were the last two on the block to go up in flames, said Skinner, who tried to stay as long as possible to hose down the shrubs around his and Harris' homes. No fire trucks were to be seen. He called 911 several times to say he was watching his neighbor's homes burn down. "They wrote this area off," he said. "I get it. They were stretched thin." Flame sprouts from a ruptured gas meter as George Cunningham walks through the rubble of his Altadena home destroyed by the Eaton fire. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) About half a mile away, Arthur Coleman arrived at his home on Poppyfields Drive straight from Los Angeles International Airport. Coleman learned about the fire while he was out of the country on vacation. He watched news clips of Altadena and could not comprehend how the whole community could be wiped away. His wife, Jacqueline Reed, left their home Tuesday, while the winds were picking up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman agonized as he drove through the neighborhood on Thursday and passed burned buildings and utility poles singed from the bottom up, suspended by the power lines. Fires continued to burn in the center of the rubble of multiple homes leading up to his street. Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California He didn't know what to expect. "Oh, wow," he said. "Ain't that something?" His home was left standing, practically untouched by the fire, even though several others along the street were burned to the ground. His detached garage was a total loss and the front of his car was practically melted into a puddle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Can you believe I got these shrubs out front trimmed before Christmas and they don't even look like they were in a fire," he said, laughing. "A nice welcome back." Read more: Column: L.A. officials' poor fire communication should have residents fuming Down the road on Deodara Drive, 84-year-old Frank Brown's adult children woke him and his wife up around 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning. He could smell smoke in his home of over 40 years and felt like he was waking up to a conversation that he could not follow. "I couldn't believe it," he said. "My children are telling me, 'We have to leave.' I did not want to go and only left to satisfy their concerns. But they were right to be so cautious," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday morning, he returned to survey the ruins of his home, leveled and still warm on the ground. "If I would have known that this fire was coming ... well you see, I'm a pastor. If I knew, I would have taken 30 suits," he said from behind a mask. Altadena Community Church was burned down by the Eaton fire. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) His daughter, Ruth Brown, who lives nearby, lost her home to the fire. On Tuesday evening, she received several notifications from the county. The alerts, sounding off at 8 p.m. and again at 11, advised residents about mandatory evacuations in Altadena, but the location specified in the message was to the east of their homes. "I was aware of what was happening and called a sheriff's dispatcher to ask what I should do, but they just didn't have an answer for me," she said. "Eventually they told me that I should leave." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She can't imagine what would have happened to her parents, who are not tech savvy and don't know how to follow live alerts on their phones. Read more: With L.A. on alert, wildfire app Watch Duty adds 600,000 users overnight "It is just so emotional," Frank Brown said. "It's not an easy thing to come to terms with." But the biggest concern is not knowing what became of Frank Brown's sister, 87-year-old Miva Frieeli, who lives nearby. "We found her gate was locked but there was no house," Ruth Brown said. "It's just gone." The family reported her missing to the police but had not received any updates as of Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exomer Brown, Frank Brown's son, said relatives have been calling him every day inquiring about Frieeli. "I just don't know what to tell them," he Brown said. "They need to get cadaver dogs out to her home, because nobody knows what happened to her." 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. The day after Republicans took the gavel in the Michigan House of Representatives, Detroit Democrat state Rep. Karen Whitsett said she won't caucus with her party, in part, because she doesn't want to fuel any concerns that she may leak confidential conversations with her Democratic colleagues to GOP House Speaker Matt Hall whom she called a friend. She also said Thursday that she didn't want to raise speculation that she might be a conduit for Hall during caucus meetings. The gatherings allow members of the same party to privately discuss legislation, share opinions and hear from party leadership. Whitsett repeatedly emphasized that she doesn't believe her constituents benefit from her participation in caucus meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't need anyone to tell me how to vote," she said. Whitsett said she reads every bill and said she can do better things with her time than sit in caucus meetings. The Detroit News first reported her decision. House Democratic caucus spokesperson Jess Travers declined to comment on the implications of Whitsett's decision. It wouldn't be the first time Whitsett has opted out of caucus conversations. Whitsett said she didn't caucus with Democrats during her first two terms in the Legislature but decided to join in when her party controlled the chamber in 2023 and 2024. Michigan Legislature: Michigan lawmakers kick off new session with tipped wages, transparency Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitsett boycotted the final days of last year's Democratic-led lame-duck legislative session. Republicans also stayed away from the House floor to protest inaction on minimum wage and paid sick leave legislation. Whitsett and Republicans' absence left the House without a quorum, killing many Democratic priorities from voting rights legislation to gun safety measures. Whitsett at the time said she felt forced by Democratic leadership to vote on bills that she said were not fully vetted. On Dec. 19, she returned to Lansing briefly raising the possibility of a last-minute deal to bring her back to the House floor. That never materialized, and the House adjourned for the year. Whitsett has at times drawn the ire of her Democratic colleagues. Her opposition to repealing Michigan's 24-hour waiting period for those seeking abortions and a ban on Medicaid funding for abortions angered Democrats. Voters first elected Whitsett to the state House in 2018. In the most recent election, she faced no challenger in either the primary or general elections. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit House Democrat says she won't caucus with party Wildfires in Southern California have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed thousands of buildings, and killed at least 10 people. Experts say global warming may have set the stage for the catastrophic blazes. As the planet heats up, rainfall is growing more erratic over much of the globe, leading to wide swings between wet and dry conditions. So-called weather whiplash is ramping up the risk of wildfire in California, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. Last year, Los Angeles saw record rainfall, which fueled the growth of grasses and shrubs, but so far this winter the city has gotten a fraction of its usual rainfall, leaving dense vegetation to dry out. In light of the arid conditions, federal officials warned of significant fire potential in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making matters worse, the region is seeing unusually strong Santa Ana winds, which bring hot, dry air from the mountains out to sea during the winter months. There is little evidence that warming has made the winds more potent, Swain said, but with climate change, Californias dry season is extending into the early winter, when the Santa Ana winds typically take shape. This, he said, is the key climate change connection to Southern California wildfires. Troublingly, dry conditions are likely to persist in the months ahead. The Pacific has officially entered its La Nina phase, U.S. weather officials said Thursday, which typically brings more arid weather to California. European weather officials announced Friday that 2024 was the hottest year on record and the first to measure more than 1.5 degrees C warmer than the preindustrial era. It is too soon to say if the world has officially breached the 1.5-degree target set forth in the Paris Agreement, which will be judged according to the average temperature over several years, but the record heat is causing alarm. Each year in the last decade is one of the 10 warmest on record, said Samantha Burgess, of the European weather service. We are now teetering on the edge of passing the 1.5-degree C level defined in the Paris Agreement. ALSO ON YALE E360 Whats Causing the Recent Spike in Global Temperatures? Gov. Ron DeSantis seems unamused by the speculation about former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetzs political future. Gaetz on Tuesday told the Tampa Bay Times that he was eyeing a gubernatorial bid in 2026. At a meeting of governors at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, DeSantis, who will be forced out of office in two years due to term limits, was asked about Gaetzs plans. My thing is, I had to do a special election to fill that seat because he resigned from the seat. I wish we had full strength in the House to help the president get his agenda done. Thats where the fight is right now, DeSantis said of Gaetz resigning from Congress shortly after being reelected. ... Weve got it handled here. The people need to be up there fighting for President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Panhandle-area seat once represented by Gaetz is the only empty House seat in the country. Republicans hold a 219-215 majority in the chamber, meaning that if Democrats stay unified, the party can afford just one defection if it is to pass any legislation. Gaetz announced he was resigning his seat in November after President-elect Donald Trump picked him to be his attorney general. However, allegations of sexual misconduct dogged Gaetzs nomination, and he ultimately withdrew his name from consideration. Other Republican members of Congress appointed by Trump, such as Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Michael Waltz, did not resign their seats immediately, giving Republicans some breathing room in Washington. They will leave their current posts once Trump is inaugurated later this month. Gaetz on Tuesday was also somewhat critical of Republicans in Tallahassee particularly with how lawmakers have handled the insurance issue. I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and its not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry, Gaetz said. Cell phones across the Bay State lit up with text messages on Friday morning asking recipients to pay their $6.99 EZ Pass bill. Your vehicle has an unpaid toll bill, one of the text messages read. To avoid excessive late fees on your bill, please settle it promptly. Dont fall for it, MassDOT warned the public a short time later. The texts have been circulating for days now, and state officials are asking Massachusetts residents to be mindful of text message-based scams, also known as smishing. Due to an increase in scams, #MassDOT is reminding customers to be mindful of text message-based scams, also known as smishing. EZDriveMA will never request payment by text. All links associated with EZDriveMA will include https://t.co/4pRxFn8pEq pic.twitter.com/70gCF52wo0 Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) January 10, 2025 EZDriveMA will never request payment by text, MassDOT said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, around 9:30 a.m. Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All links associated with EZDriveMA will include http://EZDriveMA.com, MassDOT said. Scammers send fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information things like your password, account number, or Social Security number, according to the Federal Trade Commission. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts, the FTC warns. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. If you get a text message you werent expecting and it asks you to give some personal or financial information, dont click on any links, the FTC advises. Legitimate companies wont ask for information about your account by text. According to the FTC, there are many ways to filter unwanted text messages or stop them before they reach you: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On your phone: Your phone may have an option to filter and block spam or messages from unknown senders. Heres how to filter and block messages on an iPhone and how to block a phone number on an Android phone. Through your wireless provider: Your wireless provider might have a tool or service that lets you block calls and text messages. Visit ctia.org, a website from the wireless industry, to learn about options from different providers. With a call-blocking app: Some call-blocking apps also let you block unwanted text messages. Visit ctia.org for a list of call-blocking apps for Android, BlackBerry, Apple, and Windows phones, or search for an app online. Check out the features, user ratings, and expert reviews. If you get an unwanted text message, there are three ways to report it: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future. Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission website. 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 Ever since the Washington State Patrol began keeping a database on all its traffic stops, one troubling point has stood out: Troopers search the cars of Native American drivers much more often than drivers who are white. It was clear when Washington State University researchers studied the data in 2003, in 2005 and in 2007. It was clear in 2019, when InvestigateWest found that the search rate for Native Americans was five times higher than for whites. And it was clear when WSU researchers followed up one more time in 2021, at the request of the state Legislature, and found similar results. Advocates have called for change. Lawmakers have pressed for answers. And the state patrol has acknowledged its a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But traffic stop data from 2018-2023 reveals that none of it has reduced the gap between Native American search rates and that of other groups, according to a new InvestigateWest analysis. Troopers continue to search Native Americans at a rate five times higher than whites. In fact, the disparity has increased since 2020. There were signs that the disparities have been reduced for other minority groups, however. Black and Hispanic drivers have also been searched at higher rates than whites for decades, a trend that researchers have found across the country, but the gap has shrunk slightly in Washington since 2020. Fewer national studies have specifically looked at search rates of Native Americans compared with other groups. Chris Loftis, spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol, said the agency doesnt dispute the analysis, but he said the agency does not believe that intentional or systemic bias is the culprit. He said its a challenge we must continue to address. The disparity is there. We recognize it. And we continuously try to figure it out, why is it there, and why has it been there for so many years? Loftis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Academic researchers stress that search rates alone dont prove systemic racial bias within a department. Still, the disparity with Native Americans in Washington is glaring, said Hans Gaebler, a Harvard Ph.D candidate whose research focuses on statistical analysis of policing bias. He called the Native American search rate a concerning statistic. The five times difference in search rates is quite large, Gaebler said. The persistent disparities have fueled reform efforts in Washington. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, a nonprofit organization representing 57 Northwest tribal governments, issued a series of resolutions Oct. 3, calling on the Washington State Supreme Court to address the disproportionate rate of searches of Native Americans. Ahead of the states legislative session, police accountability groups are crafting a bill that would reduce searches on traffic stops for non-safety reasons. Those groups say InvestigateWests analysis has added urgency to the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minimal improvement in these disparities over time suggests that WSPs efforts to address these issues lack either the necessary commitment, resources or accountability measures, said Nickeia Hunter, vice president of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability. Rep. Roger Goodman, chair of the House Public Safety Committee in the state Legislature, said its encouraging that the patrol is looking inward to improve without being defensive or obstructionist, but hes concerned about the lack of improvement. I think this is just the way this is. Its called structural racism, the Kirkland Democrat said. Identifying bias To conduct the analysis, InvestigateWest sorted through a database of nearly 6 million traffic stops by the state patrol over six years. For each stop, troopers logged information that included the drivers race (as perceived by the trooper), the alleged violation, enforcement actions and details about searches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement InvestigateWest isolated more than 7,000 stops that resulted in high-discretion searches. Those include consent searches think of a trooper asking if they can take a look inside the vehicle along with pat-downs and K9 searches. These searches are relatively rare, occurring on less than 1 percent of all stops in the last six years, but that rate is commonly used by those who study police bias, including Stanford University researchers who have gathered similar data across the country as part of their Open Policing Project. A second test of the outcomes from those searches a metric called the hit rate offers a more complete picture, said Gaebler, who has also worked on the Open Policing Project. His research has shown that you need to look at both hit rates and search rates when studying discrimination. If a group is searched more often but officers find illegal drugs or weapons less often, that can indicate bias. In 2019, the tests taken together painted a troubling picture. Black, Hispanic and Native Americans were not only searched more often, but each group was less likely to have contraband found during searches when compared to white people. More recently, that remains the case for Black and Hispanic drivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for Native Americans, while the search rate increased, so did the rate of troopers finding contraband. Though it should be noted that with only 174 high-discretion searches overall for Native Americans from 2018-23, that rate is more likely to swing up or down. Jack Glaser, a social psychologist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said the higher hit rate for Native Americans can make it more difficult to draw statistical conclusions about bias. But he noted that the search rate disparity is much higher in proportion to the hit rate. From 2018-23, Native Americans were 415% more likely to be searched, but only 16% more likely to have contraband found. Im still troubled by the higher search rate of Natives. I do think that the hit rates dont justify such a disparity, Glaser said. Its an issue worth exploring, said Loftis with the state patrol, but he stresses that disproportionalities are not on their own evidence of systemic bias. The contention that there was no agency-wide bias was bolstered in 2021 by a WSU study requested by the Legislature. That study also found higher search rates and lower hit rates for Black, Hispanic and Native American drivers, only slightly reduced when taking into account other factors like gender, traffic violations and time of day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study stopped short of concluding that the disparities indicated bias. Instead, it called for the patrol to further examine the data to better understand disproportionalities. But it was the headline attached to the studys news release that validated the state patrols stance: No systematic agency bias. We hold strongly to WSUs findings no intentional or systemic bias is evident in our traffic stop operations, Loftis said in response to InvestigateWests more recent analysis. The data itself may not capture outside factors influencing search decisions. If drivers have contraband out in the open and a trooper wants to conduct a search, that may have nothing to do with race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christina Sanders, one of the researchers who conducted the WSU study, reviewed the findings of InvestigateWests most recent analysis. She echoed the conclusions of her previous study, which called for more research and better data, saying the differences between Native Americans and white drivers should still be explored, and she stressed that academic researchers would want to again control for other variables to ensure that the context across all searches is the same. Gaebler said the takeaway from the decades of data on search rates is not that theres no discrimination. Hit rates have been lower for Native Americans in the past, and theres a lot of uncertainty in the new data, he said. So the fact that the search rate is so much higher is still suggestive of there being a different standard for being a Native American. Consequences Lawyers and advocates who work with Indigenous people say the search figures are upsetting, but not surprising a lack of trust in police is a long-standing issue in Indigenous communities, which face disproportionate violence at the hands of police, as research has shown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Graham, a criminal defense attorney, said the data matches what hes heard from his clients. The presence of surveillance technology popping up on arterial roadways connecting Native American nations to adjacent towns like Omak, Brewster and Yakima can contribute to an ongoing perception of criminalization due to race. The Omak Police Department, for example, announced last year that it had bought automated license plate readers to help handle what it said was increased call volume. But those cameras were placed on a route that leads to the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation on the other side of the Okanogan River a placement that has not gone unnoticed, Graham said. I can tell you that my clients in the Native American community feel more targeted than ever, Graham said. It did seem like there was some attention on the police interactions with other ethnic minorities in the last few years, but it didnt seem to have really improved with the Native community. Consent searches, one of the three types of discretionary searches reviewed in InvestigateWests analysis, have power dynamics at play where civilians who are asked if they can be searched by police may be unsure of their rights or ability to refuse, according to legal experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the positional power, its very difficult to say no. Im a lawyer, I know my rights, and its still difficult for me to say no, said Enoka Herat, outgoing policing and immigration policy director of ACLU Washington. Consent searches made up about half of all discretionary searches of Native Americans from 2018-2023, but it was those searches that yielded almost all instances of contraband being found. For all races, troopers were more likely to find contraband during a consent search than not. Many of the discretionary searches by the state patrol occurred when the driver was not found to have endangered traffic safety. The most common criminal offense in Washington, driving while suspended in the third degree, occurs most frequently when a person has a traffic ticket and fails to pay it or appear in court to challenge it, according to the ACLU. Civil rights groups like the ACLU have pushed for years to have that charge overturned as a criminal offense, arguing that it disproportionately affects people of color and the poor while doing little to improve road safety. An InvestigateWest analysis of citation rates appears to back up that argument. There were just over 300,000 stops from 2018-2023 in which troopers logged a violation for driving with a suspended license, expired registration tabs or other non-traffic violations. Most ended with a warning or nothing at all. But Native Americans were most likely to receive a citation for such offenses, with 4.3% of all stops resulting in one. Hispanic and Black people each had citation rates of 3%, slightly higher than the rate for white people. A December report by the Prison Policy Initiative also found that Black people across the country face a disproportionate chance of searches and enforcement actions by police. Citations for such low-level offenses can cause a disproportionate burden for drivers who are poor, defense attorneys say. If drivers fail to appear for a court date on the misdemeanor charge, it can set off an escalation of further charges and fees that can become insurmountable. Byron Moore, a criminal defense attorney in Okanogan County, refers to this cycle as driving while poor. Drivers can fear theyll face additional charges for merely refusing to consent to a search, even if thats not the case, and officers are not required to inform people of their right to refuse. I have heard from clients that theyre in a position where they cant say no, Moore said. Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, said the higher search rates for Native Americans are an example of structural racism. Washington House Democrats A legal fix? The ACLU and groups like the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability are seeking legislative fixes to address the disparities. They are working on a new traffic safety law, called Traffic Safety for All, that would remove Washington law enforcements ability to pull motorists over solely for non-safety related traffic violations, like driving with expired registration tags or a broken taillight. They say that would free up more resources for law enforcement to pull over drivers that are under the influence, distracted or reckless, which they argue pose the greatest risk to public safety. Reform advocates also point to instances in which traffic stops of minority drivers for non-safety related violations have escalated to violence, sometimes even fatal contributing to ongoing distrust of law enforcement. Some states and jurisdictions have moved to limit discretionary searches. Virginia decriminalized minor equipment violations, like broken taillights, as primary reasons for a traffic stop. During discretionary searches, officers have no probable cause basis or warrant to search a person the officer is deciding to do so based on their analysis of the situation, which critics say leaves open the possibility of bias, sometimes unconscious or implicit. Glaser, the social psychologist who has been studying implicit bias in policing since the 1990s and authored a paper on implicit bias and discretionary searches for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in March 2024, said more training on implicit bias is unlikely to help. We dont have any evidence that any of the existing trainings on implicit bias in any industry, but specifically in policing, have any effect on actual performance on the field, Glaser said. While such training may be well-intentioned, it wont change deep-seated mental associations that troopers may have with ethnic groups, he said. Out in the field, troopers look for suspicious behavior, and because of the nature of implicit bias, theyre not going to be able to recognize that the suspicion theyre experiencing could be a racial stereotype. Implicit bias training should focus on the command staff, who set incentives for officers and direct them where to focus their attention and resources, and who can more effectively implement the training, Glaser said. Policymakers and agency leaders should instead look for other ways to reduce disparities, Glaser said, and eliminating consent searches would be top of the list. Dan Bodah, a senior program associate in the Vera Institutes Redefining Public Safety initiative, had that in mind when he helped craft the Traffic Safety For All act. This is a way of isolating where those high-discretionary environments are, where those biases and racial disparities arise. In doing so, we identify those areas to help prevent future disparities from occurring. Bodah said. Last year, a similar bill failed to get much support in the Legislature. Goodman, D-Kirkland, said that was partly because the language felt too restrictive for police. Any bill that emphasizes what police arent allowed to do is a difficult sell to lawmakers, he said. There was concern about restricting police discretion acknowledging that the discretion results in disparate treatment. But its sort of this balance between public safety and social equity, Goodman said. The Traffic Safety For All measure would call for more data collection from agencies other than the Washington State Patrol. Goodman said no matter what happens with the bill, hed like to see more research into the racial disparities. Hunter said that to meaningfully address the root causes of the disproportionate searches, WSP should adopt strict policies limiting discretionary searches, implement bias training and evaluations, have independent oversight of search practices, increase community engagement, and incentivize equitable policing. Any research of this nature needs to be more comprehensive and deliberate, Goodman said. I would assume that every police agency would, if analyzed, show similar disparities. Calls for change In response to the criticism of racial disparities in searches five years ago, Loftis said the state patrol has made efforts to improve culture and training, and to recruit more diverse troopers. Today, the makeup of the state patrol is slightly more diverse, with 81% of commissioned officers being white, compared with 86% in 2020. The patrol is doing more targeted recruiting in areas where we are historically underrepresented, Lofits said. And in 2022, the state patrol removed its staff psychologist after reporting by the Seattle Times found that an exam he administered disproportionately rejected candidates of color. Advocates for Indigenous peoples, however, say theres much more to do in order to establish a lasting trust. WSPs acknowledgment of the problem without tangible, measurable change highlights a gap between words and action, Hunter said. Sustained disparities harm marginalized communities and diminish public confidence in law enforcement. By committing to transparency, accountability and community-driven reform, WSP can begin to rebuild trust and address these systemic inequities. In its 2024 resolution titled Rectifying the Dehumanization of Indigenous People in State Legal Systems, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians calls on the Washington State Supreme Court to issue a proclamation urging representatives of the legal and judicial systems to address the dehumanization of Indigenous peoples in those systems. The patrol is aware it has work to do to build trust with Indigenous communities. And although the agency has touted its tribal liaison program created in 2019, with two positions meant to improve relationships between the agency and the tribe, both tribal liaisons have left the patrol in recent months, sending the agency on an extensive search for a replacement. Loftis said they left the agency for higher-paying jobs elsewhere. Emily Main, hired to replace one of those departures, said she recently was introduced to members of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakama Nation in a public meeting. A tribal member asked me, straight up, Were you coerced into taking this job? Main recalled. Loftis said the question was revelatory to him, showing how deep the distrust of law enforcement goes. We have a long way to go, Loftis said. Paul Kiefer contributed reporting for this story. This project, the first in a series of ongoing stories addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system, was completed with support from the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative. InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reach news and investigations editor Wilson Criscione at wilson@investigatewest.org . Reach reporter Melanie Henshaw at Melanie@investigatewest.org. Sal Bonaccorso, the longtime mayor of Clark, leaves Superior Court in Union County Friday, Jan. 10, 2024, after pleading guilty to forgery and conspiracy to commit official misconduct. (Sophie Nieto-Munoz | New Jersey Monitor) Embattled Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso stepped down Friday as part of a plea agreement that required his resignation following criminal charges and a racism scandal. Bonaccorso, 64, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Union County to conspiracy to commit official misconduct in the third degree, and forgery in the fourth degree. As part of his plea agreement, Bonaccorso will have to pay a $15,000 fine over the course of three years and will be sentenced in February to probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonaccorso also agreed to forfeit his right to hold public office or employment again. After the court documents were signed during Friday mornings hearing, the forfeiture went into effect immediately. Voters reelected Bonaccorso, a Republican, in November to a seventh term, despite the public corruption charges and racist rants caught on tape. He was first charged in November 2023 when the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity & Accountability claimed Bonaccorso used municipal resources computers and fax machines while operating his oil tank storage removal business, Bonaccorso & Son LLC, without proper removal licensing. They also said he directed or used township employees to perform duties for his business while being paid by the township. During their investigation, officials also found fraudulent signatures impersonating an engineer on permit applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays guilty plea secured by OPIA ends a long and sad betrayal of the community by someone who had been in a position of power and trust for a long time, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. Anyone who betrays the publics trust by placing their own interests ahead of their duty as a public servant to New Jersey residents will be held accountable. His company is now ineligible from bidding for any public contracts, entering into public contracts, or conducting any business with the state or political subdivisions for five years. The company also is barred from conducting, or contracting to conduct, any storage tank removals for three years. Bonaccorso wore a red tie and black suit in court Friday, making few comments besides directly addressing Judge Lisa Miralles Walshs questions. When asked if the value of the township services he used was below $200, he said, I believe so. And to another question about the charges he pled guilty to, he responded, I know now. Do you understand that it doesnt matter whether or not you knew then? Walsh asked Bonaccorso, who replied, Yes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the hearing, he walked past reporters without answering questions. His attorney Robert Stahl issued a statement calling the plea agreement the best course forward for his health, his family and the town he so dearly loves and has devoted more than two decades to. Council President Angel Albanese will serve as acting mayor until the townships Republican committee submits candidates to serve as interim mayor. Bonaccorso came under fire in 2022 when NJ Advance Media published a conversation in which he used slurs to describe Black people. Gov. Phil Murphy then called for his resignation, but Bonaccorso refused to step down. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jan. 9ANDERSON For the 45th time, members of the community will gather to honor slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year's event is set for Jan. 20 at the Paramount Theatre starting at noon. The Anderson celebration is one of the longest-running of its kind in the state of Indiana. Tamie Dixon-Tatum has been organizing the event for the past 10 years. She said this year's theme is "King's Dream: Thy Kingdom Come." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson University students will gather at 10 a.m. at Reardon Auditorium and be transported to the Paramount Theatre. Donald and Kimberly Martin will serve as masters of ceremonies for the event. James Eltroy Dixon will be the keynote speaker. Dixon, is a motivational speaker and author, has spoken at several locations around the country. He is a native of Anderson and has over 1.5 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, "Absolute Motivation." Dixon said the acceptance he was shown in school and in clubs, even before he had accepted his own limitations as an amputee, helped him learn the skills he uses now as a patient emissary and motivational speaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He works to improve the lives of amputees through his work in Kokomo and Anderson. The combined Anderson University/MLK Community Choir will perform. Anderson University recently received the $5,000 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service grant from the Community Engaged Alliance. The grant, according to AU officials, will supplement historical efforts on campus to honor King's legacy by coming together in various formats to learn about the life and teaching of the civil rights leader. "Funding for this MLK Day of Service will empower local and university students to actively contribute by sharing their voices, visions, and ideas," said Stephanie Moran, senior advisor for strategic partnerships at AU. "Together, Gen Z can lead us in fostering a community and campus where everyone feels valued, respected, and has access to opportunities that enable them to thrive." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MLK Day at Anderson University, she said, is a time of celebration and fellowship blended with the difficult lessons of working to restore justice in places of inequality and disproportionate power in decision making. The day will begin with fellowship on campus. The public is invited to join campus stakeholders for a light breakfast and reflections on the life of MLK. All are invited back to campus for lunch and a Gen Z summit planned and executed by the Gen Z leaders in Anderson and at AU. The summit will host a panel of speakers, roundtable activities, student-led artistic expression, and action planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As has been a tradition at the celebration, students from Anderson University will be presenting flags from countries around the world. Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863. It's a topic that could reasonably be expected to generate controversy: chopping down trees on state-managed Michigan forest land to enable installation of large arrays of private companies' solar panels, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. But with little to no public reaction, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has pursued leasing for multiple utility-scale solar projects on forested and other public lands the DNR manages over the past few years. Those proposals, in the Upper Peninsula's Dickinson County and in Crawford and Roscommon counties in the Lower Peninsula, were met with virtually no public response. But the latest proposal by the DNR to lease 420 acres of state-managed forest land near Gaylord for a solar development has blown up into a controversy, and has some especially the new Republican majority in the state House of Representatives questioning the entire effort. State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, said he learned about the proposed DNR lease of state forest land for solar development in Otsego County's Hayes Township where Borton lives from an MLive.com report last week. Solar panels at the Delta Solar Project west of Lansing. Utility-scale solar farms are causing conflicts in many rural areas in the state. "I immediately started sharing it through my social media channels, and things just blew up," Borton said. "My phone started ringing off the hook. People are extremely upset about it. They think it's the wrong thing to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You do not bulldoze forest to put up solar panels. That is just anti-everything you can think of when it comes to protecting our natural resources." Republican lawmakers demand answers The public reaction to the Gaylord-area proposal also shone a light on another proposed solar project in Roscommon County's Higgins Township, where a developer is finalizing a lease agreement with the DNR to evaluate more than 1,000 acres of state-managed land near Interstate 75 and a state airport for solar panel arrays. Borton on Monday wrote an excoriating letter to DNR Director Scott Bowen, blasting the proposal to use state-managed forest lands for utility-scale solar development. The letter was signed by 51 other Michigan House Republicans and state Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit. "We demand answers as to where flattening over 400 acres of forest to clear the way for foreign-built solar panels fits within your department's mission," Borton stated. "We also demand a thorough report on all DNR involvement with efforts to replace valuable natural resources with unproven green energy technologies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he didn't sign onto Borton's letter, state Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park, in a Facebook post called the proposed Gaylord-area solar lease "incredibly counterproductive" on DNR's part. "Studies have shown that deforestation for solar development often results in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, undermining the benefits of renewable energy," he stated. McFall added that the DNR plan "directly contradicts the MI Healthy Climate Plan," a plan stemming from an executive order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to achieve 100% carbon-free energy generation in Michigan by 2040 and net-negative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state after 2050. The MI Healthy Climate Plan "calls to 'avoid land-use conversion that causes a net increase in GHG emissions and prioritize land uses that reduce GHG emissions,'" McFall stated. "We can fight climate change and protect our forests. Let's demand smarter solutions that align with our climate goals!" DNR: Misinformation is fueling the outrage The explosion of outrage over the Gaylord-area solar lease proposal admittedly caught DNR officials off guard, said Scott Whitcomb, director of the agency's Office of Public Lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As we've learned from this, we need to do a better job informing people on the front end of these," he said. The DNR has "been looking at our state land portfolio for potential utility-scale renewable energy sites since 2019," Whitcomb said. The Gaylord area proposal is the most recent consideration. The idea first proposed by solar development company RWE Clean Energy, based in San Diego, called for developing a solar array development on more than 1,000 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the DNR-managed land in Hayes Township. The company's interconnection study showed the nearby high-power transmission lines allowed it to potentially expand its project by up to 30%. "Given the proximity of the private land development, that weighed into our decision-making on this to go ahead and evaluate" the DNR-managed 420 acres for potential inclusion in the solar project, Whitcomb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though RWE Clean Energy has since decided not to pursue additional development on the state land, the DNR is still planning to post a request for proposals to lease the land and evaluate its viability for solar, perhaps with another company willing to operate adjacent to the RWE project, Whitcomb said. In light of the public outcry since last week, DNR is proposing a 90-day public comment period on the Hayes Township proposal, and will develop email address and websites with accurate site maps, he said. "We feel that is one of the things that has really hurt us here; there has been a lot of misinformation" about the size, location and condition of the property in question, he said. "These lands are right outside of Gaylord one parcel is almost off the runway of the airport there. Some of it is land that has been clear-cut already and replanted to seedlings that are maybe waist-high. There are high-voltage transmission lines that are around there. On the aerial photos, you can see the oil and gas paths that are in the area, the road network that's in the area. "This notion that this is the forest primeval is just not accurate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Borton pushed back on the DNR's pushback. "They are trying to downplay it as just a scrubby area in northern Michigan," he said. "I'm in Hayes Township; that's where I live. That property is not far from me. So they are not kidding me when they tell me this isn't some of the nicest property in northern Michigan." DNR's first public lands leasing for solar power was in 2020 The DNR manages 4.6 million acres of state-owned land. Most is dedicated as state forests, parks, recreation areas, water access sites and wildlife areas for use and enjoyment by the public but not all. "There is this connotation that state lands are only used for recreation or wildlife habitats or forest products," Whitcomb said. "We have oil and gas development, sand and gravel development, metallic mineral operations. We've had landfills in the past on state land; we have an asphalt plant located on state land right now. In the past, correctional facilities have been located on state land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For us to consider renewable energy, that's not all that different from some of those other uses where society says, 'You are the largest landowner in the state of Michigan; can you play a role in our societal need?'" The DNR in 2020 leased 264 acres of state-managed lands in the Upper Peninsula's Dickinson County to Circle Power, a renewable energy development company that's part of the Hunt Companies based in El Paso, Texas. The so-called Groveland Mine site is a former mine tailings location, "so it's a very degraded, post-industrial site," Whitcomb said, and the DNR land office's "first foray into renewable energy." "That project is going through all of the interconnect studies and the permitting," Whitcomb said. "That project is on a brownfield site that the DNR owns that was given to the state of Michigan." More: Climate change transforming Michigan forests Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Democrats' clean energy legislation sets up battle over local land use control The DNR in 2020 also granted Circle Power a lease to explore solar development at the Seven Mile Pit, an expended gravel pit in Crawford County. "That one sat around for five years; they could never figure out how to develop it or make that a viable project," Whitcomb said. "And this December, that land reverted to the state of Michigan." The Roscommon area project involves approximately 1,050 acres of DNR-managed public land in Roscommon County's Higgins Township near I-75 and the DNR Conservation Airport, "but the maximum buildable size of that would be 570" acres for solar panels, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What (Circle Power is) doing is trying to figure out of the 1,000-plus acres, which acres make the most sense to put panels on? But the maximum buildable size would be 570" acres, Whitcomb said. The Roscommon site makes sense because solar arrays will help the state with the existing problem of keeping trees out of FAA-regulated runway paths, said Patrick Mohney, DNR senior lands program manager, who is managing the so-called Conservation Airport Site. Along with I-75, "it's an area that's already disturbed, highly disturbed," Mohney said. "It's really not converting a high-quality forest to something different." The Roscommon solar proposal was "publicly noticed according to the statutory requirements, (and) no one responded with any concerns about that," Whitcomb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lease option gives Circle Power the opportunity to assess the property and study its viability for solar. Actual building of a solar project would require a surface use permit that would involve DNR and public input. "There's a lot of misinformation," Mohney said. "The information out there is enough to get people really wound up. But when you really start looking at it, there's a lot more to it." DNR officials have internally set a maximum limit for any amount of state-managed forest lands that could be included in renewable energy leases 4,000 acres statewide, Whitcomb said. The number, which Whitcomb admits was "a bit arbitrary," came from evaluating potential sites statewide, projecting "a couple of projects in the Lower Peninsula and a couple of projects in the Upper Peninsula.""I would say the 4,000 (acres) is the uppermost limit that we would ever do, and it will probably be much less than that," he said. The state gets a nominal fee from renewable energy companies during the exploratory phase of a lease, about $10 per acre per year, Whitcomb said. At the Groveland site, should it become operational, the rate jumps to $800 per acre per year for the duration of operation. The funds would go to the DNR's Forest Development Fund. "We have made a commitment that any lands leased for solar, we would use some of the proceeds to buy replacement lands so there would be no net loss of public access or forest," he said. But Borton rejects the DNR being involved in facilitating large solar arrays on state forest lands at all. He also rejected comparisons to state leases for oil and gas wells, which he said take up far less space and have far less disturbance to neighbors or wildlife. Otsego County is one of the cloudiest places in Michigan, and gets snow-covered "from mid-November to May." "These two (the Otsego and Roscommon County proposed solar projects) we just uncovered by accident," Borton said. "The DNR is not working with local officials; they don't feel they have to. They are going to do this until somebody steps up and stops them, and I plan on being that guy." Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR proposes to lease state-managed forest lands to solar developers (Getty Images) CHARLESTON Exceptions in South Carolinas abortion ban are too vague and infringe on physicians religious beliefs, a group of doctors is claiming in a federal lawsuit. Under the states so-called fetal heartbeat law passed in 2023, doctors cant terminate a pregnancy after an ultrasound detects the sound of cardiac activity, with limited exceptions. Its been upheld as a six-week ban, though the law itself does not specify the week of pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit comes a month before the state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on a separate lawsuit from Planned Parenthood as to whether the laws definition should allow abortions through the ninth week. The five doctors who filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Charleston are asking a federal court to stop the state from enforcing the law or at least require law enforcement to defer to a womans doctors in cases of abortions for health reasons, the lawsuit reads. The state Attorney Generals Office has not yet filed a response. Under the law, doctors are allowed to perform abortions if theyre needed to save the life or health of the mother or if the fetal anomaly is so severe, the fetus isnt expected to live after birth. In cases of rape or incest, the woman can get an abortion up to 12 weeks gestation, if she allows the crime to be reported to law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors who question whether they can guarantee a mothers in enough danger or if the fetal anomaly is sufficiently fatal may do nothing out of fear of violating the law, the lawsuit claims. The punishment for performing an illegal abortion is up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and the possibility of losing a medical license. Republican legislators insisted when they passed the law that they intentionally allowed room for doctors to determine what constitutes a medical emergency. Medical emergency means in reasonable medical judgment, a condition exists that has complicated the pregnant womans medical condition and necessitates an abortion to prevent death or serious risk of a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, the law reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It goes on to specify that an abortion is not illegal if the physician determines according to standard medical practice that a medical emergency exists. But the lawsuit says that hasnt eased concerns at all. Because these exceptions are so vague, when (doctors) do provide abortion care to such patients, they are frequently consumed with fear of criminal prosecution, incarceration, and the loss of their livelihood, reads the lawsuit. In a flip of the religious exemption in state law, the lawsuit says the ban discriminates against doctors who believe abortions are fundamental to their religious beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What state law has long protected is doctors and other health care workers ability to refuse to perform or assist with an abortion due to their beliefs. Four of the OB-GYNs who filed the lawsuit are Christians of various denominations, including a Presbyterian, a Lutheran and a doctor raised with both Methodist and Catholic backgrounds. One did not give a specific religious affiliation but believes as a matter of conscience that the measure of a persons virtue is how they treat others, the lawsuit reads. The exceptions often prevent (doctors) from providing abortion care to very ill, grieving, or traumatized patients contrary to their deeply held religious and conscientious beliefs in respecting everyones dignity, alleviating others suffering, and placing others before themselves, the lawsuit reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Often, the doctors or their hospitals attorneys have to make a judgment call as to whether an abortion is covered under an exception or not, the lawsuit argues. Questions left for them to determine is whether a doctor can prescribe treatments that might endanger the life of the fetus but save the mother, such as using chemotherapy to treat a pregnant womans cancer, the lawsuit claims. Doctors scared of going to prison or losing their licenses often err on the side of caution, delaying or denying care to pregnant women, the lawsuit reads. This forces (doctors) to send their patients the messages that they do not matter, their decision to end their pregnancy is wrong, and they are on their own, the lawsuit reads. It condemns the patients to growing sicker and sicker and possibly losing their lives. Or it relegates them to a costly and complicated trip in that condition that deprives them of the support of family and friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, when a patient came to Dr. Patricia Seal in Columbia, one of the doctors suing, to end her much-desired pregnancy because it was worsening her kidney disease, Seals hospital refused to approve an abortion until the woman was close to needing dialysis, according to the lawsuit. Because of the delay, the womans condition worsened to the point that she might need a kidney transplant, the lawsuit claims. What does SC law say? Fatal fetal anomaly means that, in reasonable medical judgment, the unborn child has a profound and irremediable congenital or chromosomal anomaly that, with or without the provision of life-preserving treatment, would be incompatible with sustaining life after birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Source: Section 44-41-610 of state law Also unclear is what constitutes a fetal anomaly as incompatible with sustaining life after birth, the doctors argue. Are a few minutes enough? Weeks? Months? the lawsuit reads. Further, how certain must a physician be about this time period? Reasonably sure? Very sure? Certain? Those factors can be difficult to determine. Doctors struggle with whether that means a fetus has zero chance of survival after birth, or whether that chance is just very low, the doctors argued. Seal had to turn away another patient whose fetus had a rare genetic disorder that causes defects in the brain, heart and lung. The disorders survival rate past the age of 1 is less than a 10%. Seal couldnt determine whether that counted as sustaining life, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a consequence, the patient remained pregnant against her will until she could leave South Carolina, tormented by the thought that her child was in anguish, the lawsuit reads. And this tormented Dr. Seal, who felt she was harming her patient in defiance of the Hippocratic Oath. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Let us know what you think... The rapidly spreading wildfires are not only upending the lives of tens of thousands of Los Angeles County residents and business owners, but also stressing the regions hospitals, health clinics, first responders and nursing homes. At least one medical clinic burned down. Senior patients were evacuated by ambulance from nursing facilities as embers swirled around them and their providers. Medical offices have closed, and routine appointments have been canceled. Some providers have lost homes or had to evacuate their neighborhoods, keeping them from work in many cases and making it a challenge for some healthcare centers to maintain sufficient staffing. Amid the maelstrom, doctors, nurses and other caregivers did their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday night, Dr. Ravi Salgia, an oncologist at City of Hope Duarte Cancer Center, saw the house above his Eaton Canyon home go up in flames. As debris and sparks fell, he, his wife and their older daughter estimated they had no more than seven minutes to get out. In the middle of the night, Salgia got a call that the hospital had become an emergency command center and was at risk of evacuation, meaning he needed to help evaluate patients and make discharge preparations. Salgia arrived at the hospital at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. He was joined by colleagues, many of whom had also evacuated their homes. "We all felt very strongly that we needed to take care of our patients no matter what's happening to us physically and emotionally, what's happening to our houses that we need to make sure that the people we serve were taken care of," Salgia said in an interview. He doesnt know whether his house is still standing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pacific Palisades, St. Johns Physician Partners, a primary care and pediatric clinic affiliated with Providence Health & Services, burned down, said Patricia Aidem, a spokesperson for the large Catholic hospital chain based in Renton, Wash. Not far from the eastern edge of the Palisades Fire, Providence St. Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, one of the groups major L.A.-area hospitals, was so close to evacuating that it called other hospitals in the area to find space for patients who would be displaced, Aidem said. USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, in Glendale, also faced potential evacuation, along with other hospitals in the region. All hospitals in close proximity to the fires remain on high alert and are prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen, the Hospital Assn. of Southern California said in a statement. The fires are creating significant operational hurdles, the association added. The association also said emergency services have been strained by high call volumes, while road closures have impeded the transport of patients, supplies and healthcare workers. Some health facilities have been hit by power outages, the association said, while many staff members are directly impacted by evacuations and fire-related disruptions, further complicating operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Los Angeles has never seen this level of destruction: 'Everything is burned down' The California Department of Managed Health Care on Thursday ordered health plans to ensure enrollees affected by wildfires have access to all needed medical services, including prescription drug refills. Aidem said some doctors and other health workers at Providence St. Johns in Santa Monica and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley have lost homes or been evacuated, making them miss work and creating challenges to ensure adequate staffing. Hospitals across the county said their emergency rooms had treated patients for burns, smoke inhalation and eye irritation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 700 people and possibly far more have been evacuated from nursing homes and other care facilities, according to the California Department of Public Health. On Wednesday, West Valley Health Center, operated by Los Angeles Countys Department of Health Services, closed because of a power outage, the department said. And UCLA Health said the closure of some of its clinics in Pasadena and on L.A.s Westside was due partly to utility shutoffs. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles said two of its specialty care clinics, in Encino and Santa Monica, were closed Thursday due to the impacts from the wind storm, power outages and wild fires. Providence also has shut several clinics this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two biggest blazes, the Palisades fire in the parched coastal hills of western L.A. County and the Eaton fire on the Eastside, have together torched more than 50 square miles, burned thousands of structures, reduced beloved cultural landmarks to ashes, killed at least 10 people and severely injured many more. Read more: There's a reason you can't stop doomscrolling through L.A.'s fire disaster The monster winds that fueled the explosion of the fires on Tuesday and Wednesday have begun to quiet down, though significant gusts are still expected to complicate the task of firefighters for the next several days. Routine medical care will likely be disrupted for thousands in the days ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaiser Permanente, the giant HMO and medical provider, said it closed multiple medical sites Thursday because of the fires, including a pharmacy and laboratory and an eye clinic. Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, close to the Eaton fire, said some of its outpatient offices were affected by evacuation notices and heavy smoke. Dignity Health, another large health system, said some of its hospitals were operating on generator power because of high winds, and some, including Glendale Memorial Hospital, had canceled elective surgeries. Other hospitals, including USC Verdugo Hills and Providence St. Johns, temporarily halted nonemergency surgeries because of the impact of the wildfires. Christine Kirmsse, a registered nurse, evacuated her Santa Monica home on Wednesday night and is staying at a hotel an hour away. But she said she feels strongly that she needs to come into work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's obviously so much help that's needed, Kirmsse said. And it's important to me because I have the skills to be able to help. In times like this, this is when community is the most powerful. Chaseedaw Giles and Tarena Lofton contributed to this report. This article was produced by KFF Health News, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. KFF Health News is the publisher of California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. 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. Washington state is projected to face a $12 billion shortfall over the next four years. KIRO 7s Monique Ming Laven sat down for an exclusive interview with Governor Bob Ferguson to ask him how he plans to address the issue and what it could mean for your family. WATCH THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE: Education In September, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction said he was asking for a $2.9 billion increase in funding for public schools. KIRO 7 asked what that looked like for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson said there are no cuts proposed for K-12 schools, community and technical colleges, or public safety. I dont think a year ago folks saw this level of a shortfall coming our way, Ferguson told KIRO 7. So, you know, that said, in what Im proposing, we have a few parts of state government that Im excluding from those cuts K through 12. Education is, of course, one of those because the percentage of our budget that goes to K through 12 education needs to increase, not decrease. However, Ferguson said hes calling for a 3% cut to four-year higher education. When asked about the $100 million deficit at Seattle Public Schools, will the state step in? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not going to make promises I cant deliver on. I think folks understand if youve got a $12 billion shortfall over the next few years, you know, its not going to be an easy time for us as a state. That said, I also think its critical for us, for elected officials to scrub that budget and be as efficient as possible, Ferguson said. So my message to those parents would be, Ill be doing everything I can do and encouraging legislature to do everything they can do to make sure we are prioritizing education, to make sure we are scrubbing our budget. There may be some hard choices, right? Ferguson added, I think thats a good way to to summarize it. Yeah. And any time youre facing a multibillion dollar shortfall and were talking $12 billion, maybe more, thats a significant shortfall. And theres no easy way to work your way through a shortfall of that size. So, yes, at the end of day, its going to be shared sacrifice. But at the same time, I do think theres opportunity there to make our operations more streamlined, more efficient, focus on our key priorities. And but we have no choice. We have to we have to get serious about streamlining our operations. Ferry system More than 50,000 Washingtonians depend on them to get to work, but its often anything but smooth sailing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washingtons ferry system is navigating a slue of issues from a staffing shortage to old boats to trying to build electric vessels. I want more money for more ferries to get more ferries constructed. That means other folks may not be getting funding for important programs, he said in the interview. Law Enforcement Washington state has the fewest law enforcement offers per capita in the country. Ferguson told KIRO 7 he is calling for another $200 million to be set aside to help law enforcement agencies recruit and hire officers. But what about funds set aside for crisis counselors or social services? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think both are not mutually exclusive. And by the way, I would add, Ive had many conversations with firefighters, for example, across the state. The first thing they often bring up in those conversations, Hey, Bob, to your point, were being called out for these other types of calls than we have in the past, that opioid epidemic, which is why, by the way, I mentioned money in that billion dollars that weve recovered for the state, the money can only be used to address the opioid epidemic. Mental Health What more will the state be doing besides hiring extra police officers? Well, we have a budget put together, right, With the budget challenges, I can say on issues related to mental health is Im going to hire a mental health czar. First time we have that kind of position in state government. Thats going to be someone thats reporting at the cabinet level reporting to me to try and get our arms around all the different vestments we have where there are gaps in the system. Agents representing Donald Trumps newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the non-governmental agency being spearheaded by tech billionaire duo Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - tasked with trimming excess federal spending have already set to work, even before the new president has been inaugurated. Surrogates for DOGE, which is still very much a work-in-progress, have already visited 12 federal agencies for preliminary interviews with staffers about the running of those workplaces, The Washington Post reports. The Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and the departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services are among the bureaus that have already answered the door to the agents and addressed their questions, according to the Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development comes shortly after Musk, the worlds richest man, began to walk back his boast that DOGE would be able to find $2 trillion in savings as part of its mission to rein in bureaucracy and waste in Washington DC which appears to be premised on proposing drastic cuts and mass firings, as occurred at Twitter after Musk acquired the social network in 2022 and rebranded it as X. Taking part in a remote interview with Stagwell CEO Mark Penn as part of the CES tech trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday, Musk was asked: Do you think the $2 trillion is a realistic number now that youre looking more closely at it? I think well try for $2 trillion. I think thats the best-case outcome, he answered. But I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, weve got a good shot at getting $1 [trillion]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much is currently unknown about precisely how his department will operate, with its role ostensibly advisory and limited to making recommendations for the White House Office of Management and Budget to act upon as it sees fit. There also appears to be a good chance that DOGE will encounter plenty of obstacles as it goes about its business, from both congressional Republicans reluctant to wave through large budget cuts that could impact their constituencies and career civil servants uncomfortable with Silicon Valleys disrupter culture being let loose on the slow-moving and necessarily intricate machinery of Washington. It is also currently unclear what authority the fledgling body currently has, how it fits into the wider Trump transition teams schedule of briefings with staff from agencies it is about to assume control of and who, at this stage, is paying the agents salaries. Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk (AFP/Getty) More generally, it is not obvious how DOGE hopes to go about driving change, with the next fiscal year for the US government not beginning until October 1 and spending for the current one being thrashed out on Capitol Hill under the leadership of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk tried to incite a rebellion against Johnson last month over a stop-gap spending bill he took exception to, only for Johnson to break it up into separate legislation and pass many of the provisions he objected to anyway, with the speaker subsequently re-elected to a new term last week. The Department of Defense was one agency that the GOP voted overwhelmingly to boost spending for in light of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza it is also a bureau the billionaires had singled-out for downsizing. What is known is that DOGE currently has around 50 staff working out of Musks SpaceX office in downtown DC and that hiring is continuing apace, with insiders telling the Post that the aim is to double the size of its employee roster by the time Trump is inaugurated on January 20. Musks agency has already made executive appointments, adding the likes of Boring Company president Steve Davis and former Uber executive Emil Michael to oversee its project, with the president-elect also assigning political insiders Katie Miller and Bill McGinley to help out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When advertising positions, DOGE has invited applications from super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting and has reportedly been using the encrypted messaging app Signal to orchestrate its efforts. Immediately after Christmas, it said it was seeking personnel to work on its IT, HR and financial arms in full-time, salaried positions and has since put out a call for full-time software and information security engineers to join its ranks. Elon Musk is already sparking chaos in the federal government, sending representatives from his Department of Government Efficiency to agencies across the federal bureaucracy. The Washington Post reports that employees from DOGE, which will be headed by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, are already beginning to interview federal employees as part of their plan to decrease the size of the federal government. DOGE has interviewed workers at the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the departments of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services. Musk and Ramaswamy already have 50 employees working out of the Washington, D.C., offices of Musks rocket company, SpaceX, according to the Post, with plans to have 100 people in place by January 20, when Trump is sworn in as president. But their plans are already meeting skepticism from civil servants and members of Congress, including Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to two government employees who spoke to the Post, Musks and Ramaswamys comments about the federal workforce have made them wary of the DOGE effort. The pair have cited a controversial Supreme Court ruling, Loper Bright v. Raimondo, that they say will help them enact sweeping budget cuts across the federal governmentbut the federal bureaucracy seems all but destined for a clash with the fast-moving, disruptive culture of Silicon Valley. However, in recent days, Musk has been tempering his statements on DOGE, conceding that his goal of cutting the federal budget by at least $2 trillion probably wont happen. Plus, since DOGE isnt an official government agency and Musk and Ramaswamy arent actually federal employees, they cant make any changes themselves. The most they can do is recommend changes and budget cuts to Congress and the president. Still, Musk and Ramaswamy will at least attempt to make a big show of appearing to be slashing the size of government, and regardless of how it goes, will attempt to claim victory. If there are negative consequences, rest assured that they will find some way to blame somebody elselikely their critics. CLINTON, Ill. (WCIA) Worries and miscommunication over drinking water overtook one DeWitt County city Thursday. The EPA issued a boil order for residents of Clinton. It came after generic coliform bacteria was found in routine samples. READ MORE: Boil order issued for City of Clinton Due to old parts at the citys plant, water has sporadically seen dips in quality, sometimes coming off as smelling or tasting funny. But until this week, it wasnt potentially dangerous, until the EPA found traces of bacteria in the water, now leaving the city under a boil order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were doing the best we can, and were really trying to be as forthright and honest as we can with the people, said John Wise, Clinton Water Commissioner. A standard test on Tuesday led to EPA findings of coliform bacteria in the water on Wednesday. Weve never had a sample that was bad in the entire years time, Wise added. This is the first sample that came back that did not pass. Wise said Wednesdays findings led to more samples being sent to Springfield on Thursday. We got the samples in today, this afternoon. And they are going to run those tomorrow We will have an answer by hopefully the end of the working day tomorrow, Wise said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton Water Superintendent Kyle Morris explained why positive samples are so worrisome for the city. Boil order lifted for Village of Weldon The reason it can be concerning is if that bacteria is present, theres a possibility that it could have fecal coliform, E. coli. However, further test the samples we sent in on Tuesday for E. coli, and they were negative, Morris said. Despite the worst-case scenario seemingly avoided, one Clinton woman says confusion for many in the community was whether these new water-related issues were tied to past issues with water quality. This issue has been going on for months. So as a mom, I was frantic. I was like, Well, what is wrong with our water?' says Harvey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellie Harvey is a mom to five children, two of whom are immunocompromised. Shes upset the city called for a boil order on Wednesday before clarifying the reason until Thursday. We cook with water, we wash our hands with water, drink it all the time, Harvey said. And to know that there could be E. coli in our water is pretty worrisome. Harvey said the way to ease these worries for her and many more comes through more transparent communication and Wise agrees. UPDATE: Farmer City water plant back up and running I wanted many people to be able to see, Wise said. This is possible because there is a lot of misinformation out there, a lot of things that arent quite exactly the way it should be. And we dont want to make it any more scare tactic than what people have already thrown out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wise said its his expectation to get EPA results from the second batch of samples by the end of the day Friday. If they pass, the EPA will then look into lifting the boil order. Wise said the EPA suggests people in Clinton boil their water before consumption but can still use their tap water to wash their hands and for bathing. Clinton schools were off Thursday due to the boil order, but is back in session Friday with bottled water available. Superintendent of the Clinton Unit School District Drew Goebel told WCIA that is the boil order has not been lifted by Monday, the school district will implement their e-learning plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district also sent out the following message to the community on Thursday: I want to remind everyone that school will be in session tomorrow, Friday, January 10th. As an update, earlier today, the school district distributed bottled water to all buildings to ensure that students and staff have access to safe drinking water throughout the day tomorrow. Additionally, our Food Service Department is fully prepared to adhere to all necessary protocols for cooking and serving food in compliance with boil order guidelines. I realize there are some concerns regarding the safety of the citys water for handwashing. Please know that I have been in direct communication with the Dewitt County Health Department and the Water Department Superintendent, who has consulted with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. None of these agencies have raised concerns about the safety of handwashing with the citys water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain my top priority. I deeply appreciate your patience and understanding as we manage this situation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Jan. 9SANFORD A group of domestic violence survivors rallied in downtown Sanford on Thursday morning to protest a Maine lawmaker's reelection after he was accused of assaulting his wife. Finding Our Voices, a statewide nonprofit that provides support for survivors of domestic violence, organized an educational protest on Main Street in response to Rep. Lucas Lanigan, R-Sanford, being charged with one count of domestic violence aggravated assault weeks before the election. Police say he grabbed his wife's neck with both hands and choked her for about 20 seconds after she confronted him about an affair. He won reelection to the Maine House of Representatives by a single vote in a recount. Lanigan represents the 141st District, which includes parts of Shapleigh, Newfield, Sanford and Springvale. Democrats launched an ethics investigation into his alleged assault during the Maine Legislature's first official day on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few drivers honked and waved as 10 protestors, layered in bright yellow scarves, hats and coats, held their signs in the blustering wind and snow. Patrisha McLean, the founder of the nonprofit, said she organized the protest to raise awareness about domestic violence in a community that reelected Lanigan. "Domestic abuse is a public health emergency in Maine. It is not being treated like that," McLean said. "It's not being talked about loudly enough, so that's what we're about." At Lanigan's first court appearance in October, his wife asked the judge to drop the assault charge, but Assistant District Attorney Linda Holdsworth-Donovan said victims regularly recant, sometimes because of pressure from the perpetrators, and the state is still pursuing charges. The Class B crime is punishable to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanigan's attorney, William Bly, did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday afternoon. Scott Denman, 71, of Belfast, said he appreciates the legal and ethical investigative process, even if it takes a while. He thinks Lanigan should step down if he's found guilty. Denman said he is a survivor of domestic abuse as a child and encouraged others to get help. He waved at passing cars while holding his handmade sign, which read "real men respect women" in red ink. "We all have mothers, we have sisters, we might have a wife or a spouse, we might have children, girls," Denman said. "We don't want this to happen to them, so we need to get active and change ourselves, our society and so forth. I think we're making progress." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeanine, 33, of Westbrook, who declined to share her last name due to concerns about an ongoing custody battle, said the nonprofit helped connect her to resources when she was struggling with domestic violence in her personal life. She said public figures like Lanigan need to be held accountable for choices they make in their personal life, such as abuse of a spouse. "These consequences ... will inevitably trickle down to affecting everyone in the community," Jeanine said. "Someone who thinks this is OK is not going to have everyone's best interest at heart. They're going to have their own interest at heart." ------ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to get help IF YOU or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, you can call the Statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline at 1-866-834-4357. FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. TO LEARN more about domestic violence prevention and response in Maine, visit the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence website. FOR OTHER support or referrals, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email helpline@namimaine.org. Copy the Story Link Donald Trump Jr.s team gave unhoused and socially disadvantaged people MAGA hats and offered them a free meal during his recent trip to Greenland, according to a Danish media outlet. Trumps oldest son visited Greenland this week as his father expressed interest in buying the island despite officials making it clear its not for sale. Danish public media organization DR News reports that many of the Trump supporters pictured dining with the president-elects son were unhoused and socially disadvantaged people asked to wear MAGA merch and offered a free dinner at Hotel Hans Egede in the town of Nuuk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his visit, Trump Jr. said Greenland residents [love] America and Trump. But multiple employees told DR News that Trump Jr.s team handed MAGA hats to several people in front of Brugseni, a nearby grocery store, while inviting them to a free lunch at the hotel. Brugseni employees and long-time town residents told DR News they recognized many of the people photographed dining with Trump Jr. Tom Amtoft, a Nuuk resident of nearly three decades, told DR News that they are unhoused and elderly people who have difficulty making ends meet. All they have to do is put on a cap and be in the Trump staffs videos...it is deeply distasteful, Amtoft said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has contacted Trumps transition team for comment. Trump has floated the idea of buying or otherwise taking over Greenland, an island home to 56,000 people. He refused to rule out the possible use of military force in Greenland when pressed Monday during a press conference. For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity, Trump wrote on Truth Social last month. Denmarks prime minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that Greenlands Prime Minister, Mute Edege, "has been very, very clear ... there is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future." HONOLULU (KHON2) In 2019, a bill passed in the Hawaii State Legislature that legalized midwifery services under a strict set of regulations. The law allowed midwives to legally assist with births. It was a move meant to ensure they could continue to provide care to mothers in rural areas of the state. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You While the passing of the bill seemed like a victory for the midwifery community, the aftermath of its implementation revealed significant challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Amy Perruso, District 46, and Rep. Elle Cochran, District 14, have taken up the mantle to fix the fallout from the bills passing and ensure that midwives in Hawaii can continue practicing without unnecessary hurdles. Both representatives are passionate about the importance of midwifery and womens health, and their discussions offer a glimpse into the complexities of legislating in Hawaii. I dont think people really understand how important midwifery is here in Hawaii, Rep. Perruso said. We have rural areas where doctors and nurses are few and far between, and midwives are providing an essential service. This is not just about a profession; its about a womans right to choose how and where she gives birth. Rep. Perrusos words reflect a deeply personal commitment to protecting womens reproductive rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, despite the 2019 bill, which aimed to regulate midwifery and ensure its safety, the reality has been more complicated. Choice is an empowering option: Midwifery in Hawaii The law left many questions unanswered; and as midwives and healthcare professionals tried to implement it, confusion and frustration mounted. The bill passed in 2019, but we didnt anticipate the fallout that would come afterward, Rep. Perruso explained. There were loopholes. The regulatory structure was unclear. And worst of all, the midwives felt shut out from any real conversations about how to make the bill work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Cochran, who has long supported midwifery, shared her initial experiences with the legislative process surrounding midwifery in Hawaii. She remembers the first time she encountered midwives in the halls of the state Capitol. I had no idea who they were or what they were advocating for, but I couldnt ignore what was happening right in front of me, explained Rep. Cochran. Women with babies were camped out in the hallway trying to get a meeting with the chair of the Finance Committee. I had to ask myself, Why are they being treated like this? Hawaiis midwifery restrictions spark debate over reproductive autonomy, indigenous rights Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Cochrans story reveals the emotional impact that the issue had on her. After talking with midwives and learning about their struggle, she became deeply involved in their cause. They just wanted to be heard. They wanted to meet with lawmakers and share their needs, their perspectives, Rep. Cochran said. But they werent being given the time of day. To me, it was about respect. These were mothers and caregivers trying to support other mothers. Both Reps. Perruso and Cochran worked together to improve the law and ensure midwives had a voice in the process. However, they encountered significant resistance. In particular, some lawmakers refused to meet with midwives, and there was a lack of leadership on the issue, according to Rep. Cochran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im still baffled by the response. It doesnt make sense, she said. It became an issue of power and politics. But at the end of the day, its about womens rights and the need for access to healthcare services. Rep. Perruso said she voted for the bill in 2019 with the understanding that it would be revisited in 2023 to fix any problems that arose. Protecting choice, culture: The legal fight for birth equity in Hawaii She believes any new legislation needs to make it easier for midwives in Hawaii to operate while maintaining the necessary safety standards. However, it became politically impossible to address it in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the setbacks, Reps. Perruso and Cochran continue to push for reform. Rep. Perruso acknowledged the challenges but remains optimistic. This is an issue that has been going on for years. But we cant give up, she said. Midwifery is not just some fringe issue. Its part of our cultural fabric. We need to protect midwives and ensure they can practice safely. But we also need to make sure that women have the freedom to choose how they want to give birth in a way that respects their health and their beliefs. For Rep. Perruso, she was told that no one in Hawaii uses midwifery or even cares about it. So, when she was approached by someone looking for legislator to listen to her, she decided to give them a forum. She was surprised by the overwhelming turnout at her coffee talk forum where she initially expected only about four people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought it would be a small, intimate gathering, she recalled. But when I walked in, there were about 60 people; and it was standing room only. The turnout reflected growing public interest in the midwifery bill and showcased the communitys strong support for midwives and the need for legislative action. It was clear to me the community cared deeply about midwifery in Hawaii, she added. Rep. Cochran, too, emphasized the importance of midwifery in the context of Hawaiis healthcare system. Midwives provide a critical service, especially in rural areas, she said. Hawaii has a shortage of healthcare workers, and many women in remote areas dont have easy access to doctors or hospitals. Midwives are an essential part of the healthcare landscape here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, both lawmakers expressed concern over how the midwifery issue has been politicized. I believe theres a financial element at play, Rep. Cochran explained. Some people dont want midwifery to succeed because it could disrupt the established medical system. If were being honest, its about money and power. Its not just about whats best for the women of Hawaii. The issue of licensing for midwives has also been a point of contention. According to Rep. Perruso, some lawmakers were uncomfortable with the idea of midwives practicing without the formal certification required by more traditional healthcare professions. Some people just dont understand that traditional cultural knowledge is valuable, Rep. Perruso said. The fact that midwives have been practicing for generations using skills passed down through families and communities, doesnt seem to matter to some people. They want everything to be certified and regulated, but we need to recognize the value in our cultural practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Finance Chair, Rep. Yamashita, had this to say about the controversies surrounding midwifery in the Hawaii State Legislature. Unfortunately, there have been misunderstandings regarding this issue and events from last year. Efforts are currently underway to reach a compromise, explained Rep. Yamashita. Several legislators are collaborating with stakeholders on a bill slated for introduction this year. We eagerly anticipate reviewing the legislation in the upcoming session to ensure safe practices for birth attendants and the delivery of babies in our state. Despite the political hurdles, both Reps. Perruso and Cochran remain committed to ensuring midwives are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. At the end of the day, its about the people, Rep. Cochran said. Its about the mothers and the families who need these services. Midwifery isnt some side issue or political pawn. Its a crucial part of our healthcare system. Rep. Perruso echoed her sentiments and emphasized that the issue of midwifery goes beyond politics. This is about womens rights. Its about ensuring women have choices when it comes to their own health and their own bodies, she said. We need to stop making this about politics and start making it about whats best for the people of Hawaii. Rep. Perruso also emphasized the need for diverse pathways to certification that respect both modern and indigenous practices. There are many ways to certify midwives, she said. We have to recognize the value of indigenous knowledge and the mentoring thats passed down through generations. And we have to figure out how to incorporate those practices into a system that makes sense. She proposed creating a system that acknowledges both formal training and traditional mentoring, advocating for a holistic approach to certification that rely not only on written tests, but also includes cultural competence and hands-on experience. As both lawmakers continue to navigate the complex political landscape surrounding midwifery, they remain hopeful that the voices of midwives and their supporters will be heard. Were not giving up, Rep. Cochran said firmly. The fight is far from over. We will keep pushing, and we will keep advocating until midwives have the support they deserve. For Rep. Perruso, the fight is personal. I have spoken to so many women who have had their lives impacted by the lack of midwifery support in Hawaii, she said. I have seen firsthand the value of what midwives bring to our communities. And I will continue to fight to make sure they can practice freely and safely in our state. She also discussed the unique challenges faced by her rural constituents, especially after the closure of the Wahiawa General Hospital. When you lose access to healthcare in rural areas, you really lose a lifeline, she explained. Midwives play a critical role in filling that gap. Theyre part of a system of care thats more accessible to people who are often underserved. She emphasized the importance of midwives in providing essential healthcare where traditional services are lacking or unavailable. Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama told KHON2.com that she is working on a bill to address the midwifery licensure statute and intends to introduce it as soon as it is finalized. As the 2025 legislative session approaches, both representatives are prepared to keep pushing for change. Whether through new bills or continued advocacy, they remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring that midwifery has a secure and supportive place in Hawaiis healthcare system. Their work is far from over, but they are determined to see it through. As Rep. Perruso put it, This is not just about legislation. This is about peoples lives. And thats what were fighting for. You can click here to find a midwife in your area. Click here to learn more about the womens fight for reproductive choices. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 KHON2.com has reached out to Speaker Nakamura for a statement. This article will be updated to reflect any responses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Donald Trump has spoken out following a rare moment between him and former President Barack Obama, which occured during former President Jimmy Carters funeral on Thursday (Jan. 9). Sharing laughs and conversation, the unexpected exchange sparked widespread commentary on the political rivals perceived camaraderie. I didnt realize how friendly we appeared, Trump told NBC News from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida following the funeral. I said, Boy, they look like two people that like each other. And we probably do. We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably do. I dont know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody. While the specifics of their conversation remain unclear, forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman suggested that the two might have been discussing international matterswith acknowledgment that cameras would be on them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Freeman, at one point Trump was seen leaning toward the 44th president saying, Ive pulled out of that. Its the conditions. Can you imagine that? Obama chuckled as Trump continued, And after, I will. The conversation seemed to carry a tone of friendliness, as Trump presumably added, This is a matter of importance, and we need to do this outside so that we can deal with it, certainly, today. Obama nodded in agreement. The lighthearted exchange is a major contrast to their historically tense relationship. Trump has offensively questioned Obamas citizenship in the past, and even prompted the release of his Hawaiian birth certificate in 2011. Trump also accused Obama of orchestrating federal surveillance on his 2016 campaign, which Obama denied. President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump speak together ahead of the state funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Obama has not been shy about how he feels about Trump either. During the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Obama joked about Trumps weird obsession with crowd sizes and later mocked Trumps lengthy speechescomparing them to Fidel Castros. While campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, Obama also referred to Trump as a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Vice President Kamala Harris attended the funeral as well and sat in front of Trump and Obama during the service. Harris appeared less amused by their friendly exchange as she could be seen glancing over her shoulder at the duo before rolling her eyes and sighing. Former First Lady Michelle Obama was absent from the sad occasion, as her whereabouts were not made known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the political history between Trump and Obama has been filled with animosity, their brief kiki gave a glimpse into some sort of civility between the two. Whether the exchange was genuine or not, social media had much to say. Check out some reactions below and see Donald Trump speak on his exchange with Barack Obama above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When it comes to curbing crime, two heads are better than one and several heads are better than two. That's the idea behind a new partnership between Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers and downtown Colorado Springs businesses, who are strengthening efforts to reduce crime in the area and help police catch more criminals. "We need more awareness so people will share information with us," Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers Chairman Don Addy said. "The idea was that if (our organization) could be seen as present in downtown, with our logo, that it will make people more aware that we are here." Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to anonymous callers who provide information on criminal activity in the 4th Judicial District, which covers El Paso and Teller counties, if it leads to arrests of felony suspects or wanted felons, or recovering drugs, stolen property or cash. The nonprofit, which operates through donations and volunteers, is providing downtown Colorado Springs businesses with Crime Stopper window decals, which Addy said act as a deterrent for crimes like shoplifting, burglary and assault. The sign is in the shape of the recognizable red "STOP" shield and includes the regional Crime Stoppers phone number. Businesses can place the decals on storefront windows and entrances. They are already up at some stores, like Terre Verde boutique at 208 N. Tejon St., and at Mary's Mountain Cookies at 7 S. Tejon. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings "As a former police officer, I appreciate the value of Crime Stoppers in helping businesses operate safely. I commend the Downtown Partnership for this initiative," Pat Rigdon, a former Colorado Springs Police Department deputy chief and the former owner of Mary's Mountain Cookies, said in a recent news release announcing the initiative. He and his wife, Kristy, recently handed off their business on Jan. 1. Data provided by the Colorado Springs police show in 2024 there were more reported crimes overall in the downtown area its borders defined as approximately Interstate 25 to the west, Boulder Street to the north, Shooks Run to the east and Fountain Boulevard to the south than there were in 2023. Police responded to 1,101 crimes downtown in 2023 and 1,131 crimes in 2024. Violent crimes such as robbery, aggravated assault, sexual assault and rape totaled 289 instances downtown in 2024, compared with 252 the previous year. There were fewer instances of non-violent crimes downtown in 2024 than in 2023, like larceny, burglary, property damage and drug violations 842 in 2024 compared with 849 in 2023. The Downtown Partnership already has a security system provided to all businesses downtown, but the partnership with Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers enhances safety efforts in the area, said Chelsea Gondeck, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement District. "We see this partnership as an opportunity to continue to enhance our safety efforts for all downtown patrons and further support our storefront businesses," Gondeck said. The partnership will also enhance the downtown area as a desirable place to shop, eat and conduct business. Businesses who want to request a Crime Stoppers decal can do so online at crimestop.net. The nonprofit will mail a sticker out to the provided mailing address. Donald Trump has been given an unconditional discharge over hush money payments sent to porn star Stormy Daniels, avoiding jail before his inauguration later this month. The president-elect was given a legal slap on the wrist after Judge Juan Merchan said it was the only lawful sentence he could impose due to Mr Trumps impending second term as president. There were, he said, a unique and remarkable set of circumstances surrounding Mr Trumps 34-count conviction for falsifying business records and making hush money payments to Ms Daniels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentence concludes a two-year legal battle, which Mr Trump has repeatedly called a politically motivated witch hunt. He has said he will appeal the sentence at the Supreme Court before taking office on Jan 20. Mr Trump was permitted to appear in the Manhattan courtroom via video link on Friday from Mar-a-Lago, the epicentre of the MAGA campaign. A court sketch of Judge Juan Merchan, right, sentencing president-elect Donald Trump - Elizabeth Williams Inside the courtroom, Judge Merchan handed down the no penalty sentence after refusing to repeat the aggravating factors in Mr Trumps case, including his frequent attacks on the court, prosecutors and judges. No sooner had the hearing concluded did the soon-to-be 47th United States President turn to Truth Social to label the sentence a despicable charade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wrote: Todays event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice. I was given an unconditional discharge, the president-elect added. That result alone proves that, as all legal scholars and experts have said, there is no case, there was never a case, and this whole scam fully deserves to be dismissed. The real jury, the American people, have spoken, by re-electing me with an overwhelming mandate in one of the most consequential elections in history. A conditional discharge would have required Mr Trump to meet certain conditions, like maintaining employment or paying restitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But todays [FRI] sentence means he will not be subject to any conditions and concludes a case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. It means Mr Trump will become the first American president to take the White House as a convicted felon. The hush money case accused Mr Trump of fudging his business records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in his 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. Stormy Daniels was paid not to tell the public about a sexual encounter with Mr Trump - Markus Schreiber Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Mrs Daniels was paid off through Trumps personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trumps alleged extramarital escapades. Mr Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. And while prosecutors said Mr Cohens reimbursements for paying Mrs Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Mr Trump claims thats simply what they were. His lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled almost every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Mrs Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Mr Cohen were made and recorded the following year. Protestors against outside New York Criminal Court - Anadolu His defence argued that immunity should have kept jurors from hearing some evidence, such as testimony about some of his conversations with then-White House communications director Hope Hicks. After Trump won this past Novembers election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office The trial, which coincided with the presidential election race, was high risk for Mr Trump. If had lost the election and the case, he would have almost certainly gone to prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a week before the sentencing, Judge Marchan deemed that an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution amid concerns of presidential immunity. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office. Thank you, he told the incoming US president as the sentencing concluded. Mr Trumps attorney Emil Bov looks on during the sentencing The sentence incensed Mr Cohen, who was the key prosecution witness in the hush money trial. Mr Cohen, who was Mr Trumps lawyer, served 13 months in jail after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, rounded on his former boss on his social media channel. The sentencing was little more than political theatre, Mr Cohen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my entire legal career I have never even heard of an unconditional dismissal being given to a defendant after a trial, he said. It means no incarceration. It also means no probation. It means virtually nothing, no accountability. Mr Trumps felony convictions mean he will not be allowed to possess firearms. By law, every person convicted of a felony in New York must provide a DNA sample for the states crime databank. Samples are collected after sentencing, typically when a defendant reports to probation, jail or prison. Samples can also be taken by a court or police official. 05:22 PM GMT Live coverage has ended Live coverage of Donald Trumps sentencing for a case relating to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels has ended. Heres a roundup of the main events Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump has avoided jail after being given an unconditional discharge, which the judge said was the only lawful sentence he could impose due to Mr Trumps impending second term as president. Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, wished Donald Trump godspeed as you pursue your second term in office in his final remarks. Reacting to the sentence, which was effectively a slap on the wrist, Donald Trump said that radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, un-American witch-hunt. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass attacked Donald Trump, saying that rather than expressing any remorse for his criminal acts, he has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law. 05:10 PM GMT Sham trial and a hoax sentencing, says Trumps former chief medical adviser Donald Trumps former chief medical adviser said the president elects hush money case was a sham trial as sentencing began earlier this afternoon. Ronny Jackson wrote on X: A sham trial and a hoax sentencing! It should come as no surprise that this corrupt judge is bringing this just a few days before President Trumps inauguration. Trump will win in the end and America wins in 10 days when we get Trump back!! A SHAM TRIAL and a HOAX SENTENCING! It should come as no surprise that this corrupt judge is bringing this just a few days before President Trump's inauguration. Trump will win in the end and America wins in 10 days when we get Trump back!! Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) January 10, 2025 03:53 PM GMT Judge wishes Trump godspeed in final remarks Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing Donald Trumps case, wished Mr Trump well for his second term in office in his final remarks to the president-elect. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office. Thank you, he told the incoming US president as the sentencing concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump said nothing, and the video link screen via which the president-elect had appeared was turned off. It came after Justice Merchan gave Mr Trump an unconditional discharge - meaning no jail time or fine. The judge said it was the only lawful sentence he could impose due to Mr Trumps impending second term as president. 03:47 PM GMT Trump fundraises after sentence Donald Trumps team has sent a message to supporters asking for political donations after his sentencing this morning. After my rigged sentencing, do you still Stand with Trump? reads an email sent just now. Theyre trying to sabotage the Presidential Transition process. Theyre trying to end the presidency as we know it just before I take office! The email offers supporters a MAGA poll, and the opportunity to donate. 03:46 PM GMT Trump: Radical democrats have lost another pathetic, un-American witch-hunt Donald Trump said that radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, un-American witch-hunt as he reacted to avoiding jail or a fine in the case brought against him relating to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels. In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote that tens of millions of dollars and 6 years of obsessive work had been wasted on the case, which should have been spent on protecting New Yorkers from violent, rampant crime. I was given an unconditional discharge, the president-elect wrote. That result alone proves that, as all legal scholars and experts have said, there is no case, there was never a case, and this whole scam fully deserves to be dismissed. The real jury, the American people, have spoken, by re-electing me with an overwhelming mandate in one of the most consequential elections in history. 03:34 PM GMT Analysis: Trumps legal strategy worked The unavoidable conclusion of this mornings sentencing hearing is that Donald Trumps legal strategy was a complete success. In all of the various cases against him, Mr Trump has delayed every step of the process in the hope of pushing it back past November 5 last year, when he won back the presidency in an historic victory. As Judge Merchan acknowledged this morning, the fact Mr Trump is now the president-elect means that any other sentence than an unconditional discharge is impossible. This hearing was meant to be held in the summer, when he could have been given a jail sentence. Mr Trump always hoped to secure an acquittal in the Stormy Daniels case, but this outcome is the next best thing. He will take office on Jan 20 with a symbolic criminal sentence that carries no jail time or financial penalty. That vindicates his aggressive and controversial legal strategy: Delay, delay, delay and then win. Trump supporters display a giant flag outside the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York as the president-elect was sentenced for the Stormy Daniels hush money case - CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP 03:20 PM GMT Trump sentencing was political theatre, key prosecution witness says The prospect of Donald Trump avoiding punishment despite being convicted on 34 counts incensed Michael Cohen, who was the key prosecution witness in the hush money trial. Mr Cohen, who was Mr Trumps lawyer, served 13 months in jail after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, rounded on his former boss on his social media channel. The sentencing was little more than political theatre, Mr Cohen said. In my entire legal career I have never even heard of an unconditional dismissal being given to a defendant after a trial, he said. It means no incarceration. It also means no probation. It means virtually nothing, no accountability. And I say this, and I say its important, because as someone who is subpoenaed to testify in that case and classified as the key witness in that case, had I known, had I known that Trump would never be held accountable, I never would have accepted the subpoena. I dont care if they if they served me with the subpoena or not, I never would have taken the stand. 03:17 PM GMT Trumps position does not reduce the seriousness of the crime, judge says Judge Juan Merchan said before giving his sentence that he did not need to repeat the aggravating factors in Mr Trumps case, including his frequent attacks on the court, prosecutors and judges. However the considerable, indeed extraordinary legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others, he said. [The protections] do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way, he said, but noted that one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict. He added: Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections. It is the office of the president that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections. Anti-Trump demonstrators outside Manhattan Criminal Court before the start of the sentencing - Yuki Iwamura/FR171758 AP 03:12 PM GMT Voters understand case is phony, Trump says Voters understand this case is phony, says Mr Trump Donald Trump said that voters could see the case against him was unjust, pointing to his election victory. He told the court he won the popular vote by millions and millions of votes and took all seven swing states in his battle against Kamala Harris. Theyve been watching your trial, so they understood it, he said of the voters. 03:09 PM GMT Judge begins sentencing remarks Justice Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, said the court has been presented with a unique and remarkable set of circumstances, but stressed that once the courtroom doors were closed, it was no different from any other trial. Jury selection was conducted. The same rules of evidence were followed. Opening statements were made The same burdens of proof applied, he said, suggesting that Mr Trump was seen by the court as a US citizen first and foremost. 03:05 PM GMT Trump calls case a political witch-hunt Donald Trump has blasted the hush money case brought against him as a political witch-hunt, saying he was treated very, very unfairly. The fact is, Im totally innocent, the president-elect told the courtroom. Justice Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, responded to Mr Trumps remarks with: Thank you, Mr. Trump. 03:02 PM GMT Trump blasts case as a very terrible experience Donald Trump has told the court that this case has been a very terrible experience, and a setback for the New York court system. As the defendant, he has the right to comment at todays hearing. It is interesting that Joshua Steinglass, the prosecutor, has chosen to focus on Mr Trumps conduct throughout this case in his remarks today rather than the crimes at hand. That theme has become characteristic of the Trump cases, as lawyers and judges push back against his criticism of the prosecutions against him. Each time Mr Trump appears in court, the jury effectively becomes a mini-electorate, and the case a referendum on Mr Trump himself. 02:57 PM GMT Trump lawyer attacks legitimacy of the case Todd Blanche, Mr Trumps lawyer, has attacked the legitimacy of the case, saying that it was started for the third time after Mr Trump announced his intention to run for re-election. The majority of the American people believe the case should not have been brought, Mr Blanche said. Mr Blanche said that if there is to be a sentence, he agrees that it should be an unconditional discharge. The judge overseeing the case has indicated he would give Mr Trump an unconditional discharge, meaning no jail time or fine. A man impersonating Donald Trump walks outside Manhattan criminal court before the start of sentencing in the Stormy Daniels hush money case - Yuki Iwamura/FR171758 AP 02:53 PM GMT Pictured: Inside the courtroom US president-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan in the criminal case in which he was convicted in 2024 - ANGELA WEISS/AFP 02:46 PM GMT Trump has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law, prosecutor says Joshua Steinglass has attacked Donald Trump, saying that rather than expressing any remorse for his criminal acts, he has spread disdain for our institutions and the rule of law. This defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harms way, Mr Steinglass said. Mr Steinglass however said that he agrees with the expected sentence of an unconditional discharge - meaning no jail time or fine. 02:44 PM GMT Trump sentencing provides moment of high drama for president-elects supporters Todays sentencing provides a moment of high drama for Donald Trumps supporters and detractors just ten days before his inauguration, but the sentence is likely to be largely symbolic. Mr Trump is most likely to be given an unconditional discharge effectively a slap on the wrist partly because of the constitutional implications of imposing criminal penalties on a president-elect. What it will mean, however, is that Mr Trump will be the first person with a felony sentence to take office. As we saw on the campaign trail last year, that issue does not appear to have worried voters. If anything, Mr Trumps various legal woes only added to his support and the perception he is under attack by the countrys elite. 02:40 PM GMT Judge begins speaking Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, has begun speaking and is describing routine procedure before the proceedings begin. He is wearing his judicial robe adorned with a gold tie. 02:38 PM GMT Trump visible on court room screens Donald Trump, who is appearing via video link, is visible on screens placed on the defence table. Mr Trump, wearing a red tie, can be seen in front of two large American flags alongside Todd Blanche, his lead lawyer. 02:33 PM GMT Trump lawyer takes place at the defence table Emil Bove, one of Mr Trumps lawyers, has entered the courtroom and walked over to the defence table. Mr Trump has chosen Mr Bove to be his principal deputy associate attorney general when he takes office in ten days time. Todd Blanche, Mr Trumps lead lawyer in the hush money case, was picked to be deputy attorney general. Mr Blanche is reported to be at Mar-a-Lago with the president-elect, who will appear by video link. Emil Bove, attorney for Donald Trump, attends Manhattan Criminal Court during Trumps sentencing - JEENAH MOON/Pool Reuters 02:29 PM GMT Prosecutors enter the courtroom Prosecutors in the Donald Trump hush money case have entered the courtroom where the president-elect is shortly to be sentenced. Joshua Steinglass, Susan Hoffinger and the rest of the trial team were followed by two paralegals who served as witnesses during the trial. Mr Steinglass delivered a closing argument in Mr Trumps trial that was over five hours long. He also played a leading role in convicting the Trump Organization, Mr Trumps family business, for tax fraud in 2022. 02:21 PM GMT Pictured: Trump supporters gather outside New York Criminal Court Trump supporters demonstrate in front of the New York Criminal Court in Manhattan as the president-elect is set to be sentenced - Mike Segar/REUTERS 02:19 PM GMT Trump issues emergency declaration to supporters Donald Trump has used his court appearance to raise money, issuing what he described as an emergency declaration. In an email to supporters, he wrote: Im being sentenced today just so they can label me a felon before Im sworn in. Do you think its a coincidence my Inauguration is just days away? You know it and I know it: All charges should be dropped. Legal pundits agree. Legal scholars agree. Plain and simple this is an attack on their political opponent, ME! Justice is not the goal here. This unlawful witch-hunt is only meant to obstruct the Presidential Transition process. We cant let that happen if we want to save America when I triumphantly return to office. The litany of legal battles has proved lucrative for the president-elect. On the first day of one of his trials, he raised $1.6 million from small donors. According to Open Secrets, which monitors political spending, his various fundraising arms provided $20 million to cover the legal fees faced by Mr Trump and his allies. 02:18 PM GMT Trump already challenging conviction Donald Trump has already filed a civil action against the judge overseeing the case, challenging two recent rulings that upheld his conviction for hush money payments in May. The rulings rejected Mr Trumps claim that, as a former and future president, he is entitled to immunity. Although Mr Trump is expected to avoid jail or a fine, he will still be the first convicted felon to become president of the United States. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. We did it, America! We finally put a convicted felon in the White House. In what Im sure was a tremendous relief for Republicans who no longer have to worry about those burdensome party of family values and party of law and order tags President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to an adult-film star. In less than two weeks, the newly minted felon and the scarlet F hell wear around his neck will tromp into the White House and show the world that unrepentant criminals can accomplish anything. Trump's sentencing shows Republicans believe felons should get jobs A Trump supporter holds up a sign next to members of the group Rise and Resist protesting outside of Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of the sentencing of U.S President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 10, 2025, in New York City. The US Supreme Court rejected President-elect Donald Trump's last-minute bid to halt his sentencing in the criminal hush-money case. For decades, Democrats have fought Republicans over draconian sentencing laws and the idea that ex-offenders whove served their time deserve a pathway to a second chance. Well, Trump has no time to serve, given his sentence of unconditional discharge, but he has officially been convicted of 34 felony counts, so its clear Republicans now believe strongly in giving criminals second chances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Good for them. I assume, moving forward, that felony convictions will no longer be roadblocks for job applicants at any level. I mean, it would be the height of hypocrisy for Republicans to say Trumps case in which he was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers is somehow different than the millions of Americans whove similarly been convicted of felonies, right? Opinion: Trump, Musk and MAGA douse California wildfires with conspiracies, hate and lies Trump says he 'did nothing wrong' classic felon speak! And if those carrying felony convictions claim they are innocent and did nothing wrong, Republicans will now believe them, right? As Trump said during Fridays sentencing: I am totally innocent. I did nothing wrong. And now he gets to be president of the United States of America! Case closed. This has to be how things work now, but Ill leave it to Republican lawmakers and voters to tie themselves into pretzel knots if they think Im wrong. At least Republicans can now stop pretending to be moral Aside from their embrace of a more progressive approach to criminal justice, I also congratulate Republicans on finally being able to shed the remains of their exoskeleton of morality. Stormy Daniels leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after testifying at former US President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, in New York City, on May 9, 2024. Adult film actress Daniels returned to the witness stand on Thursday at Trump's hush money trial for another round of grilling by attorneys for the former president. Trumps conviction stemmed from hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, who alleged she and Trump had sex in 2006, months after Melania Trump gave birth. Whatever anyone thinks of the verdict in this case or the fact that Trump has denied an affair, the hush money bit was never in question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So with Trumps conviction and pending ascension to the White House, Im forced to assume the party that has used morality as a cudgel against LGBTQ+ people and abortion rights and books about gay penguins will now either pipe down or literally drown in its own opportunistic sanctimony. Opinion: As Trump's election is certified, Americans should declare war on stupidity Trump's sentencing really was a great day for all Americans Thats your guy, Republicans. The dude with the 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to the star of classic films like Happy Endings and Stormy and Her Horny Friends. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How about you put our gay penguin books back on the library shelves and go sit in a corner and think about what youve done? The rest of us will be over here applauding your newfound embrace of ex-offender rehabilitation and the doors Im sure it will open for the multitude of Americans who claim the justice system did them wrong. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's sentence shows GOP is A-OK with giving felons jobs | Opinion President-elect Trump opened up a little about his interaction with former President Obama at the funeral service for former President Carter on Thursday, acknowledging it looked friendly. It did look very friendly, I must say, he told Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy ahead of his meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. I didnt realize how friendly it looked. I saw it on your wonderful network, just a little while ago before I came in, and I said, Boy, they look like two people that like each other,' he added. And we probably do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two surprisingly laughed and smiled while sitting next to each other at the service following a contentious election season and their past relationship including Trump falsely accusing his predecessor of spying on his 2016 campaign and not being born in the U.S. We have little different philosophies, right? Trump said Thursday. I dont know, we just got along. But I got along with everybody on that, the president-elect continued. You know, we met backstage before we went on, and I thought it was a beautiful service, but we all got along very well. Trump did not provide details about what was said during the viral moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obama sat wedged between former President George W. Bush and Trump, who both attended with their wives. Former first lady Michelle Obama was absent from the services due to a scheduling conflict and issued a statement expressing condolences for the Carters. Bush was also notably chummy with his successor, offering Obama a belly tap while heading to his pew at the National Cathedral and receiving a pat on the back in return. The former GOP president, however, did not interact with Trump as he passed him by, seemingly ignoring him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As he returns to Washington, President-elect Donald Trump is being feted by the crypto bros, a far-right publishing house and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again acolytes. More than three dozen balls and other similarly glitzy affairs have been scheduled in the days leading up to the inauguration. Many are replete with long lists of corporate sponsors and high-profile CEOs eager to demonstrate their fealty to the president-elect after keeping him at arm's length during his first inauguration over fears his anti-immigrant rhetoric and scandals would sully their brands. Not so anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a sign of just how broad the MAGA coalition has grown, and how contentious the fights ahead are likely to become as the new factions in Trumps orbit compete for influence. Some of the inaugural balls long the playground of Washingtons establishment types are being hosted by organizations that eight years ago were still at the fringes of the Republican Party, such as Turning Point Action, the group helmed by prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and the far-right publishing company Passage Publishing. Theres a much wider nexus of groups, celebrities and media personalities that want to be a part of this celebration, said Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point, which is hosting a ball Jan. 19. In 2016, the world still wasnt quite sure what to make of President Trump. 2024 represents a much broader embrace and enthusiasm that Trumpism and the movement he sparked has won, not just politically but culturally and ideologically. Critics have blasted Passage Publishing for spreading nativist works that push the country toward autocratic values, including a recent HuffPo article that criticized the name of the ball itself the 2025 Coronation Ball as an example of the authoritarian nature of the black-tie soiree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Posobiec, an influential MAGA podcaster, is one of many organizers and high-profile attendees who have turned that into a badge of honor. He called the event a spiritual successor to the 2017 DeploraBall, which he helped organize. Before we were the outsiders looking in, and now were walking in the front door, Posobiec said. Because this is a regime change. Other first-time events, such as the Crypto Ball and the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Inaugural Ball, highlight the previously disjointed interests that Trump knit together into a winning coalition. A MAHA ball would have been unthinkable months ago, before Kennedy, the Democrat-turned-independent and the most prominent leader of the so-called medical freedom movement dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump. Now, with Kennedy poised to join the Trump administration if confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary, a movement of like-minded vaccine skeptics will have unprecedented power to reshape American health care, including by introducing new restrictions on pharmaceutical companies and more tightly regulating food and agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not just an event its a moment to convene the champions of the MAHA vision, reflect on decades of hard work, and witness the culmination of a movement that will continue to shape Americas future, said Emma Post, a spokesperson for MAHA Action, which is hosting the event. Other speakers and attendees expected to attend the event include Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services nominee Mehmet Oz, Food and Drug Administration commissioner pick Dr. Marty Makary and other MAHA movement leaders, including MAHA Action CEO Del Bigtree and food activist Vani Hari. But the events also nod to some of the coming clashes. The Republican Party is not, for instance, writ large on board with the MAHA agenda and there are other spats on the horizon, including between the free traders and the protectionists, immigration hardliners and those who support more moderate reform, isolationists and expansionists, and more. Sponsorship of many of the soirees publicly reflects what corporations are privately acknowledging: They need Trump on their side if they want to get anything done in Washington over the next four years. As TikToks future hangs in the balance before the Supreme Court, the company is sponsoring the Power 30 Awards, which are aimed at honoring the most impactful influencers of the 2024 election, according to promotional materials obtained by POLITICO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BTC Inc., the company that promotes Bitcoin and Stand With Crypto, an advocacy group started by Coinbase, are jointly holding the first-ever Inaugural Crypto Ball as the cryptocurrency industry is poised to have more influence in Washington than it ever has before. The Trump administration is expected to be the most explicitly pro-crypto in history and enact a number of industry-friendly policies, like overhauling financial regulations to align with the industrys biggest asks. Spokespeople for TikTok and the Crypto Ball did not respond to requests for comment. Other corporate sponsors have signed on for other events Johnson & Johnson and Pepsico are sponsoring the Hispanic Inaugural Ball and thats on top of the millions that companies like Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, Ford, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, Google, Meta, the cryptocurrency firm Ripple, Toyota and others have donated to Trumps inaugural fund. Even Apple CEO Tim Cook has personally donated $1 million. The turnabout in corporate Americas comfort with a man they regarded as crass or worse is notable. If Trump 1.0 led to the resistance, Kolvet said, Trump 2.0 has led to the acquiescence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The events also reflect the Republican Partys increasing appeal to non-white voters, and the Trump campaigns efforts to court Black and Latino voters, especially men. While Vice President Kamala Harris won Latino voters nationally, Trump improved his standing with them by 14 points compared to his 2020 performance, according to CNN exit polls. Organizers of a planned Hispanic Inaugural Ball, which will be held the Saturday before inauguration at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, are seeing that increased enthusiasm for Trump translate in their event planning: The ball already has nearly three times the number of RSVPs compared to a similar event eight years ago that hosted 500. And it appears to have the longest list of Trumps Cabinet picks as honorary chairs of any of the other inaugural balls, including Kennedy, Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem, Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Director of National Intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard and Transportation nominee Sean Duffy. This is the moment for Hispanics, said Abraham Enriquez, founder and president of Bienvenido US, which is hosting the ball. President Trump is returning to the White House because of the hands of Hispanic voters. This ball is to celebrate that Hispanics are no longer seen as the dormant sleeping giants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, the Black Conservative Federation is holding a so-called Legacy of Freedom Ball. The federation specifically focused on engaging Black men during the campaign in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, by focusing on the economy, parental rights in education and other conservative policies. New and established coalitions are reshaping the electoral map, the organizations vice president Necho Carroll said. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs West Wing Playbook newsletter. Ten days ahead of his presidential inauguration, Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning in New York for committing what the judge in his case characterized as a "premeditated and continuous deception" to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. President-elect Trump -- who plans to attend the 9:30 a.m. hearing virtually from his Mar-a-Lago estate -- is expected to receive the lightest possible sentence allowable under New York law, though the sentencing effectively finalizes his unprecedented status as the first former president to be a convicted criminal. The sentencing hearing concludes an embarrassing and nearly decade-long ordeal for the former president, who has long maintained his innocence but sat through weeks of testimony detailing an alleged scheme to influence the 2016 election by paying off an adult film actress who said she had affair with Trump in 2006, three months after his wife gave birth to his youngest son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump's last hope to halt Friday's hush money sentencing rests with Supreme Court "So I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent," Trump told reporters Thursday night ahead of the sentencing. Trump was convicted by a jury in May following a six-week trial and was set to be sentenced in July, but a sweeping Supreme Court ruling and his successful presidential campaign helped his lawyers delay his sentencing three times. His lawyers attempted to accomplish the same feat this week but were denied four separate times -- including by the U.S. Supreme Court -- after arguing that Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution as president-elect. "Forcing President Trump to prepare for a criminal sentencing in a felony case while he is preparing to lead the free world as President of the United States in less than two weeks imposes an intolerable, unconstitutional burden on him that undermines these vital national interests," Trump's lawyers unsuccessfully argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A narrowly divided Supreme Court denied the request on Thursday night, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump-appointee Amy Coney Barrett joining the court's three liberal justices. The majority wrote that the hearing imposed a "relatively insubstantial" burden on Trump based on the anticipated sentence. PHOTO: In this July 31, 2024, file photo, Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump waits on stage to speak at a campaign rally, in Harrisburg, Pa. (Alex Brandon/AP, FILE) Judge Juan Merchan -- who has overseen the case since April 2023 -- suggested in a court filing last week that he plans to sentence Trump to an unconditional discharge, a rarely used option that allows the judge to finalize the judgment in the case without handing down punishment. If his sentence is unconditionally discharged, Trump would receive no jail time, financial penalty, or probationary period. Though Merchan could have sentenced Trump up to four years in prison, he opted to give him the lightest possible sentence to "ensure finality" -- including Trump's right to appeal -- while also respecting the principle of presidential immunity, which takes effect on Jan. 20 once Trump becomes president. The sentencing is expected to take approximately one hour and include what's called an allocution, in which Trump can make a statement to the court. Judge Merchan is also expected to comment on the nature of crime for which Trump was convicted. In a filing last week, the judge harshly criticized what he called Trump's "disdain" for the judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Defendant's disdain for the Third Branch of government, whether state or federal, in New York or elsewhere, is a matter of public record," Merchan wrote. "Indeed, Defendant has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries and the justice system as a whole." Since his conviction, Trump has maintained his innocence and has baselessly alleged that he is the victim of a political persecution directed by the federal government. Leaving the courtroom shortly after his conviction in May, Trump blasted the trial as "disgrace" and Judge Merchan as "corrupt." "The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people," the newly convicted Trump declared. Donald Trump, president-elect and convicted felon, to be sentenced in New York originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump said a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is being set up, raising the prospect that the incoming US leader could push to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg At a meeting with Republican governors at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, the incoming president told a reporter that Putin wants to meet and added, were gonna were setting it up. Any such meeting, were it to happen, would come after hes inaugurated as president, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that there were no specifics yet regarding organizing a meeting, but Putin has repeatedly stated that he was open to talking with Trump. We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to solve problems through dialogue. We welcome this, Peskov said, according to the Interfax news agency. Apparently, after Mr. Trump enters the Oval Office, there will be some movement. He also said that no conditions are required for contact between the two leaders. Trump has said he wants to bring about an end to Russias war on Ukraine even before he takes office for his second presidential term on Jan. 20, and his rhetoric has raised fears an armistice would be favorable to Russia. Putin last month said hes ready to talk to Trump. When asked about the prospect of Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping joining Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the incoming US leader said, to be determined, but President Putin wants to meet. Hes said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. Thats a bloody mess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two leaders met in 2018 in Helsinki, during Trumps first term. At the summit, Trump stunned his own officials by hailing Putins offer to help the US investigate allegations of Russian election meddling as an incredible gesture. Still, during his first term in office, the US escalated sanctions on Russia and expelled diplomats. Putin has called for Ukraine to withdraw forces from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of the country in return for a ceasefire by Russian troops. Moscow is also demanding that Ukraine formally gives up its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and agrees to strict limits on the size of its military, conditions that Kyiv has firmly rejected. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rebuffed Trumps call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, but said Moscow was ready to hold negotiations to end the almost three-year-long war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with Kremlin comment in the third and fourth paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Donald Trump said talks between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin were in the process of being arranged and while he provided no timeline, the president-elect stressed that his preference would be for after inauguration day. Trump, who boasted during his campaign to win back the White House that he would end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, said the meeting was at Putin's request. "He wants to meet and we are setting it up," Trump said Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. "He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Friday that Putin was ready to meet "without preconditions but played down expectations saying that while Russia was working from the position that both Moscow and Washington wanted to resume contact, firmer confirmation would emerge only after Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. "There are still no specifics," Peskov told a news briefing. "We proceed from the mutual readiness for such meetings." "Apparently, there will be some movements in this direction after Trump enters the Oval Office," he added. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry was also expectant of senior-level talks with Trump administration officials, according to a spokesman who said Kyiv hoped the contacts would lead to a Trump-Zelensky meeting at some point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Trump scaled back his campaign claims regarding the war from one day to six months. Former national security adviser Keith Kellogg, his pick for his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said Wednesday he expected Kyiv and Moscow to reach "a solvable solution" with a target date of 100 days. Kellogg's position is understood to be that future U.S. assistance to Ukraine should be conditional on it agreeing to talks with Moscow, according to a paper penned by the retired U.S. Army lt. general. However, the April 2024 paper published by the pro-Trump Arlington, Va.,-headquartered America First Policy Institute argued Washington should not cut off aid to Kyiv in the event Moscow refused to cooperate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think what people need to understand [re Trump's Ukraine policy] -- he's not trying to give something to Putin or to the Russians. He actually trying to save Ukraine and save their sovereignty," Kellogg told Fox News on Wednesday. Ten days after Trump's decisive Nov. 5 victory over his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris, Zelensky said Trump entering the White House would hasten the end of the war due to the importance his administration placed on resolving the conflict. "This is their approach, their promise to their society, and it is also very important to them," Zelensky told Ukraine state media. Trump has never detailed how he would bring about a swift end to the conflict he promised, except to say that strength was the best route to peace and that it would never have happened if he were president when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Zelensky has expressed optimism that Trump's "peace through strength" strategem could yield results. President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court said in a 5-4 ruling. The high court on Thursday rejected Trumps emergency request to delay the proceeding, setting the stage for him to be sentenced just days before he is inaugurated on January 20 for a second term. Four conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh said they would have granted Trumps request. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the courts three liberals to side against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Juan Merchan, the New York judge who oversaw Trumps trial, had ordered sentencing in the case for Friday morning but has signaled that Trump will face neither penalties nor prison time. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 a.m. Trump will appear virtually, according to a person familiar with the plans, joining the proceedings from Mar-a-Lago. In a brief, one-paragraph statement, the court said that some of Trumps concerns could be handled in the ordinary course on appeal. The court also reasoned that the burden sentencing would impose on Trumps responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose no penalty. The president-elects request at the US Supreme Court was an extraordinary appeal because the justices rarely dip into a state criminal case before all appeals in state courts are fully exhausted. Trumps underlying challenge to his conviction is still pending and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued the Supreme Court didnt have jurisdiction to even consider the emergency request to delay the sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records over payments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to reimburse a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, in order to keep her from speaking out about an alleged affair before the 2016 election. (Trump has denied the affair.) The incoming president, who will be inaugurated in less than two weeks, is fighting his conviction, saying that it should be tossed because a conservative majority of the Supreme Court in July ruled that former presidents are entitled to sweeping immunity for official actions. Part of Trumps argument was that his trial included evidence involving official actions from his time in office, which under the Supreme Courts immunity decision, would ordinarily be barred from reaching a jury. Prosecutors countered that those concerns could be hashed out on appeal. Merchan rejected that argument in December, ruling that the evidence presented by the Manhattan district attorneys office was not related to Trumps official conduct as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps attorneys told the Supreme Court that having to deal with the sentencing would distract from his transition to power and potentially jeopardize national security. Defending criminal litigation at all stages especially, as here, defending a criminal sentencing is uniquely taxing and burdensome to a criminal defendant, Trumps lawyers told the high court. President Trump is currently engaged in the most crucial and sensitive tasks of preparing to assume the executive power in less than two weeks, all of which are essential to the United States national security and vital interests, they wrote. New York prosecutors scoffed at that argument in their own filing Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a compelling public interest in proceeding to sentencing, Bragg told the Supreme Court. Defendant has provided no record support for his claim that his duties as President-elect foreclose him from virtually attending a sentencing that will likely take no more than an hour. In a final filing Thursday, Trump argued that the case involved concerns of great national importance and that the constitutional structure, and the nation would be irreparably harmed by letting the sentencing go forward. Alito recusal calls The Supreme Court, meanwhile, found itself in another ethics controversy after Trump and Alito spoke by phone this week, just before Trumps appeal was filed. Key congressional Democrats on Thursday called for Alito to recuse himself from the sentencing case, citing the justices phone call with the president-elect to discuss one of his former clerks working for the incoming administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Alitos decision to have a personal phone call with President Trump who obviously has an active and deeply personal matter before the court makes clear that he fundamentally misunderstands the basic requirements of judicial ethics or, more likely, believes himself to be above judicial ethics altogether, said Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin. Justices can decide for themselves whether recusal is warranted, and it is rare that they do so. Alito said that the sentencing dispute was not discussed in their conversation. Nor did the two discuss any other matter that is pending or might in the future come before the Supreme Court or any past Supreme Court decisions involving the President-elect, Alito said in a statement Wednesday. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNNs Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Donald Trump will officially enter his second term as president as a convicted felon after he was formally sentenced on Friday in New York in his hush money trial. Trump will face no jail time, no probation and no monetary fine after he was given an unconditional discharge, which means his conviction holds but will not come attached with any penalties. In a May trial presided over by Judge Juan Merchan, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. The president-elect attended his sentencing virtually on Friday, maintaining that he was totally innocent and calling the prosecution a setback for New Yorks legal system. He further noted that the trial had been a very terrible experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Merchan on Friday pointed out that Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen and Donald Trump, the criminal defendant was not entitled to legal concessions. However, the considerable, indeed extraordinary legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others, Merchan explained. They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way. Fridays sentencing falls well short of the maximum penalty Trump was facing. Each of the 34 counts on which he was convicted carried up to a four-year prison sentence, as well as a $5,000 fine. Trump sought a stay of sentencing earlier this week, even asking the Supreme Court to intervene ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 20. Those efforts were rebuffed. Trumps lawyers argued that even though hes president-elect, an impending appeal will proceed once Trump takes office, at which time he should be granted presidential immunity in accordance with the controversial Supreme Court ruling last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the fact that Trump is set to become the 47th President of the U.S., Judge Juan Merchan had stated heading into Friday that he would likely grant Trump an unconditional discharge, meaning the charges would be upheld but he would not have to pay a fine nor would he have to serve probation or jail time. During last weeks ruling, Merchan called the outcome the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options. The post Donald Trump Sentenced in Hush Money Trial: No Jail, No Fine but President-Elect Is Officially a Convicted Felon appeared first on TheWrap. Judge Juan Merchan sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump in his hush money trial on Friday, refraining from imposing any further penalties or jail time on the former president, according to US media reports. The sentence confirms Trump's status as a convicted criminal just 10 days before his inauguration for a second term as US president. Trump was found guilty on 34 counts in May last year of illegally concealing $130,000 in hush money payments to a porn actress in order to improve his chances of success in the 2016 presidential election. Trump's defence team had sought to delay sentencing in the case, but the US Supreme Court rejected the emergency appeal. Trump is to be sworn in as US president in Washington on January 20. A Colorado task force has recommended changes to the state's mandatory reporting laws for child abuse and neglect, which disproportionately impact communities of color and the disabled. The recommendations include new training mandates for the more than 40 professions specified by state law as mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, and the creation of a decision support tool to guide mandatory reporters on when they should or should not report a concern to child-protective services. The task force also recommended the creation of an inventory of services and resources available to assist families, which could be used to steer families away from further involvement with child-protective investigations when assistance is all that is needed. A US judge in New York sentenced President-elect Donald Trump in his hush money trial on Friday, but refrained from imposing any further penalties or jail time on the former president. Although the judge gave Trump an unconditional discharge, the sentence confirms Trump's status as a convicted criminal just 10 days before his inauguration for a second term as US president. "Your 45th and 47th President, ME, I was given an UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE," Trump wrote on his social media network Truth Social. "That result alone proves that, as all Legal Scholars and Experts have said, THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was found guilty on 34 counts in May last year of illegally concealing $130,000 in hush money payments to a porn actress in order to improve his chances of success in the 2016 presidential election. Trump's defence team had sought to delay sentencing in the case, but the US Supreme Court rejected the emergency submission. "We will appeal this Hoax," Trump wrote on Friday. The sentencing is not expected to have any immediate impact on Trump's presidency, as it is more of a symbolic nature. For the first time in US history, a convicted criminal is now set to assume the highest office in the land. Trump is to be sworn in as US president in Washington on January 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump could formally appeal against his conviction in New York. However, he could not pardon himself as president. When it comes to a conviction at state level, the decision lies with the state governor. Other cases against Trump Trump was also charged in three other criminal cases. Two federal cases against him were dropped after his election victory. The prosecution argued in these cases that the Justice Department should not prosecute sitting presidents. A third case against him in the state of Georgia was largely paralysed by legal manoeuvring and could collapse entirely following the departure of the prosecutor in charge. President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday morning for falsifying business records in a scheme to defraud voters in 2016, marking an official end to the explosive case that involved hush money payments to a porn star and formally making Trump a convicted felon 10 days before his return to the White House. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan imposed a sentence of an unconditional discharge, capping the historic case filed in spring 2023 without punishment for the former and soon-to-be president. Trump had faced the possibility of jail time, though that option became moot with his election in November. Trump appeared remotely for the 15th-floor proceeding in lower Manhattans 100 Centre St., where scores of reporters were lined up in chilly temperatures as early as 5 a.m. to mark the historic day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imposing sentence, Merchan said the lenient term was a legal mandate and that Donald Trump the ordinary citizen Donald Trump the criminal defendant would not be entitled to such considerable protections. The president-elect mounted a furious effort to dodge the sentencing, targeting delay bids at four courts. The Supreme Court had the last say in an order late Thursday, sounding unpersuaded by his claim the hearing would unduly burden his presidential transition. Todays event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice, Trump posted on Truth Social, shortly after the proceeding concluded. While the significance of the sentencing is mainly symbolic, it brings closure to the case and formally classifies Trump as the first U.S. president in the nations history to become a felon. He has said he plans to appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The criminal case centered on Trumps coverup of payments to Michael Cohen that reimbursed his longtime fixer for silencing porn star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election. The porn actor has long claimed she had a sordid encounter with Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2006, which he denies. Jurors heard over the more than monthlong trial that Cohen, Trump, and tabloid publisher David Pecker devised the scheme to control what voters knew about Trumps past in August 2015. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a doorman at Trump Tower also received payoffs to suppress their allegations of Trumps sexual exploits. The Manhattan jury who decided the case found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30, for which he was supposed to be sentenced on July 11. His lawyers convinced the judge to postpone it three times. Trump was placed under a gag order at the trial, which is expected to expire Friday, after he spread unfounded conspiracies about Merchans daughter online, leading to death threats. The order barred him from discussing prosecutors, court staff, and their families but not the judge or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has repeatedly chided Merchan in posts on his Truth Social account, grievances casting himself as a victim of political persecution, a weaponized justice system, and racism against white people by Black prosecutors. But Trumps experience of being found guilty of felonies without consequence is unique. Facing the prospect of four years in prison on the charges seven months ago, he will instead spend them in the White House. Braggs case was the only one of four brought against Trump after his first term that went before a jury. Federal prosecutors recently moved to dismiss two actions accusing Trump of plotting to overthrow President Bidens win in 2020 and hoarding classified documents at his country clubs after leaving office. Through his second term, he will be protected from the Georgia state case concerning his alleged election subversion efforts. ______ NEW YORK President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday for falsifying business records in a years-old scheme to defraud voters, closing out the historic case that involved a hush money payment to a porn star and formalizing Trump as a convicted felon 10 days before his return to the White House. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said the only lawful sentence he could impose was an unconditional discharge, meaning no jail time, probation, or fines other than around $375 in mandatory court fees, based on the expansive legal protections afforded to the president. Despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict, the judge said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen Donald Trump the criminal defendant would not be entitled to such considerable protections. The president-elect appeared remotely for the 15th-floor proceeding in lower Manhattans 100 Centre St. on Microsoft Teams via his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, with two American flags as his backdrop. He wore a black suit and a red tie with yellow stripes and ignored Merchan when the judge wished him a good morning. In comments to the court, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said prosecutors recommended Trump receive an unconditional discharge based on his unique posture and status as president-elect. He also pointed to a line in the probation officers nonpublic report into Trump, which noted that the defendant sees himself as above the law and wont accept responsibility for his actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steinglass said Trumps public rhetoric before and after the trial had legitimately endangered officials involved in the case and their families. Far from expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct, the defendant has purposefully bred disdain for our judicial institutions and the rule of law. And hes done this to serve his own ends and to encourage others to reject the jury verdict that he finds so distasteful, Steinglass said, noting Trump had ratcheted up his bombast since Merchan had denied his bids to throw out the verdict. He has been unrelenting in his unsubstantiated attacks upon this court and its family, individual prosecutors and their families, the witnesses, the grand jury, the trial jury and the justice system as a whole. The prosecutor said Trumps threats to retaliate against prosecutors and other dangerous rhetoric sought to have a chilling effect and to intimidate law enforcement in the hopes that they will ignore the defendants transgressions because they fear that he is simply too powerful to be subjected to the same rule of law as the rest of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps lawyer, Todd Blanche, who accompanied him in Florida, said he disagreed with Steinglass characterizations. Trump has nominated Blanche to be second-in-command at the Department of Justice. When it was Trumps turn to speak a moment defendants often use to express remorse in a bid for leniency the former president singled out prosecutors, talked about his election victory, and riffed on several other topics. He said the case was brought to destroy his reputation and lose him the election, which obviously didnt work. The fact is Im totally innocent. I did nothing wrong, Trump said. I just want to say I think its an embarrassment to New York. The president-elect mounted a furious effort to dodge the sentencing, targeting delay bids at four courts. The Supreme Court had the last say in an order late Thursday, in a 5-4 ruling sounding unpersuaded by his claim the hearing would unduly burden his presidential transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the significance of Fridays proceeding largely came down to symbolism and procedure, it cemented Trumps status as the first and only U.S. president to be tried and convicted. Trump vowed on Truth Social later Friday to appeal his conviction. The anonymous Manhattan jury who decided the case found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30, for which he was initially supposed to be sentenced on July 11. None of the jurors have spoken publicly about their service. The criminal case centered on Trumps coverup of payments to Michael Cohen that reimbursed his longtime fixer for silencing porn star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election. The porn actor has long claimed she had a sordid encounter with Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2006, which he denies. Jurors heard over the more than monthlong trial that Cohen, Trump, and tabloid publisher David Pecker devised the scheme to control what voters knew about Trumps past in August 2015. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a doorman at Trump Tower also received payoffs to suppress their allegations of Trumps sexual exploits, trial evidence showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his courtroom remarks, Trump took aim at Cohen, saying, This is a man who has got no standing. He has been disbarred on other matters unrelated. And he was allowed to talk as though he was George Washington, but he is not George Washington. Trump was placed under a gag order at the trial, which is expected to expire Friday, after he spread unfounded conspiracies about Merchans daughter online. The order he violated at least 10 times barred him from discussing trial participants, including prosecutors, court staff, and their families but not the judge or Bragg. While he has repeatedly cast himself as a victim of political persecution, a weaponized justice system, and racism against white people by Black prosecutors, Trumps experience of being found guilty of felonies without consequence is unique. Facing the prospect of four years in prison on any one of the charges seven months ago, he will instead spend them in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braggs case was the only one of four brought against Trump after his first term that went before a jury. Federal prosecutors recently moved to dismiss two actions accusing him of plotting to overthrow President Bidens win in 2020 and hoarding classified documents at his country clubs after leaving office which could have led to steep prison sentences. Through his second term, he will be protected from the Georgia state case concerning his alleged election subversion efforts. In his courtroom remarks, Merchan said imposing a sentence was one of a judges most challenging decisions. He said the extraordinary legal protections afforded to the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others he must respect and follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im referring to protections that extend well beyond those afforded the average defendant who winds their way through the criminal justice system each day. No, ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections, Merchan said, looking at Trump. It was the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections It is through that lens and that reality that this court must determine a lawful sentence, the judge added, formally imposing the sentence. Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office. ______ President-elect Donald Trump received a historic sentence on Friday, Jan. 10, from New York Judge Juan Merchan, dodging jail time and instead getting "unconditional discharge" for his 34 felony convictions. He appeared virtually from Florida for his sentencing on Friday morning at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York City. The hearing was scheduled at the last minute so that the case could get closure before Inauguration Day, and Trump's frantic attempts to cancel his sentencing were rejected by the New York State Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court. Before the sentence was handed down, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said that while the Manhattan District Attorney's Office ultimately recommended unconditional discharge out of respect for the office of the presidency he did not want to downplay Trump's "unsubstantiated attacks" on the rule of law and his "coordinated campaign" to undermine the jury's conclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Supreme Court Refuses to Stop Donald Trumps Criminal Sentencing in 'Hush Money' Case Blondet Eliot/ABACA/Shutterstock President-elect Donald Trump attends the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Dec. 7, 2024 President-elect Donald Trump attends the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Dec. 7, 2024 Trump who will be sworn in as United States president for a second time on Monday, Jan. 20 was previously found guilty by 12 jurors of falsifying several business records to conceal a plot to tilt the 2016 presidential election in his favor. With the unanimous guilty verdict, he became the first sitting or former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. His charges carried up to four years in prison at the court's discretion. Related: Donald Trump Found Guilty on All Counts in Historic Criminal Trial, Making Him a Convicted Felon ANGELA WEISS/POOL/AFP via Getty Donald Trump appears virtually from Florida for the sentencing hearing on Jan. 10, 2025 Donald Trump appears virtually from Florida for the sentencing hearing on Jan. 10, 2025 What is unconditional discharge? When Judge Merchan set Trump's sentencing date, he revealed that he did not intend to put the president-elect behind bars. Instead, the judge suggested, "unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable option to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unconditional discharge is, in effect, a non-punishment a way that New York courts can acknowledge someone's conviction as valid while simultaneously releasing them "without imprisonment, fine or probation supervision." The sentence is allowed to be handed out in cases where there appears to be "no proper purpose" for imposing restrictions upon someone. Judges are required by New York law to provide reasoning for their decision if they choose to go that route. Considering Trump's imminent inauguration and speculation that a sitting president's sentence would need to be paused during their time in office anyway Merchan chose the path of least resistance with his sentence. Despite declining to give Trump a punishment, Merchan's final judgment is not exactly how the president-elect wanted things to play out: He remains a convicted felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, with a sentence now issued and the case closed, Trump can finally pursue a proper appeal of his verdict after seven months. His attorney said on Friday that he plans to. Related: Donald Trump and Mike Pence Shake Hands During First Interaction in Nearly 4 Years Justin Lane/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in early 2024 Donald Trump at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in early 2024 What did Trump get convicted for? Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on May 30, 2024, after spending more than six weeks on trial in Lower Manhattan. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office brought an unprecedented case against Trump that aimed to prove he not only falsified financial records "with intent to defraud" in this instance, to mask a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential election but that he did so in order to conceal a second crime, which elevates the charges from misdemeanors to felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In falsifying the records, the DA's office argued, Trump was more broadly attempting to bury evidence of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election. Related: Publisher David Pecker Testifies About Trump Team's Alleged Role in Burying Stories During 2016 Election Colloquially called Trump's "hush money" trial, given that Daniels' hush money payment anchored the narrative, the Manhattan case went far beyond white-collar crime. It was the first of four criminal cases brought against the former president in 2023 three of which hit on themes of election interference. Through hard evidence and exhaustive witness testimony, Manhattan prosecutors painted a portrait of a former reality TV star who unlawfully tilted a presidential election in his favor by conspiring with powerful friends to suppress information from voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jurors' guilty verdict signaled that beyond a reasonable doubt the evidence presented to them supported the prosecution's story. 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. Trump's three other criminal cases never went to trial, but in unrelated civil lawsuits since leaving the White House, Trump has been found liable of committing fraud while building his real estate empire as well as sexually abusing and defaming former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll. Each of those cases carried substantial fines. Read the original article on People (NEXSTAR) A swarm of winter wildfires ravaged Americas most heavily-populated county to start 2025, scorching cars, banks, bungalows and multi-million dollar mansions. Donate to Red Cross wildfire relief efforts Destructive wind gusts slowed late in the week, offering fire crews a moment to gain the upper hand, for now. The forecast shows no rain and a potential return of dangerous wind conditions, meaning the threat to Southern California is ongoing and critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damage assessments are ongoing at the Palisades fire. Preliminary reports estimate the damage or destroyed structures to be in the thousands, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said during a news conference Thursday morning. It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles. As with many other natural disasters, the Red Cross offers a first step to returning to normalcy after a devastating life event. Thats why Nexstar Media, the parent company of this website, has again teamed up with the relief agency to raise funds for those trying to figure out whats next after the loss of homes and entire communities. If you are looking for a way to support fire victims, please consider a donation at this link. Throughout the emergency, our sister station in Los Angeles has offered public safety updates, maps of burn areas, news about public landmarks and harrowing stories of Americans forced to flee their homes. Visit KTLA.com for the latest on recovery and the risk ahead, as well as additional ways to donate to wildfire relief. Wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area visible from space Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Computer models are also beginning to show another strong and damaging Santa Ana wind event forming next Tuesday night into Wednesday, bringing new risk for communities already exhausted from a string of uncommon winter fires. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A melted signal light on Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades on Friday. More photos (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) It is expected to take some time to determine the death toll from this week's Los Angeles firestorms. Officials confirmed 10 people died in the Eaton and Palisades fires, but Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said that number is likely to rise. We do, unfortunately, anticipate that deaths will go up because of the destruction that we're seeing, Luna said. We're not able to get in there in a manner because it's still not safe to really do a thorough search." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A brother and sister made a fateful choice when fire approached. Only one survived He said his deputies are still dealing with downed wires that are charged, leaking gas pipes, and ongoing fire that hinders searches. While Luna is now deferring to the L.A. Medical Examiner for the specific death toll, he said his agency will still be working to find and investigate deaths. They have also requested additional search and rescue teams and cadaver dogs to aid in the effort. I think we're still trying to grasp ... how tragic this is. We don't know half of it, Luna said. "I've seen a lot of tragedy in my 40 years doing this job, but this one is it's gonna be up there. Read more: 'My heart sank': Altadena woman loses grandmother to Eaton fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone echoed Luna's somber outlook, noting that thorough searches have not been completed. Crews are going to have to "go from house to house to house, Marrone said. That might be upwards of 10,000 structures that need to be searched for human remains. The firestorms claimed 9,000 structures. Currently, California's deadliest fire in modern history was the 2018 Camp fire, which killed 85 people. 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. STURGEON BAY, Wis. (WFRV) With hundreds of thousands of families in southern California losing homes and the loss of lives, a Door County candle store is raising money for victims amidst the devastating wildfires. Door County Candle Company & Candle Bar in Sturgeon Bay introduced its newest candle in a Facebook post, the Golden State California Wildlife Relief. The candle refers to the states nickname. Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay raises over $1 million during Christmas Campaign Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Door County Candle Company and Candle Bar will donate to the American Red Cross wildfire relief efforts for every purchase of the Golden State candle. The candle serves as a reminder of resilience and a shared promise to rebuild what has been lost, the store said via Facebook. Door County Candle Companys Golden State Candles Door County Candle Companys Golden State Candles Door County Candle Companys Golden State Candles The scent is an Orange Clove, a tribute to the states groves, which evoke warmth and comfort amidst devastating times like these. Together, we can help bring light to the darkness, one small step at a time, the post said. Carol Burlew at the Door County Candle Company said this is the latest in the stores philanthropic efforts in raising money and emphasized the importance of these actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its incredibly important to be able to help out even in the smallest way, Burlew said. We have learned that people want to help out when theres a problem, whether its hurricane relief or in this case, wildfire relief. How to donate to LA wildfire relief The Door County Candle Company also made a candle to raise money for the Maui wildfire victims in 2023, raising over $60,000, as well as a candle to help out those impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Golden State candle may be purchased here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. BRIGHTON, Colo. (KDVR) A driver who dragged a Brighton police officer with a car during a 2023 arrest will now spend two decades behind bars. 51-year-old Robert Trujillo was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison following his September guilty plea to first-degree assault in Adams County District Court. Man who killed woman, Commerce City detective in DUI crash sentenced This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation, said District Attorney Brian Mason of the 17th Judicial District, which covers Adams and Broomfield Counties. He is appropriately going to spend a long time behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 16, 2023, the Brighton Police Department responded to the parking lot of Overland Trail Middle School for a suspect with a felony domestic violence warrant. Officers pinned Trujillos car, which was backed into a space, with two patrol vehicles. Officials say Trujillo attempted to back out and rammed into one of the cruisers. The officers approached the defendant to put him under arrest While the police officer was physically hanging on to the defendant and physically hanging on to the car door, the defendant pulled away, slamming that police officer into another vehicle, said Mason. In a newly released body camera video, you can see this incident unfold. Officer Alejandro Covarrubias suffered a fractured hip, but has since recovered and is back at work. Police officers put their lives on the line every single day. It is an extraordinarily dangerous job. This police officer was trying to make a lawful arrest of someone who had a lawful warrant out for his arrest and the defendant put that police officer in extreme danger by his actions, said Mason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Trujillo then crashed into two other cars in the parking lot, fled his vehicle and ran into a nearby apartment, but was later arrested. The district attorney said that Trujillo then later bonded out of jail, failed to appear for a court date and was arrested again after eluding police on a high-speed chase on Bromley Lane in Brighton. Gov. Polis welcomes federal agents help deporting undocumented criminals Its concerning to me when we make arguments to our courts about setting bond at appropriate levels so that we can keep the community safe. It concerns me when judges disregard those arguments because that then leads to violent criminals sometimes getting out and committing more crimes. Thats something that I really worry about, said Mason. This case is an example of the consequence of that. Covarrubias declined an interview with FOX31, but the district attorney said the officer is relieved he was not killed in this incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre going to hurt anyone, and certainly if youre going to hurt a police officer, theres going to be a very serious consequence, said Mason. This office really cares about every victim of a crime, and certainly when it is a fellow member of law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. FREEDOM, Wis. (WFRV) A woman from Neenah was arrested for her 5th OWI around noon on Thursday after a driving complaint reported her going 20 mph under the speed limit and deviating from the lane. According to a release from the Wisconsin State Patrol Fond du Lac Post, 40-year-old Ashley L. Lulloff was arrested around 12:05 p.m. on January 9 for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated. Authorities say drug paraphernalia was also found in her vehicle. Authorities in Wisconsin to target impaired driving in January, what to know: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident began shortly before noon when the Outagamie County Sheriffs Office got a driving complaint for a northbound vehicle on State Highway 55 from County Highway S in Outagamie County. The caller stated that Lulloff was reportedly driving 35 in a 55 mph zone and was allegedly unable to stay within its lane. With help from local deputies, a State Trooper spotted Lulloff at a gas station in Freedom around 12:05 p.m. Authorities say they noticed indicators of impairment, arresting Lulloff for her 5th OWI offense after an investigation. Wisconsin man indicted on drug trafficking and possession charges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A legal blood draw was obtained at a local hospital. The incident remains under investigation, pending blood sample results. No additional information was provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and former President and President-elect Donald Trump are pictured in front of a Colorado state flag. Harris carried Colorado in the 2024 election at the same time Trump won the presidency nationally. A drone collided with a firefighting aircraft flying over the Palisades fire on Thursday, causing the plane to be grounded for several days of repairs and leading to an investigation into who flew the drone against flight restrictions, officials said. We hit a drone this afternoon first one, said L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone on Thursday. Our Super Scooper hit a small drone. He didn't have details on who was flying the drone, but said the drone was destroyed and the Super Scooper a massive fixed-wing plane that can drop large amounts of water was damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It put a hole in the wing, he said. Its grounded now. Marrone said the FBI is now planning to come to the area with what he called "aerial armor" to make sure no further drones can fly in the firefighting area. The pilot of that Super Scooper was unaware they hit the drone and suffered a a fist-sized hole in the aircraft, Marrone added Friday. The plane remains grounded, but will hopefully be ready to fly again by Monday, he said. That Super Scooper will be prioritized for repair 24/7," Marrone said. As the world waits to see the full impact of fires on the Los Angeles landscape, several drone pilots have flown to capture images despite a temporary flight restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate statement released Thursday, the FAA warned against flying drones near the wildfires. It pointed to a temporary flight restriction issued for wide swaths of airspace blanketing Los Angeles. "Its a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands," the FAA said. "Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations" during a temporary flight restriction. Read more: Winds prolong fire risk as investigators probe electric tower as possible origin of Eaton fire Still, several people posted what appeared to be drone photos and videos of the restricted areas online. Among the first were still images of a devastated neighborhood in Pacific Palisades. The photographer has since taken his photos down, but they spread far and wide on the web, becoming some of the signature images of the Palisades fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The backlash was swift: Fellow photographers and drone experts flooded the photographer's other Instagram posts with comments. "Bro that drone shot is going viral what were you thinking??" cinematographer Nathan Furniss wrote on Instagram. "Please dont fly your drone around active fires, its dangerous enough as is," wrote a drone enthusiast commenter. "regards, all low level operators." "Abhorrent to be flouting @faa rules and flying a drone over an active rescue site," wrote Gary Chittick, a photographer from Scotland. "Shameful and good to see everyone across social media calling it out. No matter what you delete, the evidence is there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A popular thread on the r/drones subreddit included dozens of comments chiding the photographer. The photographer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more: Faulty evacuation alerts woke Angelenos in a panic. What's wrong with L.A.'s emergency system? Drone pilots can apply for waivers to fly in the restricted airspace, but the FAA said no such waivers had been granted as of Thursday afternoon. An FAA spokesperson told The Times that they spoke with Los Angeles County Fire Department officials, and "due to the number of manned firefighting aircraft in the airspace they are currently not able to accommodate drone flights within the TFR," referencing the restricted airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the fires across the Southland continue, at least one other photographer followed suit. An Instagram account under the name Sikora posted a viral video of apparent drone video of the Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night. He, too, was chided by commenters. "FYI, this is incredibly irresponsible to be flying your drone for 'epic' shots near a working wildfire, not to mention a federal crime," commented cinematographer Tim Sarquis. "Your drone can hamper firefighting efforts. If your drone is up, firefighting aircraft cant fly. As a professional, licensed drone op, its flights like this that give us a bad name and hamper our ability to fly legitimately." That photographer also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, a Turkish state media organization that partners with Reuters posted apparent drone videos in the fire zones Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Thursday, drone flight restrictions near the wildfires in the Los Angeles area had been extended until Jan. 23. Times staff writer Nathan Fenno contributed to this report. 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. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man charged with shooting a Pennsylvania State Trooper, as well as an alleged accomplice, are facing charges in connection to a string of storage unit burglaries in Lancaster County. Alfredo Maldonado-Gonzalez, 41, and Timothy Mauldin, 33, both of Lancaster, allegedly stole $30,350 worth of items from Moove In Self Storage locations along New Danville Pike and Vermont Avenue, Manheim Township Police said. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat A motorcycle, TV, jewelry, shoes, and clothing were among the items stolen from storage units. Between July and August, police responded to the storage units five times for the burglaries. According to police, they were able to watch security footage inside a third partys storage unit that captured two people rummaging through a unit in July. Police said they got evidence that the duo partook in the storage unit burglaries from State Police who were doing their own investigation into a separate incident. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Loot from the units was found in the places the two were living and messages regarding the incidents were seen on their phones, including a conversation about the burglaries, police said. Cell phone records also show that they were in the area during the time of the burglaries. Maldonado-Gonzalez was already charged with shooting a Trooper while law enforcement was serving a search warrant in July at storage units in the City of Lancaster in relation to an armed robbery investigation. East Hempfield Township Police filed charges in July against both of them including two others in a home invasion robbery investigation Both Maldonado-Gonzalez and Mauldin face felony charges of burglary and trespassing from the storage unit burglaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They remain locked up in Lancaster County Prison with a preliminary hearing scheduled for each of them on January 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) A portion of East Murphy Street will be closed starting Friday, as crews work on utility work in the area. According to a release from the City of Odessa, on Friday, January 10, East Murphy Street will be closed to thru traffic between Simm Street and South Muskingum Avenue. The city said the closure is necessary for Edgardo Madrid and Associates, a contractor for the city, to perform utility service work in the area. The closure is expected to last for one week. During this time, the City of Odessa is asking residents to follow all traffic control devices, expect delays, and use alternate routes when possible. If you have any questions, please contact the City of Odessa Utilities Department at 432-335-4627. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Earth's rotation is slowing down, and it could be why we have oxygen for life Ever since its formation around 4.5 billion years ago, Earth's rotation has been gradually slowing down, and its days have gotten progressively longer as a result. While Earth's slowdown is not noticeable on human timescales, it's enough to work significant changes over eons. One of those changes is perhaps the most significant of all, at least to us: lengthening days are linked to the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere, according to a study from 2021. Specifically, the blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) that emerged and proliferated about 2.4 billion years ago would have been able to produce more oxygen as a metabolic by-product because Earth's days grew longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An enduring question in Earth sciences has been how did Earth's atmosphere get its oxygen, and what factors controlled when this oxygenation took place," microbiologist Gregory Dick of the University of Michigan explained in 2021. "Our research suggests that the rate at which Earth is spinning in other words, its day length may have had an important effect on the pattern and timing of Earth's oxygenation." There are two major components to this story that, at first glance, don't seem to have a lot to do with each other. The first is that Earth's spin is slowing down. The reason Earth's spin is slowing down is because the Moon exerts a gravitational pull on the planet, which causes a rotational deceleration since the Moon is gradually pulling away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know, based on the fossil record, that days were just 18 hours long 1.4 billion years ago, and half an hour shorter than they are today 70 million years ago. Evidence suggests that we're gaining 1.8 milliseconds a century. The second component is something known as the Great Oxidation Event when cyanobacteria emerged in such great quantities that Earth's atmosphere experienced a sharp, significant rise in oxygen. Without this oxidation, scientists think life as we know it could not have emerged; so, although cyanobacteria may cop a bit of side-eye today, the fact is we probably wouldn't be here without them. Microbiologist Gregory Dick from the University of Michigan. (University of Michigan) There's still a lot we don't know about this event, including such burning questions as why it happened when it did and not sometime earlier in Earth's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took scientists working with cyanobacterial microbes to connect the dots. In the Middle Island Sinkhole in Lake Huron, microbial mats can be found that are thought to be an analog of the cyanobacteria responsible for the Great Oxidation Event. Purple cyanobacteria that produce oxygen via photosynthesis and white microbes that metabolize sulfur, compete in a microbial mat on the lakebed. At night, the white microbes rise to the top of the microbial mat and do their sulfur-munching thing. When day breaks, and the Sun rises high enough in the sky, the white microbes retreat and the purple cyanobacteria rise to the top. "Now they can start to photosynthesize and produce oxygen," said geomicrobiologist Judith Klatt of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, it takes a few hours before they really get going, there is a long lag in the morning. The cyanobacteria are rather late risers than morning persons, it seems." This means the window of daytime in which the cyanobacteria can pump out oxygen is very limited and it was this fact that caught the attention of oceanographer Brian Arbic of the University of Michigan. He wondered if changing day length over Earth's history had had an impact on photosynthesis. "It's possible that a similar type of competition between microbes contributed to the delay in oxygen production on the early Earth," Klatt explained. To demonstrate this hypothesis, the team performed experiments and measurements on the microbes, both in their natural environment and a laboratory setting. They also performed detailed modelling studies based on their results to link sunlight to microbial oxygen production, and microbial oxygen production to Earth's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Intuition suggests that two 12-hour days should be similar to one 24-hour day. The sunlight rises and falls twice as fast, and the oxygen production follows in lockstep," explained marine scientist Arjun Chennu of the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Germany. "But the release of oxygen from bacterial mats does not, because it is limited by the speed of molecular diffusion. This subtle uncoupling of oxygen release from sunlight is at the heart of the mechanism." These results were incorporated into global models of oxygen levels, and the team found that lengthening days were linked to the increase in Earth's oxygen - not just the Great Oxidation Event, but another, second atmospheric oxygenation called the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event around 550 to 800 million years ago. "We tie together laws of physics operating at vastly different scales, from molecular diffusion to planetary mechanics. We show that there is a fundamental link between day length and how much oxygen can be released by ground-dwelling microbes," Chennu said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's pretty exciting. This way we link the dance of the molecules in the microbial mat to the dance of our planet and its Moon." The research has been published in Nature Geoscience. An earlier version of this article was published in August 2021. Related News EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) The East Hartford Police Department welcomed a new team member: a yellow Labrador retriever, Beacon! Meriden Police get new therapy dog Beacon will be the departments new community engagement dog. The 2 1/2 year old pup has undergone training to provide crucial support for those in crisis and to be an everyday companion at the police department, town buildings and community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are excited to introduce Beacon to the East Hartford community, Chief Mack S. Hawkins said. Beacons role goes beyond just providing support in crisis situations. Hes here to develop positive relationships for both our staff and community members. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. PALESTINE, Texas (KETK) An East Texas representative has filed an ethics complaint against Abraham George, Chairman of the Texas Republican Party, accusing him of using coercive political tactics including threats and intimidation to silence dissent within his own party. New Panola County Criminal District Attorney appointed by Gov. Abbott State Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine), one of the few Republicans to publicly oppose the partys endorsed Republican caucus nominee for House Speaker, Rep. David Cook., is in the crosshairs of party leadership. Harris, alongside fellow East Texas Representatives Cole Hefner and Jay Dean, have instead thrown their support behind Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), whom they argue represents a stronger conservative alternative to Cook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KETK News spoke with Harris who asserted that East Texans have little tolerance for bullying. Growing up here in East Texas, theres only one way to deal with a bully and thats to punch him in the nose, Harris said. So thats exactly what Im doing. Im not going to sit back and let him stifle the voices of the people of East Texas. The complaint comes on the heels of the accountability tour led by George and AG Ken Paxton. During a recent stop in Tyler, the two GOP leaders reinforced their commitment for Cook and threatened to reprimand Republicans who do not fall in line with the partys leadership. Gov. Abbott unveils new billboards meant to deter possible migrants south of the border The only way to hold them accountable is in the primary, George said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, this is not the first time George has threatened East Texas representatives on this matter. In December, George threatened to send mailers to Harris constituents, censure him and present a primary challenger during the next election. In previous weeks, George said the Republican caucus rules dictate that the candidate with the majority should have the entire partys support. According to the 44th rule of the Republican Party Rule book states the party can go as far as removing people off of the Republican ticket. The primary ballot, that is the most unconstitutional, un-American and un-Texan, Harris added This small committee wants to override the voices of the people of House District 8 and I will not stand by and be intimidated and threatened into letting their voices be silenced. State report shows which students are lagging behind at Texas college Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris said the amended rule violates section 302 of the government code: Threatening to withhold something and spending tens of thousands of dollars to attack me and my district would be an economic benefit to a future primary opponent, thats legislative bribery, Harris said. Threatening to kick me off the primary ballot if I dont vote how I think he should vote, thats legislative bribery and coercion as well. On Wednesday, George issued a statement hoping the Texas Ethics Commission will do the right thing and reject the complaint. My hope is that Mr. George is held accountable for his actions. I believe that he has committed an illegal act in legislative bribery and I want to see him held accountable for those actions, Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Editor's note: Colorado Politics reporters are covering the opening ceremonies of the regular session of the 75th General Assembly this week. Follow us here for updates. ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The Ector County Sheriffs Office is warning residents of a pair of scams that have been making their way around the community recently. According to ECSO, deputies have been receiving reports of a someone claiming to be Deputy Chase Giddings. The scammer calls from the phone number 432-248-0789, demanding money in exchange for clearing warrants or court papers. ECSO said it never calls anyone to demand money or threaten legal action. If you receive a call like this one, please hang up and immediately report to local law enforcement. If youre in doubt regarding a call, do not provide any personal information and call ECSO at 432-335-3050. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriffs Office said another scam has also been making its way around the communitythis time with some fancy paperwork. ECSO is reminding residents that no law enforcement agency will ever tell you that you need to pay money on the spot to avoid arrest. If you receive any of these official-looking documents, ECSO said not to fall for the scam and contact them immediately. The Sheriffs Office also provided the following message to the individual behind the scam: To the person behind this scam if youre reading this, Id love to have a conversation with you in a special room to discuss how quickly we identified your fake documents. Well even feed you for a few years while were at it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Jan. 10Ector County ISD is proud to join districts across Texas celebrating School Board Recognition Month throughout January. This year's theme is Leadership for Tomorrow's Texas, and we are grateful to ECISD's Trustees whose dedication to our children's success is shaping the future of our community. ECISD's seven school board members Dawn Miller, Position 1; Delma Abalos, Position 2; Wayne Woodall, Position 3; Chris Stanley, Position 4; Dr. Steve Brown, Position 5; Tammy Hawkins, Position 6; and Bob Thayer, Position 7 were elected by local citizens to do what's best for students and to work closely with parents, education professionals, and others to create the educational vision we want for the children. "Our school board is responsible for some 33,500 students and 4,200 employees," ECISD Interim Superintendent Keeley Boyer said in a news release. "Trustees attend monthly meetings, school functions throughout the year, and must be familiar with all aspects of the education system. It is long hours and complex work. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes this month and thank their school board members for all they do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trustees are not paid. They spend time preparing for board meetings, they establish the vision for local education, create policies that guide every aspect of the district's operations, and approve the annual budget that supports the work being done. All of this is done to ensure meaningful educational experiences and opportunities that prepare students for college, careers, and beyond. In addition, Trustees also serve as ambassadors and advocates for ECISD students and staff not only locally but in Austin as well. Recently, ECISD was named the District of the Year by K-12 Dive, the district has received quite a bit of state and national recognition for innovative staffing and compensation plans that have made ECISD "the home of the $100,000 teacher.' These designations together with dramatic increases in Kindergarten Readiness and College, Career, and Military Readiness of ECISD students highlight the school board's focus on providing opportunities for both staff and students. Gov. Kelly Ayotte speaks with reporters on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Will Steinfeld | New Hampshire Bulletin) Ive always been kind of a sucker for were all in this together political speeches. Even though I know Im being manipulated, I cant resist the emotional high of perceived unity. In my lifetime, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama always seemed particularly skilled at the delivery, and in Hollywood its hard to beat New Hampshires own President Jed Bartlet. Our most inspiring leaders, real and fictional, elevate not only how we see our communities, state, and nation but ourselves. More importantly, they help us connect with each other, if briefly, even when the policies being touted are divisive in nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Kelly Ayottes inaugural address on Thursday, there were moments when New Hampshires new governor seemed intent on striking that golden balance bringing people together in spirit even as the proposed policies hammer away at the wedges. Addressing House and Senate Democratic leaders specifically, Ayotte said, Good government knows no party, so lets show the folks that when partisanship is at a fever pitch we can set a different example. I believe that olive branch and the others she offered across the aisle on Thursday were heartfelt and represent one of the ways she is different from, say, President-elect Donald Trump, who thrives on confrontation and blame. She does not, nor has she ever, struck me as one of the tear-it-all-down, far-right fomenters so prominent in her party these days. But in regard to policy, there was plenty in her address to suggest that any bipartisan honeymoon will be short-lived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big problem is that the way Ayotte and many in her party talk about fiscal math often doesnt make much sense, and its difficult to tell whether thats intentional. Heres what I mean: In her speech, Ayotte applauded the elimination of the states interest and dividends tax, a move that disproportionately benefited wealthy taxpayers. The loss of that revenue means the state is out, conservatively speaking, north of $150 million annually. Republicans have been touting that one quite a bit lately, calling it a win for taxpayers (although more than half of it was paid by the top 1 percent of households), and so its no surprise that Ayotte joined the chorus. But if Republicans were really interested in helping out all taxpayers instead of just the wealthiest ones, they would have just raised the threshold of who pays the I&D tax and taken half the revenue hit, at most. And thats exactly what Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joyce Craig proposed during the campaign, but in the end the GOPs trickle-down whimsy carried the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont mean to beat a dead horse the repeal is done and over. But what isnt done and over is the daily price well pay for that repeal even as we are scolded for not recognizing the theoretical advantage we have just gained. Thats not me trying to be a nattering nabob of negativism, either. Ayotte was clear in her speech that theres belt-tightening in our future because revenues are down. To deal with that hard fact, she has asked millionaire former one-term Gov. Craig Benson to channel billionaire Elon Musk for a New Hampshire version of DOGE called (groan) COGE the Commision on Government Efficiency. To make matters even more challenging, all the federal American Rescue Plan money has now dried up, and so between that and the business tax cuts of recent years, and the repeal of the I&D tax, the New Hampshire Advantage is feeling less advantageous by the day. And heres where the integrity of the numbers really starts taking a beating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayotte says no income tax ever shocker! and she brags about New Hampshire being in the top 10 in total education funding per pupil in the nation. I think thats wonderful, she said, and we need to keep it up. But, she also supports the expansion of education freedom accounts, a program that siphons off public education dollars from local property taxes in the name of school choice (which really means rest stop on the way to public school privatization). And heres the kicker she then pleads with local communities to keep property taxes as low as possible because they are too high already. So, if youre keeping score: Millions upon millions of dollars in lost revenue from tax cuts and repeals primarily benefiting corporations and the wealthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Far less federal money coming into the state. Even more public money from the Education Trust Fund redirected to cover the rising cost of an expanded school voucher system. And, with all of that, we are told there will never be a progressive tax, but local communities shouldnt increase property taxes. How, then, is New Hampshire going to make all of this work? Apparently thats going to depend on whatever austerity measures are dreamed up by Benson and his COGE partner, New Hampshire Lottery Commissioner Andy Crews. Ayotte promises those cuts wont harm the states most vulnerable people this is nonnegotiable, she said. I dont know, however, if shes being honest with herself because its difficult to imagine how it can be avoided. Maybe well see a new definition of the word vulnerable to help massage the math. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope my concerns prove to be unfounded and that its my math skills that are lacking. Policy failures may cost politicians their seats come election time, but thats nothing compared to the price the rest of us pay today, tomorrow, and all the tomorrows to come. So, if you are to take Ayotte at her word, a win for our new governor means a win for all. And Im rooting for us, always. But when the promised cuts start coming and public services suffer, Republicans are going to have to do a better job explaining their back-of-the-napkin calculations. If we are truly on the cusp of a new era of austerity, well all need more than another slogan about how terrific things are in theory. Costco has remained firm in its position not to raise the price of its hot dogs, and now its partnering in a new kind of affordability out west that Chicago should seek and embrace. The wholesale retail giant is branching out from rotisserie chickens, bulk toilet paper and more to a new joint venture in housing in the Baldwin Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. In partnership with Thrive Living, Costco is opening a store that will feature a huge, 800-unit apartment complex upstairs, and 150 of those units are sectioned for affordable housing. The developers of the privately funded project have said it will cost $425 million. The Los Angeles Costco model isnt without its problems, to be sure one writer on X called the units, which range from 350 to 605 square feet in living space, a Costco prison, notwithstanding the availability of pizza slices, $2.49 sundaes and cheap chicken bakes. Regardless of aesthetics and such fringe benefits, the project is a big step forward for California, one made possible by a law passed in 2022 that makes it easier for developers to build mixed-use commercial and rental buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago is pursuing similar mixed-use projects, but while the Los Angeles Costco project is a predominately private endeavor (though the developers are exploring tax credits), Mayor Brandon Johnsons pursuit of affordable housing relies on taxpayer funding. Johnson has already spent $30.6 million in taxpayer money to remodel 44 affordable housing units in the Loop. In total, he wants to spend $1.25 billion on affordable housing projects, costs the city will finance by issuing bonds. Principal and interest costs, estimated at $2.4 billion over the next 37 years, would be fully paid for by projected increases in citywide tax revenues due to expiring tax increment financing, or TIF, districts, according to the mayors office. The problem with this approach is that government-led affordable housing projects dont fix the problem of housing affordability broadly. To do that, you have to adopt policies that make it easier to build, increasing the supply of housing overall. Thats why the California approach makes more sense long term, because instead of relying on handing out taxpayer cash to incentivize developers to invest, officials are removing obstacles that make it more difficult to take on housing projects. That leads to more housing, and the more housing becomes available, the more affordable housing becomes. More supply equals more affordability. Just north of the city, the village of Skokie is considering an option that would lead to more supply allowing accessory dwelling units, also known as granny flats, typically smaller units built on the same property as a single-family home. Chicago currently allows granny flats in select parts of the city, but it should expand the policy to allow all neighborhoods to welcome these alternative housing options. The City Council heard testimony on expansion last summer, but has yet to advance the reform. To his credit, as weve noted, Johnsons administration released a report called Cut the Tape that calls for the city to adopt policies to build faster, build everywhere, build together. Many of the ideas in this proposal would simplify the housing and commercial development process, boosting both supply and affordability. Now we need some action. To increase supply and affordability, Chicago should also follow Californias lead by allowing for more residential construction in commercial areas. Existing regulations in Chicago mandate that commercial properties must be rezoned as residential or mixed-use (combining commercial and residential) to accommodate housing, which could help explain why one-fourth of Chicagos downtown commercial areas are vacant. Hawaii, Florida and Arizona have all passed legislation allowing for more mixed-use development since the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building more housing drives down rents naturally, as opposed to trying to artificially manipulate the supply of low-cost housing via government construction projects. This is the path Chicago should pursue. Especially if Costco throws in some free memberships. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. What is shaping up to be the most challenging year of Gov. JB Pritzkers tenure began in Springfield with an inauspicious fight between the governor and a key leader in his own party, House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch. Earlier this week, Welch embarrassed Pritzker by squashing a bill the governor had made a high priority; specifically, to bar the sale of potent gummies infused with synthetic THC to children. This page thought, and thinks, the governor was right and Welch was dead wrong on that issue. But thats not the only thing that worries us. The outcome of this legislative effort augurs poorly for sensible solutions to the $3.2 billion budget deficit Pritzker and lawmakers face later this year. As we write, much remains murky about how and why Welch wouldnt allow a vote on the Senate-passed hemp-industry bill Pritzker had personally lobbied House Democrats to support. But one of the plausible explanations we saw was that there werent 60 Democrats in favor, which fell below an informal internal threshold Welch purportedly has established for bringing legislation to the House floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Operating with a veto-proof majority of 78 Democrats in the 118-member chamber, Welch reportedly requires that any bill getting a floor vote must be able to pass with only Democratic votes even if (as was certainly the case with the hemp bill) it would easily win approval on a bipartisan basis. Readers might recall a Republican version of this approach in Washington, D.C., dubbed after former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the Illinois congressman who after leaving office was convicted of paying a sexual-abuse victim for his silence and spent 13 months in federal prison. The Hastert rule informally demanded backing from a majority of the majority that is, support within the GOP caucus before a bill could get a floor vote. That standard is far less strict than Welchs, which effectively gives as few as 19 Democrats veto power over any state legislation. The hemp bill clearly would have passed under a Democratic version of the Hastert rule, according to a fuming Pritzker, who asserted after Welchs maneuver that a majority of House Democrats supported his bill. The Welch rule we should give it a name, right? needlessly opens the door to all kinds of chicanery. For example, it allows an industry bent on stopping needed reform, like the hemp sellers, to concentrate heavy donations on relatively few Democratic members who in turn keep legislation bottled up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This sort of dynamic is the last thing that should be introduced to a state government whose long-term House leader, Michael Madigan, has been sitting for weeks in a federal courtroom fighting corruption and conspiracy charges. Its hard enough to keep Illinois government clean without providing positive inducements for corrupt dealings. The Welch rule also is particularly counterproductive right now, given where the state finds itself. Illinoisans from Chicago to Cairo are showing growing signs of tax fatigue, bordering on anger. Closing a multibillion-dollar budget gap will demand significant cost-cutting, if a tax revolt little more than a year before voters go back to the polls is to be avoided. Can Welch find at least 60 of 78 Democratic House members to support meaningful spending reductions? For the sake of the state, we hope so but hope is not a plan. A realistic budget that doesnt continue to rely mainly on more taxes and fees from Illinois residents and businesses likely will require Republican involvement and support this year. Adhering to this absurd rule requiring a three-quarters supermajority of Democrats in order to act would be foolhardy in the extreme. Of course, in the Pritzker era, state budgets largely have been balanced with the aid of substantial federal pandemic largesse, enabling hefty spending increases. Republicans never supported those plans, understandably, and so Welch had no choice but to rely exclusively on his own caucus for those votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welchs leadership of the House since succeeding the scandal-tarred Madigan has been shaky in numerous instances. He nearly fumbled last years budget vote, requiring House Democrats to suspend their own rules to approve the measure with the thinnest of margins on a third try after 4 a.m. His office has seen an unusual amount of turnover of senior staff. And just this week, Pritzker openly criticized Welch after the governor said the speaker did nothing to stop more than one of his members from berating and verbally abusing staff experts from the governors administration called in to explain the hemp issues to the Democratic Caucus. As the 104th General Assembly opened Wednesday, with all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the occasion, Welch addressed the chamber, offering a series of commitments I make to every member whether Democrat or Republican because I am not speaker of the Democrats but speaker of the House. Continuing to give fewer than two dozen Democrats veto power over the states direction frankly belies those words. In this upcoming moment of truth for Illinois, the speaker has the opportunity to give power to that rhetoric, which many on the GOP side dont believe for a minute. But its just hot air if the Welch rule remains in effect. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. This article was originally published in The Conversation. The private and in-schooling tutoring market in the United States has grown substantially since the COVID-19 pandemic. It helps that the U.S. Education Department has been offering US$220 million of funding since 2022 to help schools build tutoring programs to assist with pandemic-related learning losses. Meanwhile, certain school districts have invested in opt-in programs, in which students log into a tutoring service through their school systems online platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These four articles from The Conversations archives explore the effectiveness of tutoring programs in the U.S. and the advantages it has created for students from affluent families. 1. The value of in-class tutoring Susanna Loeb, executive director of the National Student Support Accelerator, explained that the growth in spending on private tutoring is largely driven by wealthy families. This has contributed to wider educational gaps between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Loeb wrote that high-impact in-class tutoring is the most accessible and effective option. She added that it works best when its embedded in schools during the day, where a consistent tutoring session takes place for at least 30 minutes at a time and at a minimum of three days a week. The most effective way for parents to get free tutoring for their children is through their school, Loeb wrote. Students who attend tutoring as part of their regular school education either during or immediately before or after school are shown to have higher attendance rates, which leads to better outcomes, such as stronger math and reading achievement. 2. The importance of setting goals Surani Joshua, Arizona State University Ph.D. candidate in math education, examined the factors parents should consider before hiring a tutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua wrote that parents must first identify what they want their child to get from tutoring. She added that learning should be placed above performance and will occur at its own pace. The Ph.D. candidate added that effective tutoring involves students actively being involved in the process and not just sitting silently while the tutor speaks. Students learn the most when they make a mistake and recognize that they made one, Joshua wrote. A good tutor will not intervene to prevent the mistake, but rather allows the mistake to happen and then helps the student to identify and fix it. This approach teaches skills the student can use when the tutor is no longer there. 3. Advantages for affluent students Pawan Dhingra, Amherst College professor of Sociology and American Studies, wrote that hes concerned that intensive after-school tutoring has provided advantages to children of affluent families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dhingra, who interviewed more than 100 Asian American and white families with children in elementary or middle school whose kids attend after-school tutoring centers, wrote that hes seeing a growing number of families feeling pressured to ensure their kids learn enough to be above their grade level. The students who take classes outside of school make other kids feel bad, because theyre brighter, more capable, and they do more, and they can do it faster, a Boston-area elementary school principal told me, Dhingra wrote. 4. Using ChatGPT as a tutor Anne Trumbore, chief digital learning officer at the University of Virginia, explained how ChatGPT can help students excel academically. The new artificial intelligence-powered chatbot with advanced conversational abilities has collected data on a wide range of educational topics and can pass graduate school exams. Trumbore, who studies how computers can be used to help people learn, wrote that advanced chatbots can be used to encourage students to learn more deeply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2007, early AI chatbots provided tutoring by talking students through their answers to questions, Trumbore wrote. Research showed these chatbots supported learning outcomes similar to the effects of human tutors. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Data centers are unique in their impact to residential communities, the electric grid, and natural resources use, and therefore need to be considered under an ordinance that caters to their unique impacts," say critics of Reno's approval process. (Interior of a modern data center photo: Getty Images) An environmental group is appealing the recent approval of a data center by the Reno Planning Commission, arguing the city established zoning guidelines for data centers without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in. Webb Data Center, a planned 82,000-square-foot industrial building adjacent to an Amazon warehouse in North Valleys, would be the first data center located within Reno city limits. And Sierra Club Toiyabes attempt to block it underscores growing pushback on data centers over their potentially negative impact on the environment and energy sustainability goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sierra Club Toiyabe earlier this month filed an appeal of the approval of the Webb Data Center by the Reno Planning Commission on Dec. 18. The planning commission approved a conditional use permit for the data center using ordinances established in January 2024 through what is known as an administration interpretation/decision something City of Reno Assistant Director of Development Services Angela Fuss says is allowed and common practice when existing ordinances dont address an emerging type of development. Fuss estimates city planners were getting at least one phone call a week from developers asking about data center zoning requirements. The ordinances setup by the city through that administrative process treat data centers like warehouses but have some differences, such as requiring fewer parking spots (because data centers often have fewer employees on site and no semi-trucks). They did establish a requirement that all data centers must go through the conditional use permit process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fuss says that requirement allows the city and commissioners to ask questions specific to each data center: Will this be loud? How much traffic? Will you have bright lights like a prison, like Switch? Sierra Club Toiyabe argues in their appeal that those changes were never agendized in a public meeting or even announced by the city a year ago, meaning the public had no opportunity to weigh in beforehand. They see it as unethical and a potential violation of open meeting laws. A data center is not a warehouse, says Sierra Club Toiyabe Director Olivia Tanager. The groups appeal argues that data centers are unique in their impact to residential communities, the electric grid, and natural resources use, and therefore need to be considered under an ordinance that caters to their unique impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding to the controversy surrounding the Webb Data Center is the fact that the administrative decision it benefitted from was made in January 2024 when Doug Thornley was Renos city manager. Thornley, who resigned in July, is now a private attorney at Holland & Hart and representing the Webb Data Center project. This Is Reno has reported on the ethical concerns raised by Thornleys involvement. Thornley did not respond to a request for a statement responding to those concerns. But Fuss said that for the city Webb project wasnt even a twinkle in our eye when the new data center ordinances were established. The Dec. 18 approval by the planning commission was 4-2, with one commissioner abstaining after expressing she did not have enough information to decide. Commissioners first considered the project two weeks earlier, at a Dec. 5 meeting, but postponed taking action after two hours of debate over concerns, particularly about the data centers energy use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Manny Becerra, who voted in opposition, in a prepared statement argued that with additional data center applications on the horizon, addressing individual concerns piecemeal is not a sustainable approach. He advocated for Reno City Council to take action by passing an ordinance specific to data centers. Establishing a comprehensive framework now would ensure predictability for residents, applicants, and decision-makers alike, he wrote. Thornley in a letter to Reno City Attorneys Office and presented to the planning commission in December suggested his client may take legal action if his former employer does not approve their project. Reno City Council will hold a hearing on Sierra Club Toiyabes appeal of the Webb Data Center approval on Jan. 22. Growing industry, growing concerns S&P Global in an October report put the current number of data centers in Nevada at 40. The website DataCenterMap.com lists 42 data centers within Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the industry calls the Reno data center market includes the City of Sparks and other parts of Washoe County, as well as neighboring rural counties like Storey and Lyon where a cluster of data centers have already been established. That broader market currently has 16 data centers and is projected to grow at a much faster rate than Southern Nevada, which currently has 26 data centers. In 2023, 15 states accounted for 80% of data center electrical demand, and Nevada was one of them, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. Data centers used nearly 9% of all the electricity consumed in Nevada in 2023, and EPRI projects that to grow to nearly 20% by the end of the decade. The Webb Data Center will be served by a new substation NV Energy is currently building, according to materials presented to the planning commission. NV Energy has issued a will-serve letter to confirm this. Tanager worries further embrace of data centers will stymie Nevadas ability to meet energy sustainability goals. Nevadans, in particular, should be concerned about the rise of data centers because of the impacts to electricity rates and our shared climate and conservation goals, she said. Data centers and AI facilities use an extraordinary amount of energy, and are the impetus for NV Energy building out new fossil fuel infrastructure. These facilities also pose a great threat to our already limited water resources. A polling place sign is pictured on Nov. 5. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Six Republicans, one Democrat and an independent have filed for the state Senate seat formerly held by Roger Thompson. The filing period was Monday through Wednesday. Thompson, R-Okemah, resigned effective Nov. 1 from Senate District 8, which includes Okmulgee, Okfuskee and McIntosh counties and portions of Creek and Muskogee counties. Thompsons resignation came shortly after he was removed as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The six Republicans are expected to meet in the March 4 primary. Jeff R. Ramsey, of Paden, is an Okemah Police Department school resource officer and retired Oklahoma City police officer. I am running because of school security, he said. I believe we need to harden school security. Making schools safer includes finding solutions to bullying and drug use, he said. He is also concerned about criminals coming across the border. ED Jolly, of Okemah, teaches diesel mechanics at CareerTech. He also has a diesel engine repair shop and raises cattle. He said he was led to run and believes he can bring honor to the position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He supports reducing the states income tax. David Nelson, of Morris, operates the Morris Tag Agency. He is a U.S. Army veteran who did seven tours. He said he doesnt really have any particular issues, but wants to bring unity and leadership to the Oklahoma Senate. He supports reducing the income tax, but says it has to be done the right way so the budget can be balanced. Bryan Logan, of Paden, did not return messages left seeking comment. According to his website, he is a pastor, small business owner and agriculture producer. Hoss Durrett, of Checotah, runs equipment dealerships and volunteers. I just care about this area and making it better, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is against green energy, supports economic development and education. He wants more funding for rural fire departments and to help small businesses grow. Steven Baldridge, of Okmulgee, is a city councilman, former mayor and veteran. He is a systems administrator for the College of the Muscogee Nation. I have been really involved in my community trying to make a difference, he said, adding that the area has a lot of potential. His top issues are education, economic development and water resources. A special primary runoff, if needed, will be held April 1. The Republican nominee will face off against Nathan Brewer of Henryetta, a Democrat, and Steve Sanford of Henryetta, an independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special general election is set for May 13. Senate District 8 has 26,973 Republicans, 15,936 Democrats, 342 Libertarians, and 8,230 independents, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in El Paso seized 41.6 pounds of cocaine and arrested a U.S. citizen in an alleged smuggling attempt on Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Paso Del Norte port of entry. According to the CBP, the seizure was made at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9 when a 21-year-old male U.S. citizen was attempting to cross from Mexico in a vehicle. The CBP only identified the man by gender and age. Officers performed an X-ray scan on the vehicle and found anomalies, the CBP said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A physical exam was then done on the vehicle and officers discovered 10 cocaine-filled bundles hidden in multiple compartments, the CBP said. CBP officers in El Paso seized over 40 pounds of cocaine at the Paso Del Norte port of entry. Photo courtesy to the CBP. Officers arrested the man and he was turned over to the Texas Department of Public Safety to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt, the CBP said. CBP officers remain vigilant in their efforts to stop any and all drug smugglers, acting CBP El Paso Port Director Arnie Gomez said. CBP officers will utilize multiple tools to stop drug loads. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) While the Borderland experiences a winter wonderland, California grapples with a drastically different reality. Wildfires have scorched thousands of acres, leaving hundreds of residents displaced and uncertain about when life will ever return to normal. One of those affected is Tina Aldana, an El Pasoan living in Altadena, California, who was forced to evacuate her home on Tuesday, Jan 7. Aldana described the current situation as apocalyptic, with no electricity, dangerous air quality, and officials warning residents to not drink the water. Photo courtesy of Tina Aldana The fire was all around us. So, we were driving through the fire, Aldana said. We wanted to make sure that we werent trapped where we live. So, we decided to quickly go in and out to get as many things as we could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Aldanas apartment is still standing, she described her neighborhood as unrecognizable. The houses that are completely damaged, and the animals, the animals are really suffering right now, she said. Even for those whose homes remain intact, the uncertainty is overwhelming. Photo Courtesy of Tina Aldana We dont even have answers as to when the power is going to come back on, Aldana said. Were just running around with no answers as of today and the last 72 hours. Thats the scariest part not knowing whats going to come next, not knowing when were allowed to enter our homes. Even if your house isnt damaged, you just dont know when its safe to go back because of the air quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross El Paso chapter is preparing an emergency response vehicle to assist in California. Three volunteers are on standby, ready to deploy at a moments notice. At this time, the organization is accepting monetary donations to support relief efforts. Those who wish to help can make a contribution here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Colorado has seen progress in tackling crime, but Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday told lawmakers that more work needs to be done, particularly in the area of youth crime and the theft of cattle. Fuelling the Fire Instead of mourning the devastating destruction and death that's befallen the city of Los Angeles due to raging wildfires this week, Elon Musk has taken to his far-right hate speech incubator X to blame the fires on wait for it diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. In other words, Musk is using unabashedly racist lies to pin the climate change-fueled disaster on minorities. "They prioritized DEI over saving lives and homes," Musk tweeted. He was responding to a post by the anti-LGBTQ+ hate account Libs of TikTok, which claimed that the LA Fire Department ensured its employees were "racially diverse enough" something that was then contorted into racist vitriol in Musk's twisted mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's an appalling and unsurprising development, highlighting Musk's well-documented descent into sociopathic and extremist thinking, inspired by the right-wing cadre he's surrounded himself with on his social media platform. Racist Antics We won't waste our time to tell you how incredibly bigoted and misled Musk's claim is. As Jezebel points out, severe budget cuts have led to a terrifying shortage of firefighters in LA, motivated by diverting funds to the police department. Worse yet, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has forced imprisoned prisoners to battle the blazes for as little as $5.80 per day an atrocious glimpse of a climate change-fueled dystopia in which there are countless reasonable things to blame besides mild diversity efforts. Other users on Musk's X spread fear-mongering claims about "looters in LA" in the aftermath of the devastating fire, accompanied by AI-generated slop. It's far from the first time Musk has spewed racist lies to rail against DEI practices. Last year, civil rights groups were horrified after he endorsed a tweet suggesting Black students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have lower IQs and shouldn't become pilots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has also baselessly claimed that "DEI is just another word for racism." In short, blaming the devastating wildfires, which have taken the lives of at least ten people, on racially diverse hiring practices is only the latest sign that Musk has completely lost the plot. And considering Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also announced new measures to increase hate speech on Facebook, we should expect more hurtful conspiracy theories to run rampant on social media. More on Musk: Elon Musk Says He Longs to Get Pregnant So He Can Produce as Many Children as Possible Elon Musk and a German far-right leader appeared to come to a truly bizarre agreement during a livestreamed X chat Thursday: Adolf Hitler was a communist. Musk had been plugging the chat with the AfD (Alternative for Germany) co-leader Alice Weidel for days, and given his recent penchant for right-wing viewsand public backing of the partyit was hardly a surprise that the pair hit it off. Weidel speaks ahead of the vote of confidence by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz last month / Maja Hitij / Getty Images What was a surprise, according to Wired, was how deeply weird the conversation got. And among the strangest lines to come out of the chin wag was that Musk and Weidel reckon Hitler, the fascist dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945, was in fact a communist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, on day one of coming to power, Hitler banned the Communist Party of Germany. Hitlers autobiography Mein Kampfis packed full of anti-communist views. In it, he encouraged nationalism and anti-communism. Hitler even outlawed socialism, and executed socialists and communists en masse. In 1933, the Dachau concentration camp held socialists and leftists exclusively. He also invaded the communist flag-bearer, the Soviet Union, in June 1941. In the book, Hitler also presents himself as the leader of the extreme right and also rails against Marxism, which he believed was a Jewish conspiracy with designs on weakening the Aryan race and Germany. [Hitler] was a communist, and he considered himself as a socialist, Weidel said, in response to Musk probing links between the AfD and Nazism reported on in the press. Scandal-plagued former AfD EU pick Maximilian Krah told journalists in May last year that SS members werent automatically criminals. The AfD has also been accused of clandestine meetings where mass deportation of non ethnic Germans, including citizens, was discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest success after that terrible era in our history was to label Adolf Hitler as right[-wing] and conservative, he was exactly the opposite, Weidel said. He wasnt a conservative, he wasnt a libertarian, he was a communist, socialist guy, and we are the opposite. Right, Musk responded, in typical one-word fashion, appearing to agree. Later on, he conjured up another word to bolt on to the end, when he said yes, exactly, after Weidel claimed Hitlers success came from controlling German media. You know what Adolf Hitler did? He switched off free speech. He controlled the media, and without that he would have never been successful, she said, referencing the fact that the EU was keeping an eye on the chat to see if it contravened Digital Service Act rules. Agencies wanted to determine if the conversation was artificially promoted to voters in Germany ahead of next months snap election. Elsewhere during the love in, as Wired also dubbed it, the pair discussed the existence of a God, life on Mars, and, of course, how future Martians will one day save the Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weidel is hoping to succeed Olaf Scholz as German chancellor, but that looks unlikely to happen next month. Even so, the AfD is in second place with about 20 percent in the polls, far from being discounted as just another populist spike. Elon Musk and Alice Weidel (of the far-right German AfD party) put their brains together for a discussion: Weidel: The National Socialists (Nazis) were socialist. Adolf Hitler was a socialist. Musk: Yeah, they nationalized industries like crazy. Weidel: He was a pic.twitter.com/TmDzHqTidM Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) January 9, 2025 Musk, who has spoken out in favor of right-wing figures like Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage in the U.K. and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, tried to justify his zeal for the AfDand Weidel in particularin an opinion piece for a German newspaper last month. Musk wrote: The portrayal of the AfD as rightwing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the partys leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please! German intel agencies see it differently. The AfD has been classified as a potential extremism case at a national level since 2021. The Daily Beast has asked Musk to clarify his position on Hitler and his views. There was no response at the time of writing. MPs for Nigel Farages Reform UK party have been making thousands of pounds from posts on the social media site owned by Elon Musk, X, new reports reveal. The Reform UK leader, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe MP have all declared payments from the company in the most recent parliamentary register of interests, profitting from a programme set up by the US billionaire. The revelation marks the latest development between the Reform UK leader and eccentric US billionaire, whose relationship recently took a very public turn for the worst. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (PA) (PA Wire) The pair have been linked since Donald Trump secured his second term as US president, with Mr Musk becoming a close ally on the campaign trail. Statements from the three would indicate that their politics are all in alignment, but the reality has been far less simple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres everything you need to know about Elon Musks relationship with Nigel Farage: When did Musk and Farages relationship begin? Mr Musk first began showing an interest in the Reform UK leader in June 2024, nearly half a year before Donald Trump would win his second term as president. Posting on X, the social media site he bought in 2022, the US billionaire responded to a video uploaded Mr Farage to ask: Why does the media keep calling you far-right? The Reform leader promptly responded: Because we believe in family, country and strong borders. Call me! Nigel Farage and Party treasurer Nick Candy meet Elon Musk in the US (Stuart Mitchell/Reform UK) (PA Media) After a few more reaffirming replies to Mr Farages content on X hes been known to post up to 150 times a day it would appear Mr Musks call finally came as the pair met at Trumps residency, Mar-a-Lago, in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain Needs Reform, Mr Farage captioned a picture of himself, Mr Musk and Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy stood in front of a portrait of a youthful-looking Trump. Absolutely, the US billionaire replied. This was Mr Musks strongest endorsement yet of Reform. Paired with continuous attacks on the new woke Labour government, his views on UK politics were laid bare. But it would be the next year when his involvement reached a new level. Bankrolling rumours Following Mr Musks meeting with Mr Farage, rumours began to swirl that the US tycoon who is the worlds richest man was looking to donate substantial sums to Reform. This was later confirmed by the party leader, who told reporters he was in open negotiations with Mr Musk, and confirmed that the pair did talk about money at Trumps Florida retreat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wants to help us, hes not opposed to the idea of giving us money, provided we can do it legally through UK companies, he added. Media reports rumoured the amount floated to be $100 million, although Mr Farage shot this figure down. The political intervention would not be unprecedented for Mr Musk, who donated a substantial amount to Mr Trumps recent election campaign. Through his super political action committee (Pac), his contribution was reported to exceed $200 million. Donald Trump and Elon Musk (AP) Perhaps in return for his loyalty, Mr Musk has been awarded a front-row seat to the second Trump presidency. The billionaire was soon appointed co-head of the presidents new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the pair have regularly been spotted together in recent months. Mr Musks allyship with Mr Farage would seem like a natural fit, given that the Reform leaders relationship with Mr Trump goes back much further. The pair first met in 2016, shortly after the president-elects first election victory, and they are thought to have remained allies since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to 2024 UK general election results, Mr Trump wrote: Congratulations to Nigel Farage on his big WIN of a Parliament Seat Amid Reform UK Election Success. Nigel is a man who truly loves his Country! DJT. Sudden change of heart But January would see Mr Musk change his mind about his new friend in the UK, and publicly disavow him. Posting on X, the Trump ally wrote: The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesnt have what it takes. Reacting with shock, Mr Farage said: Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles. Although Mr Musk did not mention far-right activist Tommy Robinsion by name, he has in the past been a vocal supporter on X. Mr Robinson is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court for repeating false allegations about a Syrian refugee. Tommy Robinson (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was easy to miss Mr Musks change of heart as his post was buried under an avalanche of other posts taking aim at other issues in UK politics. On the same day, he would also write that the Labour party is complicit in grooming gangs in the UK, and spend his time enaging with content from far-right accounts on the platform. The platform owner would also implicitly back new Reform MP Rupert Lowe on the same day. Mr Farage has said he wants to mend his relationship with Mr Musk during an upcoming visit to the UK, telling reporters: Not having Elons support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so Im being frank about that, and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Emergency Accident Reporting Plan (EARP) is in effect for Sedgwick County due to weather conditions, according to Sedgwick County Dispatch. The Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office asks that if you are involved in a non-injury crash in unincorporated Sedgwick County, the vehicles are drivable, and no alcohol or drugs are involved, please do the following: Exchange information with the other driver(s) involved. Contact the Sheriffs Office Squad Room at 316-660-3760 to arrange filing a report. To complete the required forms, you will need the following information: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all drivers and passengers Vehicle descriptions (make, model, color, license plate numbers) Insurance information for each driver Location, date, and time of the crash The EARP will be active until Sedgwick County cancels it. It is strongly encouraged that drivers remain home unless absolutely necessary. Drive carefully and watch for changing road conditions. Check before you go: KanDrive, also known as WICHway in Wichita, is a website and app from the Kansas Department of Transportation that provides information about road conditions, traffic, and more. Viewers can access cameras along the highways and interstates for free. The KanDrive app is available in both Google Play and Apples App Store. To view the website, click here. Drivers can also call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Emergency power line repair scheduled for Summers County HINTON, WV (WVNS) The residents of the Bellepoint area of Hinton will be hearing helicopter blades in the near future as Mon Power undertakes an emergency repair near their neighborhood. Less than 7,500 Appalachian Power customers remain without power after winter storm Over 100 years ago, a redundancy power line was placed on an island in the New River just front of the Bluestone Dam. Days before the most recent winter storm blew through, that power line had its extension pole snap, leaving it dangling above the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With several more months of winter left, the urgency in repairing this line is high. Loyd Lowry, the Director of the Summers County Office of Emergency Management, is working with Mon Power to get the repairs done. Its an important 12-thousand-volt relay across the river, and Mon Power has expedited this repair to get this back in service, said Lowry. Due to the position of the island, the best way to get the workers and new extension pole to the power line is by helicopter. Lowry said the helicopter will be arriving on Friday to ferry the men and their equipment over. Once the helicopter is above the pole, the linemen will be lowered onto the pole where they will strap themselves in and wait for the next trip to bring the new pole and equipment over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowry is thankful this repair is being taken so seriously, especially after so much has been invested in these redundancy circuits. Having redundancy in the power grid is extremely important. Mon Power, AEP, theyve both invested a lot of their money into getting these redundant circuits up, so they can quickly restore power to large population bases when we have issues such as this, or winter storms or any other damage to the power grid, said Lowry. The island circuit provides a backup for nearly half the county when the primary circuits are offline due to damage. Trees and ice: what to know and when to cut Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowry said his agency has worked with Mon Power and the Corps of Engineers in order to get the permissions needed to use Bellepoint Parks parking lot as the staging and landing site for the helicopter and linemen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Emergency room physician and navy veteran Dr. Sara Trepanier was walking her dog on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when she saw smoke in the mountains near her Pacific Palisades home. You could see the fire just flying down the mountain, says Trepanier, 56, who had been seeing telemedicine patients that morning. It was rapid, it was so fast. It was freaking me out. I ran home to get my daughters and tell my boss, I cant see any more patients because were going to evacuate.' But after she grabbed her 14-year-old and 18-year-old daughters, and their 30-pound Belgian Malinois, neighbors told them they werent able to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our neighbor was like, 'There's too much traffic to leave,' she says. They bulldozed the cars out of the way. People were evacuating their cars. Courtesy Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Dr. Sara Trepanier and family in the LA wildfire Dr. Sara Trepanier and family in the LA wildfire She watched as people abandoned their cars and ran to the beach. It happened so fast and there was no communication and no, it seemed like there was no way out for a lot of people. They were literally abandoning their cars and then running to the beach, she says. Courtesy Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Dr. Sara Trepanier and family in the LA wildfire Dr. Sara Trepanier and family in the LA wildfire Related: Adam Brody and Leighton Meesters Family Home Engulfed in Flames Amid Palisades Fire: Photo Trepanier is a North Carolina native and had never experienced a California fire. Her neighbor grew up in the Palisades and assured her the fire would never cross Sunset Boulevard, and that she could shelter in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Me and my daughter are sitting there literally looking out our window, and as it hops to the next hill, which is our hill, I'm like, 'If it comes down that hill, it's going to hit the town,' she recalls. We're like, they're never going to let the downtown burn. They're not going to let it burn. But what happened is they took all the water to try to prevent the fire from coming to the town. By the time it hit the town, they had no more water left, so they just let everything burn. Courtesy Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Trepanier helped her 90-year-old neighbor get into his caregivers car and evacuate. She and her daughters evacuated around 5 p.m. and made it to Venice. But we left everything thinking wed be back, she says. Then they showed the videos and theres no houses on our street. It's all gone, all of it. It was really traumatic. It's bad. So now we're homeless. Related: L.A. Fires Live: Death Toll Unknown, Officials Now Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders She is staying with friends and looking for a house to rent. I can't sleep, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mother of fours two older sons are both in college and graduate school in North Carolina. But her two daughters attend high school in Pacific Palisades. Courtesy Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I don't think people appreciate how fast that fire came, because I went walking at like 11 a.m. and by 4 p.m., it was two hills over and smoke billows, she says. I don't know if you've seen the pictures of the downtown. It's like an apocalypse. There's nothing left. Their school's burned. all of the places that make that town special are all destroyed. Almost everyone she knows has lost their home. My one friend whose house survived, her husband sat for six hours on the roof pouring water on it, she says. She says her town's churches, restaurants and grocery stores are all gone. Theres nothing standing, she says. There's nothing left of the town. It's all ashes. Courtesy Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Dr. Sara Trepanier and family Trepanier and her daughters lost everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont even have my wallet or my credit cards," she says. We had to rush. She grabbed their passport, but they stopped at Target to buy clothes. A GoFundMe has been established to help the single mother during this difficult time. Read the original article on People NEW YORK A Turkish American construction executive pleaded guilty Friday to making illegal straw donations to Mayor Eric Adams 2021 campaign. Adams himself has been charged in the same scheme but has denied wrongdoing. Erden Arkan, the co-owner of KSK Construction Group, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in Manhattan federal court. He said he gave $1,250 checks from KSK to 10 employees, who then contributed to Adams campaign in their own names (or the employees wifes name, in one instance). Eight of those contributions were then submitted by Adams campaign to get public matching funds something Arkan said he knew would happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reimbursing other people for campaign donations is illegal. Doing so would allow one donor to evade contributions limits and also increase the impact of the money by using the citys public funds program, which provides an 8-to-1 match for certain contributions up to $250. The scheme was planned in consultation with a Turkish consulate official, Celia Cohen, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said in court Friday. The allegations were first laid out in the September indictment against Adams, where Arkan is referred to as Businessman-5. The contributions were made in connection with a May 7, 2021, fundraising event at the KSK office, which Adams attended, according to the indictment. POLITICO first reported on the questionable donations tied to Arkan in 2023, after federal agents searched the firms office. Arkans guilty plea raises the possibility that hell testify at Adams own trial, which is scheduled to start April 21. Arkan and his lawyer, Jonathan Rosen, declined to comment while leaving court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkans plea was not a surprise. Federal prosecutors filed a letter in court last month saying Arkan planned to plead guilty. Adams legal team sent POLITICO the statement his lawyer gave in December distancing the mayor from Arkans scheme. We know from the governments own interviews that Mr. Arkan repeatedly said that Mayor Adams had no knowledge of his actions, Adams attorney Alex Spiro said. Mr. Arkans conduct will have no bearing on the Mayors case whatsoever. As part of a plea agreement, Arkan agreed to make a restitution payment of as much as $18,000 and pay a fine of up to $9,500. His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 15 after prosecutors asked that it be delayed until Adams trial is complete. That trial is expected to wrap up in May. Adams said he plans to run for reelection in the Democratic primary scheduled for June 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkans plea marks the third one tied to illegal contributions Adams donors have made. Chinese billionaire Hui Qin pleaded guilty last year to funneling Adams donations. And a series of donors connected to a separate construction firm have also pleaded guilty to a straw donor scheme. Adams attorneys maintain the campaign wasnt aware of the illegal donations. NEW YORK New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Friday he would like to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20. "If it's possible for me to get there, I look forward to it," the Democrat said during a local cable news interview. "If not, I will send my congratulations." The inauguration coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when New York's political class unites to commemorate the civil rights leader. Adams, the city's second Black mayor, attends events throughout the city on the federal holiday. Al Sharpton typically hosts an MLK celebration at his Harlem-based National Action Network, but this year will head to Washington, D.C., for a counter-programming march instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries are both planning to attend the inauguration as well. The mayor's interest in the event continues an approach to the incoming president that stands apart from most of his fellow party members though Democrats at all levels of government are moving past prior outrage toward the combative Republican. Adams a moderate at odds with the left flank of his party took a soft approach to Trump during the presidential campaign. He readily chastised President Joe Biden over immigration. And after Election Day, Adams hosted Trump's border czar and indicated the incoming administration could have a hand rewriting local sanctuary city laws. Adams has also praised the appointment of Elon Musk to a government efficiency office. The mayor argues his actions are in the best interest of New Yorkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I look forward to governing with the incoming president," he said Thursday. "As I stated, my job is not to be warring with him. My job is to be working with him." Adams is facing a five-count federal corruption indictment and Trump has said he would consider pardoning the mayor if he is convicted. As POLITICO has previously reported, there are several other ways the president-elect could help. Adams is facing a tough path to reelection this year, and the closer he gets to Trump the more trouble it could cause him in a crowded Democratic primary, especially with his base. The flirting with Trump is not helpful for him in the Black community, Sharpton told POLITICO in a recent interview. If I was between a rock and a hard place and the only one that could deliver me is Donald Trump I would be preparing for my bye-bye. Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre has reported that Ukraine's recent offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast has revealed Moscow's inability to reclaim these territories. Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, citing Ants Kiviselg, Head of Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Centre, as reported by European Pravda Details: At the same time, he noted that despite Ukraine's successful deep strikes against Russia, Moscow continues to hold the tactical initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Although the success of the [Kursk] raid has been tactical in nature, it has again attracted much public attention and rubbed a decent amount of salt in the open wound of the Russian military leadership the inability to retake the occupied areas of Kursk Oblast," Kiviselg said. He stated that Russia's failure in Kursk Oblast had been further exacerbated by Ukraine's precision strikes on the command posts of the 76th Air Assault Division and the 810th Marine Brigade, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of several high-ranking officers, severely compromising the command of these units. At the same time, Kiviselg pointed out that Russia has failed to achieve any military success despite involving the North Korean contingent in the fighting against Ukraine. He added that, in a broader context, both the situation in Kursk Oblast and the surrender and withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria remain unresolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This further increases the pressure on the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces. It also increases the pressure on Putin himself from the Russian society," Kiviselg said. Estonia's spy chief pointed out that Ukraine's precision strikes on Russian infrastructure are only worsening pessimism in Russia. Ukraine attacked the Novatrans oil terminal in the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad Oblast on the night of 3-4 January, followed by a strike on 8 January against an oil depot in Engels used to refuel strategic bombers. "The consequences of this successful attack are still being dealt with, which greatly affects the use of these aircraft for large-scale cruise missile strikes against Ukraine," Kiviselg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also pointed out that Russian forces had taken control of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast and advanced to the west. In addition, Russia has increased pressure on the village of Vozdvyzhenka, which jeopardises the security of the road linking the settlements of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka. Russian troops also advanced towards Toretsk. On the Lyman front, the Russians managed to cross the Zherebets River and, on both sides of the river, began to put pressure on the crossings near the village of Terny. Nevertheless, Ukraine's defences are holding and Russia's conquest of each square kilometre of Ukrainian territory continues to cost it at least 100 lives, he concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Earlier, UK Defence Intelligence analysed the fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast and Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast. Major General Christian Freuding, the head of the Bundeswehr's Situation Center Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defence, predicted that Pokrovsk would have to be abandoned at the end of the year or in early 2025. Support UP or become our patron! Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico railed on Thursday against Ukraine's decision to cut off the transit of Russian gas to the European Union, repeating his warnings of possible retaliation against Kiev. Fico, whom critics accuse of pro-Russian bias, said Slovakia might stop humanitarian aid to Ukraine and halt the supply of electricity in emergency situations, or cut benefits to Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia but only as a last resort. His comments came after talks in Brussels with EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jrgensen, at which they agreed to set up a working group looking into options to help Slovakia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian gas flows to Europe via Ukraine stopped on January 1 after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to continue decades of cooperation with Moscow that had earned billions of dollars for both sides. Ukraine has accused countries that still buy Russian energy of helping fuel Moscow's war machine. According to Fico, Ukraine's decision to stop transiting Russian gas is not just an empty political gesture, but an extremely costly move that will come at the expense of the entire European Union. The premier had previously claimed that Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, would lose nearly 500,000 ($515,000) annually in transit fees for transporting the gas to other EU countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The solution, he said, was for Ukraine to resume the gas supplies or compensate for the financial shortfall. Slovakia also relies on Russian gas for its own use. Ukraine too had collected billions in transit fees. But Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the gas transmission network had, with EU assistance, been prepared for a decision to halt deliveries. EU assures supply stability Brussels has downplayed the impact that the loss of Russian gas will have on the 27-member bloc overall. "The situation is stable with all member states using a mix of regular winter storage and imports from third countries," said a spokesperson for the Polish EU presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission said the transit cut-off had been expected and reiterated the bloc's preparedness to replace the gas supplies via four alternative routes. "The commission has been working for more than a year specifically on preparing for a scenario without Russian gas transiting via Ukraine," it said. Its alternative routes include imports via Germany, Poland and Italy with supplies coming primarily via Liquefied Natural Gas terminals, as well as the so-called Trans-Balkan route through Greece, Turkey and Romania. According to a commission document, the EU received about 14 billion cubic metres of gas via Ukraine per year in 2023 and 2024 - a drastic reduction compared to the 40 billion cubic metres of gas annually before the outbreak of war in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the end of Ukraine's transit route, Russian gas continues to reach the EU via other routes, including the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines laid in the Black Sea. Adequate gas supplies Several individual EU countries have signalled that the cut-off of Russian gas via Ukraine is unlikely to affect their supplies. "The transit stoppage will not affect the Czech Republic," said Marek Vosahlik, a spokesman for the country's Industry and Trade Ministry, citing alternative gas supplies and previous investments. Wholesale gas prices were being closely monitored, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romania is not affected as it does not have direct supply contracts with Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom. The country is close to being the EU's largest gas producer, coming a close second to the Netherlands according to commission data on the third quarter of 2024. "Currently, Romania has almost 2 billion normal cubic metres stored, with a daily consumption of less than 40 million normal cubic metres," Energy Minister Sebastian Burdija told the Romanian news agency Agerpres. Bulgaria's natural gas transmission and storage operator Bulgaria's Bulgartransgaz had experienced no significant changes in natural gas flows in the first few days of 2025, it told the Bulgarian news agency BTA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company stressed its work on key initiatives to increase transmission capacities and thus regional supply security, notably the Vertical Gas Corridor which aims to connect eastern European countries with Greece. Hungary is set to be largely unaffected as it receives Russian gas via the Black Sea pipeline, an alternative route that bypasses Ukraine by running through Turkey and up through the Balkans. Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto said gas supplies were still at an adequate level. He noted however that consumers could see a rise in their electricity bills, which are linked to gas prices, due to an interruption in Russian supplies. Unease in eastern Europe Some eastern European states are still heavily reliant on Russian imports, sparking unease over gas supplies for the current winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation is at its most critical in EU candidate country Moldova, which borders Ukraine and has to contend with Russian-backed separatists at home. The breakaway region of Transnistria will run out of gas for basic cooking and heating in less than a month, authorities warned, as the shutdown in Russian supplies plunged the separatist state into crisis. Internationally recognized as part of Moldova, Transnistria declared independence at the end of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since relied on Moscow's support. Gazprom had previously reduced its deliveries to Moldova since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the Russian company solely supplying Transnistria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Kremlin has once again resorted to energy blackmail in order to influence the 2025 parliamentary elections and undermine our European path," said Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The pro-European politician, who is staunchly defiant of Russia, was re-elected in November after a vote marred by accusations of Russian interference. The rest of Moldova, which imports energy from neighbouring Romania, has so far not been affected by the change in gas supply routes. The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, Agerpres, ANSA, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, PAP and TASR as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project. A federal judge last week refused to alter her ruling allowing only some claims to proceed to a jury trial against Denver for its alleged constitutional violations against protesters. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recommended that airlines should not use Russian airspace for flights due to the risk of war-related incidents. The recommendation is valid until 31 July 2025 but may be revised earlier if necessary. Source: European Pravda, with reference to an EASA bulletin issued on 9 January Details: The new Conflict Zone Information Bulletin expands on the recommendations for flying in Russian airspace previously included in CZIB-2022-01R11 for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is recommended to avoid flying in Russian airspace west of 60 longitude. The recommendation also applies to air carriers registered outside the EU that operate under EASA authorisations. The recommendation is valid until 31 July 2025 but may be reviewed earlier if necessary. "EASA, in cooperation with the European Commission, will continue to closely monitor the situation, to assess the risk exposure for EU and third-country operators conducting flights to/from the European Union," the regulator said. The statement reiterated that currently no EU airlines fly to Russia or through Russian airspace, but some third-country airlines continue to do so, despite the risks associated with the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new recommendation is likely to have been prompted by the downing of an Azerbaijani Airlines flight from Baku to Grozny. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has demanded that the Russian representatives responsible for the crash be punished. Background: Recently, a number of Russian airports have suspended operations due to drone attacks and air defence operations. Read more: The airspace over Russia must be closed Support UP or become our patron! The European Union is concerned that when Donald Trump returns to the US presidency, he may repeal many of Joe Biden's executive orders and sanctions, including those targeting Russia. Source: Financial Times Details: The European Commission leadership has initiated a review of Bidens key decisions, ranging from sanctions against Russia to trade and cybersecurity policies. The aim is to assess which changes could have the most significant impact on EU measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The concern is he decides to reverse things just because Biden had done them. We need to know how that could affect us," said a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Particular concern revolves around the potential lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU hopes that Trump may decide to retain these sanctions as leverage for possible future negotiations with Russia to end the war. Meanwhile, a representative of Trumps transition team stated that the politician has been given "a resounding mandate" to fulfil his campaign promises. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine has received 3 billion euros ($3 .09 billion) from the EU, the first tranche of loans from the bloc funded by proceeds of frozen Russian assets, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 10. The money has been provided through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, in which G7 countries pledged to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan, with the EU contributing about $20 billion. "This is the first tranche of funds from the European Union, secured through income from frozen Russian assets," Shmyhal said in a post on Telegram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In this way, we are implementing the principle of 'Russia will pay' and strengthening Ukraine's financial stability in 2025," he added. The U.S. Treasury Department announced in December that it will provide $20 billion in loan assistance to Ukraine, marking its contribution to the initiative. While Western countries have frozen $300 billion in Russian assets, they can only access the annual income generated by these funds, approximately $3.2 billion. These profits will back the $50-billion loan to Kyiv, while the vast majority of the assets are frozen in European countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at the G7 summit in June, President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a mechanism to fully confiscate the frozen Russian funds, highlighting their potential to bolster Ukraine's long-term recovery. According to October reports, the G7 plans to keep these Russian assets immobilized even after the war ends. Read also: Russias gas sector is running out of options after end of transit deal Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union is set to warn that the integration of the blocs single market is slowing down at the same time its facing stiffening pressure from major global economies including the US and China, according to a draft report seen by Bloomberg. Most Read from Bloomberg In a report outlining the EUs future challenges to its competitiveness, the EUs executive arm cited significant risks arising from increased geopolitical tensions, unfair trade practices and strategic dependencies, to which an open economy like the EUs is exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings, which are largely a re-articulation of a broader report completed last year by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, are at risk of being overshadowed by an ongoing trade spat between the EU and China, and Donald Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration. The document doesnt contain any new policy plans or concrete actions. Specifically, the EU says increased Chinese exports at very competitive prices, in many cases facilitated by state subsidies, might cause serious damage to segments of EU manufacturing. On Thursday, Beijing hit out at EU restrictions on third-country state subsidies, which it said the bloc was unfairly wielding against Chinese investment. The document adds that the bloc suffers from structurally high energy and electricity prices, which can be as much as two to three times higher than costs in the US. Ursula von der Leyen made affordable energy one of her political priorities for her second term as European Commission president. While electricity and gas prices have eased from records seen during an energy crisis in 2022, the region is still feeling the aftershocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EUs higher energy costs risk hampering the transition to climate neutrality, which Europe aims to reach in 2050. To further slash greenhouse gas emissions, the region wants to rely on electrification and it hasnt taken off yet at a large scale. More broadly, the EU report acknowledges the bloc is significantly behind the US and China in the digital sector, noting that its home to only 263 unicorn companies, compared to 1,539 in the US and 387 in China. It warns that the two nations are already way ahead on the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. It also says that e-commerce giants are disrupting competition in the parcel delivery space, posing a challenge to the blocs postal sector at large. --With assistance from Ewa Krukowska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. KANSAS CITY, Mo. An air of concern rises at Kansas Citys municipal animal shelter, KC Pet Project. Some pause comes, as a former executive takes to social media, expressing his worry that new leadership may seek to euthanize more animals. That shelter promotes itself as being a no-kill facility. The non-profits interim leader dismissed these concerns as being unfounded. KC Pet Projects website says 70% of animals taken there were being euthanized before KCPP took over the shelter. Former Pet Project COO Chad Ackerman left his position on December 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former CEO Teresa Johnson also left her job that month. KC Pet Project took over control of the shelter in 2012. Joes Blog: Accumulating snows likely (THU-1/9) On Wednesday, Ackerman posted a long advisory to social media, expressing concerns that new board members, and the shelters interim CEO, Steve Kaufman, would revert to putting down more animals to save money. Ackermans post said Kaufman has discussions with KC Pet Project leaders about this potential move on December 13. Part of Ackermans post from Wednesday said, Financial limitations should not slow the process of saving homeless pets and supporting tax-paying citizens in a community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three of KC Pet Projects five board members have left their positions in the past month. Ackerman said some of them quit in protest, but one Pet Project source tells FOX4 News two of those departing members had finished their tenure, and they were actually due to step down anyway. Ackermans post said since 2012, KC Pet Project has processed more than 94,000 pet adoptions. His advisory also said board members have been critical that KCPP leaders have been too transparent. I am fearful that a new Board of Directors in place with no animal shelter experience and an out-of-town CEO not aligned with our successful life-saving mission, we may quickly revert to the old days of Kansas City, Missouri animal sheltering, Ackerman said in his post. Jackson County avoiding accountability after public works employee killed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX4 News reached out to current KC Pet Project board members and Kaufman on Thursday. Kaufman replied with an email that includes this passage: Our policies on euthanasia have not changed with new leadership and any assertion otherwise is incorrect. Our statistics will continue to be publicly available as we uphold our promise of openness to Kansas City and beyond. A Kansas City municipal spokesperson said the city will continue to support KC Pet Project. Ackerman said he posted his long set of concerns as a means of clearing his conscience. Another source close to the shelter told FOX4 News this organization and its mission are in good hands. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Has anyone outside politics the people some politicians, among themselves, call civilians had such an effect on the political process as Elon Musk? The richest man in the world (and money has long helped buy influence) is about to become co-director of the new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in Washington DC. However, the department and he will, according to President-Elect Trump, operate outside government. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, with whom he will lead Doge, have said they will serve as outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees. This spares Musk the constraints of cabinet membership, such as surrendering day-to-day control of his business interests, obeying collective responsibility, diluting his all-pervasive presence on X (formerly Twitter) and, perhaps above all, having to end his interference in the politics of other countries, including ours. It appears the best of all worlds for Musk, until and unless it becomes the worst of all worlds for Trump: at which point we shall see where, in a democracy, power really lies. Can Musk navigate the delicate balance of power with Donald Trump? - Getty Images History is scattered with civilians for whom self-regard and extreme wealth fed a sense of megalomania that made them think they should, and could, change the political process. Sometimes they managed to stay on the right side of the line of propriety and, by using their wealth to do good works, did great public services. Sometimes their power came through displaying huge moral courage that inspired a following, and not wealth, and they circumvented the political class and changed the world for the better. Often it ended badly, in degrees of humiliation or even death, as their determination to influence statecraft met resistance or ridicule from those supporting conventional politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take, for example, Grigory Rasputin, the Russian priest who exerted huge influence over Alexandra, the last Tsarina of Russia, and thence over the Tsar and, in an autocracy, the government of Russia. Rasputins value to the Tsarina was that he passed himself off as a faith healer. She became obsessed with the possibility of his curing the Tsarevich, Nicholas IIs only son, a haemophiliac. Rasputin inveigled his way into the Tsarinas confidence after the 1905 revolution. Within a decade he was the prime influence over her, and through her over the Tsar. Nicholass direction of Russias campaign in the Great War was by 1916 increasingly disastrous, and a powerful faction at court apportioned the blame to Rasputins influence, and decided to kill him. There were also rumours that he had magnified his influence by seducing the Tsarina and four grand duchesses. One of the most widely known facts about him is that he proved hard to murder: having failed to kill him with cakes and Madeira laced with cyanide, his assassins supposedly shot him three times. That still didnt work, so they drowned him. The story is probably a concoction, but nonetheless a salutary lesson to overmighty subjects. Is Musk the modern-day Rasputin? - Hulton Archive At that time Britain had its own civilian disruptor. The press baron Lord Northcliffe owned the Daily Mail and The Times, exerting influence on all levels of society. A Conservative government had ennobled him for services rendered: but during the Great War he became determined that Lloyd George, a Liberal in charge of a Conservative-dominated coalition, would take orders from him as some sort of tribune of his readership. He was humoured to start with, and given an envoy role to the United States: but when he started insisting Lloyd George make policy and appointments according to his wishes, the prime minister cut him off savagely. Discussing Northcliffe in the Commons, Lloyd George tapped his brow as if to indicate his adversary was not right in the head. Northcliffes mental health unquestionably imploded before his death, possibly from syphilis, in 1922. An orthodox political system was too strong for him to defeat. His American counterpart was William Randolph Hearst, whose ethical standards exerting influence through his press ownership were even lower than Northcliffes. He tried and failed to become president of the United States in 1904; and similarly failed in the same decade to become mayor of New York and governor of New York state. Later, he used his papers to push isolationism, and in the 1930s ordered his editors to support Nazism. He built, but never finished, a castle on the coast of his native California, a symbol of his megalomania. He inspired Citizen Kane. He projected a distorted world view to tens of millions of Americans, and the difficulties Roosevelt had in ending isolationism were not least down to Hearst. But, as with Northcliffe, he could not in the end trump the power of a leader with a popular mandate. William Randolph Hearst had his eyes on the White House, but was never able to achieve his goal - Corbis via Getty Images Some wealthy Americans of that era used their extreme wealth to create a culture of philanthropy and social improvement: notably John D Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil and possibly as rich as Musk, who as well as funding health care and education also played an enormous role in transforming the culture of American south, with its institutional discrimination against black people. He was certainly a ruthless businessman, but he never sought to shape the political process: he was content with the power he could exercise through wealth alone. Scottish-born Andrew Carnegie was even richer than Rockefeller, and although a member of the Republican party rarely became overtly political. His most ideological causes were anti-imperialism and the pursuit of world peace. He used his money to further health and education, and founded many libraries. In todays money he gave away around $11 billion. Like Rockefeller, he left politics to politicians, in an era when politicians left businessmen largely alone. Bill Gates appears to follow this model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes rich men act in a way that has a political impact. George Soross ditching of Sterling in 1992 helped create Black Wednesday, drove Britain out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism and, as a consequence, made it politically impossible for the country to join the euro when it was launched in 1999. Sometimes political impact comes from civilians blessed with moral force: Nelson Mandela, or Charles de Gaulle, a career soldier who took a political role to defeat Nazism and, later, after a 12-year internal exile, saved France from domestic turmoil and created the fifth Republic. But he did so from inside the system, as Mandela eventually could. The contemporary version of the civilian political influencer is often a celebrity. George Clooney played a part, it seems, in forcing Joe Biden to withdraw from last years presidential race; he was less successful in ensuring the victory of his favoured candidate, which showed the limits of Hollywoods influence among less privileged people. We had a poundshop Clooney in the shape of Gary Lineker, whom even the BBC seems to believe has entertained us enough. Has Hollywoods political influence waned? - Instagram Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks influence in Britain has suffered a serious haemorrhage in recent days. He has, remarkably, unified disparate factions here by presuming to interfere in our politics. He has demonstrated his complete ignorance of how we conduct those politics. Word from the Trump Transition Team is that Musk thinks he is co-president or even, really, the president himself and many of them dont like it. As the biggest donor to the Trump campaign, he is being indulged for the moment. That moment, given his behaviour is erratic even by the culture of the president he is notionally serving, may not last that long. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Two Palestinians who were recently released from Israels notorious Sde Teiman detention center said they saw the prominent physician Hussam Abu Safiya there last month, saying he was in poor condition when he arrived. The former detainees said Abu Safiya appeared physically and mentally exhausted, and that they were surprised to see him there. Israel has not specified where Abu Safiya, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, is being detained, but has said he is under investigation for being a member of Hamas, an allegation the former detainees say is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone was surprised by his arrival because he is a humanitarian doctor who does not belong to any organization, said Mustafa Hassouna, one of the former detainees who was released alongside another former detainee, Mohammad Al-Ramlawi, in central Gaza last month. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detained Abu Safiya at the end of raid that closed his hospital, the last major functioning health facility in northern Gaza, in December. Israel said the hospital was being used as a base by Hamas. In an interview from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on Thursday, Hassouna told CNN that when he saw Abu Safiya at Sde Teiman, he was exhausted and unable to speak at first. But the former detainees said they did not believe Abu Safiya had been tortured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CNN investigation previously revealed allegations of abuse at the detention center, including doctors who had amputated prisoners limbs due to injuries sustained from constant handcuffing; of medical procedures sometimes performed by underqualified medics; and air filled with the smell of neglected wounds left to rot. A lawyer from Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), a human rights organization, told CNN Friday that Abu Safiya was taken to a court in Ashkelon without the knowledge or presence of a lawyer, and that Israeli authorities extended his detention until February 13. The IDF told CNN Friday that Abu Safiya is currently being investigated by Israeli security forces. Al-Ramlawi told CNN he saw Abu Safiya when the Israeli military brought him to the detention center at around 10 p.m. on December 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abu Safiya came to us in a very poor condition, Al-Ramlawi said. We asked him what was wrong, and he said he was humiliated and mistreated, Al-Ramlawi said, adding that Abu Safiya told him and other detainees that the Israeli army came to the hospital, killed five medical staff members, and burned Kamal Adwan Hospital in front of the doctors eyes. Al-Ramlawi said that Abu Safiya was known to have restricted entry into Kamal Adwan Hospital, especially towards the end of his time there. The doctor did so to make sure the medical facility was not being used by any factions, Al-Ramlawi said, referring to Hamas militants and other armed groups. If they (the IDF) really had anything on Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, they would have killed him at Kamal Adwan Hospital, Hassouna said. Mistreatment of detainees Both of the former detainees described rough conditions at the military base in Israels Negev desert, which doubles as a detention facility. They both said that Abu Safiya was held in cell number two. Their area of detention included four barracks and six cells, one detainee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abu Safiya has not been seen publicly since he was arrested late December. He had previously been detained at the end of October but was released several hours later. His mother died of a heart attack this week, his family said in a statement on Tuesday. Both Al-Ramlawi and Hassouna said they were tortured at Sde Teiman. We are suffering from many things, including lack of food and severe cold, Al-Ramlawi told CNN, noting that prisoners were forced to sit in painful positions for hours on end. The humiliation is unbearable, he said. The treatment given to us by the military is very, very bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hassouna said soldiers discharged pepper spray into prisoners eyes and used dogs to frighten them. In response to the allegations, the IDF told CNN in a statement that mistreatment of detainees during their detention is against the law and the IDFs orders and is therefore strictly prohibited. The IDF rejects allegations of systemic abuse of detainees, including through violence or torture, the statement said, adding that in certain cases, members of the detention staff have been dismissed for not behaving as expected and in accordance with the facilitys procedures. Al-Ramlawi said that on his last day at Sde Teiman, Abu Safiya asked him to contact his wife and son in Gaza, and to ask his family to reach out to the press, the Red Cross, or any organization to help with his situation and the crisis he is in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former detainees told CNN that all detainees taken to Sde Teiman are interrogated and are asked the same questions about the whereabouts of the Israeli hostages, the tunnels used by Hamas and where Hamas keeps its weapons. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that information about interrogations in Sde Teiman was provided to CNN by former detainees. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced today, Jan. 10, after he was convicted May 30 of falsifying business records. The case revolves around a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Live updates: Trump faces sentencing in New York hush-money case New York Judge Juan Merchan said previously an "unconditional discharge" is "the most viable solution" to allow Trump to appeal his conviction while avoiding interfering with his upcoming presidency. What time is Donald Trump's sentencing? Trump's sentencing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET Friday, Jan. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect decided to appear virtually for proceedings after Judge Juan Merchan offered that option. Trump sentencing to be historic US event The sentencing will be the first time a former president or a president-elect has been sentenced on a criminal conviction. Trump was found guilty by a unanimous 12-person jury after a trial that lasted more than six weeks. Inauguration Day scheduled for Jan. 20 Trump's sentencing comes 10 days before he's scheduled to be sworn in as the 47th president. What will happen to Trump as a convicted felon in Florida? Florida law prevents Trump from: Serving on a jury Holding a state office Receive certain professional or occupational licenses such as real estate, teaching, law enforcement, many jobs involving the U.S. military, or insurance. Felons in Florida are also required to submit a signed copy of their income tax return each year immediately after filing, along with supporting documentation, copies of their driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration(s). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump would also need to check the "ever been convicted of a felony" box in any job, loan or mortgage application. This story was updated to add new information. Contributor: Aysha Bagchi, USA Today Network; C.A. Bridges, USA Today Network-Florida This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump being sentenced in New York hush money case involving porn star NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A former employee is threatening to sue North Providence, saying he was fired for refusing to work on Mayor Charles Lombardis personal properties on municipal time, Target 12 has confirmed. Michael Charbatji, who began working for the town in 2017, sent a demand letter to North Providence officials on Dec. 27, giving them notice of his intent to file a lawsuit seeking back pay, lost benefits and damages that he claims to have experienced since getting fired in 2022. The story was first reported by The Boston Globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will prove that his employment was unlawfully terminated after he refused to do work on Mayor Lombardis personal real estate during work hours while he was being compensated as an employee of the Town of North Providence, wrote Lisa Holley, an attorney representing Charbatji. Lombardi, 78, has served as mayor since 2007 and was reelected last November. Usually outspoken on all matters related to his town, he declined to comment when reached Friday. This is not easy for me, but unfortunately I cant comment at this time, Lombardi told Target 12. Being that its a town personnel matter, it was turned over and its being handled by the legal department, along with our insurance. Charbatji alleges he was repeatedly ordered to do repairs on Lombardis properties, along with a home owned by James Fuoroli, who is the towns director of public buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors properties included his Narragansett beach house and his North Providence dry-cleaning business, along with multiple investment properties and his personal condo, according to the letter. This construction occurred while Mr. Charbatji was on town time and being paid by the town, Holley wrote. Lombardi did not personally compensate Mr. Charbatji for the construction work on his properties. Charbatji alleges Fuoroli would direct him to leave his town vehicle on town property and drive his personal vehicle to Lombardis properties, according to the letter. Mr. Charbatji became increasingly uncomfortable with the repeated demands that he work off site, she added. Additionally, Charbatji had reason to believe the supplies were being purchased with a town credit card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lombardis use of town employees for work on his personal property isnt a secret. In November 2022, a Target 12 investigation discovered Public Works employees using town equipment to do lawn work on a three-family home that Lombardi had recently purchased on Steere Street about 200 feet from Town Hall. Lombardi defended his actions at the time, saying he personally paid the workers $50 each, and he provided payroll records showing the two men had clocked out for the day. But Lombardi also suspended his Public Works assistant director, saying he was unaware the workers were using town equipment. The mayor also said he hired public-works employees a few other times to work on his other properties and usually would ask his director if any of them wanted to make some extra money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think its the publics business what I do personally, Lombardi said in 2022. I dont care what people think. According to the letter, Charbatji said he was called into Lombardis office in July 2022 where the mayor offered him cash to do work on the Steere Street property. Charbatji said he refused the request, and told Lombardi he would not be working on his personal properties any longer. Lombardi told Mr. Charbatji that he would deny, deny, deny that the conversation ever happened,' Holley wrote. A month after the conversation, Charbatji said again he was called into Lombardis office to meet with the mayor and Fuoroli. Before the meeting happened, however, Charbatji said a coworker told him he was looking ill and an ambulance subsequently took him to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the anxiety and stress caused by Lombardi and Fuoroli, Mr. Charbatji remained on sick leave under a physicians care, Holley wrote. The sick leave went on until November when Charbatji said he received a letter from the mayor notifying him that hed been fired for an unauthorized leave of absence, according to the letter. Charbatji disputes the reason and said he has evidence to back up his allegations. We will provide evidence to show the dates, times and locations of the work, as well as photographs and descriptions of the construction and repairs completed, Holley wrote. Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Ted Nesi contributed to this report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - A former partner at McKinsey & Co pleaded guilty on Friday to obstructing justice by destroying records related to advice he and the consulting firm provided to Purdue Pharma on how to "turbocharge" sales of its opioid painkiller OxyContin. Martin Elling, 60, entered his plea in federal court in Abingdon, Virginia, a month after the U.S. Department of Justice announced that his former employer had agreed to pay $650 million to resolve related charges over its work for Purdue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under his plea agreement, Elling faces up to a year in prison when he is sentenced on April 4. His lawyers, including Marjorie Peerce, in a joint statement said he "sincerely regrets his conduct for which he has fully accepted responsibility." The case followed years of investigations and litigation concerning the extent to which Purdue and other drugmakers contributed to a deadly opioid addiction epidemic in the U.S. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says nearly 727,000 opioid overdose deaths occurred from 1999 to 2022. "Todays guilty plea moves us forward in holding accountable not only those corporations responsible for the opioid crisis in America, but also the executives" who contributed to the tragedy, Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary Lee of the Western District of Virginia said in a statement. The cases against McKinsey and Elling were filed following Purdue's own guilty plea in 2020 to charges concerning widespread misconduct related to its marketing and sale of prescription painkillers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Elling was involved in helping McKinsey land work for Purdue in 2013 that resulted in the New York-based consulting firm crafting a strategy to boost sales of OxyContin. The strategy involved targeting "high-value" prescribers in the medical field, including ones who prescribed opioids for illegitimate uses, prosecutors said. According to charging papers, Elling was among only a few McKinsey partners who participated in a August 2013 meeting with members of the Sackler family who owned Purdue Pharma and ultimately adopted McKinsey's proposal. In July 2018, after reading a news article about a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts' attorney general concerning Purdue's marketing of OxyContin, Elling emailed another McKinsey partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It probably makes sense to have a quick conversation with the risk committee to see if we should be doing anything other that [sic] eliminating all our documents and emails," Elling wrote, according to court papers. A month later, Elling emailed himself to "delete old pur (Purdue Pharma) documents from laptop," charging papers state. Prosecutors said a forensic analysis of his laptop found he had in fact deleted materials relevant to investigations of Purdue. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot) By Timour Azhari and John Irish BEIRUT/DAMASCUS (Reuters) - U.S., French and German envoys have warned Syria's new Islamist rulers that their appointment of foreign jihadists to senior military posts is a security concern and bad for their image as they try to forge ties with foreign states, two sources familiar with the matter said. The warning from the U.S., part of Western efforts to get Syria's new leaders to reconsider the move, was delivered in a meeting between U.S. envoy Daniel Rubinstein and Syria's de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday at the presidential palace overlooking Damascus, a U.S. official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These appointments will not help them with their reputation in the U.S.," the official said. The foreign ministers of France and Germany, Jean-Noel Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, also broached the issue of foreign fighters drafted into the army during their meeting with Sharaa on Jan. 3, an official aware of the talks said. Reuters reported the appointments on Dec. 30. The envoys' comments on the appointments have not previously been reported. Sharaa's armed group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led an offensive that ousted former president Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8 and has since installed a government and disbanded the Assad-era army. It is now making efforts to reconstitute the armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late last year, it made nearly 50 appointments including at least six foreign fighters, among them Chinese and central Asian Uyghurs, a Turkish citizen, an Egyptian and a Jordanian, Reuters reported at the time. Three were given the rank of brigadier-general and at least three others the rank of colonel, a Syrian military source said. HTS and allied groups have hundreds of foreign fighters in their ranks who came to Syria during the country's 13-year civil war, many of them followers of hardline interpretations of Islam. Foreign capitals generally view foreign fighters as a key security threat as they suspect that some may seek to carry out attacks in their home countries after gaining experience abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials of the new Syrian administration have said foreign fighters made sacrifices to help overthrow Assad and would have a place in Syria, adding they could be granted citizenship. The Syrian defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The German foreign ministry did not comment. A State Department spokesperson said Washington is in a continuing dialogue with the interim authorities in Damascus. "Discussions have been constructive and have covered a wide range of domestic and international issues," the spokesperson said, adding there has been "tangible progress on counter-terrorism priorities, including ISIS." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'MIDDLE PATH' During the war, some foreign fighters in Syria formed their own armed groups, while others joined established formations such as the ultra hardline Islamic State as it rampaged across Iraq and Syria before being beaten back. Other groups of foreign jihadists joined HTS, which disavowed previous links to al-Qaeda and Islamic State and fought bloody battles against them before going on to spearhead the lightning advance that toppled Assad. The U.S., European and Arab Gulf States are engaging with the new administration to try to push it towards an inclusive political transition and also to seek cooperation on counter-terrorism and limiting Iranian influence in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But they remain wary of how the rebels-turned rulers will manage the country and have questions over how they will bring together disparate groups with varying views on the direction the new Syria should take. The U.S. official and a Western source said that Damascus explained the appointments of foreign fighters by saying they could not simply be sent back home or abroad where they may face persecution, and it was better to keep them in Syria. The U.S. official said authorities also explained that these people had helped rid Syria of Assad and some had been in the country for more than 10 years and so were part of society. Diplomats said the U.S., European and Arab countries, particularly Egypt and Jordan, opposed the appointments because they suspected the moves could send encouraging signals to transnational jihadists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those appointed to the post of brigadier-general include Jordanian citizen Abdul Rahman Hussein al-Khatib and Chinese Uyghur militant Abdulaziz Dawood Khudaberdi, also known as Zahid. Zahid commands the Turkistan Islamic Party's forces in Syria, which seeks to establish an independent state in parts of China and which Beijing designates as a terrorist group. Also appointed was Egyptian militant Alaa Mohamed Abdelbaqy, who fled Egypt in 2013 and was sentenced to life in prison in absentia in 2016 on terrorism charges. He headed the al Qaeda-linked al Nusra Front in Egypt and was the main link between it and other al Qaeda-linked groups, according to Egyptian security sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria-focused diplomats and analysts say the country's new rulers face a challenge balancing the interests and demands of many factions, including foreigners, with the demands of Western and Arab powers whose support they need to rebuild the country. Aaron Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the rationale from Damascus for appointing foreign fighters to the military was that they are trusted and loyal, but also that Syria's new rulers want to prevent them causing trouble in the country or abroad. "Maybe this is a middle path that works for everybody that hopefully leads to nothing happening outside of the country, but also they become sort of part of just Syrian society now," Zelin said. "But I imagine there will still be risks locally as well as concerns globally." (Reporting by Timour Azhari in Beirut and John Irish in Paris; additional reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Humeyra Pamuk in Washington and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan in Cairo; Editing by William Maclean) (COLORADO) Californias largest insurer, State Farm, canceled 72,000 policies last February, 30,000 of which were homeowner policies. Now the states insurer, used by many as a last result, called the California FAIR plan, will likely be overwhelmed by billions of claims it will receive over the coming days and weeks. In Colorado, where similar devastating wildfires have hit, insurance premiums have been rising significantly, and some smaller insurance companies are even pulling back from covering properties. My heart just breaks for all my neighbors who have lost their homes and I hope their insurance companies pull through and that they can move forward and rebuild, said Kathy, who lives in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Californias wildfires may not directly impact Colorados insurance premiums, the growing risk of such disasters will. There should not be a direct impact on rates in Colorado due to the fires in California, explained Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. That said, we have the same risk in Colorado. Walker told FOX21 News that California is ranked first for the number of properties in wildfire-risk areas, Colorado is ranked second. As we sit here and watch these tragic historic events play out in southern California, we really need to be thinking about how that does impact the way we think, both from how we prevent and mitigate against wildfires, how our insurance works with that, and really not make some of the bad public policy decisions that have thrust California into an insurance crisis, Walker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After major California insurers left the market last year, homeowners have had to turn to the states FAIR program an insurance pool. The Pacific Palisades is the fifth largest user of FAIR policies in the state, with nearly $6 billion in exposure. But, the FAIR program has only $700 million on hand to pay claims. California has made some really bad decisions when it comes to how they allow insurance companies to be able to rate for risk, basically taking enough premiums to pay out claims when they have a catastrophic event, Walker said. Set to roll out this year, Colorado will offer its version of the FAIR plan, an insurer of last resort for consumers who were unable to secure a plan on the private market. The FAIR plan will provide up to $750,000 in property insurance coverage and up to $5 million in commercial property insurance. Still, Walker believes it isnt the perfect solution. Thats something that we hope will help people that are truly in a situation where they cant find property insurance elsewhere, Walker explained. For everyone else, unfortunately, we are seeing rising premiums based on the cost to pay out claims and the costs of reconstruction and rebuilding. So we really are, I think, at a tipping point in Colorado where were not California yet, but unfortunately, were a few bad decisions away from that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the devastation taking place in California, the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said now is the time to check with your insurance professional to see how you are covered. What is my insurance deductible? What are my limits? What if I were in that same situation? Do I have the insurance protection in place to be able to repair and rebuild my home? Walker said. Nows the time to be thinking about that, now that weve had this really tragic wakeup call. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported an aircraft was damaged by a drone Thursday while fighting the deadly Palisades fire in Los Angeles. Fire officials informed the FAA that a firefighting aircraft struck a drone while it was operating over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 9, the agency said in a statement. The aircraft landed safely. The FAA will investigate, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have implemented several Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in the area and have warned citizens of the danger aircraft can pose while circulating wildfires. The FAA said unauthorized air activity during the wildfire emergency will warrant criminal charges that can result in up to 12 months in prison for interfering with firefighting efforts on public lands. The agency can also impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when TFRs are in place. At least 10 people have been killed and more than 10,000 homes and other structures burned to the ground as a result of two of the largest wildfires. Officials are urging more people to heed evacuation orders. More than 180,000 people have been alerted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damage from the blazes could amount to between $52 billion and $57 billion, according to a recent analysis from AccuWeathers Global Weather Center. The number includes direct and indirect impacts from the fires, as well as both insured and uninsured losses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Free Loaders Newly unredacted court documents allege that Meta, formerly Facebook, knowingly used pirated books obtained from the online archive Library Genesis to train its AI models, Wired reports. Submitted in an ongoing lawsuit filed against the platform by a group of authors including Ta-Nehisi Coates and comedian Sarah Silverman, the documents were finally released in full after a judge shot down Meta's attempts to keep portions of them sealed. The judge argued, per Wired, that Meta fought for the redactions merely to "avoid negative publicity," citing a damning internal quote from one of its employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If there is media coverage suggesting we have used a dataset we know to be pirated, such as LibGen, this may undermine our negotiating position with regulators on these issues," the employee wrote. Lie-brary Library Genesis, or LibGen, is a "shadow library" that provides free access to millions of books, academic articles, and magazines. That a multibillion-dollar corporation like Meta would tap into its store of pirated content is the latest sign of the impunity that tech companies have operated with to train their large language models, vacuuming up copyrighted content en masse with seemingly no regard for the law or even the decency, as one of the world's most valuable companies, to buy a single copy of each volume it was using to power its AI. Meta and other AI leaders argue that using books and other data scraped from the web constitutes "fair use," but it will ultimately be up to legal battles like this one to determine if that is the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fair use or not, some of the exchanges exposed in the newly unredacted documents suggest that Meta employees knew that what they were doing was legally and ethically dicey. With a grinning emoji, one engineer wrote: "Torrenting from a [Meta-owned] corporate laptop doesn't feel right," as quoted by Wired. And it goes all the way to the top. A cited memo allegedly shows that after employee discussions about using LibGen were escalated to "MZ" Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg the AI team was "approved to use" material from the database. High Seas The plaintiffs argue that this shatters any plausibility that Meta may try to maintain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Meta has treated the so-called 'public availability' of shadow datasets as a get-out-of-jail-free card, notwithstanding that internal Meta records show every relevant decision-maker at Meta, up to and including its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, knew LibGen was 'a dataset we know to be pirated,'" they wrote in the most recent motion. Moreover, the authors point to testimony from a Meta corporative representative as an admission that the company also helped disseminate the pirated books by "seeding" their corresponding torrents, or uploading portions of the material so that other users could download them. More on AI: Facebook Caught Hosting AI-Powered Hitler The day before Meta announced a slew of changes meant to mend ties with MAGA, one of the movements most prominent influencers, Alex Bruesewitz, hopped on a Zoom call to get a preview from the companys new global policy chief. Bruesewitz rose to prominence as a Gen Z America First bulldog on social media and became a key ally and adviser to Donald Trump in the process. He helped guide the Trump campaigns foray into the world of bro podcasts and now runs his own firm that aims to help elect MAGA Republicans. In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, Bruesewitz said he was asked to meet ahead of the rollout so the Meta team could run some ideas by him. It was the latest sign that Silicon Valley, and Meta in particular, is moving quickly to reach out to the right in the wake of Trumps victory. Only a few days earlier, the company had announced Joel Kaplan a former George W. Bush administration official would lead its global policy team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservatives have long complained about content moderation on social media platforms, and Mark Zuckerbergs announcement that Meta would be dropping its fact-checking operation was cheered by conservatives, though Breusewitz said many remain distrustful of Facebook. He also credited Elon Musks transformation of Twitter into X with helping to spur Zuckerbergs shift. I think some of Mark Zuckerberg's right-wing arc began after Elon purchased X, said Bruesewitz, who was speaking in his capacity as CEO of X Strategies. Mark seems to be a guy that follows the trend. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What was the relationship like with Meta for conservative influencers like you before this election? During 2016 to 2020, I didn't even know a single human being that I could get in contact with at Meta. To their credit, they did set up this taskforce after the 2020 election to interface with conservatives more. I think that was a positive development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for the past four years, they still kind of censored and cracked down on a lot of conservative content. I've mostly given up on trying to grow or have a voice on Instagram or Facebook. I dont dedicate effort to grow my presence there just because of the rules and the regulations. There's no growth incentive. It's very difficult to grow on there, I think, largely due to the suppression of political content. Its something that I always found to be very confusing. When you create a Facebook page or create an Instagram account you can go and decide what pages you want to follow and what pages you want to like. And over the last four years, Meta kept saying, Well we want to deemphasize political content because our users don't want to see it. And my pushback always was, If they don't want to see it then why do they like or follow our pages? And they never gave me a good answer on that. How different was the tone and substance in this conversation compared to past outreach? What was the vibe? Folks on the policy team that I interfaced with before werent in the kind of leadership position as Joel Kaplan. So that was a good step that the direct head of Facebook policy and Meta policy is now engaging with conservative leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that dialogue is important and a lot can be solved through dialogue. I told them I believe that they still have a long way to go in rebuilding trust with the American public and also with the conservative movement. I do see some conservatives kind of cheerleading them on. I think that some are still also very cautious. I'm excited about the moves that they've made. Dana White as a new board member is exciting. And some new additions to their communications team, my buddy Francis Brennan joined their comms team, which I think is good. But I still think there's a long way to go and only time and actions will tell if they're serious about change. How much is this a direct response to Trump and the MAGA movement? I think some of Mark Zuckerberg's right-wing arc began after Elon purchased X. I think Elon certainly had an influence over a lot of decisions that Mark is now making just because of how popular Elon's become. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark seems to be a guy that follows the trend. I hope that he also has some principles and some values. I hope this anti-censorship approach doesn't go away if Republicans in power go away. How did the meeting come about? Was it remote? It was via Zoom, and I'm sure we'll have continuous conversations and maybe a meeting in person coming soon. I hope that we keep having dialogue. But it came about because my friend on the policy team called me up. He said, Hey I want you to hop on this call with Joel, and we have some announcements to make tomorrow and want to run some ideas by you. Given you are largely a product of the internet and social media, will you take on more of a liaison role between the White House and these platforms? Not in a formal capacity. I need to maintain my street cred. Hypothetically if I get a contract with Meta I dont know if Id maintain my street cred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I read a lot of comments mainly by our people. But one of the main themes has been: Don't trust him. I still can't log into my Facebook account. I got banned three years ago. I see hundreds of comments like that. That was kind of my big thing when I had a conversation with them the need to reinstate a lot of these people who feel like they were wrongly banned. Was Joel Kaplan amenable to that? Yeah he was. I'm sure there's some people who were probably banned with cause, but a lot of them were unfairly targeted and banned. Or not even banned, but their reach was completely diminished, where if you get a certain amount of strikes on your account from these biased fact checkers, then your reach got killed. And if your reach gets killed, there's no reason to use the platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so I advocated for that as well as can you get your reach back? My company has probably invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into building Facebook pages over the last couple of years, and then all of a sudden we can't reach anybody. They took our money, and then we can't even reach anybody. I have 250,000 people on my personal Facebook. I post something, I get nine likes. It sounds like big changes are coming for MAGA supporters who have felt disenfranchised by the platform? I hope that they grow a spine and it seems that they are certainly singing a different tune now. I think conservatives want Facebook to be free and fair, but I don't know if theyll believe them right away. Big tech seems to be getting out of the censorship business, and it's about time. After years of increasingly awkward attempts to placate demands from activist groups and the government to suppress allegedly hateful speech and an amorphous category of "disinformation," Facebook owner Meta is joining X (formerly Twitter) in substituting user-generated community notes on contested posts for top-down muzzling. There's no doubt that political shifts in the U.S. heavily influenced the rediscovery of respect for free speech. But whatever the reason, we should celebrate the change and work to make it permanent. Succumbing to Pressure To Censor "After Trump first got elected in 2016, the legacy media wrote nonstop about how misinformation was a threat to democracy," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a January 7 video. "We tried in good faith to address those concerns without becoming the arbiters of truth. But the fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the U.S." "What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it's gone too far," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The implication here is that Zuckerberg and company succumbed to pressure to suppress speech disfavored by the bien pensant class, but rather than satisfying critics, that just fed demand to memory-hole ever more discussion and ideas. The ranks of those demanding that Facebook act as a censor also expanded and became more ominous. "Even the U.S. government has pushed for censorship," Zuckerberg noted. "By going after us and other American companies, it has emboldened other governments to go even further." This isn't the first time the Meta CEO has cited government pressure to act as an end-run around the First Amendment's protections for speech. In an August 26, 2024, letter to the House Judiciary Committee, he revealed that "senior officials from the Biden administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire." He also admitted to suppressing reports about Hunter Biden's laptop at the FBI's request. Succumbing to Pressure for Free Speech By the time of that letter, the backlash against social media censorship was well underway. Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter (now X) led to the publication of the Twitter files, revealing government pressure on the platform to suppress dissenting ideas. The Facebook files revealed the same of Zuckerberg's company. U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty wrote that government pressure on tech platforms "arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States' history." These revelations vindicated complaints by critics of pandemic policy, conservatives, libertarians, and other dissenters that their efforts to communicate were being deleted, shadow-banned, and otherwise censored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As early as 2020, Pew Research pollsters found "roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults say it is very (37%) or somewhat (36%) likely that social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints that they find objectionable." Which is to say, tech companies' efforts to escape pressure over allowing users to publish "misinformation" wildly backfired. They came under more pressure than ever from those who objectedoften rightlythat they were just trying to share information that others didn't like. If pressure led to censorship, it has also led to its reversal. That's especially clear as Republicans pushed to allow lawsuits over online muzzling and then-candidate (now President-elect) Donald Trump thuggishly threatened Zuckerberg with "life in prison" for his company's activities. Zuckerberg even acknowledges bowing to shifting political winds, saying, "the recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever Mark Zuckerberg's actual beliefs about freedom of speech, having once given in to political pressure to censor, he's now succumbing to political pressure to end censorship. As journalist and date-cruncher Nate Silver puts it, "perhaps it's the right move for the wrong reasons." It's quite likely that the Meta CEO's motivations are pragmatic rather than principled. But at least he's making the right move. Zuckerberg now says he'll follow in the footsteps of Elon Musk, who was the first tech tycoon to push back against pressures for censorship, first in public statements and then in his acquisition of Twitter. "First, we're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes, similar to X, starting in the U.S.," he noted in his video statement. He also promised to get rid of restrictions on "topics like immigration and gender" that were previously subject to scrutiny for alleged wrongthink, focus the attention of automated filters on explicitly illegal content rather than general discourse, and stop deemphasizing political content. Facebook will also move its moderation teams out of the ideological hothouse of California to Texasarguably just a different ideological hothouse, though one better aligned with a country that just voted as it did and generally favors free speech over Big Brother. Meta Joins Other Companies, Steps Back from Political Alliances In backing away from a default affiliation with one faction of American politics as well as the government, Zuckerberg joins not just Musk but also executives at other companies who are jettisoning brief flirtations with trendy causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Walmart is ending some of its diversity programs, the latest big company to shift gears under pressure from a conservative activist," The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Nassauer reported in November. The article attributed the shift to public pressure which "has successfully nudged other companies including retailer Tractor Supply and manufacturers Ford and Deere to back away from diversity efforts and other topics." That report came after the election put Republicans back on top, but the cultural winds had already shifted direction. Bloomberg reported in March that "Wall Street's DEI retreat has officially begun." A few months later, the financial news service noted a decline in interest in environmental, social, and governance investment guidelines associated, like DEI, with the political left. As in Zuckerberg's case, it's not obvious that the business executives in question had a sincere commitment to the causes they now reject, or that their principles, should they have any, have changed. Instead, they seem to belatedly recognize that allying with one faction in a divided society inevitably alienates others. That's dangerous when the fortunes of factions inevitably rise and fall, and when potential customers can be found across the political spectrum. By taking their companies out of the political fray and acknowledging their customers' right to disagree with one another and with the government, Mark Zuckerberg and other business leaders can leave us room to work out our differences in a free society without worrying so much whether the people to whom we give our money are friends or foes. The post Facebook's New Free Speech Policy Shows Business Getting Back to Business appeared first on Reason.com. Claim: Fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran out of water while firefighters were battling the January 2025 wildfires. Rating: Rating: True Context: Los Angeles officials said on Jan. 8 that some fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area lost water supply due to high demand on the system from the Palisades fire. Water remained available to firefighters in this area by other means. Fire hydrants do not generally have the capacity to be used in large-scale firefighting, officials also said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 8, as residents in the Los Angeles area fled destructive wildfires, claims (archived) circulated that fire hydrants had run out of water. (X user @kgarciadumont) Popular (archived) claims (archived) that there was "no water in the fire hydrants" abounded on social media and were also picked up by local and national news sources like the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press. Los Angeles officials addressed the claim during news conferences on Jan. 8. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quinones told reporters that 20% of fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area around 200 out of 1,000 lost water supply due to "tremendous" pressure on the system during firefighting efforts for the Palisades fire. Water remained available in the Pacific Palisades area, Bass said. Therefore, we rate this claim as true with the caveat that only a small number of fire hydrants were affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LADWP said in an email on Jan. 9: "There is no lack of water flowing through our pipes or flowing to the Palisades area. Water remains available in Palisades, but is limited in areas at elevation, impacting fire hydrants." According to Quinones, the department followed emergency procedures ahead of the windstorm that exacerbated the Los Angeles wildfires on Jan. 7. She told reporters on Jan. 8 (at the 27:30 time stamp): In preparation for the windstorm LADWP activated its emergency preparation plans and filled all 114 available water reservoirs and storage facilities throughout the city including the three 1 million-gallon tanks in the Palisades area. We also fueled all our generators serving our pump stations to ensure water will flow out through the emergency. Quinones added that the pressure on the water system in Los Angeles, particularly in the Pacific Palisades area, reached unprecedented levels as firefighters battled the wildfire there. She said (at the 40:56 time stamp): We saw four times the demand of water than we've ever seen in the system. We opened every valve available to push as much water into the Palisades area. This fire was different and unprecedented because they didn't have air resources to fight it. So you're fighting a wildfire with a fire hydrant system. Fire hydrants are not made to fight multiple houses, hundreds of houses at a time. They're made to fight one or two houses when they come in. On the specific number of fire hydrants out of service, Quinones said (at the 42:35 time stamp): Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's about 1,000 hydrants in that Palisades area. About 20% of those were without water so less than 200 hydrants were without water, the rest we were supplying water to. The shortage in the Pacific Palisades happened, Quinones said at an earlier news conference (time stamp 52:17), because the three, full, million-gallon tanks supplying the area ran dry overnight into Jan. 9. After the tanks were depleted, pressure in some hydrants also fell. However, Quinones said that water was flowing through the main system in the Pacific Palisades. She later said (time stamp 28:45) that 19 water tankers with a capacity of around 4,000 gallons each were ferrying water to the areas where firefighters needed it. The Palisades fire had burned more than 17,000 acres by Jan. 9, according to Cal Fire. No fatalities were reported, but at least 300 structures had been destroyed and a further 13,000 were threatened. Cal Fire reported that at least two people had died in the Eaton fire, also burning in the Los Angeles area, while other officials said five had died. Sources: Associated Press. "LIVE: Los Angeles Mayor Holds Press Conference on California Wildfires." YouTube, 8 Jan. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wO2RPap9UI. @Cernovich. "California Doesn't Even Have Water in the Fire Hydrants. DEI Spells DIE." X, 8 Jan. 2025, https://x.com/Cernovich/status/1877081697931403318. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cosgrove, Rick MrCoz. "Those Fires Are Crazy!" Facebook, 9 Jan. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/MisterCoz/posts/pfbid0Hos6kNSu4x1BM7SCYpjJotA5VeXC8PmKkpyuSrAAwGwdW2VuyiCsvSwbBqPvtiRfl. Eaton Fire: Incident Update on 01/09/2025 at 8:27 AM | CAL FIRE. https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire/updates/0144c779-49ed-404d-b8bf-189cd847d5db. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025. FOX 11 Los Angeles. "LA Fires: 5 Confirmed Dead in Eaton Fire." FOX 11 Los Angeles, 8 Jan. 2025, https://www.foxla.com/video/1573512. Hamilton, Matt, and David Zahniser. "Fire Hydrants Ran Dry as Pacific Palisades Burned. L.A. City Officials Blame 'Tremendous Demand.'" Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/lack-of-water-from-hydrants-in-palisades-fire-is-hampering-firefighters-caruso-says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @kgarciadumont. "I Can't Get My Head around No Water in the Fire Hydrants. ." X, 8 Jan. 2025, https://x.com/kgarciadumont/status/1876983928826773852. Los Angeles County - Board of Supervisors. "LA County/City Windstorm and Wildfires One Voice Press Conference." YouTube, 8 Jan. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/live/Snpf0cjnsFU?t=3137s. Park, Antoinette Radford, Holly Yan, Andy Rose, Lauren Mascarenhas, Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal, Rachel Ramirez, Taylor Romine, Tori B. Powell, Emma Tucker, Helen Regan, Karina Tsui, Hanna. "Live Updates: Los Angeles Wildfires Kill at Least 5, Palisades and Eaton Fires Raging On." CNN, 8 Jan. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/los-angeles-pacific-palisades-eaton-wildfires-01-08-25/index.html. Peterson, Brittany, and Michael Phillis. "Fire Hydrants Ran Dry in Southern California Just When They Were Needed Most." AP News, 8 Jan. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-california-climate-603512236222f82c77901db1039e959f. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reason, Stephanie. "FIREFIGHTERS IN CALIFORNIA SAID THAT ITS NO MORE WATER IN THE FIRE HYDRANTS." Facebook, 9 Jan. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/cuttie152steph/posts/pfbid0Fzuwsc9UuaoXWTyy6i2G8NUAFdiFgn7z3Bb3bir2mGpw3sWyoVymwuFSPVzAQFjil. @thehoffather. "There's No Water to Fight the Wildfire in Los Angeles ." X, 8 Jan. 2025, https://x.com/thehoffather/status/1877012305453432839. By Jack Queen (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will not go to jail or pay a fine over his criminal conviction stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, but the sentence imposed by a judge on Friday places a judgment of guilt on his record. The sentencing in Trump's New York criminal case closes out a series of prosecutions that he largely beat by retaking the U.S. presidency, though he is still fighting to avoid paying hundreds of millions of dollars for losses in civil lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is a look at the cases against the president-elect and where they stand ahead of his Jan. 20 inauguration. NEW YORK HUSH MONEY CASE Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump in March 2023 with illegally falsifying business records to cover up an alleged affair with a porn star. A jury convicted him of 34 felony counts in May 2024. The judge overseeing the case indicated he does not plan to send Trump to prison. But by granting an unconditional discharge, he would place a judgment of guilt on Trump's permanent record. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal. The conviction could still be thrown out by an appeals court even after he is sentenced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By granting an unconditional discharge, Justice Juan Merchan placed a judgment of guilt on Trump's permanent record without any other legal penalty such as jail, a fine or probation. GEORGIA ELECTION SUBVERSION CASE Trump and 18 of his allies were charged in 2023 in what prosecutors alleged was a sprawling conspiracy to undo Trump's defeat in the battleground state of Georgia in the 2020 election. The prosecution stalled after an appeals court disqualified the district attorney in the case over her undisclosed affair with the lead prosecutor on the case, but it could potentially go forward under a new prosecutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FLORIDA CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE Federal prosecutors overseen by U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith charged Trump and two associates in June 2023 with mishandling classified documents after Trump left office. A judge dismissed the case in 2024, and the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its appeal of that ruling pertaining to Trump after he won the 2024 election because department policy bars federal prosecutors from prosecuting sitting presidents. On Tuesday, the judge, Aileen Cannon, temporarily blocked the release of Smiths full report on the investigation. The Justice Department is appealing that decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WASHINGTON, D.C., ELECTION SUBVERSION CASE Smith separately charged Trump in Washington, D.C., in August 2023 over his efforts to undo his 2020 election loss. A judge dismissed the case in November after Smith said it could not go forward while Trump was president. NEW YORK CIVIL FRAUD CASE In September 2023, a New York judge found Trump liable for fraud for inflating his net worth to dupe lenders and later ordered him to pay $454 million in penalties, an amount that has since grown with interest. Trump has denied wrongdoing and is appealing. E. JEAN CARROLL SEXUAL ABUSE, DEFAMATION CIVIL CASES Trump was found liable for defaming and sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in two separate lawsuits over an alleged incident in the 1990s where Carroll said Trump assaulted her in a Manhattan department store. Juries ordered Trump to pay Carroll a total of more than $88 million in damages. Trump has denied assaulting or defaming Carroll and is appealing. (Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller) (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Friday announced sweeping new sanctions against the Russian energy sector, including oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, to try to hinder Moscow in its war with Ukraine. Britain also joined the sanctions against those two companies, the U.S. Treasury said. The sanctions also target more than 180 vessels and dozens of oil traders, oilfield service providers, insurance companies and energy officials, according to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following are some key entities and individuals affected: RUSSIAN OIL MAJORS Gazprom Neft; Surgutneftegaz; More than two dozen subsidiaries of Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, including Moscow Oil Refinery and entities based in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Luxembourg. RUSSIA'S SEABORNE OIL EXPORTS Russia's state-owned shipping company and fleet operator Sovcomflot; Two Russia-based maritime insurance providers: Ingosstrakh Insurance Company and Alfastrakhovanie Group, both previously sanctioned by the UK; Sixty-nine vessels owned by Sovcomflot, including 54 oil and product tankers and four liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers; Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two UAE-based ship managers that support Sovcomflot: Fornax Ship Management FZCO and Stream Ship Management FZCO; One hundred and eighty-three vessels, largely oil tankers, that are part of the shadow fleet as well as oil tankers owned by Russia-based fleet operators; Rosnefteflot, the marine transportation arm of the Russian oil company Rosneft. Sovcomflot, Rosnefteflot, Gazpromneft Marine Bunker and other shipping companies listed in the new sanctions have been regular shippers of Russian oil to India. OPAQUE TRADERS OF RUSSIAN OIL Black Pearl Network, a major trader of Russian crude oil, including barrels priced above the $60 price cap. Since 2023, Black Pearl has likely sold more than $2 billion worth of Russian crude oil and oil products, according to OFAC; Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UAE-based Conmar Maritime DMCC (Conmar), which is affiliated with Black Pearl, and a number of other UAE- and Hong Kong-based trading offices. RUSSIAN ENERGY OFFICIALS Yusuf Alekperov, the founder and owner of Russian oilfield services company Welltech and son of one of Lukoil's founders, Vagit Alekperov; Aleksander Dyukov, CEO of Gazprom Neft; Sergei Kudryashov, CEO of oil producer Zarubezhneft; Nail Maganov, the head of oil producer Tatneft; Vadim Vorobyev, CEO of Lukoil; Vladimir Bogdanov, CEO of Surgutneftegaz. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Fairy Godmothers of Rochester hosted its annual dress drive at Marketplace Mall on Saturday. People were able to drop off their new or gently used formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, and purses for this years prom season. There were also wedding gowns available to purchase for brides-to-be. Dresses are coming in from the community, we are always so grateful to the Rochester community for bringing in these dresses and accessories for our girls, Ami Salzman, codirector of Fairy Godmothers of Rochester, said. Fairy Godmothers partners with over 200 high schools and programs in Western New York to make sure that everyone can celebrate their special night without the financial strain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wedding Expo at Dome Arena offers couples a chance to win $17K wedding package These are girls who cant otherwise afford to go to their prom. So sometimes they come in and theyre having a hard day, theyre going through some tough things. Sometimes their heads are down, theyre in a bad mood, theyve got a test tomorrow, or whatever said Salzman. To be able to get the experience to get to know them, meeting them where they are, and lifting them, making them feel beautiful and empowered and strong and cared for and loved and what happens is, when shes got the dress of her dreams, we all hear about it, we all start making noise and kind of gather around her, and theres applause and often tears, and lots of hugs. So, its a beautiful space, its a beautiful time. The Fairy Godmothers of Rochester dresses hundreds of young women every year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. The family of an Air Force contractor who died after walking into an aircrafts moving propeller in 2023 has filed a lawsuit alleging she experienced race and gender-based harassment during her employment and that the way she was treated ultimately led to her death. The complaint, filed against Sumaria Systems LLC and others in Los Angeles County in December 2024, claims Stephanie Cosme, a 32-year-old test engineer, was hazed by test director Derek Kirkendall, who allegedly directed Cosme to perform a task he knew was dangerous, in violation of safety warnings, leading her to sustain fatal injuries. Attorneys for the Cosme family also allege that Kirkendall has a history of discriminating against the companys Hispanic and female employees. Cosme is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has contacted the law firm representing the defendants but did not hear back in time for publication. However, the firm, Saul Ewing, told the Associated Press that both the company and Kirkendall deny any wrongdoing or liability whatsoever. The Cosme family Stephanie Cosme Stephanie Cosme On Sept. 7, 2023, Cosme was killed after she inadvertently walked into the propeller of a parked MQ-9A at Gray Butte Airfield in Palmdale, Calif., while doing a ground developmental test, the Air Force said in an accident report released in April 2024. Related: Contractor Who Died After Walking into Propeller Lost 'Situational Awareness,' Air Force Says The report cited two causes for the mishap: Cosme was incorrectly instructed, or trained on, how to take the telemetry readings from the loaded weapons on the MQ-9A aircraft while engines were running, and additionally, she lost situational awareness taking telemetry readings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency's report also pointed out a clear lack of communication among the test team and ground support personnel as well as the rushed tests conducted that day due to prior delays and cancellations as factors leading to the incident. While the investigation report does not cite gender or race-based discrimination, Cosmes family alleges in the complaint that Cosmes supervisor, Kirkendall, subjected her to severe harassment in the weeks leading up to her death, calling her lazy and placing her in unsafe situations for which she was untrained and unprepared. The Cosme family Stephanie Cosme Stephanie Cosme Employers have a legal obligation to appropriately respond to discrimination and harassment, Debra Katz, the familys attorney, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In this case, that obligation was not fulfilled, with horrific consequences, Katz added. We are suing because the egregious behavior that led to Stephanies death must not be tolerated or repeated, and those that allowed and perpetuated this unlawful behavior must be held accountable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to her obituary, Cosme was born in Fontana, Calif., and grew up in Palmdale. She is survived by her parents, her brother and sister, as well as her fiance and stepdaughter. She had an innate ability to make those around her feel special and valued. Her capacity to love and care for others knew no bounds, her obituary reads. Her gentle spirit and radiant smile brought comfort and joy to all who had the privilege of knowing her. Read the original article on People LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) A family in Medina County was able to escape a fast-moving fire, but one of their pets was killed and four others are missing. It was around 4 a.m. Wednesday that a Lafayette Township man smelled smoke inside his familys home on Ryan Road and he was overwhelmed by what he found. I walked down the hallway, you could hear the crackling of the embers and the wood, I guess, and I saw orange flames that filled the whole bay window, Paul Terry told FOX 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-Team: The untold story behind police leaving SUVs in the river for months The 40-year-old initially tried to put out the blaze, but then realized that he needed to get his wife and their two children to safety in the frigid conditions outside the burning home. I couldnt put it out and then I got nervous and I had to get them out, he said. Video from the familys Ring camera shows they did everything they could to save every one of their pets six dogs and four cats. Unfortunately, one of their dogs perished in the fire and in the midst of the chaos. Three of their cats and their dog Monkey, a beagle mix, came up missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emotions are running high and your adrenaline is going. Youre doing your best to put the fire out, so we did the best that we could and we lost one and hopefully well find Monkey, Terry said. As the flames spread, Lafayette Township firefighters arriving at the scene discovered there was no hydrant nearby, so they had to pump water from the familys pond. Investigators believe the blaze may have been sparked by the familys wood burning stove. The flames consumed the interior of the home and most of the familys belongings, causing a total of $450,000 in damage. When Medina Fire Chief Larry Walters was alerted that the family was out in the cold, he brought prepackaged bags of clothing to the scene to keep them warm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, its 100% the best thing Ive seen in a long time. Chief Walters, hes a real hero. When something happens to one of our own, we support them, said Lafayette Fire Chief Brian Cavanaugh. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo assessing damage after fire, no delays expected Neighbors are also extending a helping hand to the family, offering them food and clothing. They are also actively searching for their missing pets and have even put up trail cameras in the area around the burned out house. The professionalism of Walters, the Lafayette Township firefighters and the kindness of their friends and neighbors are helping the family cope with the trauma of losing their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant tell you the amount Ive cried, then Im like I cant cry anymore, then I cried again. Yes, he was amazing, they were all amazing, said Terrys wife, Kimberly Cherney. The family says they have good reason to be grateful, even though they lost nearly everything. This stuff can be replaced, we cant. We get to cuddle in bed tonight, thats all I care about, said Paul Terry. A GoFundMe page has been created to support the family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Jimmy Carters fans and admirers are bidding him a final farewell. For the penultimate portion of the beloved former presidents funeral services on Thursday, Jan. 9, Carter who died in December at 100 arrived in his hometown of Plains, Ga., where the public said their final goodbyes. Following a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church, the Carter family set off for the former president's residence via motorcade. In the final moments before he was interred, admirers lined the streets of Plains to pay their respects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Saying Goodbye to Jimmy Carter: See All the Moving Photos from the Former President's Funeral Services by Megan Varner/Getty A joint services bearer team carrying President Jimmy Carter's casket after his funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church on Jan. 9 in Plains, Ga. A joint services bearer team carrying President Jimmy Carter's casket after his funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church on Jan. 9 in Plains, Ga. Carters funeral proceedings began on Jan. 4, and will conclude at the Carter residence, where he will be buried in a private ceremony. He will be laid to rest next to his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, who died at age 96 in November 2023. On the first day of funeral services, the former presidents motorcade paused for a short moment in front of the Plains farm that served as Carter's boyhood home, where the National Park Service saluted the late president, ringing a historic farm bell 39 times in honor of his role as the 39th president of the United States. Related: Jimmy Carters Funeral Recap: Inside a Powerful Day of Mourning for the 39th U.S. President Alex Brandon - Pool/Getty Jimmy Carter lies in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta on Jan. 4 Jimmy Carter lies in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta on Jan. 4 Afterward, Carter and the motorcade then traveled to the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, where he lay in repose for several days, until the morning of Jan. 7, when he was taken to Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There, members of Congress paid their respects to the beloved politician during a service in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, and visitors were welcomed to pay their respects shortly after. Related: Kamala Harris Delivers Eulogy for Jimmy Carter 2 Months After Earning His Vote: 'May His Life Be a Lesson' HAIYUN JIANG/POOL/AFP via Getty A procession into the Washington National Cathedral for Jimmy Carter's state funeral service on Jan. 9, 2025 A procession into the Washington National Cathedral for Jimmy Carter's state funeral service on Jan. 9, 2025 On Thursday, Carter was honored with a state funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral in D.C., which brought all five living U.S. presidents together. His remains were then returned to Georgia. Related: All About Jimmy & Rosalynn Carters Modest Georgia Home, Where Theyve Lived for 60 Years and Will Be Buried Yvonne Hemsey/Liason Agency/Getty Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter, who served as president for one term from 1977 to 1981, died at his home in Plains on Dec. 29 after spending almost two years in hospice care. The former president is survived by his four children with Rosalynn: Chip, Jack, Jeff and Amy. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In March 2019, Carter became the longest-lived American president, as well as the president with the lengthiest post-White House life. His and wife Rosalynn's 77-year marriage was also the longest of any first couple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flags at all federal buildings are scheduled to fly at half-mast for 30 days after Carter's death, including during President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. Read the original article on People HARTFORD, Ala (WDHN) A Hartford native is mourning the loss of a beloved Troy business professor who was killed earlier this week in a deadly hit-and-run. Former Troy student Paul Blount says that if it werent for his former professor, Dr. Marcus Gaddis, he would not be where he is in life today. You dont know what that one person or true impact is. It could have been a completely different outcome if he had not been there. I couldve dropped out of classes, which meant I couldve dropped out of school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Gaddis died on Tuesday after he was hit at the intersection of Honey Suckle Road and Wesley Way. Dothan man arrested in deadly hit-and-run of Troy professor According to Dothan Police, Gaddis had gotten out of his car to grab some papers that he had dropped, and that is when George Rice allegedly hit him with a dark SUV, leaving the professor dead on the scene. Gaddis spent many years teaching at Troy Universitys College of Business, retiring back in 2012. After hearing the news of his beloved professors death, Blount said he was left in total shock. He was by far the best professor I ever had, and I spent five years in college. He was fantastic. Somebody who has in his heart what he had for the world, you know, its hard to see him go, and its terrible, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rice was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with one count of murder and one count of leaving the scene of the accident. DPD Lieutenant Scott Owens says Rice had been drinking on the night of the hit and run. He was already out on bond for a previous incident, where he hit two pedestrians on Murphy Mill Road and fled the scene. New security measures coming to Dothan City Schools While Blount does find some comfort in knowing his former professors killer is behind bars, he says it pains him that he never gets the opportunity to thank Gaddis for everything he did for him. He helped me get through those accounting classes for sure. I was behind on the eight ball at 35 years old going into college. He really made a huge impact, and I would have certainly liked to have an opportunity to tell him that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rice has been booked into the Houston County Jail, and the District Attorneys office has requested that he be held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Hundreds of farmers staged tractor protests on Friday with go-slow drives trying to disrupt supermarket supply chains in a warning shot to Sir Keir Starmer Dozens of local groups took to the roads as they called for the Government to scrap its inheritance tax raid that they say will cripple farming. Organisers said their protests would escalate and threatened to hit hard by targeting docks or more action in London, if Sir Keirs government continued to refuse to engage with farmers unions. A distribution centre for Morrisons was targeted by tractors in the protest - Jacob Freedland In Northwich, Cheshire, a distribution centre for Morrisons was the target of nearly 50 tractors on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lorries were seen to be held up in the traffic created by the protests which have been organised by the group Farmers to Action. Elsewhere, 80 tractors assembled at Thruxton Race course in Hampshire and began a three-hour slow protest drive along the A303. Protests also took place in the High Peak towns of Derbyshire. Their organisers said blood will boil if the Government continued to ignore their concerns. Farmers have called for the Government to scrap its inheritance tax raid Sue Flower, 63, a dairy farmer who helped coordinate the protest, said: Thats going to be hard to contain and it will escalate. We dont want to, but we will have to hit hard. It might be the docks, it might be in London its going to be disruptive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say farmers cant strike but well see if they dont engage with us well see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another distribution centre in Northampton, was targeted by fellow organiser, Phillip Weston. He said the go-slow convoy was a warning shot for what could happen in the future, with farmers needing to stand up for themselves. Protesters received support from the public who turned out in their dozens to brave the cold and cheer on the farmers. More go-slows took place in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Berkshire. Other planned tractor protests at supermarkets have been scheduled by other groups next week, while the National Farmers Union plans a day of action, particularly targeting Labour seats later this month. 02:46 PM GMT Thanks for following Thats it for todays coverage of the farmers protests. Thanks for joining. 02:18 PM GMT IHT tax is a land grab Phillip Weston, 39, who organised the go-slow convoy at a food distribution centre in Northampton, labelled Labours inheritance tax raid as a land grab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fifth generation arable farmer, whose family have been on the site since 1820, said: This is purely a land grab situation in order to build housing. That is the long term goal of the Government. Unfortunately it is about a land grab and a green-planning agenda. He also criticised the Government for spending more money on foreign farms while not supporting their own. We have got a Government that cannot bring itself to admit they got it wrong, he added. Its very scary times. 02:10 PM GMT Blood will boil if we are not listened to, say organisers Sue Flower, who helped organise todays Derbyshire protests, warned things would escalate if the Labour government continued to refuse to meet with farmers unions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think they have got a narrative not to engage with us, the 63-year-old dairy farmer said. For too long we have been pushed from one thing to another - from pillar to post. She said she couldnt remember the last time a Government got behind its farming. If they do not engage with us soon, there is going to be blood boiling over, she continued. Thats going to be hard to contain and it will escalate. We dont want to, but we will have to hit hard. It might be the docks, it might be in London - its going to be disruptive. They say farmers cant strike but well see if they dont engage with us - well see. 01:53 PM GMT In pictures: Protesting farmers take to the road A pair of tractors take up both lanes of the A303 in Hampshire - Jamie Lorriman Farmers are cheered on by supportive members of the public - Jamie Lorriman View from a tractor - showing the Morrisons van being held up in Cheshire - Jacob Freedland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 01:43 PM GMT IHT will deprive Britons of fresh, local produce Adam Brown, a 37-year-old dairy farmer in Cheshire, warned the tax raid will put smaller farms out of business. As a result, the father-of-one said consumers will be deprived of fresh, local produce, Jacob Freedland reports. [Supermarkets] are going to have to be buying in, he said. Therell be nothing thats local and fresh. You can import food, but thats going to come at a cost and you dont know what youre buying in half the time. Charlie Frith, 24, a fifth generation dairy farmer, explained: Itll only be the massive farms that will be able to afford land prices here. 01:21 PM GMT Supporters brave the cold to back farmers Ian Sharratt, 73, an arable and sheep farmer from the Hampshire village of Barton Stacey said of the inheritance tax: It is not good is it, it is just not good, markets are down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sir Keir, he said: Not so good is it, nothing is doing, nothing is happening. Everything is against us at the moment. Mr Sharratt is one of approximately two dozen supporters who are braving the bitingly cold temperatures on a bridge above the A303 to support the slow drive, Max Stephens reports. Dave Griffin, 73, a semi retired business owner who runs a chimney sweep company, said: I heard they were coming down, I think it is a good cause, to give them some support. They are having some hard times. Terry Dewey, an 81-year-old part time pall bearer and former tractor salesman from the same village, said: It is such a shame this is happening, it is terrible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They [farmers] work seven days a week, 24 hours, they hardly ever go on holiday. Shame this has happened, dare I say with the Labour government. It is great to see the guys pulling together, they are doing it in a sensible way, they will. Provided nothing silly happens, they will get the countrys support. Supporters were out in force above the A303 despite the cold - Jamie Lorriman 01:02 PM GMT Northampton protest is a warning shot Phillip Weston, 39, has helped organise a go-slow convoy around a local centre that covers most of the midlands food distribution for a couple of mainstream supermarkets. The arable farmer said it would provide an insight into the future impact of supermarkets not being able to supply the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is to bring awareness when the lorries stop delivering out of these places, the food doesnt reach the shelves, he said. That is a sign of things to come when food doesnt reach the centres from us - its a warning shot. He said none of the dozens of farmers there wanted to be, but felt they had to stand up for themselves. 12:42 PM GMT Farmers call for death tax to be abolished In Hampshire, the convoy is slowly making its way along the A303, Max Stephens reports. Some tractors are flying Union Jack flags from their vehicles, while others are displaying anti-Labour posters and placards. One poster on the side of a tractor reads Strong Together, British Farming Forever. Another tractor had a fake coffin hoisted on the back of the vehicle with the words underneath RIP farmers Abolish the Death Tax. Therese Pitt, a local supporter from Thruxton, who is waiting on top of a bridge for the convoy, said: British food for British people and that needs British farmers. I want as many farmers as possible, big farmers and small farmers. We should be self sufficient. I do not think humanity has covered itself in glory. On Sir Keir, she added: I would not vote for him. Tractors make their way along the A303 in Andover, Hampshire 12:31 PM GMT Morrisons staff take pictures of protesting tractors Morrisons security staff are taking pictures of the tractors involved in the go-slow protest, writes Jacob Freedland. Staff guarding the entrance to the Gadbrook Logistics centre off the A530 were also overheard saying: Theres nothing we can do. Theyre not stopping so its not illegal. One security officer said the situation was improving, with lorries able to enter and exit the centre more easily than at the beginning of the slow drive. The supermarket has been contacted for comment. 12:23 PM GMT Watch: Farmers take to the road in Berkshire 12:20 PM GMT Farmer wont be able pass farm onto his daughters A father-of-two whose dairy farm has been in the family for over 60 years has said he wont be able to pass the business down to his daughters if Labours tax raid goes ahead, Jacob Freedland writes. Ryan Brown, 31, said: It would be nice if they could come into the business, but the way things are going its not going to be possible. My grandma bought the farm in 1961 and weve grown it into a family farm. Theres 19 of us that work here. But if the tax goes ahead, its going to put a lot of these people out of a job. 12:11 PM GMT Pictured: Farmers leave Thruxton Race Circuit, Hampshire Farmers in Hampshire have been met with support in Fridays protest - Andrew Matthews/PA Wire 11:58 AM GMT Tax change will cripple farming Tom Trueman is an eighth generation farmer, whose beef and lamb farm in Buckfastleigh, Devon, has been in the family for 360 years. The 41-year-old has helped coordinates protest efforts in Devon, where dozens of tractors will be travelling in opposite directions up and down the A38 in another go-slow drive. Our message is to reverse this inheritance tax, he said. It is going to cripple farming and other industries. What Labour did was very sneaky with the 50 per cent relief because farmers profit margins are so slim. Theyre trying to force farmland to national ownership or sell it on to private companies. The protest on the A38 - which goes down to a single carriageway in some places - is set to last up to three hours and will see tractors limited to 15mph (24 kilometres per hour). 11:43 AM GMT Locals show farmers in Hampshire support We are currently on an icy bridge overlooking the A303 waiting for the convoy of tractors to appear, Max Stephens reports. A steady stream of appreciative honks can be heard from lorry drivers and motorists passing underneath in solidarity with the protest. The series of bridges lining the A303 is peppered with those sympathetic to the cause, including a group of Reform supporters. Nigel Farage, the party leader, has been a common sight in previous Westminster rallies. Sausage rolls are being handed out by organisers to families, friends and supporters who are turning out on bridges in support of the slow drive. 11:36 AM GMT Derbyshire farmers arent going to sit back Sue Flower is organising a group of up to 50 tractors in another go-slow drive through the High Peak towns of Derbyshire. The dairy farmer said Labours IHT raid had pushed farmers over the edge but that the peaceful protest was needed to show the groups feeling. Mrs Flower, 63, said: We want to get a message to Labour, we arent going to sit back. They wont engage with us. We will carry on trying to reach out to get listened to. She added: They have got it wrong, theyve got it so, so wrong. Agriculture is the only industry weve got left that isnt foreign owned - we need to save it. 11:28 AM GMT IHT will destroy farming Marie Dyke, 60, and Susan Cooper, 79, are among a number of local supporters who have turned out for the rally, writes Max Stephens. Ms Dyke, who watched as the convoy left the race circuit and trundled towards the dual carriageway said of Sir Keir Starmers administration: I have not spoken to one person who is happy with them. They are not like a Labour Party, the Labour Party is for the people. People think farmers are well off. [The tax] will destroy farming if they do that. Most people I speak to feel the same way. Ms Cooper, who also attended the recent rallies in Westminster with Ms Dyke added: I am not happy with them. A trailer is emblazoned with a banner depicting views on the Prime Minister for his Governments IHT raid - Jamie Lorriman 11:13 AM GMT Hampshire farmers setting off The convoy are now leaving Thruxton Race Course and are setting off on their slow drive along the A303, writes Max Stephens. The farmers jovially beeped their horns towards a small throng of supporters as they passed through the gates. Farmers rise against Labour Lies, read one poster adorning the front of a tractor. Back British Farming and the Farmers Will Back You, read another. Kurt Morton, addressing the group with a megaphone before their departure, said: I know we are going to upset a couple of people but were not here for them, were here for us. He reminded farmers to pull over to the left in case police cars or ambulances needed to get past. The convoy will travel along the A303 towards Basingstoke at a speed of approximately 10 mph (17 kilometres per hour). Protesting farmers before they embark on their go-slow drive 11:07 AM GMT Support for Cheshire protest Motorists appear to be supportive of the farmers protest despite the slowed traffic, Jacob Freedland writes. Drivers have flashed lights and honked horns as gestures of support. One driver of a Morrisons vehicle - who had been slowed by the farmers convoy - even gave a thumbs up to one of the tractors involved in the protest. Adam Brown, 37-year-old dairy farmer, said: Its good to see the support were getting from the general public. Were not trying to target them. Id like to think most of them agree with us. The country needs farms, not just for food but to protect the environment. A Morrisons lorry is held up by farmers in their tractors - Jacob Freedland 10:54 AM GMT Ministers are totally disconnected from farmers Chris Marchment said his farm, which has been in his family for 100 years, is now facing a 650,000 tax bill from Labours tax reforms, writes Max Stephens. The father-of-two and fifth generation arable farmer, who runs Foxcotte Farm about a mile away from the Hampshire rally, said: Nothing is off the table. We will fight this the whole way. He said ministers in Westminster were totally disconnected from the difficulties the nations farmers are facing and added: It brings me to tears. Paul Barret, a Reform UK candidate for Romsey and former paratrooper, who has turned up in support for the farmers, said: I come from a farming background. It is not only farmers who are being hurt by the inheritance tax but local businesses. They work hard and feed the nation. Asked if he had a message for Sir Keir Starmer, he said: Step down and call a general election. Mr Barrett, who is enjoying a warm reception among the farmers, said he intends to meet with a group of Reform supporters on a bridge overlooking the A303 as the tractors slowly rumble along underneath. A livestock trailer with the words Axe The Tax emblazoned on the side has turned up alongside the host of tractors. 10:49 AM GMT Convoy of tractors roll out in Cheshire Around 50 farmers and 40 tractors have started a go-slow protest in Northwich, Cheshire, Jacob Freedland writes. They are planning to disrupt trucks distributing goods from a Morrisons centre by driving slowly for three hours along the A530. Stewart Whitlow, who works for a machinery dealership and is leading the group, said: Farmers simply cant afford this hit because they dont get paid enough. Were trying to prove the necessity of the agriculture sector, that farmers are the ones putting food on the table. This is just the start. Its going to get bigger and bigger. A farmer calls on the public to Back British Farming with the sign on his tractor during the Cheshire rally 10:44 AM GMT Farmers congregate in Hampshire for protest Around a hundred farmers and 80 tractors have assembled at Thruxton Race Course in Hampshire, writes Max Stephens. The farmers intend a three hour long slow protest drive along the A303. Kurt Morton, an arable farmer and representative for the group, said: We do not want to come out and do this but it is last resort. The public are behind us they are fed up with being left out of pocket. We are not out to hurt anybody. We are not militant people, we are not like the French but we cannot carry on like this. We are still being paid what we were being paid 30 years ago. Farmers arrive at Thruxton Race Circuit, Hampshire, with protest signs attached to their tractors - Jamie Lorriman 10:30 AM GMT What is expected today? Dozens of local groups are planning go-slow tractor drives through towns, villages and main roads, with some targeting retail distribution centres. Centres in Cheshire and Northampton are likely to be impacted. Those coordinating the efforts have dubbed them a warning shot to show the impact of a future without farming. Protests are also planned in Dorset, Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, with things set to kick off at 10.30am. Organisers have warned action could ramp up in following weeks if the Government continue to refuse to engage. 10:28 AM GMT Why are farmers protesting? Hundreds of farmers are today protesting in what is the latest move against Labours inheritance tax raid. Under the changes implemented by Rachel Reeves in last years Budget, farms worth more than 1 million will be subject to a 20 per cent levy, half the usual inheritance tax rate. The new rules are set to come into force from April 2026. However, rural groups have argued that the 1million threshold will hit the majority of working family farms, which are asset-rich but cash-poor, instead of targeting wealthy landowners seeking to avoid inheritance tax. This has sparked several high profile rallies in London and elsewhere across the UK. Today marks the first coordinated protest of 2025 as farmers push for the Government to scrap the policy. Dozens of protesting farmers congregate in Hampshire on Friday morning - Andrew Matthews/PA Wire 10:27 AM GMT Welcome to the blog Good morning and welcome to our coverage of todays protests against Labours inheritance tax raid. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The number of faults on the power grid near three of the major Los Angeles County fires skyrocketed in the hours before the blazes began, according to a company that monitors electrical activity. Bob Marshall, the chief executive of Whisker Labs, said in an interview with The Times that the areas near the Eaton, Palisades and Hurst fires all saw massive increases in faults in the hours leading up to the fires. Faults on the power grid are caused by tree limbs hitting electrical wires or wires hitting one another, among other causes. Each fault causes a spark. The fires together have destroyed or damaged more than 9,000 structures. Power equipment has caused destructive wind-driven California wildfires in the past, but L.A. city and county fire officials say their investigators have not determined what sparked any of the fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What I cannot say is one of these faults sparked the fire. I don't know that," Marshall said in an interview. "But it just takes one to start the fire." Data shared with The Times, but not yet released publicly, showed the increase in faults. In the area of the Palisades fire, in the hour before the fire started, there were 25 faults on the grid. In the hour that the fire started, there were 18 faults, according to Whisker Labs' data. Read more: More than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed, at least 10 killed in L.A. County fires The Eaton fire had even more faults. In that area, there were 50 faults in the hour that the fire started, according to Whisker Labs' data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Hurst fire, there were 51 faults the hour the fire was reported, according to Whisker Labs' data. That came after four hours of continuous high fault levels. There were 120 faults in the four previous hours, according to Whisker Labs' data. That means that despite the sparks flying in the area, over the previous four hours energy was left on. "What we know is the lines were not de-energized prior to the ignition of fire," Marshall said. "The problem is the utilities don't have the sensors to know this is occurring. This sensor network is sophisticated and sensitive. We have more information than they do. Our objective, weve been trying to get utilities to pay attention to the data because its valuable to know when the grid is stressed." In all three of those areas, faults in the days leading up to the fires were negligible, with only a few occurring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: PG&E power lines caused California's deadliest fire, investigators conclude On Thursday, Southern California Edison also notified the California Public Utilities Commission that it had received a number of notices, from attorneys representing insurance companies, to preserve evidence regarding the Eaton fire. In the notice, the company also acknowledged that there were "online publications that seemingly suggest SCE equipment may be associated with its cause." In the report, however, the company said preliminary analysis of electrical circuit information for the transmission lines in the area showed interruptions or anomalies until more than an hour after the Eaton fire started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To date, no fire agency has suggested that SCE's electrical facilities were involved in the ignition," the report states. SCE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Whisker Labs monitors electrical data using its Ting sensors, which monitor about 14,000 homes in the Los Angeles area. The monitors help Angelenos stop electrical fires in their homes, but taken together provide information on the entire power grid. "So when something bad happens on grid a power outage or surge we see that because its measured by many sensors," Marshall said. Robert Garcia, the Angeles National Forest fire chief for the U.S. Forest Service, said at a news conference that the cause of the Eaton fire remains under investigation but there are a number of factors to consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's a number of different activities in [Eaton Canyon]," Garcia said. There were members of the public "in there when it was occurring. And there's power lines [that] run through there. So we have teams looking at all [possible starts]." L.A. fire officials say the cause of the Palisades fire is also still under review. 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 group of Colorado firefighters has deployed to California to join an interagency effort to battle several wildfires currently ravaging the southern part of the state. At least five fires, covering more than 45 square miles in the greater Los Angeles area, have killed at least five people, destroyed at least 10,000 structures, and forced nearly 180,000 people from their homes, according to multiple reports. As California crews work to get these blazes under control, the states emergency management agencies have requested aid from several other states, including Colorado. According to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, engines and crews from Castle Rock, Four Mile, Stratmoor Hills, Hartsel, and Southern Arkansas fire departments were deployed to California on Wednesday. In a post on social media site X, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said it had firefighters and equipment at the ready in case they were called upon. "Our hearts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters on the front lines of these fires and for all CA residents impacted by this scary situation. Please keep them in your prayers as we watch this tragic situation continue to unfold," the post reads. The state fire agency also sent a multi-mission aircraft that doesnt fight fires, but flies above the blaze to provide critical information to the firefighters on the ground. Featured Local Savings The aid request was made through the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability, or IROC, a web-based application used to request assistance for all hazard incidents, including fires, according to DFPC spokesperson Tracy LeClair. When California placed their requests through IROC, they reached out to the closest available resources first, LeClair said. The first orders went out within the state. From there, they gradually work their way out. By the time they got to Colorado, they only needed five. Firefighting agencies typically engage in interstate mutual-aid efforts for large-scale hazard incidents. Out-of-state firefighters, including crews from Oregon and Montana, assisted with the 2020 Cameron Peak blaze, the largest wildfire in Colorado history. In July, several firefighters, including two from Colorado Springs, deployed to Oregon to help their crews fight wildland blazes. There are 39 additional Colorado engines available to be dispatched if needed, LeClair said. We dont know if there will be any more requests. If a closer state like Nevada, for instance has resources available, they will get a request before we do. Concerns are mounting for 2,700 jobs at Northern Irelands largest private employer amid uncertainty over a takeover deal. The Unite union said it is fearful for roles at Spirit Aerosystems factory in Belfast, which makes aircraft wings, as the company struggles to sell the parts of the site that are unwanted by Airbus, the prospective purchaser. It comes after Spirit was unable to offer a prospect of a deal in a meeting before Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pessimism deepened after Airbus said on Thursday that approaches had been received for a second plant in Prestwick in South Ayrshire, Scotland, while giving no update on the Belfast facility. Spirits Belfast footprint spans six sites, including some located in the Catholic west of the city regarded as integral to the Northern Ireland peace process. The main factory, sandwiched between Belfast City Airport and the docks, was built by Short Brothers in 1936 and produced Second World War aircraft including the Stirling bomber and Sunderland flying boat. The future of the Ulster plant was thrown into doubt when Boeing last year announced a takeover of Spirit after one of the manufacturers Malaysian plants was blamed for producing a faulty door plug that blew out of a 737 Max jet at 16,000 feet 12 months ago, resulting in a near tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the deal, Airbus agreed to take on part of the Belfast plant that makes wings for its own A220 regional plane, while stating that Spirit would seek to sell the rest of the complex, together with the Prestwick site. Airbus has agreed to buy parts of Spirits Belfast operations but jobs at the sites not included are now at risk However, with no deal in sight and Boeing set to complete its purchase of Spirit by mid-year, Unite said it is concerned the Belfast plant will become the collateral damage of corporate decisions taken behind closed doors. George Brash, of Unite, said: This is putting thousands of highly skilled jobs in working class communities at risk. People are fearful for their livelihoods and theres been absolutely no assurances since the takeover was announced. Kier Starmer said a few weeks ago that he would back aerospace and protect UK jobs, skills and production. Yet Spirit in Belfast has been left languishing while up the road were seeing a rescue of Harland & Wolff by a state-owned Spanish company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Brash appealed to Airbus, which has large aerostructures businesses in France and Germany, to reconsider taking over the whole of the Belfast complex, which employs a total of 3,800 people and is Northern Irelands largest manufacturer. The operation not wanted by Airbus produces components including casings for Rolls-Royce engines and parts for Bombardier business jets. He said: If Airbus is coming in they should take the whole factory. Thats the only way to preserve those jobs. They cant be allowed to cherry pick operations and cast the rest aside. The A220 was innovated and sweated over in Belfast and they have to take some corporate responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spirit said it is continuing to evaluate options for assets that may not be acquired by Boeing or Airbus. A spokesman said: We are committed to finding a buyer for the remainder of our Belfast business who will support and invest in those operations and help them achieve their full growth potential. Christian Scherer, the chief executive of Airbuss commercial aircraft arm, said in a production update Thursday that progress was being made on offloading the Scottish factory. He said: As far as I am aware, Spirit are still soliciting bids, and actually getting bids for their Prestwick facilities. So I feel confident that this thing is going to converge and close relatively soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not directly comment on the situation in Belfast. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Voters line up outside the Durham Main Library in the November 2024 election. (Photo: Lynn Bonner) The federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday said it will hear Republican State appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffins elections case, where hes seeking to invalidate more than 60,000 votes in the race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. The federal court agreed to incumbent Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs request to put the case on a fast track, scheduling oral arguments for Jan. 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Supreme Court is also considering Griffins case. Republican cases to invalidate North Carolina votes occupied two courts on Friday. A state Superior Court judge denied a Republican request that could have resulted in thousands of votes cast in last falls statewide races being thrown out. Except for the contest between Riggs and Griffin, all statewide races have been certified and the winning candidates sworn into office. Jordan Koonts, the lawyer representing state, national and local Republicans at the hearing in Wake County suggested the winners of statewide races could still be removed because state law establishes a way to attack the validity of an officeholder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers representing the state Board of Elections and the Democratic National Committee said the actions Republicans propose would disenfranchise voters. The relief they seek is unjust, unfair, and frankly, illegal under state and federal law, said Shana Fulton, a lawyer representing the DNC. Superior Court Judge William Pittman, hearing arguments in the Wake courtroom, denied Republicans request for immediate action. There is not any irreparable harm that the court can imagine would arise by delaying the relief sought until the matter can be fully litigated on the merits and everyone given the chance to be heard, Pittman said. It is beyond the courts understanding why it has to be now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican lawsuit centered on the question that has occupied state courts, federal courts and the state Board of Elections for months. Are people on the states voter rolls who do not have a drivers license number or partial Social Security number attached to their file legally registered? Republicans say they are not. Griffin is challenging more than 60,000 votes cast in the 2024 election based on that argument. Griffin proposes rejecting ballots only in his race, on the belief that doing so would allow him to defeat Riggs, who has a lead of 734 votes. The subject of the Friday Superior Court hearing was an effort by the state GOP, the Republican National Committee, the Wake GOP, and two voters to delete votes from the results of all statewide races cast by people who do not have drivers license numbers or partial Social Security numbers attached to their voter registrations. Republicans wanted the judge to require the state Board of Elections to go through the more than 60,000 ballots to determine whether the voters were validly registered and deduct the votes of those who werent, or have elections officials go back to voters to collect the government digits under a deadline. Republicans propose that voters whose information is not collected would have their votes discarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State law does not require voters to have a drivers license number or Social Security number. The State Board of Elections has not tried to collect the information from voters, or to identify people who are not eligible, Republicans maintain. The state elections board has known of the deficiencies for more than a year, Koonts said. It is the failure of the state board and its county boards to follow state law, he said. Terence Steed, a lawyer representing the state Board of Elections, said Republicans shouldnt be able to change the rules months after the election. This is a longstanding principle of election law, he said. Elections are not allowed to be reopened just because they claim to have found an error after the fact. Many of the people in the registration system without the license or Social Security numbers provided them, Steed said. They dont show up because of data mismatches resulting from name changes or typos. Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Education Secretary Miguel Cordona and the Education Department unlawfully imposed a new Title IX rule that violates the U.S. Constitution and exceeded their authority, a federal judge ruled Thursday. The ruling is a "victory for the protection of girls' privacy in locker rooms and showers, and for the freedom to speak biologically accurate pronouns," Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said Thursday in a prepared statement. Skrmetti initiated the federal lawsuit, making Tennessee the lead plaintiff in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a colossal win for women and girls across the country," Alliance Defending Freedom President, Chief Executive Officer and general counsel Kristen Waggoner said in online announcement. "The Biden administration's radical attempts to redefine sex not only tossed fairness, safety and privacy for female students out the window, it also threatened free speech and parental rights," Waggoner added. Cordona and the Education Department's rule change said "adopting a policy or engaging in a practice that prevents a person from participating in an education program of activity consistent with the person's gender identity" violates Title IX, U.S. District of Eastern Kentucky Judge Danny Reeves said in his 15-page ruling. The Education Department's rule change defined sex discrimination to include "discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity," Reeves wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed rule change described "gender identity" as individuals' "sense of their gender, which may or may not be different from their sex assigned at birth," Reeves said. The proposed Title IX rule change also defines "sexual harassment" as including conduct that is "subjectively and objectively offensive" and "limits or denies a person's ability to participate in or benefit from the recipients education program or activity," Reeves said. The revised definition of harassment was not limited to speech that occurs on school campuses and might include content on social media or other platforms. Attorneys general for Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky filed challenges to the Title IX rules changes and named Cardona and the Education Department as defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Christian Educators Association International intervened in the case as a plaintiff. The plaintiffs argued the new Title IX rules exceeded the Education Department's lawful authority by implementing the changes, while Cordona and the Education Department argued they legally exercised their rule-making authority in making the changes. The federal Administrative Procedures Act requires a court to declare unlawful an agency action that exceeds the agency's authority, which Reeves ruled Cordona and the Education Department did when changing Title IX. "There is nothing in the text or statutory design of Title IX to suggest that discrimination 'on the basis of sex' means anything other than it has since Title IX's inception," Reeves said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Title IX prohibits recipients of federal funding from treating a "person worse than another similarly situated individual on the basis of that person's sex, i.e., male or female," Reeves wrote. He said Cordona and the Education Department erred when they relied on a 2020 Supreme Court ruling regarding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in revising the Title IX rule. In that employment discrimination case, the Supreme Court ruled an employer engaged in discrimination when it illegally fired a transgendered worker. That case caused the Cordona and the Education Department to take its ruling "far too broadly" by applying it to Title IX and "bathrooms, locker rooms or anything else of the kind," which the Supreme Court ruling specifically excluded from the 2020 ruling, Reeves said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeves concluded the Title IX rules change exceeds the Education Department's authority and granted the motions for summary judgment filed by the four states and two commonwealths and the Christian Educators. "When Title IX is viewed in its entirety, it is abundantly clear that discrimination on the basis of sex means discrimination on the basis of being male or female" as determined by "'reproductive biology'" or "'biological distinctions between male and female,'" Reeves said. "Expanding the meaning of 'on the basis of sex' to include 'gender identity' turns Title IX on its head," Reeves said. "While Title IX sought to level the playing field between men and women, it is rife with exceptions that allow males and females to be separated based on the enduring physical differences between the sexes," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeves cited the lawful separation of the sexes in living facilities, boys and girls conferences, and social sororities and fraternities as examples of lawful ways in which institutions that receive federal funding lawfully separate men and women based on sex. "The entire point of Title IX is to prevent discrimination based on sex," Reeves said. "Throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless." The Biden administration in April announced its intent to redefine "sex" to include gender identity in Title IX rules, which threatened federal funding for any non-conforming schools, colleges or universities that accept federal funds. The Biden administration has not said whether or not it intends to appeal the ruling. Hundreds of people gathered at Washington Square Park in New Orleans on March 31, 2023, for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) A federal district court judge in Kentucky has struck down President Joe Bidens effort to protect transgender students and make other changes to Title IX, ruling the U.S. Department of Education violated teachers rights by requiring them to use transgender students names and pronouns. The ruling issued Thursday, which applies nationwide, came as a major blow to the Biden administration in its final days and to LGBTQ+ advocates. It comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, when the rule was likely to face more scrutiny from a candidate who took aim at transgender people in a culture-war focused campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration rule was released last April and aimed to protect LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The rule also conferred protections for pregnant students. The update to Title IX, the federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination in education, was expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation. In his opinion, Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky wrote in his opinion that the education department could not expand Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Reeves was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush. Gender identity refers to the gender that an individual identifies as, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. The entire point of Title IX is to prevent discrimination based on sex throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless, Reeves wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana was among the states that sued the Biden administration over the rule. Its case was pending in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals at the time of the ruling in Kentucky, which came in the case Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti brought. Louisiana is honored to have litigated this issue alongside Tennessee and our sister States, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement to the Illuminator. This is a great day for America! Gov. Jeff Landry also praised the decision in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Bidens attempt to rewrite Title IX is dead!, Landry posted from his personal account. Its a shame this even had to go to court, but pleased to see this win for women and girls across our Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to Thursdays decision, the rule had been temporarily blocked in nearly half of U.S. states, including Louisiana and Tennessee, as litigation played out. While Reeves opinion references a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limits the regulatory authority of federal agencies, it also notably rejects the rule on First Amendment grounds. The First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner, Reeves said, referring to sections of the law that could be interpreted as defining deadnaming and misgendering of students as harassment. Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary persons birth name or dead name against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual by a gender they do not identify as. Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. (Stock photo from Getty Images) A federal district court judge in Kentucky has struck down President Joe Bidens effort to protect transgender students and make other changes to Title IX, ruling the U.S. Department of Education violated teachers rights by requiring them to use transgender students names and pronouns. The ruling issued Thursday, which applies nationwide, came as a major blow to the Biden administration in its final days and to LGBTQ+ advocates. It comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, when the rule was likely to face more scrutiny from a candidate who took aim at transgender people in a culture-war focused campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration rule was released last April and aimed to protect LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The rule also conferred protections for pregnant students. The update to Title IX, the federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination in education, was expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation. In his opinion, Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky wrote in his opinion that the education department could not expand Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Reeves was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gender identity refers to the gender that an individual identifies as, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire point of Title IX is to prevent discrimination based on sex throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless, Reeves wrote. Louisiana was among the states that sued the Biden administration over the rule. Its case was pending in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals at the time of the ruling in Kentucky, which came in the case Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti brought. Louisiana is honored to have litigated this issue alongside Tennessee and our sister States, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement to the Illuminator. This is a great day for America! Gov. Jeff Landry also praised the decision in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens attempt to rewrite Title IX is dead!, Landry posted from his personal account. Its a shame this even had to go to court, but pleased to see this win for women and girls across our Nation. Prior to Thursdays decision, the rule had been temporarily blocked in nearly half of U.S. states, including Louisiana and Tennessee, as litigation played out. While Reeves opinion references a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limits the regulatory authority of federal agencies, it also notably rejects the rule on First Amendment grounds. The First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner, Reeves said, referring to sections of the law that could be interpreted as defining deadnaming and misgendering of students as harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary persons birth name or dead name against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual by a gender they do not identify as. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article was originally published in Louisiana Illuminator. A federal district court judge in Kentucky has struck down President Joe Bidens effort to protect transgender students and make other changes to Title IX, ruling the U.S. Department of Education violated teachers rights by requiring them to use transgender students names and pronouns. The ruling issued Thursday, which applies nationwide, came as a major blow to the Biden administration in its final days and to LGBTQ+ advocates. It comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, when the rule was likely to face more scrutiny from a candidate who took aim at transgender people in a culture-war focused campaign. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The Biden administration rule was released last April and aimed to protect LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The rule also conferred protections for pregnant students. The update to Title IX, the federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination in education, was expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his opinion, Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky wrote in his opinion that the education department could not expand Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Reeves was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush. Gender identity refers to the gender that an individual identifies as, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. The entire point of Title IX is to prevent discrimination based on sex throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless, Reeves wrote. Louisiana was among the states that sued the Biden administration over the rule. Its case was pending in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals at the time of the ruling in Kentucky, which came in the case Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti brought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana is honored to have litigated this issue alongside Tennessee and our sister States, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement to the Illuminator. This is a great day for America! Gov. Jeff Landry also praised the decision in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Bidens attempt to rewrite Title IX is dead!, Landry posted from his personal account. Its a shame this even had to go to court, but pleased to see this win for women and girls across our Nation. Prior to Thursdays decision, the rule had been temporarily blocked in nearly half of U.S. states, including Louisiana and Tennessee, as litigation played out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Reeves opinion references a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limits the regulatory authority of federal agencies, it also notably rejects the rule on First Amendment grounds. The First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner, Reeves said, referring to sections of the law that could be interpreted as defining deadnaming and misgendering of students as harassment. Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary persons birth name or dead name against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual by a gender they do not identify as. Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Hundreds of people gathered at Washington Square Park in New Orleans on March 31, 2023, for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) A federal district court judge in Kentucky has struck down President Joe Bidens effort to protect transgender students and make other changes to Title IX, ruling the U.S. Department of Education violated teachers rights by requiring them to use transgender students names and pronouns. The ruling issued Thursday, which applies nationwide, came as a major blow to the Biden administration in its final days and to LGBTQ+ advocates. It comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, when the rule was likely to face more scrutiny from a candidate who took aim at transgender people in a culture-war focused campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration rule was released last April and aimed to protect LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The rule also conferred protections for pregnant students. The update to Title IX, the federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination in education, was expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation. In his opinion, Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky wrote in his opinion that the education department could not expand Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Reeves was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush. Gender identity refers to the gender that an individual identifies as, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. The entire point of Title IX is to prevent discrimination based on sex throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless, Reeves wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Louisiana was among the states that sued the Biden administration over the rule. Its case was pending in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals at the time of the ruling in Kentucky, which came in the case Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti brought. Louisiana is honored to have litigated this issue alongside Tennessee and our sister States, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement to the Illuminator. This is a great day for America! Gov. Jeff Landry also praised the decision in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens attempt to rewrite Title IX is dead!, Landry posted from his personal account. Its a shame this even had to go to court, but pleased to see this win for women and girls across our Nation. Prior to Thursdays decision, the rule had been temporarily blocked in nearly half of U.S. states, including Louisiana and Tennessee, as litigation played out. While Reeves opinion references a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limits the regulatory authority of federal agencies, it also notably rejects the rule on First Amendment grounds. The First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner, Reeves said, referring to sections of the law that could be interpreted as defining deadnaming and misgendering of students as harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary persons birth name or dead name against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual by a gender they do not identify as. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Hundreds of people gathered at Washington Square Park in New Orleans on March 31, 2023, for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) A federal district court judge in Kentucky has struck down President Joe Bidens effort to protect transgender students and make other changes to Title IX, ruling the U.S. Department of Education violated teachers rights by requiring them to use transgender students names and pronouns. The ruling issued Thursday, which applies nationwide, came as a major blow to the Biden administration in its final days and to LGBTQ+ advocates. It comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, when the rule was likely to face more scrutiny from a candidate who took aim at transgender people in a culture-war focused campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration rule was released last April and aimed to protect LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The rule also conferred protections for pregnant students. The update to Title IX, the federal law that forbids sex-based discrimination in education, was expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation. In his opinion, Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky wrote in his opinion that the education department could not expand Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Reeves was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush. Gender identity refers to the gender that an individual identifies as, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. The entire point of Title IX is to prevent discrimination based on sex throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless, Reeves wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana was among the states that sued the Biden administration over the rule. Its case was pending in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals at the time of the ruling in Kentucky, which came in the case Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti brought. Louisiana is honored to have litigated this issue alongside Tennessee and our sister States, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement to the Illuminator. This is a great day for America! Gov. Jeff Landry also praised the decision in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Bidens attempt to rewrite Title IX is dead!, Landry posted from his personal account. Its a shame this even had to go to court, but pleased to see this win for women and girls across our Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to Thursdays decision, the rule had been temporarily blocked in nearly half of U.S. states, including Louisiana and Tennessee, as litigation played out. While Reeves opinion references a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limits the regulatory authority of federal agencies, it also notably rejects the rule on First Amendment grounds. The First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner, Reeves said, referring to sections of the law that could be interpreted as defining deadnaming and misgendering of students as harassment. Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary persons birth name or dead name against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual by a gender they do not identify as. This story was originally produced by the Louisiana Illuminator which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. MCCULLY, Hawaii (KHON2) Federal investigators landed in Honolulu to assist the Honolulu Fire Department in its investigation into the house fire that killed one of their own. Officials said theyre here for as long as it takes and will do whatever it takes to get answers. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You On the outside of the house, neighbors continue paying their respects to firefighter Jeff Fiala, the 25-year-old who lost his life in the Jan. 6 McCully fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just feeling sorry for our first responders that you know passed away right, put their lives on the line for us and everything, said neighbor Kirk Tone. Preliminary report released for fatal Kamaka Air crash Firefighters are working to keep the structure safe inside the house while investigators begin piecing together what happened. HFD took the lead in the investigation while about two dozen members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Response Team helped assist. Were going to do everything we can, were going to investigate everything we can to make sure the Honolulu Fire Department and the people of Honolulu have answers as to what happened, why a firefighter was lost, said Jason Chudy, ATF officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ATF brought certified fire investigators, mechanical engineers and special agents who are interviewing neighbors, even an accelerant detection canine. Officials are looking into every possibility. Based on the size of the house, ATF estimates its crew will be in Hawaii for about a week, but will be here for as long as HFD needs to get answers. We want to make sure that the reason for [this firefighters] death is thoroughly investigated and were able to provide hopefully some closure to the ohana of the Honolulu Fire Department as well as the people of Honolulu, Chudy added. Check out more news from around Hawaii Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ATF said it will gather its findings and present them to HPD for their use, which could take about a month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) The contentious fight between Florida and the federal government over childrens health insurance continues to ratchet up even though President-elect Donald Trump is just days away from entering office. Florida health care officials were recently put on notice that the state is at risk of losing federal Medicaid funds because of DeSantis administrations refusal to abide by federal law and rules regarding continuous eligibility for children enrolled in the state childrens health insurance program (CHIP), called KidCare in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure sent a letter to Florida Deputy Secretary for Medicaid Bryan Meyer Jan. 2 directing the state to submit a corrective action plan (CAP) and a CHIP state plan amendment (SPA) showing how the state plans to implement the continuous eligibility requirement and, moreover, to re-enroll children the state removed after Jan. 1 for failing to pay a monthly premium for Florida KidCare coverage. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Image via CMS Please respond within 30 days from the date of this letter with a CAP that describes the actions the State is taking to fully comply with the statutory and regulatory requirements, LaSure wrote. LaSure wrote that the letter served as a preliminary notice to Florida and an opportunity for state officials to take corrective action. The letter also states that a hearing will be provided prior to the withholding of any federal money. The Agency for Health Care Administration, which houses Floridas Medicaid program, did not respond to request for comment on the Jan. 2 letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jan. 2 letter is one of the latest maneuvers between CMS and the DeSantis administration over the Florida KidCare program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Less than a week after the letter was sent, Florida filed a new challenge to the continuous eligibility requirement in federal court in Tampa, the lawsuit alleges a federal regulation amounts to a backdoor expansion of no-cost health insurance that was never authorized by Congress. The DeSantis administration alleges that the final rule threatens the integrity of Florida CHIP Florida KidCare is a Medicaid expansion program for children aged 5-18 whose families earn too much to qualify for the traditional Medicaid program. Congress passed the law in 1997 and agreed to pay states roughly 15 percentage points more than the traditional Medicaid match rate. The Florida Legislature agreed to pass the optional Medicaid expansion a year later, and the federal government pays about 69 cents of every dollar spent on the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike traditional Medicaid, which is free for enrollees, Florida KidCare enrollees are required to pay a small monthly premium. The premiums are used, along with state general revenue, to pull down federal matching dollars. The federal government, though, pays the majority of the costs of the care. Second shot at federal court Its the second time the state has turned to the court to try to strike the requirement that once enrolled children remain qualified for the program for 12 continuous months. Florida unsuccessfully challenged the continuous eligibility requirement last year arguing that the federal government tried to implement it through a frequently asked question document and overstepped its legal authority. The state appealed the ruling to a federal appeals court in Atlanta. Attorneys for the DeSantis administration and CMS agreed to withdraw the appeal in December after CMS finalized the federal regulation implementing the 2023 law. The federal regulation took effect Jan. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaSures letter, and Floridas second legal challenge, comes as the Biden administration leaves Washington and Trumps administration is set to begin. Whats really quite disturbing is that the litigation, the new litigation, underscores that Governor DeSantis is not content with just violating the law and preventing children from continuous coverage in his own state. He wants to ensure that children in other states, if their governor was so inclined, would not have this protection either. Joan Alker, executive director and co-founder of the Center for Children and Families and a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Whether the Trump administration will stand behind the 2023 law and 2024 regulation is not clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a good question, and I guess well have to wait and see if, if the incoming Trump administration wants to make this one of their first actions, said Joan Alker, executive director and co-founder of the Center for Children and Families and a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. As best we know, Florida is the only state in the country thats not in compliance with this new federal protection, and its pretty rare for a state to be so blatantly out of compliance like this and children losing coverage as a consequence, she said. Alker noted that Florida could submit a request to federal health authorities that the 12-month continuous eligibility requirement be waived. But instead, the DeSantis administration is challenging the underlying regulation implementing the 2023 law. If its successful, Alker noted, it jeopardizes continuous eligibility requirements for lower-income children across the nation. Whats really quite disturbing is that the litigation, the new litigation, underscores that Governor DeSantis is not content with just violating the law and preventing children from continuous coverage in his own state. He wants to ensure that children in other states, if their governor was so inclined, would not have this protection either, Alker said. Because the litigation is very explicitly about taking down the entire regulatory provision that is protecting children, and CHIP with this 12 months for continuous coverage. KidCare expansion still on hold Jason Weida, secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). (Screenshot) The impasse between the DeSantis administration and CMS also has brought to a halt efforts to expand the Florida KidCare program to provide coverage to more children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the behest of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Renner the Florida Legislature in 2023 agreed to pass HB 121 which increased income eligibility for the program from 200% of the federal poverty level to 300% of the federal poverty level. Renner pushed for the increase in income eligibility as Floridas minimum wage increased and as the state started to unwind from the COVID-19 public health emergency. While DeSantis signed the KidCare bill into law the CHIP program was criticized by a top-ranking official in the DeSantis administration. During a Senate confirmation hearing AHCA Secretary Jason Weida referred to the program as a cautionary tale of broken finances and as a reason why the state should not expand Medicaid to low-income childless adults as allowable under the Affordable Care Act, the federal health insurance law often referred to as Obamacare. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In an unusually detailed and strongly worded report, Colorado's judicial discipline body made clear on Friday that dozens of judges broke the law by failing to file financial disclosure statements on time, but that not every instance merited discipline in light of related behavior from the nation's highest court. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline disclosed it had admonished 27 judges, to some degree, out of 48 who did not properly submit their disclosures. The commission defended its decision not to impose public discipline on any judge based on the circumstances of each case, and cited reports of U.S. Supreme Court justices failing to report the entirety of their own personal finances. "Especially against the backdrop of national publicity about the lavish and unreported gifts to Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas by wealthy political donors, this situation with Colorados judiciary created a generalized appearance of impropriety," the commission wrote. Compared to the justices, however, "no case considered by the Commission was at all similar." The failure to file financial disclosure reports has been the subject of a series of investigative reports by The Denver Gazette, which the commission's document also cited. Judicial ethics experts found the commission's narrative intriguing. "I think that the commissions statement is extraordinary," said Jeremy Fogel, a retired federal trial judge and executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. "Typically, state judicial performance organizations seek to avoid political controversy; they tend to be very measured in their public comments, with a goal both of providing useful guidance to judges and of assuring the public that they take their responsibilities seriously. Here, theres no question that the ethical issues surrounding the two justices have affected public confidence in the judiciary generally, and the commission apparently saw a need to acknowledge that." Gabe Roth, director of the reform advocacy group Fix the Court, said he could understand why Colorado's disciplinary body would use the Supreme Court's conduct as a reference point. "The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court represent jurists at all levels across the country, and fair or not, when the nine or a subset of the nine acts unethically, it tarnishes public faith in all judicial institutions," he said. Increase in complaints The commission's year-end report for 2024 was released far earlier than usual and ahead of next week's scheduled judicial oversight hearings before the legislature. In the past year, the entity hired a new executive director, Anne Mangiardi, and expanded to five full-time staff. The report noted there were 368 requests for evaluation the formal name for complaints in 2024, more than double the total from 2014 and a 6% increase from 2023. As is typically the case, the vast majority of requests were dismissed outright because they did not appear to address judicial misconduct. For example, roughly half of the requests pertained to judges' rulings, which must go through the appeals process rather than judicial discipline. The commission noted there were three instances of public discipline last year imposed on trial judges who have since resigned: D. Brett Woods of the Denver Juvenile Court, John E. Scipione of the 18th Judicial District and Robert W. Kiesnowski Jr. of the 17th Judicial District. In addition, one unnamed judge was suspended with pay during their still-ongoing disciplinary proceeding. In total, the commission investigated 65 requests for evaluation. The bulk of the report discussed in detail a specific category of complaints: judges failing to file their annual financial disclosures with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. Featured Local Savings Public discipline not justified The Denver Gazette reported in 2023 that dozens of judges did not have their personal financial disclosure statements on file for one or more years. The number included several semi-retired senior judges, almost none of whom filed a statement since leaving full-time service. The Judicial Department responded by training its members on the need to comply with the law. The revelations came against "the backdrop of widespread national media attention about U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito failing to report lavish gifts from wealthy political donors," the commission wrote. Alito, for his part, has denied any appearance of impropriety, while Thomas referred to the reports as "nastiness and the lies." The commission indicated it asked judges identified in The Denver Gazette's reporting to address their alleged violations. It opted against opening a disciplinary case for judges whose appointment dates created an ambiguity about their duty to file in a given year, and also senior judges. The commission noted senior judges received guidance from the State Court Administrator's Office that they only needed to submit disclosures to the Judicial Department, not the secretary of state. The legislature has since changed the law to clarify the disclosure requirement for new appointees. In total, the commission dismissed 15 cases with an "expression of concern," gave a private reprimand to 11 judges and privately censured a final judge. Justifying its approach, the commission explained that it imposed private discipline on those judges who "missed a high number" of filings. It also found "no evidence exists" that any judges inaccurately or dishonestly reported their finances, or that they presided over a case with personal financial implications. "Given this, the Commission did not feel that public discipline was justified against any of the judges identified in the Denver Gazette article," the report continued, even though "any judge who missed even one annually required (financial) filing violated the law." One member of the commission, Arapahoe County District Court Judge Bonnie McLean, was one of the judges identified as delinquent in her filings. The commission's report disclosed that McLean recused herself from discipline cases on five separate commission meeting dates, the most of any member. Without providing details, the commission wrote that disciplinary proceedings occurred against one of its own members, in which all commissioners recused. A "specially constituted" commission was appointed to decide the case. Mangiardi, the commission's director, told Colorado Politics McLean "remains a member" of the commission. She said the seven people who sat on the special panel were Bob Russel, Alexandra Brodsky, Michelle Maynard, Jill Van Noord, District Court Judges Brittany A. Schneider and Mark T. Bailey, and County Court Judge Timothy Lane. The report concluded by explaining why it did not impose blanket discipline to all judges who violated the law. "The Commission considered this issue carefully and decided that such a broad swath approach would be akin to using a saw when a scalpel was more appropriate," the commission wrote. "More specifically, the Commission felt that to impose collective punishment for uncoordinated, individual conduct was, effectively, to punish one for the unrelated misconduct of another, which is an affront to basic notions of fairness and due process." The Denver Gazette is a sibling publication of Colorado Politics. Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details from the commission. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The first-ever U.S. Justice Department review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre concluded Friday that while federal prosecution may have been possible a century ago there is no longer an avenue to bring a criminal case more than 100 years after one of the worst racial attacks in U.S. history. The Department of Justice said at the outset of its probe it had no expectation anyone would be prosecuted, but in a more than 120-page report federal investigators outlined the scope and impact of the massacre, an attack by a white mob on a thriving Black district that left as many as 300 people dead and 1,200 homes, businesses, schools and churches destroyed. Now, the perpetrators are long dead, statutes of limitations for all civil rights charges expired decades ago, and there are no viable avenues for further investigation, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the findings in the DOJ investigation were federal reports from just days after the massacre, in 1921, conducted by an agent with the precursor agency to the FBI. But today's investigators said they found no evidence that any federal prosecutors ever evaluated those reports. It may be that federal prosecutors considered filing charges and, after consideration, did not do so for reasons that would be understandable if we had a record of the decision, the report concluded, adding that if the department didn't seriously consider such charges, then its failure to do so is disappointing. The report also examined the role of various people and organizations in the massacre, including the Tulsa Police Department, local sheriff, Oklahoma National Guard and then-Tulsa Mayor T.D. Evans, determining that each played a role in the chaos and destruction, either by failing to act or by actively participating in the attack. Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney for the last known survivors of the massacre, Viola Fletcher and Lessie Benningfield Randle, both of whom are 110, did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment on the report. Solomon-Simmons had previously decribed the DOJ's decision to investigate the massacre as a joyous occasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victor Luckerson, a Black author and historian who wrote a book about Tulsa's Greenwood district, said there is value in the government establishing a definitive record of the attack. Having government documents available lays the groundwork for the possibility of reparations, Luckerson said. Any of those discussions about reparations, one of the first questions is how we establish a factual record of what happened. A researcher working for a state commission in 1999 estimated the damage from the attack to be $1.8 million in 1921 dollars, a figure the report said would be about $32.2 million today. The Oklahoma Supreme Court in June dismissed a lawsuit by survivors, dampening the hope of advocates for racial justice that the city would make financial amends for the attack. The nine-member court upheld the decision made by a district court judge in Tulsa last year, ruling that the plaintiffs grievances about the destruction of the Greenwood district, although legitimate, did not fall within the scope of the states public nuisance statute. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Financial troubles continue to mount for Burke Decor. Read next: 2 major retailers announce nationwide closures FedEx has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the company for what it says are $1.6 million in unpaid bills. The lawsuit was filed Jan. 3 in U.S. Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In the filing, FedEx said it provided commercial shipping for Burke through a service agreement since before 2023, and in June 2023, Burke signed an agreement with FedEx but breached that contract by failing to make timely payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the filing, FedEx says Burke owes $1,680,076 with interest at the rate of 8% per year from January 4, 2024. FedEx also wants Burke to pay attorney fees. Burke Decor is a home decor distributor with a flagship store in Boardman and offices on Federal Plaza in Youngstown, according to a filing with the Ohio Secretary of State. It services customers across the U.S. and beyond providing high-end decor and furnishings. The company also lists a California outpost shop on its website. Google lists the Boardman location as temporarily closed and a call placed to the store said that the company was experiencing a high volume of inquiries and to leave a voicemail or contact the company via its website. A call placed to another number associated with the Burke website went to voicemail. Burkes owner Erin Elizabeth Burke, with an address in Los Angeles, filed for personal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over the summer in a bankruptcy court there. The latest filing in that case was an opposition filed by creditor Pinterest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read next: Sen. J.D. Vance resigns ahead of vice presidential inauguration In May, Burkes commercial lender Ampla, filed a complaint in district court saying Burke defaulted on loans but that case was dismissed in October. The Ohio Attorney Generals Office confirmed to WKBN 27 First News that their office had received many complaints about Burke Decor but did not reveal the status of any inquiry. Burke has not entered a response yet to the FedEx lawsuit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A man convicted of manslaughter and now charged with shooting two during a dispute on Interstate 485 is out on bond, according to court records. Just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Anil Dabydeen, 39, shot at another car on I-485 near South Tryon Street, officials say. Two people were taken to Atrium CMC with serious injuries. Felon charged after 2 seriously injured during shooting dispute on I-485 Outer in southwest Charlotte: Court records Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dabydeens arrest warrant says he also walked between traffic, pointing the pistol at passing vehicles. According to court records, Dabydeen is prohibited from owning a firearm due to pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in Queens County, New York, in February 2008. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison and 12 years of probation. After a police chase that also involved the State Highway Patrol, Dabydeen was arrested. He is charged with the following: Felony possession of a stolen firearm Felony possession of a firearm by a felon Felony assault with a deadly weapon, serious injury, two counts Felony discharge weapon into an occupied property, three counts Misdemeanor going armed to the terror of the people Misdemeanor flee/elude arrest while operating a moving vehicle Fail to heed light or siren Speeding Reckless driving to endanger Fail to stopsteady red light Dabydeen was given a $100,000 unsecured bond for the shooting charges and a $100,000 secured bond for the charges related to the police chase. Around 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, he was released after posting bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson, speaks to reporters on Jan. 9, 2025 in Olympia. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Washington Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson released his blueprint Thursday for chopping billions in state spending while investing millions in education and public safety in his first term without the aid of new taxes. Ferguson, who takes office next week, outlined how he will seek $4 billion in cuts across most state agencies and four-year universities, and direct $800 million in new spending for free school lunches, police officer hiring, child care access, and affordable housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His plan, which will go to legislative budget writers, spreads anticipated cuts over four years to chip away at a projected budget shortfall in that period around $12 billion. While Democratic legislative leaders say new or higher taxes will likely be needed to close the remainder of the gap, Ferguson isnt ready to go there, yet. We are not going to tax our way out of this, he told reporters Thursday at the legislative session preview hosted by Allied Daily Newspapers, the Washington Newspaper Association and the Washington State Association of Broadcasters. Ferguson, making his first appearance in front of reporters since winning the election in November, said he will not consider increasing revenue until exhausting efforts to curb spending. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee called for a new tax on the states wealthiest residents and a higher tax on businesses in the proposed 2025-27 budget he issued in December. That document will also be part of the conversation among lawmakers and Ferguson in the 2025 session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson said Thursday he is skeptical that a new and untested wealth tax envisioned as a 1% tax on an individuals wealth above $100 million can be relied on to balance the budget. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen told reporters earlier in the event Thursday that the incoming governor has an interesting idea about expanding the business tax paid by large corporations in Washington. Pedersen described it as being similar to a surcharge imposed by the state on large banks since 2020. Senate Democrats are looking at a proposal to add a 1% surcharge on a businesss taxable income above $500 million. It could raise around $2 billion a year from 140 companies, according to information compiled by the caucus. Late Thursday, a Ferguson spokesperson declined to respond directly to Pedersens comment, saying only that the governor-elects budget document speaks for itself. Budget basics Washington operates on a two-year budget. The current one ends June 30, 2025 and its balanced. The next budget is not. Nor the one after that. Thats the multi-billion dollar challenge for lawmakers and Ferguson to sort out in the 105-day legislative session that begins Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a big gap between what the state is collecting in taxes and what it needs to pay for its commitments in education, human services, health care, prisons and other day-to-day government operations. In early November, Inslee pegged the shortfall between $10 billion and $12 billion through the next two budgets. It could be closer to $15 billion when the tab for new public employee contracts is added in. Those figures represent the difference between the anticipated cost of state services and the money expected to be available to pay for them through mid-2029. In his proposal, Inslee included around $2 billion in cuts and savings. He suggests, for example, closing a minimum-security womens prison and pausing bonuses that teachers receive if theyve gotten certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also called for delaying the expansion of access to child care and early learning programs for low-income families planned under the 2021 Fair Start for Kids Act. Those delays would save the state around $275 million in the 2025-27 budget. And in early December, Inslee ordered state agencies to freeze most non-discretionary and non-essential hiring, service contracts, purchasing and travel to slow spending. Ferguson approach Ferguson said the $4 billion in savings he seeks are separate from, or in addition to those in Inslees proposal. He said he wants to achieve a 6% cut in spending by state agencies and 3% reduction by four-year universities. In the 16-page document detailing his plan, he suggests curbing management staff, limiting equipment purchases and reducing travel. Hed also like to stop producing some legislatively-required reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson does not reduce funding for the Washington State Patrol, the state Department of Corrections, and the Criminal Justice Training Commission. As promised on the campaign trail, he wants $100 million in each of the next two budgets to help local law enforcement agencies fill their ranks. Ferguson criticized the level of K-12 spending in Inslees proposed budget as unacceptable and vowed to make sure it is higher in his plan. Toward that end, he endorsed spending $240 million to provide free school lunches for Washingtons roughly 1.1 million students. Late Thursday, Washingtons Paramount Duty, which advocates for increased spending for public schools, said Fergusons plan will fail our students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor-elect needs to go back to the drawing board, Robert Cruickshank, the groups president, said in a statement. School districts across the state face serious budget woes that will lead to cuts that will harm students, eliminate programs, lay off teachers, and even close schools. Yet Ferguson doesnt propose even a single dime to solve those problems. Ferguson said hell offer more insights on his budget and policy priorities in his inaugural address Jan. 15 DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A mall with many names in southwest Ohio is expected to become completely vacant in the spring. On Thursday, Jan. 9, Kohls announced 27 of its locations will permanently close by April. The companys location at 100 Cincinnati Mills Drive in Forest Park, is included on the chopping block. While Kohls continues to believe in the health and strength of its profitable store base, these specific locations were underperforming stores, said Kohls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Access to the mall from Kohls was restricted several years ago. Over the years, the now-abandoned mall has been referred with several names: Cincinnati Mills Cincinnati Mall Forest Fair Mall Forest Fair Village Babies R Us, Bass Pro Shops, Biggs, Burlington, Elder Beerman, Gold Star Chili, Johnny Rockets, Oyishi Japan, Saks Off 5th and Showcase Cinemas 10 are just among many others to have once operated at the mall. The Bass Pro Shops store left the mall in January 2024 for its new site just near the other side of the I-75/I-275 corridor in West Chester. Gov. Mike DeWine announced in 2022 that the longtime vacant mall would be demolished. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Aldermen are set to consider Wednesday whether the maximum speed limit on Chicago streets should be lowered from 30 mph to 25 mph. Ald. Daniel La Spata notified aldermen Friday that he will move ahead with the final vote at next weeks City Council meeting. The Northwest Side alderman, who has for months pushed the speed limit change, touted his ordinance as a much-needed safety measure. We know that it works and we know that it will save lives, La Spata, 1st, said Friday. The best time was 10 years ago. The next best time is now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement La Spata first aired the possibility of lowered speed limits in an early May hearing. At the time, he promised there was no legislation sitting under the table. But by October, he had passed his speed-cutting ordinance in an 8-5 vote of the councils Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee. He planned to bring the proposal forward for a final vote in late October, but tabled the measure amid pushback from Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson said he told La Spata to slow it down to make sure the lowered threshold for speeding tickets would be equitably applied. My commitment to safe streets is real, and I will continue to support measures to create safer streets, Johnson said after the vote was canceled. When we talk about equity, we have to talk about implementation and have to be very thoughtful about where these disparities have been pervasive so we dont repeat the sins of the past. La Spata said Friday he has not spoken with Johnson about his decision to force a vote, but described Johnsons past public comments as enthusiastically supportive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want that to be true, La Spata said. We talk a lot about policies related to safety in this city, and I dont think we will pass a more data-informed, evidence-based policy that will keep more Chicagoans alive. The alderman estimated the change could save 300 lives over the next decade. In 2023, crashes killed 136 Chicagoans and left about as many people hit and injured as were struck by gunfire, he previously said. The ordinance would also lower the speed limit in Chicago alleyways to 15 mph, but would not affect roadways controlled by the Illinois Department of Transportation, including many of the citys busiest streets. However, changes to state-run streets could follow the ordinance if passed. La Spata said state legislators have told him IDOT is likely to follow the City Councils lead if it changes the speed limit. Seven state legislators signed on to an endorsement of the ordinance, predicting an immense positive benefit to public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation also received an endorsement as a reasonable and safe approach in an internal Chicago Department of Transportation report La Spata shared. The department estimated that it would cost $2.5 million to change traffic signs and cited similar changes in cities like New York, Seattle and Boston. La Spata also called for a vote on a resolution to create an interagency working group tasked with designing a more equitable enforcement system for vehicle-related fines and fees. (KRON) A donut cafe is finally opening in San Franciscos West Portal neighborhood. The grand opening was supposed to be last September, but a fire ravaged through the neighborhood and damaged five small businesses. Georges Donuts & Merriment was one of them. The cafe, located at 163 W Portal Ave., is opening on Friday, Jan. 10. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held that morning with newly elected San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie slated to speak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers can join the ceremony starting at 9 a.m. Pacifica Taco Bell announces temporary closure. Heres why Georges Donuts & Merriment serves more than just donuts. Menu highlights include Donut Hole Flight, Bacon and Eggs Donut, Strawberry Champagne Brioche, Apple Fritter, Churro Dusted Cruller and a Tahini Rose Cake Donut. They also serve sandwiches and salads. Georges is poised to be a neighborhood hub where all are welcome to enjoy lifes simple pleasures together, including classic and inventive handmade donuts, all day dining and drinks, and joyful design, the cafe wrote in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georges Donuts & Merriment is owned by Lea and Andrew Dudum. In September, they said they were grateful to the firefighters who saved their dream from burning down. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is fact-checking a statement made by Henry Winkler. After the Happy Days alum made a bold declaration regarding the cause of the wildfires burning in Southern California, the LAFD issued a statement to let the public know that no such determination has been made at this time. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Winkler took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim, "THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA." "May you be beaten you unrecognizable !!! The pain you have caused !!!" added Winkler, 79, who owns a home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA . May you be beaten you unrecognizable !!! The pain you have caused !!! Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) January 9, 2025 However, in a statement shared with TMZ, the LAFD said, "There's no way to know at this moment exactly where and how the series of fires started, but an investigation is underway." The publication also claimed to be informed by the LAFD that the arson squad is investigating each fire in the area, which is typical procedure for "every major fire" and does not necessarily mean arson is behind this catastrophic event. Related: How Much Have Celebrities Lost in the California Fires? An Insurance Broker to the Stars Estimates (Exclusive) California fire chief David Acuna also told BBC there was not "any conclusive evidence" that the fires were deliberately lit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's worth noting that the Los Angeles Police Department did announce on Thursday, Jan. 9, that a possible arson suspect in Woodland Hills was taken into custodythough they were ultimately not arrested for arson or possible arson. The situation went down close to the time that the Kenneth Fire broke out on Thursday, however, LAPD Divisional Chief Dominic Choi announced on Friday morning that after investigation, the suspect would only be arrested on charges related to violating their probation terms. The suspect was interviewed and the investigation determined there was not enough probable cause to arrest for arson or possible arson. He was arrested on a felony probation violation. LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) January 10, 2025 After the interview and additional investigative steps, looking at some additional evidence that was present, they determined that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson," Choi said, per KTLA. However, the cause of the Kenneth fire "remains under investigation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators have still been unable to determine an official cause for the rest of the fires, including the two most destructive in California history, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. As of 9:03 a.m. local time on Friday, the Palisades Fire burned more than 20,400 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The nearby Eaton Fire is reported to have burned more than 13,950 acres as of 8:39 a.m. local time on Friday. Both fires, which authorities said started on Tuesday, Jan. 7, were not even 10 percent contained by Friday morning and at least 10 people have died due to the devastating conditions. Next: Fox News Host Claps Back at Conservatives' Controversial Claims About Cause of California Fires Update: According to a Facebook post made by the Washington Township Fire Department on January 5, crews responded to a three story commercial structure fire. No injuries were reported and is still under investigation WASHINGTON, Ind. (WTWO-WAWV) Firefighters in Washington battled a fire in downtown Washington. The fire started on Thursday afternoon in a building at 110 East Main Street. Smoke could be seen coming from the structure. Washington Township Fire responded to the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More information as it becomes available, as it becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Court documents obtained by the Gazette reveal details about the allegations against Steven Leckenby about his alleged pattern of sexual assaults, many involving children, that spanned nearly 13 years. Leckenby, 42, was arrested by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 2, 2024, after an "exhaustive investigation," the agency announced Tuesday. Investigators say the sexual assault allegations date back to 2012 and involved the sexual abuse of at least three children and one adult. Police are still actively searching for other victims. They believe there may be more out there based on the span of time Leckenby operated. Additional interviews informed police the abuse was not strictly sexual. Leckenby allegedly hit the children in the house, slapping them hard enough to leave marks. Based on three of the victims statements through multiple interviews, it appears that Leckenby has been allegedly sexually abusing children since at least 2015-2016. Due to the nature of the investigation and the ages of those involved, identities and relationships were not disclosed in the court documents. According to those documents, the Colorado Springs Police Departments special victims unit received a referral on Nov. 6, 2024, from the Department of Human Services about allegations of sexual abuse of a 15-year-old. The referral report said the 15-year-old victim told a department caseworker she had been sexually assaulted her whole childhood by Leckenby. Featured Local Savings The victim told police the assaults started in 2018 when she was 8 or 9, and often took place at night when she was asleep and the most vulnerable. Leckenby allegedly told the victim not to tell anyone and dont try and fight it. He told the victim he assaulted her specifically because she looked like someone else that he knew. In 2019, a second underage victim told police Leckenby had given her marijuana, causing her to fall asleep quickly. When she woke up around 4 a.m., she alleges Leckenby had entered the bed and was sleeping very closely to her. She said she had felt someone touching her inappropriately, causing her to wake up. A third underage victim listed in the arresting documents told police in 2023 that Leckenby had been touching her inappropriately since she was 14. Leckenby allegedly started with compliments to her body and uncomfortable hugs. Eventually, Leckenby began to grab her inappropriately and whistle as he told the victim how he wanted to get on that. The sexual abuse continued for years, increasing in severity throughout that period. An adult victim said she was initially hesitant to tell anyone about the assault she endured in 2012, only coming forward when others did. This victim told law enforcement that Leckenby choked her until she passed out. She said she woke up to Leckenby sexually assaulting her. She also sustained injuries from extensive physical abuse, the document alleges. As of Thursday evening, Leckenby remains in El Paso County jail on bonds totaling $225,000. He is facing multiple counts of sexual assault on a child, aggravated incest and unlawful sexual contact. Leckenby was in 4th Judicial District Court Thursday morning for a review hearing. He next appears on Jan. 16. Firefighters battling the massive Palisades blaze in Southern California this week faced an additional obstacle, as fire hydrants ran dry due to extreme demand for water in the area. What's happening? The Los Angeles Times reported that all water storage tanks in the Palisades area "went dry" by 3 a.m. local time Wednesday as the massive Palisades Fire raged. Janisse Quinones, chief executive and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, explained that extreme demand was to blame and said it especially affected the flow of water from hydrants in higher elevations. "We had a tremendous demand on our system in the Palisades. We pushed the system to the extreme," Quinones said, according to the Times. "Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While demand on the water supply from both firefighters and residents using hoses was pointed out as an inevitable cause of the hydrant issues, a number of current and former officials expressed what the Times described as "fury" about the situation. That included L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park, who blamed it on a "chronic under-investment" by the city into public infrastructure and safety. Why is this fire and the lack of water concerning? Officials said that water pressure remained strong in lower parts of the Pacific Palisades, but without water in the hydrants in the higher-lying neighborhoods, there was nothing that firefighters could do to fight against the blaze in those areas. Quinones said that the tanks were full but that the extreme "consumption of water was faster than we can provide water" back into the system. The Palisades Fire broke out on Tuesday, Jan. 7. As of Thursday afternoon, it had burned 17,234 acres, according to an infographic provided by the Times and Cal Fire. It is now officially the largest wildfire in Los Angeles history, and officials believe thousands of structures have been destroyed or damaged, according to KTLA5 many of these structures are businesses or homes. Meanwhile, several other wildfires are active in the Los Angeles area, which has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, CNN reported. The death toll is unknown, though five casualties have been officially reported. Many other people in the area face gas and power shut-offs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though wildfires have always happened, warming global temperatures are making them more frequent and severe. For instance, scientists calculated last year that our overheating planet has contributed to a 172% increase in areas burned by wildfires in California since the 1970s. In addition to loss of life and property, wildfires pose other health risks due to pollution. In fact, researchers say that inhaling wildfire smoke is just as bad for you as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. What's being done about wildfires? As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire was still at 0% containment. While we can't stop all wildfires from occurring, we can help decrease the risk of worsening fires driven by the climate crisis by reducing our dependence on dirty energy sources, which account for more than 75% of planet-heating pollution, which has been found to contribute to drought conditions by causing more water to evaporate into the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While officials like Park contend that Los Angeles has infrastructure work to do, the city has made some headway on cutting its use of dirty fuels. For instance, it outlawed gas power in all newly constructed buildings. Plus, it appears to be taking on its water crisis by investing $740 million into a facility that will convert wastewater into clean drinking water. You can make a difference by donating to support relief efforts, and in the longer run, you can take steps for the climate with simple actions such as voting for pro-climate candidates or investing your money in a green bank and 401k, both of which can help to lead to bigger actions like the above. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The firecrackers show at new San Francisco Mayor Daniel Luries inauguration celebration Wednesday night did not go smoothly. Firecrackers fell down on spectators, and even caused a bloody injury to one womans head, according to a KRON4 crew at the scene. San Franciscans gathered outside Far East Cafe at 631 Grant Ave. in Chinatown to celebrate the citys new mayor. New SF mayor announces citywide hiring freeze on first full day in office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lurie handed over the lighting duties to a man wearing a suit. Before the firecrackers were lit, he stepped to the crowd and said, Theyre worried about you all, so back up. Firecrackers came down on some peoples heads, including that of a KRON4 photographer. One woman was captured on video (above) visibly bleeding after being struck, leaving stains on her white coat. Photo: KRON4 San Francisco Police Department officers treated the womans wound and helped her to safety. When asked by KRON4 about the injury, SFPD said it was unable to locate a incident report or call for service at this time. KRON4 has reached out to the woman and to Luries office. We are awaiting responses from both parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Officials said they are making progress in protecting two key institutions from the Eaton fire. Don Fregulia, an operations section chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which has joined in the Eaton fire response, said that efforts to protect Mt. Wilson had proved successful and he expected that to remain the case. Were actively engaged there, and so far, no loss to any values at risk at Mt. Wilson," Fregulia said. "We're feeling good about what we have to do up there tonight to keep that site secure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California He said the fire had also spread close to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but he said that's a priority and crews were making good progress there as well." However, the higher up the firefight goes in the mountains the greater challenge with winds, he said. Read more: Los Angeles has never seen this level of destruction: 'Everything is burned down' We get the aircraft up and we get them flying, and then it's just too dangerous for the pilots and they have to come back down," he said. "So it's a constant evaluation, we're being successful when we're able to fly them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eaton Fire has burned 13,690 acres and roughly 5,000 structures in Altadena and Pasadena. Additional evacuation orders were mandated Thursday afternoon when flames climbed toward Mount Wilson. Other mandatory evacuations were lifted as city officials notified residents in Glenoaks Canyon and Chevy Chase Canyon that it was safe to return to their homes. 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 civilian drone flying in restricted airspace near the Palisades Fire struck and damaged a Super Scooper firefighting plane on Thursday, knocking it out of service, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Photos of the aircraft, one of two Super Scoopers in the area from Quebec, showed it sustained a punctured wing. While the Canadian-made CL-415 landed safely, its unclear how long it will remain grounded. LAFD Public Information Officer Erik Scott said there were no reported injuries and that the incident is being investigated by the FAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that flying a drone amid firefighting efforts is a federal crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $75,000. The FAA said in a statement that it treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told the LA Times the FBI intends to deploy aerial armor in the region to prevent drones from flying where firefighters are operating. The amphibious aircraft had been scooping up 1,500 gallons of water at a time from the ocean, then releasing it on nearby flames in a process Cal Fire spokesperson Chris Thomas told The War Zone takes about five minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grounding the plane for even a short time directly translates into tens of thousands of gallons of water no longer being used to douse the flames. The Thursday afternoon incident forced all of the aircraft fighting the fire to stay grounded for half an hour while officials cleared the skies. Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation the province will send two additional firefighting aircraft to California. Two Super Scoopers have been sent to California every fall since 1994 as part of an annual contract. At least 10 people have been killed in the wildfires and tens of thousands of structures have burned since igniting in the densely populated hills north of Los Angeles earlier this week. Related... TULSA, Okla. (KFOR) Oklahoma domestic violence survivor and inmate April Wilkens is still waiting for a Tulsa County judges decision after asking the court to set her free more than two decades after killing her abuser. Wilkens was the first Oklahoman to ask for retroactive sentencing relief under the new law, which took effect in August 2024. It limits sentences if a domestic violence survivor can prove the abuse played a significant factor in their crime. In 1998 she told police she killed her abusive ex-boyfriend to save her own life in Tulsa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkens filed a request to apply for relief to a Tulsa County judge in August. The request wasnt granted until November, but Wilkens filed her formal application the same month. LOCAL NEWS: Former lawmaker, co-author of Oklahoma Survivors Act thankful for Lisa Moss release Im excited, said Wilkens during an interview last year about the possibility of getting out of prison. Praise the Lord. God is going to make it happen. In contrast, in Seminole County this week a woman serving a life sentence for killing her husband in 1990 was released under the same law. Lisa Moss legal team filed their request for relief in September. The request was granted in October, and Moss filed her application the same month. Moss told News 4 employees during a press conference Wednesday that she hoped her release gave hope to women or other victims in similar situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means a new start, said Moss. News 4 reached out to Wilkens niece Amanda Ross Wednesday, who agreed to speak to an employee Thursday. Ross has been one of Wilkens biggest advocates and says shes regularly kept in contact with her aunt while Wilkens has served her sentence, regularly speaking with her at least once a week. Ross says the Oklahoma Survivors Act has given Wilkens and herself a lot of hope. It gave me a lot of hope because shes a test case, said Ross. I always knew her case was unfair and I had always looked at it through just the lens of, you know, I need to help April. Ross said the issue of domestic violence became much bigger than just her aunt, a problem impacting a large group of Oklahomans, mainly women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its part of the reason we have an overincarceration crisis in this state, said Ross. I feel like we tend to overpunish people here. So for April, I think it meant the first real opportunity to be released. Ross says Wilkens previously tried to apply for parole or to receive a commutation, but those options didnt pan out. She believes a jury didnt see the full picture of evidence surrounding Wilkens case; a judge will have to decide on if shes granted her hearing. News 4 asked Ross about what she believes are the differences between why Moss hearing came before Wilkins. Tulsa County has a lot more cases to deal with than in Seminole County, said Ross. I think the District Attorneys requested more time on Aprils case to do some exploration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkens has been eligible for parole since 2013. She has been denied twice. Both times the Tulsa County District Attorneys office protested her release. News 4s Ali Meyer interviewed Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler as part of a series of reports about justice in Oklahoma, specifically asking him about Wilkins case. I think that jury really had a pretty good view as to what had taken place, said Tulsa County District Attorney, Steve Kunzweiler. Kunzweiler has reviewed the case, which was prosecuted by his predecessor, District Attorney Tim Harris. At trial, April Wilkens testified on her own behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury didnt buy her version of events. They found her guilty and recommended a sentence of life in prison. April Wilkins got a full-throated defense. She got to raise domestic violence. She got to raise all the abusive issues. She got to raise the drugs, Kunzweiler said. That jury got to hear what the real story was, and that jury was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that she was not entitled to self-defense. They found her guilty. Ross told News 4 that regardless of where Wilkins case stands, shes communicated with her, and she and Ross are glad Moss has been released. They both believe Moss is a perfect example of the law working as it should. We want to set precedent, you know, said Ross. So Lisa has done that and thats amazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 employees asked Ross if Wilkens had any kind words for Moss. She is so happy for Lisa and for Lisas family and friends, said Ross. Im feeling like Tulsa County needs to pay attention to Seminole County. I think all of Oklahoma can now use her case as that precedent. Ross tells News 4 that after speaking with Lisa and her legal team, the hope is that shell be granted her hearing sometime this spring, but its still too hard to say. LEARN MORE: Free April Wilkens Free April Wilkens Blog Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The seven seats and court of the Montana Supreme Court (Photo by Eric Seidle/ For the Daily Montanan). A bill to allow political parties to make financial contributions to a judicial candidate could increase transparency about where dollars are flowing from, but opponents worry about increasing partisanship of an independent branch of government. Legislators in the Montana House heard the first of a 27-bill package aimed at judicial reform on the third day of the 69th Montana Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sponsoring his first piece of legislation, freshman Rep. Tom Millett, R-Marion, presented before the House State Administration Committee on House Bill 39, characterizing political party involvement in judicial elections as a positive force for our judicial selections. Let me begin by acknowledging the core principle that judges must remain impartial and independent when making decisions in court. This principle is fundamental to ensuring that justices serve fairly without political interference, Millett said. However, we must also recognize the reality that judges are public figures subject to elections in this state and that process of selecting judges is inherently tied to the broader political landscape. The bill is a requested piece of legislation stemming from the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform that met more than a dozen times during the interim. While the committee requested 27 draft bills, more than 100 bills related to courts and the judicial branch have been requested by legislators and Republican leaders in the House and Senate have made judicial reform a priority for this session. Sen. Barry Usher, R-Billings, who served as vice chair of the interim judicial oversight committee, spoke to the merits of allowing partisan funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We already know the judiciary has partisan money, he said. It doesnt matter whether its the state GOP, a county central committee, they can go and find a third party to put their money in a PAC. So the money is coming, and to me this could be more transparent. A companion piece of legislation, Senate Bill 42, also requested by the judicial oversight committee, would allow judges and justices to be elected on a partisan basis. A similar bill failed during the 2023 session. Usher was the only proponent who spoke on behalf of the bill, but four individuals spoke against it. Patrick Yawakie, representing the Blackfeet Tribe and the Rocky Boy Tribe, called the bill a direct attack on the sanctity of the judicial branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2024, there are only eight states in the country who have implemented partisan politician donations into their elections. They have seen major problems arise when parties put their weight on the scale of their preferred candidate, Yawakie said. When states implement these partisan elections, floods of money flow into the state from interests who are not from Montana, influencing Montana electors from true Montana values. The biggest risk we have to partisan judicial elections is when decisions are made not on the basis of the Montana constitution or law, but on the opinion of party lines. Representing the Montana State Bar, attorney Bruce Spencer expressed his reservations to increasing any appearance of partisanship among judges. If you allow political parties to contribute to judges, you automatically and necessarily tag that judge with a political label if you do so, you impede the partiality of the judge, Spencer said. Even when judges are elected, as they are here in Montana, a judge plays a different role than a legislator or an executive branch official. They dont make decisions based on the express views of the majority. Spencer referenced the American Bar Associations Code of Judicial Conduct, which sets narrowly tailored restrictions on political activities of judges and judicial candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even when judges are elected, as they are here in Montana, a judge plays a different role than a legislator or an executive branch official. They dont make decisions based on the express views of the majority, Spencer said. They cant. Its improper. They make decisions based on the law and the facts of the case before them only. If you pass this bill, youre disagreeing that judges should be free from political pressure, he added. Millett, the bill sponsor, emphasized that while critics of the change argue that judges should be wholly free from political influence, that isnt how things currently are, and he hoped for increased transparency across the board. Unless youre asleep, you know that theres already politics in our judiciary. This is not going to inject very much more, Millett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that having political parties involved in judicial elections could offer resources beyond funding, including offering organizing abilities, increased vetting of candidates, and additional accountability from judges. There will be many solutions presented this session to restore that trust, and the people of Montana are looking at all of us to do something about it. Thats why they sent us here, Millett said. Allowing political parties to contribute directly to judicial candidates is one step in the right direction towards addressing this crisis, and will be an essential part in building a vibrant and transparent electoral system for selecting all of our judges and justices. A previous version of this article mistakenly stated that HB 39 was heard in the House Judiciary Committee, but it was first heard in House State Administration. Daily Montanan regrets the error. A winter storm will move through north Georgia on Friday and first responders are ready to go. Both Emory University Hospital and American Medical Response say they really started preparing for this storm a week ago, making sure they have the people and resources ready to respond even knowing how tough conditions can get. It was gridlock in 2014, and nobody could move, American Medical Responses EMT Jonathon Jenkins told Channel 2s Michael Doudna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenkins remembers 2014 too well: how icy conditions shut down roads even while he was trying to respond to emergencies. We had to take side roads and back roads. But then we got to a spot where we could not get up the hill because the roads were so bad, Jenkins said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Winter storms make things more difficult for first responders, but EMS groups like American Medical Response are already making preparations. Those winter preparations include everything from replacing tires with more winter-friendly ones to having salt in every vehicle, to having cots in case their employees need a place to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very important because we anticipate an increase in call volume tomorrow, officials said. With those calls, Jonathon says they will change how they drive, rushing to emergencies with deliberate speed. And while ambulances will be responding to calls, hospitals will keep running. TRENDING STORIES: We will have a couple of thousands of people staying overnight to take care of someone else, said Emory Healthcares Matt Wain. Wain says they already have 96 hours of supplies, energy, and food on hand to make sure they keep running, even if everything else becomes a standstill. At the end of the day, people need care, we are here to provide that care, and hospitals cannot and will not close, Wain said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So now, the final preparations are being made ready that if emergencies call there will be people ready to answer. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansas health and wildlife officials have released a health alert for fish which may be contaminated with pesticides, arsenic and lead. Jill Bronaugh with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Laura Rose Clawson with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) issued a joint statement from their respective agencies on Friday, Jan. 10 regarding the fish consumption advisory for 2025. This advisory helps guide the states anglers on which fish are safe to bring to their dinner tables. The KDHE and KDWPs joint warning focuses on the dangers that can come with eating too many fish. All fish contain at least some mercury, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which can harm developing fetuses, nursing babies, pregnant and nursing women, children and teens. The agencies have the following recommendations for these groups of people when eating fish caught in Kansas: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eat smaller portions a fillet around the size of your palm. Eat fish that contain less mercury. If you dont know what type of fish youve eaten, wait at least seven days before eating fish again. Catch fish for consumption that are shorter than your forearm or less than 20 inches as the states fishing regulations allow. What lakes are stocked with trout in Kansas for the 2024-2025 season? The KDWP and KDHE organize fish by labeling them as preferred choice or second choice in Kansas. Preferred choice fish you can have one or two servings for each week while second-choice fish you should only have one or two servings per month. People are recommended to keep fish larger than 20 inches down to one serving per week for preferred fish and only one serving per month for second-choice fish. Preferred choice. Blue and channel catfish. Common carp. Crappies. White bass, white perch, wiper and striped bass. Walleye, sauger and saugeye. Bullhead catfish. Drum. Sunfish. bluegill, green and redear. Second choice. Buffalo. Flathead catfish. Bass largemouth, smallmouth and spotted. Kansas wildlife officials ask hunters to hand over 50 muskrats. Heres why People are also asked to take note of specific advisories for different bodies of water across the state. Eating fish from these places could lead to negative health impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little Arkansas River. From the Main Street Bridge west of Valley Center to the confluence with the Arkansas River in Wichita. Eat only two servings of bottom-feeding fish from here due to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Cow Creek. Hutchinson and downstream to the confluence with the Arkansas River in Reno County. Eat one serving of bottom-feeding fish only once a month due to the presence of PCBs. K-96 Lake. In Wichita. Eat one serving of bottom-feeding fish only once a month due to the presence of PCBs. Mill Creek. Madison Road east of Morrowville to the confluence with Little Blue River in Washington County. Eat one serving of bottom-feeding fish only once a month due to the presence of arsenic. Antioch Park Lake South. Antioch Park, Overland Park. Do not eat any fish due to pesticides such as dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane and dichlorophenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs). Arkalon Park Lakes. Liberal, Seward County. Do not eat any aquatic wildlife due to the lakes being sustained solely by treated municipal wastewater. Arkansas River. From the Lincoln Street dam in Wichita downstream to the confluence with Cowskin Creek near Belle Plaine in Sedgwick and Sumner Counties. Do not eat any bottom-feeding fish due to the presence of PCBs. Kansas River. Lawrence, below Bowersock Dam, downstream to Eudora at the confluence of the Wakarusa River in Douglas and Leavenworth Counties. Do not eat any bottom-feeding fish due to the presence of PCBs. Mill Creek. From Washington, below 18th Road, downstream to the confluence of Little Blue River in Washington County. Do not eat any shellfish due to the presence of arsenic. Shoal Creek. From the Missouri-Kansas border to Empire Lake in Cherokee County. Do not eat any shellfish due to the presence of lead and cadmium. Spring River. From the confluence of Center Creek to the Kansas-Oklahoma border in Cherokee County. Do not eat any shellfish due to the presence of lead and cadmium. Can hunters use drones to take wildlife in Kansas? The KDWP and KDHE also have the following general recommendations to reduce a persons exposure to chemicals in the states fish. These include the following: Keep smaller fish to eat, regulations permitting, while letting larger ones go. Avoid eating parts of the fish that are not fillets. Trim fat off fillets and/or use cooking methods that let fat drip away. Avoid relying on eating wild-caught fish for daily nutrition in rivers within or immediately downstream of large urban or industrial areas. Do not eat fish or other aquatic wildlife from wastewater outfalls, waste treatment lagoons or stormwater retention ponds. You can learn more about how the KDHE monitors which fish are safe to eat by heading to the agencys website. To learn more about fishing in Kansas and the latest forecasts, head to the KDWPs website. What were the top Kansas wildlife stories of 2024? For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) With winter weather moving in to East Tennessee, Knoxville has been preparing for potentially dangerous conditions around the city. While slick road conditions may lead to more vehicles becoming stranded, Knoxvilles first responders will be using a tool to help others know which stranded vehicles do not need to be reported. On Friday, Knoxville officials held a press conference discussing how the city prepared for the snow and wintry weather. Residents are urged to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to get out, as road conditions are expected to become unsafe. List: East Tennessee warming shelters open ahead of winter weather Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson with the Knoxville Fire Department shared during the event that for those who are out on roadways and may notice a wrecked or abandoned vehicle, there is one thing to check for before calling 911. If you are out and you see a vehicle that is wrecked, if has been tagged either on the mirror, antenna, or the door handle with with an orange survey tape, please realize that a first responder has already been there and checked that vehicle. You do not have to call 911. We will not respond back out if we have already checked the vehicle, KFDs Mark Wilbanks shared. A first responder tagging a stranded vehicle with orange surveyors tape. (Knoxville Fire Department) A first responder tagging a stranded vehicle with orange surveyors tape. (Knoxville Fire Department) During the upcoming winter weather, 911 operators will be asking the caller if the stranded or wrecked vehicle is marked. Wilbanks explained that if someone is concerned about a vehicle that is off the roadway and is not tagged, they should call 911. The method is not new. Wilbanks confirmed to 6 News that the department has been using it for several years, and usually first responders will be using either orange or yellow tape to mark if they have checked a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to make an emergency kit for your vehicle Wilbanks added that KFD is well prepared to respond during and after the winter storm. Residents are encouraged to remember good home safety measures, such as using safe heaters using any generators outside and a safe distance away from the home. For those using space heaters in their home, experts recommend plugging them directly into outlets and never plugging them into a power strips. In the Knoxville area, around three to six inches of snow is anticipated. Storm Team 6 is continuing to monitor the forecast, however, one of the concerns with the winter weather that is moving through is that temperatures are not expected to get over freezing by very much throughout the next week, aside from Monday, when the high is expected to reach 39 degrees. The storm moving through is expected cause travel impacts for several days, as the extra moisture and freezing temperatures could cause icy, slick roadways. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. The spate of devastating fires hitting the Los Angeles area has dominated headlines and understandably so. At least 10 people have died and upwards of 180,000 people have been evacuated with more than 10,000 structures destroyed. One of these fires, the Palisades Fire, began burning on Tuesday and continues at the time of this writing, has destroyed at least 17,000 acres, the most in Los Angeles history. But there's also the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire, the Kenneth Fire and other fires in the area, many with little to no containment. While hundreds of thousands of Californians are fleeing from flames, there are other risks aside from the immediate damage: air pollution and the charred toxins that are left behind. To give one example, a recent study in the journal JAMA Neurology has looked at the effects of wildfire smoke on dementia. Previous research has established that tiny particles in the air (2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, known as PM2.5) are linked to dementia, but the researchers found that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke specifically was associated with dementia diagnoses. They added that as climate change worsens, interventions focused on reducing wildfire PM2.5 exposure may reduce dementia diagnoses and related inequities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To conduct their research, the scientists looked at health data from more than 1.2 million people from between 2008 and 2019 among members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Within this cohort, they discovered people with higher exposure to wildfire fine particulate matter (PM2.5) had elevated risk of developing dementia, explained Dr. Joan Casey, the studys corresponding author and a professor of public health at the University of Washington. Because this study only examined existing patient data, Casey told Salon that scientists will need to do more research on the precise relationship between wildfire exposure and dementia. We looked at the umbrella of all dementia diagnoses, but certain sub-types like Alzheimers or frontotemporal dementia might have stronger links with wildfire PM2.5, Casey said. We also want to understand the relevant time window of exposure. Here, we looked at exposure in the prior three years, but a longer window is likely important (up to 20 years.) The researchers work is unfortunately relevant to human beings because climate change is making wildfires more frequent and more intense. From California and Hawaii to Greece and Spain, more and more of Earths wooded areas are bursting into flame as humanity overheats the planet with heat-trapping fossil fuel emissions. While these conflagrations engulf millions of acres of lands, they belch fine particulate matter into the air, which humans inevitably inhale. But more and more research is making it clear how devastating to our health this toxic air can be. Although this study focuses specifically on wildfire PM2.5, other research firmly establishes that PM2.5 in general is bad for human health. A report from the National Bureau of Economic Research released last April found that wildfire smoke contributes to the deaths of around 16,000 Americans per year, with that number expected to rise to 30,000 by mid century. A systematic review published in the journal Neurotoxicology found a link between air pollution and increased depressive and anxiety symptoms and behaviors, as well as physical alterations in brain regions believed to be associated with those conditions. A 2024 study in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety likewise found links between various types of common air pollution and diseases including PTSD and multiple sclerosis, while a 2021 study in the journal Neurology found a link between urban air pollution and central nervous system diseases. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. "The results of our studies on the effects of nanoparticles in the air show a link between exposure to air pollutants and neurological diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders," 2021 study lead author Mojtaba Ehsanifar, an assistant professor of environmental neurotoxicology at Kashan University of Medical Sciences' Anatomical Sciences Research Center, told Salon by email. Although Ehsanifar has not specifically worked on the effects of pollutants from fires, he noted that pollutants produced by both gases tend to be similar. He blames climate change for this problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent investigation establishes a connection between climate change and the exacerbation of certain neurological disorders, Ehsanifar said. As temperatures and humidity increase, conditions such as stroke, migraines, meningitis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease may worsen. He added that as temperatures continue to rise, the heat will combine with the smoke to hurt our brains. Currently, brains are already operating toward the upper thresholds of these ranges, and as climate change elevates temperature and humidity, our brains might struggle to maintain temperature regulation, even malfunctioning, Ehsanifar said. A high internal body temperature, especially above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, with cognitive impairment such as confusion, defines heat stroke. This research underscores how global heating is intrinsically linked to our health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Dr. Michael E. Mann said it is fair to directly attribute diseases like dementia to climate change when they are demonstrably caused by wildfire exposure. The connection is epidemiological, much like the negative health consequences of smoking are epidemiological, i.e. statistical in nature, Mann said. So in other words, while its always possible that a victim could have suffered neurological diseases for other reasons, we can say that exposure to wildfire smoke substantially increases the likelihood of e.g. developing dementia, enough so that there is effectively a causal connection there. Mann added, This is yet another example of the profound, yet grossly understated negative health consequences of human-caused climate change. Dr. Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, told Salon that he is not surprised the study found adverse effects of wildfire pollution. The revelation that PM2.5 may indirectly increase dementia risk, however, was new to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there is no question that air pollution is bad for health in many ways, Trenberth said. On bad pollution days, either one should not exercise or should do it indoors. So this affects exercise, which should help health. With wildfires around, one should not breathe the foul air. So this can be partially controlled from industry although mainly for larger particles. It is harder to see the smaller particles. Nor are humans alone in suffering, Trenberth noted. Think of all the poor animals exposed. Scientists writing in 2022 for the journal Environmental Research described air pollution broadly as an underrecognized public health risk, arguing that policy needs to be matched by scientific evidence and appropriate guidelines, including bespoke strategies to optimise impact and mitigate unintended consequences. In addition to mitigating the impacts of climate change, experts urge ordinary citizens to take measures to protect their lungs during times of intense air pollution. Whether it is caused by wildfires, urban smog or any other source, the overwhelming evidence is that breathing it in is bad for a persons respiratory health. What remains after a wildfire can also be dangerous. The charred ruins of houses and burnt out cars contain countless pollutants from melted plastics, paints, electronics and household waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until the environment is adequately cleaned up, the likelihood is that those who struggle with disease because of exposure to wildfires both during and after may continue to risk their health. Seeing the magnitude of the relationship between wildfire PM2.5 and dementia was quite striking, Casey said. I was especially struck by how much stronger this relationship was for people living in communities with higher levels of poverty, suggesting that climate change is again increasing health disparities. A 54-year-old man was hospitalized and faces several charges including attempted murder of law enforcement after an officer-involved shooting Wednesday near Salida, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Richard Borrego, of Pueblo, was shot in the right shoulder after he allegedly fired at law enforcement during a nearly three-hour standoff that began around 4 p.m. Wednesday. Officers arrived to the home in an area west of Salida known as Garfield after a woman had escaped to a neighbor's residence, according to a release sent Thursday by the CBI. The man refused commands to leave his home and barricaded himself inside. Borrego allegedly fired at three Chaffee County Sheriff's Office deputies and a Salida police officer from an upstairs window of the home, the CBI said, and law enforcement returned fire. Officers used tear gas to take Borrego into custody. He was then taken to a local hospital and transferred to a Colorado Springs hospital, where he is being held under guard without bond. No law enforcement officers were injured, the CBI said. All four who returned fire have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the officer-involved shooting investigation. Borrego faces charges including two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, two counts of first-degree assault in first degree, 18 counts of menacing, prohibited use of a weapon, third-degree assault and menacing. Madison Zacharias plays during lunch break with other Buffalo Christian Homeschool Academy students on May 10, 2024, at the school near Humboldt, South Dakota. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Drew Dittmer and his wife tried homeschooling their children in 2015. The family of six in Sioux Falls enjoyed the freedom and flexibility it allowed them. But after welcoming their fifth child, the couple sent their children back to public school to avoid being overwhelmed at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, a kind of homeschooling was thrust on the Dittmers again: remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising Alternatives This is the first story in a five-part series about the growth of alternative instruction in South Dakota. Further stories examine accountability concerns, alternatives for Indigenous education, motivations for teachers who start alternative schools, and the ways some public schools are working with alternative-instruction families. Seeing the work they were getting from school a little bit more up close because we were so involved, we recognized we could give them a better all-around education than what they were getting in school, Dittmer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dittmer children are part of a trend. Alternative instruction nearly tripled in South Dakota over the last decade from 3,933 students in 2014 to 11,489 now making up about 7% of school-age children in the state, according to the state Department of Education. That includes homeschooling and private schools online, hybrid and microschools that are unaccredited, or accredited by an entity other than the state. The states 94% increase in alternative students during the past five years is the third-fastest growth rate in the nation, following Washington, D.C., (108%) and New York (103%). The growth could accelerate in South Dakota if lawmakers adopt a new proposal by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to create education savings accounts. The $4 million program would provide about $3,000 per student annually to pay for a portion of private school tuition or curriculum for alternative instruction. Legislators will begin considering the proposal when they convene for their annual lawmaking session on Tuesday. South Dakota Searchlight connected through an online survey and interviews with more than 100 parents whove chosen alternative instruction for their children. They most commonly said they chose this path because: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are concerned about problems in school environments, such as bullying, anxiety and safety. They dont think the traditional system meets their childrens learning styles. They can incorporate religious or cultural teachings, travel or occupational pursuits. They also pointed to the long bus ride for children attending rural schools taking up too much of their day, and the increasing ease of pursuing nontraditional education with new technology. Deregulation and accountability concerns Alternative instruction was increasing in South Dakota even before the pandemic, which accelerated the trend, said state Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves. Parents need access to more opportunities for children when they are not finding success at school, Graves said in an emailed statement. Currently, the decision to pursue alternative instruction is in the hands of parents, whom we rely on to make the best decisions for their children. The largest spike in enrollment was in 2022, a year after the state removed regulations on alternative instruction and made it easier to enroll. Isabel Hofflander (left) and Magdalene Motz (right) play in between class periods at St. Joseph Academy in Sioux Falls on May 13, 2024. The classical school, which is a traditional model based in liberal arts, was taught by parents during the 2023-2024 school year, but switched to a hybrid model for the 2024-2025 school year. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Students are no longer required to take standardized tests. Parents dont need to disclose their reasons for choosing alternative instruction, and rather than enrolling yearly with their district, families now only alert the state once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local school boards lost the authority to deny or revoke a students request to opt out of public school attendance. Public school districts were also required to allow alternative students to play school-sponsored sports. Critics say the decreased oversight could shield potential child abuse and neglect. Caregivers can skirt the states compulsory education laws, and protocols in place to protect children are woefully inadequate, said Harrisburg Superintendent Tim Graf. I know the people who homeschool and want to do a good job and are doing a good job dont want to be lumped in with the second group, Graf said. At the same time, without some level of accountability, I dont know how you can separate the two. Hannah Motz helps her children work on their observation paintings during their nature walk in Sioux Falls Terrace Park on May 16, 2024. The children are enrolled in alternative instruction. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Graf raised his concerns when he testified against the weakened regulations in 2021. Although he said the prior regulations werent perfect, he would take them back in a heartbeat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, we just have nothing. So anything we could do for more accountability would be an improvement, Graf said. The removal of children from public education also pulls state funding from public schools, because its based primarily on student enrollment. Deregulation can feed national attacks on public school systems, Graf said, and fits into a larger effort to defund public schools and invest in education savings accounts and vouchers public school money used for nonpublic education. Rob Monson, executive director of the School Administrators of South Dakota, said Noems proposal to fund private education with public dollars is part of a national movement to help private businesses and organizations profit from education. Changing models Today, some alternative-school students in South Dakota experience an education with connections or similarities to traditional public or private schools, especially in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. They play school-sanctioned sports, take classes with other students, participate in their own choir or band, and host their own graduation ceremonies and proms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traditional homeschooling is stagnant nationwide, said Angela Watson, director of the Homeschool Research Lab at Johns Hopkins School of Education. The growth is in online, hybrid and microschools. Hybrid and microschools which are not accredited by the state are private, in-person school settings. Online schools can be recorded or taught virtually. Co-ops are groups of homeschooling families teaching each others children lessons, or hiring a tutor to lead a class. Its kind of a smorgasbord right now, said Lisa Nehring, of Parker, who is the founder of True North Home School Academy. The online academy teaches roughly 600 children in grades second through 12th in math, literature, science, foreign language and other subjects. Nehring said new education models cater to full-time working parents to find what fits best for their child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can do dual enrollment. You can be part of a co-op. You can do an online class. You can do online or in-person tutoring, she said. You can do all of these things at the same time. Josie Lundgren, 15, signs into her online class on June 28, 2024, from her bedroom desk in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Lundgren is homeschooled by her mother in addition to taking some online classes, microschool classes and public school classes in Dell Rapids. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuition to hybrid and microschools can range from $3,000 to $7,000 annually across the state, founders of the alternative schools told South Dakota Searchlight. Alternative schools often seek out grants to make the school more affordable for families, but grants from private organizations and donations arent sustainable, they say. Acton Academy in Sioux Falls received over $25,000 from the VELA Education Fund in 2022 and Onward Learning received a $200,000 award as a 2024 Yass Prize semifinalist. Mary Jo Fairhead, owner and founder of Onward Learning in Martin, said Noems education savings account proposal would be helpful, although $3,000 wont cover the cost of educating a child at her school over $6,000 per child, she said. Low-income parents could struggle to pay for the rest of the cost. But she supports any efforts to get some funding to alternative instruction students, she said. Reasons for choosing alternative instruction South Dakota Searchlight connected through an online survey and interviews with more than 100 parents who chose alternative instruction for their children. Here are some of the reasons they cited: Easier for parents than traditional homeschooling Michelle Billingsley is co-founder of the Journey Homeschool Tutoring Program in Sturgis and Box Elder. She sees more families seeking out hybrid schools like hers because its less work than homeschooling. The school takes on planning and grading while parents teach their children when Journey doesnt offer a class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before we did microschool, I would spend hours preparing for the week for homeschooling: pulling out assignments needed or looking over what needed to be taught or planning for science projects, Billingsley said. All of that is eliminated for parents, with most projects done at school in class. Homeschool students (from left) Carter White, Ezra Schimp, Benjamin Klosterman and Rozheen Rashid sell herbal lemonade at the Acton Academys 2024 business fair on June 27, 2024, near the Lake Lorraine strip mall in Sioux Falls. They learned about herbal teas and their medicinal benefits through a co-op class taught by their mothers. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Tailored interests Alternative schooling allows students to tailor their education to career interests, said Mimi Klosterman, who started homeschooling 25 years ago. She focused her eight childrens homeschool curriculum on computers and cybersecurity, which she said wasnt provided in public schools a decade ago, especially for middle schoolers. Getting that experience in middle school and high school and thinking about what you really want to do is important, Klosterman said. Renee Butcher and her husband, of Rapid City, homeschool their 8-year-old daughter while they travel for work. That flexibility allows them to focus on their daughters interests and strengths, she said. Each time the family travels, Butcher takes her 8- and 1-year-old daughters to museums, theater performances or landmarks. Their education will include an experiential component rather than merely reading books at a desk, Butcher said. Distance Nearly 30% of school-aged children in the Bison School District are enrolled in alternative instruction, one of the highest percentages in South Dakota. Generations of homeschoolers live in the Bison School District, said Superintendent George Shipley. Bison is one of the sparsest school districts in the state, with 190 school-aged children in a district spanning more than 1,330 square miles. Since the shift away from country schools in the last century, often for financial reasons, some rural children can spend more than three hours a day riding a bus to schools in town. On the Cheyenne River Reservation in north-central South Dakota, Paige Fast Wolfs son had to wake up early to sit on a bus for an hour and a half before attending a public school. He was too tired to focus by the time he got to school, Fast Wolf said. He didnt return home until around 5:30 p.m. Hed start the day on a bad foot. Hed come home tired and starving, Fast Wolf said. It was just too much for him. Magnolia Hess works on a math worksheet at St. Joseph Academy in Sioux Falls on May 13, 2024. The classical school, which is a traditional model based in liberal arts, was taught by parents during the 2023-2024 school year, but switched to a hybrid model for the 2024-2025 school year. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Educational disabilities Drew Dittmers 12-year-old daughter showed signs of dyslexia while attending public school. After switching to homeschooling, Dittmer enrolled his daughter in an online program catering to dyslexic children. Within a month, her reading and comprehension improved, he said. Julie Christian, president of Families for Alternative Instruction Rights in South Dakota (FAIRSD), taught special education in the Sioux Falls School District for years before homeschooling her children. Now she has a private practice serving people with dyslexia and autism. Some alternative students in South Dakota have other educational disabilities, including processing disorders, anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The parents think, I can create something at home that helps them without stressing them out,' Christian said. Theyre doing that, and theres tons of support out there now. Fast Wolf pulled her 7-year-old son out of the Timber Lake School District after seeing him struggle to achieve in a traditional school setting. Her son has ADHD. He used to say hes the dumbest boy. He hasnt said that since homeschooling, and the meltdowns have slowed down a lot, Fast Wolf said. Hes like a little sponge now and speeding up, and I just have to work really hard to keep him engaged and challenged. Anxiety Chelsi Brown was nervous when her son started at Onward Learning, a microschool in Martin, because she didnt know what to expect in the nontraditional format. But it was worth a chance, she thought, because she saw how anxious hed become attending public school in the Oglala Lakota County School District. Oglala Lakota is identified as a school improvement district, with students tested more heavily than a typical district to track performance. Testing starts in kindergarten, three times a school year, Brown said. Not having my own child go through it before, I didnt really notice how much stuff is put on kids for testing, Brown said. Homeschooling or smaller micro or hybrid schools can allow students affected by anxiety more individual attention than theyd receive at a public school with a larger class, Brown said. With holidays now firmly in the rearview, it's time to start planning your next vacation and if you're in Florida, you're in luck, because you won't have to go far to take Tripadvisor's advice to find the most trending destination city in the country. And where will you be traveling? West Palm Beach, on Florida's east coast and just across the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Beach, already home to many tourist draws, including a national award-winning green market and a plethora of fabulous dining options. The city tops the list Tripadvisor issued Jan. 9 as part of its Travelers Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations for 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only other Florida spot to make the company's myriad of lists from best food destination to best honeymoon destinations, was the Florida Keys, which came in at No. 4 on the Top U.S. Destinations, clocking in behind New York City, O'ahu and Las Vegas. Digging further into West Palm Beach's win as a trending destination, a spokeswoman for the site explained that this specific category honors locations that showed the greatest year-over-year increase in the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews for accommodations, restaurants and things to do in destinations. Other factors include pageviews between Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024. Perhaps its no surprise that West Palm Beach scored first place in this category, earning the highest ratings and most authentic reviews. The Trump effect: What is the appeal of West Palm Beach? While we locals understand the appeal, with so many national newscasts broadcasting nearly nightly from West Palm Beach, essentially giving the city free advertising, the love has spread to those outside our neck of the woods. Those newscasters, of course, have been in town to follow President Donald Trump. How rankings are determined by Tripadvisor Tripadvisors website tallies the quality and quantity of reviews, specific to each award subcategory, for accommodations, restaurants and things to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It notes how travelers are seeking experiences with immersive cultures. Great dining options and climates also play roles in reviews. What's hot in West Palm Beach? A peek at West Palm Beachs Tripadvisor page reveals the top two hotels for folks contributing reviews are both Hiltons, whose locations are downtown and the airport. As for restaurants, Spruzzo sits atop the leaders board at No. 1 for its rooftop setting. At No. 2 is Galley at the Hilton. When it comes to favorite attractions, the two top places listed to visit are McCarthys Wildlife Sanctuary and CityPlace. Other trending American cities, according to Tripadvisor From Nos. 2 to 9, other trending cities were cited for their climates and immersive culture earning placements on this list include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santa Barbara, California Cleveland, Ohio Kansas City, Missouri Memphis, Tennessee Park City, Utah Juneau, Alaska Denver, Colorado Brooklyn, New York Hilton Head, South Carolina Tripadvisor: Other categories and winners 25 th Anniversary recognition in honor of the sites 2000 launch year: No. 1 is London Culture: Bali is top-ranked Food, both worldwide and in the U.S.: Rome and New Orleans, respectively Honeymoons: the island nation of Mauritius is tops Solo travel; No. 1 is Seoul (ironic?) Overall top destinations worldwide and U.S.; No. 1s are London and New York City Our globally trending sister is Osaka, Japan Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's new food & restaurant writer who recently transferred from Naples Daily News. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump effect? Florida city on Tripadvisor best vacation spot SORRENTO, Fla. (WFLA) A Lake County Sheriffs Office deputy resigned from his position after slamming into a stopped vehicle while looking at pornographic photos on his phone. Deputy Tristan Macomber was heading southbound on Country Road 435 in Sorrento on Nov. 6 when the crash occurred, according to an internal investigation report obtained by NBC affiliate WESH. Sarasota doctor solicited child pornography from teen online: MCSO Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other driver was reportedly stopped ahead for a school bus with flashing lights. When first questioned, Macomber told officials that he tried to stop, but the brakes on his patrol vehicle locked up. The deputy also advised that his patrol cars speedometer had just been calibrated, and the anti-lock braking system (ABS) light was on. During the internal investigation, officials reviewed the deputys body camera footage, which reportedly showed him picking up his cell phone a minute before the crash. Macomber later told officials that he was looking at text messages from his colleagues, but the body camera footage showed that was not the case, according to the internal report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another interview with the Office of Professional Standards, Macomber admitted that he was on his personal phone looking at inappropriate pictures, later clarified to be pornographic material. Macomber did say his ABS light was on during the crash but confessed that was more of a deflection than a genuine reason for the vehicle crash, the report said. In addition to violating a general order about using handheld electronic devices, the sheriffs office found Macomber in violation of general orders regarding departure from truth in giving testimony. He also was not wearing a seatbelt. Macomber was facing termination when he decided to resign, the sheriffs office told WESH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if the other driver was injured. However, Macombers body camera footage showed the other driver involved in the crash getting out of their car and telling him they were OK before moving their car out of the roadway. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. In less than two weeks, President-elect Donald Trump will make his return to the White House. As Jan. 20 approaches, one of his special presidential powers is being widely discussed. Trump will once again have the ability to grant pardons to those who have committed federal crimes, voicing his potential choices ahead of Inauguration Day. Will any Floridians be among those pardoned in Trump's first days? Here's what to know. What does 'pardoning' mean? Why does the president have that power? According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a "pardon" is an expression of forgiveness and can help eliminate some of the consequences of a conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president can grant a pardon to a person who was convicted in a United States District Court, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, or a military court-martial. According to Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 within the Constitution: "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." Will Donald Trump pardon the Florida Jan. 6 rioters? As of Jan. 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice lists more than 140 people with Florida connections charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 riots. And soon, some of them could be free. Back on Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of then-President Donald Trump gathered for a rally in Washington D.C. and marched on the Capitol. After fiery speeches from Trump and others, the rioters stormed the Capitol, attacking police and breaking windows and doors to get in where they roamed the halls, vandalized offices, and threatened the lives of Vice-President Mike Pence, who refused to overturn the election results, and members of Congress, many of whom fled or barricaded themselves in their offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 140 have been charged: Will Trump pardon the Jan. 6 rioters from Florida? Nearly 1,600 people have been charged in total, more than 1,251 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty and 645 have been sentenced to prison, with punishments ranging from a few days to 22 years, according to the Justice Department. However, Trump said on Tuesday he planned to issue "major pardons" for the Jan. 6 rioters. People that didn't even walk into the building are in jail right now. So we'll be looking at the whole thing but I'll be making major pardons, yes, Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karoline Leavitt, who Trump has chosen as his White House spokesperson, issued a statement saying he would "make pardon decisions on a case-by-case basis. USA TODAY reported a "surge" of suspects seeking to delay their trials until after Jan. 20. Will Todd Chrisley pardon jailed television star Todd Chrisley? Reality TV star Todd Chrisley was born April 6, 1969. Chrisley and his wife, Julie Chrisley, were found guilty of tax evasion and bank fraud and began serving their prison sentences in Pensacola, Florida, and Lexington, Kentucky, respectively, in January 2023. Savannah Chrisley, daughter of jailed reality TV stars Todd and Julie, penned a letter to the House Judiciary Committee and the Bureau of Prisons last November to discuss corruption at the prisons. Between the letter and her appearances at Trump's events, some think Savannah is advocating the President-elect to pardon her parents. Todd and Julie Chrisley were found guilty of committing tax evasion and defrauding community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans in June 2022. Julie Chrisley was additionally convicted of obstruction of justice and wire fraud. The couple was first sentenced to 12 and seven years in prison, respectively, in November of 2022. In addition to their prison sentences, news outlets reported that they each received an order of 16 months probation from U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross in Atlanta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todd began his 12-year sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola on Jan. 17, 2023. However, it was announced last month the prison would be permanently closed due to a "critical staffing shortage, crumbling infrastructure, and limited budgetary resources." According to FBOP records, Todd Chrisley will be released on June 11, 2032, two years sooner than his original sentence. Julie, 51, is serving time at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Her sentence was reduced by 14 months and will be released on March. 23, 2028. Back in September, her request for a reduced sentence was rejected by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross. Could Trump pardon himself? Technically, yes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Constitution, there is no language specifying who may or may not be the subject of a pardon. The president is simply given the power to pardon any federal crime. It is a more complicated question whether the South Florida resident would actually do so. Forbes also mentions that the Constitution prohibits Trump from pardoning cases at the state level, which rules out his ability to pardon himself in his New York criminal fraud case and his Fulton County, Georgia, election interference case. He previously brought up the idea back in 2018. As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018 Which Floridians did Trump pardon in his first term? Lil Wayne comes out of the CU football locker room to give a live pregame performace before the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 16, 2023 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. Trump issued a total of 144 pardons during his first four years in office, including those jailed in Florida: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Ballard McCarty - Conspiracy to commit honest services fraud Cesar Agusto Lozada - Conspiracy to distribute marijuana James Harutun Batmasian - Willful failure to pay over-tax Paul L. Behrens - Making false statements relating to health care matters (two counts); health care fraud (two counts) Thaddeus M. S. Bereday - Making false statements relating to healthcare matters Peter E. Clay - Making false statements (two counts) Todd S. Farha - Healthcare fraud (two counts) William L. Kale - Healthcare fraud (two counts) Robert Douglas Bowker - Wildlife smuggling Dwayne "Lil' Wayne" Michael Carter - Possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon Abel Holtz - Obstruction of justice Desiree Perez fka Desiree Reynos - Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Probation violation When does Donald Trump take office for the second time? Inauguration Day will take place on Monday, Jan. 20. Typically, Inauguration Day occurs on Jan. 20 (or Jan. 21 if Jan. 20 falls on a Sunday), every four years. The inauguration ceremony is held outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Donald Trump pardons ahead. What about Todd and Julie Chrisley? Two metro Detroit health systems the Detroit Medical Center and Corewell Health have issued visitor restrictions to limit the spread of flu and other respiratory scourges like respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, as the number of infections rise in Michigan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the level of flu activity in Michigan rose from low to high in late December. "Our hospitals are busy," said Dr. Rachel Klamo, president of Michigan Academy of Family Physicians who also works in private practice in Oxford and treats patients at Henry Ford Rochester Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hospitals in southeast Michigan, for sure, are operating at pretty high capacity," Klamo said Friday. "There's just a high burden of illness right now, and a lot of it is respiratory. We're seeing high rates of influenza type A and B, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, and then COVID-19 as well. "There are hospitals in southeast Michigan with an extremely high burden of COVID right now and have a lot of patients who are very, very sick with COVID." Although hospitalizations from COVID are not as high as they were during the pandemic, Klamo said, "we are at higher levels than we've been in some time." At Corewell Health Children's in southeast Michigan, respiratory viruses are driving up admissions among kids, especially, said Dr. Matthew Denenberg, chief of pediatrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're starting to see more cases in our emergency departments and in our hospitals. In fact, William Beaumont University Hospital this week has been about 95% capacity for our pediatric beds," Denenberg said. "Coincidentally, our NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) is pretty full right now as well at capacity, and our PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) is almost always full, and is the case now. "As we see more and more children in the hospital and more and more viruses in the community, it becomes necessary to limit the number of visitors at the bedside both to help prevent the spread of these infections, but also just for the logistics of taking care of patients when we're this crowded." Corewell Health has restricted the number of visitors in pediatric areas to two during the day and one person at night at the following hospitals: Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital Corewell Health Trenton Hospital Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital Corewell Health Wayne Hospital Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital The restrictions apply to patients and birthing mothers in pediatric inpatient units, pediatric ICU, neonatal ICU and birthing and postpartum units at the hospitals listed above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denenberg said visitors will be limited "until our census starts to come down and the virus load in the community starts to decrease." More: Fairlane mall owner fends off move by lender More: Trump becomes first ex-president sentenced for criminal conviction: live updates Other Corewell Health hospitals, including those in western Michigan, have not restricted visitors, said spokesperson Andrea Finnigan. "We arent seeing the same number of respiratory virus cases yet (in western Michigan), but thats being monitored closely and could change in the future," Finnigan said. The Detroit Medical Center also implemented new visitor guidelines Thursday at all DMC facilities, including the Childrens Hospital of Michigan. Among them: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All patients are allowed up to two visitors at any one time. However, children ages 12 and younger, including siblings, will not be able to visit inpatient hospital floors or observation units. Anyone 13 or older with respiratory virus symptoms such as fever, cough, rash, or who is sick with other symptoms is asked not to visit patients at DMC's hospitals even if the patient is staying in a private or semi-private room. They should instead visit patients only when they are feeling well again. Flu cases have been increasing across the United States, said Dr. Teena Chopra, corporate medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology and antibiotic stewardship for the DMC. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan influenza activity is also now increasing rapidly. In this period of increased influenza activity in the community, we made these changes for the safety and care of our patients. The visitor policies at hospitals within the McLaren Health Care, University of Michigan Health and Henry Ford Health systems had not yet changed as a result of rising rates of respiratory infection, though David Jones, a spokesperson for McLaren, said "we are monitoring viral activity." Dr. Laraine Washer, medical director of infection control at U-M Health, said the Ann Arbor-based health system is not anticipating changes to its visitor policy, but urged people with signs or symptoms of respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, runny nose or sore throat, to avoid visiting until they have recovered. At Henry Ford Health, the following visitor rules have been in place since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and limit the number of visitors per patient to two. Visitors must be age 12 and older unless accompanied by an adult. Masks are required in areas where people who have compromised immune systems are getting care. For complete details, go to: https://www.henryford.com/locations/henry-ford-hospital/visitors/hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klamo said it's not too late to get a flu shot, a COVID-19 vaccine, or, if you're eligible, an RSV vaccine/monoclonal antibody treatment. "Vaccination remains a very safe and effective and evidence-based way to protect yourself against disease ... very serious illness or even death," Klamo said. "So we want people to know that they shouldn't be afraid of getting a vaccine, and they should welcome the opportunity to prevent disease." Anyone with concerns about the safety of vaccines can get details directly from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines. "We do recommend the CDC website," Klamo said, encouraging people to get accurate information about vaccines. "If you're questioning or you're just not sure if you're getting the right information, we would rather have people verify data and then act on good information and good evidence to make choices for their health." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line, she said, is that respiratory viruses are ramping up right now in the region. "It can affect everyone, and even if you're not individually at high risk, those around you may be. And so it is not too late to be vaccinated," she said. Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Some Michigan hospitals are limiting visitors as flu, RSV, COVID surge File cabinets. (Getty Images) One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealths leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise. In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating. EPA audit cited Richmond for cracked filters, corroded pumps Inspection reports obtained by television news station WTVR show Richmonds Department of Public Utilities (DPU) had previously been cited for failures in emergency planning and deteriorating equipment. While DPU Director April Bingham said Wednesday she cannot confirm if those findings are connected to the current water crisis, state regulators plan to investigate potential links. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials have attributed the widespread water outages to a winter storm that caused power failures at the water treatment plant, leading to flooding and the failure of backup systems. Dwayne Roadcap, head of the Virginia Department of Healths Office of Drinking Water, said the city did not meet some regulatory requirements designed to prevent such incidents. Were looking into why the fail-safe systems didnt work, because you shouldnt have this kind of problem, Roadcap told WTVR. During a Wednesday press conference, Mayor Danny Avula was asked about DPUs preparedness. Im six days on the job, so Im not sure I can answer that in detail, Avula said, noting that the city conducts annual preparedness exercises and plans to include these issues in an after-action report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2022 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) audit cited Richmond for multiple violations, including corroded pumps, cracked filters, insufficient maintenance and outdated emergency response plans. The plan, last updated in 2017, was not finalized until January 2025 just days before the water crisis began. Bingham acknowledged the aging infrastructure and said the incident was caused by the storm-related outage, though she could not confirm if equipment issues contributed. We have to continue to focus on investments in this infrastructure, she said. The EPA report also highlighted that Richmond does not perform emergency scenario planning for large-scale power failures, relying instead on fire department exercises. In its response to the EPA, DPU acknowledged the findings and outlined plans for equipment refurbishment and an updated emergency response plan, set to be completed in early 2025. When asked why it took more than two years to respond to the EPA findings, a city spokesperson claimed DPU did not receive the report until August 2024. WTVR is awaiting clarification from the EPA. Court hears case on police payroll transparency The Virginia Court of Appeals on Tuesday considered a case that could establish a key precedent for police transparency, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported this week. The case arises from a public records request by Alice Minium, who runs a police accountability website, seeking access to the Hanover County Sheriffs Office payroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Col. David Hines largely denied the request, redacting 90% of his deputies names. He cited a state law intended to safeguard undercover operations, arguing that all deputies could potentially serve in such roles. Minium challenged the denial in court but lost at the circuit level. Her appeal, along with a similar case involving the Chesterfield Police Department, could establish new guidelines for public records access in Virginia. During Tuesdays hearing, Miniums lawyer, Andrew Bodoh, argued that Hines broad interpretation of the law undermines the transparency guaranteed by Virginias Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). He emphasized that FOIA exemptions must be narrowly applied and that payrolls are explicitly public records under state law. Hines lawyer William Tunner countered that the laws language supports withholding the information to protect future undercover operations, asserting that revealing officer names could jeopardize public safety. The panel of judges, however, appeared skeptical of Hines expansive interpretation, with Presiding Judge Lisa Lorish questioning how a payroll list inherently reveals undercover activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minium, who launched her transparency organization OpenOversightVA in the wake of nationwide protests against police brutality, said the case is about accountability. Secrecy shrouds, if not misconduct, the ability to engage in misconduct, she said. The University of Virginias First Amendment Clinic filed a brief supporting Minium, arguing that the lower courts ruling undermines government transparency. A decision from the Court of Appeals is expected to clarify how FOIA applies to similar cases across Virginia. The Mercurys efforts to track FOIA and other transparency cases in Virginia are indebted to the work of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit alliance dedicated to expanding access to government records, meetings and other state and local proceedings. Purcellville town manager fired in controversial council move Purcellville Town Manager Rick Bremseth was fired Wednesday night during a special meeting called by newly elected Mayor Christopher Bertaut, with little explanation provided, according to a report by LoudounNow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council voted 4-3 to terminate Bremseth after a 40-minute closed session, appointing former mayor Kwasi Fraser as interim manager. Council members Erin Rayner, Kevin Wright, and Caleb Stought opposed the motion. Newly elected Councilor Ben Nett, who made the motion, offered no specific reason for Bremseths termination. When questioned about how the decision was made before public discussion, Bertaut explained that private interviews with council members had been conducted over several months. We decided this was the best path forward to achieve our goals and objectives, Bertaut said. While Nett called the move an interim step with plans to open the position to applicants, Wright sharply criticized the decision, calling it the definition of corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was predetermined, done behind closed doors, and forced on the citizens, Wright said. Susan Khalil, a recently elected council member, defended the decision, citing concerns about unexplained financial issues in the towns records and her support for Frasers vision. I believe he is extremely knowledgeable about how to turn things around, Khalil said. The announcement sparked outbursts from the audience, with some calling the council members cowards and puppets. Despite the tension, Bremseth addressed the room, thanking town staff and department heads. Its been an honor and a privilege, and I salute you, he said, receiving a standing ovation as he left the chamber with his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bremseth, a retired U.S. Navy veteran and former SEAL Team commander, was hired as Purcellvilles interim town manager in June 2023 and made permanent a month later. His contract requires a 60-day notice of termination and provides six months of severance pay, estimated at $80,000, unless terminated for specific causes such as fraud, felony conviction, or insubordination. Fraser, who served four terms as Purcellvilles mayor before stepping down in 2022, now steps into the interim role amid heated debate and scrutiny over the councils decision. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL)News Channel 11 walked the aisles of Food City on Thursday to observe shoppers preparing for Fridays snowstorm. Rick Bishop, vice president of store operations, said groceries were flying off the shelves at Food City as Bristol residents prepared for snow. People get excited, he said. Its a theres a lot of excitement in there. Theres a lot of hustle and bustle in there, and we see a lot, we see a lot of people come in. Theyre theyre looking for those essentials. Theyre looking for the milk, the bread, the eggs, the ground beef, the potatoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tri-Cities stores see demand for salt, winter weather supplies Bishop said that the store is fortunate to have a local distribution center, which facilitates easier access to additional groceries when needed. However, groceries are not the only essential item needed in a storm. But theres also items you might not think about, firewood, propane, he said. Those are items to that spike in demand during this time, that were we have to get with suppliers, make sure we get in here, get plenty in here. Bishop said Food City aims to remain open during the storms. We take it very seriously, he said. Our responsibility to be open for when people need food, thats just what we do. We sell food to folks and [that is] pretty essential. As the weather deteriorates, were going to still have our stores open to the best of our ability. So come shop, well take care of you. Everybody just travel safe during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. An outbreak of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been detected in a herd of water buffaloes in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, not far from Berlin. The outbreak represents the first known cases of FMD in Germany since 1988, and the first ever case in the state of Brandenburg. The country and the broader European Union have been considered free of FMD in recent years. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Many zoo and wild animals can also be infected by the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the disease poses no danger for humans, it can have a devastating impact on livestock and poses a major economic threat to farmers. Three water buffaloes that died in the town of Honow were confirmed to be infected with the disease, Brandenburg's state Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstadt announced on Friday morning. The remaining 11 water buffaloes in the herd will be killed and disposed of as a precaution to reduce the risk of further spread, according to local officials. An exclusion zone is being imposed in a 3-kilometre-radius around the affected farm, and the transport of animals in the area has been prohibited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Men in yellow and white protective suits, some of them carrying rifles, could be seen in the area around the farm. A broader surveillance zone around the area is also being set up, with officials visiting farms throughout the area. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Germany's federal animal disease centre, confirmed the infection with the foot-and-mouth disease virus in samples from one animal. Three veterinarians and two specialists from the FLI are on site as a task force to investigate the outbreak, Mittelstadt said. "The investigations will hopefully find out how the [disease] entry happened and how transmissions may or may not have taken place," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mittelstadt said the animal disease should not be underestimated: "It is in fact an economic risk for livestock farms." The German parliament's Committee on Food and Agriculture will hold a special session on Wednesday to discuss the FMD outbreak with Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir, according to lawmaker Renate Kunast. According to the FLI, FMD occurs regularly in Turkey, the Middle East and Africa as well as in parts of Asia and South America. "Illegally imported animal products from these countries pose a constant threat to European agriculture," the FLI has warned, and feed and bedding materials imported from countries with FMD outbreaks can also cause an outbreak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "FMD is one of the world's most economically significant animal diseases due to its potentially catastrophic effects," says the institute. "Due to the increase in global trade and travel, there is a constant risk of FMD being reintroduced and spreading explosively in Europe." In 2001, for example, there was a devastating outbreak in the United Kingdom, which was followed by subsequent outbreaks in other European countries, according to FLI information. Millions of animals were killed in that outbreak. The disease is not fatal in most adult animals, but leads to a long-lasting drop in performance and there are no treatment options. If even one animal on a farm falls ill, the entire herd is often killed as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease. Dr. Emily Ptaszek, a licensed psychologist, will vacate her position as president and CEO of Peak Vista Community Health Centers at the end of March, as shes chosen not to renew her three-year contract, the nonprofit health care provider announced Friday. Ptaszek will take a leadership role in health care consulting, one that will allow her to make a broader impact across the industry, according to a news release about her departure. She plans to remain in Colorado Springs and assist with the transition for the next two and a half months, according to the announcement. Ptaszek said in a statement that shes grateful for the many life-changing experiences and meaningful connections shes formed at Peak Vista and in the community. As a safety-net provider, Colorado Springs-based Peak Vista operates 21 clinics across southern Colorado offering medical, mental and dental health care for uninsured, indigent and low-income residents. Ptaszek has worked for a total of 12 years in community health administration, previously heading a nonprofit health provider in Naples, Fla., before taking the role at Peak Vista on March 28, 2022. Among local accomplishments, Ptaszek strengthened the organizations relationships with the community, invested significantly in educational and financial resources for staff and launched a new philanthropic board, the news release said. Under her guidance, Peak Vista has reached new heights, strengthening critical partnerships, establishing data-rich operational processes, launching vital patient-facing programs and inspiring new levels of philanthropic support, board chair Stella Hodgkins said in a statement. Ptaszeks emphasis on workforce development and competitive compensation, increased Peak Vista provider-network compensation by nearly $4 million, Hodgkins said. Featured Local Savings With her expertise as a psychologist, Ptaszek has enhanced access to mental health resource and enriched the organizations overall behavioral health services through new initiatives that include a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner fellowship program, according to Hodgkins. While we consider this a great loss, we will always value the impact she has made across the region, she said. Its been a rocky time for Peak Vista, as employees filed 18 charges of labor law violations against the organization with the National Labor Relations Board in August. One ruling returned in December determined that Peak Vista wrongfully terminated five doctors last summer and ordered they be compensated with back pay and the chance to be reinstated. Last week, 77% of the 64 doctors and other advanced-practice clinicians who voted in a mail-in election agreed to unionize under the Union of American Physicians and Dentists. Peak Vista has maintained no wrongdoing in the labor complaints, Ptaszek told The Gazette in response. She also disputed the interpretations of the termination findings and said last week the organization is appealing the employees vote to form a union, since dentists were not included. Patient count has declined from more than 93,000 in 2022 when Ptaszek arrived to more than 74,000 today, organization statistics show. A board-appointed transition committee will lead the recruitment and selection process for Ptaszeks replacement. Editor's note: Peak Vista also is appealing the National Labor Relations Board's determination on the termination of the physicians, and a request to the National Labor Relations Board for further clarification on its determination was not returned. An outbreak of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been detected in a herd of water buffaloes in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, not far from Berlin. The outbreak represents the first known cases of FMD in Germany since 1988, and the first ever case in the state of Brandenburg. The country and the broader European Union have been considered free of FMD in recent years. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Many zoo and wild animals can also be infected by the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the disease poses no danger for humans, it can have a devastating impact on livestock and poses a major economic threat to farmers. Three water buffaloes that died in the town of Honow were confirmed to be infected with the disease, Brandenburg's state Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstadt announced on Friday morning. The remaining 11 water buffaloes in the herd will be killed and disposed of as a precaution to reduce the risk of further spread, according to local officials. In addition, all cloven-hoofed animals within 1 kilometre of the pasture with the affected water buffalo herd are to be killed, officials announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This includes a pig farm with around 200 animals in the neighbouring district of Barnim, as well as four sheep. An exclusion zone is being imposed in a 3-kilometre-radius of the affected water buffalo herd. Within the restricted zone, samples will be taken from all animal husbandry facilities with even-toed ungluates - animals with an even number of hooved toes - said the deputy district administrator of Markisch-Oderland, Friedemann Hanke. In a wider surveillance zone, there will be random sampling. The transport of animals and feed is prohibited in these areas, according to Hanke. In addition, information signs are to be set up in the zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Men in yellow and white protective suits, some of them carrying rifles, could be seen in the area. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Germany's federal animal disease centre, confirmed the infection with the FMD virus in samples from one animal. Three veterinarians and two specialists from the FLI are on site as a task force to investigate the outbreak, Mittelstadt said. "The investigations will hopefully find out how the [disease] entry happened and how transmissions may or may not have taken place," she said. Mittelstadt said the animal disease should not be underestimated: "It is in fact an economic risk for livestock farms." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German parliament's Committee on Food and Agriculture will hold a special session on Wednesday to discuss the FMD outbreak with Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir, according to lawmaker Renate Kunast. According to the FLI, FMD occurs regularly in Turkey, the Middle East and Africa as well as in parts of Asia and South America. "Illegally imported animal products from these countries pose a constant threat to European agriculture," the FLI has warned, and feed and bedding materials imported from countries with FMD outbreaks can also cause an outbreak. "FMD is one of the world's most economically significant animal diseases due to its potentially catastrophic effects," says the institute. "Due to the increase in global trade and travel, there is a constant risk of FMD being reintroduced and spreading explosively in Europe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2001, for example, there was a devastating outbreak in the United Kingdom, which was followed by subsequent outbreaks in other European countries, according to FLI information. Millions of animals were killed in that outbreak. The disease is not fatal in most adult animals, but leads to a long-lasting drop in performance and there are no treatment options. If even one animal on a farm falls ill, the entire herd is often killed as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease. A culled animal is transported away from a barn where foot-and-mouth disease has been detected on a farm in Brandenburg. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. Chair Bill Ford said Elon Musks relationship with Donald Trump wont hurt legacy carmakers and that the president-elect has a better grasp of the auto sector than during his first term. Most Read from Bloomberg This time he understands the importance of our industry, Ford said in an interview Thursday in Detroit. The great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford said Trump called him last week to discuss the car sector, tariffs and the importance of a healthy manufacturing base in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took some education to bring Trump up to speed on the auto industry during his first four years in office, Ford said. Hes not worried that Trumps alliance with Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., will hurt Ford or its peers. We are aligned on a lot of issues, Ford said of Musk. Ford is the second auto industry leader in a matter of days to downplay the risk that other carmakers will lose out after Teslas CEO emerged as Trumps biggest benefactor during the US presidential campaign. Hyundai Motor Co. CEO Jose Munoz offered a similar take earlier this week, telling Bloomberg Television that he wasnt concerned. Investors seem to be betting otherwise, wagering that Tesla will be a major beneficiary of Trumps return to the White House. The carmaker has added more than $460 billion of market capitalization since Election Day, which is roughly the equivalent of Toyota Motor Corp., BYD Co. and General Motors Co.s combined valuations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps first term in office roiled the US car industry. His administration levied new tariffs and threatened others, revamped free trade agreements and rewrote key regulations affecting auto companies. Ford was a frequent target of Trumps ire. Before he won the 2016 election, Trump attacked the company over plans at the time to produce vehicles in Mexico. Ford was also among the carmakers targeted by an eventually scuttled Justice Department probe of a pact on fuel-efficiency standards that companies reached with California regulators. Ford acknowledged that his relationship with Trump had its ups and downs during his first term. He believes Trump is very interested in connecting with auto workers, but not necessarily their union leaders. He added that he thinks Trump will be helpful for Ford, because the incoming president wants to see the US auto industry grow. Tax Credits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford said he and Trump also discussed EV tax credits for consumers and manufacturing incentives for EV and battery production. Trump has vowed to reverse Joe Bidens EV policies which include $7,500 tax credits toward purchases of certain electric cars on day one of his presidency. I feel very confident going forward that Ford will have a voice and a seat at the table, Ford said, noting that he spoke with the president-elect for a long, long time. Ford wasnt expecting a call from Trump and didnt pick up the first two times his phone showed someone was dialing him from Boca Raton, Florida. On the third time, I figured I better pick this up. And he said, Hey, Bill, its Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford said his takeaway from the call was that Trump is out to help the American auto industry, and not just the industry itself, but actually help the workers in the industry. He cares very much about the people in the plants. Separately, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the automaker plans to sell extended-range electric vehicles that use a small combustion engine to replenish the battery in the US. I can say we are not only looking at EREVs, we will be going down that route with technology, Farley said at a press conference ahead of the Detroit auto show. EREV is a very fundamental technology for Ford. (Updates with context on Hyundai CEOs comments in the fifth paragraph.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. CHICAGO Temperatures were at fairly typical early January levels Friday amid the days cloudy skies and periodic snow showers. The official 2.0 inch snow tally at OHare was the second-highest so far this season and the heaviest in nearly 7 weeks, since 2.9 inches fell back on November 21. Most locations measured 1-2 inches as the snow tapered to flurries Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday morning issued a brief ground stop at OHare International Airport due to the weather. By 11 a.m., a total of 100 flights were canceled at OHare and about 30 at Midway Airport. Seasonal snow is still below typical norms for this time of year but the deficit shrunk thanks to Fridays snowfall. WGN Weather Center Maps & Interactive Radar Extended 7-Day Forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Wind speeds dipped slightly Thursday morning in Los Angeles County, offering a brief respite for firefighters battling the deadly wildfires that have continued to ravage the region. But after that lull, winds are expected to pick back up Thursday night, according to Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services office in Oxnard. It's not going to be [anything] like we saw yesterday [Wednesday] with the gusts of 80 to 100 miles per hour winds, but certainly enough to present some issues for the fires," Wofford said. "At least until the middle of next week we're going to be in that pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California Isolated pockets of gusty winds reached 35 mph in the Malibu area and 58 mph in the San Gabriel Mountains on Thursday morning, according to the weather service. For Thursday afternoon into Friday morning, winds are expected to reach 35 to 55 mph west of Santa Monica, the San Gabriel Valley and into Ventura County. In portions of the L.A. basin west of the Hollywood Hills and the San Gabriel Valley foothills, localized gusts could reach 25 to 45 mph in that same time frame. Winds are expected to drop back off Friday night into Saturday, with speeds picking back up Sunday into Wednesday of next week, according to the weather service. The peak is expected to be on Tuesday, with winds up to 30 to 50 mph for coasts and valleys and 50 to 60 mph for the mountains and foothills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late Wednesday, the National Weather Service downgraded the fire weather outlook for the region from extremely critical to critical. Read more: L.A. officials admit firefighters were overwhelmed and outgunned by deadly firestorms Exacerbating the hazardous conditions, humidity levels remain low. No rain is forecast over the next few days. We're not going to have any rain, Wofford said, so any spark that happens from whatever ignition source could certainly trigger some fires. The extreme winds propelled flames and embers that charred homes in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar, among other areas of Los Angeles County. Such winds are not unusual for this time of year but are usually preceded or accompanied by winter rains to lower the risk of wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In San Diego County, the Santa Ana winds are also expected to remain strong into the weekend for the mountains and foothills, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Roser, who works in the San Diego office. By Friday morning, residents can expect eastern and northeastern wind gusts of over 75 mph. For the valley areas, gusts could range between 30 to 50 mph, Roser said. Coastal regions could see local gusts up to 30 mph. Wind speeds are expected to drop off Friday afternoon across Southern California. Read more: Tiny burning embers flew miles, causing L.A. fire destruction on historic scale Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A red flag warning remains in effect for the mountains and valleys of San Diego County until Friday at 6 p.m. Conditions are also dry, with relative humidity levels under 10%. "It's very dry out there and it's going to occur again Friday," Roser said. "Definitely critical fire weather conditions." Roser recommended that residents limit any outdoor burning of any kind. Motorists should make sure everything is in working order with their vehicles, especially if they're driving near brush. Residents should create defensible space around their homes, especially in mountain areas, by clearing brush and branches from around their houses. "Definitely give yourself a perimeter from all of that," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires 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. Another leading figure from Austria's centre-right People's Party (OVP) has been appointed as the country's acting head of government, amid months of political turmoil resulting from recent elections. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen asked Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg to fill the role of chancellor on an interim basis on Friday. The previous chancellor, Karl Nehammer, who is also from the OVP, previously announced his resignation after he failed to form a coalition, three months after parliamentary elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) won the elections in autumn, the first time a far-right party has done so there since the Nazi era. After the centrist parties failed to agree on possible coalitions, FPO leader Herbert Kickl was given the mandate to form a government by van der Bellen. The conservatives had long rejected the idea of working with Kickl. However, after Nehammer's withdrawal, the party has made a significant change of course, and the two parties are in talks. Schallenberg for his part says he would not want to be part of an FPO-led government. The 55-year-old has been Austria's top diplomat since 2019 with one brief period at the end of 2021 when he also took over the chancellery for a few weeks during a political transition. Now he has the task of continuing to preside over the previous cabinet, made up of ministers from the OVP and the Greens, on an interim basis. Jan. 10Forest officials are planning a fuels reduction tree harvest in south Lincoln County just outside Libby city limits later this year. Kootenai National Forest Libby Ranger District has proposed a project in the Bobtail and Lower Pipe Creek areas that would include logging on nearly 3,000 acres of federal land in a tract of nearly 3,600 acres. The area is west of Highway 37 and north of Kootenai River Road. While there are state, county and private lands mixed within the project area, only federal lands are included. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The forest thinning project is called "Pine Phlats" and forest officials have opened a period for public comment that ends Jan. 17. The proposed project area is within a "priority area" designated in the 2020 Montana Forest Action plan for high fire risk and forest health concerns. The communities at risk in the area include Bobtail, Bobtail Cutoff, Sheldon Flats, Pipe Creek and Doak Creek. Forest officials say climate change is impacting forests in various ways. The combination of higher temperatures, lower snowpack and more consecutive hot days has and will continue to impact soil moisture and drought stress. Drought-stressed vegetation is more susceptible to insect outbreaks and leads to higher fire risk. Insects and diseases such as Western pine beetle, pine engraver beetle and root disease present in the project area and have the potential to capitalize on stressed stands and cause widespread mortality. In the 2023 Lincoln County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, it reported, "The model showed the City of Libby and the many small subdivisions west of Libby are at extreme risk from wildfire. The area south of Libby along US Hwy 2 and Farm to Market Road also displayed as having extreme risk, as did areas north of Libby and up Pipe Creek Road." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 20, 2022, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners passed Resolution 2022-19, declaring a countywide emergency for forest health and wildland fire threat, expecting active management to address the emergency, this document is in the project file. Concurrently, the commissioners requested consideration of Cooperating Agency status on Kootenai National Forest projects impacting the Lincoln County WUI. In response, the Kootenai National Forest offered participation in all hazardous fuel projects within the WUI and specifically granted Lincoln County cooperating agency status for the Pine Phlats project, located in the project file. The proposal, a map and supporting documentation is available on-line at: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=67057. The project, if approved, would begin as soon as June. Nearly 2,400 acres would see commercial harvest while non-commercial harvest would occur on about 585 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Libby District Ranger Nathan Gassman is leading the project. In the proposal, he estimated about seven miles of temporary roads will be built to access several units within the project area. Once the work is done, the roads would be returned to their condition before the harvest. It's been less than a decade since the lighting-caused West Fork Fire burned more than 20,000 acres in the Quartz Creek and Bobtail Ridge areas. It forced evacuations for some people living in the area and caused a number of road closures before late September rain doused the fires. That fire endangered dozens of homes and saw sprinkler systems used in several yards of residences located in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2017 fire season in Montana was one of the worst in state history, burning 1.4 million acres and costing nearly $400,000 to suppress. Dan Rose, then the Kootenai National Forest's fire management officer, said at a public meeting in early September that despite a wet fall and snowy winter, Libby had only 3/100 of an inch of rain since June 27. At the time, Dan Savage was the KNF Supervisor. He said, "We have not seen conditions like these in almost 50 years." Those interested in submitting a comment on the current proposal, may do so by the following methods: Electronic comments can be submitted through Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA) using the following web address: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=67075. On the right side of the page under the Get Connected tab click on Comment/Object on Project and then submit your comments via the form on this page. Written comments must be submitted via mail, fax, or in person (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: District Ranger, Libby Ranger District, 12557 US Highway 37, Libby, Montana 59923, Phone: 406-283-7598. For those with questions, they may be directed to Lisa Osborn, Project Leader, at 406-405-1792 or email lisa.osborn@usda.gov, or Nate Gassmann, District Ranger, at 406-283-7598 or Nathan.gassmann@usda.gov. DES MOINES, Iowa The wildfires in Southern California continue to rage out of control displacing tens of thousands of people. Even those who do not live in the direct line of fire are feeling the impacts in the form of smoke and ash that are blanketing the region. That includes a former employee of WHO-13. You get out of your car and then the first thing you smell is just burning, said Karsyn Bunnell. And it almost feels like Im in some, like dystopian movie, you know? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bunnell had dreamed of living in California her entire life. Several months ago, the newscast technical director left her job in Des Moines, packed up her things and moved out West to Los Angeles Koreatown. It was a great experience until this past week when strong winds fanned the flames of several wildfires, turning thousands of homes and buildings in Los Angeles County into rubble. The burning embers eventually morphed into a suffocating swath of soot that spread across miles. Its really disheartening, she told WHO-13s Katie Kaplan over a Zoom call Thursday evening. When I pulled into the parking lot for work today, like there was, like, actively like, ash that I could see. Bunnell works at a store roughly 10 miles from the nearest fireline and shared photos and videos of ash collecting on vehicles and in gutters. She said she has been wearing a mask outside and has kept her windows and doors closed at home to avoid getting the potentially toxic mixture in her eyes and lungs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, she said, she knows that what she is dealing with is nothing compared to the thousands of families who have lost their homes. Yesterday was really hard for me, she said. I was on, like, check out, checking people out, and I had at least 15 people tell me that they were there just to get underwear and clothes because their whole house had burned down and everything was gone. Two of those customers included a father and his young daughter. He was talking to me, Bunnell said. And he was like, Yeah, were just here to get her toys, you know, so she can have something to do and, you know, try not to think about it.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. TIOGA COUNTY, NY (WIVT/WBGH) The former Village of Candor Mayor Eric Halstead has pleaded guilty in Tioga County Court to stealing $23,000 from the village during his tenure, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced Friday. Halstead was accused of periodically withdrawing cash from the villages bank account between February 2017 and May 2023, labeled as Mayors Discretionary or ATM Withdrawal in the village records. The investigation into the situation revealed these withdrawals often coincided with times Halsteads bank account was nearly empty or overdrawn, according to DiNapoli. Mr. Halstead betrayed the village he was entrusted to serve, taking what amounted to interest-free loans from the people who elected him, DiNapoli said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Halstead, Candor Mayor from 2012 until resigning following his arrest on July 1, 2024, was found to have withdrawn $23,519 in cash in this time frame, while intermittently depositing money back into the account to the tune of $19,302. As part of the plea, Halstead repaid the balance of the stolen funds. Halstead officially pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. His contemplated sentence is 60 days in jail followed by a three-year conditional discharge and the promise of never running for public office again. The actual sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. As the wildfires rage on in the Los Angeles, California area, a former Chicago mayor is sharing her personal connection to the tragedy. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot took to social media Thursday, revealing that her aunt and uncle had lost literally everything in Altadena, California, a community near fire-ravaged Pasadena. Lightfoot said the pair had lived in Altadena for more than 60 years. Their story is the story of thousands, Lightfoot wrote. Folks, its awful. Many fled with just the clothes on their backs. Please be generous in your prayers and whatever you can spare. A woman cries as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) SEE ALSO: Celebrity homes among those lost in devastating Los Angeles fires The Los Angeles Times reports that the fires also devastated Altadenas restaurant community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone looking to support fire victims, please consider donating using this link. At least five people have died, though officials say the death toll would likely rise. More than 180,000 people have evacuated the Los Angeles area as emergency crews battle a series of fires. The causes of the fires are still under investigation. WGN News has reached out to spokespeople representing Lightfoot for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Documents show that a former Disney employee who was accused of hacking the computer system Walt Disney World uses to create its menus has pled guilty in Federal Court. Michael Scheuer entered a guilty plea on two counts in connection to his involvement in hacking Disneys menu creation system changing prices, adding profanity, and even changing allergen information, according to federal court documents. Count One charged the defendant with knowingly transmitting a program, information, code, and command and intentionally causing damage without authorization to a protected computer, and the defendants course of conduct resulting in an aggregate loss to persons of at least $5,000 in a one-year period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Former Disney employee accused of hacking menu creation system, changing allergen information Count Two charged the defendant with aggravated identity theft. Count One carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain caused by the offense, or twice the gross loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater. Meanwhile, Count Two carries a mandatory sentence of two years imprisonment to be served consecutively to any term of imprisonment for Count One, as well as a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain caused by the offense, or twice the gross loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Light rain, clouds expected early this weekend as winter storm sweeps the country WFTV first brought you the story in October 2024 when Federal agents seized Scheuers computers in relation to the system hack. According to court records, the company fired Michael Scheuer for misconduct in June and according to the FBI, he then hacked the computer system, making changes to the companys restaurant menus. Disney was not named in the court filing but CourtWatch in partnership with 404 Media, a site that bills itself as an independent technology investigations site confirmed with Scheuers attorney that the company was Disney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scheuer had been a Walt Disney World menu production manager and had the job of publishing all the menus for the company. Read: Delta Air Lines says 4 passengers injured after flight was aborted at Atlanta airport Despite his termination, he still accessed the proprietary computer system software from his devices over three months, changing prices and adding profanity. Court documents also stated that he threatened public health and safety by changing allergen information on the menus. Namely, the threat actor manipulated the allergen information on menus by adding information to some allergen notifications that indicated certain menu items were safe for individuals with peanut allergies, when in fact they could be deadly to those with peanut allergies, the criminal complaint stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scheuer was discovered after he changed menu fonts to Windings instead of readable text, which alerted the company that someone had manipulated the files. Federal agents seized Scheuers computers, but he denied doing anything wrong, saying that Disney was framing him, because they were worried about him and the conditions under which he was terminated. Read Full Report: United States of America v Michael Scheuer by nikkivdemarco on Scribd The FBI said in the court filings that Scheuers firing was contentious and was not considered to be amicable. WFTV will continue to monitor this case and bring you any updates. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A former Department of Corrections (DOC) employee has been sentenced after pleading guilty to crimes involving a prison inmate. Man in critical condition from group beating Attorney General Marty Jackley says 22-year-old Madyson Bixby, of Sioux Falls, was sentenced Tuesday to one felony count of Compounding a Felony and one felony count of Possession of an Unauthorized Article (a cellphone with intent to deliver to an inmate). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bixby was sentenced to two years in prison on each count and 48 months of probation. The two years of prison was suspended so Bixby wont serve any time in prison. This defendant violated the trust of the Department of Corrections and put others at risk, Jackley said in a release. Cases like this are why I have prioritized improving corrections, and I look forward to working with our Legislature to improve corrections and strengthen our laws to hold offenders more accountable. The charges stem from an investigation involving an inmate conspiring with another person to burn someone elses car in January of last year. She also gave the inmate a cell phone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. (WBRE/WYOU) Current and former members of Congress are asking the Pennsylvania Department of Health to investigate a concerning trend of health problems identified by former employees of a now-razed manufacturing facility in Olyphant, Lackawanna County. Former Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-8th) first requested the investigation in a letter last month, the I-Team has learned. His successor, Rob Bresnahan (R-8th) has promised to continue to look into what could be hundreds of illnesses identified by former members of the facility. Some of those former employees of those companies, where records, CDs and 8-track and cassette tapes were manufactured under several corporate names, contacted the I-Team about their concerns. The last company closed in 2018, and the building was destroyed in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Submit an I-Team Tip One of those former employees, Aline Browning, contacted Cartwright, and on December 12, Cartwright wrote to Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvanias Secretary of Health, to request an investigation into the companies that had operated in that location, dating back to the 1950s. In part, Cartwright wrote: Dear Secretary Bogen, I have been contacted by a number of my constituents who are former employees or family members of former employees of the former Specialty Records, WEA Manufacturing, and Cinram plant(s) in Olyphant, Pennsylvania who have, over a period of years, noticed and partially documented what appear to be strikingly high rates of cancer and other illnesses and deaths, including a notable number of middle-age deaths, among fellow former employees. This same group of former employees or family members of former employees also report the former relatively liberal and incautious use of potentially hazardous substances on the job at the Specialty Records, WEA Manufacturing, and Cinram plant(s). The serious health problems reported in this group include numerous instances of cancer including mesothelioma, other lung cancers, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, rectal cancer, melanoma, and other cancers myasthenia gravis, heart conditions, lupus, other autoimmune diseases, other lung and respiratory diseases, and cysts. You can read the full letter from Cartwright here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cartwright wasnt accusing these companies of operating an unsafe environment, but he was responding to the concerns expressed by Browning. She worked at the plant for 11 months in the warehouse. She suffers from lung and heart issues.. And began talking to other former employees about their shared health concerns. This after seeing a Facebook page dedicated to discussing their health fears. I started seeing all these obituaries, they were all cancer and then I came across this list It was on a word document and it looked like a collection of everyone who had died from cancer and it was a lot, Browning explained. Browning claims she found hundreds of former employees who died or suffered from some form of cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot of leukemias, lymphomas. There are many women with breast cancers. There are so many cancer cases to even specifically call out a particular one, Browning added. Vince Smigel worked inside the plant for 17 years. He worked in the CD plating department. He told us he suffers from a weakened immune system. He says he wants former coworkers to get checked out. There was a lot of information that may not have been shared completely and theres people who are still here to get checked, he told us. Newly-elected Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R) 8th District,, who is following his predecessors inquiry tells the I-Team the employee concerns have to be taken seriously.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My office is aware of former Congressman Cartwrights letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses. As NEPAs representative in Congress, I will always work to keep our citizens safe and healthy, Bresnahan wrote in a statement. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health sent this statement to the I-Team: The Pennsylvania Department of Health is still reviewing available information and will determine the appropriate next steps We remain committed to public health and safety and will provide updates as they become available, said Mark ONeill, Press Secretary for the PA Department of Health. The I-Team has also attempted to contact officials with the now defunct companies. Those efforts have thus far been unsuccessful. We also reached out to officials regarding these cancer cluster concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lackawanna County Communications Director Patrick McKenna tells us, As a policy matter of course. The commissioners support the effort to investigate the matter, but lack the expertise to speak to specifics. We have not been contacted by anyone regarding cancer cluster concerns, said Olyphant Borough Manager C.J. Mustacchio. And a CDC spokesperson says requests can be made to the CDC for assistance in an investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Pat Frank served for years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, then as a State Senator. She then served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner and the Hillsborough County County of Court. There is a building in downtown Tampa named after her, The Pat Frank Courts Building, where the Hillsborough County State Attorney has offices. Tampa mayor says police have lowered juvenile crime across all categories Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building was named after her because of her many years of service to the community. On the day of his funeral, Frank said service is word that defined President Jimmy Carter. He was a servant to everybody, to the person whos had the least or the person who has the most, Frank said. She said her meetings with the President were brief, but had a great impact on her. He said he was no better than anybody else and how many people have that modesty when they reach a pillar of being recognized, Frank said. She said his example guided her through many years of political service. Were civil servants when you go into elected office, Frank said. The servant is the meaning of what we should be doing and Jimmy Carter was the essence of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said one of her fondest memories was a flight on Air Force One with the president, and the conversation they had during the flight. The conversation wasnt deep, but it was revealing of what his priorities were, Frank said. She also remembered the aircraft and the people on board. When I walked on there, it was small, really small, Frank said. When I walked on there, I thought I was in a palace. That was the most luxurious thing I had ever seen. I mean, we had everything, we wanted. They had the best of the food, the best, the best of the wine. She said more politicians should strive to be like Jimmy Carter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you really want to do good for people, you run for public office, Frank said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. (WGNO) Former LSU wide receiver, 24-year-old Kyren Lacy, turned himself into police following a fatal crash investigation. Louisiana State Police were searching for Lacy after a crash in a Lafourche Parish crash that left 78-year-old Herman Hall dead. WATCH: Body camera footage released of Jan. 1 terror attack on Bourbon Street Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 10 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2024, troopers reported responding to the crash scene at Louisiana Highway 20 near Perex Lane. Upon arrival, troopers said they learned 24-year-old Kyren Lacy was headed south on the highway in a Dodge Charger driving recklessly past multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed. (Courtesy/Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office) An investigation revealed Lacey allegedly crossed the center lane into the northbound lane in a designated no-passing zone where a pickup truck was headed north. Troopers said the truck abruptly braked and swerved to avoid a head-on collision with Lacey but crossed the center colliding head-on with a Kia Sorento. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further investigation revealed Lacy allegedly drove around the crash and fled south on Highway 20 without stopping to render aid, calling emergency services, or reporting his involvement. Louisiana remembers Billy DiMaio Hall, who was a passenger in the Sorento, suffered fatal injuries and died at the hospital. Lacy is a known Thibodaux native and a former LSU wide receiver. He is wanted on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit and run, and reckless operation of a vehicle. On Sunday, Jan. 12, Lacy was released around 8:11 p.m. after posting a $151,000 bail. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Sherrie Crumpler, a former Miss California, says she she wasn't able to grab most of belongings as she was being evacuated from her Malibu home by authorities She was later taken to a fire station where she rested, was given food, a warm jacket and a blanket I'm trying to think of what plan God has for me now, and how do I make use of that, Crumpler tells PEOPLE A 79-year-old woman who survived the Pacific Palisades fire described what she saw as a holocaust and Armageddon quite different from the 1993 California wildfires she previously witnessed. This was not the one I experienced, Sherrie Crumpler tells PEOPLE in an interview at Los Angeles West Recreation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 8, after she was safely evacuated. And in this case, I kept watching the fire coming over the top of our canyon and it kept getting out. I mean, I could see the smoke, and then the smoke got orange. Then I knew it was fire, and it was powerful. And then all of a sudden I saw things start going up in flames, like homes. A retiree and former Miss California 1965, Crumpler, who lived in the Malibu neighborhood of Big Rock, says she first heard about the Palisades Fire on Tuesday morning. Then around 3:30 p.m. that day, a sheriff stopped by her home and told her that the fire jumped. Sherrie Crumpler The L.A. fires as photographed by Sherrie Crumpler The L.A. fires as photographed by Sherrie Crumpler Related: Woman Who Evacuated L.A. Fires Is 'Haunted' by Watching 'Little Kids and Their Little Backpacks Running for Help' (Exclusive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What made evacuating difficult for Crumpler at first was the fact that she has scoliosis, back issues and walks with a cane. I was trying to take a hose and put out the hot spots, she recalls of trying to prepare her home before leaving. The wind was so bad. [My ficus hedge] caught on fire. I thought, Well, I'll put that out.' So I put the water on it and it exploded, and it was like a ball of fire that blew up in the air, and all these pieces started coming down on me. So my hair got burned. Soon it became dark after the electricity was turned off, Crumpler says. She called the authorities for help and carried a lantern so they could spot her when firefighters arrived. At the time, her house was not on fire, but the firefighters feared the worst could happen. My purse was in the car and the car was unlocked, Crumpler remembers. I said [to the firefighters], Let me just turn around and get my purse. And they said, No, you're going with us now.' And I said, But my ID, my little bit of cash, my credit cards [are in there], and they said, 'No.' " 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. She adds: I said, Well, I have my document box, it's in my laundry room door. It's just 20 steps back and the door's unlocked. I can't lift it with my back. If you could pick it up and take it with me. No, you can't do that. I started begging, and three of them just picked me up and put me in the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firefighters first took her to a fire station in Carbon Canyon. While waiting in a garage at the station, Crumpler, who was donning wet clothes, was inhaling a lot of smoke. She then went to a lounge area where it also was filling up with smoke. "I went to the doors and I saw these two guys with hoses, she remembers. I said, What's going on? They said the firehouse is surrounded with fire. And they had men surround the whole thing. They were trying to put it out, but it was causing more smoke. Sherrie Crumpler Related: Celebrities Who Have Lost Homes or Had to Evacuate in the Los Angeles Fires, and What They've Said "I couldn't breathe because there was smoke so bad," Crumpler says. "I probably should have been checked lung- wise, but I just haven't done it. I felt kind of burning when I was breathing yesterday, fighting the fire. But then I didn't notice it last night until this morning when I woke up and then I was a little hoarse." (According to Crumpler, she refused to go the hospital despite having difficulty breathing.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her temporary stay at the fire station where she rested, Crumpler was given food, a warm jacket and a blanket. She and another evacuee, a Korean woman, were later driven by authorities near Zuma Beach to what they thought was an evacuation facility but realized they had made a mistake, and Crumpler eventually ended up at the Westwood Recreation Center. On how she feels after what she went through, Crumpler says. I don't think I'm going to know until I know what's gone. Then it'll be a time of reflection of not memories lost, because you have your mind but what helps you hold onto those memories, whether it's letters written somebody wrote, or pictures taken. And everything's kind of gone. Reflecting on her earlier description of what she experienced as a holocaust and Armageddon, she says that both were disasters. I think God believes or knows that man has been turning his back on Him for a long time, and God has given man so many second chances, Crumpler says. I think we have a choice of facing something like Armageddon or not, depending upon whether we humble ourselves and seek forgiveness and reconcile. And man has a lot to figure out in the not-too-distant future. Sherrie Crumpler The L.A. fires as photographed by Sherrie Crumpler The L.A. fires as photographed by Sherrie Crumpler Related: Nurse Who Raced to Flee the L.A. Fires Thought Her Home Was Spared, Then She Saw What Was Left (Exclusive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the moment, Crumpler doesnt know if her house, which she didnt have insurance for, is still standing. Meanwhile, she says authorities wont let her check her home until the damage assessments are completed, and that could take about five to 10 days. Everything was in my house that needed to come with me and I couldn't get it out, she says. It takes me four times longer with this impairment, with the bone on one of my hip joints, and I can't use both arms and carry a box out. I don't know if half of it's there or none of it's there, she later adds. Despite what happened, Crumpler says that shes trying not to get into the doldrums. I'm trying to think of what plan God has for me now, and how do I make use of that, she says. So I'm just kind of waiting for direction and trying to figure out what the status of the situation is and what I can possibly do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crumpler adds, "It'll be a time of reflection of not memories lost because you have your mind until you realize it's all gone. Letters written or pictures taken, it helps you hold onto those memories. I don't think I'm going to know [how I feel] until I know what's gone." Read the original article on People SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Another former state employee is alleged to have misused her state position for personal gain, according to a news release from the South Dakota Attorney General. School voucher bill introduced by House, Senate leaders Amalia Escalante Barrientos, 28, of Brookings, is accused of using a Department of Social Service grocery voucher for personal use at a Brookings business on Oct. 11. The vouchers are intended for families in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the fifth case of accused public corruption that has resulted in state investigations and the involvement of the Attorney General. Unlike other state employee cases, this case does not involve felony charges or a huge sum of money. Barrientos is charged with one misdemeanor count of obtaining money, property or assistance by fraud from social services or related programs. The Attorney General Marty General Marty Jackley said his office intends to continue to prosecute the case. Barrientos has not yet made her initial court appearance On Tuesday, Jackley highlighted seven bills hes helping introduce to address issues of state employees misusing state funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think additional access by the auditor and better accounting would help. I think mandatory reporting and whistleblower protections would improve the system, Jackely said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. PROVIDENCE (WPRI) A Pawtucket man has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Providence, accusing officers of unlawfully arresting him in 2023 after he suffered a seizure while working as an Uber driver. The 12-count lawsuit, filed Tuesday at U.S. District Court in Providence, seeks $2 million in damages, accusing the defendants of negligence, unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution, civil rights violations, and failure to properly train officers. SEE ALSO: Providence police bodycam video shows arrest after crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit stems from an incident in August 2023, when Tahj Eddington suffered a seizure while working as an Uber driver, according to the lawsuit. His car hopped the curb on Broad Street in Providence and hit a storefront. Police body-worn camera video shows when officers arrived, Eddingtons hands were stiff with his arms outstretched while sitting behind the wheel of his car. He appeared disoriented when police tried to talk to him. The Uber passenger told police that he saw Eddington suddenly get stiff, describing his arms as outstretched and shaking, before getting into the accident. Oh OK, so he had a seizure, one of the officers said on the recording. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than call for medical help, the lawsuit alleges the officers violently attempted to place the plaintiff into handcuffs and to take him into custody. While the defendants were attempting to get handcuffs on the plaintiff, he was screaming I cant breathe. Get off of me. Get off, I cant breathe. Stop you are killing me. Stop I am gonna die. Help me. Stop. Let me go, according to the lawsuit. Police eventually drove Eddington to the hospital in a cruiser, and the video shows when they opened the door to bring him to the emergency department, Eddington who was in handcuffs fell onto the pavement face first. The lawsuit said he suffered a broken bone and facial lacerations. The incident generated news coverage, with some community leaders calling for the release of the police video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, Eddington received a call from Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez two days after the incident, asking to meet. Defendant Perez cautioned the plaintiff that a release of the recordings could be embarrassing for him, the lawsuit states. Josh Estrella, a spokesperson for Mayor Brett Smiley, declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation. Eddington was charged with two misdemeanor counts, but the charges were eventually dropped. He is no longer driving for the ride share company. In the joint statement at the time, Smiley and Perez said the incident had been reviewed and it was determined that the officers followed the appropriate use-of-force protocols, though one of them was disciplined for excessive profanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with the city, the police department and Perez, the lawsuit names patrolmen Manuel Vlaun, Andrew Brodeur, Michael Sullivan, and two unnamed officers as defendants. The federal complaint alleges the city grossly failed to train its police officers. Defendant City of Providence and Defendant Colonel Perez ratified the behavior of the Defendant Officers by failing to discipline them and by engaging in a policy of charging persons experiencing a medical emergency, the lawsuit states. Eddington is represented by attorneys Bethany Macktaz and Lisa Holley. Target 12 reached out to Eddington and Macktaz regarding the lawsuit, but both declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. More than two years after closing, one of the buildings of the closed butcher shop Whites Meat Market is up for auction. The online only auction, currently ongoing until Jan. 16 and put on by Krueckeberg Auction & Realty, includes the building at 2100 N. Washington St. and is aimed at recouping as much as possible of a multimillion dollar mortgage debt associated with the Whites business locations in Kokomo and Tipton and their personal residence in Cutler. Also up for auction is the residential property owned by the Whites at 385 S. 00 EW, Kokomo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Wednesday morning, the residential property has received two bids totaling $69,627. The commercial building on North Washington Street has not received a bid as of press time. Whites Meat Market, formerly owned by Howard and Vicki White, closed in 2022 after 37 years. Howard White died last April, and Vicki White died a few months later in July, according to online obituaries. Shortly after the business closed, Byline Bank sued the couple and the business for a mortgage foreclosure, alleging the Whites had defaulted on the debt and seeking from the court a foreclosure and proceeds from any sale of the properties. The bank was granted summary judgement a few months later after the Whites failed to respond to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whites Meat Market, in the summer of 2022, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy, reporting $155,000 in personal property assets and nearly $3.2 million in liabilities, including to Byline Bank and $1.1 million owed to Troyer Foods, an Indiana food, supplies and equipment supplier. Separately, Vicki White was sued by the property owner of the business south Kokomo location at 30 Southdowns Drive. According to the lawsuit, the Whites entered into a land contract for the property but stopped making the monthly payment in and after May 2024. The property owner, Robert Thiemrodt, was granted default judgment and foreclosure last month in the sum of $58,837. OIL LEAK INVESTIGATION Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 25, 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management was notified of a petroleum leak that had infiltrated the groundwater under Whites Meat Market at 2100 N. Washington St. According to an investigation report by ETS Environmental & Associates filed with IDEM in January 2024, an old underground gas storage tank was leaking petroleum into the groundwater. While the property has long been used as a butcher shop, it was previously a gas station prior to 1967, which was in operation since at least 1947. ETS Environmental & Associates found elevated concentrations of Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Toluene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, and 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene in groundwater on the west and southwest parts of the property, all which exceeded IDEMs long term residential screening level, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear when the leak began, but the report states the impact of the petroleum leak is likely migrating offsite to the west of the property. As such, further assessment within the right of way to the west, along North Washington Street, appears warranted, the report states. Further assessment is necessary in order to determine the plumes western extent. That said, the report points out there are no registered groundwater wells within a quarter mile of the property. Thus, the report states, nearby water wells appear to be at a safe distance and screened at depths unlikely to be influenced by the historic release. Theres been no filings in the case since January 2024. In a statement to the Tribune, IDEM is in contact with the owner and their consultants, and we are awaiting additional documentation and sampling information to be submitted. Upon receipt, IDEM will review and determine if any further investigation is required for site closure. MERCER, Pa. (WKBN) The former CEO of the Shenango Valley YMCA is expected to be sentenced next month after he entered a plea in his theft case. Robert States, 42, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor theft charge. States is expected to make restitution as part of the plea deal. States originally faced 11 charges after accusations that he misappropriated funds from both the YMCA, where he was a CEO, as well as the Hermitage Little League Association, where he served as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a criminal complaint, police found a total of approximately $100,000 in fraudulent transactions on YMCA credit cards. An investigation also revealed that States wrote fraudulent checks to the Little League Association from YMCA funds, according to the complaint. The complaint stated that the investigation found that funds that were set up by a 95-year-old Hermitage woman and her family for a scholarship fund were also stolen. States is set to be sentenced at 9 a.m. Feb. 27, according to court records. Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. UPDATE: FORREST COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) Forrest County deputies said Carla Davis, 12, has been found safe, and her mothers vehicle has been returned. FORREST COUNTY, Miss. (WHLT) Forrest County deputies are working to find a missing 12-year-old girl. Investigators said Carla Davis left her home in the North Forrest community sometime between midnight January 9 and 6:00 a.m. on January 10. Phone charger sparks Forrest County house fire: officials Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis has long, red hair. Her clothing description unknown. According to deputies, her mothers vehicle was also missing from the residence. Its a dark gray 2020 Nissan Sentra bearing the Mississippi tag FRY 468. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Davis or her mothers Nissan Sentra can contact the Forrest County Sheriffs Office at 601-544-7800 or submit information anonymously at forrestcountysheriff.com. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Fort Bliss is giving former U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes a huge honor on Friday, Jan. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Constitution Gate off Spur 601 is being renamed in Reyes honor during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday. Fort Bliss says it is renaming the gate to honor former Congressman Silvestre Reyes for his contributions to Fort Bliss and the greater El Paso community. Reyes, a Canutillo native, represented the 16th Congressional District from 1997 until 2013. He is seen as a major player in bringing the 1st Armored Division to Fort Bliss in 2011 and transforming the post into what it is today home of Americas Tank Division and one of the largest and most important training areas in the Army. Reyes also served in the Army from 1966-68, seeing combat duty in Vietnam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Constitution Gate will be closed until 1 p.m. Friday because of the ceremony, Fort Bliss said in a social media post. People needing to access East Fort Bliss should use the Old Ironsides or Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras gates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) AI gun detection software is set to be installed in security cameras at all 26 Fort Smith Public School campuses, according to a news release. ZeroEyes, a Philadelphia-based company, said it created an AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the full US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation. The company said in the release that it partnered with Curtis Stout, a commercial/industrial and utility business headquartered in Little Rock, and secured Fort Smith Public Schools as its first joint customer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springdale Public Schools announces Student Catch-Up days ahead of winter weather The AI gun detection software will be installed at FSPS campuses and protect more than 16,000 students and staff members, according to the release. We were interested in adding another layer of security to our comprehensive safety plan and carefully evaluated every solution out there, Martin Mahan, deputy superintendent of Fort Smith Public Schools, said. The release said ZeroEyes software integrates into existing digital security cameras and helps to mitigate mass shootings and gun-related violence by reducing response times. It has been recognized by Homeland Security as an effective anti-terrorism technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Authorities in Michigan have charged three people with murder in connection with a New Years Day shooting that killed a woman and her father, and injured the woman's husband. Jennifer Lyn Bernhard, 48, and her father Stevie Ray Smith, 74, were found dead in a Northfield Township, Mich., home on Jan. 1, the Washtenaw Prosecutors Office said in a press statement. Responding officers found Bernhards husband Jeffrey Alan Bernhard injured in the the shooting; he was hospitalized in stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two children, ages 9 and 4, were allegedly abducted after the shooting, but were found safe the next day, following a joint operation between the prosecutors office, Ann Arbor police, Michigan State police and Northfield Township police. Authorities arrested and charged Shuvonne Vinson, 42, Gregory Callhan, 37, and Keith Finley, 60, with several offenses each, including murder and kidnapping, per the prosecutor's office's statement. A GoFundMe set up for the family claimed one of the two children who were kidnapped was a foster child. The pastor of the family's church further confirmed that one of the two children was a foster child and the other one was the couple's biological child, The Detroit News reported. Washtenaw Prosecutors Office declined to comment on who the children were, citing "ethical duties regarding pretrial publicity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. All three suspects have been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to murder and a slew of other charges, many of them firearms-related. During a court appearance on Friday, Jan. 3, Vinson referred to one of the allegedly abducted children as her child, and appeared to have an outburst in front of the judge. Click on Detroit, which shared a clip of the appearance, reports Vinson is the biological mother of the foster child in the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They deserved to die, Vinson said in the online hearing. The arraignment was interrupted by bursts of comments, often crude, from Vinson, rendering most of the hearing inaudible. Finlay, who refused to be arraigned, was later arraigned on Saturday, Jan. 4, the prosecutor's office confirms to PEOPLE. All three are being held without bond. It wasn't immediately clear if they have retained attorneys or entered pleas. Read the original article on People France on Thursday charged the founder of an adult website used to commit sexual offences, including by a French man who recruited dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife, prosecutors said. Isaac Steidl, the founder and manager of the Coco.fr website, was charged with offences including administering an online platform to facilitate an illegal transaction by an organized gang, after his detention on Tuesday. French authorities shut down the anonymous platform in June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say the site was used to commit numerous sex crimes such as pedophilia and rape, as well as murder. They also said it had enabled Dominique Pelicot to recruit dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife from 2011 to 2020. Pelicot was given the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while his co-accused were handed sentences ranging from three to 15 years. Pelicot spoke to potential attackers on the website's chatroom called "A son insu" (without their knowledge). He was sentenced to 20 years in jail in December after a trial that turned his now former wife Gisele Pelicot into a feminist icon. French artist and activist Voltuan holds up a placard reading in French Steidl, an Italian national, was placed under judicial supervision with the obligation to pay bail of 100,000 euros and banned from leaving the country, said prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 44-year-old has been charged with complicity in drug trafficking, possession and distribution of images of child pornography, corruption of minors via the Internet, as well as aggravated money laundering, and the administration of an online platform to facilitate an illegal transaction by an organised gang. "Den of predators" Several of the offenses carry up to 10 years' imprisonment. The shutdown of the website followed numerous warnings from associations of the danger posed by the site, which was dubbed a "den of predators." It was registered on the Channel Island of Guernsey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The online chat site required no registration and allowed its users to remain anonymous. Steidl had already been questioned in Bulgaria in June. Three of his relatives, suspected of having played a role in the administration of the platform or having benefited from the offences, were interviewed in France. At the end of July 2024, two site moderators were arrested in France, a police source told AFP. "In total, more than 23,000 acts have been reported as having been committed through Coco," Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau has said. Prosecutors have said that more than 5 million euros linked to bank accounts in Hungary, Lithuania, Germany and the Netherlands have been seized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifty co-defendants -- the men who responded to Dominique Pelicot's invitation online --- were also convicted. Details of the offenses shocked France and the world, drawing fresh attention to male violence. The impact of the trial was magnified by Gisele Pelicot's decision to waive her anonymity and opt for a public trial. She said she wanted the proceedings to be public in the hope that "all women who are victims of rape can say to themselves: 'Madame Pelicot did it, so we can do it."' Gisele Pelicot arrives with her lawyer Stephane Babonneau (R) at the courthouse in Avignon on December 19, 2024. / Credit: CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images "I don't want them to feel ashamed anymore. It's not for us to feel shame it's for them [sexual attackers]," she said. "Above all, I'm expressing my will and determination to change this society." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a study by the Institute of Public Policies, just 14% of rape accusations in France lead to formal investigations. California authorities give update on L.A. fires and announce school closures California official on evacuation orders as Sunset Fire burns in Hollywood Hills Former President Jimmy Carter honored in final day of tributes Jan. 9MITCHELL Balloons, cookies, and popcorn graced the offices of Palace Builders Inc. on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The people inside weren't just celebrating the achievement of 45 years in business or the retirement party of founders Larry Titze and Steve Otterby, but that the business was continuing on in good hands. "We left a business that will go on, and that employees are willing to take and carry on. It would be awfully sad to just close the door," Titze said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Titze and Otterby started Mitchell-based Palace Builders Inc. in 1979. The thought of starting a company together wasn't on the horizon when Steve married Kathy, Larry's sister, in 1970. When Otterby left Aberdeen to come to Mitchell in 1979, the founders focused on both agriculture and commercial metal construction. Otterby's background in agricultural engineering, sales, and metal construction made for an ideal partnership with Titze's education, farming background, and knowledge of the Mitchell area. "One thing I'm proud of is that we created jobs for quite a few people," Titze said. "There's quite a few (grain) bins we put up for people," Otterby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Titze agreed and recalled their start. "When we started in 1979, corn yield average per acre in Davison County was 40 bushels. I think that we were responsible for bringing drying corn to Davison County," Titze said. Mitchell has a presence of metal buildings from post-1979 in which Palace Builders was involved. The first metal building the business sold was to Scott Supply, which became Titan Machinery in 2024. It built for All Star Fireworks, Logan theaters, Tessiers, Mitchell Manufacturing, and Dakota Supply Group. Palace Builders serves the immediate 70-mile radius around Mitchell, but has also constructed buildings in the five-state area. It also sends a team to do annual maintenance as far as Washington state after another building company went out of business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We service what we sell, and we service what others sell," said Ryan Brech, one of the long-time employees turned part-owner. Titze and Otterby will now have more time on their hands. Titze plans to travel, spend time with family, shoot trap and ride his bike. Otterby plans to be on the water and boat. They both plan to stay in Mitchell. Four employees of Palace Builders bought the founders out. Titze and Otterby said the new owners will do a great job. "The company will continue in capable hands," Titze and Otterby agreed. Wednesday's retirement party was right on time for Titze and Otterby's families. Titze said his wife shared her feelings on the subject. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My wife's been telling them to fire me," Titze said. "'When are you going to get out for good?'" Otterby said. "And you don't dare say 'never.'" "I don't want my funeral to be my retirement party," Titze said. "The people in our business, who we started with, most of them are dead. At least we are getting to retire," said Otterby. The founders chose to run their company with strong principles. "We felt strongly that you take care of your customers," Otterby said. "It wasn't always profitable, but it was the right thing to do," Titze added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Titze and Otterby wanted to treat their employees right and listen to them. "The goal was to hire good people in the construction and in the management," Otterby said. "And I think we did that." The four new owners bring 60 years of combined experience to their new roles. Jill Hohn has been with Palace Builders for 30 years, and takes care of the office and personnel. Ryan Brech has been with Palace Builders for over 15 years, and is in sales and customer service. Glenn Murtha has been with Palace Builders for eight years, and is a builder with a focus on training, quality and safety. Elliot Reiner has been with Palace Builders for seven years, and has a construction management degree and has worked as a foreman with the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Reiner and Murtha plan to represent both the customer and the company on job sites, just as Titze and Otterby did. "We take pride in what we do," Murtha said. Murtha could not imagine having bosses different from Titze and Otterby. "Why would you want to work with someone else after you've worked with Larry and Steve?" Murtha said. The founders are a phone call away for the new owners of Palace Builders. "We are fortunate we can lean on them," Hohn said of Titze and Otterby. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) During the mid-1800s, four streets in downtown Shreveport were named after significant figures in the Texas Revolution. This article will give you a brief history of the men behind the street names, and show a connection between early leaders in Shreveport, Louisiana and the revolution in nearby Tejas. This map of Shreveport in 1850 was published in Historical Profile Shreveport 1850, by Fredricka Doll Gute and Katherine Brash Jeter, published for the Spring Street Museum by The Shreveport Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Louisiana, 1982. Map by Marion Murtishaw Bridges. Angled photography of map by KTAL/KMSS Jaclyn Tripp. Shreveport was intentionally planned by a partnership of seven people on May 27, 1836. At first, the town was to be called Shreve Town after Henry Miller Shreve, the fabled clearer of the great log jam in the Red River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the year after Shreve Town was named, residents decided to call it Shreveport instead. Shreveport is older than Caddo Parish, which was created on January 18, 1838. The very first sheriff of Caddo Parish was Alexander Boyd Sterrett, the husband of Martha Bowie Sterrett. Marthas brother, James Bowie, who is credited with inventing the Bowie knife, died defending the Alamo during the Texas Revolution just before the formation of Shreveport. The Texas Revolution ended in 1836, and Shreveports first city government was formed in 1839. The Texas Revolution, which became the theme for many of Shreveports first streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The buildings on both sides of Texas Street, with few exceptions, were frame, and there were large vacant spaces between some of these, wrote early settler W. H. Scanland, who arrived in Shreveport in 1854. At the junction of Texas and Market Streets, on the north side, and in the center of Market, stood the Market House. This was the rallying point for citizens and their servants who carried baskets for the marketing. Others came to get their morning cup of coffee and talk of the affairs of the day. This article refers to the highway to Texas. It was printed in the Weekly Shreveport Times on Feb. 6, 1850. Shreveports Texas Street wasnt just a little street named Texas. It was a little section of what locals called the Highway to Texas or the Dallas to Shreveport Road. Scanland also documented streets in early Shreveport that were named after leaders of the Texas Revolution. Milam Street was also cut down, and the buildings on that street, on the same parallel were also in the air, wrote Scanland. The courthouse was a two-story frame building on Crockett Street. Crockett Street People rarely associate Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier, with Shreveport. But Crockett Street in historic Shreveport was named after the notorious character who gained fame as a backwoods politician long before he died at the Alamo. Portrait of Colonel Davy Crockett by John Gadsby Chapman, Library of Congress. In 1879, John M. Swisher wrote that Colonel Davy Crockett was on his way to the Alamo when he rested at the Swisher familys home in Texas. John was a boy then, but spending time with Davy Crockett left an impression on him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It happened on that day that Colonel Crockett arrived. I had been out hunting with a party of friends. I had killed my second, and, I believe, my last deer, which I tied behind my saddle. I reached home with it about nightfall. Colonel Crockett surprised me by coming out and assisting me in taking it down from the horse. He complimented me highly by calling me his young hunter, and batering me to a shooting match. I accepted this proposition, since he offered to shoot off hand and give me a rest. My pride swelled at once. I would not have changed places with the President himself. Swisher described Crockett as around 40 years old, stout, muscular, around 6 feet tall, and between 180 and 200 pounds. Swisher said Crockett had grey eyes and sandy whiskers. He was fond of talking, and had an ease and grace about him that rendered him irresistible. During his stay at my fathers it was a rare occurrence for any of us to get to bed before twelve or one oclock. He told us a great many anecdotes. Many of them were commonplace and amount to nothing in themselves, but his inimitable way of telling them would convulse one with laughter. Advertisement from The South-Wester, Aug. 1, 1855, shows a general store on Shreveports Crockett Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swisher said he would never forget the day Crockett left for San Antonio. We watched him as he rode away by the side of his young traveling companion ( B. A. M. Smith) with feelings of admiration and regret. Davy Crockett was killed at the Alamo. David Crocket was born on Aug. 17, 1786, near the Nolachucky River in what is now Tennessee. He was born as poor as his folks, and by the age of 18, he had not learned to read or write. He married twice, was widowed once, and became a neighborhood magistrate before being elected to the state Legislature. He was elected to the United States Congress in 1827, 1829, and 1831. He was considered a keen-witted frontiersman, but Crockett left for the new frontier of Tejas after he was defeated in yet another run for Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crocket was one of the 150 men who fought on the side of Tejas during the battle at the Alamo. He was killed on Mar. 6, 1836. Travis Street To the People of Texas and all Americans in the world, wrote William Barret Travis on Feb. 24, 1836, from the Alamo. I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy ahs demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcement daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country. Victory or death, William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. comdt. An excerpt from Travis letter written from the Alamo. Travis first came to Texas from Georgia in 1830, establishing law in the little town of Liberty and then in San Filipe. He was one of the first men to join an army assembled to fight for independence from Mexico. Advertisement for a boarding house on Travis Street in Shreveport. Printed in The South-Western, Sept. 20, 1854. Travis became the commander at the Alamo and was killed on Mar. 6, 1836, while trying to defend it. In 1836, Mrs. Dilue Harris wrote what she remembered about Colonel Travis and the Texas Revolution from her childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the 12th of March came the news of the fall of the Alamo. A courier brought a dispatch from General Houston for the people to leave. Colonel Travis and the men under his command had been slaughtered Then began the horrors of the Runaway Scrape. We left home at sunset, hauling clothes, bedding, and provisions on the sleigh with one yoke of oxen. Mother and I were walking, she with an infant in her arms. Brother drove the oxen, and my two little sisters rode in the sleigh. We were going ten miles to where we would be transferred to Mr. Bundicks cart Sister and I had been weeping all day about Colonel Travis. Fannin Street Fannin Street in downtown Shreveport was named after James Walker Fannin, Jr., a member of the Texian Army who was killed at the order of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Lost history: The first capital of Texas was in Louisiana Heres what we know about Fannins life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fannin was the son of Isham Fannin, a plantation owner in Georgia and a veteran of the War of 1812. He was born on Jan. 1, 1804, and attended the University of Georgia when he was 14. He enrolled at West Point shortly thereafter and left the school after a duel with another cadet. Fannin married Minerva Fort and became a member of a Masonic lodge in Georgia before moving to Velasco, Tejas, where he became a planter and slave-trader. Portrait of James Walker Fannin, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Texas Revolution began, he joined with the forces and fought with Jim Bowie at the Battle of Concepcion. The news I gave you a few days back is too true, he wrote to Mr. Joseph Mims on February 28, 1836, from Goliad, Tejas. The enemy have the town of Bexar, with a large force, and I fear will have our brave countrymen in the Alamo. Another force is near me. It crossed the Neuces yesterday morning, and attacked a party by surprise under Colonel Johnson, and routed them, killing Captain Pearson and several others after they had surrendered. Fannin wrote there were about four hundred and twenty men with him, and if I can get provisions in tomorrow or the next day, can maintain myself against any force. I will never give up the ship while there is a pea in the dish. If I am whipped it will be well done, and you may never expect to see me. He asked for others to send the letter to his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoping for the best, and prepared for the worst. Farewell, J. W. Fannin, Jr Advertisement for a rent house on Fannin Street in Shreveport from The South-Western, Sept. 12, 1860 Fannin was in Goliad, Texas, when General Sam Houston ordered the men to retreat. While retreating, Mexican cavalry attacked the men and the Battle of Coleto Creek was on. Fannin, the commander, negotiated a surrender. But all prisoners were massacredincluding James Walker Fannin. Milam Street Ben Rush Milam was born on Oct. 20, 1788, in Frankfort, Kentucky, and fought in the War of 1812. He later floated down the Mississippi River to New Orleans on a shipment of flour. By 1818, Milam was in Tejax and trading with the Comanche. Milam wrote a letter from a Mexican prison on the 5th of July, 1835, to say that he had not had a very pleasant Independence Day. I can not say that I enjoyed it. I got a bottle of mescal and drank tot he Federal Constitution in all parts of America. I had no countrymen to join me, or perhaps I should have one better. Then Milam explains why he was in prison. We left Monclova on the 29th of May, and were taken prisoners on the 5th of June, at night. The troops had been watching our march all the last day, and knew the only chance we had to get water. They placed themselves in a position to take possession of our horses as soon as it was dusk. Milam detailed the situation. He and others were taken to San Fernando and confined for a week. We were not permitted to write or speak to any person except in the presence of an officer, and then only in the Spanish language. From there we were taken to Rio Grande, where we were treated somewhat better. From Rio Grande we were brought to this place. At present we are under the charge of Colonol Altapa, who is a gentleman, and gives us every indulgence we ask for. From here we expect to be sent to Monterey to stand our trial. I hope to be set at liberty. But all is uncertainty. Advertisement in the Weekly Shreveport Times, Apr. 23, 1853, shows a business located on the corner of Shreveports Milam Street. Milam then describes that thousands of troops would be on the march to San Antonio in the next few weeks. Their intention is to gain the friendship of the different tribes of Indians, and if possible to get the slaves to revolt. These plans of barbarity an injustice will make a wilderness of Texas, and beggars of its inhabitants, if they do not unite and act with promptness and decision. The people of Texas will never submit to a dictator. Yours, B. R. Milam Portrait of Ben Rush Milam, public domain Weird history: Drew Barrymores great-grandpa was almost killed by a Shreveport mayors brother Years later, a tale about Milam was detailed in Peases History of Texas. While Milam was imprisoned in Monterey, be befriended the jailer and was given permission to occasionally bathe in the river. Milam had a friend bring a horse and tie it up at the river, and one day as Milam was going to bathe he kept on walking, mounted the horse and took off. It took days for him to ride back to Texas, and by the time he got there the Texas Revolution had already begun. He and others had a few drinks and decided to attack the fort at Goliad. They were able to take the fort back from Mexican troops. After the Goliad Campaign of 1835, Stephen F. Austin appointed Milam to command a company of scouts and determine what routes to use to retake San Antonio. Milam was killed on Dec. 7, 1835, by a rifle shot when he was moving between positions. Three days later, Mexican forces left San Antonio. Sources: With the Makers of Texas: A Source Reader in Texas History, by Herbert Eugene Bolton, Ph.D., and Eugene C. Barker, M.A., The University of Texas, Gammel-Statesman Publishing Co., 1904 A Texas Scrap-Book Made up of the History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas and Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, published by A. S. Barnes & Company, 1875. Benjamin Rush Ben Milam (178801835) by Lyman Hardeman, Texas Proud, Dec. 4, 2020 On Sept 15, 1829, Afro-Mestizo Mexican President Vicente Ramon Guerrero issued the Guerror Decree, prohibiting slavery in most of Mexico, published by California African American Museum, Sept 15, 2019. Texas Historical Commission: Texas in the Civil War Texas State Historical Association Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. ST. LOUIS On my Presidential Library, Museums and More travels, I had the chance to see the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the former presidents history. But it was my trip to Plains during the towns annual peanut festival that I got to spend some time with President Carter, his family, and friends in the place he called home. And it was clear to see how much Plains was part of his life. James Earl Carter Jr. lived in Plains most of his life, outside of when he was in the Navy and living on-base or at sea. Then there were his years in Atlanta when he was Governor of Georgia. And, of course, his four years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was a startling new theology or philosophy for people in those days. To consider everybody the same in the eyes of God. That is something we still have a hard time accepting, Carter, then 93, said to a church group. If were white, we think were better than African Americans. If were men, we think were better than women. Sometimes women think theyre better than men. But the Bible teaches, and Jesus taught, that were all the same. Gods care for us is the same for everybody. He called himself a peanut farmer from Plains. The soil here is built for peanut farming. But the Southern charm was evident everywhere I went in the one-block town. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Carters hometown embraced him and Rosalyn and they it, participating in the annual peanut festival, signing copies of his many books. And participating in a Sunday tradition: his Bible study at Maranatha Baptist Church. People came from all over just to be near the former president. If you feel that you dont live a life full of joy and happiness and purpose in life thats worthwhile and exciting and adventurous, its your fault, Carter said. Carter, who lived to be 100, the oldest former president in the nations history, attributed his longevity to one healthy snack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have eaten peanuts my whole life, he said. If you want to live a long life, eat peanuts. Peanuts and politics aside, he lived a second full life after leaving office. He served as president emeritus, leading by example and building homes with Habitat for Humanity, serving as a peace negotiator and diplomat, an ambassador of understanding and a beacon to so many of how to live a good, honest life. What kind of person do I want to be? Carter said. We have done that up to this moment in life. But starting today, we can ask the same questions. What kind of person do I want to be? And who is it up to? You and me. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. (FOX 44) Many Los Angeles residents have been displaced from their homes due to the California wildfires. MG Montemayor spoke with one resident in Hollywood, Milo Lopez, who evacuated on Wednesday after the Sunset Fire set his neighborhood ablaze. I came home and saw a lot of smoke in the area. Didnt really expect anything, says Lopez. Figured in the Hollywood area, which I am at, it was pretty safe. But then they said, Hey, Runyon Canyon is actually on fire. And I live right at the mouth of Runyon Canyon. And so, I went outside and I saw outside, literally saw the whole entire area was just a big orange glow. I grabbed my pet, and we tried to escape out of our building. However, it was completely gridlocked. The streets were completely packed, and it was very scary. Realizing that I might get stuck in my garage, thankfully, we were able to make it out and I was able to safely get away. And was able to stay at a hotel for the night. What was kind of the general feeling of the people as they found out this fire was ablaze? There was a lot of worried faces. I remember walking outside. Everyone was on their phones, contacting their loved ones. Like, even though they have to leave, everyone had, was running to get their bags. And, everyone was trying to get out of their building, as fast as they could. There was just all the cars there. Everyone was honking their horn. It was, it was really intense. Have you seen anything this bad ever while youve been in L.A.? Nothing near to this, magnitude. Ive spoken with a lot of Los Angeles natives as well. Theyre saying that this has been the worst fire that has ever happened in this area. Do you know anything thats being done locally to kind of help those who have been displaced? From what I know, they have been having evacuation shelters. I had a bunch of resources sent to me of evacuation centers in the area. There are some local shelters as well that are providing clothes that people were unable to go back into their homes. As well as there are some places that are providing some provisions and food for people. Where does L.A. go from here? Now its just kind of like trying to recover, trying to take care of one another. A lot of this stuff really does unify a lot of people, from what Ive seen. Everyone is trying to protect, you know, their family. But there are also a lot of volunteers are going out trying to help others, trying to donate as much as they can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. A court in New York has rejected a bid from Fox Corp. to toss a lawsuit from voting systems provider Smartmatic against Fox News. The New York appeals court on Thursday upheld a previous ruling denying Fox Corp.s request to have the case dismissed, according to multiple reports. Smartmatic sued Fox for more than $2 billion after the 2020 election, claiming the top-watched cable news network knowingly aired false information about its software to boost ratings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outlet has defended itself in court by saying the allegations against Smartmatic, which were being promoted by President-elect Trump and his allies, were newsworthy and has also argued Smartmatic is inflating its financial valuation. We will be ready to defend this case surrounding extremely newsworthy events when it goes to trial, Fox said in a statement to The Hill. As a report prepared by our financial expert shows, Smartmatics damages claims are implausible, disconnected from reality, and on their face intended to chill First Amendment freedoms. Smartmatic has issued subpoenas to several members of the board of directors at Fox Corp. in connection with the case, while Fox last month lost a bid to obtain a trove of information about U.S. federal charges against the voting machine companys co-founder over alleged bribery in the Philippines. Fox in April 2023 agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to settle a separate defamation lawsuit out of court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. APPLETON, Wis (WFRV) Appletons downtown area is set to receive a major boost with the introduction of the Fox Den, a new food and community hub located within the Fox Commons. The project, developed by Dark Horse Development, will occupy the western half of the first floor of the former City Center Plaza building. Appleton Police Department celebrates Law Enforcement Appreciation Day with homage to retired K-9 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appletons Community Development Director Kara Homan shared, The developers, Dark Horse Development, have conceptualized the idea thats called Fox Den, which will take up the western half of the first floor of the former mall that was downtown. The Fox Den will feature ten food stalls and micro-retail spaces, designed to attract a variety of small vendors and entrepreneurs. This new Fox Den will be an opportunity for those smaller entrepreneurs to get a foothold again downtown and then perhaps in the future if they continue to grow and prosper, locate into a bricks and mortar stand-alone building, Homan said. Beyond providing space for emerging businesses, the Fox Den is envisioned as a vibrant, community-focused gathering place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something like the Fox Den concept is intended to serve as a node of connection to the community where people can meet up, Homan explained, Not just for lunch but throughout the day. Its going to be bringing that continuous flow of people to the heart of our community. The Fox Den is part of the larger $15 million Fox Commons development, which also includes student housing for Lawrence University, health care facilities, and retail spaces. A $250,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is helping to fund the project, which is expected to transform the heart of Appleton. Door County candlemakers raising money for Los Angeles fire victims through Golden State candle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be a place where people can gather, entrepreneurs can thrive, and the downtown area can continue to grow, Homan concluded. The project is still in its early planning phases, and while a timeline for completion has not yet been confirmed, the city is optimistic about the future of downtown Appleton. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A New York appeals court has rejected Fox Corp.s request to toss a $2.7 billion defamation suit from voting machine manufacturer Smartmatic. Smartmatic alleged in a suit that the Fox News parent company effectively endorsed and participated in a campaign suggesting that the voting machine company participated in election fraud by manipulating the results of the 2020 presidential election. In the ruling from the New York Supreme Court First Appellate Department, a five-judge panel cited a Delaware court decision against Fox Corporation for defaming Dominion Voting Systems as precedent for implicating the Fox News parent company. Fox Corp. agreed to pay $787 million to Dominion in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its initial 2024 complaint, Smartmatic accused Fox News of making over 100 false statements and implications about the company. Judges wrote this week that Smartmatic's claims that Fox News ran a disinformation campaign in [its] post-election coverage were enough to warrant a trial. Smartmatic demands a jury trial, Bloomberg Law reports, alleging that Fox Corp. executives Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch directed Fox News to air conspiracy theories involving Smartmatic. Smartmatic attorney Erik Connolly celebrated the ruling, telling Bloomberg that the network attempted, and failed, to have this case dismissed, and it must now answer for its actions at trial. A Fox spokesperson told Salon: We will be ready to defend this case surrounding extremely newsworthy events when it goes to trial. As a report prepared by our financial expert shows, Smartmatics damages claims are implausible, disconnected from reality, and on their face intended to chill First Amendment freedoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling comes six weeks after Fox News competitor Newsmax settled with Smartmatic, announcing in a statement that its reporting on voting machine discrepancies in 2020 was factually false/untrue and retracted claims that the company was owned by the Venezuelan government. Neither party revealed any financial details of the settlement. Editor's note: This article has been updated with a statement from Fox. As conspiracy theories about the origins of the Los Angeles fires continue to spread, Fox News host Jessica Tarlov slammed her colleagues on The Five over their claims that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are somehow to blame. Conservatives have attempted to link a DEI program in California to the efforts of firefighters to contain the blaze, with some criticizing the record of Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley, the first woman and first LGBTQ+ person to lead the department. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Jan. 9, Tarlov defended Crowley, a public servant for over two decades, according to The Huffington Post. There is so much bad information swirling around about the main players involved in this like the fire chief has been called a DEI hire. Id take her resume any day, Tarlov said, going on to list her accomplishments. Twenty-four-year vet, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, fire marshal, deputy chief. Tarlov's co-host, Greg Gutfeld, responded by saying she was "proving" his point. No, Im not proving your point, she is qualified for that job, Tarlov argued. Related: Billy Crystal Is "Heartbroken" Amid Devastating Loss in Palisades Fire Critics including Elon Musk and Megyn Kelly have blamed the fire departments DEI initiative for the rapidly spreading wildfires, including a post from Musk on Wednesday night that DEI means people DIE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there is no evidence directly linking the two, according to Forbes. Although Kelly claimed on her podcast that Crowley has made not filling the fire hydrants top priority, but diversity," multiple reports have said the city's Department of Water and Power is responsible for filling fire hydrants, not the fire department. On CNN, Rep. Jasmine Crockett told conservative political commentator Scott Jennings that she was so tired of DEI being blamed and to stop acting as if white men are the only ones capable. CNN anchor Abby Phillip also challenged Jennings, giving the LAFD credit for their efforts to fight a historic fire. Next: Paris Hilton Speaks Out After Watching Malibu Home "Burn to the Ground on Live TV" Fox News host Jessica Tarlov on Thursday ripped her colleagues on The Five over their bizarre claims that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are to blame for the response of firefighters battling deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. In recent days, right-wing critics have turned their attention to a DEI program in California and also picked apart the over two decades of public service by Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley, the first woman and first LGBTQ+ person to lead the department. There is so much bad information swirling around about the main players involved in this like the fire chief has been called a DEI hire. Id take her resume any day, said Tarlov before she went into Crowleys background. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twenty-four-year vet, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, fire marshal, deputy chief. Earlier in the program, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld appeared to criticize officials who downgraded competence for complexion and for sexual identity while remarking on the fires, which have killed at least 10 people and burned at least 10,000 structures in the region. Jesse Watters would also go on to blame DEI and corruption for the devastation at hand. Gutfeld, after Tarlov went to bat for the fire chiefs record, said his colleague was proving his point before the two had a testy exchange on live TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, Im not proving your point, she is qualified for that job, Tarlov shot back. Youre proving it because DEI makes everybody suspect, that is the problem, and you guys, you guys paraded it around so now you put it in peoples heads, declared Gutfeld as Tarlov tried to interject. No, you put it in peoples heads, I -, she replied. How? I didnt back DEI, he said. Critics such as Elon Musk have sought to tie DEI initiatives including those from the LAFD itself to firefighters efforts to contain the spread of the fires despite a lack of evidence showing a connection between them. Theres also no evidence to suggest that Crowley has emphasized diverse hiring at the expense of preventing fires, Forbes noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The term DEI hire has been used by conservatives as a racist dog whistle to question the qualifications of those seeking, or holding, government positions. Conservatives hurled the term at officials last year in the aftermath of the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Related... More than 100 earthquakes that damaged households across Surrey were likely caused by fracking, according to a landmark study by the University College London (UCL). As part of their findings, researchers suggested that oil extraction from a Surrey well led to powerful tremors across various villages in 2018-19, including Newdigate and Charlwood which lie just four miles from Gatwick Airport. The tremors led to around 1,600 people reporting movement in and around their homes, with some citing cracked walls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research shows that the epicentre of the quakes was just a few miles from Surreys Brockham oil field and the Horse Hill oil well, which had recently started testing in 2018. The earthquake epicentres appear to be near to the Horse Hill fracking site - Gareth Fuller/PA Geologists at the time were divided over whether oil extraction was the cause of the quakes, with some claiming tremors have been a natural phenomenon across Britain for centuries. However, as part of its new study, which included running more than a million simulations, UCL found that there had not been an earthquake in Surrey for decades, suggesting a link between fracking and the tremors. Matthew Fox, an Earth Sciences professor at UCL, said: It is plausible that oil extraction [at Horse Hill] triggered the earthquakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earthquakes have often been linked to mining, drilling and fracking and were a common phenomenon in communities built around Britains previous coal fields. This is because extracting oil or minerals can change the pressure underground. The change in pressure can then be transmitted across many miles of rock and cause adjacent faults to shift, generating an earthquake. Although the Surrey earthquakes first occurred just before oil extraction began, the researchers said the tremors could have initially been triggered by preparatory works. The UCL findings contradict those of an earlier study by the British Geological Survey (BGS), which concluded that the Surrey earthquakes were a natural occurrence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UK Oil and Gas, the company which carried out the drilling at Horse Hill, said: This incident was answered and dealt with many years ago when the BGS seismologists were satisfied it was a natural event associated with movement on a deeper unassociated fault many kilometres deeper and distant from the site. Our focus is now on renewable energy and the storage of hydrogen in salt caverns in Dorset and East Yorkshire, fully in step with the Governments clean power 2030 target. Oil extraction at Horse Hill was halted in October after planning permission was quashed in a landmark legal case. Supreme Court judges ruled that the full climate impact of the project should have been considered before Surrey County Council approved it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling had huge implications for the entire UK oil and gas industry, prompting legal cases that could see the licences for two major offshore projects, Equinors Rosebank oil field and Shells Jackdaw gas field, being revoked by the courts. Back in the South East, however, another project has received council approval to conduct exploratory oil drilling, this time in Balcombe, West Sussex. This is subject to a legal challenge by a residents group, with the case expected to be heard by the Court of Appeal this month. The UCLs new findings are likely to be among the key reasons for objections to the scheme. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. PARIS (Reuters) -France summoned Irans ambassador on Friday to protest over the case of three of its citizens whose detention conditions the foreign ministry said were akin to torture. The ministry described the French nationals as "hostages of the state of the Islamic republic of Iran". "Their situation is unbearable, with undignified detention conditions that, for some, constitute torture under international law," it said, reiterating that French nationals are advised not to travel to Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials in France have hardened their tone towards Iran in recent weeks over issues like Tehran's nuclear programme, regional activities and the detention of European citizens. They say that conditions for progress on talks with Iran on bilateral or multilateral issues will be dependent on the release of the hostages. Senior French, British and German diplomats will meet with their Iranian counterparts on Monday in Geneva to discuss bilateral issues and more notably the future of nuclear talks ahead of the return of Donald Trump to the White House on Jan. 20. France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that the situation of three French citizens held in Iran was worsening. In recent years, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals, often on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of attempting to extract concessions from other countries through the arrests. According to diplomatic sources, about 20 European citizens from 10 countries are being held in Iran. (Reporting by GV De Clercq and John Irish; Editing by Makini Brice and Hugh Lawson) DENVER (KDVR) A garage in Franktown appeared to be fully consumed by flames Thursday night. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox According to the Franktown Fire Protection District, a fire sparked Thursday on Fox Creek Trail and appeared to be impacting a large garage. The agency shared a photo of the blaze and said there was no danger or threat to neighbors. There were also no reports of injuries as of 8:45 p.m. Social media users and some FOX31 viewers asked about potential explosions related to the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franktown Fire Protection District told FOX31 that the garage did not explode, but items inside the garage had exploded. A fire investigator was at the scene Thursday night to look into the cause of the fire. Franktown Fire Protection District shared this photo of a garage fire on Jan. 9, 2025. (Franktown Fire Protection District) Assisting in fighting the blaze was South Metro Fire Rescue, which supplied a tender, battalion chief and safety officer. Franktown Fire reported at about 9:30 p.m. that the bulk of the fire had been extinguished, but crews were slated to remain on scene for an extended period to ensure the fire was completely out and address any possible hotspots. The agency also thanked South Metro Fire Rescue and the Douglas County Sheriffs Office for each agencys aid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Supreme Court arguments about a potential TikTok ban are underway. The case is about more than a social media app. Its about the scope of free speech protections and the legitimacy of TikTok-related national security concerns. The policy in front of the court creates the possibility of TikTok being banned in the United States on Jan. 19. The justices will decide whether to delay the ban, overturn the policy or let the ban take effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikToks supporters, including content creators who make a living on the app, say the pending ban violates the Constitutions free speech protections. Its opponents most notably, the Biden administration say the policy protects the country from dangerous Chinese interference. Its not clear how the Supreme Court will rule in TikTok v. Garland. But it is clear that the case will reshape speech laws nationwide. Whats in the TikTok ban? The legislation at the center of the Supreme Courts TikTok case was tucked into a broad national security bill signed by President Joe Biden in April. The section of the law dealing with TikTok said that the popular short-form video app would be banned from app stores in the U.S. in nine months if its Chinese owners, ByteDance, didnt divest before then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the ban were to take effect, TikTok users would maintain access to whatever version of the app theyd previously downloaded, but they wouldnt be able to download software updates. App stores like Google Play would face legal penalties if they continued to offer new TikTok downloads. The legislation gave Biden the authority to grant one 90-day extension, but only if ByteDance had taken significant steps toward a sale before mid-January. Key dates in the TikTok lawsuit Fridays Supreme Court oral arguments in the TikTok case come after months of legal wrangling over the legislation. April 24, 2024: Biden signs proposed TikTok ban into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 7, 2024: TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, file a federal lawsuit challenging the new law. The lawsuit argues that the TikTok ban violates the First Amendment rights of TikTok users. May 14, 2024: TikTok content creators file separate lawsuits over the proposed TikTok ban, arguing that the law tramples their free speech rights. Sept. 16, 2024: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia hears oral arguments in the cases, considering whether to grant TikToks request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the ban from taking effect in January. Dec. 6, 2024: A panel of three D.C. Circuit judges unanimously rules against TikTok, ByteDance and the content creators, upholding the proposed TikTok ban and clearing the way for it to take effect on Jan. 19, 2025, if the company is not sold by then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dec. 9, 2024: TikTok and ByteDance ask the D.C. Circuit to put its Dec. 6 ruling on hold to give the Supreme Court time to weigh in on the case. Dec. 13, 2024: D.C. Circuit declines to put its ruling on hold. Dec. 16, 2024: TikTok, ByteDance and TikTok content creators appeal to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to put the proposed TikTok ban on hold and to take up the related cases. Dec. 18, 2024: The Supreme Court agrees to weigh in on the legal battle and schedules oral arguments for Jan. 10, 2025. The justices consolidate the related lawsuits from TikTok, ByteDance and content creators. Supreme Courts TikTok case The Supreme Court case is centered on a straightforward question: Does the proposed TikTok ban violate the free speech protections offered by the First Amendment? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court has already received dozens of briefs offering a range of answers. Those who support TikTok have highlighted past Supreme Court rulings in favor of free expression, arguing that the TikTok ban should be just as problematic in the eyes of the justices as former President Richard Nixons effort to prevent newspapers from releasing the Pentagon Papers or the federal governments effort to limit access to foreign mail during the Cold War. Supporters of the ban, on the other hand, compare the case to a 2010 battle over Americans relationships with foreign terrorist groups. The Supreme Court ruled that the government could bar Americans from contacting the groups if it felt such contact created imminent national security concerns. The court ruled for the government (in that 2010 case) by a 6-to-3 vote, accepting its expertise even after ruling that the law was subject to strict scrutiny, the most demanding form of judicial review, per The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the justices will have the opportunity to raise what they feel are the key points from the briefs and debate whether the governments national security concerns about China justify the potential TikTok ban. Oral arguments will take at least two hours, and attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance, for the content creators and for the federal government will all have a chance to speak. Its possible that the court will issue a ruling in the case before the Jan. 19 deadline. But the justices have also left open the possibility that they will instead issue a preliminary injunction after oral arguments to put the TikTok law on hold until their ruling is finalized. Trumps role in the TikTok case While no attorney will speak directly for President-elect Donald Trump during Fridays hearing, Trump will still loom large in the proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats because he returns to office one day after the TikTok ban is set to take effect, meaning it could be up to his administration to enforce the law or find a new way to address national security concerns. Trump filed a brief in the Supreme Court case, but he did not throw his support behind either side. Instead, his lawyers essentially asked the justices to delay the ban, arguing that Trump will be well-positioned to resolve the dispute once he returns to the White House. President Trump opposes banning TikTok in the United States at this juncture, and seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office, the brief said. The document raised more than a few eyebrows with its claims about Trumps social media prowess. Its unusual for a Supreme Court brief to include so much praise and so many jabs at political opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump is one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history. Consistent with his commanding presence in this area, President Trump currently has 14.7 million followers on TikTok with whom he actively communicates, allowing him to evaluate TikToks importance as a unique medium for freedom of expression, including core political speech. Indeed, President Trump and his rival both used TikTok to connect with voters during the recent Presidential election campaign, with President Trump doing so much more effectively, the brief claimed. The TikTok cases complicated politics Calling for the Supreme Court to delay the TikTok ban puts Trump at odds with many conservative lawmakers, who have filed briefs or made public statements supporting the governments position. Republican attorneys general from 22 states filed a brief with the court disagreeing with TikToks arguments and asking the justices to uphold the statute, Reuters reported. In general, the TikTok case involves unusual battle lines, with the Biden administration on the same side as many of its consistent critics and opposite side as civil rights organizations like the ACLU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court experts are unsure of where the Supreme Court will come down in the case, but note that Fridays hearing will offer some clues. Justices often hint at their position on a legal issue when asking questions during oral arguments. How to watch Supreme Court arguments Oral arguments in the Supreme Courts TikTok case will begin at 8 a.m. MST. An audio feed from the courtroom will be available on C-SPAN. MCCONNELLSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Its been nearly a year since Baby Zadkiel was found dead on the streets of Fulton County after allegedly being thrown out a window by his mother. Now, officials and activists in McConnellsburg are taking steps to ensure what happened last March doesnt ever again. The boroughs volunteer fire department installed a Safe Haven Baby Box, which will allow parents in crisis to surrender a newborn with no legal consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest This is a situation where they [parents] can bring the baby unharmed and have a family take care of them from there, said Deb Scheffield, who was instrumental in implementing the box. Theyll know in their heart that they did the right thing. The box is dedicated to Baby Zadkiel and will be available to parents in need come February. Its the first box at a fire department in Pennsylvania, though other boxes are located in Lancaster and State College. Obviously, what happened last year [with Baby Zadkiel] led to this, McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Pete Lynch said. Its a big responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. It ended on Friday morning, in the same New York court where it began: not with a bang but a whimper. Appearing via video link from Mar-a-Lago, where he is putting the finishing touches on his plans for a second presidential term, Donald Trump was handed an unconditional discharge in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. The 90-minute hearing brought the usual crowd of supporters, protesters and reporters to the packed courtroom in Lower Manhattan, where Mr Trumps legal woes have become something of a local fixture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the screen, Mr Trump sat in front of an American flag and railed against his conviction with his now-familiar argument that he is the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt He said: This has been a very terrible experience. I think its been a setback for New York and the New York court system. But his sentence effectively a slap on the wrist that carries no jail time or financial penalty is far from the outcome his detractors had hoped for when this case began two years ago. In that time, it has filled thousands of column inches, dominated the news networks and been debated endlessly over the course of one of the most bitterly contested presidential campaigns in the countrys history. Above all, the legal battle of the president and the former porn star captured the impervious quality of Mr Trumps political appeal. The more he was prosecuted, the more popular he became. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect wasted no time in making that point to the court on Friday, pointing to the millions and millions of votes and clean sweep of swing states he won on Nov 5. Theyve been watching your trial, so they understood it, he said of the voters who backed his campaign. There have been some losses for Mr Trump in the courtroom saga, which followed a winding trail of payments to Ms Daniels marked by the president-elects accountants as legal expenses. In May 2024, he was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, despite a dizzying number of legal appeals from his team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was then gagged by the court from talking publicly about the case, after his early attacks on prosecutors and the judge, Juan Merchan, resulted in death threats from his supporters. The 90-minute hearing brought out crowds of supporters, protesters and reporters - Eduardo Munoz/Reuters After the conviction, Mr Trump became the first former president in US history to be convicted of a felony. He was faced with an extraordinary choice: either win the election, or almost certainly go to prison. The sentence handed down on Friday represents nothing short of a victory for Mr Trump, vindicating his legal strategy. Although he frequently criticises the lawfare against him in several criminal cases, he has been its greatest beneficiary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Mr Merchan admitted to the court that his hands were tied by Mr Trumps election victory, noting that his imminent presidential immunity made a conventional sentence impossible. Describing the unique and remarkable set of circumstances before the court, he explained that the extraordinary legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others. Above all, he said, the mandate handed to Mr Trump by the American people last year gave the court no choice but to release him without penalty. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections, he said. The sentence handed down on Friday represents nothing short of a victory for Mr Trump - Angela Weiss/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The road to Fridays sentencing was not an easy one for Mr Trump. This hearing was initially scheduled to take place in the summer, before the vote that has provided him the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card. It was only by filing a baffling number of appeals, legal complaints and requests for mitigating circumstances that Mr Trumps lawyers were able to execute their strategy: delay, delay, delay and then win back the White House. There is one final appeal pending, which would allow Mr Trump to erase the sentence with a ruling from the Supreme Court. Now that the unconditional discharge has been given, he is free to request a judgment before his inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, what happens next is mostly irrelevant to Mr Trumps story. Years of argument, millions of dollars of legal fees and acres of media coverage have resulted in the weakest possible outcome of a successful criminal prosecution. Mr Trump will now take office as the first felon president. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that in his battle with the courts, he is still the victor. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Gary Hall Jr. didnt think anything of the small, off-colored cloud he saw from inside the kitchen of his Pacific Palisades home Tuesday morning. Then he noticed a narrow plume of smoke in the sky that doubled in size within a minute. And he smelled smoke. By the time he saw flames coming out of houses uphill in the distance, the former U.S. Olympic swimming star knew he had to abandon the rental house on Lachman Lane where he had lived with his dog, Puddles, and run his business, Sea Monkeys Swimming, since 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of what made me good as an elite-level competitor in sport was the ability to stay really, really calm in intense pressure situations, Hall told The Times in a phone interview Thursday from Encinitas, where hes staying with his sister, Maria Diego. And I was that [on Tuesday] you know, pragmatic, making decisions and sizing up the situation. I could see that this was a disaster unfolding and that the house was gonna burn. That house, Hall said, is gone. More than 5,000 buildings have been destroyed in the Palisades fire, one of several major wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County this week. As of Friday morning, the Palisades fire was 8% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Hall brought with him only the insulin he needs to treat his Type 1 diabetes, a painting of his grandfather and a religious artifact. He was planning to run back inside to retrieve 10 more prized possessions the five gold, three silver and two bronze medals he won over three Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004) but realized there was no time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was getting pelted by embers on that first run, Hall said. So I grabbed my dog and some dog food, and that was it. Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California He had arranged to meet up with his girlfriend, Lara Pezza, in the Palisades Village. But the panic and mayhem Hall saw soon after arriving there made him realize that wasnt a good idea. People were just running in every direction and the traffic got so congested that there was nowhere to go, Hall said. Parents were so desperate to get their kids out of school, they were like driving up on the sidewalks, plowing into other cars. It was dangerous forget the fire, people are gonna die in the stampede. Buildings in Palisades Village were devastated by the Palisades fire. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Hall and Pezza used their knowledge of the streets in the area to avoid the major traffic congestion and meet up on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Then they drove down to his sisters house, where Hall said he has been taking inventory of everything thats just happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve got fight-or-flight adrenaline response, so we were pretty wide-eyed and energetic for 24 hours, said Hall, who blogged for The Times during the 2008 and 2010 Olympics. And then I think the exhaustion coming down from that is setting in. Today Im completely overwhelmed with the amount of people that are reaching out, that have heard about the news and checking in to make sure that Im OK. Read more: Riviera Country Club still stands after Palisades fire. Will it host Genesis Invitational next month? He added: Its overwhelming. So you know, sit down, have a moment of silence I havent really gotten there yet. But Im sure the devastation will sink in. Another sister, Amy Botha, started an online fundraiser to help Hall get back on his feet. As of Friday morning, it had raised more than $57,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im too proud to ask for help, but my worldly possessions right now are the clothes that I was wearing and a toothbrush that I bought yesterday, Hall said. My 10 Olympic medals, everything else I owned and my home and my business were lost. So she did this GoFundMe thing and through that a lot of people are reaching out. U.S. swimmer Gary Hall starts a semifinal of the 50-meter freestyle at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. (Thomas Kienzle / Associated Press) International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said in a statement Sunday that the IOC will provide Hall with replicas of the medals he lost in the fire. At 50, Hall said he is preparing for a complete rebuild of his life. Theres nothing for me to return to there, he said of the Pacific Palisades. So I have to find housing. Its nice to stay with my sister, but I do need to find my own place eventually. And buy underwear, you know, the necessities. And relaunch the business elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for where he might go to start over, Hall said, I havent had time to think about it. Read more: How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County Hall knows so many others who are in similar situations, in particular the families whose children he taught to swim in his backyard pool. That, he said, is the most heartbreaking thing about the situation. Since 2020, I have connected with and worked with so many families in the area, little kids 2 to 6 years old. All of them have been displaced. And thats what is hardest for me to think about, Hall said. Were talking about hundreds of families that Ive gotten to know very, very closely and befriended the kids. ... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what has hit me more emotionally, sending be safe messages to people who have lost their homes and kids who are 4 years old trying to wrap their heads around what just happened here. The world that they knew is destroyed. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A Gary woman got 19 years Thursday for fatally shooting her boyfriend at a gas station. Isedra Brooks, 31, pleaded guilty Nov. 14 to voluntary manslaughter under sudden heat. She faced 10 to 30 years under the plea deal. Judge Samuel Cappas sentenced her to 17 years in prison with two additional years in Lake County Community Corrections. She said she wouldnt appeal. Armani Handys family said he was about to break up with Brooks when the incident occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were called at 1:45 a.m. March 21, 2022 to a gas station on the 4800 block of Broadway where Handy, 33, was on the ground near the drivers side of a black Honda, records said. Brooks was screaming for help on the cars other side, police said. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in Gary where he was pronounced dead at 2:10 a.m. Security video showed a man getting out of the car and walking around to the passenger side where he appeared to have a physical altercation, according to the affidavit. He gets out and a fight appears to continue when he gets back into the drivers seat. Then, a woman later identified as Brooks gets out of the passenger side and fires shots at him, it alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man slumps, while the woman gets her cell phone to call for help. His father, Wilbert Handy, Sr. of Monroe, Louisiana, said in court Thursday he had just suffered a stroke just over a month before his son was killed. When Brooks previously visited his home in Louisiana, she got into some sort of argument and the elder man told his son she wasnt welcome back. She stole my sons life, he said in court. His speech in court was slurred and his wife Shirley stood with him to clarify what he was saying. Hes hurt deeply, she told the court. Her stepson had two sons, the eldest who is starting high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deeply grieving, Amanis older brother, Wilbert Handy, Jr., said Brooks was nothing more than a murderer. He said Brooks told others she planned to shoot my brother, and he alleged she couldnt see him happy with someone else. I hope my brother haunts you for the rest of your life, he said. Lataja Mociers, of Georgia, the boys mother, said her sons were deeply scarred. One son has told her to be careful, saying he couldnt lose another parent. His death was devastating, senseless, and preventable. Tarrance Foster, Brooks father, asked for leniency. He said the shooting was even more tragic because the families knew each other and grew up together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a very messed up situation that no one can fix, he said. Deputy Prosecutor Infinity Westberg asked for 25 years, saying Brooks devastated two families by letting her anger take over. She argued Brooks called her dad, before calling 911. The shooting was an ultimate betrayal and anyone else could have gotten hurt or traumatized by seeing it. Defense lawyer Derrick Julkes acknowledged Handys family wanted someone to pay for his death. After the shooting, she sat and waited for the cops. She didnt run, he said. He asked for a mitigated sentence. Cappas told his family there wasnt a magic number that would make his death easier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the hearing, Shirley Handy said her stepson had only been back in Northwest Indiana for about a month when he was killed. He fixed up homes and laid flooring. He had planned to get back to Louisiana to help with his father and be a bit closer to his sons. He loved those boys, she said. In the criminal affidavit, Brooks told police earlier both were at Joes Bar, 90 E. 53rd Ave. in Gary where Handy got mad with bar staff and they left. When they returned to the car, she saw her gun was missing, triggering an argument, she said. When Handy drove to the gas station, she assumed he would kick her out, charges state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They got into a fight again and he punched her in the face, she said. Brooks said she didnt remember what happened next, only that she got the gun and fired, unsure if she hit him. She walked around and saw him on the ground, but didnt see any blood. She grabbed her phone to call her dad and police, she said. mcolias@post-trib.com Tel Aviv Israeli military strikes killed more than 600 people in the Gaza Strip in the first 10 days of 2025, pushing the death toll over 46,000 since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian territory's health ministry, and one new estimate suggests it could be much higher. Israel launched the war after Hamas carried out its unprecedented terrorist attack, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. The total number of dead in Gaza represents a little more than 2% of the tiny enclave's population, with an average of about 3,000 people killed each month or 100 killed each day since Hamas-led terrorists attacked southern Israel 15 months ago. Israel has rejected the figures provided by Palestinian officials and blames Hamas for all deaths in Gaza, accusing the group of using civilians as human shields. But new research published in The Lancet medical journal suggests the figure provided by the Gazan health ministry for the first nine months of the war could have been understated by as much as 40%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza death toll an underestimate, Lancet study suggests From the beginning of the war through June 30, 2024, Gaza's heath ministry said just under 38,000 people had been killed by traumatic injuries, but the Lancet's estimate published in a peer-reviewed study based on data from health authorities, social media obituaries and an online survey was that more than 64,000 people had been killed during that time. CBS News is unable to independently verify the numbers, and Israeli authorities have prevented Western journalists from entering Gaza to report independently since the war started. People search the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli strike on the Bureij camp for Palestinian refugees, in the central Gaza Strip, Jan. 8, 2025, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. / Credit: EYAD BABA/AFP/Getty The Lancet noted that its estimate does not include thousands more people still believed to be buried under rubble, or those who have died from a lack of access to food, water or medical care during the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am broken inside after losing my family," 21-year-old Mahmoud Sukkar told CBS News' local team in Gaza. All 17 members of his family were killed, including his mother, father and twin brother, when an Israeli strike hit their home in Gaza City in the first month of the war. Sukkar, the only survivor, now lives alone in a tent camp in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. "I don't have any wishes," Sukkar said. "I want to visit my family's graves. My only wish is to visit their graves." Israel continues attacking Houthis in Yemen As Israel continues its strikes against the remnants of Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces said Friday that its naval and air forces had struck multiple Houthi rebel targets on Yemen's west coast and inland, including ports and a power station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis, like Hamas, are backed by Iran, and they've launched repeated missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping, U.S. and Israeli military vessels and Israeli territory in support of their allies since the war in Gaza began. The U.S. has also carried out many strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen over the last year. "The Houthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror, and their attacks on international shipping vessels and routes continue to destabilize the region and the wider world," said the IDF in a statement. "As we promised the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a separate statement. Progress, but no breakthroughs in ceasefire talks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iin Doha, Qatar, meanwhile, American and Arab negotiators have made "real progress" this week toward a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and hostage release in the waning days of the Biden administration, the U.S. president said Thursday, but it has not appeared sufficient for any major breakthrough to be announced, or to warrant higher-level officials flying back to the region. "We're making some real progress, I met with negotiators today," Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House. "I'm still hopeful that we will be able to have a prisoner exchange. Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done, we need to get it done." U.S. envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk had been working to hammer out the technical details of a proposal, but Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea did not fly to Doha this week as Israeli media had said he might, and there was no indication that CIA chief William Burns was in Qatar, either. Both men have joined the talks repeatedly when there's been hope of a potential agreement. One apparent sticking point in the talks has been the unconfirmed condition of 34 Israeli hostages in Gaza who were listed on a document that Hamas resurfaced this week after it first emerged last summer. Israel has demanded to know who on the list is still alive and who is dead. Hamas demanded a four-day ceasefire to contact its network of militants across Gaza to confirm the hostages' condition, saying Israel's ongoing operations made it impossible for the group to assess otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family members and friends of the hostages have protested regularly in Israel to demand that Netanyahu's government strike a deal to bring them all home at the same time. Israeli officials believe about 100 hostages are still held by Hamas or its allies in Gaza, though at least 30 are believed to be dead. If a ceasefire does take shape, the first phase would involve a swap of hostages for Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons, along with a surge in humanitarian assistance into Gaza. But another major hurdle is Hamas' consistent demand that Israeli forces completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip something Israel has thus far refused to accept. Some Israelis and Palestinians hope for "help from Donald Trump" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a deal is not achieved by President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, some Israelis and Palestinians hope he will bring a needed change to the negotiations, potentially for the better. "He is unpredictable and he is brave," Ilay David, brother of 24-year-old hostage Eyvatar David, told CBS News at a rally in Jerusalem on Friday afternoon. "We have to think out of the box, and Trump can bring that change." "Donald Trump is known for being mostly a businessman," said 19-year-old Palestinian cybersecurity student Ameen Abu Fkheida at Birzeit University in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "I don't think he will be a friend [of Palestinians], but I do think there will be some sort of help from Donald Trump regarding the case of Gaza, which could probably be a ceasefire or an exchange of prisoners or something to deescalate the current situation in Gaza." California authorities give update on L.A. fires and announce school closures California official on evacuation orders as Sunset Fire burns in Hollywood Hills The Gaza Policy | Sunday on 60 Minutes As the Israeli military continues to block access to a high-profile Palestinian doctor they kidnapped last month, medical workers and aid groups say that Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyas ongoing detention and the lack of transparency around it underscores Israels larger campaign of systematically destroying Gazas health care system. Israeli forces kidnapped Abu Safiya on Dec. 27 during an attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital. According to the World Health Organization, it was one of dozens of attacks in a monthslong bombardment that has subjected hundreds of patients and health care workers to forced evacuations, detentions and sometimes death inside what was effectively the last functioning hospital in walled-off North Gaza. Nearly two weeks after the kidnapping, the Israeli military has yet to release information on Abu Safiyas whereabouts and status and will only say that he is in custody and is considered a terror suspect without providing evidence to support the claim. Authorities say the doctor is banned from meeting with a lawyer until at least Friday and refused to respond to a legal filing by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel challenging that ban. Pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Queen's Park in Toronto to demand that Israel release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, on Jan. 5, 2025. Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images We dont know in which facility, we dont know if hes safe or not. He is not allowed to meet a doctor yet, Naji Abbas, director of PHRIs prisoners and detainees department, said on Wednesday. PHRI has been fighting on behalf of Palestinians the group says are facing human rights violations in Israeli custody, and took on Abu Safiyas legal case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know what hes being charged [with]. We assume that they dont have anything against him, Abbas continued. Because from the 26 testimonies that we collected from [detained] health care workers, most of them were told directly that they are not accused or charged with anything, but they will stay in detention. Thats illegal. Thats illegal detention, its an illegal arrest. Recently released prisoners have told the pediatricians loved ones and caseworkers that he is being held at alleged torture camp Sde Teiman, the so-called Israeli Guantanamo where detained Palestinians including health care workers face inhumane treatment and living conditions. Israeli authorities would not confirm that Abu Safiya is being held at Sde Teiman, though released prisoners described the doctor showing signs of torture. On Tuesday, Abu Safiyas family announced that the doctors mother had died of a heart attack just months after an Israeli strike had killed his 19-year-old son, Ibrahim. Safiyas mother had no prior cardiac issues or medical conditions, according to Dr. Zaher Sahloul, president of medical aid group MedGlobal. Abu Safiya serves as the organizations lead physician in Gaza. I spoke with her grandson ... and he told me she was crying last night and she felt that her son is in distress and she went to sleep, and she did not wake up, Sahloul said on Wednesday, adding that she died out of shock and sadness for what happened to her son. Abu Safiya does not yet know about his mother, he said. The doctors detention has made international headlines due to his frequent audio and video messages online documenting Israels bombing campaign at Kamal Adwan Hospital. But his imprisonment is hardly an anomaly in the territory, where Israel in the past year has killed more than 1,000 medical professionals and detained about 230 more than 70 of whom have already died in prison, according to PHRI and the Ministry of Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite it being an international human rights violation to target health care workers, Israel legally does not recognize detained Palestinians as prisoners of war only unlawful combatants, says PHRI. Abbas cited a case where Israeli authorities detained a woman in her 80s with Alzheimers for two months and prevented her access to a lawyer because she was allegedly an unlawful combatant. The targeting of medical workers combined with Israels bombing of hospitals and blocking of humanitarian aid has led to the systematic destruction of Gazas health care system leading injured and sick Palestinians to go without necessary treatment and become infected, creating untold morbidities and suffering and death that are not counted as victims of war, Sahloul said. Put yourself in the shoes of a patient in the United States who gets injured, say, in a car accident, said Dr. Syed Sayeed, who returned last week from a medical mission in Gaza. An ambulance picks them up, they travel on a road, they get to the hospital, theyre triaged by the appropriate physicians, theyre operated on in an appropriate situation, they have adequate nutrition and anti-sepsis measures so they heal, and then they have a rehabilitation phase where they reintegrate into society. Maybe they get their employment back. Every one of these steps is completely and utterly destroyed throughout Gaza, he continued. So health care involves not just the building and the physicians, but its a complete and utter destruction of the determinants of health. A group of medical professionals from across the U.S. held a press conference at the Hart Senate Office Building on the health care crisis in northern Gaza, on Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Abu Safiyas loved ones and caseworkers have asked the international community and medical professionals around the world to not only demand the doctors release but to also speak out against Israels campaign to destroy Gazas health care system. Medical workersacross the globe have been staging protests since his arrest, and doctors in the West who volunteered in Gaza plan to speak on Friday about the plight of Palestinian health care workers like Abu Safiya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels medical community, however, has been largely silent on Gazas health care crisis. While some Israeli physicians have previously described to HuffPost a sort of fear-based code of silence among the medical community, others either dont know or simply dont care. Workers in some cases will outright encourage the violence, Abbas said recounting instances of doctors demanding the Israeli army raid Al-Shifa Hospital, of a doctor bragging about withholding painkillers from a wounded Palestinian patient, and of Health Minister Uriel Busso blocking Israels civilian hospitals from treating patients from Gaza. Abu Safiya told me one time that he will provide the same care to an injured Israeli soldier, similar to a Palestinian child who ended up in his hospital, Sahloul told HuffPost just days after the pediatricians arrest. He is the essence of being a physician and humanitarian, and he deserves to have the Nobel Peace Prize. Not to be detained and injured. (This Jan. 9 story has been corrected to fix the pre-war population in paragraph 5) By Maggie Fick LONDON (Reuters) - An official Palestinian tally of direct deaths in the Israel-Hamas war likely undercounted the number of casualties by around 40% in the first nine months of the war as the Gaza Strip's healthcare infrastructure unravelled, according to a study published on Thursday. The peer-reviewed statistical analysis published in The Lancet journal was conducted by academics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Yale University and other institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using a statistical method called capture-recapture analysis, the researchers sought to assess the death toll from Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza between October 2023 and the end of June 2024. They estimated 64,260 deaths due to traumatic injury during this period, about 41% higher than the official Palestinian Health Ministry count. The study said 59.1% were women, children and people over the age of 65. It did not provide an estimate of Palestinian combatants among the dead. More than 46,000 people have been killed in the Gaza war, according to Palestinian health officials, from a pre-war population of around 2.3 million. A senior Israeli official, commenting on the study, said Israel's armed forces went to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No other army in the world has ever taken such wide-ranging measures," the official said. "These include providing advance warning to civilians to evacuate, safe zones and taking any and all measures to prevent harm to civilians. The figures provided in this report do not reflect the situation on the ground." The war began on Oct. 7 after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border with Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The Lancet study said the Palestinian health ministry's capacity for maintaining electronic death records had previously proven reliable, but deteriorated under Israel's military campaign, which has included raids on hospitals and other healthcare facilities and disruptions to digital communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals as cover for its operations, which the militant group denies. STUDY METHOD EMPLOYED IN OTHER CONFLICTS Anecdotal reports suggested that a significant number of dead remained buried in the rubble of destroyed buildings and were therefore not included in some tallies. To better account for such gaps, the Lancet study employed a method used to evaluate deaths in other conflict zones, including Kosovo and Sudan. Using data from at least two independent sources, researchers look for individuals who appear on multiple lists of those killed. Less overlap between lists suggests more deaths have gone unrecorded, information that can be used to estimate the full number of deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Gaza study, researchers compared the official Palestinian Health Ministry death count, which in the first months of war was based entirely on bodies that arrived in hospitals but later came to include other methods; an online survey distributed by the health ministry to Palestinians inside and outside the Gaza Strip, who were asked to provide data on Palestinian ID numbers, names, age at death, sex, location of death, and reporting source; and obituaries posted on social media. "Our research reveals a stark reality: the true scale of traumatic injury deaths in Gaza is higher than reported," lead author Zeina Jamaluddine told Reuters. Dr. Paul Spiegel, director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Reuters that the statistical methods deployed in the study provide a more complete estimate of the death toll in the war. The study focused solely on deaths caused by traumatic injuries though, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deaths caused from indirect effects of conflict, such as disrupted health services and poor water and sanitation, often cause high excess deaths, said Spiegel, who co-authored a study last year that projected thousands of deaths due to the public health crisis spawned by the war. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) estimates that, on top of the official death toll, around another 11,000 Palestinians are missing and presumed dead. In total, PCBS said, citing Palestinian Health Ministry numbers, the population of Gaza has fallen 6% since the start of the war, as about 100,000 Palestinians have also left the enclave. (Reporting by Maggie Fick; Additional reporting by Maytaal Angel in Jerusalem and Jennifer Rigby in London; Editing by Alex Richardson) The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported an attack on a command post of Russias 3rd Army Corps in the temporarily occupied town of Svitlodarsk, Donetsk Oblast. Source: General Staff on Facebook Quote: "On 10 January, the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a precision strike on a command post of the 3rd Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces in the enemy-occupied town of Svitlodarsk, Donetsk Oblast." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The General Staff also noted that over the past week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have conducted a series of strikes on the facilities occupied by the Russians in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian military stressed that all necessary measures were taken to avoid risk to the civilian population. Support UP or become our patron! This week, the United States accused the RSF militia in Sudans brutal civil conflict of committing genocide. Its the second time in two decades that genocide has been declared in the northeast African nation, where thousands have died and millions are in the grip of a humanitarian crisis. How did the country get here? For 20 months, two of Sudans most powerful generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have viciously competed for territory in a country still reeling from the massacre of tens of thousands of people in the early 2000s and the displacement of millions more. Sudan's top army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan speaks during a press conference in 2021. - Ashraf Shazly/AFP/Getty Images The RSF's Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, is seen in Khartoum in 2023. - Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters The two men former allies jointly ousted President Omar al-Bashir from office in 2019. Together, they also contributed to another coup in 2021 when al-Burhan seized power from the countrys transitional government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Sudan is riven by conflict, with the RSF believed to be in control of much of the countrys western and central regions, including Darfur and parts of the capital Khartoum. More than 11 million people have been internally displaced since the fighting erupted in April 2023, according to the United Nations, while millions more have fled Sudan. Hunger is widespread and famine conditions are now present in several areas of the country, the UN has warned. Who has been cited as responsible? US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Hemedtis RSF and its allied Arab militias had perpetrated direct attacks against civilians including the systematic murder of men and boys even infants on an ethnic basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence, Blinken said, adding that the same forces targeted fleeing civilians, murdering innocent people escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies. Based on this information, I have now concluded that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan, he announced. The RSF described the decision by the US as unjust, adding in a statement on its Telegram channel that the State Departments claim that the RSF committed genocide in Sudan is inaccurate. The decision fails to specify the group against which the alleged genocide was committed or the location of the genocide The decision vaguely refers to the Sudanese people, of whom RSF fighters and supporters are an integral part, the RSF statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RSF has a history connected to ethnic-driven violence. The paramilitary group grew out of the Arab Janjaweed militia that oversaw the genocide of the early 2000s. That carnage left an estimated 300,000 people dead. Since fighting erupted in mid-April 2023 between the RSF and the SAF, ethnically motivated killings have intensified, particularly in the western Darfur region. This mirrors the pattern of targeted killings that typified the first genocide. West Darfur witnessed some of its worst ethnic-related killings in 2023, when hundreds of people from non-Arab ethnic groups were massacred by the RSF and forces linked to it. On Tuesday, the US imposed sanctions on their leader Hemedti, for his role in systematic atrocities committed against the Sudanese people, and sanctioned seven RSF-linked companies and one individual for their roles in procuring weapons for the RSF. Are both warring factions complicit in abuses? In September last year, a United Nations fact-finding mission accused both the SAF and the RSF of complicity in war crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in his statement, Blinken laid blame for abuses at the door of both parties. The United States does not support either side of this war, and these actions against Hemedti and the RSF do not signify support or favor for the SAF, he said. Both belligerents bear responsibility for the violence and suffering in Sudan and lack the legitimacy to govern a future peaceful Sudan. Sudanese activist, Hala Al-Karib, who heads the regional arm of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, told CNN that her organization had documented cases of sexual violence and sexual exploitation allegedly committed by fighters from both the SAF and the RSF. In Darfur, she said, where she has worked for over 20 years, sexual violence has been used as a tool of terror to force communities to submit to the RSF, a pattern seen in previous conflicts that has been replicated by the militia group, she claimed. Its the same method and strategy, she said of the alleged sexual crimes. Its also used for retaliation in their war against SAF and it has ethnic elements to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Karib said that between October and January, her organization had handled cases of at least 10 girls, some as young as 14, who took their own lives after being gang-raped by RSF militia men in Sudans Al Jazira state. This had followed the defection of an RSF commander in the area to SAF, she said. The RSF has been completely emboldened by impunity, a lack of accountability, and the fact that they were not seriously subjected to any sort of accountability, she said, welcoming the US sanctions against Hemedti. Civilians and aid agencies have also borne the brunt of frequent shelling and staged raids by the Sudanese army and the RSF targeting civilian areas and causing multiple casualties. People gather near a destroyed vehicle, following shelling in Omdurman, Sudan on December 10, 2024. - Khartoum State Government via Reuters Last month, more than 100 people were killed after bombs fell on a crowded market in North Darfur. In the same month, three staff members of the World Food Programme (WFP) were killed in an airstrike on the agencys office in Blue Nile State, wrapping up the deadliest year on record for aid workers in Sudan, the UN said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of airstrikes with multiple fatalities are reported daily by Sudanese media. A senior procurement official who led the SAFs acquisition of arms was sanctioned by the US last October. The RSF and the Sudanese military typically blame one each other for such attacks, with a recent statement from the RSF criticizing the US for overlooking widespread atrocities committed by the SAF, including aerial bombardments that have claimed the lives of more than 4,000 civilians. CNN has reached out the Sudanese government on the matter but has not yet received a response. What is the impact on civilians? Before the deadly power tussle erupted between the SAF and the RSF, Sudan already ranked among the worlds poorest countries with decades of conflict hindering its economic growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their war, now in its second year, has displaced more than 11 million people within Sudan, while some 3.2 million others have fled to neighboring countries, according to UN figures. Some of those unable to flee are harbored in Darfurs Zanzam camp, where famine was declared last month. The camp, home to around half a million displaced people, has also come under RSF bombardment. A woman and baby are seen at the Zamzam displacement camp, close to El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan in 2018. - Mohamed Zakaria/MSF/Reuters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunger in Darfur has sometimes forced people to eat grass and peanut shells to survive, the then WFP regional director for Eastern Africa, Michael Dunford, said last year, amid warnings by the UN that some 26 million Sudanese were facing acute hunger. Food deliveries to Darfur resumed last August after a key border crossing was reopened by authorities for aid to enter Sudan. But in parts of Darfur, aid organizations are still impeded by restrictions and famine conditions area spreading to additional areas, a UN report said this week. On Friday, humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was suspending activities at one of the last operating hospitals in the RSF-controlled south Khartoum, citing recurring attacks from armed fighters. The medical needs are overwhelming. Injuries are often horrific. Mass casualty incidents have become almost routine, MSFs Emergency Coordinator, Claire San Filippo said in a statement. How has the world responded to the war? The Sudanese conflict has been largely overshadowed by hostilities in other parts of the world such as in Ukraine and Gaza, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, warring factions in the African nation have also defied global efforts to end the conflict. Last month, Blinken told the UN Security Council that foreign actors were fueling the war in Sudan, but he did not name who they were. To the foreign sponsors sending drones, missiles, mercenaries enough. To those profiting off the illicit oil and gold trade that fund this conflict enough, he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the United Nations Security Council on Sudan in December 2024. - Richard Drew/AP Sudans military government has frequently accused the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF, but the Gulf nation denies this. The seven RSF-linked companies that were sanctioned by the US on Tuesday are all based in the UAE. In a statement to CNN, the UAE Foreign Ministry said: The UAE has made absolutely clear that it is not providing any support or supplies to any of the two belligerent warring parties in Sudan. Our primary focus remains on addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to this man-made conflict. A CNN investigation in 2023 found evidence that Russian mercenary group Wagner had been arming the RSF. The militia and the then Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, denied this at the time. In November, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called on Sudans warring factions to end the fighting, strengthen protections for civilians and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. Sudans military-backed foreign ministry welcomed Russias action, saying the UN resolution undermined Sudans sovereignty. Will the US genocide determination make a difference? Sudanese lawyer Mutasim Ali told CNN that the US determination of genocide in Sudan was long overdue and should have happened sooner. Nonetheless, it is a form of justice because it recognizes victims grievances, he said. It is a step towards peace and accountability by paving the way to hold actors responsible to account, not only perpetrators themselves but actors complicit in genocide, added Ali, a legal adviser at the Canada-based Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. For activist Al-Karib, US sanctions against Hemedti and the declaration of genocide could be crucial in not only reining in his militia but also curbing the support he receives from foreign actors. We dont think that the scale of these atrocities happening in Sudan and Darfur would have been this big without the support of the UAE to the RSF, she said. So, we hope that the US decision to sanction Hemedti will send a strong message to the UAE to rethink its position and engage in a serious political process to end these atrocities and genocidal acts happening across the country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Senator George Norris is honored with a statue outside the Norris House in McCook, Nebraska. (Nathan Leach/Nonpartisan Nebraska) George Norris charted a path for us with a vision of unity and fairness, but for the past 40 years, oligarchs and partisans have steered us astray, leaving us a nation divided. As our forefathers warned, partisanship and money have poisoned our democracy. Its time to reclaim Norris vision and re-embrace his philosophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John F. Kennedy, in a 1958 speech, lamented that biographers often focused on presidents and generals but should go below the summit and shine light on senators and party leaders who helped shape our history and heritage, but are largely forgotten. He specifically referenced George Norris. The citizens of our country, and especially the citizens of Nebraska, often overlook what an extraordinary leader we were fortunate enough to have represent us. Norris served Nebraska in Congress and the Senate from 1903 to 1943. A fierce independent, he dismantled the power of party bosses, most notably Speaker of the House Joe Cannon, who had been wielding near-dictatorial control over the U.S. House in the early 1900s. Norris actions helped create a more decentralized and democratic federal government. As the architect of the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Norris shortened the lame duck period between elections, enhancing government efficiency and accountability. He also stood against war when it was deeply unpopular to do so. Norris was one of only six senators to vote against entering World War I, arguing that the war served corporate interests more than the cause of peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This courageous stance exemplified his willingness to stand alone for his principles, even when it was politically costly. Norris is perhaps best known for his role in creating the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). These initiatives lifted poor and rural Americans from a near-medieval existence, ushering them into an electrified era that transformed their lives, work, and incomes. Norris took on powerful private utility interests to make these landmark achievements a reality. Despite his legacy, Norris was a victim of political retribution. In the 1950s, 160 historians evaluated the greatest legislators in U.S. history, selecting five to be honored with permanent portraits in the U.S. Capitol. Norris was ranked as the greatest senator, yet Nebraskas Republican senators, Carl Curtis and Roman Hruska, blocked his inclusion due to his support for Franklin D. Roosevelt. This glaring injustice remains unaddressed, but there is hope it may someday be rectified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norris brought his philosophy of prioritizing the public good over party politics back to Nebraska when he championed the establishment of the states Unicameral Legislature in 1937. He argued that a single-house, nonpartisan Legislature would limit the influence of party politics while enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability. He believed this system gave Nebraskans greater power and access to their representatives, driven by his conviction that the salvation of the state is in the watchfulness of the people. Norris legacy is a powerful reminder of what it means to lead with courage and principle. He defied party lines, corporate interests, and popular opinion to champion democracy and the common good. Today, we see too few leaders fighting those same battles, nationally or within our state. George Norris is not just a central figure in Nebraskas history. He is a model of integrity and independence for the entire nation. His life and work deserve recognition and celebration. He exemplifies the profound impact one determined individual can have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we honor Norris this month, let us also follow his example and continue striving for a government that champions democracy, peace, and the common good. Now is the time to uphold his legacy and ensure our government remains by, of and for the people. Wesley Dodge, an attorney with over 35 years of legal experience in Nebraska, serves on the Board of Directors for Common Cause Nebraska and Better Ballots Nebraska. He also heads a group called Represent Us Omaha. Dan Osborn is a Navy veteran, a former nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate and a former labor union leader based in Omaha. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Georgetown County officials released new information on Friday about a man who escaped arrest on Monday in Andrews. William Dempsey Cooper, 49, surrendered after a 24-hour manhunt by deputies. He is now being held in the Georgetown County Detention Center on a second-degree domestic violence charge, as well as larceny and resisting arrest. Deputies responded to a home in Andrews on Monday. According to an incident report, the victim said Cooper cornered her in a bathroom Sunday and that the two of them got physical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday morning, the report said Cooper woke up the victim during an argument, grabbed her hair and pulled it out. Deputies confirmed that they saw a lump of female hair on a plate in the kitchen. Cooper then pinned the woman down and said he was going to bust her brains out, the report said. When she tried to defend herself, he grabbed her by the throat and threatened to kill her and use a knife. Cooper did not present a knife, but the victim tried to leave and was blocked by Cooper, the report said. She eventually escaped by kicking a window out and jumping through it. According to the report, when deputies placed Cooper under arrest for domestic violence he told a deputy that he needed some blood pressure medication that was inside the home. When the deputy could not find it where Cooper was directing him to, Cooper was brought inside the home, still in handcuffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While inside, Cooper told the deputy where the medication was, the report said. While the deputy was getting the medicine, he saw Cooper walk back toward the front door. The deputy said he used his radio to alert another deputy who was at the scene that Cooper had walked back outside. However, according to the report, the outside deputy had turned his radio down in order to talk to the victim and did not hear the notice about Cooper. When the deputy who had been looking for the medicine came back outside, he found that Cooper was gone and that the other deputy was not aware of the situation because the volume was turned down on his radio, the report said. A search was conducted on the scene, with a K-9 unit and a drone, but Cooper was not found. On Tuesday, Cpl. Branden Baker contacted a friend of Coopers, who said he could contact Cooper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper then turned himself on Tuesday at a Food Lion in Andrews. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Georgia man was arrested Thursday after about 11 pounds of cocaine were found inside his vehicle, according to the Florence County Sheriffs Office. Johnny Bunkley III, 50, was pulled over for a traffic stop near mile-marker 160 on Interstate 95 in Florence County. After determining there was a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, deputies used a narcotics sniffing canine that alerted the deputy to possible narcotics in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle turned up the cocaine, which authorities said had an estimated street value of about $500,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bunkley is being held at the Florence County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing. Under South Carolina law, a conviction for trafficking cocaine is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A Georgia man is suing the Glynn County Police Department after he was arrested for refusing to give them his name. The arrest lacked probable cause, an officer later wrote in an incident report. Brunswick, Georgia, resident David Smiley filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on January 2 alleging that two Glynn County police officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizures when they arrested him on the night of December 5, 2023, for loitering and prowling. Smiley's complaint is backed up by an authoritative source, the police incident report of his arrest, which says a supervisor "took a second look at the report and advised we had no probable cause." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smiley's arrest and brief jailing is a relatively minor incident, but it is yet another alleged example of a common violation of a core civil liberty: the right to go about your business without having to show your papers to a nosy constable. Even in states that have "stop-and-identify" laws allowing police to demand identification, officers generally can't do so unless they have reasonable suspicion of a crime. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that two Alabama police officers lacked probable cause to arrest an Alabama pastor who was watering his neighbor's flowers and refused to give them his ID. In Oklahoma, two officers tackled a father who was taking a morning walk with his son after the father correctly asserted that he wasn't required to show identification. In 2022, a pair of Florida sheriff's deputies were demoted for arresting a legally blind man who lawfully refused to give his ID. "We filed this action to protect other citizens against police misconduct regarding unlawful searches and seizures and to redress the very constitutional rights of Mr. Smiley that were violated," says Roland Mumford, an attorney representing Smiley. "I hope this cause of action creates awareness to the public of the very rights that citizens enjoy that they do not have to produce identification to police absent reasonable articulable suspicion of a crime being committed or consent provided." Body camera footage of Smiley's 2023 arrest shows that he was cleaning the light fixtures on the exterior of a grocery store with a broom at 12:30 a.m. when he was approached by two Glynn County police officers. Smiley told them he and his father were contracted by the store to clean the building exterior and parking lot, and he gave them a name for the company. The officers then asked for Smiley's name and ID. When Smiley asked why, one of the officers responded, "loitering and prowling," noting that it was late and the store was closed. "I'm working just like you guys," Smiley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers told Smiley he'd be charged with loitering and prowling, a misdemeanor offense under Georgia's code, unless he gave them his name and address. When Smiley continued to insist that he'd done nothing illegal, the two officers handcuffed and arrested him. Smiley's girlfriend was also on the scene, and when she asked what was going on, the officers demanded her ID, too, also accusing her of loitering and prowling. (The woman is not a party in Smiley's lawsuit, and her identity has been withheld due to privacy concerns.) "Do y'all want me to call the person who hired him to do this job?" Smiley's girlfriend asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "State your first name and last name, please, as well as your date of birth," the officer responded. Smiley's girlfriend refused several times to give her name, and the officer handcuffed her as well. However, several minutes later one of the officers announced he was "un-arresting" her for medical reasons after she eventually gave her name and disclosed that she had an insulin pump. The incident report of Smiley's arrest includes a supplement, written later the same day, stating that a supervisor reviewed the arrest and found no probable cause. "Lt. Davis had took a second look at the report and advised we had no probable cause for Loitering and Prowling," the officer wrote, "Lt. Davis told me to go drop the charge and take Mr. David Smiley to where he needs to go. I went to the Glynn County Detention Center around 0500 hrs to drop the charge where I was advised by the booking staff that he bonded out." (Glynn County Police Department) The Glynn County Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The post Georgia Man Sues Glynn County Police After He Was Arrested for Refusing To Give ID appeared first on Reason.com. Authorities in the eastern German state of Brandenburg plan to cull and destroy 11 water buffaloes in the coming hours following the discovery of three cases of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the same herd. The livestock owner in the town of Honow, located just north of Berlin, found three dead water buffaloes in the pasture and called a local veterinarian. The animals were found to be infected with FMD, the first known cases in Germany since 1988. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the disease poses no risk for humans, it can spread quickly through cloven-hoofed livestock and is considered a serious potential threat to agriculture. The remaining water buffaloes in the herd will be killed as a precautionary measure, according to the local district government. Men in yellow and white protective suits, some of them carrying rifles, could be seen in the area around the farm. "We are running at full speed," a local government spokeswoman said of the investigation into the outbreak and precautionary efforts to prevent further spread of the disease. Other farms within a surveillance zone are also being visited, she said. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that the threat of hybrid attacks by Russia against Western countries in the Baltic Sea remains constant. Source: Boris Pistorius quoted by French news agency AFP, as reported by European Pravda Details: Commenting on Russia's hybrid actions in the Baltic Sea, Pistorius said: "This is happening every day". The German Defence Minister criticised the fact that "there are people in Germany who still do not want to accept this". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, he welcomed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's plan to further strengthen the Alliance's presence in the Baltic Sea region. Quote from Boris Pistorius: "This is a clear signal: we will not tolerate sabotage and destruction in the North Atlantic Alliance and will take joint and decisive action against it." Background: The Estlink 2 high-voltage power lines were mechanically damaged on the afternoon of 25 December. The primary explanation is that it was damaged by the anchor of the Eagle S tanker, which is thought to be part of Russia's shadow fleet. It will take about six months to repair the power line. Other incidents involving cables were also reported. Support UP or become our patron! German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday for an international gathering to discuss the situation in Syria following the ouster of former ruler Bashar al-Assad. The conference will bring together foreign ministers from a number of countries in the region as well as Western diplomats and United Nations representatives in the Saudi capital Riyadh, according to a spokesman for the German Foreign Office. The hardline Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and a number of other armed groups waged a rapid offensive in late 2024 that drove al-Assad's forces from major cities including Aleppo and Damascus, forcing the long-time Syrian dictator to flee the country for Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HTS is now leading a transitional government, although significant parts of Syrian territory remain outside its power under the control of other armed factions, including Kurdish rebel forces. The Foreign Office spokesman said that the conference in Riyadh on Sunday will follow-up on discussions at a conference held in mid-December in Aqaba, Jordan. He noted that Baerbock has presented an eight-point plan for Syria, which calls for a peaceful transition to a political system that grants rights and representation to all groups in Syrian society as well as addressing the atrocious crimes of the al-Assad regime. During a visit to Syria at the beginning of January, Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot sought to set clear conditions for European Union support to the country. Syrian refugees living in Germany should have the right to visit their homeland before deciding whether to return, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday. Speaking at a reception for the Green parliamentary group in the northern German city of Hamburg, Baerbock said that Syrians should be allowed to see for themselves whether it is possible for them to return to their home country permanently. Germany has seen a heated debate over the status of Syrian residents since the fall of the regime of long-time Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baerbock said she hoped that "even in an election year we will find the opportunity to be very pragmatic" and grant an exceptional permission to travel to Syrians "who would like it now." "If the aim is to rebuild Syria, then of course we have to see what the situation is like there," she said, adding that no one knows what Syria's future will look like. Baerbock was referring to refugees with subsidiary protection status, who were granted leave to remain in Germany not due to individual persecution but because of the civil war in their homeland. According to asylum law, if people travel to their countries of origin, it is legally assumed that the conditions for protection no longer apply and they may lose this status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only exceptions to this are if the trip is considered "morally imperative," for example when attending the funeral of a relative. Baerbock visited the Syrian capital Damascus last week together with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on behalf of the European Union. They met Syria's new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who heads the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham which led the surprise rebel offensive that resulted in the overthrow of Assad. German rescue teams have managed to secure towing lines to a loaded oil tanker that lost the ability to manoeuvrer in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rugen, authorities said on Friday. The stricken tanker Eventin, loaded with 99,000 tonnes of oil, will now be towed to an as-yet undetermined port by the emergency tug boat Bremen Fighter, according to Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME). The 274-metre-long and 48-metre-wide ship remains sealed and does not pose an immediate environmental risk or a danger to the crew on board, a spokesman for the agency told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eventin, which was built in 2006 and is sailing under a Panamanian flag, was en route from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Egypt's Port Said, according to the ship tracking platform Vesselfinder. The ship is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to export oil despite heavy sanctions on the country, according to a list of Russian-linked vessels compiled by the environmental advocacy organization Greenpeace. Ships in the "shadow fleet" are often outdated and in poor operating condition. The Eventin suffered an engine failure and was drifting in the Baltic Sea before being secured, according to CCME, although the cause of the engine failure remained initially unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCME said conditions in the Baltic Sea near where the Eventin was sailing included moderate to fresh winds, but the agency did not immediately provide additional details on the weather and swell. A vessel from Germany's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, the Arkona, was also dispatched to accompany the tanker in addition to the emergency tug Bremen Fighter. A specially trained maritime response team was also deployed to board the tanker and secure the towing connection. German rescue teams have managed to secure towing lines to a loaded oil tanker that lost the ability to manoeuvrer in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rugen, authorities said on Friday. The stricken tanker Eventin, loaded with 99,000 tonnes of oil, will now be towed to an as-yet undetermined port by the emergency tug boat Bremen Fighter, according to Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME). The 274-metre-long and 48-metre-wide ship remains sealed and does not pose an immediate environmental risk or a danger to the crew on board, a spokesman for the agency told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eventin, which was built in 2006 and is sailing under a Panamanian flag, was en route from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Egypt's Port Said, according to the ship tracking platform Vesselfinder. The ship is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to export oil despite heavy sanctions on the country, according to a list of Russian-linked vessels compiled by the environmental advocacy organization Greenpeace. Ships in the "shadow fleet" are often outdated and in poor operating condition. The Eventin suffered an engine failure and was drifting in the Baltic Sea before being secured, according to CCME, although the cause of the engine failure remained initially unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCME said conditions in the Baltic Sea near where the Eventin was sailing included moderate to fresh winds, but the agency did not immediately provide additional details on the weather and swell. A vessel from Germany's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, the Arkona, was also dispatched to accompany the tanker in addition to the emergency tug Bremen Fighter. A specially trained maritime response team was also deployed to board the tanker and secure the towing connection. The Baltic Sea is one of the most heavily travelled seas in the world. According to the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in the German town of Warnemunde (IOW), more than 2,000 ships travel through the inland sea every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the incident, there were also reactions from abroad. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys spoke out in favour of more decisive action and further measures against Russia's "shadow fleet." "The Baltic Sea is the most important gateway for Russia's oil exports and we must stop this," he said during a visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn. At the same time, the "shadow fleet" is an "instrument in hybrid activities" and poses a threat to the environment, he said. German rescue teams have managed to secure towing lines to a loaded oil tanker that lost the ability to manoeuvre in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rugen, authorities said on Friday. The stricken tanker Eventin, loaded with 99,000 tons of oil, will now be towed to an as-yet undetermined port by the emergency tug boat Bremen Fighter, according to Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME). The 274-metre-long and 48-metre-wide ship remains sealed and does not pose an immediate environmental risk or a danger to the crew on board, a spokesman for the agency told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eventin, which was built in 2006 and is sailing under a Panamanian flag, was en route from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Egypt's Port Said, according to the ship tracking platform Vesselfinder. The ship is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to export oil despite heavy sanctions on the country, according to a list of Russian-linked vessels compiled by the environmental advocacy organization Greenpeace. Ships in the "shadow fleet" are often outdated and in poor operating condition. The Eventin suffered an engine failure and was drifting in the Baltic Sea before being secured, according to CCME, although the cause of the engine failure remained initially unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCME said conditions in the Baltic Sea near where the Eventin was sailing included moderate to fresh winds, but the agency did not immediately provide additional details on the weather and swell. A vessel from Germany's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, the Arkona, was also dispatched to accompany the tanker in addition to the emergency tug Bremen Fighter. A specially trained maritime response team was also deployed to board the tanker and secure the towing connection. Following the incident, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russia of knowingly causing serious environmental damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With the reckless deployment of a fleet of rusty tankers, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is not only circumventing sanctions, but also accepting that tourism on the Baltic Sea will come to a standstill - be it in the Baltic States, in Poland or in our country," Baerbock said. "Russia is endangering our European security not only with its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, but also with severed cables, displaced border buoys, disinformation campaigns, GPS jammers and, as we have seen, dilapidated oil tankers," the Green Party politician added. Reactions also came from abroad, with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys speaking out in favour of more decisive action and further measures against Russia's "shadow fleet." "The Baltic Sea is the most important gateway for Russia's oil exports and we must stop this," he said during a visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, the "shadow fleet" is an "instrument in hybrid activities" and poses a threat to the environment, he said. The Baltic Sea is one of the most heavily travelled seas in the world. According to the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in the German town of Warnemunde (IOW), more than 2,000 ships travel through the inland sea every day. German rescue teams on Friday secured towing lines to a loaded oil tanker that lost the ability to manoeuvre in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rugen. The stricken tanker Eventin, loaded with 99,000 tons of oil, will not be moved for the time being, a spokesman for Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) told dpa. He said next steps were now being discussed with the authorities and the shipping company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CCME had earlier said that the ship would be towed to a port by the emergency tug boat Bremen Fighter. The 274-metre-long and 48-metre-wide ship remains sealed and does not pose an immediate environmental risk or a danger to the crew on board, a spokesman for the agency told dpa. The Eventin, which was built in 2006 and is sailing under a Panamanian flag, was en route from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Egypt's Port Said, according to the ship tracking platform Vesselfinder. The ship is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to export oil despite heavy sanctions on the country, according to a list of Russian-linked vessels compiled by the environmental advocacy organization Greenpeace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ships in the "shadow fleet" are often outdated and in poor operating condition. The Eventin suffered an engine failure and was drifting in the Baltic Sea before being secured, according to CCME, although the cause of the engine failure remained initially unclear. The CCME said conditions in the Baltic Sea near where the Eventin was sailing included moderate to fresh winds, but the agency did not immediately provide additional details on the weather and swell. A vessel from Germany's Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, the Arkona, and an emergency tug, Bremen Fighter, were dispatched to near the Eventin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A specially trained maritime response team was also deployed to board the tanker and secure the towing connection. Following the incident, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russia of knowingly causing serious environmental damage. "With the reckless deployment of a fleet of rusty tankers, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is not only circumventing sanctions, but also accepting that tourism on the Baltic Sea will come to a standstill - be it in the Baltic States, in Poland or in our country," Baerbock said. "Russia is endangering our European security not only with its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, but also with severed cables, displaced border buoys, disinformation campaigns, GPS jammers and, as we have seen, dilapidated oil tankers," the Green Party politician added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reactions also came from abroad, with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys speaking out in favour of more decisive action and further measures against Russia's "shadow fleet." "The Baltic Sea is the most important gateway for Russia's oil exports and we must stop this," he said during a visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn. At the same time, the "shadow fleet" is an "instrument in hybrid activities" and poses a threat to the environment, he said. The Baltic Sea is one of the most heavily travelled seas in the world. According to the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in the German town of Warnemunde (IOW), more than 2,000 ships travel through the inland sea every day. The German government will propose allowing the military to shoot down suspicious drones making illegal flights in the country under certain circumstances, according to a document seen by dpa. The proposed amendment to the Aviation Security Act, which sources told dpa would soon be discussed by the Cabinet, would allow the use of "armed force against unmanned aerial vehicles" in order to prevent a particularly serious accident. The reason given is that unmanned drones regularly make illegal flights over critical infrastructure facilities in Germany, such as power plants, key telecommunications facilities, sensitive industrial sites and transport infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The illegal flights, according to the draft, are presumably "carried out by a state actor for sabotage and possibly terrorist purposes." The draft amendment would allow the military to shoot down drones in support of the police if there is a threat of major damage or danger to life and limb. Such overflights had recently become more frequent, according to German officials. Incidents have been reported at training centres in Germany for Ukrainian soldiers, security-related companies as well as the major US Ramstein Air Base in western Germany. The police and military have so far had little opportunity to intervene, and those responsible for the illegal drone flights have only very rarely been identified and apprehended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, a suspicious drone flew around the UK naval aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, which was visiting Hamburg. The German military confirmed the drone sighting and unsuccessfully tried to deploy a counter-drone equipped with jamming gear. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said on Friday that he "would neither confirm nor deny" the plan as long as there was no Cabinet decision and coordination was still ongoing. "We have seen a significant increase in drone incidents, especially since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine," he said. There have been repeated "security incidents" involving drones, which are "less and less susceptible to technical faults" in terms of their equipment and design, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources told dpa that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius spoke on December 16 about tightening up measures against drones. The Aviation Security Act currently only allows the German armed forces to use comparatively mild means, including forcing aircraft out of the airspace, attempting to force them to land and the firing off warning shots. Germany plans to invest around 400 million ($412 million) in new naval aircraft and airbase upgrades, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Friday during a visit to a base on the North Sea. Pistorius said the investment would turn the Nordholz Naval Airbase, located in the district of Cuxhaven, into the most modern military airfield in Europe over the course of the next decade. The entire weapon systems for naval aviation are currently being modernized. The base is to be equipped with eight Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as well as 49 NHIndustries NH90 helicopters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The helicopters include 18 of the Sea Lion variant of the NH90 and 31 of the armed Sea Tiger NH90 variant. The new helicopters and jets will require new infrastructure at the base as well. According to the German Navy, the Nordholz Naval Airbase's tasks include the surveillance of large areas of water and naval warfare from the air against targets above and below the surface. Search and rescue operations and the transportation of personnel and equipment are also carried out by naval aviators. In the first half of 2025, Germany plans to provide Ukraine with significant military aid packages, including Leopard tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and other weaponry. Source: German media outlet n-tv, citing government sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: Germany is geared up to deliver 22 Leopard 1 tanks, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and an additional IRIS-T SLM/SLS air defence system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The package will also include 16 howitzers, two additional Patriot air defence launchers, seven Gepard anti-aircraft systems, and 120,000 rounds of ammunition. Ukraine will also receive 3,500 Helsing strike drones, six Sea King helicopters, and 250,000 artillery shells. The aid package will also comprise various other equipment and weaponry for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Background: Meanwhile, Spiegel media outlet reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been withholding approval for a new large military assistance package for Ukraine that is being proposed by Ukraines foreign and defence ministries. In late December 2024, Germany delivered a significant aid package to Ukraine, including IRIS-T and Patriot air defence systems. Support UP or become our patron! PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is asking state lawmakers for permission to issue mentored hunting licenses to youths less than age 16. The department also wants enforcement authority changed so that people guilty of wildlife violations no longer can take advantage of a legal loophole to avoid losing their hunting, fishing and trapping licenses. GFP deputy secretary Scott Simpson explained the reasons on Thursday to the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On license eligibility, he said, people found guilty of violating state game and fish laws pay their fines, but judges can in turn suspend their sentences and instead place them on probation. The result in those instances, according to Simpson, is that the department cant revoke their license eligibility for at least one year, and, depending on the degree of seriousness of the violation, for as long as three years. HB1023 would change that, according to Simpson, by making clear that a suspended imposition of sentence is a conviction. Commissioner Jim White of Huron spoke in support of the change I think its the absolute right thing to do, he said but added that, based on his experience while a legislator, he expects that lawmakers will ask where the state Office of Attorney General stands on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northbound lanes of I-229 closed at Benson Road Simpson said that the departments attorney is considered a member of the AGs staff. Well double-check and make sure weve got the stamp of approval, Simpson said. The departments other legislation, SB41, would allow the department to issue licenses to children who have permission to participate in the GFPs mentored-hunting program. Currently, children in the program hunt using their parents or mentors licenses, and any game the children harvest is considered part of their parents or mentors bag limit. The original law was passed in 2008. According to Simpson, the proposed change would allow the department to better assess the effectiveness of the mentored-hunting program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that this is a safe operation. It doesnt remove any of the requirements. The parent still needs to be there. The parent still needs to be unarmed, he said. The 2025 session of the Legislature opens on Tuesday, January 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. By Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Rudy Giuliani, a former lawyer for President-elect Donald Trump, was held in contempt of court on Friday, for the second time this week, in a case brought by two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of helping to rig the 2020 election. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington found that Giuliani violated a previous court agreement to stop making allegations of wrongdoing against the election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea Shaye Moss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is outrageous and shameful that Mr. Giuliani dares to suggest that he is the one who is being treated unfairly," Howell said as she handed down the ruling. Howell found that Giuliani violated the court agreement when he suggested on an episode of his "America's Mayor Live" podcast in November that video showed the pair quadruple counting the ballots and using a computer hard drive to fix the machines. The judge required Giuliani to submit a court document within 10 days acknowledging that testimony and evidence presented during his civil trial in 2023 directly contradicted his statements. Giuliani will also have to pay attorney's fees and will face a $200 fine each day he does not file the court declaration, Howell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge said jailing Giuliani was an option if he continued to defy court orders. Giuliani, a former New York mayor, was already held in civil contempt on Monday after a federal judge in New York determined he had not complied with information requests from Freeman and Moss. The pair brought that case to help enforce a $148 million judgment they won against Giuliani in 2023 as part of a separate lawsuit in Washington accusing Giuliani of destroying their reputations by falsely suggesting they counted illegal ballots following the 2020 election. Giuliani is appealing the decision. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Giuliani criticized Howell, who was appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama, repeating claims that she was politically biased against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This was a farce. She put on an absolute farce and a clown show," Giuliani said. A second citation for contempt adds to the mounting legal woes facing Giuliani, 80, over his efforts to overturn Trumps 2020 loss to Democratic President Joe Biden. Giuliani has been disbarred for making false claims and pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in Georgia and Arizona. Lawyers for Giuliani argued that it is not clear Giuliani was referring to the two women, whom he did not reference by name on the podcast. They also maintained that the statements were protected because Giuliani was summarizing his legal position on appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement, signed in May 2024 after a jury handed down the $148 million judgment, bars Giuliani from making any public remarks suggesting that Freeman and Moss engaged in wrongdoing surrounding the 2020 election or repeating claims that were previously deemed defamatory. (Reporting by Andrew GoudswardEditing by Alistair Bell) A federal judge on Friday found Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for his continued defamation of two former Georgia election workers, just days after a different federal judge held him in contempt for failing to turn over his assets to them as ordered. In a courtroom in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell excoriated Giuliani for continuing to defame Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, noting multiple statements he made on his online show that she found had violated a permanent injunction he agreed to in May. Howell ordered Giuliani to sign a sworn declaration that affirms he has seen all the evidence refuting his claims against the Georgia women, giving him 10 days to do so, with a penalty of $200 a day and potential jail time if he fails to complete it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In issuing her ruling, the judge pointed to complaints Giuliani made on his show that the injunction was unfair, calling it outrageous and shameful that Mr. Giuliani suggests that he is the one being treated unfairly. This takes real chutzpah, Mr. Giuliani, Howell told him. In November, attorneys for Freeman and Moss asked Howell to find Giuliani in contempt for allegedly violating the injunction to stop claiming that the women engaged in fraud during the 2020 election or repeating any of the statements about them for which he was found liable for defamation. Their attorney said in a motion that the former New York City mayor has continued to accuse the women of wrongdoing on his online show, Americas Mayor Live, citing examples in two of his episodes. Giuliani has in turn argued that out of his hundreds of hours of broadcast, he only briefly referenced alleged ballot counting irregularities in the Georgia location where Freeman and Moss counted ballots. He also said he did not name the women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani attorney Eden Quainton argued in court Friday that his client sincerely believed that the Georgia women had engaged in election fraud, an argument Howell dismissed. So, what? Youre saying this defamation is never going to stop? Hes never going to stop saying this because he thinks hes right? she asked. Thats chilling. Quainton also pointed out that Giuliani had complied with the agreement until his public statements in November. Howell was unimpressed. So because he was good for a few months, we ought to excuse any bad behavior after that? she asked. As he did in his contempt hearing last week, Giuliani tried to get permission to attend Fridays hearing remotely, claiming in a motion filed Wednesday that he has multiple medical conditions and that he has safety concerns due to being an outspoken critic of the Iranian regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Giuliani withdrew his request to appear remotely after Howell asked for a sworn declaration that he has not left his Florida house in the past 30 days and will not do so in the next 30 days due to his stated medical and security concerns. Giuliani has faced nonstop legal troubles due to his allegations against Freeman and Moss. He is set to make another court appearance on Jan. 16, when he goes to trial over the handover of some of his assets, including his World Series rings and his Palm Beach condominium, to the Georgia women. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Ginger Zee is getting a firsthand look at the devastating damage caused by the wildfires in Los Angeles. In a video posted to her socials on Thursday, Jan. 9, the Good Morning America meteorologist shared footage taken during a drive around Altadena, Calif., where the deadly Eaton Fire has been burning for two days. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox. In her post, Zee, 43, filmed her view of the streets in Altadena that were completely destroyed by the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It just never ends," she added of the wreckage. "Apocalyptic devastation," one of her followers wrote under Zee's Instagram post on Thursday, while another said it was "unbelievable" to see the homes and businesses that have been burned to the ground. In her video, Zee confirmed that the Eaton Fire has also claimed the lives of five people. In another post shared on Thursday, Zee wrote, "After the sun came up in Altadena, we drove around and started speaking to neighbors. We found out quickly that this part of Altadena has a concentrated population of first responders. Many of which have lost their homes in the Eaton fire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TV personality documented her conversation with LA Fire Department Caption Dan Lievense, who was fighting the Pacific Palisades Fire when he realized he needed to return home because the Eaton Fire was approaching his property. Once he arrived, he was met with flames engulfing his neighbors' homes. Fortunately, healong with his brother and sonwas able to save four houses on the street by using a fire hydrant and a hose. "I cant imagine having to work and deal with this loss," Zee wrote. As of Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, the Eaton Fire had burned over 10,000 acres near Altadena and Pasadena and destroyed over 900 structures, per KTLA. Next: Mandy Moore Gets Candid About 'Weird Survivors Guilt' as She Shares Positive Update Amid Los Angeles Fires YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Goodwill is celebrating its anniversary by recommitting to its mission to serve the people of the Mahoning Valley. The agency has been around for over 130 years and was adopted under the Goodwill umbrella a century ago and established itself as the Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries 50 years ago. The Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries is made up of 15 autonomous Goodwill organizations, which all fall under one umbrella through OAGI. The association is made up of not-for-profit organizations that all share the Goodwill name and strive to give people opportunities to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodwill recently conducted a community needs assessment, pinpointing what resources are needed locally and how they can best serve their mission to meet those needs. Many people know us by our retail stores. Those 10 retail locations actually exist to serve our mission which is that we believe in the value of people and the power of work and helping individuals overcome barriers to employment. We do that through the revenue thats generated in our stores, said Shelley Murray, CEO of Youngstown Area Goodwill. Career Services Manager Robert Mitchell said that the agency provides services that are critical to independence for many. In these days, housing, food, transportation. We offer a program for drivers permits, resume writing mock interviews. You name it, furniture assistance, Mitchell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodwill recently named Carol Holmes-Chambers its new Community Solutions Director as they begin their next chapter of serving the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Originally appeared on E! Online Samantha Rose Baldwin is leaving no feline behind. Amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, the actresswho appeared on season two of the Gossip Girl rebootbraved the flames to rescue her 10-year-old tortoiseshell cat, Kitty. It was an immediate spring into action and an amalgamation of questions racing through my head, Samantha told DailyMail.com Jan. 8. Can I get my cat out? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being forced to abandon her car in a sea of people trying to evacuate the area, the 26-year-old detailed how she ran 15 minutes home and did everything she could to save her fur baby. It took 20 minutes for me to find her, Samantha recalled. She had gone into her best hiding spot which was inside the couch. I grabbed her and wrapped her up in a blanket and put her inside my cat carrier backpack. Once we got outside, she continued, the fire had gotten closer to us and the path going back to my car was now no longer an option. More from E! Online So, Samantha had to pivot and find the next best escape route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here I was stuck between the fire and the ocean, so it only made sense to get to the water, she explained. I was genuinely running for my life with my cat strapped to my back and a suitcase rolling behind me. I had to dart in and out of the cars and dodge flaming branches and palm leaves falling to the ground all around me like a minefield, she added. It felt like something I would see or do in an action movie, not my real life. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) But Samantha wasnt the only one that exercised superhero courage in the face of the ravaging wildfires. Indeed, It Takes Two actor Steve Guttenberg jumped into action himself to help people evacuate the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. And he even crashed a live news report to encourage others to do their part. Whats happening is people take their keys with them as if theyre in a parking lot, Steve told reporter Gene Kang during a KTLA 5 broadcast Jan. 7. This is not a parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We really need people to move their cars, he continued. If you leave your car behind, leave the key in there so a guy like me can move your car so that these fire trucks can get up there. Its really, really important. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) And while thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes and belongings behind to get to safer groundincluding Paris Hilton, Mandy Moore and Jamie Lee Curtisthe Police Academy actor could clearly see the gravity of the situation firsthand. There are people stuck up there, the 66-year-old explained, pointing up the hill to the slow-moving traffic. So were trying to clear Palisades Drive and Im walking up there as far as I can moving cars. There are families up there, there are pets up there. There are people who really need help. For more stars that have shared their experience with the devastating Los Angeles fires, keep reading Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gwyneth Paltrow The Iron Man actress took to social media to express her sadness about the tragedy that has fallen over her beloved city. We are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything, she wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Thank you to those inquiring, we are currently safe. When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kind, she continued. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant. Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg The Once Upon a Time actress and the One Tree Hill actor are sharing resources after tragically losing their home in the Los Angeles fire. It was all a dream, Bryan wrote on a Jan. 9 Instagram story, showing the rubble that was once their family home. Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there. And in between posting helpful resources, Jamie shared a tragic video of their entire neighborhood. Damn. Our entire neighborhood is gone, she wrote Jan. 9. We are grateful to our brave firefighters and first responders and pray we dont lose any more lives to these catastrophic fires. Stay safe and stay vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diane Warren The Grammy winner shared one last view from her Los Angeles beachfront home before it was lost in the fire. This is the last pic I took of Leah's rock from my beach house, the songwriter, who confirmed her animals and rescue ranch were safe, wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post of the ocean view. I've had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. Cary Elwes The Princess Bride actor shared his and his wife Lisa Marie Kurbikoffs Malibu home did not survive the fire in a heartfelt message to fans. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God, he wrote in his Jan. 9 Instagram post. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it, he continued. We want to thank everyone for their incredible outpouring of support. It really means a great deal to us. Ricki Lake Sharing a video of the raging fires in the near distance, the former talk show host detailed her and husband Ross Burninghams final efforts to save her Los Angeles home in a Jan. 9 Instagram post. Were going down my street praying for these homes and these people and my house, she said in a video, showing the fire in the near distance. I dont even know what I grabbed, I think I might have just said goodbye to my house. Grateful to have made it out alive and uninjured, she added in the caption. Forever grateful to @kirbykotler_ our absolute angel. He did everything to try to save our precious property. No doubt had we stayed, we would not have survived. Leanne Ford The HGTV host's home, which she recently moved into, was lost in the wildfires. "Three weeks ago we got keys to our new LA place in Rustic Canyon. We were excited (though me a bit hesitant) to start spending some time again in our favorite part of LA," the interior designer wrote on Instagram Jan. 10 alongside photos of what remains of her house. "A beautiful historical and quirky artists home. We brought over so many of our favorite things to fill it with. It was to be a place to write, to create." "Three days ago we lost it," she continued. "We are the lucky ones. We had a beautiful safe home in PA to escape back to. Im in awe of the firemen and women choosing to run into the flames while we get to run out. I can only say thank you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mel Gibson During an appearance on Elizabeth Vargas Reports January. 9, the Braveheart actor shared that his Malibu home was destroyed while he was away recording Joe Rogans podcast in Texas. "Obviously, its kind of devastating. Its emotional," the 69-year-old said. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I had my stuff there, and its all like, Ive been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because its all in cinders. But when he returned home to discover that his home had been destroyed, he was relieved to find that, at least, his chickens survived, adding, It was amazing. Miles Teller The Top Gun Maverick stars wife Keleigh Teller shared one last photo of what was their Los Angeles home before it was lost in the fire. To everyone reaching out I cant thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, Ill never forget them, the 32-year-old wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Community has come out stronger than I could imagine, pacific palisades I love you beyond measure you are a little slice of heaven, we will come back stronger than ever. If youre in the LA area PLEASE get out if you can, she continued. I wish I grabbed my wedding dress .. wish I did a lot different but it doesnt matter, stay safe, get out. there are no words. THANK YOU to the first responders fighting. Bella Hadid On Jan. 9, the supermodel shared the childhood home she shared with sister Gigi Hadid and mom Yolanda Hadid had burned down in the Palisades Fire. Mandy Moore The This Is Us alumwho is mom to three kids with husband Taylor Goldsmithshared an update on her family after having to evacuate their home. "We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact." However, she noted that the home studio, garage and back house were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. "Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends," she added. "Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milo Ventimiglia Like his This Is Us costar, the actor's Los Angeles home was destroyed by the fires. While visiting what remained of his property, he told CBS Evening News his heart felt "heavy." "You start thinking about all the memories," he continued. "My heart just breaks." Jessica Simpson Amid the outbreak of the Kenneth Fire on Jan. 9, the "Irresistible" singer shared an image of smoke rising from beyond her backyard. She wrote in the caption, "We stayed as long as we could." Bozoma Saint John The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed her dream home in Malibu, where she lived with her teenage daughter Laela, was totaled in the fires. "This is an unimaginable loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. Olivia Wilde "My block was on fire tonight and the only reason we still have a home is thanks to the brave members of the @losngelesfiredepartment who worked on the ground and from the air to save us," the Don't Worry Darling director wrote on Instagram Story Jan. 8. "Thank you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chrissy Teigen The Cravings cookbook author started preparing in case of an evacuation, writing on Instagram Story Jan. 8, "This is surreal. I'm very scared. Packing." Jen Atkin The hairstylist and her husband Mike Rosenthal safely evacuated along with their kids and pets, though she said their home was "gone." "Our whole area demolished," she added on Instagram Stories Jan. 8, alongside a tearful selfie. "So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend." Olivia Culpo One day after the Sunset Fire set the Hollywood Hills ablaze, the Culpo Sisters starwho is married to San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffreywrote on Instagram Story Jan. 9, "Im praying so hard for our community. My heart aches for everyone who has lost so much so fast. Its just unimaginable." Tina Knowles Beyonce's mom shared on Jan. 9 that "my favorite place, my sanctuary , my sacred Happy Place" was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. "This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu," she captioned a video of the Pacific Ocean. "Now it is gone!!" The entrepreneur added, "God Bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions . We Thankyou for your dedication and bravery and for saving so many lives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gwyneth Paltrow "Our beloved Los Angeles," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram Jan. 9, amid the wildfires, "we are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything." Noting that she was safe from the blazes, Gwyneth added, "When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kinds. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant." Melissa Rivers The daughter of late Joan Rivers said her home burned down, though she was able to evacuate with necessities and a few treasured heirlooms. "I grabbed my mom's Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son," she told CNN. "I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I can't replace." Jhene Aiko The "Bad Peace" singer shared on Jan. 8 that "me and my children's home is gone." "Burned to the ground with all things inside," she wrote on Instagram Story. "Thankful we still have eachother. Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy," Alabama Barker & Landon Barker Travis Barker's kids Landon and Alabama shared they were forced to leave their residences amid the devastation. "Just evacuated from my home due to wild fires in Los Angeles, please be safe!!, Alabama posted on Instagram Story Jan. 7. They are saying the fires are spreading foodball field amounts in seconds." Jennifer Tilly The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and her husband Phil Laak evacuated to Commercea neighborhood southeast of Downtown Los Angelesto escape the Palisades Fire. She wrote on InstagramJan. 8, "Phil and I had to evacuate to the Commerce Casino." Ricki Lake The former talk show host shared on Jan. 8 that her house had been destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Sharing throwback photos of the property, she wrote on Instagram, "Its all gone." "I lost our dream home," she continued. "It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second." She added, "This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event." For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App James D. Ford, who was convicted in the 1997 murders of Greg and Kimberly Malnory, a Charlotte County couple, is set to be executed after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant Friday. The execution is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 13. According to a 2007 Sarasota Herald-Tribune report, Ford was sentenced to death in 1999 for brutally killing the Malnorys, who were found shot and bludgeoned to death at South Florida Sod Farm in a remote part of Charlotte County, on April 7, 1997. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple had a toddler in their truck and were out on a fishing trip with Ford, who worked with Greg Malnory at the farm. The baby girl was later left inside the truck for more than 18 hours. Records show Ford shot Greg Malnory in the back of the head, then repeatedly beat him in his face and head with a blunt instrument. Ford also slit his throat nearly ear to ear. Kimberly Malnory's body was found near the truck, according to records. She had nine blunt-force injuries to her head, a gunshot through her mouth and defensive wounds on her arms. Ford was also convicted of sexual battery and child neglect. State and federal courts have rejected Fords appeals, the latest coming in 2018 when the Florida Supreme Court rebuffed his attempt to overturn the death sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The signing of the death warrant kicks off another appeals process. The Florida Supreme Court set out a schedule requiring an appeal to be filed by 9 a.m. Jan. 27, with briefs filed by 3 p.m. Jan. 29. Oral arguments, if needed, could also be scheduled. If the execution is carried out, Ford would be the tenth inmate put to death since DeSantis took office in 2019. This is a developing story. Check back later for updates. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis signs first death warrant of 2025 in Charlotte County case TOPEKA (KSNT) Governor Laura Kelly signed her first executive order of 2025 to reform federal benefits to foster care youth. The order will completely reform the way federal benefits are handled. Kelly signed Executive Order 25-01 on Jan. 10 which is intended to increase support to families, enhance transparency and improve how benefits are transferred after youth leave the foster care system. Federal benefits belong to the child its their property, Kelly said. By ending the exploitation of childrens property as a revenue source, we are demonstrating our commitment to improving the foster care system in Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kansas, the Department for Children and Families (DCF) uses cash entitled to youth to reimburse themselves for providing food, clothing and shelter. The new executive order will stop DCF from using childrens benefits to reimburse itself. Instead, DCF will work as a childs fiduciary and work to find adults who wish to manage the funds until the child is 18 years old, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. How much more will Kansans pay legislators in 2025? I am excited about this new partnership to help more Kansans discover the life-changing benefits of the Kansas ABLE Savings Plan, said State Treasurer Steven Johnson. DCFs initiative to establish ABLE accounts for eligible children under their care will help open the doors of opportunity. As these children leave the care of the state, their ABLE account will serve as an impactful financial tool to help them build a secure and independent future. DCF will publish more guidance for families and youth regarding the order, according to the Office of the Governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Jan. 10AUGUSTA Gov. Janet Mills unveiled a two-year state budget proposal Friday that packs an increased tax on cigarettes and maintains the state's free community college program and other key initiatives. The $11.63 billion proposal is up 10% from the current $10.5 billion budget, although Mills is also bringing forward a $94 million proposal to increase the current budget to $10.6 billion. The budget for the next two years would raise the excise tax on cigarettes from $2 per pack to $3 and make similar adjustments to the tax on other tobacco products, resulting in about $80 million in new revenue over the biennium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would maintain key Mills administration initiatives such as funding 55% of education, providing free school meals for all Maine students and contributing 5% to municipal revenue sharing. There are no broad-based tax changes, such as increases to Maine's income or sales taxes, and the proposal does not relying on drawing money from Maine's budget stabilization fund. The budget does not create or fund any new programs, Mills' office said Friday, but it does include $25 million to continue funding the governor's free community college program. It includes a number of programmatic changes in the Department of Health and Human Services, including reductions in eligibility for food assistance for non-citizens, suspending plans for an expansion of mental health crisis receiving centers in Kennebec and Aroostook counties and reducing stipends for childcare workers to 2022 levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This was a difficult budget to put together," Mills said in a written statement. "Our economy is strong, but our revenues are leveling off, and while prior legislatures have made many important and worthwhile investments, we have to consider what we can sustain this budget cycle. "With this proposal, we have taken a balanced approach one that includes investments to maintain core programs, like education funding and healthcare; that raises revenues in a targeted way to benefit public health; and that makes difficult programmatic changes to save money. There are tough decisions to be made in the coming weeks, but I know the Legislature shares my commitment to enact a balanced budget that is good for both Maine people and the fiscal health of our state." The governor is expected to discuss the proposal at a 1 p.m. press conference. The Legislature will take up the proposal, and amend it, in the coming weeks and months. Mills' administration has warned lawmakers that spending would need to be kept in check in the next budget given a projected $450 million deficit, plus an additional $118 million shortfall in the current year's budget for MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program. This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link DENVER, Colo. (KDVR) Gov. Jared Polis said in his State of the State address that undocumented criminals in Colorado should be deported. After his speech, FOX31 sat with the governor and asked how far Colorado would go to work with federal immigration agencies. The governor said local law enforcement agencies and state law enforcement agencies already work with ICE on a number of criminal investigations. ACLU of Colorado: Aurora police may have exceeded their authority in working with ICE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in 2024, a lawsuit determined Colorado law prevents deputies or officers from arresting or detaining anyone for federal civil immigration purposes, or for delaying release to help facilitate an ICE pickup. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in 2024 after it was decided in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, and against the Teller County Sheriffs Office. ICE agents were alongside Aurora police recently when they arrested undocumented migrants at an apartment complex where gangs were said to be a problem. The governor acknowledged the presence and problems with undocumented criminals. Yeah. Theres been gang problems in Denver and Aurora for decades. We have gangs like the Bloods and Crips. Mexican gangs and now the risk of Venezuelan gangs, Polis said. FOX31 asked Polis if he would support an increased use of local and state law enforcement agencies for immigration-related cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We make no distinction in apprehending criminals. If they are undocumented, ultimately the federal government would detain and deport that person, Polis said. FOX31 also asked the governor if he was worried about the threats the Trump Administration has made about starting Operation Aurora in Colorado. Council member warns Aurora police chief, staff: Operation Aurora is coming We dont know what Operation Aurora is or would be. But the general principles Ive laid out are that we appreciate and welcome more help from the federal government to go after criminals, Polis said. Operation Aurora was announced by President-elect Trump at a rally held in October in Aurora. The plan would remove migrants who entered the country illegally and may be involved in gangs through invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will send elite squads of ICE, Border Patrol and federal law enforcement officers to hunt down, arrest and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country, Trump said at the October rally. The governor also said he is hoping the incoming Trump administration and lawmakers create pathways for citizenship for Dreamers and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, which was designed to prevent deportation of foreign children brought into the country not of their own will, but illegally. Trump has previously opposed DACA and tried to end the program during his first term in office. But in December he said that he thinks the so-called Dreamers should be allowed to stay. On Meet the Press, Trump said many DACA recipients become successful and have a positive economic impact. Polis said in his speech that he hopes Trump and Congress secure the nations southern border, stop human trafficking and stop the flow of guns and drugs into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Colorado, we have zero tolerance for those who commit violent crimes whether they are American citizens or not, he said during Wednesdays speech. But, we will not cooperate with efforts to deport American citizens, target those on pending legal status, or break up families, creating orphans of American children whose parents are alive and who came to this country to build a better life for their families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Jan. 9Governor-elect Bob Ferguson unveiled a plan Thursday he says could save Washington $4.4 billion over the next four years, as lawmakers prepare to address an estimated budget shortfall of about $12 billion over the same period. The plan also includes an extra $800 million in new spending that would be used to hire additional law enforcement and adopt universal free lunch for all students, among other proposals. "I intend to spend some time making sure I understand how we got to this level of a shortfall," Ferguson said during a pre-legislative session press briefing Thursday. "And to make sure that I, as governor, do everything I can to make sure that this doesn't happen again. Sometimes, there's things that go on in an economy that are beyond your control. But I believe we need to take a hard look at how we got here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he prepares to enter office next week, Ferguson's proposal calls on most state agencies to identify 6% budget reductions across the board, and for four-year higher education institutions to propose 3% in cuts. Under the plan, K-12 education, community and technical colleges, public safety agencies, and entitlement benefits delivered by state agencies would not be impacted. "I think people expect that, you know, when you're facing a budget shortfall," Ferguson said. "It's no different than a family budget. You've got to make your priorities, you've got to decide what's the most important, you've got to cut things you can cut. And that's what we'll be doing as a state." Some of the cuts, Ferguson said, will require legislative action. Ferguson added that he sought to identify cuts he thought were "achievable and realistic." While the plan does not constitute a formal budget proposal, Ferguson said it "outlines, in some respects, some very detailed proposals on the budget savings side." Ferguson said his proposal is a separate plan from budget savings outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee suggested last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're obviously facing a very significant budget shortfall," Ferguson said. "And my approach has been very focused since getting elected on making sure that we are scrubbing our budget, in detail, to find efficiencies and savings that will help address that budget shortfall." According to the budget plan, Ferguson will call on the heads of state agencies to consolidate management positions, reduce in-state and out-of-state travel, cut administrative and executive positions, and restrict equipment purchases. Raising taxes, Ferguson said, would be a last resort. That's a different stance than Inslee, who last month proposed an annual tax on personal wealth above $100 million. As he introduced the pitch, Inslee said his proposed new tax would apply to roughly 3,400 Washingtonians and bring in $10.3 billion over four years. "Regarding revenue, I am focused on identifying opportunities for savings first and will only focus on revenue after we have scrubbed the budget for savings and reductions," Ferguson said in a statement. "I am deeply skeptical that we can rely on balancing the budget through an untested wealth tax." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the press event Thursday, Ferguson said "we are not going to tax our way out of this thing, not going to happen." Ferguson's budget priorities highlight several areas of spending, including: * A $100 million biennial grant program to hire more law enforcement officers and $5 million to clear a roughly 15,000-case backlog in the Washington State toxicology laboratory * $600 million in the capital budget to build additional housing * $480 million in biennial funding for universal school lunches, which would ensure free meals for all of Washington's 1.1 million public school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Ferguson directed each state agency to tighten their budgets, Ferguson hailed public schooling and safety as two "sacred cows" in his budget priority. He plans to increase the proportion of the budget earmarked toward public schools, he said in a news release Thursday. In the two-year spending plan approved in 2023, K-12 schools received around 44% of the state operating budget. Inslee's proposal for 2025-2027 spending would funnel schools just under 42% of the budget, but Ferguson said that's not a big enough proportion related to other areas of funding. The 2025 legislative session will begin Monday and is scheduled to run 105 days. Ferguson will be sworn in as governor on Wednesday. Reporter Elena Perry contributed to this article. BOSTON (WWLP) On Thursday, Governor Maura Healey signed a law that bans cat declawing in Massachusetts. Thirty cats seek loving homes after being rescued from Massachusetts home The Animal Legal Defense Fund states that the governor signed An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing into law, which bans cats from being declawed, except in rare situations such as cancer in the nail bed or other conditions that jeopardize the cats health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund released poll results last year in June, which revealed that 70 percent of veterinary professionals oppose cat declawing. What is declawing? Cat declawing is a surgical procedure thats similar to amputating the last knuckle of a human figure and can cause lifelong medical issues, such as permanent disability, nerve damage, chronic back pain, and lameness. This is a surgical procedure that removes the last bone in a cats toes. Declawing can also cause behavioral effects in cats, as it removes their ability to use their claws to scratch, stretch, and mark territory. Some cats that have been declawed resort to biting, which can lead to infections in humans, to defend themselves since they cant with their claws. All of these issues can make it more likely for cars to be surrendered to shelters. Are there alternatives to declawing? The American Veterinary Medical Association lists the following alternatives to cat declawing: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Providing appropriate scratching surfaces, such as dedicated posts and boards that are tall enough to encourage full stretching. Frequent nail trims every 1 to 2 weeks Nail caps replaced every 4 to 6 weeks Positive reinforcement training, beginning with kitten kindergarten if available Pheromone sprays and/or plug-ins Discourage use of inappropriate surfaces by attaching sticky tape or tinfoil Where else is it banned? Massachusetts isnt the only state that bans cat declawing. New York and Maryland have banned the procedure, as well as jurisdictions including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Madison, West Hollywood, Austin, Denver, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, and Washington, D.C. Virginia has also banned the procedure with limited exemptions. This law will protect countless cats in the Commonwealth from a painful and unnecessary surgical procedure that is typically performed for human convenience rather than the cats well-being, said Animal Legal Defense Fund Senior Legislative Affairs Manager Stephanie Harris. Massachusetts joins other states that have effective declaw bans, alongside the many local laws that have been passed in cities of all sizes. We hope to build on this momentum in 2025 as we continue to advocate for cat declaw bills nationwide, including in neighboring Rhode Island. As a leader in animal protection, Rhode Island should follow the precedent already set in our state and ban cruel and unnecessary cat declawing. Our humane state already prohibits landlords from requiring tenants cats to be declawed, and passing this bill is the next logical step, said Rep. William OBrien (D-Dist. 54). Its time for Rhode Island to join Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland in protecting cats from this unnecessary cruelty. Declawing is an abhorrent practice that most veterinarians view as inhumane, but it is also a procedure that is widely misunderstood and requested by owners, saidSen. Mark Montigny (D-Second Bristol and Plymouth). By passing this law, veterinarians will no longer have to weigh the choice knowing that if they dont provide the procedure an owner is likely to just look for someone who will. This is another step in my commitment to protect animals in the Commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cats claws are integral to their natural behaviors, including stretching and playing, said Senate bill sponsor Sen. Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24). Declawing is an amputation surgery with serious and often life-long consequences. Declawed cats often become fear biters and carpet wetters, putting them at greater risk for surrender or abandonment; many suffer from crippling arthritis in old age. Declawing has no place in our society. I appreciate my colleagues support for the Declaw Bill in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The Grace Slavic Pentecostal Church recently bought two parcels of land at the old Saint John Kanty Prep School property to expand their growing church. Thursday night, the buyers came to the Harborcreek Township planning meeting where the commission reviewed plans for the property. The church is looking to expand the existing building on the property, add Sunday school classrooms and widen the existing driveways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve outgrown our current facility at Carriage Hill Drive with the recent influx of Ukrainian refugees and just people coming to the United States plus other growth and other things that have been happening. We can no longer on Sunday gather at that building, said Gennadiy Bogdanets, Grace Slavic Pentecostal Church Pastor. The church will continue to host Sunday services at the Summit building on Oliver Road until the new property is ready. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Cottonwood Canyon Road is pictured in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. (Photo by Diana Robinson/Getty Images) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has a new management plan, and Utahs congressional delegation doesnt like it. Earlier this week, the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, approved a resource management plan for southern Utahs 1.87 million acre monument, issuing a final record of decision that makes the plan effective immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement Thursday, Utahs congressional delegation Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis, and Reps. Blake Moore, Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy, all Republicans accused the Biden administration of ramming through a plan in its midnight hours. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The plan marks the end of a two-year process that included input from the regions tribal nations, state and local governments, stakeholders and the public, the BLM said on Monday. It divides the monument into four regions front country, passage, outback and primitive each with different rules and recreation infrastructure. The front country area is about 36,000 acres near the monuments boundary, with a mix of roads and trails to accommodate different uses. It has developed campgrounds, trailheads, visitor centers and educational sites, with a focus on day-use. Its also the only area where recreational shooting is prohibited (in addition to areas close to archaeological sites, campgrounds and other facilities throughout the monument). Think of it as the least remote part of a very remote monument. The passage area is about 53,000 acres, less developed than the front country and gives visitors access to much of the monument. It will have additional trailheads and educational sites, some day-use picnic areas, small campgrounds and a mix of roads and trails. The BLM calls it a secondary area for visitation. The outback area is about 558,700 acres in some of the monuments more remote yet popular areas. Facilities will be rare, the BLM notes, only provided when essential for resource protection. There will be a mix of routes and trails to accommodate different types of recreation. Camping is limited to dispersed sites. The outback area provides a self-directed visitor experience, the BLM notes in documents. The primitive area is most of the monument, with about 1,227,100 acres of undeveloped terrain. This includes Wilderness Study Areas, protected land and research areas. Facilities here are nearly nonexistent, the BLM said, and the only way to access it is on foot or horse unlike the other three zones, there is no motorized travel permitted. Livestock grazing is also allowed in the vast majority of the monument just 7% of Grand Staircase-Escalantes 1.87 million acres is off limits, most of it riparian areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight campers will now be required to obtain a free and readily accessible permit. And climbers who want to establish new sport routes, which require bolts or anchors, need to get approval from the BLM. In their statement, Utahs congressional delegation said the plan ignores Utah voices, limits access to grazing and recreation and disregards the economic impacts that this decision will have on local communities. The administration has also failed to provide a complete inventory of the objects it wishes to protect, a requirement of the Antiquities Act. When the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was created in 1996, it was promised to be friendly to local use and management. We will continue to fight to return our land to local control and against future federal overreach, the joint statement reads. The fight is currently making its way through federal appeals court, after Utah sued the Biden administration in 2022 over the presidents decision to reinstate the monument to its original size. Let us know what you think... Grand Staircase-Escalante was established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, using his power under the Antiquities Act, a law passed by Congress in 1906 that gives the president authority to declare national monuments to protect areas of cultural, historical and scientific significance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, the monument was reduced to 229,000 acres by President Donald Trump, who also reduced nearby Bears Ears National Monument. Then, in 2021, President Joe Biden restored both monuments to their original size, again using the Antiquities Act. Utah promptly sued. Sadly, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and other public land opponents continue their attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante, which is managed for the benefit of all Americans, said Kya Marienfeld, a wildlands attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, an environmental nonprofit. In a statement earlier this week, Marienfeld said the BLMs new plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante takes meaningful and important steps to protect one of the most treasured public landscapes in America. Once again, the Monument will be managed to protect what makes it like nowhere else remarkable paleontological discoveries and cultural connections, jaw-dropping scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Picture it: London, 1666, a city of narrow streets, timber-framed buildings, and a flickering candlelight. That year, the inevitable happened. A bakery mishap ignited the Great Fire of London, a blaze that raged for four days and left much of the city in ruins. Fast forward to 2025, and we find Los Angeles, with its hillside homes and drought-prone landscape, again battling another series of catastrophic wildfires. Though separated by centuries, these infernos share a familiar, troubling story: human frailty, social scapegoating, and lessons we still haven't learned. When the flames consume everything, why do we always look for someone to burn with them? History Repeating Itself The Great Fire of London broke out on September 2, 1666, in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane. At the time, much of the city remained planned in a medieval style, still within the old Roman city walls. It wasn't long before the flames devoured thousands of homes, churches, businesses, and much of London's infrastructure in a city built of timber and crowded together like gossip at a dinner party. Though the official death toll was minimal, many historians suspect more unnamed souls perished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Los Angeles has traded quaint cobblestones for sprawling suburbia, fire remains a recurring villain. According to TIME, drought, dryness, and Santa Ana winds have stoked several fires, raging across thousands of acres and displacing countless residents. The fire problem isn't a dramatic event like London's bakery spark but a slow, creeping disaster shaped mainly by climate change. Despite different centuries and contexts, a similar outcome remains: devastation and a desperate search for someone to blame. Scapegoats in the Ashes Londoners in 1666, panicked and shell-shocked, cast suspicion on their neighbors. Catholics and immigrants became targets of fury, and it didn't take long for mob justice to take hold. Foreigners were attacked, some even lynched, due to the circling conspiracies of their involvement in sparking the great calamity. Robert Hubert, a French watchmaker, confessed to starting the blaze despite not even being in London at the time. Logic be damned; his execution was to appease public anger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fast-forward to 2025, and social media's digital mobs are searching for their scapegoats, spreading allegations faster than the flames. Conservative pundits and personalities have pointed their digital fingers at DEI efforts among Los Angeles' leadership, accusing L.A.'s Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley of putting diversity efforts ahead of fire safety. As the first women to serve in their respective roles, and Crowley being the first openly LGBTQ+ individual as head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, laying the blame at their feet is no different than the accusations made in 17th century London toward ethnic and religious minorities. It's easier to blame others than confront actual issues that affect all. Rising from the Ruins Every fire destroys but leaves stories of renewal and sometimes reinvention in its wake. After the Great Fire, Sir Christopher Wren led the charge in reinventing London into what we (mostly) see today. If history is a teacher, then the Great Fire of London offers a curriculum for rebuilding smarter. In the aftermath, building codes improved, streets widened, and a dedicated fire brigade emerged. It was a literal phoenix moment: a safer, stronger city emerged from the ashes. In 2025, we have our phoenix to conjure. In this time of uncertainty, hope glimmers in how communities band together. Community-focused organizations coordinate to provide resources, and neighbors help neighbors find reprieve from unimaginable destruction. And, true to form, we find some ways of creative or artistic reprieve: 17th-century Londoners did so by creating poems and paintings, and 21st-century netizens do so through memes. In the long term, many will assess the need for urgent action against climate change, regardless of political affiliation. Policies that support fire-prone areas and vulnerable communities are just the beginning. And at the same time, that is not enough. We must rethink how we react to catastrophes as a country, community, and individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because, as history has shown us countless times, fear makes humanity scapegoat the marginalized. A Firebreak Built on Compassion Imagine if fires didn't just burn buildings but also prejudice. What if we focused on rebuilding empathy instead of looking for a villain? What if, instead of disasters further dividing us, it united us in a common purpose? What if we devoted as much energy to creating equitable societies as some do in finding people to blame? A firebreak built on solidarity might be the only thing that can keep us safe. Marie-Adelina de la Ferriere is the Community Editor of equalpride, the publisher of Advocate.com. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride. NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) A family celebrated on Thursday with the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity and ThedaCare after the organizations helped them get a brand new home. On Thursday morning, Yer and her family finally got the keys to their much-needed new home, courtesy of both the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity and ThedaCare. Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay raises over $1 million during Christmas Campaign Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a child, Yer was born in Laos and lived with disabilities. Her family fled the country during the Vietnam War, spending 14 years in a refugee camp before immigrating to the United States as a single mom with four children. Yer and her two adult sons applied for a Fox Cities Habitat housing opportunity due to overcrowding, as the three lived with a third son, his wife and six children. The household of 11 shared a four-bedroom home, and they needed more space. It doesnt matter how they build it, Im just happy its a place I can call home, Yers son Somboon said. John Weyenberg, the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity CEO said the project started 3-4 months ago and expressed joy over seeing the familys warm expressions after getting the keys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bulk of the work was through volunteer efforts, Weyenberg said. Its always a joyous occasion and every one of these dedications is special because its a unique family and group of volunteers, when we bring the community together, we can make great things happen. How to donate to LA wildfire relief According to a release, ThedaCare volunteers helped as builders, site hosts and meal providers over several months. ThedaCares Inspired to Fight for Healthy Housing initiative is designed to expand access to affordable and safe housing for the community. For more information on the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, check out their website; In addition, to learn more about ThedaCares initiative, visit their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. By Jonathan Saul, Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou ATHENS/LONDON (Reuters) - Greece's biggest port Piraeus is operating normally following a U.S. blacklisting this week of its majority owner, China's largest shipping group COSCO, while the Greek government is examining its potential impact, sources told Reuters on Friday. The U.S. Defense Department said on Monday it had added COSCO Shipping to a list of companies it said worked with China's military, which the shipping industry sees as a step aimed at deterring U.S. companies from trading with the Chinese company. COSCO, one of the world's largest shipping groups, said on Wednesday that none of its units on the list are military companies, that its global operations continued uninterrupted, and that it would clarify the issue with U.S. authorities. The U.S. blacklisting does not have the weight of a legal sanction for the commercial sector, but it has alarmed Greece where Piraeus, one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean in terms of throughput, has already experienced a drop in trade as a result of the Red Sea crisis, where Yemen's Houthis have been attacking commercial shipping. "I don't see an impact on Piraeus, but it is still early," a Greek official with knowledge of the matter said. Greece is monitoring the situation and has discussed the issue with other EU counterparts, a second Greek official said. A COSCO subsidiary operates terminals also in Spain and Italy. "There is potential for 'self-sanctioning' on the part of market players out of fear of running afoul of U.S. policy," said Jefferies analyst Omar Nokta. Ulf Bergman, senior economist with freight platform Shipfix, said while the blacklisting did not involve any legal sanctions, it might act as a deterrence for many importers. A Greek shipowner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blacklisting was a move in a power game between China and the U.S. rather than a game changer. Danish shipping group NORDEN told Reuters that the ruling had not affected its business so far. "We are constantly monitoring developments and will adjust accordingly," it said. In 2019, the U.S. imposed sanctions on two COSCO subsidiaries, which prompted shipping companies to briefly suspend chartering their vessels until the sanctions were lifted. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Jonathan Saul and Yannis Souliotis. Editing by Jane Merriman) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced a bill Thursday to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The American people are footing the bill to protect and secure the maritime waterways for commerce to be conducted. Our U.S. armed forces protect the area from any military threats from foreign countries, Greene wrote in a statement on the social platform X. Its our gulf. The rightful name is the Gulf of America, and its what the entire world should refer to it as. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawmaker lauded the bill, which would direct the chair of the Board on Geographic Names under the secretary of the Interior to rename all federal documents and maps within 180 days of being signed into law. Greene had promised to introduce the legislation ASAP after a Tuesday proposal from President-elect Trump encouraged the name change. Were going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Trump said. What a beautiful name. And its appropriate. Its appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum immediately hit back with her own play on words suggesting North America be labeled as America Mexicana or Mexican America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Trumps idea has materialized with the help of Greene. Congress has to take the Trump Agenda mandate seriously and that means acting fast to enact it. This is a piece of Day 1 legislation that can easily be awaiting President Trumps signature the moment he takes his oath of office, the Georgia representative added in her statement. I urge my colleagues to join me to quickly pass this bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps obsession with Greenland has put the worlds largest island in an unexpected position of power. Most Read from Bloomberg While Trumps 2019 bid for the Arctic territory was dismissed as little more than a joke, the president-elects timing is better this time around Greenlanders are intensifying their push for independence from Denmark. Within the next three months, they will hold a general election that will take the temperature of that relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenland is not for sale. But its new position gives it the ability to play the US and Denmark off of each other a dynamic that might ultimately see it come out on top. The territorys geopolitical importance is rising as its vast ice sheet melts. Located in the far north between the US and Europe, the island is home to an American military base that monitors space and detects missile threats, and it holds large reserves of gold, diamonds, uranium and rare earth metals used in electronic devices. It is also expected to be a key part of global shipping routes in the coming decades. The Trump transition team has been in discussions with people in the private sector since November about potential business prospects in Greenland, according to a person familiar with the conversations. Rare earths mining projects and a new hydroelectricity facility are among the top projects that have been floated. The previously unreported discussions come after Trump threatened to slap tariffs on Denmark on Tuesday if the European nation doesnt cede control of Greenland. The president-elects remarks were unexpected, forcing his team to quickly devise a more constructive approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenlands new international prominence is helping drive its independence movement, which has grown alongside resentment toward Denmark. While Copenhagen has controlled Greenland for more than three centuries, Denmarks colonial-era misdeeds have increasingly come to light in recent years. Revelations about Danish doctors forcing birth control on teenage girls in Greenland in the 1960s and 1970s were made public in 2022, while Greenlanders still report facing racial discrimination from Danes. The forthcoming election offers Greenland an opportunity to reevaluate these ties, with independence likely to be in focus. Under the territorys current governance structure, adopted in 2009, Greenland controls domestic issues including education, health care and the judiciary, while ceding matters of foreign, monetary, security and constitutional policy to Denmark. Premier Mute B. Egede, who is running for reelection, urged Greenland to remove the shackles of the colonial era in a speech on New Years day, expressing a widely held view on the island. This hasnt been lost on the US president-elect. Trump is absolutely capitalizing on Greenlands push for independence, said Jacob Kaarsbo, independent foreign security adviser and former chief analyst at the Danish Defence Intelligence Service. I can easily see a scenario where Greenland moves away from Denmark after the upcoming elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest obstacle to the territorys independence is an economic one. Today, Greenland receives about $600 million a year from Copenhagen to pay for, among other things, its health care and education systems, both of which are free for citizens. As of 2021, the islands entire economy was estimated to be around $2.4 billion. If Greenland were to declare independence, it would need to find new partners to support it economically. Which is where Trump might come in. If you want to have control over Greenland or have them closer to the US, it must be done by offering them more money than they currently get from Denmark in subsidies, said Peter Viggo Jakobsen, professor at Center of War Studies at University of Southern Denmark and a lecturer at the Royal Danish Defence College. If Trump can offer the Greenlandic people a better deal, I can easily imagine that a majority of the population will declare independence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, like with many of the president-elects ideas, theres nothing concrete on the table. One avenue is deepening investment in the islands critical mineral sector, which the US views as crucial to countering Chinese dominance in the global rare earth market. Speaking at an event in Copenhagen on Thursday, Egede said Greenland is about to enter a new future and needs to be united. The Greenlandic people want to be treated equally, he said, whether its in Denmark or anywhere else in the world. Power dynamics already appear to be shifting in Greenlands favor. On Wednesday, just a day after Donald Trump Jr. paid a surprise five-hour visit to the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk, Denmark agreed to help the territory finance a new hydropower project. And last month, as Trump proclaimed his interest in Greenland, the Danish government unveiled new investments to improve Arctic defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denmarks King Frederik X also changed the countrys royal coat of arms to feature Greenland more prominently, and the government has taken steps to further integrate the territory into the commonwealth union. Greenlandic interpreters have also been brought into the Danish parliament to improve communication during lawmaking and debates. Denmark is also giving Greenland a bigger say in foreign policy and made it clear that Greenlanders are free to choose their own way. It is their country, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told local broadcasters this week, and only Greenland can determine and define Greenlands future. Should it secede, the most obvious path for Greenland would be to align itself with another state through free association, a political arrangement in which a territory voluntarily enters into a formal partnership with another nation. The Cook and Marshall Islands both have such deals with the US, and if Greenland were to strike something similar, it would be able to act as an independent nation and gain full control over its natural resources while still receiving financial support for public services. Yet any such arrangement is still a ways away. For Greenland to gain independence, it would first require the Danish and Greenlandic governments to negotiate a deal stipulating the terms, which Greenlands 57,000-person population would have to approve in a binding referendum. That would need the blessing of both the Greenlandic and Danish parliaments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the run-up to Greenlands general election this spring, politicians will have to be much clearer about what exactly they want from independence, said Ulrik Pram Gad, a Greenland expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies. So far, Greenlands politicians have been vague about what an independent territory might look like, which countries it would rely on, and how. For once, they need to be more specific about what they mean by independence, Gad said. (Pulls up Trump paras to 5th and 6th spots; adds contexts in third-to-last para about independence process.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A member of Greenlands parliament has slammed Donald Trump Jr.s recent private visit to the autonomous Danish territory, which took place while his father, Donald Trump, heightened his rhetoric about the United States taking control of the island. In an interview with Politico published Thursday, Pipaluk Lynge claimed the optics of the Trump scions trip two days earlier during which he was pictured with multiple residents wearing his dads red Make America Great Again hat were staged. Local media reported that the MAGA caps were handed out just before the photos were taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No journalists were allowed to interview him, Lynge, a member of the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party (which wants independence for Greenland) told Politico. It was all staged to make it seem like we the Greenlandic people were MAGA and love to be a part of the USA. People were curious, but some took pictures giving him [the] finger at the airport. Some wrote on Facebook: Yankee go home, she added, per Politico. Donald Trump Jr. pictured soon after arriving in Nuuk, Greenland. EMIL STACH via Getty Images A representative for Trump Jr. dismissed the staged claim to Politico. The president-elects son himself wrote on Instagram: So many people excited about our visit, especially the youth. They love America and Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede said independence from Denmark was the islands aim, not being taken over by the United States. As well as talking about seizing Greenland (and possibly using military force to do so), the incoming POTUS has in recent weeks also suggested the merger of Canada with the U.S. and taking control of the Panama Canal. Trump also this week hyped up the idea of renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a suggestion that drew some deadpan trolling from Mexicos new president Claudia Sheinbaum. Related... COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Greenland's prime minister said Friday that the mineral-rich Arctic territory's people don't want to be Americans, but that he understands U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's interest in the island given its strategic location and he's open to greater cooperation with Washington. The comments from the Greenlandic leader, Mute B. Egede, came after Trump said earlier this week that he wouldn't rule out using force or economic pressure in order to make Greenland a semiautonomous territory of Denmark a part of the United States. Trump said that it was a matter of national security for the U.S. Egede acknowledged that Greenland is part of the North American continent, and a place that the Americans see as part of their world. He said he hasn't spoken to Trump, but that he's open to discussions about what unites us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions, he said. Egede has been calling for independence for Greenland, casting Denmark as a colonial power that hasn't always treated the Indigenous Inuit population well. Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic, he said at a news conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen. Trumps desire for Greenland has sparked anxiety in Denmark as well as across Europe. The United States is a strong ally of 27-nation European Union and the leading member of the NATO alliance, and many Europeans were shocked by the suggestion that an incoming U.S. leader could even consider using force against an ally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Frederiksen said that she sees a positive aspect in the discussion. The debate on Greenlandic independence and the latest announcements from the U.S. show us the large interest in Greenland, she said. Events which set in motion a lot of thoughts and feelings with many in Greenland and Denmark." The U.S. is our closest ally, and we will do everything to continue a strong cooperation, she said. Frederiksen and Egede spoke to journalists after a biannual assembly of Denmark and two territories of its kingdom, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The meeting had been previously scheduled and wasn't called in response to Trump's recent remarks. Trump's eldest son also made a visit to Greenland on Tuesday, landing in a plane emblazoned with the word TRUMP and handing out Make America Great Again caps to locals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Danish public broadcaster, DR, reported Friday that Trump's team encouraged homeless and socially disadvantaged people in Greenland to appear in a video wearing the MAGA hats after being offered a free meal in a nice restaurant. The report quoted a local resident, Tom Amtof, who recognized some of those in a video broadcast by Trump's team. They are being bribed, and it is deeply distasteful, he said. Greenland has a population of 57,000. But it's a vast territory possessing natural resources that include oil, gas, and rare earth elements, which are expected to become more accessible as ice melts because of climate change. It also has a key strategic location in the Arctic, where Russia, China and others are seeking to expand their footprint. Greenland, the worlds largest island, lies closer to the North American mainland than to Denmark. While Copenhagen is responsible for its foreign affairs and defense, the U.S. also shares responsibility for Greenlands defense and operates an air force base there based on a 1951 treaty. (WGHP) If you go to the right school, there are times when the people who stand at the front of the class can change your life. For Ross Harris, who grew up in Greensboro, it came as she was looking at her final years in Durham. One of my professors at Duke was a visiting professor. His name was Saul Friedman, Harris said. He was a reporter for the Knight Ridder newspapers, and there was a course I took called Working with the Media about how to write for the media, and so he was one of the professors along with David Broder from the Washington Post. I got to know these guys For my program at Duke, Public Policy, we had a summer internship in Washington. A lot of people chose health policy. I chose communications policy. I really wanted to work at the White House. I just thought, what a great thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not an easy gig to get. Contacts made the difference. Saul knew a woman named Patricia Barrio, who was from Michigan, and she was one of Jodys deputy press secretaries, she said, referring to Carter Administration advisor and press secretary, Jody Powell. Saul called her and said, Ive got this kid who wants an intern at the White House. Will you take her? And she said, Sure, Ill take her. That gave Harris access to nearly everything going on in the White House while she was barely old enough to buy a drink. She went back to Duke to finish graduate school and was able to get a job with Chicagos legendary advertising agency Leo Burnett. Shed been there barely eight weeks when serendipity smiled upon her one more time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was watching the Democratic convention and seeing my friends there that Id worked with in Washington just thinking how great that was when the phone rings, Harris said. Its Linda Peek. Linda had been one of the associate press secretaries in the White House, and Id worked with her. And she was the campaign press secretary [for Carters re-election campaign in 1980]. She says, What are you doing? I said, Im actually watching the convention. She says, Well, you have to come back and join the campaign. And I said, Linda, I cant. Ive got a real job. My parents would kill me. Her parents were prominent in Democratic Party circles in and around Greensboro. Her mother grew up with childhood friends like former state government official Skipper Bowles and legendary Congressman Richardson Preyer, and thats why the entire Harris family would spend election nights at the courthouse, watching results come in. But Harris didnt want to be a politician herself, heeding the advice of people she respected. They said, Ross, you have a choice to make: you can choose to have the seat or the Rolodex, meaning you can be the candidate or you can do everything else. And for me, like the book Boys on the Bus, the most fun place to be in a campaign is on the bus, she said. That was the idea of the job at Leo Burnett: she would work in political messaging and advertising. But soon after she got that call from Peek, she was called into one of the corner offices at Leo Burnett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think you ought to take that job, the boss said. Ill keep your job open here. Ill pay your health insurance. If Carter wins, youll probably go to the White House, and you should do that. But if Carter loses, youll come back to me. So I think either way, we win. Ross took that job with the Carter campaign Although he lost that election to Ronald Reagan, Harris cherishes her time in the White House and with the campaign. As much as she admired Carter, she sees with hindsight that his skillset may not have been best suited for the job. He was an engineer. He couldnt see the forest for the trees. He focused on that detail. It tripped him up many, many times. But he was honest. He was decent, she said. [His White House] was a happy place to work. See more from Harris time with Carter in this edition of The Buckley Report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. CHICAGO At least 100 flights were canceled and dozens more delayed after a ground stop was issued at OHare International Airport due to the snowy weather Friday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all inbound flights at OHare just before 8 a.m. Friday. According to officials, the ground stop was lifted at 9:15 a.m. As of 11 a.m. Friday, a total of 100 flights are canceled at OHare and about 30 cancelations at Midway Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forecast: Snow likely to impact Friday morning commute For the latest flight information and updates, go to: www.flychicago.com Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Fall color viewing drive along the Star Meadows Road along Logan Creek out to Sylvia Lake (Photo courtesy of Tally Lake Ranger District - Flathead National Forest | CC-BY- SA 2.0| Via Flickr). Four conservation organizations are suing the United States Forest Service and specifically the Flathead National Forest for a logging project they say violates several different federal laws, and disregards other projects in the area that cumulatively will hurt Canada lynx and grizzly bears, two species protected by law. The Round Star Vegetation Management Project is classified as a major logging project in the Flathead National Forest and is planned to take place 13 miles west of Whitefish. It authorizes logging on 9,151 acres, including more than 6,300 acres of core habitat for lynx and grizzly bear. That includes nearly 20 miles of new, permanent roads, 3.4 miles of temporary roads, 5.6 miles of new trails, an expanded parking area, warming shelter and equipment building at the Round Meadow trailhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said that by ignoring other ongoing logging and treatment plans for areas in the forest and surrounding it, the agency has failed to look at the cumulative effects, and, indeed, seems to be intentionally ignoring them to make the project look smaller than it is. The U.S. Forest Service does not comment on pending litigation as a matter of policy. The groups that are challenging the Forest Service include Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Native Ecosystems Council, Council on Wildlife and Fish, and the Yellowstone to Uintas Connection. The Flathead National Forest is classified as core lynx habitat meaning that not only are lynx found there, but also use it to raise their young, as well as hunt. The lawsuit contends that the Round Star project would severely jeopardize the lynxs main prey, snowshoe hare, which are common throughout the Tally Lake Ranger District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynx productivity is highly dependent on the quantity and quality of winter snowshoe hare habitat, the lawsuit said. Activities such as logging, fire suppression, and livestock grazing can affect the amount, distribution and condition of lynx denning and winter snowshoe hare habitat. That hunting becomes even more important during the winter time, the lawsuit said. For example, landscape-scale fragmentation directly affects lynx by creating openings that increase access by competing carnivores such as coyotes and mountain lions, especially in the winter when lynx have traditionally been able to exploit their evolutionary edge in places where deep, soft snow tends to exclude other predators during the time of year that prey is most limiting, the lawsuit said. Other projects The conservation groups said the Forest Service did not consider other logging or disruptive projects in its plans, which federal law says must be part of the analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the Forest Service did not consider the Stillwater Unit of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation timber sale that has been proposed in the project area, which will regenerate 399 acres of forest. Nor did it consider the massive forthcoming Cyclone Bill Project, it said. It criticizes the Forest Service for not producing maps of the project because the groups contend it would show the overlap between the projects. The environmental analysis does not include anything resembling the following map of the reasonably foreseeable actions so that the agency or the public could fully understand the scale, timeline, and/or proximity of other authorized or proposed logging projects to the Round Star Projects treatment units, it said. The lawsuit argues that because those projects share borders within the Tally Lake Ranger District, the project takes on a much larger scope, which would trigger a host of federal laws. In total, those projects encompass 41,863 acres with more than 100 miles of new roads. Attorneys for the groups say that the Forest Service is obligated under federal law to consider the total cumulative impact of those projects which are located in the district. Grizzly bears The groups also say that the Forest Service did not properly consider the impacts to grizzly bears in the area, which includes documentation of at least two breeding female bears who have raised cubs there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said that the proposed project will decrease the amount of cover and vegetation available, which will decrease the ungulate food that grizzlies hunt. Moreover, the new roads and new recreation have been proven to drive grizzlies away from those activities. Removing trees and cover for ungulates will reduce the number of them in the area, which will, in turn, the lawsuit said, drive them away from the core habitat area. It will take at least 20 years for these units to start providing forage habitat and hiding cover again, the lawsuit said. The groups have asked the federal court in Missoula to vacate the project decision and send the issue back to the Forest Service to evaluate it, and enjoin the project from moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone wonders why were taking the Forest Service to court over the Round Star logging project, there is one primary reason: Lynx critical habitat is the worst place for clearcuts, said Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. The surest way to drive lynx to extinction is allowing Bidens Forest Service to continue their massive deforestation of the West. Round Star Complaint_stamped A man who fired an assault rifle inside a Washington, D.C., restaurant in December 2016 while claiming to investigate the "pizzagate" hoax died this week after being fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. On the night of Jan. 4, Edgar Welch was a passenger in a 2001 GMC Yukon that was stopped by officers, Kannapolis police said Thursday in a news statement. The traffic stop was conducted after officers linked the vehicle to Welch, who was wanted at the time on an outstanding arrest warrant, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers recognized Welch and moved to arrest him, he produced a handgun from his jacket and pointed it at one of the officers, police said, and after refusing commands to drop the gun, two officers opened fire on him. He died of his wounds at an area hospital two days later, on Jan. 6, police said. The three officers involved in the traffic stop and the two other occupants in Welch's vehicle were uninjured, police said. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation confirmed to CBS News Thursday Welch's identity as the "pizzagate" shooter. Welch fired his weapon inside the Comet Ping Pong restaurant on Dec. 4, 2016, after he drove there from North Carolina to investigate a false far-right conspiracy theory claiming that Democrats were running a child sex ring out of the restaurant, a claim that had garnered numerous threats against the eatery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After he entered the crowded restaurant with an AR-15 assault rifle and a revolver, he fired the rifle into a door, authorities said at the time. No one was hurt. He later pled guilty to one federal count each of interstate transportation of a firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon. In June 2017 he was sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Ketanji B. Jackson, then a U.S. district judge, to four years in prison. FILE -- Edgar Welch, 28 of Salisbury, North Carolina, surrenders to police on Dec. 4, 2016, in Washington, D.C. / Credit: AP California official on evacuation orders as Sunset Fire burns in Hollywood Hills Supreme Court will not stop Trump's New York "hush money" case sentencing "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia loses home in Los Angeles fires BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Community members, volunteers, and officials put on their hard hats and picked up a shovel to toss the first pile of dirt for the Habitat Village. Habitat for Humanity is building the first subdivision of its kind on a 2-acre parcel in Callaway. The Habitat Village will have 15 homes, helping families become homeowners at an affordable cost. We have all our homes appraised, so we already know that there are at least 100,000 more than we are selling, Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Angela Klopf said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IAG Aero Groups Project Spinner updates The Habitat Village homeowners must invest time and energy on Habitat builds, working 500 hours in Sweat Equity before moving into their home. They also have to attend homeowner training classes and have the ability to pay. The zero-interest mortgages are considered a hand-up, not a hand-out. These are people who would not have the ability to get conventional financing, but theyre also not people who are in such tough economic circumstances that they cant afford to repay the zero-interest mortgage that all habitat homeowners pay for their homes, Habitat for Humanity Board Member Doug Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habitat has already laid the foundation for the first home. Once the infrastructure is done, they will start building the homes. Then a street will go in, called Foundation Lane, because they are building the foundation for 15 families. I believe that they will have a safer home life. I believe their children will thrive. Theyll do better in school. Theyll become better and more productive citizens for America, Smith said. The Bay County chapter has built over a hundred homes, but this is their biggest project yet. The project relies on grants and community donations. State Senator Jay Trumbull and State Representative Griffin Griffitts helped pass an appropriations grant for the infrastructure. Klopf says it takes a village. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida lawmakers discuss funding concerns in Jackson County Our engineers panhandle engineering, they were the first to give back to us and say, heres a $10,000 check towards your project, Klopf said. Publix and Champions First Credit Union are sponsoring two of the homes. Habitat is still looking for sponsors for the other 13. Thursdays groundbreaking ceremony fell on the same day as the funeral for President Jimmy Carter. Carter began volunteering with Habitat in 1984 and was an avid supporter and advocate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. People in Hall County spent Friday enjoying their snow day. Seven-year-old Maverick Sisson told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers that hes been waiting for years to have a snow day. I woke up like early, early, early, and I got to see snowflakes falling, like actually falling, Sisson said. While Sisson and his neighbors in Flowery Branch enjoyed sledding, snowball fights, and building snowmen, Hall County Emergency Management said they are continuing to monitor the winter weather as the system moves through the area. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall County EMA said Public Safety personnel and Public Works crews are moving throughout the county assisting with any issues, especially as the temperature continues to drop throughout the day and more ice accumulates. On Friday afternoon, a representative said they had several road closures and some streets that were completely impassable. At that time, crews werent treating the roads, only clearing them, so emergency vehicles could travel more easily. EMA said people need to be cautious if they are traveling downhill or on bridges and overpasses, but they really want people to stay off the road all together if possible. I went ahead and shopped for groceries yesterday and planned to kind of stay in for the weekend, said Brandon Humphrey, who had the day off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall County EMA is also encouraging people to sign up for their Citizens Alerts. People will get updates on any road closures, accidents, or potential threats. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] As multiple massive wildfires continue to rage across Southern California, people are stepping up to help those heavily impacted. Actress Sharon Stone is urging people to donate gently used clothing for men, women and children like: jeans, jackets, shoes, beanies, gloves, as well as blankets to The Coop in the Fairfax neighborhood of Los Angeles. She requests that donations like underwear and socks be new. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These mental health resources are available for Southern California wildfire victims Other items being accepted are gift cards of any amount to Starbucks, Target, etc. The Coop Please come and shop if you were displaced from the fire, she wrote on Instagram. The Coop is located at 7278 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Halle Berry is one of the many famous names who donated to the location. Halle Berry attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 12, 2023. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Im packing up my entire closet and heading over to The COOP! If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same, she wrote on Instagram. This is something we can do right now today to help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics today! Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actresses Michelle Pfeiffer and Chrishell Stause commented on Berrys post saying they plan on dropping off items as well. Jamie Lee Curtis pledges $1M donation to SoCal fire relief efforts Nearly 180,000 people have had to evacuate their homes due to the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Lidia Fires. Many have been alerted that their homes have been destroyed, while others are still awaiting word. For those not in the Southern California area, there are other ways you can help support wildfire victims on their path to recovery: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) New Hampshire's highest court on Friday upheld a judge's dismissal of civil rights complaints against a white nationalist group that prosecutors say trespassed when it displayed without a permit Keep New England White banners from an overpass in 2022. The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in its first look at the state Civil Rights Act, agreed with the lower court judge that state prosecutors' interpretation of the law was unconstitutionally overbroad. The court said the state's interpretation of the law imposes government sanctions on people who unintentionally trespass on public property and whose presence is motivated by one the characteristics mentioned in the law. Those characteristics include race color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a broad sweep discourages the expression of certain messages for fear of government sanctions under the Act based on the content of the messages expressed, the court wrote in its opinion. The court also said It was not persuaded that the complaints sufficiently allege that group members knowingly trespassed. The attorney general's office said it was disappointed by the court's decision, but respects it, spokesperson Michael Garrity said in a statement. Our office remains steadfast in enforcing the Civil Rights Act to ensure all Granite Staters are free from discrimination, violence, and hate-motivated threats. We will continue to explore all options to protect the rights and safety of our communities, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Gens, a lawyer representing the group, said its members were "very pleased with the decision, and it was based on grounds that we raised all along." He said the attorney general's interpretation didnt give adequate notice to the public as to what conduct, including the speech portion of the conduct, was a violation of the statute. The complaints alleged that the Nationalist Social Club, also known as NSC-131, and two of its members trespassed upon public property and were motivated by race in hanging the banners from the overpass overlooking U.S. Route 1 in Portsmouth. About 10 people took part, the complaints said. The complaints asked a judge to enter an order prohibiting the group and its members from engaging in threatening physical force or violence and discriminatory behavior for three years. NSC-131 has been identified by the Anti-Defamation League as a New England-based neo-Nazi group founded in 2019 that espouses racism, antisemitism and intolerance and whose membership is a collection of neo-Nazis and racist skinheads, many of whom have previous membership in other white supremacist groups. A second complaint filed against the group by the attorney general's office is pending. It accuses the group of violations in response to a demonstration outside a Concord cafe hosting a drag story hour event. WASHINGTON (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris is canceling the final foreign trip of her term because of the wildfires in her home state of California, her office announced on Thursday. Her decision follows a similar one made by President Joe Biden, who was due to travel this week to Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but instead stayed in Washington. Harris had planned to visit Singapore, Bahrain and Germany from Jan. 13 to 17. The itinerary suggested she wanted to continue playing a global role even after losing the presidential election to Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters have been struggling to get a handle on several blazes in the Los Angeles area. At a White House meeting with Biden on Thursday, Harris said wildfires will continue to be a year-round threat. It doesn't matter what month of the year, she said. We should be ready. Harris' own home, in the Brentwood neighborhood, is located in an evacuation zone. ___ (Bloomberg) -- Vice President Kamala Harris is canceling a three-nation overseas trip to remain in the US and assist in the federal response to the catastrophic wildfires in her home state of California. Most Read from Bloomberg In response to the historic wildfires in Los Angeles, the vice president has made the decision to cancel her and the second gentlemans upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany, her press secretary, Ernesto Apreza, said in a statement on Thursday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris was scheduled to leave Monday on the five-day trip, during her final week in office before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. The visit to three critical US allies was her last planned overseas traveled as vice president and follows a failed, whirlwind presidential campaign that ended in defeat. Harris has faced speculation about her next move with some allies seeing a run for governor of California in 2026 as a natural step. Harris was born in the state and she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, have a home in Brentwood, a West Los Angeles enclave. The Los Angeles area has been grappling with its worst natural disaster in decades, with strong winds fanning flames that have torn through communities. Apreza said in a post on X earlier that Harris home had been put under an evacuation order earlier in the week and that no one was there at the time. She and the second gentleman are praying for the safety of their fellow Californians, the heroic first responders, and Secret Service personnel, Apreza said in the Wednesday post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least five people have died in the disaster so far, with officials fearing the death toll could rise. The wildfires are poised to become among the most costly in US history, with insurers potentially incurring losses of over $20 billion, according to analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. The blazes are likely to cause between $52 billion to $57 billion in damages and economic loss, a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather Inc. said. Harris and Biden received a briefing from senior federal officials on the response to the wildfires earlier Thursday, where the vice president called the situation apocalyptic. Biden also canceled a trip to Rome and Vatican City to help direct the federal response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. KENTUCKY (FOX 56) A Kentucky high school alum played an important role in honoring the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter. According to Harrison County High School, Carter Moore graduated from Harrison County in 2023. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Former President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100 on Dec. 29, and Lane Corporal Moore was chosen to stand guard as Carter laid in state at the nations capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore and other members of the military were chosen to stand guard as the public came to pay their respects to the former president. We are very proud of Moore and thankful for his service to our country, Harrison County Schools said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. HARTSELLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Hartselle Police Department said a previously reported missing man was located. On Jan. 11, the Hartselle Police Department said 40-year-old Robert William Witt was located and is safe. A Hartselle man was previously reported missing on Jan. 9 after he was last seen at a hospital in Birmingham, the police department said. Robert William Witt (photo: Hartselle Police Department) Robert William Witt (photo: Hartselle Police Department) According to the department, Witt was reported missing by his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HPD: Man arrested in Mississippi, charged for Huntsville Christmas Day shooting While seeking medical attention on January 2, he was taken to Saint Vincents Hospital in Birmingham. Police said that, against medical advice, he left the hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. COURTESY HAWAIIAN TELCOM Hawaiian Telcom technician Melbert Ulep prepares to install a fiber-optic line to a home from a utility pole. COURTESY HAWAIIAN TELCOM Hawaiian Telcom technician Melbert Ulep prepares to install a fiber-optic line to a home from a utility pole. Hawaiian Telcom announced a groundbreaking initiative Thursday to make Hawaii the nations first fully fiber-enabled state by 2026, with the project already more than halfway completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company is replacing its outdated copper network with a state-of-the-art fiber-optic system, marking a significant shift in broadband infrastructure. Starting in the fall of 2024, Hawaiian Telcom offered the fastest internet speeds in Hawaii through its fiber-to-the-premise network, providing up to 3 gigabits-per-second symmetrical speeds for both upload and download. The network currently serves over 400, 000 homes and businesses, covering 60 % of the state, with plans to extend service to the remaining 40 % by the end of 2026. Hawaiian Telcom is focused on completing the full fiber-to-the-premise rollout within the next two years, aiming to cover the entire state with fiber-optic connections by the end of 2026. Weve been building fiber in Hawaii now for over a decade, and the investments have been spread out over the course of 10 years, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaiian Telcom President Su Shin told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. What were doing now is really ramping up that investment. So by the end of last year, we got to about 60 % of the state fiber-enabled. That means that when you look at the entire state of Hawaii, 60 % of the people across the state of Hawaiiand its a mixture of different islandscurrently have access to our fiber-to-the-premise. Hawaiian Telcom had previously invested heavily in stringing copper cables across the state, but the cables are aging and no longer meet the demands of modern data use and struggle to provide the high-speed internet required by todays users, limiting the quality of service. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Recognizing the limitations, Hawaiian Telcom began its transition to a fiber-optic network nearly 10 years ago. So whether you live in Hilo, Honolulu, Hanalei or anywhere else, youll have access to the same fiber-optic network, Shin said. I would argue that probably it is most meaningful for people in the more rural communities where they maybe have spotty service or they havent had access to lots of options historically. By us blanketing the state by the end of 2026, everyones internet service is going to be on par. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanai and the top side of Molokaiessentially, all of Molokai except Kalaupapawere fiber-enabled in 2023, and Hawaiian Telcom expects Kauai to be completed by February. The company also plans to finish fiber deployment on Maui within this year, with further efforts continuing into 2026 to complete Hawaii island and Oahu. The remainder of Big Island and Oahu will be in 2026, Shin said. Both Big Island and Oahu, we have fiber already in a lot of different areas. Were just not done, theres pukas. There are holes where we have our old copper infrastructure, but we havent overlaid it with our fiber yet. And we will fill in the holes by the end of 2026. Broadband access offers significant benefits, especially in rural communities like Lanai, where unreliable airline service makes the internet even more crucial. Reliable internet provides access to telehealth, education, e-commerce and economic opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initiative aims to level the playing field across Hawaii, ensuring all residentsbeyond just Oahuhave equal access to modern infrastructure. Hawaiian Telcom has led vital transformation for broadband access across the state, said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement. On Maui, completion of fiber expansion by the end of the year will help bridge the digital divide by providing reliable internet access for residents, including those in our rural areas. It will also empower our local businesses and economy as we move forward with rebuilding and recovery in our communities affected by the August 2023 wildfires. The $1.7 billion effort includes $107 million in federal funding received by Hawaiian Telcom. More than 90 % of the investment comes from private capital, with the remaining funds from federal and state programs such as the Connect America Fund, Rural Digital Opportunities Fund and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are incredibly proud of Hawaiian Telcoms commitment to elevate Hawai i as a leader in broadband connectivity with the goal of being the first state in the nation to be fully fiber-enabled, Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. This is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships and a clear demonstration of how we can create lasting value for our community by working together. By helping to bridge the digital divide, Shin told the Star-Advertiser she hopes to give people the tools they need to thrive in todays connected world. Choosing to opt into the fiber network wont result in higher prices for consumers. In fact, during a recent meeting with legislators, it was noted that Hawaiian Telcoms prices are often comparable to, or even lower than, those of competitors. The introduction of more options for consumers, regardless of where they live, fosters competition, which helps keep prices affordable. In a competitive marketplace, providers work to stay competitive, ensuring that prices remain reasonable while offering reliable service. Construction work will close some lanes Friday night on southbound I-5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Lane reductions will begin at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 10 between Pendleton Avenue and Steilacoom-DuPont Road near Exit 119, WSDOT announced on the project website. All lanes will reopen the following morning by 6:30 a.m. Depending on weather, the work could be rescheduled, according to WSDOT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-5 ramps to and from Steilacoom-DuPont Road/Clark Road will also be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Friday. Theyll reopen by 6:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the project website. Detour signs will lead drivers to the next nearest ramp. A new overpass will allow crews to add HOV lanes on both north- and southbound I-5 near JBLM, between Mounts Road and Gravelly Lake Drive, to help relieve congestion on the highway. Rebuilding the Steilacoom-Dupont Road interchange with I-5 will also address structural deficiencies in the existing overpass, which was built in 1957, according to the WSDOT website. Construction at the site began in August 2023. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE The island of Maui is under a severe thunderstorm warning and a flash flood warning this morning. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE The island of Maui is under a severe thunderstorm warning and a flash flood warning this morning. UPDATE : 7 :05 a.m. The severe thunderstorm warning for the island of Maui has expired. PREVIOUS COVERAGE Severe thunderstorms and heavy rains on the island of Maui have prompted the National Weather Service in Honolulu to issue a severe thunderstorm warning and a flash flood warning today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 7 a.m., while the flash flood warning will remain active until 7 :30 a.m. Radar indicated severe thunderstorms at 5 :23 a.m., with storms stretching from Waikapu to Kaupo and moving southwest at 10 mph, according to the NWS. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph have been reported, posing significant risks to trees, roofs and outbuildings. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weather officials described the situation as dangerous, with widespread wind damage likely across the island. Locations expected to be affected include Kahului, Honokohau, Haliimaile, Kipahulu, Wailuku, Makawao, Paia, Keokea, Olowalu, Wailea, Waihee and Kaanapali. Hazardous road conditions and power outages resulting from the adverse weather have prompted the state Department of Education to close public schools in east, south and west Maui to students and staff today. The affected schools include Hana High & Elementary, Kamali i Elementary, Kihei Elementary, Lokelani Intermediate, Kulanihako i High, King Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nahi ena ena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High, according to a DOE spokesperson. Affected schools are notifying families directly. All other public schools remain open at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the heavy rains have soaked eastern Maui, with rainfall rates reaching between 2 and 4 inches per hour, according to the NWS. Water levels in streams, particularly around Hanawi Stream and Oheo Gulch, have risen sharply, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Roads in several locations may be closed due to runoff, and landslides are possible in steep terrain. Some areas that will experience flash flooding include Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Kula, Pukalani, Makawao, Keokea, Haliimaile, Paia, Puunene, Haiku-Pauwela, Wailea, Pauwela, Maalaea, Huelo, Ulupalakua, Makena, Waikapu, Wailuku and Waiehu. Authorities are urging residents to take immediate precautions. Residents should avoid streams, rivers and drainage ditches, even if they appear dry, as conditions can change rapidly. 2 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Jan. 9New Mexico's senior senator objects to holding a nomination hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's Energy secretary pick without a completed FBI background check and financial report. On Thursday, Energy and Natural Resources Chair, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, scheduled a nomination hearing for Chris Wright for Jan. 15. The committee's ranking member Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said in a statement that he is disappointed the hearing will come before a financial report or background check, which are required by committee rules. "As I have made clear to Chairman Lee, the American people deserve transparency on the individuals nominated to serve them in the incoming administration," Heinrich said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Energy Department focuses on maintaining the nuclear arsenal, reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation, overseeing U.S. energy supply and environmental clean-up of nuclear waste. Importantly for New Mexico, the Department of Energy oversees the 17 national laboratories, including Sandia and Los Alamos. Trump's pick Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy and known for advocating for oil and gas development. On Wednesday, Heinrich also criticized a nomination hearing for Trump's Interior secretary pick, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, over similar concerns. That hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14. "The documents that the Energy and Natural Resources Democrats do not have are not just paperwork," Heinrich said. "These are the documents, disclosures and ethics agreement that are required by our Committee rules and the law." Lee's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. UPDATE: The Xenia Police Division said a woman is no longer missing. Family has now been in contact with Kizzy and she is no longer missing, Xenia police posted on Facebook. Further information was not provided. INITIAL REPORT: Do you recognize a missing 47-year-old woman? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Xenia Police is looking for Kizzy Bonner, according to a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department posted a photo on its Facebook post. TRENDING STORIES: Her family has not heard from her since before Christmas. Anyone with information can contact Detective Shelley. The phone number is (937) 376-7210. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Do you recognize this suspect? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police are looking for a man accused of breaking into the Brookville Local Schools Board of Education office. A spokesperson told News Center 7 that the suspect forced entry into several locked rooms and damaged some doors. TRENDING STORIES: He allegedly stole items inside the building. The department has asked anyone who lives near the Brookville Local Schools Board of Education building to check their cameras for activity between 4 and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information can call Major Simon at (937) 833-2001 or email him. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County have displaced more than 100,000 Southern California residents since breaking out amid a strong Santa Ana windstorm on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire and other fires across the region have decimated over 1,000 homes, buildings and other structures, and have collectively burned nearly 30,000 acres as of publication, according to NBC News. At least five people are dead. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop delivered right to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who have been affected by the fires are in need of supplies, clothing, shelter, food and more. Here's how you can help: American Red Cross The American Red Cross is accepting donations for those affected by the fires. The organization is working to help provide food, shelter, emotional support and health services. Donate here. Direct Relief Direct Relief is an American humanitarian aid organization "with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencieswithout regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay." Donate here. California Fire Foundation The California Fire Foundation "provides critical support to surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they serve." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization said they are working with local fire agencies and community-based groups to directly provide financial support to impacted Los Angeles residents. You can donate here. Local Donation Drop-Offs Many businesses from all over Southern California are using their locations as drop-off spots for donations. Items include new and gently used clothing for all ages (adult through infant, including shirts, pants, new underwear and socks, jackets and shoes); new toiletries and hygiene products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, diapers and sanitary products); baby formula and bottled water; and blankets, bedding and pillows, as well as other items like phone chargers, extension cords and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check your local community social media accounts. Airbnb For anyone who has been displaced by the Los Angeles fires, Airbnb is offering temporary, free housing by partnering with 211 LA, a non-profit organization that connects L.A. residents to community resources and local services. The organization is "specifically focused on residents who have either lost their home or been forced to evacuate in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar areas." Those affected can request temporary housing by filling out an intake form with 211 LA. Salvation Army The Salvation Army Southern California Division is helping to provide personal necessities, basic needs, shelter and food to those affected by the fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click here to donate. World Central Kitchen Led by chef Jose Andres, the World Central Kitchen's relief team in Southern California provides meals to families and first responders. Click here to donate. Planet Fitness Planet Fitness announced it will open its doors to those affected by the firesalong with first responders, emergency personnel and othersat locations that have not have not yet been impacted, per KTLA. The gym chain is giving free access to locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi for those in need through Wednesday, Jan. 15. Call your local club or click here to find the location nearest to you. GoFundMe GoFundMe launched a fundraiser to provide "direct relief" to those affected by the fires. They also launched a hub dedicated to providing verified fundraisers related to the California wildfires. Lyft and Uber The rideshare companies are offering vouchers and credit for those who have been ordered to vacate their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uber is offering a $40 credit for trips to an active shelter with the code WILDFIRE25. Lyft announced that it will be offering $25 vouchers (valid for two trips) to 500 customers until Wednesday, Jan. 15, with the code CAFIRERELIEF25. Related: Rebel Wilson Reveals a Loved One Was Saved During the Los Angeles Fires The name of the young suspect charged in the brutal 2022 beating death of 10-year-old Lily Peters has been unsealed from court records by a Chippewa County judge.According to online records, Judge Steve H. Gibbs unsealed court records on Thursday, revealing for the first time that Carson T. Peters-Berger, 16, is the individual facing charges in Peters' death. Peters-Berger is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree sexual assault in Lily's death nearly three years ago. He was 14 at the time. How did we get to this point? Lawyers for Peters-Berger fought unsuccessfully for several months to have the case waived into juvenile court because of his age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2024, Gibbs ruled the case should remain in adult court, and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals later affirmed his decision. Peters-Berger is expected to return to court June 9 for a motion hearing. What happened to Lily Peters? It was on the evening of April 24, 2022 that Lilys father reported her missing; she didn't return home from a visit to her aunts house in the 400 block of North Grove Street in Chippewa Falls. Her bike was found later that night in a wooded area, less than a mile from where Lilys aunt lives. Lily's body was found the next day. She had been strangled, sexually assaulted and beaten to death with a large stick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peters-Berger was arrested and held on $1 million bail. He faces a mandatory life sentence if he's convicted on the homicide charge alone. Stuffed animals, flowers, balloons and other items make up a memorial in front of Parkview Elementary School as offiicials continue to investigate the homicide of Iliana "Lily" Peters, 10, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Chippewa Falls, Wis. What is Wisconsin's law about juvenile defendants? Wisconsin is one of only three states that require all 17-year-old criminal defendants to be charged as adults. State law allows for children as young as 10 to be charged as adults for certain serious crimes, at least to start the case. Those crimes include first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Attempted first-degree reckless homicide or attempted second-degree intentional homicide, and other lesser charges typically start in juvenile court. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's the latest on 10-year-old Lily Peters' case in Chippewa County GENERAL UPDATE: As the L.A. county fires continue to burn and move, and the city comes together and mobilizes to give whatever we can, many of the evacuation centers, animal shelters and donation/drop centers listed below may be full or have enough items requested. Please click links and check each organization's social media accounts for the latest on supplies needed, alternative evacuation locales, requests and aid. New relief news and efforts can be found at the end of this guide daily. Firefighters continue to battle major blazes in L.A. County, including The Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire in Altadena, as well as smaller flare-ups including the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, the Hurst Fire in Sylmar and the Lydia Fire near Soledad Canyon and Los Angeles County residents, are grappling with the destruction, power outages and remaining air quality health concerns. Everyone knows someone who's been affected, whether due to the loss of homes, businesses, or beloved landmarks. As of this writing, five people have died, and 2,000 structures have burned to the ground. Over 130,000 residents are still under evacuation orders, though evacuations for the Sunset Fire near the Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Walk of Fame were lifted this morning at 7:30 a.m. The city has come together to help and support victims, especially on social media, where offers of free food, lodging, and refuge for people and animals have been and are still being shared with those who need it. Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network map of resources. LISTS: One of the most expansive resource lists comes from Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (an information hub and community connector). See their detailed Google spreadsheet with donation hubs, animal housing, and shelters HERE. The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles has also complied a resource and aid list for Wild Crisis Relief including Jewish and government shelters, volunteer opportunities, mental health support and food, HERE. MYSafeLA, an outreach partner to the Los Angeles City Fire Department is providing useful printed materials, Web content, and a monthly Web meeting to add to the wildfire knowledge and tools available for L.A. residents, such a repopulation sheet for those affected by the Palisades fire. Click HERE. TEMPORARY HOUSING: Free and discounted accommodations are being offered by local hotels and businesses. Here are a few: 211 LA and Airbnb are offering free temporary shelter for displaced Angelenos. Apply HERE. Visit WeHo and Visit Palm Springs are offering discounted rates for local hotels. Santa Monica Hotels are promoting special rates for evacuated area residents at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Gateway Hotel, Hilton Santa Monica, The Pierside Santa Monica, Regent Santa Monica Beach, Sandbourne Santa Monica, Shore Hotel, Shutters on the Beach and Viceroy Santa Monica. More info HERE. The Queen Mary announced it is pricing rooms for fire evacuees at $189 which include a voucher for a breakfast buffet for two people and waives pet fees. More info on its Instagram or call (562) 435-3511. Big Bear is offering evacuee lodging at deeply discounted rates. More info HERE. Long Beach hotels and Santa Barbara hotels are both offering discounts to fire victims. SERVICES: Planet Fitness locations in L.A. are offering first responders and displaced individuals free access to showers, locker rooms, and WiFi. No membership required. Find your local club HERE. Lyft has activated its Lyft Up Disaster Response Program providing free and discounted rides. Use the code CAFIRERELIEF25 for two rides up to $25 each. They are also helping facilitate donations for the American Red Cross via their app. More info HERE. Uber is also offering free rides via the promo WILDFIRE25. AT&T is offering people in fire-damaged areas unlimited data, talk, and text through Feb. 6. More info HERE. Verizon is waiving call, text, and data charges for customers in wildfire areas as well, and they're offering free Wifi and charging stations at designated shelters. More info HERE. The Verizon Foundation also just announced it is donating $1 million to support communities devastated by the Southern California fires and windstorms and is adding local customer support via satellite messaging upgrades, free charging and wifi at their stores. T-Mobile is offering unlimited talk, text, and data for customers in the cities of Altadena, La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles, Palisades, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre who do not have it as part of their service plan now through Jan. 15. More info HERE. Related: Airbnb Opens Doors to L.A. Wildfire Evacuees FOOD: Discounted and free food for first responders and fire victims are available at several L.A. businesses. Check your favorite restaurant's social media to see what each is offering. Here are links to just a few who've promoted on social media : Pizza Girl Be U SuperFine Playa Yeastie Boys Bobby's Pizzeria LaSorted Wolfgang Puck Restaurants Mountain Mikes Pizza (Pasadena) Norms Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery Tomat Charcoal Venice Augies on Main Din Tai Fung SHOR Bazaar The Hideaway Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria Uchi West Hollywood Fatburger Round Table Pizza Shake Shack Tender Greens Dog Haus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click HERE for more restaurant updates. SHELTERS: See the lists above for evacuation centers and places to go as the fires move, or try the following: Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 S. Sepulveda, Westwood Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St, Pasadena El Camino Real Charter High School, 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima Sepulveda Recreation Center, 8825 Kester Avenue, Panorama City ANIMALS: For animal refuges and shelters see the lists above or try the following: Pasadena Humanes Wildlife Center, 361 S. Pasadena Ave. Call the helpline at 626-344-1129 or click HERE. Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills LA Equestrian Center has been listed as a space to take large animals on multiple media sites, but it is now at full capacity. They recommend contacting Animal Services Communication Center at (562) 940-6898 (South County) or (661) 940-4191 (North County). Western Veterinary Center in Agoura Hills will offer housing for dogs and cats affected by fires. Click HERE. Animal Wellness Foundation is offering free housing for evacuated animals. Click HERE for help or to donate. More emergency resources for animals now listed at L.A. County Animal Care & Control Related: Pacific Palisades Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations as Flames Devour Hillsides UPDATED RESOURCES (1/9/2025) Musicares is vowing to help the L.A. music community who've suffered fire damage or displacement. Seahorse Sound is offering free gear storage for musicians affected by the fires. The Record Parlour opened up its lounge for fire victims. Caveman Vintage is offering storage for belongings or vehicles in Lincoln Heights. FIGS healthcare apparel brand has launched a support initiative for the local healthcare community impacted by fires, including PPE and essential supplies, meals, aid for the cost of childcare, and more. Dr. Ariel Ourian in Beverly Hills is offering free medical and surgical care for anyone who sustains burns in the L.A. fires. Call (310) 424-5424 for more info. YMCA Downtown-Ketchum is collecting water, non-perishable food, clothing, and emergency supplies to distribute through their sister YMCA chapters in fire-affected regions. Drop off items at 401 S Hope St, LA, starting tomorrow. UPDATED RESOURCES (1/10/2025): Steve Van Doren, Robert Vargas and VANS are distributing free shoes to fire victims today at the Pasadena Elks Lodge, 400 West Colorado Blvd. Chewy pet brand is providing online tools for convenient, on-demand medical triage including Connect with a Vet, its telehealth service (they're waiving the video call fee for anyone affected by the California fires). Affected pet parents can access a free video consult with the promo code CHEWYHELPS now through Jan 31. The National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles (NCJW|LA) is offering a thousand $100 vouchers to The Council Shop stores for displaced individuals. More info HERE. Baby2Baby is providing emergency supplies for impacted families including emergency evacuation shelters, Homeless shelters, Low-income housing sites, childcare centers and more. They are also providing basic supplies to evacuation centers, distributing at pop-ups across the city and hosting volunteer sessions at their LA headquarters. Donate and help HERE. Vintage Vortex in East Hollywood is offering $100 vouchers for clothing for fire victims. Woman. collective in partnership with Fashion Mamas are putting together a relief event for victims this Sunday and seeking donations. More info is HERE. Calamigos Guest Ranch is offering their resources to locals, first responders, and anyone needing a place to rest or eat. Breakfast burritos are being offered from 8 am to 5 pm at the Calamigos Beach Club restaurant located on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and food will be provided from the Beach Club for locals to bring back to their families. Their on-property cafe, Saloon Coffee, will also remain open for anyone driving into or out of Malibu. Businesses accepting donations and distributing to all who need items including water, non-perishables, clothes, kids items and more as of 1/10/2025, include: Stories Books (Echo Park) The Regent (DTLA) Record Safari (Los Feliz) The Three Clubs (Hollywood) Dr. Greenthumbs (West L.A.) UPDATED RESOURCES (1/11/2025): GoodRx, based in Santa Monica, is offering free online healthcare provider visits via GoodRx Care to residents impacted by the wildfires helping with refills for essential medications that were left behind or destroyed in the fires and providing treatment. Petersen Auto Museum is offering free admission for students and families affected by the fires. Food 4 Less/Foods Co., Ralphs and Kroger pledge $1M for families impacted by wildfires and delivering food, water and supplies to local fire departments and evacuation centers. Gold's Gym is giving firefighters and first responders a place to rest, recharge, and recover as they continue to fight the fires. All Golds Gym SoCal locations are available to them at no cost. They've also partnered with Petra-1 to provide essential supplies, including shampoo, body wash, mouthwash, towels, and shaving care. Lazy Dog Restaurants is hosting a special 2025 California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser to support impacted communities with 100% of net profits donated to The American Red Cross to aid in relief efforts. They're also providing free meals to first responders and firefighters who visit participating locations this weekend (January 11+12). The SOVA Community Food & Resource Program is providing access to healthy groceries, personal care items, and more resources for evacuees, plus kosher options. Outschool, a California-based education company that offers live, small-group classes in any subject for K-12 learners is offering $50 credit to use toward classes for kids who lost their schools. Fill out this form by January 24, 2025. Babyletto nursery furniture brand is giving free cribs for those who lost their homes and/or a cribs in the fires. Guitar Center is helping musicians replace instruments lost in the fires. Quirk boutique in DTLA is accepting clothing donations for fire victims and looking for volunteers to help sort them. UPDATED RESOURCES (1/12/2025): The Whisky a Go Go is opening its doors for the next three days (Jan. 13-15) 10 am-5pm, for anyone affected by the fires. They are currently lining up entertainment, including live acts and house DJS. People can also collect items they need or drop off donations. L.A.-based PeakMetrics has created a chatbot that congregates the most to date resources on temporary housing, emergency supplies and relief organizations on the web. Petco Love is helping displaced pets and owners across LA County due to the wildfires with a free national database called Love Lost that utilizes AI photo-matching technology. Post lost and found pets on LoveLost.org to be integrated into local shelter software. In addition to the above, more YMCA locations in L.A. are now offering free child care for first responders and updated amenities. Check your locale facility. As Angelenos return to their homes to retrieve items that might have survived the fires, they may have needs for hauling and storage now more than before. The U-Haul 30 day free storage offer is an important form of aid. The offer applies to new self-storage and U-Box rentals and is subject to vary by location. Check participating stores or contact your nearest U-Haul locale. Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen is providing free hot meals at multiple locations in L.A. Click HERE for their distribution stops. The Pasadena Convention Center, which has served as an evacuation center for Eaton fire victims since Tuesday, is now being managed by the Red Cross, which offers FEMA help, mental health advocates and more. UPDATED RESOURCES (1/13/2025): The Los Angeles/San Diego/San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is offering $10 fares on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner for those impacted by the Southern California wildfires. Visit pacificsurfliner.com and use the code V505 when booking to receive a discounted fare $10 fare (valid for any one-way coach travel between any two of the 29 stations the Pacific Surfliner services between San Luis Obispo and San Diego). Tickets must be purchased by January 17, 2025, for travel between January 13 and January 24, 2025. Tyson Foods is deploy its Meals that Matter Disaster Relief Team to provide hot meals to those wildfire victims in California at Walmart Supercenter, 3250 Big Dalton Ave. Baldwin Park, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Saturday, January 18, 11 a.m. 4 p.m. Jewish Family Service LA (JFSLA) has a multitude of resources including its SOVA Community Food & Resource Program open to anyone needing access to fresh, healthy groceries, essential personal care items; help for domestic violence concerns via JFSLAs 24-hour Crisis Line: (818) 505-0900 or (323) 681-2626; and Neighborhood Dining Centers for seniors in 13 locations across Los Angeles. Kosher dining is available at select centers. More info HERE or at 877-275-4537. Spring Health is offering mental health services (they've committed $500,000 in free therapy and sessions) for those impacted by the wildfires. Click HERE to access. UPDATED RESOURCES (1/14/2025) The Magic Castle is holding a relief event today, Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., transforming its parking lot into a space of comfort, offering meals, snacks, and donated essentials to those affected by the fires. Strolling magicians will also be on hand to entertain visitors. The Bloc is currently hosting a donation drive for emergency supplies, water and more, and its individual retailers are offering discounts and giveaways to responders and displaced individuals. Sweat Cycle in Toluca Lake offering free rides to first responders and anyone who has lost their home in the LA fires. They are hosting 2 charity rides this week benefiting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and collecting donations this week. Redeem free rides by emailing info@swtcycle.com. Jenesse Center is partnering with the L.A. Care Health Plans Community Partners Collaborative to provide food, toiletries, blankets an gift cards at the West Adams-Leimert Park Family Source Center, 4305 Degnan Blvd., Suite 105 now through January 18. Santa Monica College (Bundy Campus) is holding a donation drive for clothing, food and gift cards for displaced individuals. Donate to their Disaster Support Fund HERE. The Frontline Impact Project (FIP) created by KIND snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky, is coordinating in-kind donations from consumer companies nationwide to provide shelf-stable foods, beverages, personal care items, and goods for breastfeeding/new mother supplies with key distribution sites in disaster zones. They are working with LA Mission, LA WIC, Global Empowerment Mission and other distributors. Companies who want to get involved click HERE. . Michelle Obama did not attend former President Jimmy Carters funeral on Thursday due to a scheduling conflict, aides to the former first lady told CNN. She was in Hawaii at the time on an extended holiday vacation, her advisers told CNNs Jeff Zeleny. Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President, Crystal Carson, a spokesperson for Michelle Obama, said in a statement to Politico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, Barack Obama, did attend the event, and sat beside President-elect Donald Trump. Michelle Obama apparently would have been seated there had she attended. All five living presidents were at the ceremony; Michelle Obama was the only spouse who did not attend. Trump and the Obamas do not have a friendly history. Trump routinely attacks his predecessor and for years pushed a racist conspiracy theory that he was not born in the U.S. The Obamas campaigned fiercely against Trump in the past two elections. Barack Obama warned in August that another Trump term would mean four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. His wife, in her own speech at the Democratic National Convention, said Trump has done everything in his power to try and make people fear us. His limited narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by two hardworking, successful people who happened to be Black, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the campaign trail, Trump called her nasty and asked if he was allowed to hit her back, a turn of phrase that many interpreted as a threat. Trump and Barack Obama were seen chatting, smiling and laughing together at the funeral in an exchange that went viral. Trump later addressed the moment, saying, It did look very friendly, I must say. I didnt realize how friendly it looked. We met backstage, as you know, before we went on. And I thought it was a beautiful service. But we all got along very well, which is good, he added. Related... The News in Brief Friday, January 10, 2025 Rihards Kols, alongside other international allies, met with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili today to discuss the alarming political situation in Georgia."Today, alongside other friends of Georgia, I spoke with President Salome Zourabichvili. She detailed the alarming situation in Georgia, where the regime is consolidating power and steering toward authoritarian rule. Legislative measures-including weakening the civil service to stack it with loyalists and targeting the families of protest participants-mirror tactics straight from the Kremlin's playbook.This is a dangerous course, one that leads to repressive governance and is exceedingly difficult to reverse once entrenched. I urged the President and parliamentarians to actively coordinate and engage meaningfully to counter this trajectory," wrote Kols on X.Kols has been outspoken in his criticism of Russia's political and military actions, especially regarding its aggression towards Ukraine and its role in undermining democratic values in Eastern Europe.The fifth president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, confirmed that she is attending Donald Trump's inauguration."I am going to President Donald Trump's inauguration, I will be in Washington at the invitation of Joe Wilson," Zourabichvili stated.The inauguration of the newly elected US President, Donald Trump, will take place on January 20.None of the representatives from Bidzina Ivanishvili's party were invited to attend Trump's inauguration. This was confirmed by the press service of the government administration to Formulanews. Jan. 9The state's highest court rejected Attorney General John Formella's bid to keep two retired superior court judges from sitting on the appeal of a landmark education funding case. Solicitor General Anthony Galdieri and Formella had argued that the court waited too long before it decided that former Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau of Portsmouth and Judge Gillian Abramson of New Boston should join the three eligible justices on the New Hampshire Supreme Court in this matter. Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald recused himself last March because he was attorney general when lawyers for ConVal Regional School District and 18 others brought the lawsuit challenging the base level of state aid to support an adequate education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi was placed on administrative leave last July when she came under investigation for allegedly interceding to help quash a separate criminal probe against her husband, now-retired Port Director Geno Marconi. Both Marconis have since been separately indicted on alleged state crimes in that matter. In a ruling last month, Supreme Court Justice James Bassett named the two former lower court judges and said they merely had to watch the video oral arguments and read the briefs in order to take part. Justices Patrick Donovan, Melissa Countway and Bassett authored the latest brief opinion that upheld the right of the court to name replacement judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the relevant state law compelled the high court to replace MacDonald and Hantz Marconi soon after they had stepped aside. Lawyers for the school districts maintained the court had made the replacements in a proper manner. The three high court judges defended the decision. "The plaintiffs assert, and we agree, that the word 'upon' does not impose a temporal limitation equivalent to 'immediately following' or 'very soon after,' as the state contends," the justices ruled. ConVal Regional School District's 2019 lawsuit contended the state's foundation for its grant program for school districts was too small. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former ConVal Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, a leading expert for the districts, testified the state's base adequacy of $4,100 per pupil was less than half of what should be required under the Supreme Court's two Claremont decisions in 1993 and 1997, which found the state constitution creates an obligation to provide an adequate education. Rockingham County Superior Court Judge David Ruoff said the $7,356 per student standard he set in his ruling could still be short of the constitutional amount, but that it was a bare minimum amount. If the high court agrees with Ruoff, it will increase state aid to public schools by about $540 million a year. The three judges heard oral arguments on the appeal last month and are expected to issue a ruling later this year. klandrigan@unionleader.com ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) New York State is looking to cover school meals for students, according to a new initiative. This proposed program is part of Governor Hochuls 2025 State of the State, which will ensure that over 2.7 million public school students will receive free breakfasts and lunches at school. The program, according to NYS, is expected to save families around $165 per month on groceries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts and advocates say providing free school lunches for students could lead to their overall academic improvement, while addressing food insecurity. Nearly one in six New York children faces food insecurity. NYSUT president Melinda Person says this initiative to provide universal free meals for all students regardless of their ZIP code or family income will reduce food anxiety, improve mental and physical health, and support students ability to thrive. Person added, Every child, no matter their circumstances, deserves the nutrition they need to grow and learn. Local leaders are weighing in on the proposals as well. Chris Dailey is the superintendent for Gates Chili Central Schools and serves as president for the Monroe Co. Council of School Superintendents. I believe this will be a game-changer for districts that dont have it already. It has been for us over the last two years. It levels the playing field for all kids and gives parents and guardians a great relief knowing the kids will get breakfast and lunch every day. Its one less thing to worry about, said Dailey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody is going to fall through the cracks in those districts that might have had to apply for the program, didnt for some reason, or dont meet the thresholds but are still experiencing food insecurity. This going to be great because it really takes the guess work out of it and guarantees the whole child lunch in Monroe Co. and beyond, said Eamonn Scanlon, director of community impact for The Childrens Agenda. Other area school districts taking part in free school meals include East Rochester, which asks families to fill out an application form. RCSD also works with the city and organizations to ensure free lunches, and all students in Greece are able to receive these free meals regardless of income. No Kid Hungry New York director Rachel Sabella issued the following statement on the initiative: No-cost, universal school meals ensure all our kids are nourished its really that simple. With this plan to provide New York students with no-cost breakfast and lunch, Governor Hochul is taking major strides to end child hunger. At a time when food insecurity is rising and families are struggling to put food on the table, bold proposals like these can help parents make ends meet, move the needle on reducing poverty, and demonstrate how government can do big things. Now, as proposals in Congress and comments from the incoming administration raise fears about cuts to federal programs, its critical that New York is ready for whats to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York has the power to intervene in the child hunger crisis, but only if we act now. People across the state have been energized by the Governors plan to expand the Empire Child Tax Credit and make no-cost school meals universal. Now, we need the Legislature, City leaders, and partners at every level of government to take action. We cant ever resign ourselves to more kids facing hunger, or more families going without the help they need. Every child in New York deserves three healthy, nutritious meals a day. Lets make that a reality this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. On what seemed like an ordinary November evening, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Brandon Taylor, 29th Attack Squadron commander, and his wife were on their way to deliver care packages to the newest airmen and their families in the 29th ATKS. While en route to another house in Alamogordo, New Mexico, they stopped at a stop sign, waiting for traffic to clear; thats when something unexpected happened. Just a few feet from their vehicle, there was a car wreck. Despite the shock of witnessing the accident, Taylor and his wife quickly pulled over to see if they could assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as I opened the door, I could hear the driver screaming from the car, Taylor said. I didnt know what to expect, but I ran over anyway to help. The vehicle was severely damaged, and Taylor had to act fast. Once I got there, I realized it was just the driver, but he was pinned inside, he said. The engine compartment had shifted due to the crash, which caused his leg to fracture. The driver from the other car ran over to help Taylor, and together, they worked to help the man. Taylor and the other driver managed to free the mans leg and pull him out of the vehicle. Once we got him out, we carried him to the side of the road, he said. I checked his leg and it was in really bad shape; I then began assessing for other injuries. I treated him for shock and worked to stabilize his leg while the other driver called for emergency services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor continued to provide care until emergency responders arrived and helped paramedics load the injured man onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. The worst part was not knowing what I was going to find. All I knew was that he was in a lot of pain from the screams I heard, he said. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to help. We have more training than the average person, so I want to use that training to serve our community. Taylor expressed gratitude for the Air Forces Tactical Casualty Combat Care training, which allowed him to approach the situation with the capabilities to provide much-needed aid. I think people want to help, but they might not always know how, he said. With training like TCCC, we have a solid foundation to handle stressful situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His experience as an MQ-9 Reaper pilot requires him to mentally process a checklist of actions to take whenever he finds himself in a high-stress scenario. Because of that experience, he could provide quick and effective care to the driver. However, not just the Air Force prepared Taylor for this moment. Before joining the Air Force, he served as a rescue swimmer in the U.S. Navy. With the Navy training, it was all about being a first responder and taking those initial life-saving actions to stabilize someone and get them to more advanced medical care, he explained. In this case, a combination of both my Navy and Air Force training helped me. Taylor feels that offering a variety of first aid and emergency response training could better prepare airmen with the skills they need to respond effectively in a crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, dont underestimate what youre capable of, he said. You might think someone else will step in, or that theyll have more experience, but sometimes you could be the one with the right training. No one expects you to be a doctor or an EMT, but the small things you do can make a difference until help arrives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. When your house catches on fire, the first thing you do is call a lawyer, Camille Meyer famously said on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The opulent home of Kelsey Grammers ex-wife was destroyed in 2018, the last time Los Angeles was ravaged by wildfires, and the aftermath aired on Bravo. Meyer was dryly referring to legal battles with her insurance companies, but theres another step many in her position take before calling in the attorneys: dispatching private firefighters. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters for hire are par for the course when it comes to multimillion-dollar spreads erected in and around L.A., and in at least six surrounding states, according to expert Don Holter. These services surely have been engaged during the unprecedented and devastating wildfires currently burning in Southern California. Communities like Malibu and the Pacific Palisades virtually wiped off the map this week, in the case of the latter are especially inclined to bring in crews, trucks, chemical retardants and even bespoke water supplies when priceless properties are on the line. Ryan Kavanaugh, the founder of the notorious film studio Relativity Media, told me in 2019 that hed started a private firefighting service as a side hustle. He could not immediately be reached for comment on this story. Yet in the case of a reported 130,000 residents and over 6,000 structures in the path of the current fires destruction, issues of taste and tone deafness have emerged around these nonpublic crews. Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount, LA-based real estate executive Keith Wasserman posted to X on Tuesday, sparking the very debate. The post came as the Palisades fire moved aggressively and terrified residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social media users were stunned at the display of wealth as citizens of all backgrounds struggled to escape, noting Wassermans incredible nerve. Backlash to the backlash emerged on Thursday, as many users pointed out that fire resources had been exhausted in the Palisades. Multiple sources Variety spoke with this week understand the need to eat the rich, as one top media executive with beachfront property noted, when peoples property and lives are on the line. The reality here is that youve got to protect your investment, and a large investment needs unusual protection, the exec said. And its not just the structures that need this kind of vigilance, according to sources. Many of the rich and powerful people who occupy these spaces have uncommon valuables. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you know the kind of artwork most of these people have? The houses are like museums, said one talent agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Indeed, locals like former NBCUniversal executive Ron Meyer and Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio have extensive and irreplaceable collections. Pieces by Murakami, Salvador Dali and Basquiat are in Leos possession. Holter, based in Central California, cautioned against judgment for homeowners with abundant resources. Our service is cost-effective compared to public entities, Holter said, noting that Los Angeles uses union firefighters. While his company might charge between $4,000-$5,000 per day for a small fleet for a client, a municipality will run closer to $20,000 for workers, trucks, overtime and backfill workers. When asked if his prices change based on scale and value of property, Holter asked, Why would we gouge somebody because they have money? Right is right and wrong is wrong. At the end of the day, we do the job because we want to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a list of resources and the latest news on the Los Angeles fires, follow Varietys coverage here. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hollywood celebrities are among the thousands of Southern California residents who have lost their homes amid the blaze. More than 2,000 structures and 17,230 acres have burned in the ongoing Los Angeles County fires, reports the Los Angeles Times. The outlet called it one of the most destructive firestorms to hit the region in memory. Over 130,000 LA county residents are currently under evacuation orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an estimation from AccuWeather, the damage from the fires has reached a total economic loss at $52 billion to $57 billion a sum that could rise if the fires continue to spread, per the Los Angeles Times. We are absolutely not out of danger yet, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Portions of Los Angeles and Ventura Country will remain under a critical fire weather watch through Friday as strong winds and dry conditions continue to fuel the inferno, reported the National Weather Service. Several Hollywood stars residing in the area have reported losing their homes in the blaze. Here are some of the Hollywood stars who have lost their homes and communities in the Southern California fires. Hollywood stars among thousands who lost their homes in fires Billy Crystal Billy Crystal said his home was lost in the fire in a statement shared with CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing, Crystal said. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy. He continued, Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cant be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this. We pray for the safety of the fire fighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home. Cary Elwes The Princess Bride star, Cary Elwes, confirmed in an Instagram post that he and his family were safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire, Elwes wrote. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it. Paris Hilton Paris Hilton watched her home burn down on television while watching the news, she said in a social media post. Seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience, Hilton wrote. While the loss is overwhelming, Im holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires. She continued, To the brave firefighters and first responders risking their lives to protect usyou are true heroes. I am so grateful for your courage, dedication, and the incredible sacrifices youre making to save lives and fight this unimaginable battle. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. James Woods In an interview with CNN, Oscar-winning actor James Woods got emotional speaking about the loss of his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One day youre swimming in the pool and the next day its all gone, he said. Woods also detailed an experience he had helping his 94-year-old neighbor safely evacuate the fire. Hed been left alone, Woods said. There was so much chaos, it was like an inferno. Every house was on fire around us. As he described the wreckage, Woods broke into tears, I thought I would be stronger than this, he said. I couldnt believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long, he wrote in a social media post. It feels like losing a loved one. All the smoke detectors are going off in our house and transmitting to our iPhones. I couldnt believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one. James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 8, 2025 Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt The Hills stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt lost their home in the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im so sad our house is gone, Montag said in an emotional TikTok clip. I really didnt think it would be the last time we were in our house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mandy Moore This Is Us actress Mandy Moore said she was in shock and feeling numb over all the destruction caused by the fires. Grateful for my family and pets getting out last night before it was too late, Moore wrote in an Instagram post. My childrens school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. She continued, Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control. Jeff Bridges A representative for Jeff Bridges confirmed to TMZ that the actors home was lost in the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 4-bedroom home with views of the Pacific Ocean has been in the Bridges family for generations and was inherited by Jeff, his brother actor Beau Bridges and their sister, reported TMZ. Kate Beckinsale Kate Beckinsale, the Serendipity actor, said, The shock at the whole of the Palisades being destroyed is unthinkably horrific, per a social media post. My daughter and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone. Her primary school every shop or restaurant we used to go to with my parents and Michaels parents -and devastatingly, most of her friends homes, Beckinsale wrote. My heart is broken. Jamie Lee Curtis In a social media post from Wednesday, Jamie Lee Curtis said, My community and possibly my home is on fire. My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Curtis shared plans to donate $1 million towards relief efforts. As the fire still rages on ... my husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there, Curtis shared on Instagram. Jennifer Grey Dirty Dancing actor Jennifer Greys daughter, Stella Gregg, shared via social media that her mothers home had burned down. Last night my mamas house was burnt to the ground, she wrote on an Instagram story, per ABC News. Luckily, she and WInnie are safe. Give your loved ones an extra squeeze today. Ricki Lake Actor and former talk show host Ricki Lake said she lost her dream home in the fire, per an Instagram post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its all gone, she wrote. This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event. Praying for all of my neighbors, my friends, my community, the animals, the firefighters and first responders. Cameron Mathison Cameron Mathison, the General Hospital actor, said his home was lost in the blaze. We are safe. But this is whats left of our beautiful home, Mathison wrote, with a clip of his home in ashes. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday. HOLTON (KSNT) USD 336 is warning families of a recent data breach of the districts Student Information System. Thursday, Jan. 8, Holton Public Schools USD 366 posted on social media that PowerSchool notified the district on Jan. 8 of a widespread data breach. According to PowerSchool, data breaches across the nation happened in December 2024, and is now contained, but may have affected employees and/or students and their families data. According to PowerSchools website, it monitors 10,000 servers 24/7. Holton is serious about protecting the security and privacy of your data, USD 336 Superintendent Trevor Ashcraft wrote in a letter to families and staff. This breach not only violated our expectations for district vendors; it also violates board policy and Kansas law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka crews continue to scrape away at snow, ice on roads USD 336 has limited information about the breach, and is waiting for additional guidance from PowerSchool officials, according to the post. The school states it is doing its best to learn more and will notify families directly if and when information about how this impacts families, their data or next steps. Since Holton schools switched to single sign-on Google credentials in 2022, no student PowerSchool passwords were breached, so student accounts should remain protected. According to the post, parent accounts do not have a single sign-on and their passwords are stored on PowerSchool. As a result, USD 336 will force a password reset for all parents. If you have any questions after reading the letter, please email Samantha Miller (s.miller@holtonks.net) or call the district office at 785-364-3650. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. HOLYOKE, Mass (WWLP) The City of Holyoke is having a special election on Tuesday, January 28 to determine if the city treasurer should remain an elected position or change to a position that would be appointed by the Mayor and City Council. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia has been working for two years to bring this to a vote, saying state officials and outsiders, including the Massachusetts Division of Local Services through the Department of Revenue, has consistently recommended the change from elected to appointed. Former president and CEO of Eastern States Exposition George Jones has died, leaving self-penned note in lieu of obituary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said that as of right now, for someone to run or be elected for the City Treasurer, there arent many qualifications, which hinders the city. Currently, the city treasurer is elected by our community every 4 years, however there is no requirement for these candidates to possess specific financial expertise or a solid understanding of municipal finance, said Mayor Garcia. He said these changes are designed to specifically enhance efficiency, accountability, and expertise in the city government. Current City Treasurer, Rory Casey calling this possible change the path for Holyokes success There will in-person and absentee voting for this special election, but no mail-in ballot voting. Polling locations will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The joint hearing room in the newly opened Department of Legislative Services building can seat two Senate and two House committees and more than 200 people in the gallery. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. Employees of the Department of Legislative Services never had it so good. Legislative officials cut the ribbon Thursday on a 144,000 square-foot building opposite the State House that will be the new (and much improved) home of the agency that provides research, bill drafting and analysis to the General Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This structure and institution behind me, it represents everything that we should be doing in public service, to invest in public service, workers who deserve the best possible class-A office space so that they can serve the people of Maryland in the highest quality fashion, said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore). Construction of the new, environmentally friendly Department of Legislative Services building and a tunnel system that connects it to the State House and the House and Senate office buildings took two years. During that time, roughly 300 employees worked from home or were scattered over nearly every empty space in the House and Senate office buildings. The new facility replaces a 92,000-square-foot, 1970s-era building that aged badly. It was plagued with mold, burst sewage pipes, foundation cracks, floods and a lack of space. The 300 employees were shoehorned into the various nooks and crannies of a building that had been reconfigured numerous times. The old building was not compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and included steep ramps in one hearing room that were treacherous for most people and likely dangerous to those who use a wheelchair or need assistance walking. The joint hearing room in the new Department of Legislative Services building features a stained-glass skylight that features designs of a black-eyed Susan and Wye oak leaves and acorns. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. The new building includes a larger joint hearing room that can hold two full Senate and two full House committees about 76 legislators. There is also seating for more than 200 people in the gallery. The room is ADA compliant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The room is appointed with giant wall-sized screens as well as a stained glass dome that features a black-eyed Susan and Wye oak leaves. There is also a gym available only to legislative services employees. The project was originally expected to cost $120 million. That budget was ultimately lowered to $112.5 million. The final cost came in $3 million lower. The project also exceeded the states 29% goal for minority business contracting, with more than 31% of the payments going to certified businesses, said Department of Legislative Services Executive Director Victoria L. Gruber. Lawmakers told bills should have no fiscal note this session House Health and Government Operations Chair Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Anne Arundel and Prince Georges) issued sobering guidelines for the amount of money lawmakers should ask for when drafting legislation this year: None. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding bills that you introduce please make sure that your bills this year particularly, have no fiscal note, she said during a Thursday organizational meeting for the committee. Or have a very, very, very small fiscal note. Pena-Melnyks goal is to avoid adding to a $2.7 billion budget deficit for fiscal 2026 that haunts the Maryland General Assembly this session. Senate and House leader have been prepping lawmakers to anticipate tough decisions, including program cuts and potential tax increases during the constrained budget year. HGO Chair Joseline Pena-Melnyk stands with Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. Pena-Melnyk told committee members that any funds they ask for from the general fund should be the minimum needed to enact their bills, to protect current programs that could already be on the line for budget cuts. My goal, really, is to maintain the programs we have this committee has done a lot for Medicaid, for people that really need our help and to not create any programs, Pena-Melnyk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also urged lawmakers to proactively evaluate bills to anticipate any hurdles, and overcome those challenges quickly. I would like you to please look at your bill. Look who you think will be against it, who will be for it, and bring them to the table early. Try to work it so that by the time you file it you dont open yourself to a lot of fights, she urged. The more perfect your bill is when you file it, the better it is, she said. The more work you do this session, the better you will be. All you need is Love State Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery) began the new year not just preparing for her first session as a senator after 6 years in the House, but with a new title: chair of the tri-state Chesapeake Bay Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission consists of state lawmakers and Cabinet officials from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the three most critical states in the six-state Chesapeake Bay watershed (the District of Columbia is also in the watershed). The commission meets throughout the region to take input from the public and discuss policy and financial measures that could improve Bay health. Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery). File photo by Bryan P. Sears. Love, who will continue to serve as chair of the Maryland delegation to the commission, takes over at a time when the Chesapeake Bay Program the federal, state and local partnership dedicated to Bay cleanup is about to be overhauled, as leaders establish a new set of goals and benchmarks. The Commission is uniquely positioned to provide vision and guidance not just to the General Assemblies of our member states, but to the entire Bay Program, as all stakeholders work together to deliver clean water and vibrant living resources for the benefit of the people, Love said in a statement. Hilary Harp Falk, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, hailed Loves leadership position on the commission, calling her a strong leader with a stellar track record on Bay issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Love takes over the commission from Virginia Del. David Bulova (D), who is chair of the Old Dominions delegation. The Pennsylvainia delegation is led by state Sen. Gene Yaw (R), chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee there. The long goodbye Newly minted Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier returned for the second consecutive day to Annapolis and the State House where she served 30 years in the legislature. This time, Klausmeier came to say her goodbyes a tradition afforded at the end of a session to lawmakers who have announced they will not be coming back. Newly minted Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier (D) returned to the Senate to say goodbye to the chamber where she served for two decades. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the next 15 minutes, the former senator from Perry Hall reminisced with former colleagues and thanked everyone she could remember one by one from the late Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. to the print shop to the people that came in and emptied my trash and fixed my floors to make them look so nice, and to the mailman and her family. We had many good times in the office, Klausmeier said. We had many serious times in the office, and Ive had many good times in here, and many, many serious times in here. So, its been a wonderful, wonderful time that I have spent here. Klausmeier will have to return later this week to empty out her old office. Staff for the Senate president want to prepare it for when her replacement is selected. If anybody wants any mementos, they could stop by the office, because Joy would be happy for you to take them out of there, because she said, Kath, I love you, but get out tonight,' Klausmeier said. But Ill be out, Mr. President, by Sunday. I think I was going to have an online auction, but I didnt think anybody would buy anything. Simonaire takes aim at rats nest of military laws An Anne Arundel County senator laid up by an injury will lead the charge on an the most comprehensive overhaul of Marylands military law in modern history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) said Thursday he spent hundreds of hours building consensus around a package of proposals to update 230 sections of state law through 500 revisions. Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) said his package of bills represents the most comprehensive overhaul of state military law in modern history. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. If passed, Simonaire said, the proposals will restructure the states military law; ensure equal treatment and benefits among the eight branches of uniformed services; and expand the role of the Maryland Military Department to provide support to service members. The problem with Maryland law is that each article defines its own definition and is often inconsistent with other articles and outdated terms, Simonaire said. This creates unequal benefits among our service members. That includes ensuring that members of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees have the same benefits and treatment as other members of the military. That would include expansion of tax breaks offered to other retired veterans in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many dont realize, but PHS sent hundreds of their commissioned corps officers over to the Afghanistan conflict and help contain the Ebola outbreak in Africa to help protect it from coming to America, Simonaire said. Also, another little-known fact is that the military coordinates with NOAAs commission corps officers, or nearly every military exercise with their weather satellites, and during the war, they helped sweep the mines in the Persian Gulf. Simonaire said he got involved in sifting through the tangle of laws while convalescing following a foot injury. It really was a rats nest, he told reporters. The fixes hundreds of them may not be much cleaner. In the Senate, Simonaire will sponsor a package of bills that will be spread across all its standing committees. In the House, a bipartisan group of Democrats and Republicans, all with connections to the military or veterans, will sponsor an identical package. Those bills will be heard in five of the Houses six standing committees, he said. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) Thousands of Southern California residents are grappling with the devastating reality that their most important asset, their home, and much of their property have been destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton wildfires. While the shock and sadness are still fresh, and their personal safety may no longer be an issue, the question becomes: what happens next? Insurance Claims In California, homeowners insurance is not legally required. However, most lenders do require it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first step for wildfire victims is to contact their insurance companies to report the damage and start the claims process. To that end, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is calling on insurers to move quickly to help those impacted. Now is the time to focus on your family and your health. The last thing you should be worrying about is your insurance, Lara said at a press briefing Friday morning. The Insurance Commission can be reached at 1-800-927-4357 to help fire victims navigate the process and also help those who are uninsured. While many homeowners are familiar with coverage for their property and personal belongings, its important to note that your policy might also cover expenses related to your evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission has scheduled two support workshops involving government representatives and insurers. The first is Jan. 18-19 at Santa Monica College, then the following weekend, Jan. 25-26, at Pasadena City College. 10 Tips for Wildfire Insurance Claims The California Insurance Commission offers the following advice for wildfire victims who are preparing to make a claim: Obtain a complete copy of your residential homeowners insurance policy, including your declarations page. Take note of your Additional Living Expense limits and manage your ALE expenses in recognition of a long rebuilding process. Track all your expenses from living in another location away from your home. Document your conversations with your insurer/adjuster about your claim and policy limitations in a dedicated claim diary. Get at least one licensed contractors estimate or bid on the cost to rebuild your home to get a reasonable sense of the actual cost compared to your coverage limits. Call the Department of Insurance Hotline for help at (800) 927-4357. You can also file a complaint online. Understand you can purchase or rebuild at another location and still receive full replacement cost benefits. Assess your situation; do not rush to make any decisions about contractors, lawyers or public adjusters. Do not assume you have inadequate coverage based on general information you are hearing about building costs or other general comments. Evaluate whether you need a public adjuster or attorney to help you with your claim. Tap here for more information What if I was canceled? The Golden State has seen a flurry of insurers cancel or non-renew policies because they argue it has become bad for business. In response, Lara announced a one-year moratorium on insurance companies canceling or non-renewing residential policies in certain areas within or adjacent to a fire perimeter after a declared state of emergency is issued by the Governor. This includes the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire evacuation zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another order protects those in the wildfire zones who received non-renewal notices within 90 days before the fires first exploded. If youve received a nonrenewal from your homeowners insurance between October 9 and January 7, your insurance company should do the right thing and retain you as a valued policyholder, Lara said. FEMA Assistance The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides assistance to individuals and communities impacted by the wildfires through a wide range of programs. The Individual Assistance program offers grants for temporary housing, essential home repairs, and uninsured personal property losses. The Other Needs Assistance program also covers medical, dental and funeral expenses and other disaster-related costs. Wildfire victims can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden has declared the wildfires a major disaster, paving the way for FEMA assistance to be available. Los Angeles County Resources LA Countys 211 service offers a comprehensive range of assistance to wildfire victims, including emergency and crisis services, housing and homeless support, food assistance, health care services and mental health support. The county also provides employment and financial aid, family services and legal assistance. Fire victims can access these resources by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting the 211 LA County website at 211la.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) We saw it falling all throughout Thursday with lots of snow joining this recent spell of really cold weather. This type of winter weather brings problems for a very vulnerable population and the homeless alliance told KFOR theyve been stretching capacity trying to keep people safe and warm. The homeless alliance is providing 24/7 shelter from the weather between our shelter, which is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then our winter shelter from which is open from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m., Chief Communications Officer with the Homeless Alliance Taylor Self said. 4WARN WEATHER: Snow begins to fall as winter weather moves into Oklahoma Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Falling snow and cold weather brings about busy times for the Homeless Alliance and other city shelters. We wouldnt have it any other way, Self said. Again, when temperatures and weather get this bad, theres no other option. Their day shelter usually serves about 350 people per day with meals, showers, mail service and more. Wednesday, Self said they saw about 450. That is definitely crowded, she said. They also brought dogs inside from their outdoor kennels they use to help with peoples companions. During weather like this, Self said they make room so they dont turn people away. Oklahoma Closings & Delays Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really important that people are kept safe, she said. The shelter could use donations this time of year, according to Self. Money can be donated on their website, homelessalliance.org, or any cold weather gear and clothing is also a big help. Were going to make sure that our friends are safe because these people are our neighbors, Self said. Their winter shelter is also operating over capacity, according to Self. Their website has a list of different items they need if youre able to help out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Spectators gather near Union Station on Thursday to see the start of the National Western Stock Show kickoff parade in Denver. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) House Republicans advanced their legislation Thursday to punish the worlds top war-crimes court after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The measure, which passed on a 243-140 vote, would block U.S. funding to the International Criminal Court and sanction people who investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute American citizens and officials from allied countries, including Israel. It now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. I do support it, and I think well see that probably next week, said U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmitt plans to vote for the legislation, criticizing the courts efforts. Its a discredited organization that essentially has gone after Israel, he said. Its an anti-American sort of effort so I think we should speak up in one voice on it. The court issued the arrest warrant in November, accusing Netanyahu of restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza and intentionally targeting civilians. Senate Democrats have raised similar concerns about Israels war against Hamas and Netanyahus role, which is why many are likely to oppose the legislation. However, when the arrest warrant came down, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood condemned it, saying it could hurt negotiations to end the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision does not make the pursuit of peace any easier, Wood said. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump want a ceasefire and hostage release deal by Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. The court also issued arrest warrants for Netanyahus former defense minister and Hamas military chief, who Israel claimed to have killed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. HONOLULU (KHON2) A woman is in critical condition following an early morning pedestrian versus car crash in the eastbound lanes of Nimitz Highway. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The 911 call came in around 4:45 a.m. at the intersection of N. Nimitz Highway and Valkenburgh Street. 21K Maui HECO customers without power due to severe weather Reports said a 60-year-old woman was crossing N. Nimitz Highway in a marked crosswalk before she was hit by a 55-year-old female driver, who was driving through the intersection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported the 60-year-old pedestrian to an area hospital in critical condition. The eastbound lanes of Nimitz Highway were shut down from Valkenburgh Street to Main Street to conduct an investigation. The lanes have since been reopened. An investigation into a crash Friday morning on Nimitz Hwy has shut down the highway headed eastbound from Valkenburgh Street to Main Street. Drivers were warned to avoid the area to avoid delays during morning traffic commutes. Officials said the 55-year-old driver remained at the scene and was uninjured. Check out more news from around Hawaii Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HPD is still investigating the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. ST. PETERSBURG The striped 11-story building on the corner of a bustling downtown intersection already looked abandoned, its windows covered with plywood. It was once home to Bar Milo and the Coronet Apartments, but no one lives there anymore. Developers had been figuring out what to do with it before Hurricane Milton blew chunks of stucco off the northwest corner of 300 Central Ave, exposing two-and-a-half floors of the interior stairwell. The inside could be seen from art galleries, condos and offices to the west. Now, billowing black tarps shroud 300 Central. Under scaffolding, the sidewalk is fenced off. A no parking sign in front of a prime street parking spot explains why: Falling debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the owner nor the city is able to say just yet what comes next for the building. Thats worrisome to Greg Morris, a downtown resident who frequents Lemongrass Sushi Thai Tapas next door. Between a topless Tropicana Field, the gaping hole in the former Tampa Bay Times building left by a toppled construction crane and the crumbling facade at 300 Central Ave, Morris thinks St. Petersburg isnt looking so great these days. He put his concerns in an email to the city. Its an eyesore for one thing and it is a safety issue, Morris told the Tampa Bay Times. I know the storms caused an awful lot of damage but were looking at a city thats starting to look kind of messed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Building Official Don Tyre responded to Morris' email and said an engineer is involved to secure whats left of the buildings stucco because of the hazard to pedestrians. The buildings owners, he said, are evaluating whether to repair or demolish it. Steven Flip Gianfilippo also owns Station House, the brick coworking, event and restaurant space a block away. Drawn to older buildings with good bones in great locations, records show he bought 300 Central in 2017. He said hes hired a land-use consultant and an architect to work on plans and submit applications with the city. An announcement for the project may come within the next 45 days. Instead of building more luxury apartments, Gianflippos dream is to have a boutique hotel. It gave us a second look at what we have there, something brand new, he said. We have not missed a day of spending time on this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for razing or renovating, 300 Central sits on a tight lot 40 by 100 feet with no parking tough to rebuild as another tower. But it helps to be on the corner, Gianflippo said, which makes it at least possible. The aftermath of storms, he said, brings opportunities. But it takes time. If I was a betting man, the building that the crane fell on is a massive redevelopment opportunity. Thats the way we all have to look at some of these natural disasters that occur, Gianflippo said. Theres hopefully some silver lining in some of the devastation. In October, Karin Engineering evaluated the building, which is now 90 years old. The firm recommended fully removing all exterior cladding to eliminate unsafe conditions, as the risk of remaining stucco falling during wind and rain is high. All protective materials, including netting to catch falling debris, should be periodically inspected, a report read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mack Feldman, a local developer who owns First Central Tower next door, said his tenants have not had any incidents or property damage from falling debris. Hes been fantastic to work with. Hes on it, Feldman said of Gianfilippo. Were excited to see whatever Steve ends up doing with it. Thats one of the most prime retail corners in the city thats underutilized and I know he knows it. Whatever will come of 300 Central, Morris said he hopes the city flexes its muscle and sees improvements to the building through. I dont think it presents a good view for people, he said. Its a tourist city, a tourist area. I dont think it leaves a good impression. Jan. 9Idaho wildlife officials are investigating the illegal shooting of a bald eagle near Sandpoint last month. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game said in a news release that the eagle was believed to have been killed between Dec. 24 and 26 near Sunnyside Road close to Fisherman Island on Lake Pend Oreille. The eagle was found alive but was euthanized because of its injuries after a medical examination. During a necropsy, steel BBs were found throughout the bird's body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits the killing of the birds. Idaho Fish and Game is asking anyone who has information about the incident to call conservation officer Will Fuller at 208-954-3302 or to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Fish and Game's release says a Citizens Against Poaching monetary reward will be requested for people who provide "credible, detailed information" that helps identify and charge those who were involved. Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives a press conference after delivering his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho Capitol. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) One can only feel sadness and regret over Idaho Gov. Brad Littles decision to support a bill that will provide taxpayer support to private and religious schools. By doing so, Little will be the first governor in the 134-year history of Idaho to openly and knowingly violate the Idaho Constitution. The founders of our state were very clear when in two sections of Article IX of the Constitution they banned the use of taxpayer dollars to fund religious schools. By endorsing a tax credit that will provide $50 million to those who take it, the governor might argue that he isnt spending taxpayer funds because the monies never hit the general fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that would just be a wink and a nod to the Constitution because he has been in government a long time and knows that a tax credit diverts money from the states general fund. After its diverted, it cant be used to support public education, which is already underfunded, even if Littles promised investment of $150 million is approved this session. Little is following the script of other Republican governors who have bowed to the out-of-state billionaires and their front organizations that are foisting these misbegotten policies on the residents of their states. He is promising that he wont let any voucher-style law hurt funding for public schools. He also told lawmakers that he wants accountability built into the program. Unfortunately, in every voucher state there is little or no accountability and, in some cases, even the weakest sideboards are eliminated over time. The same playbook has been used in other states, including neighboring Utah. When Gov. Spencer Cox signed the first-ever taxpayer-supported voucher bill two years ago he asked for an increase in school funding and the privatization program capped at $43 million. But in the second year the voucher lobbyists wanted it increased to $150 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is understandable from a political point of view that Little is planning to violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the Idaho Constitution. Over the last two election cycles many of the governors strongest allies in the Legislature have been defeated because they have courageously rebuffed the out-of-state moneybags that want our taxpayers to support private and religious schools. (Interestingly enough, they havent volunteered to help pay for it.) But the electoral carnage could have been avoided if four years ago Little had told the out-of-state billionaires to go packing. He could have told them that on his watch he would never betray public education or the taxpayers of Idaho who would pay the price. Some exceptionally good people would still be in the Legislature. Now he is stuck with the extremists who dont even support his programs like Idaho Launch. That was demonstrated over the weekend when Little held his annual fundraising dinner, while GOP Chair Dorothy Moon and the far-right of the party held their own event across town. No matter what Little does he has lost his party to Moon and Attorney General Raul Labrador and the far right. Maybe moving farther right will take some of the pressure off him, but he is already seen as not one of their club members. He is just disappointing the people who have stood with him the last few years. The bottom line is you cannot compromise with the out-of-state billionaires and their front organizations that want vouchers. Two years ago, Chris Lagoni, executive director of the Indiana Rural and Small Schools Association, told Idahos legislators that after the first voucher-style bill is approved the lobbying and pressure to expand it to a universal program with no income limit on families that receive the subsidies will only grow more intense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lagoni knows what he is talking about. The Indiana program started out in 2011 serving 4,000 students, mainly low-income students. Now the program serves 70,095 students at a cost of $439 million up from $311 million in 2022, a 40 percent increase in one year. Moreover, two thirds of the students now subsidized by vouchers have never attended a public school, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. And the number of families that receive subsidies and earn more than $200,000 a year has grown from 354 in 2021 to 3,700 in 2022. Indianas experience is the history of vouchers in every state. Start out small and build over time until the money goes to wealthy families who have never sent their kids to public schools. We all consider Idaho a special place to live and work, but we are not special enough to swim upstream against the out-of-state billionaires who have an army of lobbyists and have bank accounts as large as Fort Knox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next year, or the year after that, or the year after that, we will get a universal education savings account passed in Idaho. It may not be on Littles watch, so he might be able to avoid the carnage and leave it up to another governor to clean up the mess. That is whats happened in Arizona which faces a $1 billion budget deficit and has cut funding for education, water projects, and roads to balance the budget. Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who spoke at the Mountain States Policy Center forum at the Statehouse this week, praised the Arizona program which was estimated to cost $33 million the first year and $65 million the second year. But this year Arizona budget analysts told Idaho EdNews that it will cost an estimated $822 million. And 69 percent of the students who received subsidies last September had never attended a public school, Idaho EdNews reported, meaning their parents already had enough financial resources to pay the tuition. What is most sad about what Little is doing is that he was on his way to being one of the greatest if not the greatest public-school governors in Idaho history. He was justifiably proud of his record over the last seven years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, history will now record that he was the governor who opened the door to voucher-style programs that will eventually divert funding for public schools and other important programs, including Littles cherished Launch program, and cost Idaho taxpayers millions of dollars. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HONOLULU (KHON2) The State wants your illegal fireworks, no questions asked. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Officials, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Attorney Generals Office, and Honolulu Police will team up for an illegal fireworks amnesty event. The event will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Aloha Stadium on Oahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forfeited fireworks must be in a container and in the trunk of your vehicle, where first responders will take them out. Homemade fireworks and improvised explosives will not be allowed. Sony Open 2025 kicks off with a Celebrity Pro-AM showdown Long-term storage of illegal fireworks actually makes it more unstable, and were trying to mitigate that risk by providing the public a way to dispose of it. What we dont want is for families to say we dont, were afraid of this area, we dont want to use it and they throw it in the garbage. That in itself is really dangerous, said Director Jordan Lowe of the Department of Law Enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowe explains that fireworks are volatile. So please, put them in the trunk of your car or the bed of your truck. Bring them to the Stadium, Gate #4 on Salt Lake Boulevard. T hat will take you into the lower Halawa parking lot. You wont even have to get out of your car. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Just pop your trunk and you will be on your way no questions asked. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Congressional Democrats are suddenly falling over themselves to endorse the Laken Riley Act, handing Republicans a major victory in their crackdown on immigration before Donald Trump even takes office. GOP lawmakers prioritized the bill this session, pitching it as an urgent revision to ensure that Americas streets are safe from illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. It would, in this telling, mandate the detention of undocumented immigrants who commit theft, ostensibly to prevent them from moving on to worse offenses. The actwhich originated as a Republican messaging bill to condemn President Joe Bidens border policieshas already sailed through the House of Representatives with bipartisan approval and advanced to debate in the Senate on Thursday by a 849 vote. This cross-party support might create the impression that this legislation really is what Republicans claim: a common-sense fix to a broken system that will keep undocumented criminals off the streets. But that is a gross mischaracterization. Rather, the Laken Riley Act would impose sweeping changes to the immigration system that raise serious constitutional concerns. It would penalize immigrants who live and work in the U.S. legally, subjecting them to indefinite detention without being convicted or even charged with a crime. And it would transfer a massive amount of power to state attorneys general and district court judges, who could effectively wrest control over immigration enforcement from the executive branch. These judges could, upon a states request, ban the issuance of all visas to residents of entire countries like India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short, under the guise of punishing a small number of lawbreaking undocumented immigrants, the act would curtail legal immigration and subject law-abiding immigrants to detention and deportation. It is baffling that so many Democrats would sign on to such a cruel and constitutionally dubious scheme. Republicans have championed the Laken Riley Act by trumpeting the tragic story of its namesake, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by a man who entered the country without authorization. They cynically framed the killing as part of a migrant crime wave, which Donald Trump seized upon in his presidential campaign. In reality, this crime wave does not exist: Undocumented immigrants are significantly less likely than American-born citizens to commit crimes of all kinds, including violent offenses. And the federal government already has the power to detain and deport undocumented immigrants who break the law. GOP leaders have nonetheless fast-tracked the bill, as if it were an overdue solution to a pressing problem. And by rushing its passage, they have obscured profoundly troubling features buried in the bills text. The first of these glossed-over details is the fact that the Laken Riley Act would not only target undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes of theft, as its sponsors assert. It would also apply to those who are charged but never convicted, as well as those who are arrested but never charged. An individual who is mistakenly arrested because of a police officers own error would therefore be ensnared by the law. So would a person who is wrongfully arrested because of racial profiling, prosecutorial malice, or other unconstitutional motives. The same is true of a person who faces charges that are later dropped. Under the act, the government must detain all these individuals without bond, a punishment that is difficult to square with due process. The second detail is the acts startling scope: It does not only apply to undocumented immigrants, but also to people who live and work in this country legally. As immigration attorney David Isaacson has explained, the law would clearly apply to Dreamerswho are authorized to reside here, at least for now. It would also apply to refugees who entered the country without permission but have since been granted asylum. And, due to a quirk in federal law, it would even apply to legal immigrants who leave and reenter the country while awaiting issuance of their green card. Finally, the act applies to minors who are arrested or charged with a crime, despite Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallegos false claim to the contrary. Under this legislation, an 11-year-old asylum-seeker whose parents brought him into the country without authorization would be forced into mandatory detention if he were arrested for swiping a candy bar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third detail, and perhaps the most alarming one, involves the Laken Riley Acts extraordinary reallocation of power to states and federal courts. As the Supreme Court has confirmed too many times to count, the Constitution assigns primary responsibility for immigration enforcement to the executive branch. Both Congress and the court have long recognized presidents prosecutorial discretion to prioritize the removal of certain undocumented immigrants over others in light of the practical impossibility of deporting them all. The act would upend that balance by empowering states to seek federal court orders overruling the executive branchs individual immigration decisions and imposing mandatory detention in individual cases. A states attorney general could, for instance, ask a federal judge to order the detention of a specific migrant who was released from custody. A state attorney general could also sue the federal government over a policy that implements prosecutorial discretion by deprioritizing the deportation of certain migrants. States like Texas could clog federal courts dockets with an unceasing stream of lawsuits against the federal government urging judges to lock up more immigrants. And judges would be obligated to grant their requests under the act. As the American Immigration Councils Aaron Reichlin-Melnick has pointed out, theres an even more alarming feature buried in the bill: a novel grant of authority for federal courts to issue travel bans against entire countries. The legislation would let these courts prohibit the government from granting visas to residents of any country that does not accept deportations from the U.S. In other words, a foreign country that wont let the U.S. deport its nationals back into its borders is subject to a judicially imposed visa ban. Many countries, including China and India, do not cooperate with the United States deportation demands. Under the Laken Riley Act, courts could prevent every resident of these countries from obtaining a visa. That includes visas for skilled workers, students, medical treatment, business travelall of it would be shut down, likely setting off diplomatic crises that the president would have little leeway to resolve. Red state attorneys general, like Texas Ken Paxton, have spent years asking federal courts to order the detention and deportation of more immigrants and limit the number allowed into the country. A number of far-right judges, including the notorious Matthew Kacsmaryk, have eagerly compliedonly to get shot down at the Supreme Court. In 2023, the court issued a major decision in U.S. v. Texas holding that states do not have standing to challenge the executive branchs exercise of prosecutorial discretion over immigration enforcement. A year earlier, in Biden v. Texas, the court cast doubt on the federal judiciarys constitutional authority to interfere with foreign affairs by overruling the governments immigration decisions. The Laken Riley Act attempts to circumvent these barriers by simply proclaiming that states may establish standing by asserting that they are harmed by immigrants. But the Supreme Court has already held that Congress cannot create standing by statute when it does not exist under the Constitution. A handful of Senate Democrats have proposed modest amendments to the Laken Riley Act, including provisions that would protect Dreamers and limit states right to overrule federal immigration policy. But it is frankly difficult to see how tweaks around the edges could fix the foundational flaws of this legislation. Democrats like Gallego and Sen. John Fetterman seem to think Trumps victory reflects nationwide hostility toward unauthorized immigration that must be channeled into legislative action. This act, though, exploits the Democratic Partys evident fear of appearing soft on border policy to sneak through major new restrictions on legal immigration and law-abiding immigrants. That is the bills core purpose; it cannot be wished or amended away. If Democrats cannot recover their nerve and stand up to this extremism, they will be complicit in the devastating consequences of its passage. Tim W. Jackson is a former CEO of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association and Colorado State Director of National Federation of Independent Business and worked on policy issues with Doug Lamborn over the past 30 years. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The wildfires in Southern California have impacted thousands of people, including a Kern County resident and great-granddaughter of Hollywood legend Will Rogers. The Palisades Fire destroyed Will Rogers State Park in a matter of hours. Kevin Charette visited the park for a Sunrise Adventure in 2022. The fire destroyed a beloved state park that was a shining gem in the hills above Los Angeles. Will Rogers, a cowboy turned Hollywood star, purchased the property in the 1920s, building a 31-room ranch house, complete with a polo field riding trails and stables for his beloved horses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was his escape from Beverly Hills when he wasnt making a movie, Rogers great-granddaughter said. He built the barn before he started adding onto the house and the barn was built before he lived there. Targeted enforcement arrests: Border Patrol breaks silence, reveals details on Kern County operation After Rogers died in a plane crash in 1935, his wife Betty continued to live on the ranch until she entrusted it to the public in 1944 and it has been a living museum for everyone to enjoy. For decades, the park thrived as a sanctuary for both wildlife and history buffs. School kids toured the ranch house, learning about Rogers life and California history. It was a place for hikers and horseback riders to explore the trails which brought breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Rogers once said: Dont let yesterday use up too much of today. We can only hope that a piece of Rogers and his legacy will return to these grounds once the dust settles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, left, and his wife Maureen address a crowd at Moontown Brewing Company in Whitestown after he nabbed the Republican nomination for governor on May 7, 2024. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) On Monday, Gov.-elect Mike Braun will take the reins from Gov. Eric Holcomb and begin his administration alongside Micah Beckwith, who will serve as lieutenant governor. Braun, Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita, who will be serving a second term, will all be sworn into their respective offices sometime after 11 a.m. The free and publicly open ceremony will be the culmination of a three-day series of inaugural events a return to normal after Gov. Eric Holcombs socially distanced occasion in January 2021. Brauns inauguration will be held at the Indianapolis Hilbert Circle Theatre, home to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra with a capacity to seat over 1,600 attendees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 11 a.m. oath of office will take place after several other inaugural activities, including a ticketed breakfast on Monday hosted by incoming First Lady Maureen Braun to honor Indianas female entrepreneurs. A Saturday evening gala at the JW Marriott highlights the festivities, with dinner provided to ticketed guests after a VIP and sponsor reception. The devout family will observe Mass on Sunday at Saints Peter & Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis at 10 a.m. Though the church is open to the public, it also hosts a livestream for virtual viewing. Also on Sunday, the Brauns will have a Hoosier Heritage Family Day at the Indiana State Museum, which will also be free and open to the public though the transition team urges interested families to RSVP before the event. Activities at the museum, which is in downtown Indianapolis near the Indiana Statehouse, will include activities for the youngest and the oldest, according to an events page, such as crafts, a scavenger hunt and story time as well as a chance to meeting Braun. The events page doesnt specify a timeframe for museum activities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Trump administration's Ukraine peace envoy Keith Kellogg postponed his planned visit to Ukraine for legal reasons, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Jan. 10, in comments reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Tykhyi cited the U.S. Logan Act, which restricts unauthorized negotiations by private citizens with foreign governments, as the reason for the delay. Last month, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kellogg was expected to visit Ukraine before the inauguration. Reuters then reported on Jan. 6 that the trip had been postponed but did not cite the reason behind the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would prefer that General Kellogg's team comment on the timing of the visit. I can say that the visit is still being prepared; it will take place," Tykhyi said, emphasizing that the delay is not politically motivated. "All contacts should take place after the president takes office. According to our information, this is the only reason," he said. The visit is now expected to occur after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Kellogg, a former national security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, is a known figure in Kyiv and "has maintained close ties... in recent years," Tykhyi said on Nov. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The envoy is also scheduled to visit other European capitals, including Rome and Paris, as part of the Trump administration's efforts to address Russia's war against Ukraine. Trump has pledged to end the war quickly but has yet to provide specific details on his peace plan. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's commitment to achieving a diplomatic resolution by 2025, expressing cautious optimism about working with the incoming U.S. administration. Read also: Kremlin welcomes Trumps readiness for talks on Russias war in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Indiana Economic Development Commission leader David Rosenberg speaks before the Indiana Ethics Commission on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indianas Ethics Commission on Thursday unanimously approved post-employment waivers for four agency heads moving on from state government as Gov.-elect Mike Braun takes over. That includes David Rosenberg, president and CEO of the controversial Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The waivers allow state employees to take their next gigs despite potential conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana law mandates a yearlong ban on accepting a job or receiving compensation if the job involves lobbying; if the state employee negotiated or administered a contract with their prospective next employer while having discretionary decision-making power over contract negotiation or administration; or if the state employee made regulatory or licensing decisions that impacted their prospective next employer within the year before their departure. State code also permanently blocks former staffers from helping their new employers on particular matters related to past state work. Contracts, lawsuits and more count. Brauns transition team notified the four leaders that they wouldnt be reappointed and that they had to seek new employment, according to the waiver applications in the commissions meeting packet. Braun will be inaugurated Monday. Down to the wire It was Rosenbergs last day of work for the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosenberg previously withdrew his premature request for permission to take a vaguely defined executive role at Indiana University during a November meeting. Governors Office General Counsel and Ethics Officer Joseph Heerens on Thursday acknowledged the commissions concerns about the sufficiency of disclosure of the responsibilities and duties that Rosenberg would have at his new role. An updated ask, filed last week and included in the packet, specified that hed be the inaugural president and CEO of IUs Launch Accelerator for Biolifesciences. Indiana Commerce Secretary David Rosenberg speaks to reporters at the Indiana Global Economic Summit in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Rosenbergs application specifically requested a waiver of the contract-related cooling-off period. He was involved with early discussions for a single contract with IU that eventually provided a state match for the universitys successful federal microelectronics grant. The filing said he didnt negotiate or administer the contract that resulted a year later. Commission Chair Katherine Noel called Rosenbergs involvement extremely minimal. The body voted 4-0 to approve the waiver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IU announced Rosenbergs new role in a news release sent within an hour of the decision. Hell start the new gig today Friday. President Pamela Whitten said the university was thrilled to have Rosenberg join. Rosenberg brings a track records of successful partnerships and major investments into our state. His leadership will help unlock the massive potential of Indianas leadership in biosciences, Whitten continued. Hell report directly to her. IU LAB represents an enormous opportunity to distinguish Indiana and the greater Indianapolis region as an international leader for biosciences research and innovation, Rosenberg said in the release. Im excited to join the IU team and strengthen partnerships with industry and the state as we work collaboratively toward this audacious goal. Other approvals The commission also unanimously approved waivers for three other agency leaders: Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Brian Rockensuess, Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Michael Smith and Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Dr. Daniel Rusyniak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rockensuess sought a waiver of the contract-related cooling-off period to accept a position as president of Keramida, an Indianapolis-based sustainability and environmental health and safety consulting firm. The company has contracts with IDEM, according to filing, like for maintaining the grounds and facilities at IDEM cleanup sites, Rockensuess filing acknowledged that he had the power to interfere in contracts as agency head and he did occasionally sign agreements, but argued that lower-level employees handle contract negotiation and administration. From left: State Ethics Commission Director Reagan Perrodin, Commissioner Robert Duncan and Commissioner Katherine Noel listen during a Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 meeting. Other commissioners participated remotely. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Smith also applied for a waiver of the contract-related cooling-off period to accept a national-level consulting role with Indianapolis-based engineering powerhouse HNTB. The company has many active contracts with INDOT, including one involving road funding advice. Smith directly handled conversations about road funding on behalf of INDOT, aided by HNTBs advice, the application read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, it argued, that Smiths new gig wouldnt involve substantial contact with INDOT because of its national scope. And, another HNTB executive would screen him from any contact with or work involving the agency. Finally, Rusyniak hopes to join Eskenazi Health the public hospital division of the Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County as its chief medical officer. He worked for the system before becoming a state employee and has continued clinical work there while being FSSAs chief medical officer and now secretary. He applied for a waiver of the contract-related cooling-off period, the regulatory or licensing-related cooling-off period and the particular matters ban. FSSA has four contracts with Eskenazi. The application said Rusyniak didnt negotiate or administer any contracts with the system but still asked to waive the particular matters ban because he oversaw the divisions that entered into those contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, Eskenazi is among 80,000 Medicaid providers registered with FSSA. If the Ethics Commission were to consider these agreements to be contracts under the Code of Ethics, and if it also believes Dr. Rusyniaks general oversight of the regulatory program constitutes a particular matter, then we respectfully request a waiver, the application read. Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Dr. Daniel Rusyniak, flanked by counsel, appears before the Indiana Ethics Commission on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) It went on to argue that Rusyniak interacted with providers indirectly, through groups like the Indiana Hospital Association, and that any changes he signed off on applied uniformly to all providers. It said he didnt make any regulatory or licensing decisions directly regarding Eskenazi and noted that Eskenazis licensing is handled by a different agency. That box was checked out of an abundance of caution. FSSA is the largest state agency, and it has a complexity that is different from the other waivers presented, Heerens told the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners acknowledged the agencys broad reach. If we didnt grant this waiver, because of the wide net FSSA casts, finding employment in Indiana at any medical institution would be difficult, Commissioner Robert Duncan noted. The commission also O.Ked a lobby-related waiver for John Cochran, who left the IEDC in November for a new job at The Corydon Group. Cochran has lobbied local units of government and the Indiana General Assembly, but wanted permission to engage in executive branch lobbying. All who were granted waivers filed conflict-of-interest disclosures with preventative screens. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BENGALURU (Reuters) -India's Infosys filed a counterclaim against rival Cognizant in a Texas federal court on Thursday, accusing the U.S.-based company of engaging in anti-competitive practices and poaching key executives. India's second-largest software company accused Cognizant of anti-competitive practices including clauses in contracts that stop clients from awarding IT services work to competitors and refusing them training on its software. The Bengaluru-based company also said Cognizant indulged in targeted recruitment of key senior executives, including appointing S Ravi Kumar as its CEO in 2023, delaying its ability to develop a competing software product called Infosys Helix. Cognizant said it will take decisive action to address any allegations. "Cognizant encourages competition, but competitors cannot use Cognizant's IP to unfairly compete, as Infosys has done," the company said in a statement. Infosys did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment. The counterclaim comes after Cognizant subsidiary TriZetto (AXPAST.UL) sued Infosys last August, accusing the Indian tech major of stealing trade secrets related to its healthcare insurance software. TriZetto's Facets and QNXT are used by healthcare insurance companies to automate administrative tasks. In its complaint the Teaneck, New Jersey-based company said Infosys misused TriZetto's software to create "Test Cases for Facets", which improperly repackaged TriZetto's data into an Infosys product. Infosys has sought three times its damages suffered as well as the attorney fees and costs related to the case. The quantum of damages was not disclosed in the filing. The case is Cognizant TriZetto Software Group Inc v. Infosys Ltd, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, No. 3:24-cv-02158-X. (Reporting by Sai Ishwarbharath B; Editing by Eileen Soreng) By Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia will expand its existing defence partnerships and step up its handling of strategic issues impacting its sovereignty, including maritime security and the safety of sea passage and fisheries, its foreign minister said on Friday. Sugiono, who uses only one name, said Indonesia would continue to advocate for the completion of a code of conduct between the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN and China on the South China Sea and prioritise ASEAN's centrality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indonesia considers itself not a party in disputes over the sea, a waterway crucial to global trade, but has recently been tested by forays by China's coast guard into its exclusive economic zone. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, putting it at odds with Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, with disputes frequent over the conduct in their EEZs of China's massive fleet of coast guard. China insists it is operating lawfully in its territory. "In the geostrategic sense, Indonesia is close to a source of regional conflict, the South China Sea. Indonesia's position remains prioritising conflict resolution that is peaceful," Sugiono said, adding Indonesia would keep pushing for constructive dialogue on a code of conduct. Regional commitments to draft a code were first made in 2002 but talks towards its creation only started in 2017 and progress has been limited, with years spent discussing the framework for negotiations and numerous agreements signed to expedite the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thorny issues include whether the code will be legally binding, enforceable and based on international maritime law, under which a 2016 international arbitration panel ruled Beijing's expansive territorial claims had no legal basis. China does not recognise the ruling. In a wide-ranging speech setting out Indonesia's foreign policy that was attended by the diplomatic community, Sugiono also said Indonesia would prioritise completion of talks on free trade agreements and expand its international trade, including with non-traditional partners in Africa and the Pacific. He said Indonesia's joining of the BRICS grouping - which includes Russia, China, Brazil, India, Iran, Egypt and South Africa - was not a deviation from Indonesia's international position, but an underlining of its free and active foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said Indonesia would never abandon its support for the Palestinian cause, calling for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel over its role in the Gaza conflict. Sugiono was appointed in October when new President Prabowo Subianto took office. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) BEREA, Ky. (FOX 56) The recent cold weather has highlighted how important warming centers are, and the UP Initiative of Madison County is serving the community in a big way thanks to local partnerships. As bitterly cold temperatures continue, the inside of the UP Initiative of Madison County continues to be a place of fellowship and warmth. Shelbi Poole is chair of the board for the Up Initiative. Poole has been working to make sure everyone has what they need. Sadieville train derailment blocks residences, closes roads ahead of winter storm Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our doors being open could literally mean life or death for a whole lot of people in our town, so I get up every morning and I make this work somehow, and make sure everyone is fed, warm, and taken care of, Poole said. Staying warm is crucial, but so is having a full stomachsomething else the community gets thanks to the Up Initiative, making use of its new space. Weve had several people who havent had access to their checks because the mail is not able to run, or they cant get out and get to a bank or anything like that, so theyre low on food. Weve coordinated a lot of deliveries of food and snack items and things like that so that people arent going hungry, and we made sure hot meals have been delivered to some of our under-housed people, Poole said. Speaking of food, community partners like Berea Food Bank are pitching into this lifesaving mission. Tony Crachilo of Berea Food Bank is dedicated to his organizations mission of fighting hunger in Berea, as well as helping partner organizations in any way possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our mission is to make sure that hunger finds no home in Berea, and the UP initiative of Madison County is doing lifesaving work to make sure that not only people are warm and get cared for while theyre here, but also that they have plenty to eat. Thats where Berea Food Bank came in, sending food to help them, especially during this cold snap, Crachiolo said. Whether its warmth or hunger, theres a network of nonprofits in the surrounding area joining forces to serve. What I hope that were all doing together is making sure the holes in the patchwork of services get filled in so that no one in Berea has to go without when theyre in need, Crachiolo said. We are a huge network of nonprofits thats working together to keep people in Berea safe right now, Poole said. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can help the Up Initiative continue its community mission by donating supplies or helping financially. Donations can be brought to the initiatives headquarters at 1315 Gabbardtown Road in Berea. Monetary donations can also be sent to the organizations PayPal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Lisa LaBriola is a principal at Husch Blackwell Strategies and was a Senate Democrat staffer for close to a decade. She served as chief of staff to former Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman and former Senate President Leroy Garcia. Opinions expressed here are her own and do not reflect the opinions of any other organizations. Sage Naumann is a conservative commentator and strategist. He operates Anthem Communications and was previously the spokesman for the Colorado Senate Republicans. Follow him on Twitter @SageNaumann. The Scene Last week, Republicans announced that the Laken Riley Act would be their first priority in the new Congress. Named for a Georgia college student whose killer came into the country illegally, it would mandate detention, without bond, for any undocumented immigrant charged with a crime not just convicted and allow state attorneys general to sue the federal government for damages caused by the perpetrators. It moved faster than either party anticipated, picking up 48 Democratic votes in the House, including some from incumbents whod previously opposed it. On Thursday, most Senate Democrats voted to proceed to debate and amendments on the bill. It was a turn that shocked immigrant rights groups, who had generally focused on the new powers it would grant Republicans like Ken Paxton in Texas or Ashley Moody in Florida. Two Texas Democrats backed the bill twice; Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat and leader on immigration issues in the party, voted against it. She talked with Americana about why she did, why so many Democrats and activists have lost their footing, and what needs to happen next. The View From Veronica Escobar David Weigel: Were you surprised to see so many colleagues, including people whod voted against the last version of this bill, end up supporting it? Veronica Escobar: Mildly surprised. Id anticipated that we would be losing more and more Democrats on the immigration issue, and I think all of this could have been prevented. Unfortunately, many of these bills are only going to make the immigration system far worse and will move us further and further away from a real solution. The Democratic supporters of the bill who I talked to focused only on the detention piece of it. Do you think they were aware of the powers it gives to Republican attorneys general? I honestly have not had a conversation with any of my colleagues who voted for it, although I do want to reach out and learn more about their thoughts and whether they really understand the consequences that were going to live with once this becomes law. Most policymakers, and most Americans, dont really understand how byzantine and complex immigration law already is. Many people dont understand why weve seen the number of people crossing the border grow over the years, including during the Trump years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most voters just want it fixed. My guess is that many of my colleagues are responding to that demand, which I agree with. Congress needs to fix this. How do you anticipate Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton would use the powers handed to them in this bill? My fear is that many red states, including my own, will use this bill as a vehicle to force communities to engage in mandatory long-term detention of immigrants. And what worries me about that is that they will use local resources meant to keep local communities safe, meant to enforce local laws, as a tool to help Donald Trump. If that were to happen, that definitely makes communities like ours less safe, and it makes local property taxpayers foot the bill for long term mandatory detention. Imagine that Ken Paxton says, Im gonna sue, because I want to see even more expansive mandatory detention. Dallas County, Bexar County, Harris County, El Paso County, I want all of your local jails to be made available to help support ICE facilities. We have already seen this happen in El Paso. The county jail would have to release prisoners whove engaged in aggravated assault, domestic violence, things that make us unsafe. Theyd have to release people like that to make room for migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats already happened under Greg Abbott, under Operation Lone Star. He appointed a placeholder, a Republican, as our district attorney. Hundreds of migrants were charged with some misdemeanor. The county jail had to make that decision, which criminals to release in order to make way for migrants. Why did Trump and Republicans do better in El Paso County last year, even after living through that? Ill tell you our early assessments. What happened in El Paso is what happened all over the country. A lot of Democrats stayed home, and a lot of low-propensity voters turned out, people who maybe get their information from social media. I completely understand why not just El Pasoans, but Americans throughout the country, felt deeply frustrated and even angry about Washingtons inability to address what was happening at the border. Unfortunately, Republicans have been very effective at diverting blame. Im not saying Democrats are blameless, but Republicans have diverted away from their inaction and their unwillingness to solve this. Something else I heard after the vote was that immigrant rights groups were slow to mobilize against it. What broke down in the information pipeline? Well, its challenging. The groups which were so good at holding us accountable during the Biden administration about issues, about executive orders, about proposed bills that they didnt like were very engaged. I hope they are even more engaged going forward. But this bill was not a surprise. This is a bill that came up last Congress. It was part of the Republican rules package that we voted on last week. No one should have been surprised by it. My hope is that all of those advocates who are deeply concerned about this bill will sound the alarm sooner next time, and share their specific concerns far sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other huge issue, bigger than this bill, bigger than immigration, bigger than any one particular topic, is the sea of misinformation and disinformation in the cesspool that is social media. It is very difficult to get the truth out in a world where truth matters less and less. All you have to do is look at the replies or comments that accompany any legislator who expresses concern about these bills. The attacks are gratuitous, they are threatening, they are hateful, and that is the world that legislating exists in now. I will tell you: A number of my colleagues told me how exhausting it is to get the truth out in a world where truth doesnt seem to matter anymore. Something Ive heard from critics of the bill, or the Trump agenda, is that Trump will enact policies so callous that the thermostat might change it might be a repeat of 2017 and 2018. Do you buy that? This may sound very cynical, but I feel like Americans are becoming more numb to injustice, inhumanity and tragedy. And I am really concerned that, as horrible as things could potentially get, that the American public is at a place where it will only matter if it happens to them. I look at the mass shootings. You would think after the first or the second mass shooting, that the American voter would say: Enough! You look at climate change, look at whats happening in California, look at what happened in North Carolina, and what happens in Florida. Youd think after the umpteenth disaster, the American voter would wake up and demand action on climate. I am just really concerned that, as a society, Americans have become numb. If I can ask a bigger picture question: The premise of angel moms, of deporting people accused of crimes, is that any crime committed by an undocumented immigrant never would have happened if theyd been kept out of the country. How would you answer that? Who, apart from people born in America, deserves to be here? I mean, first and foremost, every single one of us, unless you are a Native American, is a descendant of immigrants. Thats why the H-1B debate was so instructive, right? There was no nuance. Not only did poor brown and Black migrants not deserve to be here, in their view, but even highly skilled, highly educated immigrants didnt deserve to be here. They want zero immigration. That is a recipe for essentially making America one of the least competitive nations on the globe. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Among the thousands of boots on the ground battling the wildfires in Los Angeles are hundreds of incarcerated individuals a fact that has renewed attention on Californias longstanding, but controversial inmate firefighter program. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed to Nexstars FOX 5/KUSI over 780 incarcerated people, including 88 support staff, are working around the clock in tandem with state and local fire crews to cut fire lines and clear fuels to slow the spread of the more than half-dozen wildfires burning in Los Angeles. The inmates were deployed to the front lines as part of a CDCR initiative known as the as the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southern California Wildfires: What you need to know As the department explains, the program gives inmates who meet certain eligibility requirements the option to embed with first responders from Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department during natural disasters, like wildfires and floods. When they are not out with Cal Fire crews, these inmates all of whom must have minimum custody status and be considered physically and mentally fit live at one of 35 low-security facilities called conservation camps, or fire camps. Contrary to some statements about the program circulating on social media, CDCR officials say the program is entirely voluntary, and those who join are eligible to earn credits to shave days off their sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers are also paid for their work anywhere from $5.80 to $10.24 per day, depending on their skill level. During emergencies, they are paid an extra $1 per hour, CDCR officials say. Once their sentence is up, inmates who participated as a volunteer firefighter are able to obtain employment with Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service through additional training programs offered by the state, even if a conviction might be a disqualifier for firefighting licensing. That is not to say the program, which has been shrinking in recent years due to Californias efforts to reform the criminal justice system, is not without criticism. Some opponents to the program have denounced the program as dangerous and coercive, at times referring to it as a modern form of slavery as inmates still only receive pennies for their work like other forms of prison labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did the wildfires in Los Angeles start? On the flip side, the program has been praised as a creative way for states to save money while giving inmates a way to feel productive and learn career skills. Some who have participated in the program have described it as a better alternative to being in prison, despite still viewing it as abusive. As one formerly incarcerated Californian, Matthew Hahn, described in a 2021 Washington Post column, he never met a fellow prisoner who didnt want to be in fire camp,' as the conditions in California prisons are so terrible that fighting wildfires is a rational choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is understandable that fire camps are seen as dicey ethical terrain. Yes, the decision to take part is largely made under duress, given the alternative. Yes, incarcerated firefighters are paid pennies for an invaluable task. And yes, it is difficult though not impossible for participants to become firefighters after leaving prison, Hahn said. Despite this, fire camps remain the most humane places to do time in the California prison system. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Renters in Charlotte are reacting to the news that six landlords have been accused of using artificial intelligence to raise rent prices throughout North Carolina. Damon Roschke told Channel 9 that he was watching Channel 9 when he learned his former landlord is involved in a state and federal lawsuit. It was on the news, and I said to myself, Oh, its Greystar. Thats where I lived, Roschke said. Its insane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roschke said he used to live at Atla Croft in north Charlotte, which is owned by Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC. Greystar, along with Blackstones LivCor LLC, Cushman & Wakefield Inc., Pinnacle Property Management Services LLC, Willow Bridge Property Company LLC, and Cortland Management LLC, were named in a lawsuit on Tuesday. According to the Attorney Generals Office, those landlords were illegally working together with AI software company Realpage to raise tenants rent. That makes a lot of sense as to why my rent almost jumped $500 in less than three years, said Roschke. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Several landlords accused of using AI to swindle millions out of renters in NC Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roschke explained that when he first moved into the property, the price to stay was reasonable. Went from roughly $1,100 my first year there, and it escalated to $1,749. I decided I had to leave, and that was just a one-bedroom, Roschke elaborated. And hes not alone. Johanna Machmer said she used to live at a Greystar property in Steele Creek, and after one year she left due to the increase in rent. It started out like 2050 a month. And then it was by the time we were leaving, it was up to like 2300, said Machmer. The lawsuit claims the landlords would use Realpages algorithm to align rent prices and avoid competition. The suit states sensitive information was shared, including renewal rates, occupancy, and strategies for setting rents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rent is extremely high. And now, knowing that stuff like this is happening, I think its making it worse for people to find a place to stay, Machmer continued. Channel 9 reached out to Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC about the lawsuit. The company stated they were disappointed that they were named and denied engaging in any anti-competitive practices. VIDEO: Several landlords accused of using AI to swindle millions out of renters in NC Two teenage girls in Louisiana were charged after authorities allege they tried to frame their high school teacher as a sexual predator who sent inappropriate messages to a student. On Dec. 18, 2024, detectives launched an investigation into a report regarding a male teacher at Central Lafourche High School in Raceland, La., located about 45 miles southwest of New Orleans, who was believed to have been exchanging messages with a 16-year-old female student, according to a statement from the Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office. The student, along with her 15-year-old friend, were believed to have been talking to the teacher through an online instant messaging platform, authorities said. However, after searching the pairs phones, investigators learned that the inappropriate messages had been fabricated. The sheriffs office did not share details about the messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities added that the online accounts were also fake and that the two girls, whose identities were not revealed, had sent screenshots to others in an effort to frame the teacher for sending inappropriate messages. The investigation proved the teacher had not sent any messages or photos to the girls and, in fact, had no involvement, the sheriffs office said. The teacher was actually proven to be the crime victim and has been cleared of all allegations. One of the two students also admitted to their involvement in the crime. The girls were arrested on Jan. 6 and have been charged with one count each of false swearing for the purpose of violating public health or safety, cyberstalking and online impersonation. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Authorities said the teenagers were placed on electronic monitoring and released to the custody of their parents. Its unclear if they have entered pleas or retained attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superintendent Jarod Martin said the school is shocked and appalled to learn of the actions of two of our students. The allegations against one of our teachers were false and malicious, and we appreciate the efficiency of investigators in uncovering the source of these messages, he said in the sheriffs office's statement. Such attacks on a teachers credibility and reputation are concerning and can inhibit their ability to effectively educate our children. We are committed to investigating all allegations of misconduct in order to provide a safe environment conducive to learning and working for all of our students and staff." Read the original article on People During the occupation of Kharkiv Oblast in 2022, Russian forces established nearly 30 torture chambers in various parts of the region. This story focuses on just one of them the torture chamber at the Vovchansk Aggregate Plant. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Instacart is waiving delivery fees for customers in LA County in response to the devastation caused by the wildfires that continue to burn across the region. For a limited time, delivery fees will be waived for all grocery and daily essentials orders of $10 or more. Instacart said in a statement that they are doing this to support the LA community. Heres how to help those impacted by the wildfires across Southern California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The delivery service isnt the only company stepping up to help wildfire victims. If the wildfires have impacted you or a loved one, here are some services you can use. Shake Shack is offering them free Shackburgers at any location across the county. The deal will be valid until Sunday. Mountain Mikes Pizza in Pasadena will be offering free meals and a place to rest to first responders. U-Haul is opening its facilities across Southern California for 30 days of free self-storage to victims. The U-Box container disaster relief program is also available to assist evacuees and affected families. Everytable, a Los Angeles-based company that provides nutritious meals, is providing free meals to first responders until Jan. 12. Uber and Lyft are helping evacuated residents with free rides to shelter locations. The Abbey West Hollywood is offering free meals to evacuees and first responders World Central Kitchen, spearheaded by chef Jose Andres, has a relief team in Southern California to assist first responders and families. Airbnb, in collaboration with 211 LA, is offering free temporary housing for residents displaced or forced to evacuate due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. The full list can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. As wildfires rage across neighborhoods in Los Angeles, were seeing constant footage of the frightening blazes and devastation. More than 180,000 people have been ordered to flee their homes, and even more are without power. Thousands of houses, businesses and other structures have been destroyed or damaged, and at least five people are dead. If you live elsewhere in the world, its natural to feel helpless watching this horrifying situation unfold. But there are many ways to help those affected by the fires, no matter where youre located. Below, weve rounded up a list of organizations accepting donations now. (The list is by no means comprehensive, but for more options, Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network has also compiled a lengthy spreadsheet with resources and ways to help.) California Fire Foundation The California Fire Foundation works with local fire departments and community-based organizations to aid residents affected by wildfires and other disasters in the state. You can make a donation on the foundations website to offer direct support to victims of the Los Angeles blazes. World Central Kitchen Chef Jose Andres World Central Kitchen has mobilized relief teams throughout the Los Angeles area to feed first responders and affected residents. The organization is providing food and water in areas in need and accepting donations to support these efforts on its website. American Red Cross The American Red Cross is also on the ground and working with partners to provide food, safe shelter, medical care, relief supplies and emotional support to those affected by the fires. You can donate to the cause on the Red Cross website or by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999. Friends in Deed Friends in Deed is a Pasadena-based nonprofit providing meals, safe shelter and other services for people experiencing homelessness. You can donate to support these efforts on the organizations website. Canine Rescue Club Those concerned about how the fires are affecting peoples pets can check out the Canine Rescue Club, a network of caregivers who temporarily foster dogs. Amid the wildfires, the organization is looking for volunteers in the Los Angeles area to house displaced canines. You can also donate money online to assist the Palisades Fire Canine Relief Fund, which will provide emergency shelter, safe transport, medical care, food and other essentials. Direct Relief The nonprofit humanitarian organization Direct Relief is working with local health providers and emergency management teams to supply N95 masks, medical aid and other resources to first responders and affected residents. The organizations website has a donation option, and it notes that 100% of donations to Direct Reliefs wildfire response fund directly support efforts to assist individuals impacted by fires in Palisades, Altadena, and across California, providing critical aid where its needed most. The Salvation Army The Salvation Armys wildfire relief efforts include providing meals, first aid, shelter, mental health services and personal necessities to evacuees and first responders. In addition to emergency support, the organization connects survivors with caseworkers to help displaced families, and even provides donations and grants to those who have lost their homes, belongings and/or jobs as a result of the fires. You can donate to the relief effort online. Pasadena Humane Pasadena Humane is assisting with animal evacuations and providing shelter for the pets of displaced residents. The organization, which has taken in more than 300 animals as of Wednesday night, is accepting monetary contributions on its website and has a donation bin on site for blankets, large crates and food and water bowls. A firefighter battles the Palisades fire as it burns homes at Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8 in Los Angeles. Apu Gomes via Getty Images Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation As firefighters work tirelessly to battle the blazes across the community, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is seeking donations to its wildfire emergency fund. The money goes toward important tools, equipment and resources to help firefighters effectively contain the flames. GoFundMe The fundraising platform GoFundMe has created a dedicated hub with all verified pages related to the California wildfires, with many options to donate to families whove lost their homes and belongings. There is also a general Wildfire Relief Fund that will send cash grants to individuals, small businesses, nonprofits and community relief efforts. California Community Foundation The California Community Foundations Wildfire Recovery Fund is accepting donations online and via mail. The goal is to distribute grants to the most underserved and marginalized communities, particularly when it comes to longer-term recovery relief. The Sidewalk Project Another organization working with unhoused people is the Sidewalk Project, which is offering shelter to those in need of a safe place to stay amid the fires. You can make a donation to support these efforts online or drop off supplies if you live locally. Baby2Baby The nonprofit Baby2Baby is supplying critical items like diapers, formula, food and hygiene products to children and families whove lost their homes and belongings. Donations can be made to Baby2Babys Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Program. Airbnb Airbnbs nonprofit arm, Airbnb.org, has teamed up with 211 LA to offer free temporary housing to people displaced by the wildfires. Those looking to open up their doors to house evacuees can sign up on the organizations website, where you can also donate money to the cause. Related... California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued a moratorium that bars insurers from canceling or non-renewing home policies in the Pacific Palisades and the San Gabriel Valley's Eaton fire zones. The moratorium, issued Thursday, protects homeowners living within the perimeter of the fire and in adjoining ZIP codes from losing their policies for one year, starting from when Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. The moratoriums, provided for under state law, are typically issued after large fires and apply to all policyholders regardless of whether they have suffered a loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: How the devastating Los Angeles fires could deepen California's home insurance crisis Lara also urged insurers to pause for six months any pending non-renewals or cancellations that were issued up to 90 days before Jan. 7 that were to take effect after the start of the fires something he does not have authority to prohibit. "I call upon all property insurance companies to halt these non-renewals and cancellations and provide essential stability for our communities, allowing consumers to focus on what's important at the moment their safety and recovery," said Lara on Friday during a press conference in downtown Los Angeles. Insurance companies in California have wide latitude to not renew home policies after they expire, though they must provide at least 75 days' notice. However, policies in force can be canceled only for reasons such as non-payment and fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Fire victims seek answers about rebuilding, cleanup timeline Insurers have dropped hundreds of thousands of policyholders across California in recent years citing the increasing risk and severity of wind-driven wildfires attributed to climate change. The insurance department said residents living in fire zones can be subject to sudden non-renewals, prompting the need for the moratoriums. However, under existing law, homeowners who have experienced a total loss must be offered two renewals of their coverage. In addition, Lara asked insurers to extend to policyholders affected by the fires time to pay their premiums that go beyond the existing 60-day grace period that is mandatory under state law. In response to Thursday's moratorium proclamation, a trade association executive said the industry's top priority is "ensuring the safety of those impacted and helping them recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Property Casualty Insurance Association is heartbroken by the tragic loss of lives, homes and personal property caused by the devastating fires in Southern California. Insurers remain steadfast in their commitment to their customers and the state," said the statement by Denni Ritter, a vice president at the group. Its not clear how many homeowners in Pacific Palisades and elsewhere might not have had coverage, but many homeowners reported that insurers had not renewed their policies before the disaster struck. State Farm last year told the Department of Insurance it would not renew 1,626 policies in Pacific Palisades when they expired, starting last July. Read more: If you lost your home or business in the wildfires, here's what to do next Residents can visit the Department of Insurance website at insurance.ca.gov to see if their ZIP codes are included in the moratorium. They can also contact the department at (800) 927-4357 or via chat or email if they think their insurer is in violation of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pacific Palisades fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, as of Friday morning had grown to more than 20,000 acres, burning more than 5,000 homes, businesses and other buildings. It was 6% contained. The Eaton fire, which has burned many structures in Altadena and Pasadena, has spread to nearly 14,000 acres and was 3% contained as of early Friday. Ten people have died in the fires. Read more: Every wildfire currently burning in California Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Its too early to gauge the economic impacts of the wildfires still raging in multiple Southern California communities, which had also claimed five lives as of midday Thursday, but estimates already exceed some of the biggest past fire-related events in the Golden State, including the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Californias north central Butte County which led to $12.5 billion in insured losses. The current fires are roaring amid Californias ongoing effort to address the states precarious home insurance environment. Its one in which widespread losses in recent years have driven some insurers to exit the state entirely and others to drop clients in high-risk areas, particularly those with properties in wildland-urban interfaces where developments abut forest and wilderness areas. Insurance companies declined to renew 2.8 million homeowner policies in the state between 2020 and 2022, according to the most recent data from the California Department of Insurance. That includes 531,000 in Los Angeles County, where fires are currently raging, according to a report by CNN. Canceling homeowners insurance On Thursday, JPMorgan Chase analyst Jimmy Bhullar updated a Wednesday damage estimate from the current California fires, doubling the value of expected losses on insured properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expectations of economic losses stemming from the fires have more than doubled since yesterday to closer to $50 billion, and we estimate that insured losses from the event could exceed $20 billion (and even more if the fires are not controlled), Bhullar wrote in a note to clients. The current top three costliest wildfires in U.S. history have all occurred in California over the past eight years and include the 2018 Camp Fire, 2017 Tubbs Fire and 2018 Woolsey Fire, according to data from a Wall Street Journal report. While major national insurers like State Farm and Allstate have recently stopped selling home insurance policies in the state, and some insurers have dropped clients in high-risk areas, Californias state-run Fair Plan insurance program functions as an insurer-of-last-resort for homeowners who are unable to find private insurance coverage. The number of homes in the area affected by the Palisades Fire that are enrolled in Fair Plan almost doubled between 2023 and 2024, said Tim Zawacki, an insurance sector strategist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, per a New York Times report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The California insurance market has been balanced on a knife edge, Nancy Watkins, an insurance expert and principal actuary at Milliman, a consulting firm, told the Times. As homeowners begin filing claims, insurers that cover large numbers of dwellings in Southern California could see a drain on their financial reserves, forcing them to drop customers, be punished by investors or exit the state. Can you get fire insurance in Utah? California isnt alone when it comes to challenges in the home insurance sector. Last year, a report from LendingTree found home insurance prices across the country had risen by an average 37.8% from 2019 to 2024, driven mostly by the escalating costs of repairs along with a higher occurrence of natural disasters. And Utah homeowners have been among the hardest hit with rates for Beehive State home insurance policies up by over 54% over that time period, the fourth highest state-level increase in the country. While tiny in comparison to Californias population density inside wildland-urban interface areas, Utah has its own concerns with residential development that borders wilderness and forest, including a ring that roughly follows Salt Lake Citys north and east sides and numerous neighborhoods along the Wasatch Valley foothills and in Summit County communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the Utah Insurance Department told the Deseret News that insurance companies operating in the state arent required to report data accounting for the number of policies it cancels or declines to renew but a spokesman for the agency said its heard anecdotally that some Utah homeowners have struggled to find polices to fit their budgets, and particularly so for properties in wildland-urban interface areas. To date, the state agency hasnt seen any significant volume of complaints from Utah residents related to loss of insurance or renewal issues based on where their properties are located. The department notes that Utah homeowners have a wide variety of insurance options with around 100 companies currently writing homeowners policies in the state. Paying a premium Veteran Utah real estate broker Scott Steadman said hes seen an elevated awareness among homebuyers and sellers in recent years when it comes to the risk issues associated with properties in wildland-urban areas and expects the current rash of California fires will push the issue even higher in the minds of those in the market. Steadman, who runs Windermere Real Estates Draper office, also happens to be a resident of one such neighborhood as a homeowner in the Suncrest area on Drapers east side foothills below Lone Peak. He noted that those looking for properties in areas where development meets wilderness are typically seeking the amenities that come along with the location, like better air quality, easy access to trails and less dense neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said choosing to live in these areas comes with an affordability premium thanks to higher insurance costs and added responsibilities, like maintaining adequate in-home fire suppression measures along with outdoor duties, like managing vegetation and appropriate fire-break landscaping. People just have to weigh the inherent risk and added costs against what theyre seeking in a home location, Steadman said. There are definitely financial implications that go with the lifestyle choice. Steadman also encouraged those living in wildland-urban areas to educate themselves about wildfire safety and seek out expert advice on safety strategies. Those interested in learning more about keeping homes, properties and lives safe in wildland-urban interface zones can visit the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands resource page for more information. MENOMONIE As students gathered in Harvey Hall on Thursday, Sara Anger, career development manager in UW-Stouts Career Services department, spoke to the people in the room on what skills might be significant on a resume. For many of the students, the seminar was an opportunity to ask any of the questions they had about employment in the United States, since the event was designed to support Stouts international student population. The three-hour event was named the International Student Career Development Seminar. In the last year or so, our international student population has really skyrocketed, especially around F-1 students and those getting degrees and internships, said Bryan Barts, director of Career Services at UW-Stout. We work with Danielle (Clarizio) to make sure they are getting the skills and the education they need to find successful internships and full-time positions after graduation if they decide to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the international students typically have what is called an F-1 visa, which allows them to study full-time in the U.S. The seminar serves as an opportunity to talk about facets of the job search process and administrative steps, such as the significance of an H-1B visa for people seeking to perform services in a specialty occupation. But even on top of that, the session was to cover everything including resumes, interviews, cover letters and more. We are making sure that the students are getting as much information at one time as they can, because we dont know where they are or what they are doing in terms of their needs, said Barts. A one-stop shop, said Danielle Clarizio, assistant director of International Student Services (ISS) at Stout. They come in and get as much information as possible at one time so they can then build a plan for utilizing resources for the next semester or the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fall, Clarizio said the university saw an international student population of roughly 315 students representing roughly 40 countries around the world. We are usually around that 35 to 40 country representation, as we have been for several years, but that number of 315 is an increase from where we have been in years prior, she said. We do expect to have larger numbers in the spring semester. Continuing, Clarizio said, As a polytechnic university, so much of what we do here as an institution is about getting students career ready so that when they graduate, they can go straight into employment. The seminar has been something that officially started last fall, but has represented an initiative and resource which Barts said their departments have been a part of for years. Especially during this month, the departments saw an opportunity to interact with international students that are staying on campus during the winter and more available now than they would be during the spring or fall semester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Especially with a growing international student population than years prior, Barts said the influx causes them to think of how they are supporting those populations on campus. Through the seminar, the ISS and Career Services departments on campus work in a partnership to provide these student resources. Career Services runs many, many different workshops and support sessions throughout a typical semester, said Clarizio, but there are some nuances to the job search process or navigating employment in the United States that international students can benefit from some honest conversations about. That is where these types of platforms, with the standalone sessions just for our international students, can address those nuances specifically to help train them or get prepared for whatever situations they may find themselves in the future, said Barts. While also providing a support network if they find themselves in a situation that wasnt covered in the session, to know that they can go talk to someone in Career Services or with Danielle and get support in the ways that they need it. URBANDALE, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Board of Regents will consider a new draft of its strategic plan at its meeting next week, edited to remove language pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. According to documents released Tuesday, the bodys new 2022-2027 strategic plan would remove certain guidelines and words in response to legislation that has passed over the past two years. In addition to DEI changes, the board would remove references to special schools no longer under its purview and gender balance on boards. New Iowa law means more expensive vehicle titles and registration Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The edits in the attached draft are intended to ensure alignment of the Board of Regents Strategic Plan 2022-2027 with all state and federal laws, the document stated. The strategic plan, approved in February 2022, says it is a living document that provides a touchstone for the board and the universities it governs. When enacted, it included information relating to the Iowa School for the Deaf and Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, as well as language about diversity, inclusion and underrepresented students in its statements of core values and priorities. Three pieces of legislation passed in 2023 and 2024 have caused the need for changes to the strategic plan, according to the document. Senate File 514 and Senate File 2096, both passed in 2023, brought the Iowa School for the Deaf and Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired into the Department of Education and eliminated requirements for gender balance on state boards and commissions, respectively. Passed in 2024, Senate File 2435 bars state universities from opening, funding or maintaining positions and offices relating to diversity, equity and inclusion that arent required by law or for accreditation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University have already restructured or eliminated offices and positions in response to DEI directives put in place by the board before the legislation passed and in order to comply with the legislation. In the edited draft of the boards strategic plan, instances where the Iowa School for the Deaf and Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired have been struck, as well as a line stating that gender balance is required on the board. The name of the board itself and its current members have also been updated. Under the boards core values in the document, edits replaced the phrase diverse and inclusive experiences with high-impact academic. It also replaced respect for differences with mutual respect for intellectual differences and removed inclusion from its practices for transformative growth category. The phrase among members of diverse backgrounds, culture and beliefs in nurturing environments has been removed from the boards dispositions, leaving Respectful interaction shall empower critical thinking, free enquiry and open communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa law expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage approved by federal government References to underrepresented and underserved students and populations have been removed from the document as well. Underrepresented students have been removed from the goal to expand onboarding programs for incoming students, with a particular focus on first generation and non-traditional students. The directive to universities to set five-year goals to expand online programs in areas that are consistent with campus expertise and market demands has had a portion of it removed that would have these programs enhance opportunities as well as target underserved populations and industries. The board will vote on whether to approve the new plan document at its Jan. 15 meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A report showed that Iowa has the second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the country. Now, the organization behind the report wants to educate Iowans about the specific cancer risks they face in their part of the state. The Iowa Cancer Registry is creating county-by-county reports to get the word out on the specific risks in each part of the state, and holding informational meetings to address concerns residents have. Its called the 99 Counties Project. Center for Siouxland taking care of residents taxes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization has already held a meeting in Palo Alto County. The next meeting in Siouxland is scheduled for Dickinson County on Jan. 23. More meetings will continue to be scheduled throughout the year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Cattle in a feedlot. (Photo by Preston Keres/ USDA/FPAC) Iowa counties can have their own review on proposed animal feeding operation permits if they adopt a construction evaluation resolution and submit it to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by the end of January each year. But not all counties are taking this step, giving up the ability to have a say in the permitting process. The resolutions allow counties to submit formal recommendations to DNR, send county officials to the DNR inspections of a site, appeal a DNR decision on a construction permit and implement more stringent construction requirements through the state master matrix Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, or CCI, a community group organizing on farm and environmental issues and other topics, encourages counties to pass the resolutions. Caitlin Golle, a community organizer with CCI focused on farm and environment, said passing the resolution is the best protection a county has to make its voice heard in the matters of large animal feeding operations. Without passing this resolution, theres virtually no way for the county to provide input or fight to protect their community, Golle said. Proposed animal feeding operations in counties that have passed the resolutions have to meet a state master matrix scoring criteria to receive a permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DNR documents about the matrix, this means the operation will adhere to to higher standards than required by law typically involving more conservative manure management plans and increased separation distances. The proposed operation must score a minimum of 440 points, which is 50% of the total points, on the master matrix criteria to receive a recommendation from the county. Golle said the matrix system provides some protections to counties, but is no substitute for local control. For most people, a 50% grade is failing, but for factory farms requesting to build a new or expanding factory farm, they only need that 50%, Golle said. Its intended to hold factory farms to a higher standard than what the law requires, where really the law should be requiring these higher standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The matrix is scored by the applicants and then it is up to the county to verify the distances and other requirements that go beyond state law requirements that are verified by DNR. We want there to be that opportunity where, if (applicants) are not fully truthful we can catch them on anything where points can be reduced, or where the permit can be denied, Golle said. The DNR document detailing the matrix scoring, said the county is obligated to score the matrix in a professional and objective manner and it cannot award or deny points arbitrarily. DNR has maps of the counties that have passed and submitted resolutions in the past several years on its website, which show all but around 15 of Iowas 99 counties have submitted resolutions the past three years. A map from Iowa Department of Natural Resources shows counties that submitted construction evaluation resolutions in 2024. (Map courtesy of Iowa DNR) Golle said some counties dont submit because it means they have to do the additional work of evaluating the master matrix. Others feel like it wont make much of a difference if they evaluate it or not since DNR ultimately has the final say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oftentimes supervisors can feel like their hands are tied, but still giving that input can make a big difference, Golle said. Golle noted several instances where county evaluations of a master matrix and public input on a proposed operation led to permit denials or withdrawals. Iowa Capital Dispatch reached out to several county auditors in counties that have not passed resolutions the past couple of years. Some auditors responded that their boards of supervisors had passed the resolutions, but the county did not properly submit the documents to DNR. Other counties said they didnt pass the resolutions because their boards felt it would not make a difference to the process, and another said it makes most sense to leave the decisions to DNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nan Benson, the auditor and recorder for Marshall County, said the county approved a resolution in 2024, but the former staff member responsible for submitting the document was unaware they needed to submit it to DNR. Benson said the county has passed a resolution for 2025 and will get it turned in this time. Kelli Book, an attorney with DNR, said counties are notified each December to remind them of the process to submit the resolutions. Most counties that have the master matrix have done permits before, so theyre well aware of the process, but our engineers do send it to them, Book said. Golle said the master matrix ultimately gives the community the ability to share their opinions about the projects being built in their counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is one of the greatest strengths a tool that they have in order to give their input, Golle said. So they have that opportunity to stand up and make a public stance on how they feel about this specific permit request. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE DES MOINES, Iowa Leaders of Iowas Democratic Party met with members of the media to discuss the upcoming 91st General Assembly. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner talked about the swearing in of new lawmakers and what some new faces bring to the table; along with how the party looks at attacking the next three months after losing more numbers in both the Iowa House and Senate. Relevance isnt a concern because were not talking about the representatives or senators who are here, were talking about the people we represent and their voices need to be heard at the Capitol, and we will continue to fight for that, said Konfrst (D) District 32 from Windsor Heights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are the employees of all the Iowans who elected us and were here to do a job for them. they deserve to have their voice heard, they deserve to have us represent them. They deserve us to have to hold our Republican colleagues accountable, said Weiner (D) District 45 from Iowa City. Iowa made Tones Spices being dropped from Hy-Vee stores Both leaders emphasized that the majority of the policies that come through and pass out of the Iowa Statehouse are bipartisan. One example they pointed to was a hands free driving bill that had seen some movement last session. Property taxes look to be the headline for the Iowa House and Senate Republican majorities this session, with a better idea of what is or what isnt in a policy proposal when the session starts. Konfrst and Weiner have been talking with different sized municipalities about what they are worried about with potential changes to the tax code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would really urge our Republican colleagues to bring a wide variety of those people to the table so that they could hear how its working right now, what theyre spending their money on and why they are so worried about just being able to fund public safety, said Weiner. Not to mention the other things that make communities a place that Iowans want to move to that create the amenities that people want when they live in a community. So, lets not use a one size fits all solution, the needs of Ackley are not the same as the needs of Ankeny, said Konfrst. Both chambers gavel in at 10 a.m. on Monday morning for the first session of the 91st General Assembly. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. AMES, Iowa (KCAU) The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking for input on a proposed plan to replace a bridge in Crawford County. According to a release, the bridge would be on U.S. 30 over the Boyer River. Rock Valley recovering from last summers flooding Construction is set to begin in 2028. During the construction phase, the DOT stated that they plan to reroute traffic from U.S. 59 to County Road E59 into Dow City. Affected properties would remain accessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can click here to view the full traffic control plan and click here to submit your feedback on the construction plan. The deadline for feedback is Jan. 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved more than $5.7 million in grants to assist 48 agencies including some that serve the Quad Cities area with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2025 calendar year. The homelessness assistance awards announced today will have a direct impact in helping thousands of Iowans in their time of need, said Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham. Iowas homeless service professionals work tirelessly to help get Iowans back on their feet and into permanent housing, and this funding will aid in those efforts. Iowa Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF) and Iowa Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) include these Quad Cities groups: Additionally, a Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grant for $141,621 goes to The Project of the Quad Cities, serving Clayton, Clinton, Dubuque, Jackson, Muscatine, and Scott counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individuals in need of homelessness assistance should visit here or call the coordinated entry system at 833-739-0065. Residents of Des Moines or Polk County should call centralized intake at 515-248-1850. Residents in the Siouxland area should visit here or call 712-224-5247. The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, the state-funded Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF) and the federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. The Iowa Finance Authority conducted competitive application processes for the ESG and SAF programs, while HOPWA funding is distributed by formula based upon Iowa Department of Public Health data. Applications were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management. Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) The primary purpose of the Federal Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. Examples of eligible services include rental and other emergency financial assistance, street outreach, case management and supportive services. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa. Twenty-seven agencies were awarded a total of more than $2.9 million in 2025 Emergency Solutions Grant Program funds. Shelter Assistance Fund (SAF) The State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for the homeless and evaluation and reporting services. Thirty agencies were awarded a total of more than $1.7 million in 2025 Shelter Assistance Fund grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS is a federal program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development designed to assist persons who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Five agencies were awarded a total of more than $1 million in 2025 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS grants. The full list of awards is available here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Tens of thousands of members of the paramilitary Basij militia have travelled to Tehran as part of a large-scale manoeuvre, media reported on Friday. The Tasnim news agency reported that around 110,000 members took part. The drill, entitled Rahian-e Quds (Travellers to Jerusalem), was part of a major military show of strength that took place against a backdrop of growing domestic and international tensions. Military equipment was also on display at a parade in the centre of the Iranian capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the country, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hussein Salami, commented on the recent change of power in Syria. "Enemies want to claim that Iran is weakened. But are we not stronger today in controlling the straits than we were years ago?" the state agency IRNA quoted the general as saying in the border town of Abadan, near Iraq. Historically, Iranian military leaders have often threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports. In view of the upcoming inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, and growing tensions with Israel, concerns are growing in Iran about a renewed escalation of the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Israel and Iran engaged in dangerous military confrontations on several occasions. The Basij militia was founded after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. It recruits its members mainly from the young population. As part of the IRGC, it has several hundred thousand supporters loyal to the system. The unit is known for its central role in Iran's security and military structure. It regularly appears at military and political events. Island County authorities have closed the investigation into the 2003 murder of Tamara Tammy Mattson at Camano Island State Park, identifying Carl D. Schlobom, 69, as the perpetrator, according to a joint announcement from Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks and Island County Sheriff Rick Felici. Though investigators are confident they have identified the killer, Schlobom cannot be prosecuted due to advanced dementia. Schlobom is currently serving a sentence of life without parole in Arizona for a 2005 murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mattson, a mother of seven, was 39 years old when her body was discovered on December 9, 2003, at Camano Island State Park. Sheriffs detectives spent six years investigating leads and interviewing acquaintances but could not make a break in the case. Advances in DNA technology in 2009 allowed the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab to develop a DNA profile from cellular material found on a cigarette butt near the location of Mattsons body. The DNA matched Schlobom, who was in the national CODIS database due to his conviction in Arizona. Authorities did not know Schlobom before the DNA match. Investigators determined that while the DNA match placed Schlobom near the crime scene, they had to prove he was the murderer and not simply a bystander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rules of Evidence also prevented prosecutors from using Schloboms prior murder conviction in a trial. Over the next decade, detectives attempted to learn more about Schlobom and his connections to Mattson but found few reliable leads. In 2019, detectives interviewed Schlobom in the Arizona prison, but he refused to answer questions. In 2021, Schlobom sent a letter offering information about Mattsons death in exchange for demands, which prompted a free talk interview with Schlobom, under temporary immunity. Banks explained this allowed them to verify that Schlobom was the killer. During the interview, Schlobom confessed to the murder, citing a dispute over a drug deal as his motive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He knew things that only the killer and detectives knew, said Detective Wallace. The plan was for Schlobom to sign a sworn confession and then be charged in Island County. However, the plan fell apart when officials could not agree to a deal allowing Schlobom to serve his sentence in Washington rather than being transferred back to Arizona after pleading guilty. Washingtons prison system was not inclined to take on a prisoner with serious medical issues, especially while there was a raging pandemic. In 2024, a family member of Schloboms contacted authorities, informing them of Schloboms advanced dementia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizona prison officials confirmed that he could no longer be prosecuted due to his mental condition. Despite the inability to prosecute Schlobom, Banks said that he is certain Schlobom murdered Mattson, and detectives were able to provide some closure to Mattsons family. Sheriff Felici added that the murder grew out of a personal dispute between Schlobom and Mattson and no one else was involved. The 22-year-old son of a man recently found dead in the Gaza Strip, who had been kidnapped from Israel, is also no longer alive. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it had informed the family after completing an investigation. The young Arab Israeli was killed while being held prisoner by Hamas. On Wednesday, the IDF announced the discovery of the body of the 53-year-old father and also stated that discoveries related to his son raised "serious concerns" about whether he was still alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until then, the military had assumed that both were still alive. The men, who belonged to a Bedouin community, were abducted into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. According to the IDF, both were alive at the time of the hostage-taking. Two other children of the 53-year-old were also abducted at the time. The youths were released in November 2023 as part of a deal between Hamas and Israel. The four were working in a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip border during the terrorist attack. The Israeli military posted on X that the remains of the two men were recovered in a tunnel in the area of the city of Rafah in the south of the Palestinian territory and had been brought back to Israel. The Israeli military said Friday it had identified the body of a hostage recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza as the son of Yosef Al-Ziyadnah, a hostage whose body was recovered earlier this week. Hamza Al-Ziyadnah, 23, was found dead in a tunnel in the Rafah area, a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and Internal Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, said on Friday. The Israeli military said Wednesday it had recovered the body of Yousef Al-Ziyadnah, 53, from a tunnel in the Rafah area and had discovered evidence that raised grave concerns for his sons life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamza and his father were kidnapped during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and had been held in the Gaza Strip. Hamza and Yosef were abducted alive on October 7 and were killed while in Hamas captivity, the statement said. The Al-Ziyadnah family are part of the Bedouin Muslim-Arab community that lives in southern Israels Negev desert. Yousef and three of his children Hamza, Bilal, and Aysha were taken from Kibbutz Holit in southwest Israel, where they used to work. Bilal and Aysha were among the dozens of hostages returned in the short-lived ceasefire deal in November 2023. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed grief at the news of Hamzas death and again called for a deal to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yosef and Hamza, who survived a period in the hell of Gaza captivity, could have been saved through an earlier agreement, the statement said. The time and conditions are ripe for all the hostages to return bringing the living home for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial, it said. The negotiations must be expedited to secure an immediate deal for their return. This historic window of opportunity stands before us and must not be lost. No breakthrough in hostage talks Talks over a potential hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza appear deadlocked, with Hamas claiming that Israel has introduced new conditions and Egyptian mediators sounding downbeat about progress. A Hamas official told CNN on Friday that Israel has demanded holding on to a 1-kilometer strip of territory along the eastern and northern borders of the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was responding to a report by Reuters citing an unnamed Palestinian official about the alleged new condition. Israel still insists on keeping a 1 km landscape along the eastern and northern borders of the Gaza Strip, which will restrict the return of residents to their homes and represent a retreat from what it (Israel) had agreed upon in July, the official told Reuters. The Hamas official who spoke to CNN said Israels conditions included much more but did not offer further details. CNN has reached out to Israel about the claims. Meanwhile, an Egyptian official and another diplomat briefed on the matter told CNN on Friday that the indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Qatar have yet to reach a breakthrough, despite statements from United States officials indicating that they were progressing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a clear appetite on the part of the Americans to get a deal done for the incoming Trump administration, the diplomat said. But the diplomat sounded a note of caution: Things are going well but there is still a lot of work to do. The comments come a day after US President Joe Biden said he met with negotiators and added that his assessment was that there was real progress being made. Were making some real progress. I met with negotiators today, Biden said. Hope springs eternal, but I think Im still hopeful that well be able to have a prisoner exchange. Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange, right now. US President-elect Donald Trump warned in a press conference this week that if the hostages Hamas is holding in Gaza are not released by his inauguration on January 20, all hell will break out in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ninety-eight hostages are still being held in Gaza, including 36 who are presumed to be dead, according to the Israeli Prime Ministers Office. Steve Witkoff, Trumps pick for special envoy to the Middle East, told reporters Wednesday he will be travelling to Qatar for the talks, saying negotiators are making a lot of progress, . and appeared to suggest that a deal before January 20 was realistic. However, a senior Biden administration official struck a more cautious tone, telling CNN that the negotiations remain difficult. US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators are in the Qatari capital Doha in their latest push to close a deal between Hamas and Israel after more than a year of failed negotiations. CNNs Lucas Lilieholm and Mostafa Salem contributed to this article. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, has instructed the military to present him with "a plan for the complete defeat of Hamas in Gaza" as soon as possible. His office said on Friday that Katz believes Hamas must be completely crushed if the hostages it abducted from Israel are not released by the time US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The move appears aimed at increasing pressure on Hamas to compromise in the ongoing ceasefire and hostage-release talks in Qatar. Efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have remained stalled for months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the beginning of the war, the Israeli leadership defined the destruction of the military capabilities and the government apparatus of the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip as one of its war aims. However, this goal has not yet been achieved, it says. Katz called on the Israeli military to identify possible obstacles to the implementation of such a plan. Politics must address these issues in order to enable a complete elimination of Hamas. The army is waging a "heroic war" in Gaza, Katz said on Thursday, according to his office. However, the "method of operation" must be changed in order to completely crush Hamas. The death toll from Israels assault on Gaza may be tens of thousands higher than local health authorities have said, a new study finds. A study from researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, published Thursday in The Lancet, estimates that 64,260 people died from traumatic injuries between Oct 7, 2023 and June 30 of last year, 41% more than the Gaza Ministry of Healths estimate of 37,877 dead. The figure would represent the deaths of nearly 3% of Gazas pre-war population. Researchers noted deaths were the heaviest in the three months following Oct 7, 2023, but that sustained warfare made counting more difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has been accused of willfully directing attacks on civilians in Gaza by the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last November. The figures published by The Lancet do not account for deaths by disease and starvation, issues the United Nations said last year could further devastate Palestinians as bombing campaigns decimated health care facilities, food production and international aid efforts. Researchers concluded that women, children and the elderly made up nearly 60% of all estimated deaths for which age and sex were available. Multiple challenges have plagued death toll estimates in Gaza, including skepticism of the figures produced by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health. Researchers say their estimate is based on comparing pre-war records to death lists published by local authorities and morgue data, as well as obituaries posted on social media. Gazas Health Ministry has reported nearly 10,000 further deaths since June 30 of last year, when the Lancet papers estimations ended, meaning cumulative deaths could top 75,000. ROME Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said Italy may employ Elon Musks Starlink service to provide encrypted satellite communications to link its military contingents around the world because there is no public alternative. Meloni said Starlink offered advanced technology and, unlike European collaborative satellite program IRIS2, was ready. This is a European problem, she said, adding the European Union did not get there in time to have public technology able to secure this communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italy is in talks with Starlink, part of Musks SpaceX aerospace business, to use its 6,700 satellite constellation in a reported five-year, 1.5 billion ($1.55 billion) deal. Space X has illustrated to the government its technology that allows secure communication nationally and globally which means for us guaranteed communications with our diplomats and military missions abroad, Meloni told reporters in Rome on Thursday. She said no decision had been made, and that talks were also being held with other private operators, but said Space X had the most advanced technology. She added, There are no public alternatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meloni said, Tomorrow there will probably be public entities able to guarantee the protection of communication. Today there are not. On Monday, Elon Musk said he was ready to provide Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity. The European Union has signed to develop an array of 280 satellites known as ISIS2 which will offer encrypted satellite communications to governments, but it will not be ready until at least 2030. Meloni said that she considered relying on a private operator to protect sensitive military data less than ideal, but could not wait for IRIS2. There are two scenarios and neither is optimal, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fabiana di Porto, an expert on Innovation and Regulatory policy at Romes Luiss University, said, Musks satellites are cheaper than IRIS2 and there are more of them, but the security aspect is important since we are talking about government communications in the hands of a private operator. She also pointed out that Italian state-controlled defense champion Leonardo had a stake in IRIS2. Meloni said that Microsoft had previously worked on data centers in Italy, adding, no-one complained. She said, Is the problem with Space X that it is private, or is it the political ideas of Elon Musk? Handing control of Italys military satellite communications to the U.S. tech tycoon has prompted sharp criticism in Italy from opposition politicians given Musks recent use of his social media platform X to lambast governments in the U.K. and Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meloni has forged a friendship with Musk, recently calling him a genius. I value investments overseas through one lens national interest and not through friendships or political ideas, she said, adding, I have never talked to Elon Musk of this project. Italy has signalled its willingness to act as a bridge-builder between Syria and the European Union after the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. "Italy is ready to play its part in promoting the reform process in Syria," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Friday after a meeting with Syrian de-facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. Tajani also met his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaybani, and assured him that he would closely follow the "process of pacification and reconstruction of the country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aim is to promote a political process that guarantees the fundamental rights of all Syrians and recognizes the role of Christians as citizens with full rights, he said. Tajani is the third EU foreign minister to pay an official visit to Syria's new rulers after the coup at the beginning of December, following Germany's Annalena Baerbock and French top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot, who travelled there about a week ago. ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday condemned the "unacceptable act of repression" in Venezuela, hours after the brief arrest of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. "The news coming out of Venezuela is another unacceptable act of repression by (President Nicolas) Maduro's regime, whose proclaimed electoral victory we do not recognise," Meloni said in a statement. Venezuelan government officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, denied any involvement in Machado's arrest and said it was fabricated by the opposition in a bid to generate support for her movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro was due to have his third inauguration on Friday, after claims of victory in July elections which have been contested by the opposition, with international backing. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Giulia Segreti) (Reuters) - Japanese boy band Psychic Fever say they hope to perform their hip-hop and R&B-infused tunes on a world tour as they prepare to kick off a U.S. series of concerts. The band's seven members, who go by the names of Tsurugi, Ryoga Nakanishi, Ren Watanabe, Jimmy, Kokoro Kohatsu, Ryushin Handa and Weesa, joined forces in 2019 and debuted in 2022 with the album "P.C.F". They have become known for songs like "Temperature" and last year's Just Like Dat, which went viral on TikTok. Their latest single, the disco-inspired "Paradise" came out on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was so (exciting) to revisit... different vibes (from our) previous songs," Jimmy told Reuters of "Paradise" in a joint December interview with the band. Psychic Fever, who last year performed across Japan as well as in Malaysia and Thailand as part of their "Heat" tour, will kick off their first U.S. tour on Feb. 2., performing in six cities. "We want to do a world tour... in the near future and we want to chart in (the U.S.) Billboard Global 200," Weesa said. (Reporting by Natasha Mulenga; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Four Colorado Springs firefighters are on their way to Southern California to fight the growing wildfires that have caused hundreds of thousan At todays Jacksonville Exchange Club meeting, Jacksonville Mayor Johnny Smith announced he will retire at the end of his term in November. He can hardly believe that everything he does on an annual basis, such as sharing the citys economic status as he did today and every other year in office, will be coming to an end. Smith served on the Jacksonville City Council for 12 years and for the last 16 years as mayor. A former educator, he holds a doctorate degree in education with an emphasis in mathematics from Emory University in Atlanta. Prior to that he earned a bachelors degree in science from Jacksonville State University and a mathematics degree from the University of South Carolina. He holds numerous certifications and memberships in city government after he began serving in Jacksonvilles city government. During his tenure, he has earned the status of emeritus from the Alabama League of Municipalities. As a member of the league, he has held positions on the Committee on State and Federal Legislation and the Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources Committee. He has served as a member of Alabamas Recreational Trails Committee and is the past chairman of the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission among other positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith has been named to the Exchange Clubs Book of Golden Deeds and is the 2017 Citizen of the Year for the Jacksonville News. Heading out with him will be Alberta Bert Grant, the city administrator, who has been working with Smith for the past seven years. This has been an absolutely wonderful experience, Grant said. He is a very good boss, very knowledgeable and approachable. You can go in and talk about anything. He is a super mayor. He works hard and whenever we need him, there he is. This has been a great experience working with Mayor Smith. JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KETK) Jacksonville Police Chief Joe Williams was relieved from his duties on Thursday afternoon. The City of Jacksonville said the action was made by City Manager James Hubbard after Williams held the position for nearly five years. He keeps me awake at night: Family seeks justice in child sex crime against former Mineola pastor A pattern of poor judgement, disengagement and disrespect culminated in my decision, Hubbard said. I wish Mr. Williams well and look forward to naming a new chief that will provide the service and professionalism deserved by the department, organization, and community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people who have worked Williams in the past, like former Rusk City Council member Ken Ferrara, said it never should have gotten that far. Jacksonville was warned, Ferrara said. Two years into his role at the Rusk Police Department, Williams was placed on administrative leave. A three-week-long independent investigation determined a complaint against him, which was never revealed, was unfounded. He was just a bad man that should never have been in charge of anybody, Ferrara said. Ferrara knew Williams when he was the Rusk Chief of Police and said he is glad something is finally being done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes people fail upwards and he just continued to fail upwards and move from department to department, no one really did their research, no one ever really asked the tough questions, they just hired him, Ferrara said. Since Williams was relieved, Jacksonville PDs Assistant Chief of Police Steven Markasky has been named as acting chief of police, in order to ensure a smooth transition. Plans regarding the process to install a new police chief will be released soon, the city said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. NBC's Jacob Soboroff, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, California, has been left in shock after his childhood home burned down in the wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area. Oh, my. This is my childhood home. Its gone, he somberly said as he drove by the charred remains of the house in a story that aired Jan. 9 on TODAY. Soboroff tried to process the destruction of the house. I look around the town, the neighborhood, the place that I grew up in, and its hard to imagine what comes next and what happens next, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soboroff's childhood home is among the many structures that have been destroyed by the fire, fueled by hurricane-strength winds surpassing 90 miles per hour. Businesses, schools, supermarkets and houses of worship have gone up in flames, as the wildfires have become the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history Jacob Soboroff takes in the sight of his childhood home after it burned down in the Los Angeles wildfires. A resident of Pacific Palisades told Soboroff, Its absolutely devastating. I thought I was going wake up this morning and its going be a bad dream." Soboroff, who said Pacific Palisades has been effectively wiped off the map, as we know it, took a drive through a neighborhood, where he noted, Theres not a single house left standing here. Thirty-seven thousand residents of Pacific Palisades have evacuated, while over 1,000 homes and structures have been destroyed in the Palisades Fire, per NBC News, leaving questions about what life will be like going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say, Mommy, where are we going to live? Where are we going to go to school? What are we going to do?' And I dont have answers to those questions right now, another resident said of her children. Cocoon and Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg, whos a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, has stayed in town to help others. When things like this occur, you really realize how vulnerable you are, and how important community is, how important all your neighbors are, he said. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Royalty Grace is used to hearing her sons voice. So when he landed in the Milwaukee County Jail in March for the first time and had restricted communication for his first four months there, hearing that voice over the phone became the most important thing to her. For the past 19 years, Ive heard him every day, Grace said. I didnt know what to expect because I didnt know what happened to him while he was in there, what kind of situations or conditions hes been in. In my mind, he is not built for jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those calls to hear if her son was OK and to assure him that he's loved came at a price. Video calls to her son, Steven, added up to more than $1,700 in fees. As a result, she too felt imprisoned by a financial system that profits off her desire to see her son and hear his voice. Something must be done, she said, to rein in phone and video calling services in prisons and jails. The financial strain placed on families like mine is not just unfair, it is inhumane, she said. Grace is part of new initiative just launched in Wisconsin to make prison and jail communications free. Called Connecting Families, it's part of a national effort by Worth Rises, a New York-based advocacy group focused on decarceration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2018, the group has led grassroots campaigns at the state and local levels. Five states now have laws to make video and phone calls free for incarcerated individuals. We want to be the sixth state not the city but the entire state to implement free phone calls throughout the state of Wisconsin for all inmates and their families, said Ebony Knight of WISDOM, a statewide justice and advocacy organization that's leading the Connecting Families campaign in Wisconsin. Wisdom is building coalitions with like-minded organizations and people across the state to increase awareness of the issues and to gain legislative support. Studies show maintaining family connections for incarcerated individuals reduces recidivism, improves mental health and helps in reentry, Knight said. It also helps children of incarcerated parents, who do better in school and have better mental health when they can communicate with their parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Jails around Wisconsin forgo in-person visits for video calls. How is this affecting those incarcerated? But the high cost of calls from jails and prisons often creates a financial barrier that further isolates incarcerated individuals and can push their loved ones into debt. Prison telecom corporations monopolize how incarcerated people and their families communicate, leaving little or no choice about what service they can use or what rates they have to pay. Many prison telecom providers charge additional fees that also are exploitative. In Wisconsin, county jail phone-call rates range from 21 cents per minute in Polk County to 14 cents in Dane County, Knight said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One in three families with an incarcerated loved one go into debt trying to maintain contact, said the campaigns co-leader, Latisha White, also of WISDOM. And 87% of them are Black and Brown women who are mothers, wives or grandmothers. Often, White said, connections are bad, calls are dropped or the video is fuzzy. Families still pay full price for the call. A 30-minute video call can cost $15, but when the connection is lost, families dont get a credit, White said. That is just how the system is, and it isnt fair, she said. The Federal Communications Commission offered some relief in July, voting to cap rates and end added fees that prison telecoms charges. This new rule, Knight cautioned, only affects interstate calling, not local or in-state calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WISDOM is working with two Democratic state representatives from Milwaukee, Ryan Clancy and Darrin Madison, to try to get support for the campaign in the state Legislature. Clancy said pushing a budget request to Gov. Tony Evers instead of a free-standing bill is the best way. Evers plans to introduce his budget next month. Then it would be a matter of advocating for it to stay in and hoping that the majority party in Madison doesnt take that out of the budget, he said. Clancy said public pressure is needed, similar to 2021, when supporters advocated for free calls at the Milwaukee County Jail and Community Reintegration Center. In 2022, the County Board committed to annually decreasing phone and video call costs, and the 2024 county budget included a provision to provide 360 free minutes per month for phone calls an increase from 120 minutes and 60 free video visitation minutes per month. More: Families pay $5.1 million per year for calls with loved ones in the Milwaukee County Jail. Supervisors are considering making them free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley approves 2024 budget that includes elimination of jail phone revenue Madison called it a public safety issue. When we are ensuring that folks are connected to families and their support systems in our facilities, it reduces smuggling phones and other materials into our facilities, he said. That makes correctional officers job easier. This is public safety. A phone call or an email can be a lifeline for incarcerated individuals, something White can attest to. She was incarcerated at 17 and had a 1-year-old son at the time. For the first two weeks. I didnt talk to my son at all, White said. My mom didnt have money on the phone. She kept telling me, I had to choose between rent or to pay this. Most families are like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White suffered bouts of depression and was in a different mental space. When she was finally able to speak to her son, hearing his little voice brought back hope, she said. I know people have done crimes. They are doing time for their crimes. We get that, White said. However, rehabilitation, thats what they try to say what jails and prison are for. This is a part of that, and it would actually help. It is a benefit for everyone involved. (This story was updated to add information.) This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New Wisconsin campaign aims to make jail phone calls free Jamie Lee Curtis is being condemned for likening the devastating wildfires currently ravaging the Los Angeles area to the ongoing war in Gaza. A clip of the 66-year-old Oscar-winning actor making the remarks at a recent Q&A with her The Last Showgirl co-star Pamela Anderson for the new drama has gone viral. I am born and raised in the City of Angels. And the entire City of Angels is on fire, everywhere. The entire city of the Pacific Palisades is gone, the Freaky Friday star says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean literally my neighborhood gone. My house tonight is still there but I live in a different canyon. But the entire Pacific Palisades looks like, unfortunately, Gaza, or one of these war-torn countries where awful things have happened, adds Curtis, who yesterday announced a $1 million donation in relief funds to support Los Angeles amid the destructive blazes. Follow live updates on the California fires here And there are now fires breaking out everywhere. So it feels totally bizarre to be talking about a movie, and yet its a piece of art, and art will save us no matter what. On X/Twitter, numerous people blasted the Everything Everywhere All At Once star for comparing the wealthy LA enclave to war-torn Gaza. Jamie Lee Curtis at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 3, 2025 (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) This is a completely atrocious comparison, one wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I live in california and you would never find me comparing these fires to gazaboth tragedies but not comparable AT ALL, wrote a second. A third person criticized the flippant way people talk about Gaza, writing: As if it wasnt a real tragedy until those scenes started being reflected in their gated communities. Its gross. Why would she say that, a fourth asked, while someone added: Both tragedies but not comparable AT ALL. Jamie Lee Curtis comments on the Los Angeles fires during a Q&A: The entire Pacific Palisades looks like, you know, unfortunately Gaza or one of these war-torn countries where awful things have happened pic.twitter.com/APe3CYw8we Pop Base (@PopBase) January 10, 2025 This comparison is inappropriate and lacks sensitivity to the actual experiences of those living in war-torn regions, another replied. Some were more understanding of the actors intent, with one arguing: I see what Jamie Lee Curtis is saying, and honestly, I kind of get it, the fires are devastating, and sometimes you need a big comparison to really drive the point home. Sure, mentioning Gaza might stir some debate, but I think her hearts in the right place, shes just trying to get people to realize how bad things really are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wasnt she the same person who posted a picture of Gazan children ducking in fear of bombs and captioned it Israeli children then deleted it when she realized they were Palestinian? another asked, in reference to Curtiss 2023 Instagram mishap, in which she mistakenly posted a photo of Gazan children fleeing launched missiles to express her support of Israeli victims. At the time, the Halloween actor addressed her error in a statement, saying: I took down the post when I realized my error. The other post is a Guy Oseary repost. Its an awful situation for all the innocent people in the line of fire. The Independent has contacted Curtiss representative for comment. Jamie Lee Curtis is donating $1 million toward the relief efforts for L.A.s devastating wildfires. The actress wrote on Instagram Thursday: As the fire still rages on and @calfire @losangelesfiredepartment and all the available first responders and agencies involved in fighting fire and saving lives are still hard at work and neighbors and friends are banding together to save each other, my husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there. More from Robb Report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued: Im in communication with Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass and Senator Schiff as to where those funds need to be directed for the most impact. Curtis spoke on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon Wednesday tight, getting emotional and breaking down while discussing the extensive damage across the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Santa Monica areas of the city. As you know, where I live is on fire right now, Curtis began. The entire city of Pacific Palisades is burning. I flew here last night, I was on the plane, started getting texts and its fucking gnarly, you guys. Its just a catastrophe in Southern California. Obviously, there have been horrific fires in many places. This is literally where I live. Everything: the market I shop in. The schools my kids go to. Friends, many, many, many, many, many friends now have lost their homes. Its a really awful situation. The fires began in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday morning, forcing the evacuation of more than 30,000 residents and burning 15,800 acres so far. Firefighters are also currently battling six blazes, including the Eaton, Hurst, Lidia and Woodley fires, in various areas of Los Angeles County. An evacuation order in the Hollywood Hills has been lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five people are dead and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed. The homes of numerous stars have been destroyed, including those of Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, Mandy Moore, Eugene Levy, Anna Faris, Cary Elwes, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, James Woods, Diane Warren, Cameron Mathison, and Ricki Lake. A myriad of events have been postponed or canceled, including premieres for A Better Man, Unstoppable, The Last Showgirl and Wolf Man, as well as the Academy Award nominations and Producers Guild Awards nominations. Elsewhere, Hacks star and Golden Globe winner Jean Smart has urged networks to forgo airing upcoming Hollywood awards shows and donate to the victims of the L.A. wildfires and firefighters. Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Four years to the day after a former Bloomington man participated in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, Canadian officials arrested him on a ski slope in British Columbia. The man, Antony Vo, 32, fled the United States in 2024 after he was convicted for his involvement in the attack. Vo had failed to report to prison for his nine-month sentence and was seeking asylum in Canada. On Monday Vo, 32, was detained "without incident" in Whistler, British Columbia, as a fugitive from United States justice, according to a statement from Luke Reimer, a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal jury convicted Vo of four misdemeanor charges in September 2023. Vo and his mother Annie drove from Bloomington to Washington, D.C., where the pair took a selfie inside the Capitol. The case against Annie Vo, of Fishers, remains pending. In April 2024, Tanya Chutkan, district judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, sentenced Vo to serve nine months behind bars, ordering him to report to prison on June 14, 2024. Instead, Vo absconded to Canada, where he made several social media posts about his quest for political asylum. In November 2024, Vo told WISH-TV he was seeking asylum in Canada because "Jan. 6 people have been held more than accountable. He also said he was the victim of a government conspiracy. Antony Vo is pictured with a woman identified as his mother inside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Vo is now facing federal charges related to the storming of the Capitol. Vo said in the interview he expected President-elect Donald Trump would pardon him once he was inaugurated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the interview with WISH-TV, Vo's specific location was not publicly known other than he was somewhere in Canada. After learning of Vo's entry into the country, the Canada Border Services Agency opened an investigation and determined there were no records of his entering the country through any of Canada's official ports of entry, Reimer said in his statement. The agency has the authority to detain an "inadmissible individual" under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the statement said. But over the weekend, border officials caught up to Vo while he was snowboarding on the slopes of Whistler, according to the Toronto Star. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with the Toronto Star., Vo explained he found an open road into Canada by searching satellite images of the Canadian and United States borders. I found two or three roads that looked like they had a chance, he told the Toronto Star. It just led me straight to Canada, like pretty unimpededly. In the statement from the Canada Border Services Agency, the agency did not clarify if Vo was still in Canadian custody or if he's been handed over to the United States. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com or follow him on X @1NoePadilla. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Jan. 6 rioter, Antony Vo, detained in Whistler, Canada ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) January 9th is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, a day to acknowledge police officers working in communities and honor those who have died. Its a little bit of a tough day, said Brad Lindmark, who started the Greg Lindmark Foundation after his brother, a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, took his own life 10 years ago. Since he was a little kid, he always wanted to be a police officer. He had a neighbor, Charlie Jackson, who was a police officer when he was in grade school. [He] really looked up to him and thats what he wanted to do his whole life, was become a police officer, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You think of Kevin Rice, Jamie Cox, my brother, and so many more, Lindmark said. In 2001, Rockford Police Detective Kevin Rice Sr. was shot and killed while investigating suspicious activity near his sisters home. Rice Sr. was off duty at the time of the shooting. Cox pulled over Eddie Patterson on November 5th, 2017. There was a struggle during the stop, and Cox was hanging onto the truck when Patterson accelerated and crashed into a tree, killing the officer. Rockford Park District Police Officer Patrick Cassidy joined the force two years ago. I think I speak for law enforcement in general. Every interaction that we have with the public, we want to make it a positive one. A lot of people call the police when theyre having the worst day of their lives. So we dont need to be adding on to their stress. Were going to do whatever we can to help them in their situations, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will travel to South Korea on Monday to shore up security cooperation between the East Asian neighbours and their mutual U.S. ally that is meant to counter China's growing regional power. It marks the first time in seven years that a Japanese foreign minister will visit South Korea for a bilateral meeting with their South Korean counterpart, Japan's government said. Iwaya will also meet with South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok, Tokyo said. Iwaya aims to "reconfirm" the importance of relations and that the two countries will continue to coordinate policies including those on North Korea in the "light of the current strategic environment," it said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deepening trilateral security cooperation could be more difficult amid the political turmoil in South Korea prompted by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The transition to a second Trump administration on Jan. 20 also means that none of the original leaders who established the three-way security cooperation pact in 2023 - U.S. President Joe Biden, Yoon, and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidaremain in power. "The trilateral will move forward, the real question is will the trilateral thrive," The U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday before he returns to the United States. It's going to take work to nurture it and develop it," he added. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been holed up in his hillside villa in Seoul since parliament voted to impeach and suspend him last month over his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presidential security service and military guards there have blocked investigators from arresting him. Iwaya's planned visit comes after the South Korean foreign minister met last week with outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who expressed "serious concerns" over some of the actions Yoon took over the course of his martial law declaration. Iwaya met Blinken in Tokyo the following day. Iwaya will travel to the Philippines after South Korea to discuss security and economic cooperation and will visit Palau to attend the second inauguration of President Surangel Whipp before returning to Japan. (This story has been corrected to clarify that the milestone is for a bilateral meeting, in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Kim Coghill) TOKYO (AP) Japan's Cabinet on Friday approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to dozens of organizations in Russia and several other countries that have allegedly helped it evade sanctions. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Fridays approval of the additional sanctions shows Japans commitment to efforts by the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations to strengthen sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Japan has imposed several previous rounds of sanctions, and the latest step comes after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed the country's policy at an online G7 summit in mid-December following Russia's increased cooperation with North Korea and use of third countries in evading sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is Japans contribution as part of the international effort toward achieving global peace and resolving the problems surrounding Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, Hayashi said. According to a joint statement by Japans foreign, trade and finance ministries, 11 individuals, 29 organizations and three banks from Russia, as well as a North Korean trading company executive and a Georgian bank that allegedly helped evade sanctions, were added to an asset freeze list. The Cabinet approved total export bans on 22 Russian organizations, including ones related to the military, as well as technology and machinery makers. Export restrictions will also be applied to 31 non-Russian groups that the government says helped Russia to divert restricted goods and evade sanctions 11 based in Hong Kong, seven in mainland China, eight in Turkey, two in Kyrgyzstan and one each in Thailand, the UAE and Kazakhstan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also approved a list of 335 items that cannot be exported to Russia, effective Jan. 23. That list includes construction vehicle engines and components, motorized bicycles, communication and acoustic devices, and mechanical tools and valves, according to the trade and industry ministry. The additional sanctions and export restrictions are in line with the G7's effort to prevent Russia from evading sanctions with help from third countries and include a ban on exporting materials that could help strengthen Russias industrial base, Hayashi said. Japan has closely cooperated with the G7 in imposing sanctions against Russia and supporting Ukraine amid growing concern about the wars impact on Asia, where China has threatened to use force to exert its control over Taiwan. WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will attend Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president on Jan. 20, ensuring that a high-ranking official from a key Asian ally is on hand for the event, two people familiar with the matter said. Iwaya was invited by Trump's camp to the launch of his second term and has accepted, the two people said, confirming Japanese media reports. He will be the first Japanese cabinet member to attend the swearing-in of a U.S. president, the Nikkei newspaper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Japan's embassy in Washington and officials with Trump's inauguration team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iwaya hopes to arrange a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for secretary of state, during his visit to the United States, one of the people familiar with the matter said. The Japanese minister will convey Tokyo's hope for an early meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, this person said. Ishiba unsuccessfully sought a meeting in November, shortly after Trump beat Joe Biden in a presidential comeback, sources told Reuters at the time. Satsuki Katayama, a lawmaker from Ishiba's governing Liberal Democratic Party, has said she plans to attend the inauguration at the invitation of Senator Bill Hagerty, who was Trump's ambassador to Tokyo in his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be Iwaya's first visit to the United States since he became foreign minister in October. Japan, a longtime U.S. ally that enjoyed good relations with Trump during his first administration, will be keen to get off to a good start in his second. Iwaya will visit South Korea on Monday to shore up security cooperation between the East Asian neighbors and their mutual U.S. ally, aiming to counter China's growing regional power. Deepening trilateral security cooperation promoted by the outgoing Biden administration could be more difficult given political turmoil in South Korea prompted by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Iwaya will also travel to the Philippines, another U.S. treaty ally, and then to the Pacific island nation of Palau, which relies on Washington for economic support and defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Financial Times reported on Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping would send a high-level envoy to Trump's inauguration. It said Xi could send Han Zheng, a vice president who sometimes stands in for him in ceremonial roles, while another option was Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington, Nathan Layne in New York and Yoshifumi Takemoto in Tokyo; Editing by Alistair Bell, Shri Navaratnam and William Mallard) The Japanese government has broadened its sanctions list in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the country's Foreign Ministry announced on Jan. 10. The new measures targeted individuals and entities from Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Turkey, and North Korea. Twenty-nine Russian entities, including the Machine-Building Scientific and Production Union, and Aleksinsky Chemical Plant, three banks, and 11 individuals, are among those affected. Export restrictions were imposed on 22 additional Russian companies and 335 commodity names. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is a significant blow to Russias military-industrial complex, limiting access to critical microelectronics, and creating additional obstacles for the production of missiles and drones," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in response to the move. Additionally, sanctions have been imposed on 31 foreign companies from China, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Turkey, and Georgia, as well as Georgian MRB Bank, and one North Korean citizen. Read also: Lack of understanding of modern warfare Seoul reports 3,000 North Korean casualties in Russias Kursk Oblast Japan lifted sanctions against eight individuals, including Violetta Prigozhina, the mother of Wagner Group then-leader leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash on Aug. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While refraining from providing lethal military aid, Japan has consistently supported Ukraine in its struggle against Russias full-scale invasion. On Jun. 21, Tokyo, for the first time, announced sanctions against China-based companies over their support for Russian aggression. Japan has also previously joined the international sanctions regime against Russia and other steps taken against Moscow within the Group of Seven (G7). Read also: As Russia cuts Transnistria from gas, stranded locals search for someone to blame Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. FERNWOOD, CALIFORNIA All my aloha. Stay safe. That is the message from Iowa-native Jason Momoa to the firefighters working to protect his neighborhood in Fernwood, California as wildfires continue to burn out of control. Momoa took to Instagram on Thursday to share pictures of the burning hills around the neighborhood and the legion of firefighters on the scene working to stop their spread. Along with the photos, Momoa shared a message apparently sent from a friend in the area that read in part: Flames are on the hillside and there are firefighters EVERYWHERE all calm and confident. Two bulldozers are making their way up Entrada to help with brush clearance and control. The canyon is PACKED with firefighters. Airdrops are happening every few minutes. Actor Jason Momoa arrives for Apple TV+ world premiere of SEE at the Fox Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 21, 2019. (Nick Agro / AFP) (Photo by NICK AGRO/AFP via Getty Images) Momoa was born in Hawaii but grew up with family in Norwalk, Iowa. He was propelled to superstardom with his role as Khal Drogo in season one of Game of Thrones. He cemented his star status when he was cast as Aquaman in the DCU film series. Hell appear in A Minecraft Movie this summer and next year in Fast X: Part 2 the final installment in the long-running film series. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A single-vehicle crash that occurred in Walker County left a Jasper man dead Thursday morning. Donate to help those affected by California wildfires Jeffery Johnson, 61, was injured when the Mercury Villager Wagon he was driving left the roadway, struck a raised berm and overturned, according to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Johnson was not using a seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash occurred around 7 a.m. on Alabama 5 near the 166 mile marker. Nothing else is available as ALEA continues to investigate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Jeff Bridges has tragically lost his family home in Malibu due to the raging wildfires continuing to sweep across Los Angeles. The Oscar-winning actors rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that the house Bridges late parents bought decades ago, which he now shares with his family, was burned down in the Palisades Fire. The home was inherited by Bridges, his brother Beau Bridges and their sister, TMZ reported. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actor, most known for his roles in The Big Lebowski, True Grit and, more recently, The Old Man, primarily lives at his home in Santa Barbara, which he shares with his wife, Susan Geston. He has also had some personal battles in recent years, revealing he was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2020. He later shared in September 2021 that his cancer was in remission. Bridges rep also tells THR that their Malibu home was located near Candy Spellings house, which was also destroyed in the fires. Spelling, mother to Tori Spelling and her brother, Randy, owned the house with her last husband, TV producer Aaron Spelling, for 50 years. Im in shock and processing this massive loss for our family, Spelling told TMZ. I am beyond grateful for the memories. It was truly a wonderful gift to have. Other Hollywood stars who have also confirmed that they tragically lost their homes in the wildfires include Mandy Moore, Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, Bozoma Saint John, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, Diane Warren, Cameron Mathison and Ricki Lake. James Woods initially indicated he lost his home in the fires but later discovered it was still standing, saying a miracle has happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wildfire initially broke out Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, before spreading to parts of Malibu and Santa Monica overnight. As of early Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said the Palisades Fire was zero percent contained. Two other active wildfires in the L.A. area the Eaton and Woodley fires are also at zero percent containment. The Lidia fire is 40 percent contained, and the Hurst fire is 10 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Another fire, named the Sunset Fire, broke out Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills, endangering iconic landmark the Hollywood Bowl, among other tourist destinations. By Thursday morning, firefighters were able to contain the blaze and all evacuation orders were lifted. On Thursday afternoon, first responders were fighting another fire, named the Kenneth Fire, that erupted in West Hills, California, close to homes in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas. As of 5 p.m., the fire had consumed nearly 800 acres of brush, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jennie Garth is thanking her ex-husband, Peter Facinelli, for helping her out as wildfires continue to blaze across the Los Angeles area. On Thursday, the Beverly Hills, 90210 actor shared an emotional video on Instagram in which she revealed that she and husband Dave Abrams were sheltering at Facinellis home after evacuating from their own. So grateful for Peter for letting us stay at his house, me and all the girls and the dogs and Dave, Garth said in the clip, referring to her children. Our home made it through the night, and we are feeling so blessed and so fortunate and so lucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went on to note that she and her family expected to return home later that day. Its a mess, but its fine, she said. Its still there. Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli were married from 2001 to 2013. Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images Garth and Facinelli, a fellow actor whose credits include Twilight and Nurse Jackie, were married from 2001 to 2013. The former couple share daughters Luca, 27, Lola, 22, and Fiona, 18. Facinelli began dating General Hospital actor Lily Anne Harrison in 2016. The couple got engaged in 2020 and welcomed a son, Jack, in 2022. Garth and Abrams, who is also an actor, have been married since 2015. In the caption of her Instagram post, Garth said she was deeply saddened for the city of Los Angeles, but was nonetheless grateful that she and her family were safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will effect people differently, so reach out, and offer to help, she wrote. It really does mean so much. As of Friday, at least 10 people had died and around 130,000 evacuated as a total of five wildfires continued to devastate the city and its environs. Actors Adam Brody, Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia were among those who have lost homes in the blazes. Related... Jennie Garth is opening up about getting temporarily displaced by the ongoing and deadly wildfires raging across Los Angeles, Calif. "This is just, uh, devastating for everyone," the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum began in the solemn video shared to her Instagram grid on Thursday, Jan. 9. "I'm so sad. I just have a deep sadness today." SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My family and I are safe," she said, noting that her home "made it through the night," something she feels "so blessed and so lucky" for. Additionally, Garth's ex-husband, Peter Facinelli, opened his home to her, her current husband, Dave Abrams, and the former couple's adult children when it came time to evacuate. "Peter and his family took us in and have been so kind," she wrote in the accompanying caption. Garth, 52, was married to the Twilight actor for 12 years before they divorced in 2013. The two share three kids: Luca Bella, Lola Ray and Fiona Eve. Facinelli is also a dad to 2-year-old Jack Cooper, whom he welcomed with longtime fiancee, General Hospital actress Lily Anne Harrison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So grateful for Peter for letting us stay at his house, me and all the girlsand the dogs," she said in the clip. "So grateful to all the firefighters and the news reporters and all the people that are volunteering and providing things for the people that lost everything." Related: How Much Have Celebrities Lost in the California Fires? An Insurance Broker to the Stars Estimates (Exclusive) Garth said she plans to return to her home, which "was spared" but "is a mess" in the coming days. "It's still there." "Fires are still burning," she added in disbelief. "It's just unimaginable." But she's not letting the devastation get the best of her, telling fans she's "ready to get active to help our neighbors and friends and fellow Angelinos," concluding her video message with mental health resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just keep everyone here who is suffering in your heart and prayers," she continued in the caption. "I am grateful we are all ok and have a home to return to. This will effect people differently, so reach out, and offer to help, it really does mean so much." As of 9:03 a.m. local time on Friday, the Palisades Fire burned more than 20,400 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Firefighters nearby also battled the Eaton Fire, which had burned more than 13,950 acres, as of 8:39 a.m. local time on Friday. Both fires, which authorities said started on Tuesday, Jan. 7, were close to 0 percent contained by late Thursday afternoon. At least 10 people have died due to the devastating conditions. Next: Jessica Simpson Snaps 1 Last Pic of Home While Fleeing Hollywood Wildfires: "Stayed as Long as We Could" Jennifer Garner is lending a hand during the wildfires in Los Angeles. The 13 Going on 30 alum was photographed on Friday, Jan. 10, volunteering with World Central Kitchen in Los Angeles. TheImageDirect.com Jennifer Garner volunteers with World Central Kitchen Jennifer Garner volunteers with World Central Kitchen Garner, 52, is helping the team bring meals from restaurants and food truck partners to first responders and families affected by the ongoing fires, PEOPLE confirmed with a World Central Kitchen representative. In the photos, the actress can be seen holding a World Central Kitchen-branded duffel bag and getting out of a WCK van. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: L.A. Fires Live: At Least 10 Dead, Officials Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders WCK, celebrity chef Jose Andres nonprofit that has provided food relief during international crises since 2010, has gathered across Southern California to feed impacted communities since the fires broke out on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Katie Couric talked to both Garner and Andres about their efforts in a video posted on her Instagram Friday afternoon. "Well, first of all zero percent of it is about me because I have my home and I am safe," the actress began. "I'm not a spokesperson for people who've gone through this. But it's pretty devastating to witness, obviously. I think everyone is in shock, honestly, Katie. I just think that it hasn't even begun to hit us." TheImageDirect.com Jennifer Garner volunteers with World Central Kitchen. Jennifer Garner volunteers with World Central Kitchen. Garner went on to reflect on her past work with the nonprofit organization Save the Children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I've gone to flood sites or hurricane evacuations or just disaster relief, you go scared of what you're going to see and you always come away filled with hope and with faith and humanity, and that's the opportunity here," she said. While Garner noted that Save the Children is currently mounting its response to the wildfires, she added, "The first thing you do is feed people." "And that's what he's done," she said of Andres. "So I just reached out to him through Save and I said, 'How can I put my hands to work?' And I'm lucky. I know everyone in LA is desperate to be put to work and there are so few ways to do it. I did get to shoot to the top with Chef, which is very, very lucky." DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Palisades fires on Jan. 9 Palisades fires on Jan. 9 More than 130,000 people have fled their homes as a series of wildfires rapidly continues to engulf large parts of the Los Angeles area as of Jan. 10. In just a handful of days, the blazes rapidly grew to some 29,000 acres or 45 square miles, and there have been at least 10 fire-related deaths, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, Jan. 9. 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. Many residents, including celebrities, were forced to leave their homes. PEOPLE reported Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Anna Faris, Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam, John Goodman, Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg and Jennifer Grey as some of the stars who have lost their homes or had to evacuate. Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People Jennifer Lopez is adjusting her plans as the Los Angeles wildfires continue to rage on. A source close to the Unstoppable actress tells PEOPLE that all of her upcoming media appearances that were scheduled for next week have been canceled. "It's important to her to focus on supporting the community of Los Angeles during this very difficult time," the insider says. Lopez, 55, was scheduled to appear on several shows in New York City, including the Today show, The View, Live with Kelly and Mark and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Rich Polk/IndieWire via Getty Jennifer Lopez in Los Angeles on Dec. 5, 2024 Jennifer Lopez in Los Angeles on Dec. 5, 2024 Related: Jean Smart Calls for Awards Shows Not to Be Televised, the Money Donated to L.A. Fire Victims: 'With All Due Respect' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news comes three days after the Los Angeles premiere of Lopez's new movie Unstoppable was canceled due to fire and wind activity in the city. The event at the DGA Theater was canceled in light of todays safety concerns around heightened wind activity and fire outbreaks in Los Angeles," a rep for the movie's distributor, Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Dec. 7. As much as we were looking forward to celebrating this wonderful and inspiring film with you, safety is our first priority," the statement continued. "Thank you for your understanding and please stay safe. Tuesday's TCL Chinese Theatre premiere of Universal Pictures' horror movie Wolf Man, starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, was also among the events canceled, as well as the premiere of the Pamela Anderson-led drama The Last Showgirl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hollywood has further responded to the fire emergency by postponing the Critics Choice Awards from Jan. 12 to 26, and pushing the Academy Award nominations announcement from Jan. 17 to 19. Earlier this week, the SAG Awards also canceled its live, in-person nominations announcement. 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. Anadolu via Getty Wildfire in Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025 Wildfire in Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025 Related: Celebrities Who Have Lost Homes or Had to Evacuate in the Los Angeles Fires, and What They've Said Fast-growing wildfires throughout L.A., exacerbated by severe winds and dry vegetation, started on Tuesday and soon sent tens of thousands of residents scrambling for safety from the encroaching flames and smoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blazes have spread quickly in different parts of the city, including the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and the Hollywood Hills. Information is still evolving about the scale of the destruction and when the fires will start to be contained. As of Thursday, there have been at least 10 fire-related deaths in the L.A. area, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said. Per CNN, authorities have "received notification" for these deaths. The medical examiner did not release the names of those who have died since "all cases are pending identification and legal next of kin notification." Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People (WJW) While the nation honored the life of former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reflected on the former presidents love for his late wife Rosalynn Carter. The Bidens took to social media ahead of the former presidents state funeral in Washington, D.C., sharing a joint video dedicated to the late couples love story for the ages. Michelle Obama sends her thoughts and prayers while absent from Carters funeral ATLANTA February 14: Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter attend Former Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carters fundraiser for his 1976 Presidential run at Royal Coach Inn Atlanta Georgia February 14, 1976 (Photo By Rick Diamond/Getty Images) In the video, the couples daughter, Amy Carter, is heard reading her fathers love letter to her mother from more than 75 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned, to discover just how wonderful you are, she said in the voiceover. While Im away, I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not be as sweet and beautiful as I remember. But when I see you, I fall in love with you all over again. Amy Carter read the letter at a tribute service to Rosalynn Carter after her death in November 2023, stating her father wrote it to her mother while he was in the Navy. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter receives a kiss from his wife Rosalynn Carter after a press conference in Plains, GA, 11 October, 2002 where he talked about receiving the Noble Peace Prize. (Photo by STEVE SCHAEFER / AFP) (Photo by STEVE SCHAEFER-/AFP via Getty Images) How to send a Valentines Day card to deployed troops Jimmy Carter, who had been in hospice care, was in attendance at the tribute service. The former president died at age 100 nearly 13 months later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We miss them both dearly, but take comfort knowing they are united once again, the Bidens said in their Thursday post. To the entire Carter family, thank you for sharing them with America and the world. Jimmy Carters funeral service brought together all five living U.S. presidents on Thursday, which was named a national day of mourning. He will be laid to rest beside his wife in a plot visible from the front porch of his home in Plains, Georgia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Thursday is a National Day of Mourning to honor former president Jimmy Carter. The nation mourned and honored President Jimmy Carter during his funeral in Washington. The event also celebrated his humility and service. For the last time Carter left Washington, D.C., after his funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral. Throughout his life, he showed us what it means to be a practitioner of good works, said President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden delivered the eulogy. All living presidents were in attendance and seated together. Through it all he showed us how character and faith start with ourselves, and then flows to others, said Biden. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were one of several musicians to perform. Steven Ford, President Gerald Fords son, shared a message written by his father. Jimmy Carters legacy of peace and compassion will remain unique as it is. Timeless, said Ford. Carters family looked back at his legacy. My grandfather spent the entire time Ive known him, helping those in need, said Joshua Carter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A motorcade drove Carters casket from the U.S. Capitol where he had lain in state for the public to pay their respect, to the airport to be flown back to Georgia for the final time. Carter will be buried alongside his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, in the same town where they were born, lived most of their lives and died. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. This morning, presidents, politicians, world leaders, and Jimmy Carter's family gathered in Washington, D.C. at the state funeral for the late president. Now, he will be honored in a private funeral in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, at Maranatha Baptist Church. "The outpouring of love and support that we have felt from you and from around the world has shows how many lives he has touched and how his spirit will live on in many ways for us," his grandson Jason Carter said in a moving eulogy. After the private service, Carter will be laid to rest at his home in Plains, alongside his wife Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023. "My home is wherever [Rosalynn] is," Jimmy once wrote, "whether in South Georgia or South Sudan. Holding her hand, reading our Bible together each night, falling asleep next to her, that is my home. Here, see photos of Plains, Georgia and his family gathering for the private ceremony: Maj. Gen. Trevor Bredenkamp (right), commanding general of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, escorts Jack Carter and his wife Liz, and James "Chip" Carter and his wife Becky, as they arrive in Georgia with the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter. Pool - Getty Images Carter's son Jeff arrives back in Georgia from D.C. Pool - Getty Images Members of the Carter family get off the plane. Pool - Getty Images Former U.S. Secret Service agents and their families line up to view the arrival of the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter at Lawson Army Airfield in Fort Moore, Georgia. Pool - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A view of Carter's Maranatha Baptist Church. Joe Raedle - Getty Images A hearse carrying Jimmy Carter's casket arrives at the church. Joe Raedle - Getty Images As Carter's casket arrived at the church, U.S. Navy pilots executed a "missing man formation" overhead in his honor. Joe Raedle - Getty Images Members of the U.S. military carry Jimmy Carter's flag-draped casket into the Maranatha Baptist Church for a private funeral service Joe Raedle - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You Might Also Like President Joe Biden said that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of disaster assistance, on things like debris removal, temporary shelters and first responders salaries. At a briefing at the White House today, Biden told reporters, Due to the magnitude of the disaster, I was talking with the governor, he asked if I could increase the federal funding from 75% to 90%. Were increasing it to 100% of all the costs to be covered by the federal government. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government will cover 100% of the costs for 180 days. I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do to contain these fires, Biden added. Biden said that the total price tag for recovery will be a big, big number, suggesting that Congress would have to appropriate new funding. Biden has 10 days left in his term. Biden declared the region a major disaster, triggering the availability of immediate cash assistance at disasterassistance.gov. Biden said that he was deploying 400 additional federal firefighter, more than 30 firefighting helicopters and planes and eight Defense Department C-130s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden also addressed reports that a water shortage in the area stymied firefighting efforts. He said that utilities understandably shut off power because they were worried that the lines that carried energy could be blown down and spark additional fires. But when they did that, it cut off the ability to generate pumping water. He said that Cal Fire was bringing in generators to get the pumps moving again. We are with you. We are not going anywhere, Biden said. Biden appeared with Kamala Harris, whose home is in Los Angeles. She canceled a planned overseas trip next week to deal with the fire disaster. She called the scene apocalyptic. What we are seeing is a situation that is extremely dynamic. It is very much in play, and to some degree unpredictable, because we are literally waiting to see which way the wind blows, she said. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BEIRUT (AP) Lebanons new president and former army commander Joseph Aoun has maintained a low profile. Those who know him say he is no-nonsense, kind and averse to affiliating himself with any party or even expressing a political opinion a rarity for someone in Lebanons fractured, transactional political system. Bilal Saab, a former Pentagon official who is now senior managing director of the TRENDS US consulting firm, often met Aoun while overseeing Washington's security cooperation in the Middle East. He called Aoun a very sweet man, very compassionate, very warm who avoided political discussions like the plague. He really was viciously nonpartisan, did not have any interest in even delivering speeches or doing media, Saab said. He wanted to take care of business, and his only order of business was commanding the Lebanese army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That might make Aoun an odd fit as Lebanons president after being elected Thursday ending a more than two-year vacuum in the post but Saab said it could be a boon for the country where incoming leaders typically demand that certain plum positions go to supporters. Hes not going to ask for equities in politics that typically any other president would do," Saab said. Aoun, 61, is from Aichiye, a Christian village in Jezzine province, southern Lebanon. He joined the army as a cadet in 1983, during Lebanon's 15-year civil war. George Nader, a retired brigadier general who served alongside Aoun, recalled him as keeping cool under fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They fought together in the battle of Adma in 1990, a fierce confrontation between the Lebanese army and the Lebanese Forces militia during the war's final stages. Nader described it as one of the toughest battles of his career. The level of bloodshed was significant and I remember Joseph was steady and focused," he said. Aoun commanded the Lebanese army's 9th infantry brigade before being appointed army chief in March 2017. During his tenure as commander, he oversaw the armys response to a series of crises, beginning with a battle to push out Islamist militants from the Islamic State group and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, who were then operating in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border. The army fought in coordination with the Hezbollah militant group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HTS in its current iteration led a lightning offensive that toppled Syrian president Bashar Assad last month and has become the de facto ruling party in Syria. The Lebanese army navigated other challenges, including responding to mass anti-government protests in 2019, the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that came to a halt with a ceasefire agreement in November. The Lebanese military largely stayed on the sidelines in the Israel-Hezbollah war, only returning fire a handful of times when Israeli strikes hit its positions. Dozens of soldiers were killed in airstrikes and shelling The military also took a major hit when Lebanon's currency collapsed beginning in 2019, reducing the monthly salary of a soldier to the equivalent of less than $100. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a rare political statement, Aoun openly criticized the country's leadership for its lack of action on the issue in a speech in June 2021. What are you waiting for? What do you plan to do? We have warned more than once of the dangers of the situation, he said. The United States and Qatar both at one point subsidized soldiers' salaries. Ed Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a nonprofit that aims to build stronger U.S.-Lebanon ties, said he met Aoun about seven years ago when he was taking over command of the armed forces and immediately found him to be the best of those that we had worked with. He described Aoun as a very direct guy, very honest and a leader who inspires loyalty by his hard work. Those attributes helped Aoun to prevent a flood of defections during the economic crisis, when many soldiers had to resort to working second jobs, Gabriel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a personal level, Gabriel described Aoun as a humble and deeply religious man. Like all Lebanese presidents and army commanders under Lebanons sectarian power-sharing system, Aoun is a Maronite Christian. Aoun's deep faith "really sets the groundwork for ... his value system and his morals, Gabriel said. In Aoun's hometown, residents burst into celebrations after his election, setting off fireworks, dancing in the streets and handing out sweets and glasses of whiskey. We are currently living in very difficult times, and he is the right person for this challenging period," said Claire Aoun, among those celebrating. May God guide and support him, and may he rebuild this entire nation for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Aoun's election was not without controversy or universally supported, even among fellow Christians. One of the most influential Christian parties in the country, the Free Patriotic Movement of former President Michel Aoun no relation to the current president opposed his candidacy. And the Lebanese Forces party gave him their endorsement only the night before the election. Some have argued that Joseph Aouns election violated the law. The Lebanese constitution bars a sitting army commander from being elected president, though the ban has been waived multiple times. Some legislators were not happy doing it again. Some in Lebanon also perceived Aoun's election as the result of outside pressure notably from the United States and Saudi Arabia and less the result of internal consensus. Hezbollah's war with Israel weakened the militant group, politically and militarily, and left Lebanon in need of international assistance for reconstruction, which analysts said paved the way for Aoun's election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Independent lawmaker Halima Kaakour argued during Thursday's parliament session that we cannot justify violating the constitution, even if there was precedent. She took a swipe at countries seen as backing Aoun's election, telling Western and Arab diplomats present, "No one should interfere in our internal affairs. Saab, the analyst, said painting Aoun as a puppet of Washington is unfair, although he acknowledged theres no such thing as a Lebanese president or prime minister completely independent of foreign influence. The entire country is heavily penetrated and vulnerable and at the mercy of international powers," Saab said. "But ... if you were going to compare him to the leadership of Hezbollah being fully subservient to Iranian interests, then no, hes not that guy when it comes to the Americans. ___ Associated Press writers Sally About AlJoud in Beirut and Mustapha Baba in Aichiye, Lebanon, contributed to this report. A federal judge on Friday held Rudy Giuliani in civil contempt for skirting an agreement not to make new false claims about two Georgia election workers he was ordered to pay $146 million for defaming. It was the second time in less than a week a judge found Giuliani in contempt in matters involving the case. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell granted the request from Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom Giuliani has falsely claimed for years engaged in mass election fraud while working in Atlanta on election night in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement barred the ex-New York City mayor from making any further claims they engaged in wrongdoing during that election. The mother-daughter duo said he violated it in two broadcasts of his nightly show. The judge determined that Giuliani violated the order he agreed to in at least six ways, calling his accusations that the women engaged in election crimes the worst kind of defamation. This takes real chutzpah, Mr. Giuliani, Howell said while reading her order. The judge gave Giuliani 10 days to submit a filing under oath affirming he reviewed the record of the case and a Georgia report which concluded all allegations against Freeman and Moss were unsubstantiated. He must also acknowledge his statements contradict those findings. And he must acknowledge he had the opportunity to fully participate in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hell be fined $200 every day after the deadline if he fails to comply, she said. If after 30 days, he continues to make false statements about the women, Howell suggested she may consider more serious penalties, like jail time. I am very concerned based on the statements made during this hearing that Mr. Giuliani may not be persuaded to stop making statements that violate the consent judgment in this case without even more severe sanctions, Howell said. Giuliani spokesperson Ted Goodman said in a statement that the contempt ruling was designed to prevent Mayor Giuliani from exercising his constitutional rights, claiming that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself on the facts during the defamation case, which lawyers for Freeman and Moss and the judge dispute. Howell, during a federal court hearing in Washington, D.C., began the hearing by ripping into Giuliani for continuing to defame Freeman and Moss, criticizing him for spreading fabricated lies given his expansive public audience and respected public service history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really hoped we were done, Howell said. Giuliani immediately rebuffed the judges remarks, shaking his head and scoffing at the defense table as she spoke. He also talked back to the judge from his seat, though his commentary was not audible. At issue are two remarks Giuliani made on Nov. 12 and 14, where he claimed that they never let me show the tapes that show them quadruple counting the ballots, and that his tapes showed them passing these little hard drives that we maintain were used to fix the machines. An attorney for Freeman and Moss said Giuliani was unambiguously referring to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its impossible to believe that theres some other reference hes making to some other people out there in the world other than our clients, said attorney Michael Gottlieb. Gottlieb added two other examples Friday he said constituted additional defamation, from Nov. 19 and 21 statements on Giulianis show. Giulianis attorney, Eden Quainton, argued that the average person would not know to whom his client was referring in the clips. He says, Everybody knows this is about Georgia, Quainton said. Thats just flat out false. Quainton also said Giuliani truly believes Freeman and Moss committed fraud. It takes a lot of self-discipline and self-control for Giuliani to refrain from taking aim at the women, the attorney said, noting that the ex-mayor did not make any negative comments about them for several months after signing the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, because he was good for a few months, weve got to excuse bad behavior after that? Howell asked incredulously. Gottlieb proposed fining Giuliani $20,000 per any future violation of the agreement, which would specifically be paid out of assets exempt from the election workers collection of their $146 million judgment, like some of Giulianis cash and retirement accounts. Giuliani briefly took the stand to detail the assets he believes are exempt from collection. Howell asked him to testify to assess whether such a fine would verge on punitive, instead of serving to coerce him to comply with the agreement. Giuliani confirmed he has more than $1 million across two IRAs and a 401k account, in addition to his roughly $3.5 million Florida condo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I claim theyre exempt, and youre trying to take them from me, Giuliani said. The judge further ordered Freeman and Mosss lawyers to calculate the cost of the contempt proceeding, and within 45 days of conferring with Giulianis counsel, the ex-mayor must pay that amount. The decision in Washington comes on the heels of a separate decision in Manhattan finding Giuliani in contempt for failing to comply with court orders in Freeman and Mosss efforts to collect the judgment. Giuliani has been forced to turn over some of his most prized possessions, including his Mercedes-Benz, watches and his New York City apartment. But the election workers say hes stalling their efforts to collect his remaining, nonexempt assets, including critical ownership documents and a signed Joe DiMaggio jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani explained the delays as a result of being bogged down with other pending legal battles and the collapse of his relationship with his former attorneys, who claimed he refused to cooperate in providing electronic discovery to the election workers. A different federal judge in Manhattan has not yet decided the full extent of sanctions but said he would draw a narrower adverse inference against Giuliani and prevent him from offering certain evidence as he seeks to keep control of his Florida condo at a trial later this month. Giuliani initially sought to attend the D.C. hearing virtually, contending his health problems and security concerns would make traveling to the nations capital a challenge. Howell signaled skepticism about the ex-New York City mayors assertions, and he soon after withdrew the request. The hearing began later than expected, for which Giuliani castigated the judge in statements on the social platform X and from Goodman, his spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodman criticized Howell as politically motivated and suggested she was forcing Mayor Giuliani to wait around for hours in relation to a contempt hearing that shes already made her decision on. This is yet another glaring example where the process is the punishment, Goodman said. Zach Schonfeld contributed. Updated 4:50 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A judge rejected Camron Coopers bid Thursday to get his case thrown out after he took a gun to Hammond Central in January 2023. His lawyer James Thiros essentially argued the adult court didnt have jurisdiction. He said the Indiana General Assembly changed a law effective in July 2024 where a teen between the ages of 16 to 18 can no longer be automatically charged in adult court for Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, like Cooper was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now 18, Cooper, of Dolton, Illinois, was 16 when charged. If granted, Thiros argued the case would have to get kicked down to juvenile court. From there, it could be waived back to adult court. Deputy Prosecutor John Holmen argued new laws arent retroactive. Judge Gina Jones agreed, denying Thiros motion to dismiss. I get the premise behind it, she said. The next court date is March 21. At the time, officials said Cooper was a School City of Hammond student, but didnt go to Hammond Central. An alert teacher spotted the teen around noon Jan. 31, 2023 coming in a side door. He gave his backpack to another girl. School employees eventually confiscated it, finding the tan and black semi-automatic handgun inside with 30 rounds of ammunition and an attached laser pointer, charges allege. The teen tried to hide from staff, but was caught by school security and taken to the office before police arrived. mcolias@post-trib.com MADISON, Wis. A Wisconsin woman who at age 12 stabbed her sixth grade classmate nearly to death to please online horror character Slender Man is set to be released from a psychiatric hospital, a judge ordered Thursday. Morgan Geyser has spent nearly seven years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. She has petitioned Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren, who committed her, for release four times since June 2022. She withdrew her first two petitions and Bohren denied her second request this past April, finding she still presented a threat to the public. Geyser filed her latest petition in October. Bohren decided to grant her release after a day-long hearing Thursday, finding that she had maximized her treatment options at the facility. He ordered the state Department of Health Services to set up a plan for housing her in a group home and supervising her subject to his approval at a hearing within 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geyser and Anissa Weier were 12 years old in 2014 when they lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, to a Waukesha park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged her on. Leutner barely survived. The girls later told investigators that they attacked Leutner to earn the right to be Slender Mans servants and they feared he would harm their families if they didnt follow through. Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was sent to the psychiatric institute due to mental illness in 2018. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide. She was also sent to the psychiatric center but was granted release in 2021 to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor. Related Articles Eric Duane Ridenour, a convicted arsonist who burned down two Douglas churches, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to more than 36 years in prison. Ridenour was convicted July 11 in a federal court in Tucson of burning St. Stephens Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church, both located on Church Square, a historic district in the border town of Douglas, approximately two hours southeast of Tucson. Ridenour, 58, was arrested May 23, 2023, on suspicion of charges in both arsons and indicted the following month. Advertisement Advertisement This is a case about two separate arsons and the motivations behind each, Gary Restaino, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, said. Defendant burned a church because he disagreed with its position that women and LGBTQ+ individuals may serve as ministers, and then he burned a second church, in the same historic square, for the same reason. A conviction of using fire to commit a federal crime carries a 10-year penalty, with a second conviction being an additional 10 years. Any conviction under this charge will run consecutively to any other conviction, according to prosecutors. There is no way to undo the damage Mr. Ridenour caused with his hateful and violent behavior, but we hope this sentence provides some measure of comfort, said Jose A. Perez, the FBI Phoenix special agent in charge. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and ensure those who perpetrate such acts of hate are held accountable. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was demolished while First Presbyterian Church was being rebuilt. Advertisement Advertisement It is believed to have been the only intersection in the nation containing churches from four different denominations: Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Information sought: Casa Grande police ask public for help finding suspect in Catholic church arson This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arsonist at Douglas churches sentenced to prison President-elect Trump was spared any punishment for his hush money criminal conviction Friday when a New York judge sentenced him to an unconditional discharge, eschewing jail time while securing his status as the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Judge Juan Merchans decision to release Trump with no strings attached caps the first and only criminal trial of a former president, less than two weeks before hes set to return to the White House. New York jurors in May found him guilty of 34 felonies over a scheme intended to unlawfully sway the 2016 election by concealing a payment to a porn actor to keep quiet about their alleged affair, which Trump has denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After careful analysis and obedience of government mandates, pursuant of law, the court feels the only sentence is an unconditional discharge, which is a lawful and permissible sentence for falsifying business records, Merchan said, I impose that sentence for all 34 counts, and sir, I wish you godspeed as you pursue your second term in office, the judge said. With the judges permission, Trump appeared virtually for the roughly 40-minute sentencing hearing Friday. In his typical stump speech style, Trump told the judge he is totally innocent and had a very terrible experience in Manhattans criminal court system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an injustice of justice, Trump said. Trump relentlessly sought to stave off his sentencing until after he takes office. It was originally set for last July, but Trump convinced Merchan to delay it until after the election as the judge weighed whether the conviction could withstand the Supreme Courts ruling carving out broad criminal immunity for former presidents official acts. Upon becoming president-elect, Trumps efforts to dismantle the case intensified, with new arguments that he should be immediately afforded the protections of a sitting president. Even after Merchan signaled no punishment was the most viable solution given Trumps immunity from criminal prosecution during his upcoming White House term, he appealed his effort to stop the case in its tracks all the way to the Supreme Court, which didnt intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Merchan said Friday that the protections offered to presidents were not a mitigating factor in Trumps case. Despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, they do not provide the power to erase a verdict, Merchan said. Donald Trump, the ordinary citizen, the criminal defendant, will not be offered such protections. Trump long employed a strategy of delaying to defend against all four of his criminal prosecutions. He successfully bucked trials in the other three but failed to avoid facing a jury in the hush money case, which emerged as his first set of criminal charges in April 2023. Last spring, witnesses from Trumps business and political spheres took the stand, often begrudgingly, during the seven-week trial. The jury of 12 New Yorkers found the former president guilty on all counts of falsifying business records, finding that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) had proven his unprecedented case beyond a reasonable doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps sentencing now opens his ability to appeal his charges in normal course, which he has long vowed to do. The president-elect had asked appeals courts to intervene many times ahead of, during and after his trial, but those efforts largely fell flat. Now, Trump is expected to appeal Braggs entire theory of the case in addition to his presidential immunity appeals that remain pending. But even a successful appeal would take months, if not years, to progress through the courts. And with Trump set to take office in less than two weeks, legal experts broadly agree criminal prosecutions cannot proceed against a sitting president. Much of Trumps criminal defense team is now moving into his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of Trumps hush money trial attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, were tapped for the second- and third-ranking Justice Department roles, respectively. Another lawyer who has handled several of Trumps appeals, D. John Sauer, is slated to become solicitor general, the agencys fourth-highest role. Updated at 2:38 p.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A 60-year old substitute teacher is being held on $35,000 bond after being accused of showing explicit pictures of herself to her elementary school students in Lake Wales. Gayle Wessel is facing six counts of showing obscene materials to a minor and one count of tampering with evidence, all third-degree felonies. Tampa mother charged in newborns death after placing her in trash can gets trial date Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was floored to hear it, said Lt. Dale Hampton with the Lake Wales Police Department. According to Lt. Hampton, Wessel was a substitute teacher at Park Avenue Private School in Lake Wales. She was fired in early November when school administrators learned she had, allegedly, shown explicit pictures to her elementary school students. To our knowledge, it was one time that she was teaching these children and for whatever reason, we dont know her motive behind it, but she decided to pull her phone out and show nude photos of herself to these students, said Lt. Hampton. When police first informed Wessel of the charges against her, officers said she attempted to delete the nude pictures from her phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did a forensic investigation on her phone and then thats where we found the other hundreds of nude photos of herself that she did show to the children, said Lt. Hampton. Gayle Wessel (Credit: Lake Wales Police Department) Lt. Hampton said Wessel has a criminal record, including prior arrests for battery, trespassing and criminal mischief. Wessel was arrested in Orlando for breaking goose eggs in a nest. News Channel 8 attempted to contact administrators at Park Avenue Private School, regarding Wessels arrest and employment, and has not heard back. Count on us for high-quality, hands on education! reads the schools website. Lt. Hampton encourages parents to have an open dialogue with their children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It hurts your heart because its inside the city. Its an official and these children trust these teachers, said Lt. Hampton. If she makes her bail, Wessel will be fitted for a GPS ankle monitor and is not allowed to go to the school or be in contact with anyone under 18 years of age. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. EAU CLAIRE The defendant in a kidnapping case has requested a new judge, delaying his arraignment in the case. Mohamed Iman, 40, Eau Claire, is charged with kidnapping, second degree recklessly endangering safety and telephone harassment. Each of the charges has an enhancement for repeat offenses. Iman had been scheduled for arraignment Thursday, but court records show the defense said it would file the paperwork for a new judge to be assigned later in the day. That paperwork was in fact filed shortly after the hearing. Wisconsin law guarantees defendants the right to request a new judge, but there are specific deadlines that have to be made in order for the request to be valid. One of those is that it has to take place before the arraignment takes place, which explains why the court couldnt proceed as originally planned on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike some states, Wisconsin does not require the defense to provide a reason for substitution, such as alleged prejudice by the judge originally assigned the case. Imans case dates to October, when a standoff led to brief lockdowns at two Eau Claire schools. According to the criminal complaint, a man was asked by an acquaintance to retrieve a dog for which Iman had been caring. When he arrived, Iman accused the dogs owner of stealing from him. As Iman approached, the man asked him to back up. Iman responded by pulling out a knife and pressing it to his neck. He threatened to kill you where you stand. The knife never broke the skin, though police did observe a red mark on the mans neck later. Iman forced him into a vehicle. Iman demanded to drive because he didnt trust the man to go to the dogs owners residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iman eventually crawled over the man into the passengers seat. After a couple minutes the man jumped out of the car, slamming the door on Imans arm in the process. Iman went back to his apartment. A witness saw events unfold, telling police he saw Iman press the man against the car and then sit in it with the man for several minutes. Police responded and Iman refused to leave his home. A standoff ensued and lasted about two hours. During that time Iman called the dogs owner and threatened her. Imans arraignment with a new judge will be scheduled. A federal judge on Friday held Rudy Giuliani in contempt for continuing to defame two Georgia election workers. In a federal courtroom in Washington, D.C. Judge Beryl Howell ripped into Giuliani for defaming Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss despite signing a previous agreement to stop doing so. This is the second time Giuliani has been found in contempt this week, after another judge ruled he was failing to comply with discovery requirements in the defamation case. Fridays proceedings concerned how Giuliani, despite losing the defamation case against him, continued to make false statements against the two women who served as poll workers in the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Giuliani engaged in the worst kind of defamation, Howell said during the verdict, attacking him for playing the victim in the case. It is outrageous and shameful. Even before proceedings began, Giuliani was on the offensive, attacking Howell as bloodthirsty and trying to speak over her. He even retweeted an attack on her after the courtroom was called to order. X screenshot Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney Giuliani is attacking Howell even as the hearing is underway. screenshot of Rudy Giuliani retweeting Ted Goodman During the hearing, Freeman and Mosss attorney noted that the massive $148 million judgment against Giuliani hadnt stopped him from repeating his lies about the 2020 poll workers, and asked the judge to impose a $20,000 fine against Giuliani for every violation of the ruling. In response, Giulianis lawyer, Eden Quainton, tried to relitigate the entire defamation ruling against himand Howell wasnt having it. X screenshot Jordan Fischer @JordanOnRecord: Giuliani's attorney, Eden Quainton, gets up and starts trying to relitigate the defamation question by arguing Giuliani genuinely believes what he's saying. Judge Howell: We're not doing that today. Im going to move on. This really is a waste of time, Howell added as Quainton continued to claim that Donald Trumps former attorney really believed what he was saying. She then called out Quaintons client, pointing out that Giuliani hasnt appeared to learn his lesson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So what youre saying is that this defamation is never going to stop. He believed it in 2020 when he made the original statements. He believed it all throughout the trial. He believes it today. Thats chilling, Howell said. Giuliani keeps embarrassing himself further and further following his efforts to try to help Trump overturn the 2020 election results. He initially tried to get out of Fridays court appearance by claiming his life was in danger due to terrorism threats. Despite being ordered to pay Freeman and Wandrea Moss $148 million, hes been less than forthcoming, leading to a new trial and public outbursts. Unlike other Trump cronies, Giuliani isnt getting any support from the president-elect or a plum job in the White House, either. It looks like the man once called Americas mayor may be close to rock bottom. This story has been updated. WASHINGTON (AP) Rudy Giuliani was found in contempt of court Friday for the second time in a week, as a federal judge warned him he could be sent to jail if he doesn't stop spreading lies about two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgement against him. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., found the former New York City mayor and onetime attorney for President-elect Donald Trump violated court orders barring him from defaming Wandrea Shaye Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman. The judge ordered him to review trial testimony and other materials from the case, and warned him that future violations could land him behind bars. Moss and Freeman sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation for falsely accusing them of committing election fraud in connection with the 2020 election. His lies upended their lives with racist threats and harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani smiled and chuckled as the judge explained why she was holding him in contempt of court. Howell, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, said it is outrageous and shameful for Giuliani to suggest that he is the one who has been treated unfairly in this case. This takes real chutzpah, Mr. Giuliani, she said. Shortly before the hearing began, Giuliani slammed the judge in a social media post, calling her bloodthirsty and biased against him and the proceeding a hypocritical waste of time. After leaving the courtroom, Giuliani called the hearing a farce and the judge completely biased and prejudiced. I dont care what she did. She is a completely farcical judge, Giuliani said outside the courtroom. She didnt consider a damn thing I said. She wrote it beforehand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the latest legal setback for Giuliani, who is also facing criminal charges and lost his law license in D.C. and New York after pursuing false claims that Trump made about his 2020 election loss. Giuliani briefly testified during Friday's hearing, only to authenticate records about his personal finances. The judge didn't fine Giuliani for his most recent defamatory comments about the case, but she said would impose daily fines of $200 if he doesn't certify within 10 days that he has complied with her order to review trial testimony and other case-related material. A jury sided with the mother and daughter in December 2023 and awarded them $75 million in punitive damages plus roughly $73 million in other damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mr. Giuliani started lying about Plaintiffs in December of 2020, and refused to stop after repeatedly being told that his election-rigging conspiracy theory about Plaintiffs was baseless, malicious, and dangerous," the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote. Giuliani's attorneys argued that the plaintiffs haven't presented clear and convincing evidence that he violated a court order in the defamation case in comments that he made on November podcasts about alleged ballot counting irregularities in Georgia. Giuliani acted with the good faith belief that his comments did not violate the (judgment) and he should not be subject to contempt sanctions, his lawyers wrote. On Monday in New York, Judge Lewis Liman found Giuliani in contempt of court for related claims that he failed to turn over evidence to help the judge decide whether he can keep a Palm Beach, Florida, condominium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani, who testified in Limans Manhattan courtroom Jan. 3, said he didn't turn over everything because he believed the requests were overly broad, inappropriate or even a trap set by plaintiffs' lawyers. Giuliani, 80, had tried to get out of appearing in person Friday, telling the judge he gets death threats and has been told to be careful about traveling. But he withdrew his request to appear virtually after the judge ordered him to explain whether he has traveled from his Florida home within the last month. On the witness stand at the defamation trial, Moss and Freeman described fearing for their lives after becoming the target of a false conspiracy theory that Giuliani and other Republicans spread as they tried to keep Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. Moss told jurors she tried to change her appearance, seldom leaves her home and suffers from panic attacks. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in the Arizona case alleging he spread false claims of election fraud there after the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was separately charged in Georgia along with Trump and other allies of the former president accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The future of the Georgia case is unclear after an appeals court said Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office could not continue to prosecute it because of an appearance of impropriety created by a romantic relationship she had with a special prosecutor she hired to lead the case. ____ Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer contributed. Lori Vallow Daybell in Maricopa County Superior Court on Friday questioned why the Maricopa County Attorneys Office chose to extradite her when it did and asked a judge to order the office to provide any materials related to her extradition. Vallow Daybell was convicted of murdering two of her children, Joshua J.J. Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, in Idaho and was sentenced in July 2023 to multiple life sentences. She was extradited to Arizona in November 2023. Vallow Daybell and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, believed in an imminent "doomsday" and that people around them were zombies, according to court records and testimony. Vallow Daybell has come to be known as the "Doomsday Mom," the title of a 2021 Lifetime TV movie about her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chad Daybell was convicted in Idaho of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges in the deaths of his first wife and Vallow Daybells two children. Lori Vallow Daybell appears for a competency hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court on Dec. 5, 2024. In Arizona, Vallow Daybell faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the shooting death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her nieces ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. The court allowed her to represent herself in these cases. At Fridays status conference, she submitted two motions for discovery, requesting evidence, pleadings and witness lists from the prosecution. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Justin Beresky questioned Vallow Daybells request for materials related to her extradition, asking what bearing it had on her charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its relevant to the whole, your honor, in the sense that the police investigation and the intent of the prosecution it just doesnt make sense, she said. County prosecutors argued they would not present evidence at trial that went beyond the date of Vallow Daybells indictment, stating that such material was irrelevant. Beresky did not rule on the motions. He reiterated that the conspiracy to commit murder case related to Charles Vallow would be the first to go to trial, with proceedings set to begin on March 31. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office did not provide details on Vallow Daybell's extradition process. In an email to The Arizona Republic, the office said that it does not comment on open cases. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lori Vallow Daybell questions Arizona extradition in court Zoa Mendez, the Lawrence woman trapped under her car while making a floral delivery Thursday afternoon, is expected to make a full recovery. Zoas daughter, Zoa Rosario, told Boston 25 News Bob Ward that her mother suffered a hairline fracture in one of her legs, and some bruising, but no major broken bones in an accident thats received widespread attention. Were just grateful that shes doing well and that she is working towards getting her strength back, Zoa Rosario said. On Thursday, Zoa Mendez was delivering flowers on Bennington Street when, suddenly, somehow, her car slipped and fell right on top of her, trapping Zoa underneath her own car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of neighbors quickly got to work, and with police and first responders, managed to lift the car off Zoa Mendez, who is in her 70s. The entire incident was captured on video. What did you think when you saw that video? Ward asked Rosario. It was shocking. It was scary, she said. Zoa Rosario said shes not sure how the accident happened, and neither does her mother. She said it happened so quickly that she couldnt really put together in the moment what happened. I dont think shes aware how many people went out there to help her, Rosario said. Zoa Mendez co-founded Mendez Flowers on Broadway with her sister, more than thirty years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Zoa Rosario is running the business. Now, she is keeping an eye on her mother, too. Zoa Rosario will never forget how her community, complete strangers, came together, to help save her mothers life. Throughout the years, she has given her business, and so much, to the community of Lawrence, Rosario said. Were grateful there are good people out there that helped her, and responded to her. Zoa Mendez is expected to be released from the hospital soon and is likely to have to undergo a lengthy period of physical rehabilitation, according to her daughter. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW PASADENA, Calif. (WJW) In California on business, Russell Jones of Euclid found himself experiencing first-hand what have been described as the worst wildfires in the Los Angeles areas history. Jones, who owns a drone company called Jones Drones said on the first day of the fires he was surprised by the volume of smoke that seemed to just suddenly appear. Just this huge plume of smoke, and I know there are no active volcanoes in the area or anything, but thats the first thing I thought of, he told FOX 8 News on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cleveland Metroparks Zoo assessing damage after fire, no delays expected He said the winds were getting so gusty that he had to land his drone. I flew all day and the winds were around 30 to 35 miles per hour. Some of the gusts got up to 50 to 60 miles per hour, and when that happens its not safe for us to fly, so I had to land the drone at one point during the day and take a break. In the meantime, I learned that the plume of smoke I saw was the Palisades fire, Jones said. He went back to his motel and then to a laundromat, where he said the winds whipping through the building were so strong they damaged a door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was during that time the buildings owner learned that his house was on fire. Eventually, Jones said he went to see what roads might be blocked, and thats when he got his first good glimpse at how fast the fire was spreading and how devastating it was. I didnt want to be in the way of people evacuating. I didnt want to be in the way of emergency services, so I stayed on the outside. What I saw, the footage I got, the things I saw was just incredible, said Jones. I was probably the closest to the fire where the roads werent blocked, those roads of course are all blocked now but that night you could see embers coming , they had to have come down from, the fire is all in the mountain, he told Fox 8 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I first-hand saw experience of what creates a wildfire. Theres these embers and they are flying through the sky you know, 50 mph winds they get stuck in palm trees and Im sure people have seen videos where like tops of palm trees or the middle of the palm tree is on fire. And I believe those embers fly and get stuck and they ignite it, he said. Along the way, he learned that the one community with which he was the most familiar suffered severe damage, estimating a third of the homes there were gone. You will see in my video it almost looks like an arson had set up campfires along the road and its just from the embers coming from the main fire, the winds blowing them down and catching everything on fire. Its insane, Jones said. I wanted to get out and start stomping out fires. I was just like, I want to help, but you dont want to put yourself in a dangerous situation, and I dont want to be in the way, so I went back to my motel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red Cross of Northern Ohio seeking volunteers to deploy to California wildfires Jones said his family and friends at home have been worried about his safety, but he told FOX 8 his motel is about two miles from the Palisades fire, and he does not believe the flames will reach the motel. But he has a new perspective on wildfires and a genuine concern for those who have lost everything. Most people I have talked to here were convinced the fire was never going to make it to my house, and then hours later or maybe the next day, they found themselves being evacuated so it can happen that quick, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the people that works for me is dealing with some stuff back home, because of the weather, and the basement flooded and they lost some things and theres a loss there. And it really does put it into perspective. I mean, bad things can happen in Cleveland, but it can be way way worse, Jones said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The U.S. Justice Department announced this week it is suing six major apartment companies for practices that drive up prices and harm renters, including Ohioans. The Department of Justice filed an amended complaint in its lawsuit against real estate software company RealPage, adding six major landlord companies to the litigation. These six landlord agencies operate across 43 states and Washington D.C., including management of at least 16 apartment complexes in central Ohio. What we know about Trump, Ohio and a Dubai billionaires incoming data centers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ named Greystar Real Estate Partners, Blackstones LivCor, Camden Property Trust, Cushman & Wakefield and acquisition Pinnacle Property Management Services, Willow Bridge Property Company and Cortland Management. The amended lawsuit argues renters have a right to competition between landlords, which helps to offset housing costs. According to the DOJ, these six landlords allegedly communicated with one another to compare sensitive pricing information to keep their prices higher. The initial lawsuit alleged RealPages algorithm harmed renters by contracting with landlords to get sensitive pricing information to train RealPages software. The software allegedly generated recommendations for landlords using this data, which led to higher rental prices and a monopoly on real estate software for RealPage. Cortland, Cushman & Wakefield and Greystar all operate properties in and around Columbus. LivCor is owned by Blackstone, which owns some properties in Columbus but does not appear to run any of them through LivCor. Data for LivCors properties is limited, but in 2019, the company operated in nine states, none of which were in Ohio. Willow Bridge and Camden do not appear to operate properties in Ohio. 29 new laws are on their way in Ohio, heres what they are Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cushman & Wakefield manages Muirwood Village in Delaware, which rents ranch-style apartments. Greystar operates student housing at the Commons on Kinnear, an apartment building near Ohio State University. Cortland operates 14 apartment complexes in central Ohio: Cortland Dublin Cortland Hilliard Cortland Powell Cortland Sunbury Cortland Northlake in Sunbury Cortland at New Albany Abbie Lakes in Canal Winchester and Reynoldsburg Reserve at Abbie Lakes in Canal Winchester and Reynoldsburg Lakes Edge at Pickerington and Canal Winchester Sunbury Ridge in northeast Columbus Lake Ridge in Hilliard Brookesedge in Reynoldsburg The Bend at Broad in Blacklick and Reynoldsburg Jefferson Chase in Blacklick and Reynoldsburg Cortland is the most prominent landlord in central Ohio named in the suit, and it is also the only company offered a deal with the DOJ. Under the proposed deal, Cortland would be absolved of the claims in exchange for cooperating with the investigation. Cortland would also be banned from using competitors data to plan its pricing, disclosing any sensitive information to competitors, and using third-party algorithms for pricing without a court-appointed monitor present. The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington are co-plaintiffs with the DOJ in the lawsuit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Justin Trudeau has revealed the quip that silenced Donald Trumps taunting that Canada should become the 51st state during his visit to Mar-a-Lago last month. The outgoing Canadian prime minister told MSNBCs Jen Psaki that Trump broached the question of Canadas sovereigntya gibe he resurfaced earlier this week after Trudeau resignedwhen the pair met in December. It actually sort of came up at one point, Trudeau said. And then we started musing back and forth about this. When I started to suggest, Well, maybe there could be a trade for Vermont or California for certain parts, he immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore, and we moved on to a different conversation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Trudeau may have shut down Trump in the moment, it didnt last long. Trudeau visited Mar-a-Lago last month. / Pool / Getty Images It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada, Trump wrote on Truth Social soon after the conversation. When Trudeau earlier this week announced his intent to step down as Canadas leader as soon as his party names a replacement, Trump reveled with further jeers. Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State, he posted. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has vowed to enact a 25 percent tariff on goods entering the country from both Canada and Mexico when he takes office later this month. Trudeau isnt the only Canadian politician to fire back at Trumps tauntOntario Premier Doug Ford proposed a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska? he mused. And well throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time. SCOTT CITY, Kan. (KSNW) A portion of Kansas Highway 96 was closed for several hours Thursday night. The closure was put in place around 7 p.m. because a semi-truck became jackknifed, blocking both lanes on the highway. The Kansas Department of Transportation announced at 9:27 p.m. that the semi was removed from the highway and K-96 has reopened. Road conditions in southwest Kansas continue to deteriorate due to the winter weather conditions. The Kansas Department of Transportation is discouraging travel until conditions improve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If traveling please drive for conditions, take an emergency kit with you if you get stranded and wear your seat belt, said KDOT on Facebook. Check before you go: KanDrive, also known as WICHway in Wichita, is a website and app from the Kansas Department of Transportation that provides information about road conditions, traffic, and more. Viewers can access cameras along the highways and interstates for free. The KanDrive app is available in both Google Play and Apples App Store. To view the website, click here. Drivers can also call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. As agreed between China and the UK, the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue will be held on January 11 in Beijing. It will be co-chaired by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng and British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves as the lead persons of the Dialogue. CCTV: China just announced that Sri Lankas President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will pay a state visit to China. Can you brief us on the program of the visit? How do you assess the current China-Sri Lanka relations? What does China expect to achieve through this visit? Guo Jiakun: The upcoming visit will be President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes first visit to China after taking office, and is of great importance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress will meet with him respectively. China and Sri Lanka have long been each others friend and close neighbor. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, always maintained sound and steady growth, and set up a fine example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size. China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka through the upcoming visit to carry forward our time-honored friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields for continuous new progress in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and ever-lasting friendship as well as more benefit for the two peoples. Reuters: Please could you tell us whether any countries such as Nepal and India, since they are so close, have offered help in the Tibet earthquake search and rescue operation? Conversely, has China sought help from them? Guo Jiakun: On the earthquake in Dingri County in the city of Rikaze, Xizang, we shared the latest developments and relevant response and relief effort yesterday. Currently Chinas search, rescue and medical care support is well guaranteed. We appreciate the care and support from the international community. China News Service: The upcoming China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue will be another round of dialogue after nearly six years. Can you share with us the background and Chinas expectation of the dialogue? Guo Jiakun: China and the UK by resuming the Economic and Financial Dialogue aim at implementing the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Established in 2008, this high-level dialogue mechanism has served as an important platform for dialogue and cooperation on strategic, overarching and long-term issues in the economic and financial fields. Topics to be discussed during this dialogue include the macro-economic policy and economic globalization, trade and investment, industrial cooperation, the development of the financial market, and cooperation on financial supervision. China and the UK are major economies and financial heavyweights in the world. Closer economic and financial exchanges and cooperation between the two countries serve their own interests, meet the expectation of all sectors, have significance to their economic growth and green development, and will inject more certainty and impetus to the worlds economic growth. We hope that the two sides through this dialogue will explore cooperation potential for more practical outcomes of economic and financial cooperation between China and the UK. CNN: Id like to ask you a question concerning TikTok. As the United States supreme court considers lifting the ban in the United States, do you have faith in the process and is the Chinese government providing guidance to ByteDance? Guo Jiakun: My colleagues and the spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of Commerce have made clear Chinas principled position on questions related to TikTok. CCTV: It was reported that Lebanon held a presidential election on January 9, and Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Joseph Aoun was elected as president. What is Chinas comment on this? Guo Jiakun: China welcomes Lebanons election of a new president and congratulates President Joseph Aoun on his election. China and Lebanon enjoy a traditional friendship. China attaches importance to developing relations with Lebanon. We will, as always, support Lebanon in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and continue advancing the friendly ties and mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas and working for new progress in bilateral relations. Beijing Daily: Recently, there is a lot of attention on the increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. The health departments of certain countries issued prevention advice to their nationals. Some are concerned about the safety of traveling to China and there are even claims about unknown virus in China on the internet. The World Health Organization said that Chinas reported levels of respiratory infections are within the usual range and that HMPV is not a new virus, but a common one. Many experts also said that theres no sign of a more serious global health issue. Whats your comment? Guo Jiakun: Weve recently answered several relevant questions. Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and influenza viruses are common pathogens. The overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than last year. Regarding the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) you mentioned, as we have learned from the competent authorities, it is not a new virus. HMPV has circulated in humans for at least 60 years and is a common virus that causes upper respiratory infections. HMPV infections are self-limited. Calling this common virus unknown is inconsistent with basic science and essentially fear-mongering. The Chinese government takes seriously the health of its own people and foreign nationals in China. Chinas competent authorities and technical agencies took proactive steps to carry out sentinel surveillance for various acute respiratory infectious diseases and released surveillance results. Chinese disease control experts have told the public on multiple occasions how to take science-based protective steps. Also, China and WHO stay in close and regular touch and share timely information on respiratory diseases. We will continue to do whats necessary and do our best to make sure it is comfortable, safe and convenient for both Chinese and foreigners to travel in China. It is also important for everyone to make a common effort for personal and family health. AFP: Yesterday, prosecutors in Germany said that they had charged three people suspected of spying for Chinese intelligence services. They said the three individuals had supplied China with information on naval technology that could have military uses. Is the Foreign Ministry aware of this? And do you have a comment? Guo Jiakun: We responded to the question before. Let me reiterate that China advances ties with Germany on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each others internal affairs, and mutually beneficial cooperation in accordance with laws and regulations. We hope Germany will stop peddling the so-called Chinese spy risk and not obstruct the sound and steady development of China-Germany relations. Reuters: US and Danish officials lobbied the developer of Greenlands largest rare earths deposit last year not to sell its project to Chinese-linked firms, its CEO told Reuters. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this? Guo Jiakun: I am not familiar with what you mentioned. By Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris canceled her upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany due to the ongoing wildfires in California, the White House said on Thursday after President Joe Biden made a similar decision a day earlier. Biden canceled an upcoming trip to Italy where he was due to meet Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In response to the historic wildfires in Los Angeles, the Vice President has made the decision to cancel her and the Second Gentleman's upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany," the White House said on Thursday. The canceled trip of Harris, who is from California, would likely would have been her last as vice president before leaving office on Jan. 20. Los Angeles is facing the worst wildfires in its history that has thus far killed five people, led to the evacuations of 180,000 and consumed 31,000 acres (12,500 hectares). Biden, who declared a major disaster in California, met with top administration officials on Thursday afternoon to discuss the federal response. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward; Editing by Sandra Maler) KANSAS CITY, Mo. The next round of snow is already falling in the Kansas City metropolitan area, which only adds to the large snow piles that line city streets and neighborhoods. Most of those are actually plow drifts, or snow berms, which are snowbanks created by a snowplow. Some confuse that with a snow drift, which is when strong winds, like the 45-mile-per-hour gusts we saw on Sunday, blow snow into uneven piles. Not only do they pose hazards to drivers when turning into parking lots or onto busy streets, but pedestrians like Kegan Rascoe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joes Blog: Accumulating snows likely (THU-1/9) Its all the way out in the middle of the road and youve lost almost a lane of traffic in some places, he said while showing just how far one snow berm pushed into a downtown street. Rascoe walks 30 minutes from his place in Union Hill to his job at the Kansas City Health Department. When you factor snow-covered sidewalks into the mix, it can be dicey. Its miserable. You know, they clear the road for cars but they often dont clear the road on the sidewalks. Kansas Citys Public Works Director Michael Shaw said city crews are now working to address this throughout the downtown area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a haul-out operation going on downtown because of the amount of snow. We actually have to haul the snow out, and its not just the bike lanes, its also the streetcar lines and other areas. The good news? These piles are starting to melt thanks to the salt. In some areas, the city will not plow those massive plow drifts because they dont want to push that salt off. While that eats at part of it, there is something else they need. We need heat, added Shaw. [We need ] the pavement to rise to create the melt that we need. In order to push it you need the heavier trucks and those are too big for some neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means you also need one other thing: Patience. For the snow piles and snow drifts to melt, you need several days well above freezing and the warmest day in our forecast is late next week of 34 degrees, added FOX 4 Meteorologist Jacob Lanier. While we wait for those warmer days, Rascoe will try to stay upright. A lot of the time Im stumbling, but I havent fallen yet though! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Governor Laura Kelly has taken action to protect federal benefits meant for foster children. Today, I signed an executive order to ensure that the federal benefits our foster children receive belong to them not the state, Kelly said. The state will no longer use these funds to reimburse itself, but instead, well safeguard the money in accounts for the childs future. About 950 Kansas foster children are eligible for federal benefits, such as supplemental security income (SSI) disability, Social Security Administration survivor benefits, and/or Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. These benefits total about $9 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longstanding practice of many states, including Kansas, has been to apply for benefits on behalf of eligible children in our care and then use those funds to reimburse the states, the governor said. These benefits belong to the children. They were never meant to fund state operations. How much snow did Wichita and Kansas see Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard said NPR did a series of investigative stories several years ago about foster care children losing their benefits. States claim the money as reimbursement for the costs of foster care. But governments already have an obligation to pay the costs of foster care under state and federal laws. The result is that only impoverished kids, who receive Social Security benefits because theyre orphans or because theyre disabled or their parents are disabled, get a bill for their own foster care. NPR article: These kids used to get the bill for their own foster care Since NPRs investigation, some states passed legislation to stop the practice, but 36 states still reimburse themselves with the childrens federal benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas is the first state to use an executive order to change the practice. We have had legislation to make this change for a number of years, and its not been able to get through the legislature, so were just going to take this route, Kelly said. I think it might be more effective. She hopes the Kansas Legislature will support it and make it law. The governor says the state will find money to make up the $9 million difference, most likely from the general fund. What fish are safe to eat in Kansas? Under the executive order, DCF will screen children in its care for federal benefit eligibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a child is eligible, DCF will apply for benefits on his or her behalf, the governor said. Families and guardians will be kept informed throughout the process. DCF will apply to become the childs initial representative payee along with identifying and notifying other adults in the family who may wish to apply. Kelly said the state would safeguard the money in ABLE accounts for the childs future. DCF will track and provide annual accountings of the funds and transfer the balance to the child or their new representative payee once the child leaves care. The money could be used for expenses such as extracurricular activities and school trips while a child is still in care or saved for expenditures such as a car or apartment deposit for young adults exiting foster care. As these children leave the care of the state, their ABLE account will serve as an impactful financial tool to help them build a secure and independent future, State Treasurer Steven Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCF already provides general financial literacy training to all youth ages 14 and up but will add more. I know firsthand how beneficial access to these benefits would have been for myself and others, Gabriella Pogany, a youth advocate, said. This policy change will help give youth a sense of stability and control over their future. Governor Kellys office is making a real difference in our lives with this executive order. These reforms will change lives, especially for youth aging out of foster care, said Darcy Olsen, CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children. Governor Kelly is setting a powerful example for others to follow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Kansas City Democratic state Rep. Valdenia Winn, left, said a subcommittee of the Kansas Legislature will recommend placement of a mural honoring Black soldiers from Kansas who fought with the Union Army during the Civil War to be placed on a fourth-floor wall in the Capitol. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA A subcommittee of the Kansas Legislature agreed Friday to recommend placement on the fourth floor of the Capitol a privately financed mural honoring the first Black regiment to see combat during the Civil War. The mural would tell the story of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was originally formed as a state militia not a federal unit in August 1862. The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry first saw combat at the Battle of Island Mound in Missouri on October 1862. In this fight, 225 Black troops drove off 500 Confederate guerillas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kansas State Historical Society says Richard Hinton, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry adjutant, chronicled the Island Mound fighting: The men fought like tigers, each and every one of them. The Emancipation Proclamation authorized enlistment of Black men as soldiers in the Union Army. In January 1863, the 1st Kansas Colored was mustered into federal service at Fort Scott, Kansas. The regiment was involved in seven battles from 1862 to 1864. Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, said the subcommittee considered mural-location options on the first and fourth floors of the Capitol. Eight murals have been installed in the statehouse rotunda, and additional murals populate the second and third floors of the building. Theres nothing on the fourth floor, she said. Theres everything on the first, second and third. Something to consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consensus of the subcommittee was to recommend the Legislatures joint Capitol Preservation Committee approve a spot on the south side of the fourth floor of the Capitol. Joe Brentano, former coordinator of the Capitol Visitor Center, said he leaned in favor of a piece of good art on the fourth floor. His colleague on the subcommittee, Frank Burnam, said crowding on the first floor of the Capitol during scheduled educational and political functions and the presence of large group tours with school children suggested the fourth floor would be more appropriate. I think its important that it fits into the tour, that people see it and its easy to find, said Burnam, deputy secretary of operations and director of facilities in the Kansas Department of Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2023, Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation authorizing planning and fundraising for regimental mural. The idea emerged 25 years ago with passage of a law directing the State Historical Society and the Department of Administration to collaborate on the mural. The project stalled due to financial issues, but was revitalized last year by unanimous vote of the Legislature. Kelly said it was past time to pay tribute to contributions of Black soldiers in Kansas who fought valiantly to defeat slavery. TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansas students may have to make up time later this year after a blizzard forced numerous schools to close for days on end in early 2025. KSNT 27 News consulted with documents kept by the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) to learn more about how the recent period of severe weather may impact students schedules. With more snow a possibility this week, parents may wind up having to keep their children home even longer. Students with districts like USD 501 in Topeka were expecting to return to their classrooms this week to start off the 2025 semester but ended up staying home due to ice and snow. A blizzard hit much of Kansas on Jan. 5, leaving behind more than 10 inches of snow in some areas, and forced many districts to alter their schedules or close altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highway bridge to close Friday in Topeka Kansas state law regulates how much time students in Kansas need to spend at their designated schools. The KSDE refers to this statute as the 1,116-hour policy which requires that students in kindergarten and between grades one and 11 must spend at least 1,116 hours in school each year. Alternatively, school districts can keep track of the time students must spend in the classroom annually by counting days. Subject to the other provisions of this section, a school term during which public school shall be maintained in each school year by each school district organized under the laws of this state shall consist of not less than 186 school days for pupils attending kindergarten or any of the grades one through 11 and not less than 181 school days for pupils attending grade 12. K.S.A. 72-3115 excerpt The KSDE states that many school districts have adopted a 1,116-hour policy but continue with their normal 186 day schedule, allowing for some flexibility in the yearly schedule if a school is active for more than six hours. The only exception to the 1,116-hour policy are 12th grade students who must record at least 1,086 hours during the school year. Is the time right to end daylight saving time in Kansas? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each school district may designate inclement weather days. These days will be reported to KSDE through the SO66 (Superintendents Organizational Report) in the fall. For example, if a school district designates three snow days, then the school district must first make up three snow days on the designated days before any forgiveness is allowed. In this example, the first three days must be made up and the next three days missed because of inclement weather would be forgiven. KSDE explanation on Kansas snow days Topeka Public Schools academic calendar for the 2025 semester shows that the quarter ends on May 29. The days May 27-29 are marked as no school days pending any unused inclement weather days. Why hasnt mail been delivered in northeast Kansas yet? The KSDE reports that any school days missed after six days must be made up before any forgiveness is allowed, including for districts marking time by hours instead of days. One school district, USD 475, canceled classes from Jan. 6 to Jan. 10 due to recent snowy weather with the possibility of other districts following suit due to forecasted snowy weather. To learn more about the inclement weather policies kept by the KSDE and how they work, click here. To reach the 27 News closings and delays page, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The Kardashian-Jenner family fled their homes as they followed mandatory evacuation orders amid the deadly wildfires destroying neighborhoods and displacing hundreds of thousands in and around Los Angeles. Sources confirmed to TMZ that Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Robert Kardashian, as well as mom Kris Jenner and half-sisters Kendall and Kylie, all adhered to the since-lifted order for the Kenneth Fire, which broke out in a nearby area and quickly spread to their Hidden Hills neighborhood. Its not clear if or when the stars have returned to their respective homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the ongoing devastation, the family paid it forward by helping to feed firefighters who are battling the blazes, with meals from Carousel Restaurant. The Lebanese-Armenian eatery thanked the famous family on Instagram, saying their generosity knows no bounds. Khloe, 40, also shared the post to her Instagram Story, praising the restaurant for having whipped up hundreds of individual meals for firefighters, volunteers and other first responders. We could not be more thankful! she said, thanking those battling the fires for putting your lives on the line for all of us! TMZ was told the familys businesses, including Kims shapewear and clothing company SKIMS, are donating to organizations supporting the L.A. area, where more than 36,000 acres have been burned. At least 10 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the fires. Among those who have lost their homes are numerous celebrities including Billy Crystal, Adam Brody and Paris Hilton. JOHNSON COUNTY, Ks. The Johnson County District Attorney says a man has been sentenced for shooting a Kansas City, Kansas Police officer in December of 2020. Court records show Jesse James Flaugher, of KCK, was sentenced to 247 months for attempted second-degree murder and nine months for firearm possession by a felon. The court ordered these charges to run consecutively. Kansas City man, woman charged with felonies in connection with missing womans death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting happened on December 15th, 2020, near W. 47th and Conser streets in Overland Park, near the county line. Records show the shooting happened following a hit-and-run in neighboring Wyandotte County. Witnesses said Flaugher pulled into a yard on a cul-de-sac, got out of his car, and shot at the KCK officer. Flaugher then got back in the car, drove down a ravine to the highway, and made his getaway. The car was later found abandoned about two miles from the shooting scene, near 42nd Street and Metropolitan Avenue in KCK. Flaugher was arrested the next week in Miami County. A Johnson County jury found him guilty in October 2024. Detectives previously said the officers safety equipment may have saved his life. While he was struck in the arm with a bullet, another also hit his bulletproof vest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. (Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer will travel to Ukraine in the coming weeks to discuss the possibility of deploying an international peacekeeping force there after the conflict with Russia has ended, his first visit to the war-torn nation since becoming UK prime minister half a year ago. Most Read from Bloomberg Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the plan following a meeting with allies at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, without saying when Starmer would visit. The UK premier is planning to go to Kyiv in the coming weeks as Europe ramps up preparation for US President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House, a person familiar with the matter said. Starmers office declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This initiative was started by Emmanuel Macron. The British look at it positively, but I will talk in detail with the prime minister about it at our meeting, it will take place, Zelenskiy told reporters late Thursday. He will be visiting Ukraine, he will have a visit to Ukraine, and we will talk. Macron, Tusk to Discuss Post-Ceasefire Ukraine Troop Plan European leaders have in recent weeks discussed the possibility of sending troops for a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine once a cease-fire is reached, ahead of Trumps inauguration later this month. Hes promised to deliver a swift resolution to the conflict via a negotiated settlement. Zelenskiys remarks Thursday evening came as Macron and Starmer met for dinner at the UK premiers Chequers countryside retreat. The two men reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine and discussed the importance of ensuring the country is in the strongest possible position in 2025, according to a readout from Starmers office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair also discussed the potential for a joint peacekeeping force in Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter. Such a proposal would depend on a negotiated peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, which President Vladimir Putin has so far shown no willingness to discuss. A possible peacekeeping mission would come at a later stage of negotiation, once a cease-fire is achieved, to avoid any risk of escalation, Bloomberg previously reported. --With assistance from Samy Adghirni. (Updates with details from Macron and Starmers meeting in final paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday sued TikTok for the second time in recent months, accusing the social media company of violating deceptive trade law by downplaying its addictiveness and exposing children to explicit material. The suit argues that TikTok, a short-form video app, violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by listing itself on app stores as appropriate for children and not enforcing its community guidelines effectively. The Apple App Store lists TikTok as rated for those 12 and older, while the Microsoft and Google Play Stores list the app as appropriate for users who are 13 and older. The 66-page filing, which has several redactions, details several TikTok posts containing inappropriate material that seemingly violate the guidelines and ways the app can circumvent parental controls on smartphones through an in-app browser. At one point, the lawsuit states the inappropriate material also included child sexual abuse content, although that section of the suit is largely redacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok actively worked to deceive parents and lure children onto their app despite the presence of an overwhelming amount of profane and illicit material, Paxton said in a statement Thursday. Companies may not jeopardize the health and wellbeing of Texas children by blatantly lying about the products they provide. A spokesperson for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Several times the suit references an investigation conducted by the state that found videos which contained depictions of drug use, self-harm and sexually explicit acts. In December, Paxtons office announced it would investigate several social media platforms privacy and safety practices for children, however the office did not clarify in its announcement Thursday whether the investigation mentioned in the lawsuit was related. But depending on a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, TikTok may not be accessible to anyone in the country for much longer. The platform has stated it would pull all activity from the U.S. on Jan. 19 if the Supreme Court does not strike down a bipartisan law mandating its parent company, ByteDance, sell TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Friday on the law, which makes it illegal for providers like Apple to have applications available that are owned by foreign adversaries. ByteDance is based in China, and the law was primarily aimed at forcing the TikTok sale. ByteDance is also named in the lawsuit Paxton filed Thursday. This is the second lawsuit Paxton has filed against TikTok in just over three months, as the attorney generals office filed a suit accusing the company of violating the new Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act. The SCOPE Act, which has received its own legal challenges, forbids companies from selling a minors personal information without parental approval, and the October lawsuit claims TikTok circumvented the law several times. The new lawsuit was filed in the same Galveston federal district as the first suit, and dozens of other lawsuits against social media platforms have been filed across the country in recent years. Texas lawmakers have weighed bringing restrictions or outright bans on social media platforms like TikTok for minors as some are exposed to harmful content, but free speech advocacy organizations and tech companies have balked. Several bills have been filed ahead of the 2025 Texas legislative session, one of which could potentially restrict minors from creating accounts on the sites altogether. Disclosure: Apple, Google and Microsoft have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Kenneth Fire map shows that the new blaze broke out in the West Hills area of Los Angeles and has spread to 960 acres. A new blaze erupted near the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Thursday afternoon, which triggered mandatory evacuation orders. However, it has now been reduced to evacuation warnings in LA County. According to the latest update, the Ventura County firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the Kenneth Fire while its still 35% contained. Where is the Kenneth Fire now? The blaze on the map of the Kenneth Fire stands at 960 acres from the West Hills area of Los Angeles. ABC News reported that there are no reports of structures destruction or damage from this blaze. The Ventura County firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the Kenneth Fire. However, the status stands at 35% containment. Meanwhile, the evacuation warnings in Ventura County have now been lifted. The evacuation warnings have been issued for LA County, as per the Los Angeles Fire Department. These zones are Vanowen south to Burbank Blvd and County Lane Road east to E Valley Circle Blvd. The fire department has further noted that those who require additional time to evacuate should leave now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LAPD has also launched an investigation for arson at Victory Trailhead, where the Kenneth Fire originally broke out. Brian Entin of NewsNation reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the area is now a crime scene. Meanwhile, one person has been taken into custody. Entin shared the interview with the LAPD, who revealed that the blaze was intentionally set and the suspect was detained by citizens. The officer shared that Kenneth Fire is being investigated as a crime. According to CNN, the Eaton Fire has burned at least 13,690 acres and is 0% contained. The Palisades fire has jumped to 19,978 acres and is 6% contained. On the other hand, the Hurst Fire is now 37% contained after burning 771 acres. Besides these, the Lidia Fire stands at 60% containment after reaching 348 acres. The post Kenneth Fire Map Shows How Far the Flames Have Spread appeared first on Mandatory. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Advocates for the legalization of cannabis in Kentucky introduced two bills to the House of Representatives earlier this week and are asking constituents to get Republican sponsorship to help them survive in Committee. Sadieville train derailment blocks residences, closes roads ahead of winter storm What do the bills propose? On Wednesday, House Bills 105 and 106 were introduced to the Kentucky General Assembly. HB 105 proposed to amend the Kentucky Constitution, granting residents over age 21 the right to possess up to one ounce and cultivate up to five cannabis plants for personal use, the bill said. HB 106 would, in part, retroactively vacate a cannabis possession conviction and expunge those charges from the criminal records of Kentuckians. The bills also propose changes that would be made to Kentucky laws to accommodate trafficking personal amounts of cannabis and the use of accessories and paraphernalia. Who would oversee legal cannabis operations? HB 105, sponsored by Louisville Rep. Nima Kulkarni (D) said the General Assembly would have control over the production, processing, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-derived products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, KY CBD Farmacy, a Nicholasville CBD retail business and advocate for cannabis legalization, wrote on Facebook asking constituents to call Republican legislators to ask them to co-sponsor the bills. KY CBD Farmacy wrote on Facebook Friday that staff are asking constituents to ask Republican legislators to co-sponsor the bills. (Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition) Now is the time to act! KY CBD Farmacy wrote. Reach out to your Republican legislators and urgently ask them to co-sponsor HB105. This is not just any bill; this is the critical amendment to the Constitution that will empower Kentuckians to vote on the decriminalization of cannabis! Read more of the latest Kentucky news The business said in its announcement on Friday that cannabis legalization advocates are reaching out to Rep. Jared Bauman (R) of Louisville to co-sponsor the bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. KEWAUNEE, Wis. (WFRV) After months of anticipation and recent snowfall across northeast Wisconsin, Kewaunees Winter Park will open this weekend. The parks ski and tube hill will operate Saturday, January 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, the ski hill will open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the tube hill will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Community trying to save Menominee Park train Officials remind visitors that the hills will remain closed outside of posted hours, except for private events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the latest updates, residents are encouraged to follow Kewaunee Winter Park on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. By Erwin Seba and Shariq Khan (Reuters) -Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan Inc said that two of its fuel pipelines in Los Angeles have been shut since Jan. 8 due to power outages, as the most destructive wildfires in the city's history continued to burn uncontained on Thursday. The company said the 515-mile (828.8 km) SFPP West pipeline and 566-mile CALNEV pipelines are not directly impacted by the fires, and it expects them to resume service once power has been restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Yikes! That's how product gets to Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego," a West Coast fuel trader said on hearing of the shutdown. SFPP West transports fuel from the Los Angeles Basin to Colton, and Imperial, California, and to Phoenix, Arizona. CALNEV moves gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from Colton, California to terminals in Barstow, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Kinder Morgan's website. "They should be able to catch up, but it depends on the inventory situations," the trader said, requesting anonymity as they are not authorized to speak publicly about another company's operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California refineries had about 5.2 million barrels of CARB gasoline in stockpiles as of Jan. 3, according to data from the California Energy Commission. So far there have been no reports of refinery outages in the state due to the wildfires. More than 300,000 customers were without power in California as of Thursday, according to figures from utility Southern California Edison. (Reporting by Shariq Khan in New York and Erwin Seba in Houston; Editing by Sandra Maler and Jacqueline Wong) (NewsNation) TikTok is slated to plead its case in front of the Supreme Court on Friday in an eleventh-hour bid to stop an impending ban of the social media behemoth. The company plans to present arguments to invalidate a law requiring it to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban by Jan. 19. TikTok, which has more than 170 million U.S. users, says it will shut down the social media platform in the U.S. by that date unless the nations highest court strikes down the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company filed an emergency application asking to delay the laws deadline, and the Supreme Court opted to move the emergency appeal to its normal docket to take up the case in full. TikTok: What do polls say Americans think of it? A decision by the court could come within days. Heres what to know ahead of TikToks day in court: Why is TikTok facing a ban? President Joe Biden signed a law in April stating that ByteDance, which owns TikTok and is based in China, has a Jan. 19 deadline to sell the platform to an approved buyer or face being banned in the U.S. The law received bipartisan support from lawmakers who said TikTok being owned by a Chinese company is a risk to national security and could expose sensitive data to a foreign government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law came under a larger foreign aid package called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. TikTok has been fighting the law ever since. What are the arguments on both sides? TikTok and ByteDance along with some content creators and users argue the law violates constitutionally protected free speech rights. Rarely if ever has the court confronted a free-speech case that matters to so many people, lawyers for the users and content creators wrote. TikTok said in previous court briefs that a ban will silence the speech of applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts and other matters of public concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The platform also contends it operates separately from its Chinese parent company and will not be subject to pressure from the American adversary. Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children Critics of the legislation also say the bill unfairly targets TikTok and that national and data security threats span across the industry, according to The Hill. The Biden administration has argued security concerns from a known adversary, saying that no one can seriously dispute that (Chinas) control of TikTok through ByteDance represents a grave threat to national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The laws supporters say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikToks U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. What have the courts said so far? Lower courts have thus far ruled in favor of the law. In December, a panel of three appellate judges, two appointed by Republicans and one by a Democrat, unanimously upheld the law and rejected the First Amendment speech claims. A federal appeals court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit also upheld the law, with the latter ruling the governments national security concerns justified the significant impacts of a potential ban and superseded any free speech concerns. What does a ban mean for TikTok users in the US? A ban would not mean the app would be automatically removed from users phones. Instead, it means that it would be taken off Apple and Googles app stores, so users would not be able to download it or receive updates, security patches or bug fixes, rendering it unusable over time. How is Trump involved? If the law takes effect, President-elect Donald Trumps Justice Department will be charged with enforcing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay the deadline for a potential TikTok ban, which is slated for the day before his inauguration, The Hill reported. President Trump alone possesses the consummate deal-making expertise, the electoral mandate and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns, wrote D. John Sauer, one of Trumps personal appellate attorneys. TikTok is embattled in legal challenges all over the world With billions of users spanning the globe, concerns around TikTok have sparked in several countries. The company faces outright or partial bans in at least 20 nations, The New York Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India banned the app in 2020 as tense relations with China exploded into combat along their shared border, the Times reported. Nepal took TikTok offline for nearly a year for not shutting down content the government described as hate speech, according to the Times. The Associated Press and NewsNations Cassie Buchman contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The Knoxville City Council approved an expansion of its police surveillance contract weeks after Nashville denied a similar proposal. (Photo: Angela Dennis) Concerns over privacy and government overreach dominated the conversation in Knoxville on Tuesday as the city council approved a $27.6 million expansion of its police surveillance contract. The vote comes just a month after Nashville rejected a similar proposal, reflecting a growing debate in Tennessee over balancing public safety and civil liberties. The agreement expands the Knoxville Police Departments partnership with Axon Enterprises for the next decade. Axon currently supplies KPD with body cameras and taser equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council approved the contract after more than an hour of discussion among members, police reform advocates, and citizens who expressed concerns about the impact of increased surveillance on Knoxville. (Its) absolutely a violation of folks' civil liberties. This type of policing can absolutely go unpunished and this is our moment as a city to acknowledge the concerns of our community. Amelia Parker, Knoxville City Council Tensions ran high during the meeting, with several community members removed by law enforcement after expressing frustration with the city administration. Councilmember Amelia Parker, one of the two dissenting votes, argued that surveillance of specific neighborhoods could negatively impact Black members of the community. She also raised awareness of the mistrust that many community members hold against law enforcement, citing the historic and inherent divide between the police and the Black community in Knoxville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parker said shes received several complaints about Knoxville polices surveillance tactics, which make people feel like their comings and goings in neighborhoods are already being closely monitored. [Its] absolutely a violation of folks civil liberties, Parker said. This type of policing can absolutely go unpunished and this is our moment as a city to acknowledge the concerns of our community. Community member Rashad Woods, who leads violence interruption efforts in the city, acknowledged the need to update this citys technology but believes the surveillance expansion could have larger implications. The things we set into motion in the present may have real impact in the future and I dont think anyone who voted for that resolution thought about that. We cant police our way out of the situation some of our communities are in. The question is, are we trying to fix the problem or criminalize the people? he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new proposal includes expanding the agreement to incorporate a records management system, services to support Knoxville polices new Real Time Information Center, additional city-wide cameras, and the adoption of Axons Fusus software. Fusus integrates various data sources, allowing officers at a center to stream video monitoring, respond to incidents more efficiently, and share real-time updates with other first responders. During contract negotiations, the city recognized the potential of Axons technology to enhance the centers operations and decided to include these upgrades in the proposed agreement. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. (Photo: City of Knoxville) Ultimately, the contract ensures that our technologies keep up with modern-day policing, improving transparency and accountability, allowing us to respond more quickly to emergencies and also to solve crimes faster, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said. Weve seen how it works well in other places, and I think the people of Knoxville deserve similar levels of public safety. The discussion surrounding the approved contract centered on Axons Fusus software and the real-time monitoring center, despite it accounting for less than 5% of the agreements cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The monitoring center at Knoxvilles public safety complex will allow staff to access public and private camera feeds to assist investigations and monitor emergencies. But Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel noted that 95% of the centers work will involve reviewing footage from past incidents. Noel highlighted the decrease in homicides across the city and credited the use of surveillance in solving crimes. He also maintained that the new expansion would increase transparency and accountability, emphasizing that the department has strict policies in place to prevent biased policing, supported by the establishment of the Office of Professional Standards. He credited the work of community policing in specific neighborhoods with reducing crime, but Parker also cited the work of grassroots organizations as contributing to the decline. Weve done some intentional community outreach and engagement in communities that are labeled hot zones, Noel said. Some people have talked about over-policing, but what youve seen in that area, arrests and stops have also plummeted at the same time. Thats because the officers are getting out, walking and building relationships with the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City Council approved the policing contract by a 7-2 vote, with council members Gwen McKenzie, Lauren Rider, Andrew Roberto, Charles Thomas, Debbie Helsley, Lynne Fugate, and Vice Mayor Tommy Smith in favor, and Seema Singh and Parker against. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) In an annual economic report to the governor, University of Tennessees Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research says we are in for steady growth in 2025. According to their recent findings, Tennessees Economy is projected to grow faster than the national average this year. Economic growth in Tennessee has started to moderate, and were projecting that its finally going to start to see kind of a more stable growth path going forward, said Larry Kessler, a research associate professor at the Boyd Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the economy begins to stabilize in 2025, Kessler said there are still ample opportunities for growth. Were still at levels that are just way above anything weve seen in history in terms of economic activity, number of job openings, number of new businesses created. So, were in a really good spot, were just kind of seeing a tapering off in terms of growth, said Kessler. Because we are stabilizing faster post-pandemic, Kessler said we could expect more jobs, population and real-estate growth compared to the U.S. overall. The more that our region grows as a whole and the more were economically healthy, the more it benefits everyone, said East Tennessee realtor Maria McHale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Knoxville being named a top 10 housing hotspot nationwide by the National Association of Realtors, McHale said the housing market could be improving. Both nationally and on a local level, we expect to see some improvement in the market for next year. And what improvement means to us is more inventory available, which hopefully leads to a little bit better affordability for folks, at all different price points, said McHale. With people continuing to move to Knoxville, both McHale and Kessler agree it brings more economic growth, and they say those who move here could be here to stay From an economic perspective, theres more people living in the state and living in the city, and theyre now contributing to the economy, said Kessler. Theyre either buying more goods or services, which is also leading to an increase in potential job opportunities and also an increase in the number of available workers in both the state and Knoxville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kessler added while we may not see as much job growth overall this year, parts of the labor force will grow, both in construction and health services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. The Kremlin on Jan. 10 said it "welcomed" President-elect Donald Trump's "readiness" for talks, but added plans for any face-to-face meeting would not be drawn up until after his inauguration later this month. Trump said on Jan. 9 that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet with him, and that preparations for a meeting are underway. "He wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, adding: "President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Russian media on Jan. 10, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said "no conditions are required" for such a meeting. "(Only) a mutual desire and political will to conduct a dialogue and resolve existing problems through dialogue is required," he said. "We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to resolve problems through dialogue, we welcome this," he added. But Peskov added there were not currently any concrete plans for a meeting. Trump is to take office on Jan. 20. During his presidential campaign, Trump claimed that he would be able to end the war in Ukraine quickly, in part because of his allegedly good relationship with Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin, on Dec. 19, said that he was prepared to meet with Trump at "any time" to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Since then, Russian officials have dismissed reported peace deals from Trump's team, saying they do not meet Putin's terms. Trump's push for a quick end to the war has led to fears that Kyiv will be pressured into unfavorable concessions, including loss of land. About 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently under occupation by Russian forces. Trump's nominee for special Ukraine peace envoy, retired general Keith Kellogg, has praised Trump's willingness to engage in dialogue with the Russian president, and criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for refusing to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg said on Jan. 8 that the administration aims to end the war in 100 days. Read also: Despite Trumps claims, Russia didnt invade Ukraine because of NATO Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki's recent comments on Ukraine were "manipulative," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued Jan. 9. The statement comes after Nawrocki said in a television interview on Jan. 8 that he does not currently see Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union or NATO. "Today, I do not see Ukraine in any structure neither in the European Union nor in NATO until important... issues for Poles are resolved," Nawrocki said in an interview with Polsat News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A country that cannot answer for a very brutal crime against 120,000 of its neighbors cannot be part of international alliances." Nawrocki's remarks refer to the 1943 Volyn massacre, during which tens of thousands of Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in Nazi-occupied Ukraine and thousands of Ukrainians were killed in retaliation. The legacy of the massacre remains an ongoing source of modern-day tensions between Poland and Ukraine. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry denounced Nawrocki's comments as "biased and manipulative." "Such statements indicate that the Polish politician prioritizes short-term political considerations over the strategic security interests of his own country, the good-neighbourly relations between Ukraine and Poland, and the shared values of freedom, democracy, and justice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland will hold presidential elections on May 18. Nawrocki is campaigning with the opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS), a right-wing political faction. Nawrocki, currently the head of the Polish National Remembrance Institute, criticized a joint statement on the exhumation of Volyn massacre victims in Ukraine between Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski. The agreement was an "unnecessary outburst by the head of Polish diplomacy," Nawrocki said, accusing the Sikorski of leveraging the agreement to launch his own presidential campaign. In its response, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry emphasized the ongoing "constructive dialogue" between Kyiv and Warsaw. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Volhynian Massacre the Achilles heel of Ukrainian-Polish relations t Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ABC7 (KABC), the ABC affiliate station in Los Angeles, is back from black. The station lost its over-the-air signal Friday morning as the Eaton Fire burned near the Mount Wilson observatory and communication towers in the Angeles National Forest, but it has now been restored. Disney-owned KABC confirmed that it was experiencing an issue with the transmitter, this morning, but did not provide details. A spokesperson said the issue was related to the fires, but equipment was not burned. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Radio station KLOS-FM 95.5, which also uses transmission facilities in the Angeles National Forest, also went off the air overnight due to the malfunctioning signal. The Eaton Fire in the Altadena/Pasadena area is burning extremely close to the radio and TV transmitter towers Thursday, which also include NBC, Fox, PBS stations, Nexstars KTLA-TV Channel 5, Paramounts KCBS-TV Channel 2, KCAL-TV Channel 9 and other local stations, as well as LAist/KPCC-FM 89.3, KCBS 93.1 and KIIS 102.7. Fortunately, the transmitters were not damaged by the flames. While the station lost its signal transmission, digital streams of its morning newscasts were provided directly to cable and satellite TV operators, Disney-owned Hulu Live TV and other streaming apps. The station was blacked out only for viewers who use over-the-air antennas for television. Viewers also could also tune in at abc7.com or via the ABC7 Los Angeles app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eaton Fire, burning above Altadena and Pasadena, erupted Tuesday night amid fierce hurricane-level winds. It has charred nearly 14,000 acres as of Friday morning and is 3% contained. Six (new number) people have died in the fire and some 7,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Insurers in California did indeed face considerable losses due to wildfires in 2017 and 2018, when damages from the Camp, Tubbs, and Woolsey fires totaled $23 billion. California, however, has in recent years been among the countrys most lucrative states for companies that sell homeowners multi-peril insurance, a product that covers wildfire damages. Data collected by S&P Global Intelligence on statewide loss ratiosessentially, the percentage of premium income that insurers pay out to cover insured lossesshows that insurers offering homeowners multi-peril insurance in California had a loss ratio of 53.7 percent in 2022 and 61.3 percent in 2023. Thats compared to nationwide loss ratios of around 70 percent in each year. In other words, home insurers in California had a significantly larger share of their income from premiums left over after paying out policyholders. State Farm actually outperformed statewide average loss ratios in both years. Standard mainstream media accounts of Californias insurance market warn of a virtually existential crisis facing insurers that operate in the state, who are grappling with profound financial strain amid mounting losses from climate-fueled wildfires. Citing these pressures, AllState and State Farm both announced in 2023 that they would stop issuing new homeowners insurance policies, and move to shed existing policies. State Farm announced last March that it would not renew 72,000 existing California property insurance policies, including in some of the places worst hit by the fires still blazing in L.A. An investigation by the San Francisco Chronicle found that the company planned to scrap more than 69 percent of its policies in the well-heeled Pacific Palisades neighborhood, much of which now stands in ruins. Overall, California last year had the fourth-highest rate of nonrenewal in the country after Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina. To date, no such memos have surfaced about the fires now engulfing Los Angeles County, where at least five people have died and tens of thousands remain under evacuation orders from Santa Clarita to Santa Monica. Preliminary estimates from JPMorgan predict that damages could soar to $50 billion . Thanks to recent regulatory changes in Californias insurance market, thoughincluding some pushed through as recently as late Decemberinsurers there could find it easier to extract the kinds of price increases Greenberg was talking about. The day that Hurricane Andrew touched down in Florida in 1992, J.W. Greenbergexecutive vice president of the finance and insurance giant American International Group, or AIGsent a memo around to company staff. This is an opportunity, he wrote , to get price increases now. We must be the first, and it begins by establishing the psychology with our own people. Please get it moving today. Story Continues At the time that State Farm announced it was pulling out of California to improve the companys financial strength in 2023, California was one of five statesincluding Texas and Floridathat buoyed the companys performance nationally. A September 2024 article in the trade journal Property Insurance Reports notes that, in those markets, State Farm posted a lower loss ratio than the industry in both 2022 and 2023. That advantage has been more than offset by trouble in other states, but it provides a solid foundation. Douglas Heller, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America, worries that insurance companies will treat this weeks fires as yet another opportunity to raise rates. Yes, this is going to be a devastating set of claims, he told me over the phone on Wednesday, looking out from the other side of the mountain at smoke billowing up from the Palisades fire. But its one that theyve overprepared for in their rates and underwriting decisions. Major insurers decision to scale back coverage has put more pressure on Californias state-backed insurer of last resort, known as the FAIR Plan. FAIR Plan policies in the Pacific Palisades, for instancefunded by participating insurance companiesincreased 85 percent in the 12 months leading up to last September; FAIR Plan policies swelled by 40 percent statewide over the same period. As of September, FAIR Plan exposure to residential fire risk was nearly 60 percent greater than it had been the year before. Property insurance has also gotten a lot more expensive overall. Last year, for instance, Californias Department of Insurancethe state body that regulates the insurance industryapproved AllStates request to raise premiums by an average of 34.1 percent. Californias insurance situation mirrors the much more dire one in Florida, where homeowners can expect to pay $10,966 per year for standard coveragemore than four times the national average. After Hurricane Andrew, major insurers fled the state en masse; still more left following a series of devastating storms between 2017 and 2022. Lawmakers there have erected a series of taxpayer-funded backstops in response. Florida now has a state-backed insurer, reinsurer, and catastrophe fund. Under Ron DeSantiswhos received generous campaign contributions from the insurance industrythe state government has showered insurers with generous incentives, including a $1 billion subsidy incentivizing them to purchase reinsurance. More dubious insurers have also proliferated, many of which are less diversified than bigger players and rely inordinately on reinsurance to hedge risk. In both California and Florida, insurersincluding subsidiaries of major insurershave also been expanding nontraditional, less tightly regulated offerings such as non-admitted policies. These have historically been boutique products used to protect against specialized types of risk, such as fireworks or nuclear waste, and which arent subject to statewide regulators that monitor for quality, contracts, and price hikes. Where home insurance premiums in the traditional admitted market rose by 13.8 percent between 2022 and 2023, S&P Global Market Intelligence finds that the same policies in the non-admitted market grew by 27.5 percent. Eager to entice insurers back to the Golden State, meanwhile, Democratic California policymakers have followed a similar playbook to Florida Republicans. Recent reforms from Californias Department of Insurance do, importantly, include vital protections for consumers that are lacking in Florida, like requiring insurers to expand and maintain coverage in riskier parts of the state. As a result of these changes, at least 85 percent of an insurers market share must be in distressed areas like those devastated by this weeks blazes. Insurers also need to offer discounts to customers who invest in risk-reduction practices such as clearing brush. Elsewhere, California has invested $2 billion in wildfire prevention efforts, and made efforts to expand affordable housing in ways that can keep more lower- and middle-income households from being pushed out into the more fire-prone areas known as the wildland-urban interface. Recent insurance market reforms, however, also allow insurers to pass on the cost of reinsurancei.e., the insurance policies that insurance companies take out for themselvesonto consumers. Insurance companies will further be able to use forward-looking, typically proprietary dataaccounting for the prospective costs of climate-fueled disasters, among other risksto justify rate increases to state regulators. Consumer advocates estimate that these changes could result in a 30 percent rise in home insurance premiums. Despite publicly posturing as sworn enemies, the ways that DeSantis and [California Governor Gavin] Newsom are intervening in their insurance market meltdowns are not all that different, says Jordan Haedtler, a consultant to the Sunrise Project and Climate Cabinet. At first glance these changes seem to make intuitive sense. Every other state in the country allows insurers to pass on the ever-escalating costs of reinsurance. It stands to reason, as well, that insurance companies should be allowed to raise rates based on climate risk: If properties are riskier, it should cost more to insure them. The devil is in the details, though. The risk modeling that insurance companies use is largely proprietary and sold through a small set of thinly regulated firms whose data is protected by trade secrets and whose predictions can vary widely. Companies arent required to share details of the models they use to justify higher rates with regulators. And while the California Department of Insurance and Cal Poly Humboldt announced in September that theyd form a strategy group to create a public wildfire catastrophe modelthe countrys firstthere is currently no established baseline against which private models can be judged. If for some reason the private insurance companies model had a result thats a standard deviation away from what the public model said, regulators should be able to investigate that, Heller says. Who knows what levers they get to pull to get whatever rate they want. The broader problem facing California, Florida, and just about everywhere else is just how much of the countrys capacity to plan for and respond to disasters has been outsourced to the insurance industry. Although states regulate the sector and treat it as an increasingly essential servicehomeowners are required to buy insurance in order to get federally backed mortgagesinsurers arent treated in the same way as other companies that provide societal necessities like electricity and telecommunications infrastructure. When were talking about home insurance and the crisis in those markets, theres been a tendency to blame it on the people who decide to live on the coast or in the wildland-urban interface, says Moira Birss, a fellow with the Climate and Community Institute and co-author of a recent report on the home insurance crisis. Obviously there are differing levels of risk in different geographies, but we cant just think about it as something thats on the edges of where people live. Home insurance premiums, she adds, leave it up to individual homeowners and businesses to assess whether a place is too risky to live. Many dont have the means to relocate, though, and even people who live far from harms way pay the price when premiums go up statewide. The kinds of resilience investments and planning decisions that could enable neighborhoods, towns, and states to adequately adapt to a changing climate need to happen at a much larger scale. At this point, Birss says, its pretty delusional to argue that individual premium price signaling is going to sufficiently address this crisis. After the firefighters had moved on from neighborhoods reduced to rubble, officials from a different arm of local government arrived in white vans. Investigators from the Los Angeles County medical examiner sifted through razed homes in Altadena and Malibu on Thursday as they continue to recover the remains of those killed in the Eaton and Palisades fires. Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could take anywhere from days to weeks to identify the bodies using dental records or DNA, said Dr. Odey Ukpo, Los Angeles County's chief medical examiner. Most fire victims are, "for lack of a better word, charred," Ukpo told The Times. Identifiers such as fingerprints or facial features are lost. Identified tentatively as John or Jane Does, the bodies will be transported to the medical examiner's offices near downtown Los Angeles to be autopsied, Ukpo said. Read more: Tiny burning embers flew miles, causing L.A. fire destruction on historic scale During the autopsy, which determines the manner and cause of a person's death, pathologists will also examine the body for identifying features. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For example, if a body has an appendix and we know the person we think it is doesn't have an appendix, that will help rule it out," Ukpo said. Doctors will also look for injuries that might have been obscured by trauma caused by fire, he added. The medical examiner's office will first use dental records to make an identification, although that requires doctors to have some idea of who the person is, Ukpo said. Forensic odontologists obtain dental records of the suspected person and compare the X-rays to the jaws of the body at the medical examiner's office. Read more: More than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed, at least 10 killed in L.A. County fires Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the body's jaws and teeth aren't suitable for comparison, pathologists will take a DNA sample from the body's organs or blood. The sample will then be compared against DNA from relatives of the person whom the doctors suspect the body to be, Ukpo said. While dental testing can be completed within days of finishing an autopsy, DNA results can take weeks. "It takes time to get the right information," Ukpo said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The building where a Starbucks coffee shop was located, destroyed in the Palisades fire on Jan. 8, 2025. - Credit: Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images Thanks to an aggressive dry season and hurricane-force winds, Los Angeles is experiencing the most devastating fires in the citys history. At least five people have died and over 130,000 residents in Southern California are under evacuation orders, according to the Los Angeles Times. L.A officials have said at least 2,000 structures have been burned and, per California Gov. Gavin Newsom, over 7,500 fire personnel have been deployed to battle the blaze. Even residents whose homes are safe for now must contend with dangerous smoke conditions, hazy skies, and falling ash. L.A officials believe the death toll will rise as the two largest fires remain at zero-percent containment. But online, as L.A. residents share mutual aid links, rescue efforts, and pleas for help, the fires are a ripe topic for misinformation and conspiracy theories. More from Rolling Stone Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion With less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration, Republican leaders and pundits have maintained much of the rhetoric that thrived during the 2024 election cycle, blaming the fire on diversity, equity, and inclusion measures the city has taken in recent years. Elon Musk shared a post blaming Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowleys diversity initiatives for the spread of the fire, writing, DEI means people DIE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentiment was echoed by former Fox host and conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly. In recent years, L.A.s fire chief has made not filling the fire hydrants top priority, but diversity, Kelly said Wednesday. Who gives a shit if the fire chief is gay. Im sorry, but who gives a flying fig about who she likes to sleep with, can you fight the fucking fires, madam? Thats the relevant question. But while L.A officials have said the firefighters have been outmatched by the flames, theres no evidence that the LAFD were lacking in able firefighters because of the DEI initiatives. The Governor Trump has also managed to blame the blaze on the Biden administration and Californias liberal leaders Newsom specifically. Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way, Trump wrote on Truth Social. But according to water policy experts and Newsoms office, the water restoration declaration Trump referred to doesnt exist. When speaking to reporters, Newsom urged Trump to focus on the real issues. My message to the incoming administration, and Im not here to play any politics, is please dont play any politics, he said Thursday. Sean Diddy Combs On TikTok, much of the discussion around the fires has remained fixated on conspiracy theories surrounding rapper and media mogul Sean Diddy Combs. Combs was arrested Sept. 16, and pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges after a deluge of civil suits and accusations of sexual assault, physical violence, and abuse. (Combs has repeatedly denied the accusations.) Following his arrest, internet users spread wild theories that famous Hollywood actors, producers, and stars were all involved. There were claims that investigators found an underground tunnel connecting Combs house to the Playboy mansion nearby, which police could not find evidence for. Now, as the fires grow, a theory that the Palisades fire was started and will continue in order to destroy evidence in the Combs case has continued to spread. Several TikTok creators have said the fires were started to purposefully destroy the Diddy tunnels, while others argue that the fact that so many celebrity homes were damaged or outright destroyed proves Hollywood is trying to protect their biggest stars. Besides the fact that the case against Combs is ongoing, many of these theories do not take into account that there are not-famous people who live in L.A. whose homes are also being destroyed. Alex Jones Cant Stop Talking Disinformation superstar Alex Jones has also focused his attention on the L.A fires using X (formerly Twitter) to spread claims that the entire blaze was planned by political operatives in order to wreak havoc on the United States. Los Angeles Fires Are Part Of A Larger Globalist Plot To Wage Economic Warfare & Deindustrialize The Untied States Before Triggering Total Collapse, he posted on X, calling L.A officials response administrative terrorism. Besides the fact that there is no evidence that any L.A government official purposefully started the fires frankly a preposterous claim most of Jones attempts at blame seem to draw in more viewers rather than address any real issues amid L.As disaster. Hes not the only one to go off the deep end with his theories one user on X suggested that a camera cutting to Danielle Fischer, the actress who played Topanga in Boy Meets World, at a UFC event the night before the fires started near Topanga Canyon was a clue that it was all planned. One would hope thats someone trolling, though. Looting Concerns As L.A residents continue to evacuate their homes over threat of fire or decreasing air quality, officials have increased their threats against looters who might target empty homes. In the midst of the emergency, we have all seen individuals who are targeting vulnerable communities by burglarizing and looting homes. This is simply unacceptable, Kathryn Barger, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said Thursday. I promise you, you will be held accountable. Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis. However, much of the rhetoric online around looters seems steeped in racist sentiment. In one viral tweet, which was deleted but has been continued to be reposted by meme accounts, an X user accused several men in a video of breaking in and looting a home. But they werent looters the video was from a local news channel KLTA segment and showed a homeowner being evacuated by friends and family. And while officials maintain they will crack down on looters, the idea of the problem being widespread simply isnt supported by any evidence thats been shared. According to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, at least 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of burglary, NBC News reports. The population of L.A.? Over 3 million. Fire Department Budgets On Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, users have railed at the local bureaucracy for cutting the Los Angeles Fire Department budget months before the deadly fires by $17.6 million. Fox News also criticized city officials for passing a budget that prioritized the homeless population of the city. But according to reporting from Mother Jones, the widely spread statistic that the LAFD budget was slashed to fund an increase in police budget doesnt take into account budget cycles. According to the magazine, firefighter salaries have risen in 2024, and the budget cut made up only two percent of the LAFDs budget. Politico also reported that extra funds for the LAFD were set aside because the department was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the city. Mayor Karen Bass pushed back against claims that the budget was to blame for the fires spread. I think if you go back and look at the reductions that have been made, there were no reductions that would have impacted the situation we were dealing with over the last couple of days, she said Thursday. California Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman also told CNN that the decreased part of the LAFD budget was around training staff in 2025 nothing to do with current operation. These cuts, I think, will be reversed, and should be, and they were perhaps ill-advised, he said. But theyre not a reason why the Palisades have suffered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like every political pundit and social media commenter has found someone to blame the secret Hollywood elite, a water policy that doesnt exist, misappropriated funds yet very few supporters of conspiracy theories and misinformation have focused on a very real reason for the fires. Wildfire season varies in L.A., and extreme drought conditions made the brush extremely susceptible to sparks. Add in the Santa Ana winds, which have spread flames at close to 100 mph, and its abundantly clear that this natural disaster has a natural answer: climate change. But instead, right-wing politicians seem dedicated to ignoring or outright denying climate change has anything to do with the increasing rate of natural disasters the United States and other parts of the world are facing. Climate change isnt a theory. Its here and currently the cause for the massive flames cutting a raging swath through L.A. Maybe instead of spreading around accusations, rumors, or baseless conspiracy theories, the best way to help people on the ground is to work to fix the problem right in front of us. This story was updated on Jan. 10 at 11:50 a.m. ET. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Firefighters continue battling the Palisades fire as flames rage across Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025. - Credit: Official Flickr Account of CAL FIRE/Handout/Anadolu/Getty Images The deadly wildfires sweeping across Los Angeles County have already claimed at least five lives and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate in some cases having to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot. So far, five active fires covering a total of more than 29,000 acres continue to burn, while firefighters struggle to contain the spreading flames. So, what will it take for these wildfires to stop? Rolling Stone spoke with two wildfire and climate experts and a meteorologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to find out. Why has the fire spread so quickly? A combination of strong winds and extremely dry conditions has resulted in what Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with NOAAs Weather Prediction Center, refers to as perfect fire weather. Currently, theres a sprawling area of high pressure over much of the western U.S., plus strong winds across the Southern California area, she explains. Its really that combination of that high pressure which is bringing in some stronger winds and low relative humidity values, Santorelli tells Rolling Stone. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How dry are we talking? According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Southern California is experiencing a severe drought. On top of that, the area has also seen the strongest Santa Ana winds in a decade, says Craig B. Clements, Ph.D., professor of meteorology and climate science, and director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center at San Jose State University. Santa Ana winds are powerful, dry, typically warm winds that flow east to west through Southern Californias mountain passages, according to the National Weather Service. They primarily occur from September through May, and because of their dryness and speed, also increase the risk of wildfires. If it was wet, then those winds would have maybe knocked down power lines, or caused some ignitions, but they wouldnt have been catastrophic, Clements says. Additionally, the fuel moisture content or, the amount of water in vegetation and brush in the Los Angeles basin is below critical, he notes. L.A., because theyre in a drought, they didnt get rain this season, [and] those fuels are primed, he explains. So that was what made this such a bad case. Why have the fires been so hard to contain? The same winds responsible for spreading the fires are also making them harder to fight, Clements says. Its difficult when its so windy to get containment on these fires, particularly in this region, because theyre burning in such steep terrain, and theres lots of complex wind turbulence in this area, he explains. The strong winds also make aerial firefighting more challenging. For most big fires like this, they could drop a lot of water [on wildfires] with big aircraft and retardant, Clements says. But when its too windy, they cant get the aircraft in. That was a problem on Tuesday and Tuesday night, he notes. Aerial firefighting using both planes and helicopters will continue when the wind subsides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make matters even more complicated, Clements says, the wind has also been the driving force behind many spot fires, which occur when the wind carries an ember to a new location and starts a new blaze. The winds are so high that they throw embers, then transport them so quickly, and those embers then ignite buildings, he says. Embers get into buildings, they get into the eaves, they get into the vegetation surrounding the buildings, and then that house catches on fire. Now that house is starting to produce embers for the next building downwind. Its this cascading event that continuously occurs. Finally, the fires have been particularly difficult to contain because of their location. The area also has very complex terrain in the mountains and the valley, says Tim Brown, Ph.D., research professor at the Desert Research Institute and director of the Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nevada. Its very abrupt changing landscapes, and that can help feed fires. Plus, fighting these fires has required multiple strategies some for traditional wildfires in forested areas, and others for the more densely populated neighborhoods that have been affected. This started as a wildfire, but it moved into a built environment, Brown explains. It started with extreme environmental conditions the wind, the dryness but then it moved to an area that is not fire resistant, with buildings that contain a lot of combustible material. Once that happens, some people, including Brown, say it should no longer be called a wildfire, because its now an urban conflagration, moving from building to building. It sounds subtle, but we think its an important distinction to try and get people to think about future mitigation, he says. What conditions are needed to stop the fires? Ideally, it would rain, Clements says. Unfortunately, there isnt any rainfall in the forecast for the next seven days in that area, according to Santorelli. Were not expecting any big rainfall events, or above-normal precipitation for this time of year, so were expecting that drought to continue, or possibly get worse, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means it comes down to the wind. What really needs to happen is the winds need to die down and cease blowing so hard, Clements says. Indeed, wind speed is a major factor, according to Brown, who says that some stations have reported wind speeds near 100 mph this week. A decrease in atmospheric pressure would also help. Certainly you want some weakening of the pressure gradient there along the coast, which would help decrease the winds, Santorelli says. Some shift in the wind direction may bring in a little bit moister air. But no major changes are expected over the next week. Theres still going to be surface high pressure sprawled across the western U.S. here for the next seven days, she says. Though Santorelli expects the winds to subside at least a little by Friday, she says that theres still an elevated risk for fire weather that continues through the weekend. There could be a brief uptick again in the wind across that area by early next week, but not nearly as strong as what weve seen this week, she notes. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By Nathan Layne (Reuters) -Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass came under sharp criticism for her response to a series of raging wildfires on Thursday, while President-elect Donald Trump sought to blame California Governor Gavin Newsom for the deadly disaster. The criticism, fanned by Trump and his allies across social media, has triggered a political clash over the two massive wildfires menacing Los Angeles from the east and west. At least five people have died in what has developed into one of the biggest natural disasters in California's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor, who was on an official trip to Ghana when the fires broke out on Tuesday, faced questions about her initial absence, given that the National Weather Service of Los Angeles began warning about "extreme fire weather conditions" last week. Bass, who was sworn in as mayor of America's second most-populous city in December 2022, has sought to deflect criticism of her leadership and on Thursday did not answer questions from reporters about her decision to leave the country this week. "My number one focus, and I think the focus of all of us here with one voice, is that we have to protect lives, we have to save lives and we have to save homes," Bass said at Thursday's briefing. "Rest assured that ...when that is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved and homes have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, (and) what didn't work." The fires struck at an especially vulnerable time for Southern California, which has not seen any significant rainfall for months. They were fanned by unrelenting Santa Ana winds, consuming 31,000 acres (12,500 hectares) so far - an area more than twice as large as Manhattan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Water shortages caused some hydrants to run dry in affluent Pacific Palisades, hindering the response. Bass and fire officials said the hydrants were not designed to deal with such a massive disaster, and stressed the unprecedented nature of the fires. TRUMP FANS POLITICAL FLAMES In a social media post on Thursday, the Republican Trump took aim at Bass and Newsom - both Democrats - for what he described as "gross incompetence" in dealing with the fires - a broadside he repeated later in the day at his Mar-a-Lago Florida resort. "Both of them are stone cold incompetent," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, during his first term as president, Trump criticized Newsom's forest management that he said had contributed to devastating fires. This week, he criticized the state's water management policies in social media posts the governor and other officials dismissed as false or misleading. "One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. It's ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!, he wrote, misspelling the governor's name in an apparent jab. Mayor Bass's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom's director of communications, Izzy Gardon, accused Trump of politicizing the disaster. "The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need," Gardon said in a statement. Trump ally Elon Musk and a number of other conservatives joined the pile-on, seeking to blame the disaster in part on diversity programs that tend to be promoted by Democrats. There is no evidence to support their claims that such programs impacted the effectiveness of the response. Musk, a billionaire tech mogul, called Bass "utterly incompetent" in a post on the social media platform X that received 23 million views. In a separate post he baselessly accused city officials of prioritizing diversity programs over "saving lives and homes." (Reporting by Nathan Layne in New York and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna announced several measures Thursday to ramp up security in areas that have been evacuated because of devastating fires in the area. More than 20 arrests have been made on suspicion of looting over the last few days. As part of that effort, National Guard troops were in place Friday in some burn zones to provide protection. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has officially requested the support of the California National Guard for both fires, Luna said. They will be assisting us with traffic control and critical infrastructure protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having additional resources, having the National Guard with us," he added, "will help send a stronger message, keep people out of the impacted areas, so we don't continuously victimize the people who have already been victimized." Read more: More than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed, at least 10 killed in L.A. County fires The sheriff also said the agency was working to implement a curfew that would run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. within the specific impacted areas around the two fire areas, he said, referring to the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton fire, which ignited in Altadena. He said he hoped to have it in place by Thursday night but definitely by Friday evening. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized that the curfew was not to punish residents but to keep the area safe. She said the curfew was requested by the Altadena Town Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: You will be held accountable: 20 arrested on suspicion of looting during L.A. County wildfires Barger said at a Thursday news conference that sheriffs deputies had arrested people in evacuation zones. I promise you, you will be held accountable, she said. Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis. 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. As thousands of firefighters battled a series of raging wildfires across Los Angeles County, California officials warned the public that fire season should now be considered a yearlong event. Multiple fires destroyed thousands of homes and prompted some 180,000 evacuations in January demonstrates that the so-called "fire season" is no longer just a spring and summer event, they said. They also emphasized that homeowners outside of fire-prone areas should still be prepared. "Climate change has made fire season year-round and increased our ever-growing number of wildfires," the Los Angeles County Fire Department said in an online post. "Firefighters and residents alike are now constantly on heightened alert for the threat of wildfires." PHOTO: Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a residential building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on Jan. 9, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) The warning came just days after the National Interagency Fire Center released a report showing preliminary data on total acres burned in 2024 in the United States. It was 127% above the 10-year average of 55.9 million acres a year, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Los Angeles County fire officials said firefighters are ready to respond to wildfires, they stressed that it is crucial more than ever for homeowners to step up their efforts to help reduce deaths and property damage. PHOTO: 5 deadliest wildfires in California history. (ABC News Photo Illustration, Adobe Stock, Source: Cal Fire, Photo: David McNew/Getty Images) "We cant do this without your cooperation," fire officials said. "Preparation and prevention go hand-in-hand." The notice went out even as Los Angeles fire officials said at a news conference that firefighters have had to rescue people who got trapped by the blazes because they did not heed mandatory evacuation orders. At one point on Wednesday, six wildfires were burning at once over a 42-square-mile area of Los Angeles County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Here's how to help wildfire victims as California blazes explode in size Five fire-related deaths had previously been reported when the statement was posted. However, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon that the death toll was expected to rise. At the time, the Hurst Fire was still burning out of control in Pasadena and Altadena, two neighboring communities about 11 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Two of the biggest fires -- the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire -- were 0% contained. PHOTO: A man squirts almond milk on to a fire hot spot outside a home threatened by the Eaton wildfire in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 8, 2025. (Caroline Brehman/EPA via Shutterstock) Los Angeles County fire officials also emphasized the importance of having a "Ready! Set! Go!" action plan and re-released a video the fire department put out last year showing steps residents can take to reduce the risk of death and property destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their recommended action plan includes creating defensible space around homes by removing debris and dry vegetation up to 200 feet in diameter of houses. It also recommends clearing pine needles and leaves from roofs and gutters. PHOTO: Burnt vehicles are seen as the wildfires burn in the Los Angeles area, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025. (Ringo Chiu/Reuters) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in addition to "Ready! Set! Go!" officials advised residents to create a personalized disaster action plan detailing evacuation routes and meeting locations. They also urged homeowners to learn how to turn off gas lines, propane lines and electrical circuits before evacuating. MORE: Despite losing everything in Los Angeles wildfires, residents say they're thankful to be alive "When there's little time to react during an emergency, your personal wildfire action plan will help guide you and your family during those critical moments," Deputy Chief David Richardson Jr. of the Los Angeles County Fire Department says in the "Ready! Set! Go!" instruction video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While fire officials believe many residents affected by the Los Angeles fires were saved by creating a disaster action plan, it remains unclear how many lives may have been spared through acts of preparedness. MORE: The apocalyptic destruction I witnessed in the Pacific Palisades fire: Reporter's notebook Los Angeles emergency officials said the unprecedented fire conditions, including hurricane-force Santa Ana winds and drought conditions that dried out vegetation, formed a perfect storm for the fires. "No, LA County and all 29 fire departments in our country are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster," said Chief Jim McDonnell of the Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that there were not enough firefighters to address all the fires that were currently burning at the same time in the County of Los Angeles. LA firestorm stresses importance of having personal disaster plan: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Destroyed homes are seen as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on Jan. 9, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) This story first appeared in CalMatters. The deadly and destructive fires in Los Angeles which some say could be the costliest in the states history will further strain the insurance market and worsen the financial position of Californias insurer of last resort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data about Pacific Palisades, the devastated LA neighborhood whose residents include movie stars and directors, help illustrate the insurance problems plaguing the state. An estimated 1 in 5 homes in the upscale neighborhood were covered by the insurer, known as the FAIR Plan. Property owners in California have increasingly been turning to the plan, a pool of insurers required by state law to sell fire policies to consumers who cant find regular insurance elsewhere. Thats because, for the past few years, insurance companies have been canceling policies or refusing to write new ones in California, citing rising risk of wildfires. As a result, the FAIR Plans number of homeowner policies grew to more than 451,000 as of September 2024, an increase of 123% over the past three years. Last year, State Farm decided not to renew tens of thousands of policies in the state, including about 1,600 in Pacific Palisades. As of September, there were 1,430 residential FAIR Plan policies in the enclaves 90272 ZIP code, an 85% increase from the previous year, according to the plans latest data. Elsewhere in Los Angeles, some cities and neighborhoods with spiking FAIR Plan use have either been evacuated or are near the fires. They include the 90402 ZIP code in Santa Monica, where FAIR Plan policies have increased 128% year over year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, after at least five people have died and more than 2,000 structures have been destroyed in the LA area, and as those who have lost their homes begin to submit claims with their insurance companies, theres a big question mark around the states plan to try to ensure insurance availability. A plan touted by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara as a way to get insurance companies to write policies in the state again just became effective at the beginning of the year. The so-called sustainable insurance strategy includes having the state speed reviews of rate hike requests from insurance companies and allow insurers to use catastrophe models when setting their premiums. Insurers would also be able to adjust for the cost of their own financial backstop, known as reinsurance. The concessions mean insurers will raise premiums for the states property owners but in exchange must write or maintain a certain number of policies in high-risk areas. Theres no doubt that this massively complicates things, said Stephen Collier, professor of city and regional planning at UC Berkeley whose research focuses on insurance, climate change and urban planning. It couldnt be at a worse possible time. Lara also told CalMatters today that of course this is going to complicate an already complicated market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the commissioner said he has been in touch with insurance companies in the past couple of days: The reforms are in place now, the (insurers) commitments are in place now. As far as my conversations as recently as last night, those still stand and move forward. In addition, the FAIR Plan, the insurer for many of those affected by the current blazes, will likely have to pay claims for tens of billions of dollars in damages. Collier said that massive potential liability could make insurers think twice about whether they want to keep writing policies in the state. Having all this risk transferred to the FAIR Plan doesnt get insurers off the hook if theyre still writing in the California market, he said. Thats because insurers in the state are on the hook to pay into the plan when it cant cover all its claims. Pacific Palisades is on the FAIR Plans list of top five areas in Southern California with the highest wildfire exposure, or potential insurance payout at nearly $6 billion. Other neighborhoods in the top five, in order, are all in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles: Lake Arrowhead ($9.14 billion), Crestline ($7.81 billion), Big Bear City ($7.1 billion) and Big Bear Lake ($6.73 billion). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAIR Plans total exposure statewide as of September, the end of its fiscal year, is $458 billion. Victoria Roach, president of the FAIR Plan, has over the past couple of years raised concerns about the plans finances as its number of policies grows. For example, in testimony before the California Assembly Insurance Oversight Committee last year, she said as those numbers climb, our financial stability comes more in question. Roach also said at that same hearing that the FAIR Plan was one event away from a large assessment. An assessment is when the plan does not have enough reserves to pay claims and must turn to its member insurers to ask them to contribute to doing so. The FAIR Plan will impose a surcharge on insurance companies based on their market share in the state. Roach was unavailable for an interview on Wednesday, but Hilary McLean, a spokesperson for the FAIR Plan, said: We are aware of misinformation being posted online regarding the FAIR Plans ability to pay claims. It is too early to provide loss estimates as claims are just beginning to be submitted and processed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLean added that the plan has payment mechanisms in place, including reinsurance, to ensure all covered claims are paid. Meanwhile, the commissioners plan to right-size the insurance market had barely gotten off the ground when the LA fires started on Tuesday, having launched less than a week before. Denni Ritter, vice president at American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the states horrific fires underscore the importance of this work to reform California insurance rules. We remain committed to working with Californias leaders to restore the health of our insurance market so that Californians can access the coverage they need, she added. Lara pointed out that his reforms include an agreement with the FAIR Plan. This provides the Insurance Department with data to track any solvency issues with the plan and allows insurers to proactively ask for premium increases for future catastrophic claims, which Lara said creates another set of certainty for insurers that should keep them in the states market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message from Lara and some other experts is clear: Insurance customers are facing possibly drastically higher premiums in the short run, with the hopes that it will all lead to stabilization of the market in the long run. Laras predecessor as state insurance commissioner, Dave Jones, said with the LA fires, once they have a handle on their losses, insurers will seek even higher rate increases. Said David Russell, professor of insurance at Cal State University Northridge: These fires are validating the rate increases and (insurance) industry pressure over the last 18 to 24 months. He added that ultimately we need those rate requests to be granted, and quickly. Forecasting company AccuWeathers preliminary estimate of the economic toll from this set of fires on Wednesday was $52 billion to $57 billion and they are continuing to burn. Dan DePodwin, senior director of forecasting operations at AccuWeather, said that includes an estimate of the insured losses, which may account for 25% to 50% of the total, though it is too early to know for sure. The estimate also takes into account possible future economic losses, including to peoples health, businesses and the infrastructure around the major urban area. This afternoon, AccuWeather raised its estimate to $135 billion to $150 billion. It could be the costliest set of fires in modern California, if not U.S., history, he said. Data reporter Jeremia Kimelman contributed to this story. (The Hill) Video taken on an airport jetway shows Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass repeatedly ignoring questions from a reporter about her response to the wildfires ripping through the area this week. SkyNews reporter David Blevins on Wednesday published video of Bass during which he peppered her with questions about her response to the blazes, her trip to Africa during the crisis and comments from critics who say she has mishandled the catastrophe. Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Blevins is heard asking her on the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass says nothing and stares ahead blankly. Have you nothing to say today? Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today, Blevins presser her. Bass, again, does not respond. Elon Musk says that youre utterly incompetent, Blevins tells Bass, referencing social media posts from the billionaire and ally to President-elect Trump blaming her and other California Democrats for the blazes. Are you considering your position? Madam Mayor, have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today who are dealing with this disaster, Blevins asks Bass, who continues to ignore him. No apology for them? Do you think you should have been visiting Ghana while this was unfolding back home? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative for the mayors office did not respond to a request for comment. Bass, during a subsequent news conference on Wednesday, told reporters she has been in constant contact with fire officials and vowed to build back the area stronger than ever. Thousands of structures have burned and five people have been killed as the flames continue to engulf the Los Angeles area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. LOS ANGELES (AP) Earlier this week, as hurricane-strength winds blew through bone-dry hillside subdivisions, Los Angeles saw its worst nightmare realized as long-predicted firestorms engulfed wide swaths of the nation's second-largest city. For Mayor Karen Bass, the horror show was compounded by every chief executive's worst nightmare. She was halfway around the globe, on a trip to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation. As her city faced its greatest crisis in decades, the first-term mayor confronted a critical test of her leadership two years after taking office. After rushing home to help manage the city's response, she pushed back against a loud chorus of critics from near and far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LA has to be strong, united, Bass said at a press conference Thursday evening. We will reject those who seek to divide us and seek to misinform. Bass eventually made it back to Los Angeles by military transport, but only after a more than 24-hour absence, during which critics assailed her for not being better prepared. More than 5,000 homes burned as fire hydrants ran dry because water demand was so high it drained the city's reserve tanks. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered an investigation Friday into the city's Department of Water and Power over the loss of water pressure. An online petition demanding Bass' resignation garnered 33,000 signatures. "We have got a mayor that is out of the country, and we have got a city that is burning, said Rick Caruso, a developer who ran against Bass in the 2022 mayoral race, on local television Tuesday night, adding that two of his children's houses were destroyed. It looks like were in a third-world country here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk called the mayor utterly incompetent in a post on his social media site X, leading a charge of conservatives slamming Bass for a cut to the city fire department's budget in July even though it was later boosted with additional money and officials say it now has more funding than last year. Some conservatives also claimed that the shortcomings of the response were connected to a focus on diversity at the agency. A low-key, longtime legislator and coalition-builder, Bass, a 71-year-old Democrat, is now caught between the fires threatening her city and the white-hot spotlight trained on an executive struggling to get a spiraling natural disaster under control. "She will be defined by this crisis, said Fernando Guerra, founder of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola-Marymount University. She needs to be very proactive, not for the sake of her political career but for the sake of the city. The fires were not caused by Los Angeles' policies or flaws in its response, and its not just the city staring down the devastation. One of the worst blazes has raced through communities entirely outside city limits, showing how dry brush, steep hillsides, high winds and dense neighborhoods can be a lethal combination regardless of the local response. Experts for decades have warned about the risks of building and living in hillside neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, the wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood that was largely incinerated in one of the blazes. Los Angeles County officials have not been targeted with such intense criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass became more forceful after a series of initial stumbles after returning from Ghana, where she was part of an official White House delegation to the inauguration of that country's president. Bass was silent while intercepted on camera by a reporter at the airport, asking why she'd been gone and if she had regrets. At an earlier press conference, she read haltingly from prepared remarks, directing people to url to find information online. The mayor left for Africa on Jan. 4, a day after the National Weather Service issued a fire weather watch for Los Angeles, flagging critical fire conditions. The day after she left, those watches were upgraded to warnings and on Monday the service warned that a particularly dangerous situation was taking shape. Bass on Thursday said it was too soon to respond to the critics. When the fires are out, we will do a deep dive," she said. We will look at what worked, we will look at what didnt work, and we will let you know." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christian Grose, a political scientist at the University of Southern California, noted that Bass' specialty has long been building legislative consensus behind closed doors rather than the sort of take-charge public posture required of big city mayors in times of crisis. This moment demands a true executive who will stand up and say, this is what were going to do,' Grose said of the new mayor. Guerra said that makes Bass a good fit in a city where the mayor has limited direct power, which is instead diffused among the city council, a web of boards and quasi-independent agencies, the broader county and neighboring city governments. Bass is also a better fit for Los Angeles voters who prefer her style to that of incoming President Donald Trump and other critics, Guerra said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those who see leadership as a white male making statements not based on fact, shell never convince them, Guerra said. But for Angelenos who see leadership as a collaborative, multicultural effort, she can. National Democrats, including President Joe Biden, began to rally around Bass on Friday. I know youre getting a bad rap, the president said to the mayor during an Oval Office meeting with Bass appearing virtually. This is complicated stuff, and youre going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it. Michael Trujillo, a Los Angeles Democratic strategist, dismissed the immediate criticism of Bass. The test isn't whether she was here for the fire or not, he said. The test is going to be rebuilding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pressure will be immense. Pacific Palisades and the adjoining community of Malibu, which is outside city limits but also suffered severe damage, is home to some of the wealthiest people on the planet, Trujillo noted. They will have no patience for a slow reconstruction, he said. The explosion of wildfires forced Bass to immediately pivot from what had been the all-consuming priority of her brief time in office getting control of the citys long-running homeless crisis. The vast demands of rebuilding will shuffle those priorities and stretch limited construction resources. This is basically her entire mayoral legacy, Trujillo said. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote a memo last month pleading for more funds and complaining a separate $7 million reduction in overtime funds could hamper response to fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the blazes erupted, she has stressed they would have done catastrophic damage regardless of the budget. But when asked in an interview Friday if City Hall had failed the department, the chief answered Yes," without ever mentioning the mayor. Its my job to stand up as a chief and exactly say ... what the Fire Department needs to operate to meet the demands of the community, Crowley told Fox11 in Los Angeles. For decades, scientists have warned that the Los Angeles area is due for catastrophic devastation from wildfires. Blazes are part of life in Southern California, but few have ever ripped into the heart of the city like this. Guerra, who has been active in Los Angeles civic life since the 1980s, said the city is actually lucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given what happened, I think that local government has been incredibly responsive, Guerra said. LA from 20 years ago would not have been able to manage this. ___ Riccardi reported from Denver, Colorado. Associated Press Staff Writer Zeke Miller contributed from Washington, D.C. A homeowner in one of the sections hit hardest by the wildfires rampaging through Los Angeles since Tuesday is refusing to leave her residence violating a mandatory evacuation order issued by authorities because, while her house is still standing, shes afraid of losing everything inside of it to looters. The Eaton fire has burned through some 14,000 acres of the area, sparing her home, which she chalked up to an act of God. But although she is feeling emotionally drained and more than a little overwhelmed, the veteran ER nurse counts herself among the lucky ones. We were able to survive, but whats left of the neighborhood looks like a nuclear bomb went off, she told The Independent. Streets with no houses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the 62-year-old said she has been camped out at her two-bedroom Craftsman after seeing news reports that roving bands of thieves are targeting homes that werent leveled and remain unoccupied in evacuation zones around the city. The fires have so far claimed 10 lives, and have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses over the past four days. She asked that her name not be used, as ignoring mandatory evacuation orders is a criminal offense under California law, with the possibility of steep fines and even jail time for offenders. Although rarely enforced, the Pasadena-area resident said she fears not only prosecution but also losing her job. Somebody went and broke into a house thats still standing, theres no power at night, its pitch-dark its like a ghost town, she said. The Eaton Fire has destroyed thousands of homes and businesses (Getty Images) Unlike the moneyed enclave of Pacific Palisades, where the median home price is an eye-watering $3.3 million and wealthy residents have hired private security to guard their properties, the ER nurse said thats not happening in her area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No ones here securing the homes, so these criminals are coming and breaking in, she said. Just to add more insult to injury, we have that now. So Im living in my house right now, with a generator, even though were supposed to be evacuated, and basically camping here so we can protect our home and assets. Because the crime is a problem. Nothing here is good. As of Friday, police have arrested at least 20 people for looting in wildfire zones. The womans elderly mother and father, who live nearby, evacuated their home, which also survived. They are staying with her until they can return to their place, which, after more than a half-century, they own outright. However, it has been uninsured since a prior wildfire prompted their insurance company to cancel their coverage. This, she said, outrages her, and called the situation a f***ing crime. What gives them the right to just abandon people at the drop of a hat? she seethed. As a nurse, I would love my license for abandoning a patient In todays society, the only thing you can do is have money. And theres not enough money. The breadth of the destruction in areas like Pacific Palisades, above, has been staggering (Getty Images) Several insurers no longer write homeowner policies in California , citing wildfires as too much of a risk to protect against. The insured losses stemming from this weeks fires are expected to approach $10 billion, a cost that will be borne by the remaining private insurers in the state. For those who cant obtain coverage in regular insurance markets, the State of California, as the insurer of last resort, writes extremely costly homeowner policies that provide an attenuated level of coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeowners with a mortgage are required by lenders to be insured, according to Cornelissen. Those who inherited a home, or bought one decades ago and are now retired, could own the property outright but remain cash-poor, according to Sharon Cornelissen, director of housing for the Consumer Federation of America. In Metro Los Angeles, about five percent of homeowners have been forced to go bare, or do without insurance altogether, she told The Independent. The Biden Administration has deemed the Southern California wildfires a declared disaster, which will allow affected homeowners to apply for FEMA assistance grants of up to $42,500 for repairs and an equivalent amount for essential household items, Cornelissen said. But, on average, homeowners in the past have received FEMA grants of a little over $3,500, according to a March 2024 report Cornelissen authored. Federal assistance is now available for homeowners affected by the wildfires (Getty Images) That means dipping into savings or retirement accounts, if possible, taking out loans, or abandoning a home altogether. Some rely on charity, or take shelter in a temporary trailer provided by the feds, she said. Many lean on family; others go from homeowner to home renter. In a worst case scenario, according to Cornelissen, uninsured homeowners can become homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond FEMA, there are other programs for the uninsured , and underinsured, to get back on their feet and rebuild after a serious loss, said Annie Barbour of United Policyholders, a California nonprofit that helps policyholders navigate the byzantine insurance system. Those affected are also eligible for tax breaks, which can go a long way in trying to finance a major reconstruction. If you are without insurance, it will be a struggle, Barbour told The Independent. But this is a declared disaster with federal assistance, so people can piece together a rebuild. The hardest thing for a survivor to do is to accept help. They need to say yes, right now. At a press briefing on Thursday, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said, Were not through this by any means. We may see more fires before this is over. But we will get through this. We will rebuild our neighborhoods, our schools, and our communities. Southern California had faced drought for months, which helped create the right conditions for a massive fire. Then the Santa Ana wings moved in, and forecasters warned that settings were about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather. This week, that environmental spark was lit and Los Angeles burned. Los Angeles has faced days of wildfires that have torn through communities, leaving 10 dead and unimaginable scenes of destruction. An award-winning author has shared with The Independent how the conditions had been forming for months and led to the spate of wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humidity below 10 percent, taking moisture from the air, was one of the main driving factors. Thats drier than firewood. Thats drier than a matchstick, said John Vaillant, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World and a part of the inaugural 2024 class of The Independents Climate 100 List. And so, its explosive, and there hasnt been rain in eight months. So, were all sitting on this, living this kind of beautiful life ... on top of a tinderbox. Were sitting on a bomb and a bomb went off in L.A. County. A man walks past a fire-ravaged business after the Eaton Fire on Wednesday in Altadena, California. Devastating and deadly wildfires tore through and flattened communities this week, fanned by dangerous Santa Ana winds (AP) Vaillant spoke from Orange County, just 50 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, and has seen few impacts from the massive fires in the north. The whole state could burn no problem and nothing has really slowed down. The winds slightly, but they still have to pick up again north of us and can certainly move this way. So, its a weird watching and waiting time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the hours that followed and after a relatively quiet morning, Los Angeles County residents were starting to return home to survey the utter devastation in their flattened communities. Many returned to the areas where their homes once stood to find absolutely nothing left. But, fires were still burning there and in Ventura County. As of Friday, five active wildfires have scorched nearly 36,000 acres. The largest, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, are now some of the most destructive in the states history. The blazes have put 57, 830 structures at risk, officials said. Some 10,000 properties have been damaged or destroyed, according to initial reports. And, 153,000 people remained under evacuation orders. their futures uncertain due to more critical fire weather conditions and strong wind gusts. Those dangerous winds that fanned these wildfires are projected to continue on Friday, although offshore winds will continue into early next week. A firefighter battles the Eaton Fire on Wednesday in Altadena, California. The blaze is now 3 percent contained (AP) Explosive wildfire outbreaks are nothing new to Vaillant. However, Vaillant said the only thing he could compare that destruction to was photos hed seen of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima atomic bombings of August 1945. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What he saw scarred him. Ive walked through those communities, or the absence of them, and it is absolutely shocking and talked to families who are just looking at where their lives just were, Vaillant said. And, it happened so fast. 12 hours earlier, they might have been having dinner together and now its totally gone. And so, that is something that you really cant prepare people for. He was surprised that fire-weary Californians were shocked by the speed and force of these wildfires. Human-caused climate change, driven by the production of greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels, has made wildfires more frequent and extreme. Research published in the journal Science last October also found that western wildfires are also spreading faster. In California, the authors found that wildfires spread almost four times as fast in 2020 as in 2001. The state has had dozens of fires in the first nine days of 2025, and a storied history of terrifyingly large burns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, tenured officials and firefighters have repeatedly stated that this situation is new for them. I think this is way beyond current politics or climate denial or anything like that. And, I think Homo sapiens, our species, is built for resilience and is built for certain kinds of short memory. And, I think around trauma the natural instinct is to try to move on. And, unfortunately, what were finding and what therapists are finding is these events actually generate a lot of PTSD, he said. And so, now you have thousands of Angelenos who have been traumatized one way or the other, Vaillant continued. They may not even realize. But, its an existential trauma to see your neighborhood rendered unrecognizable in the space of a workday. And, you cant go back. So, now you really are a refugee in your own country. And, I think its fair to call them climate refugees. Fire-damaged vehicles are lined up at a dealership after the Eaton Fire on Wednesday in Altadena, California. Windy weather was expected to continue on Friday, fanning the flames (AP) With the wildfire season now year-round, the conditions across California for more blazes will remains - even after the Los Angeles disaster is under control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With thousands of personnel working to respond to the wildfires, Vaillant said nobody has enough firefighters to deal with climate change and future fire seasons in warmer global temperatures. Its hard to imagine it being worse. I mean, being up there. Theres certainly nothing a firefighter can do. Theres nothing water can do. Its really like another planet, said Vaillant. He brought up NASAs Voyager spacecraft. You know, when you see Voyagers pictures of those sunbursts and things like that. Those crazy rays of light spraying out of the body of the sun: thats what it looks like. Thats what those houses looked like up there and theres nothing you can do except run away. (NewsNation) California leaders Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA mayor Karen Bass have been in the line of fire as President-elect Donald Trump and others have slammed their handling of the LA wildfires including lack in water supply. The two have been fielding a political firestorm and a torrent of criticism including why Bass was out of the country and why Newsom didnt do more to buttress the water system. More than 35,000 acres have been burned in total as wildfires continue to rage across the Los Angeles area, and at least 10 people have died. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Friday that 153,000 residents are still under evacuation orders, and 16,000 are under evacuation warnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LA fire damage likely to be the costliest in US history While the two have been trying to keep attention on the rescue efforts, verbal shots continue to be fired. Ive never seen anything like that devastation and were talking about homes that cost $200, 300- $400 million. Very influential people worldwide and I dont know that they will ever go back either, because they werent happy with California. They werent happy with Gavin Newsom, Trump said in news conference Thursday. Newsom and Bass slammed Trump seized upon the water management issues to call out long-time critic Newsom on his Truth Social account. Governor Gavin Newscum should immediately go to Northern California and open up the water main, and let the water flow into his dry, starving, burning State, the president-elect wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The water system used to fight LA wildfires buckled under the demands of massive wildfires with some hydrants running dry as they were overstressed without assistance from firefighting aircraft for hours early Wednesday. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was pumping from aqueducts and groundwater into the system, but demand was so high that it wasnt enough to refill three 1-million gallon tanks in Pacific Palisades that help pressurize hydrants for the neighborhood. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 8: California Governor Gavin Newsom (R) tours the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) Trump alleged Newsom refused to sign a water restoration declaration that allowed water to flow into the area. Newsoms office said there is no such document as the water restoration declaration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celebs left homeless by LA fires, Hollywood grinds to a halt Bass was slammed for not being in the country when the fires broke out. The mayor was in Ghana attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama as part of a U.S. presidential delegation when wildfires rapidly erupted this week. Rick Caruso, a former mayoral candidate, slammed Bass for being overseas. It was an absolute mismanagement by the city because this was a disaster waiting to happen, and whats predictable is preventable, Caruso told Fox 11. Even the left joined in. Inexplicable decision to not come back earlier, Tommy Vietor, a former Obama staffer and Pod Save America host, wrote on X. Newsom and Bass say Trump politicizing a disaster Both California leaders have said Trump and others have been politicizing the crisis, instead of focusing on saving lives and homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governors office quickly decried Trumps accusations as pure fiction, writing on social platform X that there is no such document as the water restoration declaration and that Newsom is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need. People are literally fleeing. People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools. Families completely torn asunder. Churches burned down. And this guy wanted to politicize it, Newsom said of Trump on CNN. How to donate to LA wildfire relief Bass has stayed largely mum when fielding questions about the criticism shes getting. FILE Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass waits to speak during a news conference in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) During a news conference on Thursday, she said was currently focused only on saving lives, and said any evaluation of mistakes or failures by any body, department, individual would come later. Biden is backing California leadership Biden has stood behind both Newsom and Bass offering federal help in the wildfire response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden said the federal government will cover 100 percent of all the costs for 180 days from the wildfires. He said that includes first responders salaries and all measures to protect life and property. Biden also directed the Pentagon to provide any firefighting resources the area needs, including helicopters to help suppress the flames. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized 500 wildfire ground-clearing personnel to assist local first responders. President Biden canceled a planned visit to Italy, where he was to meet with Pope Francis and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in order to monitor the ongoing fires. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. One so seldom has the opportunity to report good news about labor unions that when two good things happen in the space of 24 hours thats a triumph. The first is a rebuke to the incoming Trump administration. The second is an unacknowledged favor to it (but, more importantly, to the nation as well). Item One is that the Service Employees International Union, reversing a bad decision 20 years ago to disaffiliate with the AFL-CIO, is rejoining the labor federation. Even Andy Stern, who as SEIU president took the union out of the AFL-CIO and sought (in the end, unsuccessfully) to build a rival federation called Change to Win with the Teamsters and five smaller unions, said Wednesday that this is an appropriate time to unite SEIUs strength with other unions. The move will expand AFL-CIO membership from nearly 13 million to nearly 15 million. (Change to Win was a bust. It lost most of its affiliates, stopped calling itself a labor federation, and now operates as something called the Strategic Organizing Center.) Item Two is that the International Longshoremens Association, or ILA, which represents dockworkers on the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, reached a deal on a new contract, averting a second dockworker strike. The first strike, in October, lasted three days before a wage deal was reached under heavy pressure on management from the Biden White House, with further negotiations postponed until after the presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SEIUs rejoining the AFL-CIO was in the works long before the election, but SEIU President April Verrett told Dave Jamieson of The Huffington Post that Trumps victory makes it that much more important to come together, to organize workers, to build real power, because thats our best offense in this moment. A longstanding debate within the labor movement has been how to balance union organizing campaigns against electing friendly politicians. The calculus is not a simple one. Union organizing is obviously more important, but its also much harder, especially during Republican administrations, which invariably impose regulations through the National Labor Relations Board that deliberately impede such organizing. Helping to elect Democrats is an easier task, but apart from appointing a labor-friendly NLRB, Democratic presidents have in recent decades been lukewarm allies to organized labor. During the 2008 election, the Harvard economist and former Obama White House aide Jason Furman recently told The New York Times, candidate Barack Obama was instructed not even to say the words labor union. Stern took the SEIU out of the AFL-CIO to shift resources from politics to organizing, at which hed been extremely successful. But six years later, when I interviewed Stern for my book The Great Divergence: Americas Growing Inequality Crisis and What We Can Do About It, he was less interested in touting his organizing success than in explaining to me how difficult it would be to replicate. What we learned, he said, is you actually can grow, but the amount of input to get an output is so uneconomical. It probably costs us, in the nonpublic sector $2000 to $3000 a member to organize. Sometimes as high as $5000 a member. Stern told me this in 2011; in current dollars the figures he quoted would be $2700, $4000, and $6800. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, committed himself to beating these odds, and he notched two high-profile wins last year in Tennessee, at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga and at a battery plant in Spring Hill; a third Tennessee facility, an electric vehicle plant in Glendale, filed for a union election this week. But Fain also put his heart and soul into trying to elect Kamala Harris president, because the partisan stakes have never been higher than they were in 2024. Unlike Obama, Biden lent stronger support to labor than any president since Harry Truman (possibly to a fault in halting Nippon Steels purchase of U.S. Steel on dubious national-security grounds). Trump, despite enjoying strong working-class support, had an unusually dismal record on labor during his first administration, even for a Republican, and of course he made it personal, saying, for instance, that then-AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka represented his union poorly. It is easy to see why unions are doing so poorly. (For the record, the AFL-CIO is not a union, its a federation of 61 unions.) One labor leader for whom Trump maintains a soft spot is Harold Daggett, the president of the ILA. Daggett is a Trump fan even though its virtually certain that had Trump been president during the October dock strike he would have used his powers under the Taft-Hartley law to halt itsomething Biden refused to do. Daggett kept his union neutral in the presidential race, which (like Teamsters President Sean OBriens same move after he was invited to speak at the Republican convention) amounted to a sotto voce Trump endorsement. Trump rewarded Daggett by endorsing Daggetts anti-automation stance in contract negotiations. Now Daggett is saying Trump gets full credit for averting the second dockworkers strike. Thats a bald-faced lie. The truth is that the Biden administration, in hammering out an agreement, averted the dockworkers threat to go out on strike a second time on January 16, four days before Trumps inauguration. It wouldnt astonish me to learn that Trumps team told Daggett that if he didnt credit Trump then Trump would denounce the deal as yet another Biden sellout, killing Daggetts chances of securing the necessary ratification from ILAs rank and file. I have no evidence that this happened, but we all know Trump routinely stoops that low. Since National Economic Council director Lael Brainard, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who played a central role in hammering out the maritime deal, dont likely feel at liberty to say the following to Trump, allow me to say it for them. Youre welcome, asshole. EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) Since the opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in 2017, it has claimed more than 450,000 lives. It is driven primarily by illegally manufactured fentanyl, a deadly substance that is being mixed in with fake prescription pills and street drugs. 28/22 News Reporter Paola Giangiacomo takes a look at this crisis in Thursdays Paolas Parenting Playbook. He was such a wonderful young man , he was thriving, recalled Maurita Pascale, a grieving mother from Clarks Summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA reveals 10 most unusual finds at checkpoints in 2024 He was with us the week before he died, said Greg Pascale, a grieving father from Clarks Summit. Maurita and Greg Pascale of Clarks Summit are mourning the loss of their son Greg. The 26-year-old who was living in Chicago, was found dead by his roommate in February of 2022. We think he was using cocaine that was laced with fentanyl and late that night he went to sleep and passed away in his sleep and never woke up. His roommate found him that morning, stated Maurita Pascale. The Pascales maintain that Greg did not suffer from substance use disorder. The family claims the cocaine Greg consumed was laced with fentanyl which caused his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He basically was poisoned. A good percentage of people who die from fentanyl are not aware the substance they are using does contain fentanyl. About a few grains of sand is enough to kill any average sized adult, explained Maurita Pascale. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. Medically its used to treat severe pain, but Wyoming Countys District Attorney says synthetic fentanyl is being mixed with street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, even marijuana, and counterfeit prescription pills. What are they doing? Theyre turning to the internet and the cartels are waiting right there having created a fake website that looks like a real drug company putting pictures of real drugs kids are looking for; Adderall, Percocet, Oxycontin and the children think theyre getting the safe drug from a manufacturer, explained District Attorney Joe Peters. The widespread prevalence of drugs as peters points out, transcends socio-economic, racial and religious boundaries, making this a universal issue. Joe peters and the Pascales agree, the emphasis has to be on the message: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One pill can kill, stated District Attorney Joe Peters. These cartels are reaching into kids bedrooms and in a few days these pills arrive and in some cases the kids are found dead. So, unless it comes from a pharmacy dont touch it, said District Attorney Joe Peters. With the money raised through The Gregory Pascale Foundation, the Pascales host informational presentations at area schools like this one to try to spread the message abut the dangers of fentanyl. You do not have to be struggling with addiction or substance use disorder to die from fentanyl poisoning. Were happy to do this and spread the word but parents like us cannot do this alone, explained Maurita Pascale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent studies have reported a dramatic rise in overdose deaths among teens between 2010 and 2021. The Pascale family is hosting a fundraiser for the Greg Pascale Foundation at Jaya Yoga in Clarks Summit Saturday January 11 at 2:00 p.m. the cost is $20. If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse or in crisis help is available call or text 988 or chat online 988lifeline.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. LAFAYETTE, Ala. (WRBL) A Lafayette police officer is facing potential legal trouble after being arrested on December 19, 2024, on allegations of theft of property in the fourth degree. Authorities allege 33-year-old Alessiya Johnson Farley, a Valley resident, knowingly cashed the same $120 check twice, the offense reportedly occurred on November 14, 2024, at or near Chambers Academy in Chambers County. The arrest warrant accuses Farley of exerting unauthorized control over property valued at $120 which is a misdemeanor under Alabama law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Chambers County School District representative reached out to WRBL Friday to say Farley is no longer working in the schools. WRBL has reached out to Lafayette Police Department to see if she has been placed on administrative leave. Efforts to obtain a statement from Lafayette Police Chief Chris Trice have so far been unsuccessful. This is a developing story, and WRBL will provide updates as more information becomes available. Farley is no longer listed as a school resource officer in Chambers County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) A Lakeland man injured multiple people when he crashed into two vehicles while fleeing Florida Highway Patrol troopers on Thursday. FHP said Jaaziel Calero Nuez, 22, was behind the wheel of a stolen Camaro that previously fled from Auburndale police officers before it was spotted on Memorial Blvd. at 2:49 p.m. Fleeing sex offender steals Polk County deputys gun, leading to manhunt: sheriff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A trooper tried to pull over the Camaro, but it sped away, according to a FHP arrest report. Two other troopers then joined the pursuit, which came to an end after the Camaro ran a red light and struck a sedan and an SUV. The SUVs driver and passenger suffered significant injuries and crews had to cut them out of the vehicle. They were taken to the hospital. When troopers approached the Camaro, Nuez was spotted reaching onto the passenger floorboard, according to the arrest report. A search of the vehicle revealed a gun was placed on the floorboard beneath a backpack. Nuez was pulled from the vehicle and was accused of resisting arrest. A trooper found a stack of cash when searching his person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of the vehicle turned up a Micro Drako pistol, a Micro Drako magazine and two Glock magazines. Troopers found a programmable key fob, a key programmer and a screwdriver, which FHP said are tools used to steal vehicles. A license plate found in the trunk came back as stolen. Troopers also found a package of marijuana weighing over 20 grams, a scale and cash, which FHP said indicates intent to sell and deliver. Nuez was charged with felony fleeing and eluding police, possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, use/display of a firearm during a felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools with intent to use, driving with a suspended license in a crash involving serious injury, possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as misdemeanor charges of obstruction without violence and using a license plate not assigned to the vehicle. Nuez was booked into the Polk County Jail remotely from the hospital. WFLA spoke with a father and his 9-year-old son, who were inside one of the vehicles that was struck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He couldve had the thought, if he saw me, to potentially shoot me and my life wouldve been gone at not even 10 years, the boy said. It was scary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The Republican-controlled House and Senate are pushing ahead with a law designed to cede some federal immigration enforcement power to the states and usher in a harsher new era of immigration detention. The Laken Riley Act passed the House on Tuesday with support from 216 Republicans and 48 Democrats. The Senate is considering the legislation, which has drawn an unusual amount of support from Democratic Senators. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, have co-sponsored the Senate version of the bill. The Senate will resume consideration of the bill on Monday. The measures lead provisions would force immigration officers to arrest and detain immigrants in the country unlawfully who are suspected of minor theft of $100 or more. The bill would also greatly expand the power that state attorney generals have over federal immigration policy, allowing state officials to sue the federal government to have specific immigrants detained and force the State Department to block visas from countries that wont take back individuals being deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 8-page bill is named for Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered last year in Athens, Georgia by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan immigrant who was in the country unlawfully and had been previously apprehended by Border Patrol and released. Ibarra was sentenced in November to life in prison without parole for Rileys killing. Heres a look at whats in the bill. Mandatory custody for immigrants suspected of theft If the bill passes and incoming President Trump signs it into law, it would change how the federal government handles immigrants who are in the country unlawfully and suspected of stealing something worth $100 or more, a relatively minor infraction that would include cases of shoplifting. The bill requires the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes, meaning immigration officers would be required to arrest and detain those people. Currently, immigration officials use their discretion to first detain people with violent criminal records. But the law would override that discretion. This bill hinders the work ICE does day to day, said Jason Houser, who was chief of staff for Immigration and Customs Enforcement from 2021 to 2023. The federal government has enough funding to pay for housing about 41,000 people in immigration detention. Houser estimates that the bill would add another 20,000 people to immigration detention and would require federal agencies to divert manpower from finding the most violent and dangerous offenders. If passed, you will see less individuals in detention who are violent convicted criminals than you see today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also would impact legal immigration. The legislation instructs Customs and Border Protection officers to consider a person inadmissible to the U.S. if they are arrested for, or admit to, committing acts that constitute theft or shoplifting. That would mean someone with a valid visa to be in the U.S. could be removed before they had a chance to defend themselves from such charges in front of a judge. State attorneys general could sue to have immigrants detained The bill gives state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government over its handling of undocumented people in its custody. The state officials would be able to demand a court instruct immigration agents to track down and arrest people it had released from immigration detention. It allows state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if immigration actions such as parole, violation of detention requirements, or other policy failures harm that state or its citizens, said Rep. Mike Collins, the Republican congressman from Georgia who introduced the bill in the House. For most of U.S. history, courts have given the President and the federal government broad authority over immigration decisions. This bill would reverse that, giving state attorneys general the ability to override immigration decisions made by federal officials. Critics of the bill argue some supporters of the bill havent properly considered the sweeping ramifications of that change. We dont think it makes sense to invert our system of federal supremacy and give state attorneys general the power to superintend the decisions of individual line officers working at ICE and CBP and decisions all the way up to the Secretary of State, says Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. State officials could demand the State Department stop issuing visas from countries that dont accept people being deported The bill would also give states power to insert themselves into U.S. foreign policy. One reason immigrants found in the country illegally arent deported is because their home country wont accept them. Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, India, Russia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the countries currently unwilling to accept people being deported from the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the bill want state attorneys general to be able to sue the State Department to require no U.S. visas be issued for any country refusing to accept the deportation of their nationals. Youre putting the immigration process, the visa process in the hands of the courts and the states, Reichlin-Melnick said. Who supports the bill in Congress? The bill passed the House with unanimous support from Republicans, and the backing of 48 of 215 Democrats. In the Senate, where there is a 60-vote threshold to begin debate on the bill, 31 Democrats joined all Senate Republicans to move the bill forward. Only nine Democrats were opposed. In addition to Senators Fetterman and Gallego co-sponsoring the bill, other Democratic Senators have said they plan to support the bill, including Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona, Gary Peters of Michigan, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he voted yes to advance the bill in order to have debate and offer amendments to change the bills provisions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune will decide which amendments are considered before bringing the bill to a vote for final passage. If the bill makes it to the White House in its current form, President-elect Donald Trump would likely sign it into law when he takes office. Contact us at letters@time.com. CHICAGO A Lakeview man charged with a sexual assault against a minor is wanted after removing his electronic monitoring device. The Cook County Sheriffs Office said they are actively looking for Jorge Mondragion-Bahena, 48, after he removed his GPS tracking device in March 2023. He is currently at large and his last address is in the 3500 block of North Southport in Lakeview. Mondragion-Bahena was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor under the age of 13 in Oct. 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police believe he is working as a cook in an unknown Chicago area restaurant. Mondragion-Bahena has multiple aliases including Oscar Flores and Wenceslao Mondragon. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call police at 708-865-4700. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A 23-year-old man charged last spring in the death of his pregnant sister and her unborn child has now being indicted by a Dakota County grand jury on charges of premeditated first-degree murder and intentional second-degree murder, the Dakota County Attorneys Office announced Thursday. Bethany Ann Israel, 30, went to have dinner with her brother, Jack Joseph Ball, at his Lakeville residence on May 23. Several hours passed and family members were concerned they hadnt heard from Israel. Israels mother called 911 shortly after 11 p.m. and reported she thought her daughter had been killed inside Balls home on Encina Path near 170th Street and Pilot Knob Road. She reported she saw Ball and he just tore out of the house and there was a substantial amount of blood in the home, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lakeville police found several tools and large knives, all covered in blood, and several dismembered body parts in the home. Soon after, a resident in Rosemount reported seeing a man on their home security camera and he placed what appeared to be a body part on their front step. Law enforcement found Bell in the backyard of a neighboring home. He had a self-inflicted knife wound across his throat and was hospitalized before he was jailed in Dakota County. The Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office determined Israels cause of death was complex homicidal violence and confirmed she was 17 to 18 weeks pregnant. The baby would have been the first child for Israel and her husband, Josh, who were married in 2021, according to her obituary. They planned to name the boy Levy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the grand jury indictment, the county attorneys office filed a notice that they intended to seek a longer sentence if Bell was convicted. They cited factors including that due to the horrific mutilation of Israel, her family wasnt able to view her body and have proper closure. They also said the public was impacted because Bell left a severed body part at the door of a Rosemount home and rang the doorbell twice to ensure the people there saw it and that he placed a body part in the front entryway of another home. Bells attorney previously notified the prosecutor they intend to assert a mental illness or cognitive impairment defense, according to a November court document. At an October hearing, the county attorneys office requested that its retained examiner be allowed to conduct a mental examination of Ball under the states rules of criminal procedure, which a judge agreed to. In evaluations after he was charged, Bell was found competent to proceed with the court matters. If Bell is convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, the mandatory sentence is life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday. Related Articles Lala Kent and her family are feeling the effects of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. On her Instagram Stories Thursday, Jan. 9, the Vanderpump Rules alum, 34, stated that poor air quality from the multiple fires in SoCal has made it unsafe for her 4-month-old daughter, Sosa. This morning Sosa woke up and was really struggling to breathe. I made the decision to pack my family up and come to Palm Springs, strictly based on the air quality. This is where we will stay until LA is safe again, the mother of two wrote. lala kent/instagram Lala Kent's Instagram Stories Jan. 9, 2025 Lala Kent's Instagram Stories Jan. 9, 2025 Kent welcomed Ocean Kent Emmett with her ex-fiance, film producer Randall Emmett on March 15, 2021. Sosa Kent was born on Sept. 3, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former reality star added that the wildfires have resulted in one of the most devastating situations I have ever seen. Related: L.A. Fires Live: Death Toll Unknown, Officials Now Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders Dry vegetation and severe winds fueled multiple wildfires throughout Los Angeles starting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Since then, Pasadenas deadly Eaton Fire and the Pacific Palisades wildfires near Malibu have made headlines. According to the Associated Press, the Palisades Fire has now been classified as the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles County. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty A car and home burn during the Eaton fire in Altadena on Jan. 8 A car and home burn during the Eaton fire in Altadena on Jan. 8 On Thursday morning, the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center (WPC) told citizens critical fire weather conditions were expected to ramp up again across Southern California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forecasters said because of the situation, the potential exists for ongoing fires to worsen and new ignitions to rapidly spread. Related: Paris Hilton Heartbroken Beyond Words After Watching Malibu Home Burn Down on Live TV At this point, if you were not directly affected, you know someone who has lost everything. I'm obsessing over how we could be so underprepared, Kent continued. The Bravo star added that her heart is shattered for those in her community who have suffered. Neighborhoods that people have called home for decades, now nonexistent. It is unimaginable, Kent wrote. Justin Sullivan/Getty Cars destroyed by the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8 Cars destroyed by the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8 She said that although she was grateful her family was not directly affected," adding, "It's hard because of what I'm seeing other people go through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In times like this all you want is to go home for comfort, and 1,000s of people don't have their safe place anymore, she continued before switching gears to additional chaos surrounding the situation such as looters, lack of water, and lack of preparation. I'm sad, but I'm angry I'll save that rant for a later date, Kent wrote. 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. Before concluding, she also thanked the firefighters and first responders, calling them Our cities [heroes]." And to everyone affected- I know you feel alone. You are not alone, Kent said. Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People The end is in sight for one of the British Armys most iconic vehicles, the Land Rover, with the U.K. Ministry of Defense putting out an industry request for a successor. While the British Armys Land Rover fleet is now far smaller than in its Cold War heyday, it remains one of the best-known military vehicles anywhere in the world, and its design inspired by the World War II-era Willys Jeep is a pioneer of the 44, off-road-capable segment. A Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK) Land Rover of the Queens Royal Lancers (QRL) on a desert patrol, toward the Iranian border, during the war in Iraq. Crown Copyright A Request for Information (RFI) for the British Armys Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) was issued today by the U.K. Ministry of Defense, starting the procurement process for a fleet of vehicles that will replace the last Land Rovers as well as the Pinzgauer, an Austrian-designed high-mobility all-terrain utility vehicle. Both of these vehicles are intended to be withdrawn by 2030. Issued in the early stage of the program, an RFI essentially serves to gauge industry interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear how many LMVs the Ministry of Defense is looking to buy, but in 2022 the ministry said that the British Armed Forces had a combined total of 7,837 Land Rovers and Pinzgauers, giving some idea of the scale of the requirement. A 66 Pinzgauer is used to tow one of the British Armys Watchkeeper unmanned aerial systems prior to launch from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Crown Copyright Cpl Matty Matthews Based on the RFI, the Ministry of Defense is looking for details of production, supply, in-service support, and training for a future LMV, a wheeled utility platform that is one part of the broader Land Mobility Program (LMP). A potential for an off-the-shelf (OTS) solution is favored, to ensure that a proven design can be fielded rapidly and without significant investment in its development. Meanwhile, the broader LMP effort seeks to radically rationalize the British Armys fighting vehicle fleet, reducing the number of types of protected patrol and light utility vehicles in service from more than a dozen types now in use, to just three. These three new vehicle types will be procured under separate strands of LMP: a Medium Protected Mobility Vehicle weighing less than 20 tonnes, a Light Protected Mobility (LPM) weighing less than 10 tonnes, and the aforementioned Light Mobility Vehicle at less than three-and-a-half tonnes. A soldier from 3 Para, cleans a 50-cal machine gun mounted on a WIMIK Land Rover, in the Taliban stronghold town of Nowzad, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Crown Copyright In each case, the Ministry of Defense wants to select designs that conform to Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) standards a baseline that will allow continued spiral development across the service life of the vehicles. Other requirements include compliance with the Land Industrial Strategy, which calls for at least 60% of the workshare to be handled by U.K. industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fall of last year, the Ministry of Defense said that it wanted to start the tendering process for the Land Mobility Program by November 2025 and then select the chosen platforms by October 2026. A so-called Minimum Deployable Capability is envisaged for before 2029. A Royal Marine WMIK Land Rover moves forward up a convoy as it provides escort protection between Camp Bastion and Kandahar Airport, during operations in Afghanistan. Crown Copyright Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its already been decided that the Light Mobility Vehicle will lead the requirement process, although its expected to be followed soon after by the Light Protected Mobility Vehicle program. The LMV has been described in the past as an unprotected or lightly protected tactical vehicle. Aside from this, few specific requirements have been publicly discussed, although there will likely be a wide range of platforms to choose from, with the 44 light military vehicle marketplace being a very crowded one. In the past, designs that have been suggested as suitable for the British Armys LMP have included the Hawkei and Bushmaster from Thales, Babcocks General Logistics Vehicle, and the GM Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle. A Thales promotional video showing the 1,000th Hawkei a vehicle that could be a possible British Army Land Rover replacement: Overall, there is a lot at stake in the Land Mobility Program, and the Light Mobility Vehicle especially, with various previous efforts at procuring new vehicles in this class having ended in failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also the fact that the Light Mobility Vehicle in particular seeks to replace a vehicle that has been essentially irreplaceable for the British Army for more than 75 years. The British Army received its first Series 1 Land Rovers in 1949, only a year after the design was first unveiled, and the vehicle was successively improved over the years, reflecting the services experience, including in multiple overseas conflicts. Suez Crisis, 1956: Troops on the alert for snipers as a British Army convoy, including Series 1 Land Rovers, drives through the streets of Port Said, Egypt. Photo by NCJ Kemsley/NCJ Archive/Mirrorpix via Getty Images Mirrorpix The Land Rover line was subject to some major overhauls in the 1980s, resulting in the Land Rover 90 and 110, better known as Land Rover Defenders. The first of these entered service with the British Army in 1985. A British Army Land Rover Defender patrol during Operation Palliser, the British military intervention in Sierra Leone in 2000. Crown Copyright Next came the Defender Wolf, which entered service in 1997 and was actually an entirely new design, also known by the formal designation Truck Utility Light High Specification/Truck Utility Medium High Specification. Close to 8,000 Defender Wolf vehicles were acquired, in short- and long-wheelbase versions. A Land Rover of the RAF Regiment with a Weapon Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK) on patrol near Basra Air Base, Iraq. Crown Copyright Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These became signature vehicles of post-Cold War conflicts in which the British Army was involved, spawning at least 65 different variants, including some adapted for special forces use. In the process, the vehicle was further modified, adding beefed-up suspension, more powerful brakes, and weapon mounts that could accommodate machine guns and even an automatic grenade launcher. Other important variants of the British Army Land Rover include battlefield ambulances, with a capacity for a combination of up to four stretchers or six seated casualties. This, like other Land Rovers, is also air-portable and has a limited amphibious capability, being able to wade through water. British Army Land Rover battlefield ambulances. Crown Copyright However, experience in the counterinsurgency warfare that dominated British Army operations in the first decade of the 21st century demonstrated that the Land Rover, even when provided with additional armor, was too poorly protected to withstand threats such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), typically placed as roadside bombs. Land Rovers were steadily withdrawn in favor of better-protected vehicles, like the Force Protection Ocelot, known in British Army service as the Foxhound, a wheeled infantry mobility vehicle featuring the V-shaped hull typical of mine-resistant vehicles. British Army Foxhounds on the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area (DPTA) in Poland for Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024. Crown Copyright However, the United Kingdom continues to invest in the Land Rover to keep the vehicles viable until their final withdrawal in 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September last year, a contract worth 71 million (around $86 million) was signed, to provide spares and post-design services for the Land Rover and Pinzgauer, as well as their associated trailers. Much of the Land Rovers longevity with the British Army is due to its simplicity, ruggedness, and the ease with which it can be repaired especially vital when in the field. However, in recent years, its primarily been used in secondary roles, not on the battlefield, but in a support and training capacity. Soldiers from the Royal Yeomanry exercising in a RWMIK-configured Land Rover on the Bramley Training Area in Hampshire, England. Crown Copyright They are used in liaison roles as communications vehicles, transport vehicles, Maj. Donald Urquhart from 154 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps told Forces News in 2023. Currently they are used very much in a training role for deploying and operations. On operations, we generally try and go for an armored vehicle, so these are training platforms normally carrying radios and command posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Urquhart added that the antiquated nature of the design also provides one of its biggest advantages. These vehicles are still very successful because they dont have any electronics on them. Theres no electronic control unit so a very straightforward to fix and thats probably the biggest single strength. The British Armys Land Rover successor will be more complex but will almost certainly also offer a better level of protection, meaning it can return to working in more hazardous environments. Whatever vehicle is chosen, it seems impossible that it will match the longevity of the Land Rover, which will have been in British Army service for an astonishing 81 years, provided it sees out its service, as currently planned, in 2030. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Californians escaping to Nevada will have some help waiting for them in Las Vegas. Non-profits, restaurants, and individuals themselves are doing what they can to help those displaced by Southern California wildfires. The Refined Restaurant Group is one of those businesses, telling 8 News Now the images of destruction caused them to spring to action. When we heard the news, it was never really a question of if we were going to help. It was more of a question of how can we help, Angela Valdez, senior marketing coordinator of Refined Restaurant Group, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the restaurants under its umbrella are Cafe Lola and 3 Little Chicks. A portion of their sales from Thursday to Sunday will go to World Central Kitchen, which is providing meals to first responders and victims of the wildfires. Californians escaping to Nevada will have some help waiting for them in Las Vegas. Non-profits, restaurants, and individuals themselves are doing what they can to help those displaced by the Southern California wildfires. (KLAS) I think that its been an emotional time here in our office. One just trying to think about how we can send our prayers and good thoughts towards them, feeling helpless like theres nothing we can do here, Jessica Gettle, development manager of Refined Restaurant, said. As the fires destroy homes, hotels in Southern California are filling up. But for the Californians who make the trip to Las Vegas, Resorts World Las Vegas is offering them a 35% percent discount on hotel rates. I checked in a couple of groups, some friends from LA who were coming in last night and again theyre dealing with something that they probably never thought they were going to have to deal with in their life, Ronn Nicolli, Resorts Worlds chief marketing officer, said. Theyre essentially leaving their homes, trying to grab what belongings they can, putting them in a car and driving that four plus hours to Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resorts World is offering a special rate from Jan. 9 to Jan. 17 at its Hilton and Conrad towers. The bookings must be made over the phone at (702) 676-7036 and those interested need to mention LA Support Rate. Wynn Resorts announced it is donating $1 million towards wildfire relief efforts with $700,000 going to the American Red Cross. The $300,000 is going to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada has sent volunteers to Los Angeles. The nonprofits executive director Rachel Flanigan said theyre currently in need of money and blood donations. If you have friends and family in the area, and theyre asked to evacuate, [ask] them to evacuate and not stay and film the fires, Flanigan said. Dont do those things because the vehicles are starting to be a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 8 News Now will partner with the American Red Cross on Monday to host a telethon to help with wildfire relief efforts. RESOURCES Resorts World Las Vegas Treasure Island offering California residents affected by the LA wildfires a $79 room rate now through Jan. 31, subject to availability Virgin Hotel Las Vegas rooms can be booked online with the offer code-LOVEFORLA. MGM Resorts offering a 35% off discount for those impacted by the wildfires, based on availability Red Cross of Southern Nevada Nevada 211 is available statewide to help individuals connect with services online at Nevada211.org, by dialing 2-1-1 or texting your zip code to 898211 The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available through online chat, text and phone calls for immediate crisis counseling for all those seeking support. Callers will be routed to a Nevada 988 Call Center and connected to local, helpful behavioral health resources in the Silver State. More information at 988lifeline.org or by dialing 9-8-8 Individuals and families who are displaced from California can apply for assistance through the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services online at accessnevada.dwss.nv.gov or by calling 702-486-1646 The Public Health Preparedness program is working with the partners to coordinate and share information to prepare for needed lodging and community support The Department of Health and Human Services is available to coordinate with counterparts in California to assist individuals and determine eligibility for WIC, assistance with documents, or program eligibility information The Nevada Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (NVDEM) will continue to spearhead all information sharing and the coordination of Nevada state agency deployments, in addition to coordinating with California and FEMA on cross-border efforts. Additionally, NVDEM will continue to disseminate all relevant information to the media, public, and local partners on resource requests, preparedness measures, messaging, informational web pages, and situational awareness to local, state, federal and tribal partners. To reach NVDEM directly, please contact 775-687-0300 or visit https://dem.nv.gov/. Nevada Department of Agriculture: The Division of Food and Nutrition provides food to food banks throughout Nevada through various programs including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). There are programs available for various situations, and individuals may qualify for a variety of programs. Reach out to the ThreeSquare or another local food bank for more information The Division of Animal Industry monitors the movement of animals for animal disease traceability. Individuals traveling with animals should contact entrypermits@agri.nv.gov or call 775-353-3709. The State Quarantine Officer has waived entry requirements for the emergency movement of pets and horses that may be displaced from the fires. Nevada Department of Veterans Services: For veterans arriving from California and in need of assistance as it relates to health care, housing or veterans benefits, please contact the Nevada Department of Veterans Services at veterans.nv.gov/contact or by phone at 775-688-1653 or you can ask any question you may have by going to https://veterans.nv.gov/ask-a-vso/. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles: For persons arriving from California in need of a replacement California drivers license or ID card or intending to move to Nevada permanently and in need of a Nevada Drivers License, ID Card, or temporary movement permit for a vehicle, please contact the Nevada DMV Directors Office at (775) 684-4549 or via email at dmvdirectorsoffice@dmv.nv.gov. Persons needing replacement Social Security cards are encouraged to visit the Social Security Administrations website at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Nevada Department of Education: NDEs Office of Student and School Supports can work with partners to provide clothing and/or hygiene products using federal funding through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Contact Christi Hines-Coates (christi.hinescoates@doe.nv.gov). Displaced students can find information on Nevada school districts and enrollment on our Nevada Schools and District Information webpage. Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation: Visit EmployNV for services to receive help finding employment and training. Workforce Development provides a combination of services, community supports, job training and education that positions an individual for success in the workforce. Business engagement activities connect business to a qualified workforce and develop employment opportunities for individuals in the workforce. Visit Vocational Rehabilitation to apply for employment and training services for those individuals with a disability. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Nevada supports adults and students with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, keep and advance in meaningful employment through a range of services based on their employment goals. Our agency also provides FREE professional consultation services to connect employers with people with disabilities who can help drive business success. Visit Unemployment (UI) to file for unemployment in Nevada. Unemployment Insurance is responsible for collection of employment taxes and provides temporary wage replacement for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Visit EDD California to file for unemployment for wages earned primarily in California. For further questions, please email DETRINFO@detr.nv.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 42-year-old Las Vegas man was killed late Saturday night when he stepped into the road near the on-ramp to southbound Interstate 15 at Lake Mead Boulevard, according to Nevada State Police Highway Patrol (NSP). NSP identified the pedestrian as Anthony Jomar Reeves. He died on the scene, according to a news release on Thursday. The investigation into the crash is being conducted by the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit. No charges have been filed in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said Reeves was outside the marked crosswalk when a collision occurred at about 11:35 p.m. on Jan. 4. A red 2025 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star pickup that was eastbound on Lake Mead was involved in the collision. Driver suspected of DUI in deadly crash may not have caused collision A preliminary investigation determined Reeves stepped into the roadway near the southbound I-15 on-ramp. The driver of the pickup tried to avoid him, but Reeves was struck by the pickups left front. The driver of the Dodge remained on scene and is cooperating with investigators. The pickup came to a controlled stop in the far left travel lane, just west of the I-15 southbound traffic signal, according to NSP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Las Vegas police release 911 calls from Trump hotel car bombing: Craziest thing Ive ever seen LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Metro police released 911 calls Thursday from the aftermath of the New Years Day explosion at the Trump International Hotel. The 34-minute audio includes people who witnessed the explosion in and around Fashion Show Drive. Las Vegas Metro police released the calls as part of a records request from 8 News Now. Someone just attacked Trump Towers with a monster amount of fireworks huge, a monstrous explosion, one caller said as sounds of popping records on the line. The whole place is covered in smoke. People have to be injured. This is the craziest thing Ive ever seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Livelsberger, 37, shot himself in the head just before fireworks and other explosive material detonated in the back of the Tesla Cybertruck parked at the front entrance of the hotel. Livelsberger, a Green Beret in the U.S. Army Special Forces, was home on leave in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when he rented the Cybertruck and drove to Las Vegas. The explosion was set off using racing fuel and birdshot, the ATF said Tuesday. The blast was not triggered by a detonator but by an unknown flame, which could include the gunshot Livelsberger used to kill himself. During a news conference last week, FBI Special Agent In Charge Spencer Evans said Livelsberger did not hold any animosity toward President-elect Donald Trump or Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Police were not expected to hold any additional news conferences about the explosion, but on Tuesday, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the investigation was far from over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Last year was the hottest on record and the first to breach a key global warming threshold of 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures. EU scientists said human-caused climate change was the primary driver for record temperatures, while other factors such as the Pacific Oceans El Nino weather phenomenon, which raises global temperatures also had an effect. Experts said a single year with average temperatures of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels did not mean the world had reached that level of global warming, although they issued warnings about how close it now was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the record heat should be a reality check with a year of extreme weather events showing how dangerous life with 1.5C of warming was, one expert said. A demonstrator holds a banner on the sidelines of the climate change summit in Paris in 2015 - FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP Pursuing efforts to prevent the world warming more than 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures is one of the key commitments of the global Paris treaty which countries agreed to in 2015, in a bid to avert the most dangerous impacts of climate change. According to the EUs Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), temperatures were an estimated 1.6C above the pre-industrial level of 1850-1900, and 0.12C above 2023 which was the previous hottest year on record. The UK analysis by the Met Office, University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science found that the global average temperature in 2024 was 1.53C above the 1850-1900 average, with a margin of error of plus or minus 0.08C, making it probably the first calendar year to exceed 1.5C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was also the 11th year in succession in the data series that has equalled or exceeded 1C above pre-industrial levels. Colin Morice of the Met Office said: A single year exceeding 1.5C above pre-industrial does not mean a breach of the Paris Agreement 1.5C guard rail that would require a temperature of at least 1.5C on average over a longer period. However, it does show that the headroom to avoid an exceedance of 1.5C, over a sustained period, is now wafer thin. Last year was the warmest year on record for Europe, with temperatures 1.47C above the average for the 1991-2020 reference period, the figures show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The analysis also highlights that globally, each of the past 10 years were one of the warmest 10 years on record. Samantha Burgess, from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which runs C3S, said: We are now teetering on the edge of passing the 1.5C level defined in the Paris Agreement and the average of the last two years is already above this level. These high global temperatures, coupled with record global atmospheric water vapour levels in 2024, meant unprecedented heatwaves and heavy rainfall events, causing misery for millions of people. A warning about high temperatures in July 2024 in Corte Madera, California - Justin Sullivan/Getty Prof Rowan Sutton, director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, said: By itself, 1.5C does not represent a cliff edge in terms of climate impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But every fraction of a degree rise in global temperature increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, commits the world to greater rises in sea level and increases the risk of crossing potential planet-altering tipping points such as breakdown of the Amazon rainforest biome or ice sheet collapse in Greenland or the Antarctic. This notable landmark further highlights the urgency of efforts to minimise future warming. In response to the announcement, Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: This record needs to be a reality check. The climate is heating to levels weve spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal. A year of extreme weather showed just how dangerous life is at 1.5C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Valencia floods, US hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more. Prof Joeri Rogelj, from the Grantham Institute Climate Change and Environment, Imperial College London, added: While the hottest year on record is alarming, the case for action makes more sense than ever: the cost of solar and wind energy is falling rapidly and is now cheaper than fossil fuels in many countries. Governments can build healthy economies with stronger, more decisive action to accelerate the transition to clean energy, he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning Jan. 19 unless the popular social media program is sold by its China-based parent company. Hearing arguments in a momentous clash of free speech and national security concerns, the justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the companys connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech, either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the United States. Here is the Latest: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Congressman says TikTok ban would be about reducing risk imposed by foreign adversary Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, on Friday said the Supreme Court had highlighted the fact that the lawmakers were not talking about eliminating speech. Were actually reducing the risk imposed by a foreign adversary to manipulate communications and steal data from the American people, the congressman said. TikTok law was a priority for the Select Committee, formed just two years ago to build bipartisan consensus to identify threats posed by Beijing. Chinese embassy criticizes the US for using state power to suppress TikTok Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese embassy in Washington issued a statement on Friday criticizing the U.S. government for using state power to suppress TikTok and said Beijing will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. The U.S. has never found evidence that TikTok threatens U.S. national security, but it has used state power and abused national security reasons to unreasonably suppress it, which is not fair or just at all, said Liu Pengyu, the embassy spokesman. The U.S. should truly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, stop unreasonably suppressing companies from other countries, and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for companies from all countries to invest and operate in the U.S. TikTok content creators who sued the government over the law speak out Creators who spoke at TikToks press conference on Friday expressed dismay that the platform theyve relied on could soon be banned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Tran, co-founder of the skin-care company Love and Pebble, said he and his wife built the company on the app and is hoping for a solution that would protect national security and preserve access to the app. The First Amendment isnt a relic of the past. Its a living promise that must be defended in our digital age, he said. Memphis cookbook author Chloe Joy Sexton said she joined TikTok when her job fired her because she was pregnant and it allowed her to start her business, Chloes Giant Cookies. I have now shipped thousands of cookies all over the world and even published a cookbook as a small business without a lot of capital, she said. I rely almost entirely on TikTok to market my products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said no other platform can replace TikTok. I have tried posting this same exact content on other social media apps without anywhere near the same access, same success. Mississippi hip-hop artist Christopher Townsend said he started his TikTok account to share his political views and material from the Bible. Without the app, he said he would lose a platform that allows him to share his views in a way that another platform has not. The lawsuit from the content creators was filed last May, shortly after President Joe Biden signed the measure into law. TikTok is covering the legal costs for the lawsuit, which was consolidated with the complaint filed by the company and other challenge brought by a group called BASED politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok lawyer says you dont shut down a speech platform over worries about dangerous speech TikToks lawyer spoke at a press conference Friday, saying the Supreme Court justices questioned both sides closely and theyre hopeful about the decision. They put us through our paces, Noel Francisco said at a news conference after arguments. The app has a massive U.S. user base amounting to half of all Americans, he said. Francisco emphasized that the U.S. has not presented evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content on TikToks U.S. platform or gather U.S. user data through TikTok. This country has never taken a step of shutting down a speech platform, much less such an important speech platform, he said. You dont shut down a speech platform because youre worried about speech thats dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Content creators and small business owners who rely on TikTok await a decision with bated breath Skip Chapman, co-owner of KAFX Body in Manasquan, N.J., which makes and sells natural deodorants, listened the oral arguments and said hes worried since he depends on TikTok for 80% to 90% of his sales. He spent six months trying to diversify going on Amazon and other platforms, but hasnt found the traction he has on TikTok. Theres really no replacement for this app, he said. This is my livelihood. Seven million small business owners are really holding their breath right now as we wait and see what happens. Lee Zavorskas, a TikTok creator and a licensed esthetician based in New Hampshire, said she makes nearly half of her income on the platform, where she earns money promoting products for other businesses. She said she could not listen to the Supreme Court oral arguments on Friday due to stress caused by the case. Instead, she spent her time building a YouTube channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court may take lightning fast action in days on TikTok ban The Supreme Court can normally take months to issue decisions, but this case is expected to be much quicker. With the law scheduled to go into effect in less than two weeks, the justices could take action in the coming days. Biden administration attorney wraps up arguments saying data gathered by the app could come back to haunt teens In wrapping up, Prelogar said plenty of teenagers using the app might not be at all concerned about any risks to national security, but data gathered by the app could come back to haunt them and the country if they grow up to serve in the military or work for the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Chinese government to have this vast trove of incredibly sensitive data about them, I think, obviously exposes our nation as a whole to a risk of espionage and blackmail, she said. In rebuttal, TikToks lawyer argues that the government didnt try less restrictive measures to deal with national security concerns before the law forcing a sale or ban. If the First Amendment means anything, it means the government cannot restrict speech in order to protect us, Francisco said. Thats precisely what this law does from beginning to end. As he was wrapping up, attorney for the creators, Fisher argued that if data security was the main issue for Congress, then it would have also regulated Chinese companies like ecommerce sites Temu and Shein, which collect massive amounts of data on their users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It raises the question whether the TikTok case precedent, once settled, would have extended implications for other active Chinese mobile applications in the U.S. like Shein and Temu, said Winston Ma, a professor at New York Universitys school of law. Justice asks if the President can decline to enforce the law Kavanaugh asked Prelogar if the President can decline to enforce the law. Trump, who previously tried to ban TikTok while he was in the White House, has asked the Supreme Court to put a pause on the law so he could pursue a political resolution to the issue. Prelogar said even if a non-enforcement policy were announced, Trump would want to review all the updated national security information that has come in over the last four years. Justice Kavanaugh questions governments arguments on national security risks Justice Kavanaugh pressed Prelogar about the governments two stated national security risks. While the arguments about data collection concerns seem very strong, the fears about content manipulation raise much more challenging questions. Prelogar said that if the court thinks the data collection reason is enough to uphold the law, the justices dont have to get to the content-manipulation argument. Biden administration attorney tries to quiet concerns that if TikTok shuts down it wont re-appear Prelogar is trying to quiet concerns among some justices that if TikTok were to shut down in nine days, it would never re-appear. TikTok could resume operations once its sold by ByteDance, and the ban itself might prompt a sale, she said. It might be just the jolt Congress expected the company might need, Prelogar said. During the hearing, Prelogar also brought up a publicized incident in 2022 that raised concerns about TikTok in Washington. In December 2022, TikToks parent company ByteDance disclosed that four employees gained access to data about two reporters and people connected to them while investigating how company information was leaked. ByteDance said the employees had, for instance, looked at the IP addresses of two journalists to try to determine if they were in the same location as ByteDance employees suspected of leaking confidential information. The employees were fired. Foreign governments accused of launching several influence operations across social media platforms Foreign governments have been accused of launching several influence operations across several social media platforms. The Justice Department alleged last year that several right-wing influencers popular on YouTube worked unknowingly for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation. In September, TikTok said it removed accounts associated with Russian state media for engaging in covert influence operations ahead of the U.S. presidential election. U.S. officials and outside experts have also cited examples of China-linked actors generating false news reports and social media posts. Conservative Justice Gorsuch asks whether Biden administrations argument is paternalistic Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch asks whether the Biden administrations argument is a paternalistic point of view. Dont we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter speech? TikTok, he said, has said they would post a warning that the content could be manipulated by the Chinese government. Prelogar said that kind of warning wouldnt be enough to counterbalance any misinformation spread, but Gorsuch appears to remain skeptical. Biden administration attorney says the Chinese governments control over TikTok gives it a potent weapon for covert influence Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who represents the Biden administration, said in her opening statement that the Chinese governments control over TikTok gives it a potent weapon for covert influence operations. She argued the app poses a grave threat to national security by collecting vast amounts of personal data that the company could be compelled to hand over to the Chinese government. To date, the U.S. hasnt provided public evidence to show the Chinese authorities tinkered with TikTok to gain data on or influence Americans. Lawyer argues creators who are ordinary American citizens don't want to go to just another platform People who create content for TikTok dont want to just go to another platform, Fisher said. Hes representing creators who are not famous people theyre ordinary American citizens whose content that they create on the platform gets privileged by way of the quality of that content. TikToks algorithm is especially helpful to those creators, and other companies have not been able to copy it, he said. Giving the government power to ban platforms because of their owners viewpoints sets a dangerous precedent, he argued. Justice Sotomayor notes TikTok collects a lot of data compared to other websites Justice Sonya Sotomayor on Friday asked questions about the type of data that TikTok collects, saying from her readings of the briefs there was a lot of data that TikTok collects compared to any other website. In an analysis published in 2021, the University of Torontos nonprofit Citizen Lab said TikTok and Facebook collect similar amounts of user data, including device identifiers that can be used to track a user and other information that can piece together a users behavior across different platforms. Chief Justice Roberts drills into First Amendment argument Roberts picks apart Fishers argument that banning TikTok violates American users free speech rights. Congress is fine with the expression, Roberts said. Theyre not fine with a foreign adversary, as theyve determined it is, gathering all this information about the 170 million people who use TikTok. If national security concerns outweigh First Amendment fears in the eyes of the Supreme Court, they presumably would be more likely to uphold the law. TikToks lawyer has finished Jeffrey Fisher, a Stanford law professor representing creators on the wildly popular app, is now making his arguments. Fisher begins with a pitch to conservative justices, by invoking their preferred way of evaluating whether laws, especially regarding speech and gun rights, are constitutional. The act and the reasons behind it defy our history and traditions, Fisher said, American creators have the right to work with the publisher of their choice, Fisher said, answering questions from Justice Clarence Thomas about how exactly their rights are violated. TikTok creators as well as small business owners have been anxiously waiting for a decision on the case, which could upend their livelihoods. Many creators rely on the platform for income, and have credited the platform for giving them visibility that other platforms did not. Justice asks if TikTok can be recreated in any way When asked by justice Amy Coney Barrett on whether TikTok can be recreated in any way, Francisco said any new TikTok would be a fundamentally different platform with different content. Experts have said the Chinese government is likely to block any sale of the TikTok algorithm under the countrys revamped export laws. Investors interested in the purchasing platform have also acknowledged that even if TikTok is sold, it would have to be rebuilt with new technology. TikTok lawyer says if no divestiture TikTok will go dark Noel Francisco, attorney for TikTok and ByteDance said if ByteDance loses the case and theres not a divestiture TikTok will go dark on Jan. 19. Trump has also asked for a pause in the law to negotiate a deal, and Francisco, who served in his first administration, said we might be in a different world again after he takes office Jan. 20. He urged the court to consider a preliminary injunction. It makes perfect sense to issue a preliminary injunction and buy everybody a little breathing space, he said. A short reprieve here would make all the sense in the world. Justice Kavanaugh addresses concerns about China accessing information on tens of millions of Americans Justice Brett Kavanaugh confronts TikToks lawyer about U.S. concerns that China is accessing information on tens of millions of Americans, especially teenagers and people in their 20s, with whom TikTok is especially popular. That seems like a huge concern for the future of the country, said Kavanaugh, whose own daughters are in that age range. Francisco responded that the government hasnt shown definitive evidence of that happening. President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment. The outcome cements Trumps conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine. Here's the latest: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson slams the judge and the case The Republican is echoing Trump and his lawyers by saying it never should have been brought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This entire case against President Trump has been a politically motivated and contrived witch hunt aimed solely at preventing him from returning to the White House, Johnson said in a statement released by his office. He even used a word Trump has often employed to attack his legal opponents, with the speaker calling the prosecution team deranged. Johnson said he supports Trumps decision to appeal. Trump can still vote after sentencing, but cant own a gun and will have to turn over a DNA sample President-elect Donald Trump doesnt have to go to jail, pay a fine or perform community service as a result of his New York hush money conviction. A judge ended the case Friday with a sentence of an unconditional discharge, closing the case with no punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But unless the conviction for falsifying business records is someday overturned, Trump will have felonies on his criminal record, which will affect some of his rights. Trump is registered to vote in Florida and hell be able to vote there. Florida does bars people convicted of felonies from voting, but restores their right to vote after theyve completed their sentence. Under federal law, people convicted of felonies arent allowed to possess firearms. By law, every person convicted of a felony in New York must provide a DNA sample for the states crime databank. Samples are collected after sentencing, typically when a defendant reports to probation, jail or prison. Samples can also be taken by a court or police official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about the effects of being convicted Trump is now expected to return to the business of planning for his new administration And that includes hosting conservative House Republicans as they gathered to discuss GOP priorities. The punishment-free judgment marks a quiet end to an extraordinary case It was a case that for the first time put a former president and major presidential candidate in a courtroom as a criminal defendant. The case was the only one of four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. Trump calls the sentencing a despicable event on Truth Social Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice, he wrote in a lengthy post on his social media platform after the sentencing. Outside the courthouse after the sentencing Following the historic sentencing, the mood outside the courthouse is festive, with a few dozen Trump supporters waving American flags and signs emblazoned with the president-elects face. Some described the scene as a reunion of sorts, a chance to catch up with others whod attended demonstrations during the trial while celebrating both the election victory and the outcome of the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No penalty at all is great news, said Jerry Gasowski, a retired power plant worker who drove into the city from Long Island. Its great news for our country. Trumps demeanor as the sentence was handed down As Judge Merchan delivered the sentence, Trump sat upright, lips pursed, frowning slightly. He tilted his head to the side as the judge wished him godspeed in your second term in office. Judge sentences Trump in hush money case but declines to impose any punishment President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment. The outcome cements Trumps conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted on every count. Yet, the legal detour and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations didnt hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Judge Merchan begins speaking Merchan says a judge must consider the facts of the case as well as aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances, he said. Trump says: Im totally innocent. I did nothing wrong He argued that voters saw what happened in this courtroom and, like him, thought it was a disgrace and supported him overwhelmingly in the election. Addressing the court, Trump says there was no crime Its been a political witch hunt, he said. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didnt work. Trump speaks in court This has been a very terrible experience. I think it has been a tremendous set back for New York and the New York court system, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump lawyer Todd Blanche begins speaking with Trump by his side I very, very much disagree with much of what the government just said about this case, about the legitimacy of what happened in this courtroom during this trial, and about President Trumps conduct fighting this case, Blanche said. Steinglass notes Trumps contempt findings in this case and others As this court has noted, the defendants conduct constitutes a direct attack on the rule of law itself, Steinglass said. He also noted Trumps threats to retaliate against people who have wronged him in his legal matters, which Steinglass said is intended to have a chilling effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steinglass said the author of the pre-sentence report, a probation officer who interviewed Trump, notes Trump sees himself as above the law. Despite all that, Steinglass said an unconditional discharge is the most practical sentence prior to his inauguration. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass begins speaking on behalf of the prosecution He notes the conviction and reviews the sentencing options include up to four years in prison, but other remedies as well. Steinglass says the prosecution recommends unconditional discharge based on circumstances including Trumps impending return to the White House. Steinglass says prosecutors are OK with the potential no-penalty sentence. He cites all the circumstances of this case, its unique posture and the defendants status as president-elect. The verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected, he said. As prosecutors began their remarks, Trump shook his head, eyes darting around the screen. The camera view is framed tightly on him and Blanche, offering courtroom spectators a much closer view of Trumps expression than during the trial. Trump attorney Emil Bove says Trump is appearing via Teams Hes co-located with my partner, Todd Blanche, he said. Trump is in Florida, Blanche confirmed. Trump appears in court via a video feed Hes wearing a red tie with white or gold thin diagonal stripes. Trump appears stoic and reserved as he waits. An attorney sits to Trumps right, in front of a backdrop of American flags. American flag pins on both mens suit jackets. Outside the courthouse ahead of the sentencing A handful of protesters had gathered in front of the Manhattan federal courthouse Friday morning. Some carried signs reading DESERVES THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE and 34 FELONY CONVICTIONS. Meanwhile, at a park across the street, supporters unfurled a massive flag reading TRUMP WON. Why did Judge Merchan decide to go ahead with Trumps sentencing? In an 18-page legal opinion, Merchan laid out his reasoning for ruling that the president-elect should be sentenced later this month for the crime of falsifying business records. His most important finding was that Trumps conviction should not be thrown out simply because he was elected president. But the judge also signaled that he intended to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge, which means Trump would not face any punishment beyond having the conviction on his legal record. Read more about what Merchan had to say The scene inside the courtroom before sentencing Four big TV screens are mounted on the walls: one on either side of the bench where the judge will sit and one each hanging from the left and right side, parallel with the tables where the defense and prosecution will sit. Another large monitor sits behind next to the defense table, visible to the judges bench. A crew from ABC News, which will be distributing an audio recording of the proceeding after it ends, was testing the microphone system. At one point, instead of the usual counting up or down to check levels, one member of the crew started reciting the first few words of the Declaration of Independence When in the Course of human events drawing chuckles from the crowd of reporters and spectators in the gallery. Trump is expected to appear by video, and he has before Although Trump was in court for every day of the trial, the judge said the president-elect could attend the sentencing via video if he chose. Hes expected to do that, and its not a first in the case. He appeared remotely for a pretrial hearing in May 2023. Inside the courtroom the moment Trump was convicted On May 30, 2024, Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes. Trump sat stone-faced while the verdict was read as cheering from the street below could be heard in the hallway on the courthouses 15th floor where the decision was revealed after more than nine hours of deliberations. Read more from inside the courtroom that day. Who testified, and what did they say? Trumps trial stretched over seven weeks, with 22 witnesses testifying, including porn actor Stormy Daniels, Trumps fixer turned foe Michael Cohen, former supermarket tabloid publisher David Pecker and White House insiders. Prosecutors called 20 witnesses. The defense called just two. Trump decided not to testify on his own behalf. Heres a look back at what some of the key witnesses had to say. Remind me again, what was this case about? Trump was convicted last May of 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes. The jury found that he falsified records kept by his company to hide the purpose of reimbursements to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, who had made a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during Trumps 2016 campaign to silence her claim of an extramarital sexual encounter. Trump denies they had sex. What happened to Trumps other cases? The hush money case was the only one of Trumps four criminal indictments to go to trial. Since his Nov. 5 election, special counsel Jack Smith ended his two federal cases. One pertained to Trumps efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss; the other alleged he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate, state-level election interference case in Georgia is in limbo after an appeals court removed prosecutor Fani Willis from the case. Is the sentencing streaming anywhere? No. New York state trial-level courts rarely, if ever, livestream their proceedings. Appeals courts sometimes do. A look at the judge who is sentencing Trump Judge Juan M. Merchan has presided over Manhattan felony cases since 2009, after three years in family court. Before that, he was a Manhattan prosecutor and a lawyer for New York state. Trump has pointed to factors including Merchans total of $35 in 2020 donations to Democrats including President Joe Biden to argue that the judge is biased and should step away from the case. A state court ethics panel opined in 2023 that Merchan could continue handling the case, and he avowed that he could be fair and impartial. Read more about Merchan, who also oversees Manhattans Mental Health Court. OZAWKIE (KSNT) A local Latin grill owner said his heart ached after his restaurant in Ozawkie caught fire. At 3 a.m. on Friday, Lago Vista Grill said it experienced a devastating fire that caused significant damage to the restaurant. This restaurant wasnt just mine; it belonged to the community, Lago Vista Grill wrote on Facebook. It was a safe place, a place where memories were made and stories shared. With so many restaurants in our area disappearing, this loss feels deeply personalnot just for me, but for all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lago Vista Grill said it was overwhelmed by the support from the community. It said their food trailer is still operational and ready for catering. How are the roads?: Topeka highway update Thank you all for your support, kindness, and belief in what weve created together, Miguel A. Cadena wrote on social media. Well be back stronger than everbecause this isnt just a restaurant. Its a community, and together, were unstoppable. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Sheriffs deputies in Laurel County are asking the community to help find a missing teen girl who is believed to be heading toward Tennessee. The Laurel County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) told FOX 56 that Kyla Carroll, 14, was last seen around 11 p.m. on Thursday in the area of Old State Road, six miles south of London. Sadieville train derailment blocks residences, closes roads ahead of winter storm According to the sheriffs office, Kyla may be with her boyfriend and is allegedly possibly headed to Tennessee. Authorities in Laurel County are asking the community for help finding Kyla Carroll, 14, who was last seen six miles south of London. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information that could help find Kyla is asked to contact the LCSO at (606) 864-6600 or Laurel County 911 Dispatch at (606) 878-7000. This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. School districts affected by the devastating fires had challenging decisions to make Friday about when to reopen schools. Los Angeles school officials will not make a decision about reopening campuses until late in the weekend, Supt. Alberto Carvalho said Friday morning. All schools operated by the Pasadena Unified School District will be closed all of next week, officials announced Friday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carvalho said that while the weather forecast looked promising at the moment, there are too many uncertainties regarding wind conditions, air quality and the control of fires that continue to ravage the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. "It's still a dynamic situation," Carvalho said Friday while taking part in a food and diaper distribution at Liechty Middle School on the western edge of downtown. "The concern with pulling the trigger too soon is a fire, a new fire, may flare up. So we're going to try to establish a fair balance between the conditions, the timing of the announcement, for the safe return of kids and workforce." Read more: Containment grows on Palisades, Eaton fire as Brentwood, Encino residents remain on edge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campuses were closed in L.A. Unified on Thursday and Friday. The district had tried to operate mostly as usual on Wednesday a day after the fires erupted amid extreme winds closing seven campuses. But as the morning unfolded, up to 200 others shut down after the start of the school day, although they were not imminently threatened by fire. An additional 100 shifted to a minimum-day schedule. The district has close to 1,000 campuses. Many campuses lost power or internet service. Students and employees had trouble getting in or simply stayed home. Looking ahead to Monday, L.A. Unified will monitor conditions through the weekend, Carvalho said, with the expectation of an announcement Sunday. "We would love to put something out today," the superintendent said Friday. "I don't think it would be prudent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, meal distributions continued at 16 locations across the school system. At Liechty Middle School, the district also highlighted help from the YMCA, which is making child care available for parents who must work regardless of whether school is open. Those interested should go online to the Y's website for locations and hours. "We're coming together, making sure that our families are taken care of, health- and safety-wise," said school board member Rocio Rivas, who also was at Liechty. "And, yeah, we're getting prepared for next week, because these winds are going to pick up. There's still red flag warnings that are in place, and we have to make sure that we continue to have strong systems and protocols to make sure that we're taking care of our families." The decision faced by the nation's second-largest school system is echoed at school systems across Los Angeles County, especially in Pasadena, which serves the Altadena community that was at the epicenter of the Eaton fire. In all, five Pasadena Unified campuses suffered major damage, including three that were used by charter schools. But, if anything, that understates the impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Nearly half of our employees reside within the evacuation zone," Supt. Elizabeth Blanco wrote in an online announcement. "Many of them, like so many of our students and families, have lost their homes. The fire is at 3% containment. Mandatory and warning evacuation orders remain in effect, and air quality is characterized as 'unhealthy.' These conditions, combined with damage to school facilities and safety concerns, make it impossible to reopen schools for in-person learning at this time." On Friday, Pasadena Unified began a food distribution program that will continue through next week. Students will have access to self-directed, optional online learning materials at http://gopusd.com/learning The much-larger L.A. Unified School District has three damaged campuses in Pacific Palisades, where the region's other most damaging fire has raged fueled by high winds. Two elementary schools could be total losses. Las Virgenes Unified, which straddles the northwestern border of L.A. County, did not lose any schools, but that area, too, was threatened by fire. Campuses were closed from Wednesday onward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I hope we can open on Monday," said Supt. Dan Stepenosky, "but I'm hearing there is another high-wind advisory scheduled." 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. BOSTON (WPRI) It will soon officially be illegal to declaw a cat in Massachusetts. Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation Thursday that bans declawing and tendonectomy procedures on cats unless it is deemed medically necessary. ALSO READ: MSPCA seeks forever homes for cats rescued from hoarding situation Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, sponsored the legislation and introduced it for the first time back in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was stunned when I learned how traumatic the procedure is, and the fact that it was still being done, Montigny said. Most people think of clipping and grooming as somehow being related to declawing until theyre educated its like snipping off a finger at the knuckle. Thats what people should understand, he explained. It causes tremendous trauma. (Leah Crowley/ WPRI-TV) The American Veterinary Association describes declawing as a painful procedure that can potentially lead to health complications and behavioral problems. Montigny is happy to take the decision to declaw a cat out of a veterinarians hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get a stuffed teddy bear if you want to have expensive couches that youre more worried about than youre animal, he said. The law will take effect in 90 days. Montigny said his goal for the declawing legislation is simple. I hope it will never happen again, he said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Dr. Hector Granados felt puzzled when he first heard of the allegations. The El Paso pediatrician had just finished his hospital rounds early in the morning last fall when he received a call from a friend. The friend saw in the news that Texas was suing Granados. The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a petition Oct. 29 claiming Granados had prescribed puberty blockers and hormones to minors for gender transition health care the state made illegal beginning Sept. 1, 2023. The court filing accuses Granados of providing gender-affirming care under the false pretense of treating precocious puberty. Paxton filed the lawsuit in Kaufman County near Dallas, about 650 miles east of El Paso, where one of the 21 patients in the court filing is said to reside. Granados is one of three doctors Paxton sued last year for allegedly providing gender-affirming care to minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Granados denied the allegations. I was always respectful of the law and I will continue to be because we follow what it specifically mandates, Granados said. Youre not able to provide transgender care to minors. We stopped. The AGs office didnt respond to El Paso Matters requests for comment, but called Granados a radical gender activist in the lawsuit. Granados told El Paso Matters he stopped providing gender-affirming care after Texas Senate Bill 14 passed in May 2023 because he didnt want to risk getting his medical license revoked. He began informing parents and discharging his transgender patients prior to the law going into effect. Since then, hes continued to see youths for other concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pediatric endocrinologists treat a wide variety of hormonal conditions, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, pituitary gland disorders and growth deficiencies. Some of Granados youngest patients in El Paso have been preterm newborns with hypothyroidism, which, if not treated immediately, can delay growth and brain development. Granados is one of only two pediatric endocrinologists in El Paso County, an area that has struggled to attract and retain medical specialists. The other, Dr. Sanjeet Sandhu, was a medical resident under Granados and joined his private practice about four years ago. Most of Granados patients have chronic conditions that require continuous monitoring and appointments, according to a response filed by his attorney. Children with Type 1 diabetes typically see Granados every three months. Dr. Hector Granados at his Downtown El Paso office explains how different diabetes medications work on Jan. 3, 2025. Credit: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert/El Paso Matters Several mothers who take their children to Granados for Type 1 diabetes told El Paso Matters theyre anxious about how this lawsuit could affect their future care and whether they would have to travel out of town for a doctor should he be forced to stop practicing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Oguete said her 8-year-old daughter, who began seeing Granados for hypothyroidism and now Type 1 diabetes, already travels out of town for various specialists, including a rheumatologist in Phoenix. The lack of specialties here in El Paso theres not very many doctors that will see a child under the age of 12 here, Oguete said. Granados recounts another mother who told him her family misplaced a childs medication while on vacation. She was telling me, If youre not able to be here in El Paso anymore, what am I going to do? he said. If three days without medicine was a really difficult time, whats going to happen if theres not a doctor that is able to take care of my daughter? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Granados assured her, I follow the law. I didnt do anything wrong. Theres no reason for me to leave El Paso. Why the Texas attorney general is suing this El Paso doctor Texas SB 14 prohibits health care workers from providing certain transition-related medical treatments to people younger than 18. Treatments include puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries, though doctors rarely perform surgeries on children. Transgender people of all ages may be interested in gender-affirming care, from voice modification to hormone therapy, to treat gender dysmorphia, a distress caused when a persons gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The state is accusing Granados of prescribing puberty blockers to seven minors and testosterone to 14 minors for the purpose of gender transition, according to the filing. Paxtons office further accused Granados of falsifying medical records, prescriptions, and billing records to intentionally conceal the unlawful conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxton said in the lawsuit that Granados wrote prescriptions as recently as Aug. 19, 2024, with patients filling those prescriptions as recently as Oct. 12, 2024. The 21 alleged patients, who are unnamed in the lawsuit, were ages 12 to 17 at the time of the prescriptions. Two of the patients who allegedly received testosterone for transition are described as biologically male in the lawsuit. SB 14 does not ban the prescription of testosterone doses for males younger than 18. Texas is cracking down on doctors illegally prescribing dangerous gender transition drugs to children, Paxton said in an Oct. 30 news release. State law forbids prescribing these interventions to minors because they have irreversible and damaging effects. Any physician found doing so will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxton seeks both temporary and permanent injunctions against Granados, as well as more than $1 million including civil penalties and litigation expenses. A fact sheet from the Pediatric Endocrine Society describes puberty blockers as reversible. The organization also describes puberty blockers as a medication that has been used to treat precocious puberty with few side effects identified, though concerns exist about bone development. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first puberty blocker medication in 1993. Precocious puberty, also known as early puberty, occurs when a child begins sexually maturing at a young age, before 8 for girls and before 9 for boys. Along with rapid growth, girls may start experiencing menstruation and breast development, while boys may start experiencing deepened voices and testicular enlargement. Dr. Hector Granados, a pediatric endocrinologist, sits inside his office at Downtown El Paso clinic on the evening of Jan. 3 after finishing his appointments. Credit: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert/El Paso Matters Puberty blockers are meant to be temporary, delaying puberty until a youth is ready, but are not a one-off medication. Granados said he typically sees patients for precocious puberty at a young age and follows them into their teenage years to make sure theyre developing correctly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states lawsuit cites Granados medical records in its claims. Mark Bracken, the El Paso attorney representing Granados, said the Texas Attorney Generals Office never requested the doctor turn over his medical records prior to the lawsuit. Bracken said he is working with the Attorney Generals Office to try to obtain a protective order from the court that will allow the state to identify the alleged patients with provisions to protect their personal information from the public. Attorney files motion to move case to El Paso County In a response filed Nov. 25, Bracken filed a motion to move the case from Kaufman to El Paso, and a motion to dismiss the case. All of the prescriptions cited in the lawsuit were filled in El Paso, according to the states court filing. Granados resides and works in El Paso, splitting his time between his three clinics, as well as El Paso Childrens Hospital and the Hospitals of Providence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scheduling out-of-town court appearances would be difficult when Granados is on call three weeks every month for neonatal, emergency and pediatric intensive care, Bracken said. Granados would have to make multiple two-day trips to Kaufman to appear in court, taking time away from the patients who depend on him, he said. On a recent late afternoon in his Downtown office, Granados pulled out his cellphone to scan his number of patients. The doctor began making his hospital rounds at 6:30 a.m. that day. He sees anywhere from 22 to 28 patients a day and the practice receives an estimated average of 200 referrals for new patients every month. Granados sometimes opens the clinic on Saturdays to get through the backlog of new referrals, he said. Obesity is becoming more prevalent among children in El Paso, which can lead to metabolic issues, he said. After the start of the pandemic he began seeing more new patients with Type 2 diabetes, as well as Type 1, which is an autoimmune condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Granados began working and teaching at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso in 2014, where he opened El Pasos first transgender health clinic, before leaving in 2019 to go into private practice. After him and Sandhu, the next closest pediatric endocrinologist is in Ciudad Juarez, a four-drive to Albuquerque, New Mexico, or farther to Tucson, Arizona. Over the years, Granados has seen children and adolescents from Las Cruces, New Mexico, to Fort Hancock in West Texas, as well as families from Juarez seeking a second opinion. Any of Granados patients, their parents and staff called to be witnesses would have to take time off to make the journey to Kaufman and pay for their own travel expenses just to testify, Bracken said. The law is clear with these types of claims, if its filed, it has to be where the health care was provided and all the health care was provided here, Bracken said. This article first appeared on El Paso Matters and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure: Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Hospitals of Providence have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Correction, Jan. 10, 2025 at 9:55 a.m. : A previous version of this story that ran in El Paso Matters indicated Dr. Hector Granados left Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso in 2017. He left in 2019. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) Two law firms launched a civil investigation into the deadly New Years Day terror attack in New Orleans. New Orleans law firm Maples & Connick, LLC partnered with Chicago-based law firm Romanucci & Blandin, LLC to investigate the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Police Department and others after 14 people were left dead in the terror attack. Together, this legal team is committed to uncovering the truth about what was known and what actions were taken or not taken to make this deadly attack possible, Romanucci & Blandin said in a Wednesday press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to conduct a comprehensive review of security plans. Gov. Jeff Landry issued a state of emergency declaration after the attack. The declaration allows the state to use resources before the upcoming Super Bowl and Mardi Gras season. Latest: New Orleans hires former New York police czar amid investigations into security after terror attack Residents and visitors trusted New Orleans officials to ensure their safety, and it is deeply troubling to have preliminary information that municipal leaders were clearly aware of the vulnerability of Bourbon Street to the predictable and preventable events that ultimately occurred on January 1st. The violation of public trust is disturbing, and we are fiercely committed to seeking accountability in this case, said Romanucci & Blandin Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci. It is impossible to quantify this tragedys astounding impact on our community. The senseless loss of lives, catastrophic injuries and deep emotional wounds have devastated the lives of those who were there and the lives of their loved ones. There must be accountability for leaving those people vulnerable to that harm and trauma, said Maples & Connick Partner Aaron Maples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI says the man responsible for New Years truck attack visited New Orleans twice before Romanucci & Blandin have experience representing survivors of mass shootings, including the Uvalde, Texas school shooting and the deadly Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. Anyone with information or any individuals impacted by the New Orleans terror attack is encouraged to contact the legal team at intakes@rblaw.net or 312-458-1000. New Orleans is a city marked by tragedy. But dont call locals resilient Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. WASHINGTON Legislation introduced in Congress on Thursday would open the door to allowing incoming President Donald Trump to buy back the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Repurchase Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, would authorize the president, in coordination with the secretary of state, to initiate and conduct negotiations with appropriate counterparts of the Government of the Republic of Panama to reacquire the Panama Canal, according to the bills language. Dusty Johnson. Credit: Office of Congressman Dusty Johnson The legislation requires the president to submit a report to Congress six months after its enacted detailing the progress of the negotiations along with potential challenges and anticipated outcomes. The bill already has 16 co-sponsors, all Republicans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump in December began floating the idea of repurchasing the 51-mile-long waterway which President Jimmy Carter signed over to Panama in a 1977 treaty that took effect in 2000 for economic and national security reasons. President Trump is right to consider repurchasing the Panama Canal, Johnson said in a press release announcing the legislation. Chinas interest in and presence around the canal is a cause for concern. America must project strength abroad owning and operating the Panama Canal might be an important step towards a stronger America and a more secure globe. Johnsons office warned of growing influence by China in the Panama Canal region, pointing out that in 2018 Panama was the first country in Latin America to join Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, and that Chinese-backed companies have managing rights for the two ports on each end of the canal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without access to the Panama Canal, ocean shippers would be forced to travel 8,000 additional miles around South America. More than 10,000 ships use the Panama Canal each year, generating billions of dollars of tolls which would economically benefit America. Johnsons office cited data from the U.S. State Department showing that 72% of all vessel transits through the canal are coming from or destined for U.S. ports. It is also a key transit point for Coast Guard and Department of Defense vessels. After Trump posted on Truth Social about taking back the canal, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trumps claims of growing Chinese influence over the waterway and his claims of higher fees being charged to U.S. ships to use it. Trump underscored his interest in the canal this week when he refused to rule out using military action to take it over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked at a press conference on Tuesday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida whether he would assure he would not use military or economic coercion to get control of either the Panama Canal or Greenland, Trump said, according to Reuters, No, I cant assure you on either of those two. But I can say this: We need them for economic security. Panama Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha responded by saying, The only hands operating the canal are Panamanian, and that is how it is going to stay, the BBC reported. Related articles: Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Lawmaker introduces bill to allow purchase of Panama Canal appeared first on FreightWaves. Brookings children watch caterpillars grow at the local Boys and Girls Club. (Courtesy of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains) Lawmakers dedicated to tackling South Dakota child care affordability and sustainability plan to introduce a legislative package this year based on a statewide report released Friday by the South Dakota Early Childhood Task Force. A lack of affordable and accessible child care due primarily to unsustainable funding for child care providers lowers workforce productivity in the state, slows economic growth and costs the state an annual $392 million, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislative package, which task force leader and Brookings Republican Sen. Tim Reed plans to introduce, includes bills to: Provide scholarships for higher education students to pursue early education careers. Provide government-subsidized child care assistance at the true cost of care rather than the market rate. Expand the states child care assistance program. The bills will require state funding, though Reed hasnt determined an estimate yet. Given a tight budget this year due to lower-than-anticipated state revenues, he anticipates itll be a hard sell to lawmakers. Early Learner South Dakota Executive Director Kayla Klein, left, talks with Lake Area Improvement Corporation Executive Director Brooke Rollag during a session at the Early Learner Summit on Sept. 21, 2023, in Brookings. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Access to child care allows parents to work instead of leaving the workforce, Reed said, but it also invests in the states future. Research shows early childhood investments improve a childs potential and provide a return on investment for government spending as much as $4 to $9 return per $1 invested due to reduced need for special education, welfare support and incarceration in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kayla Klein, task force leader and CEO of Klein Visioneering Group, said child care reform focused at the local level is ready to go statewide. We need to remind ourselves that we are here for the youngest and most vulnerable citizens in South Dakota, which are our children, Klein said. They are the future of our state, and their parents and providers need all the support they can get to give the best start to their educational journey and growth. Policy recommendations: Improve child care access, affordability & workforce With more than 50,000 children aged 5 and younger with both parents working in South Dakota, there are 32,670 total licensed child care spaces in the state. Thats a potential child care gap of 35%. That gap, which grows as child care providers continue to close in the state, is primarily due to the industrys unsustainable funding model, Klein said. Child care businesses operate on slim to no margins at market rate, according to the task force report and a 2024 cost of care study by the state Department of Social Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With thin margins, child care workers have one of the lowest wages in the state at $12.67 an hour on average. Four out of 10 South Dakota early educators quit their jobs in 2021, according to the task force report, and less than 40% of surveyed workers in 2024 said theyre satisfied with pay, according to the departments workforce study. Fewer workers means fewer child care spaces available or more child care businesses closing. We need to be able to pay our child care workforce. If were ignoring that how much were able to pay the child care workers were never going to solve the problem of increasing capacity, Reed said. But many parents cant afford to pay more. Infant care at licensed centers costs 10-20% of a median familys income across the state, according to the report. In-home providers cost 9-12% of a median familys income. Seven percent of the median family income is considered affordable, the report says, citing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sen. Tim Reed, R-Brookings, on the state Senate floor during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Where the state can step in, Reed said, is reevaluating how much the state provides families and providers for child care assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Child Care Assistance Program is a federally funded program for low-income families to pay for child care. South Dakota uses a market rate assessment to reimburse child care providers. But it doesnt reflect the actual cost of care, according to the report, given that most businesses dont make enough money to pay their staff salaries comparable to other teaching professions. If youre not able to provide the true cost of care, youre not going to have capacity, Reed said. If you dont have capacity, you dont have people working. The state spends most of the federal money allocated to the program each year, Reed said, even with just 7% of eligible infants and toddlers receiving the benefit. The state financially supported an average of 2,985 children per month in fiscal year 2024, with an average monthly payment of $892.51 per case, according to the governors proposed budget. An increase in assistance would be on the states dime. Reeds hope is that the increased subsidies would allow child care providers to lower their tuition costs for families who dont rely on the assistance program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its only a start, Reed said. I think theres a lot more work to be done. Reed also plans to introduce a bill that would expand the states child care assistance program to include a parent who exceeds the programs income limits but works in the child care industry. The proposal aims to mirror a Kentucky program started in 2022. About a dozen states have implemented or are considering implementing similar policies since then. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A family is currently eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program if they earn less than 209% of the federal poverty level, or less than $54,000 a year for a family of three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed expansion aims to incentivize parents who leave the workforce to stay with their children at home to take a job as an early childhood worker instead making child care more affordable for those families, and increasing the workforce needed to stabilize the industry. Reed hopes creating state-supported scholarships for early childhood education could alleviate workforce concerns as well by drawing more workers into the profession. Aside from the task forces planned bills, the report recommends creating braided funding streams to supplement child care revenue. That effort should be carried out at the local level because the state just doesnt have the funding available, Reed said. Some communities are already using braided funding. Rapid City is piloting a tri-share model, where public, business and family partners share a third of child care costs. In Rapid Citys case, the nonprofit John T. Vucurevich Foundation, a plumbing company and the family each pay a third of tuition for 13 children whose families exceed eligibility for child care assistance but cant afford child care completely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All communities, Reed said, need to take a look at what they can do for braided funding. 2024 Child Care Workforce Study The early childhood task force report released Friday references data from a workforce study completed by the state Department of Social Services in late 2024. According to the department report: Buckle in, Arizona. The Legislature returns on Monday, with MAGA Republicans looming large and in charge, emboldened and itching to take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Look for bills regulating pronouns and bathrooms and a host of other proposals designed to win Hobbs veto. This year wont be so much about advancing the state as it will be about advancing Republicans gubernatorial prospects in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Yet, as our leaders dig in for two long years of political warfare, Arizona does have a few pressing issues crying out to be addressed. Things like: A looming public school shortfall I wouldnt expect this Legislature to address the states overcrowded classrooms or fleeing teachers or the fact that far too many students cant read and do math at grade level. But our leaders could, at least, ensure that the schools arent sucker punched with the loss of $300 million in state funding. You may recall nearly a decade ago, when then-Gov. Doug Ducey was ordered by the courts to start paying the schools money they were owed money that had been systemically withheld for years by a Legislature happy to hobble public education. Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Schools could become immigration scapegoats (again) Rather than funding the schools out of existing revenues a move that would have made it all but impossible to cut taxes every year Ducey devised a plan to temporarily boost school funding by raiding the state land trust that exists to benefit future generations of Arizona children. Ducey got voters to approve his 10-year plan. Now, that spigot is set to run dry on June 30. Hobbs and Republicans kicked the can down the road last year, so here they are, with just a few months to work out a plan to keep the money flowing and get it approved by voters. Advertisement Advertisement Or else. Water and the fact that we are running out of it In 2024, Attorney General Kris Mayes sued Fondomonte Arizona, claiming that the company is a public nuisance as it pumps La Paz County dry in order to grow alfalfa to feed Saudi Arabias cows. The Saudis, living in a desert, were smart enough to outlaw the water-intensive crop in their own land. Our Legislature? Not so smart. The Groundwater Management Act of 1980 regulates pumping in designated, mostly urban, areas of the state.In much of rural Arizona, however, you can still suck the ground dry for Saudi cows and such. Every year, the Legislature ignores the pleas of the people who live in areas where mega farms owned by out-of-state businesses are sucking billions of gallons of water from wells drilled deeper and deeper into the parched earth to produce crops for export. Advertisement Advertisement This, thanks to certain rural lawmakers in the pocket of agricultural interests and the apparent indifference of legislative leaders who could override them. Meanwhile, we watch as groundwater accumulated over thousands of years is going, going ... Election results that are far too slow It took seven days to figure out that Ruben Gallego defeated Kari Lake for a spot in the U.S. Senate. Thats actually faster than in 2022, when it took 13 days to learn that Katie Hobbs defeated Lake for governor. In 2020, it took 10 days to learn that Joe Biden won Arizona. Its frustrating, and worse, it gets the conspiracy crowd all riled up, certain that theres a plot afoot to steal the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Theres no plot. What there is, is a ridiculously high number of voters nearly a quarter of a million in November who are dropping off their early ballots at polling places on Election Day, inundating county election workers with ballots they cant by law even begin process until the next day. Republicans want to speed up the counting by cutting off early ballot drop offs on the Friday before the election. You could still vote early after that, but youd have to show ID to do it. Look for Democrats to scream, as it is usually their voters who disproportionately drop off their early ballots on Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Hobbs already has said shell veto the bill, telling reporters anything that makes it harder for Arizonans to vote is a no for me. But if you can drop off your early ballot on Election Day, you can just as easily vote in person on Election Day. Or embrace the early in early ballot and drop it in the mail. This is a reform whose time has come. Loosey-goosey ESAs Republicans are thrilled with the popularity of their two-year-old universal voucher plan the one that allows any parent to scoop up $7,500 or more in public funds to flee public schools even if their kids were never in public schools. Dont look for this Legislature to place any limits on this exploding program, which is closing in on $800 million and well on its way to the big B. Advertisement Advertisement But really, is it asking too much that lawmakers come up with a plan and adequate staffing to actually oversee all that spending? In the past year, weve learned that were funding the education of dozens of children who dont exist and furthering academic excellence via the purchase of ski passes and dune buggies. Faced with an inability to keep up with the runaway program, Superintendent Tom Horne announced late last year that hes now rubber stamping any expense under $2,000 giving fraudsters a roadmap for how to best rip us off, $1,999 at a time. Meanwhile, Pro Publica recently reported that Arizona regulators closed a charter school funded by taxpayers one that had failed both financially and academically only to watch as it reopened as a private religious school funded by taxpayers via the Empowerment Scholarship Program. Advertisement Advertisement The ESA-funded school collapsed in September, leaving parents scrambling and surprised. ESA-funded schools, after all, dont have to publicly disclose their academic performance or their financial picture. The Legislature should change that, so that parents can make informed choices about how to spend our money. While theyre at it, our leaders ought to end this business of parents keeping ESA funds they dont use. Hundreds of millions of dollars there to educate children in any way their parents see fit isnt even being spent. The Grand Canyon Institute reported that 60,000 ESA accounts ended the last fiscal year with unspent funds totaling $360 million. Advertisement Advertisement If our money wasnt needed to educate a child, shouldnt we get it back? Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @laurieroberts.bsky.social. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Legislature 2025 goal: To defeat Gov. Hobbs in 2026 | Opinion JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Missouri lawmakers are criticizing Capitol Police for not being transparent enough during emergency situations. A bipartisan panel of lawmakers told the chief of the Missouri Capitol Police Thursday they are concerned about their safety inside the statehouse. This comes after threats were made, but the General Assembly said it was not informed. Now, members are calling for changes to the way the building is secured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These concerns stem from numerous occasions of threats, including bomb threats being made against the state Capitol building, without leadership in either body being notified, Senate President Cindy OLaughlin said during the committee hearing. In one of their first hearings of the year, leaders of both chambers said they are troubled about the gap in information. Lawmakers said they want an immediate update on threats. When asked if she feels safe in the Capitol, OLaughlin said yes. We just want to let people know the things that do concern us, and we want to think that were well versed in what is expected for us and people who visit the Capitol, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, chairs the Joint Committee on Capitol Security. Enforcing Missouris hands-free law: Can officers take your phone? Some people in the General Assembly and the staff have raised concerns and issues with that that have potentially hampered the capabilities of members and staff that would like to be efficiently and effectively able to perform and be a part of the solution and of the security apparatus of this building, Brattin said. In a letter signed by OLaughlin and House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lees Summit, to Chief Zim Schwartze, they questioned why theres only one entrance for visitors after the state paid for more than one metal detector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the General Assembly and staff alike have been stopped from entering the building through certain entrances, while some members of the public are not even screened before entering the building, OLaughlin said. The meeting comes on the heels of Mondays governor inauguration. Schwartze said a security plan has been in the works for months. It is a very comprehensive plan, and weve been meeting regularly, as well as a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails, and a lot of information has been shared, Schwartze said. Under current rules, people who have a concealed carry permit are allowed to enter the Capitol with a firearm but cannot be in any legislative meeting rooms or in the House or Senate chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee plans to meet again in the coming weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The ski patrol strike at Park City Mountain, Utah, is over, but now a lawsuit has been filed against Vail Resorts for allegedly not disclosing the strike's impacts. Christopher Bisaillon, the plaintiff, has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of guests that purchased Park City Mountain lift tickets between December 27th and January 8ththe duration of the ski patrol strike. The lawsuit accuses Vail Resorts, which owns Park City Mountain, of intentionally and willfully deceived hundreds of thousands of consumers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Vail Resorts failed to disclose the strike and resultant conditions on Park Citys operations, what was expected to be a dream vacation for thousands of families, at the expense of tens of thousands of dollars per family, quickly turned into a colossal nightmare, the 16-page class action complaint reads. Three law firms are involved in the lawsuit: Meyers & Flowers, Tarpey Wix, and The Spence Law Firm. In December, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) unanimously voted to authorize a strike against Vail Resorts after hanging in contract limbo for several months. Then, on December 27th, the patrollers went on strike in pursuit of better benefits and pay. The strike appeared difficult for Park City to manage, and one video, reportedly showing frustrated guests chanting Pay your employees! while waiting in a large lift line at the resort, circulated online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bisaillons complaint alleges that during the strike, only approximately 16% of Park Citys terrain was open, with guests facing lift lines that were up to three hours long. Park City Mountain COO Deirdra Walsh acknowledged the strikes operational impacts in an editorial written for The Park Record. On behalf of the resort, I want to apologize to everyone that we havent been able to open the terrain we had hoped for by now and that the line wait times were longer than usual during the peak holiday because of the ski patrol union strike, Walsh wrote. After the strike concluded this week, Bill Rockthe president of Vail Resorts Mountain Divisionsaid in a statement, We apologize to our guests who were impacted by this strike and are incredibly grateful to our team who worked hard to keep the mountain open and operating safely over the past two weeks. Related: Get Married for Free at Revelstoke, BC, on Valentine's Day Be the first to read breaking ski news with POWDER. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. From ski resort news to profiles of the worlds best skiers, we are committed to keeping you informed. Jan. 9Wage increases for hundreds of thousands of Missouri workers officially went into effect at the beginning of the year, following the passage of Prop A in November. The law increases the state minimum wage from $12.30 to $13.75 an hour, and again to $15 by Jan. 1, 2026, while also boosting paid sick leave requirements for private employers. "Prior to this increase that just happened on Jan. 1, the full-time minimum wage worker was making less than $500 a week," said Richard von Glahn, campaign manager of Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages, a Prop A support group. "We're really excited to see some economic security being delivered to Missouri's hard-working families." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the new law say it benefits workers and relieves the burden on parents forced to decide between losing pay, going to work sick or sending children to school while ill. According to the Fairness Project, a U.S. non-profit that supports economic and social justice efforts, the law will boost access to necessities like food, housing and medical care for 137,000 parents and more than 300,000 children. "It is estimated that one in five Missouri children live in a household that was getting a raise as of the Jan. 1st increase," von Glahn said. "We know the positive benefits that economic security can have on child well-being." But the future of Prop A is now in question after officials representing some of the state's top business groups, including the Missouri Restaurant Association, Missouri Grocers Association and Associated Industries of Missouri challenged the law as unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claims that ballot language was inefficient and voters were not fully informed about who the measure applies to and its financial impact on businesses. "The fact that this passed is devastating to small businesses," said Buddy Lahl, Missouri Restaurant Association CEO and a plaintiff in the case. "Trying to overturn a vote of the people is extremely unpopular. It's not a position we want to be in. I would have preferred we have done this before it ever went to the vote." Along with Prop A's gradual increase to $15, the measure requires all employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Small businesses with fewer than 15 workers must offer five days of paid sick leave each year while larger businesses must provide seven days. Lahl said many aspects of the law are cumbersome regulations for small business owners, creating additional financial challenges for entrepreneurs looking to start a business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit is requesting the Missouri Supreme Court overturn the Proposition on several counts, one claiming it violates a constitutional requirement that ballot issues address only one subject. Under current state legislation, an initiative petition proposing a constitutional change must contain a single subject and matters properly connected. "The sick pay portion doesn't kick in until May. That's probably the bigger issue for us is the sick pay," Lahl said. "There's also a clause at the bottom of the initiative that says that any portion or part of the ballot initiative could be struck as unconstitutional. So the court could say that these are two separate issues." Exceptions to the law include retail or service businesses with an annual gross income of less than $500,000, certain full-time students who are working part time and most agricultural or farm employees. Governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions are also exempt. Von Glahn said it's unfortunate that groups are trying to overturn an initiative petition that received 58% of voter approval statewide. Results in Buchanan County were nearly identical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think that's frankly a shameful thing to do. And they would be better off working with their employers, informing their employers on what the new benefits are and how to comply with them," von Glahn said. No timeline has been determined on how fast the Missouri Supreme Court could rule on the lawsuit, which was filed on Dec. 6. "Eighteen other states already have this (paid sick) requirement. Most modern economic countries have this requirement at the national level. It's why I think you see such clear and overwhelming support," von Glahn said. The Florida Bar will recognize 21 lawyers across the state for their work for low-income and disadvantaged clients. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] A ceremony will take place at the Supreme Court of Florida on Thursday, January 16. The Flordia Bar Presidents Pro Bono Service Award is intended to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services and recognize those who help make public service commitments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Bar President Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. will present the awards, will will be in conjunction with the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award. Among the 21 nominees, several operate here in Northeast Florida. They are: Fred Cromwell Issac, 4th Judicial Circuit (Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties) 'Fred Cromwell Isaac has provided legal services for the past 50 years, earning a pristine professional reputation among fellow legal professionals and clients alike. Isaac has provided pro bono legal assistance to several hundred clients over the years who could not afford legal representation. Previously, he provided services through Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the Jacksonville Bar Association; however, at this stage in his career, he provides direct legal services to individuals and nonprofits who could not otherwise afford representation. In the past year, he has provided over 150 hours of pro bono service, representing clients in three probate cases, providing estate planning documents to four clients, two of whom were critically ill and hospitalized; and handling several contract negotiations/disputes. One contract litigation case involved over 100 hours and took over two years to conclude. Isaac wrote off all the fees for the client, who was a veteran.' Carol Ann Tipton Daniels, 7th Judicial Circuit (St. Johns, Volusia, Flagler, and Putnam counties) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past 15 years, Carol Ann Tipton Daniels has dedicated hundreds of hours to St. Johns Countys most vulnerable populations, providing a consistent source of hope to those who need it the most. Each month, Daniels assists with St. Johns County Legal Aids Pro Bono Advice Clinic as well as its Pro Se Forms Class. In addition to this regular commitment, she has accepted individual pro bono cases. Throughout her 46-year legal career, Daniels has practiced law in California, Massachusetts, Texas, and, since 2009, Florida. She barely let the dust settle on her new legal practice 15 years ago before reaching out to the St. Johns County Legal Aid office, where she jumped right in to help people with family law questions, issues, cases, and pro se forms.' Eric Andrew Atria, 8th Judicial Circuit (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties) Eric Andrew Atria has dedicated his entire career to indigent criminal defense. From 2005 when he worked as a public defender to today, when he works as an assistant conflict counsel with the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Atria has demonstrated an enduring commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to competent counsel. Unsatisfied with merely serving the public in these government roles, Atria began providing pro bono services in 2019, after he received a blanket solicitation email from the Florida Pro Bono Law School Challenge program, which pairs lawyers with law students to work on pro bono cases. The Law School Challenge connected him with legal aid services in multiple circuits in the state, where he subsequently stepped up to help with any sealing/expunge requests they received. Atria also regularly participates in the Alachua County Drivers License Clinic, where he helps residents navigate the license reinstatement process.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) College bound high school seniors have an opportunity to attend a workshop on Friday to learn how they can claim free cash for college. Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation is hosting a free community workshop tomorrow, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Beale Memorial Library Auditorium. Beale Memorial Library is located at 701 Truxtun Ave. Targeted enforcement arrests: Border Patrol breaks silence, reveals details on Kern County operation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuing college students and returning adult learners that need help with financial aid applications are also welcome to attend. Students can also get help completing their California Dream Act Application, the foundation said through a news release. Snacks will be available, as well as giveaways. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. BEIRUT (Reuters) -Five people were killed and four wounded in an Israeli strike on the town of Tayr Debba in southern Lebanon on Friday, the Lebanese health ministry said. The Israeli military said it had conducted an airstrike on vehicles loaded with weapons used by Lebanon's Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon. The army said it "continues to be committed to the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon, is deployed in the southern Lebanon area, and will work to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a U.S.-brokered 60-day ceasefire that calls for a phased Israeli military pullout after more than a year of war, in keeping with a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution that ended their last major conflict. Israel launched an offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon last September, following nearly a year of cross-border hostilities ignited by the Gaza war, pounding wide areas of Lebanon from the air and sending troops into the south. The conflict began when Hezbollah opened fire in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas after Hamas launched the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Enas Alashray, Editing by Peter Graff, Timothy Heritage and Kevin Liffey) The Lebanese parliament elected armed forces commander Joseph Aoun as the country's new president on Thursday in a second round of voting. Aoun received 99 votes in a second vote from the 128-member parliament. A first vote in the morning produced no result. "Today a new phase in Lebanon's history has begun and I will be the first servant to preserve the charter and the national accord document," Aoun said in addressing the parliament after he was sworn in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will invest in the army to control and secure the borders in the south and demarcate them in the east and north, fight terrorism, implement international resolutions and prevent Israeli attacks," Aoun said in his inauguration speech. "I will work to confirm the state's right to monopolize the carrying of weapons ... Interference in the judiciary is prohibited, and there are no immunities for criminals or corrupt people, and there are no mafias, drug smuggling or money laundering," he added. The pro-Iranian Shiite Hezbollah militia and its allied Amal movement did not vote for Aoun in the first round. It was the parliament's 13th attempt to elect a president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some lawmakers who abstained from voting for Aoun argued that a constitutional amendment is required for his eligibility as president. The current constitution bars individuals who have held high government positions within the past two years from assuming the presidency. The small Mediterranean country has been without a head of state for more than two years after Michel Aoun - not related to commander Aoun - left office as planned at the end of October 2022. Since then, the country with around 6 million residents has been led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a caretaker capacity. The election of a president has repeatedly failed due to power struggles within the political elite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The session took place in the presence of foreign and Arab ambassadors and French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian. As military chief, Aoun is currently also responsible for monitoring the ceasefire agreed between pro-Iranian Shiite militia Hezbollah and Israel in November. Aoun, who turns 61 on Friday, comes from a Maronite Christian family in a suburb east of Beirut. During the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the 1980s, he began a career at the military academy. He later rose to the rank of general and in 2017 became commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. He has studied political science and international relations but has not held any political office to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aoun is said to be the preferred candidate of the United States and France, among others, and of several influential Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Lebanon is deeply divided along religious lines and power has been divided there for decades according to a proportional system. The president is always a Christian, the head of government a Sunni and the speaker of parliament a Shiite. Hezbollah, which is allied with Iran, has played an influential role for years in imposing a president loyal to Iran and neighbouring Syria, which was led by the recently ousted al-Assad regime. Hezbollah had supported its presidential candidate Suleiman Frangieh until recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frangieh announced on Wednesday evening that he was withdrawing his candidacy, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. Israel, Iran congratulate Lebanon's new president Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar congratulated Aoun on his election as the nation's new president. "I congratulate Lebanon upon the election of a new President, following a lengthy political crisis. I hope that this choice will contribute towards stability, a better future for Lebanon and its people and to good neighborly relations," he said in the post. Iran also congratulated Aoun on his election as president, in a post on X by its embassy in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehran hopes to promote the shared interests of both countries, according to a statement from the diplomatic mission. The unexpected agreement in parliament on Aoun shows the lessening of political influence of pro-Iran Hezbollah, after the war with Israel and upheaval in Syria, which may weaken Tehran's regional influence. Hezbollah was founded in 1982 with Iranian support as a response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. In the decades that followed, it became a powerful political and military organization with major influence on the Lebanese state and its institutions. Biden has 'fullconfidence' in Lebanon's new president Outgoing US President Joe Biden has expressed his confidence in the new Lebanese president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden "has full confidence President Aoun is the right leader to guide Lebanon through this moment of challenges and opportunities for his country," the White House said in statement. "President Aoun will provide critical leadership as Lebanon and Israel fully implement that cessation of hostilities and as hundreds of thousands of people return to their homes and Lebanon recovers and rebuilds," the statement continued. Biden also recalled the suffering caused not only by the war but also by the ongoing financial crisis in Lebanon. Lebanon's newly-elected President Joseph Aoun takes the oath of the office at the Lebanese Parliament. Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun left office in October 2022. -/Lebanese Parliament/dpa From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch Its weird when elected officials respond to electoral incentives. It shouldnt bethats Democracy 101but Ill never get used to it. For most of my adult life, standard practice for the losing side in presidential elections has been to question the legitimacy of the outcome and/or to vow defiantly to obstruct the victors agenda. After George W. Bush prevailed in 2000 with help from the U.S. Supreme Court, Democrats dubbed him selected, not elected. After Barack Obama won a sweeping victory in 2008, Mitch McConnell declared it his highest political priority to make Obama a one-term president. After Donald Trump upset Hillary Clinton in 2016, the so-called Resistance began staging mass protests on Day 2 of his administration. After Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020well, you know all about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the cleaner presidential outcomes of the past 25 years didnt lead the losing party to reckon with its failures. Bush was reelected with a majority of the popular vote in 2004 but Americans had already begun souring on the Iraq occupation. Within two years, anti-war sentiment would propel Democrats to a large House majority. Ditto for Obamas easy victory in 2012: Despite a brief bout of GOP hand-wringing over immigration afterward, congressional Republicans stayed the course on border enforcement and Tea Party fiscal policies. Their party ended up pulverizing Obamas Democrats in the 2014 midterm. The 2024 election is the first one this century where the losing party seems thoroughly chastened by the result and convinced that it needs to rethink its approach in order to compete with the victors going forward. Well 2020 was like that too in a sense. McConnell and a number of centrist Senate Republicans ended up cooperating with the Biden administration on numerous big-ticket legislative itemsan infrastructure package, the CHIPS Act, a gun-control bill, military aid for Ukraine, and the Electoral Count Reform Act. They did so, I suspect, because they looked at Trumps 2020 defeat and the aftermath and deduced that swing voters had come to view the GOP as, well, crazy. To convince them otherwise, moderate Republicans resolved to prove their sanity by working with Democrats on matters of mutual interest. They responded to electoral incentives, in other words, or at least what they thought the electoral incentives created by the 2020 election were. Then their party turned around and renominated the same once-convicted, twice-impeached, four-times-indicted coup-plotter who had lost the previous election and American voters turned around and reelected him, proving they dont care a jot about sanity when the price of eggs is high. Frankly, if theres any evidence that the Senate GOPs bipartisanship mattered to swing voters on Election Day last year, Ive missed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, its refreshing when the losing party tries to learn a lesson from election outcomes, even when its the wrong lesson. The lesson Democrats learned in November, which I think is the right lesson, is that if liberals insist that only fascists will enforce borders, then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals refuse to do. Which brings us to the Laken Riley Act. Lessons learned. The Riley Act is named for the young woman murdered last year in Georgia by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. That immigrant, Jose Ibarra, had previously been caught shoplifting but was given a misdemeanor citation and released instead of being hauled in, leaving him free to kill. Among other things, the Riley Act would require mandatory federal detention henceforth for any illegal immigrant arrested for theft. The bill passed the House last year but went nowhere in the Senate, unable to draw Democratic support partly due to some argle-bargle in the text denouncing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their open-borders policies. A lot has changed since then: The language about Biden and Harris was stripped out, Republicans took control of the Senate and put the bill on the floor, and voters reinstalled a miscreant as president because hes at least willing to treat massive unchecked population inflows across the southern border as a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats learned their lesson. On Thursday the Senate voted to open debate on the Riley Act by a broadly bipartisan margin of 84-9, with 31 members of Chuck Schumers conference voting in favor. The face of left-wing support for the legislation is Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, whod been trotting toward the center for more than a year but has begun racing there since Republicans cleaned up in his home state on Election Day. On Tuesday he appeared on the rights favorite news network and made the case for passing the Riley Act in stark electoral terms. If we cant [come] up with seven votes, he said of his Democratic colleagues, if we cant get at least seven out of 47 then thats the reason why we lost. Hes not kidding. If you havent seen the gruesome exit poll data on immigration, feast your eyes. As a matter of basic politics, supporting bills like the Riley Act is a no-brainer for purple-state Democrats like Fetterman, and worth strong consideration even by blue-state senators who could get away with voting no. The party desperately needs to communicate newfound seriousness about reducing illegal immigration; the more unified the conference is in doing so, the stronger that signal will be sent. Theres just one catch. The Riley Act isnt very good legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I recommend reading columnist Catherine Rampell and attorney Ilya Somin to better understand its defects but the case against it boils down to two points. One: The bill might have the perverse effect of freeing more dangerous criminals than it detains. Theres a finite amount of federal detention space, after all; if every accused thief in the illegal population now needs to be warehoused by the Department of Homeland Security, the feds will quickly run out of room and have to start letting other detainees go. The next Jose Ibarra might be a hardened criminal whos sent to a DHS facility but turned away and released because the bed that would have been assigned to him is occupied by some petty shoplifter whos no threat to anyone. Two: The bill isnt limited to illegal immigration. It grants state attorneys general standing to sue to block certain legal forms of entrylike visas and humanitarian parole for those fleeing mayhem in their home nationif the federal government isnt enforcing immigration law rigorously enough in their states. For instance, if a country doesnt fully cooperate with DHS on receiving deportees, a state AG could file suit to stop visas from being issued to highly skilled legal immigrants from that countrywhich might harm the U.S. on balance, has little to do with violent crime committed by illegals in any event, and would create something like a veto for red states over the next Democratic presidents immigration policy. The bill, in other words, is a prime example of the sort of dilemma that Republicans are likely to torment Democrats with throughout this Congress, The Bulwarks Andrew Egger wrote on Friday. It dangles an opportunity Democrats wantan opportunity for a tough-on-immigration voteand threatens further damage to their brand if they dont play ball. But it also quietly includes alarming structural changes that Democrats would never sign onto on their own, ratcheting up the pain of passing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What should Senate Democrats do? A hill to die on? I think they should support the bill, however reluctantly. Whats the realistic alternative? Obviously they can and will try to amend it to remove at least the provisions about legal immigration but I cant imagine theyll succeed. They have no leverage. Immigration is the incoming presidents pet issue, the one thing above all others on which he can plausibly claim a mandate, and he won decisively on the issue on Election Day, as noted above. The GOP is momentarily in a position to dictate terms to Democrats, particularly with Fetterman offering them cover on the bill. They have no reason to agree to an amendment. Immigration will also assuredly be the defining issue of Trumps second term, promising many more dilemmas to come of the sort Egger described. The Riley Act is a minor skirmish in a war whose major battles will be fought over mass deportation and ending birthright citizenship. Democrats need to somehow boost their credibility on immigration with centrist voters while condemning Trumps inevitable enforcement abuses in order to appease their base. Which hill do they want to die on? They need to pick their spots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An early legislative concession would give them a leg to stand on in the fights to come: Were against cruelty and brutality, not enforcement per se. We helped pass the Riley Act, didnt we? Someday when Democrats regain total control of the federal government they can quietly undo the acts language on legal immigration by sticking its repeal somewhere in a must-pass funding bill. But the alternative, filibustering the Riley Act now, would amount to betting that Trumps immigration agenda will prove so unpopular by 2026 or 2028 that the left will be rewarded rather than punished by voters for having relentlessly obstructed it. I would not make that bet. Heck, some centrist Democrats like Fetterman might even regard the provisions in the bill granting red states a veto over federal immigration policy as more of a feature than a bug. The last thing those centrists need in 2028 and beyond is Biden redux, where a member of their party waltzes into the White House and decides that enforcing the border is more or less optional. Having the threat of Republican lawsuits hanging over a Democratic presidents head will make it easy for him or her to justify being stickler on immigration to progressives. Id like to have open borders, you see, but that damned Laken Riley Act has forced my hand. Speaking of which: Wont progressives be furious if Democrats help pass this bill? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe. Probably. So? Who cares? At no point in the past 20 years has the left been as weak politically as it is now. During the Bush years it gained strength by opposing the Iraq war; during the Obama years it exulted in the triumph of the coalition of the ascendant; during the Trump years it galvanized the Resistance and saw its party win the presidency and both houses of Congress in 2020. But in 2024 its a spent force. Economist Noah Smith summarized the state of progressivism this way: The grassroots activists only care about Gaza and bashing Democrats (or got exhausted and quit politics), the Warren/Roosevelt Institute approach turned into a bunch of pork, and identity politics just drove Latinos to the GOP. Ask the average voter what they think of when they think of leftist government and I expect theyll offer some mix of urban chaos, gender madness, fruitless spending, and a border policy that views anything less than complete neglect as proof of xenophobia. No wonder, then, that this was the first presidential election this century in which the losers validated the result as a verdict on their shortcomings and accepted voters demands that they do better. Democrats themselves have been carping for years about the cultural baggage with which progressives have saddled themor with which theyve foolishly chosen to saddle themselves. To lose to a figure as loathsome and unfit as Trump, a party needs to go above and beyond in convincing voters that it cant be trusted to govern. Democrats managed it. Its so shocking and dispiriting that they cant muster the usual quadrennial excuses in defeat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten days out from Trumps inauguration, there are no major protests planned of which Im aware. Joe Biden will rubber-stamp Trumps legitimacy by attending the ceremony, seated a few feet from the man who tried to make him the victim of the first coup in American history. When the new president speaks, hell do so as the first Republican in 20 years to have won the popular vote. The fact that, as of Friday morning, hes officially a convicted felon has passed largely without comment by his opponents. Theres no resistance this time because liberalsincluding progressivesseem to have digested that the American appetite for progressivism isnt what they thought it was. There arent enough college-educated voters in the partys new coalition to replace all of the working-class voters whom theyve scared away. So the left is being left behind by Democrats. For now. The backlash to come. But not forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching Senate liberals rally behind the Laken Riley Act, I thought of the partys turn toward the center in the early 1990s under Bill Clinton. One of the major legislative initiatives to pass Congress during that era was the federal crime bill written to assuage spiking anxiety over public disorder. Its author was Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Progressives held that against Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Someday when theyve rebuilt some political capital, theyll hold the Riley Act against Senate Democrats who helped Republicans to pass it. I dont think theyre dumb enough to primary John Fetterman in a reddening state where, by dint of his incumbency and his bipartisan appeal, hes plainly his partys best option to hold his Senate seat. But could they stage a comeback in an America polarized by Trump and sink Fetterman in a presidential primary in 2028 or 2032? You betcha. It might not even take that long. One can imagine a world in which Trumps mass deportation program proves so dubious or bloody that enraged leftists come to regard casting a vote for a Republican immigration bill as the domestic version of casting a vote for the invasion of Iraq in 2002. Hillary Clinton might have won the presidency in 2008 or 2016 if she had had the foresight to oppose the war as a member of the Senate. Instead she was never forgiven for having done the easy thing by going along with popular sentiment at the time. Like Fetterman and Senate Democrats are doing now. Still, theres something to be said for doing the easy thing. If past is prologue, the next election (and the one after that, and the one after that) will be a referendum on the governing party with voters primed as ever to believe that America is on the wrong track. Should the Laken Riley Act prove to be a disaster, it aint Democrats wholl take the brunt of public discontent over it. And if its a success, Fetterman and his colleagues will at least have reassured wary swing voters that they wont be dooming America to more immigration dysfunction by electing a Democratic House majority in 2026. The Laken Riley Act will probably be bad but in the end it wont crack the top 100 worst things about a second Trump presidency. Hows that for an argument for Democrats to grit their teeth and support it? Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, speaks at a December rally in Baltimore about low staffing levels and unsafe working conditions in state buildings. File photo by Danielle J. Brown. Two District Court buildings in Baltimore have been declared clear of unsafe levels of legionella in their water systems, following four buildings at the State Center complex that were cleared of the bacteria over the last four weeks. A union representing state workers said it is pleased to see the progress for those six buildings, the only ones that have been tested for the bacteria so far. But the union says more testing needs to be done in other state buildings to ensure all employees are working in a safe environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were happy that these buildings were cleared, a representative with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 said Thursday. Were worried about other buildings. There needs to be more testing. Eric Solomon, communications director for the Department of General Services, said in an email Thursday that test results from the District Court buildings at 5800 Wabash Ave. and 700 E. Patapsco Ave. in Baltimore were all within the normal limits for safe drinking water, which he said was good news for staff at the two District Court buildings. All restrictions have been lifted, meaning the water is drinkable, Solomon said in the Thursday email. State Center in midtown Baltimore, with the Fifth Regiment Armory in the background. Dec. 3, 2024. Photo by Danielle J. Brown. Legionella is a bacteria that can grow in stagnant water systems and lead to severe illness or even death among certain vulnerable people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, there have been no employee illnesses due to exposure to Legionella within a state building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of AFSCME Chapter 3 said the bacterias presence at State Center and the two District Court buildings speaks to larger concerns about unsafe staffing levels and working conditions within state facilities. The union fears Legionella may be present in other state buildings but have not been tested yet, so there is no way to know whether the water is safe to drink. In a follow-up email, Solomon noted that the initial testing of State Center and the District Court buildings was part of baseline testing to help measure water quality in state facilities, and that a more extensive plan to test more buildings throughout the state is under development. A sign above the main entrance to the Maine State House in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) At its first meeting of the 132nd Maine Legislature, the Government Oversight Committee discussed how accessing confidential information is paramount to its mission. Even before the committee laid out its rules and other orientation matters, members went into a closed-door session to discuss the recent court decision denying the committee access to confidential information pertaining to the states embattled child welfare system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the private discussion, the committee met with its attorney, Joshua Dunlap with Pierce Atwood LLP in Portland, about next steps. The committee said it plans to continue its work looking into the states child welfare agency and spent time Friday publicly discussing the importance of finding ways to access confidential records and information in doing that work. In August 2022, the committee asked the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which houses the Office of Child and Family Services, to view records relating to the 2021 deaths of four children. The department denied the committee access, citing confidentiality laws. After that denial, the committee filed an action in the Kennebec County Superior Court urging the department to comply with its subpoena. The court denied the committees request, ruling that it did not have the authority to access the confidential records. The committee appealed the decision to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, which held a hearing in December 2023 before ruling in line with the lower court decision. The decision, released last month, states that the oversight committee does not have the authority to view the records, nor does the exception that allows a legislative official with responsibility for child protection services to view the records apply in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meeting with the attorney, Senate chair Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec) said the committee is aware that its litigation has ended and there would need to be statute changes to access such confidential records in the future. If this committee, now or in the future, should have access to any privileged records, it needs to be clarified in statute, Hickman said. So, by 4 oclock today, any member of the Legislature is free to file a bill seeking to do or not do just that. However, Hickman already filed a bill seeking to make those changes earlier in the week. His proposal, LD 127, seeks to allow the Government Oversight Committee access to privileged and confidential records while keeping them exempt from public disclosure. The bill was filed as an emergency measure, meaning it would take effect immediately upon approval, rather than having to wait the typical 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Former lawmakers, who helped found and served on the committee, also spoke at the meeting Friday morning about the importance of being able to access information for the committees accountability work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This committee is built on confidential information that other committees cant have, said former Democratic Sen. Bill Diamond, who has long championed child welfare reform and founded a nonprofit dedicated to the issue. As a bipartisan watchdog, former Republican Sen. David Trahan said it is the committees job to fix state programs when they go bad. But having complete information is crucial, he added. How can you fix a problem if you dont know the facts that led to that problem? Continuing the work on child welfare For years, the committee has evaluated the Office of Child and Family Services, which is responsible for the more than 2,500 children who are in state custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last session, the committee reviewed the case of Jaden Harding, who died when he was six weeks old after his family was involved with the system for years, and heard from frontline workers who spoke of strenuous work conditions, among other agency issues. Last May, the committee suggested more than two dozen reforms for the child welfare system. During the meeting Friday, the committee received an update on the state of Maines system through the 2024 annual report from Child Welfare Ombudsman Christine Alberi. According to her report, the agency has implemented some changes under the new leadership of Director Bobbi Johnson, but it noted that improvement takes time and there continue to be struggles, particularly with initial investigations and the reunification of families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last summer and fall, Johnson reported fewer vacancies for caseworkers and case aides, highlighting a number of incentives that she believed are improving retention. There were also reports of improved support for foster families and the agency contracted with a second child abuse pediatrician for increased capacity for consultations. The work of improvement is difficult and will not happen overnight, but currently appears to be started on the right path, Alberi wrote in her report. But in the meantime, she said, caseworkers and other frontline staff are still working under enormous pressure from technology issues, a shortage of defense attorneys and a lack of mental and behavioral health resources. Alberi also noted that finding a safe place for children who have been removed from their families is a drain on caseworkers. Often, those workers are left supervising those children in hospitals or hotel rooms. This was a key issue 145 caseworkers raised in a letter of no confidence in leadership they signed last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its response to the ombudsman report, OCFS again outlined specific changes it has made and agreed with the assessment that workforce shortages continue to challenge the system. A federal audit released in November found that most abuse and neglect investigations in 2021 and 2022 in the state failed to comply with best practice. Johnson said if the same review were completed under the changes shes implemented, it would produce better results. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Despite underlying partisan tension over the cost of electricity in Connecticut, the years first meeting of the legislatures Energy and Technology Committee went on without any flare ups. After the meeting, the committees leaders traded barbs that previewed coming fights fueled by widespread ratepayer anger. What to expect in the 2025 Connecticut legislative session On the surface, the meeting was cordial with members taking turns introducing themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im just really excited to work across the aisle to make sure that we do something to address the state of affordability of energy in this state, State Rep. Joe Canino, a first-term Republican from Torrington, said in his introductory remarks. Another freshman lawmaker, Democratic State Rep. Nick Gauthier of Waterford, nodded to his partys emphasis on combating climate change. Im very supportive of carbon-free, sustainable energy going forward, Gauthier said, noting that his hometown is the site of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station. The Millstone plant produces a significant portion of Connecticuts electricity supply and was at the center of the controversy over last summers higher-than-expected electric bills. The costs of a 2017 law requiring Connecticuts utilities to purchase power from the plant contributed to a spike in the public benefits charge on ratepayer bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the hearing room, the committees leaders spoke more sharply about electricity costs. State Sen. Ryan Fazio, the Republican point man on energy issues, renewed his push for a 6-point plan that he claims will deliver relief for ratepayers. Our plan would reduce energy bills by about $400 per year for the average household in the state by removing the public benefits tax or at least most of it from our electricity bills, Fazio said. Connecticut lawmakers prepare to tackle energy costs in 2025 legislative session The top Democratic senator on the committee scoffed at Fazios proposal. Its political speak and not really real ideas, State Sen. Norm Needleman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Needleman echoed some of what Gov. Ned Lamont said in his State of the State address on Wednesday. Both men have suggested that the Republican plan amounts to simply moving costs around. Look, you can feel free to debate whether you want to shift electricity costs from the ratepayers to the taxpayers, Lamont said. Cosmetic changes arent gonna make a dime of difference. Needleman seemed to suggest that Fazio, a 34-year-old private equity investment manager from Greenwich, is motivated by political ambition. Sen. Fazios a very smart guy and I like working with him, Needleman said. But I gotta just push through the politics because Im not the guy who has this long range political future here. He has a different agenda than I do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fazio fired back, arguing that his plan wouldnt simply shift the costs of the programs funded by the public benefits charge. It wouldnt actually shift costs just from ratepayers to taxpayers, Fazio said. It would actually reduce overall costs because the legislature would be forced to prioritize pick what works and what doesnt work. And the least important government programs, lets let them go by the wayside. Gov. Lamont highlights priorities for legislative session Again, Needleman disagreed. Thats ridiculous because the biggest part of that was Millstone this time, Needleman said, referring to the costs of the Millstone deal that hit ratepayer bills last summer. Public benefits, all of those things wrapped together have typically been ten to twelve percent of the electric bill. I think over the next one or two cycles youre gonna see them come back down to that and this is going to become much less of an issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 8 asked Needleman if Democrats had a response of their own to the Republicans six-point plan. Well, I think were listening and were trying to learn as we go along, Needleman responded. I think that Ive heard Sen. Fazios plan and the Republican plan numerous times I dont even think that the Republicans are sort of organized amongst themselves. Both Republican caucuses in the legislature have endorsed the six-point plan. To view committee hearing schedules click here. For a guide on how to submit public testimony click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Blueprint for Maaryland's Future implementation guide. Screenshot. Heres an inconvenient truth: We need to stop worrying about saving the Blueprint for Marylands Future. I offer this in rebuttal to Kalman Hettlemans Dec. 16 commentary, The inconvenient truth about the Blueprint. This is not a personal attack on Mr. Hettleman, a dedicated, longtime bureaucrat of the familiar Maryland variety that views ever-expanding government and ever-higher spending as the primary solutions to societal and particularly educational woes. (In December of 2023, he published a column titled, We need more education bureaucrats. Seriously, which tells you all you need to know about his inclination.) While I disagree with Mr. Hettlemans preferred political solutions, I admire his dedication to advancing and communicating his principals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My purpose here is to rebut the aforementioned Dec. 16 commentary, which both misprioritizes desired outcomes, offering few to no specific suggestions beyond higher spending, and advocates for a centralized-government-heavy political perspective and spending-heavy general approach to the pursuit of educational excellence. His commentary seems to take the odd position that the Blueprint for Marylands Future is itself some sort of iconic monument worth saving at any cost, irrespective of any specific goals it purports to advance, despite his own admission of the Blueprints unrealistic goals, sprawling and complex scope, and out of touch nature. Perhaps the article simply intends that the Blueprint be understood as a stand-in for the goals the Blueprint seeks to advance, but there is actually precious little evidence of that in his piece. The only specific goal put forth (repeatedly) is more funding. But to what end? The article doesnt really say. The goal is simply, as stated in the opening line, to save the Blueprint. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. The commentary repeatedly emphasizes the point that the Blueprint per se, and not educational excellence, is the thing, with such lines as its now or never to save the Blueprint Otherwise, the Blueprint is doomed, the more the delay, the more danger of more damage to the Blueprint, and Those who crafted the Blueprint among them the Kirwan Commission and General Assembly deserve great credit. Perhaps here is the point to interject that Mr. Hettleman himself served on the Kirwan Commission, perhaps explaining his misplaced devotion to preserving the Blueprint at all costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The article lambastes the delegates to the General Assembly for failing to make the changes necessary to, you guessed it: save the Blueprint. It grouses that, While proclaiming steadfast loyalty to the Blueprint, they have shown no stomach for the difficult task of reviewing the big picture and considering revisions, yet suggests no specific changes beyond more funding and a few vague recommendations to acknowledge the truth, mount the bully pulpit, and fill in the big holes in the Blueprint, whatever those may be. Those vague recommendations are found within the pieces equally vague prescription summary late in the piece, which I think can be accurately if somewhat cynically summarized and paraphrased as The Blueprint is admittedly unrealistic, but lets nevertheless elevate its priority above all other things, raise taxes however high is necessary to maximize funding for every imaginable wish-list program, and bully and scare the public and local jurisdictions into swallowing it whole (Alarms must be sounded, the piece insists) so that we can all hail the Blueprint as a success. I offer a differing perspective. I believe the key is not to try to save the Blueprint as some sort of Holy Grail of idealistic bureaucratic planning, feted by education bureaucrats, donned as a merit badge by its creators, and ferociously defended in all its excesses by the teachers union. Rather, the goal should be to find and encourage flexible, feasible solutions that actually work to improve educational outcomes in Marylands various local jurisdictions. It shouldnt matter whether the necessary changes are made under the banner of the Blueprint, but the needed changes are clear: More local control, more budget and timeline flexibility for local jurisdictions, more tools and flexibility for teachers to make and enforce rules and mete out effective, nontrivial discipline when necessary, a stronger link between teacher performance and compensation, a retreat from extreme levels of inclusion (previously known as mainstreaming), more focus on student and teacher merit and less on DEI, and (Im getting dreamy here) school choice. At the very least, take the obviously necessary steps of relaxing timelines and giving local jurisdictions more flexibility in implementation. Education is important. But the Blueprint, which is essentially an education bureaucrats wish-list-turned-state-mandate, is not. Outcomes are important, but commissions and their iconic plans are not. Children are important, but bureaucrats egos and resume enhancements are not. So yes lets stop worrying about saving the Blueprint, and start focusing on educational strategies that work. To the editor: As an environmental lawyer steeped in the fossil-fueled "climate whiplash" that unleashed the wildfires ripping through Los Angeles, I was still stunned to be packing up my family and cats to flee our Altadena home Tuesday night. As I write this, my home is at risk, my familys synagogue and kids elementary school have burned down, and many friends have lost everything. My fear and grief are compounded by outrage at the failure to hold fossil-fuel polluters accountable for the devastation they've profited from causing. At more than $50 billion in estimated damages, the L.A. fires rank as one of the worst disasters in U.S. history. Yet, the oil companies that fueled the climate chaos contributing to these fires get off scot-free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of my organizations top priorities is a California climate superfund bill expected this legislative session. It would make corporate polluters pay part of their huge profits to repair the damage theyve caused. Its time to take the multibillion-dollar climate burden off Californians suffering catastrophic damages and put it on polluters, where it belongs. Maya Golden-Krasner, Altadena The author is deputy director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Climate Law Institute. .. To the editor: The unprecedented fire emergency that has engulfed Los Angeles is a dress rehearsal for "the Big One" (earthquake) that will come sooner or later. Except the Big One will also come with collapsed buildings, mass casualties and near-total communications breakdowns (dead cellphones, no internet and spotty or nonexistent TV and radio coverage). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take heed, folks: The Big One will totally overwhelm first responders. You will be on your own for days or weeks. Here's my advice: Join your local Community Emergency Response Team chapter. Get trained on how to fight small fires, perform light search and rescue, render first aid and effectively communicate with radios. The cavalry won't be coming to help you immediately when the Big One hits. Jon Rowe, Costa Mesa .. To the editor: We already have an insufficient housing supply in Los Angeles. And now, thousands of our neighbors have lost their homes in these catastrophic fires. Local governments in the area should act immediately to end all Airbnb-type short-term rentals for tourist visitors and return these apartments and houses to our housing market so that the fire victims might find a place to live in their home city and start to pick up the pieces of their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an emergency, and our elected leaders have to act now to provide housing to Angelenos in their time of need. Kathy Reims, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Given the storm of fire we're experiencing in the City of Angels, when all of this is finally over, the mayor and City Council should unanimously declare that day a municipal holiday, one that honors the extraordinary, historic efforts of our firefighters and first responders. They are surely the angels of this generation's Angelenos. The day should be unforgettably marked with a citywide parade for our heroes, giving every one of us the opportunity to come out and cheer them with a unity and gratitude we didn't know we had in us. Moshe ben Asher and Khulda Bat Sarah, Encino This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. American sign language interpreter Jennifer Alleman, left, and Rhode Island Chief Digital Officer Brian Tardiff, who oversees IT for the states various agencies and departments, are seen at a press conference on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at the Rhode Island State House. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Approximately 709,000 notification letters went out in the mail Friday to Rhode Islanders whose data was leaked in the RIBridges data breach. If youre like me, I dont read my mail very often, Gov. Dan McKee told reporters at the State House during a press conference Friday. Lets pay special attention to the mailings thatll be coming over the next week or so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letters, which bear a state seal upper left hand corner, contain a code for five years of free credit monitoring from Experian. McKee said the letters should arrive in the next few days, and theyve also been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. April 30 is the deadline to sign up for the credit monitoring. Its been almost a month since the governor first informed Rhode Islanders that their personal data on RIBridges the intricate and massive public benefits system used by consumers and state workers that checks eligibility for Medicaid and social services, along with enrollment in commercial health insurance plans was compromised in a cyberattack. Deloitte, the systems vendor and architect, negotiated with the cybercriminals, later identified as Brain Cipher, an international outfit that previously grabbed headlines in Indonesia. The estimated number of people whose personal information was exposed is 657,000, although some people will receive multiple letters because they are guardians or parents of minors and others also affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deloitte is still reviewing the contents of all breached files, McKee said, adding that additional letters will be mailed if more victims are confirmed. Brain Cipher originally boasted that it stole 1 terabyte of RIBridges data from Deloitte. Whether that number represented uncompressed data or was exaggerated is unclear, as the cybercriminals only uploaded around 576 gigabytes when the data appeared online. Its also unclear if the group uploaded all the stolen data. If you think you are impacted and do not receive a letter in the next few days, we ask you to be patient and give the mail a couple extra days to arrive, said McKee. The letters are the only way the state will confirm if your information was affected. The state cannot verify if a person is affected over the phone or at state offices, said McKee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deloitte is obligated to pay for the entirety of the credit monitoring services for all those impacted by the breach, estimated to be nearly 60% of Rhode Islands population. Reporters asked McKee and the cabinet members who joined him Friday how much that was going to cost. A lot, McKee said as Rhode Island Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer maneuvered to the podium with an answer. Whatever it costs is what they will pay, Womer said, adding the state would work on calculating an exact figure Deloitte will also assist the state in paying for additional expenses incurred in the process of mitigating the hack, Womer said. System coming back online in pieces The state received a Deloitte report last week summarizing the consulting firms technical analysis of how the breach occurred and what data Brain Cipher posted on Dec. 30 to the dark web, said Chief Digital Officer Brian Tardiff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summary gave the state a high level of confidence as to how the system was hacked, Tardiff said. With that knowledge, and some work on the systems backend, the security threat has been remediated, he said, and added that officials are in the process of validating Deloittes findings with a third party vendor. That means the RIBridges network which was taken offline mid-December to prevent further movement by bad actors, as is standard in cyberattacks is being revived piece by piece, with Tardiff estimating that it should be fully operational again by mid-January. Access for state case workers has been restored, Tardiff said, which is why Department of Human Services employees were able to begin processing applications for programs like food stamps or child care assistance that have been backlogged since the system went down. The next phase of network restoration is bringing the customer-facing portal, HealthyRhode.RI.gov, back online. If you think you are impacted and do not receive a letter in the next few days, we ask you to be patient and give the mail a couple extra days to arrive. Gov. Dan McKee Human services Director Kimberly Merolla-Britosaid the agencys employees have started to process new benefits applications received since the start of the breach, all of which had to be submitted on paper because of the network outage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states insurance marketplace HealthSource RI is linked to RIBridges, and Director Lindsay Lang said that customers paid up for January wont see any interruptions in coverage. Our call center is available if there are specific questions, Lang said. I dont wanna comment on anyones particular account. We are picking up the phone in under a minute. Tardiff said the state has not yet received any reports from people whose finances or identities have already been impacted. Sluggish dark web downloads slow down analysis Breaches often comprise massive databases which are not always human-readable or easily parsed. The file folder names advertised on Brain Ciphers dark web site match some of the RIBridges system tiers described in a 2024 state document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But determining exactly what information is in those database files has not been a speedy process. Tardiff explained that while the summary report was enough to finally and safely bring parts of the network back online, Delotittes technicians are still puzzling over the breach contents in a three-step process. The data needs to be checked for corruption and malware before the final step of verifying its authenticity, Tardiff said. While the state employee side of the RIBridges system has been restored, the online portal for clients is still being repaired, state officials said Friday. Visiting HealthyRhode.RI.gov redirects to the Department of Administrations website, which sports a bright yellow alert message about the breach and site outage. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Deloitte has downloaded most of the files, Tardiff said, with one thing holding the analysts back: The dark web platform Brain Cipher used to share the files they stole. The site is intermittently inaccessible, Tardiff said. The sites sluggish download speeds could be the result of a lackluster server configuration by the hackers or poor service from the platforms dark web hosting provider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the results of the final report, Tardiff said, it will contain sensitive security information and the bulk of it will not be made public. Deloitte spokesperson Karen Walsh confirmed in an email Friday that the breached data came from the states servers, located in a data center in Warwick. That contrasts earlier comments by McKee, who told radio host Matt Allen in a Dec. 17, 2024, interview that the problem was on Deloittes end. I think thats safe to say, McKee said then. I dont want to speculate definitively on that, but yeah, I think thats safe to say. The consulting firm has received more than $10 million in state payments since the fiscal year began July 1, 2024, but has yet to send a representative to field questions at any of the numerous press briefings held by McKee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deloittes absence has not gone unnoticed by state officials. For now, Tardiff said, We are making sure Deloitte is responding appropriately to restoring the system. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Newly donated LGBTQ+ books are displayed in the library at Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond, Calif. California is one of six states that have enacted laws to fight against book bans. (Justin Sullivan | Getty Images) Karen Grant and fellow school librarians throughout New Jersey have heard an increasingly loud chorus of parents and conservative activists demanding that certain books often about race, gender, and sexuality be removed from the shelves. In the past year, Grant and her colleagues in the Ewing Public Schools just north of Trenton updated a 3-decade-old policy on reviewing parents challenges to books they see as pornographic or inappropriate. Grants team feared that without a new policy, the district would immediately bend to someone who wanted certain books banned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the same time, state lawmakers in Trenton were readying legislation to set a book challenge policy for the entire state, preventing book bans based solely on the subject of a book or the authors background or views, while also protecting public and school librarians from legal or civil liabilities from people upset by the reading materials they offer. When Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed that measure into law last month, Grant breathed a little easier. We just hear so many stories of our librarians feeling threatened and targeted, said Grant, who works at Parkway Elementary School and serves as president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians. This has been a wrong, an injustice that needs to be made right. Amid a national rise in book bans in school libraries and new laws in some red states that threaten criminal penalties against librarians, a growing number of blue states are taking the opposite approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey joined at least five other states California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington that have passed legislation within the past two years that aims to preserve access to reading materials that deal with racial and sexual themes, including those about the LGBTQ+ community. Conservative groups have led the effort to ban materials to shield children from what they deem as harmful content. In the 2023-24 school year, there were 10,000 instances of book bans across the U.S. nearly three times as many as the year before, according to a recent report by PEN America, a nonprofit that advocates for literary freedom. Certain books are harmful to children just like drugs, alcohol, Rated R movies, and tattoos are harmful to them, Kit Hart, chair of the Carroll County, Maryland, chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national organization leading the book banning effort, wrote in an email. But some states are now safeguarding librarians and the books they offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State leaders are demonstrating that censorship has no place in their state and that the freedom to read is a principle that is supported and protected, said Kasey Meehan, director of the Freedom to Read program at PEN America, which has been tracking book bans since 2021. The drive to ban certain books is not waning, however. While a handful of states fight censorship in school libraries, some communities within those states are attempting to retake local control and continuing to remove materials that conservative local officials regard as lurid and harmful to children. Lives are in the balance The New Jersey measure not only sets minimum standards for localities when they adopt a policy on how books are curated or can be challenged but also prevents school districts from removing material based on the origin, background, or views of the library material or those contributing to its creation. The law also gives librarians immunity from civil and criminal liability for good faith actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat who introduced the legislation, said until recently he thought that book bans were a disturbing trend, but one limited to other states. But early last year, he went to a brunch event and met a school librarian who told him she faced a torrent of verbal and online abuse for refusing to remove a handful of books with LGBTQ+ themes from her librarys shelves. Thats when I realized that I was so horribly mistaken, that these attacks on librarians and on the freedom to read were happening everywhere, Zwicker told Stateline. I went up to her and asked, What can I do? He said hes already heard from lawmakers in Rhode Island who are considering introducing a similar measure this year. A child who identifies with the LGBTQ+ community can read a memoir like Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and feel seen for the first time in their lives, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do not think its an overstatement to say that lives are in the balance here, that these books are that important to people, and that librarians are trusted gatekeepers to ensure that whats on the shelf of a library has been curated and is appropriate, Zwicker said. These new state laws, several of which are titled the Freedom to Read Act, passed almost entirely along party lines, with unanimous Democratic support. In New Jersey, Republican state Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who has worked in schools for the past 18 years, including as an English teacher, vehemently opposed the measure. She did not respond to an interview request. This isnt puritanical parents saying, Oh, I dont want my child to learn how babies are made, she said during a September committee hearing. Thats ridiculous, and we all know it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, What I do want is for us to be able to have an honest conversation about some of what is in these texts that is extraordinarily inappropriate for that grade level. Enforcement and penalties Legislation differs by state, including in enforcement and how to penalize noncompliant localities. In Illinois, for example, school districts risk losing thousands of dollars in state grant funding if they violate the states new law discouraging book bans. But as the Chicago Tribune reported last month, that financial penalty was not enough to persuade many school districts throughout the state to comply, with administrators saying they are concerned about giving up local control on school decisions. Several school districts in other states have similarly rebelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North of Minneapolis, St. Francis Area Schools board last month decided it would consult with conservative group BookLooks to determine which books it will buy for its school libraries. BookLooks uses a 0-through-5 rating system that flags books for violent and sexual content. Under its rating system, books that have long had a place in school libraries such as the Holocaust memoir Night by Elie Wiesel or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou would require parental consent to read. Asked about the school district potentially violating state law, school board member Amy Kelly, who led the drive to use BookLooks, declined to be interviewed. Karsten Anderson, superintendent of St. Francis Area Schools, also declined an interview request. In Maryland, Carroll County schools led the state in banning books in recent years, removing in the 2023-2024 school year at least 59 titles that were sexually explicit, according to a tally by PEN America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools should not allow children to see kink and porn, wrote Hart, of Moms for Liberty. She got involved in the effort more than three years ago, saying she wanted to protect her five children and parents rights to make educational decisions. She pointed to one book to make her point: Lets Talk About It: The Teens Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human, a nonfiction book in graphic novel form by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan that seeks to educate teenagers about anatomy and consensual and safe sex. The book explores other issues of gender and sexuality, as well. Hart likened the books illustrations showing different ways of having sex to erotica. Parents who provide their children with alcohol or drugs, or to give them a tattoo would rightly be charged with crimes, she wrote Stateline in an email. Schools that provide children with sexually explicit content are negligent at best. The future of book bans Around 8,000 of the more than 10,000 instances of banned books during the 2023-24 school year were in Florida and Iowa schools, according to PEN America. Lawmakers in those states enacted legislation in 2023 that created processes for school districts to remove books that have sexual content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa now requires that reading materials offered in schools be age-appropriate, while the Florida law ensures that books challenged for depicting or describing sexual conduct be removed from shelves while the challenge is processed by the district. Some of those banned books included classics, such as Roots by Alex Haley and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Over the past year, lawmakers in Idaho, Tennessee, and Utah passed measures that ban certain reading materials that deal with sex or are otherwise deemed inappropriate, according to a December report from EveryLibrary, an Illinois-based organization that advocates against book bans. Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed similar legislation in June. Laws that allow for book bans have been the subject of several lawsuits in recent years, as plaintiffs argue those measures violate constitutional protections of free expression. Late last month, a federal judge struck down parts of a 2023 Arkansas law that threatened prison time for librarians who distribute harmful material to minors. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, a Republican, announced the state would appeal the decision. EveryLibrary is tracking 26 bills in five states that lawmakers will consider this year that would target books with sexual and racial themes. The organized effort to remove books because of LGBTQ+ or racial themes will continue, said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom. The association, which tracks book bans as part of its mission to support libraries and information science, found that most of the top banned books around the country had LGBTQ+ protagonists. Librarians have always been all about providing individuals with access to the information they need, whether its for education, for enrichment, for understanding, she said in an interview. Censorship is diametrically opposed to that mission. This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) The Minnehaha County treasurer is urging patience among people who need to renew their license tags over the next couple of months. Thats because treasurers offices across the state will be switching to a new system that processes the renewals. School voucher bill introduced by House, Senate leaders The change could mean longer lines to start with. Jaiden Pfeifer is getting a license plate for her new van, pleasantly surprised that there were no lines to slow her down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very easy and quick, actually, compared to previous vehicles Ive registered, I was really happy to just come in, get it done and head out, Pfeifer said. But longer lines at the treasurers office could return as staffers learn a new system processing vehicle registrations and license tag renewals that will take effect February 17th. The county treasurer expects a backlog during this period of adjustment. Like anything, were going to have a few hiccups to start with, Minnehaha County Treasurer Kris Swanson said. Swanson is urging people to renew their tags at the earliest possible date to avoid long lines. Staffers have been training with the new software since December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I gotta say, weve got a lot of younger people in here that know how to maneuver a computer and a software program, so that makes me happy, Swanson said. The new program is expected to streamline the renewal process. Its going to give us more access to not rely on the state. Well be able to help the customers more here at a county level, than versus having to send them away to call the state, tax & license technician Melissa Brown said. But the switch to a new software doesnt just impact the treasurers office. The countys five self-serve kiosks will be shut down on February 7th before they re-open on the 17th. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We notice that when the kiosks do go down at times, we do get quite a line because people count on those kiosks, so yeah, we might see a little bit more activity those days, Swanson said. The treasurers office says customers have shown patience in the past under its current renewal process. Theyre hoping for similar results under the new system. Give us a couple of months, for sure, 2-3 months to get comfortable with this program and then we should be up and going just like we are right now, Swanson said. Another important date to remember during this transition is February 14th Valentines Day when the state will shut down its vehicle registration and renewal process for the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can always avoid standing in line by renewing your tags through the mail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A volunteer fire chief picked up a stranded, terminally ill man with his tractor and delivered him safely to a hospital. A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter rescued motorists stuck in the snow. It all happened near Hope, Kansas, which got around 15 inches of snow during last weekends winter storm. It was life and death, said Billy Lininger, who was on the way to the emergency room with his wife and son when they got stuck in the snow and called Dickinson Co. Fire District No. 2 Chief Chad Lorson. My kid might not have made it if it wasnt for Chad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damion Lininger, who was diagnosed at 16 with stage 4 lung cancer and told he had four to five years to live, had chemotherapy on Friday and then developed an infection. On Sunday, amid a blizzard, the infection started to spread rapidly, Billy Lininger said. Their oncologist told them around 4:15 p.m. that Damion needed to get to an emergency room. The closest was Memorial Health System in Abilene, 28 miles north of Hope. It would take hours for EMS to get to them because of the snow, he said. The family hopped in their 2007 Jeep Wrangler, but even with the thick tires, the snow was too much. They made it about five miles before getting stuck in a snowdrift about 2.5 to 3 feet deep, Billy Lininger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They called Lorson, their neighbor, for help. Snow piling up The fire chief had already had a busy day in the snow. He had been headed home from the family farm west of town on Highway 4 in his pickup when he saw another truck stuck in the snow at the top of a hill. Lorson grew up in Hope; he knew the top of that hill to be a problem with snowdrift. Still, this storm was bad. Dont recall having this much snow with this much wind, ever, he said. Lorson got out of his truck and waded to the other truck, driven by a neighboring farm hand who was headed back to town after checking on cattle. The closer I got, the deeper it got, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lorson called his father, Phil Lorson, to bring a tractor and pull the truck back to town. Phil Lorson dug the truck out and started to pull before he left the road and got stuck. The whiteout conditions made it hard to see where the road started and ended. Chad Lorson, and his girlfriend, Heather Sill, got another tractor from the farm and went and pulled the truck back to town. He had just made it home and took off his winter gear when the Lininger family told Sill they were stuck on Highway 43. Lorson put his gear back on and headed out in the tractor. He dug out the Jeep. Then, Stephanie Lininger got in the buddy seat in the tractor and Damion Lininger sat on her lap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took two hours in the tractor, but they made it to the hospital. Damion Lininger was admitted and put on intravenous antibiotics. Within a couple hours, they had him feeling better, Billy Lininger said. He said the staff at the hospital goes above and beyond for his son. Damion Lininger goes to the hospital weekly for lab work. The hospital donates to an annual fundraiser the family does and staff shows up when he races drag cars. Damion Lininger poses next to his 1980 Chevrolet Camaro that he drag races. Billy Lininger got stuck again on the way home. Lorson got him unstuck and pulled him back to town. Hes a great guy. He goes above and beyond ... thats why I called Chad. I knew he would do whatever he can to help us, Billy Lininger said. He knows if he needed it, he can call us. They are family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damion Lininger was in the hospital for his 21st birthday on Monday while Lorson used his tractor for another rescue. Another tractor rescue and helicopter rescues The Kansas Highway Patrol called Lorson at 6:30 a.m. Monday about a semi driver stuck on Highway 4, just east of Hope. He had no heat in the truck, and his legs were starting to go numb, Lorson said he was told. He hopped in the tractor. I had to dig through snowdrift to get to this guy, he said. He dropped the man off at Agri Trails Co-op so he could go inside and warm up. Meanwhile, the Kansas Highway Patrol used its helicopter in other rescues Monday on Highway 4 near Hope. They rescued someone stranded in a Nissan Sentra and a couple people each in two semis. KHP ASU rescued 5 stranded motorists today from north central KS. pic.twitter.com/G2WcNXP53D KHP Air Support Unit (@KHPAircraft) January 6, 2025 One semi crew reported that they were going to run out of fuel soon and were concerned about freezing, KHP Capt. Candice Breshears said in an email. The highway was impassable, and ground units could not access the stranded vehicles KHP used the helicopter to land next to the stranded motorists and transport them to nearby law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that, best of our knowledge, KHP aircraft had never been used to rescue stranded motorists before. The helicopter, which is the only law enforcement helicopter in the state, is usually used more for pursuits, surveillance, searches, search and rescue, and disaster assessment, she said. Getting unstuck, out of hospital The Lorsons got their other tractor unstuck Wednesday, the same day Damion Lininger got released from the hospital. On Thursday, Damion and Billy Lininger went across the street and shoveled Chad Lorsons driveway. Lininger said his son has good and bad days. He does chemo every three weeks and usually gets knocked down for the week after that but is up and about the next two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damion Lininger is looking forward to this spring when he plans to build another vehicle to drag race. The family created a GoFundMe in March 2023 to help with ongoing medical expenses. The fundraiser has reached less than a quarter of its $10,000 goal. It can be found at https://shorturl.at/kHSjA. Three juveniles were arrested following the fatal shooting of a Georgia bus driver after they refused to pay the fare, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority police announced earlier this week. Leroy Ramos, 47, was shot multiple times on the night of Jan. 3, after MARTA police say the three juveniles got into an argument with him at Decatur Station in the metro-Atlanta area, according to the announcement. The three suspects are now in police custody and are being charged with murder. Leroy Ramos, 47, was fatally shot following a dispute over bus fare. GoFundMe Cellphone footage of the incident obtained by WSB-TV appears to show the teens refusing to pay the $2.50 bus fare. Another MARTA employee can be seen holding Ramos back before one juvenile in a red hood appears to pull out a gun and shoot Ramos several times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MARTA police confirmed that Ramos was killed during fare dispute, and a bystander was taken to the hospital with a superficial bullet wound, WRDW reports. Ramos death has sparked a greater conversation over the nationwide rise of violent assaults on transit workers, which according to data by the Urban Institute, have tripled since 2008. Ramos family is rallying against gun violence and for safe working conditions for public service workers in GoFundMe honoring the bus driver. This isnt the first act of gun violence or any kind of violence within the public! As a community (all communities), we need to make a change, not just in Atlanta but all over the United States! the family member wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tragic incident happened over a fare dispute that resulted in us losing a life that was worth so much more than $2.50! the statement continued.Our family is enduring this senseless act of violence firsthand and mourns the loss of a soul that was precious and so priceless to us, 3 days into the new year. MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood addressed the incident in a video posted on social media, saying, Like so many public interactions, this did not need to escalate. He said Ramos had only been working as a bus operator since October, but had already established himself as a friend to many of his co-workers. Ramos was described in the fundraiser by a family member as a loving husband and father who came from humble beginnings and a man who valued life itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was the type of man that would show up for anyone and everyone, even if he didnt know them, the family member wrote. Just one call or encounter, and he would sacrifice his last to help! Related... A large winter storm is sweeping across the country, delivering snow, sleet, and freezing rain to many areas, but Central Florida will see much milder impacts. Future Track 9 shows light rain moving into the region before dawn on Saturday, followed by mostly cloudy skies. Afternoon temperatures are expected to climb into the 60s, making for a comfortable day despite the clouds. Read: Delta Air Lines says 4 passengers injured after flight was aborted at Atlanta airport Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, the weekend will remain pleasant, with no significant weather disruptions anticipated locally. While the storm will create hazardous travel conditions in other parts of the U.S., Central Florida residents can look forward to a calm and cool start to their weekend. Read: Wild Coyote found on Orlando International Airport runway Light rain, clouds expected early this weekend as winter storm sweeps the country Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. If you go on safari to Africabe it to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, or Tanzaniayou might not realize that the king of beasts is disappearing. You will see lion prides from your game drive vehicle (they are social animals), and hear roars in the night. Theirs is a "silent crisis," with numbers in the wild declining from 450,000 in 1950 to just 23,000 today. With the recent release of Mufasa: The Lion King, Disney is once again running its "Protect the Pride" campaign, which it launched in 2019 (in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Network and the Lion Recovery Fund) to coincide with the release of The Lion King (its photorealistically animated remake of the 1994 original). You'll hear details about the campaign at the start of each Mufasa screening. The article below, written at the time of the 2019 release, explains why the lions are vanishing (a fascinating confluence of causes) and why it mattersthe dire environmental effects of the disappearance of an apex predator. On the hopeful side: The Lion Recovery Fund reports that in recent years its project partners have arrested 5,876 poachers and 280 lion killings were averted through conflict response. (To contribute, go to LionRecoveryFund.org/disney.)K.G. Disneys Lion King juggernaut rolls on with the recent release of director Jon Favreaus remake of the 1994 film that started it all, now with entirely computer-generated imagery and a star-studded voice cast that includes Beyonce, Donald Glover, James Earl Jones, and Seth Rogan. Five days into its run, it earned $242.3 million in the US and $595.1 million worldwide. In the past quarter-century, The Lion King franchise (the musical, the national and international tours, the merchandise, the films) has grossed more than $8.1 billion dollars. Yet during that time, the lionking of beastshas continued to slide toward extinction. WPA Pool - Getty Images The rate of disappearance is shocking. The number of lions in the wild has fallen from around 450,000 in 1950, to 40,000 when the first Lion King came out, to around 20,000 today. Whereas lions were once dispersed throughout the African continent, they now occupy only 8 percent of their historic range. They can be found in only 25 countries, though most are in only 8. There are no lions left in North Africa, they are functionally extinct in West Africa, and they are under threat everywhere else. (The species is on the International Union for the Conservation of Natures ominous Red List, right along with elephants and rhinos, whose plight has been more insistently trumpeted.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In environmental, conservation, and philanthropic circlesand at Disney itselfthe hope is that the 2019 version of The Lion King will finally galvanize attention on the cats predicament, and serve as a catalyst for their conservation. And more. For what is ultimately at stake, scientists working with lions point out, is the entire circle of life, that intricate web of species interdependence so stirringly celebrated in the opening sequences of both Lion King 1 and 2 (and which, although we do not appear on screen, includes us humans, too). Upon the new movies release, Disney launched a global conservation campaign called Protect the Pride. Its goal is to build awareness of the silent crisis and to help protect and revitalize the lion population through philanthropy. With a film like The Lion King, we can shine a huge spotlight, said Claire Martin, the self-styled resident conservation nerd at Disney (she is senior manager of the Disney Conservation Fund and of Disneys corporate social responsibility). We can really use our platform to inspire people. Disney has partnered with the California-based Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), which identifies organizations working to save endangered species around the world and finds the most effective ways to support themthink of it as a venture capital firm for wildlife (its founder, Charles Knowles, is a former Silicon Valley entrepreneur). A constituent of the network is the Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), which WCN created together with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Less than two years old, LRF has already disbursed $5.5 million to 53 separate conservation entities working with lions in 17 African countries. Lions, says Peter Lindsey, LRFs director, is the umbrella species. If we can help the apex predator be healthy, we can affect other species and the ecosystem itself. This is not true of elephants and rhino, who face very specific threatsthe ivory and horn trade. More than just saving lions, we want to create a global movement, adds Lance Williams, a founding donor of LRF and its communications advisor. We want to build the political and philanthropic will to achieve healthy and sustainable human-wildlife coexistence. The Lion Recovery Fund is our tool, a sort of clearinghouse for conservation strategies. We seek out the most innovative solutions, fund them, nurture them, and share their successes with the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to go big and we have to go fast, adds Paul Thomson, director of WCNs conservation programs. Honestly, we dont have any time to lose. Disappearing in Plain Sight A casual traveler in Africa might not realize that lion numbers are in such steep decline. Lions suffer from the disadvantage that they are gregarious, live in prides, and certainly dont mind being observed, says Thomas Kaplan, the chairman and founder of Panthera, the global big-cat conservation organization and an LRF grantee. All of which creates the impression that there are plenty of them. Indeed. Go on safari in any of the tourist hotspots in Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabweand you might spot a solitary leopard slinking by, or lolling somewhere way up high on the branch of an acacia tree. But you are almost certain to see multiple lions, lying bellies up, or loping past your game-drive vehicle in that nonchalant, I own this way. (Prides consist of up to three males and around a dozen females and their young.) We are paying a huge price now for our insouciance, reflects Joss Kent, CEO of the travel and safari company &Beyond. Avalon - Getty Images Some attrition in the lion population is simply part of natures cycles. While they are apex predators, lions nevertheless compete with other predatorshyenas, for example, who can injure them; diseases are common, and can occasionally kill off large numbers; and they also fight among themselves for food and territory, the winner often slaughtering the cubs of his antagonist. (The Lion Kings Scar-Mufasa-Simba drama is not far from fiction.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Fraught Coexistence But the greatest threat to lionsto all wildlifeis posed by humans. Lions, despite their apex predator status, are especially vulnerable to us homo sapiens because many of themabout 14,000, or 70 percent of the total population--live outside protected areas and national parks, either in remote and unmonitored places where poaching can most easily take place (or the kind of legality-flouting game hunting that so famously brought down Cecil the Lion), and/or near people and their villages and livestock. The coexistence of humans and lions is, to say the least, a complicated affair. Lions canand dokill people. And of course there is nothing worse for lion conservation than for a lion to kill someone, says Colleen Begg, a member of the WCN, a judge on the granting committee of LRF, and founder of the Niassa Carnivore Project in northern Mozambique, whose goal is to find ways for humans to live successfully among lions and other predators. There will be retribution killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And not just retribution. With the killing of a human, Begg elaborates, you lose support for conservation in general, for all species, as there is just no compensation for the loss of a family member. It builds resentment, and the story quickly becomes about injustice and inequality, not just about conservationwhy are we poor people, with little say in the matter, bearing the brunt of saving wildlife? Remember, living with lions can be terrifying, and the emotional and economic costs for communities doing this, in the 21st century, are high. In southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique, for example, there were more than 500 lethal lion assaults between 2005 and 2006, the victims mostly subsistence farmers killed at night while protecting their fields from bush pigs; lions, hunting those same bush pigs because their natural prey had grown scarce, would stumble on the farmers. Humans, Begg adds, are quite easy to catch. Once a lion population realizes this, it can develop a man-eating culture. (Begg and her staff of 100 Mozambicans were able to halt the killings in her area of operation by building shelters on stilts for people, and instilling a safety-first mentality, evinced by such practices as keeping children close by at night; in the last two years, there have been no lion-related injuries in the Niassa National Reserve.) SOPA Images - Getty Images Lions, too, are difficult to get along with because of their taste for livestock. Because they are apex carnivores, the biggest and the strongest, they are stuborn, says Paul Fuston, the lion program director at Panthera. Psychology, as it were, is at work here. They are not programed to get out of the way. A hyena will run away after it kills a villagers cow. The lion will make a kill, then go sleep under a tree a few feet away. And because lions have big paws, they are easier to track down. Their predation gives rise, more often than not, to retribution killings as well. Cows especially are highly valuable, and tribespeople, says Map Ives, the Botswana-based naturalist, will absolutely not forgive the lion and will mercilessly hunt it down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exacerbating all this, of course, is Africas population explosion and the concomitant increase in the numbers of cattle, goats, horses, and donkeys (lion prey) that rural people keep in their villages and bomas. Says Begg: In 2003, when we started our project, there were 25,000 people living inside the Niassa National Reserve; in 2018, there were 60,000 people, in 42 villages. People also kill lions because of the growing demand in Southeast Asia for lion body parts: not the heads that trophy hunters covet, but claws, teeth, skin, and bones, used as empowering trinkets and in traditional medicine. (A dead lion can fetch $1,500a small fortune for a villager whose regular monthly income might be $150.) Tiger bone wine has long been a status item in that part of the world, deemed to make the drinker braver, wiser, and stronger, but with the scarcity of tigers, significantly further along on the extinction spectrum than lions, lion bones have become an acceptable substitute. The numbers are not huge, says Lindsey, but the extraction of bones from wild lions is ethically terrible. Dwindling Prey Lions are pure meat eaters and their natural sustenance is dwindling. Unless they are presented with easy livestock prey, they hunt wild ungulatesantelopes, buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras, warthogs. But as the human population grows, livestock increasingly competes with ungulates for grazing landand wild ungulates decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are under pressure, as well, from human poaching for bush meat. Much poaching in Africa, in fact, is not for the insanely valued ivory and horn at all (the latter now worth more than its weight in gold), but simply for proteinpoor rural people without other means to make a living engaging in it to feed their families and provide for them by selling the meat in town. This trend is growing, says Lindsey. National parks and reserves in countries where governments lack funds to maintain and police them are studded with thousands of snares (in which lions themselves are often inadvertently caught as well.) Wolfgang Kaehler - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as lions need protein, they also need space, and today 90 percent of their historic roaming range is gone. Loss of habitatto human settlement, agriculture, gathering of wood for charcoal, logging, and morecontributes to the vanishing. As Darwin and Wallace observed, the smaller the island, the quicker the rate of extinction. Crucial for the survival of lions are so-called corridors between national parks and protected areas along which the big cats can migratein search of prey and for genetic diversity. If those connective areas fill up with people or become prey-devoid, environmentally compromised dead zones, we will have not wilderness, but de facto zoos, says Thomson. And we dont want that. Remember, says Kaplan, that an apex predator, unlike an elephant or a rhino, by definition has a central role in the food chain. If an ecosystem can support big cats, it is a healthy ecosystem. If it cannot, it isnt. And keep in mind that there is a direct relationship between a healthy ecosystem and the health of the human population. The Drama on the Savanna Consider the African savanna, the lions habitat, which covers 65 percent of the continenta vast sea of grasses, grass-like plants, and widely spaced trees (thorny acacia, baobab, eucalyptus, and more), on which feed wild grazers and herbivores, and which is also the main source of food for livestock, an important zone of biodiversity for both plants and animals, a major carbon sink (and therefore climate change mitigator), and protector of watersheds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what lions do for this ecosystem, as Dereck Joubert, the CEO and founder of the Great Plains Conservation safari company (and long time student of lions), puts it: Unlike leopards, lions are herding hunters. They will surround a herd of ungulates, then come in for the kill. They are successful only 24% to 27% of the time, meaning that 3 out of 4 attempts fail. But the effect of the attacks themselves, dramatic and traumatic, is magical: Herds bunch up in fear, stomp the ground, then take off. Doing so, they break up the soil, which reinvigorates the seed band, which makes grasses revive, which invites the next migration. Without lions, grasses wont flower, migrations wont be compelled to happen, and herds, more stationary, will pick up parasites. Without lions, medium-sized prey like zebras will be hunted more aggressively by hyenas, their numbers will decline, and we will end up with a monoculture of large prey (like buffalo), because there will be no one to hunt them. And before long we will be at the tipping point of environmental collapse. We need lions clustering in prides, hunting over and over again across a vast, unfettered territory. I hope that people understand the circle of life expression from the film. Its about space, and about the importance of blood spattered across the savanna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eyes on the Prize While the conservation status of lions is worrying and depressing, in Lindseys words, there are reasons for optimism. For one, there is strong political will among African governments to do something about it. Large swathes of land have been set aside for conservation, Lindsey points out, land that could support 3 or 4 times the number of lions it does nowthe problem is critical funding deficits. And conservationists know what to dowe have clear strategies and techniques. Also, lions are a resilient species. They can recover quickly. They breed fast. Accordingly, LRF has set an ambitious goal: to double the current population of lions by 2050 to 40,000. It is one reason why Disney has gotten on board. We were attracted to the clarity of that, Disneys Martin told me. We like how working with LRF allows us to support many different organizations, how we can tell our donors that 100 percent of their money is going to real field efforts [LRFs partners take care of the administrative and overhead costs], and how the Protect the Pride campaign allows people to take action. We want to be part of the lion recovery story. Some of that story is already being written. Organizations currently supported by the Lion Recovery Fund are coming up with innovative ways to promote co-existence between people and lions and to help educate rural people about the ways in which lionsand wildlife generallycan be a source of economic value and civic pride. (Only Africa, after all, has the magnificent animals and landscapes that the entire world wants to come see.) The Korongoro People-Lion Initiative (KopeLion) in Tanzania, for example, has created a lion guardian program, hiring warriors from the local Masai and Datooga tribes to act as a warning system to herders about lions passing through the populated land separating the Ngorongoro Crater conservation area and Serengeti National Park. The NGO African Parks, another LRF grantee, whose president is Prince Harry and which currently manages 15 national parks and nature reserves in 9 African countries, is working to shore up core lion habitats and repopulate those where lions no longer exist. Liwonde, in Malawi, is one of their latest lion repopulation success stories. The lion body-part trade is being studied with a view toward more stringent preventive law enforcement. And there has been a major breakthrough with the travel industry. Safari companies by definition have always had a stake in conservation. (Our guests, whether they are 6, 16, 60, or 90, want to see the predators first and foremost, says &Beyonds Joss Kent.) But they are naturally competitive with each other, and so their actions have been piecemeala lion collaring here, a rhino dehorning or translocation there. Now, they are coming together in LRFs recently created Lionscape Coalition. Thus far, &Beyond, Wilderness Safaris, Singita, Ultimate Safaris, and Dazzle Africa have joined, and Jouberts Great Plains Conservation has just announced that it will, too. The companies will each be donating $50,000 annually to LRF, and LRF will in turn deploy half of that to support lion projects in each companys area of operation and half to projects beyond the tourism hotspots. Godong - Getty Images All of this is encouraging. But to save panthera leo in a decisive way, says Peter Lindsey, who co-authored a scientific paper on the subject, we need $1 billion a year. This may sound formidable. But remember, it is peanuts in geopolitical terms. Conservation is very expensive, emphasizes Colleen Begg. (Niassa, the reserve where she works on easing human/lion strife, is 16,000 square milesthe size of Massachusetts.) And the most important thing I realized sitting here in the bush is that we cant do it alone. We must involve local people in a meaningful way. We must incentivize them to address the disappearance of lions by developing economic opportunities for them. There must be revenue sharing. There must be performance payments for meeting conservation goals. Their children must be educated about conservation. These are among the poorest people in the world. If we dont find a way for them to benefit and reduce the costs to their communities, conservation is never going to work. There will be no future for lions. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP Donate to the Lion Recovery Fund: With LRF, 100 percent of your donation goes to assiduously vetted fieldwork. Visit African Wildlife Areas: Paying to experience the wilderness economically helps preserve it. Travel Off the Beaten Path: Spread the loveall African countries with lions in them need contributions to their tourism economies. Don't Buy Trinkets Made With Wildlife Products: Simple as that. Avoid Any Tourism Settings With Captive Animals Except for Accredited Zoos: The penned lion farms in South Africa are a travesty of conservation although they are marketed as supporting it. There is zero benefit to wildlife if you pet baby lions or "walk" with older ones, and some of the lion-bone trade originates here. You Might Also Like Searching for the list of celebrity homes destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire? The devastating Palisades blaze has torn through Los Angeles County, leaving thousands of structures in ruins and forcing mass evacuations. Among the destruction are homes of well-known figures and historic landmarks that hold deep significance in the region. Lets break down the full scope of the damage and reveal who this catastrophic wildfire has affected. Celebrities home that got destroyed by Palisade fire The Pacific Palisades fire, which began on January 7, 2025, has destroyed more than 1,000 structures, including homes belonging to several celebrities. The fire has spread over 5,000 acres, prompting a state of emergency in California and forcing over 30,000 residents to evacuate. Below is a list of celebrities whose homes were confirmed destroyed by the fire: Celebrity Homes Confirmed Destroyed: Paris Hilton Malibu home Billy Crystal Pacific Palisades home (owned since 1979) Adam Brody and Leighton Meester Pacific Palisades home Cameron Mathison Pacific Palisades home Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Pacific Palisades family home Melissa Rivers Pacific Palisades home Bozoma Saint John Pacific Palisades home Anthony Hopkins Pacific Palisades home Ricki Lake Malibu dream home Anna Faris Pacific Palisades home John Goodman Pacific Palisades home Cary Elwes Malibu home Sandra Lee Malibu home Diane Warren Beach home (owned for nearly 30 years) James Woods Pacific Palisades home Evacuations and Damage Updates: Several other celebrities evacuated due to the fire and are awaiting updates on their properties: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Hamill Evacuated his Malibu home Mandy Moore Parts of her home were destroyed Eugene Levy Evacuated his Pacific Palisades home Jamie Lee Curtis Likely lost her Pacific Palisades home (via Forbes) Ben Affleck Evacuated his Beverly Hills mansion Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Evacuated their Beverly Hills mansion James Woods Recorded the fire approaching his home before evacuating The Palisades fire remains uncontained as of January 9, 2025. Firefighters are continuing efforts to control the blaze amid strong winds, while residents await further updates on their homes and properties. Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Comingsoon. The post Heres List Of Celebrity Homes Destroyed b Palisade Fire appeared first on Mandatory. The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians $200 million casino project in Norton Shores, Mich. appears unlikely to move forward after 14 years of planning and $35 million in development costs. Tribal Ogema Larry Romanelli told local media that the project has likely reached the end of the line due to ongoing delays in securing state approval. I started out this project (when) I was in my 50s. Im now in my 70s, Romanelli told WOOD-TV8. It isnt everyday that a tribe or at least our tribe can just give out $35 million for a project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed Lakeshore Casino and Resort would create between 1,500 and 4,000 jobs according to Romanelli. Plans include 1,700 slot machines and 35 table games. While the Department of Interior granted federal approval by taking the property into federal trust in 2020, the site is not contiguous to the Little River Bands existing reservation lands in Manistee and Mason counties. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, off-reservation gaming already creating contentious cases across the country requires approval from the states governor. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined the initial project application in 2022 citing concerns about the pending federal recognition of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians. After the tribe submitted a second application, Romanelli said he met with Whitmer in October 2024, but received no definitive answer on the projects status. The delay creates additional challenges as required studies on transportation and community impact have limited shelf lives and need regular updates, according to Romanelli. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the tribe has no plans to sell the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack property, Romanelli told local media outlets that they have an alternative development plan if the casino project doesnt come to fruition. However, he noted the alternative would not generate the same economic benefits as the casino. Such a golden opportunity to be lost is just a shame, Romanelli told local tv station WZZM-13. Whitmers office has not commented on the projects status. The tribe is awaiting response from the Department of Interior regarding its latest application. Brian Edwards provided additional reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net The winter storm that Severe Weather Team 2 has been tracking all week is making its way across north Georgia. A winter storm warning and winter weather advisory will be in effect until Saturday morning. Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says metro Atlanta saw between 1-3.5 inches of snow on Friday morning. Now, its changing over to freezing rain. You can expect ice accumulation on trees and power lines especially from Atlanta northeast where a quarter inch or more of ice is possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight, as temperatures drop slightly below freezing, anything that didnt dry is expected to freeze again, meaning many roads around metro Atlanta will be covered in ice. DOWNLOAD: Free Severe Weather Team 2 App for alerts | INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar | UPLOAD: Share your weather photos This is how the day unfolded on Friday: 9:54 p.m. MARTA says bus service will remain suspended throughout Saturday morning. WINTER WEATHER RIDER ALERT - Friday, January 10 at 7 PM *Bus service remains suspended due to hazardous road conditions and forecasted freezing rain. Buses will not operate on the morning of Saturday, January 11. Essential bus routes may resume service as road conditions are pic.twitter.com/XZuyCcfVTu MARTA Service (@MARTAservice) January 11, 2025 9:24 p.m. I-20 is back open in Rockdale County after a crash downed powerlines along the interstate. 9:12 p.m. As of 9 p.m. Georgia Power reported more than 92,000 outages across North Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgias EMCs reported another nearly 27,000 outages in their service areas. Thats a total of about 119,000 customers without service. 8:30 p.m. Ground stop expires at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. 8:05 p.m. I-20 is shut down in both directions in Rockdale County after power lines come down, Georgia Department of Public Safety says. Conyers police say a crash caused wires to be down in the area of Interstate 20 Westbound/Eastbound at Highway 138. 7:45 pm. Ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport extended to 8:30 p.m. 6:58 p.m. Another ground stop is in effect at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This one lasts until at least 7:45 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Ground stop ends at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA says the airport is experiencing an average of 310 minutes of delays. 5:34 p.m. More than 35,000 people statewide reporting power outages. As of 5:30 p.m., Georgia Power says 25,000 customers are without power. Georgias EMCs report another 10,000 customers. 5:22 p.m. Ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport extended to 6:30 p.m. 4:52 p.m. Ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport extended to 5:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. More than 1,100 flights canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Another 529 have been delayed, according to flight tracker Flight Aware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of those affected flights come from Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines. Flight Aware reports 520 canceled Delta flights and another 493 delayed. This comes as the Atlanta airport is hit with a second ground stop. 3:40 p.m. Another ground stop has been issued for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 3:29 p.m. Todays Total cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson International now stand at 1,061, according to the FAA. 2:00 p.m. The FAA lifted the ground stop that went into effect earlier Friday morning. However, delays are expected to last throughout the night. According to FlightAware, at least 959 flights have been canceled. Another 480 have been delayed. The most delays for Delta. 12:11 p.m. Delta Air Lines says it had to cancel 500 flights on Thursday due to the winter storm that hit the South. The Atlanta-based airline said they have issued a fare-difference waiver for customers to change their flights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, Delta had to evacuate one of its planes due to a reported engine problem. 11:15 a.m. Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says the snow is now changing to freezing rain in the metro Atlanta area. 10:20 a.m. Gov. Brian Kemp says state officials are thankful they were prepared based on the forecasts for Georgia. I want to thank the media and our citizens for listening to the advice in last 24-48 hours about being prepared and winter ready, Kemp said. It is better to be overprepared than not in these situations. Weve learned a lot of lessons over the years. 10:10 a.m. GEMA Director Chris Stallings urges people once again to stay off the roads so crews can get out to clear the roads. 9:42 a.m. The ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta has been extended until 12 p.m. 9:39 a.m. Cobb County spokesman Ross Cavitt says cars are having trouble navigating roads like Barrett Parkway and Johnson Ferry Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This stuff has just been sticking and causing havoc, Cavitt said on Channel 2 Action News. We cannot and will not go into residential roads. Those are going to be untreated. They will be extremely hazardous. 9:30 a.m. Snow changing to freezing rain in Atlanta now pic.twitter.com/rVDS03Q48X Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) January 10, 2025 9:15 a.m. MARTA has suspended bus services and rail lines will move to a weekend operating schedule. Green Line service is running from Bankhead to Vine City. 9:00 a.m. Meteorologist Brian Monahan just got some new accumulation numbers. At least two to three inches of snow have been measured so far across metro Atlanta. There could be some areas that may end up with around four inches before the snow starts to transition to a wintry mix. 8:35 a.m. Snow in Midtown The snow is coming down QUICKLY. Some areas have already seen up to 2 inches of snow accumulations. Here's Meteorologist Eboni Deon with the latest 2wsb.tv/3PuAqCt Posted by WSB-TV on Friday, January 10, 2025 8:21 a.m. GEMA urges everyone to stay off the roads and enjoy the view from home. Its already a winter wonderland here at GEMA/HS Headquarters. And as snow quickly accumulates on the roads, we highly recommend staying off the roads and enjoying the beauty of the snow from the comfort of your home. pic.twitter.com/53k1ZN7ZX7 GEMA/HS (@GeorgiaEMAHS) January 10, 2025 8:15 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration website shows a ground stop has been issued at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The ground stop will be until 10 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Departures to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International are grounded due to other. Probability of extension is medium (30-60%). Carrier DAL only flights included. So far, there have been 607 cancellations and 344 delays as of 8:15 a.m. 7:44 a.m. The snow is picking up in the northern suburbs of metro Atlanta. Channel 2s Michael Seiden is on Buford Road in Cumming, Georgia where giant flakes of snow are coming down. 7:30 a.m. Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says at least an inch of snow has accumulated for parts of the metro. Channel 2s Michele Newell is reporting from Cobb County, where the snow has covered Windy Hill Road in Marietta. Please remember to stay off the roads if travel isnt necessary. 7:00 a.m. Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz just drove to our studios and says the roads are getting covered in snow in midtown Atlanta. The accumulation will pick up as we head through the morning. 6:31 a.m. The snow is picking up across metro Atlanta now. Our WSB-TV studios is getting snow in midtown Atlanta and our Skyline camera is also showing snow in downtown Atlanta. 6:15 a.m. Channel 2 Action News viewers are sending videos and photos of the sleet and snow along west Georgia. So far, weve gotten videos from folks in Carroll County, Troup County and other western counties. 6:00 a.m. Meteorologist Brian Monahan says some accumulation is happening in Lamar County, which is under a winter weather advisory. 5:30 a.m. The sleet that Channel 2s Darryn Moore saw in Carroll County is now turning to snow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile in other parts of metro Atlanta, were getting reports of ice starting to form with the road temperatures getting colder. Triple Team Traffics Mike Shields is watching out for slick spots that may develop quickly this morning. The main roads have been treated. Its the secondary roads to look for. 5:05 a.m. Winter Storm Warning now in effect until 7am Saturday across most of North GA. Now is the time to STAY OFF THE ROADS. Do not take unnecessary risk and travel if not an absolute need too. #ATLtraffic pic.twitter.com/2nmC8DqG2B Mike Shields WSB (@MikeShieldsWSB) January 10, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4:59 a.m. The winter storm warning is now in effect. 4:48 a.m. Channel 2 viewers in Newnan and Tyrone are starting to report sleet falling in their yards. 4:36 a.m. Channel 2s Darryn Moore is in Carroll County, where he is starting to see some freezing rain in the area. Channel 2s Ashli Lincoln is in Douglas County, where she is also starting to see some sleet along the Fairburn Road area. 4:29 a.m. Triple Team Traffics Mike Shields is keeping an eye on Interstate 20 on the Georgia-Alabama state line and spotted a few flakes falling on the Georgia Department of Transportation cameras. 4:18 a.m. Monahan says while the snow and sleet is moving in, the air is still dry for most of north Georgia and thats why you arent seeing anything hit the ground yet. That will change as the morning progresses. 4:05 a.m. FlightAware shows that nearly 500 flights have been canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The winter storm that is now moving into Georgia caused issues in Texas and Oklahoma. The most flight cancellations are Southwest, whose headquarters are in Dallas, Texas. 3:48 a.m. The snow and sleet is starting to move into parts of north Georgia. Meteorologist Eboni Deon says most areas will start with snow and transition more to a wintry mix by late morning or early afternoon. The roads will rapidly change over the next few hours. 3:00 a.m. Meteorologist Brian Monahan says the moisture is now moving into the cold air that is in place across north Georgia. Monahan says we will see several transitions between precipitation types as we go through the day. 2:27 a.m. Winter Storm Warning starting 5AM Friday for much of North GA including metro Atlanta. Accumulating snow and ice are expected. We will be tracking the storm live on Ch. 2 Posted by Eboni Deon WSBTV on Thursday, January 9, 2025 8:27 p.m. Southern California finally received some much-needed rain this week after weeks of historically dry, windy weather fueled this month's deadly wildfire outbreak but with it came the threat of landslides, mudslides and toxic ash runoff in burn areas. According to the National Weather Service, more than an inch of rain fell in parts of Los Angeles over a three-day span, triggering flash flood watches and warnings. Some debris flows were reported along the Pacific Coast Highway, and snow in the surrounding mountains briefly shut down Interstate 5. But the wet weather was also a boon to firefighters who continue to battle four active wildfires that have scorched more than 57,000 acres. The three biggest the Palisades, Eaton and Hughes fires are each more than 95% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Border 2 Fire, which erupted in the Otay Mountain Wilderness area east of Chula Vista late last week, is now 90% contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Monday reiterating that people who are rebuilding their homes are not subject to environmental permit requirements laid out in the California Coastal Act. As the state helps the Los Angeles area rebuild and recover, we will continue to remove barriers and red tape that stand in the way," Newsom said. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Animal Charity of Ohio agents had another emergency rescue Thursday. A starving puppy was found severely underweight, malnourished and dehydrated but clinging to hope. Its a situation that keeps being repeated around the area. The puppy named Oliver was found Thursday morning on Regent Street in Youngstown. Oliver is about 10 months old but weighs only 11 pounds when he should weigh 50. He was taken to an Akron specialist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was almost like he was trying to survive because he knew help was coming. Its the most heartbreaking situation that we keep finding ourselves in, said Jane MacMurchy with Animal Charity of Ohio. Its the third time in the last 24 hours that something like this has happened two other dogs were found Wednesday. A mom struggling to live and a puppy were both undersized and the rest of the dogs in the litter had already died. I have repeatedly used the word crisis. Ive repeatedly used the word emergent. I dont know whats above that, MacMurchy said. 2024 was a similar year for Animal Charity. It spent $22,000 to save the lives of two dogs that needed intensive care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of animals being accepted is still high. Its hard to make progress when people refuse to change their behavior. Their cases go nowhere because there are no leads, the investigations fall short. There are no witnesses, there are no owners, said MacMurchy. The big factor is that laws and punishments fall short of public opinion. MacMurchy talked with Ohios two U.S. senators last year about the issues. She would also welcome sharing the need with state, county and local lawmakers. I am going to make sure that I am doing everything possible this year to get some change for these animals in Mahoning County, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has been success too. 450 adoptions have been made in the last 18 months at Animal Charity of Ohio. One of the severely underweight dogs from last year, Bentley, is going to be featured at this years Fur Ball for his turnaround. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A local attorney is being honored again for the work he does for people who cant afford his services. For the second year in a row, the Florida Bar Association named Todd Clifford Brister as its Pro Bono Service Award winner for the 14th Judicial Circuit. Bar members say Bristers commitment to pro bono and community service is unmatched. Officers were recognized for their service on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes served as the chair of the circuits pro bono committee, and recruits volunteer attorneys for legal clinics, which he organizes and attends. Brister has been a member of the 14th Judicial Circuit bench and Bar Professionalism Committee since 2017, and the Bay County Bar Association since 2010. He and 20 other lawyers will be recognized next week by the Florida Supreme Court for their work on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients. From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Florida lawyers provided more than 1.7 million hours of pro bono work, and $11.6 million to legal aid organizations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) Saying yes to the dress can be an exciting time for brides, but planning for the big day can often be stressful. Evalines Bridal is trying to help ease the stress with its Premier Bridal Show. This Sunday at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield, brides can start planning their wedding day. There will be flower-smelling, cake-tasting and music playing. Attendees will also be able to meet professionals to help make the big day special. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It all helps you plan, and its such a fun day; it really is, said Lori Dubasik, owner of Evalines Bridal. Tickets for the show cost $15. Doors will open at noon. Waypoint 4180 is located at 4180 Westford Pl. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The California fires are having an impact here in the Tri-State as well. Film critic, Jim Hunter, was planning to attend the 30th Critics Choice Awards this Sunday, but due to the fires that has tentatively been rescheduled for January 28 a date Hunter says is optimistic given the widespread devastation. Hunter says as a Critics Choice Association Member he was looking forward to this trip but says the focus should be on those in the middle of the tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real problem here is not that my weekend was ruined, the real problem is that some peoples lives have been ruined in that area, and my heart goes out to those people more than anything else. The CCAs is something that I look forward to every year, says Hunter. The American Red Cross has started a fundraiser. To donate use the code below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Jan. 10A Lodi Fire Department crew has been dispatched to Southern California to assist with fighting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County. The department sent its emergency services engine with a captain, an engineer and two firefighters. "It's currently unknown how long they will need to stay, but they will remain deployed until the fires are under sufficient control," City of Lodi spokeswoman Nancy Sarieh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lodi firefighters joined a strike team from Mokelumne Rural Fire Protection District which included teams from Linden, Liberty and Clements fire districts, as well as Manteca Fire Department. Mokelumne Fire Chief Mark Weber said three of his captains and an engineer were part of the team. Cosumnes Community Service District Fire Department was also dispatched to Pacific Palisades as part of a strike team that included Sacramento City, Sacramento Metro and Folsom fire departments. Four Cosumnes captains, an engineer, two firefighters and five engines made up part of the strike team. The Palisades Fire broke out Tuesday, in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles County neighborhood east of Malibu, as a brush fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blaze had grown to 19,978 acres by Thursday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Times, and has been called the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. The Eaton Fire started Tuesday night near Altadena and had grown to more than 13,690 acres by Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service. There are also several other fires burning in the region. More than 6,000 structures have been lost in the Palisades and Eaton fires, according to the Los Angeles Times, and at least 130,000 people are under evacuation orders for all of the fires. The local firefighters will be working in 24-hour shifts and then taking a day off. For more coverage on the wildfires burning in Southern California, see Page 6. LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) State Rep. Al Williams, of Midway, has been a longtime supporter of former President Jimmy Carter. He supported him through the highly contested gubernatorial Democratic runoff in 1970 and then campaigned for him during his presidential bid. I thought he was a great governor of Georgia, Willaims said. He came and did some progressive things. He did a wonderful job as president of the United States and was overshadowed by some things. But if you look at his record, he has a great record. Williams said Jan. 9, the National Day of Mourning, is about rejoicing and looking back on Carters journey, reflecting on the good he has done throughout the world. He applauded Carters volunteerism and said he had many talents that allowed him to make a difference. Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity honors Jimmy Carter with door memorial Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He showed you what volunteerism it is, Williams said. Volunteerism is not in words. It is an action. Jimmy Carter was a supreme volunteer. He told News 3 that Carter was a man built of realism and truthfulness. Williams believed that is how the former president captured the minds and hearts of the nation. Sen. Mel Traylor said, What are you going to do now, given that your term is about over? Williams recalled. I will be president of the United States. We walked out the door, got to the bottom stairs, and we laughed so hard I thought security was going to come get us. This guy thinks hes going to be president. Then he showed us he had that determination and grit. He said if he was able to speak with Carter for one last time, he would simply say Thank you. Id venture to say he was probably the smartest man ever to be president, Williams said. The representative gives credit to the former president for putting Georgia on the map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Montana Republican Senate President Matt Regier on Thursday failed to claw his way back into control of the GOP majority after a tumultuous first week at the state Legislature. Negotiations with a small group of his own party over committee assignments fell through despite obtaining their permission for a few more hours to hammer out a deal. Regier had felt pressure to put the matter to a vote by Thursday after the Senate had failed to launch into action in its first week. A little after 6 p.m. Thursday, "The Nine" Republican lawmakers who voted with Democrats on Monday to approve committee assignments the minority party had set up in a surprise procedural move did so again throwing Regier's control of the chamber and leadership of his caucus into question, just days after gaveling in for a 90-day Legislature. "That's a great question," Regier said when asked what the vote meant for his Senate presidency. "I'm going to fight for our caucus. The Montanans elected Republicans and a very healthy majority here." The vote sets up a potential 27-23 majority of Democrats and the group of Republican lawmakers Regier referred to several times as "the nine." That comes at the very start of a legislative session in which the GOP has big plans for contentious items like judicial reform, and a hearty debate about Medicaid expansion is looming. "The nine have to look their peers in their eyes and explain hey, this is why I did it," Regier said of those lawmakers' place in the caucus going forward. After the vote, Sen. Bob Phalen, R-Glendive, was walking out of the chamber when he asked another Republican, "What's the point of coming in tomorrow, for God's sake?" Democrats, who hold 18 of the Senate's 50 seats, capitalized early on angst among moderate Republicans with committee assignments that appeared to consolidate their faction into a committee that would, they suspected, spend a lot of time doing very little work. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, introduced a surprise amendment on the chamber floor on Monday to undo that committee the Executive Branch Review Committee and send its members to more sought-after committee assignments. Nine Republicans joined Democrats in voting for Flowers amendment, which prevailed on a 27-23 vote. Republican leaders in the Senate have spent days trying to wrangle their members back into the fold, pausing essentially all of the chambers work in the process. Those meetings shifted from behind closed doors out into the open on Thursday when all Senate Republicans gathered for a caucus meeting in the former Supreme Court chambers. "We can have our differences, we do, I have always preached that," Regier told his caucus in a pitch for unity. "But I will not Montanans did not send Democrats to run the show, they sent us." Sen. Jason Ellsworth, the Republican who was voted out of his Senate presidency, spoke against Regier during the meeting, claiming to have done so for the voters over the party. "I'm going to put my head on my pillow tonight knowing I did the best thing for the state not cater to a small faction of people," Ellsworth told the caucus. Sen. John Esp, the longest serving Republican lawmaker, was tearful in asking the party to reject Ellsworth's case, albeit made along the same lines: Voters sent a Republican majority to the Senate. "This is about our constituency," he said, voice shaking. "Im going to go to sleep tonight, too, knowing I stood up for those people." Some considered the Executive Branch Review Committee to be a direct slight at Gov. Greg Gianforte, who entered his second term in office this week. Republicans have relished their continued successes at the ballot box over recent cycles, and in November claimed control of every statewide elected office. Still, the governor's office has been at times at odds with the bicameral Republican majority at the Legislature, as illustrated in a series of veto overrides following the last session. Sen. Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls, called the committee a "parking place," and said some members of the Republican caucus had not been treated well when committee assignments were handed out following Regier's election as Senate president. Earlier in the day, Senate Democrats gathered in their own caucus meeting in which Flowers urged his group to hold strong through the turbulence. Some lawmakers said their constituents had grown antsy about the lack of action on legislation. "I don't know what to tell them," Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, said in the meeting. "It's been a hard week," Flowers told Democrats. "Thank you everyone, for your patience." It appears Senate committees will get back into motion in the coming days, with several chairpersons indicating they would begin hearing bills early next week. As for the Senate, Regier said he will continue working for Republicans at large but acknowledged his party may, at some points this session, have a more "strained" climb than a typical legislative majority to achieve its goals in the months ahead. "I address their concerns and it still wasn't enough," he said. "If you guys and the Democrats want to control the floor, that's your prerogative." Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Sen. John Esp's name. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) A National Day of Mourning for Former President Jimmy Carter. The 39th President had his funeral at Washington National Cathedral Thursday afternoon. Michelle Obama sends her thoughts and prayers while absent from Carters funeral From peanut farmer to president, Carter made an impact on so many, even those living here in western Massachusetts. President Joe Biden declaring it an executive order Thursday, the same day as the official state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was like a Junior high school down in Texarkana, Arkansas. I was living with my mom at the time and to be honest when I first met him, I was like who was this important guy he came to read to students i just remember seeing him from afar and it took me a while to get into the school, said Yousef Manzoor of Springfield. The last National Day of Mourning was back in December of 2018, in honor of former President George H. W. Bush. All federal offices were closed in honor of Carter, who passed away at 100-years-old on December 29th. Flags will stay at half-staff through January 28th. Former President Barrack Obama and President-Elect Donald Trump, among many political leaders paying their respects at Carters funeral. President Biden delivering the eulogy, where he shared how grateful he was for not only his leadership, but mentorship. The story of a man who never let the ties of politics divert him from his mission to serve and shape the world and through his life, he taught me the strength of character is more than title or the power we hold its the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, said President Biden. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Longview Police Department is seeking the publics help as they search for a missing 21-year-old woman. Jacksonville police chief relieved from duty after poor judgement, disrespect Nyah Newton. Photo courtesy of the Longview Police Department. Officials said Nyah Newton was last seen in the 4480 block of Tanglewood Road. She is described as being around 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 90 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Newton was last seen wearing a brown shirt and checkered black and white pajama pants. Anyone with information about Newtons whereabouts is asked to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. The California National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles as the City of Angels continues to battle out-of-control wildfires, its troops tasked with preventing looting and riots as well as helping emergency responders tackle the blaze. The fires that erupted earlier this week, profiting from dry conditions and whipped up by strong Santa Ana winds, have already killed 10 people, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and forced 150,000 residents to evacuate. Amid the devastation, outbreaks of theft and looting have also been reported as opportunists take advantage of the chaos to raid empty homes and shops abandoned to the flames. Distraught residents survey the charred ruins of their homes burned in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 9 2025 (Zoe Meyers/AFP/Getty) No rioting has taken place, however, despite claims to the contrary spreading on right-wing social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated, California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement on Thursday as he announced the 400-strong National Guard deployment, which takes the number of official personnel on the ground responding to the disaster to 8,000. Newsom had faced criticism from some quarters for not moving quickly enough to bring in the Guard to support local law enforcement but was emphatic in announcing the new show of force on X last night. .@TheCalGuard has arrived to Los Angeles to support local law enforcement. Taking advantage of evacuated communities is absolutely sick. Looting will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/q72oiVSrAa Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 10, 2025 Twenty arrests have been made for looting so far, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at his press conference yesterday. You will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, he warned, advising the public against exploiting the situation for personal gain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kathryn Barger, chair of LA Countys Board of Supervisors, likewise condemned the spike in burglaries. Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis, she said. Armoured vehicles belonging to the Guard have already been spotted along the 210-freeway traveling towards the Eaton Fire, which has torn through Pasadena and Altadena in recent days. Those areas are now under mandatory evacuation orders and a 6pm to 6am curfew is in place in an attempt to stop stragglers venturing out to steal from properties left unguarded. The troops remit is currently the Eaton and Palisades Fires, although they could be diverted to other neighborhoods as the situation evolves, according to necessity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sunset Fire that had raged around the Hollywood Hills, potentially endangering the iconic Hollywood sign and other celebrated landmarks, was finally contained on Thursday but a new blaze, dubbed the Kenneth Fire, has now ignited in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas. However, the wind is reportedly expected to drop on Friday, providing exhausted rescue workers with a desperately-needed respite. As flames have engulfed large swaths of Los Angeles, Elon Musk has been inundating his 212 million followers with posts casting blame for the blazes on Democrats and diversity policies, amplifying narratives that have taken hold among far-right activists and Republican leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump. Musk has posted or replied to more than 80 posts about the fire, many of which pinned the devastation on liberal policies, in some cases based on false claims or racist ideas, according to a Washington Post analysis. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He downplayed the role of climate change, placing blame on individual female firefighters of color and lesbian firefighters, including posting their names and faces. He boosted an hour-long propaganda video by right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that claimed the fires were part of a larger globalist plot to cause the collapse of the United States; Musk replied simply, True. And he repeatedly amplified claims that the Los Angeles Fire Departments investments in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs cost lives by wasting money that could have been spent on disaster response, suggesting that the destruction could have been mitigated if more White men had been retained. DEI means people DIE, Musk said on X. (The Los Angeles Fire Department did not return a request for comment.) Musks use of X to stoke partisan outrage and conspiracy theories about the disaster underscores how a platform once viewed as a global hub for breaking news has transformed into a megaphone for the political views of its owner. It also shows how the billionaire, who holds no official office but is a close adviser to the president-elect, may use his unprecedented online reach to bolster the incoming administration. Musk has seized on prominent natural disasters and other news events to promote partisan misinformation. Last year, he responded to Boeings safety issues and cybersecurity firm CrowdStrikes massive global tech outage by bashing the companies DEI initiatives. He helped fuel right-wing conspiracy theories that complicated rescue efforts as remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California state officials say they are struggling to combat Musks ability to stoke chaos in a fast-moving crisis. Brandon Richards, who leads Gov. Gavin Newsoms rapid-response communication efforts, said accounts such as Musks make it more difficult to manage disaster response. When large accounts get involved, its a totally different ballgame that allows misinformation to quickly snowball, he added. Youre not just battling a false narrative on one account, he said. Youre battling a false narrative on several major accounts and then all of the people that are regurgitating their content. When prominent accounts such as Musks spread false or divisive narratives about the states response, it can make it difficult for the people affected to find reliable information. If people dont trust their government, but the government is saying you are in an evacuation zone and need to evacuate people, people might not do that, or they might do it too late, Richards said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and X did not respond to a request for comment. X, formerly Twitter, has long been a hub for breaking news about disasters - and, for just as long, a hub for viral hoaxes and unsubstantiated claims about them. In 2012, Photoshopped images of sharks swimming down flooded freeways mingled with citizen journalism and mainstream news articles about Hurricane Sandy. In the years before Musk bought the company, it had worked to elevate reputable sources and counteract falsehoods, hiring a team of former journalists to curate its trending section. Public agencies came to rely on it as a utility to reach the media and public with real-time updates in crises such as 2022s Hurricane Ian. But since Musks 2022 purchase of the site, X has been transformed. The company has cut the bulk of its trust and safety team, replaced professional fact-checking with crowdsourced Community Notes, and downgraded posts that link to news articles while elevating those of conservative and right-wing influencers who pay for blue verification check marks once reserved mostly for public figures and the press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With more than 200 million followers and a habit of posting around-the-clock, Musk has the loudest online megaphone in U.S. politics. A recent Post analysis found that his online reach far outstrips that of accounts for major political figures, including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris - and even Trump. Xs user base is far smaller than those of some other social media sites, like Facebook, but it has long held outsize influence in breaking news and politics. Musks newfound role as one of Trumps closest advisers has increased the weight of what he says on the platform. Musk posts far more about politics now than he did in the past: Nearly 40 percent of his posts in October and November focused on electoral politics, according to The Posts analysis, a sharp uptick compared with previous months. While the bulk of his posts on X are one-word replies or emojis, Musk is increasingly using the platform to wield political influence with the masses. Since Trumps reelection - Musk donated at least $277 million to the campaign - the billionaire entrepreneur has triggered a huge political fight by pressuring Congress to scrap a compromise spending bill; rankled the president-elects advisers by criticizing a Cabinet pick to his millions of followers; and clashed with far-right activists on H-1B visas. Musk has also become increasingly vocal on a range of national news events, at times spreading false information to millions of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the presidential election, Musk stoked a conspiracy theory that because Michigan had registered more voters than there are eligible voting-age adults, it indicated mass fraud in the swing state, a claim that got 32 million views. The assertion was debunked by state election officials, who said federal law requires the state to keep voters on its rolls until they have missed two elections. Musk claimed after Hurricane Helene that private relief flights to North Carolina were being blocked by the Federal Aviation Administration, a claim refuted by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. On Thursday afternoon, the Southern California wildfires topped Xs trending news tab, with a post from Musk the first to surface when users clicked on it. Of the top four posts, including Musks, three were from conservatives blaming Democrats for the destruction. In a post on X, Musk downplayed the role of climate change, faulting overregulation and bad governance for a disaster that scientists say is probably linked to climate-change-fueled effects on Californias atmosphere. Many of Musks posts matched themes gaining traction with Trump and far-right activists. The president-elect accused Newsom of failing to control the fires. Musk joined in Thursday, saying: New government is needed for California. In response to a post about the Los Angeles Fire Department by right-wing X account Libs of TikTok, Musk said the department had prioritized DEI over saving lives and homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social media experts said the discourse on X around the Palisades Fire stands in contrast to that around previous disastrous events. X used to be the place to go to for accurate information in emergencies, said Renee DiResta, a research professor at Georgetown University who studies online influence. But changes to how the platform curates content and the increasing prevalence of economically motivated ragemongers have made it far less useful for that. But even as X has become less reliable in some respects, it remains the de facto online hub for real-time news on fast-moving crises, said Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at the nonprofit Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Thats thanks in part to pullbacks from news and politics by rivals Meta and TikTok and the declining influence of mainstream media. So when the discourse on X revolves around blaming certain groups for natural disasters, that can have a real impact on public perception. A lot of people who are generally disconnected from civic or public events, the time when they tune in is around these major crises, Frances-Wright said. So the way these events are framed, particularly when framed around the broader failings of politicians or political parties, can really shape peoples view of the country longer-term. - - - Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report. Related Content Actually, Sarah McBride does have an agenda There was nothing you could do: The two days when fire swallowed Los Angeles LOS ANGELES Ash trickled down from a gray sky and the smell of smoke lingered in the air Thursday as Angelenos made phone calls to loved ones. The common refrain: Were OK. Were safe. Were at a shelter. The evacuees paced outside the grounds of the Westwood Recreation Center in West Los Angeles on Thursday. It is one of four makeshift spaces for wildfire evacuees run by the Red Cross in the affected areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westwood Rec, as some locals call it, is just off Interstate 405, less than 2 miles outside the immediate evacuation zone around the still-raging Palisades Fire. Over 240 people were being housed there Thursday, a Red Cross spokesperson said. Just two days ago, the number was closer to 20. The devastation, the destruction, I never thought this would happen, said Johnnie Burman, 64, an evacuee from Santa Monica who went to the shelter in hope of finding his elderly neighbor and friend. Johnnie Burman, an evacuee from Santa Monica, at the Westwood Recreation Center. Burman, who has lived in the beachside community for 14 years, is among the many who are under mandatory evacuation orders. As of Thursday afternoon, the city of Santa Monica had imposed a sunrise-to-sunset curfew to help support law enforcement efforts in the area bordering the Palisades Fire. In his hurry to evacuate, Burman left his cellphone behind in his apartment. A small lantern and a flashlight were among the only items he brought with him, carrying them in an insulated black tote bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The centers have become refuges for many whose lives have been upended by the unprecedented fires that continue to ravage the Los Angeles area. With continued uncertainty and more expected winds in the forecast, the spaces have provided a reprieve for people who have had nowhere else to turn including some who have lost everything. Along with the influx of people came support volunteers, with many donating items or offering assistance to the Red Cross employees already stationed there. The fierce wildfires, sparked by dry conditions and powerful winds, have killed at least five people and forced nearly 180,000 more from their homes. Jay Gutovich donates supplies with his family at the emergency shelter at the Westwood Recreation Center. Its hard to see, because theres so much pain and suffering, said Jay Gutovich, 37, of West Los Angeles, who stopped by the shelter to donate childrens toys Legos, Hot Wheels, whatever we could that he picked up at Target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And theres a pull to politicize, when really the focus needs to be on helping people right now, and we can figure out the other stuff afterwards, Gutovich said. I think its important that we take these opportunities to be there for each other, because were all on the same team. How can we work together as a community to build the Los Angeles that we want as a collective? The Westwood dormitory area was sparsely populated Thursday morning, as many of the shelter residents leave during the day to meet up with friends or seek comfort in places like coffee shops. Many of the residents still have jobs to go to, including a person who hurried out the building with a coffee, adding that he was unable to chat because he was late to work. Volunteers distribute water and other supplies at the Westwood Recreation Center on Thursday. Some shelter residents were walking around with everything they could carry strapped to their backs, alongside one or two additional roller bags. A Santa Monica woman said she grabbed all her photo albums and dropped them in a bin she brought with her when she evacuated. Another Santa Monica resident, Svetlana Sornekova, 88, fed pieces of chicken to her small pup out of a plastic foam bowl. Around her, other temporary shelter residents were walking their dogs, the only loved ones they took with them when they evacuated. Svetlana Sornekova, 88, evacuated from her home in Santa Monica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All morning, volunteers at the center unloaded supplies from trucks and wheeled them inside the building. Residents outside of the evacuation zones have also dropped by in hope of helping, so much so that some volunteers and supplies have been turned away or redirected to other shelters. Nicole Maul, a Red Cross spokesperson on the site, said there has been no shortage of goodwill in the midst of tragedy even from those who are experiencing their own horrors. Weve had volunteers whove been evacuated themselves. We have volunteers whove unfortunately lost homes. But theyve said to me time and time again they want to show up for their neighbors, Maul said. And that makes my heart race a little bit that someone whos potentially going through so much says: You know what? I want to be here. I know Ive got the skills to help other people. Scenes at the Westwood Recreation Center on Thursday. A group of local high school students who got the day off as a result of the wildfire threat were among those who showed up to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just doing as much as we can, said Reagan Strazzeri, 16, adding that she and her friends were making care packages and donating them wherever we can. At the Pasadena Convention Center, similar volunteer efforts were underway as people who evacuated from the Eaton Fire gathered. The popular bagel chain Yeastie Boys blasted music from its food truck as it doled out free meals, joined by a food truck run by SOCALO, a Mexican restaurant, and Border Grill. Were just trying to feed people, a SOCALO food truck employee said as he rushed to hand out bags of food. Yeastie Boys Bagels provides free food Thursday outside the Pasadena Convention Center, which has been turned into an emergency shelter. Other volunteers walked around offering water and sandwiches to the families standing outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Pasadena said Thursday afternoon on X that because of an overwhelming outpour of donations and support, the Pasadena Convention Center is no longer able to accept food, water, emergency supplies, or donations of any kind until further notice. It thanked people for their generosity. Terry Avery, 47, arrived at the shelter Wednesday night with her 13-year-old son, her husband and their dog. The family lost their Altadena home and Avery had time to bring only a handful of items, including medication and a pair of sunglasses. We lost everything, and we cant get up there yet, so were here with all the goodness of others, she said. Theyre feeding us and keeping us safe. Terry Avery of Altadena lost her home to the Eaton Fire on Wednesday. She is living with her son and husband at the emergency shelter in the Pasadena Convention Center. The community solidarity has been helping get her through the devastation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyones sort of going through this together, she said. Theres so many people feeding my son. The kindness, its truly overwhelming. But the grief has also been overwhelming. Im just so sad for our community, because it really was and is a community, she said. Its just going to be different. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Drone Swatting Firefighters are still struggling to contain multiple major wildfires as much of Los Angeles county remains under a red flag warning, with fierce winds fanning the flames. At least ten people have lost their lives and more than 9,000 structures have been damaged so far, the Los Angeles Times reports. And yet, instead of evacuating the area, some residents are literally getting in the way of lifesaving firefighting efforts. As the New York Times reports, a civilian drone collided with a firefighting plane flying over the Palisades neighborhood on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane, which belongs to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, managed to land but sustained enough damage to be put out of service the very last thing the fire department needs right now as the most destructive fire in the California city's history continues to rage on. Let this be a lesson: according to the Federal Aviation Administration, violations of flight restrictions can land you in prison for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $75,000 and if that's not bad enough, you could be literally undermining efforts to fight the destruction. Scoop and Dump According to Cal Fire officials, the FAA is investigating the incident. The plane's wing was punctured, forcing firefighters to put it out of commission. The aircraft, a Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper, can fly at extremely low altitudes to as its name suggests scoop up water from nearby sources and dump it on fires. It can hold 1,600 gallons, and refill it in just five minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the FAA imposed flight restrictions in the skies above the embattled city. Nobody in the area is allowed to fly drones despite countless aerial videos getting passed around on social media. As the NYT points out, drone incursions pose a real risk for firefighters. A sighting can force a plane to be grounded for anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, which could be the difference between life and death as flames rage. "We have a saying: 'If you fly, we cant,'" Cal Fire spokesman Chris Thomas told the newspaper. "But I dont know how effective it is because everybody thinks its so cool to fly a drone up through the fire." More on the fires: People Think the Hollywood Sign Is on Fire Because of AI Slop On 8th January, 2025, Ambassador Wang Qing and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba signed the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Two Governments. Ambassador Wang said that this new agreement is a significant initiative for implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC summit and the important consensus of the two heads of states, and also symbolizes a good beginning of China-Sierra Leone practical cooperation in 2025. The agreement will provide new impetus for the two countries to deepen economic and technical cooperation and realize common development. China will work with Sierra Leone to accelerate implementation of the outcomes of the high-level visits, promote new progress in practical cooperation continuously, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. Foreign Minister Kabba said that H.E. President Julius Maada Bio visited China twice in 2024, which propelled the Sierra Leone-China relationship into a new era of higher level. He thanked China for the long-term support for economic and social development of Sierra Leone, and praised the high degree of strategic alignment between the Ten Partnership Initiatives for Joining Hands to Advance Modernization for China and Africa and the Big 5 Game Changers of Sierra Leone. He said that the Sierra Leonean side looks forward to further strengthening practical cooperation between the two sides to better enhance the well-being of the two peoples. Wildfires in Southern California continue to burn, weaving a deadly path of destruction through communities in the area. As of Thursday, at least five fires were active in Los Angeles County, scorching more than 40 square miles across the region, according to Cal Fire. The largest blazes? The fire blazing in the Pacific Palisades community and the Eaton Fire, located east in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Both of these blazes are 0% contained. At least five people have died in the fires, but numbers could rise as fires continue to burn and spread. Thousands more are being forced to flee their homes carrying little to nothing with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coastal state may be thousands of miles away from Tennessee, but social media has given the world a first-hand view of just how widespread and destructive these wildfires fueled by Santa Ana winds have been the last few days. And the stories being shared are heartbreaking. Images and videos have come across social media feeds showing Los Angeles County looking more like something out of an apocalyptic nightmare than the tinsel town people think of. "Historic winds and extensive drought have created a perfect storm that has driven people from their homes, have taken people's homes, and have taken people's lives," Mayor Karen Bass said at a press briefing Thursday. "This is absolutely an unprecedented historic firestorm, but we are all hands on deck." Here's a look at where the fires are and just how to help those who have lost everything. Where are the California wildfires? According to CalFire, fire locations and acres burned include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palisades Fire: 17,234 acres; started 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Eaton Fire: 10,600 acres; started 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Hurst Fire: 671 acres; started about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday; 10% contained. Lidia Fire: 348 acres; started Wednesday; 40% contained. Sunset Fire: 43 acres; started Wednesday. How can I help people affected by the California wildfires? As several fast-growing wildfires continued to threaten communities, some organizations are taking donations to help victims of the fires. The crowdfunding platform GoFundMe published a page of verified fundraisers to support those affected by the fires. GlobalGiving's California Wildfire Relief Fund is taking donations that the organization says will go directly toward supporting wildfire relief and recovery efforts in the state. The California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund aims to offer relief to marginalized communities hardest hit by the devastating fires. The California Fire Foundation provides aid to firefighters battling the blazes, as well as their loved ones and the communities they support. You can find out more about how to help by reading here. Which celebrities' homes have been destroyed in the wildfires? Videos and photos showed the charred remains of homes turned to nothing but smoldering ash with the occasional chimney still standing where a home used to be. Among these are some that belonged to celebrities we know and love. Star Jamie Lee Curtis has posted multiple photos of the destruction and spoke on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" about the destruction her beloved community has endured. "We are going to have to come together,as we may never have done before, in the City of Angels and help each other. AND WE WILL," she wrote on Instagram. Television and film star James Woods had an emotional interview on CNN after seeing his home burn to the ground. "There was so much chaos. It was like an inferno," Woods said. "Every house was on fire around us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Instagram, a video of Woods describing the fires burning around his home and just how close the actor was to them has circulated. Here are some of the other celebrities that have already lost their homes: Cary Elwes Paris Hilton Billy Crystal Ricki Lake Melissa Rivers Anna Faris Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag James Woods Diane Warren Cameron Mathison USA TODAY contributed to this report This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Are fires still burning in Los Angeles? Where are they and how to help Photo: Wally Skalij/Getty Images Before the devastating Los Angeles fires this week, California already had a looming insurance crisis on its hands. Fast-forward to present day, as flames continue to burn in the greater Los Angeles area, harrowing reports have emerged of thousands of homeowners being dropped by their insurance companies ahead of the Palisades Fire. In one particularly heartbreaking example, ABC 7 reported on a nonagenarian couple whose fire insurance was canceled before the Eaton Fire. Theyve lived in this house for 75 years, and theyve had the same insurance, and these insurance people decided to cancel their fire [insurance], said Lynn Levin-Guzman, the couples daughter, donning an N95 face mask as smoke rises by her family home. Thank you, California insurance companies, for supporting residents who pay taxes and love California. And they wonder why people leave, she added, tongue in cheek. After safely evacuating her parents, refusing to abandon the house she grew up in, Levin-Guzman headed to the Eaton home to try to protect itarmed with only a hosedespite evacuation edicts. Under the circumstances, send me to jail, thats fine, she said. Brush Fire Erupts In Pacific Palisades Photo: VCG/Getty Images Unfortunately, even before these latest Los Angeles fires, the sad state of insurance is nothing new. Insurance companies have been scaling back and withdrawing from California for years, not just in the homeowner insurance market, but auto as well. They cite increased risk leading to payouts not aligning with a commensurate ability to raise rates, says Los Angeles based Ari S. Friedman, partner with Wisner Baum who has extensive experience in wildfire claims litigation, calling the situation a convoluted nexus of considerations that has created a tension between the insurance company, the state of California, and the homeowner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Friedman, the insurance issue is not just one that Californians encounter, but it has been seen nationwide as disasters become more frequent and costly. More communities are at a risk of fire, and in the face of aging homes that may have features that pose an increased risk, such as wood shakes or shingles, these companies have opted to stop coverage, he says. In California, specifically as of late, Friedman says insurance companies have cited gradual changes in weather patterns making conditions dryer, the inability to raise rates in response to increased risk, the failure of utility companies and governments to adequately prepare for extreme situations, and more frequent fires and disasters leading to payouts. Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area Photo: Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images How to Protect Your House From Fire Damage While there is little you can do about canceled coverage immediately for homeowners, Friedman recommends taking the following precautions to safeguard your home and minimize risk in the face of a wildfire. If you have insurance, reach out right away Most peoples first line of defense will be their insurance company. It is important to open a claim immediately and ask for an advance on funds, he says, noting that insurance companies will often send money to policyholders immediately so that their necessities can be met. Evaluate your homes resilience to fires For the homeowner, especially in older homes, review what features of the home and property increase the potential risk of disaster, Friedman says. For example, Friedman advises taking the proactive step of installing fire-resistant roofs and siding instead of keeping older materials that might combust when encountering a hot ember. Be proactive about handling things that cannot be replaced Photographs and videos can be digitized at little expense, and critical paperwork and documents should be kept in an easily accessible place, Friedman suggests. Speak up to local officials The government is there to represent and advocate for you. Finally, put pressure on the local government to ensure that it is reviewing its ability to adequately respond to disasters and working to ensure utility companies are modernizing their infrastructure, Friedman says. US-WEATHER-FIRE Photo: Josh Edelson Stay organized Save receipts and proof of payment to submit for reimbursement. Make sure every phone call is followed by a written summary of what was discussed to ensure consistency throughout the process, Friedman says, and also cautions that the insurance process may take many months; because the demand on adjusters is high in mass-disaster situations, the policyholder may end up dealing with many different adjusters during the claims process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With all this in mind, even when dealing with cancelled insurance coverage, homeowners should never take the risk of playing firefighter for their residencesthe consequences can be deadly. Sadly, the Los Angeles County has already confirmed at least one casualty as a result of a resident trying to fight the fire at his Altadena residence. You are at risk of smoke inhalation, and you dont know where the fire is spreading in your home, so at any moment, your roof or the floor could cave in on you, says Steve Lockwood, owner of Mountain State Fire Protection in Phoenix, Arizona. The average homeowner is simply not going to have the tools to fight a large fire, and the best thing to do is just get out of the house and get to safety. (Even though you shouldnt be trying to fight a large fire, if you have an N95 mask, you should always wear that during wildfires to avoid inhaling smoke.) Whether you live in an area impacted by wildfires or not, Lockwood stresses the importance of maintaining and keeping your fire prevention equipment in good working order when there is no fire so they work when there is one. If you have fire sprinklers, Lockwood recommends getting those inspected, as well as making sure your fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are inspected and working properly on an annual basis. These things will fight a fire before any firefighter gets on the scene. If a fire is bad, it might not be enough to save your home, but if you are lucky, fire sprinklers can minimize the damage, he says. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest As wildfires continue to rage across Southern California, thousands of Los Angeles residents received an evacuation warning that was not intended for them. Sent via the Alert LA County program, the notification was only meant for the areas affected by the Kennith Fire in Woodland Hills, telling recipients: An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. More from Deadline It advised, Remain vigilant of any threats and be ready to evacuate. Gather loved ones, pets, and supplies. Continue to monitor local weather, news, and the webpage alertla.org for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn explained that the alert was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error, noting that a correction will be issued shortly. Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING. It was for Kennith Fire only, the subsequent alert read. I have been informed the evacuation warning that many of us just received on our phones was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error. A correction will be issued shortly. Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) January 10, 2025 After the Kennith Fire broke out around 2:30pm on Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued a mandatory evacuation order for Vanowen Street south to Burbank Boulevard, County Lane Road east to East Valley Circle Boulevard. An evacuation warning was issued for an area bordered by Ingomar and Saticoy Streets south to Burbank Boulevard, from Valley Circle Boulevard east to Woodlake Avenue. Fires have broken out in Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, Eaton Canyon, the Hollywood Hills and other areas around Los Angeles County amid a life-threatening and destructive windstorm that picked up Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Thursday, at least six people have died in the Southern California wildfires, which have forced nearly 180,000 people to evacuate and left more than 1.5 million without power. President Joe Biden, who extended his Los Angeles trip on Wednesday to visit first responders and those affected, declared the fires a major disaster. Over 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate communities impacted by the Southern California wildfires, wrote Biden on X. At least two people have been killed. And many more are injured including firefighters. Its devastating. To the residents of Southern California: We are with you. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. On January 7, wildfires spread through the city of Los Angeles, tearing through Altadena, Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, the Hollywood Hills, and Sylmar. Residents and business owners have been forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods as they burn to the ground. According to the Los Angeles Times, as of this writing, more than 9,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed and at least 130,000 residents are under evacuation order in what will likely be the most costly wildfire in American history. The Los Angeles hospitality industry has rallied together, offering frontline workers and evacuees free meals, clean water, and a place to rest, but many of those restaurant workers have lost homes of their own. Dozens of Los Angeles restaurants burned down, leaving entire teams heartbroken and out of work. Even more restaurants have been partially damaged or left without power, unable to operate. And the fires are still ongoing. In this time of crisis, here is how you can support the Los Angeles restaurant industry. This list will be updated as more fundraisers and donation opportunities arise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Your Neighborhood Restaurant Needs You More Than Ever and You Need It, Too Major Organizations American Red Cross: The nonprofit humanitarian organization is working around the clock to support individuals who have been forced to flee their homes. Their disaster teams are providing relief services, such as food, clean water, emotional support, and safe housing. To fund their efforts, make a donation through redcross.org. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word, REDCROSS to 90999. California Community Foundation: Since 1915, the California Community Foundation has strived to address and find long-term solutions for the greatest issues facing Los Angeles County. Today, theyre committed to serving the marginalized communities impacted by the wildfires. Our efforts aim to rebuild and restore the lives of Californias most affected and underserved populations, they said in a statement on calfund.org. The fund has supported a diverse range of organizations addressing the needs of a diverse collection of communities including Native American, Muslim, migrant and non-native English-speaking communities, as well as food workers, individuals with disabilities, children and the elderly. Donate on pledge.to or send a check to the California Community Foundation. CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation: The CAL Fire Benevolent Foundation raises money to support firefighters, the loved ones of firefighters, and burn victims. Your donations will help provide financial and medical assistance to the firefighters injured on the frontline of the wildfires. Donate through paypal.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Fire Foundation: Through emotional and financial assistance, the California Fire Foundation supports firefighters, the family of fallen firefighters, and the communities impacted by fire. Their Wildfire & Disaster Relief fund will benefit the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires and the firefighters on the frontlines. Make a tax-deductible donation on cpf.salsalabs.org. GoFundMe: The worlds largest crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe, has created a landing page containing various donation opportunities related to those impacted by the Pacific Palisades, Sylmar and Altadena wildfire. You can donate to the Wildfire Relief Fund 2025, which provides recovery grants to the victims, or support one of the many verified fundraisers from families, businesses, and individuals in the Los Angeles area. The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army aims to address human needs across the globe. In the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires, they are providing meals, emotional support, and temporary housing to those who have been displaced. They have three evacuation shelters, 13 emergency vehicles, six mobile kitchens, five transit vans, and two shower trailers. Donate to their disaster relief effort here. Related: Restaurants Are There for Us on Our Worst Days So We Have to Be There for Them Hospitality Relief World Central Kitchen: Founded by chef Jose Andres, World Central Kitchen has been providing meals during natural disasters and humanitarian crises since 2010. The Los Angeles wildfires are no exception Andres and his team have set up stations to feed first responders and evacuees delicious and comforting meals. To help fund World Central Kitchens efforts, you can send a one-time donation or sign up for monthly donations here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Restaurants Care: Since 2017, the California-based Restaurants Care has helped over 2,300 workers and 1,600 independent restaurants, and their Restaurants Care Resilience Fund has provided $5.94 million in grants to 1,325 restaurants. Through their website, individuals can donate money to support L.A. hospitality workers affected by the fires, and the organization has opened up a $100,000 fund to start. Welcome to Chinatown Sik Faan Fund: Sik fa-an means lets eat! in Cantonese, and the Welcome to Chinatown organization has revived its eponymous fund to purchase meals from small businesses for first responders and evacuees. To kick off the fund, WtC has purchased 1,000 meals from Rosalynn Supper Club, and Sua Superette has signed on to the cause as well. South LA Community Foundation: This nonprofit is on a mission to support South Central Los Angeles by empowering families through access to resources, building the economy, and creating a safe and equitable community. One of their initiatives, South LA Cafe, is preparing and providing meals to distribute to people impacted by the wildfires, in addition to clothing, clean water, and face masks. To help provide them with more resources, donate at theslacfoundation.givingfuel.com. Another Round Another Rally: Nonprofit Another Round Another Rally is a financial and educational resource for hospitality workers. In addition to offering scholarships and reimbursement grants, they provide assistance for restaurants, bars, and hotels that have been impacted by natural disasters. You can now donate to Another Round Another Rally's Disaster Relief Fund, which provides real-time support for restaurant workers affected by the Los Angeles fires. You can also buy a Los Angeles Hospitality Industry Relief shirt from hospitality apparel store, Mover & Shaker 100% of the profits will be donated to Another Round Another Rally's Disaster Relief Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southern Smoke Foundation: To ensure meaningful recovery and sustainability as the community rebuilds, the Southern Smoke team, which provides emergency grants and mental health resources to people in the hospitality industry, is working on plans to assist California food and beverage workers in the long term via their emergency relief fund starting in June 2025. Donations for California wildfire recovery are now being accepted to build necessary resources. Spots are currently available in their Behind You mental health program through their partnership with Cal Lutheran University. They encourage California food and beverage workers affected by the fires to apply. An email from co-founder Lindsay Brown says that, "SSF aims to be a resource for recovery, following the incredible work of the first responders." GoFundMes to Support Amara Kitchen: Altadena restaurant Amara Cafe burned down in the Eaton wildfire. Owner Paola Guasp is fundraising to, first and foremost, support her team. "Supporting our employees is central to the ethos of Amara Kitchen and who we are as a small, Latina-owned business," Guasp says in the GoFundMe. "With your help, we hope to raise the necessary funds to keep our staff employed and build a stronger path forward during this uncertain time." Cafe de Leche: The Eaton fire destroyed beloved Altadena cafe, Cafe de Leche. "This cafe was not just a business it was a community space, a gathering place, and a dream we built together," shared co-owners Anya and Matt Schodorf on their GoFundMe. "But more than that, its home to a group of incredible individuals who are the true heart and soul of our cafe: our six wonderful employees." Donations will support those employees with wages, medical bills, rent, transportation, and any other basic necessities. Cholada Thai: Cholada Thai, a restaurant that has served the Malibu beach community for a quarter of a century, burned down in the Palisades wildfire. "For 25 years, Cholada Thai has been more than just a restaurant to me it has been my life," says owner Nikorn Sriwichailumpan in his GoFundMe description. "I have spent nearly every single day at the restaurant, pouring my heart into every dish, every interaction, and every moment spent with our amazing customers. Cholada isnt just a business; its a place where Ive built lifelong relationships, served countless families, and worked side by side with an incredible team." Sriwichailumpan is requesting donations to begin the process of rebuilding Cholada Thai so they can eventually open their doors again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox's Restaurant: Neighborhood American spot, Fox's Restaurant, was destroyed in the Eaton Canyon wildfire. Not only is this a tragic loss for the Altadena community, but it has also left all 15 of their team members unemployed. Fox's owner Paul Rosenbluh is requesting donations to provide aid to the staff, "to help them rebuild their lives in the wake of this devastation." The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop: Since 1955, The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop has been owned and operated by the Shay family, serving the Altadena community with all-day breakfast and soul food. On January 7, the restaurant was destroyed. "We are completely lost for words to see what my grandmother built, my uncle Lonzia, and my mom created, burn down to flames," says third-generation owner Annisa Shay. "If you can find it in your heart to help my family's business, we appreciate you so much." Minik Market: Family-run Minik Market, a space created to support the Altadena community with locally made specialty goods and homeware, has burned down. Owners Jon Johnson and Gamze Ozcan are requesting donations to pay their team members' outstanding payroll, fulfill commitments to their vendors, and manage outstanding payments, ultimately giving them the flexibility and freedom to determine the future of their business. The Reel Inn Malibu: The Pacific Palisade fires destroyed Malibu seafood institution The Reel Inn. The 36-year-old restaurants owners Andy and Teddy Leonard are requesting donations to cover three months of wages, benefits, and support for his staff. These hardworking individuals are more than employees theyre family, they said in the GoFundMe description. Theyve supported us through thick and thin, and now we want to ensure they have the financial stability they need during this difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Side Pie: Our whole neighborhood burned to the ground today, says Side Pie owner Kevin Hockin in his GoFundMe description. This is our community hub and pizza/coffee sanctuary. Hockin has been a resident of Altadena, CA for 11 years, and was heartbroken to see his restaurant destroyed by the wildfires. Hockin is asking for $100,000 to support his team and cover the cost of rebuilding his business from the ground up. Chefs Amy and Tristan Aitchison: Husband-and-wife Amy and Tristan Aitchison, both chefs at the two-Michelin-starred seafood restaurant Providence, lost everything in the Palisades fire, leaving them and their two kids without a home. Their teammates Kim and Stephanie Stodel are requesting for donations to help the Aitchinsons get back on their feet. "If you work BOH in the restaurant industry or know anything about it, you know how hard it can be to make a living, let alone having to start over from ground zero," the Stodels stated in the GoFundMe. "Today, I ask that you assist them by giving back to a couple and family that has given so much to our community. Today, they are the ones in need of our help." Restaurateur Tony Banuelos: The Eaton fire took the home of Tony Banuelos, owner of Monrovia barbecue restaurant, Jake's Roadhouse. "The Banuelos Family lost their home and all of their belongings, leaving them only with what they were wearing during evacuation," said Raquel Banuelos, Tony's daughter-in-law and organizer of the GoFundMe. "Their forever family home is gone, the home their children grew up in and their grandchildren were growing up in as well." Donations will help them rebuild their home and replace their belongings. Bartender Layn Beggs: "On the night of the fire, I was bartending at Seven Grand in Los Angeles when I received word that evacuation orders had been issued for my area," Layn Beggs states on her GoFundMe page. "Later that evening, I watched in horror as live news coverage showed flames engulfing my block. I saw my apartment complexmy safe space, my sanctuarybeing consumed by fire." Beggs is requesting support to replace her medications and necessities and to fund her housing costs, furniture, and emergency savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Podcast host and cookbook author Darin Bresnitz: Founder and host of Snacky Tunes, a podcast that connects music with food, Darin Bresnitz and his wife, Anna, lost their home in the Eaton fire. A donation will help the couple and their two children find a place to live and replace their belongings. Restaurateurs Gail and Judah Casburn: While neighborhood watering hole Altadena Ale House survived the fire, owners Gail and Judah Casburn lost their family home. "Although they are safe, the enormous tragedy they have suffered is almost insurmountable," says Lynn Reck, organizer of the GoFundMe. "Can you support [Gail] and Judah with funds to help them get through this very difficult time?" Marketing director and baker Shawna Dawson: Shawna Dawson, senior marketing director of Apicii Hospitality and founder of Salty Bake Studio, lost her home in the Eaton fire. "When we say we lost everything, we really lost everything from Marcus' extensive pop culture collections to our deceased grandmother's and mother's jewelry, to the entire collection of baking supplies for my cottage bakery and irreplaceable art it's all gone," shared Dawson in her GoFundMe description. She is asking for donations to cover the immediate expenses of the tragedy mortgage, property taxes, necessities, and the equipment needed for her and her husband to get back to work. Server Claire Dorotheo: Claire Dorotheo, a server at Echo Park Italian restaurant Bacetti, is left with nothing but the clothes on her back after the Altadena fire took her and her partner's home. "They need our help to rebuild their lives and regain a sense of stability during this heartbreaking time," says Rafael Cansino, who organized the GoFundMe. "Your contribution will go directly toward helping them with immediate needs like clothing, food, and temporary housing, as well as long-term expenses like finding a new place to live and replacing essential items." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chef Travis Hayden: Travis Hayden, chef of Los Angeles wine bar Bar Etoile and founder of Cali Bolo pasta sauce lost his home in the Palisades wildfire. I poured my heart into the space, remodeling everything myself. I did the cabinetry, the floors, cut out the sink, I reroofed it myself, even built a redwood deck with an outdoor shower during lockdown, he wrote on his GoFundMe page. I always said I'd never sell it in a million years and I'd always keep it in my family. My heart is broken to see it gone. Unable to receive fire insurance, he must cover the cost of what has been destroyed. A donation towards his fundraiser will help Hayden clean the area and ultimately, rebuild his home. Wine shop owner Nicole Lalague: While on vacation, sommelier Nicole Lalague, owner of Pasadena Wine Shop, received the news that her home and everything she owned was destroyed in the Altadena fires. "It is our time to help a friend in need just as Nicole has always done for all of us," says Kayla Sesi, who worked with Lalague at the wine shop. "If you can donate, a little goes a long way. My hope is that we can help relieve a fraction of the stress she is coming back to." Bartender Eugene Lee: Eugene Lee, a bartender, photographer, and mentor in the Los Angeles hospitality community, lost his dream home in the Eaton Fire. A donation will support Lee, his wife, and their son, as they navigate a path forward. Chef Erich Martinez: Erich Martinez, a cook at Echo Park Japanese restaurant Tsubaki, lost him home and a lifetime's worth of belongings in the Eaton Fire. He and his partner, Adam, are asking for support to "begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding [their] lives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sommelier Diego Meraviglia: The Palisades wildfire took the home of wine professional Diego Meraviglia and his wife, Simona. Donations will help them cover the costs of what was lost in the tragedy replacing their belongings, finding a new home, and sharing whatever is left over with their Topanga Canyon neighbors. Wine entrepreneur Kristin Olszewski: Kristin Olszewski, founder of boxed and canned wine company Nomadica, lost her belongings, car, and Malibu home in the Palisades wildfire. Kristen and her husband, Joey, are now in need of donations to replace what has been taken. "Kristin and Joeys home was more than a place to liveit was a sanctuary of love, creativity, and joy," says Marta Mae, the GoFundMe's organizer. "As they face the daunting road ahead, we have an opportunity to surround them with the power of community and help them rebuild." Busser Jaime Pacheco: The owners of Salazar, a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles' Elysian Valley, built a GoFundMe on behalf of their beloved busser and team member, Jaime Pacheco. "The fire in Altadena took everything he owns," the page states. "In this national tragedy, many are in need of help, but anything you could spare would help him get back on their feet." Chef Travis Passerotti: The home of Travis Passerotti, chef de cuisine of Marea Beverly Hills, was taken in the Los Angeles wildfires. He and his wife, Steph, are now hoping for donations to navigate their next steps. "Their home held immense meaning it was their sanctuary, especially for Steph during her brave and ongoing battle with cancer," says the GoFundMe's organizer Rebecca Hough-Levine. "With your generosity, however, we can help them begin the process of rebuilding their lives." Chef Hunter Pritchett: Private chef Hunter Pritchett, his wife, Katie; and 4-year-old child, Leo, lost their home in the Altadena fire. A donation to their GoFundMe will help his family start over from scratch. Sommelier Erin Rolek: Erin Rolek, sommelier at Sqirl, lost her apartment in the Palisades fire. Domaine LA owner Jill Bernheimer created a GoFundMe to help Rolek rebuild her life. If you're based in Los Angeles, you can also attend Rolek's Benefit Pancake Breakfast, where all proceeds will benefit Rolek and her immediate community. Cook Lorena Sanchez: In the middle of service at Crenshaw restaurant Highly Likely, Lorena Sanchez found out that her home was on fire. The restaurant's chef, Kat Turner, is asking for donations to help Sanchez, her two children, and two cats rebuild their lives and find housing. Sommelier Paul Sherman: Veteran sommelier and Institute of Culinary Education instructor Paul Sherman lost his home in the wildfires. His daughter, Julia, organized a GoFundMe to help Paul and her mother, Wendy, get back on their feet. Chef Dean Yasharian: 1988 F&W Best New Chef Daniel Boulud created a GoFundMe for chef Dean Yasharian, owner of Perle Restaurant in Pasadena, California. "Dean worked with us for a decade in New York and London," says Boulud. "He had settled in Altadena, California, but just a few days ago, he lost his home, his neighbors, his children's school, and his entire daily life in his community. While Dean and his family are safe and staying strong, this emotionally, physically, and financially devastating challenge is unbearable for many." Donate to help Yasharian rebuild his home and support the Altadena community. Related: The Food & Wine Pro Guide to Mental Health and Sobriety Resources Read the original article on Food & Wine Originally appeared on E! Online An unidentified person is in police custody after being stopped by Los Angeles citizens. After the Kenneth Fire broke out on Jan. 9, a person stopped by residents in the nearby Woodland Hills area was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department. Today, at 4:32 p.m., a radio call was generated on the 21700 block of Ybarra Road for a possible arson suspect, the LAPD wrote in a statement in the late evening on X Jan. 9. A male was heard stating a suspect was attempting to light a fire. The suspect is in custody and was transported to Topanga Station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department continued in a reply, We are continuing our investigation, and we CANNOT confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect at this time. E! News has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for comment, and they referred to aforementioned social media statements. More from E! Online The Kenneth Fire is one of four major fires in the Los Angeles County area, burning over 35,000 acres of land across the city, also including the Palisades, Eaton and the Hurst fires. Collectively, they have left at least 10 people deadper local officialsand destroyed entire neighborhoods, disintegrating homes of stars including Anna Faris and Billy Crystal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first Palisades Fire, which began Jan. 7, is now ranked among the most catastrophic in California history, according to CNN, destroying over 19,000 acres of land with 6 percent containment as of Jan. 9. Among other stars, Jamie Lee Curtis has been using her platform to spread awareness about the ongoing disaster and pledged $1 million to relief efforts. Dimitrios Kambouris/Footwear News via Getty Images; Instagram The entire city of the Pacific Palisades is burning, Jamie emphasized during a Jan. 8 appearance on The Tonight Show. Its f--king gnarly. Its just a catastrophe. In California, obviously there have been horrific fires in many places, this is literally where I liveeverything. The market I shop in, the schools my kids go to, friendsmany, many, many friends nowhave lost their homes. Keep reading for more stars who have spoken out about the ongoing disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gwyneth Paltrow The Iron Man actress took to social media to express her sadness about the tragedy that has fallen over her beloved city. We are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything, she wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Thank you to those inquiring, we are currently safe. When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kind, she continued. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant. Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg The Once Upon a Time actress and the One Tree Hill actor are sharing resources after tragically losing their home in the Los Angeles fire. It was all a dream, Bryan wrote on a Jan. 9 Instagram story, showing the rubble that was once their family home. Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there. And in between posting helpful resources, Jamie shared a tragic video of their entire neighborhood. Damn. Our entire neighborhood is gone, she wrote Jan. 9. We are grateful to our brave firefighters and first responders and pray we dont lose any more lives to these catastrophic fires. Stay safe and stay vigilant. Diane Warren The Grammy winner shared one last view from her Los Angeles beachfront home before it was lost in the fire. This is the last pic I took of Leah's rock from my beach house, the songwriter, who confirmed her animals and rescue ranch were safe, wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post of the ocean view. I've had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cary Elwes The Princess Bride actor shared his and his wife Lisa Marie Kurbikoffs Malibu home did not survive the fire in a heartfelt message to fans. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God, he wrote in his Jan. 9 Instagram post. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it, he continued. We want to thank everyone for their incredible outpouring of support. It really means a great deal to us. Ricki Lake Sharing a video of the raging fires in the near distance, the former talk show host detailed her and husband Ross Burninghams final efforts to save her Los Angeles home in a Jan. 9 Instagram post. Were going down my street praying for these homes and these people and my house, she said in a video, showing the fire in the near distance. I dont even know what I grabbed, I think I might have just said goodbye to my house. Grateful to have made it out alive and uninjured, she added in the caption. Forever grateful to @kirbykotler_ our absolute angel. He did everything to try to save our precious property. No doubt had we stayed, we would not have survived. Leanne Ford The HGTV host's home, which she recently moved into, was lost in the wildfires. "Three weeks ago we got keys to our new LA place in Rustic Canyon. We were excited (though me a bit hesitant) to start spending some time again in our favorite part of LA," the interior designer wrote on Instagram Jan. 10 alongside photos of what remains of her house. "A beautiful historical and quirky artists home. We brought over so many of our favorite things to fill it with. It was to be a place to write, to create." "Three days ago we lost it," she continued. "We are the lucky ones. We had a beautiful safe home in PA to escape back to. Im in awe of the firemen and women choosing to run into the flames while we get to run out. I can only say thank you." Mel Gibson During an appearance on Elizabeth Vargas Reports January. 9, the Braveheart actor shared that his Malibu home was destroyed while he was away recording Joe Rogans podcast in Texas. "Obviously, its kind of devastating. Its emotional," the 69-year-old said. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I had my stuff there, and its all like, Ive been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because its all in cinders. But when he returned home to discover that his home had been destroyed, he was relieved to find that, at least, his chickens survived, adding, It was amazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miles Teller The Top Gun Maverick stars wife Keleigh Teller shared one last photo of what was their Los Angeles home before it was lost in the fire. To everyone reaching out I cant thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, Ill never forget them, the 32-year-old wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Community has come out stronger than I could imagine, pacific palisades I love you beyond measure you are a little slice of heaven, we will come back stronger than ever. If youre in the LA area PLEASE get out if you can, she continued. I wish I grabbed my wedding dress .. wish I did a lot different but it doesnt matter, stay safe, get out. there are no words. THANK YOU to the first responders fighting. Bella Hadid On Jan. 9, the supermodel shared the childhood home she shared with sister Gigi Hadid and mom Yolanda Hadid had burned down in the Palisades Fire. Mandy Moore The This Is Us alumwho is mom to three kids with husband Taylor Goldsmithshared an update on her family after having to evacuate their home. "We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact." However, she noted that the home studio, garage and back house were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. "Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends," she added. "Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support." Milo Ventimiglia Like his This Is Us costar, the actor's Los Angeles home was destroyed by the fires. While visiting what remained of his property, he told CBS Evening News his heart felt "heavy." "You start thinking about all the memories," he continued. "My heart just breaks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Simpson Amid the outbreak of the Kenneth Fire on Jan. 9, the "Irresistible" singer shared an image of smoke rising from beyond her backyard. She wrote in the caption, "We stayed as long as we could." Bozoma Saint John The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed her dream home in Malibu, where she lived with her teenage daughter Laela, was totaled in the fires. "This is an unimaginable loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. Olivia Wilde "My block was on fire tonight and the only reason we still have a home is thanks to the brave members of the @losngelesfiredepartment who worked on the ground and from the air to save us," the Don't Worry Darling director wrote on Instagram Story Jan. 8. "Thank you." Chrissy Teigen The Cravings cookbook author started preparing in case of an evacuation, writing on Instagram Story Jan. 8, "This is surreal. I'm very scared. Packing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jen Atkin The hairstylist and her husband Mike Rosenthal safely evacuated along with their kids and pets, though she said their home was "gone." "Our whole area demolished," she added on Instagram Stories Jan. 8, alongside a tearful selfie. "So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend." Olivia Culpo One day after the Sunset Fire set the Hollywood Hills ablaze, the Culpo Sisters starwho is married to San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffreywrote on Instagram Story Jan. 9, "Im praying so hard for our community. My heart aches for everyone who has lost so much so fast. Its just unimaginable." Tina Knowles Beyonce's mom shared on Jan. 9 that "my favorite place, my sanctuary , my sacred Happy Place" was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. "This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu," she captioned a video of the Pacific Ocean. "Now it is gone!!" The entrepreneur added, "God Bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions . We Thankyou for your dedication and bravery and for saving so many lives." Gwyneth Paltrow "Our beloved Los Angeles," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram Jan. 9, amid the wildfires, "we are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything." Noting that she was safe from the blazes, Gwyneth added, "When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kinds. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melissa Rivers The daughter of late Joan Rivers said her home burned down, though she was able to evacuate with necessities and a few treasured heirlooms. "I grabbed my mom's Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son," she told CNN. "I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I can't replace." Jhene Aiko The "Bad Peace" singer shared on Jan. 8 that "me and my children's home is gone." "Burned to the ground with all things inside," she wrote on Instagram Story. "Thankful we still have eachother. Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy," Alabama Barker & Landon Barker Travis Barker's kids Landon and Alabama shared they were forced to leave their residences amid the devastation. "Just evacuated from my home due to wild fires in Los Angeles, please be safe!!, Alabama posted on Instagram Story Jan. 7. They are saying the fires are spreading foodball field amounts in seconds." Jennifer Tilly The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and her husband Phil Laak evacuated to Commercea neighborhood southeast of Downtown Los Angelesto escape the Palisades Fire. She wrote on InstagramJan. 8, "Phil and I had to evacuate to the Commerce Casino." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricki Lake The former talk show host shared on Jan. 8 that her house had been destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Sharing throwback photos of the property, she wrote on Instagram, "Its all gone." "I lost our dream home," she continued. "It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second." She added, "This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event." Want to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires? Find out how you can get involved in relief efforts here. This story was originally posted to MyNorthwest.com. Neighbors who live and work near the intersection of Park Avenue North and North 6th Street in Renton said they are fed up with a vacant and abandoned office complex they claim is a magnet for transients and drug users and is an eyesore in their neighborhood. You see the graffiti on it. The windows are all broken. Id be ashamed to invite one of my customers here. It would be terrible, business owner Joe Mosselli said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More from Renton: Woman caught with mail from 17 addresses in suspected theft The complex consists of two multi-story office buildings and a large parking garage. Its fenced off, but holes have been cut to gain access. There is graffiti everywhere, windows broken, even on the upper floors, drug paraphernalia everywhere and neighbors say they regularly see people leaving the buildings with trash bags full of copper wire. Vandalism, a lot of homeless people making camps in there, a lot of drugs, a lot of theft. Theyre breaking out the windows. Theyre stealing copper, neighbor Molly McManus said. Both buildings have been caught on fire at least once or twice. Theres a lot of tagging going on. Its a constant problem that doesnt ever get resolved. The complex was owned by Boeing until 2021, when it sold to a developer in California. Since then, neighbors said the complex has been ignored and allowed to deteriorate. There are several No Trespassing signs, but neighbors have stated it doesnt matter. Transients come and go day and night, leaving residents, business owners and their customers fearful and frustrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would feel less safe: Potential loss of Edmonds Police Department sparks public outcry (It has) been a real hassle for us. Stuff getting stolen out of our parking lot all the time. Weve had $10,000 worth of aluminum taken out of here over the years, Mosselli said. McManus agreed with Mossellis concerns and voiced her own. We have customers who come and go, dropping off their cars. They dont feel safe. They dont feel comfortable. So, it is affecting the city. It is affecting the residents, McManus said. Those near the vacant office complex at the intersection of Park Avenue North and North 6th Street in Renton say homeless people are making camps in the buildings. There have been complaints of graffiti and broken windows as well. (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complex is fenced off, still, but the Renton Police Department responded to calls at the complex 20 times in 2024. The city is giving the new owner notice this week that it will have seven days to take action, or the city will. That is welcome news for nearby businesses who hope help is finally on the way. James Lynch is a reporter at KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of James stories here. Follow James on X, or email him here. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed the hypothermia death of a 65-year-old man Thursday afternoon. State health officials said the coroner confirmed the Rapides Parishs man death as winter weather-related. According to the National Weather Service in Shreveport, some parishes in north Louisiana are under a winter storm advisory. Heavy mixed winter precipitation is expected to last through Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools cancel classes across parts of the US South as another burst of winter storms move in Extreme winter weather safety tips Health officials warn that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of hypothermia physiologically and through impaired decision-making. Generator safety guidance from LDH: Never use portable generators indoors. Opening windows or doors or using fans wont prevent carbon monoxide build-up. Generators should be placed outside over 20 feet away from homes. Generators should not be used in wet conditions. When should I start dripping my faucets? Heating safety tips from LDH include making sure heating systems have been properly serviced and cleaned and avoiding heating the home using gas or electric ovens or stoves. If space heaters are used, officials urge people to keep them on the floor, away from water and at least 3 feet away from flammable materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A north Louisiana man was convicted on several counts including attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. A news release from the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana said 68-year-old Richard Dean Hicks of Pioneer, Louisiana was convicted by a federal jury in Monroe for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of promotion and solicitation of child pornography and five counts of attempted production of child pornography. The conviction was related to the superceding indictment against Hicks from September 27, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A nationwide investigation that started in 2012 followed the actions of individuals who were soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via live stream. The individuals targeted in the investigation paid money for child sex traffickers in the Philippines to sexually abuse children while they wated and directed the sex traffickers sexual abuse of the children involved. Watch: Human Trafficking in Our Community Agents with the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant on a home in Philadelphia. The evidence obtained allowed agents to identify an individual in the Philippines who was selling sexually explicit live webcam shows of femail adults engaging in the sexual abues of underage children. Investigators were then able to identify an inidividual in Louisiana, later confirmed to be Hicks, who was also communicating with multiple females in the Philippines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hicks and the females in the Philippines reportedly shared 500 text messages and live video Skype calls between December 2017 and July 2020. During that time, federal prosecutors said Hicks paid the females in the Philippines to sexually abuse children as young as five while he watched and told the women what acts of sexual abuse he wanted them to perform on the children. Evidence shown during trial revealed that Hicks communicated with the females in the Philippines using text messages, and Skype video calls and paid them via Western Union on numerous occasisons to view the sexually explicit act with children with payments ranging from $25 $120. Agents secured a federal search warrant on May 31, 2022 to search Hicks home in Pioneer. During the search they seized his computers and other electronic equipment that was used to watch and participate in these sex shows. The jury returned their verdict in under three hours, fiding Hicks guilty on all counts in the indictment. At sentencing Hicks faces not less than 15 years to life in prison, followed by a lifetime of supevised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case involves some of the most heinous forms of child abuse that we have seen, said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. It is because of the determination and hard work of the agents with Homeland Security Investigations that this international investigation led to north Louisiana and the home of this defendant. Children should never be exposed to this kind of abuse and it is our calling to continue fighting to stop this kind of illegal activity by defendants like Hicks. The defendant who was arrested in Philadelphia was sentenced to 228 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The female subjects in the Philippines are still the subject of a joint ongoing investigation with the Philippines and U.S. law enforcement. Numerous other females were arrested. Pursuant to this investigation, there have been over 300 children rescued to date. This type of abuse is uniquely insidious. Criminal buyers like Hicks pay to direct adults to sexually abuse children in other countries on livestreams that are challenging for investigators to find and disrupt. Despite the complexity of this case the jury saw the magnitude of the crime and their verdict sends the message those who victimize children will be held accountable. HSI will never cease in our efforts to dismantle these abuse networks and seek justice for the children they victimize, said Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune for Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. DENVER (KDVR) A man was arrested on Wednesday by the Gunnison County Sheriffs Office in connection to an attempted bank robbery in December, according to a post on X by the Loveland Police Department. An arrest warrant was issued for Garland Jay Coblentz, 59, of Loveland after he allegedly attempted to rob a First National Bank at 750 N, Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 17, 2024. Fun things to do in Denver this weekend: Jan. 10-12 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Loveland Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division issued an arrest warrant for Coblentz on Jan. 3 after developing a case of probable cause. The division then worked in tandem with the Gunnison County Sheriffs Office to take him into custody. Coblentz was booked into the Gunnison County Jail on a felony charge of attempted robbery. The Loveland Police Department asks those with information on the incident to contact the departments tip line at 970-962-2032 or the Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) As the nation mourns the loss of former president Jimmy Carter, it is also celebrating his impact on people worldwide, including in the Lowcountry. One woman who worked beside former President Carter said Thursday was bittersweet as she said goodbye to her former colleague, but it was a moment to appreciate who Jimmy Carter was and what he accomplished behind the scenes Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, founded the Carter Center in Atlanta, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to advancing human rights worldwide. Archie Burkel was a volunteer coordinator at the Carter Center in the 1990s. She said former President Carters humility and care for his fellow man were his shining qualities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was approachable, genuine, and grateful that you wanted to participate. There was never a more genuine, caring human being, and we happened to have had him as president, said Burkel. The former presidents dedication to service lasted throughout his lifetime, from small things like teaching Sunday school at his church in Plains, Georgia, to building houses with Habitat for Humanity. Former President Carter always worked to make life better for everyone. Burkel said she hopes people learn from his legacy and carry it on. Volunteerism: We are all capable of rolling up our sleeves. We may not have the strength to build a habitat house for many reasons. Pick a cause, devote your time and energy to it, and believe you can make a difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a fun fact about the former president: He was the last Democrat to win South Carolina in a presidential election. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has refused to invite a mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe the country's upcoming presidential election, the OSCE said in a statement issued Jan. 9. Lukashenko has been in power for 30 years and is seeking a seventh term on Jan. 26. The regime's election rigging in 2020 the last time Belarus held a presidential vote sparked mass protests and a subsequent violent crackdown. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said Minsk's decision not to invite observers was "deeply regrettable" and a violation of the country's international obligations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I deeply regret the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE states through ODIHR to observe the forthcoming presidential election, depriving the country's citizens of a transparent and full assessment of the entire process," ODIHR Director Maria Telalian said. "This decision underscores the continued lack of commitment by the Belarusian authorities to invite other OSCE states to observe and provide an independent view on whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards." ODIHR said it had reached out to Belarusian officials over the past few months in efforts to secure an invitation to observe the elections, but received no offer. OSCE monitors were also unable to observe the August 2020 election due to lack of a timely invitation, the organization said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to OSCE, the office is still monitoring events in Belarus, despite its inability to observe the Jan. 26 vote. Read also: OSCE urges Tbilisi to institute reforms in final report on Georgian parliamentary elections Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONDON (AP) Scottish environmental activists want to reintroduce the lynx into the forests of the Highlands. But not this way. At least two lynx, a medium-sized wildcat extinct in Scotland for hundreds of years, were spotted in the Highlands on Wednesday, raising concerns that a private breeder had illegally released the predators into the wild. Two cats were captured on Thursday, but authorities are continuing their search after two others were seen early Friday near Killiehuntly in the Cairngorms National Park. Wildlife authorities are setting traps in the area so they can humanely capture the lynx and take them to the Edinburgh Zoo, where the captured cats are already in quarantine, said David Field, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hunt highlights a campaign by some activists to reintroduce lynx to help control the deer population and symbolize Scotlands commitment to wildlife diversity. While no one knows who released the cats, wildlife experts speculate that it was either someone who took matters into their own hands because they were frustrated by the slow process of securing government approval for the project, or an opponent who wants to create problems that will block the reintroduction effort. Scotland has a history of illicit guerrilla releases, said Darragh Hare, a research fellow at the University of Oxfords Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, citing releases of beavers and pine martins. But doing it right, in a way that everyone can have their say, is important. If theres going to be any lynx introduction into Scotland or elsewhere, the process of doing it the right way, even if it takes longer, is the most important thing, he added. Lynx disappeared from Scotland between 500 and 1,300 years ago possibly because of hunting and loss of their woodland habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to reintroduce the cats to the wild have been underway since at least 2021 when a group calling itself Lynx to Scotland commissioned a study of public attitudes toward the proposal. The group is still working to secure government approval for a trial reintroduction in a defined area with a limited number of lynx. Lynx are shy and elusive woodland hunters that pose no threat to humans, the group says. They have been successfully reintroduced in other European countries, including Germany, France and Switzerland. Supporters of the reintroduction on Thursday issued a statement deploring the premature, illegal release of the cats. The Lynx to Scotland Project is working to secure the return of lynx to the Scottish Highlands, but irresponsible and illegal releases such as this are entirely counterproductive, said Peter Cairns, executive director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, a group of rewilding advocates that is part of the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issues surrounding the potential reintroduction of lynx were on display during a Scottish Parliament debate on the issue that took place in 2023. While advocates highlighted the benefits of reducing a deer population that is damaging Scotlands forests, opponents focused on the potential threat to sheep and ground-nesting birds. Lynx have been away from this country for 500 years, and now is just not the time to bring them back, said Edward Mountain, a lawmaker from the opposition Conservative Party who represents the Highlands. ASHLAND Ashland Police Departments newest officer wagged her tail as she listened intently to Mayor Chuck Charles administering her oath, including faithfully performing her duties. Chief Todd Kelley officially introduced Mabel to the City of Ashland during Thursdays commission meeting. Mabel is already on the go, Kelley said. Shes already started to work and weve seen significant results so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APD received Mabel from from Our Rescue formerly known as Operation Underground Railroad. Our Rescue called APD in October 2024, and by Nov. 15, 2024, K9 handler Det. CC Porter met Mabel in Indianapolis. They trained together for two weeks before coming home to Ashland. APD is receiving this K9 at the perfect time as we are restarting our K9 program from over 45 years ago, Kelley said. Mabel is an Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 who is uniquely equipped to assist law enforcement in uncovering hidden electronic storage devices. Directed by Porter on Thursday, Mabel demonstrated her skills in front of a large crowd in the commission chambers. She quickly discovered four hidden devices micro SD cards hidden in various places, such as the dais, inside a fake car key and on the interior of a false Dr. Pepper can and a hard drive in a fake book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes pretty awesome, Porter said to the audience before directing his attention to Mabel. Arent you girl? We were fortunate to receive this amazing animal, Kelley said. The chief said Mabel is one of 172 ESD K9s in the world and one of 110 affiliated with the Our Rescue organization. She is just the fourth ESD K9 in Kentucky. The Ashland Police patch and badge are clearly on display atop Mabels blonde fur. Charles said he worked with a dog for seven years as part of the Alexandria, Virginia, police force. It protected my life, he said before administering Mabels oath. Electronic dogs were unheard of back then. Theyre incredible animals with what they can do. Im proud to be able to install Mabel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ESD K9s duties are to uncover concealed electronic devices often used to store illicit content including child sexual abuse material. Using their keen sense of smell they can detect chemical compounds like SD cards, tablets and external hard drives, no matter how cleverly theyre concealed, Kelley said. Their role is invaluable. Traditional searches are unable to locate these tiny yet critical pieces of evidence ensuring no device is overlooked. Our Rescue, according to its website (ourrescue.org), is a global collective, boldly fighting to eradicate sex trafficking and child exploitation. A major national retailer is saying goodbye to at least one mall in Pierce County. Macys on Thursday announced that it would be closing 66 non-go-forward stores in the United States, including its store at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup. Other Washington locations include its Kitsap Mall store and its Redmond furniture store. The retailer announced in February 2024 it would be shrinking its national retail footprint by shedding under-performing stores as it worked to boost sales growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The total set for closure, the retailer noted, is 150 stores over a three-year period, while retaining 350 other sites. Closing any store is never easy, but as part of our Bold New Chapter strategy, we are closing underproductive Macys stores to allow us to focus our resources and prioritize investments, said Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macys, Inc., in Thursdays announcement. A media representative for the mall did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening. The mall lost Sears in October 2018, dividing that space for three other tenants. For Macys stores, clearance sales will begin in January and will run for approximately 8-12 weeks, the company said. For Macys Backstage stores and Macys Furniture Galleries, clearance sales will begin in February and will run for approximately six weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, another major anchor for the mall, JCPenney, is entering into a joint retail venture called Catalyst Brands with Sparc Group, Retail Dive reported Thursday. Investors include Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, Authentic Brands Group and Shein. Joe Bell, media representative for South Hill Mall, told The News Tribune on Friday afternoon that no solid replacement has been found yet, but they are actively seeking potential tenants for the large space. We have a pretty good track record when it comes to taking larger spaces like that and turning it into something else, he added. Editors note: Store updated Friday afternoon with additional detail. The Dominion Voting Systems defamation case against Fox News was brutal for the network in a variety of ways, not least of which was the evidence that reached the public. We learned, for example, that the conservative outlet apparently promoted bogus election claims it knew to be false, on purpose, in order to placate its audience and make money. The good news for the network is that Dominions case is over, resolved in April 2023 with a $787.5 million settlement. The bad news for Fox is that this wasnt the only case of its kind. As 2024 got underway, a New York judge ruled that a $2.7 billion defamation suit filed by Smartmatic, another voting technology company, against Fox could continue. As 2025 gets underway, a state appeals court has come to the same conclusion. The New York Times reported: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A New York State appeals court on Thursday rejected a request by Rupert Murdochs Fox Corporation to dismiss part of a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit stemming from the broadcasting of misinformation around the 2020 presidential election. The lawsuit, filed by Smartmatic, a voting technology company, is on track to proceed to trial in state court in Manhattan. As the Times report goes on to note, the judges concluded that Smartmatics claims that Fox Corporation directed Fox News to promote a disinformation campaign in the post-election coverage, along with the allegations of Fox Corporations active participation in Fox News Networks daily operations in connection with that coverage are sufficient to allow the litigation to move forward. Time will tell what becomes of the case another settlement remains a distinct possibility but as the legal process advances, its worth keeping in mind that Smartmatics lawsuit poses real dangers for Fox. The Washington Post published an analysis a while back that helped summarize the significance of the dispute. Many of the allegations against Smartmatic were similar to those against Dominion, and Smartmatic was often lumped in with Dominion in the same allegation. They included the false claims that Dominion machines used Smartmatic software to rig the election. They included the claim that Smartmatic was used to rig elections before and that its purported foreign ties demonstrated that. Smartmatics software was also cast as eminently flawed and even deliberately hackable. Indeed, Smartmatic was often cast as the actual conduit for stealing the election. The Posts report quoted University of Utah law professor RonNell Andersen Jones who said, Smartmatics suit is in many respects even more compelling as a David-and-Goliath argument to put before a jury. Its complaint emphasizes that it played a totally small and uncontroversial role in the election and that these damaging lies from Fox catapulted it to fame by catapulting it to undeserved infamy. For its part, a spokesperson for Fox said in a written statement, We will be ready to defend this case surrounding extremely newsworthy events when it goes to trial. She added, As a report prepared by our financial expert shows, Smartmatics damages claims are implausible, disconnected from reality and on their face intended to chill First Amendment freedoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch this space. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In the days leading up to Donald Trumps sentencing in his criminal case, the president-elect published some hysterical rants to his social media platform, baselessly describing the judge in the case as corrupt, condemning the case as a Rigged Charade and even attacking the Justice Department and the FBI, which had nothing to do with his New York prosecution. During the sentencing, the defendant continued to whine unnecessarily, at one point even labeling the local prosecutor who indicted him as a criminal. Immediately after he was sentenced, the Republican kept going, publishing yet another online tirade filled with weird conspiracy theories. All of this, of course, helped to set the stage for his inevitable fundraising appeal. NBC News noted: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump sent out a fundraising email immediately after being sentenced, saying he wants to hear from his supporters. The email links to a page soliciting monetary donations and asking if they stand with him after his sentencing. MaddowBlog obtained a copy, and its a doozy. Theyre trying to sabotage the Presidential Transition process, the fundraising message reads, despite the fact that Trumps criminal sentence will have literally no effect on the presidential transition process, and its not at all clear who they might be. The same message added, Theyre trying to END the presidency as we know it just before I take office! (The American presidency will remain unaffected by the outcome of this case, though Trumps successors will probably think twice before paying hush money to porn stars.) Apparently hoping to encourage prospective donors, the appeal also included this line: I WANT TO READ EVERY RESPONSE TONIGHT SUBMIT NOW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the problem with this is that Trump, his overwrought complaints notwithstanding, was hardly punished at all. Yes, hes been convicted of 34 felonies, and the outcome carries some political significance, but an unconditional discharge sentence means the president-elect wont spend a second behind bars, wont have to pay any fines and wont even be on probation. The Republican has been held accountable for wrongdoing for his critics, a welcome change of pace but hes effectively escaped real consequences thanks to a penalty-free sentence, which makes his overdramatic reach for the fainting couch difficult to countenance. Another element to keep in mind is that the Republican clearly doesnt need the money. His pre-inaugural fundraising efforts have been extraordinarily successful, to the point that his team is reportedly no longer offering VIP packages, and given that Trump cant run for another term, the latest appeal seems wholly unnecessary. But even if we put these details aside, its the broader political environment that stands out as truly extraordinary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In theory, a politician convicted of nearly three dozen felonies should hope the public pays as little attention as possible to the developments. But in practice, given the state of Republican Party politics in 2025, it seems oddly normal to see the incoming American president effectively say, A jury heard the evidence against me; they found me guilty; and Ive been sentenced for many felonies so you should definitely reward me with cash. Whats more, recent history suggests that Trumps latest appeal will, in fact, have the intended effect, and his followers will respond to his criminal sentence by reaching for their wallets. Theres an old adage: Crime doesnt pay. Its hard not to notice that Trump continues to put that maxim to the test. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * The latest from California: A series of destructive wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and forced 180,000 from their homes. The true death toll is not known, authorities said, as fires destroy entire streets and thousands of structures. As of today, 153,000 residents remain under evacuation orders. * Can things get worse for Giuliani? Evidently, yes: A federal judge on Friday found Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for his continued defamation of two former Georgia election workers, just days after a different federal judge held him in contempt for failing to turn over his assets to them as ordered. In a courtroom in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell excoriated Giuliani for continuing to defame Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, saying he violated a permanent injunction that he agreed to in May in at least six ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * A closely watched case: The Supreme Court on Friday appeared likely to uphold a law that would effectively ban social media platform TikTok in the United States. The nine justices on the conservative-majority court heard oral arguments from lawyers for TikTok, some of its users and the Biden administration, with at least a preliminary decision likely in days, if not hours. * In Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday to serve a third six-year term, extending his increasingly repressive rule until 2031 despite protests and credible evidence that his opponent won the election. Venezuelas legislative palace, where he was sworn in and delivered a fiery speech, was heavily guarded by police, military and intelligence officers. * Speaking of Venezuela: The Biden administration on Friday issued sweeping extensions of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela in a move that makes it almost impossible for President-elect Donald J. Trump to swiftly strip the benefit when he takes office. * Something to keep an eye on over the weekend: The federal appeals court covering Florida rejected a defense request to block the release of special counsel Jack Smiths final report on his offices investigations into Donald Trump. But an order temporarily blocking its release from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is still in place for now, which would keep the report blocked for three more days absent further appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Itll be worth watching to see if Trump reverses this policy: The United States on Friday announced new sanctions targeting Russias energy sector and its shadow fleet of oil tankers in what could be a final attempt by the Biden administration to cripple the Russian economy in response to Moscows war in Ukraine. * It doesnt generate a lot of conversation, but infrastructure investments will be a key element of Bidens legacy: The Biden administration is making its final major infrastructure spending announcement on Friday, devoting $5 billion to 560 projects across all 50 states, DC, and US territories, according to an announcement shared first with Semafor. Have a safe weekend. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The question isnt whether Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito spoke to Donald Trump ahead of the president-elect asking the high court to block his sentencing in a criminal case. The far-right jurist has already acknowledged that the conversation took place. The question, rather, is why the two men chatted and whether the conversation crossed any ethical lines. We know that Alito and Trump spoke on Tuesday, just hours before the Republicans defense team appealed to the justices to halt his upcoming sentencing. According to the justice who doesnt exactly have a deep reservoir of credibility to draw upon the president-elect didnt bring up the case. Rather, according to the official version of events, the two spoke about William Levi, one of Alitos former clerks, whom Trump is considering for a job in his incoming administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why the president-elect would personally be checking references is unclear. Given the circumstances, a variety of Democratic officials said Alito had a responsibility to recuse himself before the justices weighed in on Trumps emergency application. Indeed, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, argued in a written statement that the far-right jurist fundamentally misunderstands the basic requirements of judicial ethics or, more likely, believes himself to be above judicial ethics altogether. The Maryland Democrat added, Every federal judge and justice knows he or she must avoid situations such as this. Yet Justice Alito did not. Impartial justice under the Constitution demands that Justice Alito hold himself to the highest ethical standards and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. True to form, the justice ignored the pressure and signaled his willingness to give Trump the relief he sought. (Alito was, however, in the minority. A day later, the president-elect was sentenced.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The controversy surrounding Tuesdays phone call, however, isnt over just yet. The New York Times reported that the chat and its timing flouted any regard for even the appearance of a conflict of interest. But that wasnt the only relevant angle to the story: The circumstances were extraordinary for another reason: Justice Alito was being drawn into a highly personalized effort by some Trump aides to blackball Republicans deemed insufficiently loyal to Mr. Trump from entering the administration, according to six people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. On the surface, its a difficult dynamic to understand. The lawyer in question, William Levi, worked with Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah on Capitol Hill, clerked with Alito, worked with the Trump transition team, and hes even the grandson of a legendary former attorney general. Whats the problem? According to the Times report, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, Levi has an unexpected black mark against his name. In the first Trump administration, he served as the chief of staff to Attorney General William P. Barr, who is now viewed as a traitor by Mr. Trump for refusing to go along with his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. ... [Levis] bid for a permanent position has been stymied by Mr. Trumps advisers who are vetting personnel for loyalty. ... As Mr. Trump puts together his second administration, Mr. Barr is among a handful of prominent Republicans who are viewed with such suspicion that others associated with them are presumptively not to be given jobs in the administration, according to people familiar with the dynamic. If the Times report is accurate, the entire story is getting more bizarre, not less. (Note, none of the relevant players responded to the newspaper's request for comment.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time will tell if there are additional developments, but in the meantime, lets not forget that in June 2016, Bill Clinton exchanged pleasantries on a tarmac with then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch. By all appearances, it was a fairly brief and inconsequential social interaction, and such conversations are not uncommon when prominent political figures are in the same place at the same time. Much of the political world nevertheless treated the chat as a hair-on-fire scandal: The idea was that the former Democratic president mightve used the opportunity to pressure Lynch, while his wife was facing a federal investigation over her email protocols. There was no evidence that Clinton did anything improper, but a controversy erupted anyway. Helping lead the charge was a guy by the name of Donald Trump. The then-candidate called the Clinton/Lynch interaction terrible and so horrible, before insisting that this meaningless chat was one of the biggest stories of 2016. The future president concluded that the story deserved to be seen as a massive controversy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican appears to have far fewer concerns about his chat with Alito. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * The latest from California: More than 180,000 residents have evacuated and at least five people have died as massive wildfires continued to spread across the Los Angeles area Thursday, burning a total of more than 45 square miles so far. * With one day remaining before Trumps scheduled criminal sentencing: New Yorks top state court on Thursday rejected a bid from Donald Trump to block his sentencing on Friday. He has another attempt pending in the U.S. Supreme Court on which the justices have not yet ruled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * It remains to be seen whether our allies in Ukraine will see another aid package like this one anytime soon: The Biden administration is providing an additional $500 million package in weapons and equipment to Ukraine from its existing military stockpiles, looking to further reinforce Kyivs military less than two weeks before President-elect Trump is set to take office. * The judge in this case was appointed by George W. Bush: The Biden administrations Title IX rules expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students have been struck down nationwide after a federal judge in Kentucky found they overstepped the presidents authority. In a decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves scrapped the entire 1,500-page regulation after deciding it was fatally tainted by legal shortcomings. * In New Mexico: The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday struck down abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties at the request of the state attorney general. The unanimous opinion reinforces the states position as having some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. The ruling preserves access to abortion procedures across a state that has become a major destination for people from other states with bans. * Final passage on this bill wont be nearly as lopsided: The Senate voted Thursday to begin debate on the Laken Riley Act, clearing a key hurdle to advance a Republican-led bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration that has garnered significant support from Democrats. With a vote of 84-9, the bill easily cleared the 60-vote threshold to advance in GOP-controlled Senate. But many Democrats have suggested they want to amend the bill, so its unclear whether it will receive enough support for final passage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Meanwhile, in the other chamber, this bill passed on a 243-to-140 vote: The House on Thursday passed legislation that would impose sanctions on officials at the International Criminal Court, making a frontal assault on the tribunal in a rebuke of its move to charge top Israeli leaders with war crimes for their offensive against Hamas in Gaza. * A case weve been following: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification in the election interference case against President-elect Trump, according to a court filing. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Its been roughly six months since a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of the Republicans hush money scandal. It was the first time in American history in which a former president was found to have committed multiple felonies. The president-elect and his legal defense team explored every possible opportunity to derail sentencing in the case, even appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, pointing to its highly controversial immunity ruling from last year. But while four Republican-appointed jurists Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh indicated the day before sentencing that they would have sided with the defendant, they were in the minority. Out of options, Trump faced the one thing he desperately tries to avoid: accountability for wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Juan Merchan delivered an unconditional discharge sentence to the president-elect on Friday morning, making him a convicted felon in the eyes of New York state law, while wishing the defendant "godspeed" in his second term. The night before sentencing, by way of his social media platform, the president-elect vowed to appeal the verdict. Stepping back, it's worth appreciating the fact that Trump has racked up an amazing number of firsts during his relatively brief political career. The Republican is, for example, the first president to be impeached twice. Hes also the first candidate to ever win the presidency despite never having served the public in any way. Trump is the first former president to have been held liable for sexual abuse. He was the first president to get caught overseeing a fraudulent charity. And a fraudulent university. And a business that was found to have repeatedly committed fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, Trump became the first president to deny his successor a peaceful transition of power in the wake of his defeat. He was similarly the first president to try to hold onto power in defiance of election voters. In 2023, Trump became the first former president to be indicted on criminal charges, only to soon after become the first former president to be also indicted on federal criminal charges. And in 2025, just 10 days before his second inaugural, he can add a new first to the list: Americans have had dozens of presidents, but the convicted felon is now the first president sentenced for a crime. That said, the judge didn't exactly throw the book at the criminal defendant. Given the president-elect's recent online hysterics about the case and Merchan, one might be under the impression that the New York jurist was preparing to put Trump in a prison cell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's not even close to what happened. In fact, given the details of an "unconditional discharge" sentence which my MSNBC colleague Jordan Rubin explained well Trump is hardly being punished at all. But as a political matter, the end result is the same: The president-elect can disagree with the jury's verdict, he can continue to condemn the judge who heard the case, and he can continue to pursue appeals, but now that he's been sentenced, he's still poised to enter the White House as a convicted felon. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com MADISON More than three weeks after the deadly Abundant Life Christian School shooting rocked the Madison community, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes shared updates Thursday about its ongoing investigation. But the five-minute video offered little more than a peek inside the department's lengthy investigation and why it will take weeks and even months before the public's questions get answered. "I have always believed that people have the right to participate in their own public safety," Barnes said at the top of the video. "If we discover information related to that, the community will be the first to know." Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes briefs the public on details from a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on Dec. 16. The shooting Dec. 16 left three dead, including 14-year-old freshman Rubi Patricia Vergara, 42-year-old substitute teacher coordinator Erin West, and the shooter, a 15-year-old freshman named Natalie L. Rupnow, who went by Samantha. Six others were wounded, two critically. Madison police have not identified any of the six non-fatal victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout his address, Barnes referred to Rupnow only as the "suspect" and never by name, although Barnes did identify the shooter by name in a press event the night of Dec. 16. No charging decisions are being made until detectives have time to review all physical and digital evidence, Barnes said, which could take several more weeks or months. Shooting suspect had 'very active online and social media' presence In searching for a motivation, Barnes emphasized that will take time and resources. But locating a motive of this nature is fraught and multifaceted, he said. "Determining a motive is often a complex and challenging process. There can be multiple factors at play, and it is critical that we approach this investigation with the utmost care and thoroughness," Barnes said. "We owe it to the victims and survivors of this tragedy to get this right." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnes described Rupnow as having a "very active online and social media" presence and referenced a "document" widely rumored to be Rupnow's manifesto. At this time, Barnes said he cannot disclose the contents of this document nor verify its authenticity. The department is looking into Rupnow's online activity to "better understand why this attack happened." Detectives, meanwhile, are issuing search warrants and subpoenas from different social media and tech companies. The process, Barnes predicts, will be a lengthy one. Before detectives can even begin reviewing the "tens of thousands of pages of data," they must wait on the companies to process the information being requested. Despite not having a clear understanding of motives, Barnes said it was important to note that the department has "no credible information that there are others who intend to commit further violence." 2 guns found at the scene. Only 1 is believed to have been used. As for how a 15-year-old was able to obtain a gun and bullets, Barnes said the department is not naming the place where the firearms were purchased, at least not at this juncture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnes confirmed that two firearms were found at the scene, but law enforcement believe only one was used in the shooting. Additionally, police recovered 21 shell casings at the scene. Updates on Abundant Life Christian School shooting survivors Barnes concluded his update by sharing news out of UW Health about the two victims rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Both victims' status upgraded from critical condition to fair condition. They remain in the intensive care unit to recover from multiple gunshot wounds. He also identified the four other victims as a teacher and three students, but did not release their names. The four victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were released from the hospital last month. Barnes encouraged the community to visit the Abundant Life Christian School Facts Page on the city of Madison Police Department website, which has mental health resources, details about how to support the victims and survivors of the shooting, and answers to frequently asked questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her X (Twitter) profile at @natalie_eilbert. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Madison police chief: School shooting questions may take months to answer (Bloomberg) -- In a show of brute force, Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro has once again backed his rivals into a corner. Most Read from Bloomberg The strongman closed airways and land crossings through neighboring Colombia to prevent Edmundo Gonzalez from entering the country to disrupt his inauguration Friday. That, along with a dramatic ramp up in repression, has sent his challengers scattered and reeling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Maduro officially violated the constitution, Maria Corina Machado, the popular opposition leader who was briefly detained yesterday, said in a video posted on social media in the afternoon. She called on Venezuelans to take to the street to protest. As of today, the pressure will only increase on Maduro, she said. We must do whatever it takes to reinstate our rights. Her stand-in candidate Gonzalez, who showed proof that he obtained nearly 70% of the vote last year, will come to Venezuela to be sworn in when conditions are right, she said. Maduros regime previously threatened to shoot down his plane or arrest him upon entering the country. Maduro was declared, without evidence, to be the winner of last Julys vote by an electoral authority stacked with his appointees. The 62-year-old took the presidential oath for his third six-year term in Caracas on Friday in the absence of once-close allies such as Colombias Gustavo Petro and Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, highlighting just how isolated the strongman has become in the dark aftermath of the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US immediately ratcheted up pressure on the regime, increasing a reward for Maduros arrest on narcotics charges and imposing new sanctions on his officials. The European Union and the UK government made similar moves. Machado and the opposition feel emboldened by what has happened in the last two days precisely because of the regimes continuing loss of legitimacy both at home and abroad, said Ian Vasquez, vice president for international studies at Washingtons Cato Institute. This weeks events will only help push the international community, including key countries like Brazil, to take a stronger stance against the regime and isolate it further. Maduro began his 2025 to 2031 presidential term after a ceremony at the National Assembly in downtown Caracas. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was in attendance, as was a representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega and a special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived to applause part way through the proceedings. Today we can say the constitution has won and Venezuela is in peace, Maduro declared. Neither the US nor the oligarchy of surnames has made me president of Venezuela, I owe it to the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months of intimidation have forced Maduros most prominent opponents to choose whether to compromise their safety to challenge his rule. Gonzalez later fled to Spain under threat of arrest. Since the election, Maduro has jailed thousands of his critics and purged whats left of the opposition from the country. An estimated 100 opposition leaders and many more activists from the Unitary Platform have fled the country since late July. At least 25 arrest warrants against opposition leaders were issued in the first month after the election. Dozens of passports were canceled. Tensions reached a new high on Thursday when aides to Machado said she was detained for about two hours after making her first public appearance in months. Machado overwhelmingly won the 2023 opposition primary but was barred from running. In her Friday address, she described how armed officers violently intercepted her after the rally and put her onto another motorcycle. She said one of her drivers was shot and jailed, and that officers forced her to record a video as proof of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governments behavior is currently extremely hostile to any form of dissidence, said Guillermo Aveledo, a political studies professor at Caracas Metropolitan University. The challenge is how to use this weakness as a starting point to empower the discontent expressed by society in the recent elections. Though Machado was set free, the encounter rattled supporters because the Maduro regime has been cracking down with renewed vigor on opponents. At least two dozen opposition officials and human rights activists have been detained since the start of the year, including a relative of Gonzalez and Enrique Marquez, a harsh critic of Maduros policies and former vice president of the opposition-led National Assembly. The intimidation campaign may be Maduros attempt to show strength, but it can also be viewed as a sign of vulnerability, said Geoff Ramsey, a senior fellow at Washingtons Atlantic Council. Hard-liners in his government have gained ground, and those favoring some type of agreement with Washington have weakened. Maduro does not feel safe at all at this moment, Ramsey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Bidens administration had already responded to Maduros repression with new sanctions, and the US president met with Gonzalez earlier this week. His successor Donald Trump made clear for the first time Thursday that he supports Machado and Gonzalez, referring to the latter as president-elect. The latest batch of US measures include sanctions on the head of the state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela. The reward for information leading to Maduros arrest, as well as that of his security chief, Diosdado Cabello, was increased to $25 million, and a new $15 million reward was issued for Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez. Earlier Friday, Tachira Governor Freddy Bernal said Venezuela would close its border with Colombia for 24 hours due to an international conspiracy. Maduro echoed that theme in his speech. They are unhinged in the north, he said. The presidents of the extreme right are drooling with hatred and believe that the Venezuelan people are going to let them impose a president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colombias Petro, Maduros most frequent visitor among world leaders in recent years, said this week he would skip Fridays inauguration, citing recent arrests. Despite their close ties, Brazils Lula has called for Maduro to release the ballots to prove his supposed victory. Ramsey pointed to the exaggerated response of Venezuelan security forces to Thursdays protests as a sign of how threatened Maduro feels. Its easy to overestimate Maduros strength at this point, but hes asking a lot of the military and security forces. Still, Maduro is a survivor who has weathered catastrophic economic conditions and ostracism from much of the Western world. This week alone he showed his playbook for keeping the population in check even though it voted overwhelmingly against him. The regime offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to Gonzalezs capture, publishing his photo on wanted posters it distributed on social media and across the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Heavily armed security forces and pro-government motorcycle gangs known as colectivos were also deployed among major cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video posted on social media late Friday, Gonzalez called for Venezuelas security forces to stop the repression and ensure conditions for his safe return. I am ready for my safe return to Venezuela, at the right time, Gonzalez said. We are coordinating all indispensable factors to guarantee a near return to freedom. During Thursdays protests, regime forces dressed in riot gear used tear gas to try to disperse the crowds in Caracas, Maracaibo and Valencia. Crowds waved the flag, honked horns and blew whistles, with some shouting, This government is going to fall. Trump praised demonstrators against the regime in his social-media post Thursday, calling for Machado and Gonzalez to remain safe and alive. His comments and his hawkish cabinet choices suggest he could take as hard a line as he did against Maduro during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after winning the US election on a platform of deporting undocumented migrants, Trump may also be tempted to cut a deal with Maduro in exchange for accepting planes full of Venezuelans who made their way north. Maduro, on the other hand, has repeatedly said he expects Trumps presidency to improve relations between the two countries. Venezuelan bonds have been rising along other high-yield credits, touching their highest levels since August this week, with sovereign notes maturing in 2027 trading above 17 cents, according to traders and indicative pricing data compiled by Bloomberg. Some analysts like Barclays economist Alejandro Arreaza say investors are turning to the trade just to have the optionality of a potential catalyst ahead that could trigger regime change. Even if the US refuses to recognize Maduros presidency, the once-fervent opposition is a shell of its former self, making its effort to pry him from power look less and less attainable. Venezuela will hold parliamentary and regional elections for governors, mayors and other lawmakers due later this year, giving Maduro a way to further solidify his grip on the country for years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rarely in Venezuelas recent history has there been such a gap between the status quo and the peoples will, said Metropolitan Universitys Aveledo. Currently there is no political offer from those in power that presents a viable solution to that reality. (Updates with comments from analysts, Gonzalez starting in the 8th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Caracas Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, was sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday despite a global outcry that brought thousands out in protest on the eve of the ceremony. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who came out of hiding to lead a demonstration in Caracas on Thursday, was briefly detained after the rally according to her team, reigniting international condemnation of Maduro's alleged vote steal and cowing of critics. The government denied arresting Machado, but the vocal critic of Maduro was detained by security forces who intercepted her convoy following an anti-government rally in Caracas, her team said. Witnesses reported gunfire as her motorcycle was forced off the road and she was forcibly taken away. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores arrive at the Capitolio - house of the National Assembly - for the presidential inauguration in Caracas on Jan. 10, 2025. / Credit: FEDERICO PARRA/AFP via Getty Images Standing before officials on Friday, Maduro was sworn in at Venezuela's legislative palace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I swear by Bolivar, by Sucre, by Urdaneta, by Manuela Saez, by the eternal memory of our eternal commander Hugo Chavez ... I swear by history, I swear by my life," Maduro said. In a fiery speech following his swearing-in, Maduro accused external powers of "attacking" Venezuela, taking digs at the U.S. government and foreign critics, and he promised to guarantee "peace and national sovereignty." "Today more than ever I feel the weight of commitment, the power that I represent, the power that the constitution grants me," he said. "I have not been made president by the government of the United States, nor by the pro-imperialist governments of Latin America." Trump, other world leaders react to Machado's detention Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post, President-elect Donald Trump branded Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia the man who took her place on the ballot and is widely accepted to have beaten Maduro in elections on July 28 as "freedom fighters." They "should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE," he wrote on his Truth Social network. During his first term in office, Trump tightened punitive measures against the Maduro government for anti-democratic actions. The sanctions were partly lifted, then reimposed, by his successor President Biden, and may well be hardened during Trump's next term, which begins in just 10 days. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a post on X that the U.S. stands "ready to support a return to democracy in Venezuela." "The Venezuelan people and world know that Nicolas Maduro clearly lost the 2024 presidential election and has no right to claim the presidency today," Blinken said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures during a swearing-in march for combatant forces in Caracas, Jan. 7, 2025. / Credit: PEDRO MATTEY/AFP/Getty Ecuador denounced what it called the Maduro "dictatorship," while Spain expressed "total condemnation" of Machado's detention, albeit brief. Colombia, whose leftist President Gustavo Petro is historically an ally of Maduro, also condemned the "systematic harassment" of Machado, 57. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday denounced "another unacceptable act of repression" in Venezuela, without mentioning Machado specifically. "The news coming from Venezuela represents another unacceptable act of repression by the Maduro regime, whose proclaimed electoral victory we do not recognize," Meloni said in a statement. "We intend to continue working for a democratic and peaceful transition. The legitimate aspirations of freedom and democracy of the Venezuelan people must finally be realized." Citing "an international conspiracy to disturb Venezuelans' peace," Freddy Bernal, governor of the frontier state of Tachira, said the border with Colombia was closed on Friday and will reopen Monday. Defiant opposition leader Machado: "We are not afraid" Machado earlier made a defiant speech to thousands of supporters in central Caracas, sending a message to the government that: "We are not afraid." Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters at a protest ahead of the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro for his third term, in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 9, 2025. / Credit: Gaby Oraa/REUTERS There was also a protest in Paris attended by Machado's daughter Ana Corina Sosa and dozens of supporters. Government opponents reported a new wave of repression ahead of Maduro's swearing-in, including the arrest of another opposition presidential candidate, the head of a press freedom NGO, and Gonzalez Urrutia's son-in-law. The United Nations voiced alarm this week at reports of arbitrary detention and intimidation. More than 2,400 people were arrested, 28 killed and about 200 injured in protests that met Maduro's claim of election victory last year. He has since maintained a fragile peace through massive military and police deployments and with the help of paramilitary "colectivos" armed civilian volunteers accused of quelling protests through a reign of neighborhood terror. Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia speaks during a press conference in Caracas, July 25, 2024, ahead of the presidential election. / Credit: FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former diplomat Gonzalez Urrutia, 75, had voiced tentative plans to fly to Caracas this week to take power, but the plan is deemed unlikely to go ahead. "Wanted" posters offering a $100,000 government reward for his capture have been plastered all over Caracas. Gonzalez Urrutia has been on an international tour seeking to pile pressure on Maduro, 62, to relinquish power. It has included a stop in Washington to meet Mr. Biden, who called for a "peaceful transfer back to democratic rule." Maduro has been in power since 2013, following the death of left-wing firebrand Hugo Chavez, his political mentor. His re-election in 2018 was also widely rejected as fraudulent but he managed to cling to power through a mix of populism and repression, even as the economy imploded. Maduro enjoys support from Russia and Cuba, as well as a loyal military, judges and state institutions in a system of well-established political patronage. Thousands of ruling party loyalists held a rival demonstration in central Caracas on Thursday, vowing to prevent any attempt to thwart Maduro's return to office. Sanctions against Venezuela In response to Maduro taking office for a third term on Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department slapped a new round of sanctions on Venezuelan officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. sanctions were placed on the president of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Maduro's transportation minister and state-owned airline, and high-level military and police officials which the Treasury said had "roles in carrying out Maduro's repression and human rights abuses against democratic actors. "We've given Maduro and his representatives every opportunity to restore democracy, but they've chosen not to. So today, we're building on all of our previous actions and making some decisions of our own," National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, told reporters. Additionally, the U.S. State Department is increasing its reward to $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela's minister of interior, justice and peace. The State Department also placed a new bounty of $15 million for information about Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino. "Unfortunately Maduro has demonstrated once again his complete disregard for democratic norms and is proceeding with an illegitimate inauguration," a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, the State Department offered a reward of up to $15 million for information on Maduro. It also imposed new travel restrictions on an undisclosed number of Maduro-aligned government officials who the U.S. believes undermined the electoral process and were complicit in repression. California authorities give update on L.A. fires and announce school closures California official on evacuation orders as Sunset Fire burns in Hollywood Hills Paradise mayor on lessons learned from devastating 2018 wildfire MAGA nation is out for blood after Donald Trump officially became a convicted felon. At his sentencing on Friday, the president-elect received no punishment for attempting to cover up a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her speaking about their affair, which Trump denies took place. Trump received an unconditional discharge from Judge Juan Merchan, but it didnt stop the president-elect, his political allies, and his highest-profile supporters from calling for payback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the Zoom hearing ended, Trump unleashed a rambling, irate tirade on Truth Social. The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt, he wrote, proceeding to rehash his often repeated laundry list of complaints about bias, corruption, and unfairness. MAGA raged over Trumps sentencing on Friday. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images Trump, whos set to take office on Jan. 20, concluded his rant by hinting at retribution. Todays event was a despicable charade, he said, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The call for revenge was echoed, even more emphatically, by MAGA pundit Charlie Kirk, who took to X soon after the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people who went after Trump should be investigated and charged, he wrote. All of them. Justice is coming. The people who went after Trump should be investigated and charged. All of them. Justice is coming. Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 10, 2025 The mantle was also taken up by another prominent MAGA influencer, Trumps lawyer and adviser Mike Davis. In an appearance on a far-right livestream show on Friday, Davis issued an ominous warning. Right now, the Democrats think theyre the hunters, he said. But guess what, on Jan. 20, at noon, theyre going to become the hunted. And Im going to make damn sure of that. BREAKING: Trump Lawyer Mike Davis just issued a major warning to Judge Juan Merchan & all other Democrats who engaged in lawfare against President Trump. "The Democrats think they're the hunters. On January 20th at Noon, they're going to become the hunted." Davis then told pic.twitter.com/QB2YfHJDtm George (@BehizyTweets) January 10, 2025 The list of people Trump has blamed for his conviction is lengthy, but his most frequent targets include Merchan, the judge who oversaw his case, and Democratic leaders like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Trumps most notoriously outspoken allies, called out the judge by name. Judge Merchan engaged in criminal abuse of power to attack the Democrats top political opponent, Donald Trump, she alleged on X. Shamefully, Judge Merchan and the Democrats didnt perceive terrorists, cartels, and everyday street criminals as threats to democracy. Another of Trumps top supporters in the House, Nancy Mace, railed against the left and echoed his allegations of unfairness soon after the sentencing. This is so corrupt, she posted on X. The most corrupt. Theyre only doing this today, 10 days before his swearing in, so the Left and the lamestream media can call him a convicted felon for the next 4 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im with the convicted felon. #MAGA, she added in a separate post. I'm with the convicted felon. #MAGA Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) January 10, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernie Moreno, the freshly elected Ohio senator whose campaign was supported by the president-elect, was similarly incensed by the hearing. The only crime committed in the fake New York case against President Trump was in that court room, he said on X. Loudly disavowing the SHAM TRIAL and a HOAX SENTENCING!, Rep. Ronnie Jackson, meanwhile, argued that the result was only a short-term defeat for the president-elect. Moreno won election to the Senate last year with support from Trump. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Trump will win in the end and America wins in 10 days when we get Trump back!! he wrote on X. The sentencing hearing came after Trump was convicted on 34 counts related to falsifying business documents to cover up a hush-money payment to the porn star Stormy Daniels. Although Trump will not face prison time, fines, or probation, he will carry the distinction of being the first convicted felon to serve as president. Jan. 10Regulators have withdrawn a proposal to increase the minimum size requirements for lobsters caught in Maine, a move praised by harvesters who said the change would give Canadian competitors an unfair advantage. The change was announced by the Maine Department of Marine Resources at a hearing Thursday night, after a fiery argument between the commissioner and lobstermen in attendance. The department also pledged to consult lobstermen about any future conservation proposals for the fishery, according to U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, who praised the decision. "I have always said that Maine's lobstermen are the best, most informed conservationists for this precious and storied fishery," Golden said in a statement. "Lobstermen have been saying for months that the proposed gauge increase was not only a risk to their livelihoods and their communities, but an unnecessary overreaction to questionable stock data. I'm proud of them for going to the mat for their industry, and glad their voices have been heard and that DMR has pledged to give the lobstermen a seat at the table in determining what conservation efforts, if any, are needed to protect their fishery." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one-sixteenth of an inch increase was designed to help boost the dwindling stock of lobsters in the Gulf of Maine. But lobster harvesters and dealers have said it could eliminate the most lucrative segment of their catch and give Canadian competitors an unfair advantage. Data from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission indicated last year that lobster stock had declined by more than 35% in the largest management area in the Maine fishery. The Department of Marine Resources' proposed a gauge increase was twice as large as the last increase 30 years ago. After that proposal was released, Golden implored regulators to delay the implementation, giving the board and fishermen more time to collect more accurate and comprehensive data and study the economic impact of the change. The rules had been set to go into effect on Jan. 1, but were delayed until July. During a public hearing held as Thursday part of the rulemaking process, Patrick Keliher, commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources, got into a heated exchange with lobstermen who had packed the room. A video of the meeting shows Keliher talking about how the future of the industry is at stake and people in the audience starting to talk over him before Keliher asks the crowd to listen to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't have to listen to you," one man shouted. "You sold out to NOAA and Canada." Warning: The following video contains explicit language. Keliher cursed at the man in response, drawing more shouts and protests from the crowd. One person accused Keliher of being a sellout, other people also used profanity, while some said everyone should walk out of the meeting. "I am pulling the regulation as of right now. ... The fact of the matter is there is a risk associated with pulling this rule. If you are guys OK with accepting and understanding what that risk is, I am going to fight back at the commission," Keliher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not immediately respond to an email Friday about the remarks and what the risks of withdrawing the rule are. After the meeting, representatives of the lobster industry in Maine praised the decision to withdraw the proposal. Dustin Delano, a former lobsterman and chief operating officers of the New England Fisherman's Stewardship Association, said, "Maine lobstermen prevailed tonight as they pushed back against the increase to the minimum lobster gauge size in Lobster Management Area 1." Virginia Olsen, lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union, said in a statement that "our members are very happy that the lobster gauge increase has been shelved." This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link Jan. 10The Maine State Police continue to dole out millions in overtime wages every year, with a few officers amassing six figures in OT on top of their regular pay. Overtime payouts hit a record $8.5 million in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. Included in that total is $223,816 in overtime costs from the agency's response to the mass shooting in Lewiston. While efforts to recruit more staff will eventually help curb these high costs the agency hired about 50 people this year, 10 of whom were onboarded this month the state's largest police agency also is taking on more responsibilities at the same time it is trying to fill staff vacancies, Lt. Col. Brian Scott said in a recent phone interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wage data from 2024 is scheduled to be released this month, and overtime costs are expected to increase again because of state-mandated raises, said Scott, who is second in command at the agency. He doesn't anticipate a reduction in overtime payouts until fiscal year 2026, after new recruits wrap up their training and can pick up these extra jobs and work shifts by themselves. He said it's taken some time to climb out of the staffing issues that were amplified in 2020 by general labor shortages, the COVID-19 pandemic and the change in political climate amid protests after George Floyd's murder by Minnesota police. Now, the agency is headed in the right direction, Scott said. A class of 22 troopers is expected to graduate training next month, giving Maine its largest state police class this century, Scott said. Today, the state police employ 324 sworn personnel, 28 of whom are still in various stages of training, and have 27 vacant positions. By this time next year, Scott said the agency's total vacancies will likely dwindle to single digits. "Our staffing levels are coming up and our ability to hire has finally caught on, instead of being outpaced by retirements and resignations," he said. "We're hiring, now, at a faster rate than people are retiring and resigning." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OVERTIME RULES Trooper pay ranges from $32.18 per hour to $44.38 per hour with seniority. Overtime pay is generally time and a half, but if a trooper is ordered to work on their day off, they earn double time. Overtime wages incurred in 2024 will be higher than in 2023 because of multiple pay raises, Scott said. All state employees earned a 6% raise in January and a 3% raise in July. State police also reclassified state troopers, resulting in a 13.7% pay bump. And every year, if troopers pass their performance evaluation, they earn a 4% raise. The troopers' employee contract spells out two rules to ensure they don't work too long. They can't work more than 18 hours in a 24-hour period without a six-hour break and can't work over 80 hours in a week, aside from "emergent operational needs" that are approved by a supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't want our troopers working too many hours to the point that they're fatigued where it could impact their health, their fitness and their decision-making and their ability to do their job," Scott said. Mark Nickerson, president of a foundation for retired Maine troopers, said that during his 28 years as a trooper overtime hours were "basically unlimited," given how demanding the job is. He said it wasn't uncommon for him and his peers to log more than 300 hours per month. Nickerson said it was relatively easy to unintentionally violate overtime policies because he was taught to stay on scene "until the job was done." He said he can't count how many times he'd catch the sunrise driving home after his shift surpassed 18 hours. But in late 2023, Col. William Ross, head of the Maine State Police, told Scott it was time to conduct an audit on excessive overtime wages. The agency conducts investigations like these on a regular basis, Scott said. A spokesperson for the state police said the agency could not provide a copy of the audit to the Press Herald because it is an internal document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His probe of the top 10 earners revealed that three people could have violated the 18-hour and 80-hour policies. Those three staffers were investigated and two were not disciplined. Scott found that one person, Sgt. Jonathan Leach, had violated the policy 20 times from June 2023 to December 2023. Leach was the second-highest overtime earner with $117,486.02 on top of his $95,199.20 in regular wages in 2023. The top overtime earner was Cpl. Jonathan Russell, with $127,637.25 in addition to his regular $84,796.68. View this document on Scribd Leach retired in August 2024, a month before the investigation was completed, so he was not disciplined. Lt. Jason Madore, Leach's supervisor, was put under investigation as a result. Scott sent him a written reprimand in September for improperly signing off on Leach's hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Press Herald was unable to reach Leach or a representative from the Maine State Troopers Association for comment. FEWER TROOPERS, MORE ASSIGNMENTS This year, the agency has funding for 351 total positions. Back in the 1980s, state police had a full complement of 373, Scott said. But while the agency has shrunk, its responsibilities have grown. For example, in recent years Maine has seen an increase in homicides most of which are investigated by the state police. Maine State Police recorded 35 homicides in 2024, and 53 homicides in 2023 the mass shooting in Lewiston accounted for 18 of those deaths. Advances in technology and social media have made homicide investigations more lengthy and complicated, Scott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the demand for special units, like the tactical team, has also increased, Scott said. The team deployed about 115 times in 2024, compared to 99 in 2023. State police also have been getting more requests to help with security at construction sites and escort oversized loads, Scott said. In 2023, when the agency was down 59 troopers, one troop provided about 800 escorts for a windmill project in Searsport, for example. The Maine State Police used their overtime budget and salary savings from vacancies all funded by taxpayer dollars to cover most of the $8.5 million in 2023, Scott said. Outside entities such as the Maine Turnpike and construction companies paid for $1.6 million of the costs through contracts for special details. "We want to be as responsible as we can with taxpayer monies and work our troopers as few hours as possible as is required to get the job done," Scott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nickerson, the retired trooper, said the state police have been shorthanded since he started in 1977. While picking up more overtime shifts and earning extra money can be a perk for officers with seniority, Nickerson said the overtime shifts wouldn't be necessary if the agency had enough manpower. The Maine State Police asked the state for more funding to address these needs. Gov. Janet Mills helped increase the agency's head count by over 20 staffers, which represented a level of support that state police "hadn't seen under prior administrations," Scott said. But their attempts to add even more employees have failed. "Our agency hasn't proportionately grown with the demands that have been placed on it over the years," Scott said. "Although we've had numerous attempts at increasing our complement, we haven't always been successful at making it through the entire legislative process." Copy the Story Link Jan. 10The U.S. House of Representatives is no longer asking to intervene in a Maine woman's lawsuit against the military's health insurance provider over transgender care now that she has dropped the case. The woman, who is from Sagadahoc County and whose father is a veteran, sued the Department of Defense in U.S. District Court in Portland in late 2022 after she was denied coverage for procedures to help treat her gender dysphoria. She argued that the program's rule against "sex gender changes" was discriminatory because it only applied to transgender patients. She and another woman suing from Florida agreed to drop their case on Dec. 20 without reaching a settlement, about a month after U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen found that the military's insurance, TRICARE, violated the women's constitutional rights. (Neither woman is identified in court records.) Torresen's ruling still stands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But settlement talks appear to have derailed when the House threatened to intervene. Lawyers for the House, directed by Republican leadership, said they believed the case would interfere with their efforts to ban certain treatment for transgender children of military members. The House withdrew its motions on Wednesday after the Department of Justice said "the only thing the parties agreed was that this case would be dismissed." "There was no separate settlement agreement, much less any monetary or equitable relief provided to Plaintiffs," the DOJ wrote in court records. The women were represented by a team of lawyers and the Boston firm GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, otherwise known as GLAD. A spokesperson for the firm said Friday that they don't have anything to add about the case beyond what's in court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their lawyers argued that TRICARE's coverage rules were outdated, rooted in the "remnants of decades-old fallacy and bias that gender-affirming surgeries are cosmetic, for purposes of beautification, and frivolous." They also pointed out the rules were being applied unfairly. Active-duty military members have been able to get coverage for gender-affirming surgeries under TRICARE, while their dependents have not. On Dec. 23, President Joe Biden signed a sweeping defense bill in which the House added a provision to strip coverage of transgender medical treatments for military members' children. While Biden said he supports the act's investment in military personnel, he "strongly opposes" changes to transgender care "which inhibits the Department of Defense's ability to treat all persons equally under the law, no matter their gender identity." This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. to correct information about Torresen's ruling. Copy the Story Link Jan. 9KENNEBUNK For many who work with Habitat for Humanity, it's hard to talk about the organization without thinking about its most treasured and most famous by far volunteer: former President Jimmy Carter. Carter's legacy of championing affordable and decent housing for all was highlighted Thursday during a community celebration of his life at the Habitat for Humanity York County's ReStore in Kennebunk. Local volunteers and community members gathered at the store, where they talked about Carter's history with the organization and watched a livestream of his funeral in Washington, D.C. They also took turns writing messages about the late president on a white door, a tribute being carried out this month at Habitat for Humanity locations across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing next to a table lined with photos of Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at Habitat job sites around the world, Amy Nucci, executive director of Habitat for Humanity York County, said the couple inspired people to pick up hammers and work together to build houses for people who need them. Carter was known for being the first person at a build site and the last to leave at the end of the day. "President Carter has had a tremendous impact on Habitat for Humanity's mission around the world," Nucci said. "Beyond that, he was an incredible example of what it looks like to love our neighbors and believe in the dignity of all people. We're grateful for his impact in the world, and through our work we will continue to strive to embody his spirit of love, compassion and hard work." Often hailed as Habitat's most dedicated volunteers, the Carters first worked with the organization in Americus, Georgia, in 1984. Later that year, they led a group of Habitat for Humanity volunteers to New York, where they worked alongside 19 families who needed safe housing. That launched the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, an annual weeklong event that brings people together in one location to build houses. Over the next 30 years, the Carters worked alongside more than 108,100 volunteers who built, renovated or repaired 4,447 homes in 14 countries while raising awareness about the critical need for affordable housing, according to Habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A lot of times we learn about service, we learn about love and we talk about it," Carter is credited with saying. "But Habitat lets us put it all into practice." Tony Squillacioti, of Wells, has been volunteering with Habitat in York County for the past 12 years and has made several trips to Guatemala to work on projects there. Before he started volunteering, he met Carter at a Habitat project in Georgia. While other politicians and corporate types would pose for a photo and go home, Carter stayed to pick up hammers and saws and go to work. "He actually did it," Squillacioti said. "And not just once, but for years and years and years. He was just an amazing human being." Before the funeral began, Paul Beach, of Kennebunk, read a poem he wrote about Carter's life that highlighted his life of generosity and how he taught others to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His whole life was a shining beacon for the masses," Beach said. As the procession carrying Carter's casket played on TV screens at the store, Mary Rice, of Kennebunkport, carefully printed a message about him on the memorial door. She immigrated to the United States during Carter's presidency and said he made her proud to be an American. Rice, a retired neuroscientist, said she long admired his work with Habitat. "He's gone down there and taken up the hammer and shown an incredible example to all the other presidents who came after him," she said. Like many volunteers, Michelle McBreen became aware of the impact of Habitat through Carter's service and dedication to the cause. She started volunteering nearly a decade ago and the ReStore now feels like a second home. She said Carter's contributions felt like "something worth celebrating" with others who feel the same way. "There's so much change and division, and it's good to remember what can be accomplished when we work together," she said. Copy the Story Link Jan. 10In one week, President-elect Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office. With him comes a slew of advisers announced in recent months, some of whom have raised more than a few eyebrows. While New Mexico's Democratic administration often touts its ability to create protective state laws to combat a conservative federal agenda with very different priorities, it seems that at least one of Trump's appointees could agree with issues New Mexico leaders are determined to confront. Trump in November announced his pick for the chair of the Federal Communications Commission: Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the FCC. The pick immediately grabbed headlines particularly because Carr was a Project 2025 co-author and raised some concerns from New Mexico experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carr was in charge of the FCC chapter in Project 2025, a controversial policy blueprint published by conservative think tank Heritage Foundation. Several of Trump's other adviser picks are also associated with Project 2025. Trump has maintained that he has nothing to do with Project 2025, which he also said when he visited Albuquerque in October. "I have no idea what Project 2025 is," Trump said at the rally held on Halloween. "I never read it, and I never will." With Carr's promotion, the FCC could take "a bit of a different turn," according to Sonia Gipson Rankin, a professor at the University of New Mexico's School of Law, where she teaches torts and technology focusing on innovation and legal implications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public airways' regulation As the entity that acts as a nonpartisan commission overseeing media typically airwaves, television and home internet access something to watch out for with Carr as the head of the FCC is federal oversight of public access networks, "which have been cornerstones of the community," said Gipson Rankin. "What happens to their ability to tell stories about issues that matter to New Mexicans with changes in federal policy?" Gipson Rankin asked. Part of the FCC's regulatory powers includes issuing, renewing and transferring television broadcast licenses. For instance, the commission will oversee Skydance Media's multibillion dollar purchase of Paramount, including the transfer of CBS' national news division and broadcast licenses for more than two dozen local CBS stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With local television, broadcast licenses renew on an eight-year cycle that won't begin until 2028, according to the Columbia Journalism Review. The renewals aren't subject to politically motivated reviews by the commission. "We'll need to all be very, very conscious and mindful about what happens through what information is permitted or not permitted to be shared through public airways," Gipson Rankin said. What's allowed on the internet? It's no secret that Carr wants to hold big tech accountable. In a statement to Fox News last month, he said "combating tech censorship" was a priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Across agencies, across Congress, we need to work together to, frankly, smash the censorship cartel and restore free speech in the country because it's actually a straight line from there to economic growth as well," Carr said on Fox. That raises questions about what will be "permissible on the internet and what isn't," Gipson Rankin said. In his chapter in Project 2025, Carr discussed reinterpreting Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to eliminate immunity for social media companies that censor free speech. "As part of those reforms, the FCC should work with Congress to ensure that anti-discrimination provisions are applied to big tech including 'back-end' companies that provide hosting services and DDoS protection," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social media companies, in particular, are already preparing for Trump's second term. Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, calls freedom of expression "one of our core values." This month, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, said his company would end fact-checking and remove restrictions on speech on Facebook and Instagram a turnaround from Meta's content moderation efforts during Trump's first term. While differences might exist in how Republicans and Democrats want to reinterpret Section 230, the 20-plus-year-old law is "ripe for a review," said Gipson Rankin. "This will be a really important area for us for the next four or five years, as it relates to First Amendment (rights), as it relates to freedom of speech, as it relates to the right to free press and so many other principles that really matter to us as citizens in the United States," Gipson Rankin said. Carr also noted in Project 2025 that he would urge the FCC to work with Congress to ensure stronger protections for young children accessing social media sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More pointedly, he wrote about working with Congress to create legislation that prohibits social media platforms from hosting illegal content like "child pornography; terrorist speech; and indecent, profane or similar categories of speech that Congress has previously carved out." In New Mexico, Carr's sentiments overlap with efforts by the state attorney general, Raul Torrez. The attorney general in 2023 sued Meta, alleging child exploitation following an investigation by the New Mexico Department of Justice. And late last year, Torrez filed suit against Snap Inc., the parent company of the popular social media app Snapchat, "to protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation and harm," his office said. "Our attorney general is very proactive about this, as are many attorneys general across the country," Gipson Rankin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Carr, she said, "there can be lots of concerns about it, right? Is the point to really protect children, or is it to also, in addition, and under the guise of protecting children, limit others' right to free speech and other mechanisms?" She said both things can be concerning. "Children having never-ending, unprotected access to the internet, and that there's an effort to curtail free speech of adults who do have certain legal, constitutional protections," she said. "We have to find a smarter way to balance those two very important principles." Relatively low risk for broadband Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Biden administration, the federal government committed $90 billion to internet connectivity and accessibility efforts, including fiber installation. Carr wants to see an overhaul of how the U.S. spends money on broadband. He believes in pairing money with "reforms that free more airwaves for wireless connectivity or streamline the permitting processes for broadband builds," according to his FCC chapter in Project 2025. "That failure is holding back America's hardworking telecommunications crews and leaving Americans stuck waiting on the wrong side of the digital divide," Carr wrote. He outlined four specific policy plans: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Developing a national spectrum strategy identifying airwaves the FCC can free for commercial wireless services and setting a timeline for agency action.Ensuring Congress and the White House work together to establish a spectrum coordinator process that works for commercial and federal users.Modernizing infrastructure rules.Reviewing and approving low-earth orbit satellite technology. New Mexico broadband office Director Drew Lovelace told the Journal entities that work with federal government programs are watching what policies will be enacted, not just the appointees themselves. "We're thinking about what positions they've taken publicly in the past and how that impacts the programs that we have," he said. While the FCC oversees broadband, the primary funding for it $42 billion across the nation through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program. New Mexico got $675 million of the pot. OBAE is also looking cautiously at that pick billionaire Howard Lutnick but Lovelace said New Mexico already has federal approval to run its broadband program. "We are at this place where we're so far down the line of the programs, ... which makes it pretty hard to claw back that funding and take it back to Congress," he said. "So we don't really see major risks to these programs." Like Carr outlined in Project 2025, the federal administration could prioritize satellite broadband technology, Lovelace pointed out. The New Mexico broadband office is seeking $70 million from the Legislature to help deploy satellite technology. Satellite technology is also part of the federal BEAD program, but it's one of the final pieces. While it's immediately deployable, Lovelace said, it doesn't benefit unserved and underserved people. "It's not the perfect solution to make sure that New Mexicans don't have a digital divide in the future," Lovelace said. There's still a lot of misinformation about broadband. Lovelace said he's seen posts on social media from expected incoming administration members who are frustrated with how long it's taking to deploy the BEAD program, but internet setup and roll out is a long-term project. The state would need $2 billion more to build the infrastructure needed to get all New Mexico households connected to reliable, high-speed internet, Lovelace said. "There may be some disagreements about how things get deployed or how fast things get deployed, but at the end of the day, we all want to have deployment," he said. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's law ministry said on Friday it has no record of any documents authorising house arrest for jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak, as the disgraced former leader pushes to serve the remainder of his sentence at home. Najib, imprisoned for his role in a multibillion-dollar fraud at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, had his 12-year sentence halved last year by then-King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, who was chair of a special pardons board. Najib and the ex-king's palace say the former monarch also granted him house arrest in an "addendum order" that accompanied the pardon. Najib's legal team says that document has been ignored by authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malaysia's law ministry in a statement said it had not received any official notification or instructions from Malaysia's royal palace on the matter. "The law ministry, as secretariat to the pardons board, confirms that there are no additional documents or addendums in the official files or records under the ministry," it said. Malaysia's home and communications ministers have also said they were not aware of the existence of such a document. Najib was found guilty in 2020 of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power for illegally receiving funds misappropriated from a unit of 1MDB. He is on trial for corruption in several other 1MDB-linked cases and denies wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Najib has filed a legal challenge seeking to obtain the royal document and confirm its existence. That challenge was initially dismissed by a court, a decision that was overturned on Monday by the Court of Appeal. (Reporting by Danial Azhar; Editing by Martin Petty) SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Authorities have issued an update regarding the early Sunday morning crash on Interstate 15 that involved multiple vehicles and resulted in one death. On Sunday, around 3:32 a.m., a 23-year-old man was driving a 2023 Toyota Camry on I-15 northbound, south of Miramar Way. For reasons still being investigated, the driver crashed into the rear of a 2022 Toyota RAV4, driven by a 52-year-old La Mesa man, according to California Highway Patrol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: One dead in multi-vehicle crash on I-15 The impact caused the RAV4 to travel across the lanes and rest on the right shoulder of the interstate, authorities said. Meanwhile, the Camry stopped within the lanes, blocking traffic, following the collision. Moments after, a 2024 Yamaha motorcycle operated by a 29-year-old man from Mountain Center collided with the Camry, CHP said. His identity is being withheld pending family notification by the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office. The motorcycle rider suffered major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Camry has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, CHP stated. The cause and sequence of events are still under investigation. CHP is asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them at 858-293-6000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The man accused in the shooting death of another man found inside an abandoned building on 11th Street in Beaver Falls was arrested Thursday. Daniel Felo II was captured by the U.S. Marshal Service task force in Connellsville, with the help of Beaver Falls police and Connellsville police. >> Arrest warrant issued for man accused in deadly Beaver Falls shooting Felo is charged in the shooting death of Eric Mason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >> Man found shot in head in Beaver Falls, coroner says Mason was shot and killed and his body was discovered on the afternoon of Dec. 30. Witnesses have provided critical details to investigators. One witness overheard Felo discussing the murder, claiming Mason had ratted on his friend leading to a 15-year prison sentence. Another witness came forward saying Felo demonstrated how Mason fell after being shot. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (PIX11) A man was accused of setting fire to a hotel room in East Rutherford, N.J. on Thursday, according to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. It happened at the Fairfield Inn hotel around 11:30 a.m. Vincente Carabello, 55, allegedly sparked the flames after getting into an argument with hotel staff, prosecutors said. More Crime News Hes accused of attacking a hotel employee as he fled, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No hotel guests were injured in the fire, prosecutors said. Carabello was later arrested and charged with aggravated arson, arson, risk of causing widespread injury or damage, criminal mischief and assault. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Jan. 9A 24-year-old Coeur d'Alene man is accused of shooting at an SUV in an apparent road rage incident Wednesday night on Interstate 90 in Post Falls, according to Idaho State Police. A 40-year-old woman driving a Volkswagen SUV called 911 at about 9:40 p.m. to report "a possible road rage situation involving a potential weapons offense" that happened on I-90 near milepost 6 in the Post Falls area, police said in a news release. Troopers contacted the woman on an I-90 off -ramp and found a bullet hole on the front passenger-side door, troopers said. The bullet traveled through the door into the front passenger seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A short time after that, the suspect's white Nissan Rogue was determined to be in the area of Summit Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department worked in conjunction with ISP to locate the driver, whose name was not released, and arrest him, ISP said. Police removed a firearm from the man. The man was taken to the Kootenai Jail on suspicion of unlawful discharge of a firearm at a vehicle, aggravated assault and DUI. Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to contact ISP at (208) 209-8620. (WESTCLIFFE, Colo.) A man who was arrested after a multi-state manhunt following a triple-fatal shooting near Westcliffe in 2023 has entered a not guilty plea in Custer County Court. Hanme Kim Clark faces three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 63-year-old Rob Geers, 73-year-old Beth Wade Geers, and 58-year-old James Daulton on Nov. 20, 2023. A fourth victim, Patty Daulton, was injured in the shooting, and Clark is facing attempted murder and assault charges for crimes against her. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: U.S. Marshals detail capture of Custer County shooting suspect Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting allegedly began as a property dispute between Clark and the victims, who were his neighbors. Clark and his girlfriend, Nancy Rae Medina-Kochis, fled Colorado after the shooting, and both were captured in New Mexico the day after the shooting. They both tried unsuccessfully to fight extradition back to Colorado. Medina-Kochis was initially arrested on charges of accessory to a crime, but was released in February 2024 after posting bond. Clark appeared in Custer County Court on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, and entered a not guilty plea to each of the first-degree murder charges, as well the attempted murder and assault charges. His trial is set for June 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A man accused of promoting prostitution in Albuquerque is being released from custody. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office arrested 21-year-old Jeremiah Draper on Saturday in a targeted operation addressing concerns of human trafficking and prostitution. According to court documents, a deputy saw two nearly nude females get out of a vehicle with a Florida license plate near Chama and Central NE. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies initiated a traffic stop and confronted the driver, 21-year-old Jeremiah Draper, who admitted to paying the woman for sex, court documents stated. Judge David Murphy allowed Draper to be released until trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A man has been arrested in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles on suspicion of arson. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has yet to verify whether it is connected with the Kenneth Fire raging in the area. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near the Kenneth Fire currently spreading toward the Hidden Hills and Calabasas. Previously an officer told media that an individual had been arrested for intentionally starting the Kenneth Fire. Speaking to NewsNation Charles Dinsel, a senior lead officer in the LAPD, said: "What we know right now is that the incident occurred, started here, and about 20 minutes [to] 30 minutes later a suspect was detained over the Woodland Hills area by citizens." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if someone had "purposefully" set the fire Dinsel confirmed: "That's what we believe, yes." As a result, the site of the Kenneth Fire is now being treated as a crime scene, Dinsel added. However, following the interview, sources at the LAPD have refused to confirm whether the Woodland Hills arrest is in connection to the Kenneth Fire. Fox News reports it contacted the LAPD multiple times for clarification, and was told that while a person has been arrested, it could not confirm it was for starting the blaze. Fortune contacted the LAPD for comment outside of business hours but did not receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kenneth Fire is one of six ravaging the West Coast state, claiming the lives of at least 10 people and destroying thousands of homes, community sites, and businesses. The Kenneth Fire broke out on the evening of Jan. 9 and as of 9 p.m. ET was 0% contained over a 960-acre span. View this interactive chart on Fortune.com The northernmost fire, Lidia, is now 75% contained and is no longer a California Fire incident, Cal Fire reports. The two biggest blazes currently are the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. The former has destroyed homes in areas like Malibuhome to a host of celebrity propertiesas well as Palisades itself. Evacuation orders for this blaze have also been issued down into Santa Monica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eaton Fire is raging through areas such as Altadena and Mount Wilson, with evacuation orders issued for parts of Pasadena and Glendale. Alongside the loss to human life, the financial costs of the fires are continuing to soar higher. Private forecaster AccuWeather has reevaluated its damage estimate because of the infernos to between $135 billion and $150 billionup from $52 billion to $57 billion just a day earlier. AccuWeather's chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said: "This is going to beprobably the top wildfire in modern Californian history in terms of destruction and damage and total economic loss." "Maximum punishment will be sought" While it remains unclear whether the individual arrested on suspicion of arson is facing charges relating to the Kenneth Fire, Los Angeles district attorney Nathan Hochman is ready to heavily prosecute any individual found guilty of a crime of such magnitude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to NewsNation, Hochman said: "We are going to look at all the causes of each one of the fires to determine whether or not it was natural or man-made and intentional. "The crime of arson will land you in prison for years, especially if you have any level of criminal background, it could literally land you in prison for years. The restitution loan that you will owe will probably cripple you financially for the rest of your life. "We will send that message unmistakably clear to anyone that's out there even now because we hear that people look at these situations and for some sick reason want to go ahead and add to the fires that Los Angeles County are fighting. If they are even thinking of that we want them to understand what the consequences of their actions will be." "Justice will be swift," Hochman added. "It will be firm and the maximum punishment will be sought." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More on the Los Angeles wildfires: This story was originally featured on Fortune.com BOSQUE COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) A man is accused of breaking into a Bosque County home, assaulting family members and barricading himself inside while holding one family member hostage. Bosque County Sheriffs deputies, assisted by the Clifton Police Department, responded to a call of a disturbance at a home near Lakeside Village at approximately 5:30 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, deputies made contact with two occupants of the home who said a man assaulted members of the household. The two occupants also confirmed that another family member was still inside of the home and was not being permitted to leave. Family members also confirmed the presence of firearms in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Sheriff Trace Hendricks, deputies ordered the suspect to exit the home, to no avail. As the deputies continued to communicate with the suspect, he made comments that he would not come out, and he proceeded to barricade all entrances to the home. The shift sergeant was eventually able to calm the suspect and have him place his weapons outside the home by the front door. As negotiations continued, the suspect become rational and cooperative. Following an extended conversation and negotiation, the suspect stepped out of the home and surrendered to deputies. Sheriff Hendricks says during the course of this event, a call was placed to McLennan County SWAT, requesting they respond in order to assist with a forced entry and apprehension if necessary. The McLennan County Sheriffs Office agreed to assist and began preparations to deploy. Fortunately, the suspect surrendered prior to their full deployment and their call-out was cancelled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A 26-year-old man was charged for being in possession of a gun on school property for an incident Wednesday morning in Virginia Beach. while on the property of Bayside Presbyterian Church Wednesday morning. At approximately 8:55 a.m., Virginia Beach Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS) received a call in reference to a disorderly subject in the 1400 block of Ewell Road, on the campus of Bayside Presbyterian Church which houses a preschool. Photo Courtesy: Virginia Beach Police Department Upon arrival, Logan Paul Thorp advised officers he was armed and he was detained without incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thorp was charged with Possession of a Firearm on School Property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Authorities in New Jersey say a guest staying at a Fairfield Inn in East Rutherford intentionally set fire to his hotel room and physically assaulted a hotel staff member he encountered while fleeing. Vincente Carabello, 55, of Rutherford, was arrested Thursday on charges of aggravated arson, arson, risk of causing widespread injury or damage, criminal mischief, and assault, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a news release. The incident, which unfolded around 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Fairfield Inn in the Meadowlands, sparked a multi-agency response, which included members of the East Rutherford Police and Fire Departments as well as Bergen County Regional SWAT Teams county patrol units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It allegedly stemmed from an argument Carabello had with a hotel employee, officials said. The fire, which was quickly extinguished by first responders, activated the hotels sprinkler system and caused damage to the property, Musella said. All guests were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported, he added. The hotel staff member who was allegedly assaulted by Carabello was not seriously injured. Carabello, who had fled the hotel before the arrival of police, was arrested a short time later by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the East Rutherford Police Department. He was then taken to the Bergen County Jail, where hes being held pending his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court. A man has been banned from United Airlines after reportedly urinating on another passenger. Nicole Cornell told SFGate via email that her stepfather, Jerome Gutierrez, had been flying in business class on a United flight from San Francisco International Airport to Manila, Philippines on Dec. 27 when the incident happened. According to Cornell, a passenger got up from his seat on UA Flight 189, went up to Gutierrez and began urinating on him about four hours into the flight as he was resting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutierrez "was asleep and buckled in, and was surprised when he [saw] the man and thought he was dreaming, Cornell alleged in an email to the outlet. However, it took her stepdad several moments before he finally grasped what was happening. PEOPLE was not able to reach Cornell for comment. Related: International Flight Diverted to Houston After Passengers Cause Disturbance for Being Refused Alcohol: Police Getty Jerome realized he was soaked from his stomach down in that mans urine, she explained. After the incident, Cornell noted that flight attendants provided her stepfather with pajamas to wear" but allegedly warned Gutierrez not to approach the man in fear that there would be a confrontation, and he would become violent. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A spokesperson for United Airlines told PEOPLE in a statement that the crew "asked police to meet our flight when it arrived in Manila" on Dec. 28 to "address a passenger disturbance," but would not. address the details or the cause of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokesperson also noted in the company's response that it had banned the passenger that caused the disturbance from all future United flights. Related: American Airlines Flight Diverted to Kansas City After Passenger Displayed 'Erratic Behavior' Getty STOCK IMAGE STOCK IMAGE Cornell stated in her email to SFGate that she was disgusted by how the flight crew responded and said that she believed different action should have been taken on board the approximately 15-hour flight. They put the needs of the airline before my stepdads health, Cornell wrote. I am so disgusted and in shock with how United Airlines handled this! That is a biohazard, and the plane shouldve turned around to address this issue. Cornell said that the man who urinated on her stepfather eventually apologized to her parents and begged them not to press charges. Read the original article on People MEMPHIS, Tenn. The United States Postal Inspection Service is now offering reward money after a man was caught on camera robbing a mail carrier at gunpoint at an apartment complex in Parkway Village earlier this week. On Tuesday a little before 12:20 p.m. USPIS says one of their letter carriers was robbed at gunpoint while delivering mail at the Ventura Apartments in the 4500 block of Wooddale Avenue. The suspect used a black handgun during the robbery but the mail carrier was not injured in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man accused of damaging, stealing packages from USPS truck Video footage in the area captured the suspect on camera. The company is now offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect responsible for the armed robbery. The suspect is described as a 59 tall man, weighing 180 pounds wearing a black skullcap, a black facemask, a black hoodie, and dark blue jeans. Woman accused of stealing $65K in jewelry from Arlington home He was last seen driving a gray Nissan with white primer paint on the trunk and back passengers side quarter panel with a black rear bumper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information related to this incident, you are urged to call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. ELKHART An Elkhart man who is accused of having a firearm on school grounds allegedly told police he was waiting for his niece. Destry Allen Jr., 25, was charged Monday with possession of a firearm on school property following an encounter with police on Aug. 15. The charge is a Level 6 felony. According to court documents: Officers with the Elkhart Police Department responded to Northside Middle School for a report of a suspicious person with a firearm. Police found Allen in the area, who they say was open-carrying a large revolver in a holster on his hip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers removed the firearm from Allen. He told them that he was just walking his niece to school and didnt know he couldnt have a firearm on school property, according to police. A school security officer told police that Allen was on the sidewalk in front of the school earlier in the morning. The guard said he told Allen that he needed to leave the property because of his handgun. Allen didnt immediately leave and said he would go once he saw his niece make it into the school, according to police. He left after a repeated warning from the security officer. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls man is behind bars, accused of DUI and vehicular homicide following a deadly motorcycle crash. 30-year-old Daniel Moyer is accused of losing control of his motorcycle on the roundabout on South Western Avenue, near Harrisburg North Middle School. 1 dead in motorcycle crash in Sioux Falls The October crash killed 29-year-old Kendal Borning. Moyer is also charged with possessing a loaded gun while intoxicated Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO ) A group assault Thursday left a man in critical condition and the assault is being investigated by authorities. It happened at the intersection of 8th Street and Indiana Avenue, near the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House. Call to Freedom: Trafficking bill could be monumental One person has been arrested for aggravated assault, but police are still trying to work out what exactly happened, according to SFPD spokesman Sam Clemens. Clemens said surveillance footage contributed to the arrest. Alcohol may have been a factor involved, but Clemens said drugs were not involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darrin Sazue, 27, was arrested. He is a transient, along with the victim. Officers have not been able to speak with the victim because he is unconscious. Clemens said they believe the group and the man knew each other. I dont know how well they knew each other, but it was not a stranger type of crime, Clemens said. Police are still looking for the other man involved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A Canadian man has been arrested by Indian authorities at New Delhis airport after a crocodile skull was found in his luggage. The 32-year-old man, who was not named by authorities, was on his way to Canada from the Indian capital when he was stopped during a security check at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Upon examination, a skull with sharp teeth, resembling the jaw of a baby crocodile, weighing approximately 777 grams, was discovered wrapped in a cream-colored cloth, Delhi Customs said in a X statement on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the skull belongs to a species protected under the countrys Wildlife Protection Act and that the man had violated the law and its Customs Act. The skull has been handed over to the Department of Forests and Wildlife for lab testing, customs said. This case highlights a serious violation of wildlife and customs laws. Collaboration between Customs and Forest Departments is crucial to ensuring such protected wildlife items are not smuggled, Delhi Customs said. A 2022 report by TRAFFIC, a non-governmental organization that monitors the wildlife trade, found that as Indias aviation sector rapidly grows, so too does the misuse of airports for smuggling wildlife within India and across the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 2011 and 2020, 141 incidents of wildlife seizures were reported at airports across India, involving 146 animal species. Reptiles including crocodiles, lizards, snakes and tortoises - were the most encountered group during that time period, accounting for 46% of those seizures. India is among the top ten countries in terms of using the airline sector for wildlife trafficking, said Atul Bagai, then-Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in India, following the reports release. This is an unwanted accolade. The Indian government has sought to crack down on the trafficking of wild animals under its Wildlife Protection Act and as a member of CITES, the highest international lawmaking body on wildlife trade. The Canadian traveler isnt the first to attempt to bring animals or animal parts in carry-on luggage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the TSA found a four-foot-long live boa constrictor in a passengers bag at Floridas Tampa Airport (TPA), resulting in a series of snake puns on Instagram. Our officers didnt find this hyssssssterical!, the agency said. We really have no adder-ation for discovering any pet going through an X-ray machine. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A second person charged with tampering with evidence in an October shooting death entered a guilty plea earlier this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Shawn Jones, 35, entered his plea Monday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum. A sentencing date has not been set yet. The charge is a third-degree felony. Jones is charged in connection with the shooting death of Reynaldo Hernandez, 24. He was found on Oct. 18 at a cemetery at Liberty Road and Wardle Avenue in the Sharon Line section of the East Side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andre Bailey, 40, was charged with murder for Hernandezs death. He is expected to go on trial sometime next month. Two other men are also charged with murder for the death of Hernandez, but they have so far eluded capture. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A Cumberland County man was indicted after a Crossville business fire in 2024. On March 2, 2024, a fire broke out at Bootleggers Bar and Grill on Highway 70 in Crossville. The Crossville Fire Department responded and found heavy fire damage in the roof area, and heavy smoke damage inside. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted CFD in investigating the origin and cause of the fire. The TBI said they found evidence that the fire had been intentionally set. Where to donate for MEDICs annual Roll Up Your Sleeve week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TBI along with the Crossville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified Brandon Jones as the responsible person for setting the fire. He was indicted by the Cumberland County Grand Jury on January 6 and charged with one count of arson. He was arrested the next day and booked into the Cumberland County Jail on a $75,000 bond. This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates. READ: More top stories on WATE.com The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law, reads a release from the TBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Jan. 9A man who formerly lived in Austin, has been sentenced to prison for felony first degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Robert Walter Buneta, 49, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday in Mower County District court for an incident where he had been accused by a 12-year-old girl of sexually assaulting her while they were living in the community. According to the court complaint, the girl told her mother about the abuse in April of last year after they had moved to Indiana. The mother took her to the hospital and a nurse contacted and Austin Police Department officer to report the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girl was questioned by a Lake County, Indiana Sheriff's Department detective and told him that the attacks started when she was 10 and claimed Buneta would touch her when she was wearing clothes. However, as time went on the incidents escalated into sexual encounters with the girl, who told the detective that the attacks would take place at varying times during the day and always when they were alone. Buneta will serve his time at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. He was given credit for 73 days served and is up for conditional release after 10 years. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Mahoning County grand jury returned an indictment against a Toledo man charged in a stabbing and robbery at an office complex in Austintown. Nathan Frybarger, 31, is charged with aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, felonious assault and resisting arrest in connection to the November 2024 incident at the complex in the 500 block of Mahoning Avenue. Reports said a man told them he was in the restroom of a nearby office building when Frybarger pulled a knife and demanded his money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports said the victim received a stab wound to the hand that was treated by paramedics at the scene. The victim told police he was also going to get checked out at a hospital, reports said. Joe Gorman contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A North Carolina man known for investigating an election-related conspiracy theory in D.C. that was dubbed pizzagate was shot and killed by police in North Carolina. On Monday, Jan. 4, at around 10 p.m., the Kannapolis Police Department in North Carolina said officers were patrolling North Cannon Boulevard when they saw a gray 2001 GMC Yukon. Trump hosts Mar-a-Lago event with prominent QAnon, Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers recognized the car because it was often driven by Edgar Maddison Welch, whom they had arrested before and still had an outstanding arrest warrant. A vehicle stop was conducted and while an officer was talking to the driver, he noticed the man in the passenger seat was the one who had the outstanding arrest warrant. Two more officers arrived to help with the traffic stop. The officer went around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door to arrest the passenger. When he opened the door, Welch took out a gun and pointed it at him. The officers told him to drop his gun and when he didnt, they shot him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welch had an outstanding arrest warrant for felony probation violation. Republicans to roll dice by grilling Jackson over child-pornography sentencing decisions He was taken to the hospital for treatment. He was then transferred to a different hospital where he died on Jan. 6. Nobody else was injured. The officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. According to a report from the Associated Press, the City of Kannapolis communications director, Annette Privette Keller, confirmed that Welch was the man who was involved in pizzagate. On Dec. 4, 2016, Welch barged into Comet Ping Pong in Northwest D.C. armed with multiple firearms to investigate claims of a child sex trafficking ring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Associated Press, he was investigating unfounded internet rumors about prominent Democrats harboring child sex slaves at the restaurant. Buying into conspiracy theories can be exciting thats what makes them dangerous Customers and employees were able to run away unscathed as Welch investigated the internet rumors bringing him to shoot a locked door to get in. After about 20 minutes of investigating and not finding anything, he surrendered to D.C. police officers. He was sentenced to four years in prison in June 2017 and ordered to pay over $5,700 for the property damage he caused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. CHICAGO Authorities in Chicago are asking for help from the public in the search for a man who has been missing for several days and officers said he may be in need of medical attention. According to Chicago police, 39-year-old Ittahi Barrera was last spotted by family members at around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, but has not been contacted since. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers did not provide a description of what the missing man was last seen wearing but said he may be in the vicinity of the citys Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrera, who stands 5-foot-7 and weighs around 215 pounds, has brown eyes and black hair. He is also known to have a tattoo on his right ankle. According to Chicago police, 39-year-old Ittahi Barrera was last spotted by family members at around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, but has not been contacted since. A photo provided by Chicago police shows the missing man with a beard, however, it is unclear if he had one at the time of his disappearance. Officers said Barrera may be in need of medical attention, but it is unclear as to why. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 39-year-old Ittahi Barrera is asked to contact CPD Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6554 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A man who went to a neighborhood destroyed by the ongoing fires in Los Angeles found something else to care for in the rubble a lonely dog left behind. Rick Miller told CNN on Jan. 9 that he had been checking in on a friends home in Altadena Calif. that was affected by the wildfires when he spotted an injured, stray dog across the street that needed help. Miller immediately sprung into action, laying a blanket over the canine which had light colored fur and brown eyes for comfort as he and his friends figured out how to get the animal out of the rubble and to safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its about caring for each other and like everyone needs help right now, Miller told CNN as he began to tear up. Sorry for crying but its really emotional seeing my friends lose their houses and people losing their animals and so [we] try to help each other out. Related: Firefighter Comforts Dog Wandering Burning California Neighborhood While Battling L.A. Wildfires Miller told the outlet that he decided to bring the dog to the Pasadena Humane Society so that he could receive treatment and care. He said he was motivated to help the dog however he could because the wildfires had taken a toll on everyone, and it was just a small act of kindness that he could do. PEOPLE have reached out to the Pasadena Humane Society for comment. CNN The dog found in the rubble of a Los Angeles neighborhood. The dog found in the rubble of a Los Angeles neighborhood. Seeing like all your friends lose their houses and you know just trying to help them out, Miller said. "Fortunately, our house was saved but our friends right across the street, their house is gone. Thats why you just wanna help your friends out, help your families out, help the animals out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pasadena Humane Society confirmed to CNN that they received the dog, which was treated for burns and exposure to smoke. It was unclear if the dog belonged to one of the families that evacuated the neighborhood. It was previously reported that the shelter had taken in over 300 pets impacted by the fires. Related: Pasadena Shelter Takes in Over 300 Pets Displaced by L.A. Fires, Including Cats and Dogs 'Covered in Burns' As of Jan. 10, at least 10 people have died in the Los Angeles wildfires, according to CNN. So far, thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the Palisades fire which according to Cal Fire is reportedly one of the most destructive in Los Angeles history and the Eaton fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As many as 10,000 structures, including homes and offices, have been destroyed between the two fires, according to officials, per CNN. So far, more than 35,000 acres have been scorched by several wildfires in the Los Angeles area, according to NPR. 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 National Weather Service said that the fires could continue to spread due to high winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph forecasted over Friday. Forecasters say the high winds will take a break over the weekend before continuing next week. In an update on X on Jan. 9, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom shared that the National Guard was deployed to Los Angeles, bringing their total on-the-ground personnel to 8,000. He also shared that the large Palisades fire has been 6% contained as of 6 p.m. on Jan. 9. Read the original article on People PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) A man from Beaver County was sentenced this week for selling cocaine in western Pennsylvania, including in Lawrence County. Roberto Muniz Sanchez, 46, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Sanchez was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. According to investigators, Sanchez was a member of a drug ring that got cocaine through the mail from Puerto Rico, and sold it in western Pennsylvania and elsewhere between October 2023 and March 2024. Investigators say Sanchez specifically targeted Lawrence County with his sales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local, state and federal authorities worked on the case and were part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. Lawrence County is one of six western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White Houses Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. DENVER (KDVR) An Aurora man died at a hospital after he was shot outside his home on Thursday night, police reported Friday. Police said the victim saw a suspicious vehicle outside of his house and went out to observe it. He was shot shortly thereafter, according to the Aurora Police Department, at about 6:52 p.m. on Thursday in the 20000 block of East 62nd Drive. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area is part of The Grove at High Point neighborhood and is located across 64th Avenue from the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. Police said the man walked outside his house and observed a suspicious red sedan. Thats when the victim was shot by an unknown person, according to Aurora officers. Its unclear if the shooter was inside the vehicle. The man was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries sustained in the shooting, and later died of those injuries. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather The Aurora Police Departments Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating the deadly shooting, and detectives do not believe the shooting was a random act of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurora police arrested a 15-year-old suspect on Saturday. Tips in this case can be sent to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or online at metrodenvercrimestoppers.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Jan. 9A beloved Manchester elementary school principal has lost her battle with cancer, city school officials confirmed. Jenny Lynch, who had been on medical leave from her role as principal at Webster Elementary School in the city's North End, died Thursday morning. She was 46. "Jenny lost her battle earlier this morning," her husband Mark wrote in a social media post. "I was able to be there in her last moments. She was also surrounded by family and so much love." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Facebook post, Lynch disclosed she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2019. "I have been through chemo, surgeries (multiple) and radiation," Lynch wrote. Lynch went on to say she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in June of 2023, which "infiltrated my bone marrow, bones and liver." In an email to families, Manchester Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel said the district has a team of counselors "trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this." "This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school district community, especially our students," Chmiel wrote. "Jenny grew up on the city's West Side and is a product of our city schools. We understand this loss will have an impact on many in our community, and our school teams are prepared to respond. These counselors are available for any student who may need or want help or any type of assistance surrounding this loss. We encourage you, as family members, to also feel free to use our resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as you need." Megan Canning is serving as interim principal at Webster. School board member Julie Turner, who represents Ward 1 (where Webster Elementary is located) said Lynch was a "dedicated and passionate educator and administrator." "She exuded enthusiasm, patience, and a love for learning," Turner said. "She greeted her staff, students and families at Webster Elementary each day with a warm smile or a giggle and was always looking to lend a listening ear or a helping hand. She was a positive presence in the building and in the community and her loss is deeply saddening." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turner went on to say Lynch's family and friends will be in her thoughts and prayers. "The lessons and leadership she imprinted on the Webster community will continue to inspire us as she left an indelible mark on our lives and in our hearts," Turner said. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, who serves as chair of the city's Board of School Committee, remembered Lynch's "love for her students and her dedication to their education." "Our prayers go out to her family, husband Mark and the entire Webster community," Ruais said. "Jenny was a West Side native who attended city schools. Like every outstanding educator, Jenny touched the future. We are forever grateful." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynch had worked for the Manchester School District since 2019, when she was hired as assistant principal at Green Acres Elementary School. In June 2022, Lynch was named principal at Webster Elementary School. Prior to her employment in Manchester, Lynch spent most of her career teaching in Brookline. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Rivier College and her certificate of advanced graduate studies at New England College. Lynch replaced Nicole Doherty, who left Webster to serve as the district's new executive director of teaching and learning. Doherty replaced Sherri Nichols, who was hired as the next superintendent of schools in Springfield, Vermont. A Meal Train fundraising effort on social media had raised $4,685 for Lynch's family in Bedford in recent days. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the majority of justices decided that the right to an abortion should be left up to individual states. Two years later, thousands of Americans in parts of the U.S. with strict abortion bans are deciding to leave those states, new research finds. Following the Dobbs decision, the 13 states with strict abortion bans, from Alabama to West Virginia, collectively lost a net 36,000 residents per quarter, meaning the difference between the number of people leaving the states versus those migrating in, according to the analysis from economists at Georgia Institute of Technology and The College of Wooster and published this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The analysis, which is based on change-of-address data from the U.S. Postal Service, found that the state impact is larger among single-person households, which may suggest that younger people are moving out of abortion-banning states at a higher rate than families. That could be due to the greater challenges for families in trying to move, given the need to change schools or uproot careers for parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A problem for states that ban abortion? While often framed as a cultural or religious issue, access to abortion also has far-reaching economic implications both for individuals and society at large. For instance, the financial toll on women without access to abortion services has been well documented, with the Turnaround Study finding that those denied the procedure had higher rates of financial problems and were more likely to rely on government aid like food stamps. The new research indicates that states with abortion bans could face long-term economic consequences if they lose significant numbers of residents especially younger workers who are typically vital to a state's workforce. "In terms of the implications for states' economies, our results suggest that employers in states with bans may face challenges in attracting and retaining workers, especially younger workers, which could impact economic growth and development," the researchers, Georgia Institute of Technology's Daniel L. Dench, Jason M. Lindo and Kelly Lifchez and The College of Wooster's Jancy Ling Liu, wrote in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study didn't discern whether those moving out of states with abortion bans were men or women, or where they landed, including in states that have protected abortion. But the impact is significant enough that, over a five-year period, abortion-banning states could lose almost 1% of their population, the researchers said. Abortion bans and a weak safety net Separately, many of the states with strict abortion bans are failing to provide adequate safety nets, an analysis by the Associated Press found. These range from difficulty accessing programs such as food stamps to a lack of access to doctors due to maternal care deserts. Republican state leaders in Tennessee one of the 13 states with a total abortion ban argue that they are bolstering services for families. For instance, Tennessee boosted its Medicaid coverage for mothers in 2022 from 60 days postpartum to a year, which enabled an additional 3,000 moms to use the program each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Tennessee fared poorly at enrollment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, Medicaid, and in having enough maternal care and requirements for paid family and medical leave, according to an October study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Other states with abortion bans, including Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, also ranked poorly on a number of measures, the analysis found. Women with young children in states where abortion is banned or limited to early weeks of pregnancy said it can be tough to obtain social services, according to a survey by the health policy research organization KFF. Nearly half said it's difficult for women in their state to get food stamps, for example, compared with 3 in 10 in states where abortion is generally available. "People who claim to be pro-life, who advocated for these abortion bans, often suggest that these policies are designed to protect children, women and families," said Dr. Nigel Madden, lead author of the study. But weakness in the safety net shows "the hypocrisy of that argument." Meanwhile, many younger Americans are paying attention to a state's access to reproductive care. In a 2022 Axios poll, about 6 in 10 people 18- to 29-years-old said a state's abortion laws would sway their decision on where to live from "somewhat" to "a lot." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, there are many reasons why people opt to move out of a particular state, the Georgia Institute of Technology and College of Wooster researchers noted. "And abortion-ban states are different from states protecting or maintaining abortion access in other ways besides their policies on abortion," they added. But a lack of access to reproductive choice, social services and medical care may make abortion-strict states less attractive to some residents, particularly young Americans, the study concluded. California authorities give update on L.A. fires and announce school closures Blue Origin to launch New Glenn rocket after 10 years of development 4 injured after Delta Air Lines flight aborted during takeoff in Atlanta A deadly combination of hot winds and a lack of rain created the conditions for wildfires to rip through Los Angeles this week. The first blaze started in the Pacific Palisades area home to countless Hollywood A-listers on Tuesday morning, initially burning an area of around 1,200 acres. Fast-forward four days and the blaze was consuming 19,000 acres of land and was just 6 per cent contained. Several other major wildfires had also popped up across the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how the wildfires started and turned into the most destructive ever experienced in LA. Tuesday, 7 On Tuesday morning a small bush fire started up on the ridgeline of the Santa Monica Mountains, which border the Palisades on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Within minutes the fire had rapidly progressed to another ridgeline, with large flames and plumes visible from the nearby residential neighbourhoods. Residents started to panic. Self-ordered evacuations rapidly began even before Californias fire department had put out a statement with hundreds of residents fleeing in cars causing traffic chaos on Sunset Boulevard. A man pushes his mother in a shopping trolley as they evacuate from their home in the Pacific Palisades - Richard Vogel/AP A fire helicopter drops water onto the flames below engulfing homes - CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Within hours the fire had spread dramatically. Some 1,200 acres were burning by the evening and 16,000 by the morning. To put this into perspective, this is around the same size as the city of Wolverhampton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem for firefighters already facing the prospect of waterless fire hydrants was that another fire had broken out just hours later. The fire in Pasadena, known as the Eaton fire, popped up at around 6pm on Tuesday and rapidly tore through hundreds of acres in north Los Angeles, around 30 miles from the original blaze. A separate third blaze the Hurst fire a smaller blaze, also started on Tuesday. The Palisades fire ravages a neighbourhood amid high winds - Ethan Swope Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A firefighter runs towards the blaze in a race to extinguish the flames - Ethan Swope How did fires start? Both the Palisades and Eaton fires grew exponentially within hours of beginning on Thursday, thanks to strong Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation in the midst of a drought. Santa Ana windstorms happen regularly in southern California but the winds are stronger than usual, reaching up to 100mph. High-pressure systems form over the deserts of the Great Basin. This pressure circulates clockwise, pushing winds toward the coast. As they move towards the coast, winds pick up speed and the air gets hotter and drier. All of a sudden, dry, hot air is speeding towards the coast. 2023 saw a lot of rain in parts of California, creating the conditions for new vegetation to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, LA has experienced a dry spell in recent months, meaning dry hot air meeting dry vegetation creates tinderbox conditions. Wednesday, 8 The combination of hot air and dry land contributed to the rapid spread of the fires. By Wednesday morning, four separate fires were burning. Later that evening, 17,000 acres of land had been scorched in the Palisades fire and nearly 14,000 in the Eaton fire. Three smaller fires Lidia, Sunset and Woodley had also begun. It was already one of the most destructive in LAs history. Livelihoods were lost in an instant and thousands of homes belonging to celebrities and regular residents alike were destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 100,000 residents, powerless to the flames engulfing their homes, had fled. What was left were biblical, apocalyptic scenes. A car and home is completely destroyed by fire - JOSH EDELSON/AFP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The view of the wildfires from a plane landing into LAX - Mark Viniello Thursday, 9 The two major fires, Eaton and Palisades, remained 0 per cent contained by Thursday morning. It was not clear just how vast the devastation was going to be. Famous Hollywood landmarks were now also at risk as flames spread through the Hollywood hills, near the Walk of Fame. Was Hollywood writing its own disaster movie? The fire Sunset was quickly contained by firefighters, but others raged on. Anger was also starting to boil over. Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, was forced to defend her absence after she was on a trip to Ghana when the fires broke out. Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, was confronted by an angry resident who complained about the lack of water in LAs water hydrants. Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom are briefed on the fire - ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Donald Trump was throwing shots left, right and centre as Joe Biden cancelled his final foreign trip as president to deal with the crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A death toll had started to emerge too. By the end of play on Thursday, 10 people had been named dead however one of LAs most senior police officers said this was absolutely going to change with fears of a much higher figure. Authorities had confirmed 11 deaths by late Friday night. The scale of the devastation was also becoming clearer. Some 10,000 structures were destroyed, including homes, cars, and businesses. Shocking footage showed how restaurants that stood firm just the day before had been turned into ashes. Dark smoke hangs over the famous Hollywood sign - AaronP/Bauer-Griffin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Newsom said he expected firefighters to make a lot of progress on Friday. However, Mr Newsom also asked communities to stay unified in the face of misinformation. He said: People want to divide this country and were going to have to address this as well. Friday, 10 Mr Newsom asked Los Angeles relevant agencies to launch an inquiry into what caused the fire. We need answers as to how that happened, the California governor said. In an embarrassing admission, the citys water and power department admitted the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which helps supply water in Pacific Palisades, was offline for scheduled maintenance on Tuesday when the first, most devastating blaze started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The death toll rose to at least 11 with preliminary estimates saying that 13,000 structures had been destroyed. Robert Luna, LA countys senior sheriff, said in a press conference that it looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas and predicted the death toll would rise. Smoke rises from homes caught in the blaze in Malibu - JOSH EDELSON/AFP Meanwhile, the citys water department struggled to come up with an answer as to why fire hydrants had run dry during the catastrophic wildfires, which had burned 21,317 acres by Friday evening. Janisse Quinones, LAs water chief who earns $750,000 (609, 750) a year, said during a press conference that the consumption of water was faster than we can provide water in our trunk line amid growing outrage at the failings. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena to distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton fire, while Mel Gibson revealed his $14.5m Malibu mansion burned down as he recorded a Joe Rogan podcast in Austin, Texas. Saturday, 11 The political row continued as Mr Newsom told Mr Trump to visit the disaster area and not to politicise human tragedy or spread disinformation. Mr Newsom also made an ill-fated appearance on the podcast Pod Save America in which he said he wasnt getting straight answers from local officials, adding to the tension over the citys response to the wildfires. In a worrying development, the Palisades fire veered east and prompted mandatory evacuation orders in Brentwood, which is home to dozens of celebrities and landmarks like the Getty Centre. More celebrities also revealed they had lost their homes, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of California, Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, LeBron James, a basketball star, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Fire crews said they had contained 11 per cent of the Palisades fire, which had destroyed nearly 24,000 acres, and 15 per cent of the Eaton fire, which stood at 14,000 acres near Altadena and Pasadena, according to local authorities. The two blazes had killed 16 people as of Saturday but Anthony Marrone, the Los Angeles fire chief, said crews were going from house to house looking for bodies. There was a rare shining light as one Malibu homeowner showed how their property was the last one standing after their neighbours houses had turned to ashes. Sunday, 12 Looters were seen dressing up as firemen as a 6pm to 6am curfew failed to stop criminals from trying to take advantage of the carnage caused by the fires. Mr Luna said he had requested reinforcements from the California National Guard after at least 29 people were arrested in the fire zones. Two men were detained by police for a curfew violation after reports of a burglary at the Brentwood home of Kamala Harris. Credit: Fox 11 Containment of the major fires remained low, with just 11 per cent of the Palisades blaze contained and 15 per cent of the Eaton fire. However, the others, including the Hurst fire, were nearing 100 per cent contained. Some 84 aircraft and 14,000 personnel from California and other states, plus crews from Mexico, were all battling the blaze. Mr Trump kept up his attacks on the response, calling it one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our country. In a post online he said: They just cant put out the fires. Whats wrong with them? Deanne Criswell, the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) administrator, insisted that Los Angeles was very prepared for the wildfires but couldnt cope with the 100mph winds. She also announced that red flag warnings were back in place due to winds which were getting dangerous and strong again. Monday, 13 It emerged on Monday that the wildfires may have been a reignition of a blaze that began on New Years Eve due to residents setting off fireworks. The blaze began on part of the Temescal Ridge in the Santa Monica Mountains, a place where an earlier fire had been put out, according to an analysis by the Washington Post. Meanwhile, satellite imagery showed that 20 minutes after the Palisades blaze began last Tuesday, the outline of the smoke matched with the burn scar from the previous fire. At least 24 people had been confirmed dead by early Monday morning as a result of six simultaneous blazes that ripped across LA since Jan 7. Firefighters work to clear a firebreak in Mandeville Canyon - Ringo Chiu/Reuters Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, surveyed damage during the Palisades fire - Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register Mr Newsom said the fires could become the countrys worst natural disaster in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope. The Palisades fires had burned through 23,713 acres of land and were just 14 per cent contained, while the Eaton fire had scorched more than 14,000 acres and was 33 per cent contained. While containment was increasing, national forecasters were warning about the return of high winds, threatening a resurgence in the spread of wildfires. Tuesday, 14 The so-called devil Santa Ana winds had returned by early Tuesday. The hot, dry gusts had blown in from the north-east last week, contributing to the spread of the wildfires. Investigators continued to consider whether the fires were started deliberately but the speed and heat of the winds certainly assisted the rapid spread. A car drives past burned-down homes and vehicles destroyed by the fire at the Pacific Palisades bowl mobile estates - Noah Berger/AP Throughout Tuesday, the winds picked up speed as they hit the mountains around Los Angeles, plunging humidity levels and increasing the risk of further fires. A forecast for the rapid winds was expected to last until at least noon on Wednesday, the national weather service said. More than six million people in the Los Angeles area remained under a critical fire threat, while the confirmed death toll increased to 25. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- Mark Zuckerberg lamented the rise of culturally neutered companies that have sought to distance themselves from masculine energy, adding that its good if a culture celebrates the aggression a bit more. Most Read from Bloomberg Masculine energy I think is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think that corporate culture was really trying to get away from it, Zuckerberg said during a nearly three-hour-long conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan published on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like you want feminine energy, you want masculine energy, Zuckerberg said during the episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. I think that thats all good. But I do think the corporate culture sort of had swung toward being this somewhat more neutered thing, he added, before discussing his passions for mixed martial arts and hunting invasive pigs in Hawaii. Zuckerberg, who launched his career by rating the attractiveness of women at Harvard University, added that he grew up with three sisters and has three daughters, and wants women to succeed in corporations. If youre a woman going into a company, it probably feels like its too masculine. Its there isnt enough of the energy that you may naturally have, he told Rogan. You want women to be able to succeed and have companies that can unlock all the value from having great people no matter what their background or gender. Metas Policy Changes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The podcast episode was released just days after Meta loosened its content moderation policies for Instagram and Facebook to allow more leniency for users criticizing immigrants, transgender and nonbinary people, or making exclusionary statements based on someones sex or gender. On Tuesday, Meta also announced the end of third-party fact-checking in the US, and on Friday, the company said it was halting many of its internal training and hiring efforts aimed at making its workforce more diverse. The Friday episode marked Zuckerbergs second appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan, who is considered to be the most popular podcaster in the world, has 19 million subscribers on Googles YouTube and more than 15 million on Spotify. In the interview, Zuckerberg expressed discomfort about engaging with the traditional press, adding that podcasts are helping to fuel a sea change in terms of who are the voices that matter. President-elect Donald Trump joined Rogans podcast as Election Day neared last year, fueling what came to be dubbed the podcast election as campaigns turned to them instead of traditional media to get out their message. Zuckerberg has been repositioning his company to be more Trump-friendly in recent months, and had dinner with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago, Trumps club in Florida. Zuckerberg also plans to attend Trumps inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zuckerberg Slams Biden Since the US election, Zuckerberg has sought to align himself with the incoming administration praising Trump publicly, donating to his inaugural fund, appointing a key supporter to Metas board and most recently changing his platforms content policies. Zuckerberg criticized the Biden administration during the Rogan interview, claiming White House officials would scream and curse at Meta employees amid discussions about how to moderate content related to Covid-19 during the pandemic. It was brutal, Zuckerberg said, adding that the administration overstepped in its requests to take down posts about the pandemic, including satire, sowing distrust among the electorate. He previously wrote about these complaints in a letter to Congress in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US government should be defending its companies, not be at the tip of the spear attacking its companies, Zuckerberg said. In contrast, the Facebook founder said hes optimistic about Trump returning to the White House. I think he just wants America to win, Zuckerberg said. President Joe Biden, in a rare White House press conference on Friday evening, expressed dismay over Metas decision. Its just completely contrary to everything America is about. We want to tell the truth. We havent always done it as a nation. We want to tell the truth, the president said. And you know, when you have millions of people reading, going online, reading this stuff, it is anyway, I think its really shameful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Ashley Carman. (Updates with Biden comment, in the final two paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Nearly a year ago, at UFC 298 inside Anaheims Honda Center, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski walked into the arena to the sound of Men at Works 1981 classic Down Under with an unexpected guest at his side. Alongside his trainers and medical techs, Volkanovski had in his corner Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., dressed in the same black sweat suit as the rest of the team, his head bobbing to the music. For the tech mogul, whose net worth is above $200 billion, it was a public welcome to the favored sport of president-elect Donald Trump. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter how much money you have, no matter what you have in life, it is one of those very unique and amazing things if you get the opportunity to do it, UFC CEO Dana White said of Zuckerberg walking out with the Australian champ. This guy loves this sport. He is super passionate about it. When you get into this sport, it is fucking fascinating the way this pulls you in. On Jan. 6, Zuckerberg returned the favor, naming White to Metas board of directors in a move that he said he had been working on for a while. In fact, the addition of White was one of a number of eyebrow-raising moves Zuckerberg has made in January, all of which appear destined to improve the relationship his company has with the Trump administration with an FTC antitrust case set to begin this year. First, Meta shook up its public policy team, removing former U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who had been leading public affairs since 2018, and replacing him with Facebook veteran Joel Kaplan, a former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush with deep Republican ties in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, on Jan. 7, Zuckerberg unveiled a sweeping overhaul of Metas content moderation strategy, eliminating its fact-checking operation and greatly reducing its content moderation outside of extreme examples like terrorism. Zuckerberg lamented the pressure by governments and legacy media to push for censorship and said that the fact checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than theyve created, especially in the U.S. And he said that he was going to work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more. In a wide-ranging interview with Rogan (himself a UFC color commentator) posted Friday Jan. 10, Zuckerberg compared the fact-checking situation t the book 1984, arguing that the system they put in place was doing more harm than good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just got to a point where its just, this is destroying so much trust, especially in the United States, to have this program. And I guess it was probably about a few years until I really started coming to the conclusion that we were going to need to change something about that. He said that the election of Donald Trump in 2016 and the U.K. Brexit vote were turning points: I think that those were basically these two events where for the first time, we just faced this massive institutional pressure to basically start censoring content on ideological grounds, he said. Also on Jan. 10, Janelle Gale, VP of human resources for Meta, sent an email to staffers outlining how the company will largely be ending its diversity, inclusion and equity efforts. The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI, read the memo obtained by Axios. The term DEI has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others. In his conversation with Rogan, Zuckerberg said that he thinks a lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered, and that corporate America was trying to get away from a certain type of masculine energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think having a culture that, like, celebrates the aggression a bit more has its own merits that are really positive, he added, while acknowledging that it may not be as appealing to women. I do think that if youre a woman going into a company, it probably feels like its too masculine there isnt enough of the kind of energy that you may naturally have. And it probably feels like there are all these things that are set up that are biased against you, and thats not good either, because you want women to be able to succeed and have companies that can unlock all the value from having great people, no matter in what their background or gender, he added. It all adds up to something of a right turn for Zuckerberg, who initially created the fact-checking program in the wake of Trumps election in 2016. His pivot comes amid something of a turning point for media as a whole. At Trumps Election Night celebration at Mar-a-Lago, White introduced the president-elect, thanking a slew of podcasters who hosted Trump for interviews (including Joe Rogan) in a not-so-subtle jab at the legacy media. In the interview with Rogan, Zuckerberg expanded on the decision, telling the podcast host that he thinks White will help Meta push back on public pressure it is facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the conversation that I had with him around joining our board was like, we have a lot of governments and folks around the world putting a lot of pressure on our company. And we need some strong people who are going to basically help advise us on how to handle some of these situations, Zuckerberg said. Ive never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Metas board, White said in connection with his new role. I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future. Its a belief that Zuckerberg shares. And he senses an opportunity to keep it that way with his series of strategic maneuvers that could keep Meta out of the government crosshairs and perhaps get some protection from Trump in its overseas business, too. And just like Volkanovski, he is ready to go to the mat to stay on top. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jan. 10Attorneys for Mac Marquette, the former Decatur police officer charged with murder in the Sept. 29, 2023, shooting death of Steve Perkins, asked Tuesday for all matters in the case, including the trial, to be delayed pending a "stand your ground" immunity hearing. "The (murder) charge stems from an on-duty shooting of an armed suspect, Stephen Perkins, in an incident wherein the suspect pointed a handgun at a tow-truck driver and the Defendant. Perkins died as a result of the shooting," Marquette's Birmingham-based attorneys, Brett Bloomston and Elizabeth Young, wrote in the motion. "The Defendant and his fellow officers took various positions around Perkins' residence to observe the situation and to protect the tow-truck driver. ... The Defendant, who was located behind the vehicle that was to be repossessed, saw Perkins and clearly saw him pointing a weapon at the tow-truck driver. The Defendant then reacted to the threat posed by Perkins by yelling and identifying himself as police and giving him a loud verbal command to drop the weapon. Instead of dropping the weapon as instructed, Perkins turned and pointed the gun directly at the Defendant. In fear for his life and the lives of others, the Defendant fired his duty weapon to eliminate the deadly threat." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion's narrative conflicts with video recordings of the incident by police bodycams and neighbors' security cameras that show Perkins was not ordered to drop his weapon until after Marquette fired 18 rounds at him. "Hey, hey! Police! Get on the ground!" Marquette yelled at Perkins at 1:49:04 a.m. on Sept. 29, according to bodycam video. Marquette fired the first shot at 1:49:05 a.m. Decatur police Chief Todd Pinion previously apologized for erroneously stating that Perkins had been ordered to drop his weapon before an officer opened fire. The motion for an immunity hearing and dismissal was one of nine motions filed Tuesday afternoon in a case that has remained mostly quiet since a May 2024 gag order hearing that resulted in Circuit Judge Charles Elliott ordering the involved parties, the Decatur Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to refrain from making extrajudicial comments about the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gag hearing came after an apparent ALEA video presentation an edited compilation of bodycam video, including Marquette's, which depicted the shooting was leaked to an online conservative blog. At the hearing, Decatur police Capt. Rick Archer testified that police command staff felt Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson had misrepresented the facts of the case. Decatur police denied leaking the video. Following Perkins' death, Decatur saw near-daily protests until Anderson announced on Jan. 5, 2024, that a grand jury had unanimously returned a murder indictment for Marquette. Around two dozen or more nonviolent demonstrators have been arrested in interactions with Decatur police and charged with disorderly conduct in the past 15 months. Marquette, whose jury trial is scheduled to begin on April 7, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys on Tuesday asked for the trial to be delayed until Marquette "has a full and fair hearing on his claim of immunity pursuant to Alabama's stand your ground law." The law allows deadly force to be used in specific circumstances, such as when a person reasonably believes another person is about to use unlawful deadly force. The statute does not apply if the person who uses deadly force is acting unlawfully, or if the person against whom deadly force is used is the lawful resident of a dwelling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the defendant does not meet the burden of proving criminal immunity at a "stand your ground" hearing, he may still pursue a self-defense strategy at trial, in which case the state continues to bear the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Decatur police and Marquette's attorneys allege that police responded to Perkins' residence after Perkins had threatened the tow truck driver with a gun during an earlier repossession attempt of Perkins' vehicle that evening. "A Decatur police officer was dispatched to meet the tow-truck driver at the driver's business address," the attorneys' motion reads. The business has been named in a civil suit as Allstar Recovery, which operated a lot at 3920 Poole Valley Road S.W., less than a mile from Perkins' home on Ryan Drive Southwest. "The Defendant was subsequently called as backup to the responding officer and drove to the tow truck business," the motion continues. "The tow-truck driver requested an escort back to Perkins' residence to avoid any violent confrontation ... . The Defendant's supervisor and several other officers accompanied the driver back to Perkins' residence with an intent to ensure the safety of the driver and to investigate a menacing charge." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion argues Marquette was lawfully fulfilling his duties as a police officer and was acting in defense of himself, his fellow officers and the tow truck driver when he fired his duty weapon. Threats Marquette's attorneys also moved for the state to disclose "any threatened sanctions made against any witness to secure that individual's testimony at trial and/or any statement inculpating or tending to inculpate the Defendant." The defense is seeking to find out if any witness "not initially disposed to give testimony" was threatened with sanction by the state and who still refuses to testify on behalf of the state. The witness list in the case file, as of Tuesday, includes Decatur police command staff and the officers or former officers who also responded to Perkins' residence the night he was killed: Vance Summers, Christopher Mukaddam and Joey Williams. Of the four who responded to the scene, including Marquette, three have since been terminated by the city. The fourth was briefly suspended and has not been identified by the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense asked the court to compel the disclosure of any records showing "prior misconduct or bad acts" committed by witnesses for the state. The defense also asked for the disclosure of any agreements between the state and its witnesses, including the disclosure of any possible pending prosecutions, if any, that the state has agreed to withhold in order to secure the cooperation of witnesses. Jury questionnaire Marquette's attorneys moved for a written jury questionnaire to be used in the jury selection process, arguing that a questionnaire "provides a less threatening and/or embarrassing method for jurors to provide information concerning their personal backgrounds." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense argued that a questionnaire will also speed up the jury selection process and is the most effective method to screen for exposure to pretrial publicity. "The pretrial publicity in this matter has been particularly widespread, fierce and negative, so that the need for a jury questionnaire is of even greater importance," the attorneys wrote. Similar acts The defense is also seeking to learn whether the state plans to introduce evidence of "prior alleged similar acts relating to the Defendant" at trial, according to a motion. Should the state plan to introduce such evidence, the defense is asking for an itemized list and additional discovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense also moved for the state to provide written summaries of expert testimony the state intends to use at trial, including the basis and reasons for the experts' opinions. The defense requested the names and contact information of any experts consulted by the state whose opinions are contrary to the opinions belonging to experts the state intends to use. On Wednesday, Anderson moved for permission to inspect the curriculum vitae of any expert the defense intends to call as a witness at trial. In another motion, Marquette's attorneys wrote that they expect the state will offer "numerous color photographs taken of the deceased" as evidence and asked the court to read cautionary instructions to the jury ahead of viewing such photographs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion included the suggested instructions, which caution the jury that "some persons might consider these pictures to be gruesome," and jurors "may not return a verdict based on passion or prejudice." On Thursday, Elliott ordered the matter of photograph instructions to be deferred until trial. david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438. GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCBD) Berkeley County deputies and US Marshals joined forces to arrest a Goose Creek man wanted for domestic violence and kidnapping, law enforcement announced Friday. 32-year-old Jordan Rashaun Gerald was apprehended by US Marshals Wednesday after being found on Ashley Phosphate Road, the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office said. Gerald is booked into the Hill Finklea Detention Center on a charge of domestic violence in the first degree and kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies responded to a home on Leyland Court on Dec. 19 after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance. When authorities arrived and spoke to the victim, she said she was involved in a verbal altercation with Gerald, according to the sheriffs office. When the victim tried to leave the home, Gerald stopped her from doing so. Deputies observed physical injuries on the victim, according to officials. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. BALTIMORE Gov. Wes Moore will look to make a dent in the looming $3 billion state budget deficit through a new effort that aims to save $50 million by eliminating wasteful and inconsistent spending across government agencies. Real estate owned by the state and technology contracts will be among the first areas investigated, the governor announced Friday two days after he first stressed he prefers to make cuts and find cost savings over passing tax increases this year. The massive hole in the 2026 fiscal year budget is the most significant challenge facing lawmakers in the annual three-month session that began Wednesday. Moore will present his spending proposal Jan. 15 and has said it will include $2 billion in cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government modernization initiative will help close the other roughly $1 billion portion of the gap. Moore has not yet said where the rest, totaling more than $900 million, will come from in his proposal that legally must reflect a balanced budget. It may also cost the state money to conduct. A contract approved by Moores administration in October will pay Boston Consulting Group, one of the worlds largest such agencies, up to $15 million if the state saves an estimated $75 million through its work over two years. Under the contract, the state would only pay if the savings are found in the areas identified. Beyond real estate and technology, initial work will include streamlining the states contracting process and fleet management. That will mean, for example, reviewing policies for maintaining vehicles and whether agencies are paying different prices for items like laptops or desktop computers, Moores office said. Though the effort is still in its early stages, officials believe they can find at least $50 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1, and they will plan for that amount of savings when presenting the budget Wednesday. Lawmakers will then amend the budget and negotiate with the administration before a final plan is passed before the session ends in early April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leading the efficiency initiative will be Asma Mirza, a former official in President Joe Bidens administration who Moore appointed as his chief performance officer in 2022. Mirza, who previously helped implement Bidens $1.2 trillion infrastructure law, has so far worked to enact Moores vast policy goals including the state plan he pitched last year to outline a wide range of priorities. The announcement Friday featured an executive order expanding Mirzas office to include a new director of government modernization and codify the Governors Office of Performance Improvement. It also follows recent steps at the federal level by President-elect Donald Trump to kickstart a Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that hes said will look to trim federal spending. Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and worlds richest man, is preparing to lead the effort alongside entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Moore has targeted a relatively smaller amount of savings, when compared to the rest of the state budget, with his efficiency plan while Musk has said he hopes to significantly slash federal costs, potentially up to $2 trillion. _____ A disability rights group is suing Marylands health secretary and health department in federal court for leaving mentally ill people accused of crimes to languish in jail rather than admitting them to psychiatric hospitals as required by state law. Filed Thursday, the lawsuit by Disability Rights Maryland claims Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrara Scott and the Maryland Department of Health are violating the U.S. and Maryland constitutions and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint seeks to address a longstanding crisis in the state that sees hundreds of defendants who are deemed too mentally ill to participate in their court cases and found to present a danger to themselves or others, left to deteriorate in jails ill-equipped to treat their conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland law requires the health department to admit defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial to state hospitals within 10 days of a judges order. In reality, that rarely happens. More than 200 individuals charged by the State of Maryland with a criminal offense, but determined to be incompetent to stand trial (IST) and a potential danger to themselves or others due to their mental health, have been detained and are currently languishing in jails some for weeks to months at a time, the complaint says. Notwithstanding its unambiguously clear statutory obligation to do so, the Maryland Department of Health has continuously failed to commit these individuals to an appropriate health care facility for purposes of treatment, as ordered by Maryland courts. It takes the health department an average of 53 business days to transfer defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial from county jails to one of the five mental health facilities statewide, health officials told The Baltimore Sun in July. The departments more than 1,000 beds are perpetually full, as patients stay in the departments care for more than two years on average. Frustrated that the department has continuously failed to comply with the 10-day deadline prescribed by state law, judges around the state have imposed fines against the department of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Health officials have said in court that the fines dont solve the problem. A spokesperson for the health department did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Thursday. ________ LUDLOW, Mass (WWLP) Massachusetts State Police have released body camera footage from the arrest of Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi back in September. The public is now getting a glimpse into the night of September 21st, when Sheriff Nick Cocchi was arrested by Massachusetts State Police outside of MGM Springfield. The night his state issued white Ford Explorer was found without a front right tire in the valet section of the garage. Montague Police Lt. Bonnett under investigation, placed on administrative leave Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video shows the interaction with Cocchi and law enforcement as they are trying to piece together what happened. Yeah, ok, wanna go down that road, huh? ok, says Sheriff Cocchi. The state trooper responds, I want to take everything right by the numbers and by the books, sir. At first, when asked who was driving, Cocchi said a friend, then later admitted it was him behind the wheel. The trooper also said he could smell alcohol, asking Cocchi how much he had to drink. To which he responds he had a couple of beers when he was at the Springfield Country Club, but nothing at MGM Springfield. Cocchi also declined a field sobriety test, multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the incident, Cocchi says he has taken full responsibility for his behavior. Im not looking for empathy or sympathy. Im not looking for people to give me a pass. All Im asking for people to do and all Ive said that I am is human, and I have integrity, I have honesty, and I have character. And I will always try to be the best version of myself, and that night I wasnt, said Sheriff Cocchi in response to the video release. In regards to that night, Cocchi praises the troopers, saying throughout this process, he should not be treated differently from anyone else. Cocchi also said quote Since the incident, I have done everything possible to show the public that I believe in transparency and accountability, especially in myself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said at the Sheriffs Department, they believe people are not defined by moments like these, but rather by how they handle those moments. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. REHOBOTH, Mass. (WWLP) A Rehoboth woman is the winner of the $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lotterys $2,000,000 50X Cashword instant ticket game. Chelmsford man wins $1M on Celtics Banner 18 ticket Bebelin Galvez chose the cash option and received a one-time payment of $650,000, before taxes. Galvez says that she plans on investing her winnings. The winning ticket was purchased at Moody Spa on Moody Street in Waltham, which will receive a $10,000 bonus for its sale of the ticket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $2,000,000 50X Cashword is a $10 Massachusetts lottery scratch ticket. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. MASURY, Ohio (WKBN) A Masury man is facing multiple charges from two investigations and a search warrant served at his Second Street home. Police said Jason Jones, 32, was taken into custody on Friday on seven counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor charge. According to court records, he also faces a charge of corrupting another with drugs. The charges against Jones were filed following a tip received from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in June. Investigators then searched Jones home on Aug. 23 and obtained evidence that led to the charges, according to a news release from Brookfield Police Chief Aaron Kasiewicz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say Jones is also charged for an incident at his home on January 2 in which a juvenile victim overdosed on medications prescribed to him. Police say further charges may be pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) Mayor Eric Adams delivered his fourth State of the City address at The Apollo in Harlem on Thursday. The mayor discussed key topics, including public safety, the cost of living, new initiatives to build more in the city, mental health, and homelessness. More Local News During the address, Adams unveiled a $650 million investment that will allow the city to expand support for New Yorkers struggling with mental health and homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding will provide 900 new Safe Haven beds to help move New Yorkers living on subways and city streets into shelters. Safe Haven beds have proven to be effective in moving homeless New Yorkers into permanent housing, according to Adams. In addition to providing more Safe Haven beds, the Adams administration announced plans to open a new facility to support unsheltered New Yorkers with serious mental illness. The facility will offer psychiatric care, substance use treatment, and help secure permanent housing. NYC performing many involuntary removals in subway system Lastly, the Adams administration plans to launch a pilot program to help soon-to-be parents seeking shelter with services and help them find permanent housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, we have too many expecting parents entering our shelter system, said Adams. So today, we are making a new commitment to our families: No child should ever be born into our shelter system. We must stop the cycle of poverty and housing instability before it ever begins and ensure mothers and babies do not go to a shelter after leaving the hospital. The investments will take place over several fiscal years, according to Adams. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Islanders are being advised to keep an eye on their mail as the state continues to recover from a massive cyberattack. Gov. Dan McKee announced Friday that more than 700,000 letters are going out to those whose personal data may have been compromised. The letters, which are being mailed by Experian, will have the state seal in the top-left corner and include a code to access five years of free credit monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement View a copy of the letter: English | Espanol | Portugues An estimated 657,000 Rhode Islanders are potentially affected by the hack, but McKee said parents and guardians may receive letters for other members of their household. Minors who may be impacted will receive separate access codes, according to the governor. The deadline to apply for free credit monitoring is April 30, 2025. McKee noted that it may take several days for the letters to arrive and asked people to bear that in mind before contacting the states call center. We know that this remains a concerning situation for the people who have been impacted and we appreciate your patience while the letters are delivered, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Social Security databases exposed in RI cyberattack; hackers sought $23M ransom The data breach, first disclosed by state officials in mid-December, involved RIBridges, the states online portal for obtaining health insurance through HealthSource RI and social services like Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Anyone whos used the RIBridges system over the past eight years may be affected. State officials have encouraged those residents to update and strengthen their passwords, freeze their credit and place fraud alerts on their files. Deloitte, the contractor that runs the RIBridges system, is still in the process of reviewing the contents of all the breach files, McKee said. If additional victims are identified, they will receive letters at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone needing help or looking for more information should visit cyberalert.ri.gov or contact the states call center at (833) 918-6603. If a reference number is requested, its B137035. McKee pointed out that the call center cannot reveal whether a callers data was compromised. He also said callers will not be able to sign up for free credit monitoring if they did not receive a letter with a code. MORE: How to protect your personal data after RI cyberattack Chief Digital Officer Brian Tardiff said the state has received a summary report from Deloitte and a draft summary report from the third-party vendor theyre working with, which validate that the security threat has been remediated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings in these reports provide us a high level of confidence that we know how the breach was executed and that we have taken the appropriate measures to ensure the system can be restored safely, he explained. According to Tardiff, state case workers have once again been given access to RIBridges, so the next step is to get the public-facing features back online. He said the goal is to have the system fully back online by mid-January. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Watch Now: Livestreaming Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants the Legislature to find them more streams of revenue. Right now, the department is essentially funded by the fuel tax. MDOT Executive Director Brad White hopes lawmakers will make a significant change to the agencys funding model during the 2025 Legislative Session. The funding model is where MDOT receives money for construction and maintenance. White said its been a long time coming since the fuel tax was adjusted. Currently, the majority of MDOTs budget is coming from the fuel tax at the federal and state level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I say we need to modernize our funding model, having all of our eggs in the basket of the fuel tax, I dont think is smart. Primarily, were funded by the fuel tax. Over half of our budget are federal dollars that we receive from the Federal Highway Administration through their reauthorization every five years, White said. Mississippi governor signs executive order on AI In additional to the gas tax, MDOT also receives $80 million a year from the Mississippi Lottery through 2028. The agency also gets a couple million dollars from electric vehicle and hybrid fees. White said they want recurring funding that will set them up for long-term success. Hes also open to suggestions, including benefiting from the use tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve suggested to the legislature, What if you gave us 15%? Like them instead of it going back into the general fund, just give us 15% the same way you do local government and force that money to go directly to the projects, directly to miners or directly to construction of new projects, White said. He said gaming revenue has been used to build highways in the past, and this could be an area MDOT could benefit from, but its up to the policymakers in terms of where their funding comes from. White is confident that legislators can bring these ideas to the table, but its about both parties have a conversation to get a deal done. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, speaks during a swearing-in ceremony Nov. 20 in the House chamber of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Caldwell is the new head of a key subcommittee focused on education funding. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY A year of leadership turnover in the Oklahoma House brings three new K-12 education committee leaders who say improving academic results is their top priority. The GOP-controlled House is unlikely to pursue a hike in school funding after passing major increases in recent years, the three new committee leaders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, they pointed to other policies that would restrict cellphones in schools, focus state dollars in the classroom, and support teacher retention and recruitment. Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, is the new head of the Common Education Committee while Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, will lead the House subcommittee focused on education appropriations. Its a pretty simple decision matrix for me, Caldwell told Oklahoma Voice. Is it going to improve student outcomes? Thats what I want to do. Lowe, a longtime agriculture and CareerTech teacher, replaces former Common Education Committee leader Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, who chose not to seek reelection after eight years in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwell is an Enid hospice center executive who sat on education committees since he was elected to the House in 2014. He succeeds Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, who reached the end of lawmakers 12-year term limit. Republican Rep. Dell Kerbs, a restaurant owner and eight-year lawmaker from Shawnee, will lead a newly created Education Oversight Committee. The new panel will create another opportunity to refine education bills at the committee stage before legislation comes before the entire House for a floor vote. Each new committee leader voiced support for seeking policies, besides raising funding levels, that could help school performance. Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, will lead the newly created Education Oversight Committee. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) Kerbs said school funds must be concentrated in the classroom, not in bureaucratic red tape or administrative inefficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahomans deserve tangible results, better resources and a future built on intentional investment in student success, Kerbs said through a House spokesperson. Its not enough to set standards for educators or merely increase education funding. Class time and financial resources must be used effectively to deliver meaningful improvements in outcomes and opportunities for every student, no matter where they attend school. A priority the House, Senate and governor appear to share is limiting student cellphone use during the school day. Multiple states and several Oklahoma districts have enacted similar regulations in hopes of curtailing students distractions and discipline issues. I think its a pretty simple change that we can work with our schools to implement, but the return and the benefit for our students is incredibly high, Caldwell said. Caldwell hosted an interim study on the topic this fall, as did Senate Education Committee leaders Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Ally Seifried, R-Claremore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seifried has filed a bill that would require districts to adopt a cellphone ban lasting the entire school day. Another bill is expected to come from the House. Gov. Kevin Stitt encouraged more Oklahoma schools to create cost-neutral policies to restrict student cellphone use. He visited schools in Jenks and Bixby that have done so, where students generally spoke in favor of their schools cellphone rules. Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, said he expects a bill limiting cellphone use in schools will roll fast through the state Legislature. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) While speaking in his office at the state Capitol, Lowe predicted a cellphone bill will emerge early in session and roll fast. Policies supporting teacher incentives and educator preparation programs also are a priority, he said, as Oklahoma continues to suffer from a teacher shortage. Lowe said he intends to file a bill that would add 10 more years to the teacher salary schedule, which would allow classroom educators to earn annual wage increases for up to 35 years. Right now, the states minimum requirements for yearly teacher pay increases hit their maximum at 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the success of Oklahomas Inspired to Teach scholarship, Lowe said lawmakers are interested in creating more programs that could strengthen the pipeline of aspiring teachers coming through colleges and alternative pathways. Thats going to be a big push of how can we keep teachers in, how can we add new teachers in and how can we prepare them better, Lowe said. Senate lawmakers already have filed several bills proposing more tuition waivers and scholarships for students who want to earn a college degree in education. House Bill 1020 from Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, suggests offering the Oklahomas Promise scholarship to the children of public school employees. Pugh, the chairperson of the Senates K-12 education committees, has filed a teacher pay raise bill each of the past three years this time to set teachers minimum salary at $50,000, up from $39,601. He was the architect of a pay raise structure that passed in 2023, but his proposal for another wage increase last year didnt survive the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma State Department of Education also has spent funds on teacher recruitment. State Superintendent Ryan Walters directed a signing bonus program to entice hundreds of certified teachers to return to the classroom or move to Oklahoma from other states. Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, and Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, listen as state Superintendent Ryan Walters, foreground, speaks at an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting Oct. 24 in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) In his agencys 2026 fiscal year budget request, Walters asked the Legislature for an additional $1 million to support a teacher induction program that connects early-career educators with mentors and professional development, hoping they are more likely to remain in the field. Walters also requested $3 million to purchase King James Version Bibles for all 5-12th grade classrooms in the state. His agency already spent just under $25,000 to buy more than 500 Bibles for Advanced Placement government classes. He issued an order in June to public schools that they incorporate the Bible in their lesson plans as a historical document and keep a copy of it in every classroom. Several district leaders rejected the mandate, and the order already faces a lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowe and Caldwell didnt comment directly on the merit of Walters $3 million ask for Bible purchases. They said the House will consider it along with all other agency requests that go through the Legislatures budgeting process. If its something that, collectively, the Legislature wants to do and wants to allocate resources for, then well do it, Caldwell said. And if the Legislature doesnt want to do it, they wont. Its as simple as that. Both lawmakers said they have an open, working relationship with Walters, who has become one of the most high-profile and highly polarizing politicians in the state. Caldwell has been one of Walters more vocal defenders, particularly when House Republicans sought to limit the state superintendents ability to spend agency funds on public relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowe said he and Walters often speak one-on-one, and if theres a problem, we talk about it. If we disagree, we disagree, but well leave the table still where were open to talk and try to move forward, Lowe said. I can truly say I believe that Superintendent Walters wants our kids to succeed. I truly believe that. We may have different views (on) how to get there. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (Bloomberg) -- Around half a million members of an influential Philippine religious group are set to hold a rally in the capital on Monday, police said, to oppose moves in Congress to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. Most Read from Bloomberg Police will deploy around 2,500 personnel in Manila and possibly some more in the provinces to boost security in view of the event planned by the Iglesia ni Cristo, police spokesperson Jean Fajardo said on Friday. There will be similar rallies across the nation, prompting some schools to suspend classes on Monday. We expect it to be a whole day affair, Fajardo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gathering aims to show support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s opposition to impeach his deputy, according to media company NET25 which is owned by Iglesia. Duterte is facing three impeachment complaints, all filed at the House of Representatives last month, centered on accusations that she misused public funds. She has denied any wrongdoing. Marcos has distanced himself from moves to oust Duterte, calling his feud with the vice president a storm in a teacup. Two years after they won election on a joint ticket by a wide margin, Dutertes relationship with Marcos has completely broken down. In November, she claimed that in the event that shes killed, she had arranged for the killing of the president, his wife and his cousin, the House speaker. Iglesia, which has nearly 3 million members in the country and is known to vote as a bloc during elections, endorsed the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the 2022 elections. The Southeast Asian nation is set to hold midterm polls in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Neil Jerome Morales. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A Los Angeles court has granted rapper Megan Thee Stallion a five-year restraining order against Tory Lanez on Thursday, January 9. Lanez is incarcerated at present, serving a 10-year prison sentence in California for assaulting Megan Thee Stallion with a gun as well as other charges. The retraining order instructs him to stay at least 100 yards away from her and desist from harassing her, which Megan Thee Stallion claims that Lanez had been doing from behind bars. Megan Thee Stallions restraining order against Tory Lanez explained Judge Richard Bloom accepted Megan the Stalions request for a restraining order against Tory Lanez in Los Angeles yesterday. The order, which will last until January 9, 2030, demands Lanez not to harass, intimidate, or threaten Megan Thee Stallion in any way. Notably, In August 2023, Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment after shooting Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete, in the feet in 2020. He will continue to be incarcerated even after the restraining order ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was claimed in Megan Thee Stallions filing that Lanez was a violent and dangerous criminal who had an established pattern of behavior that underscored the reasons this civil harassment restraining order is necessary to protect Ms. Pete and her wellbeing. (via NBC News) Megan Thee Stallion appeared in court via a video call on Thursday. The rapper stated that she had been suffering from anxiety since the shooting incident. She also claimed that Lanez had been paying people to harass her. She stated that she was afraid that when Lanez gets released from prison he will still be upset with her. Megan Thee Stallion also said was unsure whether he would remain violent. Because even from behind bars, he keeps showing me that he can get to me. Like, he wont give me a day of peace, Megan added. I feel like when he gets out of jail, its going to be worse. I feel like maybe hell shoot me again, and maybe this time, I wont make it. (via Rolling Stone) Lanezs attorney argued that the restraining order was unfair and unwarranted. However, Judge Bloom noted that a violent act such as the shooting incident has a ripple effect that continues on. The judge went on to say that Megan Thee Stallions testimony showed that the ripple was significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon. The post Megan Thee Stallion Gets Restraining Order Against Tory Lanez appeared first on Mandatory. It looks like Toronto rapper Tory Lanez just got more bad news from inside his prison cell. On Jan. 9, a judge ruled in favor of Megan Thee Stallion in granting her a restraining order against Lanez. The news comes after weeks of court battles between Meg and Lanez lawyers. In court, Megan real name Megan Pete gave an emotional testimony, which according to Judge Richard Bloom, showed Lanez is still a threat even from prison. We have a shooting that took placeand with a violent act like that theres a ripple effect that continues on. In some cases, it may be small ripples that go away with time, and in other cases, it could be ripples that grow with time, Judge Bloom said in court, according to NME. Ms. Petes testimony here seems to make clear that the ripple effect here has been significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Pete alleged Lanez was harassing her and even paying bloggers to spread lies about her, The Root previously reported. Although the Toronto rapper tried his best to stop Megans court request, in the end, she walked away with the victory. Megan appeared via video call to testify against Lanez on Jan. 9, according to independent reporter Meghann Cuniff on X. The Houston rapper said, It just seems like I have to relive it every day. The person who shot me wont let me forget it. She continued saying that shes scared that when he gets out of jail hes going to still be upset with meI feel like maybe hell shoot me again and maybe this time I wont make it. According to her testimony, Megan hasnt been at peace since she was shot by Lanez in 2020. Lanez was found guilty of the shooting along with other charges in December 2022. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and is eligible for parole in September 2029, according to Page Six. Megan was previously granted a restraining order against Lanez in 2020, according to Page Six. But it expired in 2023. The new restraining order is valid until Jan. 9, 2030. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Megan Thee Stallion was granted a five-year civil restraining order against Tory Lanez following a passionate testimony given in Los Angeles on Thursday (Jan. 9), according to Billboard. Before a judge, Meg emotionally recounted the trauma she continues to face after being shot in 2020, and expressed fear for her safety upon Lanezs eventual release from prison. Im scared that when he gets out of jail, hes going to still be upset with me, the Houston star told Judge Richard Bloom via video. I feel like maybe hell shoot me again, and maybe this time I wont make it. Fighting back tears, she added, I havent been at peace since I was shot. Im just tired of being harassed. Megan Thee Stallion attends the Premiere of Amazon Prime Videos Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words at TCL Chinese Theatre on October 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Per Billboard, the restraining order prohibits Lanez from any form of harassment or contact with Megan. Judge Bloom emphasized Megans credible fear of violence and acknowledged the significant ripple effect of the 2020 shooting. The judge also noted that Lanezs actions served no lawful purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanez, ne Daystar Peterson, was convicted in 2022 on three felony counts related to the 2020 shooting. During the incident, a heated argument escalated, leading to Lanez reportedly shouting, Dance, bi**h! before firing at Megans feet. In 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Megans lawyers have accused Lanez of orchestrating harassment campaigns against her even from behind bars. They claim Lanez coordinated payments to social media figures to spread misinformation about the case, including a viral post falsely asserting that an appeals court declared him innocent. In October, Megan also filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Milagro Gramz, alleging that she acted as a mouthpiece for Lanez, making defamatory claims. The legal team cited evidence of prison phone calls in which Lanez allegedly arranged payments to Gramz through his father to fuel smear campaigns. During the hearing, Megan addressed claims from Lanezs attorneys that the restraining order violated his free speech rights. She clarified that her goal was not to stifle criticism, but to stop Lanez from orchestrating attacks against her. I understand that being a public figure comes with hearing a lot of people from all over the world talk about you, she said. The problem is that the man who shot me is paying people to put out lies and smear campaigns against me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Bloom ultimately focused on the potential of future violence, highlighting the gravity of the original shooting. With a violent act like that, theres a ripple effect that continues on, he stated. Ms. Petes testimony makes it clear that the ripple effect here has been significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanezs attorney, Michael Hayden, argued that the restraining order was an attempt to chill free speech and that Megan was misinterpreting the independent actions of internet bloggers. This is about an attempt to silence opinions she disagrees with, Hayden said. He denied any ongoing threats from Lanez. Despite the defense, the court sided with Megan, offering her some relief in her ongoing fight for her peace and mental health. I just want to move forward, she told the judge. Tory Lanez has yet to respond to the latest news. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are supporting the Southern California community amid rapidly spreading wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. The Duke, 40, and Duchess of Sussex, 43, are offering their support and aid to those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires that erupted beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7. Over 100,000 Los Angeles residents have been forced to evacuate following the Palisades and Eaton Fires, with multiple smaller fires raging. PEOPLE can confirm that the couple have opened their home to friends and loved ones forced to evacuate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple live about 90 miles north of the Los Angeles area. Meghan, who is originally from Los Angeles, Prince Harry, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reside in Montecito, a Santa Barbara enclave that has not been evacuated. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on July 18, 2022 in New York City. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on July 18, 2022 in New York City. In addition to assisting their loved ones, they are also working with their Archewell Foundation to determine the most impactful ways to support the community during this crisis. The foundation is also looking for volunteer opportunities to assist with mental health recovery for those needing immediate help and will facilitate long-term recovery efforts. Additionally, any donations through the foundation have been made to relief efforts. Related: Celebrities Who Have Lost Homes or Had to Evacuate in the Los Angeles Fires, and What They've Said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sussex family is working with chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen (a longstanding partner of Prince Harry and Meghan's charitable Archewell Foundation) to provide further relief efforts. Harry and Meghan also donated essential supplies, as well as clothing and childrens items. Getty Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in London, Friday, June 3, 2022 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in London, Friday, June 3, 2022 Related: L.A. Fires Live: Death Toll Unknown, Officials Now Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders On Thursday, Jan. 9, they issued a statement titled "Southern California Fires" on the sussex.com website, proposing resources and ideas to those who want to help those impacted. The statement mentioned World Central Kitchen, CAL FIRE, the LA Fire Department Foundation, the Animal Wellness Foundation, Compton Cowboys, Airbnb and 211LA, Baby2baby and All Power Books. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Palisades fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Palisades fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7, multiple wildfires have been ravaging across Los Angeles County, including the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas and the Eaton Fire in Pasadena and Altadena, both of which are 0% contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna says the death toll from the L.A. fires is currently unknown, despite previous reports. At a press briefing on Thursday, Jan. 9, Luna said he was not satisfied with the preliminary information he received but noted that people are doing their best amid the difficult conditions. Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People Actor and director Mel Gibson lost his Malibu home to the ongoing wildfires in Southern California while recording an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience in Austin, Texas, he told NewsNation on Thursday. Obviously, its kind of devastating. Its emotional, he told the outlet. You live there for a long time and you had all your stuff you remember George Carlin talking about your stuff? Gibson, who was referencing a well-known routine by the legendary comedian, said the flames took some pretty cool stuff from him, like photos, files and clothing. Still, he laughed while discussing the loss of his possessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been relieved from the burden of my stuff because its all in cinders, said the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind 1995s Braveheart. Gibson had sat down with podcaster Joe Rogan this week to discuss his Catholic faith and an upcoming movie called Flight Risk. I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, Gibson said. So I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. But when I got home, sure enough, it wasnt there. Mel Gibson said that the loss of his Malibu home to California wildfires was "kind of devastating." Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images He told NewsNation that his property looked like Dresden after Allied bombing of the German city in World War II, joking that at least I havent got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gibson who previously fell from grace over reports of antisemitic remarks and other controversies, but has since received the support of fellow actors such as Andrew Garfield and Robert Downey Jr. is one of multiple celebrities who have lost their homes and possessions to the California wildfires. Echoing remarks made by This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia on Thursday, Gibson told NewsNation he hasnt lost what truly matters. These are only things, said Gibson. The good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and were all happy and healthy and out of harms way. And thats all I can care about, really. Related... Mel Gibson is one of the victims of the raging wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, as he revealed that he lost his $14.5 million Malibu mansion to the inferno. The actor was filming an episode of Joe Rogan's popular podcast when the blaze destroyed his home, leaving him to return home to "nothing." Mel Gibson slammed California governor Gavin Newsom for not "taking care of the forest" as he shared his theory about the disaster. Mel Gibson Loses Malibu Home While Filming Joe Rogan's Podcast MEGA Gibson lost his home to the ongoing L.A. fires while he was filming Rogan's podcast in Austin, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "Mad Max" star got emotional in an interview on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports, where he recalled returning home to "nothing" after initially wondering if his home was left standing. "Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional," Gibson said, per the Daily Mail. "I was doing the Rogan podcast And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there." He continued, "But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there. I went home and I said to myself, well, at least I haven't got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore." The Director Says He Is Grateful For Life MEGA The director of "Passion of the Christ " recounted his loss to the wildfires, decrying how the flames consumed everything he owned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he expressed gratitude that he and his loved ones were safe, noting that everything he lost could be replaced. "I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can't get back," he lamented. "All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to, you know, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, you know, pretty cool stuff, you know, but you know that can all be replaced." "These are only things. And the good, the good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and we're all happy and healthy and out of harm's way, that's all I can care about, really," Gibson shared. Mel Gibson Was Looking To Sell His Home ZUMAPRESS.Com / MEGA The tragic event comes as Gibson had been looking to sell off the sprawling 5.5-acre estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Daily Mail, he even slashed his initial $17.5 million asking price by $3 million after purchasing the property for $11.5 million in 2008. The multi-estate mansion boasted five bedrooms and other lavish amenities in a Medieval style design inspiration focusing on stone and wood paneling. In his conversation with Rogan, the "Braveheart" star recounted how his son, Milo, who is in the volunteer squad of the Malibu firefighters, sent him a video of his neighborhood "in flames," which appeared to him like an "inferno." The controversial podcast host then asked Gibson if he would consider leaving California following the fire, but Gibson stated that he "loves it there" and is not in danger of becoming homeless. He also disclosed that he has a house in Costa Rica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the news outlet, he also joked that he might get "a new house" out of the crisis. The Director Blames Governor Newsom For The Fires MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere on the show, the "What Women Want" actor knocked California governor Gavin Newsom for the state's unpreparedness to avert the crisis, as well as for his perceived failure for not delivering on campaign promises. "I think Newsom said, 'I'm gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff' he didn't do anything," Gibson complained. He then agreed with the host before joking, "I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavin's hair gel." The devastating havoc has resulted in the death of 10 people, with hundreds of thousands evacuated and displaced. Other Stars Who Lost Their Homes To The Wildfires MEGA Aside from Gibson, other celebrities like Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges, Bozoma Saint John, Billy Crystal, James Woods, and Diane Warren lost their homes in the blazes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legendary actor Anthony Hopkins lost a stunning four-bedroom, five-bathroom home, which he purchased for $6 million in 2021. Actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester were also not so lucky, as they lost their $7 million mansion where they lived with their two young daughters. Similarly, the blaze completely destroyed actress Anna Faris's $5 million eco-friendly home and the homes of reality stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. Jan. 9Menards stores across the country are serving as drop-off sites for local food pantries this winter. Each store has picked a local charity in their community to benefit from the food drive. Sam Martin, general manager at the Joplin Menards, 3317 S. Geneva Ave., said the local campaign will benefit the Souls Harbor food pantry. Martin said the organization was chosen because of its recent struggles to keep the food pantry open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We thought if we could help, then we certainly would," Martin said. "It's a good thing for the community because we're benefiting a local food bank in Joplin, which is going to serve Joplin residents who need it." This is the first year for the local Menards to participate; the store opened in spring 2024. Menards offers a variety of nonperishable goods to donate for the food drive. The store sells food items including soup, pasta and other products that might be found in a grocery store that are shelf-stable. People can purchase extra groceries and place them in a donation box at the front of the store. These donations will be given to Souls Harbor at the end of the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The food drop-off campaign will run through March 31. Martin said the campaign is a good fit for the store. "We're community focused and embed ourselves in the community," Martin said. "I think these kinds of campaigns help us do that." Donald Armstrong doesnt remember what was going through his mind the day police officers shot him six times outside of his Model City home. He was high on Molly and holding what he saw as a Harry Potter wand, so he didnt understand why they were treating him like he was dangerous. At one point during the altercation, Armstrong would yell at the Miami police officers to shoot him in the heart, lifting his shirt. Standing in the same spot close to a year later, he lifted his shirt again and showed where one of the bullets had, in fact, pierced his chest. On his stomach, he wore a colostomy bag. It was Armstrongs own mother who had called the police that day, seeking help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I guess she seen me and said, This is not Donald,' Armstrong explained. Its not my son. This is my son, but its not my son.' His case is one of at least 13 police shootings to take place in South Florida in 2024. Only two people aside from Armstrong survived. Four fatal shootings unfolded in South Florida in just two weeks in December. The recent string of shootings began with the Dec. 6 shooting of a woman holding a knife in Lauderhill, and lasted to the shooting of a homeless man in Boca Raton on Dec. 18. Theres been at least one deadly shooting so far in 2025. Fort Lauderdale police officers shot and killed a man throwing incendiary devices early Thursday morning after responding to a call about a fire, officials say. Many of those shot in South Florida in 2024 appeared to be in the grips of a psychiatric episode, armed with a weapon or the appearance of one, acting erratically and not following orders, according to body-worn camera footage and 911 calls of the incidents released by various police departments throughout 2024. In several cases, their own family members had called the police for help, only to watch their loved ones die. The circumstances surrounding the shootings often involved people dealing with mental health and drug use issues or cases of domestic violence, and sometimes a combination of the three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality is our society overall has been experiencing a higher level of emotional disturbances, a lot more depression and a lot more violence, as a result of conditions we live in and the stresses of society, said Silvia Quintana, CEO of the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition. The fact that multiple police shootings took place in a matter of days in December is likely because mental health, already a growing problem, deteriorates around the holidays, experts say. Some of those suffering may use alcohol or drugs to cope in lieu of treatment, making matters worse when officers arrive. A terrible dilemma Outside a Lauderhill apartment complex on Dec. 6, Monique Scott, 28, walked steadily toward an officer, holding a knife in her hand, body camera footage showed. The officer backed away, yelling at her to put it down, but she said nothing. Then he shot her. Days later, on Dec. 11, Fort Lauderdale Police officers shot and killed Jalen Moore, 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moores family repeatedly called for help because he was in the throes of a mental episode, according to 911 calls released by the police department. At first, one relative asked just for paramedics because police might just make things worse. Moore was armed with a loaded gun inside the home with his relatives, including an infant, the police department said. When officers came, he walked outside holding his brother hostage at gunpoint, according to Fort Lauderdale Police. They shot him several times. The police department released segments of body-worn camera video of the shooting on Tuesday. Just days later, on Dec. 14, Broward Sheriffs Office deputies killed Robert Drangel, who had brandished a gun at his wife and then fled. Drangel was on court-ordered house arrest after his wife reported that he had repeatedly violated an injunction for protection against stalking. And four days after that, on Dec. 18, Boca Raton Police shot and killed Morey Clemmons. The police department has not provided details on the shooting, but his wife identified him. A warrant for Clemmons arrest over a probation violation had been issued for the same date. The violation stemmed from an incident in which Clemmons stole $45 worth of beer and chicken wings from a Publix in West Palm Beach, then threw a cup of juice at a police officer after the officer Tased him, according to a probable cause affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its difficult to tell in many cases what drives people to behave defiantly during confrontations with police. They might be on drugs, out of touch with reality or acting out of anger. Or they might be suicidal, possibly trying to commit suicide-by-cop, experts say, a term for when a person endangers officers in order to be shot themselves. In some cases, people have told police officers they had hostages, only for officers to discover they did not. Sometimes, they later end up taking their own lives. Police have a terrible dilemma, said Kenneth Weiss, a clinical psychiatry professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine who has written several papers on the suicide-by-cop phenomenon. Which is, on the fly, how to determine whos a real threat and who needs to be taken seriously in their threat, versus someone whos posturing to get killed. The term suicide-by-cop is also loaded: Police departments have sometimes used it as a defense in lawsuits after shooting someone dead. If proven, it could even deprive surviving family members of life insurance money. But when Armstrong told police officers to shoot him in March, it came from a place of defiance, he said; he hadnt wanted to die. He wanted to be left alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armstrong already had a bad relationship with law enforcement. He had been in and out of jail throughout his life, most recently sentenced to three years in 2022 for convictions of aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, aggravated assault, and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. He had grown to believe that the police are often working against him. Some of that distrust traces back to his childhood in 1980s Miami. Once, around the age of 5, he had gone to the beach with his friends to throw firecrackers when, he recalled, a police officer came over and told them, you little n*****s, if you was a little older Id take you somewhere. That March day, Armstrong felt angry toward the officers, whose commands to drop the weapon made no sense to him, given that he was holding what he said was a wand. Im lost and Im angry, he said. Im already confused. Im high out of my brain, you know? I cant tell the front from the back. Police officers Tased Armstrong multiple times. The last time, he said, it caused his body to freeze up and made him fall from his front steps toward the officers. The footage shows him moving forward, swinging his arms. As he fell, they shot him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police have been called on me a bunch of times, and never, I never expected that to take place, Armstrong said. For one thing Im not breaking the law, and my moms like, I aint did nothing. If I took a purse or something I understand but I aint do nothing. Yeah Im getting high, but who are you to tell me what to do with my body? Video shows man in shootout with Fort Lauderdale officers at hotel | Watch Training is paramount Mental health and domestic-related calls are some of the hardest and most dangerous police officers can get, former law enforcement officers told the South Florida Sun Sentinel, particularly when a person is behaving violently and unpredictably and may have a weapon. Yet the officers who end up responding to these calls often have little training: Many times, they are everyday road patrol officers suddenly placed under immense pressure, said Carl Hannold Jr., a former Fort Lauderdale police officer and trainer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays officers, they have to be experts at everything, and the problem is they dont get enough training, Hannold said. In desperate 911 calls, workers describe gunman, deadly shootout at Broward Transit center Whether a dangerous call ends with officers shooting or successfully de-escalating often depends on the responding officers disposition, said Philip Sweeting, retired Boca Raton Deputy Chief of Police. And even in circumstances where an officer might be justified in shooting, just because you can kill someone doesnt mean you should, Sweeting said. Police officers have all kinds of personalities. Some of them are what they call cowboys and some of them are very calm and collected and they can diffuse the situation, he said. Frankly some other police officers make a situation more hostile, depending on the officers temperament, how they deal with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The act of shooting or killing another person often traumatizes the police officers themselves, Hannold and other experts said. Ive seen police officers who are traumatized by this, said Weiss, the psychiatrist, who performs fitness-for-duty examinations of police officers. Police officers who have burnout, compassion fatigue, psychic trauma from their jobs. Ive seen officers who cant work anymore because theyre afraid. Some police officers become gun shy because of experiences theyve had, he added. Others become trigger happy, afraid if they dont take action quickly they will die. The proliferation of guns in the community exacerbates those fears. When someone has a gun, a police officer has limited options due to the danger of the situation. And sometimes police may believe a person has a gun even if they are holding another object, such as in the case of the March fatal shooting of a Davie man who took a shooting stance and pulled out a cellphone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creating the illusion of pulling a gun on officers is a common suicide-by-cop move, Weiss said. He and former police officers emphasized the need for mental health training and supervision. Several specifically highlighted crisis intervention training, which some officers do receive, but not all. The Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, which Quintana heads, began funding CIT training through the United Way of Broward in 2002. Since then, 3,992 officers have been trained in Broward County, according to the coalition. Sadly enough, though we do offer training to the United Way of Broward, not all police officers are trained, Quintana said. Former officers emphasized the need for training but said that police departments might not have enough officers or want to bear the cost. Training is paramount in a lot of departments, said Charles Miller, a retired Miami Police captain of 30 years. But trainings expensive, to take someone off road, lets say, for a week. The department already may be short of people. Miller and other officers who spoke to the South Florida Sun Sentinel remembered several close calls during their time on duty. Many times, training in de-escalation and mental health came into play. Once, a few days before Christmas, an armed man begged Hannold and other Fort Lauderdale police officers to kill him, he said. He had backup in case the man made a move to shoot, so he put his own gun to the side and put his hands up. Then he told the man that no one wanted to hurt him. The man started crying. Eventually, Hannold, who had a SWAT background, managed to get the man to show his hands. Miller remembered several encounters with a Vietnam veteran that could have gone a different way. Officers would often find the veteran, an alcoholic with mental health problems, with a knife in his hand, which he would use to harm himself. Hes shaking his hand, bloods pouring out all over, Miller recalled. Im standing there a few feet away. Wed joke a little bit, say Paul, its Friday night, you can go down to the VA, theyll sew you up, give you counseling, a change of clothes.' Once, the man swung the knife at the officers, but they managed to subdue him without deadly force. The longer you can keep them talking, the more time elapses from the initial incident, usually they will come down from the highly agitated state to more of a communicative state, Miller said. These are things they teach you in mental health training. Family members who call 911 should try to ask for a CIT-trained officer, Quintana said. If one is not available, they can also call a mobile response team, composed of social workers instead of police officers, though that can be risky if someone is armed. Armstrong sees his survival as a chance to start over, but its difficult to do. Nearly a year after the shooting, he cant feel his left arm. He still has a bullet that protrudes from his back. He is on disability and unable to work. He also cant watch most action movies because the sound of gunshots terrifies him. He feels like the system is rigged against him and that the people in charge want to see him fail. When anybody feel any type of way, theyre gonna brand me again. And everybody will say, I told you! I told you! because I got a record, he said. Its like I cant do right. (Bloomberg) -- Meta Platforms Inc. is disbanding many of its diversity and inclusion efforts, telling employees they will no longer be required to interview candidates from underrepresented backgrounds for open roles, or look to do business with diverse suppliers. Most Read from Bloomberg The note to employees, reviewed by Bloomberg News, represents a significant undoing of diversity, equity and inclusion priorities at the company. Maxine Williams, Metas chief diversity officer and highest-ranking black woman, will be reassigned to a new role, the memo states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Axios earlier reported the news, which a Meta spokesperson confirmed. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has been working to appeal to President-elect Donald Trump, who he recently met in person at Mar-a-Lago, after years of tension with the politician. Earlier this week, Zuckerberg halted Metas work with third-party fact-checking organizations. Meta on Tuesday also updated its policies around what kind of content could be removed on its sites. These changes included new provisions allowing its users to at times wield insulting language when discussing transgender rights, immigration or homosexuality as well as to argue for gender or sexual orientation-based limitations on military, law enforcement and teaching jobs. The new policy also removed protections against language that describes women as household objects or property as well as dehumanizing language focused on Black, transgender and non-binary people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zuckerberg Pivots Harder Toward Trump as Political Winds Shift Meta joins companies including Walmart Inc. and McDonalds Corp. in a retreat from DEI policies. Amazon.com Inc. on Friday confirmed it is halting some of its diversity programs as part of a review of hundreds of initiatives. Following the Supreme Courts ban on affirmative action in college admissions in 2023, conservative activists have been challenging corporate diversity programs aimed at boosting underrepresented groups, prompting executives to reevaluate the initiatives. Anti-DEI influencer Robby Starbuck has pushed companies to scrap diversity initiatives, succeeding with a number of businesses from Tractor Supply Co. to Toyota Motor Corp. Trump, a vocal critic of DEI policies, has promised to root out the efforts from the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2023, Metas workforce was 51% Asian and 36% white, according to a Bloomberg News analysis of the data the company reports to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission each year. Percentages of Black and Hispanic workers, at 3.5% and 6%, respectively, have seen slight declines since 2020. Meta had among the biggest declines in Black managers out of 84 S&P 100 companies in 2023 from a year earlier. The decisions the company is making now, from how they will deal with mis- and disinformation, to their hiring practices, make it clear what type of world they want for us and our children, said Rashad Robinson, former head of civil rights group Color of Change, which previously clashed with Meta over racial hatred on its platforms. --With assistance from Riley Griffin. (Updates starting with Amazon.com detail in seventh paragraph) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Metro Phoenix and large swaths of the desert areas of Arizona were under a freeze warning through Sunday, the National Weather Service in Phoenix warned on Friday. The weather service later issued another freeze warning on Saturday for overnight Monday in some areas of Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. The weather service said that these areas can expect subfreezing overnight temperatures in the 20s and 30s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The severity was expected to be moderate, but frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Here's what Arizona residents need to know about the freeze warning, including where it could be freezing, how cold it could get and steps to take to protect your home. These parts of Arizona are under freeze warning The National Weather Service issued freeze warnings for parts of Arizona that will continue through the weekend. Affected areas include: Friday night into Saturday morning: Tonto Basin Globe Casa Grande Aguila Valley Wickenburg Queen Creek Roosevelt Coolidge Nogales Safford Tucson Mammoth Snow in Phoenix? Yes, it can happen. Here's what to know and what winter weather to expect Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday night into Sunday morning and Sunday night into Monday morning: Phoenix Glendale East Valley West Valley Scottsdale Paradise Valley South Mountain Ahwatukee Foothills Queen Creek Superior Aguila Valley Tonopah Northwest Pinal County Apache Junction Gold Canyon Gila Bend Dripping Springs Tohono O'odham Nation Tucson Green Valley Marana Eloy Picacho Peak State Park Kearny Mammoth Oracle Map of Arizona freeze warning The National Weather Service in Phoenix shared this map of the areas under freeze warnings Friday through Sunday. How cold could it get in Arizona? The National Weather Service in Phoenix warned that south Gila County and northwest Pinal County could see temperatures in the mid to lower 20s. The lower deserts of Santa Cruz County and southwest Arizona could hit the lower 30s. How to prepare for a freeze warning in Arizona During a freeze warning, you should bring your pets inside. There are several other necessary steps you must take to protect your home and plants during freeze watches and warnings. How to prepare pipes during freeze warning When temperatures drop to freezing conditions, pipes have the potential to burst due to the expansion of water. Burst pipes are "one of the most common causes of property damage" during freezing weather, according to Consumer Reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the American Red Cross, here is how to prepare: If there are water supply lines in the garage, keep your garage doors closed. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate closer to the plumbing. Let cold water drip from the faucet connected to pipes that are exposed outdoors or in unheated interior areas. The National Weather Service promotes covering exposed pipes. How to protect plants during a freeze warning When temperatures freeze, there is a possibility that exposed plants can be damaged. The National Weather Service recommends: Bringing sensitive plants indoors. Covering outdoor plants with different materials, such as frost cloth, blankets, towels, cardboard boxes, liquid frost protection and Styrofoam cups on cactuses. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona freeze warning: See forecast, maps and how cold it could be Jan. 10HARRISBURG As Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show touting his administration's work on agriculture, a potential challenger to his reelection in 2026 looked on from the crowd. Republican Congressman Dan Meuser, who represents Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District, sat among the hundreds inside a crowded banquet hall on Public Officials Day at the Farm Show Complex. Asked by FOX43 News if he was considering a run for governor, Meuser said he was considering it but that a formal decision was months away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have a vision for Pennsylvania, and with a vision comes a plan, and with a plan comes the right people to execute, very similar, frankly, to what President Trump is going to do in the USA," Meuser told FOX43 News. "I think it could be done in Pennsylvania, and that's why I'm considering." No one has formally declared they'd challenge Shapiro in the next gubernatorial election, however, Meuser wasn't alone in potential challengers in the crowd. There was a large mix of state and local Republican elected officials in the audience and meandering the complex mingling with thousands visiting the Farm Show. Among them was second-term Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity who, in 2024, eclipsed Shapiro in receiving the most votes for a statewide election in Pennsylvania history. Meuser, who served as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Revenue under former Gov. Tom Corbett, has been elected four terms to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, improving his margin of victory each time since his first run in 2018. Since winning the election, President-elect Donald Trump embraced the idea of seizing Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada through military or economic coercion. His America First foreign policy agenda doesnt end there. More recently, Trump said he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, which, he claims, has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And its appropriate. Its appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country, he said, per CBS News. Mexico president pushes back Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum doesnt approve of this idea. At one of her recent press briefings, she pointed to a colonial-era map of North America that marked present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico as a part of the America Mexicana territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She proposed changing the name back. Why dont we call it America Mexicana? That sounds nice, no? Sheinbaum said. According to NBC News, Jose Alfonso Suarez del Real, a politician and former cultural secretary, explained that the name America Mexicana was on the European map commissioned for the Dutch East India Company, based in Amsterdam in 1607 at the press conference. Between Florida and Yucatan, the Mexican Gulf is recognized as a fundamental nautical point for navigation from the 17th century onwards, he said, according to Axios. U.S. lawmakers on board to change name to Gulf of America Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted on X, that she would introduce legislation to try to make Trumps proposed name change a reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill be introducing legislation ASAP to officially change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to its rightful name, the Gulf of America! Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in his remarks on the floor Wednesday said that Trump throws out a lot of strange, and rather random, ideas on a regular basis. But he added, facetiously, Id agree to working with Donald Trump on renaming the Gulf of Mexico, only if he first agrees to work with us on an actual plan to lower costs for Americans. That is what the American people want us to focus on first, not on renaming bodies of water, Schumer said. Jan. 9ALBUQUERQUE New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez aims to block Western New Mexico University's embattled outgoing president from spending a $1.9 million buyout and is asking a state court to toss his separation agreement. The university processed the payment to Joseph Shepard on Jan. 2, days before the New Mexico Department of Justice filed an emergency motion seeking to halt it, Torrez announced at a news conference Thursday in Albuquerque. His agency was not informed of the payment until Wednesday, he added. Torrez said the university concealed the payment's processing while simultaneously sandbagging the New Mexico Department of Justice's requests for records during the holiday break. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were getting one answer when we were asking for the documents, and that answer is, 'Everyone's on break,' " Torrez said. "Apparently, the only one not on break is the person who's responsible for cutting checks at that university." The university's leadership has been embroiled in allegations of misuse of public funds on such things as lavish international trips. Shepard resigned as president last month after an investigation by the State Auditor's Office found more than $363,000 in wasteful spending and improper use of public funds. His last day is Wednesday. In addition to the $1.9 million payment, Western's board of regents guaranteed him a professorship in the School of Business, earning at least $200,000 annually for five years. "We still have students in this state who have food insecurity, who have housing insecurity," Torrez said. "And it is absolutely disgraceful that the people who have been entrusted with making sure that they get the education they need to build a better future have instead used that opportunity to enrich themselves, to go on lavish, taxpayer-funded trips and then when they are held to account, to hand out a golden parachute to one of their pals." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Torrez filed an emergency motion earlier this month in the 6th Judicial District Court in Grant County seeking a temporary restraining order to stop Western from processing the $1.9 buyout. He filed an emergency supplemental motion Thursday asking the court to issue a restraining order blocking Shepard from spending the funds and to impose a constructive trust for the money. He also filed a complaint seeking to end Shepard's separation agreement, which the lawsuit calls an "unconscionable contract." A hearing to address the initial effort to block the buyout is scheduled Monday. Justice Department spokesperson Chelsea Pitvorec said the agency expects the hearing to also address the supplemental motion to stop Shepard from spending the money. Shepard's attorney, John Anderson, wrote in an email Thursday the payment process was handled legally and transparently. Shepard did not expedite his payment, Anderson wrote, and "any allegations to the contrary have no legal or factual basis." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His personal frustrations aside, the Attorney General is too talented and too experienced of a lawyer to believe he has any legitimate claim against Dr. Shepard," Anderson wrote. "The state's time would be better spent helping the university focus on its important work of educating and supporting its students during this transition." Torrez's new complaint alleges Western's board of regents improperly directed a subcommittee to negotiate Shepard's separation agreement, violating the New Mexico Open Meetings Act. It also alleges the agreement violated the anti-donation clause in the state constitution. Western spokesperson Mario Sanchez wrote in an email the school had been planning to make Shepard's severance payment the day it was approved, Dec. 20. "However, the president asked that payment be delayed until January 2, 2025," Sanchez wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The payment was processed "as a part of regular accounting processes" when Western offices opened after the holiday break, which ran from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1, Sanchez added. "Western New Mexico University's legal counsel has been in regular contact with the Attorney General's Office and has been cooperative to provide documents and insight," he wrote. Torrez said his agency would look into how the payment was processed and who did so, though he said he was uncertain what legal action that might lead to. He noted Shepard, as university president, "had ultimate responsibility for making sure that the finance department expedited payment to himself." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the money or a portion of it has been spent, Torrez said, his agency will track it down. Under significant political pressure, including from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the majority of Western's five regents have stepped down. Only student regent Trent Jones remains. House Speaker Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, who attended Thursday's news conference, said lawmakers will pursue ways to end the practice of "political appointments." "This is about safeguarding the money of the people of the state of New Mexico, and this is about ensuring that no one is above the law," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Auditor's Office found Shepard spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on domestic and international travel and that regents submitted incomplete or incorrectly calculated travel vouchers. The agency also said Western approved a purchase card for Shepard's wife, Valerie Plame, who is not an employee. Plame is an ex-CIA operations officer who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the state's 3rd Congressional District in the 2020 Democratic primary. Shepard was appointed to lead the university in April 2011. His base salary at the time the regents voted to terminate his contract was $398,507 another point of contention for the Department of Justice, which has argued the board agreed to a payment much higher than he was due. "Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, the absolute maximum the University would have been legally obligated to pay President Shepard if the Board terminated his Employment Agreement without cause was approximately $597,760.50," states Torrez's complaint. Esteban Candelaria is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. He covers child welfare and the state Children, Youth and Families Department. Learn more about Report for America at reportforamerica.org. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) The New Mexico Supreme Court issued a major ruling on Thursday, striking down local laws restricting abortion access. Abortion access is safe and secure in New Mexico. Its enshrined in law by the recent ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court, said Raul Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General. He is the one who brought the request to step into the states highest court. The court ruled local entities cannot restrict abortion access. It comes after Lea and Roosevelt Counties, the City of Hobbs, and City of Clovis passed ordinances banning the shipping of abortion medication and authorized city or county officials to approve or deny licenses for abortion clinics and providers. However, the state enacted the Health Care Freedom Act in 2023 in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. The law prohibits public bodies from blocking reproductive health care Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our Legislature granted to counties and municipalities all powers and duties not inconsistent with the laws of New Mexico. The Ordinances violate this core precept and invade the Legislatures authority to regulate access to and provision of reproductive healthcare, the Court wrote in its opinion by Justice C. Shannon Bacon. Therefore, based on the independent and adequate state law grounds provided in the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act, the Medical Practice Act, the Medical Malpractice Act, and the Health Care Code, as well as the Uniform Licensing Act, we hold the Ordinances are preempted in their entirety. It doesnt take a genius to understand the statutory framework that we have. Local governments dont regulate health care in New Mexico. It is up to the state, said Rep. Javier Martinez, a Democrat from Albuquerque. Attorneys for the southern communities involved had argued the provisions aligned with the Federal Comstock Act, which in part outlawed the mailing of abortion-related materials. Organizations supporting their effort argued that supersedes the New Mexico statute. News 13 reached out to the local governments. Clovis responded, saying theyre reviewing the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham welcomed the courts decision, stating in part, Todays unanimous Supreme Court decision affirms what weve known all along healthcare decisions belong to New Mexican women and their doctors, not politicians. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Jan. 9A Miami Twp. man accused of shooting his roommate in the mouth after he wouldn't give him a cigarette has been sentenced to prison. Damarion Charles Lee, 25, was sentenced by Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Steven Dankof to five to seven and a half years in prison on one count of felonious assault, followed by up to three years of parole. He received credit for 325 days already spent in confinement and agreed to forfeit a handgun used in the shooting. At the time of writing, Lee was in the Montgomery County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from Feb. 19, 2024, when Miami Twp. police were called to a reported shooting in a residence in the 6300 block of Saxony Road. Lee was outside in the snowy yard when police arrived and approached officers with his hands in the air before being detained, according to an affidavit filed in Miamisburg Municipal Court. Lee's roommate was found inside with a gunshot to the mouth, the affidavit said. Investigators said that the pair were in the living room when Lee asked the roommate for a cigarette. The roommate said he wouldn't give him one, then went to his separate bedroom to lay down, the affidavit said. According to the roommate, seconds later Lee shot him. The roommate was taken to a local hospital. Getty Images Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday that two people have been charged with multiple election law felonies. Saginaw City Councilwoman Monique Lamar-Silvia | Official photo Eric Eggleston, 53, a former candidate for Saginaw City Council, and current Saginaw City Council member Monique Lamar-Silvia, 64, both of Saginaw, were charged in connection to allegedly forged signatures on a nominating petition filed with the Saginaw City Clerks Office in an unsuccessful attempt to get Eggleston onto the November 2024 General Election ballot as a candidate for City Council. The offices are nonpartisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Nessels office, Lamar-Silvia on July 23, 2024, is alleged to have fraudulently signed the names of Saginaw voters to a petition form meant to secure Egglestons place on the ballot. Eggleston then allegedly signed the petition form, falsely certifying that he was the circulator, and submitted both forms to the clerks office shortly before the filing deadline that same day. While Eggleston was not granted placement on the ballot, the matter was referred to the Attorney General by the Michigan Department of State following an investigation into a complaint of apparent election fraud made by the Saginaw City Clerk. Election laws and regulations ensure fairness and accountability in the electoral process, said Nessel. Dedicated and trustworthy clerks play a critical role in protecting local elections, as they demonstrated in this case by successfully identifying and disqualifying fraudulent signatures. While these safeguards worked as designed, my office takes election fraud allegations very seriously and will continue to investigate and prosecute violations. Eggleston is charged with: One count of conspiracy to do a legal act in an illegal manner, a five-year felony One count of election law forgery, a five-year felony One count of signing a nominating petition as a circulator when he was not the circulator, a 93-day misdemeanor. Lamar-Silvia is charged with: One count of conspiracy to do a legal act in an illegal manner, a five-year felony One count of election law forgery, a five-year felony One count of signing a nominating petition with multiple names, a five-year felony One count of signing a nominating petition with a name other than her own, a 93-day misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both defendants are set for pre-exam conferences in Saginaw County District Court on Jan. 21. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A woman who illegally possessed a pink handgun that a child took to a Grand Rapids elementary school in a backpack has been sentenced to a year in jail. Chelsea Berkley cried when the sentence was announced Thursday, telling the judge she would lose her home. That firearm was unsecured, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Scott Noto said. There could have been tragic consequences as a result of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mom acquitted of child abuse in school gun case The son of Berkleys then-fiancee brought the unloaded gun to Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School in May 2023. It was quickly confiscated and no one was hurt. Berkley admitted to buying the gun on the street for $150, court records show. The unloaded gun that was found in a 7-year-olds backpack at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary on May 3, 2023. (Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Schools) Berkley, 31, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a habitual offender. She should not have had a gun due to her criminal record. She pleaded guilty in September to being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing guidelines called for a term of between nine and 23 months behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman pleads guilty in case of pink gun at Grand Rapids school In sentencing her to a year in jail, Noto credited Berkley for the 111 days she has already served. Miss Berkley, this is a situation where a child from your household brought an unsecured firearm into a school, Noto said. That is not what you are charged with. You are charged with possessing that firearm. That is a very dangerous situation, Miss Berkley, the judge continued. That firearm was unsecured. There could have been tragic consequences as a result of that. Her defense attorney asked for no additional jail time, saying Berkley hasnt had an easy life and is taking care of herself now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would never want to see anybody in harms way, Berkley told the judge before she was sentenced. I am a changed person. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) 6 News checked in with two former Michiganders now living in Los Angeles on how they are holding up on the West Coast. They say the flames are only part of the problem. Tragedy continues to tear through Los Angeles County as reports say the Palisades and Eaton fires are still zero percent contained. At least five people have died and officials say that number will only grow once burnt areas are safe enough to search. It just makes it all look like youre walking through hell basically, said Philip Moon, a Lansing native and Michigan State graduate now living in North Hollywood. (Courtesy Philip Moon) (Courtesy Philip Moon) (Courtesy Philip Moon) The Studio City house fire burned just a few miles from his home. Hes one of many who may not be in immediate danger, but there are other concerns like poor air quality and strong winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got this tree that fell down in the neighborhood and the city put up a few barriers but they cant get to it because they have to prioritize, said Moon. Former Spartan and Grand Blanc native Steve Van Wormer shared the view from his home in Burbanka wall of smoke from fires that have burned more than 27,000 acres. Steve Van Wormer shared the view from his home in Burbank. Weve never seen anything like this, at least for me and Ive been here since 94, said Van Wormer. Luckily, Van Wormer is out of danger for now, but he cant help but think of those who arent. Im thinking about friends and family that just have nothing, said Van Wormer. I love this city andwhen you see all of Malibu, like whole neighborhoods, Pacific Palisades, are just gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men agree the best way for the community to get through this tragedy is to come together. Its been mostly people in the neighborhood trying to help each other, said Moon. The Van Wormers have even taken in a family who was forced to evacuate. Now, they are just worried about what the future holds. A map of the fires around Steve Van Wormers home. (Van Wormer) I just wanna know what the next six hours, let alone six days, let alone six months is gonna look like, said Van Wormer. The big concern is we want rain. The problem, especially after how bad these are that they scorched the whole hills, mudslides become the concern, so even if we do get the rain we need, if its heavy, these neighborhoods may get hit again and again, said Moon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dangerous wind gusts did mellow out for a bit Thursday, allowing firefighters to fly helicopters over burning areas, dump water, and hopefully contain the spread. Winds are expected to pick back up Thursday night and carry on throughout the weekend. The Red Cross has activated our 6 News fundraising page to benefit the victims of the LA wildfires. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Millions across the Deep South are bracing for a significant winter storm, while travelers face disruptions in Texas and beyond. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS The storm is expected to impact air travel across the region, with major delays anticipated at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the worlds busiest airport. Millions brace for winter storm as air travel is disrupted across the south Locally, Central Florida will see little more than a passing shower early Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Supreme Court rejects Trumps bid to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case If youre traveling, be sure to stay informed by downloading our free WFTV Severe Weather Center 9 app for real-time updates. Remember to also check with your airline for the latest flight information. Millions brace for winter storm as air travel is disrupted across the south DOWNLOAD OUR APPS For those headed to Disneys race weekend, the forecast remains favorable. Millions brace for winter storm as air travel is disrupted across the south Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Milo Ventimiglia shared that he and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, have lost their Malibu home in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The actor, most known for roles in This Is Us and Gilmore Girls, told CBS News his house burned down after the Palisades Fire swept through their neighborhood. His family evacuated Tuesday and watched on security cameras as the flames took over their home. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think theres a kind of shock moment where youre going, Oh, this is real and this is happening, and then at a certain point, we just turn it off, he said. Its like, what good is it to continue watching, you know. We kind of accepted the loss. Mariano and Ventimiglia are also expecting their first child any day now, and the actor said they had the nursery all ready to go for their baby, making the devastation even harder to grasp. Trying to hold back tears, Ventimiglia said its heavy returning to his home to see all the destruction, adding, You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and whatnot, and then you see your neighbors houses and everything kind of around, and your heart just breaks. However, he told CBS News, Well make do as his wife and baby and dog are most important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actor also acknowledged life imitating art as his character Jack Pearson in This Is Us spoiler alert! saved his loved ones from their familys house fire. But his character ultimately died from smoke inhalation. Ventimiglias This Is Us co-star Mandy Moore also shared on Wednesday that she tragically lost her home in Altadena, California, due to the Eaton Fire. This is Altadena. Leveled. My sweet home, she wrote on Instagram. I am devastated and gutted for those of us whove lost so much. Im absolutely numb. On Thursday, Moore returned to her neighborhood and walked up the street to witness all the loss. She added in her post, Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact, she said, sharing photos of what remains of her family home. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends. Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support. Other Hollywood stars who have also confirmed that they lost their homes in the L.A. wildfires included Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, Bozoma Saint John, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, Diane Warren, Cameron Mathison and Ricki Lake, among others. James Woods initially indicated he lost his home in the fires but later discovered it was still standing, saying a miracle has happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wildfire initially broke out Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, before spreading to parts of Malibu and Santa Monica overnight. As of Thursday evening, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Palisades Fire was 6 percent contained. Two other active wildfires in the L.A. area the Eaton and Woodley fires are also at zero percent containment. The Lidia fire is 40 percent contained, and the Hurst fire is 10 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Another fire, named the Sunset Fire, broke out Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills, endangering iconic landmark the Hollywood Bowl, among other tourist destinations. By Thursday morning, firefighters were able to contain the blaze and all evacuation orders were lifted. On Thursday afternoon, first responders were responding to another fire, named the Kenneth Fire, that erupted in West Hills, California, close to homes in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas. As of 5 p.m., the fire had consumed nearly 800 acres of brush, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. MORAINE, Ohio (WDTN) A 15-year-old girl is reported missing, police are searching for her whereabouts. The Moraine Police Department posted on social media that Akeisha Lillie Issac was reported missing on Jan. 4. Issac is believed to be staying with friends in Moraine. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact the Moraine Police Department at 937-535-1155. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Q: Recently, there is a lot of attention on the increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. The National Public Health Agency of Sierra Leone also issued a public press release on this issue. Whats your comment? A: The Chinese Government has declared for several times that respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and influenza viruses are common pathogens. The overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than last year. Regarding the human HMPV you mentioned, as we have learned from the competent authorities, HMPV has circulated in humans for at least 60 years and is a common virus that causes upper respiratory infections. HMPV infections are self-limited. The World Health Organization said that Chinas reported levels of respiratory infections are within the usual range and that HMPV is not a new virus. The Chinese government takes seriously the health of its own people and foreign nationals in China. Chinas competent authorities and technical agencies took proactive steps to carry out sentinel surveillance for various acute respiratory infectious diseases and released surveillance results. Chinese disease control experts have told the public on multiple occasions how to take science-based protective steps. Also, China and WHO stay in close and regular touch and share timely information on respiratory diseases. We will continue to do whats necessary and do our best to make sure it is comfortable, safe and convenient for both Chinese and foreigners to travel in China. COMPANY NEWS: The increasing complexity of digital product development is driving Australian enterprises to seek new solutions to streamline their design and development processes. As teams grow larger and more distributed, organisations are investing in integrated platforms to manage end-to-end product delivery more effectively. "We're seeing a fundamental shift in how enterprises approach digital product development," says Noah Levin, Design VP at Figma. "The traditional siloed approach between designers and developers is giving way to more collaborative, integrated workflows that better serve modern digital needs." This transformation is particularly evident at Atlassian, where global teams operate across multiple time zones. "Figma has made async collaboration so much easier. Developers spot edge cases we might miss in the design phase, leading to better solutions," says Jade Jiang, Senior Product Designer at Atlassian. The Challenge of Scale As digital products become more sophisticated, the coordination between project managers, designers, and developers has become increasingly crucial. While this evolution has improved product quality and speed to market, it has also introduced new challenges in managing larger teams. Commonwealth Bank, one of Australia's largest financial institutions, exemplifies these challenges. The bank previously struggled with time-consuming designer-developer handoffs, requiring approximately 6.5 minutes to annotate each UI screen manually. "With Dev Mode, developers can hover over elements to get all layout details, making handoffs smoother and less time-consuming," explains Joshua May, Senior UI Designer at CommBank. The bank reports a 77% reduction in annotation time since implementing integrated design tools. The integration of design and development processes has become particularly critical for companies managing multiple digital products. SafetyCulture, a global technology company providing mobile-first solutions, found that streamlined workflows significantly reduced project delays. "Dev Mode now part of every handover has led to new clarity and efficiency," notes Josh Orr, Head of Design at SafetyCulture. This experience mirrors the broader industry trend towards unified platforms that can handle increasingly complex digital product development while maintaining team efficiency. Cross-functional Collaboration For major retailers like Coles, the challenge extends to managing consistent design processes across multiple brands and digital platforms. "The transparent setup we have with the platform fosters understanding and collaborative learning, even in remote sessions," says Nathan Streater, Group Design Manager at Coles. The impact of integrated platforms on team efficiency is becoming increasingly measurable too. For example, EndeavourX, managing digital operations for major retail brands including BWS and Dan Murphy's, reports concrete time savings: three hours weekly in designer collaboration and 1.6 hours in cross-departmental coordination. "Figma is a strong pillar that supports our ways of working in cross-functional teams," says Hallan Moulin, Chapter Lead UI at EndeavourX. The company's experience with over 45 multidisciplinary designers demonstrates how integrated platforms can scale effectively across large organisations. Future of Digital Product Development The trend towards unified platforms reflects a broader industry move to streamline processes while maintaining product quality. As Atlassian's experience shows, these platforms can create a culture of shared ownership across teams, improving both efficiency and innovation through tools that facilitate brainstorming sessions and workshops. "The future of digital product development lies in breaking down traditional barriers between teams," adds Figma's Levin. "Companies that can effectively integrate their design and development workflows are seeing significant advantages in both product quality and speed to market." The experiences of these major Australian organisations highlight how integrated design platforms are becoming essential tools in modern digital product development, enabling teams to overcome the challenges of distributed work while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) A recent data analysis shows that roads in Mississippi are among the deadliest across the United States. Automotive transportation is engrained into daily life for most Americans and Mississippians. In 2024, the state issued or renewed 3,025,466 car tags. Levine And Wiss PLLC released a report finding that Mississippi is the deadliest state for drivers. The law firm based in New York state relied on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its report. Mississippi had 23.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, 76% above the national average of 13.6 deaths per capita. The law firm found that Mississippis road fatality rate is nearly five times greater than Rhode Islands, which holds the lowest rate nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risks of the road also extend to Mississippis youngest drivers. Research cited by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) found that dialing a phone number while driving increases a teens risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times. For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21% were distracted by the use of cell phones. No matter the age of the driver or the vehicle, all motorists can do the following to reduce their risk of getting into an accident: Change lanes safely Change lanes only where pavement markings indicate and only when traffic conditions permit you. Do not tailgate When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object down the road, such as a sign or other landmark, start counting to three. If you pass the same point before you make it to three, you are likely too close to the car in front of you. Slow down to increase your following distance. Expect the unexpected Workers, work vehicles or equipment may enter your lane without warning. Other vehicles may slow, stop or change lanes unexpectedly. Merge into the proper lane Merge well before you reach the lane closure. Also, be aware that traffic patterns can change daily. Obey the posted speed limit In Mississippi, you will be fined up to $250 for speeding in a work zone with workers and signs present, and double the original fine for subsequent offenses. Be prepared to slow down further if conditions indicate the need. Pay attention to the road Watch brake lights on vehicles ahead. Watch traffic around you and be prepared to react. Stay alert and minimize distractions Dedicate your full attention to the roadway. Avoid changing the radio station, using a mobile phone, eating, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visit MDOTs Driver Safety Education website for more safety tips, resources and lesson plans for teens, parents and educators. Mississippis latest drivers manual is on the Mississippi Department of Public Safetys website. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, is hoping to ban the shackling of pregnant women in Missouri jails (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). Seven years ago, Missouri banned the shackling of pregnant women in state prisons. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold, is hoping to expand the law this year to include city and county jails. Now we have seven years of data that this is a fairly small number of inmates and it is not onerous for (the Department of Corrections) to comply with the law, Coleman said. Were able to help keep women who are incarcerated safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her bill would outlaw the use of restraints in the third trimester, during labor and for the first 48 hours postpartum except in extraordinary circumstances. You add an increased risk of falls, and it can be really dangerous for women not to be able to have their hands to catch themselves, Coleman said. This should only be done when its necessary, and when its done you need to document to make sure why it was necessary. This would put Missouri jails in line with guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Since the shackling ban in state prisons went into effect in 2018, there havent been any reported incidents of a woman in labor trying to harm herself or flee, said Karen Pojmann, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of pregnant women who are incarcerated in state prisons averages between two and 15 on any given day, Pojmann said. The Missouri Sheriffs Association could not immediately be reached regarding data on pregnant women incarcerated in city and county jails. The legislation would also require all city and county jails to develop intake policies for pregnant women by Jan. 1, 2026, that include mental health evaluations, prenatal vitamins and a nutritious meal plan including an increased calorie intake. It would also prohibit women from being placed in solitary confinement during the first six weeks postpartum, when theres a greater risk of postpartum depression, and require a female medical professional be present during any prenatal or postpartum medical exams. While the bill gives jail employees some discretion over the use of handcuffs, it prohibits the use of leg and ankle restraints and only allows wrist restraints to be used if connected in front of the persons body, rather than behind their back to protect the offender and the unborn child in the case of a forward fall. If a health care provider tells jail staff to remove any shackles, their advice must be followed immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case a sheriff or jail employee decides restraints are necessary, they would be required to document the incident in writing within 48 hours and include why they were necessary and what restraints were used. Liza Weiss, founder and director of Missouri Appleseed, a nonprofit that advocates in part for incarcerated womens health, said she was thrilled to see Coleman file the legislation again. Shes had a longstanding interest in and commitment to incarcerated womens health, and we are supportive of the bill, Weiss said. Weiss said that while a few jails including in Boone County, St. Louis County and St. Louis city have implemented policies that mirror the state ban, most cities and counties have not, leaving a need for this legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman started working on the issue several years ago, and while it sawsome movement last year, it ultimately died at the end of the legislative session as part of the comprehensive crime bill. One possible roadblock, Coleman said, is the GOP push to return the St. Louis Police Department to state control. The idea is vehemently opposed by St. Louis lawmakers, and Coleman said the legislation has really stifled any significant crime or detention or correctional facility bills. Because any time theres something that opens that chapter (of state law), she said, that conversation tends to bog things down. As the nation prepares for a second term under President-elect Donald Trump, his proposed policies on immigration have taken center stage. He has repeatedly stated plans to deport undocumented immigrants en masse and nominated immigration hardliners including an instrumental player of his first-term crackdown to his cabinet and staff, both probable signs of how extreme he hopes to be. But the Biden administration's approach to immigration, marked by a record rise in irregular immigration at the southern border, has also garnered pushback. During his time in office, President Joe Biden issued a record number of executive actions on immigration policy, facilitating an increase in legal immigration and an overhaul of the refugee resettlement program while presiding over a steep, last-ditch uptick in deportations. While the growth in immigration and pathways to legal status was welcomed by advocates, the Biden administration's rightward shift in border policy limiting the number of people who can apply for asylum and dragging its feet on ending a COVID-era expulsion program overshadows those gains, argued Nayna Gupta, the policy director of the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit advocacy group seeking a fair and just immigration system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Biden administration has been a mixed bag," she told Salon in a phone interview. "While there have been positive actions overall in an obviously challenging political moment on immigration, we did see the Biden administration acquiesce to a rightward shift in immigration law and policy that's more right-leaning particularly on policies related to migration and the border than we've seen from the Democratic Party in a long time." Upon entering office, Biden worked to deliver on campaign promises to end Trump-era immigration policies, including the Migrant Protection Protocols, which forced asylum seekers to stay in Mexico as their cases in the U.S. progressed. The Biden administration succeeded in ending that policy in August 2022. The administration also rolled out new options to encourage legal migration and discourage irregular crossings in the fall of 2022, launching that October an option for Venezuelans to apply for humanitarian parole if they have a U.S.-based sponsor and could pay for their own plane ticket. The parole program later expanded in January 2023 to include Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, three demographics with rising arrivals stemming from economic and political turmoil in their home countries. As of October 2024, nearly 532,000 individuals had migrated to the U.S. through the parole process, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration continued to bolster other pathways for legal status in the U.S, expediting work permit determinations to allow immigrants to lawfully find employment and expanding temporary protected status, a legal status provided to immigrants who can't be deported to their home countries due to unsafe conditions. Those efforts included extending eligibility to 1.7 million unauthorized immigrants. Over Biden's four years in office, the administration is also estimated to have naturalized nearly 3.5 million people, which is the most in any presidential term, according to the Migration Policy Institute. From fiscal years 2021 to 2024, preliminary estimates show 4.3 million noncitizens became permanent residents, and in 2024 the Department of State issued 11.5 million visas. Notably, the Biden administration fulfilled a campaign promise in rebuilding the refugee resettlement program, which had reached a historic low at just over 11,400 resettled refugees in fiscal year 2021 under the Trump administration. In 2024, that number skyrocketed to more than 100,000 the highest value in 30 years. One of the greatest facilitators of these changes in legal migration and status was the administration's technological upgrades to the immigration process, drawing on advancements put in place to ease processing during the pandemic and retaining what it could after COVID restrictions lifted, said Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at MPI and co-author of the think tank's report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Executive Office for Immigration Review increasing online filing and online adjudication where possible, really made a big difference," she told Salon in a phone interview, noting that parts of the court system and the administrative service still operate on paper. "These were differences that impacted immigrants' lives concretely. Being able to file an application online might mean that you hear back within days, as opposed to months. When we're talking about work permits, which people need to feed themselves and try to have a roof over their heads, these are life-changing measures." But the administration's handling of the uptick in people attempting to enter the country through the southern border soon came to shroud the president's immigration achievements. The expansion of pathways to legal status also came alongside an increase in border enforcement that restricted access to asylum as pressure from both sides of the political aisle mounted. "We saw the administration really embrace restrictionist border and asylum policies, much like the Trump administration, and increase the use of immigration detention as a tool of immigration enforcement," Gupta said. U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement detained just under 37,700 people by the end of fiscal year 2024, according to the agency's annual report. While that represents only a marginal increase from fiscal year 2023 just 2.2% it's nearly double the number of people detained when Biden took office (19,068 people were detained in 2020, during the pandemic, compared to nearly 51,000 in 2019). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May 2023, the Biden administration enacted the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule in May 2023, making ineligible for asylum any immigrants who do not use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP One scheduling app and arrive at the southern border, with limited exceptions. In June 2024, the administration tightened asylum access further by enacting the Securing the Border rule. Under that rule, the government withholds asylum at ports of entry where there has been a seven-day average of at least 1,500 border encounters over the 28 days prior. This intervention worked, in part, to slow irregular border arrivals, with Border Patrol recording fewer than 200,000 nationwide encounters each month after the Securing the Border rule took effect, compared to the upwards of 240,000 nationwide encounters seen in each prior month of fiscal year 2024. Amid the efforts to manage the swell of immigrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Biden administration leaned on another tool: removals. It hinged enforcement and removal operations on immigrants who were considered threats to national security, public safety and border security, or were recent border crossers, according to the 2024 ICE annual report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gupta said that the figures on removals conducted by the Biden administration largely focused on people newly arriving to the country, "many of whom are fleeing danger, persecution, violence and have a right to seek asylum," and demonstrated a pivot to the "use of Trump-like immigration policy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's different than what we're hearing as a threat from the Trump administration, which is an aggressive increase in enforcement of immigration laws in the interior of the U.S. against undocumented people with decades of life here," Gupta said. Biden had made it a goal to end Title 42 a COVID-era, Trump policy that allowed the country to expel immigrants without an asylum screening but didn't deliver on that campaign promise until May 2023. Over the nearly three years that the provision was in effect, the Department of Homeland Security expelled migrants at the U.S. border with Mexico more than 2.9 million times 86% of the expulsions coming during Biden's term, the Migration Policy Institute analysis found. By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, the Biden administration had matched the pace of deportations, including removals and enforcement returns, of the Trump administration, Bush-Joseph said. By October 2024, approximately 1.5 million had been carried out between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, with most originating at the border, according to the MPI report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which Gupta said largely focuses on the interior, reported that its officials removed more undocumented immigrants during the 2024 fiscal year than in any other fiscal year since 2015. The agency's 2024 annual report also showed that fiscal year 2024 saw a greater number of ICE deportations than each year of Trump's first term. Enforcement and Removal Operations removed significantly more noncitizens in fiscal year 2024 than in both fiscal years 2023 and 2022, deporting just under 271,500 immigrants to 192 countries, the annual report found. That sum is up 90.4% over fiscal year 2023 and 276.1% over fiscal year 2022. The majority of those removals 223,752 were carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Data from the Department of Homeland Security, which Bush-Joseph said includes people removed from the interior of the country and those returned at the U.S.-Mexico border, reflects a similar dynamic, though data for fiscal year 2024 is only available through August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 315,480 removals DHS recorded by that time, 275,470 of them were conducted by CBP compared to the just 40,010 ICE had executed. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. The stark difference between removals from the interior and returns from the border, Bush-Joseph explained, showed that the Biden administration was not "indiscriminately deporting people" but actually "evaluating who had ties in the United States," such as those with U.S.-born children. Bush-Joseph noted that one of the Biden administration's challenges in immigration policy was navigating a system that is "extremely overwhelmed, outdated, under-resourced" and "for the most part, is stuck in the 90s," relying on laws and quotas governing the border, asylum processes and employment visas that were last updated 30 to 40 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Trump administration has announced grand yet uncertain plans for immigration, including conducting mass deportations and ending temporary protections, Bush-Joseph said she believes the incoming president will be frustrated by the immigration system's defects as Biden was. "It's going to take congressional action for the Trump administration to be able to attempt the scale that they are talking about," she said, calling for congressional authorization of updates to the system, such as sending notices to immigrants electronically. "Having Republican control of the House and the Senate could mean that there are increases in your resources, but it's not clear yet whether there will be a fundamental overhaul of the system to really update it." Gupta added that the incoming Trump administration is threatening "unprecedented change" to immigration law and policy that "will impose harm on thousands of undocumented people who have decades of life in this country, who contribute richly to our economy, to our labor market and to our tax base," marking a stark departure from Biden's policy. "Those changes will not just impact those immigrant communities but will absolutely impact local economies and American communities more generally," she said, "and that is a threat of aggressive interior enforcement of immigration laws that is far different than what we saw from the Biden administration." NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced the arrest of a convicted felon in connection with multiple crimes from October 2024. Detectives with the MNPDs TITANS unit found 31-year-old Raphale Holt on Trinity Lane at Dickerson Pike. Holt was apprehended on multiple warrants related to an aggravated burglary reported on Oct. 10, 2024. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his arrest on Wednesday, Jan. 8, police said Holt was in the backseat of a Nissan Altima he admitted were his. He had been wanted on aggravated assault and false imprisonment warrants after allegedly holding two family members at gunpoint and breaking into their home. Holt reportedly confessed during an interview with detectives from the MNPDs Non-Lethal Shooting Unit that he was involved in an Oct. 14, 2024, shooting on 9th Avenue North that injured a 28-year-old. The MNPD said the victim reported having an argument with the suspect prior to the incident. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Holt was booked on aggravated assault, being a felon in possession of a weapon and drug possession warrants in addition to his outstanding warrants. As of publication, he remains jailed in lieu of a $140,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. GOSHEN Hundreds of volunteers in Goshen are preparing tens of thousands of pounds of chicken to send to places in need around the world, as a way to put into action biblical commands to feed the hungry. Volunteers will be operating the mobile cannery for two weeks while its parked at the Depot Thrift Shop before the trailer is hauled south to Montgomery and Berne for the next teams to take over. The trailer tours the country every year, relying on local volunteers, many from Amish and Mennonite churches, to process the meat and fill and label the cans. Its set up to travel to a lot of different sites throughout the U.S. Basically, it operates from October through April and travels around from New York and Pennsylvania out to Kansas and Nebraska, and places in-between, said Eric Kurtz, executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes. The value of having it mobile is that we can take the canner to where the people are. Our supporters are in communities all across the country, particularly, we get a lot of support from Amish churches and Old Order Mennonites and other plain groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trailer holds machinery including a can sealer and several large pressure cookers, which generate tons of steam and noise as they keep the cans at around 246 degrees and 15 psi. The finished boxes of preserved chicken or turkey are shipped to areas of need around the world, where local supplies of protein can be hard to find amid conflict or disaster. MCC shipped almost 440,000 cans between 2023 and 2024, to places like Chad, Cuba, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Puerto Rico. The end result is that we are working in places like refugee camps where people dont have a protein source, Kurtz said. Were very careful about, if theres a local protein source, if were working in a location where theres access there, we will buy locally. Because were not wanting to undermine local economies where we work. The gap that this meat fills is there are places where that isnt possible. Their goal in Goshen was to process 80,000 pounds of meat, but winter storms early in the week delayed the shipment of chicken they were expecting. The loss of a day of work meant that they had to scale back the goal to 76,000 pounds, according to volunteer committee member Elam Weaver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said groups of 30 to 35 volunteers work each shift, morning and afternoon. He said they draw volunteer canners from hundreds of churches in the region. Weve got kind of a unique situation here in northern Indiana. My schedule goes out to 400 churches, and each of those has a coordinator or lead person who coordinates their volunteers, Weaver said. The Amish districts average 25 families. Each day, there might be an average of about nine different Amish churches that will supply us with volunteers for one shift. Kurtz and Weaver said the meat canning program is a way for the church members to put their faith into action. Theres a sense that this is what we do among the Amish churches. This is what it means to follow Jesus. We are called to love our neighbor, we are called to help when somebody is hungry, Kurtz said. The canning committee sends the letter out, the churches will respond. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Issues like tax revenue and the new Mobile Civic Center led to split opinions among Mobile city and county leaders in the Mobile Chambers 27th Annual State of the City and County. Pensacola Police Department receives donation of 85 LifeVacs what to know Internet Sales Tax Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson called Alabamas 8% internet sales tax one of the biggest issues facing the State of Alabama. Mobiles total current sales tax is 10%, higher than the tax consumers would get if they shopped online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were doing is were giving Amazon and all the out-of-state businesses a tax cut, Stimpson said. The internet sales tax began in 2015, with revenue split between the state, city, and county. With the citys current total sales tax 2% higher than the online tax, Stimpson said the city lost $15 million in revenue the same year the tax was introduced. In 2024, Stimpson said the city lost $39 million in revenue due to the tax. Its just to the detriment of the major cities and to the detriment of the mom-and-pop stores, Stimpson said. The loss for the city is a gain for the county, which gets a cut of online purchases made within city limits. District 3 County Commissioner Randall Dueitt said the city can expect a fight if Mobile and other major cities challenge the way the internet sales tax is distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not going to back off of that money and were not going to let these big 10 cities come in and take the money thats coming to the county. The Mobile Civic Center Project Mobile Fire-Rescue working commercial building fire on Old Shell Road As the city looked to potentially ask the county to invest in the Mobile Civic Center Project, not all county commissioners seemed on board. Red flags were raised in Commission President Merceria Ludgoods mind when she heard the first phase of construction of the new civic center would not include a theatre. Im less sure that the investment at that level in a facility that doesnt have a theater is worth it, Ludgood said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A potential county investment in the city project might not have enough votes to pass the commission. Ludgood was the only one of the three county commissioners to voice major concerns about the civic center project, leaving District 2 Commissioner Connie Hudson as a potential swing vote. Were looking to see whats feasible and whats doable, Hudson said. We cant extend ourselves to the point that it cuts us off from being able to participate in economic development. Mayors Salary While Mayor Stimpson is not seeking re-election in 2025, he pushed for a higher salary for future Mobile mayors. It may not be looked upon as a good legacy, Stimpson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1985, Stimpson said the Mayor of Mobile made $60,000, which is equivalent to $190,000 in todays money. Stimpson makes an annual rate of $125,000, which he said isnt enough for someone in that position. Because of having sold a business and having been in business for 40 years, I was able to do that, Stimpson said. But you cant expect somebody to run a $5 billion business and pay them $125,000. Stimpson said a higher salary for future mayors may entice more people to run for the office. It will not probably impact this mayors race, but it could impact future mayor races, Stimpson said. What Im hoping is that it broadens the talent pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Mobile, the mayor acts as the chief executive and the chief administrator, which Stimpson said is another reason the salary should be raised. In comparison, other governments where the mayor is the chief executive yield higher salaries for their mayors. Baton Rouge, LA. $175,000 Salt Lake City, UT. $212,000 Charleston, SC $218,000 North Charleston, SC $218,000 Hudson is the only candidate to announce an official bid to replace Stimpson in the mayors office. She backed Stimpsons announcement to bring the mayors salary to a $190,000 minimum, but she voiced caution in pushing the amount too high. You dont [want to] increase it so much that the citizens wonder what the motivation of the person is serving in that office, Hudson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hudson said she still plans to run whether the salary is increased or not, saying her mission is to serve the people of Mobile. Mobile man accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at local home: MFRD No change in the mayors salary moving forward would impact Stimpson personally. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. A Ministry of Defence taskforce has been instructed to track down special forces troops who have been linked to suspected war crimes in Afghanistan. The Afghan Inquiry Response Unit (AIRU), made up of civil servants and military personnel, will try to locate those who may have been involved in or known about the alleged execution of innocent civilians. The aim is to identify former troops who may have been named by witnesses in connection to the Afghan Inquiry, which is investigating extrajudicial killings between 2010 and 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any details of individuals tracked down by the taskforce would then be passed to the inquiry, which has the power to compel people to give evidence to the investigation. The Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan, launched after a BBC Panorama investigation, is looking into claims that up to 80 Afghan males of fighting age were killed by special forces between 2010 and 2013, despite posing no threat to troops. On Wednesday, the inquiry released evidence from a whistleblower stating that a special forces unit known as UKSF1 had conducted an illegal policy of targeting everybody on operations, including under-16s. Military personnel who may be able to assist the inquiry have been urged to come forward on an anonymous basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As first reported by The Times, the AIRU will attempt to locate former troops whose names have been linked to the allegations. A defence source told the newspaper it was their responsibility to track them down. The unit, which was established in 2023 to assist with the inquiry, is staffed by 16 civil servants, supported by paralegals. Feels like a witch hunt More than 30 military and civilian personnel have also been charged with assisting the taskforce, with a focus on providing welfare support to witnesses and helping AIRU to locate, review and disclose documentary evidence, according to government correspondence published last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter to Piers Doggart, solicitor to the Afghan Inquiry, disclosed that spending on the headcount for the MoDs response was projected to exceed 15 million, not including the 6 million that had already been invested in the inquiry team itself. Andy McNab, a former SAS soldier, told The Times he was concerned the attempts to track down potential witnesses were making special forces operators currently in the field second-guess their actions. It makes the whole thing feel even more like a witch hunt, he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. More than two decades after a mother of seven was killed, her case has finally been closed, Washington deputies said. A 69-year-old man, who was convicted in a separate 2005 killing and is currently serving a life sentence in Arizona, was identified as a suspect in the death of Tamara (Tammy) Mattson, the Island County Sheriffs Office said in a Jan. 9 Facebook post. However, as he suffers from advanced dementia, deputies said the man cannot be prosecuted. Body found The 39-year-old mothers body was found dumped in vegetation at Camano Island State Park on December 9, 2003, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though detectives followed up on leads and interviewed ever-widening circles of acquaintances, deputies said they kept running into dead ends. Police found and collected a cigarette butt in a parking lot not far from where Ms. Mattsons body was found, deputies said. At the time of Mattons death, however, DNA technology was limited. But that changed in 2009, when DNA technology allowed the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab to develop DNA profiles from minute amounts of human biological material, according to deputies. After testing the minuscule (DNA) sample from the cigarette butt, it was found to be a match in the Combined DNA Index System to the man imprisoned in Arizona, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until scientists found the match, (the man) had been unknown to Sheriffs detectives, deputies said. Though detectives now had a DNA match, deputies said they faced another problem: How to prove that his presence in the park was at the exact time of the murder, and, moreover, that he was the murderer, and not just a witness or a bystander. A decade without answers Investigators spent the next decade trying to learn everything they could about (the suspect) and how he might have been connected to Mattson, according to deputies. Detective Shawn Warwick and Detective Ed Wallace threw themselves into the case, but what little they learned was uncertain and often came from unreliable sources, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detectives decided the only play left was to interrogate (the man) in Arizona in November 2019, deputies said. When they met him, though, he refused to answer any questions and demanded to be returned to his prison cell, deputies said. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and, for 15 more months, the investigation all but stalled out. Case re-animated But then in April 2021, the imprisoned man sent a letter to detectives that re-animated the case. In his letter, he said he had information about Mattsons death, deputies said. In exchange for a long list of demands, he offered to provide information about the murder, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detectives brought the letter to Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks. Of all his crazy demands, the only one I considered was to allow him to spend the rest of his life in a Washington prison, if he turned out to be the murderer, and pleaded guilty, Banks said in the release. Banks arranged a free talk with the man, deputies said. During the conversation, investigators could question him under a temporary grant of immunity, according to deputies. Without his confession, we were stuck, Banks said. This allowed him to speak candidly and allowed us to verify that he was the killer before we would negotiate any kind of deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2021, Banks, Warwick and Wallace interviewed the man. This time, he cooperated and answered all the questions put to him, deputies said. The trio left the prison confident that they had found Tammys murderer, deputies said. He knew things that only the killer and detectives knew, Wallace said. More than that, deputies said he filled in gaps and explained his motive: he killed her over a dispute about a drug deal. The man agreed that once a prison transfer was finalized with Arizona and Washington Departments of Corrections, (he) would sign a sworn and verified confession, covering all of the information from the free talk, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, with the confession in hand, Banks could charge him with premeditated murder in the first degree and kidnapping in the first degree, deputies said. More delays But, per state protocols, their agreement was not possible. A convicted inmate from another state can be brought to face charges in a different state, deputies said. However, after trial, the inmate must return to the original state to finish serving their sentence before they can be sent back to another state, deputies said. Thus, if the man pleaded guilty, he would have to return to Arizona, deputies said. Without a guarantee that he could stay in Washington, (he) would not sign the confession, deputies said. Without (his) confession, there was no proof he was the murderer, and he could not be charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither correction agency would bend. I rattled all the cages I could, Banks said. Then, in the fall of 2024, an extradition official told Banks the agencies might be willing to work something out. Again, Banks tried to negotiate with the suspect, but his attempts to contact him were met with silence, deputies said. Then, in October, the mans family member told Banks that he had suffered a series of debilitating strokes and had advanced dementia. As such, she doubted he could read or understand the content of the letters. Two months later, Banks got confirmation from Arizona prison officials that the man has advanced dementia and is confined to a Special Needs Unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the suspects mental condition renders him incapable of being prosecuted, Banks said he is certain the man is responsible for Mattsons death, deputies said. While Banks said it was frustrating that they could not make a legal record of (his) crimes, at least he and detectives were able to give some measure of closure to Tammys family. Camano Island State Park is about a 70-mile drive northwest from Seattle. Man who passed polygraph in teens 1979 killing now IDd as suspect, CA officials say Mom of 2 died in 1992. Now, partner is accused of arranging her Massachusetts death Army veteran killed on a date, Utah cops say. Arrest comes 52 years later to the day In life, you often get second chances and the same is true with investing. To illustrate: you might not have been able to contribute to a Roth IRA during your working years due to your income level, but you may get that opportunity as you near retirement, or even when you are retired. Jim Lyons from Edward Jones joins the JET 24 Action News studio to discuss Roth IRA conversions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Brown) If you love Texas BBQ, you are going to love the Lonestar Smoke House in Yokohama. Since opening last year, its quickly gathered a large base of regular patrons. Owner Masahiko Mah Takahashi is not new to the art of wood smoking and creating unique side dishes to accompany the traditional staples of brisket, pulled pork, ribs and handmade sausage. Takahashi has been smoking meat since 2011 and earned the title Smoke Master after a seven-year tutelage at a popular barbeque restaurant in Yokohama. He has traveled to Texas three times to take a deep dive into the art of smoking. During his most recent month-long trip, he worked alongside notable pit masters, including Alison Clem, whose restaurant in Austin, LA Barbeque, was recently awarded a Michelin star. Everything about the Lonestar is authentic, starting with the 14-foot cast iron smoker Mah imported from the States. He smokes his meat low and slow using seasoned oak. The average smoking time for his brisket is 12 hours, and other meats as type and size require, producing the deeply infused smoke flavor that is unmistakably Texas barbecue. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Brown) (Photo courtesy of Tracy Brown) Takahashi also imports Black Angus brisket from Creekstone Farms in Kansas and blends the restaurants distinctive handmade sausage from 50% brisket and 50% pork mixed with a savory blend of spices, and sometimes with jalapenos and cheddar cheese. He is also particular about the ingredients he procures locally to create his unique, yet traditional, side dishes. Everything Takahashi makes in his kitchen is freshly prepared, he even bakes the vanilla wafers for his banana pudding. The only thing he doesnt make himself are the pickles, which are imported from California, and the sandwich buns delivered fresh from a local Yokohama bakery. The restaurant has plenty of side dishes to please any palate. The headliners are the Brisket Loaded Creamed Corn, BBQ Chili Beans (also loaded with brisket), Creamy MacNCheese, good old fashioned Southern Collard Greens, and Gumbo with Cajun chicken and sausage. Lonestar has two types of house sauces to choose from: a traditional BBQ and a tangy vinegar. Both are very complimentary to the smoked meats. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Brown) Also complimentary are a fine selection of five American craft beers, a Texas wine list, and other soft and hard beverages. All the meats are served roadhouse style on paper-covered trays, the sides in ceramic bowls. The restaurant is rustic and open to the kitchen and smoker, so there is always a delicious smell emanating from behind the counter. There is plenty of family-style seating with benches at the back and tables and chairs with ample room for everyone. Its in the basement level with only stairs up and down, but they are wide and accommodating. Prices are very reasonable. Be sure to bring a big appetite and be prepared for a taste of home. Without a doubt, Lonestar Smoke House is the real deal. Things to know Before wildfires broke out across Los Angeles, the city's fire chief said that budget cuts were hampering the department's ability to respond to emergencies, a department memo shows. Funding for the city's fire department decreased by $17.6 million, or 2%, between the 2024-25 fiscal year and the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to city budget documents. However, the city council in November approved a four-year $203 million contract with the firefighter's union to help boost wages and health benefits for staff, drawing from the budget's general fund. The budget cuts drew criticism as firefighters scrambled to contain the ongoing fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Dec. 4 memo, LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote to the Board of Fire Commissioners that the budget cuts "have adversely affected the Department's ability to maintain core operations." Crowley said that a $7 million reduction in overtime hours "severely limited the Department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies" and affected their capacity for brush clearance inspections and residential inspections. The cuts, Crowley wrote in a memo from July 2024, resulted from eliminating 58 positions, adjusting sworn salary accounts, and removing one-time expenses. Some have pointed to the one-time expenses, such as the purchase of new breathing equipment for firefighters, a one reason why there may have been a reduction in the current fiscal year's budget compared to the year before. When asked about the budget cuts at Thursday morning's press conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said they did not impact the department's ability to handle the ongoing fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation that we were dealing with over the last couple of days," she said. She also emphasized the additional funds the department was set to receive from the city's contract with the union. "The unprecedented wind storm, wind at such ferocity that we haven't seen in years, is the context in which we were dealing with this." In an interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell, Crowley said that in response to the $17.6 million cut, the department reduced non-essential responsibilities, but added that the reductions did limit their response to the fires "to a certain factor." "We did exactly what we could with what we had," Crowley said. "Something that is significant as this particular fire, I would say we threw exactly what we could with what we had." The Board of Fire Commissioner's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the board's Dec. 17 meeting, its president Genethia Hudley-Hayes acknowledged the funding and staffing issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is not unfair to say that we are in crisis mode within the Los Angeles Fire Department," Hudley-Hayes said. "Anybody who knows a council person really and truly needs to be either going to city council, talking to their council person, talking in their neighborhood councils, doing whatever they need to do because we really are at a crisis point." The fire department overspent by an estimated $66.6 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year, this year's budget shows, with unbudgeted contracts, unused sick time and overtime accounting for much of the overspending. In a statement when the budget was approved, Bass said the city budget acted as a "reset." "This budget serves as a reset, in part by continuing to hire for critical positions including police officers and firefighters while eliminating some of the department's vacant positions, thereby prioritizing our City family over empty desks," Bass said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the fire department's budget was cut, the police department's budget increased by $125.9 million, a roughly 7% increase. There are 28 fire departments in Los Angeles County in addition to the city's fire department. All are responding to the ongoing fires, along with firefighters from five additional states. Gov. Gavin Newsom activated California National Guard members to help battle the blazes, and the Defense Department has also offered equipment and manpower to fight the fires. Extended interview: Jamie Dimon Jamie Dimon on the economy A Renaissance Era secret passage reopens in Florence MONTROSE, Colo. (KREX) The City of Montrose has more than $9 million of infrastructure projects planned for Main Street in 2025, the city is declaring the upcoming construction season as The Year of Main Street. Some of the projects planned for 2025 are listed below with a little information about each one. East Main Water and storm sewer replacements This project will replace aged and undersized waterline and storm sewer infrastructure between Selig and San Juan avenues. The end result will be a more reliable system, enhanced fire protection, and improved stormwater drainage. Work is scheduled to start in February and extend into August. Sidewalks are planned to remain open, and motorists can expect shoulder/parking closures in one to two-block increments during periods of active construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Main sidewalk improvements This project will improve sidewalk conditions and increase ADA accessibility. It will also relocate conflicting streetlights on both sides of Main Street from Park to San Juan avenues. Work is scheduled to take place throughout the summer and pedestrians can expect isolated sidewalk closures in active work areas. Townsend/Cascade median reconfiguration The existing median between Townsend and Cascade avenues will be reconfigured to provide additional left-turn storage volume on westbound Main Street at Townsend. This work will occur in late summer. West Main revitalization Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Montrose was awarded a $2 million grant through the Colorado Department of Transportation Revitalizing Main Streets Program to improve pedestrian mobility and aesthetics of West Main Street between Selig Avenue and the Uncompahgre River. This includes relocation of the curb lines into existing underutilized parking areas, the addition of bike lanes, widened sidewalks and boulevard landscaping. Click here for more information about The Year of Main Street projects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) We have an update on a multi-state crime spree involving two Sioux Falls men. Datavion Taylor and Marquise Spotted Eagle are accused of taking two underage girls out of state in a stolen car and committing crimes along the way. KELOLAND News first reported on this case last summer. Court documents filed the first week of the year in Minnehaha County are giving a better idea of how the situation unfolded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It began on the night of August 10th when two men matching Taylor and Spotted Eagles descriptions stole a car outside a South Minnesota Avenue gas station. Surveillance video from the business also shows two girls who appear to be in their teens. In addition to the stolen car, court documents say they also found an AR-15 rifle inside. Black-owned business targeted with racist graffiti Over the next few days, investigators from Colorado and Nebraska reached out to Sioux Falls Police saying the stolen vehicle had been involved in a string of crimes. Authorities found one of the girls in Colorado and launched a nationwide search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day later, troopers found the two men and the other girl in central Nebraska. The State Patrol says they were driving a stolen van and one of the men threw a gun out of the window. They were booked into jail on several Nebraska charges. As of tonight, there are warrants for Spotted Eagles arrest in Colorado and South Dakota. Taylor is in the Minnehaha County Jail, accused of possessing a stolen car, stealing a gun and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Earlier this week, he pleaded guilty to another charge connected with the same case in Union County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. The Air Force has approved the F-15s new advanced electronic warfare system for full-rate production, allowing it to be installed in more of the existing fighter fleet. The Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, or EPAWSS, is built by BAE Systems and is intended to allow F-15 fighters to monitor, jam and deceive threats in highly contested environments. EPAWSS is a standard component of the F-15EX Eagle II fleet now being constructed by Boeing, and the Air Force also wants to retrofit part of the existing F-15E Strike Eagle fleet with the new system. The Air Force on Jan. 6 awarded a nearly $616 million contract to Boeing for full-rate production of EPAWSS, and work is expected to be done by the end of 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contract pays for the procurement and construction of 45 sets of EPAWSS production kits dubbed Group A and Group B kits for the F-15E, as well as spares for the B kits and system engineering program management. It will also cover long lead lay-in material for EPAWSS systems for both the F-15E and F-15EX jets. Work on the EPAWSS kits will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, and Nashua, New Hampshire. Boeing plans to continue conducting the installation work at its San Antonio, Texas, facility, where it has been installing EPAWSS on operational F-15s since July 2022. The Air Force has been steadily ramping up its efforts to modernize the existing F-15E fleet with the new electronic warfare system, to keep it relevant against advanced threats. EPAWSS provides radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-defense capabilities, which is intended to allow an F-15 to survive against air defense systems and operate deeper in enemy territory. Boeing awarded BAE a contract for low-rate initial production of EPAWSS in March 2021, and then in September 2022 Boeing awarded another contract to further expand EPAWSS production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BAE Systems is currently on schedule in support of Boeings F-15 EPAWSS LRIP production activities and is looking forward to supporting Boeing in the [full rate production] phase of the program, Kevin Fournier, BAEs EPAWSS program director, said in an email. BAE said in April 2024 that the Air Force had finished EPAWSS initial operational test and evaluation phase, which helped pave the way for its full rate production contract. BAE has also worked to improve EPAWSS capabilities by using artificial intelligence to drive a concept called cognitive electronic warfare. That concept was tested in May 2023, when a pair of F-15EXs took part in the Northern Edge 2023 exercise in Alaska. The jets participated in 70 sorties during that exercise, where they were confronted with new and unfamiliar electromagnetic threats in a frenetic environment, and EPAWSS cognitive EW capabilities had to rapidly react to those new threats. EPAWSS is currently being flown on F-15 jets at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and Portland Air National Guard Base in Oregon. (WBRE/WYOU) Wawa announced grand opening dates Thursday for two new stores in Central Pennsylvania. A spokesperson for Wawa said the two newest locations will both open at 8:00 a.m. on January 23 at 164 Maynard Street in Williamsport, and 1071 Wayne Avenue in Chambersburg. We are excited to kick off 2025 with two additional new Wawa stores in Central PA to fulfill lives of our friends and neighbors, said Dave Simonetti, Sr. Director of Store Operations, Wawa. We look forward to bringing our unique brand of fresh food, beverages and convenience to new communities Central PA as we further our commitment to providing our new friends and neighbors with not only a new level of convenience but a strong, committed community partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What to do to prevent your pipes freezing in the winter? According to a media release from Wawa, the company will open 13 stores in central Pennsylvania by the end of 2025. Other locations include Hanover, Lewisburg, Coal Township and additional stores in Northumberland and Franklin counties. Wawa plans to have up to 40 stores, opening approximately 5-7 a year to serve the Central Pennsylvania market as it continues to expand its footprint and reach new Pennsylvania markets along the Susquehanna River. To build each store, Wawa will invest approximately $7 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store will employ an average of 35 associates, with Wawa expecting to create 1,400 new long-term jobs as a result of expansion in Central PA, the release stated. You can learn more about employment with Wawa by visiting career opportunities at Wawa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. CHEYENNE More of Wyomings teenagers are joining the workforce, with health care and social assistance among their top employment choices, according to Wyoming Department of Workforce Services data. DWS Research and Planning Research Supervisor Michael Moore presented labor statistics for workers between 15 and 19 years old to the Wyoming Workforce Development Council on Thursday during its quarterly meeting. We all know the number of youth working in the U.S. and Wyoming has declined over the last couple of decades, Moore told the council. And of course, we all know about the exodus of younger Wyoming workers to other states, and the discussions weve had on retaining them. But in the last few years, weve actually seen an increase in youth working in Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only is the workforce growing, teens are working, on average, for more months of the year, and the career areas that theyre choosing have diversified. According to Moores presentation, Wyomings youth are increasingly picking jobs in health care and social assistance in particular, working with children and the elderly. The percentage of Wyoming youth working in those fields has increased by 47.9% from 2013 to 2023. My guess would be theyre working in entry-level positions, helping more experienced staff, Moore told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, after noting that they dont have access to the specific positions youth are filling. They may also be working in jobs like clerical and cleaning jobs. Just because theyre working in the health care industry doesnt necessarily mean theyre working in health care jobs. A major priority of the council is to prepare young people for the workforce and encourage them to stay in Wyoming, which was referenced throughout the council meeting. Chairman Eric Trowbridge noted that he was encouraged by the data presented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its promising to see increasing numbers of young individuals entering employment, as well as a noticeable diversification in the industries they are choosing particularly the migration toward health care and social services over the past decade, Trowbridge said in email correspondence. With the exception of a period of economic downturn in 2020, the youth working population in Wyoming has been consistently growing. Not only are more Wyoming teens working, theyre working more quarters out of the year, on average, or for more months out of the year. For many years, the average number of quarters worked for youth ages 15-19 annually was 2.6. In other words, youth were working about seven months out of the year, on average, Moore explained. In 2023, that jumped to 2.8 quarters youth were working closer to eight to nine months out of the year in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the council generally found the increase in youth workers encouraging, youth participation in the workforce is still not as strong as it was prior to the 2008 recession. Moore noted that the longer downtrend in teenage workers was not unique to Wyoming. Labor force participation rate for youth ages 16 to 19 in the U.S. declined from about 52% during 2000 to approximately 35% for the last 15 years. The 2008 recession pushed national labor force participation for youth below 40%, and it never recovered, Moore told the council. The observed increase since 2019 doesnt return the state to the same percentage of youth workers that was common in 2000, but its still a positive trend. One of the biggest positives of having more youth in the workforce is more young people learning soft skills things like communicating with co-workers, showing up on time and working a schedule, Moore said via email correspondence. One of the concerns a few years ago was people who forgo working in their teens might not have developed those skills, and may struggle if they dont start working until their early 20s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the research is relatively new, its still difficult to tell what has motivated teens to rejoin the workforce, Moore told the WTE in email correspondence. The data also is not able to capture how working for credit programs in schools has impacted these numbers. These trends are positive signs for Wyomings future, Trowbridge said. As a Workforce Development Council, we remain committed to supporting our youth, creating opportunities to help them thrive and ensuring they stay engaged in Wyoming as we work to grow the states economy and workforce. WAUKESHA - In the nearly decade-long path from crime to a change in commitment status, much has changed in the case revolving around three girls in what became internationally known as the Slender Man attempted homicide case. From the start, the case had always involved questions about the mental health of the two girls accused in the attack. The latest twist was a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge's decision Thursday to allow Morgan Geyser the defendant originally accused of masterminding the attack on her friend, Payton Leutner, on May 31, 2014, in a wooded area behind a Waukesha city park to proceed with a conditional release plan from an Oshkosh mental facility. At least as it pertains to Geyser, here's what you should know about what has changed. Why was Geyser originally mentally evaluated for the Slender Man attack? As the investigation unfurled after Leutner, stabbed 19 times, crawled desperately toward a trail for help, it became evident that the attack was unusual and motivated by irrational factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier, both 12 years old at the time, claimed they were trying to appease the fictional online character Slender Man, whom they feared would harm them. Not surprisingly, that led to competency evaluations from the start. What did mental health officials initially suspect as Geyser's medical condition? While she was eventually deemed competent to proceed with criminal proceedings after an earlier ruling to the contrary, Geyser was immediately evaluated to see how the Slender Man fixation had emerged in her mind. Doctors in 2015 became confident Geyser was suffering from a form of schizophrenia, which itself can take many forms. (Weier was later judged to have fallen under Geyser's influence without the same underlying mental condition. Weier was granted conditional release in 2021 and freed from electronic monitoring in 2023, according to court records.) Geyser began a series of long-term contact with several mental health professionals connected to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. They included Drs. Brooke Lundbohm, Deborah Collins and Kenneth Robbins. Each evaluated Geyser on more than one occasion, sometimes on behalf of the state. How did Geyser's mental evaluations change over time? The technical shifts in evaluations are pretty fine, one which only mental health professionals can articulate well. But Geyser's mental state became more frequently referred to as a psychotic spectrum disorder, the cause of which appeared to be genetic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, at later points, mental health experts at least considered whether trauma-induced factors, including Geyser's familial sexual abuse involving Geyser's father, influenced her behavior and mental state. Experts also mentioned the possibility of a form of autism as a contributing factor. Those details weren't necessarily fully shared publicly due to Geyser's rights to privacy. Why did mental health experts shift their views to eventually support Geyser's petition for conditional release? The most dramatic shifts came in the past year from Lundbohm and Collins. Both had recommended against Geyser's conditional release as recently as April 2024, during a hearing for a third unsuccessful petition. The reason for their shift stemmed primarily from their view that Geyser would no longer benefit from a pure commitment to the Oshkosh facility. Along with Robbins, who had earlier testified for the defense, they acknowledged that the facility could not fully prepare Geyser to live in society because it lacked the ability for normal socialization. That was particularly important for a young adult seeking maturity. (Geyser is now 22.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Note, the ruling for conditional release doesn't fully negate Bohren's 2018 ruling for a 40-year commitment term. It only changes how her care should proceed as Geyser addresses mental health challenges. What happens now, given Geyser's conditional release? A conditional release means that Geyser is not free from requirements of mental health care, nor is Geyser free to resume a life of someone who has never been convicted of a crime. (Geyser wasn't, having been found not guilty by reason of mental defect.) Before Geyser is released from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, Geyser must come up with what's called a conditional release plan. It involves coordinating Geyser's goals and continued health care with Winnebago officials, creating a document that ultimately must be approved by the courts in this case, Judge Michael O. Bohren, who presided over Geyser's trial and subsequent petitions for release. The plan will likely include living at a group home for some time, practical plans for employment, supervised movements outside of the group home (including the use of a GPS bracelet to track Geyser's movements constantly), and socialization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan is expected to be prepared by mid-February. A hearing set for 9 a.m. March 3 in Bohren's Branch 1 court will consider the adequacy of that plan. Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Geyser's mental path in Slender Man case NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) On behalf of the plaintiffs, New Orleans attorney Morris Bart is suing the City of New Orleans and its contractors for failing to prevent the New Years terror attack. Bart and his attorneys represent six survivors of the attack and the father of Brandon Taylor, who was killed. This marks the first lawsuit to be filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court more than a week after the murderous attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants in the case include the civil engineering company Mott MacDonald, LLC., Hard Rock Construction, their insurers and the City of New Orleans. Our investigation has revealed this responsibility of Mott MacDonald and their contractor, Hard Rock. Now, where the city fits into the picture, at this point, were not quite sure, explained Bart. New Orleans council investigating missing bollards ahead of Bourbon Street attack The longtime civil attorney says during a meeting this past April, Mott MacDonald informed the city that their bollard system needed to be replaced. Mott MacDonald gives a terrorist scenario that involves someone driving a Ford F-150 truck down Canal Street, turning right on Bourbon Street, and then ramming into people going down the street, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exact scenario happened eight months later when a Texas man, driving an F-150, plowed through the crowds on Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Years Day. The lawsuit states despite admitting that upgraded sidewalk bollards were needed, Mott MacDonald did not recommend a bollard system that would prevent a speeding vehicle from traveling onto the sidewalk. The engineers allegedly recommended a cheaper option that would protect from speeds below 12 miles per hour. Bart continued, So, clearly, all the injuries, in my opinion, in the second and third block of Bourbon Street were preventable had the system been used, or when they did remove the bollards, the company that actually envisioned this terror scenario should have known to put in bollards in its place while they were doing the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bart says hes not concerned about the city receiving qualified immunity if a judge rules it as general negligence. NOPD officials talk Super Bowl, Mardi Gras safety He and his attorneys are now focused on the discovery phase of the case and preventing future attacks. Hopefully, this will bring about immediate change so that everybody can go in the French Quarter, everybody can enjoy themselves without looking over their shoulder and being afraid that something horrible like this can occur again, said Bart. At this point, Bart says, theyre not sure if the New Orleans Police Department is at fault, which is why the department is not named in the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WGNO reached out to the defendants. A spokeswoman for the city said their office doesnt comment on pending litigation. In a statement, Mott MacDonald said it is unable to comment on pending litigation. WGNO has not heard back from Hard Rock Construction. A copy of the lawsuit can be read in full below. File-Stamped-Copy-Bourbon-Street-LawsuitDownload Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Russia is closely watching U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's statements about a possible military takeover of Greenland, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on Jan. 9. Peskov's comments come after Trump on Jan. 7 refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to seize control of Greenland, which he said the U.S. needs for "economic security." Russia is monitoring the situation due to its "strategic interests" in the Arctic region, Peskov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Arctic is a zone of our national interests, our strategic interests," Peskov said. "We are interested in preserving the atmosphere of peace and stability in the Arctic zone. We are watching the rather dramatic development of the situation very closely, but so far, thank God, at the level of statements." Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. It houses both Danish and U.S. military bases and has vast reserves of mineral wealth. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to Trump's comments by saying Greenland is "not for sale" and that its future belongs to the people of Greenland. Other European officials, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and E.U. chief diplomat Kaja Kallas, also made statements defending the territorial integrity of Greenland. Peskov criticized the response of E.U. leaders as overly timid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Europe reacts very timidly and it is of course scary to react to Trump's words, therefore Europe reacts very cautiously, modestly, quietly, almost in a whisper," Peskov said. Russia's growing ambitions and military presence in the Arctic have prompted other nations, notably Canada and the U.S., to revise their security strategies in the region. Trump, who returns to the White House on Jan. 20, has touted an expansionist agenda that includes taking over Greenland, seizing the Panama Canal, and annexing Canada. In the same Jan. 7 press conference, he blamed U.S. President Joe Biden and Kyiv's NATO aspirations for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read also: Despite Trumps claims, Russia didnt invade Ukraine because of NATO Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) Amid the loss and destruction from this weeks wildfires, a distraught mother whose daughters school burned down encountered California Governor Gavin Newsom during a visit to the Palisades. The interaction was caught on camera by Sky News. Longtime Palisades resident Rachel Darvish was talking to the outlets Martha Kelner when she spotted Newsom getting into his SUV. Governor, you got a second? she hollered to Newsom. Governor! Governor! I live here, governor; that was my daughters school governor. Please tell me what youre going to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A security guard for the governor stood between the two with Darvish, assuring him, Im not going to hurt him, I promise. Newsom told the lawyer he was on the phone with President Joe Biden as she approached him. Im literally talking to the president right now to specifically answer the question of what we can do for you and your daughter, he assured her. As he explained, Darvish asked if she could listen in on the conversation because she didnt believe him. The governor then showed Darvish that he tried calling the president five times but could not get through. Why is the president not taking your call? Darvish asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because its not going through, Newsom said, noting the poor cell service in the fire-stricken area. Darvish continued her pleas with the governor, saying she wanted to be present when Newsom and Biden spoke on the phone. Newsom calmly told her he was calling the president to immediately get reimbursements, individual assistance and to help. He then explained and offered his sympathies to Darvishs daughter, adding that he has four kids himself. Everyone went to school there they lost their homes. They lost two homes because they were living in one home and building another, Darvish emotionally explained. Governor, please tell me what youre going to do with the president right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom told her he was getting the resources to help rebuild, but Darvish still had questions. Why was there no water in the hydrants? Is it going to be different next time? He then told her, It has to be, of course. Darvish said she would fill hydrants herself and asked if he would do that. I would do whatever I can, he explained. Darvish was referring to the issue of hydrants going dry during the firefight in the Palisades. On Wednesday, officials said the massive demand for water led to crews dealing with dozens of dry hydrants that had diminished water pressure and, in some cases, no water at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why did fire hydrants go dry for crews fighting the Palisades Fire? But Darvish wasnt convinced, holding back tears and saying that she believed Newsom and the government werent doing their part. Do you know theres water dripping over there, Governor? Theres water dripping out there, you can use it, she said pointing behind Newsom. I appreciate it; Im going to make a call to address everything that I can right now, including making sure people like you are safe, he explained to her. Can I have an opportunity to at least tell people that youre doing what you say youre doing? Could somebody have a contact? Can I have your contact information? Darvish asked before Newsom directed her to his point person and climbed into his SUV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsoms office says theyve spoken with Darvish about connecting her with Recovery Services and local support. The Palisades Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history, had scorched more than 20,000 acres as of Friday morning and was 8% contained. At least 10 people have died in the wildfires that have stretched across metro Los Angeles, with 180,000 under evacuation orders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. HONOLULU (KHON2) Starting Monday, January 13, Oahu drivers should expect heavier traffic, especially during the morning hours, as the University of Hawaii (UH) spring semester kicks off across its six campuses. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The biggest traffic impacts are expected around the UH Manoa campus, where roughly 20,000 students will be heading to class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both directions of the H1 Freeway and nearby surface streets are likely to see significant congestion. Hit-and-run crash involving moped rider under investigation Other UH campuses on Oahu, including Leeward Community College, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu Community College, UH West Oahu, and Windward Community College, will also experience some increases in traffic as students return. While traffic typically increases during the first two weeks of the semester, this years congestion is expected to be lighter than in pre-pandemic years. This is due in part to more courses being offered online or in a hybrid format and many UH employees teleworking up to two days a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news UH is encouraging students, faculty, staff, and administrators to consider alternative transportation options, such as The Bus, the new Skyline rail system, or even biking and walking for those who live nearby. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. DENVER (KDVR) Mountain Views town clerk announced Thursday there were sufficient valid signatures on a petition asking to recall a Mountain View council member accused of shooting a teen in the face. That means if there are no protests to the petition on or before Jan. 21, Council Member Brent Metz will be subject to a recall election. Metz was formally charged with second-degree assault, menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm in September after he allegedly shot a 17-year-old in the face. Driver sentenced for dragging, injuring Brighton police officer with car in 2023 arrest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metz has been a Mountain View town council member since at least 2021. The petition was received on Jan. 6, and on Wednesday, the town clerk announced the recall petition was sufficient. A recall election allows voters to remove an elected official from office before the end of their term. The incident happened on Sept. 10, 2024, when a 17-year-old boy and his friend were in the 23000 block of Pleasant Park Road. The two teenagers told the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office they had hopped a fence to try and talk with the homeowner because they were looking for a good spot to take homecoming photos. No one answered their knocks on the front door, the teens told deputies, so they walked part of the property to try and locate someone. However, at the same time, a resident in the home had called the sheriffs office and her boyfriend, later identified as Metz. Deputies said that when they arrived at the home, they found a 17-year-old bleeding heavily from his face and a bullet hole in the teenagers windshield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While charges were filed against Metz, the sheriffs office said the teens would not face charges because there did not appear to be any malicious intent. Metz is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on Jan. 21. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. CAIRO/GENEVA (Reuters) - Medical aid agency MSF said on Friday it has been forced to suspend its activities at one of the few remaining hospitals in southern Khartoum due to repeated attacks, cutting off yet another lifeline for those who remain in the Sudanese capital. War has been raging in Sudan since April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule, triggering the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis. The hospital, which lies in territory controlled by the RSF, helped treat the victims of frequent airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces, as well as hundreds of malnourished women and children in an area where two neighbourhoods have been judged at risk of famine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the 20 months MSF teams have worked alongside hospital staff and volunteers, Bashair Hospital has experienced repeated incidents of armed fighters entering the hospital with weapons and threatening medical staff, often demanding fighters be treated before other patients," MSF said in a statement. "Despite extensive engagements with all stakeholders, these attacks have continued in recent months. MSF has now taken the very difficult decision to suspend all medical activities in the hospital." The fighting in Sudan has cut off up to 80% of hospitals in conflict areas, where millions who cannot afford to escape the violence remain. Civilians face frequent air and artillery fire and hunger as supplies are blocked by both warring parties and prices skyrocket. Medical facilities, including MSF-supported ones that have suspended operations, have frequently come under attack by RSF soldiers demanding treatment or looting supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bashair Hospital has served more than 25,000 people, MSF said, including 9,000 hurt by blasts, gunshot wounds, and other violence. "Sometimes dozens of people arrived at the hospital at the same time after shelling or airstrikes on residential areas and markets," MSF said in the statement, citing an incident on Sunday where an airstrike one kilometre away drove 50 people to the emergency room, 12 of them already dead. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir and Emma Farge; Editing by Nia Williams) MSNBCs Katy Tur on Thursday came face-to-face with her childhood home burned to the ground as she toured Los Angeles Pacific Palisades neighborhood, one of the areas in the city thats been devastated by ongoing, deadly wildfires. I dont even know what to say, said Tur, a Los Angeles native, after being silent for more than 10 seconds as she took in the sight of the property in ruins. Tur then pointed to where her familys garage, living room, kitchen and bedrooms used to be as she reflected on going to high school and college from the now-destroyed home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I threw my first house party; the cops showed up. I lost my grandmother when I was living here, to lung cancer. My parents lost their entire business. My dad almost died. My dog was eaten by a coyote, said Tur, who noted that she was thinking of the bad memories instead of the good ones. She added that her mothers pride and joy was a great, big baby grand piano where she played Chopin in the home. Its really difficult to see this sort of stuff, Tur said of the scene before adding that she still has loved ones in LA despite now living in New York. But just seeing the damage and knowing that your memories, that you had memories connected to a place that is no longer standing. It felt raw for me. And if it feels raw for me, its got to feel unbearable for thousands of people that are going to come back here in the coming days and weeks, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, she went to the heart of Pacific Palisades which includes her former elementary school where she weighed in on whats now completely gone in her old neighborhood. Turs childhood home is among at least 10,000 structures in the Los Angeles area that have been ravaged by the fires, which have killed at least 10 people. Prior to her report on the home, Tur in a heartfelt moment on MSNBC Wednesday talked of having such a hard time following the story of the wildfires because it is so personal. Its my elementary school, I think my childhood homes, its the grocery stores, its the post office, its the car wash. Silly things like the car wash, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You look at the images, and I keep getting videos from friends, and you cant figure out what youre looking at because its unrecognizable. Related... METHUEN, Mass. (WPRI) The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) is waiving adoption fees for dozens of ducks, chickens, sheep, pigs and goats this weekend as it looks to free up much-needed space at Nevins Farm. The MSPCA at Nevins Farm said there are more than 50 farm animals currently available for adoption. The farm is pretty crowded right now, and it couldnt be at a worse time, Nevins Farms Erika Tonnon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO: MSPCA seeks forever homes for cats rescued from hoarding situation Tonnon explained that Nevins Farm typically takes in more farm animals throughout the winter months, primarily because their owners cant provide them with adequate shelter during inclement weather. Those struggling with feed and care also face more challenges in the winter because water freezes and animals cant rely on grass for grazing, Tonnon added. Tonnon said Nevins Farm is over capacity for pigs, and is encouraging residents to take advantage of the waived adoption fee. We recently took in eight pigs from a home, and now we dont have space to help others, she said. We need to have as much space as possible for the urgent intake needs were anticipating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tonnon said among the available farm animals are also dozens of goats rescued from a hoarding situation last spring. We dont often waive fees for goats because theyre generally adopted pretty quickly, but sometimes animals get stuck, she said. (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) Nevins Farms goal is to rehome at least 50 farm animals on Jan. 11. Those interested in adopting must register in advance and can swing by the farm between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Farm animal adoptions are different than those for traditional pets, like dogs and cats, Tonnon said. Some require additional testing for interstate adoptions, so goats, sheep and pigs can go to homes in Massachusetts on the same day, but well need to schedule pick-ups for out-of-state adopters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ducks and chickens will be allowed to go home on the same day regardless of where the adopters live. Nevins Farm is also asking potential adopters to bring photographs of where the animals would be housed on their property. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. JACKSON, Miss (WJTV) As the start of a new tax year began in January, Mississippi is positioned to continue raking in funds from how many relax or even treat medical conditions. Mississippi, like most states, collects taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and cannabis (where legal). These funds generate hundreds of millions of dollars for states across the country, including Mississippi. Below is an overview of the tax structure and how much money each commodity generates based on data from the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR). Alcohol Mississippi is a control state, meaning it exercises complete control over the wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages. This encompasses a distilled spirit or a wine product that contains more than 6% alcohol by weight. After this alcohol is shipped directly to the Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Controls (ABC) Liquor Distribution Center, it sells the products to licensed retailers. The retailers then sell those products to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Total sales of alcohol bought from the ABC totaled $510,020,558. Beer and light wine products are not included and are not distributed by the ABC. The excise tax on sparkling wine and champagne is $1.00 per gallon, other wines are 35 cents per gallon, and distilled spirits are $2.50 per gallon. Additionally, all alcoholic beverage products are subject to an additional 27.5% markup on the wholesale purchase of alcoholic beverages. The ABC made over $120 million in revenues. Close to 75% of that was profit for the agency. Nearly $106 million of that went to the states general fund. Over $14.8 million went to the following: Cities and Counties (Permit Fees) $3,861,024 Department of Mental Health (Alcohol Abuse) $10,994,280 Department of Revenue (Sales Tax) $5,497 Over $27 million went to Mississippis general fund via the beer and wine severance tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can you fly with pot? Heres what the TSA says Cannabis DOR collects a 5% excise tax on medical cannabis cultivation facilities. The excise tax is based on the sales price for which a cannabis cultivation facility sells cannabis flowers or trim to a medical cannabis establishment. The Department is also responsible for licensing, inspection and oversight of medical cannabis dispensaries which includes collection of license fees. Compared to other states, cannabis is not a huge money-maker for Mississippi. In 2024, retail sales surpassed just over $75 million. The $4,646,669 in permit fees and excise taxes collected in fiscal year 2024 went to the general fund. Conclusion Focus on another tax is at the forefront of many at the Mississippi Capitol: the income tax. Some leaders have characterized its elimination as a top priority for the 2025 legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DOR report, about 22.2% of the individual income tax is paid by those making between $50,000 and $100,000 annually. These taxpayers represent about 20.4% of Mississippis taxpayers. Roughly 65% of the tax is paid by those making over $100,000 annually. They represent 17% of the total number of taxpayers. Just over 45.4% of taxpayers reported an income of less than $30,000 annually. Together they paid 3.02% of the total income tax. The individual income tax made up 30.6% of revenues in the state general fund for the 2024 fiscal year. The sales tax made up 38.4% of the fund during the same period. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson made his final State of the City address on Thursday morning. During his address, Stimpson advocated for an increase in the mayors salary, not to benefit him but future mayors. He said in September he would not run for reelection in 2025. Former Mobile Fire-Rescue captain was not wrongfully terminated, jury says Stimpson said the pay bump would motivate more people to run to become Mobiles mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he believes the Mobile mayor should make at least $190,00 annually. He mentioned that the mayor acts as the citys chief executive and administrator in Mobiles form of government. No change in the salary would affect Stimpson, according to city officials, but instead would affect future mayors. Effective Nov. 1, 2021, the Mobile mayors annual salary is $125,000. Arrest made in State Line triple homicide: Greene County Sheriffs Office For reference, a city spokesperson provided several cities mayors salaries and duties: Little Rock, Arkansas Mayor salary: $200,000 The mayor is the chief executive, and the city administrator is the chief administrator. Baton Rouge, Louisiana Mayor salary: $175,000 The mayor is the chief executive. Salt Lake City, Utah Mayor salary: $212,000 The mayor is the chief executive. Charleston, South Carolina Mayor salary: $218,000 The mayor is the chief executive. North Charleston, South Carolina Mayor salary: $218,000 The mayor is the chief executive. Savannah, Georgia Mayor salary: $65,000 Council/manager form of government. The mayor serves as the citys ceremonial head and legislative bodys voting member. The city manager serves as the chief operating officer and makes $260,000 annually. Auburn, Alabama Mayor salary: $45,000 Council/manager form of government. The mayor is a voting member of the council. The city manager administers day-to-day operations and makes $250,000 annually. Mountain Brook, Alabama The mayor is a volunteer with no salary. Council/manager form of government. The city manager is the citys chief operating officer and makes $218,571 annually. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Two witnesses took the stand Friday morning before weather concerns prompted an Horry County judge to temporarily halt testimony on the second day of the murder trial for a woman accused of shooting and killing a coworker at the Nacho Hippo restaurant in North Myrtle Beach in July 2022. Lafredia Todd allegedly shot and killed Quentin Johnson at the restaurant on July 28, 2022. She claimed the shooting was self-defense, but after a three-day stand your ground hearing that ended on Wednesday the judge hearing the case in Horry County Circuit Court denied her immunity. The trial is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testimony began with four witnesses on Thursday after the jury was chosen and resumed on Friday after the judge ruled on a Jackson-Denno motion filed by Todds defense team. Jury members and the media were not allowed in the courtroom to hear the motion, which is a legal tool used to determine whether a defendants confession was obtained voluntarily and whether it should be admissible as evidence during a trial. According to a spokesperson for the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office, Todds statement was ruled not voluntary and will not be used in her trial. The first witness to testify on Friday, Tybraizhia Ford, said that on the night of the shooting, Todd said she was going to call her brother, something that she didnt typically tell her coworkers. Ford testified that she heard two gunshots that occurred just minutes apart on the night of the shooting, including one that did not hurt anyone. It came from the front of the restaurant after she went outside to put food in her car, where she waited before going back inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford testified that the second gunshot came from inside near the back of the restaurant. She said her ears started ringing and she got down on the ground. Ford testified she didnt leave after the second shot and was still at the restaurant when police arrived. She also said she did not see Johnson or Todd after the second shot was fired and that she did not see Todd after officers arrived. She said she did not call police the night of the shooting, even after Todd allegedly said I wonder if theyll let me wear my hair down like this in jail. At one point, the judge granted a request by prosecutors to have jurors leave the courtroom. During that time, prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge discussed hearsay evidence and went over rules to clarify what would be allowed. They also talked about possible exceptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After jurors returned, Ford, while being cross-examined by defense attorneys, said she told a detective that when things were done wrong at Nacho Hippo, Todd would get upset. After additional questions that the judge disallowed because he said they were based on hearsay, Todds defense lawyers asked the jury to have jurors leave the courtroom again. With jurors out of the room, Ford said that on the night of the shooting Johnson told his coworkers that he had a gun on him. She also admitted to telling detectives that Johnson was a hot head. Ford also said Todd would usually stay quiet when Johnson would argue with her at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, when the jury returned, prosecutors continued to question Ford and she testified that no employees at Nacho Hipp ever called the police on Johnson when he made threats before the incident. The second witness to testify on Friday was Chris Sengle, an evidence technician with the North Myrtle Beach Police Department who looked at evidence in the case. He testified about bullet fragments and shell casings that were recovered after the shooting. In the judges stand your ground ruling earlier in the week, he said Todd didnt appear to be scared for her safety and instead appeared to be angry at the time of the shooting. Surveillance video from inside the restaurant was shown during the hearing. Todds defense team argued during the hearing that based on the definition of stand your ground, Todd could use deadly force if she feared serious bodily injury and because Johnson said he had a gun. They also said that many of the witnesses, who were Todd and Johnsons coworkers in July 2022, did not call the police about Johnson because they were afraid of retaliation from him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors then spoke with the judge, saying the case did not meet the definition of self-defense because Todd was not in imminent danger. They argued that she planned to shoot Johnson earlier in her shift because one of Todds coworkers, who took the stand during the hearing, said Todd asked her if they would let her wear her hair out in jail. After the stand your ground motion was denied, Todds defense team asked for a continuance, but prosecutors argued that the defense had already had plenty of time to prepare for the trial after it was delayed twice before. News13 has a team in the courtroom and will have updates on-air and online. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. * * * Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. According to Mike Godwins celebrated law, if an internet discussion goes on long enough, someone will inevitably compare someone else to Hitler. In Thursdays podcast discussion between Elon Musk and Alice Weidel, the leader of the German Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party, it took about half an hour before the two of them got on to Nazism. When Musk expressed concern that Hitler and whatnot was being used to blacken the AfD, Weidel responded that Hitler, far from being a conservative, was in fact both a socialist and a communist. There is something in this but not much. Though clearly not a socialist in the commonly accepted present-day sense, Hitler did describe himself and his movement as socialist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the fuhrer was a violent critic of international capitalism, which he regarded as the instrument by which the Anglo-Saxons and the Jews supposedly enslaved Germany. As I argued in my biography, one of the main drivers of his anti-Semitism was his hostility to international capitalism. He blamed Germanys defeat in the First World War, for example, on the New York stock exchange, which he defined as the headquarters of world Jewry. Hitler lamented that Germany was a colony of international capital, and of the international Jewish finance syndicate. He condemned economic inequality and exploitation, the jarring juxtaposition of poor and rich, and the way in which money was the false God of Mammon. Hitler also violently objected to the handing over of German national assets, such as the railways, to international capital. Right at the end, in the bunker, he inveighed not against the Soviet Union but against the supposed real villains international money and finance conspirators who treated the people of Europe like blocks of shares. Ironically, similar sentiments are to be found among many in the AfD, which is by no means the avatar of libertarian economics which Weidel claims it to be. As Rainer Zitelmann, a noted historian of the Third Reich, has pointed out, the AfD has long since abandoned its former economic liberalism for a Right-wing form of anti-capitalism. Its rhetoric is often indistinguishable from that of the far-Left Die Linke, or the Left populist Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take the prominent AfD politician Bjorn Hocke. He does not condemn all capitalism but rather what he calls the one-sided dominance of capital so that money rules the world. Hocke blames this on globalisation. It is therefore no surprise to find the AfD sympathetic to the two great challengers of the Western international capitalist order, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of the Peoples Republic of China. The suggestion that Hitler was a communist is simply wrong. He regarded communism, like international capitalism, as a mortal Jewish threat to the Reich. Moreover, Hitler did not support state ownership of business, as such, but rather a form of national capitalism in which patriotic large corporations worked closely with the government to promote German greatness. To suggest otherwise is a distortion of history for political purposes. It is true that the epithet far-Right is today flung about with unjustifiable abandon by elements of the media, and by some historians, but the AfD really is far-Right. Some of its leaders have a long record of minimising Nazi crimes. For example, in 2018 the then-head of the parliamentary grouping in the Bundestag, Alexander Gauland, described the Nazi period as a mere bird st in history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AfD is thus not a Conservative party in the Anglo-Saxon sense. Britains Tories have steered well clear of them. Elon Musk should do so too. Brendan Simms is a professor of history at the University of Cambridge and the author of Hitler: Only the World is Enough (Penguin Press, 2019) Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) A Myrtle Beach police officer who was involved in a crash while responding to an incident last month was not at fault for the collision, according to a report from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The crash happened just before 7:20 p.m. on Dec. 22, police said. The crash happened at Oak Forest Lane and Robert Grissom Parkway. A woman was driving east on Oak Forest Lane attempting to turn left onto Robert Grissom Parkway while the officer was traveling south on Robert Grissom Parkway, the report said. The woman failed to yield right of way and was hit by the officer. The officers vehicle ran off the left side of the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All parties were treated for their injuries. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Jan. 9The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday strengthened the state's status as a destination for women seeking abortions, ruling local governments cannot restrict access. The high court struck down several anti-abortion ordinances adopted by conservative cities and counties after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling protecting the right to have an abortion. Justice C. Shannon Bacon wrote in the opinion the local measures violate state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham cheered the decision, saying in a statement "healthcare decisions belong to New Mexican women and their doctors." Lea and Roosevelt counties and the cities of Hobbs and Clovis in eastern portions of New Mexico adopted ordinances aiming to restrict abortion access in 2022. The measures set the stage for a legal battle in a state with some of the most permissive abortion laws in the nation and helped spur legislation in 2023 further protecting abortion services statewide. Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court in 2023 challenging the local ordinances. "The bottom line is simply this: Abortion access is safe and secure in New Mexico," Torrez said during a news conference Thursday in Albuquerque. "It's enshrined in law by the recent ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court and thanks to the work by the New Mexico Legislature." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Look, this is a basic, fundamental right in this state access to health care, in this case abortion," House Speaker Javier Martinez, an Albuquerque Democrat, said at the news conference. "It doesn't take a genius to understand the statutory framework that we have. Local governments don't regulate health care in New Mexico." Town commissioners in Edgewood, a community of about 6,000 people in southern Santa Fe County, passed an anti-abortion ordinance in 2023. Edgewood was not a part of the lawsuit, however, as its ordinance was adopted after the complaint was filed. The municipalities each used the 1873 federal Comstock Act which prohibits mailing abortion-related materials, such as medication, but has long gone unenforced as the legal grounds for their measures. Roosevelt County's ordinance would have allowed any person other than a government employee to bring a lawsuit seeking damages of at least $100,000 for each violation of the Comstock Act, according to a news release from the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in December 2023. Lawyers for the local governments said at the time there was nothing unconstitutional in their actions, arguing their ordinances do not outlaw abortion outright. Justices declined to take up the question of whether the New Mexico Constitution guarantees a right to an abortion. The court also declined to address the municipalities' argument the federal Comstock Act overrides state law. Bacon wrote in Thursday's unanimous opinion, "Our Legislature granted to counties and municipalities all powers and duties not inconsistent with the laws of New Mexico. The Ordinances violate this core precept and invade the Legislature's authority to regulate access to and provision of reproductive healthcare." In 2023, the state Legislature passed House Bill 7, known as the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act, which prohibits local governments from restricting access to abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lujan Grisham, who campaigned on abortion rights in 2022, said as she signed the bill in April 2023, "Today is another huge monumental effort in making sure that access is protected and in statute." The governor also allocated $10 million for an abortion clinic in an effort to expand access as the state saw a surge in out-of-state residents seeking services. She broke ground in September on the state-funded clinic in Las Cruces, which will provide abortion services and other reproductive health care, not only for New Mexicans but also for residents in states with restrictions. "Let me be crystal clear: As long as I'm governor, New Mexico will fight any attempt to limit reproductive healthcare access, whether those challenges come from local ordinances, other states, or the federal government," Lujan Grisham said in a statement Thursday. "Healthcare decisions are personal, and they'll stay that way in New Mexico." Republican Party of New Mexico Chair Amy Barela said in a statement the GOP "stands for the sanctity of life for the unborn and will fight for the right of local communities to govern according to their values." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She called New Mexico's abortion laws are some of the most "extreme" in the nation. Local government officials also weighed in on the ruling. "If that's the Supreme Court ruling on the current state statutes, I believe our local elected officials and our conservative constituents need to take the fight back to the Legislature. That's my personal opinion," Roosevelt County Commissioner Tina Dixon said. "I believe the majority of my constituents are against abortion." Hobbs' anti-abortion ordinance was referred to as a "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinance, a local newspaper reported. Hobbs City Attorney Valerie Chacon wrote in an email Thursday, "The City's stance is that there was no law expressly denying such an Ordinance, moreover that the issue of business registration, particularly businesses located in Hobbs, is a matter of local concern. The Ordinance was enacted to regulate business as we do every other business." NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson is calling on President Biden to take action on critical promises before leaving the White House later this month. Johnson in a Wednesday op-ed in TheGrio urged Biden to take action aimed at promoting transparency in policing, offering clemency for drug offenders with long sentences and eliminating student loan debt. Police accountability has been a front-line issue for Johnson and the group following a number of high-profile police brutality incidents involving members of the Black community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the beginning of his administration, the Department of Justice has also opened more than a dozen pattern-or-practice investigations of systemic misconduct with law enforcement agencies, Johnson wrote Wednesday. We are urging President Biden to include the findings of those investigations in the public database, delivering on his promise to bring about more transparency and accountability in policing. Biden signed a 2022 executive order that created a database to track law enforcement misconduct in an effort to propel federal investigations of wrongdoing. Johnson pushed for the administration to offer more transparency on the data it shares publicly. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have long pushed for legislation limiting qualified immunity for police amid other stipulations through the dormant George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill is named after George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons additional requests included an overhaul of thousands of cases recommended for clemency by the NAACP and the elimination of student loan debt ahead of President-elect Trumps inauguration. Granting clemency to those serving sentences that would be much shorter if they were sentenced today must be a top priority for the president, Johnson wrote. For instance, although the current Department of Justice has ended the widely condemned crack vs. powder cocaine sentencing disparity, far too many Black Americans who were sentenced before the policy changed remain incarcerated. He noted that Black people make up about 14 percent of the total U.S. population but account for 39 percent of those in federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clemency is about so much more than pardoning any individual. Its about strengthening communities and reuniting families, Johnson wrote in his op-ed. Biden commuted the sentences of more than 30 inmates on death row in recent weeks and in 2022 pardoned many federal and D.C. offenses for simple marijuana possession. Johnson urged Biden to take additional action on student loans through one of his final acts in office, an issue that the administration has long pushed and wrestled over in the courts. Now, with just weeks left, President Biden has the opportunity to minimize the financial hardships that so many Americans will feel under Donald Trump by alleviating or canceling altogether the burden of student debt, Johnson wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He declared that these three executive actions would lead the country to a more perfect union, and ensure a freer and safer America for all. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) For the first time since he was charged, we now know the name of the suspect in the homicide death of ten-year-old Lily Peters. The suspect is 16-year-old Carson Peters-Berger. Peters-Berger has had his name unsealed in Chippewa County Court Documents. Lily Peters was reported missing the night of April 24, 2022, and the next morning, her body was found in woods in Chippewa Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peters-Berger is charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of sexual assault. In September, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled that the 16-year-old will be tried in adult court. During an arraignment in December, not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf for all three courts. During that arraignment, a judge said the trial could be delayed until 2026. Peters-Bergers next court appearance is a motion hearing scheduled for June 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud. The emergency overflow shelter operated by Metros Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is extending its operating hours during this weekends winter storm, but it will close for six hours in the middle of the day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The shelter, at 3230 Brick Church Pike, will open at 4 p.m. those days and close at 10 a.m. Where to go during the day Those moved out of the emergency overflow shelter in the morning who need a place to stay during the day can go to places with day shelters like Room In The Inn and Nashville Rescue Mission until 3 p.m., at which point they can transition back to Metro's overflow shelter. An emergency youth shelter for ages 13-17 is available at the Oasis Center this weekend, an employee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the places typically available to people without shelter, like libraries, are closed Friday and this weekend. Facing this challenge, a group of advocates on Friday were giving out gift cards to fast food restaurants to people left in the cold, India Pungarcher, associate director for advocacy at the nonprofit Open Table Nashville, said, noting that the Nashville Korean Presbyterian Church provided them with the gift cards. Transportation is available to emergency overflow shelter Transportation is provided to Metro's emergency overflow shelter from WeGo Central at 400 Charlotte Avenue. Take the number 23B bus, departing from bay 24, according to OHS. Volunteers are needed to help people seeking shelter find the right bus route, OHS said. Sign up here. A free shuttle service to the shelter is also available, with stops including the Nolensville Pike Walmart, City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison and several others. See all stops here. Staffing preventing city from operating shelter round the clock The emergency overflow shelter typically opens when temperatures fall below freezing for three consecutive hours and after other long-term shelters are full. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell said in a post to the social media site BlueSky that the city could not logistically keep the shelter running all day and night throughout the storm. We could not maintain security and staffing levels to keep it operating continuously through the weekend, but we're trying to ensure that it can open early Fri-Sun., OConnell wrote. OHS Director April Calvin said the shelter will be cleaned and sanitized when it is closed. Pungarcher and several other people on social media said she was "disappointed and disheartened" that people had to leave the shelter in the middle of the storm Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know that everyone's overworked and drowning, especially when we have weather like this, but this happens every year," Pungarcher said. "So as a city, we need to anticipate this and better prepare." OConnell said on BlueSky the current system is not anyones ideal and that the city is looking to have provider partners in the mix by later this year helping handle shelter services. Ways to help In addition to helping direct people to the right bus station, there are other ways to volunteer or donate to help people who need shelter during the cold. Hands On Nashville's website has several volunteer opportunities through nonprofit organizations, including helping with the Salvation Army's "Cold Patrol" by conducting street outreach to provide information and resources to the homeless population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers can also sign up on Open Table Nashville's website to help with winter canvassing, providing supplies, information and rides to shelters for those out in the cold. People can also donate supplies to Open Table things that people need to survive the cold, like cold weather sleeping bags, propane, thick socks, gloves, hats and blankets, for example. Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville cold weather homeless shelter alters hours amid winter storm Middle Tennessee will experience a major winter storm on Friday, with significant snow accumulation and major travel impacts continuing into early Saturday. Snow totals across the region are anticipated to be between three and six inches although higher accumulation is expected between Lawrenceburg and Clarksville, where snow totals are likely to reach eight inches. Areas along the Tennessee-Alabama border will receive the lowest totals. When will the snowfall peak? When will the snow stop? While most areas will just experience snow, some southern counties are likely to receive a mix of sleet and rain along with snow, sometime between noon and 5 p.m., the weather service said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snow is expected to gradually decrease by Friday evening and most of it will move out of Middle Tennessee by midnight, said the weather service, although travel impacts will continue into Saturday. Freezing temperatures to impact road conditions through the weekend Sunday is expected to be warmer with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Temperatures will then plunge below freezing Sunday night, freezing over any snow that hasn't melted and will likely cause some travel issues especially on secondary untreated roads and walkways, said the weather service. Another push of cold air into will move into the region on Tuesday. Beginning Tuesday night and through the end of the week, lows will fall into the teens with highs in the 30s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville weather: When will it stop snowing in Middle Tennessee PowerSchool, a national student software company, announced this week that a data breach may have compromised the personal data of students and teachers in school districts across the United States. Some Vermont schools have already reported being affected. The California-based K12 student software system, is used by roughly 16,000 customers and supports millions of students nationwide. PowerSchool wrote in a letter to customers on Tuesday, that it became aware of a successful cybersecurity hack on December 28, involving unauthorized access to data through compromised credentials. While the company noted the data accessed mostly include contact information, like names and addresses, some districts may have included more sensitive information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an instance like this where there is a data breach, I think its important to stay in contact with organizations that hosted your data that were breached and be aware of any communications that they are putting out and follow instructions from them, Ryan McLiverty, a Vermont Intelligence Center Cybersecurity Analyst. McLiverty says 39 school districts in the state use the software, but he could not confirm how many the breach had affected as of Thursday. Champlain Valley School District Superintendent, Adam Bunting, confirmed it was among those impacted in a letter to families. In the letter, he wrote, The Agency of Education is actively working with PowerSchool to determine the next steps. McLiverty says a few ways to protect your data include using a password manager, having a variety of strong passwords, using multi-factor authentication, monitoring your financial accounts and being aware of who is collecting your data and how it might be used. In the case of identity theft, he recommends putting a freeze on your credit and letting financial institutions and law enforcement know as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What cyber criminals might be after is information that they could use to negatively manipulate either your finances or your credit, said the cyber analyst. Zoie Saunders, The Secretary of Education, wrote to superintendents in a letter encouraging them to reach out to the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust or their insurance provider for immediate assistance. The letter also shared a link to a security breach guidance document published by the Vermont Attorney Generals Office. In an email, a spokesperson from The Agency of Education wrote the agency would continue to, work with districts and remain in contact as the full impact of the incident unfolds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. MILAN After NATO announced last month that it would beef up its naval presence in the Baltic Sea, Finnish media reported that the military alliance is expected to deploy up to 10 warships to protect undersea cables in the area against possible sabotage. Allies held an emergency meeting on Dec. 30 at NATOs headquarters to assess possible ways to enhance the security of critical underwater infrastructure following the suspected deliberate damage of the Estlink 2 submarine cable between Finland and Estonia. In order to maintain vigilance, increase situational awareness and deter future incidents, NATO is enhancing its military presence in the Baltic Sea, a statement issued by the organization said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will entail sending up to 10 ships to guard underwater infrastructure, which would include both NATO assets as well as vessels from member states that may remain at sea until April, the Finnish newspaper Yle reported on Jan 7. The Gulf of Finland will continue to be patrolled by Finnish and Estonian ships in particular, it added. The military alliance does not have a Baltic fleet per se, rather operating Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, or SNMG1, an quick-reaction force consisting primarily of destroyers and frigates. The fleets former Danish commander handed over its command to Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Arjen S. Warnaar in a ceremony held in Norway on Jan 9. British-led force to use AI in tracking Russias shadow fleet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Estonian ERR news outlet, SNMG1 will operate on a more frequent basis in the Baltic region in the future. If the Russians see that we are present there, the likelihood of such sabotage acts immediately decreases, because saboteurs can be caught in the act, and once caught, its much easier to deal with them, Warnaar was quoted by the publication as saying. These reports have not yet been confirmed by NATO officials. A criminal investigation is currently pending with Finnish authorities regarding the oil tanker Eagle S, which, while sailing under the flag of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, is suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet of vessels transporting sanctioned-Russian crude and oil products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have said they believe that the ship may have been responsible for causing the disconnection of Estlink 2. The Gulf of Finland benefits from a ship reporting system, the GOFREP, which requires all vessels entering the area to report their destination, allowing officials to monitor vessel movements and stop them if they deviate from their projected course. Estonia has also launched its own naval operation to safeguard the Estlink power cable. (Bloomberg) -- NATO is increasing its surveillance operations in the Baltic Sea region with two ships deployed to the area following suspected sabotage of undersea cables between Finland and Estonia. Most Read from Bloomberg The move was unveiled on Friday by Finlands Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who called on policymakers to increase technical surveillance of the area, noting that it is impossible to monitor all submarine activity with ships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A wider presence in the area by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has a calming and stabilizing effect and we are very pleased about the decision, Valtonen told reporters in Helsinki. The decision comes after Finland retrieved the anchor of a tanker, Eagle S, from the seabed as it probes aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference of communications in the cable breach incident that happened in late December. The vessel, sailing under the Cook Islands flag, has been identified as a member of the so-called shadow fleet transporting Russian petroleum products. The incident is the third in about 15 months in which a ship anchor has ruptured underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, and prompted Estonia to send its own military vessel to patrol one of two subsea electricity cables with Finland in late December. Finland and Estonia are co-hosting a summit with NATO members from around the Baltic Sea in Helsinki on Tuesday to discuss measures to secure critical assets on the seabed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Ott Tammik. (Adds Estonian military vessel deployment in second paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NATO's standing maritime group is to set off from its base in the German port of Kiel for the Baltic Sea to monitor critical underwater infrastructure following several suspected acts of sabotage, the group's commander said on Friday. The group had been concentrating on the North Sea, but recent tensions in the Baltic Sea have resulted in a change of priorities, Erik Kockx said at the Kiel naval base. "We are needed elsewhere," Kockx said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dutch Luymes and the German minesweeper Datteln are part of the group, with more vessels expected to follow later. At a press conference in Helsinki on Friday, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Finland was stepping up its efforts to protect infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. She spoke of the two NATO ships that were being sent to patrol the area, adding that other activities are also being expanded. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany would also participate "with a strong contribution" in the increased NATO presence in the Baltic Sea. "We know that Russia is attacking Western states with hybrid warfare," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pistorius said the details would be coordinated among NATO members, adding that the stronger presence sends a clear signal that sabotage and destruction will not be tolerated. NATO's Baltic states to meet next week The announcement came ahead of a summit of NATO countries bordering the Baltic Sea in Helsinki next Tuesday, at which Valtonen said she hopes allies will agree on further, longer-term measures. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys also spoke out in favour of further measures against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships used to circumvent sanctions. "The Baltic Sea is the most important gateway for Russia's oil exports and we must stop this," he said during a visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, the "shadow fleet" is an "instrument in hybrid activities" and poses a threat to the environment, he said. Budrys, along with his Estonian colleague Margus Tsahkna, emphasized that international rules and national regulations must be adapted in order to respond to incidents in the Baltic Sea. Russia's 'shadow fleet' Russia has long been accused of circumventing a Western price cap on Russian oil exports to third countries by using a "shadow fleet" of ships that are not in the hands of Western shipping companies and are insufficiently insured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A submarine power cable running between Finland and Estonia, as well as several communication cables, were damaged in the Gulf of Finland at the end of December. Finnish investigators suspect that the oil tanker Eagle S, sailing under the flag of the Cook Islands, caused the damage intentionally and are therefore investigating possible sabotage. The European Union believes the Eagle S belongs to Russia's "shadow fleet." Investigators have now begun to examine the recovered alleged anchor from the detained Eagle S tanker. They want to confirm that it is the ship's anchor and determine when it came loose from its chain. Investigations have so far led to the discovery of an approximately 100-kilometre-long drag mark on the seabed. NATO's standing maritime group is to set off from its base in the German port of Kiel for the Baltic Sea to strengthen security and monitor critical underwater infrastructure following recent sabotage concerns. The group had been concentrating on the North Sea, but recent tensions in the Baltic have resulted in a change of priorities. "We are needed elsewhere," said the new commander, Erik Kockx, at the Kiel naval base. Kockx, who is from Belgium, said that the shipping routes and underwater infrastructure of the Baltic Sea are of strategic importance for NATO and are vital for the economy and security of its members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO is strengthening its presence in the Baltic Sea region to monitor shipping and protect communication cables. There have been several suspected acts of sabotage in the region in recent months. The Dutch Luymes and the German minesweeper Datteln are part of the group, with more vessels expected to follow later. Belgium has assumed command of NATO's Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), taking over from Germany, which led the unit for the past year. Over the past few months, the unit reportedly found 53 historical mines and detonated 38 of them. The rest have been disposed of in other ways. A total of 120 nautical square miles have been searched. NATO has taken over air defenses in Poland from the US just days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a NATO spokesman, with questions looming about the incoming administrations approach to the alliance and to Ukraine. NATO assumed command and control from the US on Thursday, said Col. Martin ODonnell, and will help to safeguard logistics nodes in Poland that are needed to continue delivering aid crucial to Ukraines war effort against Russia. The move is part of a broader effort that has been in the works for months to shift the burden of helping Ukraine from the US to European countries, amid questions over whether US support would continue under the Trump administration. NATO allies have been bracing for US support for Ukraine to shrink over the next year. Trump has questioned the value of aid to Ukraine and the US commitment to NATO, and while he has said he wants to end the war he has not yet weighed in on whether his administration will continue providing military assistance to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the imminent transfer of power, the US has worked to transition aid to Ukraine from a US-led effort to a NATO-led mechanism in part to Trump-proof the assistance, CNN has reported. That work is ongoing, with NATO shouldering more and more responsibility every day, said ODonnell, a spokesman for NATOs Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. The Biden administration has tried to leave Ukraine in the strongest possible position as it prepares for the incoming Trump administration, both on the battlefield and in the event of negotiations. On Thursday, the US announced another $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, the final expected package from the outgoing leadership. Over the past month, NATO has slowly begun taking over responsibilities from the US effort to assist Ukraine, known as Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), which handled the flow of Western weapons and equipment to Kyiv. Air defenses in Poland, now under the command of NATO, are a key part of protecting the logistics hubs that enable the flow of those weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another critical element in aid to Ukraine has been the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), a meeting of approximately 50 countries that have supported Ukraine with weapons and equipment. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin led the Biden administrations last meeting of the UDCG at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday, challenging the other countries to keep the forum alive. It is not yet clear whether the Trump administration will continue to chair the forum, or whether a European country will have to take over. We must not stop now, Austin said at a news conference on Thursday. The coalition to support Ukraine must not flinch. It must not falter. And it must not fail. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com With only about 50,000 commercial and residential natural gas customers in Maine, there is a looming question about how much it will continue to contribute to the states energy mix. (Photo by Bill Oxford/Getty Images) Maine was late to the party on natural gas, relative to other states, said outgoing Public Advocate William Harwood. That changed with the construction of two pipelines the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline and the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System that fed into the state from Canada, but Harwood said the predicted explosion of natural gas use was smaller than anticipated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With only about 50,000 commercial and residential natural gas customers in Maine, there is a looming question about how much it will continue to contribute to the states energy mix. Harwood and environmental advocates would like to see its use wind down in the coming years, but others say the resource is the stopgap needed for Maine to reach its clean energy goals. In January 2024, the states Public Utilities Commission (PUC) said it would investigate just how much of a role natural gas will play in Maines future. Harwood and others are asking when that study will begin, given the start of a new legislative session and, with that, the opportunity to impose restrictions on the public utility. Its a small, but important piece of the problem that we have to get a handle on, Harwood said. To say that natural gas is in the same league as heating oil or gasoline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions in Maine would not be fair, Harwood said, but addressing climate change will require an all-of-the-above approach to curbing the use of all fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be hard as hell to get there and we cant leave natural gas out of that discussion, he added. PUC to study future of natural gas this year In December 2023, Rep. Stanley Zeigler (D-Montville) introduced a bill that sought to limit natural gas expansion in Maine. His proposal drew pushback from gas utilities. Ultimately, lawmakers stripped back the bill to a study of the role of natural gas in Maines efforts to reach its climate goals, which include achieving 100% clean energy by 2040. Other states have conducted similar studies, including Massachusetts. However, that bill was never signed into law and in June died on the study table where lawmakers place successful bills if they involve legislative studies. Even though the legislative study failed, the PUC told Maine Morning Star that it still plans to open an inquiry to evaluate the future of natural gas in the state later this year, as resources permit, noting that there is no required timeline by which the agency is required to conduct its study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Shapiro, climate and clean energy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council of Maine, said the timing is right for the commission to open the inquiry. Harwood, who is retiring at the end of January, said he would support another bill to limit expansion, like the one introduced last session, but he fears it would further delay the commission from completing its study. Were sort of crying in the wilderness saying, Somebody help us study this problem, Harwood said. Two schools of thought on natural gas While the state waits for that analysis to help guide utilities into the future, Harwood explained there are generally two schools of thought on how natural gas factors into a more climate-friendly energy mix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since it is cleaner than coal or oil, some view it as a bridge to more reliance on renewable energy sources as dirtier fossil fuels come offline. Others want to scale back its use, given that it still presents environmental risks. They argue that because there are already alternatives (such as high-efficiency heat pumps to heat homes), utility companies shouldnt be laying new lines or building more infrastructure that ratepayers may end up being responsible for as natural gas is phased out. Its not quite viewed with the same disdain as oil but nor is it embraced the way wind and solar [are], Harwood said. It kinda lives in a no mans land in between. Relative to coal and oil, burning natural gas results in fewer air pollutants and carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. However, it still emits greenhouse gases, particularly methane. There are also public health concerns with its use inside homes and potential for leakage. Though solar and wind are cleaner than natural gas, Gary McAllister, a Portland-based civil engineer, said the problem is that they are intermittent so their generation relies on factors that come and go. Maine has cut back on energy sources that are more polluting but also more reliable, such as coal and oil, so the state needs a stopgap while the renewable portfolio grows, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harwood also said that there arent enough renewables online yet to get the state through peak usage, such as winter evenings, after the sun has already set and people are trying to keep their homes warm. While he wants the state to reduce its dependence on natural gas for generating electricity, he knows it will take more wind and solar to do that. We need something big and bold like offshore wind, Harwood said. But its not just about more panels and turbines; there also needs to be better storage to combat the intermittent nature of renewables McAllister described. In August, Maine was awarded $147 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop what was described as the worlds largest long-duration energy storage system at the former Lincoln Pulp and Paper Mill but that project has yet to get off the ground. Until such a time that grid and/or storage technologies are capable of storing and dispatching several days of demand, Maine will continue to rely heavily on natural gas to maintain a reliable and cost-effective base load, read the 2024 infrastructure report card from the Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While McAllister, who worked on the infrastructure report card, said natural gas can provide that interim reliability, Harwood said using batteries alongside renewables can help Maine mostly reduce its reliance on natural gas to produce electricity. Aside from emissions targets, the Maine Climate Council wrote in the states updated action plan that transitioning away from natural gas can also reduce swings in electricity bills caused by global events, such as Russias invasion of Ukraine. Where it will be hardest to cut back is with industrial use including at paper mills, farms and other factories, Harwood said. One thing Harwood and McAllister agree on is the value that offshore wind could bring to Maines cleaner energy future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pointing to the pending development of a new port that would serve as the hub for a new offshore wind industry, as well as the recent federal sale of four lease areas in the Gulf of Maine, McAllister said that once developers can install those turbines, connect them to the grid and expand energy storage technology, Maine could generate enough domestic electricity to shorten the duration it would need to rely on natural gas. However, it remains unclear whether a lack of support from the incoming Trump administration could stymie those plans. This is one of Maines greatest assets right now, McAllister said, adding that wind on the Gulf of Maine has the potential to power all of Maine and most of New England. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE See snow where you live? Email your videos and photos to newstips@qcnews.com RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency Thursday afternoon in light of the Winter Weather Warning impacting much of the state Friday and into Saturday. Gov. Stein spoke Friday morning from the states Emergency Operations Center at 11:30 a.m. The briefing focused on state preparation efforts, key warnings for the public and fielding questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the briefing, Stein and public safety officials provided updates from the multi-agency storm response effort underway with members of NC Dept. of Transportation, the NC Dept. of Public Safety, the N.C. National Guard and partners in debris removal and infrastructure restoration working around the clock. Live Interactive Radar: Check out the hour-by-hour forecast as snow, freezing rain move into the Charlotte area At this time, our greatest concern is road safety, Gov. Stein said. Precipitation and freezing temperatures tonight will make a mess of the roads on Saturday morning. Unless absolutely necessary, the governor urged people across the state to avoid travel during the storm and after when ice is a primary concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the numbers, an NCDOT spokesperson reported: 1,900 DOT employees and contractors have been involved in preparation work, 3 million gallons of brine have been used to pretreat roadways, 600 truck with plows and spreaders are ready to clear and treat roads, 300 graders are ready to help clear the roads, and 160,000 tons of salt are on standby to treat roads. William Ray, N.C.s Director of Emergency Management said the greatest accumulations of snow are expected in the mountains, the foothills and Piedmont counties north of I-85. Areas along and south of I-85 have the greatest chance of seeing mixed precipitation, Ray added. Watch Gov. Steins news conference Friday here: Hazardous travel conditions are expected today and may continue into Saturday night, Ray said. Stein, who has yet to give his inaugural address, was slated to have a public outdoor inauguration ceremony on Saturday in Raleigh alongside other statewide elected officials, but the approaching storm nixed those plans. Download the Pinpoint Weather app today! iPhone and iPad users, CLICK HERE. Android users, CLICK HERE. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The suspect who was killed by police officers in Kannapolis this week was the same man who was convicted of firing an assault rifle at a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant in 2016. Kannapolis Police say Salisbury resident Edgar Maddison Welch was wanted for felony probation violation when an officer spotted his vehicle Saturday night, Jan. 4. When the officer opened, Welch pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer. After allegedly being told to drop the gun and not complying, officers shot him, and he died Monday at a local hospital. Kannapolis Police explain what led up to officers shooting and killing armed suspect Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, Welch was sentenced to four years in prison for an incident tied to a belief in a Pizzagate conspiracy. He pled guilty to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, and a D.C. charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, now on the U.S. Supreme Court. According to Department of Justice documents, in December 2016, Welch transported firearms that included a 9mm AR-15 assault rifle loaded with approximately 29 rounds of ammunition, a fully-loaded, six-shot, .38-caliber revolver, and a loaded shotgun with additional shotgun shells. Documents show he drove directly to the Comet Ping Pong restaurant, and according to the governments evidence, Welch was motivated, at least in part, by unfounded rumors concerning a child sex-trafficking ring that supposedly was being perpetrated at the establishment. Once inside, customers and employees fled. Then Welch encountered a locked room and discharged his assault rifle multiple times into the door. The site of the Kannapolis fatal officer shooting Saturday, Jan. 4. (Queen City News) The assault rifle and revolver were recovered inside the restaurant. A shotgun also was recovered from the defendants car, along with a box of shotgun ammunition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the years following, social media companies like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter prohibited material targeting a person or group with conspiracy theories like this that have been used to justify violence. From the incident, Welch was ordered to receive a mental health assessment; and to stay away from the restaurant while on release. He also had to pay $5,744 in restitution for property damage he caused during the incident. The State Bureau of Investigation is leading an investigation of the Kannapolis shooting, and Officer Brooks Jones and Officer Caleb Tate are on administrative leave. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Hackers have gained access to a student information system used by North and South Carolina public schools. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction just got notified by the vendor, PowerSchool, about the data breach this week. Union County Public Schools say they, along with the vendor and the state Department of Public Instruction, are all taking this situation very seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school district says its top priority right now is to find out which data files were breached. Many local schools move to online learning, cancel classes due to winter weather on Friday Im not concerned whether some crazy hacker knows my child takes AP or college prep classes, my bigger concern is really more do they know where they live? said Stephanie Esposito, a UCPS parent. Esposito got an email from the school district telling her that her daughters personal information may have been accessed in a data breach through the schools. I guess my brain goes to the worst-case scenario, which is what could someone do with that information, even though they dont have social security numbers and that type of thing, they know where each child goes to school and they have home addresses, said Esposito. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data breach was discovered on Dec. 28, but NCDPI was not told about it until 11 days later. DPI says that hackers stole the credentials of a contract employee of PowerSchool, the information system thats used by schools that was hacked. The criminals then had unauthorized access to student and teacher information. PowerSchool contains things like student schedules, grades, parent information and home addresses. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reports 6,000 more registrations compared to 2023 as deadline for transportation looms UCPS say the system does not have social security numbers or financial information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPI says PowerSchool says that the breach has now been contained and the information deleted. The problem here is that the attackers they can study you, they can see your moves, they can see your patterns, said Chip Florian, CEO of Ciprian IT, a cybersecurity management firm in Charlotte. Florian says school systems and businesses, both big and small, have to budget for regular security awareness assessments, data encryption, employee training and good vendor management. You have to have a great IT team where their main focus is to stay ahead of the criminals, because what we see here is PowerSchool I believe is negotiating with the criminals and relying on them not to release this data, said Florian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Esposito also has a message for other parents to limit what you post on social media. Realize that its everywhere, get LifeLock and keep your business off of Facebook, said Esposito. Lancaster County Schools sent out information from the South Carolina Department of Education telling parents this is what they call an international incident and that state and local schools had no control over the data breach. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent the following information, in part, to parents: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and NCDPI did not have a breach of its in-house data. The breach targeted the vendor, PowerSchool. We do not know what specific data was compromised. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will work alongside NCDPI and PowerSchool to ensure that all required notifications are conducted. Cabarrus County Schools sent the following information, in part, to parents: Cabarrus County Schools will work alongside NCDPI and PowerSchool, to ensure that all required notifications are conducted. It is important to stress that there is nothing that Cabarrus County Schools or NCDPI could have done to avoid this cybersecurity incident. Neither our schools nor DPI have administrative access to the maintenance tunnel where the breach occurred. In the coming days, impacted students and staff will receive notification. Protecting student and educator data is a top priority, and we are taking this matter very seriously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Neal McCaleb was remembered Thursday as an advocate for Native Americans, a public servant and powerful force for improving Oklahomas highways and turnpikes. Services for McCaleb, who died Tuesday at the age of 89, are set for 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond. McCaleb was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1974 and was House minority leader during George Nighs first full term as governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nigh said Thursday that McCaleb was a leader who had a passion for OKlahoma and didnt let political differences get in the way of doing what was best for his state. He was an example of someone who very much wanted to help other people, Nigh said. It wasnt just about him being in office he wanted to be a servant. Neal McCaleb was Oklahoma's first transportation secretary After an unsuccessful run for governor in 1982, McCaleb retired from the state Legislature and was then appointed by Gov. Henry Bellmon to oversee the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and serve as the states first transportation secretary. When Bellmons term as governor ended in 1991, McCaleb became the president of the Oklahoma Good Roads and Transportation Association, a group that lobbied for highway funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was then appointed by Gov. Frank Keating in 1995 to again serve as transportation secretary and director of the state Transportation Department in addition to overseeing the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. During his time in those positions under Bellmon and Keating, McCaleb launched an ambitious road-building program that included reconstruction of Interstate 35 and Broadway Extension and the relocation of Interstate 40 south of downtown. As transportation secretary under Bellmon, he helped guide the $385.4 million construction of the Cherokee Turnpike and the first sections of the Kilpatrick, Creek and Chickasaw turnpikes. During his second stint under Keating, construction started on extensions of the Kilpatrick and H.E. Bailey turnpikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Guest column: As OKC grows, turnpikes become necessary to fight traffic congestion Transportation Department Director Tim Gatz and Turnpike Director Joe Echelle released a joint statement praising McCalebs legacy, saying he left the states highway network forever changed for the better. Spanning three decades, he applied his extensive knowledge to shaping Oklahomas highways, interstates and turnpikes, following the legacy of his father, Burt, who served as ODOT Chief Engineer, Gatz and Echelle said. McCaleb was instrumental in the development of the Capital Improvement Program, known as the Billion Dollar Road Program for the improvement of state highways having been allocated funding from the governor and Legislature in 1997 and 1998 and oversaw bringing Amtrak passenger rail service back to Oklahoma, They added. He expanded turnpike mileage with the John Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City, Creek Turnpike in Tulsa and Chickasaw Turnpike near Ada/Sulphur; and developed advanced electronic toll collection using the PIKEPASS system; among many other accomplishments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCaleb left Oklahoma in 2001 when he was appointed assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior for Indian Affairs by President George W. Bush. He served in that position through 2002, at which time he was named an adviser to Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby. In that role, he was tasked with developing long-term economic development plans. Neal dedicated his life to serving others, Anoatubby said. As U.S. assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Oklahoma secretary of transportation, an Oklahoma state representative and serving multiple roles in the Chickasaw Nation, most recently as ambassador-at-large, Neals legacy of service has impacted countless lives across the United States. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Neal McCaleb, who oversaw highway, turnpike expansions, dead at 89 As firefighters work to contain the slew of brush fires spreading across Los Angeles County, among the emergency responders on Thursday were nearly 800 incarcerated individuals, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed to ABC News. The prisoners, who voluntarily sign up to be a part of the Conservation (Fire) Camps program, are embedded with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crew members (Cal Fire). The participating individuals are paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day plus $1 an hour when responding to active emergencies, according to CDCR. PHOTO: The sun rises over the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles, in the aftermath of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area forcing people to evacuate, in Calif., Jan. 9, 2025. (Maria Alejandra Cardona/Reuters) MORE: California fires live updates: 5,000 structures destroyed in historic Palisades Fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "CDCR Fire Camp Program firefighters are proud to be embedded with CAL FIRE personnel to protect lives, property, and natural resources in Southern California," the law enforcement agency said in a statement. Incarcerated firefighters have been working "around the clock" cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread, according to the agency, which called the program a source of "crucial support" during emergencies. The exact number of hours the incarcerated crew members have worked since brush fires erupted in Los Angeles on Tuesday was not immediately clear. PHOTO: A firefighter sprays water on a house to protect it from the Eaton Fire in the Altadena neighborhood, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (Nick Ut/Getty Images) CDCR's Fire Camp Program operates 35 minimum-security facilities in 25 counties across California -- including two camps designated for incarcerated women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are over 1,800 incarcerated individuals staffing the camps across the state, according to the agency. Participating prisoners have joined the thousands of federal, state and local emergency responders that are battling at least five sprawling wildfires across Los Angeles County. PHOTO: Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a residential building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm, Jan. 9, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) MORE: Here's how to help wildfire victims as California blazes explode in size The largest of the devastating blazes, the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades, has scorched over 19,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and remains entirely uncontained as of Thursday afternoon. The Eaton Fire, in Altadena, has spread over 10,000 acres and is also 0% contained, according to Cal Fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been at least five deaths between the two fires, a number officials warn may rise as emergency efforts continue. More than 180,000 Los Angeles County residents have been ordered to evacuate as wind-driven infernos both big and small spread in the area. Nearly 800 prisoners now helping to battle Los Angeles fires originally appeared on abcnews.go.com SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An over-the-road trucker from Nebraska has been arrested in Bedford County for sex crimes after a six-month-long investigation, according to local authorities. The Shelbyville Police Department (SPD) said Edward Charles Cress, from Kearney, Nebraska, was arrested by SPD detectives on Friday, Jan. 10, after the months-long investigation. Edward Charles Cress (Courtesy: Shelbyville Police Department) CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Cress altered his truck routes to meet a 12-year-old girl for sexual purposes and distributed multiple images and videos of child pornography. Cress faces charges of solicitation of a minor, attempted rape of a child, and two counts of aggravated exploitation of a minor, according to SPD. He is currently being held at Bedford County Corrections on a $500,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (left) speaks to media during an end-of-year roundtable discussion in Lansing, Michigan on Jan. 6, 2025. Photo | Anna Liz Nichols Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said this week that 2024 was a banner year for the department, touting momentum on her legal battle against Line 5 as well as finding justice for crime victims and increasing public safety. The department handles about 40,000 cases each year and not every case makes headlines, Nessel noted to members of the media during an end-of-year roundtable Monday, so its good to call attention to the less publicized efforts that have made a difference in the lives of Michigan families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nessel offered status reports on large cases during the two-hour roundtable with media and remarked on her displeasure in the state lawmakers, who also play a large role in the safety of residents in the state, who decided to boycott the end of session, killing several legislative efforts in their path. Requests for an Oxford investigation November marked three years since four students were murdered by a classmate in a shooting at Oxford High School. The families of the students killed and other survivors have reached a boiling point in requesting that the shooting and the events leading up to it be investigated. The shooter is serving a life sentence, and his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are serving out 10 to 15 year sentences for involuntary manslaughter. But members of the Oxford High School community are demanding that entities like leadership of the school be investigated for any failures to prevent the tragedy. After finger-pointing between local law enforcement agencies and the Attorney Generals Office about next steps in investigating the events leading up to the shooting, Nessel said that shed be willing to mobilize her office to investigate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We especially want to move forward trying to figure out, from a policy standpoint its not just about what should have been done differently, its about what can we do differently in the future to make sure we dont have another Oxford and I think that should be the priority and the main focus, Nessel said. Nessel said that one investigation released by Guidepost Solutions in 2023 was incomplete, although it found that the shooting could have been prevented by leaders at the school. About half of the individuals that investigators requested to talk to declined to be interviewed for the report. The Legislature hasnt allocated any additional funds to support an Oxford investigation, Nessel said. Although thats not an impossible barrier to traverse, its now a matter of what investigators does her office pull from other cases and what resources does it divert from current objectives. Its not that we dont want to do the investigation. We are planning on moving forward, and we are at this point, trying to coordinate with those offices to make sure that we have all their documents, Nessel said. Were gonna be making plans to sit down with family members, and obviously we have to review everything thats already been done, but also we have to figure out how were gonna do it with no additional resources. Environmental work and Line 5 case When Nessel was first running for attorney general in 2018, she promised to shut down the Line 5 oil pipeline running through the Straits of Mackinac. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nessel originally sued Enbridge, the pipelines owner, in state court in 2019 and a lengthy legal battle landed the dispute in a federal district court, a less favorable venue for Nessels case than state court. But following oral arguments in a federal appellate court in March, the case was returned to state court to the jubilation of her office and environmental advocates. Oral arguments on the case are scheduled for Jan. 27 in Michigans 30th Circuit Court in Lansing. We dont believe that Line 5 poses any less risk now than it did when this case was originally filed back in 2019, and were hoping for some success on this case, Nessel said. Again, important for people to know and understand that our hope, our request, is that Line 5 is shut down in an orderly fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another environmental issue facing Michigan is Asian carp. Nessel said she was grateful to work with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as Michigan and Illinois entered into an agreement in the summer unlocking funding to tackle invasive carp entering into the Great Lakes. She also said she looks forward to continuing work to limit PFAS contamination in water, hoping to reach settlements on several PFAS contamination cases before her term ends in 2027 noting previous settlements including the Keeler Brass Company Grand Rapids area contamination settlement reached in 2024. Mackinac Bridge from the U.P., Feb. 6, 2023 | Laina G. Stebbins Organized Retail Crime Unit and FORCE Team Since 2023, the Organized Retail Crime Unit and FORCE Team within the Attorney Generals office has worked to tackle organized retail crime impacting the states businesses and consumers. Since its inception, the office has charged more than 80 defendants in 42 separate cases and recovered over $10 million in merchandise in addition to millions more recovered in cash and cryptocurrency, Nessel said, making Michigan a recognized leader in curbing retail crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first organized retail crime case her office charged, a 22-year-old was sentenced to five to 20 years in prison for orchestrating hijacking hundreds of customers Meijer grocery store mPerks accounts, robbing customers of reward accruals and causing more than 1 million in corporate losses. It was a really good way to start off the work, to demonstrate that we were really serious about doing this kind of work, and also to make sure that the people who had been ripped off were properly indemnified, Nessel said. Operation Survivor Justice and other victim-centered initiatives One area Nessel expressed particular pride in for 2024 was the work her office did in carving additional pathways for survivors of violence to find justice whether that was inside a courthouse or not. Since kicking into gear in August, Operation Survivor Justice in the Michigan Attorney Generals Office has supported local law enforcement in extraditing 16 defendants back to Michigan to face charges of sexual violence. The program works to connect county prosecutors to the federal resources and state funding accessible by Nessels office to get individuals back to Michigan whereas local agencies often have little budget to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nessel also said she looks forward to the newly formed Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Task Force to come up with strategies to address disproportionate rates of violence Indigenous people face in Michigan. Three more clergy abuse reports outlining accusations and convictions in the states Catholic clergy sex abuse investigation were released in 2024. The reports outline finding from the Diocese of Lansing, Gaylord and Kalamazoo totalling more than 600 pages and more than 100 people accused of sexual violence in hundreds of tips. More than 500 people are noted as victims in allegations. I know that it was really impactful for those individuals, even in cases where we couldnt bring criminal charges because the statute of limitations had run, or in some cases, the clergy member was deceased at that point. Its still a means of bringing justice to people and affirming to people the fact that we recognize that this happened to you, and for a lot of people, thats really been life-altering, Nessel said. Theres more than just prosecuting a perpetrator in terms of helping somebody whos been victimized. Outside of her offices work in court, Nessel said she personally visited 20 domestic violence shelters and victim advocacy groups across the state, noting conversation about the Address Confidentiality Program which launched in September 2023. The program, which works to shield the addresses of survivors of sexual and domestic violence and stalking now has 296 participants, Nessel said. The year ahead In 2025, President-elect Donald Trump will once again be at the helm, just like at the beginning of Nessels term. She discussed how her office will handle decisions that come out of his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nessel said she will uphold her duty to defend the people of Michigan against policies that are promulgated from the Trump administration that are either illegal in nature or negatively affect the people of Michigan. But she noted that Michigan voted for Trump in 2024. Donald Trump made his policies very, very clear, and Im not here to be an arbiter of whether I like those policies or not. You might know I did not support him for president, but he won, and so I assume there were a lot of people, both in Michigan and throughout the United States, that wanted to see those policies come into being, Nessel said. And if those policies are promulgated in a way where they are entirely legal, they dont violate the APA [Administrative Procedure Act], they dont violate peoples due process rights or equal protection rights, then you know, elections have consequences. And Democrats have accepted the results of the 2024 election, Nessel said, albeit with disappointment. But unlike Trumps supporters, who she said sowed misinformation and mistrust on the election process, Democrats are honoring the democratic process. Nessel also said her offices prosecution of Republicans charged with submitting fraudulent electoral results on behalf of Michigan in 2020, who falsely claimed that Trump won the state will continue to be prosecuted. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks at a news conference in support of anti-price-gouging legislation on September 10, 2024 in the Michigan Capitol Building. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LAS VEGAS (KLAS) In the wake of the devastating California wildfires, Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto plans to reintroduce a proposal in Congress to better fund fire departments, interagency coordination and recovery efforts. The Western Wildfire Support Act passed out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources last year but failed to get a full-chamber vote before the last congressional session ended. Cortez Masto told 8 News Now she planned to reintroduce the proposal in the coming weeks. In addition to funding professional development and land management programs, the law would help state and federal agencies better coordinate fighting wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation talks about why that coordination is important and why it should be occurring and really mandates our federal partners to engage in those conversations, based on the model in Nevada, Cortez Masto said. The senator highlighted the work of firefighters in northern Nevada battling Septembers Davis Fire. She said better coordination and planning helped save lives and property. The proposal also funds mental health programs for firefighters. In 2021, Cortez Masto pushed for more funding to hire and retain firefighters as part of the Biden administrations infrastructure law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) All five members of Southern Nevadas congressional delegation said they support a Republican proposal to detain immigrants in the country illegally who commit certain crimes. The Laken Riley Act would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses. The U.S. House passed the legislation earlier this week, making the legislation one of the first actions in the newly Republican-controlled Congress after seizing on Rileys murder as a rallying point during the election. Riley was killed last year by a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally and was allowed to stay in the country to pursue his immigration case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada Democratic Reps. Steven Horsford, Susie Lee and Dina Titus were among 48 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill in the House. Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen said they would support the Senate version. I voted to support the Laken Riley Act because Nevadans want solutions that keep our communities safe, Cortez Masto posted Thursday on X after a vote to proceed with the legislation in the U.S. Senate. My priority is to deliver results for our families, and Ill work with anyone to get it done. Rosen told 8 News Now the bill kept Americans safe and was not in stride with other Republican immigration priorities, including planned mass deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill is about people who are arrested for committing crimes, not innocent people who might be going to church or school, the doctors office, and rounding them up as they may have suggested they might do for mass deportations, Rosen said in an interview Wednesday. The Laken Riley Act is about people whove been arrested for committing crimes: a clear difference from people going about their daily lives. The bill also would allow states to sue the federal government if they can demonstrate harm caused by immigrants who enter the country illegally. Last month, an undocumented immigrant who was deported at least twice and repeatedly entered the country killed a Las Vegas Metro police officer in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 15. The House passed the bill last year, but then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not bring it up for a vote when Democrats were in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into the Los Angeles Department of Water of Power amid reports of a loss of water pressure to fire hydrants and limited water resources in the wildfire zones. In the letter addressed to LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quinones and L.A. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella, Newsom wrote, The ongoing reports of loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and to the community. We need answers to how that happened, Newsom continued, explaining his decision to order an independent investigation from state water and fire officials examining the causes of lost water supplies and water pressure. Newsoms letter to LADWP ordering an investigation into wildfire water supply. Jan. 10, 2025. KTLA has reached out to LADWP for a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom concluded the letter by offering assistance and the full technical capacity of the state, adding that he hopes to learn from the lesson of this tragedy. The Palisades Fire, which has destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, erupted on Tuesday on North Piedra Morada Drive in Pacific Palisades and spread rapidly amid hurricane-force Santa Ana winds. At a news conference on Wednesday, Quinones said that by 3 a.m. on Jan. 8, all 1-million-gallon water storage tanks that supply the Palisades hydrants went dry. Of those three tanks, the first ran dry just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, the second before 9 p.m. and the third early Wednesday morning. Beachfront properties are left destroyed by the Palisades Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) We had tremendous demand on our systems in the Palisades, Quinones said. We pushed the system to the extreme. Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On X, formerly Twitter, L.A. Fire Department Public Information Officer Erik Scott acknowledged the water challenges crews were dealing with and added that LADWP proactively filled all available water storage tanks. However, water availability was impacted at higher elevations, which affected some fire hydrants due to limited replenishment of water tanks in those areas, he said. The extreme demand caused a slower refill rate for these tanks. In his letter, Newsom called on LADWP and L.A. County officials to swiftly prepare a comprehensive review examining their local preparations and response procedures. Marc Sternfield at KTLA contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday inviting the incoming leader to California to meet with fire victims, survey the devastation in Los Angeles County and join him in thanking first responders. The invitation, which the governor's office said was emailed to Trump's team, marks a change in tone in the political battle between Newsom and Trump. "In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines," Newsom said. "Hundreds of thousands of Americans displaced from their homes and fearful for the future deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Newsom's letter to Trump Trump has been a vocal critic of Newsom since the fires began and blamed the governor and "his Los Angeles crew for the disaster, though the Republican's claims that a lack of water in Southern California led to a shortage for firefighters have been widely debunked. In a briefing earlier in the day with President Biden, Newsom spoke out against the misinformation and lies. It breaks my heart, as people are suffering and struggling, that we're up against those hurricane forces as well, Newsom said. It affects real people. Trump previously traveled to California as president to survey fire damage after the Paradise fire in 2018 and a spate of wildfires in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor on Friday also called for an investigation into the water supply problems that left fire hydrants dry and hampered firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades. Staff writer Faith Pinho contributed to this report. 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. Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into the causes behind water supply problems that left fire hydrants dry and hampered firefighting efforts during the devastating fires in Southern California. Newsom's demand for answers came amid criticism of city officials in Los Angeles over their handling of the disaster and questions about whether local water-related decisions and planning played a role in depriving firefighters of water during the most destructive fires in L.A. history. The governor has also come under criticism, largely on social media and in right-wing media coverage, for the states handling of the disaster. "I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir," the governor said in a post on X. "We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to fight these catastrophic fires." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor cited news reports that some fire hydrants had lost water pressure and that the reservoir in Pacific Palisades was out of commission and empty during the fires, calling the reports "deeply troubling to me and the community." He raised his concerns in a letter on Friday to Janisse Quinones, the L.A. Department of Water and Power's chief executive and chief engineer. "While water supplies from local fire hydrants are not designed to extinguish wildfires over large areas, losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors," Newsom wrote. "We need answers to how that happened." Janisse Quinones is chief executive and chief engineer of the L.A. Department of Water and Power. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) The limitations of local water systems complicated firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades, where scores of fire hydrants were left with little or no water, and in Altadena and Pasadena, which are served by different utilities and where firefighters say they grappled with low pressure as the Eaton fire spread. The problems have exposed what experts say are vulnerabilities in city water supply systems not built for wildfires on this scale. Water researchers and experts have said the systems that supply neighborhoods don't have the capacity to deliver such large volumes of water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was out of use as the wildfire destroyed thousands of homes. Officials told The Times that the reservoir had been closed for repairs to its cover, leaving the 117-million-gallon water storage complex empty. Read more: State to probe why Pacific Palisades reservoir was offline, empty when firestorm exploded Whether having the reservoir online would have had a meaningful impact on fighting the blaze is unclear. The DWP says staffers are conducting an analysis to evaluate the effect of the reservoir being offline. Newsom said he has directed state water and firefighting officials to "prepare an independent after-incident report examining the causes of lost water supply and water pressure in municipal water systems during the fire events, and to identify measures that local governments can implement to provide adequate water supply for emergency response during future catastrophic events." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative of DWP welcomed the announcement. "We appreciate the Governors letter and believe that an investigation will help identify any new needed capabilities for water systems to support fighting wildfires," said Ellen Cheng, a DWP spokesperson. The DWP and city officials have faced criticism from residents as well as Rick Caruso, the developer and former mayoral candidate, who blamed mismanagement and old infrastructure . Elon Musk has also criticized the response to the fires, telling his followers on X that the immense loss of homes was primarily due to bad governance at the state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water. President Biden, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials attend a disaster briefing Wednesday at Santa Monica's Fire Station No. 5. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Water researchers said, however, that the infrastructure limitations are a common feature of many urban water systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local water systems are usually designed to fight local, small-scale fires over a limited time period, said Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy. They are not generally designed to fight large, long-lasting wildfires. The existing water system in Los Angeles has severe limits, said Gregory Pierce, director of the UCLA Water Resources Group. At least the way weve always built systems and wanted to pay for systems, you cant really expect systems, even like DWPs, to be prepared for this. Newsom asked in the letter, which he also addressed to Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella, that city and county agencies "swiftly prepare a comprehensive review examining their local preparation and response procedures to ensure available water supply for emergencies." The governor urged them to "document any causes of the loss of water pressure and unavailability of water supplies," and asked them to share information and records for the state's review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement L.A. County Public Works said the unprecedented wildfires show the need for increased regional collaboration amid the weather whiplash effects of climate change. The agency said the countys water plan , which has been adopted by local water agencies, outlines goals including infrastructure upgrades to improve water pressure and storage, and efforts to identify vulnerabilities to strengthen emergency preparation. Newsom offered state assistance for disaster response and recovery efforts, as well as to "examine local public agency actions throughout this catastrophe and to learn from the lessons of this tragedy." Newsom also sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday inviting him to visit California to meet with fire victims and emergency workers, and to survey the areas devastated by the fires. Trump has been a vocal critic of Newsom and blamed the governor and his Los Angeles crew for failing in their fire response. "In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines," Newsom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that state water and firefighting officials will independently investigate the cause of water pressure loss that rendered Los Angeles municipal utilitys fire hydrants unusable during the Palisades Fire this week. While water supplies from local fire hydrants are not designed to extinguish wildfires over large areas, losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors, Newsom wrote in a letter to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quinones and Mark Pestrella, director of Los Angeles County Public Works. We need answers to how that happened. The letter requests LADWP and Los Angeles County officials to swiftly conduct a report detailing any causes of lost water pressure and unavailable water supplies, along with an examination of local preparedness efforts and response procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokespeople for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter. LADWP spokesperson Mia Rose-Wong said in a statement that the agency appreciates Newsom's letter and believes "that an investigation will help identify any new needed capabilities for water systems to support fighting wildfires." Reports that fire hydrants were running dry as crews attempted to save homes and businesses in Pacific Palisades quickly grabbed national headlines Tuesday and Wednesday, spurring widespread criticism of Newsom and Bass from across the political spectrum, including President-elect Donald Trump and real estate mogul Rick Caruso. LADWP in a Wednesday press conference refuted claims that water tanks serving the area werent filled to capacity. The three tanks in the area had been filled to capacity with around 1 million gallons of water each, department officials said, but those supplies were tapped out by early Wednesday morning. High winds of up to 80 miles per hour grounded aircraft used to fight wildfires, putting the bulk of the pressure on the fire hydrant system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw four times the demands of water that weve ever seen in the system, Quinones said. We opened every valve available to push as much water into the Palisades area. This fire was different and unprecedented because they didnt have air resources to fight it. The Pacific Palisades fire, and a separate blaze in Altadena, have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 9,000 structures. Newsoms letter said the state will offer full technical support to local agencies as they detail their actions taken through the disaster. It does not offer a specific timeline for when reviews of the incident will be released. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for an independent investigation Friday into the loss of water pressure from local fire hydrants crucially needed while combatting the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles this week. The governor announced the call through a memo released on his social media account on Friday afternoon. We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to fight these catastrophic fires, he said. The ongoing reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and to the community, Newsom wrote in the memo. While water supplies from local fire hydrants are not designed to extinguish wildfires over large areas, losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governors memo continued: We need answers to how that happened. Therefore, I have directed state water and firefighting officials to prepare an independent after-incident report examining the causes of lost water supply and water pressure in municipal water systems during the fire events, and to identify measures that local governments can implement to provide adequate water supply for emergency response during future catastrophic events. NEW: I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir. We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to pic.twitter.com/R0vq0wwZph Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 10, 2025 The L.A. wildfires began on Tuesday afternoon and continued to burn through the week. By Fridays count, at least eight people are dead, 10,000 structures have been destroyed and 153,000 locals are now under evacuation orders. The Palisades fire is currently at 8% containment, having burned 20,438 acres since it began on Tuesday. Elsewhere, the Eaton fire has burned 13,690 acres now at 3% containment, with the Kenneth fire still at 1,000 acres, the Hurst fire at 771 acres and the Lidia fire nearly contained at 395 acres. Newsom has been the focus of blame from a number of politicians for the citys response to the numerous firestorms. Most notably President-elect Donald Trump called out the governor for the citys lack of water to fight the fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Wednesday. Trump continued, He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didnt work!), but didnt care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster! The post Newsom Says We Need Answers on Lack of Water Access During LA Wildfires, Calls for Independent Investigation appeared first on TheWrap. Jan. 9Review of the City of Newton's development agreement and loan agreement with the investors of Hotel Maytag is going to have to wait. Council member Randy Ervin this past Monday night received full support from his fellow elected officials to postpone two resolutions regarding Hotel Maytag until the next meeting. When asked by council member Stacy Simbro to explain his reasoning, Ervin said there was extra information sent from the city administrator just before the meeting that he had not reviewed, and there were some discussion points he wanted to get some clarification on. Newton News asked for further clarification. Ervin explained he was in contact with the new facility manager and felt it was too quick to bring it back for a vote. He also reasoned that council members should be given the opportunity to obtain more information before coming back to the dais for a proper discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's too soon," Ervin said. "The last time it was here it got voted down. Now we're bringing it back and I thought we need to not jump into that. It's the ninth revision of their agreement. That's a lot of revisions. Who else in town has been able to come back to the city nine times?" Still, Ervin conceded the valuation of the Hotel Maytag property has, indeed, "skyrocketed," but he argued the property valuations of every citizen have done the same thing. The challenge will be where the council draws that line. But Ervin does feel more comfortable this time around knowing who the facility manager is. Mike Hansen, the new facility manager of Hotel Maytag, appreciated Ervin's motion to postpone any council action on the city's agreement with the apartment complex and event center in order to get additional information. He thanked the mayor and council members for previously visiting with him at the facility. "I hope it was a learning experience for you all because it has certainly been a learning experience for me," Hansen said. "...I will also tell you I have a whole new appreciation for people who own property and manage property and provide living places for people in our community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hansen has been the facility manager of Hotel Maytag since September 2024. He acknowledged a lot of things need to be addressed, but he is also looking forward to working with the council on issues regarding the tax abatements and the investments that have already been made in the building. The former Newton mayor's involvement with the facility gives Ervin confidence in approaching this controversial topic that has drawn some scorn from residents. "You've got Mike, a local person, running it. And that's a step in the right direction, I think," Ervin said. "He's got a great love for that building, and if he hadn't been involved I don't know what would have happened. The fact that Mike is personally involved ... absolutely makes it more palatable to me than it was." AMENDED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DETAILS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the public nor elected officials made comments during a public hearing on an amended development agreement with Hotel Maytag Investors, LLC. The investors requested the amendment due to the significant increase in taxable value over the amount anticipated by the minimum assessment agreement. The proposed amendment adds a sliding scale tax rebate on the actual property valuation, which, again, is above and beyond the minimum assessment. When the city and the developer first formed the agreement, neither entity had anticipated the property valuation would ever exceed $2.3 million. Currently, the assessor lists the property having an approximately $3.3 million valuation. City staff recommends amending the agreement, saying Hotel Maytag is a prominent building in downtown Newton and that the tax rebate will provide necessary support as new management works to address critical issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hotel Maytag has struggled with deferred maintenance and financial losses. Staff also addressed the number of times the agreement with the investment group has been amended. The city reasoned it is common for larger projects to undergo revisions, like the Project Fastpitch urban renewal areas. Staff also said there is nothing in the amended agreement that would provide the developer any additional benefit than what was originally pledged. The city said the updated agreement actually provides less. Since council has denied 100 percent rebate proposals in the past, the city suggested a sliding scale. The rebates begin at 90 percent in FY25 and decrease by 10 percent every year until it reaches 30 percent in FY31. "This current proposal appears to strike a happy medium between having the building owner take responsibility for the project and having the city provide the project with incentives that were previously pledged to the developer and are needed to address critical deferred maintenance issues," the city stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AMENDED LOAN AGREEMENT DETAILS The city supported the Hotel Maytag project by entering into a loan agreement with Iowa Finance Authority. The city also entered into an agreement with Hatch Development to repay the city the loan payments due to IFA. The amended loan agreement gives Hatch Development the ability to pause reimbursement. Specifically, Hatch Development would be able to pause the reimbursement for the principal amount of the loan payments and reimburse the city for the interest amount of loan payments in FY25, FY26 and FY27. The city says this amendment provides a solution and protection for the city in dealing with a situation where Hatch Development has been challenged to make the payments. It also extends the current agreement by three years. The council would revisit the matter again in three years. By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria and the United States signed an agreement on Friday to repatriate about $52.88 million in assets forfeited by former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and her associates. The agreement opens the way for the first repatriation to Nigeria of assets outside the West African country linked to Alison-Madueke. Nigerian Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi said the agreement with the U.S. enables "the repatriation of approximately $52.88 million arising from the forfeiture of the Galactica assets, linked to the former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and her associates." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement follows a 2017 civil complaint filed by the U.S. Justice Department aimed at recovering about $144 million in assets allegedly obtained through bribes to the former minister. The lawsuit alleged that two Nigerian businessmen conspired with others to pay bribes to Alison-Madueke, who oversaw the country's state-owned oil firm NNPC Ltd. Alison-Madueke, whose whereabouts are unclear but was last known to be in Britain, has previously denied corruption charges against her. She was minister under former president Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 until May 2015. The funds will be used to support rural electrification projects through the World Bank, with $50 million allocated to increasing access to renewable energy, Fagbemi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remaining $2.88 million will be disbursed as a grant by Nigeria to the International Institute for Justice to support counter-terrorism capacity across Africa, he said. In Oct. 2022 a Nigerian court ordered a final seizure of two properties and cars owned by Alison-Madueke. (Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by William Maclean) New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez (right) and Rep. Javier Martinez (left) discuss legal against Western New Mexico University Board of Regents and outgoing President Joseph Shepard during a news conference Jan. 9, 2025. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez is seeking to stop outgoing Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard from spending a $1.9 million severance payment issued to him a week ago. Torrez filed a supplementary restraining order Thursday and a new complaint alleging additional violations on the part of Shepard and the university board of regents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a news conference Thursday morning, Torrez said the department filed an emergency motion asking the court for a temporary restraining order to keep Shepard from spending his $1.9 million severance payment. Shepard took over as WNMU president in 2011. The board of regents voted unanimously to terminate his contract in December. According to a WNMU news release, Shepard will remain president through Jan. 15, 2025, after which he will take on the title of President Emeritus and become a professor with the universitys School of Business. The suit, filed on Jan. 6, initially requested the court stop the university from distributing the payment. However, the NM DOJ later found out that the payment was processed on Jan. 2. While we were asking for documents and we are being told that no one is in the university to provide responsive documents, they are simultaneously expediting the payment requests, Torrez said, adding that it is not clear at this time who made the call to release the payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new emergency motion requests the court establish a constructive trust where the funds would be kept while the case is resolved. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The DOJs additional complaint alleges Shepard and the university board of regents are in breach of fiduciary duty, lack of consideration, unconscionable contract, violations of the anti-donation clause, violations of the open meetings act and unjust enrichment. The level of greed and self-dealing and arrogance that has been exhibited throughout this process and frankly throughout the last year and a half, has only been amplified by the actions and mismanagement of the board of regents at Western New Mexico and the actions of Dr. Shepard, Torrez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico Office of the State Auditor published a report last November detailing misuse of hundreds of thousands of public funds. The case was referred to the State Ethics Commission. Searchlight New Mexico first reported on the university leaderships lavish spending in December 2023. Speaker of the House Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque) during the news conference Thursday said he and other lawmakers will be working with the DOJ this upcoming legislative session to reform oversight of public universities in New Mexico. Martinez said they are reviewing the process by which regents and higher administrations of universities are vetted and chosen, how contracts and severance packages are awarded and the process for removing such people when they are found in breach of their institutional duties. At the end of the day, this is about safeguarding the money of the people of the state of New Mexico. And this is about ensuring that no one is above the law. These are public institutions funded through the tax dollars of taxpayers, Martinez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WNMUs Office of Marketing and Communications issued a statement responding to the NM DOJ news conference in response to questions from Source confirming Shepards effective resignation date. The statement references the Board of Regents Dec. 20 meeting terminating Shepard, and notes that part of the separation agreement approved at that meeting would be made no later than Jan. 15, 2025. The settlement agreement was made available to media outlets and government entities, the statement notes. The University was planning to make the payment on the same day the agreement was approved. However, the president asked that payment be delayed until January 2, 2025. WNMUs holiday break was scheduled December 23, 2024, through January 1, 2025 (https://hr.wnmu.edu/holidays/). When the offices reopened on January 2, 2025, the payment was processed as a part of regular accounting processes. Western New Mexico Universitys legal counsel has been in regular contact with the Attorney Generals office and has been cooperative to provide documents and insight. The terms of two members of the universitys board of regents expired at the end of December 2024. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday that she had accepted the resignations of the remaining three members, and said in a statement that her office is reviewing candidates to fill positions on the board. The WNMU Boards tone-deaf decision to approve a $1.9 million severance package for Dr. Shepard demonstrated an appalling disconnect from the needs of our state, where the median income of a family of four is just $61,000, the governor said. We must ensure that generous payouts no longer reward poor performance while maintaining our ability to attract qualified leaders. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jan. 9New Mexico will receive $133,660 as part of a multistate settlement with a mortgage company that didn't cooperate with an investigation after a data breach that affected millions of customers, including 38,800 New Mexicans. The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department announced New Mexico's share of the settlement on Thursday. New Mexico was one of 53 state-level regulators that settled with Bayview Asset Management and three of its affiliates for $20 million after a 2021 data breach. Bayview Companies comprises Lakeview Loan Servicing, Community Loan Servicing and Pingora Holdings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October 2021, an employee of the Bayview unknowingly downloaded malicious software that compromised data for 5.8 million customers. Bayview, which is based in Corales Gables, Florida, resolved the breach in December and notified customers as required, according to the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. State regulators took enforcement action and during an examination found Bayview had deficient IT and cybersecurity practices and withheld information that was requested or provided redacted documents during the review, according to the CSBS. Bayview agreed to improve cybersecurity programs, undergo independent assessment and make reports to state regulators for three years, according to the CSBS. "This settlement relates to an investigation into an incident that occurred more than three years ago, where a criminal threat actor gained unauthorized access to our systems," a spokesperson for Bayview said in a statement. "We are pleased to put this matter behind us." Regulators in California, Maryland, North Carolina and Washington led the multistate effort. "In the wake of a data breach, it is vital that companies collaborate closely with state regulators to ensure transparency, accountability and swift action," said New Mexico Financial Institutions Division Director Mark Sadowski."By working together, we can better safeguard consumer trust and strengthen protections against future threats." Jan. 9SANTA FE The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments cannot restrict abortion services, striking down ordinances adopted by Clovis, Hobbs and two eastern New Mexico counties. The unanimous ruling came more than one year after the state's highest court heard arguments in a case brought by Attorney General Raul Torrez that attracted several national groups. In their ruling, the justices said the local anti-abortion ordinances violate state law and overstep the authority local governments hold by seeking to regulate health care access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our Legislature granted to counties and municipalities all powers and duties not inconsistent with the laws of New Mexico," Justice Shannon Bacon wrote in her opinion. "The ordinances violate this core precept and invade the Legislature's authority to regulate access to and provision of reproductive health care," she also wrote. In all, at least six New Mexico jurisdictions the cities of Clovis, Hobbs, Eunice and Edgewood and Lea and Roosevelt counties adopted ordinances that activists called de facto abortion bans. The lawsuit only targeted four of them, however, since Eunice and Edgewood approved their ordinances after it had been filed. Several of the ordinances restricted the operation of abortion clinics even though most of the towns do not have any clinics and allowed for legal action to be taken against anyone who receives medication intended to cause an abortion through the mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who signed into law the bill blocking local anti-abortion ordinances, said the ruling would ensure New Mexico remains a safe haven for health care access and individual freedom. "While some communities may disagree, our state Constitution and laws are clear," Lujan Grisham said in a Thursday statement. "No city or county can restrict the fundamental rights of New Mexicans or override state law." But New Mexico Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela and other backers of the local ordinances criticized the Supreme Court's ruling. "The recent New Mexico Supreme Court decision blocking local officials from enacting pro-life laws undermines local governance and disregards the values of our communities," said Barela, who accused Democratic state leaders of focusing more on building abortion clinics than improving access to hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long-simmering battle over abortion The legal showdown over abortion in New Mexico came after state lawmakers in 2021 approved a measure repealing a long-dormant state abortion ban. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade a year later, prompting some neighboring states, including Texas, to approve near-total abortion bans. Given the new legal landscape, an increasing number of women have traveled to New Mexico to receive abortion services. In addition, Lujan Grisham signed measures in 2023 aimed at shielding New Mexico abortion providers from out-of-state arrest warrants and lawsuits and blocking the local anti-abortion ordinances from taking effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a Thursday news conference in Albuquerque, Torrez said the Supreme Court's ruling made it clear that abortion access is secure in New Mexico. House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, also spoke at the news conference, saying additional steps could be pursued to strengthen abortion rights during the upcoming 60-day legislative session. "It doesn't take a genius to understand the statutory framework that we have," Martinez said. "Local governments don't regulate health care in New Mexico it is up to the state." What comes next? Backers of the local ordinances claimed a federal law enacted in the 1870s, called the Comstock Act, trumps the state law prohibiting cities and counties from restricting access to reproductive health care, including abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also expressed hope the case could eventually be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court perhaps in conjunction with similar court cases from around the nation. The state Supreme Court, in its ruling, made it clear it was not addressing the federal law implications, saying its decision rested solely on "state law grounds." However, attorneys for several of the Eastern New Mexico local governments said the ruling could still set the stage for an appeal, though they said no final decision had been made yet. Jonathan Mitchell, an attorney representing Clovis and Hobbs, said he was "thrilled" with the ruling because it marks the first time a court has held that local ordinances requiring compliance with the Comstock Act do prohibit the shipment and receipt of abortion-related medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We look forward to litigating these issues in other states and bringing the meaning of the federal Comstock Act to the Supreme Court of the United States," Mitchell said. Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, also said he expects the ruling to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying, "Reality will come when the federal court looks at this and makes a determination." Dairy cows gather at a farm on July 5, 2022 in Visalia, California. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) An infectious disease expert says the relatively mild cases of avian influenza detected so far among dairy workers dont warrant making a vaccine available to them, even as they work to contain and prevent spread of the contagious virus among herds. Dr. Shira Doron, an epidemiologist and chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine in Boston, said the minor spread of the H5N1 among humans and no reported instances of human-to-human transmission makes any widespread administration of a vaccine premature right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also many logistical issues that would be associated with deployment of vaccine to farm workers language barrier, undocumented status, compliance so that is not the plan at this time, Doron said Friday morning during an Infectious Diseases Society of America teleconference. H5N1 has circulated globally for decades, she said. Analysis of the strains currently circulating shows them to be poorly suited for transmission between humans and with low pandemic potential, according to Doron. Human patients have also responded well to antiviral treatments such as Tamiflu, the doctor said. The current avian flu strains have led to two severe cases in humans. One involved a 65-year-old person from Louisiana who contracted the virus from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, state health officials said. It was the nations first ever fatal human case of avian flu, though the patient was reported to have underlying conditions that worsened after they contracted H5N1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other severe case was a teen in Canada who had to be admitted to a hospitals intensive care unit. That patient contracted the virus from wild birds, Doron said. Dr. Julio Figeroua, LSU Health chief of infectious diseases and a professor at Louisiana State Universitys medical school in New Orleans, also took part in the IDSA teleconference. There have been no secondary avian flu cases related to the patient in Louisiana who died, he said. We have people who do hunting, hunting of geese and ducks, and so advisories have been put out to those for proper handling of those particular animals, Figeroua said. A lot of backyard flocks that are here and in urban and suburban areas are potentially also potential sources for transmission. In addition to 919 dairy herds in 16 states, the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has impacted more than 133 million poultry farms in all 50 states as of Wednesday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus has turned up in two backyard flocks in Louisiana and 49 total across the country, the CDC reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coordination about the various federal and state agencies responding to avian flu outbreaks will be crucial to containing its spread, especially as the incoming Trump administration takes over, Doron and Figueroa said. Asked to provide an estimate for when the current H5N1 outbreak might be contained or peter out on its own, Doron said its difficult to determine at this point. I think it really is going to depend on how long immunity lasts, and its too early in the outbreak to know that, she said. If the immunity doesnt last more than a few months, then we could have ongoing spread indefinitely. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE With wildfires ripping through Los Angeles, some internet users have blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom for initiating the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, claiming its causing water shortages in Southern California. Araceli Bloom, a social media influencer with more than 230,000 followers on TikTok, blamed the dam removal projectin which four hydroelectric dams on Klamath River, which runs through California and Oregon, were deactivated and demolishedfor causing water shortages and making the fight to contain the blazes more difficult. California is burning because Gavin Newsom Prioritized FISH over Californians, Bloom said in her tweet, which she also shared to Instagram. Los Angeles is Running out of water to fight the fires because Gavin Newsom was recently responsible for the largest water dam removal in US history to save FISH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turning Point USA contributor Graham Allen also insinuated a connection between the dam removal project and Los Angeles Countys recent water shortage troubles. FLASHBACK: Governor Gavin Newsom BRAGGED about the largest dam removal in U.S. history, he tweeted, also sharing a video of Newsom discussing the dam removal project. The L.A. FIRE DEPT. just ran out of water RT, a Russian-state media outlet formerly known as Russia Today, also echoed the claims. California Governor Gavin Newsom proudly talking about the largest dam removal in US history, the account tweeted, also sharing the same video. The dismantling of four hydroelectric dams on Klamath Rivercompleted in 2024is now being blamed for the shortage of water available to fight LA fires. Earlier this year, the U.S. Justice Department found that RT paid nearly $10 million to push pro-Kremlin propaganda to Americans. Its true that Newsom was party to the largest dam removal in U.S. history. As governor he had advocated for four dams to be removed from the Klamath River, and a project to remove the dams was completed in October 2024. The project, however, was not exclusively a California initiative but the result of an agreement between California, Oregon, the federal government, local Native American tribes, the dams owner, and other entities. The dam removal project sought to revitalize salmon and steelhead fish populations in the area by returning free-flowing condition[s] to the Klamath River, a change local native tribes had long advocated for. The Klamath was once the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast, stated an August 2024 press release from Newsoms office, before the construction of concrete dams, beginning in 1918, blocked migratory salmon and steelhead from accessing nearly 400 miles of critical river habitat. However, claims that the four dams removal affected Southern Californias water supply are incorrect. While Los Angeles officials reported that water storage tanks in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles County went dry early Wednesday morning, the removal of the dams along the Klamath River played no role in the shortage. The water stored in the dams, located more than 500 miles away from Los Angeles County, was primarily used to spin a turbine and generate electricity. The dams reservoirs were used to supply water to firefighting forces fending off wildfires, but only in that region, not in Southern California. Further, the removal project took a host of measures to avoid a net diminution in firefighting resources or an increase in the fire ignition risk as a result of the loss of the Project reservoirs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southern California never received water from those dams, even when they were operational. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a state-run agency that delivers water across six countiesincluding Los Angeles Countydoes not take water from the Klamath River area. About 30 percent of the water supplied to Southern California comes from the Northern Sierra region of California, transported south through the State Water Project, Californias water storage and delivery system that spans more than 700 miles. Southern California receives an additional 20 percent of its water from the Colorado River, collected near Californias border with Arizona and delivered via aqueduct. The region receives the rest of its water from a variety of sources, including the eastern part of Californias Sierra mountain range, several local reservoirs, recycled water, groundwater collected from underground aquifers and from desalination (treating seawater by removing the salt). If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is pictured amid fog on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) Would Gov. Ron DeSantis consider appointing himself to the Senate to replace Marco Rubio? Absolutely not, the governor said during a press conference in Jacksonville Friday morning. DeSantis joked about reporting on who he could pick to succeed Rubio, who President-elect Donald Trump picked as secretary of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was never in consideration for that, DeSantis said during a press conference renewing his commitment to school choice. Trust me, were doing well here, and were going to continue to do that. And so it was never something that I considered. Although he doesnt anticipate Rubio will officially leave his post in the Senate before Jan. 20, DeSantis said he is still on course to announce his pick next week. He previously promised to choose someone by the first half of January. Following the Tampa investiture ceremony for Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez earlier this week, DeSantis brushed aside a question about Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody being up for the job. And on Friday, he again took a jab at speculations over who hell give the post. Its all made up, and theyre just guessing. And look, it isnt that hard to guess. Like, you know, of 10 plausible people? Like, theres some pretty obvious people who would be in that mix, right? Its time to distribute No Other Land.' For anyone confused over the message being sent about Zionism in The Brutalist, the films writer/director, Brady Corbet, made his stance clear last night while accepting the award for Best Film from the New York Film Critics Circle. After offering praise to his fellow filmmakers, including Best Director winner RaMell Ross, Jesse Eisenberg, and his hero Mike Leigh, Corbet closed his speech with the direct, concise plea above. More from IndieWire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many are in agreement over this sentiment, particularly the filmmakers behind No Other Land, a Palestinian/Israeli collective made up of activists Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor and Basel Adra. Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, Abraham and Adra detailed the difficult path theyve found getting the film seen on a wide scale in America and how its become completely political despite their film just trying to show the reality of Israeli settlement and military occupation in the West Bank. Considering the resources and weapons the U.S. supplies the Israelis, Abraham and Adra believe its citizens have a vested interest in seeing how their money is being spent. I hope the movie gets nominated because it would bring more awareness, said Adra of how an Oscar nomination might help the film. I really advise everybody in the U.S. who has heard about No Other Land to watch it. Its important for people to watch it so they can understand whats going on. And we hope people who do dont just watch it to feel sad or sorry for us, but to join our struggle and our movement and take action. Especially in the U.S. which, as a country, is a main player in whats going on. Americans have a responsibility, I believe, and I hope that they watch it and move in the right direction and take any action they can in order to help us change. Though the film has international distribution in 24 countries including the U.K. and France no major U.S. distributor has stepped up to showcase No Other Land. Even so, the film will still be opening theatrically on January 31 thanks to Cinetic Media organizing bookings via Michael Tuckman Media. Though its criticism of the Israeli government and its policies are probably what have most distributors on edge, Abraham believes its important to be vocal and to start a dialogue, especially in a country like America where dissent is being stifled. As an Israeli I think thats a really good thing, Abraham said of taking a stance, because we need to be critical of these policies so they can change. But I think the conversation in the United States appears to be far less nuanced there is much less space for this kind of criticism, even when it comes in the form of a film. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abraham and Adra are glad theyve been able to have the film seen at festivals all over the world, but most of the time, the audiences at these events are informed enough to support what the film is trying to accomplish. In not being able to have wide distribution in the U.S., the filmmakers are concerned No Other Land wont have an opportunity to challenge audiences and reach people who deserve a deeper understanding of the conflict at play. Im not sure they are exactly the ones who attend the New York Film Festival, said Abraham of the kind of people theyd like to get the film seen by. But if you have a really big distributor then, of course, you get to people from varying political opinions and with varying degrees of knowledge about Israel and Palestine. And these are exactly the people to whom we want to show the film because thats how we can prompt change. In addition to winning the Berlinales Documentary Film Award following its premiere at the festival, No Other Land has also received Best Documentary Feature at the Gotham Awards, Best Non-Fiction Film from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the National Society of Critics, as well as Best Feature Documentary, Best Director, and the Courage Under Fire Award at the IDA Awards, just to name a few of its growing list of accolades. It is also nominated at tonights Cinema Eye Honors in the categories of Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature, Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Debut, and Outstanding Production and will be receiving The Unforgettable Awards. No Other Land will be released theatrically January 31, with bookings by Cinetic Media via Michael Tuckman Media. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It was always inevitable that Labours staunch opposition to a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal was going to weaken in time. But few predicted it would unravel quite this quickly. First of all, although Keir Starmer has himself given no quarter to those demanding such a move, his official spokesperson this week did suggest to reporters that the prime minister was open minded about an inquiry, which surprised some of those listening. Still, progress is progress, and this was the first real sign that the government might perform the inevitable U-turn. Now Manchesters metro mayor, Andy Burnham, one of the most high-profile elected officials in the party outside the Commons, has backed calls for a limited inquiry with legal powers that other, local inquiries did not have. He has been joined by his former parliamentary colleague, Khalid Mahmood, who lost his Birmingham Perry Barr seat last year to a pro-Gaza independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And again, the question must be asked: where is the politics in all of this? Why isnt someone in Number 10 viewing this situation through a political lens and concluding that rather than sustain even more criticism by being perceived to be on the wrong side of the argument, the prime minister should cut his losses and announce a new inquiry immediately? No one knows for sure, but it is impossible to imagine this kind of farce playing out over days and weeks during the administration of Tony Blair, or even Gordon Brown. Supposing that Starmer sticks to his guns and holds out against an inquiry (and all the nervous and embarrassing backtracking that such a reversal will demand of ministers who have until now held the line), there remains an alternative strategy that would address at least some of the anger felt by victims and the public at the calamitous failure of those who were supposed to protect young girls from some of the most evil people in the country. Qari Abdul Rauf was one of the leaders of a rape gang who abused children in Rochdale. The former taxi driver and preacher (!) was sentenced to six years in prison but was released after less than three. Well, of course he was. Having dual nationality he was a Pakistani as well as a British citizen at the time he was subject to deportation attempts by the government. But after he renounced his Pakistani citizenship, the Home Office told him in 2018 that he could remain here. Three other deportation attempts against other gang members failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These men cannot be deported unless Pakistan agrees to take them. So a first step for ministers could be to make at least some of our international aid to that country dependent on a new agreement, whereby criminals who came to the UK from Pakistan, whether or not they have played the system by revoking their citizenship, can be forcibly returned to where they belong. Surely even our Foreign Office is capable of strong arm tactics towards a country so dependent on our largesse. Then theres the perennial problem of the European Court of Human Rights, who doubtless would rule that this or that rapist/torturer has the right to a family life here in Blighty. Such rulings can and should be safely ignored just as other countries subject to the human rights convention have ignored them in order to get rid of similarly odious individuals. Weve ignored rulings from that court before prisoners here still dont have a vote, despite numerous tantrums thrown by the Strasbourg court down the years and can do so again. If Rauf and his friends want to sue the government, let them do it from Islamabad. And even without a formal inquiry, theres no reason why criminal investigations (by an outside force, naturally) could not proceed into the local politicians, social workers and police officers whose devotion to multiculturalism and terror of being labelled racist led them to turn a blind eye to what was happening to girls in their care. Arrest them, interview them under caution, charge them with misconduct in public office. Suspend them from their posts, then, if found guilty, remove them altogether. In short: adopt an altogether novel, zero-tolerance approach to the systematic and appalling practice of child rape, an approach that has, to all our shame, not been in evidence in towns and cities across Britain so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such action would be controversial, but controversy is relative: if politics is about priorities (and it is) then what should be the states priorities the protection of children from vile, violent rapists, or the preservation of polite societal structures that have signally failed to do the job they were meant to? A government failing on so many fronts would suddenly find itself the toast of every pub in the land if it brought a somewhat more robust approach to punishing the guilty and removing those who should have been sent packing years ago. Labour could, if it wished, reassert Britains right to its legal sovereignty, clean out the Augean stables without fear or favour even at risk to its own elected councillors and, therefore, its own reputation, not to mention its own electoral base. But that should come naturally to Keir Starmer. Whats that phrase he loves to use? Country before party? Now is the time to prove its more than a slogan. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. There is no prospect of electricity imports from Europe to Ukraine being reduced or restricted as a result of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's threats to cut off its supply. Source: Denys Shmyhal, Ukraines Prime Minister, during an hour of questions to the government in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), as reported by Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "The Slovak power grid is part of the united European grid. Even if they were technically able to shut down their input to Ukraine for a short period for repairs, according to the rules of the united market, the volume of electricity is proportionally redistributed among the supplier countries. Poland and our other neighbours have stated that they are ready to cooperate if necessary. So there is currently no threat of electricity imports being restricted," Shmyhal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine is in direct contact with the European Commission, which is closely monitoring the situation, the prime minister said. Decisions on imports are made by the united energy grid, not the Slovak operators. Shmyhal said that immediately following Fico's statements, Ukraines Energy Ministry had contacted all three European authorities responsible for the stability of the electricity supply: the European Commission, ENTSO-E (the network of Continental European system operators), and the Energy Community. Ukraine is currently receiving sufficient import volumes from Slovakia, Shmyhal stated. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slovakia had said that it would consider retaliatory measures against Ukraine, such as cutting off backup electricity supplies, in response to the cessation of Russian gas transit in 2025. As expected, Kyiv stopped the transit of Russian gas to Slovakia on 1 January. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sent a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reiterating his complaints about Ukraine's refusal to continue transiting Russian gas after 2024. Slovakia's electricity grid operator, SEPS, has pledged that despite Fico's threats, electricity exports to Ukraine will not be stopped. Support UP or become our patron! NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Nolensville Police Department is on the hunt for an alleged porch pirate working as a DoorDash delivery driver. This case has been ongoing since Dec. 15, 2024. According to police, thats when a man delivered Dunkin to one house in the Bent Creek community. Minutes later and a block away, authorities said the suspect was captured on a Ring surveillance camera stealing $300 worth of dolls Christmas presents for a little girl from a nearby neighbors porch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violation of property, basically. I mean, its my stuff; you came up on my porch and took it. Its pretty gutsy, the victim told News 2 over the phone. No charges filed after Montgomery County boy choked on school bus When asked what she would say to the thief, the owner said, What did you with my stuff when you found out it was a bunch of doll things that you cant use? This isnt something that is uncommon. People will use these delivery services as patsies, essentially. Its a good cover; its a legit business, explained Detective Allison Humes from the Nolensville Police Department. When the victim posted the recording of the incident online, other community members saw the crime, including the woman who ordered the Dunkin. She said she immediately recognized the porch pirate as her delivery man and she contacted the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When people examined the footage, they saw the suspect was driving what officials described as a silver Honda Accord. MNPD: Man arrested in connection with shooting, aggravated burglary We checked the footage and, sure enough, had great footage of our DoorDash delivery driver, the woman who ordered the Dunkin said. Police used the neighborhoods license plate recognition system and learned the car belonged to 31-year-old Shawn Baker from the East Tennessee city of Sweetwater, which is roughly three hours from Nolensville, according to Google. This troubles the community because everyone could potentially be a victim. People are using Amazon or any other kind of delivery service for all sorts of things, especially around this time of year. Its usually Christmas gifts, Humes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humes said she contacted the delivery company, which confirmed Baker was delivering food in Nolensville at the time of the crime. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com According to the detective, this is a good example of how the Nolensville community works together to make it a better place. The homeowner who ordered the Dunkin told News 2 nothing is too small or too insignificant for the Nolensville Police Department to handle it diligently. Authorities said they have a warrant for Bakers arrest for theft under $1,000. Other than a traffic ticket, Baker reportedly has no criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information regarding Bakers whereabouts, youre asked to call the Nolensville Police Department at 615-776-3640. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Body cam footage shows the moments leading up to 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar exchanging gunfire with officers during the New Years terror attack. Put your hands up, yelled an NOPD officer. In the footage, a muzzle flash could be seen from beneath a deployed airbag, as officers ordered jabbar out of the vehicle. As officers surrounded the vehicle, their driver fired at them. In response, Sergeant Nigel Dags, along with officers Kristian Beyers and Jacobie Jordan returned fire. They killed the terrorist, said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Orleans council investigating missing bollards ahead of Bourbon Street attack Officers Jacobie Jordan and Joseph Rodrigue were both shot in the leg, with Rodrigue also breaking his shoulder. In addition to the officers, several bystanders were reported to be shot during the exchange. Kirkpatrick declined to answer if it was due to the shootout but said the officers were within policy to return fire. These are split-second decisions. All officers are faced with, shoot, dont shoot. And this was clearly within the law and clearly solidly within a policy, said Kirkpatrick. New Orleans council talks safety inconsistencies post New Years Day terror attack Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirkpatrick says due to the ongoing investigation, she could not answer certain questions. Those questions involved how many officers were in the area and whether a police car was placed at the entrance instead of a truck. Thats going to be a part of all of the investigative review. And I am going to answer any and all questions during the investigations. And then the results of that will be made public, said Kirkpatrick. Additionally, with the help of former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, Kirkpatrick says the department is looking over how they can learn from the attack. He will be addressing the past, the present and the future. And so we will want to have a fulsome review, said Kirkpatrick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirkpatrick said both officers who were shot in the attack have already been cleared to return to work. She also says the department is working to ensure all officers involved continue to recover. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Post Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A local pastor was convicted of sex crimes in Norfolk Circuit Court Friday morning. Troy Edwards, of Greater Emmanuel Ministries, pleaded guilty to one count of object sexual penetration: by force, a felony, and one count of misdemeanor perjury. Only On 10: Grand jury charges Norfolk pastor with sex crimes Edwards was sentenced to eight months of active jail time, with 11 years suspended subject to 10 years good behavior. Hell also have two years probation and will have to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim in the case, who was a member of his congregation, was present in the courtroom. The prosecutor said she had talked at length with her about the terms of the plea deal and the victim approved of it. Norfolk pastor denied bond after charges of sexual assault and abduction I am happy because the public is now apprised of his persistent, unwanted, assaultive and lewd behaviors, sexually inappropriate comments, spiritual manipulation, and abuse of religious authority, the victim said in a statement. It was hard to come forward, but with the love and support of my family, I gained the confidence to speak up. I hope the results of my case will help ignite a wave of silent victims, especially in the church, to come forward and seek justice. As part of the deal, the commonwealth set aside Edwards abduction charge in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Credit - Saul GrandaGetty Images Norovirus is surging across the U.S., with case numbers higher now than they've been at the same time in more than a decade, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is no antiviral treatment for the miserable but thankfully short-lived illness, and no vaccineyet. But scientists at Moderna are in the late stages of testing what could be the first such shot, using mRNA technology against the virus. Heres what to know about norovirus and where things stand with the development of a stomach-bug vaccine. Why norovirus is raging right now Commonly known as the stomach flu, norovirus has been around forever, and has become the leading cause of gastroenteritis or inflammation of the intestinal tract that causes vomiting and diarrhea, says Dr. Edmund Milder, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Rady Childrens Hospital and UC San Diego Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are nearly 50 different subtypes, or genotypes, of norovirus, with different ones circulating in different years. For the last decade or so, one version of the virus, called GII.4, has been responsible for most infections around the world. That changed last year when GII.17 became the dominant strain. That could partially explain the current uptick in cases, since most people who have been exposed to other types of norovirus would not have as strong immunity to this version, making them more vulnerable to disease. Norovirus symptoms For most people, the infection causes intestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Unpleasant as they are, these symptoms dont typically require medical care or hospitalization, and they tend to last just a few days. But older people and infants often experience worse disease, and each year in the U.S. about 100,000 people are hospitalized and nearly 1,000 peoplemostly the elderly and the very youngdie from the infection, mainly due to dehydration after not being able to keep down food and water, according to the CDC. Is norovirus like other viruses? Nofor many reasons. First, it doesnt take much of the virus to make someone sick. For most viruses, people would need to be infected with thousands of virus particles in order to feel ill, but it only takes as few as 10 to launch the intestinal symptoms typical of norovirus infection. To make matters worse, the virus is encased in a particularly hardy cover that allows it to survive for days on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs. Hand sanitizer isn't effective in killing norovirusyou'll need to wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water to remove as much virus as possibleand the it also cant be destroyed with high heat or cold temperatures. The most effective way to kill the virus on contaminated surfaces is by using a diluted solution of bleach and water, and allowing it to sit on a surface for at least five minutes before wiping. Why isnt there a norovirus shot yet? The nearly 50 different versions of the virus mean that each genotype requires a different immune response to provide protection, says Dr. Doran Fink, therapeutic head of gastrointestinal pathogens and bacterial vaccines at Moderna. So any vaccine would have to be an educated guess as to which strains are likely to circulate in a given yearsimilar to the strategy behind updating the flu vaccine each season. How close are we to having a norovirus vaccine? Moderna is currently enrolling 25,000 people around the world in a phase 3 trial of the shot, after earlier testing showed encouraging results. In those studies, people vaccinated with the mRNA shot generated antibodies that in lab tests effectively blocked the norovirus protein in human gut cells; those given a placebo vaccine did not show the same antibody activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To improve the chances that the vaccine would be well-matched to circulating strains, Modernas vaccine candidate includes three different norovirus types. It would be great if there were some conserved regions of the norovirus protein that could be targeted, but thats not the case, says Fink. Instead, their thinking goes, taking this multivalent approach should provide good protection against severe disease. It's a strategy the company is also using on its multivalent mRNA flu vaccine. And the mRNA platform allows scientists to change and update viral targets more quickly, making it ideal for pivoting if viral strains change each season. Targeting more than one viral protein has shown in the recent past to be effective: one of the mRNA COVID-19 shots was a bivalent vaccine that worked against two different strains of the virus. Fink says Moderna expects to finish signing up volunteers in the spring, and plans to follow them for at least six months. But it may take longer to get a full report on how effective the vaccine is in the real world, since that would require having a certain number of people catch the virus to evaluate how they do. Testing the vaccine in different sites around the world should provide more data, however. Would a vaccine stop me from getting norovirus? Like the COVID-19 vaccine, the mRNA norovirus vaccine candidate is not designed to prevent people from getting infected. But it would theoretically help anyone immunizedespecially the very young and elderlyfrom getting severely ill and being hospitalized. How can I protect myself from norovirus? Since there are no antiviral treatments or vaccines yet, the best way to avoid getting sick is by practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face and mouth. If you do get sick, stay home to avoid infecting others, since you can still shed virus for anywhere from a few days to weeks after you feel better. Contact us at letters@time.com. Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, presents to the House Appropriations Committee Jan. 10, 2025. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) A North Dakota legislative committee gave unanimous support Friday for a bill that would dedicate $15 million to replace Chinese-made drones used by state agencies. House Bill 1038 also would invest $11 million to advance North Dakotas Vantis network, which is working to make it possible for drones to operate safely over long distances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 90% of the drones used by North Dakota agencies and higher education campuses were manufactured in China, according to legislative research. Most were manufactured by Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI, which the Department of Defense has warned poses potential threats to national security. Bill sponsor Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said his proposal would allow agencies to replace about 300 state-owned drones with devices that comply with the National Defense Authorization Act. The one-time funding also would pay for training and disposal of the old drones. Trevor Woods, executive director of the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site, told lawmakers that while Chinese-made drones are user-friendly, there are growing concerns about threats to privacy, control of data and safety. A lot of these drones fly because theyre connected to a server in China that are active in real time, Woods said. We dont really know exactly whats being done with that data and how that data is being mined for information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another concern is that software and firmware on the drones can be updated automatically without the users knowledge, Woods said. That could cause drones to stop functioning during a critical response situation, such as wildfire monitoring or search and rescue effort, Woods said. Under the bill, agencies can continue using their current drones until replacement devices are purchased and staff are trained, Nathe said. The replacement program would be administered through the Department of Commerce and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. Members of the House Appropriations Committee questioned what impact the bill would have if private companies and individuals continue using drones manufactured by foreign adversaries. Nathe said future federal legislation may address privately owned drones, but the bill aims to upgrade devices used by state agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second part of the bill aims to keep North Dakota as a leader in the UAS industry, Nathe and other supporters said. Erin Roesler, deputy executive director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, said the industry lacks infrastructure such as an air traffic control system, requiring drone users to develop their own communication, navigation and operational systems. That approach is costly, inefficient, and really limits the broader integration and adoption of this drone technology, Roesler said. The Vantis network is working to bridge that gap and develop shared-use infrastructure for the drone industry, she said. Trevor Woods, executive director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, testifies Jan. 10, 2025, to the House Appropriations Committee. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) The $11 million in one-time funding would support whats known as the Radar Data Pathfinder Program. Vantis is working to integrate Federal Aviation Administration surveillance data, greatly expanding the radar coverage in North Dakota. But first the network will need to invest in cybersecurity systems, high-level training and other security measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That initiative represents a groundbreaking opportunity for the state of North Dakota, not just to lead, but to define the next set of rules and regulations at the federal level in supporting UAS operations, Roesler said. The long-term goal is that Vantis will provide a return on investment to North Dakota by working with other states that also want access to the shared-use infrastructure. Rep. Glenn Bosch, R-Bismarck, pushed for more information about when the state would start to see that return on investment. Rep. David Richter, R-Williston, pointed to other potential benefits to North Dakota, such as enabling the oil and agriculture industries to more effectively use drones and making it possible to deliver medications to rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just see so many applications that it can be utilized within the state and benefit the people that live here, Richter said. Gov. Doug Burgum included the $26 million in his budget recommendation before leaving office, urging lawmakers in his December budget address to fast-track the bill. Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden also support the bill for national security reasons and to maintain North Dakotas leadership in the UAS industry, policy director Aaron Weber told lawmakers. The bill is being expedited and expected to go before the House next week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CLEVELAND (WJW) A data breach is impacting school districts across the country, including several here in Northeast Ohio. This cyber attack hit school districts that use PowerSchool, a cloud-based software platform used in K-12 schools for students, parents and educators. Shaker Heights, North Olmsted and Elyria are among the local schools that use the software. Of all the breaches weve encountered, all of them have been from stolen credentials. It shows how common it is. It also shows how important it is to safeguard your credentials. And if they are admin credentials, you never want to use them somewhere else, said Trent Milliron, cybersecurity expert with Kloud9 IT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-Team: Browns respond to city demand on Modell Law in stadium fight Shaker sent out a district letter Wednesday that said student information, including addresses, grades and health information, may have been compromised in the breach. They went on to say, Shaker Heights Schools does not retain staff or student Social Security numbers in the Student Information System. Both North Olmsted and Elyria Schools said, After further investigation our IT Department identified that mainly demographic information was taken. Information related to login credentials, transcripts and grades were not compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-Team: The untold story behind police leaving SUVs in the river for months Now, PowerSchool released a statement Thursday night, saying they became aware of the cybersecurity incident back on Dec. 28 and that the unauthorized access happened through one of their customer portals. They went on to say, As soon as we learned of the incident, we immediately engaged our cybersecurity response protocols and mobilized a cross-functional response team, including senior leadership and third-party cybersecurity experts. PowerSchool is committed to protecting the security and integrity of our applications. We take our responsibility to protect student data privacy and act responsibly as data processors extremely seriously. PowerSchool is committed to providing affected customers, families and educators with the resources and support they may need as we work through this together. Meanwhile, Milliron said if your district is impacted by the breach, you should monitor your credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Norway has allocated 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) for military aid to Ukraine in 2025, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said following a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart on Jan. 9. Norway has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters in Europe. Previously, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere on Dec. 16 announced 2.7 billion Norwegian kroner ($242 million) to bolster Ukraine's navy and help it deter Russian threats in the Black Sea. Umerov met with Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram on the sidelines of the Ramstein summit in Germany on Jan. 9. According to Umerov, the 2025 assistance to Ukraine will mark the largest military aid package in Norway's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two ministers discussed how to prioritize Norway's assistance. "Special attention was given to the strengthening of air defense a critical area where we count on Norway's support," Umerov said in a social media post following the summit. Norway will continue investing in Ukraine's domestic military production and joint projects, particularly ammunition production, he added. Norway has pledged a new funding mechanism for Ukraine, the "Norwegian model," meant to complement an existing "Danish model" of defense spending. The Danish model aims to purchase arms from Ukrainian manufacturers rather than providing materiel shipments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denmark became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production. Ukraine's other allies also reaffirmed their support at the Ramstein summit, the last such meeting under U.S. President Joe Biden. Read also: Biden administration unveils its last $500 million aid package for Ukraine before Trump takes office Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Lake Side natural gas power plant in Vineyard is pictured on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Republicans in the Utah Legislature have among their top goals to make the state the energy capital of the country, and even the world. This legislative session, they are expecting to lay part of the foundation to make it happen, looking at nuclear energy and partnering with other red states to trace energy strategies. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has heard talks of about 30 energy-related bills next session. Its a priority for him and his counterparts in other states, he told Utah News Dispatch. It comes after Cox last year unveiled a plan to double the states energy production, and allocated $20 million to lay the groundwork for deploying nuclear power generation in Utah in his budget recommendation, plus $4.3 million for geothermal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature is building up from a collection of energy bills it passed last year, as well, said House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper. That, despite hearing comments criticizing the emphasis on coal resources and distancing from a growing clean energy market. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We got a lot of criticism last year as a legislature, Schultz said. And it was unfair criticism because Utah was ahead of it. Utahs plan isnt only about protecting and saving its coal plants, he said. Its an all-of-the-above approach which will include nuclear technologies, especially now that the countrys interest in it has grown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, also has big plans for nuclear energy. He hopes the federal government suspends some of its regulations so the state is able to build nuclear plants. Another high priority for the majority caucus is to ensure the state is able to mine and produce critical minerals, Adams said. We need to wake up in the fact that we need to be able to produce the critical minerals and the energy that we need to be able to be self-sufficient and not dependent on other nations. And I believe it is a severe, critical national security issue, Adams said. Not all details on energy strategy bills are public yet, however, elected officials have started to write legislation that may change how Rocky Mountain Power, the states largest electricity supplier, funds its operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to be focused on, one, making sure the lights come on, Schultz said. Two, making sure they come on at a lower price, at a fair price. How all-of-the-above look like for Democrats Those goals of diversifying Utahs energy portfolio and keeping prices low for constituents are also on the agenda of Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City. However, she would like to see more clean energy production in the state, and help reaching milestones of federal sustainability plans that call for 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030. I know under the (Trump) administration, we may see a shift on that. We recognize that. So we still want to continue working towards a more green energy 2030 goal, Escamilla said. And then make sure that if were investing on big infrastructure, that were investing in a smart way on more green alternative energy. While House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, also agrees that Utah should have a diverse energy portfolio, all of the incentives to develop nuclear power make her question how the states energy generation would affect its air quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to be mindful of future generations, and we have to be mindful of the Great Salt Lake, and we have to be mindful about what resources we are going to use, and how it impacts the air we breathe, she said. Romero also wonders how Utah will sustain the water requirements for those facilities, since, according to the University of Michigan, nuclear power plants use 270 to 670 gallons of water per megawatt hour. Among her concerns is also the states ability to carry energy from cleaner sources within the states transmission lines. In order to look at the different energy resources, we also need to look at those transmission lines to make sure we have that infrastructure and it matches the growth of our state, she said. PacifiCorp split proposal Last year, the Legislature asked PacifiCorp, Rocky Mountain Powers parent company, to study the possibility of splitting into two entities one serving California, Washington and Oregon, all blue states that have prioritized clean energy initiatives; and one joining efforts between Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rocky Mountain Power has been trying to drive up the cost here in Utah because of policies in California, Oregon and Washington, and thats not fair to the citizens of Utah, Schultz said. And not just drive up the cost a little bit. Were talking huge amounts. For Adams, the split is more about joining forces with states with similar policies to produce power. For example, Utah is in discussions with Wyoming about a potential partnership on its nuclear projects, he said. And, Idaho is very supportive, too. That partnership may extend to other critical Western issues, Adams said, including water. Thats kind of a new policy. Weve always tried to solve our problems from within. What were trying to do now is join with those other states, he said. And so when you talk about the bifurcation of Rocky Mountain Power it has a bigger implication than just bifurcation. Electricity rates While the splitting conversation is still in its early stages, a potential 18% increase of residential electricity rates ruffled the feathers of many elected officials, including Cox and many Republican legislators. And they are considering removing at least one benefit the utility has had for almost a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interim committee hearing last November, Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield, introduced a bill that, if approved, would eliminate how Rocky Mountain Power funds its Energy Balancing Account. That account is a market adjustment fee that can either credit or debit ratepayers for the utilitys costs not covered by the regular electricity rates. Legislation sponsored by Adams in 2016 allowed electrical corporations to recover 100% of their prudently incurred costs in an energy balancing account. Before that, customers covered 70% of the adjustment and shareholders absorbed 30% of it. The system established in 2016, Adams said, helped Rocky Mountain Power to balance production costs over time, and provided them with stability and better rates. However, he said he would support studying the House proposal. I actually think that we ought to evaluate it, get the data out, find out how its been used, and whether its doing what it said it would, Adams said. Because I think in some cases it does. Other cases it doesnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah News Dispatch senior reporter Katie McKellar contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip is more than 40 per cent higher than previously reported, according to a new study published in The Lancet. The authors estimate that some 64,260 people are likely to have died as a result of trauma between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, a 41 per cent increase on the 37,877 deaths estimated by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. The figures, calculated by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), only account for traumatic deaths and do not include deaths resulting from food insecurity and starvation, health service disruption and inadequate water and sanitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10,000 unrecovered corpses are thought to be buried under the rubble in Gaza, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in May last year. More than half of deaths, 59 per cent, estimated by the LSHTM researchers occurred among women, children and the elderly, the study said. The researchers used a statistical method known as capture-recapture analysis to estimate the number of traumatic injury deaths. It has also been used to estimate mortality in armed conflicts including Kosovo, Colombia and Sudan. The method uses multiple data sources (lists) with sufficient identifying information to accurately link records, identify overlapping cases, and infer the true number of cases (deaths), including those not featured within any list, based on statistical models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers used three data sources: Palestinian Ministry of Health hospital hospital morgue records, a Palestinian MoH online survey and social media obituaries. The Palestinian MoH records identified the largest number of deaths and had no missing data. Findings showed peaks in the first three months of the conflict from October 2023 and again in June 2024. They coincided with major Israeli aerial and ground attacks on the territory. Death toll questions There have been widespread questions surrounding the reliability of official mortality data in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 and there are a wide range of estimates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Acled, a non-profit organisation tracking global conflict, counted some 39,276 deaths from media, civil society and government sources by 30 June 2024. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the BBC that around 30,000 had been killed in Gaza by May 2024, with 14,000 of them being terrorists. LSHTM researchers focused only on traumatic injury. Some non-trauma deaths may have been mistakenly included, potentially resulting in an overestimation. Conversely, people reported as missing were excluded from the analysis which could lead to an underestimation, it added. When both trauma and non-trauma deaths are taken into account, some academic estimates suggest the final total death toll could reach 186,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during its assault of the Gaza Strip. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israel prime minister and former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November. A warrant was also issued for a military commander of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, but Israel has said he was killed by an airstrike in Gaza in July. Mr Netanyahu condemned the ICCs decision as antisemitic. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The number of people affected by the Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia on 8 January has increased to 123. Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: Fedorov said 66 people are presently being treated in hospitals, with 11 of them in serious condition. Another 50 people are receiving outpatient care. Fedorov emphasised that this is the largest attack on Zaporizhzhia since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with such a huge number of victims occurring at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the Russians carried out the attack during rush hour, when locals were returning from work, which explains why there were so many of those affected. Two minibuses were destroyed, killing passengers, and two persons were killed in a tram passing by the scene of the attack. Background: On 8 January, Russians struck Zaporizhzhia with guided aerial bombs, which exploded near the administrative part of an infrastructure facility and a roadway. There were reports of 13 people killed. Support UP or become our patron! An 84-year-old woman reportedly died on Christmas Eve after she remained outside her nursing home in Ohio because nurses thought she had left in the care of her brother. On Dec. 24, Alvera Meuti, of Warrensville Heights, went missing for over 10 hours from the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center, per local station WOIO. She was later discovered lying on her back on an outdoor patio, according to the Warrensville Heights Police Department (WHPD), reported WOIO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meuti was pronounced dead at 8:57 a.m. local time the same day after she had been taken to South Pointe Hospital, the outlet added. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed to PEOPLE on Friday, Jan. 10 that she died from "environmental exposure with hypothermia." Google Maps A photo of the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center in Warrensville Heights, Ohio A photo of the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center in Warrensville Heights, Ohio WKYC stated that Meuti had last been seen in her room by a nurse at approximately 8:40 p.m. local time on Dec. 23, with the staff member telling police she "seemed normal" while sitting in her wheelchair and talking, per the outlet. When another nurse went to check on Meuti at 9:30 p.m. that day, she wasn't in her room. The staff member in question reportedly told police that she assumed that she had "left the facility with her brother," the publication reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nurse also stated that she had unsuccessfully called Meuti's brother multiple times at 12:36 a.m. on Christmas Eve, and told police that she was a new nurse and was not sure what to do after that, per WOIO. After the staff member told a co-worker around 6:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, a "code purple" which is when hospital rooms and outside the building are checked was sent out, police stated, according to the outlet. The woman's brother then reportedly responded to the calls and told police that he'd visited her around 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, and she'd said she wanted to leave the facility. He added that she wasn't able to do so at the time because she was unable to properly walk, per WOIO. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. WJW reported that police had been called to the facility at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 24 and found the woman "outside in a corner of the patio." She was unresponsive and taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are sorry for death of the resident and have expressed our condolences to the family," Avenue Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center said in a statement, per WJW. "This continues to be an active investigation and therefore we are unable to comment further at this time, Officials at the home reportedly told police that nurses are required to check on patients every two hours, per WKYC. Meuti had been under the facility's care since being transferred from Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital to receive physical therapy on Dec. 18, the outlet added. Avenue Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center and the Warrensville Heights Police Department didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment. Read the original article on People ELLSWORTH, MN (KELO) Its a question that many people struggle to answer: How do you live a long, happy life? Several residents at Parkview Manor in Ellsworth, Minnesota have had about a century to think about the answer to that question. School voucher bill introduced by House, Senate leaders Step inside Parkview Manor, and you will find a number of people with a unique story to tell. Take 97-year-old Rosemary Hoffman for example. She raised eight children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was it like? Oh, I dont know. You have to go through it to find out, Hoffman said. Bill Deutsch is 98 and was born and raised in Ellsworth. This is my hometown, and I was in the Army for two years. I worked on the county for four years, and I worked in the elevator for 40 years. I retired in 1990, and I went into the mow business, and I mowed and told everybody that I would quit when I was 90 years old, Deutsch said. Deutschs time in the military was especially memorable for him. He fought in World War II. My best day in my life was when I was overseas and Japan says, Were ready to surrender,' Deutsch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The residents here may have some regrets. The two things I wanted to do in my life I never did is I wanted to meet Johnny Cash and go to Switzerland, and I never got to do either one, Hoffman said. But, they have experienced plenty of joy. Enjoying good health, for one thing, and enjoying good friends, 95-year-old Wilfred DeKing said. Vikings, Rams playoff game moved to Arizona My biggest joy is being married and having a bunch of kids, Deutsch said. Theyve also had to figure out how to push through lifes ups and downs. Well, you learn lessons every day. You learn something new every day. You know, nothing is the same. Your life keeps changing every day, DeKing said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And with about a century of life experience, Parkview residents are more than qualified to give out some life advice. 103-year-old Ruth Birkett says you should be ready for anything. Just roll with the punches, Birkett said. They also have messages for anyone still trying to navigate their lives. Oh, to behave themselves. Thats the big thing, 95-year-old Lorraine Klooster said. If you choose to be happy, youll be happy, DeKing said. Get married, have a few kids, enjoy yourself, have a sport that you like to go to. I like my fishing, and thats what I ended up doing, Deutsch said. As the residents reflect on everything theyve experienced, theyre proud of the lives they have led. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud that I could raise my family myself and all, and be happy doing it, Hoffman said. And their family members are proud of them as well. Larry Foster is grateful for his mother, Vivian. She is 101 and was a teacher for over 30 years. Shes always been there for me and our family, Larry Foster said. Now, the people of Parkview look to enjoy the rest of their lives. Were having a lot of fun in here. I do anyway, Deutsch said. Parkview recently lost 104-year-old Martha Kruse. One of her talents was her singing ability. Check out her singing Silent Night in German here: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) As the new year kicks off, many people are looking for a fresh start. For some, that means a new job or career. To educate the community about available opportunities, New Yorks Department of State launched the Be Your Own Boss campaign in September. NYC hiring for media jobs with dozens of departments The campaign highlights 10 of the more than 35 professions the state is responsible for licensing. The jobs include real estate agent, nail technician, security guard, and home inspector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want people to be aware of all the opportunities in the state that are growing but also have them know there are levels of options available to them should they change their career paths or just add to what theyre already doing, Walter Mosley, the New York Department of State Secretary of State, said. Small businesses are the economic engine for our state and play an integral role in making community-driven societies and they contribute to our tax base. Lionel Kearse, from Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, spent years doing different jobs before settling on getting licensed as a barber nearly 15 years ago. He called it an easy process. You go to the State Department with your application for your apprentice license, take your infectious disease test, and then you work under a master barber, he said. The now-master barber said it was a no-brainer to change jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You become a staple in your community, meet different people, become a part of their family. You watch teenagers become men, become fathers. You cut their kids you become part of their family, he said. Kearse said becoming an entrepreneur has enriched his life. I am my own boss and its not having the pressure of if youre late, someone is on your back build your own schedule, more flexibility with your family. I love it, he added. He encouraged anyone who is looking for work to consider getting a license for a profession through the state. For more information on the states licensing program, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The city opening a massive new migrant shelter in the Bronx, the Daily News has learned a sign that city is still wrestling with the tens of thousands of migrants in the citys care despite dozens of shelter closures. The administration is also planning to close 13 additional migrant shelters by June, according to the Mayors office, including Clinton Hills Hall Street shelter, which has been the subject of much controversy in the area. The policies we implemented, and the tremendous work of the dedicated public servants who execute our mission, show how our administration continues to creatively and effectively manage an unprecedented crisis, Adams said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The additional closures we are announcing today, provides yet another example of our continued progress and the success of our humanitarian efforts to care for everyone throughout our system. The new site, located in an industrial section of the Bronx off Bruckner Boulevard, will house 2,200 single men in the seven-story warehouse after in opens in the next couple months. It was granted a slew of temporary permits last month to convert the space into a shelter, city records show. The space will be operated by the citys Housing Recovery Operations office and is intended to fill the gap left by the closure of the huge tent site at Randalls Island and others, according to City Hall. We should not be housing people shelters to begin with, said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. We should be giving them the services that they need to get on their feet and actually get out of shelter and into permanent housing This circling the wagon on creating more and more shelters, is not going to help the people who are directly impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilmember Diana Ayala, whose district contains the shelter site, said she has concerns about the building as a potential target for federal immigration officials. I dont like the idea of congregated settings specifically just for the asylum seekers, because Im concerned about the Trump administration getting access to addresses, she said. And it makes it easier for ICE to single out a specific location. The new opening comes as the city has entered into a new phase of the migrant crisis: Various shelter closures underway around the city have pushed migrants into new shelters. Last week, single men living at a Bushwick shelter were pushed out and transferred to Randalls to make way for adult families. At Floyd Bennett Field, which was fully vacated earlier this week, families were sent to shelters across the city, including some to the Hall Street shelter set to be closed, according to Ariana Hellerman, a volunteer with mutual aid group Floyd Bennett Field Neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the city has seen its migrant population in shelters consistently decreasing for 27 weeks straight, according to City Hall, there are still tens of thousands of asylum seekers in the citys care. As of Sunday. Jan. 5, over 50,000 migrants remains in the local shelter system, according to City Hall data. The city has opened nearly 200 sites since spring of 2022. Adams has promised future closures and emphasized that city initiatives such as case management and 30- and 60-day notices have caused the migrant crisis to ease up. By June, the city plans to close over a dozen more shelters, including the Clinton Hill shelter and the Watson and the Stewart hotel sites. These closures will further reduce the citys overall capacity by 10,000 beds not counting the beds added by the Bruckner site. Adams has touted decreases in migrant spending as a further sign the worst of the crisis is behind the city although members of the City Council and the citys Independent Budget Office have said the administration inflated cost estimates for migrant expenses. The Bronx building was purchased by developers Maddd Equities and South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, or SoBro, in 2023, city records show. Before the pandemic, the building was converted into an office building. WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) The New York State Police are seeking the publics assistance in identifying a female suspect in an alleged grand larceny case in Jefferson County. State Troopers in Watertown are looking for the publics help with identifying a suspect who was captured on surveillance camera using a stolen credit card at Bath and Body Works in Salmon Run Mall. In the surveillance footage, the woman is seen wearing a dark-colored T-shirt and carrying a pink stroller luggage bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who recognizes the individual in the photo is asked to contact State Police at (315) 366-6000 and reference case #NY2400713795. (Courtesy of New York State Police) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. WARNING: The attached video contains footage that could be disturbing to some viewers. OAK PARK, Ill. Authorities in Oak Park have released new body camera video captured during a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a detective. The newly released video shows the actions of five Oak Park police officers, including Detective Allan Reddins, who was fatally shot, during a call about an armed individual near a bank in the 1000 block of Lake Street on Friday, Nov. 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were called to the scene after a witness spotted an armed individual leaving a Chase Bank. No words: Judge orders suspect in detectives shooting death held until trial In the video, officers can be seen quickly surrounding the suspect, 37-year-old Jerell Thomas, outside of the Oak Park Public Library. But as officers called for Thomas to surrender, he allegedly opened fire, striking 40-year-old Allan Reddins, a Chicago resident and Oak Park detective who had been with the department since May of 2019. Reddins was transported to the hospital but later died from injuries sustained in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court, prosecutors said Reddins had been struck on his right side as he turned to run toward his squad car and collapsed. He then attempted to use his radio but was physically unable to do so. Thomas, a Chicago resident, was taken into custody on the scene after being shot in the leg by another officer who allegedly found him with the gun still in his hands. Thomas has since been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the detectives fatal shooting as well as dozens of other charges tied to the incident. Visitation held for fallen Oak Park Detective Allan Reddins Prosecutors said Thomas had been inside the bank for about 15 minutes before he was approached by a branch manager who found him suspicious. Bank security then alerted Oak Park police after Thomas allegedly walked out with a visible handgun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Oak Park spokesperson described Thomas as a habitual criminal who has a history of arrests for aggravated battery to a police officer, domestic battery, battery and resisting a police officer. Last month, loved ones and fellow law enforcement officers paid their final respects at a memorial service for Reddins, who was remembered as a kind and resilient family man who was committed to his work. The deadly shooting marked the first line-of-duty death in Oak Park since 1938. Thomas is expected to return to court on March 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. State Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus was sworn in Wednesday for his third term representing New Yorks 51st Senate District. The ceremony took place in the Senate Chamber of the state Capitol in Albany. "I am absolutely thrilled to return to the Senate Chamber with the same fire and drive that inspired me to take office four short years ago, Oberacker said in a news release. Each time I walk through these doors, Im reminded of the incredible trust and responsibility the people of the 51st District have placed in me. Its a privilege and a mission I embrace, ready to fight for our future, together." Oberacker, who was first elected to the Senate in 2020, represents one of New Yorks geographically largest state legislative districts including all of Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie and Sullivan counties, as well as portions of Broome, Chenango and Ulster counties. "During his time in office, he has been a fierce advocate for agriculture, small businesses, community safety, broadband connectivity, and reducing the tax burden on New Yorks rural residents," the release stated. "As I begin my work this year, my focus is to deliver real relief to our communities and safeguard our values that rural New Yorkers hold dear," Oberacker said. "My top priorities are clear: making life more affordable for families, protecting our communities, and ensuring that upstate voices are heard loud and clear." THE BRONX (PIX11) An off-duty New York City employee was arrested Thursday evening, according to the NYPD. Christopher Roldan, 31, was taken into custody around 6:34 p.m. More Local News Roldan is an employee of the New York City Administration for Childrens Services, police say. He was arrested on charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a vehicle and traffic law violation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The New Orleans Police Department released new body camera footage on Friday showing the moment police fatally shot a terror suspect on New Years Day. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, was killed during a shootout with police in the early hours of Jan. 1 after he drove his truck into a crowd of New Years Eve revelers, killing 14 people. Warning: The video contains graphic content. View it here. After the attack, Jabbars truck came to a stop along Bourbon Street, an area known for its lively bars and celebrations. In the newly released body camera video from officer Luis Robles, multiple officers can be seen surrounding Jabbars white truck with their guns drawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get your hands up, an officer can be heard shouting at Jabbar. Seconds later, a barrage of bullets is fired. Three of the officers can be seen running from Jabbars truck, and two of the officers fall to the ground during the chaotic scene. After the officers surrounded the pickup truck, the driver fired at them, a news release from the NOPD said. Three officers Sergeant Nigel Daggs and Officers Christian Beyer and Jacobie Jordan returned fire. The driver was pronounced deceased on scene. An Islamic State flag lies on the ground rolled up behind the pickup truck that Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove into a crowd Jan. 1 on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press Jordan, along with officer Joseph Rodrigue, was shot in the thigh during the incident. A spokesperson for the NOPD confirmed to HuffPost that Rodrigue was one of the officers who fell to the ground in the video after being shot. He also broke his shoulder. Both officers were transported to the hospital for treatment and later released, the departments statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jabbar, who authorities believe acted alone, was a U.S. citizen and former U.S. Army soldier who officials say was inspired by the Islamic State militant group to carry out the attack. The attack is still being investigated by the FBI. A spokesperson for the NOPD told HuffPost that no additional body camera footage is expected to be released at this time. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A man was arrested after allegedly breaking into a vehicle, resulting in a struggle that left an officer injured, police said. According to the Mauldin Police Department, officers were called to Farm Ridge on Thursday morning in regards to a vehicle break-in, in which a firearm and other items were stolen. An officer had spotted a suspect and chased after him on foot. The suspect and officer engaged in a struggle, which resulted in the officer being injured. The suspect then fled, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was later arrested in the parking lot of QuikTrip on W. Butler Road, with help from the Greenville County Sheriffs Office. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Benjamin Kordell McFadden, of Kingstree. McFadden was charged with auto breaking, PWID marijuana and resisting arrest with officer injury. The injured officer was taken to the doctors office for evaluation of minor injuries and has since been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. California officials issued a reminder to hotels yesterday of a California law that prohibits hotel rates from rising by more than 10% in times of crisis. What's happening? As catastrophic wildfires that started earlier this week continue to burn in Los Angeles, thousands of people are still evacuating. The Los Angeles Times reported that the California Hotel & Lodging Association gave the warning to remind all hotels "to be mindful of the needs of our communities and avoid any form of price gouging within the lodging industry." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides forms of temporary housing, the law also states that prices for things like gas, food, and medical supplies cannot rise by more than 10% for 30 days following the proclamation of a state of emergency. Why is this law important? This legislation prevents organizations that provide life-saving resources from taking advantage of people who are experiencing disasters. It is a way to keep personal costs low and ensure safety for as many people as possible. No one should have to worry about the state of their bank account while facing a crisis. What's being done about temporary housing? Fortunately, many people are coming together to provide aid for thousands of people in need. Some hotels are even offering lower rates than usual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement yesterday, the Hotel Association of Los Angeles said, "Our hotels are working to donate bedding and personal care items to temporary shelters. We stand ready to continue assisting Angelenos and first responders during this crisis." Several hotels listed by Discover Los Angeles are offering discounted rates, including a couple of dog-friendly places. There are also listings of current closings and cancellations of buildings and productions, respectively. The Mutual Aid LA Network is offering an incredible amount of resources for people in need, which include some free accommodations for displaced people and pets, as well as free masks, meals, and other essential items. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. UPDATE: The CALNEV and SFPP West fuel pipelines returned to service on Friday morning after being shut down due to power outages in Southern California, according to Kinder Morgan. The CALNEV pipeline supplies 90% of Clark Countys fuel needs, and the SFPP supplies fuel to areas in California and Arizona. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A fuel pipeline from California to Nevada was expected to restart operations Friday, lessening the threat of a supply problem across the Las Vegas valley, a county spokesperson said late Thursday. Two Kinder Morgan pipelines, SFPP West and CALNEV, were shut down since Wednesday due to power outages near the California fires, Reuters reported. The pipelines were expected to be reopened when power is restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In working with California, a solution has been put in place which will power the Kinder Morgan fuel line into southern Nevada and fuel should start to flow into the valley in the next 12-24 hours, a county spokesperson said Thursday evening. Clark County Office of Emergency Management remains engaged on this issue with regional and state partners. The public is encouraged to not panic buy at the pump. The CALNEV pipeline runs fuel from Southern California into Nevada and provides 90% of Clark County with its fuel needs. The pipeline is one of two feeding storage tanks in southern Nevada with gasoline and diesel fuel. The fuel then is transported to gas stations. Nic Irwin, an Associate Professor of Economics at UNLV, said there was really no need to worry, as there are contingency plans in place. We actually have a secondary pipeline that comes in from Utah, Irwin explained. Its not as big but it could satisfy our needs short term and we can also truck stuff in if we need to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, the county warned of potential impacts to the fuel line servicing Southern Nevada because of the fires. Leaders with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department posted on X saying they were taking proactive steps to serve the community by fueling their vehicles due to a temporary fuel pipeline interruption linked to the California fires. We want to reassure you that there is no emergency or immediate cause for concern. These measures are purely precautionary, the LVMPD post continued. We encourage everyone to stay informed through reliable sources and avoid unnecessary panic or misinformation. Together, we can ensure our community remains calm and prepared. The 560-mile pipeline comprises two parallel lines that run from southern California into the Las Vegas valley, a post on the companys website said. The lines provide gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to storage facilities and terminals, Harry Reid International Airport and Nellis Air Force Base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preliminary reports indicated the number of damaged or destroyed structures from the fires is in the thousands, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley said during a news conference Thursday morning, according to 8 News Nows sister station KTLA. Chief Crowley called the Palisades Fire one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles. L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the Eaton Fire was at 13,690 acres at a Thursday afternoon briefing as the fire was making a run toward the Mt. Wilson area. Thursday morning, the fire was mapped at 17,234 acres with no containment. The cause remained under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters from Nevada were sent to Los Angeles on Wednesday to help fight the fires after receiving a call for help from the state of California. The strike team sent is scheduled to stay for 10 to 14 days but that can change based on where or when they are needed. In February 2023, a fuel leak closed the the pipeline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. By Akbar Novruz Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan in February, Azernews reports, citing Pakistani media. According to reports, the visit is part of Pakistan's "Vision Central Asia" policy, aimed at strengthening ties with Central Asian states and enhancing cooperation with key countries in the Caucasus region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, key federal ministers, and a business delegation, will visit Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the third week of February. This will mark Shehbaz Sharif's third trip to Baku within a span of seven months. Sources indicate that the visit will be bilateral and made at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who visited Pakistan last year. Several agreements focusing on economic cooperation between the two nations are expected to be signed during the visit. Additionally, the prime minister will make a two-day trip to Uzbekistan, where discussions will include offering Uzbekistan access to Karachi port for transit trade, along with the signing of key trade agreements. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM OHA is proposing a change of use for a parcel of Office of Hawaiian Affairs property, Kakaako Makai, bordered by Ala Moana Boulevard, Forrest Avenue and Ilalo Street. 1 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM OHA is proposing a change of use for a parcel of Office of Hawaiian Affairs property, Kakaako Makai, bordered by Ala Moana Boulevard, Forrest Avenue and Ilalo Street. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM OHA wants to mandate that more than 50 % of homes on the parcel at Kakaako Makai be reserved for Hawaii resident households that dont earn over 140 % of Oahus median income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM OHA wants to mandate that more than 50 % of homes on the parcel at Kakaako Makai be reserved for Hawaii resident households that dont earn over 140 % of Oahus median income. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM OHA is proposing a change of use for a parcel of Office of Hawaiian Affairs property, Kakaako Makai, bordered by Ala Moana Boulevard, Forrest Avenue and Ilalo Street. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM OHA wants to mandate that more than 50 % of homes on the parcel at Kakaako Makai be reserved for Hawaii resident households that dont earn over 140 % of Oahus median income. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs worked to wrangle public support Wednesday night for its revamped proposal to undo a state law prohibiting residential use of land it owns in Kakaako. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close to 200 people, including a handful of state lawmakers, turned out for a community meeting the state agency held across the Kewalo Basin harbor channel from much of the highly valued but underused land OHA owns on the Kakaako Makai peninsula. New OHA board of trustees Chair Kai Kahele, a former state and federal lawmaker, led the nearly three-hour event where attendees were urged to engage in the legislative process to help determine the fate of a draft bill being proposed by the agency to lift the ban on housing in Kakaako, makai of Ala Moana Boulevard. We want you to participate. We want you to submit testimony, Kahele said inside the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Ho okupu Center next to Kewalo Basin Park. That is the essence of our democracycivic engagement at its most grassroots level. Several attendees commended OHA for what they said was an unprecedented effort by the agency to engage directly with area community members, including some longtime advocates of the existing law banning housing in Kakaako Makai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kahele, along with OHA CEO Stacy Ferreira and trustee Keoni Souza, chair of OHAs Investment and Land Management Committee, fielded questions and comments after presenting detailed histories of the agency, the man-made peninsula, land-use regulation, affordable housing and OHAs new proposal that is being put forth after more than a decade of unsuccessful efforts to get the law changed at the Legislature. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years legislative session begins Wednesday. Upholding the ban, which the Legislature imposed in 2006 by passing a law to override zoning by a state agency regulating development in Kakaako, has been rooted in the state House where Scott Saiki represented the area and had long been House speaker or majority leader with power to derail bills aimed at repealing the ban. Saiki, a Democrat, lost his bid for reelection in August. Still, some House members who attended Wednesdays event said they needed more time and information to take a position on OHAs proposal. It was a good starter, Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, a Democrat who replaced Saiki representing Kakaako in the House, said after the meeting. I want to ask more questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Darius Kila (D, Nanakuli-Maili ) credited OHA for being prepared and welcoming feedback including criticism. Thats one thing you couldnt say before, he said. Kila also said after the meeting that hes not ready to take a position on the agencys bid. OHAs new plan seeks to permit residential use on five of nine parcels the agency owns in the area, along with four blocks owned by Ka mehameha Schools. Two of these OHA parcels and all four Kamehameha Schools parcels fronting Ala Moana Boulevard are proposed for 400-foot building height limits, up from an existing 200-foot limit. For those six parcels, OHA proposes mandating that more than 50 % of all resulting homes be reserved for Hawaii resident households that dont earn over 140 % of Oahus median income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, buyers of the reserved homes would have to be owner-occupants, and a preference would be given to those who work within 5 miles of the area in essential fields that include education, health care, law enforcement, hospitality and construction. Kahele has framed the proposal, which he said could result in 1, 000 to 2, 000 new homes, as helping the state end a chronic shortage of affordable housing for moderate-income households. During the meeting, Kahele said the agency possibly could partner with Kamehameha Schools or the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to produce some of the homes, including for some earning less than the median income. Kali Watson, DHHL director, attended the meeting and welcomed the opportunity to work with OHA and possibly produce homes reserved for DHHL beneficiaries who must be at least half Hawaiian to qualify. I like your plan, he told Kahele. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OHAs mission is to benefit all Hawaiians, and largely does so by funding grants for programs helping Hawaiians. OHA, however, cannot give a preference for housing to Hawaiians. For the other three OHA parcels, the agency would like to be able to produce market-priced housing within existing height limits and for only Hawaii residents with an owner-occupant restriction. We are not building homes for out-of-state investors, Kahele said. Kahele said proceeds from market-priced housing would help fund OHA programs and allow the agency to pay for other planned improvements on its Kakaako Makai lands, including a Hawaiian cultural center and public waterfront promenade along the Ewa edge of Kewalo Basin Small Boat Harbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cody Sula, who is Hawaiian but not enough to be a DHHL beneficiary, suggested that the community support OHAs plan, which he said might not be perfect but is different from typical developers. At the end of the day, if they sit there and do nothing we going say in 30 years they never do nothing for us, Sula said during the meeting. Ron Iwami, founder of the Friends of Kewalos nonprofit, which has opposed residential use in Kakaako Makai for two decades, told Kahele that he cant support OHAs new plan. Iwami said he has concerns about contaminated soil being disturbed and possibly leaching into the ocean. Kahele said such environmental concerns can and would have to be addressed with any development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the roughly 200-acre peninsula was created from fill as a city dump. Later the buried waste was consolidated and covered to form the hilly Kakaako Waterfront Park. Surrounding commercial development has included warehouses, base yards, ship repair facilities, office buildings, restaurants, a childrens museum and the University of Hawaii medical school. In 2006 the Legislature passed a law to prohibit residential use in the area to block a private project on public land solicited by another state agency, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which at the time owned much of Kakaako Makai. That project, by local development firm Alexander &Baldwin Inc., included three condominium towers clustered on one inland lot, a hula amphitheater, restaurants, stores, a farmers market, a public waterfront promenade and a pedestrian bridge spanning the Kewalo Basin harbor channel. OHA received much of the same land in 201231 acres valued at about $200 millionto partially settle claims over unpaid revenue generated from former Hawaiian crown lands, referred to as ceded land. Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, co-chair of the Legislatures Native Hawaiian Caucus, said during Wednesdays meeting that stand-alone commercial development in Kakaako Makai wont be viable based on the history of failed commercial development around nearby Aloha Tower, so he supports repealing the existing ban. This is not Alexander &Baldwin, said Keohokalole (D, Kaneohe-Kailua ). This is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Kahele, in wrapping up the meeting, said new OHA leadership wants to earn the trust of stakeholders, work out differences and achieve something that is great for the people of Hawaii. Theres been a lot of ike (knowledge ) that has gone out tonight, he said, a lot of passionate conversations from both sides, and I think that is a fantastic thing. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Next year will be the 250th anniversary of the United States and plans are already being made to celebrate. One such program will highlight Ohios part in motion pictures. The program will be called Ohio Goes to the Movies. Warrens 102-year-old Robins Theatre with its renovated red velvet seats and opulent decor is as historic as movie theaters come. It even has a screen that drops from the ceiling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People really do come for the movies here, said Ken Haidaris, Robins Theatre promoter. Molly Kreuzman is organizing the program. The end goal is to show an Ohio-centric film in all 88 counties, Kreuzman said. Lillian Gish, Doris Day, Paul Newman, Dean Martin, Dorothy Dandridge the list just goes on and on not the least of which is Thomas Edison and then of course, the Warner Brothers. Among the theaters participating are the Regals in Niles and Boardman, Warrens Skyway Twin Drive-In, Salem Twin Cinema and Salem Community Theatre. Youngstowns Stambaugh Auditorium is also planning a silent movie with its organ and a movie at the DeYor will be accompanied by the symphony. The Robins Theatre plans to participate too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I kind of like the idea of Shawshank Redemption. A lot of people dont know that was Manfield Reformatory. To me, thats really neat, said Haidaris. Kreuzman wants the movies to be big events. It may be a red carpet. It could be dressing up in costume. I mean, who knows, and then the venue will show the film and then afterward, theyll have some kind of audience participation Q&A, Kreuzman said. Shawshank would be really cool somebody coming in their best prison outfit, Haidaris said. Kreuzman says the events will be free to the public and theres enough money to give all venues a stipend. She currently has commitments from 138 venues in 61 counties and is determined to get all 88. I will tell you nothing on this scale has ever been attempted before, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The premiere of Ohio Goes to the Movies will be Valentines Day of 2026. Kreuzman says the closing event will be at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame and shes trying to get Warren-born Dave Grohl to bring his film Sound City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Ohio has a new retail theft law on the books, and it stipulates stiffer punishments for organized retail crime. The Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement (FORCE) Act, written by the states Attorney General, Dave Yost, was signed into law this week by Governor Mike DeWine. It targets retail theft rings with harsher penalties and creates a statewide task force and advisory council within the Attorney Generals Office. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yosts office worked closely with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants (OCRM) and Ohio Chamber of Commerce (OCC) to craft the bill, which creates a new felony offense of organized retail theft, for which penalties will range based on the value of stolen merchandise. In addition, repeat offenders will face a minimum fourth-degree felony charge if they have been convicted of a felony within the past three years. OCRM data shows that organized retail theft accounts for between $2 billion and $3 billion in losses for Ohio retailers each year, with crimes usually involving groups of thieves hitting up stores to bag large volumes of merchandise. These items are typically sold at a profit, and retailers have reported having to raise prices due to the increasing strain and shrink. Consumers bear the cost when organized retail theft goes unchecked, Yost said. With this law, we aim to make sure the thieves are the ones who pay the price. The Attorney Generals Offices new task force will fall under its Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, allocating more resources to the investigation of such crimes across the state. The law also mandates the formation of an Organized Retail Theft Advisory Council, which will consist of Yost and representatives from the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, OCRM and Ohio Grocers Association, along with other stakeholder groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Representative Haraz Ghanbari called FORCE a critical step in combating organized retail theft, providing law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools they need to hold offenders accountable and protect Ohio businesses. I am grateful to see this important piece of legislation signed into law and once again show that Ohio is the most business-friendly state in the country, added State Senator George Lang. The FORCE Act will protect our retailers, customers and communities. OCRM president and CEO Gordon Gough said the group was pleased with the legislation, noting that it makes Ohio a leader in combating the scourge of organized retail crime afflicting retailers and consumers. The FORCE Act brings valuable resources to state and local law enforcement through funding and the establishment of a statewide task force housed in the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, he said. In addition, it will help facilitate direct collaboration between retail loss prevention executives, law enforcement and prosecutors. Lastly, the legislation makes necessary changes to our statutes to better address the dynamic and constantly evolving trends in organized retail crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Steve Stivers said Ohios business community has long been concerned with rising crime levels, and our own research shows that crime discourages Ohio businesses from expanding. The new penalties mirror many of the Chambers recommendations from its own task force, which were designed to increase accountability for bad actors and enhance security for businesses. We especially applaud the work of Attorney General Dave Yost and his office to keep prosecutorial tools nimble as retail theft becomes increasingly more organized and sophisticated, Stivers said. A nearly 1,500 mile loop of hiking trails in Ohio could soon join the ranks of the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. The National Park Service is evaluating whether to add the Buckeye Trail, which runs from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, to its National Trails System. Over the next several weeks, the service will share information about its feasibility study and hear from the public at cities around the state. One of those meetings will be held in Cincinnati on Jan. 16. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a dream for many outdoors enthusiasts. Could the Buckeye Trail be next on their list? The Buckeye Trail spans nearly 1,500 miles. The Buckeye Trail was built from 1959 to 1980 by the Buckeye Trail Association, a nonprofit. The loop of trail systems stretches 1,454 miles across farmland in northwest Ohio, the Bluegrass region of southwest Ohio, the Black Hand sandstone cliffs around Hocking Hills and the hills of Appalachia. More than half of the route overlaps the North County National Scenic Trail. What are National Scenic Trails? Currently there are 11 National Scenic Trails: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Appalachian Trail stretches 2,190 miles through 13 states between Maine and North Carolina. The Arizona Trail stretches 800 miles through Arizona. The Continental Divide Trail stretches 3,100 miles through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. The Florida Trail stretches 1,300 miles through Florida. The Ice Age Trail stretches 1,000 miles through Wisconsin. The Natchez Trace Trail stretches 65 miles through Mississippi. The New England Trail stretches 215 miles through Connecticut and Massachusetts. The North Country Trail stretches 4,600 miles through eight states including Ohio. The Pacific Crest Trail stretches 2,650 miles through California, Oregon and Washington. The Pacific Northwest Trail stretches 1,200 miles through Idaho, Montana and Washington. The Potomac Heritage Trail stretches 710 miles through Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C. A hiker's journey to Katahdin: Family trip sparked desire to tackle the Appalachian Trail The designated routes for hiking and biking showcase some of the country's beautiful landscapes and attract tourists from around the world. They are managed by federal and state agencies. Make your voice heard Ohioans can voice their stance on whether the Buckeye Trail should become a National Scenic Trail at the following meetings for public comment: Jan. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hines Hill Conference Center at 1403 West Hines Hill Road in Peninsula. Jan. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Henry County Hospital Heller Community Room at 1600 E Riverview in Napoleon. Jan. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center at 2380 Memorial Road in Dayton. Jan. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Digital Futures Building Level 1 Conference Room at 3080 Exploration Ave. in Cincinnati. Jan. 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Athens Community Center Room B and C at 701 E State St. in Athens. There will be a virtual public meeting, too, on Jan. 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants can attend online. The public comment period is open now through Feb. 19. Members of the public are invited to review the National Park Service's study process and share feedback online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Buckeye Trail in Ohio could be the 12th National Scenic Trail An Ohio man looking for land to build a home got more than he bargained for and now hes in a bitter battle with the citys government over what he says rightfully belongs to him. According to Cincinnatis ABC affiliate WCPO, Jason Fauntleroy purchased a plot of land in Trenton, Ohio at a Sherrifs auction for $5,000 back in 2021. But what he didnt know at the time was that his money actually bought him the entire street. Check out a picture of what he bought here: Screenshot: wcpo.com Fauntleroy told WCPO that the city began efforts to reclaim the land he bought through eminent domain in October. This process allows the government to seize property for public use, but requires them to compensate the owner for the fair market value of the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since that time, Fauntleroy has been in a contentious battle with the city, which is only offering him the value of the land he intended to use for his home, rather than appraising the value of the street he purchased. They shut me out, Fauntleroy told WCPO in an interview. They blocked my calls. Its hard to even get through anybody. Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols told WCPO that the city wants to make the private road in front of Fauntleroys home a public road that it maintains. He added that he couldnt explain how Fauntleroy was able to buy Bloomfield Court at the auction. Im not sure how that occurs other than it was a private drive that was created through a homeowners association, he said. The homeowners association was responsible for maintaining that property and upkeeping it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Fauntleroy says he just wants to be fairly compensated for the land he now owns. Treat people fair; do honest work, he said. Dont just take advantage of someone because they dont have the means of getting an attorney. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Jan. 10Ohio now officially has its own rules regulating the use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which will allow the state to charge Ohioans who operate drones recklessly, interfere with first responder activities, or commit other flying faux pas. The regulations come from House Bill 77, legislation championed by Clark County Rep. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, and approved by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine this week. Once the bill becomes law in three months, the rules will mirror and expand the drone regulation framework already used by the federal government while giving the state added power to prosecute for federal offenses. "Ohio will now have the ability to prosecute their own UAV laws that mirror federal law," Willis said in a press release. "This legislation doesn't create any new licensure regulations for UAV pilots. It allows Ohio to have local control of our airspace and hold pilots that are operating in an unsafe manner accountable without having to find a U.S. attorney to prosecute. This is a step in the right direction, but there is still more we need to do to protect our airways." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Willis' press release, H.B. 77 specifically forbids: Operating a drone in a reckless manner that endangers others; Operating a drone in a way that is prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration; Operating a drone that interferes with first responder activities; Operating a drone to record or loiter over or near "critical infrastructure," which can include railroads, T.V. or radio transmission facilities, courthouses, police stations, hospitals, jails, military installations and more, according to the legislature's nonpartisan analysis of the bill. The bill also authorizes local governments to establish their own ordinances on private drone use in or above parks or other property owned by that local government. The legal use of drones has been in the news lately after UAVs have been seen over and near military bases across the country, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. ------ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... Cottongrass wafts over the tundra in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 2, 2006. No bids were received for the second congressionally mandated Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil and gas lease sale, the Department of the Interior reported. (Photo by S. Hillebrand/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) No bids were received in the second congressionally managed oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Department of the Interior announced on Wednesday. Had any been received, bids were scheduled to be opened on Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. That Interior agency was charged with managing the refuge leasing program created through a 2017 tax bill passed by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The absence of bids this time, after very few bids were received in the first lease sale held four years ago, backs up Biden administration officials beliefs that drilling in the refuge is bad policy, said a statement released by the Interior Department. The lack of interest from oil companies in development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge reflects what we and they have known all along there are some places too special and sacred to put at risk with oil and gas drilling. This proposal was misguided in 2017, and its misguided now, Acting Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-David said in the statement. The BLM has followed the law and held two lease sales that have exposed the false promises made in the Tax Act. The oil and gas industry is sitting on millions of acres of undeveloped leases elsewhere; wed suggest thats a prudent place to start, rather than engage further in speculative leasing in one of the most spectacular places in the world. This weeks lease sale follows one held on Jan. 6, 2021, that drew little bidding, and none from large oil companies. Most bids in that sale were from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, an Alaska state development agency. AIDEAs head disclosed Wednesday that the agency and the Biden administration have reached an agreement to ensure that the leases acquired in that first sale will not be resold to other parties. Supporters of oil development in the refuge blamed the Biden administration for the lack of bids this time, saying it put too many restrictions on oil development in the refuge, sometimes referred to as ANWR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is no surprise. From Day 1, Joe Biden and (Interior Secretary) Deb Haaland have sought to illegally shut down any chance of developing ANWR and have said as much. They and their eco-colonialist allies have made every effort to delay, and ultimately kill, any chance of successful ANWR lease sales and have canceled the voices of the Inupiat Native people of Alaska in the process, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said in a statement. Sullivans statement referred to the pro-drilling stance of many of the North Slopes Inupiat people. He said the second lease sale was structured to circumvent the federal law Congress passed and President Trump signed by closing off nearly three-quarters of the coastal plain to new leasing. The good news is we will soon be working with the Trump administration which, unlike Biden-Harris, has a proven track record of responsible Alaska resource development, faithfully implementing the laws passed by Congress, and respecting the voices of the Inupiat people of the North Slope who strongly support the ANWR leasing program. January 20th cant come soon enough, Sullivan added. Trump, who won another term in office, has argued for oil drilling in the refuge. He has claimed, falsely, that it could hold more oil than is in Saudi Arabia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incoming Trump administration has multiple avenues to pursue oil development in the refuge, though future attempts might be met with more litigation. Republican-led efforts to open the coastal plain to drilling in past decades were blocked, either by Congress or by a veto issued by then-President Bill Clinton. Along with Clinton, past Democratic presidents have consistently opposed opening the refuge to oil development. Clashing Gwichin, Inupiat views The debate over oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has divided Alaska Natives. North Slope Inupiat organizations argue that refuge development offers important economic opportunities, including the possibility of drilling on Native-owned land within the refuge boundaries. Inupiat organizations have opposed Biden administration Arctic policies, and in the 2024 presidential election, voters on the mostly Inupiat North Slope favored Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris by about 10 percentage points, a contrast to past patterns of Alaska Indigenous support for Democratic presidential candidates. In a statement, Nagruk Harcharek, president of the advocacy organization Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, called the Department of Interior statements Wednesday deeply insulting to the people of the North Slope. Voice of the Arctic Inupiat has supported North Slope oil development and opposed Biden administration policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his statement, Harcharek reiterated that criticism of the Biden administration. This last-gasp salvo by a departing administration is no way to create durable policy affecting Indigenous lands, and we urge the Trump-Vance administration to take a different, more inclusive approach when it assumes office in less than two weeks from today, hopefully resulting in more durable policy for the North Slope, the State of Alaska and the nation, Harcharek said in his statement. However, some of the staunchest opposition to oil development comes from the Gwichin Athabascan people of northeastern Alaska and neighboring parts of Canada. The Gwichin have long been high-profile opponents of Arctic refuge oil development, citing their dependence on and cultural ties to the Porcupine Caribou Herd that uses the refuges coastal plain for giving birth to calves. A second failed lease sale in the Arctic Refuge also clearly demonstrates that even oil companies recognize what we have known all along: drilling in the Arctic Refuge is not worth the economic risk and liability that results from development on sacred lands without the consent of Indigenous Peoples, said a statement issued by the Gwichin Steering Committee, a coalition of Gwichin tribal members in Alaska and nearby areas of Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today marks a significant success in protecting the Arctic Refuge, Curtis Gilbert, first chief of the Arctic Village Council, a Gwichin Tribal government. The total failure of the second lease sale demonstrates the overwhelming public opposition to oil and gas drilling in the Refuge. We continue to maintain our unrelenting opposition to any development on these sacred lands grounds that are not only central to our cultural and spiritual identity, but fundamental to the subsistence way of life that has sustained our people for countless generations. Environmentalists who have fought against refuge drilling for decades joined the Gwichin in celebrating the lack of bids in the lease sale. The oil industrys glaring lack of interest in this sale combined with the undeniable realities of climate change and massive public opposition to drilling in the Arctic Refuge should make it obvious to everyone that there is no legitimate reason for the federal government to have a leasing program for the sacred land of the coastal plain, Meda DeWitt, Alaska senior manager for The Wilderness Society, said in a statement. DeWitt is Alaska Native, though neither Gwichin nor Inupiat. This charade of lease sales in the Arctic Refuge would be comical if drilling werent so dangerous to one of our planets most spectacular ecosystems, Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. While Trump raves about turning the Arctic Refuge into Saudi Arabia, even the most unscrupulous oil companies and banks have stayed clear of the refuges precious coastal plain. Its time to put the Arctic Refuge oil fantasy to bed and stop fleecing American taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, the state government of Alaska and most Alaska politicians have long supported drilling in the refuge. The first refuge lease sale was held on Jan. 6, 2021, with AIDEA as the main bidder. AIDEA wound up with seven leases in the refuge coastal plain, but those were later canceled by the Interior Department. The department, which had been sued by Gwichin and environmental groups for holding the first lease sale, concluded that environmental studies conducted by the previous Trump administration were inadequate. As a result, the department eventually canceled the leases. It conducted a new environmental study that resulted in a set of new environmental protections attached to this second lease sale. The only two other leases sold in 2021, to a small oil company and to an Anchorage real estate investor, were voluntarily relinquished by those bidders. AIDEA continues planning for development The state and AIDEA, its development organization, are engaged in legal battles against the Biden administration over what they say are unfair and illegal restrictions on oil development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AIDEA has filed multiple lawsuits against the Biden administration over its policies in the refuge, with actions in 2021, 2023 and 2024. The 2021 complaint was dismissed in 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason. AIDEAs board in November approved spending up to $750,000 to continue to press its legal claims concerning Arctic refuge oil drilling and another controversial development, the Ambler Access Project, which would put a road over 200 miles through the Brooks Range foothills to an isolated mining district. Randy Ruaro, AIDEAs executive director, said the organization had two reasons for declining to bid this time. One is that Interiors new terms make bidding unattractive, not just to AIDEA but to other entities, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of bidding is no surprise to us, because the terms and conditions imposed by the Department of Interior are so onerous and so strict that we dont believe development can occur, he said. Another reason for declining to bid is the newly struck agreement with the Biden administration that ensures that AIDEAs seven refuge leases will not be sold off, Ruaro said. AIDEA will be protected. Its lease rights will be protected from being sold again to someone else, he said. That agreement was reached just in the past few days, Ruaro said. Whatever legal limbo may exist for the leases, AIDEA believes they remain valid and valuable, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think theres billions of barrels of recoverable oil on our leases and in the 1002 area, he said, referring to a legal name for the refuges coastal plain. Theyre economically worth recovering, can be economically developed. And so were hopeful that the Trump administration will correct the errors and mistakes of the Biden administration and follow the statute and hold a sale that has terms and conditions that allow for the development of ANWR. The state of Alaska has also sued to overturn Biden Arctic refuge policies. A complaint filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage seeks to overturn the environmental stipulations applied to the second lease sale, which the state contends make oil development there economically impossible. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, in a statement about the lawsuit released on Tuesday, blasted what he said was the Biden administrations continued and irrational opposition to Arctic oil development and, like Ruaro, said he looked forward to a reversal under a new Trump administration. We have already heard comments from the incoming president that his administration will thankfully take a different tack and open up those areas that are meant to be developed. But unfortunately, we cant wait for thatwe have to challenge this unlawful action now, Dunleavy, a longtime Trump supporter, said in the statement. The state in July filed a different lawsuit against the Biden administration that sought billions of dollars in compensation for alleged losses incurred after refuge leases were canceled. This story was originally produced by the Alaska Beacon which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma County jail CEO Brandi Garner announced Friday she is stepping down. News of her resignation, which will be effective Feb. 7, came just two days after the jails first detainee death in 2025 and amid reports of yet another failed inspection by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. But in a memo dated Thursday and addressed to the Oklahoma County jail trust, Garner said her decision to resign was not "a reaction to recent challenges." Instead, she said her decision was motivated by personal reasons, citing a need to prioritize her family life, well-being and "spiritual growth." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While stepping away from this role is difficult, I know it is the right step for me and my loved ones at this time, Garner wrote. Serving in this capacity has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Garner further thanked the jail trust for their support and guidance, as well as the Oklahoma County jail staff for what she described as their "courage, professionalism, and compassion." "It has been a privilege to work alongside such an extraordinary team, and I encourage the board and community to continue advocating for them," she continued. "They are the heart of this facility, and any long-term success will depend on supporting their well-being and professional growth." Related: OK County jail fails another inspection with Supreme Court case pending, death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garner was named CEO of the jail in May 2023. Her time in that role has been dominated by issues at the long-troubled facility ranging from detainee deaths, the failed health inspections and the exodus of the jail's health provider. Garner said she will focus on "ensuring a smooth and seamless transition" in the coming weeks and remains committed to both the continued progress at the jail and "innovative approaches in the criminal justice field." Jail trust Chairman Joe Allbaugh said a search for Garner's successor will begin immediately. "Her service to the staff and residents is deeply appreciated," Allbaugh said in a statement provided by jail officials. "This job is extremely difficult and demanding on both the CEO and her family. As she finishes her tenure over the next 30 days, my fellow trustees and I will support her as she closes out important projects." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County District 2 Commissioner, also acknowledged that Garner "has had a very difficult job" but expressed gratitude toward her for her work. "I'm thankful she is working with the trust for a little longer to provide a transition while they seek a new administrator," Maughan said Friday. Oklahoma County detention center, 201 N Shartel Ave, exterior at night, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. In her submitted resignation, Garner also urged county and city officials to recognize the "vital role" the jail plays in the community. "This facility is more than a place of confinement it is an opportunity to invest in individuals who are often at their lowest points and, by doing so, to positively impact public safety and reduce recidivism," Garner wrote. "A genuine, long-term commitment to improving conditions, resources, and services at the detention center can transform lives and benefit the entire community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just last week, the health department announced the latest failed surprise inspection. Numerous violations were found during an inspection Dec. 6 and Dec. 9-11. Most of the violations had to do with missed sight checks of detainees, obscured jail cell windows and the presence of mice, roaches, bedbugs and nonfunctioning equipment in cells. The inspection came as the county jail trust and the Health Department fight in court over the surprise inspections. On Wednesday, the jail also announced its first detainee death of 2025. Vincent George Burke, 42, of Oklahoma City, was found during a check in need of medical attention. Burke was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died, the jail said. The jail had seven detainee deaths in 2024, the last on Dec. 10. A yearlong investigation published by The Oklahoman in 2023 found the jail had become one of the deadliest in the United States. The state's multicounty grand jury in 2023 also said many of the deaths were preventable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While she will no longer be the CEO, Garner said she was thankful for having been entrusted with the role and will remain steadfastly devoted to public safety. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the detention center will continue to move forward in a positive direction," Garner told the trust. Contributing: Richard Mize This story was updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County jail CEO Brandi Garner announces resignation The Oklahoma state Legislature could soon hear arguments regarding the antlered deer bag limit after a senator from Wellston filed a bill seeking to lower the yearly harvest number. Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, authored Senate Bill 338, which, if passed, would drop the antlered deer bag limit in a year from two to one. In Oklahoma, antlered deer includes any deer, regardless of sex, with at least 3 inches of antler length above the hairline on either side. Green did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Micah Holmes, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation spokesperson, said the agency couldnt say much about the bill at the moment, but the department does work closely with the Legislature on anything wildlife related. He said most hunters dont harvest two antlered deer a year. About 250,000 people go hunting in Oklahoma, and about three out of four of those people have a lifetime hunting license, Holmes said. The agency has encouraged people to take more does in order to keep the population healthy, he added. More: When is turkey season in Oklahoma? Here's when to hunt different animals this year The agencys goal is to provide as many hunting opportunities as they can before it negatively impacts the resource, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma is a deer hunting destination. There's a lot of people that come here to go deer hunting, and so we want to do everything we can to keep that going, Holmes said. Keep Oklahoma a top 10 state when it comes to deer hunting. How many deer are harvested during Oklahoma's deer hunting season? According to the departments Big Game Report published this past fall, 124,833 deer were harvested for all seasons in 2023-24, and about 44% were does. Over half of hunters, or almost 150,000, choose to go hunting during gun season, while archery hunters make up about 28% of hunters, and muzzleloader hunters make up about 13%. During gun season, held near the Thanksgiving holiday, 74,137 deer were harvested and about 36% of those were does. More: Citizens of these five Oklahoma tribes can now hunt, fish on reservation lands Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the agencys Age My Deer program, the report shows more mature bucks are harvested than younger ones. About 27% of harvested bucks are between 4.5 years old and 5.5 years old. However, a majority of does were harvested when they were younger. About 23% of harvested does were 1.5 years old, about 20% of does were 2.5 years old and 19% of does were 3.5 years old. The bill is unclear if the one antlered deer limit would be per season (archery, gun, muzzleloader) or if that would be one antlered deer for all seasons. The difference would force hunters to make choices on when and what method they take their buck, local hunter Tom Kovacik said, but he doesnt think it would limit any opportunities that hunters have to harvest a buck. Hes been hunting in east-central Oklahoma and in other parts of the state for 35 years. He said the state should look at opportunities to improve the herd, such as charging an additional fee for the second buck tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma also attracts hunters from out of state, which impacts local economies, too, Kovacik said. The cost for a nonresident license for someone over 18 years old is $75 for a five-day license, and then $501 for the specific deer season, according to the departments licensing fees information. Rick Nolan, president of the Oklahoma Hunters and Anglers organization, said he hasn't seen any data that would support lowering the antlered deer bag limit. However, he added that if state biologists support it, then he supports it, but he doesn't see the bill substantially affecting the overall harvest. Five of Oklahoma's largest tribes, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole nations, allow their citizens to hunt and fish on each tribes' reservation as long as they follow tribal wildlife laws. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bag limits under these tribal licenses mirror much of the state's provisions, including the limit of two antlered deer. However, if Green's bill passes, the Choctaw Nation will not amend its code to align with the legislation, said Matt Gamble, senior manager of Choctaw Wildlife Conservation. Current deer populations easily support the current harvest, Gamble added. Christina Justice, Cherokee Nation's secretary of Natural Resources, said the tribal nation incorporates Oklahoma bag limits and season dates as part of its conservation standards. "We remain willing to work with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to evaluate changes to conservation measures however, for the benefit of our shared wildlife resources," Justice said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bag limit for antlered deer in Oklahoma could be lowered LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) A top civil liberties group says a central Ohio school districts anti-bullying policies protecting LGBTQ+ students overstep by regulating speech. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed an amicus brief in December into a 2023 lawsuit by Parents Defending Education that claims Olentangy Local School District violated First Amendment rights by barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Parents Defending Education cited the districts policy against misgendering, the act of referring to another person by using pronouns that do not align with their gender identity. 29 new laws are on their way in Ohio, here are 10 of them Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the brief, the ACLU argues that neither the school nor the parent group got things entirely right, and said it agrees that the district cannot categorically ban or punish all instances of a student using a classmates non-preferred pronouns. However, as a group committed to protecting LGBTQ students, the ACLU said some instances of misgendering are not immune from school discipline when they cause a disruption or create a hostile environment. Schools can prohibit student speech that creates a hostile educational environment. The districts policies overstep by regulating speech regardless of whether it is harassment or not and whether it will disrupt school, violating all students constitutionally protected right to free speech, said Amy Gilbert, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Ohio. Parents Defending Education filed the complaint against the district in May of 2023, which was initially rejected by a U.S. district court in August of that year. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the courts 2023 ruling in the video player above. The group then appealed to the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where a three-judge panel also rejected the suit in August of 2024 and said Parents Defending Education hadnt convincingly argued that the policies should be blocked, and noted students who dont want to use their classmates preferred pronouns may refer to them using first names. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio universities to pay student-athletes under this Statehouse-approved bill At the time, a spokesperson for Olentangy schools celebrated the courts decision and affirmed that the district is committed to facilitating maximum learning for every student. The districts policies on harassment and bullying prohibit the intentional and repeated targeting of another student when it causes an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment, Olentangy schools said. We are pleased that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision affirmed the constitutionality of our policies, and we remain committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all of our students. Shortly after, Parents Defending Education was joined by 22 state attorneys general, including Ohios Dave Yost, in asking the Sixth Circuit to rehear the case. The Sixth Circuit then decided in early November it would revisit the suit with all 16 active judges on the court, and is set to hear arguments in March of this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This policy clearly is ideologically driven and forces students who dont share in these beliefs to surrender their First Amendment rights at the door, wrote West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. The First Amendment does not allow school officials to coerce students into expressing messages inconsistent with the students values. How Ohio marijuana laws could change in 2025 Now, the ACLU is urging the Sixth Circuit to reverse the district courts original decision, and encouraging Olentangy schools to instead adopt policies that protect student speech while retaining the ability to punish speech that crosses the line into harassment that creates a hostile educational environment, or speech that causes a substantial disruption to the school setting. The ACLUs brief came as an Ohio school district reached a $450,000 settlement in December with a middle school teacher who resigned for refusing to address two trans students by their preferred names and pronouns. The agreement followed a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in August that said forcing the teacher to use students preferred names amounts to compelled speech and that the schools pronoun practice was not neutral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Olympian Gary Hall Jr. is among the many individuals who have suffered immense loss amid the wildfires raging through parts of Los Angeles County. The American swimmer said in an interview published on Thursday, Jan. 9, by The Sydney Morning Herald that the home he rented in Los Angeles Pacific Palisades neighborhood was one of the many structures that burned when the Palisades Fire tore through the area this week. The fire was worse than any apocalypse movie youve ever seen and 1000 times worse, he told the Australian paper. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three-time Olympian described the mayhem that he observed as he and thousands of others evacuated from the area. We were surrounded by flames, he said, recalling that embers were raining down on me when it was time to go. "I had time to grab my dog and just a couple of personal items, he said, adding, Its just every person for themselves. Related: All the Stars Who Have Lost Homes in the California Fires, Including Billy Crystal, Martin Short and More Hall, 50, told the paper that his 10 Olympic medals were among the many possessions that he did not have time to grab before evacuating. "Everyone wants to know did the medals burn? Yeah, everything burnt, he said. Despite the gravity of the loss, Hall said his medals are something I can live without. Hall, whose father was also a three-time Olympian, first competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ga., where he earned his first four Olympic medals. He went on to compete in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals in total. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First responders continued to battle the Palisades Fire on Thursday afternoon, with the wildfire burning more than 17,200 acres as of 2:20 p.m. local time, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Firefighters nearby were also battling the Eaton Fire, which had burned more than 13,600 acres as of 3:50 p.m. local time on Thursday. Both of the fires, which authorities said started on Tuesday, Jan. 7, were at 0 percent containment by late Thursday afternoon. Next: Mandy Moore Gets Candid About 'Weird Survivors Guilt' as She Shares Positive Update Amid Los Angeles Fires OLIGARCHY GETS A BAD RAP. Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Peter Thiel, and their ilk are perhaps more accurately styled as plutocrats, for they have few accomplishments other than their wealth to recommend them as civic or political leaders. Yale historian Timothy Snyder has also noted that our present-day oligarchs bear an increasing resemblance to the Russian oligarchs of the 1990s, who ransacked the post-Soviet state for its resources to enrich themselves, helping to spoil Russias golden chance at democracy along the way. It has not ever been thus. The oligarchies of early modern Europe, particularly those that emerged in the Dutch and British (and later American) political contexts, stood athwart the hereditary aristocracies and absolutist monarchs that had darkened the past and threatened to darken the future. Broadly speaking, these oligarchies were systems that made room for the trading classes who were both driving economic growth and political pluralism. They were also bulwarks of confessional and political diveristy, defending Reformation Protestantismwhich was from the start as fractious as a herd of catsagainst Catholic counterreformation in both its Hapsburg and Bourbon guises. They embraced a Lockean toleration of dissenting sects, even while retaining established national churches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dutch Republic, Britain after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and the Founders America served as oligarchic incubators of modern liberalism and representative democracy. Profiling these past oligarchies, noting their strengths as well as their corrupt weaknesses, can provide a yardstick for measuring just how much trouble we might be in now. We might be in a lot of trouble, but the first thing to do is understand it. Thats why, at The Bulwark, we dont indulge partisan hackery or tribal rabble-rousing. Join us. CONSIDER THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, officially the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. In 1579, the provinces of Groningen, Friesland, Overjissel, Gelderland, Utrecht, Holland, and Zeeland formed the Union of Utrecht, and two years later declared their independence from Hapsburg Spain, resulting in an Eighty Years War until the Hapsburgs recognized Dutch freedom in the Treaty of Munster, part of the Peace of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years War in 1648. The peace also brought the Dutch Golden Agethe age of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Franz Halsto its zenith and saw the Republic stand as a global empire based on trade while retaining its domestic cultural and political dynamism. Though nominally a confederation of diverse constituent republics, the government of the Republic was highly elastic. Power was often in the hands of regents (de facto representatives of wealthy merchant families) in conjunction with a stadtholder (a quasi-monarchical chief executive and commander-in-chief who was commonly a member of the House of Orange). This was truly government by the few, and a semi-hereditary few at that. In time, and often in response to national security crises, regents were purged and the Republic had periodic stadtholderless periods, such as the period 165072 under the Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winning and preserving independence and then trading the way to global power were no mean feats for the Dutch Republic. It managed to function despite its fractured polity in large measure due to the underlying characteristics of Dutch society. From its inception, the Republic practiced an extraordinary form of tolerationfirst becoming a refuge for Portuguese and Spanish Jews (including Spinoza) and then French Huguenots and English Dissenters, including future American Pilgrims. Locke composed his famous Letter on Toleration while in exile in Amsterdam in the mid-1680s. The official Dutch Reformed Church was Calvinist, but it contained a powerful Erastian element that limited its political power. Despite the domination of the oligarchy, Dutch culture generally disdained ostentation and display. One need only recall the sober members of the Drapers Guild captured in Rembrandts The Syndics (1662): As traders, the Dutch prospered due to their parsimony and financial acumen, by which they avoided much of the corruption to which oligarchies are prone. The result was that the Dutch Republics oligarchic leaders secured their country against two hegemonic powers, fostered greater liberty for their subjects, and created relatively broad prosperity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Share ON NOVEMBER 5, 1688 ENGLAND WENT DUTCH. Having sailed from Amsterdam, the Dutch stadholder, William of Orange, landed in Devon along with tens of thousands of Dutch soldiers. The following February, the British throne was declared vacant, James II having broken the original contract with his people. William and his wife, Mary, daughter of James II, replaced James, but on quite different terms. Parliament passed a Bill of Rights that enumerated individual liberties and limited the powers of the crown while asserting those of the legislature. It also passed a Triennial Act mandating that parliamentary elections be held every three years and inducing longer legislative sessions; again, a reversal of Stuart practice. In 1695, it allowed the act for the end of licensing (i.e., censoring) the press. Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and frequent elections led to an expansion not only of political punditrythis was the age of Daniel Defoe and Jonathan Swiftbut the politty itself. For the next seven decades, a global empire grew around these Revolution Principles. For most of that period, the responsibility for the keeping of these principles fell to a powerful oligarchythe grandees of the Whig Party. Many of the oligarchic families came from dissenting sects like the Puritans and had supported the Parliament in the English civil wars. Though the Whigs dominated British politics, Britain formally remained a monarchy, and the oligarchs steered a mostly moderate coursethough the Whigs antagonists, the Tory Party, constantly accused the Whigs of closet republicanism, and though many of the oligarchs came from landed families or acquired aristocratic titles. Conversely, attempts by High-Church Tories to crack down on religious dissent during the brief periods when they held power were largely frustrated. As in the Netherlands, the oligarchy was distinct from a landed aristocracy and produced different, mostly preferable policies. The government paid close attention to the interests of merchants and new financial institutions like the Bank of England that increased both British power and prosperity; country gentlemen complained constantly of stock-jobbers in the City of London and the iniquities of land taxes. Oligarchic government also produced some of the greatest soldiers, statemen, and strategists in British history, following the principle of preserving the liberties among European great powers. John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, led armies of the Grand Alliance that convinced the aggressive Sun King of France, Louis XIV, that he had loved war too much. Robert Walpole, simultaneously head of the treasury and leader of the House of Commons, ruled as Britains first and longest-serving prime minister, preserving a general European peace, reestablishing governmental finances, and protecting the Hanoverian Protestant succession. William Pitt the Elder devised the strategy that gave birth to the global empire upon which the sun never set and drove the French from North America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These oligarchs were hardly liberal in a modern sense. Walpole managed Parliament through rampant corruption; Marlborough was meanly avaricious as well as a military genius; Pitts political opportunism knew few bounds. None had the Dutch regents sense of probity or modesty. Yet they shared an ethos of public service that tempered their individual and systemic faults. The oligarchs virtues were perhaps best embodied by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, who served as speaker of the House of Commons, secretary of state, and, prefiguring Walpole, Queen Annes premier minister. Formally a Tory, he steered a moderate course that elevated his sense of the national interest above a partisan quest for power. Harley did as much as any to nurture the primacy of Parliament, secure the Hanoverian succession, and suppress the Jacobites in his party. Share BOTH THE DUTCH AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS were examplesfor both good and illfor the men who wrote and promoted the American Constitution. The decline of Dutch Republic through the eighteenth century was ascribed to the divisiveness of its fractured government. In Federalist No. 20, Hamilton and Madison saw a clear analogy between the weaknesses of the Republic and those already apparent in the American Articles of Confederation. They allowed that, delineated on parchment, the Dutch had a lot going for them; they were a long-running confederacy of republics whose sovereignty was combined in the national States-General that oversaw both foreign and domestic affairs. Executive power, and particular command of the armed forces, resided in the stadtholder, who held considerable prerogatives. The Dutch system was seemingly sufficient to secure harmony, but the jealousy in each province render[ed] the practice very different from the theory. The result was imbecility in the government; discord among the provinces; foreign influence and indignities; a precarious existence in peace, and peculiar calamities from war. Hamilton and Madison paraphrase the Dutch political philosopher Hugo Grotiuss verdict on the Dutch system: that nothing but the hatred of his countrymen to the house of Austria kept them from being ruined by the vices of their constitution. The Founders were even more attuned to the vices of the British constitution and determined to rectify them in writing their own. The American Revolution of 1776 was in many ways the offspring of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, an effort to revive and expand Revolution Principles for a new era and in a different context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This ambition is plain in the Declaration of Independence. Much as James II had been accused of abrogating the original contract with the nation and of having vacated the throne, the Declaration accuses George III of repeated injuries and usurpations and says his government had proved destructive of life and liberty. The long list of indictments that makes up the bulk of the Declaration parallels the complaints of seventeenth-century Englishmen against the Stuart monarchs. In call[ing] together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures, George III was taking a cue from the last parliament of Charles II, which sat for just a few days in Oxford, away from his antagonists in London. George III dissolved parliaments and refused to call new ones, also in the Stuart style. The men who composed and signed the Constitution agonized to create structures of government that would contain the excesses both of direct democracy and arbitrary monarchy. In this they were naturally oligarchs, like their forebears who had designed the governments of the thirteen colonies. Madison, even as he worked to establish governmental and electoral devices to frame the republic he imagined, admitted that success ultimately rested on the merit of individual leaders and the electorate, on their wisdom and virtuousness. THESE ARE EXACTLY THE CHARACTERISTICS our current oligarchs lack. Beyond the avarice and narcissism that define Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who have no sense of virtue whatsoever, it has been Vivek Ramaswamy who has best illustrated the gulf between the modern oligarchs idea of merit and that of Madison and the Founders. In his infamous December 26 screed about pop-culture America, Ramaswamy champions the merit of STEM students. To him the purpose of education appears to be the efficient production of math whizzes and software engineers, not the formation of citizens. To be sure, America needs the best scientific minds it can find. But those talents are insufficient to wise government. Is there no virtue among us? asked Madison. If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. . . . To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. We are about to find out whether Madison had it right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conversely, and as the Dutch-Anglo-American experience suggests, a robust and shared sense of public virtue can go a long way toward offsetting the structural problems of imperfect government, even the corruptions of oligarchy. George Washington would have fit comfortably in a Rembrandt portrait. Elon Musk would not. Share PITTSBURG, Kan. One person is dead after a structure fire in Pittsburg Thursday morning. Firefighters with PFD responded to the blaze just after 6 a.m. at 125 W 21st Street and were told by PPD that two residents were involved one safely evacuated and one still inside. Crews immediately entered the structure. Firefighters successfully rescued the remaining resident and began CPR along with help from Crawford County EMS. One resident was sent to Mercy Hospital with injuries, however, the second resident succumbed to their injuries at the scene, PFD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The identities of the victims are being withheld at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A person was flown to a trauma center with serious injuries Thursday night after a serious car crash. Crews responding to the 129 rotary just before 5 p.m. for a report of a vehicle into the woods found the operator still trapped in the car, according to police. Firefighters from both Reading and Wakefield worked to extricate the victim. The victim was eventually transported to a trauma center via medical helicopter. Their condition remains unknown at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are asking motorists to avoid the area while they investigate. The cause of the crash has yet to be determined. Reading Police and Fire units are on scene at the 129 Rotary assisting State Police with a serious motor vehicle crash. ... Posted by Reading Massachusetts Police Department on Thursday, January 9, 2025 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 (Bloomberg) -- Several prominent tech leaders are planning to attend Donald Trumps inauguration this month, the latest sign that the industry is trying to bolster its relationship with the president-elect ahead of his return to the White House. Most Read from Bloomberg OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman plans to go to the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20, said a company spokesperson. Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg also plans to go to the event, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private information. A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uber Technologies Inc. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will be at some of the surrounding festivities, according to the company. Uber also plans to host an inauguration party in Washington with Elon Musks X social media firm and The Free Press, a media company. Coinbase Global Inc. CEO Brian Armstrong has been invited to events around the inaugural including a presidential dinner, the company said. The prospect of a second Trump term has raised a new set of uncertainties for the rapidly evolving AI market and the wider tech industry. During his first term, Trump clashed with Silicon Valley on issues such as immigration and online content moderation. He has also previously directed his ire at executives such as Zuckerberg and Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos. In recent weeks, Meta and Amazon pledged to donate $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund. Zuckerberg and Bezos have also dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. And Zuckerberg has been pivoting his stable of social networking apps to become more Trump-friendly, including by eliminating outside fact-checking and loosening the rules around what people can say on the service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altman, meanwhile, personally donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund after having previously given money to President Joe Bidens 2024 reelection campaign. I think AGI will probably get developed during this presidents term, and getting that right seems really important, Altman told Bloomberg Businessweek in a recent interview, referring to a hypothetical, advanced form of AI. Supporting the inauguration, I think thats a relatively small thing. I dont view that as a big decision either way. But I do think we all should wish for the presidents success. Trumps party pledged in its platform to undo Bidens executive order on AI, saying that it imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the field. With Trumps win, Musk has also gained newfound influence in Washington. Thats sparked concerns Musk could pursue policies that favor his own companies, including his artificial intelligence startup xAI. Altman, whose company is in a legal battle with Musk, recently said he does not think the billionaire will use his political power against rivals like OpenAI. In addition to Altman, OpenAI President Greg Brockman and Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil also plan to be at the inauguration, according to a company spokesperson. OpenAI also has hired a lobbying firm run by a well-known figure in Trump world, Jeff Miller, according to a filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Olga Kharif. (Updates with Coinbase CEO in the fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. President Biden, on his way out the door, has permanently put over 625 million acres of federal waters off-limits to oil and gas exploration. This is the move of a spiteful old man eager to undercut one of the highest priorities of his successor, President-elect Donald Trump: U.S. energy development. It is also a desperate pitch to post an asterisk next to his name in the record books; yes, Biden is one of the most unpopular presidents of all time, but at least, as noted in the White House statement accompanying the move, President Biden will have conserved more lands and waters than any other U.S. president in history. Please take note, presidential historians. Reducing acreage available for oil and gas exploration is a profoundly ignorant and damaging measure. As the world races toward broad-based adoption of artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, cryptocurrencies and other new technologies, every country is vying to have not only scientific superiority but also the massive amounts of cheap electricity that the new industries require. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a study from the Bank of America, electricity demand in the U.S. grew by only 13 gigawatts over the last 13 years. But thanks to the growth of energy-intensive industries like AI, demand will soar by a projected 70 GW through 2030. With coal plants being retired, and given the intermittent nature of solar and wind power, the U.S. will likely face grid stability concerns. It will also continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels. Some indication of the potential impact of AI alone comes from Ireland, where electricity to service just that industrys data centers is projected to soon account for 32 percent of the countrys overall consumption. The White House, according to critics, has had a policy blind spot in its consideration of AI that is, its focusing on the potential merits while overlooking the enormous power needed. Im not surprised; any realistic recognition of our countrys future power needs exposes the foolishness of Bidens green energy fixation. The U.S. has abundant and inexpensive fossil fuels, one of the main attractions for companies choosing to invest here. Our electricity costs are a fraction of what businesses in Europe have to pay, for instance. Prices will remain low only if we continue to exploit oil and gas while also investing in renewables. Denying this enormous competitive advantage, as Biden has done, is reckless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legacy media has described the acreage removed from exploration in general terms, noting that offshore production (mainly in the Gulf of Mexico) accounts for only about 14 percent of todays oil production and 2 percent of our gas output. That is true, but what they are hiding from voters is that a substantial amount of our undiscovered oil and gas reserves lie offshore in those protected areas. The federal Bureau of Land Management estimates that there are 89.9 billion barrels of oil and 327.5 trillion cubic feet of gas yet to be discovered on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. They acknowledge that their estimates are out of date; environmentalists have blocked seismic surveying of unexplored acreage offshore the East Coast, even though such analysis is not damaging not nearly as problematic, for instance, as allowing the construction of offshore wind towers, which the White House has happily embraced. Not only are there significant reserves to be discovered offshore, production from subsea wells is less environmentally damaging than wells drilled onshore. As reported in the New York Times last year, The greenhouse gas emissions associated with extracting a barrel of oil from the Gulf of Mexico are as much as a third lower than emissions from producing a barrel of oil from fields on U.S. soil. The White House statement says, President Biden has determined that the environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling in these areas [the entire U.S. East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska] outweigh their limited fossil fuel resource potential. I doubt Biden has a firm grip on either the risks or the potential of drilling in these regions. The last time we had a major offshore accident was 2010. Since then, the industry has developed better safety protocols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the potential is huge. While there has been scant interest in much of the designated acreage up until now, the Financial Times notes that ClearView Energy Partners, a consultancy, said the ban in the eastern Gulf of Mexico would affect about 40 percent of undiscovered economically recoverable oil and gas resources in the US outer continental shelf. Ron Neal, chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America Offshore Committee, described Bidens move as significant and catastrophic, saying further, It represents a major attack on the oil and natural gas industry. Bidens decision is especially short-sighted in that the U.S. is benefiting from a surge in investment coming from foreign companies, eager to take advantage of an expected easing of regulatory zeal under President-elect Trump as well as low energy costs. Friends in the private equity world who traveled abroad recently looking for funds and for possible investments after the election found most business managers wanting to invest in the U.S. In recent days, Trump announced that an Emirati property developer, Hussain Sajwani, is pledging $20 billion to build new data centers in the U.S. That comes on top of Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, an AI enthusiast, promising in December to invest $100 billion in U.S., creating 100,000 jobs over the course of Trumps four-year term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters should be furious about Bidens efforts to permanently ban most drilling offshore. A majority of the country elected Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise to Drill, baby, drill. They get whats at stake, even if Joe does not. Liz Peek is a former partner of major bracket Wall Street firm Wertheim and Company. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President-elect Donald Trump has long promoted an America First industrial policy that privileges domestic manufacturers over foreign ones. But hes also been known to carve out exceptions without much explanation while paying little price for it politically. Right now, the only hope for a cornerstone of American industry is that he once again makes an exception. Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel stands on the precipice of disaster, potentially costing thousands of blue-collar union members their jobs in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Its only hope of salvation is a proposal from Japans Nippon Steel to acquire it and allow it to keep its name and headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden blocked the deal, however, and Trump has indicated that he doesnt want the steel company to be owned by a foreign company either. U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt recently went on CNBC to make the case using Trumps own rhetoric, casting Bidens decision as corrupt and arguing the deal would make U.S. Steel great again. While I have little faith in Trumps inclination to do whats right, its worth a shot, especially considering his flip-flop on TikToks Chinese ownership. Its not surprising that Biden and Trump both oppose the deal, as leaning into economic populism propelled each of them to the White House. Unfortunately, it is the type of protectionist answer that may get you the White House job but doesnt make pragmatic economic sense. Trump has even called for more friendly foreign investment in the U.S., saying in September: Here is the deal that I will be offering to every major company and manufacturer on Earth I will give you the lowest taxes, the lowest energy costs, the lowest regulatory burden, and free access to the best and biggest market on the planet. But only if you make your product here in America. And hire American workers for the job. That just happens to describe the Nippon deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And because theres no consensus at the Treasury Department, all Trump has to do is say he wants the deal and will not block it and it goes through. I doubt very much Trumps treasury secretary will make a different call. The truth is that most Americans would like to see U.S. Steel remain under American ownership. But that isnt possible if we want U.S. Steel to remain in Pittsburgh; Gary, Indiana; and Birmingham, Alabama, and for steelworkers to keep their jobs. There is no better alternative. If there were, that would be the deal, and it would have been done already. Another truth is that inaction will have a catastrophic impact on steelworkers. If Bidens rejection of this deal earlier this month is allowed to stand under the incoming Trump administration, an institution that has been providing solid, sustainable economic opportunity for countless Americans since 1901 will dissolve. In court filings this week, Nippon and U.S. Steel emphasized how the deal would help, not harm, American workers: Nippon Steel is the only partner both willing and able to make the necessary investments including no less than $1 billion to Mon Valley Works and approximately $300 million to Gary Works as part of the $2.7 billion committed to protect and grow U.S. Steel for the benefit of employees, the communities in which it operates, and the entire American steel industry. To be clear, this deal is about protecting and saving jobs, which is why three members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Reps. Maxine Waters, Jim Clyburn and Bennie Thompson, sent a letter endorsing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nippon Steel has even stepped up with a proposal that directly protects Americas steel industry and its workers. It has offered the U.S. government a 10-year veto over any cuts to production at key U.S. Steel mills, ensuring that these facilities remain operational and under American oversight a deal that neither administration should be turning down. Congressional and private-sector allies who understand what is at stake for countless hardworking union and nonunion families must try to persuade the incoming Trump administration of the importance of the job, economic and retirement security issues raised by workers who support the U.S. Steel transaction. Trump shouldnt take for granted his election victory, which would not have happened without the working-class voters of states like Pennsylvania. For more thought-provoking insights from Michael Steele, Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend, watch The Weekend every Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. ET on MSNBC. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The ultimate fate of Jack Smiths final report about the federal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump has, for weeks now, been caught in limbo. Strange circumstances have created a Gordian knot out of the possible outcomes. Its a real-life version of When Worlds Collide a 1951 movie filled with plots and subplots as people scheme to survive the end of the world. Here, we have a clash of federal regulations, the slow-moving formalities of federal courts, and the looming presidential inauguration. What were left with is the dizzying spectacle, a damning report and a convicted felon just two weeks away from becoming president of the United States, after which time he will likely try to discredit and bury both the investigation and the report itself. The current fracas over the release of Smiths final report is a good example of the kind of issues judges wish they didnt have to decide. In the past week alone, the jostling has become almost unmanageable. On Tuesday, Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily enjoined the Department of Justice from releasing Smiths final report until three days after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the issue. Cannon, of course, is the Florida trial judge who previously dismissed the Mar-a-Lago documents case against Trump and two co-defendants after deciding that Jack Smiths appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the Department of Justice filed a brief in the 11th Circuit stating that the final report had already been delivered to Attorney General Merrick Garland, as permitted by Judge Cannon, and that the report consisted of two volumes: Volume I discussed only the Washington, D.C., case involving election fraud, and Volume II discussed the Mar-a-Lago documents case. According to federal regulations, the decision whether to publicly release some or all of the special report lies squarely in Garlands hands. DOJ informed the court that it was Garlands intention to publicly release most of Volume I, consistent with the public release of the previous reports prepared by special counsels Robert Mueller, Robert Hur and John Durham. But to avoid impacting the pending criminal prosecutions of Trumps co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, Garland committed to releasing most of Volume II only to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary committees until the conclusion of those criminal cases. Then, on Thursday evening, the 11th Circuit issued a brief but puzzling order denying Nautas and de Oliveiras emergency motion to stay the release of the final report, but instructing the DOJ that it could file a notice of appeal from Judge Cannons temporary injunction. This left in place Judge Cannons injunction prohibiting release until three days after the 11th Circuits decision. Smith and DOJ then filed a notice of appeal with the 11th Circuit to vacate Cannons order. This would allow them to release the report earlier. Nauta and de Oliveira, for their part, may decide to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for review. Trumps election in November has already led Smith and DOJ to pull many of its punches. Smith has dismissed the criminal indictments against Trump in both the election fraud and the Mar-a-Lago documents cases. He is reportedly ready to close the special counsels office and resign, leaving DOJ career prosecutors to handle the appeal of Judge Cannons dismissal of Nauta and de Oliveiras cases. By not publicly releasing Volume II of the special report until the conclusion of those cases, Garland is adhering to DOJ policy and federal court rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As one might expect from a former federal appeals court judge, Garland will not violate a courts order, even though most legal experts agree that Judge Cannon clearly exceeded her authority by enjoining the release of Volume I, which had nothing to do with the Mar-a-Lago documents case, and by issuing a ruling in a case that was now in the jurisdiction of the appellate court. Its a mess, and the current state of affairs highlights how ill-equipped the criminal justice system is to deal with a defendant who is a past and future president of the United States. These prosecutions were brought by President Joe Bidens Justice Department. The cases were heard by life-tenured judges who may have been appointed by Biden or, bizarrely, Trump himself. It is also challenging for a court system that puts a premium on defendants rights, with two levels of appellate review, to fit within the time limits set by election cycles. Moreover, anyone who clung to the notion that the rule of law applies equally to all has now had to face the reality that the president of the United States has expansive pardon powers and some immunity from prosecution that nobody else enjoys. Some judges have expressed reservations about the judicial branch determining the balance of power among the branches of government, even though they recognize they occasionally need to do so. Better, argue these judges, to avoid the courts entirely and resolve the matter through negotiation. Sixteen years ago, D.C. District Court Judge John Bates ruled in a different case that federal courts do have a role to play in determining the legitimacy of congressional subpoenas served on members of the executive branch. But, Judge Bates wrote, the court strongly encourages the political branches to resume their discourse and negotiations in an effort to resolve their differences constructively, while recognizing each branchs essential role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bates then quoted Supreme Court Justice Robert Jacksons concurring opinion in a 1952 case: While the Constitution diffuses power the better to secure liberty, it also contemplates that practice will integrate the dispersed powers into a workable government. It enjoins upon its branches separateness but interdependence, autonomy but reciprocity. Presidential powers are not fixed but fluctuate, depending upon their disjunction or conjunction with those of Congress. Both Justice Jackson and Judge Bates recognized that none of the three branches of government perform perfectly in every situation, particularly when they bump up against each other. When that happens, both judges believing that the court system is not the best forum for resolving these issues urged compromise and negotiation by the parties. Unfortunately, without negotiation and compromise, the courts become the first resort instead of the last. Thats what has happened here. The final report is what is left of the two dismissed cases against Trump, and the courts are again pressed into service, this time to decide if all the evidence uncovered during the investigations will ever see the light of day. Perhaps the silver lining is that the countrys constitutional institutions are still fighting to survive, and that the courts, albeit at times reluctantly, still serve as a check on the powers of the other branches of the government. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Jan. 9Joseph Shepard, departing president of Western New Mexico University, is $1.9 million richer, and he aims to keep it that way. The seven-figure buyout in return for Shepard's forthcoming resignation was paid Jan. 2, the day Western reopened after its winter break. State Attorney General Raul Torrez said someone in Western's administration secured the money for Shepard while Torrez unsuccessfully sought documents on the severance package from the university's board of regents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The decision by the board of regents and Dr. Shepard to ignore our requests for information while simultaneously expediting the $1.9 million golden parachute at the center of our investigation is disgraceful," Torrez said Thursday during a news conference. "It is yet another example of the greed, self-dealing and arrogance that has been the hallmark of Dr. Shepard's administration." Shepard's spokesperson at Western, Mario Sanchez, disputed Torrez's account. Sanchez said Shepard's severance contract was made available to media outlets and government entities. By Sanchez's account, Western planned to make the lump-sum payment to Shepard on Dec. 20, the day the regents approved the deal. Sanchez said Shepard asked that the $1.9 million not be paid until the university reopened in 2025. Torrez filed a lawsuit this week to halt the payment through a temporary injunction. He did not learn until Wednesday that Shepard already had the money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney general said he asked Shepard to turn over the $1.9 million to a state court. Torrez wanted the money held in the court's treasury until a judicial ruling on whether the regents violated their financial responsibility to the public. This is where the insanity of the payout to Shepard delivers a double blow to taxpayers. Through his publicly paid lawyer, Shepard told Torrez he will not surrender the money. No one expected Shepard to give back his windfall. The extra jolt to taxpayers is they are footing the bill for Shepard's lawyer, Karen Kilgore of Santa Fe, to do battle with the state attorney general. Perhaps that arrangement will continue even after Shepard's presidency ends on Jan. 15. His severance contract contains an indemnity clause saying the university will defend him against claims arising from his actions as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shepard in the last year came under heavy public criticism for extravagances. The state auditor in November followed up with a report saying Shepard and the regents spent more than $360,000 on travel and goods in violation of university policies. That finding didn't deter the regents from rewarding Shepard with a balloon payment for not working. Mary Hotvedt embarrassed herself as the regents' chairperson by calling Shepard selfless for accepting the $1.9 million deal. Hotvedt and three of the other four regents resigned after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Dec. 31 asked them to quit. As for Torrez, he is amending his lawsuit by asking a state District Court judge to invalidate the contract in which the regents approved Shepard's buyout, plus a $200,000-a-year professorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, joined Torrez at Thursday's news conference. Martinez said a proposed constitutional amendment to reform how all university regents are selected will be introduced during the legislative session starting Jan. 21. Under constitutional law, New Mexico's governor has sole authority to appoint university regents. There are no qualifications for the jobs. Governors of both political parties have used their authority to hand regent positions to donors, pals and political allies. Martinez hopes to alter that system. "We will tackle the underlying issues, which are these political appointments to the governance boards of our institutions of higher education. That is not OK. Political appointments should not be in charge of institutions that manage hundreds of millions of dollars every year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But his solution is a retread idea with poor prospects of clearing the Legislature and receiving a place on the statewide ballot. The speaker said he favors creating nominating committees to screen potential regents. The names of the more promising candidates would be sent to the governor, who would make appointments from names the committees provided. Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, introduced that same proposal in the 2021 and 2024 legislative sessions. Senate committees killed Steinborn's measures each time. Another Democratic senator from Las Cruces, Joe Cervantes, said he saw no point in hearing a proposal that would increase bureaucracy but provide no guarantee of better regents. With Cervantes chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee, lawmakers have little chance of gaining traction with the same old pitch to establish nominating panels to vet potential regents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Real reform would be dissolving the boards of regents at each four-year college and university. Two super panels of nine regents each should replace them. One would oversee research universities and the other would supervise regional universities. This would eliminate fiefdoms like the one at Western, an isolated rural campus where the five regents received little media attention until the last year. I also favor electing these two super boards. Martinez disagrees with me, though he acknowledges Western's tone-deaf regents ignored students, faculty members and taxpayers as they showered cash on Shepard. Elected regents supervise some of the nation's better universities, including the University of Colorado and the University of Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One way or another, New Mexico residents are paying the tab for Shepard's bailout. If legislators are serious about preventing more golden parachutes, they can't waste energy on a reform plan they can't pass. Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080. Correction appended Jan. 10 From abortion to taxes to private school choice, many issues divide along party lines. But as youth suicide, self-harm and related challenges remain at crisis levels, mental health can and must remain a bipartisan issue. The most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paints a grim picture of the state of mental health among kids and teens in America. According to the survey, nearly all indicators of poor mental health, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors, worsened between 2013 and 2023. In fact, in 2023 alone, 20% of students seriously considered suicide and almost 10% made an attempt. These numbers are deeply concerning, particularly as mental health issues are affecting younger and younger children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Cartwheel, the mental health provider I co-founded to offer telehealth services to students, families and educators, more and more young people are being referred by their school counselors. The reasons differ based on age, but common challenges include anxiety, coping, family and relationship issues, and depression. What is abundantly clear is that there are not enough targeted resources whether in schools or communities to address this crisis. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter In an era of ever-increasing political polarization at the federal level, state capitals are the most promising venues for sustained, rapid, bipartisan action on youth mental health that is tailored to local needs. Here are four state lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, who are working to expand mental health resources with efficient, effective solutions: Related New UVM Program Brings Mental Health Professionals to Vermonts Rural Schools Before being elected to the Indiana state Senate in 2012, Republican Michael Crider was the director of law enforcement for the state Department of Natural Resources. He witnessed firsthand how the challenges the department faced daily were directly connected to gaps in mental health services that have existed for years and been further amplified since COVID. Since then, Crider has pushed for mental health reform. In 2023, he led efforts to pass Senate Bill 1, which built out a system of certified behavioral health clinics for children and adults, and he is looking to expand these efforts next year in partnership with the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Dafna Michaelson-Jenet has been a mental health advocate since joining the Colorado State House in 2017. A Democrat, in 2018 she authored HB 18-1177, which expanded access to youth suicide prevention programs and lowered the age of consent for minors to seek outpatient psychotherapy services. During the pandemic, she authorized legislation creating the iMatter program, which provides up to six free sessions of virtual or in-person therapy to all kids in Colorado. Last year, she was able to extend the funding for iMatter for another decade, and as the incoming president pro tem of the Colorado Senate, she is poised to continue her advocacy for youth behavioral health. State Rep. Todd Jones, Republican of Georgia, has a deep personal connection that has inspired him to become a leading voice in mental health. After years of searching for treatment and solutions, his son was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and while his family was able to afford care, he saw that most Georgians couldnt. That led him to spearhead efforts to pass HB 1013 in 2022, the Mental Health Parity Act, which dramatically expanded mental health insurance coverage across the Peach State. More recently, Jones led the charge to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health coverage, which will increase the number of providers in the state. Related Stark Racial, Class Disparities in K-12 Mental Health Linked to Absenteeism In his first budget session as chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Massachusetts Democratic state Sen. John Velis established a pilot program for school-based telehealth services. These are now available in the Somerville and Agawam school districts, in partnership with Cartwheel, Boston Childrens Hospital and the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers all over the country from different backgrounds are supporting mental health legislation and advocating for solutions. Beyond the examples cited above, there has been bipartisan support for investment in school-based mental health solutions in Pennsylvania, with $100 million annually going toward a mental health and school safety fund; in Arizona, $2 million has been appropriated for a rural telehealth pilot; and Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida are creating a per-pupil mental health allotment. The work continues, across the aisle, to build out successful solutions to the ongoing mental health crisis. Correction: The Colorado state senators last name is Michaelson-Jenet. Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher (update links). MAGA leaders are using coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires to stoke division, and its all bullsh--t, The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy said this week. From DEI to military aid for Ukraine, Republicans have co-opted the wildfire conversation with finger-pointing. I was thinking, how nice would it be to have only had to talk about these fires in terms of wishing people safety and not having to be political about it, said Levy. Unfortunately that is not the world or the country we live in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, We have seen people like Elon Musk blaming the fires on DEI. Somehow we have seen Donald Trump blaming them on Gavin Newsom and referring to him as Newscum in the middle of all of this. Rebuking such claims, Moodie declared: The reason why these things are happening is because of the oil lobby and all of these powerful corporations that lobby the government to do absolutely nothing about climate change because it will affect their bottom line and their profit. Then, New York Times technology correspondent Mike Isaac joins the program to discuss Mark Zuckerbergs controversial overhaul of Metas content management approachand how that signals Silicon Valleys shifting politics. Plus! Adrian Carrasquillo, author of the Huddled Masses newsletter, discusses how the media could cover the incoming presidential administrations promised mass deportations. Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher (update links). The appointment of Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego to succeed Cardinal Wilton Gregory as the archbishop of Washington, D.C., is a not-so-subtle message from Pope Francis: The Catholic Church is not going to stop fighting for the rights of immigrants even as a demagogue promising mass deportations prepares to enter the White House a second time. Consider the remarks McElroy made to a migration conference in November 2016, weeks after Trump was elected the first time: For us, as the Catholic community of the United States, it is unthinkable that we will stand by while more than 10% of our flock is ripped from our midst and deported. It is equally unthinkable that we as Church will witness the destruction of our historic national outreach to refugees at a time when the need to offer safe haven to refugees is growing throughout the world. By choosing McElroy, a like-minded cardinal, to lead the Archdiocese of Washington, Francis is not only sending support to the church, but hes also placing McElroy there to contend with the mass deportation policies that President-elect Donald Trump has promised to begin carrying out on day one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McElroy was reportedly not the popes first choice to replace Gregory. According to the Catholic news outlet The Pillar, Francis had previously decided against McElroy as Gregorys replacement, but when Trump was elected, he changed his mind to McElroy, a staunch supporter of immigrants. That reported decision to switch would fall in line with the popes numerous statements about immigration, including a recent declaration in a general audience in August 2024 decrying those who systematically work by all means to drive away migrants. He said that this, when done knowingly and deliberately, is a grave sin. By placing McElroy in D.C., Francis is once again taking more than the usual interest in American politics. In September 2024, the pope said American Catholics should choose the lesser of two evils when voting for president. By choosing McElroy, who holds a doctorate in political science from Stanford University as well as a doctorate in moral theology from the Gregorian in Rome, the pope is clearly showing that he does not want a sycophant in the role. And the appointment is a poke at Trump, whom the pontiff has had a contentious history with. Most recently, Trump named a Francis detractor, Brian Burch, as his pick for ambassador to the Vatican. While the cardinal will be installed as archbishop of Washington on March 11, his presence is already felt in the D.C area, both for the Catholic Church and politics. His appointment signals to the incoming administration that policies on immigration will be of tantamount importance to the Holy See. Along with other bishops who have been vocal on immigration, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) made clear in its last meeting that bishops will speak out forcefully if the Trump administration moves to violate human rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sending McElroy to the nations capital (hes spent the last 10 years in San Diego) is Francis signal that he knows he needs someone there who not only understands church politics but also understands the current state of American politics. As a border prelate, McElroy has been a strong supporter of DACA, the program that protects Dreamers. In a statement from 2016 when he was serving as bishop, McElroy said the elimination of DACA would lead to massive deportation. Considered to be a liberal by conservative Catholics, he is more in line with traditional Catholic social teachings, which not only embrace care for immigrants, but also the right to life. He has also been very outspoken on political polarization in America, both as a bishop and a cardinal. His stances on LGBTQ people and sexuality were outlined in a podcast interview and an article with America Magazine. He is strongly against against bigotry toward LGBTQ people and says the language in the catechism about homosexuality is a disservice. He has also made the case for women serving as deacons being an easy fix, even though the final document of the Vatican Synod in October 2024 left the discussion of women deacons open. The importance of the Washington archbishopric cannot be understated. While Gregory has had a good tenure in that role, he too had run-ins with Trump, most notably over the then-presidents visit alongside first lady Melania Trump to the John Paul II shrine in D.C. During that visit, peaceful protesters were aggressively cleared with tear gas and rubber bullets so Trump could get a photo of his wife and himself kneeling at the shrine to promote international religious freedom. Gregory decried the visit, focusing his comments on the Knights of Columbus, who run the shrine, stating: I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree. Pope Francis today named a new archbishop for DC -- San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy. The pope is sending to the US capital, as Trump returns, an unusually outspoken, eloquent advocate for migrants, LGBTQ people and for engagement. Really interesting quotes in this thread: 1/x Michelle Boorstein (@mboorstein) January 6, 2025 While Trump enjoyed the support of 54% of Catholic voters in 2024, I predict an inevitable collision between McElroy and the USCCB on one side and the Trump administration on the other over the issue of immigration. The incoming president is determined to conduct some type of mass deportation, which will put him onto a direct collision course with Catholic Church members and clergy, as well as Pope Francis. Add to this the recent debacle over Haitian immigrants and the efforts of Trump supporters like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Catholic, to stop immigration, and I believe the supposed goodwill that Trump has received from evangelicals will not be the same from a major portion of the American contingent of the Catholic Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McElroys tenure in Washington, D.C., wont be anything like the 1939 Frank Capra movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He is neither naive nor dumb, and he is just the kind of intelligent, moral clergy member who will stand out against the sycophantic religious leaders willing to support whatever Trump wants. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com This article is the fourth in a six-part MSNBC Daily series, Meet the Freshmen, featuring six of Congress newest faces three Republicans and three Democrats in a series of diverse columns that explore the new members backstories, policies, home districts and where they fit in this historic political moment. You can read the rest of the series here. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., used his election night victory speech to recognize his wins emergence from the long shadow of Alabamas racist history and his familys enduring legacy of anti-racism. His father, the late Michael Figures, was elected one of just three Black Alabama state senators in 1978. Thomas Figures, his uncle, was the first Black person to serve as assistant district attorney and assistant U.S. attorney in Alabamas Mobile County. But the two Figures brothers are most famous for the roles they played in seeking justice against two Ku Klux Klan members who brutally lynched a Black teenager, Michael Donald, in 1981. Thomas played an indispensable role in securing the Klansmens convictions, while Michael won a $7 million wrongful death suit against the men, bankrupting the United Klans of America in 1987. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Figures served in the Legislature until his untimely death in 1996. Shomaris mother, Vivian Davis Figures then a Mobile City Council member ran for and was elected to the seat, which she still holds. The new U.S. House member is also an attorney, as well as an experienced politico, having served in both the Obama and Biden administrations. Roughly one year ago, Figures left Washington and his post as Attorney General Merrick Garlands deputy chief of staff to return to his native city, Mobile. He was drawn back by the chance to represent Alabamas 2nd Congressional District, which has included Figures hometown since 2023 the year it was redrawn to reshape a political landscape historically contoured to suppress Black votes into one that amplifies them. That transformation came only after a protracted legal battle, the unexpected defense of the Voting Rights Act by members of the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority and the flouting of both law and judicial mandates by Alabamas Legislature. Despite ostensibly serving a populace that is nearly one-third African American, making Alabama one of the countrys blackest states the Legislature has maintained a congressional map with only one majority-Black district for more than three decades. The states 7th District which is roughly two-thirds Black was also created only after a court agreed with a 1992 lawsuit alleging Alabamas map was unconstitutionally malapportioned and racially gerrymandered. The revised map led to the election of Earl Hilliard, Alabamas first Black U.S. representative since Jeremiah Haralson left office under the white racial terror at Reconstructions end in 1877. For a staggering 115 years, the states almost exclusively white lawmakers would craft maps that ensured Alabamas representation in Congress remained lily white. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Against the backdrop of widespread Jim Crow segregation, Alabama disenfranchised its Black voters right up until 1965, when the Voting Rights Act (VRA) finally outlawed the discriminatory standards that had kept Black Americans from Southern ballot boxes. But in 2013, Alabamas Shelby County would file the lawsuit that began dismantling the VRA, arguing that such protections were no longer needed. And yet, evidence of the VRAs necessity remained clear, proved by the racist voting practices that abounded throughout the state. In 2017, a federal court concluded the Alabama Legislature had illegally gerrymandered precincts by race, triggering the redrawing of 12 local districts afterward. And yet, after the 2020 census showed the states Black population had grown over the prior decade, the Legislature yet again crafted a map with a single majority-Black district. At least three different federal lawsuits followed, all alleging racial discrimination in voting. One might conclude the racism embedded in Alabama districting was breathtakingly blatant, considering a three-judge district court (including two Trump appointees) unanimously ruled the question of its violating the VRAs Section 2 was not a close one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus, the court granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and ordered the states congressional districting maps redrawn. The Supreme Court affirmed that decision, noting that Alabamas congressional map has remained remarkably similar since the state was forced to create the 7th District three decades previously and mandating a redrawn map including two districts in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close. But the Legislature openly defied the order, keeping the 7th District majority Black but upping the percentage of black voters in another district from 30% to only just over 40%. In an order noting it was deeply troubled by the states defiance and reiterating the jurists had now said twice that this Voting Rights Act case is not close, the district court rejected that map. After the Supreme Court declined to step in, an independent special master was appointed to do what the Legislature had flatly refused to. The resulting map included both the 7th District and newly redrawn 2nd District, its lines reshaped to include a population that is 48.7% Black. In late May, roughly five months before his election victory, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Figures had been added to its Red to Blue program, which provides funding support to candidates with the potential to flip Republican House seats. If that recognition did not fully reveal the faith placed in Figures by party tastemakers, his inclusion in the speaking program of the Democratic National Conventions final night with its focus on the future did. Figures chose to use his time on the main stage illuminating the 2nd Districts historic importance in not just Alabama, but across the countrys Black Belt. This is the district that gave America the Tuskegee Airmen, Rosa Parks, Fred Gray, and it is the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Alabama, Figures said by way of introduction. And of course, this district is home to Mr. Good Trouble himself, Congressman John Lewis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats faith turned out to be well-founded. Figures won his election despite Alabama GOP shenanigans that included sending out mailers that played on transphobia and racist stereotypes around Black criminality. More than 6,000 voters in the 2nd District also reported receiving postcards with incorrect polling site information. Alabama, it seems, keeps Alabama-ing. Thats true in more ways than one. The redrawn borders of Alabamas 2nd District, which remain the creation of a preliminary injunction, are still being litigated. The case will return to federal court on Feb. 10. Figures took office on Jan. 3, becoming the first Democrat of any race to represent Alabamas 2nd District since 2008. Perhaps more notably, he is also the first African American elected to the U.S. House from the district since 1872. Figures is only the fourth Black person elected to Congress from Alabama since Reconstruction. And with his win, Alabama will have two Black representatives in the House simultaneously for the first time in the state or this countrys history. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com UPDATE (Jan. 10, 2025, 10:24 a.m. ET): On Friday morning, Judge Juan Merchan officially handed President-elect Donald Trump an unconditional discharge sentence, meaning Trump will officially be a convicted felon when he re-enters the White House. Justice Juan Merchan will soon sentence President-elect Donald Trump in a Manhattan courtroom after his guilty verdict on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Merchan has already stated that he intends to sentence Trump to unconditional discharge. This means that Trump will face no jail time or other punishment, but that the conviction will remain on his record. But even that consequence for his actions was too much for the once and future president to bear, and he has spent the past week pulling out all of the legal stops to prevent this from occurring. In normal times, the sentence would have easily gone forward. But we are not in normal times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump sought to bend the legal system to his will, what happens next in a courtroom in New York may give us some insight into how the next four years will play out in the relationship between the presidency and the courts. During his presidency, Bill Clinton was sued civilly by Paula Jones over her claim he made unwanted sexual advances toward her when he was governor of Arkansas. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, found that the presidents duties were not so burdensome that the wheels of justice in that case had to grind to a halt just because it was against a sitting president. Fast-forward to the present. In May 2024, amid the throes of Donald J. Trumps campaign to return to the presidency, he was found guilty by a jury of his peers of falsifying business records in the lead-up to the 2016 election in an effort to cover up a sexual encounter. Now, having won re-election eight years later, and as his second inauguration looms, the once and future president asked the Supreme Court to take the unprecedented step of intervening to prevent his sentencing in that case, because it would cause harm to him and distract him, not from his official work once sworn in, but from his pre-inauguration efforts. Since his conviction in May 2024, the trial court has bent over backward to accommodate Trump, delaying the sentencing on three separate occasions due to the extraordinary circumstances of a candidate for the office of the presidency facing punishment for felony convictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps legal team also sought to appeal many aspects of his conviction. One of the arguments on appeal is that the U.S. Supreme Courts vast immunity ruling from July 2024 means the conviction should be thrown out. That case has nothing to do with a presidents unofficial acts, however. More importantly, it does not apply to things that Trump did before he was even president. The only argument that might connect the two cases which has already been rejected by Merchan is that the jury heard some evidence of Trump having engaged in official acts, and that should be enough to toss out his conviction. That may be an argument that is worthy of consideration through the appellate process. Any defendant should be able to appeal his or her conviction on any plausible claims their legal team can muster. What few, if any, defendants ever get to do is to run to the U.S. Supreme Court on a state conviction to intervene before the state appellate process has run its course, and prior to any sentence even being imposed, to ask the high court to intervene. This is the same court that, in normal times, has demanded that death row inmates check every box, exhaust every avenue of relief open to them and to follow every procedural requirement with meticulous precision prior to seeking to forestall their execution. As of this morning, the Supreme Court has stayed away from this case, for now. It has allowed the sentencing to go forward. It will certainly have other opportunities to review (and possibly throw out) the conviction and that sentence, whatever it is. That is every defendants right: to press grounds for a new trial or even outright dismissal of the case on appeal if any exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All it would take for the courts to operate in a manner consistent with the rule of law is for them to treat Trump like they would any other defendant. Doing so would mean that they were simply operating in a manner consistent with the rule of law. Whether that will occur here, or in other contexts, remains to be seen. Todays sentencing, light as it inevitably will turn out to be, might just provide some hope that over the next four years, the courts will not simply cower and fold when Trump and his incoming administration are litigants before them. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Supreme Court didnt save Donald Trump this time, and with a 5-4 decision Thursday evening refused to delay his sentencing in New York on Friday morning. That means that 10 days before his inauguration, the incoming president was officially sentenced as a convicted felon. As he had signaled he would do, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to unconditional release, letting Trump avoid jail time so that he can assume the office of the presidency. But the conviction is now an indelible part of Trumps record. As expected, Trump raged at the decision, and there will be appeals. But today Jan. 10, 2025 gave us something that has so far been elusive: Trump has, however small it seems, finally been held accountable for his crimes. Unlike lesser mortals, he will avoid jail time, though. Thats yet another sign that in some respects Trump still remains above the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as Trump himself knows, the stigma will linger and the sentence is an extraordinary inflection point in presidential history: Amid all the posturing and pomp in the lead-up to the inauguration; amid all the saber-rattling and sycophancy of the past few weeks; and despite the failure of so many of our constitutional guardrails one fact is unavoidable. As of today, Donald Trump is a convicted criminal in the eyes of the law. In May, a jury convicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels to stay silent before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she said she had with the married man and father. Even though this may have been the least of Trumps crimes, it was not a trivial matter. His attorney, Michael Cohen, went to prison for his role in arranging the payments. And, as Cohen later explained, the payoffs were not designed to cover up a personal scandal but were made for the principal purpose of influencing the election. Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts, including two counts of illegal campaign contributions related to payments to women. Cohen served more than a year in prison and a year and a half in home confinement. Trump himself faced as many as four years for his own felony convictions. But, unlike, Cohen, Trump will not serve a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, Merchan repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of Trumps crimes. His conduct, wrote Merchan last week, was premediated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world. And the judge pushed back on the reckless rhetoric of Trumps lawyers (some of whom are about to assume key positions in the Department of Justice). Counsel has resorted to language, indeed rhetoric, that has no place in legal pleadings he wrote. For example, countless times in their Motion to Dismiss, counsel accuses the prosecution and this Court of engaging in unlawful and unconstitutional conduct. Merchan also noted Trumps overt contempt for the judicial process. Indeed, Defendant has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries and the justice system as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Merchan defied the Trumpian attempts to bully and intimidate the court. Dangerous rhetoric is not a welcome form of argument and will have no impact on how the Court renders this or any other Decision, Merchan wrote. On Friday, Merchan rendered his verdict on the first convicted felon ever elected to the presidency of the United States. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Commission for the Evaluation of the Defense Establishment Budget and the Balance of Power released a report addressing the countrys future strategy, military modernization, industrial expansion and defense spending. The commission, led by Prof. Yaakov Nagel, a retired brigadier general and a former national security advisor to Netanyahu, includes eight other officers, seven of them retired generals and one of whom is another former Netanyahu national security adviser. That the report has a hawkish tone therefore should not come as a surprise. Israel is still at war with Hamas and, for that matter, the Houthis of Yemen. But the report underscores that little is stable in the Middle East todays friend could be tomorrows enemy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the report stresses the importance of maintaining the closest possible ties with the U.S., it also asserts that Israel needs to expand its industrial base, because even America might not be a reliable supplier of military equipment if a Democrat succeeds Donald Trump in the White House. Most importantly, the commission offers a truism about Israels future survival: The Jewish state cannot afford to lose even one major war. In that regard unsurprisingly given its composition the commission points to Iran as the countrys long-term primary threat. Yet it identifies an additional threat that has made headlines in Israel. Not only might the new rebel-led Sunni regime in Syria become radicalized, but under Turkish influence, and with Turkish support, it could create a more serious threat on Israels northern border than the Assad regime ever was. As the report states: One cannot forget the origins of the [Syrian] rebels and their leaders. Israel could find itself confronting a new threat that would emerge in Syria one no less serious than its predecessor, that would take the form of an extremist Sunni power that would not accept the existence of Israel. Moreover, because the Sunni rebels will have the power of the state their threat could be greater [even] than that of Iran. The problem will intensify if the Syrian regime will in practice become a Turkish proxy, as a substantive part of Turkeys dream to restore its former Ottoman crown. The presence of Turkish emissaries or Turkish forces in Syria could intensify the danger of a direct Turkish-Israeli confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Syrian regimes future orientation certainly is a cause for Israeli concern. Indeed, the refusal of its leader, Ahmed al Sharaa, to shake hands with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock because she is a woman hardly indicates that the regime will be a force for moderation. Nevertheless, Israel faced a hostile Sunni Syria from its creation in 1948 until Hafez al-Assad seized the reins of power in 1971. It deterred Damascus at that time and can do so again, especially given a power balance that is now entirely in Jerusalems favor. It is not surprising that the commission should consider the worst-case effects of Turkish influence on the new Syrian regime. Nevertheless, Turkish support need not result in a confrontation, much less an actual conflict with Israel Israeli media headlines about war with Turkey notwithstanding. The term that the commission employs, confrontation, does not mean conflict. The U.S. Marines had a tense confrontation with Israeli forces in Lebanon in 1983; the U.S. Navy confronted the Soviets during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In neither case did war break out. Indeed, Israel and Turkey confronted each other during the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, in which Israeli commandos boarded a civilian ship heading towards Gaza and killed eight Turkish citizens. Not only did the two countries not go to war, they actually restored relations after several years. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans hostility to Israel has fluctuated with Israels relations with Hamas, a subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood that Erdogan supports. Once Israels war with Hamas comes to an end perhaps when the Trump administration is fully ensconced in office and the new president pressures the group to release Israeli hostages, as he has promised he would do Turkish-Israeli relations could once again be on the upswing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Nagel Commission might worry that Israel and Turkey could find themselves on the verge of war, it certainly is not in Americas interest for two of its key allies to edge toward such a conflict. On the contrary, Washington should encourage Ankara to act as a moderating influence on the new Syrian regime. It is not an accident that America helped quell the tensions arising from the Mavi Marmara crisis. And American influence in Turkey is certain to grow once the Trump administration takes office. Therefore, should Jerusalem and Ankara appear headed on a collision course, Washington should again quickly intervene to ensure that the Nagel Commissions worst-case scenario does not become reality. Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The director of the Oregon Department of Forestry has stepped down, according to Gov. Tina Kotek. State Forester Cal Mukumoto has resigned from his position, which he will continue to serve until 5 p.m. on Jan. 23. The circumstances surrounding his resignation are unclear. Snow, or no? No clear signs of January snowflakes in Portland I thank Cal for his service, Gov. Kotek said. Oregonians deserve strong leadership to chart a proactive path to protect our states forests for the benefit of healthy ecosystems, thriving communities and a strong economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kotek shared that her office will work closely with the Board of Forestry to ensure a robust recruitment process for ODFs next State Forester. I expect all state agencies to operate with the highest standard of transparency and accountability, Kotek said. Multiple Republicans criticized Mukumoto and the department following the resignation. This change is long overdue, said Senator Lynn Findley (R-Vale). ODF needs fresh leadership to fix its problems and get back to serving Oregonians. We need leaders who focus on fire prevention, fiscal responsibility, and restoring trust. This is the agencys opportunity for a new direction. Hopefully, its a better one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODFs leadership struggled to manage the basics, leaving hardworking contractors waiting for payment and taxpayers footing the bill. Thats why Senate Republicans called for better leadership at ODF after the special session in December, added Senate Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). With todays resignation, we have a chance to reset. Oregon needs an agency that prioritizes its mission and uses resources wisely to keep communities safe and forests healthy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Strike teams from Oregon are now hard at work helping to battle the Palisades Fire burning near Los Angeles. According to the Oregon State Fire Marshal, 15 strike teams arrived Thursday and as of Friday morning 11 of the teams are already working to fight the flames. Providence nurses, doctors begin open-ended strike Friday morning In total, the teams are made up of 300 firefighters and 75 engines and they are assigned to battle the Palisades Fire to the North of Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teams will be deployed in the area for 14 days protecting homes and other buildings, authorities said. We are in contact with our teams, and they are in good spirits. Theyve received their assignments and have started their work, Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. I am honored to work alongside the Oregon fire service who raised their hands to say they will go without question. This shows their commitment to jump into action no matter what, embodying the Oregon spirit. 15 Strike teams from Oregon arrived to help battle the fires near Los Angeles (OSFM) 15 Strike teams from Oregon arrived to help battle the fires near Los Angeles (OSFM) 15 Strike teams from Oregon arrived to help battle the fires near Los Angeles (OSFM) 15 Strike teams from Oregon arrived to help battle the fires near Los Angeles (OSFM) All of the teams completed safety checks before arriving, making sure that the engines were equipped and mechanically sound, ensuring safety for the firefighters, officials said. The vehicle safety check process was critical for our teams. With moving this amount of equipment and firefighters, safety has to be our highest priority, OSFM Agency Administrator Ian Yocum said. Our Oregon strike teams are motivated, committed to what they do, and excited to get out to the line and help where they are needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is one of the largest out-of-state responses that the Oregon Fire Service has supported, with similar responses to Santa Rosa and Napa in 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon Gov. Tina Koteks emergency homelessness order will be in effect for the third consecutive year. The governors office announced she had extended Emergency Order 24-02, now known as EO 25-01, on Thursday. The move pushes officials to continue their efforts resolving unsheltered homelessness statewide. Oregon firefighters arrive in California, begin battling Palisades Fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kotek originally signed the executive order during her first day in office two years ago. She has extended it twice since then, citing the January 2023 Point-In-Time Count that showed Oregons homeless population has increased by at least 44% since 2017. Federal data also points to Oregon having the second-highest percentage of unsheltered homeless residents nationwide. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 62% of homeless Oregonians were unsheltered sleeping in places like parks, vehicles or streets on a single night last January. California was the highest-ranking state for unsheltered homelessness, at 66%. Both California and Oregon were among the places with the highest percentage of unsheltered, unaccompanied youth. While the states homeless emergency has remained an issue, Koteks office said progress has been made since the beginning of her term. Officials reported that agencies have created 600 new low-barrier shelter beds, provided housing for 1,200 unsheltered households and prevented 8,750 households from becoming homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor has also allocated more than $700 million toward homelessness initiatives in her proposed budget for the 2025-27 biennium. Will an undersea volcano erupt near Oregon in 2025? Heres what we know We must stay the course on what we see working, Kotek said in a release. If we keep at this pace, 1 in every 3 people who were experiencing homelessness in 2023 will be rehoused But the urgency remains as homelessness continues to increase and we need to see this strategy through. The latest executive order will be in effect until Jan. 10, 2026, unless the governor chooses to terminate it beforehand or extend it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Its like a scene from an apocalypse; multiple fires ripping through the hills of Los Angeles claiming the lives of at least five people. Where theres devastation, theres also hope. The church has been there responding to them. They were there before, said Karl Hargestam, CityServe Executive Director. They will be there after rebuilding lives and working with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CityServe supplies churches across the country and now, the organization that started in Bakersfield, sent 4 semi-trucks full of essential supplies to Los Angeles. Hygiene kits, clothing, food, water, said Hargestam. Just emergency disaster response. The churches are ready to double as shelters, just like the Red Cross. Ive open and closed probably 100 shelters all over the country, said Red Cross volunteer Manuel Lerma. Lerma has been a Red Cross volunteer for 10 years. The paycheck is usually a slice of pizza, but the warm heart makes up for everything else, Lerma said. Lermas being deployed to the Red Cross Central Office in Los Angeles where the need is great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had 5 shelters openready to serve about 1,200 people, said Lerma. Now, we go from helping people to helping horses, zebras and even zorses. We rescue. We rehabilitate and we do our best to rehome, said LeAnn Guelker, with All Seated In A Barn. All Seated In A Barn started with one donkey in 2018. Now, its one of the largest animal rescues in the U.S. Some of them come so afraid, but as they get to be socialized by us and get all these lovely treats, they come to love us as we love them, said Guelker. Could Bakersfield see wind-driven urban fires like those in LA County now? Absolutely The organization is ready to help any animal displaced by the SoCal fires by providing vet care, feeding and housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a big arena right here behind us and plenty of stalls and staff behind us for anyone who doesnt have a home for their horse right now, said Fletcher Dilley, with All Seated In A Barn. The single largest rally of manpower comes from our Kern County firefighting force. The Bakersfield Fire Department has sent 6 engines and a crew of 17 to assist with the Palisades and Eaton fires. The Kern County Fire Department also deployed 14 engines, a crew of 50, a strike team, a task force and an incident management team to the Eaton Fire. 70 firefighters, 10 engines, 4 dozers, and 1 handcrew was sent to the Palisades fire while 40 firefighters and 2 hand crews were sent to the Hurst fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Indianapolis has an ordinance that requires property owners to shovel their sidewalks after a snowfall but the city isn't in the practice of enforcing that, city officials say. Numerous people reached out to IndyStar after our original coverage in the wake of the storm to complain about potentially being fined. Many said they felt it unfair to put the responsibility on residents when the city's snow plows are only clearing main streets and roads and not neighborhood side streets. But the reality is that the shoveling requirement might be an unenforceable regulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That irks people like Kevin Sage, who called the ordinance "an absent city response for an issue that really is a problem." Sage commutes to the downtown area and for decades he's heard about the ordinance though as far as he knows there's no actual penalty for those who don't abide by it. Still, he said, he wished the city would do more to ensure the sidewalks are clean. "This is not a 'The world is going to end' issue," Sage said. "However, it does point up the fact that there are many things that make up and hold a community together. This is one of those things. And people are not doing it, for the most part." In many cases keeping one's sidewalk clear of snow may not be an easy task. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some who live on main streets told IndyStar plows often push snow back on the sidewalks after they've shoveled. Others say that heavy shoveling may put them at risk for a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest. Here's what the ordinance says Bart Spencer shovels the sidewalk outside his home Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Indianapolis. Indiana Code Sec. 431-106 states that a property owner is required to keep the sidewalks in front of or adjacent to their property clear of ice and snow. In Indianapolis if snow stops falling after 9 a.m., property owners must shovel their sidewalks by 7 p.m. If the snow is still falling past 7 p.m., they have to remove the snow by 9 a.m. the next morning if the snow has stopped before then. The city requires a five-foot-wide cleared path along all sidewalks. Keep in mind that you can't leave snow on a public roadway or blocking an alley, which means that snow must go in your yard or median. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you don't do this, you could face up to a $50 fine. But the "weird" thing about this is a ticket for failure to shovel has never been issued, said Department of Business and Neighborhood Services spokesperson Dawn Olsen. Olsen said the city just wants more people to be mindful about shoveling their sidewalks. The ordinance: Fined for not shoveling snow? It could happen in Indianapolis "Think about it. DBNS can write a ticket and we can give them a court summons but by the time a court date is set, which can take weeks, a judge can look at the $50 fine and go, 'Well, it snowed in March, and it melts by April, why would I fine?'" Olsen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the department just wants people to be courteous to their neighbors. The department doesn't look to fine people unless someone complains about a snowy sidewalk. "Even then, we're still willing to work with folks by communicating with them about their sidewalks," Olsen said. "We just want them cleared of snow and ice because it would allow people, particularly children, seniors, and people with disabilities, to walk safely." And, she added, if a plow truck unintentionally throws snow onto a sidewalk, the property owner will not be fined. The history of the ordinance The ordinance was enacted in 1975, three years before the infamous Blizzard of 1978 hit Indiana that January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the city has rarely, if ever,given out tickets for not shoveling, the existence of an ordinance means that if it is violated, a person may be able to sue for damages. So, theoretically if someone walking by slips on a sidewalk was covered in ice and snow, the property owner could be held liable. But in 2007, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that a property owner had no legal obligation to clear snow and ice from a sidewalk in front of their property regardless of local ordinances on the books. The Indiana Court of Appeals issued the opinion in Denison Parking Inc. v. Davis, holding that a municipality, in this case Indianapolis, could not use the ordinance to impose a duty to clear a sidewalk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit, Barbara and Jack Davis sued Denison Parking after Barbara fell on a slippery sidewalk adjacent to the facility and injured herself. Denison Parking's lawyers argued the facility did not have a duty to Davis to clear snow and ice from the public sidewalk and the court agreed. Even with that tidbit of nuance to the tricky ordinance, Olsen said the department just wants people to come together to shovel sidewalks. "We encourage people to check on their neighbors and see if they need help clearing their sidewalk or driveway," Olsen said. "You also can reach out to a local church, which may have a team of volunteers helping people dig out. Theres also the option of hiring a contractor or calling 211 for assistance." Adam Allender shovels the sidewalk Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, near Highland Park in Indianapolis. Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Here's something interesting about the city's snow shoveling ordinance The Orlando Police Department is seeking help in the disappearance of 75-year-old Roger Blanks. Blanks was last seen leaving AdventHealth Orlando on Jan. 9, 2025, and may have boarded a bus nearby. Blanks is a resident at an assisted living facility near Westmoreland Dr. and Kaley Ave. Read: Deputies: Bomb threat cleared on local school bus in Deltona Hes also been diagnosed with a cognitive condition that may affect his ability to return home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone has information regarding his whereabouts or has seen him recently, please contact the Orlando Police Department. Read: Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in hush money case Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WEST PALM BEACH Spurred by the New Orleans New Year's terror attack, West Palm Beach will close major downtown roads for the remaining Saturday morning GreenMarkets this season, city police said Friday morning. Vehicles will be banned on Flagler Drive, Dixie Highway, Olive Avenue and Narcissus Avenue between Banyan Boulevard and Datura Street, from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday through April 26. "Recent events in New Orleans tell us what we already know: You can be well-postured, you can be secured and things happen," West Palm Beach interim Police Chief Tony Araujo said Friday morning at the fountains of Nancy Graham Centennial Square downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early morning of Jan. 1, an armor-clad U.S.-born Texan, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and handgun, crashed his three-ton pickup into a crowd of New Year's revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, before dying in a gunfight with police. He killed 14 people. Hours before, he recorded a video of himself pledging allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist organization. "New Orleans, you might agree with me, is one of the safest places to go to, (for an) open air event," Araujo said. "They do it all the time. Look what happened. We want to project the reality that our community is safe and we want our citizens and visitors alike to feel comfortable." People browse for plants at the opening of the West Palm Beach GreenMarket on October 5, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Along with road closures, Araujo said, West Palm Beach police plans to buy more portable roadblocks to stop vehicles trying to break through road closures. The GreenMarket will extend its time by one hour starting Saturday. Its new hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., expanded from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Persaud if The Palm Beach Post's transportation reporter. Send news tips and ideas to cpersaud@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: New Orleans attack spurs West Palm Beach GreenMarket road closures Flowers are placed Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at a memorial site on Bourbon Street in New Orleans near where 14 people were killed early Wednesday in a terrorist attack. The large yellow barrier is one of four that were placed on each side of hydraulic gate installed across Bourbon Street a day after Shamsud-Din Jabbar sped down three blocks before crashing and being killed in a shootout with police. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) NEW ORLEANS The New Orleans City Council launched a formal investigation Thursday into the citys handling of its street barrier systems, which are meant to deter the type of terrorist attack that occurred on Bourbon Street early New Years Day. The investigation, announced last week, is meant to determine how the citys busiest tourist thoroughfare was left without adequate physical barriers on Jan. 1, allowing Shamsud-Din Jabbar to plow into scores of pedestrians celebrating the holiday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council also plans to look into the replacement of old barriers along Bourbon Street a project currently underway with new ones that were not designed to withstand an attack like the one that occurred last week. The probe will examine all aspects of the systems, from their design to how they were procured and installed to how they were operated and maintained and most importantly, who is in charge of them. This is an ongoing legislative and security review of what was going on, what has happened and how we got to this point, Council President JP Morrell said at the meeting. We are going to act as efficiently and expeditiously as possible, but we are not on anyones timeline. Our goal is to get facts and the truth. The absence of permanent, physical street barriers on Bourbon Street has become a point of contention following a New Years Day terror attack on the tourist hub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jabbar, 42, drove a pickup truck around a police car parked at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal streets, then raced three blocks down Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more before crashing into a parked crane. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Though the city installed retractable bollards along Bourbon during former Mayor Mitch Landrieus administration, they were being replaced when the attack happened. The city had access to other types of anti-vehicle barriers, including portable Archer barriers that can be used along both streets and sidewalks, but those were not deployed. So Jabbar did not encounter any barriers capable of stopping the truck during his killing spree. The bollards, installed in 2017, were part of an explicit effort to prevent vehicular ramming attacks like the kind seen the year before in Nice, France. But according to a 2019 report assembled by a security firm, those bollards had never worked properly, in part because they were poorly maintained after being jammed with Mardi Gras beads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, it would be five years before the city set about replacing them, beginning construction on a new set of bollards in November 2024, with construction to continue through February 2025, just before the city is set to host the Super Bowl. And these new bollards, some security experts say, are even weaker than the old bollards not designed to withstand high-speed, high-weight crashes from a vehicle like Jabbars but rather to protect storefronts from accidental collisions. I think the path that theyre going down is not the proper path, Jeffrey Halaut, an expert on designing vehicular barriers, previously told Verite News. I dont see [the new bollards] as a type of anti-terrorism solution. The council investigation will dive into the engineering specifications and security evaluations of the street barrier systems installed along Bourbon Street. But the council is also hoping to find an answer to one fundamental question: Who is in charge of holding and deploying these security assets? This is a very simple request: How does it work? Whos in charge? What happens? Giarrusso said. I specifically asked yesterday for the governance, and nobody from the administration has contacted me about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past few days, theres been disagreement over whether the responsibility for the barriers lies with the New Orleans Police Department, the Department of Public Works or the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. City law allows the council to investigate the operations of any city agency. Over the past few years, the council has opened investigations into an Entergy subcontractors hiring of actors to appear at council meetings to voice support for a new power plant; allegations of bid-rigging in Mayor LaToya Cantrells failed smart cities initiative; and the Mayors Offices alleged use of public funds to produce political mailers that were sent out across the city. As in those previous probes, the council will be able to subpoena witnesses and compel the production of documents. A non-exhaustive list of potential witnesses appears in Thursdays council resolution to commence the investigation. It includes Cantrells top deputy Gilbert Montano, New Orleans Office of Homeland Security Director Collin Arnold, Department of Public Works Director Rick Hathaway and Hard Rock Construction the city contractor on the bollard replacement project among others. Before the council approved the resolution, Morrell added an amendment making all records the council receives during the course of the investigation confidential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When youre doing one of these very long-form, in-depth investigations, when information gets out prematurely, conclusions can be made that are completely wrong, Morrell said. Verite News asked Morrells office for an explanation of how the amended resolution comports with the state public records law, which generally makes all government records open except in cases where state law says they should be confidential. Neither Morrell nor his staff immediately responded. The public records law does contain an exemption for records being used in open legislative investigations, but it appears to apply only to the state Legislature. Another provision makes government records containing certain sensitive security information confidential, but its not clear that would allow the council to place a preemptive hold on records that the council has yet to obtain, let alone review. Not about finger-pointing, council members say The agendas resolution does not explicitly name Kirkpatrick as a potential witness though she can still be compelled to participate in the investigation. Kirkpatrick has previously said that she plans to participate in all investigations into the attack including one ordered by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirkpatrick came under fire at a council hearing Wednesday called by Councilman Oliver Thomas, who lambasted the police chief for not answering questions about whether any security reports were available about the citys safety assets, such as vehicle-blocking barriers. Kirkpatrick refused both to answer questions about the attack at the Wednesday meeting. But she announced that she was bringing on former New York Police Commissioner William Bratton to assess the citys security plans. Thomas, who is mulling a run for mayor, called the meetinga fact-finding mission, saying it was not part of the council investigation. (He acknowledged by the end of the contentious meeting that few facts were actually found.) At Thursdays meeting, councilmembers repeatedly emphasized that the purpose of the council investigation was to bolster security on Bourbon Street going forward, not to find a scapegoat for the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its really important for everyone to understand that this investigation isnt about finger-pointing, Council Vice President Helena Moreno said. Its about really having a unified effort to find solutions moving forward. As it stands, there is no estimated timeline for the investigation. Morrell and his team have emphasized that it will likely not be done before the end of Mardi Gras. The public should know that this is a legislative investigation to review security concerns regarding certain security infrastructure, said Monet Brignac-Sullivan, director of communications for Morrell. Just like the Councils previous investigation, this endeavor will be highly analyzed and detailed. We will keep the public updated as much as possible throughout this process, but we also emphasize that this will take time and that we ask for your patience. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Jan. 9A fire at Felts Field gutted a popular and historic breakfast and lunch restaurant early Thursday. Firefighters were called to the Skyway Cafe, 6105 E. Rutter Ave., about 4:40 a.m., said Spokane Fire Department spokesman Justin DeRuyter. Skyway owner Sandra Melter said in an interview at the scene that the cafe is a "total loss," but she pledged to reopen as soon as possible. The Skyway Cafe is one of the longest-running restaurants in Spokane with a history that dates back about 100 years, when the Zoom Inn first opened at the public-use airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city's fire department responded with three fire trucks and five engines. It took about a half-hour to put the fire out, DeRuyter said. Firefighters found flames coming from the grease vent when they arrived, a department news release said. Extensive fire damage was reported in the kitchen, as was heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the business. The fire investigation could not determine a cause, though no suspicious activity was noted, the release said. Damage is estimated at more than $400,000, primarily affecting the business's contents. No injuries were reported. Airport spokesman Todd Woodard said a full review of the facility will need to be conducted, but there appears to be damage to the kitchen, HVAC equipment and roof membrane. No structural damage is evident, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The windows and doors of the attached terminal were airing out the smoky smell from the rest of the building Thursday. Woodard said there are no other businesses in the building, so operations are not affected. The terminal contains restrooms and a flight planning room for pilots. Felts Field opened under the name Parkwater Airstrip in 1913. The air terminal that includes the Skyway was built in 1924. The restaurant was known for its Felts Field and aviation memorabilia. Co-owner John Melter said all of the memorabilia sustained at least smoke damage, as well as some heat and fire damage. "We are going to try to save everything we can, but it's not looking good," John Melter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regular customer Kimberly Cornelius said she eats at the cafe all the time for "great food and friendly service." "That's too bad," Cornelius said Thursday morning after pulling into the parking lot and learning what happened. Sandra Melter said she hopes to reopen in a few months. "We're going to rebuild," she said. "We've been here 100 years. We're going to be back." A GoFundMe page has been set up asking for donations of new memorabilia and historical items at www.gofundme.com/f/restore-skyway-cafe-memories-and-more. James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. DENVER (KDVR) A dog is home safe and warm Thursday after she fell through the ice of a pond and was rescued by fire crews in Fort Collins. Tikka, a 4-year-old mixed breed, was outside with her owners when she chased after some geese and ended up in the icy pond. Her owners did what Poudre Fire Authority said was the right thing and called 911 rather than following the dog into the water. Colorado town to host Ice Climbing World Cup along with WinterFest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews responded to the area near 2700 E. Prospect Rd. with water search and rescue equipment ready. It was a plan for the worst, hope for the best scenario, Public Information Officer Annie Bierbower said in a phone call interview with FOX31. We deployed one swimmer in a dry suit who was able to reach the dog, and the dog was actually swimming through this frigid water. Theres chunks of ice everywhere and shes swimming, swimming, but since its so slippery and Im sure shes so cold, she couldnt actually lift herself onto the ice to rescue herself, Bierbower said. Tikka, a 4-year-old mixed breed, fell through the ice of a pond in Fort Collins and was safely rescued by fire crews on Thursday. Tikka, a 4-year-old mixed breed, fell through the ice of a pond in Fort Collins and was safely rescued by fire crews on Thursday. Tikka, a 4-year-old mixed breed, fell through the ice of a pond in Fort Collins and was safely rescued by fire crews on Thursday. The swimmer was an Engine 6 firefighter who is specially trained in ice rescue. She was in a yellow dry suit, which Bierbower said allows rescuers to enter the water and stay reasonably warm and dry when rescuing an animal or person from cold water. Bierbower said that when the firefighter got to the shelf of the ice, she reached out and Tikka cooperated and pushed up as the responder pulled her out of the water to safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tikka was pretty happy to be out, Bierbower said. Did you know? These winter driving tips are outdated and unnecessary PFAs partners at UC Health responded, gave Tikka a nice place to dry off and warm up in the ambulance and took care of her. Once she was all warmed up, her owners took her home where she could stay warm. Tikka, a 4-year-old mixed breed, fell through the ice of a pond in Fort Collins and was safely rescued by fire crews on Thursday. Tikka, a 4-year-old mixed breed, fell through the ice of a pond in Fort Collins and was safely rescued by fire crews on Thursday. Bierbower said her owners were just overjoyed that she was okay. A pretty common scenario: How crews rescue people and pets from icy water Bierbower said that PFA crews respond to rescue people and pets from icy water every winter and that dogs ending up in icy water after chasing geese is a pretty common scenario. She added that its something firefighters and rescuers train for every year. PFA rescued another dog from an icy pond earlier this week and was set to have its annual ice rescue training on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Top 5 places to get hot chocolate in Denver, according to Yelp The agency shared a photo from a previous ice rescue training: Each year, firefighters and rescue crews complete training to rescue people and animals from icy bodies of water. What to do if this happens to you When people or pets fall into icy water, Bierbower said people often go in after them in an attempt to help and end up getting stuck too. So, crews come prepared for multiple rescues. In the case Thursday morning, the owners called 911 for help. Bierbower said that was the best thing they could have done as PFA has the ice rescue equipment and special training to rescue the dog safely. We will be there as quickly as possible. We will have the gear and the skills needed to go in there and save them. Its much better for them to go in after one dog than, you know, one dog and two people, Bierbower said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you keep your pets and livestock safe during winter? There are a few ways that people can prevent and prepare for an emergency like this. Bierbower said rescuers encourage pet owners to keep their pets on a leash, especially this time of the year. This scenario happens time and time again where an animal, thats maybe not even common to chase things, chases after some sort of duck or geese and thats how they end up in the water, she said. She emphasized that its important for people to be cautious around icy water and encourages people to do research before trying to step on ice. Ice in our world is never truly safe, its such a variable thing, Bierbower said. Especially in our neck of the woods, Its freezing and thawing, and freezing and thawing, and just the likelihood of that being stable enough for anything to go on to especially this early in the freezing season, thats pretty hard to be able to predict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a video with ice safety guidelines that anyone can watch on YouTube. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A large reservoir in Pacific Palisades that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system was out of commission when a ferocious wildfire destroyed thousands of homes and other structures nearby, the Los Angeles Times found. Officials said that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed since about February for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117-million-gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades for nearly a year. The revelation comes amid growing questions about why firefighters ran out of water while battling the blaze, which ignited Tuesday during catastrophically high winds. The Times reported early Wednesday that numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving crews struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered an independent investigation of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power over the loss of water pressure and the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir, calling it "deeply troubling." "We need answers to how that happened," Newsom said in a letter to leaders of DWP and L.A. County Public Works. DWP spokesperson Ellen Cheng said, "We appreciate the Governors letter and believe that an investigation will help identify any new needed capabilities for water systems to support fighting wildfires." Read more: Increasing winds bring potential for explosive fire growth across L.A. County this week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DWP officials have said that demand for water during an unprecedented fire made it impossible to maintain any pressure to hydrants at high elevations. Had the reservoir been operable, water pressure in the Palisades would have lasted longer on Tuesday night, said former DWP general manager Martin Adams, an expert on the city's water system. But only for a time. "You still would have ended up with serious drops in pressure," Adams said in an interview Thursday. "Would Santa Ynez [Reservoir] have helped? Yes, to some extent. Would it have saved the day? I don't think so." Read more: Los Angeles has never seen this level of destruction: 'Everything is burned down' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A DWP official acknowledged that the reservoir's absence likely contributed to some diminished pressure and dry hydrants in upper regions of the Palisades. However, a spokesperson for the utility said in a statement that DWP was still evaluating the effect of the reservoir being placed offline, and that staffers were conducting a root-cause analysis. "Our primary focus is to provide water supply throughout the city," the DWP spokesperson said, adding, "The system was never designed for a wildfire scenario that we are experiencing." Emptying of the reservoir began in February after a tear in the floating cover measuring several feet allowed debris, bird droppings and other objects to enter the water supply. DWP drained the site to avoid contamination and comply with water regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DWP sought bids for the repair in April, at a cost of up to $89,000. In November, the utility signed off on a contract with a Lakeside firm for about $130,000, records show. The status of the repairs is unclear. The DWP's employee union leader condemned the months-long wait to restore the reservoir. "It's completely unacceptable that this reservoir was empty for almost a year for minor repairs," Gus Corona, business manager of IBEW Local 18, said in an interview with The Times. "This work should have been done in-house, and they shouldn't have depended on a contractor to do it," he said. "I truly believe it's something that could have been avoided." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joseph Ramallo, a chief communications officer for DWP, said the reservoir was scheduled to reopen in February. Read more: Why hydrants ran dry as firefighters battled California's deadly fires Whether the reservoir would have had a meaningful effect on fighting a blaze of such intensity remains unclear. Researchers said urban water systems like DWP's were not designed to fight wildfires that overtake whole neighborhoods. Water pressure in the upper Palisades is sustained with three storage tanks, which hold 1 million gallons each. The tanks, part of a network of more than 100 across the city, are located at successively higher elevations in the coastal, hilly neighborhood, with water pumped up to the tanks, then flowing down by gravity to maintain pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 3 a.m. Wednesday, all three tanks had gone dry. DWP Chief Executive Janisse Quinones said the tanks could not be refilled fast enough and that demand at lower elevations hampered the ability to pump water to tanks at higher elevations. In one case, DWP crews attempting to reroute water to refill a tank had to be evacuated, officials said. Quinones said four times the usual demand for water on the trunk line over a 15-hour period led to drops in water pressure. Read more: Fire hydrants ran dry as Pacific Palisades burned. L.A. city officials blame 'tremendous demand' Had the Santa Ynez Reservoir been in use in that period, Adams estimated, that demand might have been just three times as high. Water in the reservoir would have fed the firefighting equipment and helped the pump stations push water to the storage tanks. But the reservoir "wouldn't have lasted forever and would not have been a fix-all," Adams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eventually, you would have gotten to the same place," he added. Adams cautioned that he was basing his assertion on a rough estimate and that he had not calculated the specific impact. The National Weather Service had warned of "life threatening" winds before the fire broke out, at a time of year when rainfall has normally made the hills less likely to catch fire. By then, Adams said, the DWP's options were limited. He noted that fire risk is not exclusive to the Palisades but is present across L.A. County. Had DWP held water in the reservoir with a ripped cover an ill-advised move for several reasons the water would have been legally undrinkable except in emergencies. Read more: How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the utility could have started filling the reservoir over the weekend, before the extreme winds, the process takes a month and would still risk contamination to the area's drinking supply, officials said. Adams agreed that it was unlikely the water could have been added fast enough to be useful. "They would have been betting that there would be a fire that wipes out the whole neighborhood, which of course, no one has ever seen before," he said. "It would have been a strange bet." The reservoir is one of several operated by DWP across the city, which have a combined capacity of more than 4.1 billion gallons of water. Including aqueduct reservoirs, the city can store more than 91 billion gallons across its vast infrastructure. The Santa Ynez complex, at 117 million gallons, is among several sources of water in the area, including a large pipeline from Stone Canyon and a smaller site, the nearby Palisades Reservoir. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The utility designs the system with redundancies and multiple sources of water. In a statement, the agency said that none of its infrastructural assets failed Tuesday and early Wednesday but that the "intensity" of the fire disrupted the contingencies in place. Adams said that if the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been in normal use with a fully repaired cover, the water level would likely have been well below maximum capacity. Read more: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires In the winter, water levels are kept purposely lower because of a seasonal decline in water use by residents. If water remains stagnant in a reservoir, there is a risk that chloramine, the chemical used as a disinfectant, will break down and chlorine will evaporate, leaving behind ammonia that could foster bacterial growth in the water supply. "You would not have had a whole pile of water just sitting there," Adams said. "That's the battle in water storage you've got to keep your tanks and reservoirs fluctuating." Furious residents have pointed to the lack of water pressure as one factor contributing to the destruction of 5,300 homes and buildings in L.A., Santa Monica and Malibu. Civic leaders like L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park and developer Rick Caruso have pointed to the issue as a sign of poor infrastructure upkeep. Corona, the DWP union chief, welcomed the probe called for by the governor. "I am glad the governor is stepping in and looking into why this happened, and holding people accountable," Corona said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Critics said the advert for Pakistan International Airlines was tone deaf Pakistans national airline has come under fire for a tone deaf advert that appears to show a plane flying into the Eiffel Tower. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which was banned from flying to the UK, US and EU in 2020 amid safety concerns, on Friday announced it had resumed flights to Europe after the ban was lifted. In a post on social media, the airline published an image showing a plane and the Eiffel Tower against the French tricolour flag, accompanied by the caption: Paris, were coming today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But critics pointed out that the advert appeared to show the plane heading straight for the Paris landmark. Omar R Quraishi, a Pakistani PR expert and former adviser to politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, branded the campaign completely tone deaf. He wrote on X: Did the idiot who designed this graphic not see a PIA plane heading for the Eiffel Tower? One of Europes iconic landmarks. Do they not know about the 9/11 tragedy which used planes to attack buildings? Did they not think that this would be perceived in similar fashion? I mean who is PIA's creative agency Who designed this? Who or which agency manages its social media accounts? Did the airline management not vet this? Did the idiot who designed this graphic not see a PIA plane heading for the Eiffel Tower? One of Europe's iconic landmarks pic.twitter.com/Z0Vm7LQR51 omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 10, 2025 Mr Quraishi said the advert was particularly insensitive given Pakistan had often been accused of supporting terrorism. Osama bin Laden, who led Al-Qaeda, hid in Pakisan following 9/11 before being killed by US special forces at his compound in Abbottabad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The backlash is a setback for the state-owned airline after the EUs aviation safety agency lifted the four-year ban. The restrictions were imposed in 2020 after a PIA plane crashed in Karachi, killing 97 people. An investigation found the crash was caused by pilot error and that almost a third of Pakistani pilots held fake licences or had cheated in exams. In 2017, PIA came under scrutiny after admitting it overfilled a flight and allowed seven extra passengers to stand in the aisle. The airline was also ridiculed after images circulated online of ground staff sacrificing a goat next to an aircraft just before take-off in a bid to ward off bad luck. That followed a crash that killed 47 people in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistans prime minister, said the lifting of the ban would improve the airlines image. PIA said its first flight from Islamabad to Paris was fully booked with more than 300 passengers. It is not the first time the Pakistani airline has raised eyebrows with its adverts. A 1979 campaign for PIA showing the shadow of a jetliner against the Twin Towers resurfaced in the wake of the 9/11 attacks given its eerie similarities with Americas deadliest terrorist attack. PIA has been contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Several people were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Friday, according to Palestinian reports. At least seven people were killed when the Israeli military hit a group of people in Al-Bureij in the centre of the coastal strip, a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled civil defence said. Several other people were injured. More details about the incident were not initially available. The Israeli military did not comment on the report when asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported further deadly attacks in the Gaza Strip. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed in attacks since this morning, the report said, citing the Hamas-controlled health authority. It does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures. The information from both sides cannot be independently verified. The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel, when some 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) The Palisades Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history, edged closer to one of the citys major population centers on Friday: the San Fernando Valley. Sky5 footage showed the fires northern flank burning toward Mulholland Drive in the Santa Monica Mountains, where aerial firefighting crews have dropped slurry lines in hopes of halting the fires northern progress. They anticipate the fire reaching this point, said Sky5 reporter Gil Leyvas. That has a lot of people in the San Fernando Valley worried. The fire is uncomfortably close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was roughly two miles from Tarzanas Braemar Country Club and neighboring communities. The Palisades Fire was mapped at 21,596 acres Friday night, with containment at 8%. Tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders or warnings. The evacuation order extended throughout the Pacific Palisades to the Pacific Ocean and included areas of Santa Monica, Malibu, and Topanga. Residents and businesses in Calabasas and parts of Tarzana and Encino remained under an evacuation warning on Friday. The CalFire map showing the Palisades Fire perimeter and evacuation zones as of 11 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2025. (CalFire) The fire erupted Tuesday morning and, fanned by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, quickly ripped through residential and commercial areas in Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Officials estimate that more than 5,000 structures have been destroyed, many of them homes. Damage is believed to be in the tens of billions of dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, just before 4 p.m. Friday, incident commanders expanded the Palisades Fire evacuation warning to include neighborhoods just west of the 405 Freeway. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. At least 11 people have been killed in Southern California in both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena. Of those 11, five are confirmed to have died from the Palisades fire, including one person who was found in the rubble of a burnt building in Malibu. Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 view of the northern flank of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025. (KTLA) As for the future firefighting operations and the potential for more wildfires, Cal Fire issued this warning: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palisades Fire continues to exhibit wind-driven and topographic runs upslope. Short-range spotting is still observed, the agency said in a bulletin. On Saturday, typical mid-January conditions are expected. Sunday and continuing through the middle of next week, weak to moderate Santa Ana winds are expected. There is a chance of strong winds Tuesday. There will continue to be a high likelihood of critical fire weather conditions through next week. Live updates are available below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. PANAMA CITY (AP) The administrator of the Panama Canal said Friday that the vital waterway will remain in Panamanian hands and open to commerce from all countries, rejecting claims by President-elect Donald Trump that the United States should take it over. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ricaurte Vasquez denied Trumps claims that China was controlling the canals operations, and said making exceptions to current rules concerning its operation would lead to chaos. He said Chinese companies operating in the ports on either end of the canal were part of a Hong Kong consortium that won a bidding process in 1997. He added that U.S. and Taiwanese companies are operating other ports along the canal as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has gone so far as to suggest the U.S. should take back control of the canal and he would not rule out using military might to do so. It might be that youll have to do something, Trump said Tuesday. The Panama Canal is vital to our country. Trump has characterized the fees for transiting the canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as ridiculous. Panama President Jose Raul Mulino has said unequivocally that the canal will remain in Panamanian hands. Responding to the suggestion that the U.S. could try to retake control of the canal, Vasquez said there was no foundation for that sort of hope. That is the only thing I can say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez stressed that the Panama Canal was open to the commerce of all countries. The canal cant give special treatment to U.S.-flagged ships because of a neutrality treaty, Vasquez added. The most sensible and efficient way to do this is to maintain the established rules. Requests for exceptions are routinely rejected, because the process is clear and there mustnt be arbitrary variations, he said. The only exception in the neutrality treaty is for American warships, which receive expedited passage. Some 70% of the sea traffic that crosses the Panama Canal leaves or goes to U.S. ports. The United States built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Trump told supporters Were being ripped off at the Panama Canal. He claimed that the U.S. foolishly gave it away. Regarding the fees for using the canal, Vasquez said a planned series of increases had concluded with one this month. Any additional increases would be considered in the first half of the year to give clients certainty in their planning and would go through a public comment process, he said. Theres no discrimination in the fees, he said. The price rules are uniform for absolutely all those who transit the canal and clearly defined. The canal depends on reservoirs to operate its locks and was heavily affected by drought during the past two years that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships using the canal each day, administrators increased the fees that are charged all shippers for reserving a slot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The canal bisects Panama, running 51 miles end to end. It allows ships to avoid the longer and costlier trip around Cape Horn at the tip of South America. It is an enormous responsibility, Vasquez said of Panamas control of the canal. Take the case of COVID, when it arrived, the canal took the necessary measures to protect the labor force, but while keeping the canal open, because the international commitment is to keep it open. HONOLULU (KHON2) Its been nine days since the tragic New Years Eve explosion. The family of one of the people severely injured said their son is one of six people fighting for their lives in a specialized Arizona burn center. He was transported to the hospital as a John Doe and his parents said it took them hours to find him. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Drew Sanbei is one of the six people transported to the Arizona Burn Center for care after being critically injured in the Aliamanu firework explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a parents worst nightmare, Drews father, Arthur Sanbei explained. When you find out that your son suffered such catastrophic injuries after really life-threatening injuries. Medical Examiner identifies 3-year-old boy killed in Aliamanu fireworks incident Arthur said his sons organs are functioning and he can breathe, but he suffered a concussion from the blast and is severely burned. The burns are covering 63% of his body, Arthur said. So its basically most of his front. His lower legs and his feet are not affected. But the back of his legs and the front of his body, the right side of his abdomen is pretty bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Arthur, Drew has already undergone several surgeries. Its a process because hes hurt on the front and the back. They could only do one side at a time, he explained. So they did the front on Monday, and then part of the back on Tuesday. And I understand theyre looking at his shoulder more closely tomorrow. Arthur and Debra, Drews mother, have been with Drew in Arizona and flew back to Hawaii to take care of some business before going back. Were going to be there for him as he goes through this, Arthur said. Even though Drew is intubated and heavily sedated his mother said he wiggles his toes and nods, so they know he can hear them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victims of the New Years firework explosion face long road to recovery Drews parents were not with him on the night of the explosion. We didnt know that he was at that party, Debra said. We knew he was going to go to a party, we didnt know it was there. And its unlike Drew to not even text. When he didnt show up for lunch the next day they got worried. From concern, it kind of quickly grew into a kind of frantic, almost like panic, Arthur said. Finally we made contact with his girlfriend, who was at Straub. Then she got all distraught when she found out that we didnt contact him because she was trying on her own calling trauma centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding Drew took hours because he was taken to the hospital as a John Doe. Eventually, they found out he was at Queens Medical Center. Arthur said Drews girlfriend and many of her family were also injured in the blast. Although Drew has a long road ahead, his parents are confident he will recover. He had been taking online classes to further his career in Radiology. Drew worked as a CT Technologist before the accident. His parents are grateful for all the support theyve received. Check out more news from around Hawaii Thats the kind of stuff that you really, really appreciate, Arthur said. Its really humbling when it happens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sanbei Ohana has set up a GoFundMe to help cover Drews medical costs, click here Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Several Oklahomans received an email Wednesday from State School Superintendent Ryan Walters that they said they didnt ask for. It doesnt feel like any of this (the email) is for the benefit of our children, said Satyra Mahaffey. Mahaffey is one of many parents who chose to talk to News 4 after receiving the email, all of whom were concerned because they didnt sign up for any email list from the superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OKLAHOMA EDUCATION: OSDE Supt. Walters could be made to answer questions after new court filing The email was sent out after 3 p.m. Wednesday, and it listed what Walters has done while superintendent of Oklahomas education. The email that was sent out was SuptRyanWalters@publi.govdelivery.com, not the agencys main email. An email was seemingly went in mass to many Oklahomans from Superintendent Ryan Walters. An email was seemingly went in mass to many Oklahomans from Superintendent Ryan Walters. An email was seemingly went in mass to many Oklahomans from Superintendent Ryan Walters. Some said that theyd never given out their personal email address, but somehow it went to their inbox. The email is full of politically vetted words. It looks like a PR (Public Relations) Firm had their hands all over it, said Erin Brewer with the Oklahoma Parents Legislative Action Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said several of her constituents, who were concerned that their personal information was out there being shared, reached out to her. News 4 contacted several superintendents who said that they did not send out a list and were not asked by the state for an email list recently. I know I didnt send my email to Superintendent Walters, said Mahaffey. Its not that the state superintendent is communicating with parents, its that given everything weve seen like how hes tried to send out a video with a prayer and all of the other things. Given all of this, it looks like hes trying to overreach, said Mariana Lopez De Castilla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez De Castilla has two kids; one is in an Oklahoma public school, and the other is in private. It just seems like an odd moment for him to be this transparent. It doesnt feel like its him being transparent, it feels like hes trying to tell you what to think, said Lopez De Castilla. The email lists out several stories from over the last year, like the teacher signing bonus which was riddled with issues from the start. The email also lists the nearly $60 million from the Comprehensive Literacy Grant, funding thats from the U.S. Department of Education. An agency that Superintendent Walters has supported getting rid of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre going to start seeing a lot of posturing going into this next year, said Representative Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City). Dollens said several of his constituents reached out to him about their concern surrounding the email chain. The upcoming year, he said, will see many politicians and others trying their best to be seen as potential candidates for Oklahomas next governor. Theres a fine line, though, between constituent updates and campaigning, and those who are elected need to know the difference, said Representative Dollens. Brewer also brought up the concern that the email was part of a potential campaign effort from the superintendent. She also has kids in the public school system and said she was shocked when she saw the email in her inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It popped up in my inbox and I was surprised because it was a little weird, said Brewer. The first thing I thought was, is this even legal, and how do they have my email address? There is also concern due to a grand jury report last year that detailed how Superintendent Walters, when he was in collaboration with Class Wallet, failed to protect the personal information of applicant families. Its very concerning how this is ending up in parents and those without kids inboxes and spam boxes when they did not sign up for it, said Rep. Dollens. Earlier last year Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order essentially banning state agencies from entering into contracts with public relations vendors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a clear act of campaigning, said Brewer. Where hes using his office and our tax dollars to put his name in front of thousands of people. Hes flirting with the boundaries of what is legal and what is not. News 4 reached out to an OSDE spokesperson Thursday, and as of this article, hasnt heard back. News 4 also put in an open record request to find out if an outside PR firm has been hired, or what list is connected to that email. Many other parents who didnt want to go on camera Thursday voiced concern and frustration surrounding the email. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. PARIS (AP) French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Friday accused Algeria of trying to humiliate France after the North African country refused to admit one of its nationals who was being deported. The influencer was arrested in the city of Montpellier on Sunday on charges of inciting violence in videos he posted on social media. French immigration officials put him on a flight to Algiers Thursday, but Algeria refused to admit him, saying he was banned from entering its territory. He was finally sent back to France that evening, the French interior ministry said. Police in France have in recent days arrested four Algerian nationals described by authorities as social media influencers accused of posting videos inciting violence, against a backdrop of soured relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to express my astonishment, Retailleau said Friday. I think weve reached an extremely worrying threshold with Algeria. Its clear that Algeria is trying to humiliate France. The two countries have a turbulent relationship: Algeria, once a French colony, shook off rule from Paris in 1962 after a brutal war. Two other Algerian influencers were arrested last week in the Alpine city of Grenoble and the western port city of Brest, while a female TikTok influencer was taken into police custody in the city of Lyon on Thursday. She is accused of making death threats against opponents of the government in Algiers. Theres absolutely no question of giving free rein to the hatred of these individuals who are spreading antisemitism, murder etc., Retailleau said. Social networks are not a lawless zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retailleau also sharply criticized the detention since November of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria, who is an outspoken critic of the Algerian government. Retailleau said Sansal is old and ill and accused Algiers of keeping him in prison for the wrong reasons." A shift last July in Frances decades-old position on the disputed Western Sahara region of northern Africa angered Algeria and prompted the withdrawal of its ambassador in Paris. As multiple blazes spread through the Los Angeles area, at least 24 people have died and thousands of structures have been destroyed in what may be some of the most destructive wildfires in Southern California history. Three fires burned in the L.A. area as of Sunday. The Palisades Fire ripped through western neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu, becoming the most destructive wildfire in L.A. history. The fire is more than 20,000 acres and is 11% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton Fire has grown to more than 14,000 acres and is 27% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Hurst Fire near the city of San Fernando spans about 800 acres and is 89% contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of structures have burned to the ground, including homes of celebrities who live in the L.A. area. Actor Steve Guttenberg sprang into action when flames broke out in his neighborhood of Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, helping his neighbors evacuate and working to clear the roads for emergency responders. Nine oclock, I was having a cup of coffee. At 9:45, the sky was black, he said on TODAY Jan. 9. It was just terrible. Within Id say, 20 minutes, everything changed. And its not gotten better. Obviously, its gotten worse. Guttenberg, 66, added he was trying to get back to his house to see whats there, and that he spoke to his gate guard, whom he described as so emotional. The big deal is no matter how much money youve got, how big your car is, your house all youve got at the end is, youre walking down the block with a little suitcase, looking to try to get to an area thats safe and evacuate, he said. Were all the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are some of the celebrities affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles. Joshua Jackson A representative for Joshua Jackson said in a statement to Deadline that the actor's home in Topanga Canyon was destroyed by the wildfires. First and most importantly, all the people closest to me affected by the fire are ok. My daughter, my family, my neighbors all made it out safely, Jackson said in the statement. Sadly my beautiful home did not survive the fires. But today, I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the people I love. Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung In a joint Instagram post Jan. 10, Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung shared a video of the remains of their home in the wake of the wildfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Was supposed to be our forever home, but nothing lasts forever. Thankfully our family is safe, however other LA fire victims arent as fortunate. Please donate to them if you can. Link in bio," the couple wrote in the caption. Milo Ventimiglia Milo Ventimiglia and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, were forced to flee their Malibu home because of the fires. They later watched on security cameras as their home burned down to the ground, the actor told CBS News. You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not and then you see your neighbors houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks, Ventimiglia said. The actor said that he's aware of "life imitating art," as his character on This Is Us, Jack Pearson, dies after going into cardiac arrest from inhaling smoke when the family home catches fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We got good friends and we got good people were working with and well make do. Wife and baby and dog, most important, the Ventimiglia added. Paris Hilton Paris Hilton shared she was "heartbroken beyond words" after watching her home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV. Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. This home was where we built so many precious memories. Its where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London, she wrote in a Jan. 8 Instagram post, referring to her two children, Phoenix and London. Hilton, 43, urged her followers to heed to evacuation orders and to protect one another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the loss is overwhelming, Im holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe, she wrote. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires ... To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking. Dianne Warren Songwriter Diane Warren shared on Instagram Jan. 8 that her beach house of more than 30 years had been destroyed. Ive had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite, she wrote in the caption. Theres a rainbow shining on it which Im taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, former stars of The Hills, lost their home in the Palisades Fire, the pair said in social media posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one positive sign i saw as our house burned down was ours sons bed burned in the shape of a heart, Pratt said in an Instagram post on Jan. 8. A sign of how much love was in this house so thankful for all the years and memories there with our family. The couple married in 2008 and share two children together: Gunner, 7, and Ryker, 2. Melissa Rivers Melissa Rivers, the daughter of Joan Rivers and Edgar Rosenberg, said she was able to save several important items that belonged to her parents before her home was destroyed. Melissa Rivers, whose home was destroyed by the fires, says she grabbed the necessities and my mom's Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son...I went for a drawing of my mother's rather than a photo, because I know I can find the photos. pic.twitter.com/YyIBXzbRYb Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 9, 2025 That is the end of everything that belonged to my family and the history of it, Rivers said on CNN on Jan. 8. I grabbed my moms Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son. I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I cant replace. Billy Crystal Actor and comedian Billy Crystal shared how he had been impacted by the fires in a statement to CNN on Jan. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy, he said. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cant be taken away. He added: We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this. We pray for the safety of the fire fighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home. Cameron Mathison All My Children and General Hospital star Cameron Mathison shared a devastating video showing what was left of his home on Jan. 8. We are safe, he said. But this is whats left of our beautiful home. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mathison added: Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Cant respond to all so wanted to give an update here. Sending so many prayers to everyone being affected by these. Anna Faris Anna Faris home burned down, but she and her family are unharmed, her representative told People on Jan. 8. Anna and her family are safe and very grateful, a rep for Faris said in a statement to the magazine. Rosie O'Donnell Rosie ODonnell posted a video on TikTok on Jan. 8 showing the destruction along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and sharing that she had lost her home. On pch in malibu the whole of beach front homes gone including the one i lived in, she wrote in the caption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODonnell wrote in a Jan. 7 Instagram post she was safe and had evacuated to a hotel. Cary Elwes The Princess Bride actor Cary Elwes and his wife Lisa Marie Elwes said they had lost their home, but were grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it, the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post on Jan. 8. Ricki Lake Ricki Lake said she lost her dream home in an Instagram post on Jan. 8. The actor said she escaped with her dog, Dolly, and not much else. After a valiant and brave effort by our friend and hero @kirbykotler_ Ross and I lost our dream home. This description dream home doesnt suffice. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second. I shared our sunset views almost daily with all of you, she wrote. Lake added: This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event. Mandy Moore Mandy Moore shared photos from the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Instagram Jan. 9, confirming that the main part of her house is "intact" but the rest of her property has been destroyed. Beside a slideshow of pictures of her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, examining the destruction, she wrote, "We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss. Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact." The "This Is Us" star said her husband's studio, that he shares with brother Griffin Goldsmith and included all of the duo's instruments and music equipment, has been destroyed. "We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything," she continued. "Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends. Feeling weird survivors guilt." She said she loves her community and will work to help rebuild it. "Thanks for everyone for checking on us and offering us help. Altadena strong," she concluded. Bozoma Saint John "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Bozoma Saint John uploaded a series of photos of sweet moments she shared with her daughter, Lael, in their Malibu home before including videos of streets and houses ablaze. "This is the house I wanted. The house I prayed for. The house I worked in blood, sweat and tears for. The house that I put a key pad instead of a key hole in the front door because I wanted all my family and friends to have a code and use the house whenever they wanted," the former Netflix CMO wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "This is the house where I found peace after battling with racist neighbors and a community that made me have to buy it in a trust within a trust so no one would know that widowed, single Black woman with a teenager was buying on the exclusively-held beach. This was my EFF YOU Im here house." She added that the home also had a special movie room for her sister. "It is gone," she said. "This is an unimaginable loss. I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling." She asked for prayers for her and her daughter. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Paris Hilton has revealed the shocking remains of her Malibu home. The DJ and heiress, 43, revealed on Wednesday, Jan. 8 that she learned her home had been destroyed while watching the news in a live segment. She shared footage of the property after it was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire in a video shared to Instagram a day later. Im standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable., Hilton wrote in the post's caption. When I first saw the news, I was in complete shockI couldnt process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg Reveal They Lost Their Home Due to L.A. Fires: Everything Else Is Just Stuff The footage showed that all that appeared to be left was the buildings entrance amid large piles of rubble and collapsed walls. There were also still small fires underneath the broken pieces. She continued, This house wasnt just a place to live It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family. It was where Phoenixs little hands made art that Ill cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes its devastating beyond words., Hilton said. Paris Hilton/Instagram From Left: London Marilyn, Paris Hilton, Phoenix Barron and Carter Reum From Left: London Marilyn, Paris Hilton, Phoenix Barron and Carter Reum The star who shares son Phoenix Barron, 23 months, and daughter London Marilyn, two months, with husband Carter Reum added that shes even more heartbroken knowing this isnt just my story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So many people have lost everything. Its not just walls and roofsits the memories that made those houses homes, Hilton said. Its the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives. Paris Hilton/X Paris Hilton's home destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire Paris Hilton's home destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire Paris Hilton/X Paris Hilton's visit to her home Paris Hilton's visit to her home Related: Adam Brody and Leighton Meesters Family Home Engulfed in Flames Amid Palisades Fire: Photo However, the mother of two went on to say that she was filled with gratitude for the safety of her loved ones and pets, as well as to the firefighters and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires. Hilton thanked everyone for their prayers and kindness before encouraging others going through the same pain to know they were not alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were in this together, she said. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Paris Hilton/X Rubble left from Paris Hilton's home Rubble left from Paris Hilton's home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments, Hilton wrote. Life can change in an instant, and its the love we share that truly matters. Im sending all my love to everyone who is hurting right now.. As of Thursday, Jan. 9, over 100,000 Los Angeles residents were under evacuation orders. The L.A. fire department also confirmed on Wednesday, Jan. 8 that five civilians had died. Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Anna Faris, Heidi Montag Pratt and Spencer Pratt, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes and Cameron Mathison are among the celebrities who have lost their homes. Read the original article on People *Video shows additional wildfire coverage. (The Hill) Paris Hilton is sharing a glimpse at her Malibu home that was destroyed by the wildfires that have spread through California, saying the loss is devastating beyond words. Im standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable, the 43-year-old hotel heiress and reality TV star wrote in a Thursday post on Instagram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces, Hilton said in a caption that accompanied a video showing the burned ruins of her home, including some debris that still appeared to be smoldering. LAPD: Arson suspect in custody linked to Kenneth Fire This house wasnt just a place to live It was where we dreamed, laughed and created the most beautiful memories as a family, the mother of two said. What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isnt just my story. So many people have lost everything. Its not just walls and roofs its the memories that made those houses homes. Its the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 people have died due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area that began earlier this week and have burned more than 10,000 homes and structures, according to officials in California. Hilton who last month celebrated Congress passage of the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, a youth welfare bill that she had lobbied for on Capitol Hill had earlier this week described witnessing her house get destroyed. Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience, she wrote on X on Wednesday. FAA: Firefighting aircraft damaged by drone over Palisades Fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her latest message, Hilton said despite the pain, she is incredibly lucky. My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe, she said. Thats the most important thing, and Im holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. Expressing gratitude for first responders and firefighters, Hilton wrote, Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments. Life can change in an instant, and its the love we share that truly matters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Paris Hilton, like many others, had her property destroyed from the Palisades Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. On Thursday the heiress posted a video on Instagram showing the destruction left behind as she toured what was left of her Malibu home. Mother confronts Gov. Newsom in Pacific Palisades, demands answers Im standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable. When I first saw the news, I was in complete shockI couldnt process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces, she wrote in the caption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video starts at what used to be the front door and as the camera pans from room to room, rubble and ash are seen everywhere with some small areas still smoldering with flames. Paris Hilton arrives at the 66th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 4, 2024. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Hilton explained that the house wasnt just a place to live. It was where she and her family dreamed, laughed and created the most beautiful memories. It was where Phoenixs little hands made art that Ill cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes its devastating beyond words, she explained. What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isnt just my story. So many people have lost everything. Its not just walls and roofsits the memories that made those houses homes. Its the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives. Halle Berry, Sharon Stone donating items to Fairfax store for SoCal fire victims Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the pain, Hilton explained that shes incredibly lucky as her loved ones, babies and pets are all safe. Thats the most important thing, and Im holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. And beyond grateful to all the firefighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires, she continued. She thanked those who sent love, prayers and kindness as theyve reminded her that even in the ashes, there is still beauty in this world. Thank you from the deepest part of my heart. To everyone going through this pain, please know youre not alone. Were in this together. We will rebuild, we will heal, and we will rise stronger than before, she assured the other thousands affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 180,000 have had to evacuate due to the deadly wildfires ravaging the region. Many remain under evacuation orders or warnings. The evacuation order extended throughout the Pacific Palisades to the Pacific Ocean and included areas of Santa Monica, Malibu and Topanga. Residents and businesses in Calabasas remained under an evacuation warning on Friday. Let this be a reminder to hold your loved ones close. Cherish the moments. Life can change in an instant, and its the love we share that truly matters, she said before ending her note. Im sending all my love to everyone who is hurting right now. The Palisades Fire sparked Tuesday morning and erupted to over 20,400 acres. More than 5,000 structures have been lost, many of them homes and businesses. As of Friday morning the fire was 8% contained. Damage is believed to be in the tens of billions of dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 people have been killed in Southern California in both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Members of the Park City Mountain ski patrol in Utah were back at work Thursday after the resort agreed to raise their pay by $2 an hour, ending a 13-day strike that forced long wait times for ski lifts and frustrated hundreds of customers. The new contract, which will stay in effect through 2027, gives entry-level ski patrollers and mountain safety employees a starting salary of $23 an hour, according to the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, which represents 200 employees at the country's largest ski resort. Experienced members of the ski patrol will earn an additional $4 an hour on average, the union said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tentative agreement addresses both parties interests and will end the current strike, the resort and the union said Thursday in a joint statement. "Everyone looks forward to restoring normal resort operations. Members of the ski patrol conduct mountain safety operations, such as avalanche mitigation, and respond to medical emergencies. The sides negotiated for eight months before the union began its strike on Dec. 27. During the strike, the resort operated at a limited capacity, upsetting hundreds of guests who traveled long distances with their families. Minnesota resident Peter Nystrom said he spent more than $20,000 to send his family of eight to the resort only to learn about the strike, three-hour ski lift lines and potentially unsafe mountain conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We thought itd be a fun kind of Christmas gift to go do this kind of once-in-a lifetime ski trip, Nystrom told NBC News. The really frustrating part was just the lack of transparency. Park City said on its website that city officials were "pleased that the patrol union strike has ended and are looking forward to welcoming back our patrollers, adding that more terrain would open quickly. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) A donation was made Thursday morning by Parkers Kitchen to help support the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS). The convenience store company and food service leader made a $100,000 Fueling the Community donation to SCCPSS with a special check presentation at the Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts in Savannah. Superintendent Dr. Denise Watts was on hand to accept the donation on behalf of local teachers and students. Parkers Fueling the Community charitable initiative donates a percentage of gas sold at all Parkers and Parkers Kitchen locations on the first Wednesday of each month to area schools. Since its inception in 2011, the company has given more than $2.5 million to public and private schools in Georgia and South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were deeply honored to be headquartered in Savannah and understand the importance of investing in education in order to fight poverty, create opportunity and support future leaders right here in our community, said Parkers founder and CEO Greg Parker. Through the Parkers Kitchen Fueling the Community program, weve been making a transformative impact in the communities we serve by supporting local teachers and students since 2011. Parkers also hosted a special ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration for the companys newest Parkers Kitchen, located at Beaufort Station at 311 Robert Smalls Pkwy. in Beaufort, S.C.Representatives for Parkers presented a $75,000 Fueling the Community donation to the Beaufort County School District to support area students and teachers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. PARSONS, Kan. With the help of an annual grant, nine Southeast Kansas teachers are able to better help their students in the classroom. Theyre the recipients of mini-grants from the Parsons Educational Foundation. This years round totaled close to four thousand dollars. Every year, teachers can apply in hopes of being able to fund items that fall outside of the normal budget. Things like individual student whiteboards, lab supplies, and even 3D printers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garfield Elementary speech-language pathologist Emily Ray received more than $500 to create the schools first-ever recess communication board. Its geared to assist minimally speaking students and features pictures of items on the playground, the alphabet, and colors and words that might be used to ask to do something on the playground. Its been really awesome to see students interact with the communication board. It surprised me a bit because I have seen a lot of students who dont have communication difficulties going up to the communication board and and being able to touch it and talking with their peers about it. And thats really what its all about, is just fostering that inclusive environment on the playground, said Emily Ray, Garfield School Speech Language Pathologist. We get Thank you notes from teachers and students routinely after the item arrives that theyve used in, and we get pictures of them sometimes and we like to have those pictures. So we can put it on our website and let people know what the grants and the money is being used for, said Marty Mendicki, Parsons Educational Foundation Board Pres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ray hopes to implement the communication board into other schools in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Pat Bean, who rose through the local government ranks to serve as Hillsborough Countys first female administrator, died Monday in Tampa after a long illness. She was 79. Kevin Gray, Beans son, confirmed his mothers death to the Tampa Bay Times, and said she had been battling vascular dementia since 2014. Bean held several executive positions in Hillsborough County government before taking the helm as administrator in 2003, succeeding Dan Kleman, for whom she served as top deputy. Before becoming administrator, she is credited with helping to implement a county health care program for poor people who dont qualify for other assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She just was all around a person I thought did a very good job and knew how to get along well with the County Commission, said former Commissioner Tom Scott, whose tenure overlapped with Beans. I think thats what allowed her to be there as long as she did. As administrator, Bean oversaw county operations during a period of robust tax growth fueled by rapidly rising property values and population gains. She then presided over dramatic cutbacks, including widescale layoffs and pay freezes, after the housing market tanked around 2008. Until that time, she had been a popular among rank-and-file county employees, many of whom she addressed by name as she made her way through County Center. She was fired in 2010 after revelations she doled out raises to many of her top deputies for their roles in making cutbacks and accepted one herself for her work amid the layoffs. Bean was born Aug. 18, 1945, and was raised in Cayce, South Carolina, just outside of Columbia, South Carolina, her son said. She completed her undergraduate studies at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and graduated from the University South Florida with a masters degree in public administration. She also served as adjunct faculty and a guest lecturer at USF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of Beans career was in local government, including in Greensboro, North Carolina, and New York City, before she made her way to Florida. She began working for the city of Tampa in the early 1970s as the chief of recruiting and testing. After holding that position for four years, she became the first female department head in Hillsborough, overseeing personnel. She would stay with Hillsborough County for 33 years, working her way up the government ladder. She served as the director of community services and oversaw the county social service network during a recession and Reagan-era aid cutbacks, relying on volunteers to cut back on county spending. She later became the assistant county administrator and served as the point person for the creation and implementation of what was initially called the countys indigent health care plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through Hillsborough HealthCare, residents without access for medical coverage were able to receive care. It is paid for by a commission-approved half-cent sales tax that remains in place to this day, though the program has undergone several changes. Bean became county administrator after an unsuccessful attempt in 1994, when she was passed over in favor of an outsider in Kleman. In a letter to commissioners at the start of her tenure, Bean wrote I pledge that we will honor and celebrate the diversity of our staff which reflects the diversity of our community because it is one of our greatest assets as an organization dedicated to public service. She was also involved in other organizations outside of her work and was elected as president of the National Association of County Administrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray, Beans son, said she frequently volunteered in her free time, including at Tampa General Hospital and the Hyde Park United Methodist Church. She had her fathers strength, as far as being able to handle difficult situations, and her mothers compassion and caring for others, Gray said. It was always important to her that we try to take care of anybody thats less fortunate. But at the end of her time as administrator, she found herself caught in a two-year legal battle after she and a former county attorney approved 1% raises for themselves. In addition to the raises, Bean gave high pay increases to six county executives. This news came as the county was facing a $140 million deficit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas Commission on Ethics ultimately dismissed charges against Bean. A judge ruled that evidence suggested she first denied herself the raise, but reconsidered after speaking with then-County Attorney Renee Lee, who also took the pay hike and lost her job in the fallout. So, a judge reasoned she shouldnt be punished for following poor legal advice and did not have wrongful intent. Its been a lot of hard work to get here, Bean said in 2012 after the ethics commissions decision, adding that she had been stressed about health issues. To have this be over is wonderful. Scott said despite Beans legal troubles, he thought well of her as a colleague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I regarded Pat very highly, he said. She had done an outstanding job, from my position. Before her ascension to the administrator post, Beans second husband, whom she later divorced, went to federal prison for his role in a political corruption case. In an application to the Tampa Bay Business Journals 2006 Business Woman of the Year Award, Bean said the adversity of her former husbands situation was the worst she had faced in the workplace (she was assistant county administrator at the time). Regardless, she wrote, she got through that and other challenges working in government, like losing her first bid for administrator and the sexism she faced among colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps it was the stubborn streak that my father used to tell me I had that kept me here. I know, however, that it was my love for Hillsborough County, she wrote. Partially because of my core values and partially because I represent other women in breaking down barriers, I could not give up. Vicky Butera, who was Beans executive assistant and worked with her for three decades, described her former boss as a role model and people person who thought highly of everyone she worked with, regardless of their position with the county. She was probably one of the best people I ever worked for, she said. She was just a good, good person. She is survived by her sons Kevin and Clifton Gray; and sister-in-law Willette Taylor. The Legislature's Committee on Committees sent a preliminary report detailing which senators will serve on what working groups to the floor Thursday, less than 24 hours after it had reached an impasse. But in order to maintain a political majority on one committee expected to be at the center of some of the toughest legislative fights to come, Republican senators removed two Lincoln lawmakers from the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. Proposed committee assignments The Legislature's Committee on Committees advanced a preliminary report for its standing committees Thursday. The full Legislature will consider the slate on Friday. Assignments include: Agriculture: DeKay (chair), Hansen, Holdcroft, Ibach, Kauth, McKeon, Raybould, Storm. Appropriations: Clements (chair), Armendariz, M. Cavanaugh, Dorn, Dover, Lippincott, Prokop, Spivey. Banking, Commerce and Insurance: Jacobson (chair), Bostar, Dungan, Hallstrom, Hardin, Riepe, von Gillern, Wordekemper. Business and Labor: Kauth (chair), Hansen, Ibach, McKeon, McKinney, Raybould, Sorrentino. Education: Murman (chair), Conrad, Hughes, Hunt, Juarez, Lonowski, Meyer, Sanders. General Affairs: Holdcroft (chair), Anderson, J. Cavanaugh, Clouse, DeKay, Quick, Rountree, Storm. Government, Military and Veterans Affairs: Sanders (chair), J. Cavanaugh, Clouse, Guereca, Hunt, Lonowski, McKeon, Wordekemper. Health and Human Services: Hardin (chair), Ballard, Fredrickson, Hansen, Meyer, Quick, Riepe. Judiciary: Bosn (chair), DeBoer, Hallstrom, Holdcroft, McKinney, Rountree, Storer, Storm. Natural Resources: Brandt (chair), Andersen, Conrad, DeKay, Hughes, Juarez, Moser, Raybould. Revenue: von Gillern (chair), Bostar, Dungan, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Murman, Sorrentino. Transportation and Telecommunication: Moser (chair), Ballard, Bosn, Brandt, DeBoer, Fredrickson, Guereca, Storer. Urban Affairs: McKinney (chair), Andersen, J. Cavanaugh, Clouse, Quick, Rountree, Sorrentino. Rules: Lippincott (chair), Bostar, DeBoer, Hansen, Ibach, Arch (ex officio as speaker). Executive Board: Hansen (chair), Ibach (vice chair), Arch, Ballard, Bostar, Dorn, Fredrickson, Jacobson, McKinney, Clements (nonvoting). The preliminary report advanced on a 12-1 vote Thursday afternoon, after state senators from Nebraska's 1st Congressional District moved Sens. Danielle Conrad and Jane Raybould from the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and put them on the Natural Resources Committee. Conrad and Raybould, both registered Democrats in the officially nonpartisan unicameral system, served on the Government Committee in the 108th Legislature and were initially placed there once again, maintaining the committee's precedent to place senators based on incumbency, seniority and preference. Taking their seats are newcomers to the Government Committee: Sen. Dave Wordekemper of Fremont and Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, who are both Republicans. The changes resulted in a 5-3 Republican advantage on the Government Committee this year. The Government Committee is expected to hear a proposal to make Nebraska a winner-take-all state in the Electoral College, as well as for a bill banning transgender people from using certain public bathrooms or locker rooms. Other senators on the Government Committee include Chairwoman Rita Sanders of Bellevue, Omaha Sens. John Cavanaugh, Dunixi Guereca and Megan Hunt, Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings and Sen. Dan McKeon of Amherst. Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, one of three Republicans on the Committee on Committees representing Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, said the changes were necessary to make the Government Committee reflect the political makeup of the state. "The things that are critical are the committees people are on, their preferences, caucus balance and political party," Moser said Thursday. "Those are all worked in." Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, the lone Democrat serving on the Committee on Committees from the first caucus, cast the dissenting vote against advancing the committee roster to the floor for consideration by the full Legislature, explaining he preferred a previous change considered Wednesday. In that proposal, Guereca would have been moved to the Natural Resources Committee, while Sen. Bob Andersen of Bellevue would have become a member of the Government Committee a move supported by Sanders. The Committee on Committees voted down that proposal on a 6-7 vote, which would have produced an even split among Republicans and Democrats and might have stalled legislation, although it could have been brought to the floor for debate by a majority vote of the full Legislature. "Not everyone would love it, but it was acceptable," Bostar said of the proposal considered Wednesday. "Kicking folks off of Government from the first caucus becomes more problematic to me." But Moser said Thursday's result was in response to senators from the second caucus seating four Democrats on the Committee on Committees and two Democrats on the Executive Board, which resulted in Republicans not returning to those committees. At a meeting earlier this week, the second caucus, which has a slight Democratic majority, did not reelect Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn to the Committee on Committees or Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston to the Executive Board. Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte called the move "the first shot" in the fight to gain a political advantage as the 90-day session gets underway. Moser said the action by the second caucus "set off alarms for me," putting Democrats in a position to capitalize on the process for assigning certain senators to certain committees. "I don't think that's (in) the best interest of the Legislature or to the people of Nebraska to allow one party to dominate a committee," Moser added, "not by manipulating the rules, but kind of using the nuclear option." But Sen. John Cavanaugh, pointing to statements made on the floor of the Legislature last year, said Republican lawmakers have admitted to using their majority to pack committees, which creates an easier pathway for their bills to get to the floor. He later said the change was made to further a political goal of ending Nebraska's practice of splitting its Electoral College votes among its congressional districts. "They are upending this system in the interest of making it easier for them to silence my constituents," Cavanaugh said. Jacobson said the makeup of the committees if approved by the Legislature will reflect the political will of the state for the next two years. "There's a lot of talk about potential bills this year, but this is for the entire biennium," he said. "We don't know what bills are coming a year from now. I don't know why, on those key committees, we would not continue to have a Republican majority." After the Legislature adjourned Thursday, Conrad said she was honored to continue serving "no matter what petty scores are settled over personalities or partisanship." "I'm going to work hard all day every day in good faith with anybody at any time to deliver for working families and to protect and expand civil rights in the spirit and according to the letter of the law as enshrined by the people of Nebraska in our state constitution," she said. "Including in service to our beloved nonpartisan unicameral Legislature, which I took an oath to uphold." The Committee on Committees' report will be considered for approval by the full Legislature on Friday. Two years ago, a dispute over removing incumbent senators to maintain partisan majorities led the committee report to be filibustered on the floor for two legislative days. Friday marks Day 3 of the 90-day legislative session. A Taunton woman is facing up to 3 years in state prison for her involvement in a counterfeit coupon operation that nearly stole $27,000 in discounts. Jacqueline White, 42, pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of Larceny by False Pretense under a Single Scheme. According to investigators, White, and co-defendant Crystal Travis, had stolen approximately $26,547 from numerous Stop and Shops from March 10, 2023, through June 2, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those stores varied from Quincy, Weymouth, Raynham, Plainville, Whitman, Abington, Pembroke, Norwell, Hingham, North Dartmouth, New Bedford, Sandwich, Brockton, East Providence, R.I. and Pawtucket, R.I. White and Travis allegedly used social media sites and apps like Facebook and Dropbox to purchase counterfeit coupons and use those to buy products. Both suspects were charged after a lengthy investigation by the Hingham and Abington Police Departments. White is to be sentenced to 2-3 years in state prison and suspended for 3 years, while Travis was given a continuance without a finding in June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The fundraising for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump has beaten all records, gathering an unprecedented $170 million. Tech executives and big donors have donated massive sums of money to curry favor with the incoming president. The donations are usually spent on events surrounding the inauguration, such as the oath of office ceremony, a parade, and several inaugural balls. The fundraising sum was initially reported Wednesday by The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal Election Commission records reveal that President Joe Biden brought in $62 million for his inauguration four years ago. When Trump was inaugurated in 2016, the donations also set a record then as he collected more than $106 million. Following Trumps second election victory in November, Amazon and Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, revealed that they would each donate $1 million to the inauguration. Meanwhile, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, said he was planning on making a $1 million donation. Similarly, Google has also donated $1 million to the inaugural fund. Altman has been critical of Trump in the past but recently told Bloomberg: Hes the president of the United States. I support any president. Late last year, Trump indicated that he wouldnt rule out antitrust enforcement, a sensitive area for Google. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google is pleased to support the 2025 inauguration with a livestream on YouTube and a direct link on our homepage. Were also donating to the inaugural committee, the global head of government affairs and public policy, Karan Bhatia, told CNBC in a statement. A spokesperson noted that the company has donated to previous inaugurations and that the link on the homepage and the YouTube livestream are also similar measures to past inaugurations. U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. His inaugural committee has raised more than $170 million for his next inauguration (Getty Images) Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is also reported to have contributed to the inauguration. After an election victory, candidates typically appoint an inaugural committee, which then organizes and finances events, such as opening ceremonies, balls, and the parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no limits on how much an individual, company, or group can donate to the committee. Last month, Ford joined the tech companies donating to the inauguration, pledging $1 million and a fleet of vehicles backing the proceedings. Microsoft has also joined the other tech giants in donating $1 million to the inauguration, according to Forbes. Similarly, AI search startup Perplexity will also donate $1 million to the inaugural fund, and its also handing the administration a free version of its premium software to be a good partner to the incoming administration, chief business officer Dmitry Shevelenko told Bloomberg. The inaugural committee has to file a report with the Federal Election Commission outlining all of the donations by the 90th day following the inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inaugural committee is no longer selling tickets to major donors to attend the swearing-in ceremony and private events in the nations capital, according to The New York Times. Even some donors who have donated more than a million dollars have been put on waiting lists or have been told that they probably wont get VIP tickets as the events are already full, the paper reported. Donors are usually looking for seats at the inauguration or tickets to one of the inaugural balls. Inaugural events are important for lobbyists as they leverage donations from corporate sponsors and wealthy donors in a bid to boost their influence or improve their relationship with an incoming administration. Possible donors were told this week that no further seats were available for some events, and the donation link fundraisers were sharing with their networks no longer functioned by Tuesday and Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Events connected to the inauguration begin on January 17 with those who have given $1 million or raised $2 million supposed to get six tickets to six events, including the swearing-in ceremony and a candlelight dinner on January 19 with Trump and incoming First Lady Melania Trump. Those individuals also got two tickets to a dinner with Vice President-elect JD Vance and wife Usha Vance. Packages put forward to corporate and individual donors were initially advertised as being available until Friday, but they ended earlier because of higher-than-expected demand. The committee could ultimately raise more than $200 million. PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) Over $18,000,000 will now be used to install over 400 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports across Pennsylvania. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws signature zero-emission refueling infrastructure programs and was announced by the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Forty-nine projects, three in Pennsylvania, will see over 11,500 EV charging ports and refueling projects completed nationwide. $300K to expand opportunities for farmer-veterans in Pennsylvania Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pennsylvania, awarded projects include: City of Philadelphia: $11.1 million was awarded to install up to 200 electric vehicle charging ports across the Philadelphia region, including in rural and suburban counties. Allegheny County: $4.1 million was awarded to install 150 new electric vehicle charging ports, supporting 1.23 million people and visitors. City of Lancaster: $3.1 million was awarded to install 74 new electric vehicle charging stations at 11 public off-street parking locations and one on-street location. The Biden Administration has made historic investments to support the EV transition and make sure its made in America, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. These investments will help states and communities build out a network of EV chargers in the coming years so that one day, finding a charge on a road trip will be as easy as filling up at a gas station. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. The full list of grant recipients can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) President-elect Donald Trump has promised tariffs when he returns to the White House in less than two weeks, a policy decision in D.C. that could impact farmers in Pennsylvania. Fruit farming is the apple of Corey McCleafs eye. I just have a passion for it, I love it, he said. I love every aspect of it. A seed planted by his ancestors more than a century ago. Since 1888, five generations, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes learned that he cant control the weather and he cant control the President, but both can impact his business. Growers have heard Trumps talk of tariffs. Trump, GOP senators wrestle over strategy for president-elects agenda They are nervous, McCleaf said. The fruit industry is very nervous. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding says Trumps previous tariffs cost Pennsylvania growers millions. Why? Washington state sent tons of apples to India, which closed its markets to American growers in retaliation for U.S. tariffs. Washington redirected those apples to the East Coast, flooding markets here with fruit and undercutting Pennsylvania profit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It affects the prices because theres so many apples in here, McCleaf said. When the grocery store lowers the prices, our price obviously has to drop, so were not rewarded for what were doing in our orchards. The hard work that we put into it. The President-elect said he wants to do it and then he started walking some of that back, Governor Josh Shapiro said. You never know with this guy until he actually takes action. I think tariffs could be really devastating to our ag community. Im very worried about that. The protection of agriculture is not partisan. GOP U.S. Congressman Dan Meuser (R-9) insists Trumps policies around taxes and regulation will benefit farmers more than President Joe Bidens. Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters! One percent of America delivers for 100% of the population, Meuser said of the agriculture industry. So its an unbelievably important industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Precipitation and political headwinds are constantly changing, but McCleaf is confident farmers will handle it. In his family, they always have. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) signaled he is seriously considering challenging Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) for his post in 2026. Im considering it, Meuser told The Hill on Thursday. I mean if I get in its because I think I can win and that means beating the incumbent, which is Josh Shapiro. So its no easy task. But Im very serious about it, he continued. I just dont like his plan for Pennsylvania primarily because there is no plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania is just not where it should be, he said, citing a number of issues, including artificial intelligence investment in Pennsylvania and Shapiros response to President Bidens decision to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japans Nippon Steel. Meuser said he would not be making a decision for a while, but he indicated it could come by July. Ill be doing some work towards it, gaining support and again is all of the pieces come together, it is one of those big mountains to climb. All the pieces need to come together and if they do, and that leads me to think I can win, I think like July, he said. Taking on Shapiro in a head-to-head race would be an uphill feat for any Republican. Shapiro, who is considered a rising Democratic star, defeated his Republican opponent state Sen. Doug Mastriano in 2022 with 56 percent of the vote. While Mastrano was considered a weak general election candidate, Shapiro has continued to maintain his popularity within the state while building a national profile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Emerson College/The Hill survey released in July showed Shapiro with a 49 percent approval rating in the state, while a Franklin & Marshall poll released in April showed him with a 54 percent approval rating. Shapiro was a finalist in Vice President Harriss presidential veepstakes in 2024. Meuser has represented Pennsylvanias 9th Congressional District since 2019. He previously served as the states secretary of revenue from 2011-15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (WHTM) A Pennsylvania man was spared prison time after he pleaded guilty to election fraud. Philip C. Pulley, 62, of Huntington Valley, Montgomery County, was sentenced Thursday to three years probation, 100 hours of community service, and a fine of $9,500 for multiple election fraud violations. Fifty hours of community service must be dedicated to an entity that works towards the promotion of free and fair elections, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE > Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to election fraud in 2020, 2022 elections Pulley must also write a letter explaining why he committed the crimes. Free and fair elections are critical to the health of our democracy, and people who seek to corrupt the process can dangerously erode the publics trust, said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero. Protecting the integrity of the vote is a priority for my office and the FBI. We will continue to investigate and prosecute election fraud cases and bring offenders like Philip Pulley to justice. He was accused of registering to vote in both Montgomery County and in Broward County, Fla. in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, he added a third registration, in Philadelphia County, using a false address and social security number. He then voted in both Philadelphia County and Montgomery County in the 2022 general election. Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters! Safeguarding the right to participate in free and fair elections is a cornerstone of our democracy and a top priority for the FBI and our partners, said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. Working closely with our partners, we are committed to investigating and holding accountable anyone who undermines the integrity of our electoral process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) Pensacola police now have a new device in their first aid kit. UPDATE: Woman reported missing in 2021 found inside of car in Chickasaw waters The department received a donation of 85 LifeVac devices, a suction device used to help clear an airway of someone whos choking. For us to be able to have something else in our kit to be able to potentially save a life, I think is just remarkable, PPD Chief Eric Randall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The device is meant to be used when the Heimlich maneuver either doesnt work, or cant be done. Baldwin County sets Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations The Heimlich will work about 70% of the time so theres always that gap. But per the Red Cross, theres also instances it cant be done. The persons too big, theyre in a wheelchair, theyre in a bed, so we preach that you do protocol, you follow Red Cross guidelines and then if it doesnt work or it cant be done you have a backup to safe a life, Arthur Lih the CEO & inventor of LifeVac said. The device is easy to use, all you have to do is place, push and pull. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you hear that pop, thats what pulls the object out and saves a life, Lih said. Thursdays donation worth $6,000 was made possible thanks to the LifeVac inventor, Arthur Lih, and the nonprofit organizations Motorcycle Riding Events of America, Pensacola Bay Defenders Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and their sponsors. The organizations have helped get the device to multiple law enforcement agencies, schools and assisted living facilities across Northwest Florida. Mobile man accused of throwing Molotov cocktail at local home: MFRD According to Lih, LifeVac has helped save over 3,000 lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. By Liz Lee BEIJING (Reuters) - A group of people clashed with police in China's northwestern Shaanxi province in a rare protest outside a vocational school where a student died earlier in the month, according to videos on social media. Reuters verified from several videos on social media platform X that the clash took place at the new campus of Pucheng County Vocational Education Center. The date of the incident could not be ascertained from the videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the videos showed dozens of police officers in riot gear retreating from an angry crowd that was flinging rods and other objects at them. In another clip, a few police officers rushed to grab a woman while another policeman a few metres away repeatedly hit a man with his baton when the man approached him. The public security bureau in Weinan, the city governing Pucheng county, did not immediately respond to a request to confirm the details in the videos. Pucheng authorities in a Jan. 5 statement said a student surnamed Dang died at the campus of Pucheng County Vocational Education Center after falling from a building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A joint investigation team put together for the case ruled out any crime, and informed the student's family of their conclusion. Dang was found dead by another student at 3 a.m. on Jan. 2, according to the investigation team's statement. Dang was in an altercation with another student late the night before, the statement said. The public security authorities had conducted on-site investigations, reviewed surveillance footage, conducted interviews, and performed an external examination on the body, the investigation team said. New-York based Human Rights In China said the protest was due to the death of the 17-year-old student, according to its post on X on Jan. 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the family of the deceased student was prohibited from checking their child's corpse for any traumatic injuries, and were told the school's surveillance system was damaged after demanding to see security footage. The family claimed photos from the student's mobile phone had also been deleted. "These actions triggered public speculation that the school was trying to cover up the truth," the group said. Weinan's public security bureau did not immediately respond to a request to confirm whether the protest was related to the details mentioned by Human Rights In China. Reuters could not reach the Weinan police nor the vocational school for comment. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Best Friends Animal Society is transferring pets from the Los Angeles area to Salt Lake City amidst the ongoing wildfires that have led to several deaths and mass evacuations. The Salt Lake City Best Friends center is set to receive 60 cats and 14 dogs from its sanctuary in Kanab on Friday, Jan. 10. The nonprofit said many of these animals are being transferred from the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center and another local shelter in Los Angeles to make room for pets seeking shelter from the fires. Best Friends Animal Society transfers animals from Los Angeles shelters to Utah to escape the devastating wildfires. (Credit: Best Friends Animal Society) Best Friends Animal Society transfers animals from Los Angeles shelters to Utah to escape the devastating wildfires. (Credit: Best Friends Animal Society) Best Friends Animal Society transfers animals from Los Angeles shelters to Utah to escape the devastating wildfires. (Credit: Best Friends Animal Society) Best Friends Animal Society transfers animals from Los Angeles shelters to Utah to escape the devastating wildfires. (Credit: Best Friends Animal Society) On Wednesday, 17 pets were transferred to the Kanab sanctuary from Pasadena Humane, a shelter in Los Angeles County, to make space for the sudden influx of pets in need of shelter. Best Friends said families evacuating the area have turned to Pasadena Humane to board their pets during this crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Best Friends taking in these pets creates more space for Pasadena-area residents to keep their pets safe, the nonprofit said. The Los Angeles Best Friends center has not yet been ordered to evacuate but is prepared to do so if necessary. The organization said it is operating with a small skeletal staff and is closed to the public. While the animals will be safe from the wildfires here in Utah, the nonprofit is asking Utahns to help bear the load by fostering or adopting one of these pets. Utahns can also support the shelter by purchasing pet supplies on the nonprofits Amazon Wishlist or donating to the emergency response fund. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. (KRON) Destructive wildfires fueled by ferocious Santa Ana winds in the Los Angeles area have killed five victims, torn through communities between the Pacific Coast and Pasadena, destroyed thousands of homes, and caused over 180,000 people to evacuate. The two biggest fires are the Palisades Fire, which is burning out of control in Pacific Palisades and along Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu, and the Eaton Fire, where neighborhoods near Pasadena were reduced to ashes. Residents in Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills were also forced to flee from their homes due to the Sunset Fire. Photographers with Getty Images captured heartbreaking images of destruction around Los Angeles this week. A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area on January 8, 2025. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) A resident attempts to protect his property from the flames closing in on homes threatened by the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) Homes are destroyed and a helicopter drops water as the Palisades Fire grows on January 7, 2025. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) The Palisades Fire burns near homes amid a powerful windstorm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu from the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) On Jan. 7, 2025, extreme winds blow flames and embers past a firetruck. (Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Beachfront homes are devastated by the Palisades fire on PCH on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Malibu. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Beachfront homes are devastated by the Palisades fire on PCH on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Malibu. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) The sun sets over the Pacific ocean, blocked by smoke from the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images) A car and home burn during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area on January 8, 2025. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) ALTADENA, CA, JANUARY 9, 2025: Altadena Community Church burned down by the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Thursday, January 9, 2025. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Larson surveys the ruins of his business, the Rancho Bar, destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 9, 2025. He also lost his nearby home in the fire. (Photo by ZOE MEYERS/AFP via Getty Images) A person uses a garden hose in an effort to save a neighboring home from catching fire during the Eaton Fire on January 8, 2025 in Altadena. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) A palm tree burns during the Palisades Fire. (Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Jose Reyes inspects a jewelry box he found while digging through the remains of his familys home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 09, 2025 in Altadena. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Reyes inspects a jewelry box he found while digging through the remains of his familys home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 09, 2025 in Altadena. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The moon rises as the Palisades Fire smoke drifts over the mountains in Topanga, California, January 9, 2025. Wildfires threatened to engulf parts of Hollywood on January 9 as a growing number of blazes raged across Los Angeles, forcing over 100,000 people to flee their homes and claiming at least five lives. (Photo by David Swanson / AFP) (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) Firefighters battle flames during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images) The Getty Villa art museum is threatened by the flames of the wind-driven Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A playground burns in a residential neighborhood during the Eaton fire in Pasadena on January 7, 2025. A ferocious wildfire devoured homes and sparked panicked evacuations as hurricane-force winds tore through. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) The fast-moving wildfires ignited on Tuesday. Flames were fanned by ruthless winds gusting more than 70 mph. The Palisades Fire scorched 17,234 acres while the Eaton Fire ripped through 10,600 acres, according to Cal Fire. As of Thursday afternoon, the fires were still raging with zero percent containment. Five people have been confirmed to have died as a result of the fires. The official death toll is expected to rise. Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said during a news conference Thursday, The Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. DENVER (KDVR) Loveland firefighters zipped up their ice rescue suits and carefully crossed a frozen pond to save a horse that had fallen through. Late Thursday afternoon, firefighters with Loveland Fire Rescue Authority were called to a pond on South Country Road 13 for a large animal rescue. In a Facebook post, the fire department said a horse managed to get through a fence and wandered onto the frozen pond. However, the horses weight was too much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The large animal fell into the icy waters in the middle of the pond and was unable to get itself to shore. Owners overjoyed after fire crews rescue dog who fell into icy pond Firefighters, equipped with ice rescue suits, broke a path in the ice using axes and sledgehammers. The department said the firefighters were able to get the horse out of the water and help walk it safely to shore. Loveland Fire Rescue Authority rescued a horse that fell through a frozen pond. (Loveland Fire Rescue Authority) Loveland Fire Rescue Authority rescued a horse that fell through a frozen pond. (Loveland Fire Rescue Authority) Loveland Fire Rescue Authority rescued a horse that fell through a frozen pond. (Loveland Fire Rescue Authority) Loveland Fire Rescue Authority rescued a horse that fell through a frozen pond. (Loveland Fire Rescue Authority) Loveland Fire Rescue Authority said the horse was warming up and recovering as crews packed up to return to service. The fire department also credited the Berthoud Fire Protection District, Larimer County Sheriffs Office, Thompson Valley EMS and the city of Loveland for their assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire officials remind animal owners to never try and go after a four-legged friend that has fallen through the ice. If the weight of the ice couldnt hold them, it most likely wont hold you. Instead, call 911 immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. PROSPECT, Conn. (WTNH) A person was extricated from a car after crashing into a pole in Prospect early Friday morning, state police said. At around 1:52 a.m., Troop I responded to the area of Waterbury Road for a car colliding with a pole, state police said. Courtesy of Prospect FD Courtesy of Prospect FD Courtesy of Prospect FD Courtesy of Prospect FD A person was extricated and taken to an area hospital for minor injuries, state police said. Additional information is not yet known. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of intoxicants after a truck crashed through an AT&T store in Warrenton Thursday morning, injuring one person. Warrenton resident Robert Edward Stump, 47, was charged with DUII, reckless driving, criminal mischief, recklessly endangering and assault, the Warrenton Police Department confirmed to KOIN 6 News. OR nurses, doctors speak ahead of planned strike Oregon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person who was injured was transported to the Columbia Memorial Hospital where they were treated and then released, the Warrenton Chief of Police Matthew Workman told KOIN 6 via email. Workman added the store is not safe and remains closed to the public until repairs can be completed. A truck crashed through an AT&T store in Warrenton. January 9, 2025 (courtesy Quinn Haase). A truck crashed through an AT&T store in Warrenton. January 9, 2025 (courtesy Quinn Haase). KOIN 6 spoke with a customer who was inside the store when the crash happened and took photos of the aftermath. The photos show a black pickup truck in the middle of an AT&T sales floor with a broken glass wall framing the street behind it. Astoria resident Quinn Haase, 41, was inside the store looking to upgrade work phones through AT&T as part of his duties as the Executive Director of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of the corner of my eye, I could see something big coming. I barely had time to react, Haase said, adding he doesnt know if he would have made it had he been standing just a few feet forward. I happened to be a little bit further back already, I was able to step back and avoid any kind of injury or collision at all, Haase said. Multnomah County announces location for sobering center Haase said it was an employee helping him who got injured when the crash happened after 11 a.m. The employee I was working with, you could tell there was some injury, he complained that his leg was hurting. And he was on the ground. He popped up and then sort of hobbled over and we kind of all moved to the back of the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Haase and another employee who was not injured then called 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. (WSPA) 7NEWS is celebrating this snow day with photos around the Upstate shared by viewers. To submit your photo, visit the 7NEWS Facebook page for instructions. See all photos below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Pilot pleads guilty to flying from Mexico to Oklahoma with gun in plane OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Thursday, a 31-year-old pilot from Oklahoma City pleaded guilty to unlawfully entering the U.S. in plane while transporting a firearm under a previous criminal indictment. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Aiman Sobhy Elkhatib was charged on June 17, 2024, with transportation of a firearm while under indictment and knowingly bringing migrants into the country. Aiman Sobhy Elkhatib. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Court records show agents with Homeland Security Investigations received information that an aircraft had unlawfully entered the U.S. from Mexico and failed to stop for a customs inspection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agents then found the plane occupied by Elkhatib and another unnamed person at Sundance Airport in Yukon, and seized a gun they found in the plane during a search. At the time of the incident, Elkhatib was under a criminal indictment in Oklahoma County where he previously pleaded guilty to larceny of an automobile, second degree burglary, and possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony. On Thursday, Elkhatib pleaded guilty to flying from Mexico through Texas to Oklahoma while knowingly carrying a firearm in the plane. Elkhatib faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 at his sentencing hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Pittsburgh Police say people in the area are receiving calls from their stations but say their officers are not the ones dialing them. Officers issued an alert about a possible spoofing scam being reported around the area. A spoofing scam is when a call appears to be from one location and is actually from another. In this particular case, calls are coming from the Pittsburgh Police Zone 2 station. Pittsburgh Police remind the public that their officers will always leave a message if there is a true emergency. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Edgar Maddison Welch, the North Carolina man known for becoming the face of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, was killed by two Kannapolis, N.C., police officers after he pulled a gun on them at a traffic stop on Jan. 4, officials said on Thursday, Jan. 9. Around 10:00 p.m., a Kannapolis police officer spotted a gray 2001 GMC Yukon, which he knew was associated with a previously arrested individual, according to a press release from Kannapolis Chief of Police Terry L. Spry. Once the officer stopped the car, they recognized the front seat passenger as Welch, a person with an outstanding warrant for a felony probation violation. As the officer and driver spoke, two additional Kannapolis officers arrived at the traffic stop to assist, per the press release. The officer who initiated the traffic stop approached the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the front passengers door to arrest the individual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Man Opens Fire in D.C. Restaurant While Looking Into Fake News Story About Hillary Clinton: Cops As the officer opened the door, Welch pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it toward the officer. That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for the passenger to drop the gun. After the passenger failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him, police said. Authorities called for medical assistance, and Welch was transported to AtriumCabarrus for treatment. He was later transferred to AtriumCharlotte for additional care, where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday, Jan. 6. The three officers, the Yukon driver and backseat passenger were not injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident. The officers were put on administrative leave, per standard protocol. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Getty Stock image of police car with bright sirens and the city in the background Stock image of police car with bright sirens and the city in the background Related: Pizzagate Gunman Admits He Found Nothing but Won't Dismiss Conspiracy That Inspired Him Welch was associated with the conspiracy theory that suggested children were being trafficked out of Comet Ping Pong. He watched YouTube videos that theorized Hillary Clinton was involved in a satanic pedophile ring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2016, Welch drove from his hometown of Salisbury, N.C., to the pizza parlor and entered openly carrying an AR-15-style rifle and a revolver, which led terrified customers and employees to flee the eatery. Once inside, he found a locked room and attempted to force the door open. He then fired his rifle multiple times into the door, per The Washington Post. Welch remained in the eatery for 20 minutes and then dropped his gun and left unarmed. No one was hurt. Welch later told The New York Times he did "regret how I handled the situation" but did not completely dismiss the theories. Welch pleaded guilty to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and a D.C. charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. He received a sentence of four years in prison; he was released in May 2020. His posttrial supervision was set to end in 2023. Read the original article on People The man who in 2016 showed up to a popular pizza restaurant with a gun, claiming there were children being trafficked in the basement, died in an officer-involved shooting on Thursday outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to authorities. PHOTO: Comet Ping Pong to reopen after gunman incident (The Washington Post via Getty Im) Edgar Maddison Welch was armed when he tried to take action against "Pizzagate," a conspiracy theory that spread during the election cycle of 2016. It falsely claimed that the New York City Police Department had discovered a child sex trafficking ring in the basement of Comet Ping Pong Pizza in Washington, D.C. The conspiracy theory falsely claimed that the criminal ring was run by operatives from within the Democrat Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welch fired three shots at the restaurant in an effort to "self investigate" the ring, which didn't exist. He was sentenced to four years in prison. MORE: 'Pizzagate' gunman recorded 'goodbye' video message to his family Welch was also allegedly armed when he encountered police officers during a traffic stop on Jan. 4, according to a statement from the chief of the Kannapolis Police Department. An officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle after observing that it belonged to Welch, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, the statement said. MORE: 'Pizzagate' shooter sentenced to 4 years in prison, judge describes 'breathtaking' recklessness Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A vehicle stop was made by the officer and during his interaction with the driver, the officer recognized the front seat passenger as the person with the outstanding warrant for arrest," according to the KPD. "The officer who initiated the traffic stop approached the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the front passenger's door to arrest the individual," according to Kannapolis Chief of Police Terry Spry. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that Welch was armed. Officers called for him to drop his gun, but he "failed to comply," according to the statement. "When he opened the door, the front seat passenger pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer," he said in the statement, referring to Welch by his position within the vehicle. PHOTO: In this Dec. 4, 2016 file photo, Edgar Maddison Welch, of Salisbury, N.C., surrenders to police in Washington. (Sathi Soma/AP, FILE) "That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for the passenger to drop the gun," Spry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His statement continued: "After the passenger failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him." MORE: New Details Emerge in 'Pizzagate' Shooting as Suspect Faces Federal Charges Welch died two days later at a nearby hospital, Spry said. The incident is being investigated by an outside police agency to determine if there was any wrongdoing. ABC News' Rick Klein contributed to this report. 'Pizzagate' gunman dies refusing to disarm: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The man who fired his rifle into a pizza shop in Washington, D.C. in 2016 was fatally shot by North Carolina police over the weekend. He allegedly pulled a gun on officers during a traffic stop, according to a statement. Edgar Maddison Welch walked into family-friendly Comet Ping Pong with a AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in 2016, believing the Pizzagate conspiracy theories claiming the restaurant was a hub for child sex trafficking. As customers and employees fled the scene, Welch entered the kitchen and shot open a locked door, which contained cooking supplies. He opened another door and found an employee bringing in pizza dough. After Welch did not find any captive children, he dropped his guns, walked out of the shop unarmed, and was arrested. He pleaded guilty to assault and a weapons charge in 2017 and received a four-year prison sentence. On Jan. 4, police in Kannapolis, North Carolina said they stopped a GMC Yukon after determining that the passenger was Welch, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for a felony probation violation, according to a release by Chief of Police Terry L. Spry. After the officer who made the traffic stop opened the front passengers door to arrest Welch, he allegedly pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the officers direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for the passenger to drop the gun, Spry stated. The chief said that when Welch failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him. Welch was hospitalized and died from his injuries on Jan. 6, per the statement. The officers who fired their weapons during the incident were identified as Brooks Jones and Caleb Tate. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting and officers, who are on administrative leave. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The "pizzagate" gunman who fired his rifle in a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant in 2016, acting on a debunked conspiracy theory, has died after police shot him in a traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch was shot by police over the weekend and died from his injuries Monday, authorities in North Carolina said Thursday. Almost 10 years ago, Welch made national headlines when he traveled to the nation's capital from North Carolina and fired shots in the Comet Ping Pong restaurant, spurred by a conspiracy theory that had spread online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said at the time that Welch was trying to investigate an internet conspiracy theory about the pizza restaurant's being home to a child sex-trafficking ring connected to prominent Democratic politicians, a false claim that became known as "pizzagate." Welch, who was 28 when the incident occurred, ended up surrendering to police after he did not find evidence to support the conspiracy theory, according to court documents at the time. Welch was sentenced in 2017 to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to weapons charges. He had carried an AR-15 rifle and a revolver into the restaurant, according to investigators. No one was injured by the gunfire. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sentenced Welch when she was a federal judge, saying at the time that his actions "literally left psychological wreckage," according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police Chief Terry L. Spry of Kannapolis, North Carolina, near Charlotte, said in a news release Thursday that police shot Welch on Saturday during a traffic stop and that a police officer "recognized the front seat passenger as the person with the outstanding warrant for arrest." Welch had an outstanding arrest warrant for violating probation, according to the police department. When an officer opened the passenger door to arrest Welch, Spry said, Welch "pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer" and did not put the gun down when officers ordered him to. "After the passenger failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him," Spry said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com KANNAPOLIS, N.C. A man who fired a gun inside a restaurant in the nations capital after a fake online conspiracy theory called Pizzagate motivated him to do so nearly a decade ago was shot and killed by North Carolina police during a weekend traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers in Kannapolis on Saturday night, according to a Kannapolis Police Department news release. One of the officers recognized the car as the vehicle of Welch, someone he had arrested and who had an outstanding warrant for a felony probation violation, police said. When the officers approached the vehicle to arrest Welch, police said the man pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one of the officers. After he was instructed to drop the weapon but didnt, two officers shot Welch, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency responders took Welch to the hospital and he died from his injuries two days later, according to the release. None of the officers, nor the driver and another passenger, were injured. In 2016, authorities said, Welch drove from North Carolina with an assault rifle to Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington after believing an unfounded conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the pizzeria. The fake theory, dubbed Pizzagate, began circulating online during the 2016 presidential election. He entered the restaurant armed, and as customers fled the scene, Welch shot at a locked closet inside. After realizing there were no children held captive in the pizzeria, Welch peacefully surrendered. No one was injured. At the time, Comet Ping Pongs owner, James Alefantis, said the conspiracy theory and subsequent violence from it traumatized him and his staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welch later pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon in 2017. His judge, now Supreme Court Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson, subsequently sentenced him to four years in prison. City of Kannapolis communications director Annette Privette Keller confirmed the man who died was the same one involved in the Pizzagate incident. The shooting death of Welch, a resident of Salisbury, is under review by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the officers who fired at him are on administrative leave, per the departments protocol. Police shot and killed a man who drew national headlines in 2016 for storming a Washington, D.C., pizzeria armed with several gunspart of an ill-fated attempt to prove an outlandish conspiracy theory involving Hilary Clinton. Edgar Maddison Welch was shot and killed by police in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on Saturday night during a traffic stop, the citys police department confirmed in a release sent to the Daily Beast. Over eight years ago, Welch stormed into Comet Ping Pong carrying an AR-15 and a .38 caliber revolver, hoping to uncover a nonexistent pedophilia ring linked to Clinton. At the time, the conspiracy was popular in right-wing circles, concocted by QAnon, the sprawling extremist internet theory that Democrats operated a global sex trafficking ring and conspired against Donald Trump to cover up their tracks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welch ultimately fired one shot while inside the restaurant, though no one was injured as a result. Welch later told The New York Times: I just wanted to do some good and went about it the wrong way I regret how I handled the situation. He pled guilty to charges of interstate transport of a weapon and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon in 2017. He was sentenced by future Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, then a district judge in D.C., to four years in prison. He was released from prison to a halfway house in 2020, the Washington Post reported. Saturdays incident began around 10 p.m. when officers pulled over an SUV with an outstanding warrant for a felony probation violation, Kannapolis police reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welch was sitting in the passenger seat of the SUV, but was quickly identified by police as the subject of the warrants. Two additional officers arrived at the scene for backup, police said. When one officer opened the passenger-side door to arrest Welch, he pulled out a handgun, police said. The officers at the scene repeatedly told Welch to drop the gun, but he allegedly refused. Two of the three officers opened fire, striking him several times. Welch was transported to Atrium-Cabarrus hospital for treatment, and later transferred to Atrium-Charlotte, where he died from his injuries. The SUVs driver was uninjured in the shooting, police said. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is currently conducting a standard investigation into the shooting. A North Carolina man who fired an assault rifle in a Washington, D.C., pizzeria in 2016 while acting on an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory, died Monday after being shot by police during a traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch, 36, was shot by police during a traffic stop over the weekend and died two days later, the Kannapolis Police Department said in a Thursday press release. In 2016, Welch traveled from North Carolina to D.C. and fired a shot inside the Comet Ping Pong restaurant. He claimed, at the time, to be investigating the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton and her campaign chair, John Podesta, were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of the restaurant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welch was sentenced to four years in prison. The theory became known as Pizzagate, which circulated among far-right conspiracy theory websites and social media accounts. Police in Kannapolis, near Charlotte, said Thursday that they pulled over a gray 2001 GMC Yukon associated with Welch due to his outstanding warrant for parole violation. Welch aimed a gun at officers during the stop, according to police. Police fired at Welch after he failed to comply with their repeated requests to put the gun down, according to the release. The shooting is under review by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, and the officers involved are on administrative leave, in accordance with department protocol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Fishing regulators on Friday scrapped a plan for stricter fishing rules amid concerns about a decline in baby lobsters in the warming waters off New England. The regulators were looking to institute a new rule that fishermen need to abide by a larger minimum size for the lobsters they trap. The change is only 1/16th of an inch or 1.6 millimeters, but regulators have said it will help preserve the population of the valuable crustaceans, as many small lobsters will need to be tossed back to the ocean. Some fishermen have argued the change is unnecessary and will be disruptive to one of the countrys most lucrative seafood industries when it is already stressed by warming waters, surging expenses and new rules to protect whales. Theyve argued for the new rules to be delayed or tossed out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick Keliher, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, said in a statement Friday that the plan was pulled Thursday night after hearing loud and clear from Maine lobster industry members that they are unified in their opposition to it. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has said the minimum size must be changed because of a recent decline of more than 35% of the young lobster stock in the Gulf of Maine, a key fishing ground. Last fall, the the commission voted to push back the implementation of the change from Jan. 1 to July 1, 2025. Keliher, who also is is chair of the Atlantic States lobster board, said the regulation was required to ensure that Maine remains compliant with its Interstate Fishesries Management Plan for Lobster. He said he must now go back to the board and work its policy board on a plan to ensure compliance. That plan will require input from industry to ensure that we are proposing measures that achieve conservation benefits that are equivalent to those intended by this regulation, Keliher said in his statement. The size change had applied to the Gulf of Maine, where commission officials have said the stock declined by 39% when comparing 2020-22 to 2016-18. Scientists have cited the warming of the Gulf of Maine as a potential stressor for lobsters. WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland has identified a Russian group tasked with influencing Polish elections through disinformation and stoking instability, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said on Friday. Poland will hold a presidential election in mid-May and authorities fear that Russian intelligence services may try to influence them in reprisal for Poland's involvement in helping neighbouring Ukraine. Warsaw says its role as a hub for supplies to Ukraine has made it a target for spies working for Russia and its ally Belarus, as well as for acts of sabotage. Minsk and Moscow have dismissed accusations that they are behind acts of sabotage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, fellow NATO and European Union member Romania annulled a presidential election after accusations of Russian meddling, which Moscow denied. "In recent days, a Russian group has been identified, another one that was inspired and prepared by the Russian military intelligence GRU, whose goal is to influence the Polish elections," Gawkowski, who is also Minister of Digital Affairs, said on the private television TVN24. The Russian embassy in Warsaw, contacted by Reuters, said it had no information on the matter. Gawkowski did not give any other details about the alleged group, saying only that it was "spreading disinformation, false information" and "recruiting people who ... would destroy the coherence of the political scene in Poland". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Not only the Polish political scene, but also the Polish elections," he added. Though it is a Russian group, Gawkowski said, "it can recruit various people". "We have very efficient services... that deal with the protection of the Republic of Poland. They have knowledge, and we identify these as actions that are intended to influence Polish elections," Gawkowski said. "Russia is waging cyberwar on Poland. We are the most attacked country in the European Union, and the elections are to be a test of whether Polish democracy will survive." (Reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz, additional reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by William Maclean and Gareth Jones) Atlanta police are investigating what led up to the shooting of a 9-year-old girl in Southwest Atlanta Thursday night. Police said they had made a traffic stop in the area of Myrtle Drive when they started hearing gunfire. When officers went to investigate, they found the girl with a gunshot to her leg. TRENDING STORIES: They said that when they got to where they believed the shooting scene was, a number of people took off running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said they detained four people who are being questioned about the shooting. The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. At this point, no one has been arrested in the shooting. Police say that the death of a woman in rural Blue Earth County on Thursday evening is being investigated as suspicious. A 911 call sent Blue Earth County deputies to a home on 515th Avenue just north of Hwy. 60 in rural Lake Crystal at around 7:15 p.m., with the caller reporting finding his friend unresponsive in the home. The woman was confirmed dead at the scene. "The circumstances surrounding the death are suspicious and the investigation continues with assistance from the MN BCA and Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office," the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No details as to the manner of the woman's death have been released, but police say there's no threat to the wider public. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. Police in Aberdeen, Scotland are searching for two women who disappeared from a well-known hiking spot, the Scotland Police reported in a statement. The two women, 32-year-old sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen in the early morning hours of Jan. 7. They were captured on CCTV around 2:25 a.m. walking across Market Street at Victoria Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the sisters turned right onto a footpath near the River Dee heading, which leads to Aberdeens Boat Club. Both women are of slim build, caucasian, with long brown hair. Extensive inquiries are ongoing to trace Eliza and Henrietta and searches are being carried out in and around the area where they were last seen, Chief Inspector Darren Bruce informed. Specialized rescue advisors as well as police search dogs and a marine unit are assisting local authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Torry side of Victoria Bridge where they were last seen has many commercial and industrial units, Bruce explained. Searches are ongoing here and we would urge businesses in and around the area to please review their CCTV footage for early morning on Tuesday, and contact us if it holds anything that may be relevant to our investigation. We also ask anyone with dashcam footage from that time to contact us. Bruce added that he was continuing to speak to people who know Eliza and Henrietta. Anyone who has seen the two women since Tuesday or might have any knowledge of their disappearance or whereabouts is urged to contact 101, Scotlands emergency line. Refer to incident No. 0735 of Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Police are investigating a robbery at a bank in Bloomfield on Friday. Officers responded to the Chase Bank in the Copaco Shopping Plaza around 11:30 a.m. on the report of a robbery and were told a man armed with a handgun had robbed the bank, according to the Bloomfield Police Department. The robber was described as a male wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and a nylon mask. Police said he made off with about $1,000 and fled into a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that was being driven by a second individual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truck was last seen heading west on Cottage Grove Road. Police are still investigating and are asking anyone with information to contact the Bloomfield Police Departments Detective Unit at 860-242-5501. MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) While the Mahomet community is still trying to make sense of what happened the night that Janis, Sara and Caleb Mason were killed, investigations by the Mahomet and Berwyn Police Departments reveal more details on that night. WCIA obtained documents from Mahomet and Berwyn Police investigations through a Freedom of Information Act request. The documents revealed that another person was living in the Mason home at the time, someone who survived the triple homicide. The witness was friends with Sara Mason and had been living in the home since August of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY: Mahomet community remembers the Masons following triple homicide Interviews with the witness, as well as other evidence collected by police, allowed the investigators to put together a timeline of events from Dec. 18 and 19. Mahomet Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m. According to police reports, the friend living in the home first spoke to John Lyons, the man suspected of killing the Masons, around 6:33 p.m. on Dec. 18. Reports show Lyons first identified himself as Jack, which is not his real name. Lyons told the witness that he was looking for Caleb, saying that they were roommates in college. When the witness told Lyons that Caleb was not home, he left. But police reports show that he didnt stay away. 9 p.m. In the police reports, officers said the friend told them Lyons returned to the home and spoke to Janis around 9:08 p.m. Lyons asked to speak with Caleb once again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After this encounter, Janis told the friend that Lyons was lying about his name, and that Caleb and Lyons lived together in college. She also said they were involved in a lawsuit. Another friend of Saras told police that she dropped Sara off at home between 8:50 and 9 p.m. The friend told Mahomet Police that when they arrived, there was a man in a motorcycle helmet outside. The friend overheard Sara tell the man, He isnt home, hes at work, and the man left. The friend told police that after she dropped Sara off at home, she passed him when she left the area. This occurred around 9:30 p.m., according to text messages sent from Sara and her friends. 9:45 p.m. Just before 9:45 p.m., METCAD received two different 911 calls, reporting a shooting at the Masons home. One call came from the friend inside the home; the other came from Caleb Mason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The friend later told police that he was in the basement playing video games when he heard what sounded like gunshots. He went upstairs and found Sara lying in the doorway to the garage with the door open, Caleb sitting in the car with someone on the phone and Janis lying in the driveway. Once police arrived, they tried to save the Masons lives. Sara died at the home, while Caleb and Janis died at the hospital just after 10 p.m. Its going to take a lot of time: Mahomet community mourns shooting victims, searches for answers Berwyn Dec. 18, 11:30 p.m. At 11:38 p.m., Berwyn Police said they got a call about a man with a gun near a Cook County residents home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berwyn officers responded and found a backpack with ammunition, a crossbow pistol, liquid accelerants and personal identification documents, which later identifed Lyons as the person of interest. Berwyn Police said they later learned that Lyons entered a nearby home, and shot and killed two dogs, terriers Missy and Bear. He then ran once again and made his way to a nearby backyard. A responding officer spotted Lyons and alerted other members of the Berwyn Police. Lyons shot his gun towards an officer, and a bullet hit a police squad car window. Multiple police officers then fired their weapons at Lyons. According to Berwyn Police, Lyons was shot in the head. Police gave him first aid and he was transported to Loyola Hospital. He was pronounced deceased shortly after he arrived. Dec. 19, 12 a.m. Later in the night, a Berwyn Police Unit Commander arrived at MacNeal Hospital. At 12:02 a.m., the officers involved in the shooting had their guns recovered as a part of the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berwyn Police were told that the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit was handling the investigation, and they would take the officers weapons. 8 a.m. At around 8:25 a.m., police notified John Lyons parents that their son had died. The parents told police that back in 2022, their son was beaten up by a college roommate. They said he was becoming depressed and distant. He also recently quit his job and moved back in with them. On the night of Dec. 18, the parents reported that they were out at a party and suspected something was not right with John. Lyons told them he would be home soon, but their last contact with him was at 11:25 p.m. on Dec. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said that somehow, Lyons parents knew their son was traveling back from Central Illinois, and that he was not being truthful. They reported him missing to the Westchester Police Department. They also told Berwyn Police that they were unaware Lyons had access to guns, but they knew he had purchased a small pistol-style crossbow. They were also not aware of any connection that Lyons might have to Berwyn, or any residents of Berwyn. Far-right commentator Fuentes claims Mahomet homicide suspect attempted assassination against him Where does the case stand now? After about three weeks, Mahomet, Berwyn and State Police are still investigating. Michael Metzler, Mahomets Police Chief, said investigators are continuing to comb through cell phone and email records to tie up loose ends in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nick Fuentes, a far-right political commentator, claimed that Lyons also targeted him the night of Dec. 18. Berwyn police records indicate that Ring security video shows a person approaching Fuentes front door around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 18. The person appeared to be armed with a black handgun and a black pistol-style crossbow. The video ends with the subject remaining at the front door. The Ring videos, and Fuentes X posts regarding this incident, were saved into evidence. At this time, there is no further information regarding the connection between John Lyons and Nick Fuentes. Metzler told WCIA that investigative timelines vary from case to case. Because this case involves multiple jurisdictions as well as an officer-involved shooting, it may take longer to complete. However, he expects to wrap the case up by the end of January. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Law enforcement officials in Prince William County said a man was shot and killed on Thursday night in Manassas. The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said that around 6:20 p.m., officers responded to the 8300 block of Sunset Dr. to investigate a shooting When officers arrived, they didnt find anyone injured or at the scene. Police were then told that a 22-year-old man had been shot and was being treated at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Huger skips Real Housewives of Potomac reunion following DUI conviction; report says in recovery program PWCPD determined that two groups were involved in an argument that escalated and ended up with gunfire being exchanged before the groups left the area. The man who was shot was taken to the hospital where he later died. He was identified as 22-year-old Calvin Tyshaun Odell Batson, of Woodbridge. There were no additional injuries or property damage. Police said the incident doesnt seem to be random. PWCPD is still working to determine what led to the shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police at 703-792-6500 or submit a tip online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Police in Scotland are continuing to search for two sisters after they were last seen walking near a river three days ago. On Thursday, Jan. 9, Police Scotland issued an appeal to trace 32-year-old siblings Eliza and Henrietta Huszti after they were last seen on CCTV in Market Street at Victoria Bridge in Aberdeen at around 2:12 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 7. "They have crossed the bridge and turned right onto a footpath next to the River Dee heading in the direction of the Aberdeen Boat Club," police said, per the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eliza and Henrietta are both described as white and of slim build with long, brown hair," officers confirmed. Police Scotland Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, Jan. 7 Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, Jan. 7 Chief Inspector, Darren Bruce, said "extensive inquiries" were ongoing in a bid to trace the two siblings. "Searches are being carried out in and around the area where they were last seen," Bruce insisted, per the release. "Local officers, led by specialist search advisors are being assisted by resources including the police dogs and our marine unit," he added. Police Scotland Henrietta Huszti Henrietta Huszti The officer continued, The Torry side of Victoria Bridge where they were last seen has many commercial and industrial units." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Searches are ongoing here and we would urge businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to please review their CCTV footage for early morning on Tuesday, 7 January, 2025 and contact us if it holds anything that may be relevant to our investigation. We also ask anyone with dashcam footage from that time to contact us," Bruce shared, according to the appeal. Police Scotland Eliza Huszti Eliza Huszti Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Bruce added that police "are continuing to speak to people who know Eliza and Henrietta," urging anyone who might have seen them or may have any information to get in touch. Police Scotland added to PEOPLE in an email, "There are no updates and searches remain ongoing." Read the original article on People Authorities are asking for the publics help identifying a suspect accused of a stabbing in Dorchester on Thursday night. Boston Police say a victim was stabbed in the area of 1660 Dorchester Avenue around 8:47 p.m. on January 9. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The suspect in this case is described as a Black man wearing a black jacket with a gray hood, black pants, brown boots, and a black winter hat with a tag visible on the top, according to investigators. Anyone with information about the suspect pictured is strongly urged to contact District C-11 Detectives at (617) 343-4335. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facts and circumstances leading to the stabbing remain under investigation. 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 Gov. Jared Polis leaves the House chamber of the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver on Thursday. Polis delivered his State of the State address. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post/Pool) Colorado Gov. Jared Polis delivered his annual State of the State address to the General Assembly on Thursday to lay out his 2025 policy priorities around housing, safety and government spending. The 55-minute speech came a week and a half before Inauguration Day, when Republican President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our values and our way of life are not dependent on who is in the White House or Congress. I refuse to allow the disagreement, division and disorder in Washington, D.C., deter us in Colorado, Polis, a Democrat with two more years in office, said. Members of the Legislature, we can and will do better. Polis referred to the Free State of Colorado throughout the speech as he vowed to protect and expand our freedoms, tempered by the knowledge that freedom demands personal responsibility and accountability, and he celebrated Democratic wins from last November in the state. In the Free State of Colorado, we understand what government is and is not here to do. Government is not here to dictate who you love, who you marry or if, when and how you choose to start a family, he said. Colorado voters approved ballot measures to enshrine abortion access in the state Constitution and remove language, which was inoperative, that bans same-sex marriage from the document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was bipartisan applause over some lines in his speech, such as a shoutout to recent property tax rate cuts, a call to hold livestock thieves accountable, and an announcement of firefighting resources sent to help Southern California battle the wildfires that began this week. Polis received mixed audience support, however, over his comments on immigration policy and potential directives that could come from the federal government. I hope that President-elect Trump and Congress work together quickly to secure the border, stop human trafficking and stop the illegal flow of guns and drugs, he said. That line got Republican applause and silence from many Democrats, who make up a majority in both the House and Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, Colorado will not support efforts to deport American citizens, target those on pending legal status or break up families, creating orphans of American children whose parents are alive and who came to this country to build a better life for their families, he continued. Democrats applauded that. Trump plans to initiate mass deportation efforts of undocumented immigrants during his upcoming term and repeatedly used racist rhetoric to describe immigrants across the country, including those in Colorado. Polis said he supports a legal path to American citizenship and the protection of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients who have lived in the country for most of their lives he even had a ceremonial empty seat in the chamber gallery for a DACA recipient named Sofia, a pseudonym, who is fearful of deportation. At the same time, Polis said he also supports the deportation of criminal non-citizens. We welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals, he said. Speaking with reporters after the speech, Polis re-emphasized that Colorado looks forward to working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI and receiving more federal resources to increase Colorados field office capacity. Nod to bipartisanship On housing, Polis said he wants the Legislature to build upon the work from previous sessions to increase the supply of attainable housing, which was largely done through a series of zoning reforms. Housing was a persistent theme this year, though it did not dominate the address like it has in the past. He highlighted upcoming proposals to make it easier to build on land owned by places of worship, streamline the process to build modular housing and change stairwell requirements in multifamily housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than force developers to build massive, one-size-fits-all apartments that take up entire city blocks, lets instead empower them to build apartments or homes that fit the neighborhood through smart stair reform, he said. A bill to allow single-stair buildings died last year. Polis said he supports construction defect reform, a longstanding political issue that has resulted in policy stalemates in recent years. Advocates see defect reform as a path to more condominium construction, because it would reduce insurance costs by lessening litigation risk in new builds. Those on the other side of the debate, however, worry there would be fewer remedies for homeowners who discover defects. We need to allow more housing Coloradans want. This includes condos, which often start at a lower price point, providing more affordable homeownership, and with it, the foundation for wealth building, he said. Colorado Senate President James Coleman introduces Gov. Jared Polis for the 2025 State of the State address in the House chamber of the Colorado Capitol in Denver on Thursday. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post/Pool) Rep. Shannon Bird, a Westminster Democrat, and Senate President James Colemen, a Denver Democrat, are expected to run a defect reform bill, but it is possible that lawmakers will introduce multiple proposals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a nod to bipartisanship, Polis said he is open to cutting regulations and reducing needless bureaucracy. In December, he rescinded over 200 executive orders by literally cutting them in half with a saw during a press conference. I urge the Legislature, in partnership with the Colorado Chamber, Majority Leader (Robert) Rodriguez and Minority Leader (Paul) Lundeen to take a good look at Colorados laws and regulations and honestly question whether they are adequately balancing consumer protection, health and safety, while minimizing red tape and reducing costs for the private sector and for Coloradans, he said. Lundeen, a Monument Republican, said the mass executive order cancellation was good political theater and a really good first step. Now, lets get in there and go find real regulatory reform that will give more relief to the people and small businesses of Colorado, Lundeen said after the speech. We will absolutely lean into that with him every opportunity we get. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to regulation pruning, Republicans are seeking to repeal various fees this year as a way to save Coloradans money. One bill already introduced looks to get rid of the statewide 10 cent retail bag fee. And despite the Legislature facing an extraordinary budget gap this year, Polis did not dwell on the constraints or what they could mean for forthcoming legislation or proposed new programs, instead alluding to the difficult work of making cuts while thinking creatively about how to avoid bad outcomes. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Jan. 10A relatively new initiative gives the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office authority to investigate complaints against airlines and ticket agents for lost luggage, delayed and canceled flights, and a lack of refunds. The office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the new initiative April 16, 2024, recognizing the need for additional consumer protections, and signed a two-year memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Transportation. The MOU can be renegotiated at the end of the period. The agreement streamlines how the attorney general and DOT will work together to review complaints and identify violations of federal aviation consumer protection requirements, stated the press release about the initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This action was spurred by an increase in complaints about problems experienced by Oklahoma travelers, stated the press release. However, several local residents said they consider the topic irrelevant. "I am unwavering in my commitment [of] protecting the rights of air travelers and holding accountable any airline that is found to have engaged in deceptive or prohibited conduct," Drummond said. "The people of Oklahoma should know that your complaints will not fall on the deaf ears of a sprawling federal government. I am personally committed to ensuring all airline passengers are treated fairly and in full compliance with the law." Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck and CLEAR Plus Lane, are designed to give travelers a quicker pass through security. But according to an article on www.thriftytraveler.com titled, "What Went Wrong with CLEAR & When Will It Get Better?" published June 19, 2024, CLEAR, although more costly, isn't as fast as PreCheck. "In dozens of airports across the country, the same scenario plays out repeatedly every day; two travelers make their way through airport security at the same time," states the article. "Both travelers have TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass, but one of them heads for the designated and far pricier CLEAR Plus Lane." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The traveler with TSA PreCheck typically wins the race to the gates, states the article. Ashley Prater and Lindsay Wileman, co-owners of "Under The Sun Travel" in Owasso, said many of their clients use PreCheck as well as Global Entry. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows expedited clearance for preapproved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States, states the site for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "Speaking strictly on PreCheck, while in Tulsa International Airport the wait times may not be as diminished at certain times of the day, [but] during peak hours and busy seasons, it can be greatly reduced," said Prater and Wileman in a combined statement. "Our clients report [that] knowing there will be a shorter line in TSA and the ease of getting through the line keeping on shoes, not removing electronics, etc. make the minimal expense worth the benefit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prater and Wileman said they have recently encountered clients whose luggage was lost for over a week. "The airline allowed the clients to make a claim and track the luggage. The luggage was located and took quite a trip back to Tulsa," Prater and Wileman said. "The luggage did find its way back, and the airline compensated our client for all of the items purchased to replace missing items while [at] the destination." Adding air tags/tiles to luggage has allowed travelers to track their luggage much easier. They believe there should be an easier way to address travel delays and lost bags, as it can be quite a process if the traveler has not engaged a travel agent, the statement from Prater and Wileman said. "We have also had clients experience delays recently," the statement said. "All of the delays that were the result of fault by the airline mechanical, flight crew time outs resulted in compensation by the airlines, as well as meal/hotel assistance if it created an overnight delay." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Prater is on the board for American Society of Travel Advisors in Oklahoma, and ASTA is currently advocating many of these same issues on a national level, Prater and Wileman said. In a Facebook forum Jan. 4, readers were asked if they have had issues like lost luggage, refusal of the airlines to give a refund or had their flight delayed to the point a connection was missed, as well as whether their experience with the pre-check lines were worth the money, been reimbursed for changed or canceled flights, treated rudely, or had their luggage lost or badly damaged. The comments were minimal, and only four of the seven questions on the poll on the website were voted on. Pam Kingfisher said Drummond "needs to stay in his own lane." "His political ambitions are getting in the way of coherent leadership," Kingfisher said. "Frequent fliers don't have too much trouble with changes; be prepared to be patient. When negotiating Dallas/Atlanta, [delays are] usually weather related; breathe and be super nice to agents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Webb, a frequent commenter on the forum and former resident in Tahlequah, asked if this is the most pressing problem in Oklahoma for Drummond to focus on. What you said In a poll on TDP's website, readers were asked: "Have you had any trouble with airlines lately? Choose the most applicable answer." The one with the most votes was, "I don't fly," at 70.8%; 4.2% answered, "lost luggage"; 4.2% voted, "delayed or cancelled flights"; and 20.8% voted "I fly but haven't had any issues." Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided to combine the pleasant (working as a blogger) with the useful (imitating his role as prime minister), and posted on Facebook a whole list of proposals that Armenia supposedly sent to Azerbaijan to normalize relations. There are about 20 points in this new Armenian dastan, and Pashinyan compiled a lista mix of conditions put forward by Azerbaijan, along with some vague ramblings of his own. Judge for yourself: on the one hand, he mentions the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, while on the other, he talks about some kind of borders between Western Armenia and Western Azerbaijan. You read it and think: "Pashinyan, what are you talking about?" And since when does repeating Azerbaijan's conditions turn them into "proposals made by Armenia"? Dissolving the Minsk Group and opening the Zangezur corridor are Baku's conditions, not Yerevan's proposals. But theres one funny item on Pashinyans list. He suggests "working out a complete solution to the problem of detained persons." Pashinyan, are you sure of what you're saying? What is the problem of detained persons? An exchange? For whom? There are no Azerbaijanis held in Armenia. How can this problem be solved? Should we return all the Armenian war criminals currently in our detention centers to Yerevan? Just like that, all of them? Pashinyan, is it too hard to repeat? Just recently, one of the "detained persons" youre so concerned about could thank their savior by taking a place warmed by a crook in a cassock, Bagrat Galstanyan. Is that what you want, you fool? The Los Angeles wildfires were still raging uncontained when the finger-pointing started. The devastation was caused, not by prolonged drought or the Santa Ana winds, according to President-elect Donald Trump and others, but by Democrat politicians whose priorities allowed the fires to spread. Responding to Trumps accusation, California Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNNs Anderson Cooper: People are literally fleeing, people have lost their lives, kids have lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, churches burned down. And this guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of things I want to say, but I wont. But it wasnt just Trump. Questions were flying from Los Angeles residents, including Hollywood celebrities whose homes were destroyed, about water availability and evacuation routes and why authorities werent better prepared for danger that the National Weather Service had warned about the week prior. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wasnt even in the country when the fires broke out she was in Ghana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And pundits quickly discovered that the official bio of the Los Angeles fire chief, Kristin Crowley, says her priorities are creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities. Blame is also being assigned to Democrats generally, with some predicting that Newsoms national political prospects are going up in smoke as memes circulate of him with Los Angeles burning in the background. When asked why there is no water to fight the fires, Gavin Newsom told Anderson Cooper, "Look, the local folks are going to have to figure that out." He literally just ended his political career with that answer. pic.twitter.com/fx6fXcMqZ3 Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) January 9, 2025 Speaking to Laura Ingraham on Fox, actor James Woods, who lost his home to the Palisade fire, called Newsom a blithering idiot, and said that if his fire-management policies were responsible, this isnt a wake-up call; this is the kind of thing they have tribunals for. Speaking of the LA fire chief, Woods said, This isnt a social justice exercise that youre in charge of; this is getting water to areas that need water because there are fires and 100-mile-an-hour winds burning houses to the ground. And podcaster and comedian Adam Carolla, who had to evacuate and doesnt know if his home is still standing, appeared on both Fox News and the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton radio show to talk about bad governance leading to the devastation. Carolla noted that Malibu had a major fire just last month and said that officials are failing to take steps that would mitigate them. For example, money being spent on high-speed rail should instead be used to upgrade decrepit power lines that can spark fires, he said. They want to blame everything on climate change, but its really inaction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And responding to a viral video showing the Los Angeles mayor staying silent when asked about the fires and her responsibility, Carolla told Sean Hannity that Democrat officials in California arent used to being asked difficult questions ... they dont even know how to react when a tough question is asked. This might be the greatest takedown of LA Mayor Karen Bass that I have ever seen. No response. Not one word. Just blank, blinking panic.pic.twitter.com/Q30f5lg0J3 Jeff Carlson (@themarketswork) January 8, 2025 Its hard to see how Basss political career will survive the renewed scrutiny headed her way. She was already controversial, thanks in part to her past admiration of Fidel Castro, which she had to walk back when she was briefly considered as Joe Bidens running mate in 2020. When the fires broke out, she was in Ghana as part of the delegation representing the U.S. at the inauguration of Ghanas new president; by the time she returned home, more than 1,000 homes or structures had already been destroyed. The National Weather Service had warned of extreme fire weather conditions days before the first blaze broke out and one evacuee told The New York Times that the catastrophe is the result of an utter breakdown in leadership, and it starts with the mayors office. In a news conference Wednesday, Bass blamed the fires on the drought and winds, and said, We have to resist any, any effort to pull us apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes right but so are her critics. Whats unfolding in LA is both a natural disaster and a man-made catastrophe, as The Free Press put it. The devastation is, in part, the result of a drought that had turned vegetation into kindling, and the Santa Ana winds, which threw embers that ignited new fires and which inhibited firefighting efforts. The devastation is surely also a failure of foresight and leadership, made evident by reports of water tanks and fire hydrants running dry. According to NBC News, Experts in urban water management said its unlikely that poor planning or negligence were to blame for the water tanks drying up. Rather, these systems are not designed to deal with these disasters at the magnitude and scale and the frequency thats happening, said Newsha Ajami, chief development officer for research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. But thats exactly the point. Its clear that these systems need to be better designed, and also that, when faced with budget constraints, cutting from the fire departments budget might not be wise in a time of heightened risk. According to NBC Los Angeles, the fire chief warned the mayor in a memo last month that the budget cuts severely limited the departments capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities dont know how the LA wildfires began, and there will doubtless be years of inquiries about how or if the widespread destruction could have been prevented. Accountability is needed. But for now, its about coming together to serve those who need help. Cows at a Dunn County dairy farm. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner) A Polk County judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the states largest business lobby, challenging an ordinance enacted by the town of Eureka regulating how factory farms, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), operate. Under the ordinance, CAFOs must establish plans for how they will deal with manure disposal, air pollution, road use and other effects of a large farms operations, before being allowed to open or expand within the town. Similar ordinances have been passed in eight towns and three counties including the Pierce County town of Maiden Rock, which passed its ordinance last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While many of the states largest factory farms operate on the eastern side of the state in and around Kewaunee County, communities across western Wisconsin have been fighting the expansion of farming operations in the Driftless Region because of the effect CAFOs can have on smaller farms in the community, water quality and the environment. WMCs lawsuit against Eureka is part of a three-prong strategy by this industry with one goal no regulation, Lisa Doerr, a Polk County farmer who helped develop Eurekas ordinance, said in a statement. They use lawsuits to intimidate local officials who pass legal ordinances. At the same time, they have a lawsuit challenging any state authority. Finally, their Madison lobbyists are pushing state legislators to ban all local control. WMC has filed a number of lawsuits in recent years challenging state authority to protect water quality. A lawsuit filed by the group in Calumet County challenged the state Department of Natural Resources authority to require CAFOs to obtain permits regulating their effect on local water supplies. A circuit court judge ruled against that effort last year; the ruling is pending in the state Court of Appeals. Next week, the state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case from WMC challenging the DNRs ability to use the states toxic spills law to force polluters to clean up PFAS contamination. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A new poll of German voters six weeks ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections found that the Green Party's top candidate, Economy Minister Robert Habeck, is as popular of a choice for chancellor as conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz. Habeck and Merz, the leader of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), were both named as the preferred next chancellor by 27% of German voters in the Politbarometer poll from public broadcaster ZDF. Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, meanwhile, is favoured by just 14% of voters to remain leader of the country - trailing behind not only Merz and Habeck but also the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, who polled at 15%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remaining 17% of voters responded "don't know" when asked about their preference on the next chancellor. Merz's party in clear lead Voters in Germany, however, don't elect chancellors directly and Habeck's Greens have remained well behind the centre-right bloc of Merz's CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The same poll found that the CDU/CSU bloc was favoured by 30%, with Habeck's Greens in fourth place with 14%. The AfD polled at 21%, while Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) drew support from 15% of voters in the poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), the hard-left The Left and the insurgent populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) all polled at just 4% - short of the 5% threshold generally needed to win seats in German elections. Other smaller parties together received 8%, although none of them received at least 3%. The poll was conducted on behalf of ZDF by the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen opinion research group using both telephone and internet between January 7 and 9. The poll asked 1,433 randomly selected eligible voters, and was weighted to represent the eligible electorate in Germany. Merz favoured to lead next coalition The poll's results - which are generally in line with numerous other polls in recent months - suggest that it is extremely unlikely that any party will win a majority of seats in the lower house of Germany's parliament, known as the Bundestag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means that whoever becomes the next chancellor will need to build coalition with at least one other party to secure the necessary majority. When asked in the poll to pick between Merz and the incumbent Scholz, a centre-left Social Democrat (SPD), 44% of voters favoured Merz against 41% for Scholz. Faced with the choice between Merz and Habeck as the next chancellor, voters expressed very similar preferences, with Merz again favoured by 44% against 41% for Habeck. The results showed an improvement for Habeck compared to previous editions of the same ZDF poll. Early polling shows that Virginias gubernatorial election is expected to be tight. Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, owns a slight lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, according to a poll released Friday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy. The poll conducted last month found Spanberger ahead of Earle-Sears 47% to 44% among registered Virginia voters, with 9% undecided. The women are currently the only declared candidates in the November 2025 gubernatorial race. But the poll takes into account a hypothetical challenge from longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott showing Earle-Sears slightly ahead in that matchup. If the election were held today, 46% of respondents said they would vote for Earle-Sears, compared with 44% for Scott. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott has not officially entered the race, though he is rumored to be considering a run for the Democratic nomination, with some in his party reportedly citing concerns about Spanbergers ability to draw Black voters. Earle-Sears has been endorsed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Former GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman is also considering an independent run for governor or lieutenant governor. Related Articles An Emerson College/The Hill poll released Wednesday found Spanberger ahead of Earle-Sears by an even slimmer margin, leading 42% to 41% with 4% of respondents voting for somebody else and another 13% undecided. In a match-up against Earle-Sears, Scott performed better among Black voters than Spanberger in the Mason-Dixon poll, with 85% compared to her 81% favoring the Democratic candidate. On the other hand, 51% of women supported Spanberger to Scotts 47%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For better or worse, Spanberger had stronger name recognition than Scott: 34% of respondents recognized her favorably, and 17% recognized her unfavorably, compared with 28% favorable and 7% unfavorable for Scott. Earle-Sears outperformed both Democratic candidates among men and white voters. The lieutenant governor outpaced Spanberger 46% to 42% and Scott 53% to 40% among men. White respondents favored Sears 54% to 37% against Spanberger and 57% to 32% against Scott. Though Earle-Sears has ties to Hampton Roads she represented a Norfolk district in the House of Delegates from 2002-04 the poll showed local voters overwhelmingly favoring a Democratic candidate. Scott, who is from Newport News, led Earle-Sears 59% to 34%. Spanberger, who lives outside Richmond, garnered 55% to 35% support over Earle-Sears. The poll, conducted Dec. 15-19, surveyed 625 randomly selected registered Virginia voters, with quotas set to reflect voter registration by county. Respondents were 35% Democrat, 30% Republican and 35% independent or other. About 70% were white, 20% were Black, and 4% each were Hispanic and other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same poll also showed that Virginians generally think Youngkin is doing a good job, with 58% of respondents saying they approved of his performance and 37% saying they disapprove. Democratic and Republican primaries are June 17. Kate Seltzer, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com (NewsNation) As deadly wildfires devastate communities around the Los Angeles area, Polymarket, an American crypto-based prediction market platform, is allowing people to bet on the disaster. Users could place wagers on 20 predictions related to the fires as of Thursday. The site also had a wildfire trending module. Polymarket gamblers have bet on everything from the amount of acreage the Palisades wildfire will burn to whether arsonists will be arrested in connection with the fires. Those who invest in correct outcomes profit off of their bets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LA fire damage likely to be the costliest in US history One question with a betting pool over $60,000 asks: Will Palisades wildfire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday? Bettors gave that a 22% chance of happening as of Thursday afternoon. If betting on a fatal disaster sounds unethical, youre not alone. Polymarket has faced criticism on social media for allowing people to profit from the unfolding tragedy. What we know about how the LA wildfires started Betting on the spread of a fire is immoral, one user wrote in response to a Polymarket post on X. Another user chimed in: Betting on this is simple depravity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polymarket includes a disclaimer on all bets related to the fires. It reads: Note on Palisades Wildfire Markets: The promise of prediction markets is to harness the wisdom of the crowd to create accurate, unbiased forecasts for the most important events impacting society. The devastating Pacific Palisades fire is one such event, for which Polymarket can yield invaluable real-time answers to those directly impacted in ways traditional media cannot. Note: There are no fees on this market. Polymarket On its website, Polymarket says users can suggest ideas for new markets, but the platform ultimately decides what people can bet on. Some of the LA wildfire wagers that were available on Polymarket as of Thursday: Will Palisades wildfire spread to Malibu by Sunday? When will the Palisades wildfire be 50% contained? Will the Sunset wildfire reach Hollywood Blvd by Friday? Polymarket is perhaps best known for its political prediction markets, making headlines back in November when bettors wagered billions on the 2024 election. When asked about the wildfire prediction markets, a Polymarket spokesperson told Business Insider: Polymarket charges no fees and generates no revenue from these markets and provides them as a service to those looking for unbiased and up-to-date information during fast-moving events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say about 180,000 people are under evacuation orders due to the fires and thousands have been displaced. At least five people have died so far. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Jan. 9Construction on an ambitious project to overhaul one of Portland's busiest streets is getting closer to construction thanks, in part, to a $2 million grant from the federal government. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, announced Wednesday that the city received the long-sought grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. "The construction of the Franklin Street arterial in the late 1960s had a challenging impact on many Portlanders, resulting in the demolition of whole neighborhoods, the displacement of longtime residents, and a permanent physical divide through the heart of the city," Pingree said in an emailed statement. "With this project, the City is taking an important step towards creating a safer, more equitable, and more unified Portland." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Markos Miller, who has been advocating for changes to Franklin Street for years, said in an email Thursday that the grant "shows a strong level of commitment to our community's vision for a Franklin Street that aligns with our goals for housing, climate resiliency, economic development, and safe, sustainable transportation." Miller said he was grateful for the work by the city, the Maine Department of Transportation and Pingree on the project. The project to overhaul Franklin Street, a major thoroughfare that runs through downtown Portland, has been in the works for nearly two decades and has been projected to cost $26 million. The city will need more funding to pay for the full project, but the grant is a step forward. Construction is expected to start sometime between 2026 and 2030, according to Pingree's office. The plans aims to restore the road to something closer to what it once was a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood by eliminating the large grassy median and pushing all four lanes of traffic together, creating more space for bike lanes, sidewalks and new housing and businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The busy four-lane road connecting Portland's downtown to Interstate 295 was once part of a vibrant neighborhood of row houses and corner stores that resembled the West End. But the push toward urban renewal in the 1960s a movement that aimed to clear cities of their so-called decaying areas wiped out the neighborhood to make way for the modern day arterial and grassy median. Beginning in 2009, a group of concerned neighbors got together to push for an overhaul of the street. The City Council approved a master plan to redesign Franklin Street in 2015, but it stalled because of lack of funding. Then, in September 2023, the City Council laid out a tentative timeline for construction and announced their plan to apply for federal funding. Copy the Story Link PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Portsmouth Police Officers held a RESET walk Thursday on Calvin Street to connect with community members after a shooting took place in the area earlier in the week. Officers were called to the 10 block of Calvin Street at 11:23 p.m. for the report of a shooting Monday. Officers arrived and found 36-year-old Brent Andre Hargraves in a crashed vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene, marking the first homicide of the year in Portsmouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday, officers and community members went door to door in the same neighborhood for a RESET walk. Community activist Bilal Muhammad also attended Thursdays event. He said Hargraves was his great-great nephew. It was wonderful seeing that we are engaging in the community and knowing what took place, Muhammad said. Brent was a type of young man that lit up the room when he came in the house. Officers use these walks to interact with residents following a traumatic event. Muhammad has lost multiple family members to gun violence, including his own son and now Hargraves. Previously: Community activists son shot and killed during phone call with his father Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are asking for the community to stand with us against violence and crime, Muhammad said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Update: At a press conference on Friday, Jan. 10, Dominic Choi, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, said there was "not enough probable cause to arrest [the suspect] on arson or suspicion of arson." Instead, said Choi, the suspect was a arrested on a felony probation violation. Police took a suspect into custody on Thursday, Jan. 9, in Los Angeles after a witness said a person was trying to light a fire, but police say no connection to any of the wildfires is confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, who has not been named, was apprehended after a call came in at 4:32 p.m. for a "possible arson suspect" on the 21700 block of Ybarra Road, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. According to the LAPD, "A male was heard stating a suspect was 'attempting to light a fire.'" The suspect was transported to the LAPD's Topanga Station. "We are continuing our investigation, and we CANNOT confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect at this time," the statement said. The apprehension took place near the Kenneth Fire, a rapidly spreading blaze that has already burned 1,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and forced evacuations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was reported around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon near the city of West Hills. The Kenneth Fire has spread and is now threatening nearby Hidden Hills and Calabasas, where celebrities like Jessica Simpson and the Kardashians reside. "What we know right now is the incident started here and about 20 minutes or 30 minutes later a suspect was detained in the Woodland Hills area by citizens," an LAPD official identified as Senior Lead Officer Charles Dinse told NewsNation on Thursday evening. (Dinse was identified as Sean Dinse in a report by local outlet KTLA.) Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. When asked by NewsNation if someone purposely set the Kenneth Fire, the official responded, "At this time, thats what we believe this, yes." Dinse also told KTLA the Kenneth Fire "is investigated as a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has reached out to Dinse for comment. The Kenneth fire is just one of at least a half dozen major fires that have ravaged the Southland since Tuesday, forcing over 100,000 evacuations Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People EAST ST. LOUIS A southern Illinois district judge sentenced a postal carrier to 32 months in federal prison after she admitted to stealing credit cards from the mail and abusing them for personal expenses. While employed as the city carrier assistant at the Granite City Post Office, Lakeatra E. White, 32, stole several mail items on her route, such as gift cards, credit cards, and credit card information. Court documents state she stole credit cards belonging to two victims, and she tried to rack up personal charges estimated at nearly $27,000. During the investigation, White turned over 115 pieces of mail she had stolen to law enforcement. She pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of theft of mail by a postal employee, one count of access device fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. In addition to her imprisonment, White will serve three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $15,209 in restitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mail carriers are entrusted public servants, and postal workers who steal from their customers choose to break that trust, said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to partner with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General to hold employees committing fraud accountable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. This week's devastating Southern California wildfires and the winds fueling them have caused widespread and prolonged power outages and planned shutoffs that are upending the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the region. As the outages drag on, they are sparking anger and frustration from customers, including those who are many miles from the active fires or evacuation zones in Los Angeles County and have struggled to understand why their power was cut, and why it has not been restored. More than 327,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power Thursday morning across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Dangerous winds prompt Southern California Edison to shut off power to thousands of customers. Here's where While some of those outages resulted from wind-caused damage, such as falling trees and branches that will take time for crews to repair, about half the affected customers are under planned power shutoffs intended to reduce the risk of additional fires igniting during one of the most severe wind events in years. Another 95,000 customers were without power in Los Angeles Department of Water and Power territory, where about 31% of outages have been from planned shutoffs because of winds or to support firefighting. Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With weather forecasters predicting increased fire danger through at least Friday, and more strong winds expected next week, communities affected by outages and shutoffs may have to go without electricity for days longer. Theres a good chance that many customers will be without power into and through the weekend, Steve Powell, president and chief executive of Southern California Edison, said in an interview Thursday afternoon from the companys emergency operations center in Irwindale. We are focused on getting as much power back on as quickly as we can, once its safe to do so, Powell added. Read more: More than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed, at least 10 killed in L.A. County fires Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sweeping nature of the power shutoffs, in particular, has some customers seething and questioning Edisons decisions as arbitrary and heavy-handed . Some have already gone a day or two without power. As they struggle to keep food from spoiling, use essential appliances or power their medical and communication devices , they are upset that the outages could drag on much longer. Adding to the aggravation, some communities close to the fires also have been under boil-water notices, including areas near the Eaton fire in the Altadena area, the 90272 ZIP Code in Pacific Palisades and the area north of San Vicente Boulevard in Los Angeles. Edison officials said this has been the largest wind event in the utility's service area, in terms of both the weather and customer outages, in more than a decade and one of its biggest uses of preemptive power shutoffs, called public safety power shutoffs, since it began using them in 2018. At the peak of the outages on Wednesday, more than 430,000 of its 5 million customers were without power across the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires Among them was Amanda Frye, 61, who lost power at her Redlands home early Wednesday. She and her family have tried to cope with living without heat, using matches to light their stove, cooking dinner by candlelight and stocking up on ice to try to keep perishables in their refrigerator from spoiling. She has struggled to get answers from Southern California Edison about why her and her neighbors' power was shut off after the gusty winds that swept through earlier in the week had already passed. She said that Southern California Edison redid the poles and wires in her area several years ago as part of wildfire prevention. I feel terrible for everyone that has been impacted and lost their homes, Frye said, but it is questionable how turning off our power miles and a county away is useful when there is no wind or threat, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something is wrong with Edison modeling and logic, Frye added. Why is Edison allowed to cut large areas of electricity when there is calm wind and not a threatening weather condition? Southern California Edison has described the planned outages as a tool of last resort based on a variety of factors, including weather forecasting, wind data and proximity to vegetation. Powell, the Edison CEO, said he understands residents frustration but that the companys actions are a necessary safeguard against additional fires and are as targeted as possible. Its really hard to put our customers through these situations. At the same time, the risks that were trying to avoid are exactly the things that were seeing out there, Powell said. We want to avoid major fires that are going to tear through and create devastation in our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County Powell said the utility company can only be so precise in how it executes power shutoffs because it can only de-energize at the level of circuits. Its system includes more than 4,500 circuits, which can be miles long and often include hundreds of homes or businesses, only some of which are experiencing the dangerous winds or other conditions that need to be mitigated. We are in no way able to do it at the individual residence or block level at this point, Powell said. Powell said the company has installed more than 6,000 miles of insulated wire in high-fire areas since 2018, among other grid-hardening and vegetation-management projects designed to reduce wildfire risk and the need for planned shutoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this same wind event happened five years ago, he said, it would have had a lot more ... shutoffs than we have today. 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. Above: Tony Shins Jan. 9 report for KUSI on the restoration of power following shutoffs. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego Gas & Electric began restoring power Thursday to customers placed under a public safety power shutoff, allaying the worries of some in high fire-risk areas even as conditions are expected to remain critical through the end of the week. While the utility warned upwards of 73,000 customers of potential service disruptions, only about 7,000 had their power cut at the peak of the first wind event earlier in the week. As of 3 p.m., all had their power restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further public safety power shutoffs are still possible through Friday evening, when a Red Flag Warning for critical fire danger in the countys inland valley and mountain areas is set to expire. What is a Red Flag Warning and why is it important? The National Weather Service is expecting the wind to pick up again for the areas under the Red Flag Warning Thursday afternoon before tapering off midday Friday into Saturday. During this time, wind gusts could hit speeds anywhere from 45 to 64 miles per hour in areas like Alpine, Ramona, Julian, Palomar and Escondido. Some wind-prone areas may see isolated gusts reaching speeds around 80 to 90 miles per hour. (National Weather Service) Relative humidity is also anticipated to hover between 5% and 15% for much of inland San Diego County through Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Flag Warning is set to expire at 6 p.m. Friday for San Diego County. Until then, residents are discouraged from burning anything outside or engaging in activities that could contribute to extreme fire behavior. In the meantime, San Diego residents are encouraged to take proactive measures to prepare for a potential wildfire. This includes creating an emergency plan, assembling a supply kit and staying plugged in to local emergency notification systems. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. PLYMOUTH TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Pennsylvania State Police in Wilkes-Barre are investigating a burglary that was reported Thursday morning. Troopers say they received a call just before noon from an 81-year-old man from Hanover Township. Coroner releases autopsy results in Schuylkill Haven death investigation According to PSP, the burglar, or burglars, entered the building in the 2000 block of West Main Street through an upstairs window and used a power tool to cut through locked doors to gain access to the rooms downstairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police did not specify what was stolen during the break-in, but said that a computer associated with the security system was reported missing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Trooper Miller of the Pennsylvania State Police Barracks in Wilkes-Barre at 570-821-4110. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Portland Police Bureau has unveiled its Crime Reduction Plan for this year, which will involve more missions and potentially a lower call volume for patrol officers. The agency noted that it focused on missions throughout 2024 with the intent to reduce crime and enhance community engagement. Officials attribute the decline of certain crimes to the increase in missions. For example, law enforcement reported that motor vehicle theft dropped 34% from late November 2023 to late November last year. Oregon nurses, doctors speak ahead of planned Providence strike Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPB went on to cite retail theft missions, with burglary offenses down 13% in just a year and robberies down by 11%. 2025 will entail more missions, including up to two per month for crimes committed in the area of the North Precinct and 20 missions that target human trafficking suspects. Going forward, officers will implement a model titled PANDA which stands for Problem Scan, Analyze Problem, Nominate Strategy, Deploy Strategy and Assess Outcomes. Specific problems or problem places will be proactively and efficiently addressed through evidence-based practices that have identified SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound), PPB said. Evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies will be used to inform future mission development and community collaboration. Minor spending issues discovered in Governor Koteks office: Auditors Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One problem the agency will continue to address is violent crime. Although officials reported that shooting incidents have declined in recent years, they said violent crime remains at historic highs. Data show there were 379 shooting incidents through November in 2019, compared to 945 shooting incidents through November in 2023. This statistic declined to 746 incidents last year. According to PPB, the recent deployment of a full-time Special Emergency Reaction Team will allow officers to conduct high-risk search warrants and prevent further violence. The agency stated it is additionally working to decrease patrol officers call load by ramping up the Public Safety Support Specialist program. Bureau leaders project this could decrease call times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multnomah County leaders announce SE Portland location for future sobering center In 2025, we also anticipate implementing an improved online reporting software which will provide a better experience for the community who needs to file a police report and does not wish to have contact with an officer, officials said. PPB also highlighted its continued efforts to train and hire officers, as it is currently facing the lowest number of sworn-in members in 35 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Jan. 9Less than two weeks after leaving a prominent Roswell law firm, the state's newest utility regulator found himself on the other side of the dais from his former partners Thursday. Former state senator Greg Nibert was sworn in as a public regulation commissioner Thursday morning, and within the hour a vote came up in a commission case involving his recent employer, Hinkle Shanor LLP. Nibert abstained from voting on the measure a commission order concerning the implementation of the statewide community solar program but he said his abstention was not due to the involvement of the law firm where he worked for 41 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nibert said he was abstaining from the vote because he had not yet been able to access the "voluminous" record in the case. "I find myself unable to cast a vote with sufficient knowledge," he said. Nibert, a former Republican lawmaker and a longtime oil and gas attorney, acknowledged his career with Hinkle Shanor which is representing Southwestern Public Service Co. in the community solar case ended only 10 days before he was sworn in to serve on the commission. But he said his relationship with the firm's attorney and Santa Fe office was "very slight." "I've not worked on any matters that have come before the commission, and I've not had any personal relationship with those matters," he said. "I don't feel that that would be a reason to abstain." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview after the meeting Thursday, Nibert said he had only been in the same room as his "so-called partner" at the firm, Dana Hardy who represents Southwestern Public Service Co. and others before the commission a dozen or fewer times. "We don't have a relationship, and one that I would feel would be such that I would not be capable of looking at issues and rendering an unbiased decision," Nibert said, adding he did not intend to recuse himself from cases in which Hardy is involved. Hinkle Shanor has for years represented Southwestern Public Service Co. in many of the utility's cases before state regulators. The utility, which provides electricity to Roswell, Carlsbad, Clovis and parts of Texas, is a subsidiary of Xcel Energy. Hardy and Hinkle Shanor LLP are also, according to filings submitted to the commission, representing the Louisiana-based private equity firm Bernhard Capital Partners in the firm's bid for commission approval to purchase New Mexico Gas Co., the state's largest natural gas utility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the three-person commission, a recusal by just one commissioner in any given case could lead to a deadlocked vote if the other two commissioners disagree. Retired attorney Bruce Throne, who argued regulatory cases before the commission for years, said the question of whether Nibert should recuse from cases involving Hinkle Shanor wasn't as simple as whether or not Nibert "worked with" the attorneys involved. "I would assume that might be something others will raise in those cases if they're contested," Throne said. "This should've been considered as a potential problem during the appointment process. ... If you go to court in a civil case and find out the judge was a law partner with the firm against you, would you think they're conflicted? The answer would almost definitely be yes." Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spokesperson Jodi McGinnis-Porter did not answer whether a potential conflict of interest concerning Nibert's law firm was considered during the appointment process. "Regulating public utilities requires industry expertise to understand and oversee complex utility matters, rate cases, and infrastructure decisions," she wrote in response to questions Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is common for PRC commissioners to have prior experience or relationships with regulated entities," McGinnis-Porter wrote. "To maintain public trust and regulatory independence, commissioners must balance transparency with managing the perception of conflicts of interest." A news release from the Governor's Office announcing the New Year's Day appointment included a statement from Nibert promising "to regulate our utilities according to the laws of the land, which includes, first and foremost, the Energy Transition Act," and acknowledging the commission's "crucial role in ensuring we meet the renewable energy targets set forth in statute for the betterment of our state." While in the Legislature Nibert voted against the Energy Transition Act, a 2019 law setting deadlines for electric utilities to transition to carbon-free generation, and Conservation Voters New Mexico was publicly pushing two of the other candidates for the seat. Nibert said in an interview Thursday he had worked on energy projects throughout his career, including solar, wind, coal, oil and gas, and "all forms of natural resources that go into making our nation productive." He also mentioned a role he held on the executive board of the Energy Council for about six years. "I've been engaged in those issues for many years at a high level, and I want to continue those relationships, so I bring that to the table," he said. "So while I haven't had regulatory practice in front of the PRC, I have substantial experience in administrative law, primarily at the federal government, Interior Board of Land Appeals and dealing with administrative agencies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said when he received a call from Lujan Grisham about serving on the commission, the governor said she did not want New Mexico to miss out on "opportunities" such as data centers or other kinds of developments because of the commission "dragging its feet" on approval. "I understand how the regulatory environment can be an impediment to projects and how important it is for agencies not just to have regulations, but to have regulations that allow consistent application," Nibert said. "How the regulatory process has to be fair, and how it has to be responsive." NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Researchers have discovered a prehistoric demon-toothed fish in Socorro County, New Mexico. The fish, which lived over 300 million years ago, was discovered by New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science research associate Susan Harris. Navajo high school teacher brings knowledge of ocean to New Mexican desert The Daemodontiscus harrisae identifies an entirely new genus and species that was uncovered. According to a news release, Harris uncovered a partial skull fossil of the fish in northern Socorro County. Scientists describe the fish as a large ray-finned fish about three to four feet long. They also say the fish lived during the Late Pennsylvanian period about 305 million years ago when New Mexico was a land of tropical islands and shallow seas. What distinguished this fish apart from others of its time is its large fangs throughout the jaw. This also led to the name Daemodontiscus which means demon-toothed fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The skull fossil of the fish will be on display in the Ancient Life Hall at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. The exhibit, set to open in February 2025, will feature around 300 fossils that have been collected over the past 30 years from various locations in New Mexico. This will include some of the states first fossil record, showcasing the different environments that were here in New Mexico. Some of those environments that were once present in New Mexico include ancient seas, beaches, coastal areas, jungles, swamps, and inland river valleys located hundreds of miles away from the sea. Godzilla shark: 300 million-year-old fossil discovered in New Mexico A paper published in Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan identifies Daemodontiscus harrisae as a newly discovered genus and species. To view the paper, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. With less than two weeks left in his presidency, President Joe Biden designated two new national monuments in the West. Biden signed proclamations Tuesday creating the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sattitla Highlands National Monument, both in California, covering 848,000 acres of land. The new Chuckwalla monument will protect the ancestral homelands and cultural landscapes of the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan and Serrano Nations, and other Indigenous peoples, totaling 624,000 acres just south of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Northern California, the Sattitla Highlands monument encompasses over 224,000 acres of varied habitat, including parts of the Modoc, Shasta-Trinity and Klamath National Forests as well as the sacred ancestral homelands of the Pit River Tribe and Modoc peoples. These national monument designations honor the history and cultural connections that Native peoples have always had to these places. A national monument designation provides greater protection of sacred landscapes and helps ensure that generations to come, native and non-native, will learn the actual history of the United States, Judith LeBlanc, executive director of Native Organizers Alliance and NOA Action Fund, said in a statement Thursday. Biden has created or expanded 12 national monuments while president and restored three others, including two in Utah. Controversial monument creations The Biden administration called the Chuckwalla National Monument its capstone to creating the largest corridor of protected lands in the continental United States, covering nearly 18 million acres stretching approximately 600 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor runs from Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southwestern Utah through the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona and Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, both established by Biden in 2023; and now reaches to the deserts and mountains of southern California. Some of those designations have stirred controversy, especially in Utah. Biden restored Bears Ears and Grand-Staircase Escalante to their original sizes shortly after taking office in 2021. Created during the Obama and Clinton administrations, respectively, President Donald Trump drastically reduced the acreage of both monuments in 2017 at the urging of Utah state and local government leaders. In 2023, a federal judge dismissed lawsuits by the state of Utah and others challenging Bidens use of the Antiquities Act to restore the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears. They appealed the decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard oral arguments last September. A ruling is expected in the coming months. Monument management plans praised, criticized The Bureau of Land Management this week signed off on the final resource management plan for the 1.9 million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante monument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BLMs final plan takes meaningful and important steps to protect one of the most treasured public landscapes in America. Once again, the monument will be managed to protect what makes it like nowhere else remarkable paleontological discoveries and cultural connections, jaw-dropping scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems, Kya Marienfeld, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance wildlands attorney, said in a statement. Sadly, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and other public land opponents continue their attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante, which is managed for the benefit of all Americans. In a statement Thursday, Utahs all-Republican congressional delegation condemned the decision it said was made in the midnight hours of the Biden administration. The BLMs plan ignores Utah voices, limits access to grazing and recreation and disregards the economic impacts that this decision will have on local communities. The administration has also failed to provide a complete inventory of the objects it wishes to protect, a requirement of the Antiquities Act, according to the statement. When the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was created in 1996, it was promised to be friendly to local use and management. We will continue to fight to return our land to local control and against future federal overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meantime, how to manage the 1.6 million-acre Bears Ears monument has been the subject of an ongoing debate among federal, state and local leaders. The Bureau of Land Management released a final proposed management plan last fall that also drew praise and criticism, including groups raising the possibility of a court challenge. Utah governor finds Arizona monument designation frustrating Utah leaders also took issue with Bidens 2023 designation the 917,000-acre Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona, bordering nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument but also encompassing lands south of Washington County. This monument designation is frustrating news, especially for residents of Utah along the Arizona strip. As Ive said many times before, massive, landscape-scale monuments like this are a mistake. These designations increase visitation without providing any additional resources for law enforcement and infrastructure to protect sensitive areas, Gov. Spencer Cox said at the time. A number of Native American tribes sought the monument creation to protect cultural resources in the region. Those tribes include members of the Havasupai, Hopi and Hualapai tribes, as well as the Kaibab Paiute Tribe, the Las Vegas Band of Paiute, the Moapa Band of Paiutes, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the Navajo Nation, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Nation, the Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Jan. 10 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge in New York Friday for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The sentencing hearing began at 9:30 a.m. EST. Trump will become the first president to be sentenced on criminal charges. Trump is attending virtually from his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla. The verdict followed the recommendation of the prosecution, according to CNN, CBS News and NBC News. While Trump has been referred to as a convicted felon since the court's unanimous verdict came down last spring, in the eyes of the judiciary he must be sentenced to complete his conviction. A sentence of unconditional discharge does that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This has been a truly extraordinary case," New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan remarked during sentencing. "Once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique, and extraordinary than the other 32 cases in this courthouse." Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass recommended a sentence of unconditional discharge, meaning Trump would not be imprisoned or placed on parole. Attorney Emil Bove (L) listens as attorney Todd Blanche and Trump speak while appearing virtually in court in New York City on Friday. Pool Photo by Jabin Botsford/UPI When Merchan ruled Monday that he will not delay the sentencing hearing any further, he said he will not sentence Trump to any jail time. Trump faced the possibility of jail time, house arrest and probation. Steinglass said Trump has made great efforts to discredit the judicial system and done harm to its credibility since his conviction, also showing no remorse for his crimes. President-elect Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing in front of New York State Judge Juan Merchan for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York City on Friday. Pool Photo by Brendan McDermid/UPI When it was time for the defense to speak, Trump repeated an accusation he has often made about investigations into his actions and prosecutions against him, calling it a "political witch hunt." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentencing, originally slated for July 11, has long been delayed as Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney gave deference to Trump's campaign for president. Trump's last-ditch efforts to push off the hearing, perhaps completely, failed when the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his request to stop it. The high court ruled 5-4 against Trump with conservatives Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the three liberal justices. Trump posted on social media that he will appeal. Trump's conviction stems from attempting to hide hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his first campaign for president. Originally appeared on E! Online President Donald Trumps legal journey has come to an end. The 78-year-olds hush money case in the state of New Yorkthe only one of his four criminal cases, two of which were dismissed, that went to trialcame to a close on Jan. 10, at which time Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to unconditional discharge, per NBC News, which means that the President will remain a felon, but will face no jail time, penalties or probation. The decision comes 10 days before Trumps presidential inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his sentencing, Merchan stressed that it was only the office of the presidentand the protections and importance of that positionthat swayed his decision to bestow that particular sentence. The only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment or conviction without encroaching upon the highest office of the land is an unconditional discharge, the Judge said during the hearing, per CNN. The considerable, indeed extraordinary, legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others. They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way. More from E! Online He added, It is the legal protections afforded to the office of the president of the United States that are extraordinary, not the occupant of the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, for his part, maintained his innocence, slamming the entire trial. "This has been a very terrible experience," Trump said, while speaking remotely from his home in Florida, per NBC News. It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election. I am totally innocent. I did nothing wrong. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images Trumps legal team tried to stay the sentencingwhich makes Trump the only president to have been sentenced on criminal chargeshowever the Supreme Court ruled in a narrow 5-4 decision on Jan. 9 to allow the proceedings. Trumps attorney Todd Blanche claimed the Manhattan district attorneys office overstepped in its prosecution of Trump, noting in court, per NBC, This is a case that without a doubt was brought by a district attorney who promised he would go after President Trump if elected, and he had to go through with that promise. "Its a very sad day, the attorney added, while noting the president plans to appeal. Its a sad day for President Trump and his family and his friends, but its also, in counsels view, a sad day for this country. Mandel NGAN / AFP Meanwhile, prosecutor Joshua Steinglasswhile he recommended the unconditional discharge, noting, We must be respectful of the office of the presidency,slammed Trumps conduct throughout the trial, saying it constitutes a direct attack on the rule of law itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, per NBC, This defendant has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system. (E! News and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (WOOD) Former President Jimmy Carter made a lasting impact on Benton Harbor when he visited two decades ago to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity. To me, he was definitely an inspiration when he came into Benton Harbor to help, Vickie Brown, who lives in one of those homes, said as she and her family watched Carters funeral Friday. It was a great experience and he came out and we talked to him and took pictures. Former White House photographer: Carter was man of integrity Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harbor Habitat says 25 homes were built with the projects partnering with Carter. The work made Brown a homeowner. She stayed in the home, raised her family and paid off the mortgage in 2016. I dont know a president thats given back to our neighborhood at least, little old Benton Harbor, so for him to actually come and do that, thats something special. I always will remember that. I remember sitting there working with him, Jonathan Williams, Browns son, said. Harbor Habitat Board President Donald Crouch said Carter visited the community following a difficult time of unrest and riots in 2003. Jimmy Carter visit was in 2004 and 2005, Crouch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter helped get Whirlpool involved in the project and brought in volunteers to help with the build. He was touched by the people who lived here and the desperate need for housing. I use the term of predatory landlords that was prevalent back then and still is today, Crouch said. Carter, Ford forged a bond that might be hard to recognize in todays political climate He remembers meeting the former president when he came back to help build the homes. There was a current build in Detroit at the same time. Jimmy Carter had spent four or five days here and two days in Detroit, so he really had a focus on Benton Harbor, Crouch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Browns family says being able to get into a home has made a lasting impact. My whole life has changed. From that day, my whole life had changed. Never been the same, she said. I just thank God for that. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. In a rare show of unity in these tumultuous times, every living American president filed into pews together Thursday to honor one of their own at the funeral for President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday. Carter, who died late last month at 100 years old, is being remembered as a compassionate Christian and ahead-of-his-time progressive, despite serving a single term in the White House that was seen as a disappointment at the time. Under the stained glass and stone filigree of the soaring Neo-Gothic nave, family members and dignitaries recalled private kindnesses and public sacrifices, noting that Carter taught Sunday school at his Plains, Georgia, church every Sunday from World War II to Covid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter was farsighted. He put aside his short-term political interests to tackle challenges that demanded sacrifice to protect our kids and grandkids, said Walter Mondale wrote in a eulogy before his own death in 2021 and that was read Thursday by his son. Living such a long life meant many of Carters contemporaries have already passed, but several had prepared remarks for the occasion years ago. Ted Mondale noted that very few people in the 1970s had heard the term climate change, before recalling how Carter pushed renewable energy, while also noting he was a leader in womens rights and racial justice. Stuart Eizenstat, a longtime top advisor to Carter, said his former boss may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in its foothills, making the U.S. stronger and the world safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together in front rows were presidents and vice presidents, past and present, Republican and Democrat, several of whom have run bitter elections against each other. Some, like Vice President Kamala Harris, sat quietly looking ahead. While others, like President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, could be seen chatting and even laughing together. Also in attendance are members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, members of Carters administration and foreign dignitaries. President Joe Biden, who served in the U.S. Senate as a young man when Carter came to Washington, said Carter taught me that strength of character is more than a title or the power we hold. Its the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To young people, to anyone in search of meaning and purpose, study the power of Jimmy Carters example, Biden continued. Character, faith, love -- a true patriot. The funeral, coming just two weeks before Biden is set to hand over power to a political figure he reviles at Trumps second inauguration, was rare moment for attendees to set aside politics. The casket of former President Jimmy Carter is carried out of the Capitol on Thursday. Theres an old line that two presidents in a room is too many, said the son of the man Carter defeated to win the presidency, former President Gerald Ford, reading a eulogy prepared by his fathers death. But we immediately decided to exercise the privilege of former presidents: To immediately forget what either of us said about the other in the heat of battle, Ford continued. There is indeed life after the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter understood that, seeing his public image soar during his post-presidency as he threw himself into charitable causes at home and abroad, while continuing to live a relatively humble life with his beloved wife, Rosalynn, who died just a year before him in late 2023. Follow along for live coverage Jason Carter spoke of his grandfather as a down-to-earth family man just regular folk who carried his bags on Air Force One while president and afterward, would answer the door in a T-shirt and Crocs. Yes, he lived in the governors mansion and in the White House, but that was for a total of eight years, Carter said. For the other 92 years, his home was Plains, Georgia, a 600-person village, many miles from an interstate or an airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politically, he said his grandfathers values were not just ahead of their time, they were prophetic. In an era when most white Southerners resisted integration, Carter, as governor of Georgia, fought racial discrimination and mass incarceration. He was a climate warrior, Jason Carter continued, who protected more public land than any previous president. He wanted to decriminalize marijuana. And he deregulated industries in ways that allowed for the rise of craft beer and cheap airline tickets. So, basically, almost 50 years ago, he might have been the first millennial, the younger Carter joked. Tributes have been pouring in since Carters death on Dec. 29, as his body has made a slow progression through Georgia and Washington to be witnessed by thousands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the funeral, his casket laid in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building, draped with an American flag and resting on the catafalque that once held Abraham Lincolns body. Now, the proceedings will continue to Georgia, where there will be a private family funeral. Carter will then be buried on the grounds of his home in Plains. Carter was a little-known figure outside his native Georgia before running for and winning the presidency in 1976. He served only one term, rejected by voters upset about a global oil crisis and the kidnapping of American diplomats by Islamist revolutionaries in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, the Democrats legacy was overshadowed by his successor, Republican Ronald Reagan, who tore up much of Carters agenda, including the experimental solar panels Carter had installed on the White House roof to promote alternative energy. But Carters legacy was upgraded over the years in the eyes of historians and the general public, both for his charitable post-presidency, when he devoted himself to causes like Habitat for Humanity, and for the accomplishments of his presidency that are now seen as ahead of their time on issues like civil rights, womens rights and environmentalism. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com President Joe Biden is going viral for making an accidental joke while addressing a very serious issueand people can't get over the way Vice President Kamala Harris reacted. Biden was briefing the public on how the government plans to help local officials during the Los Angeles wildfires when he handed the mic to Harris, who is from California. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Madam Vice President, I know you're directly affected," he said. "So you fire away, no pun intended." Harris paused for a split second before smiling and nodding. "Indeed," she said. Joe Biden accidentally makes a fire-related pun towards Kamala Harris at an LA wildfire briefing. (: CSPAN) pic.twitter.com/CRS202XqF7 Pop Base (@PopBase) January 10, 2025 Commenters on X were quick to take note of the way Harris handled the situation. "The look she gave him when she realised," one person wrote. "Kamala's face says it all," agreed someone else. "Oh Kamala was not having it lmfao," joked another X user. "This look like its from a sitcom," a fourth chimed in. Related: Joe Biden Announces Exciting New Addition to His FamilySee the First Photo According to the Los Angeles Times, Biden pledged that the federal government will cover 100% of disaster assistance costs to California for the next 180 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense to contain these fires, Biden said on Thursday, Jan. 9. Were doing literally everything we can at the federal level. We are with you," he continued, addressing those affected by the fires. "Were not going anywhere. Biden said that he's surging all federal resources possible to Southern California, which includes 400 additional federal firefighters and over 30 firefighting helicopters and planes. Canada is providing additional firefighting aircraft. The president also emphasized the need to address climate change. All has changed in the weather. Climate change is real, he said. Weve got to adjust to it, and we can, its within our power to do it. But weve got to acknowledge it. Next: Famous Spots Devastated By California Fires, Including the "Hacks" Mansion and Will Rogers' Ranch House Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are doing what they can to offer support as wildfires devastate Southern California. Parade understands that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who reside in Montecito, California, have opened up their home to friends and loved ones who were forced to evacuate due to the fires. On Thursday, the royal couple's website shared ideas on how to help, one of which was "open your home." "If a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do," the Sussexes' website notes. "And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating." Related: Paulina Porizkova Issues Desperate Plea for Help Amid Unprecedented Palisades Fire They also suggested donating essentials to the American Red Cross. The Sussex family has contributed clothing, childrens items and other essential supplies to those affected by the fires, and they've made donations to relief efforts through their foundation, The Archewell Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter & get the scoop on the latest TV news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Parade understands that Meghan and Harry have also been in direct contact with Jose Andres and are working alongside his World Central Kitchen to provide further relief efforts. Related: Jamie Lee Curtis Pleads With Fans in Unreal Video Update of Palisades Fire Aftermath World Central Kitchen, a longtime partner of the couple's foundation, was among the organizations listed on the Sussexes' website to support, in addition to CAL FIRE and LA Fire Department Foundation, Animal Wellness Foundation, Baby2baby, Airbnb and 211LA, Compton Cowboys and All Power Books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a press conference on Jan. 9, Kristin M. Crowley, Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, said that the "damage assessments are ongoing at the Palisades fire, however preliminary reports estimate the damage or destroyed structures to be in the thousands." Chief Crowley added, "It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles." Related: All the Stars Who Have Lost Homes in the California Fires, Including Billy Crystal, Martin Short and More Catherine, Princess of Wales, turns 43 on Jan. 9 and received a sweet message from her husband, Prince William. To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength youve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W, he captioned a black and white picture of her on X wearing jeans, a light colored shirt and scarf over a jacket while she smiles as she gazes out to her right. The unseen picture of the Princess of Wales was taken by Matt Porteous, in Windsor, last summer, according to Kensington Palace. To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength youve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W pic.twitter.com/VIW5v2aKlu The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 9, 2025 It has been a challenging year for the princess. In March 2024, she announced in a video that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment, she said. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way thats appropriate for them and to reassure them that Im going to be okay. As Ive said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits. 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. Kate made her first public appearance since her announcement in June at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, which honors King Charles IIIs birthday. She strolled in a carriage with her three children to watch the kings birthday parade with the rest of the royal family. She also joined the king, his wife, Queen Camilla, Prince William and their kids on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. In June, the princess said in a statement she was making good progress with her treatment, which she anticipated would continue for a few more months. In September, she provided an update. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment, she said in a video shared on Instagram. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you." In December, she also acknowledged how challenging 2024 was for her. This year has been full of surprises, Kate said in a video shared by British broadcast station Channel 5 News on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I know Im not alone. So many people have faced their own challenges this year, she added. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Reports have emerged that Prince William is aggressively stepping into his role as the heir apparent amid his father, King Charles III's ongoing health struggles. The 42-year-old is said to be already making key decisions about the Palace's future and is now rumored to be the "toughest ruler the family has ever seen." Prince William also reportedly wants to reduce the family's expenses and is intentional about improving their public image amid recent scandals involving his brother and uncle. Prince William Is Readily Making Tough Decisions MEGA According to reports, Prince William is "seizing" more power from his father as the latter continues to battle cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since King Charles III was diagnosed with the illness last year, he has reportedly handed over more and more responsibilities to the Prince of Wales, seemingly "acknowledging that his time to rule will be sooner rather than later." Now, the heir apparent is said to be making bold, tough decisions, regardless of whose toes he steps on, amid his influence growing in recent months. He is also not hesitating to let go of those who oppose him, particularly when it comes to making decisions he believes will benefit the Crown in the long run. "It's no secret that anyone who pushes back against him will be swiftly shown the door," a palace insider told Intouch. The Heir Apparent Wants To Revamp The Palace's Public Image MEGA Sources close to The Firm have also reported that one of Prince William's main priorities is to revamp the public image of the royal family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family has been plagued by scandals following the departure of his estranged brother, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, who stepped down from their senior royal roles and moved to California. These include revelations from the couple's bombshell documentary, Prince Harry's memoir Spare, and a number of interviews that the duo have granted. The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, is also believed to be one of those whom William thinks has tarnished the family's image due to the sex scandal he was embroiled in a few years ago. Due to their various actions, Prince William has reportedly declared Prince Harry, Meghan, and Prince Andrew as persona non grata as part of his plans to change the family's public image. Prince William Wants To Cut Back On Expenditure MEGA William is also said to have plans to cut back on any unnecessary expenditures the Palace has been making in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[William] wants expenses to be monitored closely and any fat trimmed straightaway," said a source. "He doesn't want there to be any sense that special perks are being handed out to the royals." As part of his plans, he intends to steer the family toward green living, which includes cutting down on private flights. The insider continued, "He's all about the environment, so he's pushing hard to be front and center in that respect and has put out this edict that the rest of the family needs to get on board with being as green as possible. Private flights and that sort of thing are being frowned on." They added, "The days of wasteful spending and overconsumption are ending now that William is at the helm." Prince William And His Wife Are Reportedly Preparing For His Ascension MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, it was reported that Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have begun preparing for his ascension. "Although the king is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment," royal biographer Bedell Smith told People Magazine. "As a result, William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected," Smith added. The royal biographer also emphasized the weight of responsibility on the heir apparent, for whom The Firm has already begun drawing up succession plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's a sense of calm before the storm," Smith continued. "They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and of course, Kate's health has taken priority, but it's also allowed everyone to take a step back and figure out what's important right now." The Future King May Not Invite His Brother Prince Harry To His Coronation Amid Rift MEGA Meanwhile, William reportedly does not want Harry to attend his future coronation, as he considers the Duke of Sussex "disloyal." According to a Sunday Times article, the Prince of Wales has expressed that he wants his crowning, which will take place after the death of King Charles III, to "look and feel different," possibly including Harry's absence. William's friends have stated that, as things stand, he does not want Harry at the ceremony, noting: "They are estranged, which is dreadfully sad." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Charles' friends commented on the situation: "The problem for the king and other members of the family is the worry that if they have a chat with Harry, it will appear in 'Spare' Volume 2. How do you regain the trust? I don't think Harry ever can." The friend continued, "But from the conversations I've had with the king, I would never say their relationship is irreparable. The king's capacity to forgive his son is undimmed. There are other members of the royal family who are much more weighted against Harry, that's the problem." More offenders will be able to serve their sentences while at work under new Labour laws announced by minister James Timpson. The businessman, who was appointed prisons minister in July, says the plan will help reduce reoffending rates. Household UK brands like Co-op, Greggs and Iceland have all signed up to the scheme, and will be amongst members on several new regional Employment Councils also partnered with the DWP to support offenders into work placements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move builds on work done by Lord Timpson out of office during his time as boss of the Timpson Group. The company is well-known for its policy of employing ex-convicts, making up ten per cent of its workforce, alongside a strong record on employment rights. Lord Timpson, said: Getting former offenders into stable work is a sure way of cutting crime and making our streets safer. Thats why partnering with businesses to get more former offenders into work is a win-win. Prisons minister Lord James Timpson ( House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris) The Employment Advisory Boards I spear-headed have made huge progress and now these Employment Councils will expand that success to steer even more offenders away from crime as part of our Plan for Change. The prisons minister said before his appointment that he believes around two thirds of the prison population probably shouldnt be there, and that the UK is addicted to sentencing and punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressed on this view more recently, Lord Timpson said: Im really clear what my view is, that we need to lock up people whove done really bad things, for people who are dangerous and people where the courts, where the judges say they need to go to prison. Where the problem has been for far too long is that when people go to prison, were not addressing mental-health problems, were not addressing their drug problems, were not finding as many people jobs as we should be doing. Labour launched a review of sentencing laws last year, with plans expected to take scrap short custodial sentences for lower-level offences. The move is designed to combat the ongoing prison overcrowding crisis, with 85,689 prisoners currently taking up 79,730 spaces putting the the system nearly 6,000 people over capacity. But some critics say the plans could cause offences like shoplifting to become more common. Responding to this, Lord Timpson told The Times: Im really clear that when people commit a crime, they need to be punished, and what we need to do is we need to punish them in a way that reduces reoffending so we get fewer victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything we need, everything we do, has to have evidence and [be] proven that it reduces reoffending in the future. And whether thats someone whos shoplifting or someone whos selling drugs, we need to follow that course. The party drew some criticism in September for taking the controversial step of releasing thousands of prisoners from prison early by changing the automatic release point from 50 per cent of a sentence served to 40 per cent. Inna Sovsun, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament's Energy Committee, has put forward a resolution aimed at the removal of Herman Halushchenko as Ukraine's Energy Minister. She is backed by members of Parliament from various factions. Source: MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak, Deputy Chair of the Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Quote: "My colleague, Energy Committee member Inna Sovsun, together with MPs from various factions, is initiating the registration of a resolution to dismiss the Energy Minister." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Among the reasons for the move, Zhelezniak named "systemic corruption in the energy sector", "failure to protect part of the energy infrastructure", "lies and manipulations", and more. Zhelezniak also mentioned Halushchenkos unacceptable behaviour during a government Q&A session held on 10 January in the Verkhovna Rada. Sovsun, an MP from the Holos (Voice) faction, said the Energy Committee had received a letter from European Commission and US Embassy representatives expressing concern about reports in the media claiming that they support a project to build additional units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Herman Halushchenkos response was greeted with outrage. He said, "Actually this is the case, and if we are talking about Units 3 and 4, there is a provision in the text of the law that says these units will run on American fuel. As regards the opinion of mid-level clerks in the European Commission's representation, Inna, I am extremely sorry that you are running around embassies slandering our energy sector and our country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry of Energy later issued a statement saying that the transcript of the Verkhovna Rada session "clearly records that the minister's remark does not refer to the words of the EU Ambassador to Ukraine". "Unfortunately the issue of constructing additional units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP has become a subject of manipulation, including by some members of the Verkhovna Rada and experts. Specifically, private correspondence from mid-level diplomats who were not authorised to express the official position of the EU or member states has been used in public discussions. This was the correspondence the minister was referring to in his report," the statement said. Zhelezniak urged his fellow MPs to back the resolution calling for Halushchenkos dismissal. Background: As of 10 January, 69 substations belonging to Ukrenergo, Ukraines state grid operator, have been provided with second-level protection, and work is underway on 13 more. Support UP or become our patron! (NewsNation) Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut the LA Fire Department budget by $17.6 million before multiple wildfires broke out in the area in the past week, destroying more than 10,000 structures and killing 10. Political pundits and critics of Californias leadership are pointing to this, and other environmental legislative acts, as reasons for the exacerbation of wildfires and other natural disasters in the state. Bill OReilly joined NewsNations CUOMO Thursday night to discuss how California officials have responded to the devastating wildfires scorching the Los Angeles area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to donate to LA wildfire relief California is a mismanaged state from almost top to bottom, and the fall lies with the voters who elect people like Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom, OReilly said. Progressive leadership leads to destruction and death. OReilly criticized Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsoms progressive governance, saying it doesnt work, even in natural disasters. Everybody in California knows that the ecosystem there is dangerous and fragile. Everybody knows there are going to be fires. There are going to be mudslides, he said. A memo from the fire chief to the mayor on Dec. 17, 2024, indicated that the department is facing challenges from the budget cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LAFD is facing unprecedented operational challenges due to the elimination of critical civilian positions and a $7 million reduction in Overtime Variable Staffing Hours (V-Hours), Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote. These budgetary reductions have adversely affected the Departments ability to maintain core operations, such as technology and communication infrastructure, payroll processing, training, fire prevention and community education. LA fires: Arson suspected in Kenneth Fire, 1 arrested Bass declared a local state of emergency Tuesday when the fires broke out. At the time, she was thousands of miles away in Africa for the inauguration of Ghanas president and a meeting with the countrys first female vice president, according to reports by NewsNations partner The Hill. When she returned the next day, the criticism was in full force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went to Africa. How could she know there was going to be fires? news anchor Chris Cuomo challenged OReilly in the live interview. OReilly also criticized the California Insurance Commission, questioning why it hasnt negotiated with insurance companies to bring premiums down. Mel Gibson: Loss of Malibu home in LA fires devastating Im just saying I dont think its a progressive problem. I think its an insurance leverage problem, Cuomo pushed back, citing Floridas battle with natural disasters and insurance claims. What Im submitting to you tonight, Cuomo, is they in California, they dont even try. All they do is virtue signal, when you have a police chief in the second largest city in the country, telling the mayor, Look, you cannot cut the budget (by) $12 million. We need more firefighters. We need more equipment, and the mayor goes blank, OReilly said. Thats just the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Neal McCaleb, a Chickasaw politician and former Oklahoma secretary of transportation, died Thursday. (Photo provided by the Chickasaw Nation) A defender of tribal sovereignty and Native rights, Chickasaw politician and Oklahoma City native Neal McCaleb died on Thursday at 90. McCaleb, an Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductee served eight years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, with four of those as the Republican House minority leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was appointed Oklahomas first Secretary of Transportation under Gov. Henry Bellmon and headed the Oklahoma Department of Transportation during the initiation of urban and rural turnpikes. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed McCaleb as Assistant Secretary of the Interior, where he headed the Bureau of Indian Affairs and advocated for tribal sovereignty. Additionally, he served as a President Ronald Reagan appointee to the Indian Reservation Economies Commission. Later in his career, McCaleb returned to his tribe, where he worked as a special advisor to Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby and as the Chickasaw Ambassador-At-Large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Voices of Oklahoma , McCaleb said his biggest wish is to be remembered as a good father and grandfather. Well, I just advise young people, in general, to follow their dream, to have confidence in themselves, and to be prepared to make sacrifices to accomplish those dreams, he said. McCaleb leaves behind his wife, Georgann, four children and 13 grandchildren. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Prosecutors Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court argued a New Philadelphia man charged with a shooting death last January on the South Side should not be allowed to claim self-defense on two of the four charges he faces. Assistant Prosecutor Rob Andrews said that Jules Freeman, 22, cannot claim self-defense on claims of involuntary manslaughter and discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation or across a roadway for the Jan. 22 shooting death of Allen Pierce-May, 23. Andrews told Judge Sweeney that the law does not allow for Freeman to claim self-defense for those charges, regardless of whether he is found guilty of a murder charge for the death of Pierce-May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pierce-May was shot and killed at about 1 p.m. at the intersection of East Evergreen Avenue and Erie Street during what police say was a drug deal. Freeman, who is free on bond, is charged with murder, felonious assault, discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation or across a roadway and involuntary manslaughter. Andrews said the legal doctrine of strict liability applies to the manslaughter and discharging firearm charges against Freeman. Under strict liability, a defendant is held responsible for the consequences of an action, even if they did not intend to cause harm or are found not at fault. Andrews said that involuntary manslaughter and the discharging of a firearm charge are not offenses that a defendant can use a self-defense legal strategy for. One of Freemans attorneys, Joe Ohlin, said there is nothing in state law that says a defendant cannot apply self-defense for those charges. Ohlin also said that it would not make sense if jurors found that Freeman is innocent of murder and felonious assault because they would find he acted in self-defense yet he would be found guilty of using a weapon to defend himself, which is something the law allows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freemans trial is set for Feb. 18. Judge Sweeney said she expects to issue her ruling before then. The day before Pierce-May was killed, texts showed he and Freeman were planning a drug deal for Jan. 22, according to detectives. They also said Freeman had Pierce-Mays address saved in his Google Maps app. The texts showed Freeman agreed to drive up to Youngstown on Jan. 22 for an extra $200. At his preliminary hearing in municipal court, Freemans attorneys hinted that he would be pleading self-defense. The lead detective in the case also testified during the preliminary hearing that when he interviewed Freeman in New Philadelphia, Freeman had told detectives he acted in self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Federal prosecutors are asking that former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez receive a sentence of 15 years in prison after being found guilty on felony bribery charges. In a Thursday night filing, prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein to levy a sentence that could place the 71-year-old behind bars for much of the rest of his life. Menendez resigned in August after nearly two decades in the Senate. He was convicted last July on charges of bribery, extortion, obstruction of justice, and a slew of related crimes. Prosecutors alleged that Menendez abused his seat as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to enrich himself, taking bribes in the form of gold bars and a new car in exchange for political favors. They also alleged that the formerly powerful Democrat served as a foreign agent for Egypt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say the grave nature of the charges necessitates a lengthy sentence. The defendants crimes amount to an extraordinary attempt, at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch, to corrupt the nations core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement, they wrote in the filing. Probation officers who spoke to Reuters estimated that sentencing guidelines for Menendez's 16 convictions would merit anywhere from a 24 to 30-year stint in prison. Menendezs attorneys asked for a substantially shorter stint, calling a potential 12-year stay in prison a "death sentence" for the elderly ex-senator. Menendezs attorneys asked for leniency and placed responsibility for the bribes on Menendezs wife, who is awaiting trial. The evidence showed that Senator Menendez was unaware of activities that Nadine was undertaking, Menendezs lawyers wrote earlier this month, per the New York Times. Sen. Bob Menendez leaves the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse in Manhattan on Monday, May 20, 2024, where his corruption trial entered its second week. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Federal prosecutors want former Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to at least 15 years behind bars, saying he deserves substantial prison time for a historically unique and long-running bribery and foreign influence scheme that implicated national security. Prosecutors also urged Judge Sidney H. Stein to sentence businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who were convicted in July alongside the ex-senator, to 10 years and 9 years, respectively, and order the three men to pay fines of over $5.8 million, combined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such penalties will provide just punishment for this extraordinary abuse of power and betrayal of the public trust, and to deter others from ever engaging in similar conduct, prosecutors wrote in a 108-page brief filed Friday. Sentencing is set for Jan. 29 in Manhattan. Under sentencing guidelines, Menendez, 71, faces 24 to 30 years in prison, but the U.S. Probation Office recommended 12 years, acknowledging his crimes were among the most heinous of corruption offenses but saying his age and history of civic service warrant a shorter term, court filings show. Prosecutors agreed that a sentence shorter than the guidelines direct is reasonable because of Menendezs age. Still, the 15 years they want would be roughly seven times longer than what defense attorneys asked for last week, when they suggested 21 to 27 months of incarceration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But prosecutors argued that Menendez a Senate Democrat since 2006 who helmed the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time of his September 2023 indictment was the first person ever convicted of serving as a foreign agent while in public office. Only 12 U.S. senators, dating back to 1807, have been charged with crimes, aside from Menendez, they added. Even leaving aside their historical rarity, the defendants crimes amount to an extraordinary attempt, at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch, to corrupt the nations core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement, prosecutors wrote. They summarized crimes that took nine weeks of trial testimony to detail, including that Menendez promised to influence national security including U.S. military aid, divulged sensitive information to Egypt that risked the safety of employees at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, pressured U.S. agriculture officials to ignore the halal meat-exporting monopoly he helped Hana secure in Egypt, and tried to disrupt multiple felony criminal proceedings, including by influencing the selection of U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gravity of each of these promised abuses of power is only underscored by the naked greed that motivated them, prosecutors wrote. Hana and Daibes showered Menendez and his wife Nadine with hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes including cash, gold bars, paychecks for a fake job for Nadine Menendez, a luxury Mercedes-Benz convertible and more, prosecutors said. They did so to aid their own businesses and deflect government scrutiny of themselves and their associates. And Menendez, who swore an oath to represent the United States and the state of New Jersey, instead put his high office up for sale in exchange for this hoard of bribes, prosecutors said. Beyond imprisonment, prosecutors urged Stein to order the men to forfeit the proceeds of their crimes. For Menendez, that would amount to $922,188 in cash, as well as the riches he reaped from the bribery scheme, which include the Mercedes-Benz, gold bars, an exercise machine and an air purifier, according to the brief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also asked the judge to fine Menendez at least $2.8 million, Daibes at least $1.75 million, and Hana at least $1.25 million, arguing that their crimes were financially motivated and theyre likely to retain significant assets even after forfeiture. Menendez, Hana, and Daibes have repeatedly asked for a new trial, most recently over a series of evidentiary errors prosecutors admitted to in November that exposed jurors during deliberations to insufficiently redacted exhibits. Stein last month rejected the defense teams August request for a retrial but has yet to rule on their more recent request. Nadine Menendez and businessman Jose Uribe were also charged in the scheme. But Uribe pleaded guilty in a cooperation deal and Stein ordered a separate trial, now set to start Feb. 5, for Nadine Menendez to accommodate her treatment for breast cancer. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Former Sen. Bob Menendez should spend at least 15 years in prison, federal prosecutors said in a sentencing request filed on Thursday. Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York said the disgraced senators crimes were extraordinary because of their stunning brazenness, breadth and duration. This case is the first ever in which a Senator has been convicted of a crime involving the abuse of a leadership position on a Senate committee, they wrote. It is the first ever in which a Senator or any other person has been convicted of serving as a foreign agent while being a public official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found Menendez guilty of 16 different corruption charges last summer, including taking bribes and acting as an agent of the Egyptian government while leading the Senates powerful foreign relations committee. He resigned following the conviction. Since then, he has sought to get the conviction thrown out, citing errors prosecutors made when they inadvertently gave jurors access to material a judge ruled should not be used as evidence. At the same time, Menendez is seeking a drastically more lenient sentence, citing his destroyed reputation and a life now in shambles. U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein is expected to sentence Menendez and two New Jersey businesspeople guilty of bribing the senator later this month. Prosecutors asked Stein to sentence Egyptian-American businessperson Wael Hana to a decade in prison and New Jersey real estate developer Fred Daibes to nine years. Federal prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison sentence for former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who was convicted this summer of trading his political influence for bribes. Prosecutors accused the former chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee of accepting lavish bribes including gold bars to act as a foreign agent of Egypt. A jury in July found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts of bribery, acting as a foreign agent and other federal corruption charges. This is the first time a senator or public official has been convicted of acting as a foreign agent while in office, prosecutors noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants crimes amount to an extraordinary attempt, at the highest levels of the legislative branch, to corrupt the nations core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement, prosecutors wrote in a memo filed late Thursday in the Southern District of New York. The government also asked the judge to impose a sentence of at least 10 years on Wael Hana and nine years for Fred Daibes, Menendezs co-defendants. The three men are scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 29. Daibess lawyers called the governments request completely out of line with sentences for others convicted and sentences for the same conduct and emphasized that the 24-month sentencing they had recommended was more appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are pleased that the governments memo recognizes that Mr. Daibes is the least culpable and that his generosity and selfless acts and dedication to his Edgewater, NJ community is deserving of recognition and credit (albeit they seem to refuse to acknowledge the gravity of his generosity), Diabess lawyers said in a statement to The Hill. Attorneys for Menendez and Hana did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Menendezs lawyers last week described a shorter 12-year sentencing recommendation from the courts probation office as a death sentence. Probations recommended sentence of 12 years imprisonment would be draconianlikely a life and death sentence for someone of Bobs age and condition, his lawyers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Menendez has given his life to his country and to his community. With this case, his political and professional careers have ended; his reputation is destroyed; and the latter years of his life are in shambles. He is certain never to commit future offenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The pending sale of Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, pictured, and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, may be set back if its current owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, files for bankruptcy. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Just when the yearslong saga of selling two urban safety net hospitals appeared to have reached its final chapter, a plot twist has emerged. Prospect Medical Holdings, the California-based hospital operator that owns Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, is facing new financial difficulties. The company has missed rent payments to its landlord, Medical Properties Trust, and is now working with a team of legal consultants to consider potential restructuring including, potentially, bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reported on Jan. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Otis Brown, a spokesperson for The Centurion Foundation, the prospective buyer of Roger Williams and Fatima, did not comment on the situation except to say the company was aware of the reports. The Atlanta nonprofit previously intended to close on the $80 million deal to buy Roger Williams and Fatima sometime this month. We want to make it clear that The Centurion Foundation remains fully committed to the agreement to acquire CharterCARE Health Partners from Prospect Medical Holdings, and the terms and conditions approved by state regulatory agencies, Brown said in an email Friday. We continue to work closely with all parties to advance the sale closure in the very near future. Prospect did not return inquiries for comment Friday. The hospital chain had not filed for bankruptcy as of Friday, according to federal court documents. State regulators are bracing for the possibility that Prospects new financial woes might unravel the carefully configured deal to sell Roger Williams and Fatima. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the past year, we have been preparing for the possibility of this exact scenario, Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a statement on Thursday. Rhode Islanders know the devastating effects of private equity on our healthcare system, not because weve studied it, but because weve lived it. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is seen speaking at the Rhode Island Health Care Summit on May 28, 2024, emphasizing the importance of Our Lady of Fatima and Roger Williams Medical Center to the states health care network. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) AG: Prepared for all scenarios A potential bankruptcy would only affect the pending sale if Prospect files before the local deal closes, Neronha said in an interview Friday. Even then, a federal bankruptcy judge could still agree to the ownership change. Or, in what Neronha fears would be the worst-case scenario, the local hospitals could become assets in a bankruptcy case, sold to pay off Prospects creditors. Were prepared for all scenarios, Neronha said Friday. For years, Neronha has blasted Prospect and its former majority owner, private equity firm Leonard Green, for dipping into the hospitals pockets to pay out investors, shortchanging critical health care operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonard Green and Prospect were also singled out in a new report by the Senate Budget Committee investigating the consequences of private equity ownership on hospitals. Private equity has infected our health care system, putting patients, communities, and providers at risk, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in a statement. Whitehouse co-led the bipartisan investigation along with U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican. The 167-page report, released Tuesday, lays bare the ways that Leonard Green, which took control of Prospect in 2010, manipulated Prospect Medicals finances for its own profits and to satisfy investors, regardless of patient outcomes. For example, Leonard Green forced Prospect to take out a $325 million loan to redeem its preferred stock value at $88 million, granting stock options to Prospect employees based on earnings goals, with no similar benchmarks for patient safety and care. We want to make it clear that The Centurion Foundation remains fully committed to the agreement to acquire CharterCARE Health Partners from Prospect Medical Holdings, and the terms and conditions approved by state regulatory agencies. Otis Brown, a spokesperson for The Centurion Foundation, the prospective buyer of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital By the time Leonard Green sold its majority stake in Prospect in 2021, the company faced more than $1 billion in liabilities, relative to its assets. Prospect didnt perform much better without Leonard Green, continuing to post annual losses while letting $24 million pile up in unpaid vendor bills in 2023, alongside federally documented health and safety violations. Prospect paid $17 million in overdue bills in July 2024 after Neronhas office took the company to court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roger Williams and Fatima have the best possible chance for continued operation because of the work my office has done to transition these safety net hospitals out of Prospect ownership, Neronha said in a statement on Thursday. I know Rhode Islanders are concerned about the hospitals, and the sorry state of health care in this State; I am too. But know that we are well-prepared for this moment and laser-focused on ensuring our hospitals stay open and thriving. Neronha in 2021 required Prospect to set aside $80 million in escrow to keep hospital operations afloat, regardless of its financial condition. About $50 million remains, which should be enough to keep Roger Williams and Fatima open even if they become part of a bankruptcy sale, Neronha said Friday. The biggest question mark: Who, if anyone, would buy them? Centurion was reportedly the only qualified candidate when Prospect first sought interested buyers for the pair of Rhode Island hospitals two years ago. Neronha couldnt imagine who else would want the struggling hospitals, at least without a little boost from state coffers. The Massachusetts approach In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey authorized hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funding to sweeten the sales of a half-dozen hospitals formerly owned by Steward Health Care, which also filed for bankruptcy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neronha was skeptical Rhode Island officials would be willing to do the same. We continue to whistle past the graveyard in health care, which is a source of concern and frustration for me, he said. If these hospitals were to close, that would have a significant impact on our overall health care system. I dont know if theres a more important issue facing our state right now. Neronha said he tried, but was unable to reach Gov. Dan McKee on Thursday to discuss potential scenarios for Roger Williams and Fatima. McKees office did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on Friday. Meanwhile, the $80 million sale of Roger Williams and Fatima hospitals to Centurion also requires significant investments in their operations. Among the 80 conditions set by the AG and the Rhode Island Department of Health in their joint review of the transaction: The parties have to put another $80 million in capital directly into the hospitals, while setting aside another $66.8 million to be held in escrow, reserved for uses other than executive compensation or management fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite these conditions, and Prospects problematic history, critics were still unhappy with the sale because of the debt financing funding the deal, and Centurions lack of experience in hospital operations. But the prospect of federal bankruptcy may have warmed skeptics to Centurion as the lesser evil. Under Centurion, the hospitals would have to file regular financial reports with state regulators, offering Neronha the opportunity to put the hospitals in court-appointed receivership before a federal bankruptcy filing could arise. Thats not the case now, under Prospect. We are, I believe, in a better position to try and manage these hospitals through a state receivership proceeding than in a federal bankruptcy proceeding in another state, said Chris Callaci, general counsel for United Nurses & Allied Professionals, which represents the 1,200 union members who work for CharterCARE hospitals, affiliated physician groups, home care and hospice agencies and offices in Rhode Island. Neronha shares that view. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should a bankruptcy occur, we believe the transaction can and should move forward and away from Prospect, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The Providence City Council approved a resolution Thursday night calling on Gov. Dan McKee to declare homelessness a public health emergency. The resolution, introduced by Councilor Justin Roias, will now be sent to McKee and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. This resolution is a call for leadership at the state level because our unhoused neighbors cannot wait any longer, Roias said. Emergency shelter beds are in short supply, and warming centers where people sit in chairs all night are not a solution theyre a sign of how deeply our system has failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution urges McKee to declare a state of emergency to prevent, intervene, and support the recovery of those experiencing homelessness. Over the past four years, the number of unhoused residents in Rhode Island has continued to rise at an alarming rate, the resolution notes. Recent data shows a staggering 35% increase in homelessness in Rhode Island from 2023 to 2024, compared to an 18% increase nationwide, ranking the state sixth in the nation for rising rates of homelessness. This comes just days after Roias and Councilor Miguel Sanchez opened the Providence City Council chambers to those seeking refuge from the bitter cold. Smiley sharply criticized their decision, arguing that Providence City Hall is not equipped to operate as a warming shelter. I dont think Providence City Hall is set up to be a long-term emergency shelter, Smiley told 12 News Wednesday night. It is not set up to be that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know the need is growing and no one more than me wants to ensure that everyone in Providence is left in the cold, he explained. The next day, Roias and Sanchez moved the warming shelter to the DaVinci Center with Smileys approval. Roias said more than 70 volunteers have stepped up to provide donations and assist trained staff. Smiley said shelters across the capital city are currently in a Code Blue status, meaning no one will be turned away, regardless of whether there are open beds. It doesnt necessarily mean there will be a bed available, but there will be a warm place to be with trained providers available to assist, Smiley explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKee has already refused to declare a public health emergency, stating that it will not solve the overall problem. It does not unlock any new funding, he said. Similarly, if I were to use that emergency power to waive capacity limits in shelters or ignore other safety concerns such as sprinkler systems and adequate egress, I would be solving one problem by creating a new one. I am not going to do that. But Providence City Council argues that more can and should be done. Homelessness is rising, and not just in Providence. Its a statewide crisis, Providence City Council President Rachel Miller said. Rhode Islanders are freezing on our streets, and we cannot address this alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need an immediate investment to increase the availability of life-saving short-term solutions, and we need to come together at every level of government to address decades-long systemic failures, she continued. Further inaction will cost lives. Roias described the resolution as being a line in the sand. Its a refusal to accept the excuse that were doing the best we can, he said. Rhode Island can do better. Rep. Teresa Tanzi also organized a petition urging McKee to reconsider. The petition is signed by nearly four dozen state lawmakers. In the past year, 54 Rhode Islanders have died because they resided outside in the elements, the petition reads. More have lost their lives because of diseases or illnesses they got as a result of them being homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The petition also notes that there are currently 674 Rhode Islanders waiting for permanent shelter statewide, all while the R.I. Department of Housing has seen significant turnover in leadership. This is an urgent and dire situation, the petition continues. You must act swiftly and guarantee a solutions driven approach to this crisis by operating a fully functioning Department of Housing. We need a policy plan to address the housing crisis that impacts the lives of those who have entrusted you to the office. The petition has been sent to McKee, however, its unclear whether hes received it yet. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Thousands of nurses at eight Providence hospitals are on strike Friday morning, and for the first time in Oregon history, they are being joined by some doctors as well. The strike, which wont end until a deal is reached, is already affecting some hospitals, like Providence St. Vincent, where between 60 and 70 doctors have joined the picket lines. In-N-Out Burger proposes first drive-thru in Portland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what happens if someone has a medical emergency? Providence said their ERs remain open. However, they may limit admissions and move appointments at St. Vincent as a result of the strike. People should not hesitate to seek care. They need care, said Dr. Ben LeBlanc, chief executive with Providence Medical Group. As we noted, we have replacement campuses. We have sufficient nurses in place to care for patients. And even at St. Vincents, where the physicians are on strike, According to Oregon Nurses Association, the decision to call a strike came after months of negotiations where they claim little movement was made on top priorities such as staffing, smaller caseloads, affordable health care, increased paid time off and competitive wages. ONA members are striking for smaller caseloads, affordable healthcare, increased paid time off and competitive wages. They also said that Providence hasnt been fully committed to negotiating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Gov. Tina Kotek said, Providence wasted 10 days when they could have been at the table making progress towards a comprehensive resolution of their labor dispute. We must take care of the people who take care of Oregonians. According to ONA, the decision to call a strike came after months of negotiations where they claim little movement was made on top priorities such as staffing, smaller caseloads, affordable health care, increased paid time off and competitive wages. Portland labor unions reach standstill with citys bargaining unit Providence officials said they continued to pass proposals through the federal mediator and hope the union will respond in the best interest of the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have found through these successive strikes, the requests have gotten stronger and the ability to compromise has decreased, Jennifer Burrows, a chief executive with Providence Medical Group, said. In response, RN Kyle Cook said, I find that incredibly insulting, honestly We come to the tables with common sense solutions and compromises to begin with. One hospitalist on the picket line told KOIN 6 News that executives havent been listening to the needs of their staff, and then they tell them how to do their jobs. Hospitalists, especially at St. Vincent, we really care for some of the sickest patients yet executives are trying to tell us how to do our jobs. Theyre not listening when we say we need staffing. CEOs are making millions while we cant offer salaries that let us recruit and retain the highest quality doctors that make St. Vincent a top 50 hospital three years in a row, the hospitalist said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman wanted after allegedly assaulting 3 people at Sherwood bar As of just after 6:30 a.m. Friday, a spokesperson for Providence said they have completed their transition to temporary replacement workers for all of the affected hospitals. Providence said they have offered raises for registered nurses and physicians and a ratification bonus for acute-care RNs whose contracts have expired. At a press event Friday morning, officials with Providence spoke about how unusual it is to have physicians and providers out on the picket lines, especially when there is no end in sight. Its fairly unprecedented to have, physician and provider strikes and certainly unprecedented open-ended, said Dr. Ben LeBlanc, chief executive with Providence Medical Group. 10% of physicians are at work today. we would welcome them back. and, were just gonna have to see how this plays out day by day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay tuned while we bring you updates on this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Puerto Ricos new natural resources secretary has shelved an investigation into allegations of illegal construction in a protected area on the islands southwest coast, sparking an outcry. The administrative order, published late on Thursday, comes after Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez, who was sworn in last week, called the investigation that began under the previous administration political persecution. The investigation targeted alleged violators, including Gonzalezs in-laws, who are accused of illegally cutting mangroves and expanding and remodeling a platform or dock at their home at La Parguera, which was designated a natural reserve in 1979 and is known for its bioluminescent bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez and her in-laws Jose Vargas and Irma Llavona have denied the accusations. On Thursday, Gonzalez named Waldemar Quiles as Puerto Ricos new natural resources secretary. She said that the investigation was part of a political process that occurred last year before Gonzalez's partys primaries, in which she beat former Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, who was seeking a second term. Pierluisi has previously denied that it was an alleged political attack. Quiles's first administrative order was to shelve the investigation and, among other things, legalize the presence of homes in La Parguera via a fee that owners must pay every five years. That is illegal, said Pedro Saade, a Puerto Rican attorney and expert in environmental law, who noted that theres a required procedure to grant concessions on public domain assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How are you, as your first act, going to exempt from scratch and in a broad way, a whole line of illegal uses of public domain assets? Saade said of the secretarys move. In a phone interview, he said that he worried that the order would set a precedent and roll back protections for other areas in Puerto Rico as it struggles with a growing number of illegal developments. On Friday, the president of the Sierra Club's Puerto Rico chapter, Hernaliz Vazquez called on officials to rescind Quiles's nomination as natural resources secretary and criticized his order. This action is a direct affront against environmental protection and justice," Vazquez said. It is unacceptable that the secretary ... whose mission should be to safeguard our natural resources, uses his position to benefit the governors in-laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retroactively legalizing constructions that have negatively impacted a protected nature reserve is not only irresponsible, it is illegal, Vazquez added. The first structures were built in La Parguera around the 1960s, with fishermen living in ramshackle houses that have largely been replaced by high-end homes that environmentalists say must be removed. The investigation, which proposed a $25,000 penalty against Gonzalezs in-laws, was led by former natural resources secretary Anais Rodriguez. She told WKAQ radio station last year that the investigation against Gonzalezs in-laws should continue under the new administration. On Friday, Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz wrote on Facebook that the Senate will ask Quiles to explain his administrative order. He wrote that remedies to avoid selective prosecution require caution, transparency and firmness so as to avoid falling into what could appear, be perceived or in effect be a selective benefit or privilege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In written statements made public Friday, Quiles said that his administrative order had been prepared by the previous administration and that it recognizes the acquired rights of those with homes in La Parguera and establishes responsibilities with which they must comply. This way, we end the legal limbo that has lasted for decades, which has been detrimental to both the owners of the residences in La Parguera and the government of Puerto Rico. he said Puyallup police said Friday that three recent shootings in the city appear connected and that they have arrested five juvenile suspects. The Puyallup Police Department Investigative Services Unit began investigating these shootings immediately, the agency said in a news release. It became apparent that there were connections with the cases, and that at least one suspect was involved with two of the shootings. Through investigation, probable cause was developed to arrest multiple suspects. Puyallup police spokesperson Capt. Kevin Gill confirmed that the five suspects arrested were boys. He said the agency is not releasing their ages at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first shooting happened Dec. 12. near the 500 block of 47th Avenue Southeast. The shooting was a result of a property transaction turned robbery that was arranged via social media, the Police Departments news release said Friday. As the victim fled the robbery in a vehicle, he was shot at by the suspects. No one was injured. One bullet struck the victims vehicle, one bullet struck an unoccupied vehicle parked in the area, and another bullet struck an uninvolved, occupied vehicle at a stoplight nearby, the release said. The next shooting occurred Dec. 22 in downtown Puyallup when police said two teenagers got off a Pierce Transit bus near near Pioneer and Meridian Street and fired at a juvenile who was still on the bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was injured. The final shooting occurred Dec. 28 at an apartment building at 701 43rd Ave. SE. This was a result of an illegal firearm transaction turned robbery, the news release said. The victim of the robbery was shot in the leg and suffered a serious injury. Responding officers provided immediate life-saving care. Puyallup police investigators and officers with other local agencies served a warrant Friday at a South Hill apartment. Police said they arrested four juveniles and booked them into Remann Hall, Pierce Countys youth detention facility, on suspicion of first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, unlawful gun possession and reckless endangerment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the arrests, a fifth juvenile suspect was located in the South Hill area during a traffic stop, and he was also taken into custody by Metro SWAT, the news release said. Officers booked him into Remann Hall on suspicion of first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and unlawful gun possession. Multiple firearms were recovered during the service of the search warrants and arrests, the news release said. Scientists uncovered five trackways in Britain containing dinosaur footprints, with the longest track stretching nearly 500 feet in length. The scientists date the prints to the Middle Jurassic Period and say they are part of a dinosaur highway in the region. A quarry worker was stripping clay from the ground when he felt odd bumpsthey turned out to be part of a 150-million-year-old footprint. A worker at Dewars Farm Quarry in Britain was in his vehicle when he unknowingly uncovered an old highwaybut this was not the kind of highway youre thinking of. This one comes from the Middle Jurassic Period, estimated at 166 million years ago by scientists, in what researchers at the universities of Oxford and Birmingham have dubbed a dinosaur highway. This trail contains of hundreds of different dinosaur footprints on the quarrys limestone floor. The initial unusual bumps worker Gary Johnson felt when stripping back clay in the quarry turned out to lead to five extensive trackwaysexperts believe plenty more trackways exist in the areaof dinosaur footprints, the longest stretching nearly 500 feet in length. Four of the tracks likely came thanks to the Cetiosaurus, a nearly 60-foot-long sauropod, a long-necked herbivore. The fifth track wasnt from an herbivore, but a more violent Megalosaurus, a clawed, three-toed carnivorous theropod. The university experts believe one area shows the carnivore and herbivore tracks intersecting, leading to questions of how the two potentially interacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These footprints offer an extraordinary window in to the lives of dinosaurs, Kirsty Edgar, professor of micropaleontology at the University of Birmingham, said in a statement, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited. Each Megalosaurus track is around two feet long, with a stride length of nearly nine feet, allowing scientists to estimate the speed of walking at around three miles per hour, akin to an average adult humans walking speed. The 100 workers from the quarry and universities clearing the quarry floor of mud and clay completely revealed about 200 footprints over one week. The team then built detailed 3D models of the site using aerial drone photography and documented the footprints in detail. The site was once a warm tropical sea with patches of mudflats and pockets of shallow marine lagoons, the scientists said. The fresh find matches 40 sets of footprints found in a nearby limestone quarry in 1997, although technology didnt allow for the detailed documentation of the site back then as it was done for the new find. There is much more that we can learn from this site, which is an important part of our natural Earth heritage, Richard Butler, professor of paleobiology at the University of Birmingham, said in a statement. Our 3D models will allow researchers to continue to study and make accessible this fascinating piece of our past for generations to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team now has over 20,000 images of the prints and hope further study can help reveal insights into how dinosaurs walked, how fast they went, how they may have interacted, and just how large they really were. The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaurs feet squelched in and out, Duncan Murdock, Earth scientist at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, said in a statement. Along with other fossils like burrows, shells, and plants, we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through. Emma Nicholls, vertebrate paleontologist at Oxford, said this new find could really provide a new jolt of information about the Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur ever named when it was discovered 200 years ago. Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, Nicholls said in a statement about the dino, which likely walked on two legs and weighed more than 2.2 tons while stretching nearly 30 feet long, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found. You Might Also Like One week following a deadly terror attack on New Orleans' iconic Bourbon Street, fourteen crosses neatly line the entrance to the thoroughfare famous across the globe as a symbol of a good time. As the community mourns, many locals' grief has turned to anger over failed barriers that some argue could have saved lives. Some victims and family members of victims of the attack sued the city on Thursday a week and one day since the attack claiming city leaders dropped the ball. "Appropriate barriers, temporary or otherwise, were not erected," the lawsuit claims. "Ultimately, the City and its Contractors had express warnings about a vehicle ramming attack occurring on Bourbon Street." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others are planning to file suit, as well. "Residents and visitors trusted New Orleans officials to ensure their safety, and it is deeply troubling to have preliminary information that municipal leaders were clearly aware of the vulnerability of Bourbon Street to the predictable and preventable events that ultimately occurred on January 1," said Antonio M. Romanucci, an attorney representing some victims, in a news release Wednesday. "The violation of public trust is disturbing, and we are fiercely committed to seeking accountability in this case." People commemorate the victims of the New Year's Day terror attack on Bourbon Street, New Orleans. / Credit: Patrick O'niell Little Jr/Anadolu via Getty Images According to a 2019 report into New Orleans's security measures, investigators found the city could be vulnerable, writing, "the risk of terrorism - specifically mass shootings and vehicular attacks - remains highly possible while moderately probable." With Super Bowl Sunday just one month away, the New Orleans City Council's Public Works and Criminal Justice Committees met Wednesday to discuss the barriers that were broken or not deployed at the time of the attack, and what plans are in place moving forward to ensure sufficient layers of protection will be implemented in the pedestrian zones of the French Quarter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS News has confirmed that, at the time of the attack, a metal wedge barrier in the street meant to block vehicles was malfunctioning and was down, as were metal bollards at intersections the attacker drove through along Bourbon Street. Police said the attacker drove around police cars that were parked to block the street from traffic. However, CBS News confirmed yellow archers meant to block vehicle traffic on sidewalks were not deployed. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the day after the attack that she was unaware the city had them. New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas, who is also chair of the criminal justice committee, asked Kirkpatrick in Wednesday's meeting about the current condition of the barriers and who maintains them. Kirkpatrick said she did not wish to speak about that at the meeting, but would answer more questions and provide full transparency in due time, adding "That time is not now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An audibly flabbergasted crowd gasped in reaction during Wednesday's meeting as city leaders appeared unsure who or which department is supposed to be in charge of maintaining the barriers. "To not have an inventory of the condition, especially given that this isn't a new thing, it's not only concerning, but I think it would have gone a long way within the last week or so to prepare a list of what we do have and how it's functioning," Thomas said. "Is it public works, is it homeland security, where is it housed? ... Are they 21st century? ... There's a lot more to learn." Kirkpatrick stood by her department and her leadership, adding in her remarks to the council Wednesday, "I will not resign." Thomas declined to comment about any pending lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a news conference Thursday, the city's mayor and police superintendent declined to comment about any litigation, as well. Security expert Bill Bratton comes on board Kirkpatrick said after careful consideration over the weekend, she decided to bring in a security consultant and domestic terrorism investigation expert Bill Bratton. Bill Bratton speaks at a news conference in New Orleans. / Credit: CBS News Bratton previously served as the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Police Commissioner for Boston and, most recently, New York City. Kirkpatrick said Bratton's consultancy is currently pegged for a three-month term in New Orleans, with the aim of helping guide the city's decisions on how to best strengthen its defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday, a day after the heated city council committee meeting, Bratton arrived in the Big Easy and spoke publicly in a news conference at New Orleans Police Headquarters. Bratton began his remarks Thursday by complimenting Kirkpatrick and the extensive amount of security planning that has already been accomplished for Super Bowl Sunday in February and the dozens of Mardi Gras parades scheduled between now and Fat Tuesday in March. He also commended the city's mayor, LaToya Cantrell, for lobbying to acquire a heightened security designation from the Department of Homeland Security for Mardi Gras and Super Bowl events, which the mayor said was "huge for our city," and will help with safety resources. He said he and his team had already had a two-hour briefing session with police and the city's mayor, adding the subject of the barriers was discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bratton said he and his team will focus on the "three 'P's" partnership, problem-solving, and prevention adding that his team will review current inventories and collaborate with multiple partners, including the NFL, to evaluate best barrier options to keep New Orleans safer in the future. Meanwhile, the city council indicated Wednesday it would quickly start an investigation into the barriers and how to ensure they are properly utilized in the future. "No expense will be spared," said Councilman Jean Paul "JP" Morrell. The state attorney general is investigating the attack and the city's barrier issues, CBS News has learned. Bratton said his team will be in communication with the investigating agencies to ensure his final report will consider all potential past issues to help inform a stronger path forward for New Orleans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bratton said the city's Police and Justice Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is paying for his services. Bratton said a pricetag for his contract is still being finalized, but he would be open to disclosing that amount when the terms are complete. He stressed there will be "as much transparency as possible" with his work in the Big Easy, adding, "we're not doing a secret report." "The idea is to inform and shape the paradigm as they go forward," Bratton said. Time of the essence to strengthen the Big Easy's security As of Thursday, there is exactly one month to the day until Super Bowl Sunday. Leading up to the big game, dozens of Mardi Gras parades are expected to be held in the Big Easy, which New Orleans Police say will face careful security planning and additional safety scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked how he and his team will get results in time for these crowded events, Bratton replied, "The team that has been selected for this has a broad amount of experience, particularly the New York people I'll be bringing in... two of the top counterterrorism experts in the country... one... is the smartest person in the country on the issue of bollards and barriers, so there's a lot of experience, (and) they're quick learners, quick assimilators." Mayor Cantrell added the city will be welcoming additional representatives from DHS on Friday, who she says will help coordinate security plans for ongoing Mardi Gras parades and upcoming Super Bowl festivities. At Wednesday's city council meeting, several local residents spoke passionately about their concerns over what they described as a lack of safety protections in the French Quarter. New Orleans City Council members listen to a resident speak during a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. / Credit: CBS News "I am disappointed," said New Orleans resident Lindsey Garcia at Wednesday's meeting. "Having an investigation starting tomorrow is too late." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another public commenter, Nefteria Addison, attended the Wednesday council meeting solely to ask for resources for her 14-year-old nephew who no longer has a mother. Her sister, Latasha Polk, was killed in the New Year's Day attack. "While money is great, it won't bring my sister back, and we need a long-term plan to move forward ... there are milestones that are getting ready to come up in his life that will come about that he's going to need the support for," Addison said. She says she doesn't blame the attack on anyone but the suspect, who was also killed during the attack, but she feels city leaders should use this as an opportunity to grow and make the city stronger and safer. "I think that they're not working together as a unit," Addison said on Wednesday. "Part of assuming the role of leadership, you have to be okay with sitting in the hot seat." California authorities give update on L.A. fires and announce school closures California official on evacuation orders as Sunset Fire burns in Hollywood Hills Full courtroom audio of Trump sentencing in "hush money" case Dr. Mark Turco, center, addresses members of the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Finance during a hearing on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. At left is Ernie Almonte, a board member of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub, and at right is Neil Steinberg, board chairman. (Screenshot) Almost a year after its inaugural meeting, the Rhode Island Life Science Hub has nearly cemented its hire of a full-time president and CEO, receiving the rubber stamp of the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Finance in a hearing Thursday. The committees unanimous vote advances the appointment of Dr. Mark Turco to the full R.I. Senate, which has scheduled the final confirmation vote for Jan. 21, Greg Pare, a Senate spokesperson said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding a full-time president to lead the nascent life science agency and complement the work of its 15-member, volunteer board of directors, has been a priority since the boards first meeting in January 2024. But finding that person took longer than expected, with the board finalizing a three-year contract with Turco in December. The extra time ended up benefiting the search, said Neil Steinberg, chairman of the agencys board of directors. One of the things we found is that, as we got delayed, the more qualified candidates we had because people knew what were about, Steinberg said in remarks to lawmakers Thursday. Turcos confirmation by the Senate required under the state budget article that created the agency is the seminal event for the Life Science Hub, Steinberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We got a very smart person to head this and were excited about that, Steinberg said. He had the most breadth of experience to bring to the table. And, his wife was from Pawtucket. Turco, a Philadelphia native who relocated to Rhode Island 12 years ago, highlighted his 25 years of experience in the medical and research industry, starting as a cardiologist, with stints in academia, research and as CEO of two startup businesses. He was plucked from a pool of more than 300 candidates through a nationwide search, led by a professional consulting firm enlisted by the Hub board. We are here so we can impact lives, Turco said. We can improve health and well being in Rhode Island and beyond. We can also create jobs and grow our economy. Establishing Rhode Island as a hub for medical and scientific research and entrepreneurship, similar to Cambridge and Worcester in Massachusetts, has been a top priority for lawmakers and industry leaders. While the Ocean State doesnt have the name recognition in life sciences that its Commonwealth counterpart enjoys, Turco insisted the foundational pieces a skilled workforce, academic and health care institutions, and a spirit of innovation were already in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than the state being a series of silos, we hope to be the conveners, Turco said. Innovation is a team sport and thats how we will succeed in our efforts. Lawmakers peppered Turco with questions during the 45-minute hearing, seeking clarity on his short and long-term goals for the agency, and spending plans. The states fiscal 2024 budget allotted $45 million to the agency, part of which will cover Turcos $400,000 annual salary. Were spending taxpayer dollars here, Sen. Lou DiPalma, Senate Finance chairman and a Middletown Democrat said. We will need to see Heres the why. Turco also pledged to seek additional funding, including establishing a venture fund to accept private investments and an incorporated 501(c)(3). But he will also be making an ask of lawmakers in the state budget that starts July 1, though he did not say how much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steinberg highlighted the accomplishments the agency has achieved so far. Chief among them: Inking agreements with project partners to open a first-of-its-kind state wet lab incubator space within the new state public health laboratory in the I-195 Redevelopment District. The $16 million, 30,000-square-foot incubator space is expected to open in December 2025. If approved by the full Senate, Turco will serve a three-year term as Hub CEO, expiring Jan. 15, 2028. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DENVER (KDVR) A rare South African Krugerrand gold coin worth thousands was found amid the spare change donated to a Salvation Army red kettle in Colorado. Salvation Army volunteers found the coin, valued at more than $2,700, in a red kettle at a King Soopers grocery store in Fort Collins on Dec. 23, according to a press release. This isnt the first time its happened. In fact, the Krugerrand tradition is longstanding in Fort Collins. The first gold coin like this one was found in a red kettle back in 1998. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We rely on the generosity of our local donors to attend to local needs both spiritual and physical so its a joy to know that the consistency of this gift has not waned for more than two decades, says Pastor Joshua Lyle, administrator of The Salvation Army in Fort Collins. It comes from someone who is committed to serving their community via our hands, and we appreciate that. The gold coins have also been popping up across the country. A donor dropped one in Napa, California, last year, and a Detroit suburb with its own 12-year Krugerrand tradition received a new coin this season. The divisional commander of The Salvation Army Intermountain Division, which includes Colorado, said local donations stay in the area, so the money from the Fort Collins coin will go directly back to the community. The donations we receive during the Red Kettle holiday season help our neighbors all year long, Major Nesan Kistan said. Our neighbors face hunger, job losses, insurmountable bills and many additional discouragements. Our services are needed by so many families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donations made to The Salvation Army help provide meals, food boxes, utility assistance and more to those in need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. The first two pews at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter should be a diagram of acrimony. Former President Barack Obama sat next to President-elect Donald Trump. Obama has said Trump is unfit to serve in the White House, and Trump has falsely and repeatedly questioned Obamas US citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff sat in front of Trump, although they must still be hurting from her November election loss. Former President George W. Bush sat in front of former Vice President Al Gore, who got more votes than Bush in 2000 but had to accept electoral defeat. Bush did not get the opportunity to talk to Michelle Obama, with whom he has developed a friendship, because the former first lady did not attend the funeral. Gore sat next to former Vice President Mike Pence, whose strained relationship with Trump, a row away, has cost Pence his standing in the GOP. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could also be aggravated at being seated down the row from Trump, whose 2016 victory over her she never fully accepted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And President Joe Biden, sitting on the aisle in the first pew, still thinks he could have beaten Trump, although he dropped out of the 2024 race under pressure from his fellow Democrats apparently including Obama. The job of the president, awarded by voters after an election, is by nature adversarial. But this meeting of current and former presidents to mark the passing of one of their own offered an important lesson in how to put politics in its place. It turns out that Carter and former President Gerald Ford, the man he defeated to gain the White House, became close friends after Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They mutually agreed in a phone call to deliver eulogies at their respective funerals even though only one of them, naturally, would be able to fulfill the promise. Ford died in December 2006, and Carter did speak at his predecessors funeral in January 2007. Fords son, the actor Steven Ford, delivered his fathers prepared remarks at Carters funeral, and they contained a touching message about how a cross-partisan friendship developed between the two men who used to be the most powerful person on earth. By fate of a brief season, Jimmy Carter and I were rivals, but for the many wonderful years that followed, friends bonded us as no two presidents since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, Steven Ford said, reading his fathers eulogy. It was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries even before we cherished one another as dear friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might be hard to believe that people who fight against each other, much less presidents, can develop a friendship. There is an old line to the effect that two presidents in a room is one too many, Ford said, noting that he was worried about sharing a flight with Carter to the funeral of assassinated Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981. It was somewhere over the Atlantic that Jimmy and I forged a friendship that transcends politics, Ford said. We then decided to exercise one of the privileges of a former president, forgetting that one of us had ever said any harsh words about the other one. They shared our experiences in discovering that there is indeed life after the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was at about this moment that Obama could be seen nodding as he shared some words with Trump. They were also seen speaking before the service. Ford said he and Carter agreed the US should more directly take on the Palestinian issue in order to work toward lasting peace in the Middle East. That ruffled feathers in Washington, according to Fords remarks, written so many years ago. It also feels today like a warning that was not sufficiently heeded by the US government. Ford said both he and Carter learned in their post-presidencies that political defeat can also be liberating if it frees you to discuss topics that arent necessarily consistent with short-term political popularity. We should not expect any similar sort of friendship to develop between Obama and Trump or Trump and Biden or the Clintons and Trump, although they did attend his wedding to Melania Trump before Trump entered politics. Carter and Ford, like Clinton, W. Bush and Obama, adhered to the philosophy of retreating from day-to-day politics after leaving the White House. Trump, so far the anomaly, never left the political fight and fought his way back to the White House. And he still has animosity, at least in public, for both Obama and Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump is barred by the Constitution from running in a fourth presidential election, which means he will officially join the former presidents club four years from January 20. Perhaps then he and the presidents who came before and after him will find some kind of peace. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The US Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case. The order states: The application for stay presented to Justice Sotomayor and by her referred to the Court is denied for, inter alia, the following reasons. First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. Justice Thomas, Justice Alito, Justice Gorsuch, and Justice Kavanaugh would grant the application. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com RACINE Racine Habitat for Humanitys ReStore reopened on Friday following its move from 2302 De Koven Street. The store is now located at 1101 Grove Ave. As a nonprofit home improvement store, ReStore sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials and home accessories. Across North America, there are about 900 ReStores. The proceeds from each sale at the Grove Street location, which is owned and operated by Racine Habitat for Humanity, help support the cost to build homes in the local area. Its a really cool thing to be a part of, said store manager Sydnee Welter. I think the greatest thing about this place is that youre working, but its also so fulfilling knowing that every dollar we make is helping people actually get into their first homes. Though Racines ReStore is not new to the community, the process of moving began in September 2023, when the organization purchased the Grove Street building. The store started 16 years ago to increase the amount of homes we could build for families in our program, and this relocation was an effort to double that, said Grant Buenger, executive director of Racine Habitat for Humanity. Were hoping that this new location provides enough revenue to build three families their first home every year. Around the same time the organization purchased the building, Habitat for Humanity received a $1 million grant from the CNH Industrial Foundation, or the companys charitable arm in North America, according to Michelle Javaherian. Javaherian is the community impact manager on the global sustainability team for CNH. She also works as an officer for the CNH Industrial Foundation. We have been providing grants to Habitat for Humanity in Racine for various initiatives for several years and (are) really passionate about the work that the organization is doing in Racine, Javaherian said. In addition to grants through the CNH Industrial Foundation, Javaherian said CNH maintains its relationship with Habitat for Humanity through employee volunteerism initiatives. One example is the week-long build, during which 100 employees volunteer to help Habitat for Humanity with whatever needs they have for that home, said Bonnie Sikora, a site human resources manager at CNH. According to Javaherian, the grant was awarded because Racine Habitat for Humanity shared with the foundation its long-term vision for how the funds were going to be used. This included discussing the impact of the new ReStore on the community as well as how the grant would help the organization financially, allowing it to support housing needs for more families and brighter futures for more members of the Racine community, she said. Buenger said Habitat for Humanity used the grant money to fund the construction of the space. According to Welter, the Grove Street building needed quite a bit of a facelift. The building had no lights, a leak in the roof and puddles on the floor. When organization finally was able to start moving items from the DeKoven Street location to the Grove Street storefront, Welter said the process mainly consisted of going through the inventory, consolidating, and bringing it to the new place. We took a completely empty building and turned it into a retail store, she said. For Welter, there are a lot of really good benefits to the move, like the new stores open floor plan, which allows items to be displayed. As the previous location grew from its opening years ago, the organization found that spot was not retail friendly, Buenger said, adding that the store lacked traffic, parking and a separate donation entrance. Here, we have tons of parking, Buenger said, referring to the Grove Street building. We were able to build a separate donation drop off from the customer entrance. Its wide open, its more of a rectangular shape, its better lit, its heated all that stuff just makes it more retail friendly. In addition to bolstering the retail aspect of the store, Welter said the location in the West Racine neighborhood is also a plus. Its a good neighborhood to be a part of, and the whole community is really excited that weve joined into this area, she said. The store sells a variety of household items, all of which are donated from community members. If you can use it in your home, well sell it, Welter said. Although there are no specific guidelines, Welter said the items are priced based on the market value, quality and condition. Theres somewhat of an artform to it, Buenger said. Theres also a discount system each month: The longer an item has been at ReStore, the more discounted it becomes. The store also relies on volunteers. With Welter, there are nine staff members at the store. But each week, she sees 30-50 volunteers, including regular and new faces, as well as homeowners that the organization helps. Ive watched a lot of changes, (and) Ive made a lot of changes in aspects of how to make us a better retail store, she said. But then to watch as they get involved with it the people change too. People just get more into it, and they see what we do and they want to be a part of it. For instance, one homeowner is getting her first house in a few months. Shes just flourished, Welter said. Ive been there through the whole thing, and its been so beautiful to watch her just turn into this great person, all because of being a part of this community, this family, that we have. Sikora said CNH employees volunteered to help set up the ReStore, and as more employees volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, she believes CNHs relationship with the organization will continue to grow. With the new leadership they have in place, theyve really done a lot of great things and come a long way with the Habitat organization in Racine, Sikora said. We are getting more and more volunteers, and we usually have waiting lists for them. Buenger said volunteers do a variety of work, like helping at the cash register, pricing items, receiving donations and picking up donations. They also contribute to the deconstruction process, which involves taking items that dont sell or cant be sold, disassembling them and taking the materials to a scrap yard. We recycle as much as we possibly can, Welter said. We have an entire area dedicated to just scrapping stuff. For instance, if the store receives a light that doesnt work, Welter said the team will disassemble it, separate the parts and recycle pieces. Though Buenger said the main goal of the store is to serve more families with affordable housing, he also wants to strengthen the community that were in, to be a good partner here in West Racine, support local businesses, bring increased traffic into the area, (and) help people to repurpose the place that they call home at a more affordable price. As mourners pay tribute to former President Jimmy Carter following a national funeral service Jan. 9 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., admirers recall the enduring love story of the 39th president of the United States and his late wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023. During Rosalynn Carters tribute service on Nov. 28, 2023, at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta, the couple's youngest child and only daughter, Amy Carter, read a love letter Jimmy Carter wrote to his bride 75 years before. I chose something that is hard to read without crying, Amy Carter said during the service. My mom spent most of her life in love with my dad. Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of her life. Because he isnt able to speak to you today, I am going to share some of his words about loving and missing her. Amy Carter was one of several family members who spoke during the service. Amy Carter then read a letter written to Rosalynn Carter 75 years before her death by the former president during his service in the Navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned to discover just how wonderful you are. While I am away, I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not be as sweet and beautiful as I remember. But when I see you, I fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you? It doesnt to me. Goodbye, darling. Until tomorrow. Jimmy. the letter from Jimmy carter recited by amy carter during her mother rosalynn carter's tribute service. Rosalynn Carter died Nov. 19 at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96. She married Jimmy Carter in July 1946 when she was 18 years old. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A little more than a year later, Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29 at the couple's home at the age of 100. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (DENVER) In case you missed it, Governor Jared Polis gave his State of the State address on Thursday, Jan. 9. The annual address recapped the past year, while also looking forward the future. The speech lasted about an hour, so we broke it down by some of the key points. Housing, crime, cost of living, and education were among the biggest topics. While Gov. Polis discussed affordable housing, he mentioned a fairly recent development in Colorado Springs. You might recognize the apartment complex he spoke about from our previous coverage, its called the Villages at Solid Rock. It includes 77 units with rent based on income. Its built on a churchs property, which is one of several creative solutions to affordable housing that Gov. Polis touched on. He said hes excited to see similar developments take shape across the state. The governor also spoke about cutting property taxes, lowering the residential property tax rate, and accessory dwelling units (also known as a mother-in-law suite or a guest house). Polis added that hed like to break down barriers for building condos, to provide more affordable home ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before 2008, condos made up about 20% of new home starts in Colorado, dropping to about 5% now. About 10 years ago, there were nearly 3,000 condos on the market under $400,000, and last year, there were only 22, said Gov. Polis. This conversation about meaningful condo liability reforms that, of course, balance homeowner protections and de-risk the market, but fundamentally allow more condos to be built, has often been stifled. On a separate note, Gov. Polis said crime rates dropped in almost every category. He said property crime is down 15%, homicides are down 9%, and car thefts are down 26%. However, the governor added that one area that still needs improvement is youth crime. He says that his budget calls for more support to prevent crime from happening in the first place. To prevent youth crime hed like to expand resources for youth, and increase bed capacity at the Division of Youth Services, so young adults who enter the criminal justice system can get back on track and avoid becoming repeat offenders. Under my proposal, youth offenders who are currently being sent all over the state will be able to stay closer to home to get the support they need faster, from their families and their communities, said Gov. Polis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for cost of living, he touted reducing insurance rates, price transparency legislation, and capping the price of insulin, although he says the work is not done when it comes to lowering prices, as he called out hospitals and the FDA. We dont always find ourselves on the same side of an issue as Florida, but as the only two states taking much-needed and long overdue steps to cut the costs of prescription drugs by importing them from Canada Our patience wears thin for the FDA slow walking our well-qualified application to import lower-cost prescription drugs, said Gov. Polis. On the topic of education he celebrated universal pre-school for saving families money, though he says theres still a long way to go to improve our schools. Today, tragically there are education deserts as President Coleman calls them, in Colorado. Where 90% of students, around 22 in a class of 25, are behind grade level in math and reading. That is unacceptable, said Gov. Polis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said improving education could include using a new school finance formula, as well as making it easier for new options like charter schools to open and operate within the state. His speech on Thursday also focused on migrants in Colorado. Polis said undocumented criminals should be deported. He also acknowledged the presence and problems with undocumented criminals in Denver and Aurora, but made sure to add the cities have been having gang problems for decades. Polis also said hes open to working with federal immigration agencies to make it happen with some exceptions. I truly hope that President Elect Trump and Congress can work together quickly to secure the border, stop human trafficking, and stop the illegal flow of guns and drugs. As a state, we welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals. I also hope that Congress finally provides legal pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and those who seek to come out of the shadows. We dont support efforts to deport American citizens, to target those on pending legal status. To break up families. To create orphans of American children whose parents are alive and who come to this country to build a better life for their families. Well stay true to the core values upon which our country was built, opening the door of freedom and opportunity and hope for all. Gov. Jared Polis Polis also criticized President Elect Trumps tariff proposals, saying they could raise the cost of everything. He said he will continue to criticize the tariffs just as he did with President Biden. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. As the devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles continues to unfold, the Recording Academy and MusiCares have launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to support music professionals impacted by the crisis, making a combined pledge of $1 million to kick off the efforts. The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles, Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, said in a statement. The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day, added Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares. MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares can help with short term emergent needs for those currently displaced, and then longer-term services as we get a handle on the full extent of how music people are impacted. If you or someone you know in the music industry has been affected by the LA County fires, visit https://musicares.org/get-help to apply for relief. You can also send an email to musicaresrelief@musicares.org or call 1-800-687-4227. You can contribute to the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to Support Music Professionals by donating at MusiCares.org/FireRelief. For more than three decades, MusiCares has provided relief to the music industry during times of need, including the Las Vegas Route 91 shooting, the COVID-19 pandemic, Superstorm Sandy, Hurricanes Katrina and Helene, and the California and Maui wildfires. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As the Los Angeles fires continue to rage across the city, the Recording Academy and MusiCares made a combined pledge of $1 million to kick off a new relief effort to support musicians and industry professionals impacted by the devastating fires. The Grammys voting body launched the effort in partnership with the Academys philanthropic arm to provide health, financial and rehabilitation resources for artists in L.A. The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles, Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academys chief executive, said in a statement Thursday night. The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Academy has set up a donation page and encouraged music fans to donate to to funnel funds directly to artists in need, following the ongoing destruction. Thousands of families have been evacuated, many with no home to return to. The Recording Academy said they hope these donations can provide solace and comfort to the Angelenos impacted by this devastating natural disaster. The Recording Academy also provided links in their statement on X for resources, shelter locations via The Red Cross and information about Uber and Lyft vouchers for residents displaced by the fires. We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day, Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, added. MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares has provided over $100 million in financial support to the music community since its inception in 1989. The charity has offered relief in response to a variety of past disasters, including the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest festival shooting, the COVID-19 pandemic, Superstorm Sandy, Hurricanes Katrina and Helene and the Maui wildfires. The post Recording Academy Pledges $1 Million to LA Wildfire Relief appeared first on TheWrap. CLEVELAND (WJW) The American Red Cross put out a call for volunteers Wednesday morning to man emergency shelters for people displaced by the wildfires in southern California. The Northern Ohio Region is now seeing if any of their volunteers are available, regional communications manager Christy Peters told FOX 8. Here in northern Ohio, we are fortunate that we dont experience many huge natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes, and so, often our volunteers are willing to go because they realize those people need help, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to donate to LA wildfire relief Anyone who is available to go away for at least two weeks will be put on a list of available volunteers. Peters said its highly likely theyll be sent to California because of the mass destruction thats already happened. Its just a matter of which emergency shelters need the most help. Peters pointed out that so many people will have had to make quick evacuations and could be without food, clothes, toiletries or medication. Many may have had to abandon their car. Many of them, probably, didnt have time to grab much of anything before they left, Peters explained. In our shelters, we make sure that those needs are being met for all of our residents. Were providing them, not only with food but with care items. We have specialized volunteers who help with health needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTOS: Devastation from wildfires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena seen by satellite Peters also shared that the Red Cross Northern Ohio Region is always seeking volunteers. Even if someone cant travel for natural disasters, they respond to an average of three house fires every day to provide the same resources that are being provided to the people of southern California. You can learn more about becoming a volunteer at the Red Cross website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City is changing its name and will officially be known as the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency (SLCCRA). The organization said the new name better reflects the 55-year-old organizations mission to reinvest in and uplift Salt Lake Citys communities through projects that create meaningful and lasting benefits for all residents. Midway Ice Castles set to open next week for 2025 winter season Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im excited to embrace a name that reflects our dedication to building a city where everyone can thrive, said SLCCRA Board Chair and Salt Lake City Council Member Alejandro Puy. This new name reaffirms our commitment to community-centered growth and delivering tangible, lasting benefits to the people of Salt Lake City. Since its founding, the SLCCRA has worked with city residents and the development community to help improve Salt Lake City. Their projects include building affordable and mixed housing, new commercial developments, public improvements through parks and public transportation, among others, as well as funding public art and culture. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who also serves as the SLCCRA Executive Director, said the organizations work is guided by a clear vision to create spaces where neighborhoods can flourish and opportunities for residents are within reach. Under this new name, we will continue to build a city that reflects the aspirations of our communities, said Mendenhall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current SLCCRA project areas include the future of Smiths Ballpark, the revitalization of the Granary District, and the turning of downtown Main Street into a walkable promenade. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Jan. 10Cattle ranchers in Washington and Idaho are benefiting from a strong cattle market due to smaller herd sizes and robust consumer demand for beef. But the risk of high tariffs on exports coupled with a threat to deport thousands of undocumented migrant workers has raised concerns among many beef industry officials. "Current cattle prices are strong that's good," said Cameron Mulrony, executive vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association. "We're trying to recover from past years when our input costs were exceeding our growth standpoint. It's all about supply and demand." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cattle ranchers throughout the country began culling their herds a few years back when input costs such as feed and fuel skyrocketed, shrinking profits to a trickle. Ranchers took another hit when drought, high temperatures and summer wildfires wiped out pasturelands. Mulrony said Idaho lost more than a million acres of winter range last summer because of wildfires. As a result cattle herds got smaller pushing beef prices in the grocery stores, supplemented by foreign imports, to new highs. According to agriculture economists, herd sizes are the smallest they've been since 1961. Mulrony said there's no evidence yet that the situation is turning around. "People are trying to catch up but the numbers are not showing yet that we are headed into an increase," Mulrony said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growing the number of cattle on the market won't happen overnight because of the time it takes to gestate a calf and raise it to market size. "It is a cycle," Mulrony said. "If they keep heifers next year it will be two years before that rebuilds. Once that starts then that tells us people are retaining heifers to rebuild their herds. It will take 17 months to get into the processing chain." Shannon Neibergs, an agriculture economist at Washington State University, said although local herd sizes are smaller, ranchers in the Northwest were not hit as hard as those in the major cattle producing areas of the Midwest where persistent drought scorched grass fields and forced producers to severely cull their herds. Official herd numbers and cattle statistics will not be available, he added, until the National Agricultural Statistics Service reports later this month. "Our inventory trends don't run the market but those guys with the big numbers run the market and they have culled down," Neibergs said. "In Oregon, Washington and Idaho we have not culled our cows and we're waiting to see how it's reported at the end of January." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey Scott, a rancher near Clarkston, said strong calf prices are prompting ranchers to continue to sell their heifers and there are not a lot of replacements coming in. Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM "So that's definitely a concern for herd size," Scott said. "We typically see some prices are up so (ranchers) are selling everything they can." Many ranchers also are reaching retirement age and liquidating their stock, "so that's a bit of a player, as well," Scott said. When it comes to international trade, cattlemen said it's too soon to tell how possible tariffs would affect local ranchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The thing that is probably not recognized right off the bat," said Neibergs, is that the large meat packing plants in the U.S. typically sell low-quality cuts, hide and other refuse to international markets like China and Mexico. "If the tariff war flares up on that," he said, "then those low-value cuts that add value to the carcass will have a hard time finding a home." Until the tariffs are proposed, Mulrony said, it's hard to say how they would affect the beef industry. "Tariffs are placed on items based on a political need," he said. "If there's a tariff on importing beef coming in, it would affect differently" than tariffs imposed by other countries on U.S. products going out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Foreign demand is still high and that helps," Mulrony added. "We have more cows than people in Idaho and we have to be able to get it out." One of the more critical concerns of industry officials is proposed immigration reform that could drastically reduce the number of migrant workers in the agriculture sector. A University of Idaho study released in February found that finding key workers in agriculture, construction and service industries is a major worry for Idaho businesses. That is especially current in the state's dairy industry that accounts for about $10.7 billion in economic impact each year and 90% of workers are unauthorized. "The foreign-born workforce is necessary in agriculture," Mulrony said. "We don't see it as much in cow-calf operations but more in the feeding and processing industries. We have to have the people to do the work and that's the concern. If we start reducing the workforce we need to do the job then we start running into issues, as far as reduced supplies in the stores. It adds to that pricing structure." Mulrony said one of the priorities for the beef industry is to support the efforts of dairy and row crop producers who would be more directly affected by the loss of foreign-born workers. Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said all remaining Big Lots in Pennsylvania could be closing. Big Lots began a going-out-of-business sale after a federal court confirmed their bankruptcy. There are 64 Big Lots locations still open in Pennsylvania. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Big Lots to start going out of business sales at all remaining locations Henry said Pennsylvania residents should do the following to protect themselves as they shop at Big Lots locations: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make purchases by credit card, so consumers can dispute a purchase, if needed; Check the stores return and refund policies Check the stores gift card and rewards policies Prior to purchase, confirm inventory if making a buy-online-pickup-in-store Courts have set a deadline of Friday, Jan. 31 for customers who have made claims against Big Lots. Anyone who has been impacted by the closure of Big Lots is encouraged to file a Proof of Claim. Click here to file a Proof of Claim. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW NEW YORK (PIX11) Jimmy Carter was not your stereotypical politician. He was a deeply religious man and more of a moral leader than a political one. I had the good fortune to interview him on three occasions and to join him at the White House to cover the final days of negotiations to get American hostages released from Iran. My first encounter with him was in November of 1982, when he arrived at the PIX11 studios for an interview on Midday Edition, which was part of the Independent Network News programming lineup. He looked trim and relaxed just two years out of office. Carter was there to promote his just-released memoir. I brought my two children along, 10-year-old Steven and 7-year-old Jill, to meet the man who served as our 39th president. They were excused from school that day to get an unforgettable lesson in American history as they chatted with Carter, who was most gracious with them. The memory of that moment is everlasting in the photos we took. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jimmy Carters legacy of helping homeless people was forged in NYC Carter was relaxed, forthright, and unflappable as I peppered him with questions during the 20-minute interview. As for his greatest accomplishment, he exclaimed it was the Camp David Accords in 1978 when he brokered peace between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The sessions at the presidential retreat, he said, were expected to last just three or four days, but they instead ran for almost two weeks. He said the two leaders were totally incompatible and was fearful the sessions would never be successful. At one point he said Sadat packed his bags and was prepared to leave. Carter convinced him to stay. But it was more difficult days later when he had to block a door to prevent both Begin and Sadat from bolting. There was a bitter confrontation between the two men, he said. They were determined to drop out of the discussions. So, I got in front of them and blocked the door and would not let them out until the tension eased and I kept them from departing. Once finally signed, the agreement was a significant milestone for Carter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressing on, I asked Carter about his greatest disappointment of his administration. It was the aborted rescue attempt of our hostages in Iran, he said. Operation Eagle Claw was intended to rescue 52 Americans being held hostage. The mission failed when two helicopters collided, killing eight servicemen. Carter negotiated up until his last day in office to gain the freedom of the hostages who had been held for 444 days. They were finally set free the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. During his four-year reign, Carter had a difficult time dealing with Congress, including members of his own Democratic Party. He was forthright when he shared with me that he believed it was because he was an outsider. I was kind of an alien when I came to Washington, misunderstood because I hadnt been a part of the environment, he said. Also, because I was a Southerner. I was a Baptist, a born-again Christian, an element around me that created mystery. And he added, I came from nowhere almost overnight to become president of the United States. I caught up with the former president again at the Democratic convention in Dallas, where he hailed the nomination of Geraldine Ferraro as the first woman nominee for vice president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his administration Carter was a champion for womens rights and appointed many to his administration. In 1984 when he released his book on the Middle East, Carter returned to the PIX11 studios for another interview. We knew one another well by now, and he was relaxed and comfortable as I probed him with more questions. At the end of the interview I asked how he would like to be remembered by future historians. I would like to be remembered with two things, he shot back with confidence about his accomplishments. One is peace and the other one is human rights. I think that our countrys greatness is enhanced when we are in the forefront of peace and human rights for all people. And that is how Jimmy Carter will be remembered, as a champion of peace who leaves behind a rich and lasting legacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. CHEYENNE In 1987, the Wyoming State Capitol Building and Grounds was recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior, making it one of 35 state Capitols to receive this recognition. In a Monday news release, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office announced that the Capitols updated designation, which was approved on Sept. 2, affirms the sites exceptional value to Wyoming residents and all Americans. Every National Historic Landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which makes it eligible for federal safeguards and benefits under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, according to the states Historic Preservation Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recognition of the Wyoming State Capitol Building as a National Historic Landmark is a testament to our rich heritage and a reminder of the importance of safeguarding our history for future generations, said Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Beadles in the release. Our dedication to preserving the historic sites of Wyoming honors the stories and values they embody. Wyoming led the nation as the first state to grant women the right to vote in 1869 and was also the first state to elect a female governor in 1924. In the underground corridor connecting the state Capitol and Herschler Building is a bronze statue of Esther Hobart Morris, the nations first female justice of the peace, who helped lead the fight for womens suffrage in the Equality State. Former Wyoming Senate President Ogden Driskill and House Speaker Albert Sommers wrote a letter of support to the National Park Service last year to update the Wyoming Capitols historic landmark status. The restored Capitol and Wyomings role in womens suffrage is a source of pride for the people of Wyoming, Driskill and Sommers wrote. And that is why we wholeheartedly endorse its updated designation to continue its proud history as a National Historic Landmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Capitol is more than 130 years old and underwent a major, $317 million renovation construction project from 2016 to 2019. The project aimed to replace outdated building systems, add critical safety infrastructure and address public space needs, as well as restore historic building features, according to the Wyoming Capitol Square Project website. The restoration of the Peoples House ensured Wyomings future generations are exposed to the rich history contained in the Capitol, Gov. Mark Gordon said in the news release. This honor reflects the pride Wyomings people have for our history and the collaborative work that went into preserving it. Throughout the renovation, construction workers discovered original artwork as they peeled back the plaster walls throughout the building. The original walls were found to be decorated in a French style art called trompe loeil, which means to deceive the eye. After this discovery, a decision was made to decorate the walls with a similar art style and color scheme. With major restoration projects out of the way, the Wyoming Legislature has committed to continue making small improvements within the three-story building and its underground corridor, formally known as the Capitol Extension, which connects it to the Herschler Building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, has chaired the Legislatures Capitol Interpretive Exhibits and Wayfinding Subcommittee since 2021. This subcommittee of the State Land Board made up of the states top five elected officials was tasked with finishing up the Capitol Square and pushed through different projects to update the Capitols interior. New golden signage posted on the walls and windows, the rearrangement of the bronze statues of Morris and Chief Washakie in the Capitol Extension, and interactive screens displaying maps and descriptions throughout the building are just a few projects accomplished by the subcommittee. Rotating gallery exhibits, a new wildlife auditorium and a renovated media room are a few upcoming projects that will be tackled next, Landen said. As the Legislature gets ready to convene next week for the 68th Wyoming Legislatures general session, dozens of visitors, lobbyists and lawmakers will walk through the Capitols hallways for the next couple of months. Landen said he has often run into visitors who stopped by the Capitol because of its National Historic Landmark status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason, of course, is suffrage. Thats one of the big feathers in Wyomings bonnet, Landen said. The fact that we were the first government in the world to grant women the right to vote, thats a big deal. And so quite a bit of our effort on that historical exhibit committee has been to not just underscore that, but take pride in the suffrage moniker that Wyoming has. Although hes served in the Wyoming Legislature since 2007, Landen has never tired of marveling at the beauty of the Capitols marble hallways, red carpeted stairs, and decorative statues and paintings. Every time I walk up those steps, I just never get over the privilege and the honor it is to be able to serve in that building, Landen said. A lot of great things have happened there, and Im so glad that, a decade ago, we had the vision and the fortitude to get that building taken care of and renovated and passed on to the next five or six generations. (NewsNation) California Rep. Lateefah Simon came to the defense of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who faced criticism for being out of the country during the recent wildfires. Mayors do travel. Politicians work and they take delegations, Simon, D-Calif., told NewsNation. She came back immediately. She is on-site. Bass was in Ghana attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama as part of a U.S. presidential delegation when wildfires rapidly erupted this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rick Caruso, a former mayoral candidate, slammed Bass for being overseas. It was an absolute mismanagement by the city because this was a disaster waiting to happen, and whats predictable is preventable, Caruso told Fox 11. But Simon, who entered office just four days ago, came to Bass defense. We are united for the residents of California. Thats what this is about, she said, adding that its not about politics. Simon said the wildfires hit home for her, as many of her family and friends have lost everything. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, speaks to a colleague before the start of the session of the Alabama House of Representatives on May 11, 2023. Estes has agreed to settle a case that alleged he made violent threats to a woman, according to a Thursday court filing. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, who faced accusations of making violent threats to a woman, has agreed to settle the case, according to a court filing Thursday. Estes, 57, was charged with 3rd degree domestic violence charges on Sept. 20 after he allegedly made verbal threats to a person for two hours. The person who filed the petition for protection from abuse alleged that a gun was involved and that she was afraid she would be seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third-degree domestic violence is a class A misdemeanor. Conviction can result in a sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine of $6,000. In exchange for dismissal of the charges, the settlement states that a protective order issued in September will remain in effect for another two years. Any contact between the two people would be a breach of the order. Estes also agreed to pay court costs and complete a state-certified intervention program called the PEACE program, which is a course that confronts abusers belief system and use of power and control. The case could be reinstated if he violates the terms in the protective order, and the order could be extended. Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with attorney for both parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marion County Circuit Court Judge Talmage Lee Carter had previously denied a motion to seal proceedings and ordered Estes to pay temporary relief of $800 per month to the alleged victim. Carter denied a request for Estes to pay attorney fees at the time. Estes was elected in 2018 to the Alabama House of Representatives and was re-elected in 2022. He has also served on the Marion County Board of Education, according to Ballotpedia. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX At a time of relative peace and with fewer than 1% of Americans serving active duty in the military, its easy to forget the economic impact of the defense industry particularly in Utah. But in 2023, the defense industry directly and indirectly supported over 173,000 Utah jobs about the size of the states construction industry and contributed an estimated $22.2 billion to the states gross domestic product, according to a report released this week by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Utah continues to host many national defense businesses and military installations that provide vital contributions to our national security, said Kevin Sullivan, executive director and chief operating officer of the Utah Defense Alliance Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such contributions cast a wide net across Utahs diverse economy, according to Levi Pace, the reports lead author and a senior economist at the University of Utahs Gardner Institute. This industry is unique because almost 100% of its funding comes from out of state, Pace told the Deseret News. When I think of the military and the defense industry, Im usually thinking about active duty personnel and our National Guard service members, who carry a heavy load. But its also a lot of civilian and contractor jobs. Thats where weve seen some of the higher-paying jobs or higher growth which supports our military preparedness and service members. The Gardner report revealed several key economic findings from fiscal year 2023: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employment Utahs defense industry directly provided 49,540 military and civilian jobs 2% of the states employment. Income Utahs federal defense workforce earned over $3.5 billion in compensation in 2023, representing 2.5% of the statewide total. Compensation for federal defense jobs in Utah averaged $102,115 about one-third more than the states average ($77,801) paid by all other jobs. Contracts Of Utahs total of $5.9 billion total in defense contracts in 2023, $5.2 billion (almost 90%) went to 10 contractors including Northrup Grumman, with $3.5 billion. Job impact The defense industry directly and indirectly supported over 173,000 full- and part-time jobs mostly related to Hill Air Force Base, federal support for Utah veterans, defense contracts and grants, and the Utah National Guard. GDP impact Utahs defense industry directly or indirectly contributed an estimated $22.2 billion in GDP. Thats 7.8% of the statewide total for all industries. Fiscal impacts Defense-related activity in Utah generated net fiscal impacts of $431.3 million for the state government, based on estimated revenues of $841.5 million versus expenditures of $410.2 million. Hill AFBs deep economic reach Its difficult to overstate the primacy of Hill Air Force Base in Utahs defense industry. Stretching across Davis and Weber counties, its the states premier military installation in terms of budget, staffing, land area and technology, according to the report. Hill Air Force Base has been the anchor of the defense industry in Utah for decades, said Pace. More than half of the (states) federal jobs in defense are at Hill AFB. Much of the burgeoning aerospace industry planes, missiles, drones along with cybersecurity and communications all revolve around Hill AFB. In 2023, Hill AFB employed 4,853 active duty military personnel, 1,067 Air Force reservists and a whopping 14,787 federal civilian employees. Thats almost 10% of the total employment in Davis County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Hill AFB remains a major draw for government contractors. More than 6,200 employers of government contractors from the private sector worked on the base in 2023, according to the Gardner report. Were kind of an Air Force state, said Pace. Besides Hill AFB, the Gardner report identified several other major defense components contributing to Utahs economy including Dugway Proving Grounds, Tooele Army Depot, the Utah National Guard. Meanwhile, federal support for veterans and retired defense department civilians impacts local and state economies in several ways including Veterans Affairs health clinics and military pensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Utah companies, military installations and other institutions were awarded over $6 billion in federal defense contracts and grants, according to the report. Some of the top defense contractors in Utah included Northrup Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Utah State University and Advantaged Solutions. Looking ahead: Defense and Utahs economy and jobs Federal employment in the defense sector has been very stable in recent years and Pace expects that to continue. Where I would expect to see more growth and innovation, he said, would be in the contracting of aerospace and different kinds of technologies around our defense and military preparedness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pace also noted that the defense industry typically boasts above-average pay. The military is hiring people in virtually every occupation that you might see in the private sector, he said. Many of those jobs are from advanced STEM or really creative-type jobs. So theres a lot of (job) potential for contractors and on bases, as well. Future production plans for carmaker Volkswagen's factory in the eastern German city of Zwickau remain in doubt, even after labour concessions in a new collective bargaining deal averted threatened plant closures. The news magazine Spiegel reported that the Volkswagen Group, the carmaker's parent corporation, is considering moving the production of the electric Audi Q4 e-tron SUV, to another location beginning in the 2030s. The luxury carmaker Audi is also owned by the Volkswagen Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are now ongoing discussions about moving the vehicle's production to Volkswagen's US plant in Chattanooga, at least for vehicles intended for the US market, Spiegel reported. All Audi Q4 e-tron models, including those exported to the United States, are now produced in Zwickau. "We are currently examining various scenarios," an Audi spokeswoman told dpa. But she added: "Zwickau will remain the production site for the Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback." Volkswagen's sister model to the Audi Q4 e-tron, the VW ID.4, is already being produced in Chattanooga. For Audi, however, the Q4 would be the first vehicle to be produced directly in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until now, Audi has mainly served the local market from its plant in Mexico. The Audi Q4 e-tron and its estate variant, the Q4 e-tron Sportback, are currently scheduled to be the only models to be built in Zwickau from 2027. (Photo: SDI Productions/Getty Images) While all eyes were on Judge Jefferson Griffins attempt to discard ballots in a case thats now with the state Supreme Court, theres a parallel action, with a hearing today, in Wake Superior Court in a lawsuit brought by the Republican Party. Griffin, a Republican Appeals Court judge, is seeking to throw out more than 60,000 votes cast in the fall election on the belief that doing so will allow him to unseat incumbent Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs. Riggs leads by 734 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Griffin wants votes subtracted only in his race, a separate Republican lawsuit seeks to potentially throw out tens of thousands of votes cast in all statewide races. At this point, all statewide election results, except the result in Supreme Court race, have been certified and the winners have taken office. The Democratic National Committee will go to court to formally oppose the GOP suit. Most of the ballots Griffin is seeking to discount were cast by people he claims did not provide drivers license numbers or a partial Social Security number on their registration applications. He argues those voters are not legally registered, though many have been registered and voting for decades. State law does not require voters to have a drivers license number or Social Security number. In a separate lawsuit, the Republican National Committee, the state Republican Party, the Wake County Republican Party and two voters want a Superior Court judge to require the state Board of Elections to go through the more than 60,000 ballots to determine whether the voters were validly registered and deduct the votes of those who werent, or have elections officials go back to voters to collect the government digits under a deadline. Republicans propose that voters whose information is not collected would have their votes discarded for all elections for state offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit blames the state Board of Elections for violating state law by not collecting the information, and asks for a preliminary injunction. The state Supreme Court ordered a temporary stay in Griffins case earlier this week. The Democratic National Committee will ask to intervene in the GOP lawsuit to oppose it. The election is over and all the elections are certified or are already being litigated over the exact same claims, the DNC brief says. Plaintiffs lawsuit runs counter to the generalities they purport to espouse. They claim they are combating voter fraud, yet they attempt to disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters who have lawfully registered and cast their ballots for decades, the brief says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They claim they are promoting election integrity, but their lawsuit undermines voters ability to trust that their voter registrations are valid and their votes will be counted. The motion should be denied and the status quo maintained pending trial on the merits. At Griffins request, the state Supreme Court this week blocked certification of Riggs election while it considers his case. Republicans hold a 5-2 majority on the court. Four Republican justices decided to hear the case, while one Republican and one Democrat dissented. Riggs has recused herself. The state Board of Elections dismissed Griffins protests last month. Last year, the state GOP and the Republican National Committee sued to have 225,000 voters purged from the registration rolls over the issue of partial voter registration applications. A federal judge partially dismissed the suit. Some voters have said they put partial Social Security numbers on their applications, but through data mismatches, the numbers were not attached to their voter files. State Sens. Loren Lippincott, Rita Sanders and Tom Brewer, from left, join a ceremonial bill signing for Nebraska National Guard recruitment and retention legislation. Sanders will take over for term-limited Brewer as chair of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee in the 2025-26 legislative sessions. Dec. 10, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Conservatives in the Nebraska Legislature appear poised to wrest a partisan advantage on all but one legislative committee for the next two years, moving two Lincoln Democrats off a key committee on which they previously served. The Committee on Committees, which sets committee assignments for state senators, voted 12-1 on Thursday to advance a preliminary slate of committee placements. It came after the placement committee stalled in its deliberations Wednesday evening, primarily over whether the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee would lean left or right, or have a 4-4 split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of late Wednesday, the eight-member Government Committee was set to have three Republicans and five members that leaned left four Democrats and one nonpartisan progressive. Under the new slate, Republicans will hold five seats, which they desired as the minimum end result of deliberations. Of 13 other standing committees, all but one will be led by a Republican chair with a GOP advantage behind them. Urban Affairs will be led by Democratic State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, set to be split 4-3 to Democrats. The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, though all but one of the 49 members are either Republican or Democrat, and they sometimes split along party on contentious issues. Importance of majority State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Mike Moser of Columbus said that the breakdown better mirrors the states party registration data. As of Jan. 1, Nebraska had 1.27 million registered voters: 49% Republican, 27% Democrats, 22% nonpartisan and 2% Libertarians or Legal Marijuana NOW registrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know why, on those key committees, we would not continue to have a Republican majority on those, Jacobson said. The geographic breakdown of Nebraskas three congressional districts. (Courtesy of the Legislative Research Office) The committee assignment process considers the states geography, as the states 49 lawmakers are divided into three caucuses, roughly mirroring Nebraskas three congressional districts. Moser said committee assignments are made based on a few key factors, including committee incumbency, senators assignment preferences, caucus balance and partisan balance. Incumbent Democratic State Sens. Danielle Conrad and Jane Raybould, both of Lincoln, will no longer serve on the Government Committee, where they sat for the past two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two senators will swap with freshman Republican State Sens. Dave Woody Wordekemper of Fremont and Stan Clouse of Kearney on the Natural Resources Committee. Clouse is in the 3rd Congressional District, while the others who were moved are in the 1st Congressional District. Nine of the 10 Lincoln and Lancaster County state lawmakers joined for a town hall at Union College on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in Lincoln. Back row, from left, are State Sens. Beau Ballard, Carolyn Bosn, Eliot Bostar, Myron Dorn, George Dungan and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Jason Ball. Front row, from left, are State Sens. Jane Raybould, Anna Wishart, Danielle Conrad and Tom Brandt. Not pictured: Sen. Rob Clements. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Jacobson said the irony of the move is that his 3rd District Caucus gave up a seat on the Natural Resources Committee, where many proposed bills will likely impact the 3rd District. The sprawling 3rd Congressional District is the states largest geographically. Jacobson said part of the consideration isnt just about potential 2025 bills, but also 2026. Jacobson said he considers the Government Committee as important as tax- or budget-focused committees. Other trades proposed State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, the lone Democratic representative from the 1st District Caucus on the Committee on Committees and the Legislatures Executive Board, said he preferred a contingent offer the night before that would have made the Government Committee a 4-4 split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2nd District Caucus, led on the Committee on Committees by three Democrats and one nonpartisan progressive, offered to flip freshman Omaha State Sens. Dunixi Guereca, a Democrat, and Bob Andersen, a Republican, between the Government and Natural Resources Committees. I thought that distribution, not everyone would love it, but it was acceptable, Bostar said. I think that with kicking folks off of Government from the 1st Caucus, it becomes problematic to me. Republicans drew their line in the sand for a 5-3, GOP-led Government Committee, and they rejected, by a 7-6 vote, advancing the 4-4 split. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha reads the Nebraska Legislatures rule book. July 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The 2nd District Caucus representatives offered a different trade if a 5-3 Government Committee was non-negotiable: to swap Democratic State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha on the Government Committee with Republican State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue on the Judiciary Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If accepted, the proposed 5-3 GOP-led Judiciary Committee would be split evenly instead, mirroring a partisan split from the past two years that bottled up many bills in a committee that typically considers the most bills each year. Conrad, who said she knew her 1st District caucus might not honor her seniority, which is the most in the current Legislature in her 11th year, said shell be honored to serve on Natural Resources, or wherever she ends up. Its an honor to serve in the Nebraska Legislature and no matter what petty scores are settled over personalities or partisanship, Im gonna work hard all day, every day in good faith with anybody at any time, Conrad said in a text. The nuclear option Sixteen new state senators walk the halls of the Nebraska Legislature for the first time in January 2025. (Photos courtesy of the candidates; Capitol photo by Rebecca Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moser said it isnt in the best interest of Nebraskans to allow one party to dominate a community by not manipulating the rules, but kind of using the nuclear option, referencing the push by Democrats and progressives to take over the 2nd District Caucus slots on the Committee on Committees. Its a political maneuver on their part to try to dominate as many committees as they can with the minority members they have, he continued. They can control their own caucus, but they cant control the 1st or 3rd. Democrats have little control in the 49-member body, where Republicans maintain 33 seats, enough to break filibusters and pass conservative priorities if all vote in lockstep. The 13-member Committee on Committees is split 8-5 between Republicans and Democrats and a progressive nonpartisan. State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, from the 2nd District Caucus, said that he and his fellow caucus members are proud of the work they did in setting committee assignments for their members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Committee on Committees will meet one more time to prepare a final report, which isnt expected to deviate from the preliminary report. The full Legislature will consider the assignments next week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Voters wait in line on Nov. 5, 2024, at a polling location in Chandler. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Republicans in the Arizona Legislature have resumed their efforts to make significant changes to the states election processes largely motivated by unfounded claims of fraud even after Donald Trump won the presidential race and the GOP strengthened its majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature. Republican legislative and election committee leaders told the Arizona Mirror that their proposals are necessary to speed up the reporting of election results in an effort to restore voter trust in the states elections. Thats after many members of their party spent the last four years sharing false claims of election fraud and sowing doubt in those same processes, following Trumps lead in ginning up furor about GOP election losses by telling their supporters the only valid elections are ones they win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accuracy is not even a question, Rep. John Gillette, R-King told the Mirror, when referring to proposals that Republicans say would speed up ballot tabulation. Instead, he said, the No. 1 issue those bills aim to resolve is whether the counting time sours people on the process. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gillette, the chairman of the House Elections Committee, claims that he knows there was fraud in the 2022 election when Democrats won several top statewide offices but needs more data to determine whether fraud happened in November. No claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2022 election were ever proven, and all the cases seeking to overturn the results due to allegations of fraud failed in court because there was no evidence. Gillette said that he believes efforts to clear the voter rolls of improperly registered voters between 2022 and 2024 made an impact and led to GOP victories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sen. Analise Ortiz, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Elections Committee, told the Mirror that the GOP-backed proposals to speed up tabulation would disenfranchise voters. Suppressing voter turnout is the whole point, she said. The state legislature officially begins its 2025 session on Monday, but dozens of proposed changes to state law have already been filed. Senate Bill 1011, sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, would require voters who return their early ballots to voting locations after 7 p.m. the Friday before the election to present identification to have their vote counted. This would give voters four fewer days to return their ballot to polling locations without the added step of waiting for ID verification, a change from the existing deadline of 7 p.m. on Election Day to drop off early ballots without an ID. Voters would still have the option to drop off those ballots up until 7 p.m. on Election Day without presenting ID, but only at their county recorders office, a huge change from the hundreds of drop-off locations currently available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal would also expand in-person early voting, which currently ends the Friday preceding the election, to the Saturday and Monday prior to the election. It would require early in-person voters to fill out and sign an early voting certificate that reads I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot or vote more than once in an election, I could be convicted of a felony and fined or imprisoned, or both. Following Florida These proposals are based on early-ballot return rules in Florida, which has a reputation for producing early election-night results. Petersens proposal would speed up results by putting an end to the practice of signature verification for the hundreds of thousands of late early ballots dropped off on Election Day and the preceding weekend. Signature verification of those ballots can be time-consuming, and proponents of the proposed changes say the requirement to possibly wait in line and show ID is worth it in return for speedier election results. Its always been this way in Arizona elections, but no one cared until recently because Republicans easily won most contests up and down the ballot. But as the state has become a battleground, its become a point of contention, one Republican lawmaker acknowledged. Nobody cared if the results were late in the past when everybody already knew that the Republican presidential candidate was going to win, Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, told the Mirror. Its only now thatit could affect the election results that anybody cares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kavanagh, the vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee, added that he thinks its embarrassing and obstructive for us to be delaying that information. Arizona has been slower than many other states to report complete election results for years but a deluge of complaints about the process only began after the 2020 election, when President-elect Donald Trump falsely claimed that the election was stolen from him. Over the past several years, Republican candidates and officials made unsubstantiated claims that the longer tabulation time facilitates fraud. There would be so much confusion for voters if this is changed, Ortiz said, adding that she thinks it would definitely have a negative impact on voter turnout. Its very frustrating that some of the proposals that weve seen seem to be entirely rooted in this kind of excuse that we need to speed up the election results, even if that means putting voter access in jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kavanagh, a co-sponsor of SB1011, argued that a notice on early ballot envelopes mailed to voters telling them of the cutoff to return their ballot without showing ID would be enough to allay any uncertainty about ballot drop-off rules and timeline changes. Well just put that on the envelope, and then there will be no confusion, he said. A similar proposal in the House of Representatives, sponsored by Republican Reps. Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss, would start early voting three days prior to the current start date and allow for voters to bring their filled out early ballot to voting locations to be tabulated after 7 p.m. the Friday before the election. But those voters would also be required to provide identification. For Ortiz and other Democrats, these proposals are nonstarters because they will stand in the way of some voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a hard line in the sand for me, as the ranking member of the Elections Committee, and I know its a hard line for many of my Democratic colleagues as well, she said. Kavanagh argued that, if requiring voters who cast their ballots in-person on Election Day to show ID didnt count as voter suppression, neither would requiring the same of any other voters. The Republican said that hes 100% sure that SB1011 will pass muster in both chambers but that it will likely be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Her office said as much in a statement. Faster election results should not come at the expense of voters rights, Christian Slater, a spokesman for Hobbs, told the Mirror via email. As the States former chief elections officer, Governor Hobbs is open to proposals to speed up the counting process, but any solution must protect Arizonans freedom to make their voices heard at the ballot box. 1,000-voter precincts Republican Rep. Rachel Keshel, of Tucson, has again this year proposed a bill that would dramatically alter the states election systems by banning voting centers and capping precincts at 1,000 registered voters apiece. (Keshel was elected in 2022 and 2024 as Rachel Jones, but she changed her name after the 2024 election following her marriage earlier in the year to Seth Keshel, a prominent far-right election conspiracy theorist.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Arizona counties, including Pima and Maricopa, use a vote center model, in which any registered voter in the county can cast their ballot at any polling location in the county. In a precinct model, each voter can only cast a ballot at their designated location, and if they dont cast their ballot at the correct location, it wont be counted. The proposal would drastically increase the number of precinct locations open across the state, with Arizona counties already concerned about finding enough physical locations, as well as enough poll workers, not to mention the increase in ballots cast that inevitably wouldnt be counted. There were more than 4.3 million people registered to vote in Arizona as of October, according to the Secretary of States Office. That means the GOP proposal would require more than 4,300 polling locations across the state if it became law. And a mandate for at least three workers at every precinct location would require counties to hire a minimum of around 12,900 poll workers. Gillette said that he backs Keshels proposal, claiming that small precincts would ensure more accurate vote counts. (State law already requires all ballots voted at polling sites be entered into electronic ballot tabulators immediately. Those results are then checked and verified by election workers after the polls close.) He added that he thinks that finding poll workers wouldnt be a problem because the state could hire college students and mandate officers of the courts to oversee them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keshel also proposed a resolution to send to voters in 2026 that mirrors her 1,000-voter precinct bill, which would bypass a Hobbs veto if it made its way through both legislative chambers. Both Gillette and Kavanagh agreed that the proposals would likely be killed long before they make it that far. Thats not going to get out of the House, so I wouldnt worry about it, Kavanagh said. When Keshel sponsored the same bill last year, it was approved along party lines in the House but failed in the Senate when former Secretary of State Ken Bennett, a Republican, voted against it alongside Democrats. ***CORRECTION: This article has been updated with the correct link to Senate Bill 1011. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Senate President Robert Stivers, left, and House Speaker David Osborne speak briefly during a joint session of the House and Senate convened to hear Gov. Andy Beshears State of the Commonwealth speech, Jan. 8, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes) A few hours after the House passed another reduction of the states income tax, top Kentucky politicians addressed business leaders at the annual Kentucky Chamber Day Dinner in Lexington. Republicans House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers, who lead the legislative supermajority in Frankfort, credited the GOP for Kentuckys current economy chiefly by passing bills in recent sessions to lower the states income tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osborne fresh off this years tax bill, House Bill 1, overwhelmingly passing his chamber noted the bipartisan support the bill enjoyed this year. Only seven of the 20 Democrats in the House voted against the measure. (Republican Whip) Jason Nemes opined that perhaps they had seen the light, Osborne said of the Democrats. I would submit to you that they saw the same polling that made the governor be for it after he was against it. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who addressed the chamber earlier in the evening, vetoed a one-half percentage point cut in the income tax rate in 2022 and signed another in 2023, the year he was running for reelection. He has signaled he plans to support this years GOP-backed proposal to shave the current 4% rate to 3.5%, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The Republican goal is to keep gradually lowering the tax, eventually eliminating it. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which has a PAC that recently endorsed most of the General Assembly, supports eliminating the state income tax Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stivers promised the crowd he could guarantee that the Senate will pass the income tax reduction bill when lawmakers return to Frankfort in February. The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee is set to hear the bill Friday, teeing it up for a vote next month. Stivers previewed other legislative priorities in the session which began Tuesday, including undoing some Beshear administration policies that Stivers said raise costs on businesses. The Senate president also said lawmakers are not going to let taxpayer dollars be used for sex-change operations for people who have committed crimes and are currently incarcerated. Lawmakers last month grilled Kentucky Department of Corrections Commissioner Cookie Crews about policies on gender-affirming care for transgender inmates. The administration sought an opinion from Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, a Republican, who recently ruled that Kentucky correctional officials are not required to provide gender-affirming surgery to transgender inmates when medical professionals deem it medically necessary. Beshear has said the regulation will be pulled and aligned with Colemans advisory The governor stood here tonight and talked about all the things he cut the ribbons for, all the things that had been announced. We want him to do more of that. We want him to be successful, Stivers said. And you know what? He talked about (how) his dad (former Gov. Steve Beshear) never got to do any of these things. Do you know why? Because he didnt have the legislature controlled by the people he has the legislature controlled by now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats held the majority of House seats when Steve Beshear was governor from 2007-15, a period in which state revenues plunged during the Great Recession. Republicans won control of both chambers in 2016. Osborne echoed that sentiment in his remarks, saying that elected officials of all stripes love to cut ribbons and hand out big checks and shovel dirt and puff our chest out like we actually had something to do with what you all are building. But the group that never gets the credit they deserve are the men and women who take risks, who invest money and leverage everything to build and grow businesses in Kentucky, the speaker said. The biggest hope and my pledge to you is that the aim of this majority is to get the hell out of your way. Gov. Andy Beshear delivers the State of the Commonwealth address, Jan. 8, 2025, at the Capitol in Frankfort. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes) At the beginning of his remarks, Beshear jokingly warned the crowd that most of his Thursday evening speech would sound like the State of the Commonwealth address he gave Wednesday evening. In addition to discussing efforts to rebuild communities after disasters, the two-term governor focused on recent economic accomplishments, such as a nearly $712 million battery manufacturing plant expected to be operational in Shelbyville by the end of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beshear emphasized his long-time wishes for Kentucky education particularly to better pay teachers and enact universal preschool programs across the state. Its time that we work to fully fund our public school system, and its time we stop trying to defund or provide voucher systems or have tax shelters, Beshear said. Lets do the hard work of improving our public schools. Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville. (LRC Public Information) Osborne strongly defended Republicans education policies and said the legislature has provided a historic record of K-12 education funding. These are the same people that have not provided one single, substantive, creative, thoughtful, intentional policy change to improve education, Osborne said. Because lets be clear, asking for more money is not big. Asking for more money is not bold. Asking for more money is just an ask and its not working. The Democrats legislative leaders Democratic Floor Leaders Rep. Pam Stevenson and Sen. Gerald Neal, both of Louisville also addressed the crowd. Stevenson said she believed lawmakers can find ways to better serve Kentuckians, especially when we spend the time to build on the things we agree on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky has everything it needs to lead its people to the top of the list, to move away from that middle, or the bottom, and do the things we know to do, she said. House Democratic Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson. (LRC Public Information) Neal highlighted examples of Democrats and Republicans working together to move Kentucky forward, such as last years Momnibus bill, a bipartisan measure that focused on maternal health. We agree on most things that we do, Neal said. We do have some fundamental differences, but we work to try to make it right. One area of difference is that goal of eliminating the state income tax, Neal said, which he said promises immediate savings, but it also carries reason for concern, such as a future decline in General Fund revenue. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CLEVELAND (WJW) A dramatic rescue unfolded in Cleveland this week when a man and his dog became stranded at the bottom of a steep ravine near Bellaire Road. Thanks to the quick actions of Cleveland firefighters and animal care experts, both were brought to safety. The ordeal began Wednesday afternoon when the man climbed down the icy ravine to rescue his injured dog. However, the steep terrain and snowy conditions made it impossible for him to climb back up. Local Giant Eagle sells scratch-off worth $50K Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melina Russo, a representative from Cleveland Animal Care and Control, was among the first responders at the scene. The hill was very steep and there was snow, Russo said. The dog was hurt, so at that point, we knew it wasnt safe for us to go down. Thats when we called the fire squad to come help. Cleveland firefighters arrived equipped with specialized training and tools. Using a rope system, they navigated the treacherous conditions to reach the man and his dog. For Russo, seeing the firefighters take over the rescue brought a sense of relief. New flashing sign after 3 crashes within 24 hours on I-90 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relief that they are going to come help us and everything will get figured out, she said. As firefighters worked to extract the pair, Russo and her team provided guidance on how to safely handle the injured dog. We had to show the rescue squad and the owner how to use the pole because the dog was hurt, Russo explained. With the teamwork of Cleveland firefighters and animal care specialists, both the man and his dog were safely brought to the surface. TSA reveals 10 most unusual finds at checkpoints in 2024 Animal Control provided immediate care to the dog, who sustained significant injuries but is expected to recover. The man suffered minor injuries. Both are safe, thanks to the efforts of first responders and public safety partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reflecting on the experience, Russo said it was unlike anything she had encountered before. I have never been in a situation like that before. That was a first for me, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. More than 45,000 people in earthquake-hit Tibet were moved to shelters as authorities widened search operations to find survivors buried under rubble in the high-altitude environment following a powerful earthquake. At least 126 people were killed and more than 188 others sustained injuries after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Tingri, a rural region with a population of about 60,000 people around 80km north of Mount Everest on Tuesday. The temblor shook buildings as far away as Nepal and parts of India and Bhutan and destroyed more than 3,600 houses around Tingri, presenting a formidable task to rescuers in an area where the average elevation is more than 4,000m. Rescue workers conduct search and rescue for survivors (Xinhua) Experts say those trapped under the rubble about 48 hours after the quake likely have succumbed to hypothermia, with temperatures dropping as low as minus -18C at night. Power and water remain cut off due to the disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue operations have focused on 27 villages within a 20-km radius of Tingri, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. The area is home to 7,000 people. The first round of full-scale search and rescue work has concluded, official Hao Tao, told a press conference on Thursday. Next, we will carry out large-scale search and rescue in depth and detail. Officials were still assessing the scope of the disaster, which damaged four reservoirs, as well as the scale of losses, he added. Mainland China sent 11,000 rescuers to the quake zone within hours of the first tremors, which were followed by more than 1,200 aftershocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 46,500 people affected by the earthquake have been transferred to 187 resettlement sites in towns surrounding the epicentre, state media reported. Rescue personnel have begun erecting prefabricated houses to replace the tents for the displaced. Rescue teams work amidst rubble in the aftermath of an earthquake in a location given as Shigatse City, Tibet Autonomous Region (via REUTERS) About 1,000 of the earthquake-proof and heated houses are being sent to Tingri and can be erected in about 10 minutes, according to reports. Tents, quilts, stoves and other relief items were being delivered to people whose homes were uninhabitable or unsafe. State broadcaster CCTV aired video showing workers erecting rows of tents with metal frames and stakes to house survivors. The tents were lined with quilted padding to hold back the cold. Chinese vice premier Zhang Guoqing, who visited survivors, called for the acceleration of post-disaster reconstruction to ensure they can be safe and warm this winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tributes poured in from Tibet and Nepal for those killed. Tibetans in Nepal offer prayers at a monastery in memory of those killed in Tuesdays earthquake (REUTERS) Tibetans, many of whom have fled persecution in China, held vigils for the victims in neighboring India and Nepal, both of which have sizeable communities. About 200 Tibetans lit candles and marched on the two main streets of Dharamshala in north India, chanting prayers and carrying signs saying they stand with the victims and calling for aid to help them. In the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, about 50 Tibetans chanted prayers at a Buddhist monastery. We are praying for the souls of the many people who lost their lives in Tibet because of the earthquake yesterday, Riya Tamang, who runs a shop, told the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An announcement on the Dalai Lamas website said he would lead a prayer ceremony in memory of the victims on Thursday in Dharamshala. We are very clear about the separatist nature and political schemes of the Dalai Lama and remain highly vigilant, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters. It was the worst earthquake in China since a 6.2-magnitude quake in 2023 killed at least 149 people in a remote northwestern region of the country. In 2008, an 8-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuans Chengdu, claiming the lives of at least 70,000 people, the deadliest quake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan quake had killed at least 242,000 people. Additional reporting by agencies. A paper from the University of Pennsylvania has outlined how one surprising factor could be reducing the value of various firms, and getting a handle on the issue would be a smart move for shareholders, employees, and customers. What's happening? In a news release from the Finance Centers at the Wharton School, professors Robert Stambaugh and Luke Taylor broke down what they described as the "carbon burden" of businesses, which essentially puts a valuation on the carbon pollution a firm produces. Stambaugh noted that this forward-looking valuation has two future dimensions. First, the rising global temperature is impacted significantly by a firm's emissions path. Second, the annual pollution of a firm has negative climate consequences for years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor looked at two examples of highly polluting businesses, American Electric Power and NextEra Energy. Despite having similar pollution levels in 2023, AEP has a much smaller carbon burden than NextEra because it is predicted its emissions will fall in the future. Why is the carbon burden an issue for businesses? According to the research, the baseline estimate of the carbon burden is 131% of a firm's total equity value, and Stambaugh believes this presents a huge financial risk for businesses. "For example, consider the risk reflecting uncertainty about how firms' carbon emissions may be taxed in the future," Stambaugh said. "Firms with large carbon burdens are more exposed to this uncertainty, especially the firms also less able to pass the tax on to price-sensitive customers." Meanwhile, the professor also noted there are social and ethical concerns surrounding the carbon burden, and not tackling it could seriously impact market value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We already knew that climate change is a big problem, but we were still shocked by how large our estimates of the carbon burden are," Taylor added. "I didn't expect firms' negative value to society through their carbon emissions to be on the same order of magnitude as firms' financial value to their shareholders." What can businesses do to reduce their carbon burdens? If firms want to reduce the pollution they produce to help the planet and improve business prospects, there are a few avenues they can explore. Should companies be required to help recycle their own products? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind For example, if a firm relies on vehicles for operations, it could look toward electric versions that produce no tailpipe pollution and don't rely on dirty fuels. Furthermore, businesses can look at how they source energy to reduce their carbon burdens. Instead of relying on the polluting grid for electricity, for example, they could invest in renewable technology such as solar panels. This could save a business money on electricity bills in the long-term, too, and make a firm more resilient in the face of extreme weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. ICT Major wildfires in Los Angeles continue for a third day, leaving thousands displaced and killing five individuals so far. Many Native people on social media are sharing resources for those in the Los Angeles area regarding shelters, transportation, food, water, and more. Below is a collection of resources for Native, Alaska Natives, or Indigenous peoples in southern California. Email additional resources for Native peoples to any of the ICT editors below: Deputy Managing Editor Kevin Abourezk, kevin@ictnews.org Northwest Bureau Chief Luna Reyna, luna@ictnews.org Mountain Bureau Chief Kolby KickingWoman, kolby@ictnews.org ALERTS The Los Angeles Fire Department encourages locals to sign up for alerts on their website. SHELTER United American Indian Involvement, Inc. The United American Indian Involvement, Inc. posted on Instagram that employees and community members affected or evacuated by the fires can use their Temple location. We are providing food, water, and shelter for those in need over the next few days, as long as we have power. The shelter will remain open during the day, the organization wrote. If you or someone you know needs to utilize this shelter, or if you need transportation to/from the Temple shelter during the day, please reach out to (213) 804-1879. We will be a daytime shelter where our community can use our facilities, internet, workspace etc. We will also be providing breakfast, coffee, snacks, television, and lunch. Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance with FEMA can be done by making a claim with an insurance provider, if not all damages are covered, and then applying either online at DisasterAssistance.gov, calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or the FEMA App for mobile devices. American Red Cross Finding shelter can be done by texting SHELTER and the ZIP code to 43362, visiting redcross.org/shelter or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number can also be used for assistance to locate a missing loved one because of the fires. List of shelters The California Governors Office of Emergency Services has an updated list of active shelters that they are coordinating with the California Department of Social Services and local governments. Here is the list of active shelters. AirBnB.org AirBnB.org is providing free, temporary housing for people who have been displaced by the Los Angeles wildfires in partnership with 211 LA, according to a news release. FOOD Spoon Fed Company Spoon Fed Company, owned by Jacob Spoonhunter, is making small food care packages (on Friday, Jan. 10) to those who were effected [sic] by the fires as well as the first responders, according to the companys Instagram. Spoonhunter is Northern Arapaho, Navajo, and Seminole. Go to the Instagram page for any donations or email: spoonfedco@gmail.com. Chef Stephanie Pyet DeSpain On Jan. 8, Stephanie Pyet, Prairie Band Potawatomi and winner of Next Level Chef, told her Instagram followers that she and other chefs will be doing a pop-up to feed community members. A plan will come out in the next few days, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pyet announced on Jan. 10 on Instagram that she is teaming with Island Smoke N Grill through Go Fund Me to distribute meals for first responders and displaced families. If anyone wants to donate, volunteer, or needs some food to eat, direct message her on Instagram or email: info@pyetsplate.com. Related: More Native fire crews help in Los Angeles TRANSPORTATION Lyft Riders in need can use the code CAFIRERELIEF25, valid for 2 rides up to $25 each ($50 total) for 2,000 riders from now until 1/15 at 11:59 p.m. Lyft wrote in a news release. Uber Uber is partnering with local authorities and first responders to help residents safely evacuate if they need to. As part of our commitment to supporting those in need, we are providing rides to designated shelters, up to $40 per trip*, for anyone who needs assistance getting to a safe place, read Ubers press release. The company said they will not have service available in areas under mandatory evacuation orders. To redeem this offer, evacuees must apply the promo code WILDFIRE25 in the Wallet section of the Uber app before requesting a ride to one of the designated shelters. For step-by-step instructions on how to apply the promo code, click here. TRIBE-SPECIFIC RESOURCES Chickasaw Foundation The Chickasaw Foundation in Oklahoma said they will help Chickasaw citizens affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles. If you are a Chickasaw citizen affected by the wildfires, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance through the Chickasaw Nation Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, their Facebook post stated. Once normal office hours resume, please call the Chickasaw Nation Oklahoma City Area Office at (405) 767-8972 for assistance. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing oversees restaurant inspections in Iowa. (Photo via Getty Images; DIAL logo courtesy of Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past six weeks, including expired food, not-for-sale meat, rodent droppings, bugs floating in liquor bottles and moldy fruit, cheese and sausage. One eatery was operating without a license, and another was shut down when the inspector saw the grease trap and a drain were backing up into the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses. The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a snapshot in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensings website. Taco Depot / La Taqueria, 3801 1st Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids During a Nov. 20 visit, a Linn County inspector observed the restaurants grease trap and floor sink were backing up and ordered the establishment shut down. The facility will remain closed until it is allowed to reopen by the health department, the inspector reported. On Nov. 22, the restaurant was allowed to reopen. During the Nov. 20 visit, the inspector also determined the person in charge did not demonstrate knowledge of food safety as evidenced by food not being held at the proper temperature and an overall lack of sanitizing. The restaurant also had no certified food protection manager with management or supervisory responsibilities. The inspector reported finding packages of cheese with mold growing on the outside and found that one cooler was holding food above 45 degrees, resulting in all of the temperature-controlled food items inside being discarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, food was being stored on the floor, and uncovered food was found stored in the walk-in cooler. Soil buildup is present on most surfaces including interior/exteriors of equipment, walk-in cooler racks, inside two-door prep cooler, ware-washing area, hot holding unit, flat-top grill, etc., the inspector reported. At least three sinks were reported to be leaking. The visit was in response to a complaint pertaining to the lack of date markings on food, improper storage of raw food items, improper temperature controls, lack of handwashing by the staff, cross-contamination of food, and soiled food-preparation areas. This complaint will be closed and marked founded, the inspector reported. Hong Kong Buffet, 2406 Park Ave., Muscatine During a Nov. 20 visit, a state inspector cited this restaurant for 16 risk-factor violations an exceptionally large number. Among the problems: The person in charge was not a certified food protection manager; workers were not washing their hands between working with raw meat and working with ready-to-eat food; tongs used to handle raw shrimp were then used to stir cooked shrimp; most of the food items prepared on site had no date-markings to ensure freshness and safety; the interior of the ice machine was soiled; and there was no food thermometer available in the restaurant. Also, the knife holder, the sides of cooking equipment, and the shelving in the walk-in cooler were all soiled, the inspector reported. The ceiling was peeling, with patches above the cook line coming loose, and grease had accumulated on the floor, walls, and fixtures around the cooking equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint pertaining to pest control, cleanliness, food storage and food temperatures. The complaint was deemed verified. The restaurants last routine inspection was in December 2022, according to state records. Crouse Cafe, 115 Salem St., Indianola During a Jan. 7 visit, a state inspector observed sausage patties inside the walk-in cooler that appeared to have mold growing on them. In addition, a cook and a dishwasher were seen washing their hands in the food-prep and dishwashing sinks rather than a designated handwashing sink. The inspector also made note of raw, ground sausage that was being stored over cooked gyro meat, risking cross contamination. The restaurant was also holding cottage cheese, bleu cheese, cream cheese and sour cream at temperatures above the mandatory maximum of 41 degrees, and all of the products had to be discarded. The inspector also reported finding several containers of food that were being held beyond the maximum seven days. Those items included hot dogs dated Dec. 26, raw pork tenderloin that was dated Dec. 23, ham slices dated Nov. 19, and corned beef dated Dec. 11. All of the expired items were then discarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit was in response to an illness complaint that the inspector deemed unverified. The restaurant was last inspected in February 2022, according to state records. Samurai Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant, 7125 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines During a Jan. 7 visit, a state inspector observed a worker coming into the kitchen from outside, wearing gloves, and going to the food-preparation station without first discarding their gloves and washing their hands. Also, the inspector reported, the raw sushi at both of the restaurants sushi stations was not separated from sushi that is not raw, and food held longer than 24 hours in the walk-in cooler was not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. In addition, the cooked sushi rice was not labeled with the time it was to be discarded. The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint that the inspector deemed to be verified. The inspectors report does not state the nature of the complaint. The report indicates the restaurant was in compliance with standards related to insects, rodents and animals, but also indicates the inspector discussed that specific issue with the owner who explained that the hibachi area was recently deep-cleaned, and she had hired a pest control business to provide monthly service. Hy-Vee Foods, 1300 W. Burlington St., Fairfield During a Jan. 6 visit, a state inspector observed that raw ground beef was improperly stored above shredded cheese, and raw salmon and raw tuna were improperly stored above ready-to-eat imitation crab. The inspector also reported finding macaroni and cheese, fried chicken and baked potatoes with no date-markings to ensure freshness and safety. The items were discarded. Also, the stores Market Grill stove was marred by an excessive buildup of food debris, as were the coolers and a freezer, and the shelves and drawers in the bakery area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McDonalds, 3402 S. Center St., Marshalltown During a Jan. 3 visit, a state inspector checked the walk-in cooler and found breakfast burritos that had been prepared at 7:48 a.m. that day. At 1:45 p.m., the burritos had yet to cool sufficiently and were as warm as 55 degrees. The burritos were discarded. Also, the shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cooked bacon and sliced cheese on the food-prep line were not marked with a time indicating when they had been prepared and had to be discarded. The visit was prompted by an illness complaint that the inspector deemed unverified. The restaurant last underwent a routine inspection in November 2021. A non-illness complaint related to pests and to adulterated food was investigated in January 2023, with the inspector verifying the pest complaint and concluding the adulterated-food complaint was unverified. An August 2024 complaint related to poor personal hygiene was investigated, the inspector stated, and was deemed to be verified after the person in charge confirmed the incident described in the complaint had occurred. The inspectors report does not describe the incident in question. The Palms/Fridley Theaters, 200 NE Westgate Drive, Waukee During a Dec. 30 visit, a state inspector found cooked cabbage and cooked mushrooms that had been held for more than the maximum seven days. The cooked cabbage was dated Dec. 13, and the cooked mushrooms were dated Dec. 22, and both items had to be discarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the three-sink dishwashing compartment behind the bar had zero detectable levels of sanitizing solution, and the internal temperature of the dishwashers rinse cycle was unable to reach the minimum 160 degrees. Also, one handwashing sink was blocked by garbage cans and racks, and there were no paper towels at two of the handwashing sinks. Great Wok/Great Teriyaki, 101 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines During a Dec. 23 visit, a state inspector reported the restaurant was reusing boxes in which raw chicken had been packaged to store produce and cooked food items, risking cross-contamination. The inspector also reported finding noodles that were not being refrigerated and were measured at 47 degrees. The inspector also found that the restaurant had no sanitizing solution for dishwashing on the premises, which resulted in the owner borrowing some from a neighboring restaurant. In addition, there were no paper towels or soap available at the kitchens designated handwashing sink, and raw frozen shrimp had been left to thaw while stored on the floor underneath a sink. The inspector also reported spotting a live roach in front of the kitchens walk-in cooler and reported finding a black substance appearing to be mold on the walls of the cooler. The visit was prompted by an illness complaint that was deemed unverified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon, 4919 Walleye Drive SE, Iowa City During a Dec. 17 visit, a Johnson County inspector observed food workers handling bread with their bare hands and found diced tomatoes and sliced tomatoes holding at 43 to 44 degrees, resulting in them being discarded. Also, multiple house-made sauces had been held for longer than the maximum seven days and had to be discarded, and the interior of the ice machine was marred by a buildup of debris. Lakeside Hotel & Casino, 777 Casino Drive, Osceola During a Dec. 13 visit, a state inspector observed a worker with gloved hands touching his clothing and a towel inside one of his pockets and then handling ready-to-eat foods without first washing his hands or changing gloves. Also, hamburgers holding on the flat-top grill were measured at 131 degrees and had to reheated to at least 165 degrees. The inspector also reported finding undated food items in the pizza-preparation cooler and finding several pans of baked beans that had been prepared a month before, on Nov. 19. In addition, the soda-dispensing nozzles at the main bar were marred by a heavy buildup of syrup-like debris, as were the nozzles on the soda-dispensing machine. Also, can opener blades that had been stored as clean were marred by a buildup of food-like debris and the most recent inspection report had not been posted. Pints River Bar, 36835 Noble Road, Guttenberg During a Dec. 13 visit, a state inspector discovered packages of custom-processed raw ground beef that was labeled not for sale in the basement freezer. The meat was from an unapproved source, the inspector reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the reach-in coolers had no thermometers for monitoring the temperature inside, and the establishment had no food-temperature measuring devices on the premises. The inspector also reported there was evidence of a dog being allowed behind the bar in the food-preparation area. The visit was in response to a complaint alleging issues with inadequate cooking, improper holding temperatures, adulterated food and general facility sanitation. The sanitation-related complaint was deemed verified, with the inspector citing a photograph that showed a dog behind the bar. The bar was last inspected in August 2023 prior to its opening. The Tequila Grill, 112 N. Market St., Ottumwa During a Nov. 26 visit, a state inspector cited this business for 17 risk-factor violations an exceptionally high number. The inspector reported the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager was not fulfilling their duties by ensuring that employees washed their hands, that the food was properly dated, that food was being cooking and reheated to acceptable temperatures, and that equipment, utensils and food-contact surfaces were properly sanitized. Several uncovered containers of tortilla chips and tortilla bowls were found in the kitchen, and chili rellenos, churros and chimichangas were stored uncovered and unwrapped in a residential-style freezer. Also a cook was wiping his hands on a towel that hung from his waist after handling raw chicken and before plating cooked foods for customers. Also, raw chicken was cooked to a temperature of only 139 degrees before being plated, and had to be discarded, with the meal remade and the chicken cooked to 178 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inspector also reported finding beans holding at 117 degrees, which was not hot enough to ensure safety, and finding 56-degree house-made salsa that had to be discarded. In addition, several prepared or repackaged food items in the freezers were not dated. The inspector also reported finding knives, an immersion blender and a colander that had been stored as clean but were soiled by buildup of food debris. The inspector also found pest-control bait in an applicator stored on the ledge of the reach-in cooler. Also, the ceiling and walls throughout the kitchen and food-prep areas were marred by flaking paint, water stains and what appeared to be mold, and the most recent inspection report had not been posted. The visit was in response to an illness complaint. The complaint investigation is ongoing, the inspector reported. Bickford Cottage Assisted Living, 5915 Sutton Place, Urbandale During a Nov. 26 visit, a state inspector noted that the person in charge was unable to explain the symptoms and diseases associated with foodborne illnesses, and did not wash their hands when changing tasks during food preparation. The inspector also found moldy strawberries inside the reach-in cooler and reported a buildup of food and debris under the shelving in the dry-storage area. Los Portales No. 2, 1012 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport During a Nov. 27 visit, a Scott County inspector found multiple food products sitting uncovered in the kitchen. In addition, guacamole was being held at 48 degrees and lettuce at 53 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder, and had to be discarded. Also, the inspector reported that the chile verde, prepared 20 days prior to the inspection, showed signs of spoilage, and that the ice machine and fountain-drink dispenser each contained debris and gunk. The visit was in response to a complaint regarding an unknown substance in the beverages that were purchased and potentially came from the ice machine and/or the fountain drink machine. Upon investigation, the ice machine and the fountain-drink machine were found to be soiled and in need of cleaning and sanitizing. The complaint was deemed verified. Hy-Vee Foods, 1843 Johnson Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids During a Dec. 2 visit, a Linn County inspector reported that several employees in food-preparation areas were not following handwashing procedures. The inspector also noted ice buildup on packaged grilled kebabs and on a stuffed potato in the retail-sales freezer. Also, raw oysters and stuffed raw oysters in a display cooler were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. In addition, homemade chopped garlic in oil was left at room temperature all day and a worker was not following the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points protocol in preparing sushi. Also, the Market Grill kitchen and the sushi department lacked sanitizing solution and hot water at their handwashing sinks. The inspector also reported that sinks in the Market Grill area, the meat department, and the bakery were soiled or clogged. Monterey Mexican Restaurant, 3138 Singing Hills Blvd., Sioux City During a Dec. 3 visit, a Siouxland District Health Department inspector observed a cook transitioning from handling raw food products to ready-to-eat foods without washing their hands. The inspector also reported that previously used toothpicks were being placed back into a toothpick stack to be used again. Inside one of the freezers, fluid from the condenser unit was dripping onto, and then freezing onto, food items stored there. Also, the slicer, veggie cutter and various containers were visibly soiled. A & W Drive-In, 109 E. 2nd Ave., Indianola During a Dec. 3 visit, an inspector reported finding a vat of root beer that was left uncovered in the basement, along with a container of flour used for onion rings and chicken breading that had been left uncovered on a storage shelf. Some form of ointment was stored above the open container of flour. In a walk-in cooler, the inspector found a raw beef tube that was left uncovered. On the cook line, the inspector found raw, bone-in chicken holding at 41 to 43 degrees and, at the ice cream station, there was milk that was measured at 43 degrees. The milk and chicken were discarded. The restaurant was last inspected in September 2021, according to state records. Lotus Asian Bistro, 589 E. 53rd St., Davenport During a Dec. 5 visit, a Scott County inspector found bottles of tequila with fruit flies in them. Also, multiple sauces in the kitchen were being held at room temperature despite labels that said, refrigerate after opening. An employee cooking shrimp was seen touching the shrimp with their bare hands after it had been cooked and there were several issues related to improper food storage that posed a risk of cross-contamination. In the kitchen, some food items were stored on the floor; the ice machine contained debris and gunk, as did the bar cooler and a draft-beer tap; a can of Raid pesticide was being stored in the waitstaff area with the fountain-drink machine; and raw chicken was left to thaw on the floor in the back room. El Viejo Mexican Restaurant, 90 Twixt Town Road, Marion During a Dec. 5 visit, a Linn County inspector cited this establishment for eight risk-factor violations, although the precise nature of the violations isnt always clear from the inspectors published report. The report indicated the inspector had observed an employee placing chopped raw chicken on a grill and then handling lettuce with the same gloves. The inspector added that she intervened and asked the worker to wash his hands and remake the order. Also, some foods needed to be reheated to bring them up to the minimum temperature. La Tapatia III, 4007 S.E. 13th St. Des Moines During a Dec. 5 visit, a state inspector found cases of pork that had been delivered the previous day still sitting in center of store. The pork was 53 degrees or warmer and had to be discarded. The inspector also reported finding cut meats, prepared products, marinated meats and cooked meats that were measured at 57 degrees. All of those products were discarded, as well. Riverside Family Restaurant No. 2, 1802 A Ave. East, Oskaloosa During a Dec. 6 visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Mashed potatoes that were prepared the previous day were in a cooler but still measured 45 degrees too warm to ensure their safety. Also, the meat sauce on the hot-food line was measured at 79 degrees and had to be reheated to 182 degrees. The inspector also reported finding turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy from Dec. 1 that had no date-markings on them. In addition, pasta dated Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 had been held well past their seven-day limit, and the inside of the ice machine had a buildup of a mold-like substance. The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint regarding pests, cold food and dirty restrooms. The inspector verified the complaint while noting that the person in charge acknowledged issues with fruit flies in the establishment. Jimmy Johns, 812 6th Ave., Grinnell During a Dec. 9 visit, a state inspector noted that a tub of house-made tuna salad had no preparation date or discard date, and two containers of potato salad had expired the day before without being discarded. Also, the interior of the ice machine had what the inspector described as a a heavy buildup of a black, mold/mildew-like substance. In addition, the cutting boards on the sandwich assembly line were not being cleaned and sanitized every four hours as required. The visit was prompted by a complaint from a customer who alleged they had become ill after eating at the restaurant. The person in charge at the restaurant told the inspector that around the time of the complaint, the establishments ice machine was out of service, but that bagged ice had been purchased to keep items cold. The complaint was deemed unverified. Bickford Cottage, 3500 Lower West Branch Road, Iowa City During a Dec. 10 visit, a Johnson County inspector noted turkey and meatballs stored in the hot-holding unit were measured at only 119 degrees and 97 degrees, respectively. Both items were discarded. Also, the most recent inspection report was not posted and the license that was posted had expired. Izumi Japanese Steak House, 4901 Utica Ridge Road, Davenport During a Dec. 11 visit, a Scott County inspector concluded the person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of food safety principles. The inspector reported finding sauce held at room temperature when the label stated it was to be refrigerated after opening; there was a bottle of liquor in the bar that had floating fruit flies inside of it; and a kitchen employee was handling ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands. Also, one cooler in the kitchen was keeping food at 47 degrees, necessitating the disposal of all the food within it. The cooler was also marred by excessive debris and gunk, as were the ice machine and the knives that were stored on knife racks. Fryer cabinets, the floor below the fryers, the fans in the walk-in cooler and the ventilation hoods were all marred by dust, debris and gunk, the inspector reported. Tanganyika Grocery Store, 1217 Forest Ave., Des Moines During a Dec. 12 visit, a state inspector reported that this establishment was repackaging beyond ability to support sanitation with hand wash an apparent reference to the manner in which the store was repackaging food items without a handwashing sink. Multiple frozen packaged foods observed with damaged packaging, visible freeze thaw damage, ice inside packaging, and lack of identifying labeling, the inspector reported. Peanuts stated cooked at owners private home and packaged into bags then brought back for sale. Some food items that had been packaged both by the store and by commercial suppliers had no labeling at all, the inspector reported. Frozen whole fish observed on shelves in cooler with no packaging, the inspector added. Designated handwash-only sink is not available. Eight days after this inspection, the store was cited for having operated without a license. Crossroads Bistro, 232 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids During a Nov. 21 visit, a Linn County inspector noted that the manager was not monitoring or discarding ready-to-eat or time-and-temperature-controlled foods, with some foods held at temperatures above the maximum of 41 degree and for more than the allowable seven days. A cooler was being used to store food at 47 to 50 degrees and sanitizer was not being used frequently enough in the kitchen, the inspector reported. Several moldy containers, jars, and plastic bottles of food have been stored on the shelving in the walk-in cooler, the inspector stated, adding that the staff was handling food with their bare hands. None of the ready-to-eat food has been date-marked Cooked food or ready-to-eat (food) older than seven days has evidence of spoilage. Coolers, refrigerators and food-contact surfaces were described as greasy (with) built-up residue. Pizza Shack, 6616 Northwest Boulevard, Davenport During a Nov. 21 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: The restaurant had no certified food protection manager on staff; the person in charge was not monitoring food temperatures or ensuring that food-contact surfaces were kept clean, and various food items in the walk-in cooler were measured at 45 to 46 degrees, which resulted in some items being discarded. Also, there was no solution on hand to sanitize food-contact surfaces; the shelving inside the walk-in cooler was marred by an excess buildup of grime, and buckets that were being used to contain food products in the walk-in cooler were soiled with mold-like spots, the inspector reported. The inspector also observed that the restaurant had no thermometer on the premises to measure the internal temperature of food, and there were mouse-like droppings found throughout the facility. The walls were marred by several holes and by an excess buildup of gunk and grime, the inspector added. The last routine inspection of the restaurant was conducted in July 2022. El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill, 3751 E.P. True Parkway, West Des Moines During a Nov. 20 visit, a state inspector cited this restaurant for 14 risk-factor violations an unusually high number. Workers were seen handling raw meat and then moving to work with ready-to-eat tortillas, and handling a trash bin before returning to food preparation, all without washing their hands. Inside a walk-in cooler, fresh tomatoes were being stored in the same container as raw beef, and multiple food items were stored there uncovered. Also, two pans of queso were holding at 91 to 111 degrees and had to be reheated to 165 degrees. The inspector also reported finding multiple prepared food items in the walk-in cooler that had no production dates to ensure freshness and safety. The inspector also made note of a floor drain that was not able to drain and was in need of repair. As several fast-moving wildfires continue devastating Southern California, many restaurants are offering free food to evacuated residents and first responders. Thousands of residents were forced to flee as encroaching flames leveled homes and structures, leaving devastation in its wake. Restaurants that have not burned down or are located away from the fires have opened their doors to offer free food and a place of rest for evacuated residents and first responders. All locations: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sweetfin Free meals for first responders through Jan. 31 Joes Pizza Free pizza Norms Free meals for first responders and firefighters from Jan. 9-12 Sizzler locations in Van Nuys, Los Feliz, Palmdale and Fox Hills Free meals for first responders and evacuees Shake Shack Free Shackburgers for first responders through Jan. 12 Lazy Dog Free meals to first responders/firefighters from Jan. 11-12 (L.A., Ventura counties) Yeastie Boys Multiple locations Goop Kitchen Meal delivery to firefighters and first responders Ono Hawaiian BBQ Multiple locations Free chicken plates for first responders Fatburger Free meals to evacuees, first responders. The chains food truck is serving 10,000 meals at first responder sites and shelters Round Table Pizza Free cheese pizza to first responders from Jan. 11-13 Arcadia Sushi Kisen Open on Jan. 9 for dinner and offering 20% off all meals Beverly Hills Marea Free meals for evacuees, first responders Crustacean Free pho and garlic noodles to evacuees, first responders, firefighters Crenshaw Harold & Belles Free meals to first responders Culver City Maple Block BBQ Free sandwich, side and drink for first responders Robertas Pizza Free pizza for first responders Downtown L.A. Sonoritas Prime Tacos Sora Craft Kitchen El Segundo Rock & Brews Free pizza for first responders Fairfax Ettore Vino e Cucina Free meals for first responders and evacuees, free delivery on DoorDash, 18% discount on meals for the rest of L.A. residents Inglewood Sunday Gravy Free meals to first responders and evacuees, plus accepting donations to purchase a meal for someone else Jefferson Park Harold & Belles Free meals to first responders Koreatown MDK Noodles Free knife-cut noodles for first responders and firefighters Melrose Hill Bar Etoile Free meals for those in need Le Great Outdoor Closed on Jan. 9, raising money to deliver food to firefighters through online orders Pasadena Mountain Mikes Pizza Free meals for first responders Pico-Robertson The Rooster Free meals to first responders from Jan. 9-12, and 20% off meals for those in need Redondo Beach Rock & Brews Free pizza for first responders Sawtelle Sonoritas Prime Tacos Silver Lake LaSorteds Free meals to first responders and evacuees on Jan. 9 at Silver Lake and Chinatown locations Studio City OyBar Free meals to those in need and donating all proceeds to World Central Kitchen Robertas Pizza Free pizza for first responders Venice Dudley Market Fiorelli Pizza Westwood Danny Boys Free pizza to firefighters and first responders West Hollywood The Abbey West Hollywood Free meals to evacuees and first responders Dtown Pizzeria Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A retired Pittsburgh Police officer and his family are among the thousands whove lost nearly everything in the devastating wildfires tearing through California. Jeff Garris, his wife, and their child who has disabilities had recently moved to the Pacific Palisades, in an effort to be closer to their older son. We made the decision to start over, and now were really starting over, from scratch, Garris told Channel 11 via a Zoom interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family had been staying at a relatives mobile home when they were ordered to evacuate earlier in the week. We just thought we were evacuating like so many people do, all of the time for the wildfires that theyre able to control, he said. This was just uncontrollable. They returned to find the neighborhood entirely devastated. Was just really looking forward to the job search and finding my new career path out there, he said. That changed in a minute. As part of his prior career, Garris served the Pittsburgh community for more than three decades, spending many of those years on SWAT scenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes no stranger to tragedy. Ive seen loss and devastation of great magnitude. I was involved in the Tree of Life... Theres scars that will never leave my head, he said. Ive never seen this much damage and destruction, up close and personal like this. Its mind-boggling that there is literally nothing left. Its just twisted metal and ash. Garris doesnt like to ask for help, but he feels thankful for the online fundraiser that his brother launched, which you can contribute to here: Click here for the GoFundMe. Garris stressed to Channel 11 that his story is one of many, and he hopes to raise awareness for everyone who is in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shocks wearing off now and people are just coming to the realization of... Youve gotta lean into this problem and move on. What other choice do we have? Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Just hours after Grant Cardone called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign over his handling of the Los Angeles wildfires, the litigious head of Cardone Capital rallied his followers on social media to take legal action against the governor, the state and Los Angeles County. Cardone took to X Thursday afternoon to call on those affected by the California wildfires and interested in joining me in a class action suit against the state and county for neglect & incompetence, to message him. He tacked a link to a response form in the thread, which generated 183 comments from his 1.1 million X followers. Cardone also posted the call out on Instagram, where his follower count is 4.8 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most replies praised the investor and some encouraged Cardone to run for governor. Newsoms term is up in 2026 and term limits dictate he cannot run for re-election. Cardone told The Real Deal hed received more than 1,000 responses as of Friday morning. Im talking to a handful of attorneys right now who want to represent me, Cardone said in a phone interview. The investor added that he would probably include the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as a defendant, noting that electrical issues may have sparked the fires. Faults on the power grid near the Eaton, Palisades and Hurst fires skyrocketed in the hours before the blazes began, the Los Angeles Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardone jumped on a Fox Business segment Thursday to describe how the Palisades Fire had severely damaged but ultimately spared his Malibu home. He blamed corrupted government on the state and local level for the blazes and urged Californians to revolt and protest against the Democrats who failed to prevent fires. As of Friday morning, the fires continue to ravage the greater Los Angeles market. Officials estimate 10 people have been killed and 10,000 homes and other buildings have burned, the AP reported. Class action callouts are a dime a dozen. But Cardones reach and reputation could drum up sizable support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some replies on X praised Cardones legal track record of winning big cases. Win with him! Then VOTE for him! the account @MechTensa tweeted. Cardones most recent involvement in a class action suit was as a defendant. An investor in two Cardone Capital funds, then his daughter, sued Cardone over the tactics he tapped to recruit investors on social media. They alleged Cardone, who syndicates capital for deals, misled investors by overpromising returns, downplaying financial risks and failing to disclose the extent of the fees hed reap. A Los Angeles judge ultimately tossed the complaint on a technicality in late 2023. Read more Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared on The Real Deal. Click here to read the full story. A black and white pit bull was saved from a PVC pipe stuck around its neck this week after it was spotted on the Detroit-Dearborn border. Now, the animal welfare group behind the rescue will offer a $2,500 reward leading to an arrest in the case, as officials with the group believe someone intentionally placed the pipe on the dog. Patrol teams for the animal welfare nonprofit Michigan Humane spotted the stray on Tuesday near Paul Avenue west of Greenfield Road, in the area of the Carhartt Inc. corporate campus in Dearborn, said Matt Pepper, president and CEO of the nonprofit. Photos show a pit bull spotted this week with a PVC pipe around its neck in the area of the Detroit-Dearborn border on Paul Avenue. The rescue of the dog and removal of the pipe was announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. The team tried to rescue the dog then, but it ran away, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nonprofit shared photos on social media the same day of the dog with a tightly fitted PVC pipe around its neck walking near debris and leftover snow on the side of a road. Michigan Humane asked the public for help locating the animal. Those efforts proved fruitful Thursday when Dearborn police spotted the dog and worked with the nonprofit to rescue it. Photos show a pit bull spotted this week with a PVC pipe around its neck in the area of the Detroit-Dearborn border on Paul Avenue. The rescue of the dog and removal of the pipe was announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. The male dog, roughly estimated to be perhaps 2 or 3 years old, had the PVC pipe removed by veterinarians the same day, Pepper said. Photos from the nonprofit show the pup looking through the bars of a kennel with sad eyes before the pipe was removed and the pups black and white-speckled face covered with a towel as a specialized saw cut through the pipe. Photos show a pit bull spotted this week with a PVC pipe around its neck in the area of the Detroit-Dearborn border on Paul Avenue. The rescue of the dog and removal of the pipe was announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Detroit animal shelter: Take an adoptable dog out for the day. It's addicting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes lucky and hes terrified and hes in good hands today, Pepper said, speaking Friday. A name for the dog hadnt been solidified just yet, but the team was leaning toward the name Carhartt as an ode to where the dog was spotted and where it spent its time, Pepper said. The nonprofit also thanked Carhartt in a social media post for aid in getting word out about the dog ahead of the rescue. The PVC pipe may have been placed on the dog for any number of reasons cruel discipline, kids being stupid, or in connection to dog fighting but it would be virtually impossible that the pipe got on the dog by accident, Pepper said. Though it could only be a guess, Peppers expertise leads him to believe the dog may have been tied to dogfighting. The dog has significant scarring on its face and the front of its body from apparent biting and fighting, Pepper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their team was still evaluating the dog and it was not clear what the future would look like, but the dog was acting scared and not showing signs of aggression on Friday, Pepper said. Photos show a pit bull spotted this week with a PVC pipe around its neck in the area of the Detroit-Dearborn border on Paul Avenue. The rescue of the dog and removal of the pipe was announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westland woman, husband kept $1M Powerball win secret for 3 months The dog, however, was a sad sight when Pepper saw him Friday, he said. Its eating, but mainly unmoving and not reacting seemingly frozen as staffers allow him to decompress, Pepper said. What people are capable of doing to animals is infuriating, Pepper said. Michigan Humane plans to release details for the $2,500 reward later in the day Thursday, Pepper said. Pepper said that while the pit bulls case is extreme, his donor-run organization deals with such cases of cruelty every day. He asked anyone who spots an animal in need to call their Cruelty Hotline at 313-872-3401. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dog with PVC pipe stuck on neck near Detroit-Dearborn border rescued Jan. 9LARNED Michael E.G. Reynolds, the man accused in the March 30 shooting death of a Larned State Hospital physician, entered a plea of "not guilty" Wednesday morning at arraignment in Pawnee County. Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett noted Wednesday afternoon that the arraignment was held by Zoom in the Pawnee County Courthouse. On Nov. 8, 2024, Topeka Senior Judge Nancy Parrish found sufficient evidence to support all three charges against Reynolds, 68, at the conclusion of a contested preliminary hearing in Pawnee County District Court. Reynolds is charged with the intentional second-degree murder of Dr. Tomas Garza, at a rural residence south of Larned. He is also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. Further court appearances have not yet been set, McNett noted. A pre-trial hearing is expected in March, with trial to commence some time in May in Pawnee County District Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, McNett also noted that the court was advised that a motion for change of venue may be introduced by defense counsel Natalie Kristine Morlock, Dodge City, at the March hearing. Case history The case marks the second intentional murder proceeding in six years in Pawnee County. Just after 5 p.m. on March 30, 2024, Dr. Garza, 52, of Larned, was shot multiple times during an argument with Michael Reynolds as reported by a witness on the scene. Law enforcement officers from both the Larned Police Department and Pawnee County Sheriff's Office responded, taking Reynolds into custody. The shooting occurred at a warehouse at 1219 Kansas Highway 19 South, in rural Pawnee County. Garza was transported to Pawnee Valley Community Hospital but later died of his injuries. The case included investigations by the LPD, PCSO and Kansas Bureau of Investigation, as well as autopsy information collected by Dr. Lyle Nordhoek, Pawnee County Coroner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reynolds is being held in Pawnee County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond. If convicted of the murder charge, Reynolds faces between 12 and 54 years in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, depending upon his criminal history. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President-elect Donald Trump chose the famously anti-health establishment Robert F. Kennedy Jr to lead the nations Department of Health and Human Services. On Thursday, Kennedy met with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.) on Capitol Hill. It was good, Kennedy said after the meeting. Democrats have seized on Kennedys claims about vaccines. He previously claimed theyre linked to autism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told me hes not anti-vaccine, Cornyn said. Hes pro-vaccine safety. Kennedy needs 51 senators to vote for his confirmation. Republicans have 53 seats in the U.S. Senate. I intend to support his nomination, Cornyn said. President Trump is entitled to his team, absent extraordinary circumstances. Senate hearings for President-elect Trumps nominees will begin as early as next week. The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hear from Defense Secretary Nominee and former Fox News Host Pete Hegseth. The Senate will provide each of the Presidents nominees with a fair process, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate Majority Leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Hegseth asking him to address allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and mismanagement of veterans organization finances. Hegseth denies those allegations. Your past behavior and rhetoric indicates you are unfit to lead the Department of Defense, Warren wrote. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) also sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and will get to question Hegseth. I think hes going to come in and get rid of DEI, focus on China and procurement reform, Schmitt said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of trying to rush President-elect Trumps nominees through the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard not to wonder: what are Republicans trying to hide about these nominees from the American people? Schumer asked. Republicans said they hope to have some of President-elect Trumps nominees confirmed shortly after his inauguration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) There are rising concerns from the nurses union at Rochester General Hospital surrounding retention rates and fair wages. Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals, or RUNAP, settled a contract with Rochester Regional Health in the fall of 2023. There are now questions surrounding the systems commitment to keeping staff on board, following a nationwide boost in the reliance on travel nurses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 2019 to 2024, RGH president and Chief Operating Officer Tammy Snyder says the facility has spent $70 million on on-site nurses, adding the RRH network is trying to minimize costs on travel nurses. Around the holidays, RGH reached out to us with a proposal for a retention program. Nurses in the adult ED and med surgery units would have the opportunity to sign on for a three or five-year contract that had monetary increments attached every 6 months. It had claw backs of significance. There were a lot of areas where it was concerning about those claw backs under what contingencies. They told us they didnt have any language for exceptions if a nurse went out on disability. Theyd be responsible for paying back those bonuses. And, if they were terminated, there were a lot of issues. Were starting to negotiate that, said Gillian Kingsley, an RGH nurse who serves as RUNAPs secretary. Both sides say they want to work together to not only reduce the costly reliance on agency nurses, but to keep wages competitive. As a collective leadership team, we knew we needed to really do something different to try and reduce our reliance on agency RNs. At the start of the new year, at the system level, we put together this RN recruitment package. From a timing perspective, thats really why we chose to do this now because we really aim to reduce our costly spends in 2025. Right now, RGH has about 37 or 38 percent of agency nurses. Our goal is to decrease that percentage. We certainly know we are the outlier, RRH overall, compared to our national peers. Many of them are down in the teens in terms of percentage of agency RN staff, said Tammy Snyder, RGHs president and COO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, nurses with RGH feel there is still a ways to go to meet in the middle. We hope RGH is truly committed to retaining nurses. If they are, then they would return to the table and continue to negotiate in a meaningful way. We want to work together as a team. We have a shared goal that we want to provide the very best care possibly for our community. We just wish we could do it together, said Kingsley. Snyder says she does not expect fallout in staffing over the concerns. There is also no option for a strike, she says, because of the contract agreements in 2023. Full RUNAP letter: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Islanders are being asked to roll up their sleeves and donate blood as the state works to strengthen its supply. The Rhode Island Blood Center explained that donations typically dwindle over the winter months due to illness, busy schedules and inclement weather. Thats why its more important than ever to prevent a blood shortage by procuring a steady flow of donors. Winter is one of the most difficult times of the year for us to collect blood, said Nicole Pineault, executive director of the Rhode Island Blood Center. Donations may decrease from time to time, but the need is constant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Blood drive honors Cranston high school teacher battling cancer Pineault explained those who benefit from blood donations range from those battling cancer and certain autoimmune disorders to trauma victims and patients undergoing certain surgical procedures. We are part of their care plan, Pineault said. It is really important to make sure we have the blood available when they need it. Pineault said donating blood takes approximately an hour, and just one unit can save up to three lives. But what I like to remind everyone is that your impact will be greater than those three lives, Pineault said, explaining that it gives patients more time to create memories with their loved ones. That is really a gift in of itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan DeCasanova is living proof of the importance of blood donations. (Courtesy: Jonathan DeCasanova) (Courtesy: Jonathan DeCasanova) DeCasanova, who works for both the Connecticut and Rhode Island blood centers, was 20 years old when he was first diagnosed with aplastic anemia. He later developed an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The dual diagnosis came as a shock to DeCasanova, who was an otherwise active and healthy student athlete at Eastern Connecticut State University. It was life changing, he said. I spent the next two years in the hospital trying to battle for my life. DeCasanova embarked on a nearly two-year journey to recovery after the dual diagnosis, which included countless blood transfusions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I needed about 100 units of blood, between red blood cells and platelets, he explained. It saved my life. DeCasanova has been cancer free for nearly a decade and just got married last year. He encouraged everyone whos on the fence about giving blood to keep the patients on the other end of that donation in mind. I would encourage them to think of those individuals, DeCasanova said. I can guarantee those folks are loved [blood donors] can truly make a positive and direct impact on those lives. Interested in becoming a blood donor? Schedule an appointment Contact the Rhode Island Blood Center: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 405 Promenade St. Providence, R.I. 02908 (401) 453-8383 or 1-800-283-8385 customerservice@ribc.org More resources: Donor eligibility requirements Types of donations Host a blood drive Find the nearest blood center Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The R.I. Division of Taxation is hosting an eight-hour session next week to help residents solve their old tax problems. Monday is Tax Compliance Day, and the goal is to bring together federal tax officials from across the state to help people solve their issues. Those who do their own taxes are urged to attend and bring necessary documentation including W-2s, compliance documents, and any notices they have received from the IRS or the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a one-stop shop where you can get your federal and state tax issues addressed at one time with the taxpayer advocate who can run scripts about your filing. Vita will be there to help people fill out their federal returns, R.I. Division of Taxations Neena Savage said. And because Rhode Island is a piggy back state, they can then address their state tax liabilities or issues. The event is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those who wish to attend can register and reserve a time slot online. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A computer monitor displays a diagram of the RIBridges system. The schematic, which was included in a 2024 request for proposal to help modernize the public benefits system, suggests the infrastructure had numerous security practices in place ahead of a December data breach. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Islands online public benefits system appears to be a fortress with many defenses, including 15 different kinds of security and monitoring software, state documentation shows. Despite those shields, a glut of data from the RIBridges system which aggregates eligibility checks for programs like Medicaid, food stamps and the states health insurance market was breached and leaked in December by Brain Cipher, a cybercriminal group. While the leaked data has been difficult to unearth, official comment continues to paint a portrait of system vendor Deloitte as the weak link. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brain Ciphers typical MO is ransomware, which encrypts files and can brick a system, making it basically unusable. Bad actors then promise to decrypt the files if victims pay a ransom. But former U.S. Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin said in an interview Wednesday, This was not a traditional ransomware attackThey didnt brick Deloittes system. They copied the data and took it. Langevin, who formerly sat on the U.S. House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, now chairs the Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies at his alma mater, Rhode Island College. Gov. Dan McKee has consulted Langevin since the start of the breach, and the former congressman praised the governor for informing the public as soon as possible, including a series of press conferences ahead of the breachs public release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Langevin said he was not privy to the discussions about whether or not to pay the hackers or to how much they were asking. However, he echoed the law enforcement stance that victims not pay ransoms. One reason many victims dont pay is that their systems are adequately backed up. Theres no such thing as 100% cyber security, but you can narrow that aperture of vulnerability to something much more manageable, Langevin said. A slow data leak Deloitte spokesperson Karen Walsh clarified in an email Friday that, The stolen data came from the RIBridges system housed at the state data center in Warwick. That the RIBridges servers are physically located in Warwick is also noted in a request for proposals (RFP) posted in August 2024 that sought vendors to modernize the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A diagram included in the proposal shows vendors what theyd be working with: An array of virtual and physical machines, two operating systems, numerous network technologies and firewalls, and a sizable roster of applications. The systems data was backed up redundantly in copies upon copies across multiple servers. These protections were further reinforced by state purchasing regulations for IT vendors which, as of May 2024, prescribe up to millions in cyber insurance. Connor Goodwolf, the Columbus, Ohio-based security engineer who previously shared his independent analysis of the leaked data with Rhode Island Current, reviewed the system architecture diagram, which was buried in Rhode Islands procurement website. Gov. Dan McKee and Jim Langevin, a former U.S. Representative, are seen chatting during the inaugural meeting of Rhode Islands Artificial Intelligence Task Force on July 15, 2024. Langevin chairs the task force. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) If they deployed all the tech in the stack, then its not a leak of the full RIBridges system, Goodwolf said in a text Wednesday, and pointed to a lack of evidence in the leak for one of the diagrams software components. The hack was limited, Goodwolf concluded, or the [Brain Cipher] group released a limited set of data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodwolfs automated downloader continues to get booted from the hackers web server, which has not been configured to allow resuming downloads. That makes it much harder for people to download the leaks files, some of which are dozens of gigabytes in size. But the developer has found less-than-ideal defense measures in the databases he was able to download. Simple passwords across the board, Goodwolf said over text, noting he had found one password that hadnt been updated since 2017 a violation of one security standard which RIBridges is designed to follow. I wonder how Deloitte is going to spin this, wrote Goodwolf. Deloitte previously confirmed that RIBridges data was in the breach advertised by Brain Cipher in early December, and said no systems on Deloittes network had been affected, which Walsh reiterated in her Jan. 10 email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kristen Setera, a spokesperson for the FBIs Boston office, and Lt. Col. Robert Creamer of the Rhode Island State Police declined to comment on any investigations related to the breach. Rebuild or repair? The states fiscal 2025 budget included $29 million for RIBridges, spread across three state agencies that deal with various pieces of the complex health and benefits platform: the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Rhode Island Department of Administration, and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services. The state budget office required EOHHS to make funding cuts to the hardware/software spending on RIBridges as part of the agencys fiscal 2026 budget memo, submitted to the governors office Sept. 30, two months before the cyberattack. But Rhode Island Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Charest lobbied against the full 35% cut in his budget memo, proposing a smaller cut of 25% to avoid increases in call waiting times, audits and corrective actions by regulatory federal agencies. The extra money is also needed to pay for software maintenance and updates, Charest wrote. The state continues to meet IT security standards for RIBridges, at least as far as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is concerned. CMS imposes heavy and precise regulations on state-run systems related to Medicaid and health insurance marketplaces, which are mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since first linking its state health exchange to CMS systems in 2013, Rhode Island has met all benchmarks during each federal reevaluation of the system, a CMS spokesperson said in an email Wednesday. Compliance with the standard, called MARS-E, is reviewed every three years, and Rhode Island was last evaluated in 2022, CMS said. CMS does not regulate systems which might be attached but unrelated to a states Medicaid network. An administrative computer in one state department could theoretically provide a path to computers at another state agency. A $419,120 contract the state awarded in October to Inspira Enterprise Inc. of Westlake, Texas, will assess the RIBridges system for compliance in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. But the proposal appears to focus mostly on web applications and not overarching, state-level IT infrastructure that could interact with RIBridges. Rhode Island House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale previously told Rhode Island Current that the state should ditch Deloitte and build a new system. On Jan. 2, 2025, the House Minority Caucus issued a statement with a similar message: The fact that Rhode Island will not sever this abusive relationship with this failed company is a further head-scratcher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what about the modernization RFP, which wants to rectify the existing RIBridges and make, in its words, a continued investment to ensure systems are secure, scalable, and sustainable? Chippendale wrote in an email: Yes, the RFP is seeking to make things right. But its akin to taking a building that was constructed improperly, poorly, out of code compliance with building specs, and then trying to convert it into a modern mansion. According to supplemental materials for the RFP, the RIBridges architecture comprises five main applications authored specifically for the system. Together, they make up nearly five million lines of code. Its hard to say how big of an undertaking that entails lines of code are not the most valuable metric, since programming languages and projects vary wildly in their needs but it will be up to the contracts awardee to conduct a thorough review of each line. Rhode Island House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale is seen on the House floor on May 28, 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) For Chippendale, Deloittes coding was sloppy from the start, and the representative pointed to oversight hearings at the State House during RIBridges rocky rollout in 2016. A third-party analysis then found that Deloittes code frequently lacked comments, or human-readable notations programmers use to explain their codes purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without those remarks its hieroglyphics that I first need to translate before I can modify it, Chippendale said. Now imagine that I was trying to figure that out with code that someone else, with a different style of coding, may have written. That process costs time and money, Chippendale said, so it may very well be more affordable to start from scratch. And while oversight hearings at the State House are valuable, the GOP leader said that in his dozen years on House Oversight, he thinks the committee is weaponized too frequently as an arena for Democratic party infighting. But his colleagues in the General Assembly are indeed revving up the House and Senate oversight committees for hearings on the RIBridges breach. Greg Pare, a Senate spokesperson, said in an email that the oversight hearings are currently being scheduled. Pare and Larry Berman, the House spokesperson, did not reply to a question as to whether Deloitte representatives would be compelled to attend the hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deloitte representatives did not attend any of the governors press conferences designed to inform the public about the breach, although state officials have said multiple times they expect the consultants who have been paid more than $10 million in the current fiscal year will show their faces eventually. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Correction: This article was updated to include a comment from Deloitte spokesperson Karen Walsh. She confirmed that the stolen data originated in the physical data centers for RIBridges, located in Warwick, rather than Deloittes own systems. Workers organize cases of bottled water to be distributed from West End Branch Library during a citywide water outage in Richmond, Va., January 9, 2025. (Parker Michels-Boyce for The Virginia Mercury) The Virginia Department of Health lifted Richmonds boil water advisory, Mayor Danny Avula announced Saturday morning, after two tests of the citys water confirmed it was safe to drink. Boil water advisories in neighboring counties Hanover, Henrico and Goochland were also lifted Saturday. The regional water crisis had been ongoing since Monday, January 6, when a winter storm disrupted operations at Richmonds water plant, leading to major flooding and leaving residents without potable water for days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation also delayed the start of the 2025 General Assembly session, which is set to resume on Monday. By 3:30 p.m. Friday, Avula had shared that the first of two tests of the citys water system was free from harmful contaminants. Another round of water sampling and testing started Friday morning. By late Saturday morning, the second test was also negative of contaminants. With both tests showing clean results, VDH deemed the safe for drinking and the advisory was lifted. We have reached our goal, Avula stated in a release about the lifted advisories. Avula thanked Richmonders for their patience during the ordeal and acknowledged the efforts of many dedicated public servants as well as regional, state, and federal partners who helped the city navigate the emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of Friday nights snowfall, Avula had said in a Friday news conference that the plant was buffeted by additional staff or contractors on site mechanics, engineers, information technology workers and VDH staff. Avula added that a new battery backup to supply the plants computer systems in the event of a power disruption had been installed and additional repair parts for filters were on site. Supervisors performed inspections and staff had hourly status-checking. After teasing a planned after-action report throughout the week to suss out further details of what went wrong, Avula committed to an independent review during Fridays press conference. We are absolutely outsourcing this. Were going to bring in a third party to do that investigation, Avula said. Its unclear how long that could take but he hopes to have tapped a group to lead the investigation by next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the second day in a row Department of Public Utilities director April Bingham was absent from the Friday press conference. Both times, Avula noted that she was at the plant. Thats where I need her focused, Avula said on Friday. As we get through the storm, thats when she will be available for questions next week. WTVR reported that an inspection performed by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2022 detailed corroded pipes, bacterial contamination and a lack of attention to emergency preparedness. The Richmond Times-Dispatch also noted that a DPU engineer proposed improvements to outdated equipment at the plant to the citys Planning Commission last summer. That proposal requested three new water pumps with claims that the old models were outdated and that their repair parts were no longer available from their original manufacturers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that city officials have known about the potential for failures at the plant for some time. When Bingham was last present at a press conference, on Wednesday, she noted that the plant is 100 years old and said she had responded to the 2022 EPA citation. Im not going to combine the two, because I cant, right today, say that they were connected, she told reporters. On Thursday Avula confirmed that Bingham had sent a letter to the EPA the previous week highlighting the plants redundancy systems (which ultimately failed a few days later). As to the failure at the plant this week, at Fridays conference Avula guided reporters through the current-known cascade of events that went wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avula said that Dominion Energy Virginia, the states largest electricity provider, feeds two power sources at the plant. When one fails, the second one was supposed to automatically switch on, but that didnt happen in this case. When the second power source failed to activate, an electrician arrived Monday morning and manually made the switch. Avula explained that the electrician made the call to not turn on generators, which are the backup in the instance that the battery backups fail. Then, IT systems that Avula called the brains of the plant did not reboot properly post-power outage, which caused water pump malfunction and flooding. As to area residents who have been unable to work this week, Avula said that Richmond will explore state and federal recovery funds that can be used for rental assistance. For instance, many restaurants in Richmond have been closed or had reduced operating hours amid the water boil advisory, leaving many of the areas food industry workers unable to be paid. Avula also plans to postpone the next water bills due date and more details may be available later concerning rebates for people who lost water access. Editors note: This story was updated Saturday, Jan. 11 to reflect the lifted water advisories in Richmond and neighboring localities. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Highways west and southwest of Wichita are becoming snow-packed as winter weather moves into the state. Roads as of 6:11 p.m. (Courtesy: KDOT) In Barber County, emergency management reports a two-vehicle accident on Kansas Highway 2 near the bridge. Visibility is all reported to be less than a quarter of a mile. K-2-conditions (Courtesy: Barber County Emergency Management) K-2-conditions (Courtesy: Barber County Emergency Management) The KSN Storm Track 3 Weather Team says several Kansas counties are under a winter weather advisory, and several inches of snow may fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interstate 70, west of Goodland, was closed due to winter weather in Colorado. It has since reopened. The Colorado State Patrol says the closures are due to adverse conditions, multiple crashes and jackknifed semi-trucks. The City of Wichita says crews will continue to clear streets, rotating 12-hour shifts throughout while there is snow. Check before you go: KanDrive, also known as WICHway in Wichita, is a website and app from the Kansas Department of Transportation that provides information about road conditions, traffic, and more. Viewers can access cameras along the highways and interstates for free. The KanDrive app is available in both Google Play and Apples App Store. To view the website, click here. Drivers can also call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside of Kansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Jan. 10ROCHESTER A yearlong effort to identify needs for a growing Rochester community has highlighted the importance of focusing on the city's youth. During her annual State of the City address Friday morning, Rochester Mayor Kim Norton said the ongoing Vision 2050 project led by her office identified education as a top priority for city residents. Only housing outranked education comments. "Child care was the No. 1 thing in that area of education and children," she said, vowing to seek new ways to address access child care concerns that have emerged in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling the recent approval of a Rochester Public Schools referendum "a gift from our residents to the future of our city," Norton pointed to new opportunities that will emerge from the added $200 million in local school funding during the next 10 years. Rochester School Board Chairwoman Cathy Nathan joined Norton at the event and said efforts to grow educational support are already underway with the district creating five new Pre-K classrooms to support up to 160 half-day students and opening 437 new school-age child-care slots to reduce the current waiting list to 11 students. As the district completes the final year of its three-year strategic plan, she said board members and school staff will start working on its next three-year plan in 2025. "We will be reaching out in multiple ways and multiple places to capture feedback from the Rochester community," Nathan said of efforts to gauge community needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norton said such feedback is important, but she encouraged Rochester residents to go further. "We can't put it all on the shoulders of our teachers," she said. "I know it feels like that is a simple thing to do, but the broader community, broader society, has a role, too." She vowed to focus on opportunities for added city involvement in addressing related needs this year and encouraged others to find ways they can make a difference for the city's youngest residents. "All of us have a role to play," she told the crowd gathered at the Mayo Civic Center. "If we do not focus and make sure our young people are ready, our future is at risk for the whole community. We have to have people who are ready to lead, people who are prepared, warm and feel loved. It's simple." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julie Ruzek, executive director of Cradle 2 Career, agreed, citing the need to build on collaborative work already being done to address growing childcare needs in a city that saw the state's steepest job growth in 2024. "None of this work happens in isolation," she said. "It takes all of us educators, businesses, parents, nonprofits and community members working hand-in-hand to create a thriving ecosystem of support." "Education is the most powerful tool we can give the next generation," she added. "It is the key to breaking cycles of poverty, unlocking potential and building stronger and more vibrant communities." Beyond educational needs, Norton said the early Vision 2050 results point toward a need to support youth mental health and provide more family-oriented activities in the city. She said she aims to find ways the city and others can build on what is already being done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's what is being asked for by the people who live in this community," she said, citing the thousands of comments received through the 2024 study that is expected to be reviewed by the Rochester City Council in February. "We are going to create that child- and family-friendly community that's key to a high-quality life." Norton encouraged all residents to find ways they can help, whether it's reading to a child or finding ways to initiate or support larger efforts. "Let's make this a year where we can all come together as a community, show our support for our youth and make sure they know they are our future and we are there to support them every step of the way," she said. The annual event also included comments from Rochester City Council President Randy Schubring, Olmsted County Commissioner Dave Senjem, Rochester Poet Laureate Jean Prokott and Collider Executive Director Amanda Leightner. ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (KCAU) This past June, Rock Valley was hit by a devastating flood that shut down many businesses in town. Now, just a little over six months later, a lot of those businesses are starting to open up and things are getting back to normal. One place that is reopening is the Rock Valley Public Library. The library was submerged in water during the flood. Thanks to hard work from the librarians, though, its set to reopen on Tuesday at a new, temporary location. 3 rural Siouxland businesses receive part of $275K Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a lot of computer work, its been a lot of hard work, assistant librarian Dana Rose said. Weve all taken on roles that we didnt really sign up for, like building shelves, putting in flooring, and extra things like that just to get this location ready. The librarians did all that. Its been a lot. While 10,000 books were saved, 35,000 were lost. Thanks to donations, the library is back up to about 20,000 books. Its been very heartwarming to see people step in and donate so we can get back to where were were eventually, Rose said. The plan is to eventually move back to the original location, but no timetable has been set for that move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another place getting back to normal is the Rock Valley Middle School and High School building. The flood caused damage to classrooms, offices and the gym. The start of the school year was delayed until Sept. 5, and the volleyball team had to play their home matches in Sioux Center. The middle school students also had to move out to temporary buildings while cleanup and repairs were being done. Ive never heard a student complain, Rock Valley Community School District superintendent Matt Van Voorst said. Number one, we have awesome students and our staff has been outstanding. We talked a lot about it at the beginning of the year, how this is going to look. We try to communicate as much as we can ahead of time so people have a fair amount of time to prepare. Now, most of the classrooms are repaired, and the gym got a new floor and new bleachers and was able to start being used in November. The hope is to have the remaining rooms repaired by the end of this school year. Center for Siouxland taking care of residents taxes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You need to take a little time to reflect and really see the amount of work thats been done, Van Voorst said. Because there are days Im like, thinking to Sept. 5. We moved our start date to Sept. 5. What it looked like in our building to now and the amount of work thats been done. Without the people we have in place, there is no way this could have gotten done. Theres more good news for Rock Valley: the post office is set to reopen on Friday. The town has been using a post office on wheels since the flooding, but now the actual building will reopen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (WJW) Rocky River Superintendent Dr. Michael Shoaf is retiring early, the district announced on Thursday. In a letter sent to parents, acquired by the FOX 8 I-Team, Rocky River School Board of Education said it accepted Shoafs retirement after he became eligible earlier than expected under recent changes to the state retirement system. The decision was made during the board of education meeting Thursday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Shoaf and the Board of Education have reached an amicable agreement that allows for his separation, effective immediately. This agreement supports Dr. Shoafs decision to retire and enables the school district to advance toward future goals, the letter said, in part. We thank Dr. Shoaf for his years of service to the Rocky River City Schools. Family dog killed, other pets missing after Medina County fire In 2023, some Rocky River parents called for Shoaf and other school leaders to resign when the district was at the center of several controversies. According to the school board, Assistant Superintendent Liz Anderson will assume district leadership at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board of Education is committed to a transparent and open process as we seek a new superintendent, the letter continued. This process has already involved soliciting valuable input from many community members. I-Team: The untold story behind police leaving SUVs in the river for months The district hopes to have a new superintendent in place for the start of the 2025-2026 school year in August. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we navigate this transition, the letter concluded. Together, we look forward to continuing our mission of enhancing educational experiences and opportunities for our students, their families and the greater Rocky River community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. If you are thinking of travelling on British Airways or Virgin Atlantic in the coming months, you may not find it as easy as you might hope for: Britains arch-rival flag carriers are axing services left, right and centre. Services to New York, Miami, Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Dallas, Tel Aviv, and Kuwait are being scrapped or scaled back. It is possible, however, that these changes might actually allow you to upgrade your experience. British Airways and Virgin are suffering from the same problem. Their long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines and, even though more than two years have passed since Covid shredded global supply chains, the Derby-based air engine manufacturer is still finding it hard to source key components for this particular model. This means that both BA and Virgin cannot service the engines on their 787s or fix them fast when they go wrong, so are operating with a reduced fleet. BA and Virgins Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets are suffering from the same problem - Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto Passengers hate last-minute cancellations more than any of the other problems that seem to increasingly affect the aviation industry. So both BA and Virgin have announced that they are cutting services long in advance in many cases, to avoid having to disappoint customers later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve for their travel plans, BA says. I was one of the first to find out how bad the problem is when my flight from London to Doha was axed at a few weeks notice. On some routes, reduced competition caused by the cancellations means that fares are rising sharply. Virgin and BA compete intensely on the London to Cape Town route. You can get an economy return on BA flying before the end of March for less than 800. Try booking after April 1, when Virgin will no longer be flying that route, and you wont have much change from 2,000. BAs premium economy, business and first class fares have not, however, increased by such a large margin. Both BA and Virgin have apologised to customers affected by the changes and have offered them the chance to book with other carriers, change their dates of travel or receive a refund. BA points out that anyone affected by the suspension of the Gatwick to New York service can travel on one of its eight daily flights to the Big Apple from Heathrow. The rebooking offer could, in fact, work in travellers favour. BA suggests that customers heading for Doha will be rebooked on its OneWorld codeshare partner airline, Qatar Airways. It has 10 flights a day from London to Hamad International, eight from Heathrow and two from Gatwick. BA customers heading for Doha may be booked onto Qatar Airways flights At Heathrow, Qatar Airways operates from Terminal Four, which is the fastest to navigate because its the smallest. Qatar uses its Airbus A380 super-jumbo on the London to Doha route. On this double-decker clipper in the clouds, the bar for first-class and business-class passengers is the biggest in the sky and joy is often empty since many of Qatar Airways customers do not drink alcohol so prefer to stay in their seats and watch films. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qatar Airways Q Suite is the best business-class suite of any carrier. It is vast and comfortable, with lots of storage space and charge points. Its high walls enable travellers to work or read with the windows open, without disturbing those who want to sleep or sit in the dark watching films. Snag a window seat if you want to work or read, or one of the centre pods if you want to sleep or enjoy dinner and a movie. If you are travelling with your partner, the Q Suites in the centre of the cabin can be configured to create a double bed. Qatar Airways Q Suite: the best business-class suite of any carrier - AMER SWEIDAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economy is still economy, but on Qatar Airways the food is better than most. If you are travelling economy class on Qatars A380, bag a seat in the tiny cabin at the rear of the upper deck: its the best economy cabin in the sky. BA passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi will be rebooked on Etihad, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. It has four flights a day from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi, two during the day and two overnight. British Airways would have offered a single flight, so you can now pick the time that suits you best. Also, like Qatar Airways, on the London to Abu Dhabi route, Etihad flies its Airbus A380, which offers showers for first class passengers and a bar for business class passengers. Perhaps the best thing of all about travelling on Etihad is that economy class passengers can buy access to its lounges in Abu Dhabi airport: its 126 for four hours in the business class lounge and 170 in first class. Thats money well spent since the lounges offer daybeds, a spa, and a la carte dining with dishes including crab and lobster with grand cru classe burgundy and bordeaux wines. BA passengers who wish to travel to Kuwait can travel on either Qatar Airways or Etihad, via Doha or Abu Dhabi. The only disadvantage of rebooking on Qatar Airways or Etihad is that neither carrier offers premium economy. Those booked in BAs World Traveller Plus, as BA calls premium economy, will have to either downgrade to economy class or upgrade to business class. Virgin Atlantic does not recommend alternative airlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the rebooking offer hasnt won you over, theres still some good news. BA has dumped the Trent 1000 engine for its latest order of Boeing 787s. At the Farnborough Airshow in July, International Airlines Group, BAs parent company, announced it had chosen the US-made General Electric Aerospace GEnx engines for six new 787 aircraft that will take to the skies next year. Normal service will have resumed by then. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A rookie LAPD officer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a bicyclist was struck and killed on Christmas Eve in Ontario, police said. Aaron Kleibacker, 39, was driving south on Bon View Avenue when his vehicle hit the bicyclist about 7:37 p.m. on Dec. 24, said Corp. Eliseo Guerrero, spokesperson for the Ontario Police Department. Kleibacker initially fled the scene, Guerrero said, but came back. Kleibacker underwent a sobriety test and was found to be above the legal limit, according to Guerrero. He said he didn't know whether Kleibacker identified himself as a law enforcement officer to investigators, but was cooperative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guerrero said that particular stretch of Bon View, a two-lane road with relatively little traffic, "hasn't been a problem in the past." Read more: LAPD rookie cops face hazing by shaved heads and other 'rites of passage,' report says The bicyclist was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries, Guerrero said. The medical examiner's office identified him as Fabio Cebreros, 38, and police said he was from Chino. Kleibacker was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and released on Christmas Day, according to an online jail roster. Charges are pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emails sent to accounts listed for Kleibacker went unreturned on Thursday. Kleibacker had most recently assigned to Rampart Division, and his social media presence suggested that he joined the department after serving in the U.S. Marines. An Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson on Monday confirmed that Kleibacker was still employed, but otherwise declined to comment about the case. Officers who are under a probationary period after graduating from the police academy can be fired outright for alleged misconduct, without having the option of pleading their cases in a board of rights hearing like other officers. His arrest was the latest in a series of incidents involving alcohol, a persistent issue in the LAPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, an off-duty lieutenant who has posted anti-drunk-driving messages online was charged with felony DUI in connection with a crash on the 605 Freeway in Santa Fe Springs that injured at least one person. The lieutenant, Matthew Ensley, allegedly had a blood-alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit when he was arrested. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is expected to return to court this month to set a date for his preliminary hearing. In the meantime, his statewide policing certification has been temporarily suspended, pending the outcome of his criminal case. Read more: LAPD union leader faces complaints that his security company hires and underpays problem cops Drunk driving, and the departments supposedly lenient handling of such cases, has received scrutiny in the past by the Police Commission. The civilian oversight body voted to tighten the departments alcohol policy, lowering the acceptable blood-alcohol level for an off-duty, armed officer to 0.04% in some situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission weighed in on the issue of off-duty drinking in response to a 2021 Times report suggesting that the department has failed to develop clear policies despite multiple cases in recent years in which officers who were off the clock and armed allegedly caused trouble, broke laws and shot people while intoxicated. 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. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. ROY, Utah (ABC4) Four massage parlors in northern Utah were searched by police Thursday morning as part of a human trafficking and prostitution investigation, according to the Roy Police Department. Sgt. Josh Taylor, public information officer for RPD, said officers raided the businesses at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, gathering information on possible crimes including human trafficking, prostitution, fraud, and money laundering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers searched the buildings and interviewed employees, but have not yet made any arrests. Officials said the employees interviewed, including the massage therapists, are believed to be victims in this case. These raids were part of an ongoing investigation that Roy detectives have been working on for some time. Taylor said detectives had received complaints from community members about the parlors, some of whom were customers and allegedly witnessed sexual acts while at the business. In one instance, a resident told police they observed people arriving and leaving the business at odd hours outside of the regular work day. Taylor said detectives are continuing the investigation with the information they received from the Thursday raids. There is no further information at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A federal judge found Rudy Giuliani, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump, in contempt of court Friday for the second time this week. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howells ruling was in response to Giuliani refusing to turn over requested financial records in a defamation case brought against him by former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss, whom he repeatedly and falsely accused of committing fraud while serving as Georgia poll workers during the 2020 presidential election. Its outrageous and shameful that Mr. Giuliani suggests that he is the one being treated unfairly, Howell said in court, according to reporters in the room. This takes real chutzpah, Mr. Giuliani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howell also ordered the former New York City mayor to sign a sworn declaration stating hed seen all the trialevidence. She threatened potential jail time if he fails to sign it within the next 10 days. Giuliani was also held in contempt of court Monday for refusing to surrender records and personal items to Freeman and Moss, including paperwork for his Mercedes convertible and his property in New York City. Rudy Giuliani leaves the New York Federal Courthouse on Nov.7. Alex Kent via Getty Images In December 2023, a jury ordered Giuliani to pay Freeman and Moss $148 million, and in May, he agreed to a permanent injunction requiring him to stop claiming the mother and daughter had committed fraud. Giuliani has turned over some possessions to Freeman and Moss, but the women are fighting for ownership papers and the bulk of the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes back in court now after Freeman and Moss say he violated that injunction by slamming the women as fraudsters on his podcast. He even acknowledged the violation in a November episode, saying, Im sorry theyre going to sue me again for saying it, but what am I going to do but tell the truth? His continued allegations against Freeman and Moss come in spite of the Georgia secretary of state declaring in a 2023 final report that no fraud was detected during the two womens poll work. Freeman and Moss say Giulianis accusations upended their lives, forcing them to quit their jobs and go into hiding as they endured an onslaught of threats and racist attacks. In court Friday, Howell dismissed arguments from Giulianis lawyer that his client sincerely believed that the women had engaged in election fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, what? Youre saying this defamation is never going to stop? Hes never going to stop saying this because he thinks hes right? she asked. Thats chilling. Related... Rudy Giuliani has been held in contempt of court for the second time in a week after a federal judge in Washington, D.C., lambasted the former New York City mayor for repeatedly attacking a pair of election workers he defamed despite a court order that blocks him from repeating false statements against them. Donald Trumps former attorney has been ordered to sign a sworn declaration acknowledging his statements are false or he could be thrown in jail. Giuliani was ordered to appear in court to answer for a string of recent statements falsely alleging the women had manipulated election results in 2020 claims that landed him a $148 million defamation judgment in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District Judge Beryl Howell criticized Giuliani for his baseless whining. The former mayor called her bloodthirsty and biased moments before Fridays hearing started. It is outrageous and shameful that Mr. Giuliani dares to suggest that he is the one being treated unfairly when his conduct has caused the plaintiffs real harm, the judge told him. This takes real chutzpah, she said. Rudy Giuliani was ordered to appear at a contempt hearing in Washington, D.C., on January 10 for repeatedly attacking election workers he defamed, marking his second contempt hearing that week (AP) The public should know that Mayor Rudy Giuliani never had the opportunity to defend himself on the facts in the defamation case, he said in a statement with his spokesperson Ted Goodman. This is an important point that many Americans still dont realize due to biased coverage and a campaign to silence Mayor Giuliani, the statement added. This contempt ruling is designed to prevent Mayor Giuliani from exercising his constitutional rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howells order comes just four days after a different judge in a different court delivered a significant blow to his claims in a property turnover case stemming from his defamation verdict. Following a two-day hearing in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, Giuliani was held in contempt and hit with sanctions on Monday after a judge determined he willfully evaded discovery requests and ignored questions about his properties in a lengthy legal battle for control of his assets. Giuliani showed a blithe disregard for requests for documents, including sending over the names of his doctors, financial firms and lawyers, and another for his phone numbers, email accounts and messaging apps, according to New York District Judge Lewis Liman. A court sketch depicts Giuliani appearing remotely for his contempt hearing in New York on January 6 (REUTERS) Attorneys for the two women also asked the judge overseeing their initial defamation case in Washington to hold him in contempt for brazenly violating the courts terms against repeating his defamatory statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court order prohibits Giuliani from publishing, causing others to publish, and/or assisting in others publication of any statements that suggest that Plaintiffs, whether mentioned directly, indirectly, or by implication, engaged in wrong-doing in connection with the 2020 presidential election. He is also prohibited from making other statements conveying the same defamatory meaning. Giuliani recently accused the women of quadruple counting the ballots and passing hard drives that we maintain were used to fix voting machines echoing similar claims that landed him in a trial court for defamation in 2023. His statements repeat the exact same lies for which [he] has already been held liable, and which he agreed to be bound by court order to stop repeating, attorney Michael Gottlieb wrote in a court filing on November 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days before his Washington hearing, Giulianis attorneys asked if he could appear remotely from Florida, citing a number of medical conditions including severe knee conditions and a lung condition that requires the use of an inhaler. His attorney wrote that it was reasonable to limit his travel as one of the more outspoken critics of the current Iranian regime, at a time of heightened terrorism concerns. Giuliani faces contempt sanctions in New York and Washington for false claims and lack of cooperation with document requests and deadlines in cases stemming from a blockbuster defamation judgment against him (AP) Judge Howell sought to call his bluff and asked him to submit a sworn declaration, under penalty of perjury, that he has been unable to travel and has not traveled from his residence in Florida within the past 30 days and does not intend to in the next 30 days. Giuliani then wrote to the court to withdraw his request, saying that if an upcoming trial related to his property turnover case ends in time, he plans to attend Trumps inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had hoped the Court would understand and accommodate my needs. However, it appears I was mistaken, he wrote. Following Trumps defeat in the 2020 election, Giuliani launched a spurious bid to reject election results in states Trump lost. In Georgia, he falsely accused Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss of manipulating election results, which fueled a wave of harassment and abuse directed at the women. They sued him for defamation in Washington, D.C., and in December 2023, a jury awarded them $148 million in damages. He then filed for bankruptcy, but after a protracted legal battle, the case was dismissed earlier this year to let Giuliani and his many creditors battle for control of his assets in separate courtrooms overseeing the lawsuits against him. CHEYENNE Members of the public may soon be allowed to concealed carry firearms within the Wyoming Capitol and its underground extension after the states top five elected officials unanimously passed a set of rules governing a new policy Wednesday morning. Firearms are currently prohibited in the state Capitol, but Gov. Mark Gordon promised, after vetoing a 2024 bill that would have lifted all gun-free zones statewide, to consider lifting gun-free zones in state-owned buildings operated through the executive branch. The State Building Commission composed of Gordon and the states four other top elected officials launched a working group to study the possibility of allowing firearms within the underground corridor between the Capitol and Herschler Building, formally known as the Capitol Extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A set of rules drafted by the State Construction Department that would allow concealed carry by members of the public within the Capitol complex was proposed during a special SBC meeting in early August. Public comment taken during that meeting revealed a mix of Wyomingites arguing either for or against allowing firearms within the state Capitol. Those who were against the rules change argued the presence of firearms could intimidate people and keep them from testifying during legislative meetings. Those in favor of the rules argued it was their Second Amendment right to protect themselves from potential harm. After that meeting, a new set of rules was proposed during the SBCs October meeting, with two major changes to the original draft. One change altered language so that state employees could also carry firearms in the Capitol complex, and another change opened up the rules to include constitutional carry, as long as they meet certain outlined requirements under Wyoming statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, these rules only apply to the public area of the Capitol and its underground corridor. Firearms are still prohibited from rooms where government meetings are held, including the rooms along the corridor and the Capitol Complex Auditorium. This new set of rules was adopted by the SBC on Wednesday. The Wyoming Legislatures Management Council still needs to review these rules, and the governor has 75 days to sign them into effect. Who can carry and where State statute W.S. 6-8-104(a)(iv) is referenced under the new firearms policy, regarding constitutional carry. According to Wyoming statute, a person may concealed carry as long as they: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Are a U.S. resident * Are at least 21 years old * Have no recent history of alcohol abuse * Are not currently adjudicated to be legally incompetent * Have not been committed to a mental institution State employees and concealed carry permit holders are also allowed to concealed carry under the new rules. However, no state employee or member of the public is allowed to bring their firearm into any room where a governmental meeting is being held, including the Capitol Complex Auditorium. Firearms are also prohibited in the Herschler Building under the new rule. Each person who carries is liable for any injury or damage caused from carrying a firearm, according to the new rules. Capitol security personnel are authorized to request that any persons carrying a dangerous weapon, including concealed firearms carried pursuant to permitted carry or constitutional carry, in the Capitol Building or Capitol Extension relinquish the weapon for failure to comply with applicable law or regulation, or unsafe behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weapon may be returned to the person upon leaving the building, unless the security officer has probable cause for detaining the person or the weapon. Should a person refuse to relinquish their weapon, security personnel shall deny that person from entering the building, according to the new rules. Public opposition An informal online survey through the State Construction Department last fall revealed overwhelming public opposition to the rules change. The survey received more than 130 public comments, 87% of which were against it. Several people, some of whom were gun owners, said they would feel unsafe in the building, considering many heated discussions are prone to take place over controversial pieces of legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout decades of doing business in the Capitol building and working with the Wyoming Legislature, I always felt safe because guns were not allowed and armed security was in the building, read one comment. If guns are allowed, I will hesitate to come into a building that I no longer consider to be safe. Another formal public survey was posted on the departments website from Oct. 31 through Dec. 16. SBC Secretary Suzanne Norton, who also works for the State Construction Department, said the second survey received a total of 56 public comments, with 36 opposing the new rules. Twenty public comments were in favor of the new firearm policy, 14 of which stated that the rules didnt go far enough, Norton said. However, in response to the public comments, the commission is beginning the process of considering rule changes for all other executive office spaces, Norton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other state buildings State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder said the working group is currently partnering with the Attorney Generals office to extend similar firearm policies in other executive buildings, including the Herschler Building. They are currently drafting rules to bring to us that cover those additional buildings, Degenfelder said. And so a little bit of a nuance there of the fact that we dont have rules in place yet. Those need to be drafted from scratch regarding the other office building. The working groups biggest hurdle is overturning former Gov. Jim Geringers 2001 executive order on workplace violence, which can either be done through a repeal or legislative override. That policy currently prohibits all executive branch employees and officials from carrying deadly weapons around or in any state buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who has long criticized the commissions delay in lifting gun-free zones in the Capitol and other state-owned buildings, rehashed his argument that rules supersede EOs (executive orders). Thats a basic understanding of law, Gray said. If its allowed in the rule, its clearly allowed. Assistant Attorney General Tabetha Wolf told commission members rules can supersede executive orders if theyre in direct conflict. The intent with the drafting here was not to supersede that executive order, Wolf said. At this time, thats worked through the personnel rules appropriately, at least was my understanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Personnel policies, which are terms of employment, are different from rules applied to the conditional use of the building. These rules are generally limited to the public areas of the Capitol and its underground corridor, in this case, Wolf said. Another obstacle is making sure that personnel policy for the use of firearms in state employees is uniform across the board. Wolf said the commission has some authority to pass rules that impact personnel through its ability to regulate facilities. However, there are other state entities that manage and regulate employees more specifically, Wolf said. Such facilities include correctional facilities, mental institutions and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. State Treasurer Curt Meier said revisions to firearm policies in different state agencies should include considerable input from the heads of those agencies. We have to be more cognizant of what the public is capable of, especially in that assassination of a health CEO, Meier said. It was agreed by commission members to bring in state agency input as they work on drafting a second set of rules regarding state personnel. Degenfelder proposed holding a special SBC meeting to discuss this second draft of rules, which will be proposed by the AGs office. Clouds gather over the South Dakota Capitol building in Pierre on Sept. 17, 2022. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) A wave of criminal prosecutions against former South Dakota state employees continued Thursday with a new charge against a woman accused of using grocery vouchers intended for foster families. The case is at least the fifth brought against a former state employee by Attorney General Marty Jackley since last summer, all for fraud-related allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals Office intends to continue to prosecute these cases to regain the publics trust in state government, Jackley said Thursday in a press release. New case details The new charge is against Amalia Escalante Barrientos, 28, of Brookings, who began working for the state Department of Social Services in 2023. In her role as a family service specialist, she was authorized to provide one-time $150 grocery vouchers to foster families. According to a court document filed by a state Division of Criminal Investigation agent, department officials became suspicious when Barrientos provided two vouchers to one foster parent in a short period of time. Barrientos allegedly used one of the vouchers to purchase $149.98 worth of groceries for herself, while allegedly using her own loyalty account number with the grocery store. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrientos resigned during the ensuing investigation and allegedly admitted to the agent that she used a total of three vouchers for herself, all last year. The agent wrote that Barrientos was supposed to obtain verbal approval from a supervisor before issuing a voucher, but often her supervisor was unavailable, so field workers were permitted to generate the vouchers provided they just make their supervisor aware at some point. Barrientos is charged with one misdemeanor count of obtaining money, property or assistance by fraud from social services or related programs. The maximum penalty if shes convicted is one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Updates on earlier cases The recent rash of revelations about alleged criminal behavior by state employees dates to at least July, when Lonna Carroll, 68, of Algona, Iowa, was accused of embezzling $1.8 million from the state by creating and approving fraudulent financial support orders for children over the course of 13 years while she worked for the Department of Social Services. Her case is scheduled for an April trial. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley holds a press conference at the Sioux Fall Law Enforcement Center on Dec. 17, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) In August, Jackley said a deceased former three-decade employee of the state Department of Revenue, Sandra ODay, had allegedly created 13 fake vehicles to help her secure $400,000 in loans. No charges were filed, because ODay died before her alleged behavior came to light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, Jackley announced charges against two more former Department of Revenue employees, Lynne Hunsley, 64, and Danielle Degenstein, 51, both of Pierre. Hunsley has since pleaded guilty to forgery and grand theft by deception for creating a fake vehicle title that she used as proof of a trade-in to help her avoid excise taxes. She was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $1,200 in restitution to the state. Degenstein is charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly concealing her knowledge of a crime committed by a person identified in court documents only as S.O. a set of initials that matches ODays. Degensteins case is pending. In another pending case announced last month, Renee Strong, 55, of Springfield, faces 26 felony counts for allegedly submitting falsified reports of food-serve health inspections she never conducted while working for the state Department of Public Safety. Legislation introduced Jackley announced a legislative package Wednesday intended to help prevent and catch state employee crimes. The bills include proposed new requirements for supervisors to report suspected wrongdoing, protections for whistleblowers, a greater investigatory role for the state auditor, and requirements for state agencies to conduct annual risk reviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers will consider the bills during the annual legislative session that begins Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre. Gov. Kristi Noem responded to the string of charges in November by adding an extra internal control officer position to the executive branch and by ordering state employees to undergo annual training aimed at preventing criminal activity. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In the capital of Transnistria, a self-declared microstate sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine, the festive New Years lights have gone dark ahead of schedule. This separatist sliver of Moldova will run out of energy in three weeks, the head of its Russia-backed government has said. Once proud, go-it-alone and richer than their neighbors in Moldova proper, Transnistrians are now burning wood to keep warm through hours-long blackouts as winter bites. The crunch began when Moscow stopped pumping natural gas through pipelines in Ukraine to Europe. Transnistrian officials have declared a state of emergency. They say their region is facing not only an energy crisis, but a humanitarian one. Analysts say this understates the problem, which has raised questions about the future of the de facto state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an existential question (for Transnistria), Vadim Pistrinciuc, director of the Institute for Strategic Initiatives (ISI), a think tank in Moldova, told CNN. Heres what you need to know. How did the crisis start? For years, Russian gas flowed through Ukraine to Moldova and elsewhere in Europe. The last transit agreement with Kyiv, signed before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was due to expire on January 1. Ukraine said for months it would not renew the agreement and made good on its promise. Some countries prepared for this. Austria said it did its homework and now sources gas elsewhere. Hungary and Slovakia have also found alternative, much costlier, supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transnistria did not. After splitting from Moldova in 1990 as the Soviet Union crumbled, Transnistria has relied entirely on Russian gas delivered through Ukraines pipelines, mostly free of charge to keep the lights on. Thats over. With Russia unwilling to send gas via other routes, Transnistria is going dark. How has Transnistria been affected? Home to more than 300,000 people mostly Russian speakers Transnistria celebrated Orthodox Christmas on Tuesday. The usually festive occasion was interrupted by the regions self-proclaimed government announcing daily eight-hour power outages. The government said it took the decision after electricity consumption had jumped fourfold in recent days. With no gas to keep homes warm, residents had turned to electric heaters putting huge strain on the regions creaking power grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system created during the Soviet period is not coping, President Vadim Krasnoselsky said at a meeting of the regions energy council on Monday. He urged residents to use electric heating selectively. Vadim Krasnoselsky has blamed the Moldovan authorities for the crisis. - Vladislav Bachev/Reuters Videos posted online show a glimpse of how residents are coping. Transnistrians are cooking meals on electric mini-stoves and burning firewood and coal to heat their homes. Hot water is now supplied on a strict schedule, causing some to boil water in kettles and take showers using buckets. Some alternative heating methods have proved hazardous. Orthodox Christmas was marked by two cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, one of them fatal. On Tuesday, a family of four in the city of Bendery, including a 7-year-old child, fell ill due to fumes from a gas water heater. They were treated and released in a stable condition. The following night in the capital, Tiraspol, a woman died while showering in a poorly-ventilated apartment where a chimneyless gas water heater was in use, according to the regions Ministry of Internal Affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unable to keep classrooms warm, schools and colleges have extended the winter vacation until January 20, far later than scheduled. Many kindergartens have not reopened after the holidays. The ones that have are burning firewood for heating. Sergey Obolonik, minister for economic development, said Wednesday that the regions gas reserves will last for another 24 days. Has Moldova also been hit? Yes, but not as badly. Before Russias invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was almost entirely reliant on Russian gas. But a few months into the war, Russias energy giant Gazprom sharply cut gas supplies to the country and hiked its prices, citing unpaid debts. Moldovan officials were perplexed and some cried foul, describing the move as an attempt to blackmail the country for a pivot towards the West. With winter approaching, Moldova swiftly arranged energy supplies from Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite ending gas purchases from Russia, it still bought large amounts of its energy from Transnistria, which uses Russian gas to generate electricity at the Cuciurgan power plant. The Cuciurgan power station in Transnistria turns Russian gas into electricity, some of which it sells to Moldova. - David Cruz Sanz/Sipa USA/AP Now Russian gas supplies have been cut off, that plant is producing vastly less energy. Moldova has had to buy from emergency European markets mostly via Romania at nearly twice the price. Further costs are on the horizon, too. Moldovas government in Chisinau, led by the recently re-elected pro-Western President Maia Sandu, has said it will provide support to residents fleeing from the freezing temperatures and energy shortages in Transnistria. Will Transnistria accept help from Chisinau? Chisinau has offered to sell gas and energy to Transnistria, although officials in Tiraspol show little sign of accepting the offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main reason is economic. Unlike Moscow, Chisinau is not proposing to send gas for free. After 30 years of abundant, low-cost energy, Transnistrians would now have to pay the same rate as those in Moldova proper. Its a problem of costs for the residents of Transnistria, Nicu Popescu, Moldovas former foreign minister, told CNN. Moldova has been much more prepared for such a situation. Transnistria has not done anything in 30 years to be prepared. Another reason is political. After decades of proclaiming its independence from Moldova, to be seen accepting help from it would be akin to admitting failure. Instead, Tiraspol is attempting to pin the crisis on Chisinau. Krasnoselsky has accused Moldova of trying to strangle the region and force it to renounce its claims to statehood. Maia Sandu (center) visits Varnita, a Moldovan town affected by the energy crunch on Thursday. - Aurel Obreja/AP Whats Russias role? Russia could provide gas to Transnistria but is choosing not to. Although it can no longer transit gas through Ukraine, other pipelines are available under the Black Sea via Turkey, albeit at a higher cost than before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the situation is critical, but added that the decisions of Ukraine and the Moldovan authorities had deprived Transnistria of natural gas. Peskov said some European countries, including Slovakia, still wanted Russias more competitive supplies. He also criticized the United States for profiting from the crisis, saying it had boosted its costlier gas exports to Europe. Russia may also stand to gain from declining to end the energy crisis in Transnistria whose people it claims to support. Russia has long worked to destabilize Moldova, most recently in its presidential election in October, which was framed as a choice between Moscow and the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although polls had predicted a comfortable victory for Sandu, she ultimately won re-election by the thinnest of margins. She later said the vote had been marred by an unprecedented assault by foreign actors. CNN has previously reported on Russia-backed efforts to sway the result through a vast vote-buying campaign, accusations the Kremlin consistently denied. Although Sandu clung on in October, Moldova has parliamentary elections later this year. The crisis in Transnistria which could prompt thousands of residents to flee across the border provides Russia with an opportunity to sow more chaos in Moldova, Popescu warned. Russia doesnt care much about residents in Transnistria. It has the goal of destabilizing the Moldovan economy, political system and social fabric. It doesnt care about Transnistrians freezing in winter, he said. Why did Ukraine not renew the gas transit agreement? Ukraine was widely expected to let the agreement lapse, sensing an opportunity to inflict costs on Russia and its allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Russian gas stopped flowing through Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky called the move one of Moscows greatest defeats. He accused the Kremlin of using energy as a weapon with which to blackmail its partners. Although Ukraine now faces a loss of some $800 million a year in transit fees from Russia, Gazprom stands to lose far more, at up to $5 billion a year in sales, according to Reuters. Russian officials have responded furiously to the move. Russias Embassy in Moldova said Kyiv had cynically stopped the flow of gas to condemn the population of Transnistria to suffering. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the decision bullying and neo-Nazism. Pistrinciuc, director of the ISI think tank, said he hoped these narratives did not take hold among Transnistrians. He said the crisis might make some confront what he described as the reality of their situation: Its a very isolated region We hope that they see the impotence of this type of unrecognized state. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com China's large UAV supports Xizang quake rescue efforts Xinhua) 08:30, January 10, 2025 A Wing Loong-2 large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is examined before taking off from an airport in the city of Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 18, 2024. (Aviation Industry Corporation of China/Handout via Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Wing Loong-2H, a large civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), has supported rescue efforts after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the developer of the UAV, said on Thursday that Xizang's emergency management department deployed Wing Loong-2H to carry out disaster assessment missions in Dingri County, the epicenter, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The UAV transmitted real-time data and high-resolution images of the quake-affected areas to the emergency management department. This provided crucial support for risk identification, disaster monitoring, and targeted rescue operations, AVIC said. It is equipped with electro-optical devices and synthetic aperture radar to obtain key information such as collapsed buildings, locations of trapped people, layouts of rescue locations and shelters, as well as the real-time distribution of ground rescue forces. The rescue-specialized UAV model was previously deployed for disaster response in multiple emergencies such as rainstorms, earthquakes and forest fire. The Dingri earthquake left 126 people dead and 188 others injured. A total of 407 trapped individuals have been rescued. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By News Centre Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, in his speech at the AK Party Uskudar 8th Ordinary District Congress, held at Caml?ca 1071 Congress Center, said that the AK Party has made great revolutions in its 22-year rule and has grown the country threefold in the field of energy since 2002. Stating that major investments have been made to meet Turkiye's increasing energy needs, Bayraktar conveyed that approximately 100 billion dollars of investment was made in energy production during the AK Party period. Stating that one of the biggest vulnerabilities in the economy is the external dependency on energy and that the goal of the AK Party government is to make Turkiye independent in energy, Bayraktar said, "If Turkiye becomes independent in energy, its economy will be stronger and its industry will be more competitive. We shape all our policies within this framework." Also touching on the achievements made by Turkiye in natural gas and oil exploration, Bayraktar said, "Thank God, in 22 years, we have been able to bring natural gas to 85 percent of our population." Bayraktar also drew attention to the fact that Turkiye is conducting oil and natural gas exploration with its own drilling and seismic vessels, noted that these efforts have yielded results, that the largest natural gas discovery in the history of the Republic was made in the Black Sea in 2020, and that 710 billion cubic meters of natural gas was found in the Sakarya Gas Field. He underlined that 7 million cubic meters of natural gas is produced per day in the Black Sea field. "We have reached the point where we can meet the natural gas needs of 3 million households with our own gas. But our work continues day and night. By 2028, we will be meeting the needs of almost all of our homes with our own gas," Bayraktar said. Bayraktar recalled that they made the largest oil discovery in the history of the Republic in ??rnak Gabar in 2021, and that they are now producing over 70 thousand barrels of oil per day. The minister pointed out that Turkiye was conducting exploration not only in the country but also in distant geographies with its seismic and drilling ships, as well. "We are searching for oil in Somalia today. It is a study that everyone is following with great attention and interest. God willing, when we get a result from there, it will truly open up a different world for both Turkiye and especially the Somali people, " he said. Bayraktar stated that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant also became a reality under the AK Party government and under the leadership of President Erdo?an. "We laid the foundation of Akkuyu with the intergovernmental agreement signed between the Republic of Turkiye and the Russian Federation in 2010. We established the legal framework of Akkuyu and work began on the site in 2016. The first concrete was poured in 2018. Today, that site is the largest nuclear power plant construction site in the world. Over 30 thousand of our brothers, some of whom are young brothers we sent to Russia for training, create great employment there and now Turkiye is moving up to a different league in nuclear power with Akkuyu," the minister noted. Bayraktar also mentioned that Turkiye will play a major role in not only Somalia but also in the nearby geography and in Syria achieving stability, and said that a team from Turkiye was in Damascus a short while ago and that Turkiye will continue to do its part there. Bayraktar also stated that reducing energy costs and paid electricity and natural gas bills is their most basic duty. "In this sense, the support we provide will continue. We want our citizens to be affected by changing prices in the world in the least way possible. Currently, we, as the state, support approximately 60 percent of the electricity and natural gas bills we pay in our homes. We will continue to do so," Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar concluded. I have been a primary care physician since 1994 and have been reflecting on the tragic murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The crime stands as a stark reflection of the profound frustrations many Americans feel toward the current health care system, which have been escalating for as long as I can remember. While the act itself is abhorrent and indefensible, its occurrence sheds light on deep systemic issues that have festered for decades. The structure of the U.S. health care systemone in which profit often takes precedence over patient carehas created a dynamic where billions of dollars in revenue are generated, yet millions of Americans struggle to access or afford the care they need. Insurance companies, including major players like UnitedHealthcare, operate in a system where their financial success hinges, paradoxically, on managingor even denyingclaims rather than ensuring the health and well-being of the population they serve. This event, shocking as it is, feels less surprising when considered in the broader context of Americas health care and current psychosocial landscape. The American health care system is an outlier among developed nations, with its overwhelming focus on profit rather than universal access. Large insurance companies generate billions annually, benefiting from a system where the sickrather than the healthydrive revenue. This misalignment of incentives fosters mistrust among patients, who often feel trapped between skyrocketing premiums, unaffordable and often unattainable medications, and opaque billing practices. For many, the health care system appears less as a safety net and more as an obstacle course, leading to mounting resentment and hopelessness. This discontent is exacerbated by the growing wealth divide in the United States. While CEOs of major health care corporations receive multimillion-dollar compensation packages, many Americans cannot afford basic care. This stark inequity highlights systemic failures and fuels anger among those who feel abandoned by a system that prioritizes profits over lives. This feeling of abandonment is felt by patients and by most practicing physicians. Additionally, the ease of access to firearms in the United States further compounds these tensions. Guns are easily obtainable in this country, and their ubiquity turns anger and frustration into potentially lethal outcomessomething we have seen repeatedly in public places that should be safe. In a society where individuals are increasingly polarized and alienated, the combination of systemic inequities and readily accessible weapons creates a volatile mix. The murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is emblematic of this dynamic: a desperate act stemming from a desperate situation. This tragedy also underscores the broader implications of Americas failure to address both gun violence and economic inequality. Both issues are deeply interconnected with the frustrations patients feel about health care. Those struggling to make ends meet or grappling with insurmountable medical bills are more likely to feel that they have been left behind by a system that claims to protect them. The cumulative effect of these pressures pushes some individuals to the breaking point. In the face of such crises, it is critical to recognize that reform is not only necessary but achievable. In his sentinel 2024 policy article, Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Health Care Delivery and Payment System Reforms, Robert Doherty of the American College of Physicians outlined a framework for improving the American health care system. Dohertys vision emphasized the need for systemic reforms that prioritize patient outcomes, equity, and access. His words resonate today more than ever: better is not only possible, but it is also imperative for the survival of a just and functional society. Reforming the health care system requires addressing both its profit-driven nature and the broader societal factors that exacerbate its failures. Policies that reduce financial barriers to care, such as expanding access to affordable insurance, regulating drug prices, and incentivizing preventive care, are essential. Moreover, addressing the root causes of wealth inequality and enacting sensible gun control measures are equally critical to fostering a safer and more equitable society. The murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is a grim reminder of the stakes at hand. While the act itself must be unequivocally condemned, it serves as a warning sign that our society has been pushed to its limits. The health care system in the United States is at a breaking point, and the need for reform has never been more urgent. This tragic event should not be dismissed as an isolated incident but rather as a call to action for policymakers, health care leaders, medical organizations, and society at large. We must confront the uncomfortable truths about our health care system and work toward a future where better is not just possible but realized. The time for change is now, and we cannot afford to wait for more tragedies to underscore the urgency of this moment. Susan Y. Lee is an internal medicine physician. Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet President-elect Trump without conditions, the Kremlin said Friday, but is waiting for more specifics following the U.S. presidential inauguration. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow welcomes Trumps intentions to resolve problems through dialogue, according to a summary of remarks by Russian state news agency, TASS. The remarks followed Trump telling a meeting of Republican governors that he is working on setting up a meeting with Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said ending Russias war in Ukraine will be a top priority, and talked of meeting Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to an agreement to end the war. However, he has seemed to walk back his pledge of ending the war within a day of taking office. During a press conference Wednesday, Trump said Putin wants to meet him and that the two leaders could meet after he is sworn in Jan 20. I know that Putin would like to meet. I dont think its appropriate that I meet until after the 20th, Trump said from his Florida residence, Mar-A-Lago. Trump reportedly spoke with Putin multiple times while out of office, according to journalist Bob Woodward. And The Washington Post reported shortly after Novembers election that Trump spoke to Putin and asked him not to escalate the war. The Kremlin denied both reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps choice for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Retired Lt. Gen Keith Kellogg, said he is working to set the conditions for the president-elect to meet Putin and Zelensky. I think theyre going to come to a solvable solution in the near term. And when I say near term, lets set it at 100 days and move our way back, Kellogg said in an interview with Fox News earlier this week. Zelensky, during a wide-ranging interview with podcaster Lex Fridman earlier this week, said he is not opposed to dialogue to end the war with Russia, but said Ukraine needs to be in a strong position to compel Putin to come to a resolution. Zelensky called it naive to say Putin wants to finish the war, and urged Trump to demonstrate strength in any talks with the Russian leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that President Trump not only has will he has enough power to pressure him, to pressure Putin not into wanting to stop it, Zelensky said. No, he [Putin] will not want to. To pressure him to actually stop it, that is the difference. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia welcomes the stated willingness of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to resolve problems through dialogue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, reaffirming Russian President Vladimir Putin's readiness for talks with Trump. There may be progress on setting up a meeting between Trump and Putin after Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, Peskov told reporters. Trump said on Thursday a meeting was being set up between him and Putin, but offered no timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said repeatedly during his election campaign that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours, but he and advisers have suggested more recently that it could be resolved within months of him taking office. His impending return to the White House has sparked hope of a diplomatic resolution, but it has also led to fears in Kyiv that a quick peace deal could come at a high price for Ukraine. Peskov said Putin had repeatedly stated his willingness to hold talks with international leaders, including Trump. "No conditions are required for this, (only) a mutual desire and political will to conduct a dialogue and resolve existing problems through dialogue is required," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to resolve problems through dialogue, we welcome this." Peskov said there were no specific plans for a meeting yet, but that Russia was working on the assumption that both sides were open to it. "Apparently, after Mr. Trump enters the Oval Office, there will be some movement." Trump said on Thursday: "President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess." Advisers to Trump have floated proposals to end the war that would effectively cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov said Russia's position was consistent as laid out by Putin last June. Putin said then that Russia was willing to end the war if Ukraine renounced its NATO membership ambitions and withdrew entirely from four regions that Russia partly controls and has claimed as its own. Kyiv rejected that as tantamount to surrender. While speaking positively of Trump, Peskov was highly critical of outgoing President Joe Biden. He said the Biden administration, in its final 10 days, "intends to continue doing everything to continue the war", including possible new sanctions against Russia. "We are aware that the administration will certainly try to leave the most burdensome legacy in terms of bilateral relations for the incoming Trump and his associates," said Peskov. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Osborn) Russian strikes against Ukraine killed three civilians and injured 19 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Jan. 10. Russian forces launched 72 drones at Ukraine overnight from the Russian cities of Millerovo, Bryansk, Orel, and Primosk-Akhtarsk, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile firing groups shot down 33 drones in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Kherson, Vinnytsia, and Mykolaiv oblasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirty-four drones were lost allegedly due to electronic warfare countermeasures. In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces killed two people in the town of Siversk, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 41 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed, and 16 others were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. In Chernihiv Oblast, Russian forces struck with drones five times in the frontline area in the north of the oblast, injuring one civilian, according to Ukraine's Air Force report. In Kharkiv Oblast, a 30-year-old man was injured in an attack against the village of Losivka, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the city of Mykolaiv, a 49-year-old man was injured during shelling of the city. He was hospitalized and is in stable condition, local authorities said. Read also: Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Russias Leningrad, Rostov oblasts, causing severe fires Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Members of Russia's political elite are "disappointed" with Russian President Vladimir Putin's handling of the war in Ukraine, and had hoped it would end in 2024, Meduza reported on Jan. 9. Citing ten officials including two sources close to Putins administration, and one senator, the independent Russian media outlet said the state of the country's economy was a particular "point of tension." "The main emotion is disappointment," a source in the Russian government told Meduza, adding: "We expected the war to end, for the fighting to end. Fatigue has been the main feeling for a long time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Were already tired of waiting, even. It feels like youre going deeper and deeper every day. We also expected some kind of lifting of sanctions in exchange for peace. Now, theyre inflicting more and more pain," the source added. Russia recently suffered one of its "most costly defeats," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Jan 8, in reference to the shutdown of Russia's gas transit through Ukrainian territory. Ukraine terminated Russian natural gas transit through its territory on Jan. 1. Kyiv had repeatedly warned that it would not extend the agreement when it expires at the end of 2024 because it did not want to finance Russia's war. Read also: Irrefutable evidence of North Koreas involvement Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources cited by Meduza also said the prospects for peace had diminished after Ukraine launched its Kursk incursion in August 2024, though they added the war may have dragged on into 2025 regardless. "The president likes to fight, its exciting for him. Why stop halfway if you can put the final squeeze on them?" one said. But the source added that there was also frustration among high-ranking security officials that Putin had not taken steps to put Russia on a full war footing, such as launching another round of mobilization. As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its third anniversary, both sides face increasing economic and demographic pressures caused by the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian losses in Ukraine are helping fuel a demographic timebomb that could see the countrys population reduced by half by the end of the century, experts told the Kyiv Independent earlier this week. "The impact on Russian society is devastating," said Harley Balzer, emeritus professor of government and international affairs at Georgetown University. "From Russia's perspective, (winning the war in Ukraine) is the smaller problem. The bigger issue is, is it going to be a viable country afterward regardless?" Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine mount, Putin faces devastating demographic timebomb Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil producer Gazpromneft shrugged off the impact of major new U.S. sanctions on Friday, while insurance company Ingosstrakh said they would create a market vacuum that would benefit less reputable competitors. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden on Friday imposed its broadest package of sanctions yet, targeting Russia's oil and gas revenues in an attempt to give Kyiv and the incoming administration of Donald Trump leverage to reach a deal for peace in Ukraine. A U.S. official said the measures should cost Russia billions of dollars a month. Gazpromneft, also hit by British sanctions, said it would continue to operate and maintain business resilience despite the measures, which it called "unjustified, illegitimate and contrary to the principles of free competition". "Gazpromneft has been consistently preparing for various negative sanctions scenarios over the past two years. In addition, the company has already been under unilateral foreign sanctions since 2022, so many such restrictions have already been factored into operational processes," the company said in a statement. Ingosstrakh, a Russian insurance company that was also hit by the U.S. move, said it was operating normally and fulfilling all its obligations to clients. "Coming in the waning days of the outgoing U.S. administration, this decision undermines maritime safety, environmental protections, and global shipping stability by targeting a reputable and well-capitalized insurer," it said. "Removing Ingosstrakh from the market creates a vacuum that will inevitably be filled by fly-by-night insurers lacking the capacity or intent to ensure compliance or pay claims." Ingosstrakh said this dramatically heightened the risk of environmental disasters such as oil spills, while shifting the financial burden onto taxpayers when uninsured or underinsured vessels failed to meet their obligations. Russian economist Yevgeny Kogan said the sanctions could force Gazpromneft to cut its production plans, and impact its dividend payments. He said they would also hit the export potential of oil major Surgutneftegaz, the other main company to be targeted. The U.S. move was expected by Moscow. Hours before it was announced, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "We are aware that the (Biden) administration will certainly try to leave the most burdensome legacy in terms of bilateral relations to the incoming Trump and his associates. Well, in line with these efforts, it is quite possible that another batch of sanctions may be introduced." BERLIN (AP) An oil tanker believed to be part of Russias efforts to evade sanctions went adrift and had to be towed by a German tugboat Friday in what Germany's foreign minister called a danger to security and tourism in the Baltic Sea. The Panamanian-flagged Eventin was believed to be carrying 99,000 tons of oil from Russia en route to Egypt when it went adrift for several hours north of the German island of Rugen. The Bremen Fighter tugboat was deployed to pull the ship into a harbor, and there was no immediate danger to the environment, the German news agency dpa said. Greenpeace says that Eventin belongs to a so-called Russian shadow fleet, which is made up of hundreds of aging tankers that are dodging sanctions in order to keep oil revenue flowing into the Russian state budget. The sanctions were imposed after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the incident shows that Russia is endangering European security not only with its war of aggression on Ukraine but with sabotage and disinformation and even with dilapidated oil tankers. She said that Russia was not only circumventing sanctions with the nefarious use of a fleet of rusty tankers, but also endangering tourism in the Baltic Sea. Senior Russian security and military officials are pushing for an escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, opposing any prospects of negotiations. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: ISW analysts note that Russian security forces deem it crucial to escalate military operations in Ukraine, prioritising this over seeking a negotiated resolution to the war. The Russians acknowledge that their forces are not making significant territorial gains relative to the losses in personnel and equipment. However, the Russian military command continues to endure substantial personnel losses for tactical, rather than operational, advances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Average daily Russian advances slowed by roughly nine square kilometres in December 2024 after three straight months of increasing territorial gains and personnel losses in September, October, and November 2024, however, and the Russian military command may be less willing than Putin to incur such high casualty rates if Russian forces' rate of advance continues to slow." Details: Nevertheless, Russian security and military officials are unwilling to use these losses as a reason to stop the war. Instead, they are urging Putin to escalate the war effort, proposing partial conscription, likely aimed at flooding the battlefield with troops and materiel. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 9 January: Ukraine's Western partners reiterated their support for Ukraine and their commitment to the development of Ukraine's defence industrial base (DIB) at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 9 January. Ukraine's Western partners announced additional military aid packages at Ramstein Air Base on 9 January. Russian elites and high-ranking security officials are reportedly frustrated with Russian leader Vladimir Putin's efforts to wage a full-scale war in Ukraine with half measures and are increasingly concerned with Putin's timeline to end the war. High-ranking Russian security officials appear to be assessing that Russia needs to intensify its war in Ukraine rather than seek an exit via negotiations. Russian elites' reported diagnosis of the main problem with Russia's conduct of the war is inaccurate, as Russia's failure to restore manoeuvre to the battlefield not a shortage of manpower is the main factor causing Russia's relatively slow rate of advance. [Latvia-based Russian media outlet] Meduza's report indicates that Russia's security elite like Putin himself is uninterested in a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the war in the near future. A Russian opposition investigative outlet reported that Russian authorities have turned a pretrial detention centre (SIZO) in Taganrog, Voronezh Oblast, into a torture centre for Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and imprisoned Ukrainian civilians. The UN condemned the recent surge in Russian executions of Ukrainian POWs. The Armenian government approved a draft law on 9 January, beginning Armenia's accession process into the EU. Russian forces recently advanced near Borova and Pokrovsk and in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Sudzha. Russian officials continue to indicate that the Kremlin intends to further militarise the Russian government and Russian society in the long term. Support UP or become our patron! The DeepState analytical project reported on the night of 9-10 January the advance of Russian forces in Donetsk and Kursk oblasts, resulting in the occupation of several settlements. Source: DeepState Details: The projects analysts wrote that the Russians had occupied the settlements of Petropavlivka, Vozdvyzhenka and Solone in Donetsk Oblast. The Russians also seized the settlements of Novoivanovka, Leonidovo and Aleksandriya in Russias Kursk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the Russians have advanced in Dvorichna and near Zapadne in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as near Kurakhove and Yasenove in Donetsk Oblast. Background: On 7 January, DeepState reported that nearly the entire city of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast had been occupied by Russian forces, providing them with opportunities to advance westward. Fierce fighting continues in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, and the line of contact has divided the city in two. The Russians are using scorched earth tactics to try to destroy the city's infrastructure and the positions of the Ukrainian military. On 8 January, it became known that Russian forces were preparing to storm Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces have been concentrating assault groups to the south and southwest of the settlement in recent days. Serhii Dobriak, Head of Pokrovsk City Military Administration, reported that Russian forces were intensifying their attacks on the city. He said the Russians were now less than three kilometres away from the city. Support UP or become our patron! Editor's note: The article was changed to correctly reflect U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's statement that North Korea has suffered 1,000 casualties overall rather than 1,000 fatalities. Russia has endured over 700,000 casualties since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022more than in all of Moscows conflicts since World War II combined, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Jan. 9. The toll, which surpasses two-thirds of the Russian military's pre-war strength, reflects the severe cost of what Vladimir Putin calls the "special military operation," Austin said at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2024 alone, Russia lost nearly 1,500 troops daily, a pace that has stretched its military resources to the breaking point. "Volunteers cannot make up for these stunning losses," Austin added. "The Kremlin has been reduced to scouring Russias jails and coercing contract soldiers." In a desperate bid to sustain its offensive, "Moscow has even rushed troops from North Korea into a war that they dont belong in," Austin noted, calling it a clear sign of Putins growing desperation. Since joining the war in December, North Korean soldiers have suffered over 1,000 casualties, according to Austin. President Volodymyr Zelensky placed the figure at 4,000 North Korean troops, which included both wounded and killed. The U.S. defense secretary also highlighted the economic impact of the war, which has been equally devastating for ordinary Russians. With the Kremlin allocating 40 percent of its 2025 budget to sustain the war efforta 25 percent increase from the previous yearthe ruble has continued its downward spiral, according to Austin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlins increasing reliance on authoritarian allies like North Korea has further isolated Moscow on the world stage. "Russias global stature and strategic position have continued to decay." Despite the heavy cost, Putin has little to show for his efforts. "Russia has paid an appalling price for this indefensible war," Austin concluded. "Yet Putin has not achieved a single one of his strategic objectives. Not one." Read also: Zelensky urges China to help stop North Korean military aid to Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ryanair is seeking legal damages against a passenger after a flight disruption during a flight last April. Irish budget airline Ryanair is seeking over $15,000 in damages after a passengers misconduct forced a Dublin flight bound for the Spanish island of Lanzarote to divert to Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal, which is nearly 1,400 miles away. Europe's top airline said the passengers inexcusable behavior forced 160 passengers to stay in Porto overnight, forcing the airline to pay for hotel accommodations, passenger expenses, and landing costs. While the disruptive passenger remains unnamed, the airline is looking to recoup its costs in Irish court. In the EU, passengers on flights that have been delayed until the following day can receive a hotel stay, transportation, and meals on the airlines dime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortune has reached out to Ryanair for comment. Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passengers behavior on aircraft, the company said in a statement. While the low-cost airline seeks to affirm its zero-tolerance policy, in December 2024 it welcomed a conviction in Greek court of a disruptive passenger who received a five-month suspended sentence and a $400 fine for refusing to follow crew instruction. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento Police Department has arrested a 21-year-old male suspect who has connections with three armed robberies. On October 28, 2024, according to Sacramento Police, crews responded to Chandos Tacos in the 800 block of Arden Way for an armed robbery incident. After the investigation, police learned the suspect entered the business and used a handgun to strike a female employee in the head more than once, said police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day after on October 29, 2024, police responded to two armed robberies that took place at two taco stands in Sacramento. South Sacramento taco stand employee tackles armed robber Police said that one of the incidents happened near East Commerce Way and New Market Drive around 8:45 p.m. and the second incident was on the 3800 block of Northgate Boulevard around 9 p.m. All of these cases were forwarded to Sacramento Police Department Robbery Detectives who started an investigation. On Jan. 3, Sacramento Police and Sacramento County Sheriffs Office were called to an attempted robbery of a taco stand on Fruitridge Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The employees of the taco stand fought back and held the suspect until law enforcement arrived at the scene and took him into custody. On Jan. 7, after a couple of follow-ups, officials said the detectives had booked the suspect with three robberies that took place in Sacramento. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. (FOX40.COM) A team from the Sacramento SPCA headed to Southern California and back to help care for nearly three dozen animals displaced by the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles County. The non-profit animal shelter said that two vehicles picked up 17 animals from Pasadena Humane, a shelter that has taken in many animals displaced by the Eaton Fire. After learning that Pasadena Humane was caring for hundreds of displaced animals while also preparing to potentially evacuate their shelter, we immediately reached out to offer our support, said Sacramento SPCA CEO, Jennifer Brent. It was an easy decision to support our friends in Pasadena during this difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles County has been dealing with several wildfires this week, the largest of which are the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and the Palisades Fire on the western side of the county. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as crews work to contain the fires. Wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area visible from space According to the Sacramento SPCA, its two vehicles returned with nine dogs, including some with medical conditions, one cat and seven small animals. Health assessments and observation of the animals will continue over the next few days to determine their readiness for adoption, said Jamie Larson, director of animal care services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shelter said that it also recently took in 17 animals from Front Street Animal Shelter, and that while it works to make the displaced animals comfortable, it has other animals available for adoption by Sacramento-area residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. SADIEVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) Norfolk Southern crews are working to clear a Scott County train derailment ahead of Fridays snowstorm. The City of Sadieville posted on Facebook around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday that no evacuation orders are in place and Kentucky Highway 32 is expected to be affected by closures and delays. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Norfolk Southern has shut down KY32 from the fire station to the tunnel as they attempt to clear the wreckage and equipment, the Scott County Sheriffs Office said. Traffic in and out of Sadieville will be diverted until they have completed the cleanup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said traffic on Kentucky Highway 32 has been reduced to one lane. None of the derailed train cars were carrying any hazardous chemicals, and no one was injured, the City of Sadieville said. Cleanup efforts have stretched into Friday morning, and the Scott County Sheriffs Office said the timetable isnt clear due to the impending weather and overall difficulty. According to the Grant County Sheriffs Office, train cars are blocking residences and roads in the Sherman area. The affected roadways are Sherman Newtown (South Entrance), Needham Road (North Entrance), and Hyde Road, the Grant County Sheriffs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news We have never experienced a situation like this, and we appreciate your concern and patience. We will do the best we can to relay the most up-to-date information as we receive it, Mayor Jennifer Halsey said. This is not how we wanted to start out the year 2025 in our little town, but this will not deter myself or your other city officials from continuing to serve you and to do our best to make the correct decisions that will only better our town. On Friday, KSP reported that the entrance to Sherman Newton Road and the south entrance of Needham Lane were reopened. In an update Sunday afternoon, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said KY 32 is still down to one lane, and there is no estimated time for clearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk railroad workers were still removing overturned cars as of Monday, but if no further problems occur, the road is estimated to reopen between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: By 12:30 p.m. Monday, crews said all lanes were open and the scene was clear. Camille Hantla and Matthew Duckworth contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Rockford, Ill (WTVO) Salamones Cherry Valley is gearing up to celebrate 25 years in business. The first location opened in December of 1999. The owners Benny and Rosalia Salamone both had backgrounds in the restaurant industry; their parents both had restaurants. Benny says they originally started with pizzas, salads, and a few pasta dishes, and now they have a grand menu. Rosalia thanks all of their customers for their support which has led to numerous awards such as Rockford Fae Pizza in 2020, Bes Bite in 2023 for Rockford Restaurant Week, Top 3 Best Italian Spot for five years in a row, Top 3 Best Pizza and Wait Staff, and Statelines Best Pasta from our show. Rosalia also says they cant take all the credit for making it to 25 years; their staff is a huge reason. They have a low turnover rate; some of the staff have been with them for years. To thank all the customers for their support over the years, theyll be giving all their customers, including takeout, 25% off from 4 PM to 9 PM on January 14th. In addition to 25% off, theyll be drawing names for merchandise giveaways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make your reservations at https://www.salamonespizza.net/. Sponsored by Salamones Cherry Valley Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. When former President Jimmy Carter entered hospice nearly 23 months ago, Habitat for Humanity International contacted every chapter the Greater Salt Lake area chapter included and asked them to build ceremonial walls to honor their most famous volunteer upon his death. Month after month, time went on with the happy news of Carter's continual living, but on Dec. 29, 2024, Carin Crowe, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake, heard the news of the former president's passing. With sadness, she got her crew together to build the wall. Thursday morning, in the entryway of Utah's Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Crowe led a small ceremony that included a blessing of the door and the connecting walls, sections of which will be placed in the next Habitat homes. She also noted that the public will be welcome to come and sign sections of the wall with well wishes and blessings for new homeowners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was such an integral and profound part of Habitat for Humanity," Crowe told the small crowd. "And we are about to raise this lumber where people are going to place their blessings ... so those blessings will go into the walls of our next builds." During the ceremony, Crowe gave a short history of Carter's beginnings with Habitat for Humanity, which took place not in Plains, Georgia his hometown nor Atlanta, nor Washington, D.C., but in New York City when he and his wife Rosalynn built a six-story home in 1984. Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area employees and leadership team members raise a memorial wall for the late President Jimmy Carter at the Habitat for Humanity Salt Lake ReStore in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News The relationship with Habitat continued into his 90s, with Carter assisting with the building of a home in Nashville at 95 years old. Although the relationship with Habitat was the key reason people participated in and attended the ceremony, the secondary reason was just as powerful: Carter was just a good man who will be missed, many attendees said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the big deal, at least for me, and I think I speak for a lot of people, is he was such a man of compassion and faith and dignity and honesty," said the Rev. Brian Diggs, executive director of Homeaid, a housing program in the Salt Lake area, who also performed the blessings for the wall. "People, over the decades, have come not only to appreciate but also to really honor him as a man of extreme integrity," Diggs said. Jeffrey Copeland, the man who literally built the walls and doors that will honor Carter, has worked with Habitat for Humanity, teaching construction skills to future homeowners and volunteers. He has recently been learning more and more about Carter and has been impressed. Messages and signatures are displayed on a door to a memorial wall for the late President Jimmy Carter at the Habitat for Humanity Salt Lake ReStore in Salt Lake City on Thursday. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News As the construction manager, Copeland said he has been a part of the building of many Habitat homes, but he never had to build a wall quite like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm gonna be paying special attention on where I'm going to put (the walls)," Copeland said. "I didn't know Jimmy Carter personally, but from everything I've read and heard, he seems like a really amazing man. So, this will be a lot more than a blessing but a reminder of everything he did and was a part of." Crowe did not know Carter personally, either, but she did have a personal connection with the then-president when she was 8 years old. She wrote to the president about an animal rights issue and had a petition with thousands of names on it to show she was not alone in her support. Carter sent a letter back to the then-third grader. He told her that "it will be children like you that will be the change we need to see in this world," Crowe said as she remembered the letter with her emotions apparent. To Crowe and others at the ceremony, Carter was not simply a former peanut farmer or a man who lost the 1980 presidential election. As they alluded to over and over, he was a man who impacted their lives in profound ways, more so for his work after the White House than his efforts during. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The letter quite literally changed my life," Crowe said. "I don't know what I'm going to write on the wall yet ... but it feels like it will be very personal." If you want to sign the Jimmy Carter wall, visit Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake ReStore, 276 S. 500 West in Salt Lake City. Call 801-263-0136 before you go to check if it is open. The recovery of the oil tanker Sounion, which was attacked and badly damaged by the Yemeni Houthi militia in the Red Sea last year, has been successfully completed, according to a security service provider. The British company Ambrey announced on Friday that the cargo of the Greek ship had now also been unloaded. After the attack, there had been fears of an environmental disaster caused by oil spills in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sounion was towed north to Suez in October, and private companies completed the salvage work there. The attack by the Houthis took place in August. The EU naval mission Aspides reported several fires onboard the ship, but the crew were all rescued. FOX 5/KUSIs Tony Shin contributed to this report. Watch his video in the player above. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) As wildfires continue to burn through parts of Los Angeles County, hotels in the San Diego area are offering a safe place to stay for those impacted. Many people who have been evacuated traveled to San Diego County, located about 120 miles south of the City of Angels, to stay with friends and loved ones who reside in the area. There are also those who have chosen to seek refuge at local hotels in the county until they can safely return home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I moved to the United States nine years ago and I worked really hard to get where I am right now, so obviously seeing those fires made me really shook and scared, said Daniela Lindh, who had to evacuate her West Hollywood home due to the raging fires. How San Diegans can help those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires Lindh got a room at the Comfort Inn SeaWorld where she has been staying for the past several days. We immediately offered special discount, which is 20%, so we also offered them to waive pet fees, because so many people needed to leave their houses with their loved ones, said Aida Li, general manager of Comfort Inn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindh is safe in San Diego, and thanks to the owners of Comfort Inn, staying there does not cost her as much as it normally would. To aid in the fire relief efforts, numerous other San Diego-area hotels are offering special accommodation rates and offers. The list of participating hotels, compiled by the San Diego Tourism Authority, can be found below: For details about specific accommodations and how to book, contact the hotels directly or visit the San Diego Tourism Authoritys webpage here. Additionally, Orli, a boutique hotel in La Jolla, which was not listed in the San Diego Tourism Authoritys webpage, told FOX 5/KUSI Friday it is also offering 30% off bookings to people affected by the fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing such incredible devastation makes our hearts go out to those families and the individuals who lost homes and businesses, and this is what we can do, said Robert Gleason, the president and CEO of Evans Hotels, on Friday. Our thoughts are with all who have been impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles County, a Hilton spokesperson told FOX 5/KUSI Thursday. Hilton is closely monitoring the situation with the safety and security of our guests and Team Members as our top priority. At this time, Hilton properties are open and operational. For guests, modification and cancellation penalties may be waived for stays with arrivals through Jan. 10. Guests are encouraged to contact 1-800-HILTONS or visit Hilton.com for the latest information on specific properties. I see all these people losing their homes, its absolutely devastating, said Lindh. My heart goes out to them and the people on the front lines as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Flames were already attacking the campus of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center when the cantor, Ruth Berman Harris, and three companions rushed in to rescue its sacred Torah scrolls. Physically, thats now all that is left of the 80-year-old synagogue, destroyed by wildfires that also destroyed a mosque, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches. Many members of these congregations were among the thousands of Angelenos who lost their homes this week. As the threat of new fires persisted, clergy were left with the huge challenges of offering comfort and pondering paths toward rebuilding and recovery. Theres absolutely nothing except for a few walls and the empty space, said the Pasadena Jewish Centers executive director, Melissa Levy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, hundreds of its congregants have gone to the site to say, Goodbye to the places where they celebrated milestones in their faith and family lives, Levy added. Navigating road closures to rescue Torah scrolls Berman Harris along with her husband, another congregant and a custodian managed to get the Torah scrolls into their cars and whisked away to safety before the synagogue was engulfed in flames Tuesday night. Its the heartbeat of any Jewish community, she said of the Torah. Thats why, despite road closures, she rushed in to try to save the scrolls after a congregant who lives near the temple called her to say the flames were getting closer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several houses of worship were destroyed in Pasadena and Altadena, including a mosque Masjid Al-Taqwa, leaving its small, tight-knit community mourning the loss of a beloved gathering space. One of its board members lost his house in the fire, along with at least 10 of the faithful, said the volunteer imam, Junaid Aasi. So many families called it their second home, Aasi said of the mosque. It was started as an African American place of worship, and in the past 20 years had attracted diverse young families as well as professionals and college students. Its backyard had become a place of community celebration nightly when breaking the fast during Ramadan, with children doing art activities like painting murals. It was a sense of belonging for us, Aasi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samar Ghannoum, a professor at the University of Redlands, has prayed at the mosque with her family since the 1990s. It was Ghannoum's daughter who alerted that the mosque was destroyed. When she called and said, Mom, the masjid is burned, and was in tears, my heart broke, Ghannoum said Friday. Earlier in the day, she had gone for midday prayer to another mosque, where congregants added the Salat al-Istisqa," a prayer for rain rooted in the Islamic belief that Gods mercy provides sustenance. Community fundraising efforts have already started to rebuild, with donations surpassing $100,000 by Friday night. For Friday prayer, Aasi shared a list of neighboring mosques; for Ramadan, the faithful hope to be able to secure a space to gather again as a community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wildfires destroyed Altadena Community Church, as well as several homes owned by members of the congregation of about 60 people, said its pastor, the Rev. Paul Tellstrom. Its shocking, said Tellstrom. Its a reminder to us of all of the fragility of life. Worship without a building The church, built in the 1940s, was known for its colorful stained glass and for hosting a popular choir. The churchs Facebook page shared images of the building engulfed in flames. Another photo showed parishioners singing outdoors. Underneath, the image it read: WE are the church! We can worship anywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a big blow, but it will not impede our progress, Tellstrom said. The most important takeaway is that we are the church not the building." Altadena United Methodist Church also burned down, as did homes of many members, according to Facebook posts by its pastor, the Rev. J. Andre Wilson. Our building is gone, he wrote. But YOU and US, are the church. Fire spoils church's weekend wedding plans Ricardo Springs II, a church member who came to see the remains of the building, said the congregation had been planning this Sunday to host the wedding of a couple that recently joined the church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The devastation is just heartbreaking, he said. God will see us through this. My sons grew up in this church, my wife grew up in this church, he told The Associated Press on Thursday. Its an awesome church community. St. Marks Episcopal Church in Altadena also was destroyed. It is with a broken heart that I share with you the news that our church building is lost, the Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon, the rector, wrote on Facebook. She said several community members lost their homes and the church staff was organizing a network of mutual support. We will need one another in the days ahead as we face these devastating losses, she wrote. I am here for you, and I know our community will hold together, and love and support one another through whatever lies ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prayers and faith bolster affected congregations The Parish of St. Matthew, an Episcopal church in Pacific Palisades, whose campus also includes a preschool-through-8th grade school, reported that all of its clergy residences were destroyed, though its sanctuary, middle school and other buildings were intact. The church has hosted online gatherings, using the liturgy of Compline or night prayer. We feel your prayers, the schools chaplain, the Rev. Stefanie Wilson, said in the Thursday night online gathering, responding to the outpouring of concern from people far and near. We need them and we want them and we feel that youre with us right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pacific Palisades, Corpus Christi Catholic Church was destroyed. Its website displayed a photo of the skeletal remains of the church, accompanied by this message: I have no words. Our beautiful church in Pacific Palisades, as of this morning. Also destroyed was Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, which posted photos on its Facebook page showing the church intact before the fire and in ruins afterward. Throughout the stricken areas, faith leaders were concerned about congregation members who lost their homes and have found temporary shelter with friends or in hotels. But they are finding hope in their faith and their communities. Nothing in my faith has been rocked by this, said Melissa Levy of the Pasadena Jewish Center. If anything, its been bolstered by the support we have received and we can give. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Synagogues still standing offer a place to worship The Los Angeles area is home to more than 600,000 Jews, the second-largest community in the United States. The Pasadena synagogue also lost its preschool, and in Pacific Palisades, fires seriously damaged another synagogue and a Chabad center, said Rabbi Noah Farkas, president of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles. Synagogues away from danger will host services over the weekend for those congregants who cannot attend their regular temples, and volunteers have been helping with everything from food and cash assistance to providing a dedicated text messaging line for hundreds of displaced families who have no idea what, if anything, of their homes survived the fires. Ive been here 32 years and literally every person I know has lost their house, Rabbi Zushe Cunin said of the neighborhood of his Chabad center. Apocalyptic is the word Ive been using. As clouds of smoke started building in the area earlier this week, Cunin said, he and other staff escorted about 100 children from their school to safety through growing traffic jams to the Pacific Coast Highway, and then ran back to save the scrolls. The fire damaged classrooms and other spaces, though the sanctuary is intact. But even as they remain determined to rebuild, the immediate priority for Cunin, Levy and Farkas is helping their congregants and the broader communities who have lost all their possessions. Even with the people of means, everything is gone, Cunin said. ___ AP visual journalist Manuel Valdes contributed. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. SOUTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Governor McMaster issued Executive Order 2025-02 on Friday to declare a State of Emergency ahead of this weekends winter storm. The State of Emergency coincides with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center moving to Operation Condition 2 as of 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Live weather cameras: Watch as snow, ice moves into the Charlotte area Our states emergency teams are fully prepared, and this State of Emergency will provide them additional support to respond to the winter weather moving across our state, said Governor Henry McMaster. Forecasts predict significant snow, sleet, and ice, with conditions intensifying earlier than anticipated, creating dangerous road conditions today and into tomorrow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SC Department of Transportation began pretreating roads and highways Wednesday and has stationed equipment and personnel in strategic locations across the state. Hundreds of flights canceled at Charlotte Douglas Intl. Airport amid winter storm The SC Department of Public Safety is urging drivers to frequently check the weather forecast and stay informed, as conditions can change quickly. Unnecessary travel is discouraged. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Winter Weather Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A team of tech-savvy scam artists stole millions in a nation-wide cryptocurrency con that duped unsuspecting victims, including some in New York, searching for remote work into transferring money in the fraudsters digital wallets, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday. The network of scammers cold-texted their victims, duping them into thinking they could earn money from working from home, only to steal their funds in the form of cryptocurrency a type of digital money that can be harder to trace than traditional cash. Victims received the messages from phony recruiters at various fake companies claiming they could make money by reviewing products online for legitimate brands, according to James. In order to partake in the remote opportunity, new hires would have to open a cryptocurrency account, buy stablecoins a type of digital currency and deposit them into a digital wallet controlled by the scammers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scammers promised the victims they would get their initial investment back, plus a commission, once they started working. They were told to purchase stablecoins through well-known cryptocurrency platforms, like Coinbase or Crypto.com, and send them to unregistered digital wallets. But instead of making money, the victims cryptocurrency was siphoned off into the con artists wallets. One New Yorker bamboozled in the scheme lost more than $100,000 thinking they were setting up a legitimate online job with numerous benefits and flexible requirements, according to the New York attorney generals office. With the promise of remote work and high commissions, a scammer posing as a trainer led the victim to a fake website and convinced them to buy stablecoins, which were ultimately stolen by the scammers. Deceiving New Yorkers looking to take on remote work and earn money to support their families is cruel and unacceptable, James said in a statement. The cryptocurrency that has been frozen thanks to my office will be available to help New Yorkers defrauded by this scam. Patrick Freaney, Special Agent-in-Charge of the United States Secret Services New York Field Office agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crimes of deception continue to evolve, driven by large windfalls stolen from unsuspecting victims, said Freaney. While this cyber scam operated across multiple jurisdictions, crypto-tracing by the Secret Service in New York and its close partnership with the New York Attorney Generals Office resulted in the freezing of millions of dollars and brought disruption to this harmful operation. James urged New Yorkers to be wary of unsolicited text messages from unknown senders and to report any suspected scams to the New York State attorney generals office. Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has blocked an air defence package worth 3 billion (2.5 billion) for Ukraine in one of his last key decisions before the election, according to German media reports. Mr Scholz has reportedly denied a request from Annalena Baerbock, his foreign minister, and Boris Pistorius, his defence minister, for the urgent and necessary arms package. It would have included further deliveries of Iris-T air defence missiles, Patriot air defence missiles, howitzers and ammunition, as Ukraine continues a counter-offensive in Russias Kursk region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes after Ukrainian officials sent a list to Western allies, identifying their most urgently-needed equipment, which put air defence missiles at the top of the list. According to the German magazine Spiegel, which cited sources in the German government, Mr Scholz did not consider the package to be necessary and turned it down. The government declined to comment on the internal row. The request from Annalena Baerbock, the foreign minister, and Boris Pistorius, the defence minister, was reportedly refused by Olaf Scholz - Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe Germany is Ukraines biggest financial backer in Europe, providing 7.1 billion (6.5 billion) in military aid last year alone, but Mr Scholz has faced criticism for being slow or reluctant to provide weapons shipments. He has repeatedly ruled out transferring powerful, long-range Taurus missiles, which would have allowed Kyiv to strike targets deep within Russia, including Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chancellor argued that such a step would be a major escalation that risked dragging Germany into the war and potentially triggering global nuclear conflict. Mr Scholzs refusal of the latest defence package comes just weeks before Germanys Feb 23 election, where polls suggest he will be defeated by the centre-Right Christian Democratic Union and the far-Right Alternative for Germany. His decision could potentially be an attempt to curry favour with Social Democratic Party voters, as many hail from Germanys former communist east and are opposed to military aid for Ukraine. Mr Scholzs party is also at risk of losing voters en masse to the new Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, an anti-migrant, Left-wing populist party with a friendly stance towards Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reported decision by Mr Scholz to block the military aid comes after Kyiv launched a new counter-attack in its Kursk border region, five months after Ukraines forces initially seized swathes of the area in a shock cross-border incursion. But while Kyivs forces push into Russian territory, they are also coming under increasing pressure in eastern Ukraine, where Moscows armies are making gradual, steady gains. Russian drones and missiles have also been wreaking havoc across the country, putting increased air defence capabilities at the top of Kyivs wish list. The German chancellors reported decision to block the request from Ms Baerbock and Mr Pistorius will come as a major blow to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also mounting concerns that Kyiv could see the United States reduce its support when Donald Trump returns to the White House on Jan 20. The president-elects pledge to push for a quick end to the war, his kinship with Vladimir Putin and uncertainty over whether he will support further military aid to Ukraine have triggered concern among allies. Olaf Scholzs decision comes after Ukraine launches a new counterattack in the Kursk border region - Jens Buttner/AFP The Biden administration has worked to provide Ukraine with as much military support as it can, including approving a new $500 million package of weapons. The United States has also relaxed restrictions on missile strikes into Russia, with the aim of putting Ukraine in the strongest position possible for any future negotiations to end the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International leaders gathered at the US-operated Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday as Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, met for a final time before Mr Trumps inauguration. Mr Pistorius said there that his country and several other European nations were discussing options on how to fill the gap that could be left by the US scaling down its support for Kyiv. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been withholding approval for a new large military assistance package for Ukraine that is being proposed by Ukraines foreign and defence ministries. Source: German newspaper Spiegel with reference to its sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: According to Spiegel, the German government, which is approaching early elections, has been debating additional military assistance for Ukraine for weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock from The Greens party and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, a fellow Social Democrat like Scholz, reportedly proposed allocating an additional 3 billion to provide Ukraine with critically needed weapons before the early elections on 23 February. The package was assembled based on Ukraine's requests. It reportedly included 3 additional IRIS-T batteries with interceptor missiles, additional interceptors for Patriot systems, 10 self-propelled howitzers and artillery ammunition. However, it remains unclear whether the German side was prepared to provide all these items. Baerbock and Pistorius believed this package would send a strong message to Ukraine that German support would not decrease. They intended to request that the German Parliament Budget Committee approve an extraordinary expenditure (such a mechanism has been used in the past), arguing that urgent needs could not have been foreseen earlier. They pointed, among other things, to the challenging situation on Ukraines eastern front, Russian advances and uncertainties surrounding future US support, given Donald Trumps return to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since January, however, progress on the package has stalled due to signals from Scholzs office indicating opposition to the additional spending. According to Spiegel, Scholzs office argues there is no critical necessity for the package, it believes the assistance already planned will suffice in the short term and does not want to impose decisions on the incoming government, which will be formed after the spring elections. The 2025 budget includes 4 billion for military assistance. It is also anticipated Ukraine will use the US$50 billion G7 loan financed by frozen Russian assets. Without Scholzs approval, the package cannot proceed. Sources within the Social Democratic Party of Germany suggest Scholzs real motives are electoral, as he fears losing support among undecided voters. In contrast, The Greens hope to gain political points by advocating increased defence spending and active support for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both ministries declined to officially comment on this information. Background: At the end of December 2024, Germany delivered a significant assistance package to Ukraine, including IRIS-T systems and Patriot interceptors. Support UP or become our patron! German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has blocked a proposal for an additional military aid package for Ukraine worth 3 billion euros ($3.09 billion), Spiegel reported on Jan. 9, citing its undisclosed sources. Under Scholz's leadership, Germany has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. The chancellor has nevertheless often been criticized for his cautious approach on some key issues, such as his refusal to provide Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. The new assistance plan, proposed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, was for additional weapons including three additional Iris-T air defense batteries, 10 howitzers, and more artillery ammunition, acording to Spiegel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Scholz claimed the existing allocation of 4 billion euros ($4.1 billion) for 2025, as well as funds from the $50 billion G7 loan financed by frozen Russian assets, should be sufficient, Spiegel reported. Scholz also expressed concern that the new government could take on significant financial obligations after early federal elections in February if the package was allowed to go ahead. Baerbock and Pistorius justified the need for the package by arguing that the combat situation in Ukraine was worsening, and that there was uncertainty about further U.S. support under Donald Trump's leadership. Pistorius and Baerbock hoped to gain parliamentary support for their proposal before the federal elections, and presented their proposal as "a vital signal of Germany's unwavering support." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Scholz's lack of support, Pistorius reiterated Germany's support during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as Ramstein, on Jan. 9, according to Spiegel. Pistorius announced the provision of nearly 50 guided missiles for the Iris-T air defense system. The missiles, originally designed for the Bundeswehr, were redirected directly from production to Ukraine. Read also: With Scholzs government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Gov. Kristi Noem presents her annual budget address to lawmakers in the South Dakota State Capitol on Dec. 3, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) School choice advocates are fracturing over a bill outlining Republican Gov. Kristi Noems $4 million plan to provide families with public money for private school, homeschooling or other forms of alternative instruction. After sponsors released a draft of the bill Wednesday, Families for Alternative Instruction Rights in South Dakota (FAIRSD) announced Thursday that it opposes the legislation in its current form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said on its website that Noems educational savings account (ESA) program, as drafted, would invite government interference into the currently unregulated alternative instruction space. Rising Alternatives South Dakota Searchlight will begin publishing a five-part series Friday on the growth of alternative instruction options in the state, such as homeschooling, microschools, online instruction and hybrid schools. The stories will examine the reasons families choose alternative options, accountability concerns, growing alternatives for Indigenous education, motivations for teachers who start alternative schools, and the ways some public schools work with alternative-instruction families. Meanwhile, public education advocates have coalesced as an outspoken group, arguing that the program would erode public education in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And some lawmakers oppose the plan on budgetary grounds, due to lower-than-anticipated state revenues. Noem has proposed cuts across much of state government and an increase of only 1.25% for public schools, Medicaid providers and state workers. Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Brian Mulder called the proposal a luxury item. Im not necessarily opposed to the idea, but with the current budget situation, were not funding other parts of our government, Mulder said. How can we take on more when we cant fund these core obligations? The mounting opposition creates headwinds that Noem must face to get the education savings account bill to her desk, while she prepares to resign as soon as this month to accept President-elect Trumps nomination to serve as secretary of Homeland Security. Assuming shes confirmed by the U.S. Senate, shell be succeeded as governor by Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal comes as alternative instruction enrollment accelerates in South Dakota. It nearly tripled over the last decade from 3,933 students in 2014 to 11,489 now making up about 7% of school-age children in the state, according to the state Department of Education. South Dakotas annual legislative session begins Tuesday. Noem has support for the ESA bill from some top Republican legislative leaders, including incoming House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach of Spearfish and incoming Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre, who jointly pre-filed the bill. Speaker-elect of the House Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, is also sponsoring the bill. Its one of several school choice bills that public school advocates said they anticipate this session. FAIRSD: Keep alternative instruction unharmed & free of government money State Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves said in a news release Wednesday that the Noem-backed proposal ascertains that parents are the first and primary educators of their children, adding that the proposal offers options to students whose needs arent met at their public school. Education savings accounts unleash the positive, powerful forces of competition in the educational marketplace, he said. Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, on the House floor during the 2024 legislative session. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Odenbach said a vast majority of homeschool families are excited about the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julie Christian, president of FAIRSD, said the ESA program should be established as its own lane of education separate from current forms of alternative instruction. That would allow alternative instruction families to withstand any proposed changes to state regulation and oversight, she said. FAIRSD has been communicating regularly with the school choice proponents over the past year, the organization wrote on its website. We are confident they understand our position and the desire to keep alternative instruction laws unharmed and free of government money. Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota, which is part of a national political advocacy network supported by the billionaire Koch family, helped draft the bill, said Deputy State Director Jen Beving. She hopes the two organizations can iron out the language and their differences. Were all on the same side, she said. I hope well be able to come together on this. I want to protect homeschooling freedom as much as anyone else. Critics question proposals low-income prioritization Beving said Americans for Prosperity pushed back against initial language to restrict the program to low-income students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the bill allows all non-public school students to apply for education savings accounts. If accepted, a student would receive about $3,000. The program only sets income-based priorities if there are more applicants than money allocated to the program. Otherwise, its on a first come, first serve basis. Jen Beving is the deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota. (Courtesy of Jen Beving) The first tier of income eligibility is limited to $86,580 for a family of four, Odenbach said. The second tier is limited to an income of $115,440 for a family of four. South Dakotas median family income is $71,810, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Such limitations cover a large share of South Dakota families, said Sandra Waltman, director of public affairs for the South Dakota Education Association, which represents public school educators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is this really aimed at helping low-income families? Waltman said. Or is this finding a way to divert public dollars from public schools? Odenbach said that assessment is inaccurate. The overall intent of this is to stand up a good, solid program and make it available to as many people as possible, Odenbach said. Waltman said $3,000 per student doesnt cover the cost of tuition for private schools, meaning low-income families could struggle to pay for the remaining tuition and other educational services. She said lawmakers should ensure all students receive a good education, rather than diverting money from public education and picking and choosing which families receive the ESA money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its a really good start, Beving said, adding that lawmakers should provide educational options for students who dont succeed in the traditional public school system. The details of the program how the program will be operated and audited, and how purchases and applicable schools will be approved are largely left unanswered. The bill reserves those for the state Department of Education. The bill does not include any additional oversight or regulation for alternative instruction families. Alternative instruction students do not currently have to take standardized tests or submit portfolios to the state to prove educational progress. Public school leaders have criticized the lack of oversight since Noem and legislators changed alternative instruction laws during the 2021 legislative session. You can call it accountability, but it makes it pretty clear that were not going to be asking folks to show whether or not these dollars taxpayers are investing are actually educating students, Waltman said. Budgetary constraints depend on lawmakers spending priorities The states tight budget might prevent other lawmakers from supporting the ESA plan, but not Odenbach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting education right by maximizing parental freedoms and cutting education costs is a necessity, he said. If well ever have meaningful, long-term property tax relief, we need to require our public education system to evolve and change and decentralize, he said. Part of that is through a program like this to empower parents to decide where the best education option is for their child. Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen serves as vice chair of the House budgeting committee. Hes open to the idea of an education savings account program, but said because of this years budget, its success will come down to a question of priorities. Relying on it to dramatically cut property taxes for South Dakotans is unrealistic, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venhuizen has introduced a bill to cut education-related property taxes for homeowners by increasing the state sales tax rate from 4.2% to 5%. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Education software company PowerSchool is the latest major American company to be targeted by hackers, who accessed the personal data of millions of parents and students. (Photo illustration by seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty Images) The sensitive data of millions of American adults and children have been compromised after hackers targeted California-based education software company PowerSchool, the company confirmed this week. The breach happened at the end of December, and new information confirmed by TechCrunch Thursday morning says that hackers were able to access student addresses, Social Security numbers, grades and medical information on the platform, which schools use for student records, grades, attendance and enrollment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The names, phone numbers and emails of parents and guardians were also potentially compromised, the company said. Hackers were able to use a stolen credential, or login, to access the internal customer support portal, the company said. PowerSchool currently has 16,000 customers, and is used by more than 50 million students across North America, the company confirmed. The incident is the latest large-scale data breach in the U.S., as year after year, the number of cybercrimes continues to rise. The FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded 880,418 complaints in 2023, a 10% increase from the complaints registered the year prior, and nearly double the number of crimes reported in 2019. The agency estimates potential monetary losses due to cybercrime since 2019 to be $37.4 billion. PowerSchools breach is an example of how cyber criminals profit the company said it was extorted into paying a sum to prevent hackers from leaking the stolen data, though it did not say how much. The hackers method of using legitimate credentials to access the internal software is much more common than you might think, said Rob Scott, Dallas-based managing partner of technology law firm Scott & Scott LLP. When people think about hacking, they likely picture automated attacks that pass through logins and passwords, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many breaches come from accounts purchased on the so-called Dark Web, a vast expanse of the internet that is inaccessible to most conventional browsers, Scott said. Or employee negligence situations poor password management, or IT policies around managing and keeping passwords safe and confidential, he said. This incident was not an example of a ransomware attack, where hackers use software or malware to encrypt data on a computer, and prevent users from accessing their device. There were 2,835 ransomware crimes in 2023, and healthcare, manufacturing and government facilities were most targeted. But the motivation for the majority of cyber crimes is financial, Scott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People used to pickpocket, right? People used to rob banks, Scott said. Cybersecurity is the modern equivalent of those types of activities. As these data breaches become more common, youre likely right in assuming that your data has been compromised in some way by now, said Chandler, Arizona-based Kiran Chinnagangannagari, cofounder and chief product and technology officer at cybersecurity firm Securin. The advancements of generative AI systems have made the internet a data hungry place, Chinnagangannagari said, because these systems need tons of information to learn and get better. While about 20 states have consumer data privacy laws, and all 50 states have data breach notification laws, Chinnagangannagari and Scott said they dont find legislation is a big help in fighting this growing problem. Many of the laws put responsibility on the company to inform consumers, Scott said, but it places extra burden on a company that was just the victim of a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinnagangannagari said laws that encourage proactive safeguarding against unnecessary data collection are more helpful. HIPAA, for example, sets strict rules on how healthcare providers can collect, store and share health data. The California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, includes purpose limitation and data minimization rules. While theres little an individual can do in the wake of these large-scale attacks on a corporation or organization, users can take some actions toward proper cyber hygiene, Chinnagangannagari said. Be protective of where you are putting your information, and learn what you can about terms and conditions of large platforms or apps you sign up for. You should set up a system of not reusing passwords, and utilize multi-factor authentication when you can. There are also services that will seek out your data and warn you when its been part of a widespread breach, the cybersecurity pro said. And while it can feel helpless, Chinnagangannagari admits, taking these actions and keeping your eye on your accounts for strange online or financial transactions will prepare you well for our new reality. Its not something we were taught growing up, he said. Its a very different world. And so we just need to still adapt and live within this ecosystem. Education software company PowerSchool is the latest major American company to be targeted by hackers, who accessed the personal data of millions of parents and students. (Photo illustration by seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty Images) The sensitive data of millions of American adults and children have been compromised after hackers targeted California-based education software company PowerSchool, the company confirmed this week. The breach happened at the end of December, and new information confirmed by TechCrunch Thursday morning says that hackers were able to access student addresses, Social Security numbers, grades and medical information on the platform, which schools use for student records, grades, attendance and enrollment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The names, phone numbers and emails of parents and guardians were also potentially compromised, the company said. Hackers were able to use a stolen credential, or login, to access the internal customer support portal, the company said. PowerSchool currently has 16,000 customers, and is used by more than 50 million students across North America, the company confirmed. North Dakota K-12 schools use PowerSchool and were affected by the cyber breach, the North Dakota Information Technology Department confirmed Wednesday. The incident is the latest large-scale data breach in the U.S., as year after year, the number of cybercrimes continues to rise. The FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded 880,418 complaints in 2023, a 10% increase from the complaints registered the year prior, and nearly double the number of crimes reported in 2019. The agency estimates potential monetary losses due to cybercrime since 2019 to be $37.4 billion. PowerSchools breach is an example of how cyber criminals profit the company said it was extorted into paying a sum to prevent hackers from leaking the stolen data, though it did not say how much. The hackers method of using legitimate credentials to access the internal software is much more common than you might think, said Rob Scott, Dallas-based managing partner of technology law firm Scott & Scott LLP. When people think about hacking, they likely picture automated attacks that pass through logins and passwords, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many breaches come from accounts purchased on the so-called Dark Web, a vast expanse of the internet that is inaccessible to most conventional browsers, Scott said. Or employee negligence situations poor password management, or IT policies around managing and keeping passwords safe and confidential, he said. This incident was not an example of a ransomware attack, where hackers use software or malware to encrypt data on a computer, and prevent users from accessing their device. There were 2,835 ransomware crimes in 2023, and healthcare, manufacturing and government facilities were most targeted. But the motivation for the majority of cyber crimes is financial, Scott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People used to pickpocket, right? People used to rob banks, Scott said. Cybersecurity is the modern equivalent of those types of activities. As these data breaches become more common, youre likely right in assuming that your data has been compromised in some way by now, said Chandler, Arizona-based Kiran Chinnagangannagari, cofounder and chief product and technology officer at cybersecurity firm Securin. The advancements of generative AI systems have made the internet a data hungry place, Chinnagangannagari said, because these systems need tons of information to learn and get better. While about 20 states have consumer data privacy laws, and all 50 states have data breach notification laws, Chinnagangannagari and Scott said they dont find legislation is a big help in fighting this growing problem. Many of the laws put responsibility on the company to inform consumers, Scott said, but it places extra burden on a company that was just the victim of a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinnagangannagari said laws that encourage proactive safeguarding against unnecessary data collection are more helpful. HIPAA, for example, sets strict rules on how healthcare providers can collect, store and share health data. The California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, includes purpose limitation and data minimization rules. While theres little an individual can do in the wake of these large-scale attacks on a corporation or organization, users can take some actions toward proper cyber hygiene, Chinnagangannagari said. Be protective of where you are putting your information, and learn what you can about terms and conditions of large platforms or apps you sign up for. You should set up a system of not reusing passwords, and utilize multi-factor authentication when you can. There are also services that will seek out your data and warn you when its been part of a widespread breach, the cybersecurity pro said. And while it can feel helpless, Chinnagangannagari admits, taking these actions and keeping your eye on your accounts for strange online or financial transactions will prepare you well for our new reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not something we were taught growing up, he said. Its a very different world. And so we just need to still adapt and live within this ecosystem. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Trump's request to block his NY hush-money sentencing. The decision means Trump must attend sentencing Friday morning, though he can do so by video. Prosecutors said Thursday that they will not seek jail, fines, or probation at sentencing. The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump's last-ditch effort to block his New York hush-money sentencing, which now remains set for 9:30 a.m. on Friday. The high court's decision means Trump must attend or face a potential bench warrant for his arrest just 10 days before Inauguration Day. Four conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito, Neil M. Gorsuch, and Brett M. Kavanaugh had sided with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two conservatives on the panel Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett broke ranks and supported Manhattan prosecutors. In their one-page order, the five-judge majority gave two reasons for rejecting Trump's attempt to halt the sentencing. "First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trump's state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal," meaning post-sentencing, they wrote. "Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect's responsibilities is relatively insubstantial," they wrote, given that Trump faces a no-punishment sentence and can attend the hearing virtually. Trump's lawyers last week asked that he be allowed to attend by video, a request approved by his trial judge, state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg did not oppose Trump attending virtually and said Thursday that his office would not seek jail, fines, or probation at what will likely be a very brief hearing. Under New York sentencing guidelines, Trump had faced as little as zero jail time and as much as four years in prison for his May 30 conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Manhattan jury found he altered Trump Organization invoices and other records throughout his first year in office to retroactively hide a $130,000 hush money payment that silenced porn actress Stormy Daniels eleven days before the 2016 election. "Every legal scholar stated, unequivocally, that this is a case that should never have been brought," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday night. "There was no case against me," he added. "This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent. It's called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again." Speaking minutes after the SCOTUS order from Mar-a-Lago, Trump promised to appeal his conviction and repeated that the prosecution is an "attack on a political opponent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's much more important than tomorrow," he said of his planned appeal. Trump had fought hard to avoid sentencing, despite facing little inconvenience or penalty beyond some potential issues with his New Jersey liquor licenses. Over the past week, his lawyers had argued in four courthouses in Manhattan, Albany, and Washington, DC that any invocation of presidential immunity automatically entitles Trump to a stay pending appeal, even before he is sworn in. In their opposition filings, Manhattan prosecutors scoffed at the idea that "president-elect immunity" exists. The US Supreme Court's landmark July 1 opinion granted presidents broad immunity from prosecution, but made no mention of immunity before swearing in, lawyers for Bragg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Defendant's novel invocation of President-elect immunity does not warrant his Court's premature intervention" in an ongoing state criminal case, Bragg told the high court in papers filed Thursday morning. Defense lawyers have promised to file a post-sentencing appeal of the conviction, with SCOTUS if necessary, given what they say were violations of Trump's constitutional rights before and during the trial. In their primary example, they say grand jurors and trial jurors in the hush-money case improperly heard evidence that includes acts Trump took in his official role as president, which prosecutors are now barred from using. That official-act evidence, all from 2018, includes tweets Trump sent, a federal form he signed, and a conversation he had in the Oval Office with Hope Hicks, then his communications director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors and the trial judge, Merchan, have argued that even if this was official-act evidence, it was a "harmless error" to share it with jurors, given the other overwhelming proof of guilt. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, speaks with students on May 19, 2023, in Sioux Falls. (Joshua Haiar of the South Dakota Searchlight) U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, said Wednesday he will introduce legislation that would authorize President-elect Donald Trump to purchase the Panama Canal if he can get a good deal. I dont know if its a good idea or not, Johnson said, but I do know I want to give President Trump the flexibility he needs to examine it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those comments came during a Wednesday evening tele-town hall with constituents. Earlier in the day, Johnson spoke about the idea on Fox News. He will introduce the bill Friday, he said, ahead of a dinner he plans to attend Sunday with the president-elect and other guests at Trumps Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida. Trump said Tuesday during a press conference that he would not rule out using military force to take control of the canal. The United States built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s. In 1977, in response to Panamanian demands for control of the canal, then-President Jimmy Carter signed treaties that led to a full transfer in 1999. Carter gave a speech at the time saying the agreements would convert Panama from a passive and sometimes deeply resentful bystander into an active and interested partner, and would lead to cooperation and not confrontation between the U.S. and Panama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A company in Hong Kong, CK Hutchison Holdings, currently operates seaports on each side of the canal. Hong Kong is a former British Colony that has maintained a separate government and economic system since being handed over to China in 1997. Fears have risen about Chinas potentially growing influence over the canal as China has exerted more influence over Hong Kong in recent years. Johnson said thats a problem for the United States, which sends 40% of its ocean shipping container traffic through the canal. Donald Trump wants to kill the trade deficit, Johnson said. We cant do that if we cant count on the Panama Canal. This story was originally produced by the South Dakota Searchlight which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. WASHINGTON (KCAU) Just days after the idea of again taking control of the Panama Canal was pushed by president-elect Donald Trump, South Dakota representative Dusty Johnson has introduced a bill that would do just that. The two-page measure from the South Dakota lawmaker would authorize the president, along with the secretary of state, to initiate and conduct negotiations with appropriate counterparts with the Republic of Panama to reacquire the canal. The legislation would also allow the president to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of passage detailing the process, along with possible challenges and anticipated outcomes. Yankton Police Department warning of kidnapping scam Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Construction on the Panama Canal started in Nov. 1904, with the canal opening back in Aug. 1914. The important shipping canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans through a series of locks and reservoirs spanning more than 51 miles through Panama. In 1977, the Carter administration and the Panamanian government signed the Permanent Neutrality treaty and the Panama Canal treaty. That neutrality treaty gives the U.S. the right to make sure the canal remains open and secure, while the canal treaty stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. Those treaties were ratified in 1978. Trump recently expressed concerns that Panama has prioritized Chinese shipments over American shipments, charging the U.S. more for ships to go through the canal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Retired Judge Robert Devlin, who as the states first inspector general has turned a powerful office into a model for transparency in police-involved shootings, said Friday that he plans to retire in July at the end of his term. By making an early announcement of the retirement, the state Criminal Justice Commission is giving itself six months to find a replacement for a position that, through Devlins outreach and open records efforts, has succeeded in defusing much of the emotion accompanying police shooting cases. Devlin was appointed in 2021 to the then newly created office required to investigate all use of deadly force cases by law enforcement and all in-custody deaths, in police stations and prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislature created the office as part of a package of criminal justice reforms, an element of which was to remove police shooting cases from local prosecutors and centralize their investigation and possible prosecution in an independent office with tools, such as the investigative subpoena, not available to other state law enforcement agencies. Under Devlins direction, the office kept the public aware of investigative developments, releasing timely reports and making available, often within hours of shootings, body-worn and dashboard camera footage. Devlin also recommended policy changes intended to improve policing. Over its initial three and one-half years, the office has completed 30 use-of-force and in custody death cases. It is currently working on open cases involving 17 officer-involved shootings and seven in-custody deaths Records of the cases can be found at the Division of Criminal Justice website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the same period, Devlin and his staff presented briefings on their work at more than 325 meetings and presentations at schools, universities, churches and community centers around the state. The Criminal Justice Commission is indebted to Inspector General Devlin for establishing high performance standards for the Office of Inspector General during his inaugural term, said Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission. Connecticut is now a leader with respect to transparency in police use-of-force cases thanks to his hard work, dedication and thoughtful approach to an often difficult and challenging job. Chief States Attorney Patrick Griffin said Devlin has set a standard of excellence for the Office of Inspector General. Devlin said Friday he would wait until his actual retirement to discuss his time in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Devlin was recruited for the position after a long career that included time as a public defender, a state prosecutor, an assistant U.S. Attorney with the federal organized crime strike force, a Superior Court judge and a judge on the state Appellate Court. In his time as Inspector General, Devlin has moved for one prosecution in a police shooting, confronting tremendous law enforcement opposition with his decision to charge State Trooper Brian North in the death of 19-year old Mubarak Soulemane. Soulemane was shot while parked under a highway overpass in West Haven after leading police on a long pursuit. North was later acquitted by a jury. Criminal justice experts such as Michael Lawlor, a member of the criminal justice and forensic science faculty at the University of New Haven, said Devlins time in office has been remarkable for the lack of response to the shooting cases which he has concluded were justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob meets continuously with family members, keeping them informed of investigative progress and evidence, and explaining the legal elements required for a prosecution, Lawlor said. McDonald said, The regular meetings with victims and their family members, and ultimately the explanations of how decisions were reached, showed victims and their families that they were truly heard. Just as important, Inspector General Devlin treated the subjects of the offices investigations with respect and in accordance with the high professional standards expected of prosecutorial officials in the Division of Criminal Justice, McDonald said. LEBANON, Pa. (WHTM) A Lebanon man is facing a host of charges after police say he had 300 bundles of fentanyl. Rubin Perez, 54, was charged Sunday with felony drug and firearms charges. The charges stem from a search warrant conducted by Lebanon Police the day prior at a home in the 700 block of Walnut Street. Police said they found a stolen firearm and 300 bundles of fentanyl in that search. Perez was charged in connection with that search and committed to Lebanon County Prison, unable to post $250,000 bail. Get daily news, weather, breaking news and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Originally appeared on E! Online Sebastian Harrison detailed his harrowing escape from his Malibu home amid the Los Angeles wildfires. In videos shared across his social media platforms, the 59-year-old was seen surrounded by flames as he was attempting to save his and his 89-year-old fathers homes, while detailing the situation on the ground. So, Im still hiding behind these boulders, he said in the video that shows the flames around him. Sparks coming, so I have to duck behind these rocks. Im ready to jump into the ocean if need be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Love Me Licia star later recounted the scary moments and explained why he remained at his property amid the evacuation notices, as he stayed behind removing patio furniture and watering the roof of his house to prevent the fires from rapidly spreading. I saw that there was a curtain of fire. I left, but I went across the street and my Plan B was Im going to see if it goes through the property, he told CNN Jan. 9 in a joint interview with wife Livia Pillman. And maybe perhaps maybe a structure or two would survive. More from E! Online However, Sebastian said that there was no hope for either home as things became dire when he noticed firefighters leaving the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is at a certain point, I saw the fire trucks just quickly leave and I thought, Oh, thats not a good sign, he recalled. So, I tried to get in my car and it wouldnt start, and I got back out. And I saw this whole hurricane of embers going towards me and I thought Im doomed. Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images I started heading down by the ocean with those big boulders, he added. And unfortunately, I couldnt see because there were embers and smoke clouds and flying debris. I fell down, and hurt myself a little bit, but I was eventually able to hide behind some boulders. Sebastian confirmed that around 9 p.m. Jan. 7, with the help of firefighters, he was able to escape. However, the $2.4 million home he purchased in 2010 burned to the ground. Sebastian is among the many Los Angeles residents who have lost their homes to the fires that began Jan. 7 and have burned over 20,000 acres and has left 10 people dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep reading for more stars who have spoken out about the fires Gwyneth Paltrow The Iron Man actress took to social media to express her sadness about the tragedy that has fallen over her beloved city. We are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything, she wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Thank you to those inquiring, we are currently safe. When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kind, she continued. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant. Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg The Once Upon a Time actress and the One Tree Hill actor are sharing resources after tragically losing their home in the Los Angeles fire. It was all a dream, Bryan wrote on a Jan. 9 Instagram story, showing the rubble that was once their family home. Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there. And in between posting helpful resources, Jamie shared a tragic video of their entire neighborhood. Damn. Our entire neighborhood is gone, she wrote Jan. 9. We are grateful to our brave firefighters and first responders and pray we dont lose any more lives to these catastrophic fires. Stay safe and stay vigilant. Diane Warren The Grammy winner shared one last view from her Los Angeles beachfront home before it was lost in the fire. This is the last pic I took of Leah's rock from my beach house, the songwriter, who confirmed her animals and rescue ranch were safe, wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post of the ocean view. I've had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cary Elwes The Princess Bride actor shared his and his wife Lisa Marie Kurbikoffs Malibu home did not survive the fire in a heartfelt message to fans. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God, he wrote in his Jan. 9 Instagram post. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it, he continued. We want to thank everyone for their incredible outpouring of support. It really means a great deal to us. Ricki Lake Sharing a video of the raging fires in the near distance, the former talk show host detailed her and husband Ross Burninghams final efforts to save her Los Angeles home in a Jan. 9 Instagram post. Were going down my street praying for these homes and these people and my house, she said in a video, showing the fire in the near distance. I dont even know what I grabbed, I think I might have just said goodbye to my house. Grateful to have made it out alive and uninjured, she added in the caption. Forever grateful to @kirbykotler_ our absolute angel. He did everything to try to save our precious property. No doubt had we stayed, we would not have survived. Leanne Ford The HGTV host's home, which she recently moved into, was lost in the wildfires. "Three weeks ago we got keys to our new LA place in Rustic Canyon. We were excited (though me a bit hesitant) to start spending some time again in our favorite part of LA," the interior designer wrote on Instagram Jan. 10 alongside photos of what remains of her house. "A beautiful historical and quirky artists home. We brought over so many of our favorite things to fill it with. It was to be a place to write, to create." "Three days ago we lost it," she continued. "We are the lucky ones. We had a beautiful safe home in PA to escape back to. Im in awe of the firemen and women choosing to run into the flames while we get to run out. I can only say thank you." Mel Gibson During an appearance on Elizabeth Vargas Reports January. 9, the Braveheart actor shared that his Malibu home was destroyed while he was away recording Joe Rogans podcast in Texas. "Obviously, its kind of devastating. Its emotional," the 69-year-old said. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I had my stuff there, and its all like, Ive been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because its all in cinders. But when he returned home to discover that his home had been destroyed, he was relieved to find that, at least, his chickens survived, adding, It was amazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miles Teller The Top Gun Maverick stars wife Keleigh Teller shared one last photo of what was their Los Angeles home before it was lost in the fire. To everyone reaching out I cant thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, Ill never forget them, the 32-year-old wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Community has come out stronger than I could imagine, pacific palisades I love you beyond measure you are a little slice of heaven, we will come back stronger than ever. If youre in the LA area PLEASE get out if you can, she continued. I wish I grabbed my wedding dress .. wish I did a lot different but it doesnt matter, stay safe, get out. there are no words. THANK YOU to the first responders fighting. Bella Hadid On Jan. 9, the supermodel shared the childhood home she shared with sister Gigi Hadid and mom Yolanda Hadid had burned down in the Palisades Fire. Mandy Moore The This Is Us alumwho is mom to three kids with husband Taylor Goldsmithshared an update on her family after having to evacuate their home. "We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact." However, she noted that the home studio, garage and back house were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. "Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends," she added. "Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support." Milo Ventimiglia Like his This Is Us costar, the actor's Los Angeles home was destroyed by the fires. While visiting what remained of his property, he told CBS Evening News his heart felt "heavy." "You start thinking about all the memories," he continued. "My heart just breaks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Simpson Amid the outbreak of the Kenneth Fire on Jan. 9, the "Irresistible" singer shared an image of smoke rising from beyond her backyard. She wrote in the caption, "We stayed as long as we could." Bozoma Saint John The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed her dream home in Malibu, where she lived with her teenage daughter Laela, was totaled in the fires. "This is an unimaginable loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. Olivia Wilde "My block was on fire tonight and the only reason we still have a home is thanks to the brave members of the @losngelesfiredepartment who worked on the ground and from the air to save us," the Don't Worry Darling director wrote on Instagram Story Jan. 8. "Thank you." Chrissy Teigen The Cravings cookbook author started preparing in case of an evacuation, writing on Instagram Story Jan. 8, "This is surreal. I'm very scared. Packing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jen Atkin The hairstylist and her husband Mike Rosenthal safely evacuated along with their kids and pets, though she said their home was "gone." "Our whole area demolished," she added on Instagram Stories Jan. 8, alongside a tearful selfie. "So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend." Olivia Culpo One day after the Sunset Fire set the Hollywood Hills ablaze, the Culpo Sisters starwho is married to San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffreywrote on Instagram Story Jan. 9, "Im praying so hard for our community. My heart aches for everyone who has lost so much so fast. Its just unimaginable." Tina Knowles Beyonce's mom shared on Jan. 9 that "my favorite place, my sanctuary , my sacred Happy Place" was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. "This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu," she captioned a video of the Pacific Ocean. "Now it is gone!!" The entrepreneur added, "God Bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions . We Thankyou for your dedication and bravery and for saving so many lives." Gwyneth Paltrow "Our beloved Los Angeles," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram Jan. 9, amid the wildfires, "we are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything." Noting that she was safe from the blazes, Gwyneth added, "When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kinds. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melissa Rivers The daughter of late Joan Rivers said her home burned down, though she was able to evacuate with necessities and a few treasured heirlooms. "I grabbed my mom's Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son," she told CNN. "I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I can't replace." Jhene Aiko The "Bad Peace" singer shared on Jan. 8 that "me and my children's home is gone." "Burned to the ground with all things inside," she wrote on Instagram Story. "Thankful we still have eachother. Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy," Alabama Barker & Landon Barker Travis Barker's kids Landon and Alabama shared they were forced to leave their residences amid the devastation. "Just evacuated from my home due to wild fires in Los Angeles, please be safe!!, Alabama posted on Instagram Story Jan. 7. They are saying the fires are spreading foodball field amounts in seconds." Jennifer Tilly The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and her husband Phil Laak evacuated to Commercea neighborhood southeast of Downtown Los Angelesto escape the Palisades Fire. She wrote on InstagramJan. 8, "Phil and I had to evacuate to the Commerce Casino." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricki Lake The former talk show host shared on Jan. 8 that her house had been destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Sharing throwback photos of the property, she wrote on Instagram, "Its all gone." "I lost our dream home," she continued. "It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second." She added, "This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event." Want to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires? Find out how you can get involved in relief efforts here. The second tranche of U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones could be between 20 to 30% more expensive per airframe than those in the first batch. At the same time, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has said he does not believe the so-called Increment 2 CCAs should evolve into high-end exquisite platforms. This comes amid serious questions about the Air Forces ability to afford its next round of CCAs, as well as other future advanced aircraft, including new sixth-generation crewed combat jets and stealthy tankers. Kendall spoke about plans for CCAs Increment 2, the core requirements for which are still being solidified, in a recent interview with Air & Space Forces Magazine. The Air Force is working to acquire what could ultimately be a fleet of multiple different types of CCA drones through iterative development cycles. Anduril and General Atomics are currently developing designs as part of Increment 1. Dozens of contractors are also working on other aspects of the program, including advanced autonomous technologies. Models of the Increment 1 CCA designs from General Atomics (top) and Anduril (bottom). General Atomics/Jamie Hunter I think, personally, something that has some increase in cost over Increment 1 would not be outrageous, Kendall told Air & Space Forces Magazine. 20 or 30 percent, something like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kendall has said in the past that the goal is for the price point for Increment 1 CCAs to be between one-quarter and one-third of that of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This would put the price tag of a single one of those drones at between $20.5 and $27.5 million, based on publicly available Joint Strike Fighter cost data. A 20-30% increase in those figures would put the price range for Increment 2 CCAs at between approximately $24.6/$26.65 and $33/35.75 million. But, again, it depends upon the mix, right? What capabilities do you put on every aircraft, every CCA? What do you distribute? Kendall added. The Air Forces top civilian has noted on multiple occasions in the past how CCAs designed to operate in networked groups closely together with crewed aircraft will not each have to feature the same broad mix of capabilities found on traditional combat jets. This, in turn, opens up the possibility for new design opportunities that can have beneficial downstream impacts, including when it comes to keeping costs low, across development, production, and sustainment cycles. This is something TWZ has also been highlighting for years now, well before the current CCA program emerged, especially when it comes to work on fully networked drone swarm capabilities. The video below from Collins Aerospace presents one notional vision for how CCAs might operate together with crewed aircraft, at least initially. A fighter is designed to do a lot of things a crewed fighter have a lot of subsystems on it, sensing electronic warfare, command and control to some degree, the communications, as well as carry a variety of weapons, Kendall said back in December during an online chat hosted by the Air & Space Forces Associations Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Every CCA doesnt have to have all those things, but you have to have a mix that, working together again with a crewed aircraft, gives you the set of capabilities thats most cost effective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont regard CCAs as expendable. Theyre not munitions. we dont send them all to die, the Air Forces top civilian had also said at that time. So there needs to be enough survivability in them the combination of how you equip them, design them, plus tactics so that you can have reasonable attrition in most areas but they are things that you are willing to let a few of die in order to gain an advantage. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. USAF The good news with CCA is we started at day one with this [iterative] approach, and so a number of trades have been made, and we have the capacity to make more, right? Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, said during a separate talk that the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) think tank hosted in December. And because of the way that weve approached the CCA program with more than one increment, we can make different trade-offs in future increments. Is it more capable? Is it more affordable? Where on the spectrum will Increment 2 land? Those are questions to be explored, Hunter added. Is it more exquisite and where does it fall on the spectrum? [there is] still a lot to be determined in that process. As noted, in his more recent interview with Air & Space Forces Magazine, Kendall said the Increment 2 CCA should definitely not be exquisite platforms. In this context, exquisite would refer to much higher-end (and expensive) drone designs, such as stealthy, highly advanced, heavier payload, flying wing uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air Force officials have more broadly pushed back on the idea of pursuing a stealthy UCAV in favor of lower-tier and cheaper CCA concepts that could be acquired more affordably in greater numbers. This was underscored last year by Lockheed Martins disclosure that its losing pitch for CCAs Increment 1 was a higher-end gold-plated design. As TWZ has pointed out previously, this is all in spite of the potential value that UCAVs could provide as part of a larger mix of crewed and uncrewed aircraft and despite significant prior investments the U.S. military has made on that front. In addition, multiple countries around the world, especially China, but also including Russia, France, Turkey, and India, are actively working on flying wing-type UCAVs. A model of a Chinese GJ-11 Sharp Sword, one of a number of flying wing UCAV designs in active development in that country. Yang Suping/VCG via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Air Force, discussions about what the service might want out of Increment 2 CCAs are intertwined with increasingly worrisome discussions about the affordability of a number of major modernization efforts. This includes work on a new sixth-generation stealthy crewed combat jet and advanced stealth tankers. The sixth-generation combat jet and CCA programs are both part of the Air Forces larger Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. Other budget pressures, especially due to the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programs ballooning cost growth, as well as deliberations about the expected size of the future B-21 Raider stealth bomber fleet, are also factors. A deep review of sixth-generation combat jet plans is set to wrap up under the incoming Trump administration, which will also be in a position to make new decisions about the CCA, next-generation aerial refueling aircraft, and other efforts. President-elect Donald Trump has not yet named a nominee for Secretary of the Air Force. A rendering of a notional sixth-generation stealth crewed combat jet flying together with a trio of drones. Collins Aerospace A rendering of a notional sixth-generation crewed combat jet flying together with a trio of drones. Collins Aerospace These three potential new designs and platforms [the NGAD combat jet, CCAs, and stealthy tankers] are all tied together, both operationally and from an affordability perspective. We are working through a sprint of about four months of effort to determine the best combination of capabilities to pursue at various investment levels, Kendall said during a speech last November. The variable that concerns me most as we go through this analysis and produce a range of alternatives is going to be [the availability of adequate resources.] to pursue any combination of those new designs. Right now, given our commitments, our resources, and strategic priorities, its hard for me to see how we can afford any combination of those new designs, Kendall bluntly added. A rendering of a notional stealthy tanker refueling a pair of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works There is a consensus that there are a number of other things that we need to fund, but that it would still be beneficial to have an NGAD-like aircraft if sufficient funding is made available, the Air Force Secretary more recently told Air & Space Forces Magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to CCAs, the Air Force also expects them, in general, to have a transformative impact on how it fights, as well as its day-to-day activities, including training and maintenance cycles. Last year, the service announced it had ordered more Increment 1 types to help in the development of new concepts of operations and tactics, techniques, and procedures around the new drones. Service officials have said they could ultimately buy between 100 and 150 Increment 1 CCAs, and multiple thousands of drones across all of the programs eventual increments. Crewed surrogates, including specially modified F-16 Vipers, are supporting those efforts, as well. What the Air Force learns from that experimentation could well feed into the still-ongoing refinement of the Increment 2 requirements. As it stands right now, the Air Force does increasingly look to be leaning toward greater capability, and cost, for its second batch of CCAs. Contact the author: joe@twz.com A SEIU rally for security officers in Detroit, July 24, 2019. (Photo by Andrew Roth). Less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office for his second term, two major unions have announced they will reunite to push back on union-busting and win for working-class families. On Wednesday, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced that it would reunite with the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the country. The two groups split in 2005. With the reaffiliation, the AFL-CIOs membership will expand from 13 to 15 million workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is damn past time for unions for all, said SEIU International President April Verrett, speaking at a roundtable discussion Thursday in Austin, Texas. It is time for working people to be at the center of this economy and this democracy, not victims to its whims. It is beyond time to end union-busting for once and for all. And another thing that it is past time for, and that is to end poverty, wage work, for once and for all. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler expanded on that theme, saying that the divide-and-conquer strategy that has been a hallmark of politics, is best addressed through unity at the bargaining table, which the reaffiliation makes possible. We just finished an election cycle where one party spent the entire time telling working class people across this country, Look how different you are from each other. Hes an immigrant. Shes transgender or they worship differently than you do and it worked to some degree, right? We watched it. The scariest thing in the world to the CEOs, to the billionaires in this country and the folks like Donald Trump who do their bidding, is the idea that we might one day see through that. That there is a barista and an airport services worker and a fast food worker and a home care worker and a teacher and a warehouse worker and a cook and an electrical worker, all of them together saying your fight is my fight. It terrifies them, said Shuler. Both unions endorsed the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, in the 2024 race for the White House, with the AFL-CIO referring to Trumps devastating anti-worker Project 2025 agenda, and SEIU saying Trump seeks to be a dictator from Day One with a racist, sexist and anti-worker agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump made no secret of his disdain for union leaders like UAW President Shawn Fain, who he said should be fired, a pronouncement that came three days after Teamsters President Sean OBrien addressed the Republican National Convention and called Trump one tough S.O.B [son a bitch] following an assassination attempt. Ultimately the Teamsters, which also split from the AFL-CIO in 2005, declined to make an endorsement despite doing so for multiple past Democrats. The reunification of the AFL-CIO and SEIU also comes as Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which while having no official status within the federal government, has proposed shrinking the federal workforce by 75%. Thats prompting pushback from union leaders. Musk and Ramaswamy simply do not understand how the federal workforce is staffed or operated, said Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is also expected to reverse the pro-worker orientation of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) under the Biden administration, starting with the replacement of General Counsel Jennifer Abbruzzo with a pro-business nominee. With that as a backdrop, Verrett said they are planning to unleash a new era of worker power, across every industry and ZIP code. Working people have been organizing our workplaces and communities to build a stronger economy and democracy, said Verrett. We are ready to stand up to union-busters at corporations and in government and rewrite the outdated, sexist, racist labor laws that hold us all back. Were so proud to join together as nearly 15 million members to redouble our commitment to building a thriving, healthy future for working people. Also speaking at Thursdays roundtable was Nina Meyers, a home care worker from Detroit and member of SEIU Healthcare Michigan. Meyers spoke about how the union was instrumental in helping home health care workers organize and lobby for the passage of legislation in 2024 that allowed more than 35,000 of the states home care workers to collectively bargain while also standardizing care and training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They taught us how to collaborate with the senators and the legislation, to go to the House and we went up there in a sea of purple, so they had to see us, said Meyers. Im so grateful. Detroit is a union town. It has been forever. And to see us come together and care for one another, have hope, hope and faith is what we need to succeed, and with SEIU, we got there. In making the announcement, the AFL-CIO noted that 60 million Americans say theyd join a union tomorrow if the laws allowed them to organize. Polling shows that 7 in 10 Americans approve of unions, including 9 in 10 young people. The huge gap between workers who want to join a union and those who successfully do so represents a massive failure in law and public policy, stated a press release. In response, SEIU and the AFL-CIO are uniting to take on union-busting and secure the right of every worker to safely join with their co-workers in unions to raise wages and improve their jobs. This story was originally produced by the Michigan Advance which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance resigned from his seat in Congress upper chamber on Thursday ahead of his inauguration as vice president to President-elect Donald Trump. Vance stepped down from his seat at midnight on Thursday, marking the end of a two-year run serving as Ohios junior senator after he beat Democratic challenger Tim Ryan in 2022 to fill the vacancy left by former Republican Sen. Rob Portman. Vance will be sworn in as vice president alongside Trump at the Capitol on Jan. 20. To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate, Vance said in a statement. When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and Ive made sure to live by that promise every single day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump had announced Vances appointment as his running mate in July on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The duo went on to win the 2024 White House race by earning 312 electoral votes, while Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz received 226 electoral votes. Now, Gov. Mike DeWine is responsible for temporarily filling Vances Senate seat. That person will serve in the Senate until a special election is scheduled for November 2026, where Ohioans will then get to decide who will complete Vances term, which runs through 2028. A spokesperson confirmed that DeWine and several other Republican governors are at Mar-a-Lago meeting with Trump on Thursday. DeWine told NBC4s Natalie Fahmy that he has had several conversations on the topic, but is staying tight-lipped about who he is considering. Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has emerged as a frontrunner, with other candidates like Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Treasurer Robert Sprague, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Attorney Mehek Cooke in the mix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked before Novembers election if Husted would be interested in replacing Vance, the lieutenant governor told Fahmy the Trump-Vance ticket needed to secure a victory first. When Fahmy followed-up and asked again on Wednesday, Husted said, Were considering all of the options. And, you know, just its really all I have to say. DeWine said Wednesday he was not ready to make an announcement yet, but the announcement will be coming soon. The governors spokesperson said on Thursday they have no updated on the pending appointment. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was also believed to be under consideration, but posted a video on social media in November that signaled his intention to run for governor in 2026. However, DeWine voiced for support for Husteds own possible gubernatorial run, saying he would be a great governor when asked if Husted could replace Vance in the Senate. Vance, a venture capitalist known for authoring the 2016 memoir-turned-Netflix-movie Hillbilly Elegy, was propelled to victory in a crowded Ohio Senate primary in 2022 after receiving Trumps highly-coveted endorsement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 40-year-old will be the first vice president from Ohio, and was the first vice presidential candidate from Ohio since 1944. As a senator, the Middletown native touted himself as a defender of Trumps Make America Great Again agenda, aiming to reverse the Biden administrations needless spending and double down on securing the U.S.-Mexico border. Vance was a Trump critic in 2016, casting the then-reality TV star as a total fraud, moral disaster and Americas Hitler. Since then, Vance has said he was proved wrong by Trumps performance in office, and argued that most of the criticism was aired by rivals during his 2022 Senate campaign. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansas Senator Roger Marshall is calling for the U.S. Department of Defense Health Agency (DHA) to reconsider downgrading military hospitals in Fort Riley and Leavenworth. Marshall filed a letter to the DHA on Jan. 10 in which he argues that proposed changes to the hospitals could impact the Armys military readiness. The Irwin Army Community Hospital, located in Fort Riley, and the Munson Army Health Center, located in Fort Leavenworth, are both considered emergency care and outpatient centers respectively, according to a press release from Marshalls office. If actualized, these downgrades of the hospitals at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth would be devastating to the servicemembers, their family members, the veterans in the surrounding communities, and the tens of thousands of Kansans in the local areas who rely on these institutions, Marshall said in his letter. Combined, these hospitals service more than 75,000 individuals. At this point, it is unclear how the DHA and the Department of Defense will address shortages of care that will undoubtedly occur following this change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How much more will Kansans pay legislators in 2025? 27 News contacted the DHA which said the department started working to make adjustments to medical treatment facilities in 2023. Internal analysis is still underway, and the Department has made no decisions at this time, said a spokesperson for the Military Health System. Once decisions are made, DoD will communicate with beneficiaries, leaders, Congress and all stakeholders well in advance of any actions taking effect. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, is calling on U.S. airlines to resume flights to and from Israel after they suspended service last summer amid an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Cruz, who has been tracking this issue since Oct. 7 in his capacity as the top Republican on the committee, made the comments during an appearance on the Nothing But The Truth podcast, hosted by NORPAC New Yorks co-president, Trudy Stern. I think it is time for American airlines to resume flights to and from Israel. At this point with every day that goes on, it appears more and more to be a politically motivated boycott instead of a genuine safety concern. It was one thing right at the outset of the war when it was unclear what was going to happen, Cruz told Stern. It was one thing to take a step potentially in terms of preserving safety. Its another thing now. Right now today, El Al is flying every day. You have regional airlines in Europe that are flying regularly to Israel. The UAEs airline flies three times a day to Israel. And I got to say, every indication is that this is, this is a politically motivated boycott. One example is if you look at the largest of the flight attendant unions, they have been vigorously anti-Israel, calling for boycotts of Israel, and sadly, speaking out in support of the antisemitic protests on college campuses here in the United States. I think its time for the American airlines to return to flying to and from Israel, he continued. Cruz, who will have jurisdiction over the airline industry in his capacity as chair of Commerce, vowed to use my authority and oversight authority to press for that to be done. I just became the chairman yesterday, so were less than 24 hours into it, but I think we will get the job done. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed Cruzs call in a social media post over the weekend, writing on X on Saturday that the Commerce Committee chairman was correct in pushing for U.S. carriers to resume service. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz is right: its past time for airlines to resume flights to Israel. Theres no excuse not to, Pompeo said. Cruz also received praise from pro-Israel groups for his comments, with AIPAC and Christians United For Israel publicly thanking him on social media for his advocacy on this issue. AIPAC lauded Cruz for pressing this issue and standing with our ally Israel, while CUFI thanked him for speaking out. Except for two brief periods in 2024, none of the three major U.S. airlines that offer direct service to Israel Delta, United and American has flown to Tel Aviv since the war broke out on Oct. 7. El Al is the only option for travelers looking for direct flights from the U.S. to Israel, and the limited supply of flights has left passengers facing rising prices and few options. American Airlines announced last August that it would extend its suspension of flights to Israel through April 2025, without providing an explanation for its decision. An airline spokesperson told JI in a statement at the time, To provide additional flexibility, we will extend our travel alert allowing customers whose travel plans are impacted by this adjustment to rebook without a fee or cancel and receive a refund. We will continue to work closely with our partner airlines to assist customers traveling between Israel and European cities with service to the U.S. Delta Airlines announced days later that it would not fly to Israel until Sept. 30, 2024 months after revealing since-scuttled plans to resume flights from New Yorks JFK Airport to Tel Aviv in June. Delta announced just before the Sept. 30 deadline that it was extending its suspension through April 2025. United Airlines suspended flights to Israel indefinitely after it briefly resumed limited service last March. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The very first bill the new Congress is considering focuses on the issue of illegal immigration. Its called the Laken Riley Act and passed a crucial hurdle in the Senate on Thursday. In remarks on the floor, Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), noted that Friday, January 10 would have been Laken Rileys 23rd birthday but last year the Georgia nursing student was killed by Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant. Now Britt is one of the Republicans leading the fight to pass the Laken Riley Act. The bill would give immigration officials the power to detain illegal migrants who are charged with theft related crimes, which would have included Ibarra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to make sure that no family has to experience the heartbreak that Lakens family is enduring, Britt said. The House already passed the bill. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says it is past time that his colleagues do the same. The primary role of the federal government is to protect its citizens, we owe it to Laken Riley, Grassley said. On Thursday, senators voted to move the bill forward and start debate on it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says thats a critical first step. Democrats want to have a robust debate where we can offer amendments and improve the bill, Schumer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican majority unanimously supports the legislation, but it needs 60 votes to become law. That means at least seven Senate Democrats would have to vote to pass it too. Every single member of Congress should be able to get behind this purely common sense bill that will make our country and communities safer, Britt said. Some Democrats say they have concerns with the current bill, like Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). There are provisions in todays legislation that I would never vote for in the final package, Wyden said. Other Democrats have committed to voting for it. One of them, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), says he thinks it will be enough to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we as a party, as Democrats, cant come up with 7 or 8 votes then I would describe that as one of the reasons we lost, Fetterman said. The final vote in the Senate could happen as soon as next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. What a difference 10 monthsand an election cyclecan make. By a whopping 84-9 margin, the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday voted to advance the Laken Riley Act, an immigration enforcement bill named after a college student killed last year by a man who had crossed the southern border illegally. The bill will still need to undergo proposed amendments and proceed to a final vote, but the swell of support from the minority party to move it forward represents an about-face from Senate Democrats. The support for the first bill of the new Congress also raises the question of why the Senate could not have debated the bill during the last session when Democrats were in control. The GOP passed it in the House last March with 37 Democrats voting in favor, but it languished in the Senate and never received a vote. After House Republicans introduced it again this year, it passed with 48 Democratic votes, including six from lawmakers who had voted against the legislation last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least one of the converts was open about the political realities shaping his vote this year. Few congressional districts saw a greater swing toward Donald Trump than mine, a more than 20 point swing, largely because of the issue of immigration, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York told The Dispatch. And so, Im voting in a manner that reflects the views of my voters. I think if you are undocumented and have committed no crimes, you should be protected from deportation. I could easily defend that, but once you commit a crime, it becomes indefensible. The Venezuelan immigrant convicted of murdering Riley had been charged with shopliftingbut was released because the charge was a misdemeanorprior to killing her, and the bill would mandate the federal detention of undocumented immigrants who are arrested for, charged with, or convicted of larceny, burglary, theft, or shoplifting. It would also give states standing to sue the federal government for alleged harms due to a failure to enforce immigration restrictions. In the aftermath of Rileys February murder, Republicans quickly made the crime a focal point of their attacks on President Joe Biden related to border security. Most notably, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wore a T-shirt and buttons imprinted with Say her name to the 2024 State of the Union address, challenging Biden to comment on the murder during the speech. Democrats are attempting to figure out how to best respond to an election in which Trump and Republicans won a decisive victory in large part due to their effective campaign strategy focused on record illegal border crossings under the Biden administration. Some inside the Democratic Party are calling for a reorientation of messaging on illegal immigration, and the strong Democratic support shown in Thursdays vote could be a sign that those in the Senate are taking a similar view to Torres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if thats indeed the case, many Democrats are not willing to be open about it. A few senators struggled to explain why then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not move the bill forward for debate in the previous Congress. Sen. Gary Peters of Michiganwho is up for reelection in 2026 in a state Trump won last yeartold The Dispatch simply, I dont know, when asked why there was no action on the legislation in the previous session. Sen. Jacky Rosen, who won reelection in Nevada in 2024 despite Trump winning the state by 3 points, deferred to Schumer. Youll have to ask the Democratic leader that, she said. Thats his job to set the agenda when we were in the majority, so thats a Schumer question. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Schumers decision may have been a function of the chambers bandwidth. We had a lot of measures that were competing for time toward the end of the session, the Connecticut Democrat said, and I think that he wanted this bill to be a really good bill, if it was going to become law. Asked whether he thought Thursdays vote was a sign that Democrats were shifting to the right on immigration, Blumenthal pointed to the need for broad changes to the immigration system, something neither party has been willing to tackle. We need to consider solutions on border security, on visa shortages, on a path to citizenship for the Dreamers, on a variety of issues where there is a need for comprehensiveand I underscore comprehensiveimmigration reform, he said. And I hope that well move forward on comprehensive immigration reform during this session because the system right now is broken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was more blunt, ascribing the shift by Democrats to a blinding flash of common sense. In a Thursday speech on the Senate floor announcing that he would vote to advance the bill, Schumer did not say why the Senate was just now taking action on it but called for discussion to improve it. I expect that this bill will have enough votes from both parties to proceed. If we get on the bill, Democrats want to have a robust debate where we can offer amendments and improve this bill, he said. Those amendments could include tightening the requirements that trigger federal detention, but a number of Democrats have said they support the bill even in its current form. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan voted for the bill when she was in the House last year, and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, another state Trump won, told reporters he would support the bill even if the current text is its final form. Fetterman and Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona have cosponsored it. The days to follow will show if Republicans can pick off the seven Democrats they need to get the bill to a vote on passage, but the journey of the Laken Riley Act thus far shows how the minority party is absorbing one lesson of the 2024 election. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. A GOP-led bill that would hold migrants in the country illegal accountable for committing crimes gained momentum in the Senate and beat the filibuster in an 84 to 9 vote Thursday. Utah Republican Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act, which would require the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take an undocumented migrant into custody if charged with theft or other crimes. Curtis, in a statement posted on X, said it was a step toward justice for victims like Laken, whose tragic death was preventable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our broken immigration system has caused immense pain, and we must act to secure our borders and protect our communities, he added. The Laken Riley Act is named for a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a migrant in the country illegally. At first, it seemed unclear if Republicans had enough Democratic support to push past the 60-vote filibuster threshold. But only nine Democratic senators voted against moving forward with the legislation. Meanwhile, most Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted in favor. But Schumer clarified, This is an important issue. We should have a debate and amendments, adding, To remind my colleagues, this is not a vote on the bill itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumer blocked a Senate vote on the bill while serving as the majority leader in the last Congress. Why are Democrats changing their tune? The answer lies in the outcome of the recent election. Why are Democrats supporting a GOP immigration bill? Although this bill passed the GOP-controlled House last Congress and was stymied in the Senate, that isnt the case anymore. A handful of Democrats even signed onto the bills long list of sponsors. They include Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Gary Peters, D-Mich., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Angus King, I-Maine, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and John Fetterman, D-Pa. Most of them represent swing states, and some have border towns. Digging into the exit poll data from the 2024 election, voters from these states made it clear they werent happy with the Democrats handling of the southern border, as the Deseret News previously reported. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., reintroduced the Laken Riley Act in the Senate. Like Curtis, she also considers it a step forward in making our country safer, as she noted in a statement following the vote. But theres still more work to be done to get this commonsense legislation across the finish line, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we cannot bring Laken back, Congress can and must pass the Laken Riley Act to save American lives and prevent this tragedy from repeating itself, she said. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who opposed the vote, acknowledged the appetite for changes to immigration policy, but this bill is just not very well crafted, and I think we could do a bipartisan bill. Theres also talk of whether this bill would be amended to protect Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. The bill passed by a vote of 264 to 159 in the House Wednesday, and all four of Utahs Congressional delegates voted in favor. Sen. Mike Lee buckles down for immigration reform after Trumps inauguration As the Senate inches forward with finalizing this bill ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office, Lee is laying the groundwork for more border and immigration-related legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X Thursday, Lee said he reintroduced the America First Act, which would prevent paroled migrants from accessing welfare and other benefits meant for American citizens. Parole allows certain undocumented migrants to enter and stay in the U.S., even if they dont have a legal basis to do so. Its typically granted for humanitarian reasons. Under the Biden administration, the number of migrants eligible for parole expanded to include relatives of U.S. military members, Filipino World War II veterans, Colombians, Cubans, Ecuadorians, El Salvadorians, Guatemalans and Haitians to allow reunification with their families in the U.S. Bidens massive abuse of parole for millions of illegal immigrants has allowed them to access welfare and other government benefits meant for American citizens. Its going to stop, Lee said. He also plans to reintroduce the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act, which would make it more difficult for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and enhance election security by requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when they register. Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery), chair of the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee, and Senate Finance Chair Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel) review a proposal to cap the number of bills a senator can introduce to between 20 and 25 per session. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. Maryland senators are being asked to prioritize legislation they sponsor after passing a new rule Thursday that puts a cap of as few as 20 bills per senator. The Senate voted unanimously for the rule perhaps more of a guideline this session that lets senators introduce up to 20 bills, and allows them five more if those five are prefiled bills. Senate Majority Leader Nancy King (D-Montgomery) said the goal is to ease the workload of committees that have been crushed by the number of bills introduced in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think anybodys trying to be mean about this, King said. I think were just asking everybody to take a look at what youve got. If its really earthshaking and needs to go in this year, then, by all means, put it in. But if its something that youre just hanging out there, just to take the temperature on people, or just to float an idea hold it for a year and see if we cant make this a little bit more workable for our committees. The proposal sparked nearly 40 minutes of debate on the second day of the 90-day session with some senators Republicans and Democrats complaining that it was unfair, imposed late or would be ineffective. Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) said he spent time recovering from a foot injury by drafting a large number of bills. If I had known about this prior, I wouldnt have, Simonaire said, suggesting he would have limited the number he planned to introduce. Hours earlier, Simonaire held a press conference to announce a sweeping package of bills aimed at modernizing laws affecting veterans of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bills in the package will go to all four of the Senates standing committees, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simonaire and others immediately began asking for the ability to request a suspension of the rules this session to allow lawmakers to exceed the caps. A year ago, senators were limited to 30 bills but could blow the cap if they prefiled bills before the legislative session. But Senate Judicial Proceedings Chair William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery) defended the cap, saying the volume of bills his committee receives means hearings run late into the night, and as a byproduct of that, the quality degrades, and the quality of debate degrades. People get tired, and the work product slows down, Smith said. I think if we can all adhere to this new rule change, the quality of our work will enhance. The quality of our debate will be more cordial and better in committee. Ultimately, its going to be a better thing for our committee products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it is not a rule in the Senate, traditionally each bill that is introduced in a timely fashion is guaranteed a hearing. The new rule includes a number of exceptions. As in previous years, bills introduced at the request of a county government or state department do not count against a senators total, but the lawmaker has to designate the requesting entity in the bill, making it easier to track. And while some members feigned surprise at the proposal, the new rule was rolled out to senators last month. The concern about the flood of bills is not new. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and some committee chairs publicly groused last year about number of bills gumming up the process, resulting in delays and discord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a group that met over the interim to discuss how we could make the committee review process of all of our thousands of bills a little more expeditious, said Senate Rules Committee Chair Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County). Senate Rules Chair Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County) said lowering the number of bills that can be introduced by anyone senator will streamline committee operations and improve the overall quality of work on legislation. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. A number of senators who complained about the new rule were the same lawmakers identified in the past as introducing large numbers of bills. Some of us, I think, probably made commitments to people to introduce legislation, said Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore and Carroll counties). And it would be very difficult and awkward at this point to go back to the people to whom we had made commitments and say, because of a rule of just adopted, I cant introduce the bill that I promised to introduce. That was echoed by Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel) who said the change would upend plans he and others may have had about bills they planned to sponsor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really difficult after having made commitments to others and have already mapped out the bills that youre going to be likely doing for this session, Lam said. I understand its not intended to be punitive. I know there were discussions that were going on, but, you know, obviously when the rules come out is where the rubber hits the road. Five years ago, West and Lam led their respective caucuses in the number of bills filed. The large number of bills resulted in an initial cap. West at the time called the bills piffles, legislation that makes minor changes to existing law. Lam suggested that the change would not result in the promised streamlining. He claimed that if the rule had been in place last year, it would have only reduced the 1,188 bills introduced by about 59 bills. Half of those would have been redistributed for introduction by lawmakers with room under the cap, leading to just a 29-bill reduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a 2-1/2 percent reduction, Lam said. Senate Budget and Taxation Vice Chair Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel) called for a different solution to overworked committees, pointing to Congress where, They only have hearings on bills that the chair and the ranking member of the committee decide to have a hearing on. Rosapepe said open-ended hearings have the biggest effect on the quality of work. All of us sat through committee hearings on bills that have been in three times and the same people come in and the advocates have a feeling that they have to show up and talk, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some committees already have a rule where they allow only sponsor testimony on bills that passed the committee unanimously the year before but failed to pass the full legislature. I would just urge, as part of this effort to make the workload better, that we move towards limiting oral testimony to when it is actually useful, Rosapepe said. Sen. Mike McKay (R-Western Maryland) balked at Rosapepes proposal. He noted that speakers are already limited to 2 minutes of testimony. That is absolutely going against why we broke away from England, said McKay. I mean, we are supposed to be here so that the people can voice the way the laws are being written in the state of Maryland. Im willing to limit us on how many [bills] we can put in and set our priorities, he said. But we cannot, we cannot and will not limit residents in the state of Maryland from coming down and voicing their support or opposition for what the work we do here every 90 days. Senator-elect Matt Regier, the House Speaker in 2023 and a Kalispell Republican, was picked to be Senate President for the 2025 session. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said Thursday night that he has big concerns about the remaining 86 days of the 69th Legislature after his fractured Republican majority failed to coalesce around leaderships preference for the chambers rules. When you have, at the very beginning of session like this, a group that says, Hey, were not going to affirm the majoritys decisions, the voters decision that the majority Republicans made back in November, it strains things, Regier told reporters following a failed vote to take up a resolution on rules governing the body. I mean the votes right there going to the Democrats to buck the majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vote on the fourth evening of the Legislature was to adopt comprehensive rules governing the operations, decorum, and committee functions within the chamber, which became controversial. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, made a successful bid to change the rules Republican leadership wanted. The change called for limiting a new Executive Review Committee in order to redistribute the small number of minority party members to other committees. Nine Republican lawmakers, including former Senate President Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, joined the Democrats to pass those rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican leadership tried this week to revert to their initial plan, but failed Thursday night, as the same nine Republicans and all Democrats voted down an amended proposal from leadership. Republican leaders stressed the amendment included concessions to the nine defectors. At some point you just say, Were going to move on with business, and I guess if you guys and the Democrats want to control the floor, thats your prerogative, Regier said to the nine. I mean, well be back. Well have permanent rules, we got to keep moving and get this squared away, he added. But in the meantime, theres going to be committee meetings happening and well get things ramped up here. Senate stalemate On Monday, the Senate approved temporary rules in order to begin functioning, and the Senate will continue to operate under them and may do so indefinitely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the dispute, Senate work has stalled during the first week of the session. Throughout the day Thursday, members of the Republican caucus were in discussions over how to come together to govern with their majority, and Thursday afternoon, Regier urged members of his caucus to support an effort to revert to the plan leadership wanted. Senators on different sides of the issue were emotional and pointed about their stances, with Regier and other leaders calling on their members to take the authority the voters had given them in November. In response to Republicans who didnt like the way committees were set up, Sen. Sue Vinton, R-Billings, said she didnt get her way on the Senate either on some things, but she supported leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt get to be a chair or vice chair like some other freshman. Im OK with that, Vinton said. Im here to serve, to serve the people in my district and the people in Montana. Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, listens to Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, during a caucus meeting on Jan 9, 2025. (Keila Szpaller/ Daily Montanan) But Ellsworth, who had made an unsuccessful bid for president of the Senate, said he would sleep well at night with his decision. He said problems had come up in the Senate, issues that excluded the people of Montana, and there was more work to be done. Regier countered with a fiery call to come together and govern with the mandate the Republican majority was given and drew applause. Montanans did not send the Democrats to run the show, they sent us. And I will not move from that. I will never stop fighting for all 32 of you, Regier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Regiers overtures proved fruitless when the vote failed 27-23, the same count as Monday. What the hell just happened, Sen. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, asked as he left the floor. At the end of the day, Regier said the continued Republican defection, even after removing the Executive Review Committee from the rules, leaves the question mark. I would love it if those nine would join the caucus that they ran on, that they won on, and stop this procedure, Regier said. But, Im going to keep pushing forward with what Montanans have sent us here to do. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) The sentencing date for twin Louisiana brothers convicted of money laundering in December was moved to February. The original sentencing date was Jan. 8. Robert McCormick and Thomas McCormick were found guilty of multiple charges, including money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit filing of false public documents, filing false public documents, conspiracy to commit theft and felony theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, the brothers reportedly created fake companies to funnel $824,760 in state dollars to themselves for personal use. Thirty-two invoices were paid over the course of eight months from Aug. 30, 2020, to April 28, 2021. The new sentencing date is set for Feb. 3. Former LSU student pleads not guilty in Tigerland bar fight death Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. WARSAW, Poland Serbia, one of Moscows staunchest allies in Europe, has been forced to cancel a number of contracts to purchase Russian weapons, according to Gen. Milan Mojsilovic, the chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces. As international sanctions continue to pressure Moscow, Belgrade is now shopping for military gear in other countries, such as Israel and China, but also in the West. When it comes to weapon deliveries from the Russian Federation, they are currently practically impossible. We are trying to find a way through diplomatic channels to overcome the newly created situation, Mojsilovic told local daily Vecernje Novosti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have terminated some contracts, and postponed some in the hope that the situation in international relations at global level will normalize and allow the implementation of the contracts, Mojsilovic said, indirectly referring to the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russia. The general did not specify what types of weapons were covered by the deals Belgrade decided to scrap or delay. At the same time, Serbias military has found a way to ensure a sustainable and flexible system of supplying spare parts and maintaining military equipment, even under the conditions of sanctions against Moscow for its existing stocks of Soviet- and Russia-designed equipment, the general said. While remaining outside NATO and pursuing a policy of military neutrality, Serbia has expressed interest in joining the European Union. In October 2024, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated his country was determined to accelerate its efforts to become an EU member state. This nuanced policy towards the West has pushed Belgrade to distance itself from Russias defense industry, all while awarding major military contracts to European companies. These include Serbias purchase of 12 Rafale fighter jets from France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Serbian government is also advancing military collaboration with Israel. In November 2024, Israels Elbit Systems announced that it was awarded deals worth around $335 million to deliver PULS rocket artillery systems and Hermes 900 drones to an unnamed European client. Earlier this month, Israeli daily Haaretz reported those contracts came from Serbia, whose industry supplies ammunition to the Israel Defense Forces. Firefighters do a lot more than their title suggests, they respond to all emergencies, in all kinds of extreme conditions. This week were highlighting the sacrifices made by crews with the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District. Each week, firefighters spend nights at their stations instead of at home and risk their lives to save others. The fire department is a catch all for society that people have nowhere else to turn. So they typically call the fire department, says longtime Fire Chief Rich Stirts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their duties can change at a moments notice, but no matter the emergency, the mission is always the same to serve their community and use their training to assist to the best of their ability. Serving The Ozarks: ALAS This time of year is the fire departments busy season due to more calls for house and barn fires, slide-offs, and medical emergencies. Oftentimes, firefighters can get to a scene before an ambulance can. Firefighter Michael Metcalf says what drives him is knowing he can help people on their worst days. There is an emotional side of the job that a lot of people dont see, says Metcalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe you go on a medical call and its an elderly lady and shes lonely. You get to sit there and talk with her for a little bit and keep her company while youre there because you might be the only person she sees that day. Its a positive attitude to have despite working in some of the toughest conditions. The summertime, we have all that gear on and its hot, sticky and nasty. In the wintertime, we have all that gear on and you get water on your frozen block of ice, adds Chief Stirts. Stirts is going on 50 years serving his community and has seen the Ozarks landscape change. He says what many may now know, is the winter months are actually wildfire season in Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serving the Ozarks: Willard PAL Program And with spring, comes flooding. Chief Stirts says his department is now putting more focus on water rescues. Two of the rivers in southwest Missouri that tend to flood a lot. The Findlay in the James, just because of the urban sprawl. And the runoff amounts are tremendous now. And so we see every year more and more calls for water rescues. late last week, Logan-Rogersville crews fought a barn fire with several goats inside. Firefighters believe the fire was sparked by heat lamps that got knocked over. During this stretch of cold weather, Chief Stirts is reminding landowners to be safe when trying to keep their pets and livestock warm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you know of an organization you think Bailey Strohl and Maddie Conklin should highlight, send them an email at servingtheozarks@nexstar.tv. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Several school districts in Massachusetts, including Springfield, have been informed of a possible data breach of the PowerSchool Student Information System. PowerSchool contains information on staff and K-12 students grades, attendance, and other data for school districts across the country. The company notified districts on Tuesday that a cybersecurity incident occurred on Dec. 28th. The data breach compromises names, addresses, medical records, and social security numbers that may have been found in the system. Here is Springfield, we dont upload social security numbers into our PowerSchool system, so we know at the least, that our social security numbers for our students and staffs was not compromised as a part of that PowerSchool breach, said Azell Cavaan, Chief Communication Officer for Springfield Public Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kids skate with Thunderbirds, Boomer at MGM Springfield Its concerning because it is personal information and its certainly something that you think will be safe, said Cavaan. PowerSchool is not only their go-to communication system for students, but also all faculty. Springfield Public Schools released a statement to staff and families that the PowerSchool incident did impact their district. They say that the issue has since been contained and do not expect the data involved to be shared or made public. The data breach did not affect Westfield Public Schools. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said Westfields IT Department and the WPS Data Department have done internal checks, and have not found any data inconsistencies or concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agawam Public Schools sent home a note to parents about the breach. PowerSchool supports over 60 million students across 18,000 customers throughout the world, including the United States and Canada. A PowerSchool spokesperson provided the following statement to 22News Friday: On December 28, 2024, we became aware of a potential cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain PowerSchool SIS information through one of our community-focused customer portals, PowerSource. PowerSchool is not experiencing, nor expects to experience, any operational disruption and continues to provide services as normal to our customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as we learned of the incident, we immediately engaged our cybersecurity response protocols and mobilized a cross-functional response team, including senior leadership and third-party cybersecurity experts. PowerSchool is committed to protecting the security and integrity of our applications. We take our responsibility to protect student data privacy and act responsibly as data processors extremely seriously. PowerSchool is committed to providing affected customers, families, and educators with the resources and support they may need as we work through this together. NBC Boston reports Wellesley, Needham and Holliston Public Schools were also impacted. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Snow is impacting roads in East Tennessee, prompting some road closures as well as law enforcement to adjust their responses to calls. Several roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed as winter weather moves through the area. According to the parks social media, the following roads are closed. All of Foothills Pkwy Laurel Creek Rd Little River Rd Cades Cove Loop Road Cherokee Orchard Road U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road Lakeview Drive Elkmont Road, Greenbrier Road Wear Cove Entrance Gatlinburg Bypass The park shares automated updates on X (formerly known as Twitter) about when roads are opened or closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers are scheduled to reopen at 11 a.m., however the Cable Mill Visitor Center in Cades Cove will remain closed. | WEATHER AWARE | Watches and Warnings for East Tennessee In other parts of the region, some law enforcement agencies have begun implementing snow plans, which adjust how officers respond to calls as road conditions worsen. Knoxville Police shared on social media around 12:30 p.m. that it was activating its snow plan, which will require Field Operations officers to be paired in two-person all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles to guarantee that at least two officers make it to priority calls. Additionally, KPD supervisors are continuing to closely monitor calls for service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Loudon County Sheriffs Office also implemented its emergency snow plan Friday. Under the plan, crews will continue to respond to emergency calls, including crashes involving injuries, however, the sheriffs office is temporarily suspending responses to non-emergency calls, including crashes without injuries. Anyone involved in a non-injury crash is instructed to exchange information with the other party, including name, phone number, insurance details, and vehicle information, and to take photos of the scene. Additionally, LCSO said to contact your insurance agency and provide them with the relevant information. We strongly urge you to remain at home and avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary. Your safety is our priority, LCSO wrote. A Winter Storm Warning for Friday has been issued for several counties across East Tennessee, including Knox, Loudon, Roane, and Blount. Along with that, the National Weather Service has also issued a Winter Storm Watch for several counties in Kentucky. Find the latest weather watches and warnings on the Weather Alerts page. Several school systems in East Tennessee also announced closures on Friday due to the expected snow. This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates. Stay up to date with the latest forecast on the Storm Team 6 Weather Blog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Student data from several Utah school districts was compromised following a recent cyberattack of the popular PowerSchool online education platform. Salt Lake City, Cache, Iron, Washington, Weber and Park City are among the many Utah school districts that utilize PowerSchool a popular education technology software platform that students, teachers and parents utilize to track personal data such as grades, attendance and schedules. Sensitive student and teacher information was reportedly stolen following last months hack. PowerSchool is utilized by over 60 million students in over 90 countries, according to the company website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PowerSchool reported the personal information such as names, addresses, and in some cases Social Security numbers and medical information, were stolen by unauthorized actors in a data breach on Dec. 28, 2024, Newsweek reported. Data breaches can lead to identity theft, leaving victims vulnerable to fraud and other illegal activities. Local districts respond to PowerSchool hack Several of the Utah school districts affected by the PowerSchool security breach have released statements on their respective websites. PowerSchool informed our leadership team on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, that they experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain PowerSchool SIS customer data, according to the Cache County School District site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While our PowerSchool data is stored on a district server, the company maintains credentials to our PowerSchool systems so they can provide support to our customers. These credentials, housed at PowerSchool, were compromised and were used to obtain unauthorized access to PowerSchool systems and data throughout the country, including our district and at least five other districts in Utah. According to the Cache school district, PowerSchool reported that the following student information was compromised during their data breach: Student state and district identification numbers. Student names. Enrollment status, grade levels, schedules, year of graduation and school location. Gender, ethnicity, date of birth, address and phone numbers. Parent and emergency contact information (names, addresses and phone numbers). Other details such as lunch balances, fee waiver status and locker numbers. Cache County representatives noted that it does not store Social Security numbers in PowerSchool, so that information was not compromised. Washington, Iron school districts respond to breach: Deeply concerning The Washington School District posted a similar update on its site: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PowerSchool has assured us that the incident is contained. In addition, the District has restricted PowerSchools access to our systems until we can ensure that all PowerSchools systems are secure. Our technology director and I.T. department are actively investigating the situation to thoroughly evaluate its impact on both staff and student data within our District. This news, along with PowerSchools delay in reporting it to us, is deeply concerning. Affected data may include sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, date of birth and email addresses. Social Security numbers were not involved and the District does not store any Social Security numbers in PowerSchool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iron County School District sent an an email referencing the PowerSchool data breach parents earlier this week: The private information accessed could include names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and birth dates. Social Security numbers are not kept in PowerSchool by Iron County School District, the email reported. The Iron County email added that the cyberattack was directed to the PowerSchool platform, so there was nothing the district could have done differently to avoid access to the compromised data. However, we will continue to work with PowerSchool and other vendors to ensure the security of personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We anticipate PowerSchool will be providing us with resources and additional information we will share the relevant information as it becomes available to us, the email added. How did the PowerSchool hack happen? The hacker (or hackers) who accessed PowerSchool data did so by using a compromised credential to enter PowerSource, an online portal customers can use to get help with PowerSchools various products for schools, Education Week reported. The information the hacker accessed relates to families and educators, and those affected are users of PowerSchools student information system. When asked about how many people may be impacted by the data breach, a spokesperson for PowerSchool told Newsweek that they dont have specifics to share at this time, I can tell you that we are still working through our detailed data review, and our priority is providing all necessary details to our customers as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said that a certain subset of the customers may also have had their Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information, and limited medical and grade information stolen. In response to the breach, PowerSchool has deactivated the account used to access the system and conducted a full password reset and further tightened password and access control for all PowerSource customer support portal accounts, according to Education Week. The company also plans to provide credit monitoring to a subset of adults affected by the breach and identity protection services to minors who were affected. Schools remain a prime target for cyberattacks, Education Week reported, because they store so much data, have lots of staff and students with access to their systems, and have increasingly relied on online storage systems to store that data. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) On a bluff just above the Pacific Ocean about 5 miles south of the border, the San Antonio de los Buenos sewage treatment plant is 97.5% finished. Its opening is widely anticipated by people on both sides of the border, as it was supposed to be in operation back in September. The construction is being supervised by Mexicos Secretary of Defense, which says the plant is now in its last phase of construction and about to begin testing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is replacing an antiquated plant that had not been in operation for many years, allowing for millions of gallons of raw sewage to flow straight into the Pacific Ocean on a daily basis. On many days, prevailing currents pushed the effluent north of the border, forcing the closure of beaches in cities such as Imperial Beach and Coronado. Tijuana River boom ready to keep tons of Mexican trash out of California, ocean The installation hasnt worked in several years. Governments came and went without fixing it until the current administration, headed by Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Olmeda, stepped in, said Victor Daniel Amador Barragan, the person in charge of Mexicos water supply. They have literally built a new facility, now its time to activate it and start treating the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plant will be able to treat 235 gallons of water tainted with sewage per second, and Amador Barragan says it will greatly reduce the trans-border pollution problem. $400 million awarded for plant that treats raw sewage from Mexico Its in the home stretch of construction and set up, all thats needed now are the tests. While the plant is expected to reduce the amount of raw sewage that flows into the ocean, more needs to be done according to WILDCOAST, an environmental group based in San Diego. The plant will only be able to treat half or three quarters of the water that will flow into it, said Fay Crevoshay, director of communications for WILDCOAST. Its going to be bad if you still have a river of pollution streaming into the ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border The San Antonio de los Buenos plant is considered part of the solution that will limit the amount of pollution going into the Pacific Ocean from Mexico. Other mitigation projects are planned for the Tijuana River Valley, located just north of the border between San Diego and Tijuana, where millions of gallons of untreated water tainted with sewage, toxic chemicals and trash enter the U.S. via the Tijuana River. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Sex trafficking: Woman claims she is a survivor of Dances with Wolves actor LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Another woman has come forward with claims of sexual abuse against Dances with Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse. Kayla Onespot told the 8 News Now Investigators she is also a survivor of sex trafficking orchestrated by Chasing Horse. I experienced a lot of physical, verbal, emotional, spiritual, and financial abuse at the hands of Nathan, Kayla Onespot said in a virtual interview from Canada. He left me feeling unsafe and violated. Chasing Horse pleads not guilty in Las Vegas child sex crimes case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chasing Horse, 48, is awaiting trial in connection with alleged abuse against three women in a Las Vegas case, two of them when they were underage. A Clark County grand jury indicted him in October for 21 felony charges including 10 counts of sexual assault with a minor under 16 years of age, six counts of sexual assault, two counts of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child, and one count each of use of a minor under the age of 14 in producing pornography, open or gross lewdness and first-degree kidnapping of a minor. One charge dates back to 2010, according to court documents. Sex abuse allegations for years: court docs in Nathan Chasing Horse case reveal criminal justice system failures Kayla Onespot is the third woman to tell the 8 News Now Investigators that Chasing Horse took her to various hotel rooms, including in Las Vegas, blindfolded her, and allowed men to sexually assault her. It appears Chasing Horse does not face sex trafficking charges in Nevada or the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Las Vegas grand jury indicts Nathan Chasing Horse for years of sexual abuse Kayla Onespot said she met Chasing Horse at the age of 14 when he performed ceremonies on a reservation in Canada in 2008. She recalled grooming and manipulation to join Chasing Horses group known as The Circle, before she moved to the United States with Chasing Horse and became one of his wives. The abuse really started escalating when I moved with him, she said. I just didnt feel safe anymore there. How the definition of grooming led to the dismissal of the Nathan Chasing Horse case Las Vegas Metro police arrested Chasing Horse at his North Las Vegas home in January of 2023. Kayla Onespot said she left a few months prior. She told the 8 News Now Investigators she shared her story with police and she is identified as a victim in charges originating in Canada. There are warrants for Chasing Horse in Canada and Montana. Multiple girls and women previously reported that Chasing Horse sexually abused them for nearly two decades, but their reports did not immediately result in criminal charges. In the Las Vegas case, prosecutors plan to ask the judge to allow them to admit evidence of other crimes, including previous claims of sexual abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did not forget, alleged Chasing Horse victim attends latest court appearance I feel for them, and I believe them, and I hope they get their justice, too, Kayla Onespot said. Its hard to speak up but its also empowering to free your voice. Chasing Horse was previously charged with 18 counts in Clark County District Court in connection with alleged sexual abuse against two of the three women in the current case. Breaking the Circle: Nathan Chasing Horse Exposed The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed the previous indictment in a Sept. 26 order and said prosecutors should not have defined grooming to the grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson immediately told the 8 News Now Investigators that prosecutors would seek another indictment against Chasing Horse within weeks and would follow the dictates of Nevadas high court. The order allowed prosecutors to retry Chasing Horse. Chasing Horse has previously been banned from several reservations. He is a Rosebud Sioux Indian, Lakota Tribe, according to an arrest report. Chasing Horse was previously represented by the Clark County Public Defenders office and recently hired private attorney Craig Mueller. A jury trial for the Las Vegas case is scheduled for April. Chasing Horse remains in custody in a Las Vegas jail with a $500,000 bond, jail records show. 8 News Now Investigator Vanessa Murphy can be reached at vmurphy@8newsnow.com. To contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. My journey in Democratic politics began 16 years ago during the transformative Obama era. As a member of College Democrats of Indiana, I witnessed Indiana turn blue for the first time in decades a historic moment since Lyndon Johnsons 1964 landslide victory. Even Bill Clinton, with his coalition of moderate and working class white voters, couldnt crack the code to win Indiana. That glimpse of progress inspired a generation of millennials, including myself, to believe in the power of grassroots organizing and the possibility of change. Guided by my media ethics professor and mentor, who encouraged me to pursue a career in local government, I was introduced to Elise Shrock, who would later become a trusted friend. Shortly after graduation, I landed what I thought was a dream role with the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus communications office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was an exciting and hopeful time, but cracks in the system quickly became apparent. Whispers of Sen. Greg Taylors inappropriate behavior circulated, yet his actions went unchecked. This lack of accountability allowed toxic environments to fester. Briggs: Scandal-plagued Greg Taylor should resign his Senate seat The toxicity wasnt limited to the Statehouse. When I later tried to call out abuse of power at the city level, I was met with resistance and inaction. Instead of being heard, I was ostracized by establishment Democrats for calling out a cliquey, alcohol-fueled work culture that blurred boundaries between the personal and professional. These experiences underscored how deeply entrenched the problem is and how resistant institutions can be to meaningful change. From high school student government to years of civic engagement starting at Ball State University, Ive always been driven by an unwavering passion for democracy. Recently, I joined over 60 Democratic leaders in signing petitions calling for Taylors resignation and reform within the Indiana Democratic Party. These actions prompted me to reflect on my political journey and the disillusionment Ive felt. Despite these challenges, my dedication to public service remains steadfast, now with a renewed focus on driving change through the nonprofit and advocacy sectors. A call for systemic reform Flags sit on the desks inside the Indiana House chamber Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, ahead of the start of the 124th meeting of the Indiana General Assembly at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. Sexual harassment and workplace abuse are pervasive in local and state politics. To address these issues, we need bipartisan systemic change and immediate solutions. Women are fed up with a culture of misconduct that has persisted for decades. Recently in the Harvard Business Review, it was noted, Most acts of courage dont come from whistleblowers or martyrs they come from respected insiders at all levels who take action because its the right thing to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who are our allies and respected insiders? Change requires bold leadership across the aisle. Women and all workers deserve safe, professional, and respectful workplaces. Here are some solutions for change in Indiana: Clear policies and mandatory training: Every governmental body from town councils to the Indiana Statehouse, must adopt clear, enforceable policies against harassment. Ongoing, mandatory training tailored to politics, campaigns, and government should be required for elected officials, staff, lobbyists, and interns. Independent oversight committees: Establish independent ethics committees free from political influence to investigate complaints fairly. Victims must feel safe coming forward, knowing their concerns will be addressed objectively and that their careers are safe. Transparent reporting mechanisms: Develop user-friendly, anonymous reporting tools to empower victims. Transparency in the investigative process is critical for building trust. Accountability for elected officials: Consequences for misconduct must be swift and meaningful, including suspensions or removal from office for severe violations. This accountability must transcend party lines to protect the integrity of our democracy. Support systems for survivors: Offer counseling, legal assistance, and career resources to survivors. No one should face retaliation or career setbacks for speaking out. Culture shift: Beyond policies, we need a cultural shift that prioritizes professionalism and respect. Leaders at every level must model ethical behavior and foster inclusive, supportive workplaces. With the legislative session underway, its clear that sexual harassment is not a partisan issue its a human issue that demands attention. Dismantling systems that perpetuate harm is essential to creating institutions where talent is nurtured, not stifled, and fear has no place. Hoosier women deserve better. Public service should inspire and empower, not intimidate or oppress. The time for change is now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrea Watts is a former staffer in Indianapolis city government and the Indiana Statehouse. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Democrats, Republicans can address sexual harassment | Opinion Arizonas Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly are catching heat from advocates who call their support for the GOPs Laken Riley Act a major disappointment from two candidates propelled by pro-immigration groups. The bill, named for a college student killed by a Venezuelan-born immigrant, would direct authorities to detain undocumented people merely accused not convicted of certain nonviolent offenses. It has passed the House and picked up at least nine Democratic backers in the upper chamber, enough to overcome a filibuster and ensure passage. But in a state where an estimated 540,000 residents live in mixed immigration status households, the GOP-backed bill could tear apart countless Arizona families without due process, critics say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Laken Riley Act is immoral and unconstitutionalIts shameful that Democrats like Ruben Gallego and John Fetterman support it, Sam Weinberg, director of Gen-Z advocacy group Path to Progress, said in a post on Bluesky. Jose Patino, vice president of education and external affairs for immigrant advocacy group Aliento, told Salon that his organization shared its concerns with the senators offices. One of them is the concept of indefinite detention without due process. Specifically, individuals that are arrested, charged, but they are not convicted, Patino told Salon, adding that the bill would also give broad power to state attorneys general to dictate immigration law. Patino told Salon that Gallego and Kelly havent returned the groups calls voicing these concerns. He cautioned the senators to field community and advocate input before making any rash votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is time for us to caution and debate, read, and analyze the bill before making judgments, Patino said. Its incumbent upon Senate Democrats to do that. Neither senator's office immediately responded to Salon's requests for comment. Sen. Gallego, a cosponsor of the bill, won a major victory in Arizona in November, besting Republican opponent Kari Lake by nearly 3 points in a state that saw the Democratic presidential candidate lose. But some are already drawing parallels with another Arizona pol who Gallego replaced: former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democratic Party before deciding against a run for reelection. Mushed Zaheed, a Democratic strategist, said on social media that Gallego campaigned with the theme that they were not going to betray the Democratic base by operating like Kyrsten Sinema but was off to an ominous start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Policy experts also say that Gallegos defense of the bill relies on an incorrect understanding of its protections for DACA recipients. Gallego told Fox News on Wednesday that the bill was clear on excluding DACA recipients, a claim that experts say doesnt pass muster. "[Gallegos claim] is just 100% incorrectALL Dreamers, including DACA recipients are covered by this bill, Josh Bresiblatt, chief counsel on immigration for Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote in a post to X. Patino argued that Gallegos apparent misunderstanding could have been cleared up if he had reached out to immigration advocates and community members. I would caution any elected officials, including Mr. Gallego, too, before jumping on and cosponsoring legislation, to do the research, to hear from the community, especially the communities that are going to be impacted, Patino told Salon. Barbara Corcoran has lost her Pacific Palisades mobile home to the wildfires in Los Angeles. The Shark Tank star, 75, opened up about the loss of her beloved Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park abode in an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, Jan. 9. Corcoran confirmed the entire park was destroyed on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The devastating fires in LA have taken so much from so many this week. The beloved Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park in Pacific Palisades, my little slice of heaven, was entirely destroyed when the devastating Palisades Fire rapidly moved through the park on Tuesday, she wrote in the caption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Included in the post is a harrowing video of the fires burning the park in full force amid extreme winds. Related: L.A. Fires Live: At Least 10 Dead, Officials Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders She continues, For the past five years, Ive been privileged to have a home in this loving, tight-knit community. Its a place where kindness thrives, friendships are cherished, and neighbors become family. My heart breaks again and again as I see these incredible people who built their lives here for decades, many of them seniors who poured their hearts and life-savings into their trailers, left with absolutely nothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She notes the link in her bio to a GoFundMe that she set up to help her neighbors rebuild their lives amid the tragedy. Funds raised will be distributed by our dedicated tenant group to help those most in need cover immediate essentials like food, clothing, and shelter as they take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives, she adds. My heart goes out to all those displaced, and my deepest thanks to the brave first responders working tirelessly to keep people safe. Related: Celebrities Who Have Lost Homes or Had to Evacuate in the Los Angeles Fires, and What They've Said CALEB SIMPSON/Tiktok Barbara Corcoran's Pacific Palisades mobile home Barbara Corcoran's Pacific Palisades mobile home Corcoran previously gave a video tour of her mobile home to viral TikTok creator Caleb Simpson in July 2023. She referred to it as her Taj Mahal where everythings little during the clip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 9, Simpson took to his Instagram Stories to bring awareness to the current wildfires and highlight Corcorans GoFundMe. Last year I toured Barbara Corcorans home in the Pacific Palisades and she just messaged me telling me that it burned down. My heart goes out to her and everyone whose homes literally just vanished before their eyes, he said in the video, and included a link to the GoFundMe. While millionaires living in mobile homes might not be typical elsewhere, it's not uncommon for stars to own them in Malibu. In addition to Corcoran, celebrities like Minnie Driver, Camille Grammer, Sarah Paulson, Matthew McConaughey, Pamela Anderson and Betsey Johnson have all owned mobile homes in the area. Caleb Simpson/Tiktok Barbara Corcoran's Pacific Palisades mobile home Barbara Corcoran's Pacific Palisades mobile home A portion of the beach community along the Pacific Coast Highway has been leveled by the fires. Paris Hilton said she watched her home there burn on live TV, while a friend of Candy Spelling confirmed to PEOPLE, the producer's home of 50 years that she shared with her late husband Aaron, was destroyed. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Over 100,000 Los Angeles area residents have been issued mandatory evacuation orders since the Palisades Fire first ignited on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, amid severe winds and dry conditions. There are currently multiple fires burning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 deaths have been confirmed as of Thursday, Jan. 9, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires. Read the original article on People (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaums approval rating slipped roughly 100 days into her administration as voters clamor for stronger action against crime and corruption, according to a new poll. Most Read from Bloomberg Sheinbaums government was approved by 60.3% of respondents in December, down from 66.7% when she began her term in October, according to a survey conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News and published Friday. Of those interviewed, 27.6% disapprove her administration, up from 22.5% in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum inherited top voter concerns of graft and security from her predecessor and mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Her first weeks in office were marred by bloody incidents including a murdered priest and car bombs. Still, this week her security team said homicides fell by 18.3% from 2018 to 2024 while high-impact crimes such as violent robberies also dropped. The head of state faces scrutiny when it comes to fighting poverty, which is one of the top goals acquired from Lopez Obrador. Of those polled, 42% believe the policies in that area are bad, while only 35% think they are good. Roughly 29% of respondents have a negative opinion of Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O, while nearly 19% view him positively and almost 53% said that they were unsure when asked about the official. Growing Optimism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the poll also showed support for Sheinbaum. The presidents overall economic policies are considered good by 53%, while 27% think theyre bad. Many voters also see the country heading in the right direction. About 57% of people interviewed believe Mexicos economic situation will improve during the next six months, while 26% think that it will get worse. Optimism increased since the start of Sheinbaums term, when 51% of those surveyed believed the nations economic outlook would get better. Also, roughly 57% said Sheinbaums economic policy management is better than that of her predecessor, while only some 23% believe it is worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Palmira Tapia, a political scientist who works for the government of the State of Mexico, Sheinbaums main challenge is combating organized crime. This could explain why the good opinion of her economic policy is not enough to offset the perception of insecurity and violence in some parts of the country, she said. AtlasIntel surveyed 1,749 people in Mexico between Dec. 26-31. The poll has a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Diana Rico can list off the commentary she and other parents struggling to find quality and affordable child care often hear: You should not have a child if you cannot care for one. "You should have waited before having a child." "Everything is expensive, so you just have to accept it." If you dont have kids or have older children, you might not realize how expensive child care has become in Wisconsin. So pricey, in fact, that it costs more than college. On average, Wisconsin child care for an infant costs $12,567 annually, or $1,047 per month. For a 4-year-old, the cost is slightly lower at $10,197, or $850 per month. Combined with higher expenses for housing and groceries, many families face significant financial challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Wisconsin child care is headed for meltdown. We all lose if daycare centers close doors. According to 2022 data from the Wisconsin Public Policy Forum, over 45% of renters in Wisconsin spend more than 30% of their income on rent, categorizing them as "cost-burdened, which means these households have less money for other necessities like food or health care. For this mom, cost of child care was equal to UW-Milwaukee tuition Rico understands how burdensome child care costs can be. Less than four years ago, her oldest daughter was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, while her youngest daughter was in daycare. The costs for the first semester of college and one year of day care were nearly identical. Both expenses were also unaffordable, leading Rico like many mothers to make the decision to stop working so she could stay home and raise her infant. While she does not regret this choice, it is a decision that often goes unrecognized because it is not always discussed. The decision to leave her job as a phlebotomist ultimately led Rico to pursue a different career: advocacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I realized that if I was going through this, there are so many other women and families struggling just to make ends meet, she said. According to a 2023 report by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 13% of children from birth to age 5 live in families where someone has quit, changed, or refused a job due to child care issues. Additionally, women are five to eight times more likely than men to experience negative employment consequences related to caregiving. Today, Rico, the mother of four, is an early childhood education ambassador with Milwaukee Succeeds. In her role she informs parents about the available financial resources through the Wisconsin Shares Child Subsidy Program to help families cope with the high child care cost. In turn, additional child care assistance can help more women stay in the workforce. Her mission: spread word about financial assistance in Wisconsin The Wisconsin Shares Child Subsidy Program supports families by helping cover out-of-pocket costs for children up to 5. Although there is an income limit for parents to qualify for this program, every dollar counts, especially given the high cost of child care in Wisconsin, which is above the national average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin Shares is funded by the federal Child Care Development Fund and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. It provides financial assistance to eligible families to help cover the high costs of child care. However, many families do not take advantage of this funding due to a lack of awareness and difficulty completing the required forms. Financial assistance for child care is not discussed or promoted adequately, leading many Wisconsin families with young children to spend up to 16% of their household income on child care expenses. In Milwaukee County the median is 15% to 26% for child care, depending on the type of service, according to 2018 Wisconsin Watch data. Another significant barrier is the lack of knowledge of how to fill out the forms correctly. Letters to the Editor: Dizzying number of Medicare Advantage plans makes picking right care tough Rico said that applicants need access to a smartphone or computer to apply for financial assistance, and many may not know how to use these technologies, especially among immigrant communities facing language barriers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationally, Wisconsin ranks among the top 20 states for child care costs. This came when the National Database of Childcare Prices reported that the price of child care for U.S. families is more than a months rent for many families. The fact that the median cost of center-based infant care is more than the median cost of rent should be of urgent concern, said Wendy Chun-Hoon, bureau director of the Womens Bureau, which champions policies that safeguard the interests of working women. Many families are facing challenges, and women are particularly affected, as a more significant number of them must leave the workforce to take care of their children. Although the American Rescue Plan helped many families with child care costs, additional federal investments are necessary to ensure that high-quality child care is accessible and affordable for everyone. The database showed that families nationwide spend between 9% and 16% of their median income on full-day care for one child, with 2022 annual prices ranging from $6,552 to $15,600. Numerous factors contribute to the cost of day care for kids A sound child care system must be successful for kids to learn and grow, and it must also be affordable. Rico said that in addition to the costs, the other problem many young families face regarding child care is finding a child care opening near their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Space is so limited when trying to get a child into child care that many women join waiting lists while still pregnant to secure a spot for their newborn. Although families in Wisconsin spend a significant amount on child care, Rico believes that the fees charged by child care centers in the state are not excessively high. Numerous factors contribute to the overall cost of child care. Kristin Brey: Wisconsin state budget surplus a sham when so many essential services starved Accredited agencies typically charge higher fees, and the ratings they receive are essential, as is the distinction between a center and a home-based facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rico cautioned that larger and newer facilities dont necessarily equate to better care when it comes to child care. Ultimately, the decision depends on what you want for your child. Some families and children may thrive in a larger, state-of-the-art facility, while others may benefit more from a smaller, more intimate setting based on the child's needs. Pay for child care workers is a factor in short supply of slots In 2022, the median annual pay for child care workers was $28,520, about $13.71 per hour. This is lower than the wages for retail workers, who earned an average of $14.26 per hour, and for customer service workers, who made $18.16 per hour. If the workers are not paid a livable wage, you can expect high turnover, impacting the children. Milwaukee has launched a plan to build over 40 affordable homes for child care workers, aiming to retain them in the profession. The $11 million development is primarily funded by a $4.5 million federal grant and $4.2 million from low-income home buyers. These homes will be constructed near five early childhood education centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three-bedroom houses will be sold for approximately $100,000 each, significantly lower than their average construction cost of $250,000, specifically for early childhood educators. While this initiative is a positive step, it remains to be seen if it will be enough to keep child care workers in the field, as wage increases are still necessary. Affordable, high-quality child care is crucial for our communities, particularly in Wisconsin, where there is a significant educational gap between Black and white students. The lack of affordable and accessible child care in the country not only shortchanges children but also costs the American economy billions of dollars each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This situation hampers women's professional opportunities and pushes many families to their breaking point. You can reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com or follow him on X @jecausey. Assistance may be available to help pay for child care To apply for the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program, go to: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/wishares/apply This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Her tough choice when child care cost as much as college | Opinion HONOLULU (KHON2) For Jillian Marc Jefry Felipe, landing a job at Ernst & Young (EY) was the culmination of a well-prepared journey that began long before his spring 2024 graduation from the University of Hawaii at Manoas Shidler College of Business. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Felipe, who earned his bachelors degree in accounting and finance, now works as an assurance staff member in EYs Financial Services Office. He credits the colleges robust career development resources for helping him make a smooth transition into the workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shidler College of Business has provided me with all the tools to grow and achieve my personal and professional goals, Felipe said. What I found most valuable was the abundance of resources Shidler offers to its students. Eva Asiskovich, a fellow spring 2024 graduate with a degree in finance, accounting, and management information systems, is now a financial analyst at Amazon. She says that her time at Shidler helped her gain the skills, knowledge, and credentials needed for her current role. Motorists warned of increased traffic as UH students return for semester Attending UH was pivotal to my success, Asiskovich shared. It gave me the tools to pursue and seize opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felipe and Asiskovichs success stories reflect a broader trend at Shidler. Data from the 20222024 period shows that 91% of recent business administration graduates secured jobs within three months of graduation, with 89% landing roles in their desired industries. The college also facilitates over 400 student internships annually. These outcomes show our commitment to not just educating students, but preparing them to be leaders in their fields, said Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley. By combining rigorous academics with hands-on experience and professional development, we continue to help our graduates thrive in Hawaiis business community and beyond. Maxen Donate, a 2024 graduate with a degree in management information systems and marketing, is an associate IT analyst at Hawaiian Airlines. He attributes his career success to the solid foundation provided by Shidlers challenging curriculum. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shidler College of Business set me up for success through its emphasis on networking, real-world applications, and a supportive community, Donate said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. GRAVESEND, Brooklyn (PIX11) Hes brazenly broken into and stolen from stores in New York City every four or five days, on average, for the last three weeks. Now, police are getting the word out about a serial burglar and are trying to get him under arrest as soon as possible. One of the many victims of the mans crimes said that while shes confident that police will get their man, she said that it cant come soon enough. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Im] devastated, said Lillian Sabbagh, the owner of Baho fashion boutique on East 5th Street, near Avenue U in Brooklyn. Knowing our area here is so safe, she continued, I wouldnt expect this to happen here. Her shop opened just four months ago as an extension of her long-standing flagship store in the Five Towns on Long Island. The burglary at the new store left its owner angry and left a variety of expenses in its wake. Look at all the glass all over the floor, Sabbagh said, while reviewing cellphone video of the aftermath of the crime, which happened at around 5:20 a.m. on New Years Eve. It was one of five different burglaries that police say were carried out by the same man over the last three weeks in south Brooklyn. It was shocking, said the owner of the shop where the burglar was captured on surveillance video. He appeared clearly on camera walking a bright blue bicycle past the front of the shop. He is then seen walking around the corner from the boutique. When he returns about a minute later, hes holding what appears to be a heavy metal fire hydrant cap, which he uses to shatter the shops front door glass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He apparently did the same thing at a pharmacy on Avenue X between West Street and East 1st Street last week. Detectives say that the same man made a similar break-in and burglary at a liquor store on Avenue U between East 7th and East 8th streets three weeks ago. In between, investigators suspect, he burglarized a beauty and nail salon on East 8th Street, near Avenue U, and also broke into a business on Brighton Beach Avenue near Brighton 5th Street. Most of the break-in locations were within a few blocks of one another, in south Brooklyn. In nearly all of the cases, including at Baho Boutique, the man stole items and money, according to the NYPD. It encourages people to come forward to help investigations. This serial burglary case is no exception, but this time, the call to action also comes from someone directly affected by the burglars misdeeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anybody has any information, said Lillian Sabbagh, the boutique owner, notify the police, so he can be caught. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Two written notes threatening a shooting at a public charter school in Richfield sparked a police response this week. Carolyn Farrell, interim executive director of Seven Hills Preparatory Academy in Richfield, emailed parents to say the written threat was originally found inside a boys' middle school restroom on Tuesday around noon. The Richfield Police Department was notified, and the school's cameras were reviewed to see who was coming and going from the fifth floor, where the restroom is located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students were asked to complete a writing sample and some lockers were searched. Extra staff were added to hallways and common areas and parents and guardians were notified about the incident that day. According to the school, students were interviewed throughout Wednesday and Thursday before a student found an additional threat made Thursday morning on a Post-It note that referenced "a school shooting of Seven Hills," Farrell said. Police were notified again and arrived on campus at about 10:40 a.m. Thursday. The school was placed on a hold, but remained open. Handwriting samples were continuing to be reviewed and further interviews with students were conducted, while police carried out extra patrols on the premises. Seven Hills Preparatory Academy in Richfield.Google Streetview Farrell wrote the next steps for Friday include a search of all middle school lockers before students arrive, and additional staff and patrols will be on campus for the day. The school isn't in a modified lockdown on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We understand this is a situation that conjures many negative thoughts and emotions for students, staff, and families and do not seek to minimize the threatening statements," Farrell wrote. "At our School Board meeting tonight, the Administrative Team worked with the Board of Directors to agree upon the next part of our response. There was serious discussion and a unified decision to keep school open, listen to feedback from our community, and determine next steps to keep students and staff safe," the email read. Parents are asked to check their child's backpack before they leave for school and have a conversation with them about what they know regarding the ongoing situation. Bring Me The News reached out to the Richfield Police Department to follow up on any updates as of Friday and have not yet heard back. CHEYENNE Employees of Sierra Hills Assisted Living concluded their strike on Jan. 2, and on Tuesday, the union met with Edgewood Healthcare, which owns Sierra Hills, for another contract bargaining session. While there is still no tentative agreement reached between the parties, both have expressed a desire to find common ground. Following claims made by the United Steelworkers Union, which represents Sierra Hills employees, and the employees themselves about Edgewood and Sierra Hills, Edgewood Healthcare President Robert Ford reached out to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle to address those issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I respect everyones right to unionize and advocate for themselves. Thats not the problem, he said. My issue was the inaccuracies that were brought forward. Throughout the strike, employees said they were fighting for a better contract primarily for the health and safety of the residents and the employees, claiming the existing working conditions are unsafe. While Ford said he believes the employees may have the best interest of the residents in their hearts, the topic of wage increases has been much more important to them in the negotiations than the union has been letting on. According to documents Ford presented to the WTE, the unions initial contract was asking for a 52% to 64% wage increase for certified nursing assistants. Additionally, the union is requesting increased staffing. The same document showed a proposed additional 40 hours of staffing per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between the wage and staffing increase requests, Ford said this would cost Edgewood an additional $500,000 to $600,000 per year to meet the unions demands. He said that although Sierra Hills has been operating at a loss for the past four years, Edgewood has still been able to increase pay and benefits for its employees. A report from Alan Silletto, Edgewoods chief financial officer, shows that wages for frontline workers at Sierra Hills, which includes CNAs, CMAs, cooks, dining assistants and housekeepers, have increased 36.6% over the past four years. Ford also said that Edgewood has increased benefits for employees by paying 81% of the premium on health insurance, up from 70%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but simply cannot agree to some of the highly unrealistic demands brought forth by the United Steelworkers Union, Ford told the WTE in a statement. William Wilkinson, a staff representative for the United Steelworkers Union, said that the union hasnt even been able to begin negotiations about wages with Edgewood because the employees are first trying to negotiate for safer working conditions for the employees and the residents. We have a proposal for a wage increase, but they (Edgewood) havent commented on it. They refuse to bargain on that, Wilkinson said. Sierra Hills CNA Jennifer Handelman, who has been there for around 14 years, is one of the staff union representatives. She said that asking for this kind of wage increase is a tactic for better negotiations, but the top priority of the union remains the safety of the residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safe staffing and remaining in the scope of practice of a Level 1 facility are our chief things and, of course, to achieve stable staffing, youre gonna have to pay them, she said. Because Sierra Hills is an assisted-living facility and not a skilled nursing facility, employees are not allowed to use machinery like mechanical lifts to more easily move residents. Sierra Hills CNA Taylor Ewig previously told the WTE that it is dangerous and difficult for both residents and staff when CNAs must physically lift patients without the assistance of any equipment. Wilkinson said the primary concern of the employees is safety issues that result from employees performing out-of-scope duties. We understand that if someone needs care thats out of scope right now, and, you know, something comes up, were going to provide that care to the best of our ability. But to do it knowingly on a regular basis without the proper training is a problem for us, Wilkinson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Sierra Hills staff, these issues began when Edgewood introduced hospice care at Sierra Hills a few years ago, shortly after the pandemic. There are hospice nurses who are at the facility a couple of hours per week to care for the residents, but the rest of the time, the burden of care often falls to the CNAs and RNs on the clock. In situations where timely care is needed, employees have said it can be difficult to get the help of a hospice nurse in time. In an April report from the Wyoming Department of Health, a CNA at Sierra Hills, whose name was not listed, stated it was difficult to get hospice to respond on the weekends, saying that there was an 80% chance hospice would answer a phone call and a 50% chance a hospice nurse would come to the facility. I think this (became a problem) when we had about 13 people here on hospice, and that just created a lot of care (duties) for (staff), Ford said. Currently, there are only three residents on hospice care. I think that created a reaction, but as far as following regulation, weve got the surveys to prove it, we follow that. We dont want anyone to be unsafe employees, residents but we also have to honor that hospice is a benefit people pay into their whole life ... you have a right to receive hospice where you want to receive it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford also addressed several reports about rumors of asbestos, black mold and bedbugs at the Sierra Hills facility. He presented several documents from the Wyoming Department of Health and OSHA stating that all the concerns have been adequately addressed. He added that the reports of asbestos came when Edgewood was installing a walk-in cooler at Sierra Hills. We were repairing the roof above it, and somebody along the way, over the years, had used a slab of tar to make a patch that might have had asbestos in it. We had it removed, called the state, had it tested, nothing was found, Ford said. Ford also took issue with a previous article where an employee said Edgewood refuses to accommodate employees schedules for bargaining meetings, sometimes only meeting for 15 minutes. He said this is false, and they have met approximately 15 times since the union formed in February 2024, and the meetings last for five to six hours, on average. Additionally, employees have previously told the WTE that they would like to see Edgewood provide them with more personal protective equipment. Ford said he is not sure where that complaint comes from, as there is ample PPE available to the staff on site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe that we got them to agree to provide the PPE, Wilkinson said. We requested booties and safety syringes, but the No. 1 thing is performing work thats out of scope of the facility. At a demonstration outside the facility during the strike, Ewig told the WTE that inside was complete chaos and that the staff were operating with a skeleton crew. Ford said that was not the case. Ive got several employees that have reported it was probably the most peaceful 10 days theyve experienced since (the union formed in) February, he said. Ford said they still had more than enough staff to meet the demands of the residents during the strike, which began Dec. 24 and concluded Jan. 2. He provided documents which showed only 7% of the employees were contracted labor during the strike, people like traveling nurses or traveling CNAs, and the other 93% was staffed by Edgewood employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said some employees even drove hundreds of miles to help fill the reduced staff as a result of the strike. Really, thats just the kind of culture we have, Ford said. Those employees who continued to work during the strike received cash bonuses: $75 for each scheduled shift and $125 for each unscheduled shift an employee picked up. Those participating in the strike did not receive a bonus and reported that they were denied requests for paid time off during the strike. Wilkinson said he believes the bonuses offered to not strike and the refusal to allow paid time off (PTO) during the strike are both illegal actions by Edgewood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as we announced the strike, you cant go around bribing people to break the line. Thats just the rule, Handelman said. As soon as we did, they went right behind us. You cant have your very own PTO? You certainly earned it. But they denied that, too. Ford made it clear that employees were not given bonuses if they chose not to participate in the strike, but rather simply if they chose to attend their scheduled shifts. However, the union presented the WTE with seven testimonials from employees who said it was presented to them as though they would receive the bonus if they chose to not participate in the strike. One testimony read, the Assistant Executive Director approached me, explaining that the company had refused everyones PTO from the end of November through December because ... the union gave Edgewood rules for the strike so the company gave us rules that no one is allowed to use their PTO or buy out time if they are striking. Edgewood is also refusing to give the employees who striked (sic) any holiday pay and taking PTO that was put in during December. Ford said that the union also wants to update things like the companys PTO and disciplinary policies. However, Ford says they have always been in place, and they have always worked well. Its hard to want to just change all the policies that are solid, good policies. So, hopefully theres some middle ground that we can find, but that remains to be seen. Ford and Wilkinson both said they hope to reach an agreement and conclude negotiations. However, neither said they see an end in sight in the foreseeable future. The good news is the folks that are striking, theyre good people and they theyre doing things in their mind for the right reason, Ford said. I think theres just a difference in philosophy and math and stats and a whole lot of things in between that that dont make sense. But you know, theyre loved by our residents, and they love our residents, and that part, I guess, at the end of the day, makes me feel OK that (the negotiations are) taking a long time, and it might take longer. But at the end of the day, people are still being well taken care of. The critically acclaimed true story Sing Sing will now have a political presence, thanks to a special screening at the New York State Legislature. IndieWire can announce that the Gotham Award-winning feature starring Colman Domingo will screen at the New York State Legislature at an event organized by assembly members Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Dana Levenberg, and Zohran Mamdani, State Senator Julia Salazar, non-profit Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), and studio A24. More from IndieWire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event will take place Monday, January 13. After the screening, formerly incarcerated actors Clarence Maclin, Sean Dino Johnson, Jon-Adrian JJ Velasquez, and John Divine G Whitfield (whom Domingo portrays in the feature) will participate in a Q&A. Velasquez was recently exonerated after a wrongful murder conviction was overturned following his 24 years behind bars. Maclin won the Gotham Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance, with Domingo also winning for Outstanding Lead Performance. Sing Sing is directed by Greg Kwedar, and centers on Sing Sing incarcerated person Divine G (Domingo), who is imprisoned for a crime he didnt commit. Divine G rediscovers his will to live by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including a wary newcomer (Maclin). Sing Sing premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and later won the Audience Award at SXSW. It opened in theaters in July 2024. The feature will be re-released in theaters nationwide starting January 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York State Legislature screening with Rehabilitation Through the Arts highlights the central message of the film about the potential of rehabilitation and artistic expression as tools for change inside the prison system. The lawmakers who organized the event are pushing for increase of the availability of programs such as Rehabilitation Through the Arts, as well as policies like Treatment Not Jail which would provide alternatives to incarceration. The Sing Sing screening on January 13 is occurring one month after the brutal lynching of Robert Brooks by the staff at Marcy Correctional Facility. The event and panel, according to A24, is an opportunity to highlight the sponsors commitment to reducing the number of people held in the New York prison system, ending staff violence against incarcerated individuals, and holding the system accountable for human rights violations against incarcerated people. Sing Sing isnt the only Oscar frontrunner about incarceration to have a special screening: Smriti Mundhras MTV Documentary Films Oscars Shortlist contender I Am Ready, Warden will screen for free at more than 250 U.S. law schools from January 11 to January 18. The short film tells the story of John Henry Ramirez, a man convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Texas. The documentary captures Ramirezs days on death row. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The votes are in, and the Sioux City Public Library has announced its community book for 2025. In a release Thursday, the library revealed that its 2025 Sioux City Reads book will be Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the Worlds Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson. A month-long series of programs, discussions, and events based around the book and its themes will follow. Norfolk receives $15K from Kansas City Royals to improve ballpark Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unmask Alice tells the true story of the author behind two supposedly real diaries by troubled teenagers. In reality, they were fictional novels by a con artist who betrayed a grieving family, stole a dead boys memory, and lied her way to the National Book Awards, the release says. Sioux City residents selected Unmask Alice out of three true crime books by voting online. In addition to the standard community activities, the Sioux City Public Library is also holding a poetry contest this year. Prospective poets are encouraged to write a piece inspired by Unmask Alice. Poems should be no longer than one page. Submissions will be accepted through March 14 in-person. You can submit your own poem by visiting any library location or by clicking here. The winner will be announced on March 27, with the winner getting a $25 gift card to Book People. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Originally appeared on E! Online A new update has emerged in the Slender Man case, over a decade after the terrifying ordeal. Nearly 11 years ago, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured friend Payton Leutner into the woods where Geyser repeatedly stabbed her in an attempt to please the fictional character Slender Mansaying they feared he would harm their families if they didn't. On Jan. 9, a Wisconsin judge ruled the now 22-year-old Geyser is well enough to be released from a psychiatric hospital, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geyserwho pleaded guilty in October 2017 to the May 2014 attempted homicidehas spent almost seven years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute and will now be moved to a group home, where they will continue to monitor her mental health. NBC News added that three medical experts testified on Jan. 9 that she has made considerable progress, explaining to Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren that she does not pose a risk outside the hospital. More from E! Online "There's nothing to suggest that she is a danger to herself or others," Dr. Kenneth Robbins, a psychiatrist treating Geyser, said per NBC News. "And I think there's very little at this point that Winnebago can do for her, and that's what they would say as well. I think it's in her interest and in everybody's interest to try to help her now become the person she can become." AP Photo/Morry Gash He continued, "I think that there is the risk that over time, if she is limited by the things that Winnebago can offer her, I could imagine her becoming hopeless at some point and potentially becoming a danger to herself. So yes, perhaps ironically, I think she would be safer outside of Winnebago." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forensic psychologist Deborah Collins agreed with Dr. Robbins, saying that her "compliance in the institution is remarkable" and adding, "Certainly for Ms. Geyser, the longer she's there at this point, I think the more challenging it's going to be to reintegrate." E! News has reached out to Geyser's lawyer for comment, but has not heard back. Geyser and Weier made headlines in 2014 for their attack on Leutner in which Geyser stabbed her friend since fourth grade 19 times with a kitchen knife while Weier cheered her on. Remarkably, Leutner survived the attack and crawled her way to the side of the road where a passing bicyclist saw her and called 911. AP Photo/Morry Gash While Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide, Weier pleaded guilty in August 2017 to attempted second-degree homicide due to mental illness or defect, and was sentenced to at least three years and up to 25 years in a mental health facility. The now 23-year-old was also sent to the psychiatric center, but was granted release in 2021 to live with her father and ordered to wear a GPS monitor, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Leutner, she has attempted to maintain a low profile since her attack, first speaking out publicly about it in a 2019 interview with 20/20. At the time, she shared that she slept with a pair of broken scissors under her pillow "just in case." But she noted that she was strangely grateful for the ordeal, saying that if she ever spoke to Geyser again she would "probably, initially thank her." "Just because of what she did, I have the life I have now," Leutner explained. "I really, really like it and I have a plan. I didn't have a plan when I was 12, and now, I do because of everything that I went through. I wouldn't think that someone who went through what I did would ever say that, but that's truly how I feel. Without the whole situation, I wouldn't be who I am." (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Morgan Geyser, who at the age of 12 stabbed her classmate to impress the mythical internet figure "Slender Man," will be released from a psychiatric hospital after her latest bid for release. A Wisconsin judge ordered the release of the 22-year-old on Thursday, Jan. 9, following expert testimony claiming that she had made noticeable progress during her time at the Oshkosh, Wis., psychiatric facility, the Associated Press reported. Geyser pleaded guilty in October 2017 to the attempted homicide of her classmate Payton Leutner in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geyser, along with her co-defendant Anissa Weier, lured Leutner into the woods during a sleepover in 2014 to play hide-and-seek. Geyser then stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier cheered her on. All three were 12 at the time. Leutner survived the attack and was rescued by a passerby after she crawled her way into a nearby bike path. ABC News/Youtube Payton Leutner Payton Leutner Related: HBO Documentary Beware the Slenderman, on Two Girls who Stabbed Their Friend Now, 11 years since the attack, Geyser is no longer considered a safety risk after her treatment at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she was housed following her conviction, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren said, per AP. AP Photo/Morry Gash Morgan Geyser in court on Jan. 9, 2025 Morgan Geyser in court on Jan. 9, 2025 He also ordered Wisconsins Department of Health Services to house her in a group home and supervise her for 60 days for the judges consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes done what shes supposed to do, Bohren said, per CNN. She appears to have a good attitude." Waukesha Police Department (2) Morgan Geyser (left); and Anissa Weier in 2014 Morgan Geyser (left); and Anissa Weier in 2014 Geysers release comes after several attempts over the years by her lawyers to grant a release. Her previous petition, in April, was denied. Thursday's order came following testimony from three psychologists who vouched for Geyer's improvement over the years, per AP. Dr. Brooke Lundbohm told the judge that Geyser stopped taking anti-depressants nearly two years ago and has not suffered any symptoms since. Dr. Deborah Collins testified that Geyser was doing better with her coping skills and has said that she can't forgive herself for attacking Leutner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Ken Robbins said keeping Geyser inside the facility would put her at risk for becoming dangerous. The longer shes there, at this point, the harder its going to be to re-integrate, he said, according to AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Weier was released in 2021 after being housed for nearly four years at the same facility as Geyser. "If I am to become a productive member of society, I need to be a part of society." Weier wrote in a letter, which was obtained by WDJT-TV. Read the original article on People Morgan Geyser appears in a Waukesha County courtroom Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Waukesha, Wis. - Credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash Morgan Geyser, who nearly stabbed her classmate Payton Leutner to death when she was 12, will be released from Winnebago Mental Health Institute after seven years. The Wisconsin resident, now 22 years old, was sentenced to 40 years in a mental institution in 2018 after pleading guilty to attempted murder for the 2014 attack she carried out with friend Anissa Weier. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ordered Geysers release from the psychiatric hospital on Thursday, Jan. 9. He acknowledged the incident, in which Leutner was stabbed 19 times, as being a brutal, terrible offense. Geyser and Weier, who was released in 2021, previously told investigators that they feared the online meme figure Slender Man would harm their family members if they didnt attack Leutner. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes done what shes supposed to do, Bohren stated, echoing the testimony of three experts who stated that Geyser has made progress in addressing mental illness. She appears to have a good attitude. Within 60 days, she will be placed in a group home and supervised in her release. The conditions of release will be determined by Wisconsins Department of Health Services. The judge found that Geyser is no longer a safety risk, which reverses the ruling made when her release was initially denied in April 2024. Geyser petitioned for release once again in October 2024. Her first two requests, issued in 2022, were denied on the grounds that she might harm herself or others. Geysers allegedly attempted to hang herself in Oct. 2021 and decided to stop taking antipsychotic medications in 2022. Last January, a doctor stated that Geyser had improved quite dramatically and the psychiatric institution could no longer provide the care she needed as far as help with socialization, help with education, and help with becoming independent were concerned. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) A Slidell man has been sentenced in a 2023 home invasion investigation. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Office of District Attorney Collin Sims reported that 40-year-old Stuart Pratt was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and home invasion. On Sept. 5, 2023, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office reported that deputies responded to a call of a shooting at a home on Rue De La Paix, where they found a man who had been fatally shot on the kitchen floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Houma man faces additional charges in child sex crimes case According to deputies, the man, identified as Walter Lee, had reportedly entered the home while the homes occupants were lounging near a hot tub outside. Court documents state a guest went inside the house to grab something when they encountered Lee, who was allegedly masked and armed. Lee and the guest then reportedly got into a fight, causing the homeowner to come inside. The homeowner was reportedly shot in the back by Lee during the confrontation. The guest was then able to grab the gun after a struggle and fatally shoot Lee. Court documents state an investigation revealed that four other people, identified as Pratt, Latoya Powell, Tamaya Powell and Tamarion Powell, were involved with the home invasion. Stuart Pratt (Courtesy: Office of District Attorney Collin Sims) Investigators said that Pratt, Lee and Tamarion Powell went into the house while Latoya Powell and Tamaya Powell waited outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the district attorneys office, Pratt and Tamarion Powell were stealing items from the home while Lee stood guard. When Lee and the guest got into the fight, all four others ran from the scene. Court documents state that Pratt allegedly drove to his former girlfriends home, forced the front door open and ran into her bedroom before running from the scene after she called 911. Woman accused of driving through St. Augustines band practice arrested Detectives said surveillance video showed Pratt ripping his former girlfriends doorbell camera down and stomping on it. Latoya Powell, Tamaya Powell and Tamarion Powell all pled guilty to their charges related to the case in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Pratt was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary charge and 30 years for the manslaughter, aggravated burglary and home invasion charges. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A Smith County father and grandmother are behind bars after the alleged abuse of a three-month old baby. The Smith County Sherriffs Office said that at around 6 p.m. Wednesday night, a deputy responded to a hospital in Tyler regarding a possible child abuse. Once the deputy was on scene, he was informed by hospital personnel that a three-month old baby had received significant injuries that looked like child abuse. POLICE: Kilgore man captured after chase with pregnant fiance, baby in car Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, the infant was undergoing CT scans and X-rays. The attending nurse informed the deputy that the baby was lethargic, weak and had bruises on their face and neck. An investigator then spoke with the babys mother, who reportedly told officials that her baby had just returned home after spending several days with his father, Zachray McGinn, at a home located in the 8900 block of County Road 2192 near Whitehouse. According to officials, the mother explained that she had been in contact with McGinn and his mother, Brittany Mackey, on Facebook messenger while her child was away. Mugshot of Zachray McGinn, courtesy of Smith County Sheriffs Office Mugshot of Brittany Mackey, courtesy of Smith County Sheriffs Office The mother further explained that on Jan. 8 both McGinn and Mackey dropped off the infant at her residence, the sheriffs office said. It was at this time that the mother observed the lethargic manner of her child and the bruising to his face. Shortly thereafter, the mother took the infant to the emergency room in Tyler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He keeps me awake at night: Family seeks justice in child sex crime against former Mineola pastor The investigator spoke with the attending ER physician who explained that the infant had a broken right clavicle, and the babys right arm had to be splinted to his chest to heal. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home near Whitehouse where they arrested McGinn and Mackey. Both were booked and transported to the Smith County Jail and are being held on a $250,000 bond for injury to a child. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Several people in Luzerne County are without money for food for the month, after they say their EBT accounts were drained. And while they were issued new cards, they were not reimbursed for the lost benefits. People we spoke with say they woke up Thursday morning to their EBT accounts empty of SNAP benefits. This means that money they would have used for food for their families, is gone until February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state says they are aware of the issue, but a change in the law makes it impossible for people to get stolen benefits refunded. My food stamps went in at midnight. By 5:19 a.m., they were taken. All of it but one cent, and when I went down to the welfare office, they told me basically that we have to eat it. Theres nothing they can do for any of us, explained Amanda Evans of Wilkes-Barre. Evans, a working mom of five, describes her feelings after her benefits were taken from her account under a transaction name from a store in California. The cost of groceries is just astronomical to have to try to figure out how youre gonna get groceries now with what you were getting with food stamps and now you dont have that option, stated Evans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans says she was issued a new card, but the benefits wont be restored until next month. Another woman we spoke with over the phone says her elderly mothers EBT card was also compromised. She relies on this to go get her food for the month. This is terrible, said Lisa Vanderhoff of Wilkes-Barre. Vanderhoffs mothers account shows a transaction with the name of the same California-based store. She was also offered a new card, but no benefits. We reached out to the Department of Human Services who oversees SNAP EBT programs. They issued the following response: The Department of Human Services (DHS) is aware of skimming incidents targeting snap recipients nationwide, where snap benefits are stolen off EBT cards by skimming at a point-of-sale machine. DHS has already implemented enhanced EBT card pin security to help ensure the benefits DHS administers stay with the Pennsylvanians who need them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, due to the end of congressional authorization, benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, cannot be reissued. If an individuals benefits are stolen electronically, they should request a replacement EBT card as soon as possible from DHS EBT contractor, Conduent, at 888-328-7366, or by visiting a DHS county assistance office. Individuals are encouraged to report any SNAP theft to local law enforcement. 28/22 News has received multiple calls today of people from Luzerne County reporting that their benefits were stolen. We also reached out to the Office of the Inspector State General who investigates public assistance fraud in Luzerne County, but they said they cannot comment on the status or existence of active investigations or details about tips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. HIGH POINT The High Point area could get 2 to 3 inches of snow from Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning as a fast-moving winter storm rushes through the state. The snowfall is expected to arrive from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday and end from 4 to 5 a.m. Saturday, said Andrew Kren, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. We are expecting about 15 or so hours of precipitation, Kren told The High Point Enterprise on Thursday afternoon. Its a pretty fast-moving storm from southwest to northeast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The High Point area is expected to receive primarily snow, though Kren said the final couple of hours could bring sleet and freezing rain before the storm system tracks out of the area. Guilford County Schools will switch to remote learning Friday. Plans for classes on Monday will be formalized over the weekend. Meals on Friday will be available to school-age children from 10 to 11 a.m. in High Point at the Sylvia Mendez Newcomers School next to High Point Central High School, Union Hill Elementary, Jamestown Elementary, Ragsdale High and Andrews High. Meals will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and must be eaten on-site Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because temperatures have been so cold this week, the snow that falls should begin sticking to surfaces immediately. Kren said that the frigid temperatures could make driving treacherous sooner rather than later as the storm arrives. There could be some black ice, he said. N.C. Department of Transportation officials urged motorists to heed caution on roadways and avoid travel if possible. Travel could be treacherous across much of the state through the weekend, said state Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins. We encourage non-essential travel to be limited to allow crews time to safely clear roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of High Point began brining roadways on Wednesday to spur melting of snow and ice, said Public Services Department Director Robby Stone. The focus is on primary routes such as Main Street, Westchester and Eastchester drives, Fairfield Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Stone said that city crews are prepared to plow major streets if necessary. The city has adequate supplies to respond to the storm, Stone said. The Public Services Department maintains a stockpile of 800 tons of deicing salt along with a capacity of 33,100 gallons of salt brine. The DOT reports that it has nearly 2,000 trucks that can be equipped with plows and spreaders to remove snow and ice. The DOT can store up to 9,577 tons of salt and sand and 1.9 million gallons of brine at its facilities across North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If High Point gets measurable snowfall Friday, it would be the second time in nearly three years that the city recorded snow. On Dec. 3 the city got half an inch of snow. Before Dec. 3, the last measurable snowfall in High Point was nearly 2 inches on Jan. 29, 2022. The city went two entire winter seasons without measurable snowfall. (Bloomberg) -- The support rate for South Koreas main opposition that has been leading the impeachment campaign against President Yoon Suk Yeol dived, as investigators struggle to arrest the embattled leader. Most Read from Bloomberg The approval rate for the opposition Democratic Party fell to 36% in a poll released Friday by Gallup Korea, down 12 percentage points from the previous survey released in December. The support rate for Yoons People Power Party rose to 34% from 24% during the same period, rising above the level of support reported days before Yoons martial law decree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest poll was conducted among 1,004 respondents across the country and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, Gallup Korea said. The drop in support for the opposition follows its impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who briefly took on the role of acting president, and investigators failure to arrest Yoon last week after an hourslong standoff with his security team. These events appear to have heightened a sense of crisis among the ruling party supporters over a power transition while dampening expectations by moderates and liberals that had been supporting the main opposition party, Gallup Korea said in the report. The number of respondents who favor opposition leader Lee Jae-myung as the next president also fell to 32% from 37% in the previous survey conducted days after Yoons Dec. 14 impeachment. The latest survey showed 64% respondents are in favor of Yoons impeachment, compared to 32% against the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials is mulling how to bring Yoon into custody, a week after they gave up on their first try to haul him in for questioning over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Yoon has remained defiant against efforts to detain him for a criminal investigation, arguing that it was within his constitutional rights. Police on Friday called in Yoons security chief, Park Chong-jun, who has led the operation to block the probe teams arrest warrant execution over alleged obstruction of duties. Its not immediately clear if police will try to arrest Park, which will likely raise the chance of Yoons arrest. Yoons representatives say the arrest warrant is invalid and illegal, because the CIO has no legal authority to investigate insurrection charges. The office arbitrarily chose a court in a different district to improve its chances of obtaining the warrant, they said. Separate to the criminal investigation efforts, the Constitutional Court is set to begin a trial on Jan. 14 to decide whether to ultimately oust Yoon, a process that could take up to six months. If the impeachment is upheld, South Korea must hold an election within 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas acting leader on Friday accepted the resignation of the chief of the presidential security service, Park Jong-joon, as he faced police questioning over how his forces blocked law enforcement efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol last week. The acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, also expressed regret over the clashes between law enforcement officials and the presidential security service and called for lawmakers to reach a bipartisan agreement to launch an independent investigation. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and police are planning a second attempt to bring Yoon into custody as they jointly investigate whether his brief martial law declaration on Dec. 3 amounted to an attempted rebellion. The presidential security service blocked an earlier attempt to detain Yoon at his official residence, which he has not left for weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt immediately clear how Parks resignation and Chois call for an independent investigation to take over the probe on Yoon would affect the push to bring Yoon into custody. The government has been deliberating to find a wise solution, but unfortunately, within our current legal framework, its difficult to find a clear resolution to end the conflict between the two agencies, Choi said about the tensions between the anti-corruption office and presidential security service over Yoons potential detention. We urge the ruling and opposition parties to work together to agree on a bill to launch a special prosecutor investigation that is free from constitutional issues. This will naturally resolve the ongoing intense standoff. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party accused Choi of legitimizing Yoons refusal to comply with a court-issued warrant under the guise of neutrality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It amounts to a public declaration of support for the leader of a rebellion, said Noh Jong-myun, a party lawmaker and spokesperson. The Democrats and other opposition parties on Thursday introduced a bill calling for an independent investigation into allegations of rebellion against Yoon. An earlier bill by the opposition proposing an independent investigation was scrapped after members of Yoons conservative party opposed a clause allowing only opposition parties to recommend special prosecutor candidates. The conservatives also aren't endorsing the new bill, which proposes that the Supreme Courts chief justice recommend two candidates to Yoon, who would then select one as the special prosecutor. If Yoon refuses to appoint anyone, the older of the two candidates would automatically assume the role, according to the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park ignored two summonses before appearing for questioning on Friday over allegations of obstructing justice, a week after his forces repelled dozens of anti-corruption and police investigators from Yoons official residence. Park said his duty is to protect the president and warned of bloodshed, as critics said that his agency is becoming Yoons private army. The embattled president remains holed up at his official residence in Seoul, where the presidential security service has fortified the grounds with barbed wire and rows of vehicles blocking the roads. Yoon made a short-lived declaration of martial law and deployed troops to surround the National Assembly on Dec. 3, which lasted only hours before lawmakers managed to get through the blockade and voted to lift the measure. His presidential powers were suspended when the opposition-dominated Assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14 and accused him of rebellion. His fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberating on whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reject the charges and reinstate him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Seoul court on Tuesday issued a new warrant to the anti-corruption agency to detain Yoon after the previous one-week warrant expired. The agency and police have not publicly disclosed how long the new warrant will remain valid. Speaking to reporters upon arriving for police questioning, Park again criticized the efforts to detain Yoon, saying that the investigation should proceed in a manner appropriate for the status of an incumbent president and the dignity of the nation. Many citizens are surely deeply concerned about the possible conflict and confrontation between government agencies, Park said. I came here today with the belief that under no circumstances should there be any physical clashes or bloodshed, and am hoping to prevent such incidents from occurring. Park said he made several calls to Choi, urging him to mediate an alternative approach with law enforcement and also made similar requests to Yoons lawyers, but did not receive a satisfactory response. The anti-corruption agency had also criticized Choi for refusing to instruct the presidential security service to cooperate with its execution of the detainment warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 13 hours of questioning, Park reappeared but refused to answer reporters questions about why he had offered his resignation to Choi, before departing in a vehicle. While the presidential security act mandates protection for Yoon, it does not authorize the service to block court-ordered detainments and some legal experts say the presidential security services action last week may have been illegal. Asked in parliament about the presidential security services effort to block the detention, National Court Administration head Cheon Dae-yeop said Friday that resistance without a legitimate reason can constitute a crime, such as obstruction of official duties. Although the president himself has wide-ranging immunity from prosecution while in office, that does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yoons lawyers have questioned the legitimacy of the new detention warrant against Yoon issued by the Seoul Western District Court, arguing that the anti-corruption agency lacks legal authority to investigate rebellion charges or order police to detain suspects. They also argue that detention and search warrants against Yoon cannot be enforced at his residence, citing a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge which would be Yoon. Yoons lawyers have urged the agency to either indict the president or seek a formal arrest warrant, a process that requires a court hearing. However, they have said that Yoon would only comply with an arrest warrant issued by the Seoul Central District Court, which handles most key requests in high-profile cases. They accuse the agency of deliberately choosing another court with an allegedly favorable judge, even though the official residence is located in the jurisdiction of the Western District Court. There are concerns in Seoul that the political paralysis created by Yoons martial law decree and impeachment could put the country at a disadvantage in getting a steady footing with Donald Trump ahead of his return to the White House. Yoons office on Friday confirmed a media report that he met shortly after his impeachment on Dec. 14 with Matt Schlapp, the head of the American Conservative Union and a Trump ally, for talks on the political situation in South Korea. Waking up in Los Angeles this morning was nothing short of devastating. Five major fires spanning nearly 14,000 acres have engulfed California's most populous city, marking the most destructive wildfires the area has ever seen. The latest numbers show five people have been killed and nearly 180,000 are under evacuation orders. A Sheriff from the area tells CNN that some of the structures, houses, and areas look like a bomb was dropped in them. In addition to the devastation of homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods, there are worries about the health effects of smoke on residents of the city and beyond. According to AirNow, which reports the U.S. Air Quality Index, regions in the impact zone are facing unhealthy air quality, and people are advised to take precautions. As Angelenos start their Wednesday morning, there will be notable impacts to air quality with winds pushing smoke across the Los Angeles area. Please limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and wearing a properly fit mask. https://t.co/KG6UMYNoZb pic.twitter.com/UyuTEyBuXT Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 8, 2025 Wildfire smoke is toxic Wildfire smoke is a concoction of gases like carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants, water vapor, and particle pollution, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Particle pollution, a type of air pollution that consists of small solid particles and liquid, arises from natural events like wildfires and volcanic eruptions, and human contributions like the burning of fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This pollutant represents a main component of wildfire smoke and the principal public health threat, the agency states. Today, the U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra gave a dire warning about the potential health impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires, cautioning that the "air thats being spewed is no longer just the kind of smoke that we used to see from wildfires, where it was natural vegetation that was burning, he said. "It's just a toxic soup," Lisa Miller, a wildfire smoke expert at the University of California, Davis told NPR. "Think of all the synthetic fibers that are present in your living roomin your couch, in your carpet, in your clothes. All those things can be particularly toxic," she said. Additionally, electronics, vehicles, plastics, and common household products are going up in smoke. Now you got a whole bunch of toxic materials that are getting burned and put into the air, Becerra said. How does wildfire smoke affect health? Wildfire smoke can have a range of short-term and long-term health effects, depending on the severity and duration of exposure, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toxins in wildfire smoke can cause coughing, itchy eyes, and trouble breathing. It can also cause inflammation of the lungs, raising the risk of bronchitis, and exacerbating asthma symptoms. The smoke can affect respiratory function, cardiovascular health, and lung capacity. Some people, whether due to being at higher risk for certain health conditions or because of more exposure to the smoke, can develop heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. The National Institutes of Health has also associated longer-term exposure to wildfire smoke with a greater risk for developing dementia. People with respiratory conditions and heart health issues are at higher risk of these complications, as are older adults and children. More research is needed to understand the full scope of wildfire smoke's longer-term health impacts. How to protect yourself Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel, or how winds will impact air quality, is difficult, so it's important for everyone to stay aware of the air quality in your area, make plans, and take action to protect your health and your family's health," said Dr. Muntu Davis, the health officer for Los Angeles County, in a written statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To protect yourself in an area facing poor air quality, local authorities recommend staying indoors, keeping windows and doors sealed, using air conditioners to circulate air indoors (not ones that bring air in from outside), and wearing a N95 or P100 mask when outside. If youre feeling any severe symptoms related to poor air quality, seek medical help. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com (FOX40.COM) Even further repairs are needed to Sacramentos Southside Park Pool than previously believed, but the city said it still hopes to open the pool this summer. A city spokesperson told FOX40.com that in addition to replacing the fiberglass lining, the original cause of the pools closure, and the return line, which was found to be in poor condition during the lining replacement, the project team has identified additional and proactive repairs. Video Above: Repairs being made on Southside Pool The repair plan now includes the replacement of the perimeter drain and return lines around the entire pool, where the city said it was previously believed only one side of the pool would need to be repaired. The pools backwash system will also be upgraded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Replacing the lines will require removing and replacing part of the concrete deck around the pool. Southside Pool repairs (Photo taken January 12, 2025) Southside Pool repairs (Photo taken January 12, 2025) Southside Pool repairs (Photo taken January 12, 2025) This is a top priority, and we are all committed to making sure the pool is open this summer, newly elected Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, who represents District 4 where the pool is located, said. Required funding to complete the planned repairs has been secured and we remain committed and on track for a summer opening. The council member noted that Sacramento City Council will need to vote on an adjustment to the existing repairs contract before the expanded project can move forward. The pool has spent three summers closed, initially as a result of an aging fiberglass lining that posed a health risk to swimmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2023, then-Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, now Mayor of Sacramento, provided the city with $500,000 in state funds to repair the lining. After roughly a year of design work and other bureaucratic formalities, the repair work began in June of 2024 and workers discovered that the pools return line, which takes water from the filter back to the pool, had significantly deteriorated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles has said during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the US air base in Ramstein, Germany (also known as the Ramstein format) that her country will soon provide Ukraine with 10 power generators. Source: European Pravda with reference to the Spanish Ministry of Defence Details: Robles reaffirmed Spain's "firm commitment to Ukraine and security in Europe", informing her counterparts of the most relevant details of the new donations and supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Among them, she [Robles] noted the upcoming shipment of 10 power generators, as well as the offer of new training courses for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a new humanitarian aid programme for Ukrainian families that will begin next Sunday, 12 January," the statement said. Robles also thanked US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who participated in these meetings for the last time, emphasising "his leadership, commitment and success in effectively coordinating military support for Ukraine from more than 50 countries". During the day, Robles, who was accompanied by Admiral Juan Francisco Martinez Nunez, Secretary General for Defence Policy, held bilateral meetings with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rustem Umierov said that the next meeting of the Ramstein Group had already been agreed on and should take place in February. Lloyd Austin said that the next administration would decide whether to keep the format, but it is important for Kyiv and its partners. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON It wasnt supposed to be like this. Congressional Republicans were hoping to quickly approve Donald Trumps domestic policy agenda and confirm his Cabinet nominees within days of him taking office, helping to fulfill his many campaign promises and lay the foundation for an ambitious second term. With Trumps inauguration quickly approaching, however, Republicans in the House and Senate are still bickering over how to proceed in crafting legislation for border security, the military, the energy industry and a massive package of tax cuts. In the House, 218 votes are required to pass legislation and the GOP currently has 219 sitting members, making passage of any major budget bill a headache. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, several of Trumps nominees to top administrative positions face uncertain prospects of getting confirmed by the Senate, while others are facing delays that threaten to spoil the president-elects demands for a flurry of confirmations on Day 1 of his presidency. When it comes to lawmaking, the big question for Republicans is whether to pass a quick border and energy bill that would give Trump some early legislative wins or take more time and pass one giant bill that includes tax cuts, which are more complicated and politically trickier. No Republican including Trump himself seems to want to make the call, leading to frustration from some GOP senators who believe the party is wasting time fussing. Im for accomplishing our goal and were not even working on it right now, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told HuffPost. Were just spinning our wheels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about one idea floated by some Republicans of starting to work on one giant legislative package and reverting to splitting it into two pieces if the party members cant agree on it, Cornyn was dismissive, calling it a recipe for failure. President-elect Donald Trump speaks to the press following a meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Trump, for his part, seems bored by the debate, and wants congressional Republicans to figure it out. Whether its one bill or two bills, its going to get done one way or the other, Trump said Wednesday during a visit to the Capitol. I think theres a lot of talk about two and theres a lot of talk about one, but it doesnt matter. The end result is the same. Were going to get something done thats going to be reducing taxes and creating a lot of jobs and all of the other things. In order to unlock the special budget reconciliation process that will allow them to make law without facing a Democratic filibuster in the Senate, Republicans need to pass a budget resolution in both the House and Senate outlining their tax and spending numbers. That means they have to know at the outset whether taxes are part of the package. After both chambers adopt the resolution, then they can get to work on writing the actual legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most outspoken advocate for the one-bill approach has been House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), the overseer of tax policy in the House, where there are several Republicans from Democratic states demanding a higher limit on federal tax deductions for state and local tax payments, also known as the SALT cap a potential major sticking point for a tax bill. Accommodating those members could make the tax bill even more expensive than the trillions of dollars its already expected to cost. We have to find some kind of reasonable cap, because we cannot lose one member in the House of Representatives, Smith said on Fox Business this week. And Ill tell you, theres a whole lot more than one member that cares about the SALT cap. If the tax bill is combined with border security and energy deregulation, it could be harder for those pushing for a higher limit on the SALT cap to hold things up. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the point man on taxes for Senate Republicans, told HuffPost he hasnt taken sides on whether to lump taxes in with everything else. He said he understands arguments for each approach, including the idea of getting wins on the table with a border bill and addressing taxes later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its phenomenally complicated, Crapo said of the tax code. Trump is likely to have some early successes with several of his top Cabinet nominees, who are likely to be confirmed during his first week in office. Those include nominations with bipartisan support like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to lead the State Department, John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Other nominees with less bipartisan support could also be confirmed within days of Trumps swearing-in, including for the posts of attorney general, deputy attorney general and FBI director. But former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumps controversial picks to serve as director of national intelligence and secretary of health and human services, respectively, could be in trouble. Both nominees face skeptical GOP senators who have yet to announce their support for the confirmations. Under pressure from Trump to confirm as many nominees as possible this month, some Republican committee chairs have scheduled confirmation hearings before key documents like a background check or an ethics report has been submitted to the Senate. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, for example, this week posted notices of hearings for two Trump nominees over the objections of panel Democrats, who said they had not yet received their paperwork. What are Republicans trying to hide when they dont want their nominees to have background checks and dont want to have full information about them? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asked on Thursday. PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) Spirit Airlines is adding four non-stop destination flights at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) for the 2025 spring break season. Former Mobile Fire-Rescue captain was not wrongfully terminated, jury says The airliner will offer flights to and from Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit and Nashville three to four times a week starting as early as March. Were making it easier for travelers to discover Pensacolas beautiful beaches and rich history this spring break with new, seasonal service from four major cities, including nonstop service from Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Detroit (DTW), and Nashville (BNA), said John Kirby, vice president of network planning at Spirit Airlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The destinations will operate on the schedule below. Destinations Dates Flights Offered Nashville (BNA) Pensacola (PNS) March 6 March 18 4x weekly Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Pensacola (PNS) March 5 March 17 4x weekly Detroit (DTW) Pensacola (PNS) March 20 April 8 4x weekly Chicago (ORD) Pensacola (PNS) March 20 April 8 3x weekly We are delighted to see Spirit Airlines expanding their commitment to Pensacola by introducing these new spring break destinations, said Executive Director of PNS Matt Coughlin. Each of these routes strengthens our ability to connect travelers to and from Pensacola with Spirits value pricing, ease and convenience. St. Michael 4-star QB Gunner Rivers picks up first SEC offer More information can be found on the PNS website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Of the 5 million passengers who flew throughout Mexico in 2024, Mexicana Airlines transported 23,300 of them, less than half a percentage point of the market share, according to Mexicos Federal Civil Aviation Agency. Mexicana also closed out the year by eliminating eight of its routes, about half of its flights. It was created by former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and began flying in December 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexicos new government-backed airline still grounded The original Mexicana seized operations in 2010, but Lopez Obrador reincarnated the airline as a more economical option for travelers in Mexico. He gave control of its operations to the Mexican Army. El Financiero, Mexicos most respected financial publication, is reporting the airline sustained $50 million in losses for 2024. Members of the PRI and PAN political parties are calling Mexicana a colossal failure. They just canceled eight routes in less than a year, Morena (ruling party) promised a high-class airline, but the only thing it has delivered is a white elephant that will end up costing us 19 billion pesos ($950 million), said Hector Saul Tellez, economic coordinator for PANs representatives in Mexico City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a news conference earlier this week, Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum denied the airline is in trouble, promising a bright future for Mexicana. Its in it for the long haul, said Sheinbaum. Its being evaluated to see what new routes can be added. Its trying to acquire more aircraft that will be delivered this year. AMLO administration buys brand for what will become Mexicos newest airline She also said Mexicos National Defense Secretary is drafting a new operation plan for the struggling airline. Fernando Gomez Suarez, an airline industry executive, said its too early to call Mexicana a failure, but added that cancelling eight routes in its first year is not a good image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They started without a market strategy, financial plan and without provisions to secure airplanes, he said. They realized right away that its hard to fly without aircraft, its not that easy to go out and get them. When your plan includes routes that require 10 planes, but you only have five, its hard to be efficient. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Gomez Suarez said Mexicana has yet to follow through on its promise to fly routes that are being ignored by other carriers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. According to the Everett Fire Department, an early morning fire Thursday at the Station Place Apartments in Everett displaced seven residents but was quickly extinguished due to an effective sprinkler system. The fire department responded to an automatic fire alarm at 3315 Broadway at 12:35 a.m. After residents reported seeing smoke and flames from a third-story apartment, the call was upgraded to a commercial fire response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters arriving on the scene found residents evacuating and a small kitchen fire in a third-floor unit. The buildings sprinkler system was controlling the fire. Crews stretched a hose line to the third floor while others assisted with the water supply and conducted searches of adjoining apartments and the building. While no injuries were reported, the apartment where the fire originated sustained some fire and water damage. At least two units on the second floor and a business space on the main floor also experienced water damage. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes of the first crews arrival due to the prompt action of firefighters and the sprinkler system, officials said. Firefighters then spent several hours working on salvage and cleanup. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the seven displaced residents. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Jan. 9EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. A St. Elmo man pleaded guilty in federal court Jan. 3 to several assault and firearms charges after he opened fire on federal law enforcement agents who went to serve an arrest warrant at his residence in Fayette County in 2022, according to a press release. Dax Baldrige, 47, pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault of a federal officer, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. "Serving warrants is a dangerous job for law enforcement officers, but each show up with courage in order to protect our communities from known offenders," U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said in the release. "Fortunately, the officers involved in this incident returned home unharmed, and the defendant will face consequences to the fullest extent of the law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 17, 2022, task force members with the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Baldrige at his residence at Fayette County East 2855 Lane, near Wright's Corner, when he used a rifle to fire multiple shots at the officers. "This case illuminates the inherently dangerous job our Deputy U.S. Marshals, Task Force Officers, and law enforcement face every day," said David Davis, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois. "We are grateful for the support of all the agencies who were involved in this arrest and relieved that no law enforcement personnel were injured. We are pleased that this incident is ultimately concluding with a guilty plea from Baldrige." After a 10-hour stand-off with police, Baldrige was taken into custody, and no injuries were reported. "ATF is grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's office in pushing through this case to bring to justice this individual." said Special Agent in Charge, Bernard Hansen, ATF, Kansas City Field Division. "As we did in this investigation ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to focus on those that use firearms to facilitate acts of violence in Illinois, and across the country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldrige's sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2025. "Being in law enforcement is one of the most dangerous jobs anyone can do and we will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office so that people like Baldrige who attack officers are brought to justice," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. The U.S. Marshal Service Great Lakes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Illinois State Police and the Fayette County Sheriff's Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Arshi is prosecuting the case. Getting a group of middle school kids to follow a set of rules or plan is hard enough. Add in the first snowfall some of them have seen in their lives, you might as well change course. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] At least, thats how Liberty Pines Academy Principal Donny Hoessler handled it. Anytime we went outside, the kids were playing in the snow, said Hoessler, they were digging in it, making some snowballs, picking up big chunks of snow, stepping on chunks of ice to see if it would crack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school, as it does every year, took a group from its 8th grade class to Washington, D.C., earlier this week. This years itinerary, planned through the whole week, was thrown off the moment they arrived. We started seeing the snow when we first drove into Virginia, Hoessler said, it really started coming down getting into D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As students got off the bus, their shoes met snow on the ground below. They ended up being snowed into their hotel. It wasnt much later the kids had their own plans. We didnt come all this way just to be stuck in a hotel, said Hoessler, we went out in groups and everyone got into this snowball fight. I think itll be something they remember for a lifetime, thats for sure. The trip to visit monuments, tour museums and see Capitol Hill, at the sight of the snow, quickly turned into more playing than perusing. I felt like the unofficial photographer that day, my hand was freezing having to take pictures with everyones phones, Hoessler said with a laugh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For students like Ruby Grace Kight, who spoke with Action News Jax alongside the principal, this wasnt the kind of fight that left battle scars. The fun in the snow left her with a memory warm enough to feel like melting. This is definitely one of the best weeks of my life. I mean, it was so fun. And its definitely a memory Im going to keep forever, said Kight. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. St. Louis-native John Goodmans home destroyed in Los Angeles fires LOS ANGELES The home of St. Louis native and Roseanne alumni John Goodman turned to ash this week in the fires overtaking the Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades areas. Goodman, originally from Affton, Missouri, has owned a $4.6 million home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood since 2008. The home was burned down to its foundation as several other celebrity homes were also left in ashes. Celebrities such as Billy Crystal and Eugene Levy saw their homes burn down to their foundations in the same area as Goodmans home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 70,000 people have been left displaced by the Palisades fire, with an additional 1,000 buildings destroyed. Click here to learn about how you can donate to the Los Angeles wildfire relief. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. In downtown St. Paul, a bridal shop moving into a long-vacant space on West Seventh Street will be eligible for up to a $100,000 loan from the citys Housing and Redevelopment Authority, provided the proprietors can acquire another $31,000 on their own to complete financing. LaNoire Bridal, previously located since 2022 in the skyway level of the Pioneer-Endicott building, plans to relocate to a larger, recently remodeled ground-floor location within the Fitz Flats building at 5 West Seventh St., which is nearly twice the size. To finance the expansion, LaNoire Bridal received a $250,000 Small Business Administration loan from Drake Bank, more than half of which consolidated and refinanced existing debt. After fees and closing costs were paid, $89,300 remained for build-out of the new space and working capital, according to an HRA staff report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That left a funding gap for furnishings, marketing and expanded inventory, which the shop owner was not able to close with additional financing because of the existing debt, and because any new loan would be subordinate to the SBA loan, according to the staff report. Proprietor Lorraine Love and her new business partner, Jonathan Feliciano, asked the city for a low-interest loan of about $131,500. Based on staff recommendations, the seven-member city council, meeting Wednesday as the St. Paul HRA, voted unanimously to support a 10-year, $100,000 loan at 3% interest, contingent upon the shop securing a non-debt source to complete the $31,564 gap. Council President Mitra Jalali and other officials have expressed optimism that the store will activate long-dormant space on the ground level of the Fitz Flats building at Wabasha and Seventh Street. An 1890s-era Queen Anne Victorian building, the Fitz Flats was previously known as the Viking Apartments, which hosted the Just/Us restaurant from December 2017 until May 2019. The historic property believed to be the last Queen Anne Victorian in downtown St. Paul was recently renovated by developer Ed Conley and CCI Properties. Related Articles (Reuters) -Four people were killed and 16 injured in a stampede in the landmark Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Friday, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) said. Five children suffered fractures, severe bruises and fainting, the civil defence said in a statement. Authorities were trying to determine the causes of the incident and will hold those responsible accountable, Damascus Governor Maher Marwan told SANA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are working to take urgent measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in public places in the future," SANA quoted him as saying. Syria's new rulers seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family's decades-long rule. (Reporting by Clauda TaniosEditing by Peter Graff, Kirsten Donovan) An hours-long standoff came to an end Thursday night in west Charlotte, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office. Just before 3:30 p.m., deputies attempted to serve two warrants and execute a domestic violence eviction at a home in the Reid Meadows community. It appeared that the suspect had barricaded himself inside the home. ALSO READ: Man barricades himself inside house after shooting at police during high-speed chase Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, around 8:20 p.m., deputies learned the suspect they were looking for wasnt inside the residence. This revelation came after residents waited hours to get back into their houses. Channel 9s Glenn Counts spoke to frustrated neighbors about the incident. Ive been waiting since 4 p.m. got off from work and the whole street was blocked with cops, said resident Sonya Peterson. My feet are cold and my stomach is starving. I want to get home, get something to eat, and lie on my bed. Its so cold, man, said resident Si Dieu. Deputies said the suspect must have escaped before they arrived. However, when they find them, they will be arrested. VIDEO: Man barricades himself inside house after shooting at police during high-speed chase TOPEKA (KSNT) Topeka Police have ended an eight-hour standoff in downtown Topeka. According to a news release from the Topeka Police Department (TPD), officers responded to the 1100 block of Southwest Fillmore Street on a report of aggravated robbery before 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. As the investigation continued, police got involved with a possible barricaded individual related to the robbery. Topeka crews continue to scrape away at snow, ice on roads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka Police told a 27 News reporter at the scene that the standoff has ended around 8:30 p.m. According to the news release, the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau is on scene. An investigation is ongoing at this time. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Two photos taken just 11 months apart show just how extreme Los Angeles' weather has become. One captures cars submerged in floodwaters during the record-breaking rains of February 2024, while the other reveals entire streets and trees consumed by flames this week after the city's driest start to a water year on record. Journalist Eric Zerkel shared these photos Wednesday in a viral post on X, writing, "These are the increasing extremes of a warming world." The post, viewed over 1.5 million times, shows how unpredictable and destructive these weather patterns have become. 11 months ago the Los Angeles area got a year's worth of rain and faced life-threatening flooding and mudslides now it's on fire after its driest start to a water year on record. These are the increasing extremes of a warming world. pic.twitter.com/37h4LuvEZZ Eric Zerkel (@EricZerkel) January 8, 2025 What's happening? Los Angeles has swung between two extreme weather events in less than a year. Record-breaking rains brought a year's worth of water in just days that caused flooding and mudslides, which threatened lives and infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the area is facing intense wildfires fueled by an unusually long dry spell and record-low rainfall, with the Palisades Fire alone covering 17,234 acres of Los Angeles with 0% contained as of Thursday afternoon. Environmental commentator James Malone commented further in a series of posts on X. He explained that human activities such as mining, building cities, extracting resources, and burning fuels are disrupting natural systems. "The planet has changed its balance drastically in the past 100 years due to a lot of factors," he wrote, pointing to issues like soil erosion and habitat loss that worsen extreme weather. But how can flooding and wildfires both become more likely from climate change? Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, the process of liquid water drying up into the air, leading to heavier rain during wet periods and drier conditions and longer dry conditions during dry periods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visualize that the water lost in drought conditions experienced in much of California has to go somewhere when it dries up, and while it's not as simple as going straight up and coming straight down, an increase in evaporated water can also mean an increase in concentrated bouts of rain. Unfortunately for our resources, this all means more powerful storms, worse flooding, and intense wildfires that burn and spread hotter and faster in dry conditions between those storms and other rain. Social media users under the post raised concerns about water management, firefighter budget cuts, or political decisions as the major problem. While these are valid points, scientists agree that human-driven changes to the climate amplify extreme weather, making it harder to manage. Changes in climate are moving faster than our infrastructure has been adapting, which leaves communities at risk. California's aging water storage systems and limited firefighting resources play a crucial role, but they're no match for the growing challenges of a changing climate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2022 report from the California Department of Water Resources revealed that the state's infrastructure is struggling to keep up with increasingly unpredictable and extreme swings in rainfall driven by warming global temperatures. The Union of Concerned Scientists says that if we don't cut pollution and adapt to the changing climate, these extreme events "will worsen." What's being done about it? People are finding ways to adapt. Tools that have been reported on, like precision weather monitoring and fire-resistant infrastructure are helping cities prepare for extreme weather. California is working to lower wildfire risks with strategies like controlled burns, better forest management, and public education. But clearly, as evidenced by the rampaging wildfires, there is only so much we can do if the conditions are dry and winds are high. Reducing dirty energy use is a key step toward a cleaner future. Simple actions like electrifying your home, switching to renewable energy sources like rooftop solar panels or community solar, and cutting down on single-use plastics can add up to make a difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EnergySage helps communities access clean energy, and Rewiring America gives homeowners the tools to make the most of tax credits for energy-efficient upgrades. The road ahead won't be easy, but taking steps now can make a big difference in reducing these extremes and protecting communities for the future. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Britain and France are intensifying their joint fight against people smuggling. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron met at Chequers, the country residence north-west of London for British prime ministers, and agreed to "work more closely together" to combat the illegal crossing of the English Channel in small boats, a British government spokesman said on Friday. The number of migrants travelling by boat rose again in 2024, according to figures from the British government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was also the Channel's deadliest year, the British news agency PA reported. Last year, 36,800 people crossed the sea from France to England in small boats. That is a quarter more than in the previous year, and 53 people died during the dangerous crossing. The Labour government has already announced new sanctions designed to hit the finances of the smuggling networks particularly hard. Starmer and Macron had also reaffirmed their "unlimited support" for Ukraine and discussed the situation in the Middle East during Thursday evening's meeting, a British government spokesman said. Both had underlined the "need for unity in uncertain times." The French government said in a statement that the two leaders had reaffirmed the importance of guaranteeing sustainable financial support for Ukraine beyond the current year and providing the necessary material to defend Ukrainian territory. Like the rest of the country, California is grappling with more intense and frequent extreme weather and the fallout of skyrocketing insurance premiums and lost coverage. However, an insurance startup is taking a chance on homeowners in high-risk areas, and its AI-driven system has attracted millions of dollars in investments. What's happening? As Inc. Magazine detailed, legacy insurers are pulling out of the Golden State and dropping coverage from homeowners in areas with a high fire risk or other significant climate-related threats. San Francisco-based startup Stand is stepping in and offering coverage to these homeowners, saying it's using artificial intelligence and advanced modeling software to better understand fire risks and formulate a way to mitigate potential problems before an event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valued at $95 million, Stand has received funds from backers such as Equal Ventures & Convective Capital (which invested $30 million in the Series A round), Inspired Capital, and Lowercarbon. It projects it will write $2 billion in California home coverage policies in its first year. However, there's a catch or two: The company is only starting with homes valued at $2 million to $10 million, and the insurance isn't cheap. According to the report, the Wall Street Journal revealed that yearly premiums for a $3 million home in a high-fire-risk zone could be $12,000 to $15,000. Why is this important? Homeowners like Mark Mitchell, who spoke with the Journal, point out that having expensive insurance is better than having none, and Stand's AI-powered system that simulates the impact of weather disasters is making that possible. "They are the only company that has been able to figure out how much we've done to protect our house and that it's a reasonable risk to insure," he told the publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, a growing number of homeowners are struggling to find coverage as warming global temperatures have supercharged extreme weather events. NBC News reported in September that around 1 in 8 homeowners are going without, alarming industry experts. Stand's vision of insuring the otherwise uninsurable is filling a crucial need. However, with dirty fuel pollution primarily driving Earth's rising temperatures, it's worth questioning how the startup's system might impact the planet down the road potentially exacerbating the insurance crisis. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind The Cool Down couldn't find any specifics regarding sustainability on the company's official website, but AI tech is notorious for requiring vast amounts of power to operate, which results in significant pollution given that most of the U.S. grid uses dirty energy. If the company is constantly running new AI calculations, it could be consuming high amounts of energy from the grid, but it's more likely that it is running its calculations in a more limited scope at the times it needs to update its data. What can be done about the insurance crisis? Officials in some states are fighting to keep people insured. For example, California launched a "Fair Plan" for basic coverage to help homeowners get up to $3 million in coverage (this is partially why Stand is focusing on homes valued at $2 million to $10 million, per Inc. Magazine). Florida has passed laws aimed to prevent deceptive insurance practices and post-storm fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, a simplified AI algorithm from BitEnergy AI is showing promise in reducing AI's massive energy requirements, providing hope that Stand's AI-driven system could lead to more comprehensive insurance solutions for other companies without an extreme environmental toll. Ultimately, though, bringing the planet's climate back into balance is the best way to limit the threat of more intense extreme weather. Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and other home solutions (like smart thermostats) is a proven way to slash dirty energy pollution and even recoup some cash that would otherwise go toward utility bills. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. GEORGIA (WRBL) Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency for the state of Georgia as a winter storm is expected to impact the state Friday. This state of emergency is effective immediately and lasts through Tuesday, Jan. 14. The State of Emergency authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. GEMA/HS, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS), and other state agencies are instructed to provide essential personnel to the SOC, which will move to a Level 2 Activation beginning tonight at 7 p.m. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kemp, G-DOT and the DPS started treating roads earlier Thursday morning to prep for the storm. Kemp asks Georgians keep their travel as limited as possible due to the hazardous conditions, including ice and snow, that may develop. The First Alert Weather team will bring you the latest forecast at this page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Sen. Lynn Evans (left) and Rep. Taylor Collins have asked the Iowa Board of Regents to deny the University of Iowa's request to form a new school at its February meeting. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Two Iowa lawmakers have urged the Iowa Board of Regents to deny the University of Iowas request to form a new school that would include programs in African American studies, gender, sexuality and womens studies, Native American and Indigenous studies and more. Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, and Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, sent a letter to the Board of Regents Jan. 8 saying the UIs proposal to form a School of Social and Cultural Analysis should be rejected, as it brings together ideologically driven programs, rather than doing away with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Evans is chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Collins is chair of the new House Committee on Higher Education. Iowans expect our institutions of higher education to be focused on providing for the workforce needs of the state, not programs that are focused on peddling ideological agendas, the letter stated. The UI announced in December that several programs would be folded into the new school, including African American Studies; American Studies; Gender, Womens, and Sexuality Studies; Jewish Studies; Latina/o/x Studies and Native American and Indigenous Studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a news release, the university would close its American Studies and Gender, Womens and Sexuality Studies departments and discontinue its American Studies and Social Justice majors to form a new degree in Social and Cultural Analysis. These programs have fewer than 60 enrolled students in total, according to the release. Right now, these programs are administered by multiple department chairs and multiple directors, said Roland Racevskis, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences associate dean for the arts and humanities, in the release. Under this proposed plan, the school would have a single leadership team dedicated to overseeing the operations of the programs. This new structure would provide better coordination of curriculum across these related programs, easier pathways for degree completion, and support for interdisciplinary research opportunities. The new major would help students achieve a broad understanding of the complexities of the world around them, according to the release, and teach them skills to take into careers in education, research and public policy. In the letter, Collins and Evans said Iowans celebrated when the university announced it would eliminate the social justice major and close its gender studies department, but instead theyre just being consolidated into the new school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university said in the release it plans to bring the school proposal to the Board of Regents at its February meeting. The idea for the School of Social and Cultural Analysis came from a multi-year administrative restructure of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, according to the release, and if approved, would launch in the summer in time for the 2025-26 academic year. Iowa Board of Regents spokesperson Josh Lehman said in an email that the board did receive the letter and appreciate(s) them sharing their opinions with the Board. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, third from left, speaks at a Jan. 9, 2025, forum in Anchorage hosted by the Resource Development Council for Alaska and the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. Flanking Kopp are, from left, Sen. James Kaufman, R-Anchorage; House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham; Rep. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage; Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage; and Rebecca Logan, chief executive of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Last years session of the Alaska Legislature put a big focus on energy and alleviating an impending shortage of the Cook Inlet natural gas that powers the most populous part of the state. This year, even though some of the membership changed a bit with the election, Alaskans can expect the same focus from the Legislature, leading lawmakers said at a resource industry forum in Anchorage on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incoming House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said one thing likely to be produced by the 34th Alaska Legislature is a follow-up to last years bill that modernized the utility system along the Railbelt, the corridor running from Fairbanks to Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. That measure, House Bill 307, put into law many long-desired facets of energy delivery to the states most densely populated region, like a unified transmission system and a system to create a portfolio of energy sources, including renewables, Edgmon said. Additionally, the state is benefitting from hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money for energy upgrades and diversification, he said. Were turning a chapter in energy here in Alaska. Im pretty excited about what were going to do over the next couple of years, Edgmon said at the event held by the Resource Development Council for Alaska and the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. One idea likely to come up again is royalty relief for Cook Inlet natural gas producers. The House passed a bill last year that would have reduced state royalties on new natural gas and oil produced from the inlet, but state senators were skeptical about whether benefits would result and dropped the idea. In the end, lawmakers passed a wide-ranging bill, House Bill 50, that incorporated numerous Cook Inlet and Railbelt energy provisions but omitted the House-approved Cook Inlet royalty relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, supported last years bill and presented a case at the RDC-Alliance event for reconsidering reduced Cook Inlet royalties. Making such reductions, frankly, is not very expensive for the state because the royalty share in Cook Inlet is so small anyway, and provides minimal funding for the state, he said. Josephson acknowledged that the states past experience with financial incentives granted by the Legislature to Cook Inlet producers had some negative consequences. Tax credits approved more than a decade ago proved very expensive, costing around $1 billion, and were only recently paid off, he said. Fire Island is seen from Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage on Sept. 23, 2023. The island is the site of wind turbines that provide energy to Alaskas largest city. Alaska lawmakers, at a forum in Anchorage on Thursday, said they plan to focus on increasing energy supplies from Cook Inlet, as they did in last years session. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Youre not going to see that sort of subsidy. But I think theres more that we can do, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with a new look at royalty relief, which he said is surely going to continue to be a topic, front and center, for both chambers, lawmakers could try to do something to address what has been the lack of Cook Inlet producers ready access to a jack-up rig. Jack-up rigs are mobile floating platforms that are used in offshore oil and gas drilling. Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, the incoming House majority leader, said resource-development issues addressed by lawmakers will go beyond natural gas and oil. I think our mining industry is going to get a lot more attention in this Legislature. We are at a point where we can no longer afford to allow a lot of the permitting issues, a lot of the activism against these projects to continue to stall the critical mineral needs not only that Alaska has but our nation needs, Kopp said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With global insecurity that is unprecedented right now, the nation faces potential shortages of critical minerals, Kopp said. Were being cut off. We are no longer going to be able to get them from China, Russia, Ukraine, he said. Minerals like antimony are needed for high-tech products and for national defense, and Alaska has all these things, he said. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, pleaded with the resource-industry audience to pay more attention to seafood. He said he was bothered by the lack of seafood industry representation in the room; he found only two people from the industry after asking for a show of hands. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, speaks at a forum held Thursday by the Resource Development Council for Alaska and the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. Stevens urged the audience to consider the needs of the seafood industry and the communities dependent on it. Next to Stevens are Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, and Sen. James Kaufman, R-Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Years ago, when I would come to the RDC there was a big representation of the fishing industry. I dont see that anymore. Whats happened? he said. My charge to you is, for Gods sake, represent resources, not just oil and gas, not just mining, but fisheries is extremely important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he noted that he is heading a task force that is working on recommendations to help rescue Alaskas ailing but huge seafood industry. Were trying to save an industry in crisis, he said. Lawmakers at the event said it continues to be challenging to craft a budget during a time of diminished revenues. What should not be driving the budget, said Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, is any promise of a supersized Alaska Permanent Fund dividend. We have to move past this idea that Alaskans are entitled to this one thing, and thats the most important thing ever. Because its not, Bjorkman said. He talked to thousands of Kenai Peninsula residents while campaigning this summer and fall, and very few mentioned the dividend as important to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They care about roads and schools and public safety, he said. And on the Kenai Peninsula, they care about fish, he added. Addressing all those needs costs money and requires a commitment to invest in the state, he said. The budget that Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed to the Legislature in December includes a Permanent Fund dividend of about $3,800 per Alaska resident and a projected deficit of $1.5 billion. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MEMPHIS, Tenn. As the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board considers terminating Superintendent Marie Feagins contract, lawmakers in Nashville are watching. House Speaker Cameron Sexton says the state could get involved, even running the local school district, if Feagins is fired. If the school system, or the school board, goes through with this, there are options that we have. There are nuclear options. We could come in and start running the schools ourselves, said Sexton (R-Crossville), during a stop in Memphis this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At some point, the state and the community has to say what is best for these students. We cannot accept, anymore, the lowest-performing school system in our state is in Shelby County. Theres too many people, theres too many new jobs coming in, its too important for our success. And so, we may have to take drastic actions if they go through this route, he said. Superintendent Feagins to board: I will not resign Sexton says hes met with Feagins and calls her fiery. He also says he has a vision for how to turn schools around. Gov. Bill Lee said he thinks the Memphis school system needs someone in charge who will continue moving the district forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its discouraging to me to think that the status quo wants to remain the status quo, when we need a commitment for moving forward, Lee said. We need to move forward in every school district in this state, we dont need to be stagnant, we certainly dont need to go backwards. So, Im hopeful that she will be given the opportunity to continue the work. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said his wife actually taught in the Memphis school district before his career took them to Oak Ridge, and he knew there were problems in local schools even then. I would hope that the city of Memphis and Shelby County can come together and really address the problems that exist, McNally said. A resolution by the school board to terminate Feagins has met with strong and vocal opposition from parents, teachers and many local leaders. The Shelby County Commission is considering a vote of no confidence against the MSCS board over the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MSCS board is set to meet on the Feagins matter Jan. 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. ISLAMABAD (AP) State-run Pakistan International Airlines resumed direct flights to Europe on Friday following a decision by the European Unions aviation safety agency to lift a four-year ban over safety standards, officials said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the resumption, saying it would help improve the airlines image. The flight from Islamabad to Paris was fully booked with more than 300 passengers, the airline said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif inaugurated the twice-a-week flights and vowed that PIA will expand its operations to other European countries soon. Asif said in a speech that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had imposed the ban on PIA's operations to Europe because of an irresponsible statement by a former aviation minister. The curb on PIA was imposed in 2020 after 97 people died when a PIA plane crashed in Karachi in southern Pakistan. Then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said an investigation into the crash found that nearly a third of Pakistani pilots had cheated on their pilots exams. A government probe later concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error. The ban caused a loss of nearly $150 million a year in revenue for PIA, officials say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also Friday, the first international flight from Gwadar, a new airport in southwestern Pakistan, departed for Muscat, government officials said. The Chinese-funded airport was inaugurated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in October. The airport, Pakistan's largest, is located in restive southwestern Balochistan province and is part of a massive investment by Beijing that links a deep seaport and airport on the Arabian Sea by road with China. China's Ministry of Finance will introduce policies to promote job creation and increase employment opportunities, an official said on Friday, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua. The ministry will further support key sectors such as the cultural and tourism industry, other modern service industries, and foreign trade, said Lin Zechang, head of the comprehensive department of the ministry, promising more investment in stabilizing employment and ensuring people's livelihoods. Efforts will be made to further promote the employment in small and micro businesses, Lin added. Chinese authorities have strengthened employment support for businesses and employees, including reduced premium rates for unemployment insurance, insurance refunds and subsidies for vocational skills training, among other measures. The job market remained generally stable in the first 11 months of 2024, as the surveyed urban unemployment rate on average edged down on a year-on-year basis. The surveyed urban unemployment rate on average in China stood at 5.1 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, down 0.1 percentage points year on year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Real America's Voice Former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon complained about George W. Bush not shaking Donald Trumps hand while the two attended the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter Thursday in Washington, D.C. On his War Room podcast, Bannon began by saying how poor a president Bush was. Bush walks in. The worst president in the history of the country. They did this in a poll yesterday saying that in modern timesamong modern presidents, I guess, from Jack Kennedy forward, or maybe Eisenhower forwardthat Biden was ranked as the lowest, he said. Bush is the second-worst president in the history of the country. Only James Buchanan is worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bannon then went after Bush-related people as well for not respecting anything. All Bushes and Bush-related people: You suck! he ranted. You have no class. Youre little people. Youre bitter, Karl Rove. Youre a bitter little man. Bush, youre the worst president in the history of the country. Trump, Bannon would go on to say, has no opinion about Bush not shaking his hand. So he gets big-leagued by Bush...trying to humiliate him, trying to embarrass him. Trump doesnt care. Hes Trump, Bannon said. While entering the pew, Bush walked past Trump, gave a standing Barack Obama a tap on the torso, and then sat down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bannon also griped about Obama snubbing Trump as well, even though the two had what looked like a congenial exchange later. And as for Mike Pences greeting with Trump, Bannon complained that it was a weak, weak handshake. Karen Pence, meanwhile, didnt acknowledge Trump at all. Americans for Prosperity activists outside a committee room during the 2023 voucher debate. The group has launched a statewide ad supporting a new effort. (Photo: John Partipilo) Never one to get ahead of itself, the lobbying group Americans for Prosperity announced the start of a statewide ad campaign in which Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs back Gov. Bill Lees private-school voucher campaign. (Incidentally, Lee traveled to the funeral for former President Jimmy Carter and was to visit President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago Thursday evening, presumably for marching orders. Readers might remember Trump called Lee a RINO, Republican in name only, during last years election.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the radio spot, Blackburn and Jacobs urge lawmakers to stand with conservatives and vote for parents rights to send their children to the school of their choice. Were not certain where the right to private-school vouchers is enumerated in the Constitution, but those tiny details can wait for another day. A press release from the group says the ad will run on stations across Tennessee leading up to an expected special session at the end of January. While the rest of Tennessee speculates on whether the governor will call the special session, AFP just couldnt wait to make the announcement, which makes one wonder whos running this joint. The governor is close to making the call, but his biggest problem appears to be lining up the votes for his legacy education initiative. It wouldnt be wise to call a session on private-school vouchers without 50 votes in the house and 17 in the Senate, which are hard to master. But with Blackburn and Jacobs entering the fray, Lee could pick up a bounce or threat to persuade straddling lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacobs, a former wrestler called Kane, has been considered a leading gubernatorial candidate to replace Lee for more than a year. Hes made no commitment, but hes bound to run for something. As the gubernatorial campaign ramps up in 2025, Blackburn could become a wild card candidate, potentially pitting her against Republican U.S. Rep. John Rose, the only person to make overtures toward the race. A Blackburn candidacy would be a joyous occasion. Can you say Gov. Marsha Blackburn? The rumor mill is awash with talk that Tennessees senior U.S. senator will run for governor in 2026. (Photo: John Partipilo) Next thing you know, all Chinese-made products, including fine China, will disappear from store shelves before she goes from store to store smashing plates to smithereens. (She did this in her U.S. Senate campaign, so why should we think things will change?) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And what about all those court settlements the state is making with opioid sellers? They might not be possible without the 2016 legislation Blackburn co-sponsored that hamstrung the feds ability to block suspicious opioid shipments. Some 4,300 Tennesseans had to die from opioid abuse in 2014 before the state woke up. Blackburn drew criticism for pushing the bill as opioid abuse in Tennessee spiked, all the while receiving $96,000 in contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. She claimed she was trying to make sure people could get pain relief while preventing illegal drug use but said if the law had unintended consequences, she would change it. What does this have to do with private-school vouchers? Not a ton, but everything is connected. Gov. Lee, if he ever calls a special session, plans to couple private-school vouchers with relief funding for the eight East Tennessee counties that suffered devastation last year from Hurricane Helene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor irritated a number of lawmakers late last year because he was bound and determined to move forward with the voucher plan, which will cost hundreds of millions every year, while searchers were still sifting through rubble to find victims. Some lawmakers wanted him to call a special session immediately to approve relief funds, but instead he took money from TennCare to help the hard-hit region. Now that hes talking about combining flood relief with vouchers, some are considering it a bit of a bribe. But isnt that the way things work on Capitol Hill? One way or another, tens of millions of dollars will worm their way into the vote boards. All of this to usher in the demise of public education, once the great equalizer in Tennessee until lawmakers put their hands on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abe said, Where do you want this killing done?/ God said Out on Highway 61. Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan (A bonus lyric in recognition of the movie, A Complete Unknown.) Just a little testy Gov. Lee got aggravated this week with a TV reporter who had the temerity to ask over a phone held by the stations photographer why hes so hyped about private-school vouchers since test scores for students in the states education savings account program, which is similar to the new voucher plan, arent matching those of public school students. I think the statistics that you report are a true mischaracterization of the facts, Lee said in a press conference. The governor argued and its not often you see the states top elected official argue with a cell phone that comparing Shelby County inner-city students in the ESA program to a suburban district around Nashville is a misrepresentation of the true facts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee said the students using Tennessees vouchers to attend private schools really exceed their peers. The greater truth, he said, is that 99% of parents are satisfied with the program. He refused to take another question from the reporter. (Take heart, youre not alone.) In case readers are wondering, here are the numbers (tell me when your head hurts because nobodys lighting the academic world on fire): Shelby County ESA students: 25.1% proficient in English language arts, Shelby public schools: 23.7% proficient. Both groups scored 18.7% proficient in math. Davidson County ESA students 28.8% proficient in English language arts, Davidson County public schools 30.5% proficient. Davidson ESA students 15.7% proficient in math, Davidson public school students 26.4% proficient in math. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamilton County ESA students 32.2% proficient in English language arts, Hamilton County public schools students 39% proficient. Hamilton ESA students 18.1% proficient in math, Hamilton public schools students 36.6% proficient in math. At this point, public school students appear to have an edge. Sometimes the truth can be painful. But that doesnt justify calling someone a liar for reporting it. The bigger problem, though, is that we sold our souls for standardized test scores, and as long as those are the most important thing in K-12 education, everyone is going to be miserable. Get back Loretta Federal officials sent a letter to Gov. Lee this week encouraging him to take a deeper look at the unequal funding over the decades between the states land grant institutions, the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University. Last year, they notified the state that TSU had been shorted by $2.1 billion over the last 30 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, a state committee chaired by Rep. Harold Love, a Nashville Democrat and TSU graduate, reported four years ago that TSU had received up to $545 million less than it should have over the last 80-plus years. (That was from a different funding mechanism than the federal report.) Lee responded by pushing $200 million for TSU improvements through the legislature. Yet the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Education urged Lee to form a bipartisan committee to study historical funding for the universities. We are committed to working with you to make sure all institutions receive the support and resources that will allow them to develop students who are prepared to contribute to the economic and social fabric of our nation, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack said in a joint letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the letter, Lee said TSU suffered from terrific mismanagement of funds and needs to get on solid footing. TSU received a large infusion to make payroll last fall, and Lee said he is committed to making sure students receive the education, funding and support they need. Its a journey, he said. This is where Lee and I agree. At this rate it will take an eternity to reach $2.1 billion. Ever optimistic, Rep. Love said he is happy to see the White House providing more information to governors about land grant funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I was glad that the work that was done on the committee I chaired in 2021 has been highlighted as a possible example to follow when considering pathways to address funding differences, Love said. Denying inequity between UT and TSU is hard, but the letter is a day late and dollar short. Vilsack and Cardona will be gone as soon as President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and the U.S. Department of Education could vanish too, a move Lee supports. It wouldnt be surprising to see their letter wind up in Mount Trashmore (Rutherford Countys landfill). Whose pork? The Beacon Center came out with its annual pork report highlighting wasteful government spending in Tennessee. The Memphis Area Transit Authoritys spree for office space, furnishings and a Grizzlies suite while operating at a $60 million deficit topped the list. It was followed by the state and local funding for a $2.3 billion Titans stadium, then a secret deal for a Lebanon restaurant. According to a survey by Nashville-based libertarian think tank, The Beacon Center, the greatest instance of government waste or pork in 2024 came from the Memphis Area Transit Authority. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) The Beacon poll also found 67% of respondents strongly or somewhat support the governors private-school voucher plan, which will give students $7,075 to enroll in private schools. The line of questioning in the poll is dubious, though, and leaves out the fact this will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. No one knows how much yet. If the governors plan isnt a barrel of pork for private schools and rich folks, then show me to the mosh pit. The only thing I knew how to do was to keep on keeping on/ Like a bird that flew. * * Tangled up in Blue, Bob Dylan SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HONOLULU (KHON2) An Ewa Beach man is entering what many would view as a dark chapter ahead feeling more blessed than ever. Check out more news from around Hawaii Mana Olayan faces 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy charges, but he will take a positive message behind bars. It is a bit unusual to see someone turn themselves in to Honolulus federal detention center with a smile on their face, but Olayan is an exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conviction to Salvation: West Oahu man, community spread message of unity Crazy, right? For somebody who gon turn himself into prison to say that Im excited,' Olayan said. But the whole reason for my transformation, wanting to change, not wanting to talk like that anymore, not wanting to think that anymore, was for my family. Olayan was on supervised release since 2021 for federal conspiracy charges and received a mandatory 10-year sentence in July 2024 but since his release, he was instrumental in starting neighborhood security walks for the West side, organizing unity events involving dozens of churches and even managed to garner the mayors support. It was a privilege to walk alongside him and see the respect that he commands that he earned because he didnt start out that way. All the respect, all the admiration, all the love he got, he earned, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said. So, Im supportive of Mana. I wish he wasnt going away. I hope we can get him back sooner rather than later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That idea might not be too far-fetched if some local lawmakers can pull some strings. West side residents stand together against crime to take their neighborhood back I fully support pardoning Mana. Im currently in talks with the incoming administration to make sure that the White House is aware of its situation, the transformation thats taking place in his life, and the justification for a full pardon, said Hawaii House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Diamond Garcia. Olayans message is mainly to the children who are outside, but he will do everything he can to share his mindset with the men who are inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im going in as a mentor. Im not going in as a gang leader, that life is over and that life is dead for me. I going in a different posture. So, I can share like what I see, but we really dont know. But all I know is that Im going on a mission. Im going on a mission, Bryce, he said. Stolen jewels, boa constrictors killing owners, check out Weird News here KHON2 will keep in touch with Olayan throughout his sentence via snail mail, members of the public can provide words of encouragement to news@khon2.com if they would like their sentiment to be passed along. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Health care workers strike in Deer River on Nov. 4, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Lorie Shaull/KAXE) Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly roundup of labor news in Minnesota and beyond. This week: Strike at Essentias Deer River hospital enters second month; fired Minnesota Nurses Association executive director sues union for racial discrimination; Duluth city workers call off strike threat; SEIU rejoins the AFL-CIO; and Trump will get NLRB majority two years early. Essentia strike enters second month Some 70 nursing assistants, cooks, phlebotomists and other support workers at Essentia Healths Deer River hospital rejected the health systems latest offer on Tuesday, continuing their unfair labor practices strike that began on Dec. 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its now the longest unfair labor practices strike in 40 years for SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, which represents nearly 50,000 workers, and there are no negotiations planned to bring it to a close. At the heart of the dispute is pay. Workers at the Deer River hospital and nursing home say theyre paid far less than their peers at other Essentia Health facilities. They proposed bringing their pay in line with workers at other facilities in the first year of a three-year contract, followed by 4% raises in each of the following two years. Union leaders say Essentias best offer has been a 3.5% increase on average not across the board in the first year. That means more senior workers would receive a pittance. Sarah Jo Roberts, a surgical technologist with 18 years of experience, said her hourly pay would rise just 8 cents, from $31.62 an hour under the Essentia proposal. Other workers would see as little as 4 cents an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a slap in the face, Roberts said. Essentias offer also included 2.75% increases across the board in the second year, and 2.25% increases in the third. Roberts said she and her colleague found the offer particularly galling given that the health systems executives have received massive bonuses in recent years. Essentia Health CEO David Herman received $1 million bonuses in 2022 and 2023, pushing his total compensation above $3 million and making him one of the highest paid health care executives in the state. Essentia has seen a wave of union campaigns in the past year, with hundreds of workers voting to unionize across dozens of facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for Essentia Health shared a statement saying their offers have been competitive and consistent with more than 20 agreements ratified with other Essentia Health unions. We have a responsibility to our colleagues, patients and community to ensure high-quality, sustainable care in our region, Essentia Health said in a statement. Roberts said the pay and understaffing at Deer River fuels high turnover, leading to burnout among workers who may be stretched across multiple roles at the small facility. Were getting burnt out and weve just had enough, she said. Prolonged strikes without pay can be financially painful for workers, but Roberts said SEIU has been able to cover a majority of their lost wages through its strike fund. She said she knows of jusst half a dozen workers of the 70 members in the bargaining unit who have crossed the picket line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts says shes been drawing inspiration from her parents, whom she remembers striking in the 1980s when she was little. It was not easy but they continued to fight, she said. And they won. Minnesota Nurses Association faces racial discrimination lawsuit Former Minnesota Nurses Association Executive Director Karlton Scott filed a lawsuit against the union and its first vice president, alleging he was wrongfully terminated after a rival for the executive director job and his supporters targeted Scott with a racist rumor campaign falsely accusing him of sexual impropriety. Scott was forced out a year ago, less than a week after a reform-minded majority took over the unions board of directors and held an emergency meeting to replace him with Elaina Hane. She subsequently fired four other union managers, including the only other non-white senior managers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott had only been at the helm of the union for a year, although he had spent years at the union previously, rising from an organizer in 2013 to director of organizing in 2019. He was the first Black executive director of the union and had a stellar, unblemished record of exceptional achievement, according to his lawsuit, filed in state court last month. The union, which represents some 22,000 nurses, filed its response to the lawsuit on Tuesday, denying wrongdoing. The internal strife comes as the union begins negotiations on its biggest contracts with the states largest health systems, and faces the threat of more decertification campaigns supported by the National Right to Work Foundation. This week, nurses at Mayo Clinics Fairmont hospital voted to oust the Minnesota Nurses Association, adding to the hundreds of nurses who have already cut ties with the union in recent years. 500 Duluth city workers call off strike threat The union representing some 500 Duluth city workers including snowplow drivers and maintenance workers reached a tentative agreement with city administrators on Monday, averting a potential strike, the Star Tribune reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The workers, who are unionized with AFSCME Local 66, voted to authorize a strike in December for the first time in 17 years after months of negotiations. Details of the agreement were not released beyond the union saying it includes meaningful market adjustments, improvements to workloads and commitments to address staffing shortages. The union was seeking 8% labor market adjustments, in line with what police and fire received in recent years, according to the Star Tribune. Workers are expected to vote on the agreement on Jan. 14. SEIU rejoins AFL-CIO after two-decade-old split The Services Employees International Union announced it would rejoin the AFL-CIO on Wednesday after the two powerful labor groups split nearly 20 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With nearly 2 million members, SEIU is the second largest union in the country. AFL-CIO will now represent nearly 15 million workers. The reunion is more than two years in the making and comes as the labor movement is strategizing on how to handle a second Trump term and its expected hostilities toward new union campaigns, cuts to federal workers and crackdowns on undocumented immigrants. It is damn past time for unions for all, said SEIU International President April Verrett, speaking at a roundtable discussion Thursday in Austin, Texas, Michigan Advance reported. Trump to get early NLRB advantage President-elect Trump will get to pick an extra member of the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees private-sector unions, after Democrats failed to confirm the renomination of Lauren McFerran, who was reappointed by Trump in 2020. Had she been confirmed by the Senate, a Democratic majority on the board would have been secured until 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That news landed a month ago, but was revived this week by U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna when he blamed the loss on Democratic incompetence. While independent Sen. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema opposed the nomination along with Republicans, Khanna claimed Senate Democrats had a narrow window when they could have pushed through her nomination while a few key senators were away. But we delayed the vote (for what Im hearing described as no reason) until Vance and Manchin returned, deadlocking the vote at 49-49, Khanna tweeted. We then failed to get word to Vice President Harris quickly enough to come and deliver the tie-breaking vote. Khannas account seemed to be another example supporting progressives accusations that Democrats are unwilling or unable to fight for their stated values. But his thread may have revealed his own ignorance. U.S. Sen. John Fettermans Deputy Chief of Staff Tre Easton said Khannas timeline of incompetence doesnt add up, and that the votes were never there to get this done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna also referenced a senator Roberts being absent for the vote even though there is no Sen. Roberts. Khanna later tweeted that he believes U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did everything he could to get McFerran confirmed. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) More hunters bought South Dakota licenses for pheasants last year while sales of fishing licenses remained strong too. State Wildlife Division director Tom Kirschenmann delivered that positive report on Friday to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission. Contractor working on light pole when it fell on I-229 South Dakota promotes itself as the nations top place to hunt pheasants and the 2024 season lived up to the reputation, according to Kirschenmann. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Game, Fish and Parks Department sold 87,306 licenses to resident pheasant hunters, up from 85,526 in 2023. Nonresidents meanwhile bought 102,885 licenses, compared to 96,883. We had a fantastic year for license sales, both on the resident and nonresident side, he told commissioners. We had perfect, almost perfect, ideal conditions for pheasant production this last year. We saw high numbers of pheasants across the state. Weve heard countless stories and examples of people doing extremely well at pheasant hunting this year. We couldnt have asked for a better year. 2024 was a good year for fishing in South Dakota and license sales reflected that. Residents bought 77,488, up from 75,035 in 2023 and the most in the past four years. Nonresidents bought 92,463, which was the fewest in the past four years. We probably couldnt have asked for a better fishing year as well, Kirschenmann said. The Missouri River system was really strong. Lake Oahe in particular probably had the best year it had in the last couple years. License sales were very strong, both the resident and the nonresident side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a year that worth remembering. All in all we had a fantastic 2024 couldnt be more happier with how the year turned out, Kirschenmann said. We had great weather. And now, where we are today going into the winter months here, ice fishing has been good. Were seeing a lot of participation out there across the state, weve heard some great reports. And we still have a couple weeks left of the pheasant hunting season as well as we wrap up at the end of January, and people are out there taking advantage of those opportunities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Does your child show signs of dyslexia (struggling to read, speech delay)? Louisiana Key Academy invites parents, students and community members to their open house for a free screening. Louisiana Key Academy (LKA) is a tuition-free, public charter school with and students throughout Northwest Louisiana are eligible to apply. According to LKA signs of dyslexia can appear as early as kindergarten, and early identification is key to ensuring academic success. Symptoms of dyslexia: Slow or struggling reader Speech delay Struggle to learn and remember the alphabet Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or rhyme words Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is imperative to note that the signs and symptoms of dyslexia differ from person to person. Each individual will show unique patterns and weaknesses, depending on age, such as, expressing themselves, difficulty saying certain words or phrases to poor organization and time management. $1,000 scholarship for Bossier high school seniors, offer details LSA provide free dyslexia screenings, offering solutions to support their needs to help them thrive. They have campuses throughout Louisiana including Caddo, Ruston, Baton Rouge, and Covington. Their open house is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at our LKA Caddo Campus, located at 261 Arthur Avenue, in Shreveports Broadmoor Neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information about the Open House or upcoming events contact Principal Pamela Barker via email pamela.barker@lakeyacademy.com or call (318) 752-6257. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Stuart Hogg being stripped of his MBE would be reasonable and understandable, John Swinney has said after the disgraced former Scotland rugby captain was convicted of domestic abuse. The First Minister said he was personally incredibly disappointed that someone regarded as a national sporting hero had committed such a crime. But Mr Swinney refused to be drawn on widespread criticism that Hoggs sentence was too lenient after he was handed a one-year community payback order and spared a fine. Gillian Hogg says she is looking forward to moving on with her life following the rugby players conviction for domestic abuse - Jane Barlow/PA Gillian Hogg, the rugby players estranged wife, said the sentence handed down by Sheriff Peter Paterson felt like absolutely no punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told the Scottish Sun: My first thought was, is that it? Its not enough. No sentence will ever be enough for all of the abuse, heartache and pain he put me through for years. It feels like that hasnt been acknowledged. Sheriff Paterson was further criticised after he said Hogg could be excused from attending a review of the sentence on March 25 as he there is no point in interrupting his career. Mrs Hogg said: His career should never have been brought up. John Swinney has agreed with calls to strip Hogg of his MBE, describing the conviction as incredibly disappointing - Jane Barlow/PA Hogg had pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse between 2019 and 2024 at locations including Hawick, the Scottish Borders and Bearsden. He admitted shouting and swearing at his wife, tracking her movements and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hogg previously breached bail conditions by repeatedly contacting her in June, when one night she received 28 texts from him. He was described in court as being angry and controlling during the relationship, leaving his victim scared by his behaviour when he had been drinking. She reported wishing for it to be morning as quickly as possible so that he would sober up and things would stop. The former Glasgow Warriors fullback amassed a century of senior caps for his country. He was also involved in three British and Irish Lions tours and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year honours list for services to rugby union. He came out of retirement last summer to sign a two-year contract with Montpellier. Once described as a national sporting hero, Hogg was handed a one-year community payback order for domestic abuse - SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP Mr Swinney said Hoggs conviction was very disappointing, incredibly disappointing and he agreed with a call by Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, that Hogg should be stripped of his MBE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The First Minister said: I think thats a reasonable and understandable call that Stephen Flynn has made. I think its absolutely reprehensible for men to behave badly in any circumstance of life and one example of that will be domestic abuse. Asked whether Hoggs sentence was too lenient, Mr Swinney said: Please dont take it from me that Im dismissing your concerns I just dont think its really appropriate for the First Minister to comment about sentencing decisions. Mrs Hogg, 38, a mother-of-four, told the Scottish Sun: Im very happy with the fact that I never need to deal with him, have nothing to do with him for five years. That is a massive relief and Im just looking forward to moving on in my own life. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. STUART, Iowa A Stuart home is considered a total loss after a fire broke out early Thursday morning. At around 5:46 a.m. the Stuart Fire Department and EMS responded to a report of a house fire. According to Raccoon Valley Radio, the fire broke out at a mobile home located along North Gaines Street. 19-year-old pleads guilty to killing cousin following dispute over marijuana in Des Moines The Stuart Fire Department said in a press release posted to Facebook that when firefighters arrived on scene they found flames coming from the home. As a result the Menlo Fire Department and Dexter Fire Department were called in to assist and the fire was knocked down within minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One occupant was at the home when the fire started and was able to safely escape. No injuries were reported. According to the fire department, the fire is believed to have started from a wood burning stove and the home is considered a total loss. Other agencies assisting the Stuart, Menlo, and Dexter fire departments at the scene included the Redfield Fire Department, Guthrie County Sheriffs Office, Stuart Police Department, and Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency. Iowa News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. By Matt McKnight and Fred Greaves LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Survivors of the wildfires that have been sweeping parts of Los Angeles have started to trickle back to their evacuated homes in recent days, hoping against the odds that they were spared the worst of the devastation. Many instead found little more than concrete foundations, ashen rubble and memories. The wildfires, among the worst natural disasters ever to hit California, had killed at least 10 people as of Friday morning and destroyed or badly damaged more than 10,000 structures, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aerial images of some scorched neighborhoods - including parts of Pacific Palisades, a mostly affluent enclave west of downtown, and Altadena, a diverse neighborhood on L.A.'s eastern edge - show block after block of homes burned to the ground, as if in a war zone. Those who survived say they feel fortunate to have escaped with their lives. But many shed tears over family homes lost and fears about futures filled with uncertainty. In a neighborhood of 60 homes ravaged by the Palisades Fire, the only thing left standing at Rick McGeagh's ranch house near the Will Rogers State Park is a statue of the Virgin Mary he installed when they moved there in 1998. It had belonged to his grandmother who had died a year earlier. He called the statue's survival an "amazing blessing" in a terrible time. "I think it's miraculous." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGeagh, 61, a commercial real estate broker who along with his wife raised three children at their home, said only six homes in his neighborhood remained standing. "Everything else is ash and rubble," he told Reuters on Friday. He first noticed the fire on Tuesday, when he was out walking his dog near the park and saw odd looking white clouds that turned out to be smoke. He rushed home, packed everything that he could grab in his car and fled with his wife. Later they watched the progression of the fire that day on their home security camera. "At five, we saw the neighbor's house across the street go. Then our camera went out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're obviously devastated, but grateful to have each other," McGeagh said. AVOCADO TREE OFFERS SLIVER OF HOPE In the Altadena neighborhood, Alita Johnson, a lifelong resident whose home burned down, was seeking assistance at an evacuation center on Thursday when she bumped into a friend there. After greeting the man and giving him a hug, Johnson, 61, said: "I lost my house." In a reply all too common in Los Angeles this week, her friend replied, "I know, I'm sorry - we lost everything, too." En route to see the charred plot of land where her home once stood, Johnson, sitting in the passenger seat of a car, pointed ahead of her and told a Reuters reporter, "This is where I live." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a trembling voice, Johnson then corrected the verb tense: "Where I lived." Her voice rose a little as she noted that her avocado tree survived. It was one of the few signs of hope in sight. "Nothing prepares you for this amount of destruction," she said, her eyes welling with tears. ON THE STREET "Now we're homeless," Paul Lewis, another Altadena resident whose home burned down, said on Thursday in a matter-of-fact voice. "We're searching for a place to stay." Lewis and his wife had tried to return to their burned-down home in the hope of recovering any personal effects not consumed in the flames, he said. But the area where they live was blocked off to vehicle traffic. He didn't want to walk the mile (1.6 km) or so to their home with two young children and a dog in tow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day earlier they were able to reach the home by car and found it burned down to the foundations, still smoldering. Lewis said that his garage was still on fire that day. Hotels in the area are fully booked, mostly by people forced to flee their homes, Lewis said. AirBnBs and Vrbos were scarce, he said. Lewis said his house was covered by insurance - but he was girding for a long fight to recover its value. He foresaw a scenario in which he would have to hire an attorney "to make sure we're protected." "Insurance companies for a while have been trying to drop coverage for people like us, who live near natural habitat," he said, referring to the nearby Eaton Canyon area. "I'm sure they'll do everything they can to undercut our claim." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OVERWHELMED BY DESTRUCTION At a mobile home park in Pacific Palisades, Curtis, who said he would not like his last name to be published, grimaced and his eyes welled with tears as he took in the burnt ruins all around him. Asked what he had lost, Curtis replied immediately and simply: "Everything." Then he recalled that he did have his vehicle and "whatever's in the car." Overwhelmed by the scenes of destruction around him, Curtis added that he hoped a feral neighborhood cat - a beloved local character - "hopefully made it out safely." (Reporting by Matt McKnight and Fred Greaves in Altadena, California, and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Writing by Brad Brooks; Editing by Frank McGurty and Sandra Maler) PORT SUDAN (Reuters) - A move by the Sudanese government to introduce new banknotes and compel people to open bank accounts has boosted bank deposits and with them the army's war effort, finance minister Jibril Ibrahim said, though some critics say it has excluded millions from the financial system. The army's two-year war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has devastated the economy - with the currency losing three-quarters of its value - and driven half the population into hunger. Unlike in previous currency exchanges, in order to receive the new 500 ($0.20) and 1,000 ($0.50) pound notes people have had to deposit their old notes in a bank and are then allowed to withdraw limited amounts daily, drawing funds from a largely unbanked society into the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ibrahim said the initiative, launched in December with the explicit aim of making funds looted by the RSF worthless, had been a success, though he did not give a figure on how many Sudanese pounds had been deposited. "This helps the banking sector, and when you help the banking sector that helps the state to finance projects, including the war effort and productive activities," Ibrahim told Reuters in an interview this week. Since the outbreak of the war, when RSF soldiers looted dozens of banks and blocked farming, the army-aligned government has struggled to pay salaries and finance essential goods such as medicine. Jibril said that the country had produced 64 tonnes of gold last year, and officially exported around half, implying that the proportion of looted gold in army-controlled areas had fallen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source at Sudan's central bank said the new notes had been printed in Russia, one of several foreign powers that have intervened on both sides. Critics say that the impact of the decision has been to exclude the millions who remain in the roughly half of the country controlled by the RSF from the financial sector and render their savings useless, in effect splitting the country. The RSF has said the move is illegal and cited it as one of the reasons for forming a parallel government in territory it controls. Residents of areas under RSF control report using the old notes, as well as electronic transfers, U.S. dollars and, in some places, Chadian rials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even in Port Sudan, the army's wartime capital, some residents have protested over the new banknotes. Traders say the process has dampened sales as many people still lack identification papers needed to open a bank account while more lack smart phones for online transfers. "All of our capital is deposited in the bank. When you need cash in the future, they won't give you. You might spend a whole day to get 50,000 pounds ($20) or 100,000 ($40)," said fishmonger Ali Moneeb. (Reporting by Eltayeb Siddig in Port Sudan, additional reporting by Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz; Editing by Alex Richardson) One of the Super Scooper planes aiding in the battle against the Los Angeles wildfires was damaged after colliding with a drone and is now grounded, officials said on Thursday. The collision occurred over the Palisades fire as the Canadair CL-415 aircraft was dumping water onto the blaze. The circumstances of the collision have not been made public, but LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Thursday that the planes wing was punctured. CBS reported that the drone was operated by a civilian. The aircraft landed safely and, according to Los Angeles CBS affiliate KCAL, is being repaired at the Santa Monica Airport. Its not known how long the plane will be out of commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA is currently investigating the matter. Its a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations, the agency said in a statement. The CL-415, originally manufactured by Canadair and now by Bombardier, is an amphibious aircraft designed specifically for aerial firefighting. It gets its nickname, super scooper, from its ability to land rapidly on a body of water, quickly take on up to 1,620 gallons of water and then take off again. The post Super Scooper Aircraft Fighting LA Wildfires Grounded After Drone Collision appeared first on TheWrap. (Bloomberg) -- A divided US Supreme Court cleared the way for President-elect Donald Trumps sentencing in his hush money criminal case, dealing him a setback as he prepares to begin his second term in office. Most Read from Bloomberg Voting 5-4, the justices on Thursday rejected Trumps request to halt the New York sentencing as state appellate courts consider his claims of presidential immunity. The sentencing is set for 9:30 a.m. Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a one-page unsigned order, the court said Trumps immunity arguments can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. The court also said the burden of the sentencing on Trump would be relatively insubstantial in light of the New York judges plan not to order prison time and to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices in the majority. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, without giving any explanation. I think it was actually a very good opinion for us because you saw what they said, Trump told reporters minutes after the decision was released. They invited the appeal, and the appeal is on the bigger issue. So well see how it all works out. I think it will all work out well. The court rejected Trump even though six of the nine justices are Republican-appointed conservatives who backed him in July in a blockbuster presidential immunity case. Two justices Trump appointed Gorsuch and Kavanaugh sided with him Thursday. A third, Barrett, voted against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump argued in legal filings that allowing the sentencing to go forward would be a distraction to his presidential transition and undermine his standing as a world leader during his second term in office. Trump has been fighting since November to wipe out the verdict in light of his election victory, arguing that the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by sitting presidents should be extended to him as president-elect. Trump also argues the trial was tainted by evidence that would have been barred under the Supreme Courts new standard on presidential immunity from a landmark July ruling. The 78-year-old incoming president can still appeal and argue for immunity in New York state courts. Ultimately, the case could return to the US Supreme Court for final resolution after New Yorks appellate courts weigh in. Falsifying Records Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to conceal payments to an adult film star before the 2016 election. Trump is appealing two decisions rejecting his argument for vacating the verdict on presidential immunity grounds. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case against Trump, urged the Supreme Court to deny the stay. In a filing with the nations highest court before the ruling was handed down, the Democratic prosecutor said there was a compelling public interest in having the sentencing go forward. A spokeswoman for Bragg declined to comment on the high courts ruling. Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, ruled that a president-elect isnt entitled to the sweeping immunity that a sitting president gets. Even so, the judge has said he wont sentence Trump to any time behind bars due to his status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With jail off the table, Merchan previously said that a sentence of an unconditional discharge was the most viable solution, meaning Trump would face no real penalty other than having the conviction remain on his record. In theory Trump could have faced as much as four years in prison. Trump wants the verdict tossed out regardless to prevent the sentencing from tainting his presidential transition. In his 41-page filing requesting the delay, Trump invoked the sweeping July 1 Supreme Court ruling that upended a separate criminal case against him on grounds of presidential immunity. This court should enter an immediate stay of further proceedings in the New York trial court to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the presidency and the operations of the federal government, Trumps lawyers said in the filing dated Tuesday and released Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court case is Trump v. New York, 24A666. --With assistance from Stephanie Lai and Patricia Hurtado. (Updates Trump reaction in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The Supreme Court justices sounded highly skeptical Friday of TikTok's free-speech defense, signaling they are not likely to strike down the law that could shut down the popular video site the day before President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office. The justices, both conservative and liberal, said Congress was concerned with the Chinese ownership of TikTok and the threat to national security. They also said the law in question was not an effort to restrict the freedom of speech. "Congress doesn't care about what's on TikTok," said Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. "Congress is not fine with a foreign adversary gathering all this data on 170 million Americans. ... Are we supposed to ignore the fact that its parent company is subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he knew of no court precedent that would call for striking down such a law on 1st Amendment grounds. In their comments and questions, all the justices appeared to agree. "This law is targeted at a foreign corporation that doesn't have 1st Amendment rights," said Justice Elena Kagan. "There is a long tradition of preventing foreign ownership or control of media in the United States," added Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. Lawyers for TikTok and many of its creators described the law as an unprecedented attack on the 1st Amendment. "Shuttering the platform will silence the speech of 170 million monthly American users," they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Congress and the Biden administration said the Chinese-owned platform gives the government in Beijing access to "vast swaths of data about tens of millions of Americans," which it "could use for espionage or blackmail." The justices agreed to decide TikTok's 1st Amendment appeal on a fast-track schedule, and they are likely to issue a ruling within a few days. None of them sounded ready to declare the law unconstitutional. In recent years, the justices have often struck down federal regulations, usually on the grounds that Congress had not authorized such a far-reaching rule. But they are wary of striking down an act of Congress, particularly one based on a claim of national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shutdown law is due to take effect on Jan. 19. "We go dark. The platform shuts down," TikTok attorney Noel Francisco told the court, if it did not act. Even if the justices were not ready to strike down the law as unconstitutional, he said they should issue an order that temporarily delays the law from taking effect. "A short reprieve would make all the sense in the world," he said, because it would give Trump time to try to work out a deal that could keep TikTok in operation. In 2020, Trump, in his first term, issued an executive order requiring TikTok to separate itself from Chinese ownership, but it was blocked by courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Biden and Congress took up the issue after receiving classified briefings about the potential threat from ByteDance, the Chinese-controlled company that operates TikTok. The administration tried and failed to work out a deal that would separate TikTok from Chinese control. The shutdown law had the support of large bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate, and Biden signed it in April. By its terms the law was due to take effect in 270 days, on Jan. 19. If the law goes into effect, it would be illegal for service providers such as Google or Apple to "distribute or maintain ... a foreign advisory controlled application" in the United States. Violations could result in huge civil fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok's last and best hope may now rest with Trump. He changed his view last year about TikTok, which he said helped him reach young voters. Two weeks ago, he filed a brief urging the court to stand aside and allow him to make a deal with TikTok's owners. None of the justices asked about Trump's intervention. The law allows for a one-time extension of up to 90 days if the new president determined there has been "significant progress" toward arranging a "qualified divestiture." It is not clear whether Trump could invoke that provision to delay the law from taking effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, an investor group spearheaded by former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt submitted an offer to ByteDance for TikToks U.S. business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and a representative for the group, known as the Peoples Bid for TikTok, declined to discuss the state of negotiations with the Chinese company on Friday. "Our assumption is the Supreme Court will uphold the law, and at that point the only way to preserve TikTok under law will be a divestiture, said Tomicah Tillemann, president of Project Liberty, a New York-based organization that assembled the bid. Tillemann said the investment group would rebuild the platform in a way that prioritizes the privacy of TikTok users. "What we are focused on is providing a clear path forward that will allow for the preservation of the dynamic, vibrant community that is TikTok under American ownership, Tillemann said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trumps request to block criminal proceedings in his hush money case in New York, meaning a sentencing hearing scheduled for Friday can go ahead. The decision on a 5-4 vote with four conservatives dissenting meant the conservative-majority court changed course after having previously handed Trump two big wins last year. Trump is set to return to the presidency on Jan. 20. The brief unsigned order said the issues Trump wants to raise "can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal." The burden sentencing imposes on Trump is "relatively insubstantial," the court added, because he is not going to receive any prison time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three liberal justices were in the majority with Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Follow along for live coverage Trump said he thought it was a "fair decision" and referred to further action he may take. "We're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically, because frankly it's a disgrace," Trump said in response to a question from a reporter at Mar-a-Lago, going on to criticize the case against him. While the appeal to delay sentencing was struck down by the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, Trump could still attempt to appeal the verdict itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that he respected the courts opinion. "I'll do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their political opponent," Trump said, trying to paint the judge as overseeing a politically motivated case. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Trump referred to the president-elect's comments from Mar-a-Lago. "For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL," Trump said in a Truth Social post. Trumps lawyers said in court papers that if the Supreme Court did not intervene, the New York court would inflict grave injustice and harm on the presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argued that the case should not go forward because Trump was protected by presidential immunity, as recognized by the Supreme Court in a ruling last year concerning Trumps prosecution for seeking to overturn the 2020 election results. The court ruled at the time that while actions taken by presidents in their personal capacity would not be protected, certain official acts taken by presidents are off-limits for criminal prosecution. A New York appeals court judge declined Tuesday to block Trumps sentencing. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had urged the court not to intervene, saying in court papers that, because the case is ongoing in lower courts, the justices have no jurisdiction to consider Trumps claim at this stage. He added that there is a compelling public interest in allowing the sentencing to go ahead following the jurys guilty verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was convicted in May of falsifying records related to hush money that his then-attorney Michael Cohen paid adult film star Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 presidential election. Daniels testified that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which he has denied. Trumps lawyers argued that some evidence at trial focused on official actions he took in the White House that are protected under the Supreme Courts recent ruling. They also took the unprecedented step of saying a president-elect should have the same protection from criminal prosecution that a sitting president has. Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, had postponed Trumps initial sentencing date in the wake of the Supreme Courts immunity ruling. But he later determined Trump does not have immunity until he is sworn in as president and directed Trumps sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to take place Friday morning. Merchan made it clear last week that the sentencing would not include any prison time for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has helped smooth the path to Trumps regaining office despite the many legal obstacles he has faced in the last few years. The immunity ruling dealt what proved to be a fatal blow to the election interference prosecution, led by special counsel Jack Smith. In a separate ruling last year, the court also ensured that states could not kick Trump off their ballots under a constitutional provision that bars people who have engaged in insurrection from holding federal office. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trumps winning streak at the Supreme Court has come to an end. Today, the conservative-dominated panel announced it wont block the president-elects sentencing in his New York criminal trial. Trump was convicted in his hush-money case in May. He was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stemming from a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election so she would stay quiet about their alleged affair. Judge Juan Merchan is set to sentence the president-elect on Friday, 10 days before he once becomes Americas commander in chief. Now that Trump has been elected president again, the judge has indicated he wont receive a prison sentence because prosecutors no longer view such a sentence as practicable. Instead, Trump will likely receive an unconditional discharge, and avoid imprisonment, probation, and fines but his conviction will stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court on Wednesday to try to block his sentencing. The court today denied Trumps appeal by a count of 5-4. The unsigned order from the court shows Trump received support from four conservative justices: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the three liberal justices to deny the application. The court explained its decision thusly: First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president-elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. Alito reportedly spoke with Trump on Wednesday, shortly before the president-elect submitted the emergency application. The justice said the two did not discuss the New York hush-money case and insisted the call was about his former law clerk, who is seeking a job in the second Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect was uncharacteristically sedate in his response to the Supreme Courts decision, as he wrote in a Truth Social post that he appreciated the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me. He added that he intends to appeal the New York courts sentencing for the sake and sanctity of the presidency. Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, and helped build a 6-3 conservative supermajority that could potentially last for decades. Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, the court issued a series of decisions that helped preserve and protect Trumps candidacy. First, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states could not bar Trump from their ballots, after some states sought to do so citing the 14th Amendment, which prohibits insurrectionists from holding elected office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next, the conservatives on the high court granted Trump a sweeping immunity shield, ruling that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts committed while in office. The courts handling of the immunity case and its ultimate decision helped delay Trumps federal criminal trials, which were subsequently abandoned after he won the 2024 election. Trump sought to use the Supreme Courts immunity ruling as a basis to block his sentencing in the New York criminal case. His lawyers asked the high court to consider whether the trial courts admission and use of evidence of President Trumps official acts in a state-court jury trial on criminal charges violated the doctrine of Presidential immunity recognized in Trump v. United States. The court didnt bite though it could take up the case again at a later date. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Supreme Court seemed inclined on Friday to uphold a law that would force a sale or ban the popular short-video app TikTok in the United States by Jan. 19, with the justices focusing on the national security concerns about China that prompted the crackdown. During about 2-1/2 hours of arguments, the nine justices pressed lawyers representing TikTok, its Chinese parent company ByteDance and app users about the risk of China's government exploiting the platform to spy on Americans and carry out covert influence operations - while also probing free speech concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Are we supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is, in fact, subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government?" conservative Chief Justice John Roberts asked Noel Francisco, a lawyer for TikTok and ByteDance. The companies and users sued to block the law passed by Congress with strong bipartisan support last year and signed by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden, whose administration is defending it. They appealed a lower court's ruling upholding the law and rejecting their argument that it violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protection against government abridgment of free speech. Some justices raised apprehensions about the law's impact on free speech, but their prevailing concern seemed centered on the national security implications of a social media platform with foreign owners that collects data from a domestic user base of 170 million Americans, about half the U.S. population. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Francisco about potential long-term risks of China gathering data on users, especially those who flocked to the app at a young age, and using "that information over time to develop spies, to turn people, to blackmail people - people who a generation from now will be working in the FBI or the CIA or the State Department." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court's consideration of the case comes at a time of rising trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies. Republican Donald Trump, due to begin his second term as president on Jan. 20, opposes the ban. Trump on Dec. 27 urged the court to put a hold on the Jan. 19 deadline for divestiture to give his incoming administration "the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case." Francisco called the app one of the most popular speech platforms for Americans and said it would essentially shut down on Jan. 19 without a divestiture. Francisco said the real target of the law "is the speech itself - this fear that Americans, even if fully informed, could be persuaded by Chinese misinformation. That, however, is a decision that the First Amendment leaves to the people." Citing Trump's stance on the case, Francisco asked the justices to, at a minimum, put a temporary hold on the law, "which will allow you to carefully consider this momentous issue and, for the reasons explained by the president-elect, potentially moot the case." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservative Justice Samuel Alito later floated the possibility of the court issuing what is called an administrative stay that would temporarily freeze the law while the justices decide how to proceed. A COLD WAR HYPOTHETICAL Liberal Justice Elena Kagan's questions underscored the court's competing concerns over national security and free speech. Referring to ByteDance, Kagan told Francisco that the law "is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesn't have First Amendment rights." But later Kagan grilled U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, arguing for Biden's administration, with a Cold War-inspired hypothetical question about whether Congress could have forced the American Communist Party to divorce itself from the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Content manipulation is a content-based rationale: we think that this foreign government is going to manipulate content in a way ... that concerns us and may very well affect our national security interests," Kagan said. "That's exactly what they thought about Communist Party speech in the 1950s, which was being scripted in large part by international organizations or directly by the Soviet Union." Francisco told Kavanaugh that on Jan. 19 "at least as I understand it, we (TikTok) go dark. Essentially, the platform shuts down unless there's a divestiture, unless President Trump exercises his authority to extend it." But Trump could not do that on Jan. 19 because he does not take office until the following day, Francisco said. "It is possible that come Jan. 20th, 21st or 22nd, we might be in a different world," Francisco added. Responding to conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Francisco said it could take "many years" for ByteDance to divest TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francisco presented the hypothetical situation of the Chinese government taking hostage the children of Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos to force him and his newspaper to publish "whatever they wanted on the front page of the Post, so China effectively has total control." "I still don't think that Congress could come in and tell Bezos, 'Either sell the Post, or shut it down,' because that would violate Bezos' rights and the Washington Post's rights," Francisco said. 'GEOPOLITICAL GOALS' Prelogar said Chinese government control of TikTok poses a grave threat to American national security. TikTok's immense data set on its American users and their non-user contacts gives China a powerful tool for harassment, recruitment and espionage, Prelogar said, and its government "could weaponize TikTok at any time to harm the United States." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prelogar said the First Amendment does not bar Congress from acting to protect Americans and their data. Prelogar also cited a "long tradition" of barring foreign control of U.S. communication channels and other critical infrastructure. "The national security harm arises from the very fact of a foreign adversary's capacity to secretly manipulate the platform to advance its geopolitical goals in whatever form that kind of covert operation might take," Prelogar said. Asked by conservative Justice Clarence Thomas to identify TikTok's speech at issue in the case, Francisco cited TikTok's powerful algorithm, which feeds individual users short videos tailored to their liking. "What the act does is it says TikTok cannot do that unless ByteDance executes a qualified divestiture," Francisco said. "That's a direct burden on TikTok's speech." (Reporting by Andrew Chung, John Kruzel and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) All nine Supreme Court justices expressed deep skepticism of arguments made by the social media company TikTok on Friday that a law forcing its Chinese parent company to sell its U.S. subsidiary would unconstitutionally violate its free speech rights. At issue is a bipartisan law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden that would prevent app stores from carrying TikTok or updates to the existing app unless ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, sells its U.S. subsidiary TikTok Inc. to a person or entity not controlled by the laws of a foreign adversary nation. ByteDance has stated that it will not sell its U.S. subsidiary, and TikTok Inc. states that it will shut down if the law goes into effect Jan. 19. The case pits questions of national security and data protection against free speech protected by the First Amendment. When Congress passed the law, lawmakers expressed concerns that the Chinese government could use TikTok to either manipulate the American public or use the vast data it has collected from the 170 million American users, including direct messages, to blackmail, coerce or recruit individual Americans who may join the military or serve in government positions in the future. Chinese law, which has jurisdiction over ByteDance, could require companies to hand over data to government intelligence services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok lawyer Noel Francisco argued that the law unconstitutionally burdened the speech rights of the U.S. corporation TikTok by seeking to prevent it from using ByteDances algorithm and by raising concerns about potential content manipulation. Callie Goodwin, of Columbia, South Carolina, holds a sign Friday in support of TikTok outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Goodwin, a small-business owner who sells personalized greeting cards, says 80% of her sales come from people who found her on TikTok. Jacquelyn Martin via Associated Press One thing is clear, its a burden on TikToks speech, so the First Amendment applies, Francisco said. The act is content-based from beginning to end. It applies only to social media platforms that have user-generated content except for business, product and travel reviews. While the justices believed that there were First Amendment issues presented in the case, none of them liberal or conservative appeared to buy this argument alone. They noted that the law targets ByteDance, a foreign corporation subject to Chinese laws, which does not have First Amendment protection. Youre converting the restriction on ByteDances ownership and the algorithm into a restriction on TikToks speech, Justice Clarence Thomas said in response to Franciscos argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are we supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is, in fact, subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government? Chief Justice John Roberts asked. Francisco disputed that ByteDance had ultimate control over TikTok but acknowledged that for TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. it needed to use the algorithm controlled by ByteDance and to transmit user data to ByteDance in order to maintain and update that algorithm. Data security was one of the chief reasons given by Congress for enacting the law targeting TikTok and central to the arguments before the court. The Chinese government has engaged repeatedly in the illegal collection of sensitive data on Americans: It hacked the Office of Personnel Management in 2015 to get information on 20 million federal government workers and obtained the financial data of 145 million Americans by hacking the credit scoring company Equifax in 2017. The greatest concern the government presented to the court is that users, in particular younger users, could be subject to blackmail or espionage recruitment if they obtain positions in the military or government in the future. Data collection that seems like a huge concern for the future of the country, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francisco conceded the real risk of data collection and interest for the government, but insisted the First Amendment considerations should outweigh that. He also argued Congress did not consider less restrictive alternatives to divestiture such as mandating disclosures about data security and content manipulation. To make his point that speech rights were at the core of the case, Francisco repeatedly stated that the law would force TikTok to shut down in the U.S. on Jan. 19. Some of the justices rebutted this argument. TikTok Inc. is a subsidiary of ByteDance, a Chinese company that owns and operates the algorithm that TikTok uses to promote content to users. CFOTO via Getty Images You keep saying shut down. The law doesnt say TikTok has to shut down. It says ByteDance has to divest. If ByteDance divested TikTok, we wouldnt be here, right? Justice Amy Coney Barrett said. When it came time for Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar to defend the law, the justices appeared to press her on the finer points and distinctions in her argument as they crafted what appears likely to be their own reasoning for upholding the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Elena Kagan pressed Prelogar on the meaning and importance of the threat of potential covert content manipulation on TikTok by the Chinese government that the U.S. claimed as a reason for forcing the apps sale. Nonplussed by this argument, Kagan forced Prelogar to pivot to the stronger justification of data security. The operation of TikTok requires a wealth of data about Americans to go back to China, creating a gaping vulnerability since the Chinese government can force ByteDance to hand over that data, Prelogar said. She added that ByteDance had already come under investigation for accessing TikTok for Americans data in order to surveil U.S. journalists. ByteDance says it will not sell TikTok if the law is upheld. Instead, it will shut the platform down Jan. 19. Of course, TikTok could return if ByteDance reaches a deal in the future to sell the platform. The president is able to suspend the laws application to TikTok only when such a deal is reached. The Supreme Court is poised to uphold the Biden administrations ban on TikTok, defying Donald Trumps plea to put the plans on hold. Supreme Court justices signalled that they supported the administrations argument that the Chinese-owned app, which is hugely popular with young Americans, should be outlawed on national security grounds. Chief Justice John Roberts told Noel Francisco, the lawyer for TikTok: It seems to me that youre ignoring the major concern here of Congress, which was Chinese manipulation of the content and acquisition and harvesting of the content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress pushed through a law last April which said TikTok, used by an estimated 170 million people in the US, would be banned unless its parent company, ByteDance, sold off the app within nine months. If the deadline was not met, TikTok would be unavailable on US app stores from Jan 19 2025. The Biden administration, backed by Republican China hawks, feared the implications of allowing a Chinese-owned company to access vast amounts of data on American users. However, TikTok challenged the ban arguing it infringed the First Amendment of the US constitution, which protects free speech. Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok in his first administration but now uses the app to actively connect with his 14.7 million followers - Jaque Silva/Nur Photo via Getty Mr Trump, who tried to ban TikTok in his first administration, reversed his position filing an amicus brief supporting the platforms appeal just after Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His change of heart reflects how he used the app to secure the support of millions of young voters. President Trump is one of the most powerful, prolific and influential users of social media in history, his filing to the Supreme Court read. Consistent with his commanding presence in this area, President Trump currently has 14.7 million followers on TikTok with whom he actively communicates, allowing him to evaluate TikToks importance as a unique medium for freedom of expression, including core political speech. The president-elects backing for TikTok is at odds with his plans to impose new tariffs on China when he returns to the Oval Office later this month. Chief Justice John Roberts said Congress doesnt care about whats on TikTok, just that it should not be under Chinese control - Ricky Carioti/AP Elizabeth Prelogar, a lawyer for the government, told the justices China could weaponise TikTok at any time against the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Francisco, who was the US solicitor general under Donald Trump, told the court it was not the only Chinese app harvesting data on Americans. He said the move was an attack on free speech. It was an argument dismissed by Chief Justice Roberts: Congress doesnt care about whats on TikTok It was merely saying it should not be under Chinese control. A ruling is expected next week. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Donald Trumps attempt to avoid sentencing for his criminal hush-money case has been rejected by the Supreme Court. On Thursday, Jan. 9, the Supreme Court announced the application for stay regarding the president-elect, 78, has been denied. Related: Donald Trump's Felony Conviction Will Remain Despite Supreme Court's Immunity Decision, N.Y. Judge Rules First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal, the memo said. Scott Olson/Getty Donald Trump, October 15, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois Donald Trump, October 15, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing, the court added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court's vote was 5-4, with Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh voting to block Trumps sentencing. Trump previously argued that sentencing so close to his Jan. 20 inauguration would be a distraction from his presidential transition, the New York Times reported. Related: Donald Trump May Try to 'Run the Nation from Mar-a-Lago': 'He Is Blissfully Happy in Palm Beach' (Exclusive Source) Trump is expected to appear before New Yorks Judge Juan M. Merchan for sentencing on Friday, Jan. 10, at 9:30 a.m. local time. His legal team attempted to have Trump's case dismissed several times since he was first convicted on May 30, to no avail. Win McNamee/Getty Donald Trump, election-night watch party at Mar-a-Lago on March 5, 2024 Donald Trump, election-night watch party at Mar-a-Lago on March 5, 2024 I respect the courts opinion, Trump said at a Thursday night dinner with Republican governors at his private club in Florida, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it was actually a very good opinion for us because you saw what they said, but they invited the appeal and the appeal is on the bigger issue. So, well see how it works out, he continued, per the outlet. Related: Donald Trump Upset Flags Will Fly at Half-Staff to Honor Jimmy Carter During His Inauguration: 'Nobody Wants to See This' The hush money case stems from prosecutors alleging Trump tried to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential election. He is also accused of falsifying 34 business records to conceal a plot to influence the election. 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. Trump has maintained that the accusations are untrue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Jan. 20, Trump will be sworn in for a second, nonconsecutive term as U.S. president. He will be the first sitting president in history to have been convicted of a felony. Read the original article on People WASHINGTON (AP) Supreme Court rejects President-elect Donald Trumps bid to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case. New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald wrote that the state went too far in applying the civil rights statute. (Dana Wormald | New Hampshire Bulletin) The New Hampshire Supreme Court held that a local white supremacist group, NSC-13, did not violate the states Civil Rights Act when it displayed a banner reading KEEP NEW ENGLAND WHITE from an overpass. In a 4-0 decision released Friday, the court dismissed a lawsuit brought by the state against leaders of the group under the Civil Rights Act. Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald wrote that the state went too far in applying the civil rights statute and impinged on the activists free speech rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overbreadth of the States construction of the Act creates an unacceptable risk of a chill on speech protected by Part I, Article 22 of our State Constitution, MacDonald wrote. The case stems from an incident in July 2022 in which 10 members of NSC-13 hung the banner from the overpass. They were stopped by Portsmouth police, who informed them that they were violating a municipal ordinance to hang banners from overpasses without a permit. After that instruction, they removed the banner and departed the bridge within 25 minutes. The Attorney Generals Office attempted to bring a lawsuit against the NSC-13 members under a provision of the states Civil Rights Act, RSA 354-B:1, that protects residents from actual or threatened damage to or trespass on property when such actual or threatened conduct is motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability. The state argued that because the activists were trespassing on a public roadway in order to display the sign, and were motivated by race to do so, they were violating the act. But the defendants said that was an incorrect reading of the statute, and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire helped provide them legal support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rockingham Superior Court Judge David Ruoff sided with the group, finding that the states strategy of using the anti-trespassing language was overly broad and violated the state constitutional free speech rights. MacDonald concurred with that ruling. The Supreme Court opinion narrows part of the Civil Rights Act, holding that moving forward, the state must show that defendants knew they were violating an anti-trespassing law in order to punish them for trespassing under the act. We hold that, to state a claim for a violation of the Act predicated upon actual trespass on property, the State must establish that the actor, with knowledge that he or she is not licensed or privileged to do so, enters land in the possession of another or causes a thing or a third person to do so and that the trespass was motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability. The state had argued that those conditions were met, noting that the NSC-13 members had worn masks and refused to identify themselves to police, an indication they knew they were breaking the law. But MacDonald disagreed with that argument. The decision was signed by Associate Justices James Bassett, Melissa Countway, and Patrick Donovan. Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi is on administrative leave from the court as she faces felony charges related to alleged improper interference with an investigation into her husband, Geno Marconi. Two conservative Supreme Court Justices voted with the three liberal Justices to deny Donald Trumps request to halt his sentencing in his New York hush money case. Why? Joy Reid and our panel of legal experts discuss. (Bloomberg) -- The Supreme Court signaled its likely to uphold a law that would ban the popular TikTok social media platform in the US if it isnt sold by its Chinese parent company by Jan. 19. Most Read from Bloomberg Hearing arguments in Washington, a majority of justices suggested they see US national security concerns as overriding the free speech interests of the companies and content creators. Several justices cast the law as being focused not on speech, but on ByteDance Ltd., the parent company that Congress concluded has dangerously close ties with Chinas Communist government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are we supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is in fact subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government? Chief Justice John Roberts asked TikToks lawyer during a session that lasted more than 2 1/2 hours Friday. TikTok Hearing at US Supreme Court: TOPLive Transcript A decision upholding the ban would open a tumultuous period for TikTok, ByteDance and the video-sharing apps 170 million US users. ByteDance so far has insisted it wont consider a sale, but the company could revisit that stance if a ban is imminent. The law applies to technology companies including Apple Inc., Oracle Corp. and Alphabet Inc.s Google that host and distribute TikTok, threatening them with potentially massive fines if they continue to do so. The platform wouldnt immediately disappear for users, but because it will no longer be updated, its performance in all likelihood would slowly deteriorate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huge Concern The Biden administration is defending the law as a national security imperative, saying that Chinese control of TikTok will let a foreign adversary spread propaganda, covertly manipulate the platform and collect Americans data for espionage or blackmail purposes. Just on the data collection, that seems like a huge concern for the future of the country, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said to TikToks lawyer, Noel Francisco. President Joe Biden signed the measure into law in April after it won approval from a bipartisan majority in Congress. TikTok and ByteDance say lawmakers gave short shrift to speech rights. The companies contend that foreign influence concerns are unfounded, arguing that TikTok Inc. is an American company incorporated and headquartered in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of content creators is also urging the court to strike down the law, saying a ban would strip millions of Americans of their ability to speak to and hear from communities they have come to value. Justice Clarence Thomas voiced skepticism toward those arguments. The law doesnt say anything about creators or people who use the site, he said. Its only concerned about the ownership and the concerns that data will be manipulated or there will be other national security problems with someone whos not a citizen of this country or a company whos not here. Only Justice Neil Gorsuch indicated he was a likely vote to strike down the law. Gorsuch called the governments defense of the law paternalistic and asked why Congress couldnt have just required TikTok to post a warning telling users about the risk of Chinese manipulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter-speech? he asked US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer. Matthew Schettenhelm, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, lowered the chance of a TikTok win to 20% from 30% after the argument. Going Dark Much of the argument concerned what would happen should the law kick in as scheduled. Francisco, TikToks lawyer, said the platform would go dark at that point. Essentially the platform shuts down, he said. But Prelogar, the solicitor general, said the ban would end as soon as ByteDance sells the platform in a way that meets the laws requirements Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When push comes to shove and these restrictions take effect, I think it will fundamentally change the landscape with respect to what ByteDance is willing to consider, she said. The Jan. 20 presidential inauguration of Donald Trump will add a new element. Trump, who once supported a ban but now says he opposes it, asked the Supreme Court last month to take the unorthodox step of blocking the law so he can broker a settlement. Trumps Justice Department would have authority to enforce the law, and as president he would have power to approve any divestment proposal and potentially block the law in the meantime. Company Risk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Queried by Kavanaugh, Prelogar said Trump could choose not to enforce the law. But Kavanaugh then questioned whether Oracle, Apple and other companies subject to the law would continue providing services for TikTok in that scenario. Theyre not going to take that risk unless they have the assurance that a presidential statement of nonenforcement is in fact something that can be fully relied on because the risk is too severe otherwise, right? Kavanaugh asked. Prelogar said the companies might have a sufficient safeguard here to allow them to continue to operate. Justice Samuel Alito suggested the court could issue an administrative stay of the effective date, but no other justice indicated interest in that idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court put the case on a fast track after TikTok and the content creators asked for the ban to be put on hold temporarily. The justices instead scheduled a special session that gives them time to issue a definitive ruling on the laws constitutionality before Jan. 19. The court could also issue an interim order saying whether the law can take effect on Jan. 19 while giving itself more time to rule on the merits of the case with a full opinion. The cases are TikTok v. Garland, 24-656, and Firebaugh v. Garland, 24-657. --With assistance from Alexandra S. Levine, Sabrina Willmer and Emily Birnbaum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with discussion of how law would work starting in 16th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The U.S. Supreme Court did not make a decision on whether TikToks looming ban from the States can be overturned on Friday, with the Supreme Court adjourning until Monday morning. But based on comments from several justices, they do not appear inclined to reverse the law imposing the ban. The popular app, which boasts 170 million American users, is set to be removed from the U.S. on Jan. 19. Last April, President Joe Biden signed a law that called for TikTok to be banned unless ByteDance, the apps Beijing-based parent company, sold its American operation. The chief concern U.S. lawmakers say they have with TikTok is that it could double as a spyware app for the Chinese government; TikTok, per Chinese law, is required to share user data with Chinas communist government, if asked to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok has said on multiple occasions that the law tramples on the free expression rights of the company and its 170 million American users that are granted by the First Amendment. Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday did not seem to buy that argument, asking exactly what is TikToks speech here? He then asked why restricting ByteDance, which is a Chinese company, would limit TikTok users in the U.S. Noel Francisco, a lawyer for TikTok and ByteDance, said that if ByteDance were to sell TikToks U.S. business, the app would not be able to leverage ByteDances algorithm and it would thus negatively affect American users. It would also violate TikToks First Amendment rights, he said. Thats a direct burden on TikToks speech, Francisco said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court in December agreed to hear arguments from TikTok on why it should not be banned after a lower court denied the companys request to review its pending removal. On Friday, Justice Brett Kavanaugh reiterated that Congress and President Biden were worried Chinas government could easily access the data of American users. Ultimately, that data could be used to blackmail users and potentially turn some users into foreign assets, he supposed. Is that not a realistic assessment by Congress and the president of the risks here? Kavanaugh asked. Francisco countered that the concern is overblown. He said American user data is held on Oracle servers in Virginia. Still, he acknowledged there are risks involved with ByteDances cozy relationship with Chinas government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I certainly acknowledge the risk, but I think there are lots of reasons why that risk still cant justify the law, he added. The law banning TikTok, Francisco continued, should at least be postponed so Congress could look at alternative measures, like imposing massive fines for TikTok workers who share American data. As TheWrap previously reported, most Americans have not shown much concern about Chinas government having easy access to their data. And in September, a Pew Research Center survey showed only 32% of Americans favored a government ban of TikTok. For years, TikTok has denied it shares American user data with Chinas government. CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress in March 2023 that ByteDance is not an agent of China and has never shared American user data with Chinas government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line is this: American data stored on American soil, by an American company, overseen by American personnel, he said. That turned out to be false. Only a few months later, Forbes reported the sensitive financial data of some of TikToks biggest U.S. creators had been stored in China and was accessible by ByteDance employees, including social security numbers and tax IDs. TikTok eventually conceded that some U.S. users had their data stored in China after all. A potential TikTok ban has been lingering for several years now. Donald Trump first proposed removing the app from the U.S. during his first term in office, before Congress ultimately passed the law banning the app last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his initial support, Trump has since changed his tune on banning TikTok, saying last year that he would like to save the app. And in December, Trump reiterated he would like to keep TikTok in the U.S. He said hed take a look at saving TikTok, noting he had a warm spot in his heart for it because it helped get young people to vote for him. On Friday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that if president-elect Trump chose to not enforce the ban that it would be a violation of law. Whatever the new president does doesnt change that reality Sotomayor said about the ban, if it remains in place. The post Supreme Court Signals It May Uphold TikTok Ban Despite No Decision on Friday appeared first on TheWrap. Supreme Court justices slammed First Amendment arguments made by TikTok as the popular social media app tries to avoid a U.S. ban in the coming days. Lawyers for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, went before the Supreme Court on Friday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the app from vanishing. The government passed a ban on the app, unless it is sold, citing national security concerns given TikToks ties to Chinas communist party. TikTok has argued that the app should be able to exist in the U.S. under free speech claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok is one of the most popular social media applications in the U.S. with more than 170 million monthly users and more than half are under the age of 30. Congress doesnt care about whats on TikTok, Chief Justice John Roberts said during oral arguments. They dont care about the expression. Thats shown by the remedy. Theyre not saying TikTok has to stop. Theyre saying the Chinese have to stop controlling TikTok. Young advocates of TikTok protested outside of the Supreme Court on Friday in the hopes that justices strike down the law which would ban the app. Justices seemed unconvinced at TikToks First Amendement arguments as it faces a potential U.S. ban (Getty Images) Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned lawyers and noted they kept referring to the so-called shutting down of the app. The Trump-appointed Justice stated TikTok didnt have to close, just that it needed to find a new owner. Fellow Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned the free speech issues and argued the countrys answer to problematic speech is counter-speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt just conservative justices that attacked the TikTok arguments. Newest, and Biden-appointed, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked: Im trying to understand what the burden is that you are articulating and really whether its about association and not speech...What youre really complaining about is the inability to associate with ByteDance and its algorithm. Even Obama-appointed Justice Elena Kagan said ByteDance doesnt have the same rights as everyday Americans. The law is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesnt have First Amendment rights, Kagan stated. The harsh tone justices took toward TikToks argument have some believing that it is likely the ban will be upheld. But, it will be up to a future Supreme Court ruling to signal where the justices fall. The supreme Court is TikToks last hope to avoid a ban if it parent company doesnt sell the app. It is a favorite among many Gen Z users - who detail their lives and favorite dances through the site (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Many of the apps Gen-Z users are not happy with a potential ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are starving, we are dying, people are in jail for f***ing marijuana charges, were in a war that we should not be in in the first place and TikTok is our most pressing concern? I dont think so, Make-up artist James Charles said in an interview with NBC in March. The law, Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was passed by Congress in April with bipartisan support something that justices found compelling. Lawmakers were concerned that the Chinese government could obtain Americanss data and covertly manipulate what U.S. users see or spread misinformation and propaganda. One example, used on Friday, outlined the possibility of the Chinese government collecting the data of a young TikTok user who eventually grew up to become a member of the military or federal government. Now, the Chinese have data on a person who could hold a key position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That argument seemed to get the justices attention. Some First Amendment proponents agree with TikTok and say its a massive platform with a highly unique algorithm that essentially functions as a public square. Muting it would restrict Americanss speech, they argue. Ramya Krishnan, an attorney and senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, focuses on issues related to government transparency, censorship and social media. She and her colleagues, who submitted and amicus brief in the case, believe the governments case does not justify outright banning the app. To the extent that the government is concerned that there is covert manipulation, the most direct way to address that concern is disclosure,: Krishnan told The Independent. If the concern is with foreign government speech or propaganda, as we argue in our brief, that kind of concern cant justify a flat-out ban on Americans access to speech from abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikToks lawyers made that point during arguments, saying the platform could add a disclosure on its app essentially informing people every time they go on it that their data could be used by the Chinese. The government believes thats not good enough because its not specific and thus people would just ignore it. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar suggested China could covertly manipulate what videos people see as a means to generate chaos and arguments. Justices did not seem convinced that was a compelling reason, that is, after all, how algorithms work on every other platform. You get what you get and you think thats puzzling, Kagan said to laughter. Its all a little bit of a black box. TikTok educational influencer, Tiffany Cianci livestreams outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building as the court hears oral arguments (Getty Images) Regarding the governments concerns about protecting Americans sensitive data, Krishnan says it is a compelling interest but there are still other ways to achieve that such as passing a comprehensive data privacy law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creators are seemingly preparing for a world in which TikTok disappears by diversifying their content mediums. Whether its starting a YouTube channel or podcast, opening a new business or moving their short-form videos to Instagram. The government says TikTok could be reinstated, even after January 19, so long as ByteDance divests from it. They believed the current deadline would light a match under ByteDance to work harder to find a U.S. operator. The court could also place a pause on the law taking effect and wait for President-elect Donald Trump to take office something he asked the court to do. Despite Trump trying to ban TikTok during his first term, he now claims he will save it. On 9 January Mexicos Presidentmet with councillors from the national electoral institute (INE) to ensure the transparency and certainty of the elections of the judicial power, which are due on 1 June. End of preview - This article contains approximately 403 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Jan. 9The state Supreme Court held Thursday that the lower courts must reconsider whether three women whose lawsuit helped the state collect millions of dollars from one of New Mexico's largest health insurers are entitled to a greater share of the money they helped recover. A First District Court judge had previously ruled the three weren't entitled to more money, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeals. Monica Galloway, Shawna Maestas and Jolene Gonzales, former employees of the New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, filed a whistleblower complaint in 2016 accusing Presbyterian Health Plan of avoiding tax liability through fraudulent practices. The women testified they filed their lawsuit which accused Presbyterian Health of cooking its books to avoid tax liability, among other things after they reported their findings to their boss, then-Superintendent of Insurance John Franchini, and he refused to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, citizens who suspect government fraud can file their own lawsuit but the Attorney General's Office gets a chance to prosecute the allegations first if it wishes. Then-Attorney General Hector Balderas brought a case against Presbyterian accusing the company of improperly claiming tax credits in 2003 and 2004, later reaching a settlement in which the insurer agreed to pay $18.5 million but admitted no wrongdoing. The three women were part of that settlement and collected 20% of the money, or about $3.7 million, as allowed by law. The Office of Superintendent of Insurance subsequently recovered an additional $15.5 million through an administrative proceeding. The women's attorney argued they were entitled to 20% of that money as well, but state District Judge Francis J. Mathew ruled in 2020 the additional money wasn't related to any wrongdoing the women had brought to light and they were not entitled to a share of it. The state Court of Appeals affirmed Mathew's decision, but Thursday's Supreme Court ruling sends the case back to District Court. The lower courts application of case law in relation to the Fraud Against Taxpayer Act complaint "is antithetical to encouraging whistleblower claims," Chief Justice David Thomson wrote. "This Court declines to support an approach that would allow the government to simply push a matter into an alternate proceeding and preclude a relator's fair share based on a post hoc hypertechnical review," the ruling says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Stephen P. Thies who represented the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, said he was still digesting the ruling Thursday and wasn't prepared to comment. Plaintiffs' attorney Kate Ferlic called the ruling a "tremendous victory" for her clients and "everyday New Mexican's who report fraud," saying it affirms the critical role the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act plays in holding corporations accountable to taxpayers. "These ladies are warriors for what is right," Ferlic said. "The only bittersweet part," Ferlic added, is Galloway will never know she won or be able to collect additional funds, She died on Dec. 29 from complications associated with a medical procedure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She was the most tenacious person I've ever known," Ferlic said of Galloway. "Her diligence and faith drove her to fight for what is right." Galloway 57 at the time of her death is survived by her wife and teenager daughter. "She leaves a legacy of faith tenacity, and profound sense of justice," Ferlic said. The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down President-elect Donald Trump's plea to block a New York judge from sentencing him Friday on his felony conviction in a hush-money case. The vote was 5-4, with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh saying they would have granted Trump's request. The decision means Trump will be the first president to have a felony on his record when he takes the oath of office on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority in an unsigned opinion said Trump is still free to appeal his conviction later and said the sentencing hearing will not pose much of a burden, since he need not attend. Trump's lawyers filed an emergency appeal on Wednesday that rested on a thin claim of immunity. Last year, the justices ruled that a president or ex-president was immune from criminal charges for his "official acts" while in office. This week, Trump's lawyers argued the justices should extend the immunity rule to shield the president-elect from being held accountable now for a private criminal scheme that began before his election as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records, a crime under New York law. He wrote checks to Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, to repay him for a $130,000 payment to an adult film star to buy her silence prior to the 2016 election. The payments were listed as legal expenses. Jurors convicted him on 34 counts. Trump's trial lawyers urged Judge Juan Merchan to delay his sentencing until after the November election. Once Trump won the election, they argued the incoming president had an immunity from all the pending criminal cases, including his felony conviction. New York prosecutors had urged the court on Thursday to deny Trump's "extraordinary immunity claim." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While he was a private citizen, defendant [Trump] was charged, tried, and convicted for conduct that he concedes is wholly unofficial," they said. In his appeal, he "makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now," before he is sworn in as president again, they said. On Tuesday, the day before his attorneys filed their emergency appeal in the high court, Trump arranged to speak with Alito about one of his former clerks. Alito confirmed the call to ABC News. "William Levi, one of my former law clerks, asked me to take a call from President-elect Trump regarding [Levi's] qualifications to serve in a government position," Alito said. "I agreed to discuss this matter with President-elect Trump, and he called me yesterday afternoon." He said they did not discuss the "emergency application" regarding Trump's New York sentencing, which had not been filed yet at the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was not even aware at the time of our conversation that such an application would be filed," Alito said. "We also did not discuss any other matter that is pending or might in the future come before the Supreme Court or any past Supreme Court decisions involving the president-elect." Alito cast a vote in favor of Trump. 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. The Supreme Court will not stop Donald Trumps sentencing in his criminal hush money trial, leaving the president-elect without any remaining options to block his imminent return to Manhattan criminal court. Trump is scheduled to face New York Justice Juan Merchan at 9 a.m. Friday 10 days before his second inauguration to the presidency. Merchan has signalled he will issue an unconditional discharge sentence that will not include jail time or fines. The president-elect will appear virtually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, attorneys for the president-elect argued that the Supreme Court should intervene to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government. Trump argued that the Supreme Courts landmark decision on presidential immunity should apply to the evidence used against him at trial and shield him from any criminal proceedings as president-elect. In her one-page order on Thursday night, hours before Trumps sentence, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Trumps arguments can be handled through the ordinary course of appeal. The burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh would have granted Trumps application. Donald Trump will be sentenced in his hush money case in Manhattan criminal court on January 10 after the Supreme Court declined to pause the proceedings (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) In remarks from Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night, Trump called the Supreme Courts ruling a fair decision and that he planned to appeal his verdict. Ill do my little thing tomorrow. They can have fun with their politican opponent, he said. Prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued to the nations high court on Thursday that none of Trumps claims comes close to justifying a pause in the proceedings, which have been repeatedly delayed through Trumps presidential campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office, from all state-court criminal process, prosecutors argued. This extraordinary immunity claim is unsupported by any decision from any court. It is axiomatic that there is only one President at a time, they wrote. Merchan and prosecutors have argued that Trumps actions at the center of the case in which he falsified accounting records to hide reimbursement payments to his former attorney for so-called hush money to an adult film star have nothing to do with the official actions of the presidency that are protected by immunity. That immunity is strictly limited to the time of the Presidents term in office, prosecutors added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 30, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records after a six-week-long trial. Prosecutors said Trump falsified records in connection with a scheme to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign. Trumps reimbursements to his then-attorney Michael Cohen, who paid off Daniels, were falsely recorded in accounting records as legal expenses. The former president insists he has done nothing wrong. LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) A suspect who fled in a stolen vehicle before colliding with two other cars has been arrested in Lakeland, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said the driver of the stolen vehicle was fleeing from Auburndale PD when it collided with two other vehicles on Kathleen Road and George Jenkin Boulevard. Dan LaFontaine and his son 9-year-old son Luke were in one of the other cars that was hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just felt a boom, boom, Dan said. He came in right behind it, after he hit that Hylander, and then he hit me. Then I saw guns drawn on the car and my thought process was this guy is probably armed. So I told Luke hit the floorboard right now. I put my whole body over him. He shot video from inside his car of police detaining the suspect. LaFontaine also took a photo of police pulling out a weapon from inside the car and placing it on the hood. He couldve had the thought if he saw me to potentially shoot me and my life wouldve been gone at not even 10 years, Luke said. It was scary. It looked like a weapon I had never seen before but that would explain why they called him a bad dude, LaFontaine added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several of the people who were involved in the crash sustained non-life-threatening injuries, FHP said. The LaFontaines said they are grateful for the officials who responded and are grateful to have survived this. I feel like the hand of God was on us, Dan said. Officers arrested the suspect who is now facing several felony charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Boston Police Department is seeking the publics help in the search for a suspect connected to an assault with a knife. The incident occurred around 6:53 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, in the area of 778 Dudley Street in Roxbury. The suspect, a Black male approximately in his 30s, was wearing a dark blue hoodie, a black vest, jeans, black shoes, and a dark beanie. The suspect was also carrying a black and blue backpack with one strap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also described as having ocular misalignment from a form of strabismus. Boston police are actively investigating the situation. If you have any information about the incident, you are urged to contact Detectives at (617) 343-4275. To give an anonymous tip, you can also contact the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). 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 Jan. 9A suspected drug dealer is back behind bars after allegedly testing positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine while awaiting trial on a felony distribution charge. Authorities are holding Jeremy Lee Webster, 37, in the Flathead County Detention Center with bail set at $15,000. He was booked into the jail Dec. 16, just days after prosecutors successfully petitioned Flathead County District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht to revoke his release. Webster pleaded not guilty Nov. 7 to one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. Webster picked up the charges after struggling with Columbia Falls Police officers on Oct. 24, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers already had a warrant for Webster when they came across him while patrolling Ninth Street West in Columbia Falls. Although he initially ignored their attempts to talk with him, he stopped after they hit their emergency lights, court documents said. Webster allegedly hesitated to comply with orders to drop items held in his hands. He also allegedly ignored a command to drop to his knees, put his stomach on the ground and spread out his arms. When officers grabbed his right arm, Webster "tensed up," court documents said. As he struggled with officers rolling over and pulling away from them Webster allegedly threatened to kill them. "You are a dead piece of [expletive]," he allegedly told the officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the scuffle, one officer suffered scrapes to his hand and knee. A second officer reported that his light was damaged during the struggle, court documents said. While searching Webster, authorities found a case emblazoned with the words "Happy Kit," according to court documents. Inside, they allegedly discovered two baggies with a white crystalline substance that officers suspected of being methamphetamine, a spoon and a scale. The two baggies weighed 46 grams, court documents said. Though the crystalline substance came back positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines in field testing, samples were sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis, court documents alleged. Criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. Misdemeanor resisting arrest is punishable by up to six months in the county jail and a fine of $500. News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com. BLOOMFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) Bloomfield police say theyre searching for two suspects accused of stealing $1,000 from a local bank on Friday. The robbery was reported at the Chase Bank in the Copaco Shopping Plaza around 11:30 a.m. Waterford credit union robbed Friday According to police, a male wearing a dark-colored hoodie, dark pants, and a nylon mask entered the bank with a handgun. After taking the cash, police said the suspect got into a waiting black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with a second suspect in the drivers seat. They reportedly fled westbound on Cottage Grove Road from there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police ask anyone with information that may help their investigation to contact the detective unit at 860-242-5501. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. UPDATE: A spokesperson from YISD says the situation posed no threat, and students have returned to their regular schedule. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Eastwood High School was placed on a secure hold Friday afternoon, Jan. 10, after administration was notified of a suspicious package on the north side of campus, according to a spokesperson with the Ysleta Independent School District (ISD). The spokesperson says Ysleta ISD security and El Paso Police were notified and are at the school to examine the package and conduct an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All students are safe and being kept away from the area, the spokesperson said. No one is being allowed to leave campus, and all students will be provided with a lunch meal today. Please be assured that safety is the No. 1 priority at the Ysleta Independent School District, and we take every precaution to ensure the security of all students and staff, the spokesperson said. No further information has been released. This story will be updated once we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Sweden is buying 44 German-made Leopard 2A8 tanks, in addition to upgrading 66 of its older models to the same standard, continuing a period of military investment for the Scandinavian country that joined NATO last year. The decision adds another customer to a growing list of Leopard 2A8 operators, which also notably includes fellow NATO members Lithuania and Norway, also in the strategically critical Baltic region. The plans were announced today by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), responsible for procuring weapons for the countrys armed forces. The 44 Leopard 2A8s being purchased as new will receive the Swedish designation Stridsvagn 123B. Swedens 66 existing Stridsvagn 122 tanks (equivalent to the Leopard 2A5) will emerge as Stridsvagn 123A vehicles once modernized. A Leopard 2A8 tank. KNDS Deutschland Together, the two contracts are worth almost 20 billion Swedish Krona around $1.8 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Built by KNDS Deutschland (formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann), the modernized tanks are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2030, while the 44 newly manufactured tanks will be delivered from 2028 to 2031. When plans to modernize the Stridsvagn 122 were first announced, it was said that the upgraded vehicles would serve at least into the 2030s. The Stridsvagn 123A and 123B will be among the absolute most modern tanks in the world, Goran Martensson, director of the FMV, said in a statement. Compared to Stridsvagn 122, it is basically a completely new tank, although they may look similar on the outside. The Leopard 2A5, which was introduced in the mid-1990s, is armed with a 120mm/L44 smoothbore main gun, which was superseded in later versions, including the Leopard 2A8, with a longer-barrel 120mm/L55 gun. The Leopard 2A5 primarily differed from earlier models in having additional armor protection on the turret and the hull. Swedish Stridsvagn 122 tanks during the Strong Europe Tank Challenge at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, in 2018. U.S. Army photo by Christoph Koppers Christoph Koppers Overall, the Leopard 2A8 is broadly similar in many respects to the Leopard 2A7V, in use since 2014, which features an air-conditioning system, advanced optronics, and programmable ammunition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Leopard 2A8 retains the same engine, transmission, and main gun as the Leopard 2A7V, it features additional defensive measures, including the latest version of the Israeli-made Rafael Trophy active standoff protection system, which you can read more about here. The promotional video below from Trophys manufacturer Rafael offers a good general overview of how the system functions: You can read more about the differences between Leopard 2 variants here. Sweden originally acquired 120 Stridsvagn 122 tanks in the mid-1990s. These have since received modest upgrades and 10 of them have been provided to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Swedish tank orders are, in part, intended to compensate for the transfers to Ukraine. A similar program of backfilling is also replacing artillery pieces, combat vehicles, naval craft, ammunition, and anti-tank weapons that Sweden has also donated to Ukraine. However, building up the Swedish Armed Forces tank branch is a lot more than that, with an increase in overall numbers as well as capabilities, part of a new posture that has been developed in line with NATO membership and the resurgent military threat from Russia. In 2013, for example, before Russias annexation of Crimea, Swedens active tank fleet had been reduced to just 42 Stridsvagn 122s, with tanks being rotated in and out of storage to reduce wear and tear. By 2015, Sweden had decided to field an additional tank company on the island of Gotland, which occupies a strategic position in the Baltic, and which had been highly militarized during the Cold War. An armored training exercise on Gotland in 2021 marked the first time that tanks had been on the island for 20 years. Meanwhile, tank numbers overall have been increased, with previously stored Stridsvagn 122s returned to service. A Stridsvagn 122 during the first tank training exercise on the island of Gotland in 20 years, which took place in 2021. Swedish Ministry of Defense Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the new and upgraded tanks are in service, Sweden will have 154 tanks, compared with the 110 that are available today, according to the Swedish Armed Forces. At the same time, the choice of the Leopard 2A8 provides commonality not only with Lithuania and Norway, but also with Germany and the Netherlands, who have also ordered it, and which are also increasingly focused on land warfare operations in the Baltic region. Driven by new NATO memberships for Finland and Sweden, the value of commonality across weapons systems, for the Nordic countries in particular, is something that we have discussed in the past. As well as new and upgraded tanks, Sweden has also decided to modernize its fleet of Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) tracked armored fighting vehicles. This work is valued at a little more than 5 billion Swedish Krona (around $450 million) and is scheduled to be completed by 2030. Around 500 vehicles in the CV90 family are currently in Swedish service. A Swedish CV9040 armored infantry fighting vehicle participating in the Aurora international defense exercise, in 2017. Minnesota National Guard Staff Sgt. Anthony Housey Overall, the investments in new and improved armor are part of Swedens plan to increase the size of its army, including adding another four Army brigades by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is crucial for us to be able to reach the high goals that politics has set for the Armed Forces and FMV, Swedish Minister of Defense Pal Jonson said during a visit to the Gotland Regiment earlier this week. These are lofty goals, but they must be lofty goals in the serious global situation we have right now, he added. When Sweden joined NATO, it was a direct result of Russias illegal, unprovoked, and indefensible war of aggression in Ukraine, according to Swedens Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom, speaking last year. We must plan and prepare for a prolonged confrontation with Russia. We must counter Russias expansion of power by constraining its influence, its freedom of action, and ultimately its ability to do harm, Billstrom added. In October last year, the Swedish government confirmed plans to increase the size of its armed forces, adding around 27,000 soldiers by 2030 to provide a total of around 115,000 personnel, both professional soldiers and conscripts. A medical team of the Swedish military at the P7 military base in Revingehed, Sweden on Oct. 24, 2024. From 2025, the P7 regiment will contribute half a battalion (about 600 soldiers and officers) to the NATO Forward Land Forces (FLF) in Latvia. Photo by Johan Nilsson/TT / TT News Agency / AFP JOHAN NILSSON/TT This expansion is being enabled by an increase in defense spending, including an additional 170 billion Swedish Krona ($16.41 billion) announced last year, on top of the normal annual budget over the coming five years. By 2028, defense spending will amount to 2.6% of GDP in 2028, compared to 2.2% in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as new and upgraded armor, key Swedish defense procurement programs include modernization of the Swedish Navys five Visby class corvettes, including providing them with new air defense systems and buying three larger Lulea class corvettes. Meanwhile, the Swedish Air Force is to receive a third GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, as well as 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to add to the 15 already operated. An artists impression of the future Lulea class corvette. Saab As well as the Kremlins full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has had other causes for concern as a result of Russian military activities closer to its borders. In a notorious incident in 2013, Russian bombers simulated a nuclear attack on the capital, Stockholm, with the Swedish Air Force unable to respond. Flying across the Gulf of Finland, the Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers came within 18 to 24 miles of Swedish territory near Gotland Island, around 100 miles from Stockholm. The lack of Swedish fighters on quick reaction alert at the time became a matter of controversy and a stark reminder of a lack of preparedness for war. Instead, two Danish F-16 fighters shadowed the Russian aircraft. In 2014, there were reports of a Russian submarine operating in the shallow waters of the Stockholm archipelago, supported by five credible public sightings. The Swedish Navy abandoned efforts to find the submarine after a week, in another embarrassing incident for the armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, preparations for a potential war with Russia have included issuing every household, in 2018, with pamphlets titled If crisis or war comes, in a throwback to the days of the Cold War. A man holds the new version of the preparedness booklet If crisis or war comes, that was distributed to all Swedish households, in November 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo by Claudio BRESCIANI / TT News Agency / AFP CLAUDIO BRESCIANI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have also been growing concerns more widely within NATO about Russian hybrid warfare, especially in the Baltic region. Here, there has been a spate of apparent sabotage against undersea infrastructure, specifically undersea cables, with suspicions that this may have been inspired by, if not carried out by the Kremlin. In Sweden itself, unidentified drones have been seen in the airspace over multiple nuclear power facilities, as well as in restricted airspace over Swedens Royal Palace. Against this backdrop, the procurement of new tanks for the Swedish Armed Forces, and the modernization of existing armor, was to be expected. In addition to providing a boost in capabilities and numbers to Swedens tank forces, its a move that further underscores the resurgence of the main battle tank after many years of force reductions within Europe. Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com On 9 January the Venezuelan opposition leader,, was arrested and then released as she made her first public appearance in months at a protest in Caracas. End of preview - This article contains approximately 599 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Friday about the potential TikTok ban. While many people use TikTok as just a means to watch funny videos, there are small business owners for whom its much, much more. Kristina Molinaro, owner of Twenty Five and Pine, is among the latter. TikTok: What do polls say Americans think of it? TikTok helped Molinaro and her husband take their Dayton-based woodworking business Twenty-Five and Pine full-time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a community, its a lifeline for us, said Molinaro. Its where weve built our business. She said it would be detrimental if the app disappeared. Weve been building this platform for ourselves for the past four-plus years at this point, she said. So for that to just disappear as a revenue source for us, as a small business, but for other small businesses I cant even imagine. Could Trump save TikTok from potential ban? Molinaros livelihood and the livelihoods of countless other creators are now in the hands of the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments from both sides Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the app fast approaching, the court has just days to make its decision. TikToks attorneys argued the ban would violate the First Amendment, while the U.S. governments lawyers said the app poses a national security threat due its Chinese ties. Over the two hours of arguments, justices appeared likely to uphold the law banning the app unless its sold to a U.S.-based company. Despite the looming deadline, Molinaro said she isnt giving up just yet. Just kind of a matter of figuring out whats next and still holding out hope that it might stay around, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who knows whats going to happen at this point. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwans economic minister said the impact of Donald Trump in certain areas will be somewhat limited because he can only serve a single term, rare frank comments that show how governments around the world are gaming out the president-elects return to office. Most Read from Bloomberg Trump will only be in office for four years and cant run for another term so his impact will be limited, Economic Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said at a press briefing Friday in Taipei. He made the comments in response to a reporters question about negative things Trump has said about the wind power industry a sector Taiwans government is keen to develop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump cannot run again because US law limits presidents to two terms, regardless of whether they are consecutive, and he previously served from 2017-2021. Officials in Taipei are somewhat nervous about Trumps return to the White House because they rely on US military support to deter China from invading and their trade surplus with the US could make Taiwan a target for tariffs. The Republican has suggested the archipelago should pay the US for its defense and cast doubt over whether the US would defend the self-governed democracy of 23 million from any Chinese attack, as President Joe Biden repeatedly pledged. Also, in a July interview with Bloomberg Businessweek before the US election, Trump accused Taiwan of taking about 100% of our chip business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the briefing Friday, Kuo said the government in Taipei would support moving supply chains related to the automobile and information and communications technology industries to the US because they would be impacted the most of any sector in Taiwan by tariffs. Earlier, Taiwans central bank suggested stepping up purchases of US energy, agricultural goods and military equipment moves that could ward off Trumps tariff threats. The banks governor, Yang Chin-long, has also said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.s investments in the US might help alleviate its trade imbalance with the worlds largest economy, and other Taiwanese companies could consider following suit. (Updates with more context.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Joe Cash and Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) - China has almost doubled its tally of injured in Tibet's deadly earthquake as rescuers widened a search on Friday for survivors in a remote county near the foothills of the Himalayas, despite dwindling hopes for survival. The state-backed Global Times newspaper said the magnitude 6.8 quake had injured 337, for the first increase since Tuesday's initial estimate of 188, although the number of dead stayed at 126. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not yet clear how many are still missing, but more than three days later, experts say those trapped under the rubble are likely to have died of hypothermia. Night-time temperatures in the region average from minus 10 degrees Celsius to minus 15 degrees C (14 degrees Fahrenheit to 5 degrees F), at this time of year, excluding wind chill. More than 1,600 aftershocks had rocked the disaster zone by Friday, adding to the difficulty of moving more than 47,000 affected people to temporary shelters. "Make sure no one is left behind!" was the headline of a report in the state-run Tibet Daily that said the top regional official of China's ruling Communist Party took action in less than half an hour after the quake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tibet's most serious disaster in years, the earthquake presents authorities with the challenge of quickly rescuing those still trapped, finding the bodies of the dead, and housing the tens of thousands displaced. Its party secretary, Wang Junzheng, visited the hardest-hit villages in the quake epicentre in the county of Tingri. "The elderly people held Wang Junzheng's hands, touched his forehead according to Tibetan customs, and shed tears," the paper said. Many grassroots cadres, including local Tibetan officials, joined the relief effort to sift rubble and guard resettlement sites, even though their own homes collapsed, it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi met top ruling party officials to "study and arrange disaster relief," the official Xinhua news agency said. "Efforts must be made to ensure a decisive victory in this tough battle," it quoted top leaders as saying, as they urged faster rebuilding and improvement in resilience. Authorities must also find longer-term housing for the tens of thousands displaced, beyond warm tents, while ensuring a steady supply of daily necessities. The government has sent 743,000 tonnes of items such as grain, cooking oil, meat and vegetables to the area, with the commerce ministry saying a further 2,000 tons of frozen pork and 1,600 tons of frozen beef and mutton are ready for delivery. (Reporting by Joe Cash and Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Tampa City Council is considering a $3 million plan to help residents like Belina Trask, who was affected by the hurricanes, with mortgage assistance. Its 2025 and Trask is still fighting to make her Forest Hills house a home again. Half the house flooded, she said. Pinellas residents struggle with permit delays, seek accountability So, like everyone else, Trask went to FEMA for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had an inspector come out here, she said. He did everything. He wrote everything, and we thought everything was going to be great, Trask continued. Then, we get news from FEMA that everything is basically denied, she explained. We got a whopping $278. Its a story far too common in Tampa Bay, as thousands of people like Trask are left piecing their lives together one dollar at a time. News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, What is the city doing to make these people whole again? The city is doing a financial assistance program, he responded. Its about $3 million thats being budgeted for at this time to help families (who) are lower income, working class or middle-class families with mortgage assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viera said this $3 million wont solve everyones problems but is a step in the right direction. Of course the citys finances are limited, but my view is we should do everything we can do with the understanding and the idea that if it was us going through that, we would want to make sure we provide this assistance, Viera said. The Tampa City Council will vote on this plan on Jan 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Dillon Siebeck, 46, was the unarmed man Glendale police shot and killed while responding to a call for help that didn't involve him. "Why not use less-lethal force?" said his sister-in-law, Kelli Siebeck of Wyoming, on Friday. "Why do you got to just shoot him? I don't understand." Dillon Siebeck was killed on the night of Jan. 8. Officers mistakenly thought he was connected with a domestic violence call, according to the Peoria Police Department, which is investigating the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glendale police officers visited the area of Horizon Park at 47th and Diana avenues and found the vehicle of the man they were seeking in relation to the domestic violence call, but they did not see anyone inside. Officers saw Dillon Siebeck in the park and mistook him for the man they sought. An officer shot Dillon Siebeck after he appeared to reach for his waistband, according to Peoria police. Kelli Siebeck said she was both "mindblown" and frustrated at how police responded. She said she wondered if anyone would be held accountable. "He was sitting in a gazebo in a park that had nothing to do with anything that was going on," she said. "I understand adrenaline was high, but ... they were right next to the suspect's car, and he was in the car." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers involved in the shooting were put on administrative leave, said Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago on Friday. Kelli Siebeck's husband, Dillon Siebeck's brother, was torn up, she said. The brothers had unexpectedly lost their dad in 2023. Dillon Siebeck was on community supervision after being released from the Arizona Department of Corrections on Dec. 30. He was in prison for burglary, according to the department's website. Elected official: 'There must be accountability for this horrifying act' The Peoria Police Department is leading the West Valley Incident Response Team task forces investigation into the fatal shooting. Peoria police spokesperson Kristopher Babros said the incident was an active investigation and declined to provide further information about what authorities have learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were seeking a man who was accused by his ex-girlfriend of threatening her with a gun, according to a news release from Peoria police. Police found the vehicle the woman had described at the park but said the windows were too darkly tinted to see if anyone was inside. Officers saw Siebeck sitting under a gazebo in the park and thought he was the man they were looking for, according to Peoria police. An officer fired "at least one" shot at Siebeck, police said. He died at the scene, and officers did not discover a firearm on him. All the details: Glendale police shoot, kill wrong man after domestic violence call After the shooting, police approached the vehicle to find the man they were seeking inside with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Peoria police. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives did not find any connection between Siebeck and the man in the car, according to Peoria police. Horizon Elementary School at North 47th Avenue and West Butler Drive is adjacent to Horizon Park in Glendale. The shooting drew criticism from an elected official who will represent the area in the Legislature, who called it "unacceptable." "Earlier this week, Glendale police shot and killed an innocent man who was just sitting in a park," Arizona Senator-elect Analise Ortiz said in a statement. "The police involved ... were responding to a domestic violence call and shot at the innocent man before confirming it was their suspect. This is unacceptable and there must be accountability for this horrifying act." Ortiz called for transparency from the task force, including public release of the body camera footage of the shooting, and demanded a detailed explanation about the disciplinary action that the officer who fired his gun will face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There must also be broader action from the Glendale Police Department to ensure a deadly mistake like this never happens again," she said. "Our community deserves to be safe from the threat of unchecked police violence." The West Valley Incident Response Team was created in 2021 and includes nine agencies. The purpose of the task force is to streamline investigations into use-of-force cases and officer-involved shootings. Use-of-force and officer-involved shooting investigations must be referred to an outside agency, which can be a regional task force, based on a state law passed in 2021. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Relative of unarmed man shot by Glendale police speaks out TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) Once Tauntons only hotel, the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center has served as emergency shelter housing for years, but Mayor Shauna OConnell said it has posed significant challenges. The Clarion Hotel is among the locations slated for inspection following Gov. Maura Healeys order to review all state-run emergency shelters. We just ran the numbers. We have had about 97 fire calls, added in with police calls. Thats about 200 calls total. It is a challenge and a strain on our public safety services, OConnell told 12 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the state and the hotel fund a 24/7 police detail at the shelter, OConnell supports Healeys decision to conduct inspections. Im glad that the governor is taking steps to do some more stringent check-ins on them, but the fact that they are there already is concerning, she said. There are many women and children in these shelters, and we want to make sure that everyone is safe and secure. MORE: Healey orders inspection of state-run shelters after drugs, AR-15 found Healeys directive to initiate comprehensive reviews of state-run shelters and their intake processes aims to prevent criminal activity and determine whether additional safeguards are needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres zero tolerance for criminal activity or bad actors within any of the shelter sites or state-sponsored sites, Healey said. The decision follows the recent arrest of an undocumented immigrant who was reportedly found with more than $1 million worth of fentanyl and an AR-15 in his unit at the Quality Inn in Revere. He remains in state custody. While Healey noted that most shelter residents comply with the rules, OConnell believes the state needs to reevaluate certain policies. The state needs to look at the right-to-shelter law and ensure that we have Massachusetts residents in our shelters, OConnell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement REPORT: Massachusetts sees 74% increase in family homelessness Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) A Taunton woman accused of stealing nearly $27,000 worth of products from more than a dozen Stop & Shop grocery stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island has been convicted, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. Jacqueline White, 42, pleaded guilty Thursday to larceny by false pretenses Thursday and subsequently received a three-year suspended sentence. RELATED: Taunton women accused of stealing $27K worth of goods using counterfeit coupons Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents revealed that White and her suspected accomplice, 41-year-old Crystal Travis, allegedly passed at least 3,365 counterfeit coupons at stores in East Providence, Smithfield and Pawtucket, as well as in Foxboro, Quincy, Weymouth, Raynham, Plainville, Whitman, Abington, Pembroke, Norwell, Hingham, North Dartmouth, New Bedford, Sandwich and Brockton. The women both made and purchased the high-quality coupons between March and June that worked with Stop & Shop Rewards Program cards, according to prosecutors. Court documents explained that the theft went virtually undetected because their counterfeit coupons contained barcodes and graphic designs mirroring legitimate third-party vendor coupons. The coupons often gave the women steep discounts on a variety of products, ranging from dish soap to laundry detergent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the women would not only resell the stolen products online for highly discounted prices, but would also tout their success on social media. White and Travis were charged following a monthslong investigation that unraveled their counterfeit coupon scheme. Cruz said Travis was given a continuance without a finding last summer, which allows her to avoid conviction by completing a successful probationary term. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Street Cop founder Dennis Benigno has defended his companys police trainings and said the comptroller focused on isolated excerpts taken out of context. (Screengrab of training courtesy of New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller) New Jersey law enforcement agencies paid a controversial private police-training firm more than $1 million for training that promoted discriminatory and unconstitutional tactics, a state watchdog found in a new report. Even after the state attorney general banned officers from Street Cops courses and conferences, at least 20 officers ignored that 2023 order and signed up for the companys 2024 annual conference in Florida, acting State Comptroller Kevin D. Walsh said in a report released Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Company instructors even offered to help officers hide their Street Cop involvement, and one an active state trooper asked to continue selling his courses through Street Cop without it being publicly advertised so that he could avoid any scrutiny from NJ, investigators found. Altogether, more than 2,700 public entities from every state but Hawaii including at least 377 New Jersey agencies spent public funds between January 2019 and March 2023 on Street Cop training where instructors made lewd and harassing remarks, glorified violence, encouraged insubordination, and otherwise taught improper or dangerous policing strategies, the report says. Officers from 23 of Rhode Islands 39 municipalities are among those who participated in Street Cop training, according to the report. The report comes a year after Walsh first sounded the alarm on problematic content at Street Cops 2021 annual conference in Atlantic City, which drew nearly 1,000 attendees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new findings show an urgent need for state policymakers to act to more tightly regulate post-academy police training, Walsh said. Our original report exposed the dangerous gap in regulation and oversight of private, post-academy police training in New Jersey. This supplemental report shows the problem is bigger than we previously reported, and it has not gone away, Walsh said in a statement. When there are hundreds of law enforcement agencies spending public funds on clearly subpar training, and some are even repeat customers, the risks to public safety are high. After Walshs first report, Attorney General Matt Platkin ordered all New Jersey officers who attended Street Cops 2021 conference to be retrained and prohibited the state Department of Law and Public Safety from covering the cost of Street Cop training. Walsh said on Thursday that he shared the names of officers found to be involved with Street Cop beyond that 2021 conference to Platkins office for further investigation or action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Platkin said his offices civil rights division will consider the latest findings, and officers face additional retraining. It is critical that the training our law enforcement officers receive corresponds to the directives, policies and best practices that have been implemented, Platkin said in a statement. Street Cop was founded in 2012 by a former Woodbridge police officer, Dennis Benigno, who last year laid partial blame on Walshs investigation when his company declared bankruptcy. Benignos attorney, Jonathan Cohen, told the New Jersey Monitor Thursday that the 20-plus officers who signed up for Street Cops 2024 conference did not go. He criticized Walsh for being fixated on Street Cop and more concerned about obtaining headlines than affecting positive change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said theres no indication Walsh and his investigators have scrutinized about 100 other police-training firms that do business in New Jersey. A Walsh spokeswoman said the office doesnt comment on ongoing investigations. The state comptroller is issuing a report about a company that hasnt done business effectively in New Jersey for the entire past year. I think Street Cop Training has real concerns, as should all taxpayers in the state of New Jersey, why the agency is rehashing information about this company and spending money going to 49 states that dont include New Jersey to find out about whether theyre using Street Cop training, Cohen said. Walsh said his Street Cop probe proves broad deficiencies with the states oversight of private police training in New Jersey. The state now relies on officers to report when such training is improper, a strategy thats ineffective, given the latest findings, he said. This further underscores that there is a need for a dedicated entity to oversee post-academy training, including establishing uniform standards and reviewing and approving training courses provided by private companies, instructors, and vendors who receive public funds in New Jersey, the report notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Jersey Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Terrence T. McDonald for questions: info@newjerseymonitor.com. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Technologists say the hazy definition of artificial intelligence leaves a wide opening for companies to over-promise or over-market the capabilities of their products or even render AI more of a marketing gimmick than a real technology. (Photo illustration by tolgart/Getty Images) In his college courses at Stanford University, Jehangir Amjad poses a curious question to his students: Was the 1969 moon landing a product of artificial intelligence? It might sound like a work of science fiction, or time travel, he said, but understanding the history of AI answers the question for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would actually argue, yes, a lot of the algorithms that were part of what put us on the moon are precursors to a lot of what we are seeing today as well, said Amjad, a Bay Area technology executive and a computer science lecturer at Stanford. Its essentially precursors to the same kind of similar sort of next, next, next generation algorithms. Amjad poses the question to his students to underline how hard it is to actually define artificial intelligence. This has become even more difficult as the technology explodes in sophistication and public awareness. The beauty and the dilemma is, what is AI? is actually very hard to define, Amjad said. That broad definition and public understanding of artificial intelligence can make it difficult for both consumers and the tech industry to parse out what is real AI and what is simply marketed as such. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swapnil Shinde, the Los Altos, California-based CEO and cofounder of AI bookkeeping software Zeni, has seen it through his investment firm Twin Ventures. Over the last two years, Shinde has seen a huge uptick in companies seeking funding that describe themselves as AI-powered or AI-driven. The AI market is very saturated, and some AI companies in fact just use the technology in a very small part of their product, he said. Its very easy to figure out after a few conversations if the startup is just building a wrap around ChatGPT and calling that a product, Shinde said. And if thats the case, they are not going to survive for long, because its not really deep tech. It isnt solving a very deep, painful problem that was driven by humans for a long period of time. The rush to build AI Since early 2023, Theresa Fesinstine said she has observed a race in the corporate world to introduce AI technologies in order to stay competitive and relevant. Its when she launched her AI education company, peoplepower.ai, in which she leads workshops, teaches organizations about how AI is built and consults them on which tools might be a good fit for their needs. In a time where everyone wants to claim the most cutting edge tools, some basic education about AI can help both companies and their employees navigate the technology landscape, the Norwalk, Connecticut-based founder said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should doubt wherever we start seeing claims of originality coming from AI because originality is a very human trait. Jehangir Amjad, tech executive and Stanford lecturer In an effort to look more innovative, companies may tout basic automations or rule-based alerts as exciting new AI tools, Fesinstine said. While these tools do use some foundational technologies of AI, the companies could be overstating the tools abilities, she said, especially when they throw around the popular buzzword term generative AI, which uses complicated algorithms and deep learning techniques to learn, adapt and predict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pressure on companies to keep up with the latest and greatest may also lead some organizations to buy new AI software tools, even if they dont have a strategy to implement and train their employees how to best use it. Its predatory, I would say, Fesinstine said. For companies, especially those that are feeling unsure of what AI is going to look like, what it should be, people have a fear of being left behind. Some technologists argue that ambiguity around what is or isnt AI allows for all kinds of tech products to be sold as such. Predictive analytics, for example, which uses data to forecast future outcomes, may be borderline AI, said Ed Watal, the Reston, Virginia-based founder of IT and AI strategy consultancy firm Intellibus. True AI systems use algorithms to sort, analyze and review data, and make informed decisions on what to do with it, based on what humans prompt it to do. The learning aspects of these systems are how AI gets smarter over time through neural networks which take feedback and use history to get better at completing tasks over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the purists, the purists, will argue that AI is only machine learning and deep learning, he said. AI washing Though there seems to be an AI-powered company promising to do pretty much any task for you, technologists warn that todays real AI has its limitations. Watal said the industry has seen some AI washing or over-promising and over-marketing the uses of AI. A company that promises that its AI tool can build a website from the ground up could be an example, he said. While you could get ChatGPT or another AI algorithm to generate the code, it cant create a fully functioning website, he said. You wouldnt be able to do things which require, lets say, something as simple as sending an email, because sending an email requires a [simple mail transfer protocol] server, Watal said. Yeah, you could ask this AI tool to also write the code for a mail server, but youd still have to host it and run it somewhere. So its not as simple as, oh, you click a button and you have an entire app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amjad, who is also the head of AI Platform at generative AI company Ikigai, said companies sometimes over-promise and over-market the ability of AI to perform original, creative tasks. While artificial intelligence tools are great at pattern recognition, data sorting and generating ideas based on existing content, humans remain the source of original, creative tasks and output, he said. People would argue that in the public imagination, AI is creating a lot of things, but really its regurgitating. Its not creating, right? Amjad said. And we should doubt wherever we start seeing claims of originality coming from AI because originality is a very human trait. Its definitely not the first time that a new technology has captured the publics attention and led to a marketing frenzy, Watal said. About a decade ago, the concept of Web3, or a decentralized internet that relies on blockchain technology, quickly grew in popularity, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blockchain technology operates as sort of a public ledger, where transactions and records are kept in an accessible forum. Its the basis of many cryptocurrencies, and while it has become more mainstream in recent years, it hasnt taken over the internet as was predicted about a decade ago. The cloud is another example of a technology marketing makeover, Watal said. The concept of remote servers storing information separately from your hardware goes back decades, but after Apples introduction of the Elastic Compute Cloud in 2006, every technology company competed to get their claim to the cloud. Only time will tell if we are overusing or underusing the term artificial intelligence, Amjad said. I think its very clear that both the hype and the promise, and the promise of applications is actually pretty real, Amjad said. But that doesnt mean that we may not be, in certain quarters, overdoing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amjad suspects the interest in AI will only continue to rise, but he feels Ikigais technology is one that will prove itself amid the hype cycle. Yes, its come and captured the public imagination. And Im absolutely thrilled about that part, but its something that builds upon a very long tradition of these things, Amjad said. And I wish that would help temper some of the expectations the hype cycle has actually existed in AI, at least a couple of times, in the last, maybe, 50 years itself. Technologists say the hazy definition of artificial intelligence leaves a wide opening for companies to over-promise or over-market the capabilities of their products or even render AI more of a marketing gimmick than a real technology. (Photo illustration by tolgart/Getty Images) NOTE: The lowercase on tolgart in photo credit is CQ per Getty site. In his college courses at Stanford University, Jehangir Amjad poses a curious question to his students: Was the 1969 moon landing a product of artificial intelligence? It might sound like a work of science fiction, or time travel, he said, but understanding the history of AI answers the question for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would actually argue, yes, a lot of the algorithms that were part of what put us on the moon are precursors to a lot of what we are seeing today as well, said Amjad, a Bay Area technology executive and a computer science lecturer at Stanford. Its essentially precursors to the same kind of similar sort of next, next, next generation algorithms. Amjad poses the question to his students to underline how hard it is to actually define artificial intelligence. This has become even more difficult as the technology explodes in sophistication and public awareness. The beauty and the dilemma is, what is AI? is actually very hard to define, Amjad said. That broad definition and public understanding of artificial intelligence can make it difficult for both consumers and the tech industry to parse out what is real AI and what is simply marketed as such. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swapnil Shinde, the Los Altos, California-based CEO and cofounder of AI bookkeeping software Zeni, has seen it through his investment firm Twin Ventures. Over the last two years, Shinde has seen a huge uptick in companies seeking funding that describe themselves as AI-powered or AI-driven. The AI market is very saturated, and some AI companies in fact just use the technology in a very small part of their product, he said. Its very easy to figure out after a few conversations if the startup is just building a wrap around ChatGPT and calling that a product, Shinde said. And if thats the case, they are not going to survive for long, because its not really deep tech. It isnt solving a very deep, painful problem that was driven by humans for a long period of time. The rush to build AI Since early 2023, Theresa Fesinstine said she has observed a race in the corporate world to introduce AI technologies in order to stay competitive and relevant. Its when she launched her AI education company, peoplepower.ai, in which she leads workshops, teaches organizations about how AI is built and consults them on which tools might be a good fit for their needs. In a time where everyone wants to claim the most cutting edge tools, some basic education about AI can help both companies and their employees navigate the technology landscape, the Norwalk, Connecticut-based founder said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to look more innovative, companies may tout basic automations or rule-based alerts as exciting new AI tools, Fesinstine said. While these tools do use some foundational technologies of AI, the companies could be overstating the tools abilities, she said, especially when they throw around the popular buzzword term generative AI, which uses complicated algorithms and deep learning techniques to learn, adapt and predict. We should doubt wherever we start seeing claims of originality coming from AI because originality is a very human trait. Jehangir Amjad, tech executive and Stanford lecturer The pressure on companies to keep up with the latest and greatest may also lead some organizations to buy new AI software tools, even if they dont have a strategy to implement and train their employees how to best use it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its predatory, I would say, Fesinstine said. For companies, especially those that are feeling unsure of what AI is going to look like, what it should be, people have a fear of being left behind. Some technologists argue that ambiguity around what is or isnt AI allows for all kinds of tech products to be sold as such. Predictive analytics, for example, which uses data to forecast future outcomes, may be borderline AI, said Ed Watal, the Reston, Virginia-based founder of IT and AI strategy consultancy firm Intellibus. True AI systems use algorithms to sort, analyze and review data, and make informed decisions on what to do with it, based on what humans prompt it to do. The learning aspects of these systems are how AI gets smarter over time through neural networks which take feedback and use history to get better at completing tasks over time. But the purists, the purists, will argue that AI is only machine learning and deep learning, he said. AI washing Though there seems to be an AI-powered company promising to do pretty much any task for you, technologists warn that todays real AI has its limitations. Watal said the industry has seen some AI washing or over-promising and over-marketing the uses of AI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A company that promises that its AI tool can build a website from the ground up could be an example, he said. While you could get ChatGPT or another AI algorithm to generate the code, it cant create a fully functioning website, he said. You wouldnt be able to do things which require, lets say, something as simple as sending an email, because sending an email requires a [simple mail transfer protocol] server, Watal said. Yeah, you could ask this AI tool to also write the code for a mail server, but youd still have to host it and run it somewhere. So its not as simple as, oh, you click a button and you have an entire app. Amjad, who is also the head of AI Platform at generative AI company Ikigai, said companies sometimes over-promise and over-market the ability of AI to perform original, creative tasks. While artificial intelligence tools are great at pattern recognition, data sorting and generating ideas based on existing content, humans remain the source of original, creative tasks and output, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People would argue that in the public imagination, AI is creating a lot of things, but really its regurgitating. Its not creating, right? Amjad said. And we should doubt wherever we start seeing claims of originality coming from AI because originality is a very human trait. Its definitely not the first time that a new technology has captured the publics attention and led to a marketing frenzy, Watal said. About a decade ago, the concept of Web3, or a decentralized internet that relies on blockchain technology, quickly grew in popularity, he said. Blockchain technology operates as sort of a public ledger, where transactions and records are kept in an accessible forum. Its the basis of many cryptocurrencies, and while it has become more mainstream in recent years, it hasnt taken over the internet as was predicted about a decade ago. The cloud is another example of a technology marketing makeover, Watal said. The concept of remote servers storing information separately from your hardware goes back decades, but after Apples introduction of the Elastic Compute Cloud in 2006, every technology company competed to get their claim to the cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only time will tell if we are overusing or underusing the term artificial intelligence, Amjad said. I think its very clear that both the hype and the promise, and the promise of applications is actually pretty real, Amjad said. But that doesnt mean that we may not be, in certain quarters, overdoing it. Amjad suspects the interest in AI will only continue to rise, but he feels Ikigais technology is one that will prove itself amid the hype cycle. Yes, its come and captured the public imagination. And Im absolutely thrilled about that part, but its something that builds upon a very long tradition of these things, Amjad said. And I wish that would help temper some of the expectations the hype cycle has actually existed in AI, at least a couple of times, in the last, maybe, 50 years itself. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Technologists say the hazy definition of artificial intelligence leaves a wide opening for companies to over-promise or over-market the capabilities of their products or even render AI more of a marketing gimmick than a real technology. (Photo illustration by tolgart | Getty Images) In his college courses at Stanford University, Jehangir Amjad poses a curious question to his students: Was the 1969 moon landing a product of artificial intelligence? It might sound like a work of science fiction, or time travel, he said, but understanding the history of AI answers the question for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would actually argue, yes, a lot of the algorithms that were part of what put us on the moon are precursors to a lot of what we are seeing today as well, said Amjad, a Bay Area technology executive and a computer science lecturer at Stanford. Its essentially precursors to the same kind of similar sort of next, next, next generation algorithms. Amjad poses the question to his students to underline how hard it is to actually define artificial intelligence. This has become even more difficult as the technology explodes in sophistication and public awareness. The beauty and the dilemma is, what is AI? is actually very hard to define, Amjad said. That broad definition and public understanding of artificial intelligence can make it difficult for both consumers and the tech industry to parse out what is real AI and what is simply marketed as such. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swapnil Shinde, the Los Altos, California-based CEO and cofounder of AI bookkeeping software Zeni, has seen it through his investment firm Twin Ventures. Over the last two years, Shinde has seen a huge uptick in companies seeking funding that describe themselves as AI-powered or AI-driven. The AI market is very saturated, and some AI companies in fact just use the technology in a very small part of their product, he said. Its very easy to figure out after a few conversations if the startup is just building a wrap around ChatGPT and calling that a product, Shinde said. And if thats the case, they are not going to survive for long, because its not really deep tech. It isnt solving a very deep, painful problem that was driven by humans for a long period of time. The rush to build AI Since early 2023, Theresa Fesinstine said she has observed a race in the corporate world to introduce AI technologies in order to stay competitive and relevant. Its when she launched her AI education company, peoplepower.ai, in which she leads workshops, teaches organizations about how AI is built and consults them on which tools might be a good fit for their needs. In a time where everyone wants to claim the most cutting edge tools, some basic education about AI can help both companies and their employees navigate the technology landscape, the Norwalk, Connecticut-based founder said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to look more innovative, companies may tout basic automations or rule-based alerts as exciting new AI tools, Fesinstine said. While these tools do use some foundational technologies of AI, the companies could be overstating the tools abilities, she said, especially when they throw around the popular buzzword term generative AI, which uses complicated algorithms and deep learning techniques to learn, adapt and predict. The pressure on companies to keep up with the latest and greatest may also lead some organizations to buy new AI software tools, even if they dont have a strategy to implement and train their employees how to best use it. Its predatory, I would say, Fesinstine said. For companies, especially those that are feeling unsure of what AI is going to look like, what it should be, people have a fear of being left behind. Some technologists argue that ambiguity around what is or isnt AI allows for all kinds of tech products to be sold as such. Predictive analytics, for example, which uses data to forecast future outcomes, may be borderline AI, said Ed Watal, the Reston, Virginia-based founder of IT and AI strategy consultancy firm Intellibus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True AI systems use algorithms to sort, analyze and review data, and make informed decisions on what to do with it, based on what humans prompt it to do. The learning aspects of these systems are how AI gets smarter over time through neural networks which take feedback and use history to get better at completing tasks over time. But the purists, the purists, will argue that AI is only machine learning and deep learning, he said. AI washing Though there seems to be an AI-powered company promising to do pretty much any task for you, technologists warn that todays real AI has its limitations. Watal said the industry has seen some AI washing or over-promising and over-marketing the uses of AI. A company that promises that its AI tool can build a website from the ground up could be an example, he said. While you could get ChatGPT or another AI algorithm to generate the code, it cant create a fully functioning website, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You wouldnt be able to do things which require, lets say, something as simple as sending an email, because sending an email requires a [simple mail transfer protocol] server, Watal said. Yeah, you could ask this AI tool to also write the code for a mail server, but youd still have to host it and run it somewhere. So its not as simple as, oh, you click a button and you have an entire app. Amjad, who is also the head of AI Platform at generative AI company Ikigai, said companies sometimes over-promise and over-market the ability of AI to perform original, creative tasks. We should doubt wherever we start seeing claims of originality coming from AI because originality is a very human trait. Jehangir Amjad, tech executive and Stanford lecturer While artificial intelligence tools are great at pattern recognition, data sorting and generating ideas based on existing content, humans remain the source of original, creative tasks and output, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People would argue that in the public imagination, AI is creating a lot of things, but really its regurgitating. Its not creating, right? Amjad said. And we should doubt wherever we start seeing claims of originality coming from AI because originality is a very human trait. Its definitely not the first time that a new technology has captured the publics attention and led to a marketing frenzy, Watal said. About a decade ago, the concept of Web3, or a decentralized internet that relies on blockchain technology, quickly grew in popularity, he said. Blockchain technology operates as sort of a public ledger, where transactions and records are kept in an accessible forum. Its the basis of many cryptocurrencies, and while it has become more mainstream in recent years, it hasnt taken over the internet as was predicted about a decade ago. The cloud is another example of a technology marketing makeover, Watal said. The concept of remote servers storing information separately from your hardware goes back decades, but after Apples introduction of the Elastic Compute Cloud in 2006, every technology company competed to get their claim to the cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only time will tell if we are overusing or underusing the term artificial intelligence, Amjad said. I think its very clear that both the hype and the promise, and the promise of applications is actually pretty real, Amjad said. But that doesnt mean that we may not be, in certain quarters, overdoing it. Amjad suspects the interest in AI will only continue to rise, but he feels Ikigais technology is one that will prove itself amid the hype cycle. Yes, its come and captured the public imagination. And Im absolutely thrilled about that part, but its something that builds upon a very long tradition of these things, Amjad said. And I wish that would help temper some of the expectations the hype cycle has actually existed in AI, at least a couple of times, in the last, maybe, 50 years itself. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Caddo Parish District Attorney announced that a juvenile suspected of armed robbery will be transferred to adult court. The robbery is alleged to have happened on December 27, 2024. The suspect was identified as 16-year-old JMarion Salsberry, who is accused of pulling a gun on a customer at a Jewella Avenue convenience store, robbing him of $60. Data shows Caddo Parish youth lead states detention population Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Store surveillance footage captured the robbery, and the victim and store clerk identified Salsberry. During the robbery, Salsberry was wearing an ankle monitor related to a December 18, 2024, juvenile court sentence. Salberrys transfer under the Louisiana Childrens Code, Article 305, allows the District Attorney to move jurisdiction to adult court for offenders ages 15 and older for various criminal acts. Article 879, a provision of the same code, requires all proceedings in a juvenile delinquency case involving a crime of violence must be open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC4) A teenager has been arrested after they allegedly threatened another student with a firearm at Springville High School. Around 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, The Springville Police Department (SPD) became aware of incident that occurred at Springville High School that involved a student threatening another. According to SPD, a teacher had noticed one of her students was visibly distressed in her class. Upon further investigation, the student revealed they had allegedly been threatened with a firearm by another student. Heavy law enforcement was dispatched to investigate, and a search for the suspect began. The event allegedly occurred prior to the schools lunch hour in one of the bathrooms. Police reported that they gained the suspects identity, and determined that the juvenile suspect left the school after the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was later located and arrested by police. The Juvenile has been booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on charges of aggravated assault, brandishing a weapon, and bring a dangerous weapon onto school property. According to SPD, they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public; and that the incident was isolated between the two students. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. MASURY, Ohio (WKBN) Brookfield Police plan to file charges against tenants who abandoned a dog at the home they were renting in Masury. The dog, now named Timmy, is currently being cared for by the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project. He was removed from a home on Roberts Street Thursday. According to a police report, the property owner told officers he had evicted the tenants who abandoned the dog and left the home in deplorable and uninhabitable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whoever did this to Timmy needs to be held accountable and a strong message needs to be sent throughout Trumbull County that you know you cant abandon your animals, Jason Cooke of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project said. Cooke says the shelter has already received several inquiries from families who want to adopt Timmy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. SACRAMENTO, California The relationship between Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom was always embittered. But the fires tearing through Los Angeles the kind of natural disaster that in the past brought some degree of cooperation between political rivals have accelerated the feud between the incoming president and the ambitious California Democrat. Fearing Trump will pick up where the two left off in 2020, when the then-president demanded policy concessions in exchange for federal disaster relief funding, Newsom in mere hours secured a disaster declaration for the fires from President Joe Biden this week while he was in Los Angeles, a process that can take weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden later committed the federal government to covering all of the fire management and debris removal costs for the next six months. Theres little doubt Trump and Newsom are on a collision course over everything from the environment to immigration in the nations largest, and one of its most-liberal, states. Already, Newsom and Democrats are preparing to spend tens of millions of dollars on legal battles with Trumps federal government. But the fires and the almost unimaginable destruction left in their wake is offering the most vivid illustration yet that behind the partisan sniping are serious policy issues that affect millions of people and their access to basic services like housing, water and electricity. I dont think weve wrapped our minds around the scale of it. Its going to be tremendously expensive, said Kevin Carroll, who was senior counsel to then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly during Trumps first term. I would not be surprised if Trump demands concessions for distributing disaster aid as if they were citizens of a foreign country and not Americans. Newsom has to do whatever is best for the citizens of California, Carroll added. Flattery often works with Trump. Its a tough position hes in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Newsom have yet to connect by phone, but Newsom said he reached out after the election. Aides to both men confirmed they havent spoken since the fires started Tuesday, though Newsom has indicated he planned more outreach. Newsoms public appeals to Trump not to play any politics in times of crisis have so far been ignored as the incoming president deploys white-hot rhetoric savaging the governors performance and using the blazes to again portray California as a failed state. The president has made himself quite clear on the way he views Gavin Newsom and his abysmal job record as governor of California, said a Trump official, granted anonymity to speak freely. The official added that Trump loves California he owns property there. Despite his attacks on Newsom a top Biden and Kamala Harris surrogate whom Trump regularly referred to throughout the 2024 race as Newscum the official said they expected Trump to cooperate with Newsom on the federal response to the fire after the inauguration. Newsom, meantime, has largely kept his focus off Trump as he coordinates fire response with local and federal officials on the ground in Los Angeles. While hes crafted a national brand around punching hard at Trump and Republicans, Newsoms advisers stressed that he plans to refrain from lunging into every one of Trumps spitballs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our plan right now is, Lets react to what he does and not what he says, a Newsom adviser said. Lives are on the line. Newsoms positioning, which hes described as an open hand, not a closed fist, is informed by the two years he overlapped in office with Trump though he did make a pointed contrast between Biden and Trump on Tuesday when crediting the current president with swiftly approving federal grants for fire management. During his first term in the White House they regularly tangled. Newsom at times worried that Trump might be getting the upper hand by throwing out what he saw as an outrageous idea, whipping Democrats into a frenzy, and dominating the debate before quickly moving on to another buzzy topic. People close to Newsom describe him as something of a left-coast general in the larger culture war and they contend Trump and his supporters believe that for them to succeed, California must fail. Trump will say he hasnt done anything. Hes trying to create this narrative of incompetence and its completely false, the Newsom adviser said. Trump is the one trying to use a human tragedy to score political points and spread disinformation. Its the same chaos that we saw in the first administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been times of agreement, such as when Newsom heaped praise on Trumps assistance to California to help fight the pandemic, or said during the states 2020 fires that the pair cooperated just fine, despite trading public insults. Both men also have occasionally offered warmer assessments of the other, hinting at something approaching a shared fascination. I was there in Paradise when Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown actually all met together and really worked cooperatively in the aftermath of the Camp fire, said Republican state Assemblymember James Gallagher, who represents the northern Sacramento Valley and is the minority leader. And I really think thats probably the place we need to get back to. Gallagher predicted that Trump and Newsom will figure out a way to work together this time, too, despite the heated rhetoric around the Los Angeles fires. Behind closed doors, these guys seem to be able to find ways to cooperate, even if they dont do so publicly, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps demands of Newsom are the same ones he made in 2019 and 2020, and reiterated both on the 2024 campaign trail and in the days since the fires started. He wants the governor to open up the water main and allow beautiful, clean, freshwater to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! as Trump recently wrote online. Trumps phrasing is a vast oversimplification, and his linking of the dispute over statewide water delivery to hydrants in Los Angeles is off base. At the heart of it, he and Newsom disagree about how much water should be pumped out of the states main rivers, which combine in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, to the drier farms of the Central Valley and cities of Southern California, and how much water should be kept in the ecosystem to keep declining fish populations alive, including the Delta smelt, a frequent Trump target. As POLITICO reported, their separate plans for the pumps make only marginal differences in actual water deliveries, and California reservoirs of late have been flush with water, but the plans have taken on a political life of their own. The delta water issues have absolutely nothing to do with the fires in LA., said Karen Skelton, a Democratic strategist from California and former senior Biden Energy Department official. Spending even 10 seconds answering [Trumps] inane comments would be political malpractice and this governor has much more serious things to worry about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That doesnt mean the insults wont keep coming. Calling Newsom a slimy politician, the Trump official contended the then-president was there for California when he needed to be, citing Trumps signing of a 2020 memorandum that allowed the federal government to send additional water from Northern California to central and southern parts of the state. Newsom sued, arguing that doing so endangered some fish species nearing extinction. Trump has also repeatedly criticized the state over its forest management, reviving attacks when wildfires burned in 2018, 2019 and 2020, points Newsom officials push back hard on, emphasizing the 700,000-plus acres the state has fireproofed. Newsom had mostly kept his past dealings with Trump private. But last fall, after a report by POLITICOs E&E News found Trump was partisan in response to disasters and hesitated to give aid to areas he considered politically hostile, the governor told POLITICO about what he described as a surreal experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Trump was obsessed with the topic of disaster relief to the point he was threatening to withhold the money, unless I do his bidding on the Endangered Species Act and break the law and decide to go and find some big wrench so I can open the spigot [and] flood everything, and therell be more peaches and pears for everyone. He was very threatening, Newsom said. He was telling me right before the [2020] election, You better work with me now, because Im going to get reelected and youre going down on this. Trump will likely soon be in touch with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on some federal decisions related to the fire. Burgum, his nominee for Interior secretary, has remained busy on Capitol Hill this week preparing for his upcoming confirmation hearings. Burgum and Newsom know each other and have worked together through the Western Governors Association, and the two were seen sharing a friendly handshake in front of a gaggle of reporters in September, ahead of the Philadelphia debate between Trump and Harris. The Trump official said the president-elect has always expressed a willingness to work with anybody, especially when its in the interest of the American people. (Photo: Caspar Benson/Getty Images) This story first appeared in Bolts, and is reprinted with permission. One doctor said I got two-to-four years left to live, drawled 64-year-old James Davis in a deep southern accent. Another give me three-to-five. They dont really know. But one things for sure: If I dont get out, cancerll kill me in prison. Davis, a tall white man with wispy brown hair and a chest-length gray beard, is serving 31-35 years in North Carolina for a truck accident that killed an elderly couple and severely injured their adult daughter in 2007. Late one evening, Davis flatbed Ford F-350 veered off the road and T-boned the familys smaller Chevy S-10 pickup. Following the crash, Davis registered a 0.09 blood alcohol concentration at the hospital, above the legal limit of 0.08. This led to two consecutive convictions for second-degree murder, which makes up the bulk of his sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors diagnosed Davis with prostate cancer in 2019. Radiation treatment sent him into remission, but in 2022, the cancer returned, spreading to his ribs, collarbone, pelvis and lymph nodes. Its stage four, Davis said in a dayroom at Neuse Correctional, a medium-custody prison in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Davis also suffers from Type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis and hypertension. To hear, he has to cup his palm around his ear. To get around, he needs the help of a wheeled walker. His very existence appears labored and excruciating. At this point, theyre not trying to cure me. Im beyond that. Theyre treating me until I die. Grappling with a costly health care bill Davis is just one of about 31,000 North Carolina prisoners who racked up a $357.4 million bill for health care in fiscal year 2021-2022, an expenditure that ballooned 51 percent over the past 10 years, according to NC Health News. Nationally, U.S. prisons spent $8.1 billion on prison health care in 2015 alone, as reported by Pew Trusts. In an attempt to reduce the cost of prison health care in North Carolina, the GOP-run legislature in 2023 passed changes that make early release for medical reasons less stringent. Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat who just left office at the end of December, signed it into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under North Carolinas medical release program, prison medical staff or representatives of a prisoner such as a family member or attorney can request that prison officials evaluate someone for medical release. If officials determine that someone meets the criteria, they can refer cases to the states governor-appointed parole commission, which makes the final decision. The changes lowered the age at which prisoners can be released for medical reasons from 65 to 55. To qualify, the prisoner must be so terminally ill, disabled or geriatric that they are medically incapacitated and determined by officials to pose little to no risk to public safety. People serving time for murder, sex offenses, and other violent crimes still cannot apply. Because of the second-degree murder convictions that resulted from his truck accident, Davis is not permitted to seek medical release in North Carolina. He is also excluded because there are many years left on his sentence. So he will remain in prison, incurring exorbitant fees for doctors visits and medication at taxpayers expense. Despite the disqualifications, Davis wishes he could be considered for medical release. Because Im dying, he said. Other states have medical release programs, and most codify variations of the same guidelines. All exclude people condemned to death row. On paper, New York allows infirm people convicted of anything besides murder to apply for release if they have served at least half of their sentence, yet prison officials routinely deny hearings for them to make their case. In Wisconsin, people with terminal illness whose sentences allow for parole can seek release after serving 10 years. Florida reserves the right to re-incarcerate someone previously released for medical reasons if doctors determine that their physical condition has improved. A graying prison population The increase in life sentences that followed a wave of so-called tough-on-crime policies in the 1980s and 1990s has resulted in a graying of the U.S. prison population, leading to swelling medical costs that states are now struggling to address. As reported in the New York Times, the number of people aged 55 or older in state prisons increased by 400 percent between 1993 and 2013. That group will make up one-third of the nations prison population by 2030. Since 1976, the Supreme Court has considered the denial of health care to sick prisoners a violation of the 8th Amendment, regardless of whether they are serving six months or condemned to death row. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In North Carolina, too, around 17 percent of state prisoners are over 55. Those older people already cost the state four times what it spends on younger individuals, according to research published in the National Library of Medicine. Despite expanded eligibility, releases remain few Sandra Hardee, Secretary of NC-CURE, helped push lawmakers to expand North Carolinas medical release law in 2023, lobbying alongside other groups like the North Carolina Justice Center and Conservatives for Criminal Justice Reform. Hardee said the money that lawmakers envisioned saving in the long run by expanding medical release was key to them approving the new measures. Before the new law passed, Hardee said, Health care for some inmates was costing $1 million a year. According to reports from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC), the number of people prisons have referred for medical release has dropped significantly in recent years. In 2021, prisons referred 39 cases to the parole commission, which ultimately granted medical release for 29 people. In 2022, prisons only referred 10 people to the parole commission, which granted medical release to just seven people. In 2023, prisons referred only eight people to the parole commission; three were granted medical and one person was denied, while four others died in prison awaiting a decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DAC has yet to release its report covering the first year of expanded eligibility. Although Hardee is pleased lawmakers expanded who is eligible for medical release, she says there are still barriers to actually releasing terminally ill people who qualify. As it stands, no individual or board is tasked with identifying eligible prisoners for medical release, meaning people must find a way to apply on their own. If their family cannot afford legal counsel or dont have other outside help, the prisoner must handwrite the paperwork themselves. Some prisoners may be too sick to physically file a request on their own. Right now, there are about 1,000 people that could be qualified by age and crime, Hardee said. If they were released, it would be a step in the right direction, but there is no way to identify them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yvette Garcia Missri, executive director of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Universitys law school, helped lead the coalition lobbying for the 2023 changes to medical release. Even with expanded eligibility, Garcia Missri says that doesnt mean all people who qualify are granted release. She said prison officials have seemed to focus on releasing terminally ill people, but not those who fit other categories such as geriatric or permanently ill. One of our goals is finding ways we can work with DAC to get full usage of the law so that everyone is included, Garcia Missri said. Part of this goal means defining key terms within the law, such as medically incapacitated. Currently this term is left for DAC interpretation, which could be exclusionary, Garcia Missri said. If people are not considered medically incapacitated beyond survival, they may not be released early. She hopes that offering clear definitions of the laws requirements will make it less limiting, reducing the number of people excluded. Younger prisoners excluded Aside from the challenges of seeking release, the new law will only benefit a fraction of the prison population. Its limitations exclude younger prisoners, even those with enormous medical needs. In 2015, 22-year-old Michael Helms was diagnosed with Crohns disease, a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that causes intense cramping and diarrhea. Convicted as a teenager, Helms was a few years into a 28-year sentence for second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Crohns] is not harmless, Helms said while sitting in the yard at Nash Correctional, a medium-custody prison in Nashville, North Carolina. Im lucky they put me on the right meds. If not, bacteria could have escaped my intestine to cause sepsis. This year, Fox News labeled sepsis a top killer behind heart disease and cancer, taking the lives of 350,000 American adults each year. Helms is too young, and, by the standards of the new law, still too healthy and his murder conviction too serious to make him eligible for medical release. For treatment, prison nurses administer Helms one shot of Humira bi-weekly, but its not cheap. At nearly $4,000 a month, Helms treatment has already cost taxpayers about $600,000 since his diagnosis nine years ago. His treatment will cost another $720,000 before his projected release in 2040, totaling $1.3 million throughout his incarceration. That figure is added to the $133 it costs to incarcerate one person per day in the state, as noted by the DAC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now 31, Helms is healthy and focused on positive personal change. If he had been convicted 30 years ago, his clean prison record would have helped him earn parole so he could eventually get out and help pay his own medical bills. But North Carolina eliminated parole in 1994 by implementing the Structured Sentencing Act, a sentencing structure that imposes an 85 percent mandatory minimum on all active prison sentences. A report published on JSTOR credits mandatory minimum sentencing as responsible for a spike in the national prison population. Earlier this year, the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission projected that, on average, people imprisoned under the Structured Sentencing Act will serve 104% of their minimum active sentences, keeping prisons full of people who will cost more to care for as they age. James Davis wasnt sentenced to die in prison. He has a release date. If he were younger and healthier, hed most likely live to 2039, when hes eligible for release. Or if the judge had sentenced him concurrently, meaning his sentences would run together and not consecutively, he would be released in 2025 after finishing his longest sentence. Instead, Davis must remain in prison until he dies. Although Davis is dying from cancer, he knows that he is ineligible for medical release. He wont sue the state to challenge the new laws exclusionary rules. His own guilt is partly the reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two people died, you know, and its my fault, he said, slouching over his walker. I been here 16 years. I lost my dad, my wife, my brother; I lost a lot of people I loved, so I understand the pain I caused, he said, lowering his head in thought. When he raised it again, his old eyes glistened with tears. I wish I had died in the accident. Not them. *Correction 1/10: A previous version of this story misstated changes to the medical release law. With a new year comes new opportunities. As the electric vehicle market expands, many auto manufacturers are determined to improve their EVs to make them more affordable and accessible to the general public. According to Electrek, Tesla has sought to expand its share in the market by making India its next geographic target once again. Being the largest auto market that Tesla has not been established in yet, the company has had multiple unsuccessful attempts over the last few years. Because of the high import duties on vehicles brought into the country, Tesla has had difficulty getting into the world's most populous nation without establishing a manufacturing facility there, per CNBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Indian government recently adjusted its vehicle import policies for a select few EVs, provided the auto manufacturer also commits itself to constructing a facility within the next few years of entering the Indian market, Electrek detailed. While talks between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the Indian government were put on hold after Musk visited China instead, it appears the collaboration is now moving forward. It has been noted that Tesla has been speaking with real estate organizations to secure a showroom in the Indian capital of New Delhi. Meanwhile, the country has limited import tariffs to 15%, applying to up to 40,000 vehicles and no more than 8,000 annually, per Electrek. According to the news outlet, the import tariffs would also require a roughly $500 million investment into local EV manufacturing over a span of five years, starting no later than within the first three years of importing vehicles into India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla has continued to expand further in Europe. This past year, the company received about $150 million in funding from the European Union to expand its Supercharger network. This initiative further supports the transition to owning EVs, which benefits drivers' bank accounts and the planet's air quality. Unlike traditional vehicles, EVs produce no harmful pollution when driven, keeping the air cleaner. Furthermore, you can save up to $1,500 on maintenance and fuel annually, channeling funds toward other interests benefiting you and the planet. If you were going to purchase an EV which of these factors would be most important to you? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind "They need to add India soon to get a boost," wrote one Electrek reader. "India is going to be a huge EV market soon," said another. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Even for those lucky enough to get out in time, or to live outside the evacuation zones, there has been no escape from the fires in the Los Angeles area this week. There is hardly a vantage point in the city from which flames or plumes of smoke are not visible, nowhere the scent of burning memories cant reach. And on our screens on seemingly every channel and social media feed and text thread and WhatsApp group an endless carousel of images documents a level of fear, loss and grief that felt unimaginable here as recently as Tuesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What happened during the first four days of the Eaton, Palisades fires in Southern California Even in places of physical safety, many in Los Angeles are finding it difficult to look away from the worst of the destruction online. To me its more comfortable to doomscroll than to sit and wait, said Clara Sterling, who evacuated from her home Wednesday. I would rather know exactly where the fire is going and where its headed than not know anything at all. A writer and comedian, Sterling is by her own admission extremely online. But the nature of this weeks fires make it particularly hard to disengage from news coverage and social media, experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For one, theres a material difference between scrolling through images of a far-off crisis and staying informed about an active disaster unfolding in your neighborhood, said Casey Fiesler, an associate professor specializing in tech ethics at the University of Colorado Boulder. Read more: With L.A. on alert, wildfire app Watch Duty adds 600,000 users overnight Its weird to even think of it as 'doomscrolling,' she said. When youre in it, youre also looking for important information that can be really hard to get. When you share an identity with the victims of a traumatic event, youre more likely both to seek out media coverage of the experience and to feel more distressed by the media you see, said Roxane Cohen Silver , distinguished professor of psychological science at UC Irvine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Los Angeles residents, this weeks fires are affecting the people we identify with most intimately: family, friends and community members. They have consumed places and landmarks that feature prominently in fond memories and regular routines. Read more: Why hydrants ran dry as firefighters battled California's deadly fires The ubiquitous images have also fueled painful memories for those who have lived through similar disasters a group whose numbers have increased as wildfires have grown more frequent in California, Silver said. This she knows personally: She evacuated from the Laguna Beach fires in 1993, and began a long-term study of that fires survivors days after returning to her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout California, throughout the West, throughout communities that have had wildfire experience, we are particularly primed and sensitized to that news, she said. And the more we immerse ourselves in that news, the more likely we are to experience distress. Absorption in these images of fire and ash can cause trauma of its own, said Jyoti Mishra, an associate professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego who studied the long-term psychological health of survivors of the 2018 Camp fire. The team identified lingering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety both among survivors who personally experienced fire-related trauma such as injury or property loss, and to a smaller but still significant degree among those who indirectly experienced the trauma as witnesses. Read more: How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you're witnessing [trauma] in the media, happening on the streets that you've lived on and walked on, and you can really put yourself in that place, then it can definitely be impactful, said Mishra, who's also co-director of the UC Climate Change and Mental Health Council. Psychology and neuroscience research has shown that images and videos that generate a sense of personal meaning can have deep emotional impacts. The emotional pull of the videos and images on social media make it hard to look away, even as many find the information there much harder to trust. Like many others, Sterling spent a lot of time online during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, Sterling said, the social media environment felt decidedly different. This time around I think I feel less informed about whats going on because theres been such a big push toward not fact-checking and getting rid of verified accounts, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Intensifying climate 'whiplash' set the stage for devastating California fires The rise of AI-generated images and photos has added another troubling kink, as Sterling highlighted in a video posted to TikTok early Thursday. The Hollywood sign was not on fire last night. Any video or photos that you saw of the Hollywood sign on fire were fake. They were AI generated, she said, posting from a hotel in San Diego after evacuating. Hunter Ditch , a producer and voice actor in Lake Balboa, raised similar concerns about the lack of accurate information. Some social media content shes encountered seemed very polarizing or political, and some exaggerated the scope of the disaster or featured complete fabrications, such as that flaming Hollywood sign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires The spread of false information has added another layer of stress, she said. This week, she started turning to other types of app like the disaster mapping app, Watch Duty to track the spreading fires and changing evacuation zones. But that made her wonder: If I have to check a whole other app for accurate information, then what am I even doing on social media at all? This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Thieves were caught on camera stealing $14,000 worth of playground turf from a Marysville school and church. Dan Hoeglund, Deacon of Trinity Evangel Church, said the turf was stolen in at least three separate incidents by the same two men during Christmas break. The church is also home to Evangel Classical School where 160 students attend. They (thieves) even looked at the camera as theyre blatantly continuing to do it, he said. They just didnt care. It was really kind of shocking that somebody would be that blatant out there to do this and leave us hanging with a loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school had plans to upgrade its playground, which is currently the schools parking lot, by laying turf on its grassy field. A local family donated $28,000 worth of turf to help with the project. The kids are running constantly. Theyre bumping into each other. Theyre falling. Theyre scraping their knees, arms, faces, said Hoeglund. Erin Pakinas, a teacher and mother, said the school cant afford this hurdle. Were a small private Christian school so were not rolling in it, she said. We dont have a ton of extra funds. For the theft to transpire during hours when others were awake, we thought it was pretty brazen, said Jonathan Sarr, headmaster. To say it was a setback and a blow is an understatement. We had a months-long approval process for the permitting and we were finally ready to break ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thieves stole the first roll of turf after the City of Marysville had approved the schools permit to upgrade its playground in December, the school said. The school had been waiting for the approval for about a year, the school added. Marysville police said no arrests have been made as of Thursday. If anyone has information, theyre asked to call the Marysville Police Department at 360-363-8300. The case number is 25-887. A GoFundMe was created to help the school. This article was republished from the Rip Current by Jacob Ward and has been lightly edited for Slate. Can a Chinese-owned cultural phenomenon, one that more than 170 million Americans give the details of their lives to each month, really be banned? Hell yeah it can. Its shocking, sure. But dont let anyone call it unthinkable. Regulators have kicked Chinese companies out before. In fact, as the Supreme Court prepares to take up the question of TikToks continued existence in the United States on Friday, around the world the executives of dozens of companies, having read the headlines, are undoubtedly waking up sweating in the night as they relive the trauma of being torn to pieces against the rocks of U.S. regulations after their own dalliances with Chinese ownership. And that was just at the hands of a little-known interagency body. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance face a law specifically written by Congress about them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant speak to what the Supreme Court will decide. I do know that when it comes to domestic technology companies, the justices have generally held that the First Amendment applies to social media and to social media companies. (Although those companies get to double-dip unfairly, in my view. Thanks to Section 230 protections, they enjoy a freedom from accountability for what is published on their platforms that other First Amendmentprotected industries, like the news business, have to reckon with. You can read my thoughts on that here.) Here, however, theyre not dealing with a domestic company. Theyre looking at whether the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is constitutional. And if the experience of other companies has anything to teach us, its not only constitutional for regulators to force TikTok to sell to American owners or face a ban; its standard operating procedure. Lets talk about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the regulatory body that has torn up many a deal. It includes nine voting members, among them the secretaries of state, defense, and commerce, chaired by the treasury secretary. President Gerald Ford created it in 1975 to review acquisitions of and investments in American companies by foreign companies, and it began gathering real power in the late 1980s in response to Japanese investment activity. In 2007, when a firm based in the United Arab Emirates moved to buy the commercial operation of six American ports, including New York/New Jersey and Miami, Congress handed CFIUS statutory authority, and since then, it has wielded that power against a bunch of foreign companies and foreign investors. For years CFIUS barely looked at China. Instead, countries like France, Canada, the U.K., and Japan got the most scrutiny. But rising concerns about China caused CFIUS to begin spiking its deals in the semiconductor industry in the past two decades. President Barack Obama blocked a Chinese firm from acquiring a U.S. subsidiary of a German semiconductor maker in 2016; in 2017 Trump stopped a Chinese investment firm from acquiring a U.S. supplier of semiconductors to our military, for instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why be so suspicious of Chinese ownership? Because in China the relationship between companies and the Central Communist Party is very fluid, as a matter of law. Xi Jinping announced soon after taking office that whoever controls big data technologies will control the resources for development and have the upper hand. He signed the National Intelligence Law of 2017, giving Chinese intelligence services the right, on national security grounds, to private data held within any Chinese company. In 2023 the law expanded to encompass any data defined as relevant to counterespionage, a designation so vague it could include anything. I recently met an American entrepreneur living in China who was looking to build software that would help people fight addiction. But before he could begin, he told me, he had to move back home. Doesnt China have a market for you? I asked. Oh, sure, its enormous, he said. But as soon as I start Ill be visited by some spy agency. Give them the names of Americans who suffer from addiction? I cant have that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the kind of thing that has led CFIUS to be most recently concerned with the data of American citizens. Its efforts to keep that data away from Chinese investors is a big reason why the TikTok ban looks more and more likely. Here are a few of its greatest hits. In 2016 AppLovin, a mobile advertising company with data on millions of American consumers, moved to sell itself to a Chinese private equity firm. Nope, said CFIUS, according to Reuters. Instead the company had to downgrade to a minority stake. CFIUS imposed big caveats on the Chinese acquisition of U.S. insurance company Genworth, requiring that data be handled by a third-party service in the United States, and delayed the deal for two years. And in 2018, CFIUS killed Jack Mas effort to take over MoneyGram, a move that would have given him money-transfer customers (and their data) in 200 countries, including the U.S. But the story that TikTok undoubtedly knows best is that of Grindr. Yes, the LGBTQ+ dating app. In 2018, one of the worlds biggest video game makers, Beijing-based Kunlun Tech, acquired Grindr, billed at the time as the worlds largest gay social network. Grindr deals, of course, in a particularly sensitive form of data, and unfortunately its privacy practices didnt exactly assuage American fears that Chinese ownership might give Beijing a vast dossier of compromising information on more than 3 million daily active users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018 the Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported findings from the Norwegian nonprofit SINTEF that Grindr was sharing its users HIV status, including their last tested date, with two outside firms. (The same day BuzzFeed reported this, the company announced that it would stop doing so.) Then an NBC News investigation found a thriving market of illegal drugs on the platform. And in 2020, another Norwegian body found that Grindrs privacy protections violated EU law, causing Twitter to kick the site off its ad platform. CFIUS doesnt publicize what it does and it doesnt give reasons for its decisions, but the Financial Times reported that in the case of Grindr it was concerned about the potential for blackmail. (Well, sure.) And because Kunlun had not run its acquisition by the committee ahead of time, as most foreign companies know to do, CFIUS decided to blow it up after the fact, forcing Kunlun to sell to American investors in 2020. The Grindr saga has big lessons for TikTok, and for the 170 million Americans (like me) who use it each month. And the big one is that it merely takes worries about Chinese influence to blow up foreign ownership of any company, let alone one that is in the surveillance business. A lot has been made of the lack of hard evidence that TikTok has been used to spy on or manipulate Americans. But thats not exactly true. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence concluded that in 2022 TikTok accounts run by a PRC propaganda arm reportedly targeted candidates from both political parties during the U.S. midterm election cycle. And evidence from other countries is pretty damning. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the Romanian supreme court reversed that countrys presidential elections after its intelligence services found that foreign actors had used TikTok to give a pro-Russia candidate a surprise lead in the primaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China has of course also made both countries prone to deep paranoia about each other. However paranoid a TikTok ban may seem in the United States, its perfectly rational under the long-held paranoia of the PRC. This helps to explain, of course, why China bans all forms of American social media inside its borders, even as we have allowed it to export its own to us. (You can hear Chris Hayes and me discuss this asymmetry at length on his podcast.) Now TikTok faces its own custom-written law, one that specifically forces ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S. company or imposes enormous fines on companies like Apple and Google if they continue to make the app available for download. The bill replaces the CFIUSs authoritystrong enough to slow or kill many a deal, but technically not bindingwith the full force of law and gives the Supreme Court authority to make a final determination. While the chance for TikToks lawyers to make an appeal to SCOTUS may seem better for the company than dealing with CFIUS, which didnt have to publicly describe its rationale or hear any appeals, I dont think its cause for hope on ByteDances part. If nothing else, its pretty bad news when Congress writes a law with your companys name in it. And I think its reasonable to assume that because the act specifically cites ByteDance, the justices will be fairly hostile to any suggestion that ByteDance should somehow be exempt from it. Let me close here with a twist in all this that cuts me up pretty badly. While CFIUS has done a very energetic job of protecting sensitive American data from Chinese companies and the intelligence apparatus they might pass it on to, American regulators do almost nothing to protect Americans from surveillance by domestic companies. There is no federal data-privacy law in the United States, and while TikTok collects an obscene amount of information about its users (including their location, their identity, what phone theyre using, their likeness, and anything else it can match with the vast surveillance apparatus that is the modern advertising landscape), so do American social media companies. These corporations regularly move the goalposts on privacy, such as when Facebook acquired WhatsApp, promising to keep the messaging platform private, then, in 2016, announced that it would begin collecting private data on WhatsApp users. We just seem to tolerate that sort of invasion of privacy when its an American company doing the invading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im of two minds about the legitimacy of a TikTok ban. China has cultivated a national surveillance apparatus so powerful and so efficient that it now exports city-scale surveillance packages to more than 52 nations around the world. Data inside a Chinese company is effectively also inside that national surveillance apparatus. So handing a live nationwide psychological profile on 170 million Americans to a Chinese-owned company is asking for trouble. But we also have shown such callous indifference to the privacy of Americans that specifically wringing our hands about TikTok while giving free rein to the rest of surveillance capitalism rings hollow. But I also believe that none of this means anything for TikToks fate in court. The thing to take away from the long modern chronicle of thwarted acquisitions and reversed deals is that its perfectly plausible that on Jan. 19, TikTok, the most successful cultural import in U.S. history, will face banishment. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A third person has been arrested and charged in connection with a homicide investigation in Lemon Grove, the San Diego County Sheriffs Office announced Friday. Valena Marie Gonzales, 45, of San Diego was arrested by authorities near Valley Road and Rio Drive on Thursday, SDSO said. She is the third suspect arrested in connection with the shooting of Darron Willie Singleton Jr., 23, in Lemon Grove last September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Two people arrested in connection with Lemon Grove shooting On Sept. 18, 2024, around 10:55 p.m., deputies responded to reports of gunfire in the 2200 block of Dain Court. When they arrived to the scene, deputies found Singleton Jr. lying in the street with gunshot wounds to his torso. Despite lifesaving measures, Singleton Jr. died from his injuries, authorities said. Gonzales was booked into custody at Las Colinas Detention Facility on charges of aiding and abetting in his murder. On Tuesday, two other individuals were arrested in connection with the shooting, according to SDSO. Richard Charles Lee, 47, was arrested in the 3100 block of Macaulay Street in San Diego. Meanwhile, Reality Grayson, 44, of Temecula was arrested in the 3900 block of Knollridge Drive in Temecula. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were booked into custody at the San Diego Central Jail on charges related to the murder of Singleton Jr., authorities said. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330. Callers can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Thousands of people protested in cities across Slovakia on Friday evening against the Ukraine policy of Slovakian left-wing populist Prime Minister Robert Fico. The demonstrators accused Fico of following a pro-Russian course and of "betraying" Western allies and neighbouring Ukraine. The rallies were initiated by the citizens' initiative "Mier Ukrajine" (Peace for Ukraine), which advocates for arms deliveries to Kiev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers estimated that 15,000 people gathered in front of the government building on Freedom Square in the capital city Bratislava alone. Demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as "We want to live in a free country!" or, directed at Fico: "You will always be a coward, collaborator, mafioso and criminal in my eyes!" The protests were triggered by Fico's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow shortly before Christmas. Fico defended the trip to the European Affairs Committee of parliament on Friday morning. He said that faced with Ukraine's decision to stop the transit of Russian gas at the beginning of this year, he had explored alternative options with Putin in order to present them to the European Commission in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slovakia is more dependent on Russian gas than almost any other country in Europe. However, the organizers of the demonstrations criticized Fico's trip as a "submission" to Russian interests and called on Slovakian citizens to protect the country from its own government. If the government does not change course, the initiative plans to call for another wave of protests on January 24. BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets on Friday as protests against the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico spread from Slovakia's capital to towns and cities across the country and abroad. The latest wave of anti-government rallies was fueled by Ficos unexpected trip to Moscow before Christmas to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ficos meeting with Putin is unacceptable, protest organizer Lucia Stasselova from the Peace to Ukraines nongovernmental organization told the crowd in Bratislava. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stasselova said that Fico went to Moscow at a time when our neighbors face a huge military aggression, at a time when the whole civilized and democratic world condemns this aggression. We're ashamed of Fico, the crowd chanted. Fico said that his trip, a rare visit to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Moscows all-out invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022, was a reaction to Ukraines move to halt Russian gas supplies to European customers through its pipeline network after a prewar transit deal expired at the end of 2024. Slovakia has no shortage of gas supplies and can receive it through other EU countries, the government said. But Fico said that his country would lose around 500 million euros ($515 million) a year in transit fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He threatened to end sending electricity supplies to Ukraine, reduce support for Ukrainian refugees, halt humanitarian aid and block EU financial aid to Ukraine in retaliation. The crowd condemned Ficos plan. Fico acts as an agent of a foreign power, former Foreign Minister Rastislav Kacer said. The rallies also took place in more than a dozen places, including locations in Slovakia, Czech capital Prague and Krakow, Poland, organizers said. They said that their protests would continue. Fico's views on Russia have sharply differed from the European mainstream. He returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won a parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended Slovakia's military aid for Ukraine, lashed out at EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO. As Los Angeles firefighters battled the five wildfires that spread throughout the county on Wednesday evening, Airbnb, Uber and Lyft were among the companies stepping in to offer immediate assistance to displaced residents. On Wednesday Airbnb announced it was working with 211 LA, the nonprofit organization that provides Los Angeles County residents with a variety of health, human and social services, to provide temporary housing free of charge to anyone who has been displaced by the fires, which have ravaged multiple communities throughout Los Angeles County and displaced approximately 180,000 people. Airbnb has been offering the service since 2012, when a Brooklyn host told the company she wanted to open her home to help people who had been displaced by Hurricane Sandy that year. In 2020 Airbnb.org was established as the nonprofit arm of Airbnb.com to specifically assist with temporary housing for those affected by disasters around the world. Recent assistance for displaced residents through Airbnb.org has included people who needed to leave their homes due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which impacted the southeastern U.S. in September and October 2024, and the Maui wildfires of 2023. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we opened the program [to L.A. residents] yesterday, we had an absolute crush of applications, thousand and thousands, Christoph Gorder, executive director of Airbnb.org, told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday afternoon, who added that there are no geographic limits on where a displaced resident can choose to stay. They get to choose where they want to be, because perhaps theyll want to travel far so they can be close to extended family. They also can choose a place that has wheelchair access or welcomes pets. Gorder said a complimentary stay for evacuees is good for seven days, but for anyone who has lost their home, a phase-two operation is implemented to provide housing for 30 days. We start with [seven days] to just get people stabilized, he explained. After that were working with families who have lost their homes, and in that case it can become 30 days. I expect thats where we are headed here. Airbnb waives all of its fees, while the hosts costs are subsidized via donations to Airbnb.org. People around the world want to help people in L.A. today, and this is a great way to do that, Gorder said. One hundred percent of donations go to paying for stays for families in need, largely to cover the gaps of the expenses hosts must incur. Since 2020, Airbnb.org has provided 1.6 million nights of free stays to more than 250,000 people across 134 countries, Gorder added. Ride-share apps also are jumping in with assistance. For transportation to a local shelter, Uber is offering complimentary rides, up to $40, using the code WILDFIRE25, while Lyft has provided the promo code CAFIRERELIEF25, which is good for up to $25 for a ride to any local shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gorder said he is not surprised by the outpouring of support seen this week for Los Angeles residents. We started Airbnb.org because several years ago one of our hosts said to us, Ive got a free place, and someone shouldnt be sleeping in their car,' Gorder noted. Altruism is something we all can relate to and understand; its a human desire for neighbors to help their fellow neighbors. This story may be updated as more information becomes available. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jan. 9GOSHEN Three people are being charged in a murder that occurred in Elkhart in late November. Police spent nearly a month investigating the shooting death of Toby Ray Fisher, 32, of South Bend, which ultimately led to murder charges for Sami F. Hussen, 38; Ashley N. Seabolt, 41; and Stephonn T. Sutton, 36. The trio had their initial hearings in Elkhart County Circuit Court Thursday. Elkhart police found Fisher covered in blood and not breathing in the 700 block of Monroe Street at River Run Apartments after a call for a shooting with injuries at 6:55 p.m. Nov. 26. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using security footage from the apartment complex, police identified a woman in a dark coat with a fur hood and bag, walking toward Monroe Street, then abruptly stopping and running west. Minutes later, a man was seen carrying a bag with straps walking west on Marion Street. Following closely behind was Fisher, running the same path as an apparent blood trail found by first responders, and along which a cell phone was found. McKenna Rink told police she came across Fisher lying dead in the grass before law enforcement arrived, left, and came across her mother Ashley N. Seabolt walking on Aspenwald Road in Elkhart just a few blocks away. Seabolt allegedly told Rink that she'd picked up Fisher from Three Rivers, Michigan, along with a man later identified as Stephonn T. Sutton. She'd claimed, according to the probable cause affidavit, the plan was for them to rob another person. Seabolt and her boyfriend were dropped off in the 300 block of Meisner Avenue in Elkhart, the affidavit reads. At the Meisner Avenue property, police found five people in a shed in the backyard including Seabolt, who was arrested due to having a warrant. Scott Andrews reportedly told police that Seabolt had hidden a gun and she'd asked for help fixing a jam to the gun, which they found tucked between a shelf and wall next to where she'd been sitting when the shed door was opened. On Nov. 27, police said they obtained surveillance footage from the Rebel Gas Station on Toledo Road in Elkhart that confirmed a white Honda Accord Seabolt and Fisher had been driving. On Dec. 2, Tribal Police at Four Winds Casino, 3000 Prairie Ave., South Bend, said they found the Accord and the Elkhart County Homicide Unit detained Heidi Webber and Sami Hussen for questioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webber reportedly told police that Seabolt and Hussen had been trying to coordinate a drug deal for methamphetamine and fentanyl and on the day of the shooting, the affidavit reads. Webber and Hussen picked up Seabolt, Fisher and Sutton although Webber didn't know Sutton and couldn't identify him in a photo lineup and dropped Seabolt off at River Run Apartments, the court document reads. Webber claimed that Hussen then put some meth onto a scale and Fisher said "You know what time it is," before grabbing the meth and striking Hussen with a handgun, holding the gun to Webber's head and robbing them, the affidavit reads. Webber said she heard gunshots and exited the vehicle but didn't see Sutton or Hussen with a gun but Sutton also got out of the vehicle and took her purse with him, the affidavit reads. Webber and Hussen got back into the vehicle and left the area, the affidavit reads, and Hussen said he didn't know if he hit the guy or not and that Hussen did get rid of his gun. Webber claimed the shooting was self-defense, but Seabolt, Hussen and Sutton were charged with murder. A forensic search of Fisher's phone indicated a conversation between Fisher and Seabolt wherein Seabolt allegedly provided detailed instructions to Fisher on how to commit the robbery, the affidavit reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seabolt also spoke to detectives and, according to the affidavit, confirmed that she set up the drug deal between Fisher, Hussen and herself, picking up Fisher and Sutton from Three Rivers along with Hussen and Webber. Seabolt told police that she'd exited the vehicle to go into an apartment at River Run and get more money for drugs and when she was returning to the vehicle, she heard gunshots and ran from the area, the affidavit reads. Sutton told police he was with Fisher in Three Rivers when they were picked up and given a ride back to River Run Apartments due to Seabolt and Fishers having business with others in the car, the affidavit reads. Sutton claimed he went to a relative's apartment and then walked back to the vehicle where Fisher was still inside, but surveillance footage did not show Sutton walking to any apartment prior to the shooting, according to the affidavit. Alexus Legrand told police that she was at Toby's home on Roys Avenue with several people including Sutton on the day of the shooting and claimed the purse he was carrying that Sutton claimed to be a satchel he'd brought with him contained perfume, a Michael Kors wallet, both items Webber claimed to have in her purse, the affidavit reads. During court, public defenders were appointed to the trio and hearing dates were received. All three have separate pretrial conferences scheduled for Feb. 6, trial status conferences April 10, and jury trials May 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOMINIQUE J. EDWARDS A man accused of attempting to kill his father pleaded guilty to attempted murder during Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday. Dominique J. Edwards is accused of shooting and injuring his stepfather Anthony Shaw while at Shaw's home along the 1600 block of Stevens Avenue in Elkhart on the night of Nov. 20, 2020, according to his probable cause affidavit. He faces charges of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, and two misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement. According to a probable cause affidavit, while visiting the home, witnesses said Edwards grabbed a pillow, went to Shaw's bedroom and fired a gun through the pillow at him. Prior to the shooting, witnesses described Edwards as acting strangely and possibly being on drugs, the affidavit reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shaw, who was shot in the leg and abdomen, told police Edwards said something to the effect of, "Sorry, Pops, but I have to kill you," before he opened fire, according to details in the probable cause affidavit in the case. Another man at the house told police, according to the affidavit, he then tackled Edwards, knocking the gun out of his hand. The man said he fought Edwards and chased him out of the house, according to the affidavit. Edwards was located and arrested in December 2020 after an Elkhart officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of Morehouse Avenue to investigate a report of suspicious activity, the affidavit shows. Edwards' sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RYAN D. SNYDER A man who was arrested for the murder of his 2-year-old this month had his jury trial rescheduled during Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday. Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney Vicki Becker requested that Ryan D. Snyder's new trial date of June 16 take precedence due to the the safety of some witnesses in the case. Snyder, 37, of Elkhart, was arrested for the murder of his 2-year-old son Jaxon after an 18-hour standoff with police on July 7. According to a probable cause affidavit, police were called to a home in the 57000 block of Pendleton Drive in Elkhart for a welfare check at 9:06 p.m. July 6, after it was reported that a man living in the home was threatening to kill two children, a 2-year-old son Jaxon David Snyder and 4-year-old daughter Penelope Sky Snyder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The call had come in to police by the children's mother Jasmine Edwards, who said her children were at their father's house for his scheduled weekend and she was out of state when she received an alarming phone call around 8:30 p.m. that day. During the video call, Snyder was allegedly shouting things and talking to himself, and a crying Penelope told her mom that Snyder told her to say "Dad said that we are not going to see you again." Edwards told police that in the background she could hear Snyder say he was "going to end it all," and that she was not going to see her children again, the affidavit reads. Edwards said Snyder was referring to himself in the third person, and thought he was the "Alpha Omega," a biblical reference to Jesus, according to the affidavit. Edwards said Snyder was telling Penelope that he loved her and saying "I'm sorry, I have to do this." Edwards said that Snyder wanted her to remain on the call as he killed the children, but she hung up and called police the affidavit reads. Police on the scene also noted that Snyder could be seen wearing body armor and carrying the rifle, and that "gunfire could be heard coming from within the residence at times," the affidavit reads The Indiana State Police SWAT Team arrived on the scene several hours later and police said Snyder continued to ignore police attempts at communication and at times, shot at drones officers had deployed inside the home to assess the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 3:34 p.m. July 7, SWAT entered the home and took Snyder into custody. Inside they found Jaxon dead in a basement bedroom with bruising to his left bicep, left chest, left hand, left foot, right hand, and right foot, but there were no indicators of serious external trauma to immediately determine a cause of death. Penelope was found alive and hiding. Christofeno set Snyder's jury trial as the first setting for June 16. A trial status conference is scheduled for May 1. ISIAH V. JOHNSON A man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for molestation on Thursday in Elkhart County Superior Court 3. Isiah V. Johnson, 34, was accused of fondling two girls, ages 10 and 11, between August 2021 and November 2022. Investigations into the accusations began after one of the girls told her mom that Johnson had asked her to send lewd photos to him and interviews with the girls resulted in claims of multiple incidents of molestation at multiple locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said the accusations of the first victim were a dream, and denied accusations of the second victim. After participating in treatment Teen Challenge for a year, Johnson asked to clean up his statements to the sheriff's office and admitted to touching both victims and having them touch him inappropriately. Johnson was sentenced on four counts of child molest on a child younger than 14, a Level 4 felony. For the first count, he received 10 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections, with a jail credit of 328 days. On the second and third counts he was sentenced to 10 years at the DOC, which was suspended, and on probation for three years for each count. For the fourth count, he received a 10-year suspended sentence with four years of probation. All four counts will be served consecutively. Superior Court 3 Judge Teresa Cataldo said the plea was very favorable to Johnson, reducing what could have been 48 years in prison down to 10. Before sentencing, Cataldo read a letter from the victim, who was 11 at the time. The letter was addressed directly to Johnson and in it the girl told of the suffering she has gone through, the mental difficulties including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, and the self-harm she has done to herself, plus three suicide attempts. The girl's mother also spoke to the court describing how her once trusting and sparkly daughter now keeps to herself and trusts no one, fearing for her safety. Judge Cataldo also issued a no-contact order, keeping Johnson away from the victim and her entire family. STEPHEN E. TRETHEWEY A man charged with sex crimes against children will not serve time in prison thanks to letters submitted to Judge Cataldo from his victims. On April 25, 2023, Middlebury Police Department received a call from the LaGrange County Sheriff's Office reporting that two teens had been the victims of sexual abuse from their trusted adoptive family member, Stephen E. Trethewey, 59. In forensic interviews, the teen victims claimed that as early as 2021, Trethewey was engaging in sexual abuse. Trethewey admitted to the allegations. The victims wrote letters to the court early on in the case asking the court for leniency toward Trethewey and for him not to serve jail time, stating that they were praying for mercy and claiming they've healed from the trauma. "Since both victims have asked for you not to be incarcerated at the Indiana Department of Corrections, I don't want you to think that me doing a sentence other than the Indiana Department of Corrections is by any means giving you a break," Cataldo said. "I don't necessarily like this deal but because both (victims) indicated that they did not want you to be incarcerated, I'm going to defer to them. So I don't want to further traumatize them by imposing what I think would be appropriate ... because any time somebody touches a child in Elkhart County, we are all suffering from that because of the long-lasting effects that has." Trethewey also apologized to the court during his sentencing hearing. "I never intended this to happen," he said. "If I could take it back I would in a heartbeat." His defense attorney also told the judge that said he has no criminal history and sought out treatment including sex offender-specific therapy, group, family, and couples therapy with his wife. Trethewey was sentenced in both Count 1, sexual misconduct, a Level 4 felony, and Count 2, child seduction, a Level 5 felony, to six years with four years to be served on community corrections and two years alternative placement on reporting probation for both counts, to be served consecutively. Per the plea agreement, another charge of each count was dropped. Read the rest of this article online at goshennews.com." Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065. Three men were arrested on Wednesday after they allegedly assaulted a 66-year-old man at a business in Willington where he reportedly asked them to quiet down multiple times. Troopers responded to a business on Adamec Road just after 7 p.m. on the report of a large fight and were told that about 15 to 20 people were working to break up a fight between a few individuals, according to Connecticut State Police. The first troopers on scene found a 66-year-old man suffering from a head laceration. He was taken in an ambulance to an area hospital for treatment, state police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses told troopers the man was assaulted after repeatedly asking a group of individuals who were acting loud and disruptive to quiet down, state police said. Two of the individuals got up and allegedly assaulted the man, according to state police. A third person with them then allegedly threw a glass at the mans head, causing the laceration. State police said they used video surveillance footage to identify the suspects as 29-year-old Baylor Lapointe of Wethersfield, 26-year-old Joseph Reilly of Tolland and 26-year-old John Browdy of Manchester. According to state police, troopers believe Lapointe and Reilly first assaulted the victim before Browdy threw a glass at him. Browdy was charged with second-degree assault on an elderly victim and second-degree breach of peace. He was released on a $20,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lapointe and Reilly were both charged with third-degree assault on an elderly victim and second-degree breach of peace. They were each released on $5,000 bonds. All three suspects are expected to be arraigned in Rockville Superior Court on Jan. 22. First responders in Lebanon, New Hampshire, rescued three people stranded on the roof of a burning apartment building late Thursday. Police climbed onto the roof using a nearby vehicle as an improvised ladder, and the three people were brought down safely. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused significant damage to the building before it was extinguished by firefighters. The New Hampshire Fire Marshals Office is assisting with the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. Three Pierce County drug treatment centers are on probation for at least ten years, following an investigation by the Washington Department of Health. The order was issued against Rainier Recovery Centers, which provides outpatient substance use disorder treatment in Gig Harbor, Lakewood and Puyallup. Among its findings, the department alleges that the company employed unqualified counselors and failed to ensure clinical records were accurate and met requirements, ultimately endangering the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rainier Recovery leadership has denied the allegations but agreed to the terms of probation to continue operating. The report by the department alleges the company employed counselors who lacked required education and supervision to provide the services the facilities were licensed for, according to the department. The department interviewed current and former staff members and reviewed records as part of its investigation. One staff member told the department that a number of Rainier Recoverys employees have licenses that are invalid, or they do not have a license at all. The report also details allegations that the company colluded with an unnamed law firm. A Rainier Recovery staff member claimed an attorney allegedly sent clients to Rainier Recovery so long as the center ensured the clients met their conditions and were compliant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff told the department that the center would allow some patients to refuse drug tests, and in other cases, drug test results were falsified. Staff also alleged that employees walked down recommendations of care for patients, despite evidence to suggest more care was necessary. Rainier Recovery Centers focus at all times has been on the welfare of its clients, said Seth Rosenberg, an attorney for the company. It believes it was taking all reasonable steps to address any issues that arose. Rainier Recovery owner and CEO Jeremiah Dunlap denied the allegations to KIRO 7, but said he signed the probation order so the centers could reopen, and so that clients could return to services and not be without care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunlap said he could not financially afford to draw this out in court. He said the patients are what matters and why he opened this center. As part of the probation order Dunlap agreed to, Rainier Recovery will be fined $10,000, and must hire an outside consultant to assist with an operational overhaul. The company must also hire an administrator to oversee the implementation of changes, and submit a plan of correction to the department. Dunlap many not be involved in the organization, governance or management of any of Rainier Recoverys current or future sites or branch sites except for in the very limited capacity as a member of Rainier Recoverys governing body. The order reflects Rainier Recoverys commitment to quality care, Rosenberg said. The fact that the department has allowed it to reopen shows that it too has confidence in the center. By Colleen Howe BEIJING (Reuters) -Tibet's earthquake of magnitude 6.8 that killed 126 and damaged four water reservoirs this week highlights the risks from a hydropower building spree by Asian giants China and India in one of the world's most remote, quake-prone regions, experts say. Some 68 major dams in the Himalayan region exploit the enormous hydropower potential of high-altitude lakes and rivers - just a fifth of which has been tapped, researchers say, but face seismic risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another 101 are in the stages of being planned or built. Even before the quake centered on Tingri county, the northern gateway to the Mount Everest region, experts had voiced concern about both nations' hydropower ambitions there, exemplified by China's plan for the world's largest hydropower dam. The project, more than three times the size of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest, is set to provide 34 gigawatts of clean energy vital to China's aim of peak carbon emissions before 2030. "A strong earthquake could cause direct damage," Fan Xiao, a former chief engineer in the geology and mineral bureau of Sichuan in southwestern China, wrote in an article in October 2022 on the province's Motuo project approved in late December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fan, who warned the project was in an area prone to strong earthquakes, did not respond to Reuters questions on messaging app Wechat about the article. Hydropower projects in the remote mountainous area highlight the tension between the risks of building there and the enormous demand for clean power in China and India, the world's No. 1 and No. 3 emitters of greenhouse gases respectively. Earthquakes have damaged dams in the past, particularly by setting off landslides and rockfalls. A massive earthquake in Nepal in 2015 shuttered almost a fifth of its hydropower for more than a year, research published in 2018 showed. Building more dams in the Himalayas is not sustainable, said C P Rajendran, a geologist at India's National Institute of Advanced Studies, citing ecological concerns and the earthquake risk from the weight of gigantic reservoirs on faultlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AGEING RESERVOIRS China's water resources ministry has raised concerns about ageing reservoirs, more than 80% built between the 1950s and 1970s. However, it did not respond to a faxed request for comment and has not detailed the reservoirs damaged in the Tibet quake. The Motuo project has been rigorously tested for disaster prevention and mitigation, China's foreign ministry has said. Tectonic activity in the region could make the site hazardous though analysis is needed to determine specific risks at the site on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river, said Wolfgang Schwanghart, a Potsdam University expert who studies the formation and changes of the earth's surface. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His research in 2018 showed about a quarter of the region's projects were at risk of moderate to severe damage in a future earthquake. China says the dam will play a major role in reaching carbon peaking and neutrality goals and will stimulate the economy and create jobs. Hydropower generation is more reliable and flexible than intermittent wind and solar, and helps with the urgent need to transition away from polluting coal. But Fan said the project was unnecessary, given the low hydropower demand in sparsely populated Tibet and the high costs of transmitting it elsewhere. Some mega-dam building in China may be motivated more by economics than energy needs, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The gross domestic product brought by huge hydropower projects, as well as the increase in investment and tax revenue, is a great temptation for the government and related interest groups," Fan added. (Additional reporting by Lewis Jackson in Beijing, Beijing newsroom and David Stanway in Singapore; Editing by Lewis Jackson and Clarence Fernandez) WASHINGTON For the first time since U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany joined Congress, Republicans control the U.S. Senate, House and presidency. Tiffany, R-Minoqua, is optimistic that legislation that the House passed last session that went nowhere in the Senate will now become law. Im very optimistic of what we can do for America, Tiffany told the Leader-Telegram in a phone call from his office in Washington. Voters said on Nov. 5 that America was not headed in the right direction. Im excited to have President Trump back in office, and having peace through strength. I think people are going to see a very different America the next four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaker of the House Mike Johnson narrowly won re-election; all six Wisconsin Republicans in the House supported his re-election. However, Johnson and the GOP have a narrow majority, where just one or two defections would cause a bill to fail if there isnt any support from Democrats. Its a major challenge before us, but were up for it, TIffany acknowledged. I believe well be able to get a reconciliation bill done. Trump and Johnson have indicated there will be just one or two major bills worked on through the winter, with those bills coming to a vote likely in late April or even into May. For Tiffany, the key measures in that legislation will include tax policy revisions and added border secure funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im excited to do that, Tiffany said. Tiffany will serve on two committees this session the Natural Resources Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He is chairman of a subcommittee that oversees federal land use. He wants to look at creating federal park status for the Apostle Islands, and he also has advocated for years to delist wolves from the Endangered Species Act, which would allow for limited hunts in Wisconsin to cull the population. He noted that the deer population in the northern part of the state, which he represents, has plunged in recent years as the wolf population has grown. The (wolf) numbers are up at their highest levels, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trust the Science Act was approved in the House on a 209-205 vote last session, but didnt have support elsewhere. But even before the wolf measures are discussed, Tiffany said his work on the Judiciary Committee on securing the border is the top measure. He wants to see non-citizen criminal offenders sent back to their home countries. We need these people removed from the country, he said. Tiffany also is angry that President Joe Biden has signed an executive order this month that will curb the ability to drill for petroleum on federal lands and waters. We need to do what we can to produce more energy, Tiffany said. You want to bring down the cost of groceries, youve got to reduce the cost of energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another measure that matters to his district involves allowing private shipyards to expand work on Lake Superior, and that is legislation he will be pursuing this session. Tiffany won his Seventh Congressional District seat in a special election in May 2020, after Sean Duffy resigned the seat. He won re-election that fall and again in 2022 and 2024. Tiffany, 66, had served in the state Legislature until he won the Congressional seat. The Seventh Congressional District covers most of northern Wisconsin, including almost all of Chippewa County except Chippewa Falls and its surrounding towns. On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about the fate of TikTok, the wildly popular social media video app used by 170 million Americans. Depending on how they rule, TikTok could be banned in the U.S. in just over a week, and the endless scrolling will stop. The U.S. Department of Justice says TikTok, whose owner, ByteDance, based in Beijing, has access to American data and is sharing it with the Chinese government, and could manipulate the content on the app to shape American opinions. Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a U.S. company by Jan. 19, 2025. TikTok says the government has yet to prove that such a security risk has ever happened and is arguing the ban violates First Amendment rights and threatens the voices of millions of Americans. They have an uphill battle. The lower court's decision to uphold the law was unanimous, from judges appointed by both Democrat and Republican presidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In case TikTok loses and can't or won't sell in time, here's what you need to know. What is the TikTok ban date? If ByteDance does not sell TikTok by Sunday, January 19, 2025, the law says it will be banned in the United States. What happens if TikTok is banned? Will the TikTok app still work? If ByteDance does not sell TikTok to someone less adversarial than a Chinese company, the app will be removed from American app stores and U.S. internet service providers will be instructed to block access to the site. If you have the app on your phone it won't go away, but services may be limited or unavailable and no further updates will be forthcoming. It's unclear if you'll be able to add new content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you wish to keep a copy of your activity on the app, you may want to do that now. How to request a copy of your TikTok account In TikTok, go to your profile page and tap the 3-line menu at the top right. Go to your Profile page (tap Profile at the bottom) Tap the Menu bottom, three lines stacked vertically Tap Settings and privacy Tap Account Tap Download your data Select your data to download (all info or just select data) and the file format (easy-to-read text or JSON, which allows other services to import your file) Tap Request data You'll be notified in the app when the file is ready. It may take a few days to prepare the file, depending on how many videos you've uploaded and how many other people are doing the same thing. To download your TikTok data: Go to your Profile page (tap Profile at the bottom) Tap the Menu bottom, three lines stacked vertically Tap Settings and privacy Tap Account Tap Download your data Tap Download data to see if you're request is ready and tap Download if it is. Your file will be available for up to four days. Could President-elect Donald Trump save TikTok? Maybe? At the end of last year, he asked the Supreme Court to pause any bans on the app so that his administration, which will begin the day after the deadline when he formally takes office on Inauguration Day, to pursue a negotiated resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a December press conference, Trump who currently has nearly 15 million followers on the app told reporters "TikTok has a 'warm spot in my heart' and credited the app for growing his relationship with young voters. He also posted his support for the app on Truth Social, writing "Why would I want to ban TikTok?" But he was against it before he was for it. Trump issued the first TikTok ban by executive order in 2020. His ban, which also gave ByteDance a deadline to sell to a U.S. company, coincidentally came a month after TikTokkers gleefully trolled him by gleefully organizing a campaign through the app to sign up for seats at his rallies, causing Trunp to brag about the number of RSVPs received, and then not showing up. While ByteDance was in negotiations to sell to Microsoft and Oracle, the company filed a request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the app from being banned and got it, so Trump's ban never went into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden later revoked the order and ordered the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the app. In 2022, Biden signed a bill prohibiting the app on government devices. Is TikTok already banned in Florida? Sort of While the app is not completely banned in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has blocked it on government devices and school networks. Back in 2023, he signed two bills to restrict TikTok The Florida Digital Bill of Rights and HB 379. In an interview with Piers Morgan for Fox Nation the same year, he voiced his thoughts on TikTok and confirmed he would completely ban the app if he could. "I would. I think so. I think it's a security risk. They are harvesting so much data on our citizens," DeSantis said when asked about it. "There's a whole bunch of other apps and stuff that are out there and, honestly, I've got young kids and I don't want our kids on some of this stuff." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: TikTok ban date is nearly here. How to download your content The Supreme Court on Friday heard arguments in TikToks emergency appeal seeking to block a federal law from going into effect that would ban the popular video app unless Chinese parent ByteDance sells its stake. TikTok and ByteDance argued that the law, set to take effect Jan. 19, violates First Amendment rights of its 170 million U.S. users by categorically banning the platform unless ByteDance divests ownership. But while several Supreme Court justices acknowledged that the law raises free-speech issues, a majority of them through their questions and comments during the hearing indicated that the governments national security concerns were the prevailing matter at hand. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law doesnt say TikTok has to shut down, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said during the hearing. It says ByteDance has to divest the companys ownership stake in the app. Chief Justice John Roberts expressed a similar perspective, saying, Congress doesnt care about whats on TikTok. They dont care about the expression, thats shown by the remedy. Theyre not saying TikTok has to stop. Theyre saying China has to stop controlling TikTok. Noel Francisco, a lawyer representing TikTok and ByteDance, said during Fridays hearing that TikTok in the U.S. at least as I understand it would go dark, if the law goes into effect. Essentially, the platform shuts down, Francisco said. Supporters of the law the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act have claimed it is not a ban because it offers ByteDance a choice: to divest TikToks U.S. business or be shut down. In addition, proponents of the law say, the U.S. government has longstanding rules about foreign ownership of companies across a variety of industries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok and ByteDance have argued that in reality, there is no choice presented by the U.S. divest-or-ban law. The qualified divestiture demanded by the Act to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally, they said in their lawsuit challenging the ban. In oral arguments before the court Friday, U.S. solicitor general Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the government, said the divest-or-ban law does not run afoul of the First Amendment. All of the same speech thats happening on TikTok could happen post-divestiture, Prelogar told the justices. All the act is doing is trying to surgically remove the ability of foreign adversary nation to get our data and to be able to exercise control over the platform. Justice Neil Gorsuch asked Prelogar why the U.S. government wouldnt also have concerns over a foreign company owning a U.S. news outlet, citing German media company Axel Springers ownership of Politico. Prelogar responded that that a newspaper is not likely to be collecting sensitive information about 170 million-plus people and then having the capacity to send that back to a foreign adversary. The court is expected to issue a decision relatively quickly given the expedited schedule for the case and given that the law is set to go into effect Jan. 19. VIP+ Analysis: TikTok Now Ranks Among the Internet Traffic Supergiants Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has requested that the Supreme Court suspend the law from going into effect on Jan. 19 to allow his administration to pursue a negotiated resolution that could prevent a nationwide shutdown of TikTok, thus preserving the First Amendment rights of tens of millions of Americans, while also addressing the governments national security concerns. During his first term, Trump unsuccessfully sought to force a TikTok sale to U.S.-based parties, also over national security fears. At a press conference last month, Trump, when asked about the TikTok ban, said, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because of his belief that the app helped drive support for him from younger voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Biden signed the TikTok divest-or-ban bill into law on April 24, 2024, after it passed in Congress with solid bipartisan support. U.S. lawmakers have expressed deep concern about TikToks Chinese ownership, suggesting that the Chinese communist regime could use the app to spy on Americans or use it to promulgate pro-China propaganda. If the high court upholds the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuits Dec. 6 ruling siding with the U.S. government, the law will go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19. The law prohibits Apple and Googles app stores, as well as web hosting services, from hosting or distributing TikTok in the U.S. unless ByteDance sells its ownership in the app to any party located in a country that is not designated a foreign adversary of the United States. Beijing-based ByteDance has not indicated that it is exploring the sale of TikTok to an entity or investor group that would meet with U.S. approval. If ByteDance did try to sell the stake, such a move could be blocked by Chinese authorities, who have insisted that any such sale would represent a technology export. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Sign up for The Agenda Them's news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday. While millions brace for the impact of an imminent Trump administration, another sociopolitical sea change looms on the horizon: the Biden administrations TikTok ban, which could push the popular social media app to shut down in less than two weeks. Arguments for and against the law banning TikTok in the U.S. took place at the Supreme Court on Friday, January 10, as lawyers for the Biden administration and Chinese corporation ByteDance, which owns TikTok, clashed over whether the app should be deemed a threat to national security. Unless the Court rules to block the law, temporarily or permanently, ByteDance is expected to begin shutting down TikTok entirely when the ban officially begins on January 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre lost about what this ban means or why its on the administrations to-do list in the final days before Biden leaves office youre not alone. Heres what you need to know about the TikTok ban, even if youve never touched the clock app in your life. Why did Congress ban TikTok? In April 2024, legislators overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, introduced the previous year by GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher, endorsed by President Joe Biden, and subsequently incorporated into an appropriations bill. The law makes it a crime to distribute, maintain, or update a foreign adversary controlled application, which includes any website or digital application that is directly or indirectly operated by a foreign adversary country a short list under the current U.S. Code, consisting of North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran and is deemed by the President to present a significant threat to the national security of the United States. The law goes out of its way to target TikTok in particular, however, specifically prohibiting any apps operated by ByteDance, TikTok, or any of their parent companies, subsidiaries, or successors. Affected companies must sell any such apps through a divestiture process outlined in the ban, or face stiff fines. If ByteDance were to sell TikTok to a non-adversary country, the app could theoretically still operate in the U.S. under new management. But TikTok management has contended that such divestment from ByteDance is not possible technologically, commercially, or legally, as Forbes noted. The appropriations bill containing the TikTok ban swept through both houses of Congress with large bipartisan majorities, and Biden signed the package into law just one day later. Proponents of the legislation say that its necessary to guard against surveillance and data collection by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has become directly involved with ByteDances business over the past four years. TikTok has itself been accused of censoring LGBTQ+ content and promoting anti-LGBTQ+ videos. Several former TikTok workers reported in 2021 that they had been able to easily track users who engaged with LGBTQ+ videos on the platform for months, further raising concerns about privacy and online safety; in 2023, a former ByteDance executive said the CCP had used TikTok data to track activists during the Hong Kong protests. Even so, a 2023 study found that LGBTQ+ youth of color felt safest on TikTok compared to all other major social media platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president wants this authority to be able to balance the legitimate concerns of people on the platform who should continue to enjoy the platform with the legitimate security concerns that have to do with our adversaries, Illinois Democrat Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi told NBC News last March. But opponents say that the law violates the First Amendment, and uses national security as a smokescreen to censor TikToks 170 million-odd users. This TikTok ban is just the latest iteration of a speculative national security argument masking a crackdown on political speech, and it threatens a platform used by millions to share their voices, ideas, and creativity, Democrat Sen. Ed Markey wrote in a statement this week, announcing an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to block the legislation. What arguments did TikTok and the Biden administration make at the Supreme Court? In the case currently before the Court, TikTok has sued the U.S. government on First Amendment grounds, arguing that the law impermissibly chills free speech both that of its users and the company itself. Attorney Noel Francisco told the Court on Friday that the ban constitutes uniquely harsh treatment toward ByteDance and TikTok. I certainly acknowledge the [security] risk but I think there are lots of reasons why that risk still cant justify the law, Francisco said, as USA Today reported. During questioning, Francisco told the justices that TikTok absolutely resist[s] any kind of content manipulation by China at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar (who recently argued the administrations case against a ban on gender-affirming medical care for trans youth) told the Court that the CCPs access to TikTok data through ByteDance represented a grave threat to U.S. security. No one disputes that the PRC seeks to undermine U.S. interest by amassing vast quantities of sensitive data about Americans and by engaging in covert influence operations, Prelogar argued. Because the law would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. if sold, she said, it leaves all of that speech unrestricted once TikTok is freed from foreign adversary control. CBS News noted that the justices appeared to lean in favor of upholding the ban on Friday, and were skeptical of TikToks speech arguments. But the Court also had concerns about sealed documents entered as evidence by the government, which Prelogar called eye-opening but attorneys for TikTok were reportedly not allowed to review. Chief Justice John Roberts said it doesnt seem fair that plaintiff attorneys could not review the sealed evidence, though Prelogar responded that the documents which she said related to Chinese surveillance of journalists were sealed to protect trade secrets, and that TikTok had access to them. What will happen if the Court approves the TikTok ban? Its not certain what will happen if TikTok is officially banned in the U.S., especially in the short term. Should the Court allow the law to take effect on January 19, Francisco said on Friday, we go dark. Essentially the platform shuts down. Under the law, if ByteDance were to attempt to continue operating TikTok in the U.S. after the divestiture deadline, the company would face civil fines of $5,000 per U.S. user determined to have accessed, maintained, or updated the app, and another fine of $500 for each such user who did not receive a copy of their account data. But if ByteDance divests from TikTok after the January 19 deadline, Prelogar affirmed during questioning, TikTok could resume normal operations. There's nothing permanent or irrevocable that happens on Jan. 19, Prelogar said, according to CBS News, adding, Congress set a deadline, and I think it thought that deadline would have a forcing function. How are activists, TikTok users, and Donald Trump responding to the potential shutdown? TikTok is joined in its complaint by a group of eight creators on the platform, who argued in a separate petition that the law suppresses the speech of American creators based primarily on an asserted government interest. A TikTok ban would mean that creators and users lose their ability to reach and learn from communities that are meaningful to them, the petitioners argued, adding that even if ByteDance were to fully divest, that process would still impair petitioners free-speech rights by depriving them of the ability to collaborate with the publisher of their choice. When asked by Justice Amy Coney Barrett whether the creators could still win their First Amendment case if TikTok lost theirs, attorney Jeffrey Fisher responded, I think its possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Trump has also emerged as a TikTok ally at the eleventh hour, filing an amicus brief late last month to ask the Court to delay the laws deadline until Trump takes office. Neither TikTok nor the governments attorneys took a stance this week on whether such an extension would be legal, however. I'm not sure it is [possible]. Maybe that's a question for the solicitor general, Francisco told Justice Neil Gorsuch; Prelogar similarly responded that she was not prepared to make an argument on the issue. Over on TikTok, disability rights advocate Imani Barbarin said in a video on Friday that a shutdown will actively devastate peoples businesses and incomes, speculating that the administration was attempting to effectively transfer control of TikTok to the U.S., which she compared to digital colonialism. It really feels like the United States is trying to steal TikTok for the betterment of a handful of billionaires, Barbarin said. Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them. On Friday, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on the TikTok divest-or-ban law. TikTok is asking the court to pause its divestment deadline, set for January 19. We're posting updates on the hearing here as they become available. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. TikTok is fighting for its life as it faces a US ban set to come in a little over a week. On Friday, it's arguing its case before the Supreme Court. The company is challenging a law that compels its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest from the US version of TikTok by January 19 or be forced to shut it down. It lost its case in the District of Columbia Circuit in December and is now appealing to the Supreme Court for an emergency injunction to pause its divestment deadline. During oral arguments on Friday, the company said it would be "extraordinarily difficult" for it to divest its US platform from the rest of TikTok globally over any timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without court intervention, after January 19, the company said, it would "go dark" as it would be pulled from app stores. Its service providers would also stop working with the company. "It's essentially going to stop operating. I think that's the consequence of this law, which is why I think a short reprieve here would make all the sense in the world," TikTok's attorney Noel Francisco said. The company's prospects of getting more time don't look great, legal analysts told Business Insider. Like the DC Circuit, the Supreme Court is likely to show deference to Congress on questions of national security, even in instances where First Amendment rights are at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's going to be an uphill battle," G.S. Hans, a clinical professor of law at Cornell Law School, told BI. "TikTok lost 3-0 in the DC Circuit. They lost with a cross-ideological panel." He added: "If you're the company, you're hoping for a change of fortune. That's a tall order because of the general deference on natural security grounds to the political branches from the courts." Matthew Schettenhelm, a litigation and policy analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, described TikTok as an underdog in the case, estimating the company had a 30% chance of being rescued by the Supreme Court. If TikTok fails to win more time through court intervention, its business partners, such as Apple, Google, and Oracle, will likely cut ties with the app in the US after January 19 to comply with the law. Apple and Google host TikTok in their app stores, while Oracle works with the social media site to store its US user data. None of the three companies responded to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor in California, also told BI he expected the court to uphold the TikTok-ban law. Rahmani said the court would likely find the TikTok ban consistent with other antitrust laws because it would force ByteDance to divest and find a new owner for the company instead of banning the app outright. "We're not saying that TikTok isn't allowed; it just cannot be owned by a Chinese company where the Chinese government has access to this information," Rahmani said. Still, he said one thing TikTok had going for it was that the Supreme Court decided to hear the case after the DC Circuit Court decisively upheld the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Four justices agreed to hear this case and to fast-track it, so reading the tea leaves, that is somewhat good for them," Rahmani said. Why is TikTok facing a ban? TikTok was included in the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, passed in April. The act sought to limit the influence of social apps with ties to countries the US deemed foreign adversaries to guard national security interests. ByteDance is headquartered in China, which the US government has called a foreign adversary. While members of both parties in Congress have raised alarm bells about TikTok, support for a ban among the American public has declined over the past couple of years. Support for a government ban fell from 50% in March 2023 to 32% in July and August among US adults who responded to Pew Research Center surveys . Donald Trump may try to save TikTok as president, as he pledged to do during his campaign run. Trump filed an amicus brief on December 27 asking the Supreme Court to pause the deadline for a TikTok divestment so he could try to negotiate a political resolution once in office. Read the original article on Business Insider Within days, TikTok could be banned from being distributed in the United States and, eventually, stop working as an app altogether if the U.S. Supreme Court does not intervene to block a bipartisan law that is set to take effect on Jan. 19. On Friday, Jan. 10, the justices heard arguments on whether or not to step in and temporarily pause the measure given what TikTok claims is a violation of free speech for its tens of millions of American users. According to accounts from ABC News, CNN and The New York Times, the justices appeared inclined to rule against TikTok and dont seem to feel the law creates an unconstitutional block on speech since TikTok can simply be sold by its Chinese owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times reports that a ruling is expected imminently, given the Jan. 19 deadline The law is only targeted at this foreign corporation, which doesnt have First Amendment rights, Justice Elena Kagan said at one point at Fridays hearing. The legislation, which overwhelmingly passed Congress and was signed by President Joe Biden last year, is designed to force the popular apps Chinese owners, ByteDance, to sell it over fears China's government could use its data to manipulate or harm Americans. Countries like India have taken similar action against TikTok. China has likewise banned several massive U.S. platforms, like Facebook, Google and YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Lifestyle Influencer Makes Over $50K Off TikTok. What Will Happen to TikTok Creators If the App Gets Banned (Exclusive) TikTok has pushed back, criticizing the sell-or-ban legislation as conceived and pushed through based on inaccurate, flawed, and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people. The government just doesnt get to say national security and the case is over, an attorney for some TikTok users, Jeffrey Fisher, told the Supreme Court on Friday. Its not enough to say national security you have to say, What is the real harm? Lower courts have concluded the federal government has a valid interest in thinking the Chinese app could create national security issues regarding Chinas government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, arguing on behalf of the government, said the solution was simple: TikTok could operate as normal if only ByteDance would sell it. TikTok, if it were able to do so, could use precisely the same algorithm to display the same content by the same users, she said. All the act is doing is trying to surgically remove the ability of a foreign adversary nation to get our data and to be able to exercise control over the platform. Justice Amy Coney Barrett echoed that as well: The law doesn't say 'shut down' [TikTok]. It says ByteDance must divest. If it did that, we wouldn't be here." More broadly, said justice Samuel Alito, "If TikTok went dark, is there reason to doubt some other media company won't jump in?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Justice Neil Gorsuch sounded more skeptical, noting that TikTok would accept a disclaimer about China and saying, Dont we normally assume that the best remedy for problematic speech is counter speech? Incoming President Donald Trump has pushed for a pause to the new law as well, filing a brief about it before the high court urging that he be given time to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office. 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. If TikTok is not sold by its owner, ByteDance or be divested and then bought by a non-foreign adversary, in the language of the new law then it will become illegal for internet services in the U.S. to support or distribute it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok has called that a total ban, though in practice the app will not magically disappear from users phones on Jan. 19. Instead, the law would force the app to be removed from app stores (like through Apple or Google) and make it inaccessible through internet browsers in America. If TikTok or other internet companies violated the law, they could face giant financial penalties. People who still have TikTok as an app on their phone could potentially access its content after Jan. 19, but the app would not be updated over time and would be expected to become more difficult to use. "We go dark," TikTok attorney Noel Francisco told the justices on Friday, "Essentially, the platform shuts down." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New users would not be able to access or download TikTok. However, the new law requires that TikTok provide users with their data, including content they posted, if they request it before the restrictions take effect on Jan. 19. Read the original article on People Originally appeared on E! Online TikTok's time in the United States may be up. After all, the social media platform said it plans on shutting off in the Unites States Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court can strike down or delay the implementation of a law intended to force ByteDancethe Chinese-owned parent company behind the appto sell to an American buyer, according to the Associated Press. Last year, President Joe Biden signed into law a legislation to remove TikTok from U.S. app stores and prohibit internet providers across the nation from allowing access to the platform if ByteDance cannot sell to an American company by Jan. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation was put in place amid concerns of China possibly using TikTok to spy on U.S. residents. In response, TikTok filed an emergency motion for an injunction to stop the ban from taking effect, arguing that it violates the First Amendment and will generate "substantial losses," per legal documents reviewed by E! News. The Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments on Jan. 10 over whether or not the law should be upheld. More from E! Online In the meantime, several entrepreneurs have launched a bid to purchase TikTok, including Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary. "This isn't just about buying TikTok's U.S. assets," he wrote in a Jan. 6 message on X, formerly Twitter. "Its about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O'Leary continued, "It's about empowering creators and small businesses. And its about building a platform that prioritizes PEOPLE over algorithms. TikTok has immense potential, not just as a tool for creators but as a driver of meaningful economic and social impact." However, O'Leary said he'll likely need an assist from President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn into office on Jan. 20. Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images "Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead," he explained during a Jan. 6 appearance on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum, per The Wrap. "So, I wanted to let him knowas well as others in his cabinetthat we're doing this, and we're going to need their help." But for what it's worth, ByteDance has previously said that TikTok is not for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "ByteDance does not have any plans to sell TikTok," the company shared in an April statement translated from Chinese on Toutiao, another social media platform it owns, adding that rumors of a sale were "untrue." For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App TikToks attorneys on Friday reiterated the popular app will shut down, rather than make a last-minute deal to keep it active in the U.S., if the apps looming ban is not overturned by the Supreme Court. The app, which boasts 170 million American users, is set to be removed from the U.S. on Jan. 19. At least as I understand it, we go dark, TikTok attorney Noel Francisco said on Friday. Essentially the platform shuts down. That comment comes after TikTok said in court filings in December that it planned to completely exit the U.S. if its ban is not canceled at the last minute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last April, President Joe Biden signed a law that called for TikTok to be banned unless ByteDance, the apps Beijing-based parent company, sold its American operation. The chief concern U.S. lawmakers say they have with TikTok is that it could double as a spyware app for the Chinese government; TikTok, per Chinese law, is required to share user data with Chinas communist government, if asked to do so. Some big business names, including Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary, have said they are looking to buy TikTok before its ban goes into effect. But ByteDance, the New York Times reported on Friday, believes a sale is not feasible. Thats because the Chinese government which would have to approve any deal has indicated it will block any sales that includes ByteDances algorithm. And if a long-shot deal were to take place, it would not come cheap; Wedbush managing director Dan Ives told TheWrap the price tag for TikTok would be a record-setting $300 billion. Either way, Chinas government appears content forgoing a massive payday instead of seeing the app sold to a non-Chinese owner. The U.S. Supreme Court listened to arguments from TikToks lawyers on Friday on why the law banning the app should be overturned. A decision was not made on Friday, with the Supreme Court adjourning until Monday morning. But based on comments from several justices, they do not appear inclined to reverse the law imposing the ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok has said on multiple occasions that the law tramples on the free expression rights of the company and its 170 million American users that are granted by the First Amendment. Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday did not seem to buy that argument, asking exactly what is TikToks speech here? He then asked why restricting ByteDance, which is a Chinese company, would limit TikTok users in the U.S. Noel Francisco, a lawyer for TikTok and ByteDance, said that if ByteDance were to sell TikToks U.S. business, the app would not be able to leverage ByteDances algorithm and it would thus negatively affect American users. It would also violate TikToks First Amendment rights, he said. Thats a direct burden on TikToks speech, Francisco said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Justice Brett Kavanaugh reiterated that Congress and President Biden were worried Chinas government could easily access the data of American users. Ultimately, that data could be used to blackmail users and potentially turn some users into foreign assets, he supposed. Is that not a realistic assessment by Congress and the president of the risks here? Kavanaugh asked. Francisco countered that the concern is overblown. He said American user data is held on Oracle servers in Virginia. Still, he acknowledged there are risks involved with ByteDances cozy relationship with Chinas government. I certainly acknowledge the risk, but I think there are lots of reasons why that risk still cant justify the law, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As TheWrap previously reported, most Americans have not shown much concern about Chinas government having easy access to their data. And in September, a Pew Research Center survey showed only 32% of Americans favored a government ban of TikTok. For years, TikTok has denied it shares American user data with Chinas government. CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress in March 2023 that ByteDance is not an agent of China and has never shared American user data with Chinas government. The bottom line is this: American data stored on American soil, by an American company, overseen by American personnel, he said. That turned out to be false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only a few months later, Forbes reported the sensitive financial data of some of TikToks biggest U.S. creators had been stored in China and was accessible by ByteDance employees, including social security numbers and tax IDs. TikTok eventually conceded that some U.S. users had their data stored in China after all. A potential TikTok ban has been lingering for several years now. Donald Trump first proposed removing the app from the U.S. during his first term in office, before Congress ultimately passed the law banning the app last year. Despite his initial support, President-elect Trump has since changed his tune on banning TikTok, saying last year that he would like to save the app. And in December, Trump reiterated he would like to keep TikTok in the U.S. He said hed take a look at saving TikTok, noting he had a warm spot in his heart for it because it helped get young people to vote for him. On Friday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that if president-elect Trump chose to not enforce the ban that it would be a violation of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the new president does doesnt change that reality Sotomayor said about the ban, if it remains in place. The post TikTok Says It Will Shut Down in US if Ban Is Not Lifted appeared first on TheWrap. The popular short video streaming platform TikTok might face a ban in the United States in a few days. However, this outcome depends on the decision that will be taken by the Supreme Court after a hearing on Friday. Here is all the information about the ban that could go into effect for TikTok and when it will shut down if a decision is not made in favor of finding a deal. When will TikTok shut down in the US? TikTok will likely shut down in the United States on January 19, 2025, as per a law signed by current President, Joe Biden. The platform, which has over 170 million US citizens using the app, was put on a path to be banned in the country after a bill was signed by Biden. In April 2024, the Senate presented the US President with a law that dictated that TikTok must be sold to US ownership by January 19 or it would face this ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the law stated that TikTok would have a 90-day extension if the transfer of ownership will be in progress by January from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The reason the Senate is pushing for a TikTok ban is that they feel the applications ties with ByteDance might compromise national security. The Justice Departments filings stated that the app collects vast swaths of data about tens of millions of Americans which China could misuse for espionage or blackmail. The Justice Department further noted, TikTok may continue operating in the United States and presenting the same content from the same users in the same manner if its current owner executes a divestiture that frees the platform from the [Peoples Republic of Chinas] control. Thus, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments from both parties on January 10, deciding the fate of the app in the US. The post TikTok To Shut Down in US on January 19, Unless Ban Is Halted appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. (Bloomberg) -- The future of the wildly popular social media platform TikTok rides on a US Supreme Court clash that pits national security against free speech and one president against another. Most Read from Bloomberg The justices will hear arguments Friday, only nine days before a federal law is set to ban TikTok in the US if it isnt sold by its Chinese parent company. The hastily scheduled session that starts at 10 a.m. will determine whether companies that host and distribute TikTok can continue to do so legally in the US, where the platform has 170 million users. Although TikTok creators are busily developing workarounds, the app over time is likely to lose much of its functionality if the ban takes effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case will bring unusual atmospherics to the court, testing a law set to take effect the day before Donald Trump begins his second term as president. Once a supporter of a TikTok ban, Trump is now a critic, putting him at odds with outgoing President Joe Biden, whose administration is defending the measure. Trump, who appointed three of the current nine justices during his first term, asked the court last month to take the unorthodox step of blocking the law so he can broker a settlement. The central legal issue is more conventional, testing the reach of the speech protections in the Constitutions First Amendment. The core question is who gets to decide when there are legitimate national security concerns that might displace First Amendment rights, said Gus Hurwitz, academic director of the Center for Technology, Innovation and Competition at the University of Pennsylvanias Carey Law School. Biden signed the measure into law in April after it won approval from a bipartisan majority in Congress. His administration told the Supreme Court that Chinese control of TikTok poses a grave security threat, letting a foreign adversary collect data on Americans and spread propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikToks role as a key channel of communication makes it a potent weapon for covert influence operations, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer, argued in legal papers. TikTok Inc. and its Chinese parent, ByteDance Ltd., say lawmakers gave short shrift to free speech rights. The companies contend that foreign influence concerns are unfounded, arguing in court papers that TikTok Inc. is an American company incorporated and headquartered in California. Congress cant protect national security by suppressing the speech of Americans because other Americans may be persuaded, the companies argued. A group of content creators is also urging the court to strike down the law, saying their First Amendment rights are being infringed as well. The law restricts the rights of Americans to speak, collaborate with the editor and publisher of their choice, and hear ideas of others, the group argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps filing was full of praise for his own negotiating prowess but didnt take a position on the laws constitutionality, as parties normally do when seeking to put a measure on hold. The brief was filed by John Sauer, whom Trump has tapped to become the next solicitor general. The law cleared a key test in December when an ideologically diverse federal appeals court panel in Washington ruled 3-0 that the ban is a legitimate means of protecting national security. For them to conclude unanimously the same thing suggests that its more clear-cut than I think most people had thought a few months ago, said Sarah Kreps, a government and law professor and director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University. The Supreme Court put the case on a fast track after TikTok and the content creators asked for the ban to be put on hold temporarily. The justices instead scheduled a special session that gives them time to issue a definitive ruling on the laws constitutionality before Jan. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court could also issue an interim order saying whether the law can take effect on Jan. 19 while giving itself more time to rule on the merits of the case with a full opinion. The cases are TikTok v. Garland, 24-656, and Firebaugh v. Garland, 24-657. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The Supreme Court appeared largelythough not entirelyunmoved by arguments that a federal ban on TikTok would violate the First Amendment rights of the app's millions of American users. During oral arguments before the Court on Friday, the justices seemed inclined to agree with the federal government that a national security rationale was sufficient to force the app's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell to an American company. That sale must take place before January 19, or else TikTok will disappear from smartphones. President-elect Donald Trump opposes the ban and petitioned the Court to delay it until he takes office so that an alternative can be worked out. Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary and billionaire Frank McCourt have offered to buy the app for $20 billion, but ByteDance has insisted that it would sooner comply with the ban than sell the company. Supporters of the ban tend to see this as evidence that the Chinese government deems TikTok too useful for its nefarious propagandistic purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, even if it were true that the app is rife with Chinese propaganda, Americans enjoy the First Amendment right to consume such content. The justices seemed most skeptical of the government's case to the extent it hinged on this point. Justice Elena Kagan likened the banning of TikTok to the Red Scare, in which the federal government violated the free speech rights of American communists due to their affiliation with the Soviet Union. "That's exactly what they thought about Communist Party speech in the 1950s, which was being scripted in large part by international organizations or directly by the Soviet Union," said Kagan. Several justices also seemed disturbed by the secretive nature of the government's case against TikTok. National security experts have posited that TikTok poses a fundamental risk, but the evidence they showed to lawmakers has not been released to the public. Justice Gorsuch objected to "the government's attempt to lodge secret evidence in this case without providing any mechanism for opposing counsel to review it." If it was just a matter of TikTok itself being banned, the justices would probably deem this an impermissible, content-based suppression of speech. Unfortunately, most of the Court seemed sufficiently persuaded that forcing ByteDancea foreign company that does not itself enjoy First Amendment rightsto sell the app was not necessarily a content-based restriction on speech. On this front, the justices were too willing to trust that Congress had the best of intentions in forcing this sale; several justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, took the position that Congress was acting to safeguard data security rather than enforce speech suppression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How are those First Amendment rights really being implicated here?" she asked TikTok attorney Noel Francisco. Francisco responded that First Amendment rights were under threat in very fundamental ways. "In ten days, TikTok wants to speak," says Francisco. "In ten days, because this law was passed, TikTok cannot speak unless ByteDance executes a qualified divestiture." The Court's decision is expected next week. If the justices rule against TikTokas is widely expectedmillions of Americans will lose access to a vital platform for self-expression, news consumption, and communication. It would seem obvious that this is a fundamental blow to the First Amendment; regrettably, nebulous national security concerns are often the most potent weapon against protections for free speech. The post TikTok Took a Beating at the Supreme Court appeared first on Reason.com. A Florida TikToker responsible for the death of six farmworkers has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the 2022 Palm Beach fatal collision. On Monday, Jan. 6, 20-year-old Noah Galle of Wellington entered a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid his case going to trial and receive a reduced sentence, WPTV 5, WCHS-TV and the Palm Beach Post reported. Galle will serve 12 years and 180 days in prison. He pleaded guilty to six counts of vehicular homicide. GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Noah Galle January 6, 2025 Noah Galle January 6, 2025 Galle, the son of a Wellington attorney, was 17 years old when he killed Mirlaine Julceus, 45; Filaine Dieu, 46; Vanice Percina, 29; Remize Michel, 53; Marie Louis, 61; and Michel Saint, 77, on U.S. Route 441 on Jan. 27, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 17-year-olds BMW M5 "violently impacted" the back of the victims Rogue while going 151 mph, forcing the back of the SUV "forward several feet into the passenger compartment," a police report previously obtained by PEOPLE read. Related: Fla. Teen Charged in Deaths of 6 People After Allegedly Driving BMW 151 Miles Per Hour, Posting Videos Galle faced a minimum of 55 years in prison if his case went to trial, the Palm Beach Post reports. Per the plea deal, Galle's prison sentence will be followed by seven years probation, as well as the revocation of his driver's license for three years. He must also complete 800 hours of community service, a victim impact panel and a 12-hour driving course. GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Noah Galle, his father Craig Galle and attorney Michelle Suskauer Noah Galle, his father Craig Galle and attorney Michelle Suskauer Shortly after the deadly crash, a person told law enforcement Galle would "record himself driving at high rates of speed" and post the videos on Instagram and TikTok, per police reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an investigation, detectives uncovered social media posts made by Galle where he drove as fast as 182 mph. One video was captioned "whoever can guess the speed correctly wins $25 on cash app." He reportedly paid more than $100,000 in cash for the BMW M5. Related: Texas Influencer Given Maximum Prison Sentence for Attempting to Kill 3 People, Including Ex-Boyfriend, in Murder-for-Hire Plot Circuit Judge Sherri Collins also ordered him to post a video on social media that was at least one minute long, detailing his situation and advocating for safe driving as part of his plea deal, per the Palm Beach Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Galle did not speak at his sentencing, instead choosing to have defense attorney Liz Parker read his statement for him. 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. "There's not a day goes by that Noah doesn't think about his actions and what impact they have had on so many lives," she read. "He wishes every day that he had died in the accident and not the victims." Chief Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson shared a statement on behalf of the victims families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The victims' families have written to us that they did not object to this plea. Some of them didn't even want him to go to jail at all. One wanted us to drop the case entirely. What is the proper sentence in the case like this? No amount of prison time will bring the victims back to their families. We feel this is an appropriate resolution. This case is a tragedy, the statement read. Read the original article on People TikTokers are melting down after the Supreme Court signaled it is likely to uphold a ban on the app. The nationwide ban, which is set to begin on Jan. 19, has concerned influencers, many who make their living on the social media app. Im an anxious mess over this TikTok ban, user @themadivlog, who has amassed over 1 million followers, said in a video. The TikTok ban takes away more than just silly little videos, silly little content. It takes away community we built together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Fridays Supreme Court hearing regarding the app, where its fate will be decided, the justices have remained skeptic of TikToks arguments. If the app were to remain in the United States, it would have to be sold. ByteDance, TikToks parent company, argued that the ban is a violation of the First Amendment. The federal government has said that a ban is needed due to national security due to ByteDance being a Chinese-owned company. As of now, ByteDance has been unwilling to part ways with TikTok despite governmental threats. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito questioned why users couldnt just move to another platform, comparing users attachment to the app to somebodys attachment to an old article of clothing, according to Forbes. One user, @_smoothsayer, who has over 185,000 followers, pointed out the algorithm differences between apps like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately for most creators, you cant post the same stuff on Instagram that you do on TikTok, he said in a video. He then shared his personal Instagram for followers to move over to, and said he would start posting there after TikToks funeral. Another TikToker posted herself on the way to her other job, and wrote on her video: Scotus might approve the tiktok ban today meaning i may lose more than half of my income BUT im trusting that the universe will show me what the next steps are. Many on the app want the president-elect to block the ban. Donald Trump asking the justices to pause on the case until he takes office, however the ban is just expected to go into effect just one day before his return to the White House. One user, @abbcat_ wrote on a video: When the future of this app & your job is being decided on today and all you can do is pace around your apt drinking your morning coffee. She has over 159,000 followers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many users, they have redirected their followers to other social media accounts, like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. One Airbnb content page, @airbnb_mountainmama, posted a TikTok that read: Knowing very well if TikTok gets banned today we might have to sell our Smoky Mountain cabin. The user has over 345,000 followers. I know a lot of creators are kind of scared, I see a lot of crying videos, because TikTok has changed peoples lives for the better, user @tempesttnikole, who has 1.7 million followers, said on the app. Keep good hopes, good thoughts. Its not the end of anything, its just we got to work a little harder to do certain things. NEW YORK (PIX11) President-elect Donald Trump is expected to be sentenced in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday morning in his New York hush-money case. Court documents show that sentencing will likely start around 9:30 a.m. though Trump is expected to appear virtually for the case. The former and soon-to-be president is accused of fudging his business records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she says the two had a decade earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. Prosecutors said Daniels was paid off through Trumps personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trumps alleged extramarital escapades. With 10 days from the inauguration, Judge Juan M. Merchan has indicated he plans a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge and prosecutors arent opposing it. That would mean no jail time, no probation and no fines would be imposed, but nothing is final until Fridays proceeding is done. The judge has indicated that he plans the unconditional discharge partly to avoid complicated constitutional issues that would arise if he imposed a penalty that overlapped with Trumps presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story is comprised of reporting from the Associated Press. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Livelsberger called for a purge of people he disapproved of from the nations institutions by any means necessary. (Photo: LVMPD) This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake up call, reads a line in written notes authorities made public last week from Matthew Livelsberger, the driver of the Cybertruck who killed himself in the vehicle shortly before it exploded in front of a Trump hotel in Las Vegas on New Years Day. The combat veterans writings include poignant passages, as when he expressed the need to cleanse my mind of the brothers Ive lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Livelsberger also expresses warmed-over manosphere tropes and anti-Democratic cliches from the Republican 2024 campaign. Masculinity is good and men must be leaders. Thankfully we rejected the DEI candidate and will have a real President instead of Weekend at Bernies. Rally around the Trump, Musk, Kennedy, and ride this wave to the highest hegemony for all Americans! Those sound pretty much like rote red meat talking points slung around by JD Vance, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Steve Bannon, or whichever Trumpworld podcaster might be trending at any given time. But other lines in Livelsbergers notes invoke something less banal, and more violent, envisioning what reads like a January 6 style attack on the nations institutions, but on steroids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military and vets move on DC starting now. Militias facilitate and augment this activity. Occupy every major road along fed buildings and the campus of fed buildings by the hundreds of thousands. Lock the highways around down with semis right after everybody gets in. Hold until the purge is complete. Try peaceful means first, but be prepared to fight to get the Dems out of the fed government and military by any means necessary. They all must go and a hard reset must occur for our country to avoid collapse. Briefing reporters last week after Livelsbergers life ended in a rented Tesla in front of a Trump hotel, law enforcement officials said Livelsberger appeared to have no animosity toward Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While delivering that briefing, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill and FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans knew that not only did Livelsberger have no animosity toward Trump, but in fact was cheering on Trump, and Trumpism. McMahill and Evans left that part out, along with Livelsbergers calls for uprooting people he didnt agree with from the government and the military by any means necessary. Law enforcement officials werent the only ones glossing over the story. Media reports on Livelsberger, in Nevada and nationally, have downplayed his Trump-friendly extremism, when theyve mentioned it at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When law enforcement officials suggested the Cybertruck driver hadnt indicated any malice toward Trump (and when they knew but neglected to mention the driver was actually a Trump fan), it seemed a relevant observation at the time, lest the motive for blowing up a truck made and sold by Trumps right-hand billionaire Elon Musk in front of a hotel with Trumps name on it might be seen as a statement of disapproval of both men. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Livelsbergers action clearly wasnt that. It might have been an homage to them though. This week law enforcement provided more passages Livelsberger wrote in in the days leading up to the explosion, which show Livelsberger used ChatGPT to learn how to turn a Cybertruck into a garbage fire, was convinced he was being tailed on his way to Las Vegas, and had intended to carry out his plan at the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in one of the quotes authorities released, Livelsberger wrote: As much as the MSM will paint me out to be some terrorist and monster, I had no intent on taking out anyone but myself if that happens. I am deeply sorry to anyone that gets hurt. It didnt go exactly as Livelsberger intended. Seven people were hurt. Blessedly, their injuries were minor. And the MSM the mainstream media did not paint him out to be some terrorist or monster. Perhaps had bystanders been seriously injured or killed, the media would be paying more attention to the fact that whatever other things were going on with Livelsberger, one of those things was the radicalization of a Trump sympathizer into a violent extremist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as if taking its cue from McMahill and Evans, the media coverage has mostly left that part out. Well, there have been other salacious or compelling storylines to focus on: a Cybertruck exploding in front of a Trump hotel; very strange similarities between Livelsberger and Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who killed New Orleans revelers with a truck earlier on New Years Day; the prospect of AIs new role as an instruction guide for DIY explosive devices; and, of course, the tragedy of a heros fall. Livelsberger left behind statements calling for an armed, violent assault on the nations most important public institutions, to be carried out by people of whom he approved. He called for a purge of people he disapproved of from the nations institutions by any means necessary. And, according to his journaling, he envisioned it all as a triumphant ride on the Trump, Musk, Kennedywave to the highest hegemony for all Americans! And weve reached the point where the vast majority of the media doesnt regard that as a particularly important part of the story, if they mention it at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe the media hasnt taken Livelsbergers political extremism seriously because it happened in a place the media (and the nation) has a habit of not taking very seriously. Bizarre thing happens in Las Vegas, must be a day that ends in a y, etc. In which case Livelsbergers hope that Las Vegas would be a prime location to place a wake up call was a miscalculation. Or with everyone from Mark Zuckerberg to members of Congress from both parties to all the billionaires to pockets of the media surrendering in advance to Trump, maybe wake up calls are just passe anymore. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEW YORK -- President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced to unconditional discharge Friday, a symbolic end to his New York "hush money" case. The sentence carries neither jail time nor any other restrictions that might impede his inauguration on Jan. 20. In May, a jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. What happened in the courtroom The president-elect appeared virtually for the hearing from his Mar-a-Lago home, side by side with defense attorney Todd Blanche. They were seated with American flags behind them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just prior to the proceeding, Trump and Blanche could be seen being jovial, appearing to laugh and joke with one another, CBS News New York's Alice Gainer reported. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was present in court for the sentencing. The courtroom itself was bitterly cold, due to an apparently broken window in a nearby restroom that was open. Meanwhile, Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse in Manhattan. When proceedings began, prosecutors spoke, saying they too recommended a sentence of unconditional discharge. They said Trump was found guilty, that he falsified 34 separate entries with the intent to defraud to promote his own election, Gainer reported. As they said that, Trump shook his head "no," crossed his arms, and appeared to take notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors went on to say that Trump was far from expressing remorse, and engaged in a campaign to undermine the court's legitimacy. Prosecutors said Trump attacked the rule of law itself, Gainer reported. Then Blanche spoke, calling Friday a sad day, saying they intend to pursue an appeal, and that Trump and his family were very upset about the entire thing. Trump then addressed the court, repeating much of what he said to cameras during the trial. "It's been a political witch hunt," Trump said. "It was done to damage my reputation so that I'd lose the election, and obviously, that didn't work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also spoke about the gag order he was under, said he was treated very unfairly, and called the case an embarrassment to New York, Gainer reported. "The fact is, I'm totally innocent," he added. "I did nothing wrong." Before imposing the sentence, Judge Juan Merchan had the last word. "Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances," he said. "The protections afforded the office of the president are not a mitigating factor, they do not reduce the seriousness of the crime... The only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgement of conviction without encroaching on highest office in land is an unconditional discharge." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge also wished Trump godspeed as he begins his second term. Trump's attorneys are appealing the verdict. Gainer covered the trial from the start and breaks down the timeline of what led up to sentencing. From the National Enquirer to "Access Hollywood" In June 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for president. In August 2015, his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen and American Media Inc. CEO David Pecker, the publisher of the National Enquirer, met at Trump Tower. Prosecutors say they formed a conspiracy to bury negative information about Trump in order to help get him elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pecker testified about two "catch and kill" deals, where he bought and then did not publish accusations against Trump one, with Playboy model Karen McDougal, who said she had an affair with Trump. In August 2016, Pecker paid McDougal $150,000, structuring the agreement to get around campaign finance law, telling the jury, "We didn't want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign." In September 2016, Cohen secretly recorded a conversation with Trump, allegedly about paying him back. "We'll have to pay him something," Trump was heard saying. Pecker testified he ultimately did not need to be paid back. On Oct. 7, 2016, the "Access Hollywood" tape, where Trump is caught on a hot microphone talking about groping women, was released. Former Trump aide Hope Hicks testified it was a "damaging development" for the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hush-money" payments for Playboy model, adult film star On Oct. 27, 2016, days before the election, Cohen paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Cohen testified that before paying her, Trump was polling very poorly with women and if Daniels' story got out, Trump thought "women will hate me." In February 2017, Cohen says he met Trump at the White House and talked about reimbursement. Cohen said he submitted false invoices for legal services, and Trump signed off on monthly checks of $35,000. The defense countered Cohen was his attorney and did work for Trump and his family in 2017. But Cohen maintained he did less than 10 hours of work that year for them and never billed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump faced 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, and the jury found him guilty on all counts. Question of presidential immunity Sentencing was set for July 11, but was postponed at the defense's request after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on presidential immunity. It was again postponed to September, and then again to after the election. It was pushed back again after Trump won, so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on how to proceed. Trump's attorneys filed to dismiss, saying it was unconstitutional to hold criminal proceedings related to a president-elect. Judge Merchan denied the motion, writing, the "defendant in his motion refers to presidential immunity as one relating specifically to a sitting president no fewer than 33 times." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His attorneys tried multiple times to request a stay of the sentencing while they appeal, taking it all the way to the Supreme Court. All requests were denied. Crews battle Palisades Fire flare-up in Mandeville Canyon Hundreds of goats evacuate in Brentwood amid Palisades Fire Death toll rises from L.A. area wildfires, officials confirm Tom Hanks stunning cliffside mansion in the Pacific Palisades area has fortunately survived the raging Los Angeles fire. The multiple wildfires that have burned more than 29,000 acres in LA but never touched Hanks house, as per the New York Post. The outlet acquired exclusive aerial photos and videos of the property as it remained untouched in the devastating blaze that destroyed thousands of properties and businesses, including those of prominent celebrities. Tom Hanks house narrowly escapes devastating LA fire The aerial photos and videos of Tom Hanks house, taken amid the wildfires, showed how it narrowly escaped the devastating LA fire. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Palisades fire sparked on Tuesday around 10:30 a.m. and has since burned 19,978 acres with only 6% containment. Reports stated that thousands of residents have evacuated the area, leaving behind their homes and businesses, most of which have now burned to the ground. Amid all the devastation, Hanks cliffside mansion managed to survive the fires and remains unharmed until now. The stills showed how the fire destroyed the property just above his home and appeared burned after it was seen smoldering on Wednesday. The actor was one among those lucky enough to see their homes in good shape despite the devastation around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Tom Hanks son, Chet, took to his Instagram Stories to address the LA fires. Chet Hanks wrote a heartbreaking message, writing, Never thought the last time I drove thru my neighborhood would be the last time I ever laid eyes on it. Everything just memories now. News of Hanks undamaged house came as a ray of hope as several prominent celebrities shared updates about the fire destroying their homes. The Palisades fire completely burned down Paris Hiltons Malibu home, which she witnessed on live television. Leighton Meester and Adam Brody also lost their house, with others such as Mandy Moore, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, and more joining the list. Originally reported by Nikita Mahato on Mandatory. The post Tom Hanks LA Mansion Was Unscathed in California Wildfires appeared first on Reality Tea. If you're ready for a change of scenery, you can't beat checking out these iconic Arizona downtowns. World Atlas, a geography website, named these eight cities the top downtowns in the Grand Canyon State. The list runs the gamut from popular metro Phoenix cities with a bustling nightlife scene to historic mining towns that take a road trip to visit. Here's what to know about the eight best downtowns in the state of Arizona, including how to visit and the restaurants, shops and museums you simply have to stop at when you do make the trip. Bullhead City Bullhead City may not be a downtown that is on everyone's bucket list, but World Atlas praises how the city "embraces its riverside location with a series of connected parks and pathways that make the Colorado River an integral part of daily life." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where to visit in downtown Bullhead City: Colorado River Heritage Greenway Park and Trails Riverside Drive corridor Colorado River Museum Bullhead Belle Ready for a road trip in 2025? Try visiting one of these 9 iconic Arizona travel destinations Flagstaff Flagstaff is one of metro Phoenix's favorite getaways. Not only is the weather nice in every season, the downtown area has so much to do and see all surrounded by stunning mountain views. Where to visit in downtown Flagstaff: Heritage Square Orpheum Theater Flagstaff Brewery Trail Martanne's Burrito Palace Jerome The "wickedest town in the West" makes a great trip. Nestled upon the side of a mountain, you can take in this historic mining town by learning about its history, checking out artsy shops and enjoying a bite to eat. World Atlas says the steep streets and stairs are "reminiscent of a European hillside village." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where to visit in Jerome: Jerome Mine Museum Haunted Hamburger Jerome State Historic Park Jerome Artist Cooperative Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room Lake Havasu City In the 1960s, chainsaw tycoon Robert McCulloch had the London Bridge shipped to Lake Havasu City and rebuilt. Since then the town has embraced the landmark with an "unexpected English-Arizona fusion," World Atlas says. Combine that with the lake and beaches nearby, and you've got an unforgettable destination. Where to visit in downtown Lake Havasu City: London Bridge Bridgewater Channel District English Village Shoreline Trail Rotary Community Park More: These are the richest ZIP codes in Arizona. Did your neighborhood make the list? Prescott Prescott is a quaint town that was once Arizona's capital. Take a stroll around the historic Courthouse Plaza before heading to Whisky Row to enjoy a drink or meal in historic buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where to visit in downtown Prescott: Sharlot Hall Museum The Palace Jersey Lilly Saloon Courthouse Plaza Scottsdale Scottsdale calls itself "The West's Most Western Town," and you'll notice the motif spread throughout Old Town Scottsdale. However, the area is also known for its nightlife, dining and shopping. Where to visit in Old Town Scottsdale: Scottsdale Waterfront Rusty Spur Saloon Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Sugar Bowl Western Spirit: Scottsdales Museum of the West Fifth Avenue Tombstone Walking through Tombstone almost feels like you stepped into a time machine into Arizona's Wild West Days. Whether you're learning about historic moments, sipping a drink in a saloon or watching a gun fight, you feel the "authentic character of frontier Arizona," as World Atlas says. Where to visit in Tombstone: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O.K. Corral Historic Complex Bird Cage Theatre Big Nose Kate's Saloon Crystal Palace Saloon Williams Williams, located in northern Arizona, is a gateway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. World Atlas highlighted Williams' efforts to "balance tourist appeal with authentic small-town character" for a unique travel experience. Where to visit in downtown Williams: Poozeum Grand Canyon Railway Route 66 Museum This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: These 8 cities have the best downtowns in Arizona. Here's where to go The top Democratic state senators raised the temperature of the debate over electric rates on Thursday, accusing the states two biggest electric utilities of trying to silence and intimate fellow Democrat, state Sen. Norm Needleman, who has made himself the industrys loudest political critic. The accusation, which the utilities deny, turns on a half dozen or so letters and opinion articles in which the utilities complain about unjust criticism and unfair, improper rate decisions by state regulators, while Needleman complains about improper utility behavior, greed and irresponsible news reporters, as well as the utilities alarmist rhetoric and extensive fear mongering. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff came to Needlemans defense in a press release under a head line in which they Condemn Utilities Attempt to Silence, Intimidate Officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Needleman receiving these letters is unusual, to say the least, and is indicative of a continued campaign from state utilities disturbed by the prospect of tougher regulations on their business and greater demands for accountability, Looney and Duff said. Instead of working alongside legislators to shore up the stability and efficiency of the states electric grid, the utilities are universally opposing any effort that could pull funds away from their shareholders and bottom lines. Lets be frank: Connecticut utilities enjoyed 20 years of a virtually free and lightly regulated market, and during that time, state power costs spiked while emergency response faltered, they continued. Now that the focus is turning toward the best interests of ratepayers, and not exclusively shareholders, theres a full-court press in place against any progress. Its disappointing, and we hope that state residents are paying attention. The accusation of prior lax utility regulation drew a sharp rebuttal from Arthur House, another influential Connecticut Democrat who serve as chairman of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority under former Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy. A review of our record would reveal as outrageously false the suggestion that our dedicated work for the State of Connecticut could produce a statement Lets be frank: Connecticut utilities enjoyed 20 years of a virtually free and lightly regulated market. Those words are a crass insult, as blatantly incorrect as deeply offensive, House said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As PURA chair from 2012 to late 2016, House supervised 80 professional staff and three commissioners, all of whom he said, took pride in our work as civil servants. During that period, we enjoyed an arms length relationship with Connecticuts public utilities, treating them professionally as neither friend nor foe but entities coming before PURA with dockets wherein we carefully and diligently applied facts to the law, he said. PURA ruled on dockets in favor of utility requests, against their requests and modifying them. We did so with the high regard for Connecticut law and great respect for ethical standards. We also frequently spent days in the Hartford Armory emergency bunker working to restore the distribution of electricity to Connecticut residents and businesses, he said. Not once were we joined in that work by a Connecticut legislator. Outgoing PURA commissioner Jack Betkoski said he agreed with Houses remarks. Betkoski was a commissioner under Houses chairmanship but has been pushed off the authority after disagreeing with current chairman Marissa Gillett on a decision that cut water rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillett is at the center of the utility rate controversy that is the subject of the Looney-Duff claim of intimidation. Eversource and United Illuminating parent Avangrid contend that, under Gillett, PURA has delivered a series of arbitrary and potentially illegal rate decisions that are undermining their ability to collect sufficient revenue to maintain and upgrade their grids. Credit rating agencies S&P Global and Moodys seem to agree, having recently issued a number of utility credit downgrades based on what they have described as the states adverse regulatory climate. CT utilities go to court to challenge PURA decisions that led to credit downgrades across industry PURA has said Gillett is prevented from responding to criticism by her role as quasi-judicial arbitrator. But supporters, including the state consumer counsel and attorney general, have said she is restoring regulatory vigor to a system that has for years permitted utilities and their investors to profit at the expense of rate payers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee in the General Assembly, with oversight over electric utilities, Needleman of Essex has emerged as a leading Gillett defender and utility critic. Much of the Looney and Duff criticisms involve Needlemans correspondence with or about the utilities. In a December 19 opinion piece in the CT Mirror, Needleman and his House co-chair Jonathan Steinberg of Westport accused reporters of regurgitating utility press releases and went on to imply that the credit downgrades were the result of an effort by utilities and credit agencies to discredit the current PURA regulatory scheme in Connecticut. To suggest that these ratings agencies are independent or objective is nonsensical, the two wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Needleman and Steinberg did not respond to or declined requests to discuss the claims. In a January 6 piece in the CT Mirror cited by the Senate leaders, Needleman wrote that he received letters from two major Connecticut utility companies one accusing him of defamatory speech and the other admonishing him for demanding greater utility accountability during his most recent election campaign. These letters are deeply concerning, Needleman wrote. Not only do they and the language they use represent a clear attempt to stifle legitimate criticism, theyre also a bald-faced attempt to intimidate an elected official (me) charged with setting energy policy in the state. The letter concerning defamatory language, from Avangrid on July 17, complained that Needleman had repeatedly accused United Illuminating of, among other things, taking improper actions to pressure regulators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avangrid complained in the letter that Needleman had accused United Illuminating of using a regulatory rate-adjustment request filing not for the legitimate purpose of securing rate adjustments that will enable United Illuminating to continue to invest in Connecticuts energy grid but for the illegitimate purpose of trying to get (Gillett) fired. These accusations are categorically false, the letter said. And they are not just defamatory, but defamatory per se under Connecticut law. The Avangrid letter concluded by saying that it is not the purpose of this letter to attempt to stifle any legitimate public debate or prevent true and accurate comments about United Illuminating even if those comments are critical and even if United illuminating may disagree with them. Eversource complained to Needleman in a Nov. 8 letter that a utility employee who lived in Needlemans district had become concerned for her personal safety because of his criticism of the utility during his election campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These types of baseless attacks on our company promote anxiety among our customers, and, in turn, for our employees who live side-by-side with the constituents you are trying to provoke, the Eversource letter said. Looney and Duff also refer to a Dec. 30 letter from Eversource to local government leaders that they said indirectly sought the support of municipal executives for future rate increases. Eversource to slice investment in electric upgrades after adverse rate rulings. Customers may feel it The letter tells municipal leaders, who benefit enormously from taxes on Eversource capital equipment, that the utility will reduce capital investment in gas and electric distribution systems in 2025 because of reductions or anticipated reductions in the revenue PURA allows it to collect through customer rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PURAs short-sighted decisions to defund and disallow capital investment for electric, gas and water delivery infrastructure in favor of highly publicized but minimal rate reductions will have long-lasting detrimental impacts for customers and communities, the letter said. Needleman, who is the Essex First Selectman in addition to serving in the state Senate, replied with a four page letter of his own to his municipal colleagues three days later. LIke you, I am in receipt of a letter from Eversource electric and gas executives , Needleman wrote. After reviewing the alarmist rhetoric and excessive fear mongering packed into their two-page letter, I feel compelled to share with you some facts and primary sources that you can review prior to reaching any conclusions on this matter. Because make no mistake, while there was no explicit call to action articulated in that letter, you will invariably be called upon by these monopoly entities to support investment (a.k.a. rate increases) and other innocuous sounding initiatives in the coming months as the 2025 legislative session heats up and the utilities rate cases (Yankee Gas and UI) currently underway continue to progress, he said. CENTURY, Fla. (WKRG) Century Mayor Luis Gomez Jr. submitted his resignation Tuesday evening, which becomes effective Friday. Centurys on the right track, and thats what hurts my heart the most, that I have to step away, Gomez said. Pensacola Police Department receives donation of 85 LifeVacs what to know Due to health issues, Gomez decided to step away. He stepped into the role as interim mayor in 2023 and is proud of the work hes done in contributing to on-time audits and brush removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I stepped in there, I saw a bunch of issues that I could not answer, Gomez said. So I reached out to Florida League of Cities, and we enlisted the service of a local consulting group, and they brought in a great city manager, and weve had a year and a half of nothing but straight progress. Town council member Alicia Johnson is taking Gomezs place on Friday is former seat 4 council member Alicia Johnson. Spirit Airlines adds 4 non-stop destinations at Pensacola airport Gomez spoke highly of Johnson. He credited her two years as a council member, and he said he believes that she is the right fit as Centurys next mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im excited to continue the forward momentum that we have begun during my time on the council, Johnson said. Johnson wants to continue improving Centurys wastewater systems. She said the older equipment used is not up to the standard she hopes the city can meet. She feels the relationships shes fostered with the folks of Century will carry her far. Mobile city, county leaders divided on topics from Thursday forum I had some major health issues a few years ago, and I was unable to work for almost two years and this town came together and did a fundrasier for me and, you know, showed me how much they loved me, Johnson said. And this, as well, as my service on the council is payback for that. I want to serve this town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson will serve as Centurys mayor until a special election can be held. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Ed Miliband was trumpeting Britains energy system earlier this week. Wind power has overtaken gas as Britains biggest source of electricity, the Energy Secretary proudly tweeted on Tuesday. This is a huge moment in our journey away from energy insecurity and towards clean, home-grown power. But 24 hours later, the winds were dying and Britain was heading for the energy doldrums. The slump in renewable generation prompted officials to order emergency back-up generators to be stood up landing a jackpot for the owners of our gas-fired power stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one stage, as officials scrambled to keep the lights on, grid operators were having to pay 5,500 per megawatt hour around 50 times the normal cost of electricity for one gas plant to keep generating. Two power stations were paid more than 17m for providing back-up power, according to calculations by Octopus Energy. What happened yesterday is another example of our malfunctioning energy system, says Greg Jackson, the energy suppliers chief executive. Millions of pounds were added to bills in just a few hours to pay a handful of gas power plants for a modest amount of electricity. It underlines that, when the wind drops and temperatures plummet, the UK remains critically dependent on gas. On Thursday, around half the UKs electricity was being generated this way. Decembers cold, windless dunkelflaute spells sometimes meant up to 70pc of generation came from gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For consumers, this means rollercoaster prices that will eventually make their way into bills. For the operators of some gas-fired power stations, on the other hand, it is a chance to bet on the weather and if they get it right boost profits many times over. Industry analysts describe the system as a gasino. Wednesdays price swings were triggered by the realisation that Britains electricity supplies were going to be more stretched than grid operators were comfortable with. This was partly because of a cold snap that sent temperatures plunging, causing households to consume more power as they spent more time indoors and cranked up their electric or gas heating. These chilly conditions led to demand for electricity that exceeded the most conservative forecast made by the National Energy System Operator (Neso), which manages the grid, ahead of the winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demand peaked at around 47 gigawatts (GW). At the same time, generation from wind farms fell to 3GW. Outages on various interconnectors linking Britain with its European neighbours cut capacity here from 13GW to under 6GW. All this put together left the Neso facing an uncomfortably small safety cushion of generation capacity, of under 500 megawatts less than the output of a single, small power station. The risk of load-shedding industry jargon for restrictions on power supply that can lead to blackouts rose as high as 29pc, according to transparency data. Neso insists that it had kept 1.4GW of capacity back in emergency reserves and that blackouts were not a realistic prospect at any point. Yet all this gave gas-fired power plants the whip hand on Wednesday, as the only generators with capacity to help bolster supplies by a significant amount at short notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So why had some of the countrys biggest plants scheduled themselves to turn off ahead of the critical evening peak in demand, effectively removing themselves from the wholesale market? They included Rye House, the gas-fired power station in Hertfordshire, owned by commodities giant Vitol, which had begun generating at 6.30am but told grid operators it would wind down from 12pm. Likewise, Connahs Quay power station in Flintshire, North Wales, operated by Uniper, had been running three units since the early morning but planned to shut them down at 1pm. This was potentially disastrous for Neso: after shutting down, gas-fired plants typically need six hours to cool before they can be fired up again meaning Rye House and Connahs Quay would not have been available in the crucial evening hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To keep both plants open into the evening, grid operators therefore agreed to fork out eye-watering sums. They did this through a market known as the balancing mechanism, which is used to make last-minute tweaks to power supplies. Under this system, generators get paid much higher prices than in the normal wholesale market. The mechanism helps keep power shortages and blackouts at bay but at a high price. The average market price for electricity varies as do all other commodities, with spot prices ranging between 50 and 100 per megawatt hour over the last year. At the peak on Wednesday evening, however, Neso was paying 5,500 per megawatt hour to Rye House for 410 megawatts of capacity. This equated to 2.3m per hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of the three units at Connahs Quay received 2,900 per megawatt hour for 230 megawatts of capacity, equivalent to about 2m per hour combined. Rye House was kept online until 5.30pm, when the highest point of power demand had begun to pass, while Connahs Quay was kept going until 7pm. Households and consumers ultimately pay for these balancing costs through their energy bills. To some industry observers, this is exactly how the market is supposed to work. Britains power grid relies on renewables for large chunks of the year but wind and solar are intermittent. That means it makes sense to pay gas-fired plants to remain on stand-by to keep the lights on when wind output drops. Because these gas plants are needed less often, their owners also need to charge higher prices to make it worthwhile when they do switch on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eye-watering prices they demand reflect the scarcity of the power they are offering. Gas plants expect to make a good portion of their annual income on tight winter days, in the context of their running hours being reduced by the use of renewables, explains Kathryn Porter, an energy consultant whose clients include gas plant operators. However, critics have accused some companies of gaming the electricity system for their own benefit. In recent years, Ofgem, the energy watchdog, has become concerned about gas plants artificially inflating power prices and ultimately consumer bills by deliberately scheduling downtime on days when they know the Neso will need their power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electricity generators would schedule themselves to stop generating early in the afternoon, which, due to plant shutdown times, would mean they were switched off for the crucial evening peak in demand, Ofgem said. They would then offer to resume generating later that same day, at a greatly increased price. The suspicion was that companies were doing their best to move themselves out of the lower-paid wholesale market and into the lucrative balancing mechanism. An investigation by Bloomberg suggested that power station owners used such practices to generate more than 525m of inflated revenue between 2018 and 2022. Rye Houses owner Vitol and Connahs Quay owner Uniper accounted for 321m of the total. At the time, this was not against the rules and there is no suggestion either firm has been involved in any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Ofgem banned the practice from October 2023 and warned that anyone found in breach of the new rules could face stiff penalties, including fines worth up to 10pc of their turnover. On Thursday, the regulator said it was monitoring the situation this winter, adding: Ofgem works closely with Neso to monitor the behaviour of energy market participants. We will not hesitate to act if we find evidence that market rules have been broken. And since the start of 2023 we have recovered over 78m in fines and redress from generators that failed to follow the rules. Vitol and Uniper were approached for comment. Critics point out that the 17m paid to gas power stations on Wednesday was 5m more than the total paid to consumers in 2024 under the demand flexibility system, where customers are paid to shift their energy use out of times of peak demand. Mr Jackson said: Itd have been far cheaper to pay customers who chose to use a bit less instead. This was incredibly successful last year but has been crippled by bureaucratic wrangling. Yesterday shows we need to redouble efforts to make the system work for customers, not against them. A spokesman for the Government said: We are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient energy system. Our mission for clean power by 2030 will replace our dependency on unstable fossil fuel markets with clean, home-grown power controlled in Britain which is the best way to protect bill-payers and boost our energy independence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SANTAQUIN, Utah (ABC4) A Vernal man was taken into custody in Utah County after a traffic stop turned into a drug bust near Santaquin earlier this week. Sgt. Ray Ormond said the bust happened around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Deputies with the Utah County Sheriffs Office reportedly saw a 2023 Toyota Tundra towing a trailer driving north on I-15 committing several traffic violations. Deputies pulled the Toyota over and identified the driver as Ashley Atwood, 42. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Atwood was acting extremely nervous while interacting with the UCSO deputy. The deputy also noted several factors that led him to believe Atwood may have been involved in a criminal activity. A USCO K9 was deployed and led officers to recover over 60 pounds of methamphetamine, 102 grams of heroin, 61 grams of cocaine, and 450 grams of THC products. Deputies also found over $61,500 in cash and a handgun. Atwood allegedly then admitted to authorities that he was running drugs from Phoenix to Denver. He was taken into custody and booked into the Utah County Jail on three second-degree felony counts drug possession with the intent to distribute, one second-degree felony count of money laundering, and one second-degree felony of firearm possession by a restricted person. Court documents show he also faces drug-related and insurance-related misdemeanor charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Atwood has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Jan. 9A second meeting today at Joplin City Hall on the relaunch of the Sunshine Lamp Trolley has been moved up to 4:30 p.m. because of a weather forecast calling for more snow than had been expected. The forecast had called for 2 to 4 inches of snow but now a winter storm warming has been issued calling for four to six inches of snow that is expected to start falling at 4 p.m. The meeting will be an open house with no formal presentation, allowing residents to obtain information and leave comments about the trolley service but come and go at their convenience until 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If people want to get home before dark or beat the snow accumulation that's predicted, this gives them the opportunity to stop by to get the information and provide their comments," said Dan Johnson, public works director. "With the current forecast, we understand people may not want to be out too late tonight." Trolley service will restart the first week of February. The city held a meeting at 11:30 a.m. today about it for residents who could come in the early part of the day. Those with questions or comments who cannot attend may call the transit coordinator, Gina Thompson, at 417-624-0820, ext. 1800; or email Gthompso@joplinmo.org to leave a comment. Vermont State Police in Shaftsbury are asking for the publics help in the search for a 49-year-old man wanted on raft of charges tied to a December 2024 incident. Trooper say Todd A. Thompson faces charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated stalking with a deadly weapon and aggravated first-degree domestic assault. Thompsons whereabouts are unknown, police aid, although he has ties to Shaftsbury, Bennington and the White Creek, New York area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on Thompsons location is urged to contact the Vermont State Police, Shaftsbury Barracks, at 802-442-5421. You can also submit an anonymous tip by texting the keyword VTIPS TO 274637 (CRIMES) or by submitting a tip online at https://cityprotect.com/forms/state.vt.us/anonymous Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. TROUP, Texas (KETK) A Troup man is in custody after running from the scene of a shooting that left one wounded. The Troup Police Department said that they responded to a call about a victim suffering from a gunshot wound Tuesday. Officers immediately requested EMS and additional police units to head to the scene. While EMS personnel were treating the victim, officers proceeded to the scene of the shooting, where they were informed that the suspect might still be inside the home, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith County father, grandmother in custody after alleged abuse of baby Mugshot of Tyson Sanders, courtesy of Troup Police Department With assistance from the Arp Police Department, White House Police Department and the Smith County Sheriffs Office, officers quickly set up a perimeter around the home. After multiple attempts to contact the suspect by phone and using loud speakers were unsuccessful, officers decided to enter the home, but they discovered that the suspect had fled. Officers soon received a tip from a witness who reported seeing two people running from the suspects home to the neighboring residence. Upon further investigation, the officers learned that the suspect was inside the second home. POLICE: Kilgore man captured after chase with pregnant fiance, baby in car Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers warned that they were about to enter the home, prompting the two suspects to voluntarily exit the residence. The suspects identified as, Tyson Sanders, 32, was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, burglary and tampering with evidence. The police continue to investigate the shooting and the subsequent events. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. For the first time since U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened hefty tariffs on Canadian goods, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his argument against the import taxes directly to the American public. Trudeau told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview on Thursday afternoon that a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian products would hurt both countries. "We have so many resources in Canada more than our market can support so we export them to our closest friend who can rely on them. It is a win-win," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first interview Trudeau has given since he announced he would be stepping down as prime minister earlier this week, Tapper asked Trudeau about Trump's recent comments that Canada should become the 51st state. President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive before the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, as Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, left, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau watch. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau watches as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump enters the Washington National Cathedral for the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter on Thursday. While Trudeau was in Washington, he made his first appearance on American network television since he announced he would step down. (Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press) "That's not going to happen. Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, 'Well, we're not American,'" the prime minister said. Trudeau said he believes Trump's comments are meant to distract from the expected economic fallout of the tariffs if the president-elect makes good on his threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive and that's something we need to be focusing on a little bit more," he said. WATCH | Trudeau on Canada as 51st state: 'That's never going to happen': Ottawa is preparing a list of hundreds of American-made goods including steel, plastics and orange juice that Canada is considering hitting with retaliatory tariffs, according to a senior Canadian government source. Trudeau told Tapper that the government was preparing to hit back if Trump follows through on his tariff threat, as Canada did during his previous administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister was in Washington Thursday for the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter. Trump was also in attendance but the two didn't speak. Speaking briefly to reporters, Trudeau repeated much of what he said on CNN and didn't take any questions. Although this is Trudeau's first appearance on American network television since Trump issued his tariff threat, some of Canada's premiers specifically Ontario's Doug Ford and Alberta's Danielle Smith have made several appearances in recent weeks to make the case against tariffs. Poilievre outlines his plan to deal with Trump's threats Just moments before Trudeau's interview, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a campaign-style press conference in which he outlined how he would counter Trump's threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the points he listed in his prepared remarks, Poilievre said he would offer more energy to fuel the American tech industry, lower taxes to spur investment in Canada and make the economy "more independent and less vulnerable to threats from abroad." "We will stand up and we will state clearly that Canada is a sovereign and independent country that we will protect our integrity as a nation through strength," he said. Poilievre also vowed to take the case against tariffs directly to American union workers and business leaders. "We should go to the American workers in the Midwest and their union and business leaders and say, 'How many jobs are you prepared to lose by hitting Canadian energy with tariffs?'" he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH | Poilievre explains why he thinks 'Axe the Tax' is the ballot box question: While taking questions from reporters, Poilievre was asked if he has or is planning to speak to Americans to make his case against tariffs. "Look, I'm not the prime minister. I respectfully ask the Canadian people to serve them in that role," he said in response. Poilievre who has a sizable lead over the Liberals in the polls called on Trudeau to call an election immediately. "I need the mandate, the mandate to put our country first, to make the case to the Americans," he said. Thursday was the first time Poilievre has spoken to reporters since Trudeau announced he would be stepping down. The Conservative leader argued that it didn't matter who the Liberals choose as their new leader because "they're just like Justin." By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized President-elect Donald Trump's proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian products in a meeting with American business leaders on Thursday, saying the step would have "negative impacts" on both countries. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Trump says he will impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports unless Ottawa boosts border security. On Tuesday, the president-elect floated the idea of turning Canada into a U.S. state. Trudeau said this week there was not "a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada would become part of the United States. KEY QUOTES "The prime minister emphasized the importance of a stable and predictable business environment and the concerning impacts that proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian products would have on Canadians and Americans alike," Trudeau's office said late on Thursday. "He emphasized that tariffs only raise prices, discourage growth and investment, and negatively affect financial markets, stressing the importance of continued free trade and the free flow of goods and services," the office added. A tariff on goods crossing the border "would have negative impacts for both Canada and the United States," Trudeau told business leaders, according to his office. The prime minister met Jay Timmons, the CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, and Joshua Bolten, the CEO of the Business Roundtable, a body that counts over 200 CEOs as members. CONTEXT Trudeau announced on Monday that he will step down in the coming months after nine years in power, bowing to pressure from lawmakers alarmed by his Liberal Party's miserable showing in pre-election polls. While Trudeau enjoyed good relations with Democratic President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama, his relations have at times been tense with Trump, who has been critical of the Canadian leader. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he jokingly suggested a trade for Vermont or California in response to President-elect Donald Trump's signaling an interest in annexing Canada. Trudeau recounted the exchange, which he said Trump "immediately" decided was no longer funny, when he was asked in an MSNBC interview whether Trump had previously discussed annexation with him. "It actually sort of came up at one point, and then we started musing back and forth about this," Trudeau told MSNBC's Jen Psaki about his visit with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November. "And when I started to suggest, 'Well, maybe there could be a trade for Vermont or California for certain parts,' he immediately decided that it was not that funny anymore, and we moved on to a different conversation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full interview is set to air on "Inside with Jen Psaki" at 12 p.m. ET Sunday. Trudeau has repeatedly rejected Trump's musings about Canada's becoming the 51st state, writing Tuesday on X, There isnt a snowballs chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States." A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Trudeau had made the trip to meet with Trump shortly after Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods. Trump in November called his meeting with Trudeau at his club in Palm Beach, Florida, very productive," saying they had discussed immigration and "the massive Trade Deficit the U.S. has with Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau said in the MSNBC interview that Canada is prepared to deliver a "robust response" if Trump goes forward with his tariff plan. "My focus has to be not on something that hes talking about that will not ever happen but more on something that might well happen: that if he does choose to go forward with tariffs that raise the cost of just about everything for American citizens, that on top of that, were going to have to have a robust response to that," Trudeau told Psaki. Trump has said imposing blanket 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, a proposal he has framed as a response to the ongoing fentanyl crisis, would be among his first executive orders when he begins his second term this month. Trudeau said this week that he would step down as the head of Canada's ruling Liberal Party amid intensifying calls for his resignation partly because of how he has handled threats from Trump. The abrupt resignation last month of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who cited concerns over using "costly political gimmicks" instead of battling the incoming tariff threat squarely, signaled Liberal Party dissatisfaction with Trudeau's approach. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he thinks President-elect Trumps public musings about annexing the neighbor to the north is a distraction from Trumps threat to impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports. What I think is happening in this is President Trump, whos a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that, by that conversation, away from the conversation around 25 percent tariffs on oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete, Trudeau said in an interview on CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper. Everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs, Trudeau continued. And thats something that I think we need to be focusing on a little bit more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau said hes not concerned that the U.S. would actually follow through with annexing Canada. Thats not going to happen, Trudeau said. Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, were not American. There is such a depth of pride that thats not actually an issue, he added. Trump has repeatedly mused about the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state and has taunted Trudeau by calling him governor. Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his suggestion of merging the U.S. and Canada following Trudeaus announcement that he would resign in the coming months. On Tuesday, he threatened economic force to annex Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau said in the CNN interview that his resignation has nothing to do with Trumps victory in the U.S. He said he worked well with Trump during his first term in office, pointing to the renegotiated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal as a win-win for both countries. Asked whether his decision to resign was related to Trumps reelection, Trudeau said, No. On the contrary, what we were able to do during the first, first presidency of Mr. Trump was work together in a very challenging situation, to come out with a very strong win-win in Canada-the US relations with the renegotiation of the USMCA. Working together concretely is something that weve been able to do in the past, and Im looking forward to continuing to work with him for the next two months while Im still in office. Trudeau added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BAZETTA, Ohio (WKBN) A half million dollars worth of improvements is coming to a focal point of the Trumbull County Fairgrounds. A blanket of snow is now covering the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, but if you plan to attend the fair six months from now youll notice some improvements to the grandstand. Renovations include fresh paint on the grandstand itself and the stage plus new LED lighting. Itll give it a fresh new facelift basically make it look a lot better and more updated so we can use it for years to come, Trumbull County Fair Board member Kierstin Holmes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planned upgrades are made possible thanks to $500,000 from the One Time Strategic Community Investments Grant Program. Im just really delighted that I was able to get it for the fair, State Senator Sandra OBrien (R- District 32) said. OBrien and Representative Nick Santucci requested the funding after meeting with the fair board and former county engineer Randy Smith. They convinced us that they needed $500,000 basically to remodel the grandstands, OBrien said. Ive been to the fair, I love the Trumbull County Fair, and I would agree with them. Holmes says one of the improvements being made here at the grandstand because of the grant will be to replace the wooden benches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is just one thing to help us revive the Fairgrounds and revive the grandstand for everybody that comes and enjoys the events here, Holmes said. The goal is to have the renovations finished come fair time in July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. SAN DIEGO Donald Trumps administration would shut down the Darien Gap, the dangerous Panamanian jungle hundreds of thousands of migrants cross each year on their way north, incoming border czar Tom Homan said Thursday in a one-on-one interview at the U.S. southern border. It needs to happen, he said. Shutting down the Darien Gap is going to protect our national security. Its going to save thousands of lives. Panama has faced pressure to crack down on migration in recent years, and the countrys immigration authorities said this month there had been a 42% drop in crossings last year through the typically lawless 70-mile stretch of jungle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to work with the foreign government, Homan said. Homans comments come as the president-elect begins laying out an expansionist foreign policy for his second term. This week, Trump didnt rule out using military force to retake the Panama Canal or acquire Greenland. Homan, acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the first Trump administration and a former ICE agent himself, also acknowledged that Trumps mass deportation plan would include collateral arrests undocumented immigrants without criminal records who are discovered as ICE agents search for their targets. Homan warned that workplace roundups would ramp up again soon after Trump takes office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to do it in a smart way, he said. Were still working on how exactly we want to roll this out, but [work site] operations have to come back again because its the No. 1 place we find victims of forced labor being run by many cartels. A crucial question remains about how the administration will pay for these ambitious plans. ICE already has a $230 million budget shortfall, and its unclear when and how Congress will agree on funding. Homan said $86 billion would be a great start, noting that its less than what the United States has spent on military and other assistance to Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Im saying, Were going to defend another nations borders? How about defending our borders, too? And so, give us the money to do this job, he said. When pressed about how the Trump administration would pay for this deportation operation, Homan would not say whether officials would take money from the Defense Department to fund it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That decision is above me, he responded. DOD can certainly be a force multiplier. Also on his list for Congress? Detention beds. Homan would like at least 100,000 detention beds; currently, the U.S. has approximately 34,000. In response to critics of mass deportations who argue that theyd hurt the U.S. economy, Homan was blunt. I think mass deportation and results of mass deportation are more important to this country than anything, he said. I dont put a price on all these young women whove been raped and murdered. I dont put a price on our national security. Homan also said the transition was considering a fresh idea about a hotline that would allow Americans to report undocumented immigrants who they believe have committed crimes in their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want a place where American citizens can call and report, he said. We need to take care of the American people. We need to make sure they have an outlet to help report child traffickers, forced labor traffickers. We want to give them an opportunity to be a part of the fix. Another change Homan would want to make: holding weekly press briefings with updates on deportations. I think we need to be transparent for the American people and we need to show people exactly what were doing, he said. Homan is also discussing the expansion of ICEs 287(g) program, which allows the federal agency to partner with local law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got a lot of sheriffs that come to me and cant wait for 287(g) program be ramped back up, he said. So theyre coming to us. Homan would not confirm whether the administration plans to reimplement Title 42, the emergency public health measure during the Covid pandemic that made it easier for the U.S. to expel migrants. But he argued that it would be justified because of other diseases migrants might bring across the border, including tuberculosis, measles and chickenpox. I dont know whether he (Trump) has made a decision and I would not get ahead of him, Homan said. But I think there could be a case made for it. Still, according to the National Institutes of Health, there is little documentation of emerging disease transmission or epidemic spread to the U.S. attributable to refugees or immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan also wants to eliminate the Biden administrations CBP One app, which migrants have been using to schedule initial asylum screenings. A migrant in Mexico uses the CBP One app. Creating programs to allow thousands of people in this country a week that we dont properly vet and that we know dont qualify is not the answer, Homan said. Just a few miles away -- across the border in Tijuana -- Oscar Mendoza Santiago, 44, has been struggling for months to schedule an appointment on the app. Hes been at the Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter since late November with nine relatives: his wife, four daughters, son and three grandchildren. Inside, about 100 migrants sleep in tents next to Christmas decorations that have not been taken down. Have mercy and compassion with the people who want to come [to he U.S.] to work, he said. Tents inside the Movimiento Juventud 2000 in Tijuana, Mexico. Some families have been living in those tents for months waiting for an appointment to cross over into the U.S. Santiago said he left his hometown in Mexico because of violence and has been trying unsuccessfully to secure an asylum screening appointment. With the Trump administration vowing to scrap the app, hes worried about the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plan B is to stay here in Tijuana and work, he said. Jose Maria Garcia, the shelters director, is concerned that removing options to apply for asylum will force some desperate migrants to make the incorrect decision to try to sneak into the U.S. Trump "wont stop the migrants coming, he said. He wont deter them. But Homan, who said he was speaking with the Trump transition team daily, does think the tighter immigration restrictions will end up being a deterrent. I think the American people have spoken, he said. This is the No. 1 issue. They went to the voting booth. I think Congress is paying attention. Theyll give us the money to do this job. Its not so much about illegal immigration. Its about national security. His message to anyone in the U.S. illegally? Go home. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Acquiring Greenland, inviting Canada to join the union, and recovering the Panama Canal will have to wait. The incoming Trump administration has several more important priorities to address. Expect the Trump administration to hit the ground running with a proposed federal budget, immigration enforcement plan, and potentially massive regulatory changes. The craziest part is that Democrats might actually help out. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is essentially an advisory entity to the Trump transition team. When Trump takes office DOGE will operate outside of the federal government advising the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to "drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to [g]overnment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well quickly discover whether the DOGE has any real teeth when we see Trumps budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest spending boondoggle in American history. Over the last several years, Congress hasnt pulled back to more typical pre-COVID spending levels. To put it mildly, DOGE has a target-rich environment. If federal agencies and programs dont take a fiscal haircut, DOGE is little more than a political stunt and meme coin. Republican and Democratic senators are collaborating on immigration legislation On the immigration front, Trump will direct his attorney general and secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize arrest and deportation of criminal illegal aliens. Gang activity will almost certainly be the first focal point, and we may even see a few blue cities working with the administration to that end. The task isnt as simple as it sounds. The American immigration system is extremely complex. For example, if we arrest Venezuelan gang members, Venezuela must agree to take them back. The Maduro regime uses repatriation of migrants as a political tool, so returning aliens is inconsistent at best. Trump may need to play diplomatic hardball to ensure that repatriation doesnt gum up the works in immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a positive development, Democrats and Republicans have found some common ground on immigration policy. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Laken Riley Act by a vote of 264-159 with 48 Democrats supporting the measure. The bill requires federal detention of criminal aliens and provides judicial remedies for the federal governments failure to enforce the law. Opinion: Dear Democrats: I survived the Biden administration. You'll survive Trump. On the other side of the Capitol, Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, is working the legislation with her friend, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania. So far, Fetterman and four of his Democratic colleagues have supported the bill and are encouraging their colleagues to join the effort. Trump should welcome lawsuits on undoing the 'regulatory state' Trumps most important and potentially long-lasting priority isnt receiving much attention at all. In a few short months, the Republican-controlled Congress and the White House could change the federal regulatory state for a generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Congressional Review Act, Republican congressional majorities working with Trump will be able to undo any midnight rulemaking from the outgoing Biden administration. Doing so is critical to quickly change policy direction within the executive branch agencies. The Trump administration should also invite lawsuits. In the wake of SCOTUS' landmark ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, Trump should invite lawsuits to rein in the overreach of federal regulatory agencies. Rather than defending them, the Department of Justice should take the opportunity to permanently force Congress to actually draft laws instead of deferring to expansive regulatory lawmaking. Exclusive: Regrets, precedent and legacy: 7 takeaways from Biden's interview with USA TODAY Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Setting aside executive power is always a tough ask of an incoming administration, but it would undeniably be the most lasting of any of Trumps priorities. I cant imagine Democrats would be too upset with Trump curtailing his own power, so they might be willing to join the effort. Americans expect their leaders to work together for the good of the country For Democrats who find these priorities and Trump himself deeply disturbing, dont bite on the extreme rhetoric and policy head fakes. Trump is now a known quantity, and he loves his political opponents to spend all their time, talent, and resources on hypothetical problems. For example, Canada is quite unlikely to become the 51st state. Trump isnt going to be able to suspend the Constitution and declare himself president for life. My guess is that the Department of Education wont unilaterally vanish without thorough consideration by Congress. Breathless efforts to fend off political phantoms arent nearly as effective as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, working with DOGEs Elon Musk to ensure that the Department of Defense can pass an audit before it gets any more funding. Even in the age of Trump, we can find bipartisan agreement that moves America forward. We shouldnt get so upset at the areas where we disagree that we refuse to even acknowledge the areas where we agree. Cameron Smith, columnist for The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network Tennessee Whether spending, immigration, or regulation, our challenges have developed over time and across the political aisle. We must end the mindset that our real problem is someone elses favorite politician. We should expect our leaders to work together in good faith to serve Americas interest. Focus on the people you actually supported in the last election. If the best theyre offering is that the other political party is the problem, you have either two, four, or six years to find someone better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney who worked for conservative Republicans. He and his wife Justine are raising three boys in Nolensville, Tenn. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on X, formerly known as Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump is provocative, but focus on his actions not his words | Opinion Donald Trumps incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, wants to get rid of all the nonpolitical appointees and career intelligence officials on the National Security Council, so that the president-elect will be surrounded by loyalists and face absolutely no accountability once hes in the White House. Waltz told Breitbart News Thursday that he hopes to oust career intelligence officials from the FBI, CIA, and NSA, among other agencies, from the NSC. These officials traditionally help the president make informed decisions about foreign and domestic affairs. Everybody is going to resign at 12:01 on January 20, Waltz said in a phone interview with Breitbart. Were working through our process to get everybody their clearances and through the transition process now. Our folks know who we want out in the agencies, were putting those requests in, and in terms of the detailees theyre all going to go back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why does Waltz want them out? Well, they arent all Trumpers, for one thing, so theyd be more likely to push back on the president-elects stupider impulses to, say, try to acquire Greenland or something. More crucially, these detailees have the tendency to report up the chain of command on the White Houses activities, a totally normal thing to do, unless youre trying to get away with something you dont want anyone to know about. Officials doing their jobs properly can become a huge problem when it comes time for them to testify about stuff later on. Thats what happened with Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who joined the National Security Council as an expert on Ukraine in 2018. The next year, he testified about an improper phone call Trump made to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, pressuring the foreign leader to investigate Trumps Democratic rivals. According to Breitbart, Waltz told Breitbart News that he is taking very serious steps to ensure that there are no more Vindmans. Its not clear how serious Waltzs threat is, but he shared the article in a post on X Friday, captioning it Day 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vindman responded to Waltzs comments in an X post of his own Friday, saying that ensuring only political loyalists could serve on the NSC set a dangerous precedent. Such an approach will have a chilling effect on senior policy staff across the government. Talented professionals, wary of being dismissed for principled stances or offering objective advice, will either self-censor or forgo service altogether, Vindman said. This undermines the very purpose of the NSC: to provide the president with the best possible advice as well as the coordinating team to advance U.S. national security interests. The implications of this loyalty-above-competence model are dire. By purging the NSC of apolitical, experienced professionals, Trump and Waltz are hollowing out the institutional expertise required to navigate complex global challenges, Vindman wrote. This will create a policy apparatus incapable of discerning sound policies from reckless impulsesor worse, one that actively disregards legal and ethical obligations to implement Trumps personal whims. Thirty-five people are missing, feared dead, after a Comet jet airliner crashed into the Mediterranean. The plane a British Overseas Airways Corporation jet was on its way from Singapore to London. It came down in the sea about 20 minutes after taking off from Rome, in Italy, on the last leg of its journey. Fifteen bodies have been recovered so far. There were 10 children among the passengers. World War II correspondent Chester Wilmot, was also among those missing. A fisherman reported seeing the plane crash into the sea, south of Elba, after what appeared to be a mid-air explosion. This is the third crash involving a Comet since the plane began service on 2 May 1952. The worst accident happened on the first anniversary of the jets introduction; all 43 people on board were killed shortly after the plane took off from Calcutta in India. An inquiry found the accident was caused by an unusually severe storm. The plane suffered a structural failure in the air which caused a fire and led to the crash. Giovanni di Marco, the fisherman who first reported the latest crash, said: I heard three explosions, very quickly, one after the other. For a moment all was quiet. Then, several miles away, I saw a silver thing flash out of the clouds. Smoke came from it. It hit the sea. There was a great cloud of water. By the time I got there all was still again. There were some bodies in the water. We began to pick them up. There was nothing else we could do. Courtesy BBC News In context The Comet was the worlds first jet airliner, designed and built in Britain. After a successful first year in operation, manufacturers de Havilland had firm orders for 50 more Comets. Then disaster struck. The British Overseas Airways Corporation temporarily suspended all Comet jet services following the crash off Rome while checks were carried out. It was difficult to establish the exact cause of the crash because most of the wreckage was lost under water. But modifications were made and the Comet went back into service. Then another Comet fell into the sea after leaving Rome on 8 April 1954, killing all on board. Comets were grounded again. Tests found the planes fuselage was unable to withstand the pressures of flying. Cracks appeared in the bodywork which would cause the plane to blow apart during flight. Comet 4 was launched in 1958 but by this time the Boeing 707 had gone into service it could carry more passengers and had a greater range than the Comet. The British jet finally went out of production in 1968. Donald Trump gloated that the Americans dont need anything from Canada, even as the Canadian government sent firefighters and supplies in response to the devastating wildfires in California. Canada is mobilizing to help fight the wildfires in southern California. Canadian water bombers are already in action. 250 firefighters are ready to deploy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in a post on X Thursday. To our American neighbours: Canadas here to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that same day, Trump had a very different perspective on the relationship between neighbors: We dont need anything, he said during a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, not speaking about the wildfires specifically but just generally complaining because thats what he does. We dont need their fuel, we dont need their energy, we dont need their oil and gas. We dont need anything that they have, Trump continued. And I said to Trudeau, I said, Why are, why are we subsidizing you 200 a250 billion dollars a year? And he said, I really dont know. And I said, Well, I dont know either. I said, What would happen to Canada if we didnt? He said, Canada would be obliterated. I said, Well, then Canada should be a fifty-first state. Trump on Canada: We don't need their fuel or energy or oil and gas we don't need anything that they have. pic.twitter.com/8xLaIQq1Or Acyn (@Acyn) January 10, 2025 Canada has actually been helping fight the fires all week through the use of water bombers operating around Los Angeles. One Canadian Super Scooper aircraft, two of which are loaned annually to the U.S., was grounded Thursday after colliding with a civilian droneresulting in a loss of more than 1,500 gallons of ocean water per flight that could have been dropped on active fires. But Trump doesnt think we need any help at all. Take lumber, for example, an industry of which Trump clearly has a highly technical understanding: We dont need Canada for lumber cause we have big forests, that we have, you know, not utilized. In some cases theyre protected, which I can take that protection off. And you can take down that tree and grow a better tree. And you know thats pretty common. A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Justice Department can release a report from special counsel Jack Smith about his investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. But it left in place a temporary order blocking the reports release, which means Trumps team has three days to appeal the decision before the findings can actually be released to the public. In 2023, Smith brought two criminal cases against Trump: one related to his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol that aimed to overturn the 2020 election results, and a 40-count indictment for allegedly keeping and mishandling classified documents after he left office the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those cases were suspended when Trump won re-election thanks to a Justice Department policy that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president. But the DOJ requires special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report explaining why they brought the charges they did. Smiths report is in two volumesone relating to each of his investigations into Trump. In the two weeks before Trump returns to office, his team has launched a multi-pronged, last-ditch effort to keep Smiths findings secret. President-elect Donald Trump stands trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City in April 2023. / Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images On Monday, Trumps lawyers asked the judge who oversaw his classified documents case, Aileen Cannon, for an injunction blocking Attorney General Merrick Garland from releasing Smiths report. The next day, it filed a similar request with the 11th circuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noting the request pending before the 11th circuit, Cannon agreed to temporarily grant the injunction. She wrote that it would remain in effect until three days after the 11th Circuits decision, unless the appellate court decided otherwise. On Thursday, the 11th Circuit denied Trumps request to suppress the report. But it left the additional three-day injunction in place for now. In the meantime, Trumps team can ask the Supreme Court to intervene. And heres where things get messy. Several legal scholars claimed to The New York Times that Cannon didnt have the authority to block Smiths report in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had stunned legal experts in July by dismissing the classified-documents case on the grounds that Smith had been unconstitutionally appointed as special counsela move that was completely without legal precedence, the Times reported. Soon after, Smith appealed Cannons decision to the 11th circuita trial judge typically loses authority over a case once an appeal begins. Meanwhile, she never had any authority over the election interference case, which was being heard in Washington, D.C. Further muddying the waters, prosecutors dont even plan to release the volume of Smiths report relating to the classified documents case, since two of Trumps co-defendants are still standing trial. Theyre only immediately interested in making the election interference findings public. If the Supreme Court is asked to halt the reports release while it decides whether Cannons original injunction was valid, Smiths findings will remain secret while the court spends months untangling all the thorny legal questions involved. Even if the Supreme Court ultimately decides the report can come out, Trump will have assumed office thenall but guaranteeing the investigation remains buried for at least four years. Smelt It, Delta It President-elect Donald Trump has found the real culprit behind Los Angeles' massive and devastating wildfires: the Delta smelt fish. In a post on his failing Truth Social platform, the forthcoming commander-in-chief slammed California Gov. Gavin Newsom or "Newscum," in Trumpspeak for putting a "worthless fish" over Golden State's populace. "Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way," Trump posted. "He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didnt work!), but didnt care about the people of California." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now," he continued, "the ultimate price is being paid." The "worthless fish" in question is the Delta Smelt, a small and endangered freshwater fish that's protected under California law and, though it's a crowded field, just might represent one of the former and future president's stupidest beefs. Very Stable Faucet As Trump's would have it, Southern California could bring in more water via a "very large faucet" a nonexistent water diversion system from the Rocky Mountains to the north that experts call completely nonsensical. "You have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north, with the snow caps and Canada, and all pouring down," Trump said during a Los Angeles fundraising trip last September. "And they have, essentially, a very large faucet, and you turn the faucet, and it takes one day to turn, and its massive." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump plugged the convoluted "solution," Oregon's state climatologist Larry O'Neill suggested in interviews with local press that this strange technology only exists in Trump's mind. "There is indeed no such diversion system," O'Neill told Portland's KOIN, "and none has been seriously proposed that I am aware of." Despite his proposed technology not existing in the real world, the man who will be sworn back into office in less than two weeks thinks that California should be doing things his way. "I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!" Trump posted. "He is the blame for this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in reality, climate change and the notorious Santa Ana winds are really to blame but in this dumb age, who's keeping score? More on Trump proposals: Trump Planning to Cut Funding for EVs and Chargers Elon Musk's $1 million sweepstake ended with a Michigan man winning the final prize. The selection process faced legal scrutiny for not being random, as the winners were handpicked. The last winner was paid thousands by the Trump campaign and was pictured at campaign events. Elon Musk's controversial $1 million swing state giveaway concluded with the final prize going to a Michigan man who had worked on President-Elect Donald Trump's campaign. The sweepstakes, funded by Musk through America PAC, a pro-Trump super PAC, distributed daily prizes in the lead-up to the election. The prizes went to registered voters in swing states who signed an online petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In return, participants received cash payments of up to $100 and a chance to win $1 million. On the sweepstakes' final day, America PAC announced Tyler VanAkin of Reading, Michigan, as the last $1 million check recipient. "Tyler was traveling but we were able to meet up with him before he boarded his flight," it said in a post on X. However, it omitted key details about VanAkin's work for the Republican presidential campaign, and also that he was en route to Trump's election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Financial Times was the first to report the details, based on election filings. The controversial giveaway In announcing the sweepstake on October 19, Musk said, "We're gonna be awarding a million dollars, randomly, every day from now until the election." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was later revealed that it was not random at all and that America PAC was hand-selecting recipients. In October, Philadelphia County District Attorney Larry Krasner sued Musk and his super PAC , characterizing it as an illegal lottery scheme. But Judge Angelo Foglietta of Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas allowed the giveaway to continue in Pennsylvania, writing in a decision that Musk's giveaway failed to meet the criteria required for a lottery under Pennsylvania law. One of those criteria is that winners need to be chosen at random. During the hearing, America PAC's treasurer testified that those chosen to win were "selected by the organization in a multi-step process." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PAC said this involved reviewing participants' social media posts and meeting them in person. Musk's lawyers also said at the hearing that individuals were selected based on their "suitability" to serve as spokespersons for the PAC, and that the windfall would not be lottery winnings but compensation for being chosen as spokespeople. The Trump campaign paid him for 'advance consulting' A year-end FEC filing by America PAC shows that VanAkin was paid $1 million on November 12, 2024, a week after his win was announced, for his services as a "spokesperson consultant." The other announced winners are also listed in the filing, but only VanAkin received income from political committees, per the Financial Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEC filings for the Trump campaign show that VanAkin worked for them between June and October, earning a little over $14,200 for "advance consulting & per diem," and receiving more than $16,300 in travel reimbursements. Instagram posts also show that VanAkin, who works as a chiropractor, attended a bus tour stop with campaign staff, wearing a Trump-Vance branded jacket, and was in attendance at the West Palm Beach election watch party. America PAC, the Trump campaign, and VanAkin did not immediately respond to Business Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trumps sentencing Friday marked the end of an onslaught of his legal troubles but also is leaving an indelible stain on his legacy as he prepares to take office as the first president in American history sentenced as a convicted felon. At a hearing Friday in Manhattan, Justice Juan Merchan sentenced the president-elect to an unconditional discharge, leaving Trump unpunished by prison time or fines after a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of business fraud in his New York hush money case. But the significance of the hearing stretches far beyond the New York courtroom and formalizes his conviction status a fate Trump is still trying to undo with appeals to overturn his conviction. Donald Trump will be a felon, said Jeremy Saland, a criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor. No asterisk anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Fridays sentencing effectively ended Trumps years of legal woes, which had piled up in his time since leaving the White House in 2020 then disintegrated in quick succession following his electoral victory last year. Trump had been charged in three other criminal cases in addition to the New York hush money case, in which a jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in connection to a $130,000 payment made to the porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. One federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith charged him with conspiring to steal the 2020 election following the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Smiths other case charged him with hoarding classified documents after he left the White House. And another state case, brought by prosecutors in Georgia, alleged he had plotted to overturn the election results in that state. The two federal cases against Trump were dismissed though the president-elect is still battling to keep the Justice Department from releasing Smiths final report. And the Georgia case is stalled, likely indefinitely once Trump retakes the White House. A felony conviction could generally affect someones ability to vote, travel or own a gun but none of those restrictions would apply to Trump, or mean much, as leader of the free world, notes Sarah Krissoff, a former U.S. attorney in New York who now works in criminal defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the sting for the president-elect will be in the conviction itself. Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances, Merchan said at Trumps sentencing, adding that his decision would be the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction without encroachment on the highest office of the land. But that isnt likely to matter much either for Trump, at least for the political present. During his presidential campaign, Trump framed each successive legal case brought against him as another example of lawfare perpetrated by his political enemies and propelled that narrative into a fundraising fortune and ultimately 312 Electoral College votes. This case enraged and galvanized Republicans in a way that I don't think Democrats, even to this day, can fully understand, said Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist. And it backfired on them tremendously, and every time they used the talking point that they created with this case in the campaign, I think it hurt them even more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After leaving the hearing on Friday, which he had joined by video conference from Mar-a-Lago, Trump framed the sentence as a win against a Democrat-led pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt, writing on social media that it proved THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED. The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History, the president-elect continued. After these next four years, Trump will have little political future for which the felony will matter and with Trumps legal cases appearing to be of little benefit for Democrats in 2024, it wont likely be a liability for the GOP, either. Unable to run for a third term, Trump in January 2029 would leave the Oval Office at the age of 82. In Florida, where he is a resident, he will still be able to vote for his successor. And although he cannot own a gun, that wont be much of a problem, considering his lifelong Secret Service detail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Trump again has made history. In just 10 days, he will be sworn in as the countrys 47th president and the first to be a felon. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume a second term in office, Merchan said at the conclusion of the sentencing. Erica Orden and Ben Johansen contributed to this report. Jan. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the U.S. Supreme Court Friday that President-elect Donald Trump could ignore the ban of TikTok if he chooses. During oral arguments before the high court, Prelogar initially said she did not wish to speculate on whether Trump could extend the deadline of the TikTok ban, set to take place Jan. 19. Trump will not yet be sworn in as president as his inauguration takes place Jan. 20. Prelogar later said Trump could "absolutely" decide to ignore enforcing the law. If the ban does take effect, it could be lifted and TikTok would be allowed to return at a later time if a qualified divestiture is made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At the outset of course Congress was hoping to prompt a divestiture," Prelogar said. "Foreign adversaries do not willingly give up their control of this mass communications channel in the United States. Congress expected we might see something like a game of chicken. But when push comes to shove and these restrictions take effect -- it will fundamentally change the landscape for what ByteDance is willing to consider and might be just the jolt Congress expected the company would need to actually move forward with the divestiture process. So it's not irrevocable." The hearing adjourned after about two hours as scheduled. Justices on both sides shared skepticisms about TikTok attorney Noel Francisco's argument that Congress' ban is an unconstitutional First Amendment violation. They said Congress means to remove any possible influence on the app by the People's Republic of China, not influence the content or speech on the app itself. U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the U.S. Supreme Court Friday that President-elect Donald Trump could ignore the ban of TikTok if he chooses. File Photo by Eric Lee/UPI Francisco argued that the law was a ban on the speech itself and noted that other media companies operating in the United States, including Politico, are owned by foreign entities. Politico is owned by German company Axel Springer SE. TikTok, on the other hand, is a "bona fide U.S. company," he said. If the law takes effect, Francisco said he is of the understanding that TikTok will go dark on Jan. 19. It will no longer appear in app stores and service providers will discontinue their work with the, rendering it non operational. TikTok attorney Noel Francisco argued that Congress' ban is an unconstitutional First Amendment violation. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI "Am I right that the algorithm is the speech here," Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The algorithm is a lot of things," Francisco responded. "It's basically how we predict what our customers want to see." Francisco said that TikTok could choose to abandon the algorithm, owned by ByteDance, that makes TikTok's user experience unique. However it would be an "incredibly bad business decision." He added that it is also doubtful TikTok would do this. Barrett explained further about connecting the algorithm to speech, describing it as being similar to editorial discretion. She noted that editors in news organizations use their discretion or make decisions about how content is presented and what content is presented for mass consumption. This, she said, is similar to how TikTok's algorithm decides what content its users see. Justice Samuel Alito and Francisco earlier agreed that the court has never ruled that foreign entities have First Amendment protections in the United States. Barrett reasoned that the TikTok algorithm's decision about what content is shown is an expression of ByteDance's speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Here the concern is about the covert content manipulation piece of the algorithm," she said. "That is something that ByteDance wants to speak, right?" Francisco argued that TikTok and ByteDance "absolutely resist any content manipulation by China." "In 10 days, TikTok wants to speak," Francisco said. "In 10 days, TikTok cannot speak if ByteDance doesn't execute a qualified sale." Jeffrey Fisher, attorney for TikTok content creator Brian Firebaugh, said the government's national security concern is not reason enough to ban speech. "It's not enough to say 'national security,'" he said. "You have to say what is the real harm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fisher argued that much of the government's concern is based on hypothetical future scenarios, something that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson later alluded to. "Congress is fine with the expression," said Chief Justice John Roberts. "They're not fine with a foreign adversary gathering information about 170 million people on TikTok." Prelogar said the amount of data TikTok collects about U.S. users is "unprecedented." Meanwhile, the way the algorithm works and the ways it can be used to influence those users is not apparent. Justice Elena Kagan contended that the way any social media algorithm works is not clear. "Does covert just mean it's hard to figure out how the algorithm works? Because we could say that about every algorithm," she said. "It's just because we don't know that China's behind it? That's what covert means? Everybody knows China is behind it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prelogar emphasized that the root of the issue that Congress means to solve with its law is to remove China's involvement with TikTok, if it is to continue operating in the United States. The position of the government is that China will try to harm or weaken the United States with its alleged control of TikTok. The United States just may not know when or how, according to Prelogar. "It's not just narrowly tailored. It's precisely tailored," Prelogar said. "It's trying to fix the thing that's creating the problem which is the PRC's involvement and the Chinese government's ability to exercise this control over the corporate entities." An appeals court has denied an emergency motion from two of Donald Trumps co-defendants to stop the release of a report on the president-elects felony classified documents case. Special counsel Jack Smiths team had asked the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Judge Aileen Cannons decision blocking the reports release in favor of Carlos De Oliveira, the property manager of Mar-a-Lago, and Walt Nauta, a Trump aide who was photographed carrying large boxes around the estate. The court agreed with Smiths side, ruling Thursday that the report could be released after three days. Cannon previously tossed out the felony classified documents case against Trump by ruling Smiths appointment was unconstitutional, a move that has been criticized by legal scholars and repeatedly celebrated by Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for De Oliveira and Nauta argued that allowing Smith to publish his report was an improper attempt to remove from the district court the responsibility to oversee and control the flow of information related to a criminal trial over which it presides, and to place that role instead in the hands of the prosecuting authority. The lawyers also pushed back on the notion that there was a sense of urgency to get the report published before Trumps inauguration later this month. The only counsel in this case now claiming urgency is the Attorney General, but the governments brief does not explain this urgency, the lawyers wrote. The Attorney General is an office and not an individual: It will continue in perpetuity. The urgency of political activity is a fake urgency. Still, their motion to block the release was denied, but the Eleventh Circuit left in place Cannons order enjoining its release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. attorneys said Wednesday that the report would not be made publicly available but would be accessible to members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, which the defense lawyers said could lead to possible leaks. Now Attorney General Merrick Garland can publicly release the report from Sunday. De Oliveira pleaded not guilty to allegedly trying to help Trump delete security footage, and Nauta pleaded not guilty to moving the boxes (a tough one, as again, he was photographed). President-elect Donald Trump is speaking out about an apparent friendly exchange between himself and former President Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter's state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, which has gone viral on social media. Trump, who will return to office on Jan. 20, sat beside Obama, a row behind President Joe Biden, and was chatting and smiling before the ceremony. "I didnt realize how friendly it looked.," Trump told reporters on Friday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "Boy, they look like two people that like each other. And we probably do," Trump said while watching his interaction with Obama on Fox News. Former US President Barack Obama speaks with President-elect Donald Trump before the State Funeral Service for former US President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2025. Trump did not divulge what he and Obama were talking about, but he did say, "We have (a) little different philosophies, right? I dont know, we just got along. But I got along with everybody on that. You know, we met backstage before we went on, and I thought it was a beautiful service, but we all got along very well." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, Obama and other living presidents and vice presidents attended Carter's memorial service, which Biden declared a national day of mourning. Carter, who served as the 39th U.S. president, died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100 and was buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, in a private ceremony in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Obama and Trump's relationship Although it appeared to be smiles and laughs on Thursday, Obama and Trump have not seen eye-to-eye throughout their political careers. During Trump's first presidential campaign, he frequently vowed to end several Obama-era policies, including Obamacare, climate change policies, LGBTQ+ protections and states that legalized marijuana. He also questioned Obama's birthplace on multiple occasions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I really don't know," Trump told CNN's Anderson Cooper in 2011 when asked whether or not he believed Obama was born in America. "I mean, I don't know why he wouldn't release his records. But you know, honestly, I don't want to get in it." Obama has not held his tongue about Trump, with him in October questioning the mental competency of his successor by saying the country cant afford an "older, loonier Donald Trump." "There are questions about his competence. I mean, hes out there giving two-hour speeches. It's like Fidel Castro just keeps on talking. It's just word salads, Obama said at a campaign rally for then-Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in Madison, Wisconsin. Contributing: USA TODAY's Joey Garrison This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump discusses video of himself talking, laughing with Obama In China, no private enterprise is too big to fail, especially when market narratives change and a new industry dynamic takes shape. China Vanke Co., the countrys largest privately held developer, might just be in that uneasy spot even as Beijing vows to stabilize housing prices in 2025. Vanke is facing a liquidity crunch. Its scheduled to repay 33 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) of onshore bonds this year, versus 9.3 billion yuan in 2024. As of last June, the company no longer had enough cash to cover short-term debt. Meanwhile, property sales remain anemic, hovering at around 20 billion yuan per month and not enough to break even at the operating cash flow level. The builder is hardly benefiting from the noticeable price rebound in Chinas biggest metropolises, despite being headquartered in Shenzhen, the southern tech hub bordering Hong Kong. Tier-one cities account for only 11% of its land bank, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. On its own, Vanke is unlikely to survive by year-end. As such, investors are debating whether there will be enough government support, and if top officials still see the company as an important barometer for homebuyers. Is it still perceived, as I argued last March, as the developer that will break Chinas back? Much has changed since and not to Vankes advantage. A different pecking order is taking shape. Those buying new flats are going to state-owned builders, as concerns over unfinished homes and late deliveries linger. For instance, sales at state-owned China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. rose 0.3% last year, while Vanke suffered from a 35% decline, according to preliminary data from China Real Estate Information Corp. Alternatively, homebuyers can dabble in the secondary housing market, taking advantage of steeper price discounts offered by individual sellers. Vankes position in Chinas residential real estate market has gone from essential to peripheral. For homebuyers, the developer may no longer be the gauge that reflects the health of the real estate market. When it comes to a housing rescue, its clear that Beijing is relying on stimulating demand, as opposed to cutting oversupply that immediately benefits builders. Since late last year, the government has cut mortgage rates, relaxed home purchase restrictions in big cities, and lowered transaction taxes. Meanwhile, efforts to curb supply, such as local governments purchasing unsold homes and unused land from developers, is going slowly. Politics may be at play. In smaller cities, there have been hardly any land transactions or new home sales in recent years, making it difficult for local officials to determine what their repurchase prices should be. As Beijings anti-corruption drive rages on, bureaucrats have little incentive to take responsibility and buy large inventories from developers. As far as Beijing is concerned, government entities have done a lot for Vanke already. The company is in the midst of replacing maturing loans with collateralized bank borrowings, with the hope of lowering future interest payments. In the first half of 2024, it managed to obtain 63 billion yuan of secured bank credit with an average cost of only 3.66%. Anticipating Vankes liquidity crunch, the Shenzhen municipal government is considering waiving 9 billion yuan of local taxes for 2024, REDD Intelligence reported. Nonetheless, Beijing has not shown unconditional love for Vanke. Financial support from its largest state-owned shareholder, Shenzhen Metro Group Co., has been below market expectations. And policymakers may be asking if a bond default from the developer will shock consumers back into their shells, now that the housing market is seeing green shoots. They may say no, arguing that recent macroeconomic measures are strong enough to withstand one companys idiosyncratic woes. [Abridged] Courtesy Bloomberg/Shuli Ren As wildfires rage in California, President-elect Donald Trump is looking to Florida to run the key agency tasked with responding to disasters and one that is frequently a target of his ire. Trumps team is eyeing Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to two people familiar with the president-elects transition. Thats their leading candidate, one of the people, granted anonymity to discuss the administrations plans, told POLITICO. This person added that Trump had not yet interviewed Guthrie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guthrie, who would be the latest in a long line of Floridians tapped for major administration jobs, did not respond to messages seeking comment. Guthries pick isnt official, and a Trump transition spokesperson said they dont speculate or get ahead of President Trump on personnel or policy announcements." The position is a crucial one: In addition to the fires in Los Angeles County, which will consume tens of billions of dollars in federal disaster aid, western North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene the devastating storm that struck during the fall and claimed more than 200 lives. FEMA is also a second-tier agency housed within the Department of Homeland Security that presidents rarely stock this early. Trumps incoming FEMA director will have their hands full. Trump has for years interfered with the agency, most recently on Wednesday, when he suggested in a Truth Social post that President Joe Biden is leaving him NO MONEY IN FEMA, though $27 billion still remains in the disaster relief fund an amount that could be eclipsed by Californias need. But there was also the time in 2019 when he suggested at a FEMA briefing that Hurricane Dorian was likely to hit Alabama, redrawing its path with a Sharpie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last October, he criticized FEMA recovery efforts in western North Carolina and wrongly suggested the agency spent all of its money on illegal immigrants. Trumps comments led to threats against federal disaster workers, and briefly paused their door-to-door visits over safety concerns. Theres no doubt that whoever the next FEMA administrator is going to be is going to have their hands full, not just from these current fires in California, but from the I dont know 50 other disasters that are probably still open within FEMA from a reimbursement standpoint, and obviously with the damage from the recent Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), who Trump also considered for the role. In Florida, Guthrie is responsible for leading the states response to major disasters and health emergencies, which includes managing logistics for potentially tens of thousands of linemen, first responders and debris removal crews before and after a hurricane hits. The state Division of Emergency Management also manages the states participation in FEMAs Public Assistance grant program, which has provided the state with several billion in federal recovery dollars in just the past couple of years alone. Guthrie, elevated by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021, would be the second Florida emergency management official to get tapped for the top job in the past 15 years. Craig Fugate, who worked under former Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, also held the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guthrie previously served as the assistant administrator for public safety in Pasco County during the 2017 hurricane season when the region saw heavy flooding from Hurricane Irma and other storms. At the time, he was one of a handful of county leaders who were frustrated by delays in the distribution of the FEMA recovery funding. Then-Gov. Rick Scott hired Guthrie to serve as chief of staff for DEM in 2019. He was promoted to deputy of the agency by Moskowitz, who at the time was the director of the state department. Guthrie also spent 23 years working for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Im not worried about FEMAs ability to respond without a political [appointee], but for any administration, its their responsibility to get their political team in place, Fugate said. Guthrie, a regular presence alongside DeSantis during disaster-related press conferences, faced criticism in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022 for not urging coastal evacuations sooner. The storm killed more than 100 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The folks at FEMA are professionals, therell be no drop between the Biden administration transitioning out and the interim administrator coming in, Moskowitz said. Pete Gaynor, who served in the role during the first Trump administration, said he did not expect Trumps recent comments about the agency to change its approach to wildfire recovery. No matter what youve heard, especially pre-election when it came to Helene in North Carolina and some of that nonsense that was spewed about misinformation and FEMA, FEMA is apolitical, Gaynor said. Irie Sentner contributed to this report. The Supreme Court shockingly slapped down Donald Trumps request to block the sentencing for his sole criminal conviction, leaving him with few other options than to finally face the music at the finale of his hush-money trial Friday morning. But Trumps interpretation of the rejectionwhich attempted to frame the forthcoming legal comeuppance as something of a fight songwouldnt have you think so. I appreciate the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me by the highly conflicted Acting Justice, who should not have been allowed to try this case, Trump wrote Thursday night on Truth Social. Every Legal Scholar stated, unequivocally, that this is a case that should never have been brought. There was no case against me. In other words, I am innocent of all of the Judges made up, fake charges. This was nothing other than Weaponization of our Justice System against a Political Opponent, he continued. Its called Lawfare, and nothing like this has ever happened in the United States of America, and it should never be allowed to happen again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump then went on to lament the details of the gag order placed upon him in the case, claiming that preventing him from bashing the characters of witnesses and court staff in the hush-money trial was a violation of his First Amendment rights. For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL, Trump wrote. The pathetic, dying remnants of the Witch Hunts against me will not distract us as we unite and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The Supreme Court ruled 54 on Thursday against Trump, determining that there would be no further delays in processing the president-elects criminal conviction. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump nominee, sided with the courts three liberal justices in the majority decision. The court issued a brief, one-paragraph statement explaining its two-pronged rationale for rejecting Trumps request. First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal, the court wrote. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Judge Juan Merchan dealt the final blow to any suggestions of serious consequences for the president-elect. Merchan wrote in his order that unconditional discharge had become the the most viable solution for Trump, indicating that the incoming president would not be hampered down with fines, court-appointed supervision, or incarceration. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, with the MAGA leader appearing virtually. President-elect Donald Trump did not garner a universally warm welcome at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter. All five living presidents and former presidents attended the funeral, but the list of people who gave the Carter critic the cold shoulder and those with open arms did not follow party lines. Former Vice President Mike Pence greeted the president-elect in one of the pairs only public interactions since Trumps supporters called for Pences death during the Jan. 6 attacks, briefly shaking his hand. But other Republican mourners were less friendly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pence's wife, Karen, declined to acknowledge Donald or Melania Trump at the service. She stayed seated as they greeted the row. She had previously said that Trump "puts himself above the Constitution" and was unfit for office. That was before a court filing revealed that Trump responded, So what? to reports of a mob threatening former Vice President Pences life during the storming of the Capitol. Karen Pence wants nothing to do with Donald or Melania Trump. pic.twitter.com/VJB14nzOhR Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 9, 2025 Former President George Bush also coasted past President-elect Trump without a greeting, instead giving President Barack Obama a belly tap. Bush declined to throw his support behind the ostensible leader of the Republican Party during the presidential election, offering no endorsement for any candidate. President Joe Biden delivered a eulogy for Carter, highlighting the former presidents character in the address while subtly condemning abuses of presidential power. We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor and to stand up to what my dad used to say is the greatest sin of all, the abuse of power, Biden said in a seeming nod at President-elect Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement twitter.com/Acyn/status/1877395574670110997 Biden previously told reporters that the president-elect could learn decency from Carter. Attending the ceremony without former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Obama acted chummy while sitting with Trump and was caught on camera laughing with the president-elect. twitter.com/Acyn/status/1877369365609460005 (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump, the first former US president convicted of a felony, was sentenced by a New York judge to no jail time in his hush money case, though hell still return to the White House this month with a criminal record. Most Read from Bloomberg Justice Juan Merchan on Friday gave Trump a so-called unconditional discharge at a hearing attended virtually by the president-elect. The sentence means Trump emerges from the case without any probation, fine, or continued responsibility to the court, despite a jury convicting him of 34 felony counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge imposed his sentence in a packed courtroom in lower Manhattan, just 10 days before Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US president. It caps off a week of rapid-fire legal challenges by his lawyers, who sought to delay the hearing, including a failed last-ditch attempt to get the US Supreme Court to block it. Merchan, who previously signaled he would impose no punishment, said the unusually light sentence was a direct result of a July 1 ruling by the Supreme Court that gave the president broad immunity for acts while in office. The considerable indeed extraordinary legal protections afforded by the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others, said Merchan, who refrained from criticizing Trump directly. Despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict. The hush-money trial centered around Trump approving a $130,000 payment to an adult-film star during the 2016 presidential campaign to keep her from going public with allegations that they had an affair a decade earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump denies her claims and any wrongdoing, saying the case was part of a coordinated witch hunt intended to undermine his re-election. Shortly after the sentence was imposed, he vowed to appeal it in a post on Truth Social. Trump has stepped up his fight since his November election victory to erase the conviction, and will now seek to overturn his verdict through New Yorks appellate courts. The case could return to the US Supreme Court. Video Appearance Trump, appearing by video from Mar-a-Lago, reprised his familiar complaints about District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the decision to prosecute him, and what he describes as the weaknesses of the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been a very terrible experience, Trump said, seated at a table in front of two large American flags. Trump defended his actions around the business records at the center of the case, saying he properly accounted for them as legal fees or expenses. They werent put down by me, they were put down by accountants, he said. For this, I got indicted? Its incredible, actually. While prosecutors agreed with the judges decision to issue no substantial punishment, they emphasized the overwhelming evidence of Trumps wrongdoing that led to the conviction. The verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected, said Joshua Steinglass, a member of the DAs legal team. It is a bedrock principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steinglass also criticized Trumps conduct during the trial last year, saying the once and future president engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine justice. Trump has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system and sees himself as above the law, he said. The hearing unfolded briskly and lasted about 40 minutes. Merchan greeted Trump, who did not acknowledge the judge. When it was his turn to speak, Trumps comments echoed those he made on the campaign trail and in media appearances during the trial. I think its a disgrace to the system, Trump said. Im the first president of the United States who wasnt allowed to talk because Im under a gag order. Im totally innocent, I did nothing wrong. Trump cited his election victory as evidence that Americans didnt believe the criminal cases against him were valid. He campaigned to return to the White House amid four criminal prosecutions, though the hush money case was the only one that went to trial before voters went to the polls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They watched the trial, they understood it, Trump said. Unprecedented Case Merchan described the case as unprecedented and said that the court had never been presented with such a unique set of circumstances. He said that if Trump was an ordinary defendant, the sentencing likely would have been different. But the Supreme Court made clear that a president has extraordinary legal protections that changed how Merchan viewed the case, he said. Those protections do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way, he said. The protections are, however, a legal mandate, which pursuant to the rule of law, this court must respect and follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fordham Law Professor Cheryl Bader, a former federal prosecutor, said the judge and the district attorneys office both indicated that Trumps behavior during and after the trial would have weighed against him in a typical case. The prosecution raised Trumps complete lack of remorse and his efforts to undermine and delegitimize the criminal justice process, Bader said. These are factors that usually weigh against a lighter sentence, but Judge Merchan felt his hands were tied. As the hearing closed, Merchan wrapped up the proceedings quickly. He said the only lawful sentence he could impose was an unconditional discharge. Therefore, at this time I impose that sentence to cover all 34 counts, Merchan said. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume your second term in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with judges comments and law professors comment) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NEW YORKIn form, it looked like a sentencing. Donald Trump appeared remotely, but everything else was in place: the judge was seated up high, the defendant and prosecutors positioned down below. But the impression was fleeting. Trump, who will be President in 10 days, was represented by two lawyers who he has said will hold top roles in his Department of Justice. The judge spent most of the sentencing explaining why no real punishment could be applied to Trump. Trump made his return to Manhattan criminal court on Friday via Microsoft Teams. For months during his spring 2024 trial, he had stayed silent as former friends, business associates, White House employees, and Stormy Daniels incriminated him in various ways. But on Friday, at the first-ever sentencing hearing for the first-ever convict President, Trump addressed the court for the first time. It was familiar: he was full of grievance. The case should never have been brought, he repeated. It was a terrible experience, very inappropriate, and a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there was another tinge to what Trump was saying: it was as if he needed validation from those he was speaking to, and wasnt getting it. At times, it almost came off as pleading. I got the largest number of votes by far by any Republican in history, and won, as you know, all seven swing states won conclusively all seven swing states, he said. It was a very strange, but very Trumpian thing to say during a sentencing hearing for a criminal conviction: a record number of people like me! Isnt it so exasperating that were here? But his diatribe, and the hearing more broadly, was a reminder that Trumps logic throughout his criminal cases that the law is just people, a popularity contest to be manipulated has mostly prevailed, so far as it concerns him. After being convicted of 34 felony counts, the prosecutors recommended that he face no punishment apart from whatever emotions and reputational sullying come with being a convicted felon. Trump defense attorney and intended nominee for deputy attorney general Todd Blanche agreed. Judge Juan Merchan imposed that sentence of unconditional discharge labeling Trump a convict without a fine, jail time, or probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump appeared on a series of small screens in the courtroom, seated in front of two American flags, next to Blanche. At times, he seemed to glower; at others, he leaned forwards towards the camera as if struggling to hear. Throughout, he looked supremely annoyed. Once the hearing concluded, he immediately logged off, leaving only a faint beep to announce that his involvement had come to an end. His conviction is a hollow victory for the years-long effort to hold Trump accountable for criminal wrongdoing. Instead of galvanizing the idea that he was not above the law, the manner in which the sentencing proceeded had the opposite effect: demonstrating that by winning the November 2024 election, Trump had partly vitiated the criminal justice system that sought to hold him accountable. Judge Merchan devoted much of his sentencing delivery to focusing on that issue. Trump, he explained at length, gained legal protections from prosecution because he was assuming the Office of the Presidency not because he was Donald Trump. Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections. It is the Office of the President that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections, Merchan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added later: They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way. One power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict. But in politics, theres a saying: if youre explaining, youre losing. Merchan didnt do what judges typically do during sentencing, particularly of a contemptuous white collar defendant: criticize the persons conduct in a direct and unquestionable manner. Instead, Merchan limited himself almost entirely to delineating that key difference: Trump the man versus the powers that come with the Office of the Presidency. Only Joshua Steinglass, the Manhattan DA prosecutor who led the case, really made a full-throated effort to frame the sentencing as about upholding the principle that nobody not even a President can escape accountability for clear instances of wrongdoing. Trump, Steinglass said, sees himself as above the law and wont accept responsibility for his actions. Hes caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harms way. The Thursday sentencing, he said, cements Trumps status as a convict while giving the jurys verdict its due. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even during the sentencing, Trump repeated some of the conduct that, as Steinglass said, evinced a total lack of remorse. He repeatedly attacked a prosecutor on the DAs team as being from the DOJ, and suggested at one point that Michael Cohen, a damaging witness at trial, was allowed to speak as if he were George Washington. But hes not George Washington, Trump concluded. The courtroom was filled mostly with media, though a few members of the public were allowed access, including one observer who has made a hobby of attending virtually every Trump-related legal proceeding he can find. But that, too, marked the strangeness of the event. The trials restrictions on access to nearly everyone except the press replicated the conditions that, in an earlier era, gave media institutions their power and may have played some role in preventing Trumps brand of political entrepreneurialism from taking hold. If you wanted to find out what happened at the trial, you had to go through reporters who quite literally mediated your understanding. You could get it from Trump, but why would you? Hes a conflicted party in this. But Trumps influence in the courtroom setting has only grown. He won in November; before that, a Supreme Court a third of whose members he appointed shielded Presidents from most conceivable prosecutions for acts in office. The effect of it all was to strip Fridays hearing of any sense that any of this was a part of something bigger: the pursuit of justice, impartiality, or equality before the law. Rather, everyone seemed and acted as if they were diminished. Trump did his typical shtick of grievance, complaining that people didnt realize how much he was loved; all the other parties agreed that the office, at least, meant that, for the next four years, hes allowed to go scot free. PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) President-elect Donald Trump hosted 22 of the nation's 27 Republican governors for dinner at his Florida club on Thursday night, looking to help drive the agenda in conservative-run states after he takes office in 11 days. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte told reporters outside the gathering that some of the GOP governors unable to attend were being inaugurated, and that one was delayed by snow and was unable to make it to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. But he said attendees who could come were thrilled to accept the president-elects invitation and welcomed a coming collaborative, working relationship, which we have not had for four years during the Biden administration. It's been a long period without cooperation from Washington," Gianforte told reporters outside. "So, we're looking forward to the new administration coming in. We have a lot of business to get done on behalf of our states. We're just pleased to be here to meet with the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most reporters weren't invited to the proceedings, but cameras were allowed inside for part of the time. That allowed Trump to answer a series of questions from a Fox News Channel journalist. He discussed everything from his desire to have the U.S. take control of Greenland to the parade of technology company leaders who have come to Florida to visit him since Election Day, to his threats to impose steep tariffs on Canada. The president-elect also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet, and we're setting it up. The dinner came after Trump held a lengthy, closed-door meeting Wednesday with Republican Senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Trump described his discussions with his senators, as a love fest but added, This is a love fest, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governors arent exactly chopped liver, he said to laughter. Trump also renewed previous vows to cooperate with leaders in blue states, too, saying, "We want to get along with the Democrats. Im trying to be nice. Gianforte said that many of the governors present were concerned about overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal entities under President Joe Biden, adding, I know each governor that's standing up here has expressed frustration. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Trumps GOP presidential primary rival in last years primary was asked about the president-elect sharply criticizing Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom as cataclysmic wildfires rage across Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis blamed the media for what he said was unnecessarily promoting controversy and political division, adding that Trump will collaborate effectively with states regardless of whether they are red or blue. I worked well with Biden, during his time, with natural disasters, and I worked well with Donald Trump, DeSantis said, referring to hurricanes that have hit Florida as well as the deadly collapse of a beachfront condo in Surfside in 2021. So, Im very confident, as a state that knows we face these that a Trump administration is going to be very strong and going to be there for the people regardless of party. One of the questions Trump answered Thursday was about the frequent drone sightings that made headlines in recent weeks, but have seen attention wane more recently. That prompted several of the governors around the table to express concern that such aircraft could make incursions into military or other secure areas. They don't want to talk about it, Trump said, repeating an assertion he's made in the past that the government may be covering something up on the issue. He promised to shed more light on it after Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We're gonna find out on the 21st, he said. "You have to give me a little time after the Inauguration. But, shortly thereafter, I will give you a report on it. We'll tell you exactly what it is. ___ Editors Note: This is a version of CNNs Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britains royal family. Sign up here. The British royal family has historically played a vital role in strengthening ties between the United States and United Kingdom, keeping the so-called special relationship between the two countries alive. And as Elon Musk, one of US President-elect Donald Trumps closest allies, scraps with the UKs government, some believe Britain could be making more use of one of its oldest diplomatic assets. Even this week, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, visited the US on behalf of the King to pay his respects to former President Jimmy Carter, who died aged 100 in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could therefore be of some comfort to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is keen to build trust with the Trump administration, that the incoming president has a soft spot for the clan, particularly the late Queen Elizabeth II. In 2019, following his last state visit to the UK, Trump delivered a flurry of compliments directed at members of the family. I have such a great relationship, and we were laughing and having fun, Trump told Fox News just after the trip to London, when he met the late Queen. Trump particularly admires the familys celebrity and the way they represent a more traditional social authority, according to Ed Owens, a royal historian and author of After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself? They are some of the best-known people in the world and hed like to think that hes the best-known person in the world, he told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, Trump made equally flattering comments about the heir to the British throne, Prince William, whom he met in Paris at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in December. Hes doing a fantastic job, Trump said of William, calling him a good man. I had a great talk with the prince, Trump later told The New York Post. Hes a good-looking guy He looked really very handsome last night. Some people look better in person. He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that. US President-elect Donald Trump meets Prince William at the UK ambassador's residence in Paris after the Notre Dame cathedral reopening ceremony in December. - Aaron Chown/Pool/Getty Images The UK can use the royals strategically Trumps gushing remarks about William although perhaps not the most typical display of diplomacy will be welcomed by those concerned about the future of UK-US relations, particularly as prominent figures in the governing Labour party have previously hit out against the divisive incoming president. Keir Starmer and Donald Trump dont see eye to eye on everything, or at least theyre not going to see eye to eye on everything, Owens said, adding that the royals can, in a way, distract from that fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that (Trump) is deferential to the British royal family, impressed by them, I think that bodes well for the UK, if the UK can use the royals strategically, he said. Royal commentator and author Sally Bedell Smith agreed that the family can conceivably play a role in softening the atmosphere, which is pretty tense right now. This soft power influence is nothing new. Generations of royals have been helping to keep the bond between the UK and US tight. The late Queen went to great lengths to have a good relationship with past US presidents, and got to know 13 during her 70-year reign, Smith told CNN. That was just a vital piece of British foreign policy. John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, pictured with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at a state dinner party held at Buckingham Palace during the couples visit to London in 1961. - Historia/Shutterstock Famously, in the early 1960s, as the youthful John F. Kennedy came into power, the royal family helped the UK to strengthen its links with this new, dynamic, exciting America at a time when Britain felt like a slightly outdated place, Owens added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in the modern age there is little doubt that Trump and key members of the royal clan will not agree on everything, notably the need to take action to tackle climate change. Both Prince William and his father, King Charles III, have been vocal advocates for climate action. Meanwhile, Trump successfully campaigned on a three-word energy policy Drill, baby, drill and recently said that he wants a policy where no windmills are being built across the country. These strong views will not stop the royals speaking out about issues they believe in, Owens said, but there is a limit to their influence. I dont imagine that the King is going to give up, hes going to continue to emphasize the importance of (climate action), he said. But he will do so delicately. He knows that he has no serious role to play in American politics, Owens added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the British royals may have no official role in US politics, the soft power they yield will help to smooth a potentially bumpy road between Washington and London, and is a vital part of the UK governments strategy for ensuring the bonds between the two countries remain strong. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has changed her stance on a controversial government program she once sought to repeal as she battles for confirmation to become Donald Trumps director of national intelligence. During her time in Congress, Gabbard, a former Democrat who has embraced Trump, advocated for ending so-called Section 702 authority that allows the government to track foreigners outside the U.S. who are suspected of spying. Critics have labeled the Sept. 11, 2001-era program warrantless surveillance because it has been misused to sometimes track American citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, with her confirmation in doubt in the GOP-controlled Senate, Gabbard is making clear to key Republican senators that she would maintain the program if she joins Trumps administration. If confirmed as DNI, I will uphold Americans Fourth Amendment rights while maintaining vital national security tools like Section 702 to ensure the safety and freedom of the American people, Gabbard said in a statement obtained Friday by Punchbowl News. Gabbards about-face on Section 702 comes just one day after Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested she needed to get with the program during an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Well, now shes going to be the spokesman for 702 authority, Lankford told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, Its a legitimate question just to say, OK, how are you going to handle this? What does that mean? Because if she comes out and says, No, I want to oppose all 702 authority, that literally shuts down all of our national defense gathering. Its unclear how Gabbards warming to Section 702 will affect her support among libertarian-minded GOP senators like Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.). Paul, another critic of the surveillance program, endorsed Gabbards nomination last month. He said at the time that her appointment would send a message that the days of the intelligence community operating as an unaccountable black box are over. Pauls office did not immediately return a request for comment. Less hawkish supporters of Trump had pointed to Gabbards nomination as evidence he would stand up to neoconservatives within the GOP and the national security establishment, calling her a historic pick against the deep state. But Gabbards acquiescence to one of the intelligence worlds biggest demands has quickly dismayed civil liberties and privacy advocates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbards volte-face on FISA Section 702 is a reminder that trusting a politician to protect your constitutional rights is usually a bad bet, Patrick Eddington, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, told HuffPost. And if shes fine with the law as expanded last year, is that really the person who should head Americas intelligence apparatus? Jonathan Nicholson contributed reporting. Donald Trump said Thursday he didnt realize how friendly his chat with Barack Obama at Jimmy Carters funeral appeared to those watching. The president-elect, who was fielding questions from the press at Mar-a-Lago while surrounded by Republican governors, told Fox News Peter Doocy the two probably get along well. It did look very friendly, I must say. I didnt realize how friendly it looked. I saw it on your wonderful network just a little while ago before I came in, Trump said. And I said, Boy, they look like two people who like each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were seen talking for more than five minutes after greeting each other with a handshake before the start of Carters funeral Thursday morning in Washington, D.C. At one point, Obama could be seen laughing at something Trump said, with Trump smiling as well. Kamala Harris, who did not shake the hand of any of the former presidents as she entered, even turned her head to look at Trump and Obama as they continued their discussion. Obama and Trump yucking it up at Carter's funeral pic.twitter.com/pRI24CnalF Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) January 9, 2025 We probably do [like each other], Trump continued. We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably doI dont know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody." Trump famously pushed the birther conspiracy theory that Obama was born in Kenya, not Hawaii, and has often jabbed him by calling him Barack Hussein Obama, his full name. Obama has also attacked Trump, mocking his obsession with crowd size and saying on the campaign trail in 2024 that he wants to be king. Trump and Obama were seated next to each other at the funeral due to the absence of Michelle Obama. The former first lady, who cited a scheduling conflict, opted to stay in Hawaii on an extended vacation rather than sit next to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We met backstage, as you know, before we went on, Trump continued. I thought it was a beautiful service. But we all got along very well, which is good. During the service, though, at least one high-profile attendee seemed to give Trump the cold shoulder: Karen Pence. The wife of his previous vice president didnt acknowledge him when he entered the pew in front of her and her husband. Macau needs to have a more international vision for the year-end celebrations, Antonio Monteiro, a member of the Central District Community Advisory Board, said ahead of the agenda of the latest meeting of the council held on Wednesday. In his remarks, the council member said that, considering the opinions gathered about the New Years Eve celebrations in Macau, including the fact that many people were disappointed with the lack of fireworks in the Nam Van area, authorities should address the matter and find solutions that can benefit Macaus image as a World Tourism and Leisure Center. He expressed that many members of the public have been questioning why there are many celebrations with fireworks throughout the year (from the fireworks competition, Chinese New Year, the celebration of National Day, and the Macau handover), but when it comes to year-end celebrations, a traditional season for this type of event, there has been reluctance to hold such displays, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic. Noting that only the Cotai area featured fireworks this year in a display organized by one of the gaming concessionaires, he said that Macaus image abroad becomes attached to the Parisian Hotel Eiffel Tower, rather than Macaus cityscape or its bay, a fact that contrasts with most places and regions and even with the neighboring region of Hong Kong. He remarked that the authorities seem not to be taking sufficient note of the recent words of President Xi Jinping during his visit to Macau, in which he attributed the title of Pearl of the Motherland to Macau due to its role as a World Tourism and Leisure Center and its connection to the world through tourism. Monteiro also noted that many experts have been sharing opinions on how the New Year Countdown events can play an important role in economic diversification, in which gaming concessionaires can also participate. For the Central District Community Advisor, Macau has its bay and waterfront, which feature several distinctive elements and buildings such as the Macau Tower, the Grand Lisboa and Lisboa Hotels, and many other hotels along the coastline that ends at the Macau Cultural Center, the Science Center, and the Sands Macao. He suggested the government consider a pyrotechnic contest or drone show, focusing on the urban landscape of Macau and even Hengqin, without excluding the usual celebrations in Taipa and Cotai, and actively promote this event through regional and international media channels so that Macau can be included, in practice, as a world city. The Trump Organization on Friday announced that President-elect Donald Trump will not have any involvement in managing his real estate and branding empire during his second term and appointed an outside ethics adviser to monitor major company actions part of several measures the organization said it was taking to avoid conflicts of interest as Trump prepares to return to the White House later this month. The provisions, for the most part, mirror steps announced during the first Trump administration. Under its plan, the company pledged not to enter into any new deals with foreign governments and voluntarily donate to the US Treasury any profits from foreign governments that it can identify flowing into its hotels and other properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ethics pledge, however, is silent on how the company will handle overseas business deals. And Trumps son Eric Trump, the companys executive vice president, has previously said that the firm will continue to pursue foreign business during his fathers second term, relaxing a self-imposed restriction that the company has said was in place during the first term. In a statement, the Trump Organization noted that the incoming president is not required either by federal law or the US Constitution to remove himself from his business interests. Even so, Eric Trump said, the company is dedicated to not just meeting but vastly exceeding its legal and ethical obligations during my fathers Presidency. He called the ethical standards announced Friday robust. The younger Trump, who essentially guides the company day-to-day, also announced that prominent Republican lawyer William Burck will serve as an outside adviser to review major transactions to avoid ethics problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan unveiled Friday pledges that Donald Trump will have limited access to the companys financial information. Additionally, his businesses will remain in a trust, managed by his children, and his investments will be overseen by outside financial institutions that will neither solicit nor accept input from Trump. Although Trump is not required to take these steps, previous presidents have moved more aggressively to divest themselves of their businesses or place their holdings in blind trusts to avoid the appearance of self-dealing a distinction often noted by ethics watchdogs during Trumps political career. And, as CNN has previously reported, the incoming president has pursued new business deals in recent months including joining his family in a cryptocurrency venture and promoting new merchandise touting his electoral victory. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President-elect Donald Trump named Leo Terrell for a civil rights post on Thursday, bumping the number of Fox News figures poised to join his administration to 18, according to The Daily Beast. The eye-raising figure appears to reflect Trumps alliance with the conservative network, which he watched with stunning regularity during his first time in the White House and afterward. Fox News said the contributor contract of Terrell, who has been chosen to serve as senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights, has already been terminated, Politico reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps nominations and appointments of past and recent Fox News personalities include his recent naming of Tammy Bruce for State Department spokesperson. The list also features former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, former Fox Business host Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation, former Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for surgeon general, and former Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marty Makary for Food and Drug Administration commissioner,Mediaite noted. Mike Huckabee, who hosted a Fox News show for several years, has been tapped as ambassador to Israel, and Tulsi Gabbard, a contributor who also filled in as a host on occasion, has been announced for director of national intelligence. Many are subject to Senate confirmation, with some possibly facing uphill battles to secure the posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terrell made news elsewhere on Thursday by joining the conservative chorus to link diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to the fire crisis in Los Angeles and he did it on Fox News. You got a city fire chief who thinks DEI is the No. 1 issue! Terrell said, per The Daily Beast. Its insulting. And you know what? I blame the voters and I blame the media here. Sean, you think national medias biased? The local media in California kiss the ring of the Democrat Party. They do nothing. They dont ask the right questions. Related... President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday tapped former Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown to serve as the head of cemetery and memorial affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs, putting a combat-wounded veteran in charge of the key post. In a statement on social media, Trump called Brown an American hero who will work to ensure we put Americas veterans first and remember all who served. Brown, 41, is a West Point alumnus who served in the Army for five years after graduation. During a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008, he was severely wounded by an improvised explosive device. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He suffered burns on nearly a third of his body, including his face and neck, and lost part of his hand in the attack. After his medical retirement from the military, he founded a firm that provided medications to veterans whose government benefits did not provide all the care they needed. In a statement on social media, Brown thanked Trump for the opportunity to work in the new administration. I look forward to working with incoming Secretary Doug Collins, a true servant leader, to improve the VA and ensure all who have served are honored with the dignity they have earned, he wrote. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump , for your leadership and trust. I am grateful and accept this opportunity to put Duty First and continue my service to America. I look forward to working with incoming Secretary @RepDougCollins , a true servant leader, to improve the VA pic.twitter.com/my1QFxrth8 Sam Brown (@CaptainSamBrown) January 10, 2025 Brown launched a bid in 2023 to challenge Democratic Sen. Jackie Rosen to represent Nevada in Congress. He received support from Republican party leaders including Trump but lost by about 24,000 votes less than 2% of the total ballots cast in last Novembers election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If confirmed by the Senate, Brown would be the permanent replacement for Matthew Quinn, who served as under secretary for memorial affairs from June 2021 to May 2024. Ronald Walters has served as the acting official in charge of the agency since Quinns departure. The memorial affairs post is one of five highest confirmed positions within VA, overseeing maintenance and operations at 155 national cemeteries in 42 states as well as commemorative sites in other locations. The job also includes acquisition and expansion efforts for memorial services, including departments Veterans Legacy Memorial project, which has online pages honoring more than 10 million veterans. No timeline has been set for when Brown will face a confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The panel is expected to hold a confirmation hearing on Collins, Trumps nominee to be VA Secretary, on Jan. 14. Trump is scheduled to start his second term as president on Jan. 20. Donald Trump, who sought to downplay the Covid-19 pandemic during his first term as president, is now trying to inflate the threat of a new disease in order to close the southern U.S. border. The New York Times reports that the president-elects advisers have spent months looking for something to justify declaring a public health emergency and shutting down the border. The problem is that theres no major outbreak of disease right now. But that hasnt stopped Trumps team, who considered conditions including tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. Theyve even asked the Border Patrol what illnesses theyve seen in migrants. Trump officials are trying to replicate the public health restrictions of Title 42, which was invoked in 2020 as Covid-19 broke out around the world. In doing so, they are tapping into racist ideas that foreigners and minorities carry unfamiliar diseases with them. Its no surprise that they cant find a dangerous, easily spread illness like Covid, only isolated sicknesses and fear based on bigotry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even in 2020, the use of Title 42 was not clear cutpublic health officials and the courts viewed immigration restrictions with skepticism, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the immigration hard-liners Trump is bringing with him for his second term also served in his first termpeople such as Stephen Miller, who will be his deputy chief of policy, and Tom Homan, who will serve as the border czar. These officials not only pushed for Title 42 but also came up with the horrific policies such as family separation and the Muslim ban, and they are clearly planning to revive or ramp up these efforts as soon as Trump is sworn in again. This time around, it seems that theyll be looking for weaker justifications than Covid. Back in 2019, before the pandemic, Miller tried to close the southern U.S. border over a mumps outbreak in immigration detention centers. It didnt work, and technically, neither did the restrictions that came from CovidBiden administration officials say migrants regularly tried to cross the border despite Title 42. But thats not likely to stop nativist Trump and his cronies. Donald Trump has said that a meeting is being set up between him and Vladimir Putin to end the bloody mess of the war in Ukraine. He wants to meet, and we are setting it up, the president-elect said outside his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida late on Thursday amid growing expectation of a US-brokered peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. [Putins] said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with, thats a bloody mess, he added, saying he would wait until after his inauguration on Jan 20 to meet the Russian leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding on Friday, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, clarified there had been no formal requests for a meeting by the Trump camp, but that Putin would welcome such an approach and was ready for dialogue with Washington. The Kremlin claims Vladimir Putin would be open to dialogue with Washington - ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/Shutterstock Trumps return to the White House has sparked fears in Kyiv that he intends to cut off military aid to force Ukraine into a quick peace deal that could heavily disadvantage the war-torn country. Mr Trump had repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, if elected. That deadline was pushed back earlier this week after he admitted six months was a more realistic target. Two European officials told the Financial Times that talks with Trumps team revealed the incoming administration had not settled on how to end the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They predicted that US support for Ukraine would continue after the inauguration later this month, claiming the Republican was wary of repeating the mistakes made during Joe Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so theyre recalibrating the Ukraine approach, one of the officials said. There are fears the US could force Ukraine into a quick peace deal that could heavily disadvantage the war-torn country - DANIEL ROLAND/AFP Keith Kellogg, Mr Trumps envoy to Ukraine, has suggested he is aiming to end the war in 100 days. During last years election campaign, Mr Trump frequently criticised Volodymyr Zelensky, labelling him the greatest salesman on Earth and chastising Joe Biden for sending more than $65 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Kellogg suggested last year that Washington should cut off aid to Ukraine if it refused to begin peace talks, but to continue if Moscow was to reject ceasefire negotiations. Mr Trump is reportedly mulling over plans to freeze the war in Ukraine with a demilitarised zone patrolled by British and European armies. In the wake of his election victory, European leaders have been scrambling to preserve unity over support for Ukraine, with Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, warning the incoming president that US support is vital to put Kyiv in the strongest negotiation position before talks begin. On Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer met with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, for talks at Chequers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Ukraine, the leaders reiterated their unwavering support and discussed the importance of ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position in 2025, Downing Street said. Meanwhile, Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, told a press conference she did not think the US would abandon Ukraine. I dont foresee a US disengagement, said Ms Meloni, who met Mr Trump in Mar-a-Lago last week, adding that it would be an error and that Mr Trump had spoken often of obtaining peace through strength. It comes as high-ranking Russian officials are said to be encouraging Putin to accelerate his war efforts in Ukraine rather than seek peace talks with Mr Trump. Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict in 100 days, but now says it could take up to six months - STRINGER/AFP [Putin] has his own demands the territory of four regions [of Ukraine] is complete. Trumps conditions are different. It is not clear where the compromise is, a source close to the Kremlin said, according to Meduza, a Russian opposition news website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another source added: The president likes to fight, he feels excited. Why stop halfway if you can finally add up? The website reported that a group of patriots close to the Russian president were encouraging him to double-down on his war efforts rather than seek peace. Their comments will add credence to some European officials belief that Putin is not interested in opening peace talks. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Donald Trump is looking to reclaim one of his most useful tools of corruption: the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the president-elects real estate company is in negotiations to take back the hotel, which is owned by the federal government but currently leased to the Hilton hotel chain. Eric Trump met with the bank in control of the hotels lease at Mar-a-Lago this week, according to sources who spoke with the Journal, although the discussions were inconclusive. The Trump International Hotel was a hotbed for corruption and foreign conflicts of interest during Trumps first term. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, for example, spent at least $259,724 at the hotel in 2017 while he was under investigation for money laundering. He used the presidential suite, which at the time was $10,000 per night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saudi officials spent at least $164,929 from late 2017 through 2018, and Trump approved a $1.3 billion weapons sale to the country shortly afterward. In all, at least six governments spent more than $750,000 at the hotel during Trumps first administration. Anyone looking to curry favor with his administration could simply walk over to his namesake hotel a couple of blocks from the White House and flash cash, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Noah Bookbinder said in 2021. The hotel is now a Waldorf Astoria. The Trumps could reacquire it for at least $300 million. I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters, OK? Donald Trump infamously told an audience on the campaign trail in 2016, referring to his supporters enthusiasm. Nearly a decade later, he wants to ensure that he wouldnt face a criminal prosecution for it, either. Those efforts hit a setback this week as the Supreme Court narrowly declined the opportunity to provide the legal relief he soughtat least for now. The president-elect was sentenced Friday morning in his New York hush-money criminal case. Like most defendants, the president-elect would have preferred not to be sentenced at all. Unlike most defendants, he enjoys some enviable privileges, one of which is that he gets to ask the Supreme Court to step in and save him from further interactions with the criminal justice system. In a stay application filed on Wednesday, Trumps lawyers asked the justices to simply halt the proceedings on presidential-immunity grounds, which did not exist before the Supreme Court invented them out of whole cloth last year in Trump v. United States. Trumps legal team argued that the high court must step in to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the presidency and the operations of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is hyperbole, to say the least. Judge Juan Merchan, the New York judge presiding over the case, had already said in court documents that he would not send Trump to prisonan obviously unfeasible option when Trump is set to be inaugurated as president 10 days later. On Friday, he made good on his word, sentencing the president-elect to unconditional discharge, meaning that he would face no punishment in the form of imprisonment, probation, or fines. Merchan said on Friday that it was the only lawful sentence he could hand down, given Trumps imminent return to the White House. Knowing that this would be the case, the Supreme Court ruled against Trumps stay request on Thursday night in a 54 vote. First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal, the majority explained in an unsigned order. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president-elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. The president-elect responded in a somewhat muted fashion on his Truth Social account, saying that he appreciate[d] the time and effort of the United States Supreme Court in trying to remedy the great injustice done to me. Prior to the ruling, however, it was clear that even the mild punishment coming his way was too much for Trump to stomach; he wanted the entire case torn out root, branch, and stem. He may yet get his wish. Four of the courts membersJustices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaughsignaled that they likely agree with Trump in Thursdays order. There was once a time in American life when the notion of four justices taking this position on presidential immunity was well nigh unthinkable. If another justice ultimately joins that quartet in siding with Trump on appeal, it could expand presidential immunity well beyond what the justices have already given him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results of such a decision would be transformative, to put it mildly. First, Trump wants the justices to expand their original holding on presidential immunity to cover state crimes as well as federal ones. President Trump noted that, upon his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, he will be completely immune from all criminal process, state or federal, Trumps lawyers claimed in their stay application. This is a bold assertion that is not supported by Supreme Court precedent. Trump v. United States, as its name implied, was about a federal prosecution of a former president. The Supreme Court did not consider whether presidents can be charged with state crimes after leaving office. Indeed, at the time, Chief Justice John Robertss reasoning largely revolved around separation of powers concerns. It goes without saying that separation of powers concerns do not extend to state courts or prosecutors. (They also didnt really apply in Trumps case since he was being prosecuted by the executive branch, but that battle was already lost last year.) Congress cannot act on, and courts cannot examine, the presidents actions on subjects within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority, Roberts wrote. It follows that an Act of Congresseither a specific one targeted at the President or a generally applicable onemay not criminalize the presidents actions within his exclusive constitutional power. Neither may the courts adjudicate a criminal prosecution that examines such Presidential actions. We thus conclude that the president is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution for conduct within his exclusive sphere of constitutional authority. No state had ever attempted to prosecute a former president before Trump. There may be federalism grounds to bar some potential prosecutions; the Supreme Court has previously held that state governments generally cannot prosecute federal officials for acts performed in the course of their official duties. New York could not make it a criminal offense to enforce a specific federal law within the states borders, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, granting blanket immunity from all state-level prosecutions to presidents could have dire implications. While federal offenses are also serious, the acts traditionally prosecuted by the states are central to what Americans consider to be criminal offenses: murder, manslaughter, rape, kidnapping, arson, burglary, fraud, shooting someone on Fifth Avenue, and so on. It is unthinkable that the justices could give anyone carte blanche to commit those crimes. Trump also wants presidential immunity to extend beyond a presidents tenure in office. In his stay application, he asserted that just as sitting presidents cant be targeted by state or federal prosecutions, neither can presidents-elect. President Trump also stated that the doctrine of sitting-president immunity shields him from criminal process during the brief but crucial period of presidential transition, while he engages in the extraordinarily demanding task of preparing to assume the executive power of the United States, Trumps lawyers wrote, referring to lower-court filings. The lower court disagreed, holding to the principle that there is only one president at a time. Trump is asking the courts to instead recognize that he is effectively a quasi-president right now and thus deserves special consideration. These demands of time, energy, and attention are just as unconstitutionally burdensome and disruptive during the presidential transition as during the presidency itself, his lawyers argued. They are particularly burdensome when a president-elect faces the prospect of criminal judgment and sentencing during his transitional period. Among those burdens is planning to annex Canada and Greenland. Recognizing that presidential immunity applies outside a presidents term of office would rewrite the nature of the presidency itself. Trump has previously asserted, for example, that he can invoke the Presidential Records Act even when the sitting president is the one with the statutory discretion to lawfully waive or apply its terms. Taken together, he suggests that the presidency imbues its holders with some sort of special lifetime constitutional status and grants them unique legal powers and privileges beyond their actual term. This monarchical vision of the office is irreconcilable with the citizen-presidency created by the Framers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, Trump wants the Supreme Court to expand its definition of official acts to cover an extremely broad range of actions. What counts as an official act is pivotal under Trump v. United States because it affects what kind of evidence can be admitted in court. It is worth noting from the outset that the New York hush-money case focused on actions that took place before Trump became president in 2017, and he was not prosecuted for them until after his term ended in 2021. One of the more controversial portions of the immunity case was about evidence relating to a presidents official acts. Roberts held that the ordinary rules of evidence for every other federal criminal defendant in the republic would be insufficient for cases involving ex-presidents. He warned that use of evidence about such conduct, even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct, would thereby heighten the prospect that the presidents official decisionmaking will be distorted. This drew rebukes from not only the three dissenting liberal justices but also Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who rejected it in her concurring opinion. On this score, I agree with the dissent, she wrote. The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which Presidents can be held liable. She instead argued that judges were well equipped to handle such concerns on a case-by-case basis under the ordinary rules of evidence. The other five conservative justices disagreed. Trump had hoped to cover some of the evidence used in the case with presidential immunity so it can be thrown out. Among that evidence is a series of Twitter posts that Trump wrote in 2018 while president about his former legal fixer Michael Cohen after Cohen pleaded guilty to charges related to the hush-money payments. Trump argued that these posts were official presidential communications and that the courts could not use them as evidence against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These public communications through President Trumps social-media accountthrough which he routinely communicated with the public on matters of public concern during his presidencywere official actions of the President that could not be used against him during trial, Trumps lawyers argued. In other words, it was essential for the American people to read these Twitter posts in 2018, but would be unconstitutional for a New York jury to read them in 2024. Trump also challenged other evidence as official acts, including testimony by White House aides about how they responded to the hush-money story and about whether Cohen could or would be pardonedimplicitly, prosecutors alleged, in exchange for not cooperating with law enforcement. But it is his assertion that even his statements to the American people cant be used as evidence against him in court that is particularly alarming. If an ex-presidents own public statements cant be used against him as evidence solely because he happened to be president at the time, then this new concept of presidential immunity is even more extreme and Orwellian than it first appeared to be last summer. After Trump is sentenced on Friday, he will likely begin the appeals process to challenge his conviction as soon as he can. The Supreme Courts order suggests that it is virtually guaranteed that the justices will eventually hear the matterit takes only four votes to accept a case for review, and four justices have already signaled that they opposed the outcome here. Whether Chief Justice John Roberts and/or Justice Amy Coney Barrett ultimately give Trump what he wants on that appeal will shed light on how the court will treat a second Trump presidencyand the future of the office itself. NEW YORK Donald Trump was not punished for his criminal conviction in the Manhattan hush money case, bringing a lackluster end to the legal saga that will make him the countrys first felon-turned-president. At a sentencing hearing on Friday, a New York judge declined to sentence the president-elect to prison time or impose fines after a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of business fraud in connection with a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential election. This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction without encroachment on the highest office of the land is a sentence of unconditional discharge, Justice Juan Merchan told Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While acknowledging the extraordinary legal protections Trump is set to enjoy as president, Merchan emphasized that they do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way. Fridays sentencing, however inconsequential in terms of punishment, caps a remarkable chapter in Trumps tangles with the justice system. At one point battling four simultaneous criminal indictments, he emerged with a single conviction last May that didnt obstruct his path to reelection and will likely linger as little more than a stigma. Though Trumps felony conviction allowed Justice Juan Merchan to send Trump to prison for up to four years or impose other penalties, the judge said in court papers prior to the sentencing that he wouldnt do so, writing that incarceration was not practicable given Trumps imminent return to the White House. Instead, Merchan imposed the sentence of unconditional discharge on Trump, which carries no punishment. The president-elect appeared virtually from Florida, his image presented via a video feed on large monitors in the Manhattan courtroom as the judge announced his decision. Prosecutors from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, as well as Bragg himself, attended in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump displayed his typical scowl throughout the proceedings, defending himself by saying hes totally innocent. This has been a very terrible experience, he said, seated alongside his lawyer Todd Blanche, a pair of American flags positioned between them in the background. It has been a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system. He added: It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election obviously, that didnt work. In remarks to the court before Merchan delivered the sentence, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said his office endorsed the sentence of unconditional discharge because of the circumstances of the case. But he warned that Trump has been a destructive force toward law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put simply, this defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harms way, Steinglass said. Steinglass also disclosed that Trumps probation report noted that he sees himself as above the law and wont accept responsibility for his actions. After the sentencing, Trump posted on social media that he will appeal. Todays event was a despicable charade, and now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice, he wrote on Truth Social. A sentence of unconditional discharge, though not uncommon in low-level cases, is rare in felony cases, according to legal experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the expectation of no punishment, Trump and his lawyers fought aggressively to prevent the sentencing from happening. In the days preceding the hearing, Trump asked an intermediate New York appeals court, New Yorks highest court and the Supreme Court all to step in to cancel the proceedings, arguing that as president-elect, he should receive the same immunity from prosecution as a sitting president. All declined to intervene. Fridays sentencing came more than seven months after Trump led prosecutors and the public through the first-ever criminal trial of a former president, a spectacle that commandeered a Manhattan courthouse and aired the backroom dealings of tabloid culture, Trumps multiple alleged affairs and his frantic efforts to keep those allegations from voters ahead of the 2016 election. Trump has denied those affair claims. The six-week trial featured explosive testimony, most notably from Daniels and from Trump fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen, but none from Trump himself, who declined to take the witness stand in his own defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of court, however, Trump did plenty of talking about the trial, earning himself a gag order that prohibited him from publicly commenting on jurors, witnesses or other people involved in the case. Merchan twice held Trump in contempt for violating that order. The gag order, which is still in effect, permits him to speak about Bragg and Merchan, both of whom Trump has repeatedly excoriated. Earlier this week, after Merchan said he would proceed with sentencing, Trump described him as a corrupt and totally conflicted political hack judge. In his remarks Friday, Merchan acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the proceedings, saying never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances. But, he said, he was heartened that despite the extraordinary attention on the trial, behind closed doors it proceeded like many other trials in the courthouse. Sir, I wish you godspeed as you assume a second term in office, Merchan said in his parting words. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And though Trump lost the case, he succeeded in twice postponing the sentencing, resulting in his last-ditch scramble to try to scrap it altogether. As for his other criminal indictments, the two federal cases one for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election and the other for hoarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago are now dead. Trumps state prosecution in Georgia accusing him of allegedly conspiring to corrupt the states election results has foundered over an alleged conflict of interest between the Fulton County district attorney and a prosecutor she hired to oversee the case with whom she had a personal relationship. Donald Trump received a sentence Friday of "unconditional discharge" as punishment for his felony convictions in the state of New York. According to New York state law, unconditional discharge is a sentence "without imprisonment, fine or probation supervision." Last summer, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in New York for falsifying business records relating to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conviction marked the first time that an American president was convicted of a crime and was the only of the three criminal cases against Trump to go to trial. The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, had earlier said he did not plan to give Trump jail time or probation. Ahead of the sentencing, Trump had repeatedly attempted to have his conviction overturned and his sentencing delayed. On Tuesday, his attorneys asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the criminal sentencing, arguing that it presented a grave injustice to the office and the federal government. However, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the sentencing late Thursday, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts joining the court's liberals in allowing the sentencing to go forward. The other conservative justices would have granted Trumps request to block the sentencing. Trump was not physically present at the New York courtroom but rather attended virtually from Palm Beach, Florida, where he resides and has been holding court at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the hearing, Merchan said he had handed down the only lawful sentence" in light of the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision and its ruling allowing the sentencing to go forward. Speaking to Salon, Ty Cobb, a former White House lawyer in the first Trump administration, highlighted how the Supreme Courts decision to allow Friday's sentencing to move forward was predicated on the understanding that Trump would not suffer any of the typical consequences of a felony conviction. In fact, the Supreme Court relied on the assurance by Judge Merchan that the sentence would be penalty-free in rejecting the delay sought by Trump," Cobb said. "There is a consequence, though it may be illusory: Trump is now a lawfully convicted felon. The sentencing perfects that status." Cobb added that the sentencing also triggers Trumps rights to appeal the case; he's skeptical that Trumps conviction would withstand such a challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do not think the case survives on appeal. Sadly, the one criminal case that got to trial, unlike the two serious and well indicted federal cases which have been dismissed now as to Trump, quite likely was ill founded, Cobb said. Bennet Gershamn, a former prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, also noted that there will be no significant legal consequences for Trump. There may be political consequences if anybody cares, Gershman said. And Ill assume that when historians write about this dark period in American history, they will surely note that the 47th president was a twice-impeached convicted felon. This article was updated to include expert reaction. Even before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump is getting credit for helping to head off a major port strike threatening the economy, after siding with a dockworkers union in a dispute with shipping companies over automation. The unions leader and even some critics of the incoming president say a forceful statement from Trump against replacing workers with machines was enough to tip the scales in contract talks between the International Longshoremens Association and a coalition of port operators and shipping companies. Its a big coup for Trump in his effort to court blue-collar support, though it remains unclear whether he can truly earn a place in labors good graces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many ways, the port labor dispute was unique, because it pitted American workers against an industry dominated by foreign shipping companies a natural enemy for the MAGA movement. It also came as corporate leaders are bending over backwards not to offend Trump. And as with other Trump moves that buck the Republican convention, a personal relationship played a substantial role in his decision-making in this case, one dating back decades with longshoremens union boss Harold Daggett. Many other union leaders remain deeply distrustful of Trump, pointing to appointees in his first term who were hostile to labors priorities and his new alliance with business mogul Elon Musk. The pair jocularly mused in August about employers firing workers for picketing an illegal tactic under federal labor law. But Daggett isnt among the skeptics. In an effusive statement after reaching a tentative deal with port terminal owners and shipping companies on the East and Gulf coasts, he said his union regards Trump as one of the greatest friends of organized labor and champion of the working men and women of this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a slap in the face to President Joe Biden, who ran one of the most pro-union administrations in recent history. Biden installed labor-friendly appointees in key positions and walked a picket line during the UAWs 2023 strike against Detroits Big Three automakers. Trump came out swinging against the shipping industry and in support of the ILA when Daggett visited Mar-a-Lago last month. On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that the savings from automation is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. This time, Trump and Musk, an outspoken foe of unions, werent on the same page. Musk had trolled Daggett on X for a lavish lifestyle, allegations of corruption and trying to keep ports in the stone age by fighting automation. Those in Trumps orbit with a more populist agenda were gleeful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Does Elon Musk have influence? Certainly. Does he have power? No, said Steve Bannon, a former top Trump aide who has also battled Musk over the business moguls support for visas for high-tech workers. President Trump's default position is always going to be support for the American worker. He was very upfront about he was against this automation that would take out swaths of workers. Musk did not respond to a request for comment. A top national labor official, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, said that Trumps statement opposing automation was one of the best things Ive ever seen come out of his mouth or pen. But the person was unsure what that meant for the long-term future of labors relationships with Trump, given that he and Daggett are old friends, and not everyone in organized labor has that history with the president-elect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was a mixed bag on labor issues in his first term, the official said. Im not entirely sure what lessons can be learned from this, the official said. Theres no logical consistency on whether youre actually supporting workers. Indeed, Trump didnt burn bridges with the business community. On Thursday, David Adam, the head of the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents shipping companies and terminal operators at major cargo ports, also praised Trump for helping make the deal possible. One of the reasons the two sides may have reached a deal now is uncertainty about what Trump would do if he took office amid an ongoing strike. Would he move to block a work stoppage, as George W. Bush had during a West Coast port lockout in 2022, by invoking emergency authority under the Taft-Hartley Act, a 1947 labor law? Or would Trump allow the union to walk off the job, causing a nine-figure-per-day economic hit early in his term? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now such questions are moot, pending union members ratification of the agreement. Though Trumps first administration was viewed as hostile to organized labors interests overall, he maintained a soft spot for police unions and the leadership representing Border Patrol agents, both of which endorsed his campaign. In December, he named recently retired National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd as his pick to become ambassador to Chile. Other unions have also ingratiated themselves to Trump by appealing to him directly. High among them is the Teamsters, whose leader, Sean OBrien, met with Trump at his properties during the presidential campaign and later during the transition. The Teamsters peeved Democrats this fall when OBrien said it would not endorse their presidential ticket for the first time in the 21st century a decision Trump touted as tantamount to a win for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OBrien also won a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention and successfully pushed former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), who recently lost re-election and is union-friendly, to be Trumps Labor secretary nominee. That said, there will be a point of conflict sooner rather than later with Trump-appointed judges being opposed to powers wielded by the National Labor Relations Board and Labor Department, said Michael LeRoy, who advised George W. Bushs Council of Economic Advisers on the Taft-Hartley Act and is now a labor professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. LeRoy added that Trumps intervention in the dockworkers battle raises expectations that he will get involved in future union disputes. One question, he said, is whether the Teamsters may seek Trumps help as they pursue a contract with Amazon. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the House Education and Workforce Committees top Democrat, said its unclear if the dockworkers union could have gotten where it is without Biden, or without bustling business at the ports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration made it clear that they expected the workers to get a fair share of the wealth theyre creating the ports are doing well, he said. You would not have been able to get a contract this good for the workers if the ports werent profitable, and the ports are profitable. New Jersey state Sen. Joe Cryan, a Democrat who represents a district by the East Coasts largest port and is a union ally, said Daggetts approach to both Biden and Trump was masterful. The politician of the year in New Jersey and around the country is Harold Daggett, Cryan said. In light of Daggetts praise of the president-elect, Cryan said Democrats need to make sure they are paying attention to what workers are saying. If we dont hear them, well be gone soon, too, he said. * Lost in translation Survey finds local youth struggle to grasp Hengqin development policies amid new subsidies to attract Macau workers * GBA Views The developed economy quandary declining birthrates * Taste of Edesia * The local economy is expected to grow by 7.7% in 2025, despite facing challenges from a slowdown in Chinas economic growth * Xia Baolong urges Macau to achieve greater international recognition * Govt braces for flu season with range of emergency response measures DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, January 10, 2025 edition no. 4639 The table is all but set for President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House. On Friday, New York Justice Juan Merchan ruled that the only lawful sentence for Trump after his criminal conviction was an unconditional discharge, allowing him to avoid prison time. Trump and his party scored another win on Thursday, when Senate Democrats helped pave the way for debate to begin on the Laken Riley Act, legislation that would allow for immigration authorities to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not long ago, Democrats excoriated Trump for his anti-immigrant rhetoric as racist and xenophobic, and the Laken Riley legislation stalled out in the Senate last year when that party still had control. Many civil liberties and left-wing organizations have excoriated Democrats for moving forward a bill that they say will violate civil liberties and help allow for Trumps mass deportation operation. But Democrats feel that they largely lost the argument on immigration this past election, especially when heavily Latino counties that have been overwhelmed by the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border voted Republican. In Arizona, Ruben Gallego, who is Latino and a former member of the Houses Congressional Progressive Caucus, used to excoriate Republican anti-immigrant rhetoric. Now, as Arizonas junior senator, he co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act, telling The Independent that, We're here to see if we could come to a common agreement when it comes to the border, border policies and border security in general. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, whose wife Gisele was once an undocumented immigrant, told The Independent he is very pro-immigration but that doesnt mean we are pro-for-every immigrant. Fetterman will also head to Mar-a-Lago to meet with the president-elect this weekend, Politico reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Trump notched another win as Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he defeated, presided over the certification of the 2024 election results with zero Democratic objections. He then returned to Capitol Hill to lay out his agenda, finding plenty of support from Republicans for his desire to incorporate Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal into the United States, to say nothing of his plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) speak ahead of the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 09, 2025 in Washington, DC (Getty Images) Trump further exerted his authority last Friday when Mike Johnson became House speaker after one round, avoiding another circus of 15 votes like in 2023. But all of these victories paper over the internal divisions within his conference that might make Trumps life more difficult when he takes the oath of office a week from Monday. For one, yes, Johnson got the votes he needed on the first round, but the fact remains that Republicans have a four-seat majority in the House, meaning any one defection could sink Trumps plans. Republicans got Democrats to cave on the Laken Riley Act but theyll face significant roadblocks with any sweeping legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Democrats did during Joe Bidens first two years in office, Republicans will be looking to take on major initiatives at the start of Trumps term, like boosting energy production and spending at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as extending Trumps 2017 tax cut law via reconciliation, which would allow them to sidestep a filibuster. Thin margins will make near-unanimity on many issues difficult and Republicans cant even agree how to go about pushing their legislative agenda through. Trump told a conservative talk radio host that he wanted one big, beautiful bill. But some in the Senate prefer a two-step approach, which might give Republicans an early win on border funding while they continue to hash out a tax plan. Before his meeting with Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he was resigned to whatever it takes to get the job done, a philosophy the president-elect seemed to share during a closed-door meeting with lawmakers. Meanwhile, John Cornyn of Texas, whom Thune beat to lead Republicans, told reporters on Thursday that two bills could set the GOP up for failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to pass a budget resolution, and then we need to get reconciliation instructions for the various committees to report back where they are raising revenue, where they're cutting spending, you can't do any of that until we pass a budget, he told reporters. But when asked which approach he preferred, Cornyn said, Im agnostic. President-elect Donald Trump said that a meeting is being planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the incoming commander-in-chief pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and a greater presence in the Arctic. Trump told the press at Mar-a-Lago that Putin wants to meet and we are setting it up. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. Thats a bloody mess, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin responded that it was open to having talks but that no specific details had been decided. Trump has long said that he plans to negotiate an end to the conflict and shared deep skepticism of U.S. support for the Ukrainian war effort. A Ukraine foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday that they expect talks to occur with the Trump administration following the January 20 inauguration, according to the BBC. That would also include a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has nominated former national security adviser and retired lieutenant-general Keith Kellogg to be the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. In April last year, Kellogg outlined his thoughts on how the conflict may come to an end in a research paper released by the Trump-supporting think tank the America First Policy Institute. He suggested that Ukraine should only get additional aid from the Americans if it agreed to take part in talks with the Russians to end the war. But Kellogg also said that the U.S. should continue its funding of the Ukrainian war effort if the Russians refuse to come to the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trumps victory in November, Zelensky said he thought the war would end sooner than it would have otherwise and that he had had a constructive exchange over the phone with him, without sharing if the president-elect had put forward any requirements on talks with Russia. Trump has said that a meeting with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin is being set up as he promises to end the war in the Ukraine. (AFP via Getty Images) We have a lot of meetings set up with a lot of people. But Id rather wait after the 20th, Trump said of the possible meeting with Putin. The Kremlin said Friday that Putin is willing to meet with Trump without any conditions, according to the TASS news agency. President Putin has repeatedly stated his openness to contacts with international leaders, including the U.S. President and Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to the agency. No conditions are required for this. What is required is a mutual desire and political will to conduct a dialogue and resolve existing problems through dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Peskov said no official requests had been made from the Trump team for a meeting. If, after taking office, the political will to resume contacts at the highest level remains, then, of course, President Putin will only welcome this, Peskov said during a press conference. While Trump has claimed that he can end the war in 24 hours, there are concerns that a quick peace deal will be harmful to the Ukrainians. But on Tuesday, Trump suggested to reporters that six months would be a more realistic timeline. The Kremlin has claimed that it prefers diplomacy to war even as it pushes on with its territorial claims over five regions in Ukraine, according toThe New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need a mutual desire and political willingness to engage in a dialogue, Peskov said Friday. We see that Mr. Trump also declares his readiness to solve issues via dialogue. We welcome that. It looks like things will start to move after Trump enters the Oval Office, he added. However, Peskov didnt confirm that Putin had asked for a meeting with Trump or that one was being planned. One of the top requirements for Russia to end the war is that Ukraine doesnt join NATO, and speaking during the press conference on Tuesday, Trump said he was sympathetic to that position. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that he believes the war will end quicker under a Trump administration. (AP) This comes as Trump continues to push for more control over the Arctic in a showdown with Russia and China. Trump has recently been arguing that the U.S. should purchase Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. This week, Trump declined to rule out military action to acquire Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not just about Greenland. This is about the Arctic. You have Russia that is trying to become king ... Its oil and gas. Its our national security. Its critical minerals, Trumps incoming national security adviser said during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday. Other Arctic nations are keeping a close eye on the actions of their larger neighbors, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre reiterating that the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard belongs to Norway and that its safe during an appearance on the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Andreas sthagen, a researcher at the Oslo Fridtjof Nansen Institute, told Politico that Trumps statements about taking over Greenland could provoke other countries, such as Russia and China, to view the use of military force against another country to pursue their national interests as a legitimate means of operations in international affairs. Greenland is quite far away from Russia. I would be more worried about other targets like the Finnish border, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, or even the maritime boundary between the U.S. and Russia. I think those are more vulnerable [...] than Greenland per se, he added. Greenland has become a renewed target for Trump. His son, Don Jr, visited the autonomous territory on Tuesday, although his meetings with enthusiastic MAGA locals have been questioned. (via REUTERS) Trumps renewed interest in Greenland led to his son, Don Jr, traveling there this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although footage released from the trip featured locals who were seemingly sympathetic to the MAGA cause, Greenland lawmaker Pipaluk Lynge claimed that the visit was staged. No journalists were allowed to interview him. It was all staged to make it seem like we the Greenlandic people were MAGA and love to be a part of the USA, Lynge told Politico. A spokesperson for the son of the president-elect told the outlet that the visit was not staged and that the claim was ridiculous. We know how they treat the Inuit in Alaska, Lynge said following the president-elects refusal to rule out military action. Make that great before trying to invade us. US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is being prepared, though no specific date for the talks has been mentioned. Source: Reuters Details: During a speech to Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said Putin had expressed a desire to meet and preparations were underway. "He wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has not provided a specific date for the talks but confirmed that the meeting is being discussed. "President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess," Trump added, referring to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has yet to comment on Trump's remarks. However, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, previously stated that if Trump remains committed to initiating contact with the Russian leader after the 20 January inauguration, it would be welcomed by Moscow. Background: Representatives of US President-elect Donald Trump acknowledged to European partners that they are unlikely to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but have promised continued support for the country. Keith Kellogg, Trumps special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, had previously stated his goal of resolving the current full-scale war within 100 days of the new presidents inauguration. Earlier, Keith Kellogg had said that he was planning visits to listen to both sides in the full-scale war. Reports also suggested that he was to visit Kyiv in January, but the visit has been postponed. Trump had previously insisted that he would "not abandon Ukraine" in his attempts to resolve the Russo-Ukrainian war. Support UP or become our patron! President-elect Donald Trump said late Thursday that a meeting is being arranged with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a summit that would be eyed anxiously by Ukraine and its other Western allies. President Putin wants to meet and we are setting it up, Trump told a news briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. We have to get that war over with. Thats a bloody mess. Trump has previously suggested he would seek to end Russias war in Ukraine, now approaching the three-year mark, within 24 hours of assuming office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia says it is open to to dialogue and diplomacy although critics say that in reality its proposals amount to little more than a Ukrainian surrender. President Putin has repeatedly stated his openness to contacts with international leaders, including the U.S. president, including with Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. No conditions are required for this, what is required is a mutual desire and political will to conduct a dialogue. Peskov said Trumps overtures were welcome but added there were no specifics on dates. After Mr. Trump assumes office, there will be some developments. A military-themed mural decorates the wall of a residential building in the town of Petushki, Russia on Friday. Any settlement would likely be impossible without Ukraine agreeing to cede huge swathes of territory to Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many in Europe worry Putin could then turn his ambitions to other former Soviet countries, particularly given Trumps previous record of undermining the NATO alliance under which these Westernized states have been historically protected. We want peace, but peace through strength, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a speech last month. Kyiv is currently suffering battlefield setbacks as Russian troops steadily advance through the frozen fields of its eastern heartlands, with Moscow claiming to have captured the front-line town of Kurakhove this week. Kyiv has also launched its own new offensive in Russias Kursk region, possibly to strengthen its hand in future talks. Russian servicemen fire rockets towards Ukrainian positions near Lyman on Dec. 25. Trump has more recently relaxed his 24-hour ambitions, saying earlier this week that he hoped to have the conflict solved within six months. Keith Kellogg, his appointee for special envoy in the war, separately set the goal of 100 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, this is a far remove the strategy of President Joe Biden, who has met Putin only once while in office, at a June 2021 summit in Geneva, otherwise describing him as a killer and a dictator. Biden has overseen some $170 billion in aid for Ukraine, telling his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this summer that we will be with Ukraine until they prevail in this war. Zelenskyy says he is grateful for this support, but he and other officials have complained that some of the military aid has been too slow and too little. Trump has suggested it is too much. Zelenskyy acknowledged Thursday that a new chapter was about to begin under Trump, and urged Western allies not to drop the ball on supporting Ukraine as a bulwark against Moscow. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday a meeting was being set up between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Republican offered no timeline for talks between the two leaders. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Trump's return to the White House on Jan. 20 has sparked hope of a diplomatic resolution to end Moscow's invasion of Ukraine that began in Feb. 2022, but it has also led to fears in Kyiv that a quick peace deal could come at a high price for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advisers to Trump have floated proposals to end the war that would effectively cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future. KEY QUOTES "He wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump said in remarks before a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. "President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess," Trump said about the Russia-Ukraine war. CONTEXT Since the Russian invasion began, the United States under Democratic President Joe Biden has committed over $175 billion in aid for Ukraine, including over $60 billion in security assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it is uncertain if the aid will continue at that pace under Trump, who has said he wants to bring the war to a swift end. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Thursday that Putin would welcome Trump's desire for contact, but so far there have been no formal requests. It would be more appropriate to wait for Trump to take office first, Peskov said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Trump could be decisive in the outcome of the 34-month-old war with Russia and help stop Putin. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler and Diane Craft) U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Jan. 9 that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet with him, and that preparations for the meeting are underway. "He wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. "President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump did not provide any further details on the upcoming meeting. The claim comes days before Trump is set to take office on Jan. 20. Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump promised to negotiate a swift end to the war in Ukraine, often referring to his good relationship with Putin. Trump's nominee for special Ukraine peace envoy, retired general Keith Kellogg, has praised Trump's willingness to engage in dialogue with the Russian president and criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for refusing to do so. Kellogg said on Jan. 8 that the administration aims to end the war in 100 days. Putin on Dec. 19 said that he was prepared to meet with Trump at "any time" to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Since then, Russian officials have dismissed reported peace deals from Trump's team, saying they do not meet Putin's terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's push for a quick end to the war has led to fears that Kyiv will be pressured into unfavorable concessions, including loss of land. About 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently under occupation by Russian forces. Read also: EU ready to lead in Ukraine support if US steps back, chief diplomat says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said preparations were underway for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. "[Putin] wants to meet, and we're in the process of setting that up," Trump said as he answered questions from reporters during a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Trump said that details were still "to be determined." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But President Putin wants to meet. He's said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess," Trump said of the conflict. During the electoral campaign, Trump, who is due to be sworn in as president on January 20, often praised his relationship with Putin and claimed he could end the war in Ukraine "within 24 hours," without ever revealing any details of how he would do that. Earlier in the week, Trump had expressed hope that the war would end within six months. "I hope long before six months," he told reporters on Tuesday. Ukraine has been resisting the Russian full-scale invasion with Western assistance for almost three years. Kiev fears that when Trump takes office, US aid will be sharply reduced. During his New Year's address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an appeal to Washington not to cut aid to Ukraine. Donald Trump reportedly intends to seal off the US-Mexican border by invoking a public health emergency. The president-elects advisers have spent months searching for a disease that will allow them to justify closing the border using emergency health powers, The New York Times reports. Mr Trump apparently intends to invoke Title 42, which allows the US government to expel migrants on public health grounds without an asylum claim. He previously used the power in March 2020 as the Covid-19 virus spread around the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His inner circle are said to be examining tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases as one possible option, and have also asked allies in the Border Patrol for illnesses detected among migrants. They also have considered justifying the return of Title 42 powers, which were ended by Mr Trumps successor Joe Biden, by arguing that migrants may carry unfamiliar diseases because they come from a variety of different countries. Stephen Miller, Mr Trumps key immigration adviser who will return as deputy chief of staff in his second term, had pushed for the use of Title 42 powers even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Stephen Miller, Trumps new deputy chief of staff, wants him to invoke emergency powers - GETTY IMAGES In 2019, he seized on an outbreak of mumps in immigration detention facilities to seal the border, but was rebuffed by officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told The New York Times in 2023 that a future Trump administration would invoke Title 42 again by citing severe strains of the flu, tuberculosis, scabies, other respiratory illnesses. He also suggested that it could be justified more broadly on the grounds of mass migration being a public health threat and conveying a variety of communicable diseases. Title 42, which is part of the Public Service Act of 1944, allows the authorities to block people from entering the US to avert a serious danger posed by the presence of a contagious disease from other countries. Mr Biden did not bring the practice to an end until May 2023, well after his own officials had said there was no public health rationale for continuing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, top White House aides were reportedly concerned that ending it would lead to a surge in immigration. Critics have argued that the practice of turning back millions of migrants was ineffective because it simply encouraged them to make their way into the US illegally by evading border patrol. Freedom of information data obtained by The Telegraph in October showed that monthly gotaways under Mr Trump rose from 13,604 in March 2020 to 37,479 in the space of a year. Mr Trumps transition team has been approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Luc Cohen and Jack Queen NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will not go to jail or face any other punishment for his criminal conviction stemming from hush money paid to a porn star, a judge ruled on Friday but said Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration would not erase the jury verdict. Justice Juan Merchan's sentencing of Trump, 78, to unconditional discharge places a judgment of guilt on his record and closes a case that had loomed over Trump's bid to retake the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump will be the first president to take office with a felony criminal conviction. Merchan said he was imposing the sentence sparing Trump jail, a fine or probation because the U.S. Constitution shields presidents from criminal prosecution. But he said the protections afforded to the office "do not reduce the seriousness of a crime or justify its commission in any way." "The considerable, indeed extraordinary, legal protection afforded by the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others," Merchan said. "Despite the extraordinary breadth of those protections, one power they do not provide is the power to erase jury verdicts." Trump pleaded not guilty and has vowed to appeal the guilty verdict. Appearing with his lawyer on TV screens beamed to the courtroom with two American flags in the background, Trump called the case an unsuccessful attempt to thwart his re-election campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This has been a very terrible experience," Trump said before sentencing, wearing a red tie with white stripes. "I'm totally innocent, I did nothing wrong," he said. Trump did not testify during the six-week trial last year but has repeatedly disparaged Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case, in public statements. Joshua Steinglass, a prosecutor with Bragg's office, said at the hearing Trump had engaged in a "coordinated campaign" to undermine the legitimacy of the case and "purposefully bred disdain for our judicial institutions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said prosecutors supported the unconditional discharge sentence. "The verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive, and it must be respected," Steinglass said. Now that he has been sentenced, Trump is free to pursue the appeal, a process which could take years and play out while he is serving a four-year term as president. "Now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax," Trump wrote in a social media post after the hearing on Friday. Trump fought tooth and nail to avoid the spectacle of being compelled to appear before a state-level judge so close to when he is due to be sworn into office. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a last-minute bid by Trump to halt it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merchan closed the half-hour hearing by saying: "Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office." A $130,000 PAYMENT The six-week trial last year played out against the extraordinary backdrop of Trump's successful campaign to retake the White House. Bragg, a Democrat, charged Trump, a Republican, in March 2023 with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she said she had with Trump, who denied it. Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in that election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of all 34 counts on May 30. Prosecutors argued that despite the tawdry nature of the allegations, the case was about an attempt to corrupt the 2016 election. Critics of the businessman-turned politician cited the charges and other legal entanglements he faced to bolster their contention that he was unfit for public office. Trump flipped the script. He argued the case - along with three other criminal indictments and civil lawsuits accusing him of fraud, defamation and sexual abuse - was an effort by opponents to weaponize the justice system against him and harm his reelection campaign. He frequently lashed out at prosecutors and witnesses, and Merchan ultimately fined Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order. As recently as Jan. 3, Trump called the judge a "radical partisan" in a post on his Truth Social platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A POLITICAL MIXED BAG The hush money case was widely viewed as less serious than the three other criminal cases Trump faced, in which he was accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and retaining classified documents after leaving the White House. Trump pleaded not guilty in all cases. But Bragg's case was the only one to reach trial in the face of an onslaught of challenges from Trump's lawyers. After Trump's Nov. 5 election victory, federal prosecutors backed off their two cases due to Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. The remaining state case, brought in Georgia over efforts to reverse the 2020 election results in that state, is in limbo after a court in December disqualified the lead prosecutor on the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hush money case was a mixed bag politically. Contributions to Trump's campaign surged after he was indicted in March 2023, likely helping him vanquish his rivals for the Republican nomination. During the trial, polling showed a majority of voters took the charges seriously, and his standing among Republicans slipped after the guilty verdict. But the case quickly faded from the headlines, particularly after President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance led him to drop out with Vice President Kamala Harris replacing him on the Democratic ticket, and after a gunman's bullet came inches from killing Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Merchan initially scheduled the sentencing for July 11, but pushed it back multiple times at Trump's request. In agreeing in September to defer the sentencing until after the election, the judge wrote that he was wary of being perceived as placing his thumb on the scales. Falsification of business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. While Trump would have been unlikely to get jail time due to his advanced age and lack of a criminal history, legal experts said it was not impossible, especially given his gag order violations. Trump's victory and looming inauguration made a sentence of jail or probation even less practical. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jack Queen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller) Donald Trump decried that his hush money trial was a witch hunt during his sentencing hearing Friday, but he saved his biggest fireworks for a post-hearing rant on Truth Social. After spending tens of millions of dollars, wasting over 6 years of obsessive work that should have been spent on protecting New Yorkers from violent, rampant crime that is destroying the City and State, coordinating with the Biden/Harris Department of Injustice in lawless Weaponization, and bringing completely baseless, illegal, and fake charges against your 45th and 47th President, ME, I was given an UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE, he wrote in part. Trumps sentence of unconditional discharge means he will face no prison time, fines, or probation. However, he will carry the distinction of being the first president in U.S. history to be a felon when hes sworn in on Jan. 20. Donald Trump speaks during his sentencing hearing. / Jeenah Moon / via REUTERS As a felon, Trump can no longer posses a firearm in his adopted state of Florida and can never sit on a jurythough, he was not likely to anyways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump attended Fridays hearing virtually from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, but he was not a silent participant like he was when he attend hearings in New York. He said this has been a very terrible experience and that his conviction was a tremendous setback for the New York court system. He added that the trial was a political witch hunt, brought forward to damage his reputation and electoral chances ahead of the 2024 election. He added that he was totally innocent. I was treated very, very unfairly, and I thank you very much, Trump said, closing his comments. Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing Friday alongside his attorney, Todd Blanche. / Brendan McDermid / REUTERS Trump was less rational in a Truth Social post shortly after the hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History, he wrote. As the American People have seen, this case had no crime, no damages, no proof, no facts, no Law, only a highly conflicted Judge, a star witness who is a disbarred, disgraced, serial perjurer, and criminal Election Interference. Todays event was a despicable charade. A report from The New York Times said Trump had a slight scowl as he awaited the start of proceedings around 9:30 a.m. Friday. Photos emerged showing him wearing a striped red tie, seated in front of two U.S. flags. Trump shook his head when the court reiterated his conviction, the paper added. Trump is now in a familiar pose, his arms crossed in defiance, wrote the so-called Trump whisperer, Maggie Haberman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justin Juan Merchan told Trump Godspeed after announcing his sentence. The camera displaying Trump was abruptly turned off after Merchan finished, the Times reported, and the hearing was complete. The people who went after Trump should be investigated and charged. All of them. Justice is coming. Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 10, 2025 The sentencing renewed calls from the MAGA world to have retribution against Merchan and others who prosecuted the hush money case. The people who went after Trump should be investigated and charged, said Charlie Kirk of Turing PointUSA. All of them. Justice is coming. While Trump has objected to his prosecution of 34 counts, the trialwhich played out in Manhattan this springserved as an audition of sorts for his legal team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emil Bove, one of Trumps attorneys present Friday, is his choice to be the principal deputy associate attorney general. The cases head attorney, Todd Blanche, is his pick for deputy attorney general. Donald Trumps defense attorney Emil Bove attended Fridays sentencing in the courtroom. / Brendan McDermid / REUTERS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was found guilty on May 31 of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to Stormy Danielsa porn star who claims to have had an affair with him in 2006 in the early years of his marriage to Melania. Fridays sentence is likely not the end to this years-long saga. Trump and his attorneys have indicated they will appeal the conviction. Now that it is over, we will appeal this Hoax, which has no merit, and restore the trust of Americans in our once great System of Justice, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The cases lead prosecutor, Joshua Steinglass, grilled Trump ahead of his sentence being revealed. This defendant has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has placed officers of the court in harms way, he said. On the agenda Hong Kong is increasingly seen as a vital superconnector to Southeast Asia by businesses in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), according to a study by the Trade Development Council (TDC) and United Overseas Bank. The research highlights the citys growing role in diversifying supply chains amid global economic shifts. The study, published yesterday, surveyed 600 GBA-based businesses spanning Hong Kong, Macau, and nine Guangdong cities. It found that ASEAN nations were the top choice for companies looking to expand or maintain their supply chains abroad. Notably, 84% of respondents planned to continue or increase production and sourcing activities within the bloc. Among ASEAN countries, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia emerged as the most popular destinations for supply chain diversification. Businesses rated Hong Kongs connectivity with ASEAN at 8.43 out of 10 in 2024, a significant rise from 6.99 the previous year. Many mainland Chinese companies want to leverage Hong Kongs platform to invest in ASEAN, said TDC research director Irina Fan Yuen-yee. Hong Kongs role is becoming increasingly important. The survey, conducted between July and August 2024, included 130 companies headquartered in Hong Kong and 470 based in mainland cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, and Zhongshan. A key finding was that 39% of respondents cited ASEANs strong trade relations with China as a major attractionup from 27% in 2023making it the most frequently mentioned factor. By Lynzy Valles, MDT WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a last-ditch effort by lawyers for President-elect Donald Trump to prevent his sentencing for his New York criminal conviction. Frankly, its a disgrace. Its a judge that shouldnt have been on the case. Hes a highly conflicted judge, said Trump. Trump slammed the judge overseeing the case. This was an attack on the Republican candidate who just won an election by record numbers, the highest number of Republican voters by far, Ive ever gotten, said Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was convicted in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide payments to adult film star actress Stormy Daniels. David Super is a Georgetown Law professor. He says the president-elect is benefiting from his position. Mr. Trump has been fantastically lucky. He has been convicted by a jury of his peers of multiple felony years, and he wont face a day of probation or a single dollar fine, much less the prison term that you or I could expect, said Super. Trumps sentencing is expected to take place later Friday. He is not required to attend in person. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. President-elect Donald Trump started his day by joining his own criminal sentencing via videoconference on Friday. While attending virtually from Florida with his attorney, Todd Blanche, both legal parties received Judge Juan Merchans probation report to review before sentencing. Upon both the defense and prosecution looking over the report, Merchan moved forward with sentencing, according to CNN. The jurys verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive and it must be respected, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said. He also accused Trump of attacking the rule of law during the criminal case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your honor indicated an inclination to impose an unconditional discharge under all the circumstances of this case, this unique posture and the defendants status as president-elect, the people recommend a sentence of unconditional discharge, he said, agreeing with the sentencing Merchan said he would deliver to the president-elect earlier this week. In this case, an unconditional charge means Trump will not have to serve prison time or any other penalty as he heads into his second term as president. Blanche responded to the prosecution, saying, I very, very much disagree with much of what the government just said about this case, about the legitimacy of what happened in this courtroom during this trial, and about President Trumps conduct fighting this case, per The Associated Press. In his first statements Friday morning, Trump said the case had been a very terrible experience for him and that it was a political witch hunt that was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didnt work. Attorney Emil Bove, left, listens as attorney Todd Blanche and President-elect Donald Trump, seen on a television screen, appear virtually for sentencing for Trump's hush money conviction in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in New York. | Jabin Botsford Following Trumps remark, Merchan then began his sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The imposition of sentence is one of the most difficult and significant decisions that any criminal court judge is called upon to make, he said. Never before has this court been presented with such a unique and remarkable set of circumstances. He told Trump that the office of president is extraordinary, not the person fulfilling the role. However the considerable, indeed extraordinary legal protections afforded the office of the chief executive is a factor that overrides all others, Merchan added. They do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way, One power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ordinary citizens do not receive those legal protections. It is the office of the president that bestows those to the office holder. It is the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again receive the benefits of those protections, he concluded. Trumps attempts to get the case thrown out With an original sentencing date of July 11, Trumps defense seemed to use every legal strategy to prevent the former and future president from being labeled a felon. However, the Supreme Court denied his last chance at delaying or tossing the sentencing on Thursday, making Trump essentially the first U.S. president in history to enter the White House with a rap sheet. The criminal case brought against Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg began trial proceedings last April. After juggling courtroom visits in multiple legal cases with campaign rallies, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts against him by a New York jury on May 30, 2024. The case accused Trump of falsely labeling a $130,000 payment he had his then-lawyer Michael Cohen give to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as a business expense leading up to his 2026 presidential election. According to the lawsuit against him, Daniels claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump back in 2004. To keep her silent during his presidential campaign, he apparently used hush money, per the suit. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and repeatedly claimed to have never had any relations with Daniels throughout the trial, accusing the case of being politically motivated. President-elect Trump refused to take accountability for his hush money criminal conviction at his sentencing Friday, telling the judge he did nothing wrong. The fact is, Im totally innocent, Trump said. Though judges often consider remorse when handing down sentences in criminal cases, Judge Juan Merchan previously signaled he had already made up his mind on sentencing Trump to an unconditional discharge a rare alternative to prison or probation that still cements Trumps status as a felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merchan handed down the sentence Friday morning during a hearing that lasted roughly 40 minutes. With the judges permission, Trump joined the sentencing virtually with his attorney Todd Blanche. The president-elect donned a dark-colored blazer, white collared shirt, red tie and pin. When given an opportunity to speak, Trump told the judge that his experience with Manhattans criminal court system was very terrible, describing his case as a tremendous setback for New York and the New York court system. Its an injustice of justice, Trump said. On Truth Social shortly after the sentencing concluded, Trump asserted that Fridays hearing was a despicable charade and lamented that the real Jury elected him to victory this past November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real Jury, the American People, have spoken, by Re-Electing me with an overwhelming MANDATE in one of the most consequential Elections in History, Trump wrote. As the American People have seen, this case had no crime, no damages, no proof, no facts, no Law, only a highly conflicted Judge, a star witness who is a disbarred, disgraced, serial perjurer, and criminal Election Interference, he added. The former president repeated defense arguments from trial, including that his classification of a hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels to conceal an alleged affair as a legal expense was accurate. He said I was falsifying business records; I was calling a legal expense a legal expense, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanche also spoke at the sentencing, insisting that the majority of the American people also agree that this case should not have been brought. The American voters got a chance to see and decide for themselves whether this was the kind of case that should be brought, and they decided, and thats why in 10 days Trump will be POTUS, Blanche said, vowing to appeal. Trumps sentencing now opens his ability to appeal his charges in normal course, which he has long vowed to do. Hes expected to appeal Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs entire theory of the case in addition to his presidential immunity appeals that remain pending. New York jurors in May found Trump guilty of 34 felonies over a scheme intended to unlawfully sway the 2016 election by concealing the payment to Daniels. Trump has denied they had an affair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- A federal appeals court wont block Attorney General Merrick Garland from releasing a special counsels report detailing the findings of his criminal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. Most Read from Bloomberg But in a Thursday order rejecting requests by Trump and his former co-defendants to stop the report from becoming public, the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals also didnt immediately clear Garland to disclose it. The court said that if the government wanted to share the document sooner, it would have to separately challenge a lower-court order that delayed any release by at least another three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several hours after the 11th Circuit entered the order, Justice Department lawyers filed the appeal seeking approval to release the report sooner, kicking off the next round of the legal fight. In the meantime, lawyers for the Trump associates who challenged the reports release could petition the full 11th Circuit to reconsider the courts order or ask the US Supreme Court to intervene. It wasnt immediately clear if they could also go back to the lower-court judge, US District Judge Aileen Cannon, and pursue their initial request for her to permanently block the reports release. The court didnt identify which judges entered the order and didnt offer a reason for the denial of the emergency request. Trump Co-Defendants Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment, as did lawyers for the two former Trump co-defendants who are pressing the fight in court, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that while the reports release is still on hold, it is time for Joe Biden and Merrick Garland to do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our Justice system. The 11th Circuits order comes as Garland is in a race against time to share at least some of Special Counsel Jack Smiths final work with the public. Once Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, he would have the authority to direct Garlands successor to keep the document secret. Trump isnt formally part of the legal fight because Smith dropped his pursuit of charges against the president-elect after his November win, citing longstanding department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. But Trumps lawyers wrote separately to Garland to oppose the report becoming public and Trump submitted an amicus, or friend-of-court, brief in the 11th Circuit. Hit Job Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report is nothing less than another attempted political hit job which sole purpose is to disrupt the Presidential transition and undermine President Trumps exercise of executive power, Trumps lawyers wrote in a Jan. 8 filing. Garland intends to release the first volume of the report to the public, which deals with Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to the US Justice Departments court filings. For the second volume, which deals with Trumps handling of classified information after leaving the White House in 2021, Garland plans to share a copy only with several senior members of Congress until a related criminal case is finished. Smith was required by law to write a report and submit it to Garland, who makes the final decision about whether to release some or all of it to the public. Trumps former co-defendants in one of the cases brought by Smiths office have been fighting in court to stop that from happening, and Trump also has expressed opposition to the reports release. Nauta and De Oliveira kicked off the fight over Smiths report earlier this week when they asked Cannon to stop it from being released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cannon, who was appointed to the south Florida federal district court by Trump, temporarily barred the publication of Smiths report while the 11th Circuit considered the issue. Cannon also wrote that her order would remain in effect for three days after the 11th Circuit made a decision. Earlier this year, Cannon had dismissed the indictment after finding that Smiths appointment and funding source were unconstitutional. The Justice Department pointed to its pending appeal of Cannons ruling, which was still active against Nauta and De Oliveira, as the reason Garland would delay making the second volume of Smiths report public. --With assistance from Chris Strohm. (Updates with Justice Department filing appeal in third paragraph.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. If confirmed as Donald Trumps IRS commissioner, former Republican Congressman Billy Long will embody the disdain that an administration of, for and by billionaires has for our tax system. The former six-term congressman has no background as a tax administratorunless you count his efforts in Congress to eliminate the IRS, and his three-day crash course in Florida that earned him a Certified Tax & Business Adviser certificate. If youre looking for a way to target your political opponents, the IRS would be at the top of the list, says Brendan Duke, a tax expert at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington. Billy Long was a fierce defender of Donald Trump in Congress and will now be expected to go after his enemies as the man at the top of the IRS. / Ethan Miller / Getty Images The 69-year-old Long is best known at home in Missouri as an auctioneer and real-estate agent. After leaving Congress in 2023 following a failed run for the Senate, he turned his connections and showmanship into a profitable business advising clients how to take advantage of a loophole in pandemic relief legislation designed to reward employers who kept their workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He worked with two tax advisory firmsLifetime Advisors in Wisconsin, and Commerce Terrace Consulting in Missouridrumming up business and sharing a cut of the federal funds. He boasted in a 2023 podcast about how a certified public accountant might not sign off on a clients eligibility for the lucrative tax credit. Instead, he would tell them, Go back to Billy. Let Billy do it for you. The podcast was titled Secret Tax Credit That Could Put Thousands Back in Your Pocket with Billy Long. Long even had the words Employee Retention Tax Credit emblazoned on his auctioneers cap. Eventually the IRS caught on to what was supposed to cost the government $55 billion. As millions of claims were filed, the cost soared to over $230 billion, with some estimates showing the tax scam could reach over $500 billion, despite IRS efforts to tighten the requirements. Tapping Long as IRS commissioner would be like putting a fox in a hen house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means the end of tax enforcement as we know it, Bill Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, told the Daily Beast. Hes an auctioneerthats just perfect. Tax credits to the highest bidder!! Going once! Going twice!! I cant even get mad, its so bleeping funny, Galston said. The IRS was being reimagined under the Democrats as taking from the rich and giving it to the poor but it will be no Robin Hood organization under Long, who is more likely to be like the Sheriff of Rottingham, played by Roger Rees in Robin Hood: Men in Tights / 20th Century Fox If Long is confirmed by the Senate, its the death knell for President Bidens efforts to revive and reform the IRS. He succeeded in shoehorning $80 billion into the agency for stepped up enforcement and taxpayer service. The Republicans have clawed back more than half of that, and theyll be coming for the rest once the new administration takes hold. The cost cutting guarantees a free pass for billionaires and sub-billionaires who are good at tax evasion. For the record, weve never seen Donald Trumps tax returns, and nobody bothers even asking anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duke, the tax policy expert, told the Daily Beast that he couldnt think of a single redeeming qualification for Billy Long as tax commissioner other than he might be a yes man. We dont know whats been promised here, he said. Trump maybe talked to other more qualified candidates who wouldnt go along with his political retribution agenda. Trump wants Billy Long, shown here flaunting his $45 Trump bills, to be his IRS commissioner. / Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag Trumps choice for the IRS in his first term, Chuck Rettig, was an experienced tax attorney who served ably for Trumps full four years, a rarity in Trump World, where turnover is high. He did an excellent job standing up the child tax credit, which was delivered monthly, says Duke. A lot of people thought it couldnt be done, and he did it. Bidens choice for the job, Daniel Werfel, served in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He was named acting IRS Commissioner in 2013 and returned to the agency after Biden took office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Werfels stint doesnt end until November 2027, but no one expects Trump to honor the five-year term in place at the IRS, which is meant to convey both the complexity of the job and its non-partisan nature. The IRS has a workforce of some 80,000 people, and is responsible for more than just collecting tax revenue. Its a really important law enforcement agency, says Duke. They are the people who put away Al Capone. They track money laundering and terrorism. This is not a joke job, but it is a joke appointment. Everything about Long says old-fashioned fat cat, at a time when the IRS needs a 21st-century makeover, not a throwback to an earlier time. His appointment has received little attention compared to some of Trumps more sensational picks. This has flown under the radar, says Duke. Hes just as bad as RFK Jr., but nobody is paying attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Democrats are waking up to Longs slim resume, and what his confirmation implies. Billy Long, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the IRS, is facing questions about his qualifications to lead the tax agency from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts who serves on the Senate's Finance Committee. https://t.co/uHDtMZeR4f CBS News (@CBSNews) January 9, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to Long saying his significant management or tax experienceand your promotion of credits that have been magnet[s] for fraudraise serious questions about your qualifications to lead the IRS. Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Catherine Cortez Masto also sent letters to tax advisory firms that reportedly paid Long on a contingency basis for ERTC refunds received by clients he referred. Its a little late to be launching an investigation with a new sheriff about to arrive in town. But theres enough bipartisan concern about ripping off the governmenteven if its legalthat Long may not be a shoo-in. The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that President-elect Donald Trumps comments about turning Canada into the United States 51st state are just a distraction from the consequences of Trumps tariff threats. Trudeau, who announced earlier this week he would resign as prime minister once his party had chosen his successor, told Tapper that Canada becoming another US state was not going to happen. President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that, by that conversation, to take away from the conversation around 25% tariffs on oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete, Trudeau told CNNs The Lead with Jake Tapper in an interview from Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump in November promised massive hikes in tariffs on goods coming from Mexico, Canada and China starting on the first day of his administration. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! That policy that could sharply increase costs for American businesses and consumers, a fact Trudeau was quick to point out Thursday. Canada, Mexico and China are the USs biggest trade partners. Everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs, Trudeau said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau stressed that Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian. One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, were not American. Trudeau weighs in on Los Angeles wildfires Trudeau told CNN on Thursday he had been in touch with California Gov. Gavin Newsom about sending aid to battle deadly and destructive wildfires and warned that climate change is making such fires worse. Trudeau said his country offered California state officials a tremendous amount of equipment that theyre already accepting. Apocalyptic scenes have emerged across Los Angeles County, where deadly wildfires remain mostly uncontained. Evacuation orders are impacting nearly 180,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada has experienced its own series of wildfires in recent months. Last year Canada witnessed dangerous wildfires that scorched tens of thousands of acres, forcing thousands of evacuations, damaging property and degrading air quality. Trudeau attributed the intensity and frequency of such wildfires that affected Canada and California to the changing climate. Unfortunately, over the past years, weve seen it get far worse, and weve seen wildfires increasingly encroaching on urban areas, and thats a fire where we have to train up more local municipal firefighters to deal with wildfires in a way that we never had before, Trudeau told CNN on Thursday. What we see now is going to just get worse and worse and worse over the coming decades, if were not serious about reducing our emissions and looking for ways to protect our future generations, Trudeau added. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump urged Venezuela not to harm opposition leader Maria Corina Machado after she was briefly arrested on Thursday, in his first public comments on the countrys disputed election. Most Read from Bloomberg Trump, on his Truth Social platform, praised Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez, who won more votes than President Nicolas Maduro in Julys presidential election, according to records collected by the opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime, he said. The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly support a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!, Trump added. Trumps comments come after Machado reemerged in public earlier Thursday to join thousands of Venezuelans protesting against what they say was a fraudulent vote. Her appearance came more than four months since she went into hiding following Maduros contested claim of victory in July. According to the opposition, security forces arrested Machado after a protest in Caracas and released her about two hours later. Still, the arrest marked a significant escalation by Maduros autocratic regime which has been intensifying its crackdown on critics of the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps stance on Venezuela and whether he would take a hard line on Maduro has been the subject of speculation. The president-elect has vowed to carry out a mass deportation of illegal migrants, but would need Maduros agreement to send Venezuelans from the US. Maduro was declared the winner by the electoral authority without presenting evidence. He intends to take office Friday despite international condemnation. Gonzalez showed proof that he obtained nearly 70% of the vote and vowed to return to the country for the inauguration despite the governments threats to arrest him. In his post, Trump pointedly referred to Gonzalez as president-elect, a term that the Biden administration only began using in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The distinction is important because, after Maduro holds a swearing-in ceremony Friday to begin his third term, Trump will have to decide whether to start calling Gonzalez the real president. That harks back to an unsuccessful strategy Trump tried in his first term, when he recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuelas leader instead of Maduro. That tactic failed to rally the internal support needed to unseat Maduro, and doing so again would antagonize him further. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. President-elect Donald Trump's threat to "tariff Denmark at a very high level" if it refuses to give up Greenland could affect weight loss medications like Ozempic, Lego bricks and hearing aids, The New York Times reports. Denmark is the leading supplier of hearing aids to the U.S., per The Times, and is home to Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy. The toymaker Lego Group also is based in Denmark. The country is the latest to join a list that Trump has vowed to tariff when he takes office on Jan. 20 if his demands aren't met. His plan includes across-the-board tariffs of 10 to 20% on all goods coming in from all nations. Trump wants 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China unless the countries stem the flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economists have warned the tariffs could increase consumer prices in the U.S., and Trump hasn't disagreed. His latest comments came during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, where he discussed taking over Greenland, the worlds biggest island. Greenland has gained prominence given the increasing strategic importance of the Arctic region, with the U.S., China and Russia all vying for power over an area rich in national resources. Trump didnt rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland or to retake the Panama Canal, according to a BBC account. "No, I can't assure you on either of those two, he said. "But I can say this, we need them for economic security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the European Commission said his ideas were hypothetical, if implemented they would have profound implications on trade relations. Denmark would likely retaliate. The U.S. received $11.6 billion in imports from Denmark in 2023 and $9 billion last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's a small slice of the $3 trillion the U.S. received in 2023, The Times reports. "Roughly half of Denmarks recent exports to the United States are packaged medicines, insulin, vaccines and antibiotics, The Times reports, citing data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Greenland and Denmark showed no signs of welcoming Trumps annexation idea. Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland, Greenlands prime minister, Mute Egede, wrote on Facebook. On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump's lawyers urged the U.S. Supreme Court to block his sentencing in New York for falsifying business records to conceal his 2016 hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Todd Blanche, whom Trump plans to appoint as his deputy attorney general, and D. John Sauer, Trump's pick for solicitor general, warned that "forcing President Trump to prepare for a criminal sentencing in a felony case while he is preparing to lead the free world as President of the United States in less than two weeks imposes an intolerable, unconstitutional burden on him" that undermines "national security and vital interests." Most of the justices were unimpressed by that argument. In an unsigned order issued on Thursday evening, they declined to intervene in the New York case, saying "the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect's responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court's stated intent to impose a sentence of 'unconditional discharge' after a brief virtual hearing." Since that sentence amounts to no punishment at all and Trump can still appeal his 34 felony convictions, the practical consequences of that order are indeed "relatively insubstantial." But the decision confirms what should have been clear from Trump's track record at the Supreme Court: Even though six of the nine justices are Republican appointees, including three nominated by Trump himself, that does not mean he can count on the Court to rule in his favor. Even the Court's harshest critics on the left are apt to be grateful for that fact during Trump's second term, especially in light of his authoritarian impulses and his threats to deploy his powers against his political opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh said they would have granted Trump's application for a stay. But the majority included Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, as well as the three justices nominated by Democrats. That lineup, New York Times reporter Adam Liptak argues, is further evidence of Barrett's "independent streak," which he says was also apparent last summer in Trump v. United States and Fischer v. United States. But these examples are more complicated than Liptak implies. In the former case, the majority endorsed a broad view of presidential immunity from prosecution for "official acts," casting doubt on whether Trump could be prosecuted for trying to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. In a partial concurrence, Barrett took a narrower view of presidential immunity that would give prosecutors more leeway to charge a former president based on arguably official conduct. But the majority opinion was written by Roberts, who in other cases has not been shy about ruling against Trump. In Fischer, which involved a Capitol rioter charged with obstructing an official proceeding, Roberts' majority opinion said a defendant can be convicted of that crime only if he "impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects," or "other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so." That ruling also helped Trump, who had been charged with obstructing an official proceeding in the federal election interference case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a dissent joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, Barrett disagreed with the majority's reading of the statute. But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Biden nominee, joined the majority opinion and wrote a concurrence, which was consistent with civil libertarian concerns about due process and fair notice. Liptak also mentions Trump v. Anderson, the March 2024 case in which the Court said states could not exclude Trump from the 2020 presidential ballot as an insurrectionist under the 14th Amendment. But although the justices were divided on the rationale for that decision, they were unanimous in concluding that state officials did not have that power. Those three decisions, Liptak says, "undermined the reputation [Roberts] had built over almost two decades as an institutionalist who sought to defend his court against charges that it is warped by politics." But the assumption that any decision favoring Trump must be "warped by politics" is neither fair nor reasonable, as illustrated by Jackson's position in Fischer and the unanimous result in Trump v. Anderson. By the same logic, justices appointed by Democrats must be motivated by partisan considerations every time they rule against Trump. Justices who do what they are supposed to do by interpreting and applying the law according to politically neutral principles are bound to agree with Trump in some cases and disagree with him in others. And given Trump's repeatedly demonstrated disregard for statutory and constitutional restraints, you would expect that the Court would rule against him more often than not, which is what happened during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In his first administration," Liptak notes, Trump "did poorly in the Supreme Court in signed decisions in orally argued cases in which the United States, an executive department, an independent agency or the president himself was a party, prevailing only 42 percent of the time, the lowest rate since at least Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. In other words, a fundamentally conservative court, now with a six-justice majority of Republican appointees that includes three named by Mr. Trump himself, has not been particularly receptive to his arguments. The Biden administration, by contrast, has been on the winning side 54 percent of the time." During the last century, every president has fared substantially better at the Supreme Court than Trump, with success rates ranging from 52 percent (Barack Obama) to 75 percent (Ronald Reagan). They typically have prevailed more than 60 percent of the time. Trump's broader judicial track record in his first term was even worse. When it analyzed the outcomes of federal cases involving Trump agency actions from 2017 through the end of his administration, the New York University School of Law's Institute for Policy Integrity found that the government was unsuccessful 78 percent of the time. Trump's defeats at the Supreme Court included its 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that federal law bars employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, which was joined by Roberts and four other justices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another memorable loss was the Court's 2019 decision in Trump v. Mazars, which rejected Trump's attempt to block a state subpoena for his tax returns. The majority included two Trump nominees, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, whose "betrayal" reportedly enraged him. "In our system of government, as this Court has often stated, no one is above the law," Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion joined by Gorsuch. "That principle applies, of course, to a President." Later that year, Trump took his anger at the Supreme Court public after it declined to hear two cases challenging the outcome of the 2020 election. He complained that the justicesincluding Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barretthad "just 'chickened out' and didn't want to rule on the merits." Two weeks later, Trump called the justices "totally incompetent and weak" as well as cowardly. By refusing to consider his "absolute PROOF" of "massive Election Fraud," he said, they effectively endorsed "corrupt elections," meaning "we have no country!" Trump reiterated that complaint during his pre-riot "stop the steal" speech on January 6, 2021. "I'm not happy with the Supreme Court," he told his supporters. "They love to rule against me." The hits kept coming after Trump left office. Last June in Garland v. Cargill, the Supreme Court rejected Trump's unilateral ban on bump stocks, ruling that it exceeded the statutory authority of federal gun regulators. While Trump's left-leaning opponents might have been displeased by the outcome, the ruling vindicated the separation of powers and the rule of lawprinciples that progressive critics of the bump stock decision will be keen to uphold during the next four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, the Supreme Court's June 2024 repudiation of the Chevron doctrine provoked much consternation on the left but is apt to facilitate challenges to Trump's second-term policies. Under that doctrine, which the Court disavowed in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, judges deferred to agency interpretations of "ambiguous" statutes as long as the interpretations were "permissible" or "reasonable." As critics of Loper Bright saw it, the decision was bound to benefit the wealthy and powerful by blocking regulations aimed at protecting the public. But as Gorsuch noted in that case, the Chevron doctrine imposed a bigger burden on ordinary people confronted by bureaucrats who were empowered to invent their own authority. Anyone who is worried about what Trump might do during his second term should be glad that his agencies will no longer have that license. Although it did not directly involve Trump, the Court's July 2024 ruling in Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton, which addressed challenges to state laws restricting content moderation by social media platforms, did not go the way he wanted. Contrary to Trump's view that such laws protect freedom of speech, Kagan's majority opinion, which was joined by Roberts and Barrett, made it clear that "government efforts to alter an edited compilation of third-party expression are subject to judicial review for compliance with the First Amendment." That position is plainly at odds with Trump's desire to override private moderation decisions, as exemplified by the agenda of his pick to run the Federal Communications Commission. In another pair of social media cases last March, the Court unanimously held, in an opinion by Barrett, that public officials may be violating the First Amendment when they selectively block critics on platforms such as Facebook. That was the same issue Trump raised when he tried to block dissenting voices on Twitter during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trump has made clear that going forward he is going to be even less concerned with abiding by the Constitution and federal law than he was the last time he was in the White House," Brianne Gorod, a lawyer at the Constitutional Accountability Center, told NBC News after the election, "so the courts, including the Supreme Court, are on notice that their role as a vital check in our constitutional system will be tested." On balance, the Court's prior decisions suggest it will not shirk that responsibility. The post Trump's Latest Defeat Is One of Many Decisions That Suggest SCOTUS Won't Rubber-Stamp His Agenda appeared first on Reason.com. The latest policy introduced to boost employment for Macaus youth in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is set to expand career opportunities and ease financial burdens for businesses, according to experts and local enterprises. Recently, the livelihood affairs bureau of the Hengqin Zone announced interim measures aimed at enhancing job prospects for young adults from Macau. These measures, which will take effect on February 1 and remain in force for three years, are designed to attract more young Macau residents to work in the zone, offering both financial incentives for workers and businesses. Under the new policy, each eligible young worker employed in Hengqin can apply for an employment subsidy of 4,000 yuan (about $548) per month. This subsidy can be claimed for up to 36 months. Additionally, workers who participate in vocational skill assessments at accredited organizations and earn relevant certifications will be eligible for a one-time subsidy equal to 30% of the assessment cost. Employers are also set to benefit from these measures. For each young adult hired, businesses can apply for a monthly subsidy of 1,000 yuan per employee for up to 36 months. Employers who hire 30 or more young Macau workers within the same year will qualify for an additional one-time incentive of 200,000 yuan. The total incentives that can be granted to a single employer are capped at 1.5 million yuan annually. Moreover, Hengqin employers can apply for a full subsidy covering their portion of the monthly social insurance contributions for employees for up to 36 months. Support for young workers and employers Xu Fengmei, deputy director of the livelihood affairs bureau, emphasized that the new policy is specifically designed to support young Macau residents. As cited in a China Daily report, she expressed hope that the measures would not only attract more young people to build careers in Hengqin but also contribute to the broader development of the zone. Many enterprises in Hengqin are in the early stages of growth, Xu said. The provision of subsidies will help reduce operational costs for these businesses and encourage them to recruit more young workers. This will allow companies to focus more resources on research and development, as well as production. Mao Yanhua, dean of the Institute of Regional Openness and Cooperation at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong, echoed Xus sentiment. He stated that the policy will help narrow the income gap between Macau and Hengqin, making it more attractive for young people in Macau to seek employment across the boundary. Mao believes that the new policy will have a significant positive impact in the short term. Meanwhile, in addition to the latest employment measures, Hengqin has introduced a variety of supportive policies to assist Macau entrepreneurs in setting up and expanding their businesses within the zone. These include tax concessions and rent relief, all designed to attract businesses and foster economic growth. Liu Xuemei, deputy general manager of the investment and development department at Zhuhai Huafa Technology Industry Group Co., which operates in Hengqin, noted that Hengqins preferential policies would increase the confidence of young Macau residents. He pointed out that Hengqin offers more development space compared to Macau, which is limited by land and industrial resources. Liu also mentioned that Huafa is collaborating with local universities to offer training programs for young people from the SAR. Graduates will have the opportunity to work at Huafas e-commerce industrial park and other companies in Hengqin, giving them access to greater career prospects and growth opportunities. Staff Reporter President-elect Donald Trumps plan to create a new energy council to drive his U.S. "energy dominance" policies is getting caught in a bureaucratic turf war among White House offices and infighting over its leadership, according to people familiar with discussions. The National Energy Council, which Trump first announced in November and said would be led by his nominee for Interior secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, is designed to coordinate energy policy and regulations across the federal government. But even though it has yet to be rolled out, it is facing questions over its structure, staffing and how prominent a role it would play in crafting policy. Even the planned council's name is changing to avoid confusion with the National Economic Council, a mainstay within the Executive Office of the President, according to one industry executive familiar with the discussions. The body is expected to be rechristened as the National Energy Dominance Council, said this person, who along with three others, was granted anonymity to discuss the private conversations around the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industry executive said for now it appears the new council will be run on an ad hoc basis with little dedicated staff. And, ultimately, it will report to Stephen Miller, the incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy, the person said. Others cautioned the form and and reporting structure is in flux. Two of the people said fights over the council's budget and staffing have flared, with tensions rising over whether the new council will be the sole adviser for energy policy in the White House or if the National Security Council and National Economic Council will hold some responsibilities, as they have in previous administrations. Few details about the council are public beyond Trump tapping Burgum as chair in addition to his cabinet position, if the Senate confirms him to that role. But three people granted anonymity to discuss the evolving discussions said that Chris Wright, the CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy who was tapped to head the Energy Department, has since emerged as a possible co-chair. One of the people familiar with those conversations said that development could run afoul of Burgum, who Trump promised to make leader of the council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve heard that Wright wants an equal role to Burgum and theres resistance, one of the people familiar with the discussions said. Wright, whose company has been at the forefront of helping oil companies tap into the vast shale deposits that have made the U.S. the world's leading oil and gas producer, is seen as being more aligned in his thinking with the oil executives who gave millions of dollars to Trumps election campaign. The CEO has denied that climate change is a crisis requiring government intervention, instead saying that it is the United States' responsibility to export more fossil fuel to alleviate poverty. There are conversations going on whether he would be better suited than Burgum, said a third industry executive who was in talks with the Trump transition team. Some hardliners want more of a true believer in that role. Burgum, who earned a fortune in tech sector, has been an advocate for U.S. oil since becoming governor of the country's third largest oil producing state. But he also set a target for the state to become carbon neutral by 2030. Spokespeople for the Trump transition team and Burgum did not respond to questions. Wright did not respond to an email or text message. Welcome, Deadline: Legal Newsletter readers. Hemmed in by the reality that the man before him was the future president of the United States, New York state Judge Juan Merchan handed down a sentence essentially amounting to no punishment at all. A jury unanimously found that President-elect Donald Trump violated New York criminal law by falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment that his former attorney made to adult film star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 presidential election. Trump will now be the first president to enter the White House having been convicted of a felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time he appeared virtually in Merchans courtroom Friday morning, Trump knew full well that he would face no real penalty for his conviction. The judge was well-aware that we bubble-wrap presidents and protect them from legal proceedings and sentences that could undermine their ability to do their jobs. This spared Trump from having to do what virtually any other defendant would do: plead for a light sentence based on mitigating factors. Instead, Trump recycled some of his greatest hits about the case, arguing that he did nothing wrong and that the charges amounted to a political witch hunt. While a conviction based on nonviolent felonies would not necessarily lead to prison time in a typical case, Merchan laid out the aggravating factors that could have led to a prison sentence here. He wrote that Trump has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries and the justice system as a whole. In his closing statements before the court, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that Trump has caused enduring damage to the public perception of the criminal justice system. Whether that is true is up to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays sentence was about protecting the office of the presidency, not the person who will occupy it, and there may be other attempts to hold Trump accountable in the future. It remains to be seen what will happen then. Have any questions or comments? Wed love to hear from you! Please email deadlinelegal@nbcuni.com for a chance to be featured in a future newsletter. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com With special counsel Jack Smiths final reports the subject of litigation and just over a week remaining until President-elect Donald Trump takes office, lawyers are skeptical about whether his findings will ever become public. Under normal circumstances, special counsels submit a final report on their investigation to the Justice Department, which the attorney general may then choose to make public or not. In the final days of President Joe Bidens term, however, Trumps attorneys, alongside his one-time co-defendants in the classified documents case in Florida, have been working to prevent the release of Smiths final report on his investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his hoarding of classified documents at his estate, Mar-a-Lago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Trumps co-defendants asked Judge Aileen Cannon to block the release of the special counsels report and on Wednesday Trumps attorneys themselves asked the federal appeals court for the 11th Circuit to block the release of Smiths final report. That motion from the remaining defendants was denied by the 11th Circuit Thursday evening. However, an order from Cannon blocking the release of the report until three days after the 11th Circuit rules on the matter remains in effect. (Later Thursday evening, the Justice Department appealed Cannon's order.) So far, the Justice Department has indicated that it plans to release the report in two volumes, with the first, concerning Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, being released publicly, and the second, concerning Trumps retention of classified documents, being released only to senior lawmakers in the House and Senate. However, Trump and his one-time co-defendants' various moves to block and delay the release of the report combined with the fact that Trump will soon assume office and thus control of the Justice Department is causing some to question whether the full report will ever be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barbara McQuade, who served as a US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, told Salon that Donald Trump is clearly trying to run out the clock until he is sworn in on Jan. 20, adding: Once he gains control of DOJ, he can try to kill the report. McQuade said that the remaining two defendants in the classified documents case have a valid concern over the release of Smiths report on the classified documents investigation and that the volume of the report relevant to their case would need to be redacted to protect their interests, which she suspects the Justice Department has already done. While it seems that Smith could have issued his report sooner to avoid the risk that Trump would use friendly judges to run out the clock, ultimately, the report is subject to FOIA, McQuade said. Someday, when the investigations are closed, the public will learn the contents of the report. Ty Cobb, a former member of the White House legal team in the first Trump administration, told Salon that hes optimistic that the first volume of Smiths report will be released before Trump takes office but that he doesnt believe the second volume will become public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should and there will be a lot of litigation, I expect. I expect media and public interest groups will move for its release at least at the conclusion of the proceedings of the two co-defendants, Cobb said. Cobb said he expected much of whats contained in the final report to have already been public information, but that the final report would probably include substantiation of that information from new sources and witnesses. I think what youll see in the report is that each of the allegations in the complaint is reasserted but the evidence for those allegations gets expanded beyond what the public currently, Cobb said. Cobb also suspects that the issue could end up before the Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas handles emergency matters arising from the 11th Circuit, meaning he could potentially delay making a decision until Trump assumes office and control of the Justice Department. But Cobb said he doesnt think Chief Justice John Robert would let that happen, in part because the legal arguments coming from Trumps team to block the release of both volumes are thin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no legal issue. It doesn't tie in in any way to immunity or to transition, Cobb said. Theres no legal hook to get the intended transparency of the special counsel process to be obscured. Sarah Krissoff, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, told Salon that she too thinks Trump's legal team will ultimately fail to block the release of Smith's work. "It is hard to imagine that this issue will get traction with the Supreme Court," she said. The Transportation Security Administration is charged with intercepting illicit objects passing through airport security, which can produce some eyebrow-raising finds among passengers who try to sneak them through. The TSA just released its list of the top 10 wildest confiscations it made in 2024, and the list ranges from various weapons stored in strange places to live animals in one's own pants. 10. Marijuana in peanut butter jar A traveler passing through Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina tried to sneak their weed stash through security by stuffing a sandwich bag of cannabis into a jar of peanut butter. Officials were able to intercept the sticky find. 9. Knife in shoe A flyer at Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia was caught by security trying to sneak a Swiss army knife through the security checkpoint. The most surprising part was where the PreCheck passenger stuffed itin their shoeand their explanation upon being caught that they didn't know it was there. 8. Gun in boot stuffed in LEGO box Passengers have started to get created in trying to sneak guns through security. At Newark Liberty International Airport, TSA agents found gun parts stuff in a red combat boot, which was stuffed in a Marvel Avengers LEGO set box in their carry-on. Related: TSA Agents Charged With Running Theft Ring at Major Airport 7. Knife inside laptop One traveler at Seattle Tacoma International Airport tried to sneak through a knife hidden inside a laptop, a notoriously heavily screened object when passing through security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6. Vape pen stuffed in toothpaste Vapes are allowed in carry-on bags, but TSA agents at Chicago Midway International Airport made quite the discovery when they found one inside a travel-sized toothpaste. 5. Foil-wrapped gun in teapot Another gun enthusiast, this time at Portland International Airport, tried to travel with gun parts and ammunition wrapped in tin foil and stored in a teapot. 4. Meth in crutches At New Hampshire's Portsmouth International Airport, scanners found a package of methamphetamine wrapped in electric tape stored inside a crutch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3. Live snakes in pants The movie Snakes on a Plane almost became a reality when a flyer at Miami International Airport was found trying to sneak three Palmetto corn snakes in a small bag in his pants. 2. Replica walkie-talkie explosive Agents at El Paso International Airport confiscated a replica improvised explosive device (IED) made out of a walkie-talkie. 1. Gun in baby stroller Items like baby strollers are often subject to special screening, so one must wonder why a flyer at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston tried to sneak a gun through security in the pocket of their stroller. The world's most advanced contract chipmaker has severed its ties with a Singapore-based company after a client review exposed a potential breach of US export controls, according to people familiar with the matter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) ended its relationship with PowerAIR, a low-key Singaporean firm, following a client check triggered by the discovery of a TSMC chip in a Huawei Technologies artificial intelligence (AI) processor, three sources said. PowerAIR is the second known company singled out for possible involvement in the Huawei case. TSMC last year suspended shipments to mainland China-based chip designing firm Sophgo after a chip it ordered from the Taiwanese chipmaker was found to match one on Huawei's Ascend 910B multi-chip system, according to a Reuters report in October citing unnamed sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Chinese tech champion Huawei has been under a blanket ban by the US since 2020 that effectively cuts off its access to semiconductor foundries worldwide. TSMC previously said it had not supplied products to Huawei since 2020. Huawei said it had not produced any chips via TSMC after the US implemented relevant sanctions. Sophgo and its affiliate, bitcoin mining equipment supplier Bitmain, have denied any business relationships with Huawei. TSMC has tightened its scrutiny of clients after one of its chips was found in a Huawei processor. Photo: Reuters alt=TSMC has tightened its scrutiny of clients after one of its chips was found in a Huawei processor. Photo: Reuters> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Post is unable to reach PowerAIR, which does not have an official website, nor any publicly-listed phone number or email address. TSMC and Huawei did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. According to public business registry information, PowerAIR was incorporated in Singapore in September 2023 as a private company. Its registered office is at One Raffles Place, a downtown skyscraper. The company is listed as operational, with engineering design and consultancy being its principal activities. Sophgo, which designs AI processors and chips based on the open-source architecture RISC-V, is an active player in China's tech ecosystem, which is striving to reduce dependence on foreign semiconductors and computer operating systems. The company occupies a large floor space at Beijing's Tongming Lake IT City, a hi-tech industrial estate in the Yizhuang economic zone in the southern part of the capital. Its neighbours include Loongson Technology, a US-blacklisted Chinese chip designer whose mission has been to reduce the country's reliance on US chip firms Intel and AMD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSMC's tightened scrutiny of mainland Chinese clients has also affected several AI chip design start-ups, including Enflame, MetaX and Iluvatar Corex, according to one of the sources. A map of Beijing's Tongming Lake IT City showing its tenants, including Sophgo and Loongson. Photo: Che Pan alt=A map of Beijing's Tongming Lake IT City showing its tenants, including Sophgo and Loongson. Photo: Che Pan> The US Commerce Department late last year ordered TSMC to suspend shipments of advanced chips to Chinese customers whose designs require 7-nanometer or more advanced processes for production, according to a Reuters report in November. The US is expected to issue new restrictions targeting China's sourcing of advanced AI chips from third-party countries before President Joe Biden leaves the White House, formalising the 7-nm curbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the final rules might leave some wiggle room in certain proposed measures, such as a country cap to limit shipments of graphics processors to specific locations, said another person who was briefed on the matter. That person said the US government was wary about explicitly stating a country cap in the published rules, due to diplomatic concerns. Despite strained relations between Washington and Beijing, TSMC continues to count mainland China as its largest source of revenue after the US. The company was expected to grow its sales to mainland customers by 26 per cent in 2024 to US$10.4 billion, accounting for 12 per cent of its total revenue of US$88.3 billion, according to the latest survey by Visible Alpha, an investment research unit of S&P Global Market Intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. A retired firefighter from Tucson is going to Southern California to aid in wildfire relief efforts, the Arizona chapter of the American Red Cross said Thursday. Randy Ogden is a retired Tucson firefighter, but his role in California will be purely informational as a public affairs volunteer. His duties will center around ensuring people know about resources and making sure anyone asking questions gets answers, according to Georgi Donchetz, the regional communications manager for the American Red Cross of Arizona and New Mexico. Ogden is expected to leave for and arrive in California on Friday, Donchetz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ogden most likely won't be the only Arizonan helping out in California. American Red Cross volunteers from Arizona have been placed on standby for deployment as the deadly wildfires continue to grow exponentially. 3 ways Arizonans can help Even hundreds of miles away, Arizonans can still aid in relief efforts. Donchetz said to remember the big three money, time and blood, with the last being a vitally important contribution to Red Cross relief efforts. "Right now, we are seeing thousands of blood donations go uncollected," Donchetz said. "First, from the snowstorms in the Midwest, we had to cancel blood drives, and now, we're canceling blood drives in LA." Severe winter weather caused over 200 blood drive cancellations, resulting in 5,500 donations to go uncollected. Cancellations in California will only compound the insufficient blood supply, Donchetz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross also encouraged people to volunteer their time and effort, not just in California but anywhere. "We're having these billion-dollar disasters every 18 days that require a massive amount of volunteer effort from the Red Cross," Donchetz said. "You might not register and go to California immediately, but we need people for the next disaster." You can go to redcross.com for more on how to donate time, money and blood. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: American Red Cross volunteer from Tucson helping with California fires (Bloomberg) -- Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will extend the countrys Gaza war-related boycott of the World Economic Forum in Davos for another year, with top economic officials set to skip this months gathering. Most Read from Bloomberg Neither Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek nor central bank Governor Fatih Karahan are expected to attend the event in the absence of a change in Erdogans stance, according to Turkish officials, who requested anonymity as the plans arent public. The summit is scheduled to start on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Turkish Presidency and Finance Ministry declined to comment. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, the events in Syria as well as the overall geopolitical and security picture in the region will be high on the agenda in Davos, a spokesman for the WEF said in an emailed response to questions, without mentioning Turkey. In this context, we expect to welcome number of key Arab government leaders. Finance ministers and central bank governors typically attend the event in Switzerland to attract investment and explain their policies to foreign bankers. Simsek and Karahan travel regularly to places such as New York and London for that reason. Last year Erdogan, a critic of Israels war against Hamas, told his government to skip the forum after WEF founder Klaus Schwab condemned the Palestinian militant groups October 2023 attack on southern Israel as terrorism. During the raid, Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about another 250 hostage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the US, European Union and others designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, Turkey does not. It has halted trade with Israel and prevented Israeli President Isaac Herzog from using its airspace. The war in Gaza has led to about 46,000 deaths, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and militants. Herzog is expected to travel to Davos, the WEF said, alongside the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The heightened tensions between Turkey and Israel were further highlighted by a report this week from a panel appointed by Israels government. Looking at Israels long-term defense needs, it warned of threats from Turkey, especially as Ankara increases its influence in Syria which borders Israel after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. --With assistance from Patrick Sykes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with WEF comment in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Brooklyn real estate magnate Erden Arkan pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to funneling thousands of dollars to Mayor Adams 2021 campaign in coordination with a Turkish government official, setting him up to potentially testify against the mayor. Speaking with a hoarse voice from the lower Manhattan courtroom, Arkan, 76, admitted to orchestrating straw donations to Adams mayoral campaign through workers of the construction company he partly owns, KSK, and then reimbursing them. Arkan indicated he planned to enter the plea last month the first resulting from the ongoing probe of illicit foreign donations to the mayors campaign. When I wrote the checks, I knew the Eric Adams campaign would use the checks to apply for public matching funds, Arkan said, referring to the system under which city political candidates get donations from local residents matched eightfold with city dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Cohen told the court that if Arkan had gone to trial, prosecutors would have provided testimony, photographs, video electronic records, and other evidence to establish he illegally colluded with a Turkish consular official to funnel money to the mayoral campaign that Adams personally solicited at a restaurant in April 2021. Manhattan Federal Court Judge Dale Ho accepted Arkans plea and set his sentencing for Aug. 15. While it wasnt stated that the plea deal requires Arkan to testify against the mayor, his cooperation in the feds ongoing corruption investigation is all but certain, with Cohen asking his sentencing to be scheduled after Adams April trial. It is common for federal defendants who take plea deals to agree to testify or cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for leniency at sentencing. The plea comes as prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office recently said in a filing theyd uncovered additional criminal conduct the mayor and others engaged in and may bring more charges. Were Arkan to testify, though, Adams defense team believes he would have nothing incriminating to say about the mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know from the governments own interviews that Mr. Arkan repeatedly said that Mayor Adams had no knowledge of his actions. Adams attorney, Alex Spiro, said in a statement. Mr. Arkans conduct will have no bearing on the mayors case whatsoever. Adams is accused of soliciting and accepting illegal straw donations from Arkan and others, as well as luxury travel upgrades and perks in exchange for doling out political favors for the Turkish government. He is expected to head to trial on the five counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud in April just two months before hes up for reelection in the June primary. He has pleaded not guilty. Arkan appears in Adams indictment as Businessman #5. Per the indictment, he hosted a fundraiser for the soon-to-be mayor at his firms Brooklyn office in May 2021, a month after the dinner with the mayor mentioned in court Friday. On the day of the fundraiser, records show that Arkan and 10 employees of the firm donated nearly $14,000 cumulatively to Adams campaign, for which Arkan reimbursed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records show that after submitting those contributions for public matching funds, the Adams campaign raked in an additional $22,000 in taxpayers cash off of them. All of those donations were illegal straw contributions funded by Arkan and made at the behest of Reyhan Ozgur, Turkeys consul general in New York, according to Adams indictment. Ozgur and Arkan allegedly agreed to make the illegal donations during the dinner with Adams in April 2021. We are supporting you, Ozgur told Adams at that dinner, according to court papers. As part of his plea, Arkan agreed to making $18,000 restitution payments and not to contest a sentence below six months. He also faces the risk of being denaturalized, deported, and denied entry to the U.S. in the future, Ho warned him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offense Arkan pleaded to could result in a maximum of up to five years in federal prison, three years supervised release and $250,000 in fines. Arkans attorney, Jonathan Rosen, had no comment after Fridays plea hearing. Wildfires raging through the Los Angeles area have destroyed or damaged more than 9,000 structures so far. Fortune spoke with two homeowners who lost everything. Robyn Migels son rushed into her room in the early hours of Wednesday morning to tell her they had to get out. The Eaton fire had reached their home in Altadena. She grabbed their two cats, and her daughter took their two German shepherds. She grabbed her car keys and some paintings that belonged to her mother-in-law before she passed. But she still thinks about all the things she didnt take in those 10 minutes of her life. We couldnt get it all, she told me. When we were going out to bring things to the car, the wind was blowing so hardthings were flying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, Ivan, and son followed. Half an oak tree collapsed in their yard, pulling power lines with it. It almost hit her husband. Her daughter inhaled a lot of smoke. All Migel could see was smoke as they left. They drove to their favorite Thai restaurant. We just sat in the parking lot and cried because we didnt know where to go, Migel said. Her husband went back later that day. The home they lived in for two decades was gone, and the trees that surrounded it burned down. With her home reduced to ashes, not only was her past and present obliterated, Migels plans for a future with her family were too. I just want to go home, she said. For 20 years, we built this home, and we were going to leave it to our kids, and we were going to build this ADU in the back and my daughter was going to move in with her boyfriend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eaton fire is only one of five fires that are tearing through Los Angeles for the fourth straight day; 10 people are dead, more than 9,000 structures are damaged or destroyed, and thousands are being evacuated. It could cost $150 billion in damages and economic loss. The Eaton fire is inlandand across the city, the Palisades fire is along the coast of California. Both are largely uncontained. Its a nightmare, Westside Estate Agency cofounder Stephen Shapiro told me, and its only the beginning. Itll take years to rebuild, he said. Migels friend has an apartment in Silverlake that theyre staying at. Its a tight squeeze with four people (she and her husband are in their early 60s and their children are in their 20s) and four pets. It isnt only homes that were lost to the fire. Migel said a McDonalds, schools, and her sons favorite bar burned down. It makes her think whether they should rebuild. They have Farmers Insurance but dont know how much will be covered for a rebuild; at the time of our call, they hadnt been able to reach someone from the company yet. Migel said they hadnt refinanced during the pandemic when mortgage rates were low for fear that theyd lose their fire insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She recalled a meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss her finances. She walked away from it feeling accomplished: she and her husband provided for their children, they could retire at some point and be okay. Twelve hours later, it was all gone, all that security that we had built, it was all gone, Migel said. We didnt do anything wrong. Their three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was magic, she said. Its the only home her kids knew. Her sons band used to rehearse there, they had parties, Girl Scout meetingseveryone was welcome at planet Migel. She hadnt seen it yet, at the time of our call, but would soon step in the dirt and maybe get some closure. Her relative started a GoFundMe for her family here. In the Palisades CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: A view of destruction as residents try to escape the site in Pacific Palisades, California, Los Angeles, United States on January 8, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced 30,000 people to evacuate, with officials warning that worsening winds could further escalate the blaze. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) Michael Taitelman and his family moved into their home in Pacific Palisades in the summer, more than a decade ago. His children loved it. Hopefully itll return to what it once was. He works in Century City, so on Tuesday, he looked out his window and saw smoke. He called his wife, Lisa, who was walking their dog, and about 20 minutes later, she told him he should come home. Their neighbors were all standing outside talking about the crazy winds. It was very dry, too. Taitelman said theyd been warning about fires, but he thought their home was far enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when the warnings to evacuate started to come, they were casual about it. We packed our car, but very slowly, and we really didnt even think we were going to be gone long, he told me. They took clothes, some jewelry, photos, passports, and they only packed one of their two cars. The smoke started to creep toward them and they still stuck around for a bit longer before leaving. He and his wife, who are in their late 50s, and their dog went to his office. Then things got worse. Taitelman thought about going back, but it was too late. They stayed at a hotel, but didnt sleep much. They could see on the maps that the fire was burning straight through their area. The next morning he heard about the devastation. I walked up to my house and it was gone, he said. His neighbors house was still standing, but that was pretty much it. Every single house is gone, every single house. Power lines were down everywhere, his house was still smoldering, the rubble was hot, and homes were engulfed in flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taitelman said hes a person who looks ahead and he still feels fortunate; hes already called a builder to rebuild his once six-bedroom home, and it was insured. During our phone call, he was dropping off his wife to look at rentals. Hopefully we can get it built in a couple of years, but the community is not going to come back, he said. (A couple of days later, he told Fortune he didnt mean it when he said the community wouldnt come back. He thinks it will be rebuilt and people will return.) With the exception of billionaire developer and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Carusos mall, the commercial district is all gone: the library, grocery stores, retail. Its literally like an apocalypse, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My kids are upset, they grew up in that house, he said. Were all upset, and we didnt take enough with usit was unimaginable. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) Two out of five gang members received their sentences after a woman was murdered in York County in 2023 after being abducted in Richmond. Previous Coverage: 5 gang members plead guilty after womans 2023 abduction, murder On Tuesday, Donnisha Goodman, of Portsmouth, and Jamica Langley were sentenced for their part in Tyosha Mitchells murder. Mitchell was found dead on Old Williamsburg Road in York County on May 6, 2023. Langley and Goodman were just two out of five members of the Black P. Stone Nation gang who pleaded guilty in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodman pleaded guilty to using a firearm causing death while Langley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. According to court documents, Goodman received a sentence of 35 years. Langley was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which is below the recommended sentencing guidelines of 324 months to 405 months. Upon release, both Goodman and Langley are required to have five years of supervised probation. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Analysis Declining birth rates will continue to be a major concern across developed nations, no less China and Macau. In an era where we are told that industrialised nations are using too many resources, and climate change will likely restrict the availability of arable land sufficient to feed growing populations, one would expect fewer people on the planet to be welcome news, but this is a trend that is of clear concern for policymakers. The new Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai when on the election campaign trail even promised measures to support couples having more children, mainly to ease related financial burdens. Headlines of the last couple of years say that Macaus birth rate is super low. The numbers in 2022 at 6.4 per thousand were already the lowest in 23 years that is 4,344 live births that year. The number of babies born in Macau in 2023 dropped further by 3.2% to 3,712, being 5.5 per thousand. Early indications from Macaus two hospitals gives us an even lower figure of 3,603 live births in 2024. As Reuters reported a year ago, 2022 was the first year in six decades that Chinas population moved into decline, a trend which continued into 2023. The birth rate in China stood at 6.7 per thousand in 2022, dropping to 6.6 per thousand in 2023. These figures compare with other developed nations that have been struggling to deal with this problem for a number of years: in 2022 Japan sat at 6.3 per thousand, South Korea at 4.9 where pro-natalist policies do not appear to be working. Commentary on low birth rates suggest severe consequences for the economic future. One concern of a lower birth rate is there are fewer young, working-age people to generate income and provide ongoing social care to support the elderly and infirm. Fewer babies also slows economic growth, which also deters having more babies. This vicious cycle towards a lack-lustre economy is of further concern because of economic wisdom that national income correlates with every indicator of human flourishing (Stephen Pinker), and few policymakers would risk testing to see if the relationship was causative. In general, birth rates decline in developed countries, not due to mortality rates as seen in developing countries but due to personal choice and decreasing fertility rates as couples defer having children, or other factors such as obesity and urban lifestyles leading to subfertility. Birth control availability and the deterrent of high financial costs of housing and educating children both mean that the timing and choice to have children is almost entirely driven by individuals. Higher levels of education for woman and changing norms in business and leadership roles have given woman access to careers outside the home. Having children now comes at a higher cost: to wealth, freedom, career progression and female status. The benefits from working and having careers, along with the disadvantages of having children has resulted in a larger proportion of couples deciding not to start their families until later, if at all. In addition to the general trends, there are a number of causes specific to the Chinese context: the end of the lockdowns late 2022 saw a spike in Covid deaths concentrated in 2023. The One Child policy not only reduced the population size but also changed family norms and values towards smaller family sizes. The inevitable outcome of this is there are lower levels of informal childcare and maternal support available from these smaller family units no uncles or aunts, cousins or siblings to help with the new child. The economic downturn and difficulty finding work, together with the cost of childcare has meant parenting has become a high-stakes endeavour that often requires the mother to sacrifice career opportunities. The drop in marriages also removes a pre-requisite. Career success and financial independence has become a valid alternative for many urban woman. For Macau, as reported in MDT last week, the Chinese Youth Advancement Association survey found that only 38% of the young people in Macau aged 18-35 surveyed said they were willing to have children. The disinterest stemmed mainly from economic factors and other social pressures. It was reported that more comprehensive childcare support, maternity leave and government financial support might encourage more couples to have children Other solutions recommended for Macau were to improve the culture of marriage and having children. Last week the Womens General Association called for an integrated and multi-pronged approach by the Macau government covering marriage, childcare, housing and support for businesses to provide family-friendly benefits. These ideas for Macau follow conventional solutions to declining birth rates which include financial incentives and bonuses, government housing and childcare assistance, family planning and fertility education, Assisted Reproductive Technologies, parental leave, and support for employers to provide family-friendly workplaces. The European Human Rights Act notes human reproduction needs to take into account societal, economic, population level, immigration, employment education, health, wealth and family life in complex interactions (note figure). Chinese mainland solutions also include Government incentives such as cash bonuses, housing subsidies, tax deductions, longer maternity leave and free fertility treatments, with the addition of social pressure for women to return to family-making for the good of society and national development. After 3.5 decades of being told having children was a burden on society, it takes a profound shift to move social norms and values. The current regional solutions aim to incentivise a change in behaviour while still maintaining focus on continued economic growth and sustaining an aging population. So, while money, power and status continue as individual aspirations, someone is asked to sacrifice something for the good of society. The spectre of responsibility for raising children in an urban nuclear family looms even larger, especially when personal family support systems are minimal due to small family sizes or urban migration. There are alternative solutions, some used elsewhere and others unthinkable: in Macau it may be worthwhile legislating protection for part-time career options and job-sharing with broader acceptance of working from home. The use of terms such as parental leave and legislating access for both parents both increases the normative acceptance of businesses supporting fathers as active carers, and eases the return to work by mothers. Immigration has been used in countries like the U.K. and Australia to delay the shrinking population pain. Tyrannical options would include removing the right to abortion and access to contraception. Policymakers seem to view the problem of reproductive behaviour as caused by a set of lifestyle choices in the pursuit of individual wealth and freedom as end goals. This is why economic incentives are the leading mechanisms promoted to communities to reduce the sacrifices couples must make to have children. A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B takes a different view of the causes from which an alternative set of solutions can be proposed. The study speaks of the Demographic Economic Paradox that notes that in successful market economies, rising wealth and education together with access to contraception deters people from having large families because in that context women are driven by status rather than reproduction: reproductive behaviour is shaped by a womans access to resources and economic opportunity. If status is the main driver of reproductive activity in a society, and if wealth, career progression and material success offer status, then activities that lead to those outcomes will be the choice of individuals in developed nations. It makes sense that highly educated women who have access to good jobs will pursue career opportunities, especially in an environment where time, money, and status would be sacrificed if one elects to use ones womb in the service of the economic health of the nation without recompense. Of course, most of us willingly accept tradeoffs for the benefits of hearth and home, but is moulding everyone to conform to such normative behaviours effective? Digging deeper, the pursuit of wealth and status are, however, means to further ends: money allows us to acquire what we need for well-being (housing, health, etc), work gives us purpose, and status gives us social respect. Instead of having to choose between one or the other with government support and forms of cost sharing to ease the pain of sacrifice, the pursuit of well-being, purpose and social respect may be gained via routes that include the family. In public life we cue what we value: Should children be hidden from the public eye, spend long days at childcare, or looked after by domestic help while parents chase the golden orbs of freedom and financial prosperity, few benefit from family life but the economy. If family life is valued publicly and a visible part of our everyday lives, with labour laws specifically created to elevate the status of families, and even a toddler tolerant community, then we might have a fighting chance. Messaging is also critical: When leadership encourages a population to contribute to the conventional economy, to increase economic output and nudge financial success indicators forever upwards, we note a deterioration in family values as individuals strive for the material goods that prove to those around them that they are valued members of an economic network. Afterall, this is where we are told status is to be found; through the ownership of homes, nice cars, material abundance and the ability to travel and enjoy quality leisure activities. Oxford University anthropologist, Alexandra Alvergne, suggests that status and family size depends much on context. Shifting values to create a context in which family size confers status may drive reproductive behaviours to rewrite the theory of the Demographic Economic Paradox. This, however, is only likely to occur when society as a whole encourages greater role equity so that all parents have the option to work and rely on spousal, family, employer, government and social support to undertake both parental and work roles with pride and without prejudice. The current option attempts to cajole many woman of child-bearing age to sacrifice other roles they personally deem meaningful. Such a policy undertaking has not been successful elsewhere. Postscript: One option less readily voiced is to prepare economies to adapt to shrinking populations, and to become agnostic about economic growth and even the causal link between an increasing birth-rate and economic sustainability. By Leanda Lee, MDT Delaware County's district attorney said two people were indicted on multiple drug charges, and one of them faces felony weapons charges, as well.. According to a news release from Shawn J. Smith, a grand jury returned a twelve-count indictment against Nicholas J. Cartelli, 47, of Otego, and Taylor J. Church, 38, of Bainbridge on Jan. 7. Count One accuses Cartelli and Church of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class B felony. It is alleged they possessed heroin, with intent to sell it, in the town of Sidney on Jan. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Count Two accuses the pair of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class C felony. It is alleged that they possessed more than 1/8 ounce of heroin in the town of Sidney the same day. Count Three accuses the pair of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged that they possessed buprenorphine, also in Sidney on the same day. Count Four accuses Cartelli of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. It is alleged he possessed more than 1/8 ounce of methamphetamine the same day in Sidney, and that he intended to sell it. Count Five of the Indictment accuses both Cartelli and Church of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony. It is alleged that they possessed more than 500 milligrams of cocaine in Sidney on the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counts Six and Seven accuse both Cartelli and Church of second-degree using drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. It is alleged that they were found in possession of plastic baggies and other material suitable for packaging individual quantifies of illegal narcotics. It is also alleged that they possessed scales with the intention of using them for unlawfully packaging and dispensing a narcotic drug in Sidney the same day. Count Eight accuses Cartelli of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a Class D felony. It is alleged that he was operating a motor vehicle with a forged inspection sticker in Sidney the same day. No date or location was listed for the following indictments. Count Nine accuses Cartelli of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony. It is alleged that he possessed a loaded .25 caliber handgun, with the intention of using it unlawfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Count Ten accuses Cartelli of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C violent felony. It is alleged that he possessed a loaded semi-automatic rifle that had been sawed off, with the intention of using it against another person. Counts Eleven and Twelve accuse Cartelli of additional felonies related to possession of those same firearms. Information on arraignment and bail status was not provided. Cal Fire will receive two more CL-415 Super Scoopers from a Canadian non-profit to replace the one damaged Thursday by a drone strike as it was fighting the Palisades Fire, The War Zone has learned. This will take the total force of Super Scoopers currently available to Cal Fire from one to three. In addition, it is hoped that the aircraft, which has a hole in its left wing, will be back on line by early next week. The appearance of the drone in the firefighting area, despite restrictions, temporarily grounded all firefighting aircraft working that fire, as The War Zone was the first to report. The new planes will be sent in the middle of next week if the weather is good for flying, Stephane Caron, spokesman for the Quebec-based SOPFEU non-profit, told us on Friday. At issue, he said, are the winds and snow often present in Canada during this time of year that can often keep aircraft grounded. The organization has eight CL-415s and six older CL-215s, Caron explained. This CL-415 (#243) is one of 2 from Quebec is currently in LA assisting with fighting the fires right now. my photo. Now grounded after a mid-air collision with an illegally operated drone over the Pacific Palisades fire. pic.twitter.com/EcP4jZec2j Darrell A. Larose (@DarrellLarose) January 10, 2025 As for the damaged Super Scooper, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters on Friday that the hopes the aircraft will be flying again on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That Super Scooper will be prioritized for repair. 24/7, he said. NOW LA County Fire Chief: "We did have a drone incursion yesterday at the Palisades fire This small drone hit the wing of our CL-415 super scooper aircraft that we currently have on contract from the province of Quebec." pic.twitter.com/RcNQ03J5sw Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) January 10, 2025 Maintenance personnel from SOPFEU and De Havilland Aircraft, which built the plane, are on scene evaluating the damage and how it can be repaired, Caron said. The goal is to get the plane back [to California] by next week, Caron explained. That is what we hope for. It is what they told us they are able to do. But there are no guarantees. It is an airplane and needs to be fixed. Specific questions about the incident and aircraft condition should be directed to the operator, however, De Havilland Canada is providing support as needed and has prioritized requests to the highest level to provide assistance and or parts to enable the operator to get the aircraft back in operation as soon as possible, the company told us in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As The War Zone was the first to report, the damaged Super Scooper was one of two that Cal Fire currently leases. They are unique and highly valued assets with the ability to drop up to 1,600 gallons of water at a time and do so repeatedly on a single flight by scooping up more water from the ocean and lakes. Other fixed-wing firefighting aircraft of similar size and larger must land at an airport and be refilled, which takes a lot of time. CL-415 SuperScoopers filling up seawater off the coast of Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/HnZb3aPGZP das Framke (@Futureview) January 10, 2025 #Canadian CL-415 Super Scoopers at work in Los Angeles, helping battle the horrendous #LosAngelesWildfires The Quebec-based aircraft can scoop up 1600 gallons of water in 12 seconds. pic.twitter.com/SXcafJonL6 Binks (@BinkyBaxter1) January 9, 2025 The fact that SOPFEU is providing two more Super Scoopers and hopes to have the damaged one back on line next week gives firefighters greater options, Chris Thomas, a spokesman assigned to the Palisades Fire, told us. We have six other fires and they could use them elsewhere, Thomas said, adding that the two Super Scoopers currently under lease are assigned specifically to fighting the Palisades Fire. Despite the plane being out of service, Cal Fire has 17 additional fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft that are working to fill the gap, Thomas pointed out. However, the fire grew by more than 10% overnight, to nearly 20,000 acres, and is only 8% contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We fear that the death toll might rise, Thomas cautioned. Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a building at Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) Apu Gomes To help prevent a future drone strike, the FBI is bringing in anti-drone equipment, Thomas told us. He was not informed on what kind. We reached out to the FBI for additional information. Thomas added that while the LA County Fire Department has its own anti-drone equipment that it deploys for events and other situations, it will not be used for this fire because of the FBI equipment. Thomas could not say if the countys anti-drone equipment had previously been deployed for this fire or, if it wasnt, why not. Usually this type of equipment provides awareness of drones in the sky, but has no means to take them down. You can read all about the issues with doing the latter in domestic airspace here. The drone incident has sparked a huge investigation being led by the FBI, Thomas explained. They are taking this extremely seriously. Our federal partners behind the scenes are going to be implementing procedures to be able to follow drones in our two large fire areas, Marrone told reporters on Friday. And they will be able to identify who the operator of that drone is. The most important thing to know is that if you fly a drone at one of these brush fires, all aerial operations will be shut down. And we certainly dont want to have that happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drone went into the firefighting area despite an FAA-ordered Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that runs through Jan. 24. FAA Its a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands, the FAA said in a statement. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are in place. The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses. The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the TFRs. The pilots of the Super Scooper did not know they had been hit by a drone until landing at Van Nuys Airport, Marrone noted. It is unknown exactly what time this small drone hit the wing of our CL 415 Super Scooper aircraft that we currently have on contract from the Province of Quebec, Marrone told reporters on Friday. After they landed, the maintenance staff noticed that there was a fist-sized hole in the leading edge of the wing inboard of the landing light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the temporary loss of the Super Scooper has placed an extra burden on firefighters, the fact that the fleet will now double is at least one silver lining in a horrific situation. Please, whatever you do, keep your drones far away from active firefighting operations. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Police are investigating a sighting of another two lynx in the Scottish Highlands. Police Scotland received reports the animals had been seen in the Dell of Killiehuntly area near Kingussie at about 7.10am on Friday. Officers said they believe the sighting is connected to the release of two other lynx seen in the same area on Wednesday, which were safely captured on Thursday. Members of the public have been warned not to approach the animals. Police said officers were working with specially-trained personnel to capture them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Field, the chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said humane traps were being set in the area. Two more lynx have been sighted in the same Cairngorms location where we successfully captured a pair yesterday, he said. Further traps are being baited in the area and the hope is that these animals will be safely and humanely captured before being taken to Edinburgh Zoo to join the two captured yesterday in quarantine. A pair of lynx, pictured, were spotted in a wooded area of the region on Wednesday before being captured the next day - Royal Zoological Society of Scotland/SWNS Police Scotland and Cairngorm National Park Authority rangers are also in attendance. Mr Field added: The public are being asked to steer clear of the area as a build-up of people could disturb the animals and hamper efforts on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RZSS condemns the illegal release of wild animals in the strongest possible terms and urges anyone with information on the release of these lynx to contact Police Scotland. Police said inquiries were continuing to establish the full circumstances of the sighting and urged anyone with information to get in contact. Lynx paw prints were found in the snow near Kingussie, Scotland - Peter Jolly/Northpix The suspected illegal release of the animals into the wild has been condemned by wildlife groups. Speaking after the capture of the two lynx on Thursday, Mr Field said: It was a highly irresponsible act and it is very unlikely they would have survived in the wild due to a lack of adequate preparation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their abandonment was reckless to the animals, public, the community and nature. Lynx to Scotland, a project working to return the species to the Highlands, also condemned the illegal release. Peter Cairns, the founder and executive director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, one of the three charities involved in the scheme, said it was excellent news that the first two lynx had been captured quickly and were safe. The capture of the first pair of lynx on Thursday was caught on camera by the RZSS - RZSS/UNPIXS He added: The Lynx to Scotland project is working to secure the return of Lynx to the Scottish Highlands, but irresponsible and illegal releases such as this are simply counter-productive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lynx captured on Thursday were taken by RZSS staff to quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms. The animals are due to be transferred to Edinburgh Zoo, where their health and welfare will be assessed. David Barclay, the manager of the RZSS Saving Wildcats team, said that in the long term, the creatures may be rehomed in Highland Wildlife Park, which is already home to two northern lynx named Switch and Neon. Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance said: There may well be a case for reintroducing lynx to Scotland but that must be done properly. It is illegal and utterly arrogant to release predators into the countryside without proper consideration of their impact on domestic animals and vulnerable wildlife, without the consent of the local community and without any process to monitor their impact. Those responsible should be prosecuted and punished in exactly the same way as any other wildlife criminal. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TYLER, Texas (KETK) A nonprofit has received homes from the City of Tyler to provide temporary shelter for East Texans. On Wednesday, the Tyler City Council approved the transfer of properties from the City of Tyler to the East Texas Cares Resources Center. The nonprofit will operate the houses as temporary shelters for East Texans as a way to help address the increasing homeless population. Photo courtesy of the City of Tyler The houses at 512 W. 32nd St. and 516 W 32nd St. will be used by the nonprofit as non-congregate shelters (NCS), which will provide units and rooms as temporary shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those eligible to use the shelter must meet the qualifying population criteria set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the American Rescue Plan, known as the HOME-ARP program. The non-profit will also provide meals through their food pantry program, offer a case manager who will help residents apply for assistance, assist residents in pursuing educational opportunities and job training programs. For more information, contact the East Texas Cares Resources Center at 903-592-0757. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. (Stock photo by John Moore/Getty Images) The U.S. district judge in Cleveland, Ohio handling a galaxy of claims stemming from the prescription opioid epidemic on Monday reiterated his belief that powerful drug middlemen are trying to stall cases against them. One maneuver, he said, borders on frivolous. Thats not something lawyers want to hear from a judge in a case where $41 billion in settlements have already been awarded and billions of their clients dollars are potentially at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a half-million Americans have died from opioid overdoses since 1999, and the lives of countless more have been shattered. Overprescription of opioids was a major cause of the epidemic. Wealthy interests made billions, while many ignored evidence that what they were doing was devastating Americans, their families, and their communities. Since 2017, U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster has been working to consolidate more than 2,000 claims in his Cleveland federal court. They were filed by towns, cities, counties, and Indian tribes against those behind the the flood of opioid pills: doctors who prescribed them, companies that made them, wholesalers that distributed them, pharmacies that sold them, and the pharmacy middlemen that facilitated the transactions. So far, cases have been consolidated and settlements reached with wholesalers such as Dublin-based Cardinal Health. Manufacturers such as Teva, Allergan, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals also have settled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart have agreed to pay a combined $13.1 billion to settle claims that their negligent conduct fueled the scourge. But when it comes to middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, lawyers are still in the process of deciding which of about 80 cases against them should be considered first. So any settlements might be far off. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The three largest middlemen CVS Caremark, OptumRx, and Express Scripts work on behalf of insurers to facilitate drug transactions. They negotiate rebates from drugmakers, they create pharmacy networks, and they determine reimbursements and reconcile claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also known as PBMs, the big-three benefit managers control access to roughly 80% of insured Americans. They hold enormous sway over drugmakers because they decide on behalf of insurers which drugs to cover and which of those to give the most preferential treatment, often by not requiring a copayment. To get preferential treatment and thus sell more of their products drugmakers pay PBMs huge rebates and fees. The system is far from transparent, but the PBMs pass a portion of that money along to their clients and keep a portion themselves. Federal regulators have accused the big PBMs, each part of a massive health conglomerate, of using the system to push up rebates, list prices of drugs and out-of-pocket costs for patients, some of whom are among the least able to afford them. Two recent journalistic investigations showed how opioid makers used the system of rebates and fees to get PBMs to do their bidding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, Barrons reported that between 2016 and 2017 oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma paid $400 million in rebates and fees to the big three PBMs. The story detailed a consultants report saying that Purdue officials knew that big rebates were key to keep the PBMs covering their products. In 2020, Purdue pleaded guilty to several charges, including misleading the DEA as it marketed opioids to entities it had reason to believe were selling them illicitly, and to paying doctors kickbacks to write more opioid prescriptions. The company also agreed to pay $8.6 billion. In December, the New York Times reported that the PBMs avoided or delayed putting limits on their opioid coverage in exchange for greater rebates and fees from the companies that made them. The foot dragging continued even as some executives pleaded for more responsible conduct, the story said. As litigation against the PBMs proceeds in Cleveland, the companies are trying to avoid turning over personnel records of company officials before they sit for depositions in the case. The PBMs have asked Judge Polster to delay an order to turn over the records pending an emergency appeal to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an amended order filed on Monday, the judge wasnt having any of it. He noted that personnel records had been turned over in earlier parts of the multidistrict litigation, and that the PBM defendants were free to request the personnel records of anyone they planned to depose. Polster also wrote that this Court has long stated that the PBMs could redact items such as addresses, phone numbers and medical history that the PBMs said they wanted to protect. Then he accused them of blatantly trying to stall. Ultimately, the PBMs request for emergency intervention by the Sixth Circuit regarding an everyday discovery matter borders on frivolous, he wrote. The Court believes the PBMs are wasting this Courts and the Sixth Circuits time with a mandamus petition regarding the discoverability of current and former employees work background regarding compensation, discipline and commendations, job history, and so on. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The U.S. Navy has long eyed a return to a cavernous former Royal Norwegian Navy base that could serve as a convenient support point for submarine operations in the Arctic. But if and when American boats will ever be able to return to the Cold War-era Olavsvern complex remains to be seen. Olavsvern appeared poised to return to operations in late 2020, when Norways state broadcaster NRK first reported that the complex could again be used by American submarines, and that U.S. military officials had made multiple visits to the site in anticipation of a new lease deal. But U.S. and Norwegian officials told TWZ this week that, to date, such plans have not materialized. While officials have not provided the precise reasons for the stall, its been years since an American submarine has used the facility, with U.S. 6th Fleet telling TWZ that a sub last visited the installation in 2009. The Olavsvern complex is nestled in a Norwegian fjord. (WilNor Governmental Services) The complex would appear to offer several advantages for U.S. forces headed into the Arctic. Nestled in the nations fjords near the Norwegian Sea, and built under a mountain, the once-secretive Olavsvern base would provide Americas silent service with a prime port location for facilitating patrols in the nearby Barents Sea and Arctic region, waters heavily trafficked by the Russian fleet. Such hardened facilities are complicated and very expensive to build, and portions of the complex sit beneath nearly 900 feet of rock. Norways Olavsvern military complex. (Google Maps) Wed like to go back there, a U.S. defense official told TWZ on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. The location speaks for itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Submarine caves are rarer than they once were during the Cold War, but some are still in use around the globe today, including much more modern and elaborate facilities. China has a massive submarine cave that is capable of housing nuclear submarines at the Yulin Naval Base on the South China Seas Hainan Island, for instance. Go here to read more about what we know of the complex. How long it might actually take for the U.S. Navy to restart operations there, and what alterations would be required to support nuclear submarines, remains unclear. Images suggest that Americas submarines could not fit into the complexs submarine tunnels, but deep-sea quays for larger vessels, including nuclear subs, sit on the outside of Olavsvern, according to the Arctic Institute, a nonprofit American think tank. Questions also remain about what kind of servicing would be offered to American boats there. Beyond a quick resupply port call or relatively minor fixes, nuclear submarines require extensive support infrastructure. One of the waterways inside Norways Olavsvern complex. (WilNor Governmental Services) Geography aside, past TWZ reporting from when a new deal appeared close to completion showcased other aspects of Olavsvern that could make it an ideal U.S. submarine hub in the region. It features 32,000 square feet of deep-water docking space, including a dock for maintenance, and the subterranean areas are accessed via a large blast door and 3,000-foot-long entrance tunnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire base covers 270,000 square feet. Olavsvern also has barracks, hardened storage areas, and other maintenance facilities above and below the surface. The French Aquitaine class frigate Normandie (D-651) during a port call at the Olavsvern complex. (WilNor Governmental Services) Olavsvern began as a military fuel depot in the early 1950s and cost $450 million to build over four decades, mostly financed by NATO, according to the think tank, with a massive, hydraulic steel gate installed at the mountain basins entrance in the late 1960s, as well as fresh water supplies, a power plant, and ventilation. Submarines and fast patrol boats were brought into the mountain basin for maintenance and repair during the Cold War, according to the Arctic Institute. An ammunition storage area at the Olavsvern complex in Norway. (WilNor Governmental Services) The base complex soon became an important center for national and Allied exercises and winter training, the institute says in a history of the complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olavsvern was also utilized for a significant number of port calls by Allied submarines enroute to and from the High North, the history continues. A Norwegian submarine was always kept on 24 hour readiness in the mountain basin, with one submarine always at sea. The French Aquitaine class frigate Normandie (D-651) during a port call at the Olavsvern complex. (WilNor Government Services) Continued U.S. Navy interest in the facility comes as Russia has expanded its regional operations in recent years. Across Russias Arctic territory, this has included an increase in submarine activity and the expansion of its northernmost Arctic base, along with notable physical expansion of a constellation of air and other bases across Russias territory in the far north. The Barents Sea is a critical transit point for Russian submarines and other warships heading from their bases in the northwestern part of the country toward the Atlantic via the so-called Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. While 6th Fleet officials said the command continues to work with Oslo to explore using Olavsvern in ways that would benefit both our shared security and the local community, NRK has in the past reported on local concerns about safety risks from having nuclear-powered subs in the area. A tunnel in the Olavsvern complex, Norway. (WilNor Governmental Services) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Norwegian Ministry of Defense sold the base to a private group in 2013, and ministry officials told TWZ that, as of today, there are no concrete plans to expand the military use of facilities at Olavsvern. Olavsvern is currently held by military logistics services provider WilNor Governmental Services, and the base is primarily used for annual winter training by the Dutch Marine Corps, the firms CEO, Vidar Hole, told TWZ Thursday. But Hole said WilNor wants to once again make Olavsvern a logistics hub and High North forward operating base, as it was during the Cold War. Dutch Marines used the Olavsvern complex in Norway for annual winter training. (WilNor Governmental Services) The last military commanding officer of the base before it was sold relayed that nuclear-powered subs made more than 150 port calls there over the years, according to Hole. The infrastructure for receiving SSNs and their crews is intact and in good working condition, he said. The technical status of the base, including submarine compliant port infrastructure, has been documented thoroughly by various allied site surveys as well as by a commercial surveying company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But before Olavsvern could ever once again accommodate nuclear subs, the firm requires approval from Norwegian radiation authorities, Hole said. We have earlier requested the MoD assistance to initiate this process, he said. Regrettably, we do not have clarity on if and when they will accommodate our request. Norwegian MOD officials did not answer a TWZ query regarding that request by deadline. Hole said the base has hosted several U.S. senators and U.S. embassy staff, with a bipartisan group of senators visiting the nearby city of Troms in 2023. Outside Olavsvern, the U.S. submarine force has in recent years conducted several port visits in nearby Grtsund harbor, north of the nearby city of Troms, which accommodates U.S. submarines very well, 6th Fleet officials said. The Virginia class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN-779) visited in May 2021. The Virginia class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN-779) visited Norway in 2021. (U.S. Navy) The Ohio class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN-728) made its own visit there in September 2023, and the secretive attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN-575) also made a high-profile visit to the area in 2020. The attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN-21). (U.S. Navy) While Olavsvern was sold as part of the post-Cold War drawdown undertaken by Western militaries after the fall of the Soviet Union, Norway has seen a significant increase in the number of visits by American, British and French submarines since Russia annexed Ukraines Crimea region in 2014, according to the Arctic Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), the number of visits has increased from 10-15 to 30-40 visits per year (except for 2020, when the number of port calls was fewer), the institute states in its history of Olavsvern. As NATO members in Europe surge defense spending and capabilities in the face of Russias war in Ukraine and continued saber-rattling against the West, it remains unclear if or when Olavsvern will ever be dragooned into the effort, and whether its expansive and fortified capabilities will ever once again be utilized to counter Moscow in the Arctic. Either way, American and NATO submarines will undoubtedly continue to work to expand their operations and influence in the increasingly critical region. Contact the author: geoff@twz.com CHAMPAIGN, Ill, (WCIA) President-elect Donald Trump is still scheduled to be sentenced in his hush money case on Friday. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his last-ditch effort to delay his sentencing in New York state court before he takes office in a 5-4 vote. Former U of I coach brings unique perspective on Jimmy Carter Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May. Prosecutors called it an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois, said while this is a never-before-seen time in American history, the same cant be said around the world. Its not unprecedented for world leaders to have had criminal convictions and still be inaugurated, so how itll be viewed abroad Im not sure, Gaines said. Again, its going to change American minds, I dont think itll change international opinion greatly about President Trump. Hes in many respects an unusual figure. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. The judge overseeing the case has indicated that he will not impose jail time or probation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The Supreme Court declined to halt President-elect Donald Trumps Friday morning criminal sentencing in the New York state hush money case, allowing the historic proceeding to go forward over dissent from four Republican appointees. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh indicated they would have sided with Trump. That means Chief Justice John Roberts, who authored the immunity ruling in Trump's favor last year, and Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett were in the majority along with the three Democratic appointees. In an unsigned order Thursday evening, the high court explained why it declined to side with Trump, spelling out two reasons: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. The president-elect had sought to halt further proceedings in the case, citing the courts decision last year in the federal election interference case that granted him broad criminal immunity. In the state case thats the subject of Thursdays Supreme Court order, Trump was found guilty at trial last year of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money scheme related to the 2016 election. Its the only one of the four prosecutions of Trump that went to trial. Earlier on Thursday, New Yorks top state court rejected a separate bid from Trump to block his sentencing. Opposing Trumps Supreme Court attempt, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office said the president-elect asked the justices to take the extraordinary step of intervening in a pending state criminal trial to prevent the scheduled sentencing from taking place before final judgment has been entered by the trial court, and before any direct appellate review of defendants conviction. Theres no basis for such intervention, Bragg argued. Incarceration isnt mandatory in the New York case, and, as the Supreme Court's order noted, Judge Juan Merchan has signaled that he doesnt intend to impose jail time on Trump, who is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20. Following his May trial loss, he was set to be sentenced July 11 last year, before the July 1 immunity ruling kicked off a series of postponements. Merchan set the current date for Friday while rejecting Trumps attempt to get the case dismissed before sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal election interference case was also supposed to go to trial last year. Trumps pretrial immunity appeal helped him delay that one through the election, after which special counsel Jack Smith moved to dismiss the case, citing the Justice Departments policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Smith similarly dropped his appeal bid to reinstate charges against Trump in the classified documents case dismissed by Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. Trump also got good news in his fourth criminal case last month when a divided Georgia state appeals court panel said the prosecutor who brought the case should be disqualified, putting that cases fate in question though not officially killing it for good. Presidents cant pardon away or have state cases dismissed as they can federal ones. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com NEW YORK The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday refused to delay Donald Trumps sentencing in his New York City hush money case less than 24 hours before it is set to take place, marking a significant defeat for the president-elect that means his historic conviction will be finalized before he retakes office. The nations high court denied Trumps request for an emergency stay, or pause, of the criminal proceedings in his Manhattan case as he fights a set of rulings by state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, meaning the proceeding will go forward Friday. Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records for covering up a payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels to suppress her story about an alleged sordid sexual encounter and others. Asking the Supreme Court to turn back Trumps bid for a delay earlier Thursday, prosecutors had warned pausing the sentencing threatened to delay Trump being brought to justice for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merchan unexpectedly scheduled the proceeding to take place on Friday at 9:30 a.m. in a decision last week in which he refused to throw out the case. He said that the president-elect could appear for sentencing by video and that he was inclined to sentence him to an unconditional discharge, meaning he would not face jail time, fines, or probation. But Trump fought back. Though he is not expected to face any form of punishment, the sentencing will bring closure to his conviction and officially classify him as a convicted felon just 10 days before his second presidential term begins, a first in history. Trumps lawyers failed to convince Merchan and two New York appeals courts to halt the sentencing. In a last-ditch move, they asked the nine justices from the nations highest court to intervene on Wednesday, arguing that the Constitution required the case to be paused as Trump tried to fight Merchans rulings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other arguments, they have said that Trump should receive presidential immunity as the president-in-waiting and that Merchan should have barred evidence relating to his first presidency at his trial. Prosecutors from Braggs office had told the Supreme Court in filings Thursday that there was no basis for its intervention and that Trumps legal positions were unsupported by any court anywhere. Asking the high court to agree with multiple New York judges, they said the courts ruling from last year granting a president sweeping protections from criminal prosecution did not apply to the case about the 2016 hush-money scheme, devised before Trumps first presidency, or to him now as he prepares to retake office. (Defendant) makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office, from all state-court criminal process, prosecutors wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This extraordinary immunity claim is unsupported by any decision from any court. It is axiomatic that there is only one President at a time. A jury on May 30 found Trump, 78, guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stemming from a scheme to hide embarrassing details about his past from voters in 2016 that violated New York election law. The Manhattan case was the only one of four brought against Trump after his first term that made it before a jury. When he takes office, he cannot pardon himself of the state-level charges. _____ Nearly all of the worlds 35,000 online pharmacies are being run illegally and consumers who use them risk getting ineffective or dangerous drugs, according to the U.S. Trade Representatives annual report on notorious markets. The report also singled out 19 countries over concerns about counterfeit or pirated products. The report also named about three dozen online retailers, many of them in China or elsewhere in Asia that it said are allegedly engaged in selling counterfeit products or other illegal activities. The report says 96% of online pharmacies were found to be violating the law, many operating without a license and selling medicines without prescriptions and safety warnings. Their websites often look like legitimate e-commerce platforms, often with false claims that they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said the report, released Wednesday. The FDA and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have both issued warnings about risks of buying prescription medicines from such sources. It cited a survey by the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies Global Foundation that found nearly one in four Americans who have used online pharmacies reported having encountered substandard, fake or harmful medicines. Last year, Federal prosecutors reported that a network of illegal drug sellers based in the U.S., the Dominican Republic and India had packaged potentially deadly synthetic opioids into pills disguised as common prescription drugs and sold millions of them through fake online drugstores, federal prosecutors said earlier this week. At least nine people died of narcotics poisoning between August 2023 and June 2024 after consuming the counterfeit pills, the indictment said. Apart from the risks of using drugs that may contain inert ingredients or those that could cause allergies, the medicines are sometimes made in unsanitary conditions, said the report, which did not give annual statistics for those who may have died or otherwise been harmed. The USTRs annual report cited examples from inside the United States, but and also mentioned risks of imported ingredients including fentanyl from China. Many of the illicit online pharmacies are based outside the U.S. The report said the worlds then-largest pirated movies site had drawn more than 6.7 billion visits from January 2023 to June 2024. In another Vietnam-linked case, two people operating pirate television platform BestBuyIPTV were convicted and ordered to pay fines and forfeit property. The report also cited crackdowns on online piracy in Brazil and the United Kingdom and busts of sellers of counterfeit purses, clothing and shoes in Kuwait. Baidu Wangpan, a cloud storage service of Chinas largest search engine provider, Baidu, was named for allegedly failing to enforce or being slow to act on copyright protection. The report also pointed to social-commerce site Pinduoduo and to Douyin Mall, a Chinese online platform owned by Tiktok owner ByteDance. It said the shopping platforms have sought to build up protections but that they still host many counterfeit goods. It also named Shopee, a Singapore-based online and mobile e-commerce site, saying some country-focused platforms serving Southeast Asia and South American had better track records in fighting piracy than others. IndiaMART, an big business-to-business marketplace in India, still offers a slew of counterfeit products, it said. ELAINE KURTENBACH, BANGKOK, MDT/AP French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have met at the country residence of the UK prime ministers, with Ukraine being the central topic of their conversation. Source: a communique from the Elysee Palace, as reported by European Pravda Details: The meeting between Starmer and Macron took place at Chequers House, a 16th-century building 60 km from London that has been used as a country residence for UK prime ministers for more than 100 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "This new bilateral meeting focused on international goals, Ukraine, the Middle East, strengthening relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and deepening the relationship between France and the UK in the context of the upcoming Franco-British summit planned for the summer," the French side said. The communique noted that the situation in Ukraine was "at the centre of the conversation". Quote: "The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to coordinate closely in order to support Ukraine for as long as necessary. They stressed the importance of continuing to provide the weapons needed to defend Ukraine's territories and guaranteeing continued financial support for Ukraine beyond 2025. They also underlined the importance of providing Ukraine with security guarantees to protect it from new aggression," the Elysee Palace added. In November, it was reported that Starmer and Macron spoke one-on-one for 20 minutes about Ukraine during the UK prime minister's visit to Paris. This evening at Chequers with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer. We reaffirmed our commitment to supporting Ukraine, discussed the situation in the Middle East, the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and prepared for the upcoming Franco-British Summit. pic.twitter.com/THVaQM7mp4 Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 9, 2025 Background: At the end of 2024, at Macron's initiative, talks intensified about the possibility of a potential deployment of a contingent of European allies in Ukraine as a deterrent to a new Russian attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that such an idea had indeed been discussed at pre-Christmas meetings in Brussels and that he had already "seen positive responses" from some leaders. Opening a meeting at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 9 January, Zelenskyy said he believed the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine was one of the best tools to force Russia to peace. Support UP or become our patron! British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit Ukraine in the coming weeks to discuss the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 10, citing sources familiar with the matter. This would mark Starmers first visit to Ukraine since becoming prime minister. The trip comes as European nations ramp up discussions about regional security ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20. Paris and London are reportedly exploring the possibility of deploying French and British troops to monitor a potential ceasefire along the contact line in Ukraine. A senior NATO official told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in December that these discussions are happening bilaterally in national capitals rather than within NATO structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly highlighted the potential peacekeeping mission on Jan. 9 following the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron initially proposed deploying Western troops in February last year and revisited the idea in May, suggesting that France might consider sending forces if Russian troops broke through Ukraines defensive lines. Donald Trump has also advocated for Europe to take the lead in monitoring a potential ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 12 that Trump emphasized Europes greater responsibility in addressing Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 9 that Ukraine would only consider foreign peacekeepers if it secures a clear timeline for NATO membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials maintain that NATO membership is essential for lasting peace. While full membership is unlikely amid the ongoing war, Kyiv has urged NATO allies to extend an invitation as a signal of support. Read also: US, UK impose sweeping sanctions on Russias oil sector, target shadow fleet Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has called on its partners to step up counteraction to Russia's shadow fleet of tankers after an accident involving such vessels in the Black Sea caused an environmental disaster in the area. Source: Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, at a briefing on 10 January, as reported by European Pravda Details: Tykhyi noted that the accident involving two Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait on 15 December which caused a large-scale fuel oil spill confirms that the outdated shadow fleet vessels pose an environmental threat to the waters they navigate, as Russia is disregarding shipping safety standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stressed that it took the Russian leadership more than 20 days to recognise the scale of the problem at the highest level and set up an operational headquarters to deal with the consequences. Quote: "In the period from 15 to 31 December 2024, this spill of oil products from damaged tankers in the Kerch Strait continued, and the Russian authorities did not take any effective measures to respond to this disaster." Details: The spokesperson noted that this disaster is a direct consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Russia's illegal economic activities in the temporarily occupied territories and water areas of Ukraine. He stressed that this is a threat to the Black Sea ecosystem, as well as to the lives and health of citizens of all Black Sea countries. Quote: "This is also evidence for our partners that Russia's use of the so-called shadow fleet for illegal transport not only generates billions for the Russian military budget but also increases the risks of environmental disasters and damage to coastal states. And this applies not only to the Black Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is why Ukraine is once again calling for stricter sanctions on the Russian shadow fleet operators. It is high time this fleet was anchored." Details: He added that Russia should be held accountable for the cross-border damage caused. Background: Finland has reported technical defects in a tanker suspected of damaging an underwater power line and several communication cables in the Gulf of Finland and is considered to be part of the shadow fleet. For reference: In the EU, the term "Russia's shadow fleet" refers to tankers that transport Russian oil while avoiding the "price cap" imposed by the G7 to reduce Russia's international trade revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are usually old tankers with convoluted ownership and control arrangements that operate without sufficient insurance (companies from G7 countries are prohibited from insuring tankers transporting products in violation of sanctions). Some experts have criticised the term "shadow fleet" and advocated for stricter sanctions against tankers carrying Russian oil and petroleum products. They argue that, in reality, the sanctions mechanism is ineffective. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian forces struck a Russian army command post in Svitlodarsk in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 10. In a post on Facebook, the military said the "successful hit" targeted Russia's 3rd Army Corps. Svitlodarsk is located around 30 kilometers southeast of Bakhmut, and was occupied by Russian forces in May 2022. The General Staff did not specify what weapon was used in the attack or the extent of the damage inflicted, but said "all necessary measures were taken to limit the risk to civilians." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine fields homemade missiles and long-range drones as well as Western-supplied arms like HIMARS, ATACMS, or Storm Shadow missiles. "This week in the Donetsk region the Armed Forces of Ukraine has conducted a series of strikes on facilities seized by Russian invaders," the General Staff added. This is the second such reported strike this week on Jan. 8 the General Staff said Ukrainian forces carried out a precision strike against a command post of Russia's 8th Combined Arms Army in Russian-occupied Khartsyzk in Donetsk Oblast. Similar attacks were also reported in recent days, including a precision strike against a Russian command post in Kursk Oblast on Jan. 7 and another one in the same region on Jan. 2.Earlier on Jan. 8, the Ukrainian military announced a successful long-range attack against a Russian oil depot in Saratov Oblast that provided fuel to the nearby Engels-2 airbase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Hes mine How Ukraines ace drone unit hunts Russian soldiers near Kupiansk Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV, BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Ukraine received its first 3 billion euro ($3.09 billion) tranche of the European Union's portion of a loan agreed by the Group of Seven members and backed by the earnings from frozen Russian sovereign assets, Kyiv and Brussels said on Friday. G7 leaders in October agreed to provide some $50 billion in loans to Ukraine via multiple channels. "Today, we deliver 3 billion to Ukraine, the 1st payment of the EU part of the G7 loan. Giving Ukraine the financial power to continue fighting for its freedom and prevail," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed the transfer of the funds in a statement on the Telegram app. The funding channels agreed by G7 include a Macro-Financial Assistance Loan from the EU, the IMF's Multi-Donor Administered Account for Ukraine and a newly created Financial Intermediary Fund for Ukraine at the World Bank. In December 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department transferred the $20 billion U.S. portion the G7 loan to the World Bank fund. ($1 = 0.9709 euros) (Reporting by Max Hunder and Van Campenhout Editing by Tomasz Janowski) U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that neither Russia nor Ukraine is currently prepared for negotiations to end the war, according to his comments at a briefing on Jan. 10. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously suggested that initial talks on resolving the war might involve U.S. President-elect Donald Trump before potentially engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "This (the introduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation) was not done with the expectation that it would become a bargaining chip that could be taken off the table when Ukraine wants to sit down at this negotiating table. There is no expectation now that either side is ready for negotiations," Kirby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expects a Zelensky and Trump meeting soon after the upcoming inauguration. Also, Kirby stated that recent U.S. sanctions on Russia's oil sector were not introduced as leverage for future peace talks but were based on energy market forecasts. Kirby noted that earlier large-scale sanctions in this area were delayed to prevent domestic energy price hikes. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Bidens administration plans to introduce a "big package" of sanctions on Russias shadow fleet and individuals, Reuters reported on Jan. 6, citing sources familiar with the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Western efforts to reduce Russias income from oil funding its war against Ukraine, Moscow has been able to bypass sanctions and sell Russian oil above the imposed price cap of $60 per barrel with the buildup of a fleet of aging vessels with dubious ownership. Read also: Incoming Trump peace envoy postponed Ukraine visit over legal reasons, Kyiv confirms Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Key developments on Jan. 10: Ukrainian Neptune missile hits Russian drone warehouse in Rostov Oblast, SBU source claims Ukraine conducts 'precision strike' on Russian army command post in Donetsk Oblast, General Staff claims Ukrainian forces defending Kurakhove thermal power plant amid intense fighting in Donetsk Oblast, military says Scholz blocks proposal for $3 billion arms package for Ukraine, Spiegel reports US, UK impose sweeping sanctions on Russias oil sector, target shadow fleet UK PM Starmer plans Ukraine visit to discuss peacekeeping mission, Bloomberg reports Ukraine struck a Russian warehouse storing ammunition and reconnaissance drones using a domestically-made Neptune missile overnight on Jan. 10, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent. According to the source, the attack near the village of Chaltyr in Russia's Rostov Oblast was carried out by the SBU and Ukraine's Navy. At first, Ukrainian drones reportedly "overloaded" Russian air defenses, with a Neptune missile hitting the site shortly after, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos published on social media show the moment of an explosion in Rostov Oblast and a tall column of smoke rising over the settlement. The extent of the damage was not disclosed. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. 0:00 / 1 Earlier on Jan. 10, local authorities and Russian independent media reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked several Russian oblasts overnight, causing severe fires in Leningrad and Rostov oblasts. Neptune is Ukraines ground-launched, domestically produced anti-ship rocket with a maximum range of 300 kilometers. Ukrainian forces reportedly used Neptune missiles to destroy a Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system on Sept. 14 and sink Russias Black Sea flagship Moskva in April 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack is one of several recent strikes in Rostov Oblast. On Dec. 25, Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training ground, a source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent. A day later, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) reported that the Armed Forces struck a plant in Rostov Oblast, that produces solid propellant for ballistic missiles. Read also: Irrefutable evidence of North Koreas involvement Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast Ukraine conducts 'precision strike' on Russian army command post in Donetsk Oblast, General Staff claims Ukrainian forces struck a Russian army command post in Svitlodarsk in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on Facebook, the military said the "successful hit" targeted Russia's 3rd Army Corps. Svitlodarsk is located around 30 kilometers southeast of Bakhmut, and was occupied by Russian forces in May 2022. The General Staff did not specify what weapon was used in the attack or the extent of the damage inflicted, but said "all necessary measures were taken to limit the risk to civilians." Ukraine fields homemade missiles and long-range drones as well as Western-supplied arms like HIMARS, ATACMS, or Storm Shadow missiles. "This week in the Donetsk region the Armed Forces of Ukraine has conducted a series of strikes on facilities seized by Russian invaders," the General Staff added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second such reported strike this week on Jan. 8 the General Staff said Ukrainian forces carried out a precision strike against a command post of Russia's 8th Combined Arms Army in Russian-occupied Khartsyzk in Donetsk Oblast. Similar attacks were also reported in recent days, including a precision strike against a Russian command post in Kursk Oblast on Jan. 7 and another one in the same region on Jan. 2. Earlier on Jan. 8, the Ukrainian military announced a successful long-range attack against a Russian oil depot in Saratov Oblast that provided fuel to the nearby Engels-2 airbase. Read also: Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 19 over past day Ukrainian forces defending Kurakhove thermal power plant amid intense fighting in Donetsk Oblast, military says Ukrainian troops are holding defensive lines at the Kurakhove thermal power plant despite fierce fighting in the sector, Khortytsia group of forces spokesperson Viktor Trehubov said on national television on Jan. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now the Russians are trying to attack in the area of Dachne, and drive Ukrainian forces out of Kurakhove. Ukrainian forces are holding the thermal power plant and inflicting all the damage they can on the enemy," Trehubov said. Kurakhove has become one of the focal points of the Russian offensive in Donetsk Oblast over the past few months, turning the town into one of the hottest sectors of the front. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan. 6 that its forces had fully captured Kurakhove in, a statement not confirmed at the time by Ukraine. On Jan. 7, a military spokesperson said Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions in the western outskirts of Kurakhove and the power plant, but the situation in the town is "difficult." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town lies over 20 kilometers (over 10 miles) north of Russian-occupied Vuhledar and over 30 kilometers (almost 20 miles) south of the key front-line town of Pokrovsk. The estimated Russian advance in the Kurakhove sector of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of Jan. 10, 2025, according to the DeepState monitoring group. (DeepState/OpenStreetMaps) Ukrainian troops are destroying large amounts of Russian military equipment in the Kurakhove sector, Trehubov added. Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 29 Russian attacks in the Kurakhove sector near Sribne, Andriivka, Petropavlivka, Kurakhove, and Dachne over the past day, the General Staff reported earlier in the day. Following the capture of Mariinka in early 2024, the Russian army intensified its advance toward Kurakhove. Street fighting is currently taking place in the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian forces had earlier blown up the dam of the Kurakhove Reservoir, a hydraulic structure near the village of Stari Terny in the Kurakhove community. The thermal power plant in Kurakhove, for which the damaged reservoir was created, is not operating. The industrial facility has now become a fortification, and the scene of intense urban fighting in Kurakhove. If taken, Kurakhove would be the first significant town to fall into Russian hands in 2025 after Russia took Avdiivka and Vuhledar last year. Moscow's troops are also focusing their efforts on Pokrovsk, an important logistics hub, as part of their overall goal to capture the entire Donetsk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russian troops overrun Kurakhove, approach Pokrovsk east, south, and southwest Scholz blocks proposal for $3 billion arms package for Ukraine, Spiegel reports German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has blocked a proposal for an additional military aid package for Ukraine worth 3 billion euros ($3.09 billion), Spiegel reported on Jan. 9, citing its undisclosed sources. Under Scholz's leadership, Germany has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. The chancellor has nevertheless often been criticized for his cautious approach on some key issues, such as his refusal to provide Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. The new assistance plan, proposed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, was for additional weapons including three additional Iris-T air defense batteries, 10 howitzers, and more artillery ammunition, acording to Spiegel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Scholz claimed the existing allocation of 4 billion euros ($4.1 billion) for 2025, as well as funds from the $50 billion G7 loan financed by frozen Russian assets, should be sufficient, Spiegel reported. Scholz also expressed concern that the new government could take on significant financial obligations after early federal elections in February if the package was allowed to go ahead. Baerbock and Pistorius justified the need for the package by arguing that the combat situation in Ukraine was worsening, and that there was uncertainty about further U.S. support under Donald Trump's leadership. Pistorius and Baerbock hoped to gain parliamentary support for their proposal before the federal elections, and presented their proposal as "a vital signal of Germany's unwavering support." Despite Scholz's lack of support, Pistorius reiterated Germany's support during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as Ramstein, on Jan. 9, according to Spiegel. Pistorius announced the provision of nearly 50 guided missiles for the Iris-T air defense system. The missiles, originally designed for the Bundeswehr, were redirected directly from production to Ukraine. Read also: With Scholzs government in shambles, conservative rival touts more decisive Ukraine strategy US, UK impose sweeping sanctions on Russias oil sector, target shadow fleet The U.S. and the U.K. have enacted their most extensive sanctions against Russia's oil industry, targeting nearly 200 vessels of the so-called "shadow fleet," major oil companies, and associated entities, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Jan. 10. "The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia's key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. The sanctions include more than 180 oil-carrying vessels of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a group of tankers routinely used for sanction evasion. Several of these vessels are also reportedly involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian oil. The measures also target two of Russia's major oil producers, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, along with dozens of their subsidiaries. Combined, these companies reportedly produce over 1 million barrels of oil daily, generating an estimated $23 billion of revenue annually, according to the U.S. Treasury. The sanctions also extend to dozens of Russian energy officials and corporate executives, further tightening restrictions on Moscow's oil industry. In addition to sanctions, Ukraine has disrupted Russia's oil production with targeted drone strikes on infrastructure. Refineries in Tuapse, Ilyich, and Novoshakhtinsk have reduced or suspended operations due to the combined impact of sanctions and Ukrainian attacks. Read also: Japans new sanctions are significant blow to Russias military-industrial complex, Zelensky says UK PM Starmer plans Ukraine visit to discuss peacekeeping mission, Bloomberg reports British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to visit Ukraine in the coming weeks to discuss the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 10, citing sources familiar with the matter. This would mark Starmers first visit to Ukraine since becoming prime minister. The trip comes as European nations ramp up discussions about regional security ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20. Paris and London are reportedly exploring the possibility of deploying French and British troops to monitor a potential ceasefire along the contact line in Ukraine. A senior NATO official told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in December that these discussions are happening bilaterally in national capitals rather than within NATO structures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly highlighted the potential peacekeeping mission on Jan. 9 following the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron initially proposed deploying Western troops in February last year and revisited the idea in May, suggesting that France might consider sending forces if Russian troops broke through Ukraines defensive lines. Donald Trump has also advocated for Europe to take the lead in monitoring a potential ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 12 that Trump emphasized Europes greater responsibility in addressing Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 9 that Ukraine would only consider foreign peacekeepers if it secures a clear timeline for NATO membership. Ukrainian officials maintain that NATO membership is essential for lasting peace. While full membership is unlikely amid the ongoing war, Kyiv has urged NATO allies to extend an invitation as a signal of support. Read also: Incoming Trump peace envoy postponed Ukraine visit over legal reasons, Kyiv confirms Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has reportedly criticised the position of EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova regarding the completion of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) units during a government Q&A session, allegedly referring to her as a "mid-level clerk". Source: a transcript of the session published by Ukraines Parliament press service, as reported by European Pravda Details: During a government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), MP Inna Sovsun from the Holos faction, who is a member of the parliamentary energy committee, noted that the committee had received a letter from representatives of the European Commission and the US Embassy. The letter expressed concern about public claims that both entities allegedly supported the project, which they denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Sovsun: "In reality, there is no such support. They would like to avoid such manipulations in the future." Details: In response, Halushchenko said: "Regarding the position of mid-level clerks in the European Commission's representation, Inna, I am extremely sorry that you run about embassies slandering our energy sector and our country.". Following a brief verbal exchange in Parliament, Halushchenko remarked that "there is no unified EU approach to the development of nuclear energy, and this is well known". Quote from Halushchenko: "Therefore, there cannot be a single EU position on the development of nuclear energy, including the construction of our units. This was duly announced by the EU representative in Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, who stated that the EU does not comment on the issue of unit construction." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: On 17 December, in a comment to European Pravda, EU Ambassador Katarina Mathernova clarified that the draft law for the completion of the Khmelnytskyi NPP units with funding from Western donors was developed without consultations with the EU, although Ukraine has the right to do so. She emphasised that the EU would not participate in financing the project. Update: Following the publication of the news, the press service of the Ministry of Energy contacted European Pravda, asserting that Minister Halushchenko did not refer to Mathernova when he used the phrase "mid-level clerk". The ministry claimed this interpretation "distorts the meaning of the minister's words" and insisted that Halushchenko "referred to the EU ambassador in Ukraine positively". Quote from Ministry press service: "Unfortunately, the issue of constructing additional units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP has become a subject of manipulation, including by some members of the Verkhovna Rada and experts. Specifically private correspondence by mid-level diplomats was used. At the same time, the head of the EU delegation, Katarina Mathernova, provided relevant clarifications, which the minister referred to during the session." It is worth noting that the connection between the minister's comments and the EU ambassador was also made in Parliament. Additionally, the points raised by MP Inna Sovsun, which prompted the minister's harsh reaction, were consistent with the statements made by Ambassador Mathernova. Background: In June, Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stated that the country planned to use donor funds to complete the construction of nuclear power plant units. By July, the Verkhovna Radas Anti-Corruption Committee identified corruption risks in the corresponding draft law. On 17 December, the Verkhovna Rada withdrew from consideration the draft law on the placement, design, and construction of Units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP. Support UP or become our patron! The Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday the arrest of a 26-year-old unemployed mainland Chinese woman in connection with a drug trafficking operation. According to authorities, intelligence gathering and investigative analysis led them to the suspect, who was allegedly involved in distributing narcotics in Macau. On Wednesday, officers intercepted the suspect near her residence around noon, resulting in a significant seizure of illegal substances. During the search of her home, police discovered two packages of methamphetamine weighing approximately 3.3 grams and eight packages of ketamine totaling around 5.8 grams. Authorities also recovered various drug packaging materials, electronic devices, and paraphernalia commonly associated with drug use in the suspects room. The suspect reportedly declined to provide further details regarding the source of the drugs or her trafficking activities. However, investigations revealed that she purchased the drugs at prices ranging from HKD2,000 to HKD3,000 per bag, with the intent to sell them to women involved in the prostitution ring. The drugs were allegedly used to facilitate drug consumption among clients during illicit activities. Preliminary urine tests indicated that the suspect had consumed drugs, leading to multiple charges, including illegal drug distribution and use, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. The case will be forwarded to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation. Authorities suspect that the suspect had been involved in drug trafficking for nearly six months, having entered Macau on January 3. The total estimated street value of the drugs seized amounts to approximately MOP16,700. The PJ said it will continue to trace the origins of the drugs and investigate other individuals potentially involved in this case. Victoria Chan Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has reported that Kyiv expects a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President-elect Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration on 20 January. Source: Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a media briefing, as reported by European Pravda Details: Tykhyi was asked to share his perspective on Trumps announcement that he is actively working to organise a meeting with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Donald Trump has previously mentioned plans for such a meeting, so we see nothing new in this," he said. He added that Ukraine is focused on establishing cooperation with the incoming US administration and is looking forward to a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. "Our stance is clear: everyone in Ukraine wants to end the war on terms that are fair to Ukraine. We believe President Trump is also committed to ending the war. Therefore, the priority now is for a meeting between our presidents President Trump and President Zelenskyy. The most important thing for us is to collaborate with America in the pursuit of peace," the spokesperson stated. "We are preparing for Ukrainian-American contacts at both high and the highest levels immediately following [Trump's] inauguration," Tykhyi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his subsequent remarks, the spokesman stated: "There will definitely be contacts between the leaders of Ukraine and the United States. Preparations are also underway for interactions at all other levels, which will certainly take place after the inauguration." Background: Recently, Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, stated that he "set a goal on a personal and professional level" and aims to find a settlement to the current full-scale war within 100 days of the new presidents inauguration. Meanwhile, reports suggest that representatives of US President-elect Donald Trump acknowledged in discussions with European partners that they will not be able to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but have promised to continue supporting the country. Support UP or become our patron! A warehouse storing Russian reconnaissance drones in Russias Rostov Oblast was destroyed as a result of a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Ukrainian Navy on the night of 9-10 January. Source: Ukrainska Pravda source in Ukraines defence forces Details: On the night of 9-10 January, SSU drones and a Neptune missile targeted an ammunition and reconnaissance drone storage facility near the village of Chaltyr in Rostov Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source said the Ukrainian drones overwhelmed Russian air defences prior to the Neptune missile striking the facility. pic.twitter.com/ETMsmtDrnV (@ukrpravda_news) January 10, 2025 Eyewitnesses on Russian social media said there were multiple explosions near Chaltyr, indicating a secondary detonation of ammunition. Quote from the source: "The SSU, working with the Ukrainian Navy, hit a crucial target a warehouse containing reconnaissance drones that adjust enemy attacks on Ukrainian cities and the front line. Now there will be fewer Russian birds [drones] in the sky. Work on military targets in the enemy's rear will continue." Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 72 Shahed-type loitering munitions and various types of decoy drones on the night of 9-10 January. Ukrainian air defence units have destroyed 33 UAVs, while a further 34 Russian decoy drones disappeared from radar, with one changing course and heading towards Russia. Source: Ukrainian Air Force Command Details: The Air Force Command reported that Russian forces had launched the drones from areas of the Russian cities of Millerovo, Oryol, Bryansk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aerial attack was repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's Air Force and defence forces. As of 09:00, 33 Shahed loitering munitions and other types of drones are confirmed to have been shot down in Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia and Kherson oblasts. Five strikes were recorded on businesses and outbuildings in a frontline area in the north of Chernihiv Oblast, resulting in one civilian injury. Wreckage from a UAV crashed into an apartment block in Kyiv Oblast, damaging the building and around 20 cars. Early reports indicate no casualties. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian troops are holding defensive lines at the Kurakhove thermal power plant despite fierce fighting in the sector, Khortytsia group of forces spokesperson Viktor Trehubov said on national television on Jan. 10. "Now the Russians are trying to attack in the area of Dachne, and drive Ukrainian forces out of Kurakhove. Ukrainian forces are holding the thermal power plant and inflicting all the damage they can on the enemy," Trehubov said. Kurakhove has become one of the focal points of the Russian offensive in Donetsk Oblast over the past few months, turning the town into one of the hottest sectors of the front. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan. 6 that its forces had fully captured Kurakhove in, a statement not confirmed at the time by Ukraine. On Jan. 7, a military spokesperson said Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions in the western outskirts of Kurakhove and the power plant, but the situation in the town is "difficult." The town lies over 20 kilometers (over 10 miles) north of Russian-occupied Vuhledar and over 30 kilometers (almost 20 miles) south of the key front-line town of Pokrovsk. The estimated Russian advance in the Kurakhove sector of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of Jan. 10, 2025, according to the DeepState monitoring group. (DeepState/OpenStreetMaps) Ukrainian troops are destroying large amounts of Russian military equipment in the Kurakhove sector, Trehubov added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 29 Russian attacks in the Kurakhove sector near Sribne, Andriivka, Petropavlivka, Kurakhove, and Dachne over the past day, the General Staff reported earlier in the day. Following the capture of Mariinka in early 2024, the Russian army intensified its advance toward Kurakhove. Street fighting is currently taking place in the town. Russian forces had earlier blown up the dam of the Kurakhove Reservoir, a hydraulic structure near the village of Stari Terny in the Kurakhove community. The thermal power plant in Kurakhove, for which the damaged reservoir was created, is not operating. The industrial facility has now become a fortification, and the scene of intense urban fighting in Kurakhove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If taken, Kurakhove would be the first significant town to fall into Russian hands in 2025 after Russia took Avdiivka and Vuhledar last year. Moscow's troops are also focusing their efforts on Pokrovsk, an important logistics hub, as part of their overall goal to capture the entire Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Russian troops overrun Kurakhove, approach Pokrovsk east, south, and southwest Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Members of the Verkhovna Rada Energy Committee led by MP Inna Sovsun, have initiated a resolution to dismiss Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced on Jan. 10. Zhelezniak cited several reasons for the motion, including "systemic corruption in the energy sector," "failure to protect parts of the energy infrastructure," and "lies and manipulations." The MP also criticized Halushchenkos behavior during a parliamentary session earlier that day, calling it "unacceptable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the key controversies involves the public disclosure of information on further completion of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) power units. Sovsun highlighted a letter sent to the Energy Committee from representatives of the European Commission and the U.S. Embassy expressing concerns about this issue. During the session, Halushchenko faced backlash for dismissive remarks directed at the EU ambassador. Responding to Sovsun's concerns, he said: "In fact, this is exactly the case, and if we are talking about the third and fourth [power units], it is in the text of the law that these units will operate on American fuel. As for the position of the middle-level clerks of the European Commission's representation, Inna, I am very sorry that you are running around embassies and pouring mud on our energy sector and our state." The Energy Ministry later clarified that Halushchenko's remarks did not reference the EU ambassador to Ukraine, as suggested during the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhelezniak called on lawmakers to support the resolution for Halushchenkos dismissal, marking a potential shift in Ukraines energy leadership. Halushchenko has served as Energy Minister since his appointment on Apr. 29, 2021. Read also: Russian elite disappointed about Putins handling of war in Ukraine, Meduza reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine struck a Russian warehouse storing ammunition and reconnaissance drones using a domestically-made Neptune missile overnight on Jan. 10, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent. According to the source, the attack near the village of Chaltyr in Russia's Rostov Oblast was carried out by the SBU and Ukraine's Navy. At first, Ukrainian drones reportedly "overloaded" Russian air defenses, with a Neptune missile hitting the site shortly after, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos published on social media show the moment of an explosion in Rostov Oblast and a tall column of smoke rising over the settlement. The extent of the damage was not disclosed. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. 0:00 / 1 Earlier on Jan. 10, local authorities and Russian independent media reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked several Russian oblasts overnight, causing severe fires in Leningrad and Rostov oblasts. Neptune is Ukraines ground-launched, domestically produced anti-ship rocket with a maximum range of 300 kilometers. Ukrainian forces reportedly used Neptune missiles to destroy a Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system on Sept. 14 and sink Russias Black Sea flagship Moskva in April 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack is one of several recent strikes in Rostov Oblast. On Dec. 25, Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training ground, a source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent. A day later, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications (Stratcom) reported that the Armed Forces struck a plant in Rostov Oblast, that produces solid propellant for ballistic missiles. Read also: Irrefutable evidence of North Koreas involvement Ukraine says it captured 2 North Korean POWs in Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The patrol police officers were among the first to arrive at the scene of the cynical Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia on 8 January and provided assistance to the injured. Source: Patrol Police video from law enforcement body cameras, released on 10 January Details: The video shows patrol police officers providing first aid to the injured and assisting residents in evacuating to safe areas owing to the high risk of a repeat attack. At the same time, traffic officials closed the road to safeguard other people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police personnel utilised police vehicles to carry the injured to hospitals, as every minute counted in saving lives. Background: On 8 January, at 15:40, Russians launched two strikes with guided aerial bombs (FAB-500 from the UMPK, a guidance kit for converting unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions) on the territory of the oblast centre. They exploded in a crowded area, near the administrative part of an infrastructural facility and a roadway. The building and vehicles caught fire. The number of people killed and injured kept growing. By the morning of 10 January, the number of people injured in the attack on Zaporizhzhia had risen to 123, with 13 residents killed. Support UP or become our patron! LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The clock is ticking on negotiations between UMH-Sparrow and a union of more than 2,000 nurses and caregivers who are set to strike on Jan. 20. Were ready to do what we have to do to get what we can get for a fair contract, says Leah Rasch, Sparrow nurse and co-chair of the unions negotiation team. And right now were just all going to work, caring for our patients, caring for the community, and just knowing well do what it takes. Nurses represented by the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA) say that while some progress was made Wednesday, there are still things the two parties can not agree on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healthcare being affordable for us as the caregivers, competitive wages, the agency nurses, you know, getting permanent U-M Sparrow nurses, says Leah Rasch, Sparrow nurse and co-chair of the negotiation team. And the safety, that was another big thing, keeping us safe, keeping the community safe while in the hospital. Sparrow nurses picketing. (FILE/WLNS) 6 News reached out to Sparrow officials Wednesday for additional comment, but they only referred back to their initial statement sent out Tuesday night, when the union announced a strike: We are disappointed the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH)-Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) has issued a 10-day notice of a work stoppage. It is important to note that while a work stoppage is now a possibility, we remain confident that we can reach an agreement without one. We are currently taking steps to ensure that in the unfortunate event that a work stoppage occurs patients can still expect to receive the same safe, leading-edge and compassionate care close to home. We take our commitment to the community seriously and have a contingency plan in place for staffing. We will be fully operational if there is a work stoppage, with safety and quality of care remaining of the utmost importance. University of Michigan Health-Sparrow will continue to negotiate in good faith with our valued nurses and health care professionals for a fair contract that meets everyones needs while also ensuring our patients receive the highest quality of care. Media Statement: 10-Day Notice of a Work Stoppage, UMH-Sparrow Jan. 7, 2025 While both parties would prefer to go without a strike, the union says the deal needs to be fair, and that while the strike may affect patients, they are only trying to do what is best. We are willing and want to do good faith bargaining we want to come back days that we can have conversation and work this through, says Rasch. If we go out on strike, its not to punish the community or anything like that. We are doing it for the community, its what we need to provide the care for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Union members plan to picket outside of several locations until 9 p.m. for 5 days, and will not disrupt access to Sparrow facilities, including the main hospital, the emergency department in Okemos, and the Sparrow Health Center located on E. Grand River Ave. Nurses say they will be going without pay while on strike. However, the threat of a strike is not the only concern for Sparrow. The union is bringing federal charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging unfair labor practices and a pattern of bad-faith bargaining. Sparrow says it has been acting in good faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. AUSTIN (KXAN) Four people were displaced after a house fire was reported in southeast Austin, the Austin Fire Department said on social media. Around 8:30 p.m., AFD responded to the defensive fire in the 2300 block of Riverside Farms Road. New LA-area fire prompts more evacuations while over 10,000 structures lost to the 2 biggest blazes Although the agency reported a large amount of fire on the scene, crews were able extinguish it, according to AFD. Furthermore, the agency said no injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN photojournalist Jordan Belt spoke with the owner of the home who said he was not expecting this to happen on a cold night. The feeling Im feeling right now, I dont have no words for it, man, Samuel Grey Horse said. Im seeing California going through all that stuff, so thats the last thing I imagined on this cold night. Im very devastated. I lost everything. Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department) Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department) Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department) Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department) Two of the biggest wildfires have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures in the Los Angeles area, according to The Associated Press. Grey Horse said he and his family were using their fireplace and heaters to keep warm, as temperatures remained in the 30s on Thursday night. Austin Fire Department on the scene of fire in southeast Austin (KXAN photo: Jordan Belt) We just barely re-did the living room and the bedrooms with sheet rock and painted the house, and I dont have words. I cannot believe I just lost everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said, thankfully, everyone is OK, including his family and animals. Everybody came out safe, and the fire department came out here. Its devastating, Grey Horse said. He said he is well-known in the community. Man wearing Santa suit rides mule, spreads holiday cheer around Austin Im the Santa Clause that rides around town for Christmas making smiles. I do a lot of things. I do music around town. I tour with many bands, he said. This is not something you wish on anybody. Its unbelievable how the universe works. But were gonna be okay. Crews will remain on the scene for several hours to ensure the fire is completely out, according to AFD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other details were available Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. As part of its annual Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards program, Wynn will present An Intoxicating Blend of Unique Wine Cultures | Douro Boys X Ningxia Girls today and tomorrow at Wynn Palace. This event brings together Portugals renowned Douro Boys and Chinas celebrated Ningxia Girls for an unparalleled wine experience. The Douro Boys, a group of five prestigious wine producers from Portugals Douro Valley, includes Quinta do Vallado, Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Van Zellers & Co., and Quinta do Vale Meao. The Ningxia Girls, representing China, features acclaimed wineries such as Fei Tswei, Helan Qingxue Winery, and Kanaan Winery. The two-day event includes a forum, masterclasses, a gala dinner, and a walkaround tasting. By hosting this collaboration, Wynn underscores Macaos role as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, highlighting Chinese wines on the global stage. President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in relation to his Manhattan hush money case, cementing his legacy as Americas first convicted felon to assume the presidency. The case involves Trumps falsification of business records to pay porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged one-night stand between them in 2006. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts related to the case last May, but still maintains his innocence and has characterized the case against him as politically motivated. The incoming president described his sentencing as a despicable charade. Under New York law, Trumps conviction is classified as a Class E felony offense, meaning could have been sentenced to up to four years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines for each individual felony count. What is unconditional discharge? Instead of jailing Trump, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan sentenced him to unconditional discharge, which upholds the president-elects conviction but essentially ends the criminal case against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judgment ensures Trump will be spared jail time, fines and probation though he will face other restrictions on his constitutional rights that he has said he wants to appeal. What rights has Trump lost with this sentencing? As Trumps Class E felony conviction was upheld, he is not permitted to buy a firearm in the state of New York. This judgement also applies to Trumps adopted home state of Florida and several other states. Trump still maintains some constitutional rights, such as being able to vote which he did by casting a ballot for himself in Florida during the 2024 presidential election. What other sentences could Trump have received? Besides jail time, Merchans options were fairly open-ended and included sentencing Trump to home confinement, probation, and community service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But by opting for unconditional discharge, Merchan acknowledged that Trump would not be able to perform his duties as president if saddled with such punishments and opted to steer the country away from a potential constitutional crisis. This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment of conviction without encroachment on the highest office of the land is a sentence of unconditional discharge, Merchan said at Fridays hearing, which Trump attended virtually after the Supreme Court narrowly declined to delay his sentencing on Thursday. Will Trump still become president on Jan. 20? Yes. Because the sentencing means he will not serve jail time, Trump is still on track to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at noon on Monday, Jan. 20. What other cases are pending against Trump? Multiple criminal cases remain outstanding against Trump, but are unlikely to go anywhere as he returns to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Trumps victory, Special Counsel Jack Smith ended prosecution efforts in two cases related to Trumps handling of classified documents which climaxed with federal agents raiding Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. Also following Trumps victory, Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis was removed from the case related to his 2020 election interference case in the state the case that led to his iconic Fulton County Jail mugshot in August 2023. Some have also suggested that President Joe Biden or Trumps eventual successor in the White House could pardon him to end the cases entirely, though presidential pardons only apply to federal cases. ______ UPDATE (Jan. 10, 2025, 10:14 a.m. ET): Judge Juan Merchan on Friday sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in his New York hush money case. Judge Juan Merchan signaled he could sentence Donald Trump on Friday to an unconditional discharge, which Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office said it doesnt oppose. Heres what that sentence means, plus some examples of other New York defendants who received it in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under New York state law, its a sentence imposed without imprisonment, fine or probation supervision. According to the law, such a sentence can be appropriate when the judge is of the opinion that no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendants release. Essentially, its a way to wrap up the hush money case without Merchan having to jail Trump or provide any other sort of punishment that could interfere with his return to the White House. The president-elect was found guilty at trial last year of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. That charge is whats called an E level felony in New York the lowest-level felony which doesnt mandate incarceration. Here are some other New York state cases where people were sentenced to unconditional discharges, in cases running the gamut of relatively low-level offenses according to the law: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not an exhaustive list of every New York defendant who has ever received an unconditional discharge, and each case raises its own unique issues. But it underscores that judges have found it appropriate to cover a wide range of conduct. If Merchan gives Trump that same sentence, the president-elects hush money case will join that diverse list. And it wont be surprising if any lawyer whose clients conduct is arguably equal to or less severe than Trumps argues that their client should similarly receive that sentence. Nor will it be surprising if such efforts fail in light of the special protections weve seen afforded Trump due to his status as a former and now incoming president. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com NEW YORK (PIX11) President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge in his New York hush money case on Friday morning. So what exactly is that? Unconditional discharge is when a defendant is convicted without punishments such as imprisonment, a fine, or probation supervision, according to CaseText by Thomson Reuters. For all purposes, an unconditional discharge is a final judgment of conviction. A court may give an unconditional discharge sentence if they decide that no purpose would be served by imposing conditions on the defendants release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Juan M. Merchan previously indicated plans for unconditional discharge partly to avoid constitutional issues that could arise if the penalty overlapped with Trumps presidency. The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel previously found that sitting presidents cannot be indicted. Two Justice Department reports, one in 1973 and one in 2000, came to the same conclusion. Trumps sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. Yet, the legal detour and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations didnt hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term. This story includes reporting from the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. By Lisa Baertlein, Daniel Wiessner LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -A tentative labor deal forestalled potentially damaging trade disruptions at three-dozen U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports, with both sides in the talks crediting President-elect Donald Trump for clearing the way for them to hammer out a deal on automation. The success of the International Longshoremen's Association in winning Trump's support for its anti-automation battle could be instructive for unions facing contract renewals during his term, including the United Auto Workers, UPS Teamsters and the U.S. West Coast's International Longshore & Warehouse Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal, announced on Wednesday night, must be ratified by some 45,000 members of ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group. "This is a six-year detente in the tech-versus-labor tug-of-war at U.S. ports," said Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos, a freight-booking and payments platform. It landed days before an extended Jan. 15 deadline, averting a second strike that could have put a huge dent in the economy at the start of Trump's second term on Jan. 20. Father-and-son ILA leaders Harold and Dennis Daggett late on Wednesday called Trump a hero to the union and gave him "full credit" for the resolution of talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They pointed to a Truth Social post in mid-December, where Trump appeared to side with the union's struggle against "foreign" employers after meeting with those ILA leaders. "I've studied automation and know just about everything there is to know about it. The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen," Trump wrote. The employer group, which includes Maersk's APM Terminals and the U.S. arms of major container carriers such as China's COSCO Shipping, said the agreement came "thanks in large part to President Trump's leadership." The ILA and USMX extended their bargaining deadline after a deadlock over automation sparked a three-day strike in October at major ports including New York and New Jersey, Houston and Savannah, Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden played a vital role in helping workers win a 62% raise over six years, which ended the October strike. Biden praised both the union and employers for reaching a tentative deal on Wednesday. Trump has not commented on Truth Social and his transition team did not immediately comment. One pro-labor attorney cautioned against interpreting Trump's post on automation as union support, saying that it was in keeping with his pugilistic approach to international policies. "It supports his narrative of going after foreigners," said Cathy Creighton, an attorney and director of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations in Buffalo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEEING THE FUTURE? In a prescient move, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien - who negotiated the last contract for members at United Parcel Service - notched a union first by speaking at the Republican National Convention, where he praised Trump's toughness. The Teamsters also broke with tradition and did not endorse a U.S. presidential candidate last year. The UPS contract expires in 2028, Trump's final year in office. Pro-union attorneys said Trump's track record is not one of union support. During his first term as president, Trump's appointees to the National Labor Relations Board issued a series of rulings seen as favoring businesses and making it more difficult for unions to organize workers. The board enforces workers' rights to organize and join unions and investigates allegations that employers have engaged in unlawful labor practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Trump threatened to fire federal workers who do not return to the office for work. He also tasked Elon Musk, the world's richest person who has called the NLRB unconstitutional, with slashing the federal budget. "I don't think he's going to support the labor movement," attorney Creighton said of Trump. "He has sought to undermine the labor movement." (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States announced on Friday it was admitting Romania into its visa waiver program, allowing visa-free travel by Romanian citizens for up to 90 days starting around March 31. Romania had met the stringent security requirements to join the program, including entering into partnerships with U.S. law enforcement to share information on terrorism and serious crimes, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romania is the 43rd country to join the program -- and the fourth added under President Joe Biden after Croatia, Israel and Qatar. The program has led to a boost in tourists from the countries that are added because it makes it easier to come to the United States. Reuters first reported in October 2021 that Romania was among several candidates under consideration to be added. To participate in the program, a country must meet counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management requirements. The DHS will conduct a comprehensive assessment of Romanias continued designation on U.S. national security and law enforcement interests at least once every two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The requirements include having a rate of nonimmigrant visa refusals below 3%, issuing secure travel documents, and working closely with U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism authorities. U.S. citizens can already travel to Romania and stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes without a visa. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Frances Kerry) CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Charlotte man has been charged with murder in a deadly shooting in University City late Thursday night, according to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). Just before 10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, officers were called to a crash on the ramp from West WT Harris Boulevard to southbound Interstate 85. Officers say they arrived to find someone shot. The victim, 29-year-old Christopher Arrojo, was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Felon charged after 2 seriously injured during shooting dispute on I-485 Outer in southwest Charlotte: Court records Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CMPD says officers identified Marquail Burris, 24, as a suspect shortly after arriving on scene. They arrested him without further incident. Burris was transferred into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office and charged with: Murder Carrying a Concealed Weapon Hit and Run The victims next of kin have been notified of the arrest. The N.C. Department of Transportation reported a multicar crash on I-85 near W.T. Harris around the same time of the shooting that closed down up to three lanes. Authorities did not say what led up to the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. WASHINGTON (AP) The University of Michigan is ending its partnership with a prominent Chinese university, a few months after five Chinese students in the joint program were charged over their suspicious activities outside a remote military site. In a letter to a congressman, Santa Ono, president of the University of Michigan, said following a thorough review the university has initiated the six-month process to officially end the partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai. Ono said the university, while valuing academic international partnerships, takes matters of national security very seriously and will better vet visa requirements for international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The end to the academic partnership is the latest case of American universities moving away from Chinese universities over concerns by U.S. lawmakers that Americans could be helping the Chinese to develop critical technology to boost China's military capabilities. The Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley, both have said they are discontinuing their partnerships in China. In Michigan, Rep. John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, wrote Ono to ask that he close the joint program after the Chinese students were charged in October with lying and trying to cover their tracks. The students were first confronted in August 2023 after midnight near Camp Grayling, where thousands of people had gathered for summer drills. The five likely are no longer in the U.S. and have not appeared in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his letter, Moolenaar wrote that the Chinese university has extensive military-aligned departments and laboratories, advanced dual-use research programs, and large-scale operational training platforms" to help drive China's military modernization and intelligence capabilities. Ono on Friday informed Moolenaar of the university's decision to end the partnership. In 2020, two Chinese nationals who were pursuing masters degrees at the University of Michigan were sentenced to prison for illegally photographing sites at a naval air station in Key West, Florida. In October, a Chinese student from the University of Michigan was charged with casting an illegal ballot during early voting, in a rare case of a non-U.S. citizen voting. OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh biology students will study with advanced microscopes courtesy of a donation from the Kimberly-Clark organization. Multiple members of the Universitys biology department went to the Kimberly-Clark headquarters in Neenah to pick up their donations, which included computers and software. Door County candlemakers raising money for Los Angeles fire victims through Golden State candle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Kimberly-Clark employee and Oshkosh biology alum, Lyndsay Poeschl led the donation from idea to reality. In a release from the University of Oshkosh-Wisconsin, department members said theyre excited to train students on these advanced and higher-tech microscopes. Department of Workforce Development: Wisconsin saw record-high employment in 2024 These new microscopes will not only advance research at UWO but will provide opportunities for students to learn how to use advanced histology equipment for research and diagnostics, Courtney Kurtz, a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh biology department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information about the department, visit the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A woman who was driving without a valid license when she struck and killed a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School graduate in Miami last year was sentenced this week to six months of probation. Danny Bishop, 22, was a senior at the University of Miami on his way to class on a scooter when he was struck and killed by a black Cadillac Escalade driven by Veronica Bilbao de la Vega, an assistant public defender in Miami-Dade County. Bilbao was sentenced Thursday to six months of probation and 500 hours of community service. She was not speeding at the time of the accident and she had a green light, according to statements made in court, so she was not facing charges specifically related to Bishops death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was issued two citations, both civil, though driving without a license is a second-degree misdemeanor that carried a maximum sentence of 60 days in jail. In February 2018, Bishop was next door to the freshman building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when a gunman shot and killed 17 students and faculty and injured 17 more. The incident traumatized the entire campus, and Bishop went on to become a March for Our Lives advocate for improved gun control measures in Florida. The Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office did not return a call seeking comment about Bilbaos employment status. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda. Jan. 9As wildfires rage in California, a physician at the University of New Mexico is helping coordinate the care for burn victims. Dr. Sharmila Dissanaike is the chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and president of the American Burn Association. Dissanaiki, in her role as association president, is keeping close tabs on verified burn centers to make sure that any burn patients are swiftly delivered to a capable facility. It's a crucial responsibility, as treating a burn quickly can be the difference between life and death. "If you have a major burn someone in a wildfire could easily be burned over more than half their body with smoke inhalation if that person does not get to a verified burn center within a few hours, their death rate from that injury goes up for every hour there is in getting them to the right level of care," she said in an interview with the Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dissanaiki checked on burn center data Thursday. She said there are nine burn centers in California relatively close to the fires and the centers were so far able to handle burn victims there were two burn patients requiring the Intensive Care Unit at one point during the day. She said she was told by officials on the ground the burn centers hadn't been overwhelmed because the local population overwhelmingly heeded evacuation orders. There were several major wildfires raging in Southern California on Thursday. At least seven people have been killed and thousands of structures were burned. Some states that are prone to wildfires, like California, have a high number of verified burn centers. Other states do not. There are 78 verified burn centers across the country none in New Mexico which Dissanaike said is not enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A very bad burn is probably going to be the sickest patient in the hospital. It creates a huge metabolic stress in the body, and so those patients are incredibly sick, and then when you add smoke inhalation as often happens in wildfires and similar incidents, that patient really needs incredibly high resources," she said. "They need critical care for the first few days, and then they need intensive surgery and a very prolonged recovery." As president of the burn association, Dissanaike is worried that climate change will increase the frequency of wildfires and burn victims before the U.S. builds more specialized facilities to treat patients. She said there is clear data that in the last five years there were significantly more wildfires and wildfire injuries than in the five years before that. "This is what worries me as ABA president, that we're not adequately ramping up our capacity across the country, because it's one thing for this to happen in a state that's relatively well-equipped to deal with it," she said. "But if we do not shore up these resources in multiple parts of the country, we are going to come to a situation where there is a major incident and patients are harmed because there are delays in getting them to the right level of care." Dissanaike is one of several New Mexico residents who are assisting wildfire efforts. Several Albuquerque and Bernalillo County firefighters, as well as some from other parts of the state, were dispatched to California on Thursday to help control the blazes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The burn association has a disaster hotline and a watch board, where Dissanaiki and others can monitor how crowded burn centers are. The work has been needed recently. On New Year's Eve, a fireworks explosion in Hawaii overwhelmed the state's burn centers and some patients had to be transferred to the mainland, she said. "Having the watch board, having accurate bed counts, and having this communication facilitated by the ABA led to some of those patients being transferred to Arizona," she said. "The burn center was able and willing ... to accept those patients. And that went very smoothly, and obviously was the best thing for those patients." Beijings top official on Hong Kong and Macau affairs has urged the two cities to fully leverage the advantages of the One country, two systems governance model. Speaking yesterday, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), highlighted Chinese President Xi Jinpings seven key expectations for Macau, outlined during his visit last month, as a valuable reference for Hong Kong. Xia emphasized the importance of the business community in steering both cities through economic transitions, calling it a vital driving force. During two speeches marking the 25th anniversary of Macaus return to Chinese administration, Xi called on the city to expand its role on the global stage, embrace diversity, avoid complacency, and accelerate economic diversification. The president also stressed the need for public administration reforms, broader international engagement, and maintaining social harmony and stability. At a seminar organized by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies in Beijing, Xia said these directives were equally relevant to Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Macau must excel in fostering internal and external connections, so as to maximize the benefits of the One country, two systems model both domestically and internationally, Xia said, according to a statement from his office. He also urged the two cities to enhance their global reputations and achieve greater international recognition. Xia pointed to the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone on Hengqin Island, established in 2021 to support Macaus economic diversification, as a key example of collaboration. Xi had earlier warned that projects in the zone must align with Beijings policy goals and advance Macaus efforts to diversify its economy. Xia said these comments were a reminder for both cities to align with their roles in the Greater Bay Area blueprint, pledging the central governments continued support with pragmatic measures. Highlighting the broader significance of Xis speeches, Xia described them as a profound demonstration of the values embodied in the one country, two systems model, including peace, inclusiveness, openness, and shared prosperity. He said the governance model served as an example of Chinas approach to global challenges and its success in fostering harmony, diversity, and mutual benefits. Hong Kong and Macau must embrace the instructions, align with the evolving times, and proactively adapt to challenges, Xia added. By fully utilizing the institutional advantages of the one country, two systems framework, the two cities can strengthen their cooperation, exchanges, and mutual learning to achieve greater progress. Staff Reporters Wildfires are continuing to torch Los Angeles as over 180,000 people have evacuated. Public Information Officer Captain Marco Rodriguez from the L.A. County Fire Department joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the containment efforts currently underway. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations and Israel are arguing over who must fill the gap if U.N. Palestinian relief agency UNRWA stops working in the Gaza Strip and West Bank later this month when an Israeli law comes into force. UNRWA still operates in the Palestinian territories but it is unclear what awaits the nearly 75-year-old agency when the law banning its operation on Israeli land and contact with Israeli authorities takes effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. and Israel have been engaged in tit-for-tat letter writing since the law on UNRWA was passed in late October. Shortly after, the U.N. told Israel it was not the world body's responsibility to replace UNRWA in the Palestinian territory - Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In a letter to the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council late on Thursday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said if UNRWA was forced to stop operating then Israel "would be left to ensure that the range of services and assistance which UNRWA has been providing are provided" in accordance with its obligations under international law. Guterres wrote that while other U.N. agencies were prepared to continue providing services and assistance to the Palestinians - to the extent they can - that "must not be viewed as releasing Israel from its obligations." The United Nations views Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as Israeli-occupied territory. International law requires an occupying power to agree to and facilitate relief programs and ensure food, medical care, hygiene and public-health standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Dec. 18 letter to the world body, Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said the new legislation "does not in any way undermine Israel's steadfast commitment to international law." He also rejected U.N. claims that Israel would be responsible for filling any gap left by UNRWA. He wrote that Israel does not exercise effective control over Gaza and therefore is not an occupying power, adding that the law of military occupation also does not apply. He said that in the West Bank the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority for civilian affairs "must not be overlooked." "In Jerusalem, all residents are entitled to government and municipal services under Israeli law," said Danon, adding that included health and education services. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized abroad. HEALTH, EDUCATION AT RISK Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has long been critical of UNRWA. It says UNRWA staff took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The U.N. has said nine UNRWA staff may have been involved and were fired. A Hamas commander in Lebanon - killed in September by Israel - was also found to have had an UNRWA job. The United States has said its ally Israel must ensure the new law does not further impede aid deliveries and critical services, including by UNRWA, in Gaza, which has been engulfed in a humanitarian crisis during the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. But it has also questioned U.N. contingency planning. State Department officials met this week with the transition team of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump - who takes office on Jan. 20 - and raised concerns about how the crisis in Gaza could deepen once the UNRWA law is implemented, said a U.S. official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNRWA, established by the U.N. General Assembly, provides aid, health and education services to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and neighboring Arab countries - Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Guterres said UNRWA's unique role could not be replaced. U.N. officials say it is the health, education and social services UNRWA provides in the Palestinian territory that would suffer most as other agencies cannot match its ability to deliver such help. Danon argued that "replacing UNRWA with relief schemes that will adequately provide essential assistance to Palestinian civilians is not at all impossible," citing the aid operation in Gaza where he said other U.N. agencies were equipped to provide the necessary response "as they do elsewhere in the world." Other agencies working in Gaza and the West Bank include the children's organization UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, and the U.N. Development Programme. But top U.N. officials and the Security Council describe UNRWA as the backbone of the current humanitarian operation in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel launched an assault on Hamas in Gaza after the militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to Palestinian health officials. Much of the enclave has been laid waste and most of the 2.3 million people have been displaced multiple times. Food experts warn of a looming famine. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis) A nationwide data breach made public on Thursday includes Frederick County Public Schools student records and class scheduling information, the district said. The breach occurred between Dec. 19 and 28, 2024, and involved a student information system run by a company called PowerSchool. Frank Vetter, director of assessment, data reporting and strategic improvement at FCPS, said on Thursday that the data that was breached contained basic student information, like names, demographic information and contact information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FCPS sent out a community alert via email on Thursday that said the district does not collect Social Security numbers for students and stopped collecting that data more than 10 years ago. Vetter said there was limited teacher information in the student information system (SIS), and that personal information like teachers Social Security numbers would not be stored there. He said teacher information in the SIS is for class scheduling purposes. Its unclear if other FCPS employees were affected. TechCrunch, a technology publication, reported that PowerSchools software is used nationwide to support more than 50 million students. It reported that PowerSchool paid money to prevent the hackers from publishing the stolen data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PowerSchool confirmed with FCPS that the data that was breached has been deleted and is no longer accessible, according to the FCPS community alert. PowerSchool notified the FBI and hired the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which reported that no data from the breach has been found on the dark web as of Thursday, according to the community alert. The FCPS community alert said a a threat actor gained unauthorized access to data using stolen credentials. FCPS became aware of the nationwide breach on Tuesday, and PowerSchool notified the school district on Wednesday that FCPS data had been affected, according to the community alert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FCPS said the school district is in the process of a multiyear transition of its SIS platform. Vetter said FCPS previously used eSchoolPLUS, which used to be owned by SunGard K-12, a different education software company. PowerSchool acquired SunGard K-12 in 2017. Shortly after, PowerSchool said it would not be supporting or making upgrades to eSchoolPLUS anymore. He said FCPS in July 2024 began transferring student data from eSchoolPLUS, the former SIS, to PowerSchool SIS, the new system. Vetter said the process takes a long time, and because of the transfer of data, its hard to say at this point specifically what was taken in the data breach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said FCPS sends student data over, and PowerSchool sends it back for the school district to validate and examine if the data is accurate. Vetter said the current SIS that FCPS uses is hosted on the school districts own servers and we maintain security for it ourselves. He said the new SIS is in the cloud, which means the data is stored online. Vetter said PowerSchool and whatever cloud services that they use take responsibility of the security of that data. An FCPS news release sent out on Thursday said the full scope of the breach is still being investigated. FCPS said it would share additional information from PowerSchool, including contact information, so that community members can talk directly to the company, according to the release. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement Friday morning providing more details over its ongoing operation in the Bakersfield area this week the agency calls Operation Return to Sender. Throughout the week, 17 News requested interviews with the agency over its operation in the Bakersfield area but was provided a statement stating its operation took place over three days and led to 78 arrests. U.S. CBP said it would not provide further statements. The agency said it arrested people unlawfully in the U.S. from Central, South America and China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Targeted enforcement arrests: Border Patrol breaks silence, reveals details on Kern County operation According to the statement, Border Patrol had 60 agents in the area focusing on alleged drug and human traffickers. Agents were on patrol in marked and unmarked vehicles, officials said. CBP highlighted agents arrested people previously convicted of crimes including sex offenses, drug possession, child abuse, spousal abuse and DUI. Agents seized marijuana and methamphetamine during the operation, the statement said. Border Patrol officials said it is no stranger to operating in the Central Valley and its work may send agents all the way to the California-Oregon state line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the full U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement below: Border Patrol Agents with the El Centro Sector Border Patrol conducted an operation in and around the Bakersfield area in Kern County. Our operation focused on interdicting those who have broken U.S. federal law, trafficking of dangerous substances, non-citizen criminals, and disrupting the transportation routes used by Transnational Criminal Organizations. The U.S. Border Patrol is no stranger to operations in places like Bakersfield, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, and Sacramento, as the now closed Livermore Border Patrol Sector regularly conducted enforcement operations over this area up to the mid 2000s. The El Centro Sector takes all border threats seriously, said Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino. Our area of responsibility stretches from the U.S./Mexico Border, north, as mission and threat dictate, all the way to the Oregon line. During this three day operation we had over 60 agents on the ground, using both marked and unmarked vehicles. The results of our operation, named Return to Sender are as follows: 78 arrests (all subjects unlawfully present in the U.S.) The nationality/citizenship of those arrested were from Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico, and China. One subject arrested was a convicted sex offender convicted of raping an 8 year old girl. Another subject had an active warrant from the Visalia Sheriffs Department for a sex offense against a child. One subject had a warrant for being a felon in possession of a weapon out of Tulare County. He was turned over to the Kern County Sheriffs Department for extradition to Tulare County. A detainer was placed on this subject so we can take him back into custody on pending federal charges. Three separate Marijuana seizures: 33.01 lbs., 3.1 lbs., and 30.7 grams of personal use. Four separate methamphetamine seizures totaling 7.1 grams. Multiple DUI convictions among those arrested, including some that included hit and run and injury enhancements. Other criminal histories of those arrested included: failure to appear, tampering with a vehicle, petty theft, felony drug possession, vandalism, burglary, inflicting injury on spouse, and child abuse convictions amongst others. David Kim, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, El Centro Sector Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. intelligence has found no evidence linking a foreign power to the mysterious Havana syndrome injuries reported by some U.S. diplomats and other government personnel, though two agencies now say it's possible a foreign adversary may have developed or even deployed a weapon responsible for the injuries. The conclusion, which echoes early investigations, follows a review conducted by seven intelligence agencies or departments that examined cases of brain injuries and other symptoms reported by American diplomats and other military and government staffers, who have raised questions about the involvement of a foreign adversary. In the new assessment released by U.S. intelligence on Friday, five of the seven agencies concluded that it is very unlikely that a foreign adversary was behind the injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the agencies, however, reached a different conclusion, determining that there is a possibility that a foreign power may have developed or even used a weapon capable of causing the reported injuries. Such a device would presumably rely on acoustic energy, microwaves or another kind of directed energy. Symptoms that include headaches, balance problems and difficulties with thinking and sleep were first reported in Cuba in 2016 leading to the label Havana Syndrome and later by hundreds of American personnel in multiple countries. The Biden administration has faced pressure to investigate following the reports from U.S. personnel of significant brain injuries and other symptoms after being targeted by what some have suggested is an effort to harass and injure Americans working overseas. But officials have been unable to find an explanation. In the new assessment, the two agencies, which officials did not identify, did not find evidence linking any specific episode to technology developed by Russia or another country but based their findings on understandings of foreign weapon development and capability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the agencies found there was a roughly even chance that a foreign government used such a weapon or prototype device in a small, undetermined number of cases affecting U.S. personnel. The other agency determined that while its possible that a foreign power has developed such a weapon, its unlikely that it has been deployed in any of the cases reported to authorities. The new findings released Friday represent a shift in key judgments by some intelligence components that demonstrates the need for additional investigation, National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement. "Our focus on these priorities remains unwavering and must continue," Savett said. It is vital that the U.S. government continue critical research, investigate credible incidents, and strengthen efforts to provide timely care and long-term clinical follow-up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Republican lawmaker who led a separate investigation into the unexplained incidents accused the White House of withholding evidence of foreign involvement. Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas leads the House Intelligence Committee's CIA Subcommittee, which last month released a report that concluded that it is increasingly likely that a foreign adversary is responsible for some portion of the incidents. In a statement, Crawford vowed to work with the incoming Trump administration to get answers for affected federal employees and the public. Congress must continue working towards the truth and seeking accountability, Crawford said. An intelligence official who briefed reporters on the new assessment said the two agencies that held open the possibility that a foreign government was developing or deploying a weapon responsible for the injuries expressed low confidence in their findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set out by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, noted that other national security agencies were more confident in their determination that foreign governments were not involved and that specific information obtained by U.S. intelligence cast doubt on any foreign involvement. Theres no intelligence linking a foreign actor to any specific event, the official told reporters. ___ The Biden administration announced a slew of new sanctions against allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in opposition to his claim of election victory, calling his Friday inauguration illegitimate and a desperate attempt to seize power. Maduro was sworn in as president of Venezuela on Friday by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez, expanding the rift between the countrys de-facto government and foreign powers who explicitly question its legitimacy. The U.S. is increasing its rewards for justice to $25 million for information leading to Maduros arrest or conviction and that of his minister of interior, Diosdado Cabello. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A $15 million reward is also being offered related to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, part of criminal narco trafficking indictments announced in March 2020. The U.S. is also sanctioning eight Venezuelan officials leading key economic and security agencies; blacklisting high-level military and police officials involved in repression and human rights abuses against democratic actors; and imposing visa restrictions on Maduro-aligned individuals identified as undermining the electoral process or acts of repression in Venezuela. The Venezuelan people and world know the truth Maduro clearly lost the 2024 presidential election and has no right to claim the presidency, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The United States rejects the National Electoral Councils fraudulent announcement that Maduro won the presidential election and does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the president of Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Biden and members of Congress met last week with Venezuelan opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, whom the U.S. recognized in November as president-elect. In his statement, Blinken said Gonzalez Urrutia should be sworn in and the democratic transition should begin. But Maduro, who was sworn in with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega in attendance, has shown no signs of seeking to relinquish power in the South American nation. Venezuelan officials proclaimed Maduro the winner of the July 2024 election, claiming he had won slightly more than half the votes cast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign observers panned Maduros official numbers, which were presented in a haphazard fashion after regular polling reports were interrupted by officials after the election. Most international analysts have concluded that the oppositions figures, though incomplete, are accurate: The opposition claims Gonzalez Urrutia won 67 percent of the vote to Maduros 30 percent. In his statement, Blinken announced the increased sanctions against Maduro and officials surrounding him. Florida Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) led a bipartisan group Friday to introduce legislation that would juice Maduros bounty up to $100 million, funded by seized Venezuelan assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.), Ted Cruz (Texas) and Bill Cassidy (La.) introduced a companion bill in the upper chamber. Today, Maduro has made a mockery of democracy and the rule of law by anointing himself as President. His regime is a criminal enterprise that fuels narco-terrorism, suppresses independent media, and violates human rights with impunity. Recently, it has intensified violence against the Venezuelan people and leaders of the opposition, Diaz-Balart said in a statement. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was banned from competing in Julys election, was briefly detained amid protests in Caracas on Thursday, allegedly by regime forces. Both sides of the U.S. political spectrum are united in opposition to Maduro, who previously lost international recognition after allegations of fraud in the 2018 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Trump also voiced support for Gonzalez Urrutia and Machado, writing on his site Truth Social that they are peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime. The great Venezuelan American community in the United States overwhelmingly support a free Venezuela, and strongly supported me. These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE! The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela, allowing approximately 600,000 Venezuelan nationals to live and work in the United States at least until Oct. 2, 2026. In the first Trump administration, DHS officials worked to curtail TPS through attrition by letting such designations expire without extensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DHS on Friday also announced TPS extensions for El Salvador, Sudan and Ukraine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The US government has imposed new sanctions on high-ranking officials in Venezuela, hours after authoritarian long-time ruler Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term as president. The eight individuals affected include the president of the state-owned oil company PDVSA, Hector Obregon Perez, and the president of the state-owned airline Conviasa, Ramon Celestino Velasquez Araguayan, according to the US Treasury. Washington also imposed sanctions on senior military and police officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since last year's election, Maduro and his associates have continued their repressive actions in Venezuela," said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T Smith. The US State Department also increased the reward offers to up to $25 million each for information leading to the arrest of Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, the Treasury said in a statement. Canada, Britain and the European Union also announced new sanctions on Venezuelan individuals following Maduro's swearing-in ceremony on Friday. London sanctioned 15 individuals associated with Maduro, including military officials and judges, while the EU member states extended punitive measures to 15 additional members of Venezuela's electoral authority, the judiciary and the security forces. The United States of America has announced new sanctions that will hit Russias oil refining industry. Source: European Pravda with reference to a US Treasury Department press release Details: Sanctions have been announced against Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas. Restrictions also apply to vessels that are part of Sovcomflot, Russias largest shipping company. The blacklist includes 183 vessels which are involved in the export of Russian energy and are part of the Russian Federations so-called shadow fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosneft subsidiary Rosnefteflot has also been sanctioned. Restrictions have also been imposed on the Russian insurance companies Ingosstrakh and AlfaStrakhovanie. Dozens of Russian energy officials and company executives have been sanctioned. Background: It was reported on 25 December that the Biden administration was discussing the possibility of imposing "serious new sanctions" against the Russian energy sector before the end of his term. Bloomberg had previously reported that the Group of Seven (G7) nations were discussing a possible lowering of the price cap on seaborne Russian oil to limit Russia's oil revenues. On 16 December, the EU adopted its 15th sanctions package against Russia, aimed at countering sanctions evasion by targeting Russia's shadow fleet and weakening its defence industrial base. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- The US is moving to curb imports of used cooking oil, preventing foreign supplies used to make biofuels from qualifying for a lucrative tax credit. Most Read from Bloomberg In long-awaited guidance, the US Treasury signaled that fuels made with foreign-sourced supplies wont be allowed under the so-called GREET model, a Department of Energy tool used to determine the full sweep of greenhouse gases emitted from the transportation and energy industries. The move comes after a flood of supplies from China reached US shores at cheaper prices than soybean oil produced locally. The decision is a win for American farmers, who have been counting on a boom in soy-heavy biofuels like renewable diesel to sell their crops. Soybean oil futures for March jumped by the exchange limit in Chicago on Friday, surging 7%, the most since June 2023. Shares of Bunge Global SA, the worlds biggest oilseed processor, gained 5%. The joint owners of Diamond Green Diesel, North Americas biggest renewable-diesel maker, jumped, with Darling Ingredients Inc. surging as much as 10% and Valero Energy Corp. climbing as much as 4%. This tax credit is essential to US competitiveness and to reduce emissions in the transportation sector with more affordable, cleaner fuel, US Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk said in a statement. The final guidance released today provides clarity and certainty to Americas world-leading biofuel industry. The tax incentive that took effect on Jan. 1 is part of President Joe Bidens signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. While the guidance gives Donald Trump a supporter of fossil fuels something to work from, its unclear how far he will take his pledge to roll back the IRA. US biofuels and corn groups criticized the overall guidance as lacking details on what qualifies for tax credits. Geoff Cooper, chief executive officer of ethanol trade group Renewable Fuels Association, said it fell short of expectations and doesnt give producers of corn-based US ethanol the certainty they seek. Emily Skor, CEO of ethanol lobbying group Growth Energy, said the guidance still lacks the critical details that are needed to help ensure that American biofuel producers and their farm partners can lead the world in clean fuel production. The National Corn Growers Association said more clarity is needed about the specific environmental practices that will be required for accessing the credit. What a missed opportunity for growers, said President Kenneth Hartman Jr., an Illinois farmer. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm warned Friday in Puerto Rico that the U.S. territory needs more power generation as it struggles to recover from a recent massive blackout. It was Granholms last official visit to the island as many worry what kind of resources and funding Puerto Ricos crumbling power grid might receive under President-elect Donald Trump, who chose a fossil fuels executive as his energy secretary. Granholm noted that 232 outages have hit Puerto Rico since Hurricane Fiona pummeled the island in September 2022 because of insufficient generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that only about half of installed generation capacity is online even as the U.S. Department of Energy has invested millions of dollars in solar projects across the island, generating more than 1,200 megawatts of new renewable capacity. While Granholm was considered an ally by former Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, the islands newly sworn in governor, Jenniffer Gonzalez, snubbed the federal energy secretary and was not present during Fridays press conference. On Wednesday, Gonzalez, who backs Trump, said Granholm would be visiting Puerto Rico for her picture tour, so we are asking her, in black and white, that in addition to her photo tour, that she address the root problems. I am not going to fall for the photo game. Gonzalez also appointed a so-called energy czar to review contracts of two private power companies that oversee the generation, transmission and distribution of power on the island as she criticized the U.S. government, saying it has not yet released $18 billion slated for the islands power grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The (Department of Energy) doesnt control the funds related to the grid. That is FEMAs prerogative, Granholm said in a news conference Friday when asked about Gonzalezs comments. Granholm noted that $6 billion in federal funds have been obligated to help rebuild the grid after Hurricane Maria razed it in September 2017 when it struck the island as a powerful Category 4 storm. She added that FEMA has approved 200 of more than 440 projects submitted to the agency to repair and strengthen the grid. Of those approved, 125 are under construction. But despite the ongoing work to stabilize and strengthen the grid, outages remain constant. On Dec. 31, a nearly island-wide blackout hit the U.S. territory of 3.2 million people as it prepared for New Years Eve. As of Friday, more than 1,200 customers remained without power, some because of improvements being made to the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Javier Rua Jovet, public policy director for Puerto Ricos Solar and Energy Storage Association, said in a phone interview that the U.S. Department of Energy has been a renewable energy ally under Granholm. But he worries about the future of the grid under the Trump administration. Solar needs a grid that is in good shape, he said. Puerto Ricos grid reconstruction is basically fully predicated on the flow of FEMA dollars. If its not actually invested in, its in peril, especially when you have a new administration coming in federally that will be looking for money everywhere to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. In November, Trump chose campaign donor and fossil fuel executive Chris Wright to serve as energy secretary. The nomination comes as Puerto Rico struggles to lessen its dependence on petroleum and embrace renewable energy on an island battered almost yearly by hurricanes and tropical storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Power plants that depend on fossil fuels provide 93% of energy in Puerto Rico. Another 23% is fueled by natural gas, 8% by coal and only 6% by renewables. A 2019 public policy act calls for Puerto Rico to meet 40% of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2025, 60% by 2040 and 100% by 2050. Puerto Rico has a law, Granholm said. I am expecting that that law will be followed. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america (Bloomberg) -- The US on Friday ramped up pressure on Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro and his regime, including raising a reward for his arrest on narcotics charges and new sanctions on officials in response to his contested election and crackdown on opposition. Most Read from Bloomberg The announcement, which includes sanctions on the head of the countrys state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela, comes the same day Maduro is being sworn in for another six-year term in Caracas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reward for information leading to Maduros arrest, as well as Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello, on drug trafficking charges will be increased to $25 million, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. A new reward for $15 million was issued for Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez. Since last years election, Maduro and his associates have continued their repressive actions in Venezuela, Brad Smith, acting undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in the statement. The United States, together with our likeminded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan peoples vote for new leadership and rejects Maduros fraudulent claim of victory. Venezuelas election authority declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 vote without presenting evidence, while his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez, has been declared president-elect by both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. Gonzalez met with Biden in Washington on Monday. The new actions signal a last-ditch attempt to hold Maduro accountable by the outgoing Biden administration, which has been criticized for earlier easing economic sanctions on Venezuela in the expectation that Maduro would hold free and fair elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement Friday follows two previous rounds of individual sanctions, and comes a day after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was detained for two hours during an anti-Maduro rally. The US is sanctioning eight officials, including PDVSA President Hector Obregon, Transportation Minister Ramon Velasquez and Douglas Rico, head of the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations unit, the countrys biggest police agency. The Bidens administration is also considering sending a set of recommendations to Trumps incoming team on the status of future oil and gas licenses, depending on what unfolds in Venezuela in the coming days, a senior Biden administration official said Friday on a call with reporters. There are currently restrictions on certain energy transactions between the US and Venezuela, along with a freeze on new licenses. Separately, the UK also unveiled new sanctions on 15 individuals associated with Maduro, including judges, military officials and members of the security forces. They will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes and refused entry to the UK. The European Union also issued new sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicolas Maduros claim to power is fraudulent, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement. The outcome of Julys elections was neither free nor fair and his regime does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people. The US began calling Gonzalez Venezuelas President-elect in mid-November, which Trump did as well on Thursday in a social media post. Gonzalez, who fled to Spain in September, has repeatedly said that he will go back to Venezuela for a swearing-in ceremony on Friday. Protests against Maduros claim of victory swept the capital of Caracas and other cities in the days after the vote, with more than 2,400 Venezuelans arrested and 28 killed in the fiercest crackdown of his 11-year rule. By the end of December, the government had already released roughly 1,300 of the prisoners. In separate events, the Maduro government has also arrested several foreigners, including at least seven Americans, claiming they took part in conspiracies. --With assistance from Ellen Milligan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates to include sanctioned officials in eighth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. DAKAR, Senegal (AP) The United States announced Friday that it would be returning $52.88 million in seized assets to Nigeria as part of a yearslong corruption probe against former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and associates, according to a joint statement by Nigeria's minister of justice and the United States government. It marks the first repatriation of assets linked to Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria's oil minister from 2010 to 2015. She rose to prominence as a powerful figure under former President Goodluck Jonathan, and became the first female president of the oil alliance OPEC. The seized assets, including a superyacht and prime real estate in New York and California, were confiscated in 2023 by U.S. authorities during Alison-Madueke's trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the repatriated funds, $50 million will be allocated to rural electrification programs in Nigeria, while the remaining $2.88 million will be disbursed as a grant by the African country to the International Institute for Justice to support rule of law and counterterrorism operations. As a minister, Alison-Madueke had pledged to transform the oil sector but was accused by authorities of looting millions of dollars in public funds alongside her associates. Authorities say that many such assets were allegedly domiciled in the United States and the United Kingdom. Although she has consistently denied any wrongdoing, Nigerias antigraft agency has secured court orders seizing houses, cars and jewelry in Nigeria, which it claims were proceeds of corruption connected to the former minister and her associates. ____ Follow APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -Robert Menendez, the disgraced former U.S. senator from New Jersey, should spend at least 15 years in prison following his corruption conviction, after he betrayed voters by putting his office "up for sale" in exchange for bribes, U.S. prosecutors said. The recommendation was filed on Thursday night in Manhattan federal court, a week after Menendez's lawyers pleaded for leniency, citing the 71-year-old's age, decades of public service, charitable works, devotion to family, and financial and professional ruin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Probation officers recommended a 12-year prison term, which Menendez's lawyers described as an effective "death sentence." Menendez, a Democrat who spent 18-1/2 years in the Senate and chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was convicted last July on all 16 counts he faced, including acting as an agent of a foreign government. Prosecutors said Menendez accepted gold, cash, a Mercedes-Benz and other rewards in exchange for political favors, including shepherding of military aid to Egypt and providing assistance to Qatar, as part of a bribery conspiracy. In Thursday's filing, prosecutors also recommended that two New Jersey businessmen convicted with Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, should spend at least 10 years and nine years in prison, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Motivated by "naked greed," the defendants engaged in crimes that were "an extraordinary attempt, at the highest levels of the legislative branch, to corrupt the nation's core sovereign powers over foreign relations and law enforcement," prosecutors said. The defendants have requested short prison terms, none more than two years, or no time behind bars. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29 in Manhattan federal court. Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, is trying to postpone her Feb. 5 trial on related charges, citing potential negative publicity from her husband's sentencing. SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their sentencing recommendation, prosecutors said Menendez is the first senator convicted for abusing a Senate committee leadership position, and the first person convicted of serving as a foreign agent while being a public official. Menendez was also accused of trying to disrupt criminal probes in New Jersey on behalf of Daibes and a one-time insurance broker, Jose Uribe. Uribe testified at trial for the government. Prosecutors said Menendez committed crimes even after a Senate ethics committee admonished him for receiving gifts from a wealthy donor, Salomon Melgen, without required approval and disclosures. The relationship between Menendez and Melgen underlay a 2017 corruption case against the senator, which ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Menendez's willingness to engage in the charged scheme immediately after receiving a formal admonition for such similar conduct speaks volumes about his character," prosecutors said. In addition, prosecutors said arguments that Menendez has been punished enough reflect a "deeply misplaced sense of entitlement." Robert Menendez has maintained his innocence and is expected to appeal his conviction. The appeal may include an argument that jurors were improperly allowed during deliberations to review evidence that was not presented at trial. Menendez's lawyers requested a prison term "substantially" below the 21 to 27 months they say are recommended under federal sentencing guidelines. Probation officers estimated the guidelines recommendation at 24-1/2 to 30-1/2 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hana and Daibes have requested sentences of no more than one year and two years, respectively. Lawyers for Menendez and Daibes did not immediately respond on Friday to requests for comment. Hana's lawyer Lawrence Lustberg called a 10-year sentence for his client "inhumane and unjust." Nadine Menendez's lawyer Barry Coburn declined to comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Alistair Bell) By Matt Spetalnick and Marianna Parraga WASHINGTON/HOUSTON (Reuters) -The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials and increased to $25 million the reward it is offering for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro on the day of his inauguration to a third term following a disputed election last year. It was the latest in a series of punitive steps by the outgoing Biden administration against Maduro's government in the aftermath of the July vote, which both his ruling Socialist Party and the OPEC nation's opposition claim to have won. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Washington rolled out the new sanctions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Friday's inauguration "illegitimate," saying in a statement that the U.S. "does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the president of Venezuela." The officials targeted include the recently appointed head of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, Hector Obregon, Venezuela's transportation minister, Ramon Velasquez, and police and military officials. The U.S. move was coordinated with announcements by Britain and the European Union targeting 15 Venezuelan officials, including members of the National Electoral Council and the security forces. Canada also imposed new Venezuela sanctions. The United States, together with our likeminded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan peoples vote for new leadership and rejects Maduros fraudulent claim of victory," Bradley Smith, U.S. Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro and his aides have always rejected sanctions by the U.S. and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela. "The outgoing government of the United States doesn't know how to take revenge on us," Maduro said during his nationally televised inauguration speech, without directly mentioning sanctions. He and his allies have cheered what they say is the countrys resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions. CONTESTED ELECTION OUTCOME Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country's electoral authority and top court say Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, won last year's presidential vote, though they have not published detailed tallies. The government, which has accused the opposition of fomenting fascist plots against it, said it will arrest opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez should he return to the country from exile and has detained prominent opposition members and activists in the lead-up to the inauguration. The opposition says Gonzalez, 75, won in a landslide. It has published its own vote tallies as evidence, winning support from governments around the world, including the United States, which consider Gonzalez the president-elect. International election observers have said the vote was unfair. Maduro, 62, has been in power since 2013, and the new sanctions come little more than a week before U.S. President Joe Biden will end his term and be succeeded by Donald Trump on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the sanctions, the U.S. government increased to $25 million, from a previous $15 million, the reward it is offering for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro. The U.S. indicted Maduro and others on narcotics and corruption charges in 2020. Maduro has rejected the accusations. Maduro has held onto power despite heavy pressure from successive U.S. administrations, retaining the support of Venezuela's military as well as China, Russia and Iran. Even as the U.S. unveiled new sanctions, it stopped short of withdrawing previous U.S. authorizations to U.S. oil giant Chevron and several other companies for Venezuela operations. A senior U.S. official said Washington would continue monitoring the situation and could make recommendations to the incoming administration about the future of those licenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden hosted Gonzalez at the White House earlier this week, calling him the "true winner" of the election. But the Democratic president's Republican successor did not meet Gonzalez separately, leaving it to one of his incoming senior aides. During his first term in office, from 2017-2021, Trump pursued a "maximum pressure" campaign against Maduro, putting in place the harshest sanctions on the South American country, including on its oil industry. Biden briefly rolled back some of the Trump-era restrictions following electoral promises from Maduro but then reinstated them, saying the Venezuelan leader had reneged on pledges for a fair democratic vote. It remains unclear how Trump will deal with Venezuela in his second term. Complicating Trump's decision are concerns about immigration, a hot-button U.S. domestic issue, but he has said the U.S. does not need Venezuela's oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Trump's central campaign promises was the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, many of them from Venezuela, and sending them back likely would require cooperation from Venezuelan authorities. Following the brief detention of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Caracas on the eve of Maduro's inauguration, Trump issued a statement on social media saying: "These freedom fighters should not be harmed." Maduro's government denied any involvement, saying the opposition had orchestrated it to generate support for Machado. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Milo Ventimiglia is one of the many California residents whose home was lost in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires this week. The actor known for his work in This Is Us, Heroes and Gilmore Girls returned to the ash-covered site of his former house on Thursday alongside CBS News. Ventimiglia and his wife Jarah Mariano, who is currently pregnant, evacuated Malibu on Tuesday. Though they were safe, they watched their home burn down via their security camera system. I think theres a kind of shock moment where youre going, This is real, this is happening,' Ventimiglia recalled, explaining what it was like to watch his house become engulfed in flames. At a certain point, we just turned it off. What good is it to continue watching? We kind of accepted the loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actor described returning to his property as heavy. He took reporter Tony Dokoupil through the destruction that used to be his home, stopping to point out where his kitchen barstools used to stand and where they had set up a crib for their new baby. You start thinking about all the memories in the different parts of the house and whatnot. And then you see your neighbors houses and everything around. Your heart just breaks, Ventimiglia said. The actor also noted that its not lost on him that this is somewhat a case of life imitating art. In This Is Us, Ventimiglia played Jack Pearson, the shows tragic father figure who dies in a house fire started by a Crock-Pot. As upsetting as losing his home is, Ventimiglia told Dokoupil, Well make do. Weve got good friends, and weve got good people were working with, he added. Wife and baby are the most important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the fires began on Tuesday, the devastating natural disaster has resulted in at least 10 deaths, the destruction of 10,000 structures and evacuation orders or warnings for 400,000 locals. As of Friday morning, the Palisades fire is currently at 6% and has burned 19,978 acres since it started. As for the Eaton fire, that remains at 0% containment and has burned 13,690 acres. The Kenneth, Hurst and Lidia fires also remain active. A red flag warning is still in effect for Los Angeles countys inland coast until Friday evening. The post This Is Us Star Milo Ventimiglia Says He Watched His House Burn Down on a Security Camera | Video appeared first on TheWrap. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - The U.S. government sued Airbnb on Friday, alleging housing discrimination after a host refused to rent an apartment to a mother with three school-age children. In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the Department of Justice said the home rental company violated the Fair Housing Act through Jarrod Blake's rejection of a rental for Charisse Ylitalo and her sons, aged 9, 11 and 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint said Airbnb lets hosts designate property as unsuitable for children aged 2 to 12, or infants under age 2. Airbnb declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said it was committed to welcoming people with children, and that it explicitly forbids discrimination based on familial status. The Justice Department declined additional comment. Ylitalo had sought a three-month rental in late 2020 in Huntsville, Alabama, where she and her husband Christopher had just sold their home, to minimize disruptions for their children before moving to Hawaii, where Christopher had taken a new job. Blake allegedly told Ylitalo "this apartment is not suitable for kids," prompting her to object. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My kids are 14, 9 & 11," she said. "I would understand if they were little but all they do is play video games. You do know that it is illegal to discriminate against people with children." The complaint said Airbnb later told Ylitalo that hosts need not accept children, and "it would be best" if she found another rental. Ylitalo and her sons ended up an hour's drive from Huntsville, causing disruptions and isolation that led her husband to return to his old job, which paid thousands of dollars less than the Hawaii job, the complaint said. Airbnb's website says hosts are prohibited from discrimination based on "familial status (having children)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The San Francisco-based company said hosts may highlight features that could lead guests to decide when properties are unsuitable for children. Blake, a resident of Santa Monica, California, could not immediately be reached for comment. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction requiring Airbnb to take steps to thwart further discrimination. The case is US v Airbnb Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 25-00348. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and David Gregorio) Donald Trump will be sentenced on Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court has ruled. The justices, by a 5-4 majority, rejected the president-elects last-minute request to delay proceedings, meaning that he will be sentenced just over a week before he is due to take office. Mr Trump, 78, was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York last year in an alleged attempt to cover up an affair with Stormy Daniels, the adult film star. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amy Coney Barrett, whom Mr Trump appointed to the court in 2020, and chief justice John Roberts sides with the three liberals on the court to rule against the Republican. Four conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh said they would have granted Trumps request. In a short statement, the Court said that some of Mr Trumps objections to the sentencing going ahead could be handled in the ordinary course on appeal. It went on to say that it would impose a relatively insubstantial burden on the president-elects responsibilities as Juan Merchan, the judge in charge of the case, has signalled that he would not face jail time or other penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trumps sentencing will now be held in Manhattan on Friday at 9.30am (2.30pm UK). Sentencing expected to be relatively insubstantial The brief order gave two reasons for the decision. First, the alleged evidentiary violations at president-elect Trumps state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president-elects responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial courts stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing. Mr Trump is the first former US president to be convicted of a crime - REUTERS Mr Trump said in remarks at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida after the Supreme Courts order: I read it and I thought was a fair decision, actually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wrote on his social media platform: For the sake and sanctity of the presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that justice will prevail. Lawyers acting for Mr Trump had repeatedly attempted to have his conviction thrown out and sentencing delayed, arguing that it would interfere with his work as he prepares to enter the White House for the second time. Forcing president Trump to defend a criminal case and appear for a criminal sentencing hearing at the apex of the Presidential transition creates a constitutionally intolerable risk of disruption to national security and Americas vital interests, they told justices this week. Prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorneys office said the notion that Mr Trump was entitled to immunity as president-elect was utterly baseless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect is, by definition, not yet the president, they argued in a court filing on Thursday. The president-elect therefore does not perform any Article II functions under the Constitution, and there are no Article II functions that would be burdened by ordinary criminal process involving the president-elect. Justice Juan Merchan has indicated that Mr Trump will not face jail time - REUTERS Waiting until after Jan 20, when Mr Trump is inaugurated as the 47th president, would pose much more severe and potentially insuperable obstacles to sentencing and finality, it added. Illegitimate political attack Justice Merchan has previously suggested he may issue an unconditional discharge to Mr Trump, which would mark a rare and lenient alternative to prison or probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow defendant to pursue his appellate options, he said in an 18-page decision released last week. At the time, Mr Trump criticised the decision on his Truth Social platform as an illegitimate political attack that was nothing but a Rigged Charade. The president-elect was found guilty in May of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to Ms Daniels, allegedly to conceal an affair that could have harmed his 2016 campaign for the White House. It marked the first time a US president former or sitting had been convicted of or charged with a criminal offence. He has denied any wrongdoing. Although falsifying business records is a class E felony in New York and therefore punishable by up to four years in prison, legal experts cast doubt on whether the 78-year-old Republican would face prison time. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The News The US Supreme Court on Friday appeared inclined to uphold a law that would require TikTok to be banned in the country unless it divested from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The legal debate over the app pits national security concerns against free speech, with ByteDance arguing that the ban violates the latter. But the justices appeared skeptical of that argument: Justice Brett Kavanaugh mentioned examples of the US prohibiting broadcasting companies from having foreign government ties, and Justice Samuel Alito questioned if Americans are actually harmed by a ban or whether their attachment to TikTok is akin to that of an old article of clothing that can be shed. ByteDance has recently promoted another video sharing app it owns Lemon8 pointing to a possible backup plan if the nations highest court forces TikToks removal from app stores on Jan. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courts ruling is likely to come at the end of next week. The decision will be among the most consequential of the digital age, as TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon, The New York Times wrote. SIGNALS Trumps pro-TikTok stance pits him against Republican allies Source: Reuters US President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to block the ban, which passed in Congress with bipartisan support last year, so his administration can find a political resolution that keeps TikTok in the US and addresses national security concerns. Trump has expressed support for the app which he said helped him capture some of the youth vote this election reversing his 2020 position when he tried to force its sale to a US company. Trumps current pro-TikTok stance pits him against many members of his party who want the platform outlawed, including 22 Republican state attorneys general who asked the conservative-majority Supreme Court to uphold the law. District and appellate courts have ruled against TikTok. TikTok ban would be another flashpoint in tense US-China relations Sources: Bloomberg, China Law Blog, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Pew Research Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A TikTok ban would become the latest flashpoint in tense US-China trade relations, sending a clear message to other players in Chinas tech sector that their products arent welcome in the US market, a Bloomberg Asia tech columnist wrote. China could likely offer a tit-for-tat response, but economic strains and geopolitical concerns may limit its ability or willingness to engage in aggressive retaliation, two China Law Blog experts predicted. A US ban would immediately impact American TikTok users, not Beijing, an expert argued in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs: A third of US adults use TikTok, and the share of users who get news from there has more than doubled since 2020, according to Pew Research. US scrutiny of TikTok is hypocritical, some argue Sources: The New York Times, The Diplomat The US would be the first Western liberal democracy to ban TikTok, but several other countries have moved against the platform, The New York Times reported: Romania annulled its presidential election over concerns of foreign interference on TikTok, and Albania banned the app for a year. Some experts argue that the backlash may betray a double standard: While Big Tech is increasingly under scrutiny, US companies like Google and Meta simply do not face the mistrust that TikTok has in the West, the CEO of a Singapore-based consultancy told The Times. That the Biden administration largely gave up trying to control disinformation on domestic social media platforms only lends credence to Chinese officials claims of hypocrisy, a columnist argued in The Diplomat last year. By Nate Raymond WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to decide the legality of a key component of the Affordable Care Act that effectively gives a task force established under the landmark healthcare law known as Obamacare the ability to require that insurers cover preventive medical care services at no cost to patients. The justices took up an appeal by Democratic President Joe Biden's administration of a lower court's ruling that sided with a group of Christian businesses who objected to their employee health plans covering HIV-preventing medication and had argued that the task force's structure violated the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices are expected to hear arguments and issue a ruling by the end of June. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that by not allowing the U.S. president to remove members of the task force, the structure set up under the 2010 law championed by Democratic President Barack Obama infringed on presidential authority under a constitutional provision called the appointments clause. The Justice Department said the 5th Circuit's ruling jeopardizes the availability of critical preventive care including cancer screenings enjoyed by millions of Americans. That ruling marked the latest in a string of court decisions in recent years - including by the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court - deeming the structure of various executive branch and independent agencies unconstitutional. The lawsuit followed earlier and unsuccessful efforts by Republicans and conservative litigants to abolish the Affordable Care Act through Congress or the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices in 2021 rejected a bid to invalidate Obamacare by several Republican-led states that was backed by President-elect Donald Trump's first administration, the third time the court had preserved the law since its 2010 enactment. Trump returns to the presidency on Jan. 20. The latest case challenged only part of the law. It was filed by lawyers with America First Legal, a group founded by Stephen Miller, who Trump has tapped to serve as White House deputy chief of staff for policy in his second term. America First Legal filed the case on behalf of a group of Texas small businesses who objected on religious grounds to a mandate that their employee health plans cover pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV (PrEP) for free. The plaintiffs have argued that the PrEP requirement forces business owners to pay for services that "encourage homosexual behavior, prostitution, sexual promiscuity and intravenous drug use" despite their religious beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They challenged not just that requirement but the entire federal mandate that has provided about 150 million Americans free access to preventive care services including cancer screenings under Obamacare. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, whose 2018 ruling declaring all of Obamacare unconstitutional was the subject of the 2021 Supreme Court case. O'Connor sided with the plaintiffs by blocking the enforcement of the federal mandate nationwide. The 5th Circuit then partly reversed that decision, saying O'Connor went too far by blocking it nationally rather than issuing an injunction that applied only to the plaintiffs. But it agreed with the plaintiffs that the members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which under Obamacare was given the job of issuing preventive-care recommendations, were appointed in violation of the appointments clause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Circuit Judge Don Willett, a Trump appointee, wrote for the panel that because the task force wielded "unreviewable power," its members needed to have been nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate - yet had not been. Instead, its 16 members are volunteers who serve four-year terms and are convened by an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS. Because the task force's structure was deemed unconstitutional, Willett said the Texas businesses were entitled to an injunction preventing them from being forced to comply with preventive-care mandates to the extent the task force recommended them. The Biden administration on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court said that ruling was wrong and that the HHS secretary retains the ability to remove and supervise task force members. Even if the 5th Circuit was right that the law insulated the task force from supervision, the Biden administration argued that problem could be solved by severing a single provision of the healthcare law. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Will Dunham) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court's nine justices heard arguments on Friday in a challenge by TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance to a law that would force a sale or ban the widely used short-video app by Jan. 19 on national security grounds. Here are some quotes by the justices and lawyers in the case from the arguments. CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS "Counsel (addressed to Tiktok's lawyer), you began by saying this is a U.S. company operating in the United States. But the ultimate company that controls it, ByteDance, was found by Congress, and I'll quote this, 'to be subject to Chinese laws that require it to assist or cooperate with the Chinese's government's intelligence work,' and to ensure that the Chinese government has the power to access and control private data that the company holds. So are we supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is, in fact, subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government?" JUSTICE BRETT KAVANAUGH "Just on the data collection interest, I think Congress and the president were concerned that China was accessing information about millions of Americans, tens of millions of Americans - including teenagers, people in their 20s - that they would use that information over time to develop spies, to turn people, to blackmail people, people who a generation from now will be working in the FBI or the CIA or in the State Department. Is that not a realistic assessment by Congress and the president of the risks here?" JUSTICE ELENA KAGAN "I was trying to think of whether there's a historical analog here, and this is what I came up with, and you (the Biden administration lawyer) can tell me whether it's fallacious. You know, in the mid-20th century, we were very concerned about the Soviet Union and what the Soviet Union was doing in this country. And the Communist Party of the United States at that time was integrally attached to the Communist International (Comintern), which was essentially a Soviet operation, right? So, if Congress had said, 'Well, it's very nice, we can have the Communist Party USA, but it has to divest, it has to completely divorce itself from the Comintern and from any international ties that it has,' do you think that that would have been absolutely fine?" U.S. SOLICITOR GENERAL ELIZABETH PRELOGAR "The Chinese government's control of TikTok poses a grave threat to national security. No one disputes the PRC (People's Republic of China) seeks to undermine U.S. interests by amassing vast quantities of sensitive data about Americans and by engaging in covert influence operations. And no one disputes that the PRC pursues those goals by compelling companies like ByteDance to secretly turn over data and carry out PRC directives. Those realities mean that the Chinese government could weaponize TikTok at any time to harm the United States." Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect comments on the sanctions made by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The U.S. and the U.K. have enacted their most extensive sanctions against Russia's oil industry, targeting nearly 200 vessels of the so-called "shadow fleet," major oil companies, and associated entities, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Jan. 10. "The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia's key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sanctions include more than 180 oil-carrying vessels of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a group of tankers routinely used for sanction evasion. Several of these vessels are also reportedly involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian oil. The measures also target two of Russia's major oil producers, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, along with dozens of their subsidiaries. Combined, these companies reportedly produce over 1 million barrels of oil daily, generating an estimated $23 billion of revenue annually, according to the U.S. Treasury. The sanctions also extend to dozens of Russian energy officials and corporate executives, further tightening restrictions on Moscow's oil industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the additional sanctions by the U.K. and U.S., remarking that the sanctions deliver a "significant blow to the financial foundation of Russia's war machine." In addition to sanctions, Ukraine has disrupted Russia's oil production with targeted drone strikes on infrastructure. Refineries in Tuapse, Ilyich, and Novoshakhtinsk have reduced or suspended operations due to the combined impact of sanctions and Ukrainian attacks. Read also: Japans new sanctions are significant blow to Russias military-industrial complex, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US Vice President Kamala Harris has cancelled her planned visit to Germany and other countries in light of the wildfires currently sweeping through the Greater Los Angeles area, the White House announced on Thursday. Originally scheduled for January 17, Harris had planned to visit Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany, where she was set to engage with US troops stationed there. The trip, which would have been her last foreign trip as US vice president, had also been set to include stops at US military bases in Singapore and Bahrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in response to the historic wildfires wreaking havoc in the Los Angeles area, Harris decided to remain in the US to help with the government's relief efforts, the White House said in a statement. On Wednesday, outgoing US President Joe Biden had already cancelled his planned trip to Italy due to the wildfires. On January 20, Republican Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as president, and Harris, alongside Biden, will leave office. Major utility companies are signing deals with data centers as artificial intelligence demand soars. And while the agreements may be good for their bottom lines, questions remain about how the AI revolution will impact public health. What's happening? As detailed by Reuters, data center operators in the United States are signing deals with utility companies to ensure the latter have enough energy to meet their demand. According to the report, Goldman Sachs estimates the centers will account for 8% of power generated in the country by the end of the decade up from 3% in 2022. Utility providers that have agreed to power data centers include American Electric Power, which promised to produce an extra 15 gigawatts for centers by 2030, and AES, which will support Google's Ohio centers with 310 megawatts, per Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amazon Web Services in Pennsylvania will receive electricity from Talen Energy, while Xcel Energy will help power a Meta Platforms data center in Minnesota. All in all, Reuters listed more than 10 agreements to meet data center energy needs. Why is this important? Reuters didn't provide details regarding the types of energy the data centers will run on, but given that the listed companies all depend on dirty fuels to some degree, it's fair to wonder how the uptick in AI usage will impact the public's long-term well-being. It is no secret that AI systems require massive amounts of energy. As the journal Nature explains, experts predict that some systems will need as much power as entire countries in the not-too-distant future. Moreover, the AI boom comes as the U.S. is grappling with an aging electrical grid that it must modernize to not only meet demand but also improve reliability. According to the Energy Information Administration, around 60% of the country's power still comes from dirty energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When burned, fuels such as gas, oil, and coal spew toxic fumes associated with health problems and millions of annual premature deaths as well as drive the accelerated planetary warming that gives rise to more intense extreme weather events. What can be done to limit harmful pollution from AI? Part of a grid upgrade includes investing in clean, low-cost energy such as wind and solar. Many utility companies around the country have committed to reducing their reliance on dirty fuels, including AES, Talen, and Xcel all of which support major corporations. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind It's worth monitoring whether these providers show progress toward upholding these promises over the years. If they fail to do so, and if you live in a state with a deregulated energy market, you may be able to hold them accountable by switching providers. (You could explore this option regardless, since adopting cleaner solutions can lower your utility bills.) Meanwhile, companies such as Google and Microsoft are exploring nuclear energy as a more eco-friendly solution to support energy-gobbling data centers, while a simplified algorithm may help reduce the power needs of AI altogether. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Thousands of drivers are now eligible for toll-free trips through the Downtown and Midtown tunnels, and one of Virginias top lawmakers is encouraging residents, more than ever, to take advantage of the offer. Speaker of the House Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) worked along with State Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) to secure $101 million in the states two-year budget for relief at the tunnels that cross under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth. Previously: Toll-free trips through Downtown and Midtown tunnels to begin within a month Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton and Franklin can now receive up to 14 free trips per week if they make less than $50,000 a year. This is on top of an offer to receive a 50% discount on the tolls, which is available to residents of all 16 localities that make up Hampton Roads. In that case, a person must make less than $65,000. The process to achieve relief is the same for both. Drivers must have an E-ZPass and sign up in person at one of the three E-ZPass service centers: the Norfolk E-ZPass Customer Service Center off Church Street; the Portsmouth E-ZPass Customer Service Center off Victory Boulevard; or the the DriveERT Customer Care Center in Portsmouth. Scott said its vital people sign up, as it will be the only way lawmakers can try to obtain more relief down the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downtown, Midtown tunnel tolls to increase in 2025 Folks complain to me every time I see them about the tolls, Scott said. And Ive been up here in Richmond complaining about the tolls. And so then, when we get toll relief, theyre going to think weve cried wolf if people dont come and take advantage of it. Toll-free trips through Downtown and Midtown tunnels to begin within a month What to bring to an E-ZPass Customer Service Center Proof of income and residency must be presented to obtain the toll relief, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. One of the following is required for proof of residency: Drivers license Utility/telephone/cable bill Checking/savings account statement Property tax bill Mortgage proof of ownership Rental contract Military documentation confirming city of residence One of the following is required for proof of income: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social Security statement W-2 1099-Misc One month of pay stubs IRS 1040 Notarized employers statement Self-declaration of no income Norfolk E-ZPass Customer Service Center 1701 Church St. Norfolk, Va. 23504 Hours: Monday Friday: 9 a.m. 7 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. 1 p.m. Portsmouth E-ZPass Customer Service Center 4010 Victory Blvd. Portsmouth, Va. 23701 Hours: Monday Friday: 9 a.m. 7 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. 1 p.m. DriveERT Customer Care Center 309 County Street Portsmouth, Va. 23704 Hours: Monday Friday: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Two popular Garfield Park businesses are closed this morning, following a fire overnight that officials believe may have been started by squatters. The second fire in Indianapolis the past 10 days to potentially involve squatters occurred in a building that sits between two popular businesses, Garfield Brewery and Helm Coffee. On Jan. 9, at 11:58 p.m., Indianapolis Fire Department crews arrived to find heavy fire after they were called to a vacant structure in the 2300 block of Shelby Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both businesses sustained fire damage to their roofs and water damage to the insides. Neighbors told fire officials they thought squatters were living in the vacant structure. Firefighters took nearly an hour and a half to get the fire under control. After the fire had subsided, officials from the Business and Neighborhood Services inspected the building. Marion County Health Department staff also inspected the two businesses. In a social media post, Helm Coffee said the building next door burned to the ground overnight. The coffee shop is "fine and everyone is ok. We will be back up as soon as they allow us to be!" the post read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garfield Brewery, also shared online they will be closed until further notice. "Thankfully were all okay and were working diligently to assess damages. We will be back up and running as soon as we possibly can," the post read. No one was injured in the fire and the cause is under investigation. Indianapolis Fire Department crews fight a fire in the 2300 block of Shelby Street at a vacant building between Garfield Brewery and Helm Coffee on Jan. 9, 2025. IFD: 1 dog and 5 puppies die after wrong oil put into heater at east-side business Take a look at this video which perfectly illustrates the importance of the Close Before You Doze fire safety initiative. Heavy fire and smoke damage throughout the apartment. One bedroom burned out - the door was not fully closed - One bedroom untouched - the door was closed. pic.twitter.com/JNNkw0O5Ax Indianapolis Fire Department (@IFD_NEWS) January 9, 2025 Since the beginning of the year On Jan 1. Indianapolis Fire Department officials said squatters might be to blame for a fire inside an unoccupied Tyson warehouse in the 1300 block of South Keystone. The warehouse was empty except for shelving used to house goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 7, one dog and five puppies were killed after a fire destroyed two businesses in the 2100 block of Adams Street. Employees at an auto shop were using an oil heater for warmth and the oil in the heater accidentally mixed with gasoline. Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Two popular businesses affected by fire that broke out Thursday night WEST DES MOINES, Iowa At the corner of Grand and Ashworth, things are running like a Swiss watch. In January of 2023, they started the renovation on the Val Air Ballroom. Last winter, they finished them. All through 2024, Sam Summers and company rocked the house, and the Waterbury neighbors didnt complain. Our GM said someone stopped by, says Summers, and said I just want to introduce myself, I was the guy who used to complain about the sound and I cant hear it anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Summers moved right from the ballroom to its basement. The giant space got him thinking. If Im going to a concert Im typically looking to get dinner before I go or find some place to be able to go get a drink afterwards. He settled on both. Theres the blue-collar bar Work In Progress on one side and the stunning Tom Archers Poor Mans Country Club on the other. We talk amongst ourselves like Oh my god, this place is so cool! Summers laughs. Jethros receives backlash after adding inflation fee, releases statement We felt the same way. But theres maybe no one here more excited than Chef Ryan Skinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within two minutes I knew this is exactly what I want to do, says the former Harbinger chef who grew up down the street from the Val Air. He gets to return to his home neighborhood and salute its past. Its getting back to the roots of Des Moines dining, he says of the new menus hes designed. Basically things that you would see at Johnnys Vets Club as well just really getting into the history of Des Moines. History gets a lot of play on these walls. Long before Sam Summers was booking Hinterland, Tom Archer was booking the Val Air, with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and The Beach Boys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He knew how to make people happy and be able to deliver an experience to folks and at the end of the day thats what were trying to do, Summers says. Over the last hundred years, the Val Air went from landmark to eyesore. Over the last two, its come all the way back. Tom Archers Poor Mans Country Club opens Friday, January 31 but reservations open January 10 at 10 a.m. Work In Progress is open now. Metro News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. CLEVELAND Vice President-elect JD Vance resigned his Senate seat at midnight Thursday, clearing the way for his swearing-in alongside President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20. Vance, R-Ohio, notified Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who will choose his successor, of his plans in a letter Thursday afternoon. To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate, Vance, who has served in the chamber for two years, said in a statement shared first with NBC News. When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and Ive made sure to live by that promise every single day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance added that voters had issued an undeniable mandate to put America first, both at home and abroad, and pledged to work with Trump to enact his agenda over the next four years. Vance, the author of Hillbilly Elegy and former venture capitalist, emerged as a political player in Ohio three years ago when Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, announced his retirement. Vance entered a crowded GOP primary filled with better-known and better-funded candidates but rode a Trump endorsement to victory. Now, at 40, he will be the third-youngest vice president in history behind John Breckinridge (36 years old upon taking office in 1857) and Richard Nixon (40 years and 11 days in 1953). DeWine, a Republican, will choose a replacement who will serve at least until a 2026 special election to determine who will fill the remaining two years of Vances term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWines lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, has emerged as the leading candidate but has not decided whether he wants the job. Other Republicans on the short list include former Ohio GOP chair Jane Timken, state Rep. Jay Edwards and state Treasurer Robert Sprague. DeWine and Husted met with Trump last month at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, but sources told NBC News that Trump made no commitments to Husted, who, amid the Senate speculation, has been preparing a campaign to succeed DeWine, who is term-limited, as governor. Im not ready to make an announcement yet, but the announcement will be coming soon, DeWine said at a news conference Wednesday with Husted at the Ohio Statehouse. Husted told reporters at the news conference that he is considering all of the options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayley Carducci, a Husted spokesperson, said Thursday that Husted had no additional comment. DeWine addressed the Senate vacancy with reporters Thursday night while attending an event with Trump and other GOP governors at Mar-a-Lago. We certainly have been working on this for some time, and I'll have an announcement probably next week, DeWine said. When asked what Husted might be thinking about the possibility of an appointment, DeWine declined to share details of their conversations. Well, he said, I'm not going to get into that tonight. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A Virginia Beach doctor, along with his practice, has recently agreed to pay $625,000 as part of of a civil fraud case. According to a release, Dr. Scott Saffold and Chesapeake Bay, ENT, P.C. allegedly routinely falsely billed government health care programs for balloon sinus dilations that were not considered medically necessary. Chesapeake hospital indicted for healthcare fraud Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saffold and Chesapeake Bay were said to have performed the procedure on six sinuses for multiple patients, staging the surgeries for each side of the sinuses at separate times in order to increase the amount of reimbursement from government payors. The government also alleged that Saffold and his practice would regularly bill government payors for endoscopes to examine the sphenoid sinus under Current Procedural Terminology Code 31235, while not actually performing the code. The release states the settlement is in connection with a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which allows an individual to file a complaint with the U.S. District Court and provide evidence to the U.S. Attorneys Office. For more information on the settlement, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is asking the public to weigh in on a proposed guideline for schools reporting student overdoses. The School-Connected Overdose Response and Notification Guideline recommends that parents are notified within 24 hours of a students overdose while on campus during school hours or during a school-connected event. The guideline, however, does not require the notifications to name the schools where student overdoses occur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VDOE will hold a total of three virtual sessions, where speakers will have a maximum of three minutes to speak. The dates, along with the registration link for the sessions, can be found below: For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. So here we are, at another one of those Trump moments that by now can only be called boringly surreal: The president-elect was sentenced Friday in New York in the hush-money trial, 10 days before taking the oath of office. He was given an unconditional discharge. At least he had to appear. Amazingly, the Supreme Court, this once, did not bail him out, although four justices were ready to. Nothing is shocking anymore. Trump refused to rule out invading Denmark (to take Greenland). Well, of course he did. What else should we expect? That he also wouldnt rule out invading Panama (to take the canal) took me by surprise, I admit. But only for about three seconds. By the fourth second, it made perfect sense: Jimmy Carters decision to give the canal to Panama has been a festering boil on the right ever since it happened. To say were in an unprecedented place is vastly understating it. We are in a place where no proper democracy has ever been or should ever be. We are about to have a president for whom there are utterly and literally no expectations. No one expects him to behave well. No one expects him to uphold normal standards of decency. If he muses one day about bombing London, or bombing Vancouver, or for that matter bombing Detroit, he will surprise no one. The panelists on The Five will just joke that there are certain sections of Detroit that a good bombing would only improve. Ha ha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump will enter office facing no accountability, and with virtually no chance that he will ever be held accountable. You think Im exaggerating? OK. Lets play out a hypothetical. Lets say President Trump gives nuclear secrets to North Korea. The New York Times breaks the story, lets say. What would happen? We know all too well what would happen. One of two things. Either hed lie and call it fake news, in which case the right-wing agitprop machine would grind its gears in his defense. Theyd unload on the Times. Theyd snoop around and find out that the reporter on the story cheated on an algebra test in tenth grade. Fox and the others would have the story debunked within about two days, and the Times and the rest of the mainstream media would be overpowered. Under scenario two, Trump would simply admit that he did it and explain why it was a very stable-genius-y thing to do, how everybodys saying so, and Fox et al. would immediately take up that drumbeat. And over at the Times and on MSNBC and CNN (and I originally added The Washington Post to this list, but these days, one isnt so sure, alas), everyone would be in high dudgeon about a sitting president sharing nuclear secrets with a regime that has repeatedly stated a deep hostility to the United States, but none of it would matter. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill? Wed see the same pattern. Democrats would be up in arms, while the only thing the Republicans would be doing with their arms would be to lock them. A few of them would express concern (hi, Susan Collins), but in time, theyd announce their faith in the presidents sound judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in the event someone sued and it got to the Supreme Court? The court may not have interceded for the prepresidential Trump, but it has already held that the presidential Trump can do anything. Trump will be a completely unaccountable president, then, for this very simple reason: The only three power systems capable of holding him to accountthe right-wing media, Republicans in Congress, and the Supreme Courthave no interest in doing so. The mainstream media will try to hold him to account, or at least we hope it will; but the mainstream media means nothing to Trump, his party, and his base. Ditto Democrats in Congress. I cant imagine a single scenario in which the right-wing media or the GOP Congress or the high court will show backbone or independence. In the meantime, these three entities, especially the right-wing media, have by now been trained to immediately and reflexively aim their fire at Democrats and liberals for every single thing that may go wrong during Trumps presidency. Were getting a little taste of that now. Once upon a sweet old time, the barely imaginable horror of the Los Angeles fires would have been given a little time to marinate before us as a merely human tragedy. Its entirely appropriate to ask questions and hold leaders accountableof course. But historically, we tend to get a few days of unified mourning before we get to that. And those days of unified mourning serve a civic and national purpose of reminding us that we are one people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No longer. Within hours or even minutes of the fires spreading, conservatives took to social media to let the world know that there was nothing accidental or capricious about any of itit was all the fault of Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass and, most of all, DEI, which stripped the LAFD of the kind of manly white men whom the fires would have taken one look at and retreated back to the hills in fear. As I said, obviously, its necessary to ask questions of leaders (which the GOP will never do with Trump). But its equally necessary not to instantly and excessively politicize events that obviously have nonpolitical elements to them. Newsom, Bass, and fire chief Kristen Crowley arent in control of the winds, or of the climate change thats making these wildfires more common and more severe. This is what the new Trump era will be like, and its what Democrats need to know they will be up against. There is a powerful disinformation and propaganda apparatus (1) for which Trump can do no wrong and (2) which, in all cases of conflict, will instantly advance a narrative, whether true or false or somewhere in between, that its the fault of Democrats, liberals, or the woke left. Thus the paradox of the new Trump era: The only institutions that will try to hold Trump accountable are powerless to do so, while the only ones with the power to punish him will never do it. Powerlessness does not, however, imply surrender. Quite the contrary. The republic is in the hands of Democrats and mainstream and progressive institutions. They, we, must fight harder than ever. Its just going to be maddening, watching a convicted felon president tell lies and corrupt our values. We have to believe that a day of reckoning will come. Without that belief, he wins. This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here. The United States offered a $25 million (20 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro on Friday, as the Venezuelan dictator was sworn in for a third term. The Leftist autocrat took the presidential oath at the national assembly in Caracas in the names of 16th-century indigenous rebel leader Guaicaipuro and Hugo Chavez, the former president who died in 2013. Chavez personally anointed Mr Maduro, a former bus driver, as his chosen successor as he was dying from cancer in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has since presided over 12 years of economic collapse and the brutal repression of his critics. May this new presidential term be a period of peace, of prosperity, of equality and the new democracy, said Mr Maduro as he vowed to uphold the Venezuelan constitution. Supporters cheer the autocratic Leftist leader at the swearing-in - Maxwell Briceno/Reuters His words were immediately derided by the opposition, which accused Mr Maduro of orchestrating a coup detat by assuming office on the basis of rigged results from last Julys presidential elections. Meanwhile, Washington upped the $15 million (12 million) reward it offered in 2020 for information leading to Mr Maduros capture. Separately, both the United Kingdom and European Union placed more sanctions on the Venezuelan regime for its suppression of democracy and multiple human rights abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development came a day after Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader, was briefly detained by hooded men who, her party Vente Venezuela said, had even shot at her. Mr Maduro, a former bus driver, was chosen by Hugo Chavez - Maxwell Briceno/Reuters The regime, which flooded Caracas with police and soldiers this week in the run-up to the inauguration, denied any involvement in her abduction. She subsequently re-emerged, calling on Venezuelans to protest against Mr Maduros inauguration. Today, the brave people showed how you defeat fear. I have never felt prouder to be Venezuelan, she posted on X, formerly Twitter. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, announced sanctions on 15 members of Mr Maduros inner circle, including the head of Venezuelas top court and senior military officers. He called for the liberation of all political prisoners and an immediate halt to the repression of dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicolas Maduros claim to power is fraudulent. The outcome of Julys elections was neither free nor fair and his regime does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people, Mr Lammy said. The US has offered $25m for the arrest of Mr Maduro - Gaby Oraa/Reuters The UK will not stand by as Maduro continues to oppress, undermine democracy, and commit appalling human rights violations. Meanwhile, there was continued expectation in Caracas of the arrival of Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition leader widely believed to have been the true winner of the elections. Mr Gonzalez said he would return from exile on Friday, despite a warrant for his arrest for conspiracy, to stage his own presidential swearing-in. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been released after being abducted in Caracas following her first public appearance in months, her campaign platform said on Thursday. The opposition's campaign platform announced that Machado had been forcibly intercepted following a protest rally. "During her abduction, she was forced to record several videos and was later released," the campaign team stated on social media platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Machado is expected to address the country later on Thursday to explain the situation, according to her campaign platform. Earlier, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez had demanded her immediate release. "To the security forces who have abducted her, I say: Do not play with fire," Gonzalez wrote on X. Government officials allegedly fired at the motorcycles that were transporting her. The opposition leader had just left a rally. Machado had left her place of refuge for the first time in months and joined the protests she had called, in which thousands of people demonstrated against the planned inauguration of authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am here, with you, and until the end," she wrote on X. She has not appeared publicly since the election for security reasons. People nationwide took to the streets shouting slogans like "Glory to the brave people," images showed online. After the presidential election in Venezuela in July, opposition candidate Gonzalez claimed victory and he is recognized as the winner by the US and several Latin American countries. However, the nation's electoral authority declared the winner to be Maduro, who has been in power for almost 12 years. He is due to be sworn in on Friday. Gonzalez left for Spain in early September, where he applied for political asylum. However, he recently announced his plan to return to his homeland and also be sworn in as the president of the South American country on Friday. A warrant for his arrest remains in force in Venezuela. Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Maria Corina Machado was arrested following an opposition rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Thursday but has been released. Machado addressed a political rally opposing Maduro that was held one day prior to his pending inauguration on Friday, the Washington Post reported. "All this strength that we have built and that grows every day prepares us to finish this final phase," Machado said Thursday afternoon in a post on X. "Whatever they do tomorrow, they will finish burying themselves." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuelan security forces loyal to Maduro "violently intercepted" Machado's caravan as she left the rally and briefly detained her before setting her free, her support team told El Pais. "Regime troops shot at the motorcycles that were transporting her," Machado's Comando con Venezuela opposition group said Thursday in a post on X. Supporters of anti-Chavez leader Maria Corina Machado hold flags during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday, after which Machado was arrested but released by security forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA-EFE At least eight of Maduro's security officers were involved in her arrest, members of Machado's opposition group told CNN. There was no report of injuries or deaths due to the incident. Machado's appearance at the opposition rally was her first in months after the Venezuelan government began cracking down on the opposition shortly after Maduro claimed the election win. Members of the Bolivarian militia maintain order during a swearing-in ceremony for President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA-EFE Maduro claimed victory in the nation's July 28 presidential election, but Machado and other opposition leaders say Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia secured 67% of votes to Maduro's 30% and is the rightful winner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Maduro supporter is in charge of Venezuela's National Electoral Council, which has not released its accounting of votes in the election that some international organizations say Urrutia likely won after polling voters. Maduro is scheduled to start his third term as president of Venezuela after Friday's inauguration ceremony. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a controversial third term on Friday, despite unresolved disputes over the July presidential election and international pressure for him to step down. "The power granted to me by the Constitution has not been given to me by a foreign government or a gringo government," Maduro declared in his inauguration speech. "I have not been placed by the oligarchy. I come from the people. The power I represent belongs to the people and I owe it to the people." The election results from six months ago suggest otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, was declared the winner by electoral authorities just hours after the polls closed on July 28. However, the announcement came without any disclosure of vote counts, raising skepticism about their legitimacy. Meanwhile, Venezuela's opposition collected tally sheets from over 85 percent of the electronic voting machines, revealing a strikingly different outcome: opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won by a landslide. These claims were validated by independent election monitors, including the U.S.-based Carter Center and the Organization of American States, who deemed the opposition's results credible. In response, several countries, including the United States, recognized Gonzalez as Venezuela's president-elect and demanded that Maduro provide electoral records to justify his claimed victory. The disputed results triggered widespread protests across Venezuela, with thousands taking to the streets over the summer to denounce Maduro's rule. The government responded with force, arresting over 2,000 demonstrators, killing at least 20, and launching campaigns encouraging citizens to report suspected opposition supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, high-profile opposition leaders and activists have faced detention. Gonzalez fled to Spain, while his ally, Maria Corina Machado, who had been barred from running for office, went into hiding. In the days leading up to Maduro's inauguration, a new wave of repression unfolded. Hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces in the capital city of Caracas on Thursday, and dozens of activists, opposition figures, and journalists were arrested. Machado, making her first public appearance in months, was briefly detained, further fueling international condemnation of what many are calling a stolen election. But as Maduro prepares to solidify his grip on power, the spotlight has shifted to Gonzalez. Over the past week, the opposition leader has traveled across the Americas, meeting with heads of stateincluding U.S. President Joe Bidento rally support and pressure Maduro to step down. Gonzalez has vowed to return to Venezuela and assume the presidency by taking up residence in the official presidential palace. However, he has not disclosed concrete plans for how he intends to achieve this. Maduro, in turn, has dismissed these efforts as "fascist conspiracies" and has issued a $100,000 reward for information leading to Gonzalez's capture, warning that he will be arrested upon return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his inauguration, Madurowho has been in power for over 20 yearspledged a new era for Venezuela. "I swear that this new presidential term will be one of peace, prosperity, equality and new democracy. I swear it by history. I swear it on my life. I will keep my word." Yet his track record of stealing elections and imprisoning critics paints a different picture. With the nation divided and its democratic institutions under siege, Maduro's promises are unlikely to quell doubts about his leadership or resolve the political crisis gripping Venezuela. The post Venezuela's Maduro Begins Third Term Amid Contested Election appeared first on Reason.com. The News The US announced a $25m reward for the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday as he was set to be inaugurated for a third five-year term in office following last years widely-disputed election. The State Department in 2020 had announced a reward of $15 million for Maduros arrest or conviction, following his indictment on narco-terrorism and other charges in the US. The US Treasury on Friday also issued sanctions against eight Venezuelan economic and security officials, including the state oil company chief, saying they enabled Maduros repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro, meanwhile, has ramped up his crackdown on the opposition, which international observers believe comfortably beat him in last years election. Hundreds have been arrested, and many forced into hiding or exile. On Thursday, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was briefly detained after making a surprise appearance at a rally in Caracas. Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, has maintained he will soon arrive in Venezuela to assume the presidency. However, analysts believe Gonzalezs odds of securing power remain low given the armys support for Maduro and an ambivalent position from the incoming US administration. Long odds, but no dictatorship lasts forever, the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly wrote on X. Kach Medina Umandap, a 36-year-old UAE-based OFW and digital nomad, made history as the youngest Filipina and the first to visit all 195 United Nations-recognized countries using only a Philippine passport. Her extraordinary journey concluded on Jan. 7, 2025, at 12:47 a.m. PST in Port Sudan, Africa. Arriving via Ethiopian Airlines, Umandaps achievement marks a significant milestone for Filipinos in global travel. - Advertisement - Sudan, which had been closed to tourism for two years due to civil war, recently reopened its doors by resuming the issuance of tourist visas. Umandaps visit makes her one of the first travelers to explore Port Sudan, a designated safe zone, during its early steps toward tourism recovery. She is currently in Dubai, preparing to return to the Philippines to celebrate her groundbreaking achievement. Standing here today, having set foot in all 195 countries, is a testament to the power of dreams and perseverance. This journey was never just about counting countriesit was about building connections, embracing diverse cultures, and celebrating the shared humanity that binds us all, Umandap said. With her final stop in Sudan, Umandap joins the ranks of the prestigious UN Masters, an elite group of fewer than 500 travelers worldwide recognized by NomadMania.com for visiting all UN-recognized countries. Notably, she follows in the footsteps of Filipina-Americans Luisa Yu and Odette Ricasa, carving her own path as the first to achieve the feat using only a Philippine passport. Umandaps global journey began in 2013 when she left a corporate career in Kuwait and Iraq to embark on a backpacking trip across Southeast Asia with her siblings. Teaching English in Vietnam deepened her love for cultural immersion, leading her to adopt a Digital Nomad lifestyle and live in various countries. In 2024 alone, she visited 26 African nations, culminating in her historic journey around the world. She now splits her time living in Dubai, Laguna, and Palawan. I want Filipinos to know that traveling the world is possible, even with a low-index passport. Whether through a Digital Nomad lifestyle or careful planning alongside a traditional job, its an achievable dream, Umandap said, encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. Umandap uses her platforms to inspire and support fellow Filipinos in their travel aspirations. Through TravelWithKach.com, she organizes group trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations, while FilipinoPassport.com simplifies visa, travel, and relocation processes for Filipino passport holders. Her travel blog, TwoMonkeysTravelGroup.com, offers practical advice and insights from her own experiences. Recognized by leading publications such as Forbes and TIME, Umandap has collaborated with global brands, tourism boards, and airlines to bring her travel dreams to life. Her work has earned her multiple travel blogging awards and speaking engagements at international tourism events. Umandaps story exemplifies how determination and careful planning can turn even the most ambitious dreams into reality. Visualize your dreams, set them as goals, and take the steps to make them happen. To my fellow Filipinos and travelersyou can create the life you want while achieving your goals, she said. As she prepares to return home, Umandaps remarkable journey continues to inspire Filipinos and travelers worldwide to dream big, overcome barriers, and embrace the transformative power of travel. Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third term on Friday, following an election that many in the international community and the opposition considered rigged. State television showed the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, placing the presidential sash around Maduro's neck. His rival candidate in the election, Edmundo Gonzalez, who has since fled the country, had announced his intention to return to be sworn in as president of the South American country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, this seems unlikely as an arrest warrant has been issued against him in Venezuela. Gonzalez, who left for Spain at the beginning of September where he applied for political asylum, had declared himself the winner of the July presidential election. The United States, Canada and several Latin American countries recognize him as the true winner of the vote. However, the electoral commission, which is loyal to the ruling party, declared Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, the winner. The European Union has not recognized Maduro's victory, instead demanding the publication of the election documents, a request the electoral authority is yet to fulfill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a large security presence for Maduro's swearing-in ceremony on Friday, with the armed forces deployed to the streets of the capital, Caracas, to ensure there were no disruptions. One day before Maduro's inauguration, thousands of people took to the streets in Venezuela to protest against Maduro. For the first time in months, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also made a public appearance and was enthusiastically received by crowds at a rally in Caracas. According to her own account, she was briefly arrested afterwards and later released. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello denied the accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the United Nations International Independent Commission of Inquiry, several people have been arrested in the country in the last few days. The government recently reported the arrest of more than 120 foreign nationals on suspicion of terrorism. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) greets Wang Dongming (M), member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, before his swearing-in for a third term. Zurimar Campos/Prensa Miraflores/dpa A man "attempting to start a fire" Thursday in a West Hills neighborhood that was burning from the Kenneth fire is under investigation in connection with the nearly 1,000-acre blaze, according to law enforcement officials and a document reviewed by The Times. Juan Sierra, 33, was arrested by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Division around 5:30 p.m. after he was seen attempting to spark a fire, according to a law enforcement email obtained by The Times. Sierra was arrested on suspicion of a probation violation, but Ventura County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Monica Smith said Friday that he is a "person of interest" in the Kenneth fire, which began Thursday afternoon near the county line and was threatening homes in Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, the fire had consumed roughly 960 acres of brush by 5:30 p.m. Thursday and was burning south through open space toward homes in the Malibu Canyon area north of the 101 Freeway near Calabasas. But a series of water drops helped slow its advance. The blaze is about 35% contained, and evacuation orders have been lifted, fire officials said. Smith said authorities have not ruled out arson as the cause of the blaze. Officer Drake Madison, an LAPD spokesman, said Sierra was spotted attempting to start a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road at 4:32 p.m. Police arrested Sierra after he was detained by residents who claimed they saw him setting a fire, according to two law enforcement sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. He has not been charged with setting the fire. While Sierra was being held in LAPD custody, officials determined the origin point of the Kenneth fire was in Ventura County, so the investigation has been turned over to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man with Sierra's same birthday has been arrested at least three other times by Los Angeles police since 2023, according to L.A. County jail records. Sierra had been under the L.A. County Probation Department's supervision since October 2023 stemming from an assault conviction, according to Vicky Waters, the agency's communication director. He had pending violations for failing to report to his probation officer and violating the terms of his probation, she said. Sierra last reported to the Probation Department in November 2024. 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 beloved and respected member of the Burlington music community died suddenly this week, leaving many of the musicians he worked with reeling from shock. Sergei Ushakov provided sound and was a familiar sight in the elevated sound booth at the legendary Burlington music venue Nectars for more than three decades. He died suddenly the night of Jan. 8. He always made my bass drum sound like thunder by using an extremely small condenser mic clipped to the hoop and worked his magic, Vermont native and drummer Jason Corbiere, whos based in Texas and plays drums for Jimmie Vaughan, wrote in a Jan. 9 Facebook post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sergei I will miss you so much! Corbiere wrote. You were the final face of vintage Nectar's. Musicians posted their memories of Ushakov much of the day on Jan. 9. Nectars, best known as the early home of jam-rock giants Phish, confirmed Ushakovs passing by noting in a Facebook post that To say that Sergei was a pillar of Burlingtons music community would be an understatement, as he was truly in a league of his own. Nectar's sound technician Sergei Ushakov, who died suddenly Jan. 8, 2025, shown in a photo from December 2017. Musician and record producer Charles Eller wrote on Facebook that Ushakov served as the sound man for two acts Eller performed with, Burlington music legends Kilimanjaro and Big Joe Burrell, when they toured the Soviet Union during two weeks in 1991. Eller said the musicians arranged with the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival to bring Ushakov to the U.S. to accompany a band the sound technician had been working with in Russia. When it was time for them all to return, Sergei decided to stay in Vermont, Eller wrote. It was our good fortune that he was there for us musicians for all the years that followed. Nectar's sound technician Sergei Ushakov, right, stands with music fan Dave Kemp near the sound booth at the Burlington music venue Dec. 18, 2024. Ushakov died suddenly Jan. 8, 2025. Instilling fear, inciting laughter Many of the memories shared Jan. 9 reflected a gruff but lovable man whose understanding of the nuances that make live music sound better were unparalleled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one in the music business could simultaneously instill fear and incite laughter like Sergei. He was brash, but gentle and generous with his time, knowledge, and gear, Vermont musician Troy Millette wrote on Facebook. He knew how to fix anything and mix everything. Burlington musician Linda Bassick wrote on Facebook that the last time she spoke with Ushakov he told her about the birth of a grandchild. He was so proud, she wrote. Vermont guitar player Seth Yacovone, who for years held down a Friday night solo residency at Nectars, posted on Facebook that he worked with Ushakov from 1995 until a gig two weeks before Ushakovs death. One of the most honest people I've ever met, not afraid to tell you what he thought and I really appreciated that about him, Yacovone wrote. Grateful I got to know him and work with him so often, 15 years of Friday nights solo plus all the electric gigs, lots of great memories, thanks for it all Sergei! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vermont, Yacovone wrote, will never sound the same. Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington music venue Nectar's mourns loss of beloved sound engineer MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) Its been a little more than a week since the attack in New Orleans and explosion in Las Vegas. The suspects in both had military connections to North Carolina. While the exact role mental health played in these incidents is unknown, groups that work with veterans in Eastern N.C. said its disappointing to see. It is disappointing to see that happen when there are issues with a situation like that, Chief Executive Officer for Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina John Sotirkys said. Sotirkys is also a veteran himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They may be a veteran that, you know, you always wonder, was there something that could have been done? Was there some sort of activity or something that that could have been noted previous to that, that crisis or that mode happening?, Sotirkys said. Could someone have identified someone saying something or doing something previously before that, that incident happened? The groups peer resource center offers recovery-based and mental health services. They have classes, one-on-one support and a 60-bed facility being based in a community with a large military presence. A lot of veterans that were seeing are in a situation like that where theyve had some sort of traumatic incident while they served and have gotten into a problem with substance use, which would go to tie in with, you know, whether theyre homeless, underemployed, a lot of people will find problems finding employment, especially if theyre a combat veteran, Sotirkys said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. (Bloomberg) -- As Elon Musk and Argentinas Javier Milei champion ambitious plans to dramatically slash the size of government, a similar effort is getting underway across the globe from political leaders with a completely different ideology: Vietnams Communist Party. Most Read from Bloomberg In what amounts to the biggest overhaul of the state since adopting pro-market reforms in the 1980s, Vietnamese officials are targeting a roughly 20% reduction in the size of ministries, government agencies, and civil service workforce. Its being pitched as essential medicine to remedy a bloated bureaucracy, reduce red-tape and cut unnecessary costs from local governments on up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans would see five ministries abolished and the merger of ministries such as finance and planning and investment. Four government agencies, including the State Capital Management Committee, will be eliminated. Five state television channels, 10 newspapers and 19 magazines will be scrapped. The Southeast Asian countrys attack on bureaucracy follows similar plans in Argentina and the US. Argentinas President Javier Milei moved to shrink spending immediately upon taking office, cutting government ministries in a bid to eliminate deficits. President-elect Donald Trump is promising dramatic cuts under the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency co-headed by Elon Musk. There is a surprising convergence there both the Vietnamese government and Musk want control thats the common denominator that they both understand and can negotiate on, said Huong Le Thu, deputy director of the Asia Program at the Crisis Group. Musks efforts, though, are expected to face fierce political backlash. Vietnams one-party government has a much freer hand to execute policies unpopular with some segments of society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is Vietnams most ambitious administrative overhaul since Doi Moi, Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at Singapores ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said. Hanoi is trying to streamline a bureaucracy thats increasingly seen as an impediment to growth. Urgent Cuts Communist Party chief To Lams push to overhaul the government comes ahead of next years leadership reshuffle at the twice-in-a-decade National Party Congress. Lam, who took over the nations top political position in August following the death of long-time leader Nguyen Phu Trong, is putting his stamp on the system amid jockeying to win a full term as party general secretary. While details of the reorganization could still change, Lam is determined to reshape the government before the 14th Congress in early 2026. This is a very urgent issue which must be done, Lam said in a speech posted on the Communist Partys website in December. Sometimes we have to take bitter medicine, endure pain and cut out tumors in order to have a healthy and strong body, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first details of Vietnams reorganization plan began to trickle out in November, with a formal blueprint unveiled early in December, giving bureaucrats only until the end of the month to submit restructuring reports. They will be put forward for approval at extraordinary meetings of the Central Committee and the National Assembly in February. Its not yet clear how many jobs will go, but civil servants are clearly stressed one deputy prime minister said 100,000 jobs would be affected, another former parliament official said hundreds of thousands of party members and public employees will be worried. Businesses cautiously welcome what many see as long overdue and necessary reforms but fret policy decisions could be put on hold, leading to months-long logjams. The restructuring process may cause things to slow or get delayed for some months, said Le Dang Doanh, an economist and former government adviser in Hanoi. However it will ease the cost burden for the state budget and hopefully will boost the efficiency of the state apparatus, Doanh added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lam said in October that roughly 70% of the state budget is spent on employee salaries and regular state expenses, which doesnt leave enough to spend on investment projects. If we just use the money to feed each other, there is no money left to develop critical infrastructure, Lam added. Vietnam faces a widening budget deficit after tax reductions and exemptions took a significant chunk out of state revenue. The government has set a budget deficit target of 3.8% of GDP for 2025, and has pledged to prioritize spending on big-ticket transport networks. In November, it approved a $67 billion North-South high-speed railway and is pushing to speed up the development of three cross-border railway lines linking Vietnam and China. Possible Overload The ministries that look set to stay include: defense, public security, justice, foreign affairs and industry and trade. The Government Office, Government Inspectorate and State Bank of Vietnam will also remain intact, albeit all will be subject to internal streamlining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry of Home Affairs said about 130 trillion dong ($5.1 billion) would be needed for redundancy payments to help ease the impact of job losses, Tuoi Tre reported. This is not an easy or quick thing to do and it is likely that many state officials will have to take on multiple tasks which require some expertise they may not have, said Nguyen Tri Hieu, a Hanoi-based economist. The streamlining could cause overload at first. The belt-tightening comes alongside a worsening global backdrop as Trump threatens to roil international trade with widespread tariffs. Vietnam, which relies heavily on foreign investment to fuel export-driven growth, was a major beneficiary from the US-China trade war in Trumps first term although officials in Hanoi are bracing for possible disruption this time around. The government overhaul could also have implications for Vietnams ambitious goals of boosting growth to at least 8% this year. Public infrastructure investment, critical to support rapid growth, has been slow, with state spending for projects in 2024 just 77.5% of what had been planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bureaucratic shakeup follows the Partys years-long corruption crackdown thats led to high-profile political resignations, a death sentence for one of the countrys richest women, and the arrest and detention of hundreds of party officials and business leaders. With the anti-corruption campaign having weakened provincial power bases and cleared out resistant officials, the leadership now has both the political capital and urgency to push through reforms they believe are necessary to achieve their goal of high-income status by 2045, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institutes Giang said. --With assistance from Nguyen Kieu Giang and Linh Vu Nguyen. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A village worker was rushed to the hospital on Friday after being hit by a trackhoe in Jamestown. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Workers were trying to repair a water main break Friday afternoon when a man in his 60s was hit. TRENDING STORIES: Silvercreek Twp. Fire Chief Steve Payton told News Center 7 that what exactly happened is under investigation, but it appeared something may have gotten caught on a lever inside the trackhoe, causing it to hit the man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worker was taken to Miami Valley Hospital. His condition is unknown at this time. He is one of the best workers we have here in Jamestown. He really cares about the village, Payton said about the injured worker. Its a shame for him to go down. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] UPDATED with reactions. An attorney for Janel Grant, the former WWE employee who filed an explosive lawsuit against the wrestling circuits former head, Vince McMahon, said Fridays news of a settlement between McMahon and the SEC confirms he covered up horrifying behavior. Last year, Grant sued McMahon, the WWE and former exec John Laurinaitis, making a host of graphic allegations including sexual assault and trafficking. McMahon has adamantly denied the allegations. A judge last spring put the suit on hold pending the outcome of a federal investigation. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WWE merged in 2023 with the UFC to create TKO Group Holdings, which is controlled by Endeavor and run by Ari Emanuel. In a statement provided to Deadline by her attorney, Grants attorney, Ann Callis, addressed McMahons agreement to pay $1.7 million to resolve the charges but neither admitting nor denying the agencys findings. The deal, stemming from a lack of disclosure to WWE board members and execs about hush-money payments to two women, proves that he repeatedly broke the law to cover up his horrifying behavior, Callis said. A non-disclosure agreement Grant signed violates the law, the statement continued. Therefore, her case must be heard in court. In his own statement to Deadline through a spokesperson, McMahon said the SEC settlement ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies accompanied by a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As todays resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading. In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. McMahon resigned as TKO executive chairman last January, days after appearing alongside Emanuel, Dwayne Johnson and McMahon at an opening bell-ringing ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. Once the largest shareholder in WWE, McMahon has steadily sold off his TKO shares in several batches over the past year, according to a series of public filings. PREVIOUSLY: Vince McMahon, who left his longtime perch at WWE under a cloud last year, is paying more than $1.7 million to settle charges from the SEC alleging he failed to disclose hush money payments to two women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SEC said the matter related to settlement agreements signed by McMahon in 2019 and 2022 on behalf of himself and WWE without disclosing the agreements to WWEs board or top legal and financial execs. The lack of disclosure created material misstatements in WWE financial reports, the SEC said in a press release. The settlement agreements signed by McMahon were designed to keep women from going public with sexual assault allegations or filing any legal complaints. One settlement agreement obligated McMahon to pay a former employee $3 million in exchange for the former employees agreement to not disclose her relationship with McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon. The second agreement obligated McMahon to pay a former WWE independent contractor $7.5 million. Without admitting or denying the SECs findings, as the press release put it, McMahon agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty for violating the Securities Exchange Act, and also to reimburse WWE $1,330,915.90. WWE, which McMahon built into a multi-billion-dollar media operation, merged with UFC in 2023, creating TKO Group Holdings. Endeavor has a controlling stake in TKO. McMahon, who remains under investigation by the federal government related to his conduct as WWEs CEO, stepped down from TKOs board in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former employee accusing him of sexual abuse, assault and trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the companys control functions and auditor, said Thomas P. Smith Jr., Associate Regional Director in the New York Regional Office. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEW YORKA member of the Japanese yakuza criminal underworld pleaded guilty to handling nuclear material sourced from Myanmar and seeking to sell it to fund an illicit arms deal, US authorities said Wednesday. Yakuza leader Takeshi Ebisawa and co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri had previously been charged in April 2022 with drug trafficking and firearms offenses, and both were remanded. - Advertisement - He was then additionally charged in February 2024 with conspiring to sell weapons-grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Myanmar, and to purchase military weaponry on behalf of an armed insurgent group, prosecutors said. The military weaponry to be part of the arms deal included surface-to-air missiles, the indictment alleged. As he admitted in federal court today, Takeshi Ebisawa brazenly trafficked nuclear material, including weapons-grade plutonium, out of Burma, said Acting US attorney Edward Kim, using another name for Myanmar. At the same time, he worked to send massive quantities of heroin and methamphetamine to the United States in exchange for heavy-duty weaponry such as surface-to-air missiles to be used on battlefields in Burma. Prosecutors alleged that Ebisawa, 60, brazenly moved material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, alongside drugs, from Myanmar. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) Virginia State Police are investigating two shooting incidents in Eastville that has left one man dead and another injured. On Thursday evening, the Northampton Sheriffs Office contacted state police at approximately 7:45 p.m. in reference to a shooting incident in Eastville. Upon arrival, troopers found one victim suffering serious life-threatening injuries as a result of a shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, state police received an additional call of another man suffering from serious life-threatening injuries, also as a result of a shooting. Both men were flown to Norfolk Sentara Hospital. One of the victims, Vantrell C. Williams, 22, from 1400 block of Harwood Street in Richmond was pronounced deceased at the hospital. It is unclear what caused the shootings, but both incidents appear to have happened at the same time and location at the intersection of Pauline Street and Seaside Road. It also appears to be isolated with no other danger to the general public. Anyone with information about this shooting and/or witnessed suspicious behavior are encouraged to contact the Virginia State Police at (804) 750-8788 or at questions@vsp.virginia.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. SALT LAKE CITY (Good Things Utah) Thirst drinks owner is calling on his Thirsty Nation to stop by one of his 5 locations and help with California fire relief efforts at the same time. Ethan Cisneros grew up in L.A. and has family there and he is doing what he can to help with raising funds for the devastating fires in Los Angeles. 10% of all sales on Friday January 10th, at all of his stores, will go to the Red Cross fire relief efforts. ALL FIVE THIRST LOCATIONS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downtown: 38 E 1300 S SLC, UT 84115 Millcreek: 3063 e 3300 s Millcreek, UT 84109 West Jordan: 9035 S 1300 W West Jordan, UT 84088 Bountiful: 1545 S Main Street Bountiful, UT 84108 Tooele: 2276 N 400 E Tooele, UT 84074 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Jan. 10AUSTIN Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dr. Dawn Buckingham Jan. 10 introduced the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. This week, they highlight the service of Private First Class (PFC) Johnnie Marino who served in the U.S. Army. Marino was born in Colorado City, Texas, and experienced the Great Depression and the loss of his mother as a child. He volunteered for military service not long before Pearl Harbor and went to Fort Sam Houston for basic training. He was sent overseas in October 1943 and served as an ammunition carrier for artillery. Marino was a part of the first wave to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day during World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They said your job is to get to the beach, says by that time artillery should be there, and you deliver these shells to the battery there. Nothing came out like they had planned, really. Artillery didn't make it. The others did the next day. I believe our initial units really fought a great fight." Marino survived D-Day without being injured, but was wounded later in St. Lo and then again during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his unit were among the first to see the German concentration camps and some of the horrors faced by Jewish people in these evil places. He recalled seeing human beings who looked like skeletons, saying "We called them the walking dead because actually that's what they were." He and the other men in his unit were given orders to observe and report only, but they assured these men, women and children that units were coming behind them that would have food, medicine, and water. After the war, Marino stayed in Europe and helped verify the identities of people leaving Germany to return to their homes after the war. He said, "A lot of these guards from the concentration camps, they tried to slip through these people with false documents, but we could spot 'em. We were good at that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After he retired, he shared his experiences of helping liberate concentration camps with RICE University to be a part of the Holocaust Museum that was created. "When the Jewish community built the Holocaust museum, they asked through the newspaper, they asked for volunteers that had participated in that to come forward and give their testimony. So I was the first one that went, called that number, because I felt like it was something that I should do." Marino also talked about speaking at high schools to share what it was like to serve during World War II and the Holocaust and encourage the next generation to treat each other with kindness and consideration. "I tell them, if you are studying D-Day, I can talk to you about D-Day. You study about Normandy, I can talk to you about Normandy, or Battle of the Bulge, or liberation of the concentration camps. I try not to mention the gory stuff as much as possible, just try to tell them, try to as they grow up, be considerate of their neighbor, of their friends, don't discriminate, and try to love everybody, because that's the way I was brought up. My dad was a layman Baptist preacher. I try to give what I have, what I know, what I went through as much as possible." Click here to listen to Johnnie Marino tell his story. A group of volunteers is stepping up to help kids get home safely as parents in Wilkinsburg call for the hiring of a new crossing guard for elementary school students. Parents have reached out to Channel 11 about what they say is a dangerous intersection. It is where elementary school students, as young as the kindergarten level, have to cross. There has not been a crossing guard there for months. While families wait for the district to respond, community members have stepped up to make sure students get home safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkinsburg elementary students no longer have a crossing guard at the corner of Montier and Laketon Road. It is a four-way intersection that is considered one of the busiest in the community. Paul Johnson and Tom Covington have been at the intersection almost every day since the crossing guard stopped working for unknown reasons. Its all about keeping the kids safe. These are our children, said Covington. Tatiana Moore said she worries for her daughters safety, as well as for the other kids walking home from Turner Elementary or to the convenience store on the corner. She said she has called the school multiple times and has not received a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its disheartening. It seems like they do not care. I would hope they would. Its about the kids, Moore said. The Mad Dads, like Covington and Johnson, are a group of volunteers that work to protect the communities in the Pittsburgh area from drugs, crimes and violence. They have an overall mission to keep kids safe. We are fathers. We have kids, of course, our kids are grown now, caring parents that is what Mad Dads are all about. We are here to make sure our kids get on the bus safe, cross the street safe and get home safe, Johnson said. Parents like Moore appreciate the help but are calling on the school district to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I appreciate the organization, Mad Dads, for stepping in and helping the kids cross, but Im hoping the school district will take some effort to get a crossing guard out here, said Moore. Channel 11 has reached out to the Wilkinsburg School District. The superintendent provided the following statement: This has only been an issue going back to December 12th. The district has worked with MAD Dads, a district security guard, and a district attendance coordinator to have a crossing guard at Montier and Laketon as much as possible in the interim. The district is committed to working with the borough to fill this position full-time, along with another vacancy. District administration has not received any complaints from parents about this issue. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was hospitalized for a week with severe pneumonia but has since returned home, dpa has learned. Von der Leyen posted a photo on Instagram on Friday showing her working from home, with the caption "Home sweet home... office!" The 66-year-old spent around a week in the University Hospital in the central German city of Hanover, dpa learned. The commission said von der Leyen was not in intensive care and had been in daily contact with her team while in hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A commission spokesman had previously said von der Leyen was suffering from severe pneumonia and had cancelled all travel plans for the first two weeks of January. The spokesman said the German conservative politician was carrying out "official business" from her home city of Hanover and that if all went well she would return to work from her office in the commission building in Brussels in the middle of the month. It was not communicated that von der Leyen was in hospital, leading many to assume she was working from her home in the village of Beinhorn, near Hanover. Von der Leyen reportedly spoke on the phone with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before the Italian leader's meeting at the weekend with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, she plans to speak to new Austrian interim Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg. Von der Leyen's spokeswoman said it would be decided at the beginning of next week whether the commission president would be able to lead the weekly meeting of EU commissioners next Wednesday. Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung tissue, often caused by infections by bacteria, viruses or, more rarely, fungi. It can affect one or both lungs and varies in severity from mild to life-threatening, depending on the cause and the health of the person affected. Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) Vice President-elect JD Vance has announced his resignation from his U.S. Senate seat as of Friday at midnight. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told us his appointment to the coveted seat will come soon. The senator from Middletown, Ohio, is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20. As I prepare to assume my duties as Vice President of the United States, I would like to express that it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the people of Ohio in the Senate over the past two years, Vance wrote in his resignation letter to the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to Ohioans, he thanked them for supporting him and assured them he would continue to represent the state in the White House. Read Vances full statement: To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate. When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and Ive made sure to live by that promise every single day. The American people have granted President Trump an undeniable mandate to put America first, both at home and abroad. Over the next four years, I will do all that I can to help President Trump enact his agenda. Together, we will make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before. Read Vances resignation letter below he sent to DeWine: I hereby resign my office as a United States Senator from the State of Ohio, effective January 10, 2025. As I prepare to assume my duties as Vice President of the United States, I would like to express that it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the people of Ohio in the Senate over the past two years. Vance first came on to the national scene with his book, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, highlighting his upbringing in Southwest Ohio and his journey to success, experiences he took to voters in 2021 when he launched his first bid for public office, seeking to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Rob Portman. As for Vances replacement, the governor has said that he wanted someone who could not just win the primary and general elections of 2026 but also hold onto the seat in 2028. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Two members of the 86th class of the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy will soon be servicing the Wabash Valley. The ISP graduation ceremony took place in the Indiana State Capitol Rotunda where at the end the new troopers were presented with their new badge and official identification. The graduation marks the completion of a 22-week training course that totaled more than 1,100 hours. Some of the subjects covered in the training include criminal and traffic law, de-escalation, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, firearms, impaired driving detection, and training in different specific scenarios. The two new officers in the Wabash Valley are Brandon Bonebrake from Spencer, Indiana now serving in the Putnamville district, and Logan McDowell from Springville, Indiana serving in the Bloomington district. Each trooper who graduated gets assigned to one of 14 state police posts throughout Indiana. After the trooper arrives in their district, the troopers will spend the following three months working with seasoned Field Training Officers. Once their field training is complete they will be assigned a patrol vehicle and begin solo patrols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Jan. 9WAGNER, S.D. Earlier this week, the nation bid farewell to former President Jimmy Carter with a funeral that was as dignified as it was poignant. Throughout the solemn event, military personnel stood as sentinels, honoring the legacy of one of the United States' most admired leaders. Among them was a familiar face from Wagner Mytao Kezena, who had the privilege of guarding President Carter's casket during the lying in repose held at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The 72-hour vigil, which took place from Saturday through Tuesday, marked a significant moment in Kezena's military career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was incredibly excited when I found out I'd be a part of the honor guard for the President. It was a huge honor," said Kezena. "I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something I'd remember for the rest of my life." Kezena's journey to the momentous occasion began with his enlistment in the Army in 2023. Stationed at Joint Base Meyer Henderson Hall since March 2024, he was chosen for the Honor Guard Company due to his height, a crucial factor in maintaining the uniform appearance that is a hallmark of these elite units. As an infantryman and part of Echo Company's First Platoon, Kezena typically handles retirement ceremonies and other high-visibility missions that represent the Army to the publicnone more significant than the role he played in honoring President Carter's memory. The selection process for such a duty is rigorous, demanding the highest levels of skill, discipline and emotional resilience. Only about 1% of the Army gets the chance to participate in an Honor Guard detail, and Kezena's performance speaks volumes about his dedication. Guarding the casket was no simple task. For 72 hours, Kezena and his fellow honor guard members stood in silent tribute to Carter. They were divided into shifts, rotating every half-hour to maintain focus and stamina. Despite the exhaustion that comes from standing motionless for long periods, Kezena remained steadfast. His primary responsibility was to be present, embodying the solemnity of the occasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We trained for weeks for this moment," Kezena shared, describing how the preparation for this monumental task became a matter of muscle memory. "You do what we call 'stamina stands' you stand motionless for up to an hour. It's a physical and mental test to stay focused. It's about discipline, and it's about showing respect." Kezena's military training included learning complex rifle movements and standing still for long periods, all of which are crucial elements in ensuring the precision required during such a momentous occasion. But it wasn't just the physical training that prepared him it was the emotional and mental fortitude required to maintain composure while paying tribute to a leader of such stature. "At times, it can be hard," Kezena admitted. "You see a figure like President Carter, and you realize that you're standing in front of someone who dedicated their life to serving this country. It's humbling. You're sad because someone has passed, but you're proud to be doing the right thing." Carter, who died at the age of 100, was not only a former president but also a former Navy officer. Kezena, whose own family has a rich history of military service, was particularly moved by the connection he felt to Carter through their shared background in the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The fact that he served in the Navy, and I'm serving nowit made the whole mission that much more important," Kezena said. "I had a lot of respect for him. I was proud to be part of honoring him." The emotional weight of the duty was not lost on Kezena. He noted the contrast between his quiet upbringing and the intense spotlight of the Honor Guard role. "It was definitely a challenge, especially being from a small town like Wagner," Kezena said. "I wasn't used to having so many eyes on me. There were cameras everywhere. It really pushed me mentally and emotionally, but it also strengthened me. I learned a lot about myself during that time." The pressure to maintain perfection during such a high-profile event was immense. As part of only the 16th honor guard to serve at a state funeral, Kezena understood the rarity and importance of his role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were told that there were cameras in every corner," he said. "It made me nervous at first, but once I got into the rhythm, I just focused on the mission and did my job." The sense of pride felt by Kezena is shared by his community in Wagner. Mayor Tammy Thornton expressed the town's admiration for Kezena's achievement in a Facebook post saying, "What a remarkable privilege to have been chosen. We are all beaming with pride here in Wagner." With just one year into his Army career, Kezena has already set ambitious goals, including pursuing specialized training like the Expert Infantry Badge and exploring attending air assault school. However, for now, the honor of guarding President Carter's casket will remain one of the defining moments of his military career. "I don't think I'll ever do anything as important as that again in my career," Kezena said. "It was the biggest task I've had. But I'm proud of it. I'll carry that with me forever." If you thought that 2024 was disturbed, it will be seen as nothing compared to what we are about to experience in 2025. The inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America is, on the one hand, an expression of the crisis we face; on the other, the opening of a new disturbed era in world politics, world economics and world relations, the likes of which we have never experienced in our lifetimes. If Joe Biden is rapidly becoming the ghost of Christmas past, then Trump is certainly the ghost of Christmas future. Pandoras Box Even before his formal inauguration, the President-elect is already threatening to wreak havoc by threatening to annex Greenland, seize the Panama Canal, and force Canada into becoming USs 51st state, while mocking Trudeau as governor and all before breakfast. He has considered declaring a national economic emergency to impose tariffs on allies and adversaries. In particular, he has threatened Mexico and Canada with high tariffs, but has now included Denmark, if it resists his territorial ambitions. This provoked the European Commission to confirm that their mutual defence clause would apply to Greenland in the hypothetical event of military aggression against it, despite the island territory not being part of the EU. Trump has the world leaders shaking in their boots with all these threats flying around. And that is his intention. It is part of his strategy to make America great again at the expense of the rest of the world. Even if he introduces 10 percent of what he says, it will shake the world economy to its foundations, threatening to push it into a new world slump, with all the consequences that means. As one commentator claimed: It opens a Pandoras Box of crises that would likely not be contained And Britain will not escape this calamity in the making. Special relationship The so-called special relationship between the US and Britain has always been the relationship between a master and servant. It will certainly not save Britain! Trump has already attacked the Starmer government for its failure to open up the North Sea and get rid of the windmills. Into this pantomime has come Elon Musk, acting as Trumps second in command, who is dabbling in British politics and has developed a special hatred for Keir Starmer, the man with the cemetery smile. Musks attacks on Starmer have become more scathing by the day, entertaining his 211 million followers on X by accusing the British prime minister of covering up sex crimes. His actions alone threaten to destabilise the government. He has described Jess Phillips as a wicked witch and has gone as far as to call for the overthrow of the Starmer government, asking his followers if America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government. America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 6, 2025 In response, and careful not to offend Trump, the disgruntled Starmer said that in his book a line has been crossed. It was like being savaged by a dead sheep. Musk has openly backed Reform but when Farage had the effrontery to disagree with him, he urged that the party replace him as leader. He has even endorsed Tommy Robinson with a straight face as a prisoner of conscience. It means that Uncle Sam across the Atlantic is going to make Starmers life a misery. Crisis of liberalism Without this, Starmer was already facing an unprecedented collapse in his popularity. And it is not destined to improve, given the developing crisis of British capitalism. With tariffs on the horizon, the special relationship is a sick joke. The situation will only deteriorate. As a result, the Starmer government, which has lost public support, will only go from bad to worse. On this trajectory, this government of crisis will face a wipeout at the next election. With the Tories licking their wounds, having suffered the worst defeat in their history, Reform will attempt to fill the political vacuum with their so-called anti-establishment politics. Asked what Farage had in common with Corbyn, he replied anti-establishment, obviously. With the Tories licking their wounds, having suffered the worst defeat in their history, Reform will attempt to fill the political vacuum with their so-called anti-establishment politics / Image: Gage Skidmore, flickr A sense that the giant corporations now dominate the world that we live in, that politics is very much in the pocket of big corporations, he said, adding that his politics and Corbyns had a crossover. Such is the discontent, there has never been such a vacuum! The feeling of disenchantment and anger is palpable. There is already profound bitterness at the Starmer government, even after six months in office. Above all there is anger against the establishment, the pillar of big business, and all it stands for. However, the left in Britain is floundering, incapable of connecting with the real mood of bitterness and anger. Soaked in liberalism, these reformists feel downhearted and despondent in the wake of what is happening. This was reflected in the Guardian by Owen Jones who fretted about the situation in Europe and America, and ended with: A grim reckoning awaits us. The working class is crying out for a real bold alternative that will shatter the status quo. Deep down they are not interested in reforming this rotten system, but doing away with it. All those who simply talk of taxing the rich and such reforms, without touching the basis of capitalism, are simply regarded as part of the status quo. What we are experiencing is a crisis of liberalism. People have lost trust in bourgeois democracy and its institutions. Buckle up At bottom, the resentment against the establishment is fuelled by the collapse in living standards. The last decade has seen the greatest fall in real wages since the Napoleonic Wars! No wonder people are angry. The demagogues like Farage are trying to mimic Trump. They are trying to appeal to this anti-establishment feeling, and so can get an echo. With help from Musks money they can make an impact. However, as supporters of capitalism, their anti-establishment views are simply hot air; simply demagogy. The only real answer to these reactionary demagogues and all those who defend the status quo is a bold revolutionary programme, linking our day to day problems with the need to overthrow the capitalist system. Such a programme would expropriate the ruling class, taking over their monopolies and banks, and planning the economy, under workers control and management, in the interests of the majority with no compensation for the billionaires! Anything less will not cut it. To all our readers: Buckle up! We are in for one of a hell of a ride! WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Two Wallingford police officers were justified in the fatal shooting of a man in October 2023, the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General said in a final report released Friday. According to the report, Officers Gordon McCaskill and Robert Bellucci responded to a 911 call about a man who shot himself inside his home on North Airline Road at 2:37 a.m. The report said the officers spoke with a woman who said Donald Passmore, 62, shot himself in their bedroom. WARNING: Some viewers may find this video disturbing. Discretion is advised. The inspector generals office said McCaskill and Bellucci entered the house, announced that they were police officers and asked, Wheres the gun? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They went to his bedroom door, where Passmore was lying on the bed, demanding the officers to lower their lights. Put the flashlights down, put both flashlights down, Passmore said. Officer-involved shooting in Wallingford under investigation The only flashlight thats on is pointed to the ground right now, an officer said. According to the report, the officers spoke to Passmore for about nine minutes. His last words were muffled by the officers repeated demands that he put his hands in the air and not touch the gun as he appeared to put his left hand in the air. His right arm was just out of frame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They asked Passmore to place his hands in the air and instructed him repeatedly not to touch the gun. At 2:54 a.m., the officers said, Dont touch the gun! and Put your right hand up! The report said approximately 10 rounds were then fired at Passmore, and officers found a .22 caliber revolver on his bed. Passmore was taken to MidState Medical Center in Meriden, where he was pronounced dead. The report said 10 rounds were then fired at Passmore, and officers found a .22 caliber revolver on his bed. Passmore was taken to MidState Medical Center in Meriden, where he was pronounced dead. The chief medical examiners office ruled his death a homicide caused by gunshot wounds to his torso. The toxicological report determined alcohol, a cocaine degradation product and an anti-anxiety medication in Passmores system. His alcohol level was 0.17 BAC, which is over twice the legal limit to drive a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers were placed on administrative leave following the shooting. News 8 has requested an update on their employment statuses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Winnebago County Sheriffs Deputies arrested Lashaun Washington, 24, for allegedly possessing a firearm with defaced serial numbers among other charges. On Jan. 7, around 9 p.m., deputies pulled over a Chevrolet HHR for stopping past the stop line at a red light at Springfield and Montague. Police determined the driver and owner of the vehicle had a warrant for his arrest. Authorities searched Washington and found a handgun in each of his pockets, according to court records. Officials also said they found cannabis during the search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington is charged with unlawful possession of cannabis while driving, driving while unlicensed, 2 counts of aggravated unlawful possession of loaded weapons, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm with defaced serial numbers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. President-elect Donald Trump said hes ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that the pair will seek to get Russias war in Ukraine over with. Speaking Thursday during a summit of Republican governors, Trump said a meeting was in the works. He wants to meet, and we are setting it up, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate. President Putin wants to meet. Hes said that even publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, a frequent critic of President Joe Bidens support for Ukraine, said working with Putin to end the war was essential. We have to get that war over with. Thats a bloody mess. Soldiers are being killed by the millions, Trump said. Though official tolls arent published, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that 43,000 Ukrainians had been killed in the war. As many as 200,000 Russian soldiers have been killed. Putins invasion of Ukraine will enter its fourth year shortly after Trump takes office. Trump vowed to end military support for Ukraine while on the campaign trail. Putin previously praised Trump for his election win, dubbing him a brave man and saying he looked forward to working with the president-elect to wrap up his assault on Ukraine. In his first stint in office, Trump was cozier with Putin than his predecessors, reportedly continuing to speak with the Russian leader even after he left office. Entrance sign at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking (Department of Corrections photo). The warden and a top supervisor at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking have been replaced amid allegations contraband was entering the prison through a poorly screened gate. Michele Buckner, a 25-year employee of the Department of Corrections, officially ended her employment with the department on Tuesday, spokeswoman Karen Pojmann wrote in an email to The Independent. Buckner was hired by the department in September 1999 and became warden in May 2019, Pojmann wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Hopping, ranked as a major, left the departments employment last month, Pojmann wrote. Hopping also worked for the department for more than 20 years. Michael Shewmaker, warden at Ozark Correctional Center in Webster County, will be acting warden at South Central. He is also a 25-year employee of the department, Pojmann wrote. The South Central Correctional Center houses 1,601 inmates in minimum, medium and maximum security units. Neither Buckner nor Hopping could not be reached for comment. Pojmann cited confidentiality restrictions for declining to give a reason for Buckner and Hoppings separation from the department. But advocates who use staff, inmate and family sources to obtain information from inside prison walls said Buckner and Hopping were fired last month and walked out of the prison under supervision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone that I hear from, including current staff, former staff, and people who live there say that it is overrun with drugs and other contraband, that there is a lack of order, theres a lack of policy being followed, said Lori Curry of Missouri Prison Reform, an organization that advocates for people who are incarcerated and their families. Its basically the Wild West in there. The department has a confidential hotline for employee reports of misconduct by staff. An investigation triggered by a hotline call uncovered significant amounts of drugs and contraband at the facility, Curry wrote in a social media post dated Jan. 3. Employees were reportedly allowed to come and go freely through the back of the facility without checks or body scans, contributing to the influx of illegal items. There are some inaccuracies in the claims made in the post by Missouri Prison Reform, Pojmann wrote, but declined to give specifics. Personnel decisions and investigations are confidential, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im able to provide neither information about the nature of any employees separation from the department nor details about any ongoing investigation, she wrote. Buckner is the second warden to be dismissed in the past year because of issues within the facility they oversee. In June, Doris Falkenrath was removed as warden of Jefferson City Correctional Center after an investigation of the December 2023 death of Othel Moore. Three corrections officers are facing second degree murder and assault charges in the death of Moore. Charges against two other corrections officers have been dismissed. No details have been released by the department about Falkenraths removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An advocate for families with members in prison, Michelle Smith of the Missouri Justice Coalition, said outside investigations and transparency are needed to show the public that the department is serious about controlling contraband. Removing a warden is an image makeover, not real change, she said. Even when they say that there was an investigation, and thats why she was fired, thats not transparent, Smith said. We dont know exactly what the results were, what happened. Contraband drugs entering Missouris prisons is one factor in an increasing number of deaths among inmates. In response, the department has created a robust investigations unit as one component of our efforts to keep dangerous contraband out of state prisons, Pojmann wrote. Department investigators work with other state agencies and local law enforcement to try to identify the sources of drugs and shut them down before contraband can enter the facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department has installed body scanners, requires all personal correspondence be conducted digitally and is working to move legal mail to digital platforms only to reduce the chances for contraband entering the prison, Pojmann wrote. To reduce demand for drugs, the department has expanded treatment. There have been several arrests of employees of the South Central Correctional Center who smuggle drugs into the prison. In August, former corrections officer Trishana Barton pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs and smuggling drugs into a prison for attempting to bring methamphetamine into the Licking facility in soda cans. Law enforcement authorities for Licking and Texas County told The Independent that they have no jurisdiction within the prison and the department has not provided any information about any recent investigation. I hope that information is brought to us, or even another law enforcement agency, and I hope that whoever is bringing it in there or has been bringing it in is brought to justice, Licking Police Chief Pat Burton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas County Sheriff Scott Lindsey said he had not met Shewmaker but offered to assist if asked. Im always willing to work with whoever is in charge over there, and I look forward to meeting them, but Im kind of waiting, at this point, just being patient to see what changes the state decides to make, Lindsey said. Dena Notz, who worked for part of 2022 as a corrections officer in the Licking facility now advocates for prison improvements through an organization called Collectively Changing Corrections. She sees a problem with Buckners last day being Tuesday, almost a week after Missouri Prison Reform posted about her removal. I believe they let her retire, which is pretty disheartening to hear, but I believe thats what they did, Notz said. Theyre so mysterious its sickening. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE) The cold weather is settling in to many areas of East Tennessee as snow is forecasted for our area. The First United Methodist Church in Newport opened its doors to those who are in need after the city asked them to. We were so glad to be asked by the City of Newport, Rev. Marta Cogburn said. Weve used this for a distribution point during the Helene disaster and many other things. We thought its our gift back to the community. 2024 snowstorm helping Knox County crews, residents prepare ahead of winter weather Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation is being fully run on donations and community collaboration. Multiple groups including the City of Newport, First United Methodist Church, the Cocke County Cradle to Career Coalition (C5) as well as others are helping support the effort. Its very easy to kind of turn off what we dont like to see about the world, C5 director Jennifer Ellison said. Unfortunately, following the devastation with the hurricane and just everyday challenges of life, a lot of folks are in a position where they dont have a stable place to stay. I think its up to us as a community to take care of them. How is Roane County preparing for first widespread snow of the year Ellison added, its important to make sure those who have very little of are struggling get all the help they can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warming center is also relying on volunteers from the community. For Newport residents Chris Finchum and Kenneth, they wanted to give back to the community. Ive been homeless and Ive been out in the cold many, many nights and by the grace of God, Im here man, Kenneth said. Im in a drug rehab center and Ive been in it for over a year and I just wanted to give back and do whatever I can. We are in the JCAP program and I was asked if I wanted to volunteer and I was like yeah, to give back, Finchum added. List: East Tennessee warming shelters open ahead of winter weather Everything at the warming shelter was donated by someone or a business. Margaret Shelton donated blankets to the center to make sure those who are there get the warmth they need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant imagine being out on the street I cant imagine being cold. This is just a blessing and I think its an extension of Gods hand, Shelton said. I thought theres people out there that are cold and they certainly need warming and its my blessing to do that. The warming center will be open through Saturday. The doors open at 8:00 p.m. but will be locked at 9:00 p.m. The center will close at 8:00 a.m. before reopening in the evening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Warner Bros. Discovery is offering help and aid to employees who have been impacted by the deadly Los Angeles wildfires, TheWrap has learned. WBD CEO David Zaslav shared the news during a Thursday meeting with employees where he also offered his sympathies and concern. The company has set up a hotline for staffers, an insider familiar with the matter told TheWrap. This hotline is being used to direct people to hotel rooms, which Warner Bros. Discovery has already blocked off and paid for, as well as shelters. They are also offering to pay for meals for staffers who have taken in displaced family members and friends. The company will also continue to evaluate what impacted staffers need in the medium- and long-term as this natural disaster unfolds. According to a report from Puck, 1,300 employees from Warner Bros. Discovery have already evacuated impacted areas, and 20 staffers have lost their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nexstar also offers an employee assistance fund designed for natural disasters such as this. The company is still assessing how these fires have impacted its L.A.-based employees, as it is too early to tell how much staffers will need, an insider with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap. Since Nexstar is located in Texas and is a broadcast television group, the company is not as focused in Los Angeles as other networks and streamers. The catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires started on Tuesday. Low humidity, dry conditions and Santa Ana winds that exceeded 90 miles per hour combined to create one of the most dangerous natural disasters the region has seen. As of the fourth day of the fires, eight people have died and 10,000 structures have been destroyed. The biggest fire remains the Palisades fire, which was at 8% containment on Friday after burning 20,438 acres. Other fires include the Eaton fire, which has burned 13,690 acres and is now at 3% containment; the Kenneth fire, which has burned 1,000 acres; the Hurst fire, which has burned 771 acres; and the Lidia fire, which is nearly contained but has burned 394 acres. TheWrap will update this article as we learn more about the measures other Hollywood companies are taking to help their employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editors note: A previous version of this story stated there was a confirmed 10 deaths due to the L.A. wildfires. LAFD has since corrected that number to eight. The post Warner Bros. Discovery Offers Employees Impacted by LA Fires Temporary Housing appeared first on TheWrap. Weve seen the scary and saddening scenes from Southern California over the last couple of days as multiple wildfires ravaged the region. And, the concern carries over to residents here in Washington, who know just how deadly and damaging mother nature can be. But, there are things you can do to prepare yourself, your family, and your home before the next big blaze hits. We could see certain aspects of the Southern California fires mirrored across our state, powered by strong winds and dry conditions. We have a little bit more of a defined wildfire season than California does, says East Pierce Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Bill Sandlian. But, being prepared and learning from what were seeing down there is very important up here as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He likens the weather were seeing in California to what we experience here amongst The Cascades, with the Easterly flow winds. And, says the best way to prepare and combat wildfires is to follow protocols.f When the evacuation alerts go outbe ready to go. Dont stay and fight, says the Assistant Chief. He also acknowledges the desire to protect your home. We understand the personal, being tied to your property and not wanting to lose it. We dont want you to lose it either. But, we also dont want you to get harmed or injured or killed trying to defend your property. Before flames threaten your home, Sandlian says keeping a clear, 30-foot defendable perimeter around your house will go a long way to helping firefighters and first responders in the event of a wildfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also stresses that you should have a 72-hour go bag ready with enough water, snacks, clothes, medications, and essentials for at least three days. Also, something to note: you should keep fire fuels away from your home. One of the main things you can do to be proactive is clear brush and debris from around your residence and off your roof. Furthermore, experts say you shouldnt store firewood next to your house and to clean out gutters after a storm. Trim overhanging branches and clean up after a major wind or rain event. All of which can help you prepare for and possibly prevent the worst. Pay attention to the weather in the spring, says Jesse Duvall, Community Resilience Coordinator One with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. If it gets hot and drier earlier, youve got to get the work done earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He advises keeping vegetation, like branches and bushes, at least 10 feet away from the home and asks residents to clear the excess debris and foliage from under porches. Also, ensure your windows are double-paned glass for further protection. Wildfire preparedness is a year-round thing, asserts Duvall. And, its something we just have to be constantly paying attention to and preparing for. For us here in Western Washington, generally about June is when well start seeing some of the fires start to come in. Really July is when fire season kicks off here. It depends on the year. Duvall also says you can maintain your home by keeping it lean, green, and clean. Space out your landscaping, with minimal vegetation. Limb up lower branches above the brush line. Keep the grass cut, as well as any surrounding plants hydrated and healthy. Meanwhile, Sandlian, who actually started his career in California, echoes those sentiments. He urges folks to ready themselves in the event theres a wildfire here in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were watching unfold in California, its becoming more and more regular up here in Washington state. So, take the lessons learned. Prepare now for what could happen up here in the future, he warns. Officials say the closest comparable for us to whats happening in California is the 2020 Labor Day Fire that devastated Malden and Pine City. However, experts also remind us that being in such close proximity to a major city like Seattle or Los Angeles shouldnt deter from wildfire preparedness. Make sure to create an evacuation plan for you and your family. One other note from officials: no matter how small a fire is, it requires resources that could be taking away from fighting a bigger blaze. Something to keep in mind in a city like Tacoma, whose Fire Department just experienced recent budget cuts. Democratic leaders, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, speak at a press conference on Jan. 9, 2025. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Democratic state lawmakers are again pushing a proposal to restrict rent hikes across Washington. Despite the rent cap bills dramatic failure last session, backers say its prospects this year are better given new lawmakers, revamped legislative committees and growing public support. The road to final passage, however, could still be tough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, prefiled a rent stabilization bill in the House on Thursday. It is similar to where the plan left off last year. The bill includes a 7% cap on yearly rent increases for existing tenants, with some exceptions, including buildings operated by nonprofits and residential construction that is 10 years old or less. It also requires landlords to give 180 days notice before an increase of 3% or more and limits some move-in and deposit fees. People are suffering, and I dont know how anyone comes back to the legislative session and doesnt want to support relief, said Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, who will sponsor the legislation in the Senate. Supporters say the proposal would help tenants and alleviate homelessness, but opponents say a rent cap could only worsen Washingtons housing shortage by disincentivizing new development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic leaders said Thursday that the proposal will likely be heard quickly in the House after the session kicks off next week but could move slowly in the Senate where it died last year. Trudeau said the new makeup of the chamber and the membership of key committees could be in the bills favor. Last year, supporters blamed moderate Democrats on committees like Ways and Means and Housing for killing the bill. Two of those moderates Sens. Mark Mullet and Kevin Van De Wege did not run for reelection last year and will no longer be in the Senate. Trudeau also said that because the policy is being named early as a priority for their caucus, it will give lawmakers more time to consider it. Were still going to have conflict, just hopefully not as dramatic as last year, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, told reporters Thursday that he believes his caucus is ready to support the bill, but that it would take passing other legislation to increase housing supply and improve affordability. In the House, the outlook is more certain. We passed it off the floor in the House last year, and we will pass it off the floor this year, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said. The bill is sure to cause some heavy debate. Last year, it had support from affordable housing advocates, tenants and labor unions. Michele Thomas, at the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, said stabilizing rents is essential to help prevent evictions and homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think lawmakers understand how much rising rents are contributing to housing instability, to homelessness, and to our states eviction crisis, Thomas said. Among those against the proposal are business groups, landlords and developers. Sean Flynn, board president and executive director at the Rental Housing Association of Washington, an industry group, criticized the idea, saying it would drive developers out of the state and lead to less home construction. The fundamental problem that we have in our housing market is a lack of supply, Flynn said. This chokes off supply. Instead of a cap on all rents, Flynn said the Legislature should try to target tenants who need assistance most and specific landlords who use predatory rent increases without cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One idea that has support from Republicans is creating a tenant assistance program that would give rental assistance vouchers to low-income tenants who may need help paying rent during a given month. Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens, is sponsoring that bill. House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, told reporters Thursday his caucus is working on similar proposals with a more targeted approach to helping tenants. Stokesbary and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said their members likely will not support a rent cap policy this session. Stokesbary said he understands the short-term relief of the proposal but that the state ultimately needs more housing. In the long-run, this is a much worse deal for renters, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun said lawmakers should find ways to make permitting easier and increase available land for home construction. He said there is no quick solution to the states housing and homelessness crisis. But supporters of the rent cap bill push back on the idea that solely building more housing will solve the states problems. Thomas said lawmakers have put a lot of emphasis in recent years on increasing the supply of homes and alleviating homelessness, but they have not passed legislation to help tenants struggling to keep their homes. Failing to do so will only result in higher levels of eviction and homelessness, Thomas said. Rent stabilization stands alone, she said. Each of these issues are important, and the Legislature needs to address the entire housing ecosystem. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A dog is safe after being found wandering the streets in Wayne County with a piece of PVC pipe stuck around its neck. Sign up for breaking news alert emails Michigan Humane put out the call for help on social media on Tuesday after they received some photos of the dog and reports that it was seen near the border of Detroit and Dearborn. The states oldest animal welfare group posted an update and some pictures of its own on Thursday, showing the dog in their care and getting the piece of pipe removed. Members of the Dearborn Police Department worked with Michigan Humane to rescue a pit bull found wandering the streets with a piece of PVC pipe on its neck. A team of veterinarians successfully cut and removed the pipe. The dog remains in medical care. (Courtesy Michigan Humane) Members of the Dearborn Police Department worked with Michigan Humane to rescue a pit bull found wandering the streets with a piece of PVC pipe on its neck. A team of veterinarians successfully cut and removed the pipe. The dog remains in medical care. (Courtesy Michigan Humane) Members of the Dearborn Police Department worked with Michigan Humane to rescue a pit bull found wandering the streets with a piece of PVC pipe on its neck. A team of veterinarians successfully cut and removed the pipe. The dog remains in medical care. (Courtesy Michigan Humane) Members of the Dearborn Police Department worked with Michigan Humane to rescue a pit bull found wandering the streets with a piece of PVC pipe on its neck. A team of veterinarians successfully cut and removed the pipe. The dog remains in medical care. (Courtesy Michigan Humane) Members of the Dearborn Police Department worked with Michigan Humane to rescue a pit bull found wandering the streets with a piece of PVC pipe on its neck. A team of veterinarians successfully cut and removed the pipe. The dog remains in medical care. (Courtesy Michigan Humane) Members of the Dearborn Police Department worked with Michigan Humane to rescue a pit bull found wandering the streets with a piece of PVC pipe on its neck. A team of veterinarians successfully cut and removed the pipe. The dog remains in medical care. (Courtesy Michigan Humane) Thanks to everyones support and tips, we were able to find the stray dog with a PVC pipe on his neck today and bring him into our shelter, the social media post read. We successfully removed the pipe from his neck, and he is safe in our care, receiving medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman who had dozens of dogs seized to pay shelters $36,000 in restitution Michigan Humane did not provide any other information on the dogs health status and did not elaborate on how the pipe may have ended up around the dogs neck but believe it was put there intentionally. The organization has also announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case. Michigan Humane also thanked the Dearborn Police Department for helping them track down the dog and Carhartt for amplifying its message. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. People watch the smoke and flames from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Jan. 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. - Credit: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images This week, as wildfires erupted across Los Angeles, residents anxious for real-time information about the rapidly-shifting perimeters of the fires passed around a tip: download Watch Duty. The app is run by a nonprofit nominally based in Sonoma County, but is staffed by a dozen employees and hundreds of volunteers scattered around the world. It maps wildfire boundaries in real time, alongside evacuation orders and warnings, fire weather advisories, and the location of shelters. Just three and a half years old, it has become an indispensable tool as the threat of wildfires has grown across the West. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a single 10-hour span as fires raged around L.A. on Wednesday, three-quarters of a million new users downloaded the free, ad-less version and over the course of that day, it was serving 500,000 users every minute, Nick Russell, the apps VP of operations tells Rolling Stone. (At the same time, Russell says, two other evacuation systems in Southern California went down, overburdened by too many requests; he declined to name them.) The event that began on Tuesday, Jan. 7 represented the largest response the app has mobilized since its inception in 2021. Back then, it was mostly operated by retired firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders listening to radio scanners for reports of possible wildfires. They were brought together by John Clark Mills, a serial tech entrepreneur who moved to an off-grid property in Northern Californias rural Sonoma County after he sold his last company in 2020. Mills, Russell says, had been living in Sonoma County for six months when he saw helicopters flying overhead en route to a fire. He could see smoke but couldnt find reliable information about how close the fire was, where it was expected to go next, online. In August 2021, he launched Watch Duty as an volunteer-run organization that offered real time wildfires alerts in three counties. Today, the app operates in 22 states and 1,476 counties, and has developed a sophisticated system to monitor events like the one still unfolding across the Los Angeles area. Russell says his team at Watch Duty started seeing the first indications of a perfect storm readying to bear down on Southern California five to seven days before the first fire broke out. By Sunday, he says, theyd received word that the the National Weather Service was poised to declare a PDS Particularly Dangerous Situation, the highest level of fire weather conditions in existence, he says due to the bone-dry conditions (rainfall at just 10 percent the annual average), low humidity, and unusually powerful Santa Ana winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Santa Anas the offshore winds that Raymond Chandler once wrote come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch are legendary in Southern California. They start at the top of the Santa Ana range, then speed down hill, growing in pressure and warming the air. But the winds blowing across Los Angeles county this week approached hurricane strength, and they were colder than usual, affecting a broader swath of the landscape: the ideal conditions that meant it was only a matter of time before a fire, like the one that ignited in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday morning, broke out. When it did, the team staffers and volunteers operating remotely from their own private posts across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, even New Zealand snapped into action. Keeping the maps current involves collecting and vetting data from hundreds if not thousands of sources. While the app once enlisted volunteers to monitor scanners manually leaving them on all day, hearing calls for car accidents and other emergencies today, it employs 18 Echo Radio Devices that monitor hundreds of first responder of emergency scanners radio frequencies. Whenever any wild land-specific firefighting resources aircrafts, bulldozers, land crews are dispatched, the devices automatically capture and transcribe the audio snippets from the radio channels, then send them via Slack to the team responsible for the area where the call originated. From there, a different person is responsible for each piece of the puzzle. The fire perimeter data is collected by Californias Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System Program, aircrafts deployed from bases in Central and Southern California that circle a fire, broadcasting video to firefighters on the ground. The same data is beamed to Watch Duty, cross-checked by a human, uploaded, and updated in real time as the situation evolves. Meanwhile, evacuation data is being collected and cross checked with city and county agencies. The whole operation is supported by grants (Google gave $2 million last year) as well as subscriptions to a Watch Duty Pro, a version of the app that includes information specific to utilities and first responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the fires continue to rage, Russell says the apps team of engineers are working to scale their systems to meet demand, and the team of reporters are monitoring shelter capacities, and working with disaster response groups to add food and aid distribution and other aid sites to the map. Any resources that are there for folks that have been affected by these fires, we want to start getting those communications out, so people arent kind of standing out in the wind waiting to figure out whats next, he says. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100, will be honored Jan. 9 with a national funeral service. The services for the longest-lived president officially began on Jan. 4 and have been held in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. During the five-day tribute to his life, a motorcade transported Carter from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and traveled through Plains, Georgia, the hometown of the former president and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023. Then his remains were taken to his boyhood home, located next to his familys farm. Before his public funeral, a memorial service was held on Jan. 7 for the 39th President of the United States, who was transferred to the U.S. Capitol. His family and other politicians, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, attended the service and read eulogies celebrating Carters legacy and presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the national funeral, there will be a final private service for the late president held at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where he taught Sunday school. Read on to learn about the tributes leading up to the service on Jan. 9, and find out more about the late presidents funeral procession. What time is Jimmy Carters national funeral service? Carters national funeral service will begin at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. ET. The service will be preceded by a brief ceremony where his remains and his family will arrive at the cathedral after departing from the U.S. Capitol. The funeral will conclude around 11 a.m. ET. His family will then depart for the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and board the Special Air Mission 39 to fly to Georgia for the private ceremony in Plains. How to watch Jimmy Carters funeral service Viewers can watch the entire series of public events and services on Jan. 9 at NBCNews.com. The national funeral service will also be shown on NBC News Now and TODAY All Day. Who is expected to attend Jimmy Carters funeral? NBC News Priya Sridhar reported on TODAY that President Joe Biden who previously declared Jan. 9 a national day of mourning when he addressed Carters death in a statement will be in attendance and is expected to deliver a eulogy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trump is expected to go to the funeral, as well, Sridhar reported. The Guardian reports that former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama will also attend. Whats happened so far in the funeral procession for Jimmy Carter? On Jan. 4, after his remains were taken to his childhood home, the late presidents journey to Atlanta began. His motorcade traveled to Georgias State Capitol for a moment of silence and then made it to the Carter Presidential Center. There, Carter was lying in repose as mourners paid their respects. Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Congress and more officials joined Carters family for a service honoring him on Jan. 7 after he was taken to the U.S. Capitol rotunda to lie in state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC News reported Harris, who was in middle school when Carter was elected, said during her eulogy, Jimmy Carter was that all too rare example of a gifted man who also walks with humility, modesty and grace. She added, He lived his faith, he served the people and he left the world better than he found it. Where will Jimmy Carter be buried? Following the private service, Carter will be buried next to his wife, Rosalynn Carter, at their family home in Plains, NBCs Ryan Nobles reported on TODAY. This article was originally published on TODAY.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) With concern growing over hospital care as a Friday strike looms at Providence Hospitals, representatives from the Oregon Nurses Association held a press conference to update the public on their preparations. At all eight Providence Hospitals in Oregon, thousands of nurses are expected to walk out along with dozens of doctors at one hospital, all members of the Oregon Nurses Association. Providence St. Vincent is the hospital expected to see between 60 to 70 physicians taking part in the strike, Providence officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 24 Oregon employees laid off as REI announces elimination of Experiences division Unlike previous health care strikes, this is an open-ended strike with no planned limit on how long it will last. According to ONA, the decision to call a strike came after months of negotiations where they claim little movement was made on top priorities such as staffing, smaller caseloads, affordable health care, increased paid time off and competitive wages. Our members are angry because Providence has systematically lowered the standards of care and focused on healthcare model that prioritizes profits over our patients, said Executive Director Anne Tan Piazza, ONAs Executive Director. And that is not why ONA members started their career in healthcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Providence St. Vincent Hospital could be one of the most affected by the strike, since its where physicians will join. Officials say they may limit admissions and move appointments at St. Vincent as a result. Portland Music Month halted for 2025, organizers urge concert-goers to support local acts Providence officials said they continue[d] to pass proposals through the federal mediator and hope the union will respond in the best interest of the community. But ONA said they have not only been fully engaged in bargaining but have also provided counterproposals on the rare occasion that Providence brings meaningful offers to the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union blames Providence for refusing to bargain. They have made inconsistent and disingenuous claims about their preparedness and tried to blame the issue on frontline caregivers, added Tan Piazza. Theyve offered to negotiate with our doctors because theyre not prepared for them to strike, and went on to say that they would not negotiate with our nurses because they are prepared for them to strike. She continued, Are they too busy to negotiate? Are they not they arent too busy to negotiate with workers they cant replace, but they are too busy to negotiate with the workers they claim they can? This is shameful behavior. RN Richard Botterill pointed to another concern, which is healthcare affordability for patients and frontline workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our healthcare will be one of the worst of any hospital in the state, noted RN Richard Botterill. Its expensive, its overpriced, the deductibles are huge and they just changed all of our healthcare without any negotiations. Botterill added Providence has been cutting corners regarding Oregons Safe Staffing Law a claim Providence has denied. To any patients whose healthcare may be impacted by the strike, OB/GYN Dr. Robin Richards encouraged them to seek the care they need, regardless of who is staffed. However, she stated overall, We are doing this for you. I really need the community to know we deeply care. We would not be here if we didnt care, she said. But just know that I and all my colleagues are doing that to try and make the system what we think it needs to be, which is safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a deal is not struck, the strike is set to begin at 6 a.m. Friday. Watch the full press conference in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. New Orleans attack This is the moment officers exchanged fire with the New Orleans attacker shortly after he killed 14 people by ramming a pickup truck into a crowd on New Years Day. Body cam footage released by New Orleans police shows Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, shooting from behind an airbag as several officers surround his truck. As they dive for cover, shots continue to ring out in Bourbon Street, the heart of the French Quarter, where Jabbar had carried out his Islamic State-inspired attack moments earlier. The scene in Bourbon Street after Jabbar killed 14 people in the Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack - X Jabbar, a US citizen born in Texas and a former army soldier, sped into revellers in the early hours, killing 14 people and injuring at least 35. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pick-up truck struck a crane midway down the street, where it came to a halt before Jabbar, described as being dressed in full military gear, got out of the vehicle. He was then killed in a shoot-out with police after he fired a weapon, striking two officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Credit: Via Fox 8 New Orleans Jabbar had built two bombs with a very rare explosive compound, senior law enforcement officials have said. The compound had never before been used in a US or European terror attack, with investigators now exploring how he learnt how to produce the explosive. Jabbar used the compound in two homemade bombs, which were found in coolers on Bourbon Street. The bombs did not detonate and it remains unclear whether this was due to a malfunction or lack of activation. Jabber built two bombs with a very rare explosive compound, senior law enforcement officials have said Two guns and a transmitter intended to trigger the bombs were also found in Jabbars truck and have been taken to an FBI laboratory for testing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, federal authorities searching Jabbars home in Houston found hazardous materials believed to have been used to make explosive devices. Law enforcement officials also found that Jabbar had reserved the vehicle he used to ram his victims six weeks earlier, suggesting he was planning his attack far in advance. His attack marks the deadliest assault inspired by Islamic State on US soil in years, laying bare what federal officials have warned is a resurgent international terrorism threat. Jabbar had posted several social media messages saying he was inspired by Islamic State. The attack on Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Years Day marks the deadliest assault inspired by Islamic State on US soil in years - Michael DeMocker/Getty Images He had been living in a mobile home on the outskirts of Houston before driving to Louisiana to carry out the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI has concluded that no one helped Jabbar to carry out his attack. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Jan. 9LAKE ANDES, S.D. A water pipeline project that will benefit Mitchell and Davison County recently awarded construction contracts for the project, setting up a start date for construction in spring of 2025. The Connecting Neighbors Regional Waterline Project, an approximately $105 million water pipeline effort, will allow the Randall Community Water District to supply clean, reliable water to two existing customers as well as the city of Mitchell, which would take the form of a secondary redundant water source for the community. Scott Pick, general manager for the Randall Community Water District, said the contracts signal the start of an exciting time for the district and its partners in South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's a monumental step," Pick told the Mitchell Republic. The district awarded Hausmann Construction-General Excavating Joint Venture, in collaboration with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., the design-build services contract for the construction of a high-capacity water transmission line. In addition, the district awarded the construction risk contract to complete improvements at the Platte Treatment facility. ID8 Architecture will provide architectural design and lead a team of professional service providers for the treatment plant building addition. The group will work together to build an approximately 72-mile high capacity water transmission pipeline that will carry water from the Missouri River to southeastern South Dakota, including the Davison Rural Water System, the Aurora-Brule Rural Water System and the city of Mitchell, which will utilize the pipeline as a secondary water source. The city is also currently served by B-Y Water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project will also include treatment plant upgrades, associated water storage, pumping and infrastructure components, Pick said. The work will begin at the district's Platte Treatment Plant with upgrades to the treatment facility and will then continue with the new water line construction from the Platte Tank Farm southwest of Platte and make its way east and north to an existing storage site south of Stickney. The project will then continue the new pipeline from the Stickney storage site east and north to a service connection site near Mitchell. All told, the changes should improve services throughout Davison County and beyond. "We provide Davison County with 100% of their water needs, and they're going to get additional capacity. That pipeline will have the capacity for their growth needs as well as the city of Mitchell," Pick said. "In addition to that, the Aurora Brule Rural Water System will get capacity in that, too." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work is expected to take approximately three years to complete. The water line should be a considerable upgrade for all involved parties, Pick said, but also impactful is the relatively short timeframe it's expected to take to finish the project. Pick said the fact they are talking about years for completion instead of decades is impressive. "When you think about the large project and the magnitude and scope of years that it's taken to do some of those, our time frame from start to completion is, in my opinion, transformational, because we're going to have the ability to have that pipeline done within three years, not 30," Pick said. "When you put it in that perspective, I'm very happy with our board of directors and our development team saying 'Hey, this can be done if you all get together and you use the team vision and approve it in a much more diligent, quicker fashion.'" When construction begins, it will indicate the start of a project that has been on the mind of Mitchell city leaders for several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mitchell City Council in February 2024 approved an agreement with the Randall Community Water District that could provide up to 5 million gallons of water a day to Mitchell. The city had been exceeding its maximum daily capacity of 2.6 million gallons already provided by B-Y Water on a regular basis. Discussions on the project date back further than that, however, and Bob Everson, former mayor of Mitchell who had a central leadership role in making the project a reality, said city officials have been looking into the water supply issue since around 2019. An additional water supply should make the community even more attractive to potential residents and businesses, especially those such as processing plants that may require a high rate of water. "It's awesome. It will be a good thing for Mitchell," Everson told the Mitchell Republic. "Our water needs should be covered now for well into the future of Mitchell. That's a good thing, because there are a lot of communities that are not sitting well for water. Water is kind of becoming a commodity, so we're sitting now where Mitchell should be able to do some additional development and grow based on what we've got for water now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Randall Community Water District is currently finalizing landowner negotiations and easement agreements. Engineering design and construction will follow that process, Pick said. He said the construction process will involve more trenching or plowing as opposed to methods that cause more ground disturbance, something district officials and landowners both want to avoid. The overall cost of the project comes in at around $105 million, with about $21.2 million coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, which are grant funds from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the project. The remainder will be covered through a State Revolving Fund Programming loan over 30 years at 1.85%, Pick said. Everson said it's satisfying to see the project reach this stage, and he will be watching closely to see how endeavor pans out. "It will be interesting to see how long it takes to get everything up and going to get us water, and we'll see how we can develop and grow as a city and community with this addition to our repertoire and see if we can actually bring in some more businesses that need a little more water," Everson said. "I look forward to the city growing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The timing, funding and construction methods of the new pipeline will hopefully serve as an example to other entities of how a sizable infrastructure project can go from vision to completion in a relatively short time, Pick said. A reliable supply of clean water is vital for any community or region, and Pick said the Randall Community Water District is hopefully leading by example when it comes to its large scale projects. "Hopefully when it's all said and done with our team, which includes the state of South Dakota and the (state) department of agriculture and natural resources, we create a platform, or almost a template, that this should be a model you would consider," Pick said. As Morgan Geyser walked into the Waukesha County Courthouse on Thursday, the obvious question that stood out is what would be different this time in her fourth quest for conditional release from her court-ordered confinement tied to the infamous Slender Man case . It appeared at first not much had changed from her previous three attempts to gain conditional release, with sealed medical reports and the same expert witnesses on hand. In reality, much had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the reports and testimony from two consulting mental experts, Dr. Deborah Collins and Dr. Brooke Lundbohm, and a doctor called by the defense, Waukesha County District Court Judge Michael O. Bohren ruled that Geyser could proceed with a plan for conditional release as part of his 40-year mental health treatment order from 2018. "In reviewing all the reports in the matter, I'm satisfied, under the circumstances, that the court is going to grant the release," Bohren said. "I'm satisfied that by clear and convincing evidence that ... Miss Geyser does not pose a significant risk of bodily harm to herself or others." Morgan Geyser appears in a Waukesha County courtroom Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Waukesha, Wis. Morry Gash / Pool via USA TODAY Network Now 22, Geyser has remained institutionalized at a Winnebago mental health facility, in effect her home for a decade since she stabbed her 12-year-old friend Payton Leutner, aided by another friend, Anissa Weier, in May 2014 in Waukesha. She had repeatedly been evaluated by medical health experts, whose reports helped stand in the way of her release for care and treatment away from Winnebago. Why was the result different this time? The answer is based in a strong shift in the opinion of the medical experts. Lundbohm favorably changes her stance on Geyser's conditional release Geyser was also only 12 years old in 2014 when she and Weier lured Leutner, their sixth grade friend and classmate, to a wooded area near David's Park and Big Bend Road. Leutner was stabbed 19 times, with both girls claiming they did so to satisfy the fictional internet character Slender Man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, Geyser was found not guilty by reason of mental defect, but fell under Bohren's four-decade commitment order. Lundbohm had been involved with Geyser's evaluations almost from the start and had previously opposed her conditional release, including the early 2024 petition that was ultimately rejected by Bohren. But there was reason to reconsider that position now. Based on her most recent examination, Lundbohm testified that her opinion of whether Geyser should be conditionally released has changed since April 2024, when she told the court release was not yet warranted during Geyser's third petition. "At this time, I am in support of her conditional release," she said under questioning from Deputy District Attorney Abbey Nickolie, who called Lundbohm as the state's only witness Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lundbohm addressed Geyser's claims, beginning in 2022, that she had fabricated symptoms of psychotic behavior following the incident in 2014. She also responded to questions from Bohren on that concern. "There appears to be a stepping back from claims she had faked symptoms," she said. "They have essentially abated." She also revealed that Geyser has now identified as a transgender male, beginning a transition that includes male pronouns nonfactors in her conditional release. The key for her conditional release would have to involve some other form of care facility, such as a group home, one that was not as strictly confining as the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Geyser's attorney, Tony Cotton, asked Lundbohm to what extent Geyser has transitioned to Winnebago units that increase her privileges, indicating her improvement in behavior standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She was granted what's called full-escort privileges," Lundbohm said, noting that Geyser has been able to move under supervision outside the facility, such as trips to Starbucks. She also acknowledged that acute symptoms of psychosis have faded for more than three years to a point that they are no longer clinically evident, with her maturity a large factor. "There has been a notable engagement in her treatment. ... She has benefitted from it," Lundbohm said. Under questioning from Cotton, she stressed that Geyser's move to a group home would consider its dual purpose. "I'm not only concerned about the safety of the community, but her safety," she said, noting the need for professional support services as part of her conditional release. Lundbohm also acknowledged that Geyser would need continued treatment, especially medication, to prevent her regression to psychotic spectrum disorder symptoms that could pose a threat to the community or herself. Doctor for defense reiterates previous support for Geyser release Adding to Lundbohm's support for conditional release, a doctor who previously testified about Geyser's eligibility to be released into a group home spoke again on behalf of the defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Kenneth Robbins, who has worked as a consultant for the Winnebago facility and served as director of the Mendota Mental Health Institute in the 1990s, said his opinion is that there is little to be gained for her to remain in an institution, and may harm her development as she ages. "I believe it's appropriate" for her conditional release, Robbins said. "She has had multiple opportunities to be in the community and has done very well. There is little that Winnebago can do at this point. ... The longer she is there at this point, the harder it will be for her to reintegrate." Cotton pointedly asked his opinion about whether regression to psychotic symptoms is a risk if she is released into a group home or another setting. "If these symptoms were to return, ... I'm sure they would be properly addressed," he said. Collins says enough time has now passed to support Geyser's release Dr. Deborah Collins, a psychologist who is the director of the Wisconsin Forensic Unit and owner of the Wisconsin Behavioral Consultants, also reinforced the arguments of the two other doctors: that Geyser's continued confinement at Winnebago isn't warranted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Lundbohm, whom she has worked with, she reversed her earlier opinion from 2024, when she resisted Geyser's release because she felt Geyser need more time to be evaluated for stable behavioral improvements. "The bottom line is that there is unanimous support for Miss Geyser's release," Collins said. She stressed that her 37-page report, initiated by the court upon Geyser's latest petition, was independently written, not relying on other doctors. Collins acknowledged that Geyser's past delusional episodes could have resulted from multiple causes, but her treatment has succeeded in bringing balance to her condition. Collins said Geyser has also benefitted from improved family support as she has progressed at Winnebago. She also said Geyser clearly had "thought through" her recovery action plan for conditional release, including employment goals and her own commitment to treatments that lie ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for risk factors associated with conditional release, Collins acknowledged there are no absolutes. "There still remains, and always remains, for Miss Geyer, in fact, some historical risk factors that place her at elevated risk for violence as compared to an individual who did not stab a peer 19 times over 10 years ago," she said. "But when we look at dynamic factors that can be changed and are amenable to treatment, then her history in the last 10 years also demonstrate several protective factors that she has, and factors about her that are amenable to intervention and treatment, and at this juncture I believe make her ready for conditional release." If Geyser remains at Winnebago, there could be negative impacts, including increasing her sense of "hopelessness," Collins said. Attorneys disagree on how court should view conditional release In closing arguments, prosecutors, who vastly limited cross examinations compared to Geyser's early 2024 petition, acknowledged the shift by mental health experts in Thursday's testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Assistant District Attorney Ted Szczupakiewicz said little has changed, in his mind, since Bohren's ruling in April 2024 denying Geyser's previous petition. He noted that Bohren himself had stressed a judge's role to decide in a manner to protect the community, regardless of medical expert opinions. More than that, however, Szczupakiewicz said Geyser still stands out as an individual who committed a brutal, near-fatal crime. "When I think about this, judge, I can't help but thinking that most people in society are not capable of committing such an offense," he said. Geyser's shift in causal factors including a diagnosis of schizophrenic or perhaps trauma-oriented causes and her later claim of having faked psychotic symptoms raise "large questions of credibility," he said. "We don't have any clear answer whatsoever to why she committed this offense," Szczupakiewicz said, later adding that Geyser has shown at times that she doesn't seem to truly understand the nature of her mental health problems. "It's all still up in the air." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Cotton, as he did in April, reiterated that "the burden is on the state by clear and convincing evidence" to prove Geyser is still a danger to the community or herself and should remain institutionalized. "Their witness takes the stand and testifies under oath ... in support of conditional release," Cotton said in his closing argument, criticizing the fear factors prosecutors verbalized. "I think everything that Mr. Szczupakiewicz just said is a red herring." Cotton said he sees the bottom line as indicating that Geyser has shown she has progressed in treatment to an extent she is eligible for conditional release, under supervision and GPS electronic monitoring. Geyser's release from Winnebago, like Weier, would involve a plan that addresses any lingering concerns, Cotton added. According to the experts, her release will only come after a court-appeared treatment plan is developed under consultation with officials from the mental health institute and others, including Geyser herself. Jennifer Parnell and Lisa Portmann, a treatment social worker, both testified that Geyser could be treated under a conditional release plan, one that's specialized for her needs. The 2024 petition marked the third time Geyser has sought conditional release. The first two petitions, including the first in 2022, were withdrawn by Geyser herself following doctors reports. Weier was granted conditional release in 2021 four years after the start of her 25-year commitment term, after she was also found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of mental defect. She was subsequently freed from electronic monitoring in 2023, according to court records. Bohren's final words indicate qualified confidence in decision In his ruling late Thursday afternoon, Bohren also acknowledged reports by the two experts, Lundbohm and Collins, and that the doctors involved in her treatment have addressed Geyser's problems. He added that he was satisfied that Geyser wasn't trying to game the system by claiming she faked her symptoms years ago and has been steadily working toward her improved mental health while at Winnebago. Bohren said one factor that surprised him is that "Winnebago would only take you so far, and they wouldn't take you any further" in professional treatment of someone committed for mental illness. While stating that the stabbing "was an attempted brutal offense," Bohren said he didn't want to base his decision on that incident. And he recognized conditional release "causes the court to pause" when he considers Collins' words that mental treatment carries no guarantees. "Dangerous is difficult, because we never know," he said. "So you have to be cognizant of the fragileness of the type of decisions that the court makes." A hearing will be scheduled within 60 days, tentatively set for March 3, at which time the conditional release plan will likely be ready for him to consider, Bohren said. Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com. (This story was updated to add videos.) This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Geyser gets conditional release from 40-year Slender Man confinement This story has been updated to add comments from Wayne County Director of Communications Doda Lulgjuraj. FARMINGTON HILLS Wayne County Parks Director Alicia Bradford is facing felony charges along with her husband, Larry Bradford, after a New Year's Eve incident that police said started over an apparent dispute with a store clerk about a 10-cent deposit on a can of pop. The Bradfords, who are Farmington Hills residents, were each arraigned on felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and felony firearm on Jan. 1 by 47th District Court Magistrate Michael Sawicky in Farmington Hills. They were released on $50,000 personal bonds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither could be reached for comment. Judith Gracey, listed in the court records as Larry Bradford's attorney, asked why the charges against him were newsworthy before telling a reporter she had no comment. Michael Baldwin, a public defender for Wayne County, was listed in court records as representing Alicia Bradford, 55, but he said she declined his counsel and told him she would retain her own lawyer. Another attorney was not yet listed in the court record Thursday afternoon. Wayne County Director of Communications Doda Lulgjuraj confirmed Friday that Alicia Bradford is suspended. "Alicia Bradford has been suspended without pay," Lulgjuraj said. "We will not be providing further comments while the matter is under investigation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hometown Life obtained through the Freedom of Information Act a police report and surveillance videos of the incident that Farmington Hills police officers responded to at 12:54 a.m. on Jan. 1 at the BP gas station located at 27730 Orchard Lake Road. Farmington Hills police released video surveillance footage that includes this image of Wayne County Parks Director Alicia Bradford, left, and her husband Larry Bradford during a confrontation with another customer at a gas station on Jan. 1, 2025. According to the police report and video released by police, Larry Bradford, 72, approached a store clerk to purchase a 16-ounce can of Mountain Dew for $1.99, and told the clerk he believed he was being charged sales tax. He can be heard on the video telling the clerk there is no sales tax on pop when the clerk told him the total cost. The clerk tried to explain the extra 10 cents was for Michigan's deposit law. Another customer standing behind Bradford said, "There is now..." and Bradford turned and confronted the man, according to video of the incident. A physical altercation ensued after the man leaned forward toward Bradford, and both men pushed each other. At one point, police said Larry Bradford struck the man twice with the can of Mountain Dew, according to the police report. Police who arrived on the scene wrote in their report that they found The inside of the store had bags of chips, mints, and gum all over the floor with a couple merchandise stands knocked over.Bradford left the store after stating he was going to "get his pistol," according to the police report, while the other man searched for his glasses and apologized to the clerk, asking if he should leave and adding he didn't want to get in trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 43 seconds later, Larry Bradford reentered the store with a 9 mm gun and pointed it at the customer he had the altercation with. Larry Bradford told the man get on your (expletive) knees, get on your knees, tell me you're sorry. As the man knelt down, with his hands up, and can be heard on video apologizing, Larry Bradford hit the man with a left-hand strike to the left side of his head, and then told the man to find my (expletive) ring. Larry Bradford added, according to the police report, I should kill youI should blow your (expletive) brains out. Alicia Bradford can be heard yelling in the background, "Larry please!" and asking if the man he fought with has robbed him, according to the police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alicia Bradford then enters the store, with black handgun in her hand, demanding to know what has happened. The man who had the altercation with Larry Bradford was still on the floor, saying that they argued and he was attacked over a can of pop. Alicia Bradford kept her gun pointed at the man, according to police, while she had her phone out to call 9-1-1. She told the man, "I could do something to you" and "I'll kill you," according to records released by police. When officers asked her if her handgun had been involved in the incident, she said it had not been. When asked by officers if she ever pulled the gun out of her pocket, she said she had, but only kept the gun by her side and never pointed it at anyone, according to the police report. The couple's 2024 Cadillac Lyriq was impounded at the scene and the can of Mountain Dew, which police noted was dented, was taken into evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans, in a Facebook post nearly four years ago in which he shared a Wayne County Parks post honoring Alicia Bradford as part of Black History Month, noted that the parks director appointed in 2016 "is a proven leader dedicated to all of our 43 vibrant communities." A pre-exam conference for the Bradfords is scheduled for Jan. 13. This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Wayne County parks director, husband face gun charges CHEYENNE Last February, the Wyoming Community Development Authority published its statewide housing needs assessment for the state of Wyoming. This report showed Wyomings housing development was not on track to keep up with the states anticipated growth. In June, WCDA connected with Abt Global, a research and consulting firm, to begin work on a detailed plan outlining strategies Wyomingites can take to get ahead of the issue. On Thursday, representatives from Abt Global presented their findings, summarizing a 111-page final report, which is available on WCDAs website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, for those not as eager to thumb through the full report, Abt Global created a local policy tool that lets interested parties learn more about the best strategies to address housing policy on the local level. The tool is an interactive map that allows users to select a subsection of different counties across the state and lists all the suggestions Abt Global believes are best suited for that area based on factors like affordability, population, median home cost and geography. The housing action plan was assembled based on interviews with representatives of key stakeholder groups in the state, two public housing forums, a review of more than 100 state and local housing documents, and an online survey, with responses from 114 additional stakeholders. This is the beginning of the work, and we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is the groundwork for that for the future, said WCDA Executive Director Scott Hoversland. According to WCDAs statewide housing needs assessment, Wyoming must add between 2,070 and 3,860 units per year between 2024 and 2030. In 2023, only 1,681 units were added. This means developers in the state must increase production by 23% to 130% to meet the anticipated demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abt Globals action plan breaks down the best strategies to accomplish this goal and outlines how and when each item can be addressed while also keeping the values of Wyomingites in mind. The four strategies The first strategy outlined to achieve this goal is to expand resources available for housing and infrastructure development. In its survey, Abt Global found that 70% of respondents said high development costs and limited state and local funding for development are top barriers to meeting housing needs. To address this, Abt Global suggests increasing funding for housing development. This could be done by creating a flexible housing development fund, which is a fund to support local needs, including grants, low-cost loans, credit guarantees or other forms of financial assistance. Abt Global Senior Associate Stephen Whitlow said Wyoming is one of only three states in the country that doesnt have this kind of fund set up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another way to increase those funds is by empowering localities to raise revenues for housing. This could include things like creating a special purpose excise tax, expanding local flexibility to use revenue from the short-term rental tax, instituting a real estate transfer tax or fee on home sales over $1 million or those who own second homes in Wyoming, and expanding localities ability to use tax increment financing to spur housing development. This first strategy must also be addressed by pursuing targeted infrastructure expansion. The report says this can be done by expanding the Wyoming Grants Assistance Program to provide technical assistance for localities to pursue loans, as well as grants, creating regional councils, providing more grant funding for smaller communities, and conducting a statewide feasibility assessment of water capacity for new housing and job growth. The second strategy is to expand and preserve homebuyers, homeowners and renters access to safe, quality and affordable housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To support homebuyers and homeowners, Abt Global suggests providing funding for home repair and retrofits for qualifying homeowners, expanding Habitat for Humanitys Habitat Repair program, and growing opportunities for affordable homeownership, such as starter homes or manufactured homes. To support renters, Abt Global suggests the state provide funding for rehab and rental assistance, particularly to help prevent homelessness, and offer eviction prevention support. A third strategy in the report is to reduce new regulatory and land access barriers to new housing development. One way to do this is by supporting localities in identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to the development of starter and missing middle homes. An example Abt Global provided is the updates and amendments the city of Cheyenne made to its unified development code in 2024 with the goal of making it easier and more attractive for developers to construct in Cheyenne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another way to accomplish this goal could be by ensuring resident input in community growth while reducing barriers to housing development. This may include pre-approved housing plans that developers can choose from without having to get city council approval on an individual basis. Still having the community be involved in that sort of design process, if you will, but doing it on less of an individual project basis and thinking about it more holistically, Whitlow said. An additional item Whitlow suggested is to reform Wyomings protest petition process so that a small number of people cant hold up as many development projects. The fourth and final strategy outlined in the report is to build capacity among public and private actors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samaa Eldadah, a representative from Abt Global, said one way to do this is by providing and promoting localities access to funding opportunities. This could include things like developing a central housing information and technical assistance website and promoting the Wyoming Grant Assistance Program. Were consistently finding that information is just scattered across multiple agencies. Websites might not be up to date, might not be well advertised, and local government staff, especially in smaller towns, dont have the time for that, Eldadah said. Another way to accomplish this goal is by addressing gaps in the housing industry workforce. Eldadah suggested easing access to training and licensing to incentivize more skilled trade workers to live and work in Wyoming, as some surrounding states currently provide better opportunities for these workers. She also suggested assessing opportunities for the state to expand modular housing construction and manufactured housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If its done right, modular and manufactured housing development can be a tool to provide the kinds of needed year-round employment opportunities, and then also, similarly, address the limited population of developers, skills trades workers, Eldadah said. On the housing side, (this would) achieve the kinds of cost efficiencies and production that we want, reducing those housing costs because the housing gets developed in a facility in bulk. Ultimately, the state and its communities will need to determine which strategies to pursue first. Abt Global has vaguely outlined which ones should be prioritized in the report and the timeline to expect some of these potential changes to roll out as Wyomings legislative session kicks off next week. WINKLER COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) Update: The Winkler County Sheriffs Office said they have located the vehicle abandoned. The Winkler County Sheriffs Office is seeking information after a pickup truck was in a reported hit-and-run incident with another vehicle. According to WCSO, a white Ram 1500 with Texas license plate number KPD0552 was involved in the collision but failed to stop and render aid or exchange information before driving away from the scene. No further information regarding the incident has been provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you know where this truck may be located, or have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Winkler County Sheriffs Office at 432-586-3461. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. A Los Angeles millionaire, well known for his success in real estate, has deleted his X account, after facing intense criticism for pleading on the social media platform for private firefighters to save his Pacific Palisades home on Tuesday. Keith Wasserman, whose X bio used to read entrepreneur, investor, contrarian, compounding, is a partner and co-founder at Gelt Venture Partners, described on his Linkedin page as a Multifamily Real Estate Investments with High Net Worth Individuals and Families. Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? the 40-year-old posted on X Jan. 7 as the fire raged. Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palisades Fire, which was first reported at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, quickly spread through residential and commercial districts, prompting immediate evacuations for tens of thousands of people and has since destroyed thousands of structures across more than 19,000 acres. The wildfire is believed to be the most destructive natural disaster in L.A. history, with the damage estimated to be somewhere in the $50 billion range. The Palisades Fire burns as seen from Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Los Angeles on January 8, 2025. (Getty Images) A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Sky5 view of devastation from the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 9, 2025. (KTLA) A structure is burned by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The devastation from the Palisades Fire is seen from the air in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Wasserman, who, according to the Daily Beast, had previously posted about his disdain for paying property taxes, writing real estate ballers dont pay any, was immediately dragged by other X users. Congratulations on no longer having to pay property taxes, one user wrote, tagging Wasserman, whose home reportedly burned down in the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You really cant make this stuff up, another X user said. The rich guy Keith Wasserman bragged about not paying taxes & now wants private firefighters to protect his home while neighbors homes burn. Not all the comments were entirely negative, however. Some users came to the real-estate investors defense. Why did fire hydrants go dry for crews fighting the Palisades Fire? Its deeply disheartening to witness the backlash against Keith Wasserman, a user from San Diego wrote. Keith was fighting to save his home and the cherished memories of his family. Almost anyone in his position, faced with flames at their doorstep, would have acted similarly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre sitting in the comfort of your home judging Keith Wasserman for trying to save his home maybe realize that you are lucky and be thankful. We all need to be more gentle, yet another X user posted. Its not entirely uncommon for those with the financials means, like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2018, to get for-hire firefighters, though they were also heavily criticized at the time as well. Its unclear if Wasserman has any intentions of returning to X, but his account no longer existed by Jan. 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A sophisticated attack on one of Benins most fortified military positions has delivered a severe blow to the nations northern defense capabilities, highlighting escalating security challenges along its borders with Niger and Burkina Faso. The assault represents a significant escalation in the regions ongoing insurgency crisis. The incident, which targeted a strategic military installation in the Alibori region, has resulted in substantial military casualties, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Beninese forces in recent years. Military sources report neutralizing forty assailants during subsequent cleanup operations, though the toll on government forces remains significant, with estimates suggesting dozens of soldiers lost. This attack follows a pattern of increasing violence against military targets in northern Benin, where security forces have struggled to contain cross-border militant activities. The region has witnessed mounting casualties, with over 120 military personnel killed in various incidents between 2021 and late 2024. Just last month, militants targeted an oil pipeline in the northeast, resulting in three soldier deaths and four injuries. Military leadership has acknowledged the severity of the situation, calling for an immediate review of operational strategies. Despite the deployment of 3,000 troops in 2022 to reinforce border security, armed groups continue to demonstrate their ability to launch devastating attacks against well-defended positions. The incident has prompted urgent discussions about enhancing military preparedness and adapting tactical approaches to address the evolving security landscape. ***Weather Alert Thursday Night through Friday*** ***Winter Storm Warning Friday*** ***Winter Weather Advisory Friday*** Our next weathermaker, a Gulf Low, arrives tonight through Friday night. The low will move east right along the Northern Gulf Coast. Its track will play a role in how much winter precipitation Alabama receives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday: The forecast remains largely on track for today. Freezing, rain, sleet, and some snow for much of Central Alabama is expected, and accumulations have already begun early this morning. Freezing rain could accumulate up to 0.25 of ice to roads, and bridges along and north to east of Birmingham. Snow and sleet accumulation up to 1 is forecast for areas along and south of I-20, including Birmingham. Areas between Birmingham and Cullman could see 1-2 of sleet and snow. North Alabama could see 2-4 of sleet and snow along with ice accumulations up to 0.25. Travel is not recommended on Friday! Power issues are possible due to the freezing rain/sleet in the morning. High temperatures will warm just above freezing into the middle 30s by the afternoon changing the precipitation to a cold rain. This will help to melt the ice, sleet, and snow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rain will end during the evening, and we could see a few snow flurries Friday night as the low moves northeast into Georgia. Wet roads will freeze causing black ice. Travel is not recommended through Saturday morning! Lows will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Weekend Outlook: Saturday will become partly cloudy and stay cold with snow flurries/showers. Highs will be in the upper 30s. Sunday will become mostly sunny with highs in the 40s. Next Week: we will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy Monday through Friday with highs in the lower 40s and lows in the 20s. Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. A snow plough driver at the closed snow gates on the A93 in Spittal of Glenshee. Weather warnings for snow and ice are in force across much of the UK after severe flooding and snow caused travel disruption and school closures. Across England, there are also 198 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 300 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/dpa Airport-goers be warned: Getting to Sky Harbor International Airport may be even more of a headache than usual this weekend as a major freeway near downtown Phoenix will be closed from Jan. 10 to Jan. 13, causing trouble getting in and out of the city, the Arizona Department of Transportation said. Both Interstate 10 and State Route 143 will be closed around Sky Harbor for the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, which is slated to finish this spring after beginning construction in fall of 2021. ADOT urged drivers to account for backed-up traffic and allow extra time getting around downtown Phoenix and Tempe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are all of the traffic restrictions to be aware of over the next few days. Interstate 10 east closed between Ministack interchange and US 60 Eastbound I-10 will be closed between the State Route 51 Ministack interchange and U.S. 60 (Superstition Freeway) from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. On-ramps between Third Street in downtown Phoenix and Baseline Road will be closed, as well as southbound Interstate 17 on-ramps at Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street. The I-17 ramp to eastbound I-10 near Sky Harbor Airport will also be closed. Some ramp closures will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, ADOT said. In Tempe, 52nd Street will be closed between Broadway Road and 14th Street from 8 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday with local access only. Detours ADOT recommended drivers use Loop 202 east starting at the Ministack, then moving to southbound Loop 101 to westbound U.S. 60 or westbound Loop 202 to reach I-10 beyond the closure. West Valley drivers can avoid the closure by using southbound/eastbound Loop 202 to reach I-10 near Chandler Boulevard. Northbound State Route 143 closed between I-10 and Loop 202 The closure will last between 10 p.m. on Friday to 4 a.m. on Monday. Some ramps to northbound SR 143 will close at 8 p.m. Friday. Detour Use westbound I-10 to eastbound Loop 202. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If going to the airport, ADOT recommended drivers allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes to the airport's west entrance via 24th Street or Buckeye Road. Westbound I-10 narrowed to three lanes between 32nd and 24th streets on Saturday The restrictions near Sky Harbor will last from 3 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, for sign work. ADOT emphasized slowing down and merging safely when approaching and traveling through all work zones. Northbound Loop 101 ramp closed at Raintree Drive in Scottsdale The Loop 101 north on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at Raintree Drive in Scottsdale will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for bridge work. Detour Drivers can use the northbound Loop 101 on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New year, new freeways: 2025 freeway construction projects to know about in Phoenix area This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Freeways to close near Phoenix Sky Harbor, plus Loop 101 ramp closure A fracking rig in a cornfield. (Getty Images.) On the night of Jan. 2, there was an explosion on a well pad in eastern Ohios Guernsey County. In shaky Facebook videos, the volunteer fire department chief warned off looky-loos, as a burning tank fed dark, billowing clouds of smoke off in the distance. The accident happened at the Groh well pad which is operated by Gulfport Engergy. No one was injured in the blast and first responders determined the safest course of action was to let the fire burn itself out. Guernsey County Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation notice within half a mile of the well pad. The agency lifted its advisory about 14 hours later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Karina Cheung said the agency is still investigating the cause of the fire and assessing damage. Preliminary findings indicate that one containment tank was affected, she said. All produced fluids have been safely removed. There was no release of fluids into the environment and the well pad remains shut down and inactive. There were no reported injuries, no reported impacts to wildlife, and no reported impacts to water, she added. Context and track record But to some, the incident highlights concerns theyve been raising for years about oil and gas drilling particularly as exploration expands to state lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Groh well pad sits about five miles from Salt Fork State Park. While the site doesnt draw from within the park, the accident is a reminder that Salt Fork was recently opened to oil and gas exploration thanks to a 2022 law signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Those leases dont allow well pads within the boundaries of state land, but opponents argue more exploration means more accidents. And with drilling infrastructure creeping closer, they contend, its a matter of time before those accidents affect public land. These are accidents that have great potential to cause people serious breathing and respiratory illnesses from air emissions alone, Melinda Zemper from the organization Save Ohio Parks said. Although shes quick to note the difference in scale, Zemper compared the accident to the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes when you have explosions, she added, you dont know what chemicals are going to be released into the soil and the water nearby the well pad. Activists from Save Ohio Parks in front of the corporate office headquarters of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company to protest fracking under state parks and wildlife areas, at One Nationwide Plaza in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.) The group has organized opposition to drilling leases on public land since state officials began awarding them through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Oil and Gas Land Management Commission. Gulfport Energy has been awarded seven of those leases in Belmont and Monroe Counties. Save Ohio Parks argues the recent Groh well pad fire isnt an isolated incident. In 2020, Gulfport agreed to a $3.7 million settlement with the U.S. EPA over its operations in Ohio. The company faced $1.7 million in penalties and directed to invest $2 million in upgrades to reduce emissions at its facilities. The company has had several also had several accidents in Ohio, primarily related to spilling brine or other drilling fluid. In 2013, state officials fined the company a quarter million dollars over leaks at seven well pads in Belmont and Harrison Counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Capital Journal reached out to Gulfport Energy but got no response. Accidents and reporting Taking a step back, the organization FracTracker argued the Groh well pad explosion is a symptom of a broader problem. In an analysis of incident records from 2015 to 2023, Gwen Klenke found at least 1,900 well-related incidents reported in Ohio. I think the larger context is just that this industry is prone to accidents, she said, and that there will be accidents as we start to frack and extract on state lands not a matter of if, its a matter of when. The bulk of incidents Klenke documented have to do with release or discharge of gas, brine or other chemicals involved in drilling. Nearly 160 of those incidents are classified as explosions or fires, but only two reference injury or property damage. Under ODNR designations, only three incidents are classified as major or severe since 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Oil and Gas Association President Rob Rob Brundrett points to the lack of major incidents as a testament to the industrys rigorous safety standards and practices. Considering that only .004 percent of ALL Ohio oil and gas operations have had a major reportable incident during that timeframe, I have, and will continue to, put our industrys safety numbers against any other labor-intensive industry in Ohio, he added. But Klenke argues that low number of major incidents points to shortcomings in reporting and classification rather than a strong safety record. Kathiann Kowalski from the Energy News Network highlighted ODNRs classification system in a 2023 report as well. The agency relies on a matrix to determine the severity of an incident, but its criteria are subjective and complex. Does the burned-out tank at the Groh well pad constitute moderate or major on-site equipment damage? If the fire burned for at least 14 hours, does that push it into the category of a major incident (12-24 hours to control impact) or does the apparent lack of off-site spillage ratchet it down to a minor incident? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her report, Klenke points to two other incidents involving explosions at homes that involved injuries. Because the reporting system allows just one category, they were listed as explosion/fire, but they couldve also been listed as injury or property damage among other designations. Klenke explained neither incident was listed as major or severe under ODNRs designations. They were calling those moderate or minor explosions, she said, when those should really be considered major if theyre damaging property, theyre damaging folks health. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Wendell Pierce isnt mincing his words regarding the Los Angeles wildfires, and he feels there are similarities to Hurricane Katrina. On Thursday (Jan. 9), the Superman actor took to X/Twitter, where he unloaded his thoughts regarding the devastation in LA. Pierce, who has witnessed both natural disasters firsthand, asserted that he sees no difference between Katrina and the fires. The Wire entertainer also describes what he feels is happening with insurance companies as they desert their middle-class customers, but honor their wealthier counterparts in time of dire need. The fires of Los Angeles 2025 are exactly like Hurricane Katrina 2005, he began. I have been in both. Devastation across the entire city. Tens of thousands evacuated and displaced. Danger is ever present. All citizens are in peril. Lives have been lost. Thousands have lost their homes. Insurance companies abandoning clients. The fires of Los Angeles 2025 are exactly like Hurricane Katrina 2005. I have been in both. Devastation across the entire city. Tens of thousands evacuated and displaced. Danger is ever present. All citizens are in peril. Lives have been lost. Thousands have lost their homes. Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) January 10, 2025 This tragedy will be defined by how we respond to this devastation. 20 years later and the Lower 9th Ward has been ignored. Will we ignore Altadena? The affluent Pacific Palisades will have their insurance honored. Will the Altadena neighborhood, middle class, receive the same? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pierce then looked at his own life, recalling how Allstate failed to adequately compensate his family during Katrinaeven after being a loyal customer for five decades. He urged the insurance companies to show compassion and to learn from the shortcomings during the natural disaster that rocked Louisiana twenty years ago. In New Orleans, after 50 years of premiums paid to Allstate, my family received only $400. Citizens in Altadena should receive the same treatment as the affluent citizens of Pacific Palisades. Citizens of Lakeview in New Orleans had their insurance honored. The disparity was clear. Los Angeles heed the lessons of Katrina, he added. Im in Los Angeles in the middle of a great disaster. It feels the same way it did 20 years ago in New Orleans. Pray for us. The lesson learned from back then and today: love those around you and create loving memories. They will sustain you in difficult times. They will fuel Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) January 9, 2025 Im in Los Angeles in the middle of a great disaster. It feels the same way it did 20 years ago in New Orleans. Pray for us. The lesson learned from back then and today: love those around you and create loving memories. They will sustain you in difficult times. They will fuel your restoration, recovery and resilience. Also, tragedy is defined by how you respond to it. Not how it defeats you. We will rebuild our right of self-determination, the acclaimed actor concluded. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Los Angeles wildfires began as a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood at approximately 10:30 AM on Tuesday (Jan. 7). NBC reports that almost 180,000 people were ordered to evacuate their premises after the devastating spread of the Eaton, Hurst, and Lidia fires in Los Angeles County. As of Friday (Jan. 10), there have been at least 10 deaths as a result of the natural disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jan. 9Dozens of local Inland Northwest firefighters and American Red Cross personnel are joining firefighting and recovery forces helping out during Southern California's devastating wildfires. The fires have burned thousands of structures, forced thousands of people to flee their homes and killed at least seven people, according to the Associated Press. Twenty-six North Idaho firefighters and seven fire engines from Northside Fire District (Ponderay), Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS (Sagle), Timberlake Fire Protection District (Athol), Northern Lakes Fire District (Hayden), Kootenai County Fire & Rescue (Post Falls), Paradise Valley Fire Department (Bonners Ferry), Shoshone County Fire District 2 (Kellogg) and Worley Fire District gathered Thursday morning to start driving to the Los Angeles area, according to a Kootenai County Fire Chiefs Association news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release said the firefighters and engines will join the rest of the strike teams from across Idaho before receiving assignments from the incident commanders managing the wildfires in California. Four of the 26 firefighters, which include a battalion chief, captain, engineer and firefighter, are from Northern Lakes Fire District, said Chris Larson, deputy fire marshal and public information officer at Northern Lakes. Larson said the four firefighters, who are driving one of the district's fire engines and command center pickup truck to Los Angeles, plan to serve as a structure protection group. He said he expects North Idaho firefighters to arrive Friday or Saturday in Southern California. Larson said his district had the staffing and resources to provide assistance to their Southwest neighbor while ensuring responses to calls for service in the district would be unaffected. He said the district tries to keep all its resources available during the summer when wildfires are common but was able to spare personnel and equipment this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We looked it as an opportunity to provide a service to citizens in California," Larson said. He said it was also a chance to return the favor when fire crews across the country were sent to North Idaho to battle wildfires over the years. Many Northern Lakes firefighters have family members in Southern California, and some have worked there, Larson said. The Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) received the request for support from California through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an interstate alliance that provides a mutual-aid framework allowing states to share resources during times of disaster, according to an IOEM news release All costs associated with deploying resources under EMAC are paid for by the requesting state, or California in this case. In Washington, the state Department of Natural Resources is sending two firefighting crews to protect the Angeles National Forest, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting. Ten engines and 35 wildland firefighters will be part of the deployment, according to DNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 11 American Red Cross staff and volunteers in Washington, including two from Spokane, are heading to or arrived in Southern California to assist, according to Betsy Robertson, communications director at the Red Cross's Northwest Region. She said more Red Cross members in Washington will be assigned in the future. Seven Red Cross shelters were available in the Greater Los Angeles area, according to the Red Cross website Thursday night. Robertson said more than 1,000 people were at those shelters Thursday morning, but that number is fluid as people come and go. The shelters provide a place for evacuees to rest, eat and get health services, including mental health support, she said. Robertson said they're coordinating with Red Cross members in Los Angeles to see how many people they need and what duties need to be performed. She said Red Cross is mobilizing thousands of its members across the country, including in the Los Angeles area, to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This one feels closer. These are our West Coast neighbors, and we feel it," Robertson said. "Many of us have personal connections." Robertson is one of them. She said her sister's home was the only one left standing in her neighborhood in Altadena, one of the towns decimated by fire. Everything around the home burned to the ground. "There's nothing around it except destruction and the constant reminder of what happened," Robertson said. Some Red Cross volunteers lost their homes in the California fires, she said. "This is a tough one," Robertson said. "Every disaster is." NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Leaders at Nexstar Media are coming together to assist those impacted by the wildfire in California. Nexstar has partnered with the American Red Cross to create a donation page to help provide relief to those impacted by the fires in Southern California. Greater New Orleans Foundation working to get aid to terror attack victims The donations will be used to help the Red Cross prepare for and respond to those in need, as well as assist with recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those whod like to donate can visit the page to help contribute to relief efforts. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. An archeological missing persons case has gotten a bit more complicated. Scientists have learned that a skull that long-believed to be that of Cleopatras sister Arsinoe IV actually belonged to a young boy. A team from the University of Vienna and Austrian Academy of Sciences analyzed the skull and found that the boy was likely between 11 and 14-years-old and suffered from an unknown developmental disorder. A genetic analysis also revealed that he was likely from Italy or Sardinia. The findings are detailed in a study published January 10 in the journal Scientific Reports. Who was Arsione IV? Arsinoe IV was the youngest daughter of king Ptolemy XII Auletes of Egypt. She was the sister of Queen Cleopatra VII and the kings Ptolemy XIII and XIV. Arsinoe attempted to lead Egyptian forces against Cleopatra, who had allied herself with Julius Caesar and the Romans during the Alexandrian war. At the request of Mark Antonya Roman politician and Celopatras loverArsinoe was murdered in Ephesos, Turkey sometime around 41 BCE. In 1929, a skull was found in Ephesos, Turkey by Austrian archaeologist Josef Keil and his team. They found a sarcophagus that was completely filled with water in the ruins of a once elaborate building called the Octagon in Ephesos. While they didnt find any goods in the grave, there was a complete skeleton. Keil took the skull with him before the researchers closed the tomb. [ Related: Archaeologists find the 4,000-year-old tomb of an overachieving Egyptian magician. ] The initial analysis in Greifswald, Germany proposed that the grave belonged to a very distinguished person and probably a woman that was about 20-years-old Keil couldnt provide any hard data, but the skull made it to Austria when he began a new job at the University of Vienna. Weninger published an article in 1953 with photos and measurements and concluded that the skull represented a young woman who was of a refined, specialised type. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1982, the rest of the skeleton was found in Ephesos. However, it was not found in the sarcophagus. The bones were in a niche in an antechamber of the burial chamber. A combination of archaeological records and the fact that Arsinoe IV was murdered in Ephesos around 41 BCE led archeologists and anthropologists to a new hypothesis in 1990. Arsinoe IV may have been buried in this elaborate tomb in Ephesos. View of the Octagon in Ephesos along Curetes Street. Only the marble-clad base has survived. CREDIT: Austrian Academy of Sciences/Austrian Archaeological Institute. A chromosomal surprise In this new study, a team of geneticists, orthodontists, dating specialists, and archeologists took a closer look at this skull. First, they used micro-computed tomography to create a very detailed digital image of the skull as an archival record. They then took tiny samples from the base of the skull and the inner ear to determine how old the person was when he or she died and obtain some DNA. They found that the skull dates to between 36 and 205 BCE, which corresponds well with the traditionally accepted date of death of Arsinoe IV (41 BCE). The geneticists also found a match between the skull and some samples from the femur. This means that the second skeleton that was later found in the anteroom actually belonged to the same person as the skull that Keil had removed from the sarcophagus in 1929. The Octagon cranium is scanned in the Vienna Micro-CT Lab to a resolution of 80 micrometers. CREDIT: Gerhard Weber, University of Vienna But then came the big surprise: in repeated tests, the skull and femur both clearly showed the presence of a Y chromosomein other words, a male, study co-author and University of Vienna archeologist Gerhard Weber said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The micro-CT data and closer study of the skull revealed that the boy from the Octagon was still in his puberty and was around 11 to 14-years-old. High-resolution images of the dental roots and the still developing skull base confirmed that this was a young teen. He also likely suffered from some sort of disease affecting his skull. One of his cranial sutures, which normally fuses at the age of 65, was already closed and gave the skull a very asymmetrical shape. [ Related: A gold-laced mummy could be the oldest and most complete specimen found in Egypt. ] According to the team, the most striking feature was the underdeveloped upper jaw. This is unusually angled downwards, but was more upwards and likely led to major problems with chewing. They looked at various dental joints and the two teeth remaining in the jaw to confirm this. While the first permanent molar did not show any signs of being used to chew food, the first premolar was chewed down and had clear cracks from overloading. The team believes that there was no regular tooth contact, a consequence of the jaw and face growing in an unusual way. While it is still unclear what led to these grown disorders, it may have been a vitamin-D deficiency or a genetic syndrome such as Treacher Collins syndrome. For archaeologists and anthropologists, the search for Arsinoe IVs remains can continue, without this rumor that her skull had already been found. Ministers of Agriculture from the African Union member states began a three-day Extraordinary Summit on January 9 in Kampala, Uganda. The meeting aims to finalize the Kampala Declaration and a ten-year Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan, which will guide agricultural development from 2026 to 2035. The initiative builds on the Malabo Declaration of 2014, which set goals for agricultural transformation and improved livelihoods. Over the past ten months, various stakeholders, including regional organizations, agricultural experts, farmer groups, and youth representatives, collaborated to draft the strategy. The proposal underwent multiple reviews, including input from the AUs Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment. The strategy aligns with Africas 2021 Common Position to the UN Food Systems Summit and emphasizes sustainable agri-food systems to address climate change impacts, food security, and economic growth. It also integrates goals from Agenda 2063, focusing on inclusive development and reduced dependency on food imports. Food insecurity remains a significant challenge in Africa, with over 280 million people experiencing chronic hunger. Contributing factors include climate change, population growth, and economic instability. The CAADP Strategy seeks to tackle these issues by promoting climate-resilient agriculture, reducing waste, enhancing infrastructure, and improving regional agricultural trade. Africas reliance on food imports cost the continent $100 billion annually, at a time Africas agricultural resources, including fertile land and water, should enable self-sufficiency. The summits second day will involve deliberations by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, with Heads of State concluding the event on January 11. While California burns, a scientist from the world's biggest artificial intelligence chipmaker is suggesting that AI could help fight the wildfires even though the technology has already begun degrading the environment, and is slated to do much more. In a post on X-formerly-Twitter featuring a video of a humanoid robot walking down a street in China, Nvidia "embodied AI" researcher Jim Fan suggested, after complimenting the bot's "swag," that such machines need "to go fire-fighting asap!" I've verified from reliable sources. New visual Turing Test: this is a real robot demo! The controller is a neural net trained in Isaac simulator using reinforcement learning and then sim2real. Reward engineering is all you need. Walking gait's got swag but we need these robots https://t.co/fwAjLPd51g pic.twitter.com/w3CxFKoRNy Jim Fan (@DrJimFan) January 9, 2025 Unfortunately, that tone-deaf suggestion isn't the only Nvidia blunder that occurred during this week's fires in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the gaming site Aftermath notes, this year's Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas, a five-hour drive away from the wildfire-stricken city of angels. At the convention, the chipmaker showcased some really stupid generative AI gambits like its "Neural Faces" tech, which purports to "cross the uncanny valley" by changing video game characters' faces all while eating up a ton of carbon-emission-causing electricity and water, both intrinsically linked to the devastation in LA. It'd be one thing if LA weren't literally on fire. But for the company to boast about energy-intensive crap that nobody wants while people lose their homes and lives just one state over is, as Aftermath suggests, feels beyond the pale. While AI alone can't be blamed for the blazes that ripped through the Los Angeles area this past week, new findings out of the University of California, Riverside and Caltech which is itself located just a few miles from the fire-leveled town of Altadena show how harmful AI has already become. As those Golden State scientists suggest in a not-yet-peer-reviewed paper, AI is not only drinking up tons of water to cool data centers, but has already begun escalating carbon emissions and water consumption. Though that paper focuses more on AI's impact on public health, it notes, as so many others have, that the technology is already proving harmful and that it will only get worse as it grows. Remember, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is seeking trillions of dollars in infrastructure to power the industry he envisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And for every well-intentioned scientist like Fan, there are a dozen others looking to make a quick buck from worthless "innovations" that come with a hefty environmental price tag. At the end of the day, an Nvidia scientist suggesting that AI can help solve these climate change-fueled fires feels akin (albeit on a smaller scale) to oil companies selling so-called "carbon credits" that purport dubiously, critics say to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Though there are obviously much worse polluters in the world right now than AI companies, it won't stay that way if the industry continues to grow at its current speed and if that happens, there's little doubt that more Earth will be scorched. More on AI and the environment: People Think the Hollywood Sign Is on Fire Because of AI Slop Rough seas caused Blue Origin to hold off a planned early Friday launch attempt with is debut of New Glenn, which is now targeting early Sunday instead. SpaceX, though, managed liftoff later Friday with a booster flying for a record 25th time. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 of the companys Starlink satellites lifted off at 2:11 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40. The fleet-leading booster first flew June 3, 2021 on the CRS-22 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station. It notably flew both the Crew-3 and Crew-4 human spaceflight missions to the ISS as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It completed its 25th flight with another recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed downrange in the Atlantic. It marked the fourth launch from the Space Coast in 2025, all from SpaceX, following a year the company flew 88 of the 93 total launches from either Canaveral or neighboring Kennedy Space Center. Its also the fifth mission so far this year for Elon Musks company including its first California rocket launch that happened late Thursday the NROL-153 mission for the National Reconnaissance Organization from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX also has planned its first Starship and Super Heavy suborbital test flight of the year as soon as Monday from its Texas launch site in Boca Chica. The next Space Coast launch, though, could fall to Blue Origins New Glenn on the NG-1 mission, which is now targeting launch early Sunday from Canaverals Launch Complex 36 during a launch window that runs from 1-4 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blue Origin pushes 1st New Glenn rocket launch attempt to early Sunday Similar to the Falcon 9, Blue Origin has designed New Glenn for reusability and will attempt a recovery landing on its own ship, Jacklyn, also stationed downrange in the Atlantic. Just need the sea to settle down a bit, said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp on X. Some context on our 1/12 target launch date our objective is to reach orbit. Anything beyond that is a bonus. Landing our booster offshore is ambitious but were going for it. No matter what, we will learn a lot. Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron had forecast medium to high chances of poor recovery weather for where Jacklyn, which is named after Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos mother, was stationed much farther from the coast than where SpaceXs recovery ships generally go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 320-foot-tall New Glenn is powered by seven of the companys BE-4 engines, producing 3.9 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, compared to the 1.7 million pounds of thrust from the 230-foot-tall Falcon 9. So New Glenn boosters will travel farther out over the Atlantic before their recovery run back to Earth with previous Blue Origin statements saying they will aim for a landing 620 miles downrange. Falcon 9 booster recovery locations can vary, but typically happen about 400 miles from the coast. Blue Origin just like SpaceX plans to use cargo facilities at Port Canaveral to offload the boosters once they return from landing. Blue Origin brought in its own crane to offload the taller New Glenn boosters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boosters are designed for 25 flights. SpaceX had originally designed Falcon 9 boosters for 10 flights, but have since increased that number. In 2024, the company stated it was working on qualifying them for up to 40 flights. Several have already passed 20 flights. Rough seas caused Blue Origin to hold off a planned early Friday launch attempt with is debut of New Glenn, which is now targeting early Sunday instead. SpaceX, though, managed liftoff later Friday with a booster flying for a record 25th time. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 of the companys Starlink satellites lifted off at 2:11 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40. The fleet-leading booster first flew June 3, 2021 on the CRS-22 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station. It notably flew both the Crew-3 and Crew-4 human spaceflight missions to the ISS as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It completed its 25th flight with another recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed downrange in the Atlantic. It marked the fourth launch from the Space Coast in 2025, all from SpaceX, following a year the company flew 88 of the 93 total launches from either Canaveral or neighboring Kennedy Space Center. Its also the fifth mission so far this year for Elon Musks company including its first California rocket launch that happened late Thursday the NROL-153 mission for the National Reconnaissance Organization from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX also has planned its first Starship and Super Heavy suborbital test flight of the year as soon as Monday from its Texas launch site in Boca Chica. The next Space Coast launch, though, could fall to Blue Origins New Glenn on the NG-1 mission, which is now targeting launch early Sunday from Canaverals Launch Complex 36 during a launch window that runs from 1-4 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar to the Falcon 9, Blue Origin has designed New Glenn for reusability and will attempt a recovery landing on its own ship, Jacklyn, also stationed downrange in the Atlantic. Just need the sea to settle down a bit, said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp on X. Some context on our 1/12 target launch date our objective is to reach orbit. Anything beyond that is a bonus. Landing our booster offshore is ambitious but were going for it. No matter what, we will learn a lot. Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron had forecast medium to high chances of poor recovery weather for where Jacklyn, which is named after Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos mother, was stationed much farther from the coast than where SpaceXs recovery ships generally go. The 320-foot-tall New Glenn is powered by seven of the companys BE-4 engines, producing 3.9 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, compared to the 1.7 million pounds of thrust from the 230-foot-tall Falcon 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So New Glenn boosters will travel farther out over the Atlantic before their recovery run back to Earth with previous Blue Origin statements saying they will aim for a landing 620 miles downrange. Falcon 9 booster recovery locations can vary, but typically happen about 400 miles from the coast. Blue Origin just like SpaceX plans to use cargo facilities at Port Canaveral to offload the boosters once they return from landing. Blue Origin brought in its own crane to offload the taller New Glenn boosters. The boosters are designed for 25 flights. SpaceX had originally designed Falcon 9 boosters for 10 flights, but have since increased that number. In 2024, the company stated it was working on qualifying them for up to 40 flights. Several have already passed 20 flights. ____ The Montana state capitol pictured after a late-night Senate vote on Jan. 9, 2025. (Micah Drew/Daily Montanan) At the Montana Capitol on the fourth day of the session, the peoples work was getting done in different ways. In one room, the Montana poet laureate talked with lawmakers about the importance of the arts and Indigenous people. In another room, Senate President Matt Regier gave a fiery speech to his fellow Republicans, urging them to hold together and undo action driven by Minority Leader Pat Flowers the first day of the session with help from some Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montanans elected Republicans to control the chamber, Regier said. He said he would fight for them, but he also asked members of his party not to cede their power in a vote the GOP needed to reset committees the way leadership wanted. I will not let the Democrat minority run the floor, said Regier, R-Kalispell. That is my line. OK? We can have our differences. We do. Ive always preached that. We will. But I will not Montanans did not send the Democrats to run the show. They sent us. Senate President Matt Regier and Minority Leader Pat Flowers talk on the Senate floor. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) Most of the way through the first week of the 69th legislative session, the Senate remained stalled, but the work continued in the Capitol. A joint committee took up grants for the arts Thursday, for example, and in the House, committees had heard dozens of bills since Monday, with a total 4,298 possible pieces of legislation listed to date on the legislatures website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like some other committees, Senate Tax met, but it didnt take up substantive business, even though property taxes and affordable housing are among priorities for a lot of lawmakers this session. Instead, lobbyists, Department of Revenue staff and legislative staff introduced themselves. Bob Story, with the Montana Taxpayers Association, told legislators his association had been active for more than 100 years, and hed be at many of their hearings. Hope we see some of your new members eventually, Story said. Three senators werent in attendance Thursday, including the chairman, Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, but like some other committees, its membership is in limbo because of the Senate dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meeting, Vice Chairwoman Becky Beard, R-Elliston, confirmed the committee will go the entire first week without a bill hearing. Three hearings are scheduled for Tuesday. In the same caucus where Regier called on Republican senators to stand together, a couple of other senators also said their committees wouldnt meet until Tuesday, and Beard expressed frustration that some members of her party werent going along with the leadership they elected. She asked them to trust their leaders. We are up here to do some good work getting some good bills passed for the state of Montana, Beard said. We promised that we would get some tax reform accomplished. And we have frittered away now four days dealing with this when we should be serving the state of Montana and our voters. The delay frustrated Sen. Cora Neumann, a Bozeman Democrat, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neumann is a new lawmaker this session, and with just 90 days to roll through 4,000 bills, she said she was expecting to dive in and start legislating. Instead, the majority of her committees have been canceled. The Senate president and leadership have put committees on hold, Neumann said. Lawmakers are sworn in to uphold a duty to serve their constituents, she said, and she wants to roll up her sleeves and do the peoples business. Im hoping that we come to a resolution today so that we can get straight to work next week and hopefully make up some lost time, Neumann said. In the afternoon, the Senate postponed its floor session because Republican leadership wanted to grapple with rules and try to assuage some members who were upset about committee assignments, but also the way they were handled by leadership and had voted with Democrats earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They planned to return at 6 p.m. At the meeting, though, Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray said he apologized to senators who felt dismissed or looked down upon. Elsewhere at the Capitol, the work continued. Work underway Earlier in the day, the joint committee on long range planning met to take up an appropriation for cultural and aesthetic grants. Art leaders from Montana talked about the benefits of theater and the arts for children, and poet laureate Chris LaTray greeted lawmakers in multiple native languages before speaking in support of a new event this year, IndigiPalooza. LaTray, Chickadee Community Services, and the Missoula Public Library are hosting the event this summer, a celebration of Indigenous art and storytelling, according to the Chickadee website. It has a mission to support Indigenous-focused education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In committee, LaTray spoke in support of a $13,000 award for the program, through the Montana Arts Council. Anna East, with Chickadee Community Services, with Montana poet laureate Chris LaTray at the Capitol. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) He said the first Indigenous poet laureate of the United States, Joy Harjo, will be in Montana for IndigiPalooza, but not everyone knows Montana is rich with the arts. Once, he said, a newspaper reporter based on the East Coast told him people around the country would assume Montana doesnt have any culture. What do you have to say about that? LaTray said the reporter asked him. At the meeting, he said Montana has the most independent bookstores per capita, and he anticipates IndigiPalooza will draw people from beyond Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Money from the state would help bring people to the event who wouldnt be able to attend it otherwise, including people from rural communities, he said. Too many people think only of traditional dances and old culture when they think of Native Americans, said LaTray, enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. For people of all ages, I think its important for people to see and recognize and understand the things that we are doing today in the modern world, he said. We are not anachronisms. We are a living, breathing, key ingredient to everything that happens, not just in Montana, but all across Turtle Island, as we refer to North America in Anishinaabe culture. Editors note: Reporter Micah Drew contributed to this story. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There is a risk North Korea may try to exploit the domestic political turmoil in South Korea and it is in Washington's interest to help resolve the issue, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday. Sullivan told reporters in a briefing on the outgoing Biden administration's policies towards Asia that the U.S.-South Korean alliance remains strong, despite domestic political issues in Seoul. Sullivan also said the trend on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was headed in the wrong direction, a reference to North Korea's expanding nuclear weapons program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said embattled South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law last year was shocking and wrong but country will emerge as strong democracy committed to the U.S. alliance. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, David Brunnstrom and Katharine Jackson) Whitney Cummings is taking a stand to protect her Los Angeles neighborhoodarmed not with fire hoses, but with wooden swords. Her actions come after many reports of arson have surfaced. On Thursday, a man suspected of arson was arrested near the Kenneth Fire area as firefighters worked tirelessly to protect homes in Calabasas and West Hills from spreading wildfires. Plus, a homeless man has been arrested on suspicion of arson near the origin of one of the wildfires devastating Los Angeles. According to witnesses, courageous bystanders apprehended the suspect as he appeared to use a makeshift "flamethrower" to ignite fires. The unidentified individual was reportedly seen riding a bicycle around Woodland Hills on Thursday afternoon, setting fire to old Christmas trees and garbage cans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As more reports of arson continue to make the rounds, Whitney Cummings has decided to take things into her own hands. Whitney Cummings Tackles Arson Investigation Head-On Instagram Stories | Whitney Cummings The comedian and actress turned heads on Thursday night when she shared a series of Instagram Stories detailing her approach to combating suspected arsonists in the midst of the devastating wildfires sweeping through L.A. "Now that the biggest threat seems to be [sic] when arsonists are just lighting fires, so we are going to go to some places where that could happen," she said in her first Instagram Stories post. "And what did I grab? What's the plan if we find one?" she added before grabbing a handful of wooden swords. "That's why we got swords," she said, showing off the weapons. According to Cummings, a friend informed her about an alarming incident in Woodland Hills, where locals allegedly caught a man trying to start fires on a back hill. Whitney Cummings Pursues Suspected Arsonist Instagram Stories | Whitney Cummings Rather than stay home, Whitney and her boyfriend decided to patrol the area themselves, armed with a pair of wooden swords. In her typically humorous fashion, the comedian explained their strategy: they didnt plan to harm anyone but hoped their dramatic presence would deter any potential arsonists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This impromptu vigilante act comes on the heels of a challenging week for Cummings, who recently shared an emotional video about being evacuated and admitted shes considering leaving California due to the relentless wildfires. So far, the fires have burned over 35,000 acres and claimed at least 10 lives. Some, including celebrities, have speculated that arsonists may be responsible for the fires. However, aside from one individual connected to the Kenneth Fire, authorities have yet to find evidence linking arson to the broader crisis. Henry Winkler Speaks Out On Arson Reports ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Henry Winkler, best known for his iconic role on "Happy Days," was one of the celebrities who ignited debate after sharing a viral theory that the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles are the work of an arsonist. The actor took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to express his anger, writing, THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA. May you be beaten unrecognizable!!! The pain you have caused!!! His post quickly gained traction online, fueling speculation and heated discussions about the fires origins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after Winklers post, authorities confirmed that one individual had been taken into custody for arson in connection with the Kenneth Fire, which broke out earlier that day in the West Hollywood Hills. According to NewsNation reporter Brian Entin, police have also declared the Victory Trailhead hiking area a crime scene as part of their investigation. Khloe Kardashian Also Speaks Out ZUMAPRESS.Com / MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the vocal critics is Khloe Kardashian, who took to Instagram Stories to express her fury. You sick mother f-ckers! the reality star, 40, wrote. What the f-ck is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!! May you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!! The Kardashian family, known for their philanthropy, has also donated $2,500 worth of meals to first responders battling the devastating fires. 10 Lives Lost, Entire Neighborhoods Gone in California Wildfire Disaster ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Los Angeles County is in crisis as four major wildfires continue to rage, leaving at least 10 people dead and thousands of residents displaced. Officials warn the true death toll may not be known until investigators can safely access devastated neighborhoods. According to CNN, since the fires broke out earlier this week, tens of thousands of residents have been urged to evacuate. A countywide evacuation alert accidentally sent to millions prompted confusion and panic, leading officials to issue an apology. Authorities assured the public that efforts are underway to prevent similar issues in the future, urging residents not to disable their emergency alert systems. The destruction is staggering, with entire neighborhoods reduced to ash. The Palisades Fire alone has destroyed up to 10,000 structures and is on track to become the most expensive wildfire in U.S. history. The Eaton Fire has similarly wreaked havoc, forcing curfews to be enacted as police patrol affected areas to prevent looting. Several arrests have already been made in connection with thefts in evacuated zones. Los Angeles area residents are returning to their homes to find nothing but ash and rubble as wildfires devastate Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires, along with other smaller blazes, have burned more than 36,000 acres of land throughout the Los Angeles area. At least ten people are dead and more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed by the flames as of Friday afternoon. The deadly fires prompted some 200,000 people across Southern California to evacuate their homes. As evacuation orders are lifted for certain neighborhoods, many residents are returning to find their homes and belongings reduced to rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Korn, who lived in Altadena, teared up as he spoke about his now-destroyed home. Theres nothing left. Ive been here about an hour and a half and I dont want to leave, Korn told the Associated Press. I really cant put it into words. A family cries as they discover their Altadena home was scorched by the Eaton Fire on Thursday. Several residents like them are now returning to find their homes were destroyed by the flames (AFP via Getty Images) Patrick Williams, an Altadena resident who lost his home, told the AP, Everything that we know and love is gone. This house, my whole city is gone, Williams said. The whole thingeverything, my whole neighborhood, everything that I grew up to love and know is burnt up. Palisades resident Rick McGeagh returned home to find only a Virgin Mary statue standing at his ranch house, according to Reuters. He described it as an amazing blessing that the statue his grandmother once owned remained standing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His neighborhood had been leveled with only six homes, out of 60, still standing. Everything else is ash and rubble, McGeagh told Reuters on Friday. Jimmy Dunne lived in the Palisades and told USA Today he was one of the lucky ones as his home was still standing. Two of his children were not as fortunate. Everybody at this point is just numb, he told the outlet Police had helped some people hope for about 15 minutes, allowing them to get whatever possessions they could before taking them back to safety, USA Today noted. Drone footage shows burned homes in Los Angeles. Some residents have returned to find their neighborhood destroyed (Reuters) Lucy Sherriff, a BBC journalist and Palisades resident, published the details of her harrowing evacuation and the eventual discovery that her house was destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took a while to get out, Sherriff wrote. There were thousands of cars trying to leave, all desperate to flee the flames. The frustration and fear was palpable. We returned on Wednesday afternoon and were allowed to drive in because of my press credentials, she continued. When we reached Sunset Blvd, our road, we saw flames and fire engines in front of our block of condos. My heart sank. We drove past and saw our entire cluster of condos had been leveled. Sherriff recounted how she decided what to take from her now-destroyed home before evacuating. The journalist at first scrambled to collect her clothes, jewelry and shoes but soon realized she needed none of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I grabbed my grandmothers ring, passports, birth certificates, and left everything else to burn, she wrote. The Eaton Fire has destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and more than 200,000 were forced to flee during the disaster (Getty Images) Evacuation orders remain in place for more than 100,000 Los Angeles residents as the fires reach their fourth day. But as firefighters begin to contain some of the blazes, they should be eased in the coming days. That will allow more people to return home, but it will be to find their homes and possessions gone. The blazes have been driven by the Santa Ana winds: dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from Nevada and Utah to Southern California toward the coast. While gusts calmed on Thursday, aiding firefighting efforts, another bout of Santa Ana winds could hit California early next week. The number of whooping cough cases in Florida soared in 2024. From Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024, the Florida Department of Health reported 715 cases of pertussis an eight-fold increase over the year before, which had 85 cases. Following a nationwide trend, incidences of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, have been increasing to pre-pandemic levels. But in 2024 in Florida, the number of cases was still almost double that of 2019, which recorded 359 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The preventative measures used to combat COVID-19, like masks and social distancing, also stopped other respiratory viruses, like pertussis, said Jerne Shapiro, a professor specializing in epidemiology at the University of Florida's College of Public Health and Health Professions. Those measures are now gone. Coupled with a vaccination rate in Florida that doesn't hit herd immunity, that's why the number of pertussis cases is on the rise in the state. The age group with the most pertussis cases in 2024 was children up to 4 years old. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Babies and small children are particularly vulnerable, and may experience apnea (or pauses in breathing), pneumonia, seizures and brain damage, leading to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than five times as many whooping cough cases in the country than the year before. While one COVID-infected person usually infects about two people, with pertussis one infected person can spread the bacteria to as many as 15 people with no immunity. "We have pockets of community members that have very low vaccination rates," Shapiro said. If pertussis "makes its way into one of those communities that has low vaccination rates, we are much more likely to see an outbreak occur in that population group." DOH reported Taylor and Madison counties with the highest incidence of pertussis from July 2024 to October 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently in Florida, the vaccination rate for those who have completed all five doses of the tdap vaccine, which prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, is about 88.1 percent, Shapiro said. Herd immunity for pertussis requires 92 to 94 percent. "We don't have the high enough levels to prevent community transmission," Shapiro said. A request for comment with DOH is still pending. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is making a resurgence in the United States. What is whooping cough? The illness is called whooping cough because the bacteria produces a toxin that causes inflammation in the respiratory tract and paralysis of the larynx, or voice box, which can make it difficult to cough. The person cannot breathe until the larynx relaxes, Shapiro said, and the inhalation is what causes that "whoop" sound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So it's cough, cough, cough, and then you hear from the patient as they try to breathe back in, and that is where the term whoop comes from," Shapiro said. "If you've ever seen someone who's had it and you watch them and they cannot breathe, it is scary." Pertussis is sneaky. It starts as a regular cough and then develops into a more insidious illness. "... It's not until after one or two weeks that the second stage of pertussis begins, and people realize just how sick they are," she said. Pertussis can be treated early with antibiotics, and a person can be given preventative antibiotics if they know they've been in contact with someone who was sick, though it gets misdiagnosed quite frequently. "They just think, you know, a respiratory illness, you'll be okay, and then, unfortunately, it is pertussis," she said. "They're around a young child or someone who has other adverse medical conditions, and in that person, we see a totally different disease presentation." A nurse prepares a vaccine against whooping cough. Pertussis vaccine is administered to children in combination with diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (DTaP) in a five-dose series and protects children against whooping cough. About the tdap vaccine To prevent pertussis, there is a series of five vaccinations given from 2 months the the age of 4 to 6. Even those with one vaccine will still have partial protection with less severe outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our youngest children don't have fully developed immune systems to begin with, and they have more difficulty clearing mucus. They don't have very good, strong sneezing and coughing mechanisms built up," Shapiro said. What's known as the tdap vaccine (short for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) can wane over time, Shapiro said, and she recommends getting a booster every 10 years., especially if you're pregnant or elderly. "It's also important that close contacts to our under 1 population, so our grandmas, our grandpas, anyone that also might be a caregiver, gets updated on their vaccine as well," she said. Florida requires children entering a public school in kindergarten through 12th grade to have at least four doses of the tdap vaccine, though the state does allow for religious exemptions "if immunizations are in conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the child's parent or guardian," according to the state health department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medical providers in Florida say vaccine hesitancy has contributed to the rising number of cases of pertussis and other diseases like measles. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials like Gov. Ron DeSantis and Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the state's surgeon general, have supported messaging that some doctors say contains misinformation about mRNA vaccines. According to a Florida Department of Health report for July 2024, the proportion of children 5-17 with new religious exemptions are increasing each month. St. Johns, Flagler, Sarasota and Walton counties have the highest number of children with religious exemptions, according to that data. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Whooping cough in Florida sees eight-time increase from 2023 to 2024 (Angie Wang/The Associated Press) Some communicable respiratory illnesses saw a resurgence in Arkansas last year, specifically pertussis and tuberculosis, according to data from the Arkansas Department of Health. There were 362 cases of pertussis, known as whooping cough, in Arkansas in 2024, with 86% of those cases in people under 19 years old, ADH public information officer Danyelle McNeill said. In contrast, the state saw 38 pertussis cases in 2023, 19 in 2022 and 16 in 2021. The state had not seen more than 300 cases since 2009, when there were 369 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were also 119 tuberculosis cases last year, compared to 83 in 2023, 68 in 2022 and 69 in 2021. People might delay getting diagnosed with either illness and receiving treatment because the coughing that is characteristic of both might not raise any red flags on its own, said Dr. Nikhil Meena, a pulmonologist with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Pertussis is very vaccine-preventable, but people are more vulnerable to the disease if several years have passed since vaccination, Meena said. The five-dose pertussis vaccine for infants and young children is known as DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis), while people 19 and older can receive a similar vaccine every 10 years called TDaP, targeting the same diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trouble with DTaP is that children age out of it and become more vulnerable to pertussis, which is airborne and highly contagious, Meena said. You can be talking to somebody and that is enough to give it from one person to another, not even a sneeze or a cough, he said. Additionally, people with pertussis remain contagious for at least 21 days, he said. Meena encouraged vaccinations against pertussis but acknowledged that public skepticism of the efficacy of vaccines has gained traction nationwide over the past five years. COVID-19 vaccines became widely available in 2021, a year after the illness was designated a pandemic, and Arkansas had consistently lower vaccination rates than other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2021 state law forbade government agencies from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations. The law sunset in 2023, and lawmakers then passed a new version with no sunset clause. As of Dec. 27, 15,877 Arkansas children have exemptions from vaccinations for the current school year, an increase of 1,530 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to ADH. For the 2020-21 school year, only 8,196 students were exempt from vaccinations, and the number has increased every school year since. Meena said medical professionals find it frustrating that its hard to convince people that vaccines are good since many people just wont believe experts anymore and opponents of vaccines have gained notoriety. President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has spread false claims about vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both vaccinations and frequent hand-washing effectively reduce peoples chances of catching communicable respiratory diseases, and wearing protective face masks prevent people from spreading an illness if they have one, Meena said. He pointed out that when masking, hand-washing and social distancing were widely practiced during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, all kinds of respiratory diseases, including influenza, were less prevalent. Unlike pertussis, COVID-19 and influenza, tuberculosis is not currently vaccine-preventable. Like those illnesses, tuberculosis can be spread to several close contacts before being diagnosed, according to both Meena and the Health Department. Last year, ADH identified 38 of the 119 tuberculosis cases in patients under 18 years old. On Wednesday, ADH reported 517 COVID-related deaths in the state since the start of 2024, including 33 in the week from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Respiratory illnesses tend to be more common during the winter months because people stay inside more often and because peoples white blood cells which fight off illnesses are weaker during those times, Meena said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As the devastating Los Angeles wildfires continue to ravage the surrounding areas, help has come in the form of hundreds of California inmates. Firefighters and emergency responders have been working tirelessly to contain the fires and help residents who have lost their homes and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has enlisted over 800 inmates who volunteered to help, according to ABC News. After signing up to be part of the state Conservation (Fire) Camps program, the inmates have been added to assist the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crew members (Cal Fire), the outlet reported. Eric Thayer/Getty LA fires LA fires Related: L.A. Fires Live: At Least 10 Dead, Officials Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday, Jan. 10, a total of "939 fire camp firefighters are working to cut fire lines and remove fuel to slow fire spread, including 110 support staff," the CDCR confirmed to PEOPLE. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, CDCR secretary Jeff Macomber spoke about the decision to enlist the help of state prisoners. Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the states response. The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated, Macomber said. Related: Suspect Arrested Near Kenneth Fire Won't Be Charged with Arson Due to Lack of Probable Cause: Police 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. According to the CDCR, there are over 30 fire camps throughout California where inmates are trained in firefighting practices and techniques, also and support authorities responding to fires, floods and other disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inmates volunteering are paid a daily wage between $5.80 and $10.24, plus an additional $1 per hour when they respond to active fire or fire-related emergencies, the CDCR said, noting that a crew could work up to a 24-hour shift during emergencies and that they are also paid during rest periods. Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty LA fires LA fires Related: Before-and-After Photos Show the Sudden Devastation from the L.A. Wildfires Since Tuesday, Jan. 7, multiple wildfires have been burning including the largest and most damaging one in the Pacific Palisades, with additional fires currently burning in Eaton, Woodley, Tyler and Kenneth. On Friday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that at least 10 people have died due to the wildfires, while over 30, 000 residents have been displaced and thousands of city structures have been damaged. Earlier this week, fire officials said that the L.A. wildfires are the most destructive firestorm in the citys history. Read the original article on People This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain U.S. Army veteran suicides can be predicted with "moderate to good accuracy" by applying artificial intelligence (AI) to data available before veterans leave service, according to a new study led by Chris J. Kennedy at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-authored by a University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Psychology faculty member. The study in JAMA Psychiatry applied machine learninga subset of AI that enables computers to "learn" from data. "This research could potentially reshape how the military approaches mental health support for service members transitioning to civilian life," said Assistant Professor and co-author Santiago Papini. "By identifying at-risk individuals early, we may be able to provide more targeted and timely interventions, potentially saving lives." In its testing, the model identified a high-risk group comprising 10% of soldiers. This group accounted for 30.7% to 46.6% of actual suicides. The most influential factors in the model's predictions were sociodemographic data (male or non-Hispanic Whitehigher risk; older agelower risk), Army career characteristics (combat related duties or less than 20 years of servicehigher risk; honorable dischargelower risk) and mental health factors (alcohol related outpatient visits, mental disorder inpatient admission and suicidal ideation while in serviceall associated with higher risk). However, the researchers stress that none of these factors on their own can meaningfully predict suicide, which is why they are using AI to look at complex combinations of factors, and a factor being associated with a higher risk of suicide does not mean that it is specifically causing the suicidal behavior. Researchers analyzed records of more than 800,000 U.S. Army soldiers who left the service between 2010 and 2019. The study, conducted from March 2023 to March 2024, developed a machine learning model for suicides occurring up to a decade after leaving active duty. By December 31, 2019, the cohort had experienced 2,084 suicides. The model's predictive accuracy varied over time. It performed best for the first month post-service, with decreasing, but still significant, accuracy over a 120-month (10-year) period. According to the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report released by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2021, the suicide rate for veterans was 71.8% higher than for non-veteran adults, after adjusting for age and sex differences. In a separate study out of UH Hilo in 2023, researchers performed a historical comparison of U.S. Army and civilian suicide rates from 1900 to 2020, and discovered that societal factors are driving both military and civilian suicides. More information: Chris J. Kennedy et al, Predicting Suicides Among US Army Soldiers After Leaving Active Service, JAMA Psychiatry (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.2744 Journal information: JAMA Psychiatry (Bloomberg) -- The US on Friday announced the most sweeping and aggressive sanctions yet on Russias oil trade, just ten days before Joe Biden leaves the White House to be replaced by Donald Trump as president. Most Read from Bloomberg About 160 oil tankers were sanctioned and India a key buyer of seaborne barrels wont permit the ships into its ports once a wind-down period ends in March. If they stay in place under Trump, the measures have more chance of disrupting Russias exports of petroleum than anything done by any western power so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as the tankers, two large producers and exporters were sanctioned, traders organizing hundreds of shipments have been listed, pivotal insurance companies have been named, and two US oil service providers have been told to exit. A Chinese oil terminal operator was also included. The measures could in theory reduce what the International Energy Agency predicts will be a supply surplus of almost 1 million barrels a day this year. Brent oil futures, which ended 2024 below $75 a barrel, rose above $80 at one stage Friday, ICE Futures Europe data show. This story looks at each of the key areas within the context of oil supply. Surgutneftegas and Gazprom Neft Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sanctioning of these two firms is by far the most direct and aggressive step taken so far by Washington or any other western power. Between them, the two companies shipped about 970,000 barrels a day of oil by sea in 2024 and the fact they have been designated will be a cause for concern for oil refineries in India as well as state-run companies in China. To put their seaborne flows into context, its bigger than a global supply surplus that the International Energy Agency is anticipating for the global market in 2025. Its also almost 30% of Russias seaborne exports. Nobody is suggesting that the two companies shipments will be halted in their entirety, but the fact that they are sanctioned, along with the other measures announced, means disruption cannot be ruled out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Tankers The US announced sanctions on about 160 individual oil tankers. That doubles the entire list of vessels targeted by the US, UK and European Union up to now. About 30 of the ships Washington is going after have already been sanctioned by London and Brussels, but its important to note how effective US measures have proved thus far. Of all the sanctions on Russias oil trade, those imposed by the US have proved to have the most bite, evidence that Asian buyers are wary of flouting Washingtons measures. Prior to Friday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control had designated 39 tankers that transport Russian petroleum since October 2023. Of those, 33 have failed to lift cargoes since they were listed, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. That is a higher level of disruption than achieved by similar measures imposed by the UK or European Union and over a period of time more than twice as long, with the first sanctions imposed by either of those jurisdictions only coming in June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest measure includes sanctions against the entire fleets of specialized shuttle tankers used to move crude from key projects in Russias Arctic and Pacific regions. The Arctic vessels shuttle cargoes to the Russian port of Murmansk, where two storage tankers have also been targeted, and may feel little immediate from the move. But it could hamper maintenance work on the ships, which is typically carried out in China. The shuttle tankers operating in the Pacific move Russian oil to China and Fridays sanctions could complicate that trade, potentially requiring cargoes to be moved from one tanker to another before delivery. Chinese Company Although the press release focused on the targeted Russian entities, the fully updated sanctions list contained a Chinese oil terminal operator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shandong United Energy Pipeline Transportation Co. Ltd. and a subsidiary were sanctioned for providing material support to Russias state tanker giant Sovcmoflot, the State Department said. The move shows a willingness by the US to sanction businesses in consuming nations that help circumvent efforts to restrict Russian oil flows. Just as importantly, it also demonstrates that simply dealing with sanctioned companies can be enough to land a firm with sanctions, potentially making other businesses more risk averse. Traders OFAC has also targeted the opaque traders willing to ship and sell Russias oil, who often are registered in high-risk jurisdictions, have murky corporate structures and personnel with links to Russia, and conceal their business activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these trading companies were set up only after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine and several of the early entrants have already disappeared, to be replaced by new entities, with overlapping owners and many of the same staff. Actions taken against the current oil traders will likely create some short-term disruption, but its probable that they many will reemerge under different names. Ship Insurance Sanctions on two of the biggest Russian providers of protection and indemnity insurance for oil tankers, Ingosstrakh Insurance Company and Alfastrakhovanie Group, may not have much impact on flows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the banning of insurance provision by these two companies may effectively push some tankers, including Russias own fleet, out of mainstream insurance markets. At least temporarily. That will add to concerns already expressed by countries whose waters are already put at risk by the aging vessels hauling Russian oil. An important question will be the response of India and its oil buyers and regulators, since the country is a key recipient of deliveries that are covered by Ingosstrakh. Removing Ingosstrakh from the market creates a vacuum that will inevitably be filled by fly-by-night insurers, the company said by email. It added that it would look at ways to address what it called an unwarranted and damaging decision. Oil Services Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sanctions also require US petroleum service companies to stop operations in Russia by Feb. 27 At least two US-based global providers have continued to work in the country even after the Kremlins invasion in Ukraine, according to their quarterly reports. Yet the wider restrictions are unlikely to have any immediate effect on Russias ability to pump crude, as domestic providers, including companies formerly owned by foreign investors, do the bulk of oil services in the country. Former subsidiaries of global oil-service providers have retained the equipment, personnel and know-how sufficient to sustain Russias drilling rates. Only some 15% of the Russian oil-drilling market depend on foreign technologies, Oslo-based research firm Rystad Energy A/S estimated a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any impact on Russian oil production is likely to be felt only over the longer term and most keenly on greenfield projects that require most up-to-date technologies to pump oil profitably. As a result, Russias foray in the Arctic reserves as well as development of offshore fields may slow down. Implementation and Enforcement Much of the Russian oil trade has already migrated away from Western companies and service providers, reducing the bite of measures taken so far. If the sanctions are to be effective, the incoming US administration will need to be willing to take action against the buyers of Russian oil. Indian refiners and those owned by the Chinese government have already showed a reluctance to accept cargoes carried on sanctioned ships. But that hasnt been too costly for them when the blacklisted vessels were only a small fraction of the available shadow fleet. The latest round of US sanctions changes that picture, hitting a larger proportion of the fleet. --With assistance from Rakesh Sharma, Serene Cheong and Alex Longley. (Updates with Chinese company after third subhead.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Britain has always cared about the weather, but this weeks dunkelflaute a spell of low temperatures and plummeting wind speeds shows how vital it is to the economy as well as its conversations. Freezing temperatures drove UK demand for electricity to a high of 50 gigawatts (GW) on Wednesday, well above the 44.4GW peak demand predicted by Neso, the National Energy System Operator in its winter outlook report last autumn. However, spotty renewables output and a long-term decline in nuclear power have exposed Britains reliance on natural gas reserves with British Gas warning there is only one week of supply left. Unreliable energy mix Just as the cold snap bit on Wednesday, low wind speeds drove down output from Britains 12,000 wind turbines which theoretically offer 30GW of generating capacity to just 3GW, roughly enough for just 2.2m of Britains 28m homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solar showed the same issue of intermittency. Its output equates to 1.5GW through the year, enough electricity for nearly 1m homes. But when the sun went down that vanished, too so what was left? Once, the answer would have been coal and nuclear. Back in 1980, coal provided 76pc of the UKs electricity. But Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, the UKs last coal-fired station, was shut down last year as part of reaching net zero. The UKs nuclear power stations have been closing, too. Nuclear output peaked in 1995 at about 13GW or around a quarter of UK needs but has dwindled ever since as ageing power stations were shut down and politicians dithered over replacing them. It now provides just 5GW. All those losses have made Britains energy security ever more dependent on just one fuel natural gas. And now the countrys winter reserves are running low, triggering the warning from British Gas owner Centrica that there is only enough in storage to last for a week if supplies from outside Britain were cut off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year the UK consumed around 75bn cubic metres of gas, roughly equivalent to 1,100 cubic metres per person. Imagine 14 double-decker buses following you around for a year. Their collective volume is equivalent to the gas consumed per person in the UK. About a third of that gas is used for generating electricity, while the rest feeds the 25m homes and businesses that rely on gas boilers for heat and hot water. Where does Britains gas supply come from? So the UK needs a lot of gas but where does it come from? Unfortunately Britains dependence on gas for generating electricity has grown at roughly the same rate as its North Sea supplies have dwindled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two decades ago, the UK was producing about 100bn cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year. But as offshore operators drained the biggest fields, supplies naturally dwindled. By 2012, North Sea gas production had fallen to around 38bn cubic metres and it stayed around that level till 2022. Gentle declines averaging 5pc a year were predicted from 2022-30 as fields became depleted. Then came the windfall tax, when the Conservative government raised taxes on the profits of offshore operators from 40pc to 75pc later increased to 78pc by Labour. It meant the investment needed to maintain production plummeted, and UK output fell to 26bcm last year. About 180 of the UKs 280-odd offshore fields are now predicted to close by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means gas output is predicted to reach 12bcm in 2030 and just 6.5bcm by 2035 when the country will still need up to 42bcm. Import problem Britain is already reliant on imports. So where is it getting all that extra gas from? Mostly, its Norway. Last year the UK imported 29bn cubic metres of Norwegian gas via subsea pipelines. That compares to the 26bn cubic metres the UK produced from its own continental shelf. That makes Norway the UKs primary source of gas and leaves Britain increasingly vulnerable to anything from pipeline attacks to the Norwegian voters increasing fondness for green politics and net zero. At least three of its leading political parties are committed to transitioning away from oil and gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The immediate problem, though, is that the pipelines from Norway are maxed out, which along with the shrinkage of the North Sea, leaves the UK with a shortfall of around 15bn cubic metres of gas each year. Britain makes up that shortfall by importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) mostly from the United States and Qatar. Some of it the UK re-exports to Europe via pipelines. But in 2023, LNG provided a vital 15bn cubic metres of gas for domestic uses. As the North Sea shrinks further, so that proportion will surge and Britain will be increasingly dependent on the giant LNG tankers that ferry the fuel around the world. Such tankers typically carry about 174,000 cubic metres of LNG enough to meet the UKs needs for half a day. Britain increasingly dependent on giant LNG tankers that ferry fuel around the world But in times of crisis, it may not be possible to rely on these shipments. LNG is largely traded on the global spot market meaning cargoes go to the highest bidder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LNG tankers are notorious for changing course in mid-voyage as new buyers outbid the last a phenomenon that reached a peak when Russias invasion of Ukraine triggered panic buying and price surges. The UK and Europe found themselves in an LNG bidding war with north-east Asia, meaning China, South Korea and the Indian sub-continent. Back then, energy prices surged but in the west the lights mostly stayed on. The worst losers were countries such as Bangladesh which, unable to compete, faced power cuts. The lesson, though, was clear. Living hand-to-mouth by relying on LNG shipments was a huge risk what countries also needed was storage. One weeks gas left Unusually, the European Union moved fast passing the EU Gas Storage Regulations that demanded all reserves be 90pc full by November each year. Two months ago the EU had about 100bn cubic metres squirrelled away. Germanys storage was enough for 89 days, France had 103 days and the Netherlands 123 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, the UKs total capacity was about 3.2bn cubic metres of which Centricas offshore Rough facility provides about half. Centricas offshore Rough facility provides about half of the UKs total gas capacity - Centrica The 40-year-old facility off the Yorkshire coast was shut down completely in 2017 after owner Centrica deemed it uneconomical, before being reopened at limited capacity in 2022, during the height of the energy crisis. Centrica wants to expand operations there but is seeking state support which the Government has been reluctant to provide. The upshot is that storage in Britain is limited, and after the latest cold weather we have about a winter week-worth of gas stored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gamble successive ministers have taken is that Britain will always be able to buy enough LNG to keep our lights on and our homes warm. Its a gamble that has paid off so far, but as the UKs dependence on LNG, and global demand, increases, so the risk of shortages will grow with it. Whoever is energy secretary when that happens will pay a heavy price. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Have the last few mornings been a little bit too chilly for your liking? Florida has seen freezing temperatures this week, with some cities warmer in Anchorage, Alaska on Wednesday morning. Recent winter storms have swept the nation, bringing snow and ice along the Atlantic coast and parts of the country's Southeastern region. But will Florida see any of the snow this weekend? Here's what to know. Why is it so cold in Florida right now? Will it snow in Florida? It's all thanks to Blair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major winter storm, called Winter Storm Blair by The Weather Channel, reached the mid-Atlantic region of the country, closing schools and federal offices, causing flight delays, and bringing dangerous travel conditions. It's chill was felt in Florida earlier this week, with freezing temperatures and dry weather. We could see these chilly temperatures again this weekend. A second winter storm, named Cora, will blanket a huge portion of the southern United States in snow and ice. So will it snow in Florida? Most likely no. The lowest forecasted temperatures in Florida will hit 33 degrees on a mostly clear night. While snow can still form even in temperatures as high as 33.8 degrees, other factors need to be in place. Weather alerts issued in Florida: Freeze warnings, frost advisories Here's a look at the weather around the state, from those feeling wind chills to those waking up slightly warmer. AccuWeather collected all weather reports. Weather in Jacksonville, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 64, Low of 53, breezy with rain Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 60, Low of 34, rainy and cloudy Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 56, Low of 43, sunny with a slight chance of rain Monday, Jan. 13: High of 60, Low of 41, sunny Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 61, Low of 35, sunny and clear Crew members of Tropic-Care of Florida doing landscape maintenance during cold and windy weather on Tuesday morning in Viera West. Weather in Tallahassee, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 60, Low of 42, cloudly with rain Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 51, Low of 31, cool with decreasing clouds Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 54, Low of 40, mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain Monday, Jan. 13: High of 57, Low of 36, slightly sunny Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 58, Low of 33, sunny and clear Weather in Pensacola, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 60, Low of 37, windy with rain Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 49, Low of 31, chilly with decreasing clouds Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 55, Low of 46, slightly warmer with a chance of rain Monday, Jan. 13: High of 56, Low of 37, some sun but mostly cloudy Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 56, Low of 37, sunny with clouds Weather in Daytona Beach, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 66, Low of 59, partly sunny and warmer Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 63, Low of 45, briefly rainy Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 60, Low of 52, sunny to partly cloudy Monday, Jan. 13: High of 60, Low of 47, rainy and breezy Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 59, Low of 42, sunny and clear Weather in Orlando, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 71, Low of 60, mostly sunny Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 65, Low of 43, rainy in the morning Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 67, Low of 49, sunny with a few clouds Monday, Jan. 13: High of 62, Low of 48, rainy throughout the day Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 64, Low of 43, sunny with a few clouds Weather in Melbourne, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 69, Low of 60, sunny and warmer Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 65, Low of 44, windy with morning rain Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 66, Low of 51, some sun Monday, Jan. 13: High of 64, Low of 54,, rain throughout the day Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 61, Low of 46, sunny and breezy Weather in Tampa, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 72, Low of 61, sunny Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 66, Low of 44, rainy and cloudy Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 65, Low of 50, mostly cloudy Monday, Jan. 13: High of 65, Low of 50, periods of rain Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 65, Low of 43, sunny Weather in Sarasota, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 71, Low of 62, breezy and warm Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 66, Low of 47, rainy Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 65, Low of 56, cloudy Monday, Jan. 13: High of 67, Low of 53, periods of rain Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 64, Low of 46, sunny Weather in Fort Myers, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 75, Low of 62, sunny Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 71, Low of 49, rainy Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 72, Low of 55, cloudy Monday, Jan. 13: High of 77, Low of 56, cloudy and slightly rainy Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 69, Low of 48, partly cloudy Weather in Naples, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 74, Low of 63, breezy and sunny Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 70, Low of 52, rainy and cloudy Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 71, Low of 57, cloudy and less humid Monday, Jan. 13: High of 78, Low of 59, slightly rainy Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 68, Low of 49, partly cloudy later in day Weather in Stuart, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 71, Low of 61, sunny Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 71, Low of 50, breezy with afternoon shower Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 68, Low of 58, cloudy with less humidity Monday, Jan. 13: High of 76 Low of 62, afternoon showers Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 69, Low of 50, breezy with some rain Weather in West Palm Beach, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 71, Low of 63, cloudy and warm Saturday, Jan. 11: High of 74, Low of 53, breezy with some showers Sunday, Jan. 12: High of 71, Low of 64, cloudy with less humidity Monday, Jan. 13: High of 76, Low of 66, afternoon showers Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 71, Low of 56, breezy with morning showers Weather in Miami, Florida: Heres the five-day forecast Today, Jan. 10: High of 72, Low of 68, Warm with clouds and sun Saturday, Jan. 11 : High of 78, Low of 60, afternoon shower Sunday, Jan. 12 : High of 74, Low of 66, low clouds and less humid Monday, Jan. 13: High of 79, Low of 67, slightly sunny Tuesday, Jan. 14: High of 74, Low of 60, morning showers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing reporting: Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Winter Storm Cora: See how cold Florida cities will get this weekend More than 1,000 tractors have arrived in Westminster today as part of a protest against the Governments inheritance tax raid on farms. Farmers from as far as Devon and Lincoln have travelled to London just hours before MPs were set to debate a petition calling for the current tax exemptions to remain in place. The demonstration, organised by Save British Farming, is the most recent of three protests which have seen thousands of farmers descend on the capital as well as supermarket supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local groups took to the roads in January to stage go-slow drives in a warning shot to Sir Keir Starmer. Fifty tractors targeted a distribution centre for Morrisons in Northwich, Cheshire, while 80 assembled at Thruxton Race course in Hampshire. Protests also took place in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Derbyshire and Northampton. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of farmers descended on Westminster in November. In the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief, with an aim to make them fairer. Government figures show that agricultural property relief currently costs taxpayers 219m, and it is seeking to reduce this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the move has sparked outrage from the industry, with Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), claiming it threatens the family farm. What are the changes? Agricultural property relief (APR) allows eligible farmland to be inherited with 100pc tax relief, and business property relief can be claimed on qualifying assets (such as farmland or equipment) not covered by APR. From 6 April 2026, the full 100pc relief will be restricted to the first 1m of combined agricultural and business property. After that, the relief drops to 50pc. Assets above the threshold will be subject to an effective 20pc inheritance tax charge, meaning thousands of farmers will have to start paying death duties. However, the Government says that the actual threshold before paying inheritance tax could be up to 3m, taking into account exemptions for each partner in a couple and for the farm property. How many farmers will be affected? Theres some disagreement on how many farms will be affected, which is only fuelling farmers anger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing in The Telegraph this week, Steve Reed, the environment secretary said: Small family farms will not be affected. Only about 500 estates a year will pay more under the new scheme than they do today. However, leading industry organisations such as the NFU have slammed this claim, arguing that countless more farms could be hit. This is because the new threshold includes the APR and business property relief (BPR), meaning it combines the value of land, machinery, buildings and other assets. The NFU highlighted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs own data suggested 66pc of farms could face higher bills. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believes 70,000 estates will be affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Miller, of law firm Spencer West, said: The proposal is ill-conceived if the justification for making it was to make agricultural land less attractive to non-farming, investment buyers. If this was the intention why also include business property relief within the 1m limit for the agricultural property relief? As such, one begins to appreciate why the ordinary farmer feels beleaguered by the inheritance tax changes since most family farms, once equipped with livestock and machinery, are likely to exceed the limited allowances and be caught by the tax. He agreed that the policy will affect more than 500 estates due to the expensive nature of tractors which cost around 200,000 machinery and livestock: Their working capital will be caught by inheritance tax as well. Jeremy Clarkson is among the prominent voices criticising the move. The TV presenter whose Cotswolds farm stars on the Amazon Prime series Clarksons Farm will join the protestors outside Parliament. He said farmers had been shafted by Rachel Reeves Budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labour has also been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that Mr Reed last year said the Labour Party had no intention of changing the tax relief. How much will the changes cost farmers? Luke Lodge, of Evelyn Partners, estimates that a family farm of 1,000 acres could end up owing an inheritance tax bill of 1.8m, based on profitability forecasts and the average price of agricultural land. Where is this money going to come from? Even if this is reconcilable for one generation, would the next generation want to put themselves and their family into a stressful and precarious business? he asked. Farmers have been told they can pay the inheritance tax bills over 10 years, but weve heard from farmers whose annual bills would not be able to cover it. Selling up, therefore, may be the only option yet if all farmers went down this route, five million acres of British countryside would be at risk. However, the Government has shown no indication that it will back down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, more than 100 tractors and farm trucks massed outside the Welsh Labour Party conference as angry campaigners claimed the tractor tax will hit families with huge bills. But the Prime Minister told the conference in Llandudno that he would defend our decisions in the Budget all day long. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition, met with farmers in Aylesbury last week to hear how the 20pc inheritance tax charge would kill businesses. She told The Telegraph: Sitting with the farmers, the overwhelming sense for me was guilt that we let these people [Labour] in. What can farmers do about it? Despite the difficulties farmers now face when it comes to planning how to pass on their estates, there are things you can do to mitigate the tax bill. Telegraph Moneys guide to how farmers can dodge Labours inheritance tax raid explains it all. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Some fire hydrants ran dry in LA due to enormous water demand and infrastructure problems. President-elect Trump wrongly blamed a separate debate over water from northern California. Here's what you need to know about the water supply problems in Los Angeles. Some fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles ran dry this week after the wildfires overwhelmed the local water system. The problem unleashed a flurry of criticism, including from President-elect Donald Trump. He accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of refusing to sign a "water restoration declaration" that would have allowed water from northern California to flow into the areas burning in Los Angeles. "He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn't work!), but didn't care about the people of California," Trump wrote on January 8 on his social media platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the reasons the water ran out were about local infrastructure, California officials and water policy experts told Business Insider. They also refuted the existence of a "water restoration declaration" and said Trump used the delta smelt as a scapegoat for a separate and much more complex debate over water allocations from a watershed in northern California. A spokesperson for Newsom called Trump's claims "pure fiction," and accused Trump of politicizing the disaster. A spokesperson for Trump's transition team pointed to a plan his administration developed in 2019 directing water to the Central Valley and Southern California. But a Newsom spokesperson and California water policy experts said that plan is unrelated to water in fire hydrants in Los Angeles. Newsom on Friday ordered an investigation into the cause of lost water supply and pressure in municipal systems. The order followed a report by the Los Angeles Times that a large reservoir in Pacific Palisades was empty and out of service as flames engulfed entire neighborhoods. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said it took the Santa Ynez Reservoir offline in February for repairs to meet safe drinking water regulations. How water from the reservoir might have helped firefighters tame the blazes remains unclear. Fire hydrants ran dry because of infrastructure Janisse Quinones, head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said urban water systems aren't designed to supply enough water to fight wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We had crews trying to mitigate this, and they had to evacuate," Quinones said during a January 8 press conference. "We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging." Quinones said water demand was four times higher than usual for 15 hours straight as firefighters rushed to put out the flames. That depleted three 1 million gallon water tanks in Pacific Palisades between the afternoon of January 7 and early morning of January 8. "Those tanks help with the pressure on the fire hydrants and the hills of Palisades," Quinones said during a press conference. She explained that without enough pressure in the system, more water couldn't be pumped uphill into the tanks from a network of underground pipes and aqueducts, leaving hydrants dry. Officials couldn't refill the tanks fast enough as flames engulfed entire neighborhoods. Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California Water Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank that tracks water use and storage data in California, characterized the water supply problems as an "infrastructure bottleneck." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Water flows from the reservoirs into this very complicated network of pipes, pumps, and tanks that stretch all over LA. It's really like an electrical grid," Mount said. "Before the fire, the system was full, but then was drained." However, the Santa Ynez Reservoir which holds 117 million gallons of water was empty. Had the reservoir been operable, water pressure in the Palisades would have lasted longer, Martin Adams, the former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told the Los Angeles Times. He added that while it would have helped, it wouldn't have saved the day. Newsom on January 8 said up to 140 additional water tender truckers were deployed to assist in fighting the Eaton and Palisades fires. At a January 9 briefing, LA Mayor Karen Bass said fire hydrants aren't constructed to handle such massive devastation. The water shortage was compounded by the fact that planes couldn't perform water drops from the air because of the high-speed Santa Ana winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That was the reason that the devastation was so bad," Bass said. "The unprecedented wind, the strength of the wind, and the fact that the air support could not go." There isn't a water shortage in southern California Trump accused Newsom of causing a water shortage around LA. But southern California has plenty of water, despite the issues with fire hydrants, sources told BI. Most reservoirs in southern California are full, Mount said. As of January 10 the Castaic Lake reservoir the largest State Water Project reservoir in Southern California was at 77% of its total capacity, per the California Department of Water Resources. Mount said this was due to two years of record rainfall and snowpack in the northern Sierra Nevada mountain range, which feeds many reservoirs that serve southern Californians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike McNutt, a spokesman for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District that serves 75,000 people in northwest LA including in Palisades told CalMatters on January 8 that the water supply was "looking pretty solid." What does the delta smelt have to do with this? A spokesperson for Newsom said Trump "conflated two entirely unrelated things: the conveyance of water to Southern California and supply from local storage." The spokesperson added that there was no "water restoration declaration." Mount agreed, as did Mark Gold, the Natural Resources Defense Council's water scarcity director and a board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. "There is no connection between the delta smelt and the water challenges of fighting a fire in Southern California," Mount said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mount said Trump may have been referring to a separate debate over how to allocate water exported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta where water in northern California flows into the San Francisco Bay to both agriculture and urban areas in the southern half of the state, including Los Angeles. In December, the Biden administration and California officials finalized a plan that aimed to strike a balance among farmers, urban residents, and depleted fish populations including the delta smelt, CalMatters reported. The new regulations replaced those finalized during Trump's first term, which were litigated by Newsom's administration over concerns that the delta smelt, salmon, and steelhead trout would be pushed to extinction. While Los Angeles does import water from the Bay Delta through the State Water Project, Gold reiterated there are no shortages in southern California. The region also gets water from the eastern Sierra Nevada through the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Colorado River, and groundwater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The scapegoat for Trump has been the delta smelt because it's not exactly charismatic megafauna," Gold said, noting that endangered and threatened salmon, trout, and other fish are at risk. January 12, 2024: This story has been updated to reflect the news that the Santa Ynez Reservoir has been offline since February last year, though it's unclear what effect that had on firefighting efforts. Were you impacted by the Los Angeles fires and want to share your story? Email this reporter: Catherine Boudreau cboudreau@businessinsider.com Read the original article on Business Insider The deadly fires ravaging Los Angeles this week have displaced thousands and left many questioning how some homeson streets otherwise turned to rubbleescaped unscathed. Much of it comes down to pure luck, experts say, but there are ways to give your home a significantly better shot at surviving a wildfire. Harry Statter, founder and CEO of Frontline Wildfire Defense, told the Daily Beast on Friday that preparation and mitigation can determine whether ones home survives a wildfire. Flames and smoke rise from structures as the Palisades fire burns in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Jan. 8, 2025. / REUTERS/Ringo Chiu Specifically, he says houses that remain standing often have Class A-rated roofs, ember-resistant vents, and double-paned windows. Its not just the house itself, however. He added that homeowners in fire-prone areas should avoid having highly flammable vegetationlike juniper and eucalyptus treesin their yards to increase their chances of their home surviving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While wildfire outcomes can sometimes appear random, they are often the result of specific factors, including the structure itself, its surroundings, and active defense strategies, he said. Burned homes seen from above during the Palisades fire in Los Angeles county, California on Jan. 9, 2025. / Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images Studies back up Statters point. One completed in 2019 by the California ecologist Alexandra Syphard found that multi-paned windows reduced the risk of the home burning to the ground by an eye-popping 26 percent. An independent study in 2022 discovered that the hardening of ones home and clearing nearby spaces of brush reduces the chance of destruction from 40 percent to 20 percent. It was perhaps these measures that saved a home in Pacific Palisadesamong the most devastated areaswhich escaped the flames virtually untouched. No words really - just a horror show. Some of the design choices we made here helped. But we were also very lucky. pic.twitter.com/kpqfiRj49M g chasen (@ChasenGreg) January 9, 2025 No words reallyjust a horror show, wrote its architect, Greg Chasen. Some of the design choices we made here helped. But we were also very lucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chasen attributed the homes survival to having a solid concrete perimeter, tempered glass windows, and because it had no vents or eaves. Solid concrete perimeter wall probably saved us there, he said in one comment, referring to a car left in the neighbors driveway that surely exploded. Every other home on Iliff Streetwhere nearly all homes are valued well into the millionswas destroyed entirely, NBC Los Angeles reported. The homes owner, Chris, told the local news station: Im kind of in shock and I just feel terrible for the neighbors. Were very lucky that the house survived. Building-resilience expert Aris Papadopoulos, of Florida International University, told the Daily Beast that the inside of a home is like a fuel tank that needs to be protected. If hot embers make it inside, the structurewhich is likely filled with clothes, furniture, and carpetis a sure goner, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High winds can deliver those hot embers well before a wildfires flames arrive, making it all the more important to build homes with a fire-proof outer shell, Papadopoulos said. Those embers alone can burn your house to the ground. Papadopoulos summed up his advice: Install fire-rated and non-combustible siding, roofing, windows, doors, vents, decks, and fences while ensuring a defensive, non-flammable space within at least the first 30-foot perimeter of the house. These measures, of course, are merely to help a homes odds of surviving a fire. As many have learned in California in recent years, however, sometimes all the fire-proofing in the world is not quite enough. Firefighters battle the Palisades fire during a windstorm just west of Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025. / Ringo Chiu / REUTERS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyle Ferris, a fire behavior analyst with the Mountain Incident Command Team, told the Los Angeles Times in November that whether houses survive truly is random. That interview came after the Mountain fire burned nearly 20,000 acres in Ventura County and destroyed 243 structures. Ken McWaids home was among those destroyed, despite him telling the Times he did everything he could to prepare. We were always thinking fire, he told the Times. You see these people and they go, Why do they live in the brush? Well, you know, all of that was dirt. It was all cleared. As he spotted the embers falling on his home last fall, however, he knew it was not going to make it. As I was backing out, then I could see it, McWaid said, recalling the moment he and his wife evacuated by car. I knew it was done. As crews have fought the fast-spreading fires across the Los Angeles area, they have repeatedly been hampered by low water pressure and fire hydrants that have gone dry. These problems have exposed what experts say are vulnerabilities in city water supply systems not built for wildfires on this scale. The water system that supplies neighborhoods simply doesn't have the capacity to deliver such large volumes of water over several hours, said Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. "The system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community, Adams said in an interview with The Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Fire victims seek answers about rebuilding, cleanup timeline The limitations of local water systems complicated firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades, where scores of fire hydrants were left with little or no water, and in Altadena and Pasadena, which are served by different utilities and where firefighters say they have grappled with low water pressure. The local water supply system in the Palisades area is designed to flow with enough gallons a minute to fight a house fire or a blaze in apartments or commercial buildings, Adams said. Then you have a massive fire over the whole community and you have 10 times as many fire units, all pulling water out of the system at once. When a wildfire erupts, L.A. fire crews often turn to using aircraft to drop water and fire retardant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while the flames were spreading rapidly on Tuesday and Wednesday, officials temporarily grounded water-dropping helicopters because of the extraordinarily strong Santa Ana winds, making crews more dependent on the limited water systems on the ground. To help, city officials sent tanker trucks to supply water for crews in areas where supplies were limited. The firefighting efforts put the areas water system under tremendous strain and pushed the system to the extreme, with four times the usual water demand for 15 hours, said Janisse Quinones, DWPs chief executive and chief engineer. She said the hydrants rely on three large water tanks with about 1 million gallons each. Hydrants functioned at lower elevations, but in hillier areas like the Palisades Highlands where the storage tanks hold water that flows by gravity to communities below they ran dry. The DWP and city leaders have faced criticism from residents as well as Rick Caruso, the developer and former mayoral candidate, who blamed mismanagement and old infrastructure . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Fire hydrants ran dry as Pacific Palisades burned. L.A. city officials blame 'tremendous demand' Water researchers said, however, that the infrastructure limitations are a common feature of many urban water systems. Local water systems are usually designed to fight local, small-scale fires over a limited time period, said Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy. They are not generally designed to fight large, long-lasting wildfires. The limitations raise several questions: As fires grow larger and more intense in the West, should storage tanks and other local water infrastructure be expanded to contend with them? Where? And at what cost? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sorenson said that utilities need to consider how much water-storage capacity to develop in neighborhoods on the urban fringes. Given the known risk of wildfire in these hillsides, it is fair to question whether more water storage should have been added in previous years and months, she said. Read more: State to probe why Pacific Palisades reservoir was offline, empty when firestorm exploded The existing water system in Los Angeles has severe limits, said Gregory Pierce, director of the UCLA Water Resources Group. At least the way we've always built systems and wanted to pay for systems, you can't really expect systems, even like DWPs, to be prepared for this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the fire broke out in Pacific Palisades, a nearby DWP reservoir was also out of commission and empty for repairs, and officials said they are analyzing how this might have affected water supplies in the area. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered an investigation into the causes behind the water supply problems that hindered firefighting efforts. He said in a letter to DWP and L.A. County officials that the reports of problems are "deeply troubling." "We need answers to ensure this does not happen again," Newsom said. The scale of the fires has surpassed previous L.A. fire disasters . The Palisades fire swelled rapidly and has destroyed more than 5,000 homes and other buildings , and the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena has damaged or destroyed an additional 4,000 to 5,000 homes and other buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The causes that sparked these and other fires are under investigation. The fires erupted following a stark shift from wet weather to extremely dry weather, a bout of climate "whiplash" that scientists say increased wildfire risks. Research has shown that these abrupt wet-to-dry swings are growing more frequent and intense because of human-caused climate change. Scientists have found that global warming is contributing significantly to larger and more intense wildfires in the western U.S. in recent years. Because city fire hydrants are not designed for major, wind-driven fires, firefighters prepare for situations with contingency plans in which they need to provide their own water using tanker trucks, said Arthur Lester, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Fire Department. Read more: Intensifying climate 'whiplash' set the stage for devastating California fires Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DWP, which has sent tanker trucks to help firefighters, said the intensity of the fires disrupted those plans. The utility's crews had limited access to the three storage tanks in the Palisades, and in one case DWP crews attempting to reroute water to refill a tank had to be evacuated, officials said. DWP has urged all customers, especially those on the Westside, to conserve water to help in prioritizing supplies for firefighting. In Altadena, firefighters encountered similar problems with low water pressure as they tried to slow the spread of the Eaton fire . Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said having dozens of fire engines battling multiple fires resulted in overuse of the water system. "On top of that, we had a loss of power temporarily, which affected the system, he told reporters Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if the crews had had more water, however, with those wind gusts, we were not stopping that fire last night, Augustin said. Those erratic wind gusts were throwing embers for multiple miles ahead of the fire, and that's really what caused the rapid spread of the fire." He said such water constraints are to be expected when faced with such a major wildfire in an urban area. And Thursday, Augustin said the period of low water pressure in hydrants had passed and firefighters were no longer experiencing any problems. "It's very common in a city when you have that big of a fire with that many resources, we're going to tax our water supply and water system," Augustin said. "And if you have a loss of power which may impact the pressure, it's going to make it even worse." Firefighters began communicating over the radio about fire hydrant problems Tuesday night, just hours after the Eaton fire erupted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have some water issues pretty much east and west, and the entire north end of the fire," one firefighter said over the radio. "We're getting water to work on it," a dispatcher responded. The problems that firefighters reported in parts of Altadena occurred in neighborhoods served by two small suppliers , Rubio Canon Land and Water Assn. and Lincoln Avenue Water. Representatives of those suppliers couldnt be reached for comment. The Eaton fire broke out in an adjacent area supplied by Kinneloa Irrigation District, and the flames caused minor damage to a generator, which has since been fixed, said Tom Majich, the districts general manager. Despite that damage, the district supplied water for firefighters using backup generators and borrowing water from Pasadena Water and Power, Majich said. "All of our pumps were operational," he said. "We were pumping water throughout the entire event." Read more: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires He said the districts success in keeping water flowing was due partly to lessons learned from the Kinneloa fire in 1993, when a lack of generators and power outages kept water from fire crews. This time, he said, his district had its system ready for the emergency. But he added that problems occurred in other areas due to the limitations of infrastructure. "To fight a wildfire, you have to have Lake Havasu behind you," he said. "You could fill a Rose Bowl with water and it wouldn't be enough water." "There's not a system that can do it," he said. Topography is also a factor in communities where water is pumped from the valley floor up to hilltop storage tanks. Sorensen said any water utility that serves an area with large differences in elevation will have similar limitations. Engineers plan water systems with pressure zones in increments of 100 feet of elevation. A place like Pacific Palisades, for example, rises from sea level to over 1,500 feet. In Phoenix, for comparison, the city supplies water in a vast territory with many hills and mountains, and has nearly 80 pressure zones, Sorensen said. Phoenixs largest pressure zone is massive and the storage capacity in it is such that Phoenix could fight multiple fires for a very long period of time without running out of pressure for fire hydrants, she said. Other pressure zones are very small and serve only a few customers, sometimes less than a dozen. Storage in these pressure zones will be much smaller and there likely wouldnt be enough stored water to fight more than one small house fire. Although decisions about infrastructure investments are often driven by population, wildfire risks in hillside zones are another factor for utilities to consider in building water-storing infrastructure, Sorensen said. In the L.A. area, she said, it would have been very expensive to develop additional storage "adequate to mitigate or even fight the wildfires in these higher-elevation pressure zones, but right now Id imagine most people in L.A. would say it wouldve been worth the cost. Read more: How the devastating Los Angeles fires could deepen California's home insurance crisis Pierce said there could be ways of investing in the local infrastructure to expand water capacity for firefighting in Pacific Palisades if residents in the area were willing to pay the high cost of such investments. Its going to come at great cost, he said. And he added that such additional water storage might not have stopped a fire of this size and intensity anyway. Pierce pointed out that these types of water problems have happened during previous fires in Malibu and other areas, where firefighters encountered dry hydrants and turned to using swimming pools or scooping water from the ocean. Whether theres a near-term future where we could and should do more, and a long-term future where you could think about doing a lot more, at incredibly high cost, those things are on the table, Pierce said. Adams, DWPs former general manager, said the gap is growing between what the L.A. water system was built for and the dangers of massive, fast-moving fires. The urban interface is changing and we've designed for classic fires, not a wildfire blowing through a community, Adams said. "We need to think about fire protection and what firefighters really need if this is going to be the way of the future. Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Since the October 7 Hamas attacks, central London has felt like an intimidating place to be on Saturdays for many British Jews. The pro-Palestinian marches that regularly take place on that day have proven to be more than straightforward expressions of support for the civilians of Gaza. The cry from the river to the sea Palestine will be free heard regularly on the marches is nothing less than a call for the eradication of the Jewish State. Chants for intifada now are an unambiguous appeal for the return to terrorist campaigns that have taken hundreds of innocent Jewish lives. Placards that show Israeli politicians as devils or dripping with blood are a chilling echo of the way Nazi propaganda depicted Jews. There are few calls for peace on these marches, but extremism and racist hate are openly on display. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that the organisers of the marches insist they take place on a Saturday the Jewish Sabbath is a cause of particular pain for Jewish people. It is a holy day, one on which families come together at synagogue. A day of community, peace and prayer. Yet for more than a year now, Jewish peoples right to practice their religion free of intimidation has been severely impacted by the marches through central London. Testimony I have seen tells of Jews unable to walk to synagogue for fear of intimidation. Parents have described their decisions to keep their young children at home to protect them from hateful confrontation. Elderly members of the congregation have looked on in disbelief as the cherished spirit of tolerance in Britain that provided a refuge from the Holocaust now appears under threat from angry protestors who call for genocide against Jews and shout and spit hate at people simply exercising their right to religious freedom. It is truly shocking that these marches have been allowed anywhere near synagogues in central London since October 7. The marches have ripped up the weekly routine of a Jewish community that is an integral part of our society, loyal subjects who say prayers for the health of the Royal Family as part of the service, while the protestors extremism threatens British values. The grim result has been more and more Jews reluctantly staying away from synagogue, unable to endure the cauldron of hate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is simply unthinkable that any other religious minority in Britain would have been forced to endure such disruption to the practice of their faith. For many months the authorities have ignored the pleas to protect the synagogues. Now, at last, police have heeded the calls of Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and the Jewish community. The Metropolitan Police have acknowledged that holding a march near a synagogue on the Jewish holy day of Saturday risks causing serious disruption and this intervention by Met chief Sir Mark Rowley and his team is to be greatly welcomed. They have told the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to change their plans so that their march no longer starts from outside BBC headquarters at Portland Place, just a few hundred yards from Central Synagogue. The Pro-Palestinian protestors have opposed any changes to their plans and a court battle next week is increasingly likely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is now a significant test case for Britains leaders and our public institutions. In standing with the Jewish community they are protecting British values of tolerance and religious freedom. The government, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Met must make it clear no future march will be allowed near any synagogue on a Saturday. Let the innately British values of religious tolerance be restored. The Jewish community has endured enough. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. X / @justinbwells Donald Trump wants the United States to buy Greenland for its strategically vital resources, to bolster US security and give China a bloody nose. But he also wants to strike his largest ever real estate deal because Greenland is massive, he loves maps and because he is very, very stubborn. Who owns Greenland? Mr Trumps desire to swell the US with a territory roughly the size of Texas and Alaska combined is nothing new. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He tried to bounce Denmark into selling Greenland, which is geographically in North America, during his first presidency but was rebuffed. Mr Trump cancelled a 2019 state visit and branded Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks prime minister, nasty after she said the idea was absurd. Why does Trump want Greenland? Like all hard-nosed negotiators, Mr Trump doesnt take no for an answer and took the chance of naming his ambassador to Denmark to revive the demand this weekend. As his son Donald Trump Junior arrived for a visit to Greenland, Mr Trump declared: I am hearing that the people of Greenland are MAGA. Credit: @OJoelsen/@DonaldJTrumpJr/X Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!. Worlds largest island Greenland is a very large, strategically important landmass. You take a look at a map. Im a real estate developer, Mr Trump said in an interview for The Divider, a book by The New York Times Peter Baker and The New Yorkers Susan Glasser. I love maps. And I always said: Look at the size of this. Its massive. That should be part of the United States, he added. However, Greenland is actually much smaller than it appears on maps because of the Mercator projection, which makes it look a similar size to Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projection is used to create flat maps but makes landmasses larger the further away from the Equator they are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To impress his billionaire allies Mr Trump reportedly insists that the idea of making Americas largest land buy since the Alaska Purchase in 1867 is all his own. But according to The Divider, Mr Trump got the idea from Ronald Lauder, a billionaire heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics fortune. Mr Lauder, 80, a longtime friend of Mr Trump and a New York-born political activist, reportedly offered himself as a back channel negotiator with the Danish government. Donald Trump Jr visited Nuuk, Greenland - Emil Stach Some Left-leaning commentators have branded Mr Trumps coveting of Greenland as a neo-colonist urge to emulate nationalist autocrats like Vladimir Putin. The United States has history when it comes to buying land. Its last land purchase was 1917s acquisition of the US Virgin Islands from Denmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before then it bought Alaska from the Russian Empire (which was widely seen as an expensive mistake until gold and oil were discovered there), Louisiana from France, as well as territory from Mexico and the Philippines, now independent, from Spain. Space base and missile defence The US offered Denmark $100 million (79 million) for Greenland after the Second World War. Washington instead secured a defence treaty centred on a US military base on Greenland. Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, has been strategically vital ever since the first years of the Cold War. It is the US militarys most northerly outpost and is a vital location for missile defence and space surveillance, housing Americas solid state phased array radar system, known colloquially as the ballistic missile early warning system radar network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buying Greenland would ensure continued access to the base, although there is no suggestion that it is at risk. Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, in northern Greenland, has been strategically vital ever since the first years of the Cold War - Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters Mr Trump, nevertheless, is adamant he wants Greenland for national security reasons. For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity, the president-elect said on social media this weekend. Aside from the base, Greenland is on strategic sea lanes like the Northwest Passage and the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, and is beneath Arctic flight paths. It is on the shortest route from North America to Europe. Russia and Chinas Arctic alliance Moscow and Beijing have been working hand in glove to bolster their influence in the Arctic, which is a key region for transportation and resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Climate change could mean new waterways and new territories for settlement being opened, raising the likelihood of a race for the Arctic amid competing superpowers. Chinese leaders see the region as a new crossroads of the world, a new source of raw materials and new avenues for manifesting its growing power, the US defence department has said. In 2019, Republican politicians warned China was trying to build airports on Greenland and even buy an old American naval base there. There is no guarantee that the almost 57,000 Greenlanders will be willing to become part of the United States - IDA MARIE ODGAARD/AFP Beijings activities are being facilitated by Russia, which continues to invest heavily in both military and economic terms in the Arctic despite its illegal war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US officials have also been concerned by joint Russian-Chinese military drills in the area, which seem aimed at Washington and its Nato allies. Buying Greenland would be a show of strength from the US at a time when its rivals are encroaching into the region. Treasure trove of rare minerals Greenland is a potential treasure trove of natural resources, including rare earth minerals. These minerals are vital for high-end military, green energy and industrial technologies but their production and supply is dominated by China. Beijing last month imposed export controls on the minerals in response to US controls on advanced semiconductors. Greenland is a potential treasure trove of natural resources, including rare earth minerals. - Arctic-Images/Digital Vision Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 37 of the 50 minerals seen as critical by the US could be found in moderate or high quantities in Greenland, based on a 2023 survey. Lessening US dependence on Chinese supplies would be a geopolitical boost but some experts point out that buying Greenland would mean subsidising an area with the lowest per capita disposable income of any Arctic region except Russia. Greenlands ice-sheet boasts 7 per cent of the worlds fresh water and its undeveloped oil and gas resources are thought to be the third largest in the Arctic. Can Trump even buy Greenland? There is no guarantee that the almost 57,000 Greenlanders will be willing to become part of the US. In 2009, the island assumed self-rule from Denmark under an agreement that gives it the right to one day declare independence. By becoming part of the US, Greenland would gain independence from one country while coming under the control of another. In 2009, the island assumed self-rule from Denmark under an agreement that gives it the right to one day declare independence - IDA MARIE ODGAARD/AFP It would also be an expensive acquisition. In 2019, the Washington Post estimated that Greenland could cost up to $1.7 trillion on the assumption that the island was up for sale. Mute Egede, Greenlands prime minister, has said this is not the case. We are not for sale and we will not be for sale, he said in response to Mr Trumps comments, adding: We must not lose our long struggle for freedom. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A widowed California woman returned to the demolished site of her Pacific Palisades home amid the L.A. wildfires to search for any remaining items that might have survived the blaze that left her building leveled. In a TikTok video posted to Good Morning America's account, ABC News' Matt Gutman interviews Gale, a widow who fled the scene of her burning condo building wearing nothing but her nursing scrubs and carrying her phone. In the video, Gale, wearing a makeshift face covering and gloves, digs through the rubble of the incinerated structure, unearthing the scorched remains of a safe in which she hopes she will find some of the valuables she had to leave behind. "We wanted to get to it before the looters got to it," Gale says, standing atop a pile of debris as a man dislodges the safe from the ground with the shovel beside her. Looting has happened since the fires destroyed multiple neighborhoods of L.A., with at least 20 people arrested this week for allegedly committing the crime. Gale says she left behind all of her important documents and her passport as she fled. Using an axe, the man in the video helps Gale open the melted door of the safe, removing contorted metal boxes. Related: Woman Who Evacuated L.A. Fires Is 'Haunted' by Watching 'Little Kids and Their Little Backpacks Running for Help' (Exclusive) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside one of the boxes, Gale's wedding rings are among other valuables and jewelry, shining as if they were almost brand new. Almost as soon as the pair pry the lid off the safe, police on high alert for looters in the area emerge to investigate the group. In the video, Gutman can be heard asking one of the officers, "How major of a concern is looting here?" Related: L.A. Fires Live: At Least 10 Dead, Officials Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders "Oh, it's huge," one of the officers responds. "And then you have million-dollar homes, all intact, rows and rows of them, and there's really no way to police this area effectively right now." The L.A. County Sheriff announced that measures were being taken to combat looting and increase security, including bringing in National Guard troops on Friday to provide protection and working to establish a curfew near the impacted fire areas by Friday evening. Read the original article on People This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Stanford University School of Medicineled researchers have found that intensive blood pressure (BP) control produces cardiovascular benefits and increases the risk of adverse events in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The work is published in the journal JAMA Network Open. This approach was initially studied in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a randomized trial with over 9,000 participants. The intervention demonstrated reduced cardiovascular events, mortality, and reduced rates of mild cognitive impairment. Intensive BP control consisted of treatment with antihypertensive medications to maintain a systolic BP below 120 mm Hg, as opposed to <140 mm Hg, the standard target at the time. SPRINT's trial design was not specifically about chronic kidney disease (CKD), although it included a subgroup of participants with CKD and reported findings for this group. SPRINT's CKD findings have faced scrutiny for their generalizability and for those with more advanced CKD because the cohort had fewer older adults and comorbidities than seen in typical patient populations. In the study titled "SPRINT Treatment Among Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease From Two Large Health Care Systems," SPRINT was evaluated in two large health care systems, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Kaiser Permanente of Southern California (KPSC), to see whether similar outcomes appeared in routine clinical populations. The study included 85,938 VHA patients (75.7 years, 95% male) and 13,983 KPSC patients (77.4 years, 38.4% male). While the eligibility criteria were not modified, the VHA and KPSC populations were inherently different from the SPRINT population due to demographic and clinical characteristics. VHA and KPSC patients were older on average and included a higher percentage of advanced CKD cases. They also had higher rates of statin use and albuminuria but lower rates of preexisting cardiovascular disease compared to the original SPRINT participants. Findings revealed that intensive BP control was associated with significant reductions in cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in both VHA and KPSC populations. Absolute risk reductions were more prominent in the VHA cohort, with a 5.1% decrease in cardiovascular events at four years compared to a 3.0% reduction in the KPSC group. Adverse event risks, including acute kidney injury and falls, increased by 1.3% in the VHA population and 3.1% in KPSC. Effects on cognitive impairment and CKD progression were not consistent between trial and target populations. In patients with advanced CKD, intensive BP control resulted in more significant cardiovascular and mortality benefits but was also linked to heightened risks of heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, dementia, and acute kidney injury. While the results support the applicability of SPRINT findings to broader CKD populations, the increased adverse event risks, especially in patients with advanced CKD, underscore the importance of individualized treatment strategies and shared decision-making with patients. More information: Manjula Kurella Tamura et al, SPRINT Treatment Among Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease From 2 Large Health Care Systems, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.53458 Journal information: JAMA Network Open 2025 Science X Network (NewsNation) Los Angeles County residents affected by the wildfires that began burning this week are advised to wear the correct masks to protect themselves against harmful smoke. Health experts have determined N95 respirator masks offer the best protection when worn correctly and fit properly. The masks are readily available at hardware stores and pharmacies, and they can filter out fine particles found in smoke that irritate eyes, noses, throats and lungs, according to public health officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, they do not protect against hazardous gases that are sometimes present in smoke. Guidance provided by the New York City Health Department suggests residents exposed to conditions like those in Los Angeles County should wear masks when outdoor air quality is poor. Symptoms such as coughing or throat and eye irritation are often connected to air pollution exposure, and wearing a mask may help to reduce those symptoms, health officials said. How to help victims of LA wildfires However, people should not wear a mask if they are unable to wear it correctly. An improperly fitted mask provides little to no filtration and makes the wearer feel they are protected when they are not. To be effective, masks should be worn to snugly cover the users nose, mouth and chin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to wearing a mask properly, ensuring the right mask is being used is also critical, according to health officials. Single-strap paper dust and surgical masks do not adequately protect from wildfire smoke. Health officials also warn that bandanas or towels (wet or dry) should not be used as a mask. Although these face coverings may relieve dryness, they will not protect the lungs from wildfire smoke. Health officials warn that anyone living with lung or heart disease or who is chronically ill should check with their doctor or health care provider before wearing a mask. The use of respiratory masks can make it more difficult to breathe and can make it uncomfortable to use them for longer periods of time. An N95 mask blocks against 95% of fine particles, while an N90 mask protects the user from 90% of pollutants. When possible, masks should be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These masks will be designated with printed markings to show they are authentic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although N100 or P100 filters can block out 99.7% of particles found around wildfires, the masks can make breathing difficult, Dr. William Lang, chief medical officer at WorldClinic and a former director of the White House Medical Unit, told Healthline. If an N95 mask cannot be obtained, KN95 masks are equally effective in blocking particles associated with wildfires, Healthline reported. At least 20 people suspected of looting during LA fires Parcil Safety reported air quality levels will determine if it is necessary to wear a mask. The Air Quality Index is a numerical scale used to measure and report the quality of the air outdoors. It also offers information about the air pollution levels and how those levels could affect human health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AQI typically measures several common air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), the Parcil Safety website said. Each pollutant is assigned a specific index value based on its concentration in the air. Each level of air quality is color-coded on the AQI, ranging from green (minimal to no health risks) to maroon (hazardous). Hazardous and very unhealthy levels (purple) indicate there is a higher risk of serious health effects for the entire population. The most effective protection remains to stay indoors and limit outdoor activity during smoky conditions, health officials said. Those who must be outside should take frequent breaks, as breathing through respirator masks requires more effort. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The wildfires that destroyed homes in multiple sections of the Los Angeles area will test Californias efforts to stabilize the states insurance marketplace after many insurers stopped issuing residential policies due to the high fire risk. The wind-driven blazes that started Tuesday roared through neighborhoods from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena and the Hollywood Hills. The vast property damage in a disaster-prone state with high real estate prices and an uncertain insurance landscape could make coverage more expensive and even harder to find. One area likely to feel the impact and encounter challenges rebuilding is Pacific Palisades, an affluent community sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains. This week's wildfire there has been named as the most destructive in the modern history of the city of Los Angeles. Flames destroyed businesses, a library, cultural landmarks as well as houses. State authorities previously listed the Palisades as one of the five Southern California areas with the highest concentration of potential wildfire risks. The community also is among the areas most impacted by an unavailability of insurance coverage. When State Farm decided to discontinue coverage for 72,000 houses and apartments in California last year, it dropped nearly 70% of its market share in Pacific Palisades, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Here's what to know about California's residential insurance crisis and how the ongoing wildfires may further disrupt the policy market: Why does California have a home insurance crisis? California has seen other major insurers pull back on property coverage in the nation's most populous state as climate change makes wildfires, floods and windstorms more common and damaging. Of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in state history, at least 15 occurred since 2015. The data did not include the Los Angeles area fires this week. In 2023, seven of the 12 largest insurance companies by market share in California either paused or restricted issuing new policies in the state. That has made it extremely difficult for homeowners in high-risk areas to obtain or afford insurance. What happens to residents who can't get regular home insurance? California homeowners in wildfire-prone areas either go without insurance or join the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, which the state created as a last resort for homeowners who couldn't find insurance. Many people purchase the FAIR Plan to satisfy their mortgage requirements, but the policies only cover basic property damage and carry a $3 million limit. Given the value of the real estate involved and the limited coverage, FAIR Plan policyholders who lost homes in this week's fires may struggle to be made whole. WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) Williamson County is celebrating a relatively new relationship it has with a city thousands of miles away. WilCo and Yongin City, South Korea officially entered a Sister City agreement in late September after the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved it in July. The agreement aims to establish a relationship for stronger, friendly cooperation and mutual prosperity between the two communities, an announcement on the countys website said. Now, Williamson County has designated Jan. 9, 2025, as Yongin City Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A delegation, which included Yongin City Mayor Lee Sang-Il, traveled from Yongin City to visit the county Thursday to commemorate and celebrate the partnership. Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell and Yongin city Mayor Sang II Lee (KXAN Photo: Ed Zavala) The Commissioners Court approved the sister city partnership agreement on July 2, 2024. Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell later traveled to South Korea in September to participate in a signing ceremony for the agreement. This partnership will open up many avenues for exchanging ideas between residents, businesses and students. Imagine having Williamson County students participate in an exchange program with Yong-in Special City, and students from Korea coming here. We can learn much from each other, Gravell said. WilCo and Yongin City, South Korea officially entered a Sister City agreement in late September after the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved it in July. (Photo courtesy: Williamson County) According to WilCos website, the two communities though nearly 7,000 miles and oceans apart have a lot in common. Both are home to new Samsung foundries, are growing their semiconductor infrastructure, house several universities and have attracted world-class water theme parks, WilCo noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yongin City has a population of just over one million people. The county website also noted that since Samsung announced it was building its newest semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor, Williamson County has become a destination for other South Korean companies. At least seven Korean businesses have a presence in Williamson County, and at least 13 more have expressed interest in establishing a presence in the future. The South Korean government designated Yongin City as the Next Generation Semiconductor hub, according to Williamson County. The city has received investments of more than $460 billion from the Korean Government, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix. The city is also expected to become the largest semiconductor hub in the world when construction of the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex is completed, per reporting from the Korea Herald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. WINDSOR, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The New York State Agricultural Society is honoring the Windsor Future Farmers of AMerica (FFA) for their advancements in cultivation. The NYS Ag Society named Windsor FFA its Chapter of the Year. Over the last year, the Windsor FFA expanded its reach by increasing the growing capacity at its lab located at Windsor Central High School. The organization also added two calves and a steer to develop a large-animal land lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NYS Ag Society says it was particularity impressed by Windsor FFAs placement and stocking of farm stands in three low-income areas of the district to help address food insecurity around the community. Windsor posted a video to YouTube discussing the award and the FFAs accomplishments. The full clip can be seen below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV) An 18-year-old Beloit man has been sentenced to 16 years in the Wisconsin State Prison System for a 2023 Christmas Day shooting that injured a 19-year-old woman. Jahmir Smith was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison, followed by eight years of extended supervision, for his role in the shooting. Upper Peninsula man dies after being hit by vehicle near Wisconsin-Michigan border Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, Beloit police responded to reports of gunfire on Christmas morning and discovered a vehicle riddled with bullet holes. The driver, a 19-year-old woman, suffered a gunshot wound but survived after officers applied a tourniquet and transported her to a hospital. Investigators determined Smith had pointed a gun at the victim and fired. After eluding law enforcement for several days, Smith was apprehended following a foot chase. Smith pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree homicide. While his defense attorney argued for a three-year prison sentence, the prosecution sought more than a decade. Judge Ashley Morse ultimately sentenced Smith to 16 years, citing the seriousness of the offense. Gun violence in our community must be taken seriously, said Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders. The District Attorneys Office will continue securing guilty verdicts and significant punishment in cases like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man who fired gun inside Oshkosh retail store arrested for endangering safety A second individual, 24-year-old Enrique A. Benitez-Avila, was charged with obstructing an officer for aiding Smith after the shooting. He was convicted on November 4, 2024, and ordered to pay a fine. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments Friday on the TikTok ban set to kick in later this month unless the conservative-majority court decides to block the law within the next week. If the Supreme Court decides not to intervene, TikTok will be unavailable to download everywhere in the U.S., including in Wisconsin, starting Jan. 19. Last April, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed a bill banning TikTok nationwide, unless ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, sold the platform to another company. ByteDance has been embroiled in legal battles for months to attempt to block the ban, and the Supreme Court ruling comes as a last-ditch effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about the TikTok ban, as a final ruling is set to drop: More: TikTok ban before the Supreme Court: Live updates on oral arguments Will TikTok be banned in Wisconsin? If ByteDance doesn't sell the app or if the Supreme Court doesn't intervene, it will no longer be possible to download TikTok from Apple's App Store or Google Play, or to access the app on a U.S. internet browser. People in the U.S. who already have the TikTok app can still use it, but they would not have access to future software updates if TikTok is no longer in app stores. Without updates, it's likely the app would deteriorate over time and become unusable. Why is TikTok considered a national security threat? Proponents of the TikTok ban are primarily concerned with ByteDance, a Chinese-owned company based in Beijing, having access to U.S. users' data. More than 170 million Americans use TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have said the Chinese government could potentially spy on Americans or spread propaganda through the app. The ban received overwhelming bipartisan support, with the Senate passing it 79-18 and the House, 352-65. In 2022, Congress and Biden also approved a bill banning TikTok on U.S. government devices over similar national security concerns. U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, R-Wis., speaks at an event outside the U.S. Capitol condemning calls to ban the video sharing application TIkTok. Which Wisconsin politicians support banning TikTok? Wisconsin's congressional delegation has been largely supportive of the TikTok ban. In fact, former Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher was an author of the bill and has been a longtime advocate of banning the app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant take the chance of having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party, our foremost adversary, Gallagher, a Green Bay Republican, said last year. Gallagher left Congress in April and later took a job leading the defense business for data analytics and security firm Palantir. Of Wisconsin's eight-member House delegation, the only representatives to vote against the TikTok ban were Democratic Reps. Mark Pocan and Gwen Moore. Theres probably valid concerns when it comes to social media disinformation and all the rest, Pocan told the Journal Sentinel in March. But to say that a single platform is the problem largely because its Chinese-owned honestly, I think, borders more on xenophobia than addressing that core issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Senate side, the ban passed as part of a sweeping, $95 billion foreign aid package that provided funds to Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies. Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin voted in favor of the package, while Republican Sen. Ron Johnson voted against. How has TikTok responded to the ban? TikTok and ByteDance have routinely denied claims that the app poses a national security threat to the U.S., according to USA TODAY. In Friday morning's oral arguments, Noel Franciso, a lawyer for TikTok, said the ban would violate the free speech rights of the company and its users, USA TODAY reported. In its petitions to the court, ByteDance has also claimed selling the platform is "not possible," commercially, technologically or legally. What has incoming President Donald Trump said about the ban? President-elect Donald Trump said last month that he can find a way to "save" TikTok and asked the Supreme Court to pause the law. Trump will take office on Jan. 20, a day after the ban is set to kick in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his first term, Trump had said he wanted the app shut down. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Will TikTok be banned in Wisconsin? U.S. Supreme Court set to decide LOS ANGELES (KTLA) A 60-year-old woman faces a felony charge for an alleged arson in Los Angeles County on Wednesday. Gloria Lynn Mandich allegedly started a fire near Leo Carrillo State Park in Los Angeles County, according to California State Parks. The arrest was first reported by the Acorn newspaper. The fire was quickly extinguished by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, officials added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mandich is being held at the Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula in lieu of $20,000 bail. She faces a felony charge of recklessly causing a fire of a structure or forest, and shes due to appear in Ventura County Superior Court Friday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. MIDDLEBURY, Conn. (WTNH) A Winsted woman was charged with operating under the influence after she was stopped for speeding with a child in the car on Interstate 84 in Middlebury, state police said. Precious Seay, 32, of Winsted, was charged with speeding, operating under the influence with a child under 18 years old, failure to maintain lane and risk of injury to a child. Person arrested after Bridgeport stabbing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said at around 7:02 p.m., troopers monitoring traffic on I-84 West near Exit 16 saw a car speeding and not maintaining its lane. The trooper clocked the car at 80 mph and initiated a traffic stop. Seay agreed to perform a sobriety test after police said they believed she might have been under the influence and she complied but failed the test, police said. Police said they saw a 9-year-old in the car during the arrest. Seay was released on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear at Waterbury Superior Court on Jan. 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: William Copeland, professor of psychiatry at UVMs Larner College of Medicine, studies youth mental health and behavior across the lifespan as the principal investigator for the Great Smoky Mountains Study. Credit: Joshua Brown "Kids are resilient" is a refrain often repeated as a source of comfort after an incident in childhood. But what if it just isn't aways true? Research from University of Vermont scientists suggests resilience to childhood trauma is more complicated than previously understood. William Copeland, Ph.D. '03, professor of psychiatry at UVM's Larner College of Medicine, has studied youth mental health and behavior across the lifespan for two decades. He wants to correct the narrative that children are inherently resilient beingsthat they can recover from tragedy or difficulties with ease and without consequence. Most kids do well in response to adversity, he says. "The challenge is when they experience multiple traumas." Experiencing trauma is rare at a single point in time, but when you add up exposures over the years that figure increasesultimately about 60% of people will experience some form of trauma by age 16, Copeland explains. "It's normative We all have to cope." He is the principal investigator for the Great Smoky Mountains Study, which has tracked the mental and physical outcomes of a cohort of North Carolina residents since 1992. When scientists analyzed data in the early 2000s, they found that 10% of children exposed to multiple traumas seemed to emerge unscathed. But two decades later, with study participants now in their 40s, a 2022 study uncovered a different storya significant portion who appeared resilient earlier in their life developed anxiety and depression as adults. "Even though they looked like super-copers in childhood, there was still a cost," Copeland says. "I wasn't unhappy with shattering this notion of the resilient individual." Instead, he says, we should take a public health approach to trauma and try to reduce potential exposures from the beginning. Longitudinal health studies allow scientists to follow individuals over time and examine what factors and experiences affect health outcomes. Hundreds of papers have come from the Great Smoky Mountains Study as investigators routinely check in with participants with hefty questionnaires that screen for exposure to trauma and sample their blood for biomarkers of stress. "Few studies do what this does and for as long," Copeland says. "The continuous asking the same questions over time is a really powerful design." It allows researchers to see effects of interventions or events in childhood that may not have been obvious at first. "What are the experiences from childhood that do last?" Copeland asks. Clues are emerging. Decades of research have shown that one of the strongest predictors of a person's health is socioeconomic status. Children living in poverty are more likely to be poor as adults and to develop physical and cognitive ailments. That is intergenerational poverty at work. New evidence from Copeland's team strengthens support for a policy that could break that cycle: cash transfers to parents. Simply put, it means giving people money to use as they see fit. The findings emerged after a natural experiment unfolded in 1996 when the Eastern Band of Cherokee opened a casino and began gifting enrolled members of the tribe about $5,000 annually, enabling researchers to examine what happens when parents are provided with a windfall of cash. In 2003, the team first demonstrated the benefit of direct cash transfers to parents. "It can make a big difference being in poverty or not," says Copeland. The researchers found that for American Indian families bumped above the poverty line, there was improvement in the psychiatric symptoms of their children. (This finding is what prompted Copeland to join the study as a postdoctoral fellow in psychiatric epidemiology at Duke University Medical Center in 2004.) A follow-up study Copeland led in 2022 found that adults whose parents received financial support not only had lower levels of anxiety but were also more likely to report having better physical and financial health. Evidence for direct cash transfers was further strengthened last year in a study published in Nature, when Copeland's team found these benefits persisted across generations. Researchers found the reading and math scores of third graders whose mothers received a decade of funds during childhood had the equivalent of half a year of additional learning over their peers who didn't received payments. "I keep expecting the effects to dissipate but it hasn't," Copeland says. He argues the findings support policies such as a child tax credit similar to the one enacted in 2021, which gave some families up to $3,600 for each child under age 6. "I do think giving money to parents is a good thing," Copeland says. "Parents make choices that are in the best interest of their kids." Over the years, the focus of the Great Smoky Mountain Study has shifted from examining the psychiatric health of rural youth to health across the participants' lifespans. The participants were 9 to 13 when first enrolled and many now have children of their own, and many of those children are now part of the study. "I love puzzles," Copeland says. "I want to understand what makes a difference. What keeps me up at night is I have been given this amazing datasetwhat if we don't squeeze out all that we could? There are only so many ways we can study humans. This is how we learn." A woman with a gun robbed the Sunoco gas station in Zelienople in broad daylight. Police shared an exclusive surveillance video with Channel 11. Zelienople police say Andrea Carney walked into the business last Friday at around 2:30 p.m. and placed a gun on the counter. Police say she told the worker, Give me the money. All of it. The employee complied and took all the money out of the register and skill game machines and put it in a bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say Carney then left with the bag of cash and is seen on surveillance video again leaving the gas station. Cameras also captured her getting into her car down the street. License plate readers helped police identify carney. Police were able to track her down in the City of Pittsburgh. Police also discovered the gun Carney used in the robbery was stolen out of East Liverpool, Ohio. Carney was arrested, charged and was taken to the Butler County Jail. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Howard County woman was killed Wednesday night after police say the vehicle she was riding in collided with a police car near the intersection of Indiana 931 and Vaile Avenue. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to an Indiana State Police media release. Preliminary investigation into the incident revealed Kokomo Police Department Ofc. Jeremiah Wilson was driving northbound on Indiana 931 and approaching Vaile Avenue, per the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say Wilson then came upon another vehicle that had been traveling eastbound on Vaile Avenue before reportedly entering the northbound lanes of the highway, the release stated. Wilson reportedly attempted to avoid that vehicle a 2010 Ford vehicle but authorities say Wilson ended up striking its passenger side. A passenger in the Ford, 55-year-old Vicky L. Hollingsworth, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say Wilson suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being released. During the course of the investigation, authorities also stated they were able to develop probable cause to believe the driver of the Ford was intoxicated at the time of the crash, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for a certified test, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those results are still pending. After the test, the driver of the Ford was transferred to an Indianapolis hospital for serious but non-life threatening injuries, police note in the release. Once the investigation has been completed, police say the full report will be turned over to the Howard County Prosecutor's Office for review and determination of potential criminal charges. The Tribune does not name potential suspects of crimes unless they are charged. Authorities also stressed in the release that no other information will be released at this time. ISP was assisted at the scene by the Howard County Sheriff's Department, KPD, Indiana Conservation, the Howard County Coroner's Office, Kokomo Fire Department, Howard County EMA, Community Howard EMS and Paddacks Wrecker Service. Russian forces have attacked the city of Semenivka in Chernihiv Oblast using drones on 10 January. A local woman has been injured as a result of the attack. Source: Viacheslav Chaus, Head of Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration; Ukraine's National Police Quote from Chaus: "The enemy attacked Semenivka again. There was a strike by a Geran-2 (Geranium-2) drone. Five explosions were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An elderly woman was injured. She has been taken to hospital in a neighbouring district." Photo: National police Details: Chaus also mentioned that the Russians damaged two houses and business premises. The attack caused a fire in a non-residential building. Photo:Head of Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration Background: Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 72 Shahed-type loitering munitions and various types of decoy drones on the night of 9-10 January. Ukrainian air defence units have destroyed 33 UAVs, while a further 34 Russian decoy drones disappeared from radar, with one changing course and heading towards Russia. On 4 January, the Russians attacked the town of Semenivka near the border of Chernihiv Oblast with guided aerial bombs, injuring at least seven people. Support UP or become our patron! WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Police say a woman transferred around $58,000 to someone in a Bitcoin scam. On January 8, a 64-year-old woman reported to police that she was contacted by someone claiming they were employed by Microsoft. The suspect then told her that her account had been compromised, according to police. Macys in Wyoming Valley Mall to close Authorities say she was then instructed by the employee to withdraw money from her bank account and transfer it to a Bitcoin account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say that is when the victim transferred $58,400 in cash to a Bitcoin ATM, where the suspect stole it. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Kyoko, 32, lost her childhood home in Altadena, Calif., to the Eaton fire a home that was bought in the '70s by her grandmother The sudden evacuation left Kyoko's mother, Kimberly, with little time to save personal belongings Despite the unexpected tragedy, Kyoko has found solace in the support from local and global communities through social media In the wake of the devastating Eaton fire that swept through Altadena, Calif., 32-year-old Kyoko took to TikTok to document her harrowing experience when she found out her home had burned in the tragedy, like those of so many others within the community. This was my childhood home that I was born in, Kyoko exclusively tells PEOPLE. I was born and raised in that home. Her house, which she shared with her mother, Kimberly, was more than just a structure but a place full of memories spanning three generations. The house was originally purchased in the 1970s by Kyokos grandmother, Quentine Wingo, who left her home in Texas at 19 to forge a new life in California. She arrived in California as a nanny, where she eventually built a life for herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loss of this family homestead has hit Kyoko and Kimberly particularly hard. I lost things that were sentimental to me like my front door that has all of my height growing up, Kyoko shares. I was looking forward to preserving it for my kids if we renovated the house. Related: L.A. Fires Live: At Least 10 Dead, Officials Say, as New Blazes and Strong Winds Challenge Responders The night of the evacuation was frightening. Kimberly, Kyokos mother, was alone in the house when the order to leave came at 2 a.m. With the power out and time running short, she could only grab essential documents and a few necessities. Some of her regrets were not grabbing pictures and more things because this has never happened before to us. We never had to seriously evacuate, Kyoko explains through tears. 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 realization that their home was gone came the next morning, when she documented it on TikTok. It was really hard, Kyoko shares. I hate seeing my mom cry. The fire not only consumed their home but also ravaged their tight-knit community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remembering her grandmother, who played a big part in building that tight-knit community, Kyoko feels like this loss is deeper than losing material possessions. Losing this house was like losing her a big piece of her actually. Kyoko Kyoko's home before the fire Kyoko's home before the fire The road ahead is uncertain for the two women, with Kyoko recently unemployed and their only other property about to be rented out by another family. Were really just scrambling trying to figure out what to do, she admits. We could cancel their [lease] but they just sold their home and we dont want to displace them either. Related: Father Missing a Limb and Son with Cerebral Palsy Weren't Able to Evacuate L.A. Fires in Time, Family Says Throughout the ordeal, acceptance has been the most challenging aspect of the tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I take pride in my neighborhood. I enjoyed walking around it so much," Kyoko says. "So to think that not just my home is gone, but my community. I have a whole community thats just gone. Its unbelievable. While Kyoko deals with the aftermath of this tragedy, she has found unexpected peace in the outpouring of support from her local community and strangers across the globe. Kyoko Kyoko's home after the fire Kyoko's home after the fire My biggest takeaway is my faith in humanity, she says. Through TikTok, Kyoko has been able to share her story and connect with others who have offered comfort, resources and financial support through a GoFundMe campaign. As Kyoko and Kimberly navigate this difficult time, they lean on each other and the kindness of their community. I find comfort in the community rallying together for everybody. It just reminds me of God and the goodness of people. Read the original article on People PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Sherwood police are searching for a woman who allegedly assaulted two bartenders and a bar patron. The bar patron was seriously injured in the incident, according to authorities. Sherwood police say this woman assaulted three people at a bar on Dec. 28, 2024. Sherwood police say this woman assaulted three people at a bar on Dec. 28, 2024. Sherwood police say this woman assaulted three people at a bar on Dec. 28, 2024. The assault took place on Dec. 28, 2024, around 11:15 p.m., police said. PHOTOS: Truck crashes through AT&T store, driver charged with DUII Sherwood police said they are not identifying the bar where the assault took place at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact Sherwood police. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. An employee at a private school in Cambridge is facing child pornography charges after being arrested Thursday, police said. Joshua DeWitte, 49, of Cambridge, a teacherat Buckingham Browne & Nichols Lower School is facing charges of one count of possession of child pornography, one count of distribution of child sexual act material and six counts of disseminating obscene matter to a minor, Cambridge police said. DeWitte previously worked in the Cambridge public school system, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWitte was taken into custody around 7:45 a.m. Thursday at his Mount Auburn Street home, Cambridge police say. We are currently working to identify potential victims as part of our active an ongoing investigation, Cambridge police said in a statement. Currently, there is no indication any of the victims are Cambridge Public School students. Jennifer Price, the head of Buckingham Browne & Nichols told Boston 25 News that DeWitte successfully completed all criminal background checks before he was hired. Three reference checks with previous employers also did not raise any flags, Price said. We will continue to keep our families apprised of any details we learn and to cooperate fully with the appropriate agencies in their investigation of this matter, said Price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cambridge Public Schools told Boston 25 News that DeWitte worked as a music teacher in the district for 13 years at the Peabody School and Rindge Avenue Upper School. At this time we have no information that the alleged crimes pertain to any CPS students nor his time as a CPS employee, Cambridge public schools said in a statement. As there is an active investigation we do not have any further comment. As a matter of policy we do not disclose employee personnel information. 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 A police dog that showed signs of work avoidance has been retired at just two years old. Lissy, a Lancashire Constabulary labrador, developed a fear of slippery floors that left the dog unable to search for criminals and evidence. The dog joined the force in September last year and was expected to serve for at least seven years. In November, Lissy helped round up a pair of suspected drug dealers in Burnley who were arrested on suspicion of possessing ketamine and cannabis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a spokesman for Lancashire Constabularys Dog Unit said: PD Lissy has hung up her harness for the last time. Lissy had been showing signs of avoidance when working and wasnt 100 per cent happy so she has been retired to a loving home. Be happy Lissy. The force added: Lissy had developed an issue with slippery floors. She could not search effectively in areas with such surfaces because of signs of stress. Lissy has had to retire at age just two after developing a debilitating condition - Lancashire Constabulary/SWNS Shaun Hesmondhalgh, a former RAF police dog handler, told The Telegraph: It is not unusual for a licensed working dog, or a dog thats in training, to develop work avoidance and then be retired from duty. Nor is it unusual for any dog to have, or develop, a negative association with floor surfaces. It is a condition where the dogs confidence is compromised because the dog cant make sense of the surface type. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This can be neurological or learnt. The dog can develop anxiety about the type of surface believing it to be an insecure or non-firm surface. Lancashire Constabulary has done exactly the right thing. Making her continue to work may have caused her unnecessary suffering and emotional turmoil. Lissy will be replaced by Oakley, a springer spaniel, currently in training. Police dogs usually serve until between the ages of seven and 10. When they are retired, they are often adopted by families and sometimes go to live at the homes of their police handlers. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BOSTON (SHNS) Healey administration officials on Thursday sought to sooth anxieties around the incoming Trump administration and potential federal threats to health care for people with disabilities. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to extend his tax cuts when he takes office again this year, and some conservatives have proposed cuts to Medicaid to reduce federal spending. Medicaid costs taxpayers about $800 billion a year, and many people with disabilities are reliant on the insurance for their care. Additionally, Project 2025 led by the Heritage Foundation and written by many conservatives who worked in or with incoming President Donald Trumps administration calls for eliminating or reducing federal oversight of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Trump says Project 25 is not a blueprint for his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the November election, many in our community are feeling scared and vulnerable, Maura Sullivan, president of the Arc of Massachusetts, a disability advocacy organization, said during a webinar on Thursday. Members of Healeys administration present for the forum run by the Arc said they understood peoples concerns, and were determined to protect individuals with disabilities but also emphasized that dismantling Medicaid or the ADA may be more easily said than done. As we look at some of the promises made around the campaign trail, we are a little bit worried, especially Medicaid funding. Medicaid is sort of our foundation for people with disabilities, Sullivan said. We have struggled in the last couple years too worrying about funding coming in on the state level for MassHealth and some of our [long-term services and supports] programs. But now were really concerned. Mary McCauley, executive director of the Massachusetts Office on Disability, responded that cutting Medicaid would be a heavy political lift for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a complexity, McCauley said. Something may have been stated on the campaign trail, it could be a fairly simple statement, but that simple statement would mean multiple actions at a variety of levels to make it happen. Mary McGeown, undersecretary of human services at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, added that Medicaid is a popular program around the country. We have a lot of other states that have an investment in this. When I think about moving forward, I think its really important as a new administration comes in, and again, whoever comes in, to really work on common ground. Where can we partner and what are issues we share? McGeown said. MassHealth the states version of Medicaid also offers home and community based services (HCBS) waivers for individuals who get long-term care services in their home or community, who would otherwise require care in an institutional facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department of Developmental Services Acting Commissioner Sarah Peterson addressed concerns that these types of waivers, specifically, could be cut. Were one of 47 states that operates [these] waivers, and so Im hopeful that the incoming administration will really see this as a human issue and not a partisan issue, because were talking about a huge segment of the country that would be potentially impacted particularly if it comes to waiver services, Peterson said. Officials reiterated throughout the webinar that the Healey administration would do what it could to safeguard disability rights, and that they recommended a wait and see approach to Trumps disability policy. The governor and her team are also under pressure to support state services, with advocates for personal care attendants warning her against proposing cuts again and supporters of home care services pressing the state to shore up accounts that are running out of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beacon Hill decision makers in recent years have picked up major costs associated with free school meals that were launched by the federal government, but face fiscal pressures in trying to sustain those services and other growing programs given that non-surtax revenues are forecast to grow only 2.2 percent next fiscal year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Patients are piling up in Minnesota emergency rooms once again, but it's not just from COVID-19. State health officials say influenza is making a comeback, combining with COVID, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to put more pressure on Minnesota hospitals than they've faced since the end of the pandemic. Thursday's weekly update of COVID activity only showed modest increases in infections and severe illnesses in Minnesota, but the state's tally of influenza-related hospitalizations surged to levels not seen in at least five years. More than 40% of Minnesota's 1,763 flu-related hospitalizations this fall and winter occurred just in the week ending Jan. 4, according to Thursday's report, which elevated Minnesota from the low-risk range to the high-risk range for influenza in one week. "We're still on the leading edge of what is going on. We really saw things start to escalate right around Christmastime," said Dr. Laurel Ries, a family practice doctor in St. Paul and president of the Minnesota Medical Association. "Some of the hospitals are over capacity pretty significantly with lots of people waiting for beds in the ER." Wait times listed online at Minnesota emergency rooms varied dramatically when checked at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. Essentia Health reported a 75-minute wait at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth while North Memorial Health estimated that patients would wait at least two hours and 45 minutes for care at its emergency room in Robbinsdale, but only 20 minutes in Maple Grove. Allina Health is checking with its hospitals multiple times per day to see if it has capacity at less-busy sites that can relieve pressure on others, said Dr. Dan O'Laughlin, vice president of acute care services at Allina's hospitals: "Any one hospital is going to ebb and flow and it's going to vary quite a bit, but the big picture is important right now. We're seeing a significant spike." The combined impact of COVID and seasonal respiratory diseases is somewhat new, because the coronavirus that caused COVID was so dominant during the pandemic that it suppressed influenza activity in the winters of 2020 and 2021, said Stephanie Meyer, a senior epidemiologist in the emerging disease section of the Minnesota Department of Health. Prior to the pandemic, influenza season almost always accelerated after the holidays, when families gathered and relatives exposed one another to germs that they then took back with them to their homes and workplaces. "We don't know for sure what the norm is going to be because we just haven't had enough time with all of these viruses sort of normalizing and finding their niche together to see combined what this is going to look like," she said. Hospital leaders urged the public to help by making prudent medical decisions. Ries said some leaders hesitated to publicly discuss the overcrowding situation, which can discourage sick people from seeking care, and encourage worried well people to go to the ER for something as simple as a flu test. "Go to the ER if you are super-sick," she said. "If you are not super-sick, go to urgent care, go to your clinic, schedule a virtual appointment." About 48% of Minnesota adults have been vaccinated against influenza so far this season, which is better than the national rate of 43% but worse than the state's performance in years before the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The lower uptake, combined with a reportedly weaker-performing vaccine this season, has made people more susceptible. Earlier usage of the vaccine in the Southern Hemisphere only reduced hospitalizations by 35% among people at elevated risk for flu-related complications, a CDC report showed. Ries said the vaccine still offers protection, and that people still have time to seek it at their local clinics and pharmacies. Seventeen of this season's 20 flu outbreaks in Minnesota's long-term care facilities have occurred in the past two weeks, which adds to the statewide pressure. Elderly people are at greater risk for severe complications from infectious diseases, so outbreaks in nursing homes can result in more hospitalizations. The outbreaks also can make it harder for nursing homes to admit new patients, causing further bottlenecks for hospitals as they try to discharge recovering patients and make room for new ones. "Yesterday we cared for 294 patients, with at least 30 patients waiting for inpatient bedsmany needing to wait longer than 24 hours in the ED for a bed," said Dr. Rochelle Zarzar, senior medical director of emergency services at HCMC. The downtown Minneapolis hospital issued a mask-wearing order, starting Thursday, for all workers who have direct contact with patients. COVID levels in wastewater have risen to amounts not seen since last winter, according to testing data published by the University of Minnesota, but COVID-related hospitalizations have not. The same amount of viral activity last year produced twice the rate of COVID hospitalizations than Minnesota has encountered so far this winter, the U dashboard shows. Broader respiratory illness data shows the combined impact of multiple infectious diseases. Only 1% of visits to Twin Cities ERs last month involved patients with flu-like or COVID-like symptoms, but that rate has shot above 7% in the last week. 2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC The Pacific Palisades, one of the wealthiest communities in the U.S., is experiencing the worst fire in its history. Nestled in the lower hills of the Santa Monica mountain range on the Westside of Los Angeles, the Pacific Palisades is known for its multimillion-dollar mansions, high-profile residents and proximity to Hollywood. MORE: Why the California wildfires were nearly impossible to contain California is no stranger to extreme wildfires. The Los Angeles area is no stranger to drought or fires. And while there have been burns in the Pacific Palisades in the past, never to the magnitude to which the Palisades Fire is currently burning, Edith de Guzman, a water equity and adaptation policy cooperative extension specialist at the University of California Los Angeles, told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That area has seen fire again and again, but typically, emergency crews are able to handle the demands of those fires and put them out before they become a threat to life and property," who lives nearby, just outside the evacuation zone. "But clearly, given the conditions this week, that was not a possibility for them." PHOTO: An aerial view of destroyed homes along the beach as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) PHOTO: In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, burned homes are seen from above during the Palisades fire in Los Angeles county, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2025. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images) PHOTO: A person walks amid the destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 9, 2025. (Jae C. Hong/AP) The Palisades Fire has reduced entire neighborhoods to ash, destroying hundreds of homes, including the residences of celebrities like Billy Crystal, Steve Guttenberg and Eugene Levy. Thousands of people were evacuated from the Palisades, with some reports of people having to ditch their cars on clogged roadways to escape the fast-moving fire on foot. This is the worst fire the Pacific Palisades has ever seen, experts told ABC News -- and it's nowhere near over. "Mars would be more habitable than this place right now so it's crazy. There's absolutely nothing," Shaun, a resident of the Palisades Bowl community, told ABC News on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday morning, the Palisades Fire, the largest of five major fires burning in the Los Angeles area, had burned through more than 20,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades -- located about 20 miles from Downtown Los Angeles -- and was just 6% contained as firefighters struggle to control the embers being blown by high Santa Ana winds. The Palisades fire is currently the third-most destructive in California history, according to state data. Aerial of the Pacific Palisades MORE: This is how climate change contributed to the California wildfires The topography previously shielded the Pacific Palisades from the worst of fires The Palisades' unique location has protected the most severe wildfires from spreading there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the Palisades are on the foothills of the Santa Monica mountain range, strong Santa Ana winds would essentially blow past the neighborhood, Hugh Safford, a research fire ecologist at the University of California Davis, told ABC News. "Because you're at the base of the hill, the wind's gonna blow any fire up to the north," Safford said. PHOTO: A beach house is engulfed in flames as the Palisades Fire burns along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. (Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the strong, hurricane-force winds did blow down this time. In the atmosphere, the upper-level support lined up with the surface gradient, which caused a strong colder air subsidence, or sinking, north-northeast over the region, Curt Kaplan, a retired operational forecaster for the National Weather Service in Oxford, California, told ABC News. "If you get a wind from the north, it's basically a death trap" for the communities in the foothills, Safford said. PHOTO: A man watches the flames from the Palisades Fire burning homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) The erratic pattern of the Santa Ana winds also contributed to the fire's ability to spread, De Guzman said, adding that the strong winds typically flow in a more narrow and predictable pattern. And since the Palisades are on the wildland-urban interface -- hillside and foothill areas adjacent to more urban areas -- those homes are more susceptible to fire threats after ignition due to the surrounding vegetation, said De Guzman, whose research includes climate and urban planning PHOTO: A wildfire-ravaged property is shown after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 8, 2025. (Damian Dovarganes/AP) Once the ignition occurred, there was ample dry vegetation as well as homes made primarily of wood structures that engulf easily De Guzman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yards with wooden decks and patio furniture designed to enjoy the temperate Southern California climate are also extremely flammable, Safford said. MORE: A perfect storm of weather and climate conditions led to the severity of the California fires Climate whiplash has impacted the region over the last two winters Southern California has experienced extremes between excess precipitation to drought conditions in the past two years. PHOTO: Iconic beach homes smolder from the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) Two "extraordinarily" wet winters in 2023 and 2024 were followed by a dry period starting in February 2024 and lasting through now, De Guzman said. So all of the extra vegetation that quickly sprouted as a result of the plethora of moisture then dried out, becoming ample fuel that could explode once ignited. Just 0.16 inches of rain has fallen in the region since May 6, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This means that the periods of very dry vegetation are increasingly overlapping with the traditional season of strong and dry offshore winds, which is what we're seeing," De Guzman said. PHOTO: A firefighter works as the Palisades Fire burns a house in the hill next to the Getty Villa, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Etienne Laurent/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pacific Palisades was a tinderbox waiting to happen, the experts said. Los Angeles is currently in severe drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor update, released Thursday. This is the worst fire the Pacific Palisades has ever seen, experts say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) Growing up, your mom might have told you to wear a hat because your head is especially prone to losing body heat. If youre a kid, you might have heard that yesterday. But now you can tell her that the head actually isnt any more vulnerable to losing heat than any other part of the body. Many think the myth about the head and body heat originates from an old Army field manual, which said soldiers could lose 40% to 45% of their body heat through an unprotected head. But Dr. Tyler Quinn, an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at WVU, said the actual percentage would be much lower. West Virginia getting another 2-8 of snow by Saturday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Quinn previously studied exercise physiology, which includes how the body adapts to temperature. Your body dissipates heat just based on the surface area of your skin so you certainly do lose heat through your head, but its no different than any other skin on your body, Quinn said. So, theres about 9% of your body surface area your skin surface area on your head, so you lose about 9% of your heat through that. 12 News also asked Dr. Quinn about the effect of the cold on ones heart. He explained that the body regulates its heat through moving blood through the body. The cold transfers through the skin to the blood, and then the blood moves to the rest of the body where the cold is dispersed. This means that in the cold the body has to work a little harder the heart has to pump a little faster and blood pressure is higher in order to regulate temperature in the cold. A similar thing happens when youre in the heat. You can learn about how to protect yourself in cold temperatures here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) Several Wyoming residents are dealing with flooding Friday night, hours after a car crashed into a fire hydrant. The crash happened around 3 p.m. at the intersection of Byron Center Avenue SW and Knollview Street SW, which is just south of 44th Street SW, according to the Wyoming Police Department. No injuries were reported in the crash, but as crews worked to clean up the scene, southbound Byron Center was shut down in the area. It was not clear when it would reopen. Connor McGrath, who lives in the area, told News 8 that he got home around 5 p.m. and didnt know what was going on at first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turns out, there was a car that hit the fire hydrant. And were now coming up on about 8 oclock after making several calls from myself, from several other neighbors, trying to let the city know that theres six backyards flooded, nobody has water pressure, he said. McGraths own backyard was flooded. Meanwhile, he said, a neighbors basement filled with water. Theres 18 inches of water up against the neighbors walkout sliding door, water coming in over his furnace, so hes got no heat, he told News 8. A photo shared by Connor McGrath shows flooding after a car crashed into a fire hydrant at Byron Center Avenue SW and Knollview Street SW. (Jan. 10, 2025) Flooding in a yard after a car crashed into a fire hydrant at Byron Center Avenue SW and Knollview Street SW. (Jan. 10, 2025) At one point, McGrath said the water was almost up to his waist. Just seems that we should be better prepared to handle this, and somebody should at least have answers, even if theyre not good answers, he said. Fortunately, we do finally have somebody out here running a pump. Hopefully, itll all dry out, and hopefully something can be done about the damage to (the neighbors) basement and their furnace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly choosing a high-level official to represent him at President-elect Trumps inauguration Jan. 20, in a break from diplomatic protocol of years past. Trumps transition spokesperson confirmed last month that the president-elect offered an invitation for Xi to attend the inauguration, and Beijing has communicated to the transition team that a top official would attend in the place of the Chinese leader, the Financial Times reported Thursday. The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team and the Chinese Embassy in Washington for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Financial Times reported Beijing is considering sending Vice President Han Zheng or Foreign Minister Wang Yi. But the Trump team reportedly requested Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee who is responsible for Chinas ideology, culture and internet regulation. The move would mark significant outreach on the part of China to try to ease relations with Trump and his team in the face of the president-elects threats to impose 60 percent tariffs on all of its imports. In Congress, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are united in identifying China as a major threat to Americas national security, from economic coercion, cyberattacks and hacks, to threats against Taiwans sovereignty. Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu will lead an eight-member delegation to Trumps inauguration, Focus Taiwan reported earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press reports no head of state has previously made an official visit to the U.S. for an inauguration, according to State Department historical records. In 2021, President Biden invited Chinas ambassador to the U.S. to his inauguration, although the Chinese Foreign Ministry opposed the U.S. inviting Taiwans representative in Washington, underscoring its policy opposing any interactions between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. During Trumps first inauguration in 2017, Chinese officials said they received assurances from the U.S. that it would only invite foreign envoys based in the U.S. to attend the inauguration, rather than invite or encourage other countries or regions to send delegations. Updated at 12:38 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Amid growing calls for reform, New York is overhauling financial support for adopted families to ensure the funding benefits children a move that follows recent coverage of the issue in the News. In December, Gov. Hochul and state lawmakers reached a deal to block adoptive parents from collecting checks on behalf of kids no longer in their care, including those forced back into the foster system. Final details of the law were ironed out this week as the Legislature reconvened for the 2025 session. This bill makes critical changes that will support families that participate in the adoption process, Hochul wrote in a Dec. 21 memo. However, changes were necessary to ensure funds are directed to parents who are appropriately caring for their child, and exclude individuals in situations of abuse or neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am pleased to have reached an agreement with the Legislature to enact these changes. On the basis of this agreement, I am pleased to sign this bill. For at least a decade, adopted children and their advocates warned payments were set up in such a way that parents could collect thousands of dollars each month for children with disabilities or otherwise considered hard to place even after they were returned to foster care or taken in by another family. In some cases, young people were forced to go out on their own or wound up in homeless shelters, including Essence Flowers, who last year told the Daily News about the struggle to rebuild her life after she was forced out of her adoptive home. In New York City alone, at least $3.5 million in adoption subsidies were sent to families no longer eligible for the support, a 2021 comptroller audit found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But reforms took time. Lawmakers had to narrowly craft the bill to avoid creating incentives for adopted teens to leave home or jeopardizing part of the adoption subsidy funded with federal money. As part of the deal reached between Hochul and the Legislature, some parts of the law remain on pause until they receive federal approval. Changes resulting from that agreement will be passed as a chapter amendment this session. At the end of last year, there were 6,559 families in New York City receiving subsidies on behalf of more than 10,000 adopted children, according to the Administration for Childrens Services. Forty-four children were back in foster care after previously being adopted. Monthly checks start at more than $1,000 per month in the city and can exceed $3,000 for disabled and hard to place children, according to the latest rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates cheered the laws passage after a protracted campaign that could be traced back to at least 2014. Its been a long-time coming, said Betsy Kramer, the director of policy and special litigation at Lawyers for Children. And its long overdue, and will bring great relief to many children and to the people who step into care for children when their adoptive parents are no longer providing any support. There are too many young people who arent being supported by their adoptive parents, and that money can make the difference for them between having a stable, safe place to live and being homeless. (Bloomberg Government) -- Institutional investors would face new restrictions on buying housing units in New York state under a proposal that Gov. Kathy Hochul aims to pass in the state budget due April 1. Most Read from Bloomberg The proposal could make New York a model for increasing home ownership by eliminating incentives for hedge funds, private equity groups, and other institutional investors who would have to wait 75 days before making offers on single and two-family homes under the Democratic governors plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochul will detail the proposal in a proposed budget due Jan. 21 as part of her wider efforts to emphasize pocketbook issues following Republican victories in the 2024 elections. Key lawmakers have expressed support for her idea while awaiting more information on how it compares to pending legislation in the state Senate and Assembly. The cost of living is just too damn high, Hochul said in a Thursday statement previewing the proposal. Shadowy private equity giants are buying up the housing supply in communities across New York, leaving everyday homebuyers with fewer and fewer affordable options. The plan, which Hochul will highlight in her Jan. 14 State of the State address, would target tax loopholes that provide interest deductions, depreciation deductions and other expenses that help make such investments profitable for investors, according to her statement. Large institutional investorsthose who hold more than 100 single-family homesown about 574,000 out of 15.1 million one-unit rental properties across the country, according to a 2022 report by the Urban Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York City does not rank among the top 20 metropolitan areas in terms of properties owned by institutional investors, with Atlanta and Phoenix ranking first and second respectively, according to the Urban Institute. A housing shortage has fueled rising prices in the Empire State amid efforts by Hochul to promote construction. State Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger (D) and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D) expressed support for Hochuls proposal on Thursday. Legislation theyve sponsored would close tax loopholes for such investments, while giving institutional investors a tax break if they sell 10% of their housing holdings each year. We really need to stop these private equities that are amassing these huge amounts of properties and limiting opportunities for New Yorkers to have home ownership, Solages said in an interview about Hochuls proposal. I look forward to getting additional details. To contact the reporter on this story: Zach Williams at zwilliams@bloombergindustry.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To contact the editors responsible for this story: Bill Swindell at bswindell@bloombergindustry.com; Benjamin Freed at bfreed@bloombergindustry.com Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NEW CASTLE, Pa. (WKBN) A defendant from Youngstown has been sentenced to life in prison for a deadly shooting in New Castle in 2023. Leighton Weaver, 22, had been found guilty of first-degree murder and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records. He was sentenced on Monday in Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas. Police arrested Weaver in May 2023 in Miami, Florida. They said he shot and killed 42-year-old Lance Louis, who was found in a car that crashed into a pole at the intersection of Cascade Street and Butler Avenue in April 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louis was taken to the hospital where it was discovered he had been shot in the back. Attempts to revive him were made, but he died of his injuries. Through their investigation, officers were able to find out that Louis had been shot in front of a home on Adams Street while he was seated in the drivers seat of a vehicle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that he had a "good meeting" with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Italian president for "Italys steadfast support of Ukraine" and its "clear and principled stance regarding just and lasting peace". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraines integration into existing effective security structures is not only the most efficient solution but also the most economically advantageous for all partners. Quote: "We also discussed the sensitive issue of the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia thousands of young lives whose futures have been shattered by Russias war. We have to restore their futures and do everything possible to ensure they, like all children, can live happily." Details: He thanked Italy for its care and support for Ukrainian orphans currently in the country due to Russia's war. Quote: "Additionally, I extended an invitation to President Mattarella to visit Kyiv, and I look forward to continuing this strong partnership." Background: Zelenskyy had earlier met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The meeting focused on "strengthening security, addressing global developments and preparing for this years Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Rome". The meeting between Zelenskyy and Meloni was held immediately after the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting (also known as the Ramstein Group). Support UP or become our patron! This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Juan Pablo Serrano from Pexels There has been a significant increase in orphanhood in the last two decades in the U.S., according to a new study. The research, published in Nature Medicine, estimates that in 2021, 2.9 million children in the United States, or 4.2% of all U.S. children, had experienced the death of at least one parent or a grandparent caregiver responsible for most of the basic needs of the child. Orphanhood is defined by the United Nations Children's Fund as the death of one or both parents. The study estimates that there was a 56% increase in the number of children affected by orphanhood and caregiver death in the U.S. between 2000 and 2021. The research was led jointly by a team at Imperial College London in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also found that the five states with the highest orphanhood burden were West Virginia, New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentuckywith an estimated 1 in 25 children affected by orphanhood. These same five states also had the highest poverty ranking (U.S. Census, 2023), suggesting links between poverty and premature deaths of parents, which in turn is spawning a hidden generation of orphanhood among their bereaved children. Since 2020, drug overdose has been the leading cause of orphanhood incidence and prevalence, surpassing COVID-19. Orphanhood rates particularly escalated from 2020 to 2021, with the intersecting crises of the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. It is noteworthy that for 48 states, fatal injuriesincluding drug overdose, suicide, homicide, and unintentional injurieswere among the top two causes of orphanhood in 2021. Orphanhood due to fatal injuries was higher than orphanhood due to leading chronic diseases (such as heart disease and cancers). Groups of children disproportionately affected by orphanhood included an estimated 1.7 million adolescents aged 1017 years, which means 1 of every 20 adolescents in the U.S. has lost either a mother, father, or both parents to premature death. Increased orphanhood rates were also observed among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black race & ethnicities, where approximately 1 of 15 and 1 of 20 children, respectively, were bereft of parents. The highest orphanhood burden occurred among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adolescentsapproximately 1 of 10 children, which is comparable to orphanhood rates observed in sub-Saharan Africa early in the HIV pandemic. Previous research indicates that children who experience the loss of a caregiver have an increased risk of poverty, exploitation and sexual violence or abuse, HIV infection, mental health challenges, and severe distress, and in some contexts, increased vulnerability to gang involvement and violent extremism. Given the scale of caregiver death, the researchers call for comprehensive, evidence-based programs for children experiencing orphanhood as a moral and public health imperative. The findings from this study can inform state-specific responses tailored to leading causes of parental death, and to age and circumstances of affected children. The researchers conclude that policies and programs that provide healing and support for 3 million children in the U.S. who have experienced orphanhood and caregiver death may help reduce acute and long-term negative effects of this adverse childhood experience. Evidence highlights three essential components of orphanhood prevention and response that effectively promote their recovery and resilience and can guide policy investments for both all-cause and cause-specific orphanhood and caregivers: (1) prevent death of parents/caregivers through timely prevention and treatment of leading causes of death and ensured access to health and mental health care for all; (2) prepare families to provide safe and nurturing alternative care; and (3) protect children affected by orphanhood and vulnerabilities, through grief and mental health counseling, and parenting, economic, and educational support. Given the scope of orphanhood/caregiver loss and associated threats to the mental and physical health, and lifelong well-being of children, these strategies can be contextualized and prioritized. Dr. Susan Hillis, study author from Imperial College London and Co-Chair of the Global Reference Group on Children Affected by Crisis at University of Oxford, said, "We estimate that on average, one child in every classroom across America has experienced the death of a parent or caregiver. These children face a heightened risk of lifelong adversity, unless they are able to get appropriate support in time. "Our findings show the urgency to invest in response plans focused on children at greatest risk and in the locations most affected. Effective policies can build on two decades of experience supporting vulnerable children through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, to offer needed support for children experiencing loss from any cause, in the U.S. "We have seen that timely, responsive, and supportive intervention transforms acute and lasting threats into lifelong dividends. The right help provided over the appropriate time period can transform trajectories of despair into trajectories of hope." The authors note some limitations. Their estimates are generated by mathematical modeling and do not count actual numbers of children affected by parent or caregiver death. Most notably, the estimated number of children per death in caregiver ages is estimated by population-level fertility rates, and may over- or undercount the actual number of children affected, and hence caregiver death incidence and prevalence. Additionally, limited information on the roles of co-residing grandparents supporting children may underestimate their contributions to caregiving. Dr. Oliver Ratmann, senior study author from Imperial College London, adds, "Unfortunately, public health data and models cannot actually identify children experiencing orphanhood. But by including on death certificates if any children are left behind, we could unlock immediate and comprehensive support at a critical time, and put to an end the largest of all challenges: finding all the children that collectively make up this public health crisis." Writing in a linked Comment, Dr. Rachel of Kidman, Stony Brook University, (who was not involved in the study), says, "This is a strong study that presents important, detailed information that could allow government to push for and target additional services. I think the work will generate a lot of vital attention, particularly as the study found that drug overdoses exceed COVID-19 as a cause of orphanhood in 202021. This is a public health challenge that requires far more prevention and mitigation services." According to the Editorial Team at Nature Medicine, "Orphanhood is a significant yet overlooked public health crisis that endangers children's health, well-being, and social and financial security. This study highlights the prevalence and causes of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the United States, revealing the burden created by multiple crises from the opioid epidemic, gun violence, institutional racism, and economic instability. These factors have lasting effects across generations that also intensify social disparities." Mr. Trump is returning to Washington and tech giants dont want to miss out. Google and Microsoft have announced plans to donate $1 million to the committee planning President-elect Donald Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, joining fellow tech titans such as Amazon and Apple (AAPL), whose CEO Tim Cook made a personal gift. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, whose company also donated, revealed a slew of pro-Trump changes this week, including copying Elon Musks Xs Community Notes system. Musk himself also gave a somewhat sour update on his federal cost-cutting ambitions. TikTok is also facing a new offer from a Shark Tank star as the company readies itself to fight a U.S. ban on its app before the Supreme Court on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catch up on all that news and more including Trumps influence over a halted port strike and the current administrations attempt to throw a wrench in his drilling plans below. Thousands of International Longshoremens Association members walked off the job in October after failing to get a new labor contact before the current one expired. - Photo: Spencer Platt (Getty Images) A massive strike across the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports has been averted after a dockworker union and an alliance of companies, terminal operators, and port associations negotiated a new labor contract. Read More Elon Musk - Photo: Anna Moneymaker (Getty Images) While campaigning for Donald Trump in October, Elon Musk claimed he could slash at least $2 trillion in government spending. Now that Musk has started laying the groundwork for his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, hes not as confident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends the Ultimate Fighting Championship 298 event in February 2024. - Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC (Getty Images) Mark Zuckerbergs metamorphosis from liberal tech titan to libertarian Donald Trump ally is gaining steam. Read More Photo illustration of the TikTok logo displayed on a phone on top of U.S. flags. - Illustration: Wang Gang/VCG (Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nations highest court is preparing to hear the case against banning one of the most popular social media platforms in the U.S. Britney Nguyen Read More Google CEO Sundar Pichai - Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg (Getty Images) Google (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) are the latest technology giants to officially make a major donation to the group planning President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration, which is less than two weeks away. Read More President Joe Biden - Photo: Kevin Dietsch (Getty Images) President Joe Biden plans to block key areas from offshore oil and gas drilling in an eleventh-hour bid to upend his successors plans to massively expand those programs in the name of drill, baby, drill. Read More Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee at the Rayburn House Office Building on May 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. - Image: Kevin Dietsch / Staff (Getty Images) Outgoing U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan said Tuesday that she hopes her successor in the incoming Trump administration will not cut a sweetheart deal with Amazon (AMZN) and Facebooks parent company Meta (META), as the agency continues its antitrust cases against the tech giants. Bruce Gil Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More President-elect Donald Trump - Image: Eva Marie Uzcategui (Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trumps team is reportedly looking to cut down on his plan to slap every other country with massive tariffs of up to 20%, which investors have called the greatest risk for the U.S. economy. Read More A pharmacist holds a box of Novo Nordisk A/S Ozempic brand semaglutide medication arranged at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, US, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 - Image: Bloomberg / Contributor (Getty Images) Denmark is the latest in a series of countries that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened with tariffs joining a list that includes the 26 other nations of the European Union, as well as Canada and Mexico. Bruce Gil Read More Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg - Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg (Getty Images) Meta Platforms (META) is replacing its third-party fact-checking program with the community-driven system popularized by Elon Musks X, as the company continues to signal a warmer approach to President-elect Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald Trump before removing misinformation guardrails and fact-checks, Oklahoma GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin claimed on Thursday. In an interview with right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, the senator said Metas announcement that it would ditch independent fact-checkers in favor of an X-style community notes system came just a day after a visit with Trump, fueling accusations that Zuckerberg made the changes to appease the incoming administration. Mark met with President Trump the day before he announced that they were going to change the way that they do uhh, censorship, essentially, Mullin told Johnson. The big announcement that he made the other day, President Trump, and spoke about that, and Mark had been down to see the president several times already. Markwayne Mullin says Mark Zuckerberg reached out to him to ask if they can "get in the cage and fight" and "spar" together. He also says Zuckerberg spoke with Trump about Meta's new moderation policies just before they were announced. pic.twitter.com/MU0Ac7fkj4 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 9, 2025 The fact-check change came alongside a set of sweeping policy and staffing refreshes at Meta, including the appointment of Trump ally Joel Kaplan to helm the Facebook parent company's policy department. NBC News reports that the company also changed its hate speech rules on the platform, now allowing users to call LGBTQ+ people mentally ill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma senator claimed he hears from Zuckerberg regularly, alleging the Meta CEO and martial arts enthusiast texted him a couple of times to ask about sparring together. The guys got into jujitsu real heavy. He wants me to come down there and roll with him, Mullin said, adding the CEO has changed his ways towards the GOP. He wants to train He actually wants to get in the cage and fight. He said, Id love for you to come down and spar if we can. Zuckerberg isnt the only figure seeking Trumps blessing, Mullin said. Mullin characterized Barack Obama's chummy attitude toward Trump at Jimmy Carters funeral on Thursday showed the former president was kissing the ring," adding that Obama recognizes Trump as the most popular politician in the country. MARK ZUCKERBERG ANNOUNCED A SPATE of changes in Metas approach to speech and moderation issues this week, part of his longstanding effort to dominate the information landscape while resisting responsibility for his companys contributions to political violence, extremism, and other antidemocratic activities in the United States and around the world. Lets talk about the most serious implications. Two of the key changes are that Meta will end fact-checking and roll back content moderation. According to reporting from 404 Media, many Meta employees were angry and felt blindsided by these changes, as there was not an internal policy and stakeholder engagement process driving the decision. This reinforces the impression that this is little more than a quid pro quo on Zuckerbergs part for soliciting Trumps help in pushing back against regulators. The full spectrum of changes will lead to even more hate and extremism while ignoring the systemic issues of how Metas platforms actually contribute to harm. Its important to note that this was not a sudden bending the knee to Donald Trump. Zuckerberg has a history of reacting to threats from politicians who have the power to impose costs on the company. I saw this tendency firsthand when I was hired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2018, ostensibly to head the companys election-integrity efforts for political advertising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I proposed a planbuilt and supported by engineers and program managers across the companyto ensure we were not allowing (and profiting from) ads that potentially engaged in voter suppression. We had the tools and ability to protect the integrity of the elections, which Zuckerberg had publicly promised to do. But it would have likely meant taking action against more content from candidates on the right, including Trump, because, as research has demonstrated, the right engaged in political misinformation at higher rates. Zuckerberg knew this would come at a political cost, so he made it clear he would not fact-check political candidatesnot even in paid advertising, and not even if those ads contained blatant lies about voting. And in 2020, after Trump threatened to shut down social media because Twitter fact-checked him, Zuckerberg went on Fox News to announce that he would retreat even further from fact-checking. Stay rooted in the factual world by signing up to receive our independent journalism directly in your inbox. While Metas fact-checking program was never perfect, the companys third-party fact-checkers and moderation policies did at least make an effort to ensure that lies, conspiracy theories, and deliberate disinformation didnt spread unchecked across its platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats all gone now. Metas latest changes will have far-reaching consequences for public safety and democracy. Here are three key points: 1. We must zoom out to see how social media platforms erode public safety and democracy. By zeroing in on fact-checking under the false guise of protecting free speech, Zuckerberg was appeasing his biggest right-wing critics while obfuscating the much more important issue at hand: his companys own role in amplifying, recommending, and targeting content that has contributed to extremism, illegal activity, and even political violence (e.g., pogroms against the Rohingya in Myanmar or the January 6th insurrection in the United States). These companies are not just neutral pipes through which speech flows. They curate each users feed based on algorithmic decision-making and priorities set by the owners. As long as Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and other major social-media owners continue to have complete, unchecked power to tune their algorithms to decide whose voices are amplified, whose are silenced, which content is recommended, and how ads are targeted to us, they will have unrivaled influence over how we engage with and trust in informationwith none of the responsibility for the consequences. We cannot ignore the evidence. Studies from independent researchers, civil society groups, and Metas own internal researchers have shown time and time again that content promoting hatred, misinformation, and extremism outperforms more balanced, nuanced discourse on major social media platforms. This is no accident. Its the result of an algorithmic design that rewards engagement, regardless of whether that engagement is based on truth or toxicity. Metas core business model incentivizes sensationalism, and Zuckerberg knows it. In the quest for more clicks, likes, and shares, the company has given unchecked power to algorithms that often prioritize inflammatory content over anything that could foster understanding or constructive conversation. The reward of algorithmically boosted virality is far more consequential than any one post from an individual user, and that is where responsibility should lie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fact-checking, while important, was never a perfect solution to this problem. Once harmful content is boosted by the algorithm, fact-checks are not likely to reach those who are already influenced by the content, nor to change anyones mind. Share 2. Hate and extremism will likely spread even more. While Zuckerberg spoke publicly about ending fact-checking, Meta also quietly rolled back multiple Hateful Coduct policies, including safety guardrails for LGBTQ people, people of color, women, immigrants, and other protected groups. Weve seen the real-world consequences of unchecked amplification of group hatred on Facebook and Instagram, and I fear that is going to become even worse. It is worth remembering that Metas policies developed slowly over time, often after episodes of real world-violence, including genocide, that had been traced back in part to Facebook. Extremism is on the rise around the world, and if Meta is welcoming hate-filled content, the idea that extremists wont use the platform to accelerate real-world harm is just naive. 3. Political quid pro quo is no longer subtle. Zuckerbergs changes are catering to Trumps desires in return for asking for Trumps protection. While corporations have long tried to curry favor with governments, it used to be done quietly. The fact that Zuckerberg openly said that he is enlisting Trumps help to pressure global regulators to not enforce their own laws in their own countries should concern anyone who cares about global democracy. What used to be considered undemocratic behavior and relegated to smoke-filled back rooms is now proudly announced by the dealers themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump pressured Zuckerberg to stop a program that he didnt like, and in exchange, Zuckerberg is gambling on Trumps authoritarian impulses to bully other countries to allow Meta to operate unchecked in the world. This decision is not only politically motivated; it is dangerous in its disregard for both the sovereignty of other countries and the global impact of Metas platforms. And it was all done in plain sight. Where do we go from here? WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING if we want to have any hope of correcting course. The path forward requires something much more fundamental than tinkering with existing models for content moderation: It requires a radical rethinking of how Meta and other social media platforms design their algorithms and profit from the use of their users data. These companies must be held accountable, not necessarily for the content they host but for the design and back-end choices that encourage harmful content to flourish in the first place. Until we address the business model that makes things like hate and extremism profitable, we will continue to see these problems growas will the damage to our society. And in the absence of any intention on Zuckerbergs part to even attempt a course-correction, it is up to the public to change their relationship with these companies. We must finally insist on transparency about how these systems truly affect our lives, and on some form of accountability for the way these companies own tools and business decisions have serious consequences for public safety and democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Share this article on a social media platform of your choice. Share Yal Eisenstat is a senior fellow at Cybersecurity for Democracy, working on policy solutions for how social media and AI-powered algorithms affect political discourse, extremism, and democracy. Previously, she was a vice president at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), heading its Center for Technology and Society. She was Facebooks global head of elections integrity for political ads in 2018, and previously served as a diplomat, intelligence officer, and White House advisor. Homepage: YaelEisenstat.com. The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has seen a record number of Hong Kong tech companies showcase their innovations in Las Vegas, in a sign of the city's commitment to become a key player in the global tech landscape. Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) organised a pavilion featuring 51 exhibitors, from tech companies to local institutes. The delegation, supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Electronics Industries Association, is presenting a range of innovations from green technology to health sciences. Nearly 100 Hong Kong-registered companies are exhibiting at CES, according to the show's website, compared to around 30 from Singapore. In total, CES attracted over 4,500 exhibitors from more than 160 countries and regions, including around 1,400 start-ups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. HKSTP CEO Albert Wong said Hong Kong's tech environment was getting stronger. Photo: Handout alt=HKSTP CEO Albert Wong said Hong Kong's tech environment was getting stronger. Photo: Handout> "Hong Kong's innovation and entrepreneurship environment is getting stronger," said HKSTP CEO Albert Wong Hak-keung. "We welcome all Science Park companies to showcase their products on the world stage." He hopes that the participation in CES will help Hong Kong companies secure new business, attract users, and draw potential investment. This year's CES, running from January 7 to 10 in Las Vegas, was expected to draw 150,000 attendees. The Hong Kong Pavilion, situated among pavilions from other countries, including Korea, Japan, Italy, and France, has seen a steady stream of visitors during the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three HKSTP-supported companies saw their products receive recognition at the CES Innovation Awards 2025: the Rocket 2.0 smart irrigation system from Full Nature Farms, a wearable for the visually impaired from Vidi Labs called Seekr, and the world's smallest three-axis micro gimbal stabiliser developed by Vista InnoTech. The 3-axis micro gimbal stabiliser developed by Vista InnoTech on display at CES. Photo: Wency Chen alt=The 3-axis micro gimbal stabiliser developed by Vista InnoTech on display at CES. Photo: Wency Chen> Established in 2001, HKSTP has cultivated a robust technology ecosystem, encompassing around 400,000 square metres of research and development and lab space across different locations in Hong Kong, with a 94 per cent occupancy rate. A 31,000-square metre facility in Shenzhen was launched in 2023. The HKSTP network supports more than 2,000 technology companies from 25 countries and regions, employing more than 15,000 research professionals. To date, 13 HKSTP-backed companies have grown into unicorns. It provides comprehensive support, ranging from financing support and direct investment - through a HK$1 billion (US$128.5 million) venture fund - to R&D infrastructure, enterprise services, partnership networks and talent acquisition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several exhibitors at CES secured preliminary orders during the show. "We have visitors from US universities and research institutions who have strong interest in collaboration," said Ray Lok, founder of Full Nature Farms. Separately, Vista InnoTech founder Edward Mak said he was in discussions with consumer electronics brands to establish new partnerships. Representatives from Hong Kong companies recognised by the CES Innovation Awards 2025 pose for a photograph at the show. Photo: Handout alt=Representatives from Hong Kong companies recognised by the CES Innovation Awards 2025 pose for a photograph at the show. Photo: Handout> Hong Kong is well positioned as a gateway to mainland China and broader global markets, a role that has become more significant amid the intensifying US-China tech rivalry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2024 policy address by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, the government unveiled several investment plans, including a HK$1.5 billion Research Matching Grant Scheme, a HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, and a HK$1.5 billion injection into the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund for co-investments. "Hong Kong is striving to become an international innovation and technology centre by promoting the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries while actively nurturing emerging ones," Lee said in his policy address. "Our current scale is not big enough," HKSTP's Wong said in an interview with the South China Morning Post. Hong Kong currently has about four to five thousand tech companies, with about 30,000 people working in the sector. "Future development must grow exponentially, to the scale of 100,000 or 200,000 [people]," Wong added. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. TikTok is once again on the rocks in the US. In April, President Biden signed a foreign aid bill that will ban the popular social media app on Jan. 19, 2025, unless it divests from its Chinese owners. Heres what you need to know. Is TikTok getting banned in the US? Maybe. When Biden signed the bill, it started a countdown that gave TikTok owner ByteDance several months to sell the app to a company not controlled by a "foreign adversary." TikTok sued, and the case has now made its way to the US Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear arguments in the case on Friday, Jan. 10, giving TikTok just nine days to make its case and stop a ban. The court is the scope of the arguments to one main question: Does the law violate the First Amendment? Can we watch the Supreme Court arguments? The Supreme Court has long been camera shy, but it does allow live audio streams. PBS will begin its stream (embedded below) at 10 a.m. ET on Jan. 10, but you can also tune in via C-SPAN. Is banning TikTok unconstitutional? Thats up to the Supreme Court, but TikTok can point to a law in Montana that banned the app from all devices, not just those provided by government agencies. In late 2023, US District Judge Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction to block that law before it went into effect because it oversteps state power" and violates the Constitution in several ways. Montana has appealed, but the case has been on hold since May, Montana Public Radio reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least one person wants them to stop the ban: Donald Trump. Late last month, he urged the US Supreme Court to pause the TikTok ban so he could "resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office," even though he started this in the first place (more on that below). What is TikTok's argument? TikTok is challenging the ban in court on constitutional grounds. It points to the 7 million businesses a ban would devastate and the 170 million Americans who would be silenced. In April, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the ban is "ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard, and that's why so many people have made TikTok a part of their daily lives." So far, TikTok has not had much luck in the courtroom. A federal appeals court rejected its argument last month. TikTok then requested that the ban be delayed until the Supreme Court weighed in, but the DC Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that, too. How else can TikTok avoid a ban? If a deal is imminent before Jan. 19, the president can grant a 90-day extension. At least two US senators have asked Biden to do just that, but the White House is referring questions to the DOJ. Who might buy TikTok? A few possible buyers have emerged, from former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. However, neither can afford to purchase TikTok outright and would need a coalition of backers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has also pitched rebuilding TikTok as a decentralized platform built on a blockchain. Earlier this week, he joined forces with entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary (of Shark Tank fame) in a bid "to purchase TikTok's US assets and rebuild the platform in a way that prioritizes the privacy of its 170 million American users." This week, however, TikTok said it will shut down in the US if the Supreme Court upholds the ban, CBS News reports. So it doesn't seem open to a buyer. What counts as a foreign adversary? Foreign governments (and non-government persons) can land themselves on the US list of foreign adversaries if they have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of United States persons. Right now, that list includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and the Maduro regime in Venezuela. ByteDance is based in Beijing, China. Why does the US care that a video app is owned by China? In an April interview with NBCs Lester Holt, FBI Director Christopher Wray said TikTok is a national security concern because ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government, and could compel TikTok to turn over data on Americans to Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok users may not care that China knows what videos they watched or liked, but Wray argued that ByteDance could use the data it collects and its recommendation algorithm for all sorts of influence operations. That was a top concern ahead of the 2024 US election, especially since 20% of Americans now get their news from influencers, though it's also a problem on US-owned services, as we saw in 2016. The US made a similar argument when banning equipment from China-based Huawei and limiting exports of AI chips to China. TikTok has long denied that it takes orders from Beijing. "We have built safeguards that no other peer company has made. We have invested billions of dollars to secure your data and keep our platform free from outside manipulation," CEO Chew said in April. How would a ban work? The bill targets services that distribute, maintain, and update any apps deemed to be controlled by a foreign adversary. In this case, that would be app stores like Google Play and Apples App Store and web-hosting services that keep these apps online (including their websites). Earlier this month, House lawmakers urged Apple and Google to prepare to remove TikTok from their app stores in the coming weeks if ByteDance fails to divest. Violations could result in fines of up to $5,000 per user for companies that keep TikTok online. If TikTok is on my phone after Jan. 19, could I get in trouble? No, the bill does not authorize the US Attorney General to pursue enforcementagainst an individual using a foreign adversary-controlled app. More than likely, TikTok would just become inoperable on your phone as more and more services drop support. How do I save all my videos? Have a huge library of videos on TikTok? We have a guide on how to download them (with and without the watermark). What happens to my personal data if TikTok is sold? Potential buyers are likely going to be most interested in TikTok's underlying technology and the wealth of data the app has collected from its users. As the saying goes, if the product is free, you're the product. Concerned about where that info will wind up? Here's how to delete TikTok. Didn't we try this in 2020? Yes, in 2020, then-President Trump signed an executive order that made similar demands. Microsoft emerged as a potential buyer for TikTok in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Those plans ultimately fizzled out, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella later calling the experience "the strangest thing I ever worked on." President Biden then rescinded Trumps executive order but told his administration to prepare recommendations to prevent a foreign adversary, like China, from seizing consumer data from apps like TikTok or WeChat. So Trump and Biden are aligned on this issue? No. Despite his executive order and arguing in 2020 that "you can't be controlled, for security reasons, by China," Trump now opposes a ban. At first, he was less concerned about foreign interference and more focused on a ban helping Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business. I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!" Trump posted on his Truth Social network in March. More recently, Trump was swayed by his growing popularity on TikTok. He has a "little bit of a warm spot in [his] heart" for TikTok because younger people like it so much and that demographic helped him electorally in the election, he said during a December press conference. On Jan. 3, Trump posted on Truth Social: "Why would I want to get rid of TikTok?" alongside an infographic that touted how many views his own posts were getting on TikTok. Meanwhile, flattery and attention appear to have helped the relationship between Trump and Zuckerberg. The Meta CEO reportedly called Trump "a lot" over the summer, according to Trump. Weeks later, Zuckerberg criticized the Biden administration over COVID social media crackdowns in a seemingly unprompted letter to GOP lawmakers. After Trump's win, Meta also made a $1 million donation to his inaugural fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this week, Meta dropped traditional fact-checking in favor of X-style Community Notes. It's time to get back to our roots around free expression and giving people a voice on our platforms," Zuckerberg said. Trump's reaction? Meta has "come a long way," he says. Can Trump stop the ban when he takes office? Trump can't stop this as easily as he started it in 2020 with his executive order. In urging the Supreme Court to pause the ban, he points to himself as uniquely qualified to weigh in on this issue since he is "one of the most powerful, prolific, and influential users of social media in history." But social media users alone can't overturn a law, so if the Supreme Court declines to strike down the ban, Trump could ask the DOJ not to enforce the law when he returns to the White House. He could also delay its implementation by 90 days if he can prove ByteDance is progressing toward a divestiture, CBS News reports. Can I get around this ban with a VPN? Maybe. VPNs are usually your first line of defense to get around a ban; just ask Pornhub users. Streamers also use them to watch content that's geo-blocked on services like Netflix, with mixed results. If the TikTok app is inaccessible, you could potentially tap into a VPN (we have some recommendations here) and load up TikTok on the web. But as The Wall Street Journal notes, you might run into trouble if TikTok is forced to eliminate US-registered accounts, so it's likely not a long-term solution. What are some TikTok alternatives? Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are still more popular than TikTok among social media sites, but that's set to change, especially among younger users. "Facebooks user growth rate is estimated to slow down in the next years, [and] users belonging to Generation Z appear to prefer video-first social platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube," according to Statista. Trump may be right that Meta-owned sites stand to benefit from TikTok's demise. The company has been pushing TikTok-like Reels hard on Instagram and Facebook, while YouTube has Shorts, and Snap has touted an increase in watch time on its TikTok-like Spotlight feed. But it's TikTok's algorithm that keeps people coming back and scrolling for hours, something Meta and YouTube have not replicated yet. Missoula's homeless shelters are reaching capacity as cold weather and snow settle in the valley and citations for people sleeping in parks stack up. According to city officials, between Jan. 3 and Jan. 9, at least 18 citations have been given to homeless people breaking the city's new urban camping law that bans camping in city parks, among other restrictions. Increased demand has caused shelter providers to discuss contingency plans in case there are not enough shelter beds, but no additional emergency winter shelter space has been announced. The new park camping restrictions went into effect on Jan. 1. Chief Administrative Officer Dale Bickell said the city's goal is to get more homeless people into shelters, and eventually transition into housing. The city is still working on outreach and education about the new camping restrictions, Bickell said, but added that those who do not comply will be cited. Shelters reach max capacity On Tuesday, Poverello staff told residents at a Johnson Street Shelter community meeting that if demand increases, the community might have to start looking for additional emergency shelter space. "We are going to be having conversations about what to do when we are too full and we have no room for people," said Clair Bopp, the director of shelter services at the Poverello. "I don't have the answers to that just yet, but hopefully we will soon." Emergency shelter plans are led by a coalition of service providers, the city and Missoula County. In years past, they've used the city's downtown transfer station and the Salvation Army for emergency shelter space. Bickell said if a new emergency shelter is needed, the public will be informed through a city council meeting. The Johnson Street Shelter has reached around 180 occupants each evening this week, requiring shelter staff to open its overflow room and squeeze people in wherever possible. The shelter recently acquired 165 bed frames and mattresses for guests, but an additional 30 sleep with mats on the floor. From the city's perspective, most people have entered the shelter because of frigid weather, and not necessarily the new camping law, Bickell said. Areas that used to have encampments, like McLeod Park and Lions Park, now sit empty although there are still some small encampments across Missoula. No one has been turned away from a shelter yet this winter, according to Beckett Redinger, the Pov's communications coordinator. The Pov also manages the Johnson Street Shelter. Redinger did say the shelter has entered cold weather policy at times to allow those previously banned because of behavior issues to stay overnight. In addition to the shelters, people are using the city's new vehicle permitting system that's now online, which allows people to live in their vehicle on the street. Nearly 50 people have successfully signed up. "People have been following the rules, it has been a system that is working," Bickell said. "People want to be successful in this." The recently issued camping citations largely revolve around violating the buffer zone policy within the new law. Bickell said 11 citations were issued for camping in Montana Rail Link Park, and five for camping under the Madison Street Bridge. One person was cited for camping too closely to the Poverello Center, while another was cited for camping too close to the Johnson Street Shelter, Bickell said. Bickell said they are still issuing a warning first, but a citation is given if people don't comply. "After repeated citations, issues could lead to a trespass that does have a more severe penalty," he said. It is unclear if anyone has been charged with trespass since the new law has taken effect. None of the 18 new citations had made it into the court system as of Friday, Bickell said. Previous campers to return outside Some people sleeping at the Johnson Street Shelter this week told the Missoulian that despite the new camping restrictions, they plan to move back outside once weather conditions warm up. "Once you get into the shelter, it is hard to get out," guest Mike Nielsen said as he sat outdoors while the shelter was cleaned on Thursday. "When the weather improves I want to get out of this place." Ivy Brooks and Donovan Baily, both from Missoula, have been sleeping outdoors and in the shelter on and off for the last year. The two were critical of the rules in Johnson Street for being too restrictive, but said they were grateful there is a place with services in town for them. "You can only sleep in a tent for so long until you need a hot shower," Baily said. The two hope to eventually find permanent housing in Missoula, but plan to start camping outside again if they haven't secured a roof over their heads by the time the weather warms up. Shelter guest Kat Ishler said she had been sleeping outside for several years before relocating to the Johnson Street Shelter last month. She praised the staff for helping her get settled and hopefully get her set up with housing. "The next step is to find a job and work hard," Ishler said. "I am really grateful, especially for the bed." Two-thirds of those planning to buy a car in Hungary would rather purchase a used auto, with the average being a vehicle older than six years, according to a representative online survey published by Das WeltAuto. The survey found that 38.1% of respondents would buy a car that is 610 years old, but 23.6% are thinking of choosing an auto older than 16 years. At the same time, 19.4% are looking for a vehicle younger than five years old. The statement points out that consumer confidence in the private sector started to increase in the last quarter of last year, which is why almost a quarter of car owners are considering buying a new auto in the next one to two years. The survey was conducted among individuals over 18 who plan to buy a car within one or two years. MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here. New Delhi: Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films are ensuring Deva fans are in for a thrilling experience with every update they drop. From gripping posters and teasers to the highly anticipated song announcement, the excitement is at an all-time high. The latest buzz surrounds the teaser for Bhasad Macha, the biggest banger of the year. To amplify the anticipation, Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde will set the stage on fire at the opening ceremony in Dubai, giving fans a sneak peek of whats to come. For now, however, all eyes are on the electrifying teaser for the track thats already making waves. In the teaser, Shahid Kapoor is on fire, exuding confidence and charisma like never before. With his iconic swag and infectious dance moves, hes ready to have you up and grooving. His performance doesnt just capture your attentionit commands it. Shahid isnt just dancing; hes owning the screen, with every move radiating pure energy. Bhasad Macha isnt just a song; its an entire vibe, drawing you in with its magnetic rhythm and making you feel every beat. Choreographed by Bosco Leslie Martis, Bhasad Macha promises to be a visual and musical spectacle. The track, with vocals by Mika Singh, Vishal Mishra, and Jyotica Tangri, is composed by Vishal Mishra, with lyrics by Raj Shekhar. Directed by the renowned Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films, Deva is set to hit theaters on January 31, 2025. The teaser is just the beginning of what promises to be a thrilling cinematic journey. New Delhi: As was been widely speculated in the social media, the latest teaser of Zerodha co-founder Nitin Kamath is out, where the guest this time is none other than Indian PM Narendra Modi. Kamath has released a 2.13 minutes long teaser clip shared on January 9, 2025 for the next episode of his podcast series called 'People By WTF', where he begins as saying that he feels "nervous" to be sitting with the PM and asking talking to him. "Mein aapke saamne baatein kar raha hoon, I feel nervous. It's a tough conversation for me to have," to which the PM wittily remarks, "Ek toh mere liye bhi ye podcast pehli baar ho raha hai. Pata nahi ye kaisa jayega aap logo ko, aapke darshako ko". Among several questions that the teaser shows, one of the most pertinent question that Kamath poses, is drawing parallels with entrepreneurship and politics. Kamath begins by asking, "If a youngster wants to become a politician todays, should there be any talent with with he would or should be judged?" Modi replied, "Good people should continuously keep coming to politics. They should come with a mission, and not with just ambition. When I became the CM, I gave a speech. And unassumingly I had said, mistakes are inevitable, I too must have mistakes, I am a human, not some god. The teaser cuts to next question by Kamath, "It feels as if Today the world is moving towards war. Should we be worried about what is happening in the world?" PM Modi responded saying, "During the crisis we have maintained and repeatedly said that we are not neutral. I am in favour of peace. Kamath's then enquired regarding the difference between Modi's 1st term and the second term as PM, to which the latter quipped, "During my first term, the people of the country were trying to understand me, and I was trying to understand Delhi." A profound question that Kamath later asks the PM is that as somebody who grew up in a South Indian middle-class family, it has been ingrained since childhood that politics is a dirty place. He further asks the PM to respond on this mindset which seems very difficult to change. PM Modi replies, "If what you were saying is true, you wouldn't be here today." Here's the teaser of the 'People By WTF' The trailer, at the time of writing this article has garnered 4,587 Comments and 771,920 views 13 hours of it being uploaded. RBSE Rajasthan Board 2025: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will soon announce the Class 10 and 12 exam dates for 2025 on its official website, rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. Meanwhile, states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and CBSE have already published their 2025 board exam timetables online. The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will release separate date sheets for Class 10 and 12 exams as an online PDF. Once available, students can check and download the schedule from the official website, rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. RBSE conducts these exams every year, but the official dates for the 2025 exams have not been announced yet. Students should regularly check the RBSE website for updates. Based on last years schedule, the Class 10 and 12 exams are likely to be held between March and April. Admit cards will be issued before the exams and can be collected from schools. These admit cards are important as they include details like the students name, roll number, exam dates, and exam center information. RBSE Rajasthan Board 2025: Steps to download here Visit the official website of RBSE: rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. On the homepage, find and click on the link for "RBSE Date Sheet 2025." Choose either "RBSE Class 10th Date Sheet 2025" or "RBSE Class 12th Date Sheet 2025." The detailed exam schedule will appear on a new page. Download the date sheet and take a printout for future reference. As per last year's schedule, the RBSE Class 10 board exams for 2025 are expected to be held from March 7 to March 29, 2025. Practical exams are likely to begin in the last week of January 2025. The RBSE Class 10 exam date sheet for 2025 will include exam dates, important guidelines, and other necessary details. Around 1.3 million students are expected to appear for these exams, which will be conducted from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM. New Delhi: A Class 12 student has been detained by the Delhi Police for allegedly sending bomb threats to schools in the city, sources told PTI. Action came after, around 10 schools received bomb threats on Thursday, adding to a recent string of such incidents in the capital. Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Delhi, Ankit Chauhan, told ANI that the suspect was responsible for the last 23 threat emails sent to various schools in Delhi. During interrogation, he admitted that he had sent threat emails earlier as well, Chauhan stated. The student, a minor, was apprehended by the south district police, sources revealed. Officials said more details will be shared during a press conference at police headquarters later today. The recent wave of bomb hoaxes has kept authorities on high alert. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed concerns, stating that the city had never seen such a poor state of law and order. In response, the police have been training teachers and school staff to handle such threats. A seminar was held with the Education Department to prepare them for such situations. The hoaxes also affected airlines, with multiple bomb threats leading to emergency landings, flight delays, and extra fuel usage, causing panic in aviation and law enforcement circles. Tesla CEO and US President-elect Donald Trump's close aide, Elon Musk, who has been criticizing billionaire and political activist George Soros since President Joe Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USA's highest civilian honour, has taken a fresh swipe at him. Taking to social media platform X, Musk cornered the legacy media, saying that the media goes after him when he speaks up on matters related to foreign politics but has remained soft and quiet over the years when Soros has been interfering in foreign politics for years. This post from Musk, who is also the owner of X, comes days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had accused former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of ties to a George Soros-funded organization. The group has allegedly supported the idea of an independent Kashmir. The BJP claimed in posts on X that the association highlights foreign entities' influence on India's internal affairs. Sonia Gandhi, as the Co-President of the FDL-AP Foundation, is linked to an organization financed by the George Soros Foundation. Notably, the FDL-AP Foundation has expressed their views that treat Kashmir as a separate entity, the saffron party said in the social media post. The BJP had alleged that, This association between Sonia Gandhi and an organisation that has backed the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation expresses the influence of foreign entities on Indias internal affairs and the political impact of such connections. In another 'X thread, BJP alleged that Sonia Gandhi, as chair of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, partnered with the George Soros Foundation. It claimed this reflects the impact of foreign funding on Indian organizations. Rahul Gandhi's press conference on Adani was live telecast by George Soros-funded OCCRP, which Gandhi used as a source to criticise Adani. It shows nothing but their strong and dangerous relationship, the post read. While continuing its attack on the Congress, BJP chief JP Nadda had reiterated allegations of a nexus between the grand old party and George Soros, claiming that the hedge fund tycoon was stepping up financing efforts in a bid to destabilize India. On Wednesday, the billionaire upped the ante against George Soros, alleging that his "hatred for humanity includes Israel." Musk shared a news report in a social media post in which Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan accused Soros of pumping $15 million into non-governmental organizations supporting the Hamas militant group. "George Soros's hatred of humanity includes Israel btw," the X owner said. Musk, who is known for his criticism of Soros, dubbed recognition a "travesty" during a podcast. He also claimed that Soros fundamentally hates humanity. Earlier also, Musk had shared a meme on X in which he compared Soros to Darth Sidious from Star Wars, quipping, George Soros looking quite good here. Must be the lighting. Who Is George Soros? George Soros, 94, is a Hungarian-American billionaire investor and a political activist. His Open Society Foundations back several civil society groups. He and his son Alex Soros have been key financial supporters of the Democratic Party. Alex Soros endorsed Kamala Harris against Trump in this year's election. Chennai: Members of the DMK students' wing held a protest at Valluvar Kottam here on Friday against University Grants Commission's (UGC) new draft rules for the appointment of Vice Chancellors. The protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre. On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in the State Assembly moved a resolution against the draft rules. Speaking in the Assembly, CM Stalin said, "This Assembly considers that the recent UGC draft rules should be taken back. They are an assault on the idea of federalism and they affect Tamil Nadu's higher education system." MK Stalin also said that the New Education Policy (NEP) is being imposed to spoil the education system. "The New Education Policy is being imposed to spoil the education system.... We lost sister Anitha because of the NEET exam. NEET is filled with malpractices," he said. According to UGC's new draft guidelines, candidates can qualify for faculty positions at higher institutions by clearing the UGC-NET in a subject of their choice, even if their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are in different disciplines. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the guidelines for the appointment of faculty in higher education on Monday. It also includes changes to the selection process for vice-chancellors, including the expansion of eligibility criteria to include professionals from academia, research institutions, public policy, public administration, and industry. As per the guidelines, the subject of the PhD degree precedes the disciplines studied in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for faculty selections. Earlier on Wednesday, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu called the guidelines against the federal principles of the country. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, she said that it is part of the Centre's agenda of "saffronization, over-centralisation and communalisation" of the education sector. Speaking to ANI, R Bindu said, "These guidelines are against the federal principles upheld by the nation...Recently, UGC has started procuring all kinds of interventions in the higher education sector through rigid regulations. This is an attempt to reduce academic quality...Industrialists can also become vice-chancellors in universities. This is condemnable." Domestic institutions continue to buy into Paytm, driven by strong Q2 FY2025 results and a clear path toward EBITDA before ESOP breakeven by Q4. Paytms latest shareholding filing reveals a strong surge in institutional confidence, with total institutional ownership rising by 4% to 68% in Q3 FY2025. This significant growth reflects the increasing trust in Paytms strong financial trajectory and leadership in Indias digital payments ecosystem. Domestic mutual funds were key contributors to this growth, increasing their shareholding by 3.3% to 11.2% demonstrating sustained interest from domestic institutions. Among the notable changes, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund raised its stake to 2.1%, signaling its confidence in Paytms growth potential. Mirae Asset, while trimming its holding slightly, continues to hold a substantial 4.2% stake, reaffirming institutional trust in the companys robust fundamentals. Additionally, Nippon Mutual Funds shareholding remained stable at 2%, further underscoring consistent support from domestic institutional investors. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) further bolstered institutional ownership, with their shareholding increasing by 0.7% during the quarter. The number of FPIs holding Paytm shares grew by 20 entities, reaching a total of 237. FPI increased their holding from 115 million to 119 million shares, registering a 0.72% growth to ~19%, further underlining global institutional interest in Paytms business model. As highlighted by Bernstein, Paytm leads the transition in Indias payments ecosystem from disruption to monetization. The companys innovative strategies, including device-based monetization and its increasing focus on credit-driven payment solutions, position it well for sustainable profitability. With a clear roadmap to EBITDA breakeven by Q4 FY2025 and strong institutional backing, Paytm continues to strengthen its leadership in Indias rapidly evolving fintech landscape. Kerala Lottery Results Friday 10-01-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Nirmal NR-414" Lucky Draw Result today Nirmal NR-414, January 10, 2025. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2025 for "Nirmal NR-414" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Nirmal NR-414 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-414 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 10-01-2025 January: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR NIRMAL NR-414 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS:NE 525727 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: NL 832973 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: Consolation Prize Rs.8,000/- NA 525727 NB 525727 NC 525727 ND 525727 NF 525727 NG 525727 NH 525727 NJ 525727 NK 525727 NL 525727 NM 525727 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0288 0500 0535 0946 1343 1665 2490 3076 3537 3698 5452 6121 6728 6782 8337 8563 8784 8868 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE:3116 9526 9646 8185 6399 5807 3455 4984 9536 7362 5753 9362 5268 2811 1184 7933 8997 1526 7029 5304 4150 6520 0469 3469 8432 2334 5276 7129 8259 4456 0489 3520 4965 8259 4896 7845 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0060 0122 0181 0420 0573 0620 0846 1217 1298 1323 1553 1815 1829 1932 1964 2147 2225 2527 2709 2766 2895 2967 3073 3230 3501 3593 3596 3633 3694 4053 4068 4091 4257 4329 4362 4387 4604 4614 4645 4749 4974 5007 5224 5292 5424 5473 5581 5649 5760 5876 6001 6504 6986 7020 7052 7083 7194 7411 7484 7572 7634 7694 7715 7775 7802 7923 7976 7995 8030 8250 8285 8531 8619 9224 9240 9484 9809 9825 9848 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0066 0147 0186 0188 0305 0597 0613 0742 0784 1152 1182 1198 1639 1691 1753 1762 1804 1872 2043 2326 2329 2500 2505 2636 2637 2712 2756 2776 3065 3140 3196 3228 3379 3425 3600 3657 3778 3816 3894 3955 3976 4015 4069 4135 4210 4272 4345 4462 4464 4548 4611 4666 4680 4682 4790 4793 4849 4858 4873 4908 5074 5077 5209 5383 5416 5544 5575 5591 5810 6043 6161 6199 6242 6280 6308 6323 6335 6348 6418 6567 6606 6651 6673 6722 6727 6813 6848 6849 6851 7041 7284 7428 7478 7536 7640 7876 7883 7885 8014 8148 8228 8236 8313 8417 8472 8716 8925 8947 8948 8959 8999 9042 9109 9114 9117 9138 9178 9228 9287 9620 9696 9877 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 10-01-2025 January: NIRMAL NR-414 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000 4th Prize: Rs. 2,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 200 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) The two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites that ISRO is hoping to unite are at a distance of 1.5 km and will be brought much closer on January 11, the space agency said on Friday. The SpaDeX space docking experiment has so far missed two publicly announced schedules, on January 7 and January 9. "Spacecrafts are at a distance of 1.5 km and on hold mode. Further drift to 500 m is planned to be achieved by tomorrow morning," ISRO said in a post on 'X'. This announcement came a day after the space agency shared that the drift between satellites that had caused the postponement of the docking experiment for the second time had been arrested and they were put in a slow drift course to move closer to each other. ISRO successfully launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30, 2024. The PSLV C60 rocket carrying two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), along with 24 payloads, had lifted off from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and about 15 minutes after liftoff, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kg each were launched into a 475-km circular orbit as intended. After the launch, ISRO has been preparing for the docking, which requires multiple steps/stages. Docking in space is a complex process, which so far has been mastered by only three other countries - the US, Russia and China. On January 6, a day before the first docking attempt was scheduled, ISRO announced its postponement to January 9, stating that the docking process requires further validation through ground simulations based on an abort scenario identified. A day ahead of the docking planned on January 9, the space agency had initiated the drift on Spacecraft A (chaser) to move closer from 500 m to 225 m. But shortly after that it announced another postponement of docking, saying that -- while making a maneuver to reach 225 m between satellites, the drift was found to be more than expected, post non-visibility period. According to ISRO, SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft that were launched by PSLV. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc. In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology. Mumbai: Deepika Padukone who is a strong advocate for mental health has called out Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan for his controversial remarks on workplace culture and employee well-being. The comments, which included suggestions of extending workdays to Sundays and a dismissive tone towards personal life, have ignited a widespread debate about mental health and toxic work environments. During an employee interaction, Subrahmanyan addressed concerns about L&Ts six-day workweek. In a video that went viral on Reddit, he said, I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays. He also made a controversial remark, questioning what employees do during their downtime, saying, What do you do sitting at home? How long can you look at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working. The remarks were met with a wave of backlash online, with many criticizing the chairman for trivialising employees need for personal time and a healthy work-life balance. Journalist Faye DSouza also highlighted the issue on her social media, where Deepika Padukone weighed in with a sharp response. The actress reposted Fayes post and wrote: Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters. Deepika, who has been vocal about her own struggles with mental health and has launched initiatives to spread awareness, didnt hold back in calling out the remarks. Her statement resonated with many, reigniting discussions about the pressures of corporate life and the lack of emphasis on mental health in professional environments. Following the backlash, L&T issued a justification for Subrahmanyans comments, but it failed to calm the storm. Critics, including Padukone, accused the company of exacerbating the issue rather than addressing it meaningfully. This incident has brought the spotlight back on the importance of mental health and the need for empathetic leadership in large corporations. As conversations around employee well-being continue to grow, industry leaders are being reminded of their responsibility to foster healthy workplace cultures. Mumbai: Gurucharan Singh, best known for playing Roshan Singh Sodhi in the popular sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC), is reportedly in critical condition. According to his friend Bhakti Soni, the actor has not eaten or drunk water for 19 days, which led to his hospitalisation. Speaking to Times Now, Bhakti revealed that Gurucharan had been struggling both physically and emotionally. He hasnt eaten food or drunk water for 19 days. Because of that, he fell unconscious and was quickly rushed to the hospital. When he came back, he tried getting work but didnt get anything. He wanted to take sanyas (renunciation), she said. Bhakti also shared a concerning conversation they had recently. When we last spoke on call, he said, By January 13 or January 14, I will know if I will remain on this earth or not. Those were his words. His parents are very worried about his health, but Gurucharan is not listening to anyone. Earlier this week, Gurucharan posted a video from his hospital bed on Instagram. While he didnt disclose the reason for his hospitalisation, he expressed gratitude on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti. On the occasion of Gurpurab, Guru Sahib Ji blessed me with a new life. Infinite and unlimited thanks to Guru Sahib Ji. I also express heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Because of Guru Sahib Jis grace, I am alive and standing before you today. Thank you to everyone. Rab Rakha, he wrote. In the video, Gurucharan acknowledged that his health had deteriorated significantly, saying, Haalat bahot zyada kharab ho gayi hai (The situation has gotten very bad). Gurucharan was a founding cast member of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and gained immense popularity for his portrayal of the lively and loving Roshan Singh Sodhi. While he left the show in 2012, he returned the following year due to public demand. After his final exit in 2020, he was replaced by actor Balwinder Singh Suri. The actors current condition has left fans and colleagues deeply concerned. Messages of support and prayers have poured in on social media, with many hoping for his swift recovery. Mumbai: As the 'Bigg Boss 18' is getting close to its much-awaited grand finale, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has extended his support for contestant Chum Darang. Pema Khandu took to social media to encourage people to vote for the 'Badhaai Do' actor , a proud daughter of Arunachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister wrote, "I am happy to learn that Chum Darang, daughter of Arunachal Pradesh from Pasighat, has reached among the top 9 of the reality show #BiggBoss18. Show your solidarity with her, and don't forget to vote for Chum. I am hopeful that she will be a winner and achieve many milestones in the years to come. My best wishes to Chum Darang." The screenshot of his post was shared on Chum's Instagram account. Her team expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister saying, "I am happy to learn that Chum Darang, daughter of Arunachal Pradesh from Pasighat, has reached among the top 9 of the reality show #BiggBoss18. Show your solidarity with her, and don't forget to vote for Chum. I am hopeful that she will be a winner and achieve many milestones in the years to come. My best wishes to Chum Darang." Meanwhile, Chum received a massive fan following with her remarkable journey on 'Bigg Boss 18' and has earned admiration not just from Arunachal Pradesh but across the country. In the recent Ticket to Finale task, Chum competed against fellow contestant Vivian Dsena. Despite her injuries during the task, the actress impressed viewers with her sportsmanship. Although the 'Shakti' actor won the task, he felt guilty about her injury and offered her the ticket. Chum, however, gracefully declined to accept it. The Salman Khan-hosted reality show will air its finale on January 19. Marcela Iglesias, a 47-year-old Los Angeles woman known as a self-proclaimed "human Barbie," plans to undergo blood transfusions from her 23-year-old son, Rodrigo, in an effort to maintain her youthful appearance. Having spent nearly $100,000 on cosmetic procedures, Iglesias believes the transfusion could help rejuvenate her cells and keep her "ageless." Speaking to the New York Post, Iglesias explained, "Blood transfusion is the new era of maintaining young cells in your system, especially when it comes from your own son or daughter." She also mentioned that her mother could benefit from the procedure, with Rodrigo offering to help her as well. Rodrigo, who is familiar with the procedure's process and benefits, is enthusiastic about assisting his grandmother, according to Iglesias. Iglesias, who has previously explored stem cell therapy, learned about the potential benefits of receiving blood transfusions from younger donors. She believes that using her son's blood could enhance these effects. She elaborated on the benefits of the transfusion, saying, "Blood transfusions bring fresh red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body. Plasma carries proteins and clotting factors, perfect for helping with bleeding or healing." Iglesias compared the rejuvenating process to a traveler drinking water after a long journey, stating, "At the end, I should be left feeling stronger, steadier, and more supported." She plans to undergo the procedure early this year and is currently searching for a qualified doctor to perform it safely. Despite a large following of 1.2 million on Instagram and frequent appearances at red carpet events, Iglesias has faced mixed reactions from the public. While some admire her unique lifestyle, others have criticized her decision. Meanwhile, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings about treatments involving plasma from young donors, citing a lack of thorough testing to prove their safety and effectiveness. Nevertheless, Iglesias remains committed to the procedure, viewing it as an essential part of her efforts to maintain her youthful look and improve her family's health. California, LA Wildfire: The death toll from the wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles area has climbed to 10, according to the county coroner's office, the Associated Press reported. Officials confirmed on Thursday that the two largest fires in the region have destroyed over 10,000 homes, buildings, and other structures. Amid the crises, as newly released satellite images from Maxar Technologies reveal the scale of the devastation brought about by the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. Satellite imagery reveals the dangerous catastrophe caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, which have reduced entire neighborhoods to ash. The destruction has displaced tens of thousands of residents, leaving many grieving over their losses. The Palisades Fire can be seen in the left, and Eaton Fire on the right side. The Palisades Fire near Malibu and the Eaton Fire close to Pasadena have burned a combined 34,000 acres, marking them as the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Officials say nearly 10,000 homes and structures have been lost in the fires. A new fire, called the Kenneth Fire, erupted in the San Fernando Valley late afternoon. It quickly spread to Ventura County by evening. The fire started just two miles from a school being used as a shelter for evacuees. We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds, said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Winds were forecasted to intensify from Thursday evening through Friday morning. The Eaton Fire alone has destroyed over 5,000 structures, including homes, businesses, and vehicles, while the Palisades Fire has wiped out more than 5,300 structures. Scenic neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades were flattened, leaving only chimneys and foundations behind. In Malibu, blackened palm trees stand where oceanfront homes once stood. Historic landmarks, including the Will Rogers Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, were also lost. The fires have claimed at least seven lives, with firefighters working tirelessly to slow their spread. AccuWeather estimates the damage and economic loss to be between $135 billion and $150 billion. Officials have not yet released specific damage costs or a detailed count of structures burned. At least 20 people have been arrested for looting, prompting a curfew in Santa Monica from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. National Guard troops have been deployed to protect properties in fire-affected areas. The fires have not spared anyone, destroying the homes of celebrities such as Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis has pledged $1 million to aid victims, saying, This tragedy has affected all economic levels, from the wealthy to the working class. Containment efforts continued Thursday, but full control remains a distant goal as Los Angeles battles one of the worst wildfire seasons in its history. (With AP inputs) Beirut: Lebanon's parliament elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country's new president on Thursday, bringing an end to a prolonged political deadlock and presidential vacancy, CNN reported. Aoun was elected after two rounds of voting, following extensive efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to garner support for him. Both countries have close ties with Aoun, who is aligned with Washington and Riyadh. After his election, Aoun stepped down from his military role and arrived at the parliament in civilian attire to be sworn in. In his acceptance speech, Aoun declared the start of a "new era" for Lebanon, vowing to address the country's ongoing economic and political crises. He also made a rare pledge to "monopolise weapons" under the state's authority, signalling his intention to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, which has significant military influence in Lebanon, as reported by CNN. Notably, Hezbollah, the most heavily armed militant group in the Middle East, had significant influence in several countries until it suffered heavy losses in a recent war with Israel. This conflict, along with the weakening of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has reignited domestic debate on disarming the group. The US-brokered ceasefire agreement signed in November further weakened Hezbollah's position by stipulating its withdrawal from the border area with Israel, and Israeli forces are required to leave Lebanese territory by the end of January, as reported by CNN. Although Lebanon's army did not engage directly in the war with Israel, it played a crucial role in implementing the ceasefire terms. defence In his speech, Aoun emphasised that Lebanon, as a state, would work to rid itself of Israeli occupation and mentioned the possibility of developing a national defence strategy against Israel without Hezbollah, which has historically been responsible for confronting Israeli forces. "The Lebanese state--I repeat, the Lebanese state--will get rid of the Israeli occupation," Aoun said as quoted by CNN. "My era will include the discussion of our defensive strategy to enable the Lebanese state to get rid of the Israeli occupation and to retaliate against its aggression," he added. Lebanon had been without a president since October 2022, when former President Michel Aoun, backed by Hezbollah, completed his term. Efforts to elect a new president had failed 12 times over the past two years, deepening the divide between Lebanon's pro-Western and pro-Iran factions. In the second round of voting, Aoun won 99 votes out of 128. Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc supported his election in the second round to foster national unity but withheld their votes in the first round as a statement of their stance on sovereignty, as reported by CNN. A US judge recently sentenced President-elect Donald Trump following his conviction in the hush money case involving payments to a porn star. While the ruling marked a significant legal moment, it did not include a jail term or a fine, allowing Trump to continue preparing for his inauguration. Despite facing a potential prison sentence of up to four years, Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan opted for a sentence that effectively put an end to the case without additional penalties. First US President with a Felony Conviction The sentencing decision not only confirmed Trump's criminal conviction but also made him the first US president to have a felony conviction on his record. The ruling carries historical implications, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the situation as Trump prepares to take office. Legal Protections for the President In his explanation, Judge Merchan noted that legal protections for a sitting president played a significant role in the decision. While the judge acknowledged the seriousness of the case, he explained that these legal protections, which shield a president from certain legal consequences, ultimately outweighed other considerations. However, he also made it clear that these protections could not negate the jurys verdict in the case. Final Thoughts on Sentence The judge emphasized the necessity of considering any aggravating factors when determining a sentence. Nonetheless, he reiterated that the legal status and protections Trump would enjoy once in office played a crucial role in his decision to avoid imposing further punishment. The case may be closed, but the implications for Trumps presidency and legal standing remain a point of debate. The Ministry of Education has officially introduced mid-year Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, set to begin this year. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the development on Thursday during the release of the 2024 KCSE results. He confirmed that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will conduct the new mid-year KCSE series every July, following extensive consultations with stakeholders across the education sector. The mid-year exam will cater to candidates who wish to repeat the KCSE, as well as those who missed it due to illness or unforeseen circumstances. We also encourage adult candidates to register for the exam, Ogamba stated. This new mid-year exam series is part of the governments ongoing effort to make education more accessible and flexible for a wider range of students. Meanwhile, the KCSE exams will continue for the next three years before Kenya fully transitions to a new education system. KNEC CEO Dr. David Njengere reminded the public that the last KCSE exam will take place in 2027. He urged anyone who wants to repeat the exam, whether in full or in part, to take advantage of the remaining opportunities. Any person wishing to repeat the exam should seize the remaining chances before the system changes, Njengere said. Elsewhere, President William Ruto praised the outstanding results of the 2024 KCSE exams, attributing the success to the effective education reforms implemented by his administration. The president expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the candidates, noting that 962,512 candidates sat for the exam last year, a notable increase of 64,000 from the 899,453 candidates in 2023. Matokeo ya KCSE ya mwaka uliopita yametoka. Katika matokeo haya, imeonekana wazi kuwa kuna uboreshaji katika mambo ya masomo nchini Kenya. Kuna uboreshaji tukiangalia matokeo ya jumla ya mtihani, hasa katika masomo ya STEM ambayo yalikuwa yamebaki nyuma, pamoja na kwamba wasichana zaidi walifanya mtihani huo kuliko awali, he said. (Loosely translated: The KCSE results for the previous year have been released. In these results, it is clear that there has been an improvement in the education sector in Kenya, especially in STEM subjects that had previously lagged behind. Additionally, more girls participated in the exam than before.) During his visit to the North Rift region, the president highlighted that his administration had made substantial investments in improving education across the country. The entire education sector is improving, and this is due to my commitment to hiring more teachers. To date, we have employed 76,000 teachers. Lets be honest: no other government since Kenyas independence has hired such a number of teachers in just two years, he stated. The Nairobi County government has directed hawkers to relocate to the backstreets of the Central Business District (CBD) in a bid to restore order in the city. In a directive issued on January 6, 2025, the county government announced that hawking will be allowed in designated backstreets from Monday to Saturday, between 4 PM and 10 PM. The area stretches from Tom Mboya Street to Kirinyaga Road. Hawking will not be permitted on main streets and roads such as Moi Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenneth Matiba Road, Latema Road, Ronald Ngala Street, Mfangano Street, Hakati Road, and River Road, County Secretary Godfrey Akumali stated in the notice. Additionally, the county government plans to designate walkways within the CBD exclusively for pedestrian use, reducing congestion and improving public space. Akumali warned that hawkers found on prohibited streets will face prosecution. Anyone found violating this notice will be prosecuted under Nairobi City County Government law, the notice, signed by Governor Johnson Sakaja, read. This directive follows a motion passed by the County Assembly in November 2024, introduced by Umoja 1 Member of County Assembly Mark Mugambi. The motion calls for the creation of pop-up market spaces in the backstreets and the registration of traders to help ease CBD congestion. It remains to be seen how the county will enforce the directive as previous attempts to kick hawkers out of the CBD have proved futile. On Wednesday, January 8, Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) Chairman James Odhiambo led a series of raids in downtown Nairobi, where authorities uncovered multiple sellers distributing pirated textbooks. The operation, aimed at curbing the circulation of counterfeit educational materials, is part of a broader effort to protect legitimate publishers and consumers. We hope that by the end of this ongoing exercise, we will have significantly reduced, if not eliminated, the circulation of pirated books in Kenya, Odhiambo stated during the raid. He emphasized that pirated textbooks pose a significant threat to genuine publishers, as they are often sold at the same price as authentic copies, misguiding consumers into purchasing counterfeit versions. In response to the growing issue, East African Educational Publishers (EAEP) CEO Kiarie Kamau condemned those involved in the distribution of counterfeit educational materials. He stressed the negative impact on students and teachers, as fake textbooks often contain multiple errors and inaccuracies. We have launched a strong sensitization campaign through the Kenya Publishers Association to educate teachers, parents, and students on how to identify pirated textbooks. These fake books often contain numerous errors, misplaced pages, and other inaccuracies, Kamau explained. To help combat the sale of pirated textbooks, the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has issued guidelines for identifying authentic educational materials. Genuine textbooks approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) feature security tags on their covers, which include hidden 16-digit PINs. To verify authenticity, consumers can scratch off the panel on the back of the textbook to reveal the unique PIN. Afterward, they can send the number via SMS to the toll-free number 22776 to receive an instant confirmation of the textbooks authenticity. How to Identify Authentic Textbooks Here are several ways to identify whether a textbook is authentic: The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has categorically denied allegations that it ranked Nyambaria High School or any other institution as the top performer in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results. This clarification comes after a viral social media post claimed that Nyambaria High School had secured the top position with a mean grade of 10.87, followed by Cardinal Otunga (10.76), Kokuro Boys (10.68), and Alliance High School (10.52). Side note: In November last year, the Principal of Nyambaria High School, and the Sub-county director of education of the area, were suspended by the TSC for allegedly facilitating KCSE exam malpractice. The same post further ranked St. Brigids Girls Kiminini, Strathmore School, and Pangani Girls High School among the top-performing schools. KNEC flagged the list as fake and misleading, advising the public to disregard it. In an official statement released on Thursday afternoon, KNEC reaffirmed its policy, which abolished the ranking of schools and students in 2020. This decision was implemented to discourage unscrupulous competition and unethical practices during exams. KNECs decision to abolish rankings was first applied during the release of the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and KCSE results. The policy was accompanied by changes in the selection process for secondary school placements, prioritizing students from public institutions for admission into national and extra county schools. The council has reiterated its focus on fairness and transparency, urging stakeholders to steer clear of ranking-based comparisons. The clarification by KNEC followed the formal release of the 2024 KCSE results by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos earlier on January 9 at Mitihani House, Nairobi. Speaking at the event, Migos highlighted that 962,512 candidates sat the 2024 exams, an increase from 899,453 in 2023. Migos also encouraged parents and students to access the results directly through the KNEC online portal for accurate information. So, is Nyambaria High School the top institution in the country? Possibly, but KNEC aint telling. Morara Kebaso, an activist and emerging politician, has condemned ongoing investigations into his alleged tax evasion, claiming they are part of a political witch-hunt. In a statement on Thursday, January 9, Kebaso voiced frustration over the public nature of the investigation, emphasizing his willingness to meet his tax obligations. He stated, Tax matters are private and confidential. I dont know why mine is being investigated in the media. I have always been ready and willing to lawfully pay all taxes. Kebaso accused state agencies of being used to suppress dissenting voices. State agencies should not be weaponized to silence voices of truth and accountability. This is a clear attempt to push me to my knees so that I agree to collaborate with corrupt leaders in the mismanagement of our country, he added. Despite the investigation, the businessman and politician vowed to remain resolute. Kenyans are very wise; they can distinguish between a genuine tax investigation and a political witch hunt. I will continue to speak truth to power without fear, he concluded. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is looking into Kebaso for alleged tax evasion, tied to Ksh 186 million in income earned over the past three years. Kebasos businesses, which include Igrow Digital Enterprise, Morara Home Furniture, Luku Fashion, Morara Properties Limited (also known as Blacksmith Morara Limited), and Backtent Security Limited, are accused of declaring nil income or failing to file tax returns, despite evidence of significant financial activity. For the record i do not own Igrow Digital Enterprise. It is a youth group that we registered as schoolmates in 2014 when we were in the university. The intention of the youth group was to do the business of breeding dogs i.e german shepherd, Springer Spaniel, Japanese Spitz. We Morara Kebaso (@MoraraKebasoSnr) January 9, 2025 KRAs scrutiny of bank accounts linked to these businesses revealed significant deposits, primarily from M-Pesa paybill services, contradicting the reported lack of income. Over three years, these deposits totaled Ksh 186.3 million, with nearly 80% of that amount coming from Morara Home Furniture. The taxman has argued that Kebasos businesses should have been registered for Value Added Tax (VAT), as their turnover surpassed the Ksh 5 million annual registration threshold. KRA estimates that Kebaso owes Ksh 25.7 million in VAT and Ksh 1.4 million in income tax, totaling Ksh 27 million in unpaid taxes. KRA also referred records from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which indicate that Kebaso owns six vehicles. These include a Renault Van, Land Cruiser Pickup, Land Cruiser Prado, Volkswagen Passat, Captain Tuk Tuk, and TVS Motorcycle. KRA stated that these assets contradict Kebasos claims of nil income, noting that the vehicles were acquired despite his declaration of no income or failure to file returns. The Authority has summoned Kebaso to its Nairobi offices on Monday, January 13. You are hereby requested to avail examination copies of the entities records, books of accounts, and any other documents including copy of the general ledger, asset register, invoices, purchases and sales ledgers, payroll records, directors accounts, debtors, and creditors ledger, bank statements for both companies and the directors, KRA said in a notice to Kebaso. The activist has expressed his willingness to honor the summons with a view to resolving the alleged tax dispute. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has scheduled a special sitting on Thursday, January 16, 2025, to present and debate the vetting report for President William Rutos three Cabinet nominees. The nominees include Mutahi Kagwe for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Lee Kinyanjui for Investments, Trade, and Industry, and William Kabogo for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy. Before the debate, the three nominees will appear before the Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Wetangula, on January 14, 2025. Kagwe, a former Health Cabinet Secretary under President Uhuru Kenyatta, will open the vetting session at noon, followed by Kabogo. The committee will conclude the process with Kinyanjui. In an official statement, Wetangula announced, Thursday, January 16, 2025, has been designated as a day for special sittings of the National Assembly. He confirmed that the sessions would begin at 10 a.m. for the morning sitting and at 2:30 p.m. for the afternoon session in the National Assembly Chamber. The special sitting will also cover debates on vetting reports for other nominees to key state offices, including high commissioners, ambassadors, and diplomatic representatives. Currently, the House is on a long recess after adjourning last month and is set to resume regular sessions in February. However, MPs have been recalled at the request of Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah for this critical exercise. This announcement follows the January 3 deadline for the public to submit memoranda contesting the suitability of any nominees. Wetangula confirmed that the special sitting will prioritize tabling and debating the Committee on Appointments report on the three nominees. Additionally, the same vetting process will apply to reports from the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, as well as the Departmental Committee on Labour. The vetting process officially begins on January 9, with eight nominees to the Public Service Commission (PSC) appearing before the Departmental Committee on Labour. Chaired by Runyenjes MP Erick Muchangi, the committee will conduct an intensive vetting exercise starting at 8:30 a.m. and extending late into the day. Wetangula directed all committees involved to conclude their vetting processes and submit reports by the close of business on January 15, 2025, ensuring readiness for the special sitting. President William Ruto has announced that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will set up permanent camps in Kerio Valley to address the regions growing insecurity. The president made the announcement while commissioning Liter Girls High School in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of military and police presence in combating the regions persistent banditry attacks. Ruto revealed that police officers would also establish training stations to enhance security in the bandit-prone areas. He explained that the military camps would play a pivotal role in curbing the banditry that led to the closure of schools across Northern Kenya last year due to escalating violence. This time, the military will have a permanent station here. The police will also set up permanent training stations to help eliminate insecurity in Kerio Valley, as we have done in other areas, Ruto stated. He reiterated his commitment to restoring peace in Kerio Valley, ensuring that students can return to their studies without further disruption. We will ensure that Kerio Valley becomes a new hub for transformation in Kenya. As a government, we are committed to enhancing security, the president affirmed. Ruto recently set a three-month deadline for reopening all schools that were shut down last year due to rising insecurity in Northern Kenya. While attending an interdenominational service in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet County, he assured the public that the National Treasury would allocate funds to support the regions rehabilitation and restoration efforts. In the next three months, all our schools must be operational, and all students must return to school, he said. When disaster struck, even teachers were transferred, but we have agreed with TSC to prioritize affirmative action in Kerio Valley. Ruto directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Special Programs Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul to oversee the operation and ensure its successful implementation. We had constructed the schools, but the locals had migrated to other regions but before the end of month those who had migrated we will support them to inhabit the region again. So that our children who are squeezed in other schools can be transferred, he said. Everline Nabalyo Loice, a Ugandan nanny, has been arraigned in connection with a violent robbery that took place in Nairobis Eastleigh estate. Nabalyo, also known as Eva, faces two robbery charges, including theft of gold, in the November 2024 incident. The robbery involved 20-year-old fellow house help, Hakimo Muhidin Ali, who was violently assaulted and robbed by Nabalyo and an accomplice who remains at large. At the Makadara Law Courts, the prosecution detailed how Nabalyo stole an Infinix phone valued at Ksh. 30,000 from Ali, using a hammer to assault her victim during the attack. Nabalyo was arrested in Kariokor, Nairobi while attempting to board a bus to Kampala. She also faces charges for stealing a Lenovo XY laptop worth Ksh. 110,000 and 22 grams of gold valued at Ksh. 210,000. These items belonged to Abdirazak Jamaa Ali, who was away with his children, while his wife sought medical treatment in India at the time of the crime. During the court session, the prosecution requested that Nabalyo be denied bond, highlighting concerns that she is not a Kenyan national and is therefore a flight risk. The court agreed with the prosecutions arguments, especially as Nabalyo had been on the run since November 1, 2024, the date of the crime. The case will proceed to trial in March 2025. CCTV footage of the robbery showed Nabalyo assisting her accomplice in gaining access to the sixth-floor apartment in Ushirika Tower. Ali suffered serious injuries, including a broken tooth, head and leg injuries, and whip-like marks on her back. Meanwhile, the manhunt for Nabalyos accomplice, also believed to be Ugandan, is still ongoing. The Emory community gathered in the universitys Cannon Chapel on Thursday to watch live coverage of the national funeral service for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter broadcast from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The 39th U.S. president and former Georgia governor served as an Emory University Distinguished Professor for more than four decades. During that time, he fielded questions from first-year students for 38 consecutive years at the annual Carter Town Hall and built a robust partnership between the university and The Carter Center, along with his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, who preceded him in death in 2023. He passed away Dec. 29 at age 100. As attendees filed in, the Rev. Gregory McGonigle, dean of religious life and university chaplain, noted the significance of the chapel itself, which Carter helped break ground for in 1979 while serving as president. I feel like his spirit is very much infused in the building, McGonigle said. The mission of the chapel was not only that it should serve as a place for prayer and spirituality, but also for social justice and the arts. And that resonates with President Carter's many commitments around human rights. Its also really interesting that his funeral is happening in the same month as Martin Luther King Day, he added. And just thinking about what it means to live a life of moral leadership that makes real change in society. When attendees at the Washington funeral service rose to honor Carter as his casket was carried into the National Cathedral at the start of the service, attendees in Cannon Chapel rose, too honoring the life of a beloved professor whose presence on campus will be deeply missed. Eagles at the National Cathedral In Washington, one of the newest Emory Eagles, incoming first-year student Lindsay Taylor, was the featured soloist as the choir sang The Road Home before pallbearers brought the casket up the aisle and placed it on the catafalque. Taylor was admitted to Emory in December through Early Decision I and will join the Emory College Class of 2029 on campus in the fall. Currently a senior at the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., she is a member of the Cathedral Choir. As an incoming Emory student, it was an incredible honor to sing at President Carters funeral, she reflected afterwards. The level of hard work and attention that went into this service demonstrated how deeply everyone cared for, and was inspired by, Jimmy Carter. I admire the way his unshakable beliefs brought so many people together. Emory alum Haley Barnett was among those pealing the National Cathedral bells at the conclusion of the service, as the hearse bearing Carters remains departed for Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, for his final flight home to Georgia. Barnett graduated from Emory in 2001 with a bachelors degree in political science. She is now a member of the Washington Ringing Society, the group responsible for what are known as the change ringing bells at the National Cathedral. I have always remembered seeing President Carter at his town hall when I was a student at Emory, Barnett said. Today, it's a great honor, and a privilege, to be part of the group of 10 bell ringers ringing the Cathedral bells after the service." Leading by example At Cannon Chapel, the room was full of people Carter inspired and some who even shared personal connections with him and his family. Celline Kim, an Emory PhD student in political science and 2023 graduate of Emory College, was influenced by Carters diplomatic work before she set foot on campus and before she served as an intern for The Carter Center. His connection to Emory influenced her decision to apply to the university, and as a first-year student, she attended his final in-person Carter Town Hall address in 2019. She smiled as she spoke of the talks final moments, when Carter was asked, as a peanut farmer, what are your thoughts on almond butter? (I never have tasted it and I dont intend to, Carter deadpanned). I remember I was there looking at him in person and crying for some reason because I couldn't believe I was actually looking at him, Kim said. Nael McCarty, professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Emory University School of Medicine, said he came to honor Carters embodiment of someone who led by example. I mean, when he was in his 90s, he was still out there building houses for Habitat for Humanity, he said. When you think of the notion of servant leadership, this guy just epitomized it. McCarty also recalled spotting people like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama on campus during the years that Carter taught at Emory. Tutu was a visiting professor in theology in 1999 and 2000; the Dalai Lama first visited Emory in 1987 and was appointed Presidential Distinguished Professor in 2007. That kind of stuff was happening because Carter was so engaged here, McCarty said. He just elevated us. Carters many important contributions to higher education include helping establish the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange that began in 1978 with a focus on assisting developing countries around the world. The program was named in honor of former senator and Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who served with President Lyndon B. Johnson. Current Humphrey Fellow Sanja Sazdovska was present to watch the service. She is a state adviser for the North Macedonian governments Ministry of Health, and her fellowship is with the Hubert Department of Global Health at Rollins School of Public Health. She appreciates how Carter supported international students, as well as his impact around the world. He invested in global health and in many, many undeveloped countries, so his humanity inspires all of us as public health experts, Sazdovska said. Family connections For Mina Rhee, Emory associate general counsel and senior government and internal investigations specialist, viewing the service at Cannon Chapel was a way to honor not only Carter, but also her father, who died in 2016. My father was a Presbyterian minister who had met President Carter and also was an admirer of his devotion to peace and justice, she said. I really wanted to be [at Cannon Chapel] because my dad preached here, and he loved President Carter. I just felt like it was a nice combination to be here for the both of them. She also wanted to be with the Emory community in a place that was very special to President Carter and a place that really appreciated all the work that hes done throughout his life. Sheri Mann Stewart chose to wear a necklace to the gathering with a round silver pendant that read 1977, the year Carter took office as president. She said she had no doubt about where she wanted to honor President Carters life and legacy. When I heard Emory was doing this event, she said, I knew I wanted to be here today. Her mother, Connie Stewart, served on Carters team throughout his political career, volunteered with The Carter Center and also worked at Emory during President James Laneys administration. Sheri Mann Stewart is also a former instructor at Emory, and her younger son, Royce Mann, is currently a senior in Emory College and a WoodruffMartin Luther King Jr. Scholar. As a child and adolescent, Sheri Mann Stewart said, simply being around the diverse groups of people she observed in Carters orbit taught her about racial equality and equality for women. She also recalled square dancing and cookouts with the Carter family and spending time in both the governors mansion and the Carter family home in Plains. And Jimmy would carry my sons in his arms as he would give the tour of his home, she said. There were just so many wonderful memories through the years, she added, and I thought this is the best place to represent those. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday called India''s allegation of the "mistreatment of Indian fishermen" as "baseless and fabricated". The Bangladeshi MOFA said that the allegations undermine the spirit of trust between the two countries. "Bangladesh expresses its utter dismay and deep disappointment over the unfounded remarks and fabricated allegations of ill-treatment including physical abuses of the detained Indian fishermen by the Bangladesh authorities. Bangladesh firmly rejects such unfounded allegations which undermines the spirit of trust, goodwill and mutual respect between Bangladesh and India. Concerned authorities of Bangladesh have confirmed that, under no circumstances, were the detained fishermen physically abused. The matter was thoroughly investigated and it was found that no such ill-treatment or incident of physical abuse happened," the statement said. The MOFA further claimed that they treated the Indian detainees appropriately. "Bangladesh wishes to mention that the detained 95 Indian fishermen/crew members were treated appropriately during their stay in Bangladesh. As per international norms, consular accesses were duly granted to the representatives of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, who visited the fishermen during their detention. The representatives of the Indian diplomatic missions were also present during the release of Indian fishermen from the jails on 02 January 2025 and during the fishermen''s departure from Mongla on 04 January 2025. The relevant hospitals completed the health screenings of all Indian fishermen, confirming that they were medically fit. During their journey towards the maritime border, Bangladesh Coast Guard authorities extended all necessary support and provisions," the statement added. The MOFA said that they expected the repatriation from India to be amicably solved. "The reciprocal repatriation process of the fishermen manifests the commitment of the Government of Bangladesh in resolving humanitarian issues amicably and collaboratively with the Government of India. Bangladesh calls upon all parties to avoid making such unfounded allegations that undermine the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between the two countries," it said. "The reciprocal repatriation of 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew detained in India and 95 Indian fishermen/crew detained in Bangladesh was successfully completed in the afternoon of 05 January 2025 near the International Maritime Boundary Line. In the presence of the representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Fisheries, and Border Guard Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Coast Guard received 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members and handed over 95 Indian fishermen/crew members to the Indian Coast Guard. Simultaneously, the exchange of detained vessels was also completed, two Bangladeshi fishing vessels, "FV Laila-2" and "FV Meghna-5", were returned to Bangladesh, while six Indian fishing boats were returned to India," the statement added. In a mutual exchange of fishermen coordinated between the Indian Coast Guard and the Bangladesh Coast Guard, ICG Ship Varad and Amrit Kaur successfully repatriated 95 fishermen along with four Indian fishing boats while handing over 90 Bangladeshi Fishermen including 12 rescued from a sunken fishing boat "Kaushik" on Sunday, as per an official statement. (ANI) Oman''s Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammad Al Yousef, on Thursday lauded India''s economic growth and congratulated its leadership for the country''s remarkable transformation over the past two decades. During a media interaction in Oman''s capital of Muscat, Oman''s commerce minister said, "Actually, we congratulate India on what it has achieved--honestly, the growth, impressive growth, impressive transformation over the last 20 years. So we congratulate your leadership, and the people of India; you have worked hard to achieve economic growth. the middle sector has grown; the growth in your digital transformation, even in many aspects, in science and technology. So we congratulate you for what you have achieved and wish the people and government of India all the best." On the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and Oman, the minister said, "The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is still under negotiation. We have had several rounds and we are having one round coming up. And then we will see how it progresses. So things are still progressing." "In terms of the G20, we were invited and we are very appreciative to the government of India for inviting the Sultan of Oman to be a guest country attending the G20. Honestly, the Sultan of Oman, and the Ministry of Commerce, made sure that we and the other government agencies attended all the meetings and participated actively. And what you have been able to achieve in that G20 has been significant. And we think that especially when it comes to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, it was negotiated and discussed several times during at least my visits during the G20," he added. On the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, he said, "Any sort of project that can ease business and trade is always welcome. And we have to see how it progresses. But at the moment, you know, shipping and logistics are essential elements of connecting and connectivity and also have an impact on the cost of doing business. So that''s always welcome." In terms of how the joint statement between India and Oman was progressing, the minister said, "We are having a joint commission meeting this month, in January, if things go as planned. This will be one of the items on the agenda to discuss the progress on various aspects. But I can let you know that there is a lot of interest from Indian investors in Oman. And we''ve had several, I would say, larger investors having interest in Oman. And they''re already planning for the future. They''re already seeing the opportunity, if this CEPA takes place, they''re not waiting for it to happen. They''re very shrewd. And they''re already planning...And that''s why India is one of the top three, four countries that are interested in investing in Oman." (ANI) PNN New Delhi [India], January 10: Ecode Dash is proud to announce a monumental achievement as its founder and CEO, Jyoti Mishra, has been honored with the prestigious title of "International Software Development CEO of the Year 2024, India" by CEO Monthly, a globally recognized publication by AI Global Media. This award is a recognition of Jyoti Mishra's exceptional leadership and her tireless efforts in steering Ecode Dash to a prominent position among leading companies in its sector. Her strategic vision and zeal for innovation have pushed the company to phenomenal growth, making it a trusted partner for businesses across various regions. But that's not all. Ecode Dash has also been named among the India 500 Most Promising IT Companies of 2024, solidifying its position as a top contender in the global IT industry. Ecode Dash Further Expands Its Global Reach to the USA The company has firmly established its presence in India, the Middle East, and Europe, and this year marks its expansion into the USA. From Web and Mobile App Development to Cloud Computing, Staff Augmentation, Product Development, Machine Learning and SAP Programming, Ecode Dash's expertise continues to empower businesses to adapt, innovate, and excel. MERN, Java, Python, Node.js, Salesforce, SAP, and MySQL are some of the core technologies utilized by the company, supported by skilled database developers. The team comprises dedicated professionals focused on providing superior IT solutions. For remote developer hiring, Ecode Dash boasts a network of over 50,000 skilled professionals and a swift five-day hiring process. They deliver efficient services across 5+ time zones and offer a free 24-hour trial. "Looking back on 2024, it has been a year of significant growth and achievement for Ecode' Dash," said Jyoti Mishra. We've been expanding into new markets, building strong partnerships, and advancing our services to meet the growing needs of our clients. The hard work and determination of our team have been the driving force behind our success. We're excited about what the future holds as we continue to push boundaries and deliver exceptional results." Furthermore, Ecode Dash proudly participated in the world-renowned GITEX Global 2024, held from October 14 to 18 in Dubai. This marked the company's first appearance at the iconic tech exhibition, recognized as a hub of innovation and collaboration. Dubai's thriving tech ecosystem served as the perfect environment to foster the company's latest phase of innovation and partnerships. Established in 2021 and based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Ecode Dash is one of the fastest-growing IT companies in India. By combining technical expertise and innovative thinking, they provide businesses with solutions that enable them to achieve operational efficiency and sustainable growth. Unlike others, the company prioritizes commitments over targets. They offer 24/7 customer support and three months of free maintenance service, assuring the highest quality and reliability of IT solutions. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 10: Crisil Limited, a provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions, today unveils its new brand logo. New logo reflects ability to power mission-critical decisions with confidence. The new brand identity, 'Crisil' (earlier written as CRISIL), reinforces the company's position as a global, insights-driven analytics firm, building on a distinguished legacy of close to four decades. Large and highly respected firms partner with us for the most reliable opinions on risk in India, and for uncovering powerful insights and turning risks into opportunities globally. We are integral to multiplying their opportunities and success. Says Amish Mehta, Managing Director & CEO, Crisil, "Our reimagined brand expresses a more progressive vision of our future. It celebrates a pioneering and illustrious past and showcases our commitment to deliver actionable insights to clients. Our people's analytical rigour and domain expertise will continue to set standards and empower clients to make mission-critical decisions with confidence . The new brand identity guides us in shaping how we present ourselves to the world, influencing every interaction internally and externally to help us deliver exceptional client value." The strategic brand transformation positions Crisil's businesses -- Crisil Ratings, Crisil Intelligence (formerly MI&A), Crisil Coalition Greenwich, and Crisil Integral IQ (formerly GR&RS) -- under a cohesive identity that offers a consistent and more connected experience for clients around the world. Crisil Ratings: Offers independent credit ratings in India that empower informed decisions and objective benchmarking by lenders, investors and issuers. Crisil Intelligence: Offers insights, consulting, technology-driven risk solutions and advanced data analytics, serving clients across government, private and public enterprises, empowering them to make informed decisions. Crisil Coalition Greenwich: Offers strategic benchmarking, analytics and insights to the financial services industry and specialises in providing unique, high-value and actionable information to help clients measure and drive their business performance. Crisil Integral IQ: Offers solutions and actionable intelligence to financial institutions around the globe to deliver strategic transformation, optimise risk and drive operational excellence. The main logo in bold black is simple yet strong, symbolising excellence and the certainty that we deliver. Complementing this, our business logos now feature a distinct teal colour that conveys the confidence and trust rooted in rigour and domain expertise. About Crisil Limited Crisil is a global, insights-driven analytics company. Our extraordinary domain expertise and analytical rigour help clients make mission-critical decisions with confidence. Large and highly respected firms partner with us for the most reliable opinions on risk in India, and for uncovering powerful insights and turning risks into opportunities globally. We are integral to multiplying their opportunities and success. Headquartered in India, Crisil is majority owned by S&P Global. Founded in 1987 as India's first credit rating agency, our expertise today extends across businesses: Crisil Ratings, Crisil Intelligence, Crisil Coalition Greenwich and Crisil Integral IQ. Our globally diverse workforce operates in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Australia and the Middle East, setting the standards by which industries are measured. For more information, visit www.Crisil.com Connect with us: LINKEDIN | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK Crisil Privacy Disclaimer This press release is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/ magazine/ agency. The press release may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to Crisil. However, Crisil alone has the sole right of distribution of its press releases for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals, etc. Crisil has taken due care and caution in preparing this press release. Information has been obtained by Crisil from sources which it considers reliable. However, Crisil does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of information on which this press release is based and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this press release. Crisil especially states that it has no financial liability whatsoever to the subscribers/ users/ transmitters/ distributors of this press release. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594759/Crisil_Limited_New_Logo.jpg Photo 1: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594763/Crisil_Ratings_Logo.jpg Photo 2: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594762/Crisil_Intelligence_Logo.jpg Photo 3: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594760/Crisil_Coalition_Greenwich_Logo.jpg Photo 4: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594761/Crisil_Integral_IQ_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 10: Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has significantly enhanced the mental well-being of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), contributing to a remarkable 40% reduction in suicide rates since 2020. This achievement highlights the success of Project Mann by Mpower, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that addresses the unique mental health challenges faced by CISF personnel, including prolonged working hours, loneliness, interpersonal issues, financial stress, and high-pressure living conditions. Through this partnership over the years, Mpower has developed a comprehensive mental health support system tailored for CISF personnel across India. The comprehensive and holistic program includes a 24/7 counselling helpline that has managed over 24,200 calls since 2020, providing immediate, confidential assistance and sustained well-being checks across 70 airports and 51 non-airport units. In addition to the Tele counselling, the team of psychologists have provided one-to-one therapy sessions. The change to seek help started when we conducted awareness across India for CIS personnel. Our efforts have impacted over 2 Lakh personnel. These sustained efforts have yielded remarkable results, including a significant reduction in suicides among Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. In 2024, CISF reported a 40% decline in suicides--the lowest since the partnership began. This highlights the tangible impact of Mpower's mental health interventions in fostering emotional resilience and cultivating a supportive mental health culture within the organization. A senior CISF official expressed his views, stating, "Mpower's consistent support and tailored interventions have normalized help-seeking behavior within the CISF, reducing stigma around mental health and creating a healthier, more resilient environment for our personnel. This cultural shift is critical for those entrusted with safeguarding the nation's critical infrastructure." Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Mpower, ABET emphasized the broader implications of this collaboration, saying "Our partnership with CISF demonstrates how public-private partnerships can institutionalize mental health support not only in the workplace but also in high-stress professions like paramilitary services. By integrating mental health as a core component of resilience-building, we can equip personnel to thrive under pressure while fostering emotional strength. The 40% reduction in suicide rates within the CISF highlights the tangible impact of our initiatives by the Mpower team. Working in a collaborative manner has resulted in a customized step-by-step approach to address the mental health of a large community service workforce and creating stigma-free space for mental health conversations for an audience who were hesitant to seek help." Looking ahead, Mpower aims to expand its support with family engagement workshops, movement therapy programs, and specialized stress management training for CISF personnel. Mpower is also driving multiple initiatives across India for a large-scale community service workforce to drive acceptance of recognising and seeking help for mental health. This effort reinforces a growing openness in India toward seeking mental health support, mirroring trends in Western nations. Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, is a pioneering social enterprise transforming India's approach to mental health. Founded eight years ago, Mpower operates through five verticals--Movement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1--delivering comprehensive services to over 121 million individuals across seven cities. Mpower's integrated approach, backed by a team of 200+ professionals, continues to shape a stigma-free mental health ecosystem. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy addressed the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Council meeting held in Hyderabad on Friday, outlining the state's ambitious plans for infrastructure, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Participating in the inauguration of the CII National Council Meeting, CM Reddy emphasised the city's growing significance as a hub for business and innovation. During the interaction with industry leaders, CM stated that the state has completed 10 years of achieving statehood and the government has a dream regarding the development of Telangana and it is "Telangana Rising". He further stated that the government wants to build a great city in India, dedicated to the service sector.""Our aim is to promote the Future City (Hyderabad) as a pollution-free net-zero city," he stated. He added that the state government is prioritising the electrification of public transportation, with plans to introduce a fleet of 3,200 electric buses to the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). The state has exempted registration and road tax for electric Vehicles (EVs) to incentivise electric vehicle adoption, CM asserted. Telangana has already seen the fastest sales of electric vehicles in India, underscoring the state's commitment to a green future, he added. CM further pointed out that another significant development in the pipeline is the Musi Rejuvenation Project. The initiative aims to restore and revitalise the Musi River, ensuring a freshwater flow along a 55 km stretch in Hyderabad, he added. The project is part of a larger strategy to secure Hyderabad's drinking water needs well into 2050, he stated. In terms of infrastructure, Chief Minister Reddy stated that the construction of a Regional Ring Road (RRR) will stretch over 360 kilometer along with a regional ring railway. This network will facilitate better connectivity and help develop the area between the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and RRR into a major manufacturing hub. The region will house industries in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, life sciences, aerospace, defence, electric vehicles, and solar energy. He stated that the government is also focused on rural development, particularly in agriculture. We are concentrating on organic farming, cold storage facilities, and warehouses in rural Telangana, outside the ORR, Reddy added. Addressing the issue of logistics, the CM highlighted the government's plan to develop a Dry Port, which will be linked to Bandar Port in Andhra Pradesh through dedicated road and rail connections. This move aims to boost trade and logistics in the region, compensating for Telangana's lack of a coastline. Further emphasising the state's commitment to economic growth, Reddy stated that Telangana's government is working to create an ecosystem that ensures the highest ease of doing business, not only in India but across the globe. "We are inviting investors from around the world to come and invest in Telangana. Together, let us create wonders," he urged.(ANI) New Delhi [India], January 10: RINL Metals, established in 2012, is a renowned name in the steel industry. Under the leadership of its directors, who has over 40 years of rich business experience, the company offers a diverse range of steel products, including TMT bars, structural steel, pipes, and sheets, catering to various industrial and construction needs. The Board of Directors have a proven track record of successfully managing ventures with turnovers exceeding Rs300 crore, further solidifying the company's credibility. RINL is now planning to expand its operations into the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries, specifically targeting Nepal and Sri Lanka. This move aims to capitalize on the growing infrastructure demands in these regions. The company's current franchise network spans across key states in India, including Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Assam, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir. Additionally, RINL is poised to start operations in Durgapur (West Bengal), Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), Jalna (Maharashtra), Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), Bellary (Karnataka), Goa, and Tamil Nadu. To support its expansion into the SAARC region, RINL is focused on maintaining superior quality across its product line and ensuring its franchisees meet the highest manufacturing standards. The company is also establishing robust distribution networks and building strong partnerships with local businesses to address region-specific requirements. With its proven track record, innovative strategies, and commitment to excellence, RINL is well-positioned to become a leading steel supplier in the SAARC region, further reinforcing its legacy of growth and industry leadership. https://www.instagram.com/rinl_steel/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Total equity investment in Indian real estate recorded an all-time high of USD 11.4 bn in 2024, up 54 per cent (YoY) according to a report 'Market Monitor Q4 2024 - Investments' by real estate consultancy firm CBRE. Singapore, the US, and Canada dominated foreign equity investments in the Indian real estate market in CY 2024. These three countries cumulatively contributed over 25 per cent of the total equity investments in the country's real estate in 2024. Singapore accounted for a 36 per cent share of the total foreign equity investments in CY 2024, followed by the United States with a 29 per cent share and Canada with 22 per cent. Investments from the UAE also witnessed a significant uptick in CY 2024 compared to the last year. However, domestic investments remained the primary driver, with a 70 per cent share in total equity investments in CY 2024.In 2024, the market is driven by a resurgence in capital deployment across built-up assets and sustained momentum in the acquisition of land/development sites. Developers led the way in capital inflows, capturing 44 per cent of the total equity investments in 2024, followed by institutional players at 36 per cent, corporations at 11 per cent, REITs at 4 per cent, and other categories comprising 5 per cent.The report says Investment activity is expected to maintain its positive trajectory in 2025. Renewed investments in built-up office assets and a strong acquisition pipeline for residential development sites will increase. Increased investments in the quick commerce/e-commerce space are likely to spur the development of quality warehousing infrastructure. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, said, "We expect to see sustained momentum in investment activity, particularly in built-up office assets and residential development sites. The increasing focus on e-commerce and quick commerce is set to drive robust growth in the logistics and warehousing sector, creating new opportunities for both developers and investors."India's metros and tier-I cities are expected to continue being the primary recipients of equity inflows. In addition, tier-II locations are becoming attractive due to a spurt in real estate development, backed by healthy demand, particularly in the residential, mixed-use, I&L, retail, and hotel sectors.Gaurav Kumar, Managing Director, Capital Markets and Land, CBRE India, said, "We will continue to witness significant growth momentum in investment activity from both institutional investors and domestic developers. This is being driven by a surge in real estate development activity, backed by healthy demand for office, residential, mixed-use, and industrial & logistics spaces. Further, segments such as retail and hospitality are expected to experience renewed interest as the market continues to diversify and adapt to evolving consumer and business needs."(ANI) PNN Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 10: At CES 2025, Dassault Systemes is spotlighting its pivotal role in fostering startup innovation through its 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, an open innovation accelerator program. This year, two trailblazing startups--Pacify Medical and Mustard Glasses--are showcasing transformative solutions powered by Dassault Systemes' advanced 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. This platform enables the creation of virtual experience twins of the real world, driving sustainable solutions that harmonize product, nature, and life. CES, the world's foremost tech event, runs from January 7-10, 2025, in Las Vegas. It serves as a proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators, with startups from across the globe unveiling the future of innovation. Pacify Medical: Transforming Burn and Wound Care Pacify Medical, supported by the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, has developed a hydrogel-based dressing that aims to revolutionize burn and wound care. This innovative solution combines affordability, ease of use, and cutting-edge efficiency, offering significant advancements for healthcare providers and patients. At CES 2025, Pacify Medical is featured in Eureka Park, a dedicated space for the most promising startups globally. This platform provides an opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking technology to investors, partners, and the broader healthcare community, marking a major step forward in medical innovation. Mustard Glasses: Redefining Wearable Technology Mustard Glasses, also a beneficiary of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, is introducing a next-generation wearable platform at CES 2025. This connected device integrates real-time health monitoring with advanced healthcare functionalities packaged in a sleek, innovative design. Mustard Glasses is breaking new ground as the first Indian startup to be featured at CES Unveiled, a series of exclusive events by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) leading up to the main CES exhibition. Their participation underscores the startup's leadership in wearable technology and its potential to redefine the future of health-tech devices. Driving Global Innovation The achievements of Pacify Medical and Mustard Glasses highlight Dassault Systemes' commitment to empowering startups through its 3DEXPERIENCE Lab. This accelerator program provides entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and cutting-edge tools to bring their visions to life, fostering innovation that addresses critical challenges across industries. Frederic Vacher, Head of Innovation, Dassault Systemes said "We accelerate disruptive innovations that hold the promise to positively impact people and society. Our science-based virtual twin experiences leverage artificial intelligence and harness collective human intelligence, helping innovators everywhere take concrete actions to help change the world and inspire the metamorphosis of industry." Commenting on the milestone, Suhaspritipal Gongate, who leads the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab in Dassault Systemes India, said "Our mission is to enable startups to transform their innovative ideas into impactful solutions by leveraging the power of the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. Pacify Medical and Mustard Glasses exemplify the spirit of innovation, using technology to drive meaningful change in healthcare and wearable devices. Their participation at CES 2025 is a testament to what's possible when creativity meets advanced technological resources." About Dassault Systemes and 3DEXPERIENCE Lab Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides collaborative 3D virtual environments for organizations and individuals to imagine and create sustainable solutions. Through its 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, Dassault Systemes supports startups, innovators, makers, and researchers with tools, mentorship, and resources designed to evaluate social impact, foster collaboration, and drive technological disruption. For more information, kindly visit the website http://www.3ds.com or learn more about the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab at https://3dexperiencelab.3ds.com/en/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) After fans speculated the return of Cillian Murphy in the sequel of the film '28 Days Later' following the release of its teaser, the film producer Andrew Macdonald clarified that the Oscar-winning actor will not be appearing in the movie. He will be serving as the executive producer of the film. The makers recently released the teaser of '28 Years Later' which is a sequel to '28 Days Later' which starred Cillian Murphy in the lead role. As per the report of Deadline, although the 'Peaky Blinder' actor is involved in the upcoming threequel as an executive producer, '28 Years Later' producer Andrew Macdonald recently explained that Murphy "wanted to be involved" but won't appear in the first film. "[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved. He is not in the first film, but I'm hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line. He's involved at the moment as an executive producer, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy." said producer Andrew while talking to Empire as quoted by Deadline. Following the teaser, the art dealer of the Danny Boyle-directed zombie franchise revealed that he was the performer in the shot which was speculated to be Cillian Murphy in makeup. The film is slated to release in the theatres on June 20, 2025. As per the Deadline, Boyle admitted he was warned the casting choice might inspire a case of mistaken identity. "I showed my girlfriend the trailer and she said, 'People will think that's Cillian. I said, 'Don't be silly.' I ignored her. So I've eaten a bit of humble pie since." said Boyle. After nearly three decades, the highly anticipated sequel to '28 Days Later', '28 Years Later' unveiled its first haunting trailer, igniting excitement among fans of the original post-apocalyptic zombie thriller. Written by Alex Garland, the film promises a return to the devastating world of the Rage Virus. The trailer sets a chilling tone, accompanied by a recording of Rudyard Kipling's war poem "Boots", as it transports viewers to a desolate, post-apocalyptic England. The trailer features actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson traversing the now green but ominous fields of the country, bow and arrow in hand, hinting at a society trying to rebuild amid the wreckage. (ANI) China to align development initiatives with Nigeria's Renewed Hope Agenda: FM Xinhua) 08:32, January 10, 2025 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar during their meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on Jan. 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Zhe) ABUJA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Nigeria to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and advance the 10 partnership action plans in Nigeria, paving the way for new progress in bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday. Nigeria, as a major African country with global influence and an important member of the Global South, plays an irreplaceable role in Africa's pursuit of peace and development, Wang said during his meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China has always viewed the development of its relations with Nigeria from a strategic and long-term perspective and is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Nigeria, provide mutual understanding and support on issues concerning their core interests, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results during their development and revitalization processes. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu successfully visited China last year, during which the two heads of state elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening new and broader prospects for bilateral cooperation, Wang noted. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, all-around cooperation between China and Nigeria has yielded remarkable results, bringing tangible benefits to their people, he added. China is ready to align Belt and Road cooperation and the 10 partnership action plans with the priority areas of Nigeria's Renewed Hope Agenda by leveraging traditional advantages in infrastructure cooperation, expanding trade and financial collaboration, and creating new highlights in investment cooperation to further deepen practical ties between the two countries, Wang said. He called on Nigeria to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and personnel operating in the country. China appreciates Nigeria's support for its three major global initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, Wang said, adding that China supports Nigeria in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, uniting regional countries, and maintaining regional stability. He reiterated China's steadfast support for Africa in voicing demands for climate justice at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, saying China is ready to strengthen coordination with Nigeria and other African countries on climate change issues to safeguard the development interests of the Global South. For his part, Tuggar said Nigeria and China have deep historical ties, rooted in mutual respect and trust, which have produced substantial achievements. Nigeria and China share no differences and strengthening their cooperation conforms to their mutual interests, he said. Nigeria admires China's remarkable achievements in economic development and technological innovation, praises its global influence, and is committed to fostering friendship and cooperation with China to create a brighter future for their people, Tuggar said. Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria's unwavering adherence to the one-China principle and pledged continued support for China's stance on the international stage, noting that it is the right thing to do. The FOCAC Beijing Summit was a success with significant outcomes, he said, adding that Nigeria is committed to implementing the summit's outcomes and advancing China-Nigerian relations to a higher level. Tuggar also expressed condolences over the earthquake in China's Xizang Autonomous Region, commending the Chinese government's swift and effective disaster relief efforts. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Governor commended the crucial role and contributions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in safeguarding Arunachal Pradesh's border and emphasised the importance of ITBP's collaboration in the development of border areas, particularly through the Vibrant Border Village programme. Amitabh Gupta also said that such an endeavour will be in the national interest and the mutual benefits for both the local communities and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). While sharing his experience in border management, the Governor advised on the involvement of local people. Amitabh Gupta also highlighted the importance of regular training, drills, and spontaneous patrolling. The Governor advised the NE Frontier head to actively promote recruiting local youth into the armed forces. He also urged the ITBP to offer timely humanitarian support during emergencies in the border regions. Gupta, who recently took charge as the head of the NE Frontier ITBP, assured the Governor that the concerns raised would be promptly addressed. (ANI) Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Vishnu Mittal on Thursday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital for its failure to improve conditions in the city's slums and claimed that the slum dwellers have decided to support the BJP, citing poor living conditions and a lack of basic amenities under the AAP. Vishnu Mittal, the BJP's convener for the 'Jhuggi Abhiyan' (Slum Campaign), announced that on January 11th, the 'pradhans' (leaders) of Delhi's slums will gather at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address them. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Mittal highlighted a series of issues faced by residents of slums, accusing the AAP-led Delhi government of neglecting their needs. "On 11th January, we called the 'pradhans' of the slums of Delhi at the JLN stadium. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present at the event and will personally interact with them," Mittal said. He added that the BJP expects at least 3,000 slum leaders to attend the event. Mittal went on to enumerate the hardships faced by Delhi's slum residents, citing issues such as lack of clean drinking water, exorbitant electricity bills, piles of uncollected garbage, and stray animals near mohalla clinics. "Everyone is forced to buy bottled water for drinking, and there is no relief from high electricity bills. There are mounds of garbage in the streets, and even at the mohalla clinics, you can see animals roaming around. People can't even get their ration cards made, and unemployment is at an all-time high," he claimed. According to Mittal, these problems have led the people of Delhi's slums to shift their allegiance towards the BJP. "On one hand, you have the BJP, which is building new flats for the people of Delhi. On the other, you have Arvind Kejriwal, who is busy building a 'sheesh mahal' for himself, completely ignoring the plight of the people," Mittal stated. The BJP's outreach to slum leaders, with a focus on housing and basic services, is expected to intensify as Delhi heads into future elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to meet with leaders of slum clusters in Delhi on January 11 as part of an initiative to engage with slum voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. This will be Shah's first interaction with the heads of nearly 3,000 slum colonies across the city. The meeting will take place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday. In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a special initiative to connect with slum voters. As part of this, BJP leaders, including MPs and MLAs, have been staying overnight in slum areas to connect directly with the residents. The party's campaign, titled "Where There's a Slum, There's a House," is being promoted by the central government. Over the past few months, several leaders from the Delhi BJP have been visiting slum dwellers to understand their issues. Around two dozen BJP leaders have been spending one night each week in these slum areas, trying to connect with the people and learn about their concerns. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 1,675 flats in Ashok Vihar, Delhi, for slum dwellers. Delhi has around 675 slum clusters, with 18-20 per cent of them located in the eastern and northeastern parliamentary constituencies. These areas have consistently supported the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the last two Assembly elections. However, the BJP is making a concerted effort to win over these voters in the upcoming elections. As part of its slum development campaign, the BJP is focusing on providing better housing and infrastructure. The Delhi Assembly elections for 2025 are scheduled for February 5, with the counting of votes taking place on February 8. The Election Commission announced the dates on January 7. The current term of the 70-member Delhi Assembly will end on February 23. (ANI) Following the recent switch of several Shiv Sena (UBT) workers to Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde claimed that the state has already shown which Shiv Sena is the "real" one and accused Shiv Sena (UBT) of betraying the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. "During Vidhan Sabha elections, the state has shown which Shiv Sena is real. This is just a trailer, the full film is yet to come out. We will fight the upcoming Nagar Nigam elections in the state with full strength. UBT should think about why their party workers are quitting. We are going ahead with development issues and welcome all workers. Those who betrayed the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray have been shown their place by the people," said Shinde while addressing a press conference on Thursday. Earlier, Nandekumar Ghodile (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and his wife Anita Ghodile switched to Shiv Sena (UBT) to Shiv Sena on December 3 in the presence of Eknath Shinde. Nandekumar Ghodile, a former Mayor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar was one of the prominent members to make the switch. Notably, the Mahayuti alliance has turned its focus to the upcoming local body elections after securing a massive win in the recently concluded Assembly polls. Shiv Sena, a key alliance partner in Mahyuti, has said that the seat-sharing formula for the local body elections should mirror that of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. They emphasised that the seat allocation should be based on the merits of the candidates, with sitting seats remaining with the respective party. Preparations for the elections are already underway, with Shiv Sena focusing on securing seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, which they believe they can win. Ground-level party workers have been instructed to go door-to-door, engaging with people and informing them about various state and central government schemes. Reviews are also being conducted for potential candidates. Shiv Sena aims to secure at least 35-40 seats out of the total 162 seats in the PMC General Body. In the 2017 election, the United Shiv Sena won 10 seats in the PMC. (ANI) A meeting of the Environment Committee of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was held on Thursday at the Rishiparna Auditorium, Collectorate, in Dehradun, chaired by District Magistrate Savin Basnal. In the meeting, the District Magistrate gave directions to take necessary security measures within a radius of 10 km in relation to controlling the incidents of bird hits and activities of wildlife in the operational area of the airport. The District Magistrate directed SDM Doiwala, MDDA, and Airport officials to conduct a joint inspection and submit a report on the unauthorized construction being done without NOC near the airport. The District Magistrate directed the Sub-District Magistrate/Administrator of Municipal Council Doiwala to get the garbage point cleaned regularly. Due to birds hovering over the garbage point places, the chances of collision during aeroplane landing increase, on instructions were given to dispose of the garbage collected in the periphery of the airport and remove the garbage point. Earlier on January 8, District Magistrate Savin Bansal gave strict instructions to all the sub-district magistrates and tehsildars on revenue recovery in Dehradun district, in continuation of which the concerned officers are continuously working at a fast pace in the district, according to an official press release. Revenue is being collected by completing the process of attachment and auction of immovable property of big defaulters. Sub-District Magistrate Sadar Kumkum Joshi is continuously taking action for recovery against big defaulters in the city. On the instructions of the District Magistrate, an FIR was registered against Sanjeev Thapliyal, an alleged defaulter of 10 crores, for cheating the state government, revenue recovery, cheque bounce and obstruction in government work. The attached immovable property was publicly auctioned on the premises of Tehsil Sadar. In which a total of 04 bidders Saurabh Mamagai, Neeraj Singh Negi, Gopal Dutt Bhardwaj and Sanjeev Thapliyal were present. According to the terms of the auction, Sanjeev Thapliyal provided a cheque of 1/4th of the total auction amount i.e. Rs. 2,50,00,000/- (Rs. two crores fifty lakh only) which was payable in favour of Tehsildar (Sadar) Dehradun, on the same day immediately after the auction. But he allegedly got a stop payment done on the payment of the said cheque. Due to this, the process of state interest and revenue collection by the state government was obstructed, claimed officials The auction recipient Sanjeev Thapliyal knowingly participated in the said process and took the auction in his name and then under a well-planned conspiracy, first gave the cheque and then got the stop payment of that cheque done, which is clearly cheating the state government, obstructing the government in revenue collection and obstructing government work. Thus, the said act of Sanjeev Thapliyal is a crime of a serious nature. Which shows the possibility of committing the said criminal act in connivance with the defaulter. Accordingly, a case was registered against Sanjeev Thapliyal under BNS 2024 for cheating, obstruction in government work and cheating a public servant, said the officials. (ANI) BJP Member of Parliament (MP) and former Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari has sharply criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over referring to people from Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar as 'farzi' (fake). The BJP MP alleged that Kejriwal recently referred to people from UP and Bihar as 'farzi' and accused them of "getting fake voter ID cards made" in Delhi. Tiwari, in a statement, claimed that Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) harbour a deep hatred for the residents of these states. "There are multiple examples showing how AAP and Arvind Kejriwal hate people of UP and Bihar. Today, once again Arvind Kejriwal called the people of UP and Bihar 'farzi'. He said that people of UP and Bihar are coming to Delhi and getting fake voter ID cards made," Tiwari said. Tiwari drew attention to past controversies, especially the handling of migrant workers during the COVID-19 crisis. He accused Kejriwal of misleading migrant workers during the pandemic, specifically mentioning how they were abandoned to die at Anand Vihar when they were desperate to return to their home states. "This is the same Arvind Kejriwal and AAP that lied to people of UP, Bihar and Jharkhand and sent them to Anand Vihar to die during Corona," Tiwari added. Tiwari continued, "When people had to be kept safe in the house, he said that people of UP and Bihar come here on a Rs 500 ticket and leave after Rs 5 Lakh medical treatment." The BJP leader also accused AAP of deleting names of around 7.5 lakh people, including residents of UP and Bihar, from the voter list during the 2022 elections. "People of UP and Bihar have made a name for themselves with their hard work, and it is necessary for those who live here to have a voter card," Tiwari said. Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Vishnu Mittal on Thursday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital for its failure to improve conditions in the city's slums and claimed that the slum dwellers have decided to support the BJP, citing poor living conditions and a lack of basic amenities under the AAP. Vishnu Mittal, the BJP's convener for the 'Jhuggi Abhiyan' (Slum Campaign), announced that on January 11th, the 'pradhans' (leaders) of Delhi's slums will gather at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address them. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Mittal highlighted a series of issues faced by residents of slums, accusing the AAP-led Delhi government of neglecting their needs. "On 11th January, we called the 'pradhans' of the slums of Delhi at the JLN stadium. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present at the event and will personally interact with them," Mittal said. He added that the BJP expects at least 3,000 slum leaders to attend the event. (ANI) The email, which demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakh, sparked a thorough search operation across the campus. Circle Officer Abhay Kumar Pandey confirmed that the university officials alerted the police about the threat, leading to the deployment of a bomb disposal unit, dog squad, and cyber teams to investigate the origin of the email. "We were informed by the university officials about the bomb threat mail. The bomb disposal unit and dog squad were immediately deployed, and all isolated spots on the campus were thoroughly searched by the police. The cyber teams are also investigating the origin of the email," he said. The search operation, which focused on sweeping key areas of the campus, has not yielded any suspicious objects so far. AMU Proctor Professor Mohd Wasim Ali assured that the authorities are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students and staff. "We have informed the police about the bomb threat mail, and the investigation is ongoing. At this moment, we do not know the identity of the sender. The email also contains a demand for a ransom of Rs 2 lakh," he stated. Police and the university administration are working together in order to keep the students and staff safe, while the case is under investigation. Authorities have called upon students and faculty to be watchful and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. (ANI) NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique on Thursday met Joint CP Mumbai Police Gautam Lakhmi regarding the chargesheet filed in NCP leader Baba Siddique's murder case. Siddique said police denied providing a chargesheet, prompting an appeal to the court. He met Joint Commissioner Gautam Lakhmi, seeking an update on the complaint; claiming suspected individuals haven't been interrogated yet. "The police said that they couldn't give us the chargesheet. So we have appealed to the court for it. We met with Joint Commissioner Gautam Lakhmi to inquire about the status of our complaint. Specifically, we wanted to know if the individuals we suspected and named in our statements had been interrogated. Unfortunately, I've been informed that they haven't been questioned yet." He further raised concerns about the protection of builders allegedly involved in the case and the swift narrative pinning the blame on Lawrence Bishnoi. He demanded Bishnoi's interrogation in Mumbai to uncover the truth. "I am hopeful that when I meet CM Devendra Fadnavis who was a friend of my father, he will ask the police about this... I don't understand why these builders are being protected... Mere two seconds after my father was shot, the narrative was being set that Bishnoi had done it... If that's true then bring him to Mumbai and interrogate him... I will meet Dy CM Ajit Pawar also... After that, I will meet my legal team to decide how we can challenge this investigation...," he added. NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique's, office in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar on October 12. Police have also arrested Salman Vohra and Akashdeep Singh in connection with the murder. Vohra has been accused of financing the murder. According to the information received from a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that after the murder of Baba Siddiqui, a big leader of Pune was also on the radar of the Bishnoi gang. (ANI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has expressed grave concern over the increasing crime rates in Pune. Speaking to the media, Pawar questioned the senior police officers' ability to control the situation despite the ample resources available. "The Maharashtra CM and I have taken cognisance as I represent this part of the state," Pawar said, emphasising that the state government is fully aware of the deteriorating law and order situation. He stressed that there will be no room for political interference in the matter. "We don't allow any political interference in such things," he added. Pawar pointed out that despite the deployment of substantial infrastructure, manpower, and facilities, including new offices for the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Commissioner of Police (CP) in Pimpri Chinchwad, crime rates continue to rise. "Despite so much freedom and a lot of facilities, which include infrastructure, man force, housings, new offices in Pimpri Chinchwad, SP office and CP office... still senior police officers failing to control the crime," Pawar remarked. The Deputy CM suggested that if the senior officers are unable to tackle the increasing crime, they should admit their limitations. "If they are unable to handle it, they should tell us that it is not in their hand then we would bring better officers here to control this menace," he said. Pawar assured that action would be taken to address the issue. "I will be taking a review of it with senior officials today," he confirmed, indicating a possible overhaul in the police administration if necessary. Meanwhile, After meeting with Joint Commissioner of Crime Branch of Mumbai Police Lakhmi Gautam, Nationalist Congress Party leader and son of former MLA and NCP leader Baba Siddique, Zeeshan Siddiqui on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation in his father's murder and said that the law and order have been made a joke in Mumbai. "I had given the names of those whom I suspect in my statement. When I asked if all of them had been questioned, I was told that they had not been questioned. When I asked the police why the statements of those builders were not recorded, they did not give me a satisfactory answer. Seeing this, I feel that law and order are being made a joke in Mumbai. This is not a fair investigation, for I will now meet our leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar. I will also meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was my father's friend. I hope I will get justice. I will take every possible step that I feel is right to get justice," said Zeeshan Siddiqui while speaking to the media. "After my father was killed, it was said that Bishnoi had done it. Why was this narrative set? I am not denying this but if it has been done by the Bishnoi gang, then the accused must be brought back to India. This is condemnable," he added. Notably, Baba Siddique was an NCP leader who was shot dead by three assailants near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique's, office in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar on October 12. (ANI) Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit lashed out at the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government in Delhi over their conduct during the COVID-19 breakout in 2020, saying that the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were thrown out of the national capital while they nothing to eat or drink. Dikshit said he witnessed lakhs of people walking at the Delhi border, on the Agra highway, during the pandemic. "There were long queues (of people from UP and Bihar) at the Delhi border during the COVID-19 breakout. Lakhs of people were walking on the Agra highway. People were walking with their children. They didn't have anything to eat, or drink and were thrown out of Delhi," Dikshit, who is a Congress candidate from the New Delhi seat, told ANI. Speaking on the issue regarding Jaats not being included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list in Delhi, Dikshit said there were procedures in place to induct a community into the reservation list, and suggested that the AAP government does their work first instead of writing letters. "What were they doing for the past 10 years? Why did not they raise the issue of Jaats earlier? When Jaat agitation happened in Haryana, they should have responded by saying that we would get you reservations in Delhi. There are procedures in place to list a new community for reservations. The recommendations are sent to OBC or SC/ST commissions. Delhi government should do that first. He (Arvind Kejriwal) is just writing a letter to PM Modi to show that no one is allowing him to work," Dikshit said. Reacting to Trinamool Congress (TMC) extending support to AAP ahead of the assembly polls, Dikshit said that the only reason alliance partners in other states were supporting AAP was because it remains "zero" outside of Delhi and Punjab. Meanwhile, Congress can challenge them at the local level if it gains power in Delhi, he added. "The alliance partners in other states think that it was possible for Congress to challenge them at the local level if it leaves a mark in Delhi. This is why they are supporting AAP, which remains zero outside of Delhi and Punjab. At least today, these parties (showing support to AAP) don't have any support base in the national capital," the Congress leader said. Earlier, Janta Dal (United) working President Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday accused AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal of "hating" the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Jha strongly criticised Kejriwal's recent remarks about "fake voters" from these states and demanded an immediate apology from Kejriwal for his comments. Meanwhile, Chattar Singh, former OBC Commission chairman of the Delhi Government, accused the BJP and AAP of being "anti-reservation". Chattar Singh said that Kejriwal seems to lack information or doesn't want to present it before the people and his own mindset is anti-reservation. (ANI) Members of the DMK students' wing held a protest at Valluvar Kottam here on Friday against University Grants Commission's (UGC) new draft rules for the appointment of Vice Chancellors. The protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre. On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in the State Assembly moved a resolution against the draft rules. Speaking in the Assembly, CM Stalin said, "This Assembly considers that the recent UGC draft rules should be taken back. They are an assault on the idea of federalism and they affect Tamil Nadu's higher education system." MK Stalin also said that the New Education Policy (NEP) is being imposed to spoil the education system. "The New Education Policy is being imposed to spoil the education system.... We lost sister Anitha because of the NEET exam. NEET is filled with malpractices," he said. According to UGC's new draft guidelines, candidates can qualify for faculty positions at higher institutions by clearing the UGC-NET in a subject of their choice, even if their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are in different disciplines. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the guidelines for the appointment of faculty in higher education on Monday. It also includes changes to the selection process for vice-chancellors, including the expansion of eligibility criteria to include professionals from academia, research institutions, public policy, public administration, and industry. As per the guidelines, the subject of the PhD degree precedes the disciplines studied in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for faculty selections. Earlier on Wednesday, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu called the guidelines against the federal principles of the country. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, she said that it is part of the Centre's agenda of "saffronization, over-centralisation and communalisation" of the education sector. Speaking to ANI, R Bindu said, "These guidelines are against the federal principles upheld by the nation...Recently, UGC has started procuring all kinds of interventions in the higher education sector through rigid regulations. This is an attempt to reduce academic quality...Industrialists can also become vice-chancellors in universities. This is condemnable." (ANI) Press Release January 9, 2025 Jinggoy to Metro Manila, Caraga employers: Comply with wage hike order for 'kasambahays' SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has called on "kasambahay" employers in Metro Manila and the Caraga region to comply with the wage increases for domestic workers that takes effect this month. "May mga personal din silang pangangailangan na kailangang tugunan na sumusunod sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin at iba pang gastusin. Gaya ng ibang arawan ang sweldo, may karapatan din sila na mabigyan ng pagtaas ng kanilang buwanang sahod," Estrada said. Estrada, principal author of Republic Act No. 10361, or the "Batas Kasambahay" or the Domestic Workers Act, underscored that the law not only protects domestic workers from abuse, harassment, and violence, but also grants them the same labor rights and standards as other workers, including fair wages and the assurance that they will be treated with dignity and respect. "Bukod sa pinagpapaguran ng kasambahay ang kanilang buwanang sahod, pinagmamalasakitan din nila and kanilang mga employer at malaking ambag ito kung tutuusin para mapabuti ang kalidad ng pamumuhay ng bawat pamilyang kanilang pinaglilingkuran araw-araw," the Senate leader said. The veteran lawmaker also said that compliance with the wage order not only promotes the dignity and welfare of "kasambahays" but also shows the employers' genuine care for their well-being and fosters an environment where they feel valued. As of January 4, 2025, the minimum wage for "kasambahays" in Metro Manila has been increased from P6,500 to P7,000 per month. This change is based on Wage Order No. NCR-DW-05 issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) on December 12, 2024. The RTWPB in the Caraga region also approved an increase of P1,000 for domestic workers, raising their minimum monthly wage to P6,000 effective January 12, 2025. "These wage increases affirm our nation's dedication to uplifting the quality of life for our kasambahays, who play a vital role in countless Filipino households. As the father of the Batas Kasambahay, I welcome these adjustments and urge employers to adhere to the wage board's orders. This is not just a legal mandate but a moral obligation to recognize and honor the contributions of our household helpers," Estrada said. He also reiterated his call for the continued enforcement of the Batas Kasambahay, which likewise institutionalizes the domestic workers' access to benefits such as social security, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. "The wage increase is a significant milestone, but it is just one aspect of ensuring that the rights and welfare of kasambahays are upheld. We must work together to ensure the full implementation of the Batas Kasambahay for the benefit of every household helper in the country," he said. Amid tensions in the state, the central security forces along with Manipur police carried out search operations and area domination in the vulnerable areas of hills and valley districts, an official release said, adding that the situation was under control. According to the release, the security forces recovered various kinds of arms and ammunition during the search operations in Sekmaijin Hangool Mayal Leikai under Hiyanglam Police Station in Kakching district. The recovered items include a 7.62 SLR rifle without a magazine, a single barrel breech loading (SBBL) gun, a country-made 9mm pistol with ammunitions, a .32 country-made pistol, three nos. 36 hand grenades, two arming rings without detonators, a tube launcher, and various live ammunition and empty cases of AK rifles. Moreover, gears such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and boots were also seized, along with a Kenwood wireless set and other equipment. "03(three) nos. of 9mm live Ammunitions, 02(two) nos. of 12 Bore cartridges, 10(ten) nos. of fired empty cases of AK Rifle, 02(two) nos. of Stun shell (normal), 01(one) Tear Smoke shell, 01(one) Tear Gas Grenade, 01(one) Stun Grenade, 01(one) Kenwood wireless set, 01(one) torch light marked as Power Link Solar Nano Royal, 02(two) nos. of BP Cover (vest), 02(two) pairs of Tactical boots, 01(one) BP Helmet, 01(one) plastic bag(bora) and 01(one) Rice bag," the release read. Meanwhile, authorities ensured the safe movement of vehicles carrying essential goods along the national highways. Strict security measures were implemented at vulnerable locations, and security convoys were deployed on sensitive stretches to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles. "A total of 107 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and no one was detained by Police in connection with violations in different districts of the state," the release said. The authorities have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to rumours and false information. Moreover, the authorities have urged people to return looted arms, ammunition, and explosives to the police or nearest security forces immediately. (ANI) Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva has strongly criticized former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his recent remarks, accusing him of defaming the city and fuelling communal tensions. Sachdeva expressed his concern about the language used by the three-time CM, claiming that it was indicative of a loss of mental balance due to his waning political power. "Delhi is the Capital of India. I am pained to see how attempts are being made to defame my Delhi. Seeing the language used by the three-time CM who can see power slip away from his hands, it appears that he has lost his mental balance," Sachdeva said, urging Kejriwal to refrain from taking "revenge" on the people of Delhi. Sachdeva made a direct plea to Kejriwal, "I have a request from Arvind Kejriwal - please do not take revenge on the people of Delhi for losing power... If you want to abuse someone, abuse Virendraa Sachdeva, I will listen. If you want to curse BJP, do it, but do not ruin this Delhi, do not increase communalism in it." The BJP leader accused Kejriwal of hindering Delhi's development, alleging that the AAP government had stopped progress in the city and misused its power. "You have ruined Delhi as much as you wanted to. You have looted all the wealth of Delhi by stopping its development," he stated. Sachdeva also condemned Kejriwal for his remarks about the Purvanchal community, specifically referring to Kejriwal's comment on fake voters. "The way you have maligned the name of the entire Purvanchal society by calling our Purvanchal brothers fake voters yesterday is extremely reprehensible," he remarked, adding that this was not the first time Kejriwal had made such comments. "The dark truth of your mind comes out on your tongue again and again. Every time, sometimes in the name of education, sometimes in the name of health, you abuse the Purvanchal community," Sachdeva added. Referring to Kejriwal's statements during the New Year celebrations, Sachdeva accused him of attempting to create communal tensions. "On New Year when people were celebrating, you and Atishi tried to make communal tensions among people by claiming that temples were being broken," Sachdeva said. He further criticized Kejriwal for his perceived lack of concern for Delhi, stating, "Delhi that respected you gave you this post, you call it ghodhi and then ask who is the dulha. You always try to create communal tensions." Sachdeva reminded Kejriwal of the 2020 Delhi riots, accusing him of provoking such tensions when political power was slipping away. "People have not forgotten the riots in Delhi. When you see that you are losing, you are doing this, you question the EC, all you care about is your chair and power," he said. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived at the residence of BJP National President JP Nadda for a crucial core committee meeting, as the party gears up for the upcoming Delhi Election in 2025. Meanwhile, on Thursday, BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda (JP Nadda) held a meeting with the Delhi Assembly Election Management Committee at the state BJP office and reviewed the party's organisational arrangements given the upcoming Assembly election and guided the party members. Delhi State BJP President Virendraa Sachdev, Election In-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, Co-Election In-charge Atul Garg (MP), Co-In-charge Alka Gurjar, State Organisation General Secretary Pawan Rana, MP Harsh Malhotra and MP Manoj Tiwari were also present in this meeting, according to a statement from the party. Nadda first held a meeting with the Delhi Election Conducting Committee (Chunav Sanchalan Samiti) of BJP and then held a meeting of different departments of election management and took stock of the election preparations of the party. Giving important instructions to the officials in view of the elections, Nadda called upon them to ensure the historic victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi in the Delhi Assembly Elections, the release stated. Nadda asked the members of the State BJP Election Conducting Committee and Election Management Committee to further improve the arrangements of the party. The party president said that this Delhi Assembly election is an opportunity to choose between "Arvind Kejriwal's lies and corruption" and "BJP's truth and development." He said that the people of Delhi have made up their minds to get rid of Arvind "Kejriwal's AAP-da." "I have full faith that the great people of Delhi will choose truth and development in this election and will free Delhi from AAP-da," Nadda said, as per the statement. The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. (ANI) BJP workers held 'Purvanchal Samman March' from Ashoka Road to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence here on Friday to protest against the latter's alleged remarks against the people of Purvanchal. Delhi Police used water cannon to disperse the protesters when they tried to cross the barricades put up near the Kejriwal's residence at Feroze Shah Road. The Police also detained the BJP workers. The BJP accused Kejriwal of disrespecting the people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand. "Arvind Kejriwal and AAP have a history of disrespecting the people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand...How did you (Arvind Kejriwal) dare to call people from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand as fake...The promises of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP are fake...The people of Purvanchal will take revenge on 5th February," BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said at a press conference here on Friday. The BJP MP alleged that Kejriwal recently referred to people from UP and Bihar as 'farzi' and accused them of "getting fake voter ID cards made" in Delhi. Retorting this statement, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj told ANI, "I want to ask the Purvanchali leaders of Delhi, where was Manoj Tiwari when JP Nadda called Purvanchalis as infiltrators. Where was the Purvanchal Morcha?" "Where was Manoj Tiwari when a 'chhath ghat' was destroyed in my constituency? We organised a press conference today to tell that the votes of people of Purvanchal are being cut in Delhi, because they vote for AAP," he added. The dispute arose after an AAP delegation led by Arvind Kejriwal met the Election Commission to raise concerns about alleged voter irregularities in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly. The party highlighted a significant surge in voter registrations and deletions on the seat while alleging a "voter fraud" taking place at a large scale. Former Delhi CM Kejriwal said that a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. He also claimed that out of 89 people who had applied for deletion of 5500 names from the voter list, 18 denied submitting the request. "The Chief Election Commissioner is out, but we met with the other two commissioners. One of the issues we raised was that in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly, between December 15 and January 7, a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. The total votes in this assembly are 1,00,000. This means that 5.5 per cent of the votes were registered in the last 22 days, which clearly indicates some irregularities. There are issues with these applications," Kejriwal told reporters after meeting the Election Commissioners, here on Thursday. (ANI) The budget session of the Assam legislative assembly is scheduled to be held from February 17, a notification issued by the assembly secretariat said, adding that the first day of the session will be organised at Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) legislative chamber in Kokrajhar. "In exercise of the powers conferred under Article 174(1) of the Constitution of India, as amended up-to-date, I Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam, hereby summon the 1st day of the Budget Session, Assam Legislative Assembly to meet at 12.00 Noon on Monday, the 17th February, 2025 at BTC Legislative Assembly Chamber, Kokrajhar," the notification signed by D Pegu, Assam Legislative Assembly Secretariat, read. The remaining days of the session will be held in the assembly chamber at Dispur. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Wednesday issued an order summoning the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly to commence on February 17, 2025. The first day of the session will be held at the BTC Legislative Assembly Chamber in Kokrajhar, starting at noon. Earlier, the Assam Governor on his maiden visit to Tinsukia district on Sunday, convened a meeting with district administration officials and heads of various departments at the District Commissioner Conference Hall in Tinsukia to review the district's ongoing welfare activities. District Commissioner Swapneel Paul gave an overview of the district's ongoing welfare activities, which aim at enhancing the quality of life of the people of the district. The Governor took stock of the progress of multiple projects of different departments, including P&RD, PWD, Health and Family Welfare, Education, Forest, Agriculture, and PHE. He also took stock of the physical and financial advancements under the MGNREGA scheme and reviewed the implementation of PMAY-G in the district. On Saturday, Acharya launched three schemes and called upon the students to make optimum use of their "unbridled energy" to bring about "transformative changes" for the welfare of the community. The schemes are 'Rashtriya Kritagyata Evam Jagrookta' Yojana, 'Kartavya se Vikas' Yojana and Amrit Sarovar - Sadbhavna Sangat Protsahan" Yojana at a function held at Raj Bhavan in Guwahati, a release said.'Rashtriya Kritagyata Evam Jagrookta Yojana' has been conceptualized to enable people in general especially the students to show their gratitude to the personnel in armed forces who are engaged in protecting the nation, it said. This state-level initiative will be made operational in partnership with the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Assam wherein sensitisation programmes will be held in schools, colleges, and universities covering all districts and across the length and breadth of the state. (ANI) Sushila Rai Sonuaru, wife of the Nepali mine worker killed in the coal mine mishap in Dima Hasao, has arrived at the mine site to receive her husband, Ganga Bahadur Shreth's body. 38-year-old Shreth, a resident of Rampur (Dummana-2Bhijpur) area under Udayapur district of Nepal was among 9 persons who were trapped in the inundated rat-hole mine at 3 Kilo Umrangso area and his body was recovered by the rescue teams of Indian army and NDRF on January 8. Sushila Rai Sonuaru, a mother of three children, told ANI that, Ganga was the only income source of their family. "He (Ganga Bahadur Shreth) came to Dima Hasao two months back. We came to know about the incident on January 6. I have three children (two girls and one boy). Now we don't know what I will do and how we will live. We are poor people. We are now facing many difficulties. I request to the Indian government to help us," Sushila Rai Sonuaru said. Roshan Rai, a relative of Ganga Bahadur Shreth told ANI that, his wife has now come here from Nepal. "Apart from Ganga Bahadur Shreth, another Nepali man Lijan Magar also trapped inside the coal mine. We are working here as a labourer," Roshan Rai said. On the other hand, Shyam Kumar Shreth, another relative of Ganga Bahadur Shreth told ANI that, along with some other persons Ganga came to this area from Nepal two months back. "His wife, children and parents will face many problems to live. His wife along with a baby comes here from Nepal to take the body," Shyam Kumar Shreth said. Assam Mines and Minerals Minister Kaushik Rai confirmed on Wednesday that so far only one body has been recovered from the mine. Speaking to ANI, Rai said, "One body is recovered. An Army team has again dived in (in the mine). The Navy team will also go. We have started the process of dewatering the mine... A few people are saying that 10-12 people are trapped. When the water level decreases, we will be in the position to tell the exact number." A joint rescue operation of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF teams and other agencies has been underway since January 6 when the mine mishap took place. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has expressed concerns over the lack of coordination within the INDIA alliance, blaming Congress for its disarray since the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking about the current state of the alliance, Raut agreed with National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's statement, which highlighted the absence of clarity about leadership, agenda, or INDIA bloc's existence. "I agree with what Omar Abdullah said. We fought the Lok Sabha elections together and the results were also good. After that, it was the responsibility of all of us, especially Congress, to keep the INDIA alliance alive, sit together and show the way forward," Raut said. Raut pointed out that since the elections, no meeting or coordination has taken place among the alliance members, which he considers detrimental to the unity of the coalition. "But till now, not a single such meeting has taken place after the Lok Sabha elections. This is not right for the INDIA alliance," he added. Leaders from various parties, including Abdullah, Mamta Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and Arvind Kejriwal, have reportedly expressed concerns over the alliance's future. "Leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mamta Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal all say that the INDIA alliance has no existence now," Raut observed. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader emphasized that if the alliance were to break apart, it would be a permanent split. "If such a feeling comes in the minds of the people, then the biggest party of the alliance, Congress, is responsible for this. There is no coordination, no discussion, no dialogue. This means that people have doubts about whether everything is fine or not in the INDIA alliance," Raut said. Raut's remarks underline the growing concerns within the alliance, warning that failure to maintain unity could spell the end of the coalition. "If this alliance breaks once, then the INDIA alliance will never be formed again," he said. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Abdullah had on Thursday said that while there was no time limit for to the INDIA alliance, there is no clarity about leadership, agenda, or our INDIA bloc's existence. He also mentioned that if the INDIA bloc was just for the parliament elections, then the alliance should be winded up. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has recently informed the Delhi High Court regarding the procedure for transgender individuals who have undergone gender affirmation surgery abroad to update the gender details in their Indian passport. In its submission to the Court, the MEA outlined the specific documents that such individuals would need to present upon returning to India to initiate the process of passport renewal with their updated gender. These documents may include a medical certificate confirming the gender-affirming procedure, a legally recognized change of gender certificate from the relevant authorities in the country where the surgery was conducted, and other supporting paperwork such as a gender recognition certificate, if applicable The bench of Justice Sachin Datta, observed that the standing counsel for the respondents had stated that the requirement for a certificate under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 can be waived if the individual provides a sworn affidavit confirming the gender change, along with a supporting certificate or surgical reconstruction certificate from the hospital where the individual underwent the gender-affirming medical procedure. Earlier, the Court had raised concerns about why a transgender person who undergoes gender affirmation surgery abroad must return to India before their gender can be updated in their passport. In response, the standing counsel for the respondents was given a copy of the communication from the Ministry of External Affairs. The communication outlined the process for updating the gender on a passport from transgender to male or female. The applicant may submit one of the following: 1) A valid Certificate of Identity for Gender Change (Form-1) or a long-term identity card (Form-6), issued under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, along with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, reflecting the applicant's desired gender; or 2) A sworn affidavit confirming the change of gender, accompanied by a supporting certificate or surgical reconstruction certificate from the hospital where the applicant underwent medical treatment for gender affirmation. The Ministry further stated that if the applicant is unable to provide either of the above documents, they may be issued an Emergency Certificate with the endorsement, "The holder has undergone medical intervention for gender affirmation." Upon arrival in India, the individual can obtain the necessary documents from the relevant authorities and apply for the re-issuance of their passport with the updated gender. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that his life's mantra was to never do anything "wrong" with bad intentions. Speaking in a podcast with Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said that human beings, including him, are prone to make mistakes, but it shouldn't be at the cost of doing things with bad intentions. "When I became the Chief Minister, I gave a speech in which I said, 'I will not shy away from hard work' and 'I will not do anything for myself' and 'I am human who can make mistakes, but I will never do anything wrong with bad intentions.' This is my life's Mantra. Everyone makes mistakes, including me. After all, I am a human being, not some God," PM Modi said in the podcast hosted by Nikhil Kamath. He emphasised the importance of idealism over ideology, saying that even though politics can't happen without ideology, idealism was very much required. The Prime Minister said that Gandhi and Savarkar had different paths, but their ideology was "freedom". "Idealism is far more important than ideology. Without ideology, politics can't happen. However, idealism is very much required. Before Independence, the ideology (of freedom fighters) was freedom. Gandhi had a different path, but the ideology was freedom. Savarkar took his own path, but his ideology was freedom," PM Modi said. Speaking on his own ideology, the Prime Minister said that it was always to keep the nation first. "I am not the kind of person who changes his stance as per his convenience. I have grown up believing in only one (kind of) ideology. If I were to describe my ideology in a few words, I would say, 'Nation first'. Anything that fits into the tagline, 'nation first', doesn't bind me in the shackles of ideology and tradition. It pushed us to move forward. I am ready to leave old things and embrace new ones. However, the condition is always, 'nation first'," PM Modi said. "My life has not been built by me. It has been made due to the circumstances. The kind of life I have lived during my childhood has taught me a lot of things. In a way, it was my biggest university. University of trouble has taught me a lot and I have learned to love the trouble. I come from a state where I have seen mothers and sisters walk for two to three kilometres, carrying a pot on their heads...my activities are a result of empathy. The schemes or policies would have been implemented earlier, I don't deny that. However, I work hard to realise the dreams of the people," the Prime Minister added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined his vision of 'Viksit Bharat' emphasising on a 'problem free' India and 100 percent delivery of government schemes. Speaking in a podcast with Zerodha Co-founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said that his morale and dreams have grown in the third term. Sharing his vision of 'Viksit Bharat' he added that problems like toilets, water, electricity should be resolved by 2047. "In the first term, the people were trying to understand me and I was trying to understand Delhi. In the second term, I used to think from the perspective of the past. In the third term, my thinking has changed, my morale is high and my dreams have grown. The essence of what I'm saying is that I want 2047 to be Viksit Bharat. Which means everything should be free of problems. Toilets should be built for everyone. Electricity should be available for everyone. Water from taps should be available for everyone. Does the common man have to beg from their own government? Is this a British rule? It is his right. There should be 100% delivery of government schemes. Beneficiaries should get thier due," PM Modi said. PM Modi believed AI, which he described as "Aspirational India" will be the driving force behind achieving his vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. "There should be 100% delivery of govt schemes. This is real social justice and secularism. The driving force behind this is - AI-'Aspirational India'." PM Modi said. PM Modi highlighted the necessity of stepping out of ones comfort zone in order to achieve success. He said that person must have a risk-taking capacity. "The life I have lived I find joy in the smallest of things. I am happy with what I have. I think people fail in life because they become accustomed to their comfort zone. Even if an industrialist doesn't come out of his comfort zone and take risks he may lose out. There must be a driving force. I think my risk-taking capacity has not been used fully. I don't care about my own benefit and that increases my risk-taking capacity," the Prime Minister said. Speaking on how India's perception has changed around the world, PM Modi recalled saying that the day would come when the world would stand in line for an Indian Visa. "As a the head of the state, America had refused me a visa. I held a press conference that day where I had said, "One day the world would stand in line for an Indian visa". I gave this statement in 2005. Now, it is 2025. I can see that this is now is the time for India... I used to say publicly that you (NRIs) will regret if you don't come back to India, the world is changing," PM Modi said. "I recently visited Kuwait. I went to a labour colony...one labourer asked me when will there be an international airport in my district (in India) ...it is this aspiration that will make India Vikist in 2047," he added. (ANI) Swami Kailashnand Ji Maharaj on Wednesday confirmed that Laurence Powell, wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, will attend the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Speaking to ANI, he said that they have given Laurence Powell a Hindu name, 'Kamala.'. "She is coming to visit her guru here. We have named her Kamala and she is like a daughter to us. This is the second time she is coming to India... Everyone is welcome in Kumbh," he said. He said that Powell is coming for her personal program, "She is coming here to meditate." When asked about whether Powell will be added to the Akhara's Peshawai, he said, "We will try to include her in the Peshwai. We will leave it to her to decide. She will tour this Kumbh and meet the seers here. She will also feel good. we will also feel good that those who don't know much about our traditions want to learn." "Most people in the world are under the guidance of some guru. Many people are coming to Kumbh; some are coming for their personal program," he added. "This is a religious mela; people from around the world and India visit Maha Kumbh to seek blessings," Swami Kailashnand Ji Maharaj stated. Earlier Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that all the preparations for the Mela had been completed. "All the arrangements for the Maha Kumbh have been completed... We are meeting all the saints and sages who have come to Prayagraj on the occasion of the Maha Kumbh, taking their blessings and thanking them for coming to the Maha Kumbh. It is our responsibility to ensure that all the saints do not face any problems... Everyone is welcome... All arrangements have been completed," he said. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya assured that the devotees would witness and divine and grand Kumbh this time. "Very divine and grand preparations have been made for the divine, grand, green Kumbh of Prayagraj... We are waiting for January 13... Complete arrangements have been made to welcome everyone and ensure their safe bath... I have seen the Kumbh of 2013 and its chaos and have also seen the good management of the Ardh Kumbh of 2019, " he said. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday applauded the efforts of Prasar Bharti in launching a special radio channel, 'Kumbhvani,' especially for the Maha Kumbh, which is scheduled to commence on January 13. He said that the radio channel will make Kumbh Mela accessible to those living in remote areas of the country, where the connectivity issues still persist. "We will deliver all information about the Maha Kumbh to those living in remote villages via these facilities. We can broadcast the happenings in Maha Kumbh so that people living in remote areas experience the same," CM Adityanath said while speaking at the inaugural event in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. The Maha Kumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. During the Mahakumbh, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26. The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took a jab at the Congress party over its nationwide campaign "Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan" on Friday. He questioned how a party, which he alleged had a history of undermining the Constitution and neglecting Baba Saheb Ambedkar's legacy, could now claim to protect it. The Congress party is set to launch the campaign with a rally at Mhow - birthplace of BR Ambedkar, in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on January 26, 2025. Reacting to the Congress's campaign, CM Yadav told reporters, "Those (Congress) who have always blown up the Constitution, have done injustice to Babasaheb Ambedkar, how can they talk about protecting the Constitution? They need to introspect. They did not give Bharat Ratna to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Even they did not let him win the election. Congress even played a role in his defeat in the by-election. The public has not forgotten all this." Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders held a meeting in Bhopal on Friday to prepare for the campaign's launch event in Mhow. Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Jitu Patwari said that the Congress is ready to do whatever was needed to save the constitution. He alleged that Babasaheb Ambedkar's legacy was under threat from a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "Babasaheb Ambedkar's constitution is in danger. He is being insulted under the a deliberate conspiracy by the BJP. Babasaheb, who gave fundamental rights to the people of this country, made a forefront leader and appointed Chairman of the Constituent Assembly by the Congress party," Patwari said. "The Congress has played an important role in the independence of the country and contributed to its progress, with our party leaders sacrificing themselves for the nation, making history. Now, the Congress is ready to do whatever it takes to save the Constitution. The campaign will be launched from Mhow on January 26. An important meeting was held today to discuss preparations. The Congress will fulfill its responsibility by fighting for the people," he added. Patwari also emphasized that 2025 is the year to strengthen the Congress party organisation, and highlighted the need to its reach among the public, especially in villages to effectively serve as an oppisition. "I believe every Congress worker, along with our senior leaders who have served the party for four years, must work hard to strengthen the organization. Although we have been out of power for years, we have consistently fulfilled our role as a strong opposition and stood by the people. Strengthening the party is essential. Even though there are no elections next year, we must prepare as if it is an election year. Together, we will build a robust organization," Patwari concluded. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the appeal of alleged LeT operative Zafar Abbas alias Jaffar who had challenged the trial court order denying him bail in a terror case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Dismissing his appeal, a division bench of justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma said, "No interference warranted in the impugned order," of the trial court. Detailed judgment is yet to be uploaded. Zafar Abbas had appealed against the order dated August 2, 2024, passed by the Patiala House Court, rejecting his bail plea. He has been charged under 120B, 121 and 121A IPC, 1860 and Section 18, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) by the NIA. His earlier two bail pleas were also dismissed by the trial court. One was filed before the filing of the charge-sheet whereas the second one was filed after the filing of the charge sheet. The appeal was opposed by the Advocate Rahul Tyagi, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for NIA. The FIR was registered by the NIA in 2021. It is alleged that Muneer Ahmad of Baramulla, Kashmir, along with his two key associates namely Arhshid Ahmad Tonch and Jaffar were running a network of operatives of Lashkar E Toiba (LeT). They allegedly recruited persons to commit illegal acts across India. It is alleged that in pursuance of the conspiracy, these persons are to be in contact with their foreign-based handlers and upon their directions are alleged to be engaged in gathering intelligence on vital installations, security forces, and security agencies of India as well as identification of target locations for launching terrorist attacks etc., and the information is passed to the LeT leadership based in foreign countries through internet-based encrypted communication platforms. The accused are alleged to be receiving terror funds from handlers abroad and are allegedly operating multiple pseudonymous bank accounts of India-based operatives for the furtherance of terrorist activities. (ANI) The Army Air Defence Corps commemorated its 32nd Corps Day on Friday with great pride and reverence. Established as an independent arm of the Indian Army after evolving from the Artillery, the Corps has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation's skies, an official release said. To mark this significant occasion, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the National War Memorial, India Gate, New Delhi. "Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, SM, Director General & Colonel Commandant of the Corps, along with senior veterans and serving officers, paid homage to the brave martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The event was graced by the presence of numerous serving officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and dignitaries, the release said. "The Corps of Army Air Defence stands as a testament to the Indian Army's unwavering commitment to excellence. Despite being one of the youngest arms, it has excelled in its mission of ground-based air defence, demonstrating exceptional courage and professionalism in all wars fought against adversaries. Its achievements include four Battle Honour Titles and a legacy of numerous gallantry awards, reflecting its steadfast dedication and operational prowess," the release said. Looking to the future, the Corps is set to induct a new Surface-to-Air Missile Regiment equipped with the advanced Akash Missile system, marking another significant milestone. Additionally, the proposal for raising two more regiments is in advanced stages, underscoring the Corps' pivotal role in national defence. In its relentless pursuit of modernisation, the Corps is continuously enhancing its inventory with cutting-edge systems, including Integrated Drone Detection and Destruction Systems. The recent induction of the Akashteer System has further bolstered the integration of Army Air Defence and Air Force sensors, ensuring a seamless and robust air defence shield, as per the release. In line with the vision of a self-reliant India, the Corps has embraced technological advancements and leads the way in inducting state-of-the-art 'Make in India' equipment. As a beacon of innovation and strength, the Army Air Defence Corps continues to safeguard the nation's sovereignty with unmatched valour and dedication. (ANI) Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav on Friday, brushed off the perception of the Aam Aadmi Party receiving the support of the INDIA bloc for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections and said no party from the alliance has 'officially' extended support to AAP. The Congress leader also accused AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of attempting to undermine Congress in a bid to capitalise on the "growing public dissatisfaction' with AAP's governance. "No party of the alliance has extended official support yet. As Kejriwal sahib realises that the people of Delhi want a change from AAP, he is doing all this. He is trying to make sure that Congress is not able to fight this election well and that he can gain advantage from it," said Devender Yadav to ANI. Earlier on Thursday, Kejriwal said that the Delhi assembly elections will be a direct contest between the AAP and the BJP and not an election of the INDIA alliance. "Delhi assembly election is between AAP and the BJP. It is not the election of the INDIA alliance. I wholeheartedly express my gratitude to all those parties for supporting us. Mamata Banerjee is supporting us. Akhilesh Yadav is supporting us. I have learnt through media that the (Uddhav) Thackeray ji's party is supporting us," Kejriwal told reporters on Thursday. The Congress, which is in a direct fight with the AAP and the BJP, in Delhi has hit back at Kejriwal alleging that the AAP had always worked to defeat the Congress. "Arvind Kejriwal may say anything but Aam Aadmi Party is the party in Delhi which defamed Congress. I don't remember him saying even a single word against BJP in 2012-13. AAP's method is that in all the elections they have gone only and only to defeat Congress. If you talk to any common man outside Delhi, he will also tell you that AAP contests only to defeat Congress. If you have so much aversion towards BJP and RSS, then why did you write a letter to RSS? Congress has never written such letters," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said. The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (ANI) The supplementary chargesheet was filed against Vikram Kumar alias Chota Usman before the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru. Kumar, a resident of Begusarai, Bihar, has been charged under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 17, 18, 20, 23, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Section 120B of the Explosive Substances Act. The case, which was taken over by the NIA from Bengaluru City Police in October 2023, involves a conspiracy to promote the LeT's agenda to disrupt India's unity, integrity, and security. Investigations revealed the seizure of arms, ammunition, and digital devices, including walkie-talkies from the accused. According to the NIA, Kumar was radicalised while in Bengaluru Central Prison, where he came into contact with T Naseer, a convicted terrorist. Kumar, who was jailed in a 2017-18 murder case, continued to collaborate with Naseer and absconding accused Junaid Ahmed after his release. In May 2023, the agency said, Kumar acted on Junaid Ahmed's instructions to collect a parcel containing hand grenades and walkie-talkies from Ambala, Haryana. "These items were later delivered to other accused individuals in Bengaluru as part of a plan to facilitate Naseer's escape during a court transfer," said the agency. Junaid Ahmed also provided financial support to Kumar to further LeT activities. The NIA had earlier filed chargesheets against eight accused, including Ahmed, in January 2024. Investigations in the case (RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI), which originated in July 2023, are ongoing, with efforts underway to trace the absconding accused. (ANI) Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor and the accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, Tahir Hussain, has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking interim bail to contest the upcoming Assembly Elections. Recently, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party has named Hussain its candidate from the Mustafabad constituency. Hussain, who is an accused in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma's murder during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, has requested bail from January 14 to February 9. The Delhi High Court has set the hearing for his application on January 13. In addition to this, Tahir Hussain has also approached the trial court for interim bail in other cases related to the Delhi riots, and Enforcement Directorate matters. Recently, the Delhi High Court also issued a notice on the regular bail petition filed by Hussain in the murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma. The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, has scheduled the matter for further arguments on January 15. Hussain's plea contends that there is a lack of credible evidence against him and seeks bail on the grounds of parity. The plea contended that the applicant is accused of being an instigator and co-conspirator. Of the 20 prosecution witnesses examined so far, the majority of the alleged eyewitnesses have either not supported the prosecution's case or provided testimony that lacks credibility and cannot be considered reliable. His plea claimed that the statements of police witnesses also contained significant contradictions and embellishments, making them untrustworthy as evidence against the applicant. The statements of the remaining public witnesses largely mirror those of the witnesses previously examined in the case, it added. In May, the Delhi High Court granted bail to three men involved in the killing of IB official Ankit Sharma. The court emphasized that bail is the general rule during the pendency of a trial, while incarceration is an exception. It also noted that the accused had been in custody for four years, and the trial was unlikely to conclude in the near future. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Ankit Sharma's father in February 2020, after his son went out to buy groceries and other household items but failed to return home for several hours. Concerned for his son's safety, Sharma's father filed a missing person's report with the police. According to Delhi Police, the four accused were part of a violent mob that killed Sharma, and they were also involved in rioting and arson during the clashes. The communal violence erupted in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, when tensions between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and protesters escalated, leading to at least 53 deaths and numerous injuries. (ANI) Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav responding over the alleged "fake voters" remark by AAP convener Arvind kejriwal mentioning people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and said that it's a matter of updating voter list following elections but BJP people are trying to politicise the issue. "It is a matter of removing or adding names to the voter list during elections. Even in Maharashtra, lakhs of votes were collected later, it is a case of adding or subtracting, they are trying to make it an issue ...," said Yadav while speaking to reporters on Friday. Further when Tejashwi Yadav was asked about his recent statement that "INDI alliance was only for Lok Sabha elections", he clarified and said that the statement was made in the context of Delhi assembly polls while Bihar already had grand alliance from the beginning. "We were asked the question in the context of Delhi... We fought the Lok Sabha elections in the INDIA alliance, AAP fought separately in Punjab, and Left parties fought separately in Kerala, at the national level we have the INDIA alliance and as far as Bihar is concerned, here we have the INDIA alliance, there is a grand alliance from the beginning ...," said Yadav. Meanwhile, BJP leader Ajay Alok also criticised Kejriwal for his statement, questioning how he could make such a statement. Alok referenced the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that Kejriwal abandoned people from UP and Bihar "like cattle" and is now hypocritically accusing them of being two-faced. "He is calling people of Bihar and UP as double-faced. How dare he? During COVID time in 2020, he threw out people of UP and Bihar like cattle and now he is calling them two-faced? I challenge him to go among Purvanchalis now. He will face the brunt of what he has said... He has done nothing for the people of UP and Bihar. We have seen how he just left them to fend for themselves outside bus terminals and railway stations during COVID-19. He has settled Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in Delhi. How many have been deported so far?..," Ajay Alok said. (ANI) Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to provide Karti Chidambaram with a three-day prior notice if they intend to arrest him in connection with a fresh case of corruption. The fresh case filed by the CBI alleges that Chidambaram provided favourable treatment to Diageo Scotland, an alcoholic beverage company, by intervening to lift a ban on the duty-free sale of its whisky. The court emphasized that Section 35(3) of BNSS (41A CrPC) must be fully adhered to. Karti Chidambaram had approached the court expressing concerns about a potential arrest in the ongoing case. However, the applicant shall join the investigation of the case upon his return to the country and co-operate in the process of investigation, as and when so required in accordance with law, said the court. The court observed that, based on the FIR, the current case was filed following a complaint lodged by CBI, on December 30, 2024. This complaint stemmed from a preliminary inquiry initiated on June 29, 2018. The applicant has not been called to participate in the preliminary inquiry thus far. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2004 and 2010, with all charges carrying a maximum sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment. The court further noted that in light of the CBI's submissions, the Senior Counsel for the applicant requested that the current application be disposed of, with the liberty for the applicant to file an appropriate application under the relevant statutory provisions if needed in the future. Additionally, it was urged that the investigating agency be directed to provide a three-day notice before arresting the applicant, should his arrest be necessary after he joins the investigation upon his return to the country. "I have considered the submissions made. The law, as established by the Supreme Court regarding the mandatory requirement of issuing a notice under Section 35(3) of BNSS (which corresponds to Section 41A Cr.P.C.), is unequivocally binding on the Investigating Agency and must be adhered to rigorously. Furthermore, as previously stated, it has been clarified that the Investigating Agency has not opened any Look Out Circular (LOC) against the applicant," said Special Judge Kaveri Baweja. (ANI) Five days after the coal mine collapse in Assam's remote Umrangso area, rescue teams seem to have made little progress, with eight workers still trapped underground. Despite ongoing joint efforts by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other agencies since January 6, major challenges persist, particularly in draining the water and safely reaching the trapped workers. A heavy-duty pump from Coal India, with a capacity of 500 GPM (Gallons Per Minute), has been brought in. An NDRF official mentioned that multiple pumps would be installed to drain the water from the mine. Speaking to ANI about the collaborative efforts, NDRF 1st Battalion Commandant, HPS Kandhari, said, "Efforts are being made to pump out the water. One pump has been installed, and more pumps have been brought. A heavy-duty pump has also arrived. NDRF is assisting in the process... it is a joint effort." K Mere, General Manager of Northeastern Coal Field said that they have brought one high-capacity pump of 500 GPM from Nagpur, and it is being installed. "We've also brought two generators to power this heavy pump. Installation will take about 24 hours to complete, and the installation work will continue in three shifts. The pump can drain 500 gallons of water per minute. We don't know the exact situation underground," Mere said. So far, only one body has been recovered from the mine. "One body has been recovered. An Army team has dived into the mine again, and the Navy team will also assist. We have started the dewatering process. A few people were saying that 10-12 people are trapped. Once the water level decreases, we will be able to confirm the exact number," Assam Mines and Minerals Minister Kaushik Rai said. (ANI) Beginning with an exhibition featuring snakes, the Chinese zodiac animal representing the upcoming year, Shanghai Museum announced a series of 20 special exhibitions to start the new year. The snake is closely related to the dragon, one of China's most important totems. "A snake has no feet but moves smoothly in the water and on the ground. It sheds its skin after hibernating, as if reborn," says Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum. Such capabilities inspired awe in ancient Chinese people, who deified the creature. From oracle bones to bronze objects and ancient drawings on rocks, snakes are found everywhere in China's early civilization. The exhibition Spring: A Celebration of the Year of the Snake from Tuesday to March 2 will feature 13 objects selected from the Shanghai Museum collection, including borrowed pieces from the first museum in China dedicated to bronze art in Lijiashan site in Yunnan province, and Hubei Provincial Museum. "We want visitors to learn about how the legends of the snake are passed down and have evolved over millennia in Chinese civilization, and to understand how the shared culture connects people of different ethnic groups across the country," Chu says. One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the new year is the fifth installment of Shanghai Museum's series A Dialogue with the World, featuring Impressionist masterpieces from the Pola Museum in Japan, scheduled from Jan 22 to April 21. The Pola Museum in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan, houses one of the most significant collections of Impressionist art in Asia. Shanghai Museum will work with Pola Museum and Nikkei Inc to present at its new venue on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River the largest international show organized by the Pola Museum. Featuring a range of work from Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Yayoi Kusama, the exhibition is the first time Shanghai Museum presents a panoramic showcase of Impressionism its beginning, development, expansion and continual impact on the later art scene, according to Chu. "This visual feast will not only focus on the visual and aesthetic preferences of Impressionist art from an Asian perspective, but it also uses light, shadow and nature to connect the significance of Impressionism to post-Fauvism, Cubism and contemporary art, and to show the eternal creativity and innovative spirit of art," he says. This year, Shanghai Museum will also work with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to present an exhibition of Chinese bronze art. Showcasing more than 200 objects from the collections of the Met, the British Museum in London, Musee Cernuschi in Paris, the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Shanghai Museum and the Liaoning Provincial Museum, the exhibition Recasting the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronze 1100-1900 will take place at the Met from Feb 28 to Sept 28. Ancient Chinese Bronze art reached its climax in the late Shang (c.16 century-11th century BC) and early Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) dynasties in China, when ritual vessels in a wide variety of forms and patterns were cast for the worship of ancestors and the commemoration of important events. Apart from ceremonial significance, bronze items continued to be made and appreciated, developing distinctive styles and aesthetic criteria. Bronzes were long favored by the literati and continued to have an impact on Chinese decoration art, with traditional bronze patterns, shapes and designs used on other materials, Chu says. The exhibition also marks the first collaboration between the Shanghai Museum and the Met as exhibition co-organizer. Previously, the Met has borrowed objects from museums in China. "It is completely different this time, as our staff has been involved in the preparation, transportation and planning of the exhibition," Chu says. The exhibition will focus on bronze treasures of the period, study their interpretation, the passing on and development of the early bronze ritual tradition, and combine lacquerware, ceramics and jade of the same period to show the nostalgic fashion and cultural consciousness of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) literati furnishings, and present the unique artistic value of late bronze artifacts. The exhibition will later be held at Shanghai Museum East from Nov 12 to March 16, 2026. Other exhibitions scheduled at Shanghai Museum this year include arts made from rhinoceros horn, a treasured material banned in the modern age, the art of Chinese fans, paintings, calligraphy and ceramics donated to the Shanghai Museum, as well as Chinese lacquerware from the collection of the Tokyo National Museum and other institutions in Japan. Shanghai Museum celebrated the opening of its east wing in 2024. The new Shanghai Museum East, together with its venue on People's Square, received a record-breaking 6.57 million visitors last year. This makes the institution one of the most popular museums in the world, according to Tang Shifen, the Party secretary of Shanghai Museum. The ongoing exhibition On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt has been visited by 1.25 million people since its opening on July 19, more than any other touring exhibition of Egyptian art in the world. Shanghai Museum expects that by its closure on Aug 17 this year, the exhibition will break more records and become one of the most popular museum shows in the world. As preparations intensify for the Maha Kumbh 2025, the Juna Akhada in a remarkable feat of dedication and craftsmanship, has completed the construction of its massive 4.75 lakh square feet pandal in Prayagraj. Notably, the Juna Akhada, one of the oldest and largest of the 13 Akharas in India, is a Hindu monastic order that plays a significant role in the Kumbh. Spanning an expansive 4.75 lakh square feet, the pandal was constructed in a short span of 35 days, highlighting the incredible efforts and coordination involved in its creation. The pandal is set to serve as a central hub for devotees and sadhus from across the country during the sacred event, which draws millions of pilgrims to the banks of the Ganges. Speaking to ANI about the pandal, the pandal's architect Malini Doshi said, "Our occupied land is about 22 acres and the construction is in about 4.75 lakh square feet. We have arranged underground water supply and drainage so that the entire camp stays clean for 40-45 days." "All of this has been inspired by Gujarat architecture. Among the main areas are a 24-hour hospital of 20 beds, free bhandara for all who come to the Mela, temple and Dutt Sadan for our VIP guests," said Malini. Apart from Juna Akhada, the largest Akhada in the Sanyasi tradition, seers from several other major akhadas including Atal Akhara, Mahanirvani Akhara, Niranjani Akhada and Ahwan Akhada, have already arrived at the campsite. Uttar Pradesh Police has deployed underwater drones and installed 2,700 AI-enabled cameras in and around the Maha Kumbh campsite area to enhance security. Earlier today, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, flagged off special shuttle buses of the Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation as well as electric buses named 'Atal Seva' on the second day of his tour to Prayagraj. These new buses have been added to the Transport Corporation's fleet to enhance transportation facilities for devotees attending Maha Kumbh.The Chief Minister was on a visit to Prayagraj to review the arrangements for Maha Kumbh. The ceremony, held in the parade area, witnessed the flagging off of 100 buses in the presence of Uttar Pradesh ministers Daya Shankar Singh, Nand Gopal Nandi, and Swatantra Dev Singh. Apart from this, while returning to the airport after concluding his Prayagraj tour, CM Yogi stepped out of his vehicle to walk along the road, captivated by its beauty. Following his lead, the accompanying ministers and officials also got down from their vehicles and joined him. CM Yogi expressed admiration for the aesthetics of the airport route. He walked along the road, observing and appreciating the thoughtfully planted greenery and landscaping. CM Yogi also inaugurated a special kitchen by the name of 'Maa Ki Rasoi', which is operated by Nandi Seva Sansthan at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj. He applauded the efforts of the organisation to maintain a clean kitchen with quality food that will serve the poor. The Chief Minister also served 'thalis' to the people as he inspected the special kitchen during its inauguration. Adityanath also took stock of the kitchen where the food was being prepared. The Maha Kumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. During the Maha Kumbh, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati (now extinct), to take a holy dip. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26. The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). (ANI) The facility, located in the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), is set to transform India's IT hardware manufacturing landscape. Syrma SGS, a company under PLI 2.0 for IT Hardware, starts a new facility for IT Hardware manufacturing in Chennai for the Taiwanese brand Micro-Star International (MSI). This initiative marks India's strategic shift from being a global leader in mobile phone manufacturing to making significant strides in the laptop and IT hardware sector. The facility will reinforce India's commitment to becoming self-reliant in high-quality IT hardware production. Syrma SGS has partnered with Micro-Star International (MSI), a world-renowned technology leader headquartered in Taiwan, to produce laptops, for Taiwanese brand Micro-Star International (MSI). The facility starts with an initial production capacity of 100,000 laptops annually, scalable to one million units per year within the next 1-2 years, based on demand. The expansion is expected to create 150-200 additional jobs by FY26, boosting local employment and contributing to the regional economy. The newly inaugurated Syrma SGS assembly line in Chennai showcases India's capability to produce world-class laptops that meet global standards. The new assembly line is a step towards achieving 2.0 and incentivizes the production of high-value IT products. Facilities like the newly inaugurated Syrma SGS assembly line in Chennai showcase India's capability to produce world-class laptops that meet global standardising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, reducing dependency on imported laptops, and also positioning India as a global hub for IT hardware manufacturing. The facility will not only meet domestic demand but also strengthen India's role in the global IT supply chain. This development underscores India's evolving manufacturing ecosystem, diversifying from mobile phones to high-end IT hardware. It is expected to provide consumers with world-class, affordable laptops while boosting India's economic growth. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal over his demand to include the Jaat community in the central OBC list, calling this an attempt to divert attention from real issues ahead of Delhi assembly polls. Addressing a press conference, BJP Lok Sabha MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat alleged that the AAP government for the last 10 years did not raise the issue in the state assembly or any public platform, stating that the reservation is a subject of the state government. "For the last 10 years, the government that was in power in Delhi with a complete majority did not raise this issue in the Vidhan Sabha or any public platform...Granting reservations is a subject of the state government...Kailash Gahlot, who has left the party, has confirmed that he had told the former Delhi CM 2-3 times about the inclusion of Delhi's Jaat community in central reservations...One of the main reasons for Delhi's Jaat community not being included in central reservations is former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's government," Sehrawat said. New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said that Arvind Kejriwal is raising the Jaat reservation issue as the AAP government has done nothing for the community in Delhi in the last ten years. "Jaat reservation is Arvind Kejriwal's election slogan. Today, when Delhi's AAP government is on a ventilator, when they (leaders) are out on bail, then he is giving the election slogan of Jaat reservation. In the last 10 years they have not done a single thing for the Jat community. If he has done something for the Jaat community in the last 10 years, then let us know. We are ready for an open debate," Chahal said. He further asserted that Jats in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have supported BJP and the community firmly stands with PM Modi". "Whenever Arvind Kejriwal gets involved in any issue, then he starts giving such election slogans to divert the debate," the NDMC chairman added. This comes after former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to include Delhi's Jat community in the OBC list of the Centre. He accused the BJP-led central government of "cheating" the community in the name of OBC reservation for the last 10 years. "The Delhi government OBC list consists of the Jat community, but the OBC list of the centre does not consist of the Jat community of Delhi. The Jat community students of Delhi do not get reservations when they apply for the Delhi University admission," Kejriwal said in a press conference on Thursday. "Central government institutions do not offer reservations to the Jat community of Delhi... This is injustice for the Jat community living in Delhi," he added. Kejriwal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised the Jat community in Delhi that they would be included in the OBC list of the Centre. "In 2015, you (PM Modi) called the leaders of the Jat community to your home and promised that the Jat community of Delhi will be included in the OBC list of the Centre," Kejriwal said. He added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah made similar promises to the community. "If the students of the Jat community of Rajasthan are to get a reservation in DU, then why don't the Jats of Delhi get it?" he asked. The AAP chief said that thousands of children from Delhi's Jat community do not get admission to DU due to not being on the OBC list of the Centre. "Despite being in the OBC list in Delhi, the Modi government is not allowing Jats to get benefits in the institutions of the Central Government," Kejriwal alleged. The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. A three way contest is on the cards in Delhi between the ruling AAP, BJP and Congress. Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got eight seats. (ANI) Former Odisha Governor Raghubar Das returned to active politics as he re-joined Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday in Ranchi. Party's Jharkhand president Babulal Marandi and others welcomed the former Jharkhand Chief Ministder into the party. Raghubar Das resigned from his post of governor on December 24. He was suceedded by Hari Babu Kambhampati, former governor of Mizoram. Das return to active politics comes after BJP's loss in recently held Jharkhand Assembly election. Hemant Soren-led JMM steered the INDIA bloc to victory with 56 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.The JMM won 34 seats, while its allies secured 22 seats. Among the allies, the Congress won 16 seats, the RJD won four, and the CPI-ML won two seats. The BJP-led NDA won only 24 seats in Jharkhand. The BJP secured 21 seats, while its allies the AJSU party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD-U won one seat each. Earlier, Raghubar Das after handing his resignation from Governor's post reflected on his tenure. "I got to serve Jagannath Ji and the public of Odisha for 14 months. Being the governor of a state is a responsibility and we have to listen to the citizens. I understood my responsibility and travelled around the district, got full support from the people and got a lot of love from the people," Das said. Raghubar Das said that BJP is a "great party" and gives chance to every member. He expressed thanks to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to give him a chance to serve the public of Odisha. "BJP is a great party which gives a chance to every member to severe and touch new heights. I want to thanks President Droupadi Murmu Ji, PM Modi Ji and Amit Shah ji to give me a chance to serve in the land of Jagannath," Das said. Das is a former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has also served as the president of the Jharkhand BJP twice. He was appointed as the 26th Governor of Odisha in October of 2023. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP and National General Secretary of the party's Yuva Morcha, Raju Bista on Friday visited the Indo-Bangladesh border under Chopra block in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Following his visit, he emphasised the crucial role played by BSF jawans in maintaining peace and security in the country. Bista asserted that the India-Bangladesh border is safe, adding that he had come here to boost the morale of the BSF Jawans. "While standing here amid the BSF jawans, I would like to give a message to India that the India-Bangladesh border is safe and BSF jawans, who safeguard the country under difficult situations, deserve all appreciation. I am here to boost their morale," he told ANI. Reacting to allegations from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that BSF was allowing infiltrators from Bangladesh to enter from Islampur, Sitai, Chopra, and many other regions and causing atrocities against women, Raju Bista said the remarks were not only an insult not to BSF but to India. Responding to ANI over the allegations on the BSF, Raju Bista said, "Whatever happened in Bangladesh in the last few days, after the caretaker government came to power, Mamata didi had a lot of expectations from them that she would be able to change the demography of West Bengal. But this did not happen due to our BSF jawans. So, she is distressed." "I would like to ask Mamata Didi, if there is a lapse by BSF at the border, it is your Police and administration in West Bengal. So, if you make their aadhaar Card, ration card, voter card and lay the blame on BSF jawans, a CM should avoid making such remarks. This is an insult not to BSF but to India," said Bista. Earlier, retired additional director general (DG) of BSF Sanjiv Krishan Sood also rejected the claims made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that it does not deliberately allow any infiltrators to come in. Sanjiv Krishan Sood said, "I reject the statement of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. BSF is doing its work properly and is doing its best under the circumstances. There could be several factors for the illegal entrance to come to India besides the normal economic factors. Often the troop density on the border is very low especially when there are times of elections, and lots of troops are withdrawn. So that leaves the border almost very thinly guarded." BSF's increased surveillance along the unfinished India-Bangladesh Border to prevent infiltration, smuggling and trafficking amid instability in Bangladesh. Nilotpal Kumar Pandey, the DIG PRO of South Bengal Frontier, said that the situation in the border is favourable, and the BSF understands their responsibility. "In Jayantipur border, BSF is doing its duty, there is peace and there is no problem. We understand our responsibilities and the importance of them is also there and it is for all our youth. And all of us, for the proper implementation of our duties, remain committed and give our best," he told ANI. He further added that security of borders is the supreme responsibility of the BSF. "BSF is a responsible entity. The security of borders and the environment in the borders are the responsibility of BSF. It is a great responsibility and a challenge. Every young man understands this and to fulfil this responsibility, they put everything into duty with all his heart and soul. You can see the challenges, limitations and constraints. And in these circumstances, how all the members of BSF are fulfilling their duties," he said. At the village in zero-line border between India and Bangladesh, Sohail Mandal from Jayantipur village said that although living there was cumbersome, they feel safe in the presence of the Border Security Force. The Border Security Force (BSF) South Bengal Frontier is dedicated to the security of India's border with Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI, DIG (PRO) of South Bengal Frontier expressed pride in the efforts of the force and said, "Our jawans know their duty and are performing it with full dedication. We understand our responsibility and are committed to it." Technological upgrades enhance border surveillance With growing concerns over illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, the BSF has adopted advanced technology to improve border security. Types of smuggling Gold and human trafficking are mainly smuggled through the river border from Bangladesh. Items such as Indian silver, daily food products, textiles and cannabis are smuggled through India. The BSF faces special challenges during the monsoon and winter seasons, which include fog and heavy rains. The lack of lighting along the river makes it difficult for the BSF to spot smugglers, who are familiar with the best time to carry out their activities. Technology and surveillance to tackle smuggling CCTV cameras have been installed along the river border and the BSF is using advanced technology such as sensors to spot when a person attempts to cross the border. (ANI) Delhi Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Ravindra Yadav, said on Friday that people who misuse social media to create panic and spread sensationalism should be ignored. In an interview with ANI, the Special CP explained that these people "misuse social media" and they aim to "spread sensationalism and violence." While responding to a question on the Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the special CP said that these people misuse social media to elevate themselves from zero to hero. "These people misuse social media and try to become heroes from zero through social media. They have nothing to offer, and their goal is to create sensationalism. In several cases of graffiti, there's no actual graffiti on the site of the purported claim, and the images posted are just Photoshopped to spread sensationalism. They make it viral, and such people and their posts should be ignored," he said, adding that these people are defaming our country to promote their agenda, for the sake of publicity. "Such people should be ignored," he said. The law enforcement agencies are working on it but citizens should not give them undue attention and waste time. Such people are attention seekers who thrive only on media publicity. In past years, there have been claims of incidents of pro-Khalistani graffiti being painted on public walls at various locations in Delhi. Ahead of Republic Day 2023, pro-Khalistani graffiti was reportedly sprayed at some locations in the national capital. Similarly, in September 2023, pro-Khalistan graffiti was found painted on a public wall at Delhi's Kashmiri Gate flyover. A month earlier, in August 2023, pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans were found on walls near metro stations in Delhi. Suspected activists of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a front for the separatist Khalistan group, were believed to be behind the acts, fueling security concerns ahead of the summit. The police had also made several arrests in connection with these incidents. However, after the criminals were arrested there has been no actual graffiti in the capital in the recent past although on several occasions Pannu has made claims which were found to be completely baseless and untrue on the ground. Further commenting on the juveniles allegedly being exploited by gangs operating from abroad to commit crimes in India, the Special CP said that some criminals had been successfully extradited. "We have been able to successfully deport some of the criminals back to India, and processes are ongoing for others. The CBI and Interpol are involved in this matter, and we are providing them with our inputs so that the victims get justice and they face trials and are punished," he added. The Special CP also spoke about cybercrime-related incidents and urged people to avoid falling for lucrative schemes. "There are two aspects of cybercrime: fear and greed. Regarding fear, the public should not be afraid, as the term 'digital arrest' does not exist in the law. It's just a form of psychological fear created by fraudsters. On the other hand, with greed, people should be cautious of schemes promising lottery wins or investments that claim to multiply money. To raise awareness, the police run an awareness drive and use social media platforms to educate people on how to avoid falling victim to such crimes," Yadav said. He added that the awareness campaigns are designed to educate the young the common man and the senior citizens who fall prey to different modus operandi according to their age group. The youth are lured to friendship traps while the old people are more prone to bank fraud and password stealing. (ANI) The schools of the national capital Delhi have been receiving repeated bomb threat calls and emails for the past several months. Delhi Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav said on Friday that this issue is affecting the classes and students, adding that such emails are difficult to trace, as they are sent using a VPN (Virtual private network). Speaking to ANI on the issue of bomb threats, the special CP said that such emails are usually bogus and pranks and many times sent by some students to cancel exams and classes but police cannot take any chance and hence they carry out proper checking and bomb detection drills. "This is affecting the classes and students. The emails are sent through VPN which it difficult to trace the location and sometimes when it gets traced, we get to know that it was bogus emails sent by students only to cancel classes and exams. But, we can't take chances so when such incidents happen, we have to carry out proper checking of the premises ..." Yadav said. Recently on January 8, several schools in Delhi received bomb threat emails. Last year over a hundred schools in the national capital received similar bomb threats later that turned out to be hoaxes. On December 14 and 17, several schools in Delhi had received bomb threat emails. Similarly, on December 13, a total of 30 schools across Delhi were targeted with hoax bomb threat emails. The Special CP further cautioned against young people joining gangs, which subsequently exploit the younger people, and that the police are continuously monitoring cyberspace to track them. "Our people continuously patrol cyberspace...The youth immediately gets attracted towards the bad stuff ...They get attracted because they find glamour behind it," Yadav said. Urging parents to keep an eye on their kids, the special CP added, "They (young people) are unaware of the other angles...They join the gangs and the gangs exploit them...They use them (youth) for crimes and their family has to suffer too...I would request the parents to prevent the youths from getting trapped in such situations." The Special CP Yadav also narrated instances where one module was busted for sending threats to hospitals in the name of Lawrence Bishnoi. "We have busted a module in which two people, one from Gokul Puri and one from Mainpuri, both of them wrote threat letters to 10 hospitals and top doctors in the name of Lawrence Bishnoi," Yadav said. Elaborating further on the investigation, it was later revealed that there people were petty cheats who did not have any gang association, but instead just wanted to cheat money by acting as gangsters. When the accused was caught, we came to know that they did not belong to any gang, and they did this to get money... There was a panic situation at the hospitals when they received such a letter...such incidents create panic which should not be spread in society," the special CP added. (ANI) Ahead of Delhi assembly polls, Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja on Friday admitted that the INDIA bloc "stands divided" post-Lok Sabha election 2024. The assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled to be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will be done on February 8. Speaking to ANI, Raja said, "It is a fact that Opposition is divided. It is known to people that in Delhi. Assembly election AAP is contesting on its own, Congress is contesting on its own, Left parties are contesting wherever they are capable of putting up a fight and among other parties, certain parties have declared support to AAP. So, it is a fact that INDIA bloc stands divided." Raja emphasised on Left parties' objective to unite secular and democratic parties to put a "strong" fight against the BJP. "As far as Left parties are concerned, since the first meeting which was held in Patna, we have been pursuing the political line that our primary objective must be to defeat BJP. Our whole effort should be to unite the secular, democratic parties at all levels. But it doesn't happen. But the Left will pursue how to unite the secular, democratic parties, how to put up a strong, collective fight to ensure the defeat of BJP wherever it is necessary" he told ANI As rift in the INDIA bloc came to the fore first in the Parliament's Winter Session and now in the Delhi Assembly polls, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav recently said that the Opposition grand alliance was meant only for the Lok Sabha Elections. "It was already decided that the INDI Alliance was for Lok Sabha polls only," Tejashwi told reporters when asked about his remarks on AAP and Congress contesting Delhi polls separately. Meanwhile, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal has also said that the Delhi assembly elections will be a direct contest between the AAP and the BJP and not an election of the INDIA bloc Kejriwal also claimed that Samajwadi Party's chief Akhilesh Yadava and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee have extended their support to AAP for the Assembly election. "Delhi assembly election is between AAP and the BJP. It is not the election of the INDIA alliance. I wholeheartedly express my gratitude to all those parties for supporting us. Mamata Banerjee is supporting us. Akhilesh Yadav is supporting us. I have learnt through media that the (Uddhav) Thackeray ji's party is supporting us," Kejriwal said. (ANI) Apart from Prayagraj, the epicentre of Maha Kumbh 2025, Varanasi is also gearing itself up in anticipation of the grand festival, with the latter expecting a huge inflow of tourists while the event draws near. It is expected that around 40-45 crore people will travel to the Maha Kumbh this year and the Varanasi tourism department expects that around 20 crore of those (40 per cent of tourists) people will also visit their city. Arpit Kumar Gupta, Director of the Varanasi Cantt railway station highlighted the preparations done for the pilgrims specifically, with increased number of trains, e ticketing and a waiting areas to avoid any over-crowding. Speaking about the holding areas, Gupta mentioned, "We are making arrangements to accommodate the passengers who have an approximate two thousand people in both such (areas)." "There will be chairs arranged for them to sit and there will be a train indicator board," he told ANI. Taking about the other arrangements, he added, "There we will be AT-VM, which we call Automatic Ticket Vending Machines. Also medical facilities will be available. So we are making all these extensive arrangements." Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off special shuttle buses of the Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation as well as electric buses named 'Atal Seva' on the second day of his tour to Prayagraj. These new buses have been added to the Transport Corporation's fleet to enhance transportation facilities for devotees attending Maha Kumbh. The Chief Minister was on a visit to Prayagraj to review the arrangements for the mega event. During the Mahakumbh, devotees will take a holy dip at the 'Sangam', the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and (mythological) Saraswati. The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). (ANI) The bench, led by Justice Jyoti Singh, rescheduled the matter for January 30 after noting that the petitioner and his lawyer were absent when the case was called. Previously, on Thursday, the bench had questioned the petitioner regarding the basis for treating the case as an election petition, suggesting that a public interest litigation (PIL) might be more appropriate. The petitioner stated that he had submitted a complaint to the Election Commission regarding the scheme in question. He has requested the court to direct the Election Commission to expedite the resolution of his complaint, which was filed on January 3. The petitioner also requests the High Court to direct the Election Commission to halt the further submission of forms related to the Mahila Samman Yojana by AAP workers. Recently, Arvind Kejriwal, unveiled the Delhi government's Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana, promising a monthly stipend Rs 2,100 for women aged 18 and above, if the Aam Aadmi Party government is voted to power in Delhi again. Voting in Delhi will take place in a single phase on February 5 and votes will be counted on February 8. (ANI) With the rapid development of modern technology, communication has become almost instantaneous just a tap of a screen. The once-cherished art of writing letters and affixing stamps seems like a forgotten relic. Yet, for a dedicated community of collectors, stamps are not just valuable artifacts but carriers of deep emotional connections, culture, history and art. Despite the prevalence of digital communication, this unique tradition remains alive, as evidenced by the passionate crowds that gathered at last year's China 2024 Asian International Stamp Exhibition in Shanghai. A worker displays China Post stamps dedicated to the exhibition in Shanghai on Nov 29. LI HE/XINHUA On Nov 29, the city witnessed an extraordinary gathering of stamp enthusiasts at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. The event buzzed with excitement as visitors of all ages flocked to the exhibition to celebrate the global art and culture of philately. Among them was 65-year-old Liang Bin, a seasoned philatelist from Taizhou, Zhejiang province. Liang had traveled to Shanghai for what he described as "a grand gathering for philately". A collector for nearly 50 years, Liang was among the first to arrive, braving the chilly winter morning and standing in a long queue that stretched well beyond the entrance of the exhibition hall. "It's not just about the stamps, it's about the connections," Liang said as he carefully affixed some stamps to a special envelope designed for the event. He was preparing to send these to fellow philatelists, some of whom he has been corresponding with for decades. "I've been sending letters to a friend in Taiwan for over 30 years. We've shared our joys and sorrows, from family celebrations to losses, and even sent each other money in the post. We're more than friends, we're like family," he added. For Liang, the act of writing and sending a letter is far from a simple task it is a meaningful ritual. The exchange of letters, often adorned with carefully chosen stamps, had become a deeply rooted tradition for many philatelists. Global celebration The exhibition, which ran for five days, saw a remarkable turnout. According to the All-China Philatelic Federation, one of the event's coorganizers, the daily visitor numbers consistently reached capacity. Attendees came from across China and around the world, many of them passionate collectors who viewed the event as an opportunity to connect, learn and expand their collections. While the crowds were predominantly middle-aged and older, younger faces were also visible, underscoring the intergenerational appeal of philately. "Stamp collecting is an important way for people from all over the world to exchange cultures and ideas," said Liu Wei, China's Transport Minister, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. "As a country with a rich philatelic culture, China continues to innovate and expand the influence of philately both domestically and internationally," Liu added. Philately in China had experienced something of a renaissance, particularly after the 1980 release of the famous "Monkey Stamp", which remains highly valued by collectors today. However, experts suggest that the number of active stamp collectors in China has gradually declined in recent years, likely due to the increasing dominance of digital communication. Prakob Chirakiti, president of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately, acknowledged that while the volume of physical letters may have decreased, the emotional and cultural significance of handwritten letters and stamps has not diminished. "It's different when you hold a handwritten letter from your mother, compared to just receiving a text," Chirakiti said. "Stamps, in a way, serve as ambassadors they tell stories." For instance, China uses stamps to showcase its technological and architectural achievements, while Japan highlights its food culture and cartoons. Chirakiti emphasized that philately remains an important medium of cultural exchange, especially in Asia, where the practice has flourished over the past several decades. Even in an age of digital communication, stamps continued to serve as powerful cultural symbols, connecting people across borders and offering a tangible link to history. Benjamin Combes, philately development and documentary heritage program manager at the Universal Postal Union, agreed, noting that stamps are an effective vector for communication. "They are a way to connect all levels of society from industries to the environment and they bring happiness and well-being to the people," he said. Combes also noted that philately transcends borders. "It's a universal language, a way of sharing stories and culture across all levels of society. It passes on the same messages, over and over again, bridging cultures and time." Despite the challenges posed by digital communication, the future of philately appears secure, thanks to the efforts of collectors, designers and postal organizations. Combes noted that the stamp industry continues to evolve, adapting to new technologies like non-fungible tokens and digital stamps. "We've seen the volume of physical letters drop in recent years, but the passion for philately remains strong," Combes said. "We are working to bring stamps into the digital age, making them accessible to a new generation of collectors through apps and other platforms." Cultural narratives The artistic and historical value of stamps are also major draws. Designers like Jiang Weijie, one of China's most renowned stamp designers, view stamps as "national calling cards". "Stamps represent a country's culture, achievements and beauty," Jiang said. "They are much more than just a means of payment; they are windows into a country's identity." Jiang's approach to designing stamps is meticulous, with an emphasis on artistic excellence. "Once a stamp is issued, it can never be retracted. We must ensure that every design is flawless, as it represents not only the nation but also the cultural heritage of the people," he said. His dedication to cultural representation is evident in the way Chinese stamps often features landmarks, historical figures and traditional customs helping to tell the story of China's past and present. Li Hao, a young stamp designer and engraver, feels fortunate to have found a profession he loves engraving the steel plates used to make stamps. "There's a sense of fulfillment in turning a simple design into something tangible that will be part of history," Li said. "It took me about 10 years to truly adapt to the profession," he added. "After graduating from university, I joined the stamp factory, and when I was tasked with designing a stamp of the Mogao Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dunhuang, Gansu province), I felt a deep connection with the Buddha sculptures. It was as if the art came alive as I engraved it, and I applied everything my teacher had taught me." Yang Zhiying, a senior stamp designer and engraver, spoke of the delicate process involved in stamp engraving. "A stamp is just 3 cm by 4 cm, but it takes two months for a skillful engraver to complete," Yang said. "Every stroke must be perfect, and there's no room for error. If I make even a slight mistake, the entire plate is ruined, and we must start again with a new one." Yang views stamp engraving as an essential cultural art that needs preservation. "We're training the next generation to keep this craft alive because it's not just about creating stamps it's about preserving a meaningful cultural tradition," she said. One of the most compelling aspects of philately is its ability to capture and preserve moments in time. Designers like Pan Hu, who has worked on several commemorative stamps, see stamp creation as a form of historical documentation. "Stamps are like time capsules they record moments in history. Every stamp is a piece of history," Pan said. Connecting generations Many stamp collectors, like Zheng Wei, a lifelong enthusiast with over 40 years of experience, see the hobby as a way to engage with history in a personal and meaningful way. "When my brother gave me my first stamp album as a child, I didn't know how much it would shape my life," the 51-year-old recalled. "Now, I'm sharing this passion with my son, who's already started his own collection." Zheng's experience reflects a broader trend in the philatelic community: many collectors pass their passion down to their children and grandchildren, ensuring the tradition of stamp collecting endures. "Philately brings joy and learning to every age," Zheng said. "For me, it's not just about collecting; it's about connecting with the past, preserving memories and creating bonds with others." Taking to X, Puri informed that the discussions were focused on green energy transition, leveraging artificial intelligence along the entire hydrocarbon value chain and expansion and strengthening of existing infrastructure. "Held comprehensive and detailed discussions with captains & professionals of India's energy sector entities & officials of @PetroleumMin in Mangaluru on the journey ahead for the sector under the visionary & decisive leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji," Puri wrote on X. "As India pivots toward transforming into a global energy hub, the sector is experiencing unprecedented growth & offers abundant investment & employment opportunities. Key focal areas of the day-long discussion today included green energy transition, leveraging artificial intelligence along the entire hydrocarbons value chain, expansion and strengthening of existing infrastructure, scaling ethanol production and blending, monetizing overseas assets, and enhancing operational capabilities," he added. Puri also discussed Global Biofuels Alliance initiative and strategies to integrate natural gas into coal-based power plants. He also addressed challenges related to retail outlets and the implementation of localized, customized Non Fuel Retail activities. Speaking about the discussion, Puri said, "The session underscored India's commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in its energy sector while addressing emerging opportunities and challenges." "As India confidently strides towards becoming the third largest economy in the world, we will emerge as the demand centre for energy accounting for more than 25% of the overall increase in global energy demand in the next two decades to drive this unprecedented economic growth," Puri added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda chaired the party's Central Election Committee meeting here on Friday to review preparations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders also attended the meeting. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Delhi Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 8. The incumbent party, AAP, which won the previous two terms with massive margins--67 and 62 out of 70 seats--is facing a stiff two-pronged challenge against BJP and the Congress and will be seeking a fourth term by showcasing its 'performance' in the areas of education and health as well as the plethora of welfare schemes. While both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have already released their full lists of candidates, the BJP is yet to finalize nominations for a few constituencies. Earlier in the day, BJP leaders MP Yogendra Chandolia and Praveen Khandelwal shared updates from the party's core group meeting on the Delhi elections. While speaking to the media, Chandolia said that the BJP leadership was meticulously reviewing seat nominations, saying that the nominations will be finalised by today or tomorrow. "Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and all the leaders in charge of Delhi are discussing the nomination on all seats. He (JP Nadda) has asked all of us for our opinion on 41 seats, our national leadership is discussing each seat in detail," Chandolia said. "BJP government will be formed in Delhi... If the parliamentary board meeting is held today, then the list will come today or else it will come tomorrow," he added. Praveen Khandelwal, after attending the meeting, shared that organizational matters were also discussed. "There was a discussion about the organisation in the meeting today. We received guidance from Amit Shah and JP Nadda," Khandelwal added. AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has hit out at BJP, citing 'credible sources' in claiming that BJP will be declaring Ramesh Bidhuri as their CM's face. Addressing a public gathering on Friday Atishi also referred to BJP as the "Galli-Galoch" party several times and said that Bidhuri is getting rewarded for hurling abuses against her (Atishi) and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. "Today, the entire Delhi is asking from the 'Galli-Galoch' party who is its CM face. The people of Delhi know that by voting for AAP, Arvind Kejriwal will become the CM. But they are asking who will be BJP's CM face. BJP's Core Committee meeting is underway and this evening they will hold their parliamentary board meeting," the AAP leader said. Calling Bidhuri as the person 'who hurls the most abuses.' "Through credible sources, we have found that 'Galli-Galoch' party has decided that its CM face will be the one leader who hurls the most abuses, which is Ramesh Bidhuri. He is getting rewarded for hurling abuses against me, my family and Priyanka Gandhi," she added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with journalists outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Headquarters, offering them greetings and advising them to take care of themselves in the cold winter. The journalists were gathered outside the BJP headquarters to cover the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Election. "New Year greetings to all of you. Greetings to you on Lohri, Makar Sankranti. Take care of yourselves in this cold; cover your head," PM Modi said while addressing the journalists, after arriving at the BJP headquarters. The BJP's Central Election Committee held a meeting on Friday to discuss the preparations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Minister JP Nadda. With only a few weeks remaining before the Delhi Assembly elections, which the Election Commission has scheduled for February 5, the party is in the final stages of preparation. The counting of votes will take place on February 8. While Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have already released their full list of candidates, the BJP is still finalising nominations for some assembly seats. The last date for filing nominations is January 17, followed by the scrutiny of nominations on January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. In the previous two assembly elections, Congress, which had ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, faced setbacks, failing to secure any seats. In contrast, AAP dominated the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP secured eight. On Friday, BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia shared insights from the party's core group meeting on Delhi elections. While addressing the media, Chandolia stated that the BJP leadership was meticulously reviewing seat nominations, saying that the nominations would be finalised soon. "Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and all the leaders in charge of Delhi are discussing the nomination on all seats. He (JP Nadda) has asked all of us for our opinion on 41 seats, our national leadership is discussing each seat in detail," Chandolia said. "BJP government will be formed in Delhi... If the parliamentary board meeting is held today, then the list will come today or else it will come tomorrow," he added. Praveen Khandelwal, who also attended the meeting, mentioned that organizational matters were also discussed, with guidance from Amit Shah and JP Nadda. "There was a discussion about the organisation in the meeting today. We received guidance from Amit Shah and JP Nadda," Khandelwal added. The BJP has already announced its first list of 29 candidates, while Congress has declared 47 candidates for the 70-seat assembly. Whereas, AAP has released its candidates for all 70 seats. Meanwhile, Delhi CM and AAP leader Atishi criticized the BJP for not declaring a chief ministerial candidate for the Delhi Assembly elections. Citing "credible sources," said that they have got to know that the BJP will be declaring Ramesh Bidhuri, the person who hurls the 'most abuses' as their CM candidate. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday acquitted a man who had been convicted and sentenced for the murder of a rag picker. The High Court observed that the eyewitness in the case was planted, the recovery of the weapon was doubtful, and the DNA report of the blood sample did not perfectly match. This incident dates back to March 24, 2012, when a man was allegedly stabbed to death by the appellant in the Safdarjung Enclave area. A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma set aside the trial court's judgement and order of sentence, acquitting the appellant, Pitambar Biswa Karma. While acquitting the convict, the High Court raised concerns about the investigation and the recovery of the weapon. The High Court said that the prosecution has not been able to prove the case qua the Appellant beyond the reasonable doubt. In the circumstances, the impugned order of judgment dated November 19, 2022, and sentence dated March 1, 2023, respectively, are set aside and the appellant stands acquitted, the division bench held. The High Court specifically pointed out that the prosecution's case was primarily based on the testimony of an alleged eyewitness. However, the bench opined that the eye witness was planted, stating, "The manner in which eye witness was sought to be shown as an eye witness to the incident clearly indicates the attempt made by the prosecution to create evidence in order to implicate the present Appellant, " the division bench said in the judgement passed on January 10, 2025. The court further said that in the backdrop of the circumstances and the testimony of SHO and employer of the appellant, as discussed hereinabove, this Court is of the considered opinion that the recovery in the present case cannot be relied upon and the same has to be discarded. The prosecution's case had relied on the testimony of an alleged eyewitness, Ram Pyari, and the alleged recovery of the murder weapon, the knife, and a subsequent DNA report that matched the blood samples from the knife to the deceased. In the context of the DNA report of blood samples collected from the Knife and clothes deceased, the High Court noted the testimony of the forensic expert who stated that the DNA samples were similar. In the report, it was stated, " DNA profile generated from the blood of the deceased Dharampal was found to be "similar" as that of the DNA profile generated on the blood-stained knife, which was the alleged murder weapon in the present case recovered at the instance of the Appellant." The High Court held, " In view of the fact that the recovery could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the DNA Report regarding matching of the blood samples from the knife with the samples of the deceased is of no consequence and need not be delved into." The appellant, Pitambar Biswa Karma, had been employed at Chawla Chicken Corner near Safdarjung Enclave. He was arrested for the murder of Dharampal, a rag picker. The appellant was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Saket District Court in 2023. He had challenged the conviction and sentence, which was overturned by the Delhi High Court. (ANI) Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan hoped that through the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the Indian diaspora is presented with an opportunity to understand the history and culture of the state. Speaking to ANI, Harichandan added that he hoped in the future of Odisha's development, the diaspora would play an important role. "The best thing is, the Honourable Prime Minister has given an appeal to the Indian diaspora across the globe, that in the development of the nation, development of the state, development of the eastern part of India, the role of the Indian diaspora is very much important. So he invited them to come visit and understand the heritage, culture and history of India as well as Odisha and to understand the possibilities of different entrepreneurship, and different aspects of Odisha so that in the future course of development, because it's Odisha and because it's Bharat, at least their involvement would be there," he said. The Minister said that through the Prime Minister's appeal, the diaspora would help in the creation of 'Viksit Bahrat' (Developed India) and 'Viksit Odisha' (Developed Odisha). "By anticipating that involvement, by anticipating their participation in the development process, the Honorable Prime Minister has appealed to them to come to India frequently and come with other people also to motivate other people to come to India so that at least a natural bonding would be developed between them and their origin of their family. And at least that will help both Odisha as well as India to develop and in the formation of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Odisha, they would have a great contribution," he said. Harichandan said that he hoped that the diaspora would heed the request of PM Modi to explore and help develop Odisha. "The PM has appealed for that. I think it will be accepted by the people who are present here and who are also not present here and looking at this from a distance over this media and other communication mediums, at least they will accept it happily and the same thing will be followed," he said. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organised in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. (ANI) Lebanon's parliament elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country's new president on Thursday, bringing an end to a prolonged political deadlock and presidential vacancy, CNN reported. Aoun was elected after two rounds of voting, following extensive efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to garner support for him. Both countries have close ties with Aoun, who is aligned with Washington and Riyadh. After his election, Aoun stepped down from his military role and arrived at the parliament in civilian attire to be sworn in. In his acceptance speech, Aoun declared the start of a "new era" for Lebanon, vowing to address the country's ongoing economic and political crises. He also made a rare pledge to "monopolise weapons" under the state's authority, signalling his intention to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, which has significant military influence in Lebanon, as reported by CNN. Notably, Hezbollah, the most heavily armed militant group in the Middle East, had significant influence in several countries until it suffered heavy losses in a recent war with Israel. This conflict, along with the weakening of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has reignited domestic debate on disarming the group. The US-brokered ceasefire agreement signed in November further weakened Hezbollah's position by stipulating its withdrawal from the border area with Israel, and Israeli forces are required to leave Lebanese territory by the end of January, as reported by CNN. Although Lebanon's army did not engage directly in the war with Israel, it played a crucial role in implementing the ceasefire terms. defence In his speech, Aoun emphasised that Lebanon, as a state, would work to rid itself of Israeli occupation and mentioned the possibility of developing a national defence strategy against Israel without Hezbollah, which has historically been responsible for confronting Israeli forces. "The Lebanese state--I repeat, the Lebanese state--will get rid of the Israeli occupation," Aoun said as quoted by CNN. "My era will include the discussion of our defensive strategy to enable the Lebanese state to get rid of the Israeli occupation and to retaliate against its aggression," he added. Lebanon had been without a president since October 2022, when former President Michel Aoun, backed by Hezbollah, completed his term. Efforts to elect a new president had failed 12 times over the past two years, deepening the divide between Lebanon's pro-Western and pro-Iran factions. In the second round of voting, Aoun won 99 votes out of 128. Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc supported his election in the second round to foster national unity but withheld their votes in the first round as a statement of their stance on sovereignty, as reported by CNN. (ANI) Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja on Thursday stated that PTI Chairman Imran Khan has demanded the federal government to release party leaders and workers currently in custody, as reported by ARY News. According to ARY News, Raja explained that PTI founder Imran Khan had instructed Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who met with him recently, to push for the formation of a judicial commission during the third round of talks with the government committee. Khan has also emphasised that if the government refuses to establish the judicial commission, PTI will not participate in the fourth round of talks. He reiterated that his main focus is the release of PTI workers and leaders, asserting that the charges against him are baseless and will be dismissed in court, ARY News reported. Raja further mentioned that PTI members have met with Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who leads the talks committee. However, Sadiq is aware of PTI's current stance and added that PTI has informed the government of its readiness for the next session of talks. "We have informed the government that PTI is ready for the next session of talks," Salman Akram Raja said as quoted by ARY News. Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq addressed recent criticism from PTI leaders, clarifying that his role is to facilitate dialogue between the government and opposition, not to arrange meetings for Imran Khan, as reported by ARY News. Sadiq responded to the criticism by stating that it was not within his responsibility to arrange meetings between Imran Khan and party leaders and expressed disappointment over accusations that his office had failed to respond positively to meeting requests. The Speaker assured that his doors are always open to everyone, and he has never declined to meet any Assembly member. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the supremacy of Parliament and facilitating discussions between the government and the opposition. Sadiq also mentioned that if both parties wish, he is ready to arrange an immediate meeting of the committees, ARY News reported. This response came as political talks appeared to stall, with statements from both sides following the second round of discussions. The delay in granting PTI leaders permission to visit Adiala Jail to meet Imran Khan for consultations further contributed to the perception that the talks were not progressing smoothly. (ANI) Former Indian diplomat KP Fabian on Thursday remarked on the recent development over the four alleged accused in the murder of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, questioning whether the decision made by the Justice Department of British Columbia, Canada, poses a significant setback for the Canadian government on the matter. Earlier, the documents released by the Justice Department showed that all four alleged accused in the murder of Nijjar appear to be no longer in custody. The case documents show 'N' against the status of being in the custody of four men--Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh--who were charged with the murder of Nijjar and conspiracy to murder by the Canadian police. Fabian further expressed concern over the length of time taken by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to complete their investigation. "The question now is whether the bail given to the four accused is a big setback for the Canadian government. Well, it is difficult to say. It is a victory for the advocates who represented the accused...The case will be tried in the Supreme Court of British Columbia...These four were accused and taken into custody in May 2024 and it is surprising that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) took so much time to complete the investigation," the former diplomat said. Brar, 22; Karanpreet Singh, 28; and Kamalpreet Singh, 22, were all taken into custody in Edmonton on May 3. A fourth accused identified as Amandeep Singh (22) was already in custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario for unrelated firearms charges and was also arrested for the said crime on May 11. According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in British Columbia, they are accused of murder and conspiracy. Police personnel, however, had not given any evidence of any link to India as was being speculated in the Canadian media. At the time of the arrest of the alleged accused, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Canada had not provided any "specific" evidence or relevant information in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case and that no "formal communication" had been provided to India over the arrests of three Indians allegedly involved in the matter. Notably, ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government of killing Nijjar. However, India has dismissed the accusations as "absurd" and "motivated".Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023. The video of his killing that reportedly surfaced in March 2024 showed Nijjar being shot by armed men in what has been described as a "contract killing." (ANI) The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing a deepening financial crisis as employees at the central secretariat in Islamabad have not been paid their salaries for the past three months, ARY News reported on Thursday. More than 25 employees of the PTI central secretariat staged a protest over the delayed payments, voicing their concerns to the PTI leadership. The issue was raised with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, as reported by ARY News. To address the situation, PTI has initiated a fundraising campaign, urging party parliamentarians and ticket holders to contribute funds to cover the salaries of the employees. According to ARY News attributing sources, the monthly salary budget for the PTI central secretariat is approximately PKR 4.5 million, but the party's funds have been depleted due to significant legal expenses incurred by the lawyers representing PTI in various court cases. In addition to the salary issue, PTI has launched another fundraising effort to support its operations, ARY News reported. A letter sent to party members acknowledged the party's severe financial difficulties and requested they contribute PKR 240,000 annually to the party fund. The payment can be made in two instalments of PKR 120,000 each, with the first due by January 2025, ARY News reported. This financial appeal comes at a time when PTI founder Imran Khan has urged overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances to Pakistan as part of a civil disobedience movement to pressure the government. Despite calling for economic resistance, PTI is struggling with its own financial challenges, prompting a call for funds from its members to sustain party operations. (ANI) The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Al Jazeera reported. The bill, titled the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," passed with a vote of 243 to 140, signalling strong support for Israel. According to Al Jazeera, 45 Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill, with no Republican opposition. The bill will now be considered by the Senate, which is under Republican control. "America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel," said Representative Brian Mast, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The proposed sanctions target any individual or entity that aids the ICC in its efforts to investigate, arrest, or prosecute US citizens or citizens of allied nations that do not recognise the court's authority, Al Jazeera reported. Sanctions would include freezing assets and denying visas to those who contribute to the ICC's actions. The ICC's arrest warrants were issued in May 2023, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has led to significant casualties. In response, the US legislators have called for action against the ICC, with the legislation now moving toward Senate approval. The move has been criticised by human rights organisations, who argue that the bill undermines an independent judicial institution and could harm global efforts for justice. Despite this, the Senate is expected to act quickly, allowing President-elect Donald Trump to sign the bill into law once he takes office. In 2020, during his first term as president, Trump imposed sanctions on senior ICC officials due to the court's investigations into US actions in Afghanistan and Israeli activities in Palestinian territories. President Biden later removed these sanctions. The ICC, located in The Hague, Netherlands, is a permanent tribunal with the authority to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression. Palestine has been a member of the ICC since 2015, and the court began investigating crimes committed by both Israeli and Hamas officials in 2019. Although Israel is not a member of the ICC, the court has jurisdiction over crimes committed in the territory of any member state, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator. The US has occasionally supported the ICC, such as when the court's prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Like Israel and the US, Russia is also not a member of the ICC. (ANI) This photo taken on May 5, 2023 shows the venue for the First Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Expo in Huaihua City, central China's Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua] The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has deepened trade and investment cooperation among its members since it came into force three years ago, and has effectively consolidated the fundamentals of China's foreign trade, China's Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said on Thursday. He made the comments at a regular press conference several days after the third anniversary of the implementation of the RCEP, which fell on Jan. 1 this year. As the non-ASEAN rotating chair of RCEP in 2024, China worked to facilitate new members in joining the pact, He said, adding that China's Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Chile have submitted formal applications to join RCEP, while other economies have shown strong interest. Since it came into force in 2022, the RCEP has helped deepen regional economic integration, He said. In 2023, the trade volume within the RCEP region totaled 5.6 trillion U.S. dollars, and the amount of green-field investment attracted by the region was 2.2 times that of 2021. From January to November in 2024, China's trade in goods with RCEP members reached 12 trillion yuan (about 1.67 trillion U.S. dollars), an increase of 4.4 percent year on year. The RCEP is the free-trade agreement with the largest participating population in the world, as well as the largest economic and trade scale, and the greatest development potential, He said. He added that China, the largest economy in RCEP, will continue to implement the RCEP comprehensively and with high quality, and make greater contributions to promoting Asia-Pacific economic integration and achieving regional common development and prosperity. The RCEP comprises 15 countries, including 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand. According to a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank, the RCEP is expected to increase the incomes of member economies by 0.6 percent by 2030, adding 245 billion U.S. dollars annually to regional income and 2.8 million jobs to regional employment. US President-elect Donald Trump has faced severe backlash from several German politicians over his recent suggestion that NATO's European members increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, more than double the current target, Euronews reported. A member of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD), Ralf Stegner, called Trump's remarks "delusional and absolutely insane" and stressed that the world does not need more weapons, as reported by Euronews. Marcus Faber, head of Germany's defence committee, agreed that 5 per cent was excessive, proposing that NATO countries agree on a new target of 3 per cent decided by consensus. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), also criticised Trump for inventing a figure without any basis. "Trump, who sees himself as a dealmaker, naturally also hopes that the increased financial commitment of the European partners will benefit US industry in particular. But please don't make up a number out of thin air," Strack-Zimmerman said as quoted by Euronews. During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump criticised NATO members for spending too little on defence and complained that "Europe is in for a tiny fraction of the money that we're in." He argued that NATO countries could afford to spend 5 per cent of their GDP on defence, rather than the current 2 per cent, a target set by the alliance, Euronews reported. According to Euronews, none of NATO's 32 members is currently spending 5 per cent of their GDP on defence, as per NATO data. Poland spends the highest percentage of its GDP on defence at 4.12 per cent, followed by Estonia at 3.43 per cent, and the US at 3.38 per cent. Trump's call for increased defence spending is not new. During his first presidency, he repeatedly threatened to withdraw from NATO if European allies did not meet spending targets. European NATO members have gradually increased their defence budgets, largely in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO projects that 23 of its 32 members, including 16 from the EU, will meet the 2 per cent GDP target by 2024, up from just six in 2021. Germany, which has previously been reluctant to invest heavily in its military, will meet the 2 per cent target for the first time this year after Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged a complete military overhaul in 2022, Euronews reported. Despite this progress, reports continue to highlight that Germany's military is underfunded, with an annual report in March 2024 describing the Bundeswehr as "aged and shrinking" with severe shortages in equipment and personnel. defence Meanwhile, many political leaders in Germany are advocating for even higher defence spending, with Green Party chancellor candidate Robert Habeck suggesting a target of 3.5 per cent in the coming years, citing the growing need for Europe to take more responsibility for its security, Euronews reported. "Geopolitically, it is foreseeable that we--Germany and Europe--will have to take more responsibility for our security; anything else would be naive in view of the positioning of the USA," Habeck said as quoted by Euronews. Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrat Union (CDU), also supported increased defence spending but refrained from committing to a specific target. He argued that the focus should be on meeting the necessary defence requirements rather than adhering to arbitrary spending goals. NATO's new chief, Mark Rutte, has warned that the current 2 per cent defence spending target is inadequate and urged NATO member states to accept "sacrifices," including cuts to pensions, health, and security systems, to boost military spending in Europe. (ANI) China is increasingly using various tactics under its "united front" strategy to influence Taiwan, according to Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Shen You-chung, the Taipei Times reported. At the Y's Day Forum hosted by the Taiwan Public Welfare group, Shen highlighted how China treats every cross-strait interaction as an opportunity to advance its agenda. According to the Taipei Times, Shen noted that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) utilises methods such as manipulating local elections, as seen in 2018 and 2022, and hindering the effectiveness of Taiwan's administration through legislative barriers. He also pointed out the CCP's growing influence on Taiwanese political parties, with cross-strait interactions often intertwined with domestic political ideologies. Shen specifically mentioned Kinmen County as an example of Beijing's strategy to increase its presence in local governments. The CCP is reportedly attempting to promote its "one country, two systems" model, particularly after its credibility was damaged by interventions in Hong Kong. As per the Taipei Times, Beijing is exploring options to allow Kinmen residents to buy real estate in Xiamen and gain voting rights, aiming to create a de facto "one country, two systems" situation. This, along with improved travel and shopping options in Xiamen, is intended to make the idea of prosperity through Chinese benefits more appealing to Taiwan. Shen warned that Beijing's outreach to Taiwanese youth, offering benefits to encourage them to start businesses in China, is a strategic manoeuvre to attract them while concealing ulterior motives. He explained that China's high unemployment rates suggest that these offers are part of a plan to eventually push the Taiwanese out of the market through aggressive pricing. Additionally, despite China's official stance of atheism, the CCP continues to use religion for its "united front" efforts. Shen explained that China claims all Matsu temples in Taiwan trace their origins to the original temple in Meizhou, China. It also aims to certify these temples and others like those dedicated to Guangdong by making them obtain proof of authenticity. The MAC emphasised that cross-strait exchanges should adhere to Taiwan's approved actions, avoid promoting political views that undermine Taiwan, and restrict Chinese officials from engaging in media interviews during visits. (ANI) Leading Baloch human rights activist and organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Mahrang Baloch gave a call on Thursday for a national gathering to be held at Dalbandin on January 25 to highlight the plight of Baloch people under Pakistan who are routinely subjected to barbarity, brutality, and violence. In a post on X, she highlighted how the inhuman and horrific tortures being faced by Baloch people at the hands of the Pakistani Army. She said, "Every passing day, a painful incident comes to light in which Pakistani army and death squad operatives raid the home of a Baloch family, torture the women and children and forcibly abduct the men. Under a well-thought-out and systematic plan, Balochistan is being forcibly made a place of mourning and torture on a daily basis so that the Baloch nation can be convinced that the decision of their life and death is in the hands of cruel and barbaric state institutions." She noted that the violence inflicted by Pakistan on Baloch people has resulted in several unmarked and abandoned graves across the region. She further said, "Pakistani army and its death squads have been dismembering thousands of our loved ones for many years, disfiguring them, considering them abandoned and burying them in anonymous cemeteries in different parts of Balochistan in an inhuman, illegal, immoral and irreligious manner, is intended to send a message to the Baloch nation that they are not only abandoned in their own land, but also the decision of their life and death is in their own hands. This cruel act is actually an attempt to convince us that our status on this land is nothing more than animals." "Over the past several years, they have developed a systematic plan to assert their illegal power and ruthlessly exploit the resources of Baloch land, under which continuing the genocide of the Baloch nation is a key part of their plan", she added. She gave a call to people to, "fully participate in the national gathering to be held at Dalbandin on January 25th to prove that these abandoned bodies and graves are indeed our great martyrs." https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1877401201089577347 The BYC has declared January 25 as "Baloch Genocide Memorial Day" to honour those who have fallen victim to what the group describes as a genocidal campaign against the Baloch people, The Balochistan Post reported. Mahrang Baloch explained that January 25 marks the 2014 discovery of over 100 mutilated bodies in the Tootak region of Balochistan. She said that these remains belonged to Baloch individuals forcibly disappeared by Pakistani military and intelligence agencies. (ANI) US President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (local time) that a meeting is being set up between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, Trump made the statement on Thursday announcing the plans underway for a meeting between him and Putin, however, he offered no timeline for the talks between the two leaders, according to Reuters. Quoting Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russian News Agency TASS noted, "In case [Trump's] political will to resume high-level contacts after he takes office persists, then, of course, President Putin will only welcome this," the spokesman said. Peskov recalled that the Russian President repeatedly stated his readiness for dialogue as well as the need for this. Earlier, Trump said that he would like to hold talks with Putin and suggested that this could happen in the first six months after he officially assumes office. So far, no requests for such contact have been received from the American side, Peskov said, as per TASS. In December last year, Putin, while speaking at his annual end-of-the-year news conference, had said that he was ready to discuss the possibility of reaching a compromise in talks with US President-elect Donald Trump on the issue of Ukraine. "I don't know when I'm going to see him. He isn't saying anything about it. I haven't talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Any time," Al Jazeera quoted Putin as saying. During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly stated that, if elected, he intends to resolve the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours. However, he admitted on January 7, that the settlement process may take longer, expressing hopes that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the subject, among other issues, will take place much earlier than six months following his inauguration, according to TASS. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised India's commitment to women-led development, integrating it into the country's foreign policy. Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas panel on 'Nari Shakti: Celebrating Women's Leadership and Influence', he said that women-led development has been a part of India's foreign policy and stressed the need to integrate women into all aspects of society and the role of women in India's journey of progressing towards a Viksit Bharat. Mentioning about G20 Summit, the External Affairs Minister said, "When we chaired G20, we pushed very strongly for women-led development and got it eventually accepted in the G20 conceptual framework". He also noted that the idea was pushed very strongly during Summit of the Future. "We do a lot of development cooperation, especially with countries of the global south. We are present in different ways through projects and capacity building in 78 countries and in many of our projects target gender-sensitive issues, women's equality, and opportunities for them. So this is very much built into our foreign policy" Speaking about how women's development is intrinsically tied to the idea of Viksit Bharat, Jaishankar said, "You cannot progress towards Viksit Bharat if you don't address these issues" "Until we are able to deal with traditional, historical, societal attitudes; if India is to become a modern, industrial, tech-centric society then we cannot neglect 50 per cent of the talent". He highlighted the importance of role models and how the need is to make them into trends. "If they are replicated, internalised, normalised, they actually have a transformational impact on society". In his closing remarks, Jaishankar noted that where one metric of measuring Viksit Bharat is through GDP and infrastructure, that is superficial until we address the human side of the progress. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat." A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome and discussed critical issues, including Ukraine's defence needs and progress toward European Union membership. The Ukraine President's Office in a statement said, "In Rome, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni. One of the key topics of their discussions was addressing Ukraine's defence needs, particularly enhancing its air defence." "The President expressed gratitude to the Italian government for approving the tenth military aid package. Strengthening Ukrainian forces on the battlefield, as well as protecting cities and villages from Russian attacks, is critically important for achieving a just and lasting peace," the statement added. "We are now looking to expedite certain elements of this package. We have joint Italian-French SAMP/T air defence systems, and the number of missiles is very important for us - we are counting on it. There's a batch of missiles we are already receiving, but there's another batch that still needs to be finalised so they can be delivered to us," said Zelenskyy. The President also highlighted active efforts to prepare for the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2025), which is scheduled to take place in Rome on July 10-11. "Our teams have started working on this year's recovery conference, with a particular focus on cultural heritage. Here, we are relying primarily on Italy. We are also collaborating with UNESCO and will engage separately with France. I would like Italy to make a significant contribution to the recovery of our historical heritage - they are highly skilled in this area," the Ukrainian President added. Additionally, Zelenskyy and Meloni paid special attention to supporting Ukraine on its path to EU membership. Zelenskyy also discussed support to protect Ukraine's people, cities, and villages from Russian strikes. In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, "During my meeting with @GiorgiaMeloni here in Italy, we discussed crucial support to protect our people, cities, and villages from Russian strikes, like the recent horrific attack on Zaporizhzhia." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1877467871711760779 "I am sincerely grateful to Italy for its steadfast support of Ukraine's air defense. Today, we focused on strengthening our air shield, collaborating with partners to bring peace closer, and working together on reconstruction efforts that will benefit both our nations - creating jobs, boosting our economies, and advancing social development," the post added. (ANI) US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Leo Terrell as the Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the US Department of Justice. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that Leo Terrell will be Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice. He will work alongside Harmeet K. Dhillon, a fellow Californian, and our incredible Nominee for United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Justice Department." "Leo is a highly respected civil rights attorney and political analyst. He received his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and has defended many high profile cases throughout his incredibly successful career. Leo will be a fantastic advocate for the American People, and ensure we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!", the post further added. In a video message posted on X, Leo Terrell thanked Trump and said, "Today, the President of the United States of America, Donald J Trump, appointed me as a Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General in the civil rights division. I want to thank the president. I accepted the position because I want to help President Trump make America great. " He further said, "This is an honour, and for those people who have heard me articulate my views on the equality of law and treating everyone fair, help is on the way. For those people who believe that the system was used illegally against certain groups because of their political views. Help is on the way. If you know how I've articulated my views on what is fair and unfair, what is legal and illegal, it's my goal to work with President Donald J. Trump, with Pam Bondi, with Harmeet Dhillon and we are going to provide fairness in the legal system and make America proud of the United States Department of Justice. God bless America. God bless President Trump. God bless everyone". https://x.com/TheLeoTerrell/status/1877512523257360684 Earlier, US President-elect Donald Trump had earlier announced the nomination of Indian-origin Harmeet K Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice. (ANI) Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, emphasised the significance of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award and highlighting the achievements of the Indian diaspora, he described it as both a recognition of their accomplishments and a call to stay connected to their roots. Kumar also underlined the important role the diaspora can play in India's journey towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, creating a bridge between India and the world while contributing to the country's economic and geopolitical growth. Notably, Ravi Kumar will be awarded by President Droupadi Murmu, along with 27 others. The birthplace of Ravikumar is Odisha and he works as the CEO of Cognizant. While speaking with ANI, Kumar said, "The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, which is given by the Government of India to Non Resident Indians is a big honour for Indians living abroad. This year, there are around 27 awardees and they come from a diverse set of fields -- technology, business, art, culture and a variety of professions. It is a call for all the awardees to stay connected to the roots." He added, "Indians abroad have been very accomplished and have done significantly well. So, it's a unique opportunity for Indians abroad to contribute to the growth story of India. In the last 10-15 years, India's role in the global stage, both economically and geo-politically has been very strong. So Indians abroad can actually contribute significantly to the growth story in a diverse set of fields. That's why, this is a very exciting opportunity for Indians who live abroad but have their roots in India." On being asked on how the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award will be helpful to the Indian economy, he said, "If you look at the theme of this year's conference, it's about how the diaspora can play a role in Viksit Bharat. Viksit Bharat is about making India a developed nation by 2047, which is 100 years of India's independence. Indians abroad have been significantly accomplished. So the ability to stay connected, the ability to contribute back and create a bridge between the world and India is what Indians can do." He further said that these awards in some ways are motivation for all the 35 million Indians living abroad to "make a difference in the country, make a difference to the world, make a difference to the country where they live today." Born in Odisha, Ravi Kumar was appointed CEO of Cognizant in January 2023. Prior to Cognizant, Ravi served as President of Infosys from 2016 to 2022. The early part of his career was spent as a nuclear scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center of India. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat." A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention. (ANI) Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday highlighted the pivotal role of the Indian diaspora in shaping global perceptions of India and asserted that the world looks at India with "renewed sense of optimism." Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas plenary session on 'Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection, and Belongingness,' Shekhawat said, "A nation's greatness lies in its ability to connect with its diaspora. As stated by Gandhi ji, the strength of a nation is not just in its resources or geography, but in its ability to maintain relationships with its people, no matter where they are in the world. This idea resonates throughout the cultural and economic ties that bind India and its diaspora." He added, "I am delighted to chair this panel which explores the Indian diaspora's extraordinary journey, one that is firmly rooted in culture, connection and belongingness. As we gather here today, I am reminded of the remarkable role our community has played in shaping the global narrative of hope, peace, and progress. The world now looks to India with a renewed sense of optimism, recognising the strength and resilience that our nation embodies." Shekhawat also praised the contributions of the Indian diaspora across the world in diverse fields. "In European research institutions, our scientists are breaking new ground in quantum computing and climate solutions. Indian-owned businesses in the UK alone generate over 100,000 jobs. Similar success stories emerge from across the globe," Shekhawat said. Speaking about India's soft power, the minister said, "India is a land of unparalleled diversity. Our soft power rooted in yoga, ayurveda, cuisine and art has generated global admiration. Our culinary heritage has undergone a remarkable transformation while maintaining its authentic roots. My heart fills with pride when I see Diwali celebrations at Times Square and Holi colours at Trafalgar Square. I see India's soft power touching hearts across continents." Shekhawat also extended an invitation to the Indian diaspora in the upcoming festival of Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. "I would like to extend a warm invitation to you for one of India's largest spiritual celebrations, that is the Mahakumbh, is set to take place from January 13 to February 26 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh," he said. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat." A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention. (ANI) Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, praised the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Bhubaneswar, highlighting the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora in promoting India's culture, preserving languages, and making a global impact. While speaking with ANI on Friday, Shekhawat said, "The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas being held in Bhubaneswar is really wonderful. Indians across the country have gone abroad and not only made their identity but also developed India's culture, and cultural values and preserved Indian languages." Shekhawat also emphasised that through this event, efforts to connect accomplished Indians with their roots showcases a "unique" vision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a developed India. "Through Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the effort to connect all those Indians, whom India is proud of, with their roots is unique. This long-sighted effort made by the Honorable Prime Minister for a developed India is commendable," Shekhawat said. Earlier, Shekhawat highlighted the pivotal role of the Indian diaspora in shaping global perceptions of India and asserted that the world looks at India with "renewed sense of optimism." Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas plenary session on 'Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection, and Belongingness,' Shekhawat said, "A nation's greatness lies in its ability to connect with its diaspora. As stated by Gandhi ji, the strength of a nation is not just in its resources or geography, but in its ability to maintain relationships with its people, no matter where they are in the world. This idea resonates throughout the cultural and economic ties that bind India and its diaspora." He added, "I am delighted to chair this panel which explores the Indian diaspora's extraordinary journey, one that is firmly rooted in culture, connection and belongingness. As we gather here today, I am reminded of the remarkable role our community has played in shaping the global narrative of hope, peace, and progress. The world now looks to India with a renewed sense of optimism, recognising the strength and resilience that our nation embodies." Shekhawat also praised the contributions of the Indian diaspora across the world in diverse fields. "In European research institutions, our scientists are breaking new ground in quantum computing and climate solutions. Indian-owned businesses in the UK alone generate over 100,000 jobs. Similar success stories emerge from across the globe," Shekhawat said. Speaking about India's soft power, the minister said, "India is a land of unparalleled diversity. Our soft power rooted in yoga, ayurveda, cuisine and art has generated global admiration. Our culinary heritage has undergone a remarkable transformation while maintaining its authentic roots. My heart fills with pride when I see Diwali celebrations at Times Square and Holi colours at Trafalgar Square. I see India's soft power touching hearts across continents." Shekhawat also extended an invitation to the Indian diaspora in the upcoming festival of Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. "I would like to extend a warm invitation to you for one of India's largest spiritual celebrations, that is the Mahakumbh, is set to take place from January 13 to February 26 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh," he said. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat." A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention. (ANI) Elderly people dine at a canteen of Nanwenying community in Rongdong District of the Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China is ramping up efforts to improve its elderly care system to address the challenges of a rapidly aging population, with over 21 percent of Chinese citizens now aged 60 or older. The country has released a set of high-profile guidelines aimed at deepening the country's elderly care services reforms, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. Tang emphasized the urgency of implementing comprehensive measures before 2035 to ensure the country is prepared for the challenges posed by its aging population. The guiding policy document proposes strengthened basic elderly care services with a focus on providing care for seniors with disabilities, as well as improved policies and measures to ensure accessible, tangible elderly care services. The document also advocates the active development of the silver economy and a further boost to the development of the elderly care sector. Following these guidelines, the country plans to establish a three-tier elderly care network at the county, township and village levels, and to coordinate home-based and community-based care with the professional, supporting role of institutional care. The latest data reveals that China's average life expectancy has reached 78.6 years. Projections suggest that by about 2035, the number of people aged 60 or above in China will exceed 400 million, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total population. To tackle this demographic shift, the government has significantly boosted funding for elderly care, investing more than 560 billion yuan (77.9 billion U.S. dollars) in pension services and welfare between 2019 and 2024, with an annual growth rate of 11 percent, Ge Zhihao, a senior official of the Ministry of Finance, said at the same press conference. In addition to financial support, the government has introduced tax incentives for senior care institutions, offering exemptions and reductions on corporate income tax, value-added tax and other levies, Ge said. In the future, the government will continue expanding investment in elderly care and streamline the management of relevant funds, he said. According to the guidelines, measures will include those that improve access to institutional care, modify homes for accessibility, and expand in-home services. Technological innovation is a cornerstone of these reforms. The government will support the development of technologies such as humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence to enhance elderly care services. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that a consignment of essential medicines, including antibiotics, and painkillers has been dispatched to aid the people of Cuba in their recovery efforts. Sharing a post on X, the MEA spokesperson wrote, "Vishwabandhu Bharat: India sends Humanitarian Assistance for the people of Cuba." "In the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael, a consignment in the form of Essential Medicines comprising Antibiotics, Anti-pyretics, pain killers, ORS, muscle relaxants has departed for Cuba today," the post added. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1877615984158085561 Notably, Hurricane Rafael made landfall in the western Cuban province of Artemisa as a Category 3 storm on the afternoon of November 6, 2024. The hurricane approached the island from the south, having skirted past Jamaica on November 5 as a tropical storm, according to NASA Earth Observatory. Approaching Cuba, it traversed warm waters and encountered light to moderate vertical wind shear--environmental conditions that helped the storm to strengthen into a major hurricane. Rafael's sustained wind speeds peaked at 185 kilometres per hour prior to landfall, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) had reported. It weakened slightly upon encountering land, downgrading to a Category 2 storm as it moved across Cuba and tracked northwest into the Gulf of Mexico. Citing news reports, the NASA Earth Observatory said that the Cuban government announced the hurricane had knocked out power across the entire island before landfall. Several airports had suspended flights. Western Cuba was expected to receive 100 to 200 millimetres of rainfall from the storm system, according to the NHC, with several inches also forecast for the Cayman Islands and Florida Keys. The NHC had also warned of strong storm surge that could raise water as much as four metres above normal levels along Cuba's southern coast. (ANI) The US Department of Commerce is reportedly finalising a new regulatory framework aimed at controlling the export of advanced intelligence (AI) technologies, including high- performance graphics processing units (GPUs) and closed - weight AI models. This framework is intended to prevent the People's Republic of China (PRC) from obtaining US AI capabilities through illegal methods and loopholes, such as cloud computing and foreign subsidiaries based outside China. The proposed, "Export Control Framework for AI Diffusion" would establish a global licensing system for these critical AI technologies, with the goal of curbing China 's access to powerful tools that could enhance its national security capabilities, including offensive cyber tools and signals intelligence. The initiative has garnered strong support from various stakeholders, who argue that the framework would limit China's ability to leverage US technological advancements in ways that could undermine global security. In a letter addressed to US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, policymakers emphasized the need for a global approach to counter China's circumvention tactics, suggesting that the PRC continues to exploit international trade and technology networks to access US AI innovations. The letter calls for clear restrictions on countries that maintain military ties to China, including those hosting People's Liberation Army (PLA) bases or intelligence infrastructure, as well as those that support entities like Huawei, according to the Select Committee on the CCP. Advocates for the new export controls also stressed the importance of updating these regulations more frequently, ideally, multiple times a year to keep pace with China's evolving tactics and to better safeguard US interests. The letter argues that this regulatory action presents a unique opportunity for the US to exercise its leadership in AI technology to influence other countries' relationships with China, ensuring that critical AI models continue to be developed and controlled by the United States. While concerns remain about specific deals, such as the Microsoft-G42 collaboration and the UAE's ties to China, the push for stricter export controls signals a broader strategy to leverage US technological dominance to distance nations from Beijing and strengthen global alliances in the AI sector. This move comes as the US looks to protect its technological edge and maintain its position as the global leader in AI innovation while mitigating the risks posed by adversarial nations using advanced technology for military and intelligence purposes. (ANI) International students from leading American universities held an interaction with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during the side-lines of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas underway in Odisha. They lauded Jaishankar's passion for India and developed a positive outlook towards the country. The students who came from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), praised the interactions they had with Dr Jaishankar as they got a chance to discuss international politics and India's role in the world. Carissa Cruz, from the Philippines who had a Master' degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, said, "The interaction was actually great. I have learnt a lot. The minister welcomed us into his world and all of India. His hope for India in the world is truly life-changing". PhD student, Jesse Heinricher from MIT said, "We were very appreciative to be able to participate today. He (EAM) had a lot of things to say about the state of India and its relationship to the world, as well as regionally. He was all around very generous and had a very positive outlook on India's position in the world". Speaking about his visit to India, he said, "I love it. It's been incredible. I read about India so often on the news, and it's developing. But I didn't know so many specifics. There's been such a wonderful cultural interaction here in India and we've learned so much and we've met with so many wonderful people and the hospitality we've experienced has been like nothing I've ever experienced. I have such a positive impression of India. It's been the trip of a lifetime to be here and very positive outlook on India's position in the world." Another student, Carla Paula Beltran Rojas who is pursuing MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management, on her interaction with Dr Jaishankar said, "It was really excellent. We feel very fortunate to have been able to have the time with him and in particular hear more about his views on the international and global relationships that India is developing as well as his excitement for what's happening internally in India and how it's continuing to grow as a global power". Speaking about her visit to India, she said, "I've always wanted to come visit. I think it's one of our prominent global powers and I think there's a lot of exciting innovation coming out of India. We were able to meet with some computer engineering students yesterday, saw excellent work. There's clearly a lot of passion and promise coming out of the country. So definitely want to keep close ties with the country". Richard Kunzel, a research scientist at the Western University of Technology and the Harvard School of Public Health said that the students got to visit a lot of different places, universities and had a good interaction where they got a chance to talk about foreign affairs with Dr Jaishankar. Another student, Kailash from Nepal, studying international development at Harvard and pursuing MBA at MIT said, "We learned a lot about India's focus on neighbourhood first policies, strategic autonomy. He (EAM) seems to really feel strongly about the importance of continuing the relations with neighbouring nations and talked about supporting energy security or a disaster response, and I feel that's something, where neighbouring nations like Nepal, can really take advantage of the fact that India is making investments into going forward and how can we really work together in strengthening the bilateral relationships." During the visit, he said that the students were able to talk to ministers, founders of companies, listen to their perspectives and understand where India's trying to go, from a policy perspective, from a business perspective. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has announced that out of the three new weapons procurement contracts signed with the US in 2024, one of them will be delivered by the end of 2025, Taipei Times reported. Taipei Times, citing the MND said that the three contracts are for Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), an L-band electronic array radar and a non-L-band electronic array radar. The Taiwan Defence Ministry noted that given the frequent military activities in the Taiwan Strait by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the NASAMS and new radar systems will deepen Taiwan's air defense capabilities. NASAMS have been used effectively in Ukraine, offering up automated detection capability, distributed firepower capabilities, a supporting command and control component, and the two new radar systems will improve detection rates and be resistant to jamming or interference, the ministry said. NASAMS integrates the MPQ-64 "Sentinel," multiple types of short and medium-range air defence missiles, and the Link 16 military tactical data link, allowing it to defend against aircraft within a range of 40 to 50 kilometres. As per the MND, NASAMS will be deployed in Greater Taipei, with one located in Taipei's Songshan District and the other in New Taipei's Tamsui District, as both locations would be crucial in defending the capital. The electronic array systems will be spread across the country. Taipei Times noted that the US government had announced on October 26 last year that it would notify the US Congress of the agreements, totalling USD 1.988 billion. This would make it the 17th arm sale to Taiwan under outgoing US President Joe Biden. The contract for NASAMS amounts to New Taiwan Dollar 10.31 billion (USD 312.7 million), has a fulfilment date of Dec. 27 of last year, and will run until Feb. 25, 2034. The L-band electronic array radar will cost New Taiwan Dollar 6.42 billion and run until 2030, while the non-L model will cost New Taiwan Dollar 7.61 billion and expire at the same time. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu on Friday arrived at Janta Maidan to attend the valedictory session and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award ceremony in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. She was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The event marks a significant moment in honouring the contributions of the Indian diaspora. The President's Secretariat in an official press release had said, "On January 10, the President will grace the valedictory session of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention and present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards at Bhubaneswar, Odisha." Meanwhile, Jaishankar in a post on X said, "Honored to receive President Droupadi Murmu today at the #PravasiBharatiyaDivas2025 Convention in Odisha." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1877639911127298352 The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat". A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention. Earlier in the day, Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, emphasised the significance of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award and highlighted the achievements of the Indian diaspora, he described it as both a recognition of their accomplishments and a call to stay connected to their roots. Kumar also underlined the important role the diaspora can play in India's journey towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, creating a bridge between India and the world while contributing to the country's economic and geopolitical growth. Notably, Ravi Kumar will be awarded by President Murmu, along with 27 others. While speaking with ANI, Kumar said, "The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, which is given by the Government of India to Non-Resident Indians is a big honour for Indians living abroad. This year, there are around 27 awardees and they come from a diverse set of fields -- technology, business, art, culture and a variety of professions. It is a call for all the awardees to stay connected to the roots." He added, "Indians abroad have been very accomplished and have done significantly well. So, it's a unique opportunity for Indians abroad to contribute to the growth story of India. In the last 10-15 years, India's role on the global stage, both economically and geo-politically has been very strong. So Indians abroad can contribute significantly to the growth story in a diverse set of fields. That's why, this is a very exciting opportunity for Indians who live abroad but have their roots in India." (ANI) Pakistani pilgrims visiting Ajmer for the 813th Urs of Sufi Saint Khwaja Garib Nawaz have concluded their three-day stay and are set to depart today. Pakistani pilgrims visiting the Dargah of Sufi Saint Khwaja Garib Nawaz were escorted under strict police security. They were taken from the Central Girls School in Old Mandi to the Dargah, where they completed their visit under the same police cordon. Following the pilgrimage, they were escorted back to the Central Girls School. While giving information, Suresh Sindhi, former ADM of the city said, "They are departing today and will go back by train at 3:00 pm. There were a total of 89 pilgrims. Pilgrims were sent to the Dargah under police cordon and were brought from the Dargah under police cordon." Bharat Gurjar, officer in-charge of Pakistani pilgrims, said that the Pakistani pilgrims came to Ajmer on January 7. "They were being kept under tight security but this time, they were not allowed to go out anywhere," Gurjar said. The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is one of the most revered Sufi shrines in India. Every year, millions of devotees from all over the world gather here to celebrate the Urs festival, a significant event that commemorates the death anniversary of the Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chishty. The 813th Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti commenced on December 28, 2024, and is observed with great reverence. The annual event attracts devotees from across the country and beyond, who come to pay their respects and seek blessings. Earlier on Saturday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju visited the revered Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer on the occasion of the 813th Urs. Following his visit, he shared a post on X and wrote, "On the very auspicious occasion of the 813th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, I had the privilege of visiting the revered Dargah Ajmer Sharif. On behalf of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, I offered the sacred chadar, a timeless gesture of faith, unity & peace that inspires millions." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented the Chadar that would be offered on his behalf at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti on the occasion of 813th Urs. The chadar was presented to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui.This 'Chadar' is offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the occasion of the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. PM Modi has been sending a 'Chadar' to the shrine annually to mark the occasion. The chadar, which is laid over the shrine (mazar-e-akhdas) of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, symbolizes devotion and respect. During urs festival offering a chadar is considered a powerful form of worship, seen as a means to receive blessings and fulfill vows. (ANI) Hundreds of activists from the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) Punjab protested outside the Civil Secretariat against recent cuts to pension, gratuity, and leave encashment, as reported by the Dawn. The report stated that holding placards and banners, the protesters expressed their discontent with what they called the government's anti-worker policies. The interim Punjab government had issued notifications slashing these employee benefits, which led AGEGA activists to demand that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz revoke the measures. During a crackdown on protests by the interim administration, many AGEGA leaders were detained and taken to Jati Umrah for negotiations. There, Maryam Nawaz promised to address their concerns once the government assumed office. Though the initial protest was called off, AGEGA leaders have continued their demonstrations outside the civil secretariat in recent months, pressing for the government to honour its commitment. According to the Dawn, prominent figures from AGEGA, including Punjab Teachers Union president Rana Anwarul Haq, Rana Liaqat, Nadia Jamshaid, Saeed Namdar, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Mian Arshad, Tahir Islam, Mirza Tariq, Rana Khalid, Mustafa Wattoo, and Ghafar Awan, addressed the gathering, reinforcing their demands for fair treatment. The leaders pointed out that while the government had raised the salaries of parliamentarians, it had simultaneously slashed pensions and gratuities for employees. They criticized the elimination of Rule 17-A, which had provided financial benefits to the families of deceased employees. The AGEGA leaders emphasized that government workers who had dedicated their youth to public service were now being left vulnerable in their old age, as reported by the Dawn. The protesters vowed to continue their struggle for the reversal of the cuts, with plans for sit-ins in Lahore and Islamabad. They made it clear that they would not relent in their fight for fair and just treatment, urging the government to restore their benefits and improve employee welfare. (ANI) NTT's annual R&D Forum, held in Tokyo, unveiled groundbreaking advancements in telecommunications, with a spotlight on the company's Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) technology. The forum highlighted IOWN's potential to revolutionise data transmission with high-speed capabilities, massive capacity, and reduced energy consumption. Explaining the roadmap for IOWN, Souichiro Usui from NTT said, "IOWN roadmap is constituted by four main categories. Along with optical technological progress, the roadmap is divided into four stages. First of all, IOWN1.0 is a network that connects data centres by optical technology. On the stage of IOWN2.0 optical technology goes into the computer and connects the board to the board in the server. IOWN3.0 is also a technology that connects the package by optical technology. Finally, IOWN4.0 is a technology that connects the inside of chips. In the future, we aim to achieve an economical network infrastructure by distributing data centres across multiple locations and enabling GPU computing across these locations." Takuro Fujii, another representative from NTT, emphasised the significance of the Photonics and Electronics Convergence (PEC) device. "We are showcasing the Photonics and Electronics Convergence (PEC) device under the IOWN Initiative. This device converts electrical signals into photonics to facilitate communication. Our research and development efforts aim to transition progressively from long-distance to short-distance communication, moving step by step from PEC-1 to PEC-4. This innovation enables faster data transmission with significantly lower power consumption." Demonstrating the practical applications of IOWN technology, Takanori Nagai, an official from NTT, explained the benefits of the Access Point Network (APN). "This booth demonstrates data replication between Japan and Taiwan. Using the Internet, the process takes 2 minutes and 25 seconds. However, with an Access Point Network (APN), it is reduced to just 54 seconds--less than one minute. In the financial industry, a one-minute transaction involves approximately 1.4 million flows. By shortening the duration of these transactions, we can prevent economic losses amounting to several billion yen." Currently, the first phase of IOWN technology is driving advancements in data centre communication and is expected to play a transformative role in various industries, shaping the future of everyday life. (ANI) At the Valedictory Session of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025, held from January 8-10, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasised Odisha's growing global presence, stating, "With this event, Odisha is now more open to the world than ever before. The world now sees limitless opportunity in Odisha. In short, Odisha is going global." Majhi extended an open invitation to the Indian diaspora, urging them to actively participate in Odisha's development and prosperity. He invited them to contribute to the state's growth, highlighting that, "The Pravasis who want to engage with the state for projects or investments will be supported and facilitated." In a significant move, the Chief Minister also announced that a nodal minister from the Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture would be appointed to support diaspora initiatives. During the final session of the convention, Majhi encouraged the diaspora to keep visiting Odisha, emphasizing that the state is ready to offer them a warm welcome. He said, "For many of you, this may be your first experience in Odisha. My only request to you is--please keep coming. Odisha is ready to welcome you. Please request at least five of your foreign friends from foreign lands to pay a visit to India as well as to Odisha... Come here and feel the vibrations of endless love and motherhood." Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, reflected on the successful discussions that unfolded throughout the three-day convention. "The discussions that we witnessed during these 3 days of the convention have been very encouraging and enlightening. These have led to the identification of special roles that the Indian diaspora can play for the development of India in our march towards Viksit Bharat by 2047," Singh remarked, emphasizing the importance of diaspora involvement in India's development. Ritu Karidhal, Senior Scientist at ISRO, expressed her gratitude for the impactful contributions made by the diaspora, particularly women. "I am overwhelmed seeing the contribution made by mainly the women diaspora there, how they are aligning it to our vision of Viksit Bharat. So, it was amazing and we had a very interesting discussion... I am very happy connecting to the women diaspora," Karidhal noted, underlining the vital role of women in advancing India's goals for a prosperous future. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad, in the wake of several recent conflicts in different countries with Indian nationals. Addressing the Special briefing on the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Kumar Chatterjee referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance that the government is always prepared to protect the Indians globally. In response to questions about the safety of Indian citizens overseas, the MEA Secretary said, "As PM Modi assured, as far as Pravasi Bharatiya is concerned or any Indian in any corner of the globe is concerned, if there is any problem or if there is any crisis, rest assured the Government of India is there to protect you." "When it comes to the security and safety of Indians, it is something bilaterally India deals with the country concerned, we talk about the issues at a bilateral level," he added. The Ministry further emphasised that the protection of Indians abroad is a continuous process, not limited to events like the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. "It's not that it is only confined to the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in which it is discussed, but rest assured, the Government of India is always committed to ensuring the security and safety of our Indians, and the local governments also give us full assurance that they will be protecting the security and safety of Indian nationals," the MEA Secretary said. During the special briefing, Chatterjee shared the news of the successful conclusion of the convention and stated, "I'm very happy to inform you that an hour ago we successfully concluded the official engagements of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in partnership with the State Government of Odisha." "The three-day 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention started on 8th January and continued till today, that is 10th January. The theme for the PBD 2025 was "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat". The youth PBD was held on the first day which is on the 8th of January," he added. The opening session was addressed by key leaders, including Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and other prominent figures. "The opening session of this event was addressed by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, and other leaders...The Chief Minister of Odisha and the External Affairs Minister parallelly chaired a Pravasi Bharatiya Business Leaders meeting which was addressed by both the leaders," Chatterjee said. "The External Affairs Minister underlined the Government of India's steadfast commitment to Mission Purvodaya and the role of Odisha to its success," he added. Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lauded the contributions of the Indian diaspora and stated that they have left an "indelible mark" on the global society. Addressing the Valedictory Session and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards Ceremony on Friday, Jaishankar stated that the people of Indian origin are holding political offices and leading organisations, the EAM said that their "extraordinary achievements" have made Indians proud and have bolstered India's ties with other countries. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the State Government of Odisha from January 8 to 10 in Bhubaneswar. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat". A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to participate in the PBD Convention. (ANI) A staff member of social work service center provides psychological counseling for children at a resettlement site of quake-affected residents in a village in Dingri County in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Resettlement is proceeding in an orderly manner after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, on Tuesday morning. As of 6 a.m. Thursday, 61,500 people were affected by the earthquake. So far, a total of 224 resettlement sites have been set up for 47,500 relocated residents, with their basic living needs ensured, according to a press conference on Thursday. As seasonal temperatures can fall below minus 10 degrees Celsius, a key focus has been distributing winter relief items. Among them, a total of 12,730 tents have been set up, 1,572 stoves have been installed, 3,020 electric blankets and 104 trucks of fuel have been allocated to the disaster-afflicted area, noted Hao Tao, deputy head of the regional emergency management department. "The supply of disaster relief materials is generally adequate, and the living needs of the residents are basically ensured. Local residents now can have hot meals, clean drinking water and timely medical treatment," Hao added. To support the relief efforts, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has allocated funds totaling 50 million yuan (about 6.96 million U.S. dollars) to the region. The funds were sourced from Party fees collected from CPC members and administered by the organization department on behalf of the CPC Central Committee. The department said the funds should be allocated promptly to benefit those working on the front line and those who were seriously affected by the disaster. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) celebration in Bhubaneswar served as a platform to showcase women's leadership, entrepreneurial success stories, and the critical role of the Indian diaspora in fostering global connections. The three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which began on January 8 concluded today in Bhubaneswar. The flagship event, organised by the Government of India in partnership with the Odisha government, focused on the theme 'Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.' Over 50 countries were represented by members of the Indian diaspora, who shared insights on leadership, innovation, and cultural integration. The event brought together leaders and dignitaries from around the world to share insights and experiences that underscored resilience, cultural integration, and innovative contributions to society. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Urban and Housing Development, highlighted the transformative potential of systemic support for women leaders during a session on Nari Shakti. "This session is about women's leadership. It has a component where the self-motivation, inspiration matters. The second layer is about the community, about the systems, about the institutions which can help women to come forward. So I'm sure that some of the countries who have the intention, they can bring such institutional mechanisms, systemic interventions due to which women can be incentivised to be in the public sector. The caretaking role will not change. Women have to be there, but at the same time, if there are support systems which can help women to come and spend some of the time in public life and lead the nation and being the very sensitive leaders, themselves being very sensitive, being the mother, being the head of the family, they will be able to contribute a lot," Padhee explained, emphasising the importance of enabling structures that promote female participation in public life. Adding an international perspective, Prerna Bhardwaj, Mayor of Gerrards Cross in England, shared her admiration for the stories of Indian women who overcame significant challenges to succeed abroad. "I found it really inspirational to listen to all the women stories of how they made it as entrepreneurs and how they went by themselves to different countries, often with their families, often with very little and they made it really big by working hard and being really dedicated... I think it's very inspirational. It does show that Indian women, no matter where we are, we are very resilient to change and we can make a difference to our society and also bring India to other countries," she said. Bhardwaj also reflected on the cultural exchange and gender perspectives discussed at the event, sharing examples such as a Slovenian entrepreneur's sari shop and her daughter's Indian restaurant, and the inspiring story of a former Miss India making her mark in Qatar. Bhardwaj also addressed misconceptions about women's safety in countries like India and Qatar, stating, "I've been to Qatar myself, and I had a fantastic time there - so it's good to know that even in the Middle East, there's a perception that it's unsafe for women, that women are sort of suppressed, but actually it's not like that in reality. I think that's the same for India - the Western world thinks that, you know, women aren't safe in India, that men aren't friendly towards women, but actually it's the other way around. The reality is very different." Another highlight of the event was the recognition of Dr Subramanium K V Sathasivam from Malaysia, who received an award for his contributions to the Indian community in Malaysia and strengthening India-Malaysia relations. Expressing his gratitude, he said, "I am thankful to the Indian government, and particularly to the High Commissioner of India in Malaysia for having nominated me, and considered my contributions to the Indian community in Malaysia, and to the relationship between India and Malaysia and recognising me in this very prestigious award. It is a moment of great pride for me, personally, for my family, and to all Malaysian-Indians in general." Sathasivam emphasised the significance of PBD in uniting the Indian diaspora, which he estimated to comprise over 200 million people worldwide. He elaborated on the event's role in fostering cultural and emotional ties, providing a forum for discussions, and celebrating the collective identity of Indians abroad. "PBD forms a central theme around which people can come, get together, discuss issues, provide suggestions, and celebrate this collectiveness and cultural cohesion which is present amongst all the Indians who are living in different parts of the world. So in that sense of course, it's a kind of re-identification of ourselves and reconnecting ourselves with this great edition of ours, and taking great pride is that identity with which we are living throughout the world," he explained. Sathasivam also pointed to the immense potential of the diaspora in contributing to India's developmental vision. "The diaspora is very wide, with a great deal of human resource and strength in terms of knowledge, skills, and also capital. I'm sure this Viksit Bharat vision - the opportunities which it will open should definitely attract members of the diaspora in different areas to come and participate in it, and to contribute towards its success. On the part of the Indian government, it must make it accessible and easy, and create platforms through which the global Indian diaspora can connect, so their richness can also contribute towards the success of Viksit Bharat," he stated. Sathasivam commended the involvement of younger generations in the event. "Today, in this diaspora, there was a lot of youth who came. They were allowed to participate; they were recognised - they even took photographs with the Prime Minister yesterday. This is good because you're not only connecting the elder generation, but also the younger generation at a different level. They had a quiz contest in which many of them won, and then they had this 'New India Programme' - these are all new ideas. You need to create newer ideas by which the younger generation can be connected, particularly through digital and social media, which is most relevant to the younger generation today," he said. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar successfully celebrated women's leadership, entrepreneurial resilience, and the global Indian diaspora's enduring contributions, showcasing the vibrancy and interconnectedness of India's cultural and professional fabric. (ANI) More than 900 individuals, including women, were kidnapped, and 152 were sexually assaulted or molested in Pakistan's Karachi in 2024, according to a report by Dawn. At least 891 kidnapping cases and 152 instances of rape or unnatural offences were recorded during the year. He reported that the kidnapping victims included 483 girls (mostly teenagers), 306 men and boys, and 150 women. Out of the 891 kidnappings, 267 occurred in the Soan Zone, 214 in the Saddar Zone, 204 in the Rural Zone, 127 in the City Zone, and 79 in the Industrial Area Zone. Five cases were filed under section 365-A of the PPC (kidnapping or abduction for the purpose of extorting property), involving the abduction of four males and two females for ransom, the report said. In addition, 413 cases were filed under section 365B (kidnapping, abducting, or persuading a woman to compel her to marry, etc.), with 413 girls as the victims. Furthermore, there were 249 cases under section 365 (kidnapping or abduction with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person), involving the abduction of 242 males and 25 females. The report further reported similarly, that 60 cases were registered under section 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under 14 years), with 44 males and 18 females as victims. Additionally, seven cases were filed under section 363 (punishment for kidnapping), and eight cases were registered under section 364 (kidnapping or abduction with the intent to murder), involving the abduction of seven males and one female. Likewise, 150 cases under section 496-A (enticing, taking away, or detaining a woman with criminal intent) were related to the abduction of 145 married women. Additionally, four cases were filed under section 496 (fraudulent marriage ceremony without a lawful marriage), with four married women as victims, while one married woman was abducted, and the case was registered under section 496B (fornication). The police also recorded 152 cases of sexual assault, involving 152 victims, including 77 girls and six women. Of the 51 rape incidents, 51 were reported in the Soan Zone, 34 in both the Saddar and Rural zones, 18 in the City Zone, and 15 in the Industrial Area Zone. There were 133 incidents of rape (one registered under section 375, 25 under 275A, 105 under 376, and one each under 376A and 376C). Out of the total, 25 were gang rape incidents and four were committed at gunpoint in which 69 girls and six women were the victims. Besides, 53 males/boys were sexually assaulted. Additionally, there were 23 cases of unnatural offences as well, with eight girls and 13 boys being the victims. In one rape case reported at the Margalla police station, investigation officers, along with other police personnel and a medico-legal officer from Pims, tampered with and destroyed evidence by altering the blood samples of the rape suspect. Following this, the Margalla police filed a case in December against seven individuals, including three police officers, the MLO, and a Pims employee, after they were found guilty in an inquiry based on a complaint from the victim. In a separate incident, a police officer abducted two minors, held them captive, and sexually assaulted them in September. A case was subsequently filed at the Margalla police station. (ANI) During operations in the Jordan Valley, the Israeli Air Force eliminated two militants on January 7. Special forces, including undercover units, arrested nine suspects and seized weapons, explosives, and military equipment. Throughout the week, security forces operating in the Judea and Samaria Division arrested dozens more suspects and neutralized two militants in close combat. The operations resulted in the confiscation of seven weapons and hundreds of thousands of shekels in terror-linked funds. The IDF continues to pursue suspects responsible for the January 6 shooting attack in the Palestinian village of Al-Funduq, which killed three Israelis and wounded six more. In total, 73 wanted individuals were arrested across central command operations this week.(ANI/TPS) Targets included the Hizaz power station, which the army said was a key electrical infrastructure supporting Houthi military operations. Additional strikes targeted facilities at the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports along Yemen's western coast. The IDF said the strikes were in response to repeated Houthi attacks against Israel, including drone and missile launches targeting Israeli territory and civilian infrastructure. The military emphasized that the targeted facilities demonstrated the Houthis' military use of civilian infrastructure. "The Houthi terrorist regime serves as a major proxy in Iran's terrorist network, undermining regional order and disrupting global maritime freedom," the army said. According to Hebrew-media reports, the airstrikes were coordinated with US and British forces, though each country conducted separate operations. Earlier on Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attempted drone attack on Israel on Thursday night. Israeli air defenses intercepted three UAVs. Israeli leaders have increased their focus on the Houthis since the start of a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the collapse of Syria's pro-Iran government, and Iraq's Shi'ite militias ceasing their attacks. Since Hamas's October 7 attack, the Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel. The majority have been intercepted before reaching Israeli airspace. The Houthis vowed in early December to target any Israel-bound ship in the Red Sea, regardless of its ownership. They have attacked or harassed around 100 ships, hijacked the MV Galaxy Leader in November 2023 and are holding its crew of 25 hostage. From bases along the Yemeni coast, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened ships in the Red Sea as they traverse the Bab el-Mandeb Straits, a narrow maritime choke point between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. The majority of the world's oil passes through the strait from the Indian Ocean towards the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. (ANI/TPS) The statement comes after the Israeli military struck several Houthi targets in Yemen today. "Today we struck terrorist targets of the Houthi terrorist regime along the western coastal strip and deep inside Yemen," Netanyahu said. "The Houthis are an Iranian proxy and they serve the terrorist objectives of the Iranian axis in the Middle East. They pose a danger to Israel and the entire region, including threatening global freedom of navigation. I repeat: we will not tolerate attacks on our citizens and our state. We will act with determination and force against any entity that threatens the State of Israel - anywhere and anytime necessary." (ANI/TPS) The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas concluded successfully on January 10, with key figures acknowledging the event's impact on Odisha's global presence. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his gratitude, stating, "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas concluded with great success. In the final session here, the President honoured 27 NRIs. I wish you all the best... Thanks to the Chief Minister and his team for organising it successfully." Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling also thanked key officials, adding, "As a member of the Cabinet of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, I thank External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Modi for giving us the opportunity to organise Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha. This will take Odisha to a new height in the tourism map..." Union Minister Jual Oram praised the event, noting, "It was a very good event, it was a great opportunity for all the people of Odisha. We got to learn and see a lot. I thank PM Modi and the Government of India for this. I thank the President for taking out time to come here... Odisha's culture, and lifestyle got a huge exposure through this event. It will contribute to the progress of Odisha in a big way." The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, held from January 8 to 10, is the flagship event organised by the Government of India to connect with the Indian diaspora. This year, the event was held in partnership with the Odisha state government in Bhubaneswar. The theme for the 18th edition was "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat." Over 50 countries were represented by diaspora members who registered to attend. The convention provided a significant platform for Indian expatriates worldwide to engage with each other, fostering better collaboration and mutual understanding. The event aimed to highlight the contributions of the diaspora toward India's development, encouraging them to be a part of the country's progress. (ANI) Protests erupted in multiple areas of Balochistan, including Hub Chowki, Khuzdar, and Turbat, as families of those forcibly disappeared demanded the safe return of their loved ones, the Balochistan Post reported. The protests featured road blockages and hunger strikes, shedding light on the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in the region. In Hub Chowki, families of missing individuals Junaid Hameed and Yasir Hameed staged a three-day hunger strike outside the Lasbela Press Club. They were later joined by the relatives of Chakar Bugti, who had also been abducted by Pakistani security forces. Despite efforts by local authorities to disperse the protesters, the families remained resolute in their demand for justice. Junaid's sister shared that her brother was abducted on the night of October 8, 2024, near Bhawani Shah Pump in Hub Chowki. Armed men in three vehicles took Junaid, a 28-year-old employee of Otsuka Pakistan Limited, at gunpoint. Just days after Junaid's disappearance, on October 11, Yasir, Junaid's younger brother, was also forcibly disappeared while staying at a relative's home in Kalat. Yasir, who had previously been a victim of enforced disappearance, remains missing alongside Junaid, reported the Balochistan Post. In Bhawani, the family of Israr Baloch, who was abducted a year ago, blocked the Karachi-Quetta-Makran Highway by setting tires on fire, causing a traffic jam. Efforts to mediate between the protesters and district administration failed to resolve the situation. Protests also continued in Kharan's Red Zone, where the families of missing Bilawal Baloch and Asim Baloch demanded their release. Bilawal's mother made an emotional plea, urging authorities to present her son in court if he is charged with any crimes. She also called on the people of Kharan to join the protest in solidarity. In Turbat, the family of Fida Wali Dad, a resident of Aapsar Kolowai Bazaar, held a sit-in for the second consecutive day at Shaheed Fida Chowk. They were joined by the relatives of eight other missing individuals, all demanding answers from the authorities regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones, the Balochistan Post reported. The protesters emphasised the need for the government and authorities to disclose the location and condition of the missing individuals. "If there are charges against them, they should be brought to court and tried according to the law," one family member stated. (ANI) In the lead-up to Aero India 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Ambassadors Round Table, highlighting India's expanding defence capabilities and the reforms aimed at strengthening its defence industry. "...In recent years, the Indian government has brought several reforms aimed at bolstering a robust defence industry ecosystem. This includes initiatives that promote domestic design, development, manufacturing, and export. Recognising its strategic importance and vast potential, the government of India has designated aerospace as a core sector of Atmanirbhar Bharat... India today can boast of having one of the largest defence industrial ecosystems in Asia and we are committed to further enhancing our capabilities... The Indian aerospace and defence sector represents an attractive opportunity for foreign companies seeking to establish new ventures and partnerships," said Rajnath Singh. The Minister emphasised the crucial role of these reforms in shaping India's self-reliance, noting the immense potential for foreign companies in India's aerospace and defence sector. He pointed out that the government's push for indigenous manufacturing was paving the way for a more independent defence industry in the country. Roman Babushkin, Minister of Counsellor and Deputy Chief of the Mission at the Embassy of Russia in India, also spoke at the roundtable. Babushkin affirmed that the event would be pivotal in advancing India's defence capabilities. He stated, "We proceed from the very strong understanding that it will be another landmark event in the advancement of the Indian defence capabilities which are now mainstreamed towards self-reliance and the very successful efforts being made by the government of India through the commitment to make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives which bring particular results also based on the successful partnership with friendly countries, especially Russia which remains India's oldest and most reliable defence partner which is sharing the most advanced technologies coming out of the bio cellular relations towards the joint production, joint development..." The discussions underscored the growing cooperation between India and Russia in defence production and technology sharing. Babushkin's comments highlighted Russia's pivotal role in India's defence ecosystem and the importance of bilateral collaboration in strengthening both countries' military capabilities. (ANI) The Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, will visit the Philippines, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from January 14 to 21, as per a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday. According to the MEA, during his visit to the Philippines on January 14, Margherita will meet with the Philippine leadership and will pay floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Centre for Peace Education, Miriam College in Manila. He will also engage with the Indian diaspora in the country. This visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines bilateral relations, the MEA stated. On January 16, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Palau, Margherita will attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Surangel Whipps Jr. and will also meet with Palau's leadership to discuss development projects undertaken by India in the country. This marks Whipps Jr.'s second term as the president of the Republic of Palau. On January 18, Margherita will travel to the Federated States of Micronesia for the first-ever ministerial-level visit from India and will hold meetings with the leadership of FSM. Following the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in May 2023, Margherita's visit to Palau and FSM will continue India's engagement with the leadership of Pacific Island Countries (PICs), the MEA said in the statement. According to the MEA, this visit is expected to strengthen India's partnership with the Philippines, Palau, and FSM, aligning with India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. "The visit of MOS (PM) to the region is expected to further strengthen and deepen India's traditionally close partnership with the Philippines, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) as part of India's Act East Policy and our vision of the Indo-Pacific," the statement read. (ANI) This is an adapted excerpt from the Jan. 7 episode of "Alex Wagner Tonight." On Thursday, former President Jimmy Carters six-day state funeral came to an end. The national service was attended by Carters family and friends, as well as President Joe Biden and all the living former presidents. This solemn occasion comes as Carters legacy has been thrust back into the news by incoming President Donald Trump. The Panama Canal is a disgrace, what took place at the Panama Canal. Jimmy Carter gave it to them for $1, and they were supposed to treat us well. I thought it was a terrible thing to do, Trump said during a news conference on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps fight with the recently deceased president has a lot to do with the president-elects newfound fixation on American territorial expansion, which, in turn, led to a bizarre declaration that the U.S. should regain control of the Panama Canal. But to understand whats going on in Trumps mind here, you have to go all the way back to Jan. 9, 1964 exactly 61 years ago this week. At the time, anti-American riots had broken out in Panama, in part over U.S. control of the Panama Canal. That conflict sparked more than a decade of careful diplomacy spanning the administrations of four presidents, with the goal of handing control of the Panama Canal over to the people of Panama. For most of that time, the negotiations in Washington were serious and bipartisan. With a few notable exceptions, Democrats and Republicans were largely aligned on the plan to negotiate a fair treaty to hand over control of the canal. A young moderate senator by the name of Joe Biden called the Panama Canal, the last vestige of U.S. imperialism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 1976, the U.S. was in the final stages of negotiating a treaty with Panamas leader, Gen. Omar Torrijos. But right around that time, some enterprising far-right conservatives realized that they could use the Panama Canal issue to gin up nationalist anger among the American public. They began arguing that America should leave the negotiations and keep control of the canal. The keep-the-Panama-Canal movement soon found a very charismatic messenger to push the cause: Ronald Reagan. The actor-turned-politician became the American avatar for the movement to try to keep the Panama Canal. At the time, Reagan was contesting Gerald Fords nomination as the Republican candidate for president in the 1976 election. Reagan made the Panama Canal a central issue of his campaign. He ultimately lost that primary to Ford and then Ford went on to lose the presidential race to Carterbut the Panama Canal issue did not go away, and neither did Reagan. The task of finalizing the agreement fell in Carters lap. Reagan laid the foundation for his next presidential run by challenging Carter at every step. He gave public speeches, he testified before Congress and he even held a public debate with fellow conservative William F. Buckley over the merits of keeping the canal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in 1977, Carter signed the treaty handing over control of the Panama Canal. We are here to participate in the signing of treaties that will assure a peaceful and prosperous and secure future of an international waterway of great importance to us all, Carter said at the time. But the treaties do more than that. They mark the commitment of the United States to the belief that fairness and not force should lie at the heart of our dealings with the nations of the world. Fairness, not force. It was a powerful statement by Carter. But by that point, the issue had gone from a matter of diplomacy to a full-blown wedge issue, with protests outside the White House. And that movement was part of the coalition that helped propel Reagan to victory over Carter in 1980. And yet, despite Reagans crusade, the treaty remained in place throughout Reagans presidency. Apparently, it wasnt a major priority for Reagan once he was in office. But the germ of Reagans crusade against the Panama Canal Treaty idea lived on in the minds of other, populist-minded conservatives. So as we prepare to re-enter the presidential administration of a man whose worldview remains stubbornly stuck in the 1970s and 80s, we are now re-litigating one of the most cynical debates in American foreign policy. And because this is Trump were dealing with, the foolish and ill-conceived imperial ambitions go far beyond just Panama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a news conference on Tuesday, Trump told reporters the United States needs Greenland for national security purposes. You may recall that Trump toyed with the idea of buying Greenland during his first presidential administration, even though the nation of Denmark says it has zero interest in handing it over to the U.S. Trump also refused to rule out the idea of using military force to acquire both Greenland and the Panama Canal. Make of that what you will. The origins of Trumps Greenland scheme are younger than Trumps Panamanian fixation. As reporters Peter Baker and Susan Glasser reported in their book The Divider, Trump was first put on to the idea of acquiring Greenland by one of his billionaire friends, Ronald Lauderone of the heirs to the Estee Lauder cosmetics fortune. According to Glasser and Baker, Trump was so obsessed with the Greenland idea in his first administration that it absorbed the National Security Council staff for months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of Trumps fixation with Greenland may have stemmed from his failure to understand how maps work. No, really. Trump told Glasser and Baker, I love maps. And I always said: Look at the size of this. Its massive. That should be part of the United States. Now, if you look at a map of Greenland, it does appear to be massive. But thats not because Greenland is actually massive. The earth is a sphere, and so when you lay it out on a flat map, all of the areas near the North and South Poles are stretched out to look bigger than they actually are. Greenland is still a pretty large territory but, in reality, its not nearly as big as it appears on a map. Yet Trump appears to have become obsessed with the idea of acquiring Greenland, and maybe using the U.S. military to do so, because it looks massive. That is the level American foreign policy is about to be operating on. On Tuesday, Trump also reiterated his desire to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, something Canadians also have precisely zero interest in. Trump also said he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, because he thinks that sounds better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this is obviously ridiculous and in some ways a distraction from the things Trump might actually do as president but the idea behind this territorial expansion is serious. As Reagan proved 50 years ago, the concept of America as an expansive global empire can be an intoxicating political force. While buying Greenland may be a fantasy, powerful nations like Russia and China are trying to expand their territorial control at all costs. America will have to decide if it wants to be on the side of sovereignty and self-determination or on the side of imperial expansion, however unhinged that expansion may be. A choice, as the late President Carter said, between fairness or force. Allison Detzel contributed. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com China witnessed a 25.7% decline in criminal cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday. Cases of public security remained largely unchanged, and the overall public safety situation remained stable, the ministry told a press conference. "China is one of the countries with the lowest homicide rate, the fewest gun and explosive-related cases and the lowest rate of criminal crimes," said spokesperson Li Guozhong. Li said that national public security organs had made consistent efforts in maintaining social stability and safeguarding people's safety and wellbeing. As Friday marks China's fifth national police day, another spokesperson Zhang Ming sent specific greetings to police officers in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, who are supporting disaster relief efforts after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the plateau region on Tuesday. Following the earthquake, more than 460 police officers from the city of Xigaze, the epicenter of Dingri County and surrounding areas rushed to the scene to carry out rescue operations, emergency response and security patrols and control. Padma Wangdu, a police officer at Xigaze public security bureau, is working on the frontline. He told Xinhua that the communications and traffic in Dingri are currently smooth, and the insufficiency of some relief goods has been settled. Defend public security Li told a press conference that new progress has been made in addressing various crimes. In 2024, a total of 11,700 criminal cases of various types were solved. Additionally, 22,000 cases related to firearms and explosives were cracked, resulting in a 37.5% year-on-year decline. Public security authorities solved over 17,000 cases related to food and drug safety crimes across the country, according to the ministry, adding that police solved more than 78,000 economic crimes, recovering 30.67 billion yuan (about 4.27 billion U.S. dollars) in financial losses. Additionally, 38,000 drug-related cases were cracked by Chinese police, with 24.4 tonnes of various drugs seized, the ministry added. Road traffic safety across the country was stable, with no major traffic accidents reported for 63 consecutive months, the ministry added. On the frontlines of fighting crime and safeguarding public safety, 208 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024, according to the ministry. It noted that 174 auxiliary police officers died at their posts during the year. In addition, 4,743 police officers and 3,710 auxiliary police officers suffered injuries while performing their duties. Combat telecom, internet fraud Telecommunication and internet fraud crimes posed a significant threat to people's property and safety in recent years. Facing challenges such as the emergence of new forms of crime, Chinese police have intensified counter-fraud efforts. Over the past five years, nearly 1.95 million telecom and network fraud cases were uncovered. Notably, since a special campaign was launched in July 2023 to combat telecom and internet fraud originating from northern Myanmar, more than 49,000 suspects had been handed over to China. "The upturn in the number of telecom and network fraud crimes has been effectively curbed," said Li. In this process, modern technologies have been leveraged to strengthen warning systems. Since 2021, public security organs have worked with related departments and successfully intercepted nearly 7 billion fraud calls and 6.84 billion messages, with the delivery of 1.1 trillion yuan of funds blocked. Chinese police have also enhanced international law enforcement cooperation in this field, dispatching multiple work teams to Southeast Asian countries, leading to the dismantling of 37 fraud syndicates abroad. Many men in history are brought high by their ambitions, only to fall from their vices. Louis Wigfall, an attorney, legislator, and later U. S. Senator from Texas, had many advantages in his life. However, his short fuse and alcoholism eventually wrecked his own life and brought disaster for Texas during the Civil War. Louis Trezevant Wigfall was born was born on his fathers large estate in western South Carolina in 1816. Despite being born into a life of privilege, his youth was marred by death. His father died when he was two. His mother died when he was barely 13, followed by the death of his older brother in a duel. He was ambitious but sharp-tempered. In 1835, he enrolled at the University of Virginia, and after an argument with another student, he challenged him to a duel. The challenge was dropped, but he left Virginia for South Carolina College (what is now the University of South Carolina). He was known as a fierce debater but spent most of his off-hours away from campus drinking and gambling. It was in his college years that he served as a lieutenant in the Seminole Wars against the Native American tribes in the Florida Territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After graduation, he returned home to practice law. However, his gambling and lavish living soon put him deep in debt. He became active in politics, and nearly lost his life in the 1840 governors race. Though not a candidate, Wigfall campaigned feverishly for the more conciliatory candidate John Peter Richardson over the radical candidate James Henry Hammond. The divisive campaign led to Wigfall getting into numerous fistfights and at least two duels. He found himself in a gunfight where he killed a politically-connected man but was not indicted. The mans cousin, an enraged Preston Brooks, a man known most notoriously as a later member of Congress who beat Sen. Charles Sumner nearly to death on the floor of the Senate in 1856 for his criticisms of slavery, challenged Wigfall to a duel. The two slipped across the state line into Georgia where Brooks shot him in the leg. The incident crippled his political prospects. By 1848, Wigfall had lost a son to illness, his land and livelihood to debts, and his reputation. Left with nothing, he and his wife packed up what they had and left South Carolina. They arrived in Nacogdoches in 1848, where he became a partner in a local law firm. He then moved to Marshall and rebuilt his political career. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1849 and then to the state senate in 1856. His fighting temperament returned, and Wigfall became an outspoken opponent of Sam Houston and his conciliatory approach to divisions between North and South. In the 1857 race for governor, Wigfall trailed Houston across the state, berating him at every stop. Houston narrowly lost the race, while secessionists like Wigfall were on the rise. Wigfall steadily gained influence in the state. After the death of Sen. James Pinckney Henderson, the state legislature elected Wigfall to fill the remainder of his term. Increasingly, Wigfall advocated secession for the South, railing against the threats to slavery and any suggestion of equality of the races. With the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, he co-wrote the Southern Manifesto, which argued that Lincolns election marked the end of any hope for the South remaining in the Union. He spent the next several months blocking any possible compromises between North and South and quietly sending weapons to the South. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He left the Senate in March 1861, just after Texas seceded. He traveled to South Carolina where southern forces attempted to expel the Union army from Fort Sumter. In one well-publicized incident, Wigfall rowed to the fort and demanded their surrender though he had no authorization to do so. After the fall of Fort Sumter in April, he was named colonel of the First Texas Infantry Regiment and rose to general in November. That winter, he camped with his men in Virginia, but his behavior became increasingly erratic. He was often seen drunk in front of his men. In February 1862, he resigned his commission and joined the Confederate Senate. He quarreled with both Confederate and Texas officials over military issues and organization of the Confederacy. Appeals from Texas for more military aid went unheeded. In 1865, after the Confederacy surrendered, and rather than surrender himself, he snuck away from the Confederate capital with a group of Texas troops, carrying a letter of parole that he forged. With his vision of the Confederacy shattered, he left the United States in 1866. He lived He spent the next several years drifting from one place to the next, almost as if in a daze. Neither locale nor plan could satisfy him for long. For a few years, he lived in England. He went so far as to actually try to spark a war between Britain and the U.S., but he was ignored. He returned to the United States and bought a mine in Colorado in 1870, only to abandon the project. He returned to Texas by early 1874. He died of a massive stroke a month later at age 57. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Bridges: A troubled history of Texas, Confederate leader Louis Wigfall The New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a number of procedural rules Wednesday that will help the newly expanded Republican majority better exercise its power. In one vote, the House made it easier to special order bills, the process in which voting on the bill is delayed or rescheduled during a House session. Where before such a motion required a 60 percent supermajority, now it requires only a simple majority. In another vote, the body removed the requirement that committees give a public notice before voting on bills during executive sessions. Now, committee chairs can schedule executive sessions and hold a vote on legislation without giving prior notice. Members of the New Hampshire House meet to discuss changing the House rules on Convening Day, Jan 8, 2025. The moves came after an election in which Republicans increased their control of the House: They now command the chamber with 215 Republicans, 173 Democrats, and one independent, compared to the past two years when they had a mere two-seat advantage. With a more comfortable majority, the changes to the rules Wednesday will allow Republicans to exert more control over legislation, something less possible when the chamber was closely split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republican leaders said the changes are intended to restore traditions and boost efficiency. In many cases, they noted, the House is simply reverting to rules that had been in place until recently. This is a return to tradition, said Rep. Joe Sweeney, a Salem Republican, who noted that the current rule was added only two years ago. Weve done it this way for a very, very long time. Democrats, who now have diminished numbers for the next two years, countered that the rule changes could allow Republican leaders to use the process to increase the odds that controversial bills are voted through. With only a simple majority needed to reschedule bills, the majority party could reorder bills to different times of the day to give them a greater chance of passing, Democrats argued. Straying from the three-fifths requirement would invite chaos, as any member only needs a simple majority to disrupt the scheduled order of notice of bills, said Rep. Rosemarie Rung, a Merrimack Democrat, speaking on the special order rule. That rule passed, 211-170. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other attempted rules changes were struck down Wednesday. Attempt to bypass public hearings falls Representatives defeated a Republican proposal Wednesday to give committees the power to table bills without a hearing if 75 percent of a committee voted to do so. That proposal, brought by House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, was suggested as a way to reduce the Houses workload this year. The chamber is facing 830 House bills, which will be distributed among 22 policy committees. By allowing committees to send some bills directly to the House table, committees could eliminate longshot legislation on a bipartisan basis, advocates said. But after mounting opposition from Democrats, Osborne made a motion Wednesday to lay the motion on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents had protested that the rule change would breach a longstanding state tradition of allowing every bill to receive a hearing in a committee and a vote on the House floor. A rejection of fashion restrictions The chamber struck down a proposal to require all members to dress in proper business attire when the House is in session. Opponents said the rule did not adequately define proper business attire, and said the rule would require leadership to have conversations that could border on sexual harassment. Supporters of the rule had said it would require a level of decorum that is appropriate for the business of the House, and that it would not be difficult for representatives to comply. More freedoms for firearms The House did pass a rule change concerning the display of firearms on the House floor. While previously representatives were not allowed to display a weapon whether intentionally or unintentionally the new rule clarifies that lawmakers are barred only from intentionally displaying the firearm. Any unintentional displays, such as when a jacket falls open and reveals a holstered gun, will not result in discipline. That rule passed, 216-164. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the chamber rejected a proposal by Rep. David Meuse, a Portsmouth Democrat, to ban firearms from the House floor entirely, 154-227. Meuse said his motion would restore a rule that had been in place for years until firearms were allowed in 2011. A defense of chairman A proposal by Rep. Ellen Read, a Newmarket Democrat, to replace references to chairman in the existing House rules with a gender-neutral term, chair, was rejected by the House, 175-208. Chairperson is a long word. I thought chair nice, short, sweet would be a better gender-neutral term, Read said. Rep. Mike Belcher, a Wakefield Republican, argued the House should keep chairman for grammatical reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My problem is that when used properly, the word chair is a verb, not a noun, he said. No changes to subpoena powers The House also defeated a proposed rule to require any committee that wants to issue a subpoena a rarely used power to get permission from the House Rules Committee. Rep. Bob Lynn, a Windham Republican who supported the rule, said subpoenas are almost never issued, and that if they are used, the speaker should have some oversight. But Rep. Lucy Weber, a Walpole Democrat, said the rule would cede too much discretion to the House speaker, who heads the House Rules Committee. Other attempted rules changes The House voted against a rule intended to reduce the number of bills filed in the second year of the legislative biennium. The rule would have allowed every representative the ability to file one bill on their own in that second year, but required at least six co-sponsors for any subsequent bills. That proposal failed, 83-295. The House voted to allow sponsors of bills to make requests to withdraw their own bills late in the session as long as they also obtain the consent of their co-sponsors. The chamber defeated a proposal to require committee chairpeople to give all people testifying equal time, 177-205. The House voted down another proposal to change the official reference of the invocation at the beginning of a session from prayer to reflection, 160-222. The body rejected a proposal to require that committees give at least 10 days public notice ahead of hearings; currently the notice requirement is three days. That failed, 73-308. House lawmakers voted down a proposal to allow members of committees to elect their own chairpeople; currently those chairpeople are chosen by the House speaker. The proposal failed by voice vote. Phew, Rep. John Hunt, chairman of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs committee, said aloud. The body killed an effort to reduce the number of representatives needed to take a bill off the consent calendar from 10 to three. The effort failed, 182-202. And the chamber narrowly fell short of passing a rule that would require committee chairpeople to consult with their committee members before deciding that they would like to waive a bill from appearing in their committee, 186-193. Proponents of that change say the current system, which allows a chair to do so unilaterally, can result in bills missing the oversight they need; opponents said the proposed rule would slow the process down. Senate allows late nongermane amendments if accompanied by hearings The Senate also took up rules changes Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a unanimous voice vote, the Senate tweaked a section of its rules around what qualifies as a germane amendment to bills and resolutions. It also approved the other changes to its rules proposed on the Senate calendar, with the exception of an alteration to the policy around personal privileges and other remarks. The new rule adds another circumstance in which an amendment would be considered germane: If a public hearing has been held after proper notice in the Senate calendar. It also reworded an existing exception, which now says that a proposed change is germane if it is an amendment to a house bill, proposed by the Committee on Finance, establishing a general appropriations (budget) bill or trailer bill because the House did not pass one or more of the budget bills. In both the new and old version of the rule, an amendment is considered germane if its subject matter is the same as that of some portion of the bill or resolution or if its subject has been previously found ought to pass by the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bulletin reporter Claire Sullivan contributed to this report. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New Hampshire House passes rules to restore powers to committee chairs (This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) Iowa City's Charter Review Commission has delivered its recommended changes to the city, suggesting the mayoral selection process and council district system remain the same. The Charter Review Commission meets once every decade to review the original charter affirmed by voters in 1973 and adopted by ordinance in 1976. The council appointed members to the once-a-decade commission, which includes former city councilors, a former mayor, and members of prominent community organizations like the Iowa City Downtown District. The commission met twice a month since April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recommendations will require a council majority in favor of adoption at three meetings before they become officially part of the charter. Public comment periods will be available at each meeting. More: Hills Mayor calls out ICCSD for handling of shuttered elementary school days before demolition First vote is in January Assuming there are no changes requested by councilors, the first vote is expected at the city council's next meeting on Jan. 21. The commission took public comment at each of their meetings and held two public input sessions in the fall to gather local ideas, though Chair John Balmer said he wished resident participation in this process was higher. Balmer is a former city councilor, mayor and 1984 Charter Review Commission chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think people are disengaged from the community," Balmer said. Here's what to know about the changes in the charter: More: See every proposed change to the Iowa City charter Mayor Bruce Teague listens to citizen comments during the Iowa City Councils April meeting Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at Iowa City Hall in Iowa City, Iowa. Mayor, council district system to remain unchanged Two of the commission's lengthiest debates hinged on the city-appointed mayoral selection process and the various city council districts. In each, members voted 6-3 in favor of the current system. Iowa City's mayor is not directly elected. Instead, the council itself chooses the mayor from a pool of seven candidates at the beginning of the year following a council election. For example, councilors chose to reappoint current Mayor Bruce Teague to the city's top position for a third term in January 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Iowa City appears poised to keep current mayoral selection process. Here's why: The commission discussed options that would allow candidates to run for the position of mayor and for residents to vote on the candidates. Discussions included former mayors Balmer and Matt Hayek. "I could never have run for mayor without any experience, truthfully," Balmer, who served as mayor of Iowa City in 1980 and 1981, said. "I think the experience was absolutely paramount for me being a better mayor, too." Commission recommends city council districts stand pat Similarly, the city council's district system remains unchanged in the charter's final proposal. In the current system, four of the councilors serve as "At-Large" members. Three others are elected from certain council districts A, B and C. These councilors must reside in their district and for primary elections, only voters from their district may vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New language in the charter mentions the purpose of the council district system: "The purpose of district divisions is to ensure City-wide geographic representation on the Council." The district system has been used since the charter's inception almost 50 years ago. It will not change. View the full revisions to the charter below. The first section includes a "red line" section, with the items added or removed by this commission. The second section is a clean copy of the proposed, revised charter. What changes did the charter commission recommend? The charter's preamble was expanded to elaborate on the values of the city, including "representative democracy, strong leadership, public engagement, diversity and inclusiveness, regional cooperation and stewardship of our unique environment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Hakes: Iowa Citys prominent string bass maker now crafting unique, high-end bass guitars The local commission also proposed language that encourages the council to consider board and commission candidates based on the "available demographics" and "in an effort to make appointments reflective of the community." A gender-balance requirement is no longer legally allowed under Iowa law. The city manager currently selects the police chief and fire chief. The final draft charter does not include any sweeping changes to the current system of governance in Iowa City. Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City Charter Review Commission's recommendations. What to know: The coldest temperatures in Kansas early this week were recorded at Manhattan Regional Airport, which saw low mercury readings of minus 12 on Monday and minus 15 on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. Brutal cold accompanying a storm that brought as much as 18 inches of snow Sunday to parts of Kansas left the Sunflower State enduring conditions even colder than those present in Anchorage, Alaska, where USA Today reported temperatures Tuesday morning were a comparatively balmy 40 degrees. Manhattan Regional Airport fell considerably short of being the coldest place in the contiguous United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That distinction was held Monday by a location 31 miles northeast of Forest Center, Minnesota, which saw a low of minus 21, then shared Tuesday between Stub Creek, Colorado, and Peter Sinks, Utah, both with temperatures of minus 31, the weather service said. A parked car along S.E. Sixth Avenue is covered by snow as county and city crews plow the roads Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Here were some of Kansas's lowest temperatures on Monday The weather service reported Kansas temperatures fell Monday to lows for each community: Minus 12 at Manhattan Regional Airport. Minus 9 in the Russell area. Minus 8 at Salina. Minus 7 at Lawrence Municipal Airport. Minus 4 at Hutchinson Regional Airport and at Marysville, with the latter then seeing a low of 1 degree on Tuesday. Minus 3 at Concordia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka's low temperature Monday was 2 degrees, according to the weather service. Here were some of Kansas's lowest temperatures on Tuesday The mercury dipped even lower Tuesday morning in some of those communities, as the weather service reported lows that day of: Minus 15 at Manhattan Regional Airport. Minus 11 at Horton, which had seen a low of 4 on Monday. Minus 10 at Lawrence Municipal Airport. Minus 8 at Salina. Minus 6 in the Russell area. Minus 3 at Topeka and at Hutchinson Regional Airport. Minus 2 at Concordia. Winds made conditions feel even colder Monday and Tuesday in Kansas communities, as weather service records show the wind chill index dipped as low as minus 20 Tuesday at Manhattan Municipal Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weather service doesn't keep official wind child index records. Kansas' lowest temperature on record is minus 40, set Feb. 13, 1905, in Lebanon in north-central Kansas. Topeka meteorologist discusses potential temperature disparity The lows the weather service recorded Monday of minus 12 at Manhattan Municipal Airport and minus 7 at Lawrence Municipal Airport showed a marked disparity from low of 2 degrees above zero recorded that day in Topeka, which is located east of Manhattan and west of Lawrence. Likewise, a separate weather service monitoring station at Manhattan recorded a low of zero on Monday. Nathan Griesemer, a meteorologist for the weather service office in Topeka, suggested Tuesday that the lower readings at the Lawrence and Manhattan airports may have something to do with their monitoring stations being located in valleys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas saw temperatures plunging below zero, with these the coldest The News Lebanons parliament has elected a US-supported army chief to be the countrys new president, ending the political stalemate that had left the country without a leader since 2022. General Joseph Aoun secured 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament, after winning an endorsement from the Hezbollah-backed candidate. The career soldier is the fifth army commander to be elected president in Lebanons history. Tensions between Hezbollah and its opponents had left the parliament unable to appoint a new leader for years, but as the Iran-backed militia and its political partys power has waned over the last year under Israeli pressure, Lebanese lawmakers saw a breakthrough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aoun is widely seen as the US and Saudi Arabias preferred candidate: Aoun kept the Lebanese army out of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. More than 40 Lebanese troops were killed in Israeli strikes, but the army did not clash with Israel. SIGNALS Hezbollahs influence in Lebanon is waning Sources: Reuters, Al-Monitor, The New York Times Joseph Aouns election was widely seen as a sign of Hezbollahs weakness, as the Tehran-backed group has long had reservations about the generals candidacy, Reuters wrote. Israel has hammered Hezbollah in recent months with rockets, missiles, and targeted killings, leaving the group weakened, but not defeated, a Lebanese researcher told Al-Monitor. Along with Hezbollahs diminished influence, Irans own weakened footprint in the region and renewed Saudi engagement made Aouns rise to power possible, a Lebanon expert argued. President Aoun pledged that only the state army will have weapons, a reference to Hezbollahs massive arsenal of weapons, half of which is believed intact despite Israels bombing campaign. Aoun will immediately have to oversee Lebanons reconstruction Sources: The World Bank, Carnegie Endowment, Al-Monitor, The Washington Post Lebanons new leader will immediately face the challenges of managing the US-backed ceasefire, as well as reconstructing the country from a war the World Bank estimated cost $8.5 billion in damages and economic loss. Aouns military background puts him in a good position, one expert said: The single national institution that retains credibility and widespread popular endorsement is the Lebanese army. The Biden administration wants Lebanons armed forces to deploy close to the Israeli border to create a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah, Al-Monitor reported, and US officials have stressed that a significant amount of US support will be needed to wrest control from Hezbollah. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced questions about her leadership and alleged lack of initial presence during the ongoing wildfires affecting the area. Bass was away from the city on a planned diplomatic trip to Ghana Tuesday when the Palisades Fire first erupted and has been hit by critics for her leadership during the disaster, particularly from her 2022 Republican mayoral opponent Rick Caruso, who accused her of "abandoning her post" in an interview with Politico. PHOTO: California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn, Jan. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images) The mayor, who did post a warning about the windstorm on social media Monday, declined to respond to a reporter Wednesday who asked why she did not return to the city fast enough and she dodged the question again during a news conference Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Despite losing everything in Los Angeles wildfires, residents say they're thankful to be alive "Let me just say, first and foremost, my number one focus, and I think the focus of all of us here with one voice, protect lives, we have to save lives and we have to save homes. Rest assured that ...when that is done, when we are safe, when lives have been saved and homes have been saved, we will absolutely do an evaluation to look at what worked, [and] what didn't work, and to correct or to hold accountable any body, department, individual, etc.," Bass said Thursday. "But my focus right now is on the lives and on the homes." Bass, a former U.S. representative who chaired the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, was part of a four-member presidential delegation attending Tuesday's inauguration of John Dramani Mahama as Ghana's president. She arrived back in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon after the various wildfires already scorched thousands of acres of the county and destroyed homes and businesses. PHOTO: California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn, Jan. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images) The mayor told reporters Wednesday that she took the "fastest route back, which included being on a military plane." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Los Angeles 'not prepared' for size, growth of raging wildfires: Fire chief Wildfire experts contend that it was impossible to have enough resources or preparedness for a disaster such as this. Clearing up confusion over fire department budget Some critics have lashed out at the mayor over the budget for the city's fire department, which saw its funding cut by nearly $17.5 million this fiscal year, records show. However, at the time the budget was approved the city was negotiating its contract with the fire department union and had not reached a deal over salaries, the records show. So as part of the budget deal, additional funding for the department was set aside in a separate fund while union negotiations continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the deal was reached between the city and the union in November, the money from the fund was given back to the department, Bass said. "So, I think it's most important to understand that we were in tough budgetary times. Everybody knew that, but that the impact of our budget really did not impact what we've been going through over the last few days," she said. PHOTO: California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on Jan. 8, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images) A spokesperson for Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who previously chaired the council's budget and finance committee, told ABC News the updated budget in November saw a $53 million increase over the previous year once the council took into account the department's unappropriated balance calculation, which provides funds after the budget is approved. The current fiscal year budget included money to hire 220 firefighters in three new academy classes at the Valley Recruit Training Academy, according to city documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass repeatedly noted that the fires are unprecedented, however, she expressed frustration Thursday with reports that firefighters did not have water. "We also know that fire hydrants are not constructed to deal with this type of massive devastation, and that the number one problem, especially on ... Wednesday, was the fact that we weren't able to do the air support because of the winds, and so, of course, I am absolutely frustrated by that," she said. President Joe Biden, citing California Gov. Gavin Newsom, told reporters Thursday that a power shutdown was a factor in the water shortage. The president said there was concern about downed power lines creating more sparks. "CAL Fire, when it did that, it cut off the ability to generate pumping the water. That's what caused the lack of water in these hydrants," he said. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass pushes back against criticism over management of wildfires originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) First a bridge and now a Navy destroyer has been named after former Nebraska governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey, the Nebraska Examiner reports. This week, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the Navys newest Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer has been named the USS Robert Kerrey (DDG 146). Kerrey, a Navy SEAL during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor, previously lent his name to a pedestrian bridge spanning the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Navy press release, Kerrey said he was grateful for the honor. My sincere thanks to President Biden, Secretary of the Navy Del Toro, and the United States Navy that gave me the opportunity to serve my country for three of the best years of my life, Kerrey said. First day of 2025 Nebraska Legislature underscores conservative stronghold Del Toro said that the naming recognized his actions in Vietnam and his continued service to this country well beyond his Naval service. Kerrey, a native of Lincoln, received the Medal of Honor in 1970 the first Navy SEAL to be so honored for actions during a mission in March of 1969, when he led a SEAL team seeking to capture Viet Cong political leaders. Then US President Richard Nixon with Navy Lieutenant Bob Kerrey of Lincoln, Nebraska, during Medal of Honor ceremony in Washington DC After scaling a 350-foot cliff, Kerrey was severely injured when a grenade exploded at his feet. Despite his injuries which ultimately led to losing his lower leg he continued to command his unit in securing an enemy camp and locating an extraction site for helicopter evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerrey, a Democrat, served as governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and later as U.S. Senator from 1989 to 2001. He also served on the commission that investigated the 9/11 attacks. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KCAU 9 Morning Update A political comeback failed in 2012 when he was defeated for the U.S. Senate seat he formerly held by then State Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. She just won a third term. Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and X. This story was republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged law societies to play a better role as bridges in a letter sent to the ninth congress of the China Law Society, which opened on Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for breaking new ground in the cause of law societies. Acknowledging the role of law societies in comprehensively advancing law-based governance, Xi said they must uphold the Party's overall leadership and continue to serve the broader goals of both the Party and the country. He urged law societies at all levels to make concrete efforts in advancing legal research, supporting the practice of the rule of law, raising public awareness and training legal professionals. Legal scholars and practitioners should consolidate confidence in the rule of law and devote themselves to the crucial task of advancing law-based governance, said Xi. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, spoke at the opening of the congress. It is hoped that legal professionals will do a solid work in ensuring sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice and society-wide adherence to the law, and make contributions to advancing Chinese modernization, said Chen. Wang Chen, director of the China Law Society, chaired the meeting and delivered a work report. The meeting also awarded exemplary groups and individuals in the law society system nationwide. The Pizzagate gunman who sprayed a round of bullets at a pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C. in 2016, after traveling hundreds of miles to self-investigate a conspiracy theory, has been shot dead by two police officers at a traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch, of Salisbury, was shot at around 10pm Saturday after he pulled a handgun on two Kannapolis Police officers and failed to back down, according to a Kannapolis Fire and Police Department statement Thursday. On December 4, 2016, Welch made national headlines when he drove from North Carolina with an assault rifle and stormed Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington after believing an unfounded conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were behind a child sex trafficking ring operating from inside the pizzeria no one was injured in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hoax fringe theory, dubbed Pizzagate, began circulating online during the 2016 presidential election and spiraled to unprecedented lengths, gaining a cult following on alt-right forums, convincing the likes of conservative journalists, and those opposed to Hilary Clinton online. At the time of Welchs death, the conspiracy theories around the Pizzagate saga extended to rumors that he was the brother of Hailey Welch aka The Hawk Tuah girl. The Pizzagate theory was propagated by users of 4chan, a message board known for free speech and extreme content, who trolled the internet looking for prominent politicians to tie to the paedophile sex ring allegation and the Comet restaurant. Police arrested Welch (pictured) December 4, 2016 after he unleashed a spray of bullets at Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington. He quickly discovered the criminal theories to be false when he found no evidence of the operation inside (Sathi Soma) Consequently, James Alefantis, the then owner of Comet Ping Pong, who had ties to the Democrats, began receiving waves of abuse making life hell for him and his employees. In 2020, Pizzagate made a resurgence when the high-profile suicide of child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was announced along with his deep ties to the political establishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Elon Musk jumped on the bandwagon when he boosted the Pizzagate theory on his platform X, formerly Twitter, in 2023 after facing an advertiser exodus when he embraced an antisemitic conspiracy theory, according to CNN . Welch, who was 28 at the time of his arrest , was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and then sentenced to four years in prison in June 2017 after he pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and assault with a dangerous weapon. His death, nine years later, stemmed from him being pursued for an outstanding arrest warrant. Police identified him while he was driving along North Cannon Boulevard in a gray 2001 GMC Yukon. When he opened the door, the front seat passenger pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer. That officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon gave commands for the passenger to drop the gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement added: After the passenger failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him. Welch was taken to Atrium Health in Charlotte for additional care but succumbed to his injuries Monday, said Kannapolis officials. As the U.S. steps closer towards a Trump-led ultra-truth era, the world witnesses an expansion from conspiracy movements buried in pockets of the internet like the alt-right to more apolitical groups thanks to the surge and popularity of TikTok something we may see more of as the future of fact-checking hangs in the balance. For many, the new year is a season of fresh starts and new beginnings. But for me a longtime New Yorker who was unjustly deported 2025 marks yet another year separated from my family and community, exiled in a country that is not my own and grows more dangerous by the day. For nearly four years, I have lived in hiding in Haiti a country that has no legal claim over me, and that I had never set foot in before 2021. It is a place ranked among the most dangerous cities in the world, with one of the highest murder rates per capita. My existence here is under constant threat. Haiti is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, overrun by gang violence, kidnappings, and political instability. This unlawful and inhumane exile has subjected me to life-threatening conditions and unimaginable hardships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was born to Haitian parents in the French territory of St. Martin, and moved to New York when I was five years old. I dont have French or Haitian citizenship. Technically, Im considered stateless a designation for individuals without citizenship in any nation. But by all measures, Im a New Yorker. I spent 35 years living in upstate New York, surrounded by a vibrant and diverse community. Its the only home I have ever known. In my early 20s, I made a one-time mistake and was convicted on a drug-related charge. It was a lapse in judgment that I have spent decades atoning for. I took full responsibility, paid my debt to society and dedicated the next 15 years to rebuilding my life. After completing my sentence, I became a financial consultant. I spent more than a decade helping individuals and families plan for their futures. I invested in my community I hosted barbecues and movie nights for my family and friends, volunteered at my church and lived with integrity. But in 2021, during the last days of the first Trump administration, I was suddenly taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. From there, I was detained and ultimately deported to Haiti. Despite proving my rehabilitation, I have been punished twice: first for my past actions and again through this unjust exile. This double punishment has condemned me to Haiti a country where I have no citizenship, no ties and no safety. Paul Pierrilus of Spring Valley was nearly deported to Haiti in January 2021, even though he is not a Haitian citizen and has never been to the country. My deportation has thrown me into unimaginable peril. I have dodged gunfire on multiple occasions, lost my home to arson, and lost neighbors to kidnappings and murders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I survived two earthquakes and a cholera outbreak during a nationwide lockdown. Gravely ill and bedridden, I lost 20 pounds in just seven days, with no access to food, clean water or medical care due to hospital closures. Without an ID, passport or legal status, I am defenseless in a nation ruled by suspicion. Locals could easily mistake me for a bandi (gang member), making me a target for both violent gangs and the bwa kale movement a citizen-led crusade where mobs kill suspected gang members on sight, without trial. Suspicion is a death sentence in Haiti. Isolation isnt a choice; it is my only means of survival. I am constantly on the move, living as a ghost, stripped of everything that validates my existence. I do not speak Haitian Creole fluently, leaving me unable to explain my circumstances. In this chaos, survival is far from guaranteed. I have paid my debt to society, but the ongoing punishment I face in exile is not justice it is cruel and unethical. Haiti has been under a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory throughout my exile. To leave me here is not only inhumane but a violation of Americas commitment to fairness, redemption, and humanity. NY man deported to Haiti asks: Hunter Biden's pardon gave him a 2nd chance. Where's mine? President Biden, please correct this wrong As President Joe Biden said last month during his historic pardon announcement, America is a country built on second chances. I pose no threat to society. I have met every obligation, lived with integrity, and proven that I can contribute to my community. Last year, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul granted me a full and unconditional pardon for my past conviction, acknowledging the man Ive become and the ways I have transformed my life. Yet, I have been condemned to a life of fear and suffering in a country that is not my own. Im asking for the same grace that Mr. Biden has shown others. Mr. Biden, by resolving this crisis once and for all, you would not only bring closure to my situation but also reinforce the compassion that has defined your administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one is perfect, but no one deserves a death sentence for a mistake they have already atoned for. I deserve the opportunity to live in safety and with human dignity. I am Americanized I attended school in the U.S. from K-12. I vividly remember standing with my hand over my heart, reciting: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I truly believe in those words, especially the promise of liberty and justice for all. Mr. Biden, your administration holds the power to correct this wrong and restore my life, reuniting me with my elderly parents, loved ones, and community. I have proven that I can overcome my past. I am writing with a profound sense of urgency, given the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the imminent transition to a new administration. Next month will mark four years of living in exile a punishment far beyond what is reasonable. Please, let this nightmare end. Let me come home. Paul Pierrilus is a resident of Spring Valley, New York. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paul Pierrilus unjustly deported appeals to President Biden By Anayo Okoli, Enugu The former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, has withdrawn from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidential race, following a court order served on him this night. I will not participate in any election pending the final determination of the matter pending before Hon Justice N. R. Oji of Enugu State High Court, which court gave the restraining order. Although Ive not been formally served with the suit/processes or order, my commitment to law and order remains unwavering, despite the fact that the reliefs granted in the order against me appears to undermine my fundamental right guaranteed in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Okiro at press briefing last night. My dear brothers and sisters, I, Sir Mike Okiro CFR, President-General candidate for Ohanaeze Ndigbo election slated for 10th January 2025 (tomorrow) address you today with unwavering resolve. I have been made aware of the Enugu State High Courts interim order, which regrettably restrains me from contesting the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Presidency General Election tomorrow. The court order, based on alleged non-indigene status, contradicts verifiable facts. It is unfortunate that the court did not invite me or heard from me before giving that obnoxious order, which I got from the media. Im from Rivers The facts are (a) That I hail from Egbema in Rivers State as shown by my National Population Commission Attestation of Birth. (b) My Traditional Ruler, the Nzeobi of Egbema, has also confirmed my indigene status of Rivers State. (c) I have written many books where my indigeneship of Rivers State is shown in the authors column. A good example is my best seller, titled: Nigeria: The Restructuring Controversy. (d) Page 6 of my biography written by Mr. Dozie Okebalama also shows my indigeneship of Rivers. (e) I have attended many Imeobi meetings where I represented Rivers State in the attendance list compiled by the Secretary-General. (f) As a student in the University of Ibadan, I was a member of the Rivers State Students Association, where I was elected as Treasurer, and another Great UIte, now distinguished Senator Andrew Uchendu was elected as Secretary. (g) I was representing Rivers State during the meetings of the South-South Peoples Assembly under our respected leader, Chief Edwin Clark, where Prof. Pat Utomi, another Great Nigerian, represented Delta State. My records and credentials speak for themselves. As an Igbo man and elder statesman of Rivers State extraction, which said position has been zoned to by the electoral committee, I believe in the rule of law and shall respect the courts order. My Obedience to court orders, no matter how unfavorable, demonstrates our commitment to democracy. I believe in the principles of rule of law as the rule of law ensures our collective progress. The rule of law safeguards our society; its principles must be upheld, our democratic values are non-negotiable, together we will emerge stronger. Our stance for justice, due process and rule of law shall vindicate us. My distinguished career as Nigerias Inspector General of Police underscores my dedication to justice and what is noble. seeks redress I have instructed the Chambers of Eze Okafor & Co, my lawyers to pursue the case to its logical conclusion to ensure that the purveyors of hate and lawlessness are brought to book in line with our enabling laws. As provided by our constitution, I demand to be heard, and I am sure that the court will ensure that the twin pillars of natural justice will be observed to the later in handling the case. We have not lost hope in our judicial system. I urge my immediate community Egbema, the entire Igbo speaking people of Rivers state who are solidly behind me and all my supporters across Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, and Delta to stand by the rule of law throughout the period of this contest. Our resolve strengthens Ohanaeze Ndigbos unity and progress. Together, well navigate this challenge. My Governor, His Excellency, Siminialayi Fubaras unwavering support is most highly appreciated and same cannot be taken for granted. Your Excellencys leadership indeed inspires me. Ohanaeze Ndigbo embodies Igbo unity, progress, and peaceful coexistence. Our organization promotes harmony among Igbos worldwide. Lets prioritize peace and unity. I reaffirm my commitment to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Ideals; unity, progress and peace in Igbo land. Justice shall prevail; Igbo unity and progress remain our guiding principles. I assure all of you that we shall overcome this minor setback as our democratic values are non-negotiable, Okiro said. File image of an FBI arrest A 37-year-old Nigerian man, Chukwunonso Obiora, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in separate criminal schemes, including laundering fraud proceeds and obtaining a U.S. passport through false statements. The sentencing, delivered by United States District Judge Indira Talwani, also includes three years of supervised release and restitution and forfeiture totaling $3,326,014.14. The announcement via a statement was made on January 5, 2025, by U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New England, through the U.S. Department of Justice. Obiora pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of passport fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. He was arrested in October 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, on a criminal complaint and was held pending trial. In January 2024, he was indicted for his crimes. The statement reads, Between at least as early as March 2021 and May 2023, Obiora and several co-conspirators agreed to receive and withdraw the proceeds of business email compromises (BECs) from bank accounts that they controlled, and to direct those funds to other co-conspirators, in exchange for a cut of the criminal proceeds. BECs are a type of fraud scheme that targets companies that make regular business payments by wire. Cybercriminals use email to impersonate trusted parties to the payments in order to trick the victim companies into sending money to bank accounts controlled by participants in the scheme. The defendants money laundering conspiracy, of which he admitted to being a leader and organizer, involved obtaining individual victims means of identification and to create fake drivers licenses, incorporate businesses and open bank accounts in the victims names; providing the bank accounts to co-conspirators involved in the BEC schemes as accounts to which victims could be tricked into sending wires; withdrawing money quickly from the bank accounts once the wire transfers arrived, before victim companies learned that they had been tricked into sending money; and depositing the proceeds into other accounts, and wiring BEC scheme proceeds to the defendant and others in Nigeria, China and elsewhere. The defendant and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal the existence of the conspiracy, including by forging business invoices and writing false memos on checks to suggest that the BEC scheme proceeds deposited into Destination Accounts were legitimate business revenues; and by making false statements to banks regarding the nature of the BEC scheme proceeds that were deposited into Destination Accounts. The defendant and his U.S.-based co-conspirators shared at least as much as 40 percent of the deposited BEC scheme proceeds as payment for their roles in the conspiracy. In just two-plus years, the defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in at least $6.5 million in financial transactions involving the proceeds of BEC schemes. After immigration authorities removed the defendant from the United States in December 2021, he agreed with a close relative who is an American citizen to obtain a U.S. passport in the relatives name, which the defendant could use to re-enter the United States illegally. The relative reported his passport lost or stolen and, in May 2023, applied for a new passport at a U.S. Post Office in Watertown, Mass. The sworn application had the relatives name on it, but a picture of the defendant. The relative sent the issued passport to the defendant, who, in October 2023, used the passport to travel from Nigeria to Detroit, Mich., where the defendant presented himself as his relative at the U.S. border. The investigation received critical support from the U.S. Department of States Diplomatic Security Service and its Criminal Investigations Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit. Sanusi By Bashir Bello KANO Jubilation has erupted in the ancient city of Kano as a Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in the crucial legal battle over the Emirship stool. Supporters of Emir Sanusi, including youths and elderly individuals, celebrated the victory with drums, dancing, and other festivities. The judgement delivered by the Appeal Court which sat in Abuja has brought an end to the prolonged legal dispute that threatened the stability of the Kano Emirate. Recall that the dispute began when Governor Abba Yusuf sometime in May 2024 dissolved all the Emirates and dethroned the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero while he was away from the state (the palace) and that which paved way for the reinstatement of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II who was immediately moved into the Kofar-Kudu palace to ascend the throne. Upon return to the state, Bayero was forced to occupy the Nassarawa mini palace in a sit tight and where he currently carries out his courts. 'Traveling in China' trending on social media China Daily) 08:41, January 10, 2025 A foreign visitor plays a lusheng (reed pipe) together with villagers of the Miao ethnic group in Congjiang county, Guizhou province, on Dec 20. (Photo/China Daily) With the New Year holiday having just passed and the Spring Festival holiday approaching, "Traveling in China" has become a popular topic on social media. The enthusiasm of foreign tourists visiting China is soaring, while Chinese tourists venturing abroad continue to show robust growth. Foreign tourists visit the Xuankong (Hanging) Temple in Hunyuan county, Shanxi province. (Zhu Xingxin/China Daily) The surge in inbound and outbound tourism not only injects a strong impetus into economic development but also fosters cultural exchanges, mutual understanding, and enriches the positive interactions between China and the world. According to the National Immigration Administration, 1.8 million inbound and outbound travelers crossed borders during the New Year holiday, marking a 13.7 percent increase from the same period last year. Among them, the number of foreign visitors reached 185,000, showing a 33.6 percent increase from the previous year. A tour guide introduces Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi province to a group of foreign visitors on Sept 3. (Zhu Xingxin/China Daily) A recent report by online travel platform Trip.com Group revealed that the outbound search index for the 2025 Spring Festival has surged by 51 percent. A threefold increase was also recorded in travel bookings to China by foreign tourists compared to the same period last year. The flourishing "two-way travel" trend between Chinese and foreign tourists is driven by favorable policies. Over the past year, China has expanded its visa-free "circle of friends" to 38 countries, and implemented transit visa-free policies for 54 countries. Chinese tourists can also enjoy visa-free policies from countries such as Singapore and Thailand. Data shows that from January to November 2024, the number of inbound foreign visitors nationwide reached 29.2 million, an 86.2 percent year-on-year increase, with 17.4 million entering visa-free, marking a 123 percent increase. The topic "Going to China on Friday after work" even trended on South Korean social media, with a large number of Southeast Asian tourists booking flights to China's Northeast to experience its winter wonders. Foreign tourists take a group photo at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Nov 23. (Photo/China Daily) By the end of 2024, China extended the stay for transit visa-free visitors to 240 hours, added 21 more ports for transit visa-free entry and exit, and expanded the permitted activity areas. Longer stays and broader activity areas not only facilitate foreign tourists in planning their itineraries across provinces and regions to experience the vastness and diversity of China but also promote the sharing of tourism resources, generating economies of scale, enhancing openness, and fostering outward economic growth. As more foreign tourists come to China for unique experiences, the trend of "Traveling in China" continues to evolve. Foreign visitors take guided tricycle tours in Beijing on Dec 12. (Ju Huanzong/Xinhua) They no longer settle for traditional tourist spots but delve into the streets, immersing themselves in local customs and culture. They visit rural markets, stroll through community markets, and participate in morning exercises in neighborhood parks. Foreign visitors unlock new experiences, portraying a more authentic, comprehensive, and vibrant China through their lenses for a broader audience to appreciate. A woman dressed in the traditional costume of the Yi ethnic group shows Yi embroidery products made in Chuxiong, Yunnan province, to foreign visitors during a promotion event in Beijing on Oct 13. (Photo/China Daily) Xiamen and Longyan in Fujian province recently co-hosted the "Celebrate Chinese New Year in Xiamen and Longyan" event, promoting the 240-hour transit visa-free policy to global tourists. Cities such as Changsha in Hunan province and Zhangzhou in Fujian will organize the "Taste of Chinese New Year" global influencer series, where international travel influencers will introduce the cultural and tourism highlights of various regions to overseas visitors. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) You are here: China Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged young artists to ensure that traditional Peking Opera remains vibrant and relevant in the modern era. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter to young artists of China's National Peking Opera Company. Peking Opera, a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage dating back over 200 years, is a performance art incorporating singing, reciting, acting and martial arts. Xi called on the artists to uphold virtue and artistic excellence, and remain true to tradition while embracing innovation. Xi extended his congratulatory greetings and warm regards to all the performers and staff of the company on its 70th anniversary. Xi noted that since its founding, the company has delivered numerous classic performances and nurtured a rich pool of talented artists. He expressed his hope that the company, at a new starting point, would continue to play a vital role in promoting the art form and contribute to the building of a culturally strong nation. The National Peking Opera Company traces its origins to the China Peking Opera Company, established in January 1955, with renowned artist Mei Lanfang serving as its first president. The company adopted its current name in 2007. The company's young artists recently wrote to Xi to share their efforts in passing down Peking Opera traditions. They pledged their dedication to advancing the art form and promoting China's rich cultural heritage. By Nkiruka Ajogwu A renowned activist lawyer, Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, has emerged as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the organisations ongoing convention in Port-Harcourt. The General Assembly of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, according to a statement by the returning officer, Dr. Achi Achi, copy of which was made available to newsmen, said the new President General, Okwukwu, was returned unopposed at the the convention, which began on Thursday and is expected to end on Friday. The returning officer said the President General, Okwukwu was elected by the progressive movement in Igboland, expressing appreciation to the national delegates who stormed Port Harcourt for the exercise, even as he noted that they were the true members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for finding the helmsman worthy. He said the new leader had pledged to defend the interest of all Igbos under the sun and uphold the tenets of the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Okwukwu, in his acceptance speech, Okwukwu thanked the delegates, saying that he humbly accepted the enormous responsibility imposed on him to lead the Igbo race at this moment in our history. The newly elected President General said his top priorities included engaging the Federal Government on the unconditional release of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and restructuring Nigeria. Besides, he promised to unite fractured nerves and bring the Igbo together as one indivisible family, saying that he was fully aware of the unprecedented trust reposed in him and his capacity to do so. This was just as he pledged solemnly to defend Igbo nation by living up to their high expectations, adding: I shall live up to their high expectations. He thanked all members of the Electoral Committee, the elders, members of the press and Igbo public, men, women, and youths for all the joint efforts that helped to yield these positive outcomes. The newly elected President General, while noting that Igbo nation had gone through unprecedented travails, assured that he would waste no time in engaging the Federal and State governments, Igbo businessmen, politicians, youths, and intelligentsia, to address the problems facing the Igbo nation. He said he would meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to work for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other political prisoners, and ensure de-criminalization of political exiles to enable them return home to join the process of reconstruction. We shall encourage the Federal and State governments to engage all agitators to address grievances so as to bring a just closure to issues, Okwukwu said. Speaking further, the newly elected President General said he would also engage the Federal Government in dredging, modernization and restoration of the Igweocha/Port-Harcourt and other coastal ports for the Igbo/East and others, together with the dredging of the Azumini to Opobo Imo River basin to the coast, in order to recreate a pole of export-import industrialization and development in Igboland/East, down to the Middle-Belt and Maiduguri. I will work for the creation of the Anioma State as an equalization state for the Igbo, and for additional Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orlu or other states in case the balance is further disrupted, he said. On restructuring, Okwukwu promised to mobilise the Igbo for it to come about, which he said all other ethnic nationalities had ready templates, but no recent Ohanaeze leadership had had any courage to address. I will work hand in hand with critical Igbo stakeholders to advance the unity of the Igbo nation, and ensure that Igbo communities in Benue, Edo etc, are fully incorporated into the Ohanaeze family memberships, modernize the Igbo language as one of the major languages of global commerce, culture, science and technology, he said. Okwukwu, it was gathered emerged as the consensus candidate having been identified as the only independent contestant among more than four aspirants that sought to lead the Igbo socio-cultural organisation. The election attended by several people was held in Port-Harcourt, with delegates from the South-East and the Diaspora in attendance, while more than 200 social and cultural groups were also present at the historic event. By Abdurrahman Umar Twenty-one persons are said to have been killed, and several others were declared missing after suspected bandits invaded Baure village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. Baure village is widely known as a bandits den where the criminals have significant control. A resident name withheld, told Channels Television on Friday that, the attack took place on Tuesday when the hoodlums were on a rampage, visiting house to house in the area. He said, that during the attack, about fifteen persons died on the spot while several others were still unaccounted for. The hoodlums also burnt some of the corpses, he noted. The Police Spokesman DSP Abubakar Sadiq, also confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Friday. Yes, it is true. But I am trying to put all the details together so that I will keep you posted, he said. Later on, he issued a statement confirming the number of dead persons. Sadly, twenty-one (21) persons were fatally shot as a result of the attack. Efforts are currently being made to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act, further developments will be communicated in due course as the investigation proceeds, the statement read. In a related incident, suspected bandits were said to have laid ambush on members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps in the same Baure village. Eyewitnesses told the BBC Hausa that the victims mostly hailed from Charanchi, Safana, Kurfi, and Kaita LGAs, were attacked on Thursday while returning from a condolence visit in the neighbouring Batsari LGA. He puts the casualty figure to over thirty. The victims were members of a local vigilante group from different local governments, who went on a condolence visit to Madaddafai village over the death of one of their members. After the condolences, their leaders returned home, but the rest decided to proceed to the Baure village where they were ambushed by the bandits, he said. The son of Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni, Major General Muhoozi Kainerugaba attends a ceremony in which he was promoted from Brigadier to Major General at the countrys military headquarters in Kampala on May 25, 2016. Ugandas army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced he was quitting X on Friday after a string of controversial posts including threatening to behead an opposition leader and invade neighbouring countries. Seen as the likely successor to his 80-year-old father, Kainerugaba built up more than a million followers on X, formerly Twitter, thanks to his notorious posts. Just this week, Kainerugaba, 50, said it was only the presence of his father that prevented him from murdering musician-turned-opposition leader Bobi Wine. If Mzee was not there, I would cut off his head today, Kainerugaba posted, using an honorific for Museveni. But Kainerugaba posted on Friday that the great whirlwind and rousing journey of his time on X was ending so he could concentrate on his duties as head of the Ugandan Peoples Defence Forces. That may bring some relief to Ugandas diplomats. The president was forced to apologise for his sons tweet in 2022 that appeared to threaten an invasion of Kenya. It wouldnt take us, my army and me, 2 weeks to capture Nairobi, Kainerugaba wrote. He has also tweeted his support for Russias invasion of Ukraine and the Tigrayan rebels fighting Ethiopias government between 2020 and 2022. Last month, Kainerugaba threatened to seize the Sudanese capital Khartoum as soon as US President-elect Donald Trump takes office, triggering more diplomatic uproar. The post was later deleted and Uganda issued a statement saying the comments do not represent the official position of the government. Other posts have been more light-hearted. Among Kainerugabas final entries was a thread about the most handsome men in the world not including me. The list included Fidel Castro, Elvis Presley, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, with his father taking the top spot. He deactivated his account in April 2022, although barely two days later he was back and tweeting. Museveni has been in power since 1986 and faces re-election next year. International observers and rights groups say the last poll in 2021 involved vote-rigging and brutal repression of the opposition led by Wine. The Nigeria Police Force said a contractor has been arrested for perpetuating a N1.09 billion procurement fraud in Enugu State. This was disclosed by the NPF Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Friday. Adejobi was responding to published reports that the Enugu State governments account was hacked, and the sum of N1.09n bn was stolen by hackers. The NPF clarified that the money case was procurement fraud, not a cyber breach. The statement, however, added that the money had been recovered from the contractor after an arrest. Adejobi did not, however, mention the name of the contractor involved in the fraud. The Nigerian Police Force hereby categorically dismiss the false narrative and rumour circulating online about an alleged hack of the Enugu State Governments official account, resulting in the theft of N1.09 billion. This assertion is completely unfounded. There has been no hacking of the Enugu State Governments account, and the allegations of theft amounting to N1.09 billion are entirely baseless. The case, which was investigated by the NPF-National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC), was a case of procurement fraud, not a cyber-breach. The suspect has been arrested in connection with this fraud, and the funds have already been recovered. The Enugu State Government and other ministries, departments, and agencies of government and corporate firms are in partnership with the NCCC and have established comprehensive and fortified security protocols to safeguard their financial systems. Citizens are hereby encouraged to refrain from engaging in misinformation and to always verify the credibility of news sources, the statement said. By Gift Oba Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, disclosed that his attitude of not keeping quiet on national and international issues led him to jail under the military junta of the late Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha, in 1995. Obasanjo went on to say that his desire to prevent Nigeria from collapsing was what motivated him to run for president in 1999. He acknowledged that, before the quest, he had transitioned into agriculture at the age of 42 following his military career. Speaking to 15 young men and women who were selected from across the continent to participate in an interactive session at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, over the weekend, Obasanjo urged the youth to assume constructive leadership positions for the continent. Obasanjo in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, spoke when the budding youth under the aegis of Future Africa Leaders Foundation came with the 10 winners of the Prestigious and Life Challenging Future Africa Leaders Awards. He said his prison experience was part of the challenges of life he had, and the journey to it started with his inability not to always keep mute. According to him: I joined the Army, and at the age of 42, I finished my career as a military officer, but what could I do? I was still young, energetic, and dynamic, but I was still young. So, I took to Agriculture, and during that time, I went into prison, and that is not what I really wanted. Going into Prison is really a challenge because I refuse to keep quiet. For me, if there is anything to comment on, I did comment on them, and so, I landed in prison, and that is a challenge. And, when I came out from prison, the situation was so bad in the country that some people felt the need to be saved, and pressure started coming. Obasanjo also responded to a question on the African debts, lamenting that some of the debts by some countries in the continent were reckless and outright corruption. Most of the debts can not be explained. Some outright corruption, he disclosed, citing a particular state in Nigeria where the site for a carpet industry was never cleared and the entire loan was repaid. By Ochogwu Sunday The Nigeria Police Force says its officer captured in a viral video where the Nigerias local currency, naira was abused has been identified and detained. DAILY POST reports that a video clip that captured the officer alongside a businessman, identified simply as Chief Okoya, recently went viral. In the video, the officer was sighted giving aide to the businessman while the currency was being abused. NPF in a terse statement on its official Facebook page on Friday said the officer has been taken into custody for subsequent disciplinary action. The post reads, The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action. The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as its unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police. Meanwhile, it is unclear if the primary suspect has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. By Henry Oduah Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has directed an immediate crackdown on those responsible for the explosion at Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters in Borno State which claimed the lives of two officers on Thursday. Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He revealed that the tragic incident resulted in the deaths of Inspector Bartholomew Kalawa and Corporal Mustapha Huzaifat. Following the attack, the IGP ordered the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 15, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, to deploy all necessary resources to apprehend the perpetrators. He also directed close collaboration with other security agencies to ensure the culprits are brought to justice. The IGP expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen officers, assuring them that their sacrifice would not be in vain. He also confirmed that all benefits and entitlements of the deceased officers would be promptly paid to their families. A statement by the spokesman of the Police Command in Borno, Kenneth Daso, on Thursday, disclosed that officers engaged the perpetrators. On 9th January 2025 at about 12:10 am, unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram Terrorist attempted to invade Nganzai Police Division, gallant officers who were on watch repelled the terrorists, after series of exchange in a gun battle. The terrorist threw hand-grenades which unfortunately landed on a shelter tent behind the division, and fatally wounded two officers, Daso said. The South Sudanese government and key oil companies have jointly announced the resumption of oil production and export at its Blocks 3 and 7 in the Upper Nile State with an initial output target of 90,000 barrels of crude oil per day. In a joint statement Tuesday (7 January), they said that normal operations have started after the Sudanese government had lifted a nearly year-long force majeure on the transport of crude oil from its neighbor South Sudan to a port on the Red Sea because of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Khartoum evoked the force majeure clause, which protected it from liability following the outbreak of violent clashes in early 2023. South Sudan, whose gross domestic product (GDP) depends in large part or a whooping 90% on the extraction of its rich fossil reserves, was unable to sell its oil to international markets for the last 11 months. This is basically to say our D-Day that we have been waiting for is tomorrow, 8 January 2025, Puot Kang Chol, petroleum minister in the government in Juba said. He also insisted his country will continue to pump more oil to global markets even as the efforts to replace fossil fuels with green energy gain momentum. We will continue to produce. South Sudan, and not only South Sudan, the continent called Africa, will continue to use oil resources for its own survival, Chol noted. South Sudan, which is ranked 3rd in sub-Saharan Africa for oil reserves, is estimated to produce about 3.5 billion barrels annually. The ongoing crisis in eastern Congo has reached a critical point as M23 rebels strengthen their grip on strategic locations, prompting Rwandas President Paul Kagame to advocate for direct negotiations between Congolese authorities and the militant group. The rebels have recently seized control of key towns, including Masisi, positioning themselves merely 80 kilometers from Goma, the vital regional capital. M23s resurgence has dramatically altered the regions security landscape, emerging as the dominant force among numerous armed groups operating in the mineral-rich territory. Their recent territorial gains have displaced countless civilians, adding to the million-plus residents already forced from their homes in previous conflicts. Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in July, fighting has intensified, raising international concerns. The situation is further complicated by Congos persistent accusations of Rwandan support for M23, allegations that have gained traction with international observers. Kagame counters these claims by highlighting the presence of FDLR, a group linked to Rwandas 1994 genocide, allegedly integrated within Congolese military ranks. The conflicts impact extends beyond immediate security concerns, threatening regional stability and civilian welfare. As M23 continues its advance, the humanitarian situation deteriorates, with hundreds of thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire, leading to widespread displacement and growing regional tensions. Lately, mass protests erupted in Bukavu, South Kivus provincial capital, against the advancing M23 rebel threat and ongoing illegal mineral exploitation. The demonstration, which drew participants from across the region, highlighted growing public anxiety over deteriorating security conditions and resource management. Demonstrators voiced particular concern about M23s movement toward South Kivu through Minova, a strategic border town. The protest brought together diverse segments of the local population, united in their demand for stronger government action against both armed groups and illegal mining operations. Protesters specifically targeted the issue of unauthorized mineral extraction, which has plagued the resource-rich province for years. Citizens expressed frustration over the disconnect between the regions mineral wealth and its persistent poverty, pointing to inadequate infrastructure development despite continuous resource extraction. A US delegation of experts, legal practitioners and academics met on Thursday in Rabat with Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi to gain insight into Moroccos legal and judicial system. During the meeting, members of the delegation were briefed on the legal developments in Morocco, as well as the countrys judicial organization and the legal framework for arbitration and mediation. In a statement to the press, the Director of Continuing Legal Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Daniel J. McCarroll, emphasized the significance of the meeting, and how it allows American legal professionals to learn about Moroccos experience, particularly in the field of business law. McCarroll also praised the pioneering reforms undertaken by the Kingdom in its legal and judicial system, noting that practitioners and researchers in the United States take a particular interest in Moroccos experience in this area. For his part, Ouahbi welcomed the strong ties between Morocco and the United States, before he surveyed the major developments in Moroccan legislation, as well as the reform efforts initiated under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. As part of their visit to Morocco, the American delegation visited the Court of Appeal in Rabat to learn about its operations as well as the specificities of the Moroccan judicial system and its practices in various fields. This visit is part of an academic training program titled The Law of Doing Business in Morocco, Spain, and Europe, organized by the School of Law of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the West Virginia Bar Association, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The program aims to broaden the horizons of scientific and professional exchanges between Morocco and the US, enhance the legal and judicial skills of practitioners in both countries, and contribute to the development of legal systems and the strengthening of the rule of law. This 18-day continuing education program is divided between Morocco and Spain. It includes visits to the cities of Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier, where participants will explore models in business law through meetings, conferences, and presentations on various aspects related to the field. A delegation of French senators, currently visiting Morocco, shared their admiration for the development process in the Southern Provinces and the scale of ongoing projects, especially in the city of Dakhla. We are impressed by the significance of the projects we have seen up close, as well as those presented to us in Dakhla, said Senator Max Brisson (Republican Group, Pyrenees Atlantiques) during a press briefing following a meeting in Rabat on Thursday with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita. The French delegation toured Dakhla on Wednesday, where they met with local officials and elected representatives and visited several large-scale projects, including the seawater desalination plant and the construction site for the new Dakhla Atlantique port. Describing the exchanges with Bourita as fruitful Brisson highlighted the brotherly and warm relationships between the two countries, particularly energized by the recent state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco. In addition, Brisson announced that Morocco would be the guest of honor at the upcoming Paris Book Fair. France and Morocco opened a new chapter of bilateral ties following Paris decision to recognize Moroccos sovereignty over its southern Sahara provinces. Hundreds of Malians demonstrated this Friday in front of the Algerian Embassy in Bamako to protest against the political and military interference of the Algerian regime in their countrys domestic affairs. The peaceful demonstrators, all civilians, denounced Algerias actions which they said undermine Malis sovereignty and stability. They were waving banners with slogans saying: No to foreign interference and Mali is sovereign. The protesters decried Algerias connivance with terrorist groups, called for an end to all foreign interventions in Malis internal affairs, and voiced support for Malian authorities. The protest sit-in comes amid growing tensions between Mali and Algeria over divergences on sensitive issues such as crisis management in the Sahel, the fight against terrorism, and political transition in Mali. Mali accuses Algerian military regime of fueling insecurity in the Sahel by supporting Tuareg rebels. On January 2024, Malis military rulers scraped the Algiers Peace Agreement signed in 2015 with separatist rebels. The agreement had become null and void since 2023, when the predominantly Tuareg separatist groups reopened hostilities in the north against the central government and the Malian army. Former French President Sarkozy remained defiant during his trial at a Paris court on Thursday (9 January), as he told the judges that the supposed illegal Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential bid was a conspiracy, stating You will never find a single Libyan euro or cent in my campaign. Sarkozy has gone on trial earlier this week over allegations he received millions of euros in illegal election campaign funding from the regime of the former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, in the biggest political financing scandal in modern French history. But the 69-year-old ex-president, who held office from 2007 to 2012, strongly condemned what he called a conspiracy orchestrated by liars and crooks during the trial at a Paris court. Sarkozy, who faces a number of charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association, strongly rebuffed the allegations, telling the judges that not a single Libyan euro or cent can be found in his campaign. After a 10-year anti-corruption investigation, during this historic trial of the French ex-president, three former government ministers and other people will stand before the court on allegations of a corruption pact forged between Sarkozy and the Libyan regime. The judges will examine whether, in exchange for suitcases full of cash allegedly destined to be used to fund Sarkozys presidential campaign, the Libyan regime requested diplomatic, legal and business favors. The ex-president stated that claims from Libya about the alleged funding of his campaign came just hours after he famously declared in 2011 that Gadhafi must go. If found guilty in this case, Sarkozy could face up to 10 years in prison and 375,000 euros in fines. The trial is scheduled to last until April 10. The Washington Institute for Near east Policy warned that the EUs decision to annul fisheries and agriculture deals, will push Rabat to foster commercial ties with the US, Russia, and China. The EU issued a politically-motivated verdict annulling fisheries and agricultural trade deals with Morocco because they included products originating from the Sahara territory. The European commission and the council both said they were attached to partnership with Morocco. At first glance, this development may appear to create an opportunity for increasing U.S. investment in Morocco, author of the paper Souhire Medini wrote on the Washington Institute. More likely, however, the ruling will push Rabat further into the arms of China and Russia unless further action is taken, giving officials on both sides of the Atlantic a keen interest in breaking the legal deadlock, she said. As the EUs top court undermines trade relations between Morocco and the EU, the US stands to gain, especially with the inauguration of Trump, who promised to open a consulate with an economic focus in Dakhla, in the Sahara territory, Medini wrote. Although her paper did not add much to what is already known, Medini recalls that Morocco and Russia have signed a fisheries deal, as the EU retreats from Moroccan waters. With China, Morocco sought to attract leading EV battery manufacturers and infrastructure investments, she said. The EU however needs to mitigate the impact of the court on trade with Morocco by re-interpreting what the court conditions as the consultation of the local population in the Sahara, she said, urging an active role of the UN and Algeria in resolving the Sahara issue. Indignation and outrage are building up in Turkey against the Algerian military regime and its Polisario puppet for hosting some members of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization in a meeting held lately in Tindouf camp, Southern Algeria. Though Ankara has not so far officially reacted, several Turkish nationals, associations, and politicians have denounced the Algerian unfriendly move, which crossed the red-lines of Turkey and undermined its national security. Experts are wondering why the Algerian regime opened another hostile front while it has already strained relations with France, European partners; and all its Southern neighbors, and parts of Libya. By welcoming Kurdish separatists on their territory, Algeria has proven itself to be a leading exporter of instability and supporter of separatism, threatening regional and international peace. The Polisario-PKK/YPG connection established by the Algerian junta comes after the collapse of Assads dictatorship following the support provided by Ankara to rebel groups that ousted the bloody Assad regime which was backed by Algerian rulers. A Super Scooper plane drops water on the Palisades fire on Tuesday. Photo: Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images Aerial firefighting is already one of the most dangerous kinds of aviation there is. Pilots must maneuver heavy, sluggish planes over rough terrain at low altitude, often amid severe turbulence and poor visibility. Now aerial firefighters battling the Los Angeles wildfires are facing an additional danger: illegal drones. On Thursday a Super Scooper plane fighting the Palisade fire collided with a drone that tore a hole in its wing, forcing it to land and taking a powerful weapon out of the fight when it was urgently needed. In the aftermath the FAA promised severe punishment for anyone caught flying drones in a way that interferes with firefighting, with penalties of up to 12 months in prison and $75,000 in fines. But the uncomfortable reality is that there is little that authorities can do to prevent illegal drone flights, as this incident and the recent New Jersey drone swarm panic both demonstrate. Thursdays accident occurred as firefighters struggled to contain a blaze that had consumed more than 17,000 acres, though it was spreading less aggressively thanks to a temporary lull in the winds. The aircraft, a twin-engine CL-415, is a Canadian-built amphibious aircraft designed specifically for aerial firefighting. It can skim along the surface of a lake or ocean and scoop up 1,600 gallons of water at a time, allowing it to carry out many sorties in a short interval since it doesnt have to return to an airport to refill. A picture posted online by the L.A. County Fire Department showed a fist-size hole in the leading edge of the planes left wing. According to reporting by the WarZone, the incident led to the temporary grounding of all aircraft tasked to the Palisades fire. SuperScooper grounded after drone strike pic.twitter.com/a7ApxeNHm1 L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 10, 2025 The FAA has known for years about the risk that drones pose for conventional aircraft. Over the past decade it has effectively reorganized the entire U.S. airspace in a way that makes it possible to deconflict drones and manned aircraft, and last year it implemented a rule mandating that all drones weighing more than half a pound carry a system called Remote ID that broadcasts a unique identifier linking the device to a database of users. The FAA is working on developing Remote ID data-sharing capabilities for law enforcement so they can have access to FAA registration information, the FAA told me. Under normal circumstances, operators can fly their drones at altitudes of up to 400 feet so long as they can maintain a line of sight on the vehicle. This keeps them far below where most airplanes operate except when taking off or landing. Firefighting aircraft are different, however. To place their loads most effectively, water bombers need to get down close to the fire. To keep drones and other aircraft out of their way, the FAA establishes no-fly zones called Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs, where wildfire fighting is taking place. It established a TFR over the Palisades fire on January 9 that is currently scheduled to run until January 23. Officials havent said whether they know what kind of drone the Super Scooper collided with or whether it was transmitting a Remote ID signal. According to the Los Angeles Times, the countys chief fire official said that the FBI was sending what he called aerial armor to prevent unauthorized drone flights. The FBIs Los Angeles office confirmed to me that it has tasked its anti-drone unit, the Counter Unmanned Aircraft System Task Force, to investigate the incident but did not provide details about its equipment, techniques, or capabilities. The interdiction of rogue drones is no easy task. Drones are small, difficult to spot, and can appear and disappear quickly. Even if theyre transmitting a Remote ID signal, observers on the ground require special equipment to detect it, and this equipment has a limited range. As we recently reported, officials were flummoxed by mass drone sightings in New Jersey recently and proved unable to identify a single one. The job of enforcing drone rules is not entirely impossible, however. In 2020, an LAPD helicopter was responding to a burglary in Hollywood when it struck a drone and the pilot had to make an emergency landing. Officers on the ground found the drone in pieces on the ground, and investigators were able to retrieve images from its memory chip that led them to an area resident named Andrew Hernandez, who they charged in Federal Court with unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft, an offense punishable by up to a year in prison. Hernandez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation. In the case of the L.A. wildfires, its not clear if any debris from a drone was collected; without it, hopes of catching the culprit seem slim. Given the challenge of actively enforcing the rules, the most effective way to minimize the danger of aircraft-drone collision may simply be to keep drone operators cognizant of the rules and hope that they use good sense. Judging by their recent behavior, theres a lot of progress to be made on that front. Drone images and video footage of the L.A. wildfires have proliferated on social media, including the accounts of mainstream news organizations. (The FAA will sometimes grant waivers to TFRs, but it has said that it has not done so in relation to the wildfires, meaning that any drone footage that pans over the Palisade burn zone was probably shot illegally.) Until a significant majority of drone owners understand how important it is to stay out of no-fly zones, accidents like the one that took place on Thursday are likely to continue. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images After a half-decade of litigation and delays, congestion pricing is now officially a reality for New York City. To drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street, most motorists will pay a $9 toll during peak hours and a minuscule $2.25 on late nights and weekends. This is, in some sense, revolutionary: No American city has ever implemented such a tolling scheme, and pricing road-clogging, carbon-monoxide-spewing automobiles in a central business district that is inordinately accessible by public transportation is a refreshing example of local governance behaving logically for once. Congestion pricing is not popular. It has polled poorly statewide, and neither Mayor Eric Adams nor Governor Kathy Hochul is terribly excited about its implementation. Neither Democrat held any genuine power when the legislation was passed in 2019: Adams was the Brooklyn borough president, mildly supportive then, and Hochul was Andrew Cuomos neutered lieutenant governor. Cuomo has backed away from the legislation he once supported, calling for an indefinite pause as he mulls his own mayoral bid, which would represent his attempted comeback from the numerous sexual-harassment and assault allegations that forced him from office in 2021. Hochul already delayed the program in June, plainly calculating it was better for congressional Democrats running in the suburbs to start tolling motorists in January. The many opponents of congestion pricing outer-borough and suburban Democrats and Republicans; virtually every politician in New Jersey, from Governor Phil Murphy on down have had some good-faith critiques to offer, like the MTAs chronic inability to manage budgets and the lack of substantial transportation upgrades offered for transit deserts. But the opposition has long grown unhinged. Egged on by the New York Post and local broadcast TV, which have both incessantly agitated against the tolling plan for multiple years, theyve promised nothing short of a Manhattan apocalypse. Broadway will die, small businesses will shut down, and the city will careen right back to its fiscal-crisis-era nadir, they claim. The firefighters union has outright said that more people will die. One Republican City Councilmember, Vickie Paladino, told her followers on social media that a high-powered green laser pointer could destroy a tolling camera. Joking-not-joking, she said one could be had on eBay for under $30. Complaints about the economic burden of the $9 toll can only be taken seriously for so long. For one, its $6 less than the original proposed toll, thanks to Hochuls half-year of waffling. Partial refunds are available for those who already travel through tolled crossings like the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. Drivers who make under $50,000 and drive to work can get a 50 percent discount after their first ten trips each month. Vehicles transporting people with disabilities, as well as emergency and certain government vehicles, are exempt. A very small number of commuters actually need to drive to Manhattan every weekday for work. And for those who are traveling for pleasure for Broadway, a museum visit, or dinner with friends the reality is that a $9 charge is going to be an absurdly small cost of any kind of Manhattan excursion. Have the shrillest congestion-pricing detractors been out lately? Try getting a beer or a burger south of 60th Street; $9 is barely covering the former and definitely not the latter. Most food carts are already charging close to $10 for basic fare, like chicken over rice. Broadway tickets can run $100 or more, and parking for even one hour in any Manhattan garage will easily exceed the price of the toll. If you are driving into Manhattan for fun, you are baking in costs that will, in all likelihood, exceed $70 or $80. And thats a very conservative estimate. Will congestion pricing offer more revenue for the MTA? Absolutely. Will the MTA reform its notoriously awful spending practices and allocate that money reasonably? To be determined. Will the tolls significantly cut down on congestion in Manhattan? Possibly. Some motorist behavior will change, but a $9 toll even if its set to rise in subsequent years isnt a tremendous deterrent. If you enjoy driving into Manhattan already, you might just eat the $9 and call it the cost of doing business. Or perhaps $9 will be just enough to nudge you onto a bus or train. Thats the MTAs hope, and it is a reasonable one. The progressive politicians and transit advocates who championed congestion pricing have every right to celebrate. But its important, too, to put this policy victory into context. It took more than five years to turn tolling cameras on. More than a century ago, entire subway lines could be expanded in that period of time. The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, then known as the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, was finished in a decade, and that was only because of delays incurred for material shortages during World War II. Cities across the world, meanwhile, easily bolster their mass-transit grids with little fuss. A pricing scheme for driving into Manhattan should be a start, and the MTA must begin to dream much bigger. Hochul and her MTA chair, Janno Lieber, have offered decent proposals, like an expansion of the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem and the Interborough Express, a rail line on an existing freight track that could make commuting between Brooklyn and Queens substantially easier. If the MTA can finish either of these projects in the next decade a reasonable goal for any other global transit authority New Yorkers will have less of a reason to doubt the tolls on their streets. Deliver for the people, and the gripes will begin to vanish. Photo: Jabin Botsford/Pool/Getty Images How perfect that the Manhattan DAs hush-money case against Donald Trump has ended with nothing. It was among the least suspenseful of all sentencings. Judge Juan Merchan announced in advance quite pragmatically, actually that he intended to sentence Trump to an unconditional discharge. To translate that bit of legal jargon: nothing. Orange-jumpsuit fantasies had long been abandoned by even the most wishful of crusaders. There wont be any probation either, or fines, or restitution, or community service. Its gotten so bad for Alvin Braggs dangerous, bullshit prosecution (to quote Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat John Fetterman, respectively, in a refreshing bit of moderate bipartisan consensus) that its few remaining cheerleaders have been reduced to meekly spinning this sentence of nothing as a positive outcome for the DA. Winners and losers aside, Merchans sentencing decision makes good practical sense. The judge recognizes the constitutional reality that he cannot proceed with a criminal case against a sitting president, so its sometime in the next ten days or never. (The judge rejected Braggs bonkers suggestion that the court put the sentencing on hold until Trump finishes out his second term as president in 2029.) Obviously, Merchan is in no position to imprison a sitting commander-in-chief. Nor could he have imposed lesser, non-incarceratory restrictions; good luck compelling the president to report weekly from the White House to pee in a cup for a New York County probation officer. By holding the sentencing now, Merchan put a stamp of finality on the trial phase of the case. This will allow folks to label Trump a convicted felon, if anyones still into that after the entire effort backfired so spectacularly on the political stage. Under New York procedure, a conviction becomes official upon sentencing though not quite final, with appeals still pending. In that sense, the judges decision to hold the sentencing now was a benefit to Trump, despite the former and future presidents predictable, bitter protestations. If Trump had succeeded in his frantic efforts throughout the week to postpone sentencing, or if the judge had dismissed the indictment altogether (as Trumps lawyers had asked), Trump wouldve been unable to appeal. But with sentencing completed, Trump can challenge the constitutionality of his trial and conviction. The president-elect has made clear he intends to do just that, posting on social media, I still have confidence that the Appellate Courts will bring JUSTICE TO AMERICA!!! Im not so sure the entire fate of all-caps JUSTICE IN AMERICA!!! rides on the outcome of the eventual appeal here, but Trumps got a valid gripe when it comes to Braggs preposterous prosecutorial gambit. Trump, youll surely recall, was convicted of making lawful hush-money payments through an attorney to a porn star and then logging those payments in his private companys internal records as legal fees rather than, I suppose, hush-money payments to porn star. Even the notoriously aggressive Feds at the Southern District of New York where both Bragg and I used to work gave this mess a pass years ago, during the early days of the Biden administration. So too did Braggs predecessor as Manhattan DA, the dynastic Democrat Cy Vance, who said publicly the prosecutions star witness could be an exploding hand grenade for the DAs office. The Federal Election Commission declined even to take regulatory action. All Bragg had to do to construct a criminal charge was take one expired state-level misdemeanor (falsification of business records), pile on another expired misdemeanor (state-level election interference) and then stack a federal campaign-finance crime on top of the whole mess. Presto: a Class E the lowest of five levels New York State felony, maybe. Bragg offers grand prosecutorial pronouncements about our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law. Indistinct pablum aside, the fact is Braggs prosecution of Trump for an underlying federal campaign violation in a state court is a first in all of U.S. history. It has never been attempted by any state-level prosecutor, ever, against any candidate for any federal office, ever. Rick Hasen, a leading election-law expert who leans decidedly left, wrote that this is a major constitutional problem and that Braggs case is a mistake both legally and politically. Indeed, Trumps got a real shot to get his conviction thrown out on appeal. With Trump about to retake office, theres widespread and quite valid concern about whether he will deploy the prosecutorial might of the executive branch to cobble together petty, bogus cases meant to torment his political foes. Braggs conduct should be no excuse; its not as if theres some ledger that must be balanced with equally egregious abuses of prosecutorial power pointed in the other political direction. But the fact is Bragg has already done precisely what many (myself included) worry Trump might someday do to others. I dont think Bragg failed here because he is stupid or corrupt. Ive long known him personally and professionally, and he is neither of those things. Quite the opposite, in fact. I think Bragg brought this case because he panicked. After news leaked in 2023 that Bragg had decided not to bring a criminal case against Trump over his real-estate valuations, a disloyal deputy in the Manhattan DAs office quit and did a publicity tour bashing the decision. The political blowback against Bragg was fierce in deeply liberal Manhattan. Bragg found himself desperate for something, anything, to appease his local base and ensure his own political survival. And when Bragg decided to electroshock this cadaver of a case back to life in early 2023, Trump hadnt yet been charged with anything else and it looked like he just might slip by entirely unbothered by any indictment. And, hey: Somebodys got to nail this guy for something, somehow, in certain strains of liberal thinking of that moment. Yes, Trump became a felon shortly after 10 a.m. today. As my friend and colleague Barbara McQuade wrote earlier this week in defense of the DAs prosecution, Future generations of school children will look at posters like the one I saw in third grade. Those kids will see two presidents depicted twice, Cleveland and Trump. But only one will be a felon. But this teacher should add that Trump made it back on that poster, in some small but significant part, because of Braggs historic prosecutorial overreach. This article will also appear in the free CAFE Brief newsletter. You can find more analysis of law and politics from Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, Joyce Vance, and other CAFE contributors at cafe.com. Flash This photo taken on May 11, 2024 shows the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. [Photo/Xinhua] Russian President Vladimir Putin would welcome contact with Donald Trump if Trump's political will remains after his inauguration as U.S. president on Jan. 20, said the Kremlin on Thursday. There are currently no requests for contact from the U.S. side, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. However, it would be reasonable to wait until Trump takes office, he added. At a recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President-elect Trump said he was aware that the Russian leader would like to meet, adding that such a meeting would only be appropriate after his inauguration. Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux No one expected Donald Trump to kick off his second term by trying to Make Imperialism Great Again, but here we are. In the past few weeks, the president has revived his effort to buy Greenland, threatened to retake the Panama Canal, suggested that Canada become the 51st state, and (sort of) renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. (He also plans to take over the Gaza Strip, expel 2 million Palestinians, and develop it into a hedonistic billionaires playground, an idea so appalling its in a category all its own.) To be sure, the way that Trump is presenting all of these ideas is very stupid. But some of these outlandish threats reflect reasonable U.S. strategic goals. Others are just geopolitical bullying run amok or perhaps an attempt to bring back Nixons madman theory. Heres a guide to Trumps expansionist agenda and whether any of it is actually feasible. What did Trump say about Greenland? We learned that taking ownership and control of Greenland, the worlds largest island, would be a top priority in Trumps second term from a December 22 Truth Social post that was ostensibly about announcing Ken Howery as his pick for ambassador to Denmark. His message concluded: For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States. Thank you Ken, and congratulations! Five days before his inauguration, Trump reportedly had an aggressive 45-minute phone call with Mette Frederiksen in which he informed the Danish prime minister that he wants the U.S. to take over Greenland. According to the New York Times, Frederiksen said hes open to more cooperation with the U.S., but Greenland is not for sale. Less than a week after his inauguration, President Trump said of Greenland, I think were going to have it. He also admitted that he hasnt studied up on the issue, saying, I dont know really what claim Denmark has to it. But it would be a very unfriendly act if they didnt allow that to happen because its for protection of the free world. Its not for us, its for the free world. What did Marco Rubio say about buying Greenland? This is not a joke which is probably something no secretary of State wants to say when discussing the administrations policy proposals. In a January 30 interview with The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, Rubio said of Trumps proposal, This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved. Why does Trump want Greenland? At a January 7 press conference, Trump offered this confusing explanation, which has I can see Russia from my house vibes: Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes. Ive been told that for a long time, long before I even ran. I mean, people have been talking about it for a long time. You have approximately 45,000 people there. People really dont even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. Thats for the free world. Im talking about protecting the free world. You look at you dont even need binoculars, you look outside, you have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. Were not letting that happen. Were not letting it happen. And if Denmark wants to get to a conclusion but nobody knows if they even have any right title or interest. China ships? What is Trump talking about? Greenland is important for economic and defense reasons, as it is located between the U.S., Russia, and Europe. It also has important natural resources, like oil, natural gas, and rare earth minerals. Trump is right about how people have been talking about it for a long time: American leaders have been looking for ways to exert greater control over the island for more than a century. Greenland is now even more strategically valuable, since melting sea ice has opened up new Arctic shipping routes. Alexander B. Gray explained the situation in a November Wall Street Journal opinion piece: Russia and China are threatening the status quo in the Arctic. Moscow has claimed significant chunks of the Arctic Sea, including inside Greenlands Exclusive Economic Zone. Russian survey ships have encroached on Greenlands waters, and Russia is expanding its Arctic bases and formidable icebreaker fleet. China has declared itself a near-Arctic state, established a shipping network called the Polar Silk Road to bind Arctic communities closer to Beijings economic and political agenda, and built its own fleet of icebreakers. What did Trump say about Greenland in his address to Congress? In his March 4 speech, Trump said of Greenland, We need it really for international, for world security. He added, ominously, I think were going to get it. One way or the other, were going to get it. Trumps message to the people of Greenland is a naked threat Were going to get Greenland one way or another And the laughs are all the more chilling. pic.twitter.com/RnGkiSbjob Marina Purkiss (@MarinaPurkiss) March 5, 2025 Can Trump actually buy Greenland? Theoretically, yes. But after Trumps January 7 press conference Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen said that Greenlands prime minister, Mute Egede, has been very, very clear that there is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark with its own elected government. But Greenland is moving toward independence; as the Wall Street Journal noted: All major Greenlandic parties want independence from Denmark, though they are split on when, how and at what cost. The center-right, pro-business Demokraatit party won a surprise victory in the March 11 parliamentary election. The party took a strong stance against Trumps efforts to take control of Greenland, and favors a more gradual move to independence from Denmark. Does Greenland want to be part of the U.S.? Not really. Per the Wall Street Journal: Some 84% of Greenlanders want independencewith only 9% outright opposed to itaccording to a survey earlier this year commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske, and Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq. Only 6% of Greenlanders polled favored becoming part of the U.S. While support for independence is high, Greenlands voters are less sure about what would come next, with 45% saying they only wanted secession if it wouldnt harm living standards. More than half (55%) of those asked said that Denmark should continue to be responsible for supporting the island after independence. We dont want to be Danish, we dont want to be American, we want to be Greenlandic, the islands prime minister, Mute Egede, said on January 10. But Greenlanders may be open to some kind of geopolitical situationship that strengthens their ties to the U.S. The reality is we are going to work with the U.S. yesterday, today and tomorrow, Egede said on January 13. Greenland is the least densely populated region in the world with a population of around 60,000. While a majority of Greenlanders want independence, they are economically dependent on Denmark and would have trouble handling their own security. One solution thats been floated is Greenland forming a free association pact with the United states, Alexander B. Gray made the case for this setup in his WSJ piece: The U.S. can offer an option that preserves Greenlands sovereignty while protecting it from malign actors. The U.S. has used Compacts of Free Association for decades with three small island states in the Pacific. These COFAs allow Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands full independence and the power to conduct their own foreign relations while also giving the U.S. military access and requiring Washington to provide for their defense. The U.S. also gives economic support. Didnt Trump already try to buy Greenland? Yes. He had White House aides look into purchasing the island in 2019. How did that end? Everyone laughed at Trump when the story got out. Then he got angry and abruptly canceled a state visit with the Danes because they wouldnt consider his ridiculous offer. What did Trump say about the Panama Canal? In a pair of Truth Social posts on December 21, Trump claimed that Panama is charging the U.S. exorbitant and ridiculous fees to use the canal. He criticized the 1977 treaty that gave Panama control of the U.S-built canal, which was signed by Jimmy Carter. He claimed Panama is violating that treaty by letting China run the canal (which isnt happening) and said that if things dont change, hell demand the canals return to the U.S. (which isnt possible): Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete rip-off of our Country will immediately stop The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly! He repeated his threat a few days later at the Turning Point USA America Fest: Trump: If the principles, both moral and legal of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed then we will demand that Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full, quickly, and without question pic.twitter.com/qKoH2a83JA Acyn (@Acyn) December 22, 2024 And now were taking back the Panama Canal? Apparently! During his second inauguration address, Trump declared, China is operating the Panama Canal. We didnt give it to China, we gave it to Panama. And were taking it back. Trump on the Panama Canal: "We're taking it back" pic.twitter.com/1UBwa0Dfp1 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 20, 2025 During his March 4 address to Congress, Trump claimed victory after the Hong Kong-based company said it would sell its stake in two ports on the Panama Canal to a U.S.-led consortium. My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and weve already started doing it, he said. Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal. Who controls the Panama Canal? Trump repeatedly claimed that China runs the canal. On Christmas Day, he said Chinese soldiers are illegally operating the Panama Canal. Then at his January 7 press conference, he said, Chinas basically taken it over. Chinas at both ends of the Panama Canal. Chinas running the Panama Canal. This is not true. Since Panama fully took control of the canal in 1999, it has been run by the Panama Canal Authority; its board is selected by the Panamanian government. The two ports at the canals entrances are managed by a Chinese company, CK Hutchison Holdings. That has raised legitimate intelligence concerns, as Chinese firms operating overseas must gather and report intelligence on foreign entities to the Chinese government, per Foreign Policy. But Trump is exaggerating the Chinese governments involvement in the canal. There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God, President Jose Raul Mulino of Panama said in December. The world is free to visit the canal. Nevertheless, in early March CK Hutchinson announced that it has agreed in principle to sell its controlling stake in the ports to a consortium led by U.S. asset manager BlackRock. Is Panama really charging the U.S. higher rates? No. Trump said Panama is charging ridiculous fees to use the canal, and the U.S. in particular is being treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. But Mulino insisted the rates are not on a whim, and all countries are subject to the same fees, which are set by the Panama Canal Authority. Rates have gone up recently, and that disproportionally affected the U.S. but thats not because Panama is targeting the U.S. Per the New York Times: Rates have gone up recently Thats because starting in 2023, Panama experienced severe drought, driven by a combination of El Nino and climate change, which Mr. Trump has called a hoax. With water levels at Gatun Lake, the principal hydrological reserve for the canal, at historically low levels, authorities reduced shipping through the canal to conserve the lakes fresh water. A Trump spokeswoman said that because the United States is the biggest user of the canal, the increase in fees hits its ships the most. Can the U.S. just take back the Panama Canal? Not unless he wants to start a military conflict which Trump suggested is on the table! There is no return policy in the Panama Canal Treaty. But when asked at his January 7 press conference if hed rule out using military force to seize the canal (and Greenland), Trump replied, Im not going to commit to that. Reporter: Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, you are not going to use military or economic coercion? Trump: No.. I cant assure you on either of those two. pic.twitter.com/e6PvXcxDCi Acyn (@Acyn) January 7, 2025 So is Trump going to invade Panama? Probably not? Trumps reasons for threatening Panama are murkier than his motives with Greenland. Most experts think hes just trying to get a discount for U.S. ships or more assistance from Mulino on curbing illegal immigration to the U.S. (though Mulino has already been quite willing to help the U.S. on that issue). But sure, Panama has no military, so the U.S. is physically capable of seizing control of the canal if Trump orders an invasion. That just wouldnt go over well with the international community. If the U.S. wanted to flout international law and act like Vladimir Putin, the U.S. could invade Panama and recover the canal, Benjamin Gedan, director of the Wilson Centers Latin America Program, told the Times. No one would see it as a legitimate act, and it would bring not only grievous damage to their image, but instability to the canal. What is Marco Rubios role in this? The new secretary of State made Panama his first overseas stop since taking office. During his February 2. According to the State Departments summary of the trip, Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the treaty. Mulino offered concessions, saying Panama wont renew a 2017 infrastructure funding agreement with China, and offering technical-level talks to address Trumps concerns about Chinse control of the canal. But the president said simply giving it back is impossible, I cant negotiate, per the Wall Street Journal. He added: That is done. The canal belongs to Panama. Is Trump going to annex Canada? No. The idea of the U.S. invading Canada is so ludicrous that even Trump ruled that out at his January 7 press conference. Instead, he suggested the U.S. will acquire our neighbor via economic force, once Canadians realize wed be better together. But Canadians dont actually want that. After the presser, outgoing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said, There isnt a snowballs chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States. And Trump doesnt really want that either. With its population of more than 40 million, Canada would become the most populous state in the U.S. And it would be a blue-state behemoth, as Rich Lowrey pointed out in the New York Post: There are red areas of Canada, which have the same urban versus rural divide as the US, yet the Great White North is overall less conservative. Polling in Canada prior to the US presidential election showed Kamala Harris with a 3-to-1 lead over Trump and an advantage even in more natural Trump territory in the prairies. So why does Trump keep talking about making Canada the 51st state? Hes just trolling. The whole 51st state thing started when Trudeau dined at Mar-a-Lago in November. The Canadian prime minister warned Trump that his threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada would have dire economic consequences. Trump reportedly shot back that if Canada cant survive without major assistance from its neighbor, maybe it should just become a new U.S. state. This was a pretty good quip; Trump reportedly made Trudeau and others at the table laugh nervously. But over the past few weeks, hes taken the supposed joke way too far. Trump repeatedly taunted Governor Trudeau who announced last week that he is stepping down soon on social media and posted maps showing Canada as part of the U.S., raising questions about whether he understands how dumb this is. Why did Trump rename the Gulf of Mexico? Its unclear. Amid rambling complaints about Americas neighbors during his January 7 press conference, Trump announced, Were going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. He said the new name has a beautiful ring and its appropriate because we do most of the work there and its ours. But no one knows what that means. Then during his second inaugural address, Trump declared, A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. How did that go over in the room? Trump got a standing ovation from the assembled Republicans, and Hillary Clinton seemed to enjoy it, too. How did that go over among the public? The American people are considerably less enthusiastic. Renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America is opposed by 71% and favored by 29% in new nationwide results from Marquette Law School Poll. #mulawpoll MULawPoll (@MULawPoll) February 12, 2025 Did Trump really change the name to Gulf of America? Sort of. On his first day in office Trump signed an executive order that called for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America (and changing the name of Denali back to Mount McKinley). A few days later, the Interior Department issued a statement announcing that the renaming of the Gulf was underway: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, under the purview of the Department of the Interior, is working expeditiously to update the official federal nomenclature in the Geographic Names Information System to reflect these changes, effective immediately for federal use. Governor Ron DeSantis has already started using the name the Gulf of America, but Trump only has the power to dictated the name used by the federal government state governments, companies, and other nations dont have to go along with it. But some opted to anyway: Google said it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, and Chevron made the switch too. How did Mexico respond to Trumps idea? Unsurprisingly, Mexico isnt into it. At a press conference prior to Trumps inauguration, Mexicos president, Claudia Sheinbaum, showed a 1607 map that used the name Gulf of Mexico and labeled much of the current-day U.S. as Mexican America. She sarcastically suggested changing the name of the United States, saying, Why dont we call it Mexican America? It sounds nice, no? Mexican president suggests renaming the United States after Trumps Gulf of America threat https://t.co/6fx7QthlxI pic.twitter.com/KNJ26hqnBX New York Post (@nypost) January 9, 2025 So what happens now? Trump declares war on Cuba? He tries to give New England back to King Charles? Who knows! But its a safe bet that things will get even stupider. This piece has been updated. GET YOUR CREAMPIES READY SISTERS ANITA BRYANT IS DEAD AS A DOORNAIL SHES TOASTING NEXT TO REAGAN IN HELL PUT ON THAT JOCK AND PULL OUT THAT STRAP ITS TIME TO PROMO SOME HOMO TODAY BECAUSE PRIDE CAME EARLY THIS YEAR SEND THIS TO YOUR 10 BEST DEVIANTS TO HONOR OUR NEW GAY HOLIDAY Reply Thread Link is it too soon for the best comment of 2025 Reply Parent Thread Link bookmark it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link LOL Reply Thread Link Burn in hell Reply Thread Link I hope it was a long, drawn out painful death. Reply Thread Link Your mother sucks cocks dildos in hell. Reply Thread Link devastated to learn she was still alive t b h Reply Thread Link GET YOUR CREAMPIES READY SISTERS ANITA BRYANT IS DEAD AS A DOORNAIL SHES TOASTING NEXT TO REAGAN IN HELL PUT ON THAT JOCK AND PULL OUT THAT STRAP ITS TIME TO PROMO SOME HOMO TODAY BECAUSE PRIDE CAME EARLY THIS YEAR SEND THIS TO YOUR 10 BEST DEVIANTS TO HONOR OUR NEW GAY HOLIDAY Reply Thread Link NEW GENDER NEUTRAL PUBLIC URINAL JUST DROPPED Reply Thread Link we need that rest in piss tag already Reply Parent Thread Link My eyes saw "Anita B" and my brain filled in her last name as "Baker" so I was really confused for a minute there too. The worst thing is that this exact same thing has happened in my head with Anita Bryant in the past so as soon as I got confused by this post's headline, I was like wait a minute, this feels so familiar. Reply Parent Thread Link black mold, do your thing. Reply Thread Link Adios mutherfucker. Reply Thread Link yikes at her "not being sure" whether to invite her grandmother to the wedding, like i would imagine a good chunk of their friends are queer, and you're really gonna ask them to be in the same room as that woman??? i get that you can have complicated feelings when its your family, but if she was my grandmother she'd be dead to me, end of. Edited at 2025-01-10 09:39 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I feel so so blessed that I have 2 parents who accepted me for being gay. I came out around 18, way back in 2002 lol, and in a small, Deep South, town in SC. But my parents ensured me they would love me no matter what. Ive seen so many of my friends not have that same support. One of my previous roommates was even sent to conversion therapy when he was young. It just baffles me some of the things people do to their kids Reply Parent Thread Link I appreciate her support of her trans child. I appreciate some of the roles she's played. Everything else about her seems to be a floating dumpsterfire. Reply Thread Link I want to like her but her absolute trash opinions and takes outweigh her good ones so much. Reply Parent Thread Link Meanwhile she's the only celebrity (that I've seen at least, please someone correct me if I'm wrong) that has donated 1 million dollars for California. Reply Thread Link meaning it justifies what she said or????????? Reply Parent Thread Link No, meaning that at the end of the day everyone can use nice words but if they don't act those words are meaningless. Reply Parent Thread Link And? A good deed doesn't cover the dumb stuff she says at random. Plus we don't know what celebrity has donated in private. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've seen the owner of the Vikings donate the same...I've also seen celebs donating to gofundmes Reply Parent Thread Link Girl and so the fuck what Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Kinda wish she had split the donation and given it directly to orgs on the ground instead of parking it in a fund tho And yes, Im one of those people who complain about everything tyvm Reply Parent Thread Link multiple people) is $192k ( So whilst Jamie Lee donated $1m, which is a big number, that's equivalent to a family household donating around $3k. It's not spare change, but it's not as staggering a donation as you might think, proportionallyit just seems large because she already has a bunch more wealth than anyone could ever need. Edited at 2025-01-10 11:24 pm (UTC) yeah because she's letting off a philanthropic firework to distract from this bullshit, so that if anyone googles 'jamie lee curtis news' they're likely to see the donation instead of this. Jamie Lee Curtis has a net worth of around $60m. The median net worth of American households (i.e.) is $192k ( source ).So whilst Jamie Lee donated $1m, which is a big number, that's equivalent to a family household donating around $3k. It's not spare change, but it's not as staggering a donation as you might think, proportionallyit just seems large because she already has a bunch more wealth than anyone could ever need. Reply Parent Thread Link So have lots of people, including shitty people like Paris Hilton, Disney, Tim Cook,and even Zuckerberg. So what? Shitty people can have good moments. She still sucks. Reply Parent Thread Link What year was she born? Cause she's acting like someone who was 35 during Jim crow. Reply Thread Link this may be too deep of a conversation for ONTD, but there's a reason why many white people become VERY conservative once they reach their 60s/70s... Reply Parent Thread Link Oh, dont I know it. SMDH. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh. Why? (I genuinely want to know, if you have the energy) Reply Parent Thread Link I fucking hate her. I hope her suffering never ends and it starts NOW Reply Thread Link She is so fucking annoying Reply Thread Link Lol poor Kirsten. Reply Parent Thread Link Poor Pam, lol! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Legit killed her Oscar chances and Im forever bitter!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link This is literally Pamelas expression- legit dying inside. Reply Parent Thread Link Exactly my thought. Reply Parent Thread Link I definitely get how people want to compare things as a way to make sense of things, but this aint it. What happened in LA is horrible and the effects will be felt for a long time, but people in LA dont have to worry about getting bombed or sniped as they move around, they can get basic necessities because those things arent being restricted from entering LA, and they can go to fully functioning hospitals with access to life saving medicine if its needed. Comparing the destruction in LA to the destruction in Gaza wouldnt have been as offensive if it didnt come from someone who falsely used pictures of Palestinians to gain sympathy for Israelis and then never corrected herself when she was called out for it. Reply Thread Link Especially since tension and turmoil is very high rn between Israel and Palestine- WHY tf do you even dare bring their situation into this. I mean. Reply Parent Thread Link Pamela's face is such a mood. It's pretty rich her comparing it to Gaza when she was one of the ones supporting Israel + spreading misinformation. Like NOW you care about what Gaza looks like?! Reply Thread Link Pamela's face is my face when people are unhinged on zoom during work meetings Reply Parent Thread Link Lol right? I dont know what exactly she was thinking but the way her eyes widened and then looked awayit was a reaction! Reply Parent Thread Link She is a Hollywood nepo baby and has lived her entire life in a bubble. Of course she would make comments like this. I don't think she's a bad person. Her heart is in the right place, but yikes. Edited at 2025-01-10 08:20 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link it really isn't. Reply Parent Thread Link Her heart only seems to be in the right place for the "right" people. Worrying about kids suffering when she thought they were Israeli and then immediately denying any kind of compassion for those same children when she found out they were from Palestine says a lot about where her heart is. Reply Parent Thread Link Was her heart in the right place when she posted Palestinian kids on her insta and claimed they were Israeli children and when she was corrected she just deleted and said nothing? I know it sucks when a celeb you like is disappointing, but she fucking sucks. Edited at 2025-01-11 10:24 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Welp, I'm seeing this movie in a few hours. Shan't be rooting for her second Oscar! (I think I'd want Danielle Deadwyler or Felicity Jones. Or Aujanue Ellis. Or I guess Zoe even though she's really lead. But anyway.) Reply Thread Link I've fully been expecting idiots to make this comparison. JL strikes me as the type that loves the sound of her own voice and thinks she's very insightful and makes intelligent commentary and is always correct. Reply Thread Link Half of me wants to believe Demi has the Oscar in the bag, but still, I'm glad Pam is almost definitely about to be an Oscar nominee. Like, if the 90s could see her now Reply Thread Link I definitely have a soft spot for her and Im glad shes doing well despite everything. That would be dope AF if she got nominated tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I was really banking on a Pam Oscar nom, but I'm def losing hope with all the competition and Demi securing a slot I fear takes the "wild card" spot aaaargh Reply Parent Thread Link We'll find out tomorrow! Though, part of me wants to see Demi win too because after RDJ's win last year, it'll kind of feel like the 80s are finally getting their due Reply Parent Thread Link Gaza and the fires are not relatable at all cause one's a coordinated genocide and the other is a climate change that maybe could've had prevention. Plus no one is directly attacking people or prevention help/shelters from being brought. I don't know what Pamela's position on Palestine-Israel is but her face was def wilding out when Jamie made the comparison. "This is especially gross coming from a nepo baby married to a British baron." Get her ass!! Screw her and her place in this award season!! Still didn't deserve her Oscar and I'm glad it gets placed in worst oscars win cateogories!! Reply Thread Link jlc Reply Thread Link She doesnt strike me as someone whos intelligent. Reply Thread Link National COSH Opens Dirty Dozen Nominations, Announces COSHCON2025 Location National COSH is accepting nominations for its 2025 Dirty Dozen report and relocating its annual COSHCON conference to Chicago. The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) has opened nominations for its annual Dirty Dozen report, which highlights employers who prioritize profits over safety, putting workers and communities at risk. The organization releases the Dirty Dozen report each April during Workers Memorial Week. National COSH encourages submissions from workers, advocates and allied organizations. The report aims to honor those injured or killed on the job while holding negligent employers accountable. In addition, the National COSH updated news of COSHCON2025, its National Conference on Worker Safety and Health, now scheduled for October 8-10, 2025. Now moving to Chicago, COSHCON2025 reportedly outgrew its previous venue at the National Maritime Center in Maryland and will be hosted in partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. The move aims to make the conference more accessible to participants from different regions of the country. Further details about COSHCON2025, including venue specifics and housing options, will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, interested parties can submit their nominations for the 2025 edition of the Dirty Dozen report online. Horseplay in the Workplace Workplace horseplay poses serious safety risks, requiring clear policies, education, and leadership to prevent injuries and liabilities. When it comes to workplace safety, there is one recurring issue that often flies under the radar: horseplay in the workplace. While it may seem harmless or even a way to boost morale, horseplay can quickly escalate into serious injuries, OSHA-recordable incidents and significant liability for the organization. Its an issue that requires attention, education and a firm stance from leadership. The Reality of Workplace Horseplay Horseplay, by definition, involves rough or boisterous play that distracts workers and creates unsafe conditions. This behavior often stems from employees feeling overly comfortable in their environment or failing to grasp the serious implications of their actions. While workplace camaraderie is essential, theres a fine line between friendly interactions and unsafe behavior. OSHA does not have a specific regulation addressing horseplay, but the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. When horseplay results in an injury, it becomes a reportable incident under OSHA guidelines if it meets the criteria for recordability, including requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer. Common Injuries Resulting from Horseplay The types of injuries associated with horseplay vary but can include: Slips, trips and falls. Running, pushing or engaging in roughhousing often leads to falls that result in sprains, fractures or worse. Running, pushing or engaging in roughhousing often leads to falls that result in sprains, fractures or worse. Struck-by incidents. Throwing objects or using equipment inappropriately can cause serious injuries to bystanders. Throwing objects or using equipment inappropriately can cause serious injuries to bystanders. Musculoskeletal injuries. Wrestling or other physical horseplay can cause strains or more severe injuries like herniated discs. The consequences arent limited to physical harm. These incidents can also lead to increased workers compensation claims, OSHA inspections and potential legal action against the organization. Best Practices for Preventing Horseplay Preventing horseplay requires a combination of clear policies, consistent training and strong leadership. Here are strategies that have proven effective in addressing this issue: - Thanks to weakening fuel oil cracks, power plants across Asia might be tempted to run on fuel oil for electricity and diesel-type fuels for heating and transport, lifting demand for heavy distillates - Rallying LNG prices have pushed natural gas prices to a premium over crude oil, with the regions benchmark JKM quotes on average 22% higher than oil per GJ, prompting regional power generators to seek to switch away to cheaper fuels. - Across the United States, there are almost 50 gas-fired power either in pre-construction or under construction with an incremental generation capacity of 30 GW, indicating that Americas reliance on gas will only deepen down the road. - Thirteen US states rely on natural gas for more than 50% of their electricity, spearheaded by Delaware and Rhode Island with an 88% and 86% share, respectively, with Vermont being the only state that has no gas-fired power at all. - US coal plants discharge on average 77% more CO2 per unit of electricity than gas-fired plants, triggering a slump in coal-fired emissions that dipped to an all-time low of 620 million tonnes in 2024. - For the first time on record, US emissions from gas-fired power stations surpassed the mark of 1 billion metric tonnes of CO2, however thanks to natural gas pushing out coal the countrys total emissions barely edged higher. Americas Love for Natural Gas Caps Emissions - For the first time on record, US emissions from gas-fired power stations surpassed the mark of 1 billion metric tonnes of CO 2 , however thanks to natural gas pushing out coal the countrys total emissions barely edged higher. - US coal plants discharge on average 77% more CO 2 per unit of electricity than gas-fired plants, triggering a slump in coal-fired emissions that dipped to an all-time low of 620 million tonnes in 2024. - Thirteen US states rely on natural gas for more than 50% of their electricity, spearheaded by Delaware and Rhode Island with an 88% and 86% share, respectively, with Vermont being the only state that has no gas-fired power at all. - Across the United States, there are almost 50 gas-fired power either in pre-construction or under construction with an incremental generation capacity of 30 GW, indicating that Americas reliance on gas will only deepen down the road. Asian Utilities Scramble for Options as LNG Becomes Too Pricy - Rallying LNG prices have pushed natural gas prices to a premium over crude oil, with the regions benchmark JKM quotes on average 22% higher than oil per GJ, prompting regional power generators to seek to switch away to cheaper fuels. - Thanks to weakening fuel oil cracks, power plants across Asia might be tempted to run on fuel oil for electricity and diesel-type fuels for heating and transport, lifting demand for heavy distillates after Asian imports dipped last year below 5 million b/d. - The average price for February-delivery cargoes of LNG into Northeast Asia rose to $14.5 per mmBtu, supported by the end of Russias Ukraine transit and unusually cold temperatures across Europe. - The correlation between Europes TTF and Asias LNG prices rose notably in 2024, averaging 94% in January-September and then falling marginally to 91%, suggesting that Europes continued gas supply woes keep on pushing Asian prices higher. Russian Oil Exports Collapse as Refineries Regain Their Mojo - Russias seaborne crude exports fell to a two-year low last month as the end of refinery maintenance and relatively little damage from Ukrainian drone attacks lifted the countrys downstream performance. - Crude shipments by sea averaged only 3.07 million b/d, down 13% compared to the November reading of 3.53 million b/d, all the while oil product exports rose to their highest since April at 2.57 million b/d. - India felt the sudden decline in Russian volumes as its imports dipped to a 10-month low of 1.46 million b/d, needing to replace those missing barrels by spot purchases from the Middle East. - As the US Treasury Department rolls out its last set of Russia sanctions targeting more than 100 tankers, Russia has been moving 80% of its crude exports on ships that are not flagged, owned or operated by G7 countries. Beijing Bets on State Oil Firms as Teapots Dwindle - Chinas independent refiners (often called teapots) will be fighting for survival in 2025 as Beijing stepped up pressure on them, prioritizing state-owned oil majors as peak oil demand looms on the horizon for the Asian powerhouse. - The Chinese government handpicks refiners that can have crude import quotas, with teapots often relying on fuel oil as a refining feedstock, but Beijing has raised the fuel oil import tariff to 3% from 1% previously, shaving off some $2 per barrel from their profits. - Chinese teapots have been running at 55% or less capacity and would most probably see even lower throughput rates as state-owned refinery expansions take their place, with Sinopec expecting 9 mtpa of capacity (180,000 b/d) to be shuttered in 2025 alone. - Teapots in the Shandong region have been by far the largest buyers of Iranian barrels, recently soaring above 1.5 million b/d in total volumes, and Beijing might be tempted to sacrifice independent refiners vis-a-vis President Trump. Maduros Inauguration to Test Trumps Sanctioning Resolve - Venezuela is bracing for chaos and confusion as both Nicolas Maduro and his exiled opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez prepare to be sworn in as presidents at the countrys January 10 inauguration. - With Trump coming back to office, analysts expect the US to scale back sanction waivers and potentially even cancel all licenses except for Chevrons as Venezuelan oil has recently started to flow to India, Spain, and Italy. - Venezuela has reported its December production at 998,000 b/d, a 24% increase year-over-year as more naphtha diluents from the US and Europe have helped PDVSA run its crude upgraders higher. - Following the recent arrest of previous oil minister Pedro Tellechea, Maduro has shuffled Energy Ministry and PDVSA officials, claiming that the South American nations new focus would be on natural gas. Trump Risk Premium Sets New York Futures Above Market - New York futures of copper and silver have been rising above rival international price benchmarks in what could be described as the emergence of a Trump premium as markets weight the probability of import tariffs. - Front-month COMEX silver futures traded at above a $0.90 per ounce premium compared to London prices, whilst New York copper futures were higher by 623 per metric tonne than equivalent LME futures. - The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will seek to implement narrower import tariffs on critical goods, a category that might potentially include copper, subsequently denied by Trump. - The threat of import tariffs has most probably led to traders rushing to ship copper and silver into US warehouses before any Trump action, with drained silver inventories globally posing a risk of a bullion squeeze. UK Power Prices Spiral Out of Control as Winds Ease - UK markets have been the talk of the town in Europe this week after 10-year government bonds surged to their highest since 2008 and hit 4.925%, but securities arent the only problem affecting Great Britain. - Intra-day power prices skyrocketed to 1,778 per MWh ($2187/MWh) earlier this week and day-ahead power prices continue to trade around 390/MWh ($480/MWh) as wind generation ground to a halt just as a prolonged cold snap gripped the UK. - Operators of gas-fired power plants have been raking in huge profits as the grid operator invited non-intermittent generators to step up their output, with Vitols Rye House plant in Hertfordshire selling electricity to London for 5,000 per MWh. - Gas flows from Belgium through the Zeebrugge-Bacton interconnector jumped to the highest since 2021, prompting UK buyers of LNG to expedite their purchases of spot cargoes after halving LNG imports in 2024. Back in Syria, we are still at the genesis of a political vacuum, and the rumor mill is running wild. Assads former media chief and advisor claims that Putin tricked Assad in the final days of his leadership, luring him to Moscow in late November, just a week before Syrian rebels took Damascus and forced him to flee. Assad is reported to have met Putin on 29 November, when rebels had already almost secured Aleppo before moving on to Damascus. With Hezbollah weakened in Lebanon and Iran downsizing its positions, the former aide claimed that Assad went directly to Putin for help getting This week, we saw a shift in the balance of power in Lebanon away from Hezbollah/Iran, further indicating that Israel and its allies are forcing major changes across the region, for better or worse. Lebanons army chief, Joseph Aoun, was elected president after the country languished without one for two years. American and Saudi dollars funded this development. A weakened Hezbollah endorsed him. A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was put into place in early December and has held for the most part. With a major security vacuum left in the wake of the overthrow by rebels of Syrias Assad, followed almost immediately by a massive Israel airstrike campaign that has decimated any strategic/military capabilities, we expect prolonged instability in Syria as external actors prepare to stake their claims, while Iran and Russia lick their wounds and Israel expands its territory. With a major security vacuum left in the wake of the overthrow by rebels of Syrias Assad, followed almost immediately by a massive Israel airstrike campaign that has decimated any strategic/military capabilities, we expect prolonged instability in Syria as external actors prepare to stake their claims, while Iran and Russia lick their wounds and Israel expands its territory. This week, we saw a shift in the balance of power in Lebanon away from Hezbollah/Iran, further indicating that Israel and its allies are forcing major changes across the region, for better or worse. Lebanons army chief, Joseph Aoun, was elected president after the country languished without one for two years. American and Saudi dollars funded this development. A weakened Hezbollah endorsed him. A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was put into place in early December and has held for the most part. Back in Syria, we are still at the genesis of a political vacuum, and the rumor mill is running wild. Assads former media chief and advisor claims that Putin tricked Assad in the final days of his leadership, luring him to Moscow in late November, just a week before Syrian rebels took Damascus and forced him to flee. Assad is reported to have met Putin on 29 November, when rebels had already almost secured Aleppo before moving on to Damascus. With Hezbollah weakened in Lebanon and Iran downsizing its positions, the former aide claimed that Assad went directly to Putin for help getting Iranian military equipment into Syria to shore up his forces. According to the aide, because Moscow and Tehran did not want to intervene, both sides claimed neither responded to the weapons transport call, placing technical blame on each other. Russia is bogged down in Ukraine, and its mercenaries expressed a major loss in Mali recently, which may explain why Putin ignored Assads calls. Meanwhile, Iran was afraid the U.S. would shoot down any planes it attempted to send to Syria via Iraq. But these arent the only rumors now circulating: One of them is that Assad had secret agreements with Israel, using Russian go-betweens. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar during their meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on Jan. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] China is willing to work with Nigeria to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and advance the 10 partnership action plans in Nigeria, paving the way for new progress in bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Abuja on Thursday. Nigeria, as a major African country with global influence and an important member of the Global South, plays an irreplaceable role in Africa's pursuit of peace and development, Wang said during his meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China has always viewed the development of its relations with Nigeria from a strategic and long-term perspective and is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Nigeria, provide mutual understanding and support on issues concerning their core interests, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results during their development and revitalization processes. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu successfully visited China last year, during which the two heads of state elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening new and broader prospects for bilateral cooperation, Wang noted. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, all-around cooperation between China and Nigeria has yielded remarkable results, bringing tangible benefits to their people, he added. China is ready to align Belt and Road cooperation and the 10 partnership action plans with the priority areas of Nigeria's Renewed Hope Agenda by leveraging traditional advantages in infrastructure cooperation, expanding trade and financial collaboration, and creating new highlights in investment cooperation to further deepen practical ties between the two countries, Wang said. He called on Nigeria to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and personnel operating in the country. China appreciates Nigeria's support for its three major global initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, Wang said, adding that China supports Nigeria in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, uniting regional countries, and maintaining regional stability. He reiterated China's steadfast support for Africa in voicing demands for climate justice at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, saying China is ready to strengthen coordination with Nigeria and other African countries on climate change issues to safeguard the development interests of the Global South. For his part, Tuggar said Nigeria and China have deep historical ties, rooted in mutual respect and trust, which have produced substantial achievements. Nigeria and China share no differences and strengthening their cooperation conforms to their mutual interests, he said. Nigeria admires China's remarkable achievements in economic development and technological innovation, praises its global influence, and is committed to fostering friendship and cooperation with China to create a brighter future for their people, Tuggar said. Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria's unwavering adherence to the one-China principle and pledged continued support for China's stance on the international stage, noting that it is the right thing to do. The FOCAC Beijing Summit was a success with significant outcomes, he said, adding that Nigeria is committed to implementing the summit's outcomes and advancing China-Nigerian relations to a higher level. Tuggar also expressed condolences over the earthquake in China's Xizang Autonomous Region, commending the Chinese government's swift and effective disaster relief efforts. A Ukrainian drone attack hit a Russian oil depot this week, forcing the authorities to declare a state of emergency in the city of Engels, in Russias southern Saratov region, some 300 miles from the Ukrainian border. Two firefighters were killed attempting to put out the blaze. On the other side of this divide, Russian forces have managed to secure a bridgehead gain in the Kharkiv region, at the Oskil River, which forms the front line. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was kidnapped by Maduros forces on Wednesday and then released shortly after. Machado had been in hiding in Venezuela since Maduros controversial re-election last year. Maduros government has denied any involvement. South Sudan resumed oil exports on January 8 following Sudan's decision to lift force majeure on a vital pipeline damaged during Sudan's civil conflict. Prior to the halt in February 2024, South Sudan exported 150,000 bpd via the Petrodar pipeline, critical for its economy. The restart, involving Blocks 3 and 7 operated by Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC) with partners CNPC, Sinopec, and SSTO, will alleviate severe financial strain on the nation. Sudan's new security arrangements with Juba and Bashier Pipeline Company ensure safe oil flow north to Port Sudan. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict South Sudan resumed oil exports on January 8 following Sudan's decision to lift force majeure on a vital pipeline damaged during Sudan's civil conflict. Prior to the halt in February 2024, South Sudan exported 150,000 bpd via the Petrodar pipeline, critical for its economy. The restart, involving Blocks 3 and 7 operated by Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC) with partners CNPC, Sinopec, and SSTO, will alleviate severe financial strain on the nation. Sudan's new security arrangements with Juba and Bashier Pipeline Company ensure safe oil flow north to Port Sudan. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was kidnapped by Maduros forces on Wednesday and then released shortly after. Machado had been in hiding in Venezuela since Maduros controversial re-election last year. Maduros government has denied any involvement. A Ukrainian drone attack hit a Russian oil depot this week, forcing the authorities to declare a state of emergency in the city of Engels, in Russias southern Saratov region, some 300 miles from the Ukrainian border. Two firefighters were killed attempting to put out the blaze. On the other side of this divide, Russian forces have managed to secure a bridgehead gain in the Kharkiv region, at the Oskil River, which forms the front line. Discovery & Development Yinson Production has achieved first oil with its FPSO Atlanta in Brazils Santos Basin, in partnership with Brava Energia. The FPSO includes a cutting-edge carbon management plant to reduce emissions, aligning with Yinsons net-zero aspirations. The production capacity is 50,000 bpd and a 15-year contract worth $1.98 billion. The unit represents a major step in greenfield deepwater production. Shell announced a $400 million write-down on its PEL39 oil discovery offshore Namibia, citing technical and geological challenges that questions the resources commercial viability for now. The region has gained global attention for recent oil discoveries. Namibia's government remains optimistic about future developments, pointing to ongoing exploration by companies such as Galp, Chevron, and TotalEnergies. Shell also revealed an additional $300 million exploration write-off, primarily linked to licenses in Colombia, ahead of its Q4 earnings release on January 30. Murphy Oil Corporation has announced a significant oil discovery at the Hai Su Vang-1X exploration well in Vietnam's Cuu Long Basin, located 40 miles offshore. The well, drilled to a depth of 13,124 feet, encountered 370 feet of net oil pay across two reservoirs, with additional evaluation and future appraisal drilling planned. Murphy operates the block with a 40% stake, alongside partners PetroVietnam Exploration (35%) and SK Earthon (25%). Laredo Oil has begun preparations to drill three exploratory wells in Montanas West Fork field, where it holds over 30,000 net acres of mineral rights. The company is raising up to $7.5 million to fund the project, which includes seismic data acquisition, permitting, and vendor selection. Management believes the field could hold reserves comparable to the Lustre field, which has produced 7.5 million barrels since its discovery by Exxon in 1981. Success in these exploratory wells would trigger an aggressive drilling program to fully develop the field. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Equinox India Developments surged 20% to Rs 143.70 after receiving NCLAT approval for its long-pending merger with Embassy Group, overcoming concerns from the income tax department. The merger strengthens Embassy Groups footprint in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR and positions the combined entity for growth in Indias competitive real estate market. Equinox, rebranded last year after a Rs 3,911 crore investment from Embassy, Blackstone, and Baillie Gifford, boasts a development portfolio worth Rs 32,189 crore and notable projects like Embassy One in Mumbai. The company reported a Q2 net profit of Rs 24.06 crore, marking a sharp turnaround from a loss the previous year. Orlen, Poland's state-controlled oil refiner, has secured a settlement to recover $100 million of the $400 million in prepayments made in 2023 for undelivered oil, including Venezuelan crude. The funds will be reimbursed in tranches by Dubai-based Horizon Global, though Orlen is still pursuing the remaining losses from other intermediaries. The Swiss trading unit OTS, responsible for the prepayments, is under investigation, with its former CEO detained last month by a Warsaw court. Orlen continues to work with national and international authorities to recover the full amount. Phillips 66 has agreed to a $2.2 billion all-cash acquisition of EPIC NGL, including its pipelines and subsidiaries, as part of its strategy to expand its natural gas liquids (NGL) portfolio. The deal enhances Phillips 66s NGL value chain in the Permian Basin, where 85% of U.S. NGL production is centered, and is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings. This follows Phillips 66s 2024 acquisition of Pinnacle Midland for $550 million. The Alberta government has partnered with Enbridge to explore expanding pipeline capacity to the U.S., focusing on regulatory streamlining and leveraging Enbridge's 29,000-kilometer network. Albertas goal is to double oil production and exports while avoiding direct taxpayer investment through in-kind royalties. Handal Energy announced the termination of its joint venture with Kazakhstan-based Hadid Oil and Gas LLP for the Nipineftegas field development, citing unfulfilled conditions without specifying details. The JV, proposed in January 2024, faced hurdles, including a miscommunication regarding potential investor Pelaburan Maras involvement, which was later clarified as inaccurate. Handal stated the termination would not materially impact its financials or shareholder structure for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Shares of Handal Energy remained steady at 5.5 sen, valuing the company at RM20.7 million. A new wave of LNG supply is set to hit the markets in the coming years as the two biggest exporters of the super-chilled fuel, the United States and Qatar, are preparing for a major boost to capacity. Analysts say that tight LNG markets in the first half of this decade are likely to flip to a large surplus in the latter half of the 2020s. However, there are a lot of uncertainties about demand in the medium term. If demand in Asia and Europe firms up and new power demand from data centers continues to surge, any oversupply could be absorbed quicker than previously thought, some market observers say. New Wave of LNG Supply Qatar, currently the worlds second-largest LNG exporter behind the U.S., has a huge expansion program underway to boost its export capacity by a whopping 85% from current levels by 2030. QatarEnergy is proceeding with the North Field West project, after drilling appraisal wells at the worlds largest natural gas field, the North Field it shares with Iran, and finding huge additional gas quantities in the field. The tiny Gulf nation has recently signed huge 27-year agreements for LNG supply to various countries in Europe and Asia, including Italy, France, the Netherlands, and China. Qatars main competitor in these markets is the worlds biggest LNG exporter, the United States, which offers more flexibility in cargo deliveries, including the possibility for the buyer to resell the cargo. The U.S. has new projects coming online this year and a new President is expected to strongly support the LNG industry and exports and possibly use LNG as a bargaining chip in tariff negotiations with trade partners. Supply from America is growing with the start-up of Venture Globals second facility, Plaquemines LNG, in Louisiana and the commissioning of Chenieres Corpus Christi Stage 3 project. Both Plaquemines LNG and Corpus Christi Stage 3 achieved first gas in late December 2024 and are expected to ramp up operations and exports throughout this year. U.S. LNG exports are expected to jump by 15% in 2025, reaching almost 14 Bcf/d, thanks to higher export capacity with the Plaquemines LNG and Corpus Christi LNG Stage 3 plants, the EIA said in the Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) for December. President-elect Donald Trump has said that Europe faces tariffs all the way if it does not buy more oil and gas from the United States. The Trump administration could leverage LNG as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with Europe, consultancy Rystad Energy said last month. The new U.S. Administration is also expected to reverse the Biden pause on LNG permits, which could make U.S. developers more willing to take final investment decisions (FIDs) on new projects in the next few years. Overall, North Americas LNG export capacity is on track to more than double between 2024 and 2028, from 11.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023 to 24.4 Bcf/d in 2028, if projects currently under construction begin operations as planned, the U.S. EIA says. Between 2024 and 2028, LNG export capacity is estimated to grow by 0.8 Bcf/d in Mexico, 2.5 Bcf/d in Canada, and 9.7 Bcf/d in the United States from a total of 10 new projects that are currently under construction in the three countries, according to the EIA. The new U.S. projects include Plaquemines LNG and Corpus Christi LNG Stage III, which already achieved first gas in late December 2024. Trumps push for deregulation and energy dominance could accelerate US LNG exports by fast-tracking permitting and infrastructure expansions, reinforcing US oil and gas production as well as LNG export growth, said Emily McClain, Vice President, North America Gas & LNG Market Research at Rystad Energy. Glut, Demand, and Prices The potential for oversupply in global markets could destabilize prices, especially if trade tensions with China reignite, which would have negative consequences for US producers and LNG developers. US LNG projects rely on securing consistent demand from China, McClain noted. Regardless, Trumps energy agenda in 2025 is likely to reshape US and global energy markets, but careful balancing of market fundamentals and geopolitics will be crucial. Rising LNG supply, not only from America but also from Qatar where the huge capacity expansion projects will be ready in 2027, could ease global LNG prices, thus incentivizing demand in the price-sensitive Asian markets, which are expected to lead global gas demand growth in the next decade. Europe is also boosting LNG imports and will do so even at higher prices as it needs additional alternative supply after the end of the Russian pipeline gas deliveries, including the latest halt to flows via Ukraine. Asia, for its part, is using growing amounts of natural gas for power generation and feedstock as emerging economies expand. The data center boom in both emerging and developed economies in Asia could also draw a lot of LNG supply into the region in the coming years. With global LNG demand currently predicted to remain strong through the end of the decade, the new wave of supply may not create as large a glut as previously feared. If demand continues to strengthen, driven by improving macro conditions and new demand nodes like from data centers, then any oversupply in 2027 and 2028 could evaporate completely, Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at Australia-based research firm MST Marquee, told Bloomberg at the end of last year. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The top buyers of Russian and Iranian crude in Asia, China, and India, have been buying more crude from the Middle East and Africa, expecting fresh sanctions on Iran and Russia to cripple supply from these two exporters, traders have told Bloomberg. In the past few weeks, supply of Russian and Iranian crude has declined amid tighter Western sanctions, which have also driven up the prices of the oil from Iran and Russia. Now China and India, the worlds largest and third-largest crude importer, respectively, anticipate further tightening of the sanctions on Iran from the incoming Trump Administration and imminent fresh sanctions on tankers transporting Russian oil from the outgoing Biden Administration. Reduced supply of crude from Iran and Russia has prompted a rally in the prices of crude from the Middle East, where some grades have soared to rarely seen premiums over the global benchmark, Brent. The prices of Oman and Dubai crude jumped to a rare premium over Brent in recent weeks, as demand for Middle Eastern oil has increased in China and India, key Iranian and Russian buyers. Irans oil is increasingly finding its way into floating storage offshore Southeast Asia instead of at customers as a recent raft of U.S. sanctions on tankers shipping Iranian oil has made Chinese buyers more careful. Russian supply has dwindled, too, with Russian crude oil exports by sea dropping as Moscow has been under increased pressure to fall in line with its OPEC+ quota as part of the group that looks to support oil prices. Increased sanctions pressure on Moscows shadow fleet of tankers has also played a role in reducing Russian shipments. As a result of the expected lower supply from Iran and Russia, Indian refiners are buying spot cargoes from Abu Dhabi and Oman, while the Chinese buyers are purchasing more Abu Dhabi crude and oil from Angola, according to trade sources who spoke to Bloomberg. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, is quitting the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative in the latest exit of a major financial institution from a climate finance alliance since Donald Trump was elected U.S. President in November. BlackRock has decided to leave the voluntary Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, which launched in December 2020 and aims to support the asset management industry to commit to a goal of net zero emissions in order to mitigate financial risk and to maximize long-term value of assets. The worlds top asset manager has quit the initiative because its membership has caused confusion regarding BlackRocks practices and subjected us to legal inquiries from various public officials, Vice Chairman Philipp Hildebrand wrote in a letter to institutional clients seen by the Financial Times. BlackRock assured its clients that the exit from the initiative does not change the way we develop products and solutions for clients or how we manage their portfolios. BlackRocks active portfolio managers continue to assess material climate-related risks, alongside other investment risks. BlackRock and major banks have come under increased pressure from Republican politicians and Republican-governed states over their pledges to scale back funding for fossil fuel projects. Texas authorities, for example, have decided to withdraw $8.5 billion in assets of the Permanent School Fund from the asset manager. The Texas legislature passed a law in 2021 to penalize financial firms that, according to state authorities, discriminate against energy companies. At the end of November, a group of Republican states led by Texas sued BlackRock and fellow asset managers Vanguard and State Street, for alleged violation of antitrust laws. The states allege that the asset managers have been pressuring coal firms to lower output to cut emissions, thus driving up electricity prices in America. In pulling out of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, BlackRock became the latest major Wall Street financier to exit such groups. Since early December, the biggest U.S. banks Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan have all quit the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), a group of leading global banks committed to aligning their lending, investment, and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United States is set to impose some of the harshest sanctions yet on Russia's oil industry, Reuters has reported. According to a purported U.S. Treasury document circulating among traders in Europe and Asia, some 180 vessels, several senior Russian oil executives, dozens of traders and two major oil companies are targeted by the sanctions. If enacted, the sanctions would severely disrupt Russian oil exports to India and China--the biggest buyers of Russian crude. The sanctions could also give Trump more leverage in future negotiations as he tries to end the war in Ukraine. Last year, India briefly overtook China as the largest buyer of Russian crude. However, India's import of Russian oil in November plummeted 55% Y/Y to its lowest point since June 2022. This could be the result of the country trying to diversify its oil supplies to avoid overlying on a single country. In November, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a visit to Guyana that his government views Guyana as key to Indias energy security. Modi told a special sitting of Parliament that he views Guyana as an important energy source and that he will encourage large Indian businesses to invest in the country. Guyana did not immediately grant Modis wish, with Indias External Affairs Minister Jaideep Mazumdar saying talks will continue and that such a deal would ensure greater predictability. Guyanese Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat told reporters that Guyana is willing to supply India with a large amount of crude, if Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), the main operator in Guyanas offshore oil production, agrees to such an arrangement. We know Exxon has to do some amount of changes to their lifting schedule and logistics because their preference is for the very large vessels that can accommodate two million barrels mainly because of distance and cost, Bharrat said. Indias energy security has been severely compromised by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Whereas a lot of focus lately has been on Indias surging imports of Russian oil, the country actually buys the lions share of its oil from the Middle East. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Constellation Energy, the biggest owner of U.S. nuclear power plants, will buy Calpine in a cash and stock deal valued at an equity purchase price of about $16.4 billion to create Americas largest clean energy provider. Constellation Energy and Calpine, the largest U.S. producer of energy from low-emission natural gas generation and the largest geothermal generation operation in the U.S., announced on Friday that the cash and stock transaction would be composed of 50 million shares of Constellation stock and $4.5 billion in cash plus the assumption of about $12.7 billion of Calpine net debt. The acquisition will create Americas largest clean energy provider, opening opportunities to serve more customers coast-to-coast with a broader array of energy and sustainability products, Constellation Energy said in a statement. Both Constellation Energy and Capline have been early investors in carbon sequestration technology to help ensure Americas abundant natural gas can continue to reliably power customers. At the same time, Constellation plans to invest in adding more zero-emission energy to the grid by extending the life of existing clean energy sources, exploring new advanced nuclear projects, investing in renewables, and increasing the output of existing nuclear plants it operates, the company said. Last autumn, Constellation Energy signed its largest-ever power purchase agreement with Microsoft, which paved the way for the restart of the Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant. The 20-year agreement envisages the launch of the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC) with the restart of Three Mile Island Unit 1, Constellation said in September 2024. By combining Constellations unmatched expertise in zero-emission nuclear energy with Calpines industry-leading, best-in-class, low-carbon natural gas and geothermal generation fleets, we will be able to offer the broadest array of energy products and services available in the industry, Joe Dominguez, Constellation Energys president and CEO, said today. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Indian refiners expect their supply of cheaper Russian crude to be severely crippled with imminent U.S. sanctions expected to be slapped on tankers transporting Russias oil, refining sources in India told Reuters on Friday. Indian refiners understand that the outgoing Biden Administration is set to target in a new sanctions package more than 180 tankers that transport Russian crude oil, according to Reuterss sources. The U.S. Administration is also expected to designate Russia-based maritime insurance service providers Ingosstrakh Insurance Company and Alfastrakhovanie Group. Reports emerged earlier this week that the Biden Administration is set to slap more sanctions on Russias oil exports by targeting tankers hauling Russian crude and products. It is going to be a big package, a source familiar with the outgoing administrations plans told Reuters on Monday. The current Administration plans to target vessels that carry Russian oil above the $60 per barrel price cap that Western allies have imposed on Russian crude and petroleum products. The scope of the upcoming sanctions is expected to include persons involved in networks that trade Russias oil above the G7 price cap. The Biden Administration is looking to stifle Russias oil revenues and support Ukraine more ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has said that the U.S. cost of supporting Ukraine is too high. Expecting the imminent sanctions, India is now bracing for a major disruption to Russian oil supply, which is currently the single largest source of crude for the worlds third-largest oil importer. Over the past two years, India has become a key buyer of Russias oil, while the attractiveness of cheaper crude supply has made Russia the single biggest supplier of oil to India. But India imported lower volumes of Russian crude in November while it boosted purchases of Middle Eastern grades, as Russia exported lower volumes overall while some Indian refiners were undergoing maintenance. India imported 1.52 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude oil in November, down by 13% from October, according to ship-tracking data that Reuters has obtained from sources. At the same time, imports from the Middle East into India jumped by 10.8% in November compared to the prior month. Still, Russia continued to be the top crude supplier to India in November, ahead of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The Romanian business of Austrias energy giant OMV has reached an agreement with German firm Uniper to supply natural gas to Germany from a Black Sea project from 2027, sources with knowledge of the deal have told Reuters. Austria and Europe as a whole are looking to secure alternative gas supply to offset the loss of Russian pipeline gas deliveries. Russia began cutting off European customers after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Later that year, the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea to Germany were blown up, while the Russian gas giant Gazprom halted deliveries to its remaining customers in Europe after the end of the gas transit deal via Ukraine last week. The agreement between OMVs Romanian unit and Uniper is for five years. The natural gas is expected to come from the Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea, according to Reuterss sources. Neptun Deep is the largest natural gas project in the Romanian Black Sea and the first deepwater offshore project in Romania, OMVs Romanian business, OMV Petrom, says. First gas from the project is expected for 2027, with the estimated natural gas production equivalent to around 30 times the current annual demand of about 4.3 million households. When Neptun Deep comes on stream, it is expected to make Romania the biggest natural gas producer in the European Union (EU), as well as a net gas exporter for the very first time. Norway, not an EU member but a close ally to the bloc, is the single biggest gas supplier to Europe, having replaced Russia in 2022. Norways natural gas exports hit a record level in 2024 and are expected to remain close to this all-time high in the next few years, gas export system operator Gassco said earlier this week. Last year marked a record year for Norwegian exports to Europe, Gassco said, adding that Norways gas accounted for 30% of Europes natural gas imports and about 9% of all European energy consumption. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Vladimir Putin has pledged to Slovakia that Russias Gazprom would find an alternative route to supply contracted natural gas to the landlocked central European country after the end of the transit deal with Ukraine, Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico was quoted as saying on Friday. Fico has defied the EU and met with Putin in Moscow at the end of December to discuss Russian gas supply to Slovakia ahead of the halt to deliveries via Ukraine. On December 31, the supply deal for Russian gas to Europe transiting Ukraine expired, and deliveries stopped on January 1, after Ukraine said it would not pursue an extension of the transit agreement. At 0500 GMT on New Years Day, Gazprom halted pipeline deliveries, and the last remaining EU members that were still receiving gas from Russia until December 31 Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary lost this source of supply. Hungary will continue to receive Russian gas via the TurkStream gas pipeline via Turkey and the Balkans, while Austria and Slovakia have arranged to have natural gas from other sources supplied. A day ahead of the stoppage of the supply via Ukraine, Slovakia threatened to suspend electricity deliveries to Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his decision to not extend the natural gas transit deal with Gazprom. Today, Fico told a parliamentary committee, as carried by Reuters, I spoke to Putin about a contract between us and Gazprom, which says that they have to somehow deliver the gas to us. We are able to push something through the southern flow (route through Turkey), but so far we have storage, Slovak consumption is secured, the PM said. Putin has guaranteed to Fico that Russia would fulfill its obligations to supply gas to Slovakia, according to the Slovak prime minister. Earlier this week, Fico said hes not ruling out the resumption of gas through Ukraine. Fico has been pushing Zelensky to restart the transit, citing higher energy costs for Slovakia and the whole region. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com French oil and gas company TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) has begun building a gas processing facility in Iraq, the first stage of a massive multi-energy project. ArtawiGas25 will process 50 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Ratawi field, enough to supply local plants to power 200,000 households in the Basra region. Back in May, TotalEnergies reached an agreement with the government of Iraq to start working on the delayed $27 billion energy project. Total first signed a deal with the Iraqi government in 2021 that would see Total build four oil, gas and renewables projects in southern Iraq over 25 years with an initial investment of $10 billion. Unfortunately the giant project was shelved amid disputes and squabbling between Iraqi politicians over terms of the deal. However, Iraq finally agreed to a smaller 30% stake in the project, setting in motion a deal that could lure foreign investment back into the country. In recent years, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Shell Plc. (NYSE:SHEL) and BP Plc. (NYSE:BP) have all scaled back their operations in Iraq, contributing to a stagnation in oil production after years of instability. However, Iraq has been enjoying a period of relative stability, increasing the chances of foreign investors returning to the country. "The government of Iraq confirmed the whole contract, no modification at all ... so that was for me more than good news," Total Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne has told Reuters. Meanwhile, Iraq could resume oil exports via a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean coast. Export flows to Turkiye's Ceyhan port are yet to restart after Ankara halted Iraqs 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of exports through the Iraq-Turkiye pipeline on March 25 following an ICC ruling that Turkiye should pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for unauthorized exports by the KRG. However, the Iraqi oil ministry, Kurdistans Ministry of Natural Resources and international oil companies met in June in Baghdad to discuss resuming production and exports. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Would Jimmy Carter Certify an Oregon Election? by Rick Campbell Oregon writer After reading the obituaries and tributes to the late Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, I began to notice a curious omission about his achievements in his later life. There was considerable discussion about his humanitarian work with Habit for Humanity, but very little about his role as an election observer. I found that puzzling. Beginning in 1989, Jimmy Carter became the foremost exponent of democracy guided by free and fair elections. He founded The Carter Center, which has conducted 125 election observations in over 40 countries, primarily in the Third World. For those interested, The Carter Center lists their criteria for election certification on their website in great detail, far too much to cover in this essay. I have extracted what I believe are their seven fundamental principles which are essential to certify a fair and secure democratic election. Registration in advance. Voters present their credentials, and are placed on the voter rolls based on their residency and citizenship. They are given a voter identification card. Voting in person on paper ballots. That is, the voter appears at the polls, presents their voter identification card, and marks their ballot, all within control of the elections officials. No intimidation or coercion at the polling place. No electioneering or show of force is to be allowed in or around the polling place. Voting by secret ballot. Each voter casts his or her ballot alone in a private voting booth. Complete ballot control and security. The election officials must maintain secure control of the ballot from the time it is issued, voted, transported, tabulated and stored in case of recount. Hand stamp or dye. After voting, the Carter Center normally used a hand stamp or die marker to indicate the voter had cast a ballot, to ensure one-person, one-vote. Full access and transparency for ballot observers. Throughout the process, the Carter Center observation team insists on access on demand, and full transparency, including ballot handling, tabulation, machines, computers and software. I find it hard to believe that anyone would object to these bedrock principles. Jimmy Carter did a great service to the cause of democracy by standing behind them. But after some reflection, I began to ask the question, Would Jimmy Carter certify an Oregon Vote-By-Mail election today? Lets look at how Oregon elections measure up to Carters principles. Registration in advance. The Oregon Secretary of State recently admitted that the Oregon DMV had registered many motor voters without verifying immigration status. And there is ample anecdotal evidence of duplicate ballots and ballots mailed to the deceased. These are hard to quantify, but suggest a casual and sloppy treatment of the Oregon voter rolls. Voting in person on paper ballots. In-person voting no longer happens. So it is impossible to verify who cast any given ballot. Ballots are certified by signature comparison, through a computer scan which can be dialed to any level of certainty desired by the election officials. No intimidation or coercion at the polling place. Now the polling place is the family kitchen table. Is there no awareness that one spouse might influence another? Or that adult children living at home might be intimidated? Or that a matriarch might suggest, Get out your ballots and we will mark them together.? All of these events have happened, but are impossible to prove. Voting by secret ballot. As noted above, if the polling place is the kitchen table, is there a truly a secret ballot? Perhaps, but it is out of the control of election officials. Complete ballot control and security. In Oregon, the ballot is issued, enters the U.S. Postal Service, is delivered to a mail box which may not be secure, and then ends up on the kitchen table, is marked, signed, and then ends up back in the care of the U.S. Postal Service in most cases. It is not under secure control through most of its journey. Can we prove tampering or destruction of ballots? Of course not, but the opportunity is always there. Hand stamp or dye. In Oregon, there is no reliable system to stop the casting of multiple ballots. Anecdotally, we know of people who have received ballots in multiple jurisdictions, and who have voted both of the them. A good example would be the college student from California who receives an absentee ballot from his home town, and also votes in Eugene. It has happened, perhaps systematically, but there is no proof and no means of catching the duplication. Full access and transparency for ballot observers. The Carter Center sends non-partisan teams to oversee elections. In Oregon, this is a function of the political parties who send volunteers. Is the process transparent? Do the observers have full access to all voting functions? It varies from county to county, so it is difficult to assess. So if we step back and compare the Oregon Vote-By-Mail process, and the criteria of free, fair, and secure balloting as described by The Carter Center, Oregon falls short on every principle. Jimmy Carter was a strong Democrat partisan and may have had his faults, but he was also a well-meaning and honest man of principle. I do not believe he would certify an election in Oregon today. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Oregon independent journalist and homeless advocate reports on how homeless will set fire to other homeless tents as part of revenge and ongoing disputes. Nearly half of all fire calls in Portland are related to the homeless. A homeless persons tent, exploding, throwing us back a few feet. This particular fire we were told was arson which is very common. Two homeless people I had interviewed in the last few years died at the hands of arson. Their tent was deliberately caught on fire and they burned. pic.twitter.com/cgCWrHPr70 Kevin Dahlgren (@kevinvdahlgren) January 8, 2025 Please follow and support Kevin Dahlgrens work. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com The Oregon State Forester, Cal Mukumoto, has announced his resignation. This follows a December Special Session bailout of the agency, two top officers with workplace violations, and this weeks news of a business meeting at a luxury resort $8,000+ to host five people. Here are Koteks other agency scandals. #1. Executive Branch: Four top official resign during the evolving scandal surrounding Koteks wife and assigning her a $100,000 public employee scheduler, office space and problems involving unlawful lobbying allegations. #2. DMV: Under Koteks DMV, the agency did not verify U.S. citizenship for over 50,000 new voters when they were enrolled during driver license applications. Housing Department: In 2024, it was discovered that the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department erred nearly 30% of the time while distributing $426 million in emergency rental assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Oregon Health Authority: This agency got caught trying to hide their beer tax study from the publci and lawmakers because the study showed that beer taxes do not decrease drinking. The agency did share the information with pro-tax lobby making the whole project 100% political with our tax dollars. Foster Care scandal: $22 million in legal fees to cover Oregons foster care disaster. JUST THIS WEEK ALONE, Kotek had additional audit news involving improper spending on her wife and other agency officials, and Kotek had to extend the homeless emergency order in Oregon. Was this helpful? If so, Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, an air tanker drops fire retardant on the Kenneth Fire in the Calabasas area of Los Angeles. In the skies above Los Angeles, air tankers and helicopters silhouetted by the setting California sun dart in and out of giant wildfire plumes, dropping much-needed flame retardant and precious water onto the angry fires below. Looking in almost any direction from a chopper above the city, AFP reporters witnessed half a dozen blazeseruptions of smoldering smoke emerging from the mountainous landscape like newly active volcanoes, and filling up the horizon. Within minutes, a previously quiet airspace above the nascent Kenneth Fire had become a hotbed of frenzied activity, as firefighting officials quickly refocused their significant air resources on this latest blaze. Around half a dozen helicopters buzzed at low altitude, tipping water onto the edge of the inferno. Higher up, small aircraft periodically guided giant tankers that dumped bright-red retardant onto the flames. "There's never been so many at the same time, just ripping" through the skies, said helicopter pilot Albert Azouz. Flying for a private aviation company since 2016, he has seen plenty of fires including the deadly Malibu blazes of six years ago. "That was insane," he recalled. But this, he repeatedly says while hovering his helicopter above the chaos, is "crazy town." Looking in almost any direction from a chopper above the city, AFP reporters witnessed half a dozen fires. Small aircraft periodically guided giant tankers that dumped bright-red retardant onto the flames. The new Kenneth Fire burst into life near Calabasas, a swanky hilltop enclave outside Los Angeles made famous by its celebrity residents. The new Kenneth Fire burst into life late Thursday afternoon near Calabasas, a swanky enclave outside Los Angeles made famous by its celebrity residents such as reality television's Kardashian clan. Aircraft including Boeing Chinook helitankers fitted with 3,000-gallon tanks have been brought in from as far afield as Canada. Unable to fly during the first few hours of the Los Angeles fires on Tuesday due to gusts of up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, these have become an invaluable tool in the battle to contain blazes and reduce any further devastation. Helicopters performed several hundred drops on Thursday, while conditions permitted. Those helicopters equipped to operate at night continued to buzz around the smoke-filled region, working frantically to tackle the flames, before stronger gusts are forecast to sweep back in to the Los Angeles basin overnight. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: When circular polarized light is irradiated onto a thallium lead alloy, the majority "up spins" of electrons flow in the right direction (spin-polarized current). Credit: Taniuchi et al 2025 Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated that the direction of the spin-polarized current can be restricted to only one direction in a single-atom layer of a thallium-lead alloy when irradiated at room temperature. The discovery defies conventions: single-atom layers have been thought to be almost completely transparent, in other words, negligibly absorbing or interacting with light. The one-directional flow of the current observed in this study makes possible functionality beyond ordinary diodes, paving the way for more environmentally friendly data storage, such as ultra-fine two-dimensional spintronic devices, in the future. The findings are published in the journal ACS Nano. Diodes are fundamental building blocks of modern electronics by restricting the flow of currents to only one direction. However, the thinner the device, the more complicated it becomes to design and manufacture these functional components. Thus, demonstrating phenomena that might make such developmental feats possible is critical. Spintronics is an area of study in which researchers manipulate the intrinsic angular momentum (spin) of electrons, for example, by applying light. "Spintronics had traditionally dealt with thicker materials," says Ryota Akiyama. "However, we had been more interested in very thin systems because of their inherently exciting properties. So, we wanted to combine the two and investigate the conversion of light to spin-polarized current in a two-dimensional system." The conversion of light to spin-polarized current is called the circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE). In the spin-polarized current, the spins of electrons align in one direction, restricting the flow of the electrical current to one direction depending on the polarization of light. The phenomenon is similar to conventional diodes in which the electrical current can only flow in one direction depending on the polarity of the voltage. The researchers used thallium-lead alloys to see if this phenomenon could be observed even in layers as thin as a single atom (two-dimensional systems). They conducted the experiments in an ultra-high vacuum to avoid adsorption and oxidation of the material so that they could reveal its "true colors." When the researchers irradiated the alloys with circular polarized light, they could observe the changes in direction and magnitude of the flowing electrical current. "Even more surprisingly," says Akiyama, "it was a spin-polarized current: the direction of the electron spin was aligned with the direction of the current due to the novel properties of these thin alloys." These thin alloys previously developed by the team showed unique electronic properties, giving the team a hint for the current study by chance. Armored with this new knowledge, Akiyama looks to the future. "These results show that basic research is crucial for applications and development. In this study, we aimed to observe an optimized system. As the next step, in addition to searching for novel two-dimensional thin alloys with unique electronic properties, we would like to use a lower energy (terahertz) laser to narrow the excitation paths that induce CPGE. This way we could increase the conversion efficiency from light to spin-polarized current." The research team included Ibuki Taniuchi, Akiyama, Rei Hobara, and Shuji Hasegawa. More information: Ibuki Taniuchi et al, Surface Circular Photogalvanic Effect in TlPb Monolayer Alloys on Si(111) with Giant Rashba Splitting, ACS Nano (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c08742 Journal information: ACS Nano This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The Space Coast could welcome a big player to the launch landscape early Sunday with the debut of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, a two-day delay from original plans to launch early Friday. Blue Origin announced Thursday morning it was delaying because of bad weather in the Atlantic for a potential rocket booster recovery. The NG-1 mission is now targeting a 1 a.m. Sunday liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 36 during a launch window that runs until 4 a.m. Similar to SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, the first stage will aim for a recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic on Blue Origin's ship Jacklyn, named for company founder Jeff Bezos' mother. "Our key objective is to reach orbit safely. We know landing the booster on our first try offshore in the Atlantic is ambitiousbut we're going for it," the company posted on its website. Space Launch Delta 45's weather squadron forecasts an 80% chance for good launch conditions, but noted that weather risk in the Atlantic for booster recovery is still forecast to be moderate to high early Sunday. "This is our first flight and we've prepared rigorously for it," said Jarrett Jones, the company's senior vice president for New Glenn. "But no amount of ground testing or mission simulations are a replacement for flying this rocket. It's time to fly. No matter what happens, we'll learn, refine, and apply that knowledge to our next launch." If it launches, it would be the culmination of a long road to development for Bezos' company as it attempts to compete with SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for lucrative national security missions. NG-1 is the first of two required flights for the heavy-lift New Glenn to gain certification from the Space Force, after which it could be awarded missions under the National Security Space Launch program's Phase 3 contracts, which could be from among 30 missions to be assigned over the next four years worth up to $5.6 billion. For now, New Glenn is flying a pathfinder for its Blue Ring hardware. Blue Ring is the name for the company's satellite deployment spacecraft designed to take customer payloads to desired final orbital destinations after deployment from New Glenn's upper stage after launch. The pathfinder on NG-1 won't leave the upper stage, but test out communications, in-space telemetry, tracking and command hardware, and ground-based radiometric tracking. The rocket stages are constructed at the Blue Origin factory next door to Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex on Merritt Island. New Glenn's first stage is powered by seven of the company's BE-4 engines, versions of which have already been flight proven on ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rockets, which use two BE-4 engines. With seven, New Glenn can produce up to 3.9 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, making it more than twice as powerful as a Falcon 9, but short of the 5.1 million pounds offered by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy. The rocket's payload capacity, though, sets it apart from its competitors, large enough to fit three school buses. That's because of a nearly 23-foot diameter cargo area compared to the roughly 17- to 18-foot diameter area found on Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Vulcan Centaur. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The power and space, though, means New Glenn could launch nearly 100,000 pounds to low-Earth orbit. At 320 feet tall, New Glenn towers over the 229-foot-tall Falcon 9. If recovered, the 189-foot-tall boosters, which are designed for up to 25 flights, will make their way back to Port Canaveral where Blue Origin brought in its own crane to handle the offload. SpaceX uses the port's mobile harbor cranes to offload its 135-foot-tall boosters. In addition to national security missions, Blue Origin already has several commercial and government missions lined up. That includes launching a pair of Mars-bound satellites for NASA as well as the future launch of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander to the moon to support future Artemis missions. It also has a contract to fly 12 missions, with an option for 15 more, to carry up hundreds of satellites for Bezos' former company Amazon and its planned Project Kuiper internet constellation. The company has large enough facilities at Cape Canaveral to process three New Glenn rockets at once. Blue Origin took over the lease for LC-36 in 2015, investing about $1 billion in the pad site alone. It was previously used for government launches from 1962-2005, including lunar lander Surveyor 1 in 1967 and some of the Mariner probes. It would be the third new rocket company to launch from the Space Coast in the last three years. Astra Space sent up a pair of missions from Canaveral's SLC-46 on the now-retired Rocket 3 while Relativity Space launched its one and only mission in 2023 for the 3D-printed Terran-1 rocket from Canaveral's LC-16. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A field of volcanic ash during the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast. Credit: Samantha Tramontano A study based on the sampling and analysis of volcanic ash at Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast, suggests that the composition of magma could drive tremors during volcanic eruptions. The findings, which are detailed in the journal Nature Geoscience in a paper led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History and the City University of New York (CUNY), highlight the potential of volcanic ash analysis as a monitoring and forecasting tool. "The volcano research community has gotten much better in recent years at forecasting the start of a volcanic eruption, but it's still hard to predict eruption style and duration," said study co-author Samantha Tramontano, a Kathryn W. Davis Postdoctoral Fellow at the Museum. "If our findings hold true for other volcanoes, we might be able to monitor interior magma properties from the surface of an eruption, and that could be very important for hazard assessment." In September 2021, after lying dormant for 50 years, the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island, in Spain's Canary Islands, erupted, causing the evacuation of thousands of residents. Over the next 85 days, it destroyed more than 3,000 buildings and hundreds of acres of farmland. Tramontano and her advisor at the time, CUNY's Marc-Antoine Longpre, set up a system to collect near-daily samples of ashfall during the three-month eruption with help from colleagues at the Instituto Volcanologico de Canarias and the Instituto Geografico Nacional. The samples, which captured 94% of the eruption timeline, were sent back to the Museum for chemical analysis of the glass within the ash, which originated from the rapidly cooled magma being ejected from the volcano, using an electron microprobe. The resulting dataset was a daily time series of the composition of the liquid part of the magma, the first of its kind. Collecting volcanic ash samples during the 2021 eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands. Credit: Samantha Tramontano The study revealed changes in the amount of silica in the samples, a compound that makes magma more viscous. More viscous magma is usually associated with more explosive eruptions. The researchers found that silica content was high in the eruption's first week, then gradually decreased until a sharp reversal two weeks before the eruption's end, likely marking the cutoff of the mantle magma supply. The researchers then compared this chemical record to physical observations being made at the same time, finding a correlation between silica content and the strength of the volcano's tremor, a seismic "rattling" associated with liquid and gas movement beneath the surface. Based on modeling and further analysis, the research team proposes that the presence of more viscous magma with high silica content causes increased volcanic tremor amplitude, although further research is needed to confirm this mechanism. In addition to offering new clues into the cause of volcanic tremor, which is a key eruption monitoring parameter, the study shows the benefit of combining petrological data collectionlike ashfallwith geophysical data to improve eruption forecasting, hazard assessment, and decision-making during volcanic crises. "A big challenge for petrological monitoring is the coordination of fieldwork and sample transfer during eruption crises to enable fast analysis," Longpre said. "Careful pre-planning and technological developments should make efficient, near-site sample analysis possible in the future, better supporting timely interpretation of geophysical data." More information: Marc-Antoine Longpre et al, Shifting melt composition linked to volcanic tremor at Cumbre Vieja volcano, Nature Geoscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-024-01623-x. www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01623-x Journal information: Nature Geoscience This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This infographic shows the multiple layers of our atmosphere, extending from the ground up into space, and how the new dataset compares in coverage to those currently available. Credit: D.Koshin, K. Sato, S. Watanabe and K. Miyazaki, 2025/ Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (PEPS) A team led by researchers at the University of Tokyo has created a dataset of the whole atmosphere, enabling new research to be conducted on previously difficult-to-study regions. The work has been published in Progress in Earth and Planetary Science. Using a new data-assimilation system called JAGUAR-DAS, which combines numerical modeling with observational data, the team created a nearly 20-yearlong set of data spanning multiple levels of the atmosphere from ground level up to the lower edges of space. Being able to study the interactions of these layers vertically and around the globe could improve climate modeling and seasonal weather forecasting. There is also potential for interdisciplinary research between atmospheric scientists and space scientists, to investigate the interplay between space and our atmosphere and how it affects us on Earth. Complaining about the weather, and about weather forecasters when they get things wrong, is a popular pastime for many. But a meteorologist's job is not easy. The atmosphere is multilayered, interconnected and complex, and global climate change is making it even harder to forecast both long-term and sudden, extreme weather events. To help overcome these increasing challenges, researchers have created a dataset of the entire atmosphere. Ranging from September 2004 to December 2023, it spans multiple levels of the atmosphere from ground level up to the lower edge of space, about 110 kilometers above Earth's surface. The region between about 50 km to 110 km (though exact ranges vary) is particularly of interest, as it is so notoriously difficult to study that it had previously been dubbed the "ignorosphere." This region is too low for satellites and too high for weather balloons to observe, resulting in a shortage of data and consequently research. However, it is a fascinating area, characterized by vast global atmospheric tides and small-scale gravity waves which affect wind and temperature. It also plays an important role in the intensity of the impact of space weather events. "The JAWARA (JAGUAR-DAS Whole neutral Atmosphere Reanalysis) dataset is a strong research tool which, for the first time, makes it possible to quantitatively understand atmospheric general circulation and the hierarchal structure of waves and vortices in the mesospheric layer (which is above the stratosphere and about 5090 km above Earth's surface) and lower thermospheric layer (about 90110 km above Earth's surface) of the atmosphere, including the ignorosphere," explained Professor Kaoru Sato from the University of Tokyo. "If we can better understand these layers, it would improve our ability to respond to climate change, extend the lead time of seasonal forecasts and advance our understanding of space weather phenomena." The team developed its new JAGUAR-DAS high-speed data assimilation system as part of an international project led by Sato. The system integrates observational data into a numerical model which can then produce data on atmospheric conditions. The resulting dataset, named JAWARA, makes it possible to perform detailed analysis of the general circulation of the atmosphere and its hierarchical structure. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "Atmospheric general circulation models which range up to the lower edge of space have only been developed by a limited number of research institutions around the world, including our own," said Sato. "Recent studies indicate that extreme stratospheric phenomena can start at least in the upper mesosphere. Therefore, quantitative elucidation of phenomena in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere is extremely important for weather forecasting." The dataset is now openly available, and the team intends to use it to study the large-scale circulation and the hierarchical structure in the atmosphere, as well as vertical and interhemispheric (i.e., between the Northern and Southern hemisphere) couplings. They also hope to work in collaboration with space scientists to study the interactions between the atmosphere and space, particularly the mesosphere (where the highest clouds form) and ionosphere (located within the thermosphere and about 60300 km above Earth's surface, where many satellites are based). More information: The JAGUAR=DAS Whole neutral Atmosphere Reanalysis: JAWARA, Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40645-024-00674-3 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A woman cools herself with a fan during a hot day in London, June 26, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold, weather monitoring agencies announced Friday. It's the first time in recorded history that the planet was above a hoped-for limit to warming for an entire year, according to measurements from four of the six teams. Scientists say if Earth stays above the threshold long-term, it will mean increased deaths, destruction, species loss and sea level rise from the extreme weather that accompanies warming. And that would come on top of a year of deadly climate catastrophes27 billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. alone in 2024and as 2025 begins with devastating wildfires in southern California. Last year's global average temperature easily passed 2023's record heat and kept going. It surpassed the long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) since the late 1800s that was called for by the 2015 Paris climate pact, according to the European Commission's Copernicus Climate Service, the United Kingdom's Meteorology Office, Japan's weather agency and the private Berkeley Earth team. Only two U.S. government agencies had Earth below that 1.5 mark. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA had last yea r at 1.46 degrees Celsius (2.63 degrees Fahrenheit) and 1.47 degrees Celsius (2.65 degrees Fahrenheit). A child covers his head with a bucket on a hot day in the Los Guandules neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 20, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File The Copernicus team calculated 1.6 degrees Celsius of warming, Japan 1.57 and the British 1.53. Berkeley Earthfounded by a climate change skepticcame in the hottest at 1.62 degrees. Much of the differences, which are small, stem from which ocean temperature tools are used. The World Meteorological Organization crunched the six estimates into a composite of 1.55 degrees, which NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt called a "reasonable assessment." "The primary reason for these record temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere" from the burning of coal, oil and gas, said Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead at Copernicus. "As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, temperatures continue to increase, including in the ocean, sea levels continue to rise, and glaciers and ice sheets continue to melt." Last year was the hottest year for the United States, NOAA said. It was not only the hottest in recordkeeping that goes back to 1850, but likely the hottest for the planet in 125,000 years, Burgess said. "There's nothing to indicate that it won't continue," NOAA monitoring chief Russ Vose said Friday. "When there's more heat in the system that has a cascading effect on other parts of the system. Sea level goes up. Warmer air can hold more moisture which tends to equate to more extreme storms. There's a lot of impacts that go along with a warmer world." By far the biggest contributor to record warming is the burning of fossil fuels, several scientists said. Schmidt said the El Nino that started the year probably added a tenth of a degree Celsius to this year's figures. Firefighter Geo Mulongo, center, finishes his water while taking a break during the Line Fire in Highland, Calif., Sept. 6, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Alarm bells are ringing "Climate-change-related alarm bells have been ringing almost constantly, which may be causing the public to become numb to the urgency, like police sirens in New York City," Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist Jennifer Francis said. "In the case of the climate, though, the alarms are getting louder, and the emergencies are now way beyond just temperature." Comparing it to a car's dashboard warning light, University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said, "Hurricane Helene, floods in Spain and the weather whiplash fueling wildfires in California are symptoms of this unfortunate climate gear shift." There were 27 weather disasters in the United States that caused at least $1 billion in damage, just one fewer than the record set in 2023, according to NOAA. The U.S. cost of those disasters was $182.7 billion. Hurricane Helene was the costliest and deadliest of the year with at least 219 deaths and $79.6 billion in damage. "In the 1980s, Americans experienced one billion-plus weather and climate disaster on average every four months," Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe said in an email about NOAA's inflation-adjusted figures. "Now, there's one every three weeks and we already have the first of 2025 even though we're only 9 days into the year." A woman tries to cool herself while waiting for a bus on a hot day in Skopje, North Macedonia, June 20, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, File World breaches major threshold Scientists were quick to point out that the 1.5 goal is for long-term warming, now defined as a 20-year average. Warming since pre-industrial times over the long term is now at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit). "The 1.5 degree C threshold isn't just a numberit's a red flag. Surpassing it even for a single year shows how perilously close we are to breaching the limits set by the Paris Agreement," Northern Illinois University climate scientist Victor Gensini said in an email. A 2018 massive United Nations study found that keeping Earth's temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius could save coral reefs from going extinct, keep massive ice sheet loss in Antarctica at bay and prevent many people's death and suffering. Francis called the threshold "dead in the water." A tourist uses a hand fan to cool down another one sitting on a bench in front of the Parthenon at the ancient Acropolis, in Athens, June 12, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File More warming is likely Scientists say with a cooling La Nina instead of last year's El Nino, 2025 is likely to be not quite as hot as 2024. Several predict it will turn out to be the third-warmest. However, the first six days of Januarydespite frigid temperatures in the U.S. Eastaveraged slightly warmer and are the hottest start to a year yet, according to Copernicus data. Scientists remain split on whether global warming is accelerating. There's not enough data to see an acceleration in atmospheric warming, but the heat content of the oceans seem to be not just rising but going up at a faster rate, said Carlo Buontempo, Copernicus' director. This is all like watching the end of "a dystopian sci-fi film," said University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann. "We are now reaping what we've sown." 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A study conducted by researchers from The University of Hong Kong, University College London, Xiamen University, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, published in Financial Innovation, explores the nuanced interplay between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores and corporate scandal risks. The study analyzed over 13,000 corporate events across 86 countries to provide a data-driven understanding of this dynamic. "Our research reveals that while ESG scores can reflect a company's commitment to sustainability, high scores might increase financial exposure during a reputational crisis," the researchers explained. This finding challenges the traditional perception of high ESG scores as a shield against scandals. Using advanced data analytics, the team discovered that companies with higher ESG scores tend to have a lower probability of scandals but face more significant market repercussions when such events occur. This suggests that heightened market expectations for high-ESG firms can exacerbate the financial impact of crises. The study's findings indicate that the perceived resilience of high ESG-rated companies might be an illusion in the face of scandals, as the market's reaction to their misconduct is particularly severe, reflecting a higher bar set for their behavior. The findings hold significant implications for both investors and corporate leaders. Solely relying on ESG scores may not be sufficient for a comprehensive risk assessment when selecting investment targets or designing corporate strategies. The research team advises investors to integrate ESG metrics with other risk indicators to develop a multidimensional decision-making framework. This approach can help in identifying potential vulnerabilities that are not captured by ESG scores alone, providing a more holistic view of a company's risk profile. By uncovering the intricate dynamics between ESG scores and scandal risks, this study offers practical tools for more precise risk management and investment strategies. It highlights the need for a deeper understanding of how ESG scores can predict corporate behavior and the market's response to it. This insight is crucial for investors looking to align their portfolios with sustainability goals while mitigating risk. More information: Wenya Sun et al, ESG scores, scandal probability, and event returns, Financial Innovation (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s40854-024-00635-1 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Crop farmers spearheaded by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, are using remote sensing, big data and artificial intelligence to simulate and predict real-world crop production scenarios. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife Crop farmers in South Texas are witnessing the future of agriculture unfold with the advent of digital-twin technology. Spearheaded by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, this cutting-edge approach combines remote sensing, big data and artificial intelligence to simulate and predict real-world crop production scenarios. Juan Landivar, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi, leads a multidisciplinary team of experts, including agronomists, computer engineers, electrical engineers and civil engineers. He recently shared their findings at the Texas Plant Protection Association Conference, emphasizing this technology's transformative potential. Their methods and results have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. The birth of an idea The concept of digital-twin technology in agriculture emerged from a conversation six years ago between Landivar and his then-colleague Jinha Jung, Ph.D., now an associate professor at Purdue University. "We were returning from a meeting when the idea clicked," Landivar recalled. "I couldn't sleep that night. By 3 a.m., I was texting Jinha, realizing the vast opportunities this technology could unlock for agriculture." This sparked a series of trials on a 200-acre farm in South Texas, cultivating cotton and sorghum, which have showcased the technology's promise. Using drones, the team gathered more than 250,000 data points in a single season, measuring canopy cover, plant height and vegetation indices via normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI. The challenge then became how to interpret this massive data trove. Power of AI "That's where our AI-powered web-based modeling comes in," Landivar said. "It translates complex datasets into actionable insights for farmers, helping with decisions on yield prediction, biomass estimation, crop termination and irrigation scheduling." One notable success involved advising a farmer to prepare for harvest earlier than expected. In the 2024 cotton crop, AI modeling accurately predicted optimal harvest preparation as early as June 18. "The farmer said 'no way. I usually defoliate in July,'" Landivar recalled, "but field observations on June 24 confirmed the model's accuracy." "Somewhere along there, they had several inches of rain and delayed defoliation," he said. "But while waiting for the soil to dry, heavy rains from an approaching hurricane came through and dropped another 4 inches. Harvest wasn't until late July, losing quality and about $70 per acre in potential profit." Benefits for farmers Digital-twin technology is ushering in an era of prescriptive agriculture, where decisions are data-driven rather than guesswork. For instance, early yield forecastsavailable six to eight weeks before harvestcan aid financial planning and market strategies. "This precision saves costs and maximizes harvest potential," Landivar said. "It also supports sustainability goals, like estimating biomass for carbon credit markets." Looking ahead The affordability of advanced tools like multispectral cameras has accelerated data collection and analysis, making technologies that once seemed out of reach more accessible. "We've come a long way," Landivar said. "What used to be a luxury is now a necessity for modern farming." As this technology evolves, it holds immense promise for agriculture worldwide, Landivar said. By empowering farmers with real-time insights and predictive analytics, digital twins are not just recreating cropsthey are reshaping the future of farming. More information: Pankaj Pal et al, Unmanned aerial system and machine learning driven Digital-Twin framework for in-season cotton growth forecasting, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.compag.2024.109589 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An independent study by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) suggests the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza underreported the death toll due to violence by approximately 41%. The LSHTM study estimated 64,260 traumatic injury deaths in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024 compared to the 37,877 reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The findings, published in The Lancet, indicate that approximately 3% of the population of Gaza has died due to violence with an analysis showing that 59% of these deaths were women, children, and the elderly. The researchers used a statistical method known as 'capture-recapture analysis' to estimate the number of traumatic injury deaths. This method overlaps data from multiple sources to arrive at estimates of deaths when not all data are recorded. The sources included Palestinian Ministry of Health hospital morgue records, a respondent-driven online survey, and social media obituaries. The significant underreporting of traumatic injury deaths highlights the deterioration of Gaza's health care infrastructure and consequent inability to count the dead amidst ongoing violence. Based on the estimated underreporting rate, the total traumatic injury death toll as of October 2024 is thought to exceed 70,000 Palestinians. Zeina Jamaluddine, lead author at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said, "The UN's Human Rights Office has already condemned the high number of civilians killed in the war in Gaza, and our findings suggest that the traumatic injury death toll is underreported by around 41%. These results underscore the urgent need for interventions to safeguard civilians and prevent further loss of life." The total death toll due to the war is likely to be higher as the analysis does not account for non-trauma-related deaths caused by disruption to health care, food insecurity, inadequate water and sanitation, and disease outbreaks. More information: Traumatic injury mortality in the Gaza Strip, 7 October 2023 to 30 June 2024: a capture-recapture analysis, The Lancet (2025). doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02678-3 Journal information: The Lancet This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new study, which is the largest of its kind, has found that sexism not only perpetuates gender inequality but is also linked to a range of negative outcomes, including reduced economic productivity, anti-democratic views, increased violence, and poorer health globally. The research, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, was led by Dr. Magdalena Zawisza of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and involved data from 29,518 participants across 62 countries. The study investigated both hostile sexism, defined as antagonism towards women who defy the status quo, for example, women in power, and benevolent sexism, characterized by patronizing attitudes and the promotion of traditional gender roles. Participants rated statements such as "women should be cherished and protected by men" (to test for benevolent sexism) and "women seek to gain power by getting control over men" (testing hostile sexism). The findings reveal that men generally endorsed both forms of sexism more than women. However, at a national level, while women's average hostile sexism was lower than men's, indicating resistance, within countries where men scored higher on hostile sexism, women typically endorse benevolent sexism more. This supports a dynamic within ambivalent sexism theory known as the "protection racket," where women's fear of hostility from men leads them to endorse benevolent sexism that falsely promises male protection, idealization and affection. National benevolent sexism averages correlated with attitudes accepting intimate violence toward women, measured through the OECD's Violence Against Women Index, fewer women in paid work and a larger gender gap in domestic labor. Three U.K. nationsEngland, Wales and Northern Irelandwere included in the study, and all three featured among the least sexist nations. English men had the 19th lowest hostile sexism score and the 14th lowest benevolent sexism score, out of 62 nations. Welsh men were the 16th lowest for hostile sexism and 9th lowest for benevolent sexism, while Northern Irish males ranked 17th lowest for hostile sexism and 10th lowest for benevolent sexism. The sexism scores were also looked at alongside national indicators affecting both genders, including World Bank GDP figures, OECD employment rates and World Health Organization life expectancy data. The results found that national averages of hostile sexism and benevolent sexism were associated with negative social outcomes affecting both genders, such as lower economic productivity, more anti-democratic tendencies, greater collective violence, and shorter healthy lifespans. "Our study shows that gender equality appears to benefit everyone, regardless of gender. "Countries with higher levels of sexism experience various social issues including lower economic productivity, greater conflict and less democratic political systems, right through to poorer health outcomes for both women and men. "Interestingly, these are related not only to overt, hostile expressions of sexism but also to the more subtle, patronizing attitudes that supposedly, and falsely, promise idealization, protection and affection to women. "Considering our findings, it's clear that everyonewomen, men and national governmentshas a vested interest in supporting gender equality for the benefit of all," says lead author Dr. Magdalena Zawisza, associate professor in consumer and gender psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). More information: Magdalena Zawisza et al, Worse for Women, Bad for All: A 62-Nation Study Confirms and Extends Ambivalent Sexism Principles to Reveal Greater Social Dysfunction in Sexist Nations, Social Psychological and Personality Science (2025). DOI: 10.1177/19485506241302882 Journal information: Social Psychological and Personality Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Culture may or may not be a relevant factor in intercultural communications for people globally. In this study, Professor Stadler from Doshisha University examines the relevance of intercultural communications. Credit: Multicultural Globe by Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha openverse.org/en-za/image/25818e89-4915-48ef-9ade-7c6ad561050c In today's world, telecommunications and global connectivity have witnessed an unprecedented increase, making intercultural communication an unavoidable reality. A concerning aspect of such communication is the element of cultural and linguistic diversity between people. However, there is very little consensus on whether cultural diversity truly matters in intercultural communications or if it simply promotes miscommunication. "In academic literature, culture tends to be approached in a dichotomous stance, either through a lens of miscommunication or is considered an altogether irrelevant construct when it comes to intercultural communication research," says Stefanie Alexa Stadler, a Professor from the Faculty of Letters, Department of English, Doshisha University, Japan. She is also a member of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. Adding further, she says, "While it's true that culture isn't always relevant, it typically takes the center theme in casual interactions." Exploring this topic further, Prof. Stadler, who is a dedicated researcher in the field of linguistics, conducted a thorough investigation into the relationship between culture and intercultural informal communications. Her findings have been published online in World Englishes on December 9, 2024. Reflecting on her personal motivation for the study, Prof. Stadler states, "Having lived in many countries over several decades, I have experienced the challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication firsthand. I wanted to contribute to a better understanding of how cultural contexts shape interactions." Inspired by this thought, her study examines over three hours of recorded interactions between participants from 19 different countries in East and South-East Asia. The participants actively explored cultural differences, as evidenced by the sessions, which were primarily recorded in English, their shared lingua franca. Most of the participants often brought up topics such as language practices, lifestyle choices, and cultural norms, which were fueled by curiosity and shared experiences that helped foster connections. Prof. Stadler observed that during professional conversations, people often tend to downplay their cultural identity to ensure focus on the important tasks. On the other hand, it was quite the opposite for casual informal conversations. In such informal settings, culture is often a rich source for interactions and sharing ideas. The major driver during such conversations was curiosity about cultural diversity; participants often asked questions related to each other's cultural aspects. Another important observation during the study was that participants often sought solidarity through humor, where teasing and joking about cultural or linguistic differences fostered group cohesion. The study also highlights the role of culture in identity construction. Participants frequently described their contributions around their cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In most of the conversations, cultural identity naturally emerged in discussions, even when not explicitly prompted. This clarified that these diversities not only served to explain differences but also aided in bridging the gap through shared understanding. On the future implications of her study, Prof. Stadler says, "I believe that this study could provide valuable insights for international business, where understanding cultural dynamics could help improve communication and collaborations in global terms." Moreover, these findings also hold the potential for reforming strategies to foster inclusivity and a better understanding of communication dynamics across diverse cultural environments, which, in turn, could improve global communication practices. More information: Stefanie Stadler, When culture becomes relevant in intercultural lingua franca communication, World Englishes (2024). DOI: 10.1111/weng.12720 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Documenting the effect of a concert: In the world's largest music experiment, musicians and the audience were studied by researchers from the University of Oslo. Here, musicians from KORK are in action, led by conductor Kolbjrn Holthe. Credit: Simen Kjellin/UiO. The audience holds their breath in unison, and when the music turns emotional, everyone sits perfectly still together. These are the initial findings from the world's largest music experiment. Listening to music through speakers at home is one thing. It is something entirely different to attend a concert and watch the musicians unfold on stage. What happens to us? What interaction occurs between the audience and the musicians? These were among the questions that music researcher Alexander Refsum Jensenius sought to explore when he collaborated with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's (NRK) broadcasting orchestra, KORK, and the radio program Abels tarn. Together, they organized the world's largest music experiment, conducted in June 2024. "A lot of music research has focused on reading sheet music. We study music as an experience, looking at what it does to our bodies, thoughts, and emotions. To do that, it's important to step out of the lab," says Jensenius. He heads RITMO, a Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion at the University of Oslo. The audience collectively held their breath The musicians, along with some audience members, wore vests that measured breathing, pulse, and movement. The conductor wore a motion-tracking suit and a specialized pair of glasses, enabling researchers to monitor his gaze. Reflective wristbands, captured by an infrared camera, recorded the audience's movements. Radio listeners were also involved and answered questions. Additionally, the researchers conducted interviews with the musicians and audience and distributed questionnaires to everyone involved. "Never before has there been such extensive data collection from a concert. This is precisely why we refer to it as the world's largest music experiment," says Jensenius. Delving into and analyzing such a comprehensive dataset takes time, but the researchers have already documented a significant amount of information. One example is the "stillness effect." While it is known that music makes us move, both physically and mentally, the opposite can also occur. "We clearly observed that, at certain moments during the concert, the music compelled the audience to sit perfectly still. It is especially music that stirs strong emotions that prompts the audience to 'quiet' together." The infrared camera also revealed where the audience moved more and where they synchronized their movements. Reminded of concerts after 22 July terror attack Jensenius is particularly interested in the social dynamics that concerts inspire. Bonds and a sense of community form between people who may not know each other. "As social creatures, this likely explains why concerts are so popular. Findings regarding audience movement, stillness, and synchronized breathing illustrate how attending a concert integrates us into a community." We are also curious. We enjoy witnessing events as they happen, like how musicians create music on various instruments. This is another motivation for attending concerts. "But it's also interesting to study those who listen to the radio. We've discovered that people who tune into live concerts on the radio experience a heightened level of engagement compared to when they listen to recordings." They found a greater emotional response among the audience than the musicians, which is natural since the audience was hearing it for the first time while the musicians were at work. However, there was one exception. "The orchestra played a Beethoven piece that they had performed during the memorial ceremony after the 22 July terror attack. There was a strong response from the musicians here, and they later spoke about how the piece triggered powerful memories." Getting close to the conductor: Researchers observed a difference in the audience's response when conductor Kolbjrn Holthe switched roles to play with the orchestra. Credit: Simen Kjellin/UiO. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Empathetic people are most affected Research at RITMO combines art and science, body and soul. Many phenomena being studied are well-known, such as music evoking joy, sadness, celebratory moods, and a range of emotions. "But many myths exist, and much hasn't been documented before," Jensenius explains. That is why RITMO researchers work systematically to document and explain how and why music impacts people so strongly. This is fundamental research, and the findings spark interest in many other fields, including music therapy, linguistics, and robotics. Among the audience, it was particularly the Enigma Variation "Nimrod" by composer Edward Elgar that evoked emotions. "Many reported getting goosebumps from this piece. In the data, we see a high degree of heart rate variability, meaning the frequency between heartbeats varies. This indicates that something emotional is happening." Jensenius notes that there is a type of person who seems to be most affected by music. There are no differences between men and women, or young and old, but they do observe that people who score high on empathy tend to be more emotionally moved by music than others. More intense and lively without a conductor Harald Sverud's composition, "Kjempeviseslatten," also evoked a powerful emotional response from the audience. This spirited piece, written during World War II, references the resistance movement and the "heroic ballads" found in folk music. "However, it was when the conductor stopped conducting and sat down to play himself that the audience was most captivated." There are occasions when KORK performs without a conductor, and the researchers were curious about its impact. To investigate this, the piece was performed twice, once with a conductor and once without, for comparative analysis. "Without a conductor, the musicians had to rely more heavily on each other, which sharpened their listening and eye contact. They became more exploratory and present, adding intensity and nerve to the music. Our data indicate an increase in heart rate among both the audience and the musicians," Jensenius explains. He suggests that this might relate to the concept that expressions that are not overly polished can often be more vibrant and engaging. The glasses worn by the conductor revealed that he conducted as much with his gaze as with his hands. "We observed that he is consistently a step ahead, gauging when and where it's necessary to cue the musicians." The universal power of music Jensenius points out that there are indications that musicians and the audience synchronize their breathing at certain moments. This intriguing finding is one that the music researchers are eager to explore further. "During a previous research concert with the Danish String Quartet, we discovered that the musicians' heartbeats synchronized as they played. This finding was surprising, yet it aligned with the musicians' own experiences and observations." Since KORK has various instrument groups, he does not expect to find the same phenomenon across the entire orchestra. However, it might occur within some instrument groups, like the violinists. When asked "What are you particularly hoping to uncover once you have finished analyzing the data from the world's largest music experiment?", Jensensius says, "Music is a universal phenomenon, present in every culture and integral to daily life and ceremonies, from cradle to grave. Everyone relates to music in their own way. But why does music have such a profound effect on us, and how can that power be harnessed? That's what we aim to offer more insight into." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: From within the Mare Crisium impact basin, the SwRI-led Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS) may provide the first geophysical measurements representative of the bulk of the Moon. Most of the Apollo missions landed in the region of linked maria to the west (left image), whose crust was later shown to be compositionally distinct (right image) as exemplified by the concentration of the element thorium. Mare Crisium provides a smooth landing site on the near side of the Moon outside of this anomalous region. Credit: NASA As part of its Artemis campaign, NASA is developing a series of increasingly complex lunar deliveries and missions to ultimately build a sustained human presence at the moon for decades to come. Through the agency's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative, commercial provider Firefly's Blue Ghost lander will head to the moon's Mare Crisium for a 14-day lunar lander mission, carrying NASA science and technology that will help understand the lunar subsurface in a previously unexplored location. Developed by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), NASA's Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS) will probe the interior of the moon to depths of up to 700 miles, two-thirds of the way to the lunar center. The measurements will shed light on the differentiation and thermal history of our moon, a cornerstone to understanding the evolution of solid worlds. Magnetotellurics uses natural variations in surface electric and magnetic fields to calculate how easily electricity flows in subsurface materials, which can reveal their composition and structure. "For more than 50 years, scientists have used magnetotellurics on Earth for a wide variety of purposes, including to find oil, water, and geothermal and mineral resources, as well as to understand geologic processes such as the growth of continents," said SwRI's Dr. Robert Grimm, principal investigator of LMS. "The LMS instrument will be the first extraterrestrial application of magnetotellurics." Mare Crisium is an ancient, 350-mile-diameter impact basin that subsequently filled with lava, creating a dark spot visible on the moon from Earth. Early astronomers who dubbed dark spots on the moon "maria," Latin for seas, mistook them for actual seas. The Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS) will probe the interior of the Moon to depths of up to 700 miles or two-thirds of the lunar radius. The measurements will shed light on the differentiation and thermal history of our Moon, a cornerstone to understanding the evolution of solid worlds. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Mare Crisium stands apart from the large, connected areas of dark lava to the west where most of the Apollo missions landed. These vast, linked lava plains are now thought to be compositionally and structurally different from the rest of the moon. From this separate vantage point, LMS may provide the first geophysical measurements representative of most of the moon. The LMS instrument ejects cables with electrodes at 90-degree angles to each other and distances up to 60 feet. The instrument measures voltages across opposite pairs of electrodes, much like the probes of a conventional voltmeter. The magnetometer is deployed via an extendable mast to reduce interference from the lander. The magnetotelluric method reveals a vertical profile of the electrical conductivity, providing insight into the temperature and composition of the penetrated materials in the lunar interior. "The five individual subsystems of LMS, together with connecting cables, weigh about 14 pounds and consume about 11 Watts of power," Grimm said. "While stowed, each electrode is surrounded by a 'yarn ball' of cable, so the assembly is roughly spherical and the size of a softball." The LMS payload will be delivered to the lunar surface through NASA's CLPS initiative. Southwest Research Institute based in San Antonio built the central electronics and leads the science investigation. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provided the LMS magnetometer to measure the magnetic fields, and Heliospace Corp. provided the electrodes used to measure the electrical fields. Under the CLPS model, NASA is investing in commercial delivery services to the moon to enable industry growth and support long-term lunar exploration. As a primary customer for CLPS deliveries, NASA aims to be one of many customers on future flights. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the development of seven of the 10 CLPS payloads carried on Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Sample realizations for L = 20, pb = 0.2. Black sites are black, empty sites white, occupied sites contain symbols and letters. Any segment of sites bordered by black sites is a word. The letters A,B,. . . denote the clusters formed by solved words, while the @ symbol denotes occupied sites which do not belong to solved words. In the left an iid sample is shown for p = 0.5. In the right a game sample is shown for pw = 0.053, = 1. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2408.12484 Alexander Hartmann, a physicist at the University of Oldenburg, in Germany, has introduced a new model to explain a common word puzzle phenomenon. In his paper published in the journal Physical Review E, he suggests that instances where a puzzle solver experiences a sudden insight that allows them to begin finding solutions that seemed hidden are similar in some respects to the type of percolation seen when water percolating through a teabag suddenly makes its way out of the bottom of the bag. He has developed what he describes as a percolation model for word puzzles. In his paper, Hartmann writes that he came to the idea of a percolation model for word puzzles while working on one himself. After reaching a certain point in a puzzle, he found himself unable to go any further. Then, after taking a moment and coming back to it, some solutions became clear, leading to others, which allowed him to complete the puzzle. Intrigued by the idea of such a breakthrough resembling that of water suddenly breaking through a teabag, he began looking at prior percolation theories to see if any might apply to word puzzles. He noted there were similarities, such as those that describe water percolating through coffee grounds. But such theories only applied to percolation in a specific direction, generally downward, due to gravity. He also noted that if looked at in the right way, a crossword puzzle could be viewed as a network of sorts, in which connections are made until a tipping point occurs. He also cited prior research regarding "explosive percolation," whereby connectivity in a network can happen quickly due to a simple change, such as to a single node. Using parts of these theories, Hartman developed his own model to describe sudden insights in word puzzle solving, including the benefit of the type of partial knowledge common to word puzzles. In his model, he noted that single letters are associated with white boxes to be filled and that words are chains of such boxes, which of course are constrained by puzzle edges and black squares. Under such an arrangement, he noted, there existed the probability of a determinate number of outcomes, with each having an equal likelihood of occurring if none of the letters are known. But as some white squares become filled with (hopefully correct) letters, more knowledge is gained about those that remain, such as partial words, for example. That leaves the possibility of a sort of phase transition, where the knowledge that has been acquired suddenly comes to the forefront, allowing the solver to make associations that were not seen earlier. Harman likens the events that follow to that of an avalanchefinding one answer leads to another and then another and so on. He concludes that more work may lead to further insights regarding associations between abstractions and real-world physical constructs. 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain As deadly wildfires rage in Southern California and evacuation orders expand throughout the region, disaster response organizations are charged with providing regular updates on the magnitude of destruction and resources used in response efforts. Effective communication during disasters is critical to saving lives, but getting people to heed warnings and follow evacuation orders can sometimes prove difficult. Relief organizations' updates can inadvertently heighten fear and reduce public compliance with safety instructions. According to research from the University of Notre Dame, simple tweaks to social media messaging can make a huge difference in getting people to take safety mandates seriously. Reporting the numbers of people, fire engines and helicopters being deployed to fight the fires increases public fear due to a psychological phenomenon known as negativity bias, which causes people to pay more attention to the negative implications of this information (e.g., the fire is growing). That fear can reduce compliance with safety warnings. However, listing the crew's previous firefighting experience significantly reduces fear and improves public intention to heed warnings, according to a forthcoming study from Alfonso Pedraza-Martinez, the Greg and Patty Fox Collegiate Professor of IT, Analytics and Operations at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business. Pedraza-Martinez conducted the study, "How Operational Updates Shape Emotional and Behavioral Responses to Disasters," along with Sebastian Villa from the University of Colorado, independent researcher Patricia Moravec, and Eunae Yoo and Lu (Lucy) Yan from Indiana University. According to the National Emergency Communications Plan established by the Department of Homeland Security in 2008, relief organizations such as CAL FIRE (California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) must provide operational updates during emergencies to keep the public informed. The messaging overwhelmingly is distributed via social media. In 2022, close to 70% of people in the U.S. turned to social media for information during disasters. By analyzing response data from 27 California wildfires that happened in 2017, the team finds that CAL FIRE's status reports as well as its information on the deployment of people and machines increased fear among social media users, discouraging them from heeding official warnings. "CAL FIRE's Palisades Fire Incident Update today (Jan. 9) at 4:39 a.m. read, 'Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow,'" Pedraza-Martinez noted. "Stating the following: 'Average crew expertise is (xyz) years, with more than (xyz) fires contained' would have helped to greatly reduce fear and increase people's intention to heed warnings when shared on social mediaan inexpensive and easily implementable intervention." Previously published research from Pedraza-Martinez also examined social media communications during wildfires, offering improved strategy regarding timing. That study found user engagement increases when a disaster relief organization's national headquarters leads the production of messaging and the organization's local accounts follow by sharing that messaging to either a matching or a mismatching audience. The national and local channels both should target the same audiences during the early wildfire response when uncertainty is very high, but they should individualize audiences during recovery while the situation remains critical but uncertainty has decreased. "Research aside, if you have been ordered to evacuate, do it as fast as possible," said Pedraza-Martinez, who specializes in humanitarian operations and disaster management. "It would be tough to outrun the deadly combination of an uncontrolled wildfire and strong winds heading in your direction." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An aerial view shows a truck driving through a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in South Daytona, Florida. Last year set a record for high temperatures across the mainland United States, with the nation also pummeled by a barrage of tornadoes and destructive hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report Friday. The announcement came as Europe's climate monitor confirmed 2024 was the hottest year globally, with temperatures so extreme that the planet breached a critical climate threshold for the first time ever. President-elect Donald Trump, a vocal climate skeptic, is just days away from taking office and has pledged to expand fossil fuel productionthe main driver of human-caused warmingwhile rolling back the green policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden. According to NOAA, the average annual temperature across the lower 48 states and Washington was 55.5 degrees Fahrenheit (13.1 degrees Celsius)3.5F above average and the highest in the agency's 130-year records. It was also the third-wettest year since 1895 and saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record, trailing only 2004. Annual precipitation totaled 31.6 inches (802.1 millimeters)1.7 inches above averagewhile 1,735 tornadoes struck amid a punishing Atlantic hurricane season that included Hurricane Helene, the second deadliest hurricane to hit the US mainland in more than half-a-century. Wildfires scorched 8.8 million acres, 26 percent above the 20-year average. These included the devastating Park Fire in California, the state's fourth-largest on record, which consumed nearly 430,000 acres and destroyed over 600 structures. In total, the United States experienced 27 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, second only to the 28 recorded in 2023. Weather extremes battered the country from all sides, with heavy rainfall mid-year and drought conditions covering 54 percent of the nation by October 29. The last two years exceeded on average a critical warming limit for the first time as global temperatures soar "beyond what modern humans have ever experienced," the European Commission's Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed Friday. This does not mean the internationally-agreed target of holding warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels has been permanently breached, but it is drawing dangerously near. Copernicus also confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023 and extending a streak of extraordinary heat that fueled climate extremes on all continents. A repeat in 2025 is considered less likely, with the onset of a La Nina weather system expected to offer slight relief. China remains the world's largest current emitter, but the United States is historically the biggest polluter, underscoring its responsibility to confront the climate crisis, according to environmental advocates. But progress remains tepid, with US greenhouse gas emissions dipping just 0.2 percent last year, according to a study by the Rhodium Groupleaving the country dangerously off track to meet its climate goals under the Paris agreement. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The dark skies above ESO's Paranal Observatory, home to ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), yield breathtaking views so clear and so full of stars that you could almost touch them. Standing atop a platform at VLT, ESO Photo Ambassador Petr Horalek reaches towards a standout object in the sky. You may assume this bright body, like many others in the sky, to be a star, but it is in fact a planet in our solar system: the gas giant Jupiter. Closer to Earth, the four Unit Telescopes (UTs) that comprise the VLT can be seen in the background. Each UT features an 8.2-meter mirror and they operate synergistically to produce some of the sharpest views of the universe. Accompanying the four UTs are four smaller, movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) which have 1.8-meter mirrors. The Chilean Atacama desert once again proves its value as the ideal location for ESO's VLT. The remoteness of the observatory means that there is very little to no light pollution, which is vital for astronomy and also yields such breathtaking views. Credit: ESO/P. Horalek On December 24th, AES Andes, a subsidiary of the US power company AES Corporation, submitted a project for a massive industrial complex for environmental impact assessment. This complex threatens the pristine skies above ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert, the darkest and clearest of any astronomical observatory in the world. The industrial megaproject is planned to be located just 5 to 11 kilometers from telescopes at Paranal, which would cause irreparable damage to astronomical observations, in particular due to light pollution emitted throughout the project's operational life. Relocating the complex would save one of Earth's last truly pristine dark skies. An irreplaceable heritage for humanity Since its inauguration in 1999, Paranal Observatory, built and operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), has led to significant astronomical breakthroughs, such as the first image of an exoplanet and confirming the accelerated expansion of the universe. The Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020 was awarded for research on the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, in which Paranal telescopes were instrumental. The observatory is a key asset for astronomers worldwide, including those in Chile, which has seen its astronomical community grow substantially in the last decades. Additionally, the nearby Cerro Armazones hosts the construction of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), the world's biggest telescope of its kinda revolutionary facility that will dramatically change what we know about the universe. "The proximity of the AES Andes industrial megaproject to Paranal poses a critical risk to the most pristine night skies on the planet," said ESO Director General, Xavier Barcons. "Dust emissions during construction, increased atmospheric turbulence, and especially light pollution will irreparably impact the capabilities for astronomical observation, which have thus far attracted multi-billion-Euro investments by the governments of the ESO Member States." The unprecedented impact of a megaproject The project encompasses an industrial complex of more than 3000 hectares, which is close to the size of a city, or district, such as Valparaiso, Chile or Garching near Munich, Germany. It includes constructing a port, ammonia and hydrogen production plants and thousands of electricity generation units near Paranal. Thanks to its atmospheric stability and lack of light pollution, the Atacama Desert is a unique natural laboratory for astronomical research. These attributes are essential for scientific projects that aim to address fundamental questions, such as the origin and evolution of the universe or the quest for life and the habitability of other planets. A call to protect the Chilean skies "Chile, and in particular Paranal, is a truly special place for astronomyits dark skies are a natural heritage that transcends its borders and benefits all humanity," said Itziar de Gregorio, ESO's Representative in Chile. "It is crucial to consider alternative locations for this megaproject that do not endanger one of the world's most important astronomical treasures." The relocation of this project remains the only effective way to prevent irreversible damage to Paranal's unique skies. This measure will not only safeguard the future of astronomy but also preserve one of the last truly pristine dark skies on Earth. Provided by ESO In an exclusive interview with The Post-Star, Lake George Village Mayor Ray Perry said that no taxpayer money is expected to be used for the new state-of-the-art Shepard Park Amphitheater project. The project is estimated for completion before the 2026 summer tourism season. Im very confident that this will be fully funded and will not cost the village taxpayer a dime, Perry told The Post-Star. The roughly $2.5 million cost for the entire amphitheater and park improvements is expected to be covered by $1.5 million from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative, paired with other grant opportunities of at least $500,000, according to Perry. The Shepard Park project will incorporate the aforementioned amphitheater venue, as well as additional site work to the park that will include 30% to 35% more seating, ADA compliance, such as railings and a path for accessibility, and an expansion of the adjacent playground. Theres the hope that with that ADA path, itll create an open area that we can expand on the playground and maybe have some more climbing features, Perry said. Perry described the playground enhancements as more natural and Adirondack in style. The amphitheaters new design will be unveiled to the public for feedback on Thursday, Jan. 30 at The Carriage House in Lake George, with a time to be determined. With several local artists, including musician Jonathan Newell, on the committee to help redevelop Shepard Parks amphitheater, there is an abundance of expertise on what features the venue should integrate in the final design. We have the opportunity to make it better, Perry told The Post-Star. Theres no other bandstand or band shell in New York State that has the Lake George backdrop, Perry said. So we tried to keep the size of the roof and the building to a minimum, and use as much acrylic or glass as we can to preserve that view. The amphitheaters structure will use a combination of wood, especially for the roof, that will mimic the branches of the trees that used to hang over Canada Street, with glass paneling behind the stage, along the sides, and in between the roof lines, Perry described. The glass panel behind the stage will fold up like a clamshell, providing a wave of sound for boats on the lake listening to a concert, Perry explained. Itll be really cool at night because a lot of people listen to shows from the lake, he said. Perry praised the efforts of project architect Andrew Allison of AJA Architecture, who he said did a phenomenal job. The venue will also be equipped with an audio video room for sound control on one side of the stage, and an equipment storage room with a lift on the opposite side. A full basement underneath the stage will have a green room for musicians to relax before performing, according to Perry. The thing we found with some of the musicians is they would really love to have a place to chill if theyre the second act or the headline, Perry told The Post-Star. We have never been able to provide that, so weve actually lost out on some larger name acts in the past, Perry added. Thus far, the majority of the work completed has been design and environmental testingan aspect that didnt need to be done when the previous amphitheater was constructed in 1990. Weve used the insurance monies (from the July fire) to pay for our architects and the soil testing that has to be done, Perry said. The village has not yet broken ground on the project because if we do ahead of any grants being given, we cant get any compensation for that work, Perry explained. Im hopeful that we break ground in the spring, Perry said, with the caveat that the timing of construction will largely be dependent on when the proper funding comes through. The DRI and grant funds are expected to be announced within the next couple of months. As for the summer 2025 concert season, Perry said that concerts in Shepard Park may be impacted since it will be a partial construction site, but that the village will have flexibility to accommodate performers with a temporary mobile stage similar to what was used in the back half of summer 2024. As Virginia legislators take an unexpected break, right at the start of the 2025 session, the Richmond water crisis that is delaying their work has given new urgency to an issue drinking water and water policy that has been simmering for years. In Richmond, when the water system failed after Mondays winter storm cut power to the water treatment plant, the clean water in the citys 148-year-old reservoir quickly ran low. There wasnt enough pressure in the Department of Public Utilities pipes to deliver water to homes, businesses and the state Capitol. That focused legislators attention. It reminds us how blessed we are, how grateful we should be, but how much work we need to do to make sure every Virginian has the opportunity to have clean water, access to water, access to utilities and home and shelter thats safe. So thats very eye-opening, said House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth. The issue has been around for a while. The American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated that Virginias drinking water systems need an additional $9.4 billion of investment. Among the issues engineers have said need to be addressed are backup power sources, better protection of facilities from the impact of bad weather and how water utilities respond to emergencies. As for Richmond specifically: Were going to wait for the after-action report, and if thats the issue that the city doesnt have the resources to do it obviously, like every locality, theyll have representation here, and theyll go through their representatives, Scott said. Aging infrastructure Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, chair of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, said he hopes the Richmond water crisis, and its impact on legislators, will bring action on water issues. We need to be sure we have the infrastructure; we need to be sure it is funded, he said. The reservoir in Richmond was built in 1876, and there is aging infrastructure across the commonwealth thats really in need of work, Lopez said. I think it will elevate the issue; everybody in Virginia needs access to clean, safe drinking water, said Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, who has pushed legislation to ban material with high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, a carcinogen that can contaminate groundwater. In a tweet shortly before Wednesdays abbreviated start of the 2025 session, state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, wrote: Having no access to running water here puts the crisis in areas like Flint, MI in context for me. We take so much for granted. Investing in and protecting essential infrastructure like clean water should be front and center policy initiatives. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said he expects a lot of attention on water this year. He has been worried about Virginia water issues for years, including the presence of forever chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS in drinking water. These chemicals have been linked to cancers of the prostate, kidney and testes, as well as to low birth rate and accelerated puberty in children, decreased reproductive fertility and reduced immune system response to infection. Surovells home gets its water from the only private water company operating in Fairfax County the one his grandparents organized in the 1940s. It draws water from the northern end of the giant Potomac aquifer, where the rapidly depleting groundwater source is thinnest. Even before the Richmond water crisis highlighted water supply concerns for fellow legislators the General Assembly is in a recess until Monday when clean water should be flowing again through the pipes of the Capitol and the General Assembly Surovell was planning a bill to address infrastructure concerns. His proposal would allow private water firms, which have access to capital outside the reach of many cities and towns, to buy and operate aging municipal systems. Privatized water systems rates are subject to State Corporation Commission review, to ensure they are fair to customers. Municipal system rates are not. The aquifer is thicker in state Sen. Richard Stuarts home county, King George, and the rest of the Republican legislators district that includes the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, but its continuing depletion has been a focus of much of his legislation in recent years. We just dont have enough water, Stuart said. DEQ (the Department of Environmental Quality) needs more tools so that were planning how we use water better. ... The Constitution of Virginia says our natural resources are for the benefit and welfare of Virginians, and we need to be sure people get the water first, he said. Your turn: How has the water outage had an impact on your life? Tell us your story We're speaking to residents and business owners about how the water outage in the Richmond area has had an impact on daily lives. Tell us your information and we may contact you for an upcoming story. Legislation he sponsored last year directed the State Water Control Board to keep permits for residential wells active past their formal expiration if they are within five miles of an industrial or commercial user in the thinnest parts of the aquifer, in Northern Virginia. Those residential wells can now keep drawing water until commercial and industrial withdrawals have been halted for five years. Another bill told DEQ to look at water levels, flow rates, and water quality in rivers, streams and groundwater aquifers when it issues permits for groundwater or surface water withdrawals. Were drawing too much from rivers, and salinity is moving upstream, he said, explaining that when fresh water from upstream is diverted into a water system, as Richmond does from the James River, it reduces the flow that in effect pushes away salt water from Chesapeake Bay. Its a statewide issue, and we need to think statewide, he said. State and local authority But Scott, the House speaker, said he does not think the answer to water issues is something that could limit local governments decision-making powers, like the measures legislators have introduced about siting solar facilities or zoning for affordable housing. The tight limits on solar farms that some localities have written into their zoning regulations, and a growing pattern of zoning denials, have led the legislatures Commission on Electric Utility Regulation to bring forward a measure that would set up a state board to review proposals and recommend local government action. Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, has a bill that would require localities zoning ordinances to allow accessory dwelling units often called granny flats or mother-in-law suites in areas set for single-family homes. State Sen. Schulyer VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, wants the state to set a target for localities to expand their housing stock. Scott does not think the General Assembly needs to tell cities and towns how to run their water utilities. I think we have to continue to allow localities to have local control. ... They have answers to those problems. I dont think we should be coming in (like) Bigfoot on local government, he said. We should be providing technical expertise and assistance and some guardrails, but never for some localities to do the things that the communities dont want, he added. What the state can do is help financially, he said, through the budget. Richmond Mayor Danny Avula said Scott has reached out to him several times and that he and Gov. Glenn Youngkin had been in regular contact throughout the crisis. We already had engagement over the last few years with the legislature about investing in the aging infrastructure in our city. There have been some significant commitments that have been made, Avula said on Thursday, citing state funding for Richmonds multi-hundred-million-dollar effort to end overflows of sewage from the aging sewer pipes that carry both rainwater and sewage through much of the city. The issue is well-understood and I think this particular crisis brings it to the forefront, Avula said. I think theres a real opportunity to reengage the conversation. Youngkin noted Wednesday that his proposed budget amendments include an additional $50 million for Richmonds combined sewer overflow project, and he says the state has allocated substantial funding for water treatment plants around Virginia. He says the after-action report on the Richmond water crisis will be important to see what needs to happen next. Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, said the legislature probably does need to take a hard look at Virginias water infrastructure. Data of some students in the Roanoke and New River valleys was likely a part of a nationwide data breach that targeted education software company PowerSchool. PowerSchool, a California-based company, found out Dec. 28 that it was the target of a cybersecurity incident, the company said in an email it sent out to impacted school districts Jan. 7. It paid the hacker an undisclosed amount in return for the hackers proposal to destroy the data that was taken, according to numerous news reports. The breach was contained to PowerSchools Student Information System customer data. A school districts student information system is a software that stores all of the students data. According to PowerSchools website, this data can include academic, schedule, demographic, behavior, and health information. Botetourt County Public Schools is among the affected school districts. On Friday morning, many members of staff were sitting in webinars with PowerSchools senior leadership to learn more information. But information on what exactly was included in the breach is still scarce. I think theyre still trying to figure out the extent of what that data breach entails, said Mike Moser, communications specialist for the Botetourt County schools. The Botetourt division also uses PowerSchool for web hosting and personnel management resources, Moser said. Salem City Schools are also a part of the data breach. Superintendent Curtis Hicks sent a note to parents following the incident. PowerSchool has indicated that the compromised data primarily includes parent and student contact information, such as names and addresses, Hicks note reads. In some cases, personally identifiable information (PII), such as Social Security numbers or medical information, may have been affected. However, the extent to which PII belonging to Salem City Schools families and staff was exposed is still under investigation and we do not have specific information at this time. The breach was limited to PowerSchools internal systems and did not impact the security of our school divisions networks, Hicks added. PowerSchool has assured us they are working diligently to investigate the matter and restore trust, another part of his note to parents read. They will directly notify any affected individuals, providing details about the information exposed and offering credit monitoring or identity protection services if applicable. Pulaski County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Graham released a statement to families and employees Thursday informing them of the incident. Pulaski County Public Schools utilizes PowerSchool software, part of the statement reads. We have asked PowerSchool to identify the scope of impact on information pertaining to members of our community, if there was any at all. Pulaski County Public Schools takes the privacy of our students and employees personal information very seriously. We will work with PowerSchool to ensure that any individuals impacted by this incident are directly notified. Giles County Public Schools posted a similar statement to Facebook on Friday morning. In its email to school districts, PowerSchool stated that it does not expect to experience any operational disruption from the incident and that the company is continuing to provide services as normal. Rest assured, we have taken all appropriate steps to prevent the data involved from further unauthorized access or misuse, the email read. We do not anticipate the data being shared or made public, and we believe it has been deleted without any further replication or dissemination. A post from Hanover County Public Schools on Jan. 9 stated that the hacker requested PowerSchool pay a fee in exchange for destroying the data. While PowerSchools legal team is confident that the data was destroyed upon payment, additional investigations are underway to help ensure that it was, in fact, destroyed, the post read. Please note that PowerSchool is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding this breach. In Hanover County, students names, addresses and schedules, as well as their parents contact information and the name of their teacher, was included in the breach, according to that divisions post. PowerSchool offers a number of products, with the SIS being one. None of the companys other products were impacted, the company said in the Jan. 7 email. Districts such as Roanoke City Public Schools, for instance, use PowerSchool as a professional learning platform, but do not use it as a student information system vendor, said Claire Mitzel, director of communications and public relations for that school system. Roanoke County Public Schools does not use PowerSchool. Its unclear exactly how many school districts were involved in the breach, but, according to its website, PowerSchool serves 60 million students globally. Districts all across the country, from Massachusetts to Montana, were informed that their data was accessed. A number of schools in Canada were involved as well, according to online reporting. A PowerSchool spokesperson told The Roanoke Times Friday via email that the company is not sharing specifics around the number of districts and schools that were involved due to its ongoing investigation of the matter. We take our responsibility to protect student data privacy and act responsibly as data processors extremely seriously, PowerSchools statement said. PowerSchool is committed to providing affected customers, families and educators with the resources and support they may need as we work through this together. PowerSchool used to have offices in the former Norfolk Southern Corp. office building in downtown Roanoke. On Dec. 26, two days before PowerSchool found out about the data breach, One Ten Franklin LLC filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that it moved out before the lease ended without paying rent. Guideline aims at improving elderly services 08:47, January 10, 2025 By Cheng Si ( Chinadaily.com.cn A nurse teaches seniors to exercise their hands at the Elderly Care Service Center of Hualongqiao Community Health Center in Yuzhong district, Chongqing, on Nov 5, 2024. (Tan Yingzi/China Daily) China will enrich services for the elderly, boosting the silver economy and cultivating more talent for the sector in the next 10 years, as part of a move to better cope with the aging population and improve the quality of life for seniors. The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, recently released a guideline stating that the nation aims to build up a solid services system for the elderly by 2029. The guideline also said that the services will be better matched with the needs of seniors by 2035. Furthermore, all elderly people will have access to basic elderly care services, as the nation will form a well-established elderly care service system by 2035, it said. The elderly services system will prioritize services for those who have lost self-care ability, and will bring inclusive, fair, and sustainable services to more elderly in urban as well as rural areas. Tang Chengpei, vice-minister of civil affairs, said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday that optimizing elderly services is not only a key step in the nation's response to the aging population, but will also improve seniors' quality of life. The guideline urges governments at all levels to include the development of elderly care services in their plans for vitalizing rural areas, and it emphasizes that more efforts are needed to improve care for elderly rural residents, especially those of advanced age and those who cannot take care of themselves or have disabilities. The guideline encourages governments at all levels to set up talent evaluation systems and regulations for professions related to the elderly services sector. Vocational schools are encouraged to set up pilot education programs to cultivate the needed talent. According to the guideline, the central authorities encourage companies to develop and promote products for the elderly, either high-tech electrical appliances or tourism products, and enrich services to the elderly, aiming for a prosperous silver economy. In addition, the nation will channel resources and investment into technological programs for elderly care services, such as humanoid robots and artificial intelligence. "The elderly, especially those born after 1960, have increasing willingness and ability to consume products and services," said Liu Ming, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission, at the news conference. "The elderly have more modern consumption views and habits, more similar to those of the younger generations," Liu added. "In turn, the booming silver economy can spur companies or research institutes to create more products and services for the elderly." China has channeled increasing investment and efforts into the elderly services sector in recent years. According to a report released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs last year, China's elderly population people aged 60 and older accounted for more than one-fifth of the nation's total population in 2023. From 2019 to 2024, the nation's fiscal expenditures on elderly services and benefits totaled more than 560 billion yuan ($76.4 billion), with annual funding growth of 11 percent over the five years, according to the Ministry of Finance. The nation has also improved the professional recognition and management of the elderly service sector. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said it has guided some vocational schools to set up disciplines on rehabilitation, social care, and healthcare in recent years, and to include new related professions in the State-level professions dictionary to raise public awareness of and respect for workers in the elderly services sector. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Wednesday afternoon on Twitter, now known as X, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones wrote that the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires have been engineered by globalists in order to deindustrialize the United States. DESTROYED BY DESIGN: Los Angeles Fires Are Part Of A Larger Globalist Plot To Wage Economic Warfare & Deindustrialize The Untied States Before Triggering Total Collapse WATCH/SHARE THE LIVE X STREAM HERE:https://t.co/2jcVYLsnzw pic.twitter.com/zd7M5TseKj Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) January 8, 2025 Billionaire technology investor Elon Musk, who is living on the incoming presidents property while leading his commission on reorganizing the government and advising him on other matters, saw this postand he liked what he saw! True Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 8, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is interestingconcerning, evenfor a number of reasons. But it may be significant at the moment given that Jones has, in the past, explained that Jewish mafia figures like George Soros are a key part of the globalist alliance. (If youre wondering why the Jewish mafia would burn down Hollywood, which it runs, a different post of Jones sort of explains: Its because globalists want to turn the Pacific Palisades neighborhood that has been devastated by fire into a smart city. In urban planning, the phrase smart city refers to the idea of using technology to gather information about traffic and wastewater and stuff, but in Jones mind, smart city initiatives are a kind of Trojan horse for implementing totalitarian surveillance and mind control, similar to how Bill Gates put microchips in the COVID vaccine.) The accusation also echoes Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes infamous claim that a previous wildfire was started by the (Jewish) Rothschild family using satellite-borne lasers. Advertisement Related From Slate Elon Musk Is Making One of His Own Conspiracy Theories a Reality Read More It would not be Musks first foray into white-supremacist conspiracy thinking: For one, he also believes that George Soros orchestrates world events in an effort to destroy the West. In late 2023, he responded positively to a Twitter/X post that complained that western Jewish populations have been flooding developed countries with hordes of minorities and encouraging hatred against whites. (Wrote Musk: You have said the actual truth.) He apologized for this remark and, shortly after making it, took a photo-op trip to Israel. In recent weeks, though, hes been using his platform to promote the German political party AfD, an anti-immigrant group whose members have been sanctioned for using Nazi slogans and arguing that the SS has been unfairly maligned. In late December, two AfD legislators participated in a secret meeting with Nazi groups in Switzerland where they allegedly discussed the goal of remigrating, or deporting, German citizens who are not ethnically German. (The party formally opposes remigration.) In an op-ed he wrote praising the AfD, Musk complained that the partys association with Nazism was nonetheless unfair, noting that its leader has a same-sex partner of foreign ancestry, asking, does that sound like Hitler to you? Please! Blaming a major fire on a global conspiracy of his enemies really was something Hitler did, though. Meanwhile, at least 2,000 homes have burned down in Los Angeles. And the temperature continues to rise. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Its been a busy week. Its about to get busier. On Friday the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the TikTok ban case. Also Friday, Justice Juan Merchan in Manhattan is set to sentence President-elect Donald Trump in the hush money trial. Trump has appealed that matter to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Judge Aileen Cannon, in Florida, blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smiths final report on the two investigations that led to federal felony charges against Trump. Justice Samuel Alito chatted with the president-elect over the phone Tuesday over a Trump transition HR matter, hours before the court was asked to weigh in on the Manhattan sentencing case. On Amicus Plus, Dahlia Lithwick spoke to Andrew Weissmann, co-host of the podcast Prosecuting Donald Trump (which has been newly christened Main Justice) and a legal analyst for NBC/MSNBC. His memoir about working on the Robert Mueller special counsel investigation, Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation, was a New York Times bestseller. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: Andrew, you and I spoke on your podcastit feels like a hundred years ago, but really just a couple of weeks agoabout the big existential question of why the law so utterly failed to keep up with Trump and MAGA and the insurrection. Here we are, just two weeks later, and were bearing witness to a concerted effort to not simply erase Trumps criminal liability by stopping the sentencing that makes him a felon but actually erase the documents and the reports and the testimony from the historical record itself, in terms of special counsel Jack Smiths report. That feels like a shift to me, that this is not just making the cases go away; this is an attempt to make the actual underlying evidence and testimony go away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Weissman: I do think that were in a new terrain. Were seeing some of this play out in the judicial branch, where we see judges like Aileen Cannon, in Florida, act pretty outrageously, and Justice Samuel Alito on the phone to the president-elect the day before Trumps outrageous appeal landed at the high court. Alitos claim that he didnt expect that there would be any of this litigation in the Supreme Court is just not credible, in my opinion. Advertisement With respect to the dissemination of Smiths reports, this is a complicated issue because the normal rule is that when somebodys not charged, you dont hold a press conference and talk about all of your views about the person. That was the Jim Comey problem with respect to Hillary Clinton; that was the platonic ideal of what youre not supposed to do. When it comes to a report by the special counsel, there is an exceptionits authorized by the attorney general regulationsand there are precautions that can be taken when there is grand jury material or when there is a true pending case against somebody who is being named in the report. Advertisement Its important for the public record and for history. There is a Facts matter component to this. It should be made public so its something that people can see and evaluate. Even if were in a place in our history right now where that doesnt seem to be paramount for a lot of people, its still important for the public record. I should note what Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to do with respect to the Mar-a-Lago volume of the report, which would not be public but would go to the legislative branch. In other words, there would be majority and minority members, Democrats and Republicans, who would get it, so it would make it harder for it to disappear on Jan. 20 in the next administration, even if there were an effort to do that. Advertisement Advertisement The other thing that Garland could do, and I was surprised he hasnt, is file it with the court so that the full report is in front of, for instance, the chief judge of the Washington court. They could also have filed it with the 11th Circuit so that the circuit could see the full report. Its a way to use the courts as a repository, because the courts are not in the control of (or are not supposed to be in the control of) the executive branch. This was something we were very cognizant of when I was in the Mueller investigation: We all thought we could be fired at any moment, and we wrote fairly fulsome search warrants and other material for the courts, understanding that this was a way of preservingto the extent we could, and within the lawwhat we were doing. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate One Possible Explanation for Justice Merchans Last-Second Decision to Sentence Trump Read More I do want to talk some more about this phone call between Alito and Trump, apparently discussing a former Alito clerk whos going to have some position in the next Trump administration. Except oops! He already had a position in the last Trump administration. He worked for Bill Barr. Im really struck by one fact, which is that Comey later cited to that meeting on the Tarmac between Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton as the moment in which the wheels had come off and that public confidence was so eroded by this brief meeting between the former president and the then attorney general that Comey had to behave as he behaved. Advertisement Here we are now, not that many years later, and were just having casual ex parte conversations with a justice who, as you said, claimsnot very crediblythat he didnt know there was a case being filed at the court. He says he had no idea it was coming and therefore had no sense that there was anything improper about a little staffing chitchat. This comes less than two weeks after the chief justices warning to all of us who criticize the courts in his end-of-year report. And that report included the line The federal courts must do their part to preserve the publics confidence in our institution. Advertisement Advertisement Im really stunned at how far we have come: from Comeys statement after the LynchClinton Tarmac meeting that this is intolerable, to this casual chat between a party to a proceeding that is now pending at the court and one of the justices, who, by the way, also flew some flags. Its amazing to me how far we have come in terms of institutions failing to protect themselves. I worry not just that the erosion of confidence in institutions is coming from inside the house but also that the house doesnt care. Advertisement Its worth remembering that, with respect to Lynch, there were other people present for that meeting. This was not a one-on-one. There was the Secret Service; there was her husband. Also, you hardly needed to meet with Clinton to know that he would not want to see his spouse prosecuted. But its important too to remember what Lynch did in response to that, which was to say, Given the appearance of impropriety, Im going to accept the recommendation of the career people in whatever they decide to do. So she took a step to assure people, given the alleged appearance of impropriety. Advertisement Advertisement With respect to the Supreme Court, I couldnt agree with you more: The chief justice has a problem. There is just no oversight going on, and Alitos commentthat with respect to Trump, he was unaware that any of this was going to come up to the courtis just not credible. The day before this phone call, Lawrence ODonnell and I were on air, talking about how these appeals were going to end up in the Supreme Court, and thats true, obviously, with respect to the sentencing that is now before the court. So the idea that Alito was not aware of that, and that he would then pick up the phone on something as ministerial as a resume check, and then also as if the president-elect, who is so busy being president-elect that he cant go to his own sentencingeven though the judge said no jail time, no fine whatsoeverbut can take time to talk to Alito about somebody hes going to give the job to anyway? All of this is so fanciful and outrageous, and the idea that the eight justices wouldnt sit down with Alito and say You need to recuse is just unbelievable. It makes a mockery of the so-called ethics rules that they put in place but that theres no mechanism to enforce. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Donald Trumps second presidency is off to a tumultuous start, even before its begun. In public statements, he has allowed that he probably wont be able to lower prices, though he has threatened to annex Canada, purchase Greenland, and reconquer the Panama Canal, by force if necessary. His pledge to lower prices (on the first day) was one of the main reasons Trump won the election, while his outright-imperialist rhetoric in the weeks sincemore brazen than any American presidents in more than a centuryplayed no role in the campaign. If anything, it runs counter to his boast that, in his first term, he kept the country out of wars (and, by implication, would do the same in a second term). Some have waved off the bombast. This is just President Trump being President Trump, H.R. McMaster, one of his former national security advisers, said this week, attempting to reassure a group of worried foreign-policy experts. But what is it about being President Trump that coughs up such geopolitical drivel? And should weby which I mean the residents of planet Earthtake it seriously? If not, why not? Trumps fixation on Greenland is particularly odd, though not new. Back in 2018, he offered to buy it from Denmark, which controls the large, icy island as an autonomous territory. He was outraged when the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, turned him down, calling her nasty and canceling a state visit to Copenhagen. He let the subject drop after that, and didnt mention it in this years campaign, but her rejection must have been festering all this time, because hes revived it full bore, threatening to impose heavy sanctions on Denmark if she persists in her refusal. Whats going on here? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need Greenland for national security purposes, Trump said, adding that he would not discard the option to acquire it by force. This is puzzling. Its true that Greenlandan icy land mass of 56,000 people, almost all of them Indigenous Greenlandic Inuitoccupies what some map-obsessed analysts call a strategically vital area. Its near the Arctic Circle, where ice melt has allowed Russian (and potentially Chinese) naval vessels a new route into the Atlantics sea lanes. There is legitimate concern about the Arctic as a potential maritime war zone, but the U.S. possesses a large military base in Greenland as well as several others nearby, and none of these outposts are the subjects of any local political controversy. Besides, Denmark and Greenland are both NATO allies, so weas well as Canada and much of Europehave a commitment to those countries security; we dont need to own the place to protect them. Advertisement Then again, Trump is no fan of NATO. And he may be interested in the considerable energy and mineral resources just beneath the islands surface. Still, what is riveting his attention? According to the journalists Susan Glasser and Peter Baker, the idea of taking over Greenland was inspired by the perfume magnate Ronald Lauder, who is also a longtime friend and supporter of Trumps. They wrote in The Divider, their book about Trumps first term, that once Lauder pointed out Greenland on the map (where the formats distortion makes the landmass seem much larger than it is), the president became excited. Advertisement The excitement has only grown since his reelection. This week, Trump sent his son Donald Jr. and two of his chums, pundit Charles Kirk and staffer Sergio Gor, to take a little trip to Greenland. They were told the whole town would show up to greet them; only a handful did so. Had they bothered to schedule any meetings with political leaders, they might have learned there is no interest among the locals in switching from Danish overlords to Americans. The people there like their free health care, free education, and other social benefits. Advertisement The same is true of Canada, which Trump says he wants to turn into the 51st state since the place relies so much on American greenbacks anyway. According to a recent poll, 82 percent of Canadians would rather retain their status as citizens of an independent nation. Many think he must be joking, but he sounds serious. Canada is stepping up its border security, just in case. Advertisement The Panama Canal is a more complicated matter. It was a major screaming point for Republicans in the late 1970s, when Presidents Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos signed a treaty turning ownership of the canal and its surrounding territorywhich had been built and occupied by the U.S. in 1903back over to Panama. Carter just barely rallied the two-thirds majority of senators needed to ratify the accord. Some grumbling from the right persisted, but not for long. If any factions of the GOP have called for taking back the canal in recent years, they havent done so very loudly. Advertisement Advertisement Trump complains that shipping fees have gone up recently. They have, but this is due not to anti-American sentiment. Its due to a drought, which has increased operating costs in the canaland not just for the U.S. New concerns have been raised by Chinas growing presence there, but Shannon ONeil, a Latin America specialist and director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, says these are overblown. Trump is simply wrong in claiming that China controls the canal, or that Chinese troops are in the area. A Hong Kong firm operates two of the canals ports, and Beijing tried to launch several ambitious investment projects in the area in recent years. But most of these projects never took off, and those that seemed aggressivesuch as a copper mine and a new embassy close to the canalwere shut down by local officials. Advertisement Advertisement As ONeil summed up the situation in an email: Panama has done a good job of staying fairly neutral commercially and financiallyas the canal treaty requires them to dowhile aligning with the U.S. on many political issues. Finally, in a case of hubris so petty as to be comical, Trump said that he will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. One of his most fervent congressional cheerleaders, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, responded by introducing legislation that would do just that. Two questions come to mind: Can he do that? And so what? Advertisement Most importantly, what is going on here? Given the array of foreign-policy perils facing Trump as he prepares to reenter the White House, why is he so agitated by Greenland, Canada, and Panama? When Glasser and Baker interviewed Trump for their book, he recounted a National Security Council meeting where he first brought up the idea of acquiring Greenland: I said, Why dont we have that? You take a look at a map. Im a real-estate developer. I look at a corner, I say, Ive got to get that store for the building that Im building, etc. Its not that different. I love maps. And I always said: Look at the size of this [Greenland]. Its massive. That should be part of the United States. Advertisement Could it be this simple? That he likes it because hes a real-estate tycoon? An old friend and fellow multimillionaire points out a large, untapped landmass on a map, Trump gets excited in the same way that he once got excited looking at a deteriorating property in Manhattan, and thinks, This should be mine? Related From Slate Its Obvious Why Trump Actually Wants Greenland Read More Trump was flabbergasted when the Danish prime minister turned down his offer, because he couldnt imagine anyone not wanting to do a deal with him. Don Jr., during his recent photo-pose in Greenland, said he couldnt imagine the local people not wanting to become Americans. Some Republican congressman said on TV the other day that he couldnt imagine Canadians not wanting to be Americans either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the motive behind Trumps imperialist rants (I almost wrote neo-imperialist, but theres nothing neo about this), they have a dangerous effect. His rhetoric is not so different from Vladimir Putins on Ukraine or Xi Jinpings on Taiwan. In fact, Russia and China arguably have soundermore historically and culturally groundedclaims on Ukraine and Taiwan than the United States has on Greenland, Canada, or Panama. Trump probably wont send an army to intimidate or conquer foreign lands to the north, the south, or halfway across the Atlanticbut his warnings that he might do so, his implicit claim that he has the right to do so, send a message to Putin and Xi that Trump wouldnt terribly mind if they went ahead and enacted their claims on Ukraine and Taiwan. Advertisement Meanwhile, the once and future president is alienating Canada and Mexico, our democratic neighbors and two of our closest trading partners. He is alienating all of South America by invoking horrible (and not so ancient) memories of gringo domination. He is insulting two charter members of NATO that have long stood as reliable strategic partners. And in the course of acting this way, he is emulatingand flashing what could fairly be interpreted as a green light tothe worlds two dictators who are most able and tempted to upset the international norms about preserving sovereign borders. And his second term in office hasnt even begun. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. In less than 40 minutes, it was over. After an investigation that spanned more than seven years, two Manhattan district attorneys, three criminal cases, and innumerable appellate-level judges and justicesincluding several touches by the United States Supreme Courtthe district court trial People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump came to an end Friday with a sentence of unconditional discharge. There will be no jail time, home confinement, probation, or even a fine. There will be no conditions whatsoever, as the name implies, for convictions on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and covering that up to affect the outcome of the 2016 election. A U.S. president, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan explained, is protected from legal action in the way ordinary citizens are notespecially since the SCOTUSs decision on presidential immunity in Trump v. U.S. Donald Trump the ordinary citizen, Donald Trump the criminal defendant, would not be subject to such considerable protections, Merchan said in handing down his sentence. No, he added, it is the office of the president that bestows those far-reaching protections to the office holder. Merchan leaned into the word office. Despite having sentenced, in this very courtroom, Trumps former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, to six months in jail following a guilty plea for felony fraud while working at the Trump Organization, despite having fined Trumps company $1.6 million after a jury convicted Trump corporate entities for that same fraud, despite having taken testimony from the key witness in this case, former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohenwho himself received a three-year sentence in federal court in part for some of the very same conduct at issue in Trumps casedespite all this, Merchan gave Trump nothing. And yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the outcome Trump wanted. When Trump was convicted, seven and a half months ago, on a spring day as balmy and verdant as Friday was frigid, after the jury foreman, a salt-and-pepper-haired immigrant from Ireland, said guilty 34 times, Trump rose and turned, looking stricken, his face uncharacteristically crumpled, reaching out to grasp the hand of his son Eric. I watched this, sitting two rows behind Trump, as he turned and walked out to face the cameras and assail the process that had brought him there. Advertisement Trump fought all the way to the Supreme Court to try to stop the sentencing from happening. It wasnt until Thursday evening that we knew, for sure, that sentencing would take place. Im totally innocent. I did nothing wrong, the unrepentant president-elect told the court Friday via video link from Mar-a-Lago, sitting in front of an array of American flags next to his attorney Todd Blanche, who is set to become the second-highest-ranking person in Trumps Justice Department. This case should not have been brought, Blanche told the court. Trump will appeal. With Merchans action Friday, Trumps criminal case has concluded, and he will enter office10 days from his sentencinga convicted felon. Advertisement For a case nearly frozen in time, Room 1530 of the Criminal Courts building in lower Manhattan was, appropriately, freezing Friday morning. (Trump complained about the temperature several times over the course of the trial, with the judge indicating that there was nothing that could be done.) The area was emptier now; just a single Trump attorney, Emil Bove, sat in the room, at the defense table. (Bove has also been nominated by Trump for a prominent DOJ perch). Advertisement This time, there was no phalanx of family members, friends, and supporters: like Pam Bondi, Trumps nominee for attorney general, or incoming Vice President J.D. Vance, or other members of Trumps incoming team who showed up in Merchans courtroom in April and May. (That earlier group also included Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Waltz, Susie Wiles, and Sebastian Gorka, to name just a few more). Advertisement There was no mystery either: In an order earlier this month, Merchan noted his intention to sentence Trump to an unconditional discharge. From September 2019, the time that former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. made public his investigation of Trump, through the conclusion of this trial, it remained unclear whether Trump would be indicted, tried, or convicted, would run for president again, win the nomination, win the presidency, or be sentenced for anything, ever. But as of Friday, we know: Yes to everything, except no to any jail time. Advertisement Advertisement And yet, Merchan made clear, in his Jan. 3 order, that the sentence did not really fit the crime. Seriousness and harm are not measured solely by the level of violence inflicted or the extent of financial harm. Seriousness can be gauged by considering the significance of the act under the unique circumstances of the case, as well as by the harm to society as a whole, Merchan wrote. Advertisement He continued: Here, 12 jurors unanimously found Defendant guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records with the intent to defraud, which included an intent to commit or conceal a conspiracy to promote a presidential election by unlawful means. It was the premeditated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world that is the gravamen of this offense. Merchan also went out of his way in that order to chide Trump and his team for attacking the court system, the justice included. Citing Chief Justice John Roberts, Merchan wrote: Public officials, too, regrettably have engaged in recent attempts to intimidate judgesfor example, suggesting political bias in the judges adverse rulings without a credible basis for such allegations. Merchan also called out Trumps legal team, members of which will likely soon hold the second and third top positions in the DOJ, for coming dangerously close to crossing the line of zealous representation and the professional advocacy one would expect from members of the bar and officers of the court and resorting to language, indeed rhetoric, that has no place in legal pleadings. These offenses included calling the judges and prosecutors acts unlawful, a word with a specific legal meaning, Merchan noted: criminally punishable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Merchan left all that up to Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass, who sat at the prosecutors table among the usual assembly of ADAs, all wearing the same black suits and hairstyles, even, that we saw during the trial. Alvin Bragg, the DA, sat unmovingly two rows behind them. Instead of preserving, protecting, and defending our constitutionally established system of criminal justice, the defendant, once and future president of the United States, has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy, Steinglass said. Far from expressing any kind of remorse for his criminal conduct, the defendant has purposefully bred disdain for our judicial institutions and the rule of law. Trump, in his own brief statement to the court, continued to display that very disdain. The incoming president called the prosecution an injustice of justice. Of his illegally mislabeling a payoff to Stormy Daniels as a legal reimbursement in business records prior to the 2016 election to cover up an alleged affair, he said, Everyone should be so accurate. Blanche, the incoming deputy attorney general, responded by once again attacking the process that brought us here. American voters got a chance to see and decide for themselves whether this is the kind of case that should have been brought, he said from Florida. And they decided. And thats why, in 10 days, President Trump is going to assume the office of the president of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his own way, Merchan did not refute that. Rather, he acknowledged that the nomination and the election had changed his calculations. It is the office of the president that bestows those far-reaching protections to the office holder, Merchan said, addressing Trumps video image. And it was the citizenry of this nation that recently decided that you should once again see the benefits of those protections, which include, among other things, the supremacy clause and presidential immunity. Advertisement Related From Slate I Will Never Stop Watching One Video From Jimmy Carters Funeral, and Neither Will You Read More During the trial, Merchan distinguished himself by visibly considering both sides of an argument before coming to a decision. This is a quality that has become especially rare in this polarized age, when everyones opinion of everything appears preformed. Merchan thought in front of us. Almost palpably agonized, Merchan on Friday told Trump: This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge. That is, he had no choice. Trump had been an ordinary defendant, but by virtue of winning the election, he was no longer. Merchan had opened his remarks by saying: The imposition of sentence is one of the most difficult and significant decisions that any criminal court judge is called upon to make. He ended with this: Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office. He might have wished that to all of us in the courtroom, and everyone beyond it. Godspeed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/damage-from-california-wildfires-rises-to-150bln---accuweather-1121398442.html Damage From California Wildfires Rises to $150Bln - AccuWeather Damage From California Wildfires Rises to $150Bln - AccuWeather Sputnik International Early damage estimates from the ongoing wildfires in and around Los Angeles have jumped to between $135 billion and $150 billion, AccuWeather Public Relations Manager Bill Wadell said on Friday. 2025-01-10T10:25+0000 2025-01-10T10:25+0000 2025-01-10T10:29+0000 americas us california los angeles los angeles county wildfires california national guard https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/0a/1121398552_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0d38e95a1632c0850feb537c370ec93f.jpg "AccuWeather has increased the preliminary estimate for the total damage and economic loss for the Southern California wildfires to a staggering $135 billion to $150 billion," Wadell said on X. The media company said earlier that its preliminary estimate of damage and economic losses from the California wildfires was between $52 billion and $57 billion. Meteorologists forecast more gusty winds and an elevated fire risk next week, Wadell said. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told a news conference that the damage caused by the wildfires could be compared to the impact of a nuclear bomb being dropped in the area. LA Authorities Impose Curfew Amid Looting in Fire-Ravaged AreasLos Angeles authorities will impose a curfew in the evacuation zone amid concerns of looting in wildfire-affected communities, Board of Supervisors Chair Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Sheriff Robert Luna said.The curfew will be in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the areas where mandatory evacuation was announced, Luna said.Law enforcement agencies have been working 24 hours to protect the property of displaced persons, the sheriff said, adding that 20 people had been arrested for looting. The California National Guard has deployed 400 troops to Los Angeles to keep looters at bay. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250109/california-wildfires-unexpected-links-to-us-green-lobby-and-ukraine-1121391704.html americas california los angeles los angeles county Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International california wildfires, los angeles on fire, fires in california, wildfire damage https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/f-35s-in-greenland-us-nuclear-capable-fighters-and-russias-arctic-defense-strategy-1121403444.html F-35s in Greenland: US Nuclear-Capable Fighters and Russias Arctic Defense Strategy F-35s in Greenland: US Nuclear-Capable Fighters and Russias Arctic Defense Strategy Sputnik International Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin stated on January 10 that the US is building airfield infrastructure for F-35 fighters in Greenland. 2025-01-10T16:53+0000 2025-01-10T16:53+0000 2025-01-10T16:53+0000 donald trump arctic russia greenland air defense forces f-35 northern sea route severomorsk us europe https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107386/00/1073860095_0:0:2047:1151_1920x0_80_0_0_36bbb0d192ce1511971eb0add246d2d8.jpg "[Russia] has its own countermeasures for all threats," Nikolai Kostikin, an expert at the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, told Sputnik, commenting on the potential deployment of F-35 stealth fighters equipped to carry B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs.How Could F-35s Be Used in the Arctic? The distance from Greenland to the Russian border is about 3,800 kilometers, and the prospect of operating the F-35 over such a large distance is not promising, Yuri Knutov, military expert and historian of the Air Defense Forces, told Sputnik. He suggested the aircraft would only conduct patrol missions. The F-35s could also monitor US airspace and protect vessels in the Northern Sea Route (NSR), Knutov said. How Could Russia Ensure Security in Its Arctic Regions? Russia is well-prepared to safeguard the NSR and adjacent Arctic territories, Knutov said:The US's New Arctic Strategy "Trump has repeatedly stated that he is ready to push Russia and China out of the Arctic. Deploying F-35s in Greenland is part of the US's preparations for Arctic penetration," Knutov said. But the Arctic has traditionally been a zone of Russian interest, Kostikin noted. Trump's rhetoric "reflects the contours of the new US policy, shaped by the resilience of Russian troops on the frontlines in Ukraine," Kostikin argued. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/us-creates-infrastructure-for-nuclear-capable-jets-in-greenland---russian-ambassador-1121397060.html arctic russia greenland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova f-35 in greenland, nuclear-capable f-35 in greenland, us arctic strategy, russia's defenses in the arctic region, northern sea fleet, russian kalibr missiles, kinzhal hypersonic missiles, donald trump's greenland takeover bid, us military presence in greenland https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/israeli-defense-minister-pushes-for-strategy-to-completely-wipe-out-hamas-in-gaza-1121398268.html Israeli Defense Minister Pushes for Strategy to Completely Wipe Out Hamas in Gaza Israeli Defense Minister Pushes for Strategy to Completely Wipe Out Hamas in Gaza Sputnik International Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the military to present a plan for the complete destruction of Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip if Israeli hostages are not released by the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. 2025-01-10T10:16+0000 2025-01-10T10:16+0000 2025-01-10T10:16+0000 world middle east israel katz donald trump israel gaza strip palestine hamas palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/04/1121355654_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9dd66295f5b6f5258d2704f46a708a7c.jpg "If a hostage deal does not take place before president Trump takes office, it is necessary to ensure the complete defeat of Hamas in Gaza," Katz said at a meeting with senior military officials, according to Channel 14.On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, fighters of Palestinian movement Hamas infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in Gaza and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250108/mideast-expert-doubts-overextended-israel-will-clash-with-turkiye-or-sustain-occupation-of-syria-1121386547.html israel gaza strip palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gaza genocide, is israel committing genocide, whats happening with gaza, israeli genocide against palestinians, will israel be charged with genocide, whos backing israel, un hearing on gaza, current developments in gaza, whats happening to palestinians, us military aid to israel, us arms supplies to israel, us violating international law, what weapons is israel getting from us, israeli strikes, israel strikes gaza, israel kills civilians, operation in rafah, incursion into rafah, palestinian statehood, palestine independence, israeli hostages, jewish hostages, how many people did hamas abduct, how much money does us give israel, military aid to israel, financial aid to israel, hamas leader killed, haniyeh assassination, gaza peace talks, gaza ceasefire talks, israel vs hezbollah, israel lebanon tension, israel lebanon hostilities, israeli strikes on syria, airstrikes on damascus https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/police-detain-suspect-in-one-of-los-angeles-fires-arson---reports-1121399116.html Police Detain Suspect in One of Los Angeles Fires Arson - Reports Police Detain Suspect in One of Los Angeles Fires Arson - Reports Sputnik International One person has been detained by the Los Angeles Police Department on suspicion of arson that started the Kenneth Fire, one of the devastating wildfires raging in California, NewsNation reported on Friday, citing law enforcement officials. 2025-01-10T11:31+0000 2025-01-10T11:31+0000 2025-01-10T11:31+0000 americas us los angeles california los angeles police department wildfires california fires https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/0a/1121399214_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f7a75162831f05bb19abcd8d8bf78a3a.jpg The suspect detained with the help of local residents could face up to life imprisonment if found guilty, NewsNation said, citing Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that the capacity of Los Angeles' water supply system proved insufficient to contain the fires. Firefighters complained of dry hydrants as they tried to fight the Eaton fire in Altadena, while water supplies to fight the Pacific Palisades fire ran out within 12 hours, officials were cited as saying by the newspaper. Freddy Escobar, president of the Los Angeles firefighters union, said that there were not enough resources and personnel to deal with disasters of this scale, also noting that the local water supply system remains unprepared for the noticeably more frequent wildfires in the region, the newspaper reported. At the same time, Marty Adams, who used to work as general manager and chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said that water storage systems across the country are not designed to fight major fires. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/damage-from-california-wildfires-rises-to-150bln---accuweather-1121398442.html americas los angeles california Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International california wildfires, los angeles on fire, fires in california, wildfire damage https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/scholzs-cabinet-blocks-3-billion-urgent-aid-package-to-ukraine--reports-1121396374.html Scholz's Cabinet Blocks $3 Billion Urgent Aid Package to Ukraine Reports Scholz's Cabinet Blocks $3 Billion Urgent Aid Package to Ukraine Reports Sputnik International German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet is blocking the provision of additional military aid to Ukraine, a move backed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the Spiegel newspaper reported. 2025-01-10T02:12+0000 2025-01-10T02:12+0000 2025-01-10T04:18+0000 olaf scholz annalena baerbock boris pistorius world ukraine military aid foreign military aid ukrainian crisis ukrainian conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/0a/1121396352_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_1c191685def9003e5f618f349fdc2116.jpg Baerbock and Pistorius, of the Green Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), respectively, reportedly want to mobilize 3 billion euros ($3.09 billion) in emergency aid for Ukraine before parliamentary elections scheduled for February 23. Scholz's office, however, is blocking the plan, the newspaper said. It added that the foreign and defense ministries intend to ask the German parliament's budget committee for additional funds because the planned budget does not include money for Kiev's urgent needs and because of the uncertainty surrounding the incoming US administration's Ukraine policy. Scholz's cabinet, in turn, explains its veto of the plan with the unwillingness to present the government that will be formed after the elections with an already decided fact, the newspaper said. Another possible motive behind the Chancellor's stance could be the fear of scaring the SDP voters with another expensive aid package. In late December, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he had decided to dissolve the Bundestag and call early elections for February 23. Scholz suggested Steinmeier dissolve parliament after a majority of lawmakers supported a no-confidence vote in his government on Dec. 16. Of the 717 lawmakers who took part in the vote, 394 voted against Scholz as chancellor, while 207 voted in favor and 116 abstained. A minimum of 367 votes in favor or against was required for a vote of confidence or withdrawal of confidence. Russia has said that the West's arms deliveries to Ukraine hinder the settlement of the conflict and directly involve NATO countries in the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240419/us-progress-on-ukraine-aid-will-only-prolong-ukraines-agony-1118022175.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240424/ukraine-aid-bill-shows-establishment-still-runs-the-gop-1118082287.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International military support, military aid, military support to ukraine, military aid to ukraine, german arms for ukraine, german support for ukraine, german for ukraine, german weapons for ukraine, german aid to ukraine, german funding of ukraine, aid to ukraine, unipolar world, russophobia, russophoby, anti-russian bias https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/two-killed-from-ukraine-himars-strike-on-civilians-in-donetsk-1121398915.html Two Killed From Ukraine HIMARS Strike on Civilians in Donetsk Two Killed From Ukraine HIMARS Strike on Civilians in Donetsk Sputnik International Two people have been killed and two more have been injured as a result of a Ukrainian HIMARS missile strike on civilian infrastructure in Donetsk, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Friday. 2025-01-10T11:00+0000 2025-01-10T11:00+0000 2025-01-10T11:00+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine donetsk ukraine russia russian investigative committee the united nations (un) multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs) ukraine crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1e/1106806714_0:144:3129:1904_1920x0_80_0_0_7d6f90f85b0d8bb4d3a9e6051f89a060.jpg "Investigators of the Investigative Committee of Russia have recorded the consequences of the criminal actions of the Ukrainian armed forces, which carried out a targeted missile attack on the civilian infrastructure of the city of Donetsk. The Ukrainian armed forces fired with the use, presumably, of the HIMARS MLRS in the Kiev district of Donetsk, where civilians were staying. As a result of the shelling, two people were killed among the civilian population and two more were injured," the statement read. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure facilities were also damaged, the statement said.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. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241220/ukraine-strikes-town-of-rylsk-in-russias-kursk-region-with-missiles--1121222909.html donetsk ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine, russian drones, drone warfare, new military drones, uavs in ukraine, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict, battlegroup sever, battlegroup yug, battlegroup zapad, battlegroup vostok, battlegroup tsentr, battlegroup dnepr, russia ukraine peace talks, russia ukraine peace settlement, russia ukraine negotiations, russian air defenses, mercenaries in ukraine, foreign merc in ukraine, russia liberates settlements in donbass, liberated russian towns in donetsk, ugledar liberation https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/us-creates-infrastructure-for-nuclear-capable-jets-in-greenland---russian-ambassador-1121397060.html US Creates Infrastructure for Nuclear-Capable Jets in Greenland - Russian Ambassador US Creates Infrastructure for Nuclear-Capable Jets in Greenland - Russian Ambassador Sputnik International The United States is creating an airfield infrastructure in Greenland for planes capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin told Sputnik. 2025-01-10T05:30+0000 2025-01-10T05:30+0000 2025-01-10T05:30+0000 world donald trump greenland denmark arctic pentagon f-35 https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/07/1083332311_0:160:3073:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_6989cb1f1ba8d670be0affd07393d816.jpg Last month, US President-elect Trump, who is due to assume office on January 20, called it "an absolute necessity" for the United States to own Greenland, thus commenting on his decision to appoint a new US ambassador to Denmark. Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede has since responded, saying that the island is not for sale. "The island-based US Pituffik Space Base [ex-Thule Air Base] today is a part of the US' system for warning about a nuclear strike from the Arctic direction. It is undergoing comprehensive modernization, including radar systems worth billions of dollars. It is also building airfield infrastructure for F-35 fighter jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Such jets have already used the base's airfield for training," Barbin said. The US military has been permanently present in Greenland since World War II, the ambassador added. Greenland's Future Should Be Determined Without Outside Interference"Greenland is interested in developing mutually beneficial international cooperation, including with the United States. The question of Greenland's fate should be decided on the basis of the expression of the will of the Greenlanders themselves within the framework of the current Danish legislation and without any outside interference," Barbin said.US President-elect Donald Trump, due to assume office on January 20, in December 2024 called it "an absolute necessity" for the United States to own Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Danish Realm, thus commenting on his decision to appoint a new US ambassador to Denmark. Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede has since responded, saying that the island is not for sale.Trump told reporters earlier in January that he cannot guarantee he will not use military force to take over Greenland. Later, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said there are currently no military plans in place to take control over Greenland by force.Trump first announced his claims for Greenland in 2019, when he was serving his first presidential term. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250109/in-europe-trumps-allies-are-nervous-over-annexation-talk-should-they-be-1121393956.html greenland denmark arctic Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International trump and greenland, why does america need greenland, is greenland going to be part of the us https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/us-supreme-court-denies-trumps-motion-to-halt-hush-money-sentencing-1121397557.html US Supreme Court Denies Trump's Motion to Halt Hush Money Sentencing US Supreme Court Denies Trump's Motion to Halt Hush Money Sentencing Sputnik International The US Supreme Court has denied President-elect Donald Trump's motion to halt the hush money sentencing, according to a court document. 2025-01-10T05:52+0000 2025-01-10T05:52+0000 2025-01-10T05:52+0000 americas us donald trump us supreme court https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/0c/1115533846_0:317:3070:2044_1920x0_80_0_0_b0e8d824bb813b3861ab939bf3cf4bb0.jpg The New York State Supreme Court ruled on January 3 that there is no ground to dismiss Trump's hush money case and ordered him to appear for sentencing on January 10. In May 2024, a jury found Trump guilty on 34 charges of falsifying business records related to a payment to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with whom Trump allegedly had had an affair. Trump rejected the accusations against him, and his lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250104/us-judge-refuses-to-dismiss-trump-hush-money-case-orders-him-to-appear-for-sentencing--document-1121348620.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International trump's indictment, is trump guilty, trump in court, trump's criminal case https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/were-trumps-plans-for-greenland-hidden-away-in-biden-pentagons-2024-arctic-strategy-1121403981.html Were Trump's Plans for Greenland Hidden Away in Biden Pentagon's 2024 Arctic Strategy? Were Trump's Plans for Greenland Hidden Away in Biden Pentagon's 2024 Arctic Strategy? Sputnik International Donald Trump has riled up America's allies and the world with his seemingly outlandish plans to purchase Greenland. But setting aside the bluster and pomp, Trump's approach isn't really all that different from that of his predecessors, international affairs observer Irina Strelnikova says. 2025-01-10T17:34+0000 2025-01-10T17:34+0000 2025-01-10T17:34+0000 analysis donald trump us greenland arctic russia pentagon us coast guard https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/0a/1121404162_0:115:1225:804_1920x0_80_0_0_960afe810820a0203327cf15892d13ab.jpg The Arctic Strategy published by the Pentagon in mid-2024 outlined Greenland's central role in US plans for the region, and Donald Trump's strategy is merely making a few corrections, Strelnikova, a researcher at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, told Sputnik.The new strategy expressed the need to expand US capabilities for conducting a campaign in the Arctic, particularly in the areas of communications, intelligence, surveillance and interaction with allies and partners, the observer recalled.The reasons for Greenlands centrality to the US Arctic strategy are clear, the observer said. It hosts a US military base, including components of the US early warning system for missile attack. And on the basis of the strategy adopted in the summer of 2024, comprehensive modernization is being carried out.Since Russia knew about US plans long before Trumps arrival, it will be sure to account for any risks to its national security and interests associated with the incoming administrations plans, Strelnikova believes.Trump is unlikely to succeed with his Greenland plans, according to Strelnikova, but if he does, the major factor for Russia to really worry about is US Coast Guard patrols in the islands vicinity.In any event, it remains uncertain when the US Coast Guard will achieve significant icebreaking capability, given the constant delays plaguing America's Arctic icebreaker program. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/us-creates-infrastructure-for-nuclear-capable-jets-in-greenland---russian-ambassador-1121397060.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240507/us-coast-guard-polar-icebreaker-5-years-behind-schedule-2bln-over-budget-1118322099.html greenland arctic russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov trump vs biden on greenland, what is real threat of us ownership of greenland to russia, is russia worried about greenland being part of us https://sputnikglobe.com/20250110/xi-to-send-top-ranking-official-to-trumps-inauguration---reports-1121397290.html Xi to Send Top Ranking Official to Trump's Inauguration - Reports Xi to Send Top Ranking Official to Trump's Inauguration - Reports Sputnik International Chinese president Xi Jinping will send a high-ranking official to the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation. 2025-01-10T05:45+0000 2025-01-10T05:45+0000 2025-01-10T05:45+0000 world donald trump wang yi china beijing us-china relations 2024 us presidential election xi jinping https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107679/44/1076794462_0:156:3001:1844_1920x0_80_0_0_1133333c7dd0f84d07084236b3494d26.jpg In mid-December, CBS News reported, citing several sources, that Trump had extended an invitation to Xi to attend his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Later, the broadcaster said that Xi will not attend the ceremony and that in his stead, the Chinese ambassador to the United States and his wife are expected to attend the event. Xi may send to the inauguration Vice President Han Zheng or Foreign Minister Wang Yi, one of the people said, adding that Beijing is consulting with Trump's transition team on the matter. Another source said that the Trump team would rather welcome Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Xi's alleged right-hand man. Attendance by any of the aforementioned officials would reportedly be unprecedented, as never have any Chinese officials apart from the ambassador attended the inauguration of a US leader. Another person familiar with the views inside the transition team told the newspaper that there are concerns that Trump would be displeased by the attendance of someone of Wang's and Cai's level, as the initial invitation was extended to the Chinese leader himself. Moreover, several people said that whoever comes to Washington for the January 20 event is likely to hold talks with the new Trump administration. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250109/pepe-escobar-empire-of-chaos-reloaded-1121393521.html china beijing Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International china us relations, china america trade war Woodbine Mohawk Park would like to inform all trainers that training for the morning of Saturday, Jan. 11 has been cancelled. The decision to cancel training is to allow for track maintenance to be performed as snowfall is expected Friday evening and into Saturday morning. The next training day will be Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Woodbine) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has developed a new, moisture-binding material. If this component is used in walls and ceilings, it reduces the humidity indoors. Credit: Pietro Odaglia / Josef Kuster / ETH Zurich Whether it's the meeting room of an office building, the exhibition room of a museum or the waiting area of a government office, many people gather in such places, and quickly the air becomes thick. This is partly due to the increased humidity. Ventilation systems are commonly used in office and administrative buildings to dehumidify rooms and ensure a comfortable atmosphere. Mechanical dehumidification works reliably, but it costs energy anddepending on the electricity usedhas a negative climate impact. Against this backdrop, a team of researchers from ETH Zurich investigated a new approach to passive dehumidification of indoor spaces. Passive, in this context, means that high humidity is absorbed by walls and ceilings and temporarily stored there. The work has been published in Nature Communications. Rather than being released into the environment by a mechanical ventilation system, the moisture is temporarily stored in a hygroscopic, moisture-binding material and later released when the room is ventilated. "Our solution is suitable for high-traffic spaces for which the ventilation systems already in place are insufficient," says Guillaume Habert, Professor for Sustainable Construction, who supervised the ETH research project. Waste material from marble quarrying Habert and his research team followed the principle of the circular economy in their search for a suitable hygroscopic material. The starting point is finely ground waste from marble quarries. A binder is needed to turn this powder into moisture-binding wall and ceiling components. This task is performed by a geopolymer, a class of materials consisting of metakaolin (known from porcelain production) and an alkaline solution (potassium silicate and water). The alkaline solution activates the metakaolin and provides a geopolymer binder that binds the marble powder to form a solid building material. The geopolymer binder is comparable to cement but emits less CO 2 during its production. In the ETH project, the scientists succeeded in producing a prototype of a wall and ceiling component measuring 20 20 cm and 4 cm thick. Production was carried out using 3D printing in a group led by Benjamin Dillenburger, Professor of Digital Building Technologies. In this process, the marble powder is applied in layers and glued by the geopolymer binder (binder jet printing technology). "This process enables the efficient production of components in a wide variety of shapes," says Benjamin Dillenburger. Moisture-controlling components increase comfort Combining geopolymer and 3D printing to produce a moisture reservoir is an innovative approach to sustainable construction. Building physicist Magda Posani led the study of the material's hygroscopic properties at ETH Zurich before recently taking on a professorship at Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. The project is based on the doctoral theses of materials scientist Vera Voney, supervised by Senior Research Associate Coralie Brumaud and architect Pietro Odaglia, who developed the material and the 3D printing machine at ETH. "We were able to demonstrate with numerical simulations that the building components can significantly reduce humidity in heavily used indoor spaces," says Posani, summarizing the main result of the research project. For the simulation, it was assumed that the walls and ceiling of a reading room used by 15 people in a public library in Oporto, Portugal had been completely lined with hygroscopic components. Magda Posani calculated how often and to what extent the humidity exceeded the comfort zone, i.e. 40 to 60% relative humidity in this virtual reading room over the course of a year. From this, she calculated a discomfort index, a figure that expresses the loss of comfort caused by excessively high or low humidity. If the reading room were fitted with the moisture-binding components, the discomfort index could be reduced by 75% compared to a conventional painted wall. If components were used that were 5 cm thick instead of just 4 cm, the discomfort index fell by as much as 85%. More climate-friendly than ventilation systems The hygroscopic wall and ceiling components are climate-friendly, i.e. they cause significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions over a 30-year life cycle than a ventilation system that dehumidifies air quality to the same extent. In the simulation calculations, the wall and ceiling components were also compared with a clay plaster that has been used since time immemorial and also passively regulates the air humidity in indoor spaces. This old technique proved to be even more climate-friendly than the hygroscopic components. However, the plaster has a lower storage capacity for water vapor. The research at ETH has shown that the combination of geopolymer and 3D printing can be used to produce wall and ceiling components for efficient moisture buffering. After this proof of concept, the technology is, in principle, ready to be further developed and scaled for industrial manufacture. At the same time, research continues. In a project with Turin Polytechnic and Aalto University, ETH Zurich is working to produce wall and ceiling components with even lower greenhouse gas emissions. Because one thing is clear: if Switzerland wants to achieve its net zero target by 2050, it needs buildings that cause as little greenhouse gas emissions as possible during construction and use. More information: Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components., Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54944-1 Journal information: Nature Communications Ford Motor Co. is accused of negligence in the June 18 death of Roy Mack Irwin of New Braunfels. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images Roy Mack Irwin died on June 18 after he was run over by his Ford F-250. His daughter is now suing Ford Motor Co., the dealership that sold the vehicle and a San Antonio company for negligence. Irwin, who lived in New Braunfels, was 79. Courtesy The daughter of a New Braunfels man who died last spring after he was run over by his 2023 Ford F-250 has filed a negligence lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. and the local dealership where he bought the pickup. Shelby Lane Reynolds alleges her father, Roy Mack Irwin, had driven the truck on June 18, 2024, over to some friends house in New Braunfels and shifted into park before exiting the vehicle with the engine running and air conditioner on. His partner remained in the front passenger seat. Without warning or input from any human source, the vehicle then began a series of strange movements, Reynolds says in her lawsuit. The vehicle rolled slowly forward a few feet; then, it rolled slowly backward a few feet; then, it rolled slowly forward a few feet; and finally, it rolled slowly backward and began to pick up speed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Irwin attempted to get in the drivers side as the truck was rolling backward, the complaint says. Horrifically, Mr. Irwin was pulled underneath the front driver side resulting in the vehicles front tire running over his upper torso, trapping him alive until first responders arrived at the scene and freed him, the suit adds. He later died at the hospital. Irwins death certificate said he died from blunt-force trauma, according to Jeffrey Wigington, a Corpus Christi personal injury lawyer representing Reynolds. Irwin, who worked as an independent sales rep for Dan Post Boots, was 79. The entire incident was captured on a neighbors Ring camera, Wigington said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ford spokesman Richard Binhammer declined to comment, saying the company typically does not address pending litigation. The suit also names as a defendant San Antonios Kahlig Enterprises Inc., which owns the Bluebonnet Ford dealership that sold the truck to Irwin. Kahlig Vice President David Hoyer referred questions to Bluebonnet general manager Wes Studdard, who did not immediately return a phone call. In her complaint, Reynolds says her fathers pickup was unreasonably dangerous due to its defective transmission system when it left the Ford manufacturing plant. The defects allow the driver to place the transmission shifter in the illusory park position, she says in the suit. Once it is placed in this position, the vehicle can then shift gears on its own without any human input. The defects were a proximate cause of the accident and/or the injuries and damages suffered by Mr. Irwin, Reynolds says in the suit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ford should have designed a vehicle that warned the user that it was not in the intended vehicle position, Wigington said. That could have included an audible warning. Complaints The lawsuit adds that the trucks movement has been documented in various complaints. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations website shows a handful of transmission-related complaints about the F-250 since 2020. In a September complaint, the owner of a 2023 F-250 reported that it would inch forward despite the vehicle being in park. Both the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but neither offered any assistance, the complaint says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An F-250 owner in Oklahoma reported a year ago that the truck would try to accelerate on its own while stopped. I held the brakes down as hard as (I) could, the owner said in the complaint. The truck would start burning rubber on the back tires. A 2022 F-250 owner complained in February on Blue Oval Forums, a website devoted to discussions on matters relating to Ford, about watching the vehicle roll on a few occasions after parking it in a driveway. Initially I thought it was sliding on the ice, but last night I parked on the gravel part of the driveway and came out this morning to find it resting against the hitch of (a) travel trailer, the owner said. NHTSAs website shows there have been no recalls related to any transmission issues on the 2023 F-250. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to Reynolds lawsuit, her father took his truck to Bluebonnet Ford shortly before the accident because the vehicle would not stay in park. The dealership failed to fix the problem and failed to warn Irwin that it had not been repaired, the suit alleges. Grill guard Reynolds also is suing NAW-Northwest Automotive Whse Inc., a San Antonio company that sells automotive accessories. It installed a grill guard on the F-250, the suit says. The grill guard obstructed or interfered with the normal functioning of the F-250s pre-collision avoidance system, the complaint alleges. The systems pedestrian detection technology provides automatic emergency braking to prevent the vehicle from striking a pedestrian. Any obstructions can limit detection or prevent the system from functioning, the complaint adds. NAWs Frank Montoya did not respond to a phone call seeking comment. None of the defendants has been served with the lawsuit yet. The IRS has not announced the first day of filing for the 2025 tax season yet, but the last day will be April 15. Since it falls on a Tuesday this year, taxpayers wont be getting extra time courtesy of a holiday or weekend. Keith Srakocic, STF / Associated Press Tax season is upon us. The IRS opened access to its free filing system Friday for taxpayers who qualify to use it, signaling that its time to start thinking about your annual tax chores. Also Friday, it announced that taxpayers can start filing their returns Jan. 27. VITA sites VITA will offer tax help at a dozen sites this year. Below are the sites and what days theyll be open. For information on their hours and days of operation and other information such as whether appointments are needed, go to vitasa.org. Claude Black Center 2805 E. Commerce St. Jan. 21-April 15 Guadalupe Community Center 1801 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd. Year round Henry Guerra Library 7978 W. Military Drive Jan. 21-April 15 Hill Country Community Needs Council 1904 N. Llano St., Fredericksburg Feb. 3-April 14 Igo Library 13330 Kyle Seale Parkway Jan. 21-April 15 Mission Library 3134 Roosevelt Ave. Jan. 21-April 15 Palo Alto College 1400 W. Villaret Jan. 21-April 15 St. Marys University 2507 N.W. 36th St. Jan. 25-April 15 St. Philips College 1801 Martin Luther King Blvd., Bowden Building Year round The Neighborhood Place 3014 Rivas Jan. 21-April 15 Thousand Oaks Library 4618 Thousand Oaks Drive Jan. 21-April 15 Willie C. Velasquez Center 1302 N. Zarzamora St. Dates not available Source: VITA San Antonio To help you get started, heres a roundup of key dates, where to get help and other information you need to know ahead of the filing deadline, which is April 15. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now: IRS Free File open This partnership between IRS and Free File Inc. lets those taxpayers who qualify use tax preparation software tools to prepare and file their federal income tax returns at no cost. The IRS opened Free File access on Friday. To access the tools, go to IRS.gov, click on the File tab and select File Your Taxes for Free in the Popular section (or just click here). This is the 23rd tax season that Free File has been available. Over the years, Free File has helped millions of taxpayers, providing a fast and simple way to file their returns, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a news release. This program continues to be a valuable resource for eligible individuals looking to file their taxes for free through this unique program. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This year, there are eight private-sector partners offering tax software tools through the program: 1040Now, Drake (1040.com), ezTaxReturn.com, FileYourTaxes.com, On-Line Taxes, TaxAct, TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA) and TaxSlayer. A Spanish-language product is available from ezTaxReturn.com. They also support mobile phone access. So, if you dont have a desktop computer, youll be able to use your smartphone or tablet to do your taxes through Free File. Its available to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less in 2024. Each partner has its own set of eligibility criteria, such as state residency, military status, age and income. Although you can prepare and file your tax returns now through Free File, the providers will hold onto them and electronically send them on Jan. 27. Jan. 15: MilTax software opens MilTax is a free tax resource for members of the armed forces, eligible family members, survivors and some veterans. Offered through the Department of Defense, its designed to address the realities of military life such as deployments, combat pay and multistate filings. It offers tax preparation and electronic filing software tools and personalized support from tax consultants. There are no income limits. You can access it by going to IRS.gov, where youll click on the File tab and select Individuals. Click on Military on the left-hand side of the page and a link to MilTax will show up under Current and former military (or just click here). Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jan. 15 is also the last day to pay estimated taxes for income earned Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 last year. Quarterly estimated payments are made by taxpapers with nonwage income such as unemployment benefits, self-employment income, annuity payments or earnings from digital assets, according to the IRS. The Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov can help wage earners determine if they need to make an additional payment to avoid an unexpected tax bill when filing their return. VITA volunteers help with preparing an income tax return. The program offers free income tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. This year, there will be a dozen VITA sites in San Antonio. Christian Alejandro Ocampo/Laredo Morning Times Jan. 21: VITA sites open The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free income tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. This year, there will be a dozen VITA sites across San Antonio, including libraries, community centers and college campuses, and in Fredericksburg, according to the programs San Antonio website, vitasa.org. Most of the sites will be open from Jan. 21 through April 15. Hours and days of operation vary by site; evening and weekend hours are available. In addition to providing information about the sites and their hours, the website will tell you what you need to bring with you. The citys VITA Program page notes that if youre filing jointly, both spouses must be present and that all VITA tax returns will be submitted electronically. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jan. 27: Tax filing opens The IRS on Friday announced that the first day of filing for the 2025 tax season will be Jan. 27. In the meantime, the IRS offers a list of steps you can take now to get ready at www.irs.gov/individuals/get-ready-to-file-your-taxes. The IRS requires all employers to send taxpayers a W-2 no later than Jan. 31, although taxpayers may receive it after that. Patrick Sison, STF / Associated Press Jan. 31: Deadline for employers to send W-2 To ensure youre able to complete your tax return on time, the IRS requires all employers to send their workers a W-2 no later than Jan. 31 after the close of the tax year. Keep in mind that this is when the form has to be sent, not necessarily when you receive it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Feb. 1: AARP Tax-Aide sites open AARP says most of its sites offering tax preparation help will open Feb. 1. Locations arent yet available, but it expects to have Tax-Aide locator tool up and running by mid-January. You can sign up for text alerts. April 15: Deadline to file 2024 taxes The tax deadline typically falls on April 15 each year but can be delayed if it falls on a weekend or a holiday. Since its on a Tuesday this year, taxpayers arent getting extra time. Those who file for an extension will have until Oct. 15 to file their taxes. Key numbers for 2024 taxes The standard deduction for tax year 2024 will be $29,200 for married couples, $21,900 for heads of households and $14,600 for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately. The maximum amount for the Earned Income Tax Credit is $7,830 for eligible taxpayers with three or more qualifying children, The tax brackets that apply to income earned in 2024 are: A San Antonio man is suing McDonalds and a local franchisee for more than $1 million, alleging he suffered injuries after a store employee threw a beverage at him. Associated Press file photo A San Antonio man says he suffered bodily injuries when an an employee of the McDonalds at 102 S. W.W. White Road allegedly threw a large beverage at him. Smith Collection/Gado/Gado via Getty Images A San Antonio man says he got more than he ordered at a McDonalds drive-thru and now is suing both the chain and store operator for more than $1 million in damages. Bruce Martin alleges in a recently filed lawsuit that a female employee of the McDonalds at 102 S. W.W. White Road threw a beverage at him as he pulled up to the drive-through window to receive his food order on Nov. 3, 2023. The McDonalds employee allegedly intended to hit another patron she was angry with, Martin says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The large full beverage struck plaintiff (sic) hand violently causing injuries, his complaint says. The liquid soda spilled over Plaintiffs body and the interior of his vehicle. ANOTHER SAN ANTONIO CASE: McDonalds, San Antonio franchisee facing negligence lawsuits over hot coffee Martin reported the incident to the store manager before seeking medical attention, the suit says, but it provides no details on the nature of his bodily injuries. His lawyers, Jason C. Spencer, Travis R. Anderson and Erin Anderson Spencer, did not respond to a phone call or email. The San Antonio Express-News emailed a copy of the complaint to McDonalds Corp. but a spokesperson didnt respond. Local McDonalds franchisee Ned Stagg, owner of defendants Stagg Restaurants LLC and Stagg Enterprises LLC, didnt respond to phone calls seeking comment. Stagg owns and operates 31 McDonalds locations in the San Antonio area, according to information on its Facebook page. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In Martins complaint, filed last month in state District Court in San Antonio, he says hed never met the employee or the other patron. The employee is not named in the lawsuit. Martin accuses the defendants of exhibiting negligent, careless and reckless disregard. Besides the injuries to his hand, Martin says hes endured anxiety, pain and illness. Hes seeking damages for his past and future lost wages, medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, fear of future disease or condition and the cost of medical monitoring and prevention. He also wants punitive damages awarded to him. Its not the only San Antonio case McDonalds is currently defending. In 2021, San Antonio resident Martha Acevedo-Quezada sued McDonalds and a local franchisee after she says the lid on a coffee cup handed to her by a store employee wasnt properly secured. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The coffee fell in her lap, resulting in second-degree burns, she says. Acevedo-Quezada is suing for more than $1 million for lost wages, medical bills, mental anguish, and physical impairment and disfigurement. That case is set for trial in August, the courts website shows. Acevedo-Quezadas lawsuit is reminiscent of the infamous McDonalds case from 1992, when a then-79-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., widow was burned after spilling coffee on herself while holding the cup between her knees to lift the lid. Stella Liebeck suffered horrific burns over 16% of her body; 6% were third-degree burns, including to her groin, daughter Judy Allen told the New York Times Retro Report in 2013. Liebeck sued McDonalds, alleging the coffee was unreasonably hot and therefore unreasonably dangerous. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A jury awarded her $160,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages. The verdict sparked calls for reforms to limit damages in civil cases. The case ultimately was settled out of court for less than $500,000, a source told Retro Report. The Tesla logo is seen last week at a Tesla dealership in Alhambra, California. The Austin, Texas-based EV maker reported its first annual sales dip in more than a dozen years in 2024, with sales down 1.1% from 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images Electric vehicle demand is expected to keep rising this year but uncertainty over policy changes and the possibility of tariffs in a new presidential administration is clouding the forecast in the U.S. S&P Global Mobility expects all-electric vehicle sales to grow globally by 30% in 2025. The data and analysis firm's projections say 15.1 million EVs will be sold around the world this year, up from the estimated 11.6 million sold this year. Despite the positive forecast, Texas-based Tesla Inc., Chinas BYD and other manufacturers are facing big unknowns: Donald Trumps presidency could mean big policy shifts in tax and other incentives for both electric vehicle makers and consumers. The threat of tariffs on imports, and retaliatory tariffs globally, could further complicate production and sales for EVs and other vehicles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theres just a lot of uncertainty in the air, said Stephanie Brinley, associate director of auto intelligence at S&P Global Mobility. Its not an environment where you want to necessarily go gangbusters. In the U.S., consumers can currently claim a federal tax benefit of up to $7,500 for certain new electric vehicles. EV makers also benefited from some federal support for electric vehicle production and infrastructure. Its possible all that will get cut under Trump. He condemned the federal tax credit for electric vehicles while campaigning. He called it part of a green new scam that would would hurt the auto industry. On the flip side, the incoming administration is expected push for broader deregulation of industries, which could potentially help automakers. Some of the larger electric vehicle makers had a mixed 2024 even with benefits for consumers and manufacturers. Tesla sales slipped 1.1%, its first annual sales drop in more than a dozen years. Rivians deliveries rose 2.9%. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tariffs are another threat to the industry. Production takes place globally, with parts being imported and exported throughout the process. Trump has threatened to tax imports from Mexico, Canada, China and elsewhere, which would likely result in retaliatory tariffs from those countries. China is the largest market for electric vehicles, followed by the U.S. Within the U.S., Tesla is the dominant electric vehicle maker, with about 50% of the total market share. S&P Global Mobilitys forecast sees China remaining the worlds largest EV market, ending 2025 with nearly 30% of global market share. However, its expected to record the S&P forecasts smallest year-over-year change in market share at just less than 20%. Central and Western Europe are second, with predicted 2025 market share of 20.4%, a 43.4% jump. The United States is third, expected to end 2025 with 11.2% of the global market, up 36%. For now, automakers are in a wait-and-see position along with many other industries to see whether Trump sticks to his campaign promises. Overall, S&P Global Mobility expects final data will show light vehicle production slid 1.6% in 2024 and will fall another 0.4% in 2025. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ongoing transition to electric vehicles also plays a role in more tempered production. Companies like Ford and General Motors are shifting production capacity to electric vehicles in some cases instead of adding more capacity. Eros Cain (left) was remanded to His Majestys Prison on Monday. Eros Cain, a 63-year-old chauffeur of Glen, will return to the Serious Offenses Court on February 3, in connection with this countrys second homicide for 2025. Cain has been charged with the murder of Andrew Williams, 41-year-old labourer of Fountain, which reportedly occurred at Fountain around 6pm on January 2. Cain was not required to plead when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offenses Court on Monday and was remanded. He was represented by attorney Grant Connell. John adjourned the matter to February 3 for an update on investigation which, according to the crown, could take up to four months to be completed. On January 3, police reported that a preliminary investigation revealed that Williams sustained two gunshot wounds to the right side of his torso. He was "dropped off at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital around 8pm on January 02, and succumbed to his injuries sometime after. An autopsy confirmed that he died from gunshot wounds. Inspector Ashlyn Bristol, attached to the Calliaqua Police Station, is leading the investigations which are ongoing. Meanwhile, up to press time yesterday (Thursday), investigations were ongoing into the killing of 63-year-old welder Albert Lorenzo Lewis of Glen, recorded as the first homicide for 2025. Police said that Preliminary reports indicate that a neighbour discovered Lewis body on the porch of his home on January 2 with what appeared to be a wound on the right side of his face, and scrapes about his body. And while the police have not given any indication as to what might have caused the wound to Lewiss face, they did report, in a release dated Jan. o2, 2025, that the Crime Scene Unit (CSU) in processing the scene, discovered a spent shell. A report of a post-mortem examination of Lewiss body is still forthcoming. Winsbert Harry, President of the National Fisherfolk Organization (NFO), continues to question his and others exclusion from list of income support recipients. Winsbert Harry, President of the National Fisherfolk Organization (NFO), said that his name and that of eleven other fishers would not be included in the list of recipients, when the next round of disbursement of assistance to fishers affected by Hurricane Beryl comes around. During the presentation of the Supplementary Estimates back in July 2024, Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves announced that EC$20 million would be made available in income support for farmers, fishers and persons working in the hospitality sector. Harry, who has been fishing for over 27 years, admitted that while his boat was not physically damaged, he was unable to go out to fish and felt he was eligible for compensation. However, his name was not included in the list of persons down to collect production/income support. He explained that the group of twelve decided to put their boats on the available piece of shoreline in Rose Place for safety, during the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024. During the passage of Beryl, a section of the fencing at the modern cargo port project broke, effectively trapping the boats that were pulled up on the shoreline. That and the fact that the Kingstown Fish Market was closed for about a week meant that there was no business being conducted, with Harry adding that he and the other affected fishers were unable to go out to sea for a period of three to four weeks. Complying with procedure According to Harry, the other affected fishers kept coming to him asking about the payment of the income support. He told THE VINCENTIAN that upon making inquiries, he was told that the assistance was only being given to those affected during the passage of the Category 4 system. But he said that he argued that he and the other fishers were unable to engage in fishing activities given the situation caused by the falling fence, and therefore, they were entitled to receive compensation. "So, we went through the whole procedure we had to present evidence that we were blocked in, that we were unable to fish, he said. Harry explained that he was careful in putting together the list of names saying that a number of (other) people contacted him to have their names included on the list, but unless they were actively engaged in fishing up to at least a month prior to the passage of Hurricane Beryl, then their names were not included. Chaotic scene The NFO President said that he was told by fisheries officials that their names would be included on the list, only for them to find out otherwise when they went to the Victoria Park on December 19, 2024, expecting to collect income support. He told THE VINCENTIAN that when he raised concern, he was told to look for the names on the master list but the names were not there either. Concluding that it was a mere oversight, the men decided to wait out the situation until December 23 when a second round of disbursements was scheduled. But when they did so, they discovered that their names were still not on the list and that was when Harry said he witnessed what he described as a chaotic scene. According to Harry, there were instances where peoples names were misspelt or birth dates were incorrect, and then just as they were about to leave, a group of workers from Rainforest Seafoods arrived to collect income support as their names were included on the list of affected persons. In addition, people were advised to visit other locations to see if they were included on the lists there. "I cannot say I am being dishonest when everything happened right in front of me, he told THE VINCENTIAN. "I think we were given a bad deal; I look forward to see if they will add it, he added. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, etc., explained that about 12,500 farmers and fishers were assessed and included on the list to receive income support. He said it was only natural that some persons might be overlooked in the process, but he advised such persons to go to the Ministry of Agriculture and have their names included on a query form. "Because we are going to ensure that the assistance gets to who it is supposed to, but naturally there will be some hiccups when it comes to administration, Caesar said. Murders in Jamaica, historically considered the murder capital of the English-speaking Caribbean, declined 18% in 2024 over 2023. Only Guyana had a bigger drop (27%). Both Jamaicans and Guyanese will be anxious to keep the figures in a descending mode. Most countries saw increases with Barbados registering the highest percentage increase (172%), though its actual number (52) in 2024 paled against the figures for Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, with the latter seemingly heading for the 1000-mark. (Percentage rate is calculated as per 100,000 of population.) Haiti experienced widespread, some say, politically motivated protracted attacks against the citizenry by organized, well-armed gangs, who were also known to turn on one another. The situation there warranted the introduction of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, headed by personnel from Kenya and complemented by forces from Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The situation in Trinidad and Tobago, where the majority of homicides/murders was attributed to ongoing warfare among gangs, warranted the introduction of a State of Emergency, which handed sweeping powers to the Police and Army in an effort to curb the violence. In smaller territories, for example St. Vincent and the Grenadines where the figure of 2024 showed a negligible decrease by one, (from 55 to 54), citizens complained of a lack of effective response by the government and the relevant state authorities. As can be seen from the table, St. Vincent and the Grenadines stands in 4th position among Caricom countries as far as the homicide/murder rate is concerned. Political analysts project that the issue of the increasing prevalence of violent crime will bear on the outcome of general elections set for 2025, in Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In a coordinated effort this morning, the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), Special Services Unit (SSU), Narcotics Unit, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) executed a joint operation in the Green Hill area. As a result of this operation, Simon Simmons, a 33-year-old IT Technician employed at the SVG Port Authority and residing in Green Hill, was apprehended. During the arrest, law enforcement officers found Simmons in possession of prohibited ammunition, which included: 13 rounds of 7.62 ammunition; 2 rounds of .38 ammunition, and 1 round of shotgun cartridge ammunition. The possession of these items constitutes a serious breach of the law, and the suspect has been taken into custody pending further investigations. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) remains committed to safeguarding public safety and maintaining law and order. This operation reflects the continued dedication and cooperation among various divisions of the force in targeting and addressing criminal activities within the nation. Terrance Bynoe had to have police escort after his run-in with Wace. Terrance Terry Bynoe, a native of the Southern Grenadine island of Canouan, wants to see his homeland develop. And as his record as a social activist shows, he is keen on ensuring that he and the indigenous people of the island live in peace and harmony, with whoever chooses to invest in the country. In that regard, Bynoe has surfaced as one with an abiding demonstration of patriotism but the passion which flows natural from this attitude has, from time to time, put him at variance with both locals and investors. One of those instances occurred last Friday, January 03, which resulted in him being held at the Canouan Police station for some hours, before he was released without charge. The detention arose as a result of an altercation earlier that day, involving Bynoe and Ian Wace, a British financier with investments in the island. A source reported that Wace was using a blower to clean the street in an area known as retreat, something, according to the source, he does regularly and without prompting. As reported, Bynoes wife and another person came upon Wace while he was using the blower and apparently he came close to Bynoes wife and the blower turned in her direction. There was a heated exchange between Bynoes wife and Wace. That act did not go unnoticed and Bynoe was soon made aware of Waces action involving his wife. He arrived on the scene and an argument ensued between he and Wace which, according to the source, might have developed to the point of an exchange of shoves. A crowd of locals soon gathered and it appeared, according to the source, that they had taken umbrage with Bynoe for his exchange with Wace, who apparently had enjoyed a good relation with the people of Canouan. The report was that Bynoe and his wife had to take refuge in a nearby shop from which the police eventually escorted them. While being escorted, Bynoe was told he was under arrest and was taken into custody and detained at the Canouan Police Station. Reports of Bynoe brandishing his licensed firearm as the crowd converged on the shop where Bynoe and his wife had taken refuge, were not confirmed. What was reported was that the police relieved Bynoe of his licensed firearm which was returned to him on his release. All of this happened on the day when Wace was hosting his annual party for residents of Canoaun. That event is reported to have proceeded as planned and was well attended as it has been through the years, thereby contributing to a return to normalcy in Canouan. (TBTCO) - Tiep tuc chuong trinh lam viec voi cong ong doanh nghiep trong va ngoai nuoc, chieu 2/3, tai Tru so Chinh phu, Thu tuong Chinh phu Pham Minh Chinh chu tri toa am voi cac doanh nghiep chau Au nham thuc ay hop tac, au tu, cung Viet Nam tang truong 8% tro len trong namm 2025, tao a, tao luc, tao khi the cho tang truong 2 con so trong nhung nam tiep theo, at 2 muc tieu 100 nam, en nam 2045 la nuoc phat trien co thu nhap cao. Bahrain's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has signed a co-operation agreement with Batelco, a subsidiary of Beyon, to offer exclusive benefits and services to housing beneficiaries in 2025. The agreement reflects the ministrys commitment to enhancing collaboration with the private sector to support citizens benefiting from ownership schemes, housing financing, and the Government Lands Right Development Programme. The agreement was signed by Fatima Ibrahim Al Mannai, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and Abdullah Danesh, General Manager of Enterprise at Batelco. Al Mannai highlighted Batelco's role in supporting citizens and housing projects, noting that the agreement aims to meet the varied needs of housing beneficiaries. Under the agreement, Batelco will provide exclusive offers, including special rates for mobile, broadband, and devices, as well as a dedicated contact point to deliver support and services related to housing projects. Al Mannai highlighted the ministry's efforts to strengthen private-sector partnerships, improve services, and create opportunities for shared goals. Danesh underscored Batelco's commitment to supporting housing projects by providing advanced and accessible connectivity services. He expressed pride in the partnership with the ministry, highlighting Batelco's dedication to serving housing beneficiaries through diverse and efficient services, building on successful past collaborations in housing developments. Veo, a pioneering community lifestyle fitness brand from Emaar Hospitality Group, has announced the launch of its newest branch in the heart of Arabian Ranches 2. The new facility, its fourth outlet in Dubai, also has an outdoor workout space. As part of the Emaar Hospitality Group, and with existing branches in The Lakes, The Meadows, and Manzil Downtown, Veo seamlessly integrates into each community, said the company in a statement. The new Arabian Ranches 2 branch continues this mission, fostering connections, making fitness more accessible, and transforming health into a shared and uplifting lifestyle, it stated. Steven Gillespie, Head of Veo, said: "We are delighted to bring Veo Fitness to Arabian Ranches 2, becoming a part of this vibrant and thriving community. Our goal is to create a space that inspires individuals and families to prioritise health and wellness while fostering a sense of connection." "At the new Arabian Ranches 2 centre, fitness enthusiasts can expect top-tier facilities, including a fully equipped gym, free weights, and a dedicated cardio area. Theres also an outdoor workout space for those who enjoy training in the fresh winter air. Finally, to wrap up your session, recharge at the post-workout recovery section or grab a protein shake from the on-site health bar," explained Gillespie. "We look forward to welcoming new and existing members alike as we continue to empower individuals on their fitness journeys," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Adnoc has signed a third Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the lower-carbon Ruwais liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, with Germanys EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg (EnBW), one of the largest operators of energy infrastructure in Germany and across Europe. The 15-year SPA for supplying 0.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG converts a previous Heads of Agreement between Adnoc and EnBW into a definitive agreement. The LNG will primarily be sourced from the Ruwais LNG project, which is currently under development in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi. Deliveries are expected to start in 2028 upon commencement of its commercial operations. To date, over 8 mtpa of the projects 9.6 mtpa production capacity has been committed to international customers through long-term agreements. The agreement with EnBW is Adnocs second SPA with a German company for Ruwais LNG, following a 15-year, 1 mtpa agreement signed in November with SEFE Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Germanys SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH. Fatema Al Nuaimi, Adnoc Executive Vice President, Downstream Business Management, said: We are very pleased to partner with EnBW, one of the largest energy supply companies in Germany, in our second Sales and Purchase Agreement to the country from the Ruwais LNG project. This partnership underscores Adnocs dedication to fostering sustainable and strategic energy collaborations. By supplying lower-carbon LNG to EnBW, we are not only enhancing our partners energy security but also contributing to decarbonisation efforts, reaffirming Adnocs position as a trusted partner in the evolving energy landscape. The agreement builds on the UAE-Germany Energy Security and Industry Accelerator (ESIA) agreement, signed by the UAE and Germany in 2022, which aims to advance cooperation in energy security, decarbonisation and lower-carbon fuels. The agreement also further advances the Joint Declaration of Intent for Sustainable Energy Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE and the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg signed in February 2024. Peter Heydecker, EnBW Board Member for Sustainable Generation Infrastructure, said: We are very pleased to establish a long-term LNG contract with Adnoc. Finalising this contract is a significant step in furthering our relationship and expanding our LNG portfolio. We will continue to work with our esteemed partner Adnoc to develop other opportunities in LNG and adjacent businesses and look forward to a mutually beneficial long-term relationship and joint business success. Adnoc Gas announced in November 2024 that it expects to acquire Adnocs 60 per cent stake in the Ruwais LNG project at cost, estimated at around $5 billion, in the second half of 2028. Upon completion, the project, comprising two 4.8 mtpa liquefaction trains with a combined capacity of 9.6 mtpa, will more than double Adnoc Gas existing operated LNG production capacity to around 15 mtpa. -TradeArabia News Service FOR nearly two years, one of the chief financiers of the Seven gang based in the United King